Guyana Times Thursday February 6, 2020

Guyana looking to collaborate with bilateral partners to tackle climate change P15 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4188

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Improved farmers’ welfare, infrastructural development for Wakenaam – Irfaan Ali

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Security guard jailed for theft P11

See story on page 3

Rose Hall Town bandit jailed for 43 years P12 See story on page 7

Man accused P12 of killing twin brother remanded

“We do not want post-election violence” – Harmon tells Carter Center

AML assessment examining financial risks of Guyana’s oil sector P14

Legal Analyst Anne Marlborough, International Election Observation Mission Field Office Director Carlos Valenzuela, Director General Joseph Harmon and Deputy Field Office Director of the Carter Center, Nicholas Jahr at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday

Garbage collectors beaten, robbed at gunpoint

Page 12

Husband, wife arrested for neighbour’s killing

Caricom Chair urges aggressive pursuit of renewable P10 energy projects

See story on page 12

Coronavirus

Guyana monitoring 9 persons – Deputy CMO …no knowledge of woman being sent back from T&T ...Guyanese students in China urge calm amid coronavirus outbreak

See stories on pages 9 & 13

Illegal gun lands man in jail P8

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Demerara – Thursday, February 6 – 03:00h – 04:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h and Friday, February 7 – 04:00h – 05:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

Improved farmers’ welfare, infrastructural development for Wakenaam – Irfaan Ali

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, February 6 – 13:50h -15:20h and Friday, February 7 – 14:50h – 16:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine is expected throughout the day.

There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 02:14h and 14:31h reaching maximum heights of 2.30 metres and 2.45 metres.

Low Tide: 08:03h and 20:38h reaching minimum heights of 0.93 metre and 0.70 metre.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS E

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FREE TICKET

23 Bonus Ball

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LUCKY 3

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Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

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PAY DAY

18 SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020

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

COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil Rough Rice London Sugar

US$ $55.28/barrel $243.14/ton $413.60/ton

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

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armers on the Essequibo River island of Wakenaam, Region Three, will see developments that will enhance their businesses if the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) wins the upcoming March 2 General and Regional Elections.

This is according to the Party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, during a public meeting at Wakenaam on Tuesday, where he outlined plans for infrastructural development on the island to boost agricultural activities and improve the lives of residents.

Ali noted that the PPP/C understands the issues affecting the island and high among those is transportation.

“It is very costly to move your agriculture produce, it is very costly for you to conduct business off the island because you have to travel and sometimes you have to waste an entire day to conduct one transaction. The boat comes once per week, there is no transportation system to support the pensioner, there is no transportation system to support the children. Then you have the issue of moving your produce from the farm to the market.

These are issues that you’re facing,” Ali outlined.

Infrastructure

DAILY MILLIONS

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PPP/C Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali

$1554.40 $1547.20 - 1.20

Change % +2.39 -0.017 0.00

USD Per Ounce $1555.40 $1563.10 0.08%

According to the PPP/C Presidential Candidate, if the island’s transportation infrastructure is not improved, then there will not be that critical link to get its produce to the market.

To this end, he outlined massive plans to develop the infrastructure in Wakenaam using revenues from the oil and gas sector.

“We want to complete, in the next five years, the Del Conte Road link (a PPP/C project initiated back in May 2013 for a road from Parika to Makouria – which is close to Bartica on the right bank of the Essequibo River).

Many of you may say that this is a project we’ve been talking about for a very long time but you should recall we did not have the resources at that time. And for the oil and gas resources to help you, we have to use it to create opportunities for you. We have to use it to build the infrastructure to give you a better opportunity; the infrastructure that will reduce your cost of production,

the infrastructure that will reduce input cost whether you’re in plantains or rice,” he posited.

Ali went on to note that the first thing his party will do is make investments to make life easier and costs lower for farmers. On this note, he explained that they will have to fix the stelling and ensure that there is a transportation network – on both land and water. “…that would reduce the cost of operations for the farmers and that would make it easier for the products to get to the market,” he stated.

Farmers support

Moreover, the PPP/C Presidential Candidate also outlined plans to support farmers directly by providing opportunities on the regional and international

Ali and PPP/C member Priya Manickchand share a photo moment with kids at Tuesday’s meeting

markets for their produce.

“We have a Caricom (Caribbean Community) food market that is worth $10 billion. We have to be able to help the farmers by opening up lands by supporting them with drainage and irrigation. Not by increasing land leases, not by increasing land tax but by giving more and reducing the cost...

We have to empower the

farmers to make more decisions on their own… That is why we have to invest more in community initiatives so the farmers must be able to determine ‘what are the priorities that require investments from the Government’ so they can improve production. That is the first thing then we have to link the production to the market,” he stressed. TURN TO PAGE 7

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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

Political mockery?

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arlier this week, sugar workers protested President David Granger for an increase in salaries. It was another similar protest by those workers to have their concerns addressed over the tenure of the APNU/AFC Government. Sadly, and probably deliberately, their collective voice has fallen on deaf ears as Mr Granger and his APNU/AFC coalition government continue to ignore the plight those workers face.

Having being forced into unemployment following the callous closure of some estates by the APNU/AFC government, sugar workers have not only been plunged into poverty but have been humiliated in the process as their dignity was stripped as thousands were suddenly made incapable of providing for their families.

The tsunami-like social impact devastated many communities resulting in some schoolchildren being unable to continue their studies and females forced into undesirable practices in their endeavour to assist their families.

Adding to their woes was the APNU/AFC’s reluctance to pay the workers their deserved severance. Having taken massive salary increases for themselves, Government officials then forced the excuse of unavailability of funds in their quest to not pay the workers.

With no relief forthcoming, the workers were then forced to take legal action against the APNU/AFC Government for the payment of the withheld severance. That in itself was humiliating given their lack of financial resources. As time progressed, the nonpayment dragged on and the social impact foisted upon the workers worsened.

In spite of that, no relief mechanism was offered by the Government. It was the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and civicminded citizens and organisations that took action to help the affected workers and their families by providing much-needed food hampers.

Being forced from a position of earning into lines to collect hampers could have never been easy for those affected. Yet, Mr Granger and his government remained aloof to their sufferings. It was said APNU/AFC, when in Opposition, that proclaimed putting money into the sugar industry was similar to the effects of a blackhole.

That, and other related comments, clearly indicated APNU/ AFC coalition’s desire to quash the sugar industry. That desire was reportedly premised on political vendetta given the coalition’s belief that all sugar workers were supportive of the PPP. It became easier for that desire to be realised after the coalition came into Government in May 2015.

It was therefore not surprising they rushed to close some estates whilst ignoring the recommendations of a commission it established.

That further suggests the intent to close despite the monumental consequences. Simply put, the APNU/AFC coalition government seemed very uncaring to sugar workers. Their related actions make it extremely difficult to conclude otherwise.

Now, as an election approaches, Mr Granger has suddenly found his ability to sound caring towards the workers. He is now boasting of giving lands to them if his government were to win the upcoming March 2 elections. Clearly, he had five years to do something for the workers and their affected families; he didn’t.

Would he have made the boast of giving land if an election was not on the horizon? From the seeming undignified manner in which he and his government treated the sugar workers, the answer to that question would be a resounding no. Having ignored the workers and their plight and now uttering a promise of land in an election campaign to suggest a semblance of care is not only disingenuous but a mockery of the workers and their sufferings.

Similarly, Mr Granger recently professed that if his coalition were to win come March 2, by the end of his Government’s second term, there will be no “Plastic City”. While making that utterance, he lamented the poor condition residents of that area face on a daily basis. Again, he had five years to speak of the plight of those residents and to do something meaningful. Nothing was done.

Once more, his electioneering can be seen as a mockery of the sufferings of those residents in “Plastic City”. If for a moment, he were to be given the benefit of correct mathematics, the end of a second term would be ten years. It implies a period of a decade for “Plastic City” to get any semblance of help. Some could interpret that as a gross insult to intelligence.

The promises of land to sugar workers and to assist “Plastic City” are not the only ones Mr Granger and his team are rolling out as March 2 approaches. It seems the only tool in their shed having been unable to achieve anything of substance during the past five years.

What the coalition has racked up during its tenure is a plethora of allegations of massive corruption and incompetence.

With no achievement to boast of in the elections campaign, making promises seem the alternative. With a proven track record of not delivering on campaign promises, these new ones appear as another form of mockery to the populace. Many may see that as glaring dishonesty in a campaign that is touted as honest and decent.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo introducing Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley to the PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips during a courtesy call. Mottley met with the leadership of the Party during her visit to Guyana.

Untangling the oil narrative Dear Editor, Now that details of the oil deal between Trotman and Exxon are coming to light, there are attempts from the APNU/AFC Administration to confuse citizens and deny responsibility. However, at the onset, let’s ask ourselves one question: if Trotman was doing such a great job, why did Granger demote him from the Ministry of Natural Resources?

For the record, when the PPP/C under Mrs Janet Jagan issued the exploratory licence in 1999, none of the oil companies here today were banging on our doors.

Before the Exxon bonanza, there were no prior discoveries and the atmosphere was suffused with risk from an exploration standpoint. It costs hundreds of millions of US dollars to mobilise a drill rig, note that CGX is still struggling in this regard, and Guyana was still considered out of the way geographically. Besides that, oil was available from cheaper and easier sources such as US shale. To compensate, PPP/C had to grant terms,

which are now considered very favourable, to attract oil companies. PPP/C was operating with a weak hand but it would have known, and as is customary, that when oil was discovered in commercial quantities (derisked) that was when the real negotiation would begin.

By the time Trotman was ready to sign with Exxon in 2016, the PPP/C exploratory licence had expired.

No one was going to deny Exxon, but without a valid licence, that company was naturally disadvantaged.

This is the reason for the mysterious Bridging Deed, which sought to extend the life of the expired licence to give Trotman legal standing to sign the contract with Exxon. By the way, according to Christopher Ram, the Bridging Deed is illegal. For the ordinary man, the Bridging Deed seeks to breathe life into something, which is already dead and buried.

Trotman/APNU/ AFC cannot, therefore, claim that they were constrained by the expired PPP/C issued

licence. If anything its expiration augmented their bargaining position.

Expired licence aside, APNU/AFC was holding several trump cards at this stage: the confirmation of commercial quantities, the high quality of the crude, proximity to the US/T&T, and the biggest of them all – the promise of larger quantities of oil to come. The latter should have caused a prudent Administration to pause, take stock and leverage it. If they felt constrained with the expired PPP/C licence it certainly could not prevent them for bargaining for a better deal in discoveries yet to be made. It also could not prevent them from ring-fencing the various sites. In contrast, according to Global Witness, Trotman et al refused to wait to hear of additional discoveries and bluntly brushed aside advice before rushing to “sign away”. Earlier we heard that this Administration agreed to pay the taxes of the oil companies from our share of profits. This makes Guyanese a bigger laugh-

ing stock than the 34 is the majority of 65 argument.

And that is not the end of it. True to form, APNU/ AFC studiously refused advice to devise local content legislation, which actually benefits us locals. This Administration also chose not to secure a deal for the natural gas, which is extracted with the oil, which is extremely valuable, owned by us and which can be used to generate cheap electricity we so desperately need to create jobs and build our country.

Trotman/APNU/ AFC giving away G$12,100,000,000,000 (twelve trillion, one billion dollars) dwarfs the sum total of all previous acts of corruption alleged and real. I am sure the ensuing investigations will reveal more bad news for Guyana, as there can be only one possible explanation for this seemingly unthinkable level of negligence.

Dear Editor, It is my considered view, and that of many others with whom I conferred, that the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Mia Mottley, should not have accepted our nation’s second-highest national award from caretaker President David Granger.

Prime minister Mottley, currently the Chairperson of the Caricom Heads of Government Conference, must, or ought, to be aware of the illegal status of the Government of Guyana and that the Government con-

tinues to function in defiance of the Constitution and by the undemocratic imposition of its will on the people of Guyana.

Prime Minister Mottley,

by David Granger’s tactful generosity, will find herself in an awkward position. As Chair of Caricom’s Heads of Government Conference, and with Caricom fielding an observer mission for the forthcoming national elections, the Honourable Prime Minister will quite likely be expected to issue/make a statement on the fairness

and credibility of our elections. If evidence of tampering, manipulation and rigging occurs (which many Guyanese fear is highly likely) to facilitate a planned outcome, Prime Minister Mottley would be expected to condemn this. If the evidence of this tampering, manipulation and rigging is placed at the door of the APNU/AFC, Prime Minister Mottley would be expected to condemn that group led by the man who just conferred on her Guyana’s second-highest national honour

and maybe the Honourable lady just might. The notoriety of the PNC which David Granger leads, for elections rigging, has been well documented and is well known.

All Guyanese must be vigilant about our elections processes and if tampering, manipulation and rigging are evident, we must wait with bated breath for the response of Prime Minister Mottley.

Sincerely, Ravi Ram

Prime Minister Mottley should have declined the national award

Sincerely, Selwyn Persaud

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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

No amount of sloganeering will transform lies into truth Dear Editor, If ever a political party has a penchant for pedalling slogans which they never live up to, it is the APNU/AFC. In fact, these slogans have always amounted to nothing but devious, hypocritical and deceitful utterances. These slogans began in earnest as soon as they assumed office in 2015 and since then, their sloganeering have become outright lies and dishonesty! They believe that by continually repeating these empty and incoherent phrases, they can convince and persuade the people of their ‘achievements’ and that indeed these people are living the ‘good life’.

Let us look at some of these slogans. The 2015 Budget was presented under the theme, ‘A fresh start to the good life in a

green economy’. At the end of 2015, it became clear that the ‘fresh start to a good life’ belonged to Granger, his ministers, families and cronies and the only ‘green’ in sight was the painting on practically everything in sight with the PNC colour!

Then, in 2016, the Budget said that the ‘good life beckons’. But in 2016, the only ‘beckoning’ done was the closing of four sugar estates and the ‘beckoning’ cries of hunger and poverty from the multitudes of dismissed workers. It was clear that the elusive ‘good life’ having been promised in 2015 became increasingly elusive in 2016.

Then again, ironically in 2017, the Budget claimed to be ‘delivering the good life to all Guyanese’ but this was amidst rising cost of living,

soaring unemployment and debilitating taxation which began wreaking havoc to the disposal incomes of the masses. There was no light at the end of the tunnel as the Budgets continued to bet bigger and the people continued to get less and less from it. The bribery and corruption reached unprecedented heights as the Auditor General’s report provided documentary evidence of the fraudulent and corrupt activities in every sphere of Government.

