Guyana Times, Wednesday February 26, 2020.

General and Regional Elections

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Issue No. 4208

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020

GECOM agrees to increase polling

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Sugar workers have to get back jobs – Jagdeo tells Enmore P7

…after meeting with Opposition Leader, foreign advisers

Miner stabbed to death by P10 drinking mate Annandale P18 woman wanted for robbery

Ali outlines plans to revitalise Region 3's economy Page 9

Annette Court dismisses Ferguson Minister’s breaches application election laws to bribe servicemen to silence

2nd accused jailed for P17 29 years for businessman’s murder

Page 7

Page 10

…knew what she was doing was improper, unlawful—Datadin

Guyana Times

Sugar workers picket Granger’s office for retroactive pay P18 hike

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

Wednesday, February 26 – 05:00h – 06:30h and Thursday, February 27 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, February 26 – 05:40h – 07:10h and Thursday, February 27 – 06:10h – 07:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine will prevail during the day. There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 19 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 06:09h and 18:26h reaching maximum heights of 2.63 metres and 2.67 metres.

Low Tide: 12:00h a reaching minimum height of 0.56 metre.

GECOM agrees to increase polling places

…after meeting with Opposition Leader, foreign advisers

A

fter much criticisms, and following a meeting with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and a team from the People’s Progressive Party, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is backtracking on its unilateral decision to reduce the number of polling places.

This was communicated at the conclusion of the meeting on Tuesday. Jagdeo, together with People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali, former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall and the party’s chief scrutineer, Zulfikar Mustapha, met with the Commission including its Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh; Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield and foreign advisers Dr Syed Nasim Zaidi and Dr Afari Gyan.

When Jagdeo addressed the media outside of GECOM, he informed that they raised concerns about specific areas such as Mon Repos and Foulis on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and Chesney village on the Corentyne. According to him, at least 12 additional polling places will be required.

Discriminatory

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“We demonstrated how the changes has been made in a discriminatory manner.

We pointed out that there are large numbers of polling places in APNU strongholds, both urban and rural areas and that the proposal that went to the Commission in January that was shared with the parties, had private residences.”

“And then these were adjusted by the CEO. He claimed that he had instructions from the Commissioners to reduce as many private polling residences as possible. So how is it they just reduced Polling Stations in PPP strongholds?”

Jagdeo questioned.

According to Jagdeo, they provided GECOM with examples such as Golden Grove on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), which he said has six private residences with 2000 voters. In the case of Mon Repos, however, over 7000 voters only have two polling places.

“So, we said, they have to increase the number of polling places in these areas by four to six. We said we’re not telling you where to choose, but there has to be more polling places in Mon Repos to end the congestion that would inevitably happen.”

He explained that GECOM was also apprised of a situation whereby 2600 voters from Foulis have to go to the old Regional Democratic Council (RDC) compound in Paradise and the Paradise Primary School to vote. According to him, they need at least four more polling places in Foulis.

“It can be anything, they can even put up tents. But people have a right to vote in their own communities. This is discrimination, they have to move over two miles to vote in another area. And then, in two other areas, he said he [Lowenfield] didn’t see a prob-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo alongside PPP Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali; former Attorney General Anil Nandlall and the Party’s Chief Scrutineer, Zulfikar Mustapha, during their meeting with GECOM’s full Commission

lem with making the adjustments.”

“Friendship to Kildonian, one polling place there. And one on Chesney rather than moving them to another private residence all the way in Albion. So, the CEO was saying he could make all the adjustments with the Commissioners and then [GECOM Commissioner] Vincent Alexander said we cannot make that decision here, we have to discuss it.”

The decision

After Jagdeo and team left, the GECOM Secretariat continued with their meeting. At the end of that statutory meeting, GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj informed the media that a decision was taken to find ways to increase the number of polling places in these locations.

“I’m happy to report we

took decisions that will resolve all those issues. I paid a visit to the Mon Repos Primary and Nursery Schools over the weekend. And you had a total of 18 Polling Stations in a fairly small place. Logistically, that would have created a nightmare.”

“In Mon Repos, additional polling places are being implemented [by GECOM]. There will not be that congestion.

They will be moving some of the Polling Stations from those two schools to other locations,” Gunraj said, though he could not say if private residences or tents would be used.

According to Gunraj, these new locations will be determined by the CEO and will take into consideration the logistics of the area and the distance from which voters will have to travel. He confirmed, however, that all 12 additional polling places will

be established.

“I am hoping and it is my personal belief, that the CEO can do that within 24 hours,” Gunraj said.

Since it was announced that GECOM would be reducing the number of polling places and specifically, private residences, the prevailing concern has been that instead of GECOM facilitating a smooth and easy process, the Secretariat’s decisions will make voting so difficult for voters that they will stay home.

This publication visited Eccles, East Bank Demerara, where concern was raised about almost 2000 voters using the Eccles Health Centre, which is said to be earmarked for six Polling Stations. This is despite several private residences being used in the community previously to ensure hassle-free voting.

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

No tangible plans I

n the current campaign for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government is yet to provide to the electorate its tangible achievement over the past five years. Obvious questions would be: is there a record of achievement? Are there real plans if re-elected?

Those questions seem fair and given that the information has been absent thus far, one may conclude that there is no record of achievement or plans.

As it is, the APNU/AFC’s campaign is replete with disparaging rhetoric directed at the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), with most of it being directed at its General Secretary. The PPP/C has pointed this out over time in its campaign and has blasted the Government for failing to achieve anything of substance during its tenure since 2015 and for its inability to formulate meaningful plans to develop the country.

In reality, there has been no major achievement by the APNU/AFC Government since in office. All of the projects undertaken: the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and the East and West Coast road projects, just to name a few, originated or began under the tenure of the PPP/C Government. It’s the same for other projects for which funding was agreed to under the PPP/C. APNU/AFC boasts of the D’Urban Park Project, which is shrouded in controversy with regard to its financing.

In addition, what else that was noticeably done, seems for its own purpose and for the propagation of the colour associated with APNU – green. A massive green fence was erected around the Ministry of the Presidency despite the fact an effective one was already in place. State House and some offices, schools and bridges were repainted green.

That, funded by taxpayers’ money, does not benefit the populace in any way. It appears as a deliberate ploy to elevate APNU’s colour to a level superior to all others. The indoctrination of that colour, especially on impressionable minds, was addressed in the past.

When all is taken into consideration, it becomes extremely difficult to find any semblance of a track record of development that can be associated with the APNU/AFC Government since 2015. In contrast, the PPP/C’s can easily be found.

The Berbice Bridge, the National Stadium, the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the Marriott Hotel, coastal and hinterland roads, numerous new schools, hospitals and health centres, the University of Guyana Tain Campus, the two new ferries, the extension of the life of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, new electricity generating plants, advancement in Information Communications Technology (ICT) and numerous housing schemes, are just a few in addition to the CJIA project and others mentioned.

All of those projects, individually and collectively, impacted directly and positively on the lives of Guyanese.

Over time, they were the catalysts that drove the unprecedented and sustained economic growth and development that led to the vast improvement in the lives of Guyanese. Those projects still stand as some of the evidence of what the PPP/C achieved under its 23-year tenure. That’s a track record worth boasting of.

In addition, the PPP/C had pursued the construction of the Amaila Falls Hydroelectricity Project and the Specialty Hospital designed for cheap, reliable and renewable electricity and advanced healthcare respectively. Such projects speak to visionary thinking catering for the future.

Both were scuttled by APNU/AFC while in Opposition.

That said, in the wake of the PPP/C’s indisputable track record and the lack of a similar one by the APNU/AFC, it becomes clearer why the Government’s campaign is focused on accusations and disparagement. On all counts, that is unfair to the electorate since they themselves can attest to the benefits of the many projects implemented and completed under the tenure of the PPP/C. That lack of achievement by the APNU/AFC can also explain its noticeable desperation as evident by the destruction of electoral material associated with the PPP/C.

Members of Unidos da Tijuca samba school perform during the second night of the Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 25 (Reuters/Ricardo Moraes)

Time for GECOM’s Chair to step up, deliver on her ‘pledge’ to ensure credible elections Dear Editor, We are getting closer to the long-overdue General and Regional Elections on March 2 and the electorate is still understandably worried about GECOM’s seeming inability at act in a fair and impartial manner since the successful passing of the NoConfidence Motion. We are aware that GECOM is constitutionally obliged to act with impartiality and fairness in the execution of its duties (Article 162 (1) [b]).

The Constitution further states in Article 226 that GECOM shall not be subject to the direction and control of any other person or authority. Is that happening?

It is no assumption to say that despite these legal assurances given and guaranteed by the Constitution, GECOM has so far done nothing to build the public confidence in its ability to function as an independent body. We have seen that despite the fact that the List of Electors can be refreshed using the Claims and Objections period, GECOM embarked on the House-toHouse Registration signed by a Chairman who was illegally appointed by President Granger. Was that act to do HtH Registration legal?

Granger had justified the HtH Registration by claiming that the list is bloated by 200,000 names and he wants credible elections and does not want to disenfranchise anyone. The list now has far more persons than before and now it is bloated since it is filled with duplications and persons who have died. Why did GECOM go ahead despite the fact that there has been Continuous Registration and the list could have been sanitised using the Claims and Objections? On July 24 last year it was reported that Lowenfield admitted that

the Official List of Voters which expired on April 30, 2019, could still be used to execute free and fair General and Regional Elections. But GECOM was carrying out the directives of the APNU/ AFC. Justice (retd) Claudette Singh had vowed at her swearing-in ceremony that, “there is only one way, in accordance with the law and in accordance with the Constitution, and nothing else” and everyone had thought then that here comes the ‘Iron Lady’ whose entry at GECOM will end the drama of deceit. She had claimed that she took up the appointment “for the sake of my country”, this means that she is a patriot who will not display any partisanship in dispensing her duties. However, it would seem that Justice Singh’s appointment made no difference to what had transpired previously under Patterson. It is the Elections Secretariat under CEO Keith Lowenfield who instead of just implementing policies has taken charge of the entire GECOM operations. We were of the opinion that with all the imbroglio, lies, deceit and illegality encompassing the appointment of the GECOM’s Chairman had meant that this person will be the person in charge of GECOM, but instead, it would seem that the Chief Elections Officer is the person in charge and the Chairperson just abide by his decisions.

