Guyana Times, Sunday 23 June, 2019

LOOK INSIDE !

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 3963 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, June 23, 2019

House-to-House Registration not catered for under law –…saysGECOM Commissioner Claims & Objections, Continuous Registration would satisfy eligible voters See story on page 3

PNC tries to disavow rejection of CCJ's jurisdiction by Minister

PRICE

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Berbice regional authorities want CoI into corrupt Police

…say citizens not P15 confident about uncompromised OPR

Page 2

…bizarre, poorly-attended protest failed miserably

Farmer’s brutal chopping of wife

Video of confession disappears

P8

1st FPSO vessel to arrive in Guyana

by September Page 12

Govt failed to protect TIP P14 victims outside Georgetown – US report The first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel docked in Singapore. The vessel will set sail next month to commence operations offshore Guyana

Overwinning residents fume as Govt bypasses village Page 11 in street light project …say action clear act of discrimination

President requests meeting with Opposition Leader on CCJ ruling Page 7

…meeting designed to influence CCJ’s consequential orders – political analyst

Sexual misconduct allegations

P10

CJIA Deputy CEO sent on leave, released on station bail T&T-based supermarket officially P12 opens branch in Guyana

2 NEWS PNC tries to disavow rejection of CCJ's jurisdiction by Minister SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

…bizarre, poorly-attended protest failed miserably

President David Granger

L

ess than 24 hours after Minister of State Dawn HastingsWilliams publicly rejected the Caribbean Court of Justice’s appellate jurisdiction in relation to the validity of the NoConfidence Motion, passed in the National Assembly in December 2018, the People’s National Congress (PNC) went into damage-control mode and sought to distance itself from the Minister’s comments.

The PNC’s General Secretary, Amna Ally, on Saturday, told Guyana Times that Minister Hastings does not – and cannot, speak for the PNC; only the General Secretary, who has the authority to do so, can.

“She would have heard that the President said that the Government accepts the ruling of the CCJ; because

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

it was very clear from the President (Granger) that we accept the ruling,” Ally told this publication.

But while the party’s General Secretary seems to be apologetic and distancing herself from the Minister’s statement, one senior civil society commentator on Saturday told this newspaper that the Minister would have been inclined to make such statements given the posture of the party, with its history of cavalier dismissal of the Judiciary in the recent past.

In one instance, the commentator noted that President David Granger, himself, brushed aside the Chief Justice’s ruling, in relation to the interpretation of the Constitution of Guyana with respect to the appointment of a Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, saying that “her perception” was

not his “perception”.

“The Chief Justice gave an interpretation based on her perception of the law, and I will continue to act in accordance with my perception of the Constitution; that is to say, I will not appoint somebody who I do not consider fit and proper,” the President had said on July 19, 2017 as he dismissed the Judge’s interpretation of the Constitution – because of the qualification for who was "fit and proper" to be appointed as the Chair of GECOM. The civil society commentator also recalled the incident with Attorney General Basil Williams and Justice Franklin Holder to highlight the party’s disrespect towards the Judiciary.

In 2017, Trade Unionist Carvil Duncan had moved to the Court to block the work of a Presidential Tribunal that was set up to determine whether he should be removed from his post as Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) in light of criminal charges proffered against him, which have since been dismissed by the Magistrate’s Court.

Justice Holder had complained to acting Chancellor Yonette CummingsEdwards that during the March 23, 2017 hearing of the case, he abruptly walked out of the courtroom because of statements made by the

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams

Attorney General.

He quoted the Attorney General as saying, “I could say what I want to say and however I want to say it, I have always been like that…

The last Magistrate who (told me what to do) was later found dead.”

Justice Holder had said in his complaint that he felt disrespected by the Attorney General’s behaviour. He had called for an apology to be proffered to him in open Court before he would proceed with the case. The Judge eventually recused himself from the case.

According to the commentator, this display by the PNC senior officials is what led to members of the party to have disregard for the Judiciary in general. In fact, the commentator noted that the President, himself, defied the CCJ when he called

PNC General Secretary Amna Ally

for house-to-house registration following the CCJ ruling last Tuesday before the Court issued its consequential orders due on Monday.

“If the senior members are doing it, obviously, the junior members will automatically take the same position and posture,” the commentator said.

Rejecting CCJ jurisdiction

It was during a bizarre protest staged by several Government ministers and a few A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporters outside the GECOM headquarters on Friday, where they were calling for house-to-house registration before elections are held, that Hastings-Williams voiced her blatant disregard for the CCJ as Guyana’s final Court of Appeal by saying that that Court has no

authority to issue any consequential orders on Monday, since Guyana is an independent state with its own laws.

“GECOM is the only authoritative body that will inform the Government whether they’re ready or not for elections. CCJ cannot rule, Guyana has its own institution. Guyana is an independent country with its own independent laws,” the Minister said.

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

However, despite the PNC’s General Secretary emphasising that she is the only authorised person to speak on any matters involving her party’s position on the CCJ’s ruling, another PNC member, Attorney-atLaw James Bond, on Friday had also echoed similar sentiments that reflected those of minister’s Hastings.

“The CCJ cannot tell GECOM when to hold elections, only the Constitution could give GECOM instructions. How our Constitution operates is that GECOM has to decide when it is ready and then the President has to announce by a proclamation when the election date will be. Nobody could tell GECOM to hold election in X, Y time now.”

Turn to page 9

news

3

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

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

Sunday, June 23 – 09:00h-10:30h and Monday, June 24 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, June 23 – 08:00h-09:30h and Monday, June 24 – 08:45h-10:15h.

House-to-House Registration not catered for under law – GECOM Commissioner

…says Claims and Objections, Continuous Registration would satisfy eligible voters

Creating Mischief

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to light rain showers are expected in the morning and early afternoon hours. Partly cloudy skies followed by light rain showers are expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 08:14h and 20:48h reaching maximum heights of 2.35 metres and 2.25 metres.

Low Tide: 14:18h reaching a minimum height of 0.87 metre.

saturday, JUNE 22, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

06

15 16

20 22 23

FREE TICKET

08 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

05 13

19 23 26

LUCKY 3

1

8

8

8

Afternoon Draw

9

3

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

06

07

09

10

PAY DAY

01 05 07 14 17

14

17

20 SUPER PAY DAY

03 10 14 15 16

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

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

W

ith the coalition and its supporters calling erroneously for house-to-house registration and even deliberately spreading falsehoods about the process of getting on the Official List of Electors, a Guyana Elections Commissioner and lawyer has pointed out that house-to-house registration is, in fact, not catered for under the law.

In an interview with this publication on Saturday, GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj set out to clarify the misconceptions surrounding house-to-house registration.

He pointed out that there is no legal requirement for this exercise but rather, there is a legal requirement for the Claims and Objections period.

“House-to-house registration is not catered for under the law. That needs to be said. The law caters for a first list to be generated by house-to-house registration.

And from that first list, it is to be constantly refreshed by periods of Continuous Registration and Claims And Objections.”

“Continuous Registration is particularly to capture persons 14 to 18 years and Claims and Objections, to allow any entitled person to go on to the list or objections to be made to persons who are not entitled to be on the list, for example, if they have died,” the GECOM Commissioner said.

Gunraj noted that the decision for GECOM to carry out house-to-house registration, which involves registration teams visiting persons at their addresses to fill forms, take fingerprints and pictures, was taken long before he became

One of the APNU/AFC protesters who, despite her placard, was actually on the voters' list, but was clearly creating mischief when she claimed that her name is not on the Official List of Electors

a Commissioner.

The Commissioner also stressed that contrary to what is being peddled about the need for house-to-house registration, the system (and law) caters for including eligible persons on the voters’ list after cycles of Continuous Registration and Claims and Objection periods are carried out.

“No person attaining the age of 18 will be disenfranchised, because a Claims and Objections period captures those persons. So house-to-house registration is just a ploy to delay the elections further,” he added.

Registration is catered for under Section 6 of the National Registration Act Cap 19:08, with the intent of having those 14 and over included on the National Register of Registrants.

On August 4, 2005, then President Bharrat Jagdeo assented to amendments of the Act by including provisions for Continuous Registration.

These amendments were

in keeping with an international push away from house-to-house registration and towards Continuous Registration as the more effective method of registering voters.

According to Section 6 (A) of the Amendments, “the Elections Commission shall use the Official List Of Electors from the 2001 General and Regional Elections as the base to commence continuing registration”.

This meant that persons not on the 2001 Official List of Electors were legally required to visit registration offices in their respective registration areas to apply to be included on the list (though it is understood that GECOM officers would usually visit the homes of those who are disabled).

The same holds true for the next (and last) time houseto-house registration would be done, which was in 2008.

Protest

Despite all of this, how-

ever, GECOM was hit by protests on Friday by A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Ministers and a few supporters, who shouted the chorus of “no registration, no elections”.

This comes on the heels of the decision handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Tuesday last, that the No-Confidence Motion tabled in Guyana’s National Assembly in December 2018 had been validly passed and, therefore, general elections must be held within a stipulated timeframe.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 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

PNC’s authoritarian entrenchment

T

he reaction of David Granger and the rest of the PNC and its myrmidons – including the AFC and WPA – to the decisions of the CCJ on the NCM and the GECOM Chair appointment cases – can best be appreciated against the background of the authoritarian regime they have assiduously cultivated since assuming office in 2015. But one must at least give Granger credit for announcing very publicly that he had vowed to follow the legacy of his mentor Forbes Burnham, who, even his most fervent follower would concede, was authoritarian, if not dictatorial, to the bone.

The PNC founded by Burnham has been, therefore, congenitally unwilling to share power with any other person or institution and Granger’s running of his PNCled government has been true to that form. Let us take Granger’s relationship of his Executive with the Judiciary and Legislature – the two other supposedly equal “limbs” of a democratic state. In a parliamentary democracy, like Britain, the “Chief Whip” of the party in power can remind MP’s of the “party line” but cannot force the to vote that line. It is for this reason, for instance, Theresa May was unable to get her Brexit Bill through the House of Commons, when members of her own party votes against the Tory line.

In Guyana, however, because of its authoritarian imperative, the PNC and its myrmidon the AFC, have denounced Charandass Persaud as a “Judas” because he voted his conscience in the Dec 21 NCM, because he was displeased at the manner his party handled the sugar estate closures. They even invented tales of the MP accepting bribes and summarily expelled him from Parliament.

The statement of PNC Minister of State Dawn HastingsWilliams, rejecting the jurisdiction of the CCJ to issue consequential orders to GECOM: “GECOM is the only authoritative body that will inform the Government whether they’re ready or not for elections. CCJ cannot rule, Guyana has its own institution. Guyana is an independent country with its own independent laws,” is not because of political ignorance but betrays the PNC’s authoritarian instinct versus the Judiciary, which is now second nature to even Junior Ministers. It stemmed from ultimately from Burnham flying the PNC’s flag over our Appellate Court and more proximately, from Granger’s cavalier dismissal of the High Court’s judgement handed down by the Chief Justice, that Art 162 (2) does not demand that the Chair of GECOM be a former Judge, as her “perception” and he is entitled to his. The subject of Granger’s highhandedness – the capture of the electoral body GECOM so that it would do its bidding as is presently unfolding, is a classic manoeuvre of authoritarian regimes as they undermine democratic norms.

Authoritarian regimes also routinely abuse state institutions and state resources to accumulate and retain power against opposition forces that are helpless to oppose outside of the National Assembly where they are routinely outvoted. This is not just restricted to initiating boondoggle projects and sharing out the national patrimony to woo supporters in the case of the PNC in Guyana. Here, their traditional control over the coercive arms of the state has been augmented by the formation of a State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA) to join the Special Organised Crime (SOCU) to press a slew of concocted charges against members of the PPP/C regime. While they have been unable to secure a single conviction, they seem content to checkmate their political opponents with the charges of corruption.

The PNC has also developed its authoritarian credentials by staffing the government at all levels with ex-military personnel who would all have served under Granger at one time or other during their military careers.

As with Granger, the persons have been trained to obey orders automatically and not question authority – qualities that are antithetical to the concretising of democracy in a country with elements of the old PNC dictatorship still in place. This militarisation of governance is sure to preclude an orderly transfer of power should the PNC lose the next elections, as is most likely.

First Lady of Guyana, Mrs Sandra Granger, and Director of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe, pose with ExxonMobil officials during the commissioning of the first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in Singapore. The vessel will set sail next month to commence operations offshore Guyana.

Devoting all energies to restoration of democracy in Guyana Dear Editor, David Granger and his fallen Administration want us to talk about nonsense issues; it was 34 and half men and now that the CCJ has ruled that as unconstitutional, Granger would like us to move the conversation to the need for houseto-house registration and the jurisdiction of the CCJ. I was never drawn into arguments as silly and baseless as the former and will not deign to engage in the latter.

Much like the ‘three-card man’ Granger would have us waste our energies making unnecessary arguments, for if we were to stop and think, it would become clear that Granger has no intention of honouring the law and upholding the Constitution by way of respecting the NoConfidence Motion (NCM) and he (Granger) has no intention of holding constitutionally (now) overdue

elections required by the passage of the NCM. Granger and his cabal must have full knowledge of how unpopular they are, hence they have made it clear that they will not hold elections until forced to do so.

In the meanwhile, Granger stands by his statement of “I am the President until the next President is sworn in”.

Granger will not do the ‘decent’ thing; he is unaware of what that would be. Granger will attempt to rule, condone corruption, pass laws, levy taxes and spend lavishly as has been the case for over four years. The difference will be the loss of legal standing. It is also clear that should elections be held and whatever the magnitude of defeat, Granger and his cabal will refuse to demit office and will move to the same courts they are now openly contemptuous of, to provide a cloak of respectability for

the naked greed for power and perks of office.

However, no action of such magnitude can or will pass without attendant consequences. Since no one in his circle seems willing to advise Granger on what these would be, it is up to the people who oppose him to give him the best possible advice. The world has changed much since the days of Forbes Burnham, dictatorships are no longer a norm, there will be personal consequences in a probable sequence as I now outline: the gears of the international community will grind slowly into action, but they will grind exceedingly small; the entire executive arm of Guyana’s Government will become pariahs; they will become personae non gratae in democratic nations; personal sanctions will be levied on every asset, of every illegal Minister and one

day, those will be seized by our state or foreign powers to pay for excesses; given their advanced ages, many will end their days in jail cells; none will emerge with reputation or credibility intact; history is never kind to those who engage in undemocratic rule, the weight of labels will hang on family members for generations (unfairly).

I will make no appeal to David Granger for patriotic action, I fully understand the futility of such pleas; what I can promise is to devote all possible energies to the restoration of democracy in Guyana and the return of respect for the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. We have come too far as a nation to be returned to the dark days of dictatorship.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Product of very toxic electioneering culture created by PNC Dear Editor, The former PNC Prime Minister, Hamilton Green, declared himself an expert in elections saying, “As one who has been in the Election business since we first had universal adult suffrage…” in his recent letter, “Statement

by GECOM Chairman is ludicrous”, and said a call for elections in 60 days is “preposterous” because the “integrity of the Voters’ List is a sine qua non”.

Mr Green (and the current fallen Government) wants to expand the list but can only do so by destroying the law. It is a legal impossibility because the law is clear: elections must be called within 3 months following the aftermath of the No-Confidence Motion. To vote thereafter is to alter the standard that qualifies a legal ballot.

Said another way, unless the Opposition agrees to an extension, an election called after three months

will be illegal, as each ballot cast would exist outside the ambit of the law.

President Granger, who says he respects the Constitution, wants what he calls a “credible” election. But his “credible” election is, as a matter of law, an illegal election.

The Opposition should not agree to any so-called “credible” but illegal election or ask its supporters to cast votes that are unprotected by the law. It has no reason to defy Articles 106 (6) and 106 (7), now triggered by operation of law on December 21, 2018. The Leader of the Opposition must not tamper with the sacrifice of Mr Charrandas Persaud, who fled for his life after voting his conscience.

Now that this “conscience” vote has been upheld, the weight of the evidence is upon Government.

As expected, the denials, lies, exaggeration, immature rhetoric of preemptive strikes and “war,” delay

and intimidation tactics by Government members will increase. This is a deliberate strategy to intimidate even the CCJ. Each must be countered by obedience to the Constitution.

The CCJ must be reminded that this is an emergency election following a NoConfidence Motion. It is not the usual election that emerges after a Government’s statutory five-year term ends.

The law does not state anywhere that following a NoConfidence Motion, there must be house-to-house registration. The CCJ should not now try to write new law into the Constitution under any banner of compromise.

One cannot compromise by breaking the law.

Secondly, on a less important note, Mr Green is being disrespectful when he tries to declare himself as an election expert. His is a history of ballot suppression because he and the late President Forbes Burnham

were grand architects of a culture of voter disenfranchisement.

Mr Green’s newfound admiration for voter rights is nothing but Government’s tune for the day. This simple comparison exposes his lack of credibility. He complains about the GECOM Chairman staying on the job illegally, but he does not object to his role as a strongman in multiple illegal PNC administrations.

With a fallen Government at hand, led essentially by the PNC, the present is quickly becoming the past.

Instead of going home, the GECOM Chairman sits in Kingston today precisely because he is a product of the very toxic electioneering culture that Mr Green and the late President Forbes Burnham cultivated under the PNC. Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 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

A call for humility Ignoring CCJ in name of Dear Editor, “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” – Proverbs 16:18 I sat as a Member of the National Assembly and listened to the boastful statements – “Bring it On”, “Jagdeo’s Motion is of nuisance value”, “God is fighting for us” and “Pharoah you are rejected” – all utterances from the Government benches during the December 21, 2018, debate on the NoConfidence Motion. The results were clear. The Motion was validly carried.

I participated as a member of the delegation of the Leader of the Opposition that subsequently met with President David Granger in January 2019. Again, I saw a display of pride and arrogance, an unwillingness to humble one’s self, refusal to accept the results of the NCM of December 2018 and comply with the provisions of Articles 106 (6 and 7) of the Constitution of Guyana, the supreme law of the land.

As a citizen, I read in the print media, listened to the electronic media, and followed carefully on social media, comments emanating from them who ought to by now be former senior Government functionaries, acting in a manner of being indispensable, irreplaceable and exuding a tone that suggested that they had a divine right to perpetually rule Guyana.

In that mix of commentary was the loud and brazen damnation of all those who dared to oppose President Granger and his cabal, labelling such persons as evil and even likened them to the Anti-Christ. The daily quotations of “no weapons formed against us shall be able to prosper”, splurged many quotes in all media

forms. Incidentally, there was no rebuke or call for sobriety from “good men”. The world is not the way it is because of bad people, but because of the inaction and silence of “good men”.

The day when the matters were ruled upon by our learned Chief Justice, this brigade with a “holier than thou” attitude castigated and made all kinds of spurious allegations in an attempt to traduce her integrity. This trend of falsely projecting an aura of themselves as good and can do no wrong, and others as evil and unworthy, was indeed a travesty and troubled developments that went unchecked. I wondered for Guyana during that period. Prideful politicians think they can get away with anything. When their policies fail and their misdeeds become public, they shift the blame or deny wrongdoings and train wrecks. I cringe at this type of behaviour and blind acceptance.

The Guyana Court of Appeal’s majority decision that upheld all of the Chief Justice’s rulings save and except for what can be considered a majority of 65 in the National Assembly, was viewed by some as the urban-middle-class ensuring their champion remains relevant. In my Budget Debate speech in 2015, I had described the APNU/AFC coalition as an urban middle-class judo-Christian elite that has a façade of pseudo-spiritualism. Every wrongdoing that was highlighted by the Opposition was excused, explained away and in some cases, referred to as mere political propaganda. Even when hard evidence was presented as in the cases of the drug bond scandal, D’Urban Park fiasco and US$18 million signing bonus that was hid-

den from the knowledge of the Guyanese people and not even mentioned until almost two years later.

Editor, I agonized, having listened to our President denying he has done anything wrong even in the face of the decisions from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which stated that the unilateral appointment of the GECOM Chairman by the President was unconstitutional and flawed. This ‘man of pride’ has been elevated now to the ‘prince of pride’ by his open unwillingness to even acknowledge that he is wrong by continuing to behave as if there was not a definitive ruling on this matter. Is this a declaration of infallibility? As a country, we must first acknowledge wrongdoing. President Granger must be seen for who he truly is. His pride is obnoxious. He may be a good man, may I say, but certainly, a weak and reckless President. Truth needs no crutches. If it does, it’s a lie.

I call upon all of Guyana to be enlightened and awakened to the reality that when one thinks that he can do no wrong, more wrongs will be done. It will be done to you, your children, and your children’s children. This authoritarian, totalitarian and velvet dictatorship must be halted and a way to do this is through the democratic process of free and fair elections.

Mr Granger, you have been weighed in the balances and you have been found wanting. You have exhausted our constitutional courts, but now you are being judged at the mercies of the court of public opinion.

Yours sincerely, Bishop Juan A Edghill PPP/C MP

independence or sovereignty is folly

Dear Editor, By virtue of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (the Constitution), the Caribbean Court of Justice Act 2004 (CCJ Act) and the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice (the Agreement), the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is Guyana’s highest court of superior record, whose orders must not be disobeyed.

I make this statement in light of words which the media, on Friday, June 21, 2019, attributed to two senior Government Ministers. Media reports are Minister of State, Mrs Dawn Hastings-Williams said that “GECOM is the only authoritative body that will inform the Government whether they’re ready or not for elections. CCJ cannot rule; Guyana has its own institution.” She is also said to have told reporters that “Guyana is an independent country with its own independent laws”.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Karen Cummings, was quoted as saying that “we abide by the rules but at the same time, we have to take care of our sovereignty”.

The statements were made against the backdrop of the CCJ’s judgment in the no-confidence cases.