Amidst this background, the Government in presenting the 2018 Budget was audacious enough to tell the Guyanese people that, ‘the journey to the good life continues’. How can the ‘good life’ be continued when it has never ever begun? In fact, even ‘that which they (the peo-

ple) hath was taken away’ by a greedy, selfish and utterly corrupt Government!

In 2019, the Government suddenly realised that there is need to ‘transform the economy, empower the people, and build sustainable communities for the good life’ to actually begin. So the coalition came a full circle after wasting and stealing more than $1.3 trillion with the ‘good life’ journey yet to begin. But what is evident is that the poor have become poorer! It is a blessing that the coalition has been denied the opportunity to present another ‘good life’ Budget in 2020.

Now the only ‘good life’ one can discern are the countless Chinese ‘Good Life’ supermarkets which are now strung across the coast.

The coalition stole to the extent that more than 23

Granger’s continued, heartless snubbing of sugar workers is indecent Dear Editor, The sugar workers, those still in a job, wrote to David Granger more than once. They have shown up in front of his office numerous times. He has never responded to their letters, other than a heartless response once telling them he has referred their concerns to Noel Holder. He never once came out of his office, if he was ever there, to acknowledge the sugar workers and let them know their concerns are important to him; for him, they were invisible. Noel Holder, for his part, has never acknowledged receiving instructions from Granger to deal with the sugar workers’ concern and has never shown any interest in the concerns of sugar workers. The bottom line is that as these hard-working sugar workers continue to struggle, David Granger and APNU/ AFC have not just snubbed the sugar workers, they have made it pellucid: they simply do not care, they are heartless.

Having closed four sugar estates, directly fired more than 9000 sugar workers, totally decimated the village economy in the closed estates’ geographic areas, they also have subjected the remaining sugar workers to indentured conditions. These sugar workers have had to work for five years now without any wage increase. Granger and APNU/AFC had promised sugar workers 20% annual wage increases.

Not only have they betrayed the sugar workers, not keeping their prom-

ise, but they also froze the workers’ wages since 2015.

Since collective bargaining started in the world, this is the longest ever wage freeze anywhere. It is Granger’s legacy. It is APNU/AFC’s shame. It is in the tradition of their parent organisation, the PNC. The only other time Guyanese sugar workers endured a wage freeze was in 1982, 1985 and 1986.

The facts speak for themselves – sugar workers in Guyana over more than 100 years have only had a wage freeze three times in the 1980s, under the PNC and now five years in a row, courtesy of the PNC again, this time under an assumed name, APNU/ AFC. With 25 days to elections, Granger and APNU/ AFC are succumbing to pressure but sugar workers remain invisible. Granger now promised to bring back the cash grant for schoolchildren, clearly another empty promise. Even as he promises to bring back the cash grant, Granger does not apologise for stopping the programme and taking away $10 - $38B from the pockets of working-class families the last five years. Granger is also again promising laid-off sugar workers land for agriculture. They made that promise initially when they closed the sugar estates. Four years have gone, they have given away some of the lands to their friends and cronies but not an inch to any sugar worker. Suddenly, they have brought back to life the dead, empty, false

promise.

The most galling election gimmick, however, has to be their desperate house lot distribution scam. They have started this week calling in their supporters, asking them to make house lot deposits and giving them a piece of paper entitling them to a house lot after the election. But there is no location for the house lots. It is a scam, nothing else. After five years of closing down the housing ministry, after not developing a single housing scheme, in the last three weeks before elections, they are giving out willy-nilly pieces of paper for non-existent house lots.

Clearly, these new promises are election gimmicks. But because they know there is no sugar worker they can fool anymore, these heartless people cruelly ignore the struggling sugar workers. These are not only productive people, these are Guyanese citizens, totally abandoned by their government. Mr Granger cannot hide behind his colleagues in APNU/AFC. The buck stops at his feet.

He cannot represent himself as decent, honest and

a man of integrity when he treats the sugar workers as second-class citizens.

Shamelessly, Granger now claims sugar workers should be grateful to him for “preserving” sugar in Guyana. In his warped mind, the sugar workers still employed should praise him because he could have closed all the estates, not just four, and then the wage freeze would not have been an issue. In all of this, Moses Nagamootoo is silent. He is the one that used to chant Jagdeo is the “champion of the Earth”, but he (Nagamootoo) is the “champion of the sugar workers”.

Yet, as these sugar workers are trampled on and treated as second-class citizens, Nagamootoo’s voice has been muzzled. He salutes Granger and bows to him, while Granger heartlessly continues to snub the sugar workers.

Nagamootoo’s side-kick, Ramjattan, is silent, too busy being depressed because even Nagamootoo is not supporting him for APNU/AFC’s Prime Ministerial candidate.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

persons are deathly afraid to declare their assets to the Integrity Commission.

In 2015, the coalition’s campaign slogan was ‘It is Time’, and by now we know what that means—it was ‘time’ to plunder and squander! The Treasury, the various Reserves and the Exxon deal provided the loot. We are now hearing that the coalition squandered an opportunity to give Guyana US$55 billion. This coalition has even stolen from our future revenue and robbed our unborn children!

Then, in 2020, if one is to analyse its campaign slogan is ‘Don’t Stop the Progress’, then one can conclude that the ‘progress’ only refers to their own personal lives and those of their cronies. In fact, the lives of Guyanese have retrogressed sharp-

ly since 2015. In addition, in 2020, the coalition wants Guyanese to believe that by singing the mantra about ‘decency, honesty and integrity’ that the Guyanese people will be fooled once again. The PNC baptised itself many times and fooled the people but that façade has been lifted once and for all and the ‘third eyes’ of Guyanese have now removed that veil to reveal the indecency, dishonesty and crookedness of the PNC of old.

No amount of sloganeering will transform lies to truth and Guyanese will no longer be blinded to the truth! Indeed it’s time for the change!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Why such short notice for forestry concession applications?

Dear Editor, I noticed with elation that the Baishan Lin forest is advertised. What I have a problem with is that it only advertised for two weeks and the closing date is this Friday. I have great problems with that.

My group from North West only became aware of the ad this weekend.

We want to apply for both State Forest Permission (SFP) and State Forest Exploratory Permit (SFEP). It is impossible to

do a proper application for Friday, especially SFEP. Area normally advertises for at least one month and more before. Why two weeks now? Do the GFC already have preferred applicants in mind? I appeal to the minister and GFC to extend the application process for least 2 weeks more. Otherwise, it is just a sham.

Yours sincerely, Saleem Hamid

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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nimals can be great fun, but it's important to know how to be safe when you're with them.

Both indoor animals and outdoor animals need to be treated kindly all the time.

This means different things depending on the animal and the situation.

Animals outdoors

Stepping outside can mean a world full of great animals to see – from birds in flight to small creatures. In some parts of the world, kids may see slithery snakes, black bats, or even cool coyotes. And don't forget raccoons, skunks, and other critters that come out in some places at night.

The rule in the great outdoors is simple: Don't touch or go near an animal.

Although some of these animals may look cool or even cute, leave them alone.

These animals aren't like regular pets. They're not used to being around people and may bite or attack if you come near them. They also might have rabies.

Don't ever try to feed a wild animal. Bird feeders are OK, but other animals, even if they look hungry, shouldn't ever be fed.

When it comes to these animals, it's better for everyone if you stay away and check them out at the zoo, on the Internet, on TV nature shows, or in books.

Playing safely with pets

Pets can't tell you if they're upset or scared, so they show you. They might do this by biting or scratching.

To avoid bites and scratches: Never bother a pet when it's eating or pull its food or

Foundation water away.

Don't tease a dog or cat or pull its tail or ears.

Never bother a pet when it's sleeping.

Don't take a toy or bone away from a cat or dog or hold it out of reach of the animal.

Never try to get near a pet with its babies (like a cat with kittens or a dog with puppies).

Animal mothers are very protective and will bite to keep you away.

When lifting a rabbit, hamster, guinea pig, or gerbil from its cage, do it slowly. Be sure to hold the animal underneath its belly.

Never pick up or hold a rabbit by its ears.

When pulling an iguana, lizard, snake, or other reptile from its tank, do it slowly and carefully. Then wash your hands right away because reptiles can carry bacteria like Salmonella on their skin.

Never stick your bare hand into a fish tank – most fish can't hurt you. But a few types of fish can and do sting if they get upset. The water also contains germs that could cause a skin infection.

If a pet looks sick or is injured, stay far away. An animal that normally loves to be petted and played with may get very upset and even bite when it is feeling ill.

Tell an adult so he or she can get help for the animal.

When you're at a friend's home, the same rules apply – plus one more. Always ask your friend if it's OK to pet

How to take care of a puppy: A new owner's guide

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dding a puppy to the family can often be like one of those Pinterest fails. Your head is filled with all the adorable scenes of puppy kisses and playing fetch at the park, but the reality is consumed by countless hours of house training your dog and teaching them how to walk on a leash.

While puppies may be a lot of work, your commitment to developing a good routine will give you a loyal companion for years. When preparing to bring a puppy home, be sure to set up a good support team that includes both a knowledgeable veterinarian and a reliable pet sitter, as life so often goes off course from our best laid plans. This guide will help you get your home and family ready for your new puppy.

Meeting the family

o r hold his or her pet. If your friend says OK, move slowly and be sure to let the animal sniff your hands first.

Safety around a strange dog

Coming home from school and hoping you won't see the dog who always barks like crazy and runs around? You're not the only one. Kids often get scared of a dog they don't know, especially if that dog is loud and doesn't have an owner nearby.

To keep your cool around dogs: Never pet or touch a strange dog, even if it runs up to you and seems like it might be friendly.

If a dog starts running toward you, don't run.

Running away can make the dog want to chase after you — even if it doesn't want to hurt you, its instincts will tell it to chase.

If a strange dog approaches you, try to stand very still. This may be scary for a minute or two, but often the

dog will become bored and walk away. If the dog tries to sniff you, let it sniff – this is its way of checking you out.

Walk away from a strange dog very slowly. Don't wave your arms around or make a lot of noise because these actions will only excite the dog.

Look straight ahead and not into the dog's eyes.

If you are very afraid of a strange dog or a strange dog tries to bite or attack you, tell an adult as soon as possible. He or she can find the dog's owner.

A final word on felines (say: FEE-lines), also known as cats: Although most kids aren't as scared of strange cats as they are of strange dogs, it's still a good idea to stay away from cats you don't know. Never pet or touch a strange cat, even if it seems friendly.

Save your love for your own dogs and cats. You know they'll love you back! (kidshealth.org)

Bringing a puppy home is an exciting time, especially for a family with children. As new owners, we must remember that this is a big life change for all participants – animal and human. This puppy will be in a new environment with new sounds, smells, and a brand-new family to meet.

When first introduced to its new home, place your new puppy on a leash and allow it to roam its new environment under your control. You want it to feel comfortable, but a free-roaming puppy will often have accidents if left on its own

for too long. While most new owners may feel a dog crate is isolating and cold, crate training is actually the easiest way to establish good sleep habits and bathroom routines. It also prevents them from getting into trouble while you’re sleeping, which keeps both them and your belongings safe. A veterinarian once said that puppies don’t view their crate as a place of isolation but rather as a safe place, as we often feel in our own bedrooms.

When providing exercise, be sure to keep your puppy on a short leash by your side. Do not allow the puppy to pull and lead you. Owners want to establish dominance, so the puppy knows to follow your command. When your puppy is about four to six months old, look into obedience school and ways to socialise it. Teaching your dog to follow commands will ensure you can keep it safe.

Teaching a puppy to socialise around 12 weeks will make for an easier lifestyle. When expecting visitors, keep your puppy on a leash to greet the visitor at the door, do not allow them to jump, and provide positive reinforcement by allowing your visitor to give a treat for a proper greeting. Like children, puppies love and respond well to frequent positive reinforcement.

House training

Like a newborn baby, a puppy will give you countless hours of joy while zapping all your free time and some hours of sleep in the first few weeks home. House training takes a lot of commitment, but once a good routine is established, you can resume normal living.

House training a puppy begins with a good routine, patience, and positive reinforcement. Plan to take your puppy outside to the same spot around the same time each day, being mindful to plan for times right when you wake up, before bed, immediately after eating, a nap, or physical exercise.

The general rule of thumb is to take a puppy outside as many hours as their age plus one hour, so a two-month-old puppy needs to go out every three hours.

Purchasing a puppy who was raised with its mom and dad versus one raised in a crate in a store will be easier to train.

Puppies in stores use the restroom in their crate, while puppies raised with their parents are trained from birth to follow their parents outside to relieve themselves. (Excerpt from care.com) TO BE CONTINUED

7 “We do not want post-election violence” – Harmon tells Carter Center D NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

irector General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, on Wednesday met with representatives of the Carter Center who are in Guyana as part of the contingent of international observers for the upcoming General and Regional Elections.

The team was headed

by International Election Observation Mission Field Office Director Carlos Valenzuela, and included Legal Analyst Anne Marlborough, and Deputy Field Office Director Nicholas Jahr.

Valenzuela informed Director General Harmon that the team is making its rounds and has met with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), and the Government and will soon be meeting with the political parties. He added that more members of the Carter Center is expected in

Guyana soon and will conduct more meetings to understand political views on the elections preparations, electoral process and challenges and issues, if any, that they may have with the Commission or the process.

Harmon, who welcomed the team’s presence in Guyana, said that as far as the Government is concerned, elections are part of a democratic process and development of the country is based on the country’s ability to have free, fair and credible elections.

In this regard, he, therefore, noted that “the Government has done all that is humanly possible over the past year to have the Elections Commission adequately equipped and provided with all the necessary resources, without any interference from Government to ensure that free, fair and credible elections are held.”

The Director General not-

Legal Analyst Anne Marlborough, International Election Observation Mission Field Office Director Carlos Valenzuela, Director General Joseph Harmon and Deputy Field Office Director of the Carter Center, Nicholas Jahr at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday

ed that while some persons seek to cast aspersions on the work of the Commission, the Government is confident that it can and will deliver a credible process to the people of Guyana.

“We have depended on GECOM to regulate themselves without giving any directions and we have provided all the resources that they need to carry out their work.

Improved farmers’ welfare...

FROM PAGE 3

In this vain, the Presidential Candidate pointed out that a PPP/C Administration will seek to link Wakenaam with the other islands in the Essequibo River and create a mutual agricultural hub at Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

“The agricultural hub must be created and built to international standards so that we could have exports right from Parika. So we have to link these islands in a faster way to the hub… This will open

up new markets, better-priced markets. This will encourage farmers to expand production and this is how the oil and gas sector will bring real benefits to the farmer. This is how it will be used to open up real opportunities for you,” Ali told residents of Wakenaam.

But in order for these plans to become a reality, Ali told residents of Wakenaam that they need to go out and vote to ensure that the PPP/C secures victory at the upcoming polls.

“We have no other option

to ensure that things work out and the PPP/C is re-elected… We need a large turnout in Wakenaam because we have to beat them by a margin that would leave no doubt.

We have to beat them not by a convincing margin but by an extraordinary margin. It is like when you get whitewash in a test match, that is how licks must share and that is what we must aim for,” the Presidential Candidate asserted.

We are most confident that the Commission can deliver free, fair and credible elections,” he noted.

Harmon further noted that it is the Government’s hope that the elections results can be declared in a timely and efficient manner according to the prescriptions of the law, so that the nation’s business can continue as soon as possible after the elections.

Post elections

On the question of post-election violence, the Director General said Government is hopeful that this will not take place since there is no place for such violence in the country Guyana is becoming.

“There is too much going for Guyana right now, too much positive developments for us to return to that place.

Any post-elections violence will take us back decades and we don’t want that. We do not subscribe to it. We have too much to lose as a country if we go back to that abyss,” he

said.

Meanwhile, Valenzuela said the team is not here to find faults in the Commission or to criticise anyone but rather, the aim is to ensure confidence-building in the citizenry and to ensure they are confident in the results that would emerge at the end of the process.

Delays

Guyana has previously faced criticism over delayed elections, despite a NoConfidence Vote being passed on December 21, 2018. Last year, several countries and organisations expressed concern over the lack of an election date. After much pressure both locally and internationally, President David Granger named March 2 as E-Day. But while Granger did name March 2, 2020, as the date for elections, the Constitution of Guyana stipulates that elections must be held within three months of the passage of No Confidence Motion.

Article 106 (6) and (7) of the Constitution states, respectively: “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.” And “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.”

The No-Confidence Motion was passed against the Government since December 2018. After failing to overturn the motion at the parliamentary level the next month, the Government then embarked on a series of court cases in which it argued, among other things, that 33 was not the majority of 65 but rather, 34. Those arguments too have been thrown out by the Caribbean Court of Justice. The CCJ subsequently ordered that elections be held as stipulated by the Constitution. The CCJ decision was given on June 18, 2019, and paved the way for elections. In keeping with the constitutional three-month provision, this means General and Regional Elections should be held on or before September 18, 2019. That too was not done by the seating caretaker Government.

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Illegal gun lands man in jail A

Princes Street, Georgetown resident who allegedly ditched a firearm in bushes when Police ranks closed in on him was on Thursday remanded to prison.

Twenty-eight-yearold Trevor Bruce denied the charge when he appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts.

It is alleged that on January 25, he had in his possession one 9mm pistol when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.

Police Prosecutor Delon Sullivan informed the court that Police acting on information went to Princes Street, where they saw the defendant sitting in a parked car and acting

suspiciously.

The court heard that the ranks approached the defendant, who then reportedly threw a bag into a nearby clump of bushes.

The court was told that the bag was retrieved and the firearm was discovered inside. The defendant was remanded, and the case was slated to continue on February 26, 2020.

Defensive…

T

…concession by PNC he PNC Government finally responded to the Global Witness (GW) exposé of Trotman’s betrayal of our patrimony in “negotiating” the 2016 oil contract, late in the day. But the response betrayed the same lack of preparedness that Trotman displayed when he gave away the store in Houston. To scream, “The report is sensationalist, agenda-driven, and extraordinarily speculative”, without a blow-by-blow refutation merely exposes the PNC as caught like a deer in the headlights!!

They first sought to damage the credibility of the messenger Global Witness – which immediately signalled they had no real answer to the charges!! They started by quoting Forbes Magazine that the GW piece was “an ideologically motivated attack piece aimed at some of the biggest players in the oil and gas industry.

Which, given the group’s history, comes as no surprise at all.” Fair enough…after all GW wears its ideological orientation is its tagline: “exposing the economic networks behind conflict, corruption & environmental abuse”!

But what about Forbes?? Isn’t it an unabashed defender and advocate of capitalism as the one true path to fulfil its motto of “Change the world”!! Isn’t this “ideological”? Now don’t get your Eyewitness wrong – as you, Dear Reader, would know he’s an ardent defender of the free enterprise system himself!! But he readily concedes his ideological leanings – as should Forbes when it takes on GW!! To baldly say that GW’s piece was “ideologically motivated” doesn’t do much for the PNC’s cause!! Same with the said PNC claiming the GW report is ‘agenda driven”!! It’s like the pot calling the “kahari” black!!

The PNC further exposed its desperation when it claimed, “This timing (of the GW Report) cannot be seen as a coincidence and it appears as though it is seeking to influence the electoral outcome.” C’mon now!!

Even though your Eyewitness is amused by these “dogooder” NGOs from the “first world” that “look out” for the interests of us benighted natives, in the decades GW’s been around, they’ve never gotten involved with electing governments!! Not that their exposés of corruption mightn’t have influenced the voting behaviour of some outraged citizens!! Honestly now, just look at the responses here in Guyana to the Report: have the revelations of Trotman’s perfidy chased away any PNC voter??

Next the PNC quoted Rystad Energy. Your Eyewitness isn’t even going to delve into accusations that they’re quite connected to the oil majors. He just wants to know how 2 per cent royalty plus 50 per cent (1/2) of the 25 per cent profit oil equals 60 per cent of the “take”??

And how could they compare us to neighbouring Suriname when they received a US$100 million bonus and all we got was a measly US$18 million??! …giveaway rationale Your Eyewitness must say he’s quite disappointed with GW’s report as to how Trotman was seduced when he, Patterson, and Gaskin went out to Houston April 2830, 2016. According to GW, “The trip was a glamorous affair. Trotman flew first class, slept in pricey hotels, ate at Joule – Exxon’s exclusive Wolfgang Puck restaurant – and was chauffeured around in limousines. Exxon paid for it all.”

Trotman insists that during this trip he didn’t discuss the Stabroek licence, but went to a room where they smelt oil boring samples!! But the webpage declares that they “engaged in interactive sessions that covered important topics such as an exploration update, development of the well for production, capacity building to ensure Guyanese involvement and OWNERSHIP IN THE VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDUSTRY, and the energy outlook to 2040, which showed petroleum remaining in high demand.”

Doesn’t “ownership”, as far as the oil company was concerned, include the licence?

There wasn’t only the “smell of oil” in Houston, but the smell of corruption!! …on dual citizenship Shuman, head of the Amerindian party, insists he’s renounced his Canadian citizenship and sent the certificate to GECOM as proof. Which GECOM denies!!

He can’t produce even a PHOTOCOPY of the certificate he supposedly received only weeks before, to reporters!!

Imagine him negotiating an oil contract from 1999??

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

NEWS

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Coronavirus

Guyana monitoring 9 persons – Deputy CMO …no knowledge of woman being sent back from Trinidad

By Lakhram Bhagirat

A

s fear continues to mount over the possibility of the coronavirus reaching these shores, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle, on Wednesday confirmed that Guyana is currently monitoring nine persons who recently returned from China.

She noted that the monitoring of these persons, who are all believed to be students who were on scholarships in China, is routine and there is not cause for panic.

“We are monitoring nine persons… (We are doing so by taking) daily temperatures, registering (them) with nearest Health Centres and the personnel from the Health Centres have been monitoring them. Our Surveillance Officers will be visiting them to just make sure we do contact tracing and so on,” Dr Gordon-Boyle said.

“We have no concerns about them carrying the virus or anything of that sort.

Remember China is doing exit screening so nobody having symptoms of anything can leave. That’s the first and when they come here they are being screened again and once they are allowed to pass through it means because they have no symptoms. We are just observing them for two weeks to make sure and telling them to stay home and not mix with people,” the Deputy CMO told Guyana Times during a telephone interview on Wednesday.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle

(SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and death.

The WHO, which declared a global health emergency owing to the rapid spread of the virus, advises that standard precautions should be taken.

These include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

It was reported, in some sections of the press, that a medical student recently created some sort of mayhem at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre at Diamond, East Bank Demerara after she was told that she would require additional screening. The student arrived in Guyana via

Suriname from China.

It is reported that she is currently at home with her family and one of the nine being monitored by the local authorities.

Denied entry into Trinidad

The recent statistics from WHO, as of Wednesday, indicate that there have been some 24,554 confirmed cases of coronavirus globally, inclusive of 3925 new cases. In China alone, there have been 3893 new cases with over 500 deaths. Outside of China, there are 191 cases of the virus in 24 countries—Belgium being the latest to report its first confirmed case and one death.

Because of the fear of the virus, countries have been taking precautionary measures with most of them denying entry to persons travelling from the ‘coronavirus zone’, unless those persons are citizens or residents of the country they are travelling to.

Based on that restriction, the Trinidad and Tobago Immigration authorities denied entry to a female passenger who arrived at the Piarco International Airport on a flight from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana. The Trinidad and

Tobago Guardian reports the island’s Chief Medical Officer detailing the circumstances surrounding the denial of entry to the woman and subsequent return to Guyana.

CMO Dr Roshan Parasram, according to Guardian Media, related that the woman would have travelled through territories such as Hong Kong and New York before arriving in Guyana and subsequently Trinidad. He notes that based on the travel restrictions and Immigration Laws, she was sent back to her port of disembarkation – which was Guyana.

Unaware

However, over in Guyana, there seems to be some miscommunication since the authorities here have no idea of the woman being sent back.

Deputy CMO Dr GordonBoyle said she is totally unaware of that situation ever occurring since none of their port officials reported such.

“None of our ports have reported anything like this. I have heard about it but we do not have any information to that effect,” she reiterated.

When asked how strong are Guyana’s systems that have been put in place to screen passengers originating from the ‘coronavirus zone’, the medical professional indicated that it meets the standards required.

“We have to rely on the Immigration Officers going through the passports to rule out the person being in China.

If the person has been in China and they are exhibiting no signs, they still have to be screened by our Port Health Officers and our Port Health Officers are not reporting any cases of anybody being turned back from Trinidad. At least we are not hearing about it,” she explained.

The Public Health Ministry implemented a number of measures, mainly screening at ports of entry, in order to assess the health of those entering.

Meanwhile, WHO is reporting that some US$675

million would be required to maintain a new coronavirus preparedness and response global plan.

In a report on its website, WHO said that The Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) for the new coronavirus lays out activities and resources needed by international health organisations globally, including WHO, to implement priority public health measures in support of countries to prepare and respond to nCoV2019 for a period FebruaryApril 2020.

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Caricom Chair urges aggressive pursuit of renewable energy projects T

he need for Guyana to aggressively pursue renewable energy while also exploiting its crude oil reservoirs was underscored by Barbados Prime Minister and Caribbean Community (Caricom) Chairperson Mia Mottley during her stopover in Guyana on Monday.

During a press conference at the Caricom Secretariat on Monday, Mottley noted that while Guyana has oil and gas, it must not neglect clean energy initiatives. Mottley admitted that it’s not only a Guyana issue but a region-wide issue.

She pointed out Suriname—which has been an oil producer for some time and recently found more oil adjacent to Guyana’s Stabroek block.

Mottley also noted that Jamaica, Grenada and the Bahamas are dealing with oil-related issues as well.

“I would expect that even though Guyana has huge fossil fuel reserves, that it must also be aggressive with respect to its renewable energy. Because as we all know, fossil fuels are non-renewable. And at the same time, you plan out an oil-based economy, you have to have a paral-

Caricom Chair and Barbados PM Mia Mottley

lel track for a non-oil-based economy as well. So, suffice it to say there will be a lot of conversations.”

She noted that the region as a whole is known for having some of the most expensive electricity rates while providing Trinidad’s cost of electricity as an example. Mottley noted that as such, efforts must be made to bring down costs for everyone. In fact, Mottley explained that she has held discussions regarding putting energy on the agenda for the next in-

tercessional meeting.

“The Caribbean region remains one of the most expensive when it comes to accessing electricity. We were reflecting on the fact that in Trinidad, the average cost of electricity in the region ranges between 20 cents to 37 cents per kilowatt-hour and Trinidad subsidizes it at 5 cents per kilowatt-hour. Obviously, this is not sustainable.”

“We need a regional response to having a protocol on energy. For many years it was Trinidad as the pri-

mary producer of fossil fuels. We had no clear position on other natural resources and renewable energy. We have a policy, but we haven’t put in the Treaty (of Chaguaramas) a framework to deal with it.”

Guyana currently has a number of incomplete small hydro, solar and wind renewable energy projects. There are also plans to bring gas onshore within the next few years, although there is some uncertainty regarding exactly how much gas is in the Stabroek Block.

The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, which was initiated under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, could have been generating about 50 per cent more electricity than the entire Guyana Power and Light (GPL) supply. But the project was scrapped by the coalition administration who had controlled the National Assembly by a one-seat majority after the 2011 elections. Amaila was expected to deliver a steady source of clean, renewable energy that would have been affordable and reliable and was envisioned to meet approximately 90 per cent of

Impression of the Amaila Falls project

Guyana’s domestic energy needs while removing dependency on fossil fuels.

A report from Norwegian firm Norconsult had in fact named the AFHP as the only realistic way for Guyana to achieve an emission-free electricity sector.

Norconsult had noted the merits of the project, such as its completed feasibility study and a higher plant load than the other alternatives. However, the report had recommended the BOOT (Build, own, operate and transfer) pub-

lic-private partnership model be used. The consultant had urged that an international investor specialising in hydropower be invited to take a majority stake in the project.

The report states, “The only realistic path for Guyana towards an emission-free electricity sector is by developing its hydropower potential. The fastest way forward is to maintain AFHP as the first major step for substituting its current oil-fired generation.”

NEWS

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Security guard jailed for theft

A

23-year-old security guard who was seen on CCTV footage removing an electrical fan and water dispenser from Radar Security Service, was sentenced to nine months in prison.

Marlon Persaud appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and admitted that on February 4, at South Road, Lacytown, Georgetown, he broke and entered the business place of Eddy Boodall and stole one electrical fan valued $8000 and one water dis-

penser valued $45,000.

After admitting to the offence, Persaud stated that he only removed the items to provide for his three children.

According to reports, Persaud was a security guard at the company and on the day in question, he was at work before leaving to assist his friend to break into the office. The items were later discovered to be missing and the Police were summoned.

Persaud was seen in his uniform removing the articles after the CCTV footage was reviewed.

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Garbage collectors beaten, Rose Hall Town bandit robbed at gunpoint jailed for 43 years

T

hree Puran Brothers workers were attacked and robbed at gunpoint on Wednesday while they were collecting garbage at Warlock, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Reports are about 05:00h, the trio were in East Ruimveldt collecting garbage when they were pounced upon by gunmen.

The workers were badly beaten and their phones, cash, and lunch bags were taken away. The truck driver’s wedding ring was also snatched by the bandits. After the incident, the men were taken to a city hospital for medical attention.

Solid Waste Director Walter Narine, in a social media post, stated that as a result of the incident,

Puran Brothers garbage truck

garbage collection for the community has been postponed until today.

The Police have since requested that persons from the community who

have information report to the nearest station.

Up to press time, no one has been arrested for the crime.

man’s wife rejecting phone calls from the female suspect.

This newspaper was told that the female suspect resides at Helena, Mahaica, ECD. However, whenever she is in the area, the woman would call the victim’s wife to inquire whether her husband was at home.

According to reports, on the day of the incident, the woman called and the victim’s spouse terminated the call without responding.

The female suspect then went to the couple’s home, to confront the woman about disconnecting the call. The confrontation led to a heated argument and the women’s husbands intervened.

Guyana Times was told that the two suspects allegedly armed themselves with pieces of wood and allegedly dealt the now deceased man several lashes about his head and body.

The injured man was

A

Curt Baston

Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) bandit was on

Husband, wife arrested for neighbour’s killing

A

29-year-old man and his 43-year-old reputed wife were arrested in connection with the death of their neighbour.

Dead is 48-year-old Gopaul Seeram, called “Eyelash” and “Kumar”, of Log Dam, Cane Grove, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

According to reports, the couple reportedly beat the farmer with a piece of wood.

Police stated that the incident stemmed from the now dead

rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention.

A post-mortem, conducted on Wednesday by Dr Nehaul Singh, revealed that Seeram’s death was caused by multiple injuries due to blunt trauma.

The suspects are in custody assisting with the investigation. They are expected to be charged today and arraigned in court.

Wednesday sentenced to 43 years for robbery, discharging a loaded firearm, and attempted murder.

The 24-year-old man was earlier found guilty of three indictments.

Curt Baston was found guilty of the robbery committed on Vanisha Shrikisson. The woman was robbed of $1,000,027 cash; $112,000 in phone cards and $130,000 in jewellery on April 30, 2016 at Rose Hall Town.

Baston was also jailed for attempted murder after he wounded Samuel Fernandez on the same day at Rose Hall Town.

Additionally, he was found guilty of discharging a loaded firearm.

Baston told the court that he had accepted the guilty verdicts. In handing

down the sentence, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall said she took into account the nature of the crimes.

She said while members of a family were getting themselves ready for the day’s chores, Baston pounced on them, recalling testimony that he told them “he gon done one of them”.

The Judge told Baston that she understood “done” to mean kill.

She also took into account the fact that Baston was previously convicted for crimes of a similar nature. He was sentenced to 15 years for the attempted murder, 13 years for the robbery under arms and another 15 years for discharging a loaded firearm with intent.

The sentences will run concurrently. Baston was represented by Attorney Saria Sabsook.

Meanwhile, in a separate case as the February session of the Berbice Assizes entered its second day, Vejai Rickman of Corriverton pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

On October 29, 2017, he caused the death of Muhamed Assad Abdul.

He will have to return to court on Tuesday when State Prosecutor Seeta Bissoondial will address the court. Rickman is represented by Attorney-atLaw Shandra Sohan.

Man accused of killing twin brother remanded

A

44-year-old man accused of killing his twin brother was on Wednesday remanded to prison.

Edley Kennedy Jacobs of Blueberry Hill, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) appeared before Magistrate Rhondel Weever at the Diamond-Grove Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that the labourer on February 2, 2020, at Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara, unlawfully killed his twin brother, Winford Jacobs.

According to reports, Winford and Edley

were imbibing along the Soesdyke Public Road when an argument ensued.

During the argument, Winford reportedly attacked Edley with a glass bottle. However, Edley armed himself with a knife and stabbed Winford twice about the body.

Winford then collapsed on the side of the road and was later found by a passer-by who rushed him to the Diamond hospital, East Bank Demerara. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

The accused was remanded to prison until March 13, 2020.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyanese students in China urge calm amid coronavirus outbreak in check.

Shops are closing earlier, goods— including masks – have become limited, and prices have increased.

By Devina Samaroo

D

ozens of Guyanese students on Governmentfunded scholarships are currently in China amid the deadly coronavirus outbreak, one of the country’s biggest public-health crises which has already killed hundreds of people.

Guyana’s Department of Public Service said its record show that 50 Guyanese students are in China; however, some would already have returned home.

Stephen Seeraj, a 25-yearold student of the Nanjing Medical University, acknowledged that while the situation is troubling, there currently is no need to be alarmed.

“I wouldn't say I am scared but I am alert,” he said during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday.

The global death toll has surpassed 500, with two reported deaths outside mainland China. Over 24,000 persons are infected, majority in China.

Going home

Bianca Phillips

take all necessary precautions: masks, hand sanitizers, disinfectants, etc,” Stephen explained.

Bianca Phillips, a 24-yearold student in the same city, says she too is not fearful.

“I'm not scared, I'm concerned but I'm also hopeful. I feel safe where I am, at this point in time,” she reasoned.

Bianca, who attends the Southeast University in Nanjing, explained that her school is currently on lock-

Stephen Seeraj

contact with the outside world comes with many challenges.

For Stephen, boredom often gets the best of him. He spends most of his days following the news and playing video games.

“Usually at this period, we would be on break for Chinese New Year and its usually a time where we would take the opportunity to meet and hang out. But in light of the virus, we are just staying inside, trying to keep away, trying to avoid contact with people as much as we can,”

Nanjing is located about 330 miles from Wuhan, where the outbreak started [Source: Google Maps]

Nanjing, where there are Guyanese students, is about 330 miles from Wuhan, where the outbreak started.

And, like many other Chinese cities, Nanjing has stepped up efforts to control the spread of the virus which continues to sweep the country.

“When we got news of the virus and how quickly it was spreading, that’s when it got our attention…I started to

down.

“No one in or out!”

“An official notice was sent out stating that the semester will be pushed back and that students are asked to not return to school until further notice. If you do desire to travel or go home you must fill out a form seeking permission to do so,” she explained.

Challenges

Having to live with limited

he explained.

The situation is no different for Bianca. “It’s weird because, during the semester, I usually can't wait for the weekend to sleep in and have a day to myself but it's a whole new ball game when you have to be in a room all day, every day, not allowed to leave. It feels confining and I can only sleep so much,” she explained, revealing that she has turned to yoga to help pass the time and keep her mental health

The Guyana Government had announced that it will not be evacuating students currently in China, saying it would be safer for them to remain in their respective hostels.

Before the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus a global health emergency, some Guyanese students would have returned home, or travelled to another country.

On the other hand, Governments around the world have already evacuated or are making preparations to evacuate their citizens.

But for Stephen and Bianca, it makes better sense for them to remain in China.

“Many of my colleagues are looking to evacuate but I feel like the minute I step out of my room, the risk of me getting sick significantly increases. From my medical knowledge, I know that isolation is the best solution at this time and I'm leaning into and trusting that,” Bianca reasoned.

Stephen agrees “You are able to control your environment. I thought about going home and the biggest thing that scared me was going to the airport and staying on the plane for more than 14 hours with over 200 people on the plane,” the young man pointed out, noting that his risk of contracting the virus might be higher.

“So, I am not in any rush to get home, I feel safe.”

Is Guyana prepared for an outbreak?

While there are already cases of the coronavirus in the Americas (in the United

Nanjing University in China where some Guyanese students are studying [Photo credit: Stephen Seeraj]

States and Canada), the chances of the disease reaching the Caribbean are low, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) had announced in January.

For Guyana’s part, health officials have put systems in place to screen persons arriving in the country, particularly those who display signs of respiratory infections.

Additionally, authorities say persons arriving from China will most likely be denied entry into the country.

This includes persons arriving in ships, with the country’s Maritime Department saying vessels with a recent travel history from Hubei will be denied entry.

The country’s main public health facility, the Georgetown Public Hospital, has already established an isolation area for suspected cases and officials at the various ports of entry have been trained to detect symptoms.

A national hotline number has also been established.

Persons who develop flu-like symptoms after return to Guyana from China or another highly-affected country are asked to call 592-227-8683 ext 215.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the leading national public health institute of the United States, symptoms of coronavirus may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

Symptoms include fever, coughs, and/or shortness of breath.

Stay calm

The current population of Guyanese in China remain unknown because apart from students on Government scholarships, there are persons in the country for various other reasons.

For those who are in the country during this time of crisis, Stephen and Bianca are urging them to remain calm.

“It's okay to be scared, being away from home is already difficult, being away from home and living through an epidemic is definitely scary,” Bianca acknowledged.

“Protect yourself and protect the people around you.

Take the necessary precautions, check up on each other, and be hopeful. In our home away from home, we are all we have, each other,” she affirmed.

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bandhu, Shuman, Leung to be allowed to contest elections— GECOM

…proved relinquishment of dual citizenship

T

hree party candidates for the upcoming General and Regional Elections, who were previously reported to have been excluded by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) because of their dual citizenship, have not been removed.

This was confirmed by GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Warde, who explained that the three candidates in question all provided documentation proving that

they have officially relinquished their foreign citizenship.

The decision means that Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) candidate, Lennox Shuman; United Republic Party (URP) Presidential Candidate Vishnu Bandhu, and Dr Valerie Leung of the People’s Republican Party (PRP) are still in the running.

“The candidates will remain on the list. What they have provided GECOM with is the documents by which one, approval was

granted and two, their applications to renounce their citizenship,” Ward explained.

Whether they were dual citizens at the time when they signed statutory declaration forms on Nomination Day is another matter. Asked specifically if GECOM was able to determine whether this was the case, Warde declined to comment.

Previously, GECOM Commissioners themselves had announced that a decision was taken at a statuto-

ry meeting to have Bandhu, Shuman and Leung removed from the candidate list because they had allegedly signed the statutory declaration forms while they were dual citizens.

In a previous interview with this publication, Bandhu had admitted that he only finalised his relinquishment process after Nomination Day, which was January 10.

Shuman had meanwhile also admitted during a press conference last month that he was still a dual citi-

zen, but was awaiting a document from the Canadian High Commission to affirm that he has relinquished his citizenship.

Signing a statutory declaration form is a tacit acknowledgement that a candidate meets the requirements to be able to sit in the National Assembly.

Article 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states: “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who (a) is, by virtue of his own act, under

any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

Section four of the Statutory Declaration Act, Chapter 5:09 states that “Everyone who makes a declaration according to this Act containing any statement false in fact, which he knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and shall be liable to imprisonment for one year.”

tion’s continued support for the evaluation. The financial crimes expert also reminded Guyana that they should not only go through anti-corruption steps to satisfy international obligations but because it’s the right thing to do.

“Very importantly, you’re doing this for yourself. You’re not just doing it for CFATF or other international organisations.

You’re doing this for yourself in order to mitigate risks and (you’ll need to) make political decisions in order to mitigate the risks… this is the real picture of yourself that you’ll want to show and be honest with yourself.”

“The good news is the World Bank will be assisting you to finalise the risk

assessment, the report and the action plan and also to assist you in implementing the action plan.

The most important part is the action plan and implementation. If you identify something wrong, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll deal with the process. Implementation matters. It's only when you implement recommendations, you can show the effectiveness.”

Guyana launched its second risk assessment in December with a working group of representatives from Public and Private Sector organisations. It comes even as Guyana prepares for the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) fourth Round Mutual Evaluation, scheduled for 2022.

AML assessment examining financial risks of Guyana’s oil sector

A

bigger economy has both risks and rewards and according to Attorney General Basil Williams, the AntiMoney Laundering (AML) Risk Assessment currently underway will examine a number of new areas, including the oil sector, for loopholes in the system.

Williams was at the time speaking at a Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment workshop at the Guyana Marriott on Wednesday. According to Williams, these crimes can have a disastrous effect on the country in a number of ways.

With Guyana recently starting oil production and a number of businesses looking to invest in the sector, Williams stressed

A section of the participants at the AML forum at the Marriott on Wednesday

the timeliness of this assessment. He noted that armed with the results of the assessment, agencies in the anti-money laundering fight can better prepare for the challenge.

“We are now an oil-pro-

ducing nation. This new sector has changed our financial landscape. There has been an increase in business and investment and our economy is growing. While this is good, we must also be vigilant as a

growing economy brings additional risks, as it is a breeding ground for criminals,” the Attorney General also said.

Meanwhile, Klaudijo Stroligo of the World Bank guaranteed the institu-

Treatment for 3-year-old cancer patient begins today

A

fter arriving in the United States two days ago, three-yearold Chayanne Parboo will begin her treatment services today for her diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer that starts from young white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow.

The young child and her parents, Verney Charles and Lakeram Parboo, departed Guyana on Monday after she was hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) with no available treatment for the type of cancer.

However, through the Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA), the child was accepted to receive treatment at an overseas hospital. Funds were raised by the local organisation to transport Parboo to the facility, which was boosted with a cheque for $537,500 from Giftland Mall’s proprietor, Roy Beepat.

Monetary donations are still being accepted by SHEA on behalf of little Parboo to maintain her entire medical journey. To do so, interested donors can call 677-5280 or 679-1784

Chayanne and her parents after arriving in the US

or visit the organisation’s Facebook page.

The child fell ill and was admitted to the Suddie Public Hospital but was later transferred to the GPHC. Doctors first discovered that young Parboo’s plate-

let count was recorded to be 6000 and needed at least 50,000 to conduct a born marrow test. Following the help of blood donors, the test was done and medical practitioners discovered the child’s real illness.

