Guyana Times International 03-Jan-2020

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020

Guyana’s political heavyweights get ready to hit the campaign trail ISSUE NO. 480

See stories inside

A Guyanese welcome!

Passengers being treated to Black Cake on arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport during the holidays (DPI photo)

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‘2020 will be an unforgettable year’ - Irfaan Ali

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he new year is here, complete with wishes for a “Happy New Year” from the two major political parties and Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic,

Dr Irfaan Ali. According to the PPP/C, the new year is a chance to rebuild Guyana after the wreckage left by the incumbent government.

The Party in its New Year message to

the nation said that over the course of 2019, Guyanese saw for themselves the desperation of A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) to hang on to power by using “every legal and arithmetic trick at

PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali meeting with residents in the Berbice River area

President David Granger greeting supporters on arrival at Parika Steling following a brief visit to Bartica

their disposal”, after falling to a No-Confidence Motion since 2018.

“Happily, by the end of 2019, their desperate attempts have finally been exhausted, and they have been left with no choice but to name a date on which the Guyanese people will be

given a chance to elect a government of their choice,” the PPP said in its statement.

“The dawn of 2020 is also an occasion for guarded optimism in our country. We start this year as the world’s newest oil-producing nation.

In order for the benefits

of this development to be enjoyed by all of the Guyanese people, the gross mismanagement of the sector by the incumbent APNU/AFC Government will need to be remedied.”

Touching on the coaTURN TO PAGE 11

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EDITORIAL

Changing politics in Guyana

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hatever their faults, our parties, like parties everywhere, do not merely affect, they also reflect the nuances of their societies. So the “fault” – if there is any – might also lie in ourselves. Politicians cannot lead followers wherever the politicians want them to go, for followers will only go in directions they find preferable to the alternatives available: leaders can catalyse but not initiate ethnic reactions.

Political parties arose in a Europe that had already “solved” its ethnic problem by transforming it from a national question into an international one. The people in each state were more or less one ethnic group, with minorities who “go along to get along”. These countries had completed their national revolutions to form nations out of diverse peoples and were moving onto their participatory revolution or democratisation, where subjects would become citizens with the right to choose their governors. Their welfare revolution, focusing on economic justice, was down the road.

We, in Guyana, in common with many states in the post-WWII era, were forced to confront all three revolutions simultaneously.

What was our experience? Firstly, our politicians gave short shrift to the national revolution because of their Marxist orientation, even though we were a textbook case of a “plural” society. They focused solely on participation and welfare but even here ignored the need to adapt our political institutions. Their mobilisation produced an ethnic party system which is qualitatively different from that of homogeneous societies on which it was modelled.

In the former, the party competition is on a single axis – ethnicity— while in the latter, there are many crosscutting axes – class, religion, region [rural-urban], etc. In an ethnic party system, especially where there are two major groups that approach each other in size, the ethnic axis of competition controls the party formation, survival and competition. In homogeneous societies, many individuals vote for parties depending on the parties’ stance on issues. Since all parties have to court this bloc of “swing” votes, the parties’ positions tend to converge and preclude extremism.

In bi-communal ethnically divided societies such as Guyana, voters gravitate to the two ends of the competition axis depending on their ethnic origins. The party’s stand on issues becomes almost irrelevant since it is supported solely as a protector of the group’s interest.

The PPP began as a true multi-ethnic party even though it espoused a socialist non-ethnic line, ie, its members encompassed the main competing ethnic groups and the leadership was seen to represent these sections. The split of the PPP into PPP [Jagan] and PPP [Burnham], subsumed into ethnicity the incipient urban-rural, middle class-lower class dichotomies. The disintegration of the PPP was not only the result of leadership egos: the reasons go to the extreme difficulty in maintaining multi-ethnic parties into plural societies.

After an ethnic party system is formed, multi-ethnic parties are even more difficult to sustain. The greatest pressure arising from “flank” parties or groups which inevitably arise to “secure” ethnic rights. They take strong ethnic positions driving the erstwhile “multiethnic” party to respond in order to retain its base. The results are the incompatible group claims. In this system, the competition is not between the two ethnic parties, but with their flank parties or groups Another major reason for the lack of successful multi-ethnic parties is the difficulty of producing a multi-ethnic leadership structure which has the confidence of the various ethnic groups.

The “iron law of oligarchy”, ie that power inevitably accretes in a small elite within any organisations, is perceived to operate. In Guyana, the fear is that one ethnic group would dominate and that the other ethnic leaders would be mere tokens.

In modern-day Guyana, the demographic shift to create a society of minorities now impels the two major parties to appeal for crossover votes, and it is for this reason that most analysts are surprised at the PNC’s studied rebuff of the Indian Guyanese community.

The PPP, on the other hand, has explicitly declared its commitment to courting the “non-traditional” blocks.

An aerial view of a section of 58 miles Mabura, Guyana (Girendra Persaud photo)

How will Guyanese remember 2019

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ny future historical reference to 2019 would reveal, among other things, that it was a year of uncertainties. That’s in the context of the various attempts to nullify the unprecedented passage of a no-confidence motion (NCM) voted on at the end of the previous year. Many are convinced that “disregard” seems more apt to describe the year due to the actions of the APNU/AFC Government in its seeming quest to avoid the constitutionally-mandated processes following the NCM. For the purpose of a reminder, the Constitution unambiguously states that elections must be held within 90 days following an NCM. That timeline can only be extended by the decision of a two-thirds majority of Parliament. That did not happen; hence, the Constitution should have been adhered to.

Guyanese, therefore, expected fresh elections by March 2019.

That also didn’t happen as the APNU/AFC, having been shocked by the NCM, resorted to the courts on the grounds that 33 is not the majority of 65 with reference to the number of Members of Parliament.

The resort to the court was despite the fact that the Speaker of the National Assembly upheld the successful passage of the NCM, having been asked by APNU/AFC to review his decision. With the matter in court, the elections could not have been held within the constitutionally-stipulated period. That immediately led to uncertainty as to when they could have been held.

While the Chief Justice upheld the NCM, the Government appealed and won by a split decision.

The Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), appealed that decision to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and won on the grounds that the NCM was successfully passed, that 33 is the majority of 65 and that the Constitution must be respected with regard to the mandated timeline for fresh elec-

tions to be held –within 90 days. The elections were then expected by September 2019.

Again, that didn’t happen as the APNU/AFC Government found ways to avoid constitutional demands and the ruling of the CCJ. During that period from January, the uncertainty that grew over an election date extended to areas of business and investment. At the individual level, Guyanese held back in their spending, triggering a related chain of events that led to a further slowing down of the economy. That uncertainty also inflicted psychological torment on the citizenry as their bewilderment over the glaring disrespect for the Constitution exacerbated.

The disrespect that unfolded was not missed beyond these shores. Judging from the hearings and subsequent ruling and consequential orders by the CCJ, it seems that the Government’s arguments were fodder for humour. In that context, 2019 would be recorded as a year when Guyanese intellect may have been embarrassed by the Government’s argument in the nation’s highest court of recourse, given the historical pride in academia and legal prowess.

Significantly, in 2019, the CCJ ruled that, following the NCM, the APNU/AFC Government was reduced to that of a caretaker one. That in itself led many to question the real reason why the Government would spend millions of taxpayers’ money in seeking recourse to the court, only to be told what the Constitution has clearly enshrined with regard to the mandated processes following an NCM. Aside from the unavoidable embarrassment with reference to capacity, many remained certain that the reason the APNU/AFC Government engaged the court with a laughable mathematical theory was to avoid holding the elections.

Experts posited that with a dismal record in office and growing

self-interest, the Government had lost a tremendous amount of political ground and was, therefore, fearful of being removed following a snap election. The belief is that it needed time to engage in remedial political work.

In other words, the APNU/ AFC Government believably placed itself above the mandates of the Constitution and the welfare of the nation. When all that 2019 has come to represent is examined, one inevitable conclusion would be that the uncertainties precipitated by APNU/AFC’s disregard for the Constitution was deliberately imposed to extend its hold on the seat of government.

For many, that’s the highlight of 2019 and that’s how they will remember it. They remain convinced that the Government’s action resulted from it deliberately and conveniently misinterpreting the Constitution for its own benefit. In the process, the nation could not have advanced economically, given the imposed uncertainty that prevailed.

During 2019, the PPP did not relent in opposing the APNU/AFC’s action of not adhering to the Constitution, and used various means at its disposal to heighten awareness, both locally and internationally. In addition, Guyanese from all walks of life used social media and other platforms to voice their discontent. It showed that citizens will not sit by and be silent in the face of constitutional transgression.

That combination was impacting, but unable to prevent the Government from holding the elections one year after they were constitutionally due. Such action by the APNU/ AFC speaks to the deliberate usurping of democracy to foster self-interest. That said, it becomes clearer that, for Guyana, 2019 would be remembered for disregard for the Constitution

by APNU/AFC, imposed uncertainty and suppression of democratic processes, and not the least, a year of a farcical mathematical theory.

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Revised List of Electors includes unverified ‘new’ registrants …over 650,000 voters on list

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he Guyana E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) has made a decision to go ahead with the publishing of the Revised List of Electors (RLE) without any additional field verification for those persons that could not be found during the recent verification exercise.

This was confirmed on Tuesday by GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward, who revealed that the list is already available on their website. She also noted that persons can check and visit GECOM offices in their area with their “pink slip” (slip given during registration) to make any necessary changes.

“The posting of the RLE in the field will commence very shortly. That is expected to conclude on January 4, 2020. So before the end (Tuesday), the PDF version of the RLE will be available on GECOM’s website,” she informed this publication.

“The RLE has been posted for any public scrutiny and to correct

Justice (retd) Claudette Singh (Center) and six GECOM Commissioners pose for a photo after she was appointed on July 29 at the Ministry of the Presidency

any information within the 21 days’ period.

Therefore, where changes were not made, persons should visit the registration office in their area with the ‘pink slip’

from 4th January to inform and update accordingly. The final product would be in the Official List of Electors,” Ward subsequently explained.

It is understood

that the Revised List of Electors contains a total of 661,378 names.

According to Ward, the RLE will contain everyone captured during the Claims and Objections

and the house-to-house verification.

It will also include the over 16,000 names from house-to-house that were flagged and led to GECOM launch-

ing a 5-day field exercise to verify them. Some of those persons were not found; however, they will be included.

When contacted, Government-nominated Commissioner Charles Corbin declined to comment on the issue.

However, at least one GECOM Commissioner voiced his disapproval. According to Opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj, while he does not agree with the move, steps will be taken to have these names monitored on Election Day. “I felt that the persons who were not verified should not be on the RLE. But what is going to happen, notwithstanding the fact the Chairman has overruled that, we are putting in place a system where those people will be flagged on polling day… by a mechanism yet to be determined,” Gunraj said.

The over 16,000 ‘new’ registrants were captured during the Houseto-House (H2H) exercise that ran from July TURN TO PAGE 13

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How can the Coalition dare to ask Guyanese to vote for them again?

Dear Editor, Hopefully, we will be having General and Regional Elections in a little over 2 months but during this time we will be bombarded once again with parties indulging in skillful marketing of their manifestos and in some cases the selling of not only illusive dreams but also manipulating the masses through outright lies and deceptions.

Immediately the APNU/ AFC Coalition comes to mind!

We have witnessed that during the last 2015 Elections the APNU/ AFC Coalition made numerous promises and bold statements of what it can achieve within 100 days of assuming office.

In addition, they campaigned heavily on the ‘massive corruption’ of the PPP/C government and made promises to jail the ‘corruptors’. One year after the Coalition was unable to even fulfill its ‘100 days promise’ and are yet to do so to date and those that it has fulfilled were far below expectations. For instance, the reduction in Bridge Toll was sup-

posed to be by 50%.

This was what Nagamootoo told the Coalition supporters at Whim but he probably had meant that the Coalition boys will be given 50% increase in salaries. In addition, they had promised ‘significant’ increases in wage and salaries to ‘government workers, including nurses, teachers from primary to tertiary education, security personnel and civil servants on the traditional payroll’ but this also did not materialize ‘significantly’.

Sugar workers were never promised a ‘wage freeze’ but a 20% increase and the sugar industry was promised a ‘turnaround’ after the 52 million dollars Commission of Inquiry with no closure! We know what they did to sugar and the sugar workers!

Moreover, the old age pensioners have been deprived of their subsidies on water and electricity and are yet to receive any ‘significant’ increases. On the other hand, the Coalition had promised to reduce the presidents’ pension and other

benefits. The Coalition had said that the lifestyle of the former President Bharrat Jagdeo placed an onerous burden on the Treasury. However, that has been relegated to a non-issue status since it is now common knowledge that even the rubberstamp PM is getting far more than Jagdeo.

This just goes to show the cunningly deceitfulness of this Coalition.

They are now the fattest cats around!

Then the Coalition had lustily sung about the corrupt nature of the PPP/C Government in high crescendo which reverberated even internationally. But again this was simply massive lies and propaganda just to deceive the people. In terms of corruption, the investigative Dobermans of the Coalition, SARU and SOCU have failed to prove by way of conviction in the Courts that the PPP/C was guilty of any form of corruption during their 23 years in Office.

In fact, these two PNC controlled arms carried out a massive witch hunting exercise

to smear and tarnish the characters of former PPP/C government officials. Ironically the PNC appointed head of SOCU himself became the center of allegations of fraud and corruption and was sent on ‘leave’ indefinitely! Again this nation has seen the massive increase in cronyism and corruption pervading every strata of government which resulted in the successful passing of the NCM more than a year ago.

They have exposed their true nature and innate propensity for fraud and corruption and squandered more than G$1.3 trillion with nothing tangible to show for except some arches, roundabouts, inaugurations and pomp and ceremony! In fact the social and economic gains made under the previous PPP/C Government have been severely eroded.

But the above are not the only reasons why the Coalition should never be re-elected to Office again. The squandering of our oil patrimony from the signing of the Oil production shar-

ing agreement have presented to this nation an unassailable argument that the APNU/AFC are not only incompetent to govern an oil producing nation but no tangible benefit will ever trickle down to the common man! The failings in this regard are too numerous to mention. It makes us wonder if the G$15 billion per year projected GDP growth will actually transform the Guyanese economy when G$1.3 trillion have so far failed to satiate the greed of this Coalition.

The greed of the Coalition was evident when they failed to negotiate a substantial signing bonus and settled for a paltry US$18 million. It is anyone’s guess why the PSA omitted any ‘ring-fencing’ provision thereby negatively affecting oil revenues, accepted a meagre 2% royalty, agreed to pay Exxon’s income taxes, agreed to self-insurance and not a comprehensive one called for by the World Bank, an opaque local content policy which does not augur well for Guyanese and

the list goes.

Even negotiator Mr Trotman has now accepted that his Government could have done better with the Exxon deal. Is this an apology for the re-election of the Coalition? But lo and behold the ‘raw deal’ continues even after Trotman’s apology. It seems that from stern to bow we have been royally screwed!

In conclusion, to put the icing on the cake Guyana is now categorized as the country with the highest bribery in the Caribbean. It is unbelievable that after just over 4 years in Government our country has descended to a bottomless cesspit of bribery and corruption.

How can the Coalition dare to ask Guyanese to vote for them again?

Will Guyanese forgive the Coalition for the incompetence and corruption they have unleashed on this nation? I heard ‘NEVER’ being reverberated in every nook and cranny!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

APNU/AFC must come clean on the numerous allegations of corruption since 2015 Dear Editor, President David Granger resurrected the constitutionally dead (since September 18, 2019) National Assembly, and dissolved it. How can the dead Assembly be dissolved?

This is another move to claim constitutional legitimacy, notwithstanding the blatant violation of the Constitution, and the rule of law by this caretaker Granger Government.

The incumbent APNU/AFC Government came into office since 2015 with a promise of the good life, and to do better than its predecessor, the PPP/C, and to wipe out what it claimed to be much corruption under that regime. The parties in Government must defend and establish their record of promises of their manifestos achievements, as a Government, for all the

people of Guyana. On the campaign trail, each speaker of the APNU/ AFC is called upon, among other matters, to defend and justify to the population the following:* All the contracts in relations to emerging oil and gas sector; * All the contracts on land “give away” during its caretakership since September 18, 2019; * The decision to abandon the Amaila Falls, and usher in another period of “blackouts” reminiscent of the 1970 and 1980 period of PNC rule; * Defend the abandonment of the Specialty Hospital which would have been equipped to provide the relevant medical services and care. It is recalled that senior politicians of the Government, at taxpayers’ expense, chose to seek medical attention in

New York and Cuba, and to cover the cost for accompanying persons; * The rental of the “drug bond” in South Georgetown for exorbitant and excessive rental to a known party supporter of a “wind power” of proposal. * The modification of the original contract and design for a new CJIA (airport) with eight gates instead of four, and at substantial additional cost. Forensic audit needed. * The excessive cost for the D’Urban Park stadium facilities through a thorough forensic audit. * The cost incurred for the proposal of a new Demerara Harbour Bridge with no positive outcome. * Public money deposited in a Minister’s private bank account. * The financial management of the University of Guyana

under the stewardship of VC Ivelaw Griffith, by forensic audit. * The state of drainage and irrigation in the country, * The state of the city of Georgetown under PNC control and management, continuously for more than fifty years. * Deteriorating public security and health services. * The massive bureaucracy with a bloated number of political advisers. * The non-implementation of the recommendations of its own Commission of Inquiry into the public service. * The declining state of agricultural industries. * The non-implementation of the recommendations of its own Commission of Inquiry into the sugar industry. * The closure of four sugar estates and put-

ting some 7000 workers on the breadline, and negatively impacting the lives of family members and economies of small businesses around these

closed estates.

And the list goes on.

With thanks, Joshua Singh

Recognising two cricketing greats Dear Editor The news that two former Windies’ cricketing legends – Clive Lloyd (now to be referred to as Sir Clive) and Gordon Greenidge – were honoured in Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List is just fantastic!