These words seem to suggest that Guyana can ignore an order of the CCJ on the basis of independence or sovereignty. It is a curious curiosity that Ministers occupying the highest strata of Government office would hold such opinions on legal questions, and more gravely, share those opinions with members of the public.

Surely, the nature of both of these portfolios dictates, at least, a working knowledge of

the nature, function, and powers of the CCJ. Moreover, both Ministers have the benefit of competent in-house counsel, and/or the assistance of the Attorney General’s Chambers.

I am, therefore, prepared to assume that despite the words used, neither Minister intended to suggest that ignoring an order of the CCJ is an option.

However, intentional or not, posts across several social media platforms suggest that this is exactly what was received by many Guyanese. In the premises, and in contemplation of the fact that a monumental number of Guyanese depend exclusively on senior Government officials for statements of political, socio-economic, and legal fact, I take this opportunity to offer some clarity.

The CCJ is a creature of the Agreement, a regional treaty by which Guyana is bound. Article III (1) (b) of the Agreement establishes the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ, and “the decisions of the court are final”: Article III (2).

Guyana signed the Agreement on 14 February 2001.

In the same year, Article 123 (4), was added to the Constitution to allow Parliament to “…make provision…authorising any court established or to be established, as the final court of appeal for the Caribbean to be the final court of appeal for Guyana.” It is apposite to note that Article 123 (4) of the Constitution, one in a suite of amendments in the Constitution (Amendment) (Number 4) Act 2001, was specifically engineered, and effected to permit Parliament power to accept the then not yet established CCJ as Guyana’s final court.

Parliament exercised that power when it passed the CCJ

Act, which, by section 3, gave the entire Agreement legal force in Guyana. As such, decisions from the Court of Appeal may be appealed to the CCJ, whose decisions in those matters are authoritative, and final. Indeed, the result eventuated by these laws is that while the CCJ exists outside of Guyana’s terrestrial jurisdiction, it exists, and functions within our judicial hierarchy, and legal framework.

On the subject of sovereignty, contemporary international law authorities espouse the generally accepted view that sovereignty is of variable magnitude, shrinking, or expanding in accordance with the contraction, or proliferation of international law.

Views that sovereignty is either constant or absolute are outdated.

Furthermore, Guyana exercised this sovereignty in agreeing to be bound by the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ. In doing so, it willingly ceded a portion of its sovereignty in so far as it is bound by law to comply with orders of a regional court. This reality exemplifies the view often iterated by Professor Duke EE Pollard that the essence of sovereignty is the faculty to compromise it.

In the premises, any suggestion that an order of the CCJ may be ignored in the name of independence or sovereignty is folly. Further, while GECOM is best placed to determine when elections can practically be held, if the court finds that GECOM’s actions or considerations fall outside of what is required, it may make an order which influences when elections are held.

Sincerely, Chevy A Devonish

6

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019

Page Foundation The importance of belonging across life

…a developmental perspective of our need to belong

By Kelly-Ann Allen, PhD

The innate need to seek out meaningful social connections and bonds with others is an enduring and persistent human characteristic throughout life.

Humans are social creatures. Most people have a deep desire to connect with others –not just as peers, co-workers, acquaintances, or Facebook “friends”, but deeply and intimately. We long to feel valued and supported. We long to share our thoughts, emotions, and life with others. And we long to feel needed by others. These desires reflect a fundamental human need to not only be in the physical or digital presence of others but also to belong with them.

Studies find that a sense of belonging is associated with numerous beneficial outcomes, whereas a broken sense of belonging increases the risk for psychological and physical dysfunction. Where does belonging come from, how does it unfold over life, and what impact does it have at different stages of our lives?

Early roots of belonging

Belonging in adulthood

F

rom an evolutionary perspective, there are clear advantages to connecting with others. Tribal bonding increased the probability of finding food, provided protection from predators, and enabled reproduction.

The innate motivation for connection is deeply embedded in our biological makeup. Belonging begins before birth, through the psychophysiological connection that occurs between the mother and growing embryo. Parents that have experienced the loss of a baby or the inability to conceive can testify to the connection between parent and child and the sometimes unimaginable pain that comes with the absence of this bond.

After birth, infants could not survive without the care of parents or caregivers. Evidence for social cognition can be found as early as two weeks. From six to eight weeks, parents generally observe social behaviour in their new infants – smiling, reciprocal verbal exchanges, and joint attention.

These early social signs suggest a desire to connect with others and form social relationships. In cases where these early social milestones do not occur, it increases the risk for poor social relationships in childhood.

Sadly, the starkest evidence for our need to connect in infancy comes from studies on trauma and disorganised attachment. Poor attachments during early childhood increase risk for long-term negative outcomes, including poor social skills, lack of emotional regulation and coping skills, and increased risk of mental health issues.

Belonging in childhood

In early childhood, children begin to develop prosocial behaviours and an understanding of the self in relation to others. From 14 to 18 months, children begin to engage in helping behaviour. Pre-schoolers begin to follow social norms and model their behaviours after caretakers, peers, and others they observe, signally a need to belong and feel included. During this age, developmental disruptions can impact the extent to which social bonds are successfully created. The social difficulties experienced by individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), for example, do not necessarily indicate an unwillingness to connect, but rather a lack of understanding and ability to use the complex and

A

often nuanced social rules that are often taken for granted.

The early years are important for developing social skills that help buffer losses throughout life. Focusing on belonging during the early years and at school provides a proactive approach towards fostering positive transitions into adulthood and beyond.

Typical developing children begin to develop an understanding of the thoughts, feelings, and intentions of others around age five. This builds a foundation for empathy, acceptance, and tolerance of others. Children are often quick to understand peer approval and inclusion once they start school.

Sadly, social patterns of rejection can become entrenched early. Schools are an important sphere of belonging for children at this stage. Among the most important relationships to emerge outside of the home during childhood include those with peers and those with teachers.

Adolescence

From late childhood through adolescence, peer groups increasingly become a dominant part of life, providing opportunities for belonging and social identity, but also the risk of rejection and ostracism. Teachers play a critical role in supporting a sense of belonging and connection to learning. Although conflict with parents tends to increase, parents provide an important foundation and source of support.

The adolescent brain undergoes significant changes, which intersect with the developing sense of one’s identity.

Social isolation and exclusion experienced in childhood and adolescence can affect psychosocial adjustment and transitions into adulthood.

cross adulthood, relationships play an important role in physical and mental health, although the sources of belonging often become disrupted, shift, and evolve. Societal changes; shifting social roles, networks, and expectations; and increased responsibilities influence the way we form bonds and friendships.

The desire for intimacy increases and romantic relationships are common. For many, roles shift from being part of one’s family of origin to starting and raising one’s own family. For parents, a tug of war can occur between work pressures and family life. Friend and social groups evolve from connecting around common social interests to connecting around common familial interests.

Disruptions in social patterns (eg, trauma, insecure attachment, victimisation, ostracism) that occurred through childhood and adolescence can reemerge, straining relationships and increasing the risk for poor mental health.

For many, work becomes an important source of belonging with others, through shared interests with colleagues, a sense of purpose found in one’s work, and providing social interactions with others. Transition through unemployment, retirement, or relocation can create a loss of relationships and shift perceptions of the self in relation to others. People may experience a changing social identity in adulthood and question where they belong and with whom they belong.

Older age A sense of belonging remains important in older age. Social relationships support healthy aging, helping to buffer feelings of loneliness, isolation, and related negative outcomes; providing emotional and instrumental social support; and offering a source of meaning and purpose.

Elderly individuals often have developed a greater appreciation of social connections. Friends and family remain very important, and social groups can provide a source of connection. But when these bonds erode, it can be difficult for this age group to develop new social connections.

Loneliness and social isolation can be common themes at this life stage. The risk of disease, disability, and death of oneself and others can disrupt prior connections. Physical and cognitive limitations can prevent and limit social connections. Many older adults are relegated to residential care, with little effort to help them connect with their facility. A natural loss of friendships at this age can compound feelings of isolation.

Feeling a sense of belonging during older age provides a sense of purpose, and positively relates to longer, healthier lives. Creating a public understanding of the importance of human connection at all ages and supporting strategies that foster connection helps support healthy aging across life.

Conclusion Human connections are important across the lifespan. They begin early, constantly evolving, and extend through old age. They are impacted internally through human development, externally through changing social landscapes, and are dynamically impacted by interactions with and responses from others. (pyschologytoday.com)

news

7

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

President requests meeting with Opposition Leader on CCJ ruling …meeting designed to influence CCJ’s consequential orders – political analyst

I

n the wake of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling that the Government was indeed dethroned by a No Confidence Motion last year, President David Granger has requested a meeting with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

The letter was penned

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

While the letter does not specify a date and time to meet, it does say that the meeting has to be after Monday, June 24. On June 24, the CCJ will be handing down the consequential orders that follow the CCJ ruling that the No confidence motion was passed.

Other consequential orders will relate to the appointment of Guyana Elections Commission Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson. The CCJ had found that Patterson’s appointment was flawed and in breach of the Constitution. The court also ruled that the President ought to have given the Opposition leader an explanation as to why consecutive lists of nominees for the position of GECOM Chairman were being rejected.

However, suspicious of the meeting four days after the ruling, a local political analysis told this pub-

and proper,” he said.

Appellate jurisdiction

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

lication that the meeting seemed to be designed to influence the court as to president’s “reasonableness and respect” for the judgement but his utterances and those of his ministers tell a different story.

On Tuesday last, the CCJ ruled that the No confidence motion of December 21, 2019 was validly passed against the government.

It also ruled that Alliance For Change defector Charandass Persaud was entitled to vote against his party list and that even as a dual citizen, his vote was still valid.

Article 106 (6) of the Constitution of Guyana states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

Meanwhile, Article 106 (7) states that

President David Granger

“Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

Duplicity

Rather than issue its consequential orders out of hand, the CCJ had given each sides an opportunity to come together and come up with a way forward of their own. But while Jagdeo has called for elections in two to three months as the only principled but practical way forward, President Granger has maintained that house to house registration must be done- a process likely to delay elections even more

than they are already delayed.

Analysts have posited that the President’s invitation to Jagdeo may be part of a ploy that would give the CCJ the impression that he is open to dialogue and working with the parliamentary opposition.

This is especially so as over the past few days, government officials have made statements that defied the CCJ rulings and even the CCJ’s jurisdiction in Guyana… even though Guyana has recognized the court as its final appeals court since 2005.

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

According to Jordan, the coalition government is not prepared to call elections unless House to House registration is carried out regardless of what the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) or anyone says.

Jordan made this statement during a government outreach in Bartica on Tuesday last, in the presence of several other Ministers of government.

At the time, Jordan also rallied coalition supporters to protest if necessary for House to House registration. This is despite the fact that this exercise is likely to further delay elections that were constitutionally due since March 21 of this year.

“Comrades, be on the ready! Because we will be able to call you out to picket for house to house registration. No registration, no elections! There’s no fixing no list that is 650,000 people out of 730,000. What kind of math’s is that?”

“The list cannot be fixed!

It cannot be tinkered with.

And CCJ or no CCJ, they can’t tell us that we must tinker with that list to call an improper election.

Elections must be free, fair

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has since wasted little time in writing to Police Commissioner Leslie James (who coincidentally joined the Ministers in Bartica for the outreach) and the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to register their complains over Jordan’s statement. But that didn’t stop Minister of State Dawn HastingsWilliams from further compounding matters.

On Friday, she rejected the Caribbean Court of Justice’s appellate jurisdiction during a bizarre protest staged by several Government ministers and a few A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporters outside the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM’s) headquarters, where they were calling for house-to-house registration before elections are held.

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

“GECOM is the only authoritative body that will inform the Government whether they’re ready or not for elections. CCJ cannot rule, Guyana has its own institution. Guyana is an independent country with its own independent laws,” the minister said.

8 news

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Farmer’s brutal chopping of wife

Video of confession disappears the latter part of March.

An argument reportedly ensued between the two on the day in question and when Mahase turned away to leave, the farmer chased her with his cutlass before firing several chops about her body.

As the attack was launched on the woman, the rural constable ran away, leaving the young woman at mercy of her attacker. Residents in the area managed to intervene and she was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to the mother, her daughter was told that it was compulsory for her to be present when the restraining order was served since she needed to identify him.

By Davina Ramdass

M

onths after 22-year-old Vashti Mahase was brutally chopped by her ex-lover, who attempted to kill her when she tried to end the relationship, the man has been released on bail as evidence was reportedly destroyed.

In an interview with this publication earlier this week, the young lady’s mother, Zorina Mahase, of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, explained that her daughter’s assailant was released on $250,000 bail in May. According to her, the man had confessed to brutally chopping her daughter to the face, back, hand and head with intent to kill her, however, that recording was destroyed when the camera used by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was destroyed when thieves reportedly broke into the station.

Commander of C Division (East Coast Demerara), Calvin Chapman when contacted told Guyana Times that he was unaware of the tape being destroyed. He would only say that the matter is before the court and is expected to be heard again on July 23, 2019.

The 39-year-old farmer of Mahaica was released from the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara, after final-

Safety

Vashti Mahase showing her injuries

ly being arrested on March 18, 2019.

He had gone into hiding after attacking the younger Mahase on February 24, when she approached him in the presence of a rural constable to serve a restraining order. Following his arrest, he was slapped with an attempted murder charge and appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court in

Before the attacker was arrested, the family was reportedly constantly threatened by the man who had even told the family “it wasn’t over”. Now that the situation is being handled in a more holistic manner, with support even being offered to the family from Red Thread, the abused woman’s mother spoke of how they feel somewhat safer but are still praying that all goes well for the family. continued on page 9

Fallen Government…

J

…and death twitches oe Lewis, the greatest boxer the world has ever seen, once taunted a rival by saying: “You can run, but you can’t hide.” They were both in a ring, under bright lights, in front of thousands of onlookers, of course, when Joe promptly delivered his trademark knockout punch!! Well, that is a cautionary tale for the PNC as it keeps on running away from the PPP under the bright lights of at least the entire West Indies, as they refuse to allow the people of Guyana to deliver what they know will be a knockout blow to their solar plexus!! They can run, as they’ve been doing since December 21, but they can’t hide!!

The referee in this match is the CCJ; and last week, they threw out the PNC’s ridiculous half-men and unilateral appointment cases on every ground they had raised in their desperate attempts to avoid the consequences of the NCV from last December 21 – DEATH!! That being, the immediate resignation of the President and Cabinet and elections in 3 months!! The CCJ, however, took pity on the PNC, and to save their further blushes, didn’t issue the “consequential” orders that flowed from their judgements.

They told the PNC to sit down with the PPP and draft orders that would be best for the country and present their joint proposals on Monday.

But they, all and sundry, knew that once the CCJ – the highest Court for Guyana – had spoken, there was nowhere left for the PNC to run!! They’d literally been “cornered”, the death blow delivered, and they were dead men walking: THE PNC GOVERNMENT HAD FALLEN!! Granger was no longer President and the Ministers were no longer Ministers. All they were now left to do was work with the Opposition leader to replace the GECOM Chair and to set the elections date.

But the PNC, being the PNC, of course, didn’t do any of that!! It has been shown that even dead animals will twitch if electricity is passed through them. In fact, the nephew of the fella who discovered the phenomenon (Galvani), went on to “wake up” some corpses using the electrical impulses from lightning for the amazement of morbid onlookers!!

And it looks like this is what’s activating the fallen PNC Government!! The electrical jolt of billions and billions in oil revenues have galvanised them into reflexive actions that were imprinted over the decades.

They just had their (paid) supporters picket the main GECOM office in GT, and also some in the regions, demanding House to House registration before elections!! Which would add another six months to preserve their corpse!!

And the meeting with the PPP? They sent an invitation for “next week”!! …and politicking with state funds Since the Government has fallen and are dead, Guyanese have to stop giving to the corpses that’ll be showing up amongst them, pleading for their votes!! Apart from the fact, it’s an abomination to consort with the dead to determine your future – necromancy!! They’ll be illegally using state funds to campaign. This was admitted by no other than the Minister of Public Security, Khemrak Ramjattan, the man who would be Prime Minister!!

In past elections, all Governments have attempted to dance between those raindrops – but they haven’t ever been thrown out by a No-Confidence vote!! Since the President and Cabinet are no more, they can’t initiate any spending programmes unrelated to the holding of elections. Now, of course, if they really want your vote, they can start spending money from their own accounts in your communities!! Notice that your Eyewitness didn’t say “spending their own money”!!

It’s your money which they funnelled into their accounts – like that fella in MPI – that’ll be coming back to you!! Have any qualms!

Payback’s a bitch!! …and titles So now that the President and his Cabinet are now officially illegal, but can hang around to see us through the elections, what do we call them?

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

news

9

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Patterson should do honourable thing: resign― former Minister

F

ollowing the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling that his appointment was flawed, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson has been keeping a low profile.

According to former Government Minister Leslie Ramsammy, Patterson should do the honourable thing and resign. Ramsammy noted that by virtue of the Court ruling, Patterson is warming up a seat he should not have had in the first place.

He pointed out that the illegal appointment was not made mistakenly, adding that it was a deliberate contravention and assault on the Constitution. “The President was fully aware he was acting outside of the Constitution and he, nevertheless, persisted in an arrogant display of might. Justice Patterson also knew— after all, he is a man of the Courts, a judicial officer, a judge for decades.”

He also added that for President David Granger to insist that his insertion of con-

GECOM Chair, retired Justice James Patterson

stitutional authority was not flawed and for him to immediately refuse to rescind his appointment of James Patterson “is not just a grievous insult to the Judiciary and, particularly to the CCJ, it is the highest public servant in the country breaking the law, the highest public servant in the country posturing he is above the law.

No one is above the law, the law applies equally to everyone.”

Video of ...

Prior to now, the woman had complained that they felt threatened because ever since her child came home from the hospital, the man has been trying to call her at ungodly hours.

She still expressed fear in an almost trembling voice, noting that she is still worried about her young daughter, whose life has been affected tremendously.

Recovering

The 22-year-old mother of two was mercilessly chopped

which left her with broken bones and several chop indentations on her head and other parts of her body. Although she wants to work and take care of her little ones, aged two and three years old, the woman is unable to operate as she pleases.

Her mother told of how she tries to bathe her babies although her arm was badly damaged. She noted that Vashti had also done surgery to have steel removed from her hand recently which was broken during the horrific

Ramsammy questioned why Patterson would stay on until he is fired, in view of the CCJ ruling. He also noted that rather than have the CCJ issue a consequential ruling effectively firing him, Patterson should spare the President of having to comply with the CCJ order.

“As a man who was a Judge for decades, James Patterson had no excuse to defy the CCJ. He ought to immediately resign. When the CCJ ruled he was unlawfully appointed, the CCJ definitively un-appointed James Patterson, the CCJ resigned him.”

“His appointment had to be a consensual appointment, one made by agreement between the President and the leader of the Opposition. Now that the CCJ has definitively pronounced this illegality, James Patterson must immediately demit the office.”

In a landmark ruling issued on Tuesday last, the CCJ had ruled that the appointment Patterson as Chairman was flawed and unconstitutional. A summary of the From page 8

scene.

Guyana Times was told that she underwent surgery to repair the sliced bones in her hands too. Her mother had expressed fear that she might not be able to move her right thumb again, as it was nearly chopped off.

Her children, who are very young, would often question why she cannot hold them as she used to and play with them as often anymore.

The young woman has been undergoing therapy to restore movement in her arm.

Former Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Court’s judgement was handed down by President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, who announced that the CCJ decided that the process to appoint the GECOM Chairman was “flawed”.

He recommended that in future, the Leader of the Opposition and President communicate and meet in good faith to discuss eligible candidates before a list is submitted. The Court also recommended that moving forward, all parties work together, as the Constitution envisions, to select a Chairman.

Saunders also declared in the ruling that before President David Granger rejected persons nominated by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, reasons should have been given for the rejections in the interest of transparency.

According to Saunders, the President gave no specific reason for refusing to appoint a Chairman from the lists submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. Saunders noted that the President disapproved a third list, without

giving a specific reason.

Saunders referenced historical facts pertaining to the previous appointments of GECOM Chairmen. He cited the recommendations made by the Constitutional Reform Commission in 1999, that the Chairman should be appointed through consultations.

The Judge noted that the President relied on the provisions that gave him discretionary powers and insulated him from providing an explanation for excluding the Opposition Leader from his final decision.

Saunders further stated that giving the President the power to reject candidates without given reason will frustrate what the Constitution contemplates. In fact, the Court decided that the President has a duty to give reasons for rejecting names in the interest of transparency.

PNC tries to disavow...

Last Tuesday, PNC Executive Member and Finance Minister Winston Jordan, during a Government outreach in Bartica, rallied coalition supporters saying, “Comrades, be on the ready!

Because we will be able to call you out to picket for house-tohouse registration… From today (Monday) Comrades, war break, because we got to go to elections before the end of this year…”

His statements have been viewed by civil society and other stakeholders are utterances which are fueling

and inciting hostility and are an indication of unrest in Guyana.

Several civil society persons have since said that the PNC does not have internal conflict reflected by comments of Government ministers and PNC functionaries, which were seemingly contradictory to President David Granger’s public statement that he has accepted the CCJ’s decision that his Government has been toppled, but that they did not expect the public outrage and are engaged in damage control.

From page 2

It has also been posited by a political analysis that the protest was intended to intimidate the CCJ into not making consequential orders that would force GECOM to hold elections within a timeframe consistent with what the constitution of Guyana says.

However, according to the analysis the protest action by a few APNU supports intended to influence the court against making strong consequential orders failed miserably and was poorly attended.

10 news

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Sexual misconduct allegations

CJIA Deputy CEO sent on leave, released on station bail

T

he Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) has been sent on one week leave following the allegation of

sexual assault by a concessionaire staff of a duty free shop at the airport.

It was alleged that this sexual assault incident occurred in the office of the DCEO on July 30, 2018,

while the duty free staff was in a meeting with him.

