Guyana Times Saturday August 17, 2019

Virgin Atlantic P exploring Guyana route 2

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

Issue No. 4018

THE BEACON OF TRUTH saturday, august 17, 2019

Guyana, UK Govts deny reports of Russian claim of military base construction See story on page 3

WPA part and parcel of Govt’s constitutional disobedience – Nandlall

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WHAT'S INSIDE: CSEC 2019

P11

No increased scholarships for tertiary studies

Rape accused jailed for P8 assaulting bus conductor

Page 9

…as Party proposes possible Dec 2019 elections

4 robbery P12 suspects nabbed during Corentyne raids

6 arrested for NA housewife's P12 robbery Paratroopers descend during 'Exercise Greenheart' on Friday morning at Colonel John Clarke Military School, Tacama, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice (Ministry of

the Presidency photos)

Region 2 Govt dental clinics out of needles See story on page 10

…residents complain of being turned away

GCAA to get $1.2B head office at Providence Page 7

GRDB to P14 conduct aerial spraying for paddy bugs

2 News

saturday, august 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Virgin Atlantic exploring Guyana route

…as KLM introduces new Europe route with Trans Guyana

A

s the local aviation sector continues to expand with

the influx of traffic heading Guyana’s way as a result of the budding petroleum sec-

tor, United Kingdom-based Virgin Atlantic Airways is the newest airline to express interest in expanding its service to Georgetown.

This was revealed by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, who recently engaged top officials from Virgin Atlantic.

“They were on a Skype call to myself and Minister of Finance (Winston Jordan) on them coming here… This was the Director of the airline [with oversight for] routes. He’s going into a meeting and he would like to know what is Guyana’s position, saying he would like to put Guyana on their route for 2020,” the Minister said on Friday at the sod-turning ceremony for the construction of a new Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) headquarter at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

According to the Public Infrastructure Minister, there are two other major international airlines looking to expand their routes to Guyana.

However, on Friday, domestic carrier Trans Guyana Airways announced that it teamed up with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – the flagship carrier of the Netherlands – to introduce a new route to Europe through Amsterdam.

The new arrange-

ment will connect passengers to the Amsterdam International Airport Schiphol from Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, through Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport in Suriname.

With an estimated travelling time of just 12 hours, and no United States or Suriname visas required, travellers can save time when travelling to the Netherlands with further connections to other parts of Europe and Asia.

Online booking will be available from August 20, while flights will commence on September 1, 2019.

Trans Guyana Airways will operate two flights weekly (Sunday and Monday) departing Ogle at 14:00h to the Paramaribo Airport.

The KLM flight will then depart Suriname at 17:30h

for Amsterdam.

KLM is just one of several new airlines wanting to expand their route service to Guyana.

Already, American carrier JetBlue had announced its intention to operate here, but Director General of the GCAA Egbert Field said that nothing official is before him from that airline.

With regards to Guyana Airways, he is also awaiting a formal application from the operator.

“They have been pushing back the date for the submission of that formal application so we are awaiting that. We had the pre-application meeting which is part of phase one of the five phases when it comes to certification… and the pre-application is just to say what they intend to do and we advise them on

what the requirements are and then we await the formal application after they digest that… [JetBlue is] supposed to submit their formal application to us and it has been some time now we’ve been waiting for that,” the GCAA Head posited.

Meanwhile, another US carrier, American Airlines, which is already operating from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), is schedule to expand its services here in December, with daily flights to New York City.

Only in February, Guyana signed Air Service Agreements with 16 countries at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation (ICAN) event.

The agreements are provisionally applied, meaning airlines from any of those countries can commence flights to Guyana at any time provided that the airlines are operating by the conditions outlined in the ASAs. Agreements were signed with Luxembourg, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, United Kingdom, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Oman, Malaysia, Jordan, Zimbabwe, Colombia, Morocco, Gambia, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

news

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saturday, august 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Saturday, August 17 – 05:30h – 07:00h and Sunday, August 18 – 05:30h – 07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Guyana, UK Govt deny Russian claim of military base construction

Saturday, August 17 – 05:15h – 06:45h and Sunday, August 18 – 05:50h – 07:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine is expected throughout the day.

There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 05:29h and 17:49h reaching maximum heights of 2.62 metres and 2.56 metres.

Low Tide: 11:25h and 23:38h reaching minimum heights of 0.60 metre and 0.63 metre.

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Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge

UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace

he Government of Guyana is calling on Russia to retract statements that suggested that a military base was constructed on the border with Venezuela to train refugees from that country to return home and destabilise the Spanish-speaking nation.

These claims were made on Thursday by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the sidelines of the International Youth Forum Eurasia Global in the Russian city of Orenburg.

However, Guyana’s Government on Friday denounced the claims as false.

“The Government of Guyana calls on the Government of the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw this baseless statement which is utterly false,” a missive from the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Georgetown said.

According to the Ministry, this incident is especially unfortunate, given that relations between Guyana and Russia have always been based on mutual respect, trust, and friendship. In fact, it went on to reaffirm the Guyana Government’s unequivocal commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

“Guyana has always been resolute in its advocacy for several principles of international law including, in particular, the sovereign equality of States.

Guyana, therefore, categorically rejects any suggestion that it would allow its sover-

eign territory to be used in a manner inconsistent with its neighbourly and peaceful relations with Venezuela,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

This allegation comes on the heels of the longstanding Guyana-Venezuela border controversy case being sent to the International Court of Justice as a means for peaceful settlement.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry said Guyana is fully committed to this decision taken by the United Nations back in January 2018. The border controversy arose from Venezuela’s contention that the 1899 Arbitral Award establishing the boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela is “null and void”.

The Russian Spokeswoman said that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was “completing the construction of a military base on one of the islands at the mouth of the Essekibo (sic) River under a plausible pretext – supposedly to stop the smuggling of weapons and drugs”.

T

Zakharova went on to say, “there have already arrived several dozen so-called ‘refugees’ from Venezuela to undergo training as part of reconnaissance and sabotage groups, and then to be dispatched to Venezuelan territory in order to destabilise the situation and carry out appropriate actions – from extremist to terrorist”.

However, Britain’s Defence Ministry on Friday denied the allegations that it was involved in a plot to overthrow the Venezuelan Government using a military base in Guyana to train armed militias.

The United Kingdombased Morning Star reported a Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman as saying, “The claims by the Russian Foreign Ministry are clear disinformation. The UK does not possess, is not building, nor operates from any base in Guyana”.

In recent years, Venezuela has been experiencing worsened economic and political turmoil. In fact, the deteriorated political situation has given birth to a parallel government, putting the nation into unchartered territory – with two presidents. However, many countries around the world

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

now recognise Opposition Leader Juan Guiadó as the interim President following a 2018 elections, which re-elected President Nicolás Maduro. However, a majority of the international community has deemed those elections as fraudulent.

The current crisis engulfing Venezuela is now in its fifth consecutive year and according to a new United Nations report earlier this year, almost a quarter of the once-wealthy South American nation’s population in dire need of help with a whopping 94 per cent Venezuelan living in poverty.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, august 17, 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

The tobacco epidemic

T

he seventh World Health Organisation (WHO) report on the global tobacco epidemic, published a few days ago, once again brought into focus efforts being made by governments and other health partners to implement the most effective measures from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) aimed at reducing the demand for tobacco among citizens. The report also serves as a reminder that countries, including Guyana, would have to step up their efforts to bring the tobacco epidemic under control.

It was pointed out by WHO that many governments are making progress in the fight against tobacco, with 5 billion people today living in countries that have introduced smoking bans, graphic warnings on packaging and other effective tobacco control measures – four times more people than a decade ago. But this new report showed many countries are still not adequately implementing policies, including helping people quit tobacco, which can result in saving many lives.

The focus of this most recent report is on the progress countries have made to help tobacco users quit. WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was quoted as saying: “Quitting tobacco is one of the best things any person can do for their own health…the MPOWER package gives governments the practical tools to help people kick the habit, adding years to their life and life to their years”.

The report stated that progress is being made, with 2.4 billion people living in countries now providing comprehensive cessation services (2 billion more than in 2007). But only 23 countries are providing cessation services at the best-practice level, making it the most under-implemented MPOWER measure in terms of number of countries offering full coverage.

The report showed that while only 23 countries have implemented cessation support policies at the highest level, 116 more provide fully or partially cost-covered services in some or most health facilities, and another 32 offer services but do not cost-cover them, demonstrating a high level of public demand for support to quit.

According to the WHO, tobacco is responsible for around 7 million deaths per year worldwide. This includes 900,000 persons who die from diseases related to exposure to tobacco smoke. WHO has also explained that over 40% of all tobaccorelated deaths are from lung diseases like cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and tuberculosis.

The Health Ministry in Guyana did quite a lot of work leading up to the approval of this country’s tobacco control law in 2017. This legislation followed several articles of the WHO Convention and mandated the adoption and implementation of a series of tobacco control policies that make it one of the most complete tobacco control laws. These include: 100% smoke free environments in all indoor public spaces, indoor work spaces, public transportation and specified outdoor spaces to protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke; a ban on all forms of advertising and promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products; health warnings featured on 60% of tobacco product packaging, including images. It also includes a ban on the sale of tobacco products to and by minors, prohibition on vending machines sales; and a ban on the manufacture and sale of toys and candies, and any other goods in the form of tobacco products.

The tobacco law positions Guyana as one of the most advanced Caribbean countries with regards to the implementation of the WHO FCTC. However, there is still much work to be done to win the battle against tobacco, as 78% of all deaths here are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs)— some of which we all know are strongly related to tobacco use. Over 15% of the adult population currently smoke and more worryingly, the results of a Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted in 2015 revealed that 14.8% of adolescents aged between 13 and 15 years also use tobacco.

Having the necessary legislation in place is a good starting point, but there are many other challenges which health authorities here must address if Guyana is to really reduce the number of persons dying or becoming ill as a result of tobacco use or exposure. These challenges relate to monitoring and compliance, and enforcement of the legislation to ensure that the population is protected from the dangers of tobacco use.

The WHO report alluded to earlier provides data which could be very useful to health authorities here in getting persons to quit tobacco etc.

A soldier carries an infant as they evacuate flood-affected people to a safer place in Sangli district in the western state of Maharashtra, India. Floods brought by heavy rains and overflowing rivers across large swathes of western and southern India forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands from their homes (Reuters/Stringer)

Venezuela’s Congress considers new, scaled-back oil reform

V

enezuela’s Oppositioncontrolled Congress is considering reforms to the country’s oil law that would open up the sector to private investment, but are scaled back from the sweeping changes outlined in a past proposal, according to a draft of the bill seen by Reuters.

The proposal would allow private companies to hold majority stakes in upstream joint ventures with State oil company Petróleos de Venezuela, SA (PDVSA), with the ability to directly export crude. The changes address issues that have limited companies’ profitability since late President Hugo Chavez created the joint venture model in 2007.

Even if the proposal were approved by congress, it would have little immediate impact, given that President Nicolas Maduro considers its rulings null and void and has created a parallel legislative body friendly to the Government. He retains control of State functions, including PDVSA. But it nonetheless provides a glimpse as to what policies Opposition Leader Juan Guaido would pursue to lure back foreign companies and raise Venezuela’s flagging oil production should he succeed in his months-long quest to oust Maduro.

Elias Matta, an Opposition lawmaker who chairs the Congress energy and oil commission, called the proposal a “working paper” of “quick reforms” during a meeting of the commission last week.

The draft lacks several elements of a prior reform that Guaido’s representatives presented to industry executives in Houston this year.

Unlike that version, the new proposal does not create

Venezuelan lawmakers are considering a proposal that would allow private companies to hold majority stakes in upstream joint ventures with State oil company PDVSA [Photo by: Marco Bello/Reuters]

an independent regulator to oversee auctions for concessions. It also keeps current royalty levels for crude, and creates a minimum local content requirement of 25 percent by 2028 – a big win for Venezuelan engineering and contracting companies.

The previous proposal had been presented to the energy and oil commission in early June. But Luis Stefanelli, a member of the commission from Guaido’s Popular Will party, said in a telephone interview they decided to introduce a limited reform that would be easy to pass quickly rather than try to pass a new law that would have generated debate and taken time to build consensus.

The changes suggest the Opposition would not open the sector as widely as major reforms in the past decade in other countries in the region like Mexico and Brazil, though lawmakers said the draft was subject to change and a further-reaching reform could be introduced in the future.

“Due to the disastrous collapse in the oil industry, we think we need to flexibilise the law to allow for greater participation from the private sector,” Matta said at

last week’s meeting.

Spare tire

Venezuela’s crude production, which was close to 3 million barrels per day (bpd) 20 years ago, steadily declined during Chavez’s 19992013 rule.

Chavez fired thousands of experienced PDVSA workers and forced private companies into PDVSA-controlled joint ventures, prompting firms like ExxonMobil (XOM.N) and ConocoPhillips (COP.N) to leave the country.

That drop accelerated under Maduro, which critics attribute to an exodus of workers fleeing Venezuela’s economic crisis in search of higher salaries abroad, and the appointment of military officials with no oil experience to top posts.

More recently, US sanctions on PDVSA as part of Washington’s efforts to oust Maduro have pushed output below 1 million bpd.

While there is wide consensus in the Opposition coalition about the need to open the sector to private investment, a whole new law would have nonetheless taken more time to pass congress.

The new proposal, by contrast, uses the current 68-article hydrocarbons law as a

base and makes changes to eight articles.

Maduro, who calls Guaido a US-backed puppet seeking to oust him in a coup, has accused the Opposition of selling out the OPEC nation’s oil reserves – the largest in the world – to foreign interests.

Neither PDVSA nor Venezuela’s Oil Ministry responded to requests for comment.

Two Venezuelan oil industry sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters private companies preferred a shorter process without sweeping changes to a full reform that took months to approve.

Stefanelli said the simpler proposal did not rule out a farther-reaching reform later on – but that a long congressional debate would be more appropriate once Maduro is out of office.

“It’s a spare tire. It’s a Plan B,” Stefanelli said. “One thing does not rule out the other”.

