Guyana Times Saturday May 25, 2019

77 P conferred with National Awards 20

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 3934

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURday, may 25, 2019

Mahdia, Black Bush Polder under water ‌as heavy rains batter coast, hinterland

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

UG shuts P20 down: bomb scare forces suspension of exams, classes

See stories on pages 3 and 20

Mother jailed for smuggling ganja in court’s P8 lock-ups

P2 Body of missing miner pulled from Cuyuni River

UK Prime Minister resigns Breaching of procurement regulations

Opposition mounts pressure on Govt to take action against Minister Patterson Miner killed, President pardons 2 body dumped prisoners in latrine Page 7

P9

Page 9

Page 2

Essequibo Coast carpenter charged for P8 killing wife P5 Investor denies money laundering conviction claim

by Gaming Authority

2 news

Saturday, may 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Miner killed, body Cop nabbed with several passports dumped in latrine at home under “open arrest”

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he partially decomposed body of a 25-year-old miner was found in a pit latrine (toilet) in Tassawini Backdam, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini).

Dead is Darvin David of Tassawini Landing, North West District, Region One. Reports are David was killed by three other miners during an argument.

This newspaper was told that on Friday last, David along with the three sus-

pects were consuming alcoholic beverages at Marcus Hope’s shop at Tassawini Backdam when David accused one of the men of trying to rob him of his cash. As a result of the accusation, an argument ensued between him and the suspects. This newspaper was told that David then left the shop to go home but the three men followed him and another confrontation ensued at Tassawini Backdam trail.

Guyana Times was fur-

ther told that David was stabbed to his throat and was thrown overboard into a creek.

This newspaper was told that the men then returned and removed the body from the creek and dumped it in a latrine.

Following the discovery of David’s partially decomposed body on Wednesday, the police arrested two of the three suspects.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Conductor remanded for raping relative

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24-year-old conductor, who allegedly raped a close relative in 2016, was on Friday charged for the offence and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Dorian Fredricks appeared before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver. It is alleged that between October

1 and 31, 2016, at North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration with a female without her consent.

The prosecution is contending that Fredricks and the victim are relatives and sometime between October 1 and 31 he dealt the victim a slap whilst forcefully having

sex with her. The prosecution is also contending that this occurred several times during the same period. The matter was reported but the charge was only recently instituted. Magistrate Weaver remanded Fredricks to prison. The case will continue on May 29, 2019.

…still on the job but not at Immigration Office – Crime Chief

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he Police Constable who was earlier this month nabbed by law enforcement officials with several passports in his possession at his home is presently under “open arrest” and still remains employed as a member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

This is according to Deputy Police Commissioner Lyndon Alves, who told Guyana Times during a recent interview that investigations into the matter are still ongoing but in the meanwhile, the duties of that policeman have been changed.

“He is still on the job since the investigation has not been completed as yet. But he is not at the Immigration (Office).

He is now under open arrest.”

According to the Crime Chief, the Police Constable had initially been placed under “close arrest” where his freedom was restricted and he had been confined.

However, based on the investigations, he was subsequently placed on open arrest.

“Like I said, he is under open arrest but still, we are investigating so I cannot say what the outcome is at this point. Open arrest is where you move around and you can perform your duties but there is still limited freedom. So at this point, he is performing duties assigned by the GPF but has been removed from the location where his alleged involved with the passports reportedly occurred,” Alves explained.

Earlier this month, based on information received, Police ranks swooped down at the constable’s home in Stevedore Housing Scheme, Georgetown, and discovered a quantity of Guyana passports.

The rank was at work when he was confronted about the find and arrested.

Meanwhile, the Crime Chief noted that he was not in a position to disclose whether the passports were expired or not.

“I don’t know if they were machine-readable or not.

I am not presently able to say if they were expired or could be used. But I will definitely have to speak to, and will be speaking with, the Immigration Office to find out such details,” he added.

Body of missing miner pulled from Cuyuni River

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he body of 28-yearold Yannick Janniere, also called “Kayzim” of Stewartville, West Coast

Demerara, was on Friday morning pulled from the Pepper Hill River Mouth, Cuyuni River.

The discovery was made two days after Janniere disappeared while attempting to swim towards a drifting boat to save himself.

It was reported that Janniere and several other workers were loading a dredge and other equipment belonging to their employer onto a pontoon for transportation to another area.

However, as the men were finished loading the equipment onto the pontoon and were ready to journey to the other location, the boat that was attached to the pontoon

unloosened and the pontoon began to drift downstream.

Janniere reportedly jumped from the pontoon into the rough waters of the Cuyuni River and began swimming towards the drifting boat.

He swam for about 200 metres before he disappeared under the water.

His fellow workers raised an alarm and some even jumped into the river in a bid to rescue him, but he has not since been seen.

The incident was reported at Bartica Police Station and an investigation was launched. The man’s body was taken to the Bartica Hospital Mortuary.

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saturday, may 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Saturday, May 25 – 09:30h-11:00h and Sunday, May 26 – 10:30h-12:00h.

Mahdia under water following heavy rainfall …CDC monitoring situation

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, May 25 – 08:35h-10:05h and Sunday, May 26 – 09:50h-11:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Early morning light rain showers are expected to give way to thundery showers that will last throughout the morning, followed by light cloudy skies in the afternoon. Light cloudy to light rain showers are expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

These residents relax as they wait for the floodwaters to recede

An aerial view of the extent of the flood in Mahdia

Winds: South-easterly to Easterly to East Northeasterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 08:38h and 21:22h reaching maximum heights of 2.25 metres and 2.13 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:09h and 14:47h reaching minimum heights of 1.05 metres and 0.97 metre respectively.

The washed out section of the roadway

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he recently declared township of Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), was under water for several hours on Friday following a night of heavy rainfall.

According to residents, floodwaters rose as high as four feet in some areas and even eroded a section of one of the main access roads to the township. A resident, Daniel Smith, told Guyana Times that he woke up to water in his home and was quite surprised when he ventured outside to see the entire area inundated.

“The water was really high in the house and we get some damages. But the water took some time and in the afternoon it start to go down. We are now cleaning up so we can spend the night in the house here. The rain is falling a bit but I hope it don’t rain hard,” he said.

Mahdia is prone to flooding during the rainy season but residents are reporting that Friday’s flooding is the largest flash flood they have seen in years.

Videos seen by Guyana Times shows water forcibly gushing through the streets and eventually washing away a section of the roadway.

The section of the washed away road is referred to as ‘Red and White’ and vehicular access has been cut off.