The victim claimed that she was inappropriately hugged and kissed on her lips by the accused. In her complaint letter the day after the incident, which was seen by this newspaper, the woman explained that she went to the DCEO to have an issue with her boss’ vehicle resolved.

After a commitment was given to have security remove the clamp on the vehicle, the woman said she got up to leave and the senior official did the same, but walked around his desk to hug her. She recounted that the act was “inappropriate”. She pulled away but the man allegedly kissed her

on the lips.

The victim said she immediately turned and headed for the door, but was intercepted by the by the senior official, who placed his hand on the door to keep it shut and then allegedly kissed her again, for a longer time.

According to the woman, she left afterward in shock and was so upset about the incident that she vomited all day.

The woman had reported the matter to the airport’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Human Resources Manager and she was assured that the matter would be investigated.

However, months have passed and she had not heard anything; after enquir-

ing recently, she received a WhatsApp message stating that the issue was “addressed” but with no details about any actions being taken.

When further questions posed to the airport heads went unanswered, the woman reported the matter at the Timehri Police Station. The incident was subsequently reported in the media As a result, the airport pass of the concessionaire staff was revoked last week.

In a subsequent statement earlier this week, the CJIAC confirmed that a se-

nior official was being investigated for sexual misconduct and was sent on administrative leave on Tuesday pending the outcome of a new investigation into the complaint.

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

Meanwhile, efforts to contact the Chief Executive Officer and the Human Resources Manager for a comment on the matter proved futile.

Linden teen struck by car succumbs

A

Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) teen, who was hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after he was struck by a car on Wednesday morning while riding his bicycle, has died.

Dead is 15-year-old Derrick Rambharrat of Speightland, Lower Kara

Dead: Derrick Rambharrat

Kara, a student of the Linden Foundation Secondary School.

The teen succumbed at the GPHC at about 14:00h on Saturday. He was on life support. Rambharrat was injured on Wednesday at about 11:40h on the Amelia’s Ward access Road, Mackenzie, Linden.

Reports are the motorcar, which was driven by a female teacher, was travelling north along the western side of the access road at a fast rate while the teen was proceeding west. Rambharrat is said to have ridden into the path of the motorcar. As a result of the collision, the teen sustained multiple injuries about his body and did not regain consciousness.

He was picked up and rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex but transferred to the GPHC as a result of the extent of his injuries. Police said the driver of the motorcar tested negative for alcohol intake. The driver is presently in Police custody assisting with the investigation.

NEWS

11

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Overwinning residents fume as Govt bypasses village in street light project Swing voting in Guyana: finally?

…say action clear act of discrimination

C

hanges in the political behaviour of a people will occur only after there have been changes in their moral and cultural consciousness.

Guyanese have no more than a passing acquaintance with democratic governance. Neither the Dutch founders of Guyana between 1621 and 1803, nor the British between 1803 and 1966 practiced democracy. The PNC wasted its opportunity after Guyana was given “independence” under its stewardship and they proceeded to institute a dictatorship from 1966 to 1992, when they were ousted “democratically” from office by the PPP. Everyone assumed that Guyana embarked on its democratic transition along with so many other countries of that era. One prominent scholar pointed out that the world was in the midst of another “democratic wave”; but that wave seemed to have Ravi Dev crashed on the shoals of the PNC after their return in 2015.

Back in 1992, the writer had cautioned: “the history of previous democratic waves should temper our euphoria somewhat. The transition process is not automatic – there are no irresistible democratic forces marching through history.

At best, there may be a demonstrator effect. The process may also be reversible: democracy has proven to be a most delicate plant to nurture, especially in the inhospitable soil of authoritarian structures. The struggle of the people and the vision of their leaders have always defined the trajectory and range of the democratic transition. Guyana will be no exception.”

We should note that from the origin of the democratic idea in classical Athens, through the struggles against the crown in England, France and the US, democracy was constantly expanded and altered by its practitioners as it inevitably confronted new exigencies. Democracy was never static. We in Guyana, who want democracy for our country today, should do no less.

There are undoubtedly countless issues that democracy will have to grapple with; but the most important one will be to finally deal with the implications of the racial divisions in our society. Now, we Guyanese are not unique— all societies have divisions. One universal division is economic class, while other divisions are based on race, culture, ethnicity, religion, and settlement patterns (urban-rural) and these have all proven to be very resilient. These categories are not mutually exclusive and may occur in varying combinations.

In Guyana, for instance, race and ethnicity coincide and are used synonymously. The nature of the political competition and the political culture depend, to a large extent, on which of the cleavages emerge as the most salient, and this outcome, in turn, hinges on various societal contingencies: structural/ economic, historical, political and psychological. We cannot undo these contingencies – we have to work with them.

Race/ethnicity, in Guyana, transcends class as the dominant cleavage and suffuses politics as well as most other social interactions. It defines the local political culture. The problem that societal divisions poses to democracy is that when the latter, meaning “rule by the people”, is sought to be implemented, two questions arise: First, who are the “people”? The second question is, how are “the people” to rule?

The “people” are now all citizens over 18 and are to rule via a majoritarian representative Government. The fly in the ointment in all of this, of course, was why would the minority go along with the majority, in this system – especially when each are from different seemingly unchanging ethnic blocs?

The answer by the theorist was that the minority knew that it always had the opportunity of becoming the majority on any given issue – it just had to persuade enough folks that their stand on that issue was the right one. Every dog could have his day. This answer, however, only addressed an ideal situation, where everyone voted rationally according to his or her interest – unlike the case of Guyana.

But all is not lost. The recent visit of the Ghanaian President should remind us that their land is also torn by ethnic factionalism and voting – but since 1992, their Governments have been regularly alternating. Their “secret” is that a bloc of “swing votes” have developed, especially in their capital, Accra, and among their youths. Could it be that with no one ethnic group having an inbuilt absolute majority, we will emulate Ghana at the next polls?

R

No lights have been installed at Overwinning

esidents of Overwinning, Greater New Amsterdam, have expressed concern over what they say is discrimination by the New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council in its lighting programme. None of the almost 1000 streetlights was placed there while the neighbouring communities are fully illuminated.

The municipality spent $8 million to install the 956 high voltage light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights in the town and on the East Bank of Berbice (EBB).

However, while lights were installed at Islington, none were installed at Overwinning, which is a community opposite.

The lights also go three miles beyond and into a similar community, Gay Park.

Another community referred to as “Pepper Street” at Heatburn, EBB, which is not a gazetted area, had lights installed.

Most of the residents of “Pepper Street” are known to throw their support behind the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

At the recent Local Government Elections, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was able to win that constituency for the first time due to the way the people at Overwinning voted.

The lighting project, which commenced in March, has already come to an end and the residents are crying foul.

Kungbehari Persaud, who has been living at Overwinning for the past 55 years, recalled that the town’s Mayor, Winifred Haywood, during the month of April had promised streetlights for all communities.

“The week after Easter they come in Overwinning and checked the post and when I asked him about the lights, they say the lights are finished. I ask them how it finished, and other places get? Glasgow get, Glasgow Housing Scheme get and Overwinning get none. They passed this area and gone to other areas,” he said.

Another resident, Deonarine Sampaul, who has lived all of his 51 years at Overwinning, also expressed his concerns, saying that the project skipped where he lives and continued right through to Edinburgh.

“Why does village cannot have streetlights? The area is very dark. Thieves will pass through here on the go on the cane field dam many nights. When you walk on the street you cannot see where you are going.

Former Municipal Councillor Sewdat Singh

So, when we will be getting streetlights.”

Dulhari Jagnauth, a pensioner, explained that as far as she can remember, the community has been asking for phone service to be made available; that has never materialised just like the streetlights.

Another pensioner, Ramertie Dhanie, who lives in the second street of the community, said she is very upset.

“Me live in here til me get old until now; we get no streetlight. If thief man come, you can’t do nothing.

If you sick in the night, you can’t see a light to come out.

This is since I was a lil girl, and now I reach 88, and

nothing.”

Former Municipal Councillor Sewdat Singh said the move is politically motivated. According to Singh, he was sitting on the Municipality Council when the lighting project was first proposed and had indicated that a minimum of eleven lights would be adequate for Overwinning.

“Three on the back, three in this street, three at the front, one on the road coming in and one half way. We had put it in writing and after the Local Government Elections, the Deputy Mayor came and put an “L” on some of the utility poles.

Singh related that only two of the utility poles in the community were marked with an “L”.

“The question is, you start from New Amsterdam going to Glasgow, why the lights finished at Glasgow and not Gay Park or somewhere else, why did bypassed Overwinning?”

The Council is, however, claiming that the reason for not installing streetlights at Overwinning is that the area is being powered with electricity at 240 volts.

However, the residents say Overwinning has both 240 and 120 voltage.

The rest of the town is powered only by 120-volt electricity.

12 news

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

1st FPSO vessel to arrive T&T-based supermarket officially in Guyana by September opens branch in Guyana

Exxon’s first FPSO vessel Liza Destiny docked in Singapore before making its way to Guyana

A

s ExxonMobil prepares for first oil early next year, the first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, Liza Destiny, is expected to set sail next month and will arrive in Guyana in September.

Before its departure from the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore, the vessel was commissioned by First Lady Sandra Granger, who was accompanied by Director of the Energy Department, Dr Mark Bynoe.

The Liza Destiny was converted from an oil tanker, previously called Tina.

Engineering and design began in December 2016 and work initiated in June 2017.

During this time, over 3000 persons have worked on the vessel.

The First Lady recognised the importance of this project to Guyana by saying, “I hope this ship will bring to us, the people of Guyana, not only prosperity in a physical sense but

greater cohesion, greater development and, of course, the sustainability of our country”.

Meanwhile, the company’s Upstream President, Liam Mallon, recognised the correlation between the name of the Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, Liza Destiny, and ExxonMobil’s commitment to a long-term partnership.

“We are committed for a long voyage. We first signed an agreement to explore for hydrocarbons in the Stabroek block in 1999, we drilled the Liza well in May 2015, and this FPSO has been designed to produce oil for decades. It will provide value to Guyana and ExxonMobil for the long term. Our destinies, therefore, have been and will continue to be linked to Guyana in the future,” Mallon said.

Liza Phase One is a global project but more than 1000 Guyanese will be working on the project to com-

plete four subsea drill centres with 17 wells. The ship is currently undergoing final checks before it departs next month for Guyana.

The vessel can produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day and has a storage capacity of 1.6 million barrels. A total of 24 operations and maintenance technicians, who are currently being trained in Canada, will return in 2020 to support work on the Liza Destiny.

The Noble Bob Douglas drillship is completing development drilling operations for Liza Phase One. ExxonMobil will add another exploration drillship, the Noble Don Taylor, in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Phase Two of the Liza development is expected to start-up in mid-2022 and will develop approximately 600 million barrels of oil through the Liza Unity, Exxon’s second FPSO vessel in the series.

For the Phase Two Development, six drill centres are planned, along with approximately 30 wells – 15 production, nine water injection and six gas injection wells.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 per cent interest.

T

The newly launched Coss Cutter Supermarket

rinidad and Tobago’s largest supermarket chain, Coss Cutter, has officially launched its first branch in Guyana.

The launching saw scores of Guyanese bustling in to tour and shop in the new multimillion-dollar outlet located at Farm, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Expressing great enthusiasm about the achievement, Coss Cutter’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO),

ed in the community and we moved forward, so basically we researched the whole project….so we looked at the economy and see the economy was developing so we chose Guyana as our first stop,” he stated.

The CEO, in an interview with Guyana Times, revealed some main plans for the long-lasting future of his business brand within the country, given the fact that it is the first ma-

Customers shopping

Anil Ali, at Friday’s opening ceremony explained that the initiative was undertaken after the conclusion of market research which deemed Guyana most suitable for business expansion.

“We did do our research, and we saw what was need-

jor venture within a fellow Caribbean nation.

“This is our first major venture out of Trinidad and Tobago, we have opened other small companies but nothing this size…this company plans to open more supermarkets, we are plan-

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coss Cutter Supermarket, Anil Ali

ning to open two more stores within the next year, that’s what we have for the shortterm plan. The long-term plan would go forward as we get more involved with local business people and the community” Ali posited.

Meanwhile, Business Minister, Haimraj Rajkumar in delivering the feature address at the event underscored that the Coss Cutter Supermarket brings a new experience and demonstrates confidence to the local economy.

Present at the ceremony were Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Desmond Sears and executives of the company.

Patrons present were allowed a firsthand experience of shopping in the new facility after the ribbon cutting ceremony to mark its official opening.

13

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

14 news Govt failed to protect TIP victims EPA meets outside Georgetown – US report the public SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

US State Department 2019 TIP report

A

lthough the Guyana Government fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, it did not provide adequate protection and shelter outside of the capital city or for child and male victims.

This is according to the US Department of State report released on Thursday last which stated that Guyana has remained on Tier One and continues to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period.

The report also revealed that in Guyana, the number of trafficking investigations and new prosecutions decreased and that the number of successful convictions remained low.

As such, it has been recommended that the Government finalise, implement, and train law enforcement officials and front-line

responders in written victim assistance, victim identification and referral procedures, fund specialised victim services, particularly for child, adult male, and Venezuelan victims.

The report also recommends that the Guyana Government “vigorously investigate and prosecute sex and labour trafficking cases” including those involving child victims, hold convicted traffickers, including complicit public officials, accountable by imposing strong sentences, hold police and law enforcement officials accountable for intimidation of victims in shelters including restricted movement, lack of access to family visits or telephone services, provide additional protection for victims to testify against traffickers in a way that minimises re-traumatisation and to investigate and report on the cases reported

to the trafficking hotline and by labour inspectors.

However, the US report did acknowledge that there has been a demonstration of serious and sustained efforts by increasing funding for victim assistance, identifying and assisting more victims for the third consecutive year, and opening and operating a trafficking shelter outside of the capital area.

Prosecution

It was noted that there was maintenance of law enforcement efforts and reference was made to the Combating Trafficking of Persons Act of 2005 which criminalised sex trafficking and labour trafficking as well as the prescribed penalties of three years to life imprisonment. According to the 2019 report, these penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to sex traf-

ficking, commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape.

In 2018, the reported noted, the Government reported 30 new investigations, prosecuted 11 suspected traffickers (two initiated in prior periods), and convicted one trafficker for sex trafficking, compared with four investigations, 17 prosecutions (12 initiated in prior periods), and two convictions in 2017.

The Government reported investigating 11 cases of child trafficking (10 sex trafficking and one labour trafficking).

The court sentenced the convicted trafficker to three years’ imprisonment and required the trafficker to pay restitution to one victim. Meanwhile, the appeal of a 2017 case in which the Government required the trafficker to pay restitution without imprisonment, which was a penalty inconsistent with the law, was still pending at the end of this reporting period.

However, the report pointed out that Government did not report any new investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of Government employees complicit in trafficking offences.

Meanwhile, the appeal of a police officer convicted of sex trafficking and released on bail in 2016 was still pending at the end of the reporting period.

Protection

Victim assistance remains a concern, especially in areas outside of Georgetown and for child and male Venezuelan victims living in the outskirts in spite of the Administration increasing its efforts to identify and protect victims country-wide.

According to the report, in 2018 there were 156 victims identified (106 for sex trafficking and 50 for labour trafficking) in comparison to 2017’s statistics of 131 victims.

“The Government referred 93 victims to shelter and psychological services, compared with 115 in 2017.

The Government screened 11 potential child trafficking victims (10 sex trafficking and one labour trafficking) in 2018. Despite the noticeable increase of victims from Venezuela, the Government lacked standard operating procedures for protecting foreign trafficking victims,” the US report stated.

It was also emphasised that Guyanese law protects victims’ identities from release to the media and that while the present Administration reported that victims could leave shelters; observers reported police and other authorities

T

he Constitution of Guyana recognizes the right of every person to an environment that is not harmful to his or her health or well-being and the duty of every citizen to participate in activities designed to improve the environment and protect the health of the nation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as the country’s lead regulatory agency, has the responsibility to ensure that the public is informed about environmental issues and promote public participation in matters of environmental management and biodiversity conservation.

To this end, the EPA hosted a two-day Meet the Public event which was held on Water Street in front of Republic Bank. This event was specially organized in recognition of the fact that most of the Agency’s business is conducted with business persons and complainants. In addition, the Meet the Public event was part of the Agency’s extended 23rd anniversary and World Environment Day celebrations.

People visiting the booth were given the opportunity to learn more about the Agency and interact with officers from various programme areas.

Over the two days, more than one hundred persons visited the booth and were able to learn more about the Agency and its work, submit complaints, and have their queries on environmental issues answered. The organisation was commended for the initiative and officers were encouraged to take the activity to other regions.

If you missed the chance to interact with officers from the EPA in person, feel free to contact us online: Website: www.epa.guyana.org Email: epa@epaguyana.org Facebook: EPA Guyana Instagram: epagyig YouTube: Environmental Protection Agency-Guyana You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. intimidated victims into staying at shelters against their will, did not allow family visits until trials were completed, and cut short some foreign victims’ phone calls if they spoke in their native language.

The US State Department report also revealed that the Government had reported multiple cases of delivering foreign victims to their respective embassies at the request of the foreign missions before the conclusion of prosecutions but failed in reporting whether it facilitated or funded the repatriation of Guyanese nationals victimised abroad.

Trafficking

Consistent with data retrieved over the last five years, this 2019 report acknowledged that human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Guyana while traffickers continue to exploit Guyanese victims abroad.

It was further noted that while both sex traffick-

ing and forced labour occur in interior mining communities, limited Government presence in Guyana’s interior renders the full extent of trafficking unknown.

Additionally, the report states that in Guyana, children are particularly vulnerable to sex and labour trafficking while traffickers exploit Guyanese in sex and labour trafficking in Jamaica, Suriname, and other Caribbean countries.

In response to this report, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan on Friday last stated that the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons accepts the Tier One Placement and believes it is testament to the work of the Task Force, Guyana’s anti-trafficking units, Non-Governmental Organisations, the general public through increased reporting and significant contributions made by partners beyond the shores of Guyana, including the United States Department of State.

news

15

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Berbice regional authorities want CoI into corrupt Police Budgeting and public expenditure management

…say citizens not confident about uncompromised OPR future. If this continues and you have some rogue police officers who are bent on associating with criminals to create havoc in Berbice here, that is going to be unacceptable and at some point, the people would have to react,” the Regional Chairman said.

T

he national budget is the main instrument through which the Government collects resources from the economy in a sufficient and appropriate manner and allocate and use those resources responsively, efficiently and effectively. Public expenditure management is one instrument of Government policy. The basic goals of this aspect of Government policy are achieving macro financial discipline, strategic priorities and functional application. These are three complementary and interdependent objectives (Todorovic & Djordjevic, 2009).

Reforming public expenditure management in developing countries Long-term sustainability of institutional reform always demands local ownership, political buy-in, and a degree of comfort among those responsible for implementing reforms. Without the active cooperation of budget managers and key staff members in both the core and line ministries, and without the support from the top political leadership, budget reforms have generally remained largely a paper exercise to satisfy donor demands. The sequencing and time period of the reform process should be very carefully considered to ensure that it fits the absorptive capacity of the system over time and not cause reform fatigue. Moreover, it is important to understand that periodic reassessments of actual costs and benefits of specific budget reforms and midcourse adjustments are necessary for sustainable reforms. It is not difficult to introduce budget reforms; simultaneously, merely introducing reforms is not the goal. Rather, the goal is to help permanently achieve improvements in expenditure control, strategic resource allocation, operational effectiveness and public financial integrity (World Bank, 2005).

Code of good practices on fiscal transparency Clarity of roles and responsibilities The Government sector should be clearly distinguished from the rest of the economy. Policy and management roles within Government should be well defined such that, the Government sector should correspond to the general Government, which comprises the central Government and lower levels of Government, including extra budgetary operations. Government involvement in the rest of the economy (e.g. through regulation and equity ownership) should be conducted in an open and public manner on the basis of clear rules and procedures which applies in a non-discriminatory manner. Clear mechanisms for the coordination and management of the budgetary and extrabudgetary activities should be established, and well defined arrangements, inter alia, other Government entities (e.g. the central bank and state controlled financial and non-financial enterprises) should be specified.

Clear legal and administrative framework for fiscal management Fiscal management should be governed by comprehensive laws and administrative rules applying to budgetary and extrabudgetary activities. Any commitment or expenditure of Government funds should have a legal authority. Taxes, duties, fees and charges should have an explicit legal basis. Tax laws and regulations should be easily accessible and understandable, and clear criteria should guide any administrative discretion in their application. More importantly, ethical standards of behaviour for public servants should be clear and well publicized.

Budgeting and Budgetary Institutions Good institutional design of the budgeting process is an important prerequisite of good fiscal performance. Such institutions should be designed to reduce the adverse effects of the principal-agent relationship between voters and politicians.

The environment within which the budgetary process evolves strongly affects accountability and competitiveness, which are strengthened by ensuring that the budget is comprehensive, transparent and understood as a management exercise and not just a legal requirement.

The common pool problem of public finances can be reduced by centralizing the budgeting process – that is, by introducing institutional mechanisms that force the actors in the process to take a comprehensive view of the costs and benefits of all public policies. Depending upon a country’s political system, this goal can be achieved by means of the delegation approach or the contracts approach.

Therefore, the institutional reform of the budgeting process is an essential part of a policy aimed at achieving better fiscal outcomes. This does not mean, however, that a change in legal and procedural rules mechanically produces better results. In practice, institutional reforms are often the result of acute fiscal crises, of times when there is widespread awareness of principalagent and common pool problems of public finances and a general recognition of the need for change. Better institutions therefore help to make this awareness more durable and thus serve as a commitment device for good fiscal performance.

(For comments, questions and responses on articles featured in this column, readers can reach the author at jbinsights@outlook.com).