The law currently on the books prevents foreign companies from owning a majority stake in their joint ventures with PDVSA, and requires PDVSA to operate the projects. The requirement that joint ventures sell their crude to cash-strapped PDVSA has led to payment delays.

The new proposals would also allow PDVSA to sell its refineries to private companies. It eliminates a requirement that companies request a licence to sell natural gas extracted in conjunction with crude, and lowers royalties on gas production. Both measures are designed to boost gas output and reduce flaring – the process of releasing gas produced as a by-product of crude output into the atmosphere, which is considered wasteful. (Reuters)

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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

Is GECOM above the Constitution?

Dear Editor, The GECOM enigma continues to baffle, bewilder, mystify, confound and confuse everyone as Guyanese are taken for a seemingly futile journey from the High Court and Appeal Court of Guyana to the Caribbean Court of Justice – the highest Appellate Court of the region. Until now, since June 18 this year, the matters which were brought before the CCJ and decisively concluded are yet to be given legal effect and enforcement.

We have seen that even though the CCJ has ruled that the NCM was validly passed since December 21, 2018, and that legal effect and enforcement must be given to Article 106 (6) and (7) which inter alia states that: Cabinet must resign, the coalition Government is in caretaker mode and General and Regional Elections must be held within three months or 90 days, we are no closer to any of these. The Government has refused to dissolve Cabinet, refused to act like a caretaker Government and has been using spurious legal meanderings to avoid the CCJ’s rulings initiated by the new ‘Hughes Mathematical Formula’.

The recent ruling on August 14 by the High Court has skilfully avoided the petition brought by chartered accountant and Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram, who had sought to stop the House-to-House Registration process, arguing that it is not in keeping with the recent rulings of the CCJ and the Constitution of Guyana. He had also sought an order for GECOM to take all steps and actions necessary to hold elections by September 18, 2019, in compliance with Articles 106 (6) and (7). The

Chief Justice ruled that the House-toHouse Registration process to compile an Official List of Electors (OLE) is legal but no one can be removed from the NRR once they are not deceased or is not a citizen, which should be applauded. However, even though the CCJ did not and cannot set a date for elections, it did specify a timeline in accordance with the relevant Article. Furthermore, on June 18, when the CCJ confirmed the validity of the NCM, the election clock began ticking from that date since it is legally acceptable that a judgment takes legal effect from the date it was made, therefore, it will be logical to conclude that the short pause of the NCM was lifted on June 18.

The Chief Justice should have ruled in relation to that new time period, it is not about setting a date for elections but to recognise the new timeline which had restarted from June 18 and will end on September 18 and that GECOM must consider that timeframe and set a date for elections. This means that GECOM will set the date, not the Court, the latter must stipulate that GECOM act with that three-month timeline. How else can the legal effect be given to Article 106 (7) which states that elections must be held within three months unless extended by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly? So essentially what the Court is saying is that although we recognised the validity of this Article we cannot enforce it but leave GECOM to execute it. So what is the purpose of the Court?

When we look at this from GECOM’s perspective we find that the current House-to-House Registration will take approximately 290 days to conclude ac-

cording to GECOM’s work programme.

This means that it will end around April/May 2020. This was pointed out by the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, who had indicated that it is a programme shared by Chief Elections Officer, Mr Keith Lowenfield. To accept that it will conclude on October 20, 2019, is living in fool’s paradise, this is virtually impossible and I am sure the new Chairperson for GECOM will find this out presently.

President Granger had in a letter dated March 13 this year asked for the GECOM’s work programme from the then Chairman Patterson to set date for ‘credible’ elections with the shortest possible time, therefore, I am sure that he is fully cognisant and acquiesced to this unconstitutional bid to extend elections way beyond the stipulated 90 days by an additional 200 days!

It has been regurgitated and reiterated ad nauseam that GECOM is an independent body and is the creature of the Constitution.

My final questions are: Is GECOM above the Constitution? Should GECOM be allowed to violate the Constitution which has created it? Should GECOM not now act decisively to give legal effect to Article 106 (7)? Should it not be that any act or law which violates the Constitution should be declared null and void and without legal effect?

I am sure that the Chairperson of GECOM, Justice Claudette Singh, will not allow the violation and utter disregard which has been meted out thus far to our Constitution to continue!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Where are the Ministers?

Dear Editor, Paddy bugs have led to the loss of almost 20 per cent of the rice crop in Region Six so far this year. Reports are that a similar loss has been experienced in Region Two and smaller amounts in Regions Three and Five.

For Region Six alone, this loss translates into the loss of 500,000 bags of paddy, equating to the loss of $1.4 billion in revenue for farmers. Overall, Guyanese rice farmers are estimated to lose about $5 billion this year, having already lost more than $5 billion in 2018. Most of these are poor farmers and it is unconscionable that the GRDB and the Ministry of Agriculture are largely missing in action. Even more unforgivable, the President and APNU/AFC have ignored the suffering farmers, being more obsessed with violating the Constitution and avoiding elections.

It has been confirmed that rice production fell by 10 per cent in the first half of 2019.

The major reason advanced for the drop in production of rice is the devastation caused by paddy bug infestation, mainly in Regions Two and Six. In 2014, Guyana produced more than 637,000 tons of rice. In the first crop of 2015, production reached almost 400,000 tons, far ahead of the pace to meet the 2015 target of 700,000 tons.

But Guyana failed to reach the 2015 target because of a significant drop in production for the second 2015 crop.

Guyana failed again in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and now it is highly unlikely Guyana will reach the 700,000 target in 2019. One of the major reasons for production missing the 700,000 target in 2017, 2018 and now in 2019 is the paddy bug infestation.

This week, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) finally sought to assure everyone the paddy bug problem limiting rice production in the last two years, particularly in Regions Two and Six, is being seriously addressed. According to the GRDB, two experts in paddy bug control were in Guyana last week, under the auspices of FLAR, to assist farmers in controlling paddy bugs.

However, few farmers have confidence the GRDB is of any help in fighting paddy bugs. The Central Corentyne Chambers of Commerce (CCCC) called out the GRDB for its sloth and its lack of serious interest in the paddy bug problem. Like the farmers, the CCCC called on the GRDB to declare the paddy bug problem an emergency. While supporting this call, I believe the Ministry of Agriculture must lead the fight against the paddy bug emergency.

The paddy bugs are not new to Guyana, but it has emerged as a bigger problem in the last couple of years, seriously affecting production.

After meeting with the FLAR experts, farmers contend the recommendations made by the experts are things they are already doing. Some of

the things are not possible without the direct intervention of the GRDB, the Ministry of Agriculture and other Government entities. Farmers believe the GRDB and the Ministry of Agriculture are not just clueless, but they have little to no serious interest in assisting farmers in the fight against paddy bugs. I entirely concur with the farmers. The GRDB and the Ministry of Agriculture have been negligent and have allowed the paddy bug problem to escalate, careen out of control and it is now an emergency.

It is a good thing the GRDB, after more than two years of neglect, sought to bring in FLAR, the Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice. However, farmers, while not questioning the expertise of the two FLAR experts, noted neither of them is an entomologist. This begs the question – what happened to the resident and local entomologists, persons very familiar with paddy bugs in Guyana? Dr Vivian Baharally is a resident entomologist who is an employee of the GRDB and works out of the Burma Rice Research Centre. After her studies abroad, Dr Baharally returned home and started working at Burma since, at least, 2014. Another young entomologist just returned home. While retired, there are also two other very experienced entomologists living in Guyana – both Dr Leslie Munroe and Dr Dindial

Permaul are not only experienced entomologists, they both have extensive research experience and management experience with paddy bugs.

Why were these persons not engaged in the paddy bug fight?

In 2014, the GRDB, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, and my own engagement, commenced a $90 million initiative for the management and control of paddy bugs in Guyana’s rice industry. Dr Vivian Baharally, an entomologist, was the lead scientist in this initiative. The initiative was led by a team of experts chaired

by Dr Leslie Munroe. But before the initiative gathered speed, the Government changed and most of the persons in charge at the GRDB were either forced to resign or were fired. The initiative died. It is no coincidence, therefore, that the paddy bug today has a destructive presence in Guyana.

Many of the field officers were reporting the increasing paddy bug presence since 2016, but their reports fell on deaf ears. The GRDB clearly dropped the ball and their response is still too timid, lacking cohesion. The Ministry of Agriculture has been absolutely negligent.

The Ministers of Agriculture have shown a complete lack of interest. In fact, farmers query if Guyana has any Minister of Agriculture.

Regards, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Are there safeguards in place to protect our right to privacy?

Dear Editor, Citizens have begun to experience the impact of the Smart City System component of the Chinese-funded National Broadband project; drive down any of the side-streets in villages on the East Coast of Demerara (Lilliendal to Success) and chances are you will encounter vigilant policemen and women seeking to engage you away from the eyes of cameras monitored in the National Database Centre.

It would seem members of the Police Force are concerned about their privacy and an encounter caused me to do some research on this project.

This Safe City System is funded by the Chinese Government and is engineered and built by Huawei Technologies. Given the recent revelations that Huawei technicians have helped African Governments to spy on political opponents, I would ask if the same is being done in Guyana. An Israeli IT security company seeking contracts locally has been spreading information that WhatsApp can be compromised; these were dismissed but are now made credible by the reports of Huawei activity in Africa.

There have been various warnings about Huawei and possible spying on Guyanese citizens.

Darshanand Khusial, in a letter to the editor in a section of the media on December 16, 2018, spoke about Huawei’s Artificial Intelligence software “Deep Learning” and asked “with Huawei equip-

ment and Deep Learning technology in that CCTV camera system, would other nations be able to track people in real-time in Guyana without even the Guyanese Government being aware?”

Are there safeguards in place to protect our right to privacy? What agreement or laws govern the utilisation of this ultra-invasive technology? Who is watching our newest ‘big brother’? Who has the ultimate responsibility for oversight and control?

The core issue with Huawei has been the concerns about its cosiness with the Chinese Government and fears that its equipment could be used to spy on other countries and companies. It’s the reason why the US banned companies from using Huawei networking equipment in 2012 and the company was added to the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security Entity List on May 15, 2019, following an executive order from President Donald Trump effectively banning Huawei from US communication networks. Guyana is also now home to some of America’s largest corporations and an all too real possibility exists that Guyana’s telecommunications infrastructure could be used to infiltrate the data networks of those and other companies. The consequences of this eventuality are too dire to contemplate.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

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Foundation

What does a leader look like in childhood?

…how good are you at identifying our early leaders? You may be too old to tell

By Jennifer L Tackett, PhD

M

ost people reading this article are probably adults.

If you are an adult, and I asked you to look at a group of kids and tell me which one of them is the “leader of the pack”, how well do you think you might do?

Now imagine you’re a psychology researcher who really wants to understand leadership early in life, even as early as childhood. How do I answer this basic question: Who is the kid boss?

The “leadership” personality trait

A personality trait identified in adults – social dominance – encompasses many leadership tendencies. People who score high on this trait are assertive, like to be the centre of attention, prefer to give orders, and gravitate toward dominant, rather than submissive, positions in social groups. Social dominance is a major component of extraversion, distinct from (but often correlated with) other aspects of extraversion, such as tendencies to be warm, sociable, gregarious, and enthusiastic.

Research in adults suggests that this trait, sometimes also labelled social potency, ambition, or assertiveness, tends to be high in those in leadership positions, and facilitates one’s movement to higher positions in social hierarchies. Actually, we know a lot of things about social dominance in adults: We know that people tend to increase in social dominance across the lifespan (especially throughout early adulthood), that men tend to score higher on social dominance than women, and that people high in trait dominance are perceived as more competent (even when they aren’t— yikes).

We also know that whereas people in leadership positions or positions of power tend to score higher on social dominance, the trait shows a somewhat complicated relationship with the other major aspect of extraversion, warmth. For example, when women behave in socially dominant ways, they often experience a variety of negative social consequences and may be perceived as violating closely-held gender norms. This is especially true when it is seen as precluding warmth, which we expect women to exhibit.

All of this is to say, when I started my journey of wanting to identify the “kid bosses”, I turned to the natural place for a personality psychologist: the trait of social dominance.

But a strange thing happened next.

As something of an expert in child personality, I’m intimately familiar with any and all childhood personality measures currently in existence (this may sound grandiose, but the child personality world is –tragically –tiny).

And as I mentally ran through them all in my head (and checked my memory against the literature), I quickly realised: Child personality measures virtually never include the trait of social dominance. (Here, I’m making a distinction between measures that were originally developed for adults, but are used in younger age groups. Which, of course, also happens.)

So where are the kid bosses?

Where is the kid boss hiding?

In our research lab, we work mostly with child and adolescent participants. An important – critical –aspect of our data collection is obtaining informed consent (or assent) from our participants. When we train our research assistants in this critical task, one point we emphasise again and again is this: By virtue of being an adult and the participant being a child, you are in an inherent position of power over them.

This is a critical aspect of the consent (and broader research) endeavour because it can influence the extent to which children have full and free consent. For example, children may be more likely to “go along” with a research task because an adult is asking them to do it – making it extra important that we attend to their comfort and willingness, and remind them of their rights as often as needed throughout a study. (This powerful influence may be less effective over one’s own child outside of the research context – for example, when asking your own child to put the toothpaste cap back on the tube when they’re finished using it. For example.)

So, when I was puzzling over the missing

case of “social dominance” in virtually every primary child personality measure I could recall, I wondered – is social dominance missing because adults just don’t see it?

In other words, if adults are in an inherent position of power (aka dominance) over kids, are they even able to see child leadership when it emerges?

Historically, child personality measures have been scarce. By this, I mean personality (or temperament) measures that were specifically designed to measure personality in kids. Those that do exist have been developed in a variety of ways, but there has been a heavy reliance on using descriptions provided by parents and teachers of children they know well. Although this approach makes sense, it also means that we’re virtually always relying on adults to tell us what they think is important about individual differences (or personality) in kids.

If there are differences between kids that are less important to adults, they would be less likely to show up in these child personality measures.

If adults are already dominant over children, these characteristics may be less salient or even apparent to them, and less useful as ways to describe or differentiate the children in their lives. This would also suggest that if we want to identify the kid bosses, asking the adults may not be the best approach.

What comes next?

What are the implications of the missing kid bosses in our child personality measures?

One implication is that when we do have data on child personality (Already a scarcity.

Please, people, help us collect more data! Kids have personalities, too!), it’s unlikely that it will measure the specific early personality traits (ie, social dominance) that are highly relevant for leadership potential and proclivities. (Although, other child personality traits still have a lot to say.)

And that’s a bummer.

Another implication, though, is that there may be interesting reasons why adults don’t use these characteristics to describe children.

Maybe they don’t exist? You already know my biased opinion on this question, because I’m writing this article. We’ll explore some of

the evidence for the existence of early individual differences in social dominance traits in later articles.

Let’s assume they do exist. If so, then it’s a peculiar omission from our child personality measures. Do adults accurately recognise and identify them? If they do, can they see them as well as kids see them? Are they valued differently by adults and kids (peers)? How do we identify child and adolescent leaders –who do we ask, what data do we collect, are there creative ways they can be identified?

This is what we think about in our lab, and attempt to do in many different ways. We are far from knowing the best way to identify leadership in early life, though. (Adapted from psychologytoday.com)

H

ow to make a cape for your little superhero is the focus of today’s tutorial!

Because we know that all superheroes need a cape, we have put together this tutorial for you. Now, instead of trying to tie a blanket around your favourite superhero’s neck, you can quickly and easily learn how to make this super cape.

2 yards of fabric Thread Velcro Measuring tape Iron Sewing supplies I made this cape with fabric of one colour; however, you could easily get two different colours (one yard of each) for a doublesided cape!

Tear two pieces of fabric 31 inches in length, then lay the two pieces on top of each other and fold them in half.

You will need a marking tool, such as chalk or a pencil.

On one end of the fabric mark a line at 11 inches. On the other end mark a line at 5 1/2 inches.

Using a measuring tape or a piece of long string, connect the two marks and draw a straight line between.

Cut your fabric 1/2 inch away from the line you just created and cut a straight line across the wider bottom edge.

Find a bowl or plate that measures 8 inches across.

Lay the round object on top of your fabric at 5 1/2 inches from the top and 4 inches from the fold. Then trace the object from edge to edge on

your fabric.

Next, cut 1/2 inch away from this round line you have created.

While the fabric is still folded, gently round the bottom and top corners of the cape (shown in the picture below).

Unfold your fabric.

It’s looking like a cape!

Sewing your superhero cape Leave the two pieces of fabric lying on top of each other and head to your sewing machine. I didn’t bother pinning my cape, just make sure you keep them lined up while you are sewing. Sew around the cape at 1/2 inch and remember to back stitch. Leave a 2-inch opening so you can turn the cape right side out (I recommend leaving it on the bottom of the cape).

Once you have completed sewing, clip around the neck of the cape to relax the seam.

Turn the cape right side out! Warm up your iron and press the edges and all the wrinkles flat. Then hand-sew that little opening closed.

Finally, this is my favourite part of how to make a cape.

No more tying that blanket around your little one’s neck!

Velcro to the rescue!!!

Cut a square of velcro.

Sew the squares close to the edge, placing them on opposite sides of the cape.

They will overlap when you put them together.

Get ready to make your child super happy! Attach it around the neck and watch them fly! (Lara X/howdoesshe.com)

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saturday, august 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GCAA to get $1.2B head office at Providence ing two buildings at High Street, Kingston, Georgetown for $42 million annually.

“It’s not a sustainable model for an institution such as GCAA or any Government institution renting. There is no permanency in it and you can’t plan and develop as you like,” Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson said.

Junior Infrastructure Minister Jaipaul Sharma disclosed that with the GCAA always having to move around to various rentals, huge sums of monies were expended— inDirector General Egbert Field (centre) with Public Infrastructure Ministers David Patterson and Jaipaul Sharma turning the sod for the new GCAA headquarters at Providence

W

ith the local aviation sector poised to undergo expansive development in the coming years, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is preparing for that ‘tsunami’ with the construction of a state-of-the-art head office at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The new GCAA complex will be constructed behind the Guyana National Stadium to the tune of some $1.2 billion.

At the sod-turning ceremony on Friday, GCAA Director General Retired Lieutenant Colonel Egbert Field explained that this new building will be constructed to cater for what’s to come in Guyana. He noted that the complex will feature a gymnasium, nursery, and cafeteria, better offic-

es for all departments, a conference room, and possibly a training centre.

“Guyana is moving swiftly ahead. The waves of the tsunami are now lapping on the shores and if we are not ready, we will definitely be swamped,” GCAA Head stated.

Field went on to highlight the many achievements in the aviation sector, but recognised that much more needs to be done.

“The work must continue and this new headquarters that we are about to embark on, in terms of its building and construction, is a very important item which will see Guyana move into future as we continue our progress,” he posited.

Currently, GCAA is rent-

cluding $25 million to maintain Colgrain House which it used to occupy. He added that apart from the high rental rate for the current property the Authority is occupying, a three-year caveat was imposed on the GCAA and this is the reason behind the Authority “aggressively” pursuing its own space.

His senior, Minister Patterson, acknowledged that the new GCAA headquarters is being established at a time when there is a “vast shift” in the aviation sector with its responsibilities expanding into

dimensions never seen before here. To this end, he urged the GCAA to gear up for what’s to come.

Friday’s sod-turning was done on the 10 acres plot of land, which was procured at the cost of $25 million, and was witnessed by GCAA Chairman Larry London and other Board members as well as former Junior Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson, among other officials.

Construction for the $1.2 billion complex is expected to last for 18 months; however, the GCAA Head told re-

porters that they are yet to secure funding for the project. Chinese Ambassador Cui Jianchun, who was also at the event, informally indicated that his country can put up some of the funding.

Nevertheless, the project is currently in the tendering process before the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). According to Field, he is hoping that construction starts later this year since the rental contract for the building which the GCAA occupies will expire in 2021.

Magistrate throws out Police charges against SuperBet operators

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agistrate Leron Daly on Friday dismissed 10 charges against several SuperBet operators after the Guyana Police Force’s prosecutors failed to provide evidence that they had jurisdiction to investigate and charge the operators.

Following civil proceedings filed by Guiana Holding Inc at the High Court to reverse the decision of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), which requires that the company submits a Certificate of Good Standing as a condition prior to the issuance of a Betting Shop licence under the provisions of the Tax Act, several SuperBet operators, specifically in the areas of Georgetown and the East Bank of Demerara, were summoned to appear in court on Friday to answer charges filed by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The Georgetown agents: Devanand Singh, Rhonda Josiah, Kurt Sunich and Devendra Gangaran, all appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday last; while the East Bank agents, namely: Roumayne Dunn, Lachman Fredrick, Jessica William and Hamauth Satayadeo, appeared before the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

They are being represented by Attorney Anil Nandlall.

At the initial hearing, Nandlall made objection to the charges being read on the ground that the Police have no jurisdiction to prosecute revenue charges.

The charges were not read, and Magistrate Daly, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, adjourned the matter to Friday August 16, and asked the Police to provide evidence that they were authorised to prosecute.

When the case was called

again, the Police Prosecutors failed to provide the requested evidence, and instead argued that the Police Act empowers the Guyana Police Force to investigate and institute charges of any kind.

However, defense attorney Nandlall countered this with the fact that the Guyana Revenue Authority is the sole entity authorised to prosecute revenue-type charges.

“I pointed out that is so except where another Act provides for another agency to prosecute, especially a law that is passed after the Police Act. The Guyana Revenue Authority was created by the Guyana Revenue Authority Act of 2000, and that Act authorises the Revenue Authority to charge persons and to prosecute persons for offences in relation to revenue.

“The charges that SuperBet were slapped with were charges

under the Tax Act. They were revenue-type charges, therefore only the Guyana Revenue Authority is authorised in law to prosecute and institute the charges.

“The Magistrate upheld my submissions and dismissed the 10 charges,” Nandlall told Guyana Times in a post-hearing interview.

In addition, Nandlall underscored that pending the dismissal of the charges, the persons charged will be advised to sue the Police and Attorney General for compensation for malicious prosecution.

The matters are being heard before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Providence Magistrate’s Court, and will be heard on September 02, after the Police Prosecutors there requested more time in order to obtain advice.

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saturday, august 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Rape accused jailed for assaulting bus conductor

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enior Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday jailed a 40-year-old man after he admitted to assaulting a minibus conductor thereby causing him actual bodily harm.

Adrian Brandt, who is a Route 47 minibus driver, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on July 29, 2019, at High Street, Georgetown, he unlawfully assaulted Eric Coats so as to cause him actual bodily harm.

The unrepresented man in his explanation to the court claimed that he was acting in self-defence since the victim and his friends would usually “beat him up”. He added that he made several reports against the

Adrian Brandt being escorted by a Police officer

Virtual Complainant but Police ranks would not take him seriously.

However, Police Prosecutor Traceyann Gittens in presenting the facts of the case stated that on the day in question, Brandt armed himself with a metal bar, confronted the Virtual Complainant and dealt him several lashes about his body.

As a result, Magistrate Daly after listening to both sides sentenced Brandt to six weeks’ imprisonment.

Last year, Brandt was committed to stand trial at the High Court after a prima facie case on a rape charge was made out against him.

Brandt was slapped with the charge which stated that on October 7, 2018, at Sophia, Greater Georgetown, he sexually assaulted a 14-yearold girl.

According to information, the teen was a frequent traveller in the minibus which he operated.

It was reported that on the day in question, the teen was a passenger in the minibus when Brandt allegedly drove to an unknown area in Plum Park, Sophia, and reportedly raped her.

The teen then complained to her parents about what had transpired and the matter was reported to the police. Brandt is currently on $300,000 bail pending the hearing and determination of the matter in the High Court.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Patrick Dundas, who also appeared before Magistrate Daly, was slapped with two charges for the use of threatening behaviour and language against Brandt.

The charges read that on July 29, 2019, at High Street, Georgetown, he made use of threatening behaviour towards Adrian Brandt. Dundas pleaded guilty to this charge.

The other charge detailed that on the said date and location, he made use of threatening language towards the said victim. The defendant pleaded not guilty to this charge.

As such, Dundas was fined $10,000 on the first charge while he was released on $10,000 for the second. He is expected to make his next court appearance on September 9, 2019.

No sense of decency…

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…in PNC leadership n the 1950’s, Cold War America was held hostage by one Senator Joseph McCarthy. He used his bully pulpit of Senate Hearings to terrorise strategically-placed citizens by ostentatiously accusing them of being communists. He ruined many careers and lives based on nothing more than innuendoes and insinuations. He was finally brought down when one army counsel, defending a young lawyer against McCarthy’s bombastic charges, asked him a simple question: “Have you no sense of decency, sir?”

The question pierced the conscience of middle America, including members of his own Republican Party, who put their foot down on McCarty’s bullyism. Today, Guyana’s being held hostage by the bullyism of the PNC’s David Granger and his henchman AG Basil Williams, as they callously crap on the Constitution to hang on to power and game the elections. Guyanese understand that our politics is a contact sport – but even in the boxing ring, fans boo when a pugilist hits below the belt!

After the shenanigans Granger’s pulled to fix the elections – starting with his unilateral appointment of James Patterson as GECOM Chair and ending with Basil Williams’ comment that the PNC doesn’t believe Justice George can tell GECOM that names can’t be taking off the old NRR and OLE in any H2H exercise – can’t some member of the PNC ask him, “Have you no sense of decency, sir?”

Surely there are members of the PNC who love of Guyana and understand that it does no Guyanese, including fellow members, any good, to shred our Constitution to confetti.

With such a large proportion of our populace under 35, is it possible that young PNC supporters don’t know about what happened to their parents – and all Guyana – when Burnham played fast and loose with the Constitution back then – as Granger is doing right now?? Even if it’s not in the history books, don’t parents talk to their children about the past? Do they just talk “race” and regurgitate the hate for the “other”?? Do they expect the oil revenues to cover all the sins of their party’s cynicism and profligacy??

Well apart from the object lesson next door with Chavez’s experiments in Venezuela – eerily imitating Burnham’s economic grandiosity and megalomania – Burnham had also received a massive windfall from spiked sugar prices. All of that was frittered away and we were left hungry, naked and homeless by the time the dictator died at GT hospital!!

Because of its strategic occupancy of the State’s coercive power institutions, it’s clear the PNC figures the PPP can do nothing about driving a stake in the heart of the Constitution.

Will none of his supporters rid us of their renegade leader – to even save themselves?? …in failure With the PNC, it seems like nothing succeeds like failure!! Granger failed to have his unilaterally-appointed GECOM Chair remain in office, but he’s grinning like a Cheshire Cat as he strings out the election process as if the NCM never happened. But the biggest failure who’s succeeded beyond belief is Basil Williams. The fella has the losingest record in the history of Attorney Generals in Guyana, yet he was awarded silk!! Your Eyewitness is still surprised no one’s turned in their “SC” designation!

His most recent failure resulted in the bitch slap delivered to him earlier this week by the CJ. He’d pleaded that the CJ showed bias in comments she’d made en passant earlier in another action about H2H Registration.

Williams asked that she recuse herself from the challenges on H2H. She ruled that his action was an “an abuse of the process of the court”.

And ordered him to pay 75% of the cost slapped on Chris Ram, for losing his bid to have the H2H halted!

Ouch!! …at City Hall Almost a year’s passed since the Kennard CoI into City Hall’s Augean Stables. But the Local Government Commission (LGC) is “still working” to implement its 30+ recommendations.

And you thought only the elections were being dragged out!!

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

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saturday, august 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

WPA part and parcel of Govt’s constitutional disobedience – Nandlall …as Party proposes possible Dec 2019 elections factual if elections are indeed not held this year.

“We in the WPA think that if you go into next year, then you’re inviting yourself…to the charge of delaying tactics. We think that if we go along with that timeline, we think that a December election would be in order.”

Part and parcel

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall

A

fter credible advice, the Working People’s Alliance has admitted that General and Regional Elections could be facilitated this same year if the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) upholds its timelines.

This is according to Executive Member, Dr David Hinds on Friday who stated, “If GECOM stays to its timeline of three months and finish the House-tHouse [Registration] in October and then you have Claims and Objections and those things, we think that reasonably, elections as a compromise could be held in December”.