With West Indies on an upward swing, as apparent by the just concluded ODI and T20 tournaments in India, the honouring of these gentlemen might just be the impetus needed to

get Cricket West Indies moving again.

Heartiest congratulations to Sir Clive Lloyd and Sir Gordon Greenidge! You have made our cricket proud by your respective honour, which you richly deserve. May your honour be an inspiration to our young and upcoming cricketers.

Long live West Indies Cricket!

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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Phillips, Edghill, Todd among nominees for PPP PM candidacy

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UG Lecturer Hugh Todd

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has begun the process of electing a prime ministerial candidate, and according to the Party’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, three persons have so far been nominated.

This was revealed during a press conference at the Opposition Leader’s Church Street, Georgetown office on Monday. When asked for an update on the selection process, Jagdeo confirmed that the process

has since started.

He explained that so far, at least three persons have been nominated for the position.

He was also optimistic that a candidate would be selected in time for Nomination Day. According to Jagdeo, this is in sharp contrast to A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) and the seeming foot-dragging to name an official candidate despite AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan being chosen by his own party months

Juan Edghill

ago.

It has already been reported that several figures from the Civic component of the Party have been nominated as potential PM candidates.

These include former Junior Finance Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, and former Army Chief-ofStaff, retired Brigadier Mark Phillips. A third nominee, University of Guyana lecturer Hugh Todd, was also nominated.

Phillips served as Chief-of-Staff of the GDF from 2013 to 2016.

He previously attended the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and was Guyana’s non-resident military attaché to Venezuela.

Phillips is also the holder of a Master’s Degree in Public Sector Management.

Meanwhile, Bishop Edghill served as Junior Finance Minister from 2011 to 2015. Before that, he served as Chairman of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) and Chairman of the Ethnic Relations

Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips

Commission (ERC).

Edghill is currently a PPP/C MP, focused on public procurement issues.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had previously announced in notices published in the media that Nomination Day for the upcoming General and Regional Elections is January 10, 2020.

In the notice, GECOM had called for all political parties contesting the 2020 General and Regional Elections to submit their symbol

for approval. In the notice, GECOM had said that the approval of the symbols has to be done before Nomination Day. The deadline for the submission was December 13, 2019.

After weeks of persons questioning why he was not dissolving Parliament in accordance with the timeframe set out in the Constitution, President David Granger issued the proclamation for the December 30th dissolution of Parliament, on Friday last.

a permanent presence in the market,” the CCAC stated.

Guyana tourism statistical digest for 2016 indicated that for the

years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 the number of visitors to Guyana was 200,060, 205,824, 206,819 and 235, 312 respectively.

Consumer watchdog suggests State-sponsored airline for Guyana

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he Competition and Consumer A f f a i r s Commission recently conducted a study of the airline industry and suggested that a Statesponsored airline be commissioned to end the monopoly-like behaviour over the Georgetown to John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport route.

The CCAC said that the constant stream of players entering and then exiting the market serves as an indication that barriers to entry are not prohibitive.

The exit of these firms, it added, places the citizens in a predicament.

Outlining the recent history of the airline industry in Guyana, the CCAC said that Dynamic Airways, after a shaky start in 2014, suspended its operations for four months.

It returned and started to offer as many as five flights per week and that frequency climbed in the peak seasons.

In July 2017, Dynamic Airways announced that it had filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition with the United States which was likely the result of an unrelated lawsuit.

Fly Jamaica started operations in Guyana in 2013. In November 2018, the airline’s fortunes made a sudden change following the emergency landing and crash of its 757 aircraft at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Mechanical problems forced the pilots to head back to Guyana and make the emergency landing. Several passengers were injured during the emergency landing. The airline has exited the market following this incident.

One recommendation, it stated, is to temper the monopoly by commissioning “our own State-sponsored airline.”

According to CCAC, it may not be the perfect solution, but it is a solu-

tion.

“The venture may be prone to all the ills of State-sponsored enterprise but if managed properly, we can ensure

that there is competitive pressure for the incumbent firms to perform.

There is no need to invest heavily in permanent fixtures or to have

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PPP’s Chief Scrutineer calls for stern action against GECOM staff who registered fictitious persons

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he Guyana E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) is yet to make a final decision on what to do about the persons it could not verify during the recent field verification. According to one chief scrutineer who played an integral part in the exercise, these persons cannot be allowed on the voters’ list.

In an interview with Guyana Times International, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Chief Scrutineer Zulfikar Mustapha had questioned the reasons for enumerators registering persons with addresses that are in reality, empty lots.

“Those are serious concerns. Those persons who cannot be found and are at empty lots, those people are not living there. So, in the first place, why did GECOM staff who conducted the registration register empty lots? They have to answer for that. GECOM has to take stock of those things.

“You cannot put people on a list that you cannot verify, because that was the whole point of the verification exercise.

PPP Chief Scrutineer Zulfikar Mustapha

The point was to verify those persons. I agree that those persons who were found and GECOM was able to verify, those persons can be added to the list. But you can’t put persons you cannot account for, it would defeat the whole purpose,” Mustapha said.

He recalled the issues of fraud that had arisen during last year’s Local Government Elections

(LGE). At the time, there had been accusations that persons’ signatures were forged as backers for certain candidates.

This time the stakes are higher, as the names that make it on the Revised List of Electors (RLE) will be used for elections in March.

“They had issues like that in the Whim area, where persons said their signatures were forged.

And the matter went to the High Court. So, they should be very stern with people… for forging persons’ information to go on the list.”

Section 20 (b) of the National Registration Act states that every officer who “willfully or without reasonable excuse enters in any register established under Section 9 the registration card of any person

who is not eligible to be registered or the registration card of any fictitious or non-existent person… shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of five thousand dollars and to imprisonment for six months.”

It had previously been announced that over 6500 persons of the 16,863 ‘new’ registrants were not confirmed during the fiveday field verification exercise, which concluded on December 22.

Figures released to the media the next day had shown that Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) had the highest number of unconfirmed persons – 3657.

According to GECOM, there were 16,863 ‘new’ registrants, but only 10,329 were confirmed.

O p p o s i t i o n n o m i n a t e d Commissioner Robeson Benn told this publication last week that field officers who conducted the verification exercise of “new registrants” captured during the scrapped House-to-House (H2H) Registration process found empty lots at the addresses on record for

those persons.

He also told this newspaper that they were informed by the Party’s scrutineers who worked along with the GECOM staff during the exercise that there were instances where they went to the addresses to verify the names and were met with empty lots.

Some 370,000 registrations obtained during the scrapped G$3 billion H2H exercise, which ran from July 20 to August and was objected to by the Opposition, were sent overseas to be cross-matched with the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRD) in order to filter out the duplicates.

However, it was recently reported that international digital security company Gemalto indicated that some 37,300 were new registrants who are eligible for voting, that is, they are above the age of 18.

But an internal check conducted by GECOM showed that approximately 17,000 of those “new registrants” were already on the voters’ list and some even voted in the past.

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Guyana’s political heavyweights get ready to hit the campaign trail

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uyana’s political heavyweights are preparing to officially hit the campaign trail as the date for General and Regional Elections draws nearer.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has announced that it will be launching its 2020 elections campaign on Sunday at Kitty Market Square, Georgetown, at 15:00h.

PPP/C General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo and Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali will be key speakers at the event.

Meanwhile, on the APNU Guyana’s Facebook page, campaign coordinator Christopher Jones has created an event for the “Official 2020 Elections Campaign launch of the APNU+AFC.” According to the details provided, it will commence at 4pm on Friday, January 3rd, 2020 at Durban Park, Georgetown.

No other details have

been provided about the event, however it is expected that the coalition will highlight achievements since May 2015 and its plans to manage Guyana’s oil and gas sector.

Other smaller parties contesting the polls are also expected to officially launch their campaign in the coming days as they get ready to test their political strength.

The PPP/C has indicated that it plans to discuss issues including the creation of jobs, reduction of taxation, improvement of education and health care, affordable housing and the management of the oil and gas sector for the benefit of Guyanese.

Last month, the PPP/C launched their manifesto titled: “Our plan for prosperity”, with excerpts outlining the party’s policies and plans for the country and its people, should it get into office.

Some of the plans

outlined include the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on key areas such as electricity, water and healthcare, among other things.

Also high on the party’s agenda is the reversal and/or reduction of the over 200 tax measures imposed by the coalition Administration – such as on building materials, on data, and exports.

The party also outlined that it will reverse the VAT on farming, mining and forestry equipment, which has caused untold difficulties for farmers, miners and those in the forestry sector.

Additionally, the PPP in its 2020 elections manifesto has promised that if elected to office it would advance constitutional reform with the input of the citizens themselves.

In its manifesto, the party noted the importance of ensuring that the people participate

in something as critical as revising the supreme law. The party referenced the constitutional reform it piloted in the late ’90s, early 2000s, as an example of the process that is needed.

The PPP/C has also promised that should it return to office, the restoration of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is high on its agenda.

The LCDS, a brainchild of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, allowed Guyana to earn millions of dollars for deferred deforestation.

When

the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) came into power, the programme was scrapped.

Touting the value of Guyana’s forests, the PPP/C noted its potential to make a positive impact and also impact the fight against climate change. According to the party, hundreds of millions of US dollars can still be earned using Guyana’s forests.

The party also noted some concrete measures they will pursue, including establishing an

International Centre of Excellence for Biological Diversity.

According to the PPP/C, this centre will promote cutting-edge research, while developing and exporting educational services.

They also promised that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would have its capacity built, to provide enhanced regulation. In addition, the National System of Protected Areas would also be enhanced, among other areas of priority.

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Govt’s ‘flagship’ housing project still to gain momentum …housing authority boss admits persons refusing to share 1 building

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wo years after the launch of the Government’s ‘flagship’ housing project at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara, it still has not gained momentum.

Government’s Perseverance ‘Housing Solutions 2017 and Beyond’ Project, which commenced in 2017, has been faced with the challenge of non-occupancy as persons are refusing to share duplexes.

This was confirmed on Monday during the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s End-of-Year Report for 2019.

According to CH&PA Operations Director

Denise King-Tudor, another challenge is that despite having allocated all units, many persons are yet to move in.

“In some cases, persons…we’re waiting on the banks to release that final payment to us so that they can proceed to the next stage. And there are cases where persons…we’re in receipt of payments for those houses, but they are doing some [works]…some persons they would like to fence, they want to grill, they want to do improve[ment] on the bridge that we have provided for them to gain access to that house, and there are some other little things that they would like to

CH&PA Head Lelon Saul

do before. And there are those too, that they have not yet – they’ve been allocated a while, they’ve paid the full amount – and they’re still not occupying those houses,” King-Tudor explained.

Another challenge which the CH&PA has been facing is the hesitation from commercial banks and other financial institutions to grant approval for loans.

CH&PA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lelon Saul indicated that the main issue related to the duplexes, where different families would be sharing one building.

“The issue with the banks right now is the issue about ownership particularly at Perseverance; we’re working to resolve that. I mean in many countries across the region, there are apartment buildings or duplexes and you know…we have to embrace these things and I’m quite positive the financial institution[s] will get on board and support our initiative.

We just cannot say that we would not construct duplexes; even right in Guyana, here there are gated communities that

have condominiums being sold. And the very banking institution[s] are supporting those initiatives. And I see no reason why they would not support Central Housing and Planning Authority with our duplexes,” Saul said.

He added that the CH&PA has been taking several initiatives to get persons to occupy their units.

“We have a few persons and we are engaging them; we are talking with them and in fact, they’ve been given a specific timeline to occupy those units…and so we are working with the purchasers to get them to move in,” Operations Director King-Tudor noted.

The Government had said at the project’s launching that it was aimed at bringing resolution to those persons who form the huge backlog of applications at the CH&PA. Just earlier this year, homeowners of Perseverance homes had complained about structural defects which included leaking roofs, toilet facilities, and flooring issues.

Pork-knocker killed after being hit by falling tree

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25-year-old pork-knocker was on Saturday killed after being hit by a falling tree in Obanna Backdam, Kuribrong, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).

The dead man has been identified only as “Navesh” of Port Kaituma, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini), who was working on a dredge in Region Eight.

Guyana Times International understands that the miner along with two of his coworkers were jointly working in the area with a three-inch water pump and four-inch engine.

However, at about 11:00h, it began raining. The rain was accompanied by heavy winds.

This newspaper was told that shortly afterwards, one of the workers heard a cracking sound and observed that trees were about to fall.

This newspaper was told that he raised an alarm for his workmates to run, but according to reports, “Navesh” stood

and began looking up at the falling trees. A large branch from one of the falling trees then struck him to the head as he started to run.

The man was picked up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to Obanna Landing, but on arrival, his body appeared to be lifeless.

Nevertheless, he was then taken to Powese Landing. On Sunday, Police ranks examined his body and discovered a large wound to the back of his head.

Meanwhile, according to Police Commander of that region, Superintendent Ramesh Ashram, the man’s cause of death can only be confirmed when a post-mortem examination is conducted.

Although there is a wound to the back of his head which allegedly occurred when the tree fell on the man, investigators said they have not yet concluded their investigation and will do so after the PME results have been submitted.

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Tullow announces oil find in third well offshore Guyana; but below estimates

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he UK‘s Tullow Oil plc on Thursday announced that the Carapa-1 exploration well, drilled on the Repsol-operated Kanuku licence offshore Guyana, has encountered approximately four metres of net oil pay based on preliminary interpretation but that this is below pre-drill estimates.

Preliminary results of drilling, wireline logging, pressure testing and sampling of reservoir fluid indicate the discovery of oil in Upper Cretaceous age sandstone reservoirs.

Rig site testing has indicated that the oil is 27 degrees API with a sulphur content of less than 1%. A detailed laboratory analysis of the oil quality will follow in due course,

‘2020 will be...

lition’s legacy, PPP noted that they have failed to put in place an effective regulatory framework for oil and gas and botched efforts to renegotiate the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) after Guyana found oil.

“By ensuring a truly diversified and robust economy, Guyana will soon be joining the fold of prosperous nations of the world and, with good government, every single Guyanese person will benefit from this prosperity. For this promise to be realised, the Guyanese people will be required to make an important choice in March 2020.

The incumbent government continues to engage in shallow sloganeering, promising a “decade of development”.

The emptiness of this promise is best illustrated by their abject failure to deliver on that other shallow slogan that they have been parroting for the past five years, as “the good life” is yet to be enjoyed by anybody but themselves and their close cronies.”

The PPP, therefore, called on Guyanese to “join hands in the collective task of rebuilding Guyana from the destruction and disunity sowed over the past five years.” The Party also expressed hope that 2020 will be a year in which the highest standards of democratic norms are upheld through the con-

duct of free, fair, and peaceful elections. The Party is also hopeful that good governance and responsible economic management will be restored.

Binds us together Meanwhile, PPP Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali used his New Year’s message to praise Guyanese for the characteristics he witnessed during his travels on the campaign trail. According to him, Guyanese are resilient and their potential must be more fully unlocked in the New Year.

“Fellow Guyanese, there is more that binds us together than pulls us apart. Guyanese here and in the Diaspora are overflowing with ideas and drive to make our country better. As we stand on the precipice of a new decade, let us look to the future with a deep and abiding hope that tomorrow can be better than today”.

“Let us unlock the potential of the Guyanese people by giving them land, a quality education, affordable and available healthcare, lower taxes and an investment in the creation of jobs and other opportunities for all our people,” Ali also said, going on to call for unity and wishing everyone a happy New Year.

“Decade of development” In President David Granger’s New Year message, he emphasised that 2020 would be the start

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of Guyana’s “decade of development”. Granger promised that education and healthcare, infrastructure, energy supply and the economy would improve.

“We can look forward to living in a country which enjoys high levels of growth and human development and with accountable government and greater equality. Constitutional reform will allow for the easier resolution of political differences,” he said.

“Citizens can be assured that their communities will be safer and that borders will be more secured. The productive sectors will be more resilient by receiving increased support to drive economic development”.

Touching on elections, which, according to the Constitution, should have been held since March 2019 but are now scheduled for March 2, 2020, the President promised “free, fair and credible” elections and assured that the security forces would ensure that public order and stability prevail during and after.

“The year 2020 will be an unforgettable year. It will demand diligent and dutiful service from all to attain the common good… I extend best wishes to every Guyanese for a happy and prosperous New Year – one which promises to be the most exciting and exhilarating in our nation’s history.”

the company said in a statement.

The Carapa oil discovery suggests the extension of the Cretaceous oil play from the Stabroek licence southwards into the Kanuku licence.

While net pay is lower than pre-drill fore-

casts, the 27 degree API oil supports the significant potential of the Cretaceous play on both the Kanuku and adjacent Orinduik licences.

The Valaris EXL II jack-up rig drilled the Carapa-1 well to a Total Depth of 3,290

metres in 68 metres of water and the well will now be plugged and abandoned. Repsol Exploración Guyana, S.A. is the operator of the Kanuku block with a 37.5% stake. Tullow Guyana B.V. also holds a 37.5% stake with Total E&P Guyana B.V. holding the remaining 25%.

Mark MacFarlane, Chief Operating Officer, commented today: “The Carapa-1 result is an important exploration outcome with positive implications for both the Kanuku and Orinduik blocks.

While net pay and reservoir development at this location are below our pre-drill estimates, we are encouraged to find good quality oil which proves the extension of the prolific Cretaceous play into our acreage. We will now integrate the results of the three exploration wells drilled in these adjacent licences into our Guyana and Suriname geological and geophysical models before deciding the future work programme.”

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Housing authority approves 39 applications for oil and gas projects on Monday told the media that a number of these projects will be seen in the future.

“You will see things will [have] started. You’ll see development that Guyana never experienced before in terms of mud plant…well the chemical storage some of them were not favourably considered but we are planning for those things in the future and that plan will take that into account,” Stewart said.

The agency was mum on which areas across the country’s lands were allocated for these projects.

However, Stewart ex-

plained that the CH&PA has started a redevelopment plan at Houston, Greater Georgetown, in relation to the oil and gas sector and has met with various stakeholders for consultations.

“We have already started the process in terms of developing a special area redevelopment plan for an area within Houston that has really seen land conversion or pressure for the oil and gas sector. So we are really proactive in terms of meeting with developers, landowners, and had a first round of consultation on how we move forward,” she stat-

ed.

Further, the Chief Development Planner said that applications which were not approved were due to incompatibility issues regarding the purpose of land use: “Some that were rejected [are] based in terms of compatibility where land use is not compatible with our residential areas,” she explained.

Overall for the year 2019, the agency reported that it had received 914 applications for both oil and gas projects and other unrelated projects.

Of these, 905 were processed and 714 approved.

4 conferred with ‘silk’

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CH&PA Chief Development Planner, Germene Stewart

he Central Housing and P l a n n i n g Authority (CH&PA) has approved dozens of applications for acres of land across the coun-

try to be used for oil and gas-related development projects.

For the year, the CH&PA received 44 applications for land across the country for oil and

gas development projects. However, only 39 were approved.

This is according to CH&PA’s Chief Development Planner, Germene Stewart, who

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Jameela Ali

Roysdale Alton Forde

Stanley Moore

Murseline Bacchus

our long-standing practitioners in the legal field have been conferred with silk, otherwise known as the Senior Counsel title, with effect from January 1, 2020.

This announcement was made by the Ministry of the Presidency. The attorneys are Jamela Ayesha Ali, Murseline Bacchus, Roysdale Alton Forde and Stanley Moore.

A release from the Ministry of the Presidency stated that these individuals were chosen because of their

high-quality service to the legal profession and knowledge of the law. It is the fourth conferral by President David Granger since 2017.

In June of 2019, Robert Ramcharran, Carole James-Boston, Stephen Fraser, Rajendra Poonai and Shalimar Ali-Hack were appointed Senior Counsels at a special sitting of the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature.

The honour of silk is conferred on an eminent lawyer. The conferment was by the Crown, that is,

the King or Queen, hence King’s Counsel was abbreviated to KC and Queen’s Counsel, QC, but now in the Republic State of Guyana, they are referred to as Senior Advocate or Senior Counsel (SC).

This status is recognised by the courts and they have the privilege of sitting in the Bar at the Court where they are considered members of the “inner bar”.

Since members wear silk gowns of a specific design, the Counsels are usually referred to as silk.

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Guyana takes step backward on Global Anti-Corruption Index

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ransparency International has released its latest global rankings, showing that while Guyana is considered one of 20 countries who has made improvements, it has also taken a step backwards from last year.

According to the index, Guyana fell by one spot to the 93rd position out of 180 countries.

The index placed Guyana’s corruption perception score at 37 to tie with Gambia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Mongolia and Panama.

The highest ranked Caribbean country was the Bahamas at 29th place and a score of 65.

It is followed by Barbados, which received a score of 68 for anti-corruption.

The next Caribbean country is St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which was ranked at 41 with a score of 58.

The top ranked countries on the list were Denmark at number 1, then New Zealand at number 2.

Last year, Guyana scored 38 and was

Revised List...

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20 to August 31, 2019.

However, the Opposition – People’s Progressive Party (PPP) – has always contended that the H2H exercise was largely unsupervised and would produce flawed results.

Indeed, the Party subsequently found that many of the persons listed as new registrants are either dead or were previously registered.

The concern that has been expressed is that this could be the gateway to fraudulent voting and election rigging.

It had previously been announced that over 6500 persons of the 16,863 ‘new’ registrants were not confirmed during the five-day field verification exercise which concluded on December 22. Figures released to the media the next day had shown that Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) had the highest number of unconfirmed persons, which tallied to 3657.

According to GECOM, there were 16,863 ‘new’ registrants but only 10,329 were confirmed.

O p p o s i t i o n -

n o m i n a t e d Commissioner Robeson Benn told this publication last week that field officers who conducted the verification exercise of “new registrants” captured during the scrapped H2H process have found empty lots at the addresses on record for those persons.

He told Guyana Times International that they were informed by the Party’s scrutineers who worked along with the GECOM staff during the exercise that there were instances where they went to the addresses to verify the names and were met with empty lots.

Some 370,000 registrations obtained during the scrapped G$3 billion H2H exercise were sent overseas to be cross-matched with the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRD) in order to filter out the duplicates.

Only on Monday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that the Party is willing to do a second round of verification to ensure a credible voters’ list come March 2020.

ranked at 91 out of all the countries reviewed.

Over the past few months, much has been said about the Auditor General’s 2017 report

and the sole sourcing of contracts.

This includes the Public Procurement Commission investigating and red flagging

the sole sourcing of the Demerara River bridge feasibility study.

The corruption perception index did acknowledge, however,

that Guyana 20 countries significantly their scores past 7 years.

is among to have improved over the

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‘Sugar estates represented a beacon of sustenance and hope’ – GAWU In the last four years, the coalition Government, insisting that the sugar industry is bleeding the treasury, has closed four sugar estates, sending home over 7000 workers.

To date, thousands of those fired workers are still struggling to find a job. Many of them often tell of the hardship they face to feed their families. At Wales, West Bank Demerara, children of some of the fired workers are forced to find part-time jobs to

The Wales Sugar Estate, West Bank Demerara (WBD), which was the first to be closed by the APNU/AFC coalition Government, putting thousands of workers and their families on the breadline

By Shemar Alleyne

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hough the future of the country’s sugar industry remains unclear, there is a lot of positives with regards to their re-opening.

This is according to General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Seepaul Narine in an exclusive interview with this publication.

The union representative stated that viewing the industry through an economic lens, the argument for sugar’s minimisation becomes

ployed so many people and their families who have been dependent on sugar and those businesses and so on that depends on sugar workers’ wages and you also have the drainage of the entire coastal system was more or less done by sugar and the sugar estates has been up keeping that,” Narine stated.

The closure of the four sugar estates at Rose Hall-Canje, Skeldon, (both in Berbice), East Demerara (Enmore to Ogle) and Wales (West Bank Demerara) tossed close to 7500 workers into a financial crisis.

“There has been no

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine

even weaker, but noted that the estates were more than just producers of sugar and molasses but rather they were the hive of activities and represented a beacon of sustenance and hope.

“Sugar when it was doing well it had contributed a lot sum G$2 billion at the US exchange rate, but apart from its direct contribution to the treasury, you also had the fact that it em-

Christmas, there has not been any increase by this Government for the past five years and the sugar workers had nothing for Christmas, not even an increase, not a cent,” he remarked.

Moreover, the GAWU executive related that it is clear that the entire sugar policy of the collation Government was done with one intention – that is to punish the sugar workers, their

families, and their villages.

“In the state paper, it is said that sugar workers were supporters of the PPP which is absolutely not so because you have so many people working in sugar from different political parties and across the spectrum. If you see the state paper you will see the spitefulness they have against sugar workers,” he cited.

However, despite the plethora of plans that the GuySuCo signalled, the Corporation has repeatedly cried out about lack of financing, resulting in the GAWU also questioning the source of financing for the abovementioned ambitious projects.

help their parents with school expenses.

In May of this year, the Government was preparing to sell off huge swathes of land owned by GuySuCo as part of moves to sell off several loss-making estates. This was being executed even as the Administration prepared to revive interest in the ‘for sale’ assets by local and foreign investors.

The downsizing of the sugar industry has been fiercely resisted by

the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the parliamentary Opposition and a number of other agencies.

The operations of the La Bonne Intention Estate were amalgamated with those of the Enmore Estate; those at Wales were amalgamated with Uitvlugt and there are plans to privatise Skeldon. But the closure of the estates and the sacking of workers are having an effect on the economy.

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40 GPHC nurses trained in foreign languages

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Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, East Street, Georgetown

orty nurses attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) are now certified in speaking French and Spanish having completed a sixmonth foreign language programme.

Director of Nursing, Keith Alonzo recently told the media that the programme was conducted by the Guyana Language Institute (GLI) through a collaborative effort with the GPHC with the aim of improving services at the medical facility by having qualified foreign language medical care staff.

He noted that there has been an influx of foreigners, who visit the hospital to access medical care and that this has posed great difficulty for both patients and staff due to language barriers. According to top officials of the GPHC, among the foreign nationals who visit the hospital seeking medical

care are Venezuelans, Brazilians, Haitians and Cubans. Thus, the need for having staff who are able to communicate different languages apart from our official English language in order to be able to facilitate and administer accurate diagnosis and treatment to patients.

He added that the newly certified nurses will pass on their knowledge to their colleagues in the various departments of the medical facility.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GPHC, Brigadier (Ret’d) George Lewis, had stated a while back that the hospital will be tackling issues and difficulties which it has been facing through offering various training programmes to healthcare workers which will benefit them in several ways including professionalism, behaviour, attitude, knowledge among others, with the hope of eliminating many of these problems.

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Enmore Association of NY fetes over 700 I n what has now become a staple during the holiday season, the Enmore Association of New York (EANY) has once again feted over 700 persons at its annual Christmas luncheon in Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

The group, comprising members based mainly in New York and complemented by a local chapter, has been hosting the party for the past 18 years at Ayube Mohamed’s (Wise Man’s) residence yearly, where senior citizens and children of the village are invited to partake in the festivities.

This year’s event was once again organised to bring cheer to citizens of the community-while the older folks were given a hamper, a monetary donation and a meal; the smaller ones were presented a gift from Santa Claus and treated to a sumptuous meal.

The event was made possible through the kind donations, both financial and otherwise, of members of EANY and well-wishers.

EANY member Seurattan Prashad told the senior citizens that they deserved to be recognised and celebrated as they are the ones who have helped to shape the community over several decades.

“You guys have set the tone and shaped the culture of this community, knowingly or unknowingly, by following the

A section of the gathering at the senior citizens’ party

unwritten rules of society, abiding by them and disseminating them. What are those unwritten rules? Things like caring for each other, helping

each other, respecting each other— that is what had built this society so strong. You guys have done a tremendous job in making this community

a better place and that is why we’re here today to recognise your contribution,” Prashad noted.

Manzoor Rahaman, an-

other member of the EANY, echoed similar sentiments, noting that the Association is pleased to be of service to members of the community.

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British firm to advise Energy Dept on Payara oil field development

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aving evaluated 11 Expressions of Interest (EOI) from international firms to provide technical support to the Department of Energy as it seeks to manage Guyana’s oil and gas sector, one British firm has emerged on top.

According to a statement from the Department on Tuesday, Bayphase Geologists, Engineers and Investment Analysts Limited (or for short, Bayphase Ltd) emerged from the evaluation as the highest-ranked firm.

It is understood that they were invited to submit a technical and financial proposal as part of the process. According to the Department, the consultancy is to provide support to the Energy Department as it handles the Project Development Evaluation of the Payara oil field.

The Department also said that the Procurement Plan of the Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project (GPRGMP) and the Procurement Method of Consultant’s Qualifications Selection (CQS) was followed in evaluating the firm.

Afterwards, both the evaluation report and the recommendation for contract award were approved by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

It

Map showing the location of the Payara field

was explained by the Department that the contract commenced December 30, 2019, and will last for 4 months.

“Under this consultancy, Bayphase will provide advisory services and technical support to the Government of Guyana through the Department of Energy (DE) as Guyana seeks to rapidly build out its inhouse technical capacity.

The project covers such

areas as an in-depth review of the Payara field development plan (FDP), environmental impact assessment (EIA) and supporting documents.”

“It also includes onthe-job training for Guyanese and preparation of draft national FDP guidelines. Amongst beneficiaries of training from Bayphase will be the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Energy

(DE) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Petroleum Division (GGMC-PD),” the Department also said.

The Department has been under criticism regarding its sloth in developing key pieces of policy for the oil and gas sector. According to them, however, this consultancy is expected to help to advance their efforts to build capacity.

They were also hopeful that it would help to level the playing field between regulators and State agencies and the more experienced international oil companies operating in Guyana’s oil and gas sector.

According to its website, Bayphase has experience in-field development planning, resource auditing and valuation; cost auditing and esti-

mates, reservoir modelling and strategic studies. When it comes to field development planning, they list Libya, Sudan, Seychelles, India and Indonesia as some of the places where they have worked.

So far, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL, Exxon’s local subsidiary) has now made 15 oil finds in the Stabroek Block over 100 miles offshore Guyana, including four for this year.

Last year, the company made five discoveries.

These discoveries have pushed the total estimated recoverable barrels of oil equivalent to over six billion. In addition, Exxon is moving ahead with its Liza Phase Two project, which will contain approximately 30 wells.

The Liza Destiny, Guyana’s first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, arrived in Guyana’s waters at the end of August. The vessel will play a key role in oil production.

The oil giant has said that pending Government approvals and project sanctioning of a third development, production in the Payara field north of the Liza discoveries could start as early as 2023, reaching an estimated 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

500 new HIV cases detected in Guyana

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he National AIDS P r o g r a m m e Secretariat (NAPS) in recognising a greater need for public education on HIV/AIDS and its Voluntary Counselling and Treatment (VCT) Services, is seeking to explore various avenues that will allow effective transfer of information on both topics.

This was shared at a media engagement at the Secretariat on Monday.

Deputy Programme Manager at NAPS, Dr Nicolette Boatswain pointed out that the Secretariat will seek to re-establish a stronger interaction with persons as it relates to the sharing of HIV information. This is critical as recent statistics show some 8200 persons infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) while some 500 new infections surfaced in Guyana mainly from key populations and young people.

Nevertheless, this

Deputy Programme Manager at the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), Dr Nicolette Boatswain

widely used remedy will be complemented with its continued training and awareness programmes in schools as well as its newest be-

havioural change communications strategy being developed.

“I recognise that there is a need for strengthening in terms of sensiti-

sation and awareness, there has to be a resurgence of our interaction with fellow Guyanese in terms of HIV information…We are also on the

way to developing a behavioural change communications strategy which we see is needed so I agree, but steps are being taken…our pro-

gramme has always incorporated in the prevention aspect of its training or sensitisation for in and out of schools,” Boatswain explained.

On the other hand, the deputy programme manager highlighted that the new trend of persons sharing HIV results on social media takes away the confidentiality and reduced stigma offered through VCT services.

“The programme is concerned at the increasing trend of members of the public posting their HIV test results on social media, doing this may add rather than take away from the stigma so many persons still endure” This is evident as stats revealed a constant decrease in persons accessing the VCT service over the period 2017 to 2019.

Some 57,524 accessed the service in 2017, while 49,783 in 2018, and 45,313 in 2019.

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Berbice murder, manslaughter accused charged

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wo persons accused of separate murders on the Corentyne between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were arraigned on Monday, with one suspect being granted bail.

Terry Roopnarine, 27, of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, was charged with manslaughter when he appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Whim’s Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that on December 24, at Rose Hall Town, he killed Steven Lewis, also called “Terence”.

The prosecution had no objection to bail being granted and Magistrate Alex Moore released the man on G$200,000 bail.

As a condition for bail, the court ordered that he lodge his travel documents and report to the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost every Tuesday and Thursday until the conclusion of the case.

The matter comes up again on February 18, 2020 at the Albion Magistrate’s Court.

However, the grant-

intervened, but the injured Lewis eventually died.

Meanwhile, 21-yearold Redford Thomas, of Rose Hall, was remanded to prison after he was charged with the murder of Carlos Williams, called “Tony”. The case will continue on February 17, 2020.

Reports are on December 25, Williams was with his girlfriend and three others at a nightclub when a cousin who was with a group of men told Williams’s partner that one of his friends wanted to dance with her. She refused the

Deceased: Steven Lewis

ing of bail did not go down well with many family members of the deceased who were present during the proceedings.

“You can kill someone and get G$200,000 bail. Oh, Lawd!” the dead man’s grandmother cried.

Reports are Lewis, a vendor of the Rose Hall Town Market, was injured during an altercation with a man who went to his ‘chick-chick’ gam-

bling board on Christmas Eve. Reports are that the suspect is a 27-year-old cane harvester, who was one of the gambling customers.

The cane harvester reportedly spent some time and money at the gambling board which ended in a physical confrontation. This led to Lewis sustaining injuries to his head and mouth.

Police who were nearby

Deceased: Carlos Williams

offer, but Williams heard about the request.

This resulted in the two men arguing.

Williams was reportedly

stabbed a short while later outside the club, and Thomas was subsequently arrested.

Fake cop to spend 2 years behind bars

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21-year-old man who pretended to be a policeman was on Monday sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

Daquan Robinson appeared before Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on December 8, 2019, at Merriman’s Mall, Bourda, Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Gary Hartman of a quantity of articles valuing G$43,000.

Police Prosecutor David Goodman told the court that Hartman was in Merriman’s Mall walking with his haversack containing documents

Daquan Robinson

when he was approached

by Robinson, who stated that he was a policeman and requested to search the Virtual Complainant.

The court heard that when Robinson was asked by the VC to produce his Police badge, he

pointed a fake gun at the man and relieved him of the haversack. The court also heard that Robinson then told the VC to run or he would shoot him.

The matter was then reported and the “fake” cop was arrested.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020| GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

Jagdeo says Norway forest funds can only be accessed after elections

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he Guyana Government has announced that the remaining payments under the Guyana Norway Agreement to the tune of G$9.1 billion (US$50 million) has been released but Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has tempered expectations pointing out that Guyana will not have access to this money until after next year’s March 2 General and Regional Elections.

Guyana had signed a historic forest protection accord back in 2009 with Norway, which saw the former country receiving payments for sustaining its rainforests to absorb global carbon emissions.

A total of US$250 million were to be paid to Guyana over a five-year period.

Some US$200 million has already been paid over and while the final tranche has been released, Jagdeo, a former Head of State who led the project under the ‘Low Carbon Development Strategy’ (LCDS), told reporters at his weekly press conference on Friday that this was not new.

He noted that this was first announced back in September

on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Summit in New York. At the time, Minister of State Dawn Hastings-Williams had met with Norway’s Minister for Climate and Environment, Ola Elvestuen, who agreed to pay over the remaining pledge.

It was noted then that the money would be disbursed to the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), which is administered by the World Bank.

As such, the Opposition Leader reminded on Friday that Guyana will not be able to access the payments.

He referred to comments made by former Director of the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) Per Fredrik Pharo, who had told a local newspaper back in October that while the money is released to the GRIF, the country will only get access until after the upcoming elections and a government is in place.

Pharo had noted that this condition was discussed between the two ministers at the NYC meeting.

According to Jagdeo,

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

the incumbent coalition administration took an old story and recycled it to show that there is a vote of confidence in it by the international community.

“They’re selling this that ‘look, Norway released all of this money to us…and so Norway must have confidence in our government. That the PPP is saying that the international community has lost confidence in our government; therefore, this has to be a vote of confidence’,” Jagdeo pointed out… [But] that was not a vote of confidence. In fact, it was a vote of no confidence in

this Government,” the Opposition Leader contended.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Natural Resources Ministry credited the final payment to it maintaining Guyana’s forest cover at a high level and deforestation rates at a low level.

However, Jagdeo was quick to remind that while the Government is glorifying how well they did, it was, in fact, a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) project.

In fact, he pointed out that it was the coalition’s minority party, Alliance For Change (AFC) – of which Natural Resources Minister

Raphael Trotman is the Chairman – that had written Norway to not sign the deal with Guyana and release any money.

“Today, they are taking credit for it.

Something they did not work for, something they didn’t put in a single day of work but they’re taking credit for. And they’re selling this now, look Norway released all of this money to us…,” the former Head of State contended.

The AFC, a major partner in the Government coalition, did exactly write to the Norwegian Government.

Back on December 24, 2014, AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan, now a Vice President and Public Security Minister in the coalition Government, had dispatched a letter to Norway expressing concerns that there might have been “fundamental breaches” of the Guyana-Norway Forest Protection Agreement.

Of the US$200 million already paid to Guyana, US$80 million has been injected to fund a 100-megawatt solar energy project. That money was initially earmarked for the Amaila

Falls Hydro (AFH) Project but back in June, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson revealed that Government got approval from Norway to divert the funds.

The Amaila Falls Hydro Project was the flagship of the PPP’s Low Carbon Development Strategy. The project was expected to deliver electricity to Guyana’s capital, Georgetown, and its second-largest town, Linden, by an electric transmission line.

It would have assisted GPL to get adequate electricity supply, thus, providing cheaper and more reliable power to citizens and businesses.

However, Jagdeo had previously said that if the PPP returns to office at the upcoming elections then the resuscitation of the Amaila Falls Project would be among its top priorities for the energy sector.

“Our plan is resuming discussions on Amaila.

Immediately, starting to move forward on that project but recognising that that project will take some time into the future because it will take about four to five years to be completed,” he had noted.

24 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

US$3.4M power plant to bring relief to Bartica residents

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resident David Granger, on Saturday commissioned a US$3.4M power station at Dogg Point, Agatash in Bartica, Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven), where he noted that it will bring unprecedented relief to residents who have experienced severe power outages over the years.

In his address at a simple ceremony, the president said it is inconceivable that Guyana can be on a path of development and ignore the evolution of its hinterland communities.

He is quoted by the Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency as saying that the hinterland de-

velopment must be accelerated to ensure greater equality and the Government has started to reduce and remove hinterland underdevelopment. In this regard, he noted that energy security is essential to hinterland evolution as the enlargement of the economy, the expansion of employment opportunities and the improvement in the quality of life, require investments in energy generation.

This is so, particularly in regions where investment and income levels are below the national average, he said.

The Head of State noted that while the Government is committed irrevocably, to moving closer to the goal of 100 per cent renewable

President David Granger, First Lady, Sandra Granger and granddaughter, Faraa Gaskin, Regional Chairman of Region Seven RDC, Gordon Bradford and Mayor of Bartica, His Worship Gifford Marshall in Bartica, Region 7.

Berbice handyman to spend 20 years behind bars for raping schoolgirl

A

handyman was on Monday jailed for 20 years after a jury found him guilty of rape.

Justice Brassington Reynolds handed down the sentence on 44-yearold Ramgolam Tyrone of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). The jury found him guilty of raping the grade four student in April this year; however, the sentencing was deferred to Monday to facilitate a probation report.

In presenting the report on Monday, Probation and Welfare Officer attached to the Social Services Ministry, Judith Vankennie, told the court that Tyrone lost his father when he was very young and dropped out of school after his father’s death.

Tyrone claimed that his relatives wanted him out of the house and they made up the allegations against him.

According to the probation report, he claimed that he only drinks on weekends.

The probation officer stated that residents in his neighbourhood said he was not a troublemaker.

The probation officer said that after the incident, the victim was always fearful when visitors went to their house and she stayed upstairs.

Speaking about Tyrone, the victim said she does not want to see him anymore.

The probation officer told the court that the victim’s mother had reported the incident when the child reported it to her.

energy use by 2030, it also recognizes the importance of ensuring adequate, accessible and affordable energy supplies during this period of transition.

He said the energy security during the transition phase will deliver development and that transition measures will be implemented and initiatives undertaken to ensure that the demand for energy is met during the transition phase.

In the interim, the President noted, the new power plant will greatly enhance operations and business in the town.

“The new 3.3 megawatt Power Generation Plant, which is being commissioned is of great importance at the municipal, regional and national levels. The new Bartica Power Plant replaces the old plant, which has inflicted intolerable electricity disruptions on the town. Those days are behind us. This plant will guarantee a stable and reliable supply of electricity. The Plant’s generating capacity will exceed the town’s peak demand, with sufficient spare capacity to cater for the town’s short to medi-

um-term power needs.

The Plant will not displace the renewable energy sources which will one day power, entirely, Bartica,” he is quoted as saying.

The President added that the Plant, at the municipal level, will assure the town’s households, businesses and Government agencies an adequate, stable and reliable source of electricity, will eliminate the frequent power outages and will encourage business expansion, since its total generating capacity exceeds the existing peak demand for power.

Jealous ex-lover kills man at ex-girlfriend’s house

A

Jailed: Ramgolam Tyrone

The rapist said he and the victim shared a loving relationship and they played together.

However, the victim said she did have a good relationship with him until the incident.

State Prosecutor Seeta Bishundial said Tyrone was under relatives’ roof when he violated the young girl and noted that he was bold enough to maintain his innocence despite being found guilty by a jury. According to the Prosecutor, he robbed the girl of her childhood and acted like a criminal. She asked the court to send a strong message to those who might be like-minded.

Before the sentence

was passed, Tyrone said, “I am sorry”.

In passing sentence, Justice Reynolds said he noted the manner in which the offence was committed and the fact that the rapist maintained his innocence up until he was about to be sentenced even after being found guilty.

Tyrone had two previous brushes with the law; however, he was a school dropout and could be a victim of his own domestic circumstances, the trial Judge said.

“But you are a big man and have your own sense. I hope you benefit from counselling and hope you reflect on your actions while in prison.”

jealous man killed a friend of his ex-girlfriend at her Mazaruni Street, Guyhoc Park, Georgetown home.

Dead is 23-yearold Kyle Chase of Mc Allen, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Reports are Chase was at a female friend’s house playing cards (fun games) on Monday evening at about 21:45h with his cousin, Trevon Chase.

According to the police, two males – one being the 24-year-old ex-boyfriend of the female – turned up at the house and became enraged upon seeing Kyle and Trevon Chase there.

Police said that an argument ensued and a scuffle erupted among the men during which the suspect allegedly stabbed Chase several times with an object.

Chase collapsed and was rushed to Davis Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Chase’s cousin, Trevon, and the suspect

Dead: Kyle Chase

were also injured during the scuffle. Trevon Chase received medical attention and was discharged, while the suspect is under Police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

(GPHC) nursing injuries to his head. Police have since launched an investigation. When this newspaper visited the dead man’s home, his family was reluctant to speak about the incident.

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FEATURE 29

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Compiled by Dr Steve Surujbally

W

ell, we have arrived at the New Year. January is the month of resolutions and reflections. So, perhaps it is opportune to reflect a bit on the human-animal bond.

Pets, we prefer to call them companion animals, have been with us since the dawn of civilization. In the case of dogs, well, they have been our friends for over 50,000 years. Cats, on the other hand, seem to have been associated with man for only about 5-7,000 years. Interestingly enough, cat fossils, together with human remains of the same period, have been found in Europe, Asia and Africa but not in the Americas.

When humans began domesticating wolves thousands of years ago, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Many dog lovers say their pets seem to know what their masters are thinking. A study in the journal “Science”, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, suggests that this line of thought might be at least partially right.

Something about the process of domestication seems to have given dogs the ability to “read” certain human social behavioural patterns – something wolves, and even chimpanzees, can’t do. Alexandra Horowitz’s seminal bestsell-

er, “Inside of a Dog” deals extensively on this subject.

Some scientists argue that, at least sociologically speaking, dogs (not chimps) are most like humans.

Chimpanzees may share many of our genes, but dogs have lived with us for so long that they offer a good model for understanding human social behaviour. I read some time ago that the ancestors of today’s dogs perceived that humans were going somewhere (advancing) – evolutionarily speaking – and they just latched on to that social group (namely us humans) from which they could receive protection and could be provided for. In other words, dogs’ ancestors adopted humans and not the other way around.

Irrespective of how we associate with animals, whether as pets, or for the show arena or as working dogs (hunters, guards, pullers of sledges or rescuers, etc), expressions of love have to be offered. This love of animals must not be based solely on emotion, rather it must be an “educated” love.

For example, we may condemn our neighbours for “starving” their

dogs, while we commit an equally hurtful act by overfeeding ours, especially at Christmas.

Or we may abuse our animals by bathing them too often, or feeding them chocolates a n d spices are inimical to their health, and so on.

To me, it makes no sense berating a child for throwing a squib near a dog, while you yourself will hit a goat for eating your hibiscus plant which hangs over the fence.

Companion animals are just that. They are our companions. Since domestication, cats and dogs have lived in close contact with humans and we must coexist peacefully and lovingly. And we are lucky! Any Tender Loving Care (TLC) which we give a companion animal, we get it back many times over.

Experts have

proven that the special friendship between animals and humans, in addition to being fun and fulfilling, actually can benefit a person’s health. When an affectionate greeting from your dog at the end of a hard day seem to lift your spirits and ease tensions, it is not just your imagination. Your pet is good for you, both physically, mentally and emotionally. Researchers have proven that the simple act of petting a cat or dog consistently lovers the blood pressure of heart patients. Many studies have since been embarked upon which show the significance of pets in our lives. Researchers say that such studies are like exploring a new frontier; and they are only touching the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

The fact of the matter is (what we pet owners/ carers always knew) that the presence of pets simply makes you behave in a more relaxed and open manner. Pet owners are happier, smile and more readily, communicate better, etc, all of which lead to improved general health – your own.

The loyalty and friendship (very pronounced in the case of dogs) that pets offer us humans are many times more valuable than any bit of TLC we give to them. One Senator George Vest wrote, in 1870, a tribute to a dog. I’d like to share it with you: “The one absolute unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, in his dog. A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world.

He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains.

When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey thru the heavens.”

Happy New Year!!

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Not unacceptable...

W

…to the Supreme Leader ith Khemraj Ramjattan having evidently suppressed his rural roots, he mightn’t appreciate the folk wisdom that, “chickens will come back to roost”. But as a fella who’s favourite expression is “haul yuh ass!”, surely he understands that things can “come back and bite you in the ass”!!

When PNC leader David Granger was strategically finagling in late 2017 to unilaterally appoint his handpicked choice of James Patterson as GECOM Chair, it was revealed that Ramjattan had offered him some gratuitous advice on constitutional interpretation.

Even though he’d denied doing so at the time, Ramjattan was forced to recant after he was shown his e-mails to the AFC’s Canadian branch where – after being asked – he’d advised Granger to reject, in toto, the second list of names the Opposition Leader had submitted. But he didn’t stop there: he went further and told Granger that constitutionally, since Jagdeo hadn’t submitted names “not unacceptable to the president”, he could then proceed to unilaterally appoint any person of his choice!! Which is what Granger, of course, promptly did – eventually to have it overturned by the CCJ. But not after the damage of the H2H exercise had been done!

And this is where his advice – motivated solely by his rage to get back at his bête noire Jagdeo – has come back to bite him in his bamsie. While the details of the “Revised Cummingsburg Accord” still haven’t been made public, snippets keep slipping out. And you can now understand why both APNU and AFC are so coy about it: the “accord” is so one-sided and humiliating to the AFC, even the PNC wants to keep it away from the public. Most folks don’t take too kindly to bullies who grind their hapless victims into the dust – even when the victim goes along! There’s either “Dead Meat” Syndrome at work – or plain greed!

In the latest revelation, we now discover that even though the number of Ministries allocated to the AFC have already been cut down to four by Granger, rebuffing the specific Ministries the AFC had asked for, the latter will ultimately make his own choice. Why? Well, since the two parties have already agreed to abide by the Constitution, the AFC’s recommendation for heads of Ministries must be “not unacceptable to the president”!! In other words, the President’s choice must be unfettered and he can make “unilateral appointments” – as advised

by Ramjattan!!

The chickens have come home to roost, and they’ve bitten Ramjattan on his derrière. And if he doesn’t like it, he can either like it or lump it and “haul” his aforementioned posterior!!

Yes, Dear Reader: in case you had any doubts, there is a God!! …for a valid voters’ list While, Dear Reader, you might be rolling your eyes at this “confounded” voters’ list – after been forced to digest the alphabet soup of NRR, PLE, C&O; OLE, etc, — GECOM still can’t get it right. The latest conundrum – as predicted by your Eyewitness – is what to do with those 6000+ names GECOM claimed to’ve registered with PNC agents – but couldn’t be found when the PPP went out with GECOM last week!!

Now since some of the addresses where the socalled “registrations” had taken place were empty lots – with cows placidly chewing their cuds in some instances – you’d think the sensible thing to do was simply dump them. But no!! Once you’ve accepted the H2H as legal – in for a penny, in for a pound!! So here it is, we have the equivalent of one parliamentary seat underwritten by most likely fictitious names – who’ll miraculously appear on March 2 to vote for the PNC. The only option is for the PPP to vet and object to the names in the next 20 days! …bribery The IDB confirmed that Guyana’s Government workers top the Caribbean in stretching out their hands for bribes – to perform tasks for which they’re already paid.

Maybe, like the Ministers, their salaries should be hiked 50 per cent??

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By: Devina Samaroo

A

t the age of 15, Gladwin Telston Hanover was forced to drop out of school to help take care of his family.

At the time, he was attending the Richard Ishmael Secondary School, with hopeful dreams of becoming a police officer, just like his dad.

But as he got older, those dreams slowly began drifting away, as Hanover became saddled with life's various responsibilities.

Hanover grew up in Ann’s Grove, a peaceful little village on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). He had seven siblings; two brothers and five sisters. Life was not always easy.

His father migrated with the intention of trying to provide a better life for his family. But things did not go as planned.

It was at this point that Hanover dropped out of school and opened a game shop.

“Whilst taking care of my siblings, I learnt to be responsible at a very young age. My main responsibility was to help them to achieve their goal,” he explained during an interview with Times Sunday Magazine.

“Ever since, I have developed a desire to help other young people to realise their goals. I love helping others. I think above all things that’s what I love doing the most.”

Police dreams “When I see a policeman on the road, I would always say that’s me, that’s me!” Hanover reminisced, noting that his nickname growing up was “Police”.

His father, prior to migrating, was a police officer. He resigned as a Constable.

“I remember telling him that ‘daddy I want to be a police like you’, he replied to me saying ‘don’t be a police like me, I come off as a

constable, be ten times better than me’,” Hanover explained.

However, Hanover found employment as a security driver at MMC, instead of pursuing his dreams.

After one year, he became a taxi driver, then a minibus conductor, a minibus driver and a miner.

“I was heading further away from my dream than closer,” he explained.

According to Hanover, the circumstances were just never right.

“At first, it was a time where police were being killed regularly and my parents had fear that it would have happened to me."

Eventually, Hanover wrote the police exam and on May 2, 2013, he was enlisted into the Guyana Police Force.

He explained that the police took a chance on him, while he had nothing, and for that, he will forever be grateful.

"Because it's this job that pulled my life together. The discipline, the dedication, and the determination were developed there."

Hanover was attached to the Richard Faikall Police College where he underwent his initial police training.

During training, he was recognised for his maturity, leadership skills and command and control abilities.

As such, he was retained to perform duties at the College.

And so began his policing career, as an instructor at the College and at the same time, he was in charge of the Zara Computer Centre at the College, where they have trained hundreds of persons in foundation and advanced computer skills, as well as PC repairs and maintenance.

"During that time, I had the privilege to work with Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus and ASP Bharat Persaud: men of integrity, honesty, intelligence and professionalism. They taught me most of what I know in training."

Challenges Hanover was eventually encouraged to further his studies, since he had no CXC subjects.

Wanting to be a role model to new recruits and an Ambassador for the Force, Hanover made the relevant sacrifices so that he could acquire a secondary education.

He wrote CXC, gaining all Grade Ones, achieved a Distinction in Supervisory Management at the University of Guyana (IDCE), did numerous internal police courses, and is presently in his second year of a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

All the while, Hanover was performing policing duties ranging from traffic, station visits and night patrols as well as conducting classes at the computer centre.

"Getting to this point wasn’t easy, I faced several challenges but each and every one of them helped strengthen me to be the person I am today," he explained.

"Working on holidays and wee hours in the night and sometimes all night is a part of policing but I thank God for a sup-

FEATURE 33

portive and understanding wife who is always there for me through everything."

Promotion Hanover's work in the Force did not go unrecognised.