OPR probe

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

I

n light of the damning allegations that not only rogue policemen were helping three now dead bandits who wreaked havoc in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) in recent months, but that a senior police officer, specifically a Deputy Police Commissioner, was also a part of this network, there should be a Commission of Inquiry.

This is according to Berbice’s Regional Chairman, David Armogan, who on Saturday told Guyana Times that such serious allegations warrant an independent body to conduct investigations into the matter so as to allow for a fair probe as well as prevent victimisation of Police ranks who are willing to testify.

“The idea of asking Police who are suspected to be whistleblowers to make a statement is a ridiculous one because no policeman in their right senses who would want to stay on their job is going to give evidence to that effect that an officer is involved. They are not going to take that risk because obviously they would be discriminated against and most likely they will find a way of getting them out of the Force,” the Chairman said.

He added that while the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Government have both declared that investigations are ongoing, it is wiser to have persons outside of the local law enforcement agencies lead the probe.

According to Armogan, the Berbice Regional Democratic Council (RDC), has been receiving sporadic reports from concerned citizens in that county, inclusive of police officers, that are questioning the next step that can and will be taken to deal with this matter.

“They are asking what is it that we are doing about it, if these police have spilt the beans, why is it that we cannot put pressure on the Government to come up with an independent investigation? To bring the truth of the story out because if this thing continues it does not spell, look good for the

On Friday last, the GPF told the media that the matter(s) are under investigation by the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) despite the fact that the police “whistleblowers” had stated that they were more confident and comfortable with a probe into the allegations being done by external sources so that the investigations could not be compromised.

Damning allegations

Ranks in Berbice made some damning allegations against their colleagues, one of which was that a police rank was closely connected with the criminal network that terrorised and traumatised residents in the ancient country earlier this year.

According to a police source, it was a rank who was stationed at the Rose Hall Police Station and upon notice of the allegation, he was transferred to the New Amsterdam Police Station.

He is said to still be on duty as investigations continue.

It was alleged that this particular rank had been associated with now dead criminal Kelvin “Kelly” Shivgobin, who was shot and killed recently in the backlands of Black Bush Polder

Dead bandit: Kelvin “Kelly” Shivgobin

during a shootout with the police. It was further alleged that the policeman and the now dead bandit’s relationship dates back to when Shivgobin was arrested and charged for the murder of a businessman.

According to sources, the rank in question had

been one of the investigating ranks in that murder case. The matter was dismissed in April 2018, and Shivgobin was set free after the Magistrate stated that there was not enough evidence to keep him in custody.

But some months after his release, there was new evidence to have Shivgobin rearrested. However, it was disclosed that Shivgobin was never rearrested.

This publication was also told by senior regional authorities that the alleged corrupt rank is “being shielded” by a high-ranking officer who is presently stationed outside of B Division (Berbice).

Additionally, reports were that when the three bandits were shot and killed in Black Bush Polder recently, the call logs and the contact lists of the cellphones that were found in their possession contained numbers of police ranks.

16 news

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

1 nabbed for Berbice fuel station robbery

One of the bandits caught on CCTV footage at the gas station

A

man is now in Police custody after he was nabbed following a probe into a robbery that took place on Thursday last at Sookpaul Service Station in Springlands, Corriverton, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

This is according to Commander of B Division, Paul Langevine, who told this publication that Police are also on the hunt for the suspect’s accomplice.

He noted that shortly after reports were made about the robbery, the man in Police custody was apprehended and the hunt commenced for the second male, who is alleged to have aided in the execution of that robbery.

On Thursday, two cutlass-wielding bandits approached the pump attendant at the fuel station in question and relieved him of approximately $45,000.

The duo then proceeded to fill their bags with commodities from the coolers

nearby.

However, in the process of doing so, several gunshots rang out a short distance away from the gas station, startling the bandits and resulted in them dropping some of their loot to flee the scene.

This publication was told that the robbery had been recorded on CCTV cameras and while the two bandits were executing the crime, one of the gas station’s owners, who is a licensed firearm holder, responded by discharging several rounds in the air.

As such, the bandits immediately dropped the bags with the items they removed from the coolers and disappeared. They, however, managed to escape with the stolen money.

The matter was subsequently reported and after reviewing the surveillance footage, Police arrested several persons who were taken into custody and were said to have been assisting with the investigation.

New thyroidectomy technique introduced in Guyana

N

ew technologies in healthcare and surgical operations have led to the introduction of sutureless thyroidectomy operations in Guyana, after successful attempts on four patients last Wednesday.

This was announced on Saturday during the 17th Annual Caribbean College Of Surgeons Conference, which saw over 150 surgeons converging in Guyana to improve the standard of surgical procedures in their respective fields.

Plastic surgeon, Shilindra Rajkumar explained that surgeons in Guyana were allowed the opportunity to participate in a workshop, where the technique was successfully accomplished.

“What we try to do is workshops in each territory to teach the local surgeons something new. This year, we had the privilege of having the Caribbean College of Surgeons run a one-day thyroidectomy workshop. That workshop was the first of its kind where they actually removed thyroid glands from persons who had diseased thyroids with a sutureless technique,” said the plastic surgeon.

Thyroidectomy involves the surgical removal of the thyroid gland or part of it.

It is the first time this technique has ever been attempted in Guyana and was executed without any complications.

“We have managed to do four patients in one day without any complications to the benefit of the entire department of surgery at the Georgetown Public

Dr Cheetanand Mahadeo now equipped to conduct sutureless thyroidectomy procedures

Hospital.”

Surgeons in Guyana would have conducted the entire activity with guidance from the visiting faculty. Going forward, this new procedure will be conducted regularly, should the equipment and other supplies be sourced.

“The first surgery was actually done with a visiting faculty, assisted by a local faculty and for the other three surgeries, the overseas faculty was just observing so the local faculty played a major role. So once the equipment is available, that’s the way surgeries are going to be done,” Rajkumar highlighted.

A participant in the workshop, Dr Cheetanand Mahadeo, acknowledged that while this procedure is not new to the world, it is a first for Guyana, owing to the high costs for the ligature device used. However, the financial setback is outweighed by the satisfactory results.

“The reason why we never did it is because we could never afford the device prior. So now we’re cutting down our operating time by almost a third…The patients stay less time asleep,

they recover faster and go home earlier. The cost of the consumables and the machine will now be offset by shorter sleeping time and better outcomes. Overall, in terms of patient safety and getting better, it is going to benefit us regardless of the cost,” the general surgeon expressed.

At the end of the workshop, four surgical experts were considered capable of conducting the technique.

Apart from this field, persons were given the opportunity to give input on other surgical operations.

Vice President of the organisation, Professor Shamir Cawich noted that there is a great deal of expertise in Guyana, which can signifi-

discussed [and] goals for the future is set. Generally, there is significant cross-fertilisation of standards and new developments in particular territories may not

cantly better the services that are provided.

Cawich explained, “Our intention, along with the local organisers, is to improve the healthcare package across the Caribbean but specifically in Guyana because we have had the help of some very capable surgeons from the local organising community”.

Similar sentiments emanated from General Surgeon Navindranauth Rambarran, who lauded these efforts to bridge the fellowship of surgeons in different nations.

“In doing so, ideas are shared, new techniques are

have had the expertise or resources,” the Guyanese surgeon shared.

Other areas discussed included breast cancer, oncologic pancreatic surgery, renal transplants, congenital pseudoarthrosis, vertebral osteomyelitis, laparoscopic surgery, adult intussusception, oesophageal perforation, and Milroy disease among others.

The Caribbean College of Surgeons consists of over 250 persons from every country in the region. This year, 17 individuals were inducted into the organsations, five of whom are Guyanese.

Plastic surgeon Shilindra Rajkumar

news

17

SUnDAY, JUNE 23, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Chief Justice calls for helplines Venezuela should release jailed to be featured in suicide stories opponents – UN rights chief

G

iven the high prevalence of suicide and other social ills in Guyana, acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George on Friday, during a workshop hosted for the media, underscored the need for helplines to be placed at the end of such reports to proffer assistance from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

“Might I suggest that the Guyana Press Association (GPA) take the initiative, if it has not done so already, to partner with our leading NGO’s on gender based violence so as to set guidelines for Guyana and get the permission to place helpline information at the end of each story,” the Chief Justice stated.

Justice George added that if such a method has been practiced before, then it needs to be considered for revision and/or recommitment, on the part of the media, to follow such guidelines.

Her call comes at a time when Guyana has been listed among the countries with the highest suicide rates in the world. But Clinical Psychologist attached to the Public Health Ministry, Balogun Osunbiyi recently told Guyana Times that these eyebrow-raising figures have decreased significantly.

In 2012, according to Osunbiyi, suicide death rates in Guyana stood at 44.2 per cent. However, over the years, this high percentage has decreased with 2016 figures standing at 29 per cent and 24.67 per cent in

U

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George

2017. Although the figures for 2018 have not been officially released, this newspaper was told that suicide-related deaths were down by at least 50 per cent.

While these numbers may be good for the country, The Caribbean Voice had a different view on the matter.

In fact, the Managing Director of the agency, Bibi Ahamad, believes that the numbers have not significantly decreased and that the Health Ministry might be trying to paint that picture.

She said that the numbers suggested that the figures may have been reduced, but many suicidal attempts are smeared when victims are rushed to the hospital and are treated.

Law amendment

When it comes to the safety and protection of domestic violence victims, the

local Judiciary is very strict and is, in fact, seeking to up its game in this regard.

Already, media personnel can be fined $2 million for identifying complainants and witnesses in sexual offense cases.

As explained by the Chief Justice, such cases are “deeply personal” and “traumatic” for not only victims, but their children and other relatives, and reporting in a reckless manner can leave lifelong scars and labels on these persons. As such, she explained the need for an amendment to the law to allow for in-camera hearings of domestic violence cases, in addition to sexual offenses.

She said, “…we may have to seek amendment to the law to provide for in-camera hearings of criminal cases that are domestic violence related, like the provisions in place for sexual offenses cases.” (Davina Ramdass)

Heads of State, Govt officials from Caribbean to attend Seaga’s funeral today

The late former Prime Minister Edward Seaga lies in State

S

everal Heads of State and Government officials from the Caribbean will be in attendance at the State funeral for the late former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, today, Sunday, June 23.

The State funeral for Seaga will begin at noon, at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, 1 George Headley Drive off North Street in Kingston.

Interment will follow in National Heroes Park.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and

Sport, Olivia Grange, said those confirmed, to date, are Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands, W McKeeva Bush, who will be accompanied

by Graham Rankin; High Commissioner of Belize to Jamaica, Oliver De Cid; President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Dr William Warren Smith, accompanied by Dorla Humes; Premier of the Cayman Islands, Alden McLaughlin, accompanied by Arlin Tatum; and Junior Minister, District Administration,

Tourism and Transport, Cayman Islands, David Wight, along with a delegation of six.

Also in attendance will be Minister of Planning and Development, Trinidad and Tobago, Camille RobinsonReis; Premier and Minister of Finance, Investment, Trade and National Health Insurance, Turks and Caicos, Sharlene CartwrightRobinson; Deputy Prime Minister, Belize, Patrick Faber; Minister of Housing, Belize, Michael Finnegan; Minister of State for Legal Affairs, The Bahamas, Elsworth Johnson; High Commissioner to Caricom and all Caricom Member States, Reuben Rahming and Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow. Seaga served as Member of Parliament for West Kingston for 43 years, and Prime Minister from 1980 to 1989. He died on his birthday, May 28 in Florida The nation is now observing a period of mourning from June 19 to 22. (Jamaica

Observer)

nited Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has called on Venezuela to release jailed dissidents Friday and said the country faced a “serious” humanitarian situation.

Her comments came at the end of a three-day visit to the country at the invitation of embattled President Nicolás Maduro, who has faced allegations of cracking down on political opponents amid rampant hyperinflation and shortages of basic goods.

“I call on the authorities to release all those who are detained or deprived of their liberty for exercising their civil rights in a peace-

ful manner,” said Bachelet, referring to the hundreds of Maduro Government opponents who are currently jailed.

The UN rights chief met relatives of these detainees, many of whom are accused of “conspiracy” to overthrow the Government. She also spoke with relatives of people who died during the anti-Maduro protests of 2017.

Rights groups had pushed Bachelet to raise the issue of 715 people who they say have been jailed for political reasons, a claim Maduro’s Government rejects.

Meanwhile, Maduro said he would respect the recommendations made by Bachelet, a former Chilean President.

“We have taken a first step towards a smoother, more cooperative relationship on the human rights of the Venezuelan people,” Maduro said, thanking Bachelet for having responded to the invitation of the Bolivarian Government.

“I told her that she can count on me, as President, to take her suggestions, her recommendations and her proposals seriously,” Maduro said, adding that people accused of human rights abuses would be prosecuted.

Bachelet also said she had appointed delegates to remain in the country with the mandate “to provide assistance and technical advice”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Chile offers ‘democratic responsibility visa’ to Venezuelan migrants

V

enezuelans seeking refuge in Chile can request a “democratic responsibility visa” at any Chilean consulate in the world, and not just in their homeland where the visa has been available until now, Chile’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

The visa can be requested as of Monday. It will allow Venezuelans fleeing their crisis-hit country to stay in Chile for one year, and can be extended for an additional 12 months, a statement posted on the ministry’s website said.

“We have instructed that all Chilean consul-

ates in the world also begin to be able to offer visas of democratic responsibility,” Chilean Foreign Minister Teodoro Ribera was quoted as saying in local press reports on Saturday.

The Minister added that for Chile the “real solution” would be for “the rule of law be restored” in Venezuela.

Chile is part of the 12-nation Lima Group of Western States pushing for the resignation of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.

Opponents accuse Maduro, a socialist, of being a dictator.

In another policy change, the Interior Ministry an-

nounced that Chile will immediately start requiring tourist visas for Venezuelan visitors who plan to stay in the country for short periods.

Previously, Venezuelans could arrive without tourist visas and stay for 90 days.

Venezuela’s economic collapse has unleashed the biggest migratory crisis in recent South American history. This week about 200 migrants, the vast majority Venezuelans, were stranded on the border between Peru and Chile trying to enter Chilean territory after a change of regulations in Peru slowed their movement. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

SUnDAY, june 23, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

US Customs seizes 16 tonnes T&T accuses US of cocaine destined for Haiti hypocrisy on migrant policy

Cocaine seized during exercise (Photo: CMC)

T

he United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says it has collaborated with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in seizing a record amount of cocaine in a container ship with merchandise destined for Haiti.

CBP said that the contents of the shipping contain-

ers included wine, coated paperboard, vegetable extracts and dried nuts from Chile, carbon black from Colombia and scrap metal batteries from the United Arab Emirates.

CBP said the examination of the MSC Gayane, a 1,030-foot Liberian-flagged container ship, at the Philadelphia seaport netted the historic load of cocaine, the largest cocaine seizure

President Donald Trump

nounced it would exceed internationally agreed limits on its nuclear programme.

The limit on its stockpile of enriched uranium was set under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. In return, relevant sanctions were lifted, allowing Iran to resume oil exports - the government’s main source of revenue.

But the US pulled out of the deal last year and reinstated sanctions. This triggered an economic meltdown in Iran, pushing the value of its currency to record lows and driving away foreign investors.

Iran has responded by scaling back its commitments under the nuclear deal.

“If Iran wants to become a prosperous nation... it’s OK with me,” Trump said. “But they’re never going to do it if they think in five or six years they’re going to have nuclear weapons.”

“Let’s make Iran great again,” he added, echoing his campaign slogan from the

in the 230-year history of US Customs and CBP, with an estimated weight of over 17.5 tons and a street value of about US$1.1 billion.

It said it seized the cocaine, as well as US$56,330 found on the vessel “believed to be proceeds from illegal activity” and that six people had been arrested.

“This is momentous work by the CBP team at the Port of Philadelphia,” said Casey Durst, CBP’s Director of Field Operations in Baltimore, Maryland.

“Their vigilance and inspectional scrutiny resulted in the interception of the largest seizure of cocaine in the 230 history of US Customs and Border Protection.

“Because of our officers’ efforts, over 1 billion dollars of dangerous narcotics was taken off the streets. I have no doubt that our officers saved lives and significantly impacted transnational criminal organisations with this interception,” he added.

(CMC)

US announces ‘major’ sanctions amid Iran tensions

T

he US will impose “major” additional sanctions on Iran in a bid to prevent the country obtaining nuclear weapons, President Donald Trump says.

He said economic pressure would be maintained unless the leadership in Tehran changed course.

“We’re putting additional sanctions on,” he told reporters. “In [some] cases we are moving rapidly.”

It comes after Iran an-

A

seven-storey building has collapsed in Cambodia, killing at least seven people with others reported missing, officials say.

At least 21 people have been injured - several critically - as the search for survivors continues into the evening.

The under-construction building in the coastal city of Sihanoukville was owned

by a Chinese company.

In recent years, Sihanoukville has been transformed by the construction of Chinese hotels and casinos.

Four people have been arrested over the collapse, including the Chinese building owner, the head of the construction firm and the contractor. A Cambodian landowner has also been taken in for ques-

P

rime Minister Dr Keith Rowley slammed the US State Department for T&T’s ranking in their 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report which placed the country at Tier 2.

He accused the US of hypocrisy, given their own struggles with migrants. He was speaking at the opening ceremony for the last leg of phase one of the Chaguanas Traffic Alleviation Project on Friday.

“If I was marking their paper, what would I give them? They have the same problem that we have.

Thousands of migrants rushing your border wanting to come into your country because they see greener grass on your side than on their side. That is the number one political issue in America.”

Rowley continued, “... their own people are telling you that those people, some of them are treated like dogs and cattle, children are dy-

in Persons report.

He told the members of the audience not to feel beaten by countries who grade us with an ‘F’ because “we have done more than other countries to manage migrations into their borders.”

He said that “we mark our own paper. This Trinidad and Tobago stands on its own strength, our own principles...”

In the report, the US recognised that there was increased anti-trafficking training for its officials with investigations launched against three potentially complicit officials.

They also took note that a new intelligence task force was started to improve investigations, while a new memorandum of understanding between its children’s authority and an anti-trafficking unit was put in place to better protect child victims.

However, the US also noted the T&T Government had not secured a conviction under its 2011 anti-trafficking law while concern over reports of potential government complicity in trafficking cases was met with insufficient government attention.

But while the Prime Minister appeared unduly upset at the State Department report, his National Security Minister Stuart Young did not appear to have as many concerns or reservations.

Honduras protests: Military deployed after violence Iran’s Hassan Rouhani

2016 presidential election.

In a later tweet, Trump said the “major additional sanctions” would come into force on Monday. The reinstatement of US sanctions last year - particularly those imposed on the energy, shipping and financial sectors - caused foreign investment to dry up and hit oil exports.

The sanctions bar US companies from trading with Iran, but also with foreign firms or countries that are dealing with Iran. (BBC)

Cambodia building collapses: Death toll rises

An overhead view of the collapsed under-construction building

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley

ing at the border. Some of them are in cages. A hundred people in a room that was made for ten.”

He cited the fact that the US is better resourced than T&T with a larger military and treasury but asks: “... how have they handled their situation better than ours?”

Rowley explained that T&T maintained an open border with Venezuela up until Monday, allowing the migrants to come into the country for up to 90 days before returning to their country. A new visa policy went into effect but the details have not yet been made public.

The Prime Minister drew reference to the recently completed two-week registration of the Venezuelan migrants saying that we have treated them in the best way possible.

“A little Caribbean nation like Trinidad and Tobago, we have 15,000 Venezuelans authorised now to be within our borders and we treat them like human beings within Trinidad and Tobago.”

“We get an ‘F’. Well God alone knows what we have to do to get an ‘A’. Maybe we have to put a placard in the middle of Caracas saying ‘Come to Trinidad, land of milk and honey’,” he said in what appeared to be a direct response to an Express newspaper report that this country had been given an ‘F’ grade on the Trafficking

tioning.

“Now the death toll from the building collapse is seven,” Sihanoukville city police chief Thul Phorsda told the AFP news agency, after officials had earlier put the number at three. Three of the victims have been confirmed as Cambodian - two workers and a translator.

Reports vary on the number of people missing as rescue efforts continue.

The provincial governor said about 50 workers would usually be on site at that time.

The building collapse - the worst of its kind in Cambodia in recent years - will raise further questions over the rate and sustainability of construction in Sihanoukville. It is also likely to add to rising anti-Chinese sentiment in the country. (BBC)

Anger has been building in recent weeks over the proposed reforms

H

onduras has deployed the military across the country after violent anti-government protests left two dead.

Shops were looted and government buildings attacked in the capital, Tegucigalpa. Some roads were blocked with barricades and burning tyres.

Protests against

President Juan Orlando Hernández have been building in recent weeks, sparked by proposed health and education reforms.

The conservative leader is also accused of becoming increasingly authoritarian.

The president, who enjoys the staunch support of the US administration, was re-elected in 2017 after

changing the constitution to stand for a second four-year term. The election was heavily criticised by opponents and international observers.

Thousands of people have fled Honduras - as well as its neighbours El Salvador and Guatemala - to the US in recent years because of violence and economic instability. Speaking at the presidential palace after meeting senior security officials, President Hernández said the army and the military police would keep roads open and protect private property and the public.

At least 17 people suffered bullet wounds as a result of violence, and two of them died at the HEU university hospital in Tegucigalpa, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Several people have been detained, Efe news agency reports. (BBC)

9 dead in Hawaii plane crash

N

Plume of smoke rises after plane crash in Hawaii

ine passengers and crew were killed on Friday

evening when their plane crashed near an airfield in Hawaii, au-

thorities said, during what broadcaster CNN said was a skydiving trip.

The twin-engine King Air plane went down near the Dillingham Airfield, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) said.

The fire service said the aircraft was engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived and there appeared to be no survivors. (Reuters)

sunDAY, june 23, 2019

19

Cricket World Cup

Shami hat-trick seals India win as Afghanistan fall just short Virat Kohli pulls one away

I

ndia leave

Hampshire undefeated in this World Cup campaign, but they could not have been harder held by the winless Afghanistan, who fell just 11 runs short of chasing down the anemic total of 224 for eight posted by Virat Kohli’s side.

Sure enough, Jasprit Bumrah was the primary difference between the teams. The spearhead’s two for 39, punctuated by a double- wicket maiden in the 29th over of the defence, bounced out both set chasers in the space of three deliveries.

Not to be outdone, his fellow quick, Mohammed Shami, settled it with a 50th-over hat-trick.

Reinforcing why he is the top-billed seamer in the world, regardless of the format or colour of the ball, Bumrah was too quick for Rahmat Shah, who was out hooking on 36. He broke a crucial stand of 40 for the third wicket, then found Hashmatullah Shahidi’s leading edge with another well-directed short ball.

When his over began, the CricViz had Afghanistan’s chances of winning at 51 per cent; by the end, their chase was relying on depth they do not yet have.

ed their spin-heavy atThat inexperience was highlighted by three parttack; and putting in nerships reaching 36, but a superb fielding effort across the none of those were sucinnings, they cessfully navigated to 50 or beyond. finally displayed their Shami (four for world-class 40) bowled them out one ball short. worth with the ball.

A late rally E a r l y led by Mohammad Nabi left Afghanistan on, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who with 21 to get in two up to this point overs, and Nabi was still swinging and had experienced darting between the a stinker of a World Cup, wickets as partners fell around him. bowled Rohit Mohamed Sharma for Earlier, he was Shami is one with a Afghanistan’s pumped after exemplar with lovely carrom his hat-trick the ball with ball – the first time Sharma two for 33, dislodging had been denied a chance to the typically imm o v able Kohli raise his bat (67) after starvsince arriving in England. It was ing the Indian supremo of the first wicket any oxygen, and prompting him to make a false stroke. that India lost to spin since But with Bumrah sending arriving, too, but would not down a superb penultimate be the last. over, the degree of difficulThe part-time leg-spinty proved too acute. The ev- ner also sorted out KL ergreen Afghani holed out Rahul (30), who reverse for 52 from 55 balls, Shami swept when he should not then hitting leg stump twice have; before Vijay Shankar (29) misread Rahmat Shah’s to close out the nail-biter.

The resilience of top-spinner and Kohli was Gulbadin Naib’s team, how- caught slashing at Nabi, ever, cannot be underesti- who tied him up after lookmated. When, on Monday, ing at ease for his first 50 England had piled on 397 runs in 48 deliveries. for six against them, some At 135 for four in the observers had insisted it 31st over, they had work to was proof Afghanistan did do.

Instead of exploding, not belong on this stage.

Had they scraped their way as they have in recent fixto victory, it might have tures, India’s middle order served as a meteor to silence did anything but that, their those sneers; but that was final 10 overs adding just not to be.

49. In that spluttering end, But taking advantage of MS Dhoni was stumped for a slower surface, which suit- the first time in eight years

when on 28, after absorbing 52 balls f r o m t h e b o w l ing of Rashid Kha n , w h o bounced back from his hiding at the hands of Eoin Morgan.

K e d a r Jadhav added 52, but it took 68 balls.

He was caught from the seam of the captain

Mohamed Nabi scored 52 in a losing effort

Gulbadin (two for 51), who did the job at the death.

Hardik Pandya did not come off well either; he was caught behind for seven.

India’s seam attack bowled without luck early on, creating constant false strokes before Shami bowled the dangerman Hazratullah Zazai in the sixth. Gulbadin was the first of three Afghanistan players to fall to the bouncer, with Pandya steadying after coughing up 20 in his first two overs.

The stand of Rahmat and Hashmatullah took them beyond 100 and into the driver’s seat, but that was when Bumrah’s second spell changed the trajectory.

Nabi did not get the sup-

SCOREBOARD India Innings (50 overs maximum) KL Rahul c Hazratullah Zazai b Mohammad Nabi 30 RG Sharma b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 1 V Kohli (c) c Rahmat Shah b Mohammad Nabi 67 V Shankar lbw b Rahmat Shah 29 MS Dhoni † st †Ikram Alikhil b Rashid Khan 28 KM Jadhav c sub (Noor Ali Zadran) b Gulbadin Naib 52 HH Pandya c †Ikram Alikhil b Aftab Al am 7 Mohammed Shami b Gulbadin Nai b 1 Kuldeep Yadav not out 1 JJ Bumrah not out 1 Extras 7 (w 7) TOTAL 224/8 (50 Overs, RR: 4.48) Did not bat: YS Chahal Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Rohit Sharma, 4.2 ov), 2-64 (KL Rahul, 14.2 ov), 3-122 (Vijay Shankar, 26.1 ov), 4-135 (Virat Kohli, 30.3 ov), 5-192 (MS Dhoni, 44.3 ov), 6-217 (Hardik Pandya, 48.4 ov), 7-222 (Mohammed Shami, 49.3 ov), 8-223 (Kedar Jadhav, 49.5 ov) BOWLING O M R W Mujeeb Ur Rahman 10 0 26 1 Aftab Alam 7 1 54 1 Gulbadin Naib 9 0 51 2 Mohammad Nabi 9 0 33 2 Rashid Khan 10 0 38 1 Rahmat Shah 5 0 22 1 Afghanistan Innings (target:

port he needed from fellow veteran Ashgar Afghan, who tried to hit the wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal to Portsmouth and lost his off-stump at an important time. He was the best of the Indian slow bowlers, accounting for his opposite number Rashid, who ran past a leg break. Between times, Najibullah Zadran lifted the tempo with Nabi after the asking rate went beyond seven an over, but Pandya’s slower ball was too good for him, taken at mid-

225 runs from 50 overs) Hazratullah Zazai b Mohammed Shami 10 Gulbadin Naib (c) c Shankar b Pandya 27 Rahmat Shah c Chahal b Bumrah 36 Hashmatullah Shahidi c & b Bumrah 21 Asghar Afghan b Chahal 8 Mohammad Nabi c Pandya b Mohammed Shami 52 Najibullah Zadran c Chahal b Pandya 21 Rashid Khan st †Dhoni b Chahal 14 Ikram Alikhil † not out 7 Aftab Alam b Mohammed Shami 0 Mujeeb Ur Rahman b Mohammed Shami 0 Extras 17 (b 4, lb 4, w 9) TOTAL 213 all out (49.5 Overs, RR: 4.27) Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Hazratullah Zazai, 6.3 ov), 2-64 (Gulbadin Naib, 16.5 ov), 3-106 (Rahmat Shah, 28.4 ov), 4-106 (Hashmatullah Shahidi, 28.6 ov), 5-130 (Asghar Afghan, 34.6 ov), 6-166 (Najibullah Zadran, 41.3 ov), 7-190 (Rashid Khan, 45.4 ov), 8-213 (Mohammad Nabi, 49.3 ov), 9-213 (Aftab Alam, 49.4 ov), 10213 (Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 49.5 ov) BOWLING O M R W Mohammed Shami 9.5 1 40 4 JJ Bumrah 10 1 39 2 YS Chahal 10 0 36 2 HH Pandya 10 1 51 2 Kuldeep Yadav 10 0 39 0

wicket, leaving too much for Nabi to do alone.

As Gulbadin said before this game, playing big nations is exactly what Afghanistan needs to do more, to make the progress they require to win on days such as these. In the 12 ODIs they have contested against other full-member nations since the 2015 World Cup, they have won six of them, and tied against India. They have a way to go, but are heading in the right direction. (The Guardian)

Pakistan, South Africa meet in must-win match P

akistan, who were outplayed in all departments against India in their previous game, will aim for an improved performance as they face a must-win situation against South Africa at Lord’s.

South Africa’s chances of progressing to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 semi-finals seem all but over, after their narrow loss to New Zealand on Wednesday. While the bowlers have troubled opposing teams on each of their previous three occasions, their batsmen have failed to give them enough runs to play with.

When they take the field on Sunday, the South Africans, led by Faf du Plessis, will look to produce performances similar to those of their series win against Pakistan earlier this year.

After producing contrasting results in their first two matches, Pakistan’s performance has slipped in their last two games. While a batting failure handed them a 41-run defeat against Australia, lack of intensity and consistency in all the three departments has resulted in an 89-run defeat against their arch-rivals, India.

Mohammad Amir has so far created an impact in each outing, but he has got little or no support from the other end. The batting, too, barring the game against England, has failed on a consistent basis. Repeated failures of their experienced middle-order batsman Shoaib Malik might

his side’s only victory (against England) in the tournament so far, will have to shoulder the responsibility against a potent South African bowling unit.

HASHIM AMLA (South Africa): The veteran batsman has got starts in his last two games, but hasn’t quite been at his fluent best at the World Cup. Amla, whose last ODI hundred came against Pakistan earlier this year, will look to play a long innings on Sunday.

There will be intervals of clouds and sunshine, with humidity and dryness through the day. Spinners had an impact in the second innings in the last ODI played at Lord’s in July 2018, and the dryness might once again help the slower bowlers as the game progresses on Sunday.

Squads

Pakistan and South Africa both have just three points so far in World Cup 2019

mean that Pakistan would consider Haris Sohail for a spot in the playing eleven on Sunday.

BABAR AZAM (Pakistan): Babar Azam has so far shown flashes of brilliance throughout the World Cup, but he is yet to put up a three-digit score. Pakistan’s top-ranked batsman in MRF Tyres ICC ODI Rankings, who scored a fluent 63 in

Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c, wk), Asif Ali, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Imam-ul-Haq, Shadab Khan, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, Haris Sohail, Imad Wasim, Fakhar Zaman 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

20

guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, june 23, 2019

KFC “Independence Cup”

Botofago, Dynamic book semifinal spots advantage at the half, but Ernest Mc Lean evened things up with a strike in the 66th.

Botofago then had a scare when Shannon Samnauth pushed Timehri’s lead to two after he found the back of the net in the 72nd, but Jamaine Kingston nullified that lead in the 77th.

With the game being played with scores deadlocked for some time, extra time seemed the logical determinant, but a chance taken by Leon Jones with the time on 90+1 saw Botofago sealing their semifinal appearance.

The Inaugural KFC Independence Cup continues

D

ynamic FC and Botofago FC are the first two teams to have played their way into the KFC ‘Independence Cup’ Under-20 Intra Association tournament, after a day of scintillating football at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Training Centre at Providence, EBD. When the first two

Part of the determined duel between Botofago FC and Timehri Panthers

quarter-final games were staged on Saturday, the venue was packed to capacity with expectant supporters who wanted to see their team through to next weekend’s semifinal.

Dynamic FC trounced New Amsterdam United in the first encounter of the day for a spirited 3-0 win. New Amsterdam did well to keep

Dynamic at bay for the first half of the game, but after what seemed like an inspirational pep talk from Coach Dwayne Jacobs at half time, Dynamic entered the second half more determined than ever.

Dynamic’s Abguyl Henry first found the back of the net, in the 73rd minute of play. Then Shamar Dublin did likewise in the 86th, and Keon

Williams followed suit in the final minute of play to push the score to 3-0 for a convincing Dynamic victory.

The second game saw Timehri Panthers FC locked in a determined duel with Linden’s Botofago FC, which they lost by just one goal.

Botofago’s Andre Mayers opened the scoring in the 42nd, to give his team the

today at the National Training Centre at Providence with Santos FC taking on Strikers FC at 13:00hrs, and a monumental clash between Fruta Conquerors and Buxton United coming up at 15:30hrs.

The winner of the tournament will cart off $500,000, while secondplaced team wins $300,000, and third-placed pockets $200,000. The tournament’s top four finishers would also each receive a trophy and medals.

The semifinal matches are set for next Saturday, with the third-place playoff and the finale set for July 1.

Queen’s: Andy Murray & Feliciano Lopez into doubles final

Royal Ascot: Blue Point adds Diamond Jubilee Stakes to King’s Stand Stakes win A

Feliciano Lopez and Andy Murray stayed on court at the end of their quarter-final match to go straight into their semi-final

B

lue Point completed a rare double at Royal Ascot, adding the Diamond Jubilee Stakes to Tuesday’s win in the King’s Stand Stakes.

The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old became the third horse to complete a double in the two Group One races. Ridden

by James Doyle, the 6-4 favourite tracked Kachy and hit the front with a furlong to go, holding off 12-1 hope Dream of Dreams by a head.

“I have never met a horse as tough as this,” said Doyle, 31. “I have said I think he is one of the quickest I have ever ridden. It got a bit hairy late on, but this fella is so genuine he just wanted to chase Kachy down.”

It was Doyle’s third win of the week, but he could not get close to Frankie Dettori’s seven winners, which made him top jockey at the meeting for the sixth time, and for the first time in 15 years.

Blue Point double run justified Not since Simenon’s success in the Ascot Stakes and Queen Alexandra Stakes in 2012 has a horse completed a double in the same week at Royal Ascot.

Blue Point - now unbeaten in five starts this season - follows Choisir’s 2003 success in completing the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and Kings Stand Stake double. With around a furlong to go, he appeared set to justify his place at the top of the market, as Doyle had yet to ask anything of his mount; and when he did, he pulled clear, with only Dream of Dreams offering a response.

Sheikh Mohammed, owner of the Godolphin racing stables, gave the go ahead for Blue Point to be declared for Saturday’s showpiece race when he recovered well from Tuesday’s win. “We said we will bring him back to see,” Sheikh Mohammed told ITV Racing. “It was marvellous. Good horses always give you great pleasure.”

Trainer Appleby said: “It’s sporting of His Highness in allowing me to have a crack at running this horse, and it’s what racing is all about: seeing these horses and letting them do what they are good at. Words can’t describe what we think about this horse, and on the back of Tuesday, he showed huge courage.”

It was a week that started slightly stutteringly, it’s fair to say, but it took off remarkably with the well-documented successes of Frankie Dettori. His was the stand-out performance of the week, but his mount, Stradivarius, was magnificent in lifting the Gold Cup for the second year running.

Also memorable were Blue Point’s rare sprinting double, Japan in the Edward VII Stakes, and there look to be some nice two-year-olds about.

Big mention must also be made of two other jockeys. Hayley Turner: for making history as only the second female jockey to be successful here; and Danny Tudhope, a stalwart of the northern

The Queen presents jockey James Doyle after his win aboard Blue Point

circuit, who made a big impression on the biggest southern stage with four victories.

Three winners in 15 minutes Elsewhere at the meeting on Saturday, Defoe, ridden by Andrea Atzeni, followed up on his Coronation Cup victory by taking the Hardwicke Stakes to justify being 11-4 favourite.

Tudhope picked up a fourth win of the week, guiding 25-1 shot Space Traveller to success in the Jersey Stakes. Space Traveller’s win started a run of form which saw trainer Richard Fahey saddle three winners in under 15 minutes.

The 53-year-old, who is based in Malton, North Yorkshire, saw Space Traveller land the Jersey Stakes at 15:05, before Irreverent (11-2) took the 15:10 at Ayr, and Get the Rhythm (13-2) claimed the 15:15 at Redcar.

Blue Point (right) came under pressure from Dream of Dreams late in the race

ndy Murray has reached the doubles final at Queen’s, as the Briton’s dream return to tennis continues five months after career-saving hip surgery. He and Feliciano Lopez beat third seeds John Peers and Henri Kontinen 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 10-7.

It was a third match of the day for Lopez, who reached the singles final before heading straight out to resume their suspended doubles quarterfinal.

They play Britain’s Joe Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram in Sunday’s final. After completing a 6-4 7-6 (7-3) win over Britons Dan Evans and Ken Skupski in a quarter-final that had been suspended on Friday for bad light, they stayed on court to play the semi-final.

“I’m very happy to be in the final,” Murray said. “It was a good match. It was an unbelievable effort from Feliciano. He’s played a lot of tennis in the last couple of games. He’s not young anymore!”

Lopez, 37, takes on 34-yearold Gilles Simon in Sunday’s singles final (13:30 BST) before returning to the court for the doubles final with Murray. In his three matches at his first tournament since having his hip resurfaced in January, Murray has looked sharp.

Gone is the limp and the grimace that accompanied his obvious discomfort at times pre-surgery. Instead, a relaxed and smiling Murray has returned; and while it is clear he is enjoying simply being back on court, it is also clear that his

competitive desire is as great as ever.

A fist pump and roar greeted the ace that sealed the opening set, while in the sixth game of the second set, where he and Lopez were 15-40 down at 1-4, he unleashed a fantastic forehand return that was key to their eventually holding serve.

They broke in the following game and took it into a tiebreak, where they were just edged out. With questions over when fatigue might creep in for Lopez, and when a lack of match fitness might begin to show for Murray against two doubles specialists, they drew enough strength to push themselves over the finishing line, sealing victory when the Spaniard’s serve was not returned.

Murray, who has won the singles title at Queen’s five times, will now have the chance to add the doubles crown, five months after a tearful news conference in Australia, where he had revealed his retirement plans.

Murray, whose last doubles title was eight years ago in Tokyo alongside brother Jamie, is playing at Eastbourne next week, where he is swapping Lopez for Brazilian partner Marcelo Melo. The former world number one and three-time Grand Slam singles champion is then scheduled to partner France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the doubles at Wimbledon next month.

But the Scot’s mixed doubles partner is yet to be decided for his return to Grand Slam tennis at the All England Club.

sunday, june 23, 2019

ARACARI HOTEL, WBD (NEAR HARBOUR BRIDGE) ALL MODERN AMENITIES- RATES FROM US$25.

TEL #264-2946-8 CONFERENCE & RETREATS- FULL SERVICE: HOTEL, CATERING & FACILITES. ARACARI RESORT, WBD. ALEX WAYNE: 264-2946.

WEDDINGS & ANNIVERSARIES. RENTAL OR FULL SERVICE: BANQUET HALL & CATERING, ARACARI RESORT. ALEX WAYNE: 264-2946.

SALON: COSMETOLOGY-FULL COURSE $100,000. TECHNICIAN $40,000. ARACARI SALON & SPA, WBD 264-3312, 600-3927.

LAND for sale TRANSPORTED LAND 11.6 ACRES. LOT 15 PUBLIC ROAD, No2 VILLAGE, WCB/CE. PRICE $18M. CONTACT # 686-4818, 648-7109

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

spirituality & ASTROLOGY 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.

21

Sergeant’s commanding 146 puts Success to the sword A

CLASSIFIED ADS ARACARI

guyanatimesgy.com

whirlwind 146 from Rickey Sergeant going Sergeant has down the highlighted the last ground in his round of matches masterful knock in the ongoing nationwide Demerara Softball Cricket Association’s 592 Beer, I-Cool Water Softball tournament.

Sergeant’s onslaught -- at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground in Thomas Lands, Georgetown on Sunday, June 9th -- has handed Farm XI a 115-run victory over Success XI in a match played in overcast conditions on a damp outfield.

Batting first, Farm XI chalked up 215 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in their 10 overs, with the left-handed Rickey Sergeant hammering 146.

He was supported by Khalid Haniff with 26, while Michael Salickram, bowling 2 overs for Success XI, picked up 2 wickets for 53 runs, and Pooran picked up

one wicket for 50 runs while he also bowled two overs.

In their turn at the crease, Success XI found the bowling of Amair Khan (3/29) and Drepaul Bandoo (2/26) difficult to negotiate, and were restricted to 100-6 from their 10 overs, for their second consecutive defeat of the day.

Aditya top-scored with 27, and Pooran chipped in with 23, in an otherwise dismal batting effort on the small outfield.

In their first match of the day, Success XI were bowled out for 94 runs, scored in 9.2 overs as they played against the Avengers, who went on to post 94 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 8.2 overs, to easily win by 7 wickets. Starring for Avengers with both bat and ball, Marvin Bobb picked up 4 for 19, then stroked an attractive 22 in the run chase. Avengers had a good day, winning both their matches.

Avengers had also chased a small total playing against LBI, and prevailed by 8 wickets, with Bobb again being pivotal in the win. Having bowling out LBI for 83 runs scored in 9.4 overs, Bobb made 23 in supporting Ramkumar Jairam, who top-scored for Avengers with 48, enabling Avengers to finish on 86-2 from 7.5 overs.

The other match of the day saw Speed Boat beating Lowlands All Stars by 74 runs in a one-sided affair, thanks to the all-round efforts of Greg Singh. Batting first, Speed Boat got to 129 for 5, with Singh hitting 37 as he received support from Lennox Marks with 28 and Wazir Sundar with 25.

Taleshwar Ramnarine was the pick of the Lowlands All Stars’ bowlers with 4/10 from 2 overs. Singh came back with the ball to grab 2/12, while Wazeer Hussain picked up 2/10 to bowl out Lowlands All Stars for 55 in 8.1 overs. Only Vishaul Surujpaul looked positive with a workmanlike 25.

The tournament continues on Sunday, June 30, at Malteenoes Sports Club with six matches: Farm XI vs Countryside, East Coast All Stars vs LBI Youths, Farm XI vs Speed Boat, East Coast All Stars vs Success Youths, Speed Boat vs Avengers, and Countryside vs Lowlands All Stars.

Teams are hereby reminded that only official tournament balls are to be used. These balls are available at any Trophy Stall location, or at the ground on match days. Further, fans are advised that the sponsors will be having a promotion on 592 beers all day.

Guinness “Greatest of the Street” National Championships

Trophy Stall donates Cricketers of the Year Marslowe predicts trophies to BCB Beacons will rise to

the occasion

VACANCY 1 Female Accounts Clerk Qualifications: CXC English A, Mathematics and Accounts Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel and VAT preparation 5 years’ experience Apply to Vinod Mohan Maraj Building Charlotte and King Sts Or contact 227-1713/629-1525

wanted Waitress for bar, Age 18-28. #6122522

NOT

RECEIVING YOUR

DAILY & SUNDAY COPIES OF THE

GUYANA TIMES

in your area?

Contact our

Circulation Department on Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 55

Bartica 2018 Champions, Beacons FC

T

he emerging Bartica leg of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Street’ football tournament has been concluded, and the Georgetown Championships of this prestigious tournament are now slated to officially commence on July 12th.

As President of the Bartica Football Association (BFA), Alden Marslowe is optimistic that his team (Beacons) would emerge victorious at the end of those championships. In an invited comment, Marslowe has had this to say: “The Beacons team is comprised of players from the Bartica club Beacons FC, which is one of our top clubs. All of the boys are highly talented and experienced. There is Dwayne Blake, who has experience at the national level; Whitney Welcome, one of our most fearsome strikers; and also Clint Kellman, who is creative in the middle.

I expect this kind of composition to go far in the tournament; possibly to the top. It’s always high motivation for our small town to have athletes compete at the national level. I know that locals will travel to Georgetown to support them on game day, and we’re hoping for maximum results.”

Marslowe has said he believes his side has a chance at the National Championships because Bartica football has a certain flair that makes it different, but attractive.

Marslowe opined that team performance has definitely improved

from 2018, and he says the team would now focus attention towards maintaining fitness for the National games. He said that although the Guinness ‘Street’ games are not association matches, there is always a community behind every team that comes out of Bartica.

The National Championships will be played over 7 days, and the venues are slated to be finalised shortly. The other playing dates are July 13th, 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th; and the grand final is scheduled for August 3rd.

The first two nights of the event, in which 32 teams are featured, an elimination format will be utilised. The resulting 16 teams will advance to the ‘group stage,’ which will be held over three days. The top two teams from each group would advance to the quarterfinal round, and subsequently the semi-final round, which are scheduled for the penultimate day of the tournament. The eight teams which fail to progress to the knockout round would contest the Guinness Plate Championships.

The teams that have secured automatic berths to the National Championships are: Beacons [Bartica Champions], ‘Melanie B’ [East Coast Demerara winners], Brothers United [West Bank/East Bank Demerara winners], Trafalgar [Berbice champions] and High Rollers [Linden champions].

Ramesh Sunich handing over trophies to Hilbert Foster

A

ll contingencies are in place for the Berbice Cricket Board’s 2nd Annual Brian Ramphal Awards Ceremony to be successfully held today at the Port Mourant Cricket Club from 13:00 hrs.

A total of 32 major awards will be given out, with Shimron Hetmyer and Erva Giddings being identified as recipients of the Cricketer of the Year Award respectively for the male and female categories.

The Brian Ramphal Awards Ceremony received a major boost when Managing Director of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich, donated two trophies for the top two prizes. BCB President, Hilbert Foster, has expressed gratitude to Sunich for his generous assistance.

Other awards to be given are as follows: Berbice Under-15 Player of the Year, Berbice Under-17 Player of Year, Berbice Under-19 Male and Female Players of the Year, Disciplined Player of the Year, Most Disciplined Player of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year, Umpire of the Year, and Coach of the Year, among other classifications.

At this awards ceremony, the BCB would also be honouring offi-

cials, sponsors and media personnel in recognition of their various inputs and contributions.

In further recognition of the effort of players across Berbice, the BCB would also reward the performances of players in the four sub-zones, namely: West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne, and Upper Corentyne.

Four different teams from the subzones would each be honoured as Club of the Year.

BCB President, Hilbert Foster, will provide a comprehensive report on the outstanding work of the BCB in 2018, and unveil plans for the BCB’s 80th Anniversary Celebration, later in the year.

Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, has been invited to deliver the event’s feature address.

With support from the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, the BCB will also donate cricket balls to twelve clubs.

Thus far, the BCB has organised more than 30 tournaments at the different levels, and dozens of developmental programmes have been staged while more than $10 million have been raised in sponsorships in the year 2018.

22

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, june 23, 2019

Briton John in supreme touch at 2019 National Cycling C/ships’ Time Trials

Leading veteran Paul Choweenam

By Brandon Corlette

T

he Guyana Cycling F e d e r a t i o n ’ s 2019 National Championships commenced on Saturday June 22nd with time trials for all categories of participants. The action took place along the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, with events starting from just outside the Police Outpost at Yarrowkabra, and some of the top riders in Guyana featured in this event.

In the senior elite male category, Briton John clocked 29 minutes, 09 seconds to cover a distance of 12.42 miles. In second position was Linden’s very own Michael Anthony, who clocked 29 minutes 25 seconds, 16 seconds longer than Briton John. Team Coco’s Jamaul John clocked 29 minutes 43 seconds, while the Berbician Curtis ‘Chappy’ Dey was in fourth position, having covered the distance in 30 minutes and one second. His fellow Berbician, Andrew Hicks, finished one second after that, clocking a time of 30 minutes two seconds to complete the top five riders in the Seniors category.

In the Veterans/Masters category, Paul Choo-WeeNam was the leading rider in his class, finishing the distance in 33 minutes nine seconds. Lear Nunes came in second, clocking 33 minutes 20 seconds. He was followed by Keith Fernandes, who clocked 34 minutes and

10 seconds. Nigel London rode in fourth at 35 minutes 27 seconds, while Desmond Patterson came in fifth in 36 minutes to complete the top five Masters.

Lone Junior cyclist Ajay Gopilall clocked in at 31 minutes two seconds, while Team Evolution’s Denise Jeffry finished her race in 18 minutes 4 0 seconds.

Briton John at the start of the Time Trials (Brandon Corlette photos)

The Berbician Jonathan Ramsuchit finished in 16 minutes 59 seconds, and Sherwin Sampson clocked 19 minutes and 47 seconds to account for all the Juveniles on show.

Earlier, the Police escort had carelessly turned back riders Jaikarran Sookhai, Kwame Ridley and Steve Fernandes at an incorrect point, and as a consequence, their times were not taken into the results.

The marathon cycle race, the main event, will today pedal off at 7:30h sharp from Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown to return to the same location for the finish. It will involve all cyclists who had participated in the time trials.

That race will have four components: The Females road race, the Juveniles’ road race, the Masters’ road race and the Elite Males road race.

Females will ride a total of 52 miles: from Homestretch to Timehri,

EBD and back to the point of origin on Homestretch A v e n u e .

Juveniles will ride 53 miles along the same route as the ladies, while Masters/ Veterans will ride a total of 80 miles, commencing at Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown before travelling to Long Creek on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway and then back to the point of commencement.

The main event will be a 120-mile race wherein the Elite Males will duel it out from Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown

Jamaul John

Berbice’s Curtis Dey

to Moblissa Hill on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway before returning to the starting point.

Windies Women need to apply batting Chess Federation AGM to reap positive results, says King set for July 21 A

fter a 42-run defeat against England Women in the second Vitality T20 International at Northampton on Friday last, a disappointed Stacy Ann King, Windies all-rounder, spoke to Cricket West Indies (CWI) media.

Crestfallen with the result, King, who top-scored for the Caribbean team with a shot-filled 43 from 34 balls, reflected on her top innings. She said she had backed herself and played to her strengths.

“I knew they would come short at me, and batting out of the crease helped, with the wicket-keeper standing away from the stumps”, King detailed.

The Trinidadian, who returned to the West Indies Women’s team on the tour against Ireland, gained promotion to number three, and it proved a good move.

“I just

targeted those vacant areas to give my team a quick start, because we were chasing a mammoth target”, King explained.

She lamented the poor batting, and called for team mates to “step up” with the bat.

“We have been doing the right things in training, but it’s just that we are not applying ourselves in games, and it’s costing us”, King stated.

This tour has been an ordinary one for the Stafanie Taylorled West Indies Women, who have been outplayed in every department.

With one match thus far washed out, the teams h a v e since

Stacy Ann King has been enjoying her return to the West Indies Women’s team

played t h r e e One Day matches and one T20.

No player from the West Indies

has surpassed 100 runs in those four innings.

Chedean Nation has 98 runs, and that is the most scored by any member of the Caribbean team. This is followed

by King, who has 69 runs Captain in her Stafanie three Taylor has i n had a tough series thus far

nings.

In the bowling department, Hayley Matthews has eight wickets and Afy Fletcher has seven wickets, leading the bowling charts in both series thus far.

West Indies Women will conclude their tour of England when they meet the hosts for the final Vitality T20 International on Tuesday June 25, 2019.

This match will be played from 14:00h local time, and will bowl off at the County Ground in Derby.

Looking ahead, King said Derby is an unfamiliar venue for the visiting West Indies team. With an aim to sign off the series with a consolation win, King has admonished the batters to bring their ‘A’ game to the final match.

The last elected body of the GCF

T

he Guyana Chess Federation’s (GCF’s) Annual General Meeting will be held at the Resource Centre on Woolford Avenue, Georgetown from 10:00 hrs on Sunday July 21.

The list of persons who have met the membership eligibility criteria can be found on the GCF’s Facebook page, or on the website at ‘www.GuyanaCHESS.ORG. The closing date for payment of membership fees, making claims by persons who believe they have met the eligibility criteria, and for objections to remove persons from the list is July 7, 2019.

Nominations for the election of officers will be accepted during the period July 8 to July 14. Only nominations from financial members will be accepted for persons who also are financial members.

The Preliminary List of Electors (PLE), compiled based on the guidelines approved by the Governing Board of Chess on May 21, 2019, is in keeping with Clause 3 (ii) of that body’s Constitution, which states: “Ordinary membership is open to any person on payment to the approval of the committee”. This clause in the Constitution gives the governing

committee the authority to set the guidelines for becoming a member of the GCF. It has been the considered view of the Committee that persons who are chess players and other active administrative stakeholders of chess are the key groups that should be the ones to elect individuals whom they feel can best manage the affairs of the Guyana Chess Federation.

A claims and objections period of 21 days will be allowed, commencing when the PLE is made public. During this 21-day period, members would also be required to pay the annual membership fees. At the end of this period, a Final List of Electors (FLE) will be published, consisting of persons who met the qualifying criteria and who paid in full the membership fees of $2,000 for the Year 2019.

Only persons on the Final List of Electors (FLE) would be allowed to attend the meeting and vote at the elections.

Copies of the existing constitution, proposed new constitution, and a five-year developmental plan can be found on the GCF Facebook page and website.

Financial members are invited to attend.

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, june 23, 2019

Kane Williamson celebrated reaching his second consecutive century of the World Cup l u m -

K

a n e Williamson stitched N e w Zealand’s spot in the World Cup semi-finals more tightly into place with his second consecutive hundred, but not without the most gulpingly tight of finishes and a heroic hundred in vain from Carlos Brathwaite, as New Zealand won by five runs.

From the wreckage of 10 for two at the end of the first over, with Martin Guptill and Colin Munro out for ducks to Sheldon Cottrell yorkers, Williamson threaded the needle. Stitch, stitch; open the face of the bat down to third man. Stitch, stitch; nurdle and nudge. Slowly, the small bearded man in anonymous black embroidered together an innings of quiet genius.

Calmly, Ross Taylor and Williamson kept ticking over. Their careful partnership of 167 ended only

23

“Remember The Name”: Windies suffer heartbreak as Braithwaite fails to deliver

Trent Boult bagged figures of 4-30

when Jason Holder summoned his bering mulberry from the covers. Chris Gayle may rarely break into a walk these days, but there is magic still in those boots. Ten balls into his spell, he had frustrated Taylor into a nothing shot at mid-off, where Holder held the catch. Gayle punched the air, the strain of unexpected movement causing him to clutch his shoulder and then potter off the field.

Williamson then tiptoed towards his hundred, until finally, Kemar Roach pitched leg side and the batsman pulled him to the fine leg boundary. He then increased the tempo with typical quietness – a couple of fours off Holder, the sweetest of cover drives. On 128 he survived a caught-behind when a replay showed the ball spilling out of Shai Hope’s gloves; he replied with a balletic strike through point for four, then a huge flick over deep square leg. He eventually sent a top edge spiralling into the sky and was well caught by Hope.

There were bit-parts innings here and there, sixes from Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme

and Mitchell Santner, but Cottrell was an ever present danger, taking four for 56 and running out De Grandhomme, and then taking two catches in identical spots at mid-off in Brathwaite’s final over.

In the reply, Trent Boult dismissed both Hope and Nicholas Pooran for one; but suddenly, the pitch, which had seemed so slow and difficult to score off, transformed into a friendly tennis court, as Gayle and Shimron Hetmyer decided that the New Zealand cautious approach wasn’t for them.

Gayle crashed Henry for four and six. Hetmyer got off the mark with a wristy flick; and then the New Zealand band of brothers started to fray.

Gayle, on 15, sliced Henry impossibly high, and a back-pedalling Boult spilled it, knocking the ball over the boundary. Gayle smashed the two subsequent short deliveries over long-on and long leg for six. And then Hetmyer hit

Sheldon Cottrell took 4/56, including two in the opening over

three fours off Neesham. And so it went on, with Gayle dropped twice more.

At last, Lockie Ferguson made the breakthrough, bamboozling Hetmyer with a slower ball and bowling him for 54 off 45 balls, after a thrilling partnership with Gayle of 122. Next ball, Holder had a cement-footed nibble and was caught behind.

The following over, Gayle leaned back and heaved at De Grandhomme, and when Nurse and Lewis followed quickly, West Indies had lost five for 22 off 28 balls. All seemed lost; but Brathwaite, the big man for big occasions, had other ideas – all but taking West Indies over the line.

Brathwaite then emerged to give the game a whole new dimension, recording key partnerships with both Kemar Roach and Sheldon Cottrell. Nonetheless, with West Indies nine down and

SCOREBOARD New Zealand Innings (50 overs maximum) MJ Guptill lbw b Cottrell 0 C Munro b Cottrell 0 KS Williamson (c) c †Hope b Cottrell 148 LRPL Taylor c Holder b Gayle 69 TWM Latham † c & b Cottrell 12 JDS Neesham c Cottrell b Brathwai te 28 C de Grandhomme run out (Cottrell) 16 MJ Santner c Cottrell b Brathwaite 10 MJ Henry not out 0 Extras 8 (lb 4, nb 1, w 3) TOTAL 291/8 (50 Overs, RR: 5.82) Did not bat: LH Ferguson, TA Boult Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Martin Guptill, 0.1 ov), 2-7 (Colin Munro, 0.5 ov), 3-167 (Ross Taylor, 34.3 ov), 4-210 (Tom Latham, 41.5 ov), 5-251 (Kane Williamson, 46.3 ov), 6-270 (Colin de Grandhomme, 48.1 ov), 7-291 (Mitchell Santner, 49.5 ov), 8-291 (James Neesham, 49.6 ov) BOWLING O M R W SS Cottrell 10 1 56 4 KAJ Roach 10 2 38 0 JO Holder 7 0 42 0 O Thomas 6 0 30 0 CR Brathwaite 6 0 58 2 AR Nurse 9 0 55 0 CH Gayle 2 0 8 1

requiring 42 from the last five overs, the game seemed beyond the batting side. The powerful right-hander then emerged to strike blow after blow, going to a maiden ODI hundred. With six needed to win, Brathwaite

West Indies Innings (target: 292 runs from 50 overs) CH Gayle c Boult b de Grandhomme 87 SD Hope † b Boult 1 N Pooran c †Latham b Boult 1 SO Hetmyer b Ferguson 54 JO Holder (c) c †Latham b Ferguson 0 CR Brathwaite c Boult b Neesham 101 AR Nurse c †Latham b Boult 1 E Lewis c Neesham b Boult 0 KAJ Roach c †Latham b Henry 14 SS Cottrell b Ferguson 15 O Thomas not out 0 Extras 12 (lb 3, w 9) TOTAL 286 all out (49 Overs, RR: 5.83) Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Shai Hope, 2.4 ov), 2-20 (Nicholas Pooran, 6.2 ov), 3-142 (Shimron Hetmyer, 22.1 ov), 4-142 (Jason Holder, 22.2 ov), 5-152 (Chris Gayle, 23.6 ov), 6-163 (Ashley Nurse, 26.2 ov), 7-164 (Evin Lewis, 26.5 ov), 8-211 (Kemar Roach, 38.1 ov), 9-245 (Sheldon Cottrell, 44.6 ov), 10-286 (Carlos Brathwaite, 48.6 ov) BOWLING O M R W TA Boult 10 1 30 4 MJ Henry 9 0 76 1 LH Ferguson 10 0 59 3 JDS Neesham 6 0 35 1 MJ Santner 10 1 61 0 C de Grandhomme 4 0 22 1

looked set to finish the game with another maximum, but a well-taken catch on the boundary from Trent Boult concluded an incredible match, one that saw to Windies heartbreak.

CONCACAF Gold Cup

Danns stars as Jaguars almost capture their prey

By Jemima Holmes

N

eil Danns was the man of the hour for the Guyana Golden Jaguars at the First Energy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. He scored the country’s first ever goal in the fifteen-year history of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. However, this achievement was tinged with disappointment, as the Golden Jags went down to Panama 4-2 in a game that could have easily gone the way of these South Americans.

This is Guyana’s second loss in its Gold Cup debut run, after going down to defending champions USA 4-0 last Tuesday evening in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Guyana’s starting XI has seen some changes compared to their first encounter, with usual Captain Samuel Cox being given the nod to start. Goal-keeper Akel Clarke, Liam Gordon, Terrence Vancooten, Matthew Briggs, Jordan Dover, Elliott Bonds, Neil Danns, Emery Welshman and Callum Harriott were all staples in the trusted XI, while Torell Ondaan was brought in earlier in the place of Keanu Marsh Brown.

Although it was another crushing loss for the boys in yellow, they will head back to the drawing board to determine whether they could have been the ones rejoicing, had it not been for some silly mistakes on the part of the players, which eventually cost the entire team.

In a commendable performance, Emery Welshman wasted no time in testing the Panamanian goalie, but Luis Mejia was poised every time to scoop up Welshman’s tries.

Abdiel Arroyo was the first player to poke a hole in the Guyanese defense: in the 16th

minute of play, as he charged towards the goal keeper with intent. Clarke, in turn, rushed out to meet Arroyo, but missed his mark, leaving the goal wide open for Arroyo to score as he pleased.

Despite the early goal on Panama’s part, the Guyanese continued to hold their own, and saw a glimmer of hope in the 33rd, when they were awarded a penalty. Taken by Neil Danns, the midfielder made no mistake in levelling the scores 1-1.

G u y a n a ’ s nightmare then began in the 40th minute, when what should have been a deflection off Terrence Vancooten’s right foot ended up in the goal for an own goal.

The horrors continued as three Guyanese players were shown the yellow card in quick succession between the end of the first half and the very beginning of the second. A tackle in the box on the part of Liam Gordon afforded Panama a penalty, and although it was cleanly saved

by Guyana’s Clarke, a raised flag b y

Jordan Dover takes a ball to the head in the Guyana vs Panama encounter

the assistant referee signalled that Clarke was off his line before the penalty shot came, giv-

A glimpse of the Golden Jags’ action against Panama

ing Erick Davis a second chance at the goal, which he penetrated.

Substitutions in the second half saw Stephen Duke McKenna, Anthony Jeffrey and Keanu Marsh Brown replacing Elliott Bonds, Torell Ondaan and Callum Harriott in the 55th and 66th respectively.

Assisted by a pass from Alberto Quintero, Gabriel Torres was able to comfortably head the ball past the Guyanese goalkeeper for Panama’s fourth and final goal.

A late foul from Valentin Pimentel (90+1) afforded Guyana the opportunity of another penalty, which was again taken by Neil Danns. Danns bested the Panamanian Goalkeeper for the second time that night to register Guyana’s second goal for a losing cause.

As a result of Saturday’s loss, Guyana will not be able to make it into the knockout stages, but the Golden Jaguars will play their final group game against Caribbean counterparts Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday June 26 at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CONCACAF Gold Cup Pg 23

Danns stars as Jaguars almost capture their prey Pg 22

Briton John in supreme touch at 2019 National Cycling C/ships Time Trials

Pg 23

“Remember The Name”: Windies suffer heartbreak as Braithwaite fails to deliver

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 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

June 23, 2019

TIMES BOLLYWOOD:

Kareena Kapoor to play Saif Ali Khan’s ex-girlfriend in Jawaani Jaaneman

Page 14

FREE DISTRIBUTION

2 Sunday Times Magazine

JUNE 23, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Feature

T

he term marriage, in the English context, was first was first seen in 1250-1300 CE but the idea of marriages predates this date with every culture having their version of the proverbial passage of life. The main goal of marriage, earlier on, was to act as an alliance between families.

Throughout history, and even today, families arranged marriages for couples. Most couples didn’t marry because they were in love, but for economic liaisons. The people involved didn’t have much to say about the decision then.

In our modern world, some marriages are by proxy, some involve a dowry (the bride’s family giving money or presents to the groom or his family,) and some require a bride price (the groom or his family giving money or a present to the bride’s family). Few may have any courtship or dating, but most have deep-rooted traditions.

Different periods of time and various cultures have very dissimilar histories when it comes to women. Ancient Egypt, in theory, gave women equal rights, but it wasn’t always practiced. Medieval women, on the other hand, faced dual responsibilities to religion and marriage.

One nearly universal marriage tradition is that of the engagement ring. This custom can be dated back to the an-

cient Romans. It is believed that the roundness of the ring represents eternity. Thus, the wearing of wedding rings symbolizes a union that is to last forever. In fact, it was once thought that a vein or nerve ran directly from the “ring” finger of the left hand to the heart.

During the Victorian era romantic love became viewed as the primary requirement for marriage and the rituals of courting became even more formal. An interested gentleman could not simply walk up to a young lady and begin a conversation. He had to be formally introduced and only after some time was considered appropriate for a man to speak to a lady or for a couple to be seen together.

