Guyana Times, Satuday June 15, 2019

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Scores of Berbicians benefit from Chinese medical outreach Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3955

THE BEACON OF TRUTH saturday, june 15, 2019

DHB design corruption probe

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

SOCU clears Patterson in time for AFC conference – hours after new evidence submitted by Teixeira

Child who P7 allegedly fell at school dies

See story on page 3

Remembrance of Enmore Martyrs

PPP/C to investigate corrupt practices of APNU/AFC Govt once re-elected – Jagdeo

...says Opposition will continue to pressure Govt to hold early elections Page 18

Wanted man dies after slamming into minibus Page 2

Guyanese Page 19 fisherman feared dead after thrown overboard

Govt nixes Nagamootoo’s decision to reinstate Sherod Duncan See story on page 7

CANU wants less jail time for drug P17 mules willing to testify

President P18 commissions BoI into firing of PSM staff

Duo acquitted of “Haribol” murder due to lack of evidence P8

P18 Millions estimated in losses as fire ravages Timehri business

2 news Wanted man dies after slamming into minibus saturDAY, JUNE 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

- pillion rider in critical condition

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n East Coast Demerara resident who was wanted by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) was on Friday afternoon killed after the motorcycle he was riding slammed into a minibus in the vicinity of the Botanical Gardens, Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.

The dead man has been identified as 26-yearold Mark Sauers formerly of Success, East Coast Demerara and of Paradise, ECD, while the pillion rider is 42-year-old Eon Howard. Howard is said to be in a serious condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Based on reports received, the route 40 minibus was turning onto Regent Street from Vlissengen Road when the dirt bike

Dead: Mark Marcus Sauers

slammed into it.

Upon collision, Sauers’ body was split in two and one of his arms was completely severed and left in the minibus.

At the time of the colli-

The motorbike that Sauers was riding

sion, there were reportedly four passengers along with the driver and conductor in the minibus. From reports received, none of them sustained any injuries.

Nevertheless, they were all left traumatised due to the gruesome images.

However, the driver of the bus, at the scene, told media operatives that the motorcycle was probably going at 100 miles per hour.

After he slammed into the side of the bus, he crashed through the window and came out of the back windscreen.

The driver of the bus, Mark Pancham, explained that he will have to carry the image for the rest of his life. He noted that since driving, he has never been in an accident. He further said that this was the first time he witnessed such a gruesome accident.

“It was a gruesome sight… imagine he went through the side window and come through the back windscreen... that tell you the speed he was travelling at”, an eyewitness told Guyana Times.

Moments after the accident,

The bus that Sauers crashed into

friends of the dead man took to social media extending condolences to his family.

Based on information gathered, the now dead man only collected the new bike on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Sauers was no

stranger to Police and drug enforcement bodies. In 2015, he was charged with the offence of conspiracy to traffic narcotics.

It is alleged that Sauers, between January 1 and 17, 2014, at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, con-

spired with Jermaine Lowe to traffic 15.308 kg cocaine. In 2018, he was listed as wanted by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit for allegedly recruiting 19-year-old Anisha Hardy as a cocaine mule.

She was intercepted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport with 119 cocaine pellets in her stomach. She was subsequently sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and a $1.4 million fine.

Since then, CANU had issued wanted bulletins for Sauers and his cousin.

Police Constable injured after colliding with horse

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police constable attached to the Presidential Guard Service is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a horse at Annandale Public Road, East Coast Demerara, on Wednesday evening.

The injured man is 21-year-old Mark Hayne of

Paradise Village, East Coast Demerara. Based on information received, the young police constable was riding his motorcycle along the Annandale Railway Embankment when a horse ran across the road and collided with him.

As a result of the collision, Hayne fell onto the roadway, causing him to receive injuries about his body.

He was subsequently picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted.

However, information reaching Guyana Times late Thursday evening revealed that the young man has regained consciousness. An investigation is underway.

news

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saturDAY, JUNE 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Saturday, June 15 – 03:30h and 14:30h-16:00h and Sunday, June 16 – 04:00h and 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, June 15 –15:05h-16:35h and Sunday, June 16 – 15:50h-17:20h.

DHB design corruption probe

SOCU clears Patterson in time for AFC conference …hours after new evidence submitted by Teixeira

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to light rain showers are expected to prevail into the afternoon with sunny intervals in the late afternoon and partly cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-easterly to East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 15:16h reaching a maximum height of 2.51 metres.

Low Tide: 08:49h and 21:02h reaching minimum heights of 0.60 metre and 0.71 metre respectively.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019

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

Gail Teixeira

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s the Alliance For Change (AFC) prepares for its two-day National Conference which commences today, Executive Member and Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson was cleared by the Guyana Police Force of any wrongdoing in regard to the award of a sole-sourced contract for a feasibility study into the construction of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge.

The contract in question was awarded to Dutch company LievenseCSO, and a probe conducted by the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) upon request from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had flagged Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson for requesting from Cabinet that the $148 million contract be sole-sourced instead of being processed through the Procurement Board, as the law says should be done.

As a result of that finding, the Opposition last August asked the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to investigate the PPC’s findings; and in a statement from the Force on Friday, SOCU said it had obtained legal advice on the matter: no corrupt act was found.

“There was no misuse of funds. There is no evidence that a criminal offence has been committed, and there is no evidence of any collusion between Arie Mol/Lievense CSO and the personnel from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure,” the Police said in the brief statement.

The request for the probe into the corrupt deal was made by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Gail Teixeira. At the time, however, Teixeira had expressed concerns after she was informed by SOCU that, in addition to then Police Commissioner David

Ramnarine and the Force’s legal advisor, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who is also the Chairman of the AFC, was also notified of her request for the probe.

“I noticed they have informed the Minister of Public Security of the investigation. I do not know what the reason is for this… I find it unusual that the request was also sent to the Minister of Public Security.

Usually, investigations of this nature are not forwarded to a Minister, it goes through an investigative process,” Teixeira, a former Home Affairs Minister, had stated during a press conference.

One political observer believes the Police Force acted under instructions from the Ministry of the Presidency to clear Patterson.

“There is compelling evidence to prove that the Harbour Bridge fiasco reeks

what the PPC had investigated and found to be the cost in its August 2018 report.

“New information has come to light that, I am of the firm opinion, requires further investigation by the PPC,” Teixeira noted in a letter, dated June

of corruption and wrongdoing, but the writing is on the wall for Patterson. He is the most unpopular (figure) in the AFC, and this new instruction to clear him of wrongdoing is to bolster his chances of getting a few votes at the AFC congress (this weekend).

“It is a crying shame that some in the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force have now become political puppets of the corrupt APNU/AFC cabal. The Police may follow political instructions, but the Guyanese voters will not be fooled. We will use our ballot to reject this evil, vindictive, corrupt cabal,” the commentator posited.

This move by the Police comes days after Teixeira had written the Procurement Commission, calling for another investigation into the Feasibility Study for the New Demerara River Crossing in light of new revelations that the cost has been racked up by $131 million more than

12, 2019, that was released to the media on Friday.

In addition to two varying time periods emanating from the Public Infrastructure Ministry for the duration of the feasibility contract, Teixeira, who is also the opposition party’s Chief Whip, pointed out that new information reveals that the cost of the study had in fact been racked up to a whopping $293.4 million.

“The cost of the Feasibility Study for the New Demerara River Crossing/Bridge was far in excess of the original figure given…US$709,091, or Gy$146.3 million, and far in excess of the figure approved

by Cabinet…of $161,514,420 to be used from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (Asphalt Plant Accounts) to cover costs of the Feasibility Study for a New Bridge Across the Demerara River. In fact, the feasibility study cost the taxpayers $293,439,182, or approximately US$1.4 million.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

This is $131,924,762 more than what the PPC had investigated and found,” she outlined.

According to Teixeira, further checks also found that there was no appropriation for the MPI in the 2016 Budget for a feasibility study for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge crossing, nor were any funds allocated to the DHBC for such purposes by way of a subvention or grant in that year.

She added that MPI’s 2017 Budget also lacks an allocation for this study, and $150 million is assigned to the DHBC for maintenance of the Bridge.

However, the Opposition Chief Whip noted that the Public Infrastructure Minister had stated, during the 2019 Budget debate, that another $100 million was being requested under his capital budget for consultancy services for the new Demerara River Bridge/Crossing, and he had refused to answer questions on this, which created more confusion and suspicion in regard to the issue.

Against this backdrop, the Opposition Chief Whip calls on the Public Procurement Commission to look into these new revelations.

“This information exposes a level of collusion, conspiracy and corruption that requires urgent investigation and intervention with a view to bringing criminal charges against the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. David Patterson, and other persons connected to the award of the contract for the Feasibility Study and payments to LievenseCSO… The public expects unflinching diligence by the PPC in order to protect the Guyanese people’s interests and uphold the constitutional and legal provisions with regards transparency and accountability of the country’s assets and resources,” Teixeira noted in the correspondence.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, JUNE 15, 2019

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

Reflecting on fathers

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he issue of fathers and their roles and responsibilities in the family and society as a whole will take centre stage tomorrow (Sunday), when Guyana joins other countries -- mainly those in the West -- in celebrating Father’s Day. Normally, once Father’s Day approaches, religious organisations and other social groups utilise the opportunity to re-emphasise the need for fathers to take up their responsibilities more seriously, so as to help create and build stronger family units. Some also use the occasion to highlight the sacrifices some fathers make in raising their children, especially in those homes where the father is the only parent present. There are many fathers out there who each make sacrifices daily to ensure that their respective family enjoys the best of what life has to offer, whether in material things, education, security, a stable home etc; and they should be recognised for this.

In Guyana, while there are no readily available statistics, it is believed that there is a huge percentage of children growing up in single parent-headed homes, in most cases without the much needed guidance and support of a father figure. No one can deny the importance of fathers in helping to nurture and care for children, especially in their early stages of development.

According to a new UNICEF analysis, more than half – or 55 per cent - of children aged between 3 and 4 years old in 74 countries – approximately 40 million – have fathers who do not play or engage in early learning activities with them. The UNICEF analysis, which uses Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) data on parenting behaviours, looked at whether children aged 3 and 4 engaged in any play and early learning activities with their fathers. The activities include having their father read to them; tell them stories, or sing with them; take them outside, play with them; and naming, counting or drawing with them. The MICS is the largest collection of comparable data on parental behaviours in the world.

According to UNICEF, advances in neuroscience have proven that when children spend their earliest years in a nurturing, stimulating environment, new neural connections can form at a once-in-a-lifetime speed of 1,000 per second.

These connections help determine the children’s health, ability to learn and deal with stress, and even influence their earning capacity as adults.

Research also suggests that exposure to violence and a lack of stimulation and care can prevent neural connections from occurring; and when children positively interact with their fathers, they have better psychological health, self-esteem and life-satisfaction in the long-term.

The Lancet’s Series, Advancing Early Childhood Development: from Science to Scale, launched in October 2016, revealed nearly 250 million children under 5 were at risk of poor development due to stunting and extreme poverty.

International organisations such as UNICEF have embarked on a campaign to encourage governments and the private sector to increase spending and influence policies to support early childhood development programmes that focus on providing parents with the resources and information they need to provide nurturing care to their children.

