Guyana Times, Saturday July 06, 2019

Linden’s special P13 needs school records exemplary NGSA results Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3976

saturday, july 6, 2019

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Moruca murder P10 suspect attacks, chops Police while being arrested

See story on page 3

PPP/C executives, supporters reiterate calls for President to announce …say “unconstitutional election date Govt” must resign Ramjattan condemns “excessive beating” of new GDF Reserve Officers See story on page 2

Work recommences PPP/C denounces “falsehoods” on at Aurora Gold H-t-H registration Mine

Page 9

See story on page 15

…company agrees to comply with labour laws

– reiterates Govt misleading nation

Better Hope double murder

Father shot thrice, daughter once – autopsy Page 13

...Police yet to make arrest

Eco-Atlantic commences drilling P11 offshore Guyana

6 families whose homes were razed by fire get help from GRC

Boat Captain gets 2-year suspended sentence P8 for illegal gun, ammo possession Police issue wanted P10 bulletin for SASOD Head attacker

2 news

saturday, JUly 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramjattan condemns “excessive beating” of new GDF Reserve Officers

P

ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has condemned the alleged abuse of new recruits of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) which was recently brought to light and later initiated an investigation.

The Force had disclosed earlier this week that an investigation has been launched into the alleged abuse of new officers during what was described as an “initiation” process.

Ramjattan told media operatives on Friday that if such actions are true, they will not be condoned.

“If indeed there is abuse of any human beings in Guyana, this must be condemned. There is an element of ‘ragging’ that happens – this was probably overzealousness and it probably went beyond the red line. Obviously, this went a little too far to injure people,” the Minister positioned.

Major Michael Shahoud told Guyana Times on Tuesday that several of the newly commissioned ranks had complained about the treatment they received.

While the official did not divulge more information about the “excessive” whipping, he noted that the “initiation into the club” is a tradition and could not say

tion. It was reported that in the past, the newly commissioned ranks were welcomed to the club by receiving some lashes with soaps wrapped in socks. This time around, the ranks were reportedly beaten with belts and other items.

Over 50 new ranks at-

tached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were administered their oath and presented with Instruments of Commission in the presence of their Commander in Chief, President David Granger on Thursday last.

This year, 28 officers successfully complet-

ed the Standard Officers Course 50, three of which were members of the Belize Defence Force and one from the Guyana Prison Service.

In addition, 27 individuals, including six females, completed the Reserve Officers Course 16.

Thursday.

Based on reports received, a team of Police ranks of A Division conducted the exercise during which a three-acre marijuana farm was discovered and destroyed. In addition, sev-

eral nurseries and a makeshift camp with a quantity of dried marijuana were also found and burnt.

No arrests were made as Police continue their investigation.

Police destroy over 2000 ganja plants at Low Wood

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

what went wrong this time.

The issue was first highlighted in a section of the media where a young doctor, who was part of the Reserve Course, is likely to undergo surgery for an injury to his eye.

Another officer, who refused to speak on the matter when contacted, said that he had worked extremely hard to graduate the course and would not want to put himself and colleagues in a position to be victimised or stripped of their instruments.

He nevertheless confirmed that he was one the

victims who had suffered from the process. “I recalled going to sleep in pain after the exercise…it was extreme. Initially, I heard about the tradition but did not think it was this painful,” he added.

Another officer told Guyana Times that ranks who would have received their instruments on Thursday last were summoned to a meeting last Wednesday.

Following the complaints, the senior ranks believed that the incident went too far and that it was not supposed to be violent to warrant hospitalisa-

A

s the police continue its eradication exercise throughout the country, at least 2000 cannabis plants measuring four inches to five feet in height were destroyed at Low Wood, Demerara River, on

news

3

saturday, JUly 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Saturday, July 6 – 05:30h-07:00h and Sunday, July 7 – 08:00h-09:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, July 6 – 06:35h-08:05h and Sunday, July 7 – 07:30h-09:00h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to light rain showers are expected throughout the day into the evening followed by cloudy to clear skies. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to North North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 07:05h and 19:39h reaching maximum heights of 2.71 metres and 2.56 metres.

Low Tide: 13:09h reaching a minimum height of 0.52 metre.

WEDNESday, JULY 3, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

03

18

20

21

25

28

FREE TICKET

07 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

03

07

18 22

26

8

8

LUCKY 3

0

9

Afternoon Draw

8

7

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02

04

06

08

PAY DAY

01 04

05 08

09

11

21 SUPER PAY DAY

11

03 04

17 19

20

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

PPP/C executives, supporters reiterate calls for President to announce election date …say “unconstitutional Govt” must resign

H

undreds of People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) supporters braved the inclement weather on Friday morning to picket the Ministry of the Presidency, calling on President David Granger to announce a date for elections.

It has been more than half of a year since the APNU/AFC coalition Government was defeated by a No-Confidence Motion, but to date, the head of State is pussyfooting on announcing an election date nor has he shown any indication that he will do so anytime soon.

The executives of the PPP/C who led the peaceful picket exercise have reiterated the calls for the APNU/ AFC-led Government to respect Guyana’s Constitution and more so, the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Speaking to the gathering, Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali related that Guyanese stand united and are willing to fight for the respect of the country’s Constitution and democracy.

“The CCJ has made it clear that the No-Confidence Motion was validly passed and the provisions of the Constitution must kick in,” he told supporters as they stood in the rain in front of the Ministry of the Presidency.

These provisions stipulate that upon the passage of the motion that the Government must resign and announce a date for elections within three months.

But instead of doing so, the Government mounted several legal challenges which ultimately allowed them to stay in office for more than six months. On this note, he stated that the legal battles are over and that the PPP/C is demanding that the Government respect the Court’s decision.

“We allowed the Court process to conclude and now that has concluded, the Government must now respect the ruling of the Court,” Ali contended.

Also addressing the massive crowd, PPP/C Member of Parliament Bishop Juan Edghill stated that the APNU/AFC coalition should resign from the seats that they are clinging onto and demanded that President Granger calls elections “now”.

“That is our demand, nothing else, we are not asking the Government a favour. We are just simply saying respect the Constitution and the successful passage of the No-Confidence Vote which the CCJ has ruled as validly passed, the

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and PPP/C Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali

Government should resign and elections should be held within 90 days. We have a Government that continues to keep Cabinet, distribute lands, give our contracts, they are squatting, squandering the resources of our people and we are saying obey the Constitution and call the elections now”.

Mini-rally at Office of the Opposition Leader

After the protest outside of the Ministry of the Presidency, the protestors

continue to disregard and disrespect the laws that it should be abiding by.

“Today this is a signal that we are not going to tolerate them in Government behaving with impunity.

They tried to influence the CCJ, called for a big protest outside of GECOM. Now, Granger says that in a matter of days a Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will be named but sometimes they do this and then drag this out, we have to hold him

keep preparing for elections.

The Government is illegal, nothing can change that,” he added.

He further stated that because of Court battles, the Government has remained in office more than half a year after they were defeated.

The December 21, 2018 No-Confidence Motion tabled by the Opposition Leader saw AFC’s executive member, Charandass Persaud voting in favour of the motion, thus resulting in a 33-seat majority passage.

This, however, was challenged by the Government and the High Court ruled that the motion was validly passed. Acting Chief Justice Roxane George had stated that the Government should step down and an election should be called within three months of the passage but this ruling was again challenged in the Appeal Court.

On that account, two of the learned judges ruled that an absolute majority was needed to pass the NoConfidence Motion while one upheld the ruling of her colleague, Roxane George.

This decision was praised

A section of the protesters in the rain outside the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday morning calling for the President to announce an early date for elections in Guyana

gathered at the Leader of the Opposition’s office for a mini-rally where General Secretary of the party, Bharrat Jagdeo, charged them to continue the fight for democracy.

“The CCJ made a fateful ruling and that ruling was that the No-Confidence Motion is valid and so Granger’s Government has no other recourse. There is no higher Court, they cannot block this issue any longer, and this Government is illegal and has been illegal since March 21, 2019. The only way they can change this is through elections,” He reiterated that despite what is clearly laid out in Guyana’s Constitution and the rulings of the CCJ, the APNU/AFC coalition

to that (because) it could be another signal to the CCJ to avoid them making a consequential order to make him appoint a chairman by a specific period”.

Jagdeo pointed out that by doing such, it may be seen as a method of having the CCJ think that it would not need to rule on this matter, and should July 12, 2019 pass and the consequential orders do not include a specific time frame for the naming of the Chairman, then President Granger can push back elections for a very long time.

“This protest is not a hostile protest against anyone. We are standing up for Guyana and all Guyanese.

Let us see what the consequential orders are and

by the coalition Government but the PPP challenged the ruling at the CCJ. It was there that the President of the CCJ, Adrian Saunders, ruled that the motion was validly passed and that 33 votes were needed to do so. In another challenge, he ruled the Justice James Patterson was unconstitutionally elected to the post of GECOM chair.

As such, Justice Saunders urged both the PPP/C and the Government to meet before the consequential orders are laid out.

Unfortunately, this did not occur thus forcing Justice Saunders to request written submissions on the consequential orders by July 1 and a decision will be made on July 14.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, JUly 6, 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

Addressing corruption within the Force

P

olice Commissioner Leslie James, earlier this week, once again stated that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has zero tolerance for corruption and warned that ranks found to be involved in corrupt and questionable practices will face the necessary consequences. The Commissioner’s statement comes as the GPF is celebrating its 180th anniversary and some days after Crime Chief Lyndon Alves was sent on administrative leave to facilitate a probe into corruption allegations levelled against him.

Several damning allegations against Alves were detailed in the media, and there were several questions raised by various stakeholders as to the criteria used in the first place to appoint him to that high-level position. Among the allegations against Alves is his alleged use of his influence during his tenure as Commander of B Division to protect rogue cops.

Another allegation levelled against the Crime Chief is his influence being reportedly used to prevent a relative of his, who was involved in an accident, from being charged. In that incident, the young woman allegedly struck four-year-old Mohan Ramkaran close to his Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) home. However, after she was arrested, she was later placed on $20,000 station bail and over two years later, she is yet to face the court for her alleged actions.

To clarify: we are not saying that Alves is culpable of any of these wrongdoings, as it is only an independent, impartial and thorough probe that would determine if, and to what extent, he was involved in actions that are against normal practices. However, more diligent efforts should have been employed to ensure that the position was filled by someone who was at least perceived to be qualified, professional, honest, and could enjoy the confidence of his peers as well as the public.

That said, the Alves fiasco is not unique. For many years now we have been hearing about corruption at all levels of the Force; sometimes with the involvement of senior officers themselves. When certain cases are brought to the fore, either by private citizens complaining or by way of media reports, nothing much comes out of these cases even after investigations are carried out. Very often, it comes down to officers simply being transferred or demoted or put to perform ‘administrative duties’.

A few months back, there was the issue of the former Head of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, Deputy Superintendent Mootie Dookie, being investigated for alcohol smuggling. He has since been “temporarily transferred” to the Force’s Strategic Unit.

Then there is the issue of some ranks moving around in heavily tinted vehicles in spite of several warnings for them to remove these tints. There is a tint law in place, but for quite some time now, ranks were allowed a free pass with their tinted vehicles, giving the impression to the general public that there is one law for Police Officers and another for the public. The law should apply to everyone, irrespective of their status, except in cases when the chief licensing authority grants an exemption, and in a few other special cases.

Added to this is that some Police Officers openly break the traffic rules; and they do so with certainty that they would not be made to face the necessary charges. Pictures and videos of ranks using their mobile phones and drinking alcohol while on duty have been making the rounds of Facebook. And even though citizens observe the unprofessional and illegal conduct of ranks, they feel it is a waste of time to lodge the necessary complaints as nothing would come out of it.

We had stated before that the Police must lead by example. If they want to win the public’s trust, they must be seen as having integrity and decency. They must engage in serious introspection and monitor themselves to ensure they too are held to higher standards. Police Officers cannot be seen breaking the same laws they expect the public to abide by.

While we do not intend to paint the entire Police Force with the same brush, as there are many professional and honest officers within the Force, we are convinced that unless what is perceived as the endemic corruption in the organisation is addressed in a holistic manner, efforts being made at Police reform would be in vain. In the meantime, we await the findings of the Alves probe.

The world’s tallest indoor waterfall: the 40-metre high Rain Vortex inside Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore (Reuters/Feline Lim)

Racism, last refuge for the PNC Dear Editor, The exposure of the grab for lands identified for important national projects has shown to the Guyanese people the true nature of this regime.

It is a cabal that is intent on using the State apparatus to enrich itself.

This latest act is a continuation of their behaviour. It is a pattern that has emerged.

Recall that among their very first acts were to raise the salary of the Cabinet members and to give themselves almost unlimited allowances, travelling, housing, etc.

In the process, they have practically abandoned accountability and transparency. Bribery and corruption became the order of the day.

Shamelessly, the Ministry of the Presidency seems to be taking the lead as the most corrupt in the raping of this nation’s assets.

Lands that have long been identified to do important projects, lands that should be kept by the State for allocation to projects that would benefit the country are now handed out to Government functionaries. It is clear that the intention is to make huge killings by selling back those parcels of land to Government or to oil companies for hundreds of millions of dollars.

The get rich quick syndrome is on full display.

What are these lands?

These are lands where shore facilities are to be built to service the emerging oil sector.

They are strategic lands for the building of deep water harbours or at areas where bridges could be built and where roads and highways are proposed to be constructed.

The one-acre plots handed out in Mocha are lands through which the road connecting the East Coast highway to the East Bank highway is to be built. It means that in a short while these pieces of land would become extremely valuable and no doubt could be used to speculate for big bucks. Or, indeed, the Government will have to buy it to facilitate the road.

This is shameless corruption. Worse, it has now reached the highest office in our country. After all, it is the President who has the responsibility for lands here.

The lands spoken about are not all the deals that are going down. The PNC/APNU/ AFC vultures are also preying on poor people’s lands.

Small miners are being pushed out to make way for the new PNC elite. The Toroparo syndicate is a group of small miners hoping to make a living mining gold.

They were working the lands before it became a closed area and were promised it when the area was opened.

They are now saying that the lands were taken away from them and given to Mr Sorato Phillips. This is the same man of the Parking Meter fiasco.

The response from the regime and its sympathisers was predictable. As usual, they are trying to make this a race issue.

Lincoln Lewis, the head of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, in a letter in the Stabroek News on June 30, 2019, twisted the story to claim that the Leader of the Opposition was accusing the Lands and Surveys Commission of “….favouring the African community…”.

Other PNC propagandists and supporters are saying the same things.

That is total distortion with intent to mislead the people. What is being shown clearly is that the corrupt Government is giving themselves huge tracks of lands to enrich themselves at the expense of all the people of Guyana. Black, Indian, Amerindian, Portuguese, Chinese and Mixed.

However, it is a blatant and racist attack, including on Black people. They want African Guyanese to come to the defence of this vulgar rape of our country’s resources. They hope that the African Guyanese masses would defend this heist by the elite once hey frame it as racist.

Lewis and Ceres and those others have kept quiet when this PNC-led APNU/AFC regime took away lands from small Black farmers on the West Coast of Berbice. Those lands were given to some sixty African Guyanese farmers by the PPP/Civic Government.

The PNC big wigs in the area were seizing it for themselves. President Granger had actually cancelled the leases.

The people living there have been there for generations.

Now they had to take the matter to court to defend their homes. It was Anil Nandlall who took their case to court and had that repossession reversed.

Mr Lewis et al are not interested in those poor Black farmers. None of them went to their defence. That is not the class of Black people that they are interested in.

Indeed, Mr Lewis himself had created much nervousness in the village of Kingelly, West Coast Berbice, when he claimed the whole village, where mainly African Guyanese reside, as his, by inheritance. Those African Guyanese, working people of Kingelly, had to take the matter to court and are being represented by the PPP lawyer, Anil Nandlall.

Obviously, this labour leader has no interest in poor people, whether they are Black, Brown or White, he too is part of the elite.

Look at what PPP/C Member of Parliament, Mr Harry Gill, disclosed on the repossessing of lands from small cash crop farmers at Bath, West Coast Berbice, and giving it to friends of the regime, including the PNC/APNU parliamentarian for the area.

What the Leader of the Opposition exposed last Thursday is only the tip of the iceberg Extremely serious and very worrying as well is the allocation of lands to persons at the Elections Commission and SARA. The apologists for the corrupt regime have not raised an eyebrow to what appears to be an attempt to

bribe public officials in strategic positions.

The time and quantity of lands allocated to the Chief Elections Officer and the Deputy Head of the illegal SARA are bound to raise suspicions as to the real intent of the PNC-led regime. Are they hoping that Mr Lowenfield will do favours for them at the Commission? Are they rewarding Hetemyer for the harassment of PPP/C officials?

These are the types of behaviour that have damaged the moral health of our country in the past.

It is such behaviour in the previous PNC regime that entrenched corruption that Minister Hughes spoke about and has made it so difficult to root out.

Here we are, once again, on the same road, but Ms Hughes is now deafeningly silent.

The PNC has succeeded in the past in filling the African Guyanese masses with a fear of change.

The old PNC had plugged the line of “coolie domination”.

This is the same message being plugged by today’s PNC, the APNU. They have not changed.

They want African Guyanese to defend the regime and protect it while it continues to pauperise the masses including the working-class Afro-Guyanese. In the meantime, the elite enriches itself by plundering the resources of the state.

The difference today is that the African Guyanese working people have experienced governance under the PPP/C and the more conscious of them have recognised that the PPP/C Government dealt an even hand. It did not discriminate, contrary to the discredited propaganda of the APNU/AFC elite.

Clearly, racism is the last refuge of these PNC/APNU/ AFC scoundrels.

Yours respectfully, Donald Ramotar, Former President

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, JUly 6, 2019

5

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

Granger will have to give this nation what it wants, whether he likes it or not

Dear Editor, If President David Granger hopes that skirting around the CCJ decision and ignoring the importance of swiftly appointing the GECOM Chairman would rally the public to him, he will be disappointed. The last credible polling I saw pegs his popularity at below 38 per cent and the popularity of the corrupt and incompetent PNCled coalition that he heads, even lower than that.

Guyanese in increasing numbers are rejecting these PNC tactics of pretending that the No-Confidence Motion was not successfully passed and that the Judiciary has not spoken. This is bad news for Mr Granger because every day he delays is another day he will be personally held for the destruction of democracy in Guyana along with the shutting down of the econ-

omy.

The GDP numbers were positive because some US$180 million in oil pipelines pass through the books of Guyana but such a pass-through transaction does not mean any serious tangible economic wealth for the people was created. To better understand the reality in the economy at the granular level which impacts the lives of the ordinary man, just calculate the non-oil GDP growth. From my computation, the non-oil economy declined by some 1.3 per cent.

So, Mr Granger does not have real economic buoyancy on his side.

The only weapon team Granger has is a public address to the nation but from the way things are shaping up after observing the PNCheld street protest against GECOM, even their core supporters are not interested in

following Mr Granger blindly; their number was under 100 protesters.

The bottom line remains, there is not much that Mr Granger can do now to shift public sentiments about this no-confidence vote. In the eyes of the majority, the Government has fallen and we have an illegitimate and illegal gang of interlopers who parade as a sort of junta claiming to be a Government.

Mr Granger had a chance after the CCJ judgment to level with the people and take back leadership on this issue but as usual, his poor management style bubbled to the top and he failed again. If I were him, I would have addressed the nation. In that speech, I would have stated clearly what I was thinking and why it was important to seek judicial review and apologise to the nation for the de-

lay and thank them for their patience.

I would have laid out a road map for the next 3 months and announced a date of the elections as October 18, 2019 (4 months after enough time for GECOM). I would have announced a new GECOM Chairman (he has 18 names with a world-class citizen like Major General (Rtd) Joe Singh on it).

I would outline what my government had done for the people over the last 4 years and the challenges I faced along the way and just ask the people for another chance since the Guyanese people are a forgiving lot. I would have formally launched the campaign. Such firm and bold leadership would have given him a way out of this political impasse and may have even improved his political chances. That is how pragmatic

and principled people operate and this is how you gain the respect of the people. This is what Bharrat Jagdeo does every week at his press conference - level with the people.

As we all know, there is a major shortage of pragmatism and principled behaviour in the Granger DNA so what we got instead was more subterfuge and deception, more division in the nation, more intransigence and a total news blackout from State House. At the end of the day, the failure of Mr Granger to personally communicate with the people on this CCJ issue is a microcosm of a larger strategic failure of his presidency – his inability to expand his support base outside the usual Congress Place followers. As we saw in 2015, Mr Granger could not have won those elections without crossover votes from the sugar belt,

the urban business community and the urban professionals.

He has now permanently lost all of these people and there is no chance of him ever recovering them unless he does right by the rule of law and the Constitution. Saying I will follow the Constitution is not the same as actually following the Constitution and unfortunately, team Granger thinks the people are so stupid that they cannot see the “three card trick game” that the PNC is attempting to play on them by gambling with the intelligence of the people.

Everyone in the room, save and except for the delusional, know that Mr Granger will have to give this nation what it wants, whether he likes it or not.

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

We should teach only Maths and language at primary schools

Dear Editor, Einstein once said that the true definition of crazy is when we do the same thing over and over expecting different results.

Therefore, we should not be shocked that, yet again, half the country’s children writing Common Entrance failed miserably in Math and English. We should be appalled. Imagine how each failing student this year will struggle throughout secondary school if they even attend one, with no real knowledge of the bigger concepts being taught there. Imagine how many will eventually drop out after having had enough of confusion.

We especially should not be shocked though that in the other subject areas like science and social studies, way more than half failed. As we all know, without knowledge of language and math, little or nothing else can be learned.

Or do we not know this?

How come we have not done things differently to ensure that all our children can, at the very least, read and write, instead of only half of them, as is the present situation?

In the first place, why on earth are they being taught all those extra subjects at the Common Entrance level? Why are most of them fetching around what seems like entire libraries in their backpacks and taking extra lessons? Just to fail and barely pass?

Our young children’s training should first and foremost be focused only on the two main things in which they need solid foundations math and language. We teach mathematics from an early age because it provides opportunities for developing important intellectual skills in problem-solving, deductive and inductive reasoning, creative thinking and communication.

We teach language from an early age so that children can have a means of seeking new information of all types with their new ability to read and do research. Most employers will not hire persons who have no real command of math and English.

Without math and language, a child is stuck. All other subjects are incomprehensible without them.

I don’t think any other country focuses on more than

just math and language at the Common Entrance age. Why should we? We can’t continue to tolerate half of our children failing math and English just so that we can ensure that way less than half of them could learn social studies and other subjects. It’s not worth it. Why teach unnecessary subjects they are obviously failing miserably in, while firstly, neglecting to focus on the subjects they truly need to learn and then secondly, watching half of them fail in those important subjects year after year? We are truly crazy.

All the effort, energy, expertise and resources put into teaching those extra subjects, in vain, could be very well and rightly put into teaching math and English both properly and sufficiently. These two subject areas must never ever be neglected at that age. How can we learn science if we don’t understand math? How can we understand social studies if we can’t read? Science and social studies are subjects that can and must be taught only to students who are already proficient in math and language. If half of the students

are not proficient in math and English then what’s the point in teaching those extra subjects to them? Don’t their grades in those extra subjects speak volumes? Why are we allowing this massively failing educational process to continue unchecked?

With a good English and math foundation, children can learn social studies and even rocket science with ease later on in any secondary school where those subjects should rightly be taught. And their eventual overall CXC pass rate will also increase tremendously across the country because they would all know how to read and understand the books they need to read and understand.

I have met way too many grown people in Guyana who don’t know math nor English even after having gone through primary and secondary school here.

Something is wrong.

Unlike, for example, Barbados, English is not our first language. We cannot assume that children in Guyana already know English when they start school. They don’t.

They don’t speak English at

home. Our native tongue is creolese. And, with its Hindi, Dutch, and Amerindian influences, it is very very different from English, which Africans adopted almost wholly. Unlike Barbados, we have way too many historical and present-day language influences to think we can afford to treat the teaching of English at the primary level as a casual affair. We can’t. English is the official language of Guyana and it makes no sense testing our children in English if they don’t know it. Even Barbadians, with their historically limited cultural diversity, completely avoid teaching anything but English and Math at the primary level.

Which, in turn, accounts for their extremely high literacy levels and super professional population.

While our creolese is a beautiful language, English has to and must be focused on.

Otherwise what has been happening will continue to happen - we will continue to fail our children and our nation.

The most successful students at the Common Entrance level are bilingual. They speak fluently in both English and

creolese. All of our children should be, at the very least, bilingual. Math and English (and perhaps Spanish for obvious reasons) should be all that is taught in our primary schools.

As a society, we fit Einstein’s definition of crazy almost exactly. I implore us as a nation to grab some sense. We have way too many illiterate people in our country to not want to take immediate action. Illiteracy is the biggest contributor to our poverty and crime issues. This is not just a matter for our governments to look into. This is our issue. And we must collectively call for a change regardless of which Government is in place. We must want that change before we can convince any Government to provide it.

And no, it’s not enough to ask parents to work more closely with the children. The parents themselves do not know math and English. Our education system failed them too. And we certainly don’t want children being beaten to study harder.

Sincerely, John Milton Fraser

6

saturday, JUly 6, 2019

Page

Foundation

How to get close to your child

…how to help a child and stay close without enabling example, say the young girl, in between sobs, admits she is terrified to start middle school without her best friend.

The parent should focus on what the child is feeling: “You are so sad and scared.

I’m so s o r r y, honey.

Y o u have every right to be upset.

I would be too. I get it.”

By Erin Leonard, PhD

T

he difference between helping a child and enabling a child is significant. Parents often believe if they fix a child’s problem, the child will love them more. However, this enabling may lead to a selfabsorbed and entitled child.

Alternatively, helping the child in a healthy manner instils closeness in the parentchild relationship and strong character within the child.

A healthy way to help a struggling child is to understand how he or she feels in the situation instead of fixing it. When a parent sets aside his or her own feelings and attempts to resonate with how the child feels, the parent is acting in a selfless and empathic fashion. As soon as a child feels understood, he or

she usually feels less alone in the predicament, and closer to the parent who understands.

A common barrier to empathy is a parent who thinks to himself or herself, “I can’t relate, because I never went through that.” However, it is not about the situation, it is the child’s feelings that are relevant. For example, say a child’s best friend is suddenly moving away. A parent may not have shared that experience as a child, but has certainly felt the sadness of a loss, the fear of being alone, and the anxiety of starting over with a new friend.

Empathy is easier if a parent contemplates the emotions the child is experiencing, not how to remedy the child’s circumstances.

Listening for feelings and remaining present instead of thinking about how to problem-solve is crucial. For

Reflecting and validating the child’s feelings helps the child to feel understood, less alone, soothed, and close to the parent. The child may transition to an emotional state which allows her to better absorb her parent’s reassurance, encouragement, and advice: “I know it hurts, and you feel alone. I am here for you, and I always will be.”

In many cases, empathy may be enough to empower the child, which means, in time, the child figures out a way to fix her problem. “Mom, do you think I should go out for cross-country?” The mom may encourage a sport like crosscountry as a constructive and useful way to make new friends before middle school starts.

Supporting and validating her daughter’s ability to find a way to help herself affirms

the daughter’s belief in herself and brings the parent and child even closer.

The research is conclusive.

A close relationship with a parent (secure attachment) helps a child avert depression and anxiety, and effective empathy is at the heart of the bond. Researchers have outlined the four critical components of healthy empathy:

Contextual understanding This is when a parent is mindful of the child’s developmental plight. For example, an adolescent girl entering middle school without her best friend may be more traumatised than a thirdgrade girl who is remaining at the same school. Peer relationships have heightened importance in the adolescent

and teen years, which is developmentally appropriate.

Helping a child who is hurting is essential, yet doing so in a way that soothes and empowers the child avoids instilling a sense of entitlement in the child. Effective empathy is one way to ensure a parent remains close to a child while bolstering character and selfesteem. (psychologytoday.com)

Affective response and self-other awareness This is a parent’s ability to feel what the child feels for a moment in order to understand, while maintaining an awareness that he or she is the parent and needs to keep composure. Breaking down does not help a child, and it takes the focus away from the child and places the attention on the parent.

Perspective-taking It is vital for a parent to avoid imposing his or her own perspective on a child before fully understanding the child’s perspective. For example, saying, “I never had a best friend, and I am fine, so go make a new friend,” does not support the child, because it dismisses how the child feels.

Emotional regulation This is when a parent puts himself or herself in the child’s shoes for a moment in order to feel and understand the child’s emotional experience, but prevents the emotions from overwhelming him or her. It’s important for the parent to calmly and compassionately communicate understanding to the child.

Map your

food What you need: 10-20 foods that your child eats often over a week.

Try to include a range of categories, from produce and meat to milk to cereals and snacks.

Wall size map of the world Ball of thin coloured yarn Push pins or repositionable tape (available at stationery or art supply stores) Small sticky notes

What you do: Explain to your child that you are going to figure out how far your food travels to get to you. Start by putting up the world map, and marking your home town on it with a coloured marker.

Invite your child to explore the kitchen with you, and pull out your 10-20 common food items. Keep them in their containers, or leave stickers on them, for this activity –you want to find out where they’re from!

Now, one by one, “map” your food: stretch your yarn from your house to the country or state, or even city, where your food was grown or made. Label each string with a post-it.

Take out a plain piece of paper and start a list: for each food, use the map legend to figure how many miles it came, assuming it came “as the crow flies.” (It may not have, but this will still give us a useful ballpark). If a product came from within 50 miles, it may be too hard to be exact; just give it an average number of, say 20.

And if it came from your back yard, of course, you can savour writing a nice round “0”!

When you’re done, you should have a dramatic map with lines of varying lengths. Leave it up for the week and talk it over. Are there any foods you might choose that are closer to home? Tally your first total of miles... and then, for the next couple of weeks, see if you can beat your score. What is it like to “eat local,” and how can you do it more often? (education.com)

news

7

saturday, JUly 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police record increase in fatal accidents for first half of 2019 ...majority of accidents were caused by combination of speeding and DUI

Dead: Anil Persaud

T

here has been a slight increase in fatal accidents recorded in the country for the first half of 2019 when compared to the same period for last year.

The combination of speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol accounted for a large percentage of these accidents.

This is according to Deputy Police Commissioner

and Traffic Chief, Linden Isles, who during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Friday explained that these tragedies could have been prevented.

He stated that in total, there have been 49 accidents recorded throughout Guyana since the commencement of 2019, resulting in the deaths of 52 individuals.

In A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara), there were 13 accidents which claimed the lives of 14 persons while in B Division (Berbice), 14 accidents occurred with the same amount of deaths recorded.

C Division (East Coast Demerara) recorded five accidents whereby six persons lost their lives and D Division (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo) had 11 accidents with 11 deaths.

Meanwhile, in E Division (Linden-Kwakwani), there were three lives lost as a

The mangled truck after the accident

result of two accidents. F Division (Interior locations) recorded one accident with one life being lost and in G Division (Essequibo CoastIslands), there were three accidents recorded with three deaths.

“That will give you 49 accidents with 52 deaths overall which is a slight increase.

We had 51 deaths last year from 44 accidents. Over 75 per cent of these fatal acci-

dents were caused by driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding, a combination of these two.”

Guyana Times understands that in 2018, of the 51 deaths recorded as a result of fatal accidents, 41 were males while 10 were females. Of this total, two were children.

Meanwhile, for 2019 to date, 42 persons who died from being involved in a fatal accident were males while

10 were females. Of the 52 deaths for 2019 so far, four were children.

The most recent fatal accident occurred on Wednesday evening after a truck carrying logs turned turtle while climbing a hill on the LindenLethem trail. The dead man has been identified as 35-yearold Anil Persaud of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown.

It was reported that the porter, along with two others who were inside of the truck at the time of the accident, are said to have sustained minor injuries and were admitted at the Linden Hospital Complex, Region 10, for treatment.

Police preliminary investigations revealed that at about 14:00h, Persaud was driving the motor lorry bearing registration number BBC 9430 and upon reaching the top of a hill, the trailer, which was loaded with logs, suddenly began to descend.

Traffic Chief Linden Isles

As this began to happen, Persaud attempted to change gears and direction but instead, the vehicle toppled downhill. Although the porter and other occupants made it out of the wreckage, Persaud was said to have been pinned in the wrecked cabin for quite some time.

Nevertheless, he was pulled from the mangled cabin several hours later.

Police still investigating UG bomb threat – Crime Chief (ag) ...investigators heavily dependent on other agencies to close case

Acting Crime Chief Michael Kingston

T

he probe into the bomb threat at the University of Guyana (UG) in May last is still ongoing but investigators are making progress with the optimism of nabbing the cul-

prit(s) involved.

This is according to Crime Chief (ag), Michael Kingston, who during a recent telephone interview with Guyana Times stated that at this point, the police’s Cyber Crime Unit (CCU) is still in the process of analysing “some records”.

He explained that the investigating arm of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) that is handling this matter is “heavily dependent on some other agencies”. As such, in order to ensure that accurate information is provided to the police so that ranks can peruse, it would take some amount of time for the case to be successfully solved and closed.

Though Kingston stated that he could not provide too many details about the investigation, he noted that two of the agencies involved in the process are the two leading telephone companies – the Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) and Digicel.

In May last, although a clean sweep of UG’s Turkeyen Campus revealed that there were no bombs or explosive devices hidden, Crime Chief Lyndon Alves had stated that the GPF will continue to investigate this matter until the culprit is arrested.

