Guyana Times Friday 31 May, 2019

GASI commissions new aviation refueller P15

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3940

friday, may 31, 2019

3 bandits shot dead during shootout with Police at Norton Street Page 9

US State Dept warns of Guyana’s high crime rate Page 9

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Eccles youth gets 75 years for mechanic’s P8 murder

Diamond man to serve 14year sentence for several P9 robberies P2 C Division records decline in serious crimes – Commander Brutus – says reduction due to more convictions

Rupununi P8 man gets 12 years for killing cousin Ghanaian High Commissioner to Guyana, Professor Abena Pokua Adompim Busia paid a courtesy call on Director General, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Egbert Field, and others of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority

GECOM temporarily halts house-tohouse registration – no reasons given for move Page 3

Govt should hire int’l firm to probe oil contracts, not SARA – Jagdeo Page 7

Corentyne robberies

Wanted fugitive nabbed in P2 Black Bush

2 news

friday, may 31, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

C Division records decline in serious crimes ― Commander Brutus

Corentyne robberies

Wanted fugitive – says reduction due to more convictions nabbed in Black Bush A - escaped twice, served time for murder

Nabbed: Vinod Gopaul

P

olice in Berbice have successfully apprehend a man who is believed to have been a part of the notorious gang that has been terrorising on the Corentyne over the past weeks.

The intelligence-led operation which started on

Wednesday evening and ended on Thursday morning, led to the arrest of twotime prison escapee Vinod Gopaul, 29, who was found hiding in an abandoned house at Yakusari, Black Bush Polder.

Gopaul was wanted by the Police following the shooting to death of three bandits on May 19, 2019, at Black Bush Polder.

Thursday’s operation also involved members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.

Gopaul was charged for several counts of armed robberies. Most of the robberies were allegedly committed in the Black Bush Polder area and on the Corentyne Coast.

In June 2011, he escaped from custody. At the

time he was serving a sentence for the 2004 murder of his father whom he shot and killed.

He was also among 18 prisoners who escaped from the Camp Street Prison in 2007 and was recaptured shortly after and charged while some of the other prisoners were shot dead.

Further, he escaped again in June 2011 along with notorious high seas pirate, Kevin “Long Hair” Narine, Rickford Le Fleur, and Vijay Seenarine of Skeldon.

However, following several robberies on the Corentyne, Police ranks raided the backlands of Johanna in the Black Bush Polder with the aim of capturing the wanted bandits. turn to page 7

s crime continues to spiral out of control in various parts of the country, this is not the case in C Division (East Coast Demerara) since its Commander believes the records show crime is on the decline when compared to the same period last year.

Senior Superintendent of Police Calvin Brutus told Guyana Times on Thursday that the statistics recorded in relation to serious crimes for the period January to May 2019 reveal a decrease when compared to the same period in 2018.

He stated that while such a feat can be attributed to ranks being proactive in executing their duties, the main reason for this success in the reduction of serious crimes is as a result of more convictions in cases.

“It has a lot to do with the efforts by the ranks who investigated a lot of crimes and even solved some of them. Because we have a number of convictions and there are others who are in prison right now. Those are serial offenders who were caught so there was a decrease in serious crimes because of this too,” he explained.

Commander Brutus acknowledged that due to the fact that a number of serial offenders are off the streets, it has helped tremendously in curbing the crime rate along the East Coast of Demerara.

Over the past few weeks, in the county of Essequibo, crime appears to be spiralling out of control, with several persons falling prey to armed men physically assaulting them during the execution of robberies.

Just this week, burglars between Monday evening and Tuesday morning carted off cash, a quantity of jewellery, several pieces of electrical appliances and other valuables after breaking into the home of an Anna Regina Chief Constable.

Rasheed Oullah and his family of Anna Regina Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, reportedly retired to bed late Monday evening.

However, as his wife got up at about 05:30h on Tuesday morning to prepare breakfast, she saw the front access door to the bottom flat of the house open.

It was at this time that she realised a 40inch television was missing and immediately raised an alarm. As the family rushed over, they also discovered a 110/240 Voltage Transformer, a box containing several piece of gold jewellery, US$250, and GY$90,000 were also missing. In addition, a gold hand band and other pieces of jewellery belonging to Oullah that was left on the dining table were also gone.

Three mobile phones and other pieces of valuables were also taken by the burglars. Meanwhile,

C Division Commander Calvin Brutus

on the same night, Shawn Marks – a reporter attached to RCA-TV – and his wife were robbed just minutes away from their home in Charity.

Based on reports received, Marks and his wife were on their way home when they were attacked by two armed men who took his wife’s purse containing his iPhone 7 and an undisclosed sum of cash. Marks related that the matter was reported to the Charity Police Station.

Meanwhile, between April to May of this year, a spate of violent robberies took place in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) where several families were left traumatised after armed gunmen attacked them in their homes.

During this period, a number of customers frequenting bars were also victims of gun-toting bandits.

news

3

friday, may 31, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GECOM temporarily halts house-to-house registration

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

– no reasons given for move

Friday, May 31 – 02:30h and 14:30h-16:00h and Saturday, June 1 – 03:00h and 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, May 31 – 14:40h-16:10h and Saturday, June 1 – 15:20h-16:50h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, followed by partly cloudy skies with light rain showers in the evening. Temperatures will range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly and East North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 02:16h and 14:40h reaching a maximum height of 2.47 metres at each scheduled high tide.

Low Tide: 08:14h and 20:30h reaching minimum heights of 0.72 metre and 0.73 metre respectively.

wednesday, may 29, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS C

04

07

12

14

15

22

FREE TICKET

10 Bonus Ball

tHURsday, may 30, 2019 DAILY MILLIONS

07

15

12

16

19

LUCKY 3

5

3

4

0

Afternoon Draw

5

4

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03

05

07

15

17

19

PAY DAY

07

08

11

16

20 SUPER PAY DAY

17

07

09

12

19

20

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

GECOM’s Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward

W

ith house-to-house registration set to commence on June 1, 2019, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has temporarily halted the process.

The elections body held out that the exercise was mandatory before the next General and Regional Elections are held.

The delay in the commencement of the exercise was confirmed by Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the elections body, Yonlanda Ward, during a telephone interview with Guyana Times.

“Initially, the plan was to commence on June 1. We anticipate that (house-to-house registration) will commence in June; however, at a little later timeline for which I don’t have an exact date as yet as the Commission is still deliberating on that,” Ward explained.

The issue was first raised

by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at a press conference on Thursday.

“I asked the Executive Secretary (Zulficar Mustapha) to confirm with (Chief Elections Officer Keith) Lowenfield and Lowenfield has confirmed that they’re not starting when they initially had announced it would start,” Jagdeo told media operatives.

However, when asked, the reason behind the delay, the GECOM’s Public Relations Officer was unable to say.

“No, I don’t have a reason.

That is a matter that is being discussed at the moment,” she said.

Earlier in the week, after the statutory meeting, Government-nominated Commisisoner Charles Corbin had disclosed that there were some procurement issues at the election secretariat. “(The Secretariat) did indicate that they did have some issues and delays with respect to some procurement which may cause some delay in moving forward,” Corbin had indicated following Tuesday’s statutory meeting.

Nevertheless, Ward told this newspaper on Thursday that all the training of staff required for the exercise has been completed and they are now in the process of tidying up staff placements.

GECOM is forging ahead with house-to-house registration as the country awaits a ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the December 2018 passage of the Opposition’s No-confidence Motion.

The Trinidad-based regional court is currently deliberating on several ap-

peals asking it to overturn the Guyana Court of Appeal’s March ruling which invalidated the passage of the motion of no confidence against the coalition Government. The CCJ is being asked to throw out the Appeal Court ruling and uphold the High Court’s January decision that the motion was validly passed and as such, Government should resign and call elections.

Earlier this month, the CCJ panel heard submissions from the parties and is expected to hand down its decision sometime in the coming month.

According to the Opposition, there are concerns brewing over the length of time the CCJ is taking to deliver its decision, especially since it was critical of the sloth with which the matter was dealt with here in Guyana.

Nevertheless, he posited that while they await that ruling, the staff at the Elections Commission should be cautious.

“I just want to say to the technical staff at the Commission not to be bullied or pressured by the political Commissioners and the Chairman on (the conduct house-to-house registration). Because at the end of the day, they (the staff) will have a long-term presence at GECOM and careers at GECOM, and have responsibility of acting consistent with the law. And you wouldn’t have the same political backing; people would leave you in the lurch if anything ever goes wrong,” Jagdeo asserted.

GECOM and the Government have been arguing that house-to-house registration is necessary to update the voters’ list which expired at the end of April 2019.

Initially, GECOM said it would need some nine months to carry out the registration

The Guyana Elections Commission

exercise but with the delays now, it could take longer than anticipated. This would result in the elections body being unable to honour the court ruling, if it is mandated for polls to be held promptly.

However, the registration exercise is being held amidst contention between the two sides of political Commissioners at GECOM. The Opposition-nominated Commissioner had held out that there was no need for house-to-house registration when the old voters’ list could

have been vetted and updated through a ‘claims and objection’ period.

In fact, a similar view was recently shared by GECOM’s legal officer, Excellence Dazzle. She submitted a legal opinion, contending that house-to-house registration is not necessary and advised that another less time-consuming process be utilised, in accordance with the law, to update the list. But lawyer’s advice was set aside by GECOM.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, may 31, 2019

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

APNU/AFC handling of crime

I

n a previous editorial, the question of whether fighting crime was a fake campaign promise by the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition, was asked.

The question was natural given what was seen as a continual increase in criminal attacks. From then to now, nothing seemed to have changed and for many, it appears to be worse.

This has gone seemingly unchecked over the years as mindsets are inundated with fear and the question of “who is next” seems involuntary. The stories that emanate daily are horrific to say the least; some with brutal sexual assaults. Not only are families scared, humiliated, deprived of valuables, communities ravished and left even more vulnerable, but life is brutally snuffed out in some instances.

Unfortunately, crime has not only become a fixture in daily news, but a prominent one. There seems no respite despite the much-publicised increase in resources and new recruits. While crime will realistically not be erased, taxpayers expect sustained quick responses and robust approaches in combating this societal scourge. This is not taking away from the brave men and women from law enforcement who risk their lives.

The issue, of what can only be described as current failed policy in combating crime, has to be put into a particular context.

The previous People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration was constantly berated by the then Opposition, which is now the Government, for being weak and incapable of fighting crime. This was used as a major campaign theme to rile sentiments against the PPP Government’s perceived lack of vision and expertise in the security sector. At the same time, the then Opposition spared no effort to boast of its prowess in security.

The voting populace probably needed no convincing over security personnel who were part of the APNU/AFC Opposition coalition. The fairly extensive list of former senior Police and Army officials who joined the slate might have instilled a sense of belief in relief from crime even from non-supporters. That seeming prolific gathering of security specialists probably caused crime itself to shudder.

None can dispute the esteem offices which they served. That might have tilted the balance of the crime-fighting scale in favour of the coalition since probably there was little or no reason to doubt the capabilities showcased.

Regardless of where the ballot was cast, expectation for a vast reduction in crime was real and immediate. Therein lies the profound disappointment. The expectation afterwards was for the promised new approach to effectively combat crime through more robust interventions.

Sadly, it did not happen and remains elusive. Families are now reeling in despair and mindsets preoccupied with trying to stay safe whether indoors or outdoors. People are still being trailed from financial institutions and regularly robbed. The unsuspecting on their way home are relieved of possession at gunpoint. Schoolchildren are not spared while overseas-based Guyanese returning for holidays are trailed and robbed with some killed in the process. Innocent women are raped in some instances of home invasions.

When the belief that not every detail of a robbery is reported for fear of further humiliation is taken into consideration, a more frightening scenario is revealed. The question is, what has the coalition done since in Government to effectively combat crime?

Given the boasts, the expectation would not be farfetched for close to a crime free society by now.

The reality is that fear has taken a stranglehold on the nation, depriving people their freedom from that mindset so as to be able to focus on making a living. This brings into the fray the nexus of the current harsh economic policies and a derivative of crime.

While there will always be some who will engage in criminal activities regardless of the economic situation, forcing people into poverty will have a frightening effect. Analysts will postulate the nexus of youth in crime as a result of unemployment. Cleary many jobs have been lost under this Administration and this is not an attempt to state that all those who were fired have resorted to crime, for many are forced into humiliation in finding a legal livelihood.

After three years and the upward spiral of crime, one may rightfully question polices and interventions, if any, and its effects.

With the current circumstance, one can again question the genuineness of this particular influential campaign promise. Many are still trying to accept the pardoning of prisoners in the context of current mindsets.

While the intention might have been noble as envisaged, the reported subsequent involvement in crime by a few who benefited would have further damaged psyche making it virtually impossible for acceptance. In such circumstance, people can conclude that their welfare becomes secondary. Also, there seems to be dearth of information on the process regarding deportees with criminal records and their reintegration into society.

These add to an already wary psyche sapping motivation and confidence of the citizenry. Other than fear, natural derivatives are; less investments, lower production, forced migration and unemployment; a seemingly continuous cycle into the future if not curbed.

The 2019 ICC World Cup officially kicked off with captains of all the 10 nations coming together in an exciting opening ceremony which was presented by former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and Shibani Dandekar opposite the Buckingham Palace in London. Ahead of the lively ceremony at the Mall in central London, the 10 captains were at Buckingham Palace where they met Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Prince Harry and other members of the Royal Family at a gala event

IMF denies pressuring Venezuela to release data, reports Reuters

T

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) admitted Thursday that it had not pressured Venezuela to release economic indicators after years of silence.

Reuters reported that two of its sources said the surprise publication of the data this week was due to pressure from China.

One source said China had hoped that releasing the numbers would help bring Venezuela into compliance with the IMF, making it harder for the institution to recognise Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó, reported Reuters.

Venezuela’s official data

The central bank of Venezuela this week released dire economic data showing runaway inflation, plummeting oil income and catastrophic declines in the South American country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The official figures – published on Tuesday by the central bank in Caracas – show a severe contraction of 22.5 per cent in third-quarter 2018 GDP. That marks the 19th consecutive quarter the economy has shrunk.

The Government of President Nicolás Maduro had last published economic data in 2015, as the decline in global oil prices began to hit Venezuela’s socialist economy.

The central bank said monthly inflation for April 2019 was 33.8 per cent, down from 197 per cent

in January and an apparent improvement over the 130,060 per cent hyperinflation seen in 2018.

But oil earnings – which make up more than 95 percent of export revenues in Venezuela – declined to US$29.8 billion last year from US$31.5 billion in 2017, having already plunged from US$85 billion in 2013.

Severe economic crisis

Over the last half-decade, the size of Venezuela’s economy has halved – though the country still has the largest oil reserves in the world.

“The GDP figure released by the Central Bank is in line with the 25 per cent contraction being projected by the International Monetary Fund for 2019,” said Paula Garcia Tufro, Deputy Director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Centre at the Atlantic Council.

“The inflation number of 130,060 per cent, on the other hand – while a possible recognition of the economic crisis underway – is still well outside of IMF projections, which estimate an inflation level of 1.37 million per cent for 2018 and project 10 million per cent inflation for 2019,” Garcia Tufro told Al Jazeera.

Venezuela’s Oppositioncontrolled Congress has released its own figures since 2017, with the Government generally remaining silent on economic data.

Congress said that April inflation was 44.7 per cent,

while for 2018 it reached 1.7 million per cent – 13 times the official figure. The IMF’s estimate was 929,797 per cent – halfway between the official figures and opposition ones.

According to Bloomberg, inflation has actually slowed somewhat as a result of monetary restrictions imposed by the Government that require banks to park large amounts of cash at the central bank.

This prevents loans to Venezuelans who would otherwise use the funds to purchase black-market dollars, thus exacerbating the currency’s slide. But tightening the money supply also restricts economic activity. At the same time, the Government has relaxed currency-exchange controls to help facilitate economic recovery.

“The Maduro regime has been quietly taking steps to liberalise the economy,” Garcia Tufro added. “It is possible that the Government perceives that the posture of not acknowledging the dire economic reality being felt by the Venezuelan people is untenable.”

“However, it is more likely that this data will be used as part of an official narrative on the part of the Maduro regime that seeks to point to external sanctions as the cause of the economic collapse,” she said.

But Garcia Tufro said the latest data confirm “the severe economic crisis was well underway prior to the significant ratcheting up

of sanctions on Venezuela, and importantly, preceded the imposition of US sanctions on Venezuelan oil in January 2019”.

Collapse in output

As oil investment evaporated over the last few years, production levels tanked. The chaotic and dysfunctional economy has deepened the population’s despair, as the value of salaries has plummeted.

“A big fall in oil export revenue is never good,” said Brad Setser, an economist at the Council on Foreign Relations. “It forces countries with limited reserves – and limited ability to borrow – to cut back on their imports, and generally creates budget pressure.”