As stated by UNICEF: “We must break down the barriers that prevent fathers from providing their babies and young children (with) a conducive environment for them to thrive, including love, play, protection and nutritious food. We must ensure that all parents have the time, resources and knowledge they need to fully support their children’s early development.”

That said, it is generally accepted that when both parents are present in a home, and carry out their roles fully in nurturing and providing the necessary guidance and support for children, the children turn out to lead more responsible and progressive lives as adults.

Certainly, much more could be done to encourage more fathers to play an active role in their children’s development.

The relevant government agencies, religious and community organisations must continue to highlight the importance of love, play, protection and good nutrition for the healthy development of young children’s brains.

On this Father’s Day, it would be good if communities; meaning the religious organisations, community leaders, and NGOs, spend some time reflecting on and reviewing what our fathers are doing at present, and what more could be done to help them better fulfil their roles in their homes.

From left to right: Sharona Haniff, 2nd runner-up Miss India Guyana 2019; Sandeka Rampersaud, 1st Runner Up Miss India Guyana 2019; Rashena Hanif, Miss India Guyana 2019; Shree Saini – Miss India Worldwide 2018; Kristal Inshan, Mrs India Guyana 2019 and Yashmini Sarjoo, Miss Teen India Guyana 2019 during a visit to the Indian Indentureship Monument in Region Six

They fled Venezuela's crisis by boat – then vanished Pt 1

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taxi dropped Maroly Bastardo and her two small children by a cemetery not far from the shore in north-east Venezuela. She still had time to change her mind.

Eight months pregnant, Bastardo faced forbidding choices in a nation whose economy has collapsed. Give birth in Venezuela, where newborns are dying at alarming rates in shortage-plagued maternity wards. Or board a crowded smuggler’s boat bound for Trinidad, the larger of two islands that make up the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Her husband, Kennier Berra, had landed there in February, found work and beckoned her to join him.

Bastardo’s mother, Carolina, begged her to stay.

Neither Bastardo nor her children could swim. Barely three weeks earlier, 27 persons had gone missing after a migrant boat went down in the narrow stretch of water separating Venezuela from Trinidad. The 20-kilometre strait, known for its treacherous currents, is nicknamed the Dragon’s Mouths.

But the 19-year-old hairdresser was determined. On May 16, she and the kids packed into an aging fishing vessel along with 31 other people, including three relatives of her husband. They snapped cellphone photos from the shore near the port town of Guiria, where thousands of Venezuelans have departed in recent years, and messaged loved ones goodbye.

The craft, the Ana Maria, never arrived. No migrants or wreckage have been found.

A man believed to be the boat’s pilot, a 25-year-old Venezuelan named Alberto Abreu, was plucked from the sea on May 17 by a fisherman and taken to nearby Grenada. Abreu told his rescuer the Ana Maria had sunk the night before. He fled before Police could complete their investigation, Grenadian authorities said, and hasn’t been spotted since.

Bastardo’s anguished mother, Carolina, clings to hope that perhaps a lesser tragedy has befallen her daughter and grandchildren. She prays smugglers are holding them hostage to extract more money, and that any day now she will get the ransom call.

“My heart tells me they are alive,” Carolina said. “But it’s a torture.”

The disappearance of Bastardo, five relatives and her unborn child underscores the ever-more perilous lengths Venezuelans are taking to escape a na-

Maroly Bastardo and her two small children

tion in free fall.

Years of economic mismanagement by the socialist Government have crippled the oil-rich nation with hyperinflation, shortages and misery. An estimated four million people – about 12 per cent of the populace – have fled the South American country in just the last five years.

The vast majority have travelled overland to neighbouring Colombia and Brazil. But in images reminiscent of desperate Cubans fleeing their homeland in decades past, Venezuelans increasingly are taking to the sea in rickety boats.

Prime destinations are the nearby islands of Aruba, Curaçao, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast. Formerly welcoming of Venezuelans, who once brought tourist dollars, all have clamped down hard on these mostly impoverished migrants.

Their Governments have tightened visa requirements, increased deportations, and beefed up coast-guard patrols to intercept smugglers’ vessels. Trinidad and Tobago, with a population of more than 1.3 million people and among the highest incomes in the region, has been a particular magnet.

Since 2016, almost 25,000 Venezuelans have arrived in Trinidad, according to Government figures, many without documentation. The United Nations last year estimated 40,000 Venezuelans were living in Trinidad, straining the Government’s ability to assist them.

Traffickers have been known to abandon their human cargo in rough waters and force female and child passengers into prostitution. A shortage of spare parts in Venezuela means boats often take to sea in disrepair. Most migrants leave Guiria in open, low-slung wooden vessels with patched hulls and jury-rigged outboard motors. Smugglers often stuff these boats well beyond their 10-person capacity, locals familiar with the trade told Reuters.

But for Maroly Bastardo, the grinding hardships of life in Venezuela loomed as the greater danger. She was feeling exhausted and increasingly anxious about her health and that of the baby in the event of a difficult labour.

“Things are too rough here girl,” Bastardo texted an aunt in the days leading up to her departure from Venezuela.

“I can’t give myself the luxury of staying here all beat down.” Reuters reconstructed Bastardo’s ill-fated journey in interviews with her family members, friends and the relatives of others missing from the Ana Maria, along with authorities and people involved in the human smuggling trade.

A family’s descent Bastardo grew up in El Tigre, an interior boomtown in Venezuela’s famed Orinoco Oil Belt, the source of much of the nation’s oil wealth.

Carolina, Bastardo’s mother, worked in the kitchen of a fancy hotel that catered to visiting oil executives. Bastardo attended private school and talked of becoming a doctor. She and her little sister, Aranza, sang songs in the bedroom they shared.

The good times faded with mismanagement of State-run oil company PDVSA by late President Hugo Chávez and his successor Nicolás Maduro. With Government loyalists at the helm of the company, oil revenue funded social programmes while basic maintenance and investment tumbled. Skilled petroleum professionals fled for opportunities abroad. Despite possessing some of the world’s largest oil reserves, Venezuela has seen oil production slump by about 75 per cent since the turn of the century, when it was producing three million barrels a day.

The fallout hit El Tigre hard. The swanky hotel closed its doors and Carolina lost her job. Bastardo quit school at age 16 to earn a few dollars a week cutting hair. She and Berra, a construction worker, had two children, Dylan and Victoria.

With another baby on the way – a little boy they planned to name Isaac Jesus – Berra left in February for Trinidad. He found a job frying chicken and laid plans for his family to follow. Bastardo would require a Caesarean section, her third.

The prospect of giving birth in the local hospital terrified her, her mother said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, JUNE 16, 2019

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

APNU/AFC Government Another look at that statement flushing out all “PPP moles” is on a “life support machine” fighting for survival

Dear Editor, Guyanese don’t have to be statisticians to spot that the recent polls conducted by the Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES), was suspicious and fake. CADRES should publicly state who really financed that poll since it is the worst form of propaganda by the APNU/AFC coalition Government as desperation is stepping into the failed APNU/AFC camp.

Several questions are exposing the Government, because if President David Granger’s approval ratings are at 94 per cent, why is the Government so afraid to go to an election? How are President David Granger’s approval ratings so high but the APNU/AFC coalition Government was completely

swept away in the last LGE? If Granger’s ratings are 94 per cent then Irfan Ali’s ratings would definitely be 500 per cent since this Government is not only unpopular in the PPP/C support base but also in the APNU support base.

Imagine last week President David Granger refused to announce publicly that he was coming to visit the Albion Estate in East Berbice, he actually sneaked into Berbice, afraid that the thousands of dismissed sugar workers would picket him for not attending to their cries since these severed sugar workers were left to the mercy of the Almighty God. Why did President David Granger, after four years, decide to visit workers at Albion Estate? The

simple answer is that elections will be held shortly and he needs workers’ votes, sorry Granger.

The analogy about diabetes that was used by President Granger on the sugar industry should be used on the Government since corruption, incompetence, mismanagement, etc is prevalent in the Government and unless Granger amputates some of the limbs that he has, the diabetes of corruption, incompetence, mismanagement etc would cause the Government to rot to death.

The APNU/AFC coalition Government is presently on a “life support machine” fighting for survival.

Regards, Zamal Hussain

Dear Editor, I read with great disquiet, the asinine statement made by David Hinds about flushing out all PPP moles from the public service. He made those remarks after Minister Sarabo-Halley fired members of her workforce at the Public Service Ministry. According to her - and Hinds is in full agreement - once you are a whistleblower you should be given the boot even if you are right.

Their asinine assumption is that once you whistle blow on any wrongdoing done in the public domain using taxpayers’ money, you should be fired immediately, fired even without a hearing.

This is the servile mentality David Hinds is exhibiting in this 21st Century and wants everyone to buy into it.

Hinds’ servitude is not only apparent, but his statement is also empty and base because he is also assuming that once you oppose corruption, you are immediate-

Beware of scammers and impostors Dear Editor, This is meant to alert the general public.

Scammers and imposters are out plying their trade and the lower East Coast seems to be the targeted area. The popular “church feeding programme” scam is being used again.

The architects of this scam have placed their “programme” under the aegis of Redemption Tabernacle Church located in Victoria Village. Donation sheets are endorsed by Pastor Rodney and Pastor Smith.

There is even a cell number: 639-0372.

According to one of the young men, “this is for a good cause, the church is feeding children”. I trust

the pastor and members of that local church would use the media to let it be known that there is no such programme.

Churches that want to start feeding programmes, I advise that you approach the Food for The Poor Organisation.

That organisation can be a tremendous boost to such programmes.

Imposters purporting to be utility meter readers are also targeting homes.

During this month, two guys on a motorcycle called at my home and asked to read the water meter.

This was a few days after the regular known young women attached to GWI would have done

Safety was compromised Dear Editor, The allegation that at least one of the men recently electrocuted was not wearing protective safety gear (“Man electrocuted while installing cameras at stadium was not wearing safety gear, wife says” SN June 13, 2019), raises seriously the question of safety security for employees engaged by companies in the type of work these unfortunate persons were engaged in.

From reports, it seems the persons were contracted by the company, which might feel it did not have an obligation or responsibility to ensure these persons were properly outfitted to undertake all aspects of the job.

Reports that one of the deceased persons had wire wrapped around his neck is also of grave concern. The fact that a Government agency contracted the company gives rise as to whether due diligence of the company’s ability/suitability was done.

It seems prudent to query whether the company had workers’ compensation/insurance and if not, why not?

From reports, it does appear safety was not given the priority it ought to have been given and was compromised.

My condolences to the grieving families.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

that. I told them to hold a while and picked up my cell phone. They took off on that bike like seasoned racers at the South Dakota Circuit.

Utility companies, particularly GWI and GPL, train your meter readers to be well mannered, respectful and to display their identification cards at all times – not having it around their necks or pinned to the front with the main particulars turned inward and not displayed.

Also, meter readers who are new to an area should let it be known to residents as they move around.

Persons at home I implore you to be vigilant, be alert in light of the current trend.

Should these scammers and imposters present themselves at your homes and you realise it, then do not hesitate to summon the police.

Regards, Jerrold Long

ly classified as a PPP mole.