There are other instances other than the HtH Registration, such as Lowenfield’s effort to work overtime to do as many HtH Registration as possible after the Chief Justice had aborted it; the ID cards saga and trying to disenfranchise voters; the fiddling with the Claims and Objections period; the

effort to merge the lists; the numerous ‘errors’ and duplications on the final Official List; the illegal transfer of voters to other polling places; and now the reduction in the use of private residences as polling places in a deliberate effort to create confusion and disenfranchise numerous voters, mostly in rural perceived PPP/C support base.

This last effort by the Chief Elections Officer has been condemned by the Private Sector Commission and they have now concluded as well that the CEO appears to have acted unilaterally and on his own by changing the polling places without informing the political parties. Moreover, it would seem that only the leader of the PPP/C is fighting this battle against the il-

legality being perpetrated by GECOM. Where are the other parties who want to run this country? We have seen numerous illegal acts committed by the APNU/AFC which have fallen on deaf ears in GECOM, such as misuse of State resources for elections campaign purposes and others and yet the deafening silence of the smaller parties.

It is time that the GECOM Chairperson steps up and delivers on her ‘pledge’ to ensure credible elections. At this current state, we can only guess what will happen on March 2 and after the results have been declared. I do hope the international observers can act now than later!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Lent begins today Dear Editor, Allow me to express an important aspect of the Christian calendar. Today, we begin the Season of Lent.

It is one of the important seasons for many Christian denominations. Lent means ‘spring’; it is a springtime where we are renewed and refreshed through the Lenten observances. We are washed clean so that we enter into paschal mysteries of Christ’s death and resurrection. The Latin-based language uses the word “Quaresma” for Lent, which simply means 40 days. After the baptism, Jesus was tempted and tried in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights whilst he was in prayer and fasting. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. On this day, the faithful are imposed with ashes on their foreheads as a reminder for repentance and fragility of

humankind. The four pillars of Lent - prayer, penance, almsgiving and fasting help not only the people in need but makes us empathise with the poor and needy people. The Season of Lent ends when the Holy Week begins on Maundy Thursday leading up to the Easter celebrations. Christians tend to keep fast on certain days in Lent or at least forgo something like meat, chocolate, sweets and help the people who cannot afford such food. This is to benefit one’s spiritual and philanthropic growth. A crucial aspect of Lent is reconciliation and peace. Our world needs to be reconciled between nations and peoples. Here is an opportunity to embrace each other with paternal love.

Sincerely, Jerri Dias

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

Voter suppression is the latest obstacle Dear Editor, As the Eyewitness observed, GECOM has created an obstacle course for the PPP/C and its supporters for the March 2 elections. The latest obstacle is the changing of and reduction in the number of Polling Stations.

GECOM is blatantly doing this only in PPP/C strongholds and blaming it on the Carter Center. This is a GECOM manufactured James Comey at that proverbial 12th hour. The changes are incredible because they have reopened a settled issue which negatively affects mainly PPP/C supporters and are being done mere days from the polls. If this is what Carter Center intended then they are guilty of voter suppression.

At the minimum, these late changes will create confusion amongst PPP/C voters who are unsure where

they have to go cast their ballot. The confusion will be amplified on Election Day when voters turn up and find that they are not registered at a particular Polling Station. PPP/C did a lot of work to educate voters as to their respective Polling Stations and spent hours in the field to reinforce that.

GECOM’s actions, therefore, undermine all of the PPP/C’s hard work. It also compounds a newly created problem whereby too many have to be processed by too few Polling Stations. At one Polling Station on the East Coast, 7000 people are registered to cast their ballots.

This works out to 6 seconds per person which is obviously impossible. Based on my own experience, it takes at least 15-20 minutes when there is no crowd.

My own family, carrying the same surname and living at the same address,

has been split up to vote at two different polling places. This makes no sense. In some cases, entire villages have to travel miles to other villages to vote. In other cases, the Polling Station is located in a cow pasture.

I wonder what will happen if it is windy and if it rains.

On top of all this, GECOM is still to issue the final list of electors. GECOM’s actions are simply mind-boggling but make perfect sense if voter suppression in PPP/C strongholds is their primary goal. Unless the Carter Center denies that this was done at their behest I will have to conclude that they are complicit in what is going to be an unfair election.

PPP/C supporters need to remain calm, get out early, be prepared to endure a long wait and generally expect the worse. If this Granger cabal is allowed to steal another term, the lit-

Polling places reduction stacked lopsidedly against voters from PPP/C Dear Editor, The GECOM decision to cluster Polling Stations and to force persons to travel long distances to exercise their franchise is revealed as patently unfair upon cursory examination. If one delves deeper, it appears to be stacked lopsidedly against voters from PPP/C strongholds who are being asked to go deep into neighbouring villages where historic rivalries predate politics.

Guyana enjoys no immunity from Newton’s Third Law of Motion and accordingly, GECOM’s actions are generating equal and opposite reactions. A movement dubbed #longwalktofreedom has sprung up and has been encouraging persons to travel whatever distance and endure whatever hardships to cast their ballots.

In response, persons have asked for protection details for convoys of persons who wish to vote but are fearful of old enmities flaring up on a day known for its testiness and in the present era of high crime. One elder citizen wrote to me that “even David Granger is cognisant of the increased crime wave and has dismissed the TSU protection service offered by the Guyana Police Force and replaced them with a ‘Cohors Prætoria’ of sixty specially trained Guyana Defence Force soldiers as his (Granger’s) personal guard”.

The use of Mandela’s slogan to describe the movement to assist persons to vote may not be without significance.

Mandela’s address in Sophiatown, Johannesburg 1953 famously known as No Easy Walk to Freedom was where Mandela signalled his break from the nonviolent protest and struggle as he said there was a need for a new way to take the strug-

gle for the end of apartheid forward: “You can see that there is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow again and again before we reach the mountaintops of our desires. Dangers and difficulties have not deterred us in the past. They will not frighten us now. But we must be prepared for them like men in business who do not waste energy in vain talk and idle action.” The inspiration is clear, the struggle is the same.

In this grim picture set by the GECOM betrayal of its mandate, hope springs with offers from persons in villages where Polling Stations are

located to assist in any way to ensure their Guyanese brothers and sisters are not disenfranchised. There is a clear cognisance among the people that we are all in a struggle to regain the rights and freedoms so carefully enshrined in our Constitution that we have come to take for granted for over a generation. As this is being written, GECOM is meeting, whatever their decision, the #longwalktofreedom will move forward, inexorably, stronger together in much more than words. We will vote; be it the easy way or the hard way, it will be done.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

tle which remains will be frittered away in the same vein as the US$55 billion so

I urge my brothers and sisters to be resolute.

Dear Editor, The PPP/C is the only political party in Guyana which has and can restore and maintain democracy within our society. This was done in 1992-2015 and this team will continue to fight for one’s democratic right far and beyond.

Therefore, we must come out in our numbers and vote on March 2, 2020, for “democracy”, the rule of law.

The PNC team is running scared since December 2018, when the “No-Confidence Motion” was successfully passed and they have strived for survival on their mathematical belief that 34 is half of 65 and are stuck to their only way of governing through the “rule by law”.

Their “rule by law” tactics are as follow: - Total disregard for our

Constitution and total disregard to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling on NCM. Unconstitutional Appointment of GECOM’s Chair.

- Unconstitutional Houseto-House Registration.

- Unconstitutional attempts to remove qualified voters from the voters’ list.

- Unconstitutional attempts to reduce Polling Stations only in PPP/ C strongholds to frustrate voters.

Unconstitutional plans in progress to remove the NCM law from books and to stifle accountability and one’s democratic right. More so there are threats if you do speak up, your citizenship will be revoked.

One must conclude that PNC knowledge is put into practice only with the little

Sincerely, Ravi Ram

Your vote for democracy on March 2, 2020

they know best, power at any cost.

The younger voting population who heard about the old PNC practices in the ’60s unto the early ’90s is now getting a glimpse of the history and rule by law tactics associated with the PNC. Can we place such tragedies for all Guyanese in the 20th century, an authoritarian leadership? Do we have to attain the age of 70 and beyond before we can get a decent job?

Let us vote for the rule of law to prevail! Let us vote for a democratic society! Statistically, the numbers speak of PPP/C victory!

Together, we can make this happen with your vote for the PPP/C on March 2, 2020.

Sincerely, Praim Persaud

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020

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CONTINUED FROM MONDAY

Connection to the outdoors

Connecting youths to the outdoors is also important when it comes to climate change. Research shows time outdoors, especially at an early age, can reduce childhood stress and anxiety, while strengthening confidence, imagination, and physical health – all characteristics that will help tomorrow’s adults adapt to a changing world.

“Nature-based education [and] therapy are real sources of strength and resilience for young people,” said Susan Clayton, a psychologist at Wooster College in Ohio and co-editor of Psychology and Climate Change: Human Perceptions, Impacts, and Responses.

But not everyone grows up with access to the outdoors, and both climate change and population growth are driving greater movement to urban areas worldwide. It means more kids live in developed areas with limited time in nature.

Fortunately, concern over how much time kids spend hitched to phones and computers has already sparked a revival in nature-based education.

Parents and teachers today can access a growing network of tested programs.