“Most oil exporters rely on taxing oil exports, and the profits from their state oil companies form a large part of their revenue,” Setser told Al Jazeera.

And oil sanctions by the United States have only intensified the situation. With oil exports continuing to dive, the crisis could worsen.

“The impact of the fall in Venezuela’s oil exports has gone far beyond the expected difficulties,” Setser added. “The collapse in output in Venezuela reflects both a real external shock from falling oil revenue and Venezuela’s own mismanagement of the economy.”

“The result has been one of the largest falls in output experienced by any country not at war,” Setser said. (Al Jazeera)

5 DPP to advise on case of teen who allegedly jumped in path of car news

friday, may 31, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

P

olice have intensified their investigations into the incident where 18-yearold Kareema Mary Cholmondeley allegedly jumped off her lover’s pedal cycle and into the path of a moving car at Turkeyen Railway Embankment, Greater Georgetown.

Commander of C Division (East Coast Demerara), Calvin Brutus told Guyana Times that

the file is expected to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for direction on the way forward, while adding the driver of the motorcar and the teen’s 42-year-old lover were both released on station bail.

The teenager of Lot 10 BB GEC Scheme, Hugh Ghanie Park, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, was killed on Wednesday last.

It was reported that the teen and her lover were engaged in a heated argument and it was at this time she made the deadly jump, landing in the path of a motorcar bearing registration number PJJ 5884 which was proceeding along the roadway.

The driver of that vehicle reportedly told the traffic ranks that as he drove along the roadway, he saw a male pushing a bi-

cycle and as he was about to pass him, he realised someone was lying in his path. However, due to the short distance between the car and the person on the roadway, he could not avoid hitting the person on the ground.

The injured woman, who was rendered unconscious, was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead on

Pandering to the African Guyanese community Dear Editor, In recent months, there has been an inordinate attempt to pander to the African Guyanese community, as the real issue of facing an election which the incumbent clearly cannot win becomes imminent.

First it was the Buju Banton show and the issuing of free tickets to African Guyanese patrons to attend the show; then there was the visit to certain depressed African Guyanese communities by the Reggae legend, all in an attempt to garner votes from those constituents.

But the situation is still bleak, as that target group shows apathy towards the upcoming election; or voting, for that matter.

This is a worrying fac-

tor, a very worrying fact for the PNC, who are down at the ropes; so, in a lastditch desperate move, they have called on their erstwhile counterpart, to see if he can get them through this one.

The PNC have again called on the services of Moses Nagamootoo, to see if he can revive African Guyanese interest in the PNC. So, in his usual style, he has announced that there will be free education at university level.

Now, Nagamootoo is again doing some fancy footwork, but this time in the ‘black’ community, hoping that somehow, somewhere, he at least can get the voters out on election day.

But this is a hard and

heavy road to travel, because, for starters, they have gotten a stark rebuke from Buju, who told them that they cannot preach cohesion when the other races are left out of the equation. Second, and most importantly, AfroGuyanese have grown wary and very suspicious of this “free talk." They were burnt very badly in the last election when promises galore came from the PNC and the AFC alike, and those prom-

ises never materialised; so this time around would be no different.

This PNC-led Coalition is in great distress, because voter turnout in their main constituencies is at an all-time low, and it seems nothing can change that perception in the people's minds. In this regard, their target group has rebuffed them yet again.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

arrival.

Police said the driver of the car had passed a breathalyser test.

Last June, 19-year-old Sasia Adams of Pomeroon, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) who resided at East Street, Georgetown, died after also reportedly jumping from her boyfriend’s moving car.

Reports are Adams’s 21-year-old boyfriend, Rick Sewcharran, of Diamond,

East Bank Demerara (EBD) rushed her to the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital.

He reportedly told nurses that she jumped from his moving car while they were proceeding along Lamaha Street.

In March of this year, the manslaughter charge against Sewcharran was discharged by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on the grounds of lack of evidence.

World No Tobacco Day Dear Editor, World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on 31 May. It is intended to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption around the globe.

The day is further intended to draw attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to negative health effects, which currently lead to more than 7 million deaths each year worldwide, including 890,000 of which are the

result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.

The member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) created World No Tobacco Day in 1987. In the past twenty-one years, the day has been met with both enthusiasm and resistance around the globe from governments, public health organizations, smokers, growers, and the tobacco industry.

Yours truly, Rooplall Dudhnath

6

friday, may 31, 2019

Page Foundation Rejection quiz: Y

If you chose a for Question 1

our answer is: Well-adjusted It takes a healthy self‑confidence to bounce back from disappointment and forge ahead.

Sometimes our second choice turns out better than our first – you're open to discovering that. Well done!

If you chose b for Question 1

Your answer is: Self‑defeating Rejection stinks. But don't let bad feelings blind you to any good things that can come out of it. Sure, you may not get this job either.

But it's worth a try since there's nothing to lose!

If you chose c for Question 1

Your answer is: Too hard on yourself Thinking we're not good enough can undermine our belief in ourselves – and even affect how things turn out. Instead, focus on the fact that the employer was impressed enough to suggest you apply!

If you chose a for Question 2

Your answer is: Self‑defeating Revenge fantasies are OK — as long as they stay in our heads where they belong. But dwelling or acting on them messes up any chances for our own great things!

If you chose b for Question 2

You are: Too hard on yourself You don't know why

the other girl got the role, but it's unlikely to be looks (hello, stage makeup!).

Instead of imagining, ask!

You may get great advice about things to work on.

If you chose c for Question 2

Your answer is: Welladjusted Great attitude! Rule #1 of handling rejection is acknowledging any difficult feelings (and, even better, sharing them with friends).

Doing this helps you move past disappointment. It doesn't hurt to keep busy with lots of different interests as well!

If you chose a for Question 3

Your answer is: Self‑defeating Dwelling on the negative stuff can make it feel like you're living a bad experience over and over again. Not only does it keep hurting, it becomes harder to get past the rejection.

If you chose b for Question 3

Your answer is: Well adjusted Congratulations on turning a difficult experience into a learning experience. Knowing you can deal with whatever happens can give you the confidence to try again.

If you chose c for Question 3

Your answer is: Too hard on yourself Self‑blaming or put‑down thinking crowds out hope and belief in ourselves — the very things

we need to get past feeling bad and want to try again.

Be realistic, but think positive.

If you chose a for Question 4

You are: too hard on yourself Keep tabs on your inner soundtrack. Watch out for thoughts that are self‑critical and replace them with something constructive.

Turn a comment like "I'm a loser" into "I struck out this time, next time will be different."

If you chose b for Question 4

Your answer is: Welladjusted Acknowledging feelings and knowing the best way to work through them is healthy. Everyone works through feelings differently – for some people it's a long run or a class at the gym, for others it's letting feelings out through crying. Processing feelings like this helps keep things in perspective so you can evaluate your situation more accurately.

If you chose c for Question 4

Your answer is: Self‑defeating Getting turned down can feel pretty bad. But it happens to everyone. Don't let feelings about this one situation spoil your chances for future fun.

If you chose a for Question 5

Your answer is: Welladjusted Good response! You're focused on the situation,

not just yourself and your feelings. Being flexible enough to shift gears lets you participate more naturally in social situations.

How to help teens deal with

rejection (Continued from Wednesday)

If you chose b for Question 5

You are: Too hard on yourself Sometimes, events are simply beyond our control. It's not your fault that something happened to pre‑empt your story – so don't make it so!

If you chose c for Question 5

Your answer is: Self‑defeating OK, so you feel rejected.

That's natural. But don't add suffering to those feelings. Your self‑imposed time out will hurt you more than anyone else. Chances are your friends won't notice or (worse!) will know you're sulking.

Well-adjusted ( ___ answers) Self‑defeating (___ answer) Too hard on yourself (___ answers) Congratulations if you scored high in the "well-adjusted" category!

And if you didn't? It's not all bad: Learning to deal with rejection is a process.

Taking rejection in stride instead of letting it crush you is a matter of practice and attitude. So put yourself out there. Take risks.

Sure, you may get turned down. But finding out you can deal with whatever happens gives you the confidence to try again. (kidshealth. org)

By Ashlea Halpern

S

The let-down: Academic

coring poorly on a standardised test or being ousted from the honours programme may be rattling, but even more devastating is receiving a skinny envelope when you were expecting a fat one. Colleges decline loads of qualified applicants, but try telling that to the kid who has slept in a Boston University sweatshirt since seventh grade.

Why it’s a big deal: Students spend months crafting their college applications and often put one school on a pedestal; less desirable schools are slapped with the “safety” label. Not being accepted can come as a major blow, especially if your teen has already told everyone his first choice.

How to help: Remind him that happiness is a state of mind, not a dorm room in Boston: Countless adults have built impressive careers at their second – and even third-choice – colleges. If you think your kid is overreaching from the get-go (say, a B student applying to Harvard), try to manage his expectations without discouraging him. Saying something like “Most students accepted into Harvard have a 4.0 GPA, which means you need to work extra hard on your college essay; I can assist with editing it” will keep him grounded but motivated. After helping your kid recognise it’s a long shot, encourage him to give it his best effort. “I don’t think there’s such a thing as an unrealistic objective,” says John Fuhrman, author of Reject Me – I Love It! 21 Secrets for Turning Rejection into Direction

(Markowski Intl). “We’re not here to guarantee them success. We want them to think that the goal is so important, they’re willing to risk overcoming the fear of rejection and go for it anyway.”

9 dos & don’ts of teen rejection

* Do acknowledge that your kid took a risk. That alone is worth celebrating. * Don’t trivialise your child’s feelings. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but right now it’s the world to him. * Do offer perspective.

Sharing a personal story of a time when you overcame a hurtful snub proves that life does go on. * Don’t be petty. You can’t teach your kid to be the bigger and better person when you resort to name-calling yourself. * Do encourage your teen to vent. Airing her frustration “off the record” with you – instead of publicly on Facebook or Twitter – will help her save face in the long run. * Don’t avoid the issue.

Even if your son says he doesn’t want to talk about it, try again later. He’ll come around. * Do try to lift her spirits. Taking a walk together, watching a goofy movie or grabbing lunch at her favourite restaurant will help clear her mind. * Don’t play the blame game. It’s hard for kids to take responsibility for their own shortcomings when they’re busy pointing the finger at others. * Do seek outside help. If your teen clams up around you, encourage her to talk to a sibling, grandparent, teacher or other adult mentor. (www.familycircle.com)

news

7

friday, may 31, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt should hire int’l firm to probe oil contracts, not SARA – Jagdeo

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) will support any investigation into the award of oil blocks under its regime but only if it is being done by a reputable international firm and not the Clive Thomas-led State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA).

Professor Thomas had recently disclosed that the Agency has been looking into the award of the blocks by the Donald Ramotar-led Administration before the 2015 General and Regional elections.

According to Jagdeo, however, while they welcome such probes, it cannot be done by SARA. “You need an international organisation that has a well-known record of established transparency and has investigated this sort of thing. So if the Government wants to do that, the Government should hire a solid international firm with a reputation and not have Clive Thomas do this, who is a member of their party… We will support it but hire an impartial group to do it. SARA is pro-Government. All of the people at SARA are (political). You can’t have an impartial investigation,” the Opposition Leader insisted.

Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the PPP/Civic, further told reporters at his weekly press conference on Thursday that his party had nothing to hide regarding such a probe.

“We have no problem with such an investigation but for any investigations into the award of oil and gas contracts, what took place

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

at the negotiation, etc for that investigation to have credibility, you can’t have SARA do it… Do an impartial investigation, the PPP has nothing to hide and we are willing to defend our track record. We will participate in that… (because) I’m not worried…,” he asserted.

On May 22, an article appeared in the New Yorkbased Bloomberg website, in which the SARA Director was quoted confirming that there was a probe ongoing.

According to Thomas, the probe was in its early stages and would be centred on the award of blocks and licences to ExxonMobil and Tullow.

Thomas was quoted by Bloomberg as saying “we’re investigating the issuance of the licences, for example, and the various blocks.

We’re building up a case.

This is an area of investigation into how the blocks were allocated and the decisions that were made.”

“We’re at an investigatory stage so we can’t libel persons by saying that we found proof of anything.

There’s enough evidence for us to want to continue the investigation,” the article also quoted him saying.

However, Jagdeo pointed out that for years there was no willingness to probe any other areas that the public and stakeholders were asking for such as renegotiation of contracts, yet suddenly they are investigating what took place under the PPP regime.

In fact, Jagdeo further outlined that they had refused too to honour a request by the Transparency International Guyana Inc (TIGI) to recover the US$18 million signing bonus that the coalition Government secretly collected and stashed in an account at the Bank of Guyana instead of the Consolidated Fund as required by law.

“Three budgets and the money is not recorded in our revenue statements and (Thomas says that) TIGI’s complaint is going up a “blind alley”. That establishes clearly the partisan nature of SARA. That anything to do with investigating this Government and

Wanted fugitive nabbed...

from page 2

Dead: Sewchand Sewlall

Dead: Ramnarine Jagmohan

Dead: Kelvin Seegobin

It was reported that upon seeing the Police, the fugitives opened fire using their high-powered weapons, sending ranks to take cover. Nevertheless, two of the offices returned fire and after several minutes of rapid gunfire between the Police and the bandits, the place turned silent.

As the Police moved in closer, the bodies of Kelvin Seegobin, called “Kelly” of Belvedere, Corentyne Berbice; murder accused Ramnarine Jagmohan, of Belvedere Village; and Sewchand Sewlall, called

“One Eye Pappy” of Black Bush Polder were discovered.

A pistol, two revolvers, a rifle, three magazines, 253 rounds of live ammunition and seven spent shells were found at the scene in close proximity of the men.

Additionally, the ranks found three haversacks containing a large quantity of jewellery, two bulletproof vests, five cellular phones, a solar charger, torch lights, crowbars, knives and cutlasses, a flash drive, topes and masks, duct tape

and gloves as well as 200 grams of marijuana. The men also had over half a million dollars in cash with them.

Since the shooting to death of the three men, banditry in East Berbice has come to a halt, with only one case on the East Bank of Berbice being recorded. In that incident, which occurred over the weekend, several masked men stormed a shop and terrorised the owners after which they escaped with cash and other valuables.

corruption, it will not do so.

So if you want a credible investigation about all of the oil contracts that had been issues, and if that’s what the Government wants it’s fine with us, hire an internationally reputable firm to do so not this tainted SARA,” the Opposition Leader contended.

Meanwhile, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry on (GCCI) Wednesday said this investigation being undertaken by SARA can harm Guyana by discouraging potential investors from vying for future oil blocks.

At a press conference, head of the GCCI’s Petroleum arm, Charles Ramson, expressed worry over the impact these revelations would have on Guyana’s image especially since the article appeared in Bloomberg, which meant that thousands in the global business community would have read this unsavoury news.

“It’s dangerous for our investment climate, destroys investor confidence and it creates that level of uncertainty that we don’t need right now. We haven’t produced a drop as yet.

And you already want to send bad signals to the international community? It’s highly improper, irregular

SARA Director, Dr Clive Thomas

and totally disturbing.”

Meanwhile, GCCI President Nicholas Boyer decried the haphazard way in which the investigation is being done. He also noted that the investigation is being done at a time when much of the regulatory framework for the industry has not even been set up.

“At this point I think we’re shooting in the dark.

I think SARA is wasting its time because of the lack of having a petroleum commission in place, lack of policies saying how it’s going to issue future blocks and approach relinquishment.”

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres).

ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, is operator

and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

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

Meanwhile, the Orinduik oil block administered by Tullow is just a few kilometres from Exxon’s discoveries in the Liza and Payara fields in Stabroek. Tullow had in February announced it was bringing forward its drilling programme from the previously scheduled end of the year to the second quarter.

It had announced that the Jethro prospect would be drilled in June.

On the other hand, its Carapa prospect in Kanuku will be drilled in the third quarter. It is understood that the net cost of the Jethro well is US$30 million, while the Carapa well will cost US$20 million.

Tullow’s partner in the Orinduik block, Eco Atlantic, had announced that drilling on the Joe prospect will begin in mid-July of this year. They had announced that the Stena forth drill ship will move directly to the Joe, after it finishes drilling the Jethro Lobe Well in the Orinduik block.

8 News Eccles youth gets 75 years for mechanic’s murder A tipping point…

A friday, may 31, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

n Eccles, East Bank Demerara youth was on Thursday sentenced to 75 years’ imprisonment by Justice Navindra Singh after he was found guilty of murder by a 12-member mixed jury at the Demerara High Court.

25-year-old Kenkassie Lynch was charged for the murder of 23-year-old Terrence Lanferman, committed on June 1, 2015.

During the trial, the accused was represented by defense attorney Adrian Thompson while the state was represented by Abigail Gibbs, Tuanna Hardy and Teriq Mohammed.

