Guyana Times, Saturday December 14, 2019.

US funds $500,000 project to promote transparency in extractive sectors P12 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4137

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURday, december 14, 2019

PRICE

H2H Registration data

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GECOM places onus on PPP to check 20,000 unverified registrants

Diamond Diagnostic Centre

Urgent need for more P7 nurses, midwives – Deputy CMO …as hospital operates on mere 25% staff

Page 3

…will impugn integrity of OLE, elections – former AG Degutting of Foreign Service

Fired diplomats will not return to Foreign Affairs Ministry – Greenidge …while admitting to shortage of skilled staff

See stories on pages 9&10

VreedP14 en-Hoop businesses block pedestrian sidewalk

Miner beaten to death P10 by teen employee Motorcyclist severely P12 injured in EBD accident In this composite photo, People's Progressive Party Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali chats with two residents of Abrams Creek, Pomeroon River, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). Dr Ali visited the communities of Abrams Creek and St Monica Village where he met with residents to discuss his party’s manifesto and listen to their concerns

Free and fair elections integral for credible investments ꟷ AmCham See story on page 7

Guyanese can attest to Govt’s incompetence ꟷ Opposition Leader Page 8

…says no reason for APNU to go “ballistic” on US analyst

Public P16 education system boosted with 377 new teachers

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SATurday, DECEMBER 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

news

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SATurday, DECEMBER 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Saturday, December 14 – 05:30h – 07:00h and Sunday, December 15 – 05:30h – 07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Berbice – Saturday, December 14 – 05:50h – 07:20h and Sunday, December 15 – 06:35h – 08:05h.

H2H Registration data

GECOM places onus on PPP to check 20,000 unverified registrants …will impugn integrity of OLE, elections – former AG

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

WEATHER TODAY Cloudy conditions with a few showers are expected during the day. There will be light rain showers and cloudy skies at night.

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

Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

GECOM Chair Retired Justice Claudette Singh

High Tide: 05:45h and 17:57h reaching a maximum height of 2.60 metres and 2.74 metres.

Low Tide: 11:30h minimum height of

reaching a 0.64 metre.

wednesday, DECember 11, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS J

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15 Bonus Ball

Friday, December 13, 2019 DAILY MILLIONS

01 04 05 07 25 LUCKY 3

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

D

espite discovering significant inaccuracies in the Houseto-House (H2H) data that was cross-matched overseas, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will be moving ahead with including some 20,000 names onto the voters’ list without verifying them.

However, the Commission has now placed the onus on the Opposition – People’s Progressive Party – to verify the new registrants.

Some 370,000 registrations obtained during the scrapped H2H exercise were sent overseas to be crossmatched with the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRD) in order to filter out the duplicates.

However, it was recently reported that international digital security company, Gemalto, indicated that some 37,300 were new registrants who are eligible for voting, that is, they are above the age of 18.

But an internal check conducted by GECOM showed that approximately 17,000 of those “new registrants” were already on the voters’ list and some even voted in the past.

The remaining 20,000 “new names” were up for further verification. Earlier this week, it was reported that the Governmentnominated Commissioners were pushing to have a sample survey done from a sample size of 10 per cent from the 20,000 to verify these new names before they go on the voters’ list – a process which the PPP Opposition had objected to.

In a statement on Friday, PPP Executive and former Attorney General Anil Nandlall indicated that the Elections Commission will not be verifying the names.

“Today (Friday), GECOM has decided that it will do no verification; that the PPP scrutineers alone will have to do the field verification checks in respect of these new intended registrants and that GECOM officials will only work in the offices. This is totally unacceptable,” Nandlall con-

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

tended.

He noted that this decision by the Commission can only be viewed as retrograde and has the potential of impugning the integrity of the Official List of Electors (OLE) and by extension, the entire General and Regional Elections set for March 2, 2020.

“I can understand why the Government Commissioners may not want a 100% verification exercise, because if this data is padded and fraud-

ulent then the verification exercise will unmask it. However, the law mandates that not a single name must eventuate unto the OLE without verification. GECOM has an unconditional duty to ensure compliance with this legal requirement. Nothing short will suffice,” the former Attorney General asserted.

On August 27, GECOM announced that the controversial house-to-house registration process would be halted on August 31.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, DECEMBER 14, 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

No justifiable reason

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resident David Granger’s recent move to terminate the services of six Guyanese diplomats who have been serving in foreign states came as no surprise to the nation, as from the time the coalition government took office in May 2015, it has received fire from various stakeholders for a series of decisions it has made. These decisions have no doubt raised suspicions in the minds of many Guyanese as the APNU/AFC Government has not been forthcoming as to the reasons behind making such moves.

In relation to recalling the Ambassadors, even though the coalition is in a caretaker mode and it is about three months away from the General and Regional Elections, the President has provided no justifiable reason for making such a move, and in fact, has sought to downplay the issue as “just a planned change”. Recalling six Ambassadors at such a time and in such a sudden manner is no minor matter, there must be compelling reasons for doing so. From reports gathered, those terminated are Hamley Case, who was posted in the United Kingdom; Bishwaishwar Ramsaroop, stationed in the twin-island republic Trinidad and Tobago; Clarissa Riehl, who was posted in Canada; Bayney Karran in China, Cheryl Miles in Venezuela, and JR Deep Ford in Switzerland.

When asked about the reason for recalling the Ambassadors, the President was reported as saying that it was the Government’s intention to recruit new diplomats who have reached the eligible requirements, and there was no ‘shakeup’ as is being claimed by some persons. He also indicated that the move is part of his Government’s plan to professionalise the Foreign Service by reducing or removing political appointees and make way for new appointments.

However, not many persons are convinced that the President is being completely honest as there are others in the Foreign Service who are not career diplomats but their services have been retained; one person that readily comes to mind is Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed. There are also others who have been serving in that capacity for a number of years but they have not been touched by the President.

Along with the recalled diplomats, former Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Audrey Waddell was also replaced by a Permanent Secretary; again this was done without any plausible explanation, only giving rise to rumours that there is more to the issue than what is being portrayed by the Administration. The President has since indicated that Waddell will be given a diplomatic posting instead.

While governments have the right to recall and appoint ambassadors and make other policy decisions they desire, in this case, one cannot ignore the fact that the APNU/AFC Government is in an interim status following the No-Confidence Motion it faced on December 21, 2018, hence, its main focus should be on ensuring credible elections are held within the time prescribed by the Constitution.

There are many other unpopular decisions made by the coalition government over the past four years for which they would be made to answer on the campaign trail. For example, it could be recalled that mere weeks after getting into office, ministers were given a 50 per cent rise in their salaries while public servants were literally begging for a decent wage. There was also the unilateral decision to move ahead with closing four sugar estates without carrying out any proper social and economic impact assessments and engaging industry stakeholders. In addition to the thousands of sugar workers being placed on the breadline, hundreds of families have been pushed into poverty. Businesses and the national economy as a whole are also feeling the impact.

Other decisions such as scrapping the $10,000 cash grant for school children and taking away the water and electricity subsidies from pensioners, et cetera, were also highly unpopular as they placed additional burdens on citizens.

It could also be recalled that not long after he was appointed Government’s point man on national security, Minister Khemraj Ramjattan took a decision to enforce a 2 AM curfew for bars and night clubs. His justification for this move was that crime would be reduced. We are all well aware that crime in Guyana has taken on new dimensions and hence, requires modern, strategic thinking and effective policy decisions matched by the necessary resources to confront it. To date, the Minister, nor his Government, has come up with any concrete plan to address the various forms of criminality affecting citizens.

The APNU/AFC must not only talk about being caring, fair, open and transparent, its actions should also prove that it is serious about ensuring accountability and good governance— which are the hallmarks of service.

These two St Monica Village women paddling to their destination on the Pomeroon River, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam)

Blackwater founder Erik Prince secretly met Venezuela Vice-President

E

rik Prince, founder of the private security firm Blackwater and prominent supporter of Donald Trump, made a secret visit to Venezuela last month and met VicePresident Delcy Rodríguez – one of Nicolás Maduro’s closest allies.

The visit, described by one source as “outreach” to Maduro’s Government, came just eight months after Prince floated a plan to deploy a private army to help topple the Venezuelan leader.

It was unclear what Prince, the brother of Trump’s education secretary, Betsy DeVos, discussed with Rodríguez. The meeting was first reported

by Bloomberg.

A meeting with Rodríguez, who is under US sanctions, could raise questions about whether Prince might have run afoul of US law, which prohibits Americans from virtually any business dealings with sanctioned individuals and specifically with the Venezuelan government.

The Venezuelan VicePresident’s office also oversees the country’s national intelligence service.

Prince informed one White House official of the planned meeting ahead of his trip, but it was not known whether he asked for approval or advice, according to one of the sources.

The White House declined to comment when asked if US officials had any advance word of Prince’s visit or whether it was seen as a possible line of communication with the Maduro government. In January, Washington recognized the opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the Opec

Erik Prince arrives for the New York Young Republican Club Gala at the Yale Club of New York City in Manhattan [Photo by Jeenah Moon/Reuters]

nation’s legitimate president and began ratcheting up sanctions and diplomatic pressure in an effort to oust Maduro.

Prince’s spokesman, Marc Cohen, declined to comment. Rodríguez did not respond to questions via text message. Her brother, the information minister, Jorge Rodríguez, also did not respond to a request for comment.

Five sources told Reuters that Prince, a businessman known for his rightwing views, visited Caracas around 20 or 21 November and met Rodríguez, a leader of Venezuela’s ruling socialist party who was appointed as Vice-President

by Maduro last year.

“It was something more than a private business trip,” one Venezuelan source in Washington who has contacts with both the

opposition and Maduro’s government said.

The United States and more than 50 other countries have recognized Guaidó, head of the opposition-controlled national assembly, as interim leader after he invoked the constitution to assume a rival presidency in January, arguing Maduro’s 2018 re-election was a sham.

Maduro retains the support of the military and of international allies including Russia, China and Cuba.

US sanctions imposed in August bar most US citizens or companies from doing business with the Venezuelan Government.

Rodríguez, who has travelled the world seeking to shore up what remains of Maduro’s backing abroad, was hit with sanctions by the treasury department in

September last year.

It described her as a member of Maduro’s inner circle who helped him “maintain power and solidify his authoritarian rule”.

Peter Kucik, a former expert at Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which enforces US sanctions, said such a meeting would run the risk of violating US regulations if they “went beyond casual conversation, entered into an agreement”.

“The more substantive the discussion, the more likely you have a problem,” Kucik said.

Prince’s meeting with Rodríguez represents a surprising twist for a businessman with long experience of trying to privatize warfare.

In April, Reuters reported that Prince had proposed using a private army of 5000 mercenaries to topple Maduro.

There is no sign that Prince’s plan ever advanced beyond an early discussion stage.

Prince has been accused of acting as a backchannel on behalf of Trump before.

As Trump was preparing to take office in 2017, Prince met with an official close to Vladimir Putin in the Seychelles, islands off the coast of East Africa. Special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on his Russia investigation said the meeting was set up with the knowledge of the former White House aide Stephen Bannon.

Blackwater sparked international outrage in 2007 when its employees shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad. One of the employees involved was convicted of murder in December and three others were convicted of manslaughter. (The Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, DECEMBER 14, 2019

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

Stakeholders should Undermining of Christian, biblical values under President David Granger reject GECOM’s sampling proposal

Dear Editor, There continues to be an undermining of Christian and biblical values under the watch of President David Granger, which is a worry because the President regularly says he holds these values dear when he engages the Christian community. Yet, the actions of his coalition have seen no adequate response from him.

I am speaking specifically to two issues, corruption and the massive expansion of gambling in Guyana.

Almost everywhere you go there are gambling shops being set up. Why isn’t President David Granger addressing this, especially since he presents himself as a good Christian?

Almost every day I read the Kaieteur News online and wonder about the cor-

ruption in the oil and gas sector. Added to this is the regular reports from the different newspapers about underhand dealings of President David Granger’s Ministers.

Why isn’t President David Granger addressing this?

Editor, I am not saying that religious beliefs held by a President must take over.

But shouldn’t they at least guide a President on the issues of corruption and gam-

bling, which are, I think, black and white issues?

Corruption should not be condoned. Gambling should not be so accessible that our young people are affected.

The other social ills that seem to be taking a foothold in our society are also a matter of concern.