This is very serious business because I am tempted to ask the question of what makes Hinds believe that the information of the corrupt transactions by a Minister came from this Ministry, and who gave him the impression that these folks are PPP members?

For a man who claims to have the interest of The Race at heart, this is the foolishness he is pushing down our throats. Now I see why the PNC treated this man and his party the way they did because they knew what mettle these jellyfishes are made of.

So, if Hinds is a modern-day slave of intellect, I can tell him we are not, our thoughts are not conditioned by anyone, far less by another man.

These fired individuals are all upright good citizens of Guyana who were duty bound to do their civic duty in exposing corruption wherever and when-

ever it occurs. They are honest well-meaning citizens, irrespective of their race. According to these idiots, being Black means that you should uphold corruption just as Cathy Hughes asserted in that public press interview she had. She too is of that non-emancipated mentality like Hinds.

So, if it is not bad enough that these people can make these vile remarks, even more distressing is the fact that they are trying to “herd” us into that school of thought!

So, my message to Hinds and company, is that all Blacks are not like Pavlov’s Dog, we will not, and I repeat, we will not be conditioned into that retrograde thinking. And for Hinds’ information and most indelible records, we are emancipated Blacks of the highest order.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

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saturDAY, JUNE 15, 2019

Page Foundation Why children need their fathers to succeed

By Jessica Troilo, PhD

F

ather’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to pay homage to dad than by recognizing the impact fathers can have on their children’s academic outcomes?

Yes, all fathers – even those who are no longer in the home.

Even though fathers have slowly increased their involvement in child care over the years, perceptions of fathers as nurturers are less common. Fathers who don’t live in the same house as their children can have an even worse reputation, as identified in my research.

And yet, research shows that fathers are essential to their children’s future academic success.

More involved fathers tend to have children who are psychologically, cognitively, and physically healthier. In terms of academics, for example, fathers who take active roles in reading with and to their children, support their academic outcomes, and are involved with their schools more often have children who graduate high school, achieve good grades, and have financial stability as adults.

There can be differences in how parents’ behaviour relates to the academic outcomes of their children. For example, a study based on a high-risk sample assessed whether or not fathers’ “mean lengths of utterance” (the number of words spoken) while reading a picture-book to their preschool-aged children were associated to their academic outcomes. Children with fathers who spoke more words during their reading sessions grew up to have stronger vocabulary and Maths skills compared to peers whose fathers spoke less. In contrast, mothers’ mean length of utterance during the same task was only predictive of their children’s future mastery of Maths word problems.

Fathers’ academic involvement

Although the link between fathers’ academic involvement and children’s academic success has been well established, fathering takes place in diverse contexts. Neighbourhoods, race and ethnicity, and the marital status of fathers are some examples of these contexts.

As children grow and develop, parents will have less of an impact due to growing peer influences. While paternal involvement has generally been found to be most critical for children’s reading and Maths skills when they’re young, it continues to be important through young adulthood. For

But non-residential fathers with some school involvement have children who are less likely to repeat a grade and be suspended, and more likely to have higher grades.

Higher conflict between former spouses does not help, though: Fathers with conflictual former-spouse relationships often said they would not know about parent-teacher meetings, school activities, and extracurricular performances until they had passed.

As children got old enough, some fathers use email and texting to help. One father texted his daughter every day because “it’s just like you’re there.” This way, he learned the dates of important tests, and how she did on them, and at swim meets. Another father with younger children said his former spouse let him know about a play his son was in “30 minutes before it started. Thankfully I have a flexible job and could make it.”

Final thoughts

There is no doubt that fathers who support and are involved in their children’s academic lives benefit their children tremendously. Some suggest that these benefits extend beyond academics to other areas of their children’s lives because kids feel good when dads are invested. Fathers, as you celebrate your day, take a minute to reflect on your involvement in your children’s academics, consider any changes you want to make, and congratulate yourself on helping your children be successful. (psychologytoday.com)

example, living in high-risk neighbourhoods can often lead to poor academic outcomes in adolescents. In other words, high-crime, economically disadvantaged, and stressed communities often lead to adolescents dropping out of school, engaging in crime, and having lowered future financial health. Fathers can disrupt negative community impacts by engaging in learning activities with teens, asking questions about school, and helping with homework.

Father academic involvement tends to make more of a difference for the educational outcomes of children of colour.

Mexican-American students benefit from fathers with higher levels of education because they are more likely to help with homework and discuss the importance of education.

African-American fathers who have high academic expectations for their children often have children who are academically successful. This benefit can exist whether they share the same residence with their children or not. In a qualitative study by Geoffrey Greif and colleagues, one father said, “We always insisted on advanced placement and told the teachers to get back to us if there was a problem.”

Divorced fathers, especially those who don’t share a residence with their children more than 50 per cent of the time, can find it challenging to remain involved in their children’s academic development. Many schools assume mothers are the primary and sole parent to contact regarding schooling. In my qualitative research with divorced fathers, it was often noted that schools tend not to send information to both households or to inform non-residential fathers of their children’s academic standing. One father told me, “My son’s school never calls me,” and others often felt unaware of school events.

Father’s Day crafts: Sailing boat card

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end a handmade sailing boat card - ideal for Father’s Day, or those who simply love to be beside the seaside. Instead of sending this as a card, you could put it in a frame for a piece of coastal wall art.

You will need:

sliver of driftwood plain greetings card thin stick glue scissors fabric scraps Place the sliver of driftwood for the boat’s hull on to a plain greetings card. Now add the thin stick at right angles to the piece of driftwood for the mast. When you’re happy with their positions, glue into place Cut out a right-angled triangle of fabric for the boat’s sail, and a smaller triangular piece for the flag at the top of the mast. Stick the fabric sail shape into place alongside the mast, and the flag shape at the top of it. (prima.co.uk)

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Govt nixes Nagamootoo’s decision to reinstate Sherod Duncan the staff who had petitioned to President David Granger against his return at the newspaper company.

In the petition, Duncan was described as a bully. The petition stated: “Mr President, we respect Mr Duncan as a person but Mr Duncan attitude as a man-

ager is nothing more than that of a bully. He listens to no one and acts as though he is law unto himself.”

Duncan, who previously served as Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, worked as General Manager from June 1, 2018, to April 1, 2019. However, during that

period, he spent several months on administrative leave pending an investigation into reports of wanton spending under his watch.

He was fired with immediate effect in April 2019, following a decision by the Board of Directors, by majority vote.

Child who allegedly fell at school dies

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Sherod Duncan

rime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s authority to order the reinstatement of Sherod Duncan at the Guyana Chronicle was undermined by the APNU faction of the coalition Government.

Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon has made it clear that Duncan, who was found guilty of several financial breaches, remains fired – in accordance with a decision taken by the company’s Board of Directors.

“The Government’s position is that Mr Duncan is off the job,” Harmon boldly told reporters during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday.

This position significantly undermines the clear instruction issued by the Prime Minister to the Board’s Chairperson, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, for Duncan to be reinstated as General Manager.

Nagamootoo, in his May 31, 2019 letter, blasted the Board of Directors for dis-

missing Duncan, labelling the move as “arbitrary, capricious, and unlawful”.

The Prime Minister’s interference in the work of the State Board has resulted in the Chairperson and three Board Members resigning, leaving the Board with only three Directors currently.

Harmon has since explained that Duncan remains off the job until and unless a new Board decides to reinstate him.

“We, as I said earlier, respect the independence of these Boards, once these Boards are appointed. And my understanding is that the Board took a decision with respect to the termination of Mr Duncan and therefore it will require another Board to determine whether Mr Duncan will return to work or stay dismissed,” Harmon pointed out.

The decision by Nagamootoo – a member of the Alliance For Change (AFC) arm of the coalition Government – was support-

P

Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon

ed by party leader Raphael Trotman and Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan.

Trotman had previously expressed that the decision to fire Duncan was too “harsh” while Ramjattan said it was too “extreme”.

In fact, only recently the AFC Chairman said Duncan should have been reinstated a long time ago.

Meanwhile, Harmon said the issue will come up for further discussion at Cabinet’s next meeting.

An independent audit found that during Duncan’s probationary tenure as General Manager at the State newspaper company, there were several breaches of financial regulations.

In one instance, Duncan took an overseas trip costing over $700,000 even though there is no documented approval for such an event and to date, documents were not brought forward to support these expenditures.

Duncan’s management style has also been called into question, especially by

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he Regma Primary School student who was declared “brain dead” after she allegedly fell down a flight of stairs at her school succumbed while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Ten-year-old June Alexander of Yorabali Street, McKenzie, Linden, died on Friday.

The child had been battling for her life after relatives claimed she was pushed down the stairs by a teacher.

While this is the accusation made by a relative, other reports suggest that she slipped and fell while running and that she was skipping when she fell. She was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

However, due to the severity of the injuries she sustained as a result of the incident, she was transferred to the GPHC. Angela Hamilton, mother of the child, related that she was told by doctors that the injuries her daughter sustained are too severe to have been caused by a simple fall.

The woman reported that her daughter was constantly being bullied at school by teachers because she is “not bright”.

She recalled seeing her daughter around lunchtime on Monday and said that she was not in good spirits since she was instructed to remain in class by a teacher.

“I don’t know what really transpired but all I know they saying a teacher push her down the railing. Right now, my daughter in a coma and she is not even responding.

She just laying down there. This is like a disaster. I tripping out right now. I got to find money to go to town every day”, Hamilton, who is a security guard, told this publication.

The mother alleged that the teachers at the school are not forthcoming with any in-

June Alexander

formation as to what really transpired but have offered their apologies.

“They now saying sorry but my child still lie down there”, she cried. The mother, who has two other children attending the same school, is now reluctant to send them to school as they too can be bullied and pushed down a flight of stairs.

An aunt of the injured child has refuted the theory that her niece fell after running and tripping on her shoelace while noting that the child does not wear laced shoes to school.

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IN THE COURTS Duo acquitted of “Haribol” murder due to lack of evidence

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Acquitted: Sadif Persaud

Acquitted: Daniel Mc Clennon

he two men who were on trial for the murder of Caitanya Kishundyal, called “Haribol” during the commissioning of a murder were set free on Wednesday by a mixed jury.

Sadif Persaud also called “Guitar” of Port Mourant and Daniel “Dutty” Mc Clennon of Lot 163 Second Street, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, were found not guilty of the heinous crime.

It was alleged that Kishundyal was shot during the commissioning of a robbery at his Police Outpost Street home back in 2016.

Police had arrested Persaud in relation to an-

other matter in March 2017 and it was during an interrogation that he told investigators that he was a part of the foiled robbery and as such, provided the name of the alleged shooter.

However, Persaud and Mc Clennon were represented by Defence Attorney Sasha Roberts while the Prosecution’s case was presented by Mandel Moore.

Justice Jo Ann Barlow on Wednesday summed up the evidence in the case and noted that two officers gave conflicting accounts as to the alleged confession statement given by Persaud and that there was no evidence com-

Murdered: Caitanya Kishundyal also called “Haribol”

ing from Detective Sergeant Lawrence Thomas, who reportedly took the statement.

The trial Judge also noted that the deceased’s parents testified of hearing explosive sounds resulting in them exiting their bedroom and going outside where they saw Kishundyal seated in a chair with a wound to his abdomen.

However, in their evidence, no mention was made about the location of the deceased’s car or whether the gate was opened. In addition, the prosecution did not present footage from the CCTV camera which was fully operable on the night

of the incident, and which would have recorded the tragedy.

Further, no evidence was presented connecting the visits by senior lawmen to the crime scene on the night of the incident, nor any evidence of a damaged fence.

Government Pathologist Dr Neaul Singh in his evidence gave the cause of death as gunshot injuries and peritonitis. However, Justice Barlow pointed out that no ballistic expert testified about the six metal objects which were extracted from the stomach of the deceased.

After deliberating for just under two hours, the jury returned with a not guilty verdict setting the two men free.

Speaking with Guyana Times after their acquittal, the two men expressed their delight at being freed.

Persaud said, “I feel comfortable now that I get freedom”. Mc Clennon was a bit more longwinded saying that he is relieved of a crime he did not commit.

“It has been proved so I feel more relieved now.” He stated that one of his immediate plans is to get a job and also to be around so that he can assist his father.

Accused in “Breadman” murder to know fate on Monday

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s the final witness took the stand on Friday to offer evidence in the ongoing murder trial of Andre Alexander

called “Breadman”, the two accused namely: 22-yearold Shaquille Grant, called “Soldier Man” and Neville Ford are expected to know

their fates on Monday.

At the High Court on Friday, both defence and state counsels made their respective submissions to trial Judge Justice Navindra Singh, who afterwards adjourned the matter until June 17, 2019, for the case ruling where the 12-member jury is expected to deliver a verdict after considering evidence given during the trial.

The trial’s commencement on Wednesday saw the wife of the deceased, Beverley Alexander, testifying as a key witness since, at the time of the incident, she was with her now dead husband, thereby witnessing almost everything when he was shot and killed.

The final witness, Gladwin Greeves, in the continuation of his testimony under cross-examination

by Defence Attorney Nigel Hughes, denied that he had recognised the number one accused, while further denying that he signed any statements taken by police officers.

Greeves, who began testifying on Thursday, had also witnessed “Breadman” being shot by the pillion rider on a motorcycle, whom he previously told the court he had recognised, however, Greeves denied saying same in court on Friday.

The two accused are being represented by Attorney Nigel Hughes in association with Ashley Henry and Adrian Thompson while the State’s case is being led by Prosecutor Teriq Mohammed, in association with Sarah Martin and Tuanna Hardy.

According to media reports at the time, Alexander, of Lot 394 C Field, Sophia, and his wife were at their bread stand when two men on a CG motorcycle rode up and ordered three loaves of bread, paying with a $5000 note.

The now dead man was reportedly in the process of making change when the pillion rider whipped out a gun and demanded that the father of two hand over his cash.

Alexander reportedly put up a fight and in retaliation, the suspect discharged two rounds, one of which struck the vendor to the chest.

The bandits then relieved the injured man of an undisclosed sum of cash and loaves of bread before making good their escape.

Residents rushed to the scene and found the man lying in a pool of blood. He was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

Down and dirty…

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…in the AFC ell, today’s the day when the last rites will be read over the carcass that was once the AFC!!

Back in 2015, Ramjattan – the then AFC Leader - did predict that if the party hooked up with the PNC for the elections, it would become “dead meat”. Well, the AFC did in fact coalesce with the PNC, and did in fact become “dead meat” - which was only preserved by the embalming qualities of power and perks!!

The question, of course, is: If Ramjattan knew what the AFC’s fate would be, why’d he go along? Surely, he and Nagamootoo, who’d joined the AFC by then, didn’t think the Cummingsburg Accord would be followed by Granger and the PNC, did they?? Even the fellas in the rum shops they were wont to habituate could’ve told them that you can’t stop dogs from sucking eggs, much less the PNC from hogging power!!

But, sadly, it became clear that the leaders of the AFC were possessed of exactly the same weaknesses that they’d criticised in the PNC and PPP camps – consumed by the trappings of pelf and power! And even when the “power” was proven to be illusory -- PM Nagamootoo didn’t even get a proper substantive Ministry, much less increased power that would be shed by the president, and Granger and his army minions took over Public Security from Ramjattan – they remained faithful lapdogs of the PNC. Ahhh…pelf!!

So, here we are, at their National Convention, where Ramjattan and Nagamootoo are in a no-holds-barred dog fight to be the AFC nominee for the useless, windowdressing PM slot on the PNC/AFC coalition ticket!! Do they really believe the PNC will have either ONE OF THEM a heartbeat away from an extremely ailing President Granger? If they do, your Eyewitness has a bridge across the Essequibo to sell them!!

Nagamootoo has his faithful poodle, the DPI, who’s foaming at the mouth against Ramjattan for the latter’s attempts to fight their stacking of the deck against him!! The lackey claimed “hooligans and thugs” have threatened him and his wife after they manoeuvred to get their names on the delegates list, from on high!! And that, “criminals and misfits are infiltrating the AFC with a view to changing its character”!! As if, when Ramjattan brought in Nagamootoo, the AFC wasn’t irretrievably ruined!!

Obviously pointing to Ramjattan, Nagamootoo’s water boy squeaked, “It is indeed bewildering that someone who played a central role in birthing, nurturing and building a political movement could be so eager to destroy and endanger that very movement in the pursuit of naked ambition on the basis purely of entitlement.”

What did Freud say about “projection”??!! …over in GECOM If it’s one thing David Granger has learnt from his mentor Forbes Burnham, it is that if you want to ensure your survival in government notwithstanding the will of the electorate, you gotta have a “toothless poodle” as GECOM’s chair. Burnham had two – both former Chief Justices. Not being able to find the real deal, Granger settled for James Patterson, whose pen “slipped” to describe himself also as a former “Chief Justice”!!

But you gotta hand it to Patterson, he’s conducted himself as adept at following his master’s voice as well as, if not better than, Burnham’s real deals!! He’s already hemmed and hawed his way to ensuring that regardless of what the CCJ rules next Tuesday, there ain’t going to be no elections till late this year. Mission accomplished for the PNC!!

And now, seemingly oblivious to the irony, he’s declared his “no confidence” in the GECOM legal officer, Excellence Dazzell!! And why?? Because, in her legal opinion, the voters list could be sanitised without a HtH registration.

How dare she?!! …at MPI The scandals over at the Ministry of Public Information aren’t restricted to fiddling with bids and double dipping into foreign travel funds. They extend to operational issues also.

The overpass lifts still aren’t working after a year. And the ECD Highway expansion schedule keeps expanding!!

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

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hen the good Lord was creating fathers he started with a tall frame. And a female angel nearby said, “What kind of father is that? If you’re going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put fathers up so high? He won’t be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without a lot of stooping.” And God smiled and said, “Yes, but if I make him child-size, who would children have to look up to?”

And when God made a father’s hands, they were large and sinewy. And the angel shook her head sadly and said, “Do you know what you’re doing?

Large hands are clumsy.

They can’t manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails or even remove splinters caused by baseball bats.” And God smiled and said, “I know, but they’re large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets at the end of a day…yet small enough to cup a child’s face in his hands.”

And then God moulded long, slim legs and broad shoulders. And the angel nearly had a heart attack.

“Boy, this is the end of the week, all right,” she clucked. “Do you realise you just made a father

without a lap? How is he going to pull a child close to him without the kid falling between his legs?” And God smiled and said, “A mother needs a lap. A father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a boy on a bicycle, and hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus.”

God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen when the angel could contain herself no longer. “That’s not fair. Do you honestly think those large boats are going to dig out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries? Or walk through a small birthday party without crushing at least three of the guests?”

And God smiled and said, “They’ll work. You’ll see.

They’ll support a small child who wants to ride a horse to Banbury Cross, or scare off mice at the summer cabin, or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill.”

God worked throughout the night, giving the father few words, but a firm authoritative voice; eyes that saw everything, but remained calm and tolerant. Finally, almost as an afterthought, he added tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, “Now, are you satisfied that he can love as much as a mother?”

The angel shuteth up.

– Erma Bombeck (tonycooke.org)

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Now quit your belly-aching and let’s go to the mall.”

“Well, how ‘bout that? I’m lost!

Looks like we’ll have to stop and ask for directions.”

“You know Pumpkin, now that you’re 13, you’ll be ready for un-chaperoned car dates. Won’t that be fun?”

“I noticed that all your friends have a certain hostile attitude. I like that.”

7 6

“Here’s a credit card and the keys to my new car. Go crazy!!!”

“What do you mean you wanna play football? Figure skating is not good enough for you, son?”

5 4

“Your mother and I are going away for the weekend. You might want to consider throwing a party.”

“Well, I don’t know what’s wrong with your car. Probably one of those doo-hickey thingies – ya know – that makes it run or something. Just have it towed to a mechanic and pay whatever he asks.”

3

“No son of mine is going to live under this roof without an earring.

2

“Whaddya wanna go and get a job for? I make plenty of money for you to spend.”

And the number one thing you’ll never hear a dad say:

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to the

b for? I pend.” ll never

1

“What do I want for Father’s Day? Aahh – don’t worry about that.

It’s no big deal.” (actually they might say this, but they don’t mean it).(tonycooke.org)

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By Carmen Mariano, Braintree, Massachusetts

sat in my dad’s living room reading one night while he watched television. An hour passed before I realised it, and I felt bad for not speaking during that time. I asked if he was OK, and he said yes. Then I apologised for not talking more. “Carmen,” Dad replied. “Talking is like ketchup. If you like the meat enough, you don’t need the ketchup – and if you like the company enough, you don’t need the conversation.” My dad never earned a college degree, but he was the smartest person I ever knew.

(Reader’s Digest)

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CCJ ruling on no-confidence cases

Govt says it will “accept and act” on ruling A

head of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) highly anticipated ruling on the passage of the No-Confidence Motion, the coalition Government said it is prepared to accept whatever ruling the court hands down in the new week.

The Trinidad-based regional court is expected to deliver its decision on Tuesday and according to Government’s spokesperson, Joseph Harmon, his Administration is prepared to accept whatever the CCJ’s decision is.

“We will accept the finding of the court and we will act on that finding. So as a Government, I would say this is the legal process coming to a conclusion and, therefore, we feel bound by whatever the CCJ comes up with and we will act accordingly,” Harmon noted.

Next week, the CCJ will either uphold the March ruling of the Guyana Court of Appeal which found that the motion needed 34 votes for an absolute majority in order to be successfully passed in the National Assembly.

However, the PPP Opposition is asking the regional court to restore a January High Court ruling, which had upheld the December 21, 2018, passage of the motion, tabled by its leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, back in November.

While much is hinging on the court’s ruling to

bring a final determination to this matter, Harmon, the Director General at the Ministry of the Presidency, posited that the coalition Government has no fear or trepidation about the impending decision.

“We have no trepidation or fear about the decision itself. We are prepared for whatever the court will decide… We do not hold any fear about what the court is going to decide, we have no fear about that. We will honour and obey the decision of the court,” he contended.

Like the Government, the PPP has also committed to respecting the decision of the regional court while expressing confidence in its case. In fact, Jagdeo told reporters at his weekly press

conference on Thursday that they are operating on a “twin-track” in anticipation of the CCJ ruling either way.