On Thursday, Gibbs asked the judge to impose a sentence that would send a message to youths that crime does not pay.

In handing down the

Convicted murderer Kenkassie Lynch sentence, the judge told the court that it was a premediated murder, since the accused had stalked the victim and waited on the right opportunity to attack.

Upon handing down the sentence, Justice Singh ordered that prison authorities deduct from the total

number of years given the time the convict had already spent on remand.

It was reported that on the day in question, Lanferman was in the bottom flat of the two-storey house he shared with his other sibling.

His lifeless body was discovered lying on the floor in a pool of blood. He had received gunshot wounds to the neck and chest, and was pronounced dead at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

Lynch was, on May 8, found guilty of the murder.

It was further reported that Lynch, in unsworn testimony, told the court that he was innocent of the crime, and denied ever giving a caution statement to the Police.

He told the court that at the time of his arrest

N

Murder victim Terrence Lanferman

he could not read or write.

Meanwhile, Lynch admitted to shooting Lanferman dead in a probation report that was tendered in court on Wednesday. In that report, he also admitted that he did not have the courage to apologise to the victim’s family.

Rupununi man gets 12 ECD man robbed years for killing cousin who miner 5

T

hirty-year-old Levi Stevens, also called “Chappel,” of Kumu Village, Central Rupununi, Region 9, was on Tuesday sentenced to spend the next 12 years in prison after admitting to killing his cousin in 2017.

Represented by Attorney Mark Conway, the accused, who was a farmer, had initially been charged with murder but opted to plead to the lesser count of manslaughter.

The charge read that on March 16, 2017, at Tiger Plate, Central Rupununi, he killed his cousin, 24-year-old Arnold Gordon.

During Tuesday’s court hearing, the accused, in an explanation to the court, said the act was committed out of anger, as the now dead man would constantly tantalise him.

According to the defence lawyer, the deceased was armed with a crossbow, while his client, in defending himself, was armed with a metal rod.

The state’s case was led by Prosecutor Sarah Martin, in association with Teriq Mohammed.

Prosecutor Martin informed the court that after killing his cousin, Stevens buried the body in a shallow grave.

Justice Singh, before imposing the sentence, advised the convict to not let his temper get the better of him. He has ordered that the convict undergo anger management counselling while imprisoned, and that the years spent on remand be deducted from the 12year sentence imposed.

According to reports, at about 16:30 hrs on March 17, 2017, Gordon’s remains

years ago arrested, charged

A

Manslaughter convict Levi Stevens

were found in a shallow grave at Tiger Plate, Kumu Ferry area in Central Rupununi. Police had said that Gordon, a former labourer of the above-mentioned area, died as a result of severe beating and injuries to his armpit inflicted by a crossbow.

n East Coast Demerara man was on Thursday arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus for an armed robbery he had alleged committed five years ago.

Forty-seven-year-old Kenrick Blades of Lot 31 Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on October 16, 2013 at Line Tree Backdam, North West District, Region 1 (Barima-Waini), while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, Turn to page 10

…on Venezuelan refugees? ow don’t get your Eyewitness wrong, he’s all for treating these unfortunate Venezuelan refugees humanely. We don’t think that most Guyanese, even those who survived the grim Burnham days, can comprehend what’s going on in Venezuela as Maduro and his military faithful drag out the inevitable end game to regime change. While hundreds of thousands of Guyanese, for instance, might’ve gone hungry back then, there was no starvation that drove people to eat out of garbage bins here.

But your Eyewitness is very concerned about the impact on our already fragile institutions – political, social, economic and cultural - as the influx continues while Maduro clings on to power. The last figure on the official count of the refugees was somewhere around 6000; and for sure this figure has ballooned by more than 2000 by now. After all, the number is growing exponentially as the Venezuelan “mattie tell mattie” about the relative ease in which they’ve been able to meld into Guyanese society. And bear in mind that for every one OFFICIAL number, there’s a double for those who slipped in under the radar!! So we’re already talking about more than 20,000 Venezuelans here.

Now some of you, dear readers, will accuse your Eyewitness of being ungrateful to Venezuelans, who didn’t raise a fuss when more than 40,000 Guyanese fled to their country to escape the Burnhamite dictatorship. Point taken, but with a Venezuelan population of over 32 million, that figure was a mere drop in the ocean – just over 0.01 per cent!! On the other hand, the 20,000 refugees are over 2.5 per cent of our 780,000 population.

But what makes that figure most alarming is that most of the refugees - say, 60 per cent or 12,000 - are in our sparsely populated Region 1 with just 27,000 Guyanese citizens. This means that Venezuelans are already 44 per cent of the Barima-Waini population!! With us settling them - and even the IDB getting involved -- is it long before the quantitative alters the qualitative? That is, Region 1 becomes more “Venezuelan” than Guyanese?

And for a country where the entire Region – and more – has been claimed by Venezuela, what’s gonna happen if, after they settle down, they fan a secessionist movement there, as they did back in the day with our Rupununi?

And let’s not forget that when Maduro goes, it’s the ultranationalist right who’ll be back in power - the same ones who backed the 1969 Rupununi Uprising.

And so, to pre-empt this Trojan Horse, the Government must invite the Opposition to craft a NATIONAL position on the Venezuelan refugee situation.

Your Eyewitness proposes that while the refugees must be accepted, it must be clear that this is a TEMPORARY arrangement; once the situation in Venezuela has stabilised, they’ll have to be repatriated. …at UG? Well, “mout’ open and story jump out”!! From inception of his appointment in 2015, your Eyewitness had pointed out the subterranean currents that’d made Ivelaw Griffith -- one-time head of the YSM -- Vice Chancellor of UG. Never mind he’d been eased out from his last place of employment – Fort Valley U. in Georgia – with two years left on his contract. He’d made the same grandiloquent promises there: to “transform” the old land-grant university with lower income African American students; and had failed ignominiously, while living high off the hog.

Forearmed from Griffith’s Georgia experience, your Eyewitness had pointed out the anomaly of the fella creating a Cabinet – yes! A Cabinet, with grandiose titles!

– which garnered salaries surpassing Granger’s Cabinet!!

While he and his cohorts sipped champagne, the staff and students sadly couldn’t even get water dispensers!!

But a pissing contest between a columnist and his erstwhile Trade Union buddy revealed blatant cronyism by the latter. The UG unions, which had suffered in silence at the betrayal, finally rebelled.

If it isn’t rectified, they’ll quit the TUC!! …on crime?

The PSC wants a meeting with Ramjattan to protest the crime tsunami washing over the country! What’s the point? Didn’t our Public Security Minister already tell them they should be thankful??

Look at the crime situation in Venezuela!!

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

news

9

friday, may 31, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

3 bandits shot dead during shoot-out with Police at Norton Street

T

hree armed bandits were killed on Thursday evening during a shoot-out with Police at Norton and Victor Streets, Lodge, Georgetown.

The three bandits have been identifies as Junior Nurse, of Albouystown; Shawn Browne Jr; and another known as “Pretty Bit” and “Skeete”.

One Police rank who was also shot to his knee was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) by his colleagues. Up to press time, he was admitted a patient and was listed as stable.

Based on reported received, at about 20:00h, Neville Lesley of Lot 46 Norton and Victor Streets, was closing the doors to his home when he saw someone scaling the fence but by the time he retaliated, he was held at gunpoint. The gunman demanded gold and cash as he took the man into the house.

His two other accomplices also made their way into the man’s home. Each of them

This bandit, known as “Skeete” and “Pretty Bit”, was shot dead during a shoot-out with Police at Norton and Victor Streets, Lodge, Georgetown

was carrying a handgun.

According to Lesley, prior to the invasion, he had just put his five-year-old son to bed but upon hearing the commotion, the child woke up and ran downstairs. “They tell me if I don’t keep me son quiet, they’d shoot me and meh son,” the man related.

Lesley said he has a relative who recently returned from the US and the bandits had enquired about her.

“They ask whey the girl that come in the country deh, where the gold and money they get and all sort of things. I said all these things that we see up here is share

ing signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewellery.

The Smart Traveller Enrollment Programme (STEP) was recommended to locate victims during an emergency.

In Guyana’s Crime and Safety Report for 2018, which was created by the State Department, Georgetown was assessed as “a critical-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official US Government interests”.

It was indicated that the country’s crime statistics is above national average.

It categorised local criminals based on their choice of weapons of local criminals and targets, some of whom are American citizens.

However, Police Officers are also the victims in some cases.

“Criminals regularly use weapons, despite a rigorous licensing requirement to own firearms. Handguns, knives, machetes, or cutlasses tend to be the weapons of choice. Criminals may act

brazenly, and Police Officers have been both victims and perpetrators of assaults and shootings. Criminals are increasingly willing to resort to violence while committing all types of crimes.

Criminals are often organised, travel in groups of two or more, and conduct surveillance on their victims.

Criminals generally will not hesitate to show multiple weapons as an intimidation tactic during a robbery,” the report stated.

The report added, “Foreigners in general are viewed as targets of opportunity, but Americans are not specifically targeted.

Foreigners are very visible in public and should take precautions when visiting downtown areas. Most violent crimes against foreigners have occurred in the capital. However, there have been incidents of violent crimes committed in other parts of the country as well.”

Guyana’s crime rate is concentrated in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice)

weakings, they aint get no value. You come to rob me but I deh home two months now, I don’t really understand what yall doing,” the still shaken man told reporters.

Lesley further explained that he was placed on the ground with his son when he heard someone on the road yelling, whom he assumed to be Police, that armed men went into the house and locked the door.

Distracted by the Police presence, Lesley and his son managed to escape the bandits and hid in one of the bedrooms, where he removed the louvres in the window and lowered his son from the upper flat of the house.

The child was safely collected by a Police Officer, and Lesley jumped through the window to safety.

He reportedly told the Police that he explained to the gunman that there was nothing valuable in his home, but the bandits forced him to the upper flat where they searched for cash.

“He went in the bedroom

them and thing and put me to lie down with my son and tell me they will shoot my son and shoot me if I don’t find the gold and money. I said I don’t wear gold or anything, he check my chain and see it was a silver chain, he checked my hand and see, I said I home about two months now looking for it just like y’all so I don’t understand what you telling me. He telling he other partner watch we going to have to do this man what we does do to anybody else,” the man told media operatives.

Lesley man stated that he told the bandits that they did not have to harm him but his plea was met with slaps across the face.

“He carry me in the back room, and is the back room they start tumble the barrel, checking checking. Right now the whole house tumble up, take out my wallet and lil money I had inside, pelt down the wallet, after they hear the Police come they run down the steps. By the time they go to run down the steps, I push everything at

the back of the door and one of them force himself and come in back but end up coming out back”.

According to Leslie, he did not get the opportunity to telephone the Police for help, but stated that the ranks arrived promptly at the scene.

It was at this point that the shoot-out between the armed bandits and law enforcement officials commenced. According to information from residents in the area, two of the bandits were shot and appeared to be dead, while the third was also shot but surrendered to the Police.

The bodies of the two dead gunmen, along with the injured bandit, were also taken to the GPHC but the third man subsequently died while receiving medical attention. The Police have since removed two handguns from the scene with several rounds of spent shells.

This comes less than two weeks after three bandits were shot and killed during a Police shoot-out in Black Bush Polder.

including an AR-15 assault rifle.

While these reports would have caught the attention of other countries, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan disclosed earlier this month that Guyana is not in “really bad state”.

“Sometimes this thing is emblazoned across the front pages of newspapers giving the impression as though we are in a real bad state, [but it’s] not really true,” he was quoted as saying.

However, this analysis of the escalating crime situation in Guyana did not go down well with Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Harry Gill; a member of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Security Sector, who in no uncertain terms called for the Minister to either be reassigned or fired as Public Security Minister.

“Like most Guyanese, I am totally disgusted by all the brutal, senseless killings and barefaced robberies taking place every day throughout the country, and the apparent lack of any coherent plan by the Minister of Public Security to end this escalating crime spree,” Gill said in a letter to the editor.

He posited that since 2015, crime has escalated to dangerous levels, prompting the British Government and the US State Department to issue travel advisories to their citizens to exercise caution when travelling to Guyana due to an increase in crime.

US citizens warned of Guyana’s high crime rate

T

he US Department of State has sent a stringent warning to all its citizens, urging them to exercise caution when visiting Guyana due to the evident spike in the country’s crime rate.

In a statement on its website, the Department stated there is a frequency of violent crimes, commonly armed robbery and murder.

It specifically highlighted that the Police network is hindered to effectively alleviate these incidents due to the lack of resources.

“Violent crimes such as armed robbery and murder, is common. Local Police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents,” the notice stated.

It further advised all travellers from the United States to be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs and avoid walking or driving in the nights.

Persons were also advised not to resist any robbery attempts they might encounter and desist from display-

and Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), but there are significant cases in other parts of the coast.

Just recently, three bandits were killed during an encounter with Police Officers at Black Bush Polder, Region Six. Based on reports received, the Police operation and lasted a few hours, thus resulting in the death of the armed and dangerous men.

After the shootout, the Police retrieved several weapons and ammunition

10 news

friday, may 31, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Diamond man to serve 14-year Woman who doused man with sentence for several robberies pepper sauce granted bail

W

ayne Anthony Chester, known as ‘Sharkie’, was sentenced to 14 years and six months behind bars after he was found guilty on a series of robbery charges.

The 22-year-old of Lot 236 Section C, Block Y, Diamond Housing Scheme had his cases tried by Georgetown Magistrate Rondel Weever.

The facts of the matter are as follows: on January 6, 2019, at Conciliation Drive, Tucville, Georgetown, while being in the company of another and being armed with an unlicensed gun, Chester robbed Bowen Cromwell of $512,600 in cash and jewellery.

On the same date and place, he damaged two parts

T

of the victim’s car and, without being the holder a firearm licence, discharged a loaded firearm at Cromwell with intent to wound him.

Chester had denied all the charges when he had appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, but his matters were on Thursday tried by

Magistrate Weever, who ruled that the prosecutor had presented sufficient evidence to convict him for the offences.

Chester is also before the courts for the 2017 murder of Purcell Moore, committed at Craig Village, East Bank Demerara. The preliminary inquiry (PI) into that murder is ongoing.

Man arrested at Moleson Creek with ganja

A

man was on Wednesday arrested after he was nabbed with 240 grams of marijuana after he attempted to board a boat to Suriname at Moleson Creek, Corentyne, Berbice.

Reports are the man was making his way to the gate

when immigration officers saw him attempting to dispose of a parcel. The man is said to have been acting in a suspicious manner which drew the attention of the ranks.

The officers were able to retrieve the parcel and upon inspection, a quanti-

ty of seeds, leaves and stem were found.

He was handed over to the Springlands Police Station where the contents of the parcel was weighted and found to be 240 grams.

The suspected drug trafficker is expected to make his court appearance today.

wenty-five-year-old Colleen Sage appeared on Thursday before Georgetown Magistrate Faith McGusty charged with unlawfully using a corrosive substance on Cecil Moore with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause him grievous bodily harm.

She pleaded not guilty to the offence, which allegedly occurred on May 19, 2019 at Lot 300 North East La Penitence, Georgetown.

Sage was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson, who told the court that the virtual complainant had been abusing his client, and had indecently exposed himself to

her; and she retaliated by throwing the pepper sauce into his face.

Police Prosecutor Annalisa Brummel objected to the defendant being placed on bail on grounds that the possibility exists that the defendant is at flight risk, and because both parties are known to each other.

Facts of the matter stated that on the day in question there was a misunderstanding between the defendant and the VC, and an argument ensued that quickly turned into a scuffle.

Sage reportedly armed herself with the fluid, and threw same in the VC’s

ECD man who... he robbed Asif Mohammed of one radio, a 12-gauge shotgun, goods, and three ounces of raw gold.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that the defendant had been evading Police, but was apprehended on May 26, 2019 and positively identified during a confrontation with the virtual complainant.

The VC was present in court.

face.

Moore told the court that the defendant recently opened a shop on the road, and they initially had an agreement in which she would pay him $10,000 each month, but he did not collect that sum of money.

On the day in question, he approached the defendant for the rest of money, but she gave him only $2,000 and told him she did not have any more. He said he decided to go home, but the woman followed him and doused him with the pepper sauce to his face.

Sage was placed on $150,000 bail, and her next court appearance was set for June 19.

From page 8

It was explained that the Police had been trying to apprehend the defendant for a number of years, but the defendant had been using a different name, and was only recently located and arrested.

The court also heard that the defendant and the victim had been known to each other one year prior to the incident.

Blades was remanded

Kenrick Blades

to prison and will make his next court appearance on June 4.

