Taxi driver jailed for fondling P young girl

from Guyana Times Saturday February 29, 2020

scrutinising transport of results P

ExxonMobil, other agencies continue oil spill response readiness

sponse plan ready well before a well is drilled. The exercise and previous ones such as the regional response exercise in August of 2019, ensure that while we prevent and prepare, employees and relevant agencies are able to practice.

As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure enhanced capacity to respond to an oil spill, ExxonMobil Guyana has staged another training exercise for employees and relevant stakeholder agencies.

The response drill was the culmination of a threeday training course on the Incident Command System, a standardised on-scene, allrisk incident management structure. ExxonMobil Guyana employees and contractors were joined by representatives from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Maritime Administration (MARAD), Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy in an all-day simulation exercise.

The exercise provided participants with the opportunity to perform and execute current response management concepts and procedures detailed in ExxonMobil Guyana’s Oil Spill Response Plan.

Captain Salim October, CDC operations and training officer noted that participation in such exercises tests the readiness of the CDC and related agencies to respond to an oil spill – should this become a reality.

“It is critical that we engage in these preparatory exercises that help to enhance our capabilities and skills to execute the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. We have to anticipate issues and problems and work them out in a framework of support and learning. Prior to this exercise, we’ve been involved in others led by a number of operators including ExxonMobil. We’ve benefitted from industry-specific training which includes deployment of oil spill equipment, Incident Command Systems and Risk Communication among a number of other topics,” Captain October said.

He added that participation in these types of exercises helps the CDC, which is the national coordinating body in the event of an emergency to understand the capacity of the various governmental agencies in order to identify existing gaps.

ExxonMobil stated that it is committed to conducting its operations in a safe and environmentally responsible manner and preventing a spill is a top priority. As such, the company has ensured that all necessary preventative measures are in place. The company further highlighted that it is important to have an emergency reA section of participants during the ICS training exercise at the Pegasus Hotel

Mitigating risks Moreover, as part of the EIA process for various projects, ExxonMobil Guyana had undertaken studies to understand Guyana’s Physical, Biological, and Socioeconomic Resources. These baseline studies and others allow us to identify potential risks and ensure the appropriate mitigations are in place.

These include a turtle-tagging and telemetry programme, a fish study through which several new species were discovered, nine marine bird surveys and an extensive Ecosystem Services Study along Guyana’s coastline from the Barima-Waini (Region 1) to the East Berbice-Corentyne (Region 6) involving more than 700 community leaders.

The studies were conducted by Guyanese and international experts who participated in an ‘open house’ at the Pegasus Hotel in September 2019. They shared the findings of the studies and were available to answer all related questions and concerns from participants who were mostly students from the University of Guyana. The findings of the various studies have been submitted to the EPA.

Taxi driver jailed for fondling young girl

Forty-one-year-old Rishi Seepersaud of Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was on Friday found guilty and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for sexual assault by city Magistrate Sherdel Marcus-Isaacs when he made another appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Seepersaud was found guilty of the offence during a trial heard by Magistrate Marcus-Isaacs.

The accused had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on September 8, 2018, at McDoom Public Road, East Bank Demerara, he engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 years old.

Reports are that on the day in question, the minor was a backseat passenger in the defendant’s car when he stretched out his hand and touched her inappropriately.

The victim, after being dropped off at her home, related what had occurred to her parents who then reported the matter to the police. Jailed for sexual assault: Rishi Seepersaud

GAWU renews calls for retroactive payment for sugar workers

After a protest action that yielded little result, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and GuySuCo met on Friday to continue negotiations for sugar workers’ salary increases to be retroactive as of January 2019.

According to GAWU, this is the tenth time both parties are meeting to hammer out issues relating to retroactive salaries for the workers and as such, the Union has proposed

measures to come to a consensus.

“During the engagement, the Union suggested that the Corporation examine settling the retroactive payments to sugar workers through several instalments in 2020. We put forward that a reasonable timetable could be agreed to between the Union and the Corporation.”

GAWU is contending that its suggestion for retroactive salary for 2019 has not been taken seriously given the fact that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) has been selling prime land.

