Guyana Times Monday March 2, 2020

First wells in Canje Block to be drilled early in 2020 – UK company

P13 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4213

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

GECOM is ready for elections – Chairperson ...assures election tabulation will be foolproof Page 3

...polling stations have several layers of accountability

PSC urges Guyanese to vote early and go home Page 12

– expects political parties to comply with the laws of Guyana

ExxonMobil begins Liza Phase ...price for Guyana’s first 2 installations oil sale still not known

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

2 homeless as Enmore house goes up in flames P15

Pedal cyclist P13 killed while crossing road Kids need to be global citizens, not mastering 23 CXCs – IDB official P10

National cyclist’s death

Best likely for court on Tuesday P2 – Police ...to answer charge of causing death by dangerous driving

See story on page 7

Ex-cop remains Prisoner escapes under Police guard from Mazaruni after death of girlfriend Prison Page 8

See story on page 10

Murder accused to seek private medical attention

P8

2 NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

National cyclist’s death

Best likely for court on Tuesday – Police ...to answer charge of causing death by dangerous driving

I

t has been almost a month since 41-year-old national cyclist, Jude Bentley was struck down by

Retired Rear Admiral, Gary Best who is also an executive member of the PNCR and a candidate for the APNU/

AFC coalition, on the Rupert Craig Highway.

After sending the file for legal advice, the Director of

Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Thursday recommended that charges be laid against Best for causing the death of the national cyclist.

When contacted, Commander of Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Sub-division A (Georgetown), Assistant Police Commissioner Edgar Thomas stated the case is likely to be filed on Tuesday, taking into account that Monday is a Public Holiday.

Just after the accident, the former Chief of Staff through his Lawyer James Bond stated that he would be suspending all his appearances at all public campaigns for the APNU/AFC coalition but his lawyer is now saying something else.

“Mr Best is crisscrossing the country on a special assignment. Mr Best, as most people know, is a candidate for the APNU/AFC and has a lot of assignments,” Bond

Retired Rear Admiral Gary Best

Dead: Jude Bentley

added.

Best was initially taken into custody but was released on $100,000 station bail. He was found to be way above the alcohol limit at the time of the accident.

After the accident, Bentley’s daughter, Jada Bentley reiterated her call for justice in her father’s death given the fact that the

alleged perpetrator tried to clear his name with an untruthful statement.

“I saw that Mr Best was claiming that my dad was not wearing any reflector lights. I felt really angry.

Like it was really disrespectful to my dad,” the young lady expressed.

“He obviously, he has a bike shop, he has everything he needs for his bikes, his bicycles and everybody saw the reflectors and he [Mr Best] claimed my dad was not wearing any reflector and he didn’t see him,” the grieving daughter stated.

In fact, last week, family and friends of the late Jude Bentley picketed the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, calling for charges to be initiated against Best.

NEWS

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MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

Monday, March 2 – 09:30h – 11:00h and, Tuesday, March 3 – 10:30h – 12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, March 2 – 10:35h – 12:05h and Tuesday, March 3 – 11:45h – 13:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals will prevail during the day.

There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 19 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 09:17h and 21:58h reaching maximum heights of 2.31 metres and 2.19 metres.

Low Tide: 15:24h reaching a minimum height of 0.91 metre.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

01 08 09

13 18 20

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FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

08 15 20 24 26 LUCKY 3

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8

7

0

Afternoon Draw

6

04

1

Evening Draw

07

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10 12 17

PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Crude Oil Rough Rice London Sugar

$50.52/barrel $244.53/ton $396.60/ton

Live Spot Gold

…assures election tabulation will be foolproof …polling stations have several layers of accountability

T

he long-awaited General and Regional Elections are here and according to Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, the entity is prepared to conduct the elections efficiently and transparently.

She made this statement on Sunday, the penultimate day before elections, during a radio interview. According to Justice Singh, notwithstanding the last-minute changes, everything has been put in place, including lighting and security for the tents that will be used as polling places.

“We are fully prepared to deliver free, fair and credible elections. Everything has been put in place towards transparency. The places where we are using tents, lights are being fixed in all those tents. Security, potable water and portable toilets are being placed in those locations,” she said.

The GECOM Chair also stressed that there was no need for worry about the tabulation of votes, since there were several layers of accountability in the polling places. According to Singh, the tabulation of the votes will be closely watched.

“And there is an account sheet, as to how many ballots were received. And how many were used. And how many were spoilt. You have to give that account.

Further, we have several observers and they will be there.

“They’re there,” she added, when asked whether observers would also be in locations in interior and riverine areas. “The ABCEU (United States, British, Canadian and European Union) will have several persons there. And they’ve scattered them around.”

Results

DRAW DE LINE

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GECOM is ready for elections – Chairperson

Change % -3.29 +0.11 0.00

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask $1585.50 $1586.50 Low/High $1562.50 $1643.10 Change 0.00 0.00%

When it comes to the vote count and how soon results would be available, Singh shied away from providing an exact timeline.

According to her, there are several variables to consider, but GECOM for its part will strive to deliver results in a timely manner.

“We would not be able to have all the results very early. However, GECOM would endeavour to bring the results in the earliest possible time. We must also give due consideration to the fact that … parties may very well ask for recounts. GECOM has no control over that. Now we have 11 parties … but we will endeavour to bring updates on what is going on.”

The Retired Justice also reminded persons of the fact that assembling within 200 yards of a polling station and interfering in any way with the process is an election offence, something

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

APNU/AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger

PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali

that was brought to the fore after calls from officials such as Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence for her party supporters to assemble outside polling stations.

“On Election Day, no one should be within 200 yards of the polling station.

If you’re there, you’re committing an offence under the Representation of the People’s Act. You can be fined $65,000 plus imprisonment.

“So, if you are there to molest electors, asking who they voted for or soliciting their votes, then you’re committing an offence. That can be termed canvassing,” the GECOM Chairperson also added.

Justice Singh also had

a message for the 660,998 Guyanese citizens who are registered to vote today, as well as the leaders of the 11 parties who are contesting in the General and Regional Elections.

“I would ask all electors to go out there and cast their ballot. It is their constitutional right to vote, and I would ask them to do so as responsible citizens of Guyana. Also, we are asking all the political parties to ask their supporters to respect the law.”

In fact, the Carter Center encouraged GECOM to publicise and distribute existing procedures for tabulation as widely as possible.

“The Carter Center notes that publicising and widely distributing procedures

for both tabulation and recounts – with key safeguards in place for transparency, allowing party scrutineers and observers at all stages – will be integral to ensuring that the will of the voters is accurately and comprehensively reflected in the final results,” a release issued by the body stated.

Road to elections

The road to General and Regional Elections has been a bumpy one, starting with the successful passage of a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly against the Government in December 2018 and culminating in the President announcing the March 2 date almost a year later.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 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

Elections and democratic ethics

O

n Saturday, two days before our General Elections which are being held today, US Ambassador SarahAnn Lynch issued a statement on the General Elections. “All eyes are on Guyana this week. I just returned from the worldwide US Ambassadors’ conference in Washington and there is great interest in free, fair and peaceful Guyanese elections on March 2.

I encourage all registered voters to exercise their franchise in a peaceful manner and to allow others to do the same. Good luck to all the parties. After the people of Guyana have spoken, the United States stands ready to work with the next democratically-elected administration, and I encourage all parties to respect the outcome.”

The US was the first country to institute democratic governance after its declaration of independence from Britain in 1776. Since then, it has remained a beacon to those countries that aspire to follow in that path by putting its money where its mouth is to promote democracy. In view of the history of Guyana, one important point made by the Ambassador is that “the United States stands ready to work with the next democratically-elected administration”.

One answer to what this means concretely is given by one US Government statement on “ELECTIONS” Expanding on “The Benchmark of Elections”, the statement declares, “Elections are the central institution of democratic representative governments. Why? Because, in a democracy, the authority of the government derives solely from the consent of the governed. The principal mechanism for translating that consent into governmental authority is the holding of free and fair elections.”

But it cautioned, that based on its experience, “All modern democracies hold elections, but not all elections are democratic.” In answering the question, “What Are Democratic Elections?”, the statement pointed out that “Jeane Kirkpatrick, scholar and former US Ambassador to the United Nations, has offered this definition: “Democratic elections are not merely symbolic....They are competitive, periodic, inclusive, definitive elections in which the chief decision-makers in a government are selected by citizens who enjoy broad freedom to criticise government, to publish their criticism and to present alternatives.”

The US statement elaborated in more concrete terms on the non-negotiability of “free and fair elections” for democratic governance: “Democracies thrive on openness and accountability, with one very important exception: the act of voting itself. To cast a free ballot and minimise the opportunity for intimidation, voters in a democracy must be permitted to cast their ballots in secret. At the same time, the protection of the ballot box and tallying of vote totals must be conducted as openly as possible, so that citizens are confident that the results are accurate and that the government does, indeed, rest upon their “consent”.

When the election is over, the losers accept the judgment of the voters. If the incumbent party loses, it turns over power peacefully. No matter who wins, both sides agree to cooperate in solving the common problems of the society. The losers, now in the political opposition, know that they will not lose their lives or go to jail. On the contrary, the opposition, whether it consists of one party or many, can continue to participate in public life with the knowledge that its role is essential in any democracy worthy of the name. They are loyal not to the specific policies of the government, but to the fundamental legitimacy of the State and to the democratic process itself.

As the next election comes around, opposition parties will again have the opportunity to compete for power.

In addition, a pluralistic society, one in which the reach of government is limited tends to offer election losers alternatives for public service outside government. Those defeated at the polls may choose to continue as a formal opposition party, but they may also decide to participate in the wider political process and debate through writing, teaching, or joining one of many private organisations concerned with public policy issues. Democratic elections, after all, are not a fight for survival but a competition to serve.”

Guyanese know who have violated these democratic rules and who have observed them and deserve their vote today.

A patient named Dagmar Turner, 53, plays violin while surgeons remove her brain tumour at King’s College Hospital in London, Britain, January 31, 2020. Turner played Mahler and Gershwin while the tumour in her right frontal lobe, close to the area that controls the fine movement of her left hand, was removed so that surgeons could preserve her ability to play the instrument (King’s College Hospital/Handout via Reuters)

Vote for restoration of constitutional rule in Guyana

Dear Editor, In 2015, I asked the nation to vote for a change and to support the coalition of PNC and AFC as I thought they would promote national unity and change the country. Sadly, the PNC coalition broke all its promises including breaking its promises to the AFC, and it quickly squandered all the goodwill placed in it by crossover voters that caused them to win. The coalition is a dismal failure, the economy declined, unemployment increased, business is slow, they governed badly and it led to their massive defeat at the Local Government Elections in 2016 and 2018, culminating in their final defeat at the no-confidence vote in December 2018.

For 2020, the party that captures my support is the PPP. This time, I will vote for the PPP because the PNC has shown scant respect for the Guyana Constitution and democratic rule. While violating the Constitution, and squatting for a year as an illegal Government as Parliament had not extended their stay, Mr Granger glibly declared he is following the Constitution, while saying the decisions of the CJ and CCJ are their mere opinions and that he has his own opinions.

Instead of promoting healing in the nation as it promised, the PNC’s behaviour after the No-Confidence Motion showed that the PNC has not changed from its old ways of dictatorship. Although it got into Government by a oneseat majority and one-vote win in Region Eight (no recount was allowed and the PPP’s election petition was never heard), its voodoo math of 33 is not the majority of 65 and filing numerous court cases as a ploy to stay in power by hook or by crook, has left us the most divided we have ever been as a nation.

I was taken in by pictures of Mr Granger kneeling in church and thought he

was a good, Christian man.

Although Granger refused to renounce Burnhamism, the crossover voters were willing to give him a chance. However, once they got in, the coalition quickly were on the wrong trajectory, with instant pay increases for themselves, the D’Urban Park scandal, drug bond scandal, signing away of our national oil and gas patrimony scandal, hiding the sign-on bonus money scandal, airport scandal, bridge scandal, new Demerara Bridge study scandal, procurement scandals, and the list goes on and on.

The PNC appointed many inexperienced, low-talent, fumbling, bungling Ministers who, for most of the time, did not have a clue what they were doing. The lowest point of the PNC regime is the party Chairman saying, “Well I got news for you: The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I could give work to is PNC. And, right now, I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC,” (SN, Nov 13, 2018). This takes us back to the dark days of Burnhamism when “paramountcy of the party” led to a swift destruction of Guyana, until free and fair elections in 1991 ushered in the PPP as the saviour. No wonder the coalition seems unbothered by their insensitivity to diversity in hiring, awarding of scholarships, implementation of Government projects, access to training, etc.

Despite its claims to be “A Partnership for National Unity,” the PNC’s one-seat triumphalism and locking out the PPP from decision making about oil is regrettable.

Neither the PPP nor PNC should think it can lock out the other in making deals and decisions about oil and gas.

There has to be a broad-based National Oil Board. Refusing all advice by the IMF and international bodies, NGOs, and oil experts, the coalition

is clueless, unprepared for oil, refuses to take advice from the abundance of counsel that has been proffered, and has made all the mistakes possible in selling out the national patrimony. Its biggest betrayal of the nation is instead of listening to good advice, it hardened its stance against the Global Witness report by saying the Exxon deal was a good deal, even though we stand to lose a whopping estimate of US$55 billion. From “Bookers Guyana,” we have now entered an era of “Exxon Guyana.” There goes the imagined good life for all, and the masses get larwah.

After the new national hero, Charandass Persaud voted against his own Government, the “Charandass effect” jolted the PNC coalition that they forgot the people and broke all their promises. Last-minute projects (many violating the rules as the illegal Government is in a caretaker status) were too little too late to save their poor record of failures.

While the PNC is push-

ing the notion that the PNC is a “Christian party” and some churches are misguidedly pushing that notion too, no serious, real Christian would say the PNC is a Christian party. It is not.

In this new era of “vote them in, vote them out,” I ask that you support the PPP as they are the only one that can match the PNC and hold them accountable. It should not be that any time the PNC is in power that you have to be fighting for the restoration of democracy. My litmus test for the 2020 election is which party is likely to observe and practice constitutional rule and obey the Constitution, and it is the PPP. It is important on March 2, that we take back the Government from the constitutional violators.

If we don’t, the PNC will pull the same tricks it did in 19681992. We must go back to the PPP so we may go forward.

Dear Editor, As elections come upon us on March 2, 2020, I would like to put into perspective what we are voting for and why. We can all agree that we are making a choice that will resonate not only in this time and space but will create a tremendous ripple effect on many levels in the future at different times and spaces and in all factors of our lives.

Your vote will be the most pragmatic decision you will ever have to make since 1992 and for the next generation. Guyana is at a crossroads where we either fall off the cliff into oblivi-

on or we rise to success. It is my firm belief that the PPP/C will take us to success while a vote for APNU is a vote that will take us closer to assured disaster.

We are already seeing the level of destruction APNU have created in five short years and one can only imagine how worse it will get if they are to miraculously win these elections.

The only good that came out of this APNU Government is that it opened our eyes to what incompetence looks like and made us affirm our confidence that the PPP/C is the only logical choice for Guyana.

Sincerely, Dr Jerry Jailall USA

We must stop APNU’s ineptitude on March 2

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

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MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

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

The choice is clear Obscene greed by a select few, aided Dear Editor, The March 2020 General Election is here. Guyanese, both young and old, for this election would have lived under two governments - the PPP Government up to May 2015 and APNU/AFC between May 2015 and present. Older Guyanese would also have lived under a previous PNC Government also, before 1992. Therefore, for the first time in a very long time, young voters and older voters can vote based on party’s track records. The campaign has shown a dramatic difference in how these two parties have utilised their track records.