Sincerely, Pastor Darion Comacho

Only APNU mathematicians would find this action sensible

Dear Editor, Winston Jordan’s signature as ‘Minister of Finance’ has been worthless on any non-routine document since December 21, 2018. Jordan’s latest (public) flourish of the pen has been to sign an MoU with Bank of Guyana (BoG) Governor, Gobind Ganga, for the management of an account (yet to be approved) in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This three-card trick needs explaining for the uninitiated.

Winston Jordan said the Fed Reserve “it is the safest places to keep the money” as if the BoG has had a robbery in its history. BoG foreign currency reserves are always held in Fed reserve accounts, this is nothing new. The BoG has never been robbed in the traditional sense; however, Jordan has orchestrated the biggest squandermania of money and resources in Guyana’s history. The populace has been taxed to breaking point with over $300 billion collected by GRA per annum since 2015; Guyana’s

USD reserves were 968 million in 2015. All the collected revenue has been spent; the reserves have been depleted to the point where they can only cover the massive overdraft of $73.1 billion as of November 2019. Brigadier Granger and his Lieutenant Jordan have bankrupted Guyana. Guyana has nothing to show for this massive depletion of revenue. No hydroelectric plant, no bridge over rivers, no new hotels. All of the reserves now expended were kept in accounts at the same Federal Reserve Bank of New York, that money was not safe, what makes this money any different?

The Granger Administration highlighting of the Natural Resource Fund is nothing short of a gimmicky distraction from the present disastrous state of the economy. Granger said he “inherited a bad hand”, I would suggest that the work required to get back to where Guyana has US$1 billion in reserves is going to take longer than expected, for with oil revenues

come great expectations from the populace. All the infrastructure projects that were abandoned or sabotaged by APNU/AFC will have to be fast-tracked for the benefit of the people. After four and a half years, David Patterson now recognises that there is a shortfall in power generation; his plan? Add 47 MW via new generating sets; why not a barge?

The unsavoury truth is that a sovereign wealth fund is nothing short of idiotic at this point; we would be investing our oil revenues in America and earning 1 per cent while borrowing far larger sums at 4 per cent. Only APNU mathematicians would find this course of action sensible. A fund will become relevant after we have returned our economy to stability and prosperity and in the meanwhile, wherever we put this money, Jordan will find a way to spend it. We need to be truthful with the population. Guyanese know that the economy is in dire straits; they can feel it in their pock-

ets; What hope can the ordinary Guyanese feel when the oligarchs in our midst are reduced to hoping for scraps from the oil table. APNU/ AFC has failed the businesses and workers of Guyana in equal measure. We are all second-class citizens in our own country; we have achieved Granger’s much-vaunted ‘social cohesion’.

Elections on March 2 are the first of many steps on the road to recovery and prosperity; Guyanese must ensure a message of rejection of the squandermania is sent loud enough to echo for generations. Vote to put an end to APNU/AFC; the most expensive Government in our history whose members are only interested in power, perks and personal gain above all else.

There are many hard yards ahead of us as a nation before the damage done by Granger and his personality cult can be repaired, but the time and tide of history are with us.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Dear Editor, I read with interest that GECOM is planning to validate the registrants from the House-to-House (HtH) using a sample of 10 per cent (“GECOM to conduct sample survey of new registrants,” Guyana Chronicle, December 12, 2019). From a statistical standpoint, the validation of new registrants using a sample from HtH is a useless and dangerous exercise.

First of all, the data from HtH is highly questionable, as evidenced by the number of duplicates and registrants who did not ‘attract a hit,’ that is, names that were not on the National Register of Registrants Database.

Secondly, since the transactions completed during the HtH exercise did not benefit from the involvement of scrutineers from all the major parties, the list is also highly suspect. Any sample extracted from the list of new registrants, therefore, will inevitably be as flawed as the population from which it is drawn. Thirdly, it would not be possible to use the sample to draw any valid inferences about the population since the population is unknown, regardless of the rigour and sophistication of the sampling procedure. In other words, the validity of the list of new registrants from the HtH exercise cannot be determined using such a sample and population (list of new registrants from HtH). A golden rule in statistics is that for deduc-

tions to be valid, the sample must be reflective of the actual population.

With your permission Editor, I would like to call on all the stakeholders, within and outside GECOM, who are desirous of ensuring free and fair elections to reject this proposal zealously.

The proposed exercise is not only useless but extremely dangerous because it can result in the addition of illegitimate voters to the List of Electors under the guise that they were validated using a scientific procedure.

We either scrutinise all the ‘new registrants’ from the HtH exercise or abandon the list altogether. When examining these registrants, every legal process that was applied to determine the authenticity of a voter during the Claim and Objections period must also be strictly observed. It would be better to ensure that all the safeguards are put in place to avoid rigged elections than allow the elections to be rigged and then attempt to challenge the results in the courts. We all witnessed how the High Court never heard the election petition filed by the PPP/C after more than four years. We either get everything right before and during the upcoming elections or prepare to suffer another round of legal battles to select our next Government.

Regards, Name and address withheld

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By Christa Santangelo, PhD

H

ow can we trust our young adults when we never learnt to trust ourselves?

M

A new paradigm of learning

ost of us were raised to believe that parents are meant to guide young adults based on our beliefs. School and other values we hold dear are an extension of this externally imposed system of knowledge and experience. For many self-motivated teens who know their passions and learn experientially, rather than from what we or others tell them to be true, self-education in its various forms may be a better fit. What worked for us (law school, saying no to body art or that exercise regimen) may not work for them.

Allowing our teens and young adults to experiment is scary for parents; we know what worked for us so it’s safe to say it will work for them. But maybe not. Teens are capable: Louis Braille invented his language for the blind when he was 15. Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein when she was 18. Teens can accomplish remarkable feats when given freedom and opportunity. Can we be curious and have the courage to let them discover ways to learn that might be exquisitely aligned with their inner design – even if it’s not fully formed or scares the heck out of us?

“Curiosity has its own reason for existing…Never lose a holy curiosity.” – Albert Einstein

Authenticity

Authenticity, that sense of self that comes from deep inside and is uniquely ours, relies on curiosi-

Foundation ty. I see teens’ curiosity being increasingly stifled by curricula tailored to tests, competition between students (rather than the cultivation of trust within each student) and a stress-ridden system in which trial and error, essential for resilience and authentic success, is rare. Teens who know themselves and trust themselves have a greater chance of turning into adults with an authentic sense of self.

For many teens, traditional education engenders a sense of separation from their true selves as they learn material in which they have little interest, for which they are not motivated because it feels irrelevant. I see older teens burdened with a do-or-die narrative that reduces their ability to experiment with life and manage disappointment and failure which are essential for resilience and grit. CEOs collectively agreed that first-generation immigrants who have had to navigate their own path are far more desirable hires than Ivy League grads who are terrified of failure and often paralysed by their need to be perfect in the workplace.

Most school experiences if not explicitly then implicitly teach us to compete, to compare and to worry about the future, in place of enjoying the present. The focus on measuring outcomes in education has practically supplanted the emphasis on what is being taught.

Where are the lessons on knowing one’s unique interests, the ability to trust one’s gut, and the skills to weather the meandering path characteristic of most people’s lives?

Jeremy Stuart’s recent film “Self-Taught” chronicles the lives of self-driven learners who have chosen to

embrace the world as their classroom. The film sketches a new learning paradigm that provides alternative paths for young adults who are not motivated in traditional school settings.

Of course, the current educational system works well for many; and they should be encouraged to succeed within its parameters. But for an increasing number, it is not a match.

And for these youths, home or world schooling, internships, jobs, apprenticeships, and travel may be legitimate ways to gain skills for a satisfying life.

“Children are not empty fields to be planted and sowed with seeds of knowledge. They are living ecosystems unto themselves.

Some savannas, some deserts, some woodlands, some oceans,” says Laura Grace Weldon, Author, Free Range Learning.

Freedom to think one’s own thoughts

One Mom with whom I consulted about her teen was particularly concerned – afraid and angry – that her 19-year-old son after a year at college had concluded, decisively, that he did not wish to return or to attend any college for that matter. In my office, her son related that the culture of drinking, the subject matter of most of the curricula and the professor-driven style of information delivery was not working for him. “I want to learn what I want to learn how I want to learn it,” he asserted with bright eyes and a sense of clarity that is rare for a young adult of his age. While he wasn’t exactly sure what this looked like, he had a few ideas and his conviction that the current college experience was not his path appeared to resonate from deep within. The sprouts of

authenticity.

“He’s going to lounge on the couch and play video games or start smoking pot.” Mom boomed from the other end of the couch, effectively stomping on the new life blossoming beside her.

“He needs direction and opportunities. That’s what college is for.”

In fact, most young adults who do not have a psychiatric disorder if trusted with their lives, will demonstrate competence, learn and succeed; they will not choose to waste time given support and an empathic ear from adults – friends, family, folks they meet in job or travel. It might not be on the timeline we envision. But so what? “Rewards, bribes and grades cannot provide the soil of motivation that children find in their own increasing competence driven by their own passions and interests,” Weldon writes.

Parents are devoted, worried and want the best for their teens; I get it. And our desire to control teens into early adulthood because we want the best for them may not allow the necessary space and time for them to determine what is best for them.

“How can I let my 20-old know that I don’t approve of her tattoo?” one concerned dad asked. A tough question. When we hold certain values dear, (no tattoos, get a steady job, no drugs), it’s difficult to see them challenged. When making a decision about whether to give older teens, over whom we have little control, our opinion, I invite parents to ask themselves “Is telling them what I think worth straining the connection?”

Perhaps Code BLU, Better Left Unsaid, would preserve the relationship so you can continue to communicate about issues that

have an even greater consequence than that tattoo.

Parental advice about what they should be doing, unless it comports with their budding vision of themselves, will usually be taken as a criticism. This will fray the connection.

So, as our young adults challenge us, our institutions and our values take

a moment to notice what’s going on inside. What are we afraid of? Maybe our young adults will learn unimagined lessons if we have the courage to step outside what we believe is right for them, because it was right for us, and let them teach us what they’re here for. (psychologytoday.com)

By Jonathan Stevens, MD, MPH

W

ith rates of suicide attempts and suicide completions drastically rising for children and adolescents, we need to better understand and recognise hidden risk factors that increase suicidal thoughts and behaviours in youth and to develop new interventions.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that suicide is now the second leading cause of death for those between ages 10 to 17. Ten years ago, suicide was the fourth leading cause of death for this age group.

Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States, and about 32 per cent of adolescents have at least one anxiety disorder. Individuals with anxiety are 10 times more likely to engage in suicide-related behaviours compared to the general population. Social anxiety symptoms, like social isolation and worry, are especially prevalent in youth. Children with anxiety disorders often have difficulties in social and interpersonal functioning, which can lead to negative self-talk, which, in turn, can lead to suicide-related behaviours.

Although we often focus on depression as the sign that should prompt us to ask about potential suicidal thoughts, anxiety is a common risk factor that has been linked to suicide and should not be overlooked.

Poor sleep

Sleep problems contribute to many different health issues, including depression, anxiety, and heart problems.

One study found that children with greater anxiety symptoms have an increased risk of suicidal ideation later in life especially if they report more sleep problems. Additionally, these sleep disturbances can lead to greater anxiety symptoms or even new symptoms over time (eg, depression symptoms).

Mental health providers may want to consider implementing sleep assessments in conjunction with suicide risk assessments, particularly as research shows that sleep problems are one of the strongest predictors of suicide.

Treatment methods targeting sleep disturbances, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), have been shown to be effective for reducing poor sleep as well as helping individuals with anxiety disorders.

Violence

When adolescents are the victims or perpetrators of violence, they are at an increased risk for engaging in suicide-related behaviours, especially suicide attempts and completions. Interpersonal violence exposure may increase suicide capability because individuals are more accustomed to the fear of death or an increased pain tolerance.

Those who are both victims and participators (eg, bullying-victims) are at an even higher risk compared to adolescents who are only victims of or participate in interpersonal violence.

Mental health providers who work with individuals or communities that have high rates of exposure to violence (eg, juvenile justice systems, trauma-focused agencies) should be especially aware of this risk factor when performing suicide risk assessments.