In fact, on Thursday NICIL turned the sod for the sprawling Windsor Estate located at formerly Sugar Plantation Ogle at a budget of US$83 million, as such, GAWU noted that monies from these lands can assist with the payment for sugar workers. “We also drew to the Corporation’s attention that its land was being sold by NICIL, at high costs, and representation should be furthered to obtain support to offset the payments to the workers. The GuySuCo team undertook to share our proposal with the management before meeting again sometime in the coming week,” GAWU outlined.

Moreover, the Union stated that the Corporation used the meeting to bash them for the protest action taken on Tuesday last outside of the Ministry of the Presidency.

“The Corporation also used the meeting to apparently criticise the workers’ protests on February 25, 2020. The workers of the Blairmont factory were particularly singled out and it appeared to us that the GuySuCo was seeking to determine when, and possibly if, workers could strike.

The Union further added that “we had to point out to GuySuCo that the workers, with the intent of safeguarding the Corporation’s assets, and out of an abundance of caution and concern, proceeded to properly bring operations of the Blairmont factory to a halt. Notwithstanding what we felt was a cogent explanation, the Corporation’s team, surprisingly, informed they could not accept the explanation.”

Moreover, “It appears to us that the Corporation would want a situation where the workers vacate their posts and allow the situation to go awry. This, …GuySuCo to consider new proposal

of course, is not a position our Union and the workers could condone nor uphold. The workers’ right to take part in protest actions is upheld by the Constitution. We do not believe that the GuySuCo, more so as a State-owned organisation, should seek to constrict or constrain this important worker right or any right of the workers for that matter.” GAWU stated while noting that the Union will go to all lengths and breadths to ensure that their demands are met.

To this end, the Union underscored that the sugar workers just want to be treated like all other public servants who were able to benefit from a retroactive salary increase last year.

“We believed that the workers of Blairmont, like all workers, demonstrated a high degree of responsibility and only are seeking to be treated like their colleagues elsewhere in the State. They are not asking for special or unique treatment and the apparent decrying of their principled and justifiable actions is upsetting for us.” Sugar workers during a protest on Tuesday last in front of the MotP

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GCB-Rubis Bel Air U17 Inter-County Tournament… Demerara set to retain title D efending champions in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Rubis Bel Air Under-17 Inter-County tournament, Demerara, are widely expected to retain their title.

Having already defeated arch-rivals Berbice by eight wickets in the second round of play, they are now set to oppose Essequibo in the final round, scheduled for play today (Saturday, February 29) at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground at Bourda.

In this tournament’s other fixture, Berbice will oppose the Guyana Select U-15 Team at the Everest Cricket Ground.

After Demerara had defeated Berbice, player of the match, Alvin Mohabir, was delighted at picking up a match winning five-wicket haul, which was his first against Berbice. He disclosed that he had kept his game plan simple by sticking to line and length and waiting for the batsmen to make a mistake. He also expressed confidence that his performance would earn him selection to the Guyana U-17 Team.

Meanwhile, West Indies youth batsman Mavindra Dindyal, who scored an unbeaten 50, declared his intention to finish the inter-county tournament with the most runs. This classy, right-handed batsman noted that were he to go to Trinidad and represent Guyana U-17, he would be aiming to finish with the most runs and help Guyana win that unfamiliar Regional U-17 title. He is doubtless one for the Guyana U-17 Team.

And Jaden Campbell, another sweet timer of the ball, has said he is happy with the unbeaten innings of 48 he scored against Berbice. A former Guyana U-15 batsman who is now a Demerara U-17 batsman, Campbell has said he considers himself as having some chance of making the Guyana U-17 Team. He has said that, if selected, he would want to help Guyana to victory in the Regional U-17 Tournament, and finish the season with the most runs.

Berbice, on the other hand, would want some of their star players included in the Select U-15 Team. With national selectors carefully observing play throughout the tournament, this final round of play can be considered a match in which they should endeavour to score as many runs as possible or take as many wickets as possible.

The Select U-15 Team have suffered narrow defeats, and have shown their ability to play good cricket. The likes of Rampertab Ramnauth and Salim Khan are likely to put in sterling performances for the Berbice team when the teams battle at GCC, Bourda. (Brandon Corlette) Isai Thorne is the fastest bowler in the tournament Jonathan Rampersaud will be aiming to record memorable performances

Milo Schools U-18 Football Tournament… Play resumes from today

The Republic Day festivities have concluded, and the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue will return to being a hive of activities as play in the Milo Schools U n d e r - 1 8 F o o t b a l l skilled, fast paced football matches as the usual front runners seek to keep their slate clean. Owing to this tournament collaborating with the Ministry of Public Health’s ‘ S t o p Action ongoing in the Milo schools’ tournament

Tournament resumes from today.