The PPP has been relentless in referring to its track record, they have defended and boasted about their track record. APNU/AFC has been reluctant to discuss their track record in Government, avoiding even the slightest discourse when it comes to its track record. During the campaign, the PPP has been brutal in attacking APNU/AFC’s track record in Government, while simultaneously reminding people of what it achieved when it was in Government.

APNU/AFC, on the other hand, has chosen to avoid as much as possible its own track record, choosing, instead, to demonise PPP leaders, mostly painting Bharrat Jagdeo as the devil incarnated, with Irfaan Ali as his puppet.

It is a telling difference - the PPP pointing out to clear successes when it was in Government vs APNU/ AFC’s morbid reluctance to talk about its own achievements. The fact is that the PPP/C in twenty-three years in Government expended $1.6 trillion and proudly points to what it got for that money. APNU/AFC, on the other hand, spent in just five years, almost $1.4 trillion, almost the same as the PPP spent in 23 years, but is hard-pressed to identify what it has achieved for this very heavy spending.

The only major projects in the last five years are holdovers from the PPP/C time in Government.

In particular, there were two mega holdover projects.

First, the US$150 million Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion and Modernisation project started under the PPP/C and was one of the projects savagely criticised by APNU/AFC. In fact, APNU/AFC used its one-seat majority in Parliament to vote against the project, in 2013 and 2014, resulting in work on the project being halted.

In 2016, they resumed work, with a reduced scope for the same US$150 million.

Work is still ongoing, APNU/AFC not able to complete a holdover project from the PPP. Importantly, the Auditor General is unable to audit this project because important documents have not been provided. Second, the $43 million East Coast Highway which APNU/AFC commissioned on Thursday, February 27, even though the East Coast Highway is not

yet complete. This project was originally budgeted at US$30 million when it started in 2011 under the PPP. In both 2013 and 2014, APNU/AFC voted against this project, resulting in considerable delays.

After five years, the project is still incomplete, even though APNU/AFC commissioned it.

Outside of these two PPP mega-projects which they inherited from the PPP, there were also some smaller projects they inherited. The Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra was a project that started under the PPP and funding was secured through the Indian Government. The design work for the monuments was already completed. After spending more than $50 million of the money, APNU/AFC could not complete the project for the targeted date of May 2016. Instead of fixing the problem, two Ministers - the Ministers of Education and Infrastructure began quarrelling whose fault it was. Eventually, the Indian Government had had enough and took over the project, finally completing it for May 2019.

APNU/AFC did complete the East Bank Berbice Road, but that road is already crumbling. They inherited a number of other projects which just needed commissioning. These included the Lima, Windsor Forest, Patentia and other pump stations. But the Hope Pump Station, after five years, is still ongoing.

The most remarkable part of APNU/AFC’s track record is what it omitted from the PPP development agenda they inherited. The transformative Amaila Hydroelectric Project, costing more than US$800 million in Private Sector funding was placed in the dump.

Had this project proceeded, Guyana would have benefitted from cheap, reliable electricity. By now, Guyanese would have already been paying less for better electricity.

Importantly Guyana’s carbon footprint would have been considerably improved.

There are other transformative projects that have been shelved in the last five years - the Aurora Land Development Scheme would have resulted in another 12,000 acres of land available for Essequibo farmers. The completion of MMA Phase 2, with the extension of the Abary Conservancy to the Mahaica River, would have opened up or improved drainage and irrigation for more than 400,000 acres of land between the Mahaicony and Mahaica blocks of the MMA. The construction of the Johanna Drainage Channel in Black Bush Polder would have created improved flood relief for Black Bush Polder and the Frontlands, with a significant positive impact for almost 50,000 hectares.

In addition, they dumped the Parika to Rockstone Road, the so-called Del Conte Road, which would have opened up thousands of acres of agriculture land.

They also dumped the Specialty Hospital Project.

This project funded through an Exim Bank loan to the tune of about US$50 million would have transformed further Guyana’s health sector. It would have operated as a private hospital for international patients, but provided subsidised care for local patients whose cost would have been paid for by the Government of Guyana. It would mean a drastic reduction of the need for overseas medical care, but would have ensured that every Guyanese had access to modern, state-of-the-art care right in Guyana. It is unfathomable why APNU/AFC dumped this project.

The Demerara River Bridge was not shelved, but APNU/AFC’s incompetence led to no advancement of this project for which the PPP/C had already sourced funding and for which a feasibility study was completed. APNU/ AFC dumped the feasibility study because it was too steep with the DNA and footprints of the PPP. It completed a second feasibility study at a cost of more than $150 million, almost five times the cost of the original PPP feasibility study. However, they also dumped their own study and now five years later we are still at square one, with no progress on replacing the present bridge which has long past its recommended decommissioning.

Similarly, no work has been done on the Linden Highway, another project that was in the formative stages when APNU/AFC took control of the Government.

No explanation as to why this project is still not advanced from where it was in May 2015. The same thing could be said for the Linden to Lethem Road, the Corentyne River Bridge, the Deep-Water Harbour and several pump stations for Regions Two, Four, Five and Six. They also discontinued some popular social programmes, such as the $10,000 cash grant for school children, which would have meant $50,000 per child by 2020, had the programme not been discontinued. They never removed subsidies for pensioners, like the water waiver fees and the subsidy for electricity. The One-Laptop Per Family Programme was discontinued. The solar panel programme for hinterland and under-served communities was also abandoned. The one-month annual bonus for the Disciplined Services was taken away. The housing programme essentially was abandoned also.

There was a clear vision and plan that the PPP left on the table. APNU/AFC decided to abandon and tinker with most of the plan. In its place is no plan. Now that the 2020 elections are here, they still do not have a plan.

A reading of their so-called manifesto shows a disjointed cut-and-paste job, no vision, no plan.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

and abetted by an illegal Govt

Dear Editor, Adam Harris, the Editorin-Chief of Kaieteur newspaper is ever fond of the tale of the cow going to the slaughterhouse; it has no more fitting application than the behaviour of the David Granger Administration as we go to elections. It is a mess and the friends, cronies, and financiers are rolling like pigs in the wanton dispersal of State assets and award of lucrative contracts.

The latest revelation is the 164,000-acre award to Lloyd Singh, an acknowledged AFC financier.

Dozens of residents of Ituni and Kwakwani applied for logging concessions in their area, applications were accompanied by non-refundable sums ranging from $20,000 to $200,000, a hardship in itself. I can only imagine the sense of betrayal those residents are feeling with the announcement that all the prime forest has gone to an AFC money man.

A small group of Granger’s associates has been enjoying this last go at the public trough.

Brian Tiwari, like Lloyd Singh, is among a select group of Indo-Guyanese businessman that are en-

joying the ‘sweets’, BK International was awarded a contract for $827 million to build a school in Yarrowkabra on January 2, 2020, there was no budgetary allocation for the school in 2019 nor was there a supplemental. There is no legal mechanism to make payment based on the provisions of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. The same company is currently engaged in building a school at Good Hope, I recently visited that site and found there were hardly any workers there; I spoke to a representative on-site, who asked for his name to be withheld.

I was informed that even though the project duration had expired along with the contract, only 50 per cent of the work has been completed and the representative was unsure if or when the work would be finished; and yet a new contract has been awarded. Then we move onto the ‘City of Ogle’ where all reason has seemingly succumbed to greed and gone to die.

Eight hundred acres have been awarded to various Granger friends, backers and cronies with just days to go. The AC Marriott project

is unknown to Marriott Inc and has no approval for use of the name in any proposal, project document or public relation release, the same applies to the Hilton, in the case of Navigant “The project manager said that they are still to develop prices for lands and homes and also to approach persons to operate the commercial entities that are proposed to be a part of the community” A case of ‘get the land then make the plan’. All of this shows obscene greed by a select few, aided and abetted by an illegal Administration. There is more than enough evidence to suggest massive corruption is at play.

For the vast majority of Guyanese who are not recipients of Granger’s favours, the opportunity to vote on Monday represents your choice; do you vote to keep Granger and his cabal in the ‘good life’, keep them in the ‘sweets’ or are you going to look out for yourself? I urge all Guyanese to vote for the PPP/C, putting your X next to the cup is the first step towards prosperity for all.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

We must stop APNU’s ineptitude...

To understand how APNU operates, you need to understand their mindset and the way decisions are made. We don’t have to look far as we saw several decisions over the past four-plus years. APNU operates within a prism of revenge, elitist self-centeredness, corruption and incompetence. This resulted in a Government that demonstrated an unprecedented high level of irrational thinking, arrogance and bullish behaviours.

They have a very low sense of value and patriotism for Guyana as we saw with the give away of over $55 billion in the oil deal.

They, however, have a high standard only for themselves as we saw with the salary increases and allowances they gave themselves within the first ninety days in office that equalled to over 100 per cent and continue to do so. Any Government that fills their pockets before even taking a proper seat in their offices is a sure sign that they must be voted out.

In the health sector, they drastically destroyed the medicines supply chain by vengefully removing competent suppliers, which created a ripple effect in the system. This resulted in continuous shortages up to this day. They spent the same amount of money on medicines as the PPP/C’s twenty-three years in just five short years and people still do not have drugs.

APNU is a reactionary Government and never operated from the position of or interest in the people.

Instead, their modus operandi was geared to taking revenge on the PPP/C and bankrupting the country with their cronies and family. They have treated their own supporters with contempt and disdain as they ignored their plight by increasing taxes, took away lands and restricted affordability to transport by implementing the eight-year max on imports.

Because of APNU’s inept management, Guyana has fallen apart in all ten regions, across all demographics and political affiliations. The rice farm-

FROM PAGE 4

ers were abandoned just after they voted, the sick are paying for medications they should be getting for free, the sugar workers are below the bread line, our bank accounts are empty and other sectors that affect our average working force.

We are no longer a people that should settle for mediocrity and for APNU this is commonplace.

Guyanese deserve better, we need our pride and dignity back. Now is the time for us to rise to the level of a developed country and only the PPP/C can take us there.

Sincerely, Malcolm Watkins

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MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

Page

T

here’s a reason why we hear a lot about hand washing: Hand washing is by far the best way to keep from getting sick. That’s because it prevents the spread of germs.

What’s the best way to wash hands?

Here’s how to scrub those germs away: Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold). Make sure the water isn’t too hot.

Use soap. Lather up for about 20 seconds. Any soap works. It doesn’t have to be

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Foundation antibacterial.

Make sure you wash in between your fingers, on the backs of your hands, and under your nails where germs like to hang out.

Don’t forget your wrists!

Rinse and dry well with a clean towel.

after cleaning around the house after touching pets and

When should I wash my hands?

Make a habit of regular hand washing. It’s most important: before eating and cooking after using the bathroom

other animals before and after visiting or taking care of

sick people after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing after being outside What if you don’t have soap and water?

Waterless hand sanitisers, soaps, or scrubs are a good alternative.

They come as liquids, wipes, sprays, or towelettes. You can buy travel sizes to keep in your book bag, car, locker, purse, or sports bag.

How do clean hands help health?

Good hand washing is the first line of defence against the spread of illnesses. It helps protect you against everything from the common cold to more serious infections, such as meningitis, bronchiolitis, the flu, hepatitis A, and many types of diarrhoea.

How do germs spread?

Germs spread in lots of ways. For example: touching dirty hands changing dirty diapers through contaminated

Hide a surprising and kind note

Help someone out practically

eave a small note with a loving or encouraging sentence in a lunchbox, hat, tea-container or book of a relative.

That minute of your time will put a smile on their face and joy and motivation in their heart.

Just be there

Listen – without thinking about something else – when someone needs to vent.

Just be there fully with your attention.

Or have a conversation and help someone find his or her way out of fear and to a more constructive and grounded perspective.

Remember the small acts of kindness too

Let someone into your

lane while driving. Let someone skip ahead of you in a line if he’s in a real hurry.

Hold up the door for someone or ask if they need help when you see them standing around with a map and a confused look.

Give someone an uplifting gift

Someone in your life may have a bit of a tough time right now. Then send him or her an inspirational book or movie.

Or simply send an email with a link to something inspiring or funny that you have found like a blog, podcast or a comic.

Give t h e m a hand w h e n moving or with making dinner or arrangements before a party.

If they need informat i o n , then help out by googling it or by asking knowledgeable people that you know.

Help the people in your life see how they make a difference in their lives

When you talk to someone about his or her day or what has been going on late-

F

or the queen in The Tale of Despereaux, it was soup. Soup was her very favourite food and after her death, the king outlawed it and any cooking utensils needed to make it. In the Kingdom of Dor, when you thought of soup, you thought of the queen.

But soup was also remembered for the warm comfort it gives. Describe your own favourite food in sumptu-

water and food through droplets in the air released during a cough or sneeze on contaminated surfaces through contact with a sick person’s body fluids When you come into contact with germs, you can become infected just by touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Don’t forget the power of hand washing! The time you spend at the sink could save you trips to the doctor’s office. (kidshealth.org)

ly then make sure to point out how he or she also has spread kindness and happiness.

People are often unaware of the positive things they do or they minimise them in their own minds.

So, help them to see themselves in a more positive light and to improve their own self-esteem.

Pay it forward

When someone does something kind for you – no matter how big or small – then try to pay that forward by being kind to someone else as soon as you can.

Be kinder towards yourself

Then you will naturally treat other people with more kindness too. It is truly a win-win habit.

A simple way to start being kinder toward yourself is to each evening write down three things you appreciate about yourself and about what you have done that day in a journal. (positivityblog. com)

ous detail. Try to make people reading about your favourite food feel like they are about to sit down and eat it with you. Use all your senses to describe it and write about your food’s colour, shape, size, flavour, texture, smell, and how it sounds when you eat it. Include how your favourite food makes you feel. Does your favourite food remind you of someone or of a special memory? (startwithabook.org)

NEWS

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MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ExxonMobil begins Liza Phase 2 installations ...price for Guyana’s first oil sale still not known

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sso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary, has begun its installation activities for its Liza Phase 2 development, which will see the oil giant drilling as many as 30 wells.

This is according to a notice issued by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), which announced that ExxonMobil began its preparations on February 29, 2020, activities that will conclude this year-end.

“On February 29, 2020, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited will commence installation activities in the Liza Phase 2 field, within the Stabroek Block of the Guyana Maritime zone,” the notice stated.

“This exercise is scheduled to conclude on December 31, 2020, and will incorporate the use of pipe laying vessel Saipem FDS2, which will display the international signal [of] vessels engaged in such activities.

The field is approximately 102 nautical miles from the coast of Guyana and covers an area of 14 square kilometres.”

Saipem is the company that was awarded contracts

by Exxon to develop its Liza field 2 since 2018. The Italian-owned company will provide a number of services, including engineering and construction.

Back in May 2019, EEPGL was granted approval by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

and installation of subsea equipment, umbilicals, risers and flowlines, installation of a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading facility.”

“The proposed project will be undertaken in the marine offshore environment within Guyana’s territorial waters and would require land-based activities for support at maritime shore bases. As a result of the intended activities, possible effects to the environment may include impacts on marine water quality, air quality, marine fauna, socio-economic resources,” the notice said.

The ship being used by Saipem

to go ahead with its Liza Phase 2 Development offshore Guyana. The oil company had said that the project will have the capacity to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

Exxon had also revealed that the Liza Phase 2 development was funded at the cost of some US$6 billion, including a lease capitalisation cost of approximately $1.6 billion, for the Liza Utility floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.

For the Phase 2 Development, six drill centres are planned, along with approximately 30 wells – 15 production, nine water injection and six gas injection wells. Department of Energy Head Dr Mark Bynoe had said that Exxon’s

approval to pursue the project was subject to a number of conditions and confirmatory studies.

These include the establishment of a Regional Capping Stack or other solution to ensure that a Capping Stack can be deployed within five days of a well control event with loss of containment; improving the targeted availability of the overall production system of the Liza Phase 2 FPSO to between 98 per cent and 99 per cent, and identifying potential cost savings synergies between Liza Phase 1 and Lisa Phase 2.

However, while drilling and production continues apace, the price for Guyana’s first million barrels of its share of profit oil which was shipped on the MV Yannis

more than a month ago has still not been announced by the Department of Energy.

While the price that was accepted by the Government from the buyer Shell, which it selected without open bidding, is based on the Brent Crude price, this fluctuated widely at the time of sale.

Hammerhead Meanwhile, the EPA itself also issued a notice informing the general public over the weekend that EEPGL had submitted an application for environmental approval to develop the Hammerhead project.

“The proposed project will be implemented in multiple stages which include the following activities; well drillings and completions, mobilisation

GECOM is ready...

The Government argued vehemently but unsuccessfully, first at the National Assembly and then at the High Court, that the motion was not validly passed. Among its arguments was that 33 was not the majority of 65 and that Charrandas Persaud, the Alliance For Change (AFC) parliamentarian who voted against it, was not qualified to be in Parliament.

The Government found success at the Appeals Court, which overturned the no-confidence vote.

But the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) upheld the passage of the no-confidence motion, vindicated Persaud and left the

FROM PAGE 3

Government with little choice but to focus on elections.

While the case was being heard in the Judiciary, however, GECOM embarked on House-to-House Registration based on an order signed by illegally appointed Chairperson, retired Justice James Patterson.

After staunch resistance by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), the exercise was halted prematurely by Patterson’s successor, Justice Singh.

There have been other controversies, including the decision to cut down on private polling stations in areas that predominantly support the PPP/C.

8 NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ex-cop remains under Police guard after death of girlfriend

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s investigations continue into the deadly shooting which claimed the life of 27-yearold Collisa Hunte in Linden on Thursday last, her reputed husband, ex-policeman Teon Allen also known as “Spoil Child” remains hospitalised under Police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

An official close to the case noted that Allen, who is being treated for a suspected gunshot wound, is in a stable condition. Unofficial reports are that he is suspected to be involved in the shooting incident involving himself and girlfriend.

Allen, who was recently shot during a shootout with Police, is being treated for a suspected wound in the region of his upper shoulder and back. The suspected wound is reportedly in the same area where he was previously shot.

While details of the incident are sketchy, reports

Injured: Teon Allen

are that the two came under fire at approximately 13:30h on the day in question while they were alone at the Amelia’s Ward house which is situated in a “desolate” section of the area.

Police were summoned to the scene following the incident. Reports are that Allen alerted the deceased’s father, informing him that she was dead while he went to the hospital.

Family members who

rushed to the scene are said to have found the woman slumped over on the kitchen floor bleeding from her nose and mouth. She was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital. The dead woman’s father is said to have alerted ranks of the incident.

Ranks who visited the scene recovered four rounds and matching spent shells from the scene of the shooting. Divisional Commander Hugh Winter had noted on Thursday that it appeared as though several shots were fired at the location but given the remoteness of the area, there were no eyewitnesses. Investigators believe that the shots were fired from inside the house.

Following Thursday’s shooting, family and friends of the duo flocked the hospital and were in shock and disbelief over the incident.

Allen is suspected to be involved in an alleged gang rivalry which has report-

The great betrayal…

T Dead: Collisa Hunte

edly led to numerous acts of violence being meted out against him in the past.

The dead woman’s mother, Yolanda Johnson, was devastated following the incident. The woman related that she was never in favour of the couple’s relationship, since she knew she was putting her life in danger.

“I used to beg her to let go but she never listened”, the clearly traumatised woman had related.

Murder accused to seek private medical attention

Murdered: Parmanand Lakeram he man accused of executing a Corentyne rice farmer last month is being granted the opportunity to seek private medical attention even though he remains on remand.

Magistrate Alex Moore ordered that Gobin Ram Balram be allowed to take the necessary treatment at a private hospital when he appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Balram, 60, a rice farm-

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er, and 25-year-old Jerry Pirtam, a labourer, both of Number 65 Village, are accused of killing 40-year-old Parmanand Lakeram called “Fancy” and “Bachand”, a cattle and rice farmer of No 68 Village, Corentyne.

The crime reportedly occurred on January 30, 2020, at Number 67 Village.

When the case was called on Thursday, Police Prosecutor Inspector Orin Joseph told the court that the file was 95 per cent complete, and requested more time.

However, April 3 was set for the police to report on their readiness and also for the prosecution to make a disclosure to the defence.

Attorney-at-Law Bernard DaSilva who is representing Ram told the court that his client was not feeling well and had to report to the prison authorities at the New Amsterdam Prison.

He said Balram was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital but the hospital did not have the necessary medication and as such, he

Murder suspects: Gobin Ram Balram and Jerry Pirtam was given pain killers. workers to hide and went DaSilva then request- to investigate. As he walked ed that Balram be allowed towards the motorcycle, to seek medical attention several gunshots were fired. at a private hospital, notUpon hearing the guning that the accused’s fam- shots, the two workers reily members have agreed to portedly ran for safety in take care of the bill. different directions.

It was reported that After the motorcycle Lakeram and two of his sped off the scene carrying workers went into the back- the shooters, the two workdam to check on his pump ers rushed to Lakeram’s asduring the night when they sistance but it was too late. heard a motorcycle ap- They instead went to alert proaching and noticed the family members of what headlight. had transpired. The two At the time, Lakeram suspects were subsequentwas attending to two cows ly arrested and charged for and he reportedly told his the capital offence.

…by APNU/AFC oday, Guyana goes to the polls. They will be making a choice as to whether it’ll be the PPP or PNC that’ll be in charge of the government for the next five years. The flock of small parties? It really doesn’t matter even if they’re the best thing since sliced bread – they ain’t gonna make no difference.

And it has nothing about the old fears on “splitting the vote”, which used to be the bogeyman raised to drive a stake through their hearts.

They’ve brought on their irrelevancy upon themselves by asking folks to believe they won’t hitch up with EITHER the PPP or PNC if they were to get a seat. They’ll apply jiu jitsu to force the two behemoths to follow their lead on policies: not to get into government, but just to do the right thing!! Now where in the world has that ever happened?? It’s a quid pro quo world, baby!! The AFC’s behaviour wasn’t an outlier!! Votes for these parties amounts to spitting in the wind!!

Now we come to the two big boys, both of whom have pulled out all the stops to get their message out.

So, which one comes off as more credible to fulfil the promises they’ve been making?? The PPP makes a powerful point when they insist that much of what the PNC/APNU/AFC boasts about accomplishing were actually in the pipeline from their administration!!

And even these, as Jagdeo highlighted at the PPP’s last rally, they managed to screw up – like the US$150 million CJIA modernisation that’s still incomplete.

Not to mention that Patterson seems to believe that “modernisation” means just slapping on a coat of paint!! But the main reason why the PNC/APNU/AFC isn’t going to cut it, Dear Reader, is their continued defence of the oil contract Trotman signed on their behalf.

What can they say, when the most pro-business newspaper in the world – the Wall Street Journal – criticises a GOVERNMENT official – Trotman in this case – for not getting a better deal from a CORPORATION??!!

The WSJ pointed out that even after Trotman was advised – by folks we’d paid big bucks – to walk with a big team of experts (since he was clearly out of his depth!!) and to demand a 10% royalty, he went into the negotiations in Texas naked!. And not, surprisingly, was sandbagged!!

Your Eyewitness thinks it’s time we call a spade a spade: there has to’ve been more in the mortar than the pestle. And that has to’ve been a whole lotta grease.

Which will have to be ferreted out after the elections!! …and forest giveaway When David Granger and the PNC agreed to give Lloyd Singh – owner of the Pharma company IPA and that wind-farm that hasn’t started spinning yet at Better Hope –- 164,000 acres of prime forestry land in Region 10, your Eyewitness could just hear the loggers of Kwakwani , Ituni and Linden screaming again and again “No, David, no!!” How could the man who assured them that Charrandas was a “Judas”, betray them so on blanking them on the Bai Shan Lin lands??

Well, they do say that it’s money that makes the (political) world go around. And don’t forget that when Ramjattan let out that Lloyd Singh had bankrolled their HQ, Trotman piped up that it was a “political investment that demanded returns”!! So, it looks like the PNC/APNU/AFC combine is telling Lloydie, “Many happy returns!!”

But what made the giveaway even more insulting to the Region 10 loggers was the Forestry Commission Head insisting that the concession wasn’t “in the name of Lloyd Singh”!!

She thinks Reg 10 folks are “bush people” and don’t know about “beneficial ownership”?? …of Ramjattan Imagine Ramjattan – who thinks he’s Granger’s PM candidate – didn’t even get a mention in the Chronic, after their final rally!! Snakes aren’t supposed to sink any lower – they crawl on the ground, don’t they??

Compare that to headlines of PPP’s PM candidate Phillips announcing he won’t be a “rubber stamp”!!

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

9 PPP projects bungled by APNU/AFC Government NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ꟷ CJIA incomplete, new DHB stillborn

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hen the APNU/ AFC coalition took office in 2015, they inherited a large number of projects that had been conceptualised, planned and some even funded. These include the modernisation of the CJIA, the East Coast Highway widening, the Ogle-Diamond bypass, the Mandela Ave-Sherriff St widening and a new fixedspan Demerara Harbour Bridge.

But after five years, none of these has been completed and some have not even been launched.

Reference was being made to the more than US$150 million that has been plugged into the repairs to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) – a project that to date is

with responsibility for the sector – David Patterson.

Halting the project when taking office in 2015, the Minister subsequently dramatically reduced the scope of the project for which financing had been secured by the PPP/C and somehow ended up with a smaller project essentially costing Guyanese more money.

The PPP/C while still in office in 2011 signed a fixedpriced contract for US$150 million that committed the contractor China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) to an airport project that would result in eight gates, new departure and arrival terminals and a 10,800 feet runway catering for jumbo jets and Boeing 747400 aircrafts When the Granger-led

departure terminal.

The contract price was not revised downwards, meaning Guyanese must now repay for a smaller project at the same US$150 million.

The project itself had been mired in corruption ever since Patterson came into the fold to the point where the Auditor General’s office has taken a special interest in the project and has launched a special audit.

The project under the ambit of the Granger Administration and Patterson, according to experts, was bungled to the point where it was necessary for increased passenger fees to be imposed in order to help offset the costs.

The project was initially supposed to have been com-

An artistic impression of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge

still to be completed.

Financed in part through a large loan from the Chinese Export-Import (EXIM) Bank, the project which commenced under People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration was dramatically altered by the AFC appointed Minister

Administration took office at the 2015 General and Regional Elections, under the ambit of Patterson – at the helm of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure – the contract was changed substantially and eventually resulted in a project for only four gates and a refurbished

pleted within 32 months but is still to be completed to date – a parking lot is still to be built in addition to the fact that the airport has had to be shut down in recent occasions owing to lighting and sewerage difficulties While this project refers to the single largest proj-

The original model of the CJIA proposed by the PPP

ect by dollar amount – outside of the oil and gas sector – pundits have also pointed to another extremely salacious project that was also undertaken under the hand of Granger and Patterson that led in part to the APNU/ AFC dodging the inevitable – General Elections – for as long as possible.

Reference, of course, was being made to the studies that should lead to the construction of a new Demerara River Bridge – a project that has seen Minister Patterson being repeatedly accused of breaking the law and other corrupt behaviours.

The mismanagement of that brouhaha was described as not only inept but one that “also stinks with corruption and clearly exemplifies misconduct in office that unfortunately is the hallmark of this Government”.

The project in 2018 had advanced to the point where the Ministry was in possession of a three-lane design and had announced a construction date having begun the process of shortlisting contractors.

This was after already ignoring the fact that the project had already been ad-

vanced during the PPP/C’s tenure at the helm.

During the PPP/C’s time in office, it had commissioned a pre-feasibility study that identified two sites and recommended a four-lane concrete fixed high-rise bridge.

The AFC’s Patterson, with the blessing of the Granger Administration, instead opted to restart the entire process despite the scores of millions already spent at the time.

The Ministry then proceeded to contract consultants, completely ignoring the tendering process to commission another study at a cost of $146 million using the sole sourcing methods – usually reserved for emergencies or in cases where there is only a single supplier.

The Public Procurement Commission had found that in this instance, it was an illegal act on the part of the Ministry.

That report recommended a bridge from Houston, Greater Georgetown on the East Bank Demerara and ending at Versailles, West Bank Demerara, on private property owned by an APNU/AFC donor and activ-

ist.

Utterances by the Minister subsequently confirmed that this $146 million would be money lost down the proverbial drain since the Administration was going to ignore that report and was looking to instead have a three-lane bridge constructed.

But it turned out to be much more than $146 million that was lost to that study alone.

The original project was inked between the Ministry of Infrastructure and LievenseCSO but the Government agency had requested Cabinet approval for $161 million.

This meant an additional $15 million was added to the $146 million contract price and a third request for payment eventually saw the project escalating to in excess of $293 million.

The latter payments did not come from the Ministry of Infrastructure’s capital budget as would be set out in the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act but was instead ‘illegally’ diverted from the Bridge’s Asphalt Fund, without approval from the Board.

10 NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Prisoner escapes from Mazaruni Prison

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embers of the Joint Services are on the hunt for an inmate who escaped from the Mazaruni Prison while attending to the prison’s livestock on Saturday.

Director of Prisons (ag) Gladwin Samuels in a statement to the press on Sunday stated that at about 14:00h on the day in question, 29-year-old Christopher Punch of El Dorado Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), was in the prison compound along with other prisoners, attending to livestock, when he escaped.

Earlier that day, the

Christopher Punch

man had requested to go ease his bowels. At about

16:00h, while the supervising prisoner was assembling all of the prisoners to return to their respective cells, it was discovered that Punch was missing. An alarm was raised and the Guyana Police Force was summoned.

According to the Prisons Director, Punch is serving four two-year sentences on a larceny charge.

In 2017, Vijay Sanchara, an inmate of the Mazaruni Prison, disappeared while working on the farm of the same prison. He was subsequently recaptured somewhere around Goat Creek, a mining district in the region.

In that same year, pandemonium broke out at the Camp Street Prison on July 9 when prisoners set the facility on fire.

During the ensuing confusion, several prisoners managed to escape from lawful custody, including convicted murderer Mark Royden Durant, also called “Royden Williams”; Uree Varswyck and Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander, among others.

That incident also resulted in the death of Prison Officer Odinga Wickham, who was shot by prisoners during the breakout.

GWI experiences vandalism at its Yupukari well

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he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) assured residents of Yupukari (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), Region Nine, that the water distributed from the recently drilled well in the village is free from saline intrusion.

The assurance comes in light of residents reporting that the water tasted salty.

“As a result, GWI imme-

diately mobilised the contractor responsible for drilling the well and instructed that the water be tested.

Following checks to the system, evidence of suspected vandalism and/or sabotage to the infrastructure was seen,” the company noted.

Moreover, the water quality was tested and results returned negative for saline intrusion and it re-

mains safe for consumption, the release said.

“GWI, therefore, calls on persons to refrain from spreading rumours of a compromised water quality,” the company highlighted.

The company warned that anyone found tampering with its water supply systems will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

GWI over the years has

been experiencing vandalism to wells, with the Clonbrook Pump Station being the latest. In fact, the company has experienced an attempted break and enter at its Chesney office in Region Six. Despite all of this, the company has not been able to bring these perpetrators to face the full force of the law.

UG urges Diaspora to support education system

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s the University of Guyana prepares to host its second Diaspora Engagement Conference, there was a precursor at the Education Lecture Theatre at the Turkeyen Campus, Greater Georgetown.

Giving brief remarks was Professor Leyland Lucas, Dean of the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI), who noted that there is a need for a Diaspora Engagement Policy to attract valuable skills to aid with the development of

Kids need to be global citizens, not mastering 23 CXCs – IDB official

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ith technology rapidly advancing around the world, the future of work is expected to change and as such, young people should be similarly prepared for a digitalised environment.

This is according to General Manager of the Country Department Caribbean Group (CCB) in the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Therese Turner-Jones, whose purview spans IDB operations in Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas – her home country.

Turner-Jones, who is also IDB’s Country Representative for Jamaica and a trained economist, recently pointed out that countries in the region should focus more on training students early about the different ways to understand the world and be educated – not

just on academia.

“It's not about mastering 15 or 23 CXCs as they do in Guyana, that's not really a good way of educating our kids for the future. Kids for the future need to be global citizens, knowing how to be multilingual, digitally literate, and able to collaborate and work with each other in teams,” she was quoted in an article by the Jamaica Observer on Sunday.

The IDB official was at the time speaking at the launch of the National Business Model Competition (NBMC) in Jamaica – an initiative that seeks to expose participants to the international stage by helping to bridge the gap between academia, research and business so that they can come up with the right solutions for issues affecting the country, the Jamaican newspaper stated.

“This competition offers an opportunity for our stu-

dents to put this into practice,” the IDB official was quoted saying.

According to the Jamaica Observer, Turner-Jones said initiatives such as the NBMC provides appropriate opportunities for young entrepreneurs to take advantage of global technological advances, especially ones that address national issues, such as agriculture and climate change.

Moreover, the newspaper reported that the IDB official stressed that businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean generally have poor performances when it comes to using technology to attain greater levels of growth and development as well as to create ecosystems in which they can thrive.

“Most firms in the Caribbean region, about some 19 per cent or less than one in five, rely on any kind of research and development to grow their businesses —

Professor Leyland Lucas, Dean of SEBI IDB representative Therese Turner-Jones

that's an appalling number!”

Turner-Jones explained that this means we are stuck in doing things in a very old way, and it means we are not using technology and new information, the Jamaica Observer reported.

“However, it's coming — artificial intelligence or over the internet — we are not applying new and innovative ways of doing things to the ways businesses are operating in the Caribbean,” she was quoted.

Guyana.

“Diaspora Engagement Policy must also be driven by a national policy on development. Unfortunately, because challenges we faced with, many of the skills we need are absent. How do we attract those skills? This policy should not only focus on a national or governmental conversation but also should be down into the levels of the communities,” he added.

According to Professor Lucas, Guyana’s education system has suffered tremendously with a large number of trained teachers migrating. As such, he underscored the need for a Diaspora Engagement Policy to ensure there is a reduction in the amount of skilled human resources leaving the country.

“We have to find a ways of attracting the Diaspora.

In some instances there are

those who have skills and competence but would not be able to travel and exploiting the virtual network which has effectively, in my opinion, has removed national boundaries and narrow the space with those who are at home and who are abroad should be utilized.”

He further added that “the policy we are engaging in develop should be strategic as develop new programmes at all levels. We must also recognise that some of our institution programmes will have to be transformed.”

The Professor also highlighted that all skills cannot be utilised at the same time and as such, it should be strategic, giving all other institutional a conversation in the decision-making aspect.

“As we develop new programmes at all levels, it is important that not only the University of Guyana be part of that conversation, but also the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and the Council for Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET)”.

The second Conference is now set for May 28 to June 1, 2020, under the theme “Investing in Guyana’s emerging business, Indigenous, women and youth leaders”.

This theme has been chosen in recognition of the need for all Guyanese at home and abroad to work together with inclusion, tolerance and cooperation for national and regional growth and development.

The University of Guyana remains committed to Diaspora engagement and facilitating a positive enabling environment and discussion on ways in which Guyanese can best work together to accomplish joint goals towards creating prosperity for all our people.

The conference will feature a mixture of academic and non-academic experiences and will host a number of panels, forums, roundtables and multimedia presentations on key thematic areas.

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MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

12 NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PSC urges Guyanese to vote early and go home

– expects political parties to comply with the laws of Guyana

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he Private Sector Commission (PSC) is urging Guyanese to go out and cast their votes as early as possible and return home afterwards.

“The PSC calls on all citizens to vote early and return to your homes, allowing GECOM (the Guyana Elections Commission) and the police to execute their duties professionally and peacefully,” the Private Sector body said in a statement on Sunday ahead of today’s polling day.

This call by the Commission comes as businesses in Georgetown went the extra mile to secure their premises on Sunday.

Ply boards were used to cover the glass front of several establishments while iron bars were placed to secure the entrances of some businesses.

Nevertheless, the Private Sector body pointed out in its missive that it remains vigilant over the electoral process and expects GECOM to conduct efficient and transparent elections.

This, it added, includes

tions day activities and the process leading up to the declaration of final results.

The other local observer missions include Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU); Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and

Industry (GCCI); American Chambers of Guyana (AmCham Guyana); The Bar Association; Transparency Institute Guyana (TIGI); Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC); Youth Challenge Guyana;

Ebenezer Congregational Church Foundation; Cuffy 250 and the ABC diplomatic community – United States of America (USA), British High Commission and the Canadian High Commission.

GGDMA hosts symposium to explore reduction in mercury use

T The Private Sector Commission

preparation for polls, the voting process, the regional tabulation process and the expeditious declaration of accurate final results.

“The PSC expects all political parties to comply with the laws of Guyana, respect and accept the final declaration of the results by GECOM and facilitate the expeditious and unhindered swearing-in of the next President of the Republic of Guyana,” the Commission said on Sunday.

It went on to reiterate its commitment to working as a true developmental partner with the democratically elected Government of Guyana, “as together we confront and face all the challenges and opportunities over the next (five) years, focusing on the growth and development of every single man, woman and child in this country.”

The PSC is among 13 local organisations that will be observing today’s elec-

he Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) on Friday hosted a mining symposium to focus on the use of alternative technologies and techniques for better recovery and the reduction in the use of mercury in Guyana.

President of the GGDMA, Andron Alphonso said that this is in keeping with the Association’s goals for 2020, which is to thoroughly and transparently explore all options available to miners to reduce the use of mercury in mining operations and to place miners on the path of reduced mercury use.

The main aim of the symposium was to help miners gain knowledge on how some of the available technologies work and to explore how they can help streamline operations and improve efficiency of mining.

He noted that many critics have accused the

GGDMA of purposely resisting the reduction of mercury and explained that this is not true, rather the Association prefers to have solid, proven advice on what works and not be sold equipment by people who only have a sales agenda.

The current technology, which has been used by miners for the last 50 years, must be allowed to evolve and has to be considered when implementing new

methods and equipment.

The purpose of the symposium was to demonstrate to miners what can work in Guyana and what can be practical and beneficial. The GGDMA has partnered with Conservation International and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to explore all options available to miners and the GGDMA welcomes the strengthened collaboration.

Alphonso urged miners to appreciate that this is just the beginning and miners must recognise that the world has changed and miners have to change with it, and need to transition to use less mercury if they expect to sell gold easily on the global market.

The President of the GGDMA also took the opportunity to remind miners to vote for the political party that supports mining. He said miners, by now should have been exposed to the plans of the various parties and miners should use this information to make an informed decision to vote for the party that will support and sustain the mining industry. He said that the Guyanese public is looking forward to peaceful, transparent, free and fair elections and urged all political players to ensure that they deliver on this.

The one-day mining symposium was held at Park Rayne and was attended by officials of the GGDMA, local and overseas-based manufacturers, fabricators and equipment suppliers, Conservation International, GGMC, and Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.

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First wells in Canje Block to be drilled early in 2020 – UK company ꟷ Bulletwood, Jabillo prospects already earmarked

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he Canje Block is expected to have its first wells drilled early this year, according to investment company Westmount Energy. In fact, at least two wells, the Bulletwood and Jabillo, have been earmarked by the operators.

Westmount energy had partnered with JHI Associates Inc (JHI), which together with Mid-Atlantic Oil and Gas Inc (MOGI), have interests in the Canje Block. The two companies acquired the block in March 2015, after three years of negotiations.

According to a recent report from Westmount, it has been able to increase its equity position in JHI to three per cent of the share capital issued as of December 21, 2018. It noted that JHI’s main asset is its 17.5 per cent carried interest in the

block.

“As a result of a farmin by Total, announced in February 2018, JHI is carried for the drilling of up to four wells and is funded for the drilling of additional wells,” the company also said in its report.

“It is anticipated that the first wells in the Canje Block will be drilled in early 2020, with Total recently indicating that the Bulletwood and Jabillo prospects, located in the north-west portion of the block, as the most likely initial drilling targets.”

The Canje Block is just one of several exciting blocks at play offshore Guyana. There is the best known Stabroek Block. So far, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Exxon’s local subsidiary, has made 16 oil finds in the Stabroek Block

Map showing the Canje Block

some 100 miles offshore Guyana, including four for this year.

Last year, the company made five discoveries. These discoveries have pushed the

total estimated recoverable barrels of oil equivalent to over six billion. In addition,

Exxon is moving ahead with its Liza phase two project, which will contain approximately 30 wells.

It made one discovery, the Uaru discovery which was announced in January 2020. Uaru is ExxonMobil’s 16th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Uaru1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 94 feet (29 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled in 6342 feet (1933 metres) of water.

Meanwhile, there is British-based Tullow which operates the Orinduik Block with a 60 per cent stake, while Total and Eco Atlantic each hold 15 per cent and Qatar Petroleum has the remaining 10 per cent. It also has a minority stake in the adjacent Repsol-operated Kanuku Block.

Georgetown businesses on Pedal cyclist killed lockdown ahead of E-Day while crossing road

The Sol shop gearing up for elections

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s Guyanese head to the polls today, the Capital City and most commercial zones across the country will be on lockdown after the day was named a national holiday.

However, with little to no activity expected, businesses in Georgetown have secured their premises – and not just the daily lock-up routine.

On Sunday a spot check

by Guyana Times in the city showed business owners securing their properties with plyboards and iron bars, to gear up for any eventuality during the elections process.

Their actions stemmed from Guyana’s history of violence on polling day.

One of the businessmen,

praying for peace, but we fear violence. We are protecting what we have in case anything goes wrong.”

Many others were seen doing the same but opted not to talk when approached by this newspaper.

Nevertheless, many of the businesses with glass fronts were covered with boards like the GuyOil Gas Station located on Regent Street. Those multi-story buildings like the Regent Multiplex Mall on the corners of Regent and Wellington Streets, secured the glass wall on its first two floors.

Security was also heightened by business establishments on nearby Robb and Charlotte Streets as well as on

The Regent Multiplex Mall securing its windows

who was on the site ensuring that his business was well secured, said: “You never know what might happen, we are

Church Road. Some businesses used iron bars to cut off access to their entrances as well.

Georgetown is no strang-

er to elections-based violence. The city, particularly Regent Street, was ravaged at the 1962 and 1997 elections, during which several businesses and even vehicles were burnt, damaged and looted.

While there was no such rioting at Guyana’s last elections in May 2015, violence had erupted in certain communities across the country.

There were disturbances in and around Georgetown in the evening and night of the election.

People’s Progressive

One of the stores that were barred

Party/Civic (PPP/C) candidate, Kwame McCoy was physically assaulted by supporters of the then Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition.

Later that elections day, as polls closed, fires were set to eight vehicles, including a minibus and three SUVs – one of which belonged to PPP/C candidate Joseph Hamilton and another belonging to a pastor who was attacked after a rumour circled that he was a PPP/C supporter, and had set up an illegal Polling Station at his home.

The angry mob also looted the supporter’s house as well as his neighbours. The incident also led to a standoff with ranks of the Security Services.

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pedal cyclist was fatally struck down on the Hauraruni Public Road on the LindenSoesdyke highway on Saturday evening while attempting to cross the road.

Dead is Gordon Watson, 51, of Hauraruni, Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Police Commander of Division No 4 (B) Kurliegh Simon told this publication that the incident occurred at around 19:45h on the night in question. According to the

Commander, both the car and the cyclist were proceeding in the same direction when it is alleged that the car bearing registration number PRR 9696 collided with Gordon.

The now dead man was picked up in an unconscious state and was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Just a week ago, 57-year-old Ramona Hunte of Anna Catherina, was struck down and killed

by a cop while riding along the Anna Catherina Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

It was reported that the motor car, PNN 5547, driven by a policeman, struck the woman, who was riding on the left side of the public road.

As a result of the impact, the woman sustained severe injuries about her body. She was picked up and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

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MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Caricom Observer Mission all set for today’s polls

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he Caribbean Community (Caricom) 17-member Elections Observer Mission (EOM) on Sunday held a final planning session before spreading out to various parts of the country to oversee today’s polling day process.

The observers will monitor and observe Election Day activities, including the opening of Polling Places, the voting procedure and the count. They will assemble at the end of Election Day activities for a de-briefing session after which the Chief of Mission, Cynthia Combie-Martyr, will issue a Preliminary Statement.

Since the Mission’s arrival in Guyana, it has been engaging the key stakeholders in the elections, including

the leaders of political parties, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and representatives of the Private Sector and civil society organisations.

During a press conference on Friday, the Head of the Caricom EOM said she was assured by Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, that all systems will be in place for elections day.

Nevertheless, CombieMartyr, who is the Chair of the Saint Lucia Electoral Commission, said while she empathises with GECOM given the circumstances in which it had to prepare for elections, that is, following the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which upheld the pas-

Caricom Election Observers at the Caricom Secretariat headquarters building, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, on Sunday for their final planning session

sage of the No-Confidence Motion against the coalition Government, she is satisfied with the agency’s preparedness for today’s polling day.

“One can never expect that any electoral body could

No scheduled blackouts in Election Week

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he Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) on Thursday announced that there will be no scheduled power outages throughout Guyana in the week of the General and Regional Elections.

The statement released by the power company stated, “In order to ensure continuity of electricity supply to all areas over the next week, GPL will be suspending non-emergency maintenance activities on our transmission and distribution system for the period 2020 February 29 to 2020 March 6.”

Taking into consideration security on E-day, it appears that the company is catering for the voting process, along with the Polling Stations that are on the out-

be one hundred per cent ready. There will always [be] little glitches here and there and there will always be little issues that arise that you did not expect… [The stakeholders] are relatively satisfied that GECOM has done its best to prepare for this General Elections, and I am satisfied that as a Caricom Member, Guyana, through GECOM, will be ready for that General Elections on Monday,” the Caricom Mission Head posited.

The Caricom EOM will be on the ground until March 4, observing the pre-elections and post-elections period as well as Elections Day activities across Guyana.

Included in the 17-member team, which comprises of electoral experts from other countries in the region, are three officials from the Caricom Secretariat.

These include St Lucian, Gaspar Jn Baptiste; Surinamese, Renuka Raghoe; Jamaican, Glendon

Ricardo Bennett; Haitian, Yves-Marie Edouard; Bahamian, Philip Anthony Turner; Lionel Sydney Osborne of St Kitts and Nevis; Sylvester Anthony King of St Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidadians, Fern Narcis-Scope and Dr Noel Kalicharan; Barbadians, Lesa Collins and Leonard Walters; and Carolyn Thomas-Parker and Commissioner Leonard Walters of Antigua and Barbuda.

They are tasked with observing the electoral process, collecting quantitative and qualitative information and observing the voting process and the results, observing and assessing the outcome of the elections and its initial impact on the social and political environment.

In addition to a preliminary report, the team will also be preparing a more detailed final report of its findings and recommendations for future electoral processes upon its departure.

Vitreoretinal surgical procedures now offered in Guyana …as LSD Charities donate $46M in equipment skirts of Georgetown.

During the voting process, information coming from these areas will be channelled through internet connections that solely depends on the company’s power supply.

GPL said that they will be vigilant all through the week, to address any issue that may arise around that time.

“GPL’s emergency crews and contractors will remain

on alert to address any incidents resulting in or threatening to cause interruptions in supply”, the company noted.

GPL went on to note that in the case of an emergency, the company can be called for immediate intervention.

Meanwhile, citizens that may have a power emergency from February 29 to March 2, are asked to contact the GPL regional officers in their district.

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atients scheduled to undergo vitreoretinal surgical procedures will no longer have to leave Guyana to seek treatment abroad, as the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is now equipped with the necessary apparatus.

Through the Latter Day Saints (LDS) Charities, the Ophthalmology Department of GPHC would have benefitted from equipment and other supplies, valued at some US$230,000. The setup, which was handed over on Friday, consists of iridex laser indirect ophthalmoscope, an oertli vitrectomy machine, indocyanine green dye, silicon oil among other items.

Head of the Ophthalmology Department of the GPHC, Dr Shailendra Sugrim indicated that there was an urgent need for the introduction of these services. Now, these procedures will be provided free to Guyanese, eliminating the need for them to seek funds for treatment.

“The Department of Ophthalmology is, of course, excited that the LDS charity is going to continue collaboration with Guyana once again. The surgical services are a dire need in our population right now.

Currently, patients have to travel overseas for vitreoretinal surgical service and usually have to seek financial support for this service from the Ministry of Public Health,” Dr Sugrim indicated.

He further added that the entire procurement process was spearheaded by

Consultant Dr Richard Covey making the presentation to Dr Arlene Bobb Semple in the presence of representatives from LSD Charities and the Ministry

the LSD Charities.

“Diabetic patients who have advanced stages of retinopathy will have this option to now access this care at Georgetown Hospital…

Over the past few months, the equipment was purchased and procured by the Latter Day Saints Charities.”

According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPHC, Brigadier (ret’d) George Lewis, this addition will further enable the hospital to advance and expand its services.

To better services at the facility, he shared that they would have forged collaborations in the past with a number of agencies. Thus far, he also recognised that diabetic-related complications are on the rise.

“In an effort to improve the eyecare delivery provided at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the Department of Ophthalmology has, over the past four years, introduced cornea transplant surgeries, diabetic eye screening and laser eye treatment for diabetic retinopathy. With a notable rise among diabetes-re-

lated challenges among Guyanese, there is an urgent need to enable the provision of restorative eye surgery within the country,” Lewis signalled.

Along with the equipment, vitreoretinal surgeon Dr Richard Covey was appointed to develop the Department’s capabilities in handling these procedures.

A vitreoretinal disease is not regarded as one condition but rather, a group of eye disease that affects the retina at the back of the eye and the vitreous fluid around it.

On the other hand, a vitreoretinal surgery refers to any procedure to treat eye complications involving the retina, vitreous fluid and macula. They may include retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane and complications related to diabetic retinopathy.

Since 2014, the LSD Charities have been known for the support locally, with noteworthy humanitarian contributions, especially in combatting visual impairments and blindness.

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MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 homeless as Iraqi PM candidate quits as vacuum looms Enmore house goes up in flames I

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wo persons were rendered homeless after a fire, which is suspected to have started by a kerosene stove, completely gutted the wooden structure on Saturday evening. Based on reports received, the fire started at about 20:30h and quickly spread through the structure located at Estate Road, Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

Guyana Times understands that there was no electricity supply attached to the house at the time of the fire. Speaking with this publication, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle explained

that the investigations have so far revealed that the fire might have started from a kerosene stove since the occupants were cooking at the time.

Upon seeing the fire, the two occupants reportedly attempted to put out the blaze but it spread rapidly. As such, the two persons ran to safety and raised an alarm.

By the time the fire tenders arrived at the scene, the building was completely gutted. The occupants were unable to salvage any household items.

An investigation is continuing into the fire.

raqi Prime Ministerdesignate Mohammed Allawi withdrew his candidacy for the post on Sunday, accusing political parties of obstructing him, deepening a domestic crisis and threatening an unprecedented power vacuum.

His move came hours after Parliament failed for the second time in a week to approve his Cabinet amid political infighting in the oil producer, where mass protests and deadlock between lawmakers are delaying Iraq’s recovery from years of war.

Allawi’s appointment was meant to ease a crisis as the Shi’ite-led country faces a mass protest movement that broke out in October and brought down Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.

President Barham Salih will begin consultations to choose a new prime minister candidate within 15 days, the State news agency said.

But Iraq could end up without a prime minister in the meantime if Abdul Mahdi, who stayed on in a caretaker capacity, also quits today.

He issued a statement late on Sunday denying social media reports that he wanted to stay on, saying he would announce his in-

Iraqi Prime Minister candidate Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi delivers a televised speech in Baghdad, Iraq, February 19, 2020

tentions today, which would have been the last day for Allawi to get his proposed Cabinet approved by Parliament.

Salih appointed Allawi after squabbling lawmakers from rival parties failed for two months to decide on a successor to Abdul Mahdi, who resigned in November during mass unrest. Allawi had one month to form a government that was meant to organise early elections.

“I tried by all possible means to save Iraq from drifting to the unknown and to solve the current crisis, but during negotiations I faced many matters,” Allawi said in a statement, accusing politicians he did not

identify of not being serious about reforms.

Highlighting volatile security, two blasts could be heard in central Baghdad early this morning, with two Katyusha rockets hitting the heavily fortified Green Zone,

which houses Government buildings and Embassies, security sources said.

One missile landed near the US Embassy but caused no casualties, the sources said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Thousands of Muslims from China’s Uighur minority group are working under coercive conditions at factories that supply some of the world’s biggest brands, a new report says.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute said this was the next phase in China’s re-education of Uighurs.

China has already detained about a million Uighurs at internment camps, punishing and indoctrinating them.

Officials say the camps are aimed at countering extremism.

The ASPI report comes after a senior Chinese official told reporters in December that members of the minority group being held in the

camps had now “graduated”.

Between 2017 and 2019, the ASPI think tank estimates that more than 80,000 Uighurs were transferred out of the far western Xinjiang autonomous region to work in factories across China. It said some were sent directly from detention camps.

ASPI said the Uighurs were moved through labour transfer schemes operating under a central government policy known as Xinjiang Aid. The report said it was “extremely difficult” for Uighurs to refuse or escape the work assignments, with the threat of “arbitrary detention” hanging over them.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

China Uighurs “moved into factory forced labour” for foreign brands

Campaigners urge PM Johnson to “turbocharge” climate plans ahead of UN summit

Study casting doubt on Bolivian election fraud triggers controversy

Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales

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rime Minister Boris Johnson should “turbocharge” policies to cut Britain’s carbon emissions so the country can lead by example when it hosts a major United Nations climate summit in Glasgow in November, campaign groups said on Monday.

Although Britain was the first G7 nation to adopt a legally-binding target to cut CO2 emissions to net zero by 2050, campaigners say the commitment will carry little weight unless the Government starts showing it is serious.

“The UK must also get its own house in order,” said a letter to Johnson backed by 60 groups working on the environment and international development, including Oxfam, Greenpeace, ShareAction and the World Wildlife Fund.

“The coming months must see a green turbocharging of our decarbonisation policies and investment to maximise our emissions reductions, so that we reach net-zero as soon as possible,” said the letter, signed by representatives

of the Climate Coalition and Bond, two umbrella groups.

The campaigners set out their priorities in a "Glasgow Action Plan" that included Britain unveiling more ambitious and detailed decarbonisation plans ahead of the summit, stopping financing fossil fuel projects abroad, and leading international efforts to boost aid for countries hit by climate disasters.

Britain should also ramp up support for what are known as “nature-based solutions” – harnessing processes at work in soil, forests, grasslands, peatlands, mangroves or other ecosystems to absorb and store large amounts of carbon, the letter said.

Preparations for the November 9-20 summit were marred by acrimony in January when Johnson sacked former Energy Minister Claire O’Neill as summit president, prompting her to write a scathing letter saying his government’s promises of action “are not close to being met”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

not necessarily reflect the views of the university.

The study prompted Morales, who fled Bolivia first to Mexico and then to Argentina, to call on Sunday for the “democratic” international community to steward the May election carefully.

“The coup-mongerers intend to disqualify our candidates,” Morales wrote on Twitter.

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studybyMassachusetts Institute of Technology experts that called into question the alleged election fraud that drove Bolivian President Evo Morales to resign has triggered sniping between left and right-leaning governments in Latin America.

The analysis by two researchers in MIT’s Election Data and Science Lab, made public last week, stated that an Organisation of American States (OAS) finding that fraud helped Morales win was flawed and concluded that it was “very likely” the socialist President won the October vote by the 10 percentage points needed to avoid a runoff.

The OAS in a statement on Friday dismissed the MIT study as “unscientific”.

Bolivia will run a fresh election in May. A spokesman for MIT said the study was conducted by its scientists on an independent basis for the Washingtonbased Centre for Economic and Policy Research and did

The OAS report cited several violations in the October election including a hidden computer server designed to tilt the vote toward Morales, who served as Bolivia’s President for 14 years. Morales resigned amid violence in Bolivia in the aftermath of the election fraud allegations, declaring he was the victim of a “coup”.

Morales has said he will

return to Bolivia, but has been charged by the caretaker government with sedition and blocked from running as a candidate for senator.

Leaders of a number of left-leaning Latin American countries supportive of Morales have weighed in since the release of the MIT report, with Mexico asking the OAS to clarify its findings.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

Regional

Uruguay ushers in 1st conservative LATT in uproar over PM's Government in 15 years stand on impeachment of CJ

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fter 15 years of leftwing leadership under the Broad Front coalition, Uruguay has ushered in a conservative government.

The centre-right National Party's Luis Lacalle Pou was inaugurated on Sunday after winning by a runoff election in November against the Broad Front's Daniel Martinez by about 37,000 votes.

While the Broad Front presided over one of the longest economic growth cycles in the country's history, growth stalled in recent years.

The sluggish economy, combined with a high cost of living and an increasing homicide rate contributed to Uruguayans' swerve to the right, analysts say.

The number of homicides increased by 46 per cent in 2018. While the country's official rate of 11.8 per cent per 100,000 was relatively low compared with other countries in the Region, "for Uruguayan standards, it's high and many voters

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Uruguay's President Luis Lacalle Pou (left) and Uruguay's Vice President Beatriz Argimon during the Ceremony of Constitutional Honour Compromise at the Legislative Palace, in Montevideo, Uruguay [Handout/Gaston Britos/Uruguay's Presidency/AFP]

believed tougher measures were in order to stop gang and drug-related crimes from spreading", said political analyst Oscar Bottinelli.

Uruguay has also become one of the most expensive countries in Latin America to live.

"Uruguayans pay 30 per cent more for a litre of gasoline, then Argentines, Brazilians and Chileans," said economist Ignacio Munyo.

Pou, a 46-year old lawyer and son of former pres-

ident Luis Alberto Lacalle (1990-1995), has the support of five centre-right parties, including his National Party, as well as a majority in Congress.

His coalition wants to cut government spending and liberalise the energy sector, in order to tackle the country's fiscal deficit.

Last year, the deficit increased to 4.8 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, making it the highest deficit in 30 years. (Excerpt from Reuters)

4.8 quake strikes T&T; 2nd in 24 hours

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shallow magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck 113 kilometres west of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago at a depth of 10 kilometres at 22:25h Friday.

The earthquake was widely reported across parts of north-western Trinidad, with a few reports across Central Trinidad.

This is the second felt quake to rock the island within the past 24 hours,

following a magnitude 4.2 earthquake at 12:55h Friday. The first quake occurred 104 kilometres west of Port-of- Spain at a depth of 10 kilometres.

Earthquakes in this region are common. Generally, across the Eastern Caribbean, a seismically active area, earthquakes are rare of magnitude 8.0 and greater, according to seismologists at the UWI

Seismic Research Centre.

Each year, over 2200 seismic events were recorded in the Eastern Caribbean.

On average, the Eastern Caribbean has seen a pattern of major (M7.0-M7.9) quakes every 20 to 30 years.

That pattern has stayed true. The last major (M7.07.9) quake occurred north of Martinique in 2007. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

rime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has once again refused to reconsider his stance on the impeachment of Chief Justice Ivor Archie. This time, the Prime Minister wrote to the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) making his view clear.

“I have considered, fully taken into account and observed the findings and statements of Mr Justice (Vashiest) Kokaram in his judgment. I, therefore, reconsider my decision on the HDC (Housing Development Corporation) issue with an open mind and without regard to any political or other motivation on the

part of the LATT,” he said.

“After such consideration, I have decided not to make a representation to the President under S137 of the Constitution. I adopt those reasons for my said reconsidered decision and do not set them out here.

This letter comes after a series of communications between Rowley and the LATT. The LATT had written to him in December 2018, inviting him to determine whether a representation to the President regarding the conduct of the CJ was warranted.

The CJ drama began when the LATT accused Archie of using his office to fast track

applications for homes at the HDC. In the fray, Rowley accused the LATT of acting as an arm of the United National Congress (UNC).

Rowley’s letter, which was received and vetted by the LATT on Friday, caused a divide at an emergency meeting on Saturday.

According to insiders at the meeting, several lawyers voted to appeal Justice Kokaram’s decision but the majority voted to uphold it, meaning that the LATT would not seek an appeal on the matter. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Dominican Republic reports 1st case of new virus

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he first confirmed case of the new coronavirus was confirmed by health officials in the Dominican Republic on Sunday.

The Associated Press reported that the first case was a 62-year-old Italian man, who arrived in the country on February 22 without showing symptoms. He was being treated in isolation at a military hospital and has not shown serious complications, the AP reported.

“The announcement came shortly before the Braemar cruise ship that had been denied entry to the Dominican Republic due to the virus fears at last found a place to dock — the Dutch territory of St Maarten.”

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

The Fred Olson Cruise Liner Braemar docked at the port in Havana, Cuba (File photo: AP)

said Sunday that two chartered airliners would carry passengers back to Britain.

Other passengers, who had been scheduled to board the vessel on Friday in the Dominican Republic, were being flown to St Maarten to embark there,” the AP re-

ported.

The ship was barred by Dominican officials given reports that some passengers had a flu-like illness, but the cruise line said none had symptoms consistent with the new virus. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brace for possible contraction Argentine President to send abortion legalisation law to Congress of the economy – PNP

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he People's National Party (PNP) says Jamaicans need to brace for a possible contraction of the economy, based on recently released growth data and the emerging adverse global effects of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

The Party pointed to Planning Institute of Jamaica statistics, which showed that in the final quarter of 2019, the Jamaican economy only grew at 0.1 per cent, and the projection for the 2019/20 fiscal year has been further reduced to 0.6 per cent.

“With growth having ground to a virtual halt in the second half of 2019, and the impact of the coronavirus now looming, the Jamaican economy could well be headed into a period of economic contraction,” the Party said in a statement “Key sectors of the economy are already in negative territory, with the construc-

Shadow Minister of Finance and Planning Mark Golding

tion sector shrinking by two per cent in the fourth quarter of 2019, and bauxite/ alumina in a deep tailspin with the closure of Jisco/ Alpart,” Shadow Minister of Finance and Planning Mark Golding said.

Golding further pointed out that several industries were at risk.

“Bauxite/alumina faces waning demand from the dislocation in China, tourism is vulnerable due to va-

cationers' reluctance to risk international travel, and manufacturing is exposed to serious disruption in the international supply chain and much higher prices for alternative sources.”

He added that there has already been a sharp reduction in logistics activity at the Port of Kingston, with port workers being told to take a pay cut or face layoffs. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

rgentine President Alberto Fernandez announced on Sunday that he will send to Congress a bill to legalise abortion, an initiative that has broad social support but is also strongly opposed by religious groups in Pope Francis’ home nation.

The centre-left Peronist President, who took office in December, will also capitalise on his strong electoral mandate to reform the Judiciary and Argentina’s intelligence services, he told Congress in a speech to open the body’s ordinary sessions.

Fernandez was accompanied by a crowd waving the flags of his “Frente de Todos” coalition and presented to the House by his Vice President and the Senate head, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

The President said the legislative measures would help him keep his promise to fight poverty, which in Argentina blights almost 40 per cent of the population

The image of a green ribbon is projected on the side of the National Congress as activists hold green handkerchiefs

following years of recession and high inflation.

“Within the next 10 days I will present a bill for voluntary termination of pregnancy that legalises abortion at the start of pregnancy and allows women to access the health system when they make the decision to abort,” Fernandez said to loud applause.

The initiative, promoted for years by an increasingly powerful feminist movement in Argentina, will be

accompanied by a sexual education and pregnancy prevention drive, according to the Fernandez Government.

Current Argentine law only permits abortions in cases of rape, or if the mother’s health is at risk. A previous bill to legalise abortion up to 14 weeks was passed by the Lower House, but rejected by the Senate after a campaign by the country’s powerful Roman Catholic Church.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

OILNEWS Putin says Russia can handle oil slide but hints at OPEC cooperation

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ussian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia can cope with the recent decline in oil prices as the coronavirus has spread internationally but offered a chink of light to OPEC as the producer group pushes for deeper supply cuts.

Moscow has been resisting further curbs, arguing that reduced output by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known as OPEC+, will not necessarily revive demand, sources said.

OPEC+ is due to meet in Vienna this week to decide on production policy when its existing supply pact expires at the end of March.

Several key members of Saudi Arabia-led OPEC are leaning toward a bigger than previously expected output cut, four sources with knowledge of the talks have told Reuters, but Russia has yet to make clear its stance on proposals for further cuts.

“I want to stress that for the Russian budget, for our economy, the current oil prices level is acceptable,” Putin told a meeting with Russian energy officials and producers to discuss the coronavirus and its implications.

The price of Brent crude slumped to US$50.05 on Friday, its lowest since late 2018, on fears that the coronavirus outbreak will trigger oil demand destruction.

Russia, which has more than US$560 billion in its reserves, envisages in its budget an average Brent crude price of US$42.40 a barrel, Putin said.

“Our accumulated reserves, including the National Wealth Fund, are enough for ensuring a stable situation, the fulfilment of all budget and social liabilities, even under a possible deterioration of the global economic situation,” Putin said.

He added, however, that this does not set aside the need for action, “including together with foreign partners”.

Putin also highlighted the difficulty in forecasting moves in oil prices and acknowledged that Russia needs to be ready for various scenarios.

OPEC+ has “proved to be an effective instrument to ensure long-term stability on global energy markets”, he told the meeting, with his comments released on the Kremlin website.

“Thanks to that, we have obtained extra budget revenues and, what is important, provided a possibility for upstream companies to confidently invest in promising development projects.”

Putin asked meeting participants for their views on further possible action on the global oil market and said he hoped that steps taken by Russia to prevent the spread of the coronavirus were effective.

“The situation is under control overall,” he said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Saudi economy grows just 0.3% in 2019 as oil sector shrinks

S

audi Arabia’s economy grew by a weaker-than-expected 0.3 per cent in 2019 as the oil sector contracted sharply, official data showed on Sunday, although the non-oil sector accelerated.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, wants to boost the Private Sector and diversify its economy away from oil, but sliding oil prices and crude output cuts agreed with OPEC allies continue to weigh on its overall growth.

Real economic growth in the non-oil sector increased by 3.3 per cent last year, according to data from the General Authority for Statistics, the strongest growth since 2014.

Overall GDP growth was below an official forecast of 0.9 per cent and the oil sector shrank by 3.6 per cent, marking the Saudi economy’s worst performance since it contracted in 2017.

Expansion of the non-oil sector was mainly driven by growth in the Private Sector, which amounted to 3.8 per cent, said the statistics authority.

In 2019, financial, insurance and business services, as well as retail trade and restaurants and hotels, were among the activities that saw the strongest growth - reflecting the Government’s investment drive into areas such as tourism and entertainment.

The energy and manufacturing sectors shrank.

Saudi exports fell by 10.4 per cent year on year, because of a 14 per cent drop in oil exports, the data showed.

Saudi Arabia’s Central Bank Governor, Ahmed al-Kholifey, said last month the non-oil sector will support overall economic growth in 2020, despite a challenging economic backdrop, further weakened by the global spread of the coronavirus. (Excerpt from Reuters)

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

17

Around the World

'Nigeria will deal with this': High alert after coronavirus case

H

ealth authorities in Nigeria are ramping up efforts to detect and contain the new coronavirus after Africa's most populous country confirmed its first case, calling on citizens to avoid panicking or spreading unverified information about the disease.

An Italian citizen working in Nigeria tested positive for the virus on Thursday after falling ill following his arrival in the commercial hub of Lagos from Milan in northern Italy, an area that has emerged as Europe's coronavirus hotspot.

The man, who has since been isolated at a hospital in Yaba, is "clinically stable"

A member of the Nigerian army performs a temperature check on a visitor at the entrance of the Nigerian Army Hospital in the Yaba area of Lagos on February 28, 2020 [File: George Osodi/Bloomberg]

and has not developed serious symptoms, according to health officials.

Public health professionals who spoke to Al Jazeera expressed confidence in the

West African country's ability to contain the spread of the virus. They pointed to key lessons from its successful response to an Ebola outbreak more than five years

ago, as well as a series of measures already put in place before the arrival of the coronavirus.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has also supported the activation of emergency operation centres to serve as coordination platforms, while its Coronavirus Preparedness Group meets daily to review the situation and manage the response efforts.

The agency has meanwhile issued a public health advisory to inform Nigerians about symptoms and preventive measures, and has provided a toll-free number for guidance. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Coronavirus: South Korea sect leader to face probe over deaths

T

he leader of a religious sect in South Korea will be investigated over some of the country's coronavirus deaths.

The city Government of the capital Seoul has asked prosecutors to charge Lee Man-hee, the founder of the Shincheonji Church, and 11 others.

They are accused of hiding the names of some members as officials tried to track patients before the virus spread.

South Korea is battling the worst coronavirus outbreak outside China.

The country has report-

ed 3730 cases and 21 deaths so far. More than half of all infections involve members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a fringe Christian group.

Authorities said Shincheonji members infected one another in the southern city of Daegu last month, before fanning out around the country.

On Sunday the Seoul City Government filed a legal complaint to prosecutors against 12 leaders of the sect. They are accused of homicide, causing harm and violating the Infectious Disease and Control Act.

There has been growing public anger towards the Shincheonji Church of Jesus

All 230,000 members of the church have been interviewed. Nearly 9000 said they were showing symptoms of coronavirus.

A 61-year-old female member of the sect who tested positive for the virus was among the first to be infected.

She initially refused to

be taken to a hospital to be tested and is known to have attended several church gatherings before testing positive.

The sect's leader, Lee Man-hee, claims he is the Messiah. He has also been tested for the virus and is awaiting the results.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Mired in stalemate, Israel holds another election on Netanyahu’s future

I

sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks re-election on Monday under the weight of an imminent corruption trial, with the country’s third ballot in less than a year predicted to end in another deadlock.

The election follows two inconclusive votes in April and September that dimmed an aura of political invincibility enjoyed by Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, who has denied any wrong-

doing in the three graft cases against him.

Opinion polls show neither Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud nor the centrist Blue and White party of his main challenger, former armed forces chief Benny Gantz, securing enough votes on their own, or with coalition allies, for a governing majority in parliament.

A fourth election could ensue within months if the deadlock is not broken.

Further stalemate could

push Israel, where a 2020 budget is still pending, further into economic limbo.

Turnout figures will be watched closely, particularly given the concern over the global coronavirus outbreak and accusations of malicious rumours about contamination in areas seen as strongholds for particular parties.

Voters under home-quarantine, such as those who have recently travelled back to Israel from coronavirus hotspots, can attend special

polling stations if they wear surgical masks and show no signs of the disease.

Israel’s economy has so far weathered the political turmoil, with growth strong and the labour market tight.

But the longer the stalemate continues, the heavier the toll, including the lack of new money for health, education, welfare or infrastructure projects until an annual budget is approved by Parliament. (Excerpt from Reuters)

to enter the country.

At least 600 people had arrived by sea on the Greek islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos close to the Turkish coast within a few hours on Sunday morning, Police said.

The clashes occurred later in the day at the Kastanies crossing after riot police reinforced security there.

Turkey said on Thursday it would no longer restrain hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers in its territory from reaching Europe, their preferred destination, despite a commitment to do so under a deal reached with the European Union in 2016.

Turkey’s turnabout came

A police officer fires a tear gas canister with his launcher as Greek soldiers stand by, during clashes with migrants who want to cross into Greece from Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing, in Kastanies, Greece, March 1, 2020

Migrants clash with Greek Police at border after Turkey opens floodgates

G

reek Police fired tear gas to repel hundreds of stone-throwing migrants who sought to force their way across the border from Turkey on Sunday, witnesses said, with thousands more behind them after Ankara relaxed curbs on their movement.

It was the second straight day of clashes at the border crossing by the northeastern Greek town of Kastanies in which Police drove back approaching migrants with volleys of tear gas.

Greece placed its borders on maximum-security footing earlier on Sunday after hundreds of other migrants used porous crossing points

after an airstrike killed 33 Turkish soldiers in northwest Syria where Ankara has deployed forces in support of rebels and to help secure its border against a new influx of refugees from the Syrian civil war.

Turkey has said funds

promised by the EU to help it deal with 3.7 million Syrian refugees already in the country has been slow to arrive.

Ankara had threatened several times in the past to open the floodgates if it did not receive more support. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Make love, not war.

Spend quality time with the people you care about most.

Address issues causing uncertainty. Ask direct questions and find out what’s happening. Avoid making a snap decision.

A change in attitude will encourage personal growth, better relationships and an opportunity to get involved in something that will influence what you pursue and the way you learn.

Consider the validity of information being offered to you. Knowledge is power, so do your research and avoid being caught in a compromising position. Don’t make a decision under pressure.

Keep your feelings to yourself. Use your knowledge and skills in unique ways. Push yourself to be more physical and to make lifestyle changes that will improve your health.

Do what you can to help others, but don’t let anyone take advantage of your kindness or generosity. If you crave change, focus on self-improvement, not on trying to alter someone else.

Curiosity will take you in a new direction. Your thirst for knowledge will lead to people who have something interesting to share. Make a change that will improve your health, relationships and personal life.

Ignore people who are unreasonable or demanding. You have enough responsibilities to tackle without taking on someone else’s chores. Don’t spend money on something you don’t need.

A change of heart will help you move in a fresh new direction. Embrace the future and prepare to let your imagination take you on an extraordinary journey that will lead to satisfaction.

SAGITTARIUS Say no to people using (Nov. 23emotional tactics in an atDec. 21) tempt to get you to do something. Look out for your best interest and live within your means.

LAST PUBLISHED WORD ꟷ

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Look at all sides of a situation before you make a decision. Uncertainty should be an indicator to sit tight and wait to see what unfolds before you get involved.

AQUARIUS

Work alone. Concentrate on home- and self-improvements that will help ease stress and make your life more manageable. Personal gain and fitness should be your priorities.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Refuse to let uncertainty hold you back. Ask questions, find out where you stand and discern what’s possible. Look for opportunities instead of waiting for them to come to you.

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

19

NBA round-up: Westbrook scores

41 as Rockets edge Celtics in OT R

ussell Westbrook scored a game-high 41 points, and James Harden found redemption from a poor shooting night with two free throws with 24.3 seconds left in overtime as the Houston Rockets capped a season sweep of the host Boston Celtics with a 111-110 win Saturday.

Harden scored 21 points on just 7-of-24 shooting and committed five turnovers. But his free throws, just his second and third of the game, gave Houston the lead. The Celtics’ Jaylen Brown sank the buzzer-beating 3-pointer that forced overtime, corralling a loose ball after Jayson Tatum missed two free throws, the second one intentionally, with 5.1 seconds left and Boston trailing 104-101.

Westbrook and Harden combined for 12 rebounds and 13 assists, while Robert Covington chipped in16 points and 16 rebounds for Houston, which followed 6-for-22 3-point shooting in the first half with 7-for-15 shooting from behind the arc in the third to erase a 17-point deficit. P.J. Tucker added 13 rebounds.

Tatum paired 32 points with 13 rebounds for Boston, while Brown added 22 points. Marcus Smart scored 26 for the Celtics, who received 15 rebounds and three blocks from Daniel Theis.

in his 10th game since returning from a yearlong absence from a ruptured tendon in his right knee. The Pacers’ Domantas Sabonis recorded his 46th double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Cleveland’s Andre Drummond collected 27 points and 13 rebounds in his return from a two-game absence due to a left calf strain. He also had four assists and four steals.

San Antonio Spurs 114-Orlando Magic 113

Bryn Forbes had five points in a late run and Trey Lyles scored a season-high 20 points as San Antonio outlasted visiting Orlando.

With the game tied at 111, Forbes poured in a 3-pointer with 50.5 seconds to play to put the Spurs in front 114-111.

Markelle Fultz’s jumper with 40.3 seconds left brought the Magic to within one point.

Orlando’s Evan Fournier missed a jumper that could have won the game with 2.2 seconds to play, allowing the Spurs to snap a two-game slide. Fournier led the Magic with 23 points. Rudy Gay added 19 points for the Spurs.

Golden State Warriors 115-Phoenix Suns 99

Memphis Grizzlies 105-Los Angeles Lakers 88

Ja Morant recorded 27 points and matched his career high of 14 assists, and host Memphis snapped a five-game losing streak while ending Los Angeles’ seven-game win string.

Dillon Brooks scored 24 points, and Jonas Valanciunas added 22 points and 20 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who salvaged the final of four meetings against the Lakers this season. It was the second straight 20-rebound effort for Valanciunas.

LeBron James had 19 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for Los Angeles, which saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end. Anthony Davis had 15 points and nine rebounds, and the 88 points are a season low for the Lakers.

Atlanta Hawks 129-Portland Trail Blazers 117

Trae Young led a balanced attack with his 26th double-double of the season and paced Atlanta to a win over visiting Portland.

Young had 25 points — including 10-for-10 from the line — and 15 assists and was one of six Atlanta players who scored in double figures. The Hawks also got 24 points and 10 rebounds from John Collins, his 19th double-double.

Portland was led by C.J. McCollum with 35 points. The Trail Blazers also got 21 points and 13 rebounds from Hassan Whiteside and 15 points from Gary Trent Jr.

New York Knicks 125-Chicago Bulls 115

Mitchell Robinson scored 23 points, Julius Randle added 22 points and both players snagged 10 rebounds, helping host New York snap a six-game losing streak with a victory against Chicago.

New York opened a five-game homestand with its first win at Madison Square Garden since Feb. 6. The Knicks are just 9-20 at home this season.

Chicago lost for the 10th time in 11 games despite a game-high 26 points by Zach LaVine. The Bulls finished 1-8 in February to fall a season-low 20 games under .500.

Miami Heat 116-Brooklyn Nets 113

Kendrick Nunn scored 21 points and hit a clutch 3-pointer down the stretch as Miami held on against visiting Brooklyn.

Nunn’s biggest shot of the night was a 3-pointer from the right side with one second left on the shot clock that gave Miami a 112-103 lead with 2:44 remaining.

Jimmy Butler split a pair at the line with 9.1 seconds remaining to make it 115-113, and the Nets called a timeout.

Spencer Dinwiddie wound up throwing the ball into the second row after Joe Harris was late to provide a screen off an inbounds play with 1.7 seconds left. Miami secured

Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives past Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second quarter at TD Garden. (USA TODAY Sports)

its second straight victory when Goran Dragic hit a free throw with four-tenths of a second left.

Indiana Pacers 113-Cleveland Cavaliers 104

T.J. Warren scored 30 points, making 14 of 20 shots from the field, as visiting Indiana defeated Cleveland.

Malcolm Brogdon collected 22 points and eight assists for the Pacers, who have won five of their last six contests following a season-high six-game skid.

Indiana’s Victor Oladipo scored a season-high 19 points

Seven of the eight Golden State players who saw action scored in double figures as the injury-riddled club rallied past host Phoenix as Rookie reserve Eric Paschall had a game-high 25 points, and Damion Lee complemented 20 points with a game-high-tying eight assists for Golden State, which snapped an eight-game losing streak and earned a split in the four-game season series with Phoenix.

The Warriors’ last three wins have all come on the road.

Devin Booker had a team-high 21 points, and Deandre Ayton 20 to go with a game-high-tying nine rebounds for the Suns, who lost both ends of a home back-to-back after falling 113-111 to Detroit on Friday. (Reuters)

Fury has accepted Wilder rematch

D

eontay Wilder will fight Britain's WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury for a third time this summer, according to promoter Bob Arum.

The pair drew their first fight in 2018 and last weekend Fury stopped Wilder in the seventh round to win the title.

The American had 30 days to call a rematch and Arum, Fury's US promoter, says he has been "formally notified"

by Wilder's team that they are doing so.

Arum told Ringside Reporter the bout will be "before the Olympics - July".

On Thursday, Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn said talks for a heavyweight unification fight between his fighter and Fury were under way.

But with the rematch clause triggered, Briton Joshua, who holds three belts, is now expected to fight Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in a mandatory IBF

Deontay Wilder lost his WBC heavyweight title to Tyson Fury in Las Vegas (Getty Images)

bout in London in June.

And Arum said he could "guarantee Pulev will knock out Joshua like Fury

knocked out Wilder".

"I will look at a Pulev/ Fury fight to unify the belts at the end of the year," he

added.

Wilder promised to "rise like a phoenix from the ashes and regain the title" after last week's defeat in Las Vegas.

Wilder was floored twice before his corner threw in the towel in the seventh round at the MGM Grand Arena, ending his five-year reign as WBC champion, but the American said he was in "great spirits".

The 34-year-old took to social media in a video on Saturday to promise his comeback "in a few months".

"Your king is here and I'm not going anywhere, for the war has just begun," he said.

"I'm a king that will never give up and will fight to the death. I am a warrior, I am strong and I will be back."

Last week, in the first statement since his defeat, Wilder blamed his elaborate ring-walk costume for his performance, saying it was too heavy and he "didn't have the legs for the fight" as a result. (BBC Sport)

20

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Wolves stun Tottenham in leapfrog win R

aul Jimenez scored a smart winner as Wolves recovered to move above Tottenham in the Premier League and boost their hopes of earning a Champions League spot.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side trailed twice in north London before Jimenez latched on to Diogo Jota’s pass to finish with his left foot.

Spurs first led when Steven Bergwijn poked in and then from Serge Aurier’s curling effort before the break.

But Matt Doherty and Jota combined to bring Wolves level on both occasions.

Jota’s ball was fired home

by Doherty after Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga

failed to clear and then Jota tapped in from close range following Doherty’s low cross.

Dele Alli had missed the chance to send Tottenham into a 3-1 lead moments earlier when he headed wide while unmarked inside the box.

The win sends Wolves sixth in the table and three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Man Utd draw against Everton

Everton had a late winner against Manchester United ruled out and manager Carlo Ancelotti was sent off in an entertaining game in which both teams were undone by goalkeeping mistakes.

The hosts made a dream start thanks to a calamitous

error by United’s David de Gea, whose clearance cannoned straight into Dominic Calvert-Lewin and then into the net for the striker’s 15th goal of the season.

United responded from that early setback when Nemanja Matic’s shot smacked against the Everton crossbar, and they equalised after 31 minutes when Everton’s Jordan Pickford failed to stop Bruno Fernandes’ bouncing shot from 20 yards.

Everton upped the tempo following the break in a feisty game where seven players were booked, and the hosts came close to scoring when Gylfi Sigurdsson hit the post with a dipping free-kick.

But there was late drama

as both keepers redeemed themselves with fine saves, and CalvertLewin had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee in added time because Sigurdsson had been lying on the ground in front of De Gea in an offside position.

That led to Ancelotti confronting the referee and being shown a red card after the final whistle, with boos ringing around Goodison Park.

The result means United extended their unbeaten run to eight games and remain fifth, while Everton’s chances of reaching the Europa League were dealt a blow following Wolves’ win at Spurs.

Wolves trailed twice before Raul Jimenez scored the winner (BBC Sport)

Man City win 3rd Nadal beats Fritz to Carabao Cup in a row win title in Acapulco R

Rodri headed in Manchester City’s second goal after 30 minutes (PA Media)

M

anchester City secured their third League Cup win in succession - and their fourth in five years - with victory over Aston Villa at Wembley.

Pep Guardiola’s side won an historic treble of domestic trophies last season with the Premier League and FA Cup, and they thoroughly deserved their triumph despite a spirited effort from Aston Villa.

Manchester City looked like they would stroll to victory when Sergio Aguero’s strike and Rodri’s header from a corner that was hotly contested by Villa put them in complete control inside 30 minutes.

Villa, while strictly second best, offered themselves a lifeline when Mbwana Samatta headed in from Anwar El Ghazi’s cross four minutes before the interval.

City continued to dominate as they sought a third goal and Villa were agonisingly close to forcing extra time when Bjorn Engels saw his header from a corner turned on to the woodwork superbly by keeper Claudio Bravo.

It was their last chance and City closed out the win their superiority merited.

Manchester City claim silverware again

Manchester City may be about to lose their Premier League title to Liverpool, who are 22 points clear at the top of the table,

but no-one can argue against their claims to the first piece of domestic silverware this season.

They were in control of most of this game apart from a frantic closing spell where the much-maligned 36-year-old Chilean keeper Bravo produced that stunning save from Engels to break Villa hearts.

If there is any frustration - and there will not be much - for Guardiola and his players, it is that they should have had this game done and dusted without any need for late moments of anxiety.

Aguero once again proved he is the man for all occasions with his predatory strike, while 19-year-old Phil Foden demonstrated his rich promise with a fine performance, which even contained a piece of audacious ball-juggling in the second half.

John Stones slipped unfortunately for Villa’s goal but he also contributed some vital defensive headers when City finally had to survive some concerted pressure in the closing minutes.

Fernandinho continues to be a towering presence and it was a win achieved with Kevin de Bruyne on the bench for the first hour.

It has been an outstanding week for City as they followed up Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 first-leg win away to Real Madrid by lifting the EFL Cup. (BBC Sport)

afael Nadal captured his third Mexican Open title on Saturday, continuing his good form with a 6-3 6-2 triumph in the final over Taylor Fritz.

Nadal survived 10 aces from Fritz and broke his service three times to outperform the 22-year-old American.

“I couldn’t be happier. I played a great event from the beginning to the end,” Nadal told reporters.

“Acapulco was the first big title that I won in my career, so to be able to stay here after 15 years is amazing. I can’t thank enough the people who make me feel at home every single time.”

The Spanish world No. 2, who first won the title in 2005 and took it again in 2013, stormed through the draw without dropping a set and improved to 20-2 in the event overall.

Fritz h a d

reached the final by rallying from a set and 2-4 behind against John Isner but he could mount no such comeback against Nadal.

Fritz, playing his first final at an ATP 500 event, became the only American

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates with the trophy after winning his final match against Taylor Fritz of the US (Reuters)

besides Sam Querrey in 2017 to reach the Acapulco final.

“He’s one of the best players to ever play the game and he showed me why that is tonight,” Fritz said of Nadal.

Britain’s seventh seed Heather Watson needed 10 championship points to overcome Canadian teen-

ager Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-7(8) 6-1 in the women’s final.

Watson saw her first five championship points slip away in the second-set tiebreak before regaining her composure to lose just one game in the final set.

Victory ensured Watson’s first WTA title since she won the Monterrey Open in 2016, and her fourth overall, and she will re-enter the top 50 of the WTA rankings on Monday.

“It’s been a few years, so I’m just really, really happy I came through that match,” said Watson. (Reuters)

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21

GCB/Bel Air Rubis U-17 Inter-county tournament review...

Gopilall, Mohabir, Allicock top respective charts

By Brandon Corlette

B

erbice U-17 opener, Mahendra Gopilall is fancying his chances of a Guyana U-17 selection after finishing with the most runs in the recently concluded Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Bel Air Rubis U-17 Inter-county tournament.

The solid right-handed opener ended with 117 runs in three contrasting innings.

He had scores of 58, 05 and 54*.

In the bowling department, off-spinners Alvin Mohabir and Jared Allicock ended with seven wickets to top the bowling charts in the three-match tournament. Mohabir, a former Guyana U-15 captain, had missed the first match for Demerara but in teh second match where he got a bowl for the first time, he claimed five wickets against Berbice.

In the final round, Mohabir grabbed two wickets to take his tally to seven.

Meanwhile, the right-arm offie Allicock, who played for Essequibo in the tournament grabbed seven wickets in three matches. In addition to Gopilall's 117 runs, Guyana and West Indies youth player, Rampertab Ramnauth ended as the second leading scorer with 104 runs. The left-handed

class act, Ramnauth who is expected to play for both Guyana U-15 and Guyana U-17 in this year had a highscore of 78 in this inter-county tournament.

His fellow West Indies U-16 team mate, Mavindra Dindyal ended with 102 runs with a high-score of 50. He also recorded an attractive 40 in the final which saw him earned the player of the match award. Essequibo big hitter, Ronaldo Scouten ended with 88 runs. Having the reputation of being the cleanest hitter of the ball, Scouten had a top-performance when he scored 45 and got his name in the wicket columns.

Berbice second opener, Hemendra Gurdyal made 84 runs in three matches, getting starts on each ocassion, where he looked promising. Essequibo's captain Aryan Persaud, who scored a half-century in the tournament finished with 71 runs while the classy Jaden Campbelle had 69 runs for Demerara in the three matches he played. Berbice captain Zeynul Ramsammy who scored a fifty in teh first round ended with 56 runs in three matches. He made six not out and failed to score against Demerara.

The other half-centurion was Shemar Yearwood who is tipped as the Guyana U-17

wicket-keeper.

Yearwood made a match-winning 54 for Demerara against Guyana Select U-15s. A player who remains on teh radar, Jonathan Rampersaud may not have had the best time with teh bat after scoring only 26 runs but he cliamed six wickets in three matches.

H a t trick boy and the m a n with a

six-wicket haul, Leon Cecil had six wickets in the tournament along with Rudranauth K i s s o o n .

Chandrapaul Ramraj, an established spinner at this level had four wickets and was rested in the third match, since he is tipped for another Guyana U-17 selection.

Romel Daterdeen and Isai Thorne are the pacers on the watch for the Guyana

Alvin Mohabir, Jared Allicock and Mahendra Gopilall

U-17 team. Daterdeen had five wickets while Thorne, the fastest of them all at this level had four scalps.

Thaddeus Lovell may also be looked at for a possible selection, despite not having the best of tournaments, he

is among those that proved their talents in the past.

The Regional U-17 championship is very unfamiliar to the Guyanese trophy cabinet, but given the selection of the right team anything is possible this year.

Imperious Djokovic marks Tsitsipas as future world no 1 S

tefanos Tsitsipas has what it takes to win Grand Slam titles and become a future world number one, top-ranked Novak Djokovic said after downing the Greek to win the Dubai Tennis Championships title on Saturday.

Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer have shared all Grand Slams between them since Stan Wawrinka won at the 2016 US Open and Tsitsipas has been marked as one of the few players capable of breaking that stranglehold in 2020.

The 21-year-old Greek has climbed to number six in world rankings and ended the 2019 season by winning the ATP Finals crown.

Tsitsipas fell in the Dubai final for the second straight time, having lost to Federer in the title clash last year.

“I love the fact that he is more than just a tennis player and he’s always looking to learn from the experience and to understand something new about himself so he can improve, get better,” Djokovic said after his 6-3 6-4 victory.

“That for me is a trait of a champion, of someone that for sure has a great poten-

Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses with the trophy after winning the Dubai Final against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas (Reuters)

tial to be No. 1 of the world and win Grand Slams and be a great ambassador of our sport. He already is, but he has a great future ahead of him, I’m sure.

“You go through the process of self-realization and learning, maturing, then understanding what’s good for you in life, in your career.

He’s a mature man already.

He’s very smart, very wise.”

Djokovic’s triumph was

his fifth at the Dubai Tennis Championships and extended his unbeaten run to 21. He has won 18 matches this season, lifting the ATP Cup with Serbia before a record-extending eighth Australian Open title in Melbourne.

Djokovic has earned a winning streak of at least 20 matches for the seventh time in his career and in the 2011 season he went 41-0 during a 43-match winning streak

before losing in the Roland Garros semi-finals.

“One of the targets is to go unbeaten the whole season,” Djokovic said in an oncourt interview before bursting into laughter. “No, I’m kidding. I’m not kidding, actually.”

His streak came tantalisingly close to an end when he fought off three match points to overcome Frenchman Gael Monfils in the semi-finals in

Dubai.

“I’m trying to embrace the moment and appreciate where I am,” he later told reporters, clarifying he was not serious about going unbeaten.

“I think this has been one of the best starts of all seasons I had in my career. I feel great on the court.

“I’ve won many matches now in a row. I’ll try to keep that run going.” (Reuters)

22

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: England beat West Indies to reach semis E

ngland are into the Women's T20 World Cup semi-finals after a 46-run thrashing of West Indies in their final group game in Sydney.

Natalie Sciver once again starred with the bat, making 57 from 56 balls as England posted 143-5 from their 20 overs.

In response, West Indies lost three wickets for one run and had injured captain Stafanie Taylor taken off on a stretcher as they slumped to 42-4.

Lee-Ann Kirby hit 20 from 15 balls - and was dropped twice - to give West Indies some hope, but they could only reach 97-9, with Taylor unable to return to the crease despite 17 balls remaining.

But they were ultimately well beaten by a determined England.

Heather Knight's side join South Africa and India in the knockout stages, with the winner of Monday's match between Australia and New Zealand taking the final spot.

A rejigged batting order did not quite pay off for England at Sydney Showground with Tammy Beaumont, promoted to open, trapped lbw by the fourth ball of their innings.

However, Amy Jones impressed at the back end of the innings, striking 23 from 13 balls, to help England towards a defendable total.

Crucially for England, their spin bowling impressed

SCOREBOARD

West Indies Captain Stafanie Taylor retired hurt and left the ground on an injury cart (Getty Images)

once again with Mady Villiers, recalled in place of Lauren Winfield, taking a superb caught and bowled, while Sophie Ecclestone (37) and Sarah Glenn (2-16) shone again.

Sciver shines once again

While shuffling Beaumont up the order did not work straight away for England, Jones seemed more settled as she came in at six.

With the platform built

by Sciver, who was again outstanding in rotating the strike and unleashing six fours around the ground, Jones could hit out as the field spread.

Her three fours came from powerful drives through mid-wicket and she was able to help England

plunder 36 runs from the final three overs.

Captain Heather Knight continued her good form, rotating the strike well in a 39-run partnership with Sciver, but she left the field for the final few overs of the West Indies' innings with an apparent niggle.

While there are still concerns over England's top-order batting, Sciver's form and a rejuvenated Jones will bode well for their upcoming semi-final.

Windies collapse to poor defeat

West Indies have a good record against England prior to this match, they had won six of their eight T20s against them - but this is not the side that marched to the title in 2016.

Their bowling has been

Coronavirus: Tokyo Marathon takes place on empty streets

T

he Tokyo Marathon took place on Sunday against a backdrop of empty streets and with just a couple of hundred runners due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Organisers had reduced the entries to just elite runners and wheelchair athletes with the mass race, which usually attracts around 38,000 runners, cancelled.