The Opposition had stated that Government’s support of the national registration exercise was due to the fact that it will delay the elections by several months.

As such, Hinds insisted that these claims will be proven

In response to Hind’s utterances, former Attorney General and Opposition MP, Anil Nandlall said that the WPA is part and parcel of the Government and, therefore, part and parcel of the unit that is intent on disobeying the Constitution.

“Therefore one ought not to be surprised that the WPA would hold such a position. The truth of the matter is that the No-Confidence Motion was passed since December 21, 2018, and the

Constitution clearly says that elections must be held within 3 months thereafter.

Whatever perpetuation one may wish to use, the fact is that as I speak, elections are due. The duty of GECOM is to ensure that they are ready to deliver an election within the earliest possible time,” he said.

Nandlall referenced Wednesday’s rulings by Chief Justice Roxane George, who said that names cannot be removed from the National Register of Registrants. In this regard, he noted that the Houseto-House Registration process is plagued with problems and that the voters’ list could easily be refreshed by the Claims and Objections exercise.

“Clearly it means that elections should be held at the earliest possible time and the mechanism that can facilitate those elections at

the earliest is the one that can, should be used and that mechanism is the use of the last list refreshed with the Claims and Objections,” Nandlall noted.

Just last month, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo informed that the ongoing registration is likely to run into the first quarter of 2020, which is way beyond the time to host General and Regional Elections so stipulated by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

This, he noted, is according to a work plan of the elections body which was created some time ago. Despite objections from the Opposition and other stakeholders, GECOM went ahead and started fresh registration and the Commission said the exercise will last some three months.

The Opposition Leader shared the two-page document which detailed a list of

WPA Executive Member, Dr David Hinds

activities to be done leading up to and during this exercise and the number of days for each activity. He pointed out that the work plan contained a 290-day period for the registration exercise, which would run until February 2020, thus, further delaying the early elec-

tions constitutionally due on or before September 18, 2019.

According to Jagdeo, GECOM would spend close to six months to get a voters’ list, when there is already one available that can be sanitised through an extended Claims and Objections period.

After delivering it’s ruling on June 18, 2019, the Caribbean Court of Justice then proceeded to issue the consequential orders stipulating that the Cabinet must resign and call elections in keeping with the constitutional deadline, that is, three months.

Since this deadline had already elapsed from the passage of the NoConfidence Motion on December 21, the countdown commenced on June 18, which puts an end to the deadline on September 18 of this year.

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saturday, august 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 2 Govt dental clinics out of needles …residents complain of being turned away

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esidents in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are being turned away from medical facilities which offer dental care because of a lack of dental needles to do extractions.

This newspaper was told on Friday that dozens of persons, including those who travelled from interior and riverine locations to obtain much-needed tooth extractions at health facilities along the Essequibo Coast, are now being forced to either fork out cash to visit private facilities or endure pain until the shortage is rectified.

However, some residents, who were unable to get their extractions done on Friday, told Guyana Times that although they were told by medical staff that the facilities do not have the necessary needles and that they would have to return, the patients were not advised as to how soon the medical supplies would arrive or given a date when they should return.

“They just said that last week they did not have and the dental place in Charity

village gave them 20 needles but that those needles used up already. We were told that we had to come back another time but they could not tell us when to come back. They did not even say around when they expect more needles,” a pensioner told this publication on Friday.

Meanwhile, another resident of Anna Regina told this newspaper that his wife visited a health facility where she had been referred to have an extraction. This was after she was diagnosed with hypertension and other ailments and was advised by a doctor that she also needed to do an extraction.

“They tell her that the tooth problems compounding things and sent her to get it pulled out. She is sickly and had to be there sitting outside waiting all the time and when she reached the front they tell her that they cannot do any extraction because they ran out of needles. She had to come back home in pain after spending long hours there and when I asked her when she had to

go back she said they never tell she when to check back,” the man complained.

As a result of this situation in Region Two, several residents are now concerned that their only option would be to seek private institutions. However, many are complaining that they cannot afford to pay the prices that privately-owned dental offices charge.

A source from that region’s Regional Office told

this publication that certain medical supplies, such as the needles necessary for tooth extractions, are usually provided by the Dental School in Georgetown and not by regional authorities.

“That’s where the needles and so come from for our dental clinics or departments here in Essequibo. It is not something that the region itself sources to provide for those dental departments. However, we do try

to assist how we can when something happens and we will try to see how we can have this issue taken care of also,” the source explained.

Efforts to contact the Regional Health Officer and other regional authorities on Friday about the matter proved futile.

In May, Region Two was plagued by a similar issue when checks found that all of the Government dental clinics in that region hadn’t

any dental needles for an almost three-week timeframe.

Patients had been turned away from all Government dental clinics in the region due to the lack of dental needles. Those affected by teeth-related problems, including senior citizens and children, had been left to bear the severe pain without any other medical aid, not even a pain killer, one senior citizen had stated at that time.

Public Telecommunications Minister encourages use of closed-captioning …to reach out to local broadcasters

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he Public Telecommunications Ministry will soon move forward in its efforts to promote the inclusivity of persons living with disabilities in Guyana by reaching out to local broadcast media to encourage the use of closed-captioning.

Evening News aired on TVG/Channel28 has already

introduced this feature to cater for its diverse viewership.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of an International Telecommunications sponsored Web Accessibility Programme, Minister Catherine Hughes made the disclosure calling for a more inclusive approach to the use of technology locally.

Public Telecommunications Minister Catherine Hughes

According to Hughes, Guyana is presently lacking a fair transmission of broadcast content that reaches every citizen.

This, according to the Minister, is doing a disservice to persons with disabilities who are locked out of being able to access certain information.

“Our next thrust would be going out to the television stations and other online media operatives to encourage them to use the technology to ensure that when we are transmitting programming, that we have closed-captioning being transmitted,” Hughes said.

The Telecommunications Minister further highlighted, “We have a fairly high percentage of foreign programming in our television and media round-up but yet, some of the cable companies are not actually transmitting it in such a manner that a person with a hearing im-

pairment can actually turn on the closed-captioning on the television and see an actual print out, an actual captioning of what is happening in society. Imagine, some of us are still tied to the media and it’s information, we want to know what’s happening, we want to be able to see and read and hear explanations and again it’s a human right that we up our game and that the television stations and the online media operations consider and make it possible for person with disabilities to access that same information that’s being generated out there,” the Minister remarked.

As such, Hughes is calling for the private sector, along with regular websites, to be constructed and enabled to reach not just the average Guyanese or the average person, but persons with disabilities.

On Thursday, some 18 Guyanese web developers and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) experts had been trained to create websites and applications that are usable by all, including persons with disabilities.

They were trained through the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU), whose goal is for governments to develop accessible websites in order for vital information and services to be provided by public agencies which are accessible to all citizens including persons with disabilities.

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saturday, august 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

CSEC 2019

No increased scholarships for tertiary studies

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hile thousands of students would have written the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination with the hopes of gaining a scholarship to pursue tertiary studies, they will have to wait on the oil revenues for free education.

This was the view shared by Education Minister, Nicolette Henry earlier this week during the announcement of the results, where she stated that they will continue to offer one scholarship.

“We’re aiming to have tertiary education free here in Guyana. In a not too distant future, I think the issue of scholarship for tertiary level would no longer be a relevant question…I sup-

pose that getting the scholarship based on the CSEC performance, it will always be the coveted prize. There will just be one best performer…That’s it. That will continue to be competitive,” the Minister stated.

When reminded that the prospects of oil have not yet impacted the Guyanese people, Henry referred to other means by which students can obtain scholarships.

While the Public Service Department offers a number of grants each year, it is restricted to some areas of studies.

She said, “The Public Service [Department] would offer scholarships for areas where we do not have the disciplined being offered in Guyana so that will continue. Once the University

Education Minister, Dr Nicolette Henry

is free, I believe the issue of the competitiveness in terms of being funded and supported would no longer [exist]. There are options”

Bids received for upgrade of zoo

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uyana’s lone Zoological Park, located within the Botanical Gardens on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, will be upgraded soon with bids in excess of $5 million already received to kickstart the project.

At the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) on Tuesday, three bids were received to the tune of $5 million, while another firm requested over $6 million to have the project completed.

This aspect of the job would see repairs being conducted to rehabilitate enclosures and exhibits for birds within the park.

The bids received were as follows: JPM’s General Construction, $6.2 million; Fiffe Building, $5.7 million; W Rasheed Service, $5.3

million and RP Construction Agency, $5.4 million. The engineer estimated the project to cost $5.4 million.

Turn to page 15

“Scholarships are offered not only through Government but through other means. They’re international scholarships being offered. The British offer the masters level…and several other scholarships through commonwealth and so forth.”

President Granger had said that income from the petroleum industry would be used for free education at all levels.

“No Guyanese child needs to pay for primary education because of the foundation created. As I said

in Union Village (Number 53 Village Corentyne on August 1, 2019), in anticipation of revenues from our petroleum industry, education will be free not only at the primary level, or secondary level but also at the tertiary level,” he was quoted as saying.

However, Guyana is still in the discovery phase, with extraction scheduled to begin until 2020. Along with ExxonMobil’s massive discoveries, Tullow Oil also made a strike with its first discovery of oil in commercial quantities at the

Jethro-1 exploration well in the Orinduik Block. It is the second company to discover oil offshore Guyana. It was also recently announced that Qatar’s state oil company is looking to enter into Guyana’s oil market with a farm-in deal through Total.

The CSEC results were announced on Wednesday, where Riana Toney of Anna Regina Multilateral School copped the top spot with 19 Grade Ones. Overall, Guyana secured a 73 per cent pass rate, the highest ever achieved by the country.

12 news 4 robbery suspects nabbed WCB accident Berbice welder struck by overseasduring Corentyne raids based Guyanese succumbs F T saturday, august 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

our robbery suspects are now in Police custody following a raid at several villages along Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). The men were arrested separately when Police swooped down on various houses located in the Rose Hall and Lancaster villages, Corentyne, Berbice, on Friday morning between 04:00h and 06:30h.

Commander of B Division (Berbice), Senior Superintendent Paul Langevine, told this publication that the men were arrested during a cordon and search exercise.

“We have been looking for them in relation to robberies committed recently in those areas. We have arrested them for questioning because we got information that they might have been involved in those crimes…after those robberies, we received information about the suspects, we planned the cordon and search, and have arrested them for questioning,” the Commander said.

The most recent armed robbery reported to the Police was on Sunday, when a Corentyne, Berbice

B Division Commander (Berbice) Paul Langevine

family was attacked by three armed bandits at their Port Mourant, Corentyne, home in the evening.

Reports are the attack occurred at about 21:30h at Lot 227 Dispensary Dam, Ankerville, Port Mourant, Berbice. Indira Samaroo, along with her husband and teenage son, were all at home when three masked men approached – one was carrying a firearm and two had cutlasses. The attack occurred after a family friend left the couple’s home. According to Samaroo, one of the bandits went straight to her husband and hit him with

the gun.

Meanwhile, Samaroo said she was hit in the face with a side of a cutlass and she fell out of the hammock.

Guyana Times was told that one of the intruders told the couple’s son that if his mother does not hand over money he will kill her.

However, the teen, while begging the bandits not to kill his mother, informed the gunmen that his parents do not have money.

They eventually escaped with three cellular phones, an electronic tablet, along with three wristwatches and the businessman and his son’s wallets.

he 26-year-old, Berbice welder, who was struck down on August 7 while making his way home in Sheildstown, West Coast Berbice (WCB), succumbed on Thursday night.

Irfaan Ahmad, a father of one, died hours after being removed from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Family members of the accident victim are now in a state of shock as they had expected Ahmad to recover.

The welder was struck while making his way home at about 22:00h following his shift at the Blairmont Sugar Estate. The young father was on a pedal cycle when he was struck from behind by a motorcar, which was driven by an overseas-based

Irfaan Ahmad

Guyanese.

As a result of the impact, the man was thrown from his bicycle into the corner of the road.

At this time, the driver of the car, who was still

at the scene, was instructed by public-spirited persons to take Ahmad to the hospital, to which he complied.

Ahmad was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital but was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was nursing two broken arms and legs, a disconnected hip, spinal injuries and swelling to his brain.

The driver of the motorcar is yet to be charged and family members have since expressed concerns over this fact since he is an overseas-based Guyanese.

Traffic ranks attached to the Blairmont Police Station are also coming in for harsh criticism after they reportedly visited the scene of the accident several days after to take measurements.

6 arrested for NA housewife’s robbery

S

The articles that were found during the search

ix suspects have been taken into Police custody, two of which have confessed to robbing a New Amsterdam, Berbice housewife.

The men were arrested at Angoy’s Avenue, New

Amsterdam during an information-led operation conducted by ranks of the B Division.

The search operation lasted for eight hours where several homes were searched. In those searches, articles which were sto-

len from New Amsterdam housewife were discovered.

As such, the suspects were taken into Police custody.

The men are expected to be arraigned for the crimes shortly.

news

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saturday, august 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

PNC brags about Govt’s training programme Cuban fined for despite high unemployment rate overstaying in Guyana

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uyana has been battling high rates of unemployment, and despite initiatives that have been implemented by the APNU/AFC Government, statistics revealed that a large percentage of youths continue to remain unemployed, despite being academically qualified for jobs.

However, Peoples’ National Congress Reform member (PNCR) Aubrey Norton on Friday stated that since the APNU/AFC coalition took office, thousands of youths have been provided with tools they need to work among their peers and that many youths have been placed in both appointed and elected positions in society.

“Government has delivered on many of its promises and the country is on the right path. As a government, we have served Guyana well,” said Norton bragged but failed to address the 40 per cent unemployment rate among youths in Guyana.

Additionally, Norton in his declaration at the PNCR’s press conference on Friday, also stated that thousands of young people have been trained in leadership skills over the past four years.

However, this contradicts the statements made by the Finance Ministry’s Finance Secretary, Michael Joseph, who while hammering home the point of arresting un-

PNCR member Aubrey Norton

employment in Guyana at a University of Guyana (UG) Tain Talks event, noted that joblessness also narrows the potential base from which a Government can collect income tax as well as undermines the progress of any country.