S RAIGHT

news

11

friday, may 31, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jagdeo calls on AG to probe $300M injected into DHB feasibility study – SOCU inquiry into Minister Patterson’s role buried

O Why is the PNC/ APNU not working for Guyana? (Part 2 of 2) By: SASE Singh; M.Sc. - Finance, ACCA

L

ast week I spoke about politicians and bureaucrats failing to deliver what they promised, and I started a conversation on ten (10) reasons why Team Granger are failing. In the column last week, I explained four (4) of those ten (10) reasons: lack of pertinent knowledge in Team Granger; information asymmetry; a determined effort on the part of Team Granger to crowd out the private sector; and the time lag in their decision-making abilities.

We continue today with the remaining six (6) reasons, listed below: 5. A Rent-Seeking Attitude A rent-seeking attitude is one that seeks to gain privileges through using Government policies for private gains. This kind of action expands the number of rent-seekers in the system who are making corruption the norm, rather than the exception.

If we recall, it was Mr. Granger who promised in 2015 that he was the man who would lead the team that would not “offer favours to his favourites”. The last 48 months have proven that Mr. Granger did not deliver on his words, and is not a man to be trusted.

Today, the distinction between corruption and following the “rule of law” has become totally blurred. Clientelism, corruption, and the misapplication of resources have become the order of the day under Mr. Granger.

6. Vote buying Immediately after the Charandass vote, the PNC slipped into the failed strategy of vote buying. History has taught us that no other political party was successful at this strategy, so why would Mr. Granger think that this attitude of thinking of the people as some sort of "political chattel" would work for him?

The PNC-led Granger regime has spent millions of taxpayers’ funds to bolster a concert showcasing a convicted drug dealer, hoping that he would be able to influence the youth voters. This strategy will fail because our youths are not drug addicts, and they know that, morally, BUJU is no role model.

7. A failed promise of “The Good Life” The so-called “Good Life” projects have failed to deliver the goods for the people. After the BUJU show, life for most Guyanese is still one of struggle, with major dissatisfaction with the standard of living. All of this is happening in potentially the richest country in CARICOM. So why is so much of the nation’s resources being drained in places that are not helping the people directly?

8. Regulatory Capture The term “regulatory capture” denotes a government’s failure when the regulatory agencies do not pursue the original intent of promoting the ‘public interest’, but fall victim to the special interest groups that are close to the political elite. One only has to look at the operations of the Police and SARA and one would realise that the public institutions have been captured by Team Granger and rendered into toothless poodles mainly in service to the business buddies of the rulers. Such a situation destroys the incubation of new human-friendly investments, and also chases the best minds abroad.

9. Short-sightedness From day one, all Team Granger thought about was the time horizon to “first oil”, and how their small cabal can benefit from it. Their mission was to fill only their own pockets, while ignoring the plight of the people. Team Granger failed to realise that this oil, if leveraged properly, can “lift all boats”. It’s disingenuous to sell these fairy tales of “one barrel of oil per day per person” without properly explaining to the Guyanese people the cash flow realities. To date, no one has competently explained this reality to the people.

10. Rationalise Ignorance Team Granger, rather than sitting down and working harder and smarter for the Guyanese people, spend an enormous amount of energy rationalising their ignorance of the human development challenges facing Guyana. So, in their two-pronged approach to justify their misrule, they use outfits like DPI and other state media to sell their misinformation, with the hope that the Guyanese people are too ignorant to understand what is really happening.

And to complement that failed strategy, if anyone speaks up against these acts of deception, another army of sycophants is prepared to launch into personal abuse with an aim to shut down any other school of thought. But yet the message of truth against the fake news out of Camp Granger continues to multiply. Why? In conclusion, what we are seeing today is that the PNC and their phantom creation, the APNU, have gotten neither the mechanism nor the message to motivate the majority of the nation, and no amount of money would help them. Using state resources (NCN etc.), they have failed to subvert the real message.

The silent majority have made up their minds, but there is need for the free thinking people to speak up more in support of the trials and tribulations of the masses. In the past, people like Yesu Persaud and Bishop Randolph George did it; where in Guyana are their intellectual descendants of today? It is time for civil society to wake up. Silence is not an option anymore!

Please share your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is calling for an investigation into the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) after information was received that almost $300 million was removed from the Asphalt Plant account and injected into the controversial feasibility study for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Speaking at his weekly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo said information was received from a whistle-blower that a total of $289 million was diverted from the Asphalt Plant’s account into the feasibility study of the new Demerara river crossing, despite a $148 million contract having been awarded for that project. The Asphalt Plant falls under the DHBC. “Cabinet awarded for $161 million. The contractor had a contract signed for $148 million, but they withdrew from the Demerara Harbour Bridge account $215 million in 2017, plus another $74 million in 2018.

So that takes us to nearly $300 million that came out of the Demerara Harbour Bridge account for this project; nearly twice as much (as the contract),” Jagdeo posited.

To this end, the Opposition Leader is calling on the Auditor General to look into the matter. “We need the Auditor General to immediately look into this project, because the Police will not do it,” he asserted.

Jagdeo is referring to the Police investigation into the award of a sole-sourced contract for a feasibility study into the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge.

The contract in question was awarded to Dutch company LievenseCSO for a feasibility study into the new bridge.

A probe conducted by the Public Procurement

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

Commission (PPC) upon request from the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic(PPP/C) had flagged Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson for requesting from Cabinet that the $148 million contract be sole-sourced instead of being processed through the Procurement Board, as the law says should be done.

As a result of the findings, the Opposition last August asked the Guyana Police Force’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to investigate the PPC’s findings.

The Police last said that the file has been sent for legal advice.

“Since August of last year, we filed a report with the Police, they completed investigations in January this year, and we haven’t heard a single thing from them. By now Patterson should’ve been charged,” Jagdeo insisted.

Almost weekly, the Opposition Leader has been lamenting that the Police are yet to take any action, and according to him at this week’s media briefing, this new information regarding monies being removed from the Asphalt Plant’s account came in from a whistleblower having heard him. “(The whistleblower) pointed out that it’s not just that it was done illegal-

ly, but nearly another $150 million more than what the project was signed for had been used up. And the whistleblower has also said that if you check the payment to the contractor, not even the $148 was paid over to the contractor. So, clearly, there is enough to warrant a full-fledged investigation.

We believe that hundreds of millions of dollars is being stolen through this project,” Jagdeo stated.

He went on to say that in light of all of these allegations, the Police need to get the Dutch company here and question them as well as those at the Asphalt Plant to determine how much money was actually released for this project, since this appears to be a “straight forward case of theft of a large sum of money.

“So I’m very concerned about the pattern that we see here; not that it’s unexpected,” Jagdeo said.

This is not the first time this issue of money from the Asphalt Plant being used for the feasibility study is highlighted. In fact, the redirecting of the money is reflected in the agency’s 2019 budget allocation. As such, it was scrutinised by the Opposition during the December consideration of Budget Estimates.

During his presentation, Opposition Shadow

Infrastructure Minister Juan Edghill rapped the Public Infrastructure Minister over the new Demerara River Bridge feasibility study; the contract for which saw not only Patterson breaching the procurement laws, but the entire Cabinet as well, when they approved the award to the Dutch company.

Edghill, however, claimed that payment for the study came from an extra-budgetary account; that is, the Asphalt Plant of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB). He went on to say that some $227 million was reportedly spent on the feasibility study when the nation was told that the company only got $148 million.

“Where did the rest of the money go? We want to know today… because you went into an extra-budgetary account, you took money illegally and paid for a feasibility study that was an unsolicited bid… How much did you spend, because you’re asking for another $100 million from the Budget,” Edghill stated.

In response, however, Minister Patterson only confirmed that the $100 million being sought was indeed for feasibility studies for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge, but he did not address the other disbursements from the Asphalt Plant’s account.

12 News

friday, may 31, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hinterland communities continue Mahdia residents blame to suffer lack of potable water miners for recent flooding – residents call on Govt to do better

Social Protection Minister Amna Ally

S

everal hinterland communities continue to suffer from the lack of safe and adequate water supply, but the Government continues to make empty promises to citizens.

Residents of Region Eight have reached out to Guyana Times to vent their frustration at not accessing potable water, while claiming that the river is contaminated due to unsafe mining practices. The river, they stated, was the main source of water for persons residing there.

Ricardo Phillips, who spoke to this publication, related that residents have been forced to cease using the river water, since it is heavily contaminated and poses a danger to lives.

He explained that, just recently, a relative of his had to seek medical atten-

tion because he had fallen ill after using the said river water.

“We had to stop using the river after my cousin got sick. His entire body broke out with rash, and he started to vomit. The water full of mercury from all the mining that going on here.

It’s unsafe mining, and everything ending up back right in the river, which we, the residents of this area, have to use. We depend on the rain for water.

If rain don’t fall, we have no water,” he said.

Sandra La Cruz believes that clean and healthy water is a basic necessity, and should be easily accessible to all citizens. “Water should not be a luxury. We all need to be able to access water easily for consumption. It’s a basic need, man; and we are tired of being promised and fooled. We see the Government visiting all regions promising this and promising that, and nothing is actually being delivered. They need to do better,” she stated.

Similar issues were recently raised by residents of Region One (BarimaWaini) after the Guyana Water Inc had prohibited the use of the river there because it was heavily contaminated. A temporary water supply was provided, but this was not nearly adequate to supply residents of those villages, as

the water supply was at a centralised point and residents from far-flung areas were forced to foot several miles for access.

As Government took its outreach to Region Two (Pomeroon–Supenaam) on Wednesday, Social Protection Minister Amna Ally yet made promises to residents there that their water supply would be “vastly improved.” She spoke to residents of Lima Sands in response to concerns raised for the need for improved water supply in the region. Minister Ally assured the residents that their concerns have been noted, and she committed to having them addressed by the relevant agencies.

“This is not a community we have forgotten; it is a community where we have done work, including (constructing) a new bridge and a multi-purpose building, which was done through the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme under my ministry. In this region, there has been improved drainage, much needed upgrade was done on the road to Red Luck, Anna Regina road and Sparta, among others.

These developments will definitely continue and advance, once this Government remains in office,” Minister Ally explained.

O

Mahdia experienced intense flooding last week

ne week after floodwaters invaded the mining town of Mahdia, Region Eight, (Potaro-Siparuni) and inundated 25 homes, residents have held miners liable for disrupting the drainage network in the area.

Guyana Times has been informed that, every time it rains, the water would drain from the hills and exit the land via creeks in the valleys.

However, due to mining activities, the creeks are blocked, providing no pathway for the water to recede.

As such, this causes an accumulation of water, which affects households in close proximity to creeks.

“Usually, miners in the creek cause blockage, and so when the rain run off the mountain, it go cause the flooding. It ain’t get enough passage for the water pass through.

Mining cause blockage in most of the creek, so that’s what does re-

ally cause the flooding; but the water does normally run off in a day. It don’t normally remain,” this publication was told.

Residents are certain that if actions are taken to preserve these natural landscapes on a regular basis, the possibility of flooding would decrease.

One resident who has observed this activity, Rohan, told this publication that there has been mild rainfall throughout the past days, which has posed no major threat.

On Wednesday, regional officials had signalled intention of removing persons who reside in close proximity to creeks, especially in flood-prone areas.

For this, the residents are to be engaged along with the Central Housing and Planning Authority.

The flooding reached its peak on May 23 after hours of intense rainfall. Supplies

were provided to the affected families, and on Saturday, the water receded slowly.

Sections of the main access road were damaged, and officials were deployed to assess the situation.

While the area is prone to flooding during the rainy season, this was the largest flash flood seen in years.

Meanwhile, it was announced by the Public Infrastructure Ministry that sections of the damaged road were fixed immediately. However, the bridge at Red and White, which had been washed away, was replaced by wooden planks until those works are executed.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had told this publication that the pathway was opened for vehicular traffic on both lanes.

Meanwhile, the Natural Resources Ministry has pledged to desalinate the creek waters to provide for easy drainage.

news

13

friday, may 31, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Republic Bank Visa scam

Customers will be protected – Finance Minister …awaits report from Central Bank Governor

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

I

n light of the recent Republic Bank Visa scam, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has assured customers of that financial institution that they would be protected as he awaits a detailed report from Bank of Guyana on the issue, which has left several account holders with miss-

ing funds.

“All customers are protected under the banking laws…we have to do an investigation, and it has to be proven that their monies have been taken out of the account other than by them, and then the bank will have to make the necessary adjustments to their accounts,” Minister Jordan recently told Guyana Times.

Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited has confirmed that some customers were affected by fraudulent activity via their international Visa-One ATM cards. The Trinidad-owned financial institution has also noted that additional security measures will be put in place to protect its clients.

This publication understands that affected customers are, however, facing many challenges to recoup their lost funds.

The bank is said to be

Bank of Guyana Governor Gobin Ganga

carrying out stringent investigations to verify whether the missing money was spent by the account holder or by unauthorised individual(s).

“I don’t know whether it is a problem with their computer or something else. I can’t speculate, but I am going to wait on a report from

the Governor (Dr Gobind Ganga),” the Finance Minister has said.

Dr Ganga was quoted in other sections of the media as saying that Republic Bank would have to refund its customers if the investigations reveal that the customers were not at fault.

The financial institution had explained that it is taking the necessary steps to regularise all affected accounts using a well-defined, standard process that focuses on reducing customer inconvenience.

According to the RBL, it has been able to quickly identify cases where customers’ cards were compromised, and was able to effectively minimise the risk to other customers.

Republic Bank also reminded customers of the need to be vigilant when using their debit cards, and to monitor their account’s activities.

One affected customer related to this newspa-

per that he had visited the Republic Bank Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara to do a transaction, but received a notice saying there were insufficient funds to honour the requested amount. He said this prompted him to conduct a balance inquiry, and to his astonishment, his account had only $9000. The customer said he was left speechless, since he was aware that his account had over $140,000.

He then went to the Bank and made a report, and was given a dispute form to fill out. He said he was advised by the teller that the investigation process for such a claim takes between 60 and 90 days.

The customer expressed dissatisfaction with the response by the Bank, adding that when he enquired about reimbursement, he was not given positive feedback.

Meanwhile, another cus-

tomer said he also was left shocked when he realised that $2 million was missing from his account. He said an inquiry revealed that that money was deducted from his account to pay for several online purchases.

Another customer said she went to the ATM and found that $60,000 was missing from her account.

She said she also was given a dispute form to fill out when she visited the Bank.

The young lady slammed the financial institution for not being honest with its customers about the hacking incident.

Republic Bank currently holds 35.4 per cent of the banking systems’ assets, and 36.8 per cent of deposits in Guyana.

It is poised to own more than 50 per cent of the market share if it takes over the operations of the Canadabased Scotiabank, which has already announced its intention to pull out from Guyana.

New Ghanaian High Commissioner pays courtesy call on GCAA

T

he new Ghanaian High Commission to Guyana, Professor Abena Pokua Adompim Busia paid a courtesy call on the Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Egbert Field, at the GCAA’s headquarters.

She also met a member of the Board, Beverly Carrington and members of the management team of the GCAA. Colonel Field and Professor Adompim Busia discussed areas of mutual interest to both countries,

including the promotion of air transport and the possibility of creating sustainable air linkages between the two nations.

She also touched on the potential benefits which can be derived from commercial exchanges, tapping into the available expertise to strengthen legislation, and improve compliance with international standards in the aviation sector and the emerging oil and gas sector. She also advocated a focus for tourism, including the possibilities of promoting and expanding heritage tourism between the African

Ghanaian High Commissioner to Guyana, Professor Abena Pokua Adompim Busia

and Caribbean region.

Professor Adompim Busia’s delegation included Minister and Deputy Head of Mission, Peter Kobina

Taylor, and Kwame Jantuah from the African Energy Consortium Limited.

During his remarks to the Ghanaian Delegation,

Colonel Field said he is looking forward to working with Professor Adompim Busia and her team on the areas of mutual interest and to ensure that both countries benefit from the expertise and skills they have to offer each other. The Director General posited an interest in areas such as safety management systems, state safety procedures, security, drones use and control; and spoke of possible technical assistance needs in the future.

In November 2018, Guyana and Ghana signed an Air Services Agreement at the Third African Diaspora

Meeting held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Under this agreement, airlines operating from Guyana or Ghana will be able to fly to any destination within both countries as well as provide any number of services between both countries and beyond to any third country, with no restrictions on capacity, frequency, aircraft type and routing. Further, in December 2018, Guyana also signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement with Ghana for the exchange of knowledge and technical expertise in the area of civil aviation.

14 news

friday, may 31, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

QC wins NIS Debating Competition semi-finals Q

ueen’s College on Thursday advanced to the final round of the debating competition 2019 after winning the semi-finals against the Bishops’ High School at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

The competition, done in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, forms part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

The moot, “With improved information technology in schools, students will have an advantage to enter the world of work with greater skills,” was competitively debated between the opposing team, Queen’s College, and the proposing team, the Bishops’ High School.

