Guyana Times, Thursday November 14, 2019.

Genderbased violence increasing in Guyana – UN Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Anna Regina Multilateral School dormitory out of food …106 children affected guyanatimesgy.com

P11

Issue No. 4107

thursday, november 14, 2019

See story on page 2

Tullow finds low quality,

Page 3

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

1 missing after boat capsizes in Mazaruni River P10

Local organs are more “reactive than proactive” P11 – GAM

unprofitable oil offshore Guyana …company’s shares tumble by 27%

Commuters P13 face hours-long traffic woes on EBD, WBD roads

…as third-lane arrangement ceased Dead: Lennox Jones

Dead: Kim Cato

The non-functioning Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hub at Budhan Scheme Caracas, West Canje, Region Six, which was commissioned in March 2018 and stopped functioning since January 2019. Access to the building has been impeded by overgrowth

2 killed in Region 1 drag race Page 9

Public servants receive salary increases – Govt …erosion of household wealth, disposable income

cannot be addressed with this small increase – Irfaan Ali ...15,000 to be fired in phased period – Winston Jordan Page 12

4 charged for stealing cars, P8 minibus Regional trade P7 barriers continue to hamper Guyanese — GCCI

…questions Caricom’s relevance in trade negotiations in Caribbean

Wanted bulletins issued for P13 murder, fraud accused

2 NEWS Anna Regina Multilateral School dormitory out of food thursday, november 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…106 children affected

O

ne hundred and six students being accommodated at the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School dormitory have been affected as the entity’s kitchen is out of essential food items.

A senior regional official in Region Two (Pomeroon-

Supenaam) told this newspaper that the suppliers, who were contracted to provide food items for the school’s dormitory, have “put a hold” on the process after the cost for food raised and the regional administration has refused to meet with the suppliers.

The source noted that suppliers inked agreements to supply a certain amount of food items regularly at a fixed cost but because the prices for food items have increased, a meeting was requested by the suppliers to discuss the issue with the regional administration.

The source noted that the suppliers on Wednesday said that repeated calls to the regional administration’s senior officials to review their existing contracts considering the price change have been futile.

A letter, which was seen by this publication, was sent by the suppliers to the Regional Executive Officer

Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School dormitory

(REO) Denis Jaikarran seeking his intervention.

However, according to the source, this letter was never acknowledged and the efforts of the suppliers were futile.

In one of the letters sent to the REO, the supplier stated that the company will no longer be able to sup-

ply garlic and onion to the secondary schools, dormitories and hospitals in Region Two. This newspaper was told that the suppliers were forced to cease supplying food items to the dormitory, since, according to them, they would be operating at a huge loss.

This newspaper was told that 106 students living in the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School dormitory did not receive any tea at breakfast on Wednesday but were rather given water to drink as part of their breakfast.

A close source to the school’s operation told this newspaper that the students are given “little portion sizes, water instead of tea, and no milk”.

Meanwhile, attempts to contact REO Jaikarran via telephone were futile.

When contacted, Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt told this publication that he was unable to offer a comment since he only learnt of the situation on Wednesday.

news

3

thursday, november 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Thursday, November 14 – 05:00h – 06:30h and Friday, November 15 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, November 14 – 05:30h – 07:00h and Friday, November 15 – 06:00h – 07:30h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day. There will be clear skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Tullow finds low quality, unprofitable oil offshore Guyana …company’s shares tumble by 27%

T

he quality of oil discovered offshore Guyana by Britishowned Tullow is now under question after tests found that the heavy crude has a high sulphur content and, thus, is not commercially viable; dealing a blow not only to hopes that the wells would bring revenue for Guyana but also to Tullow’s shares.

Winds: Northerly to North North-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 05:19h and 17:29h reaching maximum heights of 2.66 metres and 2.76 metres.

Shares

Low Tide: 11:05h and 23:30h reaching minimum heights of 0.59 metre and 0.44 metre.

Tullow Head of Corporate Affairs, George Cazenove

wednesday, november 13, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

05 06 16

20 22 25

FREE TICKET

03 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

01 13 19 23 25 LUCKY 3

6

4

1

8

Afternoon Draw

0

0

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01

03

04

05

PAY DAY

08 12 20 SUPER PAY DAY Friday, November 8,2019

02 04 05 06 16

03 05 08 12 20

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

looking at commercial viability. This is a heavy crude and has high Sulphur and this will affect our ability to both develop and sell this oil,” he explained in an interview with this publication.

“I should be clear that we would never refine this crude ourselves. That would be done by any customers that we might have. The Carapa well is drilling currently and we expect a result before year-end,” Cazenove added.

This was revealed in a statement issued by the company on Wednesday.

Tullow revealed that it’s Jethro and Joe oil discoveries, which were announced in August and September respectively, were found to be heavy crude containing high amounts of Sulphur after further tests were conducted.

Crude with high Sulphur content is a variety of oil that is less economically viable than the light, sweet crudes found in the United States and Saudi Arabia, or even the oil found by ExxonMobil right offshore Guyana in the neighbouring Stabroek Block.

Both the Jethro and Joe wells were drilled in the Orinduik Block, which is located just a few kilometres from ExxonMobil’s discoveries. Despite the close proximities of the blocks, however, Exxon has not had the same issues with oil impurities.

In light of the latest analysis, Tullow said in the statement that it would weigh “the commercial viability of these discoveries considering the quality of the oil, alongside the high-quality reservoir sands and strong overpressure”.

When questioned as to what options are available to Tullow now that these tests have raised questions about the two discoveries, Tullow’s Head of Corporate Affairs, George Cazenove on Wednesday said that they will depend on the commercial viability of the oil.

“We are examining our options at the moment and

When Tullow had announced it found oil in commercial quantities in the Jethro well back in August, Tullow’s shares had jumped by over 19 per cent on the London Stock Exchange. In fact, it was the biggest gainer on the index.

But in the wake of Wednesday’s announcement, Tullow’s oil shares plunged by a fifth. Shares in Eco Atlantic, one of Tullow’s partners on the project, also tumbled. Up to press time, Tullow’s shares had fallen on the index by 27.32 per cent.

However, the oil company said in its trading statement that while the results from the Jethro and Joe wells continue to be evaluated, the petroleum system models are being updated in pursuit of additional prospects and lighter oil in the area.

Tullow, in conjunction

Tullow's block

with its partner Repsol, is currently drilling the Carapa well in its Kanuku Block holdings. The well started at the end of October, with results expected before this year-end.

In an article on commoditytrading.com, it was explained that crude oil has a wide range of grades, and heavy sour crude describes those with a Sulphur content greater than 0.5-1%, compared to the light, sweet

variation (with Sulphur less than 0.5%). According to the article, the significance of this higher Sulphur content is that it is more difficult to refine the crude into its various distillate products, particularly the in-demand unleaded gasoline.

One of the main impurities in sour crude oil is toxic hydrogen sulphide along with other mercaptans (Sulphur containing compounds), the article stated.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, november 14, 2019

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

Problem solver or problematic?

T

he famous saying, “better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt”, seems very relevant along life’s path and good guidance to all, especially those in public office.

Its relevance was reminded of following a recent comment by the Head of State, David Granger, claiming he is a problem solver.

Firstly, there is an expectation from the masses that whoever heads the nation, would actually solve problems. In general, that person was put there for a purpose, inclusive of problem-solving.

Secondly, in boasting of being a problem solver, naturally, there has to be firm evidence of success in that regard.

A mere cursory glance at what transpired over the past four and a half years may better contextualise, one way or the other, the boast of being a problem solver or the famous saying noted. When in the Opposition, he did boast of stamping out corruption if he were to win the 2015 elections. Then, he lamented that corruption was a chronic problem under the previous administration.

That particular boast would have riled his support base and built much expectation within their mindsets. He won, and within a very short period under his Presidency, a plethora of allegations of corruption were levelled against his government.

From the D’Urban Park and the Sussex Street bond fiascos to the sole sourcing of hundreds of millions worth of medical supplies to cronies to officials involved in transactions of self-interest to benefit family members reflect a minuscule of what has been alleged. To date, no noticeable action as a direct consequence has been taken, even as allegations continue to mount.

On that count, one may easily conclude that, given that the problem of corruption seemingly continues under his watch, then nothing in that regard has been solved.

Another front which he vehemently boasted of capacity through prowess is crime. He claimed that the previous administration was incapable of dealing with it and pointed to the seemingly enviable human capacity on his side that included himself as a former army executive, others who held similar positions and at least one former Commissioner of Police.

There are many others of high ranking within the security forces who have been placed at various levels within the government structure. With that continued to be in place, crime has worsened as people and businesses are robbed every day. While the Police have been able to effect some arrests, the problem of crime has reached a very frightening stage.

In addition, to what now seems routine in robberies and invasions, the charred remains of what is believed to be a witness who was slated to testify in an ongoing murder trial were found days after he went missing. Also, since 2015, the main prison at Camp Street was destroyed after been set ablaze by inmates.

There, in a fire just prior to that, seventeen prisoners were killed.

On this second count, the problem of crime is bourgeoning and remains extremely worrying.

The most famous boast was the promise of a good life for all citizens. By his utterances, that could have only meant there was a problem of an absence of a good life and that improved living standards through better wages and services, visionary and transformative projects, a growing economy and job creation were some of the means to fix it.

The reverse was actually realised. The promised adequate increase in wages is unfulfilled, over two hundred draconian tax measures were unleashed and brought further hardships, thousands lost their jobs as some major industries and small businesses were closed, an average of eight power outages are experienced per day and no major project has been envisaged and implemented.

Again, on that count, to say those particular problems were solved would be in the realms of being grossly disingenuous. What seems clearer, is that problems, instead of being solved, have been created under his stewardship. Poverty has increased following the mass firing of thousands of workers and the once-growing economy has slowed drastically.

In addition, the problem of flagrant disregard for the Constitution has become a hallmark. It was glaringly noticeable when he unilaterally appointed Justice James Patterson to Chair the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the subsequent constitutional transgressions following the No-Confidence Motion.

By anyone’s imagination, the non-adherence to the rule of law cannot be an act of solving problems. From its intent to what it has precipitated, it’s an act creating problems.

There are multiple that GECOM is grappling with, some, reportedly, by the doing of its own Secretariat. That, in itself, can possibly pose problems for the holding of free and fair elections as scheduled for March 2020.

Based upon what has actually occurred since March 2015, it would be extremely difficult to find agreement with his boast of being a problem solver. Even if he is in his own mind, from reality, he could be a problem solver who seems unwilling to solve problems.

For the country and its people, that’s problematic. The relevance of the saying in question still, therefore, appears undisputed.

The Leader of the Opposition was also paid a courtesy call by Non-Resident Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu. Also in photo, Catholic Church in Guyana Bishop, Father Francis Alleyne

Preserving the Amazon Rainforest is ground zero in the battle to defeat climate change

C

onquering climate change requires a commitment to help less-advantaged countries.

And nowhere is that dilemma more apparent than in the South American country of Ecuador. But will advanced countries answer the call?

Ecuador is ground zero in the battle to protect the Amazon Rainforest, where it is blessed with having more species of trees and bushes than anywhere else in North America. At the same time, the Yasuní National Park is home to 846 million barrels of oil that is worth US$7.2 billion in revenue. If it is developed, however, it would produce an estimated 407 million tons of carbon. It’s the classic paradox: economic development versus protecting the globe’s most pristine environment and the local tribes that inhabit the region.

“The Indigenous community has the right to sell its land to oil and logging companies, which take the time to groom these populations and to help provide for their needs,” says Alan Howard, founder of the Sacha Agency, which is a digital marketing company that is dedicated to preserving Ecuador’s rainforest. “But a lot of our work has been put into maintaining the value of these lands where the locals get their food and they cannot afford for it to be destroyed.”

Howard, a millennial working with such companies as Duke Energy’s REC Solar, is a dedicated environmentalist.

To this end, his company gives 15 per cent of its profits to helping Kichwa people in the Ecuadorian Amazon. “Any company can do the same to protect the planet,” he says, noting that 400 people and 70 families are the locals that make up the Kichwa peoples.

To be clear, the oil companies are not the bad guys here. It is straight-up capitalism, which not only

Oil workers lay an oil pipeline near Yasuni National Park in Orellana Province, Ecuador, on Tuesday. Ecuador is seeking about US$3 billion in revenue, almost half earlier government estimates, in a bid to keep oil inside Yasuni National Park rather than extract it. The Ishpingo-Tambacocha-Tiputini field contains an estimated 950 million barrels of oil

produces energy and profits, but which also provides jobs and daily supplies to the locals.

The Italian oil enterprise AGIP is active there.

Two years ago when Howard first visited the Kichwa people, they were evenly split over whether to sell parts of their land to the oil companies and to the loggers.

While they clearly realise that maintaining their way of life is paramount, they are desperate for medicines and other necessities. To this end, private companies and philanthropist such as the actor Leonardo DiCaprio have taken up their cause.

“If they sell their land, they get a fraction of its true value,” says Howard. “And if their hunting lands are taken, they would become completely dependent on oil.”

“We are under a constant threat by the oil companies,” adds Freddy Ushigua, the chief of the Kichwa village, in a video interview. “The community has been working for about 30 years since AGIP came to our territory. It’s an oil company, but this company, and others, are trying to condition our community to need its support.”

Marginal polluters Beyond oil development,

an even more urgent issue has surfaced: illegal loggers, who come in and cut down their trees. The same monies used to buy life’s essentials are now getting allocated to hiring patrols. The community’s resources are, therefore, stretched thin.

The wider issue is whether the global community has a role in helping Ecuador preserve its rainforest: The Yasuní National Park comprises 20 per cent of the nation’s oil reserves. The Ecuadorian Government had earlier asked the international community to donate US$3.6 billion by 2024 — monies that could offset half of the gains from oil revenues and which would be used to buy medicines and school supplies. But the idea never got off the ground and the proposal was tabled.

Ecuador’s predicament is similar to that of many African nations — that they are poorer countries and marginal polluters, which need economic development.

Certainly, the Indigenous peoples want to preserve their long-held traditions and to live off their land. But if the richer nations are committed to the climate cause, they must then assist the developing world in its quest to do the same.

What is the value of not

releasing millions of tons of CO2 into the air and in keeping a carbon sink in place? And if international communities fail to respond to Ecuador’s request, does that give oil companies an implicit approval to proceed? Is such complacency an endorsement of colonialism, with which Latin Americans are all-too familiar – or keeping poorer peoples dependent on foreign investment?

Yasuní National Park is rich with biodiversity and the Indigenous peoples there have widespread support among idealists like Alan Howard. But more is necessary and thus, the Ecuadorian Government and the Kichwa people are appealing to the international community: Ecuador and its citizens are working to combat climate change, but such a small nation with limited resources needs more focus.

The Government, in fact, is moving away from fossil fuels and instead, it is using more solar and geothermal energy, which now comprises about 44 per cent of the country’s electricity portfolio. And in keeping with the Paris climate accord, Ecuador wants 60 per cent of its electricity to be supplied by sustainable fuels.

“The tide is changing for green energy and people’s care for the environment,” says Howard. “Ecuador is not asking for a handout. It is doing its part. Companies, generally, are realising the importance of protecting the environment and what this does for their brands. We need to get the word out to protect the Kichwa people in the Ecuadorian Amazon.”

The ultimate outcome, though, is dependent on more than the goodwill of concerned citizens and enterprises. It is reliant on an international response — one that understands the inherent value of the Amazon Rainforest. (Forbes)

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, november 14, 2019

5

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

Lies, damned lies and Jordan’s statistics

Dear Editor, In an article published by the Guyana Chronicle on November 11, 2019, the Minister said that public servants received more than 75 percent increase in wages and salaries for the period 2015-2019. Specifically, the article quoted the Minister as saying, “… By the time we are finished with salaries for this year, I can guarantee you that between July 1, 2015, and January 1, 2019, it will be over 75 percent increase.”