At that time, he stated that the CCU had just added this matter to the list of

cases that it is aggressively pursuing.

“As you [are] aware, the last time that we would have investigated, someone is presently before the court so we are hoping, working diligently, to get to the bottom of it. We are trying to get the source. We don’t know how long that would take us, how demanding that will be, but we will try, we need to get closure.”

He had also explained that the safety and security of UG’s Turkeyen Campus rest solely on the tertiary institution’s administration.

“If assistance is needed and they make a request to the Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, which will be

University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus

looked at to determine how best we can assist. I mean, if a crime is committed the police are mandated to investigate it as is the case now.

But in terms of their security and operations and what they do to secure the campus and the persons frequenting there then they

will have to make those decisions.”

However, following the threats, classes at the University were suspended but the situation was returned to normalcy after receiving the go-ahead from the GPF’s Bomb Unit.

TURN TO PAGE 8

8 News

saturday, JUly 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Boat Captain gets 2-year suspended sentence for illegal gun, ammo possession ...fined $100,000

C

hief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Friday handed down a twoyear suspended sentence to a senior Werk-en-rust resident after he was slapped with two firearm related charges at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Joseph Allen, 64, pleaded guilty to both charges after it was read to him. The first allegation against him detailed that on July 2, 2019 at Mabaruma Police Station, Region One (Barima-Waini), he had in his possession 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition without being the holder of a firearm license at the time.

The other charge detailed that on the said date and location he also had in his possession a 9mm pistol without being the holder of a firearm license at the time.

In his client’s defence, attorney-at-law Ronald

Daniels informed the Court that Allen is a licensed boat captain and on the day in question, he was following instructions given to him by his employer (vessel owner).

The Court heard that Allen was instructed to bring the handgun to a location in Kumaka, Region One, so that its license can be renewed; however, whilst on his way, Police ranks suspected him to be a fuel smuggler and took him into custody.

After such, a search was conducted and the said weapon was found, it was then that Allen related to them the reason for him carrying the gun.

Nevertheless, Police facts by Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield contended that on the day in question, Police ranks of the Mabaruma Police Station responded

One step forward…

Boat Captain Joseph Allen being escorted by Police

to a report of simple larceny and it was at that time, Allen was arrested and subsequently searched.

However, Chief

Magistrate fined the defendant $50,000 on each charge together with a two-year suspended sentence, also on each charge.

Horse cart operator jailed for stealing motorcycle …remanded on armed robbery charges

T

wenty-year-old Ken Dass on Friday admitted to stealing a motorcycle valued at almost $200,000 when he appeared before Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The horse cart vendor was slapped with three charges involving two counts of armed robberies and simple larceny. The first

charge stated that on June 27, 2019 at Lombard Street, Georgetown, while in the company of another and being armed with a cutlass, he robbed Tracy Greaves of a cellphone worth $18,000.

Furthermore, on the said date and location, he robbed Tandy Whitaker of a cellphone, handbag, cash and documents all at a total cost of $104, 500.

Dass pleaded not guilty to both charges; however, he admitted that between July 1 and 2, 2019 at Charlestown, Georgetown, he stole one motorcycle, CJ 8934 valued at $180,000, property of Andre Haywood.

Prosecutor Adduni Inniss told the Court that the defendant stole the motorcycle from a Primary School’s compound where it

was being kept. Dass was later seen riding the stolen bike and was subsequently arrested and charged for the offence.

As such, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus remanded Dass to prison until August 2, 2019 for both armed robbery charges, while she sentenced him to one year imprisonment for the simple larceny.

at Jonestown, Kwakwani, he stole $250,000 from Kerran Persaud. However, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to facts presented, on the day in question, the Virtual Complainant (VC) and defendant were both consuming alcohol at the VC’s home when the defendant was instructed to padlock the gates.

At about 03:00h the following morning, Persaud was awaken by a noise from inside her home. Upon inspection, she saw the defendant leaving the premises and it was until after she discovered the money missing.

A report was subsequently made and Sipriano was arrested and later charged for simple larceny.

After Police Prosecutor

Gordon Mansfield made no objections to bail being granted, Chief Magistrate granted bail in the sum of $70,000 and ordered the defendant to report to the Kwakwani Police Station until the conclusion of the matter.

The case was adjourned until July 19, 2019 at the Kwakwani Magistrates’ Courts.

Kwakwani resident charged for stealing money during drinking spree

T

wenty-year-old Bob Sipriano of Kwakwani, Region Nine (Upper Demerara/Berbice), was on Friday arraigned for stealing money during a drinking spree. He appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge levelled against Sipriano stated that between July 2 and 3, 2019

Police still investigating UG...

UG’s Vice-Chancellor, Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, in a recent statement to the media said that he is thankful that the threat was a hoax while commending the professionalism of the GPF’s bomb squad in handling the matter.

“These inconsiderate and dangerous acts cause considerable physical and psychological stress and are particularly disruptive at this crucial time for thousands of students and dozens of invigilators. My hope is that we do not experience any such acts going forward,” the VC said in the statement.

On May 24, last, chaos broke out at UG’s Turkeyen

Campus when news spread that someone threatened to blow up several sections of the campus by reportedly setting bombs at various locations at the tertiary institution.

The threats were initially sent to a number of online news outfits and the situation was promptly reported to the police.

In the threat, the alleged sender “Jack Ryan” stated “I have placed 20 bombs across the University of Guyana campus which are hidden from plain sight. Attached to this bomb is a timer which can be remotely activated/ deactivated”.

The sender also uploaded an image of the alleged handmade explosive device.

He also stated that the timer was set for eight hours before destruction.

“The bombs will be activated at exactly 15:00h unless my demands are meet,” the message stated.

However, in a subsequent message, the sender related that students must leave the campus after which he will make his demands.

In February, 25-yearold UG student, Sheneza Jaffarally, who is alleged to have made several bomb threats to the tertiary institution was able to secure bail to the tune of $10,000 from the High Court, through her lawyer.

This was after be-

From page 7

ing refused bail by two Magistrates.

Jaffarally was charged under the Telecommunication Act. She pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on February 5, 2019, at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD), she sent by means of a public telecommunication system, for the purpose of causing needless anxiety to the staff and students of the University of Guyana, a message which she knew to be false.

The incident, which caused UG to shut down for a short time, also resulted in the institution beefing up its security.

…into a pit (Caretaker) President Granger finally met with Opposition Leader (OL) Jagdeo to start the process of “hammering out” the selection of the new GECOM Chair – now that the illegally appointed James Patterson has been consigned to join previously discredited Chairmen like Hillary Bollers in the dustbin of history. That’s a step forward, albeit a baby step. After all, the term “hammering out” is very evocative, since it accurately reflects what’s going to happen over the next few days; analogous with beating a piece of metal until it becomes flat!!

That’s a whole lotta hammering!! Trust your Eyewitness, the process ain’t gonna be easy!! But it should have been since the OL threw the (Caretaker) President a lollypop when he accepted even before the meeting that he was open to the latter making SUGGESTIONS on names he found acceptable. This move suggested that the OL saw the process as hammering swords into ploughshares, but your Eyewitness hopes the OL isn’t holding his breath. He might just asphyxiate!!

The PNC knows only one way to play politics – as a continuation of war by other means!! And with Caretaker Granger, his Director General and his insider staff all from the Disciplined Forces, that shouldn’t be very hard: all they know is war!! Did you see the Caretaker put on his game face at his Press Conference right after the Jagdeo meeting?

Did you hear him still insisting he’s always complied with the Constitution?? Yep!! Even after his GECOM pick was nixed by the CCJ!!

The OL revealed that he’ll start the hammering with names from the previous three lists who are still available to make up his six. Now, since these were all rejected by Caretaker Granger before, your Eyewitness doesn’t see him changing his mind now, since this would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he had Patterson in mind from the word go and wasn’t prepared to follow the constitutional rules of the game.

Your Eyewitness, therefore, sees a phase two in which there will be the need for a second list, but he hopes the OL isn’t trusting enough to include any names the Caretaker might’ve suggested. These will definitely be Manchurian Candidates – sleepers to be “awakened” on the night of the elections!! But if the Caretaker President rejects this list, the CCJ has ruled he’ll have to give reasons for doing so. And from his truculence at his Presser, he ain’t giving no reasons!!

And we’ll be back at square one – at least until next Friday when the CCJ will hand down its consequential orders!!

The only question left, of course, is how will they enforce those orders?!! … two steps backwards After the baby step forward, there were at least two steps backwards plunging us into a yawning chasm of a return of a possible PNC dictatorship. Even after the CCJ had conclusively ruled that since the NCM was validly passed – and the President and Cabinet stood resigned

by Art 106 (6) – the Caretaker President convened his Caretaker Cabinet with his Caretaker Director General – who’d been ousted as Minister of State of the Ministry of the Presidency – giving a briefing on “Cabinet’s” decisions!!

Even when the High Court had ruled as the CCJ was to later confirm, Granger and his crew described their meeting as a “Caucus”. Now they couldn’t even be bothered with that fig leaf – though they said they “noted” contracts submitted to them rather than “approved”. This eyepass was in line with the other one where they assured the Guyanese people that possession of less than 30 grams of ganja was not subject to imprisonment.

The PNC’s again insisting it’s not only an unfettered Executive, but the judiciary and the legislature!! …and three backward Remember when the “Common Entrance Test” was changed into the “National Grade Six Assessment”?? So what’s happened to the promise that the “assessment” would be used to remedy identified deficiencies later down the pike??

Gone fuh channa?

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

news

9

saturday, JUly 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP/C denounces “falsehoods” on H-t-H registration …says Govt misleading nation

A

s the APNU/AFC Government continues to push for the conduction of House-toHouse registration—which could delay the hosting of possible early elections until next year – the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is accusing the coalition of misleading the nation.

The Opposition has been insisting that there is no need for House-to-House registration when the voters’ list can be sanitised through a claims and objections period.

But this option was dismissed by Volda Lawrence, the Chairwoman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) – the leading party in the APNU. At a press conference on Friday, Lawrence pointed out that this process is to correct issues raised with the list.

Furthermore, the PNC Chair went on to say that with a clean list, the coalition is confident of not only returning to office but also garnering better results at the upcoming polls.

“We believe as a party that once this list is cleaned that we have a very good chance of having not just one seat over the Opposition but that the number of our seats will increase. So we are calling for the removal of these names that are there on the list and you cannot find the persons; we are calling for the removal of the persons who are now deceased – those who would have

died at home and those who would’ve died abroad. We’re calling for the removal of those persons from the list,” Lawrence posited.

In a subsequent statement on Friday, the Opposition, however, contended that all of the coalition’s concerns about removing dead people on the list and adding young people can be addressed through a claims and objections process.

This, the PPP said, was confirmed by Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield earlier this year. Back in February, Lowenfield had said “We can move toward the conduct… of a claims and objections exercise of a duration to be specified by the Commission so that we can arrive at a list. Claims allow for the youth to be added and objections for the deceased to be removed based on the submission made by the Guyana Register Office (GRO). Other deaths not reported to GRO, when we are in the field, people will come to us and say Jagmohan next door died and we want his name to be removed”.

To this end, the Opposition noted that the falsehood being touted by the PNCR as “facts” on the voters’ list is appalling. The party further outlined that new House-to-House registration would disenfranchise Guyanese students studying abroad, Guyanese working overseas, and other

Guyanese who may be holidaying.

“The Constitution details exactly what the requirements are for Guyanese to be included on the voters list.

The current proposal for new national House-to-House registration would de-register hundreds of Guyanese who are currently included on the voters’ list,” the party stressed.

Meanwhile, the PPP pointed out that a new voters’ list will not give the Granger-led administration any advantage of returning to office as being claimed. In fact, it was noted that it is the policies and hard work of political parties that ensure electoral victory, not a new voter’s list.

“In over four years, the APNU/AFC coalition has only been successful in increasing the hardships placed on the Guyanese people – over 30,000 jobs have been lost, the decline in the local economy is visible, key productive sectors are facing greater hardships, there has been increased taxation resulting in Guyanese having less disposable income, and much more, including the decline of the health and other critical sectors. The policies of the current administration have failed to ensure greater job and wealth creation for our people,” the Opposition missive detailed.

Moreover, the PPP took the PNCR to task over allegations that the former ruling party had created a “corrupt” voters’ list while in office. The Opposition pointed out that there was never such a complaint by the coalition before when the list was used for not only the 2011 General and Regional Elections, but the 2015 polls which got the APNU/AFC into Government. It was noted too that more recently, the same list was used for Local

PNCR Chair Volda Lawrence

Government Elections (LGE) in both 2016 and 2018.

“The PNCR will not be allowed to mislead the Guyanese people.

The PNCR’s track record with elections that are not fair, nor credible, is one that is known internationally… The party reiterates that complaints about the voters’ list being unclean were never raised by the PNCR during the past several elections,” the Opposition noted.

According to the PPP, this push for new registration is a ploy by the coalition to delay constitutionally due elections.

“A claims and objections exercise can address all of the issues that are being raised as ‘justifications’ for new national House-to-House registration… The APNU/AFC coalition Government must stop engaging in delay tactics and call elections now”.

Persons with disabilities to benefit from duty-free exemptions

T

he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will be providing duty-free exemptions for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to purchase mobile phones and motor vehicles through a partnership with the Public Telecommunications Ministry.

This was announced on Friday by Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes, who explained that these devices will be modified to suit the requirements of these persons.

Brakes will be relocated to the steering wheels of cars while applications on mobile devices will allow for persons to receive assistance through communication.

“GRA and ourselves as a Public Telecommunications Ministry and the National Commission on Disability are just about to start the implementation of the import duty and VAT exemptions for smartphones and also for vehicles. The phones must be able to download certain software and applications and the vehicles must be able to be customised or retrofitted,” Hughes outlined.

The Ministry would have donated tablets and a ro-

Minister Cathy Hughes flanked by members of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities during the donation

botics kit to the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities to ensure that equal opportunities exist.

“We recognise that technology can be a game changer. Technology and access to technology. Here I mean accessibility features on smartphones, tablets, websites allow members of the visually or hearing impaired communities or any others to participate in a meaningful way in society,” the Minister said.

Ganesh Singh of the Guyana Society for the Blind voiced that this initiative will prove beneficial to many persons in accessing

information and other services.

A survey conducted by the National Commission on Disability has revealed that 11,713 persons are living with a disability in Guyana.

The survey was conducted in Regions Two, Three, Five, and 10, while a pilot was done in Region Six in 2016. Region Three had the highest number of persons with disabilities, followed by Region Six. Disabilities were categorised as physical/mobility disability, visual/seeing disability, hearing/speech disability, learning/cognitive disability, mental health and medical/other disability.

10 news

saturday, JUly 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Moruca murder suspect attacks, chops Police while being arrested

A

brother, who was wanted by the Police for chopping one of his sisters to death and injuring another along with her son, was nabbed on Thursday evening, but not before wounding a detective.

The suspect, Randy Cozier, was found hiding in the backdam of Yabakabra Mariahaba Island, Moruca North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima/ Waini).

The detective, Clyde Hazelwood, is presently at the Suddie Hospital, Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), and is listed to be in a stable condition.

According to information received, law enforcement officials man-

Dead: Cynthia Cozier

aged to locate and subdue the man around 11:30h on Thursday after spending hours combing the area for him. He was said to have been armed with the same cutlass he used to attack his sisters and nephew.

Meanwhile, a Police source close to the investigation has confirmed that the suspect is not mentally unstable— as the public would believe— but that he is reported to have been frequently using illicit substances. It is also believed that on the day of the chopping incidents, his thinking was triggered by the presence of drugs that he had in his system.

On Wednesday last, 40-year-old Cynthia Cozier was brutally chopped about her head and body by the suspect after she and another sister, Beverly France, prevented him from hitting his nephew. This reportedly angered him and it was at that time he armed himself with a cutlass and

carried out the attack.

Both Cozier and France would have received chops about their body.

The baby, who was in the room at the time, was also chopped. Moments after the chopping, the suspect went into hiding.

However, the victims were rushed to Coomacka District Hospital but were referred to the Suddie Hospital because of the severity of the injuries they sustained. The injured trio was immediately ad-

mitted.

However, on Thursday morning around 06:30h, Cozier took her last breath while her sister and nephew remained patients at the said hospital. The suspect is expected to be charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder charges. He will make his Court appearance in the new week.

Murder suspect Randy Cozier

Police issue wanted bulletin for SASOD Head attacker

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for 29-year-old Maverick De Abrue, who is being sought for inflicting grievous bodily harm on LGBTQ+ activist Joel Simpson.

DeAbrue, whose last known address was listed as 56 Broad Street, Charlestown, is the prime suspect in the attack on the founder of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).

Guyana Times previously reported that Simpson had to be rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after he was attacked and beaten by six men.

Initial reports were that Simpson had visited the Bourda Market to purchase snacks after a night out when he when was swarmed by the six men, with whom he had an ear-

SASOD Founder Joel Simpson

lier encounter at a night club. He alleged that as he continued to ignore the men while making his order, he was pushed to the ground and badly beaten.

He said a City Constable, who attempted to intervene, was also attacked by the men. He was rescued by market vendors and taken to safety. He was later taken to a city hospital, where he received treatment for the injuries inflicted on his

body.

Simpson had detailed in a Facebook post that the men began the homophobic attack at a night club while he was with a group of friends following a day of activities. He explained that, at around midnight, a group of men entered the night club and positioned themselves behind him and his friends while they were partying.

Sometime after, he felt a substance, later identified as beer, being thrown at him and his friends.

He recounted that his angered friends began verbally abusing the men but he intervened and stopped them. They then left the night club and shortly after arriving at Bourda, he was surprised when the same group of men turned up and attacked them.

Persons with any relevant information or Abrue’s whereabouts are asked to contact the nearest Police station.

11 Coalition partners yet to meet on impending elections T NEWS

saturday, JUly 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

he two parties in the Governing coalition – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) – are yet to meet despite the possibility of the country having to go to polls within a few months’ time.

Last month, AFC, the minority party in the coalition, elected Khemraj Ramjattan to be its next Prime Ministerial Candidate – replacing Moses Nagamootoo.

However, Volda Lawrence, the Chairwoman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) – the largest party in the APNU alliance – said that the two parties are yet to meet on this new development.

“The party welcomes the fact that the AFC party was able to have their con-

AFC PM Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan

ference and elect their new candidate for the Prime Ministerial position. The coalition and the AFC have not reached that stage in terms of discussion on the Prime Ministerial candidate,” she

noted.

In accordance with the Cummingsburg Accord between the two parties, AFC will have the Prime Ministerial position while the Presidential post goes to APNU. However, there are some who believe that APNU would sidestep AFC and go the route of choosing a Prime Ministerial candidate from within its own grouping. The APNU alliance consists of five parties with the PNCR leading. The others are: The Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Justice for All Party (JFAP), National Front Alliance (NFA) and the Guyana Action Party (GAP).

Nevertheless, following the AFC’s National Executive Conference on June 15 last, the party’s newly elected General Secretary

Eco-Atlantic commences drilling offshore Guyana

The Stena Forth drillship has commenced drilling at the Jethro-Lobe well

E

co-Atlantic Oil and Gas Limited on Friday announced that drilling operations have commenced offshore Guyana on its first exploration well, the Jethro-Lobe on the Orinduik Block.

The drilling would have commenced on Thursday, using the Stena Forth drillship and is expected to take around 40 days. Eco is fully funded for its share of up to six potential exploration or development wells on the Orinduik Block.

In light of this achievement, Chief Executive Officer of the company, Gil Holzman commented, “Today Eco Atlantic’s first Guyana well has been spud, three years ahead of our Petroleum Agreement commitment.

This is the start of a hugely exciting time for the company. Jethro Lobe will test the Lower Tertiary-aged turbidities, as well [as] drilling down into the Cretaceous. As such, we await the well results with great anticipation, as they will give us an even greater understanding of the geological plays.”

He added that success on ExxonMobil’s end has assisted them in a geological assessment of similar channels on their Orinduik Block.

“The huge success which ExxonMobil has had on the neighbouring Stabroek Block has aided our geological assessment of the many similar channel systems in our Orinduik Block. With fifteen leads and prospects identified on the Orinduik Block, and funding to drill six potential exploration wells beyond the two currently planned, this is only the start of a fascinating and potentially transformational time for the company.”

Eco Atlantic had announced that drilling on the Joe prospect will begin in mid-July of this year. They had stated that the Stena Forth drillship will move directly to the Joe after it finishes drilling the Jethro Lobe Well in the Orinduik Block.

It is understood that the Joe is located in approximately 650 metres of water and will cost Eco approximately US$3 million to drill.

A recently published report from international company Gustavson Associates has estimated that the well has a 43.2 per cent chance of success.

Eco’s partner, Tullow, had disclosed in February that it was bringing forward its drilling programme from the previously scheduled

end of the year to the second quarter. It had announced that the Jethro prospect would be drilled in June.

So far, plans have been announced to drill three wells here namely the JethroLobe, Joe and Carapa.

Meanwhile, oil-giant ExxonMobil has deployed four drillships for exploration purposes, where 13 massive discoveries were made.

The fleet comprises of the Stena Carron, which is working at the Longtail 1 discovery; the Noble Bob Douglas at the Liza Phase 1; the Noble Tom Madden at the Yellowtail Well and Noble Don Taylor.

ExxonMobil had said there is potential for at least five floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels on the Stabroek Block producing more than 750,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025.

Startup of the Liza Phase 1 development is on track to begin by the first quarter of 2020 and will produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day utilising the Liza Destiny FPSO, which is expected to arrive in the country in the third quarter. Liza Phase 2 is expected to startup by mid-2022.

PNCR Chairwoman Volda Lawrence

David Patterson told reporters that Ramjattan’s nomination will have to be accepted by the majority APNU. “The Alliance for Change is a political party in its own right. The AFC has MADE a recommendation it will stick by. So just like we did in 2015, we will do in 2019 or 2020, if we stay in a coalition… If we’re in a coalition and we’re governed by an agreement and that agreement is currently in effect, it says the AFC shall nominate a Prime Ministerial candidate. There’s nowhere in that agreement that says we’ll nominate a Prime Ministerial candidate who the coalition accepts or not,” Patterson had stated.

While the APNU fraction of the coalition earlier this year had already signalled support for its leader David Granger to return as Presidential Candidate, it was reported that sections of the AFC’s delegations felt that incumbent Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s performance

over the years has not been up to par.

However, prior to last month’s conference, AFC’s then leader and current Chairman Raphael Trotman had warned against replacing Nagamootoo, saying that it would undermine the coalition Government in the eyes of the people, by seeming to validate the Government’s failings and the passage of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM).

“The No-Confidence Motion was a direct challenge on the GrangerNagamootoo leadership. In my view, if we were to jump to replace either gentlemen in an emotive way, we would be openly conceding that the motion and vote were justified and valid,” Trotman had stated in sections of the media back in February.

With the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) having already ruled that the No-Confidence Motion was validly passed against the coalition back in December, there is a possibility that early elections could be called this year.

In fact, the Trinidadbased regional Court is expected to hand down consequential orders on the way forward based on its June 18 rulings. This will be done when the matter is called up again on July 12. At the last hearing on June 24, the Court had given parties up to July 1 to make written submissions on the consequential orders not exceeding 20 pages, which would be considered before those orders are handed down next Friday.

12 NEWS

saturday, JUly 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Nandlall to represent family of man who died in Police lock-ups …to file for compensation, writes DPP requesting inquest to be held

Dead: Lallbachan Bachan

F

amily of the late Lallbachan Bachan of Lot 21 Maria’s Lodge, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), who was found dead in the Suddie Police Station lockups, has obtained legal representation from Attorneyat-Law Anil Nandlall, who is in the process of filing for compensation for the death of the young father.

Nandlall, during a press conference on Friday at his South Road, Georgetown office, told members of the media that he also intends to write the Police Commissioner, Leslie James, requesting a full probe into the death of Bachan, who was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

In addition, the family’s lawyer is expected to also write the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, requesting that an inquest be held into the death of the father of four.

Further, Nandlall argued that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is responsible for the safety of persons

in custody and must be answerable when such situations occur.

Moreover, he told this publication that it is illegal for relatives to be prevented by the Police from visiting their imprisoned family member.

“It’s an absolute abuse of power and absolute abuse of the constitutional rights of citizens of this country to deny access to them while they are in the lock-ups,” Nandlall noted.

“The law will determine what compensation (the family gets). You ask for an amount and you now have to prove that you are entitled to that. If you prove, for example, the Police are liable, right away you get a quantum and then you build on that,” he stressed.

Nandlall pointed out that Bachan was merely 39-years old and would have continued earning until the age of around 55 or 60.

“So you calculate how much he would have earned, then you have dependencies, he has two minor children, so somebody has to pay for that,” the Lawyer stated.

The attorney, on another note, pointed out that Bachan was not supposed to be in the lock-ups for that extended period.

The now dead man, according to his wife, Samantha Bachan, was arrested on June 12 for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was placed on $20,000 bail at the Suddie Police Station and was told to appear before the District Court on June 20.

The tearful woman recalled that when her husband appeared at the Court on the given date, the matter was postponed to June 28. He was, however, unable

Family members of the late Lallbachan Bachan with their lawyer, Anil Nandlall

to attend Court on that date and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

She explained that on the said date, the Police visited their home, where they allegedly dragged him into the van and transported him to the Police station.

The widow said her mother-in-law took dinner for him later in the evening but was prevented by the Police from visiting him.

In fact, relatives were even told that Bachan “has to bear his punishment”.

The father of four, after hearing this, cried out to his mom, telling her he was in pain and was feeling dizzy, but the Police denied his request to visit a doctor.

On June 28, his mom took breakfast for her son but was again turned away by the Police for the entire

day. The following day, the widow said she was finally granted permission to see her husband who enquired about his kids and complained again of feeling unwell.

On the afternoon of June

30, Bachan said her mother-in-law went to visit him but was turned away once again.

On July 1, she recounted that as the family was preparing to visit the Police station, they received news

that he had died.

As the widow wiped away her tears and spoke through a shaky voice, she explained that she rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where she observed her husband bleeding from his head, which was also swollen. This left them to believe that the man was beaten.

After the incident, Police, in a release to the media, said that the man’s body bore no marks of violence.

Contrary to this, the family had photographic images showing what appeared to be marks of violence.

The Police also said that Bachan was the lone prisoner in the cell. A Post-Mortem Examination conducted by Dr Nehaul Singh on the man’s body gave the cause of death as asphyxiation – something the family found suspicious.

Bachan’s wife said she found it strange that not only was a Post-Mortem conducted on the same day of her husband’s death, but on a holiday. Bachan, a former ambulance driver at the Suddie Public Hospital, leaves his wife and children to mourn. (Davina Ramdass)

CCJ welcomes Justice Peter Jamadar to bench

T

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) welcomed its newest judge, the Honourable Justice Peter Jamadar, to its bench on Thursday, July 4, 2019.

After being sworn in by the President of Trinidad and Tobago, Her Excellency Paula Mae-Weekes, in Port of Spain, Justice Jamadar in a stirring speech stated “Today, I take up a seat on the CCJ. I am both proud and humbled. For any Caribbean jurist or legal practitioner, one of the pinnacle achievements must be to sit as a judge of the CCJ. It is at once an office of great status and of even greater service”.

President of the CCJ the Honourable Justice Adrian Saunders noted during the ceremony that Justice Jamadar’s appointment marked the culmination of a competitive process, conducted by the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission – the independent body responsible for selecting and appointing staff of the Court.

Justice Saunders pointed out that, “The Commission did not only consider the respective qualifications, experience and skill sets of the applicants. As mandated by the Agreement Establishing the CCJ, the Commission was also obliged to consider the applicants’ moral character, their intellectual and analytical ability, the soundness of their judgement, their integrity, and their understanding of people and

Justice Jamadar takes the oath of office as he is sworn in as a Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice

society”.

He also welcomed Justice Jamadar remarking that, “His judgements are erudite and well-reasoned. They demonstrate a high intellect, a deep understanding of Caribbean society, and an abiding sense of fairness.

Unsurprisingly, several of these judgements have been cited with approval by judges of both the CCJ and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council”.

Justice Jamadar previously served as a Judge of the Appeal Court of Trinidad and Tobago. He is the VicePresident (Programming) and a faculty member of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute (CJEI)

and Vice-Chairman of the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO).

He is also a certified Transpersonal Psychologist and a certified Mediator.

He has written two books, numerous articles and authored various publications relating to law.

Justice Jamadar will officially assume office on 15 July 2019. He succeeds the Honourable Justice David Hayton, who will be retiring from the Court after 14 years of service. Judges of the CCJ are appointed to hold office until the age of seventy-two, while the President of the Court holds office for a non-renewable term of seven years.

news

13

saturday, JUly 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Better Hope double murder

Father shot thrice, daughter once – autopsy ...Police yet to make arrest

M

oney changer, Aaron Latchman was reportedly shot three times while his daughter, Arianna, received a single shot to her chest following a robbery at their Better Hope, East Coast Demerara home on Thursday.

This was revealed by Dr Nehaul Singh, who performed the autopsies on the bodies on Friday morning.

However, the police are yet to arrest the perpetrators who were seen leaving the yard with a bag containing money.

On Friday the family members, especially the wife of the now dead businessman and her 14-yearold daughter, were still in a state of shock. At the home, other family members were preparing for a wake.

The family’s domestic

Dead: Arianna Latchman

worker, Meena Hookchand, described Latchman as a dedicated father and husband. She noted that it is customary for Arianna to spend time at home when the University of Guyana closes for the holiday.

“She used to go to UG

but it close off so she would be at home, the people come in from the back…he does do everything for his children, he even does prepare they boots and clothes and bag. When I come in on Saturday, he done wash it and hang it up…ow! He had just dropped off his 14-yearold daughter to after-school classes” the woman cried.

It is believed that upon returning home, he was confronted by the two armed men. It was reported that Latchman was held at gunpoint and escorted to the upper flat of his home with his 18-year-old daughter.

Reports are that the teen was attacked and shot to her chest when the bandits entered the house through the back door and began demanding cash.

They were then seen escorting Latchman into the

6 families whose homes were razed by fire get help from GRC

The families that received their donations on Friday

T

he Guyana Relief Council (GRC) continues in its mission to provide relief by donating to six families on Friday who had lost their homes by fire.

Donations of groceries, mattresses, furniture and disability tools were handed over to the families at the Council’s head office, Riverview, Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The beneficiaries are the Boodie family of the West Bank of Demerara (WBD); the Clarks; the Lumelino family of Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD); the Andrews family of Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD), the Bacchus family of Grove, EBD, and the Alder family of Haslington, ECD. Welfare Convener of GRC, Rohini Bonar said that out of the six families, two have been able to rebuild and as such, the or-

ganisation saw it fit to present them with furniture.

She expressed gratitude to the individuals and organisations for the generous donations as it assists greatly in helping the Council carry out its mandate.

“The Guyana Relief Council expresses sincere gratitude to those organisations and individuals who continue to give support so that we would fulfil our motto of Caring and Sharing” Bonar thanked.

GRC is mainly funded through fundraisers, which are held several times yearly. Just last month, the Chinese Food Festival was held and in October, the Council will hold their Grand Annual Luncheon at the Guyana Pegasus.

A team in Florida also hosts a fundraiser once annually which they use to purchase and send donations to the organisation.

The Government of Guyana also makes a small donation towards the cause, however, according to Bonar, the said donation is not nearly enough.

“We get a Government subvention but really and though we are grateful, that cannot run the office of the Guyana Relief Council. So we really have to do a lot of fundraising to achieve helping persons” Bonar disclosed.

The Yvonne Hinds Home of Hope shelter is also housed aback the Council and is used to render assistance to fire victims following disasters.

For the year 2019, 50 families consisting of over 200 persons received relief from the organisation.

Those desirous of sending donations to GRC are asked to contact the organisation on 225-3081.

Dead: Aaron Latchman

yard where they shot him multiple times before escaping with a bag of cash.

However, a source said that the elder Latchman fought with the bandits and managed to disarm one of them before he was shot.

The bandits quickly made good their escape in a white Toyota Carina 212 motorcar, leaving a trail of money behind. The man and his daughter were picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they were both pronounced dead on arrival.

The now dead man’s wife – an employee of the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital – was not at home at the time of the incident. She, nevertheless, turned up at the house and was inconsolable

as she received the news of the deaths of her husband and daughter.

Meanwhile, one woman was arrested moments after the men left the scene.

She reportedly picked up a number of notes that were left behind by the bandits without informing the police. She was taken to the Sparendaam Police Station.

It is unclear if she was released.

The police have confirmed that while they have not arrested anyone as yet for the murders, they are working with several leads and are optimistic that an arrest is forthcoming.

Linden’s special needs school records exemplary NGSA results

T

he Linden Resource Unit for Special Needs Children has recorded exemplary results at this year’s National Grade 6 Examinations (NGSA).

Three students attached to the unit – which was formerly known as a Unit for the Blind— have secured places at Mackenzie High School owing to their outstanding performances.

The students are Shallun Walks, who secured 494 marks, MeQuita Sealey with 470, and Ramprakash Totoram who all hail from Wismar Hill Primary School where the unit is located. Walks has been offered a place at one of the country’s most prestigious high schools—President’s College, owing to his performance. The achievements of the students who are considered visually impaired have been welcomed with great satisfaction from both their parents and teachers.

A parent of one of the top performers, Caeron Sealey, said the students would have been excellent performers throughout the years despite the challenges.

Sealey, who is also a teacher, noted that the students possessed a high level of competence to cope and would have achieved 87 per cent or more in the examination. Sealey shared his belief that once the students receive necessary attention they can propel even further in the future. He noted that the experience working with the students for the first time would have been challenging, yet, encouraging at the same time.

“I want to encourage parents, even though they may have a child with a disability. I mean the disability does not really specify the genetic trait as it relates to the intelligence of a child. What the disability does is that it brings challenges but the child would have that genetic trait of intelligence. You just

Teachers attached to the Unit: From left: Luanna Boyce, Shellon Swaving, and Amin Britton

have to find the solutions so as to help the child to cope with the challenges and they can be successful in their examinations,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Teacher in Charge of the Unit Shellon Swaving has expressed gratitude to the Women for Special Needs Children Organisation which she noted has played an integral role in assisting with the monitoring of the vision of the students. The organisation collaborates with Optique Vision to provide quality eye glasses for the students.

“Every August we take the children to Georgetown to see if their vision is getting better and with that, we have a close tab on what is going on. So we don’t have children wearing the same glasses for a long time for their eyes to get worse and that kind of thing,” Swaving related.

“I call up at the schools and once the schools pinpoint the students, we do a list and they would pay for the bus to take us down (to Georgetown). Sometimes we make three trips during the August holiday with different sets of children, sometimes they have to go back

for a follow-up,” Swaving explained.

Swaving said over the past few years, the majority of students from the unit would have performed well in the examinations but pointed out that one on one teaching would propel the students even further.

Presently, there are four teachers and two volunteer teachers at the unit. Apart from Swaving, the other teachers include Luanna Boyce, Jenella Williams, Tiffanique Fiedtkou, Teshawn Rodney and Amin Britton. Two of the teachers are also visually impaired.

Swaving has also extended gratitude to the Education Ministry for providing the students with large print for the examination, Regional Education Officer Rabindra Singh and National Centre of Educational Resources Development (NCERD) for special needs intervention amongst others. The unit, which has operated out of the Wismar Hill Primary school for a number of years, was recently rebranded to cater not only to visually impaired children but autistic children and those with Down syndrome amongst others.

14 News $450M contract awarded for hydropower plant at Chiung River saturday, JUly 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

51 apprentices graduate from Port Mourant Training Centre

The students who graduated on Wednesday last

E The Chiung River at Kato Village, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni)

A

n estimated $450 million contract was awarded for the supply and installation of a 150-kilowatt hydropower plant at the Chiung River at Kato Village, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

The US$2,250,880 contract for the design, supply and installation of the plant was awarded to B&J Civil Works under the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

This was disclosed by Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon, who said more details on the project will be provided at a later date.

The hydropower plant will use the Kato Waterfalls at the Chiung River (close to Kato Village) to provide electric power to the Kato Secondary School, the village of Kato and the village

of Paramakatoi some 18 kilometres away.

An electronic facility, as well as transmission lines, will also be installed.

Last year, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson announced that several renewable energy projects involving solar, wind and hydro and amounting to some 30 megawatts would be completed by 2020.

These are to be constructed in the three new townships of Bartica, Lethem and Mabaruma, as well as Mahdia and several other hinterland locations.

In addition to Kato, Tumatumari will also benefit from a 2.2-megawatt hydro project; while a $376 million (US$2 million) photovoltaic system will be constructed in Mahdia. In Region Nine, funding has

been secured to commence the hydro projects at Moco Moco and Kumu.

In Bartica, Region 7, a 1.5-megawatt solar farm with storage will be constructed at the cost of $794 million (US$4 million); and a micro-hydropower project of one megawatt will be constructed at Ituribisi, Region Two, with a total investment cost of $1.09 billion (US$5 million) while the Hope Beach Wind Farm project remains in the cards.

Meanwhile, in Mabaruma, Region One, the installation of a 0.4-megawatt solar farm with storage is ongoing with funding of $272 million (US$1.3 million).

These projects are funded by the Guyana REDD Plus Investment Fund (GRIF) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

ducation Minister Dr Nicolette Henry called on young persons to qualify themselves to take advantage of the wide scope of opportunities and possibilities provided by the evolution of new industries into Guyana’s economy.

Her call came as she addressed 51 apprentices, including a lone female, who graduated from Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Port Mourant Training Centre (PMTC) on Wednesday last. The skilled young people are now equipped with both practical and theoretical knowledge.

Minister Henry believes that this new generation is currently facing and will inevitably face faster changes and challenges in the world. Globalisation, the advent of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and the development of a knowledge-based economy are leading the changes at an unprecedented rate and

scale.

“These are skills and knowledge that you will need to get started in life, particularly in world of work. I have to also let you know that notwithstanding you being graduated here today, the road ahead will present challenges, which of course, you can turn into opportunities. Irrespective of your discipline of study, I ask you to give your very best and give back to your community. Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you in advance for your service to Guyana. I know that you will go on to do very well”.

She further stated that the advancement of technical and vocational training, the increase of youth programmes across the country, and the financial allocations toward education all permeate the Ministry’s goal in ensuring that all Guyanese are equipped to embrace the evolution.

She told the apprentices that their training was

Beyoncé Ross Foundation set up in honour of national cyclist

Former national cyclist Beyoncé Ross

O

ne year after the death of national cyclist Beyoncé Ross, family members have set up a foundation in her memory.

Beyoncé, who won three gold medals in the 2017 National School’s Cycling Championships, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 2018 and passed away a few months later.

The late teen’s mother, Yonette, at the launch of the foundation, stated that they do not want others to have to suffer as her daughter did.

Beyoncé was getting severe headaches and vomiting in February but was treated for a stomach infection before an MRI indicated a tumour in

the middle of her brain.

She underwent surgery on April 13 at the Georgetown P u b l i c Hospital. It was later revealed that the tumour was not cancerous.

However, doctors informed that the surgery could not have been done here and overseas treatment was required. On Monday, May 28, the results of the biopsy, done by a Jamaica-based professor, revealed that the brain tumour was not cancerous.

It was on June 6, 2018, that she slipped into a coma and never woke up.

“We are at the initial stage of the foundation at this point. We are now trying to form it and are hoping that we can get the intervention of the public. If we don’t do something like this then Beyoncé’s death would just pass like that. That is not what we want for her. She was just 15

years old and full of life and unfortunately, an unfortunate situation arose, so that is why we are forming this foundation in her memory,” her mother said.

According to the woman, efforts are being made to prevent others from suffering as the young athlete did. She said the foundation hopes to assist persons who were diagnosed with tumours in the brain at an early stage.

Meanwhile, the foundation has organised a cycle road race and fun day for Sunday, July 7, in her memory.

The race peddles off from the Rose Hall Town arch at 08:00h and will proceed to the Number 51 Police Station and return to Rose Hall for the finish. The event is open to all cyclists in Berbice.

During that period, there will be a foot road race from Rose Hall to Johns and back to Rose Hall.

Then at the Area H Ground there will be athletics, cricket, basketball and volleyball. “After Sunday’s event, we are looking to get the foundation up and running in memory of Beyoncé,” her mother told this publication.

The Ross family who will be the first members of the foundation

a step in the right direction in preparing them with the necessary skills to benefit Guyana.

Meanwhile, Region Six Chairman David Armogan explained that it is not difficult to find someone who is an executive in an organisation outside of Guyana that passed through Port Mourant Training Center.

“That alone tells you the level of training that you can get here”. He noted that over the years, GuySuCo has recognised the importance of producing skilled craft men and women to ensure that their operations were ongoing.

“I recall that many other institutions and businesses in Guyana, including Banks DIH, would have sent apprentices here to get qualified and go back to their respective organisations to continue working. So, it not only provides a service for GuySuCo but also for many other industries within our country, and maybe the Caribbean should be thankful to us for exporting some of our graduates to their countries to keep their industries going”.

He added that the apprentice scheme is not only designed to train high-quality craftsmen but also to instil the ethics of work and the discipline needed in employment in these young men and women.

“Guyana cannot develop unless we have a full country of skilled persons readily available to take off of work in the organisations and industries that would be available in the country.

Today, our country is poised for some level of higher prosperity because of the oil industry which is going to start getting into production sometime in 2020”.

Since 1960, the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) had partnered with GuySuCo to make the Apprenticeship Programme a success. The programme seeks to enable persons to gain the technical competencies in numerous fields such as electrical, mechanic, and machinery among others.

It is designed to satisfy the need for vocational/technical skills in field and factory.

news

15

saturday, JUly 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Work recommences at Aurora Gold Mine

…company agrees to comply with labour laws

G

uyana Goldfields Inc has announced the resumption of operations at the Aurora Gold Mines, after workers would have downed tools and initiated strike actions last Tuesday over grievances relating to their unionisation and severance payments.

Three days without production has resulted in the non-processing of an estimated 22,500 ounces of gold.

On Friday, the Canadian company indicated that persons are returning to work on a phased approach and it is anticipated that full production will resume shortly.

“As a result of the three operational days lost, the company estimates that approximately 22,500 tonnes were not processed, however, fullyear production guidance remains unaffected at 145,000-160,000 ounces of

gold”, the company stated in a release.

Dialogue between employee representatives and the Government has been promised along with full compliance to Guyana’s labour laws.

Chief Operation Officer, Suresh Kalathil said in a statement, “Personnel are being re-mobilised and the site is ramping back up to normal operations in a phased and safe manner.

The company has agreed to

2nd Inter-Agency Compliance Collaboration Stakeholders’ Engagement hosted

A forest operator speaking during the Port Kaituma event

T

he natural resources and environmental sectors’ Inter-Agency Compliance Collaboration Forum held its Second Stakeholders Engagement in Mabaruma and the community of Port Kaituma in Region One (BarimaWaini).

Technical officers from several agencies under the Ministry of the Presidency and the Natural Resources Ministry were part of the outreach geared towards meeting residents and addressing their concerns

together to ensure that issues that arise have the benefit of input from other agencies with overlapping interests. The stakeholders’ engagements took place at Mabaruma on June 26 and at Port Kaituma on June 28, 2019.

At both events, residents raised concerns, especially regarding forestry, land distribution, gold mining and wildlife trading issues.

Many of the persons who raised concerns realised that it was necessary for more than one agency to

Some of the persons who came out to the Mabaruma engagement

of an operational and compliance nature.

The first such engagement was held in the town of Bartica on April 29, 2019. The initiative stemmed from overlapping in terms of the jurisdiction in conducting routine course operations.

It was then decided that on an operational level, these agencies will work

address their concerns.

Further, as a result of the meetings in Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, some of the agencies have arranged follow up meetings with residents to address the concerns raised.

Director of Compliance at the Natural Resources Ministry and the Chairman of these stakeholders’ engagements, Derrick

Lawrence made the point that the occasions provided the opportunity for citizens to engage with the regulatory agencies in relationship building and information sharing, rather than the more common compliance monitoring and enforcement exercises.

Lawrence emphasised that compliance in the natural resources and environmental sectors should be predicated on knowledge and awareness.

“This is the beginning of a dialogue between you the stakeholders and the regulatory agencies in the sector,” Lawrence noted.

He encouraged the residents and stakeholders of the various communities to express their concerns with candour and the confidence that representatives of the various agencies in attendance were competent and prepared to address concerns raised.

The agencies represented at the outreach events were the Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Gold Board, Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyana Wildlife and Conservation Management Commission, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The natural resources and environmental sectors’ Inter-Agency Compliance Collaboration Forum plans to host similar engagements for the towns of Lethem and Mahdia in the coming months.

Aurora Gold Mine

a dialogue with employee representatives and Government authorities to resolve any outstanding issues in full compliance with Guyanese labour law.”

The company spent much of Wednesday transporting most of its personnel, via aircraft, from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) to the Eugene F Correia Airport.

The workers had claimed that they were threatened with having their Wi-Fi cut off which is vital to ensure communication from their Cuyuni-Mazaruni location to family members on the coast.

This publication spoke to several workers, including one who revealed what concerns drove the workers to strike.

“There were certain concerns raised by those who were contract workers for four years and so on, and they haven’t been given any confirmation. There are

cases where some workers are truck drivers and others are utility operators. That means they can operate many other equipment. And they’re paid on the same rate as the truck drivers,” the worker said.

Another added, “There were safety concerns being raised. And salaries. People have been working with the company for years and they’ve been advancing and working with other equipment and pay wise, they’re paid at a standard rate”.

While the company had said that workers “blocked” the delivery of ore to the mills, the workers explained that staff, in fact, lay on the ground in an effort to prevent the loader from transferring the ore from the stockpile.

Matters had escalated on Thursday to a point where the mining company suspended most of its operations.

President of the National Mining Workers Union (NMWU) Sherwyn Downer had previously complained that his efforts with the Department of Labour to gain recognition in order to represent Guyana Goldfields workers were being hindered by the company.

On the other hand, the company has said that by law, Downer needed the support of 41 per cent of all workers and not just those stationed at Buckhall. The company had also made it plain that it will not allow the union on site to seek that support from workers, but rather, such a pitch must be made away from Aurora.

In an interview at the Department on Wednesday, Minister Scott acknowledged the workers’ concern about being unrepresented by a union. He gave the Government’s commitment to ensure workers get their representation.

Water ambulance to boost healthcare at Kwakwani

Linden’s water ambulance which was handed over in April 2019

D

irector General (DG) of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon on Wednesday announced that a contract was awarded to Meditron (Guyana) for the supply and delivery of a water ambulance.

The water ambulance will be used to transport patients from the riverine communities along the Berbice River from Develdt to Kwakwani.

Once delivered, the vessel will bring the total number of water ambulances that

have been donated to four.

In October 2018, Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence handed over a water ambulance to the communities of Siparuta and Orealla. It was fully equipped with all the necessary medical equipment inclusive of an oxygen tank, heart monitors, stretcher and other equipment which will play a critical role in providing support in a fast and efficient manner until transfer to a hospital on the coast.

In 2019, two water ambulances were handed

over to the towns of Bartica and Linden. Bartica received theirs on January 2, 2019, and the vessel will render service to emergency cases in Regions Seven, Two, some parts of Region 10 and the Essequibo Islands. Linden received their own three months later.

It was noted that the water ambulances are of tremendous benefit to residents since it is usually costly to be transported in and out of communities for medical reasons.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

Saturday, JUly 6, 2019

Regional

On Venezuelan independence day, Maduro calls Rio Olympics: Ex-Governor for dialogue as Guaidó slams “dictatorship” says he paid US$2M bribe

Venezuelan soldiers take part in a military parade to celebrate the 208th anniversary of Venezuela's declaration of independence in Caracas, Venezuela, July 5, 2019

V

enezuela’s bitterly divided political factions held competing commemorations of the country’s independence day on Friday, with President Nicolás Maduro calling for dialogue and Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó decrying alleged human rights violations by Maduro’s “dictatorship”.

Speaking to a gathering of top military officials, Maduro reiterated his support for a negotiation process mediated by Norway

between his socialist Government and Guaidó, the leader of the Oppositionheld National Assembly who argues Maduro’s 2018 re-election was a fraud.

“There is room for all of us within Venezuela,” Maduro said in a speech in Caracas, before calling for military exercises on July 24 to defend the South American country’s “seas, rivers and borders”.

“We must all give up something in order to reach an agreement,” he said.

Venezuela was plunged into a deep political crisis in January when Guaidó invoked the Constitution to declare himself interim president, calling Maduro a usurper. He has been recognised as the rightful Head of State by dozens of countries, including the United States and most South American neighbours.

But Maduro retains the recognition of Cuba, Russia and China, and remains in control of State functions and the armed forces. He calls Guaidó a US-backed puppet seeking to oust him in a coup.

Guaidó held a separate independence day event, calling on supporters to march toward the headquarters of the military counterintelligence directorate, or DGCIM, where Navy Captain Rafael Acosta died last month after Opposition Leaders and family members said he was tortured in custody. (Excerpt from Reuters)

A

former Governor of Rio de Janeiro says he helped pay a US$2 million bribe to secure the Olympic Games for the Brazilian city in 2016.

Sérgio Cabral told a judge the payment was made to secure votes in the decision-making meeting in 2009.

He said that Carlos Nuzman, then the Chairman of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, handled the negotiations.

In 2017, Nuzman was arrested amid an investigation into the alleged vote-buying scheme. He denies wrongdoing.

Cabral is currently

serving a 200-year sentence for several corruption cases.

On Thursday, he said the then President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Senegal's Lamine Diack, also served as intermediary in the alleged deal.

Diack is to stand trial in France, having been arrested there in 2015. He has been accused of taking payments for deferring sanctions against Russian drugs cheats. He has previously denied wrongdoing, but has not yet responded to the latest allegations.

Both Diack and Nuzman were suspended

T

Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of skills, goods, services and labour across the 15-member grouping.