NEWS

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SATurday, DECEMBER 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Free and fair elections Diamond Diagnostic Centre integral for credible Urgent need for more nurses, investments – AmCham midwives – Deputy CMO

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he American Chamber of Commerce in Guyana (AmCham) on Thursday evening hosted its inaugural Black Tie Recognition Gala, reflecting on their achievements throughout the year and their plans for 2020.

President of AmCham Guyana, Zulfikar Ali expressed that the organisation will remain committed to partnering with other agencies to ensure free and fair elections at the upcoming March 2, 2020, polls.

This is indeed important, he noted, in building investors’ confidence in the local markets.

Along with that, the US embassy has come on board with the Chamber to provide training and other necessities at that time.

“Our organisation is committed to working with other Private Sector organisations, international partners and members of the diplomatic community to promote for free and fair elections, the maintenance of the rule of law and the respect of Guyana’s Constitution – all of which are integral and critical for the growth of business, the attraction of credible investment and investors; and the general wellbeing of all Guyanese,” Ali expressed while addressing the gathering at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.

He added that he knows that “we all share our freedoms and liberty. It is what drives nation-building and entrepreneurship.

These should not be taken for granted. AmCham in collaboration with the US embassy in Guyana will provide training for journalists and

…as hospital operates on mere 25% staff

A

AmCham President Zulfikar Ali

elections reporting, which is critical during these times.”

Reflecting on 2019, he said that through the support of local and foreign companies, they were able to achieve more than the intended target.

“What is unique about the support is that it came from both international as well as local companies…At AmCham Guyana, we will be using this time to plan for the year ahead since we are very pleased that we have exceeded our expectations and met our targets for 2019. 2020 promises to be an exciting year not only for AmCham but for the people of Guyana.”

Meanwhile, US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch in her address, indicated that business should also entail giving back to communities.

“To have the name America in your title has certain advantages but it also comes with certain responsibilities. You need to

represent what is best about America in both how you do business and also how you live in your community. American values, like Guyanese values, include the power of giving to make communities better,” the diplomat asserted.

AmCham Guyana is a voluntary, non-profit, membership organisation committed to promoting and enhancing commercial relations between the United States and Guyana. The Chamber has grown since its establishment in 2018, with just under 100 members in such a short span of time.

AmCham said its purpose is to “promote AmericaGuyana bilateral trade opportunities and activities; to improve market access for America-Guyana goods and services; to provide an economic, social, and policy platform for its members; to encourage networking and build business connections, among others.

delegation from the Public Health Ministry recently conducted a tour of the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, which revealed that the hospital is currently operating at a mere 25 per cent of its nurses and midwives’ capacity.

This is according to Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr Karen Boyle, who also revealed that the facility is in dire need of more nurses and midwives to help to improve the efficiency of the hospital.

“The hospital seems to be operating at 25 per cent of the midwives and nurses that they need so it’s really critical that we increase the nurses and midwives here,” Dr Boyle stated.

Dr Boyle committed to addressing the matter with urgency and promised to meet with the Regional Health Services Department of Region Four to have discussions on the way forward.

Notwithstanding the difficulties currently faced by the hospital, Dr Boyle expressed her overall satisfaction with the quality of services offered.

According to the DCMO, the hospital currently has two ObstetricianGynaecologists (Ob-Gyn) operating Ob-Gyn services; however, more support staff is needed in order for the facility to be able to effective-

Deputy CMO, Dr Karen Boyle

ly provide a 24-hour service.

“We need more nurses; however, to function in a number of areas as a 24hour hospital we will cer-

tainly need more nurses and midwives and I think this is a problem that we are having countrywide. We are going to have to go back and to look and see how we can shift some nurses around because the truth of the matter

is that every so often, countries from the north come in and they raise their flags and are able to attract some of our brightest nurses”.

She added that there are serious challenges in terms of registered nurses and midwives. “So, this is a particular area that we will have to find out how we can shift nurses and midwives from various regions to lend services here at Diamond so that we can have 24 -hour deliveries; a shift system that must be in place for this Diagnosis Centre to really function the way that we envision to serve the East Bank corridor,” Dr Boyle expressed.

With regard to the hospital’s capacity to meet de-

mands, a concern of many residents, Dr Boyle stated that the Public Health Ministry has been receiving input from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) in an effort to address this issue.

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Guyanese can attest to Govt’s incompetence – Opposition Leader

…says no reason for APNU to go “ballistic” on US analyst

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has condemned the APNU/AFC coalition Government for its unfair bashing of Dr Evan Ellis, a research professor and author at the Institute of Strategic Studies of the United States (US) Army War College, who is currently employed at the US State Department, for his assessment of Guyana. Dr Ellis in his paper Journals of America, Third Edition, had expressed his belief that the

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is likely to win the upcoming General and Regional elections slated for March 2, 2020. On Thursday, Jagdeo, in addressing the instant bashing reaction by APNU towards Dr Ellis, said, “you saw how ballistic they went – APNU – when some old story was resurrected from a Mr Ellis about…he said that the PPP is likely to win the 2020 elections and they went ballistic, the whole Chronicle [State’s newspaper] was all about cussing out Ellis, etc.”

The Opposition Leader stated that Ellis’ report was nothing for APNU/AFC to be furious over as his comments are merely a reiteration of the sentiments of the Guyanese people.

“But what Ellis is saying… we don’t need Ellis to tell you this. You go at the street corners in Georgetown or around the country. Why do we need Ellis to tell us this? The whole

Shifts…

Analyst and US State Department employee, Dr Evan Ellis

country knows this…because of the incompetence. We can’t last five years more with this bunch. They don’t have a vision, don’t have any plan, they’re just corrupt, incompetent, what else? Everything you can think about. We are going nowhere. In fact, they are running down our reserves. So why go after Ellis?” the Opposition Leader stated.

Dr Ellis, in his publication, also made a number of other observations including

President David Granger

the fact that Guyana is beset by territorial threats on two of its borders, as well as a troubled hinterland. He also highlighted the fact that lack of resources continues to be a major hindrance.

According to Ellis, Guyana’s borders with Suriname and Venezuela present different challenges.

While Suriname claims the New River Triangle — a remote and sparsely populated piece of land in the interior— Venezuela has laid claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.

In his journal, Ellis then went on to speak about the narco-trafficking and the presence of criminal gangs from neighbouring countries within Guyana’s borders. In particular, he cited the Corentyne River delta and the fallout these issues have had on innocent fishermen, including over a dozen fishermen who were murdered last year off the coast of Suriname.

Under the Administration of David Granger, he added, the Government has made tangible, albeit limited steps to respond to the security challenges facing the nation.

“In general, the Government response has been hampered by a combination of a lack of resources available to the security sector and a deeply entrenched culture of societal corruption,” Dr Ellis noted. He added that Guyana’s security challenges are compounded by a domestic political crisis which has not only impeded the Government’s ability to respond but also has the potential to generate significant internal unrest and invite opportunistic challenges to Guyana’s sovereignty by neighbouring Venezuela and Suriname.

Dr Ellis also noted that a number of unlicensed gold mining occurs in the interior of Guyana, particularly in the Cuyuni and Mazaruni River basins west of Bartica.

He observed that these mining operations cause severe environmental damage owing to the toxic chemicals used during the process.

“Such informal mining also attracts a range of illicit activities such as prostitution. Moreover, in the relatively lawless context of remote mining communities, the combination of gold, cash, alcohol and other factors also contributes to high levels of violence and crime among those participating in the mining economy of the area.”

Turn to page 10

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…in cleavages ell! Well! Well! Boris Johnson’s gamble on calling a snap election has paid off big time for the Tories – but moreso for himself!! With a solid majority of at least 78 seats in the House of Commons and his nearest rival, the Labour Party, over 160 seats away and splintered, Johnson can pretty much write his own ticket.

He’d already purged the Conservative Party of his rivals, and replaced them with younger faces who’re completely beholden to him.

But apart from the not inconsequential fact that the Brits can run off an election with 47 MILLION voters in 1½ months, what else can we learn from our erstwhile colonial ruler, who “tutored” us in politics?!! Well, right off the (electoral) bat, we can tell those same tutors that even though they had insisted we should all shrug off our various cultures and assimilate into one (English-dominated) culture…the election clearly shows their own people haven’t heeded that bit of advice!

Anymore!!

When “Britannia ruled the waves”, it was easier to convince the “ethnic” Scots, the Welsh and the Irish (the four kingdoms that made up the “United Kingdom”) about just being “Brits”. They all could lord it over and rule us “natives” in their empire - on which the sun never set. Most of our overseers on the sugar plantations, for instance, were impoverished Irish and Scottish young men who could tower over us.

In democratic politics, where political parties vie for power, the point of the game is to garner the greatest number of votes. The key variable is the main cleavages in the society - along which the parties can mobilise by pushing the “cause” of one or the other self-identified groups. After WWII in Britain, the cleavage of class became dominant, and catapulted the Labour Party over the Tories even with the indomitable Churchill at their helm.

What the Tories have done right now is to create a new line of cleavage: culture -- Brits against foreigners -- which subsumed the old one of class on the question of Brexit, and threw out all those Poles and others from Eastern Europe.

Even the blue collar workers fell into line with the Toffs: it was “us against them”! Lesson for us in Guyana is whether we’ll continue to accept the old cleavage of ethnicity to dominate, or create a new one to subsume it.

With its APNU/AFC coalition, the PNC has accepted the ethnic cleavage, but claims to “bridge” it. The PPP, on the other hand, has defined a new cleavage that subsumes the old ethnic one - competence.

By going after ALL Guyanese - who accept they’re more competent to develop Guyana than the PNC!! …funds The PNC are counting their chickens even before the cock has done his job with the hens!! Exxon has already told them that Guyana ain’t getting no oil money till after the elections. You don’t remember what that fella with the degree in “Environmentalism” whom Granger picked to run “Energy” – like picking the lamb to watch the lion!! – said on the subject?? That the first few months of oil will all be taken by the International Oil Companies (IOCs), because they have refineries that can deal with the “higher impurities”!!

But yet the Government has worked over the Governor of the Bank of Guyana to open an account at the NY Fed for the oil revenues to be put into the NRF. Why the rush??

Now, maybe there’s nothing wrong with the NYFed, but since we’ll be paying the IOCs’ income taxes from our 12.5%, does this mean we’ll be cutting a cheque from the NYFed to the GRA?? Just asking!

But isn’t all this moot? As the Opp Leader pointed out: the NRF’s ILLEGAL!! …at Ferguson’s Buckingham Palace??

Now we can understand why the PNC was so fixated on “corruption” when in opposition. As Freud explained, they were “projecting” what was on their minds onto the “other” – the PPP. Buckingham Palace was already on Fergie’s mind!!

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

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Fired diplomats will not return to Foreign Affairs Ministry – Greenidge

Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge

T

he six Guyanese diplomats who served in foreign states that were fired by the David Grangerled Administration will not be reassigned posts at the Foreign Affairs Ministry and most likely have to seek other jobs.

This is according to Foreign Secretary at the Ministry, Carl Greenidge, who on Friday told reporters that the fired Ambassadors and High Commissioners were contracted employees and that their services as per contract have been terminated.

Therefore, there is no option for them to continue service at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, he said, unless they are hired under new terms and conditions.

“Four of those Ambassadors who would have received letters from Minister Karen Cummings, are likely to be not returning to the Ministry, let me put it that way. Simply because they will no longer be members of staff of the Ministry. Some of them have contracts, they work on the basis of contracts and I am trying to recall but I don’t think any of them, any of them currently are engaged other

than on contracts. So unless they are offered something by the Ministry they can…find other opportunities, find other jobs or what have you,” Greenidge said.

However, with regard to the APNU/AFC coalition caretaker Government offering those fired diplomats job opportunities, Greenidge stated that such a question can only be “definitively” answered by President David Granger or the Foreign Affairs Minister.

On Wednesday, President Granger, speaking on the sidelines of an event, downplayed the termination of the diplomats saying that his Administration’s actions were “just a planned change”.

He insisted that it was the Government’s intention to recruit new diplomats who have reached the eligible requirements. According to him, there is no ‘shakeup’.

“There has been no shakeup.

At the start of my Presidency, I had made it clear that the Ambassadors who would be appointed would be there for only three years and that with my Government’s intention to professionalise the foreign service, that is to say, to reduce or remove political appointees and to allow career officers who had been recruited as diplomats and have been trained and educated as diplomats, to be diplomats.”