The Bishops’ High, represented by its 8th graders, acquired 73 points, while semi-final winners Queen’s College won the round with

Chief Judge Celest James-Williams, Head of the English Department at the New Campbellville Secondary School

Queen’s College debaters – Second Speaker, Ayjah Griffith; First Speaker, Christine Richardson; and Third and Best Speaker, Lorelei Khanai

a total of 86 points.

Lorelei Khanai, third speaker for the opposition, emerged Best Speaker of the competition.

Chief Judge Celest James-Williams, Head of the English Department

St Joseph’s High School debaters – from left: Carmalita Byrne, Adaiah Lawrence and Chelsea Forde

at the New Campbellville Secondary School, commended the students of both teams for their hard work. St. Rose’s High School failed to show for their verbal battle against St. Joseph’s High School, resulting in an automatic win and a smooth path to the finals for St. Joseph’s High.

The moot, “Improved Information Technology will enhance the services offered to contributors and pensioners by the National Insurance Scheme”, will be debated in the final round of the competition by Queen’s College and St. Joseph’s High School.

Training Manager Pauline Alleyne has said the finals of the competition will be held on June 11, at 10:00h at NCERD. However, strong and logical arguments were put forward by the bold young

speakers, who were well researched and vocal in arguing their points.

Proposing the moot, debaters from the Bishops High School: Esther Hinds, Kasia Cambridge and

Aaron St. Hill, explained how the use of Information Technology saves time, and how it can be used to provide a diverse learning experience for students, thus enhancing the learner/ teacher experience.

They also examined the cost of information technology in comparison to the traditional way of learning, such as the use of text

The Bishops’ High School debaters – from left: Second Speaker Caysia Cambridge, Third Speaker Aaron St. Hill, and First Speaker Esther Hinds

books.

Opposing the moot, QC debaters Christine Richardson, Asia Griffith and Lauralie Khanai argued that Information Technology does not hinder the learning of students without access.

They pointed out rather how some principles of the school system will no longer be impactful due to the use of information technology.

Further, they argued that information technology can nullify what was learnt prior, as students venture into the world of work. Further, they highlighted the successes of those who did not have access to information technology and noted the ways in which students would not be at a disadvantage if they do not have access to IT. The debaters scored points for clear and logical presentation of arguments and for original ideas, fluency, eloquence and good use of the English vocabulary, with keen attention being paid to subject and verb agreement.

news

15

friday, may 31, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Second round of consultations on Disaster Risk Management Bill opens

Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig

T

he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Thursday opened another round

of consultations for the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Bill, which is geared at finalising a comprehensive document to target disaster risk management and response in Guyana. The consultations were held at the Pegasus Hotel.

Speaking at the consultation, which targeted national and sectoral stakeholders, Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, said the consultation would garner inputs on the Bill in a bid to ensure there is a robust and comprehensive document that can deal with effective disaster risk management

Federico Suarez, Programme Officer/ Attaché of the Delegation of the European Union

across the country.

“This activity is one of the many that we have to ensure

GASI commissions new aviation refueller

The brand new addition to the GASI fleet

T

he Guyana Aviation Services Incorporated (GASI), a subsidiary of the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) on Thursday commissioned a spanking new aviation refueller at its location at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), which will service local and international aircraft bound in Guyana.

Chief Executive Officer Renatha Exeter explained that with this new addition, they are seeking to increase its capacity to refuel all aircraft. Exeter noted that they are also making preparations for the imminent oil industry.

“Our fleet comprises of one road truck wagon and two aircraft delivery trucks which we call refuellers…

We’re adding the state-ofthe-art brand new 10,000 gallons refueller. This is such a proud moment for GASI and more so, our shareholder Guyoil because it signifies growth and expansion, especially at a

pivotal point in Guyana, a time when we are expected to see exponential growth in the aviation industry,” she related.

The CEO added, “This commissioning of our new refueller signifies that we are ready, equipped and well-positioned as a company. This is further demonstrated through our staff at GASI, who are trained in all aspects of fuel handling at the airport.”

She explained that they have recorded zero spills and environmental mishaps so far. Their impeccable track record also extends to other sectors, where positive figures have been documented.

“To date, we are proud to report a record of zero spills and environment incidents and impeccable audit records. Periodic audits are randomly conducted by all our international customers and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority,” the CEO related.

GASI operates at two locations; the Providence terminal which supplies the Eugene F Correia International Airport, and the Timehri location, which services the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The agency was commissioned back in 2015 and has a maximum capacity of 11,309 barrels of fuel. However, the main operational facility is located in close proximity to CJIA in Timehri.

Meanwhile, retired Colonel Cargill Kyte of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority emphasised the need to supply quality fuel that is uncontaminated.

“A primary accountability of the contracted supplier of the fuel is to demonstrated that at the time of transfer, the fuel delivered was clean, uncontaminated and on specification. The commissioning of the Skymark refueller forms part of that chain.”

we can get feedback (on).

Today we are at a critical juncture in the development and enhancement of our disaster risk management mechanism. It is about 15 years since Guyana experienced its worst disaster, (which had) affected about 66 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Since then, several measures were taken by all stakeholders to further enhance and develop our risk management mechanism.

We have developed several plans, policies, framework and guidance which create the basis for the development of our Disaster Risk Management Bill. This bill is a very comprehensive one,” he stated.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the CDC is currently receiving technical support in this stride under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) and Services for the Implementation of External Aid 2018 (SIEA) Framework’s “Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Resilience” Programme through the European Union.

Federico Suarez, Programme Officer/Attaché

Some of the participants at the consultations

of the Delegation of the European Union to Guyana and Suriname, and with responsibility for Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba and St. Maarten, in his remarks, said the process is a transparent and comprehensive approach to drafting the Bill.

“We have been working on this for the last year and a half, so we are happy to have this workshop here today. We appreciate that the stakeholders are here to contribute to this process.

The European Union is not only focusing on sea and river defence and coastal management; we are also looking at the legislative agenda. I know this will bring benefit to the people

of Guyana,” he said.

Legislative Drafting Expert Chris Hedley, addressing stakeholders at the meeting, said that consultations are a key component in developing the legislation, because they provide a different perspective, which would aid in providing a more integrated perspective in the development of the Bill.

Last week, the CDC hosted its first public consultation with members of civil and Guyanese society. The CDC is working to have the Bill submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers by the end of June for formatting, before it is taken to Cabinet.

Pedal cyclist struck by intoxicated soldier remains unconscious

F

ifty-seven-yearold pedal cyclist Ramlackhan, who was struck down by an intoxicated corporal attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), remains in an unconscious state at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

This was confirmed by ‘C’ Division Commander Calvin Brutus on Thursday, when he related that the soldier involved in the accident has been released into the custody of the army.

“The Joint Services Protocol dictates that we hand him over to his superiors pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). With regards to Police having custody of Joint Services ranks, it is dependent on the category of crime. For instance, if it is murder or so, they will stay in our (GPF) custody. If it is a lesser category, we hand them over to their respective agency and they will take

C Division Commander Calvin Brutus

responsibility to bring them back whenever is needed; or if advice is to charge, they will make them available and bring them so,” Brutus explained.

On May 25 last, Ramlackhan was struck down along the Vryheid’s Lust Railway Embankment Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), by motor car PRR

7815 allegedly being driven by the soldier. The severely injured man is said to hail from Lot 346 Martyrs’ Ville, Mon Repos, ECD. At the time of the accident, Ramlackhan was towing another friend who is reportedly from 6th Street, Success, ECD. His friend suffered minor injuries.

Reports are that, on the day in question, the duo were riding along the roadway when they were hit off the bicycle by the vehicle being driven by the GDF rank, who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol.

Ramlackhan was picked up and taken to the GPHC, where he was admitted a patient.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver of the vehicle, and it was discovered that his alcohol intake was above the legal limit. Investigations into the matter continue, as Ramlackhan remains in a coma at the GPHC.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, may 31, 2019

Around the World

Narendra Modi sworn in for second term after election landslide

Narendra Modi – seen here greeting crowds at his swearing in – retained his seat by a margin of nearly half a million votes

N

arendra Modi has been sworn in for a second term as India's prime minister after his party won a landslide majority in the recent election. Thousands were invited to the ceremony in Delhi, including regional leaders and Bollywood stars.

But notable names were excluded, including Pakistan's PM Imran Khan, and some opposition leaders stayed away. The election

was seen as a referendum on Modi, 68, who is adored by many but also accused of stoking divisions.

He ran a campaign dominated by his personal image and national security after tensions with Pakistan spiked in February in the disputed region of Kashmir.

The ceremony is taking place at the presidential palace, a colonial-era building in the centre of the capital.

A new Cabinet has also been sworn in, and includes the chief of Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Amit Shah is credited with steering the party to victory in the election, the results of which were announced last week.

A BJP-led alliance won 354 seats in the 545-member lower house, known as the Lok Sabha. Modi retained his seat of Varanasi by a margin of nearly half a million votes. He has become the first leader since 1971 to secure a single party majority in back-to-back elections.

His government will be under pressure to deal with a slowdown in India's economy and provide more jobs.

The new government suffered a blow on Wednesday when Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said he was standing down for health reasons. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Barbados clashes with creditors in talks to cut Greece-like debt

B

arbados’ Prime Minister is butting heads with creditors over how to cut one of the world’s largest sovereign debt loads, creating a sticking point in the year-long negotiations to restructure the Caribbean nation’s defaulted dollar bonds.

Talks with foreign creditors have dragged on since last June, when Prime Minister Mia Mottley said she would restructure the island’s “unsustainably high” debt burden. While both sides said they are open to continued negotiation, they appear far from

consensus.

A committee of creditors, who hold 55 per cent of outstanding dollar debt, said Wednesday that they plan to unanimously reject a government proposal to exchange defaulted bonds for new debt unless the two sides negotiate together.

Both sides agree the country of 300,000 people needs to cut debt levels. Yet talks have soured in recent weeks over how much of the burden should be borne by creditors in the form of deep haircuts or other terms. For its part, the government said it isn’t willing to ne-

gotiate targets established when it took a bailout from the International Monetary Fund last year.

At that time, the Government estimated debt had ballooned to about 175 per cent of gross domestic product, meaning it owed around US$9 billion. That would have made it one of the world’s most-indebted countries, trailing only a handful of others, including Greece, according to IMF figures. Mottley said she “will not compromise” on the goal of bringing that ratio down to 60 per cent by 2033. (Excerpt from MSN)

7 South Koreans dead, hope dims for missing in Budapest boat disaster

A rescue vessel is seen under the Margaret Bridge near the site of a ship accident, which killed several people, on the Danube river in Budapest, Hungary, May 30, 2019

H

ungarian rescue officials said there was little chance of finding survivors after a boat with South Korean tourists on board sank on the Danube River in Budapest, with seven people confirmed dead and 21 missing.

The boat was cruising when it collided with a larger luxury passenger boat during a rainstorm on Wednesday evening, caus-

ing it to capsize and sink with 33 South Korean tourists and tour guides and two Hungarian crew aboard.

Police said the smaller boat turned on its side and sank within seconds of the collision under a bridge near Hungary’s parliament building. They said a criminal investigation was under way to determine the cause of the accident. Police declined to say if the bigger vessel,

the 135-meter (443 feet) Viking Sigyn, put out any signals for help.

Police said its investigation yielded evidence that raised personal responsibility, so it questioned the Viking Sigyn captain, a 64-year-old Ukrainian, as a suspect, and later moved to take him into custody for reckless misconduct in waterborne traffic leading to mass casualties.

Police said it initiated the formal arrest of the captain, identified as C Yuriy from Odessa.

Officials said the hull of the Mermaid, a 27-meter (89 feet) double-decker river cruise boat, had been found on the riverbed a few hundred meters from its usual mooring point.

A crane ship docked near the wreck on Thursday in preparation for recovery operations and divers prepared equipment. Police said the rescue efforts were hampered by high water levels, strong currents and bad visibility. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Austria gets first woman chancellor after video scandal

A

ustria has named a top lawyer, Brigitte Bierlein, to be interim chancellor – the first woman to occupy the post – ahead of early elections. She replaces Sebastian Kurz, whose Government lost a confidence vote in Parliament over a video sting scandal.

The scandal involved Kurz's far-right ally HeinzChristian Strache, secretly filmed offering public contracts to a woman posing as a Russian oligarch's niece.

A September early election is expected. The appointment of Bierlein, 69, was announced by President Alexander Van der Bellen.

The choice was agreed with Austrian party leaders.

She has been president of the Austrian Constitutional Court since 2003, and earlier held senior court positions in Vienna. The collapse of the Kurz coalition

Brigitte Bierlein does not yet have an interim government team

Government has paved the way for technocrats to take some key posts in an interim Government. Born in Vienna in 1949, Bierlein had ambitions to become an artist, but ultimately chose to pursue a career in law instead. On the advice on her mother, she studied at the University of Vienna, graduating in 1971.

She went on to have a successful career, becoming a

public prosecutor at the age of 27. In 1990, she was appointed Advocate General of Austria's Procurator's Office, becoming the first woman to hold the position. From 2003, she served as Vice President of the Constitutional Court.

She held the position until she took over the presidency in 2018, her candidacy backed by Kurz's right-wing coalition Government. (Excerpt from BBC News)

St Kitts Govt denies paying criminals in order to keep peace

T

he St Kitts-Nevis Government has denied paying money to rival gangs and criminals in a bid to ensure peace and stability in the twin-island Federation.

“We have this calm in the society and persons should be commending all persons wherever they are from for this calm. This is the peace dividend we have been talking about and we are now having it and we are happy about it,” Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris

told a news conference.

Last month, Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for the Crime Directorate, Andre Mitchell, said that there had been a significant reduction in major crimes, when compared to the same period last year.

He said there had been a 42 per cent decline in St Kitts and a 21 per cent reduction in Nevis. Prime Minister Harris said that his administration would remain supportive of the efforts by individuals or organisations

dedicated to preserving the “peace and prosperity of St Kitts and Nevis and to help others who would have gone astray or who are inclined to go astray…”

Harris dismissed suggestions that payments were being made to criminals in order to ensure peace, accusing persons peddling such reports of having “a hidden agenda”. He insisted that his Government is not involved in any quid pro quo arrangement. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Pence calls on Canada to do more to engage Cuba over Venezuelan crisis

U

nited States Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday called on Canada to do more to engage directly with Cuba over what Pence called the island nation’s “malign influence” on Venezuela’s political crisis.

Pence said earlier in his visit to Ottawa that Canada should help “expose” Cuba’s negative impact, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded that he thought Cuba could still help resolve the crisis.

Canada and the United States want Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to step down to open the way for opposition leader Juan Guaidó to take over until new elections can be held.

But they do not always see eye to eye on the best way to achieve that.

The United States has accused Cuba, a long-time ally of Venezuela’s socialist Government, of providing intelligence personnel to help prop up Maduro. That

US Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, May 30, 2019

is denied by Havana.

Trudeau, meanwhile, has reached out to Cuba on behalf of the Lima Group, a bloc of mostly Latin American countries seeking a peaceful resolution to the standoff.

Guaidó has vowed to press ahead with street protests after talks with Government officials hosted by Norway ended on Wednesday without progress toward resolving the

long-running political crisis.

Guaidó in January assumed a rival interim presidency, citing Venezuela’s constitution, and denounced Maduro’s Government as illegitimate after he secured re-election last year in a vote widely criticised as rigged. Pence said he spoke to Guaidó on Wednesday after the Norway talks ended to assure him the United States still supported him.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

G

uyanese were treated to a magnificent 10 days of fun and frolic as the Guyana Carnival Committee hosted its second annual Guyana Carnival that was undoubtedly dubbed a resounding success.

The 10-day celebrations commenced on May 17 and culminated on May 27, with some of the best concerts and concept parties.

From All White affairs to boat cruises and brunches to the much anticipated “I Am Legend” concert featuring Buju Banton were nothing but spectacular. The attendance at the events were overwhelming and without a doubt, patrons got their monies worth.

Hits and Jams Director Kerwin Bollers, who is also part of the Guyana

Carnival Committee, told Guyana Times Entertainment that the event this year topped the previous year and it will only get better in the years to come.

He explained that the events were planned to observer Guyana 53rd Independence anniversary in grand style and he is convinced the aim of the event, which is to enhance Guyana’s tourism sector, has been realised.

He added that the Guyana Carnival will continue to plan and execute the event with patrons in mind, with the aim of giving them the best ever party experience that Guyana lacks.

Bollers posited that the talk of the town was the introduction of the Carnival Costume Parade, while admitting that there were a few

hiccups in that department.

He explained that there were some challenges with respect to patrons accessing their costumes especially those who would have purchased online. Nevertheless, he hopes by the next carnival, they would be more equipped and efficient in that area.