The numbers of volunteers were also reduced and spectators were advised to "avoid gathering along the course" and were instead encouraged to "support through TV and radio."

Event staff and competitors were given surgical masks and hand sanitizer.

Ethiopian Birhanu Legese won the men's race for the second year in a row in two hours four minutes and 15 seconds, while Israel's Lonah Korlima Chemtai Salpeter won the women's race in a course record time of 2:17.45. Tokyo is due to host the Olympics from 24 July to 9 August.

"If the Olympics look

the only bright spot, with returning seamer Shakera Selman impressing with 1-23, and their pace bowlers keeping mostly tight lines.

The batting, however, is devoid of confidence and rhythm. Kirby arrived in Australia having not played a T20 international for 12 years. She opened in the first two matches and then was dropped down to seven in Sydney, with Deandra Dottin opening.

Dottin fell cheaply, slicing Ecclestone low to Sciver at short mid-wicket, but even as captain Taylor started to hit out, it always felt as though a collapse was on the cards.

After Taylor was taken off, Hayley Matthews was bowled by the next ball, before a superb one-handed catch from Villiers in her fol-

England Women Innings (20 overs maximum) DN Wyatt c Selman b Mohammed 29 TT Beaumont lbw b Selman 0 NR Sciver c Matthews b Taylor 57 HC Knight (c) run out (Selman) 17 FC Wilson c Cooper b Fletcher 3 AE Jones † not out 23 KH Brunt not out 10 Extras (b 2, w 2) 4 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 7.15) 143-5 Did not bat: A Shrubsole, MK Villiers, S Ecclestone, S Glenn Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Tammy Beaumont, 0.4 ov), 2-51 (Danni Wyatt, 8.2 ov), 3-90 (Heather Knight, 13.4 ov), 4-97 (Fran Wilson, 15.3 ov), 5-130 (Natalie Sciver, 18.6 ov) BOWLING SC Selman (4-0-23-1) AA Alleyne (2-0-18-0) HK Matthews (3-0-23-0) ASS Fletcher (4-0-29-1) A Mohammed (4-0-23-1) SR Taylor (3-0-25-1) West Indies Women Innings (target: 144 runs from 20 overs) HK Matthews b Glenn DJS Dottin c Sciver

low-through accounted for Shemaine Campbelle.

Wickets fell quickly and cheaply, batters undone by the lack of pace in the pitch and the unerring accuracy of England's spinners, and it

b Ecclestone 9 SR Taylor (c) retired hurt 15 SA Campbelle † c & b Villiers 1 CN Nation c †Jones b Glenn 0 B Cooper st †Jones b Ecclestone 15 LAGL Kirby c Sciver b Shrubsole 20 AA Alleyne run out (Glenn/Villiers) 10 ASS Fletcher run out (Knight/Villiers) 0 A Mohammed b Ecclestone 5 SC Selman not out 0 Extras (b 1, lb 5, w 6) 12 TOTAL (17.1 Overs, RR: 5.65) 97 all out Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Deandra Dottin, 2.6 ov), 1-41* (Stafanie Taylor, retired not out ), 2-42 (Hayley Matthews, 8.2 ov), 3-42 (Shemaine Campbelle, 9.4 ov), 4-42 (Chedean Nation, 10.1 ov), 5-68 (LeeAnn Kirby, 14.1 ov), 6-84 (Britney Cooper, 15.4 ov), 7-92 (Afy Fletcher, 16.3 ov), 8-92 (Aaliyah Alleyne, 16.4 ov), 9-97 (Anisa Mohammed, 17.1 ov) BOWLING A Shrubsole (2-0-13-1) KH Brunt (2-0-20-0) S Ecclestone (3.1-1-7-3) NR Sciver (2-0-5-0) S Glenn (4-1-16-2) MK Villiers (4-1-30-1)

was an underwhelming end.

Tougher tests await England - but this was a much-improved performance from their tournament opener against South Africa. (BBC Sport)

MotoGP: Opening race of 2020 season cancelled over coronavirus restrictions

T

Birhanu Legese ran through the winning ribbon, held by volunteers wearing face masks (Getty Images)

like this, it's going to be a sad sight," 68-year-old shoemaker Hiroshi Enomoto, who watched the race in the downtown area of Asakusa, told Reuters.

"There are maybe 20% of the number of people who came to see the race last year. Normally, it's so packed you can barely breathe."

More than 200 people have so far been infected with the coronavirus in Japan, while at least 621 people who were on board

the Diamond Princess cruise ship which was held in quarantine off the port of Yokohama, tested positive.

Schools in Japan have shut for two weeks, and Japan's football league postponed domestic fixtures until mid-March.

Tokyo 2020 organisers have said the torch relay before the Games, which was due to travel across Japan starting on 26 March, will be scaled back but they are not discussing calling off events.

(BBC Sport)

he opening race of the MotoGP season, in Qatar on March 8, has been cancelled as a result of travel restrictions imposed on passengers from Italy because of the coronavirus.

Six of the riders in MotoGP's premier class are Italians, and some teams are based in the country.

"Italy clearly plays a vital role in the championship and in the MotoGP class, both on track and off, and therefore the decision has been taken to cancel premier class competition," a statement said.

The Moto2 and Moto3 categories will still race next weekend, as their teams and riders were already in Qatar for pre-season testing last week.

Globally, around 86,000 people have been infected with coronavirus - the vast majority in China's Hubei province, where the outbreak originated in December.

Italy is the worst-hit country in Europe, with its death toll standing at 34 from around 1,700 confirmed cases. Eleven towns in northern Italy at the centre of the outbreak - home to a total of 55,000 people have been quarantined. Schools, universities and cinemas have been closed, and several public events have been cancelled.

Several ‘Serie A’ football matches were postponed this weekend, while fans from

Atalanta - who are based in the northern Italian city of Bergamo, which has had deaths from the virus - were screened for symptoms as they came into the stadium before their win at Lecce on Sunday.

"The ongoing coronavirus outbreak has resulted in Qatar travel restrictions being brought into force that affect passengers from Italy, amongst other countries," MotoGP's statement added.

"As of today [Sunday], all passengers arriving at Doha on direct flights from Italy, or having been in Italy in the past two weeks, will be taken straight to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days."

The second round of the MotoGP season is scheduled to be held in Thailand on 22 March. (BBC Sport)

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

23

Mathews the hero as Sri Lanka seal a stunning game

F

Angelo Mathews was a key figure in Sri Lanka’s victory

abian Allen was on a rampage. He'd struck three sixes (one of them 98 metres long) plus two fours, and was on 37 off 14 balls. He'd just crashed one over cover, and seemed set to close out the game, only nine runs needed off the last five deliveries. But Angelo Mathews, went back through the years, resurrected what seemed for so long to be a dead-and-buried version of himself, and sharpened the next ball with considerable bowling wit. Allen tried to swing it over midwicket for what

would have effectively been the match-sealing six. But Mathews had taken just enough pace off, and Kusal Mendis was standing at just the right place to take the catch above his head, maybe two feet in from the boundary.

This was the moment this ebbing, flowing game was won by Sri Lanka - West Indies' No. 10 and 11 unable to seriously challenge the target with only four balls remaining. Sri Lanka's batsmen had combined beautifully to get the team to 307, but it was Mathews

who really clinched the game. With captain Dimuth Karunaratne missing his usual death bowler in Nuwan Pradeep, who left the field clutching his leg after 4.3 overs, Mathews was required to deliver his full quota - the first time he'd done this since way back in July 2015. He took 4 for 59.

Angelo Mathews, winning a match with the ball again. It would have seemed such a fantasy even six months ago.

So close West Indies…

That West Indies even

got close to this target was down to an outstanding 111-run opening partnership between Sunil Ambris and Shai Hope. The former made a run-a-ball 60. The latter hit his third fifty of the series and collected the top score of the game for the second time in three matches, with 72. Nicholas Pooran was shunted up the order to No. 3, and hit 50 off 61 balls himself. Captain Kieron Pollard also made a strong run at this target, making 49 off 50.

But both Pooran and Pollard - batsmen who could have taken the game away if they had been allowed to survive - were dismissed by Mathews, then at the death, he claimed the wickets of Jason Holder and Allen as well. Earlier, he had been the only batsman in Sri Lanka's top seven not to make 25. And yet, he almost undoubtedly played the most definitive hand this game.

It had been three good partnerships that propelled Sri Lanka to their imposing score, on what actually seemed a slower-than-normal Pallekele surface. First, Avishka Fernando and Dimuth Karunaratne made 60 together off 62 balls. After the openers fell, the two Kusals - Mendis and Perera - came together to produce perhaps the best batting surge of the match, totaling 89 off 74 in each other's com-

GCB Rubis Bel Air U-17 Inter-County Cricket Tournament…

This action is improper!

ꟷ administrators must not question match officials’ integrity, says GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie

GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie

G

lobally, cricket is known to be a gentleman's game, which should be played in a spirit of fierce but fair and friendly competition.

During the recently concluded Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Rubis Bel Air Under-17 Inter-County Tournament, the games that were played were high-quality and competitive. The officiating was, however, such that generated much disappointment and very intense off-field musings in regard to the competence of match officials.

Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster has expressed his dissatisfaction with umpiring decisions that saw the Berbice team being subjected to allegedly questionable dismissals in their match against Demerara in the second round

of this tournament.

Foster told this publication that he has often warned the Berbice players to be wary of the standard of umpiring at this level. He said the standard of umpiring is very poor, and both the BCB and its players are fearful of the deleterious consequences these decisions can leverage.

He charged that, because of persistently questionable decisions that seem to be flowing in one direction, the self-confidence of the players is negatively affected, and they develop some amount of fear when playing matches against Demerara sides.

But GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie has responded to this development by declaring that it is improper for cricket administrators to question the integrity of match officials, especially when doing so publically.

"We must not allow young players to inculcate a habit of questioning the decisions of umpires,” Sanasie has charged. “The game of cricket is played with rules and regulations, and if anyone is not satisfied with a decision, there are proper protocols established in the system to air grievances," he explained.

"I am aware that, in Berbice fixtures, match officials and venues are fixed by Mr Foster, hence when the players and himself (have) to operate in an environment of professionalism, (they are) hard pressed to follow the rules.

“The statement by Mr Foster is at best inappropriate, and we must not allow our youngsters to develop such habits, as cricket is a gentleman's game," Sanasie is

BCB President Hilbert Foster

contending.

The GCB Secretary also explained that match officials work tirelessly to qualify themselves, especially in this case, where officials in the game have been doing regional matches also.

"It is not a healthy situation for the professional lives of these hard-working officials(to be called into question)," Sanasie has concluded.

The emerging scenario makes it evident that these two cricket boards – GCB and BCB are not seeing "eye to eye" in every situation; but cricket development should remain at the forefront of their considerations, thus administrative issues should be resolved quickly as Guyana cricket continues to break barriers. (Brandon Corlette)

pany, in the middle overs no less. Towards the end of the innings, Dhananjaya de Silva and Thisara Perera made 64 off 50 balls together.

There were no star batsmen, really. Just a series of excellent contributions, from which two in particular stood out. Mendis' 55 off 48 was full of efficient sweeps, ferocious pulls, and a flat-out refusal to allow West Indies' spinners to bowl cheap overs. Later, de Silva had a little luck while starting his innings, his mis-hits only just carrying above the outstretched hands of infielders, while edges skimmed past the keeper and brought him boundaries. But he too made a half century, eventually settling into his graceful batting self - backing away and blasting Alzarri Joseph through the covers on one occasion, then reaching his fifty with a delightful aerial flick over square leg. He made 51 off 47.

Visitors’ fielding woes

West Indies' effort in the field was frustrated by their own continuing indiscipline, both with the ball where they sprayed it around too

much, and in the field where they were sloppy yet again.

But it was also hampered by injury - Allen unable to deliver a single ball, because he hurt his shoulder while patrolling the boundary.

They also had a bowler take a clump of wickets - Joseph finishing with figures of 4 for 65, each of his victims an important opposition batsman. But they paid for being too loose through the middle overs in particular, firing too many down the legside, and allowing partnerships to bloom and then flourish.

Pollard and Roston Chase were the only bowlers to go at less than six an over, but even they were around the 5.1 mark.

From among the remaining Sri Lankans, Wanindu Hasaranga had another outstanding outing with the ball, that googly once again causing problems as he returned 1 for 41 from his 10 overs. Isuru Udana was the only other bowler to take a wicket for Sri Lanka, but he conceded 76. There were three run outs in the West Indies innings - a further indication of the improvement in Sri Lanka's fielding in recent weeks. (ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka Innings (50 overs maximum) WIA Fernando c †Hope b Joseph 29 FDM Karunaratne (c) c & b Chase 44 MDKJ Perera † c †Hope b Pollard 44 BKG Mendis c Pollard b Joseph 55 AD Mathews b Cottrell 12 DM de Silva c Pollard b Joseph 51 NLTC Perera c sub (R Powell) b Joseph 38 PWH de Silva b Holder 16 I Udana c Pollard b Holder 2 PADLR Sandakan run out (†Hope/Holder) 0 N Pradeep not out 0 Extras (lb 9, w 7) 16 TOTAL (50 Overs, RR: 6.14) 307 all out Fall of wickets: 1-60 (Avishka Fernando, 10.2 ov), 2-88 (Dimuth Karunaratne, 19.1 ov), 3-177 (Kusal Perera, 31.3 ov), 4-185 (Kusal Mendis, 32.2 ov), 5-214 (Angelo Mathews, 38.1 ov), 6-278 (Dhananjaya de Silva, 46.3 ov), 7-293 (Thisara Perera, 48.3 ov), 8-306 (Wanindu Hasaranga, 49.4 ov), 9-306 (Lakshan Sandakan, 49.5 ov), 10-307 (Isuru Udana, 49.6 ov)

West Indies Innings (target: 308 runs from 50 overs) SD Hope † c Mendis b Udana 72 SW Ambris b PWH de Silva 60 N Pooran c sub (MD Shanaka) b Mathews 50 KA Pollard (c) c Udana b Mathews 49 DM Bravo run out (†MDKJ Perera/Karunaratne) 8 JO Holder c Mendis b Mathews 8 FA Allen c Mendis b Mathews 37 HR Walsh run out (sub [Shanaka]/NLTC Perera) 2 RL Chase run out (PWH de Silva/NLTC Perera) 0 AS Joseph not out 0 SS Cottrell not out 1 Extras (b 3, lb 2, w 9) 14 TOTAL (50 Overs, RR: 6.02) 301-9 Fall of wickets: 1-111 (Sunil Ambris, 18.3 ov), 2-171 (Shai Hope, 30.3 ov), 3-218 (Nicholas Pooran, 39.3 ov), 4-240 (Darren Bravo, 43.4 ov), 5-253 (Kieron Pollard, 45.2 ov), 6-275 (Jason Holder, 47.1 ov), 7-287 (Hayden Walsh, 48.2 ov), 8-294 (Roston Chase, 48.4 ov), 9-299 (Fabian Allen, 49.2 ov)

BOWLING SS Cottrell (10-1-58-1) JO Holder (10-0-68-2) AS Joseph (10-0-65-4) RL Chase (10-0-51-1) HR Walsh (3-0-20-0) KA Pollard (7-0-36-1)

BOWLING N Pradeep (4.3-1-22-0) NLTC Perera (7.3-0-54-0) I Udana (10-0-76-1) AD Mathews (10-0-59-4) PADLR Sandakan (3-0-31-0) PWH de Silva (10-0-41-1) DM de Silva (5-0-13- 0)

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

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

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Page 23

Mathews the hero as Sri Lanka seal a stunning game GCB/Bel Air Rubis U-17 Inter-county tournament review...

Page 22

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: England beat West Indies to reach semis

Gopilall, Mohabir, Allicock top respective charts Page 21

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