“We believe we have a good case to win but you can’t predict the results before they actually come out.

So we’re operating on a twin-track – one is that if the No-Confidence Motion ruling goes in our favour and if doesn’t go in our favour, a longer-term strategy [is in place],” Jagdeo stated.

The latter, he noted, however, would not be that much “long” since in any case, General and Regional Elections are scheduled for 2020 – less than a year away.

“So if the No-Confidence Motion goes in our favour,

it’s a 100 metres dash, if not it’s 400 metres,” the Opposition Leader posited.

The three No-Confidence Motion cases before the

CCJ deal with Christopher Ram v the Attorney General of Guyana, the Leader of the Opposition and Joseph Harmon; Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo v the Attorney General of Guyana, Dr Barton Scotland and Joseph Harmon; and Charrandas Persaud v Compton Herbert Reid, Dr Barton Scotland, Bharrat Jagdeo and Joseph Harmon; the last of which deals with Persaud’s eligibility to vote in the House.

Last month, the CCJ panel of judges heard oral submissions from the various parties in the consolidated appeals in two marathon sessions on May 9 and 10.

Meanwhile, the Trinidadbased court is also expected to hand down a ruling on the unilateral appointment of the Guyana Elections

Commission (GECOM) Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson.

On May 8, the CCJ heard arguments in the case brought by the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha, challenging the current Chairman’s appointment.

Patterson was appointed to the position of Chairman of GECOM in 2017 after President Granger had rejected three lists comprising 18 names submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for the post of GECOM Chairman.

Last year, Chief Justice (acting) Roxanne George had ruled that the Constitution of Guyana, in fact, allows for the President to unilaterally appoint someone to fill the position of Chairman of GECOM.

ber of gold rings, chains and diamond jewellery to the tune of over $5.1 million, property of Deomattie Singh.

Defence Attorney, Paula DaSantos in her application for bail, told the court that her client is the only source of income for her four young children, while explaining that the stolen items were not found in Singh’s possession. She further noted that all employees of the virtual complainant have to go through a thorough security check before leaving the

premises.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh did not object to bail being granted but asked the Magistrate to attach conditions if bail is granted.

The defendant was placed on $250,000 bail and ordered to lodge her travel documents and to report to the Ruimveldt Police Station every Monday until the determination of the case.

Singh will make her next court appearance on July 26, 2019.

Domestic worker charged for $5.1M jewellery heist

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enior Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday granted a Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), resident bail after she pleaded not guilty to a theft charge when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Thirty-eight-year-old Suranie Singh of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, stood before Magistrate Daly and denied the charge which read that between May 1 and June 11, 2019, at Houston, East Bank Demerara, she stole a num-

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CANU wants less jail time for drug mules willing to testify

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he Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) has recommended there be less jail time for drug mules who are willing to testify and give evidence that could lead to the arrest of their suppliers.

This is according to Deputy Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Lesley Ramlall, who on Thursday told reporters that in light of the unwillingness of those arrested, some drug trafficking “recruiters” do not face the brunt of the law.

He stated that as such, it would be a wise move for legislation to be passed that would allow a lighter jail sentence for persons who are contracted as cocaine mules providing that they cooperate fully and testify in the courts against their recruiters.

“So, we are looking at the possibility…maybe having mules who are willing to testify and have a reduction

Deputy Director of CANU, Lesley Ramlall

in their sentence. Based on what I gathered, this was done before but the timeframe it took was really long, so by the time it was approved, the person would have already served their time in prison. So maybe something we need to explore so as to encourage mules to now start testifying against those who would

have recruited them.”

Just last month, 55-yearold Sandra Angela Proffit was sentenced to four years in jail with a fine of $9.1 million for drug trafficking charges.

In April last, she was busted at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD), with over seven pounds of cocaine duct taped to her upper thighs.

She had been sitting in the departure area waiting to board a LIAT flight destined for Barbados when she was intercepted by CANU ranks. Proffit was reported to have cooperated with CANU ranks during the investigation and identified the man who allegedly recruited her to traffic the cocaine.

Subsequently, a wanted bulletin was issued for Winston Carto called “Chief Mike” of Lot 193 Greenheart Street, South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown, in re-

lation to the same matter.

However, he was never convicted of that offence which involved Proffit in April last.

According to CANU’s Deputy Head, Profitt was not keen on testifying against her recruiter in court.

“After she would have identified who was her recruiter, and give us all information, she was reluctant to testify against him in court and so we could not have proceeded. That is one of the challenges we are having.

She was not the only person but several other mules that we have arrested within the last two years we have en-

countered that challenge as well where they are not prepared to testify against their recruiters.”

Meanwhile, CANU is actively pursuing the idea and implementation of a witness

protection programme, for individuals who would provide relevant information about drug related matters and be willing to go to the courts to testify.

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Remembrance of Enmore Martyrs

PPP/C to investigate corrupt practices of APNU/AFC Govt once re-elected – Jagdeo ...says Opposition will continue to pressure Govt to hold early elections

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very corrupt act committed by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration will be investigated once there is a change in Government following the upcoming elections and every Government official who is found guilty will be jailed.

Those were the sentiments of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who told those gathered at a commemoration ceremony for the Enmore Martyrs on Friday in Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD), that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) would not let the numerous instances of corruption go unnoticed once elected.

“They used to talk about putting PPP people in jail.

When the Government changes, it will investigate every single one of those acts and then you’ll see who goes to jail. Then you will see,” he promised.

Jagdeo further explained that the commemoration ceremony must be remembered for what it was created for, to remember the sacrifice that sugar workers made in the face of harsh and unbearable conditions in the sugar industry, for the rights of others.

“And why is it so fitting that we remember this occasion? It is because today the

industry that so many people sacrificed to build together, people of all races, but predominantly indo-Guyanese across Guyana, that that industry is facing its worst time and it is not facing its worst time ,because nothing better could have been done. It is facing its worst time in our post-colonial history largely because we have a vindictive government and they decided to bring sugar to its knees,” Jagdeo said.

He lamented that the PPP/C, on several occasions, pointed out to the APNU/AFC coalition Government what it could have done to address the sugar industry, because it was experiencing problems prior to the 2015 national elections.

The Opposition Party had urged that a feasibility study be conducted as well as a social impact assessment and a diversification study be pursued and only upon securing the results of those studies, should the Government take any action.

“But what happened: the Government decided to ignore that course of action and decided to close the estates because they believed that somehow it would assist them … they probably hoped that the sugar workers would become disillusioned, they would flee this country and that they would

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the large crowd at Enmore, ECD, during the commemoration ceremony in observance of Enmore Martyrs’ Day 2019

change the electoral demographics of this country. But what went down effectively is to put 11,000 people – 7000 directly and another 4000 who depend on sugar for a living – out of a job; that is over 50,000 Guyanese in a population of about 800,000 people without knowing where their next meal would come from, how they are going to earn enough to send their children to school; in fact, we have seen a massive increase in poverty in the sugar belt.”

He noted that concerns should not only be raised about the closing of the sugar industry, but also the “wanton corruption” involving the

assets of the failing industry.

“Stripping assets, moving the operable assets to inoperable lists and putting them as scrap and then selling them off to [People’s National Congress] PNC officials for a pittance. It is happening every single part of the industry and the people in National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and [Guyana Sugar Corporation] GuySuCo are all guilty.”

CCJ ruling on Tuesday

Meanwhile, according to the Opposition Leader, a large section of the country’s population is awaiting the deci-

sion to be handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in relation to the electoral process and timeframe for Guyana to hold its next national and regional elections.

He emphasised that there were several major issues that were affecting various industries and sections of the country and that the CCJ’s decision was the determining factors as to how these issues could be resolved.

“That decision will be a defining decision as to how quickly we will fix this problem. And what’s happening in sugar and all other areas … (they) can only be fixed by a change in Government … so the only way we can remedy the situation is changing the Government. Many people across Guyana want that,” he declared.

Jagdeo further stated that the PPP/C would continue to work hard to ensure that elections were held and there was a change in Government.

This is inevitable largely because of the PPP/C’s plans for the country’s future, its track record while it was in governance especially in the face of adversities and more, the Opposition Leader said.

“The decision on Tuesday, they (CCJ) will decide on the pace that change will take, and if the decision goes in our favour, trust me, all of us will

have to keep pressuring the Granger Government to hold early elections. We will have to go back on the streets, we will have to get the international community to put pressure on them, we will have to do every single thing to ensure that they hold early elections and that they don’t use GECOM as an excuse, because they are scared of elections. If that outcome comes our way on Tuesday – on Wednesday, get your boots … and get ready to walk the streets, we are going to put the pressure on them,” Jagdeo stated.

However, he added, if the decision made by the CCJ is not what his Party was expecting, this would not pose a problem either.

“Because as a seasoned political party, we have to be ready for anything, it just means that elections will be delayed a few months more, but we will still be campaigning, we will still be working, and one thing has to be inevitable. Every single Guyanese must play a role in getting rid of these people. So it is between a few months or one year, that is the choice on Tuesday we will face, one year or a few months, but one thing is clear, we have to get rid of them,” the Opposition Leader concluded.

Millions estimated in losses as fire President commissions BoI ravages Timehri business into firing of PSM staff

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A

A section of the house on fire

fire, suspected to be electrical in origin, completely razed a multimillion-dollar business and dwelling house at Timehri Base Road, East Bank Demerara, on Friday evening.

The fire reportedly started at about 19:00h and completely gutted the Vino and Sons Grocery and Car Wash, leaving the owners counting their loses which could run in the millions.

Information reaching Guyana Times stated that the fire started in one section of the house and within minutes, the entire house and business

were engulfed.

Eyewitnesses explained that by the time the fire was spotted in the middle bedroom of the flat L-shaped concrete house, persons rushed to put out the blaze but due to the PVC ceiling, the fire spread rapidly.

At the time of the fire, the businessman, Vinod Luminino, was in the interior while his sons were at home with his wife. After calls to the fire service at Timerhi, EBD, went unanswered, one of the sons drove and informed the firefighters about the fire.

The fire engine, neverthe-

less, took more than 20 minutes to arrive at the scene by which time the entire building was in flames. Persons lashed out at the GFS, noting that if they had arrived at the scene in a timely manner, at least sections of the house would have been saved.

The occupants of the house did not have an opportunity to salvage any household items.

However, the occupants could not say what started the fire since all of them were in another section of the house when it started. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire.

resident David Granger has commissioned a Board of Inquiry (BoI) into the firing of staff at the Public Service Ministry (PSM).

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams on Friday presented the Instrument of Appointment to Lance Carberry, who will be heading the BoI. Carberry has one week to present his findings to President Granger.

Minister HastingsWilliams said the President has directed that the BoI be commissioned to investigate the allegations of misconduct, corruption, and improper behaviour against named public servants within the Department of Public Service.

“This is against the backdrop of purported services of certain staff within that Department and recent events, which have been reported in the media. The BoI will advise the State on the veracity of allegations of corruption, misconduct, and improper behaviour against the named staff and will, additionally, make recommendations on any matter of concern arising from this investigation and make any recommendations as it deems fit and appropriate in the public’s interest,” the Minister stated.

Hastings-Williams added that the investigation would be done in a fair and professional manner and she was

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams on Friday presented the instrument of appointment to Lance Carberry

confident that an unbiased report would be presented to the Government. However, she said it was important that witnesses cooperate with the Chairman of the Board, and be open and honest in their interaction.

“I can assure the nation of the integrity of the Board.

They can expect a fair and unbiased report. This Inquiry, I am sure, will be conducted to the highest professional standards. It is vital for witnesses to give their testimonies. I urge all witnesses to cooperate. The Government will provide all resources necessary to support the work of the BoI,” she explained.

The workers were sent packing by newly-appointed Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley on May 31, 2019.

The Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, however, told Guyana Times during a telephone interview that the termination letters were rescinded and the workers were now on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Employees who have been removed were called PPP “moles” by political activist, Dr David Hinds, who is said to be a close relative of the subject Minister.

news

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Saturday, june 16, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GPL to buy power from Giftland – still in talks with Banks DIH

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s the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) continues to grapple with the challenges of providing reliable electricity, Government has cleared the way for the power company to buy power from Giftland.

Last week, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPL, Albert Gordon had disclosed at a press conference that they are in talks with both Giftland and Banks DIH Limited to buy power from them to boost the capacity of the interconnected system.

The two entities are powering their own operations using heavy fuel oil and have substantial capacity.

To this end, Cabinet was briefed on the matter and Director General at the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon disclosed on Friday that the agreement with at least one of the companies is ready.

“The power purchase

agreement with Giftland was finalised and is to be submitted to the Board of the Guyana Power and Light for approval on Monday, June 17,” Harmon told reporters at the post-Cabinet press conference.

Since 2016, Giftland Mall had offered to sell Government its excess electricity but this was rejected. However, at last week’s press conference, the GPL CEO had explained that buying power from an independent power producer (IPP) is a complicated issue which includes negotiating pricing and legal matters. To this end, he noted that GPL has enlisted the help of the Public Infrastructure Ministry to iron out these issues.

With regards to the deal with Bank DIH Limited, it was revealed on Friday that discussions are still ongoing with the local beverage giant but there is an issue regard-

ing the availability of the excess power.

Gordon had explained that “For Banks, I think they have installed approximately 10 megawatts. But they normally use most of their power during the day. Even in peak, they normally have an excess… But also, they run their generators during the period we want the power. So, the amount we’d get from them isn’t very significant. Nevertheless, we want to interconnect; the system

Scores of Berbicians benefit from Chinese medical outreach ― residents urged to eat healthily to prevent hypertension, diabetes

works better when we’re interconnected. There may be times we’ll sell to them and there’ll be times we will buy from them.”

GPL is looking to source some five megawatts of electricity during peaks hours from both Giftland Mall and Banks DIH. Harmon had explained at Friday’s post-Cabinet press briefing that sourcing power from independent power producers is among a series of steps being undertaken by GPL as corrective measures to bring relief to citizens.

In separate incidents, two submarine cables of the power company were recently damaged resulting in increased power outages and load shedding activities.

However, with the main

submarine cable replaced across the Demerara River to link the Vreed-en-hoop and Kingston substations, the Director General noted that power supply has been restored with less load shedding activities.

But Harmon noted that due to the reduced load on the Vreed-en-Hoop system, which is now isolated, it is less stable and there have been some unplanned outages in areas still supplied by this station such as the West Bank and the West Coast of Demerara.

“But that is not going to last for a long time,” he assured.

While GPL is looking to increase the capacity on the interconnected grid with the purchase of fuel oil power from private firms, the company is also catering to have natural gas integrated into its system to produce electricity.

In fact, Gordon had mentioned that they were seeking an agreement for the purchase of power from the Hope Wind Farm project, which is expected to come on stream by next year generating between 10 to 16 megawatts of power.

Months after taking office in 2015, Government had

Guyanese fisherman feared dead after thrown overboard

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S

Members of the Chinese medical team attending to residents

cores of residents of New Amsterdam and surrounding communities over the last weekend benefitted from a medical outreach hosted by the Chinese medical team and Falls. The activity was held in collaboration with the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association at Banks DIH tarmac, Main and New Streets, New Amsterdam.

At the outreach, Nephrologist Dr Shen Jiansong urged residents to consume healthy foods since it can prevent hypertension and diabetes.

Dr Jiansong added that there is a need for health education and more doctors to provide information on healthy living styles in Guyana.

“We try to see as many persons as possible since many of them need more medication and more treatment. Resources were limited but I think we tried our best to take care of the pa-

tients” Dr Jiansong noted.

Administrative Manager of China Zhonghao Inc, Sara Huang explained that the team comprised of 12 doctors. Among them were doctors specialised in Orthopaedics, gynaecology, plastic surgery and traditional Chinese medicine.

“It is our intention to be of service to the people of New Amsterdam. This is our first medical outreach programme that we have collaborated with our Chinese doctors. We even provide services to various communities. Actually, it is within a company’s social responsibility programme that we will continue doing the same throughout Guyana in the future,” Huang said.

Further, she added that similar outreaches were held at Kwakwani and at Land of Canaan on the East Bank of Demerara.

She noted that it is evident that most of the patients seen do not have convenient access to medical services.

Meanwhile, Senior Vice President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association, Ryan Alexander explain that the outreach is as a result of a visit by the Chinese Ambassador to Berbice in February.

“During his visit, they were concerned about medical facilities in Berbice and one of the sentiments expressed by a member of the Chamber is that we need to have resident doctors from China in Berbice. This will change the image of Berbice and also how they feel about Chinese and their involvement in medicine.”

Alexander, who is also the regional representative for the Chinese Association, said that the outreach would have been used to assess the medical needs in the ancient county. While they cannot provide a resident doctor as soon as they want to, they are looking to do so in 2020 if the relevant authorities give the green light.

announced that it would facilitate a US$50 million, 25-megawatt wind farm project at Hope Beach on the East Coast of Demerara.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) subsequently identified International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) proprietor Lloyd Singh, an investor in the wind farm, as responsible for the party’s acquisition of its multimillion-dollar headquarters in February of 2016.

While not as stable as hydropower, wind energy generated by turbines is a form of renewable energy. But the Hope Beach Wind Farm project, at 25 MW, is still no match for the proposed Amaila Falls Hydro Project initiated under the previous Administration and was continually blocked by the APNU/AFC coalition while controlling the National Assembly by a one-seat Opposition majority.

The AFHP would have assisted GPL in getting adequate electricity supply.

In fact, the Norway-funded project, when completed, would have provided 165 megawatts to the national grid, thus providing cheaper and more reliable power to citizens and businesses.

Guyanese fisherman is now feared dead after he reportedly was thrown off a fishing vessel in neighbouring Suriname on Thursday.

The man has been identified as 25-year-old Sean Orlando Sewchand, also called ‘Bakes,’ formerly of Nigg Settlement on the Corentyne Coast in East Berbice, who had been living in Suriname for the past four years.

Reports are that Sewchand was part of a crew of five plying their trade in the Marowinje River near the Dutch border when an argument erupted between him

Sean Orlando Sewchand also called “Bakes”

and a colleague. The argument quickly turned into a fight, during which he was

thrown overboard.

Realising that Sewchand could not swim, his colleagues had reportedly gone after him; but he disappeared in the murky waters, and despite spending hours searching for him, they came up empty-handed. The suspect was subsequently handed over to Surinamese lawmen.

However, a relative in Guyana recalled speaking to Sewchand on Tuesday.

During the conversation, she noted, he had appeared eager to go on his next fishing trip.

He has been described as having been a pleasant and loving person.

20 news

SATURday, june 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden-Lethem road condition

MoPI, GGMC team up to bring relief to commuters

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he Public Infrastructure Ministry stated that it is working to put measures in place to address the deplorable state of the Linden to Lethem road which has been creating major challenges for residents and road users.

In an invited comment to Guyana Times on the issue, the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Krest Cummings, said that the Ministry’s Chief Hinterland Officer met with Guyana Geology and Mines Commission officials earlier in the week to collaborate on bringing a resolution to the issue.

She said the Ministry acknowledged the hardships associated with the deplorable condition of the roads

and as a result is working assiduously in bringing relief to commuters in the shortest possible time.

Route 72 minibus operators have complained bitterly of the deteriorating condition of the trail which they are forced to use to transport passengers and goods as a means of earning their daily bread.

They described the trail as a “death trap” and bashed the Public Infrastructure Ministry for paying zero interest in conducting longterm repairs to that trail which is the only access to those areas.

The trail has been in a deteriorated state for years and worsens during the rainy seasons after which minor substandard repairs are done on certain patches

The condition of the road operators are forced to traverse in seeking their daily bread

and the problem continues to recur.

Guyana’s risk of measles outbreak increases …teams dispatched to address situation

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ulti-disciplinary teams have been dispatched to the country’s bordering communities to assist in thwarting the likelihood of a measles outbreak in Guyana.

Measles is an infectious viral disease, causing fever and rash, typically in children. The virus lives in the mucus of the nose and throat of an infected person.

When someone with measles coughs, sneezes or talks, infected droplets spray into the air, where other people can inhale them The influx of Venezuelans, coupled with free and open travel among Guyana, North and South America and the Caribbean further increases the country’s risk of importing measles, the Public Health Ministry said.

In light of the current situation, the Health Ministry is urging all Guyanese to comply with public health regulations and ensure that all family members receive two doses of the measles vaccine.

The teams, which were dispatched to border communities that are most at risk, comprise of officials from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC); Guyana Defence Force (GDF); the Ministry of Citizenship; the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH); the International Organisation on Migration (IOM); the Immigration Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF); and the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO).

Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Officer, Dr Oneka Scott said the team has drafted an emergency plan outlining different components of the blueprint including risk communication, immunisation coverage, cold

Several minibus operators who ply the Mahdia to Georgetown route were forced to park their buses due to the deplorable condition of the only access road.

The bus operators were forced to halt their services until the weather pattern and the state of the road improves. The road, according to the operators, is almost impassible as a result of the persistent heavy rainfalls.

Meanwhile, other op-

erators also expressed dissatisfaction with the Administration and called on the President to intervene. A bus operator on Wednesday took to social media calling on the President and Ministers responsible to intervene in order to bring a long-term solution to their plight.

The operator, whose minibus was stuck on the trail for several hours on Wednesday morning, posted a video of

the dilemma and blasted the Government for their clear lack of concern or interest in the citizens of this country.

The man, (name withheld) lambasted Government for heavy taxes they are enforcing on citizens and questioned what is being done with the taxpayers’ monies. “What y’all doing with the taxpayers’ money? It is not right; this is an injustice to humanity for the Ministers to be enjoying the benefits of taxpayers’ money while the taxpayers suffering tremendously. There is no consideration for the people,” he argued.

He urged the relevant authorities to seek new ways of tackling this issue and suggested that they offer contracts to small contractors giving them responsibility for sections of the road and holding them accountable for ensuring the job is done and maintained at a proper standard.

The operator called on the Public Infrastructure and Communities Ministers to look into the situation urgently while calling on President David Granger to use his office to address the wrongdoings in those Ministries.

Investments, educational qualifications chief among areas to be strengthened with Russia storage and International Health Regulations (IHR) to ensure Guyana remains “measles free”.

The Ministry and PAHO/ WHO have teamed up and over the last two years hiked vaccination coverage countrywide, targeting entire families and not limited to the country’s under-5 population in Regions One (Barima-Waini); Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

The spike in vaccination and surveillance activities targets the country’s border communities since these are at higher risks of importing the disease.

Some 98 countries reported an increase in cases of measles with 136,000 deaths according to WHO reports.

In the Region of the Americas, where Guyana is geographically located, measles outbreak started in Venezuela, west of Guyana’s border, in July 2015. The ongoing social and economic hardships in Caracas, pushed many nationals to seek refuge in neighbouring countries such as Guyana to restart their lives.

Between June 2017 and October 2018, some 7500 suspected cases of measles were reported in Venezuela. With thousands of Venezuelan refugees now flocking the Cooperative Republic, in 2017 the WHO

declared an Emergency Response for Guyana following the outbreak of measles in Venezuela and a subsequent spread of this re-emerging disease to Brazil, another South American state.

In March this year, Ukraine, the Philippines and Brazil were listed as the 3 leading global measles hotspots.

In Ukraine, 11 people have died and more than 30,500 have been infected with the infectious ailment.

In the Philippines, 315 people died, and there were 21,396 cases of measles reported during the first three months of 2019. In neighbouring Brazil, 12 people died and some 10,300 confirmed measles cases have been reported so far this year.

Governments around the world and international media earlier in the year warned of a potential worldwide measles outbreak, and a growing number of confirmed cases has been reported in Canada, England and the wider European continent.

In the USA, between January 1 and May 31, 2019, there were 981 confirmed cases of measles in 26 States.

In the Caribbean, the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, and St Lucia have all reported confirmed cases of imported measles.

A

s Russians in Guyana gathered at the Russian Embassy, Kitty, Georgetown, on Wednesday evening to celebrate Russia’s National Day, the Head of State, President David Granger, called for strengthened relations with the country in areas of investments and educational qualifications.

“Guyana looks forward to strengthening its relations with Russia and particularly to the successful conclusion to agreements relating to investments and a mutual recognition of educational qualification…we will continue to collaborate on a multilateral level with Russia in pursuing our common interests” the President assured the Russian diplomats.

According to Granger, over the past 50 years, Guyana and Russia have enjoyed and seeks to maintain their good relations of peace and security.

This, the President noted, is as a result of Russia’s continued support in areas such as debt relief, disaster relief etc.

“Guyana iterates its appreciation for Russia’s support in debt relief and disaster relief. Our relations have been advanced through the treaty and basic relations between the Government of Guyana and the Government of the Russian Federation and agreement pertaining to visa requirements, through

Some of the dignitaries at the reception, including former President Donald Ramotar

the agreement of combating illicit trade of narcotics and other substances and through work of the joint working group in the field of geology and subsoil management” Granger added.

Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Guyana, Alexander Kurmaz, who expressed similar sentiments, noted that Guyana shares common approaches with Russia to a number of global issues.

Coupled with this, the Ambassador noted that good relations are maintained through the non-interference of the affairs of the respective countries.

“Russia and Guyana have enjoyed friendly cordial relations since unofficially a century but through establishing diplomatic relations in the year 1970.

These relations are based on the principles of mutual respect and non-interference into each other’s affairs. We

share common approaches to a number of issues on the global agenda and are looking forward to expanding our cooperation, not only on a bilateral level but also within international mechanisms” Kurmaz stated.

On Russia Day, celebrated on June 12 annually, the country traditionally holds holiday concerts, mass openair celebrations and sports events.

The holiday was celebrated for the first time in 1995 after the First Congress of People’s Deputies of the Russian Soviet Federative Congress of People’s Deputies of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR, part of the Soviet Union) adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the RSFSR. Since 2001, Russia Day has been celebrated with fireworks in Moscow and in other cities around the country.

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURday, june 15, 2019

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21

Root’s masterclass leaves West Indies clueless

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athetic with with both Shannon the bat, listGabriel and Andre Russell spending time in the less on the dressing room healing field, one-dimensional with the bowlthemselves. However, the ing: is how Michael game had slipped away even Holding chose to debefore they could threaten scribe West Indies' the hosts, courtesy a quickfire 95-run opening stand performance at the between Root and Jonny Rose Bowl on Friday.

Bairstow.

It might sound harsh but it isn't too Even after Bairstow fell far from in the 15th over, playing an uppercut to third man, the truth.

West Indies could never pull That they h ad n ' t Joe Root plays a themselves back into managed to put trademark shot the contest. Chris up a good score during his century Woakes, promoted was bad enough, to No 3, made good use of the opportunibut the trail of the game fell further down ty and spent over an hour in as their six-man pace bat- the middle, batting 54 delivtery proved toothless in eries for 40 runs, and adding their bid to defend the be- a century stand with Root low-par total. for the second wicket. He Led by Joe Root's cen- fell just 14 runs short of the tury, England cruised to winning target, becoming Gabriel's second scalp but that was the last of West Indies' success on the evening.

With two batsm e n short and a reasonably low target Joe Root celebrates his second century of the to chase World Cup d o w n , the platform the target despite being was perfectly set for Root to two batsmen short: Eoin carve in his natural game. It Morgan and Jason Roy, both helped that despite the pace, of whom had injured them- West Indies couldn't pose selves in the first innings. many questions to the batsThere were injury concerns men. If anything, they only for their opposition as well, worsened matters for them-

selves by conceding 15 wides. In the penultimate over of the chase, Root brought up his second century of the world cup.

England won the contest comfortably - by 8 wickets - but the dominance was asserted right from the moment Jofra Archer they put West successfully Indies to bat. appeals Against Jofra Archer's pace and Woakes's swing, West Indies had a torrid first spell to d e a l with. By the 14th over when England were cruising towards the 100-run mark in their first wicket stand - West Indies were reeling at 55 for 3. Evin Lewis

Nicholas Pooran stoked his maiden h a l f - cleaned up, Chris Gayle century

caught and Shai Hope trapped leg-before.

Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran provided the only phase of the day where West Indies weren't being dominated.

The

3

West Indies Innings CH Gayle c Bairstow b Plunkett 36 E Lewis b Woakes 2 SD Hope † lbw b Wood 11 N Pooran c †Buttler b Archer 63 SO Hetmyer c & b Root 39 JO Holder (c) c & b Root 9 AD Russell c Woakes b Wood 21 CR Brathwaite c †Buttler b Archer 14 SS Cottrell lbw b Archer 0 O Thomas not out 0 ST Gabriel b Wood 0 Extras 17 (lb 5, w 12) TOTAL 212 all out (44.4 Overs, RR: 4.74) Fall of wickets: 1-4 (E Lewis, 2.6 ov), 2-54 (CH Gayle, 12.6 ov), 3-55 (SD Hope, 13.2 ov), 4-144 (SO Hetmyer, 29.5 ov), 5-156 (JO Holder, 31.6 ov), 6-188 (AD Russell, 36.2 ov), 7-202 (N Pooran, 39.4 ov), 8-202 (SS Cottrell, 39.5 ov), 9-211 (CR Brathwaite, 43.4 ov), 10-212 (ST Gabriel, 44.4 ov) left-handed duo curbed their natural style of play and rebuilt the innings with an 89run partnership. It was an ideal platform for the big-hitting lower middle order to cash in. But Root picked two return catches off his bowling and begin a slide. Archer took charge thereafter, dismissing Pooran, who had compiled a mature half-century, and troubling the lower order with his pace and bounce. Archer and Mark Wood returned with three wickets apiece as West Indies were eventually bundled out for 212. (Cricbuzz)

Bowling: CR Woakes (5-2-16-1) JC Archer (9-1-30-3) LE Plunkett (5-0-30-1) MA Wood (6.4-0-18-3) BA Stokes (4-0-25-0) AU Rashid (10-0-61-0) JE Root (5-0-27-2) England Innings (target: 213 runs from 50 overs) JM Bairstow c Brathwaite b Gabriel 45 JE Root not out 100 CR Woakes c sub (FA Allen) b Gabriel 40 BA Stokes not out 10 Extras 18 (lb 2, nb 1, w 15) TOTAL 213/2 (33.1 Overs, RR: 6.42) Fall of wickets: 1-95 (JM Bairstow, 14.4 ov), 2-199 (CR Woakes, 31.5 ov) Bowling: SS Cottrell (3-0-17-0) O Thomas (6-0-43-0) ST Gabriel (7-0-49-2) AD Russell (2-0-14-0) JO Holder (5.1-0-31-0) CR Brathwaite (5-0-35-0) CH Gayle (5-0-22-0)

Jonny Bairstow looks on the struggling Andre Russell

Lusignan Golf Club Pre-Father’s Day Windies Women v England Women…

Golf Classic on today A regrettable ODI series

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he Lusignan Golf Club is set to host its PreFather’s Day Golf Classic Tournament today, following hard on the heels of the MACORP Golf Extravaganza of June 9th.

In that successfully held MACORP event, prizes were awarded in the ladies’ flight to Shanella Webster-London and Joaan Deo respectively, while prizes for 1st to 3rd places were awarded in each of the men’s flights.

In the ‘A’ flight, 1st to 3rd place winners were Aleem Hussain, Avinash Persaud (reigning Guyana Open champion), and Patrick Prashad (former Club Captain) respectively. In ‘B’ flight, 1st to 3rd place winners were Satrohan ‘Robin’ Tiwari, Lakram ‘Panko’ Ramsundar, and Patanjilee ‘Per’ Persaud respectively. ‘C’ flight 1st to 3rd winners were respectively Imtiaz Subhan, Haresh Tewari, and Dr Philbert London.

Tournament champion was Imtiaz Subhan, for his overall Best Net score of 64. The Best Gross (74) and Longest Drive (310 yds) prizes were both won

by Avinash Persaud.

With such success over the

weekend, today’s event is reputed to be another buzz of excitement, as golfers will be competing for top honours in this Pre-Father’s Day Classic.

The Lusignan Golf Club has also shown its appreciation to President Aleem Hussain and his grounds crew.

For the first time in the club’s history of over 50 years, huge tournaments are being played in ground conditions that are very welcoming and encouraging, despite the rainy season.

Tee-off time is scheduled for 12:30pm, and the format is Medal Play in 3 flights, with prizes being awarded by the Survival Supermarket for 1st and 2nd best Net in each flight, along with Nearest to the Pin and Longest Drive.

The public is invited to spectate at this event free of cost, and to even begin to learn about the game of golf while there. For more information on the LGC; on how to become a member, how to learn the basics of golfing free of charge; how to contribute to the Club, or how to use the facilities, please visit the LGC’s Facebook page at lusignangolfclub; or call 220-5660 or 6687419.

he West Indies Women have regrettably been whitewashed at the hands of the England Women in the recent three-match OneDay International (ODI) Series in England.

The defeats were not ordinary events by any means. In the opening match, England Women set the tone for what was to follow by inflicting the largest defeat on the Caribbean team while stamping their authority on the game.

They handed the West Indies a 208-run defeat in that horrific encounter by bowling them out for a paltry 110 runs laboriously scored in 36 overs.