Proponents say nature-based education is good for older kids, too, and can spark interest in science and

Foundation

other fields that will be crucial in the decades ahead, as people engineer solutions to climate-related challenges.

Such programmes may steer teens toward promising careers. But in the short term, learning about science and nature can instil optimism in the face of discouraging climate news.

Discuss and model solutions

But what about day-today actions in the home?

Experts agree

that discussing climate change and modelling behaviours that reflect climate solutions are important, too.

Discussions need to be age-appropriate to protect young children from unnecessary stress and anxiety. But exhibiting climate-positive behaviours such as energy conservation and avoiding single-use plastics carries value at all ages. According to Tracey

Wiese, an advanced nurse practitioner who specialises in family practice and psychiatric mental health in Alaska, it shows kids that parents are engaged in trying to better the world, and it fosters resilience by channelling energy toward tangible action.

Mary DeMocker, author of The Parents’ Guide to Climate Revolution, agrees.

A s the mother of two young adults, DeMocker spent more than two decades raising kids with climate change in mind, and she believes in empowering young people to create solutions.

“Anything that gives kids a sense of agency is important,” she said. “Maybe they help put together the family’s emergency plan or evacuation kit. For older kids, it might mean writing letters to Congress.”

DeMocker’s book con-

tains 100 short, action-oriented chapters with ideas on greener lifestyles, getting kids outdoors, and promoting solutions to the climate crisis. She is attentive to the science of climate change and the urgent need for a swift transition to clean energy. That drives her belief that children growing up today must feel empowered to create change.

In addition to strong support networks, time outdoors, and posi t i v e thinki n g habits, s h e said, e m powe r -

m e n t comes from solid foundations in both civics and climate science.

“I encourage parents to push for climate literacy in schools,” she said.

“Climate change is the biggest thing that’s going to affect their children’s future.

Kids need to know the science and causes but also the solutions. And it needs to be taught free from the constraints of political interests.”

DeMocker said young people should not be told “what to think about climate, but how to think about it”.

She believes teaching kids to think critically about the issue, including in geopolitical terms, helps them avoid despair and instead empowers them to create change. A grounding in civics and democracy then informs kids how change can occur.

Foster compassion

Compassion is also a theme in DeMocker’s work.

She said it’s an important emotional response for parents to exercise while listening to a child’s fears about climate change, which may include concerns about wildlife, natural disasters, or the well-being of friends, family, and even pets.

Wiese also sees the importance of compassion. She said parents foster compassion when they provide a safe emotional place for kids to express their feelings and where feelings are respected. For younger children, she also sees value in compassion-based play.

Exercising compassion models behaviours young people will need in the future, too, as they emerge as adults into a world undergoing significant physical and societal change.

S

o, author/illustrator Calef Brown draws himself as a blue elephant. He used to live in India and says he just loves elephants, so maybe that’s why.

If you could acquire one physical characteristic from an animal – any animal EXCEPT a dog or cat – what would it be and why?

Think about an animal that you like or find interesting. Draw a self-portrait and write a vivid description of the new you – and be sure to let your readers know about any special powers you might

Global experts predict lowand middle-income people — and especially children — will continue feeling the brunt of weather extremes, food shortages, and other climate-related events.

Tomorrow’s adults will need to know the value of compassion to promote responses that alleviate suffering, foster social justice, and decarbonise the economy. That provides a check against intolerance, nationalism, and other negative reactions that can compound suffering and civil unrest. Practicing compassion also carries mental health benefits that can help tomorrow’s adults weather the climate disruption they will experience.

Like climate change itself, the prospect of raising children on a warming planet is daunting. When it becomes overwhelming, Wiese said, parents should focus on what they can control: Practise self-care. Provide kids with safety and support. Teach resilience and compassion. And model planet-healthy choices that orient children away from anxiety and toward solutions. (Excerpt from YES! Magazine)

now have. Include descriptive words that help create strong visual imagery, with extra credit for using onomatopoeia! (startwithabook.org)

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ferguson Sugar workers have to get back Annette breaches election laws jobs – Jagdeo tells Enmore to bribe servicemen …knew what she was doing was G improper, unlawful – Datadin eneral Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday told supporters that one of the highest priorities of his party, if it returns to office at the March 2 General and Regional Elections, is to ensure that the displaced sugar workers are re-employed.

Some 7000 sugar workers were placed on the breadline after the incumbent APNU/ AFC Administration downsized the industry and shut down four estates across the country.

Many of those workers have not been able to secure permanent jobs and remain on the breadline more than two years later.

However, speaking at a public meeting in Enmore, which housed the East Demerara Estate – one of the four estates closed by the incumbent coalition – Jagdeo noted that the APNU/AFC Administration claimed it does not have money to inject into the industry but has been spending billions lavishly when thousands of sugar workers remain on the breadline. “[They] increased food in Government by $1.6 billion, over $1 billion for ministerial domestic travel, another $1 billion to rent buildings.

That could’ve kept Enmore

and Wales [Estates] open.

They needed only $5 billion to keep the sugar industry open and save not only 7000 jobs but 11,000 jobs because there are 4000 people who depended on the 7000 sugar workers’ income for a job.

Eleven thousand Guyanese could’ve been working, feeding their families,” he posited.

According to the Opposition Leader, there are parents in areas such as Wales, West Coast Demerara (WCD), and Canje, Berbice, who are struggling not only to provide food for their children but also send them to school. In fact, he noted that because of their financial troubles, many kids are forced to drop out of school.

He went on to outline that the sugar workers, like many others in the various sectors, believed the promises made by the APNU/AFC in 2015 but got nothing except for increased taxes and charges.

“So today all the promises were broken to the sugar workers. Right here at Enmore, many people believed that too. They believed that is 20 per cent increase they will get in salaries,” he posited, adding that instead, sugar workers got no increases for the past four years and now in the final year, Government is of-

fering one per cent during the elections period.

The PPP General Secretary added too that the coalition also cancelled the Annual Production Incentive (API) – something which has been in place for 70 years even under the Forbes Burnham-led Administration. The API is a form of deferred earnings premised on annual sugar production.

“So today, if anyone wants to talk about broken promises, the sugar workers have lived it. They’ve seen the true nature of the Government and people like (Prime Minister Moses) Nagamootoo and (AFC Leader Khemraj) Ramjattan, who came into these communities and lied to people blatantly,” he asserted.

Jagdeo pointed out that the incumbent coalition has no vision or plans for the development of Guyana and its people, hence it continuously drags the PPP/C. However, the Opposition Leader noted that the PPP/ C’s plans for the country are about fixing the doings of the incumbent Administration and high on that list is the creation of jobs for the approximately 30,000 persons who became unemployed within the past five years.

“The first act is to create back jobs. Put people back to

work. How will we do that… by reopening the sugar estates right across the country… We have to do that to put those sugar workers, especially in Berbice – they have to go back to work,” Jagdeo contended.

But the same vein, the PPP General Secretary explained that they will encounter issues with this because of the massive giveaway of the sugar lands, particularly along the East Coast, by the APNU/AFC to its cronies.

Last week, officials of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) disclosed that approximately 800 acres of prime real estate lands (former sugarcane lands) are available for developmental projects. Already sod has been turned for the construction of two hotels at Plantation Ogle but the deals have raised questions.

Jagdeo outlined, however, that if the PPP/C gets into office then it will find all of the secret land deals and try to get back the lands so that it can be used for housing allotments for Guyanese.

“We’ve made it clear that all the secret deals are going to be unraveled and we will investigate them… This is vital too for housing but we have to create jobs…,” the Opposition Leader asserted.

Minister Annette Ferguson

Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin

inister with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson is guilty of breaching the Representation of the People’s Act – the laws that govern elections in Guyana – when she days ago promised land and house lots to members of the Joint Services just days before the servicemen and women cast their ballots for the 2020 General Elections.

A select group of members of the Joint Services who voted last week ahead of the general population were met with by Minister Ferguson, who according to one prominent Attorney, used the occasion to knowingly breach the law.

In a clip making the rounds on social media, Minister Ferguson could be heard clearly inducing the servicemen and women at a meeting.

The Minister is heard saying, if re-elected to office and she is allowed to retain her portfolio as Minister then the ranks could be assured of house lots.

On Tuesday Attorneyat-Law Sanjeev Datadin in a brief interview with this publication pointed out to this newspaper that under the Representation of the Peoples’ Act Section 131, the Minister is guilty of the corrupt practice of bribery.

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Whatever happened…

R

…to Granger’s “bloated list”? emember when Granger was huffin’ and puffin’ that he’ll blow the whole house down ‘cause the voter’s list was “bloated” after elections finally became due after the NCM?? That the PRO had assured the Guyanese people that GECOM was always ready to hold elections in three months and the Legal Officer – with the serendipitous name of “Excellence” – had explained that this was because the OLE from the 2018 LGE could legally be brought up to date via a Claims and Objections exercise, didn’t cut any ice with him!!

The list was pretty much the same one used in the 2015 elections – which eased him into Government. So since he’d taken over the reign of Government from the PPP, one wondered where this “bloating” came from!!

Especially when he ensured GECOM would do his bidding by unilaterally appointing his handmaiden Justice James Patterson to head the outfit!! With the PNC and PPP Commissioners evenly split, every “GECOM decision” was actually the Chairman’s!! Right away you knew Granger was just bloviating about bloating because the NCM had nipped his well laid out plans to rig the elections!!

The total number of voters on the 2015 list had been 570,708; yet, Granger insisted that the “bloating” amounted to 200,000. Who in the world gave him that figure?? The GECOM CEO, who just happens to also be an ex-Army squaddie, said, “It wasn’t me!!” If Granger knew what he was talking about and one subtracted this 200,000 we’d be left with 370,708 voters, no?? But actually, 412,012 citizens had voted in that election!! Was he saying that over 40,000 voters had died or gone insane (since these were the only way folks could be taken off the register!!) and time had frozen so no persons below 18 years had reached majority??