It is instructive to note that the Minister did not make any distinction between increases granted to public servants who received the minimum wage and those earning above the minimum wage. He referred to wages and salaries, generally, which is disingenuous. Indeed, a

they would approximate 52.4 percent, 39.17 percent, 33.75%, 28.23% and 20.84 percent for those earning below $100,000, $100,000300,000, $300,000$500,000, $500,000$800,000 and $800,000-$1 million respectively. The claim that salaries and wages increased by 70 percent

careful analysis of the claim by the Minister would lead one to conclude that the Minister wanted to pull another three-card trick on Guyanese whom he feels are gullible and therefore accept half-truths. The fact is that the minimum wage increased from $39,540 (old minimum wage) and $42,703 in 2015 to 70,000 in 2019. The increases in the minimum wage, therefore, ranged between 77 and 63 percent.

However, the average public servant earning above the minimum wage would have received less than 70 percent over the same period. The reason for this is simple. Salary increases were granted on a sliding scale. The table below shows the salary increases given to public servants earning above the minimum wage.

If we were to compute the cumulative increases over the period 2015-2019,

Why is it that this Govt can only ‘dig holes’ without filling any?

Dear Editor, It’s a great relief that the Finance Minister has inadvertently admitted that his Government has failed miserably to foster socio-economic development when he admitted that “at least 15,000 to 20,000 workers should be sent home so that those remaining on the job can be paid better wages and salaries”. He spoke about ‘downsizing’ the Government.

This Government’s economic policy seems to be dismissing and downsizing. I have never heard such dunce ‘economic policies’ in my life. This Government has defied all known macro and micro-economic theories and, yet, they are shamelessly hanging on to the reins of Government!

Why is it that this Government can only ‘dig holes’ without filling any? I know, as a boy growing up, I heard about “digging holes to fill holes” but this Government has been digging holes without filling any! Just look at GuySuCo! The Government ‘downsized’ it to ‘right-size’ it and in the process, they dismissed over 7000 workers and, yet, GuySuCo is suffering trials and tribulations to meet its miniaturised target, thanks to the Government-appointed parasite, the SPU! The holes created at GuySuCo are getting deeper and deeper with no filling in the near future.

Thousands have been sent home, yet, the remaining ones have not had a dollar increase since 2015, now Jordan realised that the dismissal was ‘extremely painful’. His stark realisation comes just before the elections are due. However, according to Jordan’s ‘economic’ awakening, the remaining workers should have been given lavish wages and salaries increase.

But I cannot blame Jordan, his ‘economic theories’ are a reflection of his equally incompetent and corruption-laced

Government which has been squandering the taxpayers’ dollars since they lied and deceived the voters in 2015.

Mr Jordan, as the Finance Minister since 2015, should know that he prepared at least four budgets which amounted to over 1 trillion dollars!

In 2016, it was $230 billion, in 2017 it was $250 billion, in 2018 it was $267 billion and in 2019 it was $300 billion—a total of $1047 trillion.

I would like the public to ask themselves a most pertinent question: How much of this trillion+ has trickled down into their pockets? How have their lives improved? Are they spending less or more on the same basket of goods?

It must be recalled that the last Budget prepared by Dr Ashni Singh was for $221 billion, with all the sugar estates operational, workers given 5% wage increase, and all the benefits intact. There was no dismissal of workers and everyone was enjoying a relatively high standard of living.

The pensioners were receiving their water and electricity subsidies, the school children were given their $10,000 grant per student and water and electricity attracted no VAT. There was no increase in taxes, as well as no implementation of any new taxes.

In addition, machinery and equipment were not subjected to VAT. The cost of living was stable and the standard of living was improving. People were having more monies in their pockets and were living in harmony.

Now, in 2019, after spending more than $1047 trillion – in fact, while businesses are contracting and over 30,000 persons have lost their jobs— the tax collection by the Guyana Revenue Authority is increasing dramatically, our local and foreign debts are on the rise, we import more than we export, placing our balance

of payments in shambles; unemployment has risen sharply, crimes have spiralled uncontrollably, poverty is on the rise and more people going to bed hungry. More of our people are fleeing to the US, resulting in families being separated, domestic and other forms of violence are on the increase, our medical care sucks, corruption and cronyism have now become endemic and the coalition government has shown complete disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law. In addition, we, the people of this country, have lost all trust and confidence in the ability of this Government to transparently spend and account for our monies. The Auditor-General Reports bear testimony the countless opaque transactions and lack of basic accountability.

It must also be noted that all the public enterprises have been performing poorly and at great losses but the Finance Minister is mum on ‘downsizing’ these entities.

It is no secret that since this Government took over, these entities have been subject to massive political interference which has precipitated this downward spiral.

Yet, this caretaker Government has been trying since December 21, 2018, to stifle the voice of the people by using all tricks in the PNC playbook to postpone and rig the elections which are now due by proclamation on March 2, 2020. However, I will only believe this if Granger dissolves Parliament on December 2.

I will conclude by reiterating that Mr Jordan and his Government have failed the Guyanese people who have been continuously receiving less and being demanded to pay more and more!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

is as disingenuous as the arguments advanced by his colleague Basil Williams regarding the majority of 65.

It is also an insult to the intelligence of public servants who know they did receive increases anywhere close to 70 percent.

As we approach elections, I am sure the Minister

will try more of these tricks.

However, he must be mindful that Guyanese will not be fooled. The reality they face cannot be obscured with “lies, damned lies, and Jordan’s statistics.”

Regards, Name and address withheld

Granger’s ‘good life manifesto’: Winston Jordan struggling to keep economy afloat Dear Editor, After four and a half years of David Granger’s hapless administration, Guyanese have lost belief in our ability to progress as a nation. When PPP Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali made a promise to create 50,000 new jobs, the immediate reaction of his opponents was to scoff at the idea— given that this was a conservative number arrived at after lengthy planning sessions involving persons who had moved Guyana from a lowly Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPIC1) to HIPIC2, Middle Income (MIC) and then to Upper Middle Income Country— the idea that this job-creation plan is seen as an unrealistic and/or empty campaign promise was sobering.

Just how much have we regressed under David Granger that the populace cannot accept that we can create new jobs, even with the discovery of billions of barrels of oil and production set to begin before the end of 2019?

When Irfaan Ali’s job-creation plan is juxtaposed with Winston Jordan’s statement that there are over 20,000 Government employees that he would like to terminate.

“If you really want to downsize Government, you are talking about another fifteen (thousand) to twenty thousand workers to really make that saving to pay those who will remain and you know that cannot happen. Even if it can happen, it would not be able to happen overnight so to speak”. The differences in vision and ability to execute plans become very clear. Jordan is struggling to keep an economy afloat, even as energy companies and their satellites pour onto our shores. Economic prosperity is not reaching our masses. Granger’s ‘good life manifesto’ is exposed as platitudes bereft of careful thought or planning.

When establishing a Public Service Staff College, David Granger said, “It is my view that the public service is the engine of the Executive, (and) it is essential to have an efficient public service…We need a public service that is reliable, and I mention this, the relevance, the responsiveness, the resourcefulness and reliability because I believe in having stronger regions”. The fact that this same public service that was not good enough

for Granger had worked under the management and policy direction to move Guyana forward for over two decades was lost on David Granger. It is not that the public service has become inefficient overnight; the change has been to David Granger’s administration of poor policy, the paucity of management experience and skill, coupled with rampant corruption and penchant for the extravagance of his (Granger’s) ministerial management team. Style without substance, reliance on photo-ops without meaning, promises made as comfort to fools and glib retorts to serious questions on accountability have been the hallmarks of Granger’s incompetence as a leader.

Editor, Winston Jordan was an employee of this public service during that period of much progress. Also, in 2003, World Bank said “Guyana’s progress in implementing the reforms specified for reaching the completion point has been satisfactory, with all triggers met, except for two. These two triggers pertain to civil service reform—namely,

the requirement to lay-off 1000 core civil servants and to complete a list of job descriptions and design a performance appraisal system.

The authorities have requested that those two triggers be waived. The waiver requests are based on significant progress made by the authorities in implementing a more comprehensive civil service reform programme with support from the IDB”(REPORT NO. P7607GUA). The Jagdeo administration fought to keep those public service jobs in 2003, an Irfaan Ali administration would do the same. When Winston Jordan advocated the firing of 20,000 of his former colleagues, who are in his own words “like a permanent albatross of expenditure on the Government”, it brought the following maxim instantly to mind: “The forest was shrinking but the trees kept voting for the axe as its handle was made of wood and they thought it was one of them”. Elections are on March 2, 2020.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

6

thursday, november 14, 2019

Page

Foundation

Children exposed to digital devices at an early age may have emotional and behavioural difficulties –study

T

By Kimberly Lim

ake heed, parents who resort to using gadgets such as mobile phones, tablets and digital game consoles to keep their children quiet, occupied, and entertained.

A study has shown that children as young as 18 months and below who get their first screen time in front of electronic devices, and even computers and the television, may experience more disrupted sleep as well as emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Researchers from the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) and the National University of Singapore set out to study the effects that exposure to screens have on very young minds. The study was published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics earlier this year.

From 2015 to 2017, they looked at 367 preschool children in Singapore aged two to five years with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, language delay, global development delay and learning disorders.

Caregivers who attended appointments with their child at the department of child development at KKH were tapped for this study.

The key findings were: Slightly more than half (52 per cent) of the 367 children surveyed were exposed to screens or had started spending time in front of screens at the age of 18 months or earlier.

More than half also had

at least one screen device in their bedrooms.

More than 70 per cent of the children who took part in the study had increased sleep problems, as reported by their parents.

And nearly 60 per cent of the children had clinically significant emotional or behavioural difficulties, as reported by the parents.

Basically, when the children spent time in front of screens, they had disrupted sleep, nightmares, insomnia and so on. This

in turn caused them to have emotional and behavioural difficulties, such as tantrums, hyperactivity and an inability to focus.

Dr Mae Wong, senior consultant at the department of child development at KKH who led the study, emphasised the importance of raising awareness on the subject.

“The level of public awareness about the detrimental health associations of screen use, sleep and emotional/behavioural difficulties is currently limited.

“Raising parental and

general public awareness is necessary to help reduce the negative impact of screen use in young children,” she said.

Bedtime exposure

Apart from the information provided by the child’s caregiver, a questionnaire which was an emotional and behavioural survey tool was used for the study.

A higher score on this Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire indicated higher rates of emotional and behavioural problems.

What they found was that two factors accounted for 10 per cent of

the worsening of a child’s score on t h e questionnaire: If the child had been exposed to screen time before 18 months old and had associated sleep disturbances.

This is in comparison with a child who had not been exposed to screen time before 18 months old.

When the child had access to screen devices in the bedroom and associated sleep disturbances, these accounted for 13 per cent of

the worsening of the score, in comparison to a child who had not been exposed in similar ways.

Dr Mae Wong said the research team also found that children who had exposure to both “lifestyle factors” — namely screen time before 18 months old and had electronic devices in their bedrooms — reported more sleep disturbances as well as emotional and behavioural difficulties than those who experienced just one of these “lifestyle factors”.

Although the study examined children with neurodevelopmental disorders, the results are applicable to the general population and aligned with existing evidence from studies that have been done on typically developing children, Dr Wong said.

“The results are relevant to the general population as they support the existing body of evidence that poor screen and sleep habits cause negative effects in children.”

For children with neurodevelopmental disorders, they could have more difficulties disengaging from screen use, and the increased usage might further exacerbate their conditions and the problems linked to early screen use.

The researchers said that a longitudinal study would allow for better interpretation of effects over time, in order to study the further development of the child as they grow. (todayonline. com)

What is mindfulness?

M

indfulness means paying full attention to something. It means taking your time to really notice what you’re doing.

Mindfulness happens naturally sometimes. Let’s say you’re getting ready to take a foul shot in basketball. You carefully position your feet at the line. You look up at the hoop and feel the ball in your hands. Taking your time, you bounce the ball a couple of times. You tune out all the other sounds and take your shot. Swoosh – yes! That’s mindfulness in action.

Why do people need mindfulness?

Mindfulness helps you do your best at things. It helps you: pay attention better be less distracted learn more stay calm under stress avoid getting upset too easily slow down instead of rush listen better to others be more patient get along better gain self-control get tasks finished feel happier and enjoy things more

How does mindfulness work?

Training the mind takes practice. The more you practise mindfulness skills, the better you get at being mindful.

If you practise mindfulness skills, being mindful begins to come naturally when you need it in your everyday life. This can help you feel calmer when you’re stressed, or more focused when you have to do something difficult or complicated.

When you practise mindfulness skills, you’re training your attention. Practising mindfulness can improve attention for just about everybody — including people who have ADHD, or who think they have trouble paying attention.

How do I get started?

Mindfulness skills are easy to practise and just take a few minutes a day. Here are the basic steps: Sit in a relaxed, comfortable position. Pick something to focus your attention on, like a word you repeat in your head or your breathing.

Let’s say you decide to focus on your breathing. Breathe normally while you simply pay attention to your breath. If you want, you can close your eyes. As you breathe in and out, just notice each breath. Pay attention in an easy way — on purpose, but not forced.

Notice when your mind wanders away from paying attention to your breath. Maybe you start thinking about what’s for lunch, or whether you remembered to bring your soccer gear, or that funny joke someone told after math class. That’s your mind wandering and getting distracted. It’s natural, minds do that all the time!

Whenever you notice your attention has wandered, gently guide your attention back to your breathing again. That’s how you train your attention.

Keep breathing, keep relaxing, keep paying easy attention to your breathing. Keep bringing your attention back to the breathing every time your mind wanders. Try to do this for five minutes.

That’s it! There are lots of other ways to practice mindfulness, like eating mindfully or even mindful walking. Try picking different things to focus on that help you practice training your attention. (kidshealth.org)

NEWS

7

thursday, november 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Regional trade barriers continue to hamper Guyanese — GCCI …questions Caricom’s relevance in trade negotiations in Caribbean

N

on-tariff barriers that target Guyanese exports remain a sore issue for the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), with the Chamber questioning the relevance of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) when little help is forthcoming.

This was related when the GCCI held a press conference at its Waterloo Street, Georgetown office on Wednesday, featuring executives and even a former President. GCCI Senior Vice President Timothy Tucker noted that the Chamber is at a point where it has to question the relevance of Caricom.

According to Tucker, throughout the history of Caricom, “we’ve had situations where we are limited in what we can export to the Caribbean, even to Trinidad.

They’ve put non-tariff barriers on honey, they just released the ones on pepper and pineapple. There’s still a lot of barriers on honey, pineapple, pumpkins. Also, you had situations where, when Guyana was exporting coconut water and its products, they, themselves, shut that industry down”.

“I would have spoken about the suspected hepatitis case in Guyana and then, suddenly, the ban on all poultry products. When Guyana was approved to export poultry products throughout the Caribbean, we had even

and gone up with their standard, you see things raised by some Caribbean nations trying to move the goalpost. So I think we’ve reached to the point from the trading and investing standpoint, we have to sit back and assess the relevance of Caricom”.

Oil

GCCI Vice President Timothy Tucker

Jamaica… they used one of their laws talking about water being used. In the height of all of this, why isn’t Caricom unravelling these problems? Is Caricom still relevant in terms of trade negotiations in the Caribbean?”

Added to this, he explained that neighbouring countries like Trinidad moved to get certain tariffs suspended by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED). Other new hurdles have also been raised.

“I think Trinidad just did an application to COTED to waive the Common External Tariff (CET) on safety equipment coming into Trinidad.

And Guyana, on the other end, we’re now going on the coat-tails of Trinidad to get that removed so we can continue to be competitive”.

“Now COTED, they’re now relooking at front labour, after most of our manufacturers would have gone forward

Tucker noted that his sentiments are shared by most in the GCCI, particularly the Trade and Investment Committee, and since Guyana is about to become one of the world’s newest oil producers, he expressed the view that Guyana dropped the ball not only with negotiating trade deals but also even developing its local content framework.

According to Tucker, Guyana’s newfound influence should have been leveraged to help other sectors and remove needless trade barriers. This is a view recently expressed

by People’s Progressive Party Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali. “Now, an official request to remove safety items (from CET) has been made. Now when that is removed, then our local suppliers – because we don’t have any local content legislation or policy that says you have to buy stuff locally— they will go to Trinidad where 40 per cent (of the price) has been removed.

So you know where the competition will go,” Tucker said.

“All of the offshore people, oil and gas people or anyone dealing with safety equipment, will buy from Trinidad because they are the only country in the Caribbean that has requested to have the 40 per cent CET on safety equipment

removed. Without Local Content Policy or legislation to protect local business, that’s the purpose of it.

We have to fight the tariffs, taxes, VAT, so by the time something comes in here to sell, it’s uncompetitive”.

Even with oil, it is important for Guyana to diversify its economy and find markets for other commodities. Of recent, however, Guyana has had to contend with protectionist measures from the United States, United Kingdom, Jamaica and Trinidad.

In 2019, Jamaican authorities also rejected some

70 metric tonnes of white rice. It was reported that after samples of the rice shipment were sent to the division’s microbiology lab for testing, the results from the tests demonstrated that the rice contained microbial levels which are beyond the accepted limits, thus, making it unfit for human consumption.

This seizure was the first for the year but an epidemic of poor quality rice exiting Guyana was seen in the recent months when Panama rejected some 20 containers of rice from Guyana back in September 2018.

Delivery truck driver accused of stealing cash on bail

A

29-year-old truck driver, who allegedly lost $330,000 while delivering, was on Wednesday charged and released on bail at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Leon Greene, of Tuschen, Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, denied that on November 6, 2019, at Pappy Show Landing, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), he stole $330,000 property of Shelly Ferreira.

Greene was represented by Attorney-at-Law Ronald Daniels, who told the court that his client did not steal the cash but it rather got lost while he was transporting other items to

Leon Greene

Georgetown. The lawyer added that his client is willing to pay back the amount within two months.

However, facts presented by Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield stated that on the day in question, Ferreira handed Greene the money to deliver to someone in Georgetown.

However, upon reaching Georgetown, Greene informed the victim that the money was lost. The matter was reported to the Police and the driver was arrested.

In court on Wednesday, Greene was released on $70,000 bail and the case will continue on November 21 at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

8 NEWS 4 charged for stealing cars, minibus F thursday, november 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

our men were jointly charged on Wednesday and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after they were arrested during an intelligence operation, where a number of stolen vehicle parts were recovered.

Charged were Justin DeSantos, 18, a mechanic of Lot 47 Pearl, East Bank Demerara; Jone Singh, 25, a taxi driver of Kuru Kururu, Linden Highway; Kurt Shepard, 32, a taxi driver of Kuru Kururu, Linden Highway and Miguel Mattadin, 25, a taxi driver of Kuru Kururu, Linden

Highway.

The men appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and denied the charges, which stated that on October 12, 2019, at C Field Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, while being in the company of each other, they stole motorcar PHH

3889 valued $700,000, property of Dwayne Simon.

Another charge stated that on September 23, 2019, at South Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, while being in the company of each other, the men stole motorcar PFF 7090 valued $500,000, property of Oswald Bento.

Additionally, it is alleged that on September 18, 2019, at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, while being in the company of each other, they stole one Pitbull minibus valued $4.1 million, property of Orlando August.

The men were represented by Attorneys-atLaw Paul Fung-at-Fat and Dexter Todd, who made bail applications.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield informed the court that on November 6, 2019, Police ranks, acting on information, went to Kuru Kururu on the SoesdykeLinden Highway, where they made contact with DeSantos and Shepard.

The court heard that a search was conducted at Shepard’s residence and several motorcar parts were unearthed. Another search was conducted at another location and the three vehicles were found.

The Prosecutor further revealed that the men assisted Police in recovering a number of vehicle parts in the Kuru Kururu area. The Prosecutor objected to bail.

He added that more charges are expected to be filed against the men. The court was also informed that the men have pending matters of a similar nature at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

The four were remanded and the case will continue on November 18.

Man jailed for destroying sisters’ groceries

A

40-year-old man was on Wednesday slapped with two charges for damage to property and disorderly behaviour and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts.

Edward Rollins appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty and admitted to the two charges. He admitted that on October 8, 2019, he maliciously damaged food items valued $3,800, property of Ronda Semple and Susan Barclay – his sisters.

Rollins also admitted that on October 11 at Alberttown Police Station, he behaved in a disorderly manner.

The court heard that on October 8, Rollins went to his bedridden mother’s room, placed a knife to her throat and requested that she hand over her pension.

Barclay, after learning about what Rollins did, dealt him several lashes and later denied him of dinner. However, this enraged Rollins and he then destroyed the groceries in the home.

The matter was reported to the Police and he was arrested. Magistrate McGusty jailed Rollins for six weeks on the disorderly behaviour charge and six months for damage to property charge.

Ouster…

E

…by the people vo Morales has been ousted as Bolivia’s President and has fled to Mexico where he’s been given asylum.

An ignominious ending for a regime that moved its country from being the sick man of South America to its fastest-growing economy for the last decade. One where 1 million persons were lifted out of poverty since 2005 when Morales took over and cut the poverty rate – admittedly still high – by 25%. A regime which was the first to be run

by Indigenous peoples and directed developmental efforts to that community.

So imagine that such a regime could be ejected and, yet, here in Guyana, David Granger – who has allowed the economy to drift aimlessly and is causing the business climate to stagnate – is boasting that he’ll increase his party’s parliamentary seats by at least 10% to 36 seats!!

Either he’s taking medicinal marijuana, those opioids that have become so popular, or he has something up his sleeve!!

So why was Morales ousted if he did so well by the usual economic metrics?? Very simply, he overreached when he refused to accept the Constitution’s restriction on presidential terms and railroaded the system to place him on the ballot. And isn’t Granger committing the equivalent constitutional sin here?? Wasn’t he supposed to resign immediately upon the passing of the NCM and call elections in three months? But like Morales, he’s filled with hubris and seized with a messianic complex, which convinces him he’s the only one meant to rule Guyana.

But what raised the ire of the people – and like Guyana, Bolivian society is very polarised and his majority wasn’t that massive – was when Morales had the Elections Commission halt the count halfway after the parties were running neck-to-neck. Upon resumption, Morales’ party amazingly shot ahead by the 10% majority necessary to not have a run-off election!! The people poured out in their numbers in the streets with increasingly heightened anger at Morales’ high handedness with their franchise.

And once again, we see the parallels with what’s unfolding in Guyana under David Granger, who refuses to accept his caretaker status now that he’s bullied his way to a year beyond the 3 months he was given by the Constitution on December 21, 2018. From the beginning, we knew the GECOM Secretariat was controlled by the PNC and with the decisions the new Chair has been making, the Commission’s also in their hands. To mess around with the computers in GECOM (like Morales) and deliver a PNC victory after March 2 is only ONE of the ways in which the PNC’s fix is in.

The people will have to be ready to protest this PNCrigged power-grab!! …from the oil league?

In the oil business, there’s a lot that can slip between the cup and the lip. When the British oil company Tullow announced two strikes not far from the Exxon consortium’s finds off our shores, their stock went through the roof.

They’d been struggling with technical issues over in Ghana.

Not unreasonably, their reaction was, “happy days were here again” since the Exxon finds were all light, sweet (low sulphur) oil that’s easy to extract and refine. And is sold for top prices – presently@ $56/bbl.

Tullow, however, just announced that its finds are heavy sour crude (with high sulphur content). This is far costlier to extract and refine. It presently sells @$32/bbl– and may not be worth extracting. The moment Tullow announced the news, its stocks fell by more than onequarter of its value – 27%!! – on the London Stock market yesterday.

The question is whether there’s something to Energy Czar Bynoe’s off the cuff remark about “quality concerns” with the Exxon finds.

Heavy sour crude?? If so, what’ll Granger promise now?? …of Troy?

Troy Resources is one of the largest gold miners in Guyana but it’s fallen on hard times. Primarily from poor prospects going forward and some local deadly mining accidents.

What does Granger say to the loss of jobs and income?

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

9 B&E lands man in jail for 9 months news

thursday, november 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

2 killed in Region 1 drag race

The head-on collision at Port Kaituma, Region One on Wednesday afternoon

A

driver and his female passenger are now dead after the car collided head-on into an approaching fuel truck during a “drag race” with another motorcar in the Port Kaituma area, Region One (Barima-Waini) on Wednesday.

Dead are Lennox Jones and Kim Cato, both of Port Kaituma.

The Police Commander of that Region, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum, confirmed with Guyana Times that Jones was racing with another vehicle along the route that leads to the toll gate in Port Kaituma when the accident occurred.

He explained that as Jones approached the toll gate on the narrow roadway, the hill in that location pre-

vented him from seeing that a truck was approaching from the northern direction, and without this knowledge, Jones continued speeding along the route.

According to Commander Blanhum, the now-dead man would have seen the truck too late and because he was speeding, the crash turned fatal.

Jones and Kato were trapped inside of the mangled vehicle and by the time that public-spirited persons were able to free them, the duo had died.

The Police Commander noted that the Police did not arrest the truck driver but that he is currently assisting with the investigation.

Meanwhile, the driver of the other motorcar that had been drag racing with Jones is presently in Police custody.

Rollox Williams

John Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, the 20-yearold man broke and entered the dwelling house of William Bobb with intent to commit a felony.

Police Prosecutor Annalisa Brummell told the court that at 22:00h, the Virtual Complainant was sitting on his veran-

da when he heard a noise inside his house. Upon inspecting the home, he caught Williams hiding in his toilet. He contacted the Police at the Alberttown Police Station, who arrested the man.

The Magistrate, after listening to the facts, jailed Williams.

Aeronautical school trainees educated on aviation safety

T Dead: Kim Cato

Dead: Lennox Jones

A

man who admitted to breaking and entering a house was on Wednesday jailed for nine months.

Rollox Williams appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principle Magistrate Faith McGusty. The charged stated that on November 8, at

o allow first and second-year students of the Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical School to explore the diversification of the aviation sector, a safety in aviation seminar was held on Wednesday, where extensive lessons on safety maintenance in the sector were shared from various perspectives.

The safety seminar was hosted by volunteers from the American Airlines Caribbean Employee Business Resource Group, at the aeronautical school’s headquarters, Ogle East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Some of the safety areas that were expected to be discussed with the students included safety on the ramp, bag segregation, communication and fire among others, some of which was undertaken by pilots, flights attendants and ramp personnel.

This was explained to this publication during a brief engagement with General Manager/ Accountable Manager of the Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical School, Nalini Chanderban.

“What we have today is American Airlines, through an initiative in the Caribbean, they are visiting us and are doing a talk on safety from various perspectives like ramp operations, the flight attendants’ perspective and the pilot’s perspective…. So they would’ve already done courses in natural sciences, in airframe system and they’re getting a feel of the wider spectrum of what aviation offers,” she emphasised.

According to Chanderban, not only will the students be exposed to safety practices but they will also have a chance to explore the different careers in the aviation sector which may spark interest among some.

“The sector— aviation—

Some of the aeronautical engineering students during the seminar

is large in the sense that there are various career fields, so they are getting a chance to hear from persons of American Airlines of different career opportunities. So even though you start off as an aircraft engineer, you don’t necessarily have to stay in that field

but you’re getting an opportunity to see that there’s training in other areas and an idea from what it’s like from a representative,” Chanderban noted.

Some 72 students from both first-year and second-year classes participated in the safety seminar.

10 NEWS

thursday, november 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

1 missing after boat capsizes in Mazaruni River A

man is missing and feared dead after the boat he was travelling in capsized in the Mazaruni River, in the vicinity of Topoco Falls, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The missing man has been identified only as “Sherwin”.

On Monday, 51-year-old Fitzroy Reid, a miner, of Berbice, Region Six (East

Berbice-Corentyne) who operates a dredge at the Karnang Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River, was with his 18-year-old son, Fitzroy Reid Junior, packing their boat as they prepared to head to Semang Landing, Middle Mazaruni River when two men approached them and requested a ride.

One of the men, 54-yearold miner Leon Williams of

Awarana Village, Lethem, South Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) requested that the Reids transport him and “Sherwin” to the Semang Landing.

Reports are the older Reid agreed to assist the duo and the four men departed the backdam area in the Reids’ boat about 13:30h. However, while the 51-year-old Reid, who was guiding the wooden vessel with a wooden paddle, began navigating through Topoco Falls, the vessel ended up in a ‘canopy’ – turning tide.

This caused the boat to spin several times resulting in them losing control and the vessel capsized. The quartet had begun to swim

#4107

to shore when “Sherwin” allegedly disappeared under the water.

According to the surviving trio, they made several searches for him before they

continued swimming to the shore. However, their efforts were futile.

The Police in the area were notified of the incident and the ranks, along with

others, went to the location in search of the man.

Investigations into the disappearance as well as continued search efforts are ongoing.

Region 10 RDC to establish road link to Region 3

T

he Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Regional Demerara Council (RDC) is set to establish a direct road link to Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) by next February. Regional Executive Officer (REO) and Council Clerk Orrin Gordon made the announcement to the Council at a recent statutory meeting.

“We intend to establish, before the end of February, a link from Region 10 to Region 3 and this is going to be from Mabura road to

Macoura. So you can leave River’s View and come to Linden by road and you don’t have to use the river...Having captured that link there, then we make that other link so that if you leave (Region) Three, you can end up in (Region) Six if you want,” Gordon stated.

Gordon also outlined plans by the RDC to establish a link from Malali to the Mabura Road. This link, he explained, is expected to shorten the time spent travelling to Linden

by boat.

“Instead of using two and a half hours by boat from Malali to Linden, you just use the road...that’s two links that we would certainly get fixed before this Council is out,” Gordon explained.

In reflecting on other recent projects, Gordon said the RDC would have constructed a total of 10 miles of asphalted concrete road in Linden, which has been stretched out across all of the constituencies of the Region.

NEws

11

thursday, november 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Local organs are more “reactive than proactive” – GAM

T

he Guyana Association of Municipalities (GAM) on Wednesday facilitated its first mayor roundtable discussion, where it was highlighted that local organs should practise a more proactive approach towards issues in their communities.

President of the Association, Waneka Arrindell explained that on many occasions, municipalities move to intervene after an issue is detected.

Addressing these concerns is in keeping with the mandate of making these bodies independent.

“We’ve seen that persons are more reactive than pro-

active in the municipalities, we’re dealing with issues as they come…The vision is that every municipality becomes self-sufficient, that they’d be able to provide for their residents”.

This is the first-ever meeting organised to include all townships, in a bid to improve their functioning.

Arrindell said these engagements are essential in ironing out key issues which local authorities may face and also form a collective partnership when approaching Government for resources.

“We go into various municipalities to identify what the issues are and to see how GAM can lend sup-

port, whether it is nationally or internationally, where we can garner support…or where we can come together as a body and approach Government to lend support to those that need development. We realise that mayors have not had the opportunity to come together once they’re elected”.

She also commented on the operation of newer organs that were established, positing that there is a need for training. Now, they are seeking to create frameworks to guide the work of townships, utilising Chapter 28:01.

“What we found is that these young municipali-

ties are just operating off of what they find and what they understand as they go along because there has

been no training. This is why it is important that those municipalities come on board…What we want is to set the guidelines on how each municipality should function,” Arrindell further mentioned.

Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) are the newest addition to the list of towns and compliment the original six of Georgetown, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam);

Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) and Corriverton, Rose Hall and New Amsterdam in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Back in August 2018, Mahdia was declared the newest township by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan but shortly after, residents and observers had questioned whether that was the opportune time to declare township in that area. This was after considering that the community was yet to be equipped with the relevant services offered in a town and that the road leading into Mahdia is in a deplorable state.

non-partner sexual violence, including rape, attempted rape, unwanted sexual touching and sexual harassment”.

Mclean further noted that the UN along with other stakeholders has partnered with each other to prevent and end violence against women at the global, regional and national levels and added that reports from various countries, including Guyana, show that globally, there is widespread impunity on sexual violence and rape.

Drayton said gender-based violence has lasting consequences for victims, noting that the realisation of this increase is starting to change perceptions of the need to look at the region in a different way.

She emphasised that violence in any form can negatively affect women’s phys-

ical, mental, sexual and reproductive health, and may increase the risk of acquiring HIV in some settings.

It was also highlighted that women are more likely to experience IPV if they have low education, exposure to mothers being abused by a partner, abuse during childhood, and attitudes accepting violence, male privilege, and women’s subordinate status.

According to the Guyana Women’s Health and Life Experiences Report, most women reporting sexual IPV reported being forced to have sex when they did not want to and having sex with their partners because they were afraid to refuse.

Additionally, the report also pointed out that 40 per cent of women whose current or most recent partners consume alcohol more than once

a week reported experiencing physical and/or sexual violence from that partner.

According to global estimates published by the World Health Organization (WHO), about one in three (35 per cent) of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual IPV or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.

Globally, as many as 38 per cent of murders of women are committed by a male intimate partner.

The WHO also noted that men are more likely to perpetrate violence if they have low education, a history of child maltreatment, exposure to domestic violence against their mothers, harmful use of alcohol, unequal gender norms including attitudes accepting of violence, and a sense of entitlement over women.

Guyana Association of Municipalities President Waneka Arrindell

Gender-based violence increasing in Guyana – UN

V

iolence against women, specifically Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and sexual violence, remains a major public health problem globally and a violation of women’s human rights.

Here in Guyana, the situation is no different, with the majority of the female populace suffering some form of violence on a daily basis.

This is according to the recently-launched Guyana Women’s Health and Life Experiences Report, the first of its kind in Guyana, which was brought to fruition through collaborative efforts between relevant authorities and international partners.

According to the United Nations (UN) Women Multi-Country Office in the Caribbean Representative, Alison McLean, the survey was conducted to obtain cru-

United Nations Women MultiCountry Office in the Caribbean Representative, Alison McLean

cial information about violence against women and was administered among 1498 women aged 15 to 64 in all 10 administrative regions in Guyana.

It revealed that 55 per cent of the females questioned have experienced at least one form of violence in their lifetime.

“Four in 10 women have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner in their lifetime. Emotional violence, which is usually the most commonly reported form, was highest at 40 per cent of the women surveyed.

The lack of physical scars does not make that form of violence a lesser concern; all forms of violence are calls for concern”.

She stated that any form of violence against women has alarming implications for communities, workplaces, families and even the development of a country.

The scourge of gender-based violence extends beyond partner-inflicted violence, she added, stating that 13 per cent of women experience abuse before the age of 18.

“Being young is the most significant risk factor for

12 NEWS

thursday, november 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Public servants receive salary increases – Govt

…erosion of household wealth, disposable income cannot be addressed with this small increase – Irfaan Ali ...15,000 to be fired in phased period – Winston Jordan

I

n the coming year 2020, public servants will get a salary increase, as Government has approved an across-the-board salary hike, including retroactive payouts.

President David Granger made the announcement that the increases would be tax free and retroactive from January 2019. This was after a meeting was facilitated on Tuesday between the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and senior Government officials. The Union had called out the coalition Administration on its arbitrary increases after it failed to deliver its promise of a consensual approach.

The President’s announcement comes mere days after Finance Minister Winston Jordan said that the public service has too many workers and about 15,000 can be fired. These persons are from the public service, Guyana Power and Light and Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

He claimed that the APNU/ AFC is “generous” by not firing 15,000 immediately but said that the terminations will be phased over a period of time.

Meanwhile, giving a breakdown on Wednesday, Granger stated that the minimum wage for public servants swould be increased to $70,000 from $64,220 per month. Persons in this category will be receiving $69,336 this December – a sum in excess of their base salaries. This is a nine per

PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali

cent increase from the current wages and is extended to sweeper-cleaners in the public education system.

Other public servants earning between $100,000 and under $1 million will receive an 8.5 per cent increase; and those earning less than $100,000 will receive a nine per cent increase in their salaries.

Meanwhile, Cabinet also recommended increases in several stipends, with station allowances increased from $2800 to $10,000; hinterland allowances will be increased from $4000 and $12,000 to $24,000 and the risk allowance increased to $5000. The clothing allowance for teachers will move from $13,000 and $22,135 to $15,000 and $30,000 respectively. On-call allowances for doctors will be raised in the coming year, the President said.

“Public servants, including teachers, nurses, doc-

tors, members of the defence force, police force and the security services will benefit from these permanent salaries increases…

The income tax rate has been reduced and the tax on employers’ contribution to NIS (National Insurance Scheme) was removed,” Granger said in his address to the nation.

Erosion of household wealth

Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party Presidential candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday said that the destruction of the economy, eroding of household wealth and disposable income cannot be addressed with this increase.

“Take for example the level of taxation which plays an important role in the decline of private consumption. Since 2015, total tax revenue is expected to increase in 2019 by

more than $98.7B or 55 per cent. Of this total VAT represents $17.7B or 18 per cent. Indeed, the increase is worrisome since total output or GDP has increased by a mere 9 per cent or $35 Billion. What this means is that the government have been taking away more from the people than what is actually being produced,” Ali said on Wednesday. He added that clearly more personal and household resources is used to pay taxes hence less disposable income. “To make matters worse job losses of roughly over 30,000 nationwide. The sugar industry and forestry President David Granger sector which employ a large majority of low-income and last week that Government positioned. low-skilled workers, were would increase public serHe also reflected on among the hardest hit sec- vants’ salaries, GPSU Finance Minister Winston tors with roughly 7,000 and President Patrick Yarde Jordan’s budget speech 5,000 job losses, respective- said that the Union was some four years ago, which ly. The entire productive “fed up” with the outcome recognised the inadequacies sector is in decline as a di- yet again. in the public service, which rect result were nevof poor poladThe President’s announcement comes mere days er icies and dressed. bad gover“If you after Finance Minister Winston Jordan said that nance.” look at the public service has too many workers and He addMinister ed that about 15,000 can be fired. These persons are from J o r d a n ’ s when adspeech the public service, Guyana Power and Light justed for in 2015, inflation and Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). He you’ll see the net ina comclaimed that the APNU/AFC is “generous” by crease in mitment salaries based on not firing 15,000 immediately but said that the would be terminations will be phased over a period of time. aa l l ymutueven less.

-arTake for exrived-at ample, the price of food and “This is most disturb- decision that we had with clothing, two of the basic ne- ing to us. We would wish to him. He recognised how cessities, are expected to in- state that we will respond woefully inadequate cercrease by 3.5 per cent and to any arbitrary increase tain conditions were in the five percent , respectively in in a most vigorous manner public service. Today, four 2019. …We are fed up with arbi- years after, they’re still the Upon the announcement trary impositions,” he had same.”

Wanted man surrenders to Police

R

avindra Punwasie of Lot 12 Palmyra Street, East Canje,

Still wanted: Doodnauth Bissoondyal

has turned himself in after the Guyana Police Force (GPF) issued a wanted bulletin for his arrest in connection with an armed robbery.

The GPF had recently issued a wanted bulletin for Punwasie and two

others, who were allegedly involved in the armed robbery of a Chinese supermarket at Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

The 36-year-old turned himself in on Tuesday and was said to be assisting with the investigations. The other wanted men are Jason Isaacs, 30, of 18 Bristol Street, East Canje and Doodnauth Bissoondyal, 22, of Lot 81 Cuburg Street, East Canje.

Reports are that on November 2, the business was invaded by four bandits, who were armed with guns and cutlasses.

The men demanded cash from the Chinese, but after they hesitated, one of the bandits went into the register and collected the cash. Police were told that $300,000 and two cellular phones were taken by the men.

Anyone with information that may lead to the

Still wanted: Jason Isaacs

arrest of the suspects are asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 3335564, 333-2151, 333-2152, 226-6978, 225-8196, 2262870, 226-7065, 227-1149, 226-7065, 911 or the nearest police station.

13 Wanted bulletins issued for murder, fraud accused M news

thursday, november 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

ore than a month has passed since 53-yearold Darrel Breedy of Lot 2037 Hummingbird Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was shot and killed, during a home invasion and the two gunmen involved in the incident are yet to be caught.

Police are still investigating the matter with hopes of locating and arresting the two perpetrators who robbed Breedy of $11,000 and his television before shooting him to death.

Law enforcement officials are on the hunt for 26-yearold Terrence Pitt, called “Sonna Boy” and “Shots”, for questioning in connection with Breedy’s murder. A wanted bulletin was issued

for him on Wednesday.

Pitt’s last known addresses are B Field, Sophia, Georgetown and Third Street, Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Meanwhile, Police are also on the hunt for two other men for questioning in relation to obtaining money by false pretence charges on separate occasions.

Handel Murvin Lynch, 43, of Lot 4096 Well Road, North Ruimveldt and Lot 209 Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, has been evading the cops since Rajkumar Seenarine in November 2018 and Dian Boodram made a report in September 2019 that Lynch fleeced them.

Lynch is wanted by the Police for questioning in

Gopaul Tiwari, “Omkar”

also

called

relation to obtaining money by false pretence from Seenarine and Boodram between November 24, 2018

Handel Murvin Lynch

and September 24, 2019.

The other suspect who investigators are on the hunt for has been identified as 50-year-old Gopaul

Police for questioning in relation to obtaining money by false pretence from Goberdan Coalall, Naresh Lachman, Narash Chitram, Dinesh Ramsammy, Ethan Gladstone, Zaman Bollers and Wendell Harry between August 1 and October 31, 2019.

The GPF is requesting that anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of any of the abovementioned trio to contact the Police on telephone numbers 227-1611, 225Terrence Pitt, also called 6940, 226-7065, 226-2870, “Sonna Boy” and “Shots” 227-1149, 225-3650, or 911 or at the nearest police staTiwari, called “Omkar”, of tion. The Force is assuring Lot 73 Second Street, Craig that all information will be Village, EBD. treated with the strictest He is wanted by the confidence.

Commuters face hours-long traffic woes on EBD, WBD roads …as third-lane arrangement ceased

F

or two consecutive days, traffic leading to the Demerara Harbour Bridge has caused a massive build-up of vehicles, creating a ripple effect on both sides of the Demerara River and aggravating thousands of commuters.

In the morning hours, a third lane is opened on the East Bank of Demerara for the free flow of traffic exiting the Bridge. However, since Tuesday morning, this was not done, thus creating complete disorder.

Commuters were waiting to cross the Bridge for almost two hours, resulting in lines which extended to Goed Fortuin, Pouderoyen and eventually Vreed-enHoop. Additional Police Officers were later dispatched along the route to

bring the situation under control and maintain order as the same scenario developed over time on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) Public Road.

Over at the Bridge, vehicles aligned in five rows to cross the river and students, seemingly late for school after 09:00h, hurriedly rushed from the Bridge to the Vreed-enHoop Stelling to board a water taxi.

Commenting on the matter, one commuter, Maria Sinclair, explained that it had been 90 minutes since she was waiting at the Bridge. Frustrated at the situation, she exited a bus and proceeded towards the ferry service instead.

“I was supposed to reach to work since 08:30h. I’m waiting here since 07:30h

and now is 09:00h. They have no control over what is happening and when the cars reach over the other side (the EBD), it has nowhere to go because of the traffic. These simple things they can’t understand.

People are later for work and school,” she told this publication.

This sentiment was shared by several other commuters who questioned the logic of the Guyana Police Force’s decision to close off the third lane that tempered the situation in the mornings and evenings.

On the other side of the river, persons also waited for hours to cross the East Bank thoroughfare as a result of the colossal accumulation of vehicles exiting the floating bridge. The third lane in the morning

The line of vehicles extending past Vreed-en-Hoop on the WBD from the Demerara Harbour Bridge

would provide significant ease to persons travelling to Georgetown on a daily basis by reducing the travel time and traffic congestion.

One man explained that if there is a closure in the

late morning hours, this current situation would be one of even greater concern.

“If this bridge is to open at 05:00h tomorrow morning and you have people waiting to cross plus no-

where to drive when you go over, it is a serious thing.

Because the morning opening is even more traffic and now that this is what we have to go through, it is worse, worse”.

14 news Overseas-based physician donates $4.7M in medical books to UG D thursday, november 14, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

r Keith Cummings, an overseas-based Guyanese physician, has gifted the University of Guyana Library (UG) medical books to the tune of $4.7 million, as they cover areas inclusive of medicine, biology, and social sciences.

Like his past donations, Dr Cummings is hoping that the medical books and journals provided will improve the quality of education, research and training for new physicians in Guyana.

This donation was accepted by the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr Emanuel Cummings on behalf of the university. He expressed gratitude to the donor and his collaborators,

namely: Dr Stephen Carryl, Dr Ali Hassoun, Dr Dwain Wood, Dr Dhanna Etwaru, Dr Phillip McPherson, Dr Sherly Abraha, and Dr Leon Lewis, for their continued kindness and commitment to the University.

Having graduated as part of the institution’s medicine field in 2003, Dr Cummings frequently has returned to Guyana to provide medical education sessions on a variety of topics in Linden, Georgetown and Berbice over the past

Dr Keith Cummings (4th from left) presenting a book title to Dr Emanuel Cummings

Logos Hope to visit Guyana in December

T

he world’s largest floating book fair, Logos Hope, is set to make another return to Guyana in just two weeks after a successful run back in 2017, which captured the attention of many.

From December 2 to 8, the ship will be docked at the La Penitence Wharf, giving Guyanese a chance to hop on board and experience over 5000 titles from children’s classics, cooking, biographies, adventure, mystery, travel, science, history, anthologies, poetry, encyclopaedias and much more.

They are also known for a vast selection of Christian literature. With this, it has promised to spark interest in persons of all ages.

Logos Hope

During the last visit, there were long lines leading onto the ship and books were quickly flying off the shelves. Most of the books

are donated from different publishing companies who agree with their vision to educate and bring help to countries through HIV/

AIDS awareness or construction and community development projects.

The ship, Logos Hope, launched into active service in February 2009 from Koege, Denmark.

Other preceding ships include the Logos, Doulos and Logos II. Logos Hope is operated by GBA Ships e.V, an international charitable organisation registered in Germany. Since 1970, the organisation has welcomed over 45 million visitors up the passages in over 150 countries and territories around the world. The ship usually visits 12 countries every year, offering quality books at affordable prices.

Aboard the docked ship, persons can look forward to other attractions.

The organisation accepts donations of fuel, practical help for communities, and financial support for participants, water filters and book donations which are forwarded to schools, libraries and churches.

four years, as well as philanthropic work with several churches in Berbice and at his former primary and secondary schools.

In 2017, he accepted a teaching assignment in Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked as an assistant professor of medicine and academic hospitalist in one of the southern US premiere healthcare systems— Emory University Hospital. Dr Cummings is now practising in New York.

Deadly wedding house brawl: Diamond resident found guilty

Convicted of manslaughter: Rajen Dindial called “Eric”

T

hirty-eight-year-old Rajen Dindial, also called “Eric”, formerly of Lot 653 Section C Block Y, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was on Wednesday found guilty of manslaughter by a 12-member jury before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow.

The now-convicted man, who was initially slapped with a murder charge, was

found guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter. He is expected to be sentenced on November 28, when a probation report is expected to be presented.

The indictment against Dindial stated that on September 3, 2017, at Sarron Street Grove, EBD, he murdered 25-year-old Alston Henry.

According to reports, Henry was at a wedding with Dindial’s relatives when an argument ensued between the two.

The now-dead man reportedly started to act in a disorderly manner and threw down a portable toilet that was on the property where the wedding was being kept.

As such, the accused picked up a dabla (large wooden spoon) and dealt Henry several blows about his body.

The man reportedly fell unconscious and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

As such, Dindial was taken into Police custody and later slapped with a murder charge.

The State’s case was presented by Prosecutors Sarah Martin and Shawnette Austin, while Attorney Nigel Hughes represented Dindial.

news

15

thursday, november 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

RDC grants no objection for Mabura GTT launches Christmas promotion gas station, solar energy projects

T

Members of the Region 10 RDC at the recent statutory meeting

he Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has granted no objections for investors interested in pursuing a new gas station and a solar energy project within the region.

At the most recent statutory meeting of the Council, Regional Chairman Renis Morian, who sought to obtain the nod for the projects from the Council, shared concept notes with Regional Councillors which were obtained from the two investment companies. The first referenced was from the investment company which has expressed interest in constructing a gas station and truck stop in addition to pursuing an agricultural project along the Mabura Road.

The Regional Chairman stated that he had no objections to the project upon looking at the concept note as he pointed to the opportunities for employment and agricultural development.

“The project would employ at least 30 persons upon start-up and 50 persons eventually. I think it’s a good idea, especially one which deals with agriculture...I don’t have any objections,” he stated.

Morian said the Council does not authorise businesses but provide the no objection grants’ approval, which allows the investors to now move to the relevant Ministry which would have the final say.

He also shared a document from another compa-

ny interested in solar energy in the region, also in the vicinity of the Wismar, Mabura area. This company, he explained, is seeking to utilise 20 acres of land with the start-up of 5 megawatts and eventually 25 megawatts of power.

“I don’t see a problem... but our remit is to say to the Minister of Business that we don’t have an objection.

And that is where our remit starts and where it ends,” the Regional Chairman stated. He added that the solar project is a good idea for the region, more so in the move towards a green economy.

While a majority of Councillors had no objection to the projects, others noted that they wished to hear more about the companies.

T

he Guyana Telephone Telegraph Company (GTT) has launched its “Biggest Christmas Ever” promotion which will end with a game show on December 21, 2019.

The promotion will run from November to December and all GTT subscribers will have a chance to gain entry into the competition by using any of the numerous services available.

“Topping up and paying bills on time via MMG and the MyGTT apps, ac-

tivating roaming plans, and signing up for Blaze are all ways customers can gain entry into the competition. The more they do these activities, the greater their chances are of winning fantastic prizes,” said Tashandra Inniss, GTT’s Senior Marketing Executive.

For each of the next 5 weeks, 12 persons will be selected from the different services available at GTT. Every week, one lucky winner will be randomly selected and will win one of the Big Size prizes avail-

able.

These prizes include a small-sized fridge, queensized bed, television, shopping spree, a handset and a motorcycle.

The five winners and one additional person will be chosen from the audience at the grand finale.

One person will then be randomly selected to choose from 12 boxes. The boxes will include various prizes like a Nissan Juke, a brand new home entertainment system, King-sized bed, a Samsung S10, and a twodoor stainless steel fridge.

battling the blaze in an effort to save the structure.

In their attempts, the lower flat of the building suffered less damage. The fire shattered windows, damaged ceilings and other elements.

However, they were unable to save anything, owing to the rate at which the flames grew.

During the blaze, no one was injured but pets belonging to the owner report-

edly suffered some burns.

The Guyana Fire Service has since launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Fire razes Queenstown residence A family is now homeless following an afternoon fire which destroyed an Oronoque Street, Queenstown house on Tuesday.

Based on information received, the fire started around 16:50h on the upper flat of the two-storey house, which was occupied by a Brazilian family.

At the time of the incident, the owner of the house, Debra Pereira was in the bottom flat of the building when flames erupted from the verandah, located in front of the concrete building. The flames quickly spread to other sections of the house, capturing the attention of neighbours and passers-by. Neighbours recalled hearing a loud sound, after which the entire top flat was engulfed in thick smoke.

The Guyana Fire Service was immediately called to the scene as persons attempted to quell the fire with extinguishers and buckets of water. Two tenders arrived on site – one from the Alberttown Fire Station and the other from the Campbellville outlet.

By then, much was lost.

The fire tenders began

The house on fire

16

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, november 14, 2019

Regional

Bolivia crisis: Jeanine Áñez assumes interim presidency

B

olivian Opposition Senator Jeanine Áñez has assumed the interim presidency of the South American country following Evo Morales' resignation. Áñez said she was next in line under the Constitution and vowed to hold elections soon.

Her appointment was endorsed by Bolivia's Constitutional Court.

Lawmakers from Morales's party boycotted the session, and the former President branded Áñez "a coup-mongering right-wing

senator".

Morales has sought asylum in Mexico, arguing that his life was in danger.

He resigned on Sunday after weeks of protests over a disputed presidential election result. He said he was forced to stand down but had done so willingly "so there would be no more bloodshed".

At Wednesday's news conference in Mexico City, Mr Morales said: "If the people ask me, we are ready to return to pacify [Bolivia]".

He also called for a "national dialogue" to resolve

Jeanine Áñez proclaimed herself interim President with the backing of the Constitutional Court

the crisis and rejected the legitimacy of the interim pres-

ident, AFP news agency reports.

Áñez, 52, is a qualified lawyer and a fierce critic of Morales. She was previously Director of the Totalvision TV station and has been a senator since 2010, representing the region of Beni in the National Assembly.

As the deputy Senate leader, Áñez took temporary control of the body on Tuesday after Bolivia's Vice President and the leaders of the senate and lower house resigned.

That put her next in line for the presidency under the Constitution.

The parliamentary ses-

sion to appoint Áñez was boycotted by lawmakers from Morales's leftist Movement for Socialism party, who said it was illegitimate.

"Before the definitive absence of the President and Vice President... as the President of the Chamber of Senators, I immediately assume the presidency as foreseen in the constitutional order," Áñez said to applause from opposition lawmakers.

Bolivia's highest constitutional court backed her assumption of power. (Excerpt from BBC News)

How Chileans are reclaiming public Venezuelan Opposition group ends occupation of Embassy in Brazil areas, rebuilding amid unrest

A

s the smell of tear gas lingered in the air, the remains of the previous night's barricades still blocking the roads, bookseller Daniel Gonzalez sat with dozens of other Chileans in Santiago's central park, Parque Forestal, on a recent Sunday afternoon.

"We are sharing opinions and ideas, as we don't want to go back to where we came from before," Gonzalez told Al Jazeera as he and his neighbours discussed a way forward in the country, which is experiencing its worst unrest in decades.

For three weeks, Chileans have taken to the streets, protesting against rising inequality and demanding the resignation of President Sebastian Pinera. More than 20 people have died in the unrest, including several killed

by Police or military officials.

Looting, vandalism and arson have also caused billions of dollars' of damage to businesses and crippled parts of the capital's public transport system.

Against this backdrop, however, small gatherings like the one in the Parque Forestal have popped up, with residents seeking to constructively build upon the unity seen on the streets.

B

Neighbours gathering during a town hall meeting in Santiago, Chile [Photo by: Charis McGowan/Al Jazeera]

Some of these meetings focus on set topics: From support groups on mental health and human rights to lectures on political reforms.

Gonzalez's group shared lunch and talked about general issues. They also planned workshops to analyse, understand and propose policies, to collect their ideas and submit them to local council members.

One of Gonzalez's neighbours, Pablo Venegas, said he believes that reclaiming public areas to create platforms of discussion is important.

"These spaces disappeared during the dictatorship," Venegas said, referring to the 17-year military dictatorship of Agusto Pinochet,

which ended in 1990.

"Now we have to take them back," he told Al Jazeera. "As a community, this is the time we need to come together and participate in these types of activities. This is an opportunity to rebuild".

The Parque Forestal group now has more than 100 members, who meet every Sunday. They also have a WhatsApp group used to alert each other of disturbances and to announce plans to attend protests together.

While the Parque Forestal group deliberately formed to reflect and progress on the protests, other communities grew out of sheer necessity.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

ackers of Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó left the country’s embassy in Brasilia on Wednesday, after a tense 11-hour standoff that created a diplomatic embarrassment for Brazil’s right-wing Government.

Brazil’s Foreign Ministry said a diplomat it sent to mediate a peaceful end to the dispute managed to convince the group of 10 people to leave the mission.

Representatives of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro later regained access to the building, creating a tricky situation for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has recognised Guaidó as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.

The incident caused scuffles outside the Embassy in an embarrassment for Brazil’s Government as it hosts the BRICS summit of major emerging economies in the capital on Wednesday and Thursday. Leaders Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia, who support Maduro, attended the event.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza

A supporter of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro fights with an Opposition Leader Juan Guaido's supporter outside Venezuelan Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil

said on Twitter the “violent” occupation had ended peacefully, thanks to the intervention of the Brazilian authorities.

Members of the Guaidó group said Embassy staff had allowed them to enter the Embassy in the morning and that they did so peacefully.

Guaidó’s envoy in Brazil, Maria Teresa Belandria, has not been able to access the Embassy since she arrived 10 months ago and has been living and working out of a Brasilia hotel.

Crowds of Brazilians who gathered outside the Embassy to support the rival claims of Maduro and Guaidó traded insults and

some came to blows before Police could separate them.

“The Brazilian Government ordered us to leave our country’s Embassy and we were escorted out by the back door like delinquents,” Venezuelan Army Major Jose Gregorio, who deserted to Brazil this year, said by telephone after leaving the embassy.

Venezuelan Embassies around the world have become flash points for the competing claims of Guaidó, the head of country’s National Assembly, and Maduro, a socialist who took over from late President Hugo Chávez in 2013. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Jamaica: Children's advocate probing ‘Fake’ voters’ list making reports of abuse at school for the blind

rounds in Dominica

T

he Electoral Office (EO) has called on Dominicans to reject a digital online voters list that is being circulated here as the island prepares to elect a new government on December 6.

EO public relations office, Elias Dupuis, said the list which is being circulated on social media platforms, is illegitimate and that the Electoral Office does not publish, sell or release digital copies of the register of electors for any reason.

“Despite this, claims by entities responsible for the digital list have sought to pass this unauthorised list as purporting to be the same as the list of electors and the Electoral office strongly dis-

courages persons from disseminating it or referencing it as a source of information.

‘This tainted list is in no affiliated with the Electoral Office or any of its systems or processes. The public is reminded that physical copies of the list of electors produced by the Electoral Office for publication or for sale are the only legitimate source of elector information available in the Commonwealth of Dominica,” said Dupuis.

He said that the Electoral Office is the only entity empowered by the Registration of Electors Act “to collect, guard and produce elector information and the production and publishing of these lists done multiple times per

year”.

He said as required by law, lists are created periodically and published in each polling district and are also made available at the homes of registering and assistant registering officers, the library and the Electoral Office.

“For the sake of clarity the information contained in this digital list was not issued by our systems and persons should not be afraid that their names do not appear on it,” Dupuis said, adding that anyone wanting to ensure his or her name is on the list should visit the appropriate and legal areas where the lists are posted. (Excerpt from CMC)

C

hildren's Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison has disclosed that her office is now investigating reports of abuse at Salvation Army School for the Blind in St Andrew.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer Monday, Gordon Harrison said her office had been investigating a matter involving a child at the school when it learnt of other issues reported by this newspaper.

“We have been involved in [investigations] even before the stories. The stories indicate that clearly, things are not getting any better, because we were actually involved on behalf of a child, in relation

to whom we got a specific complaint, and we've been pursuing that matter.

“It did touch and concern some of the broader issues on which we sought to get answers from certainly the Chief Education Officer and the acting Permanent Secretary. So we have it (school) on our front burner and we've been dealing with it,” Gordon Harrison said.

The Observer has, since late October, been reporting on several issues affecting the school at Mannings Hill Road, including the closure of the dormitory, allegations of verbal abuse and contention among Salvation Army admin-

istrators and Ministry of Education staff.

At least two students have accused Salvation Army officials of ordering them to leave the compound or be taken to the nearest Police station after the school announced that it would close the boarding facility ahead of the midterm break.

Principal Iyeke Erharuyi later complained in a memo to Salvation Army that a young boy, believed to be one of the complainants, has since been bullied by at least one Salvation Army official.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, november 14, 2019

17

Around the World

Trump impeachment hearings focus on Ebola vaccine approved Ukraine pressure campaign in 1st day as 2nd jab trialled

T

he top US diplomat in Ukraine, testifying in the first televised hearing of the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, on Wednesday linked the President more directly to a pressure campaign on Ukraine to conduct investigations that would benefit him politically.

William Taylor was one of two career diplomats who testified before the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee as a crucial new phase began in the impeachment inquiry that threatens Trump’s presidency even as he seeks re-election in 2020.

Both Taylor and George Kent testified about their concerns about pressure

by Trump and allies to get Ukraine to investigate Democratic political rival Joe Biden in a dramatic hearing that pitted Democratic and Republican lawmakers against each other.

While the hearing turned contentious at times – including sniping between lawmakers – the lowkey testimony given by the two witnesses may have fallen short of giving the Democrats the ammunition they need to advance their argument that Trump has committed misdeeds worthy of ousting him from office.

An important revelation came from Taylor, acting ambassador to Ukraine, who pointed to the Republican President’s keen interest in getting Ukraine to investigate Biden, a former Vice President, and reiterated his understanding that $391 million in US security aid was withheld from Kiev unless it cooperated.

Taylor said a member of his staff overheard a July 26 phone call between Trump and Gordon Sondland, a former political donor appointed as a senior diplomat, in which the Republican President asked about those investigations

A

Top US diplomat in Ukraine William Taylor testified publicly as part of the House impeachment probe on Capitol Hill [Photo by: Andrew Harnik]

and Sondland told him that the Ukrainians were ready to proceed.

Following the call – which occurred a day after Trump had asked Ukraine’s President during a phone call to conduct these investigations – the staff member asked Sondland, the US Ambassador to the European Union, what Trump thought about Ukraine, Taylor said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

second Ebola vaccine is to be offered to around 50,000 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as part of a major clinical trial.

The Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine will be used alongside a vaccine made

by Merck, which has already been given to around 250,000 people.

Merck’s jab has now been approved by the World Health Organization.

More than 2100 people have died in DR Congo, in the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.

The WHO’s approval of Merck’s one-dose vaccine is based on it being satisfied with its safety and efficacy.

The European Commission has also approved the vaccine.

J&J’s vaccine, which requires two doses given 56 days apart, will be available to adults and children over one, living in two areas of the DR Congo city of Goma, where there is no active transmission of the deadly

A man is given the Ebola vaccine in DR Congo

disease.

Goma, which has a population of one million people, is on the border with Rwanda and has a major international airport.

Prof Daniel Bausch, Director of the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team, is one of the scientists leading the trial.

He said there was “no contest” between the two vaccines, and both had their advantages and disadvantages.

Merck’s, which is given to those who come into direct and indirect contact

with an Ebola patient, could be best used in the middle of an outbreak – while the J&J vaccine could be used to protect people not yet exposed to Ebola.

Prof Bausch said: “The J&J vaccine is not ideally suited to an outbreak setting, primarily because it requires two doses to provide the optimal immunity”.

But he said the vaccine “may provide longer-term immunity and may be associated with fewer side-effects than a live virus vaccine, like the Merck one”.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Pakistan anti-Government Climate change blamed as floods overwhelm protesters call off Islamabad sit-in Venice, swamping basilica and squares

V

T

housands of anti-government protesters in Pakistan called off a two-week sit-in on Islamabad’s main highway but began what they called “Plan B” aimed at crippling the country’s roads and toppling Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Protest leader Fazl-urRehman, Chief of the conservative Assembly of Islamic Clerics (Jamiat Ulema IslamFazl; JUI-F) party, told his supporters on Wednesday to return to their home states to begin the “next phase” of the “ongoing movement”, which he said would continue until the government resigns and fresh elections are held.

Demonstrators set off on the march from the southern city of Karachi on October 27 and arrived in Islamabad on October 31, where they had been holding a sit-in for almost two weeks.

Anti-government demonstrators arrived in the capital Islamabad on October 31 [Photo by: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters]

“Our strength is converged here, and our associates are out on the roads. They need your help and assistance,” Rehman told the crowd from the top of an articulated truck that has served as a stage for nightly addresses to protesters.

“Your presence here has cut the roots of the government. In the next phase, we will demolish this trunk”.

He threatened to block

several main highways, which could disconnect major cities from the rest of the country.

Earlier on Wednesday, JUI-F workers, holding party flags, blocked the western Quetta-Chaman highway linking the country with Afghanistan, resulting in a long queue of trucks laden with goods, footage aired by private news channels showed. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

JNU: Indian university rolls back hostel fee hike after protests

O

ne of India’s most prestigious universities has partially rolled back a hostel fee hike, days after thousands of protesting students clashed with Police over the issue.

A Government official tweeted a “major rollback” in the fees for Jawaharlal Nehru University had been decided but did not elaborate.

Officials had defended the 150% fee hike, saying it was “too subsidised”.

But many said cheaper fees made it possible for poorer students to study.

At 2000 rupees ($28) per month, the fees are much cheaper than many private institutions.

The row escalated earlier this week when thousands of students gathered outside an auditorium where a graduation ceremony was taking place.

Police used water cannon after they broke through barricades and surged forward.

“The protests will continue until our demands are met. We are not taking this stand because we are stubborn but because there are

many students here who cannot afford to pay this fee,” one of the protesting students told BBC Hindi’s, Vineet Khare.

They also said they were left with no other choice than to demonstrate outside the event, which was attended by India’s vice-president and a federal minister.

“Nobody from the administration is talking to us. We have repeatedly asked officials to meet. We even went to their offices several times, but they didn’t bother to meet us,” one student said.

(BBC News)

enice’s Mayor declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after “apocalyptic” floods swept through the lagoon city, flooding its historic basilica and inundating squares and centuries-old buildings.

Thoroughfares were turned into raging torrents, stone balustrades were shattered, boats tossed ashore and gondolas smashed against their moorings as the lagoon tide peaked at 187 cm (6ft 2in) shortly before midnight.

It was the highest level since the record 194 cm set in 1966 but with rising water levels becoming a regu-

lar threat to the tourist jewel, City Mayor Luigi Brugnaro was quick to blame climate change for the disaster.

“Venice is on its knees,” said Brugnaro. “The damage will run into hundreds of millions of euros”.

“This is the result of climate change,” he said on Twitter.

The floods, accentuated by driving rains and strong winds, also ravaged areas beyond the city itself.

One man died on Pellestrina, one of the many islands that dot the Venetian lagoon, electrocuted while trying to pump water out of his

house.

“Venice has been tortured, but there are also other parts of the Veneto region besides Venice. It is an apocalyptic disaster,” regional governor Luca Zaia told reporters.

He said he was “horrified” by what he was seeing from numerous communities.

Venice’s huge Saint Mark’s Square, once described as Europe’s living room, was submerged by more than one meter of water, while the adjacent Saint Mark’s Basilica was flooded for the sixth time in 1200 years – but the fourth in the last 20. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Protesters blockade universities, stockpile makeshift weapons as chaos grips Hong Kong

A

nti-government protesters dug in at several university campuses across Hong Kong on Wednesday, setting the stage for further confrontations as Police said violence in the Chinese-ruled city had reached a “very dangerous and even deadly level”.

Protesters – many of them young students – spent much of Wednesday fortifying barricades and stockpiling food and makeshift weapons, as other roving bands of masked protesters disrupted transport and businesses in many areas.

As night fell without more of the large on-campus clashes seen the previous day, protesters manning the barricades and checkpoints around the universities arranged to sleep in shifts to watch for any approaching Police.

A general view shows the barricades outside the occupied campus of the Chinese University in Hong Kong, China

Demonstrators have been protesting since June about what they see as meddling by Beijing in the freedoms guaranteed under the “one country, two systems” formula put in place when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Allegations of po-

lice brutality have fuelled protesters’ anger.

China denies interfering in Hong Kong’s affairs and has blamed Western countries, including Britain and the United States, for stirring up trouble. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, november 14, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

A steady pace forward will help stabilize your life and a certain meaningful relationship. If you discuss your intentions, the feedback you receive will encourage a joint effort.

Emotions will be difficult to control. Refuse to let someone manipulate you with false information and mind games. Keep life simple, don’t overreact and focus on romance, not on conflict.

Interacting with people who share your beliefs or creative passion will make it easier to effect a positive change that will help you excel.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Consider what you’d like to do and put your plan in motion. Adopting a new look, sharing something special with a loved one or making a healthier life choice is favored.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Dive into something new and exciting. The people you encounter and the possibilities that surface will stimulate you to participate in something that encourages self-discipline and good health. Avoid emotional mayhem

LIBRA

Get out and explore what’s available. Learn something new or travel mentally, spiritually or physically to a place that will encourage personal gain, knowledge and new friendships. Romance is on the rise.

Emotionally motivated spending won’t solve your problems. Re-evaluate how you live, eat and deal with stress. A revelation will encourage you to make an adjustment that leads to a healthy lifestyle.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

A trip back to your roots will offer insight into current situations and reveal possibilities that might work for you in the near future. Work in conjunction with a loved one.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Do what you can to help others, but do so without upsetting a loved one or spending money you don’t have.

Be practical, offer suggestions and tend to your own affairs.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

If you dedicate time to something you feel passionate about, you will find a way to make it pay. A positive change is heading your way.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

You need an emotional outlet. Enrolling in a fitness class or making physical changes at home that will add to your comfort and convenience is favored. Romance will enhance your life.

SOLUTION FOr last published puzzle

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Someone will try to take emotional advantage of you.

Don’t overreact or buy into what someone is provoking you to do. Make decisions based on what you can afford.

thursday, november 14, 2019

19

West Indies seek to continue domination against rattled Afghanistan as format changes W

est Indies might've whitewashed Afghanistan 3-0 in the One-Day International (ODI) series, but they can't undermine the capabilities of the Rashid Khan-led side, who are currently placed two spots higher than they are in the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Team Rankings.

Afghanistan's five-wicket defeat in the third and final ODI not only completed a series whitewash, but also marked their 12th successive defeat in the format. They now have a great chance to redeem themselves in the T20I format, where they won 12 straight games, before suffering two defeats in the tri-series in Bangladesh, which they eventually went on to share with the hosts, after the rain-abandoned final.

While bowling is still their strongest suit, led by the ever-reliable Rashid Khan, who tops the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Bowling Rankings chart, not to forget the ninthplaced Mujeeb-Ur-Rehman and the topranked all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, it's the batting that has let Afghanistan down during the last few months. A solid

start might set them on course, and Hazratullah Zazai, the left-handed opener, could be the man to do it, much like he did during his enterprising 162* against Ireland in February this year.

West Indies, on the other hand, will be pleased with the contributions of all-rounder Roston Chase, who excelled on either front, aggregating 145 runs and bagging six wickets from three games. While Evin Lewis still holds the key at the top, Brandon King, the Jamaican dasher, will be closely looked at, as he comes off a glorious run in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), having topped the run charts with 496 runs at an average of 55.11, including a match-winning hundred in the Qualifier.

West Indies might be the current title holders of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, but their recent form in the format, where they've lost 17 of the last 20 games, has

seen them slip to the 10th position in the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Rankings. Can the new and dynamic leader in Kieron Pollard mark the beginning of a revival?

Remember the last time

Having already lost the series with back-to-back defeats in previous games, Afghanistan could manage only 146-6 after having opted to bat in the third and final T20I, during their bilateral tour of the Caribbean in May-June 2017. Noor Ali Zadran (35); Mohammad Nabi (38) and Shafiqullah Shafiq (25) got starts, but all fell to right-arm pacer Kesrick Williams, who starred with 3-34 from his four overs.

West Indies lost opener Chadwick Walton on the second ball of the chase, but looked in no trouble thereafter, as they rode on Marlon Samuels' unbeaten 89 to complete a comfortable seven-wicket win in the final over.

What they said

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan Captain: "We have to focus on doing the right things, and making the right decisions at the right time.

T20 is all about enjoyment, and we have to keep enjoying, whether in batting, bowling or fielding. The results will take care of themselves."

Kieron Pollard, West Indies Captain: "We came here with some sort of ambition about how we want to play cricket and the guys responded well. Winning is a habit, we want to follow the process again and again.

There is some method in everything we do.

Sometimes it will work and sometimes it won't work."

Conditions

Weather is expected to get a bit cooler during the evening, with only minimal cloud cover expected, if any at all. Change of pace might as well prove vital on a pitch that showed signs of slowing down progressively during the three ODIs. (icc-cricket.com)

Nicholas Pooran banned for Enterprise Cricket Club prepared for T20 Tournament 4 T20Is for ball-tampering

W

Enterprise Busta Sports Club Secretary Chanderpaul Tickaram receiving the sponsorship cheque from Busta’s Raymond Govinda

T

he Enterprise Busta Sports Club (EBSC) T20 competition will kick start this Sunday, November 16 at various grounds across the East Coast of Demerara.

The highly-anticipated tournament is expected to draw teams from various parts of the East Coast as they battle for supremacy.

The competition consists of teams such as Lusignan, East Coast, Fairfield, Buxton, Enterprise B, Lowland Cricket, and other teams are expected to join in the coming days.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, Enterprise Busta Sports Club Secretary Chanderpaul Tickaram said, “As we are in the 10th edition of this tournament, Guyana Beverages Inc and EBSC want to make it a big event. As usual, we target teams on the East Coast and the first 16 teams will join.

Our focus is to not only promote T20 on the East Coast, but also have the youths come out to be a part of this; we are collaborating with the Rose Hall Town Cricket Club.”

For more than 13 years, the Enterprise

Cricket Club have been partnering with the Guyana Beverages Inc under its Busta Brand for the development of youths. The club has produced players such as Zaheer Mohamed, Kavita and Kamesh Yadram, along with Chandrika and Bhaskar Yadram.

When asked about the preparations leading up to the tournament’s launch, Tickaram said, “Well, the drawing is scheduled for this Friday, and the first game will be on Sunday.

If teams can play on Saturday, that’s a plus.

Preparations are coming up good as I can see the weather is fair and there is nothing to worry about. The winner of this competition will face off the winner of Berbice in the champion of champions.”

The winner of the tournament will receive $50,000 and a trophy while second place will receive $25,000 and a trophy. There will also be prizes available for best catch in the finals, most runs in the finals, and centurion of the finals.

Teams interested should contact Tickaram on 614 -4444 or Vishaul on 641-4171.

est Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran has been banned from four T20 Internationals after being found guilty of attempting to change the condition of the ball during West Indies' third OneDay International (ODI) against Afghanistan on Monday.

Pooran admitted to the charge, which deals with a level 3 breach of the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct, and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Chris Broad. He had violated Article 2.14 of the Code, which relates to "changing the condition of the ball" after video footage showed him scratching the surface of the ball with his thumbnail.

Pooran will now miss West Indies' three-match T20I series against Afghanistan and the first game of their subsequent three-match series against India. He will also have five demerit points added to his record. The earliest he will be available to play for West Indies is the second T20I against India, on December 8 in Thiruvananthapuram.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Bismillah Shinwari and Ahmed Durrani and third

umpire Ahmed Pakteen as well as fourth umpire Izatullah Safi.

Calling his act "an extreme error in judgement", Pooran said he accepted the penalty while promising this incident was a one-off.

"I want to issue a sincere apology to my teammates, supporters and the Afghanistan team for what transpired on the field of play on Monday in Lucknow," Pooran said in a statement issued by Cricket West Indies.

"I recognise that I made an extreme error in judgement and I fully accept the ICC penalty. I want to assure everyone that this is an isolated incident and it will not be repeated. I promise to learn from this and come back stronger and wiser."

West Indies had completed a 3-0 sweep against Afghanistan in the ODIs, winning the third game by five wickets with eight balls to spare. Pooran had a successful series with the bat, and was the Man of the Match in the second game for smashing 67 off 50 balls. He was likely to have kept wicket for West Indies in the T20Is, but they have Denesh Ramdin in the squad as back-up, and the 34-year-old will now get to add to his 68 T20I caps, the last of which came a year ago, in November 2018. (ESPNcricinfo)

Ghent 6 Day: Gerben Thijssen in intensive care after crash on 1st day

B

elgium's Gerben Thijssen is in intensive care after being injured in a heavy crash in the first night of racing at the Ghent Six Day. The Lotto Soudal rider, 21, suffered three small brain haemorrhages and fractured three ribs and a collarbone.

He will have further examinations on Wednesday and is expected to remain in intensive care for up to three days.

"Gerben remained conscious at all times," said team spokesperson Philippe Maertens.

"His condition is stable."

Thijssen crashed on the last lap of the supersprint after making contact with Denmark's Oliver Wulff Frederiksen.

He was attended to on track and, after a request by the other riders, the crash brought an early halt to the night's racing.

Britain's Mark Cavendish also crashed during the one-lap time-trial, but the 34-year-old, who won the event with Bradley Wiggins in 2016, was not seriously injured.

This year Cavendish is partnered with seven-time winner Iljo Keisse, who paired with Jonas Rickaert as Cavendish was sidelined for the madison.

After the first day, Jules Hesters and Otto Vergaerde lead with 46 points, one point ahead of 2018 runners-up Kenny de Ketele and Robbe Ghys. (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursday, november 14, 2019

Fudadin misses out on 2nd successive century in Scorpions win J

amaica Scorpions overcame an enterprising batting display from Romaine Morris to capture their first win of the 2019 Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup over Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners on Tuesday.

Morris, a dashing wicketkeeper-batsman, blasted 14 fours and one six in a top score of 96 off 85 balls and dominated an opening stand of 119 with fellow left-handed Jamaican Paul Palmer, a former Scorpions Captain, to put their opponents on the back-foot early during a chase of 331 for victory. Once Palmer was lbw for 30 to the part-time leg-spin of Nkrumah Bonner, a former Marooner, the innings gradually came apart at the seams and the Scorpions clinched a 97-run win in a pulsating finish under the lights on a placid Warner Park pitch. Apart from Morris and Palmer, Sadique Henry got 23 and Akshaya Persaud added 20, but no other batsman reached 20 and the Marooners w e r e

Assad Fudadin

etkeeper-batsman Aldaine Thomas bowled out for 233 in 45.2 made 48. overs.

Rugged West Indies fast Fudadin, whose innings bowler Oshane Thomas included 11 fours and formalised the result when one six from 121 balls, he bowled Larry Joseph for and Thomas gave the Scorpions a sure two, snapping the off stump foundation with an in two in spectacular fashopening stand of 101. ion. Thomas again bowled with pace and hostility, The Scorpions were 138 for extracting enough bounce two, when off-spinner Larry Joseph had West Indies to make batting uncomfortbatsman Jermaine able and ended with 3-25 from Blackwood caught at 8.2 overs, and left-arm spinner long-on for 15. This preDennis Bulli grabbed 3-44 from his allotted 10 overs. It was the cipitated a golden pefirst win in three games for the riod for the Scorpions, where Fudadin, Scorpions, following a 75-run deMcCarthy with eight feat in their tournament openfours and five sixes from er against Barbados Pride last 64 balls and Powell with Thursday at Warner Park and an eight-wicket defeat against hosts three fours and five sixLeeward Islands Hurricanes last es from 36 balls combined to push the total over the Sunday at the Conaree Cricket 300-run mark with some Centre. explosive batting.

Earlier, the Scorpions A third-wicket stand of plundered their second highest Super50 total ever of 330 53 from 46 balls between for eight from their allocation of Fudadin and McCarthy was 50 overs behind a powerful batfollowed by a fourth-wicket partnership of 114 from 69 balls ting display led by Assad Fudadin, between McCarthy and Powell, Andre McCarthy and their capbut in the mad scramble for a tain, Rovman Powell. Guyanese left-hander Fudadin followed up Andre McCarthy strong finish, the Scorpions his second Super50 Cup hunconceded five wickets for 25 in dred in the previous match with an the final five overs. Akeem Jordan was attractive 9; McCarthy hit his sec- the most successful Marooners bowler ond half-century of the tournament with 3-72 from 10 overs and Akshaya in a dashing 91 to earn the Player- Persaud took 2-66 from 10 overs with of-the-Match award; Powell, itch- his uncomplicated, part-time left-arm ing for form, cracked 57 and wick- spin. (CWI)

Eyefull Ent and Kingston Football Development Academy host successful “Sunday Football Festival”

T

he Eyefull Ent and Kingston Football Development Academy (KFDA) “Sunday Football Festival” was held on Sunday, November 10 at the GFC Ground.

The event was deemed a success, and the KFDA are currently organising another “Sunday Football Festival”.

The event featured seven highly-anticipated matchups. In game one, Santos Ladies made light work of Eastveldt Girls as they trounced them 2-0. While in game number two, Fruta Ladies dominated the Lady Panthers 2-1, scoring for the Fruta Ladies were Thandi Smith and Abiosa Heywood with Pasty Edwards netting the lone goal for the Panthers. Game three saw the GT Masters emerge victorious over the Ballers FC Veterans 2-0, scoring for the Masters were Omali Nassy and Calvin Pitt . The West Demerara Masters- Kanaimas matchup ended in a stalemate at the end of fulltime; however, the Masters won 6-5 on penalty kicks. Game Five witnessed the Over 50 Santos FC taking on Pele FC; that match ended in a draw with the score at 1-1. Game Six saw Santos FC battling GDF FC (Elite Teams) in a gritty encounter. At the end of full-

time the score remained unchanged at 0-0, it then went down to penalty kicks which saw Santos come out on top 7-6. The last match of the day featured Fruta CFC duking it out with U-20 President XI; that match ended 2-1 in favour of the Fruta side.

Scoring for Fruta was Simeon Moore, who managed to penetrate the defence of his opponents twice despite a lone goal for the U-20 side.

The KFDA would like to extend its gratitude to all the players, coaching staff, fans, helpers and sponsors who came on board, including The Outdoor Store and Pet Shop Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Christine Anita Jardim; West Indies Sports Complex CEO Javed Khan; ABSAA Inc founder Alex Bunbury;

Trophy Stall CEO Ramesh Sunich and Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde. Trophies were given out to the winning team for each game.

Further, there was special mention of the GFF General Secretary Ian Alves; Technical Staff – Head Coach Marcio Maximo; Assistant Coach Charles Pollard (played with GT Masters); U-20 President XI Head Coach Wayne Dover and Assistant Coach Calvin Allen; Goalkeeper Coach Eon Deviera; Head of Sports Science, Wilson Toledo; Team Operations Manager Rawle Adams; Equipment Manager and Santos FC Coach Trevor Burnett; Fruta CFC Coach Sampson Gilbert and GDF FC Coach Bill Wilson.

3

SCOREBOARD

Jamaica Inning AB Fudadin lbw b Persaud 92 AO Thomas † b Persaud 48 J Blackwood c Shields b Joseph 15 AM McCarthy c Palmer b Akeem Jordan 91 R Powell (c) c Brathwaite b Akeem Jordan 57 NE Bonner c Brathwaite b Akeem Jordan 2 DDH Smith not out 9 JH Merchant lbw b Brathwaite 1 DC Green run out (McCatty) 5 Extras 10 (b 1, lb 3, w 6) TOTAL 330/8 (50 Overs, RR: 6.6) Did not bat: O Thomas, D Bulli Fall of wickets: 1-101 (Aldane Thomas, 19.2 ov), 2-138 (Jermaine Blackwood, 26.1 ov), 3-191 (Assad Fudadin, 33.5 ov), 4-305 (Rovman Powell, 45.2 ov), 5-309 (Nkrumah Bonner, 45.5 ov), 6-317 (Andre McCarthy, 47.2 ov), 7-319 (Jamie Merchant, 48.1 ov), 8-330 (Derval Green, 49.6 ov) BOWLING K Kantasingh Akeem Jordan O Shields CR Brathwaite LN Joseph A Persaud OO McCatty

O M R W 6 0 52 0 10 0 72 3 3 0 23 0 10 0 74 1 10 1 30 1 10 0 66 2 1 0 9 0

Combined Campuses and Colleges Innings (target: 331 runs from 50 overs) P Palmer lbw b Bonner 30 R Morrison † c Fudadin b Bulli 96 JA Drakes b Bulli 14 DSL Henry c Bonner b O Thomas 23 CR Brathwaite (c) c Bonner b Bulli 8 OO McCatty c Bulli b O Thomas 15 A Persaud b Green 20 Akeem Jordan c Smith b Green LN Joseph b O Thomas K Kantasingh not out 0 O Shields absent hurt Extras 12 (lb 6, nb 1, w 5) TOTAL 233 all out (45.2 Overs, RR: 5.13) Fall of wickets: 1-119 (Paul Palmer, 22.6 ov), 2-148 (Romaine Morrison, 27.1 ov), 3-153 (Jonathan Drakes, 29.2 ov), 4-167 (Carlos Brathwaite, 31.2 ov), 5-186 (Odain McCatty, 35.6 ov), 6-215 (Akshaya Persaud, 42.1 ov), 7-221 (Sadique Henry, 43.2 ov), 8-232 (Akeem Jordan, 44.6 ov), 9-233 (Larry Joseph, 45.2 ov) BOWLING O Thomas JH Merchant AM McCarthy DC Green D Bulli NE Bonner

O 8.2 10 8 7 10 2

M 1 0 0 0 0 0

R W 25 3 48 0 42 0 51 2 44 3 17 1

Budhan Memorial Sports Complex all set for November 24 horse race meet

Horses’ preparation being fine-tuned

T

he Budhan Memorial Sports Complex at Number 66 Village, Corentyne is the venue for a one-day horse racing extravaganza on November 24.

There are six races carded for the exciting afternoon of horse racing, beginning at 13:00h.

The categories for the meet are as follows: the L Open, the feature event in which the animals will race for a top prize of $170,000. The other events are the L2, L3, Unclassified A, Unclassified B and Unclassified C. The track will be in good shape, since the ground staff have been working round the clock despite the unpredictability of the rains. The event is particularly important to jockeys, who will be looking to cash in ahead of the busy Christmas season.The Budhan Memorial Sports Complex will be the place to be as some of Guyana’s top horses will feature in the race meeting. It is a place where the family can come out

and enjoy themselves and enjoy a prime day of horse racing. In a past event, the Sports Complex featured top names such as Strike Again, Daddy’s Dollar, Victoria Secret, Red Region, Something Special, Call She Is Royal, Lucky Lucky, Uprising, Up Front, Irish Boy, Baby Girl, Machine Girl, Plane Land, Royal Spice, No Surprise and Red Wessel, and was likely to repeat this feat once again.

Three horses must start the event before a second-place prize is paid. On account of lesser entries, reduced prizes will be paid with the approval of the owners whose horses will be taking part in these races. The event will be governed by the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.

For more information, interested individuals can contact Neville Budhan on 3382283 or 615-3336; Quacy Henry, 603-1027; Isabella, 693-7812; Dalloo, 689-0629 and Niketa Ross, 662-4668.

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, november 14, 2019

21

Dragon Stout fixtures rolled out CLASSIFIED ADS FOR SALE Left Hand Drive Toyota Corolla $380,000 neg. 680-3863 3 Caterpillar (326 D2L) Excavators for Sale, 2 Hyundai (300LC-95) Escalators for Sale. Escalator hours: 4,000 – 6,000 Hours. Price from: $18m - $22m (negotiable). Contact: 691-0131. Address: Opposite Massy Stores in Providence.

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

Pure Bred German Shepard Pups, 2 Months, Fully Vaccinated and Dewormed. Parents available for viewing. 622-0015 / 220-8559

LAND FOR SALE

VACANCIES

Vacancy exists for one (1) Sales Supervisor. Must have experience in managing Sales personnel, implementing Sales strategies and delegating tasks and duties. Send C.Vs / applications to email: innovationsamericamng@gmail.com Vacancy exists for Salesman/ Saleswomen to work at Innovations America. Experience in Sales (Plumbing, Electrical and Hardware) is a necessity. Send application/C.Vs to email: innovationsamericamng@gmail.com 1 Live in Maid. Preferably Cuban or Venezuelan National. Salary: $80,000 Tel.: 639-2037

TRANSPORTED HOUSELOTS SARAH JOANNA EAST BANK DEMERARA # 673-9231 / 216-4063/ 685-5476

property for sale For Sale: 1 Greenheart Wooden Building Only. $230,000 price negotiable. Call: 501-3706/ 652-7454 Lot 90x90 excellent location at EBD, convenience, security and plenty privacy 12.5M. Has 2 family older house. WhatsApp 592-6013232 Property for Sale: 2 Huge Land

by Street Corner/ Public Road in Grove EBD. 2 Story Building on 1 Land and Bond on the other land, 100 x 99 or 9,940 Square Feet.

Ideal for Supermarket/ Hardware Store etc. For further info, Call: 694-6606.

TO LET For Rent: 2 Story Concrete House for Rental in residential gated community in Georgetown.

5 Bedrooms A/C, 5 Complete Bathroom, Hot and Cold Water, Backup Generator, Large Yard Space, 2 Living Room A/C, Office, 4 Patio, 2 Car Garage. Call Tel: 6946606 (serious enquires only) FOR RENT BY OWNER. 8000 sq ft of warehouse/office space on the BV (Beterverwagting) Public Rd, East Coast Demerara. Multiple air-conditioned offices. USD $4500 NEGOTIABLE. Call or Whatsapp 592-610-6580 To Rent: 1 Fully Furnished 2 Bedroom Apartment (Mosquito Screen, Wifi, Hot and Cold Shower, Security Camera , A.C). 154 Regent Oronoque St. G/Town.Call: 501-3706/ 652-7454

VACANCIES Handyman to assist with yard work, etc. $3,000 per day - 680-3863 Pump Attendant - 680-3863 Store Helper - 624-0033 • Lorry Driver/Salesman, • Van Driver/ Salesman. *Must have sound secondary education *Ages between 25-40 years. Call: 617-1809 Bill Payment Clerk - 624-0033 Driver for Water delivery - 680-3863 Porter for Water delivery - 680-3863 Sales Representative. 5 Subjects C.X.C, Good communication skills, Experience. MIMA Décor, 8th Sheriff Street. mimadecoro6@gmail.com.

226-0176.

Office Assistant. Proficient in Excel, 2 Years Experience minimum ,Knowledge of NIS/PAYE/PAYROLL. Apply to MIMA Décor, 8th Sheriff Street. mimadecor12@gmail.com.

226-0176

T

he official fixtures for the inaugural Dragon Stout “Community Cup” street ball championship, which is slated to commence at the National Gymnasium on Friday, November 22, were released on Wednesday.

This was revealed by Dragon Stout Brand Manager Jamal Baird via an official media statement. He also disclosed the event would be officially launched on Tuesday, November 19 at the National Gymnasium from 11:00h.

Baird also confirmed that all systems were in place for the start of the tournament, adding, “The fourday elimination championship, which was scheduled to start on November 15, has now been scheduled to start on November 22. It will continue on November 29 and December 6, with the final slated for December 13. The overall objective of the tournament is to align the emerging brand with the grassroot movement.”

According to the correspondence, “ANSA McAL is pleased to be associated with yet another sporting event, specifically at the grassroots level.

Having been a former player myself and a proud product of the ghetto that was given a chance, I’m elated to stage the inaugural Community Cup under the prestige dark and smooth Dragon Stout brand, which aligns and posi-

Complete Tournament Fixtures Day-1 Round of 16-Nov 22nd

Section A (1) Sparta vs Showstoppers (2) Tiger Bay vs Alex. Village (3) Gold is Money vs Melanie-B (4) Sophia vs Assassin Ballers Section B (1) Bent Street vs Broad St (2) Future Stars vs LA Ballers (3) Back Circle vs Albouystown (4) Leopold St vs Ansa All-Stars

Day-2 Quarterfinals-Nov 29th

A glimpse of what to expect during the Dragon Stout competition

tions to be a grassroots flag bearer.”

The release concluded, “The primary stimulus for staging this football event is to highlight and indicate Dragon Stout’s intended support for sports at grassroot and community level; hence ,there was no hesitation, and this is an alliance that I envision will continue for the foreseeable future. Given that it is a community-based initiative, it gives the urban community a chance to be seen and heard while having fun in a competitive but friendly environment.”

The winner of the event will col-

Section A (5)-Winner (1) vs Winner (2) (6)-Winner (3) vs Winner (4) Section-B (7)-Winner (1) vs Winner (2) (8)-Winner (3) vs Winner (4)

Day-3 Semifinals-December 6th

Section A (9)-Winner (5) vs Winner (6) Section-B (10)-Winner (7) vs Winner (8) Day-4 Final-December 13th Winner (9) vs Winner (10) 3rd Place Loser (9) vs Loser (10)

lect $300,000 while the second, third and fourth-place finishers will pocket $150,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.

2019 BCB-RHTY&SC/Busta Champion of Champions

spirituality & ASTROLOGY Are you having trouble with Health, Money/Love Life and Domestic Problems. Removal of Obstacles of any kind. Then I can help. Call / WhatsApp : 671-8919.

…tournament launchces tomorrow

NOT RECEIVING YOUR DAILY & SUNDAY

COPIES OF THE

GUYANA TIMES

in your area?

Contact our

Circulation Department on

Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 55

6 teams advance to 2nd round after successful start to tournament

T

he 16th edition of the annual Berbice Cricket BoardRose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club- Busta Champion of Champions 40-Over First-Division tournament got underway on Monday with a flying start.

Six teams have advanced to the second round of the tournament, scheduled for November 30.

Albion Community Centre CC, Port Mourant CC, Young Warriors CC and Blairmont CC registered victories over West Berbice, Skeldon, Rose Hall Canje and Police respectively while Tucber Park benefited from a walkover against Upper Corentyne. Defending Champions Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour drew a bye into the second round.

At the Bush Lot Ground on the West Coast of Berbice, Albion defeated West Berbice by 131 runs. Batting first after winning the toss, Albion rattled up an impressive 276 for 8 off 40 overs. The top scorers were Berbice Under-19 player Jeetendra Outar with 63 including seven boundaries and Kandasammy Surujnarine, 40 not out.

Bowling for West Berbice, Keyron Fraser and Christopher Bissoon took three and two wickets respectively for 60 and 20 runs respectively. West Berbice, in response, were bowled out for 145 in 35.3 overs with Fraser returning with the bat to score 62 while Joshua Van-Tull supported with 20. National youth player Gourav Ramesh took 4 for 25 from 8 overs, Mahendra Chaitnarine, 2 for 21 and Beesham Surujnarine, 2 for 38 for Albion.

At the Port Mourant Ground, the home team batted first, amassing 240 for 7 in 40 overs. Kellon Carmichael topscored with 35 while West Indies youth player Rampertab Ramnauth (33); Arif Chan (28); Trishan Ramsarran (25) and Demetri Cameron (22) offered support. Kevin Clarke took 3 for 31 for Skeldon, who in reply were bowled out for 182 to lose by 58 runs. C France and A Hussain were the principal scorers with 4 and 38 respectively. Thirteen-year-old Salim Khan took 3 for 35 while Carmichael completed a good match with 3 for 40.

Centuries from national youth players Seon Glasgow and Javed Karim spearheaded home team Blairmont to a mammoth 291 for 3 from 40 overs. Glasgow struck 11 sixes and four boundaries in an unbeaten 104 while Karim’s 101 included seven boundaries and two sixes. Marvon Prashad chipped in with 65. Police were then bundled out for 101 as only Paul Tyndall, with 35, and D Phillips (21) reached double figures. Left-arm spinner Waqar Hassan (5 for 32); Nigel Deodat (2 for 18) and Shabeer Baksh (2 for 21) bowled well for Blairmont.

Young Warriors CC held their nerve to overcome Rose Hall Canje by two wickets at the Canje Ground. The home team made 186 for 5 with the in-form Sasenarine Sukhu continuing his impressive season with an unbeaten 73, which in-

Javed Karim and Seon Glasgow scored centuries for Blairmont

cluded six boundaries and four maximums while Lee David made 48. Trevon Stanislaus and Linden Austin took two wickets apiece for YWCC for 18 and 31 runs respectively. The visitors, in reply, reached 188 for 8 in 37.5 overs with Seon Hetmyer (41) and Ricardo Ramdehol (25) being the best batters.

BCB President Hilbert Foster visited all the venues and expressed his delight at the high standard of cricket played.

Foster expressed his disappointment that the cricketing powers in Guyana had banned all of the national contracted cricketers from participating in a BCB-organised tournament.

The RHTY&SC, he stated, has obtained sponsorship over the year, as the Albion CC raised close to one million dollars for two Under-19 tournaments. The BCB President expressed frustration that the clubs were debarred from playing players in which they have invested for many years. He, however, stated that the clubs in Berbice were determined to not let persons from outside the county stop the progress currently taking place in Berbice.

Second-round fixtures

1. Tucber Park v Port Mourant @ Port Mourant 2. Albion v YWCC @ Albion 3. RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour v Blairmont @ Area H

22

thursday, november 14, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Jaguars meet jaded Windward Islands Volcanoes tomorrow – Johnson and co looking for more runs

T

he Leon Johnson-led Guyana Jaguars will meet the Windward Islands Volcanoes tomorrow, Friday, November 15, from 13:30h at Port of Spain. After Jaguars’ three matches, they registered two wins and suffered one defeat in a rollercoaster run thus far. After their latest victory which came against the United States of America, Captain Johnson stated that the win came with the compliments of controlled bowling and a bit more runs on the board.

“I think we put a bit more runs on the board, but we controlled our bowling power play; they (USA) didn’t get off to a flying start as Trinidad did, but I mean we will like to make more runs,” Johnson told Cricket West Indies (CWI) media after the win.

Barbadian Raymon Reifer had a good outing with the ball picking up a five-wicket haul against the USA. Sharing his sentiments on Reifer’s performance, Johnson had this to say: “Yes, he did well with the new ball and coming back in the second spell as well as to clean up the tail, so very good performance from him. He said 'Skip, I will do something for you tonight'.”

With Jaguars set to play their next match at the same Queen’s Park Oval venue in Port of Spain, Johnson disclosed that the wickets – with the present weather and the new ball – would do a bit.

In the last five matches between Jaguars and Volcanoes, Jaguars have lost three of those encounters and

won o n l y one. A contest within the Jaguars and Volcanoes clash will be Bhaskar Yadram turning out for the Kirk Edwards-led Volcanoes against his countrymen. With history slightly favouring Volcanoes, their current form have not been up to standard. They have lost their first two matches in their Group B clash.

Leading the batting charts for Jaguars thus far is Christopher Barnwell, who has 140 runs in three innings. Jonathan Foo

Volcanoes will be led by Kirk Edwards Leon Johnson

is the only other bats-

man for Guyana with over 100 runs, with 103 runs in three innings. Veerasammy

Permaul has six wickets, and leads the bowling charts.

(Brandon Corlette)

BCB-Let’s Bet Sports 100 Balls Tournament…

Rio street ball Championship

Dukestown CC beat No72 All Stars in thriller to lift 1st-ever BCB title

The quest for $1M begins tonight!

A

D

ukestown CC beat No 72 All Stars in thriller to lift 1st-ever BCB title Watched by a massive and colourful crowd at the Number 72 Cut and Load Ground, Dukestown Cricket Club defeated No 72 All Stars CC by three wickets with two legal balls remaining to lift the Upper Corentyne title of the countywide Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/Let’s Bet Sports 100 Balls Tournament.

The Let’s Bet Sports Upper Corentyne title is the first BCB title for Dukestown in its short history. Earlier in the year, they lost in the final of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club/ Guyana National Newspapers Limited (RHTY&SC/GNNL) 20/20 tournament to the same team they defeated Sunday last.

No 72 All Stars won the toss and elected to take first strike against a Dukestown bowling attack, which included only one spinner. The Dukestown fast bowling unit of Jermaine Reid, Eroll Byass, Wayne Garnett and Clavern Beresford never allowed the No 72 All Stars batsmen to score freely and also fielded brilliantly to restrict the scoring as batsmen were unable to rotate the strike. K Chatterpaul was bowled for nought by Beresford in the second over at 5 for one.

Chatterpaul added 48 for the second wicket, but it took 10 overs. Singh was trapped lbw by the impressive Byass and the rest of the batting failed to deal with the pace attack.

Byass, bowling fast and straight, claimed the remarkable figure of five wickets for nine runs from three overs as the home team were bowled out for 86.

Byass took the wickets of Vishal Hemchand, Joshua Hemchand

The winning Dukestown Cricket Club

and Parmanand laljit from the last four balls of the innings. In reply, Dukestown lost Clavern Beresford in the second over when he was caught at long off for 02 off the bowling of S Singh.

Opener Nolan Richards batted well, but was forced to retire with a groin injury.

No 72 All Stars bowling attack dismissed Byass (8); Kevin Clarke (10); Akeem Bowling (8); Jermaine Reid (5); Wayne Amsterdam (3) and Budhram Sukhdeo to have Dukestown struggling at 72 for 6 at the end of the 14th over. The injured Richards returned to the crease with his team requiring 15 runs from 16 balls. With supporters of both teams on their feet, Richards struck the last ball of the 15th over for a boundary to reduce the required runs to seven from the final eightball over. No 72 All Stars had the opportunity to dismiss Richards off the fourth ball of the final over, but A Singh floored the simple chance on the midwicket boundary, allowing the batsmen to take two crucial runs.

With tension mounting, a clearly injured Richards then smashed A Chatterpaul back

over his head for a six to send his team supporters into wild celebration. Richards ended on an unbeaten 40 while his captain, Clarence Beresford was on two not out. Off-spinners P Chatterpaul and A Hemchand took two wickets apiece for 13 and 17 runs respectively for No 72 All Stars.

BCB President Hilbert Foster and Let’s Bet Sports Manager Mr Lee expressed their congratulations to both teams for providing the large crowd with an exciting final.

Foster, who announced to loud applause that he would be seeking a second term, stated that the BCB has, over the last two years, invested heavily in the Upper Corentyne area.

Teams in the area have been involved in five tournaments specially organised for the area by the BCB. Dukestown have joined D’Edwards and Rose Hall Canje for the final stage of the Let’s Bet Sports tournament, where the four interzone champions would play each other for the overall Berbice championship. Byass was named Man of the Finals while the champions and runners-up each received a financial prize and trophy.

mammoth crowd is expected to descend on the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue this evening [Thursday] when the inaugural ‘Rio Indoor Streetball Championship’ officially starts with the group stage play from 19:00hrs.

According to an official release from tournament coordinator Three Peat Promotions, “The excitement and buzz is certainly in the air for this inaugural tournament. This is the first time in local history that an indoor community/street The excitement that is expected to be the norm at the inaugural ball championship will be played Rio Indoor Streetball Championship at the National Gymnasium for $1,000,000 first prize. It is will pocket $400,000, $200,000 and $100,000 well deserved for the players who have built this respectively and the corresponding accolade. format from its initial humble beginnings and Group-A comprises Back Circle, Buxton deserved recognition for creating a viable format Diamond, Spot-7 and Rio All-Stars, while group-B and alternative of the traditional game.” contains Leopold Street, Tiger Bay, Uprising and The release further said, “The tournament Broad Street and group-C features Sparta Boss, is expected to be fiercely competitive and Alex Village, Kingston and Melanie. very exciting for both fans and players. We Group-D consists of LA Ballers, Bent Street, are expecting a huge turnout and support BV and Avocado Ballers, while group-E Future throughout the event as there will be prizes to Stars is made up of Future Stars, Albouystown-A, be won by several spectators each night, which Showstoppers, Stabroek Ballers and group-F will certainly add to the spectacle that will involves Gold is Money, Sophia, Silver Bullets and unfold. We encourage all teams to be punctual Island All-Stars.At the end of the group round, for their respective matches and to help keep the the top two finishers from each section and the tournament along with their fan base incident best four third place teams will advance to the free.” knockout round. Sponsors who are expected to The historic event will commence with come on board are: El Dorado Trading, Unicon, Alexander Village battling Kingston from Truck Masters and Mohamed’s Enterprise.

19:00hrs, with Spot-7 taking on Buxton Diamond at 19:30hrs and Back Circle tackling Rio All-Stars from 20:00hrs.

Day-1-Thursday November 14th The fourth engagement will pit LA Ballers Alexander vs Kingston-19:00hrs against Beterverwagting [BV] from 20:30hrs, Spot-7 vs Buxton Diamond-19:30hrs with Leopold Street battling Uprising at 21:30hrs Back Circle vs Rio All-Stars-20:00hrs in the fifth affair. In the final two matches, Tiger LA Ballers vs BV-20:30hrs Bay lock horns with Broad Street at 21:30hrs Leopold Street vs Uprising-21:00hrs and Sparta Boss faces-off with Melanie from Tiger Bay vs Broad Street-21:30hrs 22:00hrs.

Sparta vs Melanie-22:00hrs The second night of the event will then occur Day-2-Saturday November 16th on Saturday at the same venue. The round-robin Sophia vs Island All-Stars-19:00hrs competition, which lasts for the duration of eight Alexander vs Melanie-19:30hrs nights, will conclude with the grand finale on Albouystown-A vs Showstoppers-20:00hrs December 14th.

Future Stars vs Stabroek Ballers-20:30hrs The other playing nights are November Leopold Street vs Broad Street-21:00hrs 21st, 23rd, 28th, 30th and December 7th. With Gold is Money vs Silver Bullets-21:30hrs the $1,000,000 slated for the eventual winner, Kingston vs Sparta-22:00hrs the second, third and fourth place finishers

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, november 14, 2019

23

2019 India Women tour to Caribbean…

Batting in focus as Windies Women aim to flip fortunes ꟷ 1st clash at Providence today

Story and photos By Brandon Corlette

W

est Indies Women will finish the fivematch T20I series against India Women in Guyana with three remaining matches.

The third match will bowl off from 18:00h at the National Stadium at Providence today, Thursday, November 14. After suffering heavy defeats in the two T20Is, Captain Anisa Mohammed and her troops are eager to bounce back in the remaining three matches.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport on the eve of the match, stand-in captain Mohammed disclosed that it was very important for the team to finish the year on a high note. “It’s very important for us to win the remaining three matches and we would like to finish the year with a series win,” Mohammed explained.

West I n d i e s W o m e n h a v e p l a y e d their first two T20 matches without Stafanie Taylor, who suffered an injury, hence the appointment of Mohammed Newbie CherryAnn Fraser

World T20 where they won all four of their encounters.

Harmanpreet Kaur will be reminiscing on her fireworks where she scored a brilliant 103 while Mithali Raj had back-to-back Player-of-theMatch performances and Smriti Mandhana scored 83 the last time she played on Guyanese soil. Shafali Verma has been the find of the series thus far. The 15-year-old has 142 runs with two half-centuries under her belt.

Sheneta Grimmond prepares to bowl

to captain and G u y a n e s e Shemaine Campbelle to Vice Captain.

Having lost the first T20 by 84 runs and the second by 10 wickets, Mohammed, in reflecting, stated that the team have not scored enough runs. “It’s very difficult to win a match scoring 100 runs, scoring more runs and giving our bowlers something to work with is something we are aiming to achieve,” Mohammed noted.

The pitch at Providence provides purchase for the spinners and Mohammed and her troops are wary of this. “It’s important for our spinners to come big in the remaining three matches, but we are placing a lot of emphasis on our batters to produce,” Mohammed added. In addition to Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond,

A watchful Courtney Walsh watches Cherry-Ann Fraser during the nets

Shabika Gajnabi and Cherry-Ann Fraser are the Guyanese players in the team.

Fraser ecstatic about maiden call-up

Shabika Gajnabi bats on the eve of the match

G u y a n a ’ s Cherry-Ann Fraser has been the newest recruit to the West Indies Women team after replacing Taylor.

Speaking to this publication, Fraser disclosed that the selection feeling has not yet sunk in, but she has been learning a lot.

Being engaged in training sessions under the watchful trio of Courtney Walsh, Rayon Griffith and Gus Logie, Fraser stated that she has been working on her all-round game.

“I have been much more attentive to my bowling, trying to hit the right areas. It

is important for us (West Indies

Opener Hayley Matthews strokes one in the nets

Women team) to finish on a high, heading into the T20 World Cup in Australia,” Fraser noted.

Be wary of the mighty Indians

India have been on a roll in the two matches thus far, rolling home with comfortable wins. West Indies have beaten India three times in a row prior to the two defeats and they are capable of bouncing back especially in the favoured T20 format.

However, India are confident and the last visit at Providence was good for the Indians.

India last graced Providence with their presence back in 2018 for the ICC Stand-alone Women’s

NEW GPC, Viva fuel Titans training camp

N

EW GPC, Kings’ Bistro and Viva are among a long list of sponsors who have made it possible for the Titans Table Tennis Club to host a high-performance training camp.

The camp is seeing the input of International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) instructor Christian Lillieroos.

The high-performance training camp began on November 9 and will run until November 22.

The 14-day camp will see young players putting in 70 hours of work with two-and-a-half-hour training sessions twice a day.

As such, President of the Titans Table Tennis Club, Dwayne Dick shared the reason why the club executives moved to have such an event.

He noted that after much deliberation, they decided a training camp would best suit their target areas.

“The whole idea of keeping this camp came about from conversations that we had and looking at tennis environment and infrastructure and the needs of tennis. We decided for 2019 that we wanted to come up with programmes that were guided by expertise that would help the development, mostly of our young players,” Dick explained.

NEW GPC’s Mohammed Rahaman

ITTF Instructor Christian Lillieroos

Noting that he was a great fan of the sport, NEW GPC’s Mohammed Rahaman explained that owing to the company’s vested interest in sport, it had no issue jumping on board with the table tennis camp.

While disclosing that NEW GPC was sponsoring the camp under its Whizz brand, Rahaman also commended the co-sponsors.

“We just recently completed our Limacol football tournament and when we got word of the

Titans hosting this camp, we jumped on board and we want to commend them because table tennis definitely needs more spectators and coverage in Guyana. These youngsters put a lot into developing their skills and I’m a personal fan of the sport, so I can tell you that they really work hard. We also would like to commend the cosponsors of the event,” Rahaman shared.

Coach Lillieroos is a Sweden-born player who now resides in the United

States. Lillieroos works closely with the ITTF to provide such opportunities in various countries.

While the camp was conducted as normal, Lillieroos took the opportunity on Monday last to conduct a tournament whereby he could assess the Guyanese players. As a result of this, he was able to identify some weaknesses that he is sure to work on.

“What I noticed is, it’s a little bit to deal with variations. What happens is in a smaller country like Guyana when you’re competing with China and India, you don’t have the variety of styles and play styles. So, everybody kind of plays the same. When I saw the tournament on Monday, my main analysis was that the athletes didn’t have good enough serves,” Lillieroos disclosed.

Close associate and sponsor of the Titans Club, Ramdeo Kumar shared that the table tennis club is keen on laying out an entire calendar of activities in order to ensure that players are continuously developing.

“Our plan is to have a calendar of activities at Titans or driven by Titans for table tennis in Guyana. They aim only to develop our potential and our current crop of junior players especially,” Kumar noted. (Jemima Holmes)

thursday, november 14, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

2019 India Women tour to Caribbean…

Page 23

Batting in focus as Windies Women aim to flip fortunes ꟷ 1st clash at Providence today

India Women pose after winning the third and final ODI

Page 23

NEW GPC, Viva fuel Titans training camp Dwayne Dick, NEW GPC’s Mohammed Rahaman, Christian Lillieroos, Ramdeo Kunar and students at the training camp GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.