“The past two years have actually been a learning process for us… We are optimistic that it will be sorted out by the next carnival,” Bollers added. On this note, he also stated that there were some issues with accessing the VIP area. This, he noted, will be revisited and the necessary mechanisms will be put in the place in 2020.

All in all, he noted that in every massive event that is planned, there must be some challenges, but he was

friDAY, may 31, 2019

elated to also report that there were no reported incidents at the venues where the events were held.

The HJ Director was overly happy to reveal that the service industry has benefited tremendously as a result of hosting of Guyana Carnival.

“We have undoubtedly done our part to boost the economy… we have taken a month that is economically dead and revitalised it… The hotels were filled, the airline had a boost in ticket sales, the food vendors got a piece of the pie, the taxi services and we can go on and one,” an ecstatic Bollers told Guyana Times Entertainment.

Meanwhile, while he did not want to get into a spat with anyone to reveal which event outclassed the others, patrons have spoken. They are of the

belief that “Kes – Stinging Nettle” was one of the best shows to be held over the 10-day period, while some were in favour of the J’Ouvert at the National Park Tarmac.

“Wet Wednesday” featuring Machel Montano was another concert that had good reviews but the icing on the cake was definitely the “I Am Legend” concert featuring Jamaican reggae artiste, Buju Banton, who is currently on world tour titled “Long Walk To Freedom”.

Come next year, the Guyana Carnival Committee has promised that with the emergence of the oil and gas industry, the event will be phenomenal.

The tentative dates set for Guyana Carnival 2020 are between May 21 and May 27.

– Mrs India Guyana, Miss Teen India Guyana also crowned

E

ighteen-year-old Rashena Sara Hanif, an aspiring lawyer, was on Sunday evening crowned Miss India Guyana 2019 after she outshone her rivals when the pageant was held the Ramada Princess Hotel. After several hours of elegance, grace and sophistication, the young lady was named the new owner of the title replacing the 2018 queen, Shoshanna Ramdeen.

Coming in as first runner-up was Sandeka A Rampersaud, followed by Katriah Sharona as second runner-up. Also, on the same evening, Kristal Inshan was crowned Mrs India Guyana 2019 and Amisha Sarjoo was given the title of Miss Teen India Guyana 2019.

The crowned queens will now have a

change to represent Guyana in India for the international pageant billed for September 3-7.

However, Hanif broke into tears as she was announced the queen by the emcee of the evening, television personality Joel Ghansham. An elated young lady was crowned by the 2018 queen after which she expressed her shock and disbelief that she had won the coveted title; one that was a dream come through.

“I worked hard; I was dedicated, but I knew it could have been anybody, because we all worked so hard,” she said, adding: “The crown could’ve gone to any one of my pageant sisters, so I am so grateful. I want to use this to advocate and make a positive change in my community, and in my country,” she told media operatives.

The young lady who is attached to Frandec Travel Service and resides at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara was dubbed a front runner as she gracefully

took the stage during the evening.

“I have always admired pageantry…Growing up, it was more about the glitz and glamour for me. But as I continued to pursue my dream of participating in pageants, I realised that the Miss India Guyana pageant is much more than that,” she noted.

Apart from the grand coronation, three outstanding former Guyanese beauty queens were honoured for their contribution to Indian culture. These include Devi Ramchairtar-Lim (Miss Guyana Sari Queen 2008); Roshini Boodhu-Persaud (Former Miss India Guyana 2011) and Shivanie Latchman-Persaud (Mrs India Guyana 2018).

On the same night, the Reigning Miss India Worldwide, Shree Saini graced the event with a spectacular dance performance. The night was indeed a fabulous one with other dance routines by leading dance groups, including the Ishara Dance Group.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, MAY 31, 2019

P

lans are already in place to select the best candidate to represent Guyana at the Miss World Pageant in 2020.

Twenty-five out of more than 50 young ladies who sent in applications were sashed on May 26 during a simple ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel.

Out of the 25, three are from the United States of America. They are

Jhadee Gordon, Sasha Hughes-Williams and Stacy Sirkissoon. Tia Shepherd, Marlena Jurakan and Alicia Jordan were chosen from the United Kingdom, while Kimberly Adams is from Barbados.

The other delegates are all Guyanese beauties living in Guyana.

They are Aliya Wong, Tiffani Bonner, Jamicia McCalman, Gabriella Chapman, Raeshaunna Jones, Danasha Peterson,

DJ Kevin wins XL “Lock De Scene battle” tournament

E

mpire Media Inc, in its preparation to host “Art of War 2019” in July, partnered with XL Energy Drink to host a deejay battle tournament titled “XL Lock De Scene.”

The competition was launched on March 4, 2019, and saw 12 deejays vying for $100,000, a spot in the Art of War 2019 competition and to become a brand ambassador for XL Energy Drink.

The battles which were held every Monday evening at Turning Point Bar, saw the DJs competed for the attractive package. Nine DJs were eliminated during the tournament and three made it to the semi-finals.

DJ Bandit of Spotlight Sound, DJ Kevin of Royalty Vibes, and DJ Guy out of the Mighty Ruler Sound faced off in the semi-finals. It was a hard-fought musical war which saw DJ Kevin and DJ Guy being victorious.

The two then faced each other in the final but only one survived. DJ Guy kicked off the evening by firing tunes that threw the crowd into a frenzy. His clash skills were clearly evident as he mastered the mix to entertain his fans.

It was DJ Kevin, however, who took

Brittany Singh, Reshana Khan, Malesha Mackoon, Samantha Stanwick, Celicia Campbell, Ederle Stephen, Ronecca Arjune, Rabeena Hussain, Nasaskeia Kendall, Abeena Gomes, Aaliyah Anthony and Sherzana Munilall.

The organiser, Majesty International, believes that with this new model, the candidate’s journey will be more wholesome with more time to prepare

and train to compete on any stage and/or environment geared towards professional growth/development at the end of this journey.

The aim is to improve the quality of every journey and seek better collaboration and partnerships with various stakeholders, including media, Government organisations, civil society organisations, and the

academic institutions/communities to build Guyana with role models. More importantly, the aim is to promote better support at the local, regional, national and international levels.

However, the semi-final will be held between January and March 2020, while the grand coronation is set for May 2020.

NothingtoLaughAbout12 for NCC this weekend

T

XL Deejay Kevin and a representative of XL Energy Drink

the microphone and caused an uproar.

He was ready for battle and pelted tunes that had the crowd jumping. This went on for the entire segment and it was clear who the winner was.

The fans by show of hands adjudged DJ Kevin as the XL “Lock De Scene” champion. He was declared winner of the tournament and secured his spot in Art of War 2019 to be held on July 27 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall tarmac.

DJ Kevin also walked away with $100,000 and is now a brand ambassador for XL Energy Drink.

he twelfth edition of “Nothing to Laugh About” will be held at the National Cultural Centre from May 31 to June 3, with lots of laughter from the previous years.

As usual, the franchise focuses on theatrical comedy production, comprising of satirical slapstick skits and stand-up comedy by some of the most seasoned actors in Guyana. This time around, the group has several surprises in store for those who attend the show.

Nothing to Laugh About is dubbed one of the best in theatrical presentations and has only gotten better in the past years.

From politics to religion to trending topics, NTLA has it all! No one will be spared from the caricature.

The 12th edition of the show feature performances from local actors such as Michael “Credit” Ignatius, Lyndon “Jumbie” Jones, Kirwyn “Sir Mars” Mars,

Clemencio Goddette, Brian Goodman, Chris Gopaul, Leza “Radica” Singh, Simone Persaud, Mark “Chinee Man” Kazim, Zoya Moore, Ashley Alfred, Kijana Lewis, Ann-Marie Singh, MarkLuke Edwards and Jermaine Grimmond.

Tickets are available at the National Cultural Centre, KFC (Regent Street),

Kirwyn Mars and other regular locations.

The prices range from $1000 to $2500.

However, this year, 10 lucky persons won two tickets, two family meal vouchers from KFC Guyana, one $15,000 voucher from MVP Sports and one Nothing to Laugh About hat and T-shirt.

friday, MAY 31, 2019

19

CWC 2019: Stokes and Archer lead England to imposing win

A

mbles in like Bambi. Hunts wickets like a zombie. Jofra Archer is a #BambiZombie. And the opening match of the 2019 World Cup was all the richer for it.

By the end of the game - which England won by 104 runs - the mood at The Oval was well beyond festive.

They’d found a match-winner. Across formats. For years to come. And they’d seen their firestarter up to his old tricks.

Ben Stokes was the top scorer of the day.

But that wasn’t his most eye-catching contribution. Scroll down the scorecard to Andile Phehlukwayo’s dismissal. Doesn’t say much, does it? Caught Stokes bowled Rashid. Yawn.

Now trawl through the internet - go into its darkest corners if necessary - and watch as the allrounder tracks a brutally hit slog-sweep on the midwicket boundary. Marvel as he never takes his eyes off it. And gasp as he times his jump perfectly. Then brace yourself for about half an hour’s disbelief as he sticks his right hand up over his head, and behind him, to come away with a catch that will be talked about for ages. Just like the #OhMyBroad one.

South Africa, at that point, were 180 for 7. They’d given the chase of 312 a proper go, with Quinton de Kock announcing his claim to be part of the next generation’s Fab Four with a half-century that was highlighted by his maturity in respecting the bowling when it was difficult and punishing it when it gave him the slightest chance. A lofted cover drive for six off Liam Plunkett was a particularly ringing endorsement of his monster talent.

But even he had to be shoved into the background as Archer burst onto the stage and demanded everyone’s attention. Especially the other eight oppositions’.

As England’s batting revolution was waving bye-bye to uncharted territory and bounding into the never-before-imagined, there has been fear that the bowling wouldn’t keep up.

Their seam attack felt samey. It needed something different; something radical. Archer is exactly that.

He generates pace out of nowhere; 90 mph of it. A bouncer in the fourth over of the chase hit Hashim Amla flush on the grille. It was too quick for him. Too quick for an all-time legend. And made him retire hurt. Then Archer sprung the same trap on the South African captain. A short ball surprised Faf du Plessis and had him caught at long leg. After decades of being decimated by raw pace - Allan Donald, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Holding - England now have their own bonafide speed demon.

Now, the other match-winner’s work didn’t particularly come to light until everything had ended. In fact, while

3

SCOREBOARD

Jofra Archer looked completely at home in England’s World Cup opener

Stokes was at the crease, it seemed like South Africa were on top. Having won the toss and decided to bowl, they went nearly 30 overs before realising that taking the pace off was the way to go.

Sure, they surprised England, opening the innings with Imran Tahir. At 10.30 am. In early summer. On a green pitch. In England. And they got Jonny Bairstow out. That’s genius. That’s maximum lolz. That’s the bear you don’t notice in that Youtube video.

But their fast bowlers took ages to realise that hitting the deck with offcutters was messing with the batsman’s timing. Stokes spent much of the innings dinking the ball around the field. Fifty-three of his 89 runs came in ones and twos. At the time, it seemed like he was being stifled, that his power game had been taken out by South Africa’s tactics.

And while that was true, it almost escaped notice that Stokes was getting into rhythm.

He got to his half-century with an audacious reverse-scoop off the bowling of Dwaine Pretorius, almost entirely because the wicketkeeper and third man had come up. There was a gap in the field and he exploited it. Batting 101. Four of England’s batsmen made fifties on one of the biggest days of the 50-over cricket calendar: Jason Roy (a punchy 54), Joe

England Innings (50 overs maximum) JJ Roy c du Plessis b Phehlukwayo 54 JM Bairstow c †de Kock b Imran Tahir 0 JE Root c Duminy b Rabada 51 EJG Morgan (c) c Markram b Imran Tahir 57 BA Stokes c Amla b Ngidi 89 JC Buttler † b Ngidi 18 MM Ali c du Plessis b Ngidi 3 CR Woakes c du Plessis b Rabada 13 LE Plunkett not out 9 JC Archer not out 7 Extras (lb 2, w 8) 10 TOTAL (50 Overs, RR: 6.22) 311-8 Did not bat: AU Rashid Fall of wickets: 1-1 (JM Bairstow, 0.2 ov), 2-107 (JJ Roy, 18.4 ov), 3-111 (JE Root, 19.1 ov), 4-217 (EJG Morgan, 36.5 ov), 5-247 (JC Buttler, 41.2 ov), 6-260 (MM Ali, 43.6 ov), 7-285 (CR Woakes, 47.3 ov), 8-300 (BA Stokes, 48.6 ov) BOWLING Imran Tahir (10-0-61-2) L Ngidi (10-0-66-3) K Rabada (10-0-66-2) D Pretorius (7-0-42-0) AL Phehlukwayo (8-0-44-1) JP Duminy (2-0-14-0) AK Markram (3-0-16-0) South Africa Innings (target: 312 runs from 50 overs)

Q de Kock † c Root b Plunkett 68 HM Amla c †Buttler b Plunkett 13 AK Markram c Root b Archer 11 F du Plessis (c) c Ali b Archer 5 HE van der Dussen c Ali b Archer 50 JP Duminy c Stokes b Ali 8 D Pretorius run out (Stokes/ Morgan) 1 AL Phehlukwayo c Stokes b Rashid 24 K Rabada c Plunkett b Stokes 11 L Ngidi not out 6 Imran Tahir c Root b Stokes 0 Extras (b 4, lb 5, w 1) 10 TOTAL (39.5 Overs, RR: 5.19) 207 all out Fall of wickets: 1-36 (AK Markram, 7.4 ov), 2-44 (F du Plessis, 9.3 ov), 3-129 (Q de Kock, 22.6 ov), 4-142 (JP Duminy, 25.5 ov), 5-144 (D Pretorius, 26.2 ov), 6-167 (HE van der Dussen, 31.5 ov), 7-180 (AL Phehlukwayo, 34.1 ov), 8-193 (HM Amla, 38.1 ov), 9-207 (K Rabada, 39.4 ov), 10-207 (Imran Tahir, 39.5 ov) BOWLING CR Woakes (5-0-24-0) JC Archer (7-1-27-3) AU Rashid (8-0-35-1) MM Ali (10-0-63-1) LE Plunkett (7-0-37-2) BA Stokes (2.5-0-12-2)

Root (a smooth 51) and Eoin Morgan (a ridiculously fluent 57 in his 200th ODI) were the others. But Stokes was the only one able to push on. And that was essentially because he’d understood the pitch was offering a bit of grip to the slower balls. In those situations, you can aim lower. You can defend 300. South Africa were bowled out for 207.

England were billed as pre-tournament favourites because of their unrelenting batting line-up and that reputation should now grow because they have shown they can adapt to conditions when they aren’t 500-ish. (Cricinfo)

Osaka reaches third round with win over Victoria Azarenka

W

orld

number one Naomi Osaka survived another early scare to reach the third round of the French Open.

Japan’s Osaka, 21, overcame a poor start to beat two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka 4-6 7-5 6-3.

Osaka is chasing her third successive Grand Slam title having won the 2018 US Open and the Australian Open earlier this year.

She will play the Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova in the next round after she beat Greece’s Maria Sakkari.

Asked if she is as calm on the inside as she looks on court, she added: “No. I choked on this side (at 5-1) and almost choked on the other side (at 5-3). I am very emotional.”

Osaka struggled in the early stages against world number 43 Azarenka, of Belarus, just as she did in the first round against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova when she failed to register a game.

She hit 15 unforced errors in the opening set on Lenglen court as Azarenka, 29, dominated to go 5-1 up.

From there, Osaka - who reached the third round at Roland Garros 12 months ago - started to find her rhythm, breaking Azarenka’s serve to move within one game of her opponent but Azarenka coolly served out the first set.

Novak Djokovic

The second set proved a much closer affair, taking until the fifth game for a serve to be broken as Azarenka went 3-2 up. That came after Osaka had scuppered three break points in the fourth game.

Azarenka went on to go 4-2 up but Osaka was able to claw the set back, taking it 7-5 on her fourth set point.

Former world number one Azarenka took

an 11-minute break before the deciding set commenced, but it proved little help as Osaka raced into a 5-1 lead, her performance a far cry from that of the first set.

Azarenka mounted her own comeback, winning the next two games, but Osaka was able to capitalise on her second match point to seal victory.

Djokovic into third round at Roland Garros World number one Novak Djokovic claimed a routine win over ‘lucky loser’ Henri Laaksonen to move into the third round of the French Open at Roland Garros.

Djokovic who won the 2016 competition, secured a 6-1 6-4 6-3 victory on Court Suzanne Lenglen in Paris.

He is aiming for his second Grand Slam title of 2019 after winning the Australian Open in January.

All of the top 10 seeded players in the men’s singles are into the third round after wins for six of them on Thursday.

Laaksonen was beaten by Sweden’s Mikael Ymer in the third round of qualifying but took his place in the main draw after benefiting from withdrawals.

The Swiss, ranked 104th in the world, beat Spanish qualifier Pedro Martinez in the opening round to set up a first meeting with 15-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic.