Today’s action will feature what are expected to be three highly G e n d e r B a s e d Violence’ campaign, patrons will be treated to “a firm stance against abuse”, as the captains of each team will be sure to make a statement before each game begins.

The first match of round robin 2 will commence at noon with South Ruimveldt Secondary taking on St Joseph High, after which Annandale Secondary would oppose East Ruimveldt from 13:45 hrs. Thereafter, Lodge Secondary would oppose Carmel Secondary from 15:30 hrs.

In tomorrow’s action, St John’s College would battle Golden Grove Secondary from noon, after which Bishops’ High would take on Tucville Secondary from 13:45 hrs, then Queenstown Secondary would battle New Central High from 15:30 hrs.

This competition, which will be run over a 10-week period at the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue, has attracted 24 teams. These will be divided into six groups of four, and play a series of round-robin matches before the top two teams from each group and the best four third-placed teams would advance to the quarter-finals. Thereafter, the youths would battle through the knockout stages to make it to the top.

The school finishing in first place would receive $400,000, while the second placed school would pocket $200,000. Third and fourth-placed finishers would receive $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.

Mexico defeat Guyana 3-nil CONCACAF 2020 U-20 Women’s Championships …

El Tricolor, the Mexico women’s U-20 football team, recently opposed the Guyana Lady Jags in a contest to determine which team emerges winner of ‘Group D’ in the CONCACAF 2020 U-20 Women’s Championships and earn the three points at stake.

The Mexicans triumphed 3-nil against Guyana, but the scores belie the way the match was played. For the most part, it was a stalemate between the two sides, and the breakthrough did not come until the 78th minute, when Joseline Montoya scored the opener. Montoya struck again nine minutes later to hand Mexico a commanding 2-0 lead, and Mariel Roman Pacheco then capped off the win with a goal scored in the time of 90+3 minutes for E l Tricolor.

In play in the Round of 16, Mexico will meet Grenada, Guyana will take on the C a y m a n Islands, and Puerto Rico will clash with Trinidad and Tobago. (Concacaf)

Group D Final Points Standings

Country G W D L Gf Ga +/- Pts

Mexico 3 3 0 0 9 1 8 9 Guyana 3 2 0 1 5 5 0 6 Puerto Rico 3 1 0 2 3 4 -1 3 Nicaragua 3 0 0 3 1 8 -7 0

Singh in sight of

century as Jaguars

Vishaul Singh made his bat do all the talking against the Scorpions on the second day of the sixth-round match of the Jaguars’ lead by 71

Regional 4-Day tournament being played in Jamaica.

Singh is standing tall on an unbeaten 93 made from 171 balls as the Jaguars

Vishaul SIngh

ended the day on 287-6 in 92 overs after the Scorpions had posted 216 all out in their first innings.

Chandrapaul Hemraj had earlier fallen for 82 while he was closing in on a century.

Resuming the day without any runs or wicket to fall, Guyana Jaguars began in cautious fashion, with Chandrapaul Hemraj and Tagenarine Chanderpaul adding 21 runs together. When Chanderpaul was clean bowled by part-timer Alwayne Williams, Captain Leon Johnson and Hemraj took the score to 75-1 at lunch; Hemraj, who was dropped on 34 at deep backward square, riding his luck after a slow start.

The very next ball, a chiChandrapaul Hemraj

SCOREBOARD naman bowled by Dennis Bulli, drew the technically correct Leon Johnson forward and he was swiftly stumped.

Johnson had made a 73- ball 35, which included four boundaries, after adding 60 runs with Hemraj.

A positive Vishal Singh, who is returning to the starting XI after being replaced by Shimron Hetmyer in the previous round, got off the mark with a boundary.

The left-handed duo of Hemraj and Singh added 98 runs together before Hemraj threw his wicket away when the Jaguars were on 179-3, made in 57.3 overs.

Hemraj, who played and missed the previous ball, edged one to Jermaine Blackwood at first slip after scoring 82 from 173 balls, decorated with three fours and three sixes.

Christopher Barnwell followed suit the very next ball, hitting left-arm spinner Patrick Harty to cover and getting caught for a golden duck.