He further asserted that the Guyanese Ambassadors and High Commissioners were aware of this intention.

This decision, he said, was made after the elections were announced for March 2, 2020.

“It so happened that the contracts of many of the Ambassadors and High Commissioners expired

Cheryl Miles

Bishwaishwar Ramsaroop

Clarissa Riehl

Bayney Karran

during the time there was some uncertainty about when elections would be held and as a result of that uncertainty, some of the changes were not made.

But when it became certain that elections wouldn’t be held until March 2020, a decision was taken to proceed with those changes. So it is not a shakeup.

It is a planned change and the Ambassadors and High Commissioners knew that the intention of the Government has always been to professionalise the service.”

The Ministry’s announcement that it would be recalling Ambassadors follows speculation on the reason for former Director General Audrey Jardine-Waddell’s removal from the post. The Ministry confirmed that indeed, Waddell has been removed and will be replaced

by Charlene Phoenix as their first Permanent Secretary, with effect from December 2.

According to the Ministry, however, there are Ambassadors that have been serving for 20 years, when in fact their tenure is supposed to be 3 to 5 years. The Ministry claimed that this has impeded the work of younger, up and coming foreign service officers and that the reshuffling

was part of “promoting greater efficiency”.

A cursory check on the current Ambassadors’ residence overseas revealed only a few Ambassadors with over a decade of service abroad. But the Foreign Affairs Ministry has not revealed the names of those Ambassadors who were targeted.

However, this newspaper understands that those terminated are Hamley Case, who was posted in the United Kingdom; Bishwaishwar Ramsaroop, stationed in the twin-island republic Trinidad and Tobago; Clarissa Riehl, who was posted in Canada; Bayney Karran in China, Cheryl Miles in Venezuela, and JR Deep Ford in Switzerland. Riehl had taken the Government to task in 2016, when Attorney General Basil Williams attempted to take control of a plot of land she owns at Middle and Carmichael Streets, Georgetown, under the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act. Efforts to contact the diplomats for comments to date have proved futile.

After news broke last week about the firing of the diplomats, President David Granger contended that, “there is no

change really, it is a smooth transition from having political appointees as head of Guyanese missions to having professional Ambassadors and High Commissioners…I do not see that it would have any impact that is negative for this country because it is typical in most

countries to have professional Foreign Service officers”.

However, while Granger points to the fact that he wants to professionalise the foreign service, Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed is not a career diplomat but his services have been retained.

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Govt admits shortage of skilled staff at Foreign Affairs Ministry

T

he shortage of skilled professionals at the Foreign Affairs Ministry continues to pose major challenges in the operations both locally and in the international arena.

This is according to the Foreign Secretary at that Ministry, Carl Greenidge.

On Thursday while responding to questions from the media, he stated that the shortages occur in specific, critical areas, which are evident during Guyana’s participation at debates at the United Nations (UN), Forum of the Caribbean Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (CARIFORUM) and other international events.

“This would be in strategic issues, political science, economics, international law, environmental sciences, and a variety of these technical areas…It is a range of skills and the point I have been making for a long time is that the intake of skills into the Ministry, as governed by the Public Service Commission and the Public Service Ministry, it is overwhelmingly of people… with degrees in international relations. That is one area, or skills needed by the Ministry, and for reasons that I don’t want to go into now we have been struggling to combat those skills.”

He pointed out that another challenge in getting

Foreign Affairs Ministry

the desired staff is the language barrier or the lack of persons versed/skilled with a foreign language outside of English.

The last batch of professionals hired by the Foreign Affairs Ministry consisted of

18 individuals, but only one person had a language capacity, he noted.

According to Greenidge, the problem is evident that there is an acute shortage of ‘supporting administrative skills’ and this, in re-

ality, has a direct effect on the diplomatic work of the Ministry.

“Whether those skills are now in abundance, the answer is no. The economy, in general, is challenged by a shortage of skills and in this particular area you would find that it would take some years to flourish that especially if you lose people that have those skills already,” he added.

In recent times, when Greenidge served as Foreign Affairs Minister, he had noted that the shortage of staff at that Ministry was a thorn in the side for the smooth and effective functioning of the Administration.

“We’ve tried to recruit a range of skills, knowledgeable and experienced in the arena relevant to the issues

of sovereignty. Analytical skills, diplomatic experience, language skills and the like …we’ve tried to recruit and to put in the units that deal with these areas, whether in GT or abroad,” he had said.

But despite the recruitment of specifically skilled persons, he had stated that inevitably this process has to be a continuing exercise of recruitment.

“In all the other aspects pertaining to security, we recruited skills looking at mapping, worked with technicians looking at the maritime space, the area above the land and sea for purposes of our protection,” he also had said while admitting that there is need for persons who are skilled in a multiplicity of areas.

Miner beaten to death by teen employee

A

17-year-old, who was employed at a mining camp in South Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), has confessed to killing his boss following a dispute about money.

Dead is 31-year-old Marcellus “Ton” Reynolds, a miner of Achiwuib, South Rupununi, who owned a four-inch dredge and was killed by the teen on Thursday last at the Marudi Backdam.

Three days later, on December 8, the partially decomposed body of Reynolds was discovered by a pork-knocker, who was walking past Rice Creek, South Rupununi.

The man told the police that he noticed several carrion crows around a large “bulk” and went to investigate. According to him, upon getting closer to the area, he realised that the crows were picking on the remains of a human corpse, that had apparently been left inside what he described as a “shallow grave”.

He said that he immediately rushed to a location where other miners were operating and raised an alarm.

The police were then notified.

Investigations into the matter led to the questioning of several of Reynolds’ employees. This newspaper

was told that employees divulged to the cops that the teen was involved in an intense argument with their boss on the day he disappeared. According to the employees, the duo had a dispute over payment.

Police detained the teen and grilled him on his involvement in the miner’s death.

This led to the teenager, in the presence of his father, confessing to the cops that he had followed Reynolds to the area where his decomposed body was found and continued their argument there.

He claimed that he picked up a piece of wood and dealt fatal blows to the man’s head and saw the man fall to the ground. He confessed that following the act he returned to the campsite.

According to the police, the 17-year-old male is presently in their custody, as investigations into Reynolds’ death continue.

Meanwhile, law enforcement officials are currently trying to make arrangements to have the decomposed body removed from the area and taken to the Lethem Regional Hospital.

A post-mortem examination (PME) is expected to be done early next week.

Guyanese can attest...

From page 8

“The desperation and lawlessness in neighbouring Venezuela have led armed criminal groups, loosely referred to as sindicatos, to rob or extort those engaged in such mining, including extracting tolls along the rivers delimiting the Guyana-Venezuela border, and extorting and robbing those in Guyana itself.”

Ellis noted that while the Guyana Constitution specifies the role of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and other security institutions and there is a nominal document for National Defence Strategy, there is no overall

national security policy document. As an example, he pointed to Guyana’s Coast Guard. Meanwhile, the US Government in a statement released through its local embassy in Georgetown reiterated that its sole interest is in free, fair and peaceful elections and also noted that the end result of the upcoming elections is entirely in the hands of Guyanese: “The outcome of the election is for the people of Guyana to decide. In this regard, the only interest of the United States is in free, fair and peaceful elections on March 2.”

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US funds $500,000 project to promote transparency in extractive sectors

T

he United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has funded an Extractive Industries Transparency Project, expected to aid in the proper management and operations of the entire extractive industry.

This initiative, pegged at a whopping US$500,000, would have birthed after partnerships from the Guyana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) Secretariat, the Multi-Stakeholder Group and the industry and civil societies. Expected to commence in September 2020, the entire programme will be implemented through the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF).

In a statement issued by the US Embassy in Georgetown, it was stated that efforts behind this project are linked to building capacity for administration and management of these resources and filling the gaps which currently exist.

“Programme support will also address required changes in data collection, monitoring and reporting systems that support Guyana’s attainment of the EITI standard. Activities

will include streamlining systematic public disclosure of data from the oil, gas, mining, forestry and fishery sectors, and raising awareness among citizens about the importance of transparency and accountability in the extractives sector”.

According to USAID, the discovery of oil heightens the need for such initiative, in ensuring accountability and responsible management.

“The discovery of vast offshore oil reserves in 2017 constituted a milestone for Guyana’s economic prospects and is expected to rapidly propel Guyana’s economy upward.

During this transition period, transparency, accountability and good governance will determine Guyana’s ability to responsibly manage its extractive resources and ensure revenues benefit the Guyanese people, and this programme supports

attainment of these standards”.

The EITI is a global standard for the good governance of oil, gas and mineral resources.

Guyana will be producing first oil in a matter of months, making this a crucial project at this time.

The country has been EITI compliant since 2017 and its first report was submitted in April this year ahead of the deadline that was set. In the report, it was revealed that the extractive industry in Guyana, particularly gold mining, has contributed to 65.1 per cent of Guyana’s total exports for 2017.

According to the report, total revenues from the sector in the 2017 fiscal year amounted to $20.8 billion. The Guyana Gold Board, to which gold declarations are made, accounted for 33 per cent of this revenue.

This is followed by the Guyana Revenue Authority, 32 per cent

and the Ministry of Finance, 18 per cent.

Gold and other minerals contributed $17.4 billion or 84 per cent of revenue from the extractive industries. On the other hand, oil and gas contributed $2.8 billion or 14 per cent.

Bauxite, one of Guyana’s oldest industries, contributed $479 million or 2 per cent.

The extractive industries’ contribution to exports has a dollar value of 193.2 billion. Besides the sector’s contribution to exports, it contributed 9.3 per cent to total Government revenues and 4.2 per cent to Guyana’s total employment. Its contribution to Guyana’s overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 20 per cent.

The document also consisted of a number of recommendations inked by the crafters, one of which called for an independent audit for all financial data presented in the extractive sector.

It stated that routine disclosure of the data required by the EITI Standard and the financial data should be subjected to “credible, independent audit, applying international standards”. This was given from the

fact that while state agencies provided requisite data, it was not independently audited, as stated in the EITI standard.

Adding to that, the report contended that much of the data on the number of revenues collected or budgetary allocations were not electronically preserved. As such, if total transparency is to be addressed, systems would have to be implemented to change the format of the data.

One of the key ideas was to develop an EITI database within Government agencies to enhance the management information systems. These agencies included the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Guyana Gold Board, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the National Insurance Scheme, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Finance Ministry.

Motorcyclist severely injured in EBD accident

The motorcycle involved in the accident

A

man was severely injured and left in an unconscious state after his motorcycle was struck by a car on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) on Friday afternoon.

Based on information received, the accident occurred at about 16:35h.

According to an eyewitness, Oneika Hilliman, the motorcyclist was proceeding from Georgetown on motorcycle CE 9303, in the vicinity of Nandy Park when the incident unfolded. This newspaper was told that as he was proceeding south, a black vehicle turning left into Nandy Park resulted in a collision. A loud noise followed, alerting persons to turn their attention.

As a result of the impact, he was flung some distance and ended up colliding with a concrete median on the corner of the road. The said car then struck another vehicle which was in its path.

Officers of a nearby Police

outpost responded to the accident.

The rider of the motorcycle, in an unconscious state with severe injuries to one of his legs, was picked up by Police and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. The cycle remained at the corner of the road with shards of glass scattered.

This is the second accident in two days involving a motorcycle, with countless others recorded for the year. On Wednesday, a 16-year-old student of Bina Hill Secondary School, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) died after he lost control of the motorcycle he was riding along the Annai main access road Danillo Allicock of Surama Village, North Rupununi, Region Nine was pronounced dead on arrival at the Lethem Regional Hospital. The pillion rider, whose identity remains unknown, fled the scene with the motorcycle leaving Allicock’s body on the roadway.

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SATurday, DECEMBER 14, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Vreed-en-Hoop businesses Female artists urged to take block pedestrian sidewalk advantage of opportunities

One of the areas where the mannequins were placed

M

annequins placed by businesses along the Vreed-en-Hoop junction have been the newest form of obstruction to pedestrian traffic, and commuters are now complaining as the Christmas season approaches – a time when the

area is bustling with people.

During a visit to the area on Friday, over 15 mannequins were placed in front of the stores on the sidewalk. On the opposite side, the same was observed.

This was the situation for a string of stores leading up to

the Stelling.