The first set lasted only 23 minutes, but Laaksonen provided more resistance in the second, breaking Djokovic’s serve in the sixth game.

However, Djokovic twice broke Laaksonen’s serve in consecutive service games to take a two-set lead.

Djokovic, 32, will play unseeded Italian Salvatore Caruso, who knocked out France’s 26th seed Gilles Simon. (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friday, MAY 31, 2019

Can Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors dethrone the Warriors?

O

ne of the teams has been a mainstay, as the Golden State Warriors are aiming for their third title in a row and fourth in the last five years. And for the first time during this stretch, they won’t face the Cleveland Cavaliers (or LeBron James, now with the Los Angeles Lakers).

This year’s challenger: the Toronto Raptors, who are making their NBA Finals debut in their 24th season. Canada is in a title drought in the four major North American sports (the NBA, MLB, NHL and the NFL, the last of which has no team north of the US border). Besides Toronto FC winning the MLS Cup in 2017, the country hasn’t won a major championship since 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup that June and the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series in the fall.

“I can tell you, it’s going to be crazy,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said. “It’s going to be crazy here (Thursday).

It’s going to be crazy here on Sunday. It’s going to be crazy here for a few days because that’s the mentality of our fan base. We know it’s across the world. That’s something special about here. We can reach the world easy from here, from Canada, and we’re happy to be the global team that represents the NBA.”

Toronto is led by Kawhi Leonard, whom the Raptors acquired last summer from San Antonio. With his impending free agency, they knew they might only get him for one year.

The gamble paid off, as he has led the Raptors to their best season.

The 2014 NBA Finals MVP when he was with the Spurs, Leonard has scored 561 points in the 2019 postseason, the sixth-highest all-time total for a player before the NBA Finals. Two of those points were on a buzzer-beater to knock off the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round -- the only buzzer-beater ever to decide a Game 7.

And while Leonard may not be the most famous name on the floor, that sounds like it’s fine with him.

“No, I’m not playing the game for that reason,” Leonard said Wednesday. “I’m playing to have fun and try to be the best player I can be. I’m happy with myself and what I have done in my career, and I’m just going to keep on from there.

It’s not about me being famous or want to have more fame than those guys. It’s about me playing basketball and having fun on the floor.”

Toronto swept the two-game regular-season series against the Warriors. But can that translate to NBA Finals success?

Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard is marked by Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is out for Game 1

The Warriors join the Boston Celtics as the only NBA teams to reach at least five consecutive finals (the Celtics went 10 times in a row from 1957-66). Should the Warriors win their third in a row, they’ll join the Lakers (2000-02) and Chicago Bulls (1991-93 and 1996-98) as the only teams to win three consecutive titles over the last 50 years.

Golden State has won six NBA championships, tied with the Bulls for third place all-time.

But the Warriors’ run to this year’s NBA Finals hasn’t come without some adversity. They’ve been winning games without superstar Kevin Durant, who has been out with a strained right calf. He suffered the injury May 8 in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets and hasn’t played since. He is out for Game 1, and it’s not clear when he’ll be back on the floor.

Durant, a two-time NBA Finals MVP with the Warriors, has a career NBA Finals scoring average of 31.7 points, which is the third-highest mark all-time.

Additionally, Golden State is without DeMarcus Cousins, who has been out with a torn left quadriceps since Game 2 of the first round. But while he is pain-free and has scrimmaged with the team, it’s unclear what his role will be.

Still, even without those two, the Warriors have tons of star power, highlighted by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. (CNN)

Spalletti leaves Inter Milan Madrid captain wants to with Conte set to take over end career at Bernabeu

L

uciano Spalletti has left Inter Milan, the Serie A club announced on Thursday, with former Italy manager Antonio Conte set to be announced as the club’s new coach.

“Luciano Spalletti is no longer head coach of the first team,” Inter said in a statement. “The club wishes to thank Spalletti for his work and the results achieved together.”

Spalletti’s exit comes despite sealing Inter’s Champions League berth for a second consecutive year on the final day of the Serie A season last Sunday.

But he paid with his job for failing to win any silverare during his two-year spell with the Chinese-owned club, as the 18-time Serie A champions search for a first trophy since the Coppa Italia in 2011.

Inter Milan chairman Steven Zhang paid tribute to the 60-year-old who returned the three-time European winners to the Champions League after a seven-year absence this season.

“A coach, a teacher, a friend,” Zhang wrote on Instagram with a photo of himself alongside Spalletti.

“You have always given your best, either rain or shine. This 2 years of adventure means so much for Inter and for me personally.

“We will never forget your dedication to this team, and we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Once you are the coach of Inter, you would be always my coach. Grazie Mister Spalletti.”

Former Italy and Chelsea coach Conte is reported to have already agreed a three-year deal reportedly worth nine million euros ($10

C

Former Juventus, Chelsea and Italy manager Antonio Conte is expected to take over at Inter Milan

million) plus bonuses per season to replace Spalletti.

The 49-year-old Conte will be officially announced as the new coach on Friday, Gazzetta Dello Sport reported.

Conte won the first three of Juventus’ eight straight Serie A titles and the Premier League and FA Cup with Chelsea.

Spalletti took over at Inter in mid-2017 having previously coached Zenit Saint Petersburg and Roma.

But it was a season of highs and lows with the club eliminated at the group stage of the Champions League in which they were drawn with Barcelona and Tottenham.

They fell in the last 16 of the Europa League.

(HST)

aptain Sergio Ramos says he wants to end his career at Real Madrid despite receiving an offer to play in China.

Real president Florentino Perez said on Wednesday that Spain defender Ramos had asked to leave on a free transfer and move to the Chinese Super League.

“It is true that I have an offer from China on the table, I will not lie about it,” said 33-year-old Ramos, who has been at Real since 2005 and whose contract expires in 2021.

“My dream is to retire here.”

Perez said Ramos and his agent told him they had received a “very good offer” from an unnamed club but that the club could not pay a fee.

“I told Ramos that it was impossible for Real Madrid to let their captain go for free,” said Perez.

Ramos said: “At no moment did I consider going to China.

“Yesterday I went to see the president to make everything clear.

“I told the president that I would never go to a team that could compete with Real Madrid.

“If one day I go then it is because I think my body does not allow me to give a high level.

“I am the captain of Real Madrid and I feel very loved and supported by my teammates.

“I’m not looking to renew [my contract]. I am happy with what I have. People always think it’s a strategy to earn more, but it’s the opposite.”

Ramos has helped Real win 20 trophies during 14 years at the Bernabeu Stadium, including four Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles.

However, Real endured a difficult 2018-19 season in which they failed to win

a trophy.

They finished third in La Liga - 19 points behind champions Barcelona - were knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 by Ajax, and were beaten by Barca in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

In March, Zinedine Zidane returned as manager only 10 months after leaving. (BBC Sport)

Sergio Ramos

Holder wants to avoid ‘banana skin’ against Pakistan

D

espite the ground history at Trent Bridge, and their opponents’ questionable form in the leadup, West Indies captain Jason Holder isn’t getting complacent ahead of his side’s opening clash of the 2019 Men’s Cricket World Cup. They will face off against Pakistan, who have lost their last 11 completed ODIs, as well as their one completed warm-up, against Afghanistan. Nonetheless, Holder wasn’t getting ahead of himself, speaking the day before the two sides face off, and was quick to point out his own team’s frailties rather than focusing on Pakistan’s.

“We just want to be as professional as we possibly can and not take anything for granted,” he said. “We just assess who we’re playing against, formulate our plans and look to execute them. You try to pinpoint particular areas that you can attack.

“Us as a bowling group, we just want to be as disciplined as we possibly can. In the past we’ve been a bit inconsistent and just generally when you’re just sitting back and analysing the game, we just want to be ticking our box in terms of being consistent and being ruthless.”

Even if Holder is playing it cool, pundits and West Indies fans have been purring about the possibilities abundant in the Caribbean side. In their final warm-up game against New Zealand, the Windies racked up 412, and with Trent Bridge having been the scene of the two highest team scores in ODI history – one of which came against Pakistan – some have speculated that we could be about to witness ODI cricket’s first 500-plus total.

“I don’t want to sit before a game and say we’re looking to score 500 or 600,” Holder said. “I just want to play it as we see it as assess the conditions like any other

game. I think where the game has gone now, especially in England here, there have been some high totals, but there have been totals that are relatively low scoring. It can happen.”

Still, while Holder didn’t want to make any bold claims, he was keen to talk up the merits of his team, who have come from being outsiders to being rated by many as dark horses to take home the title.

“Every player is in a good frame of mind,” he said.

“Everybody is playing with a smile on their face, and I think that’s how we play our best cricket. We’re fearless, we enjoy what we’re doing and we enjoy one another’s company. We’ve got an atmosphere that we would like to create, and we’ve got the energy going into this tournament that we would want to have.”

21 Windies Women ready to embrace tough challenge against England guyanatimesgy.com

friday, may 31, 2019

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

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

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

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

FOR SALE TRANSPORTED LAND 11.6 ACRES, LOT 15 PUBLIC ROAD, #2 VILLAGE W.C.B/CE. PRICE $18M. CONTACT # 686-4818, 648-7109 1 COMPLETE 6 BASS MUSIC SYSTEM. TEL: 601-9855 / 253-3070 • SMALL BUS/VAN – GOOD CONDITION $380,000 NEGOTIABLE680-3863 • TOYOTA COROLLA CAR, LEFT HAND DRIVE $380,000 NEGOTIABLE -680-3863 • STAND UP FREEZER - $85,000- 680-3863

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

NOTICE APPLICATION FOR MONEY LENDER CERTIFICATE. PURSUANT TO SECTION 4 OF THE MONEY LENDER ACT. I CEDRIC JOEL WEEKES OF LOT 8 DEN AMSTEL OLD ROAD, WEST COAST DEMERARA GUYANA IS HERE BY GIVING NOTICE THAT I HAVE APPLIED TO THE MAGISTRATE OF THE WEST DEMERARA MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT FOR A CERTIFICATE UNDER THE MONEY LENDER LICENSE, AUTHORISING THE GRANT TO ME OF A MONEY LENDER LICENSE TO CARRY ON THE BUSINESS OF A PAWN SHOP UNDER THE TITLE, WEEKES FAST CASH PAWNSHOP AT LOT Y BLANKEN BURG PUBLIC ROAD WEST COAST DEMERARA. NOTICE OF ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE SENT FORTHWITH TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT OF WEST DEMERARA MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT AND A COPY OF SUCH NOTICE SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SUBSCRIBER CEDRIC JOEL WEEKES (APPLICANT) DATED AT GEORGETOWN DEMERARA THE DAY MAY 2019.

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

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

TO LET FURNISHED AND UNFURNISHED APARTMENT TO RENT 3 E PUBLIC ROAD LUSIGNAN -638-9803, 656-4163

VACANCY • COOK-624-0033 • DRIVER AND PORTER FOR WATER DELIVERY TRUCK – 680-3863

WANTED TAILOR AND SEAMSTRESS TEL: 6019855 / 253-3070

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

T

– second opening slot a concern

he three-match T20 International Series in Ireland has been concluded, and Windies Women will now set their sights on defending the 50-Over World Cup Championship in England.

Having completed a clean sweep against the weary Ireland team, the Windies Women will play their opening match on June 6, 2019 against England.

The Windies Women have had many positive results in the series against Ireland; but Deandra Dottin’s replacement, Britney Cooper, has had a worrying series with the bat, scoring 17, 20 and 10 in dull moments for the Windies Women throughout the series.

Guyanese specialist opener Sheneta Grimmond was overlooked for this tour, as she was involved in Hayley the training camps only; and Matthews Cooper, who is not a specialist opener for Trinidad celebrating and Tobago, played an unfamiliar role in the team that her maiden had Jamaican specialist opener Natasha McLean.

T20 century Heading into the series against England, West Indies will be eyeing return of the versatile Dottin from injury, or the second slot opener to partner Hayley Matthews would have to step up her game.

The Stafanie Taylor-led Windies team will meet England in three ODIs and three T20Is between June 6 and June 25. In the just concluded Ireland T20 Series, Matthews was adjudged “player of the series” for the 143 runs she scored from three innings at a strike rate of more than 140. At age 21, Matthews has already recorded a career best 107, and was the second woman player from the West Indies, after Deandra Dottin, to score a century in T20 cricket.

Ireland’s Kim Garth came to the table with 142 runs in her three innings, while her team mate Mary Waldron scored 86 runs.

Windward Islands leg-spinner Afy Fletcher finished the series with the most wickets. She had six wickets to her name, and had conceded only 59 runs in the 70 balls she bowled across the series.

The victorious West Indies Women after their series win in Ireland

Garth, Ireland’s utility player, had four wickets, while Stacy Ann King enjoyed her return to the West Indies team with three wickets. The England Women are much stronger opponents, being currently ranked number two in the World (in both ODI and T20I) and are the defending champions in the 50Over World Cup. The number six-ranked Caribbean team will enter the Englishwomen’s backyard with eyes set on qualification to the 2021 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. England Women will again be led by Heather Knight, the World Cup winning captain, and senior players Katherine Brunt, Sarah Taylor and Tamsin Beaumont. (Brandon Corlette)

Registration still open ahead of next week’s GBTI tournament

I

n a week’s time, local lawn tennis players will gather at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry’s (GBTI’s) tennis courts in the upscale Georgetown ward of Bel Air Park to show off their improved skills in the GBTI Open 2019 tournament.

There is much excitement in the tennis fraternity as the Guyana Tennis Association prepares to serve off the tenth edition of this longstanding tournament, which will take place on Friday, June 7th, 2019 at 5pm.

What is considered one of the most anticipated local tournaments on the Tennis Association’s calendar of events will feature twelve exciting categories. Without a doubt, the ladies’ and men’s Open Singles matches will see keen competition from those who want to keep their winning ways, or those seeking to stamp their names in

history.

On the other hand, players will team up with partners who best suit their style and skill to compete in the men’s and ladies’ doubles.

Next Friday, the action starts from 5:00pm, and will continue as such on weekdays. On weekends, the first ball will be served from 9:00am. The tournament coordinators are Shelly Daly, Leyland Leacock and Benjattan Osborne.

Application forms have already been distributed, but those still interested in registration are invited to contact persons who can help them on 642-5672, 660-4011 or 645-6054 respectively.

As the tournament grows annually, the GLTA continues to be grateful to GBTI for the annual sponsorship, as it demonstrates unwavering support for the development of tennis in Guyana.

The 12-category tournament will feature Ladies

GBTI’s Public Relations and Marketing Manager Pamela Binda handing over the sponsorship cheque to GLTA’s Vice President Christy Campbell as other GLTA executives look on

Open, Men’s Open, Junior Girls’ Open, Junior Boys’ Open, Novice Medley, Men’s

Over 35 and Men’s Over 45 tournaments; while the Doubles divisions are the

Men’s Open, Mixed Open, Men’s over 35 and Novice Medley.

Wilson makes most of Semenya’s absence to win Diamond League 800m

A

merican Ajee Wilson made the most of the absence of Caster Semenya and Francine Niyonsaba to win the women’s 800 meters in Friday’s Diamond League meeting on a windy, wet evening in the Swedish capital.

Wilson, who came third at the Diamond League meeting in Doha earlier this month behind Semenya and Niyonsaba, cruised to victory in a relatively slow time of 2:00.87, with Habitam Alemu of Ethiopia in second and Nelly Jepkosgei of Kenya in third.

Double Olympic champion Semenya and Niyonsaba share a string of Diamond League victories in the distance going back over three years, but both are no longer allowed to compete without taking medication to reduce their testosterone levels.

The IAAF, Athletics’ governing body, has imposed the conditions on female athletes with differences

in sexual development (DSDs). Semenya has filed an appeal against the rules to Switzerland’s highest court.

Earlier in the evening Michael Norman, whose time of 43.45 in Torrence, California last month is the fastest 400 meters in the world this year, held off a strong early challenge from compatriot Rai Benjamin to win in a time of 44.53 in tough conditions.

The women’s 200m provided the other highlight of the evening as European Champion Dina AsherSmith emerged early from a strong field to take the win in a time 22:18, ahead of double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson of Jamaica and decorated Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers.

“I just wanted to come and secure the win, but to secure a fast time too, I’m not going to complain,” an elated Asher-Smith said following her blistering

performance.

The much-anticipated debut of Kenya’s Hellen Obiri in the women’s 5000 meters ended in disappointment as she fell around the four-kilometer mark of the race while battling for third spot.

A gold medalist at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in March, Obiri scored an impressive victory over 3000 meters in Doha but finished second-last after her slip, with Agnes Tirop winning in a time of 14:50.82.