Jaguars were then at 179-4 after Harty struck twice in his over.

At tea, Jaguars were 183-4 after 60 overs. Singh watched Raymon Reifer (16) and Anthony Bramble (25) fall, but he found a reliable partner in Kevin Sinclair (20), who ensured Jaguars closed the day without further hiccups.

Jaguars will resume the third day on 287-6, having a lead of 71 runs.

Jaguars 1st Innings Tagenarine Chanderpaul b Williams 8 Chanderpaul Hemraj c Blackwood b Harty 82 Leon Johnson st Smith b Bulli 35 Vishaul Singh not out 93 Christopher Barnwell c Campbell b Harty 0 Raymon Reifer c Mindley b Bulli 16 Anthony Bramble c Bonner b Bulli 25 Kevin Sinclair not out 20 Total (6 wickets, 92.0) (8 extras) 287 Bowling Jamie Merchant (18-4-35-0) Patrick Harty (20-3-67-2) Marquino Mindley (18-1-60-0) Nicholson Gordon (0.5-0-6-0) Alwayne Williams (11.1-2-27-1) Dennis Bulli (20-1-84-3) Nkruma Bonner (3-0-4-0) Jermaine Blackwood (1-0-3-0)

Foster berates

umpiring decisions

By Brandon Corlette

It is normal and understandable for persons, being human, to make mistakes; but when umpires officiating at important matches err continuously in their decisions, especially against one side in a contest, it certainly creates a situation in which competence is called into question.

In the second-round match played recently between Demerara and Berbice in the ongoing Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Rubis Bel-Air InterCounty U-17 Tournament, the persistent recurrence of questionable decisions that were deleterious to the chances of success of the Berbice side have moved Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster to express grave dissatisfaction with the outcome of the match.

“Every time I speak to Berbice teams, I warn them about the umpiring, especially in matches against Demerara. The umpiring standard is very poor, and

Ramnauth was given out caught behind when the ball had brushed his pad, and he could recall four poor decisions made in the recent U-17 match against Demerara.

“While these decisions may not have changed the entire course of the match, BCB President Hilbert Foster

Umpires having a discussion in the GCB/Bel Air Rubis Intercounty U-17 tournament

the BCB is worried (about this). When I speak to players, especially the senior players, (I find that) they (also) have this fear”, Foster explained.

He added that if a ball touches a player’s pad, the fear of being given out comes quickly upon the youngsters, thereby affecting their self-confidence.

Recalling some occasions when he had witnessed some below-par umpiring, Foster said that when Berbice played Demerara in the U-15 tournament, there were at least four bad decisions, including a stumping.

He said that West Indies U-16 batsman Rampertab

it leaves one to wonder if our senior batsmen in Berbice teams are targeted”, Foster declared.

Foster also disclosed that one umpire had stopped the Berbice team from making a spin bowling change in the first round, saying that fast bowlers had to ‘bowl the first ten overs in a row’ (consecutively).

“In the second-round match, which featured different umpires, a call had been made to the Berbice manager that the bowling change can be made when the team (wants it), and the fast bowlers can bowl how (many) overs they want”, Foster noted. He said the manager had been told to clarify this with the match referee, and the manager was told to do whatever pleases him in terms of enforcing a bowling change.

Foster said it is apparent that not every individual of authority engaged in this U-17 tournament is singing from the same proverbial page, thus he questioned whether the tournament is coordinated in an equitable manner.

“Generally, the players are worried about the level of umpiring, and we at the BCB are asking why two umpires from Demerara have to be engaged when these two teams play? Why not one from Berbice and one from Demerara?” Foster expressed.

Given that some of these cricketers playing at the junior level may represent Guyana in the future, Foster is calling for the best umpires to officiate in these important matches.

“One bad decision could stop a youngster from playing cricket. It is strange that the umpire who made poor calls (against Berbice) in the U-15 match against Demerara turned up (to officiate) in the U-17 match”, Foster mused.

Foster is again calling on the GCB to get their proverbial house in order.

He is also wondering why the Berbice players have been asked to wear hats of a different colour when the customary colour of the Berbice hat is red, and has been so for a number of years.

He is adamant that the best interest of every cricketer in Guyana must be upheld, and that the administrative issues affecting the various Cricket Boards should not be ventilated on the cricket field. His firm conviction is that, at the end of it all, cricket should always be the winner.