Once formally introduced, if a gentleman wished to escort a lady home from a social function he would present his card to her and at the end of the evening the lady would review her options and chose who would be her escort! She would then notify the lucky gentleman by giving him her own card requesting that he escort her home.

Almost all courting took place in the girl’s home, always under the eye of watchful parents. If the courting progressed, the couple might advance to the front porch. It was also rare for couples to see each other without the presence of a chaperone, and marriage proposals were frequently

written.

As early as the 12th Century, Roman Catholic theologians and writers referred to marriage as a sacrament, a sacred ceremony tied to experiencing God’s presence.

However, it wasn’t until the Council of Trent in 1563 that marriage was officially deemed one of the seven sacraments, says Elizabeth Davies, of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

Marriage vows, as couples recite them today, date back to Thomas Cranmer, the architect of English Protestantism.

Cranmer laid out the purpose for marriage and scripted modern wedding vows nearly 500 years ago in his Book of Common Prayer.

Wedding cakes were initially thought of as a luxury item, as the refined sugars needed to make pure white frosting were very expensive. In fact, the term “royal icing” came about thanks to Queen Victoria and her extravagant, multitiered white-frosted wedding cake.

Today, weddings are very extravagant and the concept of marriage has evolved into something beyond the imagination. Traditional roles have been reversed with women being breadwinners in some cases and men being stay at home dads.

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 23, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

heir love, even after 33 years of marriage, can be felt in the room. It is larger than their combined presences and so loud that it speaks to the great relationship they have cultivated. Their love is so infectious that it inspires you to achieve just that.

However, that love was not easily achieved, rather they were forced to walk a road paved with broken bottles just to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Today they can sit together and say that the struggles were all worth it.

They now have their answer to the many times they asked the question “Is all of this really worth it?”

Spending over three decades working on understanding someone else and loving them unconditionally only makes you a better person and that is exactly how Pastor Raphael Jackman and his wife Hazel see themselves. They see themselves as two young at

heart lovers but also as a couple who has been through more than their fair share of challenges as they navigate the often prickly path of marriage.

“Marriage is not about money, it is not totally wrapped up in love. It is a commitment made to each other with God being the soul. He is watching over to make sure that everything goes well. The promise you made in your vows must be upheld as the truth because you would be lying to man and God,” Pastor Raphael said when describing the institution of marriage.

His understanding of the institution comes after a lot of trials

and errors. In his own words, “the Raphael Jackman we see now and hear now is not the same person that met with Hazel Ann Forde thirty-something years ago”.

Their story is one that seems as though it was plucked from a script for television. It starts when Pastor Raphael was just a young boy entering the world of work. He got a job at the then Guyana Airways Corporation as an Office Assistant/ Messenger and Hazel was his coworker.

However, she was in some ways his boss since she was the Secretary to the General Manager.

Her position and the confidence she exuded some-

what intimidated Raphael but he already felt she was the one.

“While doing my duty as an Office Assistant I set eyes on this young lady and said ‘wow’ and I went home and told my cousins that I saw my wife. I did not say anything to her and my cousin asked where she was and I told him that she was working where I am working.”

A few months after that encounter, Raphael finally plucked up the courage to go and speak with Hazel about his attraction towards her. Because of their vastly different backgrounds, Hazel laughed at him since he was nothing she envisioned her boyfriend,

and possibly husband, to be like.

“She said something to me that made me a dreamer even to this day. She said ‘little boy you are dreaming’ and I said wow. Now today, thirty-something years later, I am still dreaming because she is here with me.”

For Hazel, it was not an immediate attraction, rather, it took some time.

“The first interaction I never thought that anything would develop out of the relationship because he was not the type of guy I was looking for. There was not anything in him to make me feel he would be my boyfriend and eventually husband but things developed after. Like he said, it caused some stirs in our family especially mine but deep down inside I felt that he is Mr Right,” she said.

Nevertheless, their unimaginable journey began with them coming together to overcome the countless barriers that life would throw their way. Their faith, patience and resistance were tested and sometimes they passed with flying colours but other times they would fail and learn from their mistakes. Initially, they did not get married and Hazel would give birth to their first son, Yaphet, and when she became pregnant again with their second son, Yohan, they decided that it was time to get married.

Their wedding, however, was very unconventional at that time but it was everything they envisioned. Armed with two cases of rum, Raphael and Hazel made their way to the United States of America to get married. They would use the money from the rum to host their small wedding that was just family and close

friends.

About five years into their marriage was when Raphael began to delve deeper into his religion and from then, he said, their life has been constantly turning around for the better.

However, their marriage has not been without struggles.

“There were times when I wanted to know that I made the right decision or I tempted to walk but I stuck with the process and here we are today.

I would not trade my marriage for anything in this world.”

Raphael came from a broken family in any sense. His parents separated and he had the responsibility of his four sisters and one brother since he was the eldest son at the time. He took on the responsibility and began working at the age of 17 and functioned as a father figure for his siblings so going into his marriage, he was somewhat experienced in the field.

“So coming into marriage and having to address some of the things that I have seen in my family, it helped and it hurt because I had both sides of the spectrum to deal with and I decided that I will not raise a failed family like what I came out of.”

However, Hazel was sheltered from all of those things that her new husband went through but she was not without her own demons. She had a broken relationship with her father and chan-

nelled her frustrations from that on to Raphael but he never relented.

“It has been turmoil. Sometimes it was very hard not in terms of finances but the relationship. It was rough and I always chasing him, telling him to go and leave but he stayed. We had physical and verbal fights and all sorts of things we went through.

The journey was rough but as we grew older we decided that this is it, for better or worse, till death and we working and for the last ten, fifteen years have been like the best of our marriage,” Hazel said while smiling in the direction of her Raphael.

They both said that marriage requires forgiveness. Many times Hazel has had to forgive Raphael and vice versa but instead of calling it quits, they worked through their differences. They made sure that at the end of the day they were stronger than they began.

Today, they are both part of the Marriages and Counselling Division at the First Assembly of God Church in Wortmanville. They offer couples counselling post-marriage and continue to impart their wisdom on couples.

“If you spend time together you build that relationship. We invested in spending quality time together and we are honest and transparent with each other,” Raphael said while noting that their love story is far from over.

“Better is ahead.”

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 23, 2019

Feature

By Mohanlall Suelall

W

hen Jagdeo Singh or Pandit Sugrim as he is known took the hands of Kuntie Singh on April 06, 1978 he made those seven sacred vows to her with God as his witness and she reciprocated them as well. Ever since that day he filled her maang (middle part of the hair) with sindoor (vermillion) Pandit Sugrim has been ensuring that he fulfils every vow he took.

Hailing from the Essequibo Coast, Pandit Sugrim got married when he was just 23 and has been with his wife ever since. He said that there are very few key things that lead to a happy and fulfilling marriage and noted that pure love and contentment trumps all.

"That day when I took that oath between my parents and God to make

With the first step, let us vow to share our food together With the second step, let us vow to be strong together With the third step, let us vow to be wealthy together With the fourth step, let us vow to be happy together With the fifth step, let us vow to have children together With the sixth step, let us vow to be comfortable with each other With the seven step, let us vow to be friends of each other.

Kuntie my better half and to start my own family I worked towards achieving my dreams. After marriage, my first goal was to find a

place to call home. I was living with my wife at my parents’ home in Anna Regina, but with hard work and dedication I was able to achieve

my first goal and that is to purchase a house lot in Richmond Housing Scheme where I built my home and started my family.”

The initial stages of their life were not easy but they worked tirelessly to ensure that every goal was achieved.

During his early life, Pandit Sugrim worked in the rice fields while Kuntie started a small business to supplement his income and take care of the family.

“Together we got three children, two daughters and one son. My daughters are now teachers and my son a policeman. Later on, I decided to follow my dream of becoming a Hindu priest (Pandit). My father taught me Hindi, the language that quickly helped me to study and become a Pandit.”

Every decision he made, his wife has been there. She would offer her advice and input so that they could build as a couple and be the kind of model that they envisioned. Never did Kuntie not support Pandit Sugrim’s dream and in return, he ensured that she was always happy.

After he would have completed his Pandit education, Sugrim built a mandir on his property and started to offer guidance to the residents of Richmond Housing Scheme.

“I saw the reason to build

the mandir so as to get them together and to help them to become better citizens. I also started Hindi and Musical classes with the children.

Over the years the Mandir grew from a four-post shed into a modern building and presently serving the community.”

Together with his wife, they offer Hindi classes as well as mainstream academic classes.

Additionally, they have set up a foundation to assist the residents in their time of need whether it is to deal with sickness or deaths.

The couple’s aim for the mandir is to get the young people fully involved in meaningful activities. Over the years the mandir has done many humanitarian services by assisting with medical fees locally and abroad, feeding programmers, as well as other charitable acts.

Pandit Sugrim believers that serving humanity is serving God. It is a belief shared by his wife and that has been the reason they have been able to have a successful and long marriage. They plan to spend the rest of their lives together assisting those in need and offering the relevant guidance.

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 23, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

T

raditionally, throughout the world, the month of June is associated with weddings and “June brides”. It is felt that if a marriage is consummated in June, it is perceived as a blessing and the chances of love and affection would unite couples into an everlasting bond.

Whether this is true or not, there are some Guyanese customs to which couples would adhere, regardless of the consequences: “Don’t look back while going up the aisle”; “jumping the broom”- a West African tradition; “don’t ever let a dog eat your wedding cake”; “don’t sweep one’s foot with a pointer broom prior to marriage”, are just a few.

The following are some true funny stories surrounding weddings in Guyana.

Cow itch powder or stinging nettle It is believed that a bride must be attired in: “Something old; something new; something borrowed; something blue”, for good luck, and no bad omen would befall the marriage.

However, at one Guyanese wedding, the bride borrowed a glove from her dear girlfriend, not realizing the friend had a crush on the groom.

The friend wilfully laced the glove with “cow-itch or stinging nettle” powder, – a powder that would induce intense itching.

At the wedding ceremony, before the exchange of vows, the problem began. The itching was very severe.

Apparently the powder was

transferred and dispersed to certain discrete parts of the bride’s anatomy. The itching was very noticeable and created

today at 84.

friend – her maid of honour who was single – to throw the bouquet in her direction.

Somehow, the boyfriend of the maid of honour got wind of the plan. When the bouquet was released from the bride, the boyfriend intercepted and caught the bouquet.

The maid of honour was so upset she ranted and raved.

One month later, the boyfriend married someone else.

Dowry

It is customary at a Hindu wedding for the father of the bride to offer a satisfactory dowry to the groom. As long as the groom does not eat, the father has to continue offering possessions. At one such Hindu wedding, the groom was not satisfied with the house and land that were offered.

Not until he was prom-

the father-in-law never owned a house or any cattle in his entire life.

Marriage vows

During a wedding ceremony the preacher asked, “Does anyone know why these parties should not be joined together, speak now or forever hold your peace?”

One member of the wedding party shouted, “The groom is gay.”

Without any hesitation the bride blurted out, “So what? I know he is gay, he is always so joyful and happy.”

Rising up first

It is understood that when couples kneel at the altar to exchange their vows, it is thought that whoever gets up first will live longer than the other.

In the haste to get up first, the groom accidentally stood on the bride’s dress causing her to fall prostrate at the feet of the pastor.

Pigeons

an embarrassing scene.

The groom, unaware of the problem, and in disgust, disappeared from the altar and the wedding was called off.

Guess who was waiting outside the church to console him?

Wedding cake

It was also understood that if you are single and you place a very small piece of wedding cake behind your right ear, you would enhance and accelerate your chances of getting married.

A 65-year-old-man, who would remain nameless, attended a well-known Guyanese wedding ceremony.

In desperation he applied enormous amounts of wedding cake behind both ears. To make a long story short, he is still single

Catching of the bouquet

The custom where the person who catches the bouquet is believed to be the next to marry is very evident at weddings. Before one wedding reception, the bride made arrangements with her best

ised a number of cows and sheep did he eventually eat, which showed his acceptance.

After the wedding, he went to collect his dowry but was greeted with a severe beating by the family members. He then realized that

It is normal after the wedding ceremony to throw rice grains over the married couple for good luck as they leave the church.

The groom, clad in a white suit, and the bride, wearing a gorgeous white gown, were greeted with a huge amount of rice grains landing on their heads.

Suddenly, a drove of hungry pigeons appeared, stood on their heads, and had a feast.

Simultaneously the pigeons decided to release some droppings which landed all over the married couple, leaving a random polka dot design on the white apparel of the couple. ( By Edgar Henry.

Published in the Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. June 2012 Magazine)

6 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 23, 2019

Preserving our literary heritage

By Petamber Persaud

(Extract of an interview with Dr. Ian McDonald, Georgetown, Guyana, March 2019.

McDonald has published eight collections of poetry, one award-winning novel, one award-winning play, three non-fiction works, and has written over 1,500 articles. He has won the Guyana Prize for Literature on three occasions, all in the poetry category.

Here, he talks about his latest poetry book, ‘New and Collected Poems’ which runs into 447 pages. His most recent publication is ‘An Abounding Joy: Essays on Sport’ is 558 pages long.)

PP: From ‘Selected Poems’, 1988, to ‘New and Collected Poems’, 2018, a lot has happened in your life, in fact, too much to discuss everything here. Your first love – poetry, sport, Mary, Mary’s garden?

IM: First of all, I love life. And of course, Mary, my wife, the great love of my life. But I know what you mean, you mean activities. I really can’t put which comes first because you live your life -24 hours- in a day and I have found so much in my life that is so fascinating, interesting, enlivening PP: Sustaining…

IM: Sustaining, yes, certainly including sport and my life in the sugar industry which I’ve always found to be very stimulating, very challenging, very interesting and very fulfilling. There was that and there was sport – I played sport when I was twelve or thirteen until I was a veteran in my 50s, also I played competitive sport – tennis and squash –

and I loved that. I still love sport, I love watching it, I love cricket all my life, it is such a great game, I watch it all the time. I still have heart failure with the West Indies. Sport has been and still is very big in my life.

But you’re right about poetry from ever since I was a schoolboy – it has been a big part, a very important part of my life throughout.

PP: I think this book, ‘New and Collected Poetry’, will illustrate poetry in your life, throughout your life because it includes ‘Mercy Ward’, ‘Essequibo’, ‘Jaffo The Calysonian’, ‘Between Silence and Silence’, ‘The Comfort of all things’, ‘Selected Poems’, and ‘River

Dancer’. A huge book without an introduction so it behooves you to introduce to us this huge book.

IM: Well, Petamber, what I am hoping is that people like you, and other critics and other literary people will themselves write about a book like this so I wouldn’t have to do it myself.

You’re right, it is a compendium, it is a collected work of poems going back to the first poems published, going back to when I was a schoolboy, when I wrote my first poem over 70 years ago…one of the early poems was published in a wonderful magazine, the Kyk-overAl, which was edited by A.

J. Seymour from 1945 to 1961….What I am really saying: there are poems in this book going back to 60 to 70 years. And at intervals in my life, I published poetry – I think you mentioned six or seven collections there.

Also there is a big section of new poetry, about 170 poems, which is in essence two books.

PP: Wow IM: In addition to that ‘River Dancer’ is really a set of new poems because the poems in ‘River Dancer’ were written in 2014 and that’s only five years ago. So I could say that all the poems in this book from ‘River Dancer’ onwards are new poems – ‘River Dancer’ has about 70/75 poems and the final section has about 170, so there are about 250 poems that are very new, going back only five or six years, so you could see in this latest phrase of my life, I have written a lot of poetry, in fact, when I look back, I probably wrote more poetry in that time span than in any other similar time span in the rest of my life. This book does go back all the way….

PP: Beginnings, let’s talk beginnings….

IM: Poetry is in my genes. Remember my great, great, great grandfather was a poet back in England and published poetry in the 19th c., my great uncle was a poet and published a book of poems out of Antigua, my grandmother, Hilda McDonald, my father’s mother, published two books of verse out of Antigua. So I always say in me there is a poetry gene that emerged in me as well. So I have always known about poetry.

Also, my parents had a very good library including lots of books on poetry…

PP: Important influence that….

IM: I remember reading poets like Tennyson, Keats, and Shelly and Wordsworth when I was quite young.

Very formative was my English Teacher at Queen’s Royal College in Trinidad.

A man I can remember now - I wrote a poem about him called ‘John Hodge’ – he inculcated a love for poetry in me, not just text book poetry but poetry from all over the world, from poets we weren’t studying at school…he said that we must remember that there is lots of wonderful poetry well beyond our syllabus. He was very important in my life.

Then I have a distinct memory of someone putting in my hand a very small collection, almost a pamphlet of poems written by a young West Indian called Derek Walcott, and it was his first collection when he was about eighteen or nineteen and it was called very simply ‘Twenty-five Poems’ by Derek Walcott….I remember reading it and, Petamber,

I am going back more 70 years, I remember reading it and saying this poetry is so good and it is affecting me so much, and it was by a West Indian, not an Englishman, or a Frenchman in translation, or anyone else, it was by a West Indian.

A West Indian writing poetry like this - this is marvelous. And I think, from then I realize why not, why not try writing poetry myself. (to be

continued) Responses to this author please telephone 226-0065 of email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: Coming soon: A new book by Ameena Gafoor: ‘The Evolution of Writing in English By and About East Indians of Guyana, 1838 – 2018’.

My Rose Never Faded While walking through seventeen I picked a bright red rose.

I was living wild and reckless; it changed my life, I suppose.

A blue ribbon winner with its brilliant flare.

Siesta

Its beauty was enchanting like a breath of mountain air.

I kept it near my heart, red velvet all aglow.

Why God gave me this gift I guess I'll never know.

Withstanding troubled times and a heartbreak now and then, But the rose never wilted amazing me once again.

Roses bloom in their season then die and fall apart.

My rose kept on living, rooted deep within my heart.

My days are growing short now; I have lived a fulfilled life.

The rose I picked when I was young is my fateful loving wife.

She gave me three sons and they filled my bouquet.

Pride and pleasure overflowed to see them blossom day by day.

We have grown old together and my heart is still elated after all the years gone by.

My rose never faded.

By Lewis Beesinger

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 23, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

Q

uite often we take our teachers for granted, we know they are there to impart knowledge and their presence is all but appreciated. As students, the happiest times in school almost always occurred when our teachers missed a class or were busy doing some form

professions, and how they nurtured us not only intellectually but emotionally as well. Teachers are really the heroes of the world and the true creators of every other profession.

Without teachers, we would all be illiterate

of administrative work.

We only truly realise how much our teachers are undervalued when we enter the world as learned adults and have an outside view of how much they sacrificed, how much they went above and beyond the call of their

and ignorant. Our critical thinking skills would remain underdeveloped and creativity stifled. It is their nurturing that affords many of us the opportunity to become whatever we aim to. They inspire us to be our authentic selves.

Realising the impact their Visual Arts teacher made in their lives, some students of the Vreed en Hoop Secondary School decided to put pen to paper and express their deep appreciation for the nurturing and guidance.

Miss Halcyon Doris is more than just a teacher to her students. She is the embodiment of something far greater. She nurtures them, mothers, them and is the executor of tough love when the need arises. For

that, her students greatly value her input and advice as they battle their way through secondary school and life in general.

Her shoulder is always

available and her ears are always willing.

In a move that not only surprised Doris but also brought her to tears, the outgoing students wrote her small letters detailing how she impacted their

lives.

T h e change she helped them foster and guidance

she provided.

Christian Graham wrote “Dear Miss Doris…I particularly enjoyed our discussions about the impact of schooling on young people and about using technology to forge closer relations

with clients…”

“Dear M i s s Halcyon Doris, when I first walked into the school I had no idea what I should expect from you… you taught me to be open and to take a stand. You taught me that there is no such thing as weakness…you showed me that my past does not define me,” Mokeba Best wrote.

Doris’s personality is larger than life and it transcends to the work she does. Persons around her describe her as bubbly, passionate, fierce and all so important, confident.

Apart from being daddy’s little girl, she drew strength from her mother because of the level of passion and drive she possesses and is trying to inspire her students to channel their efforts towards realising their true potentials.

For her students, Ms Doris is the best teacher they could ask for since her classes are not only about being taught rather it involves the holistic experience of learning in an environment that is comfortable. She affords each of her students individualised attention so that they are prepared when it comes time for them to sit their examination.

8 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 23, 2019

Feature

I

t is always thrilling to see one of these in the wild, especially while driving through the rainforest trails in Guyana. Many travelers claim to have seen these big cats chilling on the LindenLethem trail.

The jaguar is one of the largest carnivorous mammals in Central or North America and the largest cat in South America.

Jaguars vary in color but generally they are tawny yellow with black rosettes all over their body.

They usually have a white underbelly, the throat, outer surface of the legs and lower flanks are also white. Some jaguars vary from reddish brown to black.

As for the black jaguars, their rosettes are visible at certain angles. Rosettes may include one or several dots and are great for camouflage in the forest.

Jaguars normally weigh about 123 to 212 pounds and the females are usually 10 to 20 percent smaller than the males. The smallest female weigh about 79 pounds while the larger males weigh as much as 348 pounds. Their length varies from 5.3 to 6

ft.

The jaguar’s legs are short but this is not entirely a disadvantage since their short legs helps them to perfectly adapt to climbing, swimming, crawling to capture their preys. When compared to a small tiger or lion in a similar weight range their legs are considerably shorter but the advantage is that it is thick and powerful.

Their tail is the shortest of any big cat and it is about 45 to 75 cm in length. As for the jaguar’s head, it is sturdy and their jaw is extremely powerful having the third highest bite force of all felids.

Compared to a leopard, the jaguar’s head is rounder and their limbs are shorter and stockier just as it is when compared to the lion and

tiger.