Caricom sources told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that Jamaica had stormed out of the caucus meeting Thursday night as the issue was being discussed, with Prime Minister Andrew Holness apparently disagreeing with his regional colleagues on the position adopted on the contributions to be made by the so-called more developed countries of Caricom.

Holness did not speak to

reporters when he arrived at the venue for the summit on Friday, but informed sources said that Jamaica was questioning the accuracy of the report of previous meetings on the matter.

They said Jamaica was claiming its position was to opt out at this point in time of making a contribution to the CDF, while some Caribbean countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and St Kitts-Nevis contend that it could not opt out and that it was an obligation of each member by way of Treaty.

BBC News)

Honduras fishing boat capsizes killing 26

Jamaica at odds with other Caricom members over CDF

he capitalisation of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Development Fund (CDF) has emerged as a contentious issue as Caribbean leaders entered the final day of their annual summit on Friday.

The CDF is an institution of Caricom with a mandate to provide financial or technical assistance to disadvantaged countries, regions and sectors in the Community.

According to the Caricom website, in this capacity, the CDF is central to addressing the disparities among the member states of CaricoM, which may result from the implementation of the

from their roles, and later resigned.

Cabral also said Brazil's then President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, had been informed after the money had allegedly changed hands.

Lula's lawyers have said this is untrue. He has been jailed in a separate corruption case.

Ongoing criminal investigations into alleged bribery – led by prosecutors in Brazil and France – have already implicated Nuzman, Diack and his son, and then IOC Executive Board Member Frank Fredericks. (Excerpt from

A survivor is embraced by a relative in Puerto Lempira

A

t least 26 people have died after a fishing boat capsized off the coast of Honduras, officials say.

Another 47 people were rescued from the vessel, which sank off the country's eastern Mosquitia

region on the Caribbean coast.

The 70-tonne boat was packed with fisherman after the Government lifted a seasonal ban on fishing for lobster.

It is not clear what caused the accident and

an investigation has been launched.

The captain of the boat sent out an SOS signal, but died shortly after, local media report.

Jose Meza, a spokesman for the armed forces, told AFP news agency that the bodies and survivors would be taken to the nearby city of Puerto Lempira.

He said that shortly before the accident on Wednesday another boat – which had also been overcrowded – had sunk in the same area.

At least 40 people were rescued in that case and no deaths were reported.

(BBC News)

Trinidad: Preschooler died from Caricom to send delegation to Haiti heat, bus driver may be charged

Demonstration in Haiti (Photo: CMC)

T

he Caribbean Community (Caricom) has agreed to send a prime ministerial delegation to Haiti where Opposition forces are seeking to remove President Jovenel Moise from office over allegations of embezzlement.

“We discussed that issue and what we said is that we will have a high-level delegation, comprising Prime Ministers who will go to Haiti on a fact-finding mission,” Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston

Browne told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

Browne said that the regional leaders, who are meeting for their annual summit in St Lucia, had expressed concern at the developments unfolding in the French-speaking Caricom country.

“We are concerned about the escalation of violence in Haiti, and Caricom will be going there to find out what the situation is on the ground and at the same time to come up with recommen-

(Excerpt from Reuters)

dations to resolve the issues amicably,” he said.

Browne said that it was likely that the mission would include St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, the Caricom Chairman, as well as the Prime Ministers of Jamaica and The Bahamas.

“Those are the three that would have volunteered so far,” he said, adding that the date would most likely be set “mutually between the Government of Haiti and the Caricom team”.

Moise, who attended the ceremonial opening of the 40th Caricom summit on Wednesday night, has already returned to his homeland. He is reported to have held talks with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who addressed the regional leaders.

The opposition parties in Haiti have accused Moise of embezzlement, but the Head of State has defended himself. (Excerpt from CMC)

A

n autopsy on the body of three-yearold Isaiah Hazel confirmed he died of hyperthermia caused by extreme heat and dehydration.

He was found on the floor of a school bus in Couva on Thursday, hav-

ing apparently been there for several hours.

The child reportedly fell asleep on his way to school and remained unnoticed by the driver, who returned home until it was time to return for the children some six hours later.

Police said charges

of manslaughter may be forthcoming against the bus driver, who remains warded at the San Fernando General Hospital after reportedly suffering a panic attack while Police were interviewing her on Thursday.

(Excerpt from Newsday and Trinidad Guardian)

7 Americans reported dead in Bahamas helicopter crash Seven Americans were killed in a helicopter crash in The Bahamas, with billionaire coal tycoon and Republican donor Chris Cline reportedly among those on board.

The Associated Press reported a statement from the Royal Bahamas Police Force said authorities and local residents found the crash site two miles off Big

Grand Cay, a group of private islands Cline owned.

Bahamas Police Superintendent Shanta Knowles told The Associated Press on Friday that the search began off the islands of Big Grand Cay when Police received a report from Florida that a group, including Cline, had failed to arrive as expected Thursday in Fort

Lauderdale.

“The bodies of the four women and three men have been taken to the capital in Nassau to be officially identified, Knowles said.

The helicopter was still in the water, and based on preliminary information, she did not believe there had been a distress call before it went down”.

guyanatimesgy.com

Saturday, JUly 6, 2019

17

Around the World

Iran threatens British shipping Orfei Circus tigers maul trainer in retaliation for tanker seizure to death in southern Italy

A

n Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander threatened on Friday to seize a British ship in retaliation for the capture of an Iranian supertanker by Royal Marines in Gibraltar.

“If Britain does not release the Iranian oil tanker, it is the authorities’ duty to seize a British oil tanker,” Mohsen Rezai said on Twitter.

The Gibraltar Government said the crew on board the supertanker Grace 1 were being interviewed as witnesses, not criminal suspects, in an ef-

fort to establish the nature of the cargo and its ultimate destination.

US President Donald Trump, while not specifically mentioning the supertanker incident, repeated a warning to Tehran: “We’ll see what happens with Iran.

Iran has to be very, very careful,” he told reporters at the White House.

British Royal Marines boarded the ship off the coast of the British territory on Thursday and seized it over accusations it was breaking sanctions by taking oil to Syria. They landed a helicopter on the mov-

ing vessel in pitch darkness.

The move escalates a confrontation between Iran and the West just weeks after the United States called off air strikes on Iran minutes before impact, and draws Washington’s close ally into a crisis in which European powers had striven to appear neutral.

Tehran summoned the British ambassador on Thursday to voice “its very strong objection to the illegal and unacceptable seizure” of its ship, a move that also eliminated doubt about the ownership of the vessel.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Sudan military council, Opposition reach power-sharing agreement

Mohamed al-Hacen Lebatt (left), AU envoy to Sudan, sits next to General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo as he shakes hands with an army general following a press conference in Khartoum

S

udan’s ruling generals and a coalition of protest and Opposition groups have reached an agreement to share power during a transition period until elections, in a deal that could break weeks of political deadlock since the overthrowing of autocratic President Omar al-Bashir in April.

Both sides agreed to establish a joint mili-

tary-civilian sovereign council that will rule the country by rotation “for a period of three years or slightly more”, Mohamed Hassan Lebatt, African Union (AU) mediator, said at a news conference on Friday.

Under the agreement, five seats would go to the military and five to civilians, with an additional seat given to a civilian agreed

upon by both sides TMC Deputy Head General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is widely known as Hemeti, welcomed Friday’s deal, which, he said, would be inclusive.

In a statement on Friday morning, the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), which is part of the FFC, said the transition period would last three years and three months.

The military would lead the sovereign council for the first 21 months, and a civilian would take over for the remaining 18 months, it said. The FFC would appoint a Cabinet of Ministers, the SPA said, adding that a legislative council would be formed after the appointment of the sovereign council and the Cabinet.

The two sides also agreed to set up a committee of lawyers, including jurists from the AU, to finalise the agreement within 48 hours. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

India raises import tariffs, taxes on the super-rich as it seeks growth

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives to present the 2019 Budget in Parliament, New Delhi, India, July 5, 2019

I

ndia raised import tariffs on nearly 75 items including gold and automobile parts in its budget on Friday and increased taxes on the rich to help pay for recapitalising banks and supporting small business in a bid to revive sagging growth.

Aiming to restart investment that’s at its weakest level in years, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Government also proposed giving foreign investors a

bigger role in India’s giant insurance and aviation sectors, which have been tightly controlled for decades.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the proposals while presenting to Parliament the budget for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, the first since the Hindu nationalist-led Government was re-elected in a vote spanning April and May. Modi, boosted by his elec-

tion victory, has set a target of growing India into a $5 trillion economy by 2024/2025 from $2.7 trillion. A Government report on Thursday said this will be done on the back of higher investment, savings and exports in the way China’s growth was propelled.

GDP growth slumped to 5.8 per cent in JanuaryMarch, the lowest in 20 quarters. Growth for the last fiscal year, at 6.8 per cent was also a five-year low.

Sitharaman raised import duties on gold and other precious metals to 12.5 per cent from 10 per cent and levied an import tax of one rupee per tonne on crude oil to boost federal revenue just as global oil prices have softened from their highs.

The Government also increased local levies on a litre of petrol and diesel by two rupees each, stoking fears of inflation. (Excerpt from Reuters)

F

our tigers have mauled their trainer to death during a rehearsal at a circus in southern Italy.

One tiger set upon Ettore Weber, 61, on Thursday evening in Triggiano, near Bari, before the other three joined in.

They then played with his body in their cage until paramedics and circus staff intervened, local media report. He later died from his injuries.

Weber, who worked with the Orfei Circus, is said to be one of Italy’s best-known circus trainers.

He had been training the tigers at about 19:00 local time (17:00 GMT) for a show called Animal Park, which was based on travelling around the world and seeing different animals.

Ettore Weber training tigers in an undated file image

Among the other animals used in the act were camels, zebra and bison. It was due to be performed an hour later.

Local media report the tigers have now been taken out of the circus, and have been moved to a safari park.

Police in the area have also opened an investigation into what happened.

The Orfei Circus had arrived in Triggiano on June 15 and was expected to stay until July 14. However, it is not known if the run will be cut short because of this incident.

Some 40 countries have partially or fully banned the use of wild animals in circuses, including 20 countries in Europe. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Tunisia bans face veils in public institutions after bombing

T

unisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed has banned the wearing of the niqab - a full-face veil - in public institutions with immediate effect, citing security reasons.

The decision, which was reported on State media, comes at a time of heightened security in the country following a double suicide bombing in the capital, Tunis, on June 27 that left two people dead and seven wounded.

Witnesses said one of the bombers was disguised in a niqab. The Interior Ministry denied this and said the mastermind of the bombings blew himself up on Tuesday to evade capture.

The attack was the third such incident within a week and came at the peak of tourist season

Several European, African and Asian countries have issued full or partial bans on the wearing of veils [File: Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters]

as Tunisia prepared for an autumn parliamentary election. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (also known as ISIL or ISIS) claimed responsibility for all three attacks.

In February 2014, the Interior Minister instructed Police to step up supervision of the wearing of the niqab as part of “anti-terrorism” measures to prevent its use as a disguise.

Tunisia had been bat-

tling armed groups operating in remote areas near its border with Algeria since an uprising overthrew Ben Ali in 2011.

Tunisia is one of the few countries in the Middle East where Islamic and secular parties share rule. It is considered the sole democratic success story of the Arab Spring uprisings but has struggled with an economic slowdown and social unrest. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China denies US accusations of South China Sea missile tests

C

hina’s Defence Ministry on Friday denied US accusations that the Chinese military had recently carried out missile tests in the disputed South China Sea, saying instead that they had held routine drills that involved the firing of live ammunition.

The Pentagon said on Tuesday the missile launch was “disturbing” and contrary to Chinese pledges that it would not militarise the strategic waterway.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Friday that according to initial information, China appeared to have tested

multiple anti-ship ballistic missiles last weekend. The official added that a detailed analysis was underway.

In a brief statement sent to Reuters responding to the US claims, China’s Defence Ministry said this was not true. “The relevant reports do not accord with the facts,” it said.

The South China Sea is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the US-China relationship, which include a trade war, US sanctions and self-ruled Taiwan, which is claimed by China as its own.

China and the United States have repeatedly traded barbs in the past over

what Washington says is Beijing’s militarisation of the South China Sea by building military installations on artificial islands and reefs.

China says the United States is to blame for tensions by repeatedly sending warships close to Chineseheld islands, and that China’s sovereignty in the area is irrefutable.

The Chinese Government said last week that the military was carrying out drills between the Spratly and Paracel Islands starting last weekend and ending on Wednesday, warning other shipping not to enter a designated area. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, JUly 6, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Challenge your mind, take a course or expand your interests. Check out different cultures or lifestyles, and consider how you want to deal with a personal situation.

Attend a gathering of peoTAURUS ple you don’t get to see very (April 20often.

A conversation with May 20) someone from a different generation will give you plenty to think about.

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

If you confront a situation, be prepared to face emotional backlash. You may be best off agreeing to disagree and spending time with people who share your thoughts and interests.

CANCER

You can feel your way through situations if you are reserved and listen to the thoughts and suggestions of those who have more experience. Romance is on the rise.

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

SUDOKU

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Set the stage and play the role of a peacemaker.

Diplomacy and clever suggestions will help unify people trying to reach the same objective.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Keep talking until you find a way to get through to someone you feel is making a poor choice. Reason and experience will help you get your point across.

SCORPIO

Finish what you start.

Don’t let an unexpected change alter your plans. It’s OK to take a different route, as long as you know what you are doing.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

THURSDAY’S

Consider how you earn your living or handle your finances and how satisfied you are with your progress.

Check out your options, but don’t make a change that could jeopardize your lifestyle.

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

An emotional situation will disrupt your plans. Stay calm and do your best not to let matters escalate. If someone makes an unexpected change, don’t feel you must follow suit.

You’ll get everything under control if you take physical action. The less you say and the more you do, the better you’ll be. A romantic encounter will improve your day.

Choose your battles wisely. Check the facts before you agree to something that could leave you dangling if anything goes wrong. Don’t let someone manipulate you emotionally.

Keep your personal life simple. Avoid indulgence and don’t make unrealistic promises. An honest point of view will keep you out of trouble. A personal change is favoured.

saturday, JUly 6, 2019

Nicholas Pooran had the most runs for West Indies in the 2019 World Cup

19

Pooran’s batting exploits: biggest positive in Windies’ poorest WC campaign

By Brandon Corlette

M

any had thought that Nicholas Pooran would have served only as back-up wicket-keeper for the West Indies in their 2019 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup campaign, and would have been given few opportunities with the bat. Pooran, however, emerged as the biggest surprise in the West Indies’ campaign, and the biggest positive in terms of their batting.

The 23-year old Trinidadian finished the West Indies’ campaign as the leading rungetter. In eight innings, he scored 367 runs at an average of 52.43, and had a morethan -healthy strike rate of 100.27.

Pooran scored t w o half-

Shai Hope had an ordinary campaign

centuries and one century in A lot more had been expected from runs in an inconsistent World Cup campaign. what would certainly be his Guyana’s own Shimron Hetmyer. The East In the bowling department, Sheldon dream World Cup; and Canje-based lad finished with 257 runs Cottrell was tops with 12 wickets taken in nine during commentary, in eight matches, scored at an average of innings, including a best bowling figure of 4-56 his maturity left the 36.71. He was, however, at his usual against the ‘black caps’. He took early wickets commentators in awe aggressive best with a strike rate at the inception for his team, but the other at his exploits. Batting at of 101.58. After his maiden WC bowlers lacked intensity in the middle overs. numbers four and five at times in campaign, many would Inconsistent duo Oshane this World Cup, Pooran often had to be commenting that Thomas and Carlos Brathwaite rebuild the innings after the West Hetmyer needs to bat finished with nine wickets Indies’ top order had departed early. deep and focus more; each, while Holder had Since inception of the ICC World that has been his eight wickets. Kemar Roach, Cup tournament, West Indies have problem. he scored who was impressive but got won three or more matches in each back-to-back halfless opportunities to bowl, of their campaigns, but in this 2019 centuries, but failed finished with six wickets in the tournament, they finished with only to convert those tournament. two wins to their name. It was simply into significant West Indies have been good the poorest show by any Caribbean scores. starters in the World Cup, but team at cricket’s global showpiece.

C h r i s have failed to finish matches.

West Indies behaved as though they Gayle bowed They had a lot of matches to were hopeless in the latter part of out of the WC win, but failed to cross the final their campaign, despite Shai Hope’s with 242 runs hurdle, which saw them ending presence. in eight innings, with six defeats.

Entering the Cricket World which was below West Indies would Cup with a truckload of runs, his lofty standard. want to consider this Hope’s WC was below his standard.

Captain Jason World Cup campaign He finished with 274 runs at an Holder had 170 as a learning process, average of 34.25, which was the runs, while Carlos with future talents second best for any Caribbean Brathwaite had coming in to their batsman in this WC. Hope’s 154 runs, including own. The leading strike rate has been an area of a ‘remember the run-scorers Pooran, concern, but he has proven his name’ century Hetmyer and Hope ability to play classy innings, against New are being looked and he still sits among the Zealand.

The upon to carry the Sheldon Cottrell top five batsmen in ICC One injury prone Evin team into success in was the leading Day International rankings.

Lewis scored 131 All the starts wasted from Shimron Hetmyer the future. wicket-taker

GSSF/DIG Inc. Practical Shooting Match

McKinnon, Phang take top honours L ocal practical shooters were, for the second year, given opportunity -- on Saturday June 29, 2019 -- to participate in a Sport Shooting Competition which was exclusively sponsored by Dental Imports Guyana Inc. (DIG Inc.) and hosted by the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF).

Match Director David Dharry, in declaring the Match open, welcomed participants to what promised to be an exciting afternoon with five dynamic fun stages.

Everyone converged on the “Peekaboo” stage as one squad; and the match began with shooters standing in a relaxed position, heels touching rear fault lines of the stage. A magazine was inserted in the handgun, but the chamber remained empty.

Upon the signal to start, shooters had to engage the four paper targets as they became visible, and run a few feet forward to finally peek around a barricade to engage the 3 remaining poppers.

Having warmed up by completing the first stage, shooters proceeded to a starkly different stage, called “No Rush”, which comprised four paper targets surrounded by six no-shoot targets, which caused participants to take their time after turning to face downrange when the start signal was given.

Participants and spectators alike were heard gasping as seasoned shooters unfortunately registered a few hits on the much-dreaded no-shoot targets, thereby incurring a penalty of minus 10 points per hit.

Things turned a little lively after that particularly tense stage when everyone proceeded to the “Bolero” stage, which started with participants all standing in Zone A, facing uprange, with all their magazines placed on a barrel. When the start signal was given, shooters had to retrieve unloaded

Some of the participants of the DIG-sponsored Practical Shooting Match

handguns placed on a table behind them, or choose to retrieve the magazines first then engage all targets, which were 7 paper targets and 2 plates.

This stage saw shooters engaging targets as if they were dramatically and technically dancing the Spanish bolero, with different techniques/moves being executed.

The fun did not end there, as shooters then proceeded to what was declared a fun stage: “Afternoon Jog”. This stage was just that, as shooters started out with a loaded and holstered handgun and, upon start signal, had to move/jog to various locations to engage 6 paper targets, 2 poppers and 2 plates.

The afternoon’s competition ended on the

“Fiesta”, a very colourful stage, which saw shooters on start position standing with a sombrero on their heads, facing uprange, hands touching marks on the wall. Holstered handguns were loaded, but the chambers were empty. Upon start signal, shooters had to engage targets with the provided sombrero on shooter when engaging targets. This stage comprised 11 paper targets, 2 no-shoot ones and 2 poppers.

Dr Pravesh Harry, in the closing ceremony, reiterated his pleasure at being able to sponsor a Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation’s practical shooting match, and indicated DIG’s commitment to the GSSF and safe sport shooting activities.

DIG Inc., established by Dr Pravesh Harry and Dr

Kevin Jodah, is a local efficient and reliable dental supplies company, the main focus of which is to supply dentists in and around Guyana with a wide range of dental materials at competitive prices.

The G.S.S.F. would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to Dr Harry and the Board of Directors of Dental Imports Guyana Inc. for the kind sponsorship and support of the Foundation’s activities and events.

The Board of Directors wishes to commend the Match Director, Range Master, Stats Officer, Range Officers and the shooters for ensuring an efficient event. Special thanks also go to the Guyana Defence Force; Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West; Commissioner of Police, Leslie James; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ms. Maxine Graham; OC Guy Nurse, the ranks of TSU and the Guyana Police Force, the media and GSSF members for their support in promoting practical shooting locally.

Thanks also go to Harold Hopkinson for the use of his personal props, steel plates, poppers and target stands for some of the stages.

More information on the GSSF is available on its website www.GuyanaSportShooting.com Beautiful trophies were presented to the winners.

Limited Division: 1st place – Ryan McKinnon (345.3381 points) 2nd place – John Phang (331.0934 points) 3rd place – Pravesh Harry (287.3179 points)

Production Division: 1st place – Andrew Phang (347.6693 points) 2nd place – Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon (307.1555 points) 3rd place – Dallas Thomas (235.1131 points)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturday, JUly 6, 2019

Almost thought “Remember the Name” tag was a curse – Brathwaite

Carlos Brathwaite after his century went in vain

I

n a way, the 2019 World Cup and the heartbreak of Manchester has had a cathartic influence on Carlos Brathwaite.

For a good portion of the last three years, the 30-year-old all-rounder has had to live with the burden of his “Remember The Name” mo-

ment, when he hit Ben Stokes for four sixes in the final over to win West Indies the ICC World T20 in 2016. Having been immortalised so early into his career - both by the gravity of his feat and the famous eulogy on air by Ian Bishop - Brathwaite struggled to move beyond his perceived Everest and kick on with his game. So much so, that he managed only five half-centuries from 158 innings post those four sixes. His Manchester masterclass against New Zealand, when he brought West Indies within five runs of victory from a near-impossible position with a scarcely believable century, and his nine wickets at 35.88 over the World Cup may have finally enabled him to turn a leaf over from Kolkata, 2016.

Brathwaite admitted to being weighed down by the tag and revealed that he worked with Steve

Slyvester, former Middlesex cricketer-turned sports psychologist, to help him unlock his potential once more. “I think it’s about firstly accepting the ‘Remember The Name’ tag,” Brathwaite said. “I think I shied away from it a bit. I almost thought it was a curse. It was about accepting that what I did will be remembered for a long time, accepting that I had the privilege of doing it, you know just I guess adorn all the good messages, all the admiration I’ve received on the streets and on social media.

“Because when I do poorly there’ll be the other side as well. So I’ve accepted it and am actually comfortable to hear it again, it’s put that to rest in a way and I’m able to crack on my career and take care of the small processes that eventually turns into positive or negative results. I always thought I had it in control. Evidently, it didn’t. I guess it was the expectations that weighed me down a bit. I didn’t

have the performances I wanted to. But I found ways to deal with it an hopefully the performances in this World Cup can be a springboard to a long a successful career.”

Captain Jason Holder has been a vocal advocate of Brathwaite’s offthe-ground work ethics, stating that he wasn’t surprised one bit by his teammate’s ability to summon an innings like the one he did in Manchester. Brathwaite himself put his “not too bad” World Cup campaign down to his processes.

“I think people will remember the name in the right vein. I work very hard off the field, in the gym, out of the gym, on the park or off it. “So I can only control what I can control.

Obviously it hasn’t always turned to fruition when results are concerned. But you know I think I’m an honest cricketer and eventually, the results will show. So I don’t think I had too bad of a World Cup. Obviously would have loved to have a better world cup, lead us

Rampant Australia eye points table supremacy S

outh Africa, who will aim to end their ICC Men’s World Cup 2019 campaign on a winning note, face a stiff challenge as they will be up against an in-form Australian side in the final game of the league stage at Old Trafford on Saturday July 6, 2019. Australia have been a dominant force in this World Cup, winning seven of the eight matches so far. While the openers have been giving good starts c o n s i s t e n t l y, Alex Carey, the wicket-keeper batsman, has shown his class with a match-winning performance in the last game against New Zealand.

The bowling unit, led by the ever reliable Mitchell Starc, has been further bolstered by the inclusion of Nathan Lyon in the playing XI. Victory against South Africa will ensure that they head into the semi-finals as the top ranked team in the points table.

Middle-order batsman Shaun Marsh might’ve been ruled out of the tournament with a fractured forearm, but the Aaron Finch-led side has found an able replacement in Peter Handscomb, who had played a crucial role in the series win against India earlier this year.

South Africa, plagued by injuries and poor form of their key players, have had a disappointing World Cup. The four-time semi-finalists find themselves at the eighth position in the points table with two wins from eight matches. Chris Morris, Rassie van der Dussen and Imran Tahir were the only notable performers for a major part of the season. In the ninewicket win over Sri Lanka, however, both skipper Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla were at their fluent best. The World Cup rivalry between these two sides is defined by the historic semi-final clash of the 1999

into few more wins and into the final four. But that wasn’t to be, so just giving thanks for the performances that we did have.” He did, however, admit that the narrow defeat against New Zealand and his decision to hit a six off the last bowl of the penultimate over as opposed to taking a single had given him sleepless nights heading into the next game. “I guess at that time I was obviously upset that we didn’t get the over the line. But I didn’t really understand the magnitude of the emotions. I had a few sleepless nights before the India game... should I have gone for a single, should I have gone for a six.

“I guess it comes with the territory. I’m happy to get an international century. It’s been a long journey and I’m happy with the technique and process I’m using now. I’m beginning to bring slightly more consistency so I’m happy with that.

It’s all part of the process and the journey.”(Cricbuzz)

Sri Lanka look to bow out in style against India

Rohit Sharma has been in sublime form

S

Team Australia

edition where Australia inched past the Proteas after a thrilling tied finish at Edgbaston. South Africa have had the upper hand in recent times winning eight of the last ten completed matches. Recent form and on-paper team combinations however, suggest otherwise.

David Warner, the Australian opener, has been in a rich vein of form, having scored 516 runs from eight innings in this World Cup. Warner, who scored a stroke filled 173 in his last outing against South Africa in October 2016, will look to produce a similar performance to carry his glorious run into the knockouts.

Faf Du Plessis, the South African skipper showed his class with a fluent 96* in his last outing against Sri Lanka.

Du Plessis, who averages 51.58 against Australia with four centuries to his name, will eye another big score against one of his favourite opponents, to power his team to a victory in their last game of the 2019 World Cup. A narrow band of patchy rain and drizzle is expected early in the morning which will clear away by the time the game starts in the afternoon.

Cloud cover is expected for a major part of the day. Teams batting first have won each of the four games played at Old Trafford in this World Cup so far.

Squads:

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Kane

Richardson, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Nathan Lyon South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, JP Duminy, Dwaine Pretorius, Beuran Hendricks, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi (ICC)

ave for their win over England, Sri Lanka’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 campaign has been slightly underwhelming, but they have a chance to prove their mettle against a dominant Indian side on Saturday, July 6, 2019. The last time these sides faced off in England, during the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, Sri Lanka defied the odds to chase down India’s 321/6 with seven wickets to spare. As they set to return home, Sri Lanka would love to repeat the feat against a side that has already secured a semi-final spot.

Sri Lanka’s batting has been an area of concern. While they’ve made marked improvement after their tournament opener against New Zealand, where they were bundled out for 135, the top-order still seems frail. That is exactly what India’s well-rounded bowling attack will look to exploit. Heading into the semis, where they could face either of England or New Zealand – two very strong sides – India would like to get another win under their belt. They might also utilise the opportunity to test some different combinations. Ravindra Jadeja and Mayank Agarwal are the only two members, who haven’t played a game yet, and might get a look-in.

The 21-year-old, Avishka Fernando, has made a mark in just three World Cup matches so far, including a match-winning century against West Indies in the previous game. His effortless strokeplay might prove essential to counter India’s brilliant bowling attack.

Rishabh Pant, also aged 21, who was called up to the squad mid-way after injury to Shikhar Dhawan, has been occupying the vital No.4 spot in the last two outings. He has made scores of 32 and 48, but will be on the lookout for a bigger innings. His ability to switch gears and hit big really adds an edge to an already dynamic Indian batting line-up.

It’s expected to be warm and sunny for the most part. The pitch should be good for batting, but is likely to slow down as the match progresses.

Squads:

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Avishka Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Jeevan Mendis, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera (wk), Thisara Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Milinda Siriwardana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Kasun Ranjitha India: Virat Kohli (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav (ICC)

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, July 6, 2019

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR SALE

1 SAFARI BUILT AND TESTED TOYOTA TACOMA. CALL 624-5141 / 444-2910 (WEEKEND AND NIGHT CALLS ONLY)

property for sale HOUSE FOR SALE: Unfurnished Executive 2 flat concrete Blg, 5 Bedrooms. Gated Community/ Versailles WBD. Land- 10,285 sq ft (123x84). 4,764 sq ft living space/ fully grilled. Bedrooms self contained (Hot & Cold with AC & Fans).

Open concept Kitchen/dining & living space, water purification system & solar water heater. Priced to sell (G$70M). For further details: Email casii@networksgy.com or call 6234383/624-8704.

ROOMS AND SHOPPING ROOMS AND SHOPPING IN CENTRAL GEORGETOWN FOR MORE INFORMATION: EMAIL: caribamercare@gmail.com TELEPHONES #: 2262409/223-4159/644-2388/687-5448

Teenager Gauff digs deep to continue dream run at Wimbledon F ifteen-year-old Cori Gauff clawed her way back from a set and 5-2 down to save two match points and beat Slovenia’s Polona Hercog 3-6 7-6(7) 7-5 on Friday, as she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon.

Ranked 313th in the world, the American teenager had earned a match on Centre Court after capturing the public’s imagination with her giant-killing exploits, including ousting former champion Venus Williams in the first round.

“I always knew I could come back, no matter what the score is. I just went for my shots,” Gauff, nicknamed “Coco”, said after leaving the court to warm applause.

“The crowd was amazing.

Even when I was down match point, they were still cheering

me on,” she declared.

Hercog needed treatment on her back after the second set, and slumped to 4-1 in the third; but she, too, fought back in the tense duel.

“I’m relieved it’s over. She was playing unbelievably,” Gauff said.

Hercog dumped a shot into the net in the final game, and another went long under Gauff’s pressure, before the teenager leapt in the air to celebrate her victory as her proud parents applauded from the players’ box.

Gauff is the youngest player to qualify for Wimbledon in the Open era, and is also the youngest to reach the fourth round since American Jennifer Capriati did so -- also at age 15, in 1991.

Gauff faces seventh seed

ll England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 5, 2019 Cori Gauff of the US celebrates winning her third round match against Slovenia's Polona Hercog

Simona Halep, a former world

T

OM SHAKTI ASTROLOGY. MEET PANDIT ONCE AND GET PERMANENT SOLUTIONS FOR ALL YOUR PROBLEMS, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. JOB, LOVE, HEALTH AND DOMESTIC PROBLEMS 100%. CALL OR WHATSAPP 692-9449. LOCATED – ECCLES EAST BANK DEMERARA.

TO LET & FOR SALE

wanted Waitress for bar, Age 18-28. #6122522 • EXPERIENCED RESEARCH ASSISTANT/OFFICE SECRETARY • OFFICE CLERK WITH FLAIR FOR VIDEO EDITING AND RECORDINGS •IT TECHNICIAN FOR TRAINING OR GPS TRACKING. CONTACT SULEKHA AT RK’s GUYANA SECURITY SERVICES #227-5089 / 227-6593 / 227-5072/ rksecure55@yahoo.com

NOT

RECEIVING YOUR

DAILY & SUNDAY COPIES OF THE

GUYANA TIMES

in your area?

Contact our

Circulation Department on Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 55

number one, in the last 16.

(Reuters)

Rupununi FA/GBTI U-13 finals on today

spirituality & ASTROLOGY

Single & Double Rooms apartment for rent. Triumph, East Coast Demerara, Atlantic Side. Land for sale at Triumph, East Coast Demerara, Atlantic view next to Republic Bank. Double house lot for sale 16 rooms. Tel: 624-7111, 6382268, 220-2254.

21

Members of the participating teams in the line-up

Regional U-17 tournament bowls off today

T

he Regional U17 50-over tournament is set to commence today, July 6 in Trinidad and Tobago. The competing teams include: Leeward Islands, Trinidad

& Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados, and the Windward Islands. See the action-packed schedule below with all matches starting from 9:30 hours local time.

he Rupununi Football Association (RFA), in partnership with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), will host the finals of the U13 Championships today at the St Ignatius Ground in Lethem from 14:00hrs.

This annual tournament, which began on June 29, saw the participation of 18 clubs from the five sub-districts during the preliminary rounds. They hail from Central (5), East Central (5), North (4), Deep South (2) and South Central (2).

Eight clubs will be competing in the finals, they comprise the winners and runners-up of the respective sub-districts, with one club each from Deep South and South Central sub-district being included.

To date, Basic FC and Paiwomak Warriors FC will represent North Rupununi, while Tabatinga FC and Gladiators FC will represent

Central District. Defending champions Guyana Rush Saints FC were knocked out of the tournament.

The other three districts that are scheduled to complete their preliminary round today at the following venues are: East Central leg, at the Yupukari Sports Ground; South leg, at the Aishalton Sports Ground; and the South Central leg, at the Shulinab Sports Ground.

Now in its third year, this tournament aims to promote healthy lifestyles and the development of young talent for national selection.

“GBTI has been a good corporate citizen, and has been supporting football development at various levels, including the seniors and U23. The RFA welcomes this partnership towards the development of football in the region and Guyana at large,” said Rayan Farias, RFA president.

GCB extends condolences to relatives of former national youth player Aaron Latchman

T

he Executives and Staff of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) have said they learnt, with great sadness, of the passing of former national youth player Aaron Latchman on July 4th 2019.

In a message of condolence, they had this to say: “We extend our deepest condolences to his family, clients and friends. Latchman was always a pleasant individual, and from our understanding, was always ready to assist anyone in whatever way he could. His demise is a great loss to the members of the entire cricket fraternity.

“As a cricketer, Latchman was known for his dedicated service to the game, and for his inclination to promote team work ethics. His contribution to the growth of Guyana’s cricket has been highly appreciated, and has

The late Aaron Latchman

definitely left an exemplary player development trait that can be adopted by budding cricketers.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time, as we share their pain and grief.

May his soul rest in eternal peace”.

22

saturday, JUly 6, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Leader of the Guyana U-19 pace attack: Qumar Torrington

By Brandon Corlette

tournament, Torrington played for the victorious one-day team, Demerara. Reflecting on his ormer West Indies U-16 fast bowler Qumar performances, he declared them Torrington will, for the second time, be acceptable, since he delivered involved in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) when the team requested of Regional Under-19 tournament, which bowls him. off later this month.

Torrington is a player who is A Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) player, he always aiming to improve his game. always was a certain pick to participate in He said he would be looking to get the Guyana Under-19 Team this year, and some variation in his bowling and it is expected that he would be given the step up his pace heading into the task of leading the pace attack.

2019 Regional U-19 tournament, Currently working on his fitness which will be played only in the oneas he prepares for this assignment, day format. which will be played in St Vincent Torrington disclosed that since and the Grenadines, Torrington spoke the inter-county matches, he has been exclusively with this reporter as he seeking to improve his pace and at the disclosed the following information same time work on his batting, wherein about himself. he has shown considerable capability, He was born on September 16, 2000, having recorded a high score of 93 against and has come through the proverbial the Malteenoes U-19 Team. ranks. He represented Guyana in U-15 He explained that his fitness is on point, and U-17 tournaments, and will be but he continues to work since he has an representing Guyana again in the U-19 understanding of how important it is to tournament. maintain fitness.

As a prospective future West Indies right-arm Known for getting quick fourfast bowler, Torrington has also been wicket hauls, Torrington has Qumar Torrington exposed to franchise cricket, having a best bowling figure of 4-13 bowls during the played for Georgetown senior team in against the Malteenoes; and 2019 Inter-county the Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) Franchise has also stamped his authority League. in the senior When Guyana won the CWI Regional CGI Franchise, U-19 tournament in 2018, Torrington was present in where he grabbed a fourthat victorious Guyana team, and this would have wicket haul and registered a given him confidence. man-of-the-match performance.

“My experience will boost my confidence, and Torrington is undoubtedly on his way to I know what to expect and how competitive the greatness, and has indicated that he wants to thank tournament is. I have a good idea of how I need those who have thus far played a role in his journey. to prepare myself to be successful at this level”, “I must thank God first of all; He is the One who Torrington disclosed. would have been giving me health and strength He is aiming to “deliver the goods” with the ball, to make it through every challenge,” Torrington and give his team the early breakthrough when given declared. the opportunity.

Torrington has also expressed deep gratitude to During the 2019 Hand-in-Hand U-19 Inter-County his parents, who have played a great role in ensuring

F

Torrington jumps after bowling a short ball to Seon Glasgow

that he remains focused on his career; and he also thanks his coaches: former West Indies fast bowler Corey Collymore, who played a role in his West Indies U-16s stint in England; Julian Moore, the Guyana U-19 coach; and Garvin Nedd, his DCC coach, who have all played a role in his success thus far.

Additionally, Torrington would like to recognise all those from the DCC and among his friends who have motivated him. “I would like to thank Mr Dennis

Squires, who will always ensure, when a tournament is looming, that we are fully equipped”, Torrington explained.

Torrington is expected to lead the pace attack for the Guyana U-19 team, but he is counting on support from Kevlon Anderson and Leon Swamy, who are the other pacemen.

Since this Regional tournament will be used as a measure to select the West Indies U-19 team, Torrington will be aiming to produce his ‘A’ game in order to be picked for higher representation.

4-Horse Man collaborates Top cyclists all eager for Malta with Crawford Stables for Supreme 11-stage race today Emancipation Meet

T

he 4-Horse Man Promotions entity will be collaborating with the Crawford Memorial Turf Club & Sports Facility (CMTC&SF) to stage the grand one-day horse racing meet at the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) on Emancipation Day, August 1st, 2019.

The objective of this meet is primarily to honour the PMTC on the occasion of its centenary (100th year) anniversary, and to honour the memory of the late Marcel Crawford, founder of the CMTC&SF, for having done so much for the PMTC during his lifetime.

With several entries already confirmed for the seven-race card, the day promises to be an exciting one.

Feature event of the meet is the 1300-metre race for Guyana-bred horses that are 3 years old.

A winning purse of $300,000 and trophy is being competed for.

Another exciting event would see the H3 and Lower horses racing over a distance of 1000 metres for a first prize of $220,000 and a trophy.

The 900-metre race for two-year-old Guyanabred horses carries a winning prize of $220,000 and a trophy.

The J and Lower classified animals, which are 4 years and older, would be racing over a distance of 1000 metres for a prize of $180,000 and a trophy.

The K2 and Lower race, which is to be run over 1000 metres, would reward the winner with $170,000; while the L Class Open animals would be duking it out in their 1100-metre race for a top prize of $160,000.

The final race of the day will be competed among animals classified L1 and Lower over a distance of 1000 metres for a top prize of $140,000.

The Meet’s Organising Committee reserves the right to cancel/reframe any of the mentioned races.

In the event that there are less than five horses competing, the committee reserves the right to reframe the event or reduce the prize money.

All races will be run under the Guyana Horse Racing Rules, and no late entries will be accepted.

Any person desirous of entering an animal in any race is invited to contact Bobby Vaughn on 6246788, 223-5097 or 227-7061. For more information, interested individuals can contact Marcel Crawford Jr on 678-5342 or 600-7690; Fazal Habibullah on 657-7010; Compton Sancho on 691-1174, or Loresa Mohabir on 624-0453.

Jamaul John celebrating after his last win at the National Park. He is currently the National Road Race Champion

L

ast weekend’s National Cycling Championships having concluded with exciting though surprising results, cyclists will continue to battle for supremacy even as they entertain adoring enthusiasts when they clash at the National Park today, Saturday July 6, 2019, for the Malta Supreme 11-stage cycling event which commences at 9:30h.

This racing event is sponsored by beverage giants Banks DIH Ltd under their Malta Supreme non-alcoholic beverage brand. Cycling Organizer and Coach, Hassan Mohammed, is responsible for running off today’s events, and the inner circuits of the National Park will be buzzing with activities as the various stages of the event are held.

Riders from across Guyana will vie for the top spot won by Warren ‘40’ McKay, the defending champion, who won the 35-lap affair in 2018 in one hour, 13 minutes and 12 seconds. Team Evolution’s Christopher Griffith

had finished in second position, while the Berbician Romello Crawford, who will today be competing, had finished in third position.

This ninth annual Malta Supreme Race will feature top riders Jamaul John, the current Road Race Champion; Briton John, the Time Trial champion of 2019; and Linden’s Michael Anthony.

Romello Crawford and his fellow Berbician Andre ‘Padlock’ Green will also be eying top spots after their ordinary showing at the National Cycling Championships.

The indomitable Paul De Nobrega and the do-or-die Berbician Curtis ‘Chappy’ Dey are expected to register peak performances.

Today’s event, which will pedal off from 9:30h, will see younger cyclists taking centre stage, while the main event, the elite/senior race, will be a 35-lap affair around the National Park.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, JUly 6, 2019

23

Shaheen, Imam star as Pakistan end campaign on bitter-sweet note B

y the end of the second over of the chase, Bangladesh had checked in 8 runs to their credit, one more than what Pakistan had to restrict their opposition to in order to qualify for the semifinals. It was too wishful a target and not surprisingly, never saw the light of the day. The war was lost there, but 42 overs later, they won the dead-rubber battle handsomely: if for nothing, just to keep their much-celebrated ‘92 chain intact. Chasing 316 for a win, Soumya Sarkar got a reprieve early when Haris Sohail dropped a regulation chance at first slip.

Pakistan’s fielding was below-par for most parts of the innings, but in patches, there were shades of brilliance.

With the world cup hopes dished much early in the game, the free-spirited dives and back-pats came along.

And came to display at its finest was the 19-year old Shaheen Afridi, who returned the most impressive figures of this world cup (6 for 35 - best ever by a Pakistani) and remained instrumental in Bangladesh folding up for 221. Despite some poor fielding, Bangladesh’s batting struggled to find momentum, largely due to some fine bowling by the left-arm pace trio of Afridi, Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz. Shakib Al Hasan, however, yet again

Imam-ul-Haq

Shaeen Afridi

r e mained the stand out batsman in the line-up, stroking his seventh fifty-plus score of the tournament, and stitching a half-century stand with Liton Das. However, barring that fourth-wicket partnership, Bangladesh batsmen couldn’t pair up for anything

substantial. And as the innings progressed, their chances of a win only became bleaker. In the last half an hour of play, Afridi and Shadab Khan wrecked havoc, striking five times in a space of less than five overs to help Pakistan seal a 94-run win, and complete possibly their most emphatic performance of the tournament. In the process, Afridi also became the youngest player to bag a five-wicket haul in a world cup. Earlier in the day, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, with that being their only chance to qualify for the semis. Needing at least 308 to keep themselves in the contest at the end of

their innings, they managed 315 courtesy Imamul-Haq’s run-a-ball century, Babar Azam’s 96 and Imad Wasim’s quickfire cameo of 43. Quite early in Pakistan’s innings, they had taken a sedate route and avoided the temptation of going boom or bust. The backbone of their innings remained a 157-run stand between Babar and Imam. However, once both of them fell - Babar trapped leg-before to a low full toss and Imam hitting his wicket while playing a ball off the backfoot - Pakistan batsmen, barring Imad, failed to accelerate well. Sarfraz Ahmed got injured, while Mohammad Hafeez and H a r i s S o h a i l perished while a t tempting big shots. Despite some abysmal fielding, which included two dropped catches and plenty of misfields, Pakistan couldn’t power themselves to a score that would make the second innings anything more than a formality play. Mustafizur Rahman proved expensive, conceding 75 runs from his spell but returned a fifer.

In the end, Pakistan ended their campaign equal on points (11) with New Zealand but missed out on making to the top four due to a poorer Net Run Rate. For a tournament that lasts the

3

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan F Zaman c Mehidy b Saifuddin 13 Imam-ul-Haq hit wicket b Rahman 100 B Azam lbw b Saifuddin 96 M Hafeez c Shakib b Mehidy 27 H Sohail c Sarkar b Rahman 6 I Wasim c Mahmudullah b Rahman 43 S Ahmed (c) † not out 3 W Riaz b Mohammad Saifuddin 2 S Khan c & b Mustafizur Rahman 1 M Amir c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Mustafizur Rahman 8 S Afridi not out 0 Extras 16 (lb 3, nb 1, w 12) TOTAL 315/9 (50 Overs, RR: 6.3) Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Fakhar Zaman, 7.2 ov), 2-180 (Babar Azam, 31.6 ov), 3-246 (Imamul-Haq, 41.5 ov), 4-248 (Mohammad Hafeez, 42.4 ov), 5-255 (Haris Sohail, 43.5 ov), 5-267* (Sarfaraz Ahmed, retired not out ), 6-288 (Wahab Riaz, 46.5 ov), 7-289 (Shadab Khan, 47.1 ov), 8-314 (Imad Wasim, 49.4 ov), 9-314 (Mohammad Amir, 49.5 ov) Bowling M Miraz (10-0-30-1) M Saifuddin (9 -0-77-3) M Rahman (10 -0-75-5) M Mortaza (7-0-46-0) S Al Hasan (10-0-57-0) M Hossain (4-0-27-0)

course of playing every single participating team, the respective first games of the two teams, came to make the decisive difference in the end - Pakistan’s huge loss against West Indies and New Zealand’s massive win versus Sri Lanka. What could’ve

Bangladesh T Iqbal b Shaheen Shah Afridi 8 S Sarkar c Fakhar Zaman b Mohammad Amir 22 S Al Hasan c †Sarfaraz Ahmed b Shaheen Shah Afridi 64 M Rahim † b Wahab Riaz 16 L Das c Haris Sohail b Shaheen Shah Afridi 32 Mahmudullah b Shaheen Shah Afridi 29 M Hossain c Babar Azam b Shadab Khan 16 M Saifuddin c Mohammad Amir b Shaheen Shah Afridi 0 M Miraz not out 7 M Mortaza (c) st †Sarfaraz Ahmed b Shadab Khan 15 M Rahman b Shaheen Shah Afridi 1 Extras 11 (lb 5, w 6) TOTAL 221 all out (44.1 Overs, RR: 5.0) Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Soumya Sarkar, 5.5 ov), 2-48 (Tamim Iqbal, 10.4 ov), 3-78 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 17.2 ov), 4-136 (Liton Das, 28.1 ov), 5-154 (Shakib Al Hasan, 32.1 ov), 6-197 (Mosaddek Hossain, 39.4 ov), 7-197 (Mohammad Saifuddin, 40.1 ov), 8-198 (Mahmudullah, 40.3 ov), 9-219 (Mashrafe Mortaza, 43.4 ov), 10-221 (Mustafizur Rahman, 44.1 ov) Bowling M Hafeez (6-1-32-0) M Amir (7-0-31-1) S Afridi (9.1-0-35-6) W Riaz (7-0-33-1) I Wasim (6-0-26-0) S Khan (9-0-59-2)

been of their fortunes had New Zealand’s match against India and Pakistan’s game against Sri Lanka not been washed off can leave for a ‘what if’ scenario. For now, Pakistan’s campaign has ended and New Zealand will enter the semifinals. (Cricbuzz)

Aliann Pompey Invitational…

All athletes confident of strong performance

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he highly anticipated Aliann Pompey Invitational meet (API) will commence today at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora WCD, and some of Guyana’s best athletes will confront international opponents as they battle for supremacy.

Opening the simple ceremony held at the Sleep Inn Hotel on Church Street, in the city ward of Queenstown, Aliann Pompey indicated that, over the four years of its existence, the API has grown to become a staple in the athletics arena, and for this she is very gratified.

Pompey declared, “This is clearly an event that means a lot to me. to see the support of the sponsors, the athletics federation, those are the reasons that its very successful”.

Following Pompey’s speech, President of the Athletics Association of Guyana, Aubrey Hutson, declared that the association does its best to provide the right platform for the athletes in Guyana and for those who are visiting.

He indicated his gratitude to the foreign athletes who have come to compete, declaring that their presence raises the standard of track and filed in Guyana.

“We are going to try our best to provide the right atmosphere, the right technical support, and (to) ensure that your times are accurately recorded when competing, and (that) the officiating is done at the highest possible level. We want to congratulate Aliann for doing the hard work in bringing this meet home, and the local athletes for training hard, since they will be competing against other athletes who do not necessarily live here.

“I want you guys to understand that the young athletes coming into the system will basically look at the top athletes as someone they would like to beat. So go out there, do your best, be the professional you have always been, and compete to the highest standard,” he admonished.

Also speaking at the ceremony was defending 400 metre hurdles champion Rushell Clayton, who said that being the defending champion may put a lot of pressure on an athlete, but she noted that she is confident of going out on the field and executing her routine.

Clayton also related that she is currently on a high in

Athletics Association of Guyana President Aubrey Hutson, Aliann Pompey, sponsors of the event, and the competing athletes

terms of her performance, and is looking to take that into the Invitational and the upcoming Diamond League, followed by London. She declared that she considers the Invitational a dress rehearsal for the other upcoming events.

In an invited comment, Ghana’s 100m sprint sensation Joseph Amoah said, “This is my first time travelling to the South American continent. I know I am going to have a good experience competing against other South American athletes, and I’m just going to go out there and run as fast as I can, to win

my event. In terms of what I bring to the meet…, I will go out there and be (as) aggressive as I can; I don’t feel any pressure or nerves. In the end, I’m just going to go out there and run”.

Today’s track meet is being underwritten by a number of sponsors, who have all brought something different to the table.

Collaboration with the Ministry of Communities will ensure that athletes have a clean environment in which to compete, while Sentinel Security has pledged a prize of US$1000 to any female athlete who breaks a national record.

saturday, JUly 6, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Aliann Pompey Invitational…

All athletes confident of strong performance Page 23

Page 23

Shaheen, Imam star as Pakistan end campaign on bitter-sweet note GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.