Commenting on the matter, one woman explained that it is customary for businesses to “take advantage” of the roadway. She stated that many have complained and filed reports at the Police station, located just a

small distance away but little has been done.

“This is not right. I think people should be able to pass here without the fear that you might walk into a vehicle or something,” she explained.

Meanwhile, another concern was raised – the fact that children from a nearby primary school would usually traverse the roadway.

This, she noted, is highly unsafe since they are forced to walk on the roadway where vehicles are constantly navigating.

“The main thing is that those children would come out and walk this side to go home. This is a four-way.

People are not supposed to be doing that. It’s very unsafe while they’re just taking advantage of public property. The RDC (Regional Democratic Council) is right opposite this store and nothing is being done. Same for the other one (across the street)”.

Guyana Times spoke to one motorcyclist, Mokesh (only name given), who also expressed dissatisfaction with the way the roadside is occupied. He argued that it obstructs the flow of traffic when pedestrians are forced to walk at the edge of the road. Most importantly, it increases the likelihood of an accident.

Efforts to contact the Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Regional Democratic Council for a comment on the matter proved futile.

One of the paintings on display

F

emale artists were on Thursday urged at the Guyana Women Artists Association (GWAA) 31st annual art exhibition by Public Telecommunications Minister Catherine Hughes to take full advantage of the opportunities that the future presents.

The exhibition was hosted at Arthur Chung Convention Centre.

According to the Minister, she applauds the Association for their continuous work and dedication.

She said that she believes that all their efforts have paid off because of their “stick-to-itiveness” and being one of the oldest art associations not only in Guyana but in the Caribbean.

“This, to me, is the greatest evidence of your perseverance and determination to keep believing in the importance of art, artistry and the creative industry in all of our lives,” she said.

However, she said that even though there is love for

art, the industry needs to be transformed into a remunerative one.

Meanwhile, she said as Guyana is approaching its first year of oil and gas production, many opportunities will present its self. She explained that with many companies establishing offices in Guyana, artists should market themselves to have their work displayed in these buildings.

Minister Hughes also suggested that with the holidays now approaching, the females should take into consideration gifting a oneof-a-kind piece from the art pieces on display.

Furthermore, President of the GWAA, Carol Fraser explained that the event was themed “Rhythm of our Journey II” because of the vision of their founders as it presented the progress of the artists’ work.

Nevertheless, the Association was founded in 1987 and hosted its first exhibition in 1988.

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Starr Computer launches Mayor calls for reformation new surveillance software of Municipal Act

R

S

tarr Computer has partnered with a Brazilian company, Digifort Inc, to launch a surveillance software and video-monitoring intelligence in Guyana.

According to Digifort Vice President Arie Hornreich, as Guyanese prepare for the next phase of oil and gas production, they must take into consideration the more sophisticated crimes that will begin to occur.

To prepare for such a challenge, he suggested that Guyana be proactive with technology solutions.

“Growth is great but it also attracts the element that lives side-by-side with the good— which is bad. What we try to do at Digifort is create software that allows for the decision-makers and security; it can be a private company, it can be a government, to be able to have the right tools in order to perform their job more efficiently. Cameras can do a lot more work than people because cameras can multitask,” he said.

He explained that the Crime Prediction with Artificial Intelligence software has become a tool to improve the ability of people and countries to react to situations faster.

“Up to a few years ago, security was based basically in reactive, in the sense that we learn from mistakes because we would watch the video, put playback and see what had happened but that doesn’t re-

Digifort Vice President Arie Hornreich

ally resolve the situation if there was somebody killed.

Because, ok, we learned but was it worth learning through a life of somebody already lost?” he asked.

Besides, he said, “Video nowadays in the industry is directing its self more towards the proactive approach, meaning what kind of approach can we create to allow the decision-makers in the industry to be able to not sometimes prevent, but respond a lot quicker to an event that could take a lot more lives?”

He further demonstrated how the software works on huge data gathering to predict a criminal’s behaviour, facial biometry, among others.

“We are detecting a facial signature, that facial signature is very unique to the per-

son, and the most important thing is not only are we capturing those people in the database, but we can actually also compare them to a positive or negative list. So in the negative list situation, you will say this is Joan Smith and you could actually say he is being looked for the crime of, so that’s the data that we will provide,” he explained.

The software also has a mobile application that works with both iPhone and Android and will allow persons to have full control of their security system even if they are in another country.

Meanwhile, it is used in many developed countries, malls, airports, and schools to detect weapons and for licence plate recognition.

It is now available at Starr Computer Inc.

ecently re-elected Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, has called for the reformation of the Municipal and District Councils Act (Chapter 28:01), which speaks to the functioning of council and the operation management in collecting taxes among other matters.

On the sidelines of a recent event, Narine noted that the section, which specifically speaks to building codes is one which needs to be reviewed.

They are hoping to ensure that this request is granted in the coming year.

“We need to have a reform of [Chapter 28:01] and which carry the building codes and so on. Those things need to be reviewed. I will push for that in 2020,” he said.

As it relates to business properties in the capital city, the Council continues to face challenges tax collection. An ongoing process is the revaluation of properties to which the Georgetown Mayor updated that the subject ministry is currently making changes.

“It’s something that the Ministry of Communities is presently working on.

Because you have three, four and five-storey buildings in the city paying $5000, $12,000 [and] $6000 per year… The business people out there need to consider all of these

things”.

Just a few months ago, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan has stated that when the revaluation of properties across the country is completed, this data will be provided to municipalities for them to impose taxes and earn revenue.

Technical support was ordered previously to conduct the entire process and should be completed in 18 months from the initial date. This means properties and vacant lands would be revalued to determine its current worth and how much the owners should be taxed.

As soon as the process is completed, local organs will be previewed to this information and can, therefore, earn revenue for their constituencies via a new method.

“This information will be handed over to each council who will use it as they see fit.

There will be no dictation or direction from central government as to how this information will be used. This revaluation exercise will help to restore equity to rates, proportionate of values of property but, moreover, immeasurably strengthen the revenue of councils and will enable informed decision making,” Bulkan had said.

Concerns were raised

Mayor Ubraj Narine

about exploitive tactics which might be adopted by these democratic councils to garner revenue but Bulkan reassured that this will not transpire.

“Councils will be able to defend the rates applied vis-avis the services to be provided. Fundamentally, it is not expected to result in burdensome rates to domestic property owners but the bottom line is that citizens expect efficient services which comes at a cost”.

Last year, the Opposition had called out Government for the increases in taxes, which were visibly stifling the working class. It stated that they would not support such projects since citizens are burdened with taxes at the national level.

16 news

saturday, DECember 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Public education system boosted with 377 new teachers

G

uyana’s public education system has been boosted with the influx of over 370 newly trained teachers who graduated from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) on Friday.

The 85th graduation ceremony was held under the theme: "Re-branding teacher education through verbal and visual identities".

Of the 377 graduates, who hailed from all three branches countrywide, 82 are trained in early childhood, 125 trained in primary and 170 in the secondary level.

The 2019 graduating class consisted of 84 per cent females and a mere 16 per cent males. The subjects with high percentages of graduates are Agricultural Science, Business Studies, English Language, Industry Technology, Sciences and Social Studies.

Delivering the feature address at the CPCE convocation ceremony, President David Granger noted that Guyana is expected to un-

President David Granger handing over the President’s Award to CPCE’s Best Graduating Student, Ateisha Brandt

dergo vast transformations over the next 20 years especially with the launch of the “Decade of Development” initiative in January 2020.

According to the Head of State, teachers have a key role to play in the new Guyana that is being created and are expected to be the drivers of economic development. As such, he told the new graduates that they will be responsible for developing leaders for the future.

“Our children’s future is in your hands. The world depends on its teachers to help to bring out the best in its children by encouraging them to seek knowledge and skills needed to drive these knowledge-based societies of the future. Guyana looks to you to generate the human resources necessary to support economic transformation. It cannot be otherwise,” the President asserted.

He went on to assure the

A section of CPCE’s Class of 2019 at the graduation ceremony on Friday

newly trained teachers that their contributions towards the development of the country will be recognised and their labour rewarded.

President Granger continued by reflecting on the life and contributions of Guyanese educator Cyril Potter. He urged graduates to not only look at Potter as a role model but strive to emulate his many great qualities. This, he noted, is important especially since they too will be looked at as role models for the children they will be teaching and will have to pass on such

qualities.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Nicolette Henry underscored the need for the newly trained teachers to understand the paradigm shift in a 21st century education sector.

On the other hand, Principal of CPCE, Viola Rowe told the 2019 graduating class that they are now new ambassadors of excellence and need to rebrand the college with the work they do going forward.

“Go out there, teach the way you were prepared to teach and act the way you

were thought to behave.

Go well Ambassadors of Excellence, go and rebrand your alma mater… You can brand your alma mater by exercising your duty of care, engaging learners to set and achieve realistic goals, and by encouraging creativity and innovation in classrooms,” Rowe charged.

During Friday’s ceremony at the National Cultural Centre, this year’s best graduating student, Ateisha Brandt, was presented with the President’s Award from the Head of State.

1 in custody for robbery of overseas-based Berbice couple

A

man is currently in Police custody for his alleged involvement in the robbery of an overseas-based couple and their taxi driver, who were robbed at gunpoint after arriving in Guyana.

According to a senior police source, investigators had arrested six individuals in relation to the crime; however, five of those persons were released after being questioned.

The source added that at present, information suggests that the bandits were waiting to execute a robbery, and may have had knowledge that the couple was returning to Guyana and decided to stakeout since they were not sure of a specific time of the couple’s arrival.

Reports are the couple arrived at their Fourth Street Johns, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) home at about 01:00h on Tuesday and were about to enter the yard when three masked men wielding cutlasses and guns attacked them.

The armed trio was reportedly hiding in a neighbouring yard. The bandits waited until the man and

The couple’s Corentyne, Berbice home where they were robbed

woman had exited the vehicle before they made their move to rob them.

The couple was relieved of US$7000 by the armed men, who also stole several security cameras, which the husband and wife had in their possessions at that time, along with their passports.

Additionally, the bandits also stole the couple’s hand luggage, which contained other valuable items.

Meanwhile, the taxi

driver, who had picked up the couple from Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), and transported them to their Berbice home was also robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash.

However, no attempt was made by the armed men to enter the couple’s home. After they secured their loot from the man and his wife along with their taxi driver, the bandits made good their escape on foot.

Ex-FARC woman forced to have abortion granted 'victim status'

A

Colombian court late on Wednesday granted "victim status" to a former female fighter of the FARC rebel group who faced sexual violence in a historic ruling that rights groups hope will set a precedent and encourage other survivors of sexual violence to come forward.

Helena, the pseudonym used in the case to protect the woman's identity, was recruited by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels at the age of 14, according to Women's Link Worldwide, a non-governmental organisation that brought the case before the

court.

While with the FARC, Helena was forced to have an abortion, and then use contraceptives, the organisation said. She still suffers health complications from the unsafe conditions under which the procedure was forcibly performed.

The Victims' Unit a government agency in charge of managing reparations for violations that occurred during the armed conflict - rejected the inclusion of cases like Helena's in the official Victims' Registry, until now.

Per the court's ruling, the Victims' Unit must now register Helena in the Registry, guaranteeing her

legal access to reparation measures, and making it the first ruling of its kind.

"The state must guarantee specialised attention and assistance to women, girls, adolescents and older adults who survive sexual violence perpetrated by armed actors, which implies the obligation to attend to these victims in an immediate, comprehensive, specialised manner ... and for the time necessary to overcome the physical and psychological effects caused by the aggressions of those who suffered," the court ruling said, according to Women's Link Worldwide. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, december 14, 2019

17

Around the World

General election 2019: Chile protests: UN accuses security Let healing begin- PM forces of human rights abuses after extraordinary win

T

B

oris Johnson has said he hopes his party’s “extraordinary” election win will bring “closure” to the Brexit debate and “let the healing begin”.

Speaking in Downing Street, he said he would seek to repay the trust placed in him by Labour supporters who had voted Conservative for the first time.

He said he would not ignore those who opposed Brexit as he builds with Europe a partnership “of sovereign equals”.

The Tories have won a Commons majority of 80, the party’s largest since 1987.

It means the UK is heading out of the EU at the end of next month, the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg said, with Johnson’s “thumping” majority allowing him to get the laws required through Parliament “in a matter of weeks”.

The Conservatives’ victory in the 650th and final contest

“We are going to unite and level up” - Boris Johnson speaks outside Downing Street

of the election - the seat of St Ives, in Cornwall - took their total number of MPs up to 365.

Labour finished on 203, the SNP 48, Liberal Democrats 11 and the DUP eight.

Sinn Fein has seven MPs, Plaid Cymru four and Northern Ireland’s SDLP has two. The Green Party and NI’s Alliance Party have one each.

The Brexit Party - which triumphed in the summer’s European Parliament elections - failed to win any

Westminster seats.

The Conservatives swept aside Labour in its traditional heartlands in the Midlands and the north of England and picked up seats across Wales, while holding off the Lib Dem challenge in many seats in the south of England.

Voter turnout overall, on a cold and damp polling day, was 67.3 per cent, which is down by 1.5 per cent on the 2017 total. (Excerpt from BBC News)

he UN has accused the Chilean Police and armed forces of committing serious human rights violations in their response to recent mass demonstrations.

UN investigators say they have verified four cases of unlawful deaths involving state agents.

It notes 345 people have suffered eye trauma from pellets, with torture and sexual violence also highlighted.

Some 1600 people remain in pre-trial detention out of 28,000 detained since mid-October.

Protesters are demanding social reforms and changes to a constitution that dates back to the pre-democracy era of the late military leader, Augusto Pinochet.

At least 26 people have been killed and hundreds injured in the unrest.

The report by the UN human rights office said official Chilean figures of more than 4900 people in-

More than 340 protesters have sustained eye injuries

jured in the demonstrations were disputed and other sources had far higher estimates.

The UN documented 113 specific cases of torture and ill-treatment and 24 cases of sexual violence against women, men and adolescents by members of the police and army.

The UN team noted the "unnecessary and disproportionate use of less-lethal weapons" such as anti-riot shotguns and tear gas.

"We have found that the overall management of as-

semblies by police was carried out in a fundamentally repressive manner," Imma Guerras-Delgado, UN mission team leader, told a Geneva news briefing.

The protests were triggered by an announcement that public transport fares would rise in the capital, Santiago.

Demonstrations quickly spread across the country and grew into a general revolt against inequality, the high price of healthcare and poor funding for education. (Excerpt from BBC News)

at the US-Mexican border to apply for asylum in Guatemala instead.

The program initially will be applied to the US Border Patrol station in El Paso, Texas. The first phase will target adults from Honduras and El Salvador.

Interior Minister Enrique Degenhart said that a total of 24 people have been sent to Guatemala under the program.

Of those “only two have requested asylum (in Guatemala),” Degenhart

said during a visit by Acting US Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf.

While the asylum agreement with Guatemala will start slowly, the Trump administration intends to make few exceptions.

Federal immigration officials have been instructed not to apply the program to unaccompanied children, migrants with valid US travel documents, or cases of public interest, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services officials and documents.

(Reuters)

Trump impeachment: Committee US asylum seekers sent to Guatemala sends charges to full House for vote preferring to return to home countries

A

key committee of the US House of Representatives voted along party lines on Friday to approve two articles of impeachment against Donald Trump, charging the President with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The action by the Judiciary Committee sets up a historic vote next week in the full House that could make President Trump only the third President in US history to be impeached.

Democrats who control the House accuse the President of betraying the public trust by withholding $391 million in military aid to pressure Ukraine President Volody myr Zelenskyy to announce an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden, one of Trump’s top political rivals.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing, calling the im-

peachment inquiry a “witchhunt” and “sham”.

The Intelligence Committee held public hearings with 12 witnesses and produced text messages and emails showing Trump and key Administration officials pressured Zelenskyy to announce the politically motivated investigations.

Nine Administration officials refused to comply with House requests to testify, complying with orders from Trump and White House lawyers not to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry.

Republicans argued a higher level of proof was required to charge the President with any criminal offence and accused the Democrats of putting forward a nebulous, ambiguous charge of abuse of power.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday the

U

US Representative Sheila Jackson Lee speaking during a House Judiciary Committee markup of Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump in Washington, US [Matt McClain/ Reuters]

full House will take up impeachment next week. If the House votes to impeach Trump, a trial would be held in the Republican-led Senate.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Removable solar panels boost storm readiness in Dominica

W

hen Hurricane Maria flattened the Caribbean island of Dominica in 2017, the fierce storm left the country in the dark.

"Everything was out.

There was no electricity. The whole electrical grid was down," recalled Williams Fitzroy, an engineer and inspector for the Ministry of Public Works.

The blackout caused huge problems, especially at surviving health centres, which were left battling without lights or power for equipment to treat victims of the Category 5 storm, the island's

most powerful in nearly two centuries.

Nurses had to be working with flashlights and lanterns in the evenings," Fitzroy said of the hurricane, which killed more than 50 people and ruined 90% of the island's buildings.

But two years on, health centres on the tiny mountainous island of 72,000 people are better prepared for the next storm, as climate change fuels more powerful hurricanes across the Caribbean.

With help from the French group Electriciens sans Frontieres (ESF - Electricians Without Borders), six of the

island's health centres have now been fitted with solar panels and battery storage systems that allow them to run off-grid.

When hurricanes approach, the roof-top panels can be removed and stored inside to protect them, then quickly put back after the storms pass, said Jeremy Gallet, ESF's executive director.

The battery systems also allow health facilities to run for up to three days without electricity, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by telephone. (Excerpt from Reuters)

S asylum seekers sent to Guatemala under a new Trump administration program have mostly preferred to return to their country of origin instead of staying in the Central American nation, Guatemala’s Interior Minister said on Thursday.

The new effort began after the administration of US President Donald Trump brokered an agreement with the Guatemalan government in July. The deal will allow US immigration officials to send migrants requesting asylum

St Martin: Protesters battle with Gendarmes as anger over PPRN plan escalates

G

endarmes in riot gear pulled down barricades and doused garbage bin fires to unblock main roads on the French side of St Martin on Thursday while firing tear gas canisters to disperse protesters in the strongest signal yet that the local St Martin population will not accept the State’s Natural Risk Prevention Plan (PPRN).

It is thought the Enquiry Commission’s favourable report and conclusions on the PPRN released on Tuesday triggered the latest protest, while the ongoing issue of the potable water situation is another grievance.

However, the latter issue has been resolved, ac-

cording to an announcement by the Préfecture on Thursday, and the “all clear” to drink water from the taps will be given next week if regional health authority ARS confirms the latest test results.

Roads were blocked in St James, Grand Case and French Quarter, paralysing traffic and bringing normal activity to a standstill. The unrest continued all day and into the evening. The Préfecture appealed for motorists not to use the roads unless absolutely necessary. All school bus transportation was cancelled for the day and all public schools ordered closed today, Friday.

Sandy Ground, the main scene of a prolonged stand-

off between Gendarmes and protestors since very early in the morning, resembled a war zone by 13:00h with debris and burning tyres strewn over the road.

Several wrecked cars and barricades were set alight, thick black smoke filling the air.

Wrecked cars blocked the main road on either side of the bridge as a large group of protestors commandeered it, preventing any access except for emergency vehicles. Some two hours passed before Gendarmes decided to force their way over the bridge from the Marigot side, backed up by a convoy of trucks and other Gendarmerie vehicles.

(Excerpt from The Daily Herald)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, december 14, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

dilbert

(April 20May 20)

Peanuts

Live and learn. If you observe what others do and say, it will lead to a revelation regarding how you feel about someone you thought you knew. Don’t share personal information.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

ome is where the heart is, and spending time with loved ones will make your day. Romance is on the rise, and a gesture you make will win someone over.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Information is golden.

Plan to get together with someone who can provide you with valuable information. What you learn will change how you move forward. Make romantic plans with someone special.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Spend less and do more.

Offering to help others will have a greater impact than a material gift. Don’t let little things upset you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

You are onto something big. Elaborate and discuss your plans with someone whom you respect intellectually. A collaborative session will lead to an interesting proposal. Romance is featured.

When in doubt, ask questions. Be prepared to compromise, but don’t agree to something that you won’t be able to honor. It may be time to make a move.

Stop making comparisons and start building your own narrative. Take it upon yourself to bring about change and to distance yourself from what you don’t feel is to your advantage.

Change is overdue.

Put a plan in place that will give you the incentive to take care of business and free up some time for a fun activity with a loved one.

Question what othSAGITTARIUS ers want and what motives (Nov. 23someone who is being too Dec. 21) generous or complimentary might have. Don’t believe everything you hear or invest in someone else’s plan.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOr LAST PUBLISHED puzzle AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Host a gathering or attend a festive event that will give you a chance to spend time with someone you won’t get to see over the holidays.

Romance is on the rise.

Do whatever it takes to make someone you care about happy. Today is a great chance to make up for lost time and enjoy activities with the ones you love. Plan an eventful day.

Too much idle time will lead to trouble. Avoid getting involved in indulgent behavior with someone who entices you to do things you shouldn’t. Self-improvement should be your focus.

saturday, DECember 14, 2019

19

round-up: Embiid takes

over late as 76ers stop Celtics J

oel Embiid scored a season-high 38 points and added 13 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers handed the Boston Celtics their first home loss 115-109 Thursday night.

Tobias Harris added 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as Mike Scott scored 15 on five 3-pointers as the 76ers won their fourth straight and for the eighth time in their last nine. Philadelphia narrowed the list of undefeated teams at home to itself and Miami.

Kemba Walker had 29 points, and Enes Kanter (20) and Daniel Theis (16) each enjoyed season-high scoring nights for the Celtics, who dropped their second straight.

Al Horford (knee, hamstring) missed his first game back in Boston since joining the 76ers as a free agent in the offseason. A Celtic for three seasons, he received a standing ovation when shown on the jumbotron.

team in the contest.

Denver Nuggets 114 - Portland Trail Blazers 99

Nikola Jokic had 20 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, Jerami Grant also scored 20 points and host Denver beat Portland, ending the Nuggets’ three-game skid.

Will Barton finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, Gary Harris also scored 15 and Jamal Murray scored 12 points for Denver.

Hassan Whiteside had a game-high 33 points to go with 11 rebounds and four blocked shots for the Trail Blazers. Carmelo Anthony had 20 points and nine rebounds in his first game against his former team since joining Portland.

Cleveland Cavaliers 117 - San Antonio Spurs 109 (OT)

Dallas Mavericks 122 - Detroit Pistons 111

Luka Doncic recorded the first triple-double at an NBA neutral site in 46 years in Dallas’ victory over Detroit in Mexico City.

Doncic dazzled NBA fans south of the border with 41 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. His triple-double was the 16th of his career, with his 41 points coming up one shy of his personal record in a triple-double, which he set last month against San Antonio.

Seth Curry matched his teammate with

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton (2) drives around San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White (USA Today Sports)

six 3-pointers en route to 30 points, one off his career-best. Andre Drummond regis-

tered a 23-point, 15-rebound double-double for Detroit, which was the designated home

Youth Basketball Guyana Titan Bowl X…

Kevin Love scored a season-high 30 points, including a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime, and pulled down 17 rebounds as visiting Cleveland outlasted San Antonio.

The Cavaliers snapped an eight-game losing streak on the second night of a homeroad back to back. It was the third straight overtime game for the Spurs.

Collin Sexton added 28 points, with Jordan Clarkson hitting for 25 off the bench for Cleveland. DeMar DeRozan led San Antonio with 21 points while LaMarcus Aldridge scored 18 points and took 10 rebounds. (Reuters)

President’s College, Marian Academy, NATI record wins T

he first night of the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Titan Bowl X bounced off at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Thursday in the under-18 category.

The night saw President’s College, Marian Academy and New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) registering commanding wins to highlight the action.

The first match saw President’s College pitted against Christ Church, with the latter being on the receiving end of a thrashing, as President’s College won the match 57-10.

Scoring for President’s College were Gabriel Lim, who had 19 points and 16 rebounds, while Ruel Monroe supported with 13 points and 3 rebounds. Meanwhile, the Christ Church top-scorer

was Rahiem Neils with 6 points and 3 rebounds.

In the second game, M a r i a n Academy battled S a i n t Stanislaus College in a backand-forth encounter that ended in favour of Marian Academy at 39-23. Scoring for Marian Academy were Josiah Daniels, with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals; while Tyrese James chipped in with 8 points and

3 rebounds.