But your Eyewitness isn’t surprised in the least that after the H2H exercise – which Granger’s toothless poodle Patterson snuck in as his parting present to prove “bloating” – came up with 633,155 eligible voters, we haven’t had a squeak from Granger!! It wasn’t the bloating of the list Granger had in mind – it was all about bloating the time to elections!! March 21, 2019, would never do – he just needed that year to do the dirty on our electoral system.

Hence March 2, 2020.

So your Eyewitness also isn’t surprised by the seeming bolt out of the blue that drastically reduced the number of Polling Places in PPP strongholds. That ensures they’ll have to make a trek like the Israelites out of Egypt to get their finger inked on March 2. He’s counting that enough won’t be so patient!!

The original journey lasted 40 years, no? … to sugar workers’ militancy??

We note, at long last, GAWU has called out its workers on strike to protest the insults GuySuCo piled on their heads over the last few weeks. Here it was, sugar workers hadn’t seen a penny’s wage increase since 2015 – when the PNC squeezed into office on votes some of them had given to the AFC – and now with elections imminent, they’d offered a pittance! And that wasn’t all: the pittance that wouldn’t even cover the inflation since 2015, would only kick in this January!!

GAWU’s being very kind to insist that the “retro” began from Jan 2019. If your Eyewitness had any input, he would’ve said Jan 2015!! After all, finding the money isn’t any problem. Hasn’t Granger insisted that after he’d cut off the “deadweight” of four underperforming estates and 7000 workers, GuySuCo would be raking in profits hand over fist?!! It’s now been three years: where are the profits??

Then, there are hundreds of acres of sugar lands sold off to foreigners: don’t sugar workers have first dibs??

Then what about the $30B bond?? … to that profit oil?

Granger also huffed and puffed to have Guyana’s first oil tranche from the “Nassau Oil Contract” shipped before March 2.

So could he tell voters exactly how much Guyana made on the deal?? What’s he afraid of??

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

9 Ali outlines plan to revitalise Region 3’s economy R NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

esidents of Parika and surrounding communities on the East Bank of Essequibo were on Monday informed of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) plans to revitalise the Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) economy.

While at the same public meeting held in Parika, Prime Ministerial Candidate Mark Phillips reminded supporters of the draconian measures put in place by the incumbent coalition. He noted that in 2015, the APNU/AFC promised to support farmers but instead raised the taxes and fees for land and irrigation.

“How can you help farmers by increasing the money

PPP/C Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali

that they pay, and then turn and tell them you’re giving them ‘the good life’… You got the ‘good lie’ from the coalition Government,” Phillips stated.

Stream of measures

To this end, the Party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, outlined a stream of measures that return the vibrancy of the Region’s econ-

1 arrested for smuggling chicken, alcohol – GRA

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he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has detained one of six suspects following the discovery of a large quantity of chicken and alcohol in a truck on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

According to the GRA on Tuesday, officers from its Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) detained the vehicle containing the items during an early morning operation on Thursday last at Dazzle Housing Scheme, ECD. The tax collection agency said that while six persons were spotted, five managed to escape while the LEID officers were able to apprehend one suspect (name given).

The detained individual, who is a businessman, was previously apprehended in a similar operation at Mahaicony, ECD, where un-customed goods were also confiscated, GRA said.

In fact, the Revenue Authority has initiated court proceedings against him.

The same detained individual along with another ECD businessman had filed an $8 million lawsuit against GRA in July 2019 for wrongful arrest and detainment on accusations of smuggling raw chicken into the coun-

Small and medium-scale farmers

The smuggled chicken and alcohol found by GRA’s LEID officers last week

try for sale to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Meanwhile, GRA said on Tuesday that during the course of the operations last week, the LEID officers were also able to positively identify two other known smugglers among the five escapees, both of whom were previously apprehended by the Revenue Authority for knowingly dealing with un-customed goods and are facing charges in the Courts.

GRA noted legal proceedings for these offences are in

keeping with the provision of the Customs Act Chapter 82:01, with the overall objective being to curtail smuggling and similar activities that seek to defraud the state of revenue.

In its relentless campaign, the GRA is encouraging members of the public to be forthcoming with information about persons and businesses involved, aiding or abetting in these illegal activities. Information can be reported to the LEID hotline 227-6060 ext. 3204 - 12.

Annette Ferguson breaches...

Under that statute, every person who directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf “gives or agrees to give; or lends or agrees to lend; or offers or promises; or promises to procure or promises to endeavour to procure any money or valuable consideration to or for any elector, or to or for any other person, in order to induce any elector to vote or to refrain from voting” is guilty of the corrupt act of bribery.

The attorney noted that the issue has to be looked at in context and pointed to the Minister’s stated request for the individuals present in the room at the time to turn off their cell phones.

According to Datadin, the Minister clearly knew what she was about to do was im-

omy in the various sectors.

“The market that was once vibrant, today, when you go there in the evening on Sundays, you see farmers with tons of produce that they have to take back home and dump… All of this because the Government has taken out of your pockets and stripped you of your disposable income with the more than 200 taxes they applied and $91 billion they took out your pockets. On “March 2, we must fix this by removing those burdensome taxes and putting back the 91 billion in the pockets of the people,” Ali stated.

The PPP/C Presidential Candidate pointed out that the incumbent coalition has failed to respond to the challenges facing the region.

Ali noted that the coalition, though in office for five years, controlled the Parliament for eight years with a one-seat majority and during that time, reduced money for critical things such as support for farmers, drainage and irrigation, farm-to-market access roads, healthcare and education, among others – all things that would have improved the lives of residents.

He pointed out that during its time in office, the PPP/C had undertaken many projects to make life easier for the people of Region Three and this will continue if the party returns to office.

proper.

“Why would she ask them to turn off their cell phones, clearly she was well aware that what she was going to do was improper.”

He said members of the Joint Services cannot be treated in the same way and that while it must be realised that politicians will make promises, these must be done out in the open.

“They should be done clear and out in the open,” Datadin posited and suggested that a politician would not be meeting individuals on the streets and promising to reduce only their taxes.

The attorney was adamant that by meeting with a select group of servicemen and demanding that they turn off their cell phones from the in-

FROM PAGE 7

ception, the Minister wanted the affair to be kept secret and, in the context, knew that it was improper and unlawful.

He said in the circumstance of just meeting with a selected few persons in a room, asking them to take off their cell phones, those persons had been identified for special treatment and that the Minister knew what she was doing was not only wrong but unlawful.

Such promises, he said, must be made out in the open and asked why the party did not choose to have its commitment to the members of the Joint Services be made part of the election manifesto for all to see.

“She knew it was improper…why not say it in the open,” he said

“That was just the beginning; because after March 2, we are not going to rest until we complete every farmto-market road across this region. So our rice farmers don’t have to go and beg after every crop for a machine to go and grade the dam. We must end that and after March 2, we will end this when [you] elect the PPP/Civic to make these investments,” he asserted.

PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate Mark Phillips addressing residents at Parika

The Presidential Candidate stressed that voting for the PPP/C will also support other small and medium-scale farmers such as the cash crop farmers. He noted that the party will not allow these farmers to continue to borrow at very high interest rates and in order to help, a PPP/C Administration will create special development fund (a grant and loan facility) that will see them expanding production and opening new lands for their use.

Additionally, he shared the Party’s vision to make Parika the export hub for all the agricultural products by investing in a state of the art agro-process packaging facility that will be linked directly to US$B Caricom (Caribbean Community) markets.

“This is the development, this is the support we will bring to you – the farmers – by creating wealth, opening up new markets and ensuring that you get fair prices in a market that have higher possibilities,” the Presidential Candidate stressed.

Ali further pointed out that over the past five years, many businesses in Parika have downsized and some even closed because of the declining state of the region’s economy. He noted that the sawmills which were once

blooming are now on the verge of closing or have already closed because the forestry sector has declined.

“When forestry is on the decline, Parika will be on decline – the boat operators, the tugs, the barges, the sawmill owners, the guys who go in as operators, all of them are affected and when they are affected, their families are affected and when their families are affected, the economy of Region Three is affected. So the dent on the forestry sector has caused enormous hardship on the economy of this region, on the people of this community,” he contended.

The PPP/C, he noted, will fix this by getting back investments for the forestry sector, by returning the incentives on machinery and equipment and by helping operators to recapitalise themselves so that they can open up back operations and thus provide jobs for people in the region.

Moreover, Ali underscored the importance of the mining sector to the region’s economy, especially at Parika. He explained that speedboat operators and taxi drivers are merely some of the operators who benefit from the sector but this has been on the decline with more dredges closing.

10 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Court dismisses Minister’s application General and Regional Elections Road closures around to silence Guyana Times

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

J

ustice Gino Persaud on Tuesday denied an application

by Government Minister Annette Ferguson to muzzle Guyana Times and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Minister had sought an injunction from the High

Court to prevent Jagdeo from making statements regarding her acquisition of lands and to restrain Guyana Times from reporting or further publishing anything on the matter.

The unsuccessful injunction was filed in January.

In handing down the ruling, Justice Persaud noted the importance of leaving freedom of speech unfettered especially in an elections period.

Additionally, he pointed out that only in the rarest of libel cases are interim injunctions granted.

“The claimant has failed to persuade the court that this is such a rare or exceptional case…In coming to this conclusion, I’m conscious to the need to ensure the free expression of opinion by those who put themselves in the democratic process for election to the population at large,” he

GECOM to take effect from today

High Court Judge, Justice Gino Persaud

Minister within the Housing Ministry, Annette Ferguson

ruled.

In her lawsuit against the Opposition Leader, Minister Ferguson is seeking damages in excess of $50 million for libel she claimed he committed on separate occasions – December 5 and December 12, 2019 – during weekly press conferences.