In one of the videos posted to social media, it shows a length of rope across a road while a man attempts to brave the current of the gushing water to make his way across.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Civil Defence Commission (CDC) said it is monitoring the situation through the National Emergency

Monitoring System (NEMS).

It added that it is also monitoring the rainfall situation in several regions across the country.

CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig said focus is being placed on Aishalton and Sand Creek in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region) and Mahdia since most of the areas are affected by flash floods.

In the Mahdia municipality, some 25 homes have been affected and were issued with emergency relief supplies by the CDC. “Water is receding and a team went in with distribution supplies and distributed it to some of the families that are affected. Most of the people have returned to their homes and most of the supplies (we distribut-

ed) were cleaning supplies so that they can clean their homes and get back in safely,” Craig said.

“Based on the information I received from my team is that about three families are severely affected but the others was water accumulation in the homes. One mechanic workshop got damages and a lot of homes water went in. I heard of a part of a road that got some damages and I am waiting on some of the details on that from the team by tomorrow (Saturday). We are working with the Mayor and Town

Council and the Regional Democratic Council and we have the resources to assist,” he added.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, may 25, 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

Providing good quality health care

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ver the past few years, the number of complaints made by patients and their relatives against the hospitals and health centres in Guyana, especially the Georgetown Public Hospital, have increased tenfold.

From all indications, some of the persons who are tasked with both the administration and administering of health care services to citizens are not taking their roles seriously.

In fact, in recent months, the media in Guyana have carried several reports of persons alleging negligence or other forms of malpractice on the part of health officials, which lapses have sometimes led to the deaths of patients.

What is even more worrying is that the subject minister, and to some extent those in charge of the administration of the health sector, seem to be unbothered by all of these reports. The Public Health Minister carries on as per normal, and while she has made a few media appearances in the past to speak on some of these incidents, she has clearly not taken a proactive and hands-on approach to finding real solutions to the problems facing the health sector.

This is not to say that the entire health system here is inefficient or incapable of offering top class health care services to citizens. In fact, there are many workers in the public health system -- including doctors, nurses, assistants etc -- who work extremely hard to care for our citizens, and they must be recognised for their efforts. However, there seems to be a few who are operating under their own rules.

The administrative structures of the health services are fairly good and workable, but they are not being worked by those employed to so do. Many believe that the employees are allowed to do their own thing. For example, just a few weeks ago, we reported a story in which the relatives of a 22-year-old mother of six had one of her eyes removed while she was a patient at the GPHC, allegedly without any proper explanation as to the reason why her eye had to be removed. According to relatives, the woman was admitted at the Suddie Hospital to give birth, but everything went downhill after her delivery. The woman has since died, and relatives had called for a full investigation into the incident.

Also, a few months back, we reported on the deaths of three children who all lost their lives at the GPHC within a matter of days after the administering of a prechemotherapy injection. The incident had sparked much criticism against the hospital and had brought the medical institution into the spotlight; more particularly, the conduct of its staff as it relates to providing medical care. After mounting public pressure, a probe was carried out into the matter. However, it is still not clear as to what sort of action was taken against those involved.

There were also several other cases of maternal and child deaths that were given much media publicity over the past few years, and several investigations were launched to determine what contributed to those deaths. In many cases, the findings of the probes brought into question the conduct of health care professionals and the health care system as a whole; but, in most cases, no one is held accountable.

The bottom line is that too many of our women have lost their lives during child birth, and too many babies have died due to various complications in the very early stages of their lives. On several occasions before, we had called for the authorities to take immediate action to ensure that maternal and child death rates continue to decline steadily.

The fact is that most maternal deaths and child deaths are preventable, as the health-care solutions to prevent or manage complications are well known. The WHO has underlined the fact that all women need access to antenatal care in pregnancy, skilled care during childbirth, and care and support in the weeks after childbirth. To improve maternal health, barriers that limit access to quality maternal health services must be identified and addressed at all levels of the health system.

In a general sense, providing good quality health care should be a key part of a country’s policies. It is therefore hoped that renewed efforts would be made by health authorities here in ensuring the legislative, medical, human and financial resources are in place to improve the quality of care that currently obtains in our public health care sector. At the moment, it is below par.

Students of St Winefride’s pose with teachers in their New Reading Club. St Winefride’s Secondary School launched its first Reading Club as a result of one dedicated teacher’s desire to help the students improve their literacy. Nine years ago, when Arena Benjamin began teaching at St Winefride’s Secondary, she discovered her students were struggling with their literacy and she decided to create a reading club to help them soar easily and achieve better results in the area. The Reading Club will operate for three days per week and students will be able to play interactive literacy games, borrow books and have discussions about literature. (DPI photo)

Directed to comply or resign from positions

Dear Editor, I am heartened that my letters recently published in the media on the matter of the failure of very senior public persons to report their assets to the Integrity Commission have resulted in the widespread public exposure of the issue. Not surprisingly, so to speak, this matter has arrived at the doorstep of our President.

My letters were not written for political purposes. They were written to stir the conscience of those who are elected or appointed to govern over us and remind them of their civic duty to obey the laws which give them the power they presume to exercise. Also, to remind our

respective political parties that when they take office they do not suddenly become immune from both enforcing and obeying the law.

Emile Mervin on May 22, 2019, took a dig at me for not having raised this matter when the PPP was in office and perpetrated the same behaviour.

Frankly, I didn’t raise the matter then because I paid less attention to the shortcomings of the Government in office then than I do now, as the party in office is the party under which I served as a Minister and I hold them to a much higher standard.

Mr Mervin also missed the point of the purpose of my letters

which I set out above. Those in power and authority should not be waiting for the Commission to enforce the law upon them.

The Commission, of course, has a duty to enforce the law when it is not obeyed and there is no doubt that the Chairman of the Integrity Commission has been remiss in not doing so.

I note that Mr Nandlall and Bishop Edghill have jumped on the bandwagon for political purposes but they know full well that their party when in office ignored the law in the same manner as this Government in office has ignored the law.

I am disappointed that our President has, so far, failed to submit his returns since, no

matter the reasons, the example must be set by him, and it is insufficient to say that while it is a policy of the Cabinet to respect the law, the Ministers are allowed to continue to flout it.

It has long been public knowledge that the requirements of the Integrity Act are being ignored. The worst of conclusions which the public can come to is that those who refuse to comply have something to hide.