He had explained that Guyana’s high unemployment rate has economic and social implications for the country presently and in years to come.

Additionally, Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram had recently pointed out that the APNU/AFC’s inability to effectively address the country’s unemployment rate, where a majority of the population is young people, will present a major challenge for Guyana in the coming years.

In an interview with

this publication, Ram spoke of some of the reasons for Guyana’s low employment rate and also expressed the belief that not enough attention is being paid to its economic and social side.

“Part of the problem we have is that we have a very low wage economy,” Ram said, adding “and it discourages people entering into the employment sector. If you get the minimum wage and you have to spend 20 per cent of it on transportation alone, it’s not a great motivator for you to work”. “(This) is why we have the paradox of employment and yet it is difficult to get people with even the basic skills. The rate these people earn, they say they might as well hustle here and there, rather than getting involved in the formal economy, hav-

ing to pay NIS and income tax”.

Observers have also expressed worry about the link between unemployment as a signifier for the gradual erosion of the traditional sectors of the economy owing to neglect by the Government as it waits for oil revenues to start flowing.

This will inevitably lead to the dreaded Dutch disease, where the economy cannot stand on one leg. This has been most graphically illustrated over the past few years, in the sugar industry where production has dwindled with the dismissal of the sugar workers, and the Government has not diversified the prime agricultural lands into other crops to create employment and generate foreign exchange by exporting those crops.

A

43-year-old Cuban, who claimed that he came to Guyana in search of a job, was on Friday fined by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for overstaying in the country.

Eulices Marquez Echevarria, a cook, admitted to the charge which detailed that between August 14 and 15, 2019, he failed to comply with conditions submitted with a permit that has been granted, that is to stay from June 14, 2019, to July 13, 2019, in Guyana.

In an explanation to the court via an interpreter, Echevarria told the court “I didn’t know…I came here to work and see the country”.

However, facts presented

by Police Prosecutor Gordan Mansfield stated that on June

14, 2019, Echevarria came to Guyana via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and was granted a one month stay in the country.

The prosecutor further added that on August 14, 2019, Echevarria was going to Brazil when he was stopped by Police at Mabura. The ranks asked the defendant to provide his travel documents, during which it was discovered that he had overstayed. He was later transported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters where he was questioned and later charged for the offence.

Chief Magistrate McLennan fined the foreign national $20,000 with an alternative of eight weeks in prison. He was also ordered to be deported.

Labourer remanded on theft charge

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hirty-five-year-old Moni Lall called “Sunny” was on Friday remanded to prison by Magistrate Leron Daly when he appeared before her, charged for breaking and entering a mechanic shop.

Lall, a labourer, pleaded not guilty to the charge which detailed that between August 13 and 14, 2019, at Georgetown, he broke and entered Shawn Clarke’s mechanic shop and stole a num-

Remanded: Moni Lall, called “Sunny”

ber of motorcycle batteries, car batteries and equipment valued $300,000.

While no facts were presented in court, Police Prosecutor Traceyann Gittens objected to bail on the grounds that the defendant has no fixed place of abode.

Magistrate Daly upheld the prosecution’s submission and remanded Lall to prison. The case will continue on August 30, 2019.

14 News GRDB to conduct aerial spraying for paddy bugs T saturday, august 17, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

he Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is soon to commence aerial spraying for paddy bugs in Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six

(East Berbice-Corentyne).

Despite experiencing heavy losses due to the paddy bugs’ infestation in the last two crops, no aerial spraying will be conducted in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

The decision was made

after rice farmers on the Corentyne, Region Six, continued their picketing exercise for a third day on Thursday, demanding that the GRDB conduct aerial spraying for the bugs which cost the region to lose more than a billion dollars last

Rice farmers on the picket line at Number 56 Village on Thursday demanding aerial spraying for paddy bugs

crop.

Despite the advice of an international expert against this method, the farmers continued their protest.

President of Guyana Rice Producers Association (PRA) Leekha Rambrich told this publication that aerial spraying to combat the dreaded paddy bugs will not be carried out in Region Two because most of the cultivations are within close proximity to residential areas.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had advised the GRDB against conducting aerial spraying with toxic chemicals in that region.

General Manager of the GRDB, Nezam Hassan told <<<Guyana Times>>> that the exercise of aerial spraying to combat the paddy bugs will commence in Region Six. Meanwhile, rice farmers on the Corentyne continued their picketing exercise outside of the GRDB’s Seed Paddy Drying Facility at Number 56 Village even as the GRDB agreed to have aerial spraying in the region to stop the infestation.

The farmers resorted to this after the General Manager of the Rice Board had done nothing on instructions to carry out aerial spraying o save the rice crop.

Seeta Shiwpersaud, who cultivates one thousand acres at Moleson Creek, told Guyana Times that she had to apply insecticides to her crop seven times for the bugs. Each application, she said, cost about $100,000.

According to her, the GRDB’s extension officers on the ground had been providing incorrect information to the office.

She said extension officers visited her field at 10:00h to look for the bugs after she had reported a massive infestation at Moleson Creek.

She said the officers found five insects and reported that there was infestation there.

However, according to the farmer, the extension officers are aware that the bugs mainly become visible at daybreak and in the evening around dusk and not when the sun is up.

Meanwhile, another rice farmer, Hemraj Babulall, who has 500 acres under cultivation along the central Corentyne Coast, said some of the pesticides which are being sold are ineffective on the paddy bugs.

“The chemicals are no good,” he said.

The rice farmer pointed an accusing finger at the

Pesticide Board for allowing those chemicals to be sold on the market.

The RPA President told this publication that some rice farmers are in the habit of purchasing chemicals from unrecognised importers and have been experiencing little or no results. He is advising that they purchase from the established dealers.

Rambrich, who is also a member of the GRDB Board, said the Board met on Wednesday to once again discuss the issue of the infestation of the bugs in the rice-producing regions.

The GRDB last week said that it received assistance from its international partner, the Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice, also known as FLAR, to tackle the current infestation of paddy bugs. The two-man team from FLAR consists of entomologist and researcher, Dr Ed Pulver along with agricultural engineer Santiago Jaramillo Cardona.

More than 62,000 acres are under rice cultivation in Region Six. The cultivation areas are Moleson Creek, Crabwood Creek, the 5274 area, Black Bush Polder, Central Corentyne, East and West Canje and the East Bank.

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saturday, august 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

CSME is not a dream – Caricom’s Assistant SG

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he Caricom single market and economy (CSME) and Caricom s is not a fantasy but a concrete situation that is moving forward. This is according to Caricom s’s Assistant Secretary-General in the Directorate for Trade and Economic Integration, Joseph Cox. Speaking on CNC3’s the Morning Brew, Cox said, “First of all, for those who say that we’re in a dream, I would urge them to wake up, because guess what, it’s a reality and it’s happening.”

Cox continued, “Is it happening at the speed at which

you hoped? Of course not.”

An economist by trade, Cox said that the CSME is in a process of negotiation. He noted that all of the countries in the region are not at the same level of development and therefore, a process must be undergone to have the CSME functioning successfully.

Cox said, “CSME is not a goal it’s a process because you are moving towards establishment of a single market and economy.” He noted that along the way to creating a more efficient and effective CSME there would be gains.

Caricom s’s Assistant Secretary-General in the Directorate for Trade and Economic Integration, Joseph Cox

Peter Fonda dies P

eter Fonda, the star, co-writer and producer of the 1969 cult classic Easy Rider, has died at the age of 79.

In a statement, his family said he suffered respiratory failure due to lung cancer, and died peacefully at home in Los Angeles.

His older sister Jane Fonda added: “I am very sad. He was my sweet-hearted baby brother. The talker of the family.

“I have had beautiful alone time with him these last days. He went out laughing.”

Peter Fonda was part of a veteran Hollywood family.

As well as being the brother of Jane Fonda, he was also the son of actor Henry

Fonda, and was married to Bridget, also an actor.

Easy Rider, in which Fonda appeared alongside its director Dennis Hopper and a young Jack Nicholson, became a cult classic and earned Fonda an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Fonda played a biker in the film - a role he would take up a number of times throughout his career.

The film, the first counterculture movie to be a huge hit, touched a nerve for America’s youth, the BBC’s Peter Bowes reports from Los Angeles.

Goodfellas actress Illeana Douglas tweeted a tribute to Fonda, and to the film - which she said “depict-

Bids received for...

This project was retendered under the Department of Environment, Ministry of the Presidency after no bids were received on July 23, when the project first came up at the Tender Board.

Several notices were published in the newspapers prior to that bidding process, however, no contractors expressed their interest.

The Zoological Park is long overdue a facelift.

The zoo has been in quite a state for some time now.

Many were excited by the news of the rehabilitation, which would hopefully help to restore the zoo to its former glory.

Former Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, who had the responsibility for Guyana’s tourism, had announced plans to construct a safari-type facility for the remaining animals back in March of this year.

According to him, the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC) was considering this type of structure for the animals.

However, the contract which will be signed soon could put contractors at risk, given that moves made by the caretaker Government following the successful passage of the No-Confidence Motion, are dubbed “illegal”.

Only recently, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) said that the un-

certain footing of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government has put Private Sector contracts with the State at risk.

The PSC had slammed the behaviour of President David Granger and his Government, who despite being toppled by a NoConfidence Motion, have been criticised for seeming reluctant to go to the polls and comply with the Constitution and Court rul-

ed the rise of hippie culture, condemned the establishment, and celebrated freedom”.

Almost 30 years later he was nominated for another Oscar - this time, in the Best Actor category for his 1997 film Ulee’s Gold.

Later in life he put his efforts into environmentalism, and in 2012 he co-produced The Big Fix - a film about the explosion of the BP oil rig Deepwater Horizon.

“While we mourn the loss of this sweet and gracious man, we also wish for all to celebrate his indomitable spirit and love of life,” the family’s statement said.

“In honour of Peter, please raise a glass to freedom.” (BBC)

from page 11

ings.

“It is the Private Sector’s view that the President, by his behaviour, has put at risk all Private Sector entities and other organisations made subject to contracts and any other action authorised by the Cabinet, by presuming them to be legal. The Private Sector Commission has, therefore, advised its members to seek legal advice in this regard,” the Commission stated.

According to Cox, gains have already been made including the multi-lateral services agreement, the protocol of contingent rights and “considerable advances in renewable energy.”

Cox expressed that the issues being addressed through the single market and economy initiatives are

not dreams, but imperatives.

He noted that collaboration is necessary for CARICOM to stand up against issues like unfair treatment by the European Union against the region around the matter of de-risking.

Cox continued to say that a united region, though small in size is powerful on the international level. He said, “Just remember one thing, when you go to international fora, we do have political might.”

Addressing the forex shortage in the country, Cox said, “You have to look at increasing the retention rates of your foreign exchange.”

He continued by using the example of tourism, noting that many countries have not retained the forex that has entered its nations.

Cox noted, “I think the highest retention rate I have seen in recent times is

30 cents to the dollar. Most of that doesn’t even stay in the country, and sometimes doesn’t even come in the country.”

In order to rectify this issue, Cox said that a mechanism or framework must be put in place to facilitate greater “utilization or retention of what you would actually earn.”

While Cox mentioned that there is “no one size fits all” mechanism, he gave the example of encouraging hotels to buy from more local suppliers instead of importing goods.

Cox added that there is substantial leakage in the Caribbean. He also called for a revisiting of incentive programs that are used to attract foreign investment.

Cox said, “In a lot of cases we are incentivising activity that would have happened anyway.” (T&T Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, august 17, 2019

16

Regional

Jamaica signs international 3 killed in Trinidad, children rescued mediation treaty

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amaica is among 46 countries that recently signed a new United Nations (UN) international treaty on mediation in Singapore, at a conference organised by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and the Singapore Ministry of Law. At the opening ceremony for the signing of the UN Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation — also called the “Singapore Convention on Mediation” — last week Wednesday, country representatives also discussed emerging issues relating to business, international trade and dispute resolution.

Jamaica’s Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, who inked the agreement

for Jamaica, headed a delegation that included his Ministry’s Chief Technical Director Grace Ann Stewart McFarlane, Legal Services Director Karen Wilson, and Christopher Malcolm, Secretary General, Jamaica International Arbitration Centre (JAIAC).

The conference focused on mediation as an important commercial dispute resolution tool and its future as a critical component of the global dispute management eco-system.

Under the agreement, JAIAC, with support from the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), says it is committed to the build out of a robust framework for the effective management of commercial and other disputes.

The framework is expect-

ed to complement the local court system, using mediation and other mechanisms which focus on dispute avoidance and the prevention of unnecessary escalation of disputes.

According to the JAIAC, its approach will “avoid disruption of business operations and lessen the impairment of balance sheets with difficult to predict contingent liabilities related to, for example, ongoing litigation.

It should also result in tangible cost-saving and profit-maximising benefits for the commercial sector and will promote Jamaica as a place where optimal participation in international trade, investment and commerce is fully supported by a well-considered dispute management eco-system.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Police direct traffic near the scene of a triple murder in Penal, Trinidad on Thursday [Photo by: Kevon Felmine]

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ightmarish scenes gripped 21-year-old Vishard Mohammed as he walked into his parents’ home on Thursday and found their decomposing corpses on the floor of their living room.

Alongside the bodies of Shelly-Ann Ragoonanan,

43 and Wazir Mohammed, 57, was the body of his uncle 52-year-old Nazim Mohammed.

Their bodies all bore gunshot wounds. The tragedy rocked the Clarke Road, Penal community and neighbours rejoiced that the murderers spared the

lives of Vishard’s four-yearold sister and eight-monthold brother who sat among the stench of rotting bodies that could be smelt from the roadway.

Their deaths were among five murders Thursday, taking the murder count to 339 for the year.

In Petit Valley, Trinidad, Timothy Owen was shot dead. According to Police, around 10:00h, residents of School Street saw Owen lying on the roadway bleeding from wounds to his head and chest. He died on the scene.

In Arima, Police said around 16:00h relatives of Mofeed Baksh went to his home at Llanos Street in search of him and found him dead. His throat was slit.

Homicide detectives assigned to the eerie murder mystery in Penal believed the victims were killed since Sunday. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Mexico does not want El Paso shooter executed Mexico to deport US citizen suspected of P supporting ‘violent jihad’

resident Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Friday that Mexico does not want the El Paso shooter who killed 22 people – targeting Mexicans – to be executed, and will seek to extradite him from the United States.

The confessed shooter in the mass killing in the Texas border city, 21-yearold Patrick Crusius, faces the death penalty in the US. Lopez Obrador, an anti-establishment leftist, said that while Mexico condemns Crusius’ “reprehensible, abominable” crimes, it does not want to see him put to death.

“Our Constitution does

This CCTV image courtesy of KTSM 9 News Channel, shows the gunman identified as Patrick Crusius, 21, entering the Cielo Vista Walmart store in El Paso on August 3, 2019

not allow the death penalty.

We do not want the death penalty, as a matter of con-

viction. Life imprisonment does not exist (in Mexico), either,” he told a press con-

ference.

“I have given instructions to explore the possibility of requesting this person’s extradition,” he added.

“We do not want impunity. We want the punishment to be exemplary.... It should serve as an example that human beings must end such acts. These irrational acts of extreme hate are not good for the United States or any country” Crusius published an online manifesto before the August 3 shooting in which he vowed to fight a “Hispanic invasion” of the US. When he later confessed to the killings, he told police he had been targeting “Mexicans.”

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Bolsonaro angry as Norway stops funding Amazon protection

Since the start of Bolsonaro’s term last year, deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon has surged, with no plans of it slowing down in coming years [Photo by: Nacho Doce /Reuters]

B

razilian President Jair Bolsonaro has reacted angrily to a decision by Norway to stop funding projects to curb deforestation in Brazil after its right-wing government blocked operations of a fund receiving the aid.

“Isn’t Norway that country that kills whales up there in the North Pole?” he

told reporters after Norway said it would halt the payment of about $33m. “Take that money and help Angela Merkel reforest Germany”.

Germany has suspended 35M euros ($39M) in funding of new Ministry of Environment projects aimed at Amazon preservation in Brazil, due to concerns over the increasing deforestation.

For more than a decade, Norway has worked closely with Brazil to protect the Amazon rainforest, donating more than $1.2B into the Amazon Fund, to which it is by far the biggest donor.

However, following changes by Bolsonaro’s Government that changed the fund’s governance structure and closed down the steering committee that selects the projects to back, Norway decided to halt its funding.

Norway’s Minister of Climate and Environment Ola Elvestuen confirmed to local media the funding had been stopped because Brazil broke its agreement with Norway and Germany by closing down the board of the Amazon Fund and its technical committee.

So far, no formal proposal for the composition of a new committee has been made.

Brazil is home to 60 per cent of the Amazon, which

is the world’s largest tropical rainforest and is seen as vital to the global fight against climate change. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

M

exican authorities arrested a US citizen suspected of supporting militant Islamists in an example of Mexico’s security cooperation with the United States even as the two neighbours grapple with sharp disagreements over trade and migration.

The unidentified American man sought by Interpol was under investigation for supporting terrorist groups and will be deported to the United States later on Friday, the Mexico’s Attorney General’s office said in a statement.

The man was detained at a migrant’s office near Mexico’s border with Guatemala in the town of Huehuetan with the help of officials from

Mexico’s National Migration Institute.

The statement highlighted information from US security officials stating that “the foreigner has probably expressed support for violent jihad and radical Islam on digital platforms”.

Mexican authorities did not disclose when the arrest was made or any other details of the man’s activities in the country.

The case comes as tens of thousands of mostly Central American migrants have been crossing through Mexico in an attempt to reach the United States, with President Donald Trump pressuring the Mexican Government to do more to reduce the flow.

(Reuters)

Barbados: No evidence of intruder

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here is no evidence to suggest there was an intruder when British visitor Natalie Crichlow was burnt in a house fire.

Crichlow, 44, who arrived in Barbados on July 15 to look after her brother Ashton Clarke, suffered burns over 75 per cent of her body on July 28 and succumbed to injuries on August 6.

Headlines in the British media claim she was murdered in Barbados after being doused with a flammable substance and set alight while she was in bed at his home in Sargeant’s Village, Christ Church.

The mother of three was allegedly attacked by an unknown intruder.

However, Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith said this

did not correspond with evidence they collected and interviews they conducted.

Griffith, who was attending Government’s post-cabinet press briefing at Government Headquarters earlier today, outlined some of the steps they took.

He said they spoke to British health adviser Linda Beaumont, who was also in Barbados, and had custody of Crichlow’s nine-year-old son.

They had a video call around 12:15 on the day in question so Crichlow could give directions to the house and the latter was said to be cooking at the time.

Beaumont also made a second call to Crichlow.

The galvanised fence, which is more than eight feet high, was fully intact prior to the blaze and the lone gate

could only be opened from the inside.

Griffith said this was also supported by high quality Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage from a nearby home which did not show anyone entering the house hours before the incident took place.

Evidence showed the fire was concentrated in the kitchen and not in the bedroom, and this was reflected in the CCTV footage.

Police also interviewed the workmen who rescued Crichlow.

Investigators said there was no smell of an accelerant, either in the house or on her clothes, but there was a gas bottle with a melted gas head in the kitchen. Griffith did not draw any conclusions. (Excerpt from

Barbados Nation News)

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, august 17, 2019

17

Around the World

Schools, telephone lines to reopen Zimbabwe protests: Opposition MDC backs in Kashmir after lockdown

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uthorities began restoring some telephone lines in Indian Kashmir on Friday night, the top state official said, as heavy security prevented some protests in the region’s main city of Srinagar from getting out of control.

Telephone and internet links were cut and public assembly banned in Kashmir just before New Delhi removed the decades-old autonomy the Muslim majority territory enjoyed under the Indian Constitution. The measures were aimed at preventing protests.

India has battled a 30-year revolt in

Jammu and Kashmir in which at least 50,000 people have been killed. Critics say the decision to revoke the region’s autonomy will cause further alienation and fuel the armed resistance.

The move has raised tensions on the heavily militarised border of Kashmir between India and Pakistan, which both claim all of the divided region. Islamabad said three of its soldiers were killed in cross-border firing.

Pakistan summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad to condemn what it said were “unprovoked ceasefire violations.” India has accused Pakistan of violating the

ceasefire.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan discussed the crisis on Friday by telephone with US President Donald Trump, Pakistani and US officials said. Trump reaffirmed the US position that nuclear-armed Pakistan and India should reduce tensions through “bilateral dialogue,” said White House spokesman Hogan Gidley.

While Pakistan has sought to internationalise the issue, India says the territorial dispute must be resolved bilaterally and calls the situation on its side of the border an internal affair.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Greenland: Trump warned that island cannot be bought from Denmark

Greenland is an autonomous Danish territory between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans

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reenland has said it is “not for sale” after President Donald Trump stated that he would like the US to buy the world’s biggest island.

The President is said to have discussed the idea of purchasing Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, during dinners and meet-

ings with advisers.

But Greenland’s Government dismissed the idea, saying: “We’re open for business, not for sale.”

Trump’s plans have also been quickly dismissed by politicians in Denmark. “It must be an April Fool’s Day joke...but totally out of [season]!”, tweeted former

Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which first reported the news, said Trump had spoken about the purchase with “varying degrees of seriousness”.

Officials in Greenland have insisted that the island is not on the market.

“Greenland is rich in valuable resources such as minerals, the purest water and ice, fish stocks, seafood, renewable energy and is a new frontier for adventure tourism. We’re open for business, not for sale,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement shared on social media.

Greenland is the largest island in the world (after Australia, which is defined as a continent in its own right). It is an autonomous Danish territory, located between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans.

More than 80 per cent of the island is covered by an ice cap which is feared to be melting due to global warming.

The ice melt has increased access to the island’s mineral resources.

But it’s also believed that the receding ice may expose toxic nuclear waste that was left at several US military sites during the Cold War.

down after Police ban

Police dispersed protesters who came out before the Opposition suspended the gathering

Z

imbabwe’s main Opposition group has called off anti-Government protests in the capital Harare at the last minute, after failing to overturn a police ban.

However, protesters who had already gathered in the city were violently dispersed

by Police. Several were hurt.

The Opposition said the ban exposed the “fascist” Government’s true colours.

The demonstration was called in protest at the Government’s handling of the economy, but Police said they had evidence it could turn violent.

There is a heavy Police presence and the city centre is subdued, with most shops closed.

About five million Zimbabweans are in need of food aid, according to the UN. Some opposition supporters had already gathered,

singing songs condemning police brutality, by the time the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) announced the suspension.

Police quickly moved in to disperse the crowds, firing tear gas.

Video and still pictures from the scene show officers beating protesters with batons as they chased them from the streets.

Several people were seen lying on the ground motionless and receiving medical attention.

“This is worse than during colonial times,” AFP quoted one man as saying.

“We aren’t armed but the police just beat us while we were sitting on the street.”

The demonstrations were called to protest at Zimbabwe’s worsening economic situation. Power cuts last for up to 18 hours a day and inflation is on the rise.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Vietnam demands Chinese ship leave its exclusive Pakistan: Deadly bomb blast targets economic zone Friday prayers in Quetta V (Excerpt from BBC News)

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powerful bomb went off inside a mosque during Friday prayers in southwest Pakistan, killing at least four people and wounding 20, adding the death toll could rise.

Police said the imam of the mosque, located in the town of Kuchlak some 25km from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, was killed in the explosion.

“The blast was carried out through a timed device that was planted under the wooden chair of the prayer leader,” Quetta’s chief of police Abdul Razzaq Chmeea told Reuters news agency.

Cheema added that the wounded were taken to nearby hospitals in Quetta, No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.

Rich in mineral and fuel resources, Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest and

The blast was the result of a timed device planted under the chair of the prayer leader

least populated province.

It has seen regular violence in recent years, with attacks claimed by Baloch separatists, Pakistani Taliban and local affiliates of the Islamic State of Iraq

and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) group.

Balochistan is seeing a number of new infrastructure projects launched, including the port at Gwadar, as part of the $60

billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, a joint venture between the Pakistani and Chinese Governments. (Excerpt

from A Jazeera)

ietnam has demanded that China remove an oil survey vessel and its escorts from the Southeast Asian country’s exclusive economic zone, amid a month-long standoff in waters seen as a potential global flashpoint as the United States challenges Beijing’s maritime claims.

“Vietnam has made contact with China to protest its repeated violations and demanded that China withdraw the vessel group from Vietnamese waters,” Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said in a statement.

At least five Chinese coast guard ships were escorting the survey vessel, and at least two Vietnamese navy vessels were following the group of Chinese ships as of late Friday, according to data from Marine Traffic, a website that tracks vessel movements.

The Haiyang Dizhi 8 first entered the zone under

Chinese coast guard escort in July and appeared to conduct a seismic survey of waters there.

The latest impasse has fuelled anti-Chinese sentiment in Vietnam, where previous tension between Beijing and Hanoi over the disputed waters has triggered protests.

Last week, Police broke up a brief protest outside China’s embassy in Hanoi against the operations of the survey vessel and its escorts.

After the Haiyang Dizhi 8 left Vietnam’s EEZ on Aug 7, the survey ship docked at Fiery Cross Reef, a manmade island controlled by China and built on a disputed South China Sea reef claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines.

Hang said in her Friday statement that Vietnam is determined to protect its legitimate and legal interests in the area. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURday, AUGUST 17, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES

A chance to invest in

(March 21- something with a loved one April 19) looks promising. Explore a

personal relationship and the possibilitie of starting something that will encourage it to grow.

TAURUS Look, listen and be pre(April 20- pared to sit tight. If you act May 20) in haste, you are likely to make a mistake. Discipline will pay off and buy you time to figure out your next move.

dilbert

Someone will withhold GEMINI information.

Be observant (May 21June 20) as well as reluctant to get involved with anyone who may have ulterior motives.

Focus on home, family and romance.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Check for new opportunities and ways to use your skills in an enjoyable manner. A partnership should bring out the best in you, not hold you back.

Family time or doing something with a loved one is encouraged. Don’t feel that you must spend a lot of money to have fun. A positive attitude is all you need.

Explore your options.

VIRGO (Aug. 23- Do something that pumps Sept. 22) you up and encourages you to try something new.

Embrace change, but don’t discard what’s been important to you in the past.

Calvin and Hobbes

Be careful whom you trust with personal information, (Sept. 23- passwords or your possesOct. 23) sions. Not everyone will have the same set of rules or standards as you. Personal improvement and romance are highlighted.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Someone will use personal information against you if you share it unwisely. Stick to the truth, but divulge only what’s necessary. Look for solutions instead of contributing to a problem.

Someone will use emoSAGITTARIUS tional tactics to persuade (Nov. 23you to do or see things his or Dec. 21) her way. Personal growth, romance and opportunity are within reach. Don’t let anyone discourage you.

THURSDAY’S WORD

solution for THURSDAY’S puzzle

If someone makes an unCAPRICORN expected change, prepare (Dec. 22to protect yourself against Jan. 19) any fallout that might occur.

Know your limits and set boundaries.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Consider what’s best for you before you give in to someone’s whim. You’d be foolish to miss out on an opportunity that could raise your standard of living or enhance your personal life.

PISCES Let your imagina(Feb. 20- tion wander, but don’t get March 20) mixed up in a harebrained idea that has no substance.

Choose to do something that you find relaxing.

saturday, august 17, 2019

19

Archer claims maiden Test wicket as England take upper hand A

Thirty runs had been added without much bother when nother 74 overs were lost as the rain descended as promised in the early afternoon. This enhances the Archer, with his surprisingly short, casual run-up, cruised chances of a rare drawn Test in this country – there in to Bancroft. This time the ball jagged down the hill and struck the pads. Up went umpire Aleem Dar’s finger and has been only one in the last 34 here.

That outcome is still by no means guaranteed, however, Bancroft soon asked for a review. So there was an agonising and the captains will ensure none of the players is seduced wait for Archer before his first Test wicket became a realinto concluding the draw is inevitable – and with good rea- ity. No doubt he would have preferred the sight of Smith’s son. In the 21st century batsmen are less adept at batting stumps cartwheeling towards the wicketkeeper but the deout for a draw and there are still 196 overs available in the parture of Bancroft after an umpire’s review would do.