On the other hand, in ex-

cess of $10 million is being sought for damages from Guyana Times.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall in association with Manoj Narayan represented Jagdeo while Attorney Devindra Kissoon appeared on behalf of Guyana Times.

T

The GECOM Command Centre

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has notified the public that several roads will be closed from today, February 26, to facilitate smooth operations of the Guyana Elections Commission as E-Day draws nearer.

These closures will specifically focus around the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Command Centre, at High and Cowan Streets, Kingston.

Points to be closed include High Street, between Cowan and Barrack Streets; and Cowan Street, between High and Fort Streets. Vehicle passes would be issued by GECOM to residents, employees and organisations likely to be affected by the closure. From 06:00h today, these changes will take effect until further notice.

To ensure that there is a smooth process, the Education Ministry has already announced the decision to close public schools on Elections Day in order to facilitate the usage of those public buildings as polling places. This was communicated by the Ministry in a public service announcement. It was explained that approval was granted for all public schools to be closed.

Meanwhile, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has already called on

Government to declare Elections Day a national holiday. This, the Commission noted, was concluded after considering the absolute need for the maintenance of law and order and the free and unhindered access to and from the polling place for every citizen qualified to vote on Election Day. Elections are set for March 2, and some 13 parties have submitted nominations to enter the polls. In total, 13 parties submitted lists of candidates and 11 were new or smaller political groupings.

Apart from the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership For National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), the others include A New and United Guyana (ANUG), The New Movement (TNM), The Citizenship Initiative (TCI), Change Guyana, the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Fed-UP, People’s Republic Party (PRP), Guyana National Service Party (GNSP), Organisation of the Victory of the People (OVP), National Independent Party (NIP), and the United Republican Party (URP).

Several international observers have already arrived in Guyana to observe the process next Monday along with the post electoral activities to follow.

Miner stabbed to death by drinking mate

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26-year-old miner died on Monday after he was stabbed during a brawl with another miner on Sunday.

Dead is Joseph Calistro of Port Kaituma, North-West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini).

The incident occurred at 14 Miles, NWD. According to Police reports, the victim and suspect were imbibing at a shop when Caslistro reportedly became intoxicated and wanted to fight the suspect, who tried to avoid him and walked away.

However, Calistro, who was armed with a pair of scissors, pursued the 25-year-old suspect and assaulted him.

The suspect reportedly became annoyed, disarmed

Calistro and wounded him with the scissors. This occurred sometime around midnight.

The 26-year-old miner was subsequently taken for medical treatment at the Arakaka Health Centre around 01:00h. He was treated and sent away.

However, Calistro returned to the said facility hours later with a breathing problem and was receiving oxygen when he succumbed.

The body, which bore a wound to the middle of the chest and another to the right arm, is presently at the Port Kaituma Hospital mortuary awaiting a Post-Mortem Examination (PME).

Meanwhile, the suspect, a 25-year-old miner, of Port Kaituma NWD, has since been detained.

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12 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU/AFC’s cash grant for Ramsammy’s Ruminations students not guaranteed Voter frustration and …“feasibility” study to be conducted – coalition manifesto

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hough it is campaigning on a promise to provide cash grants for schoolchildren, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition’s manifesto reveals that the initiative may not be possible after all, as a feasibility study would first have to be conducted.

An initiative first introduced by the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, the cash grant for schoolchildren was immediately cancelled by the incumbent coalition upon its assumption to office in 2015.

Now that the country is heading to the polls in March, the coalition has floated the promise to reintroduce the project. However, a close examination of its manifesto reveals that the reinstatement of the initiative is conditional.

The manifesto, released just last week, states that a feasibility study will first have to be conducted before it is decided whether the cash grant initiative can be restored. In fact, this applies to all of the promises of conditional cash transfers, including grants for single parents and the elderly.

Duplicitous

In a radio interview recently, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo called out

the Government for being duplicitous on the matter, after pondering on the fact that the same Government which once took away this grant from students has suddenly decided to restore it.

“There is a big talk about cash grants. APNU was opposed to it, then they were for it, then they opposed it and so two weeks ago, I saw that after we promised that we’d return the school cash grant which was $10,000 and then increase it to $50,000 over the next term, then suddenly he promise cash grants again,” Jagdeo explained.

He specifically touched on the clause which speaks to the feasibility study, by asserting, “To my surprise in the document they launched, they said for anybody to get any help from oil and gas money, there has to be a feasibility study whether they would reintroduce the cash grant. Now, they did not do a feasibility study when they increased the salaries of Ministers and their perks of medical care abroad and all of those things. But for our children, they now have to do a feasibility study to decide.”

Excerpts from the PPP’s manifesto launched since November last year speak to the increased grant from $10,000 to $50,000 per child every year. While the initiative had cost the PPP

Administration some $1.6 billion, he said that the party was willing to invest some $8 billion per year in youths.

Unlike the coalition’s promises, Jagdeo pointed out that under a new PPP/C Administration, the cash grant initiative is guaranteed. He shared that the party had piloted this initiative even before Guyana had known about its fateful oil boon.

On that note, he condemned the coalition’s claims that it could not afford the grants by pointing to the increase in ministerial perks by billions of dollars.

“It used to cost us $1.6 billion when the PPP was there.

We introduced it without oil and gas…APNU claimed they couldn’t afford it, but they increased in Government, food and Government services by $1.6 billion per year in the local budget. Ministerial local travel has increased by $1.1 billion alone. They’ve increased rental of buildings for Government by another billion.”

The ministerial perks were accompanied by an increase in salary as soon as the coalition was appointed to govern the country. Months after assuming office, Cabinet Ministers were allocated salary increases amounting to 50 per cent, which saw their monthly earnings rising to

$870,000 from the $579,000 which was handed out monthly under the previous Administration.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo was allocated a $2 million increase to $20,580,000 per annum, while Vice Presidents are paid just over $11.1 million per year. Members of Parliament with no specific portfolio were awarded a 20 per cent increase in salaries which reflected an uptick to $2,402,532 which moved from the previous $2,002,116.

Nevertheless, the cash grant, Jagdeo noted, can be expected with countless other plans that were drafted by the PPP/C, not only for the youths but also the elderly and wider population.

Projects which will return include free water supply and subsidised electricity costs for pensioners, which were snatched away shortly after the coalition won the elections five years ago.

“We’ve said clearly we want to double old age pension. The resources must be utilised for elders. We believe this would put more disposable income into the pockets of people. It would help with the sloth in the economy…

We intend to return free water. We intend to return subsidised electricity to the pensioners that they took away,” he assured.

suppression – GECOM is messing with free and fair elections

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very day since the December 21, 2018 No-Confidence Motion, GECOM has played an accomplice role in delaying elections and in overt voter frustration and voter suppression.

We still have a chance for free and fair elections because of the vigilance of the PPP/C under the leadership of Bharrat Jagdeo, the patience and determination of PPP supporters, advocacy of some private organisations— like the Private Sector Commission— a small part of the media, some independent voices.

The amazing thing is the total silence of the small parties who Dr Leslie Ramsammy dream about a third force.

Their silence renders them irrelevant. It has not escaped the attention of the Guyanese people that every time Guyana’s democracy is threatened, it has been the PPP in the forefront. It is hard, cold facts and no room for dispute. I am hopeful that among those interested in free and fair elections is the Chairperson of GECOM. It is this hope that gives rise to an iota of optimism that Justice Singh is on the side of free and fair elections.

One has to be deaf, blind and dumb not to see and speak out against a case of obvious voter frustration and suppression. GECOM has made some dramatic, unfathomable, changes in the list of polling places and polling stations for the March 2, 2020 elections.

Clearly, GECOM’s motivation was not intended to make it easier, safer, and more comfortable for voters. The changes are obviously discriminatory.

In every case where the change in the polling place or polling station has been made more difficult, less accessible, less safe, less comfortable, these polling places and stations are in communities considered strongholds of the PPP/C. In those instances where changes have been made for easier access, where polling stations will have reasonable numbers of voters, it is in communities considered strongholds of APNU/AFC. There is a plot, there is no need for me to be diplomatic— I will call a spade a spade. GECOM’s Chairperson must explain why I am wrong, why the majority of Guyanese are wrong, why the PPP is wrong to ascribe sinister motives for what is now clearly a discriminatory allocation of polling places – one that makes it easier for supporters of APNU/AFC and one that is designed to create maximum difficulties and chaos for supporters of the PPP/C. If ever there is unequivocal evidence for voter suppression this is it. The madam Chair must speak out now, not allowing her Secretariat to drag her down the rigging plank.

In a separate missive published in several sections of the media over the last several days, I highlighted instances of discriminatory changes, changes that make polling places and stations less accessible, less safe, creating major discomfort and security problems for both voters and officials.

The media over the last several days have highlighted several more of these changes. In Eccles, for example, voters will now vote under tents, one of which will be located in a cow pasture with major difficulties for the elderly and for people who may be physically challenged. In every instance where a troublesome change has been made, it is in strongholds of the PPP. In every instance where a polling place change improved security, accessibility comfort for voters and officials, it is in a stronghold of APNU/AFC. Clearly, the GECOM Secretariat is taking the Chair “for a ride”.

For the observer teams, they must not wait to play a postmortem role. They need to work with all participants to ensure any process of rigging or giving an advantage to one side or the other must be nipped at the bud. They must upfront address this matter of biased polling place allocation. Choosing silence at this time is diminishing their effectiveness as a watchdog to guarantee free and fair elections.

The Carter Center has always played a key role in Guyana’s elections since 1992. They are credited with enabling a process that led to Guyana’s first free and fair elections after Independence in 1966.

It is comforting they are here and playing an active role.

Supposedly, Justice Singh indicated replacement of many private properties as polling places was a recommendation made by the Carter Center. The Carter Center has been used as a scapegoat for this clearly sinister move. They cannot remain silent, for silence, in this case, is being an active collaborator.