I hold firmly to my position that all of the public officials refusing to comply with this law are either directed to comply or resign their positions.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

Citizens must not be fooled by obvious foray

Dear Editor, The expectancy of the awaited Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling regarding several critical issues affecting democratic rights across Guyana has naturally generated far-reaching reactions that are not limited to the Opposition and citizens, but myriad heightened and somewhat illegitimate activities from the now illegal APNU/AFC Government, which emphasises their desperation. Guyanese citizens, in particular, have been patient, but there is general consensus across many fronts that, once and for all, the obstacles of national progression created under this regime will be ultimately removed on consistent, solid and rational legislative basis, erasing the much flaunted and recent convenient interpretations that have derailed our country’s path.

This nation awaits what is expected to be the CCJ’s most welcoming decision on the Opposition Leader’s No-Confidence Motion (NCM), passed in Guyana’s National Assembly on December 21, 2018. Of note, the position was largely supported by Guyana’s Chief Justice but surprisingly interpreted in a differing manner by Guyana’s Appeal Court, so much so that there have been associated shameful expressions of political interferences in the matter. Naturally, there is also a strong focus on the particular guidance/instruction to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) which was made a party to the cases on the burning issue of the immediate holding of Regional and National Elections which is constitutionally mandated to be held within three months of the passing of the NCM.

The reactions of the failed Government since the NCM have been forced by the Opposition’s effort to minimise the continuing damage being created by the cabal. The necessary action to take the matter to the CCJ was not only forged from the astounding Appeal Court ruling, but rather from the obviously partisan role that President Granger’s unilaterally appointed Chairman and the Government Commissioners at GECOM played in delaying the readiness of the organisation to conduct the mandated National and Regional Elections. Contrary to the applicable laws, the clique, instead of being nonpartisan as required by the Constitution, is deliberately acting against the letter and spirit of our supreme law as a third arm of the PNC/R, and in exercising much bias in favour of APNU/AFC coalition.

It seems not to matter to President Granger’s quartet at GECOM, that the content of the requested and provided legal opinion from GECOM’s Legal Officer, Excellence Dazzell, rendered their negative posture illegal concerning the update of the List of Electors. According to several media articles, it is a declared acknowledgement by Chairman Patterson that he had received the legal opinion prior to the expiry of the list, and obviously, by his own choosing, acted contrary.

Notwithstanding, the facts of the opinion are refreshing and most welcome. It is clear that Ms Dazzell along with the Public Relation Officer and the Chief Elections Officer of GECOM are making the same pronouncements that GECOM must be in readiness to hold elections at all times. It is, therefore, most dis-

appointing that the insensitive undressing of this articulate professional is allowed to gain the wicked traction suggested by Vincent Alexander and his colleague Desmond Trotman as Commissioners representing the APNU/AFC. The legal officer made it clear that there is no need for houseto-house registration to update the Original List of Electors to a state of readiness for the immediate Regional and National Elections. According to members of GECOM, the Chairman of the Commission, retired Justice James Patterson, acknowledged that he received the opinion before it was tabled at the Commission meeting. It is imperative that the Original List of Electors be ready immediately for the imminent upcoming elections.

GECOM laws and regulations clearly agree that a period of Continuous Registration and a short period of Claims and Objections will be sufficient to sanitise and have a final voters’ list.

Ms Dazzell’s advice in writing to GECOM before the expiration of the List on April 30, 2019, made it clear that procedures must be put in place to ensure the revision of the List, otherwise, the Commission would be acting in defiance of the law. She further advised that in keeping with the “election laws”, the list must be updated biannually by adding persons who are now qualified to be registered to that list, and those who are no longer qualified to be registered, to be taken off that list.

It is a fact that the Amendments to the National Registration Act to provide for

Continuous Registration took place in 2005 after a thorough debate in the National Assembly regarding the update of the registration system. GECOM was subsequently allocated millions of dollars to establish registration offices and employ adequate staff to facilitate the registration process to keep GECOM in a state of readiness for the holding of elections at any instance.

The farcical situation advanced upon by the impartial quartet of Commissioners and supported by the Granger cabal at this time is, therefore, hypocritical and one of convenience.

The high tension situation and radical reactions of the APNU/AFC is an equivocal admittance that their time is quickly running out and that the farcical would have no grounding after the rulings by the CCJ. The recent public undressing of treatment of Ms Dazzell as a consequence of her solid and articulate professional disposition gives certain testimony to the ridiculous lows that the Granger cabal has reached in suppressing the laws to advance their emphasis of the return of party paramountcy over the future of Guyana.

There is much concern regarding the almost exponential spending spree by the Government as they now attempt to buy citizens’ loyalty, in as much as the feeding of their own financial aggrandisement with the emptying of the treasury. Citizens must not be fooled by this obvious foray, we must all ensure that they are swiftly removed and held accountable.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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SATURday, may 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Investor denies money laundering conviction claim by Gaming Authority

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he Guiana Holding Incorporated, trading as Superbet, is denying allegations by the Gaming Authority that one of its principals was convicted of money laundering and served a fouryear sentence.

In a letter sent to Guyana Times by Guiana Holding Incorporated’s attorney, Anil Nandlall, it was noted that the pronouncement by the Gaming Authority about the conviction is “both inaccurate and libelous…no principal of Guiana Holding Inc was ever convicted of money laundering or even charged with any such offence or, indeed, any offence at all.”

On Wednesday, the Gaming Authority in a press statement said it made the alleged discovery back in January 2019 during the course of conducting due diligence while processing a good standing certificate, which was requested by Superbet in September last year.

The Authority disclosed that it was provided with information of the allegation, after which it enhanced its due diligence, and issued a letter to Guiana Holding Inc to seek clarification on February 14, 2019.

The gaming agency re-

portedly responded on March 4, 2019, and the Gaming Authority took steps to verify the information.

“The response from Guiana Holding Inc and additional information received by the Gaming Authority on April 5, 2019, during the verification process, after careful analysis, led to determination, that an AML/CFT audit of Superbet operations was necessary to determine the veracity of the information received. This would allow the Gaming Authority to make an informed determination on the issuing of the good standing certification.”

According to the statement, this was communicated to Guiana Holding Inc on April 23, 2019, and they have in principle, agreed to the audit.

The Gaming Authority has been in the process of organising the audit team, it stated, adding that a Non-Disclosure Agreement has been sent to the said organisation for signature and for submission of a proposal and cost. A deadline of July 31, 2019, has been set for the conclusion and submission of the audit report.

The outcome of the audit will determine the Gaming Authority’s posi-

tion on the issuing of the good standing certificate.

Stifling investor

Prior to this requirement, Superbet has been operating in Guyana for more than five years. The business now has over 175 locations across Guyana, which brings in income for over 500 persons.

General Manager Shrikant Kisoensingh complained that it is not being granted its renewal of licences owing to victimisation on the part of the Guyana Gaming Authority.

In fact, Kisoensingh’s law-

yer, Anil Nandlall, has already said he is ready to represent his client in the court as he feels he is being victimised.

However, the Gaming Authority denied stymieing the investor in Wednesday’s statement explaining that the certificate of good standing, which is required by the agency, was not produced by the trending gambling attraction but is necessary to qualify the business for their licence renewal.

According to the Gaming Authority, the certificate of good standing is

just one of nine requirements needed by a business when applying for a Betting Shop Licence.

Before 2018, a letter of good standing from the Authority did not form part of the process but

was later introduced to ensure due diligence for the purpose of Anti-Money Laundering/Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), it added.

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saturday, may 25, 2019

Page

Foundation

Are you a pushover parent? Don’t have rules or enforce them?

…pushover parents are soft on structure and can’t say no

By David J Bredehoft, PhD

L

Soft structure vs firm structure? et me paint you a picture of both soft and firm structure. The opening birthday party scene in the movie “Mrs Doubtfire” comes to mind when I think of soft structure: A petting zoo of barnyard animals running around in and outside of the house as children are bouncing up and down on living room furniture to the tune of “Jump Around”. The scene ends in a huge fight when Sally Field, who plays Miranda Hillard, comes home to find her husband Daniel Hillard, played by Robin Williams, jumping on the living room furniture with the kids. The final image is that of a donkey eating a birthday cake in the living room; a total mess. Soft structure. No rules. No enforcement of rules.

Soft structure is the third type of childhood overindulgence we found in our research.

Child development experts believe that to thrive, children need firm structure.

Jean Illsley Clarke describes firm structure this way, “Reasonable rules that are consistently enforced, mastery of skills, and learning family values are all part of firm structure. Firm structure not only makes life more secure and predictable for the child; in the long run it also makes life easier for the parents, as many wouldbe, could-be misadventures and crises are avoided. Maybe best of all, what the child grows up experiencing, she learns to do for herself. Children learn good boundaries and self-care.”

Daniel Hillard transforms himself into

sons coming from a good heart, but not always helpful for our children in the long run. Our research shows that people who are overindulged with soft structure tended: Not to know what is enough To have weak social and personal boundaries To be trained in irresponsibility To have uneven competencies To display a lack of gratitude To have a false sense of entitlement To believe and act as though they are the centre of the universe

Mrs Doubtfire by disguising himself as an older female housekeeper so he can spend more time with his children. Unlike when he was “dad”, Mrs Doubtfire has rules and expects the children to follow them. She assigns chores and transforms the household by using firm structure. In one of the last scenes in the movie, his children admitted I know I’m soft on structure – what do I do? they liked him more when he was firm Mrs As a parent, I know you are concerned Doubtfire than when he was soft pushover about soft structure and you would like dad. to know what to do instead. You may not know whom to ask. Here are a few suggesHow can I tell if soft structure is tions to help you avoid soft structure and my overindulgence pattern?

Read and answer the following questions avert the damaging effects of childhood honestly for each child. The more “Yes” an- overindulgence.

Read a good book on the subject. swers, the greater the probability that your Purchase a hard copy or download a free overindulgence pattern is soft structure! pdf copy of Good Heart Parenting: A Journey The majority of the time…

I do not enforce the rules that I make for of Love and Strength (2018, University of Minnesota Extension Press). my child.

Read a good article on the subject.

I do not have my child do chores.

How To Say “NO” to Your Kids – Jean I do not hold my child to consistent stanIllsley Clarke discusses the difference bedards.

My child interrupts my conversations tween wants and needs and offers thirty-six ways to say no. with other adults.

44 Ideas to Start Connecting and Stop I do things for my child rather than see Overindulging Your Children This Holiday her/him in distress. © 2014 by Jean Illsley Clarke, Connie Season – David Bredehoft shares readers’ Dawson, and David J. Bredehoft. Used homegrown ideas on how to curb childhood overindulgence during the holidays. here with permission.

Take a free online course to learn more about childhood overindulgence.

Soft structure: What are the risks?

Developmental Parenting Highway Parents are soft on structure for many reasons. Sometimes it is just plain easier. Online Course is a free one-hour onOther times we are tired of being the “bad line course offered by The University of guy” all of the time. Maybe we want our Minnesota Extension. This course explores children to be our “best friends”! All rea- a variety of topics including why parenting is like driving on a highway with four helpful lanes, the strengths of each, and help if you slip onto the shoulder or into a ditch. (psychologytoday.com)

Thou Art: The Beauty of Identity

M

ake a Family Poetry Book!

Get the family together to write poems on identity. Print them out and bind them into a book! Decorate each page with beautiful borders you create Make just one copy of the book or one copy for each poet!

To create your poems ask yourself Who Are You? 10 times, give yourself five seconds to write an answer each time. The list of answers is your poem!

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Saturday, may 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Breaching of procurement regulations

Opposition mounts pressure on Govt to take action against Minister Patterson

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uyana’s parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party, is mounting pressure on Government to take action against one of its Ministers who was found guilty by the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) of breaching regulations.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo called out the Government on its failure to act, saying there seems to be a “pattern” of questionable decisions made in relation to multimillion-dollar contracts by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government Minister, David Patterson, who heads the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

Speaking at his weekly press conference at his Church Street, Georgetown office, Jagdeo said Patterson was taken before the Public Procurement Commission and they have unearthed adverse finding. “He is before the Police and they completed the investigation five months ago. Until now we have not seen any charges laid against him although he committed an illegal act according to the Public Procurement Commission,” the Opposition Leader said. Jagdeo added that as recent as Thursday last, he obtained information with regard to a road project contract involving the laying of asphalt in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), where the Public Infrastructure Ministry is being accused for not following rules and regulations. He said the accusation of impropriety

on the Region Nine project must be investigated. A similar accusation, he added, was also made about several other projects including the East Bank Berbice Road contract.

The Opposition Leader also called out Minister Patterson on the payment of US$9000 to his personal bank account from a Chinese company. According to Jagdeo, the Minister’s statements about this matter leave many unanswered questions and appears to be non-factual.

“He gave… an explanation that the Cabinet had approved the trip but the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) funded the trip, he took an advance from MARAD. Now I know if the Cabinet approves the trip then you get the advance from the Finance Ministry, why do you have to go to MARAD? But I suspect that when you get the advance from the Finance Ministry then you have to clear the advance, so why in the first place, in the first instance collect the money from MARAD and for the trip?”

According to the Opposition Leader, the contractors could have also simply reimbursed MARAD directly since the agency has its own bank account that it uses for business purposes.

“So all you had to do is give MARAD… it has a bank account. MARAD should have given their bank account [number] to the contractors and they would pay back MARAD directly. But how did the Association get his personal bank account de-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

tails? Obviously the Minister had to give them his personal bank account details to deposit the money in,” Jagdeo further stated.

He noted that eight months after the money was expended, Minister Patterson stated that he had “promptly” reimbursed MARAD, but until now there has been no proof to support the Minister’s claims of such.

“We have not seen a cheque so how was it reimbursed? The Minister can easily show by cheque this was done. Did he encash it, draw out the cash and put it in a bag and went over to MARAD and give it back? So there are lots of questions that we have to get answers for,” Jagdeo added.

Minister Patterson came under fire after the probe into the award of a consultancy contract to Dutch firm LievenseCSO for the feasibility study and design of the new Demerara River crossing found that there was indeed breach in Procurement Act. The Public Procurement

Commission report outlined that after some 23 companies had expressed an interest in providing consultancy services, 12 were shortlisted and two managed to submit their

proposals on time. However, Government failed to reach an agreement with either of the two companies in their negotiations and as such, the tender was annulled.

The National Tender and Procurement Administration Board (NPTAB) then recommended that the Public Infrastructure Ministry (MPI) re-tender but it did not, the PPC report said. It went on to note that the Permanent Secretary of the Public Infrastructure Ministry (MPI) then “informed the Public Procurement Commission that subsequent to annulment of the tender

by MPI, [Dutch Company LievenseCSO] Engineering

contracting BV submitted an unsolicited proposal to provide consultancy services for the Demerara River bridge project.”

As such, the Commission added that Minister Patterson approached Cabinet on November 18, 2016, seeking consideration and approval to use funds from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation to fund the feasibility study and to commence a contractual engagement with LievenseCSO as of January 1, 2017.

The Commission found that there was a breach when this request to Cabinet was made by the Minister and not through the NPTA.

Takutu Landing fatal stabbing

Victim indentified as Diamond resident

T

he police have confirmed that the miner that was stabbed to death at Takutu Landing, Puruni Road, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), after he went to help a woman, was positively identified as 24-yearold Eric Nurse of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

The miner called “Black Boy” was stabbed at least 12 times after he intervened in an argument between another miner and a woman.

The suspect is a 37-yearold miner of Enterprise, Lower Pomeroon River,

Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), and has since confessed to the murder.

Reports are on Wednesday at about 20:30h, Nurse and the suspect were consuming alcohol at a popular shop in the area.

However, at about 01:20h on Thursday morning, it is alleged that the suspect concealed himself in the sleeping quarters of a female employee without her knowledge.

As she entered, she was confronted by the man and immediately raised an alarm.

The woman and the suspect were, however, engaged in a heated argument and it was

at this time that the victim intervened and held onto the suspect’s shirt and pulled him out of the room.

The woman reportedly went back into her sleeping quarters and left the two men arguing in front of the shop.

About five minutes later, the woman heard a commotion and upon checking, saw “Black Boy” lying on his back in a pool of blood and motionless. The suspected murder weapon was recovered at the scene and taken as evidence.

Nurse’s body was transported to the Bartica Regional Hospital Mortuary.

8 News

Saturday, may 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Essequibo Coast carpenter charged for killing wife

O

ne week after allegedly stabbing his wife to death, an Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) carpenter, was on Friday hauled to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after being slapped with the capital offence of murder.

Devenand Narine was not required to plea to the indictable charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that on May 16, 2019, he murdered Farida Khayum at their Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast home.

In court on Friday, the 50-year-old man was repre-

Dead: Farida Khayum

sented by Attorney-at-Law Bernard Da Silva. Da Silva told the court that on the day of the incident, his client was under the influence of alcohol and upon arriv-

ing at home, he saw another man in the house. The defence counsel said that after his client enquired about the individual, he was told that he was a friend of his wife.

This, however, the lawyer told the court, led to an argument. The lawyer said that his client was attacked by the now dead woman along with the friend and her two sons. The lawyer claimed that during the argument, his client told him, Khayum’s son held him down and threw a poisonous substance in his mouth.

At no point in time did the lawyer mention that the woman was killed.

However, Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the

court that investigations revealed that the suspect and the now dead woman were in the kitchen area when an argument ensued.

The argument, Mansfield added, quickly turned into a scuffle and it was at this time that the suspect armed himself with a knife and stabbed the woman several times to the body. After committing the act, he reportedly consumed a poisonous substance.

The police prosecutor also refuted claims that the now dead woman had a male companion in the house. Narine was remanded to prison and the case was transferred to the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

Mother jailed for smuggling ganja in court’s lock-ups

G

e o r g e t o w n M a g i s t r a t e Rhondel Weaver on

Friday sentenced a mother of three to one year’s imprisonment for smug-

gling a quantity of marijuana into the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court’s lock-

Jailed: Sarah Chance

ups for a friend, who is detained there.

Sarah Chance was on trial before Magistrate Weaver and was found guilty of the offence which detailed that she smuggled 23 grams of cannabis inside the sole of a pair of boots on January 21, 2019.

The 33-year-old woman of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara (EBD), had previously denied the charge.

The case was prosecuted by Simone Payne while Chance did not have an attorney.

According to reports, the mother of three and the inmate were known to each other since they had been communicating for months.

On the day in question, officers at the court informed Chance that the boots she had taken for the man had to be checked. According to the prosecution’s case, after this was told to Chance she began acting in a suspicious manner, causing the ranks to take a closer look at the footwear. During the search, the drug was found in the sole of the footwear.

Chance, during her first court appearance, told the court that she was only doing a favour for a friend, which was to drop off the boots for a prisoner in the lookups, while stating that she picked it up (boots) from a person in Albouystown, Georgetown.

Missing the boat…

O

…on children’s rights n so many issues, the PNC-led Government has just been “all talk and no action”; invariably, their “talk” has just been political white noise. Take, for instance, the issue of “children’s rights”. In 2015, they were invited by the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) to talk to schoolchildren about their human rights; and, of course, seeing that he didn’t have a portfolio apart from writing a column in the Chronic, PM Moses Nagamootoo was assigned the task!!

Now, if there’s one thing Nagamootoo’s good at, it’s uttering meaningless platitudes! And boy, has he latched on to this gig, which has been the sum total contribution of this PNC Government to protecting children’s rights!!

The RCC, of course, was created by the PPP Government, but if the truth be told, it has failed our children in protecting their human rights. It fits perfectly with the PNC “all talk and no action” mantra.

Its officials are supposed to submit annual reports to Parliament on what they have done; and they have.

Problem is, year after year, their reports, of about a dozen pages, are two-thirds filled with bios of the commissioners and executives!! The remaining pages detail their talks to various and sundry bodies. In this year’s talk-fest, the Chair emphasised that their “main focus areas” are “protection, education and empowerment” of children.

But let’s look at “protection”. From the newspaper reports, the most urgent protection our kids need is against sexual predators. There isn’t a day that goes by wherein a child isn’t sexually abused by someone or other; most often by someone in a position of trust. Guyana is one of the first countries to have signed on to the UN Children’s Rights Convention – just two years after it was promulgated in 1989, when, for the first time in the history of the world, children were accepted as rights-bearing human beings.

And this was given constitutional protection in Art 212, when the RCC was mandated to ensure that Guyana complies with its obligations.

But can the RCC say what it has done to protect our children from sexual predators, or ensured the Government does so?? In its reports, its officials complain that they don’t have enough money to hire investigators (like with the Integrity Commission?!); but how come, when Nagamootoo and his cohorts come to deliver their homilies, they aren’t told about this to their faces?? Why are they even invited??

At this year’s “Workshop” – which was a “talkshop”, not a “workshop” - Nagamootoo complained that his MPs didn’t understand the Constitution on whether 33 was greater than 32!! Valerie Garrido-Lowe said much more needs to be done to protect the rights of children.

Damn right! But what’s their Government’s doing ‘bout it? …with Buju tickets The Opposition Leader claimed the Government was giving out $40 million in tickets (8000 times $5000 each!) for its supporters to attend Buju Banton’s concert at the National Stadium. “Not so!!” protested PNC General Secretary Amna Ally, who was caught distributing the tickets; it “wasn’t Government’s money” (meaning our taxpayers’ money), but PNC money!! But let’s not go into that right now, (after all, Patterson still has to show the paper trail of the US$9000 that was mysteriously deposited into his account!!) but is this what the PNC wants “Independence” to mean to its supporters??

Buju Banton is a CONVICTED drug smuggler, and there’s the not-so-incidental matter of his homophobic music!! While he’s dropped “Boom bye bye”, in which he advocated the killing of gays, he’s never apologised for such a reprehensible position - which is part and parcel of the whole dancehall phenomenon.

But we know what is going on here, don’t we?? The PNC’s willing to pander to the lowest common denominator for votes! It’s how they see their supporters!! …on Brexit Britain’s PM, Theresa May, has just resigned over her failure to get the Brexit Treaty approved, even within her own party. But she had the grace to resign.

If this PNC Cabinet had any principle, they’d all be gone!!

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

news

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Saturday, may 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

President pardons UK Prime Minister resigns T 2 prisoners

Pardoned: Bibi Parjohn

Pardoned: Unique Hope

resident David Granger on Friday pardoned two female prisoners for Guyana’s 53rd Independence Anniversary.

The women freed are Bibi Parjohn, 40, and 30-year-old Unique Hope. Parjohn was jailed for larceny while Hope was serving time for forgery.

In a statement on Friday, the Government said that Granger, pursuant to powers under Article 188 (2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, has granted Presidential Pardons to the two women prisoners, whom he considered “fit and proper” to receive such pardons. The women both served a portion of their sentences.

In 2015, shortly after taking office, the President granted pardon to 60 convicts.

The release of prisoners in 2015 caused much controversy after Government had refused to release the names and offences of those pardoned. Following the pardoning, the Opposition – People’s Progressive Party – through its Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall, submitted on May 24, 2016, questions to the National Assembly and sought to elicit from

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan the names, addresses, offences committed and criminal records, length of sentences, process and criteria employed relating to prisoners pardoned by President Granger over the past year.

However, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs on May 30, 2016, by way of letter, informed Nandlall that in accordance with Standing Order 20 (2), Dr Scotland opined that the questions were an abuse of the right of questioning and as such, they were disallowed. The Speaker did not specify the reason for not allowing the questions.

The President had indicated intentions to release another 60 young men and women in 2016, but this did not materialise.

In 2017, nine women prisoners were pardoned for Guyana’s 47th Republic Anniversary.

The prisoners, who were all inmates at the New Amsterdam penitentiary, were Kamla Bisram, 30; Malinda Beaton, 31; Charissazan Charles, 18; Sasha Christopher, 18; Jenny Davis, 26; Vanessa Frank, 26; Barbra Hunte, 51; Kamwattie Persaud, 23 and Dhanmattie Seenarine, 47.

P

heresa May has said she will quit as Conservative leader on 7 June, paving the way for a contest to decide a new prime minister.

In an emotional statement, she said she had done her best to deliver Brexit and it was a matter of “deep regret” that she had been unable to do so.

May said she would continue to serve as PM while a Conservative leadership contest takes place.

The party said it hoped a new leader could be in place by the end of July.

It means May will still be prime minister when US President Donald Trump makes his state visit to the UK at the start of June.

Asked about the prime minister’s announcement, Mr Trump said: “I feel badly for Theresa. I like her very much. She’s a good woman. She worked very hard. She’s very strong.”

May said she would step down as Tory leader on 7 June and had agreed with the chairman of Tory backbenchers that the contest to replace her should begin the following week.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has become the latest MP to say that he will run, joining Boris Johnson, Esther McVey and Rory Stewart. More than a dozen other MPs are believed to be seriously considering entering the contest.

At the start she boasted about not being a creature of Westminster’s bars and cliques.

But it meant this very private politician had few true friends to help when things turned sour, and neither the powers of patronage, nor the capability to schmooze or arm twist to get people around to her point of view.

Few of her cabinet colleagues, even now, know her well at all, one saying that “as things got harder the circle got smaller”. Another revealed that “there was no trust,

UK Prime Minister Theresa May

and no faith”.

Settling the Tories’ decades-long dispute over Europe was always perhaps beyond just one leader. But the wounds have got more painful under her leadership, rather than fading away.

In her statement, delivered in Downing Street, Mrs May said she had done “everything I can” to convince MPs to support the withdrawal deal she had negotiated with the European Union but it was now in the “best interests of the country for a new prime minister to lead that effort”.

She added that, in order to deliver Brexit, her successor would have to build agreement in Parliament.

“Such a consensus can only be reached if those on all sides of the debate are willing to compromise,” she said.

May’s voice shook as she ended her speech saying: “I will shortly leave the job that it has been the honour of my life to hold. The second female prime minister, but certainly not the last.

“I do so with no ill will, but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love.”

The prime minister had faced a backlash from her MPs after announcing her latest Brexit plan

earlier this week, which included concessions aimed at attracting cross-party support.

The Conservative Party said the likely timetable for the leadership contest was that nominations would close during the week beginning 10 June, with candidates whittled down to the final two to by the end of the month. (BBC)

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saturday, may 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

What to

expect tours, and experiences.

Celebrities The biggest celebrities, entertainers and dj’s come together to deliver new experiences.

A

premium Carnival Experience fused with flavors of Guyana and the Caribbean creating the perfect ambience for carnival chasers, tourists and locals to celebrate!

Adventure The perfect getaway for you and your crew! Discover the unspoilt beauty of Guyana with its fascinating, sites,

Fetes All Inclusives and Concerts to Cooler Fetes, Breakfast Parties and Boat rides we have you covered.

J’Ouvert You can’t play mas and fraid powder; we stink and dutty in Georgetown!

Mas Everything you love about Carnival. Costumes, Glitz, Glamour and Revelry.

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saturday, may 25, 2019 | guya

About this Event Soca Rave From the road to the rave Jump! Pump! Rave!

Hosted by

Patrick Hype

Performing Live

Patrice Roberts Nailah Blackman Voice Blaxx and much more!

drops video new song in "Country F

T

he reggae legend has been free since last December.

Back in December of 2018, Buju Banton regained his status as a free man after completing a seven-year sentence at a prison in the United States. Having returned to his home-country of Jamaica following the aforementioned penitentiary stint, the beloved reggae artist debuted his first new track and single since the beginning of his bid, “Country For Sale,” earlier this month. Continuing to support that re-

cord and shifting the focus a legal troubles and back to his put, the 45-year-old is servin cial video for “Country For Sa it’s only a lyrics-based offeri new clip for “Country For Sa for being his first visual rele gaining his freedom.

You can take a look at B new visual for “Country For and stay tuned for more fr gae veteran. Banton has yet

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25, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Music By:

DJ Puffy - Barbados Rebel One - New York City Jay Rev - Toronto Mix Master Tony - Guyana Dei Musicale - Trinidad & Tobago Nuphoric - Trinidad & Tobago All Mabaruma Masqueraders will receive a complimentary ticket to attend SOCARAVE with access to the Sapphire Lounge!

deo for 1st g in 7 years, y For Sale"

ting the focus away from his s and back to his musical outear-old is serving up an offi“Country For Sale.” Although rics-based offering, Banton’s “Country For Sale” is notable first visual release since rereedom. ake a look at Buju Banton’s or “Country For Sale” above, ned for more from the regBanton has yet to reveal any

more details concerning his next round of releases.

Banton was initially arrested in 2009 in Miami for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking and was later convicted and sentenced to a decade in prison in 2011 on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession of more than five kilograms of cocaine. His last official studio album and full-length project was the 10song LP Before the Dawn, which dropped in 2010.

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Saturday, may 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bird watching For birders, Guyana has over 877 migrant and resident bird species for visitors to see.

Sports fishing Guyana’s fresh waters are bursting with fishes. Often called the “Land of Many Waters” or the “Big River Country” Shopping Whether you are on Regent Street or in Charity Village, shopping should never be

omitted from your itinerary while in Guyana.

Dining Dining in Guyana is all about our eclectic cuisine, ambience and impeccable services.

Tours The best tours in Guyana as awarded by millions of travelers.

Night life After you've had your day fill of fun, it's

time to check the vibrant and diverse night entertainment that awaits you.

Trekking The Amazon Rainforest of Guyana provides an amazing trekking experience.

Community tourism The Indigenous communities of the Amazon Rainforest in Guyana offer a unique community tourism experience.

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20 News

Saturday, may 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Floods hit Black Bush Polder the past day with farmers reporting their livestock being captured and eaten.

Nermalla Ramsarran, a mother of three of Yakasary, said she could not cook for her children on Friday because of the floodwaters.

“I go to cook egg curry and the whole place flood out… look all the wood right here and it wet.”

Her children had to con-

she said while adding that they cannot afford to continue pumping water out of the farm as the rains continue.

“How much diesel we gon able buy?”

Sudeen Ramnauth called “Lil Boy” of Yakasary also said his crop was under water.

“I got to pump water, since morning my skin soak and I pumping water.” He said

These two schoolgirls were forced to remove their footwear as they navigated through mud and water to attend school

By Andrew Carmichael

J

ust one day after regional authorities said that there is no danger of flooding at Black Bush Polder, Berbice, during the rainy season, a section of the area was under water on Friday.

On Thursday, Regional Chairman David Armogan told Guyana Times that the region has the capacity to drain the Black Bush Polder, not only in terms of gravitational flow but also by means of electrical pumps.

However, on Friday morning the polders of Johanna and Yakasary were inundated after a few hours of heavy rainfall.

Cash crop farmers and those in the residential areas were the worst affected by the floodwaters. Also affected were some rice and poultry farmers.

Residents are pointing an accusing finger at

the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), which has the responsibility for the three main canals that drain the four polders.

Some of the sluice doors are silted and up to Friday afternoon could not be opened.

Additionally, outfall channels at Adventure, Eversham and Number 43 Village are all blocked with silt. The pump at Number 43 Village is also out of operation.

These issues were all highlighted by this publication earlier in the month.

On Friday, several farmers were seen pumping water out of their farms and building embankments to prevent overtopping. The drainage system was ineffective since the two polders were filled to capacity.

The way home for many involved paddling through floodwaters.

Snakes and alligators have also been prevalent over

This young man makes his way through floodwaters at Black Bush Polder

Determined to save their herd: These two men guide their sheep through floodwaters

tend with crackers for lunch and dinner.

Sharmilla Davi Pooran, a cash crop farmer, told Guyana Times that she and her husband cultivate ochro and during the morning her husband had to use a pump to get most of the water out of the farm.

She noted that they also cultivate rice, which was hit by a paddy bug infestation during the last crop.

“We get nothing from rice and now it look like we nah gon get nothing from garden,”

77 conferred with national awards

I

n recognition of their service and contribution to Guyana’s development, 77 persons were on Friday bestowed with national awards.

At an investiture ceremony at the National Cultural Centre, President David Granger conferred the awards, ranging from the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (CCH), the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA), the Medal of Service (MS), the Military Service Medal (MSM) and the Disciplined Services Medal (DSM).

The Head of State indicated that the ceremony serves as a reminder of persons that are responsible for Guyana’s upward trajectory. As such, their sterling contribution is recognised as an appreciation for selfless loyalty.

“Citizens’ contribution to society, their participation in national development and their personal accomplishments are central to a country’s progress. Citizens who service reflects the values of identity, integrity and loyalty help to make Guyana a better place,” Granger stated.

He also related that national awards are part of Guyana’s national honour system, adding that these awards are tangible tokens of the respect which a nation can bestow on its worthy citizens.

This year, the Disciplined Services Medal was awarded to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lyndon Alves; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Langevine and

Retired Divisional Officer, Compton Sparman.

The Military Service Medal was conferred to Lieutenant Colonel, Courtney Bryne.

Meanwhile, the Golden Arrow of Achievement was bestowed upon Vincent Alexander, Lorene Baird, Ruth Benjamin Huntley, Calvin Benn, Leslie Black, William Boyle, Negla Brandis, Paul Carto, Randolph Cummings, Phillip DaSilva, Patrick Farnum, Egbert Field, Nicholas Fredericks, Malcolm Harripaul, Vincent Henry, Dickson Hooper, Leon Johnson, Kalam Juman-Yassin, Patrick Ma Fleur, Carl Lashley, Derrick Lawrence, Lawrence London, Julia Mansell, Dr Suresh Narine, Christopher Nacimento, Lurline Nestor, Maxine Aaron, Rajendra Persaud, Eric Phillips, Sandra Shivdat, Gomathinayagam Subramaninan, Morris Wilson, Genevieve Nedd, Garfield Wiltshire, William Woolford and O’Donna Allsopp.

Those awarded with the Cacique’s Crown of Honour were Frederick Case, Charles Fung-a-Fat, David Hales, Sheik Insanally, Abdool Majeed and Terrence Montrose.

For the Medal of Service, 31 persons were awarded.

These included Shameeza Baksh, Taramattie Barker, Roxanne Barratt, Rosemary Benjamin-Noble, Donna Bowman, John Critchlow, Wavenie Dorsett, Hilbert

Foster, Gloria Garraway, Lawrence Griffith, Soyinka Grogan, Claudette HeyligerThomas, Parmeshwar Jagmohan, Suresh Jagmohan, Ian Jardine, Mohammed Kassim, Bibi Khan, Gordon Kingston, Kumar Lallbachan, Peter Lewis, Nasrudeen Mohammed, Terrence Poole, Leslie Romalho, Harripersaud Ramsewack, Petal Ridley, Gail Robinson, Ramkarran Roopchand, James Sampson, Komal Singh, Zohora Singh and Fitzroy Younge.

Chairperson of the Advisory Council of the Orders of Guyana and Acting Chancellor, Yonette Cummings-Edwards told the awardees, “We extend heartfelt congratulations to you.

You’re being celebrated for your hard work and achievements.”

In 1970, the national awards were introduced with two orders, the Order of Excellence and the Order of Roraima. Three years later, the Order of Service was created.

Back in 2018, 49 persons out of the 96 awardees were women.

In 2017, 31 women were conferred with national awards with CummingsEdwards, leading the list at that time.

In October 2016, a total of 86 individuals were conferred with awards. Additionally, 12 groups were conferred with the MS insignia on the occasion of Guyana’s 46th Republic Anniversary in February, earlier that year.

the canal which takes water to the sluice at Number 43 Village is clogged with vegetation. He added that the outfall channel needs desilting urgently.

Ramnauth also expressed concern that the pump at Number 43 Village was not being used to assist in getting the water out to the sea.

Raymond Joseph, a rice and cash crop farmer of Yakasary, explained that the rise in water was rapid and it has not been receding since Thursday.

“Instead of going down it coming up more; we are in need of relief here right now.

Everything in the garden under water, I have to call off the garden now; I can’t get anything.”

He noted that the rice is also under threat despite it being the start of the crop.

“The rice in jeopardy; it is young rice – the seedling that lately shy. If rain fall again I

might have to move out from here because the water come up right to the bottom house [lower flat]. Something needs to be done in here right now because this water is not going down. It is very dangerous here right now. Then you would find people getting sick because it is this water people have to walk in; the children have to walk in this same water to go to school.”

Former Chairman of the Black Bush Polder’s Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Takoor Persaud explained that over the past five months there was no maintenance to the

ed due to the long dry spell.”

As it relates to the current rice crop, eighty per cent of it has already begun and the farmers need drainage to get the excess water out of their rice fields.

He explained that the NDIA has commenced cleaning the outfall channel, however, with the heavy rainfall and the rice farmers pumping the excess water out, the residential areas are being affected.

“Presently the water is just pouring into the residential areas thus causing more flooding affecting cash crop and livestock.”

Residents walking through floodwaters

Yakasary main drainage canal, which is currently clogged. Both Johanna and Yakasary use that canal for drainage “Also, the outfall channel and upstream have been silt-

He noted that had the main drainage canal at Yakasary been maintained as of January, there would not have been so much water in Johanna and Yakasary.

UG shuts down as bomb scare forces suspension of exams, classes

C

haos broke out at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen campus on Friday morning when news spread that someone threatened to blow up several sections of the campus by reportedly setting bombs at various locations at the tertiary institution.

The Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service and the University’s security were on high alert and locked down the institution.

As a result, the gates to the educational institution were closed as security forces scanned the institution for threats. The threats were initially sent to a number of online news outfits and the situation was promptly reported to the police.

In the message, the alleged sender “Jack Ryan” stated “I have placed 20 bombs across the University of Guyana campus which are hidden from plain sight.

Attached to this bomb is a timer which can be remotely activated/deactivated”.

The sender also uploaded an image of the alleged handmade explosive device.

He also stated that the timer was set for eight hours before destruction.

“The bombs will be activated at exactly 15:00h unless my demands are meet,” the message stated.

However, in a subsequent message, the sender related that students must leave the campus after which he will make his demands.

C Division Police Commander, Calvin Brutus told this publication on Friday that fire tenders and members of the Guyana Police Force’s bomb squad spent hours combing through the multiple buildings on that campus in search of the possible bombs.

They were able to evacuate a large number of students, who had been on campus for various classes as well as faculty members, