Guyana Times January, Friday 17, 2020

ERC launches “I Am Us” movie to promote harmony

P15 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4168

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

PRICE

Elections candidates’ lists

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Political party fraudulently obtained nominator’s name See story on page 3

…PPP/C vows to implement “tougher legislation” on electoral fraud

GDF fit to protect borders – Granger tells Army conference See story on page 15

CANU intercepts fertiliser truck with cocaine, ganja

Page 2

23 Haitians fined for P8 attempting to depart Guyana illegally “Brukup” gets life imprisonment for 2017 nightclub P10 murder

GTU condemns violence P15 against teachers, demands better security

2 charged P14 for wedding house murder

Over 500 illegal Contents of scales seized by AG Report GNBS in 2019 worrying – FITUG Page 9

– 159 masses, 15 measures were also confiscated

Page 9

“You can’t run a country through P11 vindictiveness” – Ramotar

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CANU intercepts fertiliser truck with ganja, cocaine

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he Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Thursday intercepted a fertiliser-laden truck destined for Berbice with a large quantity of ganja and cocaine along Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

Based on information received, two white salt bags containing the drugs were collected and loaded onto the truck by the occupants.

The bags contained 40 parcels of cannabis weighing 22 kilograms and two parcels of cocaine weighing 2.74 kilograms.

As a result of the bust, four persons were arrested and taken to CANU’s headquarters, where they

were assisting with the investigation. The drug enforcement unit says it will continue to tighten its grip on narcotics distribution across the country.

In October 2019, CANU and the Guyana Police Force’s Narcotics Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department destroyed $188 million worth of cocaine and marijuana.

The illegal substances destroyed were from matters covering the period 2013 to October 2019 that were successfully concluded in the courts.

It was reported that the GPF accounted for 133 kilograms of cannabis and 74 kilograms of

cocaine. CANU accounted for 30.7 kilograms of cocaine, 210.2 kilograms of cannabis, 304 grams of heroin and 602 grams of an unknown substance.

The destruction of the illegal substances is the second such exercise carried out by the law enforcement agencies in a short time-span, with the last exercise being conducted in November 2018.

During that exercise over $513 million worth of cocaine and cannabis were destroyed. A total of 132 kilograms of cocaine and 440 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed by the Police while 345 kilograms of cocaine and 554 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed by CANU.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Friday, January 17 – 10:30h-12:00h and Saturday, January 18 – 12:00h-13:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, January 17 – 09:50h-11:20h and Saturday, January 18 – 11:00h-12:30h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals will prevail during the day.

Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to East NorthEasterly between 1.34 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 09:48h and 22:20h reaching maximum heights of 2.41 metres and 2.35 metres.

Low Tide: 15:49h reaching a minimum height of 0.82 metre.

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Elections candidates’ lists…

Political party fraudulently obtained nominator’s name …PPP/C vows to implement “tougher legislation” on electoral fraud

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he Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) says it will implement tougher laws to guard against electoral fraud, after discovering that names were once again fraudulently obtained; this time in Region One (Barima-Waini) by a party for its lists of candidates and nominators, which were presented to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to enable the parties to contest the upcoming polls.

“We intend to tackle seriously laws on fraud surrounding the electoral process; to pass tough legislation. We cannot allow conmen and con artists (to lure persons) into supporting their lists or becoming candidates on their lists when those people are unsuspecting and they don’t even support them,” PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo promised at his weekly press conference on Thursday.

He pointed out that this is fraud, against not only those unsuspecting electorates, but the country as a whole, since those culpable political parties will get approval to go on the ballot paper when they would not have even legitimately had the minimum requirements to be there.

So far, GECOM has indicated that of the 13 parties that made submissions at last Friday’s Nomination Day, 11 have been approved to contest the March 2 elections.

But according to Jagdeo, the PPP/C was informed by GECOM after Nomination Day that it needed to replace a name on its Geographical List for Region One because one individual, Elroy Thomas, is on another party’s list.

“So we decided we’ll replace that name, because we have thousands of supporters in Region One. But Mr Thomas contacted us and said, ‘I never agreed to be the candidate or backer for any other party. I support the people’s Progressive Party. I’ve always supported the party’,” the PPP General Secretary related.

He also said that Thomas told him there was an individual going around communities in the region collecting names of about 50 persons, claiming that they are just checking to see whether they’re on the voters’ list.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

“So we traced this… individual, and the individual then said he was collecting it for the Carter Center.

So entire lists of candidates and backers could be fraudulently before GECOM, and the problem is: you and I – anyone of us – could become a backer and we would not even know, because it would not be made public; and because somebody forged our signature, or told us something else, like: ‘You’re signing for your pension’, like what they did at Whim… and then you become a supporter and backer for a political party,” Jagdeo posited.

This is not the first time this is happening. On Nomination Day, ahead of the November 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE), dozens of lists of names and signatures purporting to be backers of candidates were palpably defective because of forgeries.

In fact, some 50 persons of the Whim/Bloomfield Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

had their names fraudulently affixed to the backers’ lists for LGE in the Ancient County. They claimed they were tricked into signing an Alliance for Change (AFC) nominators’ list to contest the local government polls.

This led the PPP to file legal actions to have the names removed. However, High Court Justice Navindra Singh dismissed the cases, saying that after investigations, he did not find any evidence to convince him that the nominators were forced to sign the list.

Against this backdrop, the PPP, over the past days, had called for the Elections Commission to take criminal actions against parties or persons who are found culpable of fraudulently obtaining names of persons on their lists. In fact, the PPP General Secretary had reiterated those calls on Nomination Day itself.

Nevertheless, Jagdeo on Thursday went on to question the integrity of those parties engaging in these acts, saying that they are

aspiring to get into the highest office in the country but are starting that journey with fraudulent acts.

“A lot of people would not even know they were there on the list, because they would never see the list. So there should be a requirement in the future that the lists of maybe all the candidates and backers be published for a few days before, so people can go and say, ‘I did not support this party. I did not sign any backers’; furthermore, that was forged’, and then take strong police actions – criminal actions – against those individuals. It’s utterly disgusting,” Jagdeo posited.

Current regulations allow the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) to publish the lists of candidates and nominators of each party at the end of Nomination Day. He would place these lists outside his office, and just over one week’s timeline is given to process these lists before they are gazetted nine days later.

This short and dated timeline has raised the issue of electoral reforms, for which numerous and repeated recommendations have been made by both local and international observers over the years.

While the need for electoral reforms, and constitution reform as a whole, has long been highlighted, during its campaign trail leading up to the 2015 elections which got it into office, the APNU+AFC Coalition had committed to have these reforms done, but is yet to take tangible steps to do so – something for which it has received much criticism.

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

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

Stop violence against teachers

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hen consequences are not felt for wrongful actions, the likelihood of a recurrence is very high, and that is exactly what was repeated on Wednesday when a parent walked into St Agnes Primary School and, among other things, kicked a teacher several times.

Of recent, there have been all types of assault on educators in Guyana. It is true that teachers have grown accustomed to students misbehaving, but today that has turned into lack of respect. And who else to better teach children respect than their parents? But when a parent takes it upon himself/herself to walk into a school and kick a teacher several times over a dispute, what example is that parent setting for their children?

The Education Ministry acknowledged in a statement on Thursday that any criminal act perpetrated by any parent or other person of the public on teachers, students or any member of the education sector ought to be met with the fullest extent of the law. “In this regard, the Ministry has taken the position to assist victims in their pursuit of criminal proceedings against perpetrators in instituting the appropriate criminal charges”, the statement read, but it is certainly not enough, and moreso, it is unacceptable. To merely condemn an assault/attack on a teacher does not negate the responsibility of the Ministry to provide proper security systems at schools countrywide.

Each time a situation like this arises, a statement emerges almost instantaneously that “violence in schools will not be condoned”. But rather, the question to be answered is: What tangible security steps have been implemented since the last attack on a teacher?

What was said on Thursday, “the public is assured that as investigations are underway, some crucial decision will be taken and instituted in an effort towards ensuring that incidents of this nature would not be repeated,” does not answer that question. As was previously stated, it is sad that Guyana’s school system has been reduced to such a capricious level. But while many may want to cast blame on the school system for this degradation, it must be understood that moral values and respect are aspects of children’s development that are learnt at home.

Families play an important role in creating and sustaining peaceful and inclusive societies, which are indispensable for sustainable and inclusive development.

Through the Social Protection Ministry, the Government must pledge to support families in parenting and in imparting core values.

While it is conceded that there is no quick-fix in relation to the issue of violence in school, there must, however, be stringent security measures in place to protect our teachers. Therefore, support must be given to the Guyana Teachers Union’s (GTU’s) call for all teachers to dress in black and white on Monday.

According to the GTU, “This is to indicate to our employers that we are dissatisfied with security arrangements put in place for teachers…By 10:00hrs, all schools must post a picture of staff in their black and white outfits with caption, ‘Parents! Stop the violence against teachers’.”

Children spend the better part of their lives with their teachers, and these very teachers, with open hearts, pave the way for children and often times take on the impossible tasks of managing misbehaving children. There was a time when parents recognised this and showed teachers the respect they deserve. There was a time also when a strict warning from a teacher was enough to get a child back in line. Seems that those times have faded in our memory. The impact of assaulting a teacher takes an emotional toll, not only on the individual, but on his/her family. This can be devastating, but does not stop there, since the school itself is impacted.

The act of a parent hitting a teacher should be condemned at all levels of our society. Lack of respect for our teachers has evolved into a more serious situation, and should be dealt with in the severest of manners.

Country Manager of ExxonMobil, Ron Henson, along with Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton and Director of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe, posed for a photo after unveiling the First Oil Exhibits at the Guyana National Museum on Thursday evening

Mitigating the risk of elections Rigging Dear Editor, I am grateful that the Carter Center will be observing the upcoming polls. I have also read in Times that more international experts arrived to assist GECOM and to prevent rigging. This is a step in the right direction to restoring democracy in Guyana but it does mean we can relax. We are approaching the March 2 polls against the following backdrop: · The election comes on the cusp of mega oil finds. · The last election was decided by less than 5000 votes, which means there is no margin for error. · PNC which morphed into APNU is the incumbent and that party has a long history of electoral fraud. · PNC/APNU supporters dominate GECOM but notably also the justice system and the security forces. · Experience with the NCM has shown that PNC/ APNU/AFC is prepared to break the law to remain in office. · There is abundant evidence to show the incumbent, APNU/AFC, is abusing state funds and resources to fund their campaign and buy votes. This include the misuse of budgetary funding, the gifting of contracts to supporters, spending outside of the budget, use of state owned resources – vehicles and public servants and the state owned media, disproportionately, for campaign purposes.

Given the institutional bias within GECOM and the limited number of international observer personnel it is imperative for the Observer Missions to deploy their resources in a coherent and strategic manner to mitigate the risk of election rigging. The following are the key issues in my opinion: 1. The List – If the list is padded with fake names the risk of rigging goes up expo-

nentially. The Carter Center should obtain the list, which was certified for and used in the LGE in November 2018, and zero in on all subsequent additions and deletions. There is no case for GECOM to add even one unverified name from the H2H given that a single vote could be material as was seen in May 2015 in Region 8. Secondly, if unverified names are included in the list this could be an opportunity to later challenge the results in the Courts where the incumbent knows it has an advantage.

2. Ballot Stuffing – The hour prior to close of polls extending to the end of the count, verification and posting of the results is the most crucial period. If observers wish to prevent rigging they have to be present in high risk areas where violence and threats are used by rogue agents to suppress voters and to gain unrestricted access to ballots to carry out ballot box stuffing i.e. the illegal conversion of unused ballots for their own party’s benefit. These high risk areas are well known and exist mostly in Region 4. If the list is padded, more ballot paper will be in the field than necessary and this compounds the problem. It is therefore important for observers to have a permanent presence in these high risk areas until the SOPs and ballot boxes are dispatched.

3. Transposing the Results – I have belatedly learnt that at the May 2015 polls, where PPP/C agents were not present and this is mainly because of threats and violence in high risk areas mentioned above, rogue agents with an affiliation to the incumbent transposed the voting results when it did not suit their purpose. In other instances, their party’s turnout was inflated and simultaneously subtracted from the other contestants.

The accurate compilation

of the SOP is crucial and again it is dependent on observers and party representatives being on hand to witness same.

Only the diplomatic community has the leverage to pressure this caretaker Government and the police for the latter to be present during and after the count and to safeguard and escort said observers and party representatives out of violence prone zones. Given the high risk and low materiality, any failure on this front will lead to a compromised ballot.

It is important to point out that by noon of polling day in the May 2015 elections the Carter Center announced that the election was free and fair.

If this was a lesson consider it lesson learnt. However, in interest of restoring democracy in Guyana we cannot afford another premature declaration.

For persons who are now learning that voting results were transposed it is only because the previous GECOM Chairman was keen to prevent violence and because the Courts, nearly 5 years later is still hear the PPP/C Election Petition, that illegal acts from the 2015 Elections remain hidden from public view.

3. Preventing Collusion from Within – International observers have to be present within GECOM to get a firsthand view of what is happening in real time. This level of monitoring is important to (a) assess and stress test the system and the people operating it, (b) prevent collusion and the covering up of illegal acts and (c) to gather data from internal sources for comparison and corroboration with information from external sources.

4. Securing the Ballots – The observers should ensure adequate measures are in place to physically secure used and unused ballots and SOPs in the event they are needed for validation. Ideally,

they have to assess security features on SOPs and ballots and reconcile ballot inventory ordered, paid for, received, dispatched, returned and utilized.

5. Expediting the Results – The longer it takes to announce the results the more opportunities for manipulation and the more the likelihood for unrest and violence.

By my estimation the numerical results could be tabulated in under six hours and it should not take more than 12 hours to physically receive and recount any ballot box from the most remote region in Guyana. The swift announcement of the results could prevent a Nigel Hughes - 34 is majority of 65 argument. In the same vein, the diplomatic community must be prepared to take a firm stance against any interference or spurious legal challenge to the elections results.

6. Setting the Tone - The diplomatic community knows that in 1992 Hoyte had to be read the riot act before he agreed to free and fair elections and even then rogue elements in the PNC were ready to loot and burn. There is now widespread concern that the March 2 polls will be rigged and there is speculation that preparation for same began with the undocumented Haitians. We have to expect the worst and this is why getting the list right will be a crucial first step.

The Carter Center through the diplomatic community should make it known that attempts to rig the elections will not be tolerated in the strongest possible language.

On behalf of all Guyanese who desire free and fair elections our many thanks to President Carter and his team and the other Observer Missions that are here.

Sincerely, Ravi Ram

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

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

Where are the missing audited accounts?

Dear Editor, Four of the largest stateowned entities: NICIL, GuySuCo, GPL, and AHI (Marriott Hotel), have failed to: (i) have their audited account laid in Parliament (due

by Sept 2019 for calendar year 2018); (ii)file their Annual Return, which includes their audited financials, at the Deed Registry (due by June 2019 for 2018). Both of these statutory requirements are set out in the Companies Act. APNU/AFC campaigned on transparency and accountability; their record shows the opposite. In fact, one must conclude that their failure to comply with the law is intentional, and is intended to hide the performance of these entities. And this is the tip of the iceberg. This pattern of delinquency - in failing to produce and publish audited financials for state entities and statutory bodies - extends across dozens of entities.

The evidence is part-

ly revealed in the Auditor General’s Report on the 2018 accounts. This AG Report was made public in January 2020 after it was delivered by the AG to the Speaker of the National Assembly in September of 2019.

The evidence: NICIL: Page 41 of the AG report states the last year of audited accounts is 2013; financial statements for 2014 to 2016 have been submitted by NICIL, but the audit is not complete. No financial statements for 2017 or 2018 have been tendered to the Auditor General. It now appears that, as of Jan 2020, the last audited financials of the largest company in the country is 2013 (or seven years ago).

The PPP ensured that financial statements were submitted for the last complete year of its office, in 2014, to the AG for audit before the 2015 elections.

The audit for 2014, 2015,

2016, 2017, and 2018 are all now outstanding. Where is the Board of NICIL or the Minister of Finance?

NICIL consolidated accounts are also missing for many years. These accounts cover all its subsidiaries.

There is no mention of this in the AG’s Report.

GuySuCo: There is no mention of GuySuCo in the AG’s Report.

Searches on the web indicate that the last audited account of GuySuCo is 2016.

We know that at end of 2017, Government stripped out of GuySuCo, by Vesting Order, most of its assets and vested these into NICIL. But there are no audited accounts to show how this was done, and what is left in GuySuCo or how it has performed. Where is Chairman Clive Thomas during this period? Or the Board, or the Minister of Agriculture or Finance?

Given the range of liabilities, the 2017 asset stripping

without protection of creditors may well be illegal. We can therefore conclude that, for 2017 and 2018, there are no audited financial statements that are available, or that these are hidden from the public purview. There is also no annual report laid in Parliament for this period.

Media reports show that GuySuCo production in 2019 of 90,000 tonnes was the lowest on record for this century or in the history of this company.

GPL: Page 507 of the AG Report indicates that 2018 accounts are audited. This is good.

What is not good is that these accounts are not in the public domain. In the last few years, GPL has stripped its website of its audited accounts, annual reports, and its filings with the PUC. Under the Electricity Sector Reform ACT (ESRA) and GPL’s licence, GPL is obligated to file a wide range of

information with the PUC every quarter, and to hold public engagements on these matters. As a public utility, this is important. Apart from the compliance with the various statutes, public disclosure of financial information is extremely important. The PUC and GPL both have an obligation to ensure that this happens.

Alas, disclosure and transparency both appear lacking at GPL, particularly in relation to its audited financial statements and annual report. Can GPL say which was the last year that its annual report was tabled in the National Assembly?

AHI (Marriott Hotel): Page 507 reports the last year of audited accounts of AHI is 2015. Therefore, no audited accounts have been produced for 2016, 2017, 2018, or 2019 (not due until second quarter of this year). We are now in 2020. From all reports, the hotel is doing well,

although the Entertainment Complex was never completed.

For APNU/AFC, who criticised the PPP over NICIL, AHI, GuySuCo and GPL, the lack of producing and sharing audited accounts is a critical element of transparency, accountability, and disclosure.

In fact, this is yet another broken promise from APNU’s manifesto. For all the criticisms, the PPP was considerably more transparent. And what lies beneath this lack of accountability is mismanagement, inefficiency, and inside/ secret deals. All of this will be revealed in time.

Finally, there were sections of the press that were attacking the PPP for accountability and disclosure. Why is the press now asleep with these glaring omissions in accountability and compliance with the law?

Name withheld

A blatant attempt to incite chaos and confusion Dear Editor, In my last letter, I pointed out the true intentions of the APNU+AFC Coalition in relation to constitutional reform. I explained why the comments from Mr. David Granger and many other senior leaders of the Coalition, including the People’s National Congress Reform Executive Basil Williams, concerning the removal of the No-Confidence Motion provisions from the Constitution amount to the Executive removing a significant check-and-balance in a parliamentary oversight system.

It would lend to dictatorial rule once again in Guyana if the Coalition is successful in achieving this goal. It is important that I remind that Britain inserted this mech-

anism in our Independence Constitution as it did in the Independence Constitutions of all its former colonies. In the creation of an omnipotent Executive, Forbes Burnham removed it from the 1980 Constitution. It is the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) that put it back in 2001.

Equally worrying and of great concern in the short term is the message of “gather in front of polling stations” after polls close on elections day, being preached to Coalition supporters by their senior leaders.

At a community meeting in South Georgetown, Winston Jordan stated, “…and when you done vote…you make certain that at six o’ clock you hanging around, you hanging around…if you move is trou-

ble. Comrades, we got to keep we eye, we got to mobilise, as soon as we done vote…keep our eyes on this thing, because we cannot afford for stuffing boxes, especially in certain areas…”

At another meeting in South Georgetown, Basil Williams stated, “Unless you go out in a determined manner…take care of our elections…protect your vote…be vigilant…protect your vote… stand up outside the ballot station…follow them…especially after the polls close.”

Editor, this is a blatant attempt to incite chaos and confusion, which can easily result in public disorder and violence on the 2nd March 2020. This type of clarion call will certainly put APNU+AFC supporters in collision with the Guyana

Elections Commission (GECOM) officials and the security officials, who have the responsibility of removing the ballot boxes from the polling stations to safety.

There has been much talk of observer missions that will be in Guyana prior to the elections. The Carter Center, which a few days ago announced the launch of their observer mission, in a statement, informed: “The mission will observe and examine key aspects of the electoral process, including the pre-electoral environment, status of the Guyana Elections Commission’s preparations for elections, and campaigning.”

Further, The Carter Center stated, “Throughout election season, The Carter

Elections broadcast coverage Dear Editor, In a January 13th, 2020 letter to the media, I raised the matter of media broadcast coverage, particularly the coverage of the state-ownedand-operated National Communications Network (NCN) of the political parties contesting the General and Regional Elections as a fundamental requirement for conducting free and fair elections.

I expected the Chairman of NCN, Mr. Enrico Woolford, to respond to my letter, but did not expect him to repeatedly resort to personal invective rather than address the issue itself. I have always recognised him to be a professional, both when he worked under me and since.

It appears that my raising this concern, and in singling out the use of NCN’s facilities to provide totally biased coverage of the rallies launched by APNU+AFC and the PPP/C in

favour of the governing party, my letter has gotten under the skin of Mr. Woolford.

My sole purpose in raising this matter and drawing it to the attention of the international community of observers is that it is fundamental to the conduct of free and fair elections, and has been subject to exactly the same abuse in the past at previous elections under other governments, and is now the case again.

The NCN Chairman has persisted that there is no evidence to support my concern, though he admits to the unfair coverage of the rallies, justifying it as coverage of the President. When the President mounts a political platform, he becomes the leader of his political party, to be treated no differently than any other political leader.

The Chairman has asked for proof of the concerns I have expressed. It is a condi-

tion of the licence issued to all broadcasters by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority that they record all of their programmes, and I believe that this is monitored by the Authority for the purpose, in fact, of ensuring free, fair, balanced and truthful broadcast content of not only the state-owned-and-operated NCN, but also the private broadcasters.

Given Mr. Woolford’s attitude on this matter, I invite the Broadcasting Authority or, for that matter, NCN, to publish for the public the exact amount of time allocated to the Government, the governing party (APNU+AFC) and its spokespersons on NCN on news, general programming, and current affairs, in comparison with the opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic since the passing of the No Confidence Motion to the present time.

Interestingly, Mr. Woolford uses the pejorative French term “soi-disant” in referring to the international community and observers. For those less versed in the use of this “highbrow” language, it means “so-called” or “claim to be what they are not”.

Of further interest is the fact that the Guyana Chronicle has published all of Mr. Woolford’s letters but has refused to publish the letters of Mr. Tony Vieira and myself. I thought of writing to complain about this to the Chairman of the Chronicle, until I discovered that the Chairman is the Confidential Secretary to the Prime Minister, making the Prime Minister now the de facto Chairman of the Chronicle.

I shall have nothing further to say on this matter.

Regards, Kit Nascimento

Center will issue periodic statements on key findings.”

It is my sincere hope that The Carter Center pays keen attention to the campaign messages at these community meetings. Guyana needs free and fair elections. We need elections without any violence on elections day and post elections day.

I would also like to encourage the international community to pay keen attention to these senior leaders of the APNU+AFC Government and their attempt at inciting violence on elections day.

What is extremely clear is that the Coalition has a dismal track record of performance in Government, and as a result has nothing to rely on during the campaign season in terms

of development and progress of the country over the past 5 years. Therefore, the Coalition has resorted to what it knows best, that is: spreading racism and hate, and trying to incite disorder and confusion, which can easily degenerate into violence.

Guyana can no longer tolerate such political leaders. Guyanese have a chance now to see the true nature of the Coalition. On the 2nd March 2020, I trust my people will make the right choice and reject the APNU+AFC Coalition. Reject the message of lawlessness, racism and hate.

Yours sincerely, Roodi Balgobin, MBA

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

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Foundation

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re you looking for the top educational apps for kids? Here are 10 outstanding applications that engage children's brains and allow them to have fun while they're learning.

Over the last couple of decades, the education industry has undergone a huge transformation. With the arrival of apps, learning has become easily accessible, which makes it much more interesting for students of all ages. Educational apps now bridge the communication gap between not only parents and teachers, but also kids and teachers. Childhood is important for learning. And because children become smarter and smarter, there is great need to introduce different, advanced learning means and methods. In this article, let's throw some light on the top educational app for kids.

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When you are looking a simple way to make your kid learn a foreign language, Duolingo comes as one of the best options. This app offers learners a variety of languages including Spanish, Dutch, Danish, French, German, Italian, Irish, and even English. Completely free to download and use, Duolingo doesn't have any hidden fees and the in-app purchases are kept optional. On the top of that, this app is incredibly effective and fun.

DragonBox

Full of fun activities, the DragonBox

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The content is also produced by the NSF or gathered from scientists and universities around the world. The cool 360-degree view allows kids to explore 3D images from every angle. series is an educational game that teaches Math fundamentals making learning fun and interesting. There are five learning apps for learning Math in total, including algebra and geometry. Some people take Math very seriously; however, Math can be fun for children if taught at a young age using simple concepts. All five games in the app require up-front payment, but don't have in-app purchases charges.

Quick Maths

This app is also aimed at making kids familiar with numbers, imparting the general Maths skills of students in grades 2 to 6. Quick Maths is the best option for self-improvement and increases kids' skills to tackle the difficulties and challenges of numbers. This app is available on the App Store.

YouTube Kids

Exclusively made and curated for kids, Youtube Kids offers educational videos and entertainment content to inspire and enhance young minds. It's one of the best learning apps for kids out there, as it offers them an easy way to watch their favourite shows. Moreover, they can explore anything that captures their imagination. This app is available for free use, simple to handle, and offers kids-oriented and family-friendly videos.

Science360

This is an app created by the National Science Foundation. It is exclusively built for tablet users only to showcase

Crossword Puzzles

A great tool for smart kids, this app guarantees having fun. It supports many aspects of learning and helps children excel in school. Set your child up for success by encouraging them to use this application.

Flow Free

This puzzle game is interesting for both the adult's kids. There are 2000 puzzles available for free. However, there are additional purchase options for expansion packs.

Spelling Stage

Kids may usually find spelling words difficult, but with this app, they can be interested in spelling practice. The paid subscription offers a wide range of words for different age groups, from preschoolers to adults.

My Molecularium

One of the most entertaining educational apps, My Molecularium is designed so that high school students can study with a fresh mind. The fun games in this app encourage students to easily understand and learn chemistry concepts related to molecular structure, chemical formulas, and formulas.

Mobile app development offers numerous benefits in the education industry. Students are more driven towards using a mobile phone for every purpose, thus apps are the perfect way to attract students to learn and enhance their skills. (elearningindustry.com)

V, interactive video games, and the Internet can be excellent sources of education and entertainment for kids. But too much screen time can have unhealthy side effects.

That's why it's wise to monitor and limit the time your kids spend playing video games, watching TV, and using the Internet.

What's recommended?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued these guidelines for screen time: ***Babies and toddlers up to 18 months old***: No screen time, with the exception of video-chatting with family and friends. ***Toddlers 18 months to 24 months***: Some screen time with a parent or caregiver. ***Preschoolers***: No more than 1 hour a day of educational programming, together with a parent or other caregiver who can help them understand what they're seeing. ***Kids and teens 5 to 18 years***: Parents should place consistent limits on screen time, which includes TV, social media, and video games. Media should not take the place of getting enough sleep and being physically active.

Kids should have a wide variety of free-time activities, like spending time with friends and playing sports, which can help develop a healthy body and mind.

Screen time

Here are some practical ways to make kids' screen time more productive: Stock any rooms that have a TV, computer, or other devices with plenty of other non-screen entertainment (books, kids' magazines, toys, puzzles, board games, etc.) to encourage kids to do something non-screen related.

Keep TVs, iPads, and other screens out of kids' bedrooms.

Turn off all screens during meals.

Don't allow your child to watch TV while doing homework.

Treat screen time as a privilege that kids need to earn, not a right that they're entitled to. Tell them that screen time is allowed only after chores and homework are completed.

Try a weekday ban. Schoolwork, sports activities, and job responsibilities make it tough to find extra family time during the week. Record shows or save video games for weekends, and you'll have more family togetherness time to spend on meals, games, and physical activity during the week.

Set a good example. Limit your own screen time.

Check the TV listings and program reviews. Look for programs your family can watch together (like developmentally appropriate and nonviolent programs that reinforce your family's values). Choose shows that foster interest and learning in hobbies and education (reading, science, etc.).

Preview programs. Make sure you think they're appropriate before your kids watch them.

Use the ratings. Age-group rating tools have been developed for some TV programs and usually appear in newspaper TV listings and onscreen during the first 15 seconds of some TV programs.

Use screening tools. Many new standard TV sets have internal V-chips (V stands for violence) that let you block TV programs and movies you don't want your kids to see.

Come up with a family TV schedule. Make it something the entire family agrees on. Then post the schedule in a visible household area (like on the refrigerator) so that everyone knows which programs are OK to watch and when.

And make sure to turn off the TV when the "scheduled" program is over instead of channel surfing for something else to watch.

Watch TV and play video games with your child, to see if the programming is OK for your child.

Find out about other TV policies. Talk to other parents, your doctor, and your child's teachers about their TVwatching policies and kid-friendly programs they'd recommend.

Offer fun alternatives to screen time. If you want your child to turn off the screen, suggest alternatives like playing a board game, starting a game of hide and seek, or playing outside. (Excerpt from kidsheath.org)

NEWS

7

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Order against removal of NRR names…

Jagdeo concerned about APNU/AFC candidate representing GECOM in appeal

Opposition Jagdeo

O

Leader

Bharrat

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has expressed concerns over the team of lawyers representing the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in court when one of them is a candidate on the incumbent APNU/ AFC Coalition’s National Top-up list.

At his weekly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo questioned the authority upon which Attorney-at-Law Roysdale Forde and Senior Counsel Stanley Marcus are representing GECOM in the appeal filed against the High Court’s ruling that barred the removal of persons’ names from the National Register of Registrants (NRR) database, which the scrapped the house- tohouse registration exercise had sought to do.

This decision stemmed from a legal challenge mounted by Attorney-atlaw Christopher Ram, questioning the legality of the H2H exercise. GECOM is named a respondent in the appeal filed by the state.

“Here is it that GECOM is part of the case, and you have two lawyers representing GECOM that don’t have the authority of the

Attorney-at-Law Forde

Roysdale

Commission, because the matter was never discussed at the Commission to represent them. And guess who the lawyers are? One is Marcus, and the other one is Roysdale Forde who is on APNU Top-up list,” the Opposition Leader asserted.

Senior Counsel Stanley Marcus had represented GECOM in the NoConfidence Motion (NCM) cases in the various courts.

He had also taken up GECOM’s defence at the High Court level when Ram filed the case against the H2H registration exercise on June 23 last year.

However, questions have been raised about who was directing and advising the Senior Counsel in his representation of GECOM at a time when the Elections Commission was without a Chairperson and

had not met since June 11, 2019.

Former GECOM Chairman Justice (ret’d) James Patterson had stepped down on June 24 last year after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) had ruled that his unilateral appointment in 2017 was unconstitutional.

SC Marcus is again under the microscope, with the Opposition Leader questioning with whose authority he is representing GECOM, when the Commission did not discuss this matter at any of its meetings.

To this end, Jagdeo is calling on the current GECOM Chairperson, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, to intervene.

“I suspect they are on [Attorney General] Basil Williams’s team but have the cover of GECOM, and that should be ended immediately. The Chair of GECOM should intervene immediately and say in this matter, ‘You don’t have the imprimatur of this Commission, you can’t go to court and argue that you’re representing us’. It’s like imposters in court, because they are arguing really to slow down elections or stop the elections. So this matter we’re going to be pursuing aggressively,” the Opposition Leader contended.

The appeal filed by the State against the High

GECOM Chairperson, Justice retired Claudette Singh

Court order that GECOM cannot remove names from the NRR unless they are otherwise disqualified as outlined in the Constitution is now up for ruling, after parties closed verbal submissions on Wednesday.

In her ruling in August, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George had stated that “residency requirements from citizens are no longer a qualification for registration”, and so it is unconstitutional for their names to be removed from the NRR Database.

The H2H registration was seeking to create a new database, which would have disenfranchised many registered persons who are

either at another part of the country or out of the country, and could not be captured during the exercise.

Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, who is representing Ram, argued that the court should decline jurisdiction and not rule on the matter, since the electoral process has commenced and any decision now will impact the ongoing preparations for the upcoming March 2 General and Regional Elections.

Contending that this case is an electoral issue, Ramkarran pointed out that, in the circumstances, this matter will now have to be dealt with as an elections petition after the upcoming polls, as prescribed in the Constitution.

“Once the elections train leaves the station, every issue has to be determined by way of elections petition…

Your Honour has no option, in my respectful view, other than declining jurisdiction and giving the opportunity to the appellant to start the matter after elections by way of elections petition…,” Ramkarran told the appellate court.

But Attorney General Williams argued that the issue has nothing to do with elections, but is a constitutional matter on whether

Senior Counsel Stanley Marcus

residency is a fundamental prerequisite for voting in Guyana.

“The argument of election matters ought to be rejected because this is a constitutional issue that goes to the heart of our democratic system, which is the requirement for residency for purposes of qualification to be an elector…and so the court will be properly in order to accept the jurisdiction,” the AG contended in his final submission to the appellate panel, led by acting Chancellor Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, and including Justices Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23 Haitians fined for Cuban nationals attempting to depart fined for overstaying in Guyana Guyana illegally

A

t least 23 Haitians were on Thursday arraigned for attempting to depart Guyana illegally when they made their appearance before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge stated that on January 13, 2020 at Lethem, they attempted to depart Guyana illegally without the consent of an immigration officer.

The group which consists of both males and females pleaded guilty to the charge with the aid of an interpreter.

The foreign nationals explained that they were unaware they had to present themselves to an immigration officer before travelling to Brazil.

According to informa-

tion, on the day in question the 23 Haitian nationals were caught en route to Brazil.

When apprehended, they were asked to present their travel documents and it was observed that the defendants legally entered Guyana, since they were granted a six-month stay in the country.

However, it was discovered that when the defendants arrived through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), they indicated that they would be locally residing in Georgetown.

Investigations revealed that the defendants did not present themselves to an immigration officer before leaving for Brazil.

As such, each of them was fined $30,000 or if in default, would server 40 days’ imprisonment.

S

even Cuban nationals who admitted to overstaying their time in Guyana were on Thursday fined for the offence when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Those fined are Lidia Olga Cuerra Chavez, Daynier Canete Roman, Elizabeth Aleman Alberto, Joaquin Canete Gamboa, Yanet Betsy Perez Sayu, Luis Vincente Vidiau Reytor, and Indry Marin Reytor. They all denied the charge.

Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus read the charge which stated that during the period August 14, 2018-December 16, 2019, the foreign nationals entered Guyana and failed to comply with conditions, that is to say, they having been granted a stay of one month in the country overstayed their time.

Facts presented by the Prosecutor stated that the Cubans entered Guyana via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and were granted one-month stay each in the country.

It was reported that on January 13, 2020, Police at Mabura Police Outpost, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) carried out a search on a bus in which the Cubans were passengers.

They were asked to produce their travel documents, and it was discovered that they had overstayed their time in Guyana.

They were then arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where they were charged. They were all fined $30,000; if in default, they will serve 40 days behind bars.

Beggary…

I

…and PNC

f you wanted to create a tale to expose the callousness of the PNC to the sugar workers of this land, you wouldn’t think to conjure up the one just exposed in the pages of their own propaganda mouthpiece, the Chronic. Cringeworthy!! And what makes it more appalling is that it’s clear that they don’t even realise how tone deaf they are to what they let out of the bag.

It was a letter from the father of the sugar worker whose son had topped Region 6 at the NGSA - along with the daughter of another sugar worker. Their story had been well publicised in the media, since it was revealed that because of the Government firing 7000 sugar workers when they shut down 4 sugar estates – including Rose Hall where the father had worked – the parents couldn’t afford to send the kids to Queen’s, for which they’d qualified.

Several public-spirited citizens had risen to the occasion with offers to assist, but the Government announced they were awarding them “scholarships”.

The Minister of Education got her photo op when she presented the kids with laptops. But what had been inadvertently exposed were the dire straits into which the fired sugar worker had been pushed by the PNC: the father had spent all his severance to start building a house, and there were barely funds to keep life and limb together, much less send the child to Queen’s.

Well, what the letter revealed was that the father has been led to believe that it was through the personal intervention of Finance Minister Jordan that the kids were awarded “scholarships!” Jordan was thanked so extravagantly you’d think that he was the “Jordan” of yore, about whom the slaves had sung: “Swing low sweet chariot,/Comin’ for to carry me home/I looked over Jordan and what did I see,/Comin’ for to carry me home/A band of angels comin’ after me,/ Comin’ for to carry me home”!!

Even more fulsomely thanked was the head of the SPU, Heath London – who’s supposed to sell off the shuttered estates so that fired workers could’ve been rehired; never mind that he’s completely forgotten about that. Seemed he got a watchman job for the father at Albion, and – listen to this – gave the families of the three top students a weekend at Watooka House in Linden! It tells a lot about the lot of a sugar worker when the father confessed: “We were blown away by the very high fantastic and very comfortable hotel”!

But what does the Government say to the 6999 other fired workers who remain “very depressed… and struggling severely due to the fact that finding employment was… challenging”.

…and consequences

Does Granger spare a thought about “the great and at times unbearable hardships that (fired sugar workers’) families (are) experiencing”? The father mentioned the family of one other top performer, Marissa: “While I am fortunate now to have a job like the father of Chitra, whose father is the only breadwinner in their home, Marissa is not this fortunate, as her mother is able to work only one and sometimes two or three days a week garnering fish glue, which is then used to provide food for her and her four children. I am aware that while Chitra’s family and I have smaller families, Marissa’s mother is saddled with four children, with one preparing for CXC this year, and a daily challenge of finding transportation money to send her children to school. It’s no secret that its worst for them.”

The clincher was: “We would have liked to thank Minister Jordan and Mr. Heath-London personally, as we are forever thankful for the genuine and sincere interest and assistance being entrusted in us; however, based on both their very busy schedules, we are cognizant that it may not be possible.”

Hence the letter! Imagine that!!

…questioned

Your Eyewitness questions, however, who actually wrote this letter. If it’s the NGSA student’s father, surely he’s overqualified for that watchman’s job!!

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

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Contents of AG Report worrying – FITUG T

he incumbent A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) has come under greater criticism by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) about its wastage of taxpayers’ money and the nation’s resources.

FITUG President Carvil Duncan, in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, was addressing the Auditor General’s report and deemed it quite worrying.

He noted that the expenditure of the Government was ultimately financed by the taxpaying Guyanese public, hence Guyanese were looking to ensure that their monies were used in a prudent manner to ensure maximum benefit and re-

turn.

“It is not only a waste of our resources, it is incompetent people doing this and that is a clear indication how the APNU works, because they are giving out a lot of contracts and doing a lot of things; there is no feedback and, therefore, they got a system where they assume that whenever they gave contracts, somebody get a drawback,” Duncan explained.

Shifting his attention to the excessive cost of drugs in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), Duncan said he was “disappointed” over the financial misadventures, adding that the Government could explore other avenues right in Guyana to cut the excessive cost of drugs.

“We are not only concerned, we come beyond

that because what has been happening is that we have been buying a lot of inferior drugs and imposing it on the population of this country when we have a drug company here who produces drugs at a better standard and we are not purchasing from them. That is the problem we have. We are saying charity begins at home, so why should you import a drug for insulin, for example, when you can produce insulin here?” Duncan cited.

Moreover, he stated that the report was definitely an eye-opener and has revealed how taxpayers’ monies were being recklessly spent, noting that he has a problem with that amount of spending, of his hardearned money.

“I rely heavily on the

competence of the Auditor General and once he criticised something, he has a foundation to criticise it and based on that I am saying that what he criticised is accurate and is true and I have some serious difficulties when the Government is not adhering to the thoughts expressed by the Auditor General,” he said.

Duncan also pointed out how oppressive taxes have become, with taxes per capita rising by over 60 per cent in the life of the coalition Administration.

“At a time when our nation’s workers have to pinch and squeeze and use innovative means to survive and make their ends meet, we have to learn about the poor accountability and planning that pervades,” he stated.

According to the 2018

FITUG President Carvil Duncan

Auditor General Report, the Government was flagged for overpaying some $166 million of taxpayers’ dollars on contracts. According to the report, a number of ministries were guilty of this practice.

In some instances, various Ministries and departments overpaid contractors

as much as $92.3 million.

The Public Infrastructure Ministry, according to the report, accounted for $63.7 million, but a whopping $73.7 million was overpaid by regional administrations. Regions Two, Eight, Nine and 10 were responsible for 70 per cent of this sum.

The AG also experienced some difficulties in his audit, as some $800 million in payment vouchers was not presented to his auditors.

The report stated that this sum is equivalent to 582 vouchers. The Ministries of the Presidency and Natural Resources were among those culpable.

The AG noted that as a result, it could not be ascertained whether the money was used for the intended purposes.

Over 500 illegal scales seized by GNBS in 2019

– 159 masses, 15 measures were also confiscated

T

he Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has revealed that a total of 552 scales, 159 masses, and 15 measures were seized in 2019.

They were all either inaccurate, unverified, or in a deplorable state, according to the GNBS. The GNBS said that surveillance activities including the inspection of devices used at shops and markets countrywide were being done to ensure that measurements were stamped and were in acceptable condition.

Apart from seizing and removing the devices, the National Weights and Measures Programme, which is coordinated by the GNBS exceeded its target

for 2019.

“For the verification of devices, a target of 33,910 devices was set for 2019 and a remarkable achievement of 45,589 devices was verified. Similarly, for surveillance activities countrywide, the GNBS planned to visit 4395 premises and surpassed this target to achieve 7109 premises that were visited to ensure devices in use were verified,” the Bureau stated.

New devices verified during last year totalled 508 scales, 1323 masses, and 31,593 electricity meters.

These were newly imported or manufactured locally.

The continued importation and manufacture of devices indicated that there was increased usage of devices in

the marketplace.

Further, the influx of new devices in trade can also be attributed to the replacement of old and defective devices by vendors and shopkeepers.

“For devices already in use at shops, markets and other locations such as supermarkets, manufacturing companies, rice mills, hospitals, airlines, post offices, petroleum industry, a total of 6332 scales, 12,347 masses, 19 measuring rules and 2038 electricity meters were verified. In addition, a total of 145 weighbridge scales, 1839 petrol pumps, 33 storage tanks, 149 tanker wagons, and 264 bulk meters were verified,” the Bureau added.

In 2020, the GNBS aims

to further streamline and expand its Weights and Measures Programme and work to ensure weights and measures services are fully available in the 10 administrative regions. This is also necessary to adequately meet the demands of stakeholders.

For 2020, also, the GNBS plans to commence the verification of speed guns and breathalysers used by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and to expand the verification of moisture meters used in the rice industry.

Importantly, the GNBS

Verification of equal-arm scale

intends to fulfil its new role in the oil and gas sector by witnessing the verification of custody transfer meters

on the Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessels.

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Brukup” gets life imprisonment Bagotstown man gets 19 years for killing “Lapsy” for 2017 nightclub murder

J

ustice Jo-Ann Barlow on Thursday handed a life sentence to convicted murderer Shawn Harris, called “Shawny” or “Brukup”, after he was recently found guilty of the murder of Sunil Singh, who was knifed to death during a row outside the Blue Martini Nightclub in 2017.

Harris, a father of three, will become eligible for parole after serving 20 years for the heinous crime.

The former Lot 131 Pike Street, Kitty resident had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on February 5, 2017, he murdered Singh.

It was reported that Singh was fatally stabbed in the nightclub when he attempt-

ed to rescue an employee, who was being attacked by three men.

The men attempted to enter the premises after closing hours, but were informed by the bartender that they could not enter.

This led to an argument and during the subsequent altercation, Harris whipped out a knife and stabbed the employee. Singh then intervened, but he was fatally stabbed about his body.

Singh was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

Harris was also charged, along with three others, in connection with the Bank of Baroda robbery committed

Sentenced to life: Shawn Harris, called “Shawny” or “Brukup”

at its Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) branch on January 22, 2016.

Young businessman freed of rape charge

E

ven after his first trial ended in a hung jury, Romal Jewan, who was accused of raping an underage girl, exited the courtroom of Justice Jo-Ann Barlow a free man after a jury delivered an 11-1 not guilty verdict at the end of his retrial on Thursday.

The 27-year-old businessman, of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), had initially denied the charge which detailed that on September 7, 2012, he engaged in sexual penetration of a 13-year-old girl.

Jewan faced his retrial before Justice Barlow at the Sexual Offences Court of the Demerara High Court.

Last October, the now free man went on trial for the indictment; however, at its conclusion, the jury did not arrive at a verdict. As such, trial Judge Simone MorrisRamlall ordered that the defendant face another trial.

During his first trial, Jewan was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Paula and Brandon DeSantos while the Freed of rape charge: Romal State’s case was presented by Jewan Prosecutor Tariq Mohammed.

Killed murder suspect: Jermain Killed: Ryan Sooklall Simon Judge handed him a 19-

S

hortly after pleading not guilty to a murder charge and with his trial underway, 35-year-old Trevor Anthony Amsterdam had a change of heart as he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Amsterdam admitted that on November 10, 2015, at Lot 34 Norton Street, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara (EBD), he killed Jermain Simon, also called “Lapsy”.

The convict appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon, who accepted the guilty plea and discontinued the trial. As such, the

year prison sentence for manslaughter.

Simon, formerly of Lot 46 Norton Street, Bagotstown, was shot to the head while passing Amsterdam’s house. It was reported that Amsterdam upon seeing the now dead man riding past his home suddenly rushed out of his yard and discharged a round at him thus hitting him to the forehead.

Simon was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but died while receiving medical treatment.

Prior to his death, Police had issued a wanted bulle-

Sentenced for murder: Trevor Anthony Amsterdam

tin for Simon in connection with the shooting death of 19-year-old Ryan Sooklall of Providence, EBD. According to reports, Sooklall was shot dead on March 1, 2015 while liming with friends in his neighbourhood, a short distance from where he lived.

The teen died from a single gunshot wound in the back, at the hands of a man with whom he had a grouse over an alleged shooting on the day in question.

The State’s case was presented by Prosecutors Tuanna Hardy, Tiffin Lyken, and Nafeeza Baig.

11 PPP/C meeting in Mocha disrupted

by APNU/AFC supporters A NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C)-organised public meeting at Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was disrupted by supporters of the coalition government.

This was revealed by the Party’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo during a press conference on Thursday.

Jagdeo, who is also the country’s Opposition Leader, said the meeting got underway on Wednesday in the community, but it had to be cancelled. “[The supporters] took a vehicle and started announcing their (coalition) meeting around and around very loud, so people can’t hear our messages,” Jagdeo recalled.

As a result, he explained that the Police advised

the PPP/C representatives to cancel the meeting – a move over which Jagdeo expressed disappointment.

“Rather than encouraging them to stop their activity, the Police urged our people to cancel,” he reasoned.

According to Jagdeo, this behaviour is most likely encouraged by the leadership of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition.

He referred to instances on Nomination Day when APNU/AFC supporters prevented other parties, including the PPP/C, from accessing the venue at Umana Yana.

“What was particularly worrisome on Nomination Day was the acts of thuggery led by prominent peo-

ple in the PNC (the largest party in the APNU),” Jagdeo stated.

“They were urging the people in their procession to block our procession from going to the Umana Yana,” he contended.

“There is something called decency; they campaign on a slogan of decency and the decent thing to do is after you submitted your list is to go back peacefully and allow other parties to present their list, but they sought to block us from going to Umana Yana and they were actively urged to do so by members of the leadership of that party,” Jagdeo expressed.

Regarding the cancelled meeting in Mocha, Jagdeo said that his Party has a message for the residents there, regardless of wheth-

er they would vote for the PPP/C. “We may not get a lot of votes in Mocha, but we want them to hear about our plans too because their children are going to receive the $50,000 per year grant when it comes about and they are going to have their free water too whether they vote for us or not,” Jagdeo explained.

Moreover, Jagdeo expressed concern that the election observers “are not around yet” to take note of these instances.

Nevertheless, the General Secretary said his Party would not be “intimidated”.

“None of these acts of intimidation will deter us from our campaign and from going to communities,” he posited.

In further illustrating the type of “intimidation” members of the PPP/C face during this period, Jagdeo referenced instances where party flags and paraphernalia are being taken down by APNU/AFC supporters.

“But we will put up more flags and put up more billboards and we will ensure people get our message,” Jagdeo affirmed.

Just recently, Police arrested a man for pulling down PPP/C flags from a utility pole at Westminster, West Bank Demerara.

Additionally, on Nomination Day, a female APNU/AFC supporter assaulted a female Police Officer who was on duty.

The crowd of coalition supporters was trying to enter the compound, where only select individuals

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

were allowed.

The female supporter was asked by the cop to step away from the gate; however, she refused.

She then began to shove the police officer and physically as well as verbally abuse her.

“You can’t run a country through vindictiveness” – Ramotar

F

ormer President Donald Ramotar on Wednesday evening accused the coalition Government of being vindictive, reminding of several transformational initiatives which were not supported by present members of the current administration.

Ramotar was at the time speaking at a public meeting at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Among the initiatives he alluded to were the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project,

Donald Ramotar

Anti-Money Laundering Legislation, and the $10,000 “Because We Care” Cash Grant Initiative.

Ramotar, who was President of a minority government leading up to the 2015 elections, reminded of the then Opposition’s attempts to block progress by voting against the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

The Opposition, comprising the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), constantly used one-seat majority in

the National Assembly to stymie development.

When the two parties assumed office in 2015 under the coalition, they scrapped the Amaila Falls Initiative, which Ramotar said, would have brought tremendous benefit to households and businesses, especially the manufacturing sector.

“They scrapped the whole thing! Why they scrapped it? Because it was a project of the PPP/C,” Ramotar told the gathering.

“You can’t run a country by vindictiveness,” he posit-

ed, reflecting on the likely benefits to the country had the coalition Government continued with the hydropower initiative.

“That is a project that when we come back to government we will have to pursue, but we would have lost more than three years, because already, we should have been having power from Amaila.”

Ramotar added: “And we would not have had blackout and it would have been cheaper for you to cook with electric stove than to buy

gas if that project had come on stream.”

Ramotar also referenced the 2014 budget cuts executed by the APNU and AFC Opposition which negatively impacted the country’s economy, including affecting the payment of salaries of Government workers.

Additionally, the former President reminded of the then Opposition’s refusal to support the passage of legislation dealing with AntiMoney Laundering (AML).

TURN TO PAGE 12

12 NEWS Taxi intercepted with 3000 Teen slapped with break-and-enter charge grams of ganja at roadblock A A FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

cting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Thursday granted bail to a teenager who was slapped with a break-and-enter charge.

Eighteen-year-old Roberto Perez, of Kumaka, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini), denied the charge which stated that on January 11, 2020, at Aquaro Airstrip, NWD, he broke into the dwelling of John Perreira and stole a quantity of articles val-

Roberto Perez

ued $173,500.

The court heard that after the incident, the matter was reported to the Police, and an investigation was launched. Following the investigation, the charge was instituted.

The suspect subsequently led officers to his brother’s house where the items were found.

Perez was released on $50,000 bail and was ordered to report to the Aquaro Police Station. The matter was also transferred to that village’s court for a later date.

Miner charged for wounding another with cutlass

A

miner was on Thursday granted bail in the sum of $75,000 when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for allegedly wounding another miner with a cutlass. The victim reportedly owed him money.

Thirty-four-year-old Romel David, a miner of Arakaka, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini), appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-

Marcus and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Police stated that on November 6, 2019, at Five Miles, Arakaka, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Manuel Carlos with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause grievous bodily harm.

In an explanation to the court, the defendant stated that he was owed money by the victim and during a confrontation, a scuffle ensued. He added that he used a cutlass as a form of

defence.

The court further heard that the defendant served a one-year sentence for a similar offence in 2006.

David was released on bail and was ordered to stay 100 feet away from the victim and report to the Arakaka Police Station once a month until the determination of the trial.

His next court appearance is scheduled for February 3, 2020 at the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

taxi driver of East Canje, Berbice was on Wednesday taken into Police custody after three kilograms (3000 grams) of ganja was found in his motor car. The car was reportedly intercepted at a roadblock at Weldaad Police Station, West Coast Berbice (WCB) and a search was conducted.

During the search, six wrapped parcels of seeds, leaves, and stems suspected to be marijuana were found hidden in the back bumper of the vehicle.

The driver was told of the offence, arrested and the drug was weighed in his presence. The 28-yearold man is being processed for court.

In the latter part of December 2019, a 26-year-

The ganja that was intercepted on Wednesday

old man was arrested and charged after 46.25 kilograms of ganja were discovered in his car at a roadblock at Weldaad Police Station, WCB. It was reported that on

the day in question, ranks intercepted the motor car and conducted a search and found concealed, 35 parcels of suspected cannabis.

The drug was weighed and amounted to 46.25kg.

“You can’t run a country...

“You remember the AML Bill that they refused to sign? That is why even now, when you go to the bank, you have serious problems, you got to say where you get every cent from. They digging up all your past, because the PNC put us in this position by not signing the AML Bill.”

In fact, Ramotar posited that the PNC (the major party in the APNU grouping) had supported the amendments to the AML Bill all the time when it was a minority Opposition.

“But the moment they had the one-seat majority, they sabotaged our economy!

“They voted against all the developmental projects in our Amerindian communities, voted against the development projects here; we had to go to court to restore the budget,” Ramotar reminded.

Meanwhile, the former President also reminded of the “Because We Care” Cash Grant initiative – which was also scrapped by the coalition.

FROM PAGE 11

“They have taken away that programme that would have helped our children to become productive and useful citizens,” Ramotar expressed.

In appealing to residents to head out early on Election Day, March 2, to vote, he urged them to remember these actions of the current Government players.

According to Ramotar, it clearly shows that the present Cabinet of Ministers do not care about the development of the country.

13

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NA Mayor calls out residents on illegal dumping

A

cting New Amsterdam Mayor Rayworth McIntosh has reprimanded residents of the town for illegal dumping of garbage and urged that they desist from doing so.

During a recent visit to the Glasgow New Housing Scheme, the acting Mayor related that there were two sites in the community which residents have turned into dumpsites.

This practice, he pointed out, had forced some residents to leave their homes during the Christmas season.

"Following up on several reports made by residents of Glasgow New Housing Scheme, it is very disappointing and very disturbing,” the acting Mayor said as he referred to complaints from residents.

He urged stakeholders to desist from the habit of dumping garbage indiscriminately.

“You must have a receptacle. Every household must have a receptacle to place your garbage into. The Council will be servicing those bins,” he said.

According to McIntosh, persons would travel to the

Acting New Amsterdam Mayor Rayworth McIntosh

locations and dump their solid waste which was totally unacceptable.

“I am appealing to the general public; this is not a dumpsite. Persons are living here. Out of respect and care for the environment, we are asking of you, please cooperate with us, because we do not want to go down that road of fining persons once they are caught dumping their garbage here,” he said.

He further noted that it was not the workers of the

municipality who have been dumping garbage at Glasgow New Housing Scheme but rather the residents and urged them to act in a more responsible manner.

In the past, many residents have complained that the municipality has not been collecting solid waste from their homes. In fact, some persons reported that two months have passed and the Council’s garbage collection crew had not visited their home.

According to the acting Mayor, that was something of the past.

“When the Council comes around, if the gate is locked, we cannot access those premises in order to empty the garbage. There is a schedule set by the Mayor and Town Council as to when and where the garbage collection crew will be.”

McIntosh says that information will now be posted on the Council's social media page.

In the past, the Council had defended its slothfulness in removing solid waste from homes of residents in New Amsterdam as owed to inoperable equipment.

However, the Council

had also reported that it had been difficult to acquire replacement parts for the machines. But the acting Mayor posited that those issues have all been rectified.

“During 2019, we would have corrected those deficiencies: at the Engineer Department we would have employed a mechanic to adequately service the municipality’s machinery. So, if by chance there is some downtime, the downtime will not be long, as used to be in 2019,” the Deputy Mayor assured.

One of the unofficial dumpsites

2 charged for wedding house murder

T

wo men who were implicated in the murder of 26-year-old Rudendra “Bayo” Persaud during a wedding celebration at Nonpareil, East Coast Demerara (ECD) are expected to make their court appearance today.

According to Crime Chief Michael Kingston, the men who were wanted for the murder turned themselves in on Wednesday, accompanied by their lawyers.

Twenty-year-old Errol Thapordeen, also called “Buffy”, “Bowie” and “Powie”, of Enterprise, ECD, along with his unidentified accomplice, is expected to be charged with murder today.

Persaud reportedly took his last breath on Sunday evening while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was lashed to the head by members of a gang

Twenty-six-year-old Persaud Errol Thapordeen

who allegedly invaded the wedding house.

It was reported that “Bayo” of Enmore, ECD and his family were at his cousin’s wedding on the night in question when a group of young men invaded the property and attacked the invitees.

However, upon realising what was happening, Persaud went to intervene,

Rudendra

but was dealt one blow to the head with a piece of wood.

Despite being injured, the young man managed to protect his family members, but later collapsed. He was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted and subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

One day after the incident, the Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Thapordeen.

NEWS

15

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GTU condemns violence against teachers, demands better security

I

n light of the recent attack on a St Agnes Primary School teacher, the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) in a statement has strongly condemned the act and called for tighter security for educators.

The attack which was captured on camera and posted on social media went viral immediately. A similar incident occurred in November 2019 whereby a parent physically assaulted a teacher at the Winfer Gardens Primary School. Charges stemming

from that incident are yet to be laid.

In statements, GTU President Mark Lyte condemned these actions and noted that the Union would be taking action to protect its teachers.

In the same statement, Lyte criticised the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for its inability to properly deal with such incidents. In a subsequent statement on Thursday, the Union called for the charges laid against the St Agnes Primary School teacher for defending herself to be dropped.

President of the Guyana Teachers Union: Mark Lyte

Lyte stated: “The Guyana Police Force has to do better at charging parents and placing them before a court of law. It is due to the reluctance and inability of the GPF to act swift and justly that this has continued. Our teachers are now fearful for their lives. The question is, who is next? The perpetrators of violence against teachers MUST face the full penalties for their actions. We have demanded that the charges laid against the St Agnes Primary School teacher for defending her-

self in her place of employment MUST be dropped immediately.”

The Union noted that it was in talks with the Education Ministry, the GPF, and the Social Protection Ministry on the way forward regarding the safety of teachers.

Nevertheless, Lyte made it clear that if another teacher was assaulted, the Union will be mobilising teachers to protest their insecurity at schools, publicly call out the Education Ministry to fix the security problem at schools, de-

mand the GPF lay charges against parents who assault teachers, and call on all teachers to wear black and white on a given day to mourn the death of security at school.

In fact, the Union is urging all educators to dress in black and white on January 20, to show their dissatisfaction with the security arrangements for teachers.

When contacted

by Guyana Times, the Education Ministry said it was aware of the matter which was under investigation.

GDF fit to protect borders – Granger tells Army conference

I

n preparation for the 55th anniversary of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) later this year, President David Granger on Thursday lauded the military for the improvements shown over the years.

Addressing officers at the GDF annual conference at State House, the President recognised that all departments of the Force have undergone developmental changes.

“The Defence Force has effected organisational change in order to better identify and deter threats to territorial integrity and the national patrimony.

The past five years have witnessed the Force’s regu-

President David Granger and officers of GDF

larisation, reorganisation, and recapitalisation. The Defence Force today is fit for role,” he said.

Nevertheless, the Head of State said more systems were being put in place to ensure a better-equipped

and well-trained military.

“The Force’s recapitalisation programme has been boosted by increases

in Central Government’s budgetary allocations. The Force has received financial resources to improve its capabilities. Budgetary allocations increased by more than 72.7 per cent from G$8.04 billion in 2014 to G$13.9 billion in 2019.

Defence cooperation has allowed the Force to benefit from donations of equipment, training, and participation in military exercises with friendly States. It has enhanced cooperation in combating transnational crime and managing disasters,” he further stated.

Referring to his Decade of Development plan, President Granger said it would also cover the strengthening of the mili-

tary and border security.

“The Coast Guard has the primary responsibility for safeguarding the country’s maritime zone and to protect investors operating there. The Coast Guard’s fleet and personnel will be increased continuously, to provide greater security of economic activity in the EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone]. Technological improvements will allow for better surveillance and policing of our maritime zone,” the President remarked.

According to the Head of State, the country’s border security is important, especially with Guyana being at the stage of great development.

ERC launches “I Am Us” movie to promote harmony

I

n an effort to promote harmony and good relations across Guyana, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) launched its “I Am Us” movie at the Giftland Mall on Wednesday evening.

The Commission, which is mandated to promote unity across the various ethnic groups and address racial discrimination, believes that the movie is in keeping with its constitutional mandate to promote harmony and good relations, as it is vital in helping to enhance the environment to foster unity among all Guyanese.

ERC Chairman, the Reverend Dr John Smith, in his address at the launching ceremony, appealed to the public to support the film.

“Our main aim and hope is to continue to try and foster harmony among the six races in our nation. I trust that when you see, you will be affected by what you see and you will become an ambassador for peace and you will try and ensure that we all live in harmony in this dear land of Guyana,” Dr Smith noted.

Representing the Government was Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton, who ap-

ERC Chairman, Dr John Smith

plauded the Commission’s efforts, especially during the election period.

“I believe the airing of “I Am Us” will further boast the efforts of the Department of Social Cohesion in fostering peace and maintaining harmony within our borders and not just during elections but especially at elections time,” he remarked.

Writer and producer of the movie, Neaz Subhan, who is also a Commissioner of the ERC, is hoping that after watching the movie, everyone would become a peace ambassador.

“I wrote this play four and half years ago and I wouldn’t say anything about the story line because I want the film to speak about the story and

I do hope as Guyanese who are committed to a particular cause, each and every one of us who are Guyanese would become an ambassador of peace and become a commissioner or an extended commissioner of the ERC to spread this message,” Subhan noted.

The ERC was established as a constitutional body by Constitutional Amendment (2) Act of 2000, which was assented to by the then President on August 11, 2000. It was

recently reconstituted in April 2018.

The Commission is also mandated to promote equal access by persons of all

Writer and producer of the movie, Neaz Subhan

ethnic groups to all public or other services and facilities provided by the Government or other bodies.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Regional

Mexico says it will stop hundreds Guatemalan officials arrested for corruption after leaving office of migrants trying to reach US

M

exico says it will not grant transit visas or free passage for hundreds of migrants who have left Honduras in an attempt to reach the US border.

The Interior Ministry said officers would check the status of each migrant and offer them the option of remaining in the country legally.

On Wednesday, Honduran Police fired tear gas after people tried to enter Guatemala without going through checks.

Many of the migrants say they are fleeing violence and poverty.

They left San Pedro Sula, one of the region's most violent cities some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Guatemalan border, on Tuesday. More people joined them as they made their journey on foot and hitchhiking.

The movement is similar to other groups of Central Americans who tried to reach the US in recent years in what has become known as

The group of migrants arrived in Guatemala from Honduras on Wednesday

"caravans". They attracted the ire of President Donald Trump, who has urged countries on their path to do more to stop them.

Mexico's Interior Minister Olga Sánchez Cordero said a task force with immigration agents would assist the group and that the country would welcome the people interested in staying there.

Earlier, Guatemala's new President Alejandro Giammattei said Mexico would "do everything in their powers to stop" the group, after a meeting with the Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard. Ebrard has

not commented.

Giammattei also said he would respect a deal between Central American countries that allows Hondurans to enter Guatemala as long as they have the required documents.

After entering Guatemala on Wednesday, the migrants split into smaller groups, according to the Associated Press news agency. It reported US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were accompanying Guatemalan officials in their checks.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

On Thursday, local prosecutor Rafael Baloyes described the chilling scene that investigators found when they made their way through the jungle-clad hills to the remote Ngabe Bugle Indigenous community near the Caribbean coast on Tuesday.

Alerted by three villagers who escaped and made their way to a local hospital for treatment earlier, police were prepared for something bad, but were still surprised by what they found at an improvised "church" at a ranch, where a little-known religious sect known as "The

New Light of God" was operating.

"They were performing a ritual inside the structure. In that ritual, there were people being held against their will, being mistreated," Baloyes said.

"All of these rites were aimed at killing them, if they did not repent their sins," he said. "There was a naked person, a woman" inside the building, where investigators found machetes, knives and a ritually sacrificed goat.

The rites had been going on since Saturday, and had already resulted in deaths.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

In an apparent effort to crack down on corruption, Guatemalan authorities have started to arrested officials who lost their immunity from prosecution this week when a new administration took office.

Police, armed with arrest warrants for eight high-level officials, executed 14 search warrants between Wednesday and Thursday.

A former congresswoman and a former mayor were arrested. The other six were not located.

"The work that the Special Anti-Impunity Prosecutor's Bureau has been doing should be ac-

knowledged," Accion Ciudadana President Edie Cux, a lawyer and anti-corruption activist, told Al Jazeera.

President Alejandro Giammattei and legislators were sworn in Tuesday, and municipal councils took office Wednesday. Outgoing President Jimmy Morales regained immunity Tuesday night in another post, but other officials from his administration, plagued by allegations of corruption, lost their protection.

Former congresswoman Aracely Chavarria was arrested on Wednesday for influence peddling. She

and three former congressmen who could not be located for arrest were allegedly part of a criminal structure engaged in fraudulent contracts and illegal commissions in the public health sector.

Two of the former legislators with pending arrest warrants belonged to FCN, Morales' party, including its former presidential candidate Estuardo Galdamez.

He was noticeably absent on Tuesday during the special transition session in Congress, during which he and others lost their immunity from prosecution.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Rio Olympic Park: Judge orders closure of site over security concerns

“They massacred them”: Panama religious sect kills 7 in ritual

T

he bodies of six children and a pregnant woman have been found in a clandestine pit in Panama, where 10 members of a religious sect were arrested in connection with their murder, authorities said on Thursday.

The bodies belonged to children aged between one and 17 years and a pregnant woman, who was the mother of five of them, the attorney general's office said.

Police freed 14 members of the Ngabe Bugle Indigenous group who had been tied up and beaten with wooden cudgels and Bibles.

Evo Morales retracts call for “armed militias” in Bolivia

F

ormer Bolivian President Evo Morales on Thursday retracted his call for the organisation of militias in his home country after the comments sparked an outcry from its interim government.

"A few days ago, my words about the formation of militias were made public. I retract them. My deepest conviction has always been the defence of life and peace," Morales said in a statement tweeted from Argentina, where he is living in exile.

Morales told Reuters News Agency on Sunday that Bolivians had the right to organise and defend themselves, without firearms, from what he said were attacks by Bolivia's interim government, which he says took power in a

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales

coup late last year.

At the time, he confirmed that he was the voice in a recording played on Bolivian radio calling for the creation of armed militias "as in

Venezuela", but said he meant slingshots rather than guns.

The comments prompted Bolivia's interim government to send a letter to Argentine Foreign Minister Felipe Sola, asking that Argentina disavow the comments made by Morales.

"We have not received an answer yet, but in fact, there has been an indirect response, implicit, in the warnings that the Government of Mr Fernandez has given to Mr Evo Morales, warning that he should lower the tone of his statements and should not make the kind of threats that clearly border on crime," Bolivia's acting Foreign Minister, Karen Longaric, told Journalists in La Paz on Thursday. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The venues hosted competitions during the Olympic Games in 2016

A

Brazilian judge has ordered the closure of the venues built for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro over safety concerns.

The city's authorities had not provided safety guarantees for the Olympic Park to hold public events, the judge said.

In 2016, the site hosted basketball, swimming and tennis competitions. It is now used for concerts and other events.

But parts of it have been

poorly maintained.

The Games were criticised for their cost and alleged corruption.

A number of investigations have been opened into claims of corruption in the construction of venues and infrastructure related to the event, the first to be held in South America. In 2017, the cost of hosting it was estimated at around US$15 billion.

The Olympic Park in the western Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood is a sprawling complex that includes a velo-

drome, aquatics and tennis centres and several arenas.

It is now a public park, and hosts events including music festivals and e-sports tournaments.

But even before the Games were held, critics argued the sites were too big and expensive to maintain in the long run, warning that some risked becoming "white elephants" like several of the arenas built in Brazil when it hosted the World Cup in 2014. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Jack Warner: Activate a State of Emergency now

F

ormer Trinidad National Security Minister Jack Warner says it is time that Government officially activates a State of Emergency (SoE), to deal with the crime crisis in the country.

Warner was reacting to news of the most recent incidents of gang violence in the capital city, Port of Spain.

He believes the authorities here need to take a page out of the Jamaica playbook with targeted SoEs in hotspot areas, in order to get a handle on

Former Trinidad National Security Minister Jack Warner

gang violence.

According to Warner, the country has been under

a tacit State of Emergency for the past couple of years, even though the Government never officially declared one.

He says at least 2000 persons have been murdered in this country, during the People’s National Movement’s term in office, and citizens have curtailed their personal and professional activities in response to rising crime.

He says crime is destroying Trinidad and Tobago.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

17

Around the World

Trump impeachment trial Angola’s Isabel dos Santos: Africa’s richest woman eyes presidency opens as watchdog faults A White House on Ukraine T he Senate impeachment trial on whether to remove US President Donald Trump from office formally began on Thursday even as a congressional watchdog found that the White House broke the law by withholding security aid for Ukraine approved by Congress.

The assessment from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) was a setback for Trump, but it was unclear if it would figure in his trial in the Republican-led Senate given that key questions such as whether witnesses would testify or new evidence would be considered remain unanswered.

Democrat Adam Schiff, who heads a team of seven House of Representatives members who will serve as prosecutors, appeared on the Senate floor to read the two charges passed by the House on December 18 that accused Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress arising from his dealings with Ukraine.

Chief Justice John Roberts, wearing his black judicial robe, took an oath to preside over the trial

Assembled Senators who will serve as jurors were sworn in

and then swore in the assembled Senators who will serve as jurors. Roberts instructed them to raise their right hand, asking, “Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, President of the United States, now pending you will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help you God?” The 99 Senators present signed their assent one by one. One senator – Republican Jim Inhofe – was in his home state of Oklahoma to be with a family member facing a medical issue, according to his office, but was due to sign next week.

The Senate is expected to acquit Trump, as none of its 53 Republicans has voiced support for removing him, a step that requires a twothirds majority. Trump has denied wrongdoing and has called the impeachment process a sham.

Opening statements were due to start on Tuesday.

The abuse of power cited in the House articles of impeachment included Trump’s withholding of US$391 million in security aid for Ukraine, a move Democrats have said was aimed at pressuring Kiev into investigating political rival Joe Biden, the president’s possible opponent in the November 3 US election.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

ngolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos, who is embroiled in a huge financial scandal, has suggested that she may seek to become the country’s president.

In a BBC interview, Dos Santos pointedly declined four times to rule out running for the presidency.

Her father José Eduardo dos Santos ruled Angola for 38 years. Prosecutors are seeking to recover US$1 billion Dos Santos and her associates are alleged to owe the State.

She has denied any wrongdoing.

Dos Santos, 46, is one of the world’s richest women, with Forbes magazine estimating her fortune to be

Isabel dos Santos is one of the wealthiest women in the world

worth US$2.2 billion, making her the richest woman in Africa.

Her father controversially appointed her as the Head of Angola’s state-owned oil firm Sonangol in 2016.

She was sacked from the

post in 2017 by President Joao Lourenço, her father’s handpicked successor.

In an interview in London, she repeatedly stressed that her life was at risk if she returned to Angola in the current circumstances.

Refusing to rule out the possibility of running for President, she said she had a strong sense of patriotism and duty to her country.

“To lead is to serve, so I will do whatever my life takes me,” she said.

Dos Santos later told a Portuguese television channel that “it’s possible” she might run for the presidency in 2022. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Greece to elect 1st woman President

G

reece will elect its first woman president on January 22 after leading Opposition parties on Thursday approved the Government’s nomination of top judge Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou.

Main Opposition leftist leader Alexis Tsipras said Sakellaropoulou was an “exceptional judge” and a defender of human rights.

The socialist KINAL party also said it would support the nomination of the 63-year-old current head

Aikaterini Sakellaropoulou

of the Council of State, Greece’s top administrative court.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had announced Sakellaropoulou’s candidacy in a surprise televised address on Wednesday.

“The time has come for Greece to open up to the future,” Mitsotakis said, emphasising that the selection breaks with tradition not only because Sakellaropoulou is female, but also because she is not a member of a political party.

He said the choice “embodies unity and progress”.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Iran accuses Europe of Security forces fire tear gas in yielding to ‘high school 2nd night of Lebanon clashes bully’ Trump in nuclear row

I

ran said on Thursday three European States had succumbed to “high school bully” Donald Trump when they triggered a dispute mechanism in a nuclear pact the US President opposes, a step that could eventually lead to reimposing United Nations sanctions.

The pact, known as the JCPoA, was agreed in 2015 between Tehran and world powers, offering Iran sanctions relief if it curbed its nuclear work. Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018

and reimposed US sanctions, saying he wanted a tougher deal.

Iran has responded by scaling back its compliance with terms of the pact, saying this month it rejected all limits on uranium enrichment, although it says it wants to keep the deal in place.

Britain, France and Germany triggered the accord’s dispute mechanism this week. London said it was now time for a “Trump deal” to replace it, while Paris said broad talks were

P

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

needed.

Reuters)

(Excerpt

from

rotesters in crisis-hit Lebanon clashed with security forces in Beirut, a day after demonstrators outraged by restrictions on dollar withdrawals attacked bank branches with metal rods, fire extinguishers and rocks.

Hundreds gathered again outside the central bank on Wednesday evening, moving to a police station where more than 50 people were still detained following clashes between demonstrators and security forces the previous night.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Police with batons and tear gas wounded

and arrested dozens as protesters lit fires and smashed bank facades and ATMs. “These past two nights, they [police] were really barbaric,” said Cynthia Sleiman, a charity worker and protester who ended up in hospital after the vio-

lence.

“I had just arrived and was looking for my friends when the Policeman grabbed me, hitting me on the head and neck. I fell to the ground and blood was streaming out,” she said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Russian Parliament backs Putin’s pick for PM after ‘January Revolution’ FBI arrests suspected neo-Nazis

T

he Russian Parliament overwhelmingly backed President Vladimir Putin’s surprise choice for Prime Minister on Thursday after what one daily called a “January revolution”, a major political overhaul that some say could set Putin up as leader for life.

The State Duma, the Lower House of Parliament,

gave its backing to Mikhail Mishustin, a 53-year-old with almost no political profile, endorsing his nomination with 383 votes of 424 cast. Nobody voted against him; there were 41 abstentions.

Mishustin, who has headed the country’s tax service and played ice hockey with Putin, said he would name his Cabinet in the near fu-

ture. Putin signed a decree appointing him Prime Minister soon afterwards.

His elevation is part of a sweeping shake-up of the political system announced

by Putin on Wednesday, which led to the resignation of Dmitry Medvedev as Prime Minister along with his government. (Excerpt from Reuters)

ahead of Virginia gun rally

T

he FBI has arrested three suspected members of a neo-Nazi hate group who planned to travel to a pro-gun rally in Virginia on Monday.

One was a Canadian army reservist who was fired in August over ties to hate groups and has been suspected missing since,

Canadian Police told the BBC. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has declared a state of emergency in the city of Richmond ahead of the rally.

He said law enforcement believed there was a threat of violence.

Governor Northam on

Thursday announced a ban guns in the state’s Capitol area in Richmond from Friday until Tuesday, citing threats of violence made ahead of the rally.

The order also covers other weapons such as knives and sticks. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

PEANUTS

Partnerships look promising, but don’t let your emotions or stubbornness get in the way of a good deal. A romantic gesture will have a more significant impact than will an idle promise. Keep the peace.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Getting along with others will be necessary if you want to get things done on time, but don’t promise to do anything that will jeopardize your health or financial future.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Love and romance should be priorities. A kind gesture or offering will encourage a positive personal change.

Traveling or attending an event that sparks your interest is favored.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Keep moving forward.

Sort out what you want, who you want to spend time with and how best to improve your current personal situation.

Demonstrate your feelings and intentions.

VIRGO

Your practical attitude will help you keep the peace as well as ensure that you get along with everyone.

Implement a subtle change that will open a doorway to new possibilities.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

An older relative will concern you. Check out possible solutions that will benefit you and the rest of the family. A financial opportunity is likely if you act fast.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Your future can change in an instant, so do the best you can, and don’t hesitate to apply yourself wholeheartedly to secure your position.

Professional and financial gains are apparent.

SCORPIO

Share your emotions with a loved one. Less talk and more action are what will encourage positive change.

Refuse to let uncertainty stop you from voicing your thoughts and feelings.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Taking on too much will SAGITTARIUS be stressful. Sign up only (Nov. 23for what you know you can Dec. 21) complete. Taking time to do something you enjoy will improve your well-being.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR YESTERDAY’S PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Your charismatic approach to everything you do will be hard to resist. Form a partnership with someone who shares your beliefs and ideals.

Work hard, play hard and live life fully. You will feel restless if you have too much time to think about the past. A brilliant maneuver will fix a pending problem.

Take a moment to rest and evaluate your current situation.

Discuss personal matters with someone who is well informed and shares your concerns.

Personal gain is apparent, and romance will be inviting.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

19

NBA round-up:

M

Magic halt Lakers’ 9-game win streak regular starters. While Fred VanVleet remains sidelined, the Raptors got back Pascal Siakam back Sunday and then Marc Gasol returned to the lineup Wednesday.

Siakam scored 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting, while Gasol added 15. Gasol was playing for the first time since Dec. 18. Dennis Schroder scored 25 points off the bench to lead the Thunder.

Oklahoma City got 57 points from its reserves.

arkelle Fultz amassed 21 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and the visiting Orlando Magic ended the Los Angeles Lakers’ nine-game winning streak with a 119-118 victory on Wednesday night.

The triple-double was the second of Fultz’s career. The other came on April 11, 2018, for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Aaron Gordon also scored 21 points for the Magic. Wes Iwundu scored a career-high 19 points, Nikola Vucevic also had 19, and Terrence Ross had 15 off the bench for Orlando, which built a lead as big as 21 before withstanding several late Lakers rallies.

Quinn Cook led the Lakers with 22 points while LeBron James finished with 19 points and 19 of the team’s 34 assists. Los Angeles forward Anthony Davis missed his fourth consecutive game with a bruised tailbone, and the Lakers also played without reserve point guard Rajon Rondo (fractured finger).

and 12 assists while Eric Gordon scored 20 points off the Houston bench. Ben McLemore added 17 points and Clint Capela had 14 points and 18 rebounds, but with Harden taking just 12 shots, Houston lacked the offensive thrust to keep pace with the Trail Blazers.

Philadelphia 76ers 117 Brooklyn Nets 106 Tobias Harris posted 34 points with 10 rebounds and hit three clutch

Denver Nuggets 100 Charlotte Hornets 86 Michael Porter Jr. had 19 points, Mason Plumlee scored 15, and host Denver beat Charlotte.

Jerami Grant scored 14, Will Barton had 13 and Nikola Jokic and PJ Dozier produced 12 each for the Nuggets.

Denver played the second half without guard Jamal Murray, who sustained a left ankle injury late in the second quarter and did not return.

Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward makes the basket against the Detroit Pistons (USA Today Sports)

12 of 14 from the field, has scored 20 or more points in 12 consecutive games.

Indiana Pacers 104 - Minnesota Timberwolves 109 Domantas Sabonis registered a double-double with 29 points and 13 rebounds, and Indiana rallied to hold off Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Malcolm Brodgon recorded 21 points, six rebounds and six assists in his second game since returning from a back injury. Indiana kicked off a stretch with six of its next seven games on the road in the first of two back-toback against Minnesota.

The Timberwolves, who visit the Pacers on Friday, played without AllStar center Karl-Anthony Towns (flulike symptoms) for a second straight game and the 17th time this season.

Minnesota rode a balanced scoring effort, with five Timberwolves scoring between 17 and 10 points.

Dallas Mavericks 127 Sacramento Kings 123 Luka Doncic established a career high of 17 assists to go with 25 points and 15 rebounds while leading Dallas over host Sacramento.

The triple-double was the 12th of the season for the second-year star as Dallas won its third consecutive game.

Seth Curry made five 3-pointers while scoring 21 points for the Mavericks.

De’Aaron Fox recorded 27 points and 12 assists for the Kings, who lost their third straight game. Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes added 25 points apiece in a losing cause.

Detroit Pistons 116 Boston Celtics 103 Career nights from Sekou Doumbouya and Svi Mykhailiuk and a vintage performance by Derrick Rose led short-handed Detroit past host Boston.

Doumbouya and Mykhailiuk had career bests with 24 and 21 points, respectively, and Rose scored 22 on 11-of-13 shooting. Markieff Morris added 23 points off the bench, and Andre Drummond (13 points, 13 rebounds) chipped in a double-double as the Pistons won for just the fourth time in their past 16 games.

Gordon Hayward had 25 points, and Jaylen Brown added 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Celtics lost for the fourth time in their past six. Boston played without forward Jayson Tatum, who was held out due to a knee injury.

Portland Trail Blazers 117 Houston Rockets 107 Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 49 points as Portland controlled the tempo throughout its victory over host Houston.

Lillard posted 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while McCollum added 24 points and six assists to lead a Portland attack that featured all five scorers tallying double figures. Anthony, playing in Houston for the first time since the Rockets released him early last season, posted a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Russell Westbrook produced a triple-double of 31 points, 11 rebounds

Toronto Raptors 130 - Oklahoma City Thunder 121 Norman Powell had 23 points off the bench to help Toronto beat Oklahoma City on the road. Toronto shot a season-high 61.2 percent from the floor, with Powell going 9 of 11.

Toronto has battled injuries that recently left the team without three

shots in the final 2:20 as Philadelphia continued its home dominance by making all the plays down the stretch in beating Brooklyn.

Harris scored 11 of his points in the last 5:07 of the fourth quarter, when the Sixers outscored Brooklyn 31-16. He scored nine of his points in Philadelphia’s game-ending, 13-2 run over the final 3 1/2 minutes in Philadelphia’s 19th home win in 21 games this season.

Ben Simmons also posted 20 points and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia, which shot 51.1 percent from the floor.

Kyrie Irving was held to 14 points on 6-of-21 shooting in his third game back from right shoulder impingement.

Terry Rozier scored a game-high 20 points and handed out nine assists for the Hornets. Devonte’ Graham, P.J. Washington and Miles Bridges had 14 points each, and Cody Zeller finished with 11.

Miami Heat 106 - San Antonio Spurs 100 Kendrick Nunn scored 33 points to lead host Miami over San Antonio.

The 24-year-old rookie hit 13 of 18 shots from the field, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range, for the Heat, who snapped their first two-game losing streak of the season and improved to a league-best 18-1 at home.

DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points to lead the Spurs. DeRozan, who shot

Chicago Bulls 115 Washington Wizards 106 Zach LaVine scored 30 points on 12-for-21 shooting, and Chicago pulled away for a win over visiting Washington.

Thaddeus Young added 18 points and eight rebounds off the bench for the Bulls, who won for just the second time in their past nine games.

Chicago’s Tomas Satoransky finished with 18 points against his former team.

Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting.

Jordan McRae had 16 points off the bench for Washington, which has lost two straight and three of four.

(Reuters)

BCCI drops MS Dhoni from central contracts list

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S Dhoni is no longer a centrally contracted player with the BCCI. His name didn’t feature in the 27 contracts handed out by the Indian board on Thursday. He last played for India during the World Cup in 2019, following which there has been suspense over his future.

In 2019, he had been awarded a Grade A contract, which brings a retainer of INR 5 crore (USD 700,000 approx). Top-order batsman KL Rahul made the jump from Grade B to A this

time around, getting an increment of INR 2 crore (USD 280,000 approx).

While Dhoni has not played any professional cricket since the World Cup, India coach Ravi Shastri has said more than once that Dhoni could come into contention for the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year if he does well in the IPL. Others to lose contracts were Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik and Khaleel Ahmed. There weren’t many other massive changes from the contracts list from last year.

Test opener Mayank Agarwal, who made his debut in Melbourne in a delicately poised series and immediately impressed, was the big gainer, entering the list at Grade B, which comes with a retainer of INR 3 crore (USD 420,000

approx). Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who had dropped to Grade C thanks to injuries, came back to join Agarwal in Grade B. Other new names in the contracts - as of now - included limited-overs specialists: Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar. They all entered the system at Grade C, which comes with a retainer of INR 1 crore (USD 140,000 approx).

The A+ grade, which includes players who feature in all three formats, remained unchanged with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah retaining their INR 7 crore (USD 980,000 approx) fee. The injured Hardik Pandya, who has played only T20Is since the World Cup, retained his Grade B contract. (ESPNcricinfo)

20

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Experimenting India’s bid to salvage series against fully-armed Australia I

ndia won’t ideally like to use it as an excuse, but ODIs are their No. 3 priority this year. Their opponents have come fully armed. The 10-wicket win in the series opener was not entirely unexpected. India were without Hardik Pandya and Bhvuneshwar Kumar, they were experimenting with their batting and playing their best ODI batsman out of position. Australia were clinical and near full strength. Not to mention they had won their previous ODI series in India too, without David Warner and Steven Smith, just before the World Cup. ODIs might not be India’s top priority right now, they might not be full strength, but they have celebrated long and hard the ODI series win in South Africa (Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers out, a greenhorn captaining) and the Test and ODI series win in Australia (Smith and Warner out). By the same

Virat Kohli congratulates Aaron Finch and David Warner (AP)

token, if they don’t manage to salvage this ODI series, it will hurt them equally. Any loss against Australia does that to Indian teams post 2001. Back-to-back home series losses will cause serious hurt.

In an attempt to salvage the series, India’s con-

viction in their experiment will be tested. It is easy to say Virat Kohli should return to No. 3, but was the move such a failure? Kohli remains India’s best bet in the middle order because his game possesses all the gears required in ODI cricket. It is perhaps KL Rahul and

Marcus Rashford came on as a 64thminute substitute for Daniel James, but then went off in the 80th minute (Getty Images)

Rashford a doubt for Liverpool match after back injury

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anchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his decision to play Marcus Rashford “backfired” after the striker went off with a back injury.

Rashford, 22, was replaced in the 80th minute after he had been on the pitch for 16 minutes as United beat Wolves 1-0 in their FA Cup third-round replay.

The England international has scored 22 goals for club and country this season.

Solskjaer, whose side play away at Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday, said Rashford “couldn’t run”.

“He’ll be tested in the next few days - we have to see for Sunday,” added the Norwegian.

“I didn’t want to play him. I think he got a knock, a knee or something, in his back, but he’s been struggling for a little while.

“That’s why we’ve kept him away [from starting against Wolves], but we needed the win.”

Asked if the decision to play Rashford backfired, Solskjaer replied: “He was involved in the goal, so that was a positive, but it backfired.

“He’s a quick healer and he’ll play through some pain, definitely, if he’s capable and it’s not a bad, bad injury, but we’ve seen that he’s struggled lately.

“But that’s been more when he’s been tired. He wasn’t on long enough to be tired so it might be some-

thing that just happened there and then.

“He’s been absolutely top this season so we’ll do anything and everything we can to get him fit for Sunday.

If he’s not, then we’ll play without him.”

Rashford has featured in 13 matches - starting 11 of them - since the beginning of December, scoring nine goals in that period.

United will now play either Watford or League One side Tranmere away from home in the fourth round of the FA Cup on 26 January.

Solskjaer’s side are also fifth in the Premier League, in the last 32 of the Europa League and trail Manchester City 3-1 after the opening leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. (BBC Sport)

Shikhar Dhawan who can be faulted for getting out after getting in. One of them is a potential beneficiary

of Kohli’s move down.

However, it is important to not see Kohli’s move down a sacrifice for these two, but for the improvement of the middle order. Whether they are so clear-minded will be tested when the first wicket falls in Rajkot.

India will be hoping that their first wicket is also not the first wicket of the match: Australia’s real test will arrive when they are defending with a wet ball against a very good chasing side in home conditions. That toss becomes all the more important when the visiting team is a proper match for the home team.

With the big wicket of Virat Kohli, Adam Zampa now has a big bull’s eye on his back. Kohli will be itching to have his own back, the way he did

with Kesrick Williams in the limited-overs series earlier in the season. Will Zampa continue to capitalise on the slight weakness Kohli might have against legspin in the limited-overs game?

Australia have no reason to change their XI after outplaying India in all three departments. The only change could be to give Josh Hazlewood a game by resting one of the quick bowlers.

Kedar Jadhav is set to slot in with Rahul taking the keeping gloves. With no other all-rounder in the squad, Ravindra Jadeja will continue keeping one of the wristspinners out. There is nothing in the Rajkot pitch to suggest three spinners should play. That leaves India a choice to make between Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. The batting order remains fluid. Rgay day/night fixture commences at 4:00 hrs (ET).

(ESPNcricinfo)

Australian Open “is happening” despite air quality concerns, says tournament director

Australian Open qualifying was delayed earlier this week because of the poor air quality.

Smoke can be see commanding the atmosphere over the stadium (Getty Images)

A

ustralian Open organisers are confident the tournament will start and finish on time despite continuing health concerns over Melbourne’s air quality from bushfires in the country.

Some players have complained about having to play qualifying matches in smoky conditions.

“There is a lot of speculation about the Australian Open not happening, or starting later,” said tournament director Craig Tiley.

“The Australian Open is happening.”

Slovenia’s Dalila Jakupovic had to be helped off court when she retired from her qualifying match on Tuesday because of the “unhealthy” air quality.

British player Liam Broady said having to play his first-round qualifier on the same day “made his blood boil”, adding he was “gasping for air” as he lost to Belarusian Ilya Ivashka.

People in Melbourne were advised to stay indoors and keep pets inside on Tuesday.

A number of players have also criticised the tournament for not postponing the matches, with American Noah Rubin saying he had “blood and black stuff” coming out of his nose following his match on Wednesday.

Tiley says he understands the anger of the players, adding he believes it stems from the confusion of seeing different measurements of air quality depending on the app or website they used.

Rubin, a former Wimbledon junior champion, also told BBC Sport he was unhappy with the communication from tournament officials, saying they were reluctant to explain the figures to the players.

“Air quality is a very complex and confusing issue which relates to a number of different factors,” said Tiley.

“There are number of different air quality measures and it is made more complex by going on an app. There are different apps and websites which give you different readings.

“This is about trusting the medical advice and trusting the expertise and scientific advice of the people who analyse this every day.

“The safety, the wellbeing and the health of the players is the priority for us, as with our staff and our fans.”

Tiley said the tournament decided to use a ‘PM2.5 concentrate’ measure to monitor the air quality levels after receiving advice from environmental and medical experts.

A PM2.5 reading is being taken every four minutes at Melbourne Park. If the reading exceeds 200, Tiley said it would be deemed hazardous and play would be suspended.

He says no reading has exceeded the 200 mark while matches have been in progress at Melbourne Park. However, it did exceed that mark - rated as ‘very unhealthy’ - on Tuesday, when qualifying was delayed by an hour.

If play is suspended, the Tennis Australia chief executive says the tournament will continue indoors under the roofs on Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena.

“We do have three indoor arenas in which we can compete. It may look differently but the tournament will happen,” Tiley said.

“We are speculating if that would happen but if we had to work it out we would.

“We don’t expect that to happen because we haven’t yet seen anywhere in the world where there has been above that 200 on the PM2.5 concentrate consecutively over two weeks.”

The first Grand Slam of the year gets under way on Monday. (BBC Sport)

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

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21

BCB/Stag Beer 50 Overs Cricket Tournament…

RHT Namilco, Tucber Park to clash for spoils W

eather permitting, the historic Port Mourant Cricket Ground on the Corentyne Coast in East Berbice, home to seven Test cricketers, will on Saturday be hosting the Finals of the 2019 BCB/Stag Beer 50 Overs First Division Tournament.

Arch-rivals Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour and Tucber Park Cricket Club will do battle for the $100,000 first prize.

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has dedicated the finals of this tournament to the memory of the late legendary cricketer Basil Butcher, who played 44 Test matches for the West Indies after making his Test debut versus India in 1958.

Upon his retirement in 1969, Butcher had scored 3104 runs at an average of 43.11, with seven centuries and sixteen half-centuries.

Named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1970, Butcher is also an inductee into the BCB Hall of Fame.

The Stag Beer Finals is the first of three First Division Finals to be played over the next two weeks. The others are the Ivan Madray Memorial 20/20 and the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Busta Champion of Champions 40 Overs.

Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour and Albion Community Centre will clash in both finals.

The late Basil Butcher

Global Auto Spares Golf Classic on this weekend T

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

he first of two tournaments to be hosted by Global Auto Spares in 2020 will be held this weekend at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC). The occasion is to celebrate the grand opening of the entity’s Georgetown location: at Lot 87 Seaforth Street, Campbellville.

Owner of the Global Auto Spares entity, Hardeo ‘Curry’ Ganpat, has been a staunch supporter of the LGC since becoming a member thereof, and has vowed to continue his support of the work and vision of the club.

“I have seen for myself what President Aleem Hussain has personally done for the sport and this club, and I am proud to stand with him and help to achieve the vision he has for Lusignan Golf Club,” Ganpat has said.

This weekend’s tournament will feature three flights, with prizes being given to those placed first and

January 25th, are expected to participate therein.

Under the leadership of President Aleem Hussain, the LGC has seen tremendous progress and growth over the past two years, with more sponsors (230%), events (140%), and members than at any other time in its history. This means that the revenue from membership will now cover almost 50% of operating expenses, up from just 22% in previous years.

The AGM of the LCG is soon to be held. It will be interesting to see how the club moves forward to complete the grand plans that this Executive team has sought to put forward during its time in office.

For more information about the sport, or about the LGC, interested persons are invited to visit the site lusignangolfclub on Facebook, or call 220-5660/645-0944.

second therein, and there will be special recognition for the longest drive and nearest to the pin.

The course is in probably its best condition in years, and with players having had consistent practice, the level of play has increased and competition has gotten tougher; thus a grand tournament is anticipated, and many members, who are all honing their game in anticipation of the COPA Airlines Invitational scheduled for

NOT RECEIVING Kenyan athletics authority says top athlete

escaped from anti-doping testers GUYANA A TIMES

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top Kenyan athlete ran away from anti-doping testers who had visited a training camp unannounced to take samples, a senior athletics authority official said, as the East African nation ramps up efforts to combat doping.

Kenya is famous for its long and middle-distance running prowess, but it has been caught up in a series of doping scandals over the last five years, a period over which around 60 of its athletes have been sanctioned for anti-doping violations.

A World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report in September 2018 said 138 Kenyan athletes tested positive from 2004 to August 2018.

Barnaba Korir, Athletics Kenya Executive Committee member, said a top athlete had escaped when anti-doping testers from the Athletics Integrity Unit visited their camp this week in Kapsabet, Nandi County in the country’s west.

“After testers introduced themselves and why they visited the camp, one athlete left as if to answer a call of nature only to jump through the window and over the fence,”

Kenya’s athletes run during a training session in Nairobi, ahead of the 15th IAAF World Championships in Beijing (Reuters)

Korir told Reuters by phone late on Wednesday.

“They won’t escape from the tough measures put in place, however fast they run away and however long it takes.”

Korir declined to divulge more details and say whether or not the athlete being sought had won any international races.

“He is a fairly well known athlete,” he said when asked for more details on Thursday.

In the latest doping related case, the AIU said on its website on Tuesday it had issued a charge against Kenyan middle distance athlete Alfred Kipketer for what it said were whereabouts failures.

The AIU did not give any more

details on the case. Kipketer was not immediately reachable for comment.

Under anti-doping regulations, athletes have to inform testing authorities of their whereabouts for a one-hour window of every day and three failures — not being present at the said time — within 12 months leads to an automatic ban.

In 2016, WADA put Kenya on its Category A list of nations on watch for anti-doping violations.

Kenya plans to impose criminal penalties - including possible jail terms - on athletes caught doping, and was preparing new laws to deal with this, its sports minister said in December.

Last week, the AIU provisionally suspended Wilson Kipsang, Kenyan former marathon world record holder and bronze medalist at the 2012 Olympics, for failing to report his whereabouts and tampering with samples.

Kipsang’s management company denied the case involved the use of doping and tampering with the doping test. (Reuters)

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

LGC extends honorary membership to Indian High Commissioner O

n January 15, 2020, members of the Lusignan Golf Club’s Executive Committee presented a Certificate of Honorary Membership to His Excellency Dr K.J. Srinivasa, High Commissioner of India to Guyana.

Under the leadership of current President Aleem Hussain and his team of executives, the LGC has made tremendous efforts to expand the appeal of the game of golf to a wide range of participants, and His Excellency Dr. Srinivasa is the latest addition to a long list of dignitaries who are now a part of the club.

LCG Secretary, Pandit Ravi Persaud, was among the first to welcome this High Commissioner to Guyana, and had impressed upon him the benefits of visiting the golf course.

The High Commissioner has said he is very impressed with the vision of the Club, and has committed himself to getting involved in the sport, along with his family members and other members of the Indian High

Commission.

“I am very grateful to the Club’s President and Executive for extending this honour to myself and family, and we all look forward to being at the Club on a regular basis,” Dr Srinivasa has said.

The High Commissioner remarked that physical activity is an important part of everyone’s life, and the tranquility of a golf course would add balance and beauty to those who seek to relax and find peace.

Dr. K.J. Srinivasa commenced his assignment as Consul General of India to Guyana in 2019.

Having joined the Indian Foreign Service in 2002, he has worked in the Indian Embassy in Madrid (Spain) and in Lima (Peru).

Dr. Srinivasa also served as the Regional Passport Officer in Bangalore, India from September 2010 to April 2013, and was instrumental in the implementation of the Passport Seva Project (PSP).

He was Deputy Consul General in the Consulate General of India in San

LGC President Aleem Hussain; Indian High Commissioner, Dr KJ Srinivasa; and LGC PRO, Guy Griffith

Francisco from April 2013 until July 2016, and was Consul General

in Johannesburg, South Africa prior to his arrival in Guyana.

Busta Champion of Champions; BCB/ Ivan Madray Memorial T20 tournaments

Albion, RHT Namilco battle in 2 finals this weekend

The late Ivan Madray

O

ver the last decade, Berbice arch-rivals Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC) and Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour have dominated cricket at all levels, and have played each other in numerous finals.

They will face off in the finals of the BCB/ RHTY&SC Busta Champion of Champions 40 Overs Tournament on Saturday at the Area H Ground in Rose Hall Town, before clashing again on Sunday at the No 69 Village ground in the Upper Corentyne area for the Ivan Madray T20 Title.

These matches will involve most of the finest players in Berbice. The Rose Hall Town team will be without the services of Clinton Pestano, Kevin Sinclair and Kevlon Anderson, but would be led by national all-rounder Eon Hooper with support in the batting order coming from Junior Sinclair, Khemraj Mahadeo, Surendra Kissoonlall, Jason Sinclair, Delbert Hicks, Jonathan Rampersaud and Keith

Simpson.

Pacers Keon Sinclair and Sylus Tyndall will share the new ball, with off-spinners Junior Sinclair, Khemraj Mahadeo, Jonathan Rampersaud and Eon Hooper offering spin support.

Leg-spinner Shawn Pereira and left-hander Keith Simpson will also offer variety on tracts that are expected to be solid.

Albion, also, will be affected by the absence of Devendra Bishoo, Veersammy Permaul and Anthony Bramble in their efforts to end the dominance of their arch-rivals.

And in what promises to be one of the most exciting cricket finals to be held in the Ancient County of Berbice in more than a decade, these arch-rivals will clash again on Sunday for ownership of the 2019 Berbice Cricket Board/Ivan Madray Memorial T20 tournament title.

This match will be played at the Vikings Cricket Club ground at # 69 Village in the Upper Corentyne area, and will be used as a fundraiser for Guyana’s most dynamic and vibrant cricket board.

The tournament is being sponsored by Upper Corentyne-born business executive Chandradat Chintamani in memory of his uncle, former West Indies leg-spinner Ivan Madray, the third Berbician to have played Test cricket for the West Indies, after the legendary John Trim and the greatest cricketer to hail from Berbice, Rohan Babulall Kanhai.

A product of the historic Port Mourant Cricket Club, Madray played two Test matches in 1958 before migrating to the United Kingdom. He died on April 23rd 2009 at the age of 74.

BCB President Hilbert Foster and sponsor Chandradat Chintamani will distribute the prizes won in this match after its conclusion.

Foster is urging all cricket fans in the Upper Corentyne area to come out and witness this final.

During the past two years, the sport of golf has seen a dramatic increase in

the number of events, members and activities both on and off the course. Major contributions by MACORP have aided the development of the grounds and allowed more playing days than ever before.

This year, the LGC will host several special events, starting with the Easter Family Gatherings wherein thousands descend upon the grounds to celebrate. Plans for the third annual Soca & Wine Festival are among other plans being finalised.

Bishop Griffith, in welcoming the High Commissioner to the LCG on behalf of the Executive team and members, said: “We look forward to having you and your family being frequent visitors to our wonderful facility, and hope that the ‘golf bug’ makes you a regular participant in our events.”

Persons desiring more information on the LGC, membership, activities, or about the sport are invited to visit the LCG Facebook page lusignangolfclub or call 2205660/645-0944.

ICC U-19 World Cup tournament…

West Indies begin campaign against Australia tomorrow

H

aving recorded a commanding victory over Scotland on Wednesday, the West Indies Under-19 team will look to bring to the competition a high level of cricket when they face the formidable Australian side on Saturday in Kimberley, South Africa.

Their match -- in ‘Group B’, which they share with England and Nigeria -- is slated to commence at 4:00 hrs ET on Saturday.

In the match against Scotland, Kevlon Anderson smashed a thrilling ton as West Indies condemned Scotland to a 126-run defeat in their final warm-up fixture in Irene, Pretoria.

The talented young batsman from Guyana hit 101 not out in a swashbuckling knock that came off 72 balls, with the Windies posting 322 for six from their 50 overs.

Kimani Melius (67) and Leonardo Julien (65) also contributed to the mammoth Windies’ total. The Windies’ innings contained two strong stands, as Melius and Julien combined for a century for the second wicket; with Anderson dominating the fifth-wicket partnership batting alongside Daniel Beckford (27).

Scotland, in response, were bowled out for 196, with Uzzair Shah (49) and Ben Davidson (34) top scoring.

They were never able to put the pressure on in a chase in which they needed to score at nearly seven runs an over in order to reach the target.

Joshua James was the pick of the Windies’ bowlers, with his three for 22 from six overs being supported by the trio of Matthew Patrick, Ashmead Nedd and Avinash Mahabirsingh, who each snared two wickets.

West Indies squad: Kevlon Anderson, Daniel Beckford, Matthew Forde, Joshua James, Nyeem Young, Antonio Morris, Ashmead Nedd, Mbeki Joseph, Leonardo Julian, Avinash Mahabirsingh, Kirk McKenzie, Ramon Simmonds, Matthew Patrick and Jayden Seales.

Australia squad: Cooper Connolly, Oliver Davies, Sam Fanning, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Lachlan Hearne, Corey Kelly, Liam Marshall, Todd Murphy, Patrick Rowe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Bradley Simpson, Connor Sully and Matthew Willans.

Kevlon Anderson

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

23

CWI Colonial Medical Insurance Regional 4-Day Championship…

Kemar Roach

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resistant half-century from Jaguars opening batsman Tagenarine Chanderpaul, coupled with a solid batting performance from debutant Kevin Sinclair, led a very welcome resurgence from the Guyana Jaguars after Kemar Roach had assaulted their top order at the Kensington Oval in

Barbados regain pride, but Jaguars fight back Barbados yesterday.

This round 2 match in the CWI Colonial Medical Insurance Regional 4-Day tournament saw the home side winning the toss but giving Guyana the opportunity to bat first on a lively bowling tract. At the end of the first day, Jaguars were 209-8, with Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Nial Smith overnight at the crease on 66 and 17 respectively.

K e m a r Roach had earlier removed in quick succession Chandrapaul Hemraj for four, Leon Johnson for a first-ball duck, and Vishaul Singh for 6; but Christopher Barnwell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul were able to weather the proverbial storm to see their team on 61-3 at lunch.

After the lunch interval, it was all uphill going for the Jaguars, as they struggled to gain runs. Moreover, they lost Christopher Barnwell for 32, as Roach picked up his fourth wicket. Raymond Reifer made 20, and Anthony Bramble

glimmer of hope in the afternoon session.

Sinclair narrowly missed the half-century mark when he was removed for 43 by Jomel Warrican, after facing 103 deliveries which he laced with 6 boundaries and a maximum. Warrican then removed Veersammy Permaul without scoring, to push the Pride closer to

some bowling points.

Nial Smith entered the picture at that stage, and he offered a few good shots, which got him 3 boundaries in his score of 17 before stumps. Chanderpaul is at the other end on 66 from 274 deliveries, which includes eight boundaries.

The second day’s play will commence at 10:00 hrs.

SCOREBOARD Kevin Sinclair

got to 8, before Jonathan Carter removed both batsmen, which ticked the score over to 108-6.

Chanderpaul, though, continued to occupy the crease alongside Sinclair, the pair needing to carry on if the Jaguars were to stand any chance at regaining some ground. At the tea interval, Jaguars were 1346, with Chanderpaul on 30 from 157 balls and Sinclair on 24 at the other end.

Roach was forced to leave the field after a hamstring twitch during the afternoon session, but he returned for

another spell to boost the Bajans’ attack. However, the patient Chanderpaul reached his fifty, while Sinclair dug deep alongside him to give the Jaguars a

Guyana Jaguars First Innings T Chanderpaul not out . . . . 66 C Hemraj c Dowrich b Roach 4 L Johnson c Dowrich b Roach 0 V Singh c Stoute b Roach . . 6 C Barnwell c Moseley b Roach 32 R Reifer lbw b Carter . . . . . 20 A Bramble c Holder b Carter 8 K Sinclair c Stoute b Warrican 43 V Permaul c Moseley b Warrican 0

Nial Smith not out . . . . . . 17 Extras: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Total - 209 for 8 Yet to bat: K Joseph Bowling: K Roach (18-6-284), K Harding (12-1-40-0), C Holder (15-3-39-0), K Stoute (13-1-43-0), J Carter (11-331-2), J Warrican (13-4-172), K Brathwaite (5-1-8-0)

Guinness "Greatest of the Streets" tournament…

Colours Boutique hands over official uniforms …action set to begin on January 24 in Linden

Pollard hails recovery C of "experienced" Bravo W

indies skipper Kieron Pollard has heaped praise on recently returned all-rounder Dwyane Bravo, despite the player experiencing mixed fortunes in a rare T20 international loss against Ireland in Grenada on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old, who has been out of competitive action at the highest level for several months, got off to a rocky start when he entered the bowling attack in the 5th over. The bowler conceded 17 runs but recovered to end with 2 for 28, in the end playing a pivotal role in restricting Ireland to 208 for 7.

At one point, on the back of 94 from Paul Sterling and 48 from Kevin O’Brien, the Irish, who set the record for the highest power play score in T20 cricket, seemed set for a much bigger score.

“I thought he was fantastic. After going for 17 or 18 in his first over a lot of chatter would have been about what’s going on with Bravo, he’s back and he’s expensive but it goes to show the importance of experience in T20 cricket. You don’t lose a game in an over and he came back to get two crucial wickets,” Pollard said following the match.

Bravo accounted for the wickets of O’Brien, where he got the crucial breakthrough, and later removed Garth Delany. Pollard also commended spinner Hayden Walsh.

“Hayden Walsh in all the carnage that was taking place as well, he bowled two overs on a trot and he was consistent with his line and length.” (Sportsmax)

Kieron Pollard

olours Boutique, in their longstanding relationship with Banks DIH, this afternoon made their contribution to the highly anticipated Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ street ball tournament.

In a ceremony hosted at their spanking new outlet at 117 Regent Road, Bourda, Colours Boutique made the presentation of playing uniforms that will be used by the various teams throughout the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ tournament.

While this is not the first year that Colours have donated the complete playing kits along with socks, this year’s uniforms have been noticeably improved in terms of material and branding.

Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste has commended the clothing entity for going the extra mile in their contribution to the tournament, and has extended gratitude to the entity for this effort.

“As you know, Colours Boutique has been our sole major sponsor

This is what this year’s Guinness "Greatest of the Streets" uniforms look like

over the years, and again we want to thank them for providing uniforms for the entire tournament, and we want to thank them for giving us support. This year they went a step further in branding the uniforms, and that’s great,” Baptiste declared.

On behalf of Colours Boutique, Marissa Williams noting that the entity is always anxious for the tournament to start, and is happy to be of some assistance.

“I am a proud representative of Colours Boutique, and I’m here to say that we are always happy to be a part of this tournament, ‘Guinness (Greatest of) the Streets’,” Williams noted.

The year-long Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’

tournament commences on January 24 in the mining town of Linden. Baptiste revealed the playing dates of the Linden leg and shared his expectations for that round.

“It’s going for four days.

It’s the 24th and 25th of January and the 7th and 8th of February. We expect 16 teams, stiff competition, and I expect a good tournament,” Baptiste revealed.

After Linden, the Guinness street ball tournament will make its way to Berbice and all the other sub-divisions thereafter before the national championships are staged. East Coast, East Bank/West Coast, Bartica and Georgetown are some of the other subdivisions in the tournament.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

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CWI Colonial Medical Insurance Regional 4-Day Championship…

Page 23

Barbados regain pride, but Jaguars fight back

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” tournament…

Colours Boutique hands over official uniforms

…action set to begin on January 24 in Linden Marissa Williams, representing Colours, presents a sample of the new uniforms to Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste

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LGC extends honorary membership to Indian High Commissioner

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