If they did make the recommendation, which I could not find in their 2015 report, they need to say if their recommendation suggested a policy of non-utilisation of private properties only in PPP strongholds and if their recommendation suggests removal even if the replacements are less secure, less accessible, less comfortable.

If they did, then they are in Guyana not for free and fair election.

One encouraging sign through all the machinations to make it difficult for voters who support one political party is the majority of Guyanese people are so determined and so angry that their rights are being trampled, they will still overcome the difficulties, even if the polling places are located in Timbuktu.

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NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Farmer nabbed with Man found guilty of murdering fisherman in 2014 illegal gun, ammo F

The unlicensed firearm and a magazine with 10 live rounds of ammunition

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farmer of Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was arrested after he was found in possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.

Police confirmed that the unlicensed pistol with ten live rounds of ammunition were found concealed at the premises of the 68-year-old Log Wood resident.

The discovery was made after Police received information. Just about a week ago, a welder was allegedly found with an illegal firearm and matching ammuni-

tion at the check-in counter at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle, ECD. The man, identified as Terrence Baker, 32, of 3715 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, on February 17, 2020, at the Trans Guyana check-in counter at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, had in his possession one .32 pistol without being the holder of a firearm license.

Barker was subsequently charged for the two offences and was released on $300,000 bail.

2nd accused jailed for 29 years for businessman’s murder

Floyd Rammit and Kemo Evans during their appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

J

ustice Sandil Kissoon on Tuesday sentenced the second accused in the April 15, 2015 murder of businessman Abdul Farouk Ghanie to 29 years’ imprisonment after he was found guilty by a 12-member High Court jury.

Kemo Evans, 22, was found guilty of murdering the 56-year-old owner of Hamson’s General Store during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

Reports in 2015 were that the victim, called “Brother” and “Hamson”, was ambushed while tending to his dogs.

His body was found by his wife, who had gone to the property after several calls to his phones went unanswered.

An autopsy showed that he died as a result of a single stab wound to the chest.

On February 3, Floyd

Murdered: Ghanie

Abdul

Farouk

Rammit, who was jointly charged with Evans for the businessman’s killing, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after he admitted to the crime.

Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd represented the accused while the State was represented by Tuanna Hardy, Tiffini Lyken, and Nafeeza Baig.

ollowing a lengthy deliberation by a 12-member High Court jury on Tuesday, it ruled that a Blossom Scheme, Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man is guilty of murdering Chetram Bharrat while wounding his reputed wife, Lomattie Ramdat, and stealing some $370,000 from their home in 2014.

The accused, Errol Khan, was slapped with two separate indictments when he made his first High Court appearance before Justice Brassington Reynolds.

Khan, who was represented by Attorney Ravindra Mohabir, denied the indict-

Convicted murderer: Errol Khan being escorted out of court

ments which detailed that on May 2, 2014, he hacked Bharrat, a fisherman, to

death, feloniously wounded Ramdat and stole the aforementioned amount of cash during a robbery at the couple’s Haslington, ECD home.

The now convicted man will be sentenced on March 13, 2020.

It was reported that Khan entered the home of Bharrat and began hacking away at the man and his wife with a cutlass.

During his appearance at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court in 2014, Khan admitted that he was sharing a relationship with the dead man’s wife and they had a problem.

He said she defected to her husband, which caused

him to get upset and jealous.

During the attack, the woman reportedly attempted to go to her husband’s aid but was chopped several times by the attacker.

After the incident, Ramdat claimed that she and her husband suffered the fate as a result of a robbery but was forced to change her story after residents who are familiar with her relationship with the now accused man began speaking about it, expressing the view that it was Khan, her lover, who committed the act.

State Prosecutors Abigail Gibbs and Sarah Martin are representing the State.

18 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Sugar workers picket Granger’s GuyTIE 2020 participants benefit office for retroactive pay hike from capacity-building workshops

General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union Seepaul Narine

H

undreds of sugar workers mounted a peaceful protest outside of the Ministry of the Presidency on Tuesday, calling for their salary increases to be retroactive as of January 2019.

This comes in light of a deadlock between GuySuCo and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) with regards a consensus for sugar workers’ salaries to be retroactive.

At the protest line, GAWU’s General Secretary Seepaul Narine stated that the Union wants the increase offered by GuySuCo to be retroactive from January 1, 2019.

“We had the meeting with them on Friday and it was Friday that GuySuCo told us that they have made some representation and this is a matter that needs to be addressed by the Government.”

He further stated that “this is a matter we have been talking with them not now for three weeks we have been talking and at our very first meeting, we have indicated that whatever we agreed to this is a continuation of 2019 and not 2020.

They agreed with us and from what I can gather from the GuySuCo management, they seem to be in sympathy but like I said, they said to us this is a matter that needs to be addressed by the Government.”

The Union, during the

protest, reiterated its call for an agreement on an acceptable period of retroactivity, but the Sugar Corporation is unmoved.

“In the first instance, the increases had to be addressed by them and they had to be conscious that whatever we are talking, we are talking about 2019, we haven’t even submitted our proposal for 2020 but GuySuCo wants to do another thing or wants more in a wake of discrimination and disrespect to say that it is 2020 and not 2019, ” Narine underscored.

The workers’ bargaining agent further highlighted that GuySuCo has agreed to pay a five per cent increase in wages from March 1 – one day before the workers head to the polls to cast their ballots for a party of their choice. In fact, during the protest, GAWU was greeted with tight security which they believe is to silence them on the road to justice and fairness.

“We saw what transpired as yet another attempt to still the workers’ voices who have confronted assault after assault by the incumbent Administration. Indeed, in our view the large security operation was not required since at no time did the protesters pose any threat whatsoever and, therefore, the extraordinary and excessive measures were uncalled for altogether.”

In November last,

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder said that the sugar workers may not be benefiting from any wage increases due to the financial situation at GuySuCo. Additionally, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan had stated that any pay increase must come from the Board of GuySuCo. However, the unionist is contending that the Finance Minister along with Government did nothing to improve the lives of the sugar workers but did more harm than good.

“The Minister is known for talking, but that is all he is good for because he has never match action with words. We had no increase in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, this is part of the negotiations for 2019 and the decent thing one would have expected is that we would have settle off in 2019 and clear this scorecard,” Narine stated.

The workers at the picketing exercise stated that the President has the authority to issue the retroactive salary and as such, they are calling on him to do so since they are in dire need of it.

“We are out here protesting for retroactive payment for 2019 January. Sugar workers have not been paid wage and salaries increases since 2014 – five years now we have not received a wage increase,” Rambeer said.

Another cane harvester, Anil Sammy, who is employed at the Blairmont Estate, echoed the same sentiments.

“Since 2014 we don’t have a wage increase – five years now we haven’t had a wage increase, so they decide to give us five per cent for first of January 2020 so we are protesting here for it to be retroactive as of January 2019.” Sammy outlined.

Participants and facilitators of the three-day capacity-building workshop which was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal

O

ver 50 businesses participating in the upcoming Guyana Trade and Investment Exhibition (GuyTIE) 2020 scheduled for May, benefitted from capacity-building sessions in the key areas of Trade Facilitation and Corporate Social Responsibility over the course of three days.

The sessions were organised by the GuyTIE Steering Committee in partnership with the Canadian Executive Services Organisation (CESO) and the Canadian High Commission and were held from February 17-19, 2020 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

GuyTIE Coordinator Tameca Sukhdeo-Singh explained that the sessions are intended to help participants understand the requirements for the export market and improve trade relations.

The workshops also helped to prepare the participants for more impactful involvement in GuyTIE 2020.

“These were very interactive sessions; the participants were able to examine what they are doing, learn from what they are doing, how they can improve it, what they can do to enhance and support what they are doing,” Sukhdeo-Singh said.

She added that the Committee plans to facilitate more training sessions in the run-up to GuyTIE. One of the facilitators was Robert Carreau, an Environmental Scientist who provided training on Corporate Social Responsibility. Carreau has more than 35 years of international mining experience.

“It’s an exciting time for Guyana right now with the discovery of oil and the beginning of production,” he

Entrepreneur Simone Peters receives a certificate of participation from workshop facilitator Margaret Steeves

said, adding, “there’s a lot of opportunities for small and medium businesses— as we talked about during the course—how you change development, how you change the social structure, the economic structures,” he said.

Meanwhile, Margaret Steeves, who served in the Ontario Government as Director of Marketing in the Ministry of Economic Development and International Trade, was the facilitator on Building Business Relationships and Business Growth.

“The items that we covered in the workshop include building your relationships, first impressions, business planning, exporting, getting ready to export, preparing an export plan,” she said.

Steeves also provided valuable information on how to effectively participate in tradeshows.

Participants said the workshops provided useful information which can help their businesses.

Daniel Sugrim of Action Invest Caribbean Inc noted that his company’s decision to participate in the training stemmed from the intent to enhance its Corporate Social Responsibility performance.

“All of our clients engage in some form of Corporate Social Responsibility. The reason why we chose to participate is to build that relationship and look at ways in which we can now develop our Corporate Social Responsibility as a good corporate citizen,” he explained.

He described the training as informative and interactive.

Simone Peters of Ann’s Bakery noted that the workshop was enlightening and empowering. She assured that she will apply the knowledge she garnered to prepare her booth for GuyTIE 2020.

Certificates of Participation were distributed at the end of the training.

GuyTIE 2020 is being organised by the Ministry of Business in collaboration with Caribbean Export Development Agency, the Guyana Office for Investment, Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, New Guyana Marketing Corporation, Private Sector Commission, Guyana Undiscovered, Small Business Bureau and the National Exhibition Centre.

Man found dead hours after Annandale woman wanted for robbery boasting about being rich

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he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for a 33-year-old woman, who is wanted in connection with a robbery at Kitty, Georgetown.

Muressa Ahmad, who also uses the name “Muressa Ali”, is wanted for questioning in relation to the simple larceny committed on Stanislaus Mc Koy on February 4, 2020, at Ocean Spray Hotel, Stanley Place, Kitty. Her last known address was listed at Annandale, East Coast

Wanted: Muressa Ahmad

Demerara (ECD) Anyone with information on her whereabouts or that which may lead to her arrest is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 261-2760, 2160254, 216-0251, 226-6978, 225-8196, 226-2870, 2267065, 229-2750, 227-1149, 226-7065, 225-6940, 2269834, 226-2417, 226-2407, 225-2694, 911 or the nearest police station.

The GPF has indicated that all information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

P

olice in Linden have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of an unidentified man who was discovered on Monday evening at the Prosville Squatting Area, Wismar, Linden.

Initial reports indicated that the man, who was of Indian descent, was found in an unconscious state and was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) where he subsequently succumbed. He was reportedly

bleeding from his nostrils at the time of the discovery.

Enquiries disclosed that at approximately 17:00h on Monday, the now dead man visited a food shop situated in the Prosville Squatting Area where he requested a roti which was given to him.

Reports indicate that he then took out three cellular phones from his pants pocket and began boasting that he “got money”.

He was reportedly asked to pay for the roti he ordered, after which he left.

Police have confirmed that upon examination, ranks discovered that behind his head was swollen.

The body was photographed for identification purposes and is presently lying at the LHC awaiting a post-mortem.

The cellphones which he reportedly had in his possession are yet to be located.

According to Police, persons in the area were questioned but no useful information was obtained.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

20 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3-year-old drowns in Teen miners arraigned Pegasus Hotel pool for robbing boss

A

three-year-old girl lost her life on Sunday while swimming in the Pegasus Hotel pool, Kingston, Georgetown.

She was later identified as Anastacia Joseph of Prashad Nagar, Georgetown.

An eyewitness, Errol Lam, recalled what transpired on the fateful day.

According to him, he was out getting some coffee at the Pegasus Hotel when the child’s body was found floating in the pool.

“At about 3:30 yesterday afternoon, I normally go to Pegasus to have coffee or dinner or lunch… I went there to have my coffee, they said the front is closed you have to go down at the back…whilst waiting for my coffee, I saw a pandemonium. Somebody said look, a child floating in the water.

Now, you have three or four little children in the water with no lifeguard, no floats for the children,” he added.

He further stated that

the child drifted out in the deep, encountered difficulties and went underwater.

The child was pulled out of the water and persons attempted to resuscitate her.

“I am a trained Medic so I said the ambulance, then I said no taxi, then I said CPR instantly, but I erred in a sense that I didn’t have access to the child. If I had access…when they offered CPR the child was breathing and the child puke… but what should have been done immediately was to tap on the child’s heart, that would have resuscitated the heartbeat,” he explained.

However, according to the child’s mother, she had left to go to the washroom and when she returned the child was under the water.

She was eventually rushed to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

T

Cadeem Baily and Malcolm Payne entering the court compound

wo teen miners appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann Mclennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday charged for stealing a quantity of gold and cash belonging to their employer.

Cadeem Baily and Malcolm Payne, both 19 years

old, were remanded to prison on a charge of breaking and entering and larceny.

Baily, of Shell Road, Kitty, Georgetown, and Payne, of Houston, Greater Georgetown, pleaded guilty and not guilty respectively when the allegation was read to them.

Police stated that on

February 23, 2020, the duo broke into the dwelling house of Kennard Dhanraj and stole a quantity of gold amounting to over $1.1 million, $123,000 in cash and a gold band valued $30,000.

Facts presented stated that Dhanraj secured his house on the day in question and went to transact business. Upon his arrival back home, he was greeted by a ransacked house and upon checking, he discovered the articles were missing.

A police report was made and the teenagers were later arrested at Mabura checkpoint, Region 10. A quantity of the stolen items was recovered.

In an explanation to the court, Bailey shared that he was employed by Dhanraj, who refused to pay him for his labour after the mining dredge was shut down.

The defendant added that he is the sole breadwinner for his family, and would be met with violence whenever he approached the victim for his money.

As such, a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

Both defendants were, nevertheless, remanded to prison until March 5, 2020.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020

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Ramdhani siblings bag silver medals, head to Canadian “Nationals”

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he badminton-wield- 3-March 8 at the University ing Ramdhani sib- of Toronto, Mississauga. lings continue to This will be Narayan’s second outing at make waves in Canada while improving their “Nationals” after coprankings through continuping bronze last year ous competition. and the first time for Competing for Priyanna.

King’s University and The Guyanese siblings copped Old’s College respectively, the Guyanese their spots at pair of Narayan “Nationals” following and Priyanna silver medal-winRamdhani will be ning performances over the weekcompeting at the Canadian Collegiate end at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Athletic Association (CCAA) National Conferences Championships, repre(ACAC) Individual senting the and Round Robin Championships.

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21

College’s Beau Stephenson comfortably 21-5, 21-7. He then overcame Concordia’s Tyson Tsen 21-9, 21-8. In the semis, it was another walk in the park as he dispatched Old’s Troy Morgan. However, his luck turned in the final where he lost to the number one seeded

against Kaitlyn Gee 21-4, 21-6.

Seeded number two, Priyanna went on to secure victories over Concordia’s Kassidy Turcotte 21-6, 21-6 and Kaylee Morris also of Concordia 21-12, 219. She met her match, Concordia’s Takeisha Wong in the final when she lost 21-10, 21-9, copping the silver medal.

T h e younger

player, Nait’s Raymond Kim 21-10, 21-17.

His younger sister, Priyanna, had similar luck in the women’s Narayan Ramdhani singles as she won her first match

Ramdhani sibling then paired up with Layce Donaldson for the women’s doubles competition.

It took a thrilling threeset game for them to get past the quarter-final stage as they got the better of Krisha Mejica and Cecilla Wolski of Kings 21-15, 1621, 21-18.

They then went on to defeat Nait’s Kaitlyn Gee and Connie Juang 21-12, 2118. Their luck took a turn as Ramdhani and her partner suffered a loss to Nait’s Samantha Hsu and Ivy Ung 21-9, 21-7 and another loss to Concordia’s Jasleen Kaur and Johnna Rymes 21-9, 21-6. However, their performance was enough to bag a bronze medal in the women’s doubles.

Forbes Burnham Table Tennis Championship…

Johnson cops 2 titles, Persaud claims C Class

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he action continued in the annual Forbes Burnham Table Tennis Tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Monday as Elishaba Johnson emerged as the champion for the B Class and 21 Years Open Singles while Narren Persaud was the C Class winner.

21 Years Singles

This finale yet anthriller

Open w a s other as the

Elishaba JohnsonJonathan Van Lange showdown continued. The two top athletes battled their way through the group stages with convincing victories over their opponents.

The finale was a different story as Johnson showed why he was the superior player, defeating Van Lange 4-1.

A young Van Lange never stood a chance, but, nevertheless, he gave his all.

Johnson was able to dominate the first three rounds 11-5, 11-4 and 11-9 to take a substantial lead. Van Lange dug deep and won the fourth round 11-7, but he gave his all in that round and surrendered the final round to make Johnson the champion.

C Class Open

In the recently-concluded national table tennis championship, Persaud missed out on the C Class Narren Persaud was able to win Open. the C Class Open

However, taking his chances in this competition, he dominated in the group and knockout stages to reach the final. The same could be said of his opponent Umar Percival who evenly matched Persaud.

The final was anyone's game; however, Persaud somehow managed to edge Percival 3-2.

Even though Percival lost, he rarely allowed Persaud any room to breathe, using every table tennis tactic in the book. Persaud was able to take the opening set 11-7, but Percival returned and bagged the next two rounds 11-5 and 11-4 to hold the upper hand 2-1. However, Persaud composed himself and won the final two games 12-10 and 11-7 to upset Percival.

B Class Open

Just like the 21 Years Open Singles, it was another Johnson-Van Lange

showdown. This time there was no underdog story, but an act of dominance as Johnson defeated Van Lange 4-3.

While the match-up was a tough game, it could have flowed either party's

Van Lange further extended his lead in the fourth round 11-9 to have the g a m e s locked at 3-1 heading into g a m e

five.

Elishaba Johnson was able to win the B Class Open and the 21 Years Open Singles

way, but it was Johnson who had the last laugh.

Johnson lost the first two games 12-10 and 11-4, and to many it looked as though Van Lange had the match in the bag, but Johnson went on to win the third game 11-7.

For Van Lange, victory was on the horizon, but Johnson pulled off a stunner snatching any hope of a win out of his hands. Van Lange was left in shock as Johnson went on to win the final three games 12-10, 1210, and 11-9.

CWI PCL 4-Day Championships...

Motie replaces Bishoo, Persaud enters Jags’ 13-man squad

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n yet another change to the squad of the Guyana Jaguars team that departed Guyanese shores for Jamaica since Monday, Gudakesh Motie and Akshaya Persaud came in as newcomers to the 13man squad for the sixthround match against hosts Scorpions, starting on Thursday, February 27.

Motie replaced Devendra Bishoo while Persaud earned his place in the squad after Shimron Hetmyer passed his fitness test and was set to return to maroon colours for the T20 matches.

Motie, who played the last of his 28 First-Class matches in February 2019 against Windward Islands Volcanoes, is the third spinner in the squad that features veteran spinner Veerasammy Permaul and

promising off-spinner Kevin Sinclair.

In contrast, Persaud has played only two First-Class matches, with his last match being played in January 2018. The lad from West Demerara had also featured in the Combined Campuses and Colleges team in the Regional Super50 Cup last season. This 13-man squad was announced on Tuesday afternoon, but the reason(s) for Bishoo's absence were not indicated.

Tevin Imlach, who featured in the squad in previous rounds, has not played this season and has been left out of the 13-man squad.

Jaguars are having a mixed season in terms of results. They have recorded two wins and two defeats while playing to a draw in

Gudakesh Motie

their last fixture against the Volcanoes.

In terms of points, Jaguars have 60.8 points while Barbados Pride are flying high with 84.2 points.

Jaguars’ next op-

ponents, Scorpions are sitting in third position with 57.4 points.

D e s p i t e Jaguars drawing their last encounter, two centuries were scored: Christopher Barnwell and Leon Johnson filling the century void.

Barnwell leads the batting table with 372 runs while Johnson has 325 runs.

Tagenarine

Chanderpaul has an aggregate of 275 while his fellow opener, Chandrapaul Hemraj has 247 runs.

Leading wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble has exactly 200 runs in the season thus far. In the bowling department, Permaul has 30 wickets while exciting fast bowler Nial Smith has 19 scalps.

Keon Joseph has 12 wickets while Raymon Reifer has nine victims in the season thus far.

Guyana Jaguars 13man squad reads: Leon Johnson (Captain); Vishaul Singh; Anthony Bramble; Chandrapaul Hemraj; Tagenarine Chanderpaul; Christopher Barnwell; Akshaya Persaud; Raymon Reifer; Kevin Sinclair; Veerasammy Permaul; Gudakesh Motie; Keon Joseph and Nial Smith. (Brandon Corlette)

22

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2020 GCB U-17 Inter-county tournament...

Berbice register comprehensive win in opening round – Yearwood’s fifty saves Demerara 38 balls which included two fours. Ramsammy, batting at number three, partnered Gopilall and the dyed by namic duo added 83 runs half-centufor the second wicket. ries from Gopilall who rode his the bats of playluck, batting for 125 minutes, er of the match ended his 99-ball innings of 58 Mahendra Gopillal which included a lone boundand capatin Zeynul ary that opened his account.

Ramsammy, The top order had set the Berbice eased to foundation; in the 35th over a 136-run win as the boys from the ancient against Essequibo county were 135-2. Jonathan in the first round of Rampersaud was caught the Guyana Cricket trying to pull one out of the Board (GCB) U-17 ground, found the fielder and Inter-county. was caught for six.

In the match Berbice then lost some played at Enmore quick wickets in the middle peJonathan Rampersaud bowls at riod; Mahendra Ramcharitar Enmore yesterday (01), Leon Cecil (07) and Devon Sobhai (00) fell cheaply. Tucber Park wicket-keepCommunity Centre Ground, er batsman partnered his caBerbice bowlers rocked patin and club mate at 155-6 Essequibo for 67 all out after in the 40th over. Ramsammy, posting 203 all out. who was supported by his Earlier, Essequibo won family, looked mature in his the toss and elected to bowl approach and rotated the first under glorious sunshine. strike with ease. He reached Berbice openers Gopilall and his fifty in the process but the Hemchand Gurdyal added next ball he gifted his wicket 52 runs together for the openaway, hitting one down longing partnership. The lad from off's throat.

Albion, Gurdyal made 20 from Ramsammy, a former Story and Photos

By Brandon Corlette

L

Guyana U-15 captain, scored his even 50 off 97 balls, batting for 118 minutes. After Ramsammy’s departure at 170-7, Caesar was the man to push Berbice past that 200run mark on the fairly large outfield.

Caesar made a shot-filled 28 which included the lone six of the innings and one four in the same mid-wicket region.

His blitz concluded when he was brilliantly caught in the deep.

Eventually, Berbice’s 50 overs expired and they were bowled out for 203. The final wicket fell in unusual fashion; during the bowlers follow through the non-stirker, Jeremy Sandia was short of his ground and was ‘mankaded’. Jared Allicock took 2-35 in

FIrst ball! Deeroop appeals successfully

10 overs while Aryan Persaud had 2-38 and Ryan Atkinson claimed 2-39.

In response, Essequibo batsmen did not dig deep, the Berbice bowlers proved a handfull. Christopher Deeroop bowled some testing line and lengths with his right arm medium while Rampersaud was at his brilliant best, as the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club duo shared six wickets between themselves.

Rampersaud bagged 3-6 in 4.4 overs while Deeroop finished with 3-9 in five overs. West Indies U-16 pacer Isai Thorne had 2-16 in his early five over burst.

Quincy Sampson made a top-score of 19 in a poor batting display which saw Essequibo bundled out for 67 in 22.4 overs.

Meanwhile, in the other match at Everest, Guyana Select U-15 posted 112 all out in 45.2 overs. Rampertab Ramnauth top-scored with 18 while Chandrapaul Ramraj was the best bowler with 3-15 while Zachary Jodah had 3-12.

In reply, Demerara were in deep trouble; Jadon Campbell (09), Anthony Khan

Zeynul Ramsammy in full flow

(00), Nicholas Rajpat (00), Mavindra Dindyal (12) and Rudranauth Daterdeen (00) were all sent back cheaply.

However, Shamar Yearwood, made a match-winning unbeaten 54 from 70 balls which included four sixes and the same number of fours.

Josh Alves had 2-21 in five overs while Matthew Pottaya had 2-30 in eight overs. The second round will bowl off on Thursday with Berbice facing Demerara at Everest while the Select U-15 will meet Essequibo at GCC Bourda.

Annandale, Canje, Friendship GBA hunting answers after failing win on Milo weekend to meet Olympic Qualifiers deadline

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T

he Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has once again found itself fighting on the ropes as it failed to meet a February 24 deadline to pay for accommodation and meals for a handpicked team of eight to participate at the quickly approaching Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualifiers in Argentina.

According to GBA President Steve Ninvalle, a request to the Government of Guyana (GoG) through the National Sports Commission (NSC) for support received a negative response while the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) had pledged US$5000 to assist in airfares back in January.

"The National Sports Commission (NSC) said it was unable to assist at this time, since it has no budget while President of the GOA, Mr K Juman Yassin, SC, AA had pledged $5000 USD for airfares," Ninvalle told media operatives.

The cost of accommodation and meals for the team of eight (five boxers and threes coaches) in Argentina is just over US$11,000.

Meanwhile, airfare per person currently costs a whopping US$1800.

Earlier this year, the GOA and the GoG joined

The team of male boxers: Keevin Allicock, Colin Lewis, Desmond Amsterdam and Dennis Thomas

efforts to send a team of four boxers to Cuba for a three-month preparation stint leading up to the Qualifiers. The team along with two boxers departed on January 4 and are still in Cuba.

The GBA boss added that he recently dispatched a letter to GOA President Yassin seeking clarification, after it was revealed to him that sister Caricom countries had their entire travel and accommodation costs relating to participating at the Olympic Qualifiers, footed by their respective National Olympic Associations.

"The boxing Presidents of Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia and the

list goes on, have confirmed that they are participating based solely on input from their NOCs. In view of this recent revelation, I have asked for a clarification on why Guyana seems to be the anomaly," Ninvalle disclosed.

The Olympic Qualifiers are scheduled for Argentina from March 26 to April 3. The GBA has selected Colin Lewis, Desmond Amsterdam, Keevin Allicock, Dennis Thomas and Canadabased Taveena Kum as the team of boxers to represent Guyana. The coaches accompanying the team will be Terrence Poole, MS, Sebert Blake and Francisco Roldan.

t was an eventful weekend at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue as teams sought to bag a useful win in the ongoing Milo Schools’ Football Tournament.

The round-robin stage of the Under-18 Milo Schools’ Football Tournament continued on Saturday and Monday, with 12 teams in action.

On Saturday, Charlestown and New Central Secondary Schools began the day’s proceedings with an interesting battle. Dante Sookram ensured that Charlestown got ahead with a goal in the 20th minute. However, the Charlestown boys could not quite hold on to their lead as Garfield Caesar got past their defence and pierced the net in the 37th minute.

The remainder of the game went quietly, with a final score of 1-1.

The result was the same when St John’s College met with Uitvlugt Secondary.

Junior Redmon handed Uitvlugt the lead in the 16th minute, and the West Bank Demerara team managed to hold on to the lead for the remainder of the half. However, with 10 minutes of play left, Anthony Xavier found the equaliser for St John’s, ensuring that the two teams would share points.

2018’s third-place finishers Annandale Secondary registered the only win of the day as they squeezed past Bladen

A snippet of Monday’s action between Canje and South Ruimveldt

Hall Multilateral. New to the tournament, Bladen Hall did well to restrict Annandale’s scoring and the absence of forward Omari Glasgow, who is on international duties, made the situation better.

Tiquan Taylor and Jerome Harrigon were the goalscorers, netting one apiece at opposite ends of the game.

The tournament took a break for the Republic Day celebrations and resumed on Monday when Friendship got off to an exciting start with a 3-1 victory over Carmel Secondary.

Kevon Scott had a brace and Shane Harper contributed one for Friendship’s three.

Carmel’s consolation goal was netted by Tyrese James.

Canje Secondary thumped South Ruimveldt 4-1, in the

following encounter. Tyrick Ogelton opened the scoring in the third minute and the next goal was scored until the 25th, coming off the boots of Omar Glen. Ogelton scored his second in the 31st minute for a 3-0 first-half score.

In the second half, Teiquan Hartman pushed Canje’s tally to four, minutes before South saw their only goal, netted by Godfrey Weekes in the 51st minute.

The final game had a drawn result as Vergenoegen and Tucville Secondary locked horns. Ellson David scored Vergenoegen’s lone goal in the fourth minute and Simeon Benn’s 59th minute goal tied things up for the 1-1 draw.

The Milo tournament will continue at the same venue this weekend.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020

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

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2020 GCB U-17 Inter-county tournament...

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Pg 21

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