D i e t and Prey of the Jaguar Jaguars are carnivores, feeding only on meat. They are the top predators in the forest and savannahs and instead of chasing their prey they stalk them. A unique technique for the jaguars is to use their powerful jaw and canine teeth to pierce the skull of their prey – it pierces directly through the temporal bones of the skull between the ears of the prey, piercing the brain. It’s very useful for cracking the shells of turtles, one of their favorite prey.

The jaguar may leap onto the back of the prey and sever the cervical vertebrae, immobilizing the target.

They also have the deep throat-bite

and suffocation technique for killing preys.

O t h e r preys enjoyed by the jaguars a r e armadillos, monkeys, fish, deer, capybaras, tapirs, peccaries, anacondas. They prey on small species such as birds, mice and frogs and in areas where people live, the jaguars will also prey on domestic animals such as dogs and cattle.

Reproduction of the Jaguar Jaguars can live up to 12 years in the wild. Usually the females reach sexual maturity at about 2 to 2 ½ years. Their pregnancy lasts to about 90 to 110 days and their litter size vary from about 1 to 4 young.

The kittens stay with their mother from 1 to 1 ½ years and breed-

ing may occur y e a r round.

The black jaguars may produce either black or spotted cubs, but a pair of spotted jaguars can only produce spotted cubs.

Habitat of the Jaguar They usually live in the rainforests. The jaguar likes to live by swamps, rivers and in dense rainforest with thick cover for stalking prey.

To honour these amazing animals June 11 is dedicated as Day of the Jaguar.

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 23, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

9

Health

O

steoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle — so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over or coughing can cause a fracture.

you're young, your body makes new bone faster than it breaks down old bone and your bone mass increases. Most people reach their peak bone mass by their early 20s. As people age,

have a higher risk because they may have less bone mass to draw from as they age.

Complications

Bone fractures, partic-

factors for bone loss and falls.

For both men and wom-

Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist or spine.

Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced.

Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn't keep up with the removal of old bone.

Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races. But white and Asian women — especially older women who are past menopause — are at highest risk.

Medications, healthy diet and weight-bearing exercise can help prevent bone loss or strengthen already weak bones.

Symptoms

There typically are no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. But once your bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you may have signs and symptoms that include: • Back pain, caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra • Loss of height over time • A stooped posture • A bone fracture that occurs much more easily than expected

Causes

Your bones are in a constant state of renewal — new bone is made and old bone is broken down. When

bone mass is lost faster than it's created.

How likely you are to develop osteoporosis depends partly on how much bone mass you attained in your youth. The higher your peak bone mass, the more bone you have "in the bank" and the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis as you age.

Risk factors

A number of factors can increase the likelihood that you'll develop osteoporosis — including your age, race, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions and treatments.

Unchangeable risks Some risk factors for osteoporosis are out of your control, including: • Your sex. Women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis than are men.

• Age. The older you get, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.

• Race. You're at greatest risk of osteoporosis if you're white or of Asian descent.

• Family history.

Having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis puts you at greater risk, especially if your mother or father experienced a hip fracture.

• Body frame size.

Men and women who have small body frames tend to

ularly in the spine or hip, are the most serious complication of osteoporosis. Hip fractures often are caused by a fall and can result in disability and even an increased risk of death within the first year after the injury.

In some cases, spinal fractures can occur even if you haven't fallen. The bones that make up your spine (vertebrae) can weaken to the point that they may crumple, which can result in back pain, lost height and a hunched forward posture.

Diagnosis

Your bone density can be measured by a machine that uses low levels of X-rays to determine the proportion of mineral in your bones.

During this painless test, you lie on a padded table as a scanner passes over your body. In most cases, only a few bones are checked — usually in the hip, wrist and spine.

Treatment

Treatment recommendations are often based on an estimate of your risk of breaking a bone in the next 10 years using information such as the bone density test. If the risk is not high, treatment might not include medication and might focus instead on modifying risk

en at increased risk of fracture, the most widely prescribed osteoporosis

medications are bisphosphonates. (Mayo Clinic)

10 Sunday Times Magazine Feature

JUNE 23, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 23, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

Father’s Day Recipes

Y

ou don't have to wait to degunk and degrime your home. These tried-and-true methods from the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab will get your pots, pans, linens, floors, appliances, and, well, pretty much everything pristine, one proven tip at a time.

Ingredients •

• • • • • • •

• • •

•

2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) fireroasted diced tomatoes, undrained 1 medium onion, chopped 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons canola oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1/4 cup tomato paste 4 large eggs 1/4 cup shredded Manchego or Monterey Jack cheese 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Directions

1. Place the first 8 ingredients in a pan and cook for 10 minutes on medium heat.

Add tomato paste; simmer, uncovered, until mixture is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Home décor

Revive cloudy glasses

R

emove built-up film from hard-water minerals by soaking stemware in white vinegar for five minutes. Then rinse by hand and dry with a microfiber cloth.

2. With the back of a spoon, make 4 wells in sauce. Break an egg into each well; sprinkle with cheese. Cover and simmer until egg whites are completely set and yolks begin to thicken but are not hard, 8-10 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

Re-season rusty cast iron

O

ver-scrubbing cast iron with metal scouring pads can remove the seasoning from your trusty skillet. To restore the finish, use a scrub sponge to remove any rust, clean with a bit of mild dish soap, then rinse and dry well.

Coat the inside and outside with vegetable oil and bake upside down in the oven at 350 degrees for one hour. Let cool and remove excess grease with a paper towel.

• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 3 teaspoons pepper • 4 pounds ground chicken • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 16 hamburger buns, split • Optional toppings: Tomato slices, lettuce leaves, sliced red onion, sliced cucumber, sliced avocado and ranch dip

Directions

Ingredients • •

3/4 cup ranch salad dressing 3/4 cup panko (Japanese) bread crumbs

Ingredients •

• • • •

15 cups cubed watermelon (seeded – about 5 pounds) 1 6oz can orange juice concentrate 1/4 cup lemon juice 2 cups sparkling grape juice 1 cup ginger ale

Directions

Process watermelon in batches in a food processor until smooth. Press through a finemesh strainer into a bowl; discard pulp. Pour juice into a large pitcher or punch bowl. Stir in juice concentrate and lemon juice. Refrigerate until chilled. Stir in grape juice and ginger ale before serving. Serve over ice with additional watermelon.

1. In a large bowl, mix the first 6 ingredients. Add chicken; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape mixture into sixteen 1/2-in. thick patties.

Brush both sides with oil; refrigerate, covered, 15 minutes to allow patties to firm up.

2. Grill burgers, covered, over medium heat or broil 3-4 inches from heat 5-6 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 165°. Serve on buns with desired toppings.

Restore your shower pressure

U

nclog your shower head by mixing equal parts white vinegar and water and pouring it into a plastic bag. Tie the bag around the shower head to immerse the holes in the solution and secure with a twist tie. Let soak up to an hour, then remove and wipe away the loosened deposits.

Clear a slow drain

W

hen you notice your drain is starting to clog, pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down it, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Cover with a wet cloth to contain the science fair-like effects. Wait five minutes and then flush with hot water.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 23, 2019

Puzzles

ACROSS

1

6 11

15

20 21

22

24

25

26

27 28

29

31

33

34

35

37

39 41

42 43

44

46

50

51

52

53

57

59

60

61

62 63

64

65

66

67

68

69

72

73

74

75

76

79 80

84 85

86

87

88

91

92 93

95

96 Round starters

97 Resin source Brief summary

98 Coco -- of perfume Jacques, in song

99 To boot Buddy 101 Globe On the fritz

102 Ready to eat J.R.’s mama 103 Carrot-top Discourage

104 Gardener, often Winter warmer

105 Pub orders Single-handed

106 Nature outing Round gem

107 Meadow murmur Volcanic output

108 35mm cameras Amusing satire

109 “Nick of Time” singer Minstrels

111 Stare rudely Kelly the clown

112 -- & Young Downhill ski run

114 Dust collector Part of MIT 117 Utmost Not condensed

118 After midnight Hypocrisy (2 wds.)

119 A honey of a job?

Steelers player Swann

124 Upright Mouse alert 126 Skip Psst!

128 Daunt Go-getters

130 Fall or winter Festoon

131 “Heavy” music Planet’s course

132 Clover leaves Breathe hard

134 All kidding -Earlier, in combos

136 “Phantom of the --” -- -kneed (timid) 137 Harden Film terrier

138 Turn inside out Between ports

139 Knight’s mount Fellow feeling 140 Raises corn Heavy hydrogen discoverer 141 Candle Make compost

142 Joy Adamson’s pet Flutist Herbie - 143 Bathrobe fabric Scrooge’s partner

144 Nylons shade Trickle

Water softener Fine, to an astronaut (hyph.)

DOWN Where Florence is

1 Drive away Mardi Gras follower

2 Fragrant resin Zenith opposite

3 Device that grips “Song of Hiawatha” tribe (var.)

4 Buenos -Even as we speak

5 Threw snowballs Billiard sticks

6 Rx monitor Cheese portion

7 Acquire oxygen Large herring

8 Moral codes Prairie state

9 Ms. Witherspoon Largest mammal

10 Lead-in for while Kindly

11 Vaccine amts.

River islets 12 Daydreaming Devoutness

13 Storrs coll.

Stoic founder 14 Lows Square root of IX

15 Japanese theater “Parks and Recreation” town 16 Mr. Greenspan Opposite of malo

17 Glider’s place Place for flowers

18 Not deserved Inclined

19 Easily irritated Numerical prefix

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- PROCURED

(PROCURED: pro-KYOORD: Obtained; acquired.)

Average mark 38 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 56 or more words in PROCURED? TODAY'S WORD -- PROCURED pore pour pourer prod produce producer proud prouder prude puce pure purer purr record

recoup recur redo repro rode rope roue rude ruder rued order ordure cero code

coed cope coper cord core corer coup coupe credo crop croup crude cruder cued

curd cure curer updo ecru euro decor doer dope dour drop drupe duce dupe

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

23

30

32 36

38

40 43

44

45

46

47

48

49

51

52

54

55

56

58

59

60

63 64

67 68

Take-home (hyph.)

Type of wife Broncos great John -Extremely Wild ox of Tibet Auction site Percolate Muppet grouch Soft lid June sign Powerful explosive Stretch out Become tiresome Formal court order Cliffside abode Volvo rival Sufficient, in verse “My Way” composer Josephine of mystery Coffee dispensers Be evasive Sandra and Ruby Poorly San -- Obispo Groovy!

69

70

71

73

74 75

77

78

79

80

81 82 83 85

86

88

89 90

91

92

93

94

96

97 98

100

101 Hang around Darn it! (2 wds.)

102 Exasperates -- alai 103 Foul-smelling Ms. Lupino 106 Elev.

Dove shelter

107 Livestock source “-- a good time?”

110 Moose feature Transmit 111 Gabby Hayes films Fleming of 007 fame 112 More uncanny Never, to Wolfgang

113 Vex (2 wds.)

Brandish

114 Pay by mail “Breathless” star

115 Rodeo venue Big name in trains

116 Outfit (hyph.)

One-dimensional

118 Grounds for a suit Returns

119 Stitch loosely Tows

120 Of the Vatican Writer -- Grey

121 Grenoble’s river Nile creator god 122 Benchmarks Guthrie of folk music

123 Grind, as teeth Sensible

125 Feel concern Jaunty hat

127 Change address Omigosh!

129 Do horoscopes Prof’s degree 133 RR terminal Cheerleading yells

135 Ben & Jerry rival Means of escape Walleyed fish Desists See Solution Ex-Bruin Bobby -on page 14

guyanatimesgy.com

Amazon launches its first inexpensive Fire TV televisions

A

mazon and its manufacturer partners have been selling inexpensive 4K TVs with Fire TV software built in for a few years now. On Thursday, Amazon announced the first model that includes support for Dolby Vision. The Toshiba-branded set will be sold exclusively by Amazon and Best Buy. A 55-inch model ($449.99) is on sale immediately, and 43-inch ($329.99) and 50-inch ($379.99) models will be available later this month on June 30th.

Dolby Vision is an HDR format that offers a wider color palette and brighter highlights than TVs that lack HDR. It’s also seen as superior to HDR10 since adjustments to picture quality can be made scene by scene, whereas HDR10 applies one set of parameters to an entire show or movie.

Dolby Vision and Atmos are widely available in premiumpriced smart TVs, but are still trickling down to entry-level sets. Amazon isn’t disclosing peak brightness levels for the Toshiba sets, but you can bet it’s a significant step down compared to Thursday’s $1,000 TVs. “We worked closely with Best Buy and Dolby to build an amazing TV,” said Sandeep Gupta, Amazon’s VP of Fire TV development.

The Fire TV Edition with Dolby Vision was a necessary step for Amazon to better square off with the lineup of Roku TVs on the market like those from TCL, which already offer Dolby Vision output. Amazon says it has launched more than 20 models of Fire TV Edition smart TVs since last June. Best Buy plays a major role in this initiative since it’s the exclusive retailer in the US and Canada; even when you’re buying the TVs off of Amazon, it’s through Best Buy as a third-party seller.

Fire TV has over 34 million active monthly users, Amazon announced recently. “In launching our products over the last year, we’ve wanted to make sure they follow our philosophy: simpler and smarter,” Gupta said. The company currently offers the Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K, and Fire TV Cube. The Fire TV Stick 4K supports Dolby Vision, while the Cube offers Dolby Atmos audio but not the visual side.

Amazon has continued to iterate on the Fire TV software to embrace Alexa voice controls — you can say “watch NBC” and Fire TV will automatically tune to either your OTA antenna tuner or an OTT service like PlayStation Vue, based on whatever you usually watch with. Fire TV Edition sets can be powered on and controlled with any Echo speaker in your home.

The news comes as Amazon prepares to open an installation at the Dolby experiential space in New York City’s Soho neighborhood, where the companies are showcasing the content and immersive, theater-like viewing experience you’ll get with Dolby’s audio and visual technologies on recent Fire TV hardware. That’s assuming you’ve got a TV capable of doing it justice, but as Amazon is trying to show, that barrier of entry continues to drop lower and lower. (The Verge)

JUNE 23, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 23, 2019

Bollywood/Hollywood

A

ctor Jaaved Jaaferi’s son Meezaan has revealed that Sanjay Leela Bhansai’s Malaal maybe his first role in a film but this is not the first time he appeared on the silver screen.

He has worked as a body double for actor Ranveer Singh in Bhansali’s Padmaavat.

A Mumbai Mirror report

claimed that Meezaan made the revelation on Zoom’s chat show,

By Invite Only. “I was assisting Sanjay sir on Padmaavat. One day, they were discussing how difficult it would be to shoot certain scenes as Ranveer was unavailable. To my surprise, Sanjay sir said that I should do it. The next day, I was asked to memorise all Ranveer’s

gestures and lines,” Meezaan was quoted as saying.

Padmaavat also starred Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor. It told the story of Queen Padmavati, based on a poem called Padmaavat. The film went on to become the top grosser of the year.

Ranveer played an anti-hero in the film, he essayed the role of Afghan

B

ollywood actor Kareena Kapoor, who is currently in London with her family, may soon join husband and actor Saif Ali Khan on sets of his upcoming film as well - she is reportedly playing a cameo in Jawaani Jaaneman where he essays the role of a father.

A Deccan Chronicle report claimed that Kareena is playing Saif’s ex-girlfriend in the film that marks the Bollywood debut of Pooja Bedi’s daughter Alaia Furniturewala. “It has not been a happy ending for Saif and Kareena together in their films. People have rejected the pair together. Pata nahin (don’t know), why there is this obsession to cast them together. Agreed that it makes news, but it does not make sense for the trade. The film business gets excited only when the couple have given hits together,” the report quoted a trade source

C

as saying.

Kareena and Saif have worked together in films like Kurbaani, Agent Vinod and Tashan but none of the films worked at the box office.

Alaia, who plays Saif’s daughter in the film, said about her preparations in

ANNES — Shonda Rhimes received uproarious applause when she reminded an audience that women are a force to be reckoned with.

“I think the first thing we have to start pushing against is, stop allowing other people to define us,” said 49-yearold Rhimes during a Cannes Lions discussion on Thursday to an excited room.

“I also think that giving people an opportunity to see themselves putting people in more positions of power.

“You have to remember that we’ve been in a society that’s been male-led for a very long time and [a project like this] didn’t happen, so as women began to take positions of power, things began to happen.”

The “Grey’s Anatomy” creator was talking about Dove’s project in partnership with Getty Images and Girlgaze, titled #ShowUs, which is a collection of more than 5,000 unedited photos of women around the world. Rhimes, who first

an interview to Mid Day, “It’s daunting, but it makes every cell in my body dance.

I’m one of those who love to over-prepare, and am hence leaving for London a week in advance.

I want to get into the skin of my character and study the script better. I’m

partnered with Dove in 2017, said the only way to truly affect change is for women to continue to rise in the corporate world so that they can elevate even more people.

“I do think that as you climb a ladder you bring

invader Alaud-din Khilji and Deepika played the queen Khilji desired. Shahid essayed the role of Deepika’s onscreen husband.

Meezaan is awaiting the release of Bhansali-produced Malaal that will also mark the debut of the filmmaker’s niece, Sharmin. Malaal is about the love-hate relationship between the debutants, Shiva

working with established artistes who I admire, so I’m understandably nervous.”

Kareena is currently shooting for her portion in Irrfan Khan’s film, Angrezi Medium where she is reportedly playing the role of a cop. The film will mark Irrfan’s return after an year-long treatment that he underwent in England.

Kareena has just completed the shoot of Akshay Kumar, Diljit Dosanjh’s Good News and will begin work on Karan Johar’s Takht. The film also stars Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar, Anil Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor.

Saif, on the other hand, has begun shooting Jawaani Jaaneman and will soon be seen in season 2 of Sacred Games. He received wide acclaim for playing a cop’s role in the first season of the popular Netflix show.

(Hindustan Times)

people with you,” she explained. “…

You have to have more critics who are women. You have to bring other people along so that their voices are heard.

“The more people in the mix, the more people who have opinions, the less it’s about somebody telling you that you’re niche because there’s nothing niche about being 51 percent of the population.”

Although Rhimes spoke minimally in comparison to the rest of the allfemale panel, which included bosses such as Girlgaze founder Amanda de Cadenet, Dove Global Vice President Sophie Galvani and Creative Insights Director at Getty Images Dr. Rebecca Smith, the Shondaland founder continuously had the crowd cheering for her pro-feminine stance.

Rhimes also praised the #ShowUs movement because she wants her three daughters to grow up in a visually inclusive world.

“I don’t want them growing up thinking there’s only one way they can look,” she said. (Page Six)

S

(Meezaan) and Astha (Sharmin), who hail from contrasting backgrounds but fall in love. Directed

by Mangesh Hadawale, the film is produced by Bhansali along with Bhushan Kumar, Mahaveer Jain and Krishan Kumar. It is set to hit theatres on June 28. (Hindustan

Times)

hahid Kapoor’s upcoming film Kabir Singh has been awarded an A certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), with a few changes. An official remake of Telugu hit Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh also stars Kiara Advani and is slated to hit theatres on June 21.

Apart from inserting warning on all drug scenes, the CBFC has sought modification in a scene where a character will be seen snorting drugs – it has been changed from front to side angle shot. A disclaimer against ragging has also been added in the movie.

The CBFC also muted the cuss words.

Talking about the film, Shahid had recently told PTI, “Nobody else had the guts to play these characters. Maybe because I am my

father’s (Pankaj Kapur) son, I felt the need to play such flawed characters. Acting has made a man of me. You have to learn to take failure on your chin, to take responsibility for your actions, to deal with the very public rejection and failure. You’ve to learn to believe in yourself when no one else does.”

He had also defended the film against allegations of chauvinism and said, “Kabir Singh is a phase in everyone’s life. We all (become) self-destructive when we feel like we’ve fallen apart.

(One may feel) empathy for him because, in all his misgivings, he is vulnerable.

It’s a cathartic journey of a man, and a cautionary tale.

It made me feel that I never want to become this person.”

The film is directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga.

(Hindustan Times)

Crossword Solution

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 23, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JUNE 23, 2019

Fun Times

Archie

A hidden agenda will be revealed.

Don’t be afraid to (March 21do your own thing, regardApril 19) less of others’ choices. An opportunity is present, and your persistence will be rewarded.

ARIES

Try something new. Look TAURUS for people or projects that mo(April 20- tivate you to make improveMay 20) ments to your appearance and skill set. Reconnect with someone from your past.

Emotional matters will esGEMINI calate if someone is withhold(MAY 28- ing information or using maJune 20) nipulative tactics to get his or her way. Cut to the chase and make what you want transparent.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Question anything that doesn’t appear to be right.

Getting the lowdown will put your mind at ease and allow you to concentrate on what’s important.

You’ll draw attention as well as compliments if you invest in yourself or your home. The changes you make will boost your confidence and bring you joy.

Romance is highlighted.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Have confidence in your ability to make the right decision and get things done.

Remain practical, even if someone close to you is trying to talk you into something extravagant.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Do something creative or take time for personal pampering. Ease your stress by taking care of your needs and interacting with a loved one.

Walk away from discord.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Calvin and Hobbes

Participate in activities and events that offer knowledge about something you’d like to try or pursue. The people you encounter will provide intriguing options. A partnership looks promising.

Take steps to rectify a situation that is causing emotional discord. You may need to distance yourself from someone who is taking advantage of you. Don’t share your secrets.

Friends and relatives will be glad to pitch in and help you if you ask. Offer incentives if it makes you feel better. Home improvements and personal relationships are favored.

Don’t let the changes AQUARIUS made by others bother you.

(Jan. 20- Do your own thing and stick Feb. 19) to a budget you can afford.

Personal improvements will lift your spirits. Love is highlighted.

PISCES (Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Think big, but live within your means. Offering to help others will be eye-opening and will help you realize what you should do to avoid ending up with certain problems.