In the final matchup, New Amsterdam Technical Institute and Kwakwani battled to the very end in an absolute thriller. The game ended 39-36 in favour of the New Amsterdam side, but both teams presented the perfect example of how com-

petitive basketball should be played.

Scoring for New Amsterdam, Kadeen Dover compiled 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals; while Gevon Schultz chipped in with 8 points and 4 rebounds.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturday, DECember 14, 2019

Jurgen Klopp signs new Liverpool deal until 2024 L

iverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has signed a new deal with the club that will run until 2024.

Klopp, who joined the Reds in October 2015, signed a new six-year contract in July 2016 and that has now been extended further.

Liverpool won the Champions League under the German last season and finished second in the Premier League.

They lead the top flight this season and have an eight-point lead in pursuit of a first league title since 1990.

"This club is in such a good place, I couldn't contemplate leaving," Klopp, 52, told Liverpool's website.

"For me personally this is a statement of intent, one which is built on my knowledge of what we as a partnership have achieved so far and what is still there for us to achieve.

"When I see the development of the club and the collaborative work that continues to take place, I feel my contribution can only grow.

"People see what happens on the pitch as a measure of our progress and although it is the best measure, it's not the only measure. I have seen the commitment from ownership through to every aspect and function of the club you can think of.

"When the call came in autumn 2015, I felt we were perfect for each other; if anything, now I feel I underestimated that.

"It is only with a total belief that the collaboration remains totally complementary on both sides that I am able to make this commitment to 2024.

"If I didn't, I would not be re-signing."

Liverpool lost only one game in the Premier League last season as they amassed 97 points but missed out on the title by a point to Manchester City.

This time around, they are unbeaten in the league - having won 15 and drawn one of their 16 games - and hold an eight-point lead over second-placed Leicester City and a 14-point advantage over Manchester City.

The Reds host Watford on Saturday at 12:30 GMT before their main squad head off to Qatar to play in the Fifa Club World Cup. Liverpool have also progressed through to the knockout stages of the Champions League as they attempt to defend a trophy they won in June by beating Tottenham in Madrid.

Klopp's assistants Peter Krawietz and Pepijn Lijnders have also extended their deals with the club.

Milner signs new deal until 2022

Liverpool midfielder James Milner has agreed a contract extension to stay at the Premier League leaders until 2022.

The 33-year-old joined the Reds on a free transfer from Manchester City in June 2015 and is in the final season of his present deal.

He won the Champions League with Liverpool last season, adding a Super Cup winners' medal in August.

"This was obviously the ideal for me - stay and play at the highest level as long as I can," Milner said.

"There's a long, long way to go, but we'll keep striving to keep improving and getting success for this club."

(BBC Sport)

Jurgen Klopp

James Milner

‘Fully committed’ Dwayne Bravo comes out of T20I retirement

F

ormer West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo has officially come out of international retirement, making himself available for selection in the West Indies T20I side in the lead-up to their men’s T20 World Cup defence in Australia next year. Bravo, however, confirmed that he didn’t want to play any other format. “I would like to announce my return to international T20s for West Indies,” Bravo told ESPNcricinfo in Chennai. “Once selected I’ll be fully committed to represent the region again in T20 cricket, which I think is ex-

citing for West Indies cricket and fans, with the young talents around.”

Bravo had called time on his international career in October 2018, and turned his focus to playing franchise T20 cricket around the world.

The 36-year old allrounder has now made a u-turn following drastic changes in the West Indies management. Ricky Skerritt has replaced Dave Cameron as the board president and former T20 World Cup-winning coach Phil Simmons is back in the mix. As part of the revamp, Kieron Pollard had been appointed captain of

both the limited-overs teams ahead of the trip to India.

Bravo said that he was impressed by the clarity of thought and transparency in selection from the new management.

“They understand and listen, they will have dialogues going back and forth, that’s the difference,” he said. “And that’s why it was so easy for me to make a decision to come back and represent West Indies again. I speak to the captain, coach, the president, director of cricket and chairman of selectors, and I’ve confirmed that I’ll be available for T20I selection.”

Bravo’s return to T20I cricket is another step from West Indies towards getting the band back together for their T20I World Cup defence in 2020. More recently, Pollard captained West Indies to their first ODI series victory in five years, against Afghanistan, and then his side challenged a fullstrength India side in a threematch T20I series. Batsman Lendl Simmons came out of nowhere and made a match-winning half-century in Thiruvananthapuram to force the series into a decider in Mumbai.

It is understood that both allrounder Andre Russell and offspinner Sunil Narine could have been in contention for selection for the India tour had they been fit enough.

“If Russell is back, myself, and Narine is back...

We don’t know what the Universe Boss is doing but you never know,” Bravo said.

“He can also be available. We will love to have him around as he’s a father figure for all of us and we respect him.

Having a Chris Gayle in the team is always special, but it’s up to him to make his decision. But, like I said, we’re looking forward to put the squad together. Whenever we put an XI on the field, it will be an XI that people will come to watch.”

As one of the seniors in the West Indies set-up, along with captain Pollard, Bravo said his role would be to help ease the pressure on young talents who are finding their feet at the international level. Bravo echoed Pollard’s comments made on the eve of the series opener against India, hoping to create a nurturing environment.

“We [seniors] just have to talk to them [the youngsters] and allow them to make their mistakes and allow them to

Dwayne Bravo last played a T20 in September 2016

figure out their game,” Bravo said. “Give them the opportunity and let them know that they belong to the system.

What used to be the problem in the past is if a player played two-three games and they didn’t perform, he gets dropped.

“In these format, you expect players to fail, especially when you’re a top-order player because your role and responsibility is to get the team off to a flier and that takes a lot of risks. You just have to give players opportunities and back them - whether they’re performing or not.”

Pollard’s proactive captaincy had been one of the major talking points during the three-match T20I series against India. In Hyderabad, he had deployed twin short midwickets against Virat Kohli and when he was leading Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL in the absence of Bravo, his in-your-face captaincy and aggressive approach worked for the franchise.

“Yeah, he [Pollard] is definitely one who loves to win,”

Bravo said. “The guys respect him a lot because of what he has achieved in cricket. Him and Phil [Simmons] have a very good captain-and-coach relationship and they’re going to lead the team in the direction where it should be. Just happy to do what I can to contribute to building something special.

“I’m very close to everyone on this team and I know if I walk in, everyone will be happy. But for me, it’s not about me going back to try to be the person. It’s just me going back thankful for another opportunity to represent the team again and also help nurture these young talented players and give them my experience and knowledge.

I will try to assist them in whatever way I can.”

Bravo has been troubled by injuries in 2019, having been sidelined from part of the IPL (hamstring) and the entire CPL (broken finger). He, however, returned to action in the T10 league in the UAE and led Maratha Arabians to the title.

(CWI and Cricinfo)

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, DECember 14, 2019

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR SALE For sale as is, 2006 Nissan Bluebird Sylphy, $1.2M call 651-9620.

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21

Dragon Stout Community Cup Futsal competition set for December 17 kick-off O

n December 17, 2019 the National Gymnasium will come alive when the Dragon Stout Community Cup Futsal competition kicks off.

The competition, which was originally scheduled to be held in November but was pushed backed to December, will feature 16 teams. It will see matches being run off on December 19, to be followed by the semifinal matches and final match on December 28, 2019.

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, at launch of the event, noted that the National Gymnasium has seen many futsal tourna-

ments over many years, and many memorable moments have been featured. Jones also said that the NSC’s goal is to see the continued development of futsal, for futsal to be taken to another level in Guyana, and for the expansion of teams emanating from communities.

Jones explained that, in accordance with the vision of the NSC, the Gymnasium has been made available to play tournaments of this kind.

Dragon Stout Brand Coordinator Jamal Baird, speaking at the launching, relayed that he is expecting great competition from the

Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, and Dragon Stout Brand Coordinator Jamal Baird pose with Dragon Stout models and representatives

16 teams participating in the competition, and anticipates a great turnout of fans of the sport.

The entry fee for patrons to witness the competition has been set at $500 per person, and every patron will receive a free Dragon Stout upon entry at the

Gymnasium.

The teams participating in the competition are North East La Penitence, Albouystown, Leopold Street, Broad Street, Sophia, LA Ballers, Bent Street, Gold is Money, Back Circle, Sparta Boss, Alexander Village, Future

Stars, Tiger Bay, Melanie-B, ANSA McAL All-Stars and Showstoppers.

The winner of the event will be awarded $300,000; while the second, third and fourth place finishers will pocket $150,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.

MVP Sports on board GFF Super 16 Cup A

s part of the company’s ongoing support for the development of football and sports in general in Guyana, MVP Sports has made a tangible contribution to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) towards the successful staging of this year’s edition of the GFF Super 16 Cup, which is set to kick off on Sunday at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.

At the MVP Sports’ Giftland Mall location, Manager Eon Ramdeo, in handing over the cheque,

said the entity is pleased to be partnering with the GFF for a tournament that would feature sixteen clubs: eight top Elite League clubs and eight top clubs from the Federation’s Regional Member Associations, battling for supremacy.

“We look forward to continuing the support, not only for this tournament, but football in general, with the GFF and other sports as well,” Ramdeo declared.

GFF’s Youth Development Officer Brian Joseph, in accepting the

cheque on behalf of the Federation, thanked MVP Sports for its support, and informed that this year’s compet i t i o n promises lots of excitement, as the teams have all dedicated themselves to ensure they are all in top shape.

Over four million dollars in cash and prizes are up for the taking in this tournament.

MVP Sports’ Sales Representative Brittany Mathews handing over the sponsorship cheque to GFF’s Brian Joseph in the presence of MVP Sports’ Eon Ramdeo (left) and GFF’s Keeran Williams

BFA confident in Andel Norton as Injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar ruled out of GFF Super 16 Cup approaches West Indies ODIs

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hen River’s View FC take on Western Tigers FC on Saturday, December 21 at the Bartica Community Centre Ground in the GFF SUPER CUP, one of that club's most experienced players, Andel Norton, is expected to be the mainstay of the team.

Versatile and highly talented, Norton has been with River’s View FC since its formation. He has represented the Bartica Football Association at various levels, and has also played on the Guyana National Team at different age levels, from under-15 up.

In a bid to expand his experience, Norton left his club for one season to play for Milerock FC. However, his return to River’s View has brought much inspiration for the younger players, two of whom are his brothers.

Under the guidance of coach Wayne Dover and team, River’s View FC will be looking to make a mark on this edition of the GFF Super Cup. With home ground advantage in their opening game and the likes of Andel Norton in uniform,

B

Andel Norton during his drills

they fancy their chances at certainly above average. Norton and the River’s View boys will be in action on December 21st at the Bartica Community Centre Ground.

In a release, BFA President Alden Marslowe said, “Norton has been one of our best players for many years. Having him back on the field for River’s View and Bartica is certainly a boost to the strength of the team, and a great motivation to the other players.”

The teams in the tourna-

ment are Milerock, Pele FC, Police, Timehri Panthers, Fruta Conquerors, Buxton Stars, GDF, River’s View, Western Tigers, Santos, Eagles, Riddim Squad, and Den Amstel. The remaining two teams will come from the Champions of the Berbice and Essequibo qualifiers respectively.

Some of the entities on board with sponsorship are Pegasus Hotel, MACORP, BACIF, THAG, MVP Sports, E.C. Vieira Investments, HJ Entertainment, Impressions and NAMILCO.

huvneshwar Kumar has been ruled out of the threematch ODI series against West Indies due to a groin injury. Shardul Thakur is likely to replace him, although there has been no official statement from the BCCI or the Indian team yet.

It is understood that Bhuvneshwar picked up the injury during the preceding T20I series, which India won 2-1 earlier this week. The nature of the injury remains unknown, but it is believed that it is not related to the hamstring issue that affected Bhuvneshwar during the World Cup earlier this year.

Bharat Arun, the bowling coach gave away nothing on the injury at the press interaction in Chennai (venue for the first ODI on December 15) on Friday, saying a media statement would be issued later after consultation with the team physiotherapist. It is understood that the selectors, who are awaiting a final word from the Indian team's medical staff, are likely to name a replacement for Bhuvneshwar.