Following this breakthrough England were impressively second Ashes Test.

There is plenty of evidence that bat- disciplined. There was barely a free run on offer. Three balls ting for survival does not suit the mental- later Khawaja nibbled at a Woakes delivery and the nick ity of England’s lineup; there was a stark carried into Jonny Bairstow’s gloves. So far in this match no reminder of that on the final day of the edge has reached the fielders in the slips. In England’s corprevious Test at Edgbaston. Nor are don Jason Roy has been stationed at second slip since the start of the Edgbaston Test without receiving a single Australia impregnable in these circumchance. Who knows whether he can catch there but stances, especially if their mighty totem is no longer tiptoeing across he has certainly looked the part. the crease. At the moment Steve After Archer had completed a seven-over spell, which yielded only Smith is still there going about his eight runs as well as business as expertly as ever, playing Bancroft’s wicket, he a different game from those at the other was replaced by Broad, end. He is still 127 runs short of his vulnerable period, so easily identified after Edgbaston, who nearly always bowls in the 140s. round the wicket to left-handers now. He has become adept at this as he Even so, it may well be that Australia are the readiseeks to move the ball towards the slip corer of the sides to settle for the draw. In the 24.1 overs don though this method is a tacit acknowledgpossible in the morning session England took three ment that his ability to swing the ball into the wickets for 50 runs under darkening skies. It was a good time to bowl on a pitch devoid of much pace, though not pads of left-handers is a distant memory. No entirely trustworthy, and England exploited the condimatter; he can still torment them from this antions efficiently enough. gle. Soon one of his deliveries thudded into the pads of Travis Head. Dar was just about to Not much happened for 40 minutes. Joe Root began pull the trigger but then paused and changed with Stuart Broad at the Nursery End with Jofra his mind, an unnecessary precaution. The reArcher gliding in from the old pavilion. Cameron Bancroft, quick to move on to the front foot, was view demonstrated the ball was hitting the nonetheless hellbent on survival. Usman middle of middle. By now the bowlers were in Khawaja, who is barely capable of playing the groove. Matthew Wade, normally a skittish batsman, faced 23 deliveries without scoring bean inelegant stroke, scored a few runs fore lunch, which was taken five minutes early as down to fine-leg off Broad and then, afthe clouds thickened and the drizzle began. ter the introduction of Chris Woakes at his favoured Nursery End, through All the while Smith stood firm at the other Jofra Archer the covers. end. He was as calm as ever until the threat

No need to get rid of Gayle, insists Richards

W

est Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards insists that star batsman Chris Gayle could be allowed to retire on his own terms provided he continues to perform at a high level.

The 39-year-old Windies star was thought to have retired following the third One Day International (ODI) against India earlier this week. Ahead of the match, talk in some quarters surrounded the batsman continued presence in the team, particularly after a poor performance at the ICC World Cup and a combined total of 15 in the two prior games.

The big lefthander, however,

gave a stirring response to his critics with a smashing 72 off just 41 deliveries. In addition, Gayle insisted that he had not announced his retirement follow-

ing the series, creating a conundrum for the selectors in upcoming ODI series. West Indies bowling legend Curtly Ambrose had suggested that Gayle should step aside to allow the team to focus on new talent, with the next World Cup in mind. Richards, however, believes Gayle could still be a valuable contributor to the Windies squad.

“Over the years Chris has been a brilliant batsman.

The only worrying thing I have would have with Chris now is if we cannot see the performances that we did in Port of Spain,” Richards said in an exclusive SportsMax Zone interview.

“We can agree that one particular thing is that he is not as mobile in the field as when he was younger but if he can put in those types of performances that in my opinion would suggest that we can still have him around to add that type of experience,” he added.

“I love to see class, I appreciate class and Chris brings this. If he cannot perform like he did on a consistent basis well then we can start thinking other things like whether he Chris Gayle should be there or not.” (Sportsmax)

3

SCOREBOARD

England 1st innings – 258 Australia 1st Innings CT Bancroft lbw b Archer 13 DA Warner b Broad 3 UT Khawaja c †Bairstow b Woakes 36 SPD Smith not out 13 TM Head lbw b Broad 7 MS Wade not out 0 Extras (b 4, lb 4) 8 TOTAL (37.1 Overs, RR: 2.15) 80-4 Yet to bat: TD Paine (c) †, PJ Cummins, PM Siddle, NM Lyon, JR Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-11 (David Warner, 4.2 ov), 2-60 (Cameron Bancroft, 22.5 ov), 3-60 (Usman Khawaja, 23.2 ov), 4-71 (Travis Head, 30.1 ov) BOWLING SCJ Broad (13-3-26-2) JC Archer (13-6-18-1) CR Woakes (9-3-27-1) BA Stokes (2.1-1-1-0)

Australia 1st Innings CT Bancroft lbw b Archer 13 DA Warner b Broad 3 UT Khawaja c †Bairstow b Woakes 36 SPD Smith not out 13 TM Head lbw b Broad 7 MS Wade not out 0 Extras 8 (b 4, lb 4) TOTAL 80/4 (37.1 Overs, RR: 2.15) Yet to bat: TD Paine (c) †, PJ Cummins, PM Siddle, NM Lyon, JR Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-11 (David Warner, 4.2 ov), 2-60 (Cameron Bancroft, 22.5 ov), 3-60 (Usman Khawaja, 23.2 ov), 4-71 (Travis Head, 30.1 ov) BOWLING O M R W SCJ Broad 13 3 26 2 JC Archer 13 6 18 1 CR Woakes 9 3 27 1 BA Stokes 2.1 1 1 0

had passed when there might be his exaggerated, puppet-on-a-string movement as the ball entered the gloves of Bairstow.

At least England made him work hard, which is an important part of the battle. He had scored 13 runs from 40 balls during the morning session with two boundaries, a pull from a rare poor delivery from Woakes and a typically exasperating leg glance off a straight ball from Broad.

Smith must start again on Saturday morning and his side will be confident of matching England’s total only if he remains at the crease. (The Guardian)

Griffith aims for Mr Guyana glory

By Timothy Jaikarran

A

t the conclusion of the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation competition, Carlos Peterson-Griffith found himself on the winning end, as he defended his title in the heavy weight category.

This then earned him a shot at the Mr Guyana title, in which he came in third.

In a sit-down with this publication Peterson said, “When it comes to certain areas, preparation was great, it was up to par.

The only thing that was a bit off was my posing, I caught cramp twice on stage but nevertheless I was able to place amongst the top three for Mr Guyana. Now that everything is over, I will continue training as its now the time to go back to the drawing board. It’s not all about getting bigger and stronger, it’s about symmetry and what condition because I was the biggest one on stage and I didn’t have that much symmetry but I was able to defend my title in the heavy weight category”.

Griffith also noted that in terms of training, it required a lot of hard work— such as intense training, changes in diet and a lot of dedication.

Griffith also related that while he is happy to retain his category, he will now be focused on capturing the title of Mr Guyana in the future.

Griffith, who is known for his powerlifting abilities, opined that things were not a bed of roses for someone like him since he was made to focus on dieting and conditioning, which is not required in powerlifting.

Carlos Peterson-Griffith

However, he conveyed that even though he had challenges, he was able to keep his focus, noting that this is just the icing on the cake for him as he expects more in the future.

In closing Griffith said, “I would love to say thank you to Fitness Express, Space Gym and few other people who want to remain private for the support in and out cause without them and most of all God almighty for bringing me this far. For now, it’s back to training and focusing on the slack screws and be a bit better”.

20

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saturday, august 17, 2019

Marslowe confident Bartica football will return to its prime

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he football action in Bartica is at a constant high, with the Bartica Football Association (BFA) seeing the conclusion of its senior league and their futsal team travelling to Georgetown to participate in the recently concluded Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” National Championship.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, President of the BFA, Alden Marslowe, when asked of his thoughts on their season of football said, “The Bartica Association has always been a part of national championships, and in years gone by, we have done really well. In recent years, we have not done so well because of long periods of inactivity here. We are venturing to turn that around now. Our top club, Rivers View, has been going out to represent at national tournaments and while they have not returned too many favourable spoils, we still have seen improvements. The club is in high preparation for this upcoming GFF Cup and we look forward to making a big mark on this inaugural event”.

Marslowe also stated that the level of football in Bartica has definitely improved from 2018, and he says that they will now focus their attention towards maintaining fitness for the upcoming GFF cup.

He also said football at Bartica has been down for many years, and this is causing sponsors to take a while to respond to requests for assistance. But now that the BFA is up and running again, he is optimistic that new sponsors would be pledging to assist football in Bartica. He related that the BFA has, however, has been getting support from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and its partners, which include FIFA and Corporate Guyana.

The BFA President has promised that the BFA would continue to engage sponsors in a bid to convince them that football in Bartica

BFA President Alden Marslowe handing the winning trophy to Potaro Strikers in the recently-concluded GFF-KFC U-20 Knockout Football tournament

is “alive and kicking”. He said the BFA was at one point among the top associations in Bartica, and he is confident that, in good time,

football will again occupy the exalted position it once did.

Niran Bissu: the perfect example of balancing sport and academics N

iran Nehemiah Bissu is no stranger to sport. In fact, the diminutive Guyana under-17 cricketer and table tennis player is the perfect example of balancing sport and academics.

After his years of tuition at the St Rose’s High School, Bissu sat the recent Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, and his impressive results were seven grade ones, three grade twos and two grade threes.

He has recorded grade ones in Technical Drawing, Mathematics, Industrial Technology, Physics, Information Technology, Physical Education and English Language; while his grade twos are in Additional Mathematics, ‘English B’ and Geography, and his grade threes are in Chemistry and Spanish.

Speaking exclusively with this daily pub-

lication, Bissu expressed delight with his efforts. He said balancing sports and academics has become routine to him.

Bissu has, in successive years, represented Guyana at Cricket West Indies Regional Under-17 championships, with his most recent appearance there being in 2019.

He disclosed that he began playing cricket at club level when he was approximately 12 years old, and continued playing the game with his father when he was a youngster.

Bissu has a best bowling figure of 6-4 in four overs, bowling his impressive leg-spin.

He disclosed that his dream season came in the 2018 Inter County tournament, wherein he took 10 wickets in three matches for Demerara, and had three ‘player of the match’ performances.

His tennis career, he said, began when

he was attending Mae’s Primary School.

“The (PE) Physical Education teacher introduced me to the game, and I just kept playing”, Bissu disclosed.

He added that he started training with Dwain Dick at the Titans Table Tennis Club.

“I got better,” he said. “I first represented Guyana at age seven at Pre-Cadet Caribbean Table Tennis Championship”.

Bissu has expressed gratitude to his entire family, all his teachers, and especially to the Almighty, for supporting and guiding him down a successful path.

His encouragement to students and athletes is: work hard to achieve your goals.

“You can do anything if you put your mind to it”, Bissu encourages.

Born on June 29, 2003, Bissu resides at Lot 3212 Phase III Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Niran Bissu

Argos Cement, National Hardware renew sponsorship of Santos FC

A

rgos Cement, in collaboration with National Hardware Limited, has renewed their sponsorship with Santos Football Club’s Elite League Team.

In the cement industry, Argos is the leader in Colombia and the fourth largest in the southeast of the United States.

The sponsorship will aid in the team’s participation in the new season of the GFF

Elite League.

This Relationship between Santos FC and Argos Cement has been ongoing for the past 3 years. This corporate support will greatly contribute to the advancement of the Goals of the Club.

Santos FC qualified for the GFF Elite League in January 2019 and ended the season ranked sixth in the ten team tournament.

Jose Guillermo Araujo, Argos Marketing Representative; Juan Gonzales, Head of Marketing Argos; Ramesh Persaud, President of Santos FC, and Edward Boyer, CEO of National Hardware.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, august 17, 2019

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Foster urges cricketers to always strive for excellence C

ricket development and investment in youths continue at a very high rate in the ancient county of Berbice, with the hosting of three cricket academies at Albion, Tucber Park and Blairmont Cricket Grounds. Seventy of Berbice top junior and female cricketers are attending the 2nd annual Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Cricket Academy, organised by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) at the historic Albion Community Centre Ground; while the Tucber Park Cricket Club and Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club are also hosting cricket camps for their members at their respective grounds.

The BCB camp started on Tuesday, August 13, and will conclude on Saturday, August 18, 2019. A panel of coaches and administrators— including Cricket West Indies Level Three Coaches Winston Smith, Delbert Hicks, Balram Samaroo, Leslie Solomon and Ameer Rahaman— are working with the youths, while BCB Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu is the Director of the camp.

Naidu noted that the BCB, with the support from Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, is investing into the development of the young cricketers, who are all available to represent Berbice next year.

The main objectives are to correct technical problems,

Coaches and members of the BCB Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Cricket Academy

educate the youths on the history, tradition and rules of the game, and to inform them on their roles as role models/sport ambassadors.

BCB President Hilbert Foster visited the Academy twice during the opening day and urged the youths to take advantage of the numerous opportunities being given to them by the most vibrant Cricket Board in Guyana. The BCB, he stated, would continue to invest heavily into the development of every youth as it strives to make sure that the rich legacy of Kanhai, Butcher, Trim and Solomon is upholding.

As he has done throughout the last nineteen

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months since his election, Foster spoke broadly on the importance of education, personal discipline, team unity, faith in God, and the need to choose friends carefully. The energetic President who has spearheaded an overhaul of Berbice Cricket was also involved in a ninety-minute classroom session with the youths. Topics covered included history of Berbice cricket, peer pressure and basic public manners.

Head Coach Winston Smith stated that special emphasis would be placed on improving the standard of batting, wicket keeping and fielding, while the coaches would also work

closely with young fast bowlers and spinners. All of the players at the end of the Academy should also be better prepared to take control of their personal fitness.

Earlier in the day, the BCB President also declared open the first ever Cricket Academy of the New Amsterdam-based Tucber Park Cricket Club. The Academy, at the launching, attracted about 35 young cricketers and among the Coaches attached to the camp are Anthony D’Andrade and Tremayne Smartt.

Foster congratulated the Club for investing in membership and pledged

his assistance. He urged the youths to put into practice what they have learnt and to do a lot of research on the history of the game.

The BCB President handed over a quantity of items to assist the Club to host the Academy.

The donation included cricket balls, school bags, cases of drinks, trophies, educational materials, exercise books, educational posters, youth information booklets, and special prizes for the top three players. The President spoke to the youths and made a donation to the Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club.

Bravo, Campbell Sarfaraz departs for Parapan selected for tour match against India American Games

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Gibran Sarfaraz will be donning the Guyanese colours

G

uyana will be competing at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru, under the umbrella of the National Paralympics Committee of Guyana.

Guyana was given a quote of four, consisting of two para-athletes and two officials. Well recognised senior cyclist Walter Grant-Stuart and the ever-improving table tennis sensation Gibran Sarfaraz will be representing the Guyanese colours with assistance from Wilton Spencer – Chef de Mission and Table Tennis Coach, Linden Johnson.

Spencer, Johnson and Sarfaraz are scheduled to depart Guyana today, while Grant- Stuart will follow at a later date.

The Paralympics Committee wishes to extend a hearty thank you to the International Paralympics Committee, Guyana Olympics Association and National Sports Commission, who are responsible for equipping the delegation for the Games.

T

est duo Darren Bravo and John Campbell have been included in a 14-member West Indies “A” squad for the three-day, Tour Match against India, starting today at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua.

Bravo and Campbell are part of the West Indies Test squad that will play against the Indians in the two-Test MyTeam11 Series, co-sponsored by Skoda and KEI, starting on August 22 at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.

This Series forms part of the new ICC World Test Championship to find the best Test team in the world.

The duo played key roles in West Indies winning back the Wisden Trophy from England with the Test Series triumph in February and this match will help them gain valuable practice to get match-ready to face Virat Kohli’s side ahead of the first Test, starting this coming Thursday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

Full squad: Jahmar Hamilton (Captain), Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Jonathan Carter, Akim Fraser, Keon Harding,

Kavem Hodge, Brandon King, Jason Mohammed, Marquino Mindley, Khary Pierre, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Jeremy Solozano Team Management Unit: Esuan Crandon (Head Coach), Andrew Richardson (Assistant Coach), Andre Coley (Assistant Coach), Neil Barry, Jr (Physiotherapist), Gregory Seale (Strength & Conditioning Coach)

22

saturday, august 17, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Lara, Sarwan to work with West Indies batsmen – during camp ahead of India Test Series

B

rian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan, two former West Indies captains, will join the West Indies team’s preparation ahead of the upcoming MyTeam11 Test Series against India.

Brian Lara is one of the greatest batsmen of all time, and Ramnaresh Sarwan is one of the leading players of his generation. They will be part of the pre-series camp to be held in Antigua ahead of the first Test match against India. There they will share their immense knowledge, experience and expertise with the members of the 13-member squad, ahead of the MyTeam11 Series which is co-sponsored by Skoda and KEI. West Indies and India will play two Tests: from August 22 to 26 at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in North Sound, Antigua; and from August 30 to September

3 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

Jimmy Adams, Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Director of Cricket, is grateful to Lara and Sarwan for coming on board and offering their time to interact with the young batsmen, as they get ready for this crucial two-match series which will signal the start of the new ICC World Test Championship (WTC) for both teams.

“We have some good young batsman in the team who we believe will form the future of West Indies cricket. We saw some very good signs of development earlier this year in the Test matches, when we played so very well to beat England; and we want to see them grow and become outstanding players for the West Indies,” Adams said.

“We have taken the step to have Brian and ‘Ronnie’ work with these players, who have demonstrated a will to learn

Brian Lara

and succeed. We know they still have the passion and love for West Indies cricket, and are eager to assist and share their information with

the present generation.”

Lara, 50, is the leading run-scorer in West Indies history with 11,953 runs in 131 Test matches. His mammoth

400 not out against England in Antigua in 2004 remains the only occasion a batsman has reached a quadruple century in Test history. He also holds the record for the highest first class score of all time – the monumental 501 not out for Warwickshire in the English Country Championship.

Sarwan, 39, scored 5,842 runs in 87 Test matches, including 15 centuries, with a top score of 291 against England in Barbados a decade ago.

In One-Day Internationals, he also scored 5,845

runs in 169 innings.

W e s t Indies and India met in Test cricket for the first time in 1948. They have played 96 times – West Indies have won 30 times, India have won 20 times, and 46 matches have been drawn. West Indies have contested 542 Test matches in their 91-year Test history. They have won 173 times, lost 193, drawn 175 and tied once – the famous match against Australia in December 1960 at the Gabba.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

UDFA U-17 tournament kicks BCB President continues off today at Wisburg Ground outreach programme with

Blairmont visit

…2-day 1st division tournament confirmed

Executive members of the Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club (BCCCC) receiving the donation from BCB Treasurer Cecil Beharry Botofago FC

P

ersistent rain in the mining town of Linden has forced the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) to convert its league format championship for the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) / NAMILCO Under-17 tournament into a knockout competition for Linden teams.

In a release, the UDFA, who are staging the tournament on behalf of the GFF, made the adjustment to ensure the tournament produces the representative Linden team for the national playoffs.

The UDFA squashed the matches played earlier in the tournament and now has a knock championship which starts today at the Wisburg Secondary School ground.

The first game in this new competition will see from 13:00hgame one pitting Botofago versus Coomacka Mines; while in game two Milerock are facing Hilltop United from 15:00h.

On Sunday another double header will be played at the same venue and Amelia's Ward United will face Topp XX from 13:00h

and the other game will feature Eagles United and Hi Stars from 15:00hrs.

The GFF/ NAMILCO flour power U-17 tournament represented the largest financial commitment to football with $30 million injected over five years by NAMILCO. Taking on a similar format to that of the Frank Watson Under-15 tournament, the NAMILCO Under-17 tournament will first be played at the Regional Member Association (RMAs) level before there is a grand playoff with the nine winners to crown a national champion.

The RMAs participating will be Bartica Football Association (FA), Berbice FA, East Bank FA, East Demerara FA, EssequiboPomeroon FA, Georgetown FA, Rupununi FA, Upper Demerara FA and West Demerara FA. The UDFA has indicated that if a game is deadlocked at the end of regulation time, the decision is to go directly to penalty kicks and an official said that next weekend is the set for the staging of the semi-finals.

B

erbice Cricket Board (BCB) President, the vibrant Hilbert Foster, continued his busy schedule with another visit to a BCBaffiliated cricket club.

On Thursday last, accompanied by BCB Treasurer Cecil Beharry, Foster made the seventh of his intended 16 visits across cricket clubs in Berbice, gracing the Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club (BCCCC) with his presence.

The BCCCC is currently hosting its cricket academy, and Foster congratulated its members even as he updated them on activities planned by the BCB. Club members were informed that the under-13 tournament and the $2 million sponsored two-day first division tournament are slated to begin on Friday August 23.

He told them that the under-13 tournament would feature Blairmont and six other teams.

Persons wishing to participate in this tournament would have had to be born no earlier than September 1, 2006. The format to be used is the one-day two innings. Teams that are successful at this tournament will be awarded educational prizes.

Foster urged the Blairmont players at the academy to establish themselves in this tournament, since it would be used as a yardstick to select the Berbice Under-15 team.

“Last Under-13 tournament produced the West Indies Under-15 player Rampertab Ramnauth, and this tournament was used as

a breeding ground for his selection”, Foster explained as he urged the 30+ participants at the academy to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Foster promised to send two senior coaches to hold sessions at the BCCCC academy.

He also emphasised the importance of education, since it is an important asset to any individual.

Members of the BCCC shared their concerns and asked questions, which were answered by Foster. The question of interest was the selection policy of the BCB. Additional concerns were the attitude towards clubs in the area, umpiring at junior level matches, and the provision of coaches for practice sessions.

Foster has committed to providing a cricket coach one day per month to assist the BCCCC to prepare its junior players.

He handed over a donation of items to the club on behalf of the BCB and the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), MS. The donation included balls, water pitchers, score books, school bags, youth booklets and trophies.

The Archivers Sports Club also benefited from the BCB donations.

Foster has disclosed that the main objective of these visits is to listen to issues/suggestions emanating from cricket clubs, and simultaneously give an update on developments taking place at the BCB.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, august 17, 2019

23

BCB hosts successful OGM – plans unveiled for 80th anniversary celebrations – 2018 audited financial report approved

T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last Sunday hosted a highly successful Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) for 2019 at its Head Office at Dr. Cheddi Jagan Street in New Amsterdam.

Representatives of 10 clubs and one sub-association attended the meeting: Rose Hall Canje, Albion Community Centre, Port Mourant, Chesney, Guymine, Mental Hospital, Mt. Sinai, Whim, RHTY&SC and Young Warriors; and the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association.

BCB President Hilbert Foster’s comprehensive Report for the period January to July, 2019 was discussed. In it he said a total of 30 tournaments would be hosted for 2019, as the prolonged rainy season has forced the BCB to cut back on the proposed number of tournaments to be played.

Foster also informed that the Board was on the verge of obtaining sponsorship for a much needed two-day first division tournament.

He further revealed that great effort is being made to obtain a similar tournament at the Inter-Zone level for under-19 players.

Hilbert Foster

Foster, moreover, declared that his administration had raised close to $18 million in cash and kind over the last 19 months,

after taking over a bank account with only $42,935 from the D. Somwaru-led administration.

He expressed disappointment that the former BCB treasurer had to date failed to submit a Financial Report on how more than $2 million was used for the period 2017 to early 2018.

Hardworking and dedicated, Foster informed that his administration was working beyond the call of duty to make a positive difference; and in 2019, clubs across Berbice would benefit from more than $5 million worth of cricket balls, stumps, score books, cricket gear, medals, bicycles, school bags, water pitchers, special prizes, trophies, white cricket shirts and raincoats, among other things.

BCB is currently assisting several clubs to host academies, while a much-needed upgrading of the Board’s offices would also be done as part of an effort to improve service to the general public.

The BCB would also be seeking to obtain all of the items needed to fulfil its mandate and to reduce overhead operating cost.

Plans for hosting month-long celebrations of the BCB’s 80th Anniversary were also unveiled in September, 2019.

Foster has pledged to spearhead construction of an outdoor cricket practice facility, and to fight for the Berbice to have its own cricket hostel.

Delegates at this engagement also passed a motion from the floor, asking Cricket West Indies to return first class cricket to Berbice.

Members have approved the BCB’s Audited Financial Report for the period February to November, 2018.

The Report was unanimously approved, with the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association and Chesney Cricket Club representatives respectively moving and seconding the motion.

The BCB’s audited report for 2019 would be tabled at its Annual General Meeting in December.

Club Representatives have congratulated Foster and his Executives on the outstanding work they are doing to develop the game in Berbice.

Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal Tournament…

Hard Knocks and NK Ballers to clash in final tonight Hard Knocks outgunning home side Dave & Celina’s All Stars 23-14 in a match that lasted 20 minutes per half.

Pernell Schultz banged in an incredible nine goals for the winners, while Daniel Wilson fired home an impressive eight goals.

Trenton Lashley was part of the action with a hat-trick, while Colin Nelson had produced a brace and goalkeeper Sese Norville had joined in on the fun with a penalty.

Darrel George had scored four goals for the losers, with supporting hat-tricks coming from Benjamin Opara and Kevin Phillips.

The feature match had seen NK Ballers getting past High Rollers 7-5. The win was spearheaded by a hat-trick from Donovan

Nedd, Anderson get nod for Windies U-19 20-man squad

Hard Knocks

– Umroa, Singh omitted

A

NK Ballers

T

he curtains will fall on the sixth Annual New Era Entertainment/Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal tournament tonight in the ‘mining town’ of Linden.

Following Thursday’s exciting semifinal round, Hard Knocks will tonight match skills

Francis, while Keon Soares had assisted with a brace to record his name on the score sheet.

Joshawn Moore and Omar Brewley had each bagged braces in a losing effort for High Rollers.

Tonight’s winning team will pocket $600,000, while the second-placed team will get $250,000. Teams finishing third and fourth will take home $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.

The third-place playoff, pitting High Rollers against Dave & Celina’s All Stars, will kick off at 20:00hrs, while the final match kicks off at 21:00hrs.

An after-party is slated to take place at Time Square Lounge.

with NK Ballers in the final for the grand cash prize of $600,000., and an exceptionally exceptional encounter is anticipated.

The opening semifinal on Thursday evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) hard court had produced 37 goals, with

fter holding the (CWI) Regional Under-19 tournament and the three trial matches, Cricket West Indies management has trimmed to just 20 members the West Indies Under-19 squad for the 2020 ICC Under-19 50 Over World Cup tournament to be held in South Africa.

The Guyanese duo of Ashmead Nedd and Kevlon Anderson has been included in this 20-member squad, while Kelvin Umroa and Sachin Singh have been omitted.

Based on individual performances recorded in the Regional Under-19 tournament -- which was won by Barbados in Antigua -- and the three trial matches, selectors were able to assess the players and determine whom to select.

These 20 selected members will shortly be encamped in training in Antigua as preparation for the Under-19 World Cup continues.

Ashmead Nedd, the Guyana Under-19 captain a n d l e f t- a r m spinner who has prior experience participating in the ICC Under-19 World Cup tournament, began his Best of the Best matches with 2-15 from eight overs. In that first match, his three Guyanese team mates fared as follows: Umroa had 3-15, Singh made a duck, while Anderson chipped in with 19.

The second match between the Best of the Best players across the Caribbean saw both Singh (06) and Anderson (09) failing to score big.

Umroa had 1-41, while Nedd bowled economically although he ended wicket-less on 0-13 in six overs.

Players from other countries have had greater impact on these trial matches, and some of them may have earned spots in the team based on their performances.

In the third and final match, Anderson scored 32, Singh failed with a duck via the run-out route, Nedd had 1-50 and Umroa snared 2-43.

The full 20-member squad will be announced shortly, prior to its preparation in Ashmead Antigua next month.

Nedd

saturday, august 17, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Nedd, Anderson get nod for

Windies U-19 20-man squad – Umroa, Singh omitted

Page 23

Niran Bissu: the perfect example of balancing sport and academics

Page 21

Page 20

Sarfaraz departs for Parapan American Games – Grant-Stuart to follow

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