From 2014 to 2016, he captained the G Division Debating team, of which he received best speaker of the round on several occasions.

In 2015, he trained in excess of 600 citizens on the Essequibo Coast, including cops.

The then Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud attended the graduation in August 2015, where he was impressed with Hanover's work.

"He promoted me on the spot from Constable to Corporal," Hanover recalled.

In 2016, he took over as acting Commandant of the Richard Faikall Police College for a while then was sent on a station management course.

In 2018, he piloted an ambitious project, which aimed to help communities.

"I had a conversation with the Zara Team with a proposal to implement free transportation. Also, I engaged the Divisional Commander to provide assistance in realising my idea of which they both agreed."

"My team and I proceeded into charity, Lima Sands, Sandpit, Red Village, Pomona and Perseverance villages’ conducting door to door registration in an effort to enrol persons for class."

In excess of 700 persons were enrolled and trained, with free transportation to and from class.

Over the period September 2018 to September 2019 1284 persons were trained.

"This initiative was a great success and contributed tremendously in building community-police relationship," Hanover explained.

In December 2018, he was promoted to Sergeant.

Then, on December 18, 2019, at age 32 and with just six years of policing experience under his belt, Hanover was honoured as the country's Best Cop, a prestigious award given annually to a member of the Force who has done exemplary work.

"The Best Cop award is one of the best I have received but seeing the smiles and satisfaction on the faces of citizens is the greatest award I have ever received," Hanover explained.

But despite receiving this respected accolade, Hanover has no intentions of slowing down.

In fact, the award has only motivated him to work harder and to continue to inspire people, young and old, both within and out of the Force, to strive to become the best versions of themselves.

“I believe that my job is very important because of the area I function in.

Training plays an integral role in the Guyana Police Force. It is an area that holds the responsibility of producing the standard of Police that is required. That’s why I love my job so much because I get to make a difference in the lives of young people.”

34 FEATURE

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

Kaysia Schultz bats for Guyana in the Regional Super50 earlier this year

By Brandon Corlette

B

artica is not a well-known area for cricket but Guyana female player and West Indies Women prospective player, Kaysia Schultz is making this change in Region Seven, Cuyuni Mazaruni.

This young cricketer brings joy to her hometown as she continues to climb the cricketing ladder. Born in the festive town of Bartica on April 17, 1997, Schultz spent her childhood days there before moving to the city when her brother passed away.

At a tender age of 10, Schultz found her love in cricket, while attending school and plying her trade. During an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Schultz, who is fresh from a stint in Trinidad and Tobago where she played female franchise cricket in the Christmas season, stated that her journey in cricket began in the backyard and along the streets where she gained an introduction to the game.

“I started to play at a very tender age off of my own, it’s a given talent and as I started school, cricket led me to meeting so many people that led me to my destination where I am currently at. It used to be backyard cricket and playing alongside streets, if not I’d find myself with a ball constantly tossing it to the wall catching and so on for multiple hours”, Schultz stated.

The left-arm spinner who bats righthanded played for both Guyana senior and junior female teams. She took her game to the next level in cricket when her friend and National teammate, Lashauna Toussaint advised her to join the cricket club GNIC where the hardball cricket all started.

Schultz had found it difficult in the early days as her parents didn’t want her to play cricket at the inception. “It was very difficult after all not even my parents had wanted me to play in the streets so normally I would sneak out and just to go and play wherever the boys were playing. After that, I had many scolding and it never stopped me”,

difficult for females but hard work and determination will get the job done.

Reflecting on her good year on the field, she recalled her best bowling figure; five-wickets for two runs when she represented Demerara at the inter-county level.

Orin Bailey, Bharat Mangru and Ryan Hercules were some of the coaches that helped Schultz along the way. “They have helped me in every little area of my game, and I must thank my parents for being there for me at every moment”, Schultz disclosed.

Reflecting on her maiden call-up to the West Indies set-up, Schultz stated that it’s a learning process.

“Well, every day is a learning process for me.

I was happy for this opportunity to go and learn more and learn really fast. I’m utmost dedicatSchultz in ac tion at the W ed naturally from withest Indies tr aining camp in to go and do my best at in Antigua the very best of my ability”, Schultz Schultz explained. As the disclosed.

2020 cricket season looms, In 2019, Schultz had the opportunity in multhe young left-arm spinner tiple training camps for the West Indies Women. is seeking to make great strides after a producAt first, Schultz explained that she had never tive 2019. known of females playing hardball cricket, and it’s

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

By Rupa Seenaraine

A

s many positive stories are shared during this festive time, Sharon Isurdeen’s journey is one that speaks to determination and relentless hard work in order to achieve those goals.

Perhaps, her husband, Uttamkumar Isurdeen rings a bell – the avid cricket lover who has been an active voice for wheelchair users across the country, ever

since he lost his ability to walk in an accident some nine years ago. However, Sharon’s story brings a sprinkle of inspiration to those who may need a little encouragement in their daily routines or others who are confronted with hurdles that may seem impossible.

During an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, she told her story – of taking up the mantle as the breadwinner of the family while working as a full-time teacher and also, attending university.

According to the 35-year-old who hails from the Pomona Housing Scheme on the Essequibo Coast, she experienced a life-changing incident in the year 2010 which she distinctively recalled.

“In 2010, two years after marriage, my husband was a victim of a vehicle accident. He was travelling to work as a passenger when a speeding bus toppled, causing him to suffer from spinal injuries which left him confined to a wheelchair to date. Things changed, a lot had to be adjusted. I had to take up the role of a father and husband. I had become the sole breadwinner of my family and I am doing my very best to maintain my family,” Isurdeen remembered.

During the time of the accident, she was a student at the Cyril Potter College of Education and despite numerous challenges, she chose to continue, graduating in the year 2012 with credit. This is while caring for her only child, Narindra

FEATURE 35

Isurdeen, who is now 10 years of age.

As an agricultural science teacher by profession, Isurdeen said she was given a lifetime opportunity in the form of a scholarship to study at the University of Guyana in 2016.

During the 2019 convocation, she successfully graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, majoring in Agricultural Science.

Of course, this entailed moving from her home to the East Coast of Demerara to facilitate class sessions.

Looking back at her early life, the mother of one expressed that opportunities were scarce, and little resources were available to reach new horizons.

“I grew up during the harsh time in life where little opportunities were offered and resources were hard to acquire due to minimum availability of resources. But I cooperate and had I clear understanding of the struggle my parents were going through then. So I've developed a sense of contentment and make much with what we had.”

Now, she has insisted that this journey has equipped her to handle the bigger challenges that lie ahead. Of course, support from her family and friends has played an integral role. She expressed that the Chairman of Banks DIH, Clifford Reis, who would have sponsored her university education is also a key individual in her accomplishments.

“Having developed these skills, I am now capable of handle even bigger challenges. My greatest support is my family who stood by me until now. My husband and son, my friends especially the ones on social media, my students, and most of all, Mr Clifford Reis, who granted me a scholarship to complete my study. I am so grateful to them all.”

At the moment, she said reaching greater heights is also in the future plans, “I want to further my studies. I am praying and hoping to do my Masters very soon but this can be challenging financially [so] I am hoping that I get a scholarship or any other assistance that will help in this venture.”

Her advice to women who are faced with setbacks is: “My advice to everyone especially my ladies is that education is the key to success but self-discipline is the key to all accomplishments.

Respect yourself and others will respect you. Keep the right people in your circle and stay away from anything that will lessen your value. Always set goals and work diligently to achieve them.”

Sharon told Sunday Times Magazine that family time is essential to unwinding after a long week. It also brings the focus into play for the days ahead.

Her son and husband, who are ardent cricket fans, would opt to attend most of the matches.

She tags along as well.

During the holidays, she would collect items for care packages, which would be distributed to families in need.

These include any packaged food item that can prove useful.

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PRESERVING OUR LITERARY HERITAGE

2019 year in review: Books

by

‘Jung Bahadur Singh of Guyana: 1886-1956’ by Baytoram Ramharack Focusing on unsung heroes of Guyana, Baytoram Ramharack follows up on his ‘Against the grain: Balram Singh Rai and the Politics of Guyana’ with another significant work, ‘Jung Bahadur Singh of Guyana (1886-1956): Politician, ship doctor, labor leader and protector of Indians’. The blurb says that JB Singh was a pioneer in many ways in Guyana and the Caribbean and that his ‘contributions towards nation-building in Guyana were unmatched by many of his peers…JB Singh relentlessly advocated for universal adult suffrage’.

Petamber Persaud

T

he number of books published during 2019 was not as large as in 2018 but this does not take away from the quality of the works published.

Below are some books crossing my desk during 2019*.

‘We Mark Your Memory: Writings from the Descendants of Indenture’ ‘We Mark Your Memory: Writings from the Descendants of Indenture’ edited by David Dabydeen, Maria del Pilar Kaladeen, and Tina K. Ramnarine was launched in Georgetown on Tuesday, May 7, 2019. This book was published to mark the centenary of the abolition of the system in the British Empire (2017–20).

It is a collection of new writing of prose and poetry from across the Commonwealth.

‘Spontaneous Deluge’ by Alicia Budhram Alicia Budhram is an environmentalist, vegan, poet and psychology student.

Her first collection of poems, ‘Spontaneous Deluge’ was launched on August 18, 2019, with elaborate décor and celebration matching the scope of the writing and appreciated by a large audience, an impressive number for a book launch on a Sunday. Her first poems came to her spontaneously and that led to a book of almost fifty poems ‘touching of themes of domestic violence, inner dialogue, personal growth, emotions, self-exploration, universal search and man’s destruction of nature’.

‘The Poor Man’s Wisdom’

by Vanrick Beresford Vanrick Beresford’s ‘The Poor Man’s Wisdom’ was launched on November 29, 2019, in Georgetown. It is a collection of eight of his books including ‘Crown – The Analysis of Life’, ‘The Poor Man’s Wisdom’, ‘The Revelation of Jesus The Christ’, ‘Heavenly Wisdom – Mighty Words’, ‘The Seven Pillars of the Church’ and ‘Guyana in Prophecy’.

‘Rubberoadsters’ by Michael Castello ‘Rubberroadsters’ is a collection of thirteen ‘riveting thrillers’ mainly about people who have lived or who have come into contact with the Rubber Tree Road in Mabaruma, North West District. All of the stories are based on real life incidents and that is what makes this book really interesting for the writer has skillfully woven fact into fiction. This is Castello’s fifth book of stories from the heartland of Guyana.

‘Come Lehwe Reason’ by Eric Huntley Eric Huntley ‘Come Lehwe Reason: A Journey of 50 years with Walter Rodney’, written and compiled by Eric Huntley, was published Bogle L’Ouverture Publications.

50 years of the journey with

Walter Rodney is detailed in fifteen chapters with a ‘publisher’s note’ at the beginning, numerous photographs within and a list of books by Rodney at the end, all coming together to make this book more than just a collector’s item.

Many bits of information are new, others well established facts, both arranged in a new setting and from a new perspective. Rodney’s life and work unfolded in the following chapters, namely, ‘Jamaica Sojourn’, ‘Africa to the Rescue’, ‘The Spark has been lit’, ‘Diary of Events of 16th October, 1968’, ‘Reaction to the ban’, and ‘Poetic Tributes’ in which one significant development must be mentioned and that is the banning of Rodney by Jamaica led to the formation of the Bogle L’Ouverture Publications and its first publication, ‘Groundings with My Brothers’.

‘The Evolution Of Writing In English By And About East Indians Of Guyana, 18382018’ by Ameena Gafoor Following in the wake of her magisterial work on Roy Heath in ‘Aftermath of Empire: The Novels of Roy A.K. Heath’, published by the University of the West Indies Press, Ameena Gafoor has produced another book of immense import to the literature of Guyana but particularly and more importantly this book is a timely addition to the slim list of scholarly works on the writings of East Indian of Guyana.

‘The Evolution Of Writing In English By And About East Indians Of Guyana, 18382018’ has been compiled with meticulous care to details and great concern for the preservation of the literature of East Indians. This work, coming 180 years after the arrival of East Indians to Guyana, flies in the face of sins of omission and sins of commission with regards to the composition of the literature of the region. The quantity and quality of literature that was bought here by the people who came is an indication that the Indians who came were not mere ‘illiterate peasants’ and that their contribution to the literature of the region was slighted and undervalued.

One of the reasons for Gafoor’s most recent publication is ‘a significant effort to set the record straight with respect to Indian Guyanese literacy, and literary scholarly production’ (Dabydeen).

Gafoor spells out the objectives of this work saying that ‘this bibliography seeks to capture the imaginative and objective writings of East Indians in Guyana including statements by Guyanese artists as well as statements by art historians and critiques by art critics of the significant works of visual arts produced by Guyanese artists of East Indian extract…includes works of Anthology, Literary Criticism, Critiques on the Visual Arts, Creative Writing, Social History, Education, Governance, Politics, Journalisms, Accounting and Financial Management’.

More importantly, this work is organized in chronological order to better trace the development of the body of writings’. This timeline serves many purposes including events that may have has ‘an impact on the consciousness of East Indians in Guyana and, in some instances, prompted the writings’ and facts that possibly ‘shaped the lives of East Indians as well as citizens in modern Guyana’.

‘A Hidden Legacy’ by Kim Sheldon ‘A Hidden Legacy’ was shortlisted for the London Literary Festival and according to its author, ‘it is about a painting done by Allan Ramsay who was the Court painter in England during the late 1700s and he actually painted Queen Charlotte with her natural features because it is said she was a mixed race woman and it [the novel] is about how the main characters in my book have been painted out which were the two children of colour. They were painted out and covered up because slavery at that time was either popular or unpopular and if you were nouveau riche in that business, you didn’t really want to say you were in that business. The book is about their lives; how one child returns to the Caribbean becoming a revolutionary and

the other one, a girl, joins the abolitionist movement. KS One of the things I wanted to put into to it because this is the real hidden legacy as well for there were black people in London and at the time, there were 15,000 black people which people rarely talked about – some did well in life, some had normal lives, some did not do so well in life.

But there were many interesting people there of colour and many of my fictional characters will meet true life character like the famous violinist George Bridgetower’.

‘My book of Poetry 1’ by Alicia Daniels This book consists of fiftyone poems written for various occasions, opportunities gifted her by her local church as she addressed ‘Mohter’s Day’, ‘Father’s Day’, ‘New Year’s Eve’, and ‘Easter’. Her poems appeared in The Guyana Annual.

‘Is you madness, nah me own’ and ‘Blackout Daze’

by Gabrielle Mohamed The blurb of the first title says Ms Mohamed ‘is a Creole poet employing her country’s native vernacular and post – colonialist notion within her work in the hopes of avoiding a resurrection and resuscitation of the colonialist touchstones’ as portrayed in poems like ‘welcome to the graveyard a imperialism’, ‘Elizabeth, de un-Indian Coolie gurl’ and ‘Great Grandmudda Lakshmi’.

Mohamed is a prizewinning poet and her work was first featured in The Guyana Annual.

‘Ma Mae’s Legacy’ by Melva Archer-Persico ‘Ma Mae’s Legacy’ is Persico’s first collection of stories where she is like a live griot at a storytelling session inviting the audience to participate. As the blurb says the book provides ‘a snapshot of life in Guyana from the early twentieth century to the present’ by way of focusing on the following themes: ‘life in matrifocal households …Love, betrayal and dysfunction…

Growing up …growning old…

Migration, heritage and the diaspora’.

‘Kiskadee Days: Village People’ by Gaitri PagrachChandra ‘Kiskadee Days: Village People’ was born of an adventurous spirit and the stories are adventures into the past of a rural Guyana during the colonial and post-colonial eras and are coloured by characters that we can relate to, ladies of various shades and shapes and of different inclinations and callings such as the pastry maker, the washerwoman, the village gossiper, the roadside vendor, with generic names like Miss Lady and Marajin, all of this coupled with the ‘budderashun lil bias’ [boys]. Gaitri PagrachChandra’s storytelling skill is at its best when she mixes humour with pathos and Standard English with Creolese.

‘Kiskadee Days: Village People’ is food for thought, adventure and nostalgia.

‘The Dark of the Sea’ by Imam Baksh Imam Baksh’s ‘The dark of the Sea’ is yet another awardwinning title following ‘People of the Spider’ and numerous prizewinning stories appearing in The Guyana Annual.

‘The Dark of the Sea’ is a sort of indictment of our education system and dysfunctional rural community and the author uses this to spin another fantastical adventure this time beneath ‘muddy waves’ of the Essequibo River where a disadvantaged school boy becomes a hero.

‘Shame on me’ by Tessa McWatt ‘Sharing my Memoirs- My big book’ by Frank Narine ‘Under the Tamarind Tree’ by Rosaliene Bacchus ‘Woman Value and Purpose: a key piece in creation’s design’ by Ediclia Bastardo ‘Oil Dorado: Guyana's Black Gold edited by John Mair and Neil Fowler *Manuscripts (and there are a few on my desk) not included.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

STANTON ROSE JR: THE JOURNEY…

By Timothy Jaikarran

A

s the Shakespeare quote goes, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them”, that was the situation for Stanton Rose as he followed along the lines of his father. As a child growing up in Kwakwani, Rose Jr was taken by his mom to many of his father’s basketball games and was particularly inspired at a tender age on how the sport unified the people in the village.

Born on December 26, 1999, to Vashawn Hopkinson and Stanton Rose Snr in the village of Kwakwani, Rose Jr was always destined for greatness from the first breath he took.

Twenty-year-old Rose recalled the first time he got through his into basketball, which was former coach, Ann Gordon. He was around the age of eight, but couldn’t play because it was against high schoolers who were on the team but nevertheless, she allowed him to practice, recognising the talent he had. Rose then played his first official school tournament on June 1, 2015, a year after he was cut from the under-19 basketball team, being only 14 at that time.

Still full of talent, Rose did not let his disappointment sideline him but continued to press towards the higher mark.

“Even though I only got to play three years of high school basketball, it went great. I had a lot of achievements for such a short time. All three years I was the youngest on the team. My first year (2014), I played with a lot of experienced and older players who gave me a lot of knowledge. We played a regional tournament and I left with the MVP and in the national tournament, I got the most assists.

That same year I made my first junior national team as well.

“I also got called up to play for the Bounty Colts Basketball Club. My second year (2015), I became the captain of the team and finish the National Tournament, with the MVP, best scorer, and most assists. That year I think was the highlight of my young basketball career. I got the MVP of the Road To Mecca tournament and was the youngest to do it. My last year of school basketball was (2016). My last year was the

best year, I lead the team to the first and only 3-peat in the school tourna-

ment, also won the MVP, best scorer, most assists, and the defensive player of the tournament.

That year I was called up to play for friendly in Jamaica with the senior national team,” Rose said.

Seeing his career hit an all-time high at such a young age, Rose finally realised that Guyana was not where his career would have remained.

But, he would now see the fruits of his hard work and dedication spring to life before his very eyes.

“Through playing for the senior national team in the 2018 CBC tournament I got an offer to play overseas. After scoring 41 points

ing a

I

got

against the St Vincent team, I got a call from Baylor University which I was unable to be accepted because of me not havhigh school diploma. But there was a junior college in Texas called Jacksonville Jaguars that

an

of-

fer from t o play abroad which was coached by Aaron Smith. He called and talked to me and told me how much he loves my playing style and told me he wanted to give me the opportunity to play for him and that’s where it started but he moved from Jacksonville and is now coaching at Panola College where he took me with him also.”

Heading into 2020 with his future brighter than ever, Rose is optimistic that from Panola Junior College he’ll make his way to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to play for a four-year college which will lead to him playing pro basketball.

“It does not matter where but the NBA is my main goal.”

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

Credible…

C

…elections? aretaker President Granger says he wants “credible” elections. We’ll see. That he had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, to accept every electoral decision that had been straightforward for decades – like selecting a GECOM Chair – doesn’t give folks much hope. With Granger, he only “agrees” when he’s already gotten what he wanted in the first place.

So, when he’s going along with the voters’ list – which has actually ADDED more names to the one he claimed was BLOATED BY 200,000 names – your Eyewitness just knows that something ain’t kosher.

The fix is in…it’s just the PNC’s so experienced with rigging, you’re never sure exactly which one of the old tricks they’ll pick out of their hats this go-around. We just got some names that were registered by GECOM in empty lots in which cows were grazing. Back in 1968, it was horses over in England, where the overseas “votes” would put Burnham’s PNC “over the top”. At that time, the first NRR – created by the PNC to extract the voters’ list — was also fiddled with to have “PNC” kids under 18 years old vote. With Felix in charge of issuing birth certificates today, who’d know??

Your Eyewitness doesn’t think that, on this goaround, the PNC will have the GDF collect ballot boxes and count the votes at Camp Ayanganna, like they did back in 1973. They’re aware the breeze is blowing from a different direction nowadays, and they can’t be as bold and brassy as that!! Count on them to have some burly “voters” with authentic-looking ID cards rush polling places in their stronghold areas (garrisons?) right around the time the polls are supposed to close. Will all those foreign “observers” for “credible elections” be there to stem the stampede?? Do they want to be accused of preventing Guyanese from exercising their franchise??

Then there’s the pivotal role of the Presiding Officers – all chosen by your PNC-friendly GECOM Secretariat officials. They have opportunities for throwing quite a few wrenches into the elections works when those returns have to be combined and forwarded to GECOM. Not to mention GECOM’s IT Department – which is a Black Box to most Observers, even if they were allowed into that area – which they’re not!!

But even outside the elections’ preparations, look how Caretaker Granger’s breaking all Caretaker Convention Rules by doling out goodies to his base in a manner that puts Santa to shame!! That G$700M Bartica power plant just commissioned? On top of raising their regional allocation from G$226M in 2015 to G$1.9Bln in 2019!! Reg 10?? Don’t even talk about the Passport Office; street lights; new asphalted roads; TV station; G$178M state-of-the-art, eight-lane synthetic track. Plus the G$3 billion electricity subsidy!! …campaigning?

Parliament’s dissolved today, and your Eyewitness can now shout, “Let the games begin!!” And believe him, dear reader, it’s going to be all games –not necessarily fun!! All skin-teeth nah laff!! Way back in the day, Roman Emperors invented what one acerbic critic called “bread and circuses” – to ensure the citizens keep them in power. The “bread” was actually wheat, which was distributed to the masses much like all the goodies the PNC are handing out as described above.

The circus? These were games organised in stadiums to entertain the masses to take their minds off their daily trials and tribulations. In Guyana, the politicians have come up with the music-filled rallies.

Granger, for instance, will kick-off the PNC’s campaign with a huge rally at the G$1.5 billion corruption-riddled Durban Park. It’ll be headlined by Soca singer Farmer Nappy, and supported by a welter of locals, all from the PNC’s base.

But Granger didn’t just pluck that March 2 date out of the air: Mash will be on Feb 23, so expect a month of bacchanal!! …ERC??

The ERC had tele-pastor Kester Deane apologise to Hindus for maligning their religion. They then had that Indian UG student who’d posted a racist video apologise a second time.

Now that Deane has recanted, what will the ERC do?

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

Caricom Chair stresses importance of regional cooperation

C

hairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Allen Chastanet has commended member states for their cooperation and solidarity in both times of success and hardships, reminding of some of the achievements as well as challenges all through which the Community has continued to stand firmly.

In his end-of-year statement issued on Friday, Chastanet said that Caricom exemplifies that spirit, “when we celebrate our achievements in different fields of endeavour and when we stand in solidarity with those who are faced with adverse circumstances”.

In elaborating, he said that nation-states stood solidly at the side of the people of Grand Bahama and Abaco in The Bahamas as they were ravaged by Hurricane Dorian. “It

was heart-wrenching for me to witness firsthand the aftermath of that catastrophe which claimed many lives and demolished property and infrastructure.

However, it was heartlifting to see the response, as once again, the other Members of the Community, both individually and regionally, rallied to the support of a sister state in distress, under the direction of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA),” the Chastanet said.

The Chairman also noted that a major challenge faced by member states – climate change— and emphasised the importance of regional and global efforts to combat devastating effects which impact the Community.

“As we enjoy ourselves over the season, let us not neglect our responsibility to maintain the environment.

Let us, for example,

The Indian Arrival Monument Palmyra, Berbice

By Ryhaan Shah Figures stilled in mid-stride Forever moving into a future time Heads high and feet ready To take measure of the fresh earth Their faces marked by expectations Of a new life that will not swing about Untethered but will draw strength From all that has gone before Will grow from roots planted deep In the dholak that the boy bears In the goblet cradled in the mother’s arm In the ubiquitous cutlass the young man holds That will slice through the first edge of day And find rest at noon The tall cane cut and fallen Like so many warriors vanquished On a battle field of old This moment in time distilled Gives us the heroes who paved our way Their frozen stance belying the veins That run with the blood that was spilled To preserve honour To secure justice In their struggle for a place to stand To live, to be And so fulfil the promise of the journey And the arrival that here extends an arm To show the way and make the pathway safe For our foreparents who bore the brunt of pain Of whip and struggle To build and build by slow degrees This tomorrow where we now can stand And wonder at their courage And wonder at their fate When breaking new ground with nothing To hold to but faith and their unshaken belief That we That we their children Shall be here today to stand And look at them And know who we are And from whence we came

take heed of the global anti-plastic campaign which includes avoiding the use of plastic bags, single-use plastics and Styrofoam. Taking care of the environment is one element in building our resilience to mitigate the threats posed by climate change and other issues which threaten to derail our development efforts,” he stated.

Further, he added that Caricom will continue to build economic resilience through its cornerstone, the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) which will benefit all members and their nationals.

He also mentioned the critical importance

of Caricom strengthening certain significant aspects in order to reduce threats to the Community.

“The strengthening of our internal arrangements and our actions in concert have been critical in our attempts to minimise threats to the viability of our economies and financial sector, such as those posed by blacklisting and denial of correspondent banking. The disruption to daily life and commercial transactions by those actions is a significant fetter to stability and prosperity,” he said.

Chastanet also stated the importance of building and maintaining allies in the interna-

Chairman Caricom, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Allen Chastanet

tional community which would allow member states the opportunity

to influence on the international stage and advance our interests.

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Satiricus Review - 2019

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

Satiricus Review - 2019

“He vex? Leh he haul ‘e ass!

I gon get de PM wuk... neva mind ‘e green shut!!”

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44 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

Cops destroy over 5000 marijuana plants in Berbice River P

olice destroyed over 5000 marijuana plants in two fields they stumbled upon in the Berbice River on Sunday.

Reports are between 08:40h and 15:00h, a team of Police ranks conducted a marine patrol/ eradication operation in the Berbice River.

During the exercise, they found the two fields with marijuana plants measuring from six inches to six feet in height.

The marijuana plants that were burnt in a field in a village near the Berbice River

Along with the fields, two make-shift camps with a large quantity of dried cannabis were also unearthed.

According to Police, the ranks burnt plants along with the two camps. Additionally, the dried cannabis was also destroyed by fire. No one was at the sites when the police arrived.

No arrests have been made. An investigation has been launched.

Jamaica's economic expansion continues despite economic shocks

M

inister of Finance and the Public Service Dr Nigel Clarke is pointing to the improving resilience of the Jamaican economy given the economy's modest expansion, despite external economic shocks in the third quarter of 2019.

“STATIN reported earlier this week that the Jamaican economy grew in the June – September quarter of 2019 by 0.6 per cent over the June – September quarter of 2018. Modest economic expansion therefore continues despite the closure of the JISCO/Alpart plant in the September 2019 quarter and the corresponding 17.6 per cent decline in output in the important bauxite/ alumina sector as a result,” Dr Clarke said.

The minister noted that news of the JISCO closure has been in the public domain for months and the anticipated economic impact has most probably been priced in.

“The closure of JISCO was expected to impact growth in the 3rd quarter of 2019 and is expected to impact the 4th quarter of 2019 as well.

However, the fact that the economy still expanded overall, despite a decline of nearly 18 per cent in the critical alumina sector as a result of the JISCO/Alpart closure, is a credit to the improving economic resilience of the Jamaican economy.”

Clarke highlighted that the international context is important.

“US-China trade tensions and lower global

growth have led to declines in the prices of many commodities including alumina, iron ore, soybeans and copper. As a result, growth in Latin America and the Caribbean for 2019 is forecasted by the IMF to average only 0.2 per cent. Though Jamaica is affected by the same external shocks, our 2019 growth is ahead of the Latin American and Caribbean average. It may not be much comfort but this context is nevertheless important.”

The minister said growth in the Jamaican economy in the third quarter of 2019 now makes it 19 consecutive quarters of economic growth, the longest unbroken stretch of economic growth since Jamaica started measuring growth quarterly in 1997.

The previous longest unbroken period of consecutive quarterly economic growth was only nine quarters.

In looking forward to the 2020/21 financial year, Dr Clarke said there is full expectation that economic growth will return to the previous trajectory prior to the JISCO/Alpart closure.

“The projection is for economic growth for the 2020/21 financial year to return to levels above one per cent. The Government will continue to use all levers at our disposal to elevate levels of growth beyond this across the medium term,” he said. (Jamaica Observer)

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

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Jagdeo details plans to tackle corruption

A

s parties gear up to contest next year’s General and Regional Elections in about two months’ time, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has outlined plans that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) will implement to tackle corruption in Government if it wins the upcoming polls.

Jagdeo pointed out that leading up to the 2015 elections, which ousted the PPP from office after 23 years, the APNU/AFC coalition played on the perception that the then Government was corrupt. However, he pointed out that after nearly five years in office, the governing coalition has failed to present any concrete evidence to prove this.

As such, going into the March 2, 2020 polls, the Opposition Leader said the PPP has to tackle such issues frontally.

This includes outlining a clear plan of how it intends to uphold transparency and accountability in office.

Among these efforts, he noted, is full reinstatement of the Integrity Commission. Jagdeo explained that despite persons in high public office being obligated to submit their declarations to the Commission, the coalition stopped this for three years.

“We made it clear that we will ensure that we not only make submissions going forward but that [the coalition] also submit

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

for those three years.

So resumption of the Integrity Commission and strengthening the body,” he posited.

Jagdeo, a former President, went on to outline too that the incumbent Administration has also managed to violate the country’s procurement laws – something they will have to correct as well.

“I’ve given one example where the law is explicit on approval of contract. [They] moved away from that explicit position that Cabinet should not approve contract, must only give a ‘no objection’ and if it

withholds the ‘no objection’, it has to say why and write the Tender Board. This Government has violated all of the procurement laws. We intend to return to upholding the procurement laws,” he stressed.

The Opposition Leader further noted that another area that the PPP will have to work on reversing doings of the governing coalition is the processing of duty-free concessions.

“This Government has resumed ministerial processing of dutyfree concessions. In the last budget, [Finance Minister Winston]

Jordan passed a legislation that says you can now go to him and he can wavier the VAT or penalty associated with VAT – that never happened under the PPP. We removed the right to process concessions. When I was Finance Minister at that time, we inherited a system where the Minister used to sign the duty-free letter. We changed that and we said GRA (Guyana Revenue Authority) must process it.”

According to Jagdeo, this is all enshrined in the laws. “… They wanted ministerial processing but we will return to

technical processing,” he contended.

He continued to point out that the PPP had published every privatisation done between 1992 and 2011 in a booklet, outlining details of those transactions, but under the coalition, many state assets are being privatised even without a Privatisation Board.

“We had the [Privatisation] Unit and then it goes to the Board, which used to have three members from civil society – labour, Private Sector and consumer affairs… Now NICIL (National Industrial and

Commercial Investments Limited) makes all the decision. We used to use Unit-Board-Cabinet… we have to return to that with oversight of privatisation and publication of these transactions,” Jagdeo stated.

As Guyana is now on the cusp of transformational development from its budding oil and gas industry, the Opposition Leader underscored the importance, now more than ever, of ensuring transparency and accountability in the sector. To this end, he reiterated plans by the PPP to ensure that all Guyanese are made aware of every dollar that comes in from the sector as well as the party’s intention to criminalise non-disclosure of oil money.

According to the PPP plans, its Finance Minister can be jailed for up to 10 years if he or she fails to reveal information of monies collected from oil companies within a short period and gazette.

Moreover, also among the plans on PPP’s anticorruption list are the passage of campaign financing legislation as well as making access to information easier for the Guyanese public.

“There are hundreds of things that we need to do or we can do to strengthen or even go back to what we had before… Those are just some of the ways you can strengthen accountability,” Jagdeo asserted.

Teen allegedly tortured by cops faces more pain

J

ust about two weeks ago, 17-year-old Ashkay Budhairam of Westminster, West Bank Demerara, was allegedly beaten and burned by two cops after he was kidnapped and held for several hours.

However, while his burns and other external injuries are healing, other complications have arisen. During an interview with his mother Seetadai Luj, she explained that her son is now bleeding and his ribcage area also hurts excruciatingly.

“His ribs hurting now and he just bleeding from his mouth. I didn’t carry him back as yet with concerning the blood but the burns healing now. We looking after it,” she explained.

When Guyana Times International spoke with the teenager, he had de-

Injured: Ashkay Budhairam

tailed the traumatic experience, saying that he was handcuffed, beaten and burned with hot water. Two law enforcement officers were tak-

en into custody for the alleged beating and torturing of the young lad.

They were charged jointly for abducting and assaulting the teen and re-

leased on bail.

“Right now, I feel that there is no justice for him. We don’t have money to ensure that these persons are jailed.

I tell myself to just leave it like that because we know what will happen…I’m a single parent mother with seven children,” Luj expressed.

Budhairam had recalled that he was with a few friends in a nearby village, Schoonord, when eight unknown men showed up with weapons in two cars.

They proceeded to attack his friends until he was snatched and put in the trunk of one of the vehicles in an unconscious state.

After driving for some distance, the young man said he was taken to a house in the same vicinity. Two constables, who are brothers and occupy

the said residence, alleged that Budhairam had stolen some items from their house. He was handcuffed to a bed and questioned about the missing items, to which he denied any involvement.

After that, he noted, a few of them proceeded to visit his house to search for the articles, while the beating continued. But the teenager claimed that nothing was found at his residence. Water was then heated and thrown on the lad. This is when he started screaming.

He was doused for a second time with the hot substance. The injured teen told this publication that the men were fearful that neighbours might hear his screams and opted to put him back into the trunk. He said that they took him

to a house where they handcuffed him to a bed frame, beat him and poured hot water on him while demanding that he reveal where the alleged stolen items were hidden.

He said that the car was moving for approximately 20 minutes and he managed to open the trunk and leap out. The men exited the car, but he had already jumped across the trench – one which they did not attempt to cross. As he looked up, it was a desolate location, some distance from where he lived.

After reaching home, Budhairam and his relatives filed a report at the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station and later went to the West Demerara Regional Hospital to seek medical attention.

47

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Hanging together…

S

…for survival ome were surprised at the sneaky announcement by the APNU and AFC of their new “revised” Cummingsburg Accord last weekend: no media invited. Now, since we all know publicity’s the lifeblood of any political campaign –millions are spent to get just a mention in the press –exactly what was going on when only an edited recording of the event is made available? The PNC’s trying to control the narrative of their coalition that is not a coalition, that’s what! And having pesky reporters ask inconvenient questions just wouldn’t do!!

So, what can we gather from the tea leaves in the carefully-released snippets? Firstly, there’s the colour of the cover of the Accord – green like Granger’s shirt – held by a smirking Granger and a grateful Ramjattan, with his yellow shirt discreetly hidden by his jacket.

This said it all – this accord was a PNC production that insisted not even a sliver of yellow be in sight!! We can judge THIS book by its cover!!