The development will come as yet another setback for Bhuvneshwar, for whom injuries have become a constant in the recent past. During the World Cup, Bhuvneshwar had to limp out of the marquee contest against Pakistan in Manchester with a hamstring strain after bowling just 2.4 overs. He made a comeback in the semi-finals, but then missed the home series against South Africa and Bangladesh recently because of what the selectors had called a niggle.

Thakur last played an ODI during the Asia Cup last September, following which he played his first - and only - Test against West Indies in October. If Bhuvneshwar is ruled out, then he will become the second player after Shikhar Dhawan to miss out from the series against West Indies. Dhawan, who hurt his knee during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy recently, was replaced by Sanju Samson for the T20I series, while Mayank Agarwal has taken his place for the ODI series. (Cricinfo)

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saturday, DECember 14, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Secondary school teams ready for KFC Goodwill kick-off

C

ome this afternoon, five local teams will battle for the ultimate bragging rights as they compete against an overseas team, an opportunity which is few and far between.

Guyana’s Annai, Waramadong, Lodge, Annandale and Marian Academy are currently gearing up to ‘face off’ with Trinidadian opponents Shiva Boys Secondary in the second annual KFC Goodwill tournament.

This six-team tournament will be played on December 14 (today), 16 and 18, with the semifinal matches and final match being played on December 20 and 22 respectively.

Speaking on the eve of the tournament’s kick-off, KFC Operations Manager Greg De Gannes said the company is always elated to be involved in youth development projects.

“KFC is happy to be the main sponsor for this tournament once again. We look forward to this tournament, and we look forward to the continued development of sports and the youths. We look forward to a continued partnership with Petra Organization; and, being that corporate sponsor that we are, to help build and develop sports and youths in Guyana,” De Gannes noted.

With keen rivalries bubbling since the recently concluded Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers League, the secondary school teams are ea-

ger to get back on the playing field to display their skills.

To this end, a few of the team captains, with the exception of Shiva Boys and Annai, who have not yet arrived in Georgetown, shared their thoughts and expectations in regard to the tournament.

The first to take the mic was Annandale’s Jerome Harrigon, who began by expressing gratitude to the sponsors and organizers. “I’d like to thank the KFC sponsors and the organizers for having football played around this teenage age. It’s very important for our country and us, as individuals.

Having Shiva Boys, Waramadong, Annai, Marian, and Lodge who is like a brother to us, we can’t ask for anything else. We’ll stay focused, put out our hundred percent, and may the best team win,” Harrigon shared.

“I’m very thankful for having come into the competition. You know, it’s a very tough challenge that we have to face. I’d like to wish the other teams a successful game, and all the best to them,” Waramadong captain Nick Bascom said.

Having made it into the Goodwill tournament after USL Montjoly’s inability to attend, Marian Academy are looking to make the most of this golden opportunity. As expressed by their captain, Randy Hamilton,

the up-and-coming team should not be taken lightly.

“Marian is new to this competition.

However, that does not mean that we’re incompetent. We do expect to put up a fight; we expect to compete fairly but fiercely. We do look forward to an incredible competition, whereby we develop new relations.

However, we look forward to coming out on top,” Hamilton asserted.

Meanwhile, recently crowned Guyoil/ Tradewind Tankers champions, Lodge Secondary, are looking to take it one game at a time, with hopes of defeating Marian Academy today.

“We got confidence in everybody, and I hope that we get a good game to start. We just want to come out Saturday (today) and get a win over Marian Academy,” Shemroy Mayers stated.

In today’s fixtures, Annai Secondary will come up against Annandale Secondary at 13hrs, and Lodge will face Marian Academy at 15 hrs.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Lodge will take on Waramadong as Shiva Boys battle with Annai at 13 hrs and 15hrs respectively.

While the preliminary games will be contested at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Training Facility at Providence, the

KFC Operations Manager Greg De Gannes

organizers are yet to decide on the venue for the final, which should take place at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Aside from KFC, the tournament is co-sponsored by Guyana Coema Construction Services, Mike’s Pharmacy, Tiger Sports, and the Trophy Stall. (Jemima Holmes)

Rising Stars U-19 Tri-Series…

West Indies, Sri Lanka clash today batsmen can put at least 220 runs on the board they (the bowlers) could have something to defend”, said West Indies U19 Captain Kimani Melius reflecting on today’s loss and looking ahead to Saturday key game versus Sri Lanka.

“We (the batsman) have been lackadaisical and haven’t shown enough intent and have to keep the game simple.” West Indies and Sri Lanks will meet today (December 14) at Coolidge Cricket Ground from 9:00h. (CWI)

SCOREBOARD

Kimani Melius leads his team off the field

A

five-wicket haul from medium pacer Kacey Aldridge was the star performer for England, as they defeated West Indies by five-wickets in day five action of Rising Stars U19 Tri-Series.

England who lost to Sri Lanka on Wednesday by 19 runs via the DLS method, decided to bowl first this time and that decision provided immediate rewards.

Opener Kirk McKenzie (who replaced Mbeki

Joseph) and wicket-keeper batsman Leonardo Julien, both were dismissed without scoring by player of the match Aldridge (9.1-3-18-5) as the West Indies slipped to 41-4 in the 15th over.

Captain Kimani Melius (35) did his best attempting to steady the ship, but when he was bowled by off-spinner Hamidullah Qadri charging down the wicket, so went the home teams batting resistance.

The r u n c h a s e was relatively comfortable for England although they lost half their wick-

ets. West Indies spin duo off left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd (105-9-1) and off-spinner Matthew Patrick (10-232-2) made a valiant effort with the ball on a surface that was giving them assistance, but they simply didn’t have enough runs to defend.

“It’s just a matter of our batsmen converting starts to big scores once they get set. The bowlers have been bowling well, so once the

West Indies Innings K Melius (c) b Hamidullah Qadri 35 K McKenzie c Cox b Aldridge 0 L Julien † c †Duke b Aldridge 0 K Anderson b Evison 2 A Morris b Goldsworthy 7 M Patrick c Charlesworth b Aldridge 11 N Young c †Duke b Cullen 17 M Forde c Charlesworth b Aldridge 15 A Nedd lbw b Goldsworthy 1 Jayden Seales b Aldridge 8 R Simmonds not out 0 Extras 20 (b 4, lb 1, nb 1, w 14) TOTAL 116 all out (40.1 Overs, RR: 2.88) Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Kirk McKenzie, 3.4 ov), 2-12 (Leonardo Julien, 5.4 ov), 3-22 (Kevlon Anderson, 11.4 ov), 4-41 (Antonio Morris, 14.3 ov), 5-70 (Kimani Melius, 25.1 ov), 6-76 (Matthew Patrick, 28.1 ov), 7-93 (Nyeem Young, 32.4 ov), 8-94 (Ashmead Nedd, 33.2 ov), 9-110 (Matthew Forde, 38.2 ov), 10116 (Jayden Seales, 40.1 ov) BOWLING BC Cullen (8-1-25-1) KL Aldridge (9.1-3-18-5) JDM Evison (4-1-11-1) LP Goldsworthy (9-0-32-2) H Qadri (10-0-25-1)

England Under-19s Innings (target: 117 runs from 50 overs) BG Charlesworth lbw b Ned d 29 JM Cox c †Julien b Simmonds 24 TGR Clark lbw b Patrick 24 LP Goldsworthy c Melius b Patrick 0 DR Mousley run out (†Julien) 7 JDM Evison not out 6 GCH Hill (c) not out 17 Extras 10 (lb 4, w 6) TOTAL 117/5 (38.1 Overs, RR: 3.06) Did not bat: BC Cullen, Hamidullah Qadri, KL Aldridge, HG Duke † Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Ben Charlesworth, 10.3 ov), 2-71 (Tom Clark, 19.5 ov), 3-83 (Lewis Goldsworthy, 25.5 ov), 4-91 (Dan Mousley, 30.1 ov), 5-93 (Jordan Cox, 31.1 ov) BOWLING M Forde (2-0-18-0) J Seales (7-1-25-0) R Simmonds (5-1-16-1) A Nedd (10-5-9-1) M Patrick (10-2-32-2) N Young (4.1-0-13-0)

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saturday, DECember 14, 2019

23

West Indies, India to clash in opening ODI on Sunday

By Brandon Corlette

F

resh from a One Day International (ODI) series win against Afghanistan, West Indies will meet a formidable Indian outfit on Sunday, December 15, from 4:30h local time.

Despite losing the T20 Series 2-1 to India, West Indies have taken confidence in the experience gained, and will be aiming for a good showing in this three-match ODI series.

Prior to the ODI series’ win against Afghanistan, West Indies had last won an ODI

was a no-result.

The last time these teams met in ODIs, on August 14 in Port of Spain, India won by six wickets. West Indies racked up 240-7 in their allotted 35 overs in a rain-marred match, but Kohli’s rapid 114 from 99 balls took India across the line to win the series 2-0.

King Kohli reigns supreme

The World number one ODI batsman, Kohli has enjoyed an impressive record against West Indies. In his 36 matches against the men in maroon, he

possible.

During the pre-match press conference, West Indies Assistant Coach Roddy Estwick called on West Indian batsmen to consider Kohli as a benchmark.

Hope’s Golden bat Without doubt, Shai Hope is one of West Indies’ best batsmen, and he is certainly up there with the best. Hope sits in third position with 1123 ODI runs in 2019, behind I n d i a ’s

Captain Kieron Pollard and his opposite number, Virat Kohli (BCCI Photos)

series in 2014. Now, under the new leadership of Kieron Pollard and Head Coach Phil Simmons, the men in maroon have looked a more determined unit.

The stats against India are not in the West Indies’ favour; their last five matches against Virat Kohli and his team went downhill for the Caribbean boys. West Indies lost four of their last five matches against India, and the other encounter

has scored nine centuries -the most he has scored against a cricketing nation.

The run machine has 2146 runs at an average of 76.64 against West Indies; and of recent, Kohli has been in sublime form in T20 matches against West Indies.

Without doubt, Kohli, who also has the most runs in ODIs in 2019, will be aiming to full his boots with as many runs as

Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The Barbadian batting sensation, who plays with a level head, has recorded seven fifties and three centuries in ODI cricket this year. He trails Kohli’s 2019 ODI tally of 1288 runs by 165 runs.

The last time West Indies played an ODI in India was back in 2018, and Hope was among the standout performers in a series that West Indies lost 3-1, including a tied match.

Hope scored 250 runs in that series, behind Shimron Hetmyer’s 259 runs, and it auditioned him for the 2019 IPL. T h e Pollardled ODI s q u a d w o u l d welcome the likes of Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Hope, Roston Chase, Sunil Ambris and Alzarri Joseph. With Chase showing good form against a quality Afghanistan spin attack, he solidifies the middle order that includes explosive duo Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran.

Evin Lewis, who sustained an injury to his knee in the final T20, will remain a doubtful starter as the ODI series looms. India starts as favourites in the three-match ODI series.

West Indies’ ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, and Hayden Walsh

Jr.

India's ODI squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja,

Yuzvendra Chahal, K u l d e e p Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.

VISA and CPL to partner for 2020 tournament

T

he Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will be working with Visa for the 2020 tournament to make the fan experience even better this year.

CPL will be “better with Visa” with cardholders getting a range of benefits when Visa is used to purchase their tickets for CPL matches.

CPL and Visa will be working together to facilitate contactless payment experience at future CPL finals to help make the culmination of the Biggest Party of Sport even easy to enjoy for the fantastic fans across the Caribbean.

Visa allows cardholders to do so much more than cash can do, allowing customers to pay for goods and services worldwide

in a secure and simple way. And unlike cash your Visa card is protected from fraud and can be replaced if it is lost or stolen. By far the easiest way to pay for tickets to Hero CPL matches is to buy them online at www.cplt20.com, and Visa is the perfect way to do so.

Hero CPL’s Commercial Director, Jamie Stewart, said: “It is a great pleasure to welcome one of the world’s great brands and one of the most admired global sports partners into the CPL Partner family. In this longterm partnership, Visa and CPL will be working together to create new benefits and experiences for CPL fans and to deliver on the promise that ‘CPL is better with Visa.”

saturday, DECember 14, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

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West Indies, India Secondary school to clash in opening teams ready for KFC ODI on Sunday Goodwill kick-off Page 22

Youth Basketball Guyana Titan Bowl X…

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President’s College, Marian Academy, NATI record wins

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