Only one West Indies batter surpassed 20: Chedean Nation, who scored 42 in that match.

The WI batting has since not been up to par, while their bowlers conceded over 300 runs in that first encounter, with Hayley Matthews alone proving effective with her four wickets.

In the second ODI, the West Indies Women suffered a 121-run defeat in a rain-hit affair. The Windies bowling attack was led by Afy Fletcher, who grabbed three wickets after England had posted 233-7 in 41 overs.

Lacking intent during their chase, the Windies Women scored only 87 runs in 28 overs, losing six wickets in the process. The batting continued downhill, with only Shemaine Campbelle scoring 29 runs.

And to add insult to an already grievous injury, the

Hayley Matthews in action during the ODI series against England

England Women were clinical in the final ODI, scoring 258-4 in 39 overs, and bowling out West Indies for 131 in 37.4 overs.

Although Kycia Knight scored 38 in that last match, at no point in the series did the West Indies Women look threatening to their hosts.

England opener Amy Jones scored the most runs in the series, accumulating 189 in three innings, while Heather Knight scored 148 runs. Tammy Beaumont scored 139 runs in the series, completing the batting charts.

In contrast, Matthews failed with the bat, scoring only 40 runs in the series.

Campbelle scored 32 runs, and Chedean Nation ended with only 66 runs.

It was a poor series for the Windies Ladies, but the Series’ leading wicket-taker was

Matthews, with seven scalps, while Afy Fletcher had six wickets. England’s Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone had five wickets each in the threematch series.

Speaking to Cricket West Indies (CWI) media after the final ODI, Matthews expressed disappointment at the team’s efforts. “Coming to England, we had high expectations, (but we) were not able to match them”, she disclosed.

She explained that the rain had played a role in their series defeat, and that the team will have to head into the nets and prepare for the T20s, adding that the team will have to take some positives from the matches played moving forward.

The One-Day Series is done and dusted, and the threematch T20 International Series will commence from Tuesday, June 18, 2019. (Brandon Corlette)

22

SATURday, june 15, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Why were Pestano and Bramble not included in Windies A squads?

...asks Brandon Corlette

Anthony Bramble

The West Indies “A” teams selected to play their India “A” counterparts next month include only four Guyana Jaguars players. This continues to leave missing pieces of the puzzle; since, although Guyana Jaguars are fivetime Regional 4-Day champions, only few players from this franchise are given opportunity for “higher representation”.

Among the notable omissions from these WI “A” teams are Clinton Pestano and Anthony Bramble, the duo who had been inspirational in the recent Regional tournaments, whose inclusion in the “A” team tour would have been the perfect opening for a rise in their cricketing careers.

Bramble’s omission from both the One-Day and 4-Day

teams is surprising, since he has ‘finished’ as the leading wicketkeeper/batsman for the past two seasons. The 28-year -old finished the 2018/19 season with 580 runs scored in 10 matches at a formidable average of 52.72, including two masterful centuries. His performance was not a one-time thing, because it was a follow-up from the 2017/18 season, wherein he dominated with the bat.

The hard-hitting Bramble, who strikes the ball with authority, had 613 runs in that season, and was simply the Caribbean’s best gloves man for successive years, ending with 49 dismissals in both seasons.

In the One-Day squad for the “A” tour, Bramble was pipped by Shane Dowrich and Devon Thomas as gloves men.

In the longer formats of the tour, Jahmar Hamilton and Shane Dowrich are the wicket-keepers. Dowrich has been the Test wicket-keeper and Hamilton has been on stand-by in the Test squads, while Thomas has been scoring for Leeward Islands. However, none of these wicket-keeper batsmen has ever outshone Bramble, who richly deserves an opportunity at this West Indies “A” level, especially in the One-Day squad.

Since making his debut in 2017/18, Pestano has immediately impacted the champion team, Guyana Jaguars; but he has been pipped for selection by Chemar Holder, a Barbadian fast bowler and former West Indies Under-19 paceman.

Pestano and Holder have each played a similar amount of First-Class matches; but the 26-year-old Pestano had an impressive 2108/19 season, grabbing 22 wickets in seven matches, while Chemar Holder played only four matches in the recently concluded season, wherein he had seven wickets.

Pestano also has a First-Class half-century, and is a more capable batsman.

In the One-Day squad, Akeem Jordan, who performed well for his Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) team, has been selected ahead of Pestano.

Since Guyana Jaguars are the dominant team consisting of championship players, the question to be asked is: Why were Bramble and Pestano not included?

Additionally, the likes of Gudakesh Motie and Veerasammy Permaul have been spinning webs in Regional tournaments, but have not been selected in

Clinton Pestano

any of these “A” squads that will play next month.

Topping off the surprise selections made for the West Indies “A” is Roston Chase being given an opportunity to captain while the Region’s best captain, Leon Johnson, who led Jaguars to all those title victories, has not been considered.

The selection continues to hurt these players from the winning Guyana Jaguars franchise, since the players are dominating their Regional counterparts.

National Senior Championships set for June 29-30 ― over 150 athletes registered

By T imothy Jaikarran

F

ireworks are expected when the country’s top athletes clash in the Athletics Association of Guyanasponsored National Senior Championships, to be held on the weekend of June 29-30 at the Leonora Track and Field Centre on the West Coast of Demerara. The action starts at 10:00hrs each day.

At a simple ceremony held at the offices of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), incumbent president of that body, Aubrey Hutson, declared: “The National Senior Championships are one of the mostlooked-forward-to events in Guyana. There are many athletes, overseas and local, (who) are trying to gain the time and attention of the AAG to (be facilitated to) go to the World Championships this year.

“But on the local scene, I look forward to great competition, especially the rivalry that has been going on for the last couple of years. We know (that) Akeem Stewart and Davin Fraser will have their battle when they meet, as Fraser had defeated him. But, this time around, we have a great push taking place by Akeem, because he would have run one of the fastest times as a Guyanese athlete in the 100m, which is 10.29secs”, he said.

“So we look forward to the competition, among others, but again we leave it to the athletes, as we have in excess of 150 registered for this event; and that number is still growing, as we have received information from athletes in the diaspora who want to go to the Olympics in 2020. So, hence they are indicating to us that they want to be a registered Guyanese athlete.”

Hutson also relayed that while the event is not far off, the condition of the track is definitely a concern for the AAG, whom he noted has been working tirelessly with the management of the Track and Field Centre to see if any repairs or remedial work can be done to have the facility ready for the upcoming meet in a timely manner.

Hutson has said he expects to see the highest level of performances from athletes competing at the meet.

He explained that the AAG must put measures in place

President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson (centre); First Vice President, Amanda Hermanstine (left) and General Secretary, Mayfield Taylor-Trim

to have athletes compete at the senior level because, nine out of ten times, juniors register very strong performances in their respective categories of sport, but their performances deteriorate when they start competing at the senior level, and they eventually cease to compete.

“If athletes such as Alicia Fortune, Rupert Perry etc. continue to stay in their category, it would become a challenge to the Junior athletes; as they (juniors) would want to rise to the occasion and show that they are the dominant forces in track and field in Guyana,” Hutson reasoned.

He said that athletes such as O’Neil Marks, Rupert

Perry, Davin Fraser and Akeem Stewart epitomise the senior category athletes, as they have shown that drive and passion which causes them to continue shining in their respective events, and this encourages the juniors to compete against them.

The AAG will simultaneously be holding a fundraising barbecue along with the meet. Any patron purchasing a barbecue ticket for $1200 will be afforded entry to the event, while regular tickets to the event would cost $300.

The AAG anticipates that a large turnout of spectators would be on hand to witness the event.

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURday, june 15, 2019

23

4 Guyanese among 15 named for High Performance Training Camp

F

ifteen players have been chosen to attend a camp at the West Indies High Performance Centre (WIHPC) at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda.

The camp, which commences on Monday, June 17, and will run until the end of this

programmes over the last five years.

“Seven of the fast bowlers that attended last year’s Fast Bowling Programme will be involved, all of whom have made significant strides forward since their attendance; with Shermon Lewis, the stand-out, having made his Test debut against India last October.

“Four of the players selected also participated in the recent Emerging Players Camp, which focused primarily on their ‘white ball’ skills’ development; but this camp will focus on ‘red ball’ skills, with every player involved having produced performances of great quality in the West Indies Championship,” West detailed.

He said that, following the outstanding series’ win by the senior West Indies team against England earlier in the year, this is an

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

month, aims to enhance the cricketing skills of these players in the ‘red ball’ format of the game.

Nine of these chosen players are set to feature in the West Indies “A” team in their upcoming Home Series against India “A”, which starts next month.

Test fast bowler Shermon Lewis and recovering international all-rounder Rovman Powell head the list of players attending this camp.

Four Guyanese players are included: specialist batsmen Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Chandrapaul Hemraj, all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford and pacer Romario Shepherd.

Sherfane Rutherford

opportunity to increase the depth of talent that would look to sustain the recent successes in the long term.

“Preparation and development of the players does not stop at just their playing skills,” West said. “There is a comprehensive programme designed to deliver across a range of areas, including personal development; involvement in community projects; media training; nutritional guidance; and further training in physical and mental components.

“It would be great to have five players with full international caps to their names attend-

Chandrapaul Hemraj

The other players are the rookie Jamaica Scorpions’ pair of off-spinner Akim Frazer and batsman Brandon King; the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force pair of left-arm spinner Khary Pierre and the left-handed opener Jeremy Solozano; and Barbados Pride’s fast bowler Chemar Holder, a member of the West Indies Under-19 World Cup-winning squad of 2016.

This ‘red ball’ camp follows a similar training camp that was held for emerging ‘white ball’ players, which ended on June 12 at the same venue. Four of the players from that camp will also participate in this camp.

WIHPC Programme Manager Graeme West has said the HP training camp was all part of CWI’s ongoing investment in players’ development, to fortify the pool of talent available; which is a key aspect of the CWI strategic plan. It also follows new policies outlined by new president Ricky Skerritt and vice president Kishore Shallow.

“This camp is another opportunity for the CWI selectors to recognise and reward players that have impressed in Regional cricket,” West has said. “Many of the players selected have come through the CWI talent pathway, and have benefited from our investment in Youth, Under-19, High Performance and ‘A’ Team

Romario Shepherd

ing (the camp), enabling them to pass on some of their experiences to the younger players in

the squad, who have only just been introduced to the first-class arena in the Caribbean,” West concluded. (CWI) SQUAD Keacy Carty*, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Dominic Drakes*, Akim Frazer^ Keon Harding*, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Kavem Hodge, Chemar Holder*^, Brandon King^, Shermon Lewis^, Marquino Mindley,

Khary Pierre^, Rovman Powell^, Sherfane Rutherford^, Romario Shepherd^ and Jeremy Solozano^. *Players who participated in recently-concluded Emerging Players ‘white ball’ camp. ^Players selected for West Indies “A” squads against India “A” (commencing July 11th)

SATURday, june 15, 2019

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

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4 Guyanese among 15 named for High Performance Training Camp

Why were Pestano and Bramble not included in Windies A squads?

...asks Brandon Corlette

ICC WORLD CUP 2019 Page 21

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