The men’s 1500 rounded off the night with Timothy Cheruiyot blasting to victory in time of 3:35.79 ahead of Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti and Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

The Swedish crowd had little to cheer until late in the evening when Daniel Staahl secured victory in the discus 69.57, his second Diamond League win of the season. (Reuters)

22 5 Berbicians in CPL squad friday, MAY 31, 2019

– Ancient County’s cricket at its peak

By Brandon Corlette

T

he word ‘busy’ usually conjures up images of activities taking place in metropolises, and even in the capital city of Georgetown in relation to the traffic. By contrast, the ancient county of Berbice gets ‘busy’ when cricket season gets underway.

Under the Hilbert Foster-led administration, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has been engaging in non-stop cricket activities, and cricket in Berbice remains at its peak. Of the eight Guyanese drafted into the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) squad, five of them unsurprisingly are from Berbice: Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul and Clinton Pestano. And before any of these players had gone on to play cricket at a higher level, they had all played matches that were organised by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) at some point under its perpetual cricket season.

Hetmyer, the lone Guyanese in the West Indies World Cup squad, had, at the beginning of the year, led the Young Warriors Cricket Club to a First Division title against the Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets team in the BCB/Ivan Madray 100 Ball First Division competition. Pestano and Shepherd have also played First Division cricket, for Rose Hall Town and Tucber Park respectively; and the Albion Cricket Club duo of Bramble and Permaul have also been frequent members of their First Division teams when they are not playing Regional cricket.

With continuous cricket being played and developmental programmes seemingly alClinton Pestano, GAW player, bats during a match against Tucber Park

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

CWI commences Selection System Task Force review

C

Romario Shepherd bowls to West Indies U-19 selectee Kevlon Anderson during a BCB First Division match

ways ongoing, the BCB has, over the years, produced unique players who have done Guyana proud. Young players Kevlon Anderson and Kelvin Umroa have earned selection for the West Indies U-19 Team, and National teammates Alex Algoo and Junior Sinclair are coming through the ranks and making a name for themselves in dominating the junior levels.

Berbice has not completed victory in all its inter-county tournaments in 2019, but its players keep attaining selection to represent Guyana at any level. The Tremayne Smartt-led Berbice female team have been winners of their inter-county titles, and eight Berbicians have been in the Guyana senior female team.

Only one Guyanese is currently in the West Indies Women’s team, Shemaine Campbelle; who has excelled at cricket thanks to the exposure she gained from playing with the males in numerous Berbice tournaments.

The U-15 level has seen future West Indies U-16 prospects Rampertab

Ramnauth of Port Mourant Cricket Club and Isai Thorne from Rose Hall, Canje showing great promise. These youngsters are the products of the great amount of cricket being played in Berbice and the developmental programmes being put in place.

All junior BCB cricketers are given opportunity to participate in programmes such as batting clinics, where CWI level three coaches Julian Moore and Winston Smith take charge. The resources are never short, as past and present National and International players Devandra Bishoo, Shimron Hetmyer and Andre Percival often give the youths invaluable advice on the game of cricket.

There are so many star players at all levels in Berbice cricket who have progressed nicely. Kevin Sinclair, an Academy player, is also a promising Berbician who is seeking opportunity at the senior Regional level.

There are many players from Berbice in the limelight, but there is yet very little inter-county and even Regional cricket being played.

ricket West Indies officially confirmed that the recentlyappointed Selection System Task Force has commenced its review. The Task Force aims to complete this review within three months and comprises six members. CWI VicePresident, Dr Kishore Shallow will chair the committee, with deputy chair being CWI Director Enoch Lewis. Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams third CWI-affiliated member on the task force. The three independent members are former West Indies captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan, former West Indies and Barbados opener, Philo Wallace and Miles Bascombe, the former Windwards Islands, Combined Campuses batsman who represented West Indies in Twenty20 cricket. Re-evaluating the system of team selection was one of the 10 points of the “Cricket First Plan” put forward by President Ricky Skerritt and Vice President Dr Kishore Shallow in the recent CWI election campaign. As the brainchild of the idea, Chairman Dr Shallow said, “Other international bodies have advanced their selection process to be in alignment with the modernisation of the game.

Cricket has changed tremendously over the last decade, with the introduction of the T20 format, which has increased the importance of batting strike rate for results.There is also an increase of regional and international fixtures, a reality that should be considered in the advanced environment of the game, and which requires a selection system that has comprehensive coverage.” CWI Director Enoch Lewis added, “I am pleased to be part of this committee and will do my part to ensure that the team comes up with a well researched and comprehensive policy, which will redound to the benefit of WI cricket in the short, medium and long term. “I will bring my vast experience as a cricketer, cricket administrator and as a banker to bear in the execution of this most important assignment.”

The Task Force will be working over a threemonth period to the following objectives: (a) To conduct a rigorous analysis into the current selection system of all West Indies teams (b) To examine best practice amongst our international counterparts (c) To construct recommendations of a selection system that is best suited to West Indies cricket and our environment (d) To collate the findings and prepare a final report to be submitted to the CWI Board of Directors The scope of work includes: 1. Conduct a thorough review of the selection system of Cricket West Indies for all teams, including a SWOT analysis 2. Conduct research and examine the selection systems of international counterparts 3. Review the entire selection process, including, but not limited to actual selections, board approvals, and internal and external communications 4. Engage in a consultation process with stakeholders at the national and regional levels to elicit a broad view on the selection system This consultation process will engage a broad cross section of interest groups including but not limited to: current and past selectors, current and past captains, current and past players, and cricket administrators. The Task Force is expected to produce a final document with recommendations on selection systems by September 2019. (CWI)

Sarwan grateful for opportunity to aid in Windies selection systems – Is this an opening for Guyanese players?

W

est Indian and Guyanese legend Ramnaresh Sarwan has been named among the six-member Task Force that would look into the selection systems for Cricket West Indies (CWI).

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cricket West Indies, Johnny Grave, recently disclosed that the Task Force has been put in place to deal with the system of selecting players.

Grateful to once again serve West Indies Cricket, Sarwan will join CWI Vice-President Dr Kishore Shallow, Director of Cricket

Jimmy Adams, CWI Director Enoch Lewis, current cricketer Miles Bascombe and former cricketer Philo Wallace on the committee.

In comments made to CWI, the 38-year-old Sarwan said he is grateful for the opportunity to again serve West Indies Cricket.

“This Task Force will help to restructure the West Indies selection policy that has been under a lot of scrutiny over the past couple of years. So now that we have the ability to review everything, I’m looking forward to aiding in finding a ‘common-ground’ solution in the

best interest of West Indies Cricket between players and administrators,” Sarwan is quoted as saying.

Sarwan, who has played 87 Test matches and 181 ODIs for the West Indies, retired with 11,944 runs across all formats. He recently worked with the Windies batsmen during the preparation phase of the World Cup, acting as a mentor, and is seen as a vital part of the Windies management.

The last West Indies Selection Panel, headed by Courtney Browne and comprising of Travis Dowli, Lockhart Sebastian and

Eldine Baptiste, was fired; but its members were informed that they could re-apply for their positions after the Task Force had made recommendations to the WICB. Since that axing, Browne and Baptise have been contending that they were illegally removed, and are planning legal action.

The CWI CEO, Grave, has said that the Task Force was not placed to get rid of anybody, but was put together to bring CWI structure in line with international standards.

Currently, there is a lone Guyanese, Shimron

Hetmyer, in the West Indies team. With a Guyanese on board the selection process, more Guyanese may earn selection to the Regional team.

Will Sarwan’s selection to this panel translate into an opening for Guyanese cricketers to feature in West Indies’ teams?

With Guyana seen as the dominant team in recent Regional tournaments, winning five consecutive Regional 4-Day tournaments, outstanding players Anthony Bramble, Clinton Pestano, and even Romario Shepherd may each have an opportu-

Ramnaresh Sarwan

nity to be called up for West Indies ‘A’ and senior duties. (Brandon Corlette)

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, may 31, 2019

23

ExxonMobil on board once again for U-14 football tournament A fter a successful inaugural tournament in 2018, the ExxonMobil Girls and Boys Under-14 Football tournament will return next Saturday for its second edition.

The first ball is expected to be kicked off on the morning of June 8, with the boys’ teams starting their round- robin stage.

Because there are less female teams, the young ladies will begin playing in the third week of the seven-week tournament.

Speaking on the initiative of the tournament, Petra CoDirector Troy Mendonca explained how bridging the gap between Under-11 and Under-18 is crucial for development.

“Definitely, we want to see the continuation from the U-11 tournament. I think we, over the years, would have lost the opportunity to see those youngsters from the U-11 coming through and continuing in the development. We just want to continue to provide the opportunity to foster development,” Mendonca explained.

This year’s tournament will see the inclusion of 24 Boys’ teams, while 12 girls’ team will compete. For both divisions, the teams will play in groups, after which the top finishers will move on to the knockout rounds and battle to stay alive in the competition.

In his remarks at the tournament’s launch, Guyana of the Football Federation, Wayne Forde, disclosed that coaching and technical support would be made available to the teams.

“We at the GFF understand how important it is to introduce the game to our young boys and girls at the earliest age, and to have them involved in structured football activity. There will certainly be training in preparation for their game, and we will do everything in our power to support the coaching aspect of the schools participating,” Forde said.

In another act of generosity, the GFF boss presented a solution to battle inclement weather.

“I want to use this opportunity to extend an offer to the Petra Organisation, given the inclement weather that is prevailing at the moment. The GFF will be happy to make its National Training Centre available for the tournament, is you so wish,” Forde declared.

The NTC is an international standard, all weather pitch that would facilitate the game being played regardless of rain or shine.

Bringing the blessing of the Ministry of Education was Lorraine Barker-King, who said the tournament is important for producing

rounded students.

And ExxonMobil’s Public and Government Affairs Manager, Deedra Moe, alluded to Barker-King’s comments while expressing the company’s elation at being on board with the activity once again.

“We’re really excited to be here, and (be) a part of this organisation and partnership. When we look at ‘how do we make an impact’ and ‘how do we engage in communities’, we look for opportunities to make a difference through youth empowerment.

And we find that youth development through sport is an area of focus for us, because of the leadership skills that can be developed,” Moe explained.

She commended Petra for being able to identify the gap in youth football development, and being able to find a solution to remedy it.

In the inaugural tournament in 2018, Chase’s Academy were the male winners while Charlestown Secondary took home the female championship. As the first prize, the winning schools would have opportunity to choose a school project that they would like to see completed.

CWC 2019: Clash of contrasting approaches as Trent Bridge runfest looms

“I

The New Zealand match was no one-off either. West Indies have made scores of 389, 381, 360 and 331 in their last ten ODIs. Finally, with more quality in the team, they seem to have found their mojo in oneday cricket after a disastrous cycle since the last World Cup which forced them to go through the qualifiers to even make it to this tournament. Now the winners in 1975 and 1979 are here, an opening game at Trent Bridge, perhaps the most free-scoring ground in world cricket, will do nicely for Gayle and Co. Pakistan’s bowlers would be forgiven for being apprehensive then, particularly after the shellacking they received in their recent series Chris Gayle against England. They conceded 1,424 runs across the four completed innings 500 mark and I am and often looked clueless as sure we have the to how to stop Eoin Morgan’s firepower to do it.” men. They do, however, Those were the have leg-spinner Shahdab words of West Indies’ Shimron Hetmyer Khan back after illness ruled Shai Hope after his side had racked up 421 against New him out of the England series. With Zealand in their final warm-up game his variation and ability to both take before the World Cup. It wasn’t wickets and keep the runs down, it overconfidence. Hope is not the sort cannot be overstated how vital he is of guy who seems to get carried away for his country’s chances. Pakistan but it was an interesting remark on cannot win this tournament unless the possibility of his team. He’s not he has a stormer.

Even then, it seems unlikely. A wrong either. This West Indian batting line-up bears comparison with any in run of form which has seen them lose their last ten ODIs means that the tournament.

They certainly won’t die Pakistan are nobody’s favourites for wondering. Chris Gayle, once he’s got the World Cup. It would certainly take his eye in, and Andre Russell, who an almighty uptick in form for them scored 54 off 25 balls against New to emulate their Champions Trophy Zealand, bring all-out aggression and success in 2017 and although West power to the party while Hope, a Indies have been no more consistent, centurion in Bristol, and Darren Bravo there is a sense of them being on the add the finesse. Throw in the clean up which cannot be said of Pakistan. hitting abilities of Shimron Hetmeyer, They simply have too many question Evin Lewis and Jason Holder and all marks against them.

The seam department is one. bases are covered. It hasn’t always been that way over the past four Wahab Riaz, despite not playing an years, of course with players not ODI since the Champions Trophy selected for either political reasons group stage defeat to India in 2017, or their unavailability owing to T20 is back and so is Mohammad Amir, a bowler who has taken just three ODI franchise commitments. t would b e great to be the first team to cross that

wickets in the last 12 months. Hasan Ali, the star of Pakistan’s successful Champions Trophy turnaround two years ago, is averaging 44 with the ball in that time, too. On their day, all three of these bowlers can be matchwinners. Their days are, however, getting fewer and farther between.

They may take some comfort from the fact that West Indies’ attack has fared little better of late. Like Pakistan, taking wickets has been a key problem for the men from the Caribbean and they have conceded more than a run a ball over the last twelve months with the second worst economy rate of teams in the tournament in that time. Of all the West Indian quicks, only Shannon Gabriel and Oshane Thomas average less than 35 with the ball in that same period and unlike Pakistan, they do not have a classy wrist-spinner to pounce in the middle overs. It is a glaring weakness in their side.

To take their opponents down, Pakistan’s batsmen will approach things differently to their West Indian counterparts. Where Gayle and Russell focus on hitting the ball hard, far and often, Pakistan’s batsmen play a different, more measured game.

Aside from Fakhar Zaman, the top order, held together by the classy Babar Azam, won’t flash from the word go. Instead they will accumulate and then try and increase their scoring rate as the innings progresses with Asif Ali and Imad Wasim expected to give the innings a flourish at the end.

In terms of averages and hundreds scored, the Pakistani top order’s stats are impressive. Babar, Fakhar and Imam-ul-Haq all average more than 50 in the past year while Pakistan have scored fifteen hundreds in that time, the joint most of all ODI teams alongside England and India. They found their form against England too, posting three consecutive 340plus scores to prove they can kick on to the sort of totals which will be needed in this tournament. Time will tell if they can keep that aggressive approach up.

Two very different batting approaches then, both effective in

their own ways when they come off, both capable of putting bowling attacks under serious pressure. But only one approach has the capacity to intimidate and frighten, to bludgeon opposition teams with aggression and power. In modern ODI cricket, that is a vital ingredient. West Indies now seem to have it. Pakistan need to find it. Quickly.

When:Friday May 31, 2019. 10.30am Local Time Where:Trent Bridge, Nottingham What to expect:The weather is set fair for the game although plenty of cloud cover is forecast, keeping temperatures cool. The pitch, as Andre Russell ever in Nottingham, is Sarfraz Ahmed, expected to be excellent Shoaib Malik, Imad for batting which means Wasim, Shahdab there will be plenty of Khan, Mohammad runs on offer.

Amir, Hasan Ali, Team News Shaheen Afridi West Indies:Will Did you know?

West Indies opt for all- Pakistan have out pace and pick both lost 21 of the 32 ODIs Oshane Thomas and they have played Shannon Gabriel or will since their 2017 one of them sit out for Champions Trophy the left-armer Sheldon Sheldon Cottrell triumph, and won only Cottrell? Given the nine (2 no-results). Their expected cloud cover current losing streak is 10 games. and Cottrell’s ability to swing the ball, Babar Azam’s scores against he may get the nod. Ashley Nurse will West Indies read: 120, 123, 117, 13, be the lone spin option.

Possible XI: Chris Gayle, Evin 125* & 16 - Shai Hope is the leading runLewis, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, getter in ODIs since October 2018 Shimron Hetmeyer, Andre Russell, with 1132 runs in 17 innings that Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Sheldon included five centuries, at an average Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Kemar of 80.85.

Roach What they said: Pakistan:Pakistan have to decide Jason Holder:”We’ve just got which combination of bowlers they to execute whatever plans we will go with and whether to exclude formulate, and I think execution is the experienced pair of Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik. Imad key in this tournament. I think the Wasim’s batting prowess means he is teams that execute their plans and likely to play alongside Shahdab Khan be as disciplined as they can, they’re as the second spinner while Shaheen going to come out on top.”

Sarfraz Ahmed:”Our batting is Afridi, the pick of Pakistan’s quicks of late, will lead the attack, probably performing well. We are very focused and we are very hopeful as a team with Mohammad Amir.

Possible XI:Fakhar Zaman, Imam- that we will do well in this World ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Cup.” (cricbuzz)

friday, MAY 31, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWC 2019: Clash of contrasting approaches as Trent Bridge runfest looms Page 23

ExxonMobil on board once again for U-14 football tournament Page 23

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.