From their first go-around, we always knew this “coalition of convenience” was going to be totally about divvying up spoils! No argument about macroeconomic policy or such minor things like what to do with coming oil revenues and such like! It was all about who in the PNC and AFC would be getting what, when and how!! But the PNC had already announced that the AFC’s number of MP’s and Ministries were slashed so the only question left hanging was who’d be the PM bride to this union. Nagamootoo or Ramjattan??

Well, we’re nowhere closer to having that answer.

The two media outfits with inside access were noncommittal. News Source said Ramjattan was “likely” to be the PM candidate while all the Chronic would reveal was “the PM Candidate would be from the AFC”!! How could he skin his teeth while kept dangling in the wind? Poor Ramjattan: still the rejected runt after so many years and so many slights. Is he so consumed with hatred of Jagdeo that he’d even forego his last chance to get that tax-free PM salary and pension?? But what will be left for him? The AG post that commands the same salary as the PM? The pretence of the PNC at insisting that APNU was a “coalition” was pathetic! In addition to PNC leader Granger (and the aforementioned Ramjattan, skinning his teeth!), there were individuals who were supposed to represent the other members but in reality, represented their entire membership!!

Interestingly, Sharma and his son were there. Was this signalling that JFAP is double the size of the others “one-man” parties??

President Obama famously pointed out, “You can put lipstick on a pig but it still remains a pig!!”

And the AFC ain’t even got on lipstick!! …on Boxing Day Your Eyewitness is firmly convinced that the only reason we, in the Republic of Guyana, keep the British holiday of Boxing Day is to give us an extra day to recover from our excesses of Christmas Day!! We know for sure that no Guyanese goes around sharing “boxes” of leftovers to the needy!! While it may have been practised back in old Blighty when the nobility still enjoyed Droit du seigneur (the right to take the virginity of lower-class damsels) – the planters didn’t practise it here! The sharing, NOT the bedding!!

Now, your Eyewitness can understand folks being happy the messiah was born on this day and all. But do they have to express their happiness with such licentiousness and drunkenness? Starting from Christmas Eve, the revelry continued through the night so one woke up to Christmas Day as if it were a “stale booze” J’ouvert morning!

It’s said that some folks attend Church on Christmas Day…but they have to be an ever-diminishing minority in Guyana! …multi-religiously?

After a tele-pastor insulted another religion by insisting that their practices caused a deadly vehicular accident at Mahaicony, the ERC had him issue an apology.

Now that he’s recanted the apology, what’s the ERC’s gonna do with this recalcitrant priest??

A new beginning for Indian Guyanese

T

his New Year’s Day is very significant in the history of Guyana: it the 100th anniversary of the abolition of all Indian indentures in 1920.

Three years before, on March 12, 1917, “Indian Indentureship”, as an institution, had been abolished but those who had already been shipped out – including those on the SS Ganges, the last ship to British Guiana which landed on April 18, 1917 – would have had to serve out their five or three-year indenture.

On Jan 1, 1920, then, every Indian who had arrived as indentured servants or were descended from them, were now full citizens of this land. By then, unfortunately, forces had been unleashed that would influence the politics of Guyana into the present. Up to then, while in an objective fashion, indentured labourers had undercut the bargaining power of the African exslaves; this only led to hostilities on a few occasions, notably in 1856 and 1888 between them and the Portuguese, who had gravitated into businesses very early on.

But in 1914, after Marcus Garvey launched his “United Negro Improvement Association” (UNIA), the circulation of his “Negro World” newspaper stimulated a new consciousness and militancy in the African Guyanese population: a local branch was launched in 1919. In 1918, the Government had already raised concerns of the presence of “certain negroes” by the authorities Gov Collett leading to the “Seditious Publications Bill” to prohibit Garvey’s “Negro World Newspaper”.

Interestingly, the BGEIA which had been re-launched in Georgetown in 1919, supported African notables and organisations in opposing the bill.

But the new consciousness would raise political questions from developments in the sugar industry: it was the precursor to the “Indian and African Security Dilemmas” that fuels our politics to this day.

In 1917, there had been 138,140 Indians in the colony (43.99%) by 1920, this had decreased to 124, 586 (40.54%). This was due to over 12,000 of them succumbing to a flu epidemic in 1918 and 880 returning to India in

1919. By then the planters were in a panic about securing the “cheap and reliable” supply of labour they deemed essential to the survival of the sugar industry.

Wages in the industry had plunged during the war years but with sugar prices rising, the planters were loath to forego any profits. They persuaded the colonial administration to introduce the “British Guiana Colonisation Scheme” in 1919 to attract new immigrants.

Directly after the abolition of Indian Indentureship, a meeting of representatives of the Govt of India, and British Colonial Officers had met in London to devise a “new system” to attract Indian immigrants to the colonies.

In British Guiana, a committee was formed to consider the plan

as adumbrated by the Secretary of State. But matters languished until the crisis in the sugar industry manifested itself and precipitated the formation of a “Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society” in Jan 1919.

This met with a wide cross-section of individuals from all ethnic groups, public bodies and the Combined Court under the Chairmanship of the Mayor of Georgetown.

A “General Colonisation Committee” was formed including a special subcommittee to deal with the immigration of “negroes from the West Indian islands and Africa”. On Feb 5, 1919, the Combined Court passed the following resolution: “The Court respectfully requests the Governor to make ar-

rangements to send to the UK a deputation CONSISTING OF MEMBERS OF VARIOUS RACES with the view of laying before His Majesty’s Government a representation of the needs of the Colony both for the maintenance of present industries and for their extension; and to show the advantage which this Colony affords to immigrants from other COUNTRIES”.

As such, on 12th June 1919, Attorney General Joseph Nunan noted, “as the head of a seven-member team departed to hold meetings with the Colonial Office in London. The team planned to travel later to India and some British colonies in Africa to discuss migration proposals with their Governments.

The other members of the delegation were Dr Hewley Wharton, Parbhu Sawh and Joseph A Luckhoo (representing East Indians); and A B Brown, Mc Farlane Corry and Eric Robinson (representing Africans).

“The plan of this delegation was for the Indian delegates to travel to India and the African delegates to West Africa where they would try to explain the advantages British Guiana would provide to immigrants from those countries.”

(To be continued)

48 BOLLYWOOD

I

ndian singer Prateek Kuhad’s song “cold/ mess” has made it to former US President Barack Obama’s favourite music of 2019 lineup.

The list, shared by Obama on Twitter on Monday, has 35 songs which includes “Hello Sunshine” by rock legend Bruce Springsteen, “Show Me Love” of Alicia Keys featuring Miguel and “Go” by the band Black Eyed Peas.

“From hip-hop to country to The Boss, here are my songs of the

year. If you’re looking for something to keep you company on a long drive or help you turn up a workout, I hope there’s a track or two in here that does the trick,” the ex POTUS captioned the list.

Featuring actors Zoya Hussain and Jim Sarbh, Kuhad’s “cold/mess” featured on number 22 and the Delhi-based singer said he was honoured by the gesture.

“This just happened and I don’t think I’ll sleep tonight. Totally flipping out. I have no idea how

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

‘cold/mess’ even reached him but thank you @

R

Y

ami Gautam describes 2019 as one of her best years. She had two releases – Uri: The Surgical Strike and Bala, and both the movies impressed critics and the audience alike.

“2019 has been the most amazing year, professionally. My films Uri: The Surgical Strike and Bala have earned me commercial and critical acclaim. 2019 has been really gratifying for me,” Yami told indianexpress.com.

While in National Award-winning Uri, Yami Gautam got into the shoes of a no-nonsense intelligence officer, in Bala, she played a flamboyant TikTok star who had no qualms in accepting that she loved fame.

So did playing such varied characters help her as an actor?

“I would rather say

it has helped me evolve a lot as an actor. I always wanted and have been looking to do versatile roles. I am glad that they came my way finally! The success of both Uri and Bala have earned me so much love. The role of Pari (Bala) has only added confidence and faith in myself as a performer. With good filmmakers, interesting stories and diverse genres, I shall keep going,” she shared.

Yami Gautam is currently busy with Ginny Weds Sunny.

But she said there are a lot more things in store.

“I am hoping that 2020 is going to be a wonderful year as well. There are lots of things lined up professionally which shall get announced at the appropriate time. I am excited to welcome 2020,” she signed off.

(Indian Express)

icha Chadha did things which were poles apart in 2019. While the actor fought for a rape victim in courtroom drama Section 375, she tickled the funny bone of the audience with Amazon Prime Video’s One Mic Stand. Richa also reprised her role of Zarina Malik in Inside Edge 2.

2019 also saw Richa shooting for several projects which are currently in the post-production stage. Recalling her year, Richa said, “In 2019, I began learning a new form of dance. I learned how to ride a bike. I took music lessons, and I started to sketch again.

These are the few artistic things I added to my skill set. And I think

barackobama, thank you universe. I didn’t

think 2019 could’ve gotten better, but damn was

what changed me this year was a lot of reflection and inner work.”

“So, 2019 for me was busy. Full of travel, work and personal growth,” Richa Chadha added.

In the coming months, the actor will be seen as former adult film star Shakeela in a biopic. Many are also looking forward to her sharing screen space with Kangana Ranaut in Ashwini Iyer Tiwari’s Panga. Her delayed Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai, directed by Anubhav Sinha, is also expected to release in 2020.

Richa Chadha further said, “I look forward to 2020. It’s the beginning of a new decade. I have my hands full of interesting work. I am finally

able to do the kind of work I always wanted to do, and I am delighted about it. And I look forward to some changes in my personal life as well.” (Indian Express)

A

nurag Kashyap may not have had a release this year, but the filmmaker will start 2020 on a high note with Netflix’s Ghost Stories that is set to release on January 1.

Along with Kashyap, the anthology will have short films by Zoya Akhtar, Dibaker Banerjee and Karan Johar.

In a chat with indianexpress.com, Anurag Kashyap spoke about his short film that features Sobhita Dhulipala in the lead role. He shared, “It’s about a woman who goes through a miscarriage and is trying to conceive again. There’s a lot of fear and anxiety in the story.

There is a lot more which you will know once you watch the film. The story came from Isha Luthra,

and the credit must go to her. She wrote this when she was just 22, and really surprised me with her talent.”

Sharing that he loves collaborating with the other three filmmakers, the director said, “I love the august company, and we really have a lot of fun together. I hope

we get to explore further and do more projects together. Each short film in the anthology gives an idea of how the director thinks. You will figure out how they look at life from their films.”

Anurag Kashyap further shared he enjoys the horror genre, especially psychological sto-

I wrong. What an honour,” Kuhad replied on Obama’s tweet.

Sarbh also gave a shout-out to the singer on Twitter.

Previously, Obama shared his favourite movies and TV shows of 2019, and the list includes Phoebe WallerBridge’s “Fleabag” season two, limited series “Unbelievable”, Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” and Korean filmmaker Bong Joonho’s genre-defying class drama “Parasite”.

(Indian Express)

ries. He added, “I have never made horror before, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I want to do more of it now, though it’s not easy.” Kashyap also stated that making a short film is a liberating experience, “You get rid of a lot of pressure, and that’s really liberating.”

The filmmakers’ last collaboration Lust Stories had received an International Emmys nomination. Ask him if Ghost Stories also has the potential, the director smiled, “I haven’t thought about that. I actually never plan. After my first film, I didn’t even know if I would be able to make my second.

And here I am, 27 years in the industry.” (Indian Express)

HOLLYWOOD 49

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

S

haron Stone can now return to mingling on Bumble without being kicked off the dating app.

A Bumble spokesperson said in a statement Monday that Stone’s profile has been restored after it was “mistakenly” blocked. The 61-year-old Golden Globe-winning actress said on Twitter the day before that Bumble closed her account and she asked, “Is being me exclusionary?

Don’t shut me out the hive.”

Bumble apologized for the confusion but thought users could have

A

ctor John Boyega says the idea of becoming famous after his debut in Star Wars franchise scared him.

The actor, who joined the movie seres as Finn in The Force Awakens and followed it up with The

G

al Gadot starrer DC superhero sequel Wonder Woman 1984 is the most anticipated movie among the releases next year, according to American movie ticketing company Fandango. The film has whipped up the excitement among the fans through its impressive trailer that has grabbed their attention.

Marvel Studios’ Black Widow was the runnerup. The list also includes Marvel’s own Eternals, Mulan, No Time to Die

viewed Stone’s profile as fake because there was no verification.

“Being the icon that she is, we can understand how so many of our users felt it was too

Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker, said he used to feel that the pressure of fame would push him into drugs.

“It was stressful to think ‘I’m going to be famous and then it’s all going to be over’. I thought I would lose

good to be true once they noticed her profile wasn’t photo verified,” the statement said. “Photo verification is just one of the many ways to connect with confidence on

Bumble.”

Bumble extended an offer to host Stone for a few hours of profile prep at their headquarters in Austin, Texas.

Stone is best known for starring in the 1992 drama “Basic Instinct” and the 1995 crime film “Casino.” She has been married twice, the first to producer Michael Greenburg and then journalist Phil Bronstein, who she divorced in 2004.

The actress’ rep didn’t immediately return an email message from The Associated Press. (Indian Express)

myself, do drugs and die,” Boyega, 27, told Sunday Mirror.

The actor, however, is coming to terms with his celebrity status and wants to produce films at some point in future.

(Indian Express)

and others.

The full list of the movies is as follows: 1.Wonder Woman 1984 (June 5) 2. Black Widow (May 1) 3. Marvel’s Eternals (Nov. 6) 4. Mulan (March 27) 5. No Time to Die (April 10) 6. A Quiet Place Part II (March 20) 7. Birds of Prey (Feb. 7) 8. In the Heights (June 26) 9. Pixar’s Soul (June

19)

10. Fast & Furious 9 (May 22) Gal Gadot has another reason to celebrate as she topped the list for most anticipated actress of 2020. Scarlett Johansson, similarly, came second. Emily Blunt, Margot Robbie and Zendaya were at the third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Gal Gadot returns as the Princess of Themyscira in this 80s set sequel which also brings back the director

Patty Jenkins. The film follows the immensely successful Wonder Woman, and strangely Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor is back too. Patty Jenkins is directing it as well, and Kristen Wiig plays the role of Cheetah, Wonder Woman’s archvillain. Pedro Pascal is cast as Maxwell Lord.

Robin Wright too will be seen in flashbacks as Antiope. Wonder Woman 1984 releases on June 5, 2020. (Indian Express)

S

tar Wars was still rising in the last weekend of the year, while Little Women broke big at the box office.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker brought in 72 million dollars over the weekend to remain the top-earning film in North America by lightyears, according to studio estimates Sunday.

In 10 days of release it has brought in 362.8 million dollars for Disney, falling just short of the earnings of its predecessor, 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi in a comparable span.

Helped by the Christmas holiday week, Star Wars had a smallerthan-average 59% dropoff in its second weekend after earning 175 million dollars in its first.

“For a movie that opened that big, that is a modest drop,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “Movies that open this time of year, they usually have legs.”

Sony’s Jumanji: The Next Level, earned 35.3 million dollars for second place and has tallied a total of 175.5 million dollars through its third weekend of release.

Director Greta Gerwig’s re-imagining of the American literary classic Little Women had a 16.5-million dollars weekend and a five-day total of 29 million dollars since its Christmas opening, a major performance for a smaller-audience film with a budget dwarfed by the top two films.

The film, also a Sony release, starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and Laura Dern, scored big with both audiences and critics and is gaining momentum as an awardsseason favorite.

“With Greta Gerwig’s reputation as a filmmaker, a great cast and a perfect holiday release date, they’ve got quite a hit on their hands,” Dergarabedian said.

Uncut Gems, an even smaller film that has also sparked awardsseason buzz for Adam Sandler’s rare dramatic performance as a jeweler and gambling addict, entered the top 10 for the first time as it expanded to more screens in its first week. The film earned 9.6 million dollars over the weekend and has brought in 20

million dollars overall.

Director Sam Mendes’ experimental World War I epic 1917, earned more than 1 million dollars since its Christmas opening despite showing in only 11 theaters. The huge per-screen average bodes well for the film’s nationwide opening next month as it ramps up its Oscars campaign.

As 2019 ends, annual overall box office revenue is down by 4%, though it gained ground in its latter months, narrowing a deficit that was 11% in April, and 2018 was always going to be tough to beat.

“Last year was an outlier,” Dergarabedian said. “It was just a massive year.”

Between Marvel and Star Wars, and its animation divisions, 2019 was utterly owned by Disney, which had all five of the year’s top grossing movies: Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King, Toy Story 4, Captain Marvel and Frozen 2.

And with The Rise of Skywalker ending the year at No. 7 and Aladdin at No. 8, the mega-mouse ate up seven of the top 10 spots.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.

Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included.

1. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, 72 million dollars, (94.3 million dollars international).

2. Jumanji: The Next Level, 35.3 million dollars (61.6 million dollars international).

3. Little Women, 16.5 million dollars, (6.3 million dollars international).

4. Frozen 2, 16.5 million dollars, (42.2 million dollars international).

5. Spies in Disguise, 13.2 million dollars, (16 million dollars international).

6. Knives Out, 9.7 million dollars (6 million dollars international).

7. Uncut Gems, 9.6 million dollars.

8. Cats, 4.83 million dollars, (13.6 million dollars international).

9. Bombshell, 4.7 million dollars, (157,000 dollars international).

10. Richard Jewell, 3 million dollars.

(Indian Express)

50 SPORT

ICC to consider mandatory four-day Tests F

our-day Test matches could become mandatory as part of the World Test Championship from 2023, with the ICC's cricket committee likely to formally consider the change in 2020 amid widespread discussions among member boards about how to reduce numerous pressure points in the global cricket calendar for the future.

However, the world's cricketers stand as the most likely source of opposition to the change, with many viewing the step up from four-day first-class games to fiveday Tests as a critical point of difference at the top end of the long-form game.

The ICC's increasing demand for event windows, the proliferation of domestic T20 leagues, the BCCI's demands for its own sizeable share of bilateral calendar space, and the costs of staging Test series are all factors contributing to the move, which would shave off

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

a significant amount of time from the calendar for the 2023 to 2031 cycle.

As an example, mandatory four-day Test matches rather than five-day matches during the current cycle from 2015 to 2023 would have freed up a total of 335 days of scheduled cricket over the period, a valuable amount of time that would also be enhanced by the ability to consistently schedule Test matches on a Thursdayto-Sunday basis, not dissimilar to the rhythm of golf tournaments on the world's major professional tours.

It would also allow for more Test series to played over three or five matches, affording host boards and broadcasters a greater share of the higher revenue-raising early days of a Test without having to budget for a fifth day. Australia's recent history against India has seen Test series played over four matches for a total of

20 scheduled days - the same number that would be scheduled for a fivematch series of four-day Tests.

Matches played over four days would likely see the increase of the minimum overs in a day from 90 to 98, meaning that over four days only 58 scheduled overs would be lost. There has been an increasing proliferation in the number of Test matches finishing inside four days - more than 60% of matches played since the start of 2018 have ended in four days or fewer.

"If we have a clear picture of how it all works in an improved and wellstructured schedule, then it would be something that could be taken to the players for their consideration"

Tony Irish

"It is something that we have got to seriously consider," Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts told SEN Radio this week. "It

is something that can't be driven by emotion, but it needs to be driven by fact. We need to look at what's the average length of Test matches over the past five-ten years in terms of time and overs.

"We need to look at it very carefully and perhaps it is more likely than not in the mid-term future. What we absolutely will do is that over the next 12 to 18 months, is make sure the cricket calendar is nailed down for the years 2023 to 2031. What we are committed to doing is working with all the ICC members - nobody is saying it is easy but what we are doing is looking at it holistically and we are committed to doing that."

The contrasting view, shared among many players, was provided by Australia captain Tim Paine at the conclusion of Australia's 247run victory over New Zealand in Melbourne.

"We might not have got a result if we'd done that in the Ashes, I think every game went to a fifth day," he said. "That's the point of difference with Test cricket, it is five days, it's harder mentally, it's harder physically, and it tests players more than the four-day firstclass fixtures do. I think

that's what it's designed to do, so I hope it stays that way."

A shift to four-day Tests would place an even greater premium on the quality of pitches around the world, with curators being required to provide a surface that aids pace bowlers, batsmen and spin bowlers over their course, without the chance of an extra day for the pitch to deteriorate over. It would likely also force captains to think more in terms of scoring rates and declarations to create enough time to bowl opposition teams put in the reduced time available.

Tony Irish, the head of the international players' body FICA, said that while four-day Tests would provide a solution to many of the game's growing problems around squeezing cricket's three formats into the global calendar, such a move could not be made without an integrated approach to scheduling and a far more "coherent" structure for the international game.

"There are two aspects to four-day Tests, the cricket aspect and the scheduling aspect," Irish told ESPNcricinfo.

"It would take pressure off the schedule but our concern would be that the ad hoc way

Royals shoot their... some close to the basket, while Tappin showed poise in shooting and Belle added variety and steadiness with the female players Hunter and Carroll, who hustled their way into positions throughout the encounter.

In the end, LaRose finished with eight points and Tappin six, to lead the Royals to that win.

For the Kwawkani team, Bethune and David each had four points in a losing cause, as their players came up short.

After the final, Stephens, a former coach and current president of the Kings Basketball Club, told the gathering: “Myself, the Kings Organisation and the LABA made this possible. There were a few hiccups, we ironed it out

and I must compliment Mr. Gravesande and his official team. There were (possibly) a few bad calls on both sides.”

He was particularly happy that parents came it to support their kids.

Stephens was very serious about discipline in the game, and he accosted a player who was unwilling to adhere to one of his teammates, saying: “If needs be, the tournament could go lower to under-15, or lower to ensure that players understand the seriousness of being disciplined.”

He noted that players also have to “respect the referees and teammates always.”

He said that once the LABA is on board again, they want to have another tournament targeting the female players’ involvement once more, this time with two male

the schedule currently works they would simply plug in more cricket into the gaps. If introduced it therefore has to be part of a more coherent structure.

"We would need to understand exactly how the cricket aspects are intended to work and we would need to take that to the players. In the past, many players have been against a change to four days. However, if we have a clear picture of how it all works in an improved and well-structured schedule, then it would be something that could be taken to the players for their consideration.

"Unfortunately with the ICC there is a history of introducing these types of changes in an unstructured way and that would need to change. We reckon they need to do a lot of work on how the schedule will look and not just present it as a concept."

Four-day Tests have already been added to the calendar in a limited form, for matches such as a Test between South Africa and Zimbabwe, and then England hosting Ireland earlier this year. Australia will likely play its first four-day Test against Afghanistan at home next summer.

(ESPNCricinfo)

FROM PAGE 54

and two female players.

This tournament, unlike the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation’s (GABF) recent National Under 18 3×3 qualifiers to select a team to represent Guyana next year in a regional tournament in Guadeloupe, which was won by Victory Valley Royals, was specially arranged for Under 18 Boys, but was open to any age category among the female players, to ensure more participation by clubs.

To reach the final, Kwakwani ‘A’ eliminated their ‘B’ side 12-5, upturning an earlier loss to them in the preliminary round of play; while the Royals again shot their way past Kings 17-14, who had handed them their lone loss in the preliminary round of the competition.

SPORT 51

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Root, Lyon, Philander

- what the players think about four-day Test cricket T

he ICC is exploring the idea of regular four-day Test cricket, to the point of possibly making it part of the 2023 Test championship. The argument for the move is that it could free up a calendar that is currently clogged with too many fixtures.

But there is also a worry that without the fifth day, chances of a definitive result might reduce.

Here's what the players think.

Joe Root, England captain: I think here's a place for it in the game "I do," he told Sky Sports. "Whether that's across the board or can it be flexible - we've obviously played one against Ireland. I'm sure that pitch would've been fit for a three-day game. I think it's worth trialing.

I do think it's worth trialing and it might not always make sense for England to play especially if it’s against Australia or some of the bigger sides but it might draw a bit more interest with some of the countries who struggle to get people in the ground."

Former England captain Nasser Hussain prompted Root about the possibility about spin going out of the game if there isn't enough time for a pitch to deteriorate, especially outside Asia. "If you don't try it you don't know," Root replied. "You should be open minded enough to at least try it and see how it goes. I think the most important thing is not making a definitive decision. I love playing five days of cricket personally. I think it's the best format. The extra day, like you say, it really does make [sure], majority of the time, 99% of the time, the best team's won the game.

Nathan Lyon, Australia offspinner: I hope ICC aren't even considering it "Ridiculous. I'm not a fan of four-day Test matches," he told The Unplayable Podcast "I believe you'll get so many more draws and day five is crucial.

"One, there's the weather element. But the wickets these days are probably a lot flatter than they have been

the day. We were coming off at 5.30 and there was bright sunshine on most days and you can definitely squeeze in half an over there and make up another eight overs. In the calendar these days, it's definitely something that you have to consider. The pitch does deteriorate enough in four days to get a result and I think that will also make groundsmen prepare pitches that will force results in four days, like we had at Centurion.

We'll also probably have it at Wanderers where the cracks open up. It's something to consider."

Joe Root

in the past, so it allows teams to bat longer and to put pressure on sides.

You need time for the pitch to deteriorate and bring spinners in more on day five as well.

"It's a challenge You're challenging yourself in different ways physically and mentally. It's not just a walk in the park. Five-day Test matches, they are hard work especially if the conditions aren't in your favour. You want to challenge yourself. I'm all against four-day Test matches."

David White, New Zealand Cricket Chief executive: It demands serious attention "Given the congested schedule, four-day Tests demand serious consideration in order for us to accommodate an increasingly packed calendar ICC world events, bilateral arrangements, and domestic leagues," he told the Telegraph.

Glenn McGrath, former Australia fast bowler: Hate to see it get shorter "I'm very much a traditionalist I like the game the way it is. To me five days is very special and I'd hate to see it get any shorter. The introduction of pink Tests, day-night Tests is a great way to continue keeping our game fresh and moving forward. In respects to changing how many days it’s played, I'm actually against it. I like the way it is."

Jos England

Buttler, wicketkeep-

er: In this day and age, we have to consider it "Test cricket is the pinnacle but you have to be open to change," Buttler said. "I think the game has changed and if four-day Test cricket could preserve and potentially improve Test cricket I think it has to be looked at. I think we all love a five-day finish with all three results possible on the last day but can four-day cricket be a success? I think if it's done properly it can be. In this day and age we have to consider all the opportunities to see how we can do what's best for Test cricket."

Vernon Philander, South Africa fast bowler: I am a purist "I hope five-day Test cricket doesn't come to an end," he said. "There is only one format and that's Test cricket. T20 cricketers come and go and the names come and go, Test cricket is the ultimate. Hopefully we can still see five-day Test matches. I know there has been a lot of talk about having four-day Test matches but I am a purist when it comes to cricket and I would like to see Test matches survive for five days."

Tim Paine, Australia captain: Merit in trying it out for the odd Test "I think it should be taken into consideration," he said. "I dare say going back six or seven years if you let the players decide on pink ball that probably wouldn't have happened.

There is always going to be some give and take. I think there is some merit on it being in the odd Test like we did with England and Ireland.

But I think the big marquee Test series, the Test championship stuff has to stay five days."

Rassie

van

der

Dussen, South Africa batsman: Pitches will change to force results "I've never played a five-day match in my life," he said. "It's difficult to say. In terms of over rate, we were a bit slow [in Centurion], England were also a bit slow, so there is definitely scope to fit in more overs in

Keshav Maharaj, South Africa left-arm spinner: I just want to play "I just want to play Test cricket, whether its five days, four days, two days," he said. "I just want to bowl and hopefully get some runs when I bat. I've got no issues with the duration of the Test match, I just want to play Test cricket."

(ESPNCricinfo)

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Kohli ends 2019 as No. 1 Test batsman A

career-best fourth position for Marnus Labuschagne and a move up to No. 10 for Quinton de Kock were the headlines of the year-end ICC rankings for men's batting in Test cricket. India captain Virat Kohli stayed on top of the list - for 274 days in 2019 - with second-placed S t e v e n

Virat Kohli kisses the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Smith, who was the No. 1 batsman

for 91 days earlier in the year, behind him.

Labuschagne's scores of 63 and 19 in Australia's 247-run win against New Zealand in Melbourne pushed him up by one slot from No. 5. He began the year ranked 110th, with only two Tests against his name, but was prolific in his 11 outings in the format since, making 1104 runs in 17 innings at an average of 64.94.

Wicketkeeper-batsman de Kock, meanwhile, advanced eighth places to get in the top ten following his Player-of-the-Match contribution, with scores of 95 and 34, in South Africa's 107-run victory in the series-opener against England in Centurion.

Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins retained

his spot atop the bowler's rankings in Tests following his first-innings fivewicket haul in Melbourne.

He has occupied the top position for 322 days this year, while South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada, who was No. 1 for 44 days after starting 2019 in top position, finished the year at No. 3.

Replacing Rabada in the second spot was New Zealand quick Neil Wagner, who climbed one position on the back of his seven-wicket match haul in Melbourne. The retiring Vernon Philander advanced three positions up to No. 5 to complete the top five on the bowlers' rankings alongside the fourth-placed Jason Holder, who continued to lead the allrounders' rankings in Tests. Save for

the fifth-placed R Ashwin, who climbed up one spot, the top five allrounders in Tests - Ravindra Jadeja, Ben Stokes and Philander the others - retained their spots.

As far as team rankings for the World Test Championship (WTC) go, Australia consolidated their position in second place of the points table.

They added 40 points from their win in Melbourne to take their tally to 256 points from nine games.

Top-placed India are 104 points clear of Australia while South Africa collected 30 points after their first win in the WTC and trail New Zealand and England, who occupied the fifth and sixth positions with 60 and 56 points respectively.

(ESPNCricinfo)

Trevor Penney named assistant coach for West Indies white-ball teams

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the appointment of Trevor Penney as the new West Indies Men’s Assistant Coach, on a two-year contract. Penney’s area of expertise is fielding, and he will work with the team for the white-

ball formats (One-Day International and T20 Internationals).

According to CWI, the 51-year-old will join the West Indies team on January 2 as they start preparations for the upcoming International Home Series against Ireland. The tour will

feature three Colonial Medical Insurance OneDay Internationals and three Sandals T20 Internationals from January 7 to 19.

Penney has a strong record as a successful coach with various teams around the world.

He is also a former play-

er for Warwickshire County Cricket Club where he played 158 first-class matches and 291 List A matches in a career which spanned close to two decades. He has worked with several international teams as well with franchise teams. He was Head Coach of Sri Lanka, fielding coach of India, and consultant coach to the Netherlands.

He also served as assistant coach at King’s XI Punjab, Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League; as well as assistant coach with the St Lucia Zouks and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the

Trevor Penney

Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Most recently he was part of the Barbados Trident coaching staff during their successful campaign in the 2019 CPL. West Indies Head Coach, Phil Simmons said: “Trevor is an excellent coach and has demonstrated this everywhere he has worked.

He has huge experience with Sri Lanka and India at the highest international level, and in most T20 leagues around the world including the CPL. He brings enormous energy and is very well respected by all the players.”

Penny said: “I’m thrilled and excited to

be given this opportunity to work with this brilliant bunch of cricketers and staff led by Kieron Pollard and Phil Simmons. I’ve been lucky enough over the last few years to work with several members of the squad and the Caribbean is like ‘home away from home’ for me being involved in the CPL. “We have two big T20 World Cups coming up (in Australia 2020 and India 2021) and it’s my aim to try and improve everybody and be as good as we can and hopefully win those two major ICC events for the great people of the West Indies.”

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Holder rested for Ireland ODIs F

ormer One-Day International (ODI) Captain Jason Holder has been rested for the first two ODIs of the three-match series against Ireland starting next week, as selectors move to manage his “heavy workload”.

The fast bowling allrounder is the only change to the Kieron Pollard-led squad which went down to India last month on the subcontinent, and chief selector Roger Harper said yesterday Holder's engagement in all three formats meant it was important he was afforded the opportunity “to recharge his batteries”.

“The decision was taken to rest Jason due to the heavy workload he has had over the last year,” Harper explained.

“With an important year ahead for West Indies cricket, we saw this as the best opportunity to give him a break to recharge his batteries and refresh his mind so he could be ready to perform at his best as our Test captain throughout 2020, as the number one ranked all-rounder in Test cricket and an important member of the team in the white-ball formats.”

Holder led West Indies in ODIs for 4 ½ years but was sacked following the series defeat to India in the Caribbean last August, which came in the wake of the Windies dismal campaign at the World

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder

Cup earlier in the year.

He retained his spot in the side and also forced his way into the Twenty20 squad, after presiding over Barbados Tridents' capture of the Caribbean Premier League title last October.

The 28-year-old has continued in charge of the Test side and has emerged as the world's leading all-rounder in the format, where he averages 32 with the bat and 26 with the ball.

Last year, Holder played five of West Indies' six Tests, 27 of his side's 28 ODIs and nine of their 12 T20s.

Meanwhile, selectors have resisted the temptation to make changes and have kept faith with the remainder of the squad despite the recent series loss to India which marked their 10th straight series defeat to the subcontinental powerhouses.

There was no recall for left-handers Darren Bravo

nor Kieran Powell in spite of their heavy scoring in last November's regional Super50, with fast bowler Oshane Thomas also overlooked despite his 17 wickets for Jamaica.

Harper said despite the recent result against India, the Windies had exhibited qualities which suggested that improvements were being made.

“The Afghanistan and Indian series told me that the team is making very positive

strides,” he pointed out.

“Winning the ODIs against Afghanistan, our first ODI series win for five years, followed by the very competitive performance against India is testament to that. The team demonstrated a determination to compete and gave it every effort.

“Against India the batting was consistent and while the bowling had its moments, it is clear that we have to improve our 'death' bowling. However, the fact that the team played in such an organised and competitive manner consistently augurs well going forward.”

West Indies will face an Ireland side which has beaten them only once in 10 meetings, but Harper labelled the series a “must win”.

“This series against Ireland offers us the opportunity to build on the performances in India, build confidence as a team and for individual players,” he stressed.

“Just like the series against Afghanistan, the Ireland series is an important one for us, one we must win.”

SQUAD – Kieron Pollard (captain), Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr (CMC)

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LINDEN: 4X4 U-18 B-BALL TOURNAMENT…

Royals shoot their way past Kwakwani to capture title B rilliant shooting and aggression were hallmarks of the National 3×3 Under-18 Basketball Champions Victory Valley Royals as they crowned themselves the inaugural winners of the novelty 4×4 Under-18 championship over Kwakwani ‘A’ on Saturday night.

The finale ended 1814 at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court, in a tournament which was staged by United States-based Lindener Gary Stephens in association with the Kings Basketball Club and the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA).

The Royals showed their Royalty once more, as their combination of the National champions Emmanuel LaRose, Kobe Tappin, Omar Green and Delroy Belle, in addition to the female players who

had to be on the court according to the rules of this special tournament, in Cliffana Hunter and Reshaba Carroll, proved a winning unit.

In the thrilling final, they held off a surging Kwakwani ‘A’ side comprised of YBG Under-16 Titan Bowl Most Valuable Player Hosea Conway, Elijah David, Hansel John, Huon Bethune and female players Shakeila Sampson and Kennesha Leacock.

It was a superb final, and Kwakwani were in with a chance as they pressed hard for second chances and possession at times, but the will of the Royals proved superior in the end, and justifiably handed them their second crown of the year at this level.

The Royals’ Emmanuel LaRose and Omar Green were aweTURN TO PAGE 50

The successful Victory Valley Royals team

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESINTERNATIONAL.COM

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