15 Guyana looking to collaborate with bilateral partners to tackle climate change P NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

resident David Granger on Wednesday told several bilateral partners that Guyana is looking to strengthen relations with them on various fronts including tackling the global phenomenon of climate change.

This was said at the accreditation ceremony of three new foreign diplomats to serve as non-resident Ambassadors and High Commissioner to Guyana.

New diplomats from Portugal, Sierra Leone and Belgium handed over their Letters of Credence to the Guyanese Head of State at the Ministry of Presidency.

President Granger laud-

newable energy,” he said to the Ambassador of the Portuguese Republic, Carlos Amaro.

The Head of State went on to point out to the new Ambassador of Belgium, Hugo Verbist, that while the two countries are faced with the challenges and devastating impacts of climate change, Guyana is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels given the concentration of its economy and population in the low-lying coastal zone.

On this note, he said “These vulnerabilities necessitate interventions to ensure sustainable livelihood as highlighted in the

New Sierra Leone High Commissioner, Sidique AbouBakarr Wai

pare the country to respond more effectively to the challenges posed by global warming and rising sea levels.

“Guyana is in transition towards the establishment of a ‘green state’ which will see more emphasis being placed on the protection of our environment, the preservation of our biodiversity, the promotion of renewable energy

Belgian Ambassador Hugo Verbist greeting President David Granger

ed the existing relationship Guyana shares with each of the countries and highlighted common areas of interests including the impacts global warming have on economies and environments.

“It is my expectation that our shared commitment to confronting the challenges of climate change will contribute to the strengthening of our bilateral relations during your tenure as Ambassador(s). It is my hope, also, that your appointment(s) will advance increased cooperation in the fields of culture and re-

National Energy-Climate Plan… Guyana looks forward to working closely with Belgium, at both the bilateral and multilateral levels, to ensure international peace and security and to encourage increased global efforts to address the challenges of environmental degradation and global warming”.

Nevertheless, President Granger outlined to the newly-accredited High Commissioner of Sierra Leone, Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai, that his Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) will pre-

Newly-accredited Ambassador of the Portuguese Republic, Carlos Amaro

and the adoption of practical measures to ensure climate adaptation,” he posited.

Meanwhile, the foreign diplomats all committed to further strengthen the bilateral relation with Guyana,

outlining specific areas of interest to capitalise on.

For Sierra Leone, High Commissioner Wai said that the two governments will continue to work together in the areas such as tourism, agriculture, mining education, energy and many others for the benefit of both countries.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of Portugal is confident that collaboration will be strengthened in the fields of renewable energy, tourism and infrastructure, among others.

“Portuguese companies established in neighbouring countries have already expressed their interests in exploring, with local partners, business opportunities in Guyana,” Ambassador Amaro stated.

Further, Ambassador Verbist posited that Guyana’s future promises to be prosperous and bright with the economy, greatly from the new opportunities arising from the petroleum sector.

“Oil production has started and will continue to grow

exponentially in the coming months and years. Good management of this additional resource will no doubt give a big boost to the further development of Guyana, whereby fair distribution of revenues will ensure prosperity for all the people in this country, and I hope that Belgium can also contribute to that,” the diplomat stated.

Guyana established diplomatic ties with Portugal in December 1978, with Sierra Leone in October 1974 and with Belgium in June 1971.

Republic Bank, ANSA McAL make financial contributions to Mash celebrations

W

ith Mashramani swiftly approaching, two major sponsors of the celebration over the past years on Wednesday made monetary contributions toward upcoming festivities.

Republic Bank Guyana and ANSA McAL Trading handed over the donations during a simple ceremony at the Ministry of Social Cohesion’s Main Street office.

Some $3 million was given by Republic Bank, while ANSA McAL did not disclose the sum donated, these monies are expected to go towards two Mash competitions, specifically the steel pan contest which kick-starts on February 13, and the 592 Soca Monarch semi-finals, which is set for this weekend in Linden.

Social Cohesion Minister George Norton, who holds the responsibility for culture, youth and sport, extended gratitude for the organisations’ continued support, which, according to him, is responsible for the resurgence of steel pan music as well as the

Republic Bank’s Acting Communications Manager Jenelle Dummett hands over the cheque to Minister George Norton

creation of local stars.

Meanwhile, in brief remarks, Republic Bank’s Acting Communications Department Manager Jenelle Dummett noted that the Bank will continue to invest into developing the art form.

“Republic Bank is pleased to continue our investment in the development and resurgence of steel pan in Guyana.

This is our twelfth year sponsoring the competition but we’re not just sponsoring we’re are supporting and de-

veloping an art form that would’ve had some challenges over the year.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by the representative of ANSA McAL. The Ministry had previously announced that it has budgeted to spend $219M for the country’s grand Republic Day celebrations, which includes some 50 activities to cover all 10 administrative regions.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Regional

Boris Johnson says deportation Unions talk takeover of LIAT pensions of dozens of Caribbean nationals must go ahead R

B

oris Johnson has vowed that the deportation of dozens of Caribbean nationals will go ahead, amid evidence that a claim that they are all “serious criminals” is untrue.

The flight to Jamaica – revealed by The Independent and the first since the Windrush scandal erupted – was condemned in the Commons with calls for the prime minister to step in to stop it.

It was also revealed that one man on the flight was released after being convicted under the “now unlawful joint enterprise rule” and has a serious heart problem.

“His wife feels that this stress is going to kill

UK Prime Johnson

Minister

Boris

her husband,” warned Dawn Butler, Labour’s equalities spokeswoman.

But Johnson told MPs: “The people of this country will think it is right to send back foreign national offenders.”

Controversy is grow-

ing over the removal of around 50 people, despite the mass wrongful detention and deportation revealed in the Windrush scandal and Theresa May’s apology for the suffering caused.

All are said to have criminal convictions but have served their sentences in UK jails, and many now face returning alone to a country they left as young children.

There have been no deportation flights to Jamaica for almost three years. One scheduled to leave last April was cancelled for reasons the Home Office did not disclose. (Excerpt from The Independent)

“They're killing us!”: attacked Mexican journalist asks President for justice

A

Mexican video blogger, wearing a black eye patch and with metal surgical pins lodged in his face after a murder attempt, confronted President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday about the dangers journalists face and demanded justice.

Lopez Obrador promised to increase protections for journalists when he took office in December 2018.

Since then, 11 have been killed. The country is considered the world’s secondmost-dangerous for media workers, after Syria.

“President, they are killing us, don’t forget it please, they are killing us,” Paul Velazquez, an independent journalist who criticises corruption on YouTube and Facebook, said at Lopez Obrador’s regular press conference.

On December 19, Velazquez was shot in the face as he walked toward

L

Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“What we have in fact impressed upon them is that they need to answer a number of points that we are putting to them before we can give any consideration to a proposal that they are putting before us for the unions to take over the operation of that pension plan,” Augustus said.

“We have some concerns, we have put it in the form of a letter and we have addressed it to the chief executive officer (Julie ReiferJones),” he said, adding “we have some information that

she might not be with us for a very long time”.

Augustus said that if the reports are true, that would be a concern to the unions “because you have had and developed a relationship with an individual over the years, and as I say this question of the pension fund for the workers has been ongoing in excess of ten years.

“We have been talking about it and what we are in fact observing is that there is not any substantive change in terms of the concerns that we have addressed to management,” he added.

(Barbados Today)

end the ongoing crisis,” a statement said.

It called Maduro’s Government an “illegitimate dictatorship” and pledged to “stand alongside the Venezuelan people to ensure a future that is democratic and prosperous.”

Guaido, President of the opposition-held National Assembly, is recognised as Venezuela’s rightful President by dozens of countries including the United States. For nearly three weeks, he has been on an international tour aimed at drumming up support.

Guaido was a guest at Tuesday’s State of the Union address, when Trump, a Republican, praised him as a “very brave man who carries with him the hopes, dreams and aspirations of all Venezuelans.” Guaido received a standing ovation from US Congress members of both the Democratic and Republican parties.

Maduro has overseen an economic collapse in the once-prosperous OPEC nation, and has been accused of corruption and human rights violations. He calls Guaido a US puppet seeking to oust him in a coup.

(Reuters)

Trump White House to welcome Venezuela Opposition Leader

T

he White House in Washington said on Wednesday it will welcome Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaido to visit US President Donald Trump, the day after Trump used a national address to support Guaido’s effort to oust socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

“The visit is an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to the people of Venezuela and to discuss how we can work with President Guaido to expedite a democratic transition in Venezuela that will

At least 138 deported from US to El Salvador were killed—HRW People attend the funeral of several of the victims killed by shooters at a slot-machine arcade in the central Mexican state of Michoacan, in Uruapan, Mexico, February 5, 2020

his recording studio in the city of Los Mochis in the crime-ridden western state of Sinaloa. The attack took place after a close collaborator to the mayor of Los Mochis threatened his life, Velazquez told Reuters.

Velazquez sent Reuters a video, taken from a security camera that shows a man stepping out from behind a car and shooting him.

Another video, apparently filmed by a passer-by on

a cell phone, shows the journalist staggering in a grocery store and being assisted as blood spreads across the floor.

Velazquez accused Los Mochis Mayor Manuel Guillermo Chapman Moreno, who goes by the name of Billy Chapman, of being behind the assassination attempt. A spokesman at Chapman’s office declined to comment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Man sought by US Marshals over girlfriend's murder nabbed in Jamaica

eroy Headley, the man US Marshals had been searching for in connection with the death of his girlfriend in 2018, was captured in Jamaica over the weekend.

Headley, 38, who was wanted for the

epresentatives of regional trade unions representing workers employed with the cashstrapped airline, LIAT, have held talks with management regarding plans for them to take over the pension scheme for the employees.

Secretary Treasurer of the Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU), Kertist Augustus, said there were a number of matters still outstanding regarding the initiative by the airline whose major shareholders are the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica,

murder of Anako “Annette” Lumumba, the mother of his two children, was captured in Negril on Sunday.

Lumumba, who was 33 at the time, was shot dead at their home in South Burlington, Vermont on May 3, 2018.

Headley was on America's top 15 most wanted list.

He waived his right to an extradition hearing in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court this morning.

A date was not given for his extradition.

(Jamaica Observer)

A

t least 138 people deported to El Salvador from the United States in recent years were subsequently killed, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a new report that comes as the Trump administration makes it harder for Central Americans to seek refuge in the country.

A majority of the deaths documented by Human Rights Watch in the report, released on Wednesday, occurred less than a year after the deportees returned to El Salvador, and some within days. The organisation also confirmed at least 70 cases of sexual assault or other violence following their arrival in the country.

"As asylum and immigration policies tighten in the United States and dire security problems continue in El Salvador, the US is repeatedly violating its obligations to protect Salvadorans from return to serious risk of harm," HRW wrote.

The violence underscores the risk faced by people forced to return by US law that mandates deportation of non-citizens con-

A migrant woman who was deported from the US is greeted by her partner as she leaves the Integral Assistance Center for Migrants in San Salvador, El Salvador [Photo by Jose Cabezas/Reuters]

victed of a range of crimes and Trump administration policies that discourage asylum seekers, said Alison Leal Parker, the group's US managing director.

"Our concern is that many of these people are facing a death sentence," Leal Parker said.

Between 2014 and 2018 the US deported about 111,000 Salvadorans back to their homeland, which has long been in the grip of fierce gang violence.

The United Nations reported last year that kill-

ings in El Salvador, a majority of them linked to gang conflict, have declined from a peak of more than 6000 in 2015. But the country still has one of the highest homicide rates in the world.

Meanwhile, the number of Salvadorans seeking asylum in the US grew by nearly 1000 per cent between 2012 and 2017, many citing threats from gangs.

Only about 18 per cent are granted asylum. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

OILNEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Around the World

Senate acquits Trump in historic vote as re-election campaign looms

Coronavirus hits demand for oil, energy

A

fast-spreading coronavirus in China has sent shockwaves through global commodity markets, prompting OPEC and its allies to consider deepening crude supply curbs and Asia’s largest oil refiner to slash over a tenth of its output.

The oil market looks set for at least four months of depressed demand because of the coronavirus outbreak, with a large crude surplus not expected to clear at least until August, analysts and traders said.

Fears of a virus-related slump in global energy demand have flipped the market into contango this week – a structure in which longer-dated oil futures trade at a premium that encourages traders to keep crude in storage for more profitable resale in the future.

Oil markets at one point dropped nearly 20% in the wake of the virus’ spread, a signal of market fears of falling demand.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L), Phillips 66 (PSX.N), oil services company Halliburton Co (HAL.N) have all either banned or limited travel to and from China.

Energy Transfer LP (ET.N) has brought U.S.-based employees back from Beijing.

Short-term sales of crude oil and liquefied natural gas into China almost ground to a halt this week amid slowed economic activity and hurt demand and buyers pondered legal action to avoid having to honor purchase agreements, trade sources said.

Fears about the virus are hampering Energy Transfer’s efforts to lock in contracts with Chinese customers to deliver LNG from the U.S. Gulf, the company said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Rising crude inventories fail to halt oil rally

O

il prices dipped only slightly after the Energy Information Administration reported a crude inventory build of 3.4 million barrels for the last week of January.

This compares with an inventory build of 3.5 million barrels for the previous week and analyst expectations of a 3-million-barrel increase for the week to January 31.

In gasoline, the EIA reported an inventory draw of 100,000 barrels for the last week of January. This compared with an increase of 1.2 million barrels for the previous week.

Gasoline production in the seven days to January 31 averaged 9.9 million BPD, versus 9.2 million BPD a week earlier.

In distillate fuels, the authority reported a fall in stockpiles of 1.5 million barrels for last week. This compared with a 1.3-million-barrel inventory decline a week earlier. Distillate fuel production last week averaged 5 million BPD, down from a week earlier.

Refineries processed some 16 million BPD last week, the EIA also said.

Oil prices meanwhile broke a ten-day losing streak after media reports emerged that Chinese scientists may have found a treatment against the disease. Oil gained more than 3 per cent on the news in Asian and European trading on Wednesday. However, the World Health Organization shattered the budding optimism by saying there was as of yet no known cure for the coronavirus. There are no known effective therapeutics against this 2019-nCoV and WHO recommends enrolment into a randomized controlled trial to test efficacy and safety. A master global clinical trial protocol for research and prioritization of therapeutics is ongoing at the WHO,” the agency said.

As the WHO statement begins to make waves across oil markets, EIA’s latest inventory update could accelerate/ slow down the drop, especially as it confirms/rejects the American Petroleum Institute’s estimate of a 4.18 millionbarrel inventory build, reported yesterday.

At the time of writing Brent crude was trading at $56.05 a barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $51.47 a barrel both up by close to 4 percent from Tuesday’s close. (OilPrice)

17

US President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, US

P

resident Donald Trump was acquitted on Wednesday in his US Senate impeachment trial, saved by fellow Republicans who rallied to protect him nine months before he asks voters in a deeply divided America to give him a second White House term.

The businessman-turned-politician, 73, survived only the third presidential impeachment trial in US history – just like the two other impeached presidents – in his turbulent presidency’s darkest chapter. Trump now plunges into an election season that promises to further

polarise the country.

Trump was acquitted largely along party lines on two articles of impeachment approved by the Democraticled House of Representatives on December 18. The votes to convict Trump fell far short of the two-thirds majority required in the 100-seat Senate to remove him from office under the US Constitution.

The Senate voted 52-48 to acquit Trump of abuse of power stemming from his request that Ukraine investigates political rival Joe Biden, a contender for the Democratic nomination to face him in the November 3 election.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney joined the Democrats in voting to convict. No Democrat voted to acquit.

The Senate then voted 5347 to acquit him of obstruction of Congress by blocking witnesses and documents sought by the House. Romney joined the rest of the Republican senators in voting to acquit on the obstruction charge. No Democrat voted to acquit.

On each of the two charges, the senators stood at their desks on the Senate floor to vote one by one, with US Chief Justice John Roberts presiding.

Trump watched the Senate vote with top aides in a White House dining room that he uses as a private study, a senior administration official said. Trump said he would deliver a public statement at noon (17:00 GMT) on Thursday “to discuss our Country’s VICTORY on the Impeachment Hoax!”

On Twitter, the president posted a video showing Trump campaign signs for future elections from 2024 onward ending with “Trump 4EVA.” The US Constitution limits a president to two elected fouryear terms in office.

“President Trump has

been totally vindicated and it’s now time to get back to the business of the American people,” Trump’s campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said in a statement.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans engineered a stripped-down trial with no witnesses or new evidence.

Democrats called it a sham and a cover-up. Trump called the impeachment an attempted coup and a Democratic attempt to annul his 2016 election win.

The acquittal handed Trump his biggest victory yet over his Democratic adversaries in Congress. Democrats vowed to press ahead with investigations – they are fighting in court for access to his financial records – and voiced hope the facts unearthed during the impeachment process about his conduct would help persuade voters to make him a one-term president.

“No doubt, the President will boast he received total exoneration. But we know better. We know this wasn’t a trial by any stretch of the definition,” said Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Lesotho PM's wife in court charged with killing his previous wife

T

he wife of Lesotho’s Prime Minister Thomas Thabane appeared in court on Wednesday charged with murdering his previous wife two days before he took office in 2017.

The handwritten charge sheet said Maesaiah “did unlawfully and with intent to kill fire a gunshot at one Thabane Lipolelo and inflicted on her gunshot wounds” on that day. There were no further details and Police declined to elaborate.

A Reuters reporter saw Maesaiah in court before she was taken into deten-

tion for the alleged murder of Thabane’s then-estranged wife Lipolelo on June 14, 2017. Thabane did not attend the hearing.

Maesaiah arrived in a car sandwiched between two heavily-armed Police vans.

Wearing a pink floral dress, she stared impassively at the Magistrate as the charges were read out.

Police last month issued an arrest warrant for Maesaiah, after she failed to turn up for questioning in connection with the murder and subsequently went missing. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Maesaiah Thabane, wife of Lesotho’s Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, appears in court charged with murdering his previous wife two days before he took office in 2017

Turkey plane: 1 dead, 150 hurt as jet skids off runway in Istanbul

A

passenger plane landing at an airport in Istanbul has skidded off the runway and broken into three parts, killing one person and injuring more than 150, officials say.

The Pegasus Airlines jet was carrying 171 passengers and six crew members from Izmir province in the west when it crashed at Sabiha Gokcen airport.

The Boeing 737 was trying to land in heavy tailwinds and rain.

The airport was closed and flights diverted after the accident.

Turkish media said the

majority of people on board were Turkish but there were also about 20 foreign nationals.

Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya said: "Unfortunately, the Pegasus Airlines plane couldn't hold on the runway due to poor weather conditions and skidded for around 50-60m [164196ft]."

He said the plane then fell between 30 and 40 metres off the end of the runway.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca confirmed a Turkish citizen had died and 157 other people had been

A blaze on the aircraft was put out by firefighters

injured. He said none of the wounded people were in a critical condition.

Video footage showed passengers climbing through

one of the large cracks to escape via one of the wings, and dozens of rescuers working around the jet. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Take care of domestic issues. Alter your surroundings to suit your needs. Host an event or pitch in and help someone you care about or want to impress.

A positive attitude will help you advance. If you are willing to adapt, you will make substantial gains.

Make a change for the right reasons, not to prove a point.

Don’t be too open about your feelings or wants. You are best off waiting until you know where you stand before you reveal your thoughts and intentions.

Intimacy will improve your life and a relationship with someone special. Concentrate on getting along with others, not on trying to outdo someone.

Investment opportunities may not be as they appear. Take your time and part only with money you can afford to lose. Put more time and effort into fitness, diet and improved health.

Professional endeavors should be your focus. Pay attention to the people who are essential to improving your personal and professional plans. Stay calm, keep the peace and listen carefully.

Your achievements will affect the way others respond to you. Do what’s right. Taking a path that complements what you do best will lead to the success you wish for.

Destinations that provide a cultural shift will be eye-opening. Engage in events or pastimes that brought you joy in the past.

New friendships look promising.

Pleasure trips that provide SAGITTARIUS excitement and adventure (Nov. 23will entice you. Don’t get so Dec. 21) wrapped up that you lose sight of your safety. Maintaining physical, emotional and mental balance will be necessary.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

What you pursue will lead to a deep connection with someone who will broaden your outlook. Your contributions will result in additional popularity and respect.

AQUARIUS

You can become what and who you want to be by taking action. Alter your way of thinking, if necessary, or change the way you present yourself to the world. Choose your destiny.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Don’t reveal personal secrets. Listen more and talk less. If you show interest in others and are willing to help the underdog, you will gain ground.

Self-improvement and romance are encouraged.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

19

Ross Taylor tops Shreyas Iyer as New Zealand go 1-0 up N

aturalised wicketkeepers. Naturalised No 5s. Tom Latham and KL Rahul played lovely impactful innings – 69 off 48 and 88* off 64 – after walking in in the 29th over of their respective innings, but Latham had a more fluent No 4 he was supporting as New Zealand chased down 348 to end an eight-match losing streak in international cricket. Under pressure for his inability to get New Zealand over the line in the T20Is, one of the elite ODI batsmen in the world, Ross Taylor, played a blinder, 109 not out off 84 balls.

In another similarity between the two innings, India's No 4, Shreyas Iyer, too scored a maiden international hundred, but he was allowed to score at only a run a ball despite a late onslaught. Those middle overs when Iyer and Virat Kohli could add 102 in 20 overs might just have been the difference between the sides.

You might want to criticise a pitch as too batting-friendly if it allows 348 to be chased down with consummate ease, but there was a bit in it for the bowlers. In the afternoon, there was just enough nip for Colin de Grandhomme and James Neesham to bowl 16 overs for just 93 runs and pick up one wicket. Among the trying balls was a teasing de Grandhomme delivery that debutant Prithvi Shaw nibbled at. There might be a bit of that in the Tests too.

The other debutant, Mayank Agarwal, cut fiercely, but straight to point to make it 54 for 2.

India were playing two debutant openers because both Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were missing, and they wanted Rahul to take on the new role seriously. In his first audition at that station – a forced one because of an injury to Rishabh Pant – Rahul became the first India batsman since 2013 to score 50 or more from No 5 or below at a strike rate of more than 150 when batting first.

It might sound like a convoluted statistic, but India have been missing that mix of power and consistency for a long time.

Before Rahul, though, there were Kohli and Iyer.

New Zealand's stand-in captain, Latham, decided to delay the introduction of spin to utilise that period of slight nip even though data says you introduce legspin when Kohli is new at the crease. De Grandhomme and Neesham, though, kept India honest with Iyer in particular taking his time to get used to the movement.

He scored 15 off the first 29 balls he faced, which included two spilled half-chances.

In the same time, Kohli had sauntered to 25 off 34.

By the time Latham went to legspin, Kohli had made his way to an effortless fifty.

Iyer's runs at the other end were mainly through aerial hits for fours, which brought on cheers from Kohli but also carried risks. Be that as it may, both had momentum when Ish Sodhi was brought on. His fourth ball was pitched on a length, on off, drawing a forward defensive from Kohli, who looked

to open the face to perhaps look for a single with the spin. Except that this one spun the other way, just enough to hit his pad plumb in front before carrying on to dislodge a bail for good measure.

At 156 for 3 in the 29th over, if New Zealand thought they had a chance of coming back into the match, it wasn't to be. Rahul had a sighter for 17 balls before unleashing with full force.

Sodhi was chipped over longoff for a six before a googly next ball was smashed flat over long-on. Pretty soon, Tim Southee was getting the same dose of back-to-back sixes from Rahul. Iyer, still struggling for fluency, at 58 off 73, could use the opportunity to delay his slog. It came in due time, though, as he raced to a hundred off 101 balls. Along the way, de Grandhomme dropped him too.

Missing all three of their first-choice ODI quicks, New Zealand were now under the pump in the death overs.

Rahul and Kedar Jadhav had all the fun at the end, but Hamish Bennett's last three overs – six in the 45th, eight in the 47th and seven in the 50th – kept India to 347.

Cruel irony that it might be, teams set up to break such chases down to a 30over innings and a T20 in the end. They want wickets in hand, and anything under 200 is chaseable these days.

Naturalised opener Henry Nicholls played his part in keeping New Zealand in the chase by the time the final 20 began. He scored a busy

78 off 82, hitting 11 fours, stitching together a partnership of 85 with Martin Guptill and then 62 with Taylor.

Both these stands came at nearly a run a ball, which meant India were desperate for wickets around the 30-over mark. Kohli saw Mohammed Shami bowl a slower offcutter that found purchase. He also saw some swing. India went double barrel, and brought Jasprit Bumrah on. The runs slowed down, and Nicholls went for an opportunistic one only to be superbly run out by Kohli.

Bumrah troubled the new man Latham with the offcutter. He scored just three off the first 12 balls he faced.

With 170 required off the last 19 overs and that much grip in the pitch, things looked difficult for New Zealand. Then Latham began to sweep Kuldeep Yadav.

Taylor slogged Shardul Thakur. More sweeps. More slogs. Everything nailed.

Not content with having slogged Bumrah for a six, Taylor then went on to damage Ravindra Jadeja's figures with a slogged six and four in the 37th over. Sixtytwo runs six overs later, the required run rate was down to 6.75.

As a result, India were forced to bring Bumrah back sooner than they usually do, and even he was punched away for four past point by Latham. In the 40th over, Taylor went after Thakur with a vengeance, taking 22 runs and leaving themselves 56 to get.

Latham fell soon, triggering a mini collapse – and

giving fans a reminder of the events of the T20I se-

ries – but Taylor and Mitchell Santner made sure there were no further hiccups.

Perhaps it helped there was no option of a Super Over. (ESPNcricinfo)

Ross Taylor

SCOREBOARD

India Innings (50 overs maximum) PP Shaw c †Latham b de Grandhomme 20 MA Agarwal c Blundell b Southee 32 V Kohli (c) b Sodhi 51 SS Iyer c Santner b Southee 103 KL Rahul † not out 88 KM Jadhav not out 26 Extras 27 (lb 7, nb 1, w 19) TOTAL 347/4 (50 Overs, RR: 6.94) Did not bat: RA Jadeja, SN Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, JJ Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-50 (Prithvi Shaw, 7.6 ov), 2-54 (Mayank Agarwal, 8.4 ov), 3-156 (Virat Kohli, 28.4 ov), 4-292 (Shreyas Iyer, 45.3 ov) BOWLING O M TG Southee 10 1 HK Bennett 10 0 C de Grandhomme 8 0 JDS Neesham 8 0 MJ Santner 10 0 IS Sodhi 4 0

R 85 77 41 52 58 27

W 2 0 1 0 0 1

New Zealand Innings (target: 348 runs from 50 overs) MJ Guptill c Jadhav b Thakur 32 HM Nicholls run out (Kohli) 78 TA Blundell st †Rahul b Kuldeep Yadav 9 LRPL Taylor not out 109 TWM Latham (c) † c Mohammed Shami b Kuldeep Yadav 69 JDS Neesham c Jadhav b Mohammed Shami 9 C de Grandhomme run out (Iyer/Kohli) 1 MJ Santner not out 12 Extras 29 (lb 4, nb 1, w 24) TOTAL 348/6 (48.1 Overs, RR: 7.22) Did not bat: IS Sodhi, TG Southee, HK Bennett Fall of wickets: 1-85 (Martin Guptill, 15.4 ov), 2-109 (Tom Blundell, 19.1 ov), 3-171 (Henry Nicholls, 28.3 ov), 4-309 (Tom Latham, 41.4 ov), 5-328 (James Neesham, 45.2 ov), 6-331 (Colin de Grandhomme, 45.6 ov) BOWLING O M JJ Bumrah 10 1 Mohammed Shami 9.1 0 SN Thakur 9 0 RA Jadeja 10 0 Kuldeep Yadav 10 0

R W 53 0 63 1 80 1 64 0 84 2

NBA round-up: Harden's heroics lead Rockets past Hornets J ames Harden finished one rebound shy of a 40-point triple-double, and the hosts Houston Rockets erased a 15-point deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets 125-110 on Tuesday.

Harden was exceptional throughout, but especially down the stretch, fuelling a 12-3 run in the fourth quarter that enabled Houston to secure control. He finished with 12 assists, nine rebounds and three steals as the Rockets prevailed despite the absence of Russell Westbrook (thumb injury) and Clint Capela (heel injury).

Danuel House Jr had 22 points and nine rebounds for Houston while PJ Tucker posted 13 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Miles Bridges and Terry Rozier scored 20

apiece for the Hornets, who have dropped four in a row and 12 of their past 13 games.

Bridges added a game-high 15 rebounds.

ie Zion Williamson scored 20 (although on 5-of-19 shooting).

Monday. The Spurs have dropped five of their past seven games.

Milwaukee Bucks 120-New Orleans Pelicans 108

Los Angeles Lakers 129-San Antonio Spurs 102

LeBron James scored 19 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter as hosts Los Angeles overcame a slow start shooting from the field and cruised past San Antonio.

Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma scored 18 points each, and Kuzma added 12 rebounds as the Lakers won at home for the first time since the death of former Laker Kobe Bryant and eight others in a January 26 helicopter crash.

DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points and Bryn Forbes added 13 for the Spurs, who lost on back-to-back nights in Staples Center after falling to the Los Angeles Clippers on

Denver Nuggets 127-Portland Trail Blazers 99

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 17 rebounds, and visiting Milwaukee used a third-quarter surge to pull away from New Orleans.

The Bucks trailed for most of the first half and were down 61-58 at halftime before outscoring the Pelicans 42-24 in the third quarter. Antetokounmpo scored 16 in the period.

Fellow All-Star Khris Middleton added 20 points for Milwaukee.

All-Star forward Brandon Ingram led New Orleans with 32 points, and rook-

Nikola Jokic had 29 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists; Jamal Murray scored 20 in his return to the line-up after missing 10 games, and hosts Denver beat Portland.

Jerami Grant scored 17 points, Will Barton added 16, and Malik Beasley scored 14 for the Nuggets, who have won all three meetings with Portland this season. Denver won for the third time in four games overall.

Damian Lillard was held to 21 points, his lowest output since January 9, and CJ McCollum had 20 for Portland. The Trail Blazers had their four-game winning streak snapped. (Reuters)

20

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

CWI Coach Education programme bowls off in Guyana

ꟷ West Indies Coaches Forum was step towards new coaching development pathway ꟷ Jimmy Adams: “All coaches under one roof … everyone to read from same script”

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) is working to improve coaching at all levels, and new Coach Education Manager Chris Brabazon has already embarked on a journey across the Region to meet and discuss coaching standards and the implementation of fresh ideas with the six territorial boards.

Starting today, Brabazon will be in Guyana, where he will meet with regional pathway coaches to understand how CWI can better support regional coaches and how they can work together within the new Coach Education Programme. This coincides with the West Indies Championship four-day fixture between defending champions Guyana Jaguars and Jamaica Scorpions.

He articulated what his time with regional coaches will entail. “It’s important

that I understand the context in which all the coaches are working, whether it’s at a high school, under-age national team or at a club. I want to know what resources they have around them, what the facilities are like and what are their challenges,” he said.

“When we build this system to support them (coaches), it must be something practical and not just one that looks good on paper.

It needs to help them do the role required of them in the larger picture [of building successful West Indies teams].”

Following his visit to Guyana, Brabazon will conduct sessions with the other regional franchises to understand the challenges and gather feedback to build into the overall programme.

This is geared towards getting all coaches and players working to a long-term plan

to ensure consistent coaching from junior to senior level in an effort to produce top-class senior men and women cricketers for the future success of West Indies teams.

This was the prevailing message from CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams; Senior Men’s Head Coach Phil Simmons and Brabazon following the West Indies Coaches Forum held last week at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua.

“We wanted to bring all franchise coaches from around the Region under one roof to start a process of getting everyone to read from the same script,” said Adams. “There is a lot that we want to do, that we want to see happen at the highest level, but for that to happen, all of the supporting cast have to be on the same page. This involves franchise coaches and it will in-

volve coaches at every level of the coaching network as well.”

The former West Indies Captain elaborated on the important role that Brabazon will play through his work, visiting the regional coaches and aiding them to have the skills to help players get to the required level for international cricket.

“We have a responsibility in the elite pipeline to teach the game and to teach it the way we want it taught, to the standards we think will give us international quality players down the line. That is a skill and the role of Chris is to help us develop better teachers of the game.”

The coaches present at the West Indies Coaches Forum were Andre Coley, Andrew Richardson, David Williams, Derol Thomas, Emmerson Trotman, Esuan

Jaguars Head Coach Esuan Crandon and CWI Director Jimmy Adams

Crandon, Fernix Thomas, Floyd Reifer, Ian Tittle, Leon Kuma Rodney, Mervyn Dillon, Nikita Miller, Pedro Collins, Roderick Estwick, Pernell Watley, Ryan

Austin, Curtly Ambrose, Steve Liburd, Stuart Williams, Vasbert Drakes, Wilden Cornwall, and Winston Benjamin. (CWI)

LGC birthdays’ celebration tournament…

Forbes Burnham Table Tennis Tournament 2020 scheduled Hemraj Kissoon outperforms to commence February 21 all competitors

T

he Annual Forbes Burnham Memorial Table Tennis Tournament 2020, which will be organized and coordinated by the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) under the rules regulations and authority of the International Table Tennis Federation, is scheduled for February 21st and 22nd 2020 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Home Stretch Avenue Georgetown.

The championships will see 4 categories being contested in the flowing divisions, C Class Open, 21 years and under Open, B Class Open and Senior’s Open.

Rules The event will be conducted in accordance with the current

Laws of the International Table Tennis Federation.

System of Play Singles Events The first stage will be played in a round-robin basis in groups of even numbered players but there shall not be less than 3 and not more than 5 players in a group and priority will be given to groups of 4 players. If there are 5 or less players, the event will be played as a round-robin without knock-out.

Two players advance from each group to the second stage which will be played in a knock-out format.

Draws The draws will be done for the event on Thursday February 20th 2020 at 18:00

at the Venue.

Awards Winners runners-up and semifinalist will be awarded with trophies of gold, silver and bronze. Awards will be presented to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in the event.

Obligations All players entered must compete against any other participating player and by entering; agree to be bound by the ITTF Anti-Doping, AntiHarassment and Classification policies and procedures during the event.

The deadline for entry for events is: All Entries must be submitted by 5pm on Thursday February 20th 2020.

P

ast Club President and head of Kissoon’s Furniture Establishment, Hemraj Kissoon wowed the field of competitors when he emerged as tournament champion on Sunday, February 2, 2020, a day specially set aside to honour lifetime member golfers of the LGC, namely; Maurice and Joe Solomon, Doreen DeCaires, Robert Hanoman, and Kissoon himself.

The golfers gathered to receive their prizes and listened to remarks by Kissoon, who was effusive in his praise for Club President Aleem Hussain, the grounds staff, and the executive members.

“I have been a member of the club for more years than I wish to state and can say that this is the best condition I have seen it in! I can tell you that Mr Hussain speaks to me regularly and seeks advice and from what I can see happening here and in the overall recognition of the sport, not only does he listen to myself and others, but he quickly gets it done,” posited Kissoon.

He went on to compliment the other Life members for their dedication and commitment to the club, and expressed his confident expectation that the vision of the Executive for development of the club would be realised quickly since it could no longer be a dream but was now deemed a necessity, especially with the arrival of expatriates who expect international standards.

The tournament was played in three Flights, with prizes being awarded to the first and second Best Net scores in each Flight, in addition to some specialty prizes. The results were as follows: In the 0-9 category, Aleem Hussain (73/9) took first place away from former Guyana Open Champion Avinda Kishore (73/4) on the countback.

Following were two other former Guyana Open champs – Mohanlall Dinanauth (76/6) and last weekend’s winner, Mike Mangal (77/8).

In the 10-18 category, Maxim Mangra (68/18) took first place beating former Guyana Open champion Fazil Haniff (69/14) into second. Close on their heels was Club Treasurer Aasrodeen Shaw (70/13), followed by a tie between Patanjilee Persaud (71/14) and Club Secretary Rabindranath Persaud (71/16). This was followed by another tie between three golfers – current Guyana Open Ladies champion Christine Sukhram (72/13); Rakesh Harry (72/14), and Satrohan Tiwari (72/14).

The hot competition in this Flight saw yet another triple tie with Ayube Subhan (74/14); Lekhnarine Shivraj (74/16), and Mahendra Bhagwandin (74/18).

But it was the 19-36 category that was the highlight of the day, Marvellous Hemraj (65/93) – the oldest player on the field that day – took top honours away from one of the youngest players in the field, Rohan Albert (67/27), as after midway switching caddy to Dezo, he shot an incredible back 9, ending with 4 pars so beating the young man.

Other performances were great in this Flight as Wayne Chan (71/28), a current 28 handicapper playing in his first tournament in more than 18 months, edged out fourth-placed Imtiaz Subhan (72/19) and Paton George (73/19). Also, all the other 28 handicappers produced commendable scores – Lloyd Fung-a-Fat (78), Mauro Gamargo (81), Mario Acuna (83) and Hardeo “Curry” Ganpat (88).

In the specialty prizes area, Avinda Kishore easily won the Longest Drive by swinging an accurate 330-yard drive to the centre of the fairway while Aasrodeen Shaw took the Nearest to Pin prize away from Satrohan Tiwari. Receiving the award for Most Improved Golfer was Mauro Gamargo of Schlumberger Guyana.

President Hussain expressed gratitude to Kissoon and the LGC’s many sponsors.

“This weekend was the LGC’s way of expressing our gratitude to our life members for their contributions and I wish to thank Mr Kissoon. who willingly and without being asked, made this weekend a financial success for the club.”

He added, “With major partnerships formed with Copa Airlines, Marriott, Sterling Products, ANSA McAL, Banks DIH, Demerara Distillers Limited, Assuria General Insurance, New Trend Auto, Nexgen Global Marketing, Bridgestone Tires, Continental Group of Companies, MACORP and so many others, along with the constant support of Dr George Norton, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the LGC is looking forward to a grand 2020 with more than 50 events scheduled.”

For more information on upcoming events or how to become a member of the LGC, please visit lusignangolfclub at Facebook or call 220-5660 or 645-0944.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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21

Magnum Mash Cup futsal

Round of 16 kicks off tonight

F

ollowing the conclusion of round-robin action, the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue will be the battleground this evening when the round of 16 kicks off in the Magnum Tonic Wine Mashramani Cup Futsal Championship with several mouth-watering matchups.

The evening will commence at 19:00h with Spartacus against Broad St, with Sophia opposing Ansa McAL All-Stars at 19:30h and Bent Street locking horns with Kingston from 20:00h. Sparta Boss will then take centre stage against Kingston at 20:30h, while Gold is Money engage Alexander Village at 21:00h and Leopold Street tackle Avocado Ballers from 21:30h.

In the final two encounters, Albouystown lock horns with Back Circle at 22:00h and Future Stars battle Rio All-Stars from 22:30h.

Meanwhile, Sparta Boss, Sophia, Future Stars and Bent Street maintained their respective unbeaten records following wins in the final group round at the same venue on

Tuesday.

Sparta Boss dismantled Bad-a-Yard 6-1. Keifer Brandt recorded a hat-trick in the sixth, eighth and 10th minute, while Sheldon Shepherd, Gregory Richardson and Dennis Edwards netted in the third, fourth and seventh minute respectively. For the losers, Selassie Rutherford scored in the fifth minute.

Similarly, Bent Street crushed North East La Penitence 3-0. Jermaine Beckles, Colin Nelson and William Europe scored in the 11th, 14th and 16th minute respectively. On the other hand, Sophia defeated Broad Street 5-3.

Dwayne Lowe recorded a helmet trick in the fourth, seventh, ninth and 12th minute. There was an own goal in the fourth minute. Akeem Sam bagged a brace in the third and eighth minute for the losers, while Ryan Dowding netted in the fifth minute.

Similarly, Future Stars bested Alexander Village 2-0. Kenard Simon and Daniel Ross were on target in the fifth and 11th minute respectively. In other results, Albouystown upset

Wins for Tuschen Train Station Masjid and LBI B

T

he Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) of GuyanaTrophy Stall Inter-Jamaat 10 overs Softball Cricket Competition 2019 resumed Sunday, February 2 at the MYO Ground, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands, with scintillating matches that had the crowd on their feet.

Tuschen Train Station Masjid v New Mosque In bright sunshine after some early morning showers, New Mosque won the toss and decided to take first strike.

New Mosque made 91 for 4 when their overs expired.

Openers Amil Ally and Rahim Alli made 25 and 19 runs respectively. Bowling for Tuschen Train Station Masjid were Mohamed Omar, picking up two wickets, and Shanker Persaud with one wicket.

Tuschen Train Station Masjid in their turn at the crease made light work of their total blasting to 92 without loss in 4.2 overs. Imtiaz Hack made an even 50 and Riaz Khan made 42.

LBI A v LBI B

LBI A won the toss and elected to bat. Irresponsible shots caused wickets to tumble as they eventually made 93 for the loss of 8 wickets. In the second over bowled by Carl Spenser, three wickets fell and this proved a bit too much for a huge score. Gary Khan (31) and Zaman Ally (14) were the main contributors. Spenser picked up three wickets for 17 runs and Puran Deokaran two wickets for 16 runs for LBI B. When LBI B took strike to take down the total, Captain Safraz Ally perished in the first over for one. It was Randy Narine, who was given a chance at long-off when he was on 19, who brought the game home, finishing it off in style with a six. He eventually finished on 64 not out along with Imran Khan 14 not out. LBI B made 94 for 3 in 8.4 overs.

Akram Bacchus was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets for 14 runs; Mohamed Alli had one wicket for 12 runs.

Diamond New Scheme Masjid failed to turn up as Hague Masjid and LBI B were awarded a walkover.

Round of 16 Fixtures Spartacus vs Broad Street -19:00hrs Sophia vs Ansa McAl -19:30hrs Bent Street vs Mocha -20:00hrs Sparta Boss vs Kingston -20:30hrs Gold is Money vs Alexander Village -21:00hrs Leopold Street vs Avocado Ballers -21:30hrs Albouystown vs Back Circle -22:00hrs Future Stars vs Rio All-Stars -22:30hrs

Sheldon Shepherd-3rd Gregory Richardson-4th Dennis Edwards-7th Bad-a-Yard Scorer Selassie Rutherford-5th Game 5 Future Stars-2 vs Alex Village-0 Kenard Simon-5th Daniel Ross-11th

Complete Results

Game 1 Kingston vs Island All-Stars Kingston won via walkover Game 2 Belfield Warriors-0 vs Stabroek Ballers-1 Kemo Lawrence-10th Game 3 Showstoppers-0 vs Avocado Ballers-2 Sean Perez-9th Jimmy Vintinilla-12th Game 4 Sparta Boss-6 vs Bad-a-Yard-1 Sparta Scorers Keifer Brandt-6th, 8th and 10th Gold is Money 1-0, while Avocado Ballers downed Showstoppers 2-0.

Also, Stabroek Ballers defeated Belfield Warriors 1-0, while Kingston defeated Island All-Stars via

Game 6 Broad St-3 vs Sophia-5 Sophia Scorers Dwayne Lowe-4th, 7th, 9th and 12th Own Goal-14th Broad St Scorers Akeem Sam-3rd and 8th Ryan Dowding-5th Game 7 Gold is Money-0 vs Albouystown-1 Devon Dooker-12th Game 8 Bent St-3 vs North East La Penitence-0 Jermaine Beckles-11th Colin Nelson-14th William Europe-16th

walkover. The quarter-finals will commence on Saturday, February 8.

The winner of the event will pocket $700,000 and the championship trophy, while the second-place side

will collect $400,000 and the respective accolade.

The third and fourth place units will receive $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding trophy.

Region 6 Inter-Secondary School Tournament launched … BCB/RHTY&SC, GBTI on board

S

econdary school students in Region Six who play the game of cricket will once again be given the opportunity to showcase their cricketing skills in a matter of weeks. The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Friday joined hands with the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), MS, and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) to launch an Under-19 tournament for the 17 secondary schools in Region Six. The relationship between the RHTY&SC and GBTI has been ongoing for several years, but this tournament would be the second with the BCB. BCB President Hilbert Foster, who is also the Secretary/ CEO of the RHTY&SC, stated that the support of GBTI has played a major role in the development of youth cricket. For the first five years, the GBTI-sponsored tournament was for schools in the Lower Corentyne, but was expanded to include schools all over Region Six in 2019.

Last year’s tournament was won by JC Chandisingh Secondary School, who defeated Berbice High School in the final at the Area H Ground in front of a large and colourful crowd. The schools participating in the tournament include Line Path Secondary, Skeldon High, Tagore Memorial, Black Bush Secondary, Central Corentyne, Winifred Gaskin Memorial, Manchester High, Corentyne Comprehensive, JC Chandisingh, Port Mourant Secondary, Lower Corentyne Secondary, Canje Secondary, New Amsterdam Secondary, Berbice Educational Institute and Tutorial Academy.

Foster disclosed that the date of birth cut-off would be September 1, 2001 while all players should be registered students of their respective schools with an attendance rate of 80 per cent. The tournament will be 30 overs per side and captains are expected to be at the venue at 9.45am for the spinning of the toss. The BCB Head is urging the youth cricketers to take advantage of the school tournament and to perform well, so that the BCB Selection Committee can consider them in their 2020 selection.

Players like Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Lucas Arthur, Jeremy Sandia, Gourav Ramesh, Kumar Deopersaud, Zeynul Ramsammy, Leon Cecil, Rampertab Ramnauth, Hemendra Gurdyal, Salim Khan, Vittore Latchman, Sanjay Algoo, Avishkar Persaud, Isiah Thorne and Abdul Ramsammy are expected to be participated in the tournament.

The RHTY&SC Cricket Manager expressed gratitude to GBTI for its continued investment into Berbice cricket and reassured that the second BCB/RHTY&SC/ GBTI Inter-Secondary School tournament would be a huge success.

Chairman of the BCB Competition Committee, Leslie Solomon spoke of the importance of youth cricket at the school level as the county seeks to identify new talent to uphold the rich tradition of Berbice cricket. Branch Manager of GBTI Port Mourant branch, Mohamad Azim stated that the bank strongly believes in fulfilling its corporate responsibilities and does so via several avenues including investment in sports, culture, and education.

22

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Kares Caribbean Fitness Challenge

Mahadeo hunting 5th consecutive title this Sunday

By Jemima Holmes

D

illon Mahadeo has for years been a front runner on the Crossfit scene in Guyana.

However, come Sunday, Mahadeo will have to test his skills against his Caribbean counterparts in the Kares Caribbean Fitness Challenge.

With four wins already under his belt at the Kares Caribbean Fitness Challenge, Mahadeo is keen on recapturing his title this weekend when the 2020 edition of the event is contested.

However, unlike most incumbent champions, a humble Mahadeo is fully aware of the challenge that will be posed against him and according to the athlete, he is ready to rise to the occasion.

Speaking exclusively with <<<Guyana Times Sport>>>, Mahadeo shared a little about his preparation and training for the February 9 competition.

“Preparation has been going really well this year.

I’ve been training, doing a

lot of training, putting in a lot of work; I’ve been training the most I ever did, my nutrition is on point, my mental game, my recovery – everything has been good leading into this competition and I think I’m feeling really confident heading in this weekend.”

When probed about his level of confidence after winning the competition four times before, Mahadeo oozed humility as he explained how much he valued avid opposition.

“I don’t take any competition lightly, I go into every competition knowing that these guys are coming for my spot, the top spot and I don’t let off the gas pedal that easily. I’m going in to do the best that I can and get the best possible outcome on that day. That I can push myself and push my body to the limit and not just think about winning or beating the competition but maximising my potential,” Mahadeo explained.

The athlete – who has a list of sponsors in his corner namely Fitness

Express, MVP Sports, Degree (DeSinco Trading), Premyum Canola Oil – told this publication that he was not looking forward to any one event but rather the entire day of gruelling action.

“No, there aren’t any particular ones that I would say I’m looking forward to.

I’m looking forward to the entirety of the day and the accumulation of events. So far, the events that have been released, the first one and two other events, are really challenging and I’d like to see how my training had played out and helped me to endure five events in the sun and so far, this year is shaping up to be one of the most challenging,” the athlete noted.

The sixth Kares Caribbean Fitness Challenge on Sunday will see a larger pool of competitors from Barbados, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Speaking to this fact, Mahadeo shared that he was eager to come up against his fellow athletes and hopefully register a win on his home turf.

Dillon Mahadeo

“Especially with external pressure coming from the Caribbean. We have my counterparts coming from Trinidad, Barbados and Suriname; I’ve competed with them in the past, I’ve competed with them in their home country and it’s good to have them here on home soil, in my backyard and throw down and compete against these guys,” Mahadeo eagerly stated.

Aside from participants, one other thing that has increased for the Fitness Challenge are the prize monies. Taking into consideration that the priz-

es are set at $500,000 apiece for the male and female champions, the defending champion explained that the increase augured well for the sport and athletes involved.

“The sport has been elevating the cash prizes, t h e level of the competition, and every year we see an influx of athletes, taking up the sport of Crossfit, which is something I really enjoy.

Our novice competition pulls athletes in and you see them coming on to accept the challenge at the National Park.

So, definitely the money is an incentive, it’s definitely encouraging.”

While the Kares Caribbean Fitness Challenge will be a notable event for Mahadeo, the true competition will come at the Reebok Fitness Games in the USA (July 29- August 2), which he has qualified for once again. The athlete

detailed how the local competition will prepare him for the bigger stage in July.

“This competition is definitely a prep; I use it as an indicator for how I feel. As I said, I’m going into the competition not taking it lightly. I’m going to try to get the best outcome from my body. Hopefully, this weekend, I can hoist the Golden Arrowhead and I’ll be really proud of that.”

The sixth Kares Caribbean Fitness Challenge will begin at the crack of dawn on Sunday as athletes participate in a competitive run. The real muscle grinding action will begin at 13:00h in the National Par, when the other events are contested.

While first place will walk away with $500,000, the runners-up will not miss out with prizes of $400,000, $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 up for grabs.

Hetmyer-Lewis fitness saga…

Minimum fitness level is 40, Cornwall and others given exemption ꟷ says Jimmy Adams

A

Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer

fter Cricket West Indies (CWI) made one of the biggest calls in recent times to omit Guyanese left-handed batsman Shimron Hetmyer and the red hot opener Evin Lewis, who failed the fitness test, its

Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams caught up to the local media on Wednesday at Providence and cleared

the air on the fitness requirements implemented.

Adams noted that there has always been a fitness policy in the past, but the only difference is that back in September 2018, there was a change in the coaching and selection panel and this new panel is keen on implementing this aspect in West Indies cricket.

“The minimum standard for selection is 40 in the yoyo test and players had known about it for a while, way back in 2018. Hopefully, we can get them (Lewis and Hetmyer) to that standard,” Adams explained.

He further added that this test has been conducted at the regional (franchise) level and the response has been good statistically with most players above reaching 40 in the yoyo test.

“This test is non-negotiable, just to remind people is that the issue of getting fitter players is to reduce injury. Like John Campbelle went to Ireland and got a good score in the first One-Day International (ODI), but failed compete for the rest of the series. We cannot afford to get our best of players not being on the park, so I am look-

ing forward for these lads to get their fitness level up where they should be,” the 52-yearold Adams highlighted.

It is evident that some players currently in the West Indies set-up are unable to make 40 in the yoyo test. Like most rules, there are exceptions to it; Adams disclosed that the players who are unable to make this requirement are given exemptions; “through the medical panel they would be given their individual target that they will work with and they will be looking to improve. They are people who have medical issues that we have to give exemptions to because it could be ankle or knee that would impact negatively,” Adams echoed.

In this case, Rahkeem Cornwall and others are being considered but the consistency of continued improvement in the yoyo test is essential.

(Brandon Corlette) Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams (Brandon Corlette photo)

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

23

Hero CPL viewership increases by 56% in 2019 to 312 million T

h e H e r o

Caribbean P r e m i e r L e a g u e (CPL) saw another increase in viewership numbers during the 2019 season as the vibrant and exciting T20 league continues to grow in stature and reputation.

The total viewership, combining broadcast and digital, was 312 million – an increase of 56 per cent from 2018. Viewership for the tournament has increased every season over the event’s seven-year history.

The tournament,

which took place between September 4 and October 12 last year, featured 34 men’s matches and two women’s exhibition games and took place in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago.

The tournament was shown on television, with major broadcast deals in a large number of countries, and was also streamed on Facebook and Twitter.

This meant that no matter where you were in the world, you were able to watch “The Biggest Party in Sport”. This commitment to digital innovation has been key to the success of the tournament and the league will be looking to in-

crease its digital footprint in 2020 with more platforms for fans to enjoy the action.

Damien O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer of Hero CPL, said: “We are immensely proud of the CPL, and we are delighted to see it get bigger each year. The fact that we are able to release such fantastic viewership figures is a further testament to the way this tournament has grown and become firmly established as one of the world’s premier sporting events. We are already working hard on the 2020 edition of the CPL and we are really looking forward to even more fans tuning in this year.” (CPL)

CWI PCL 4-Day Championships…

Reifer returns as Jaguars, Scorpions set for contrasting clash ꟷ Fudadin and co positive

Story and photos by Brandon Corlette

F

resh from a victory in their last round, table leaders and five-time defending champions Guyana Jaguars will lock horns against a bottom-of-the-table Jamaica Scorpions in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Championships. The match will be played at the Guyana National Stadium Providence from 10:00h.

On the eve of the match, the return- i n g all-rounde r Raymon Reifer and Jamaica Scorpions batsman A s s a d Fudadin shared their different sentiments. Reifer, who suffered a concussion in Barbados and missed the third round, is the only change in the 13-man squad which was announced at the very last moment.

The Barbadian is happy to back; he noted that the Jaguars need not change anything but to continue to play that good brand of cricket. “To be honest we are not too much worried about what people are doing; we are just trying to execute our plans as

best as possible and let the result take care of itself,” Reifer stated.

With the bowling department in top form, especially new kid on the block, Nial Smith, Reifer noted that extra pace always gives the edge. “Smith is a good find for us; all in all, the bowling unit has been doing well and he has been a good addition to the team.” Reifer added that his fellow batsmen need to concentrate and get to that three-figure mark.

Meanwhile, a son of the Guyanese soil who is plying his trade for Jamaica Scorpions, Fudadin is happy to be home once more and he is eager to show his talent.

Scorpions, who lost o n e

Anthony Bramble plays one into the leg-side

son.

For Jamaica, Paul Palmer has 262 runs in two matches while John Campbelle has 199 runs.

Fudadin has only 59 runs in two matches thus far.

Knowing the conditions at Providence, he will be aiming to score something significant. Nicholson Gordon and Derval Green has 10 and nine wickets respectively for Scorpions.

Guyana Jaguars Squad: Leon Johnson (captain), Vishaul Singh, Anthony Bramble, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell, T e v i n

match and drew two encounters, have 21.2 points in contrast to Jaguars’ 44.6 points at the top of the ladder.

Reflecting on Scorpions’ performances thus far, Fudadin had this to say: “I’m not going say things have not gone well, we are

playing good cricket, but we are positive. We have to be more patient in each department to do well and execute well against Guyana.”

With Rovman Powell and Brandon King missing selection for Scorpions due to West Indies selection, Scorpions have brought in replacements.

Fudadin believes that those players are capable of doing the job and the team Christopher is full Barnwell in of confithe nets dence.

I n t h i s fourthround clash, the pitch looks green in covering and the seamers may once more play a role. For Jaguars, the batsmen will be aiming to craft out centuries. Tagenarine Chanderpaul has 247 runs, leading the way for Jaguars while Christopher Barnwell has 219 runs. Nial Smith and milestone man, Veerasammy Permaul has 16 wickets each in three matches this sea-

Imlach, Raymon R e i f e r , Kevin Sinclair, V e e r a s a m m y Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Keon Joseph and Nial Smith.

Jamaica Scorpions Squad: John Campbell (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Assad Fudadin, Derval Green, Patrick Harty Jr, Jamie Merchant, Marquino Mindley, Nicholson Gordon, Paul Palmer Jr, Nial Pete Salmon, Smith Denis Smith, and off and Oraine Williams. running

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hero CPL viewership increases by 56% in 2019 to 312 million

CWI PCL 4-Day Championships…

Page 23

Page 23

Reifer returns as Jaguars, Scorpions set for contrasting clash ꟷ Fudadin and co positive

Kares Caribbean Fitness Challenge Page 22

Region 6 Inter-Secondary School Tournament launched … BCB/RHTY&SC, GBTI on board

Mahadeo hunting 5th consecutive title this Sunday

Page 21

GBTI Naveta Narain hands over donation to Leslie Solomon of the BCB while Robby Kissoonlall and Tyrone Pottaya of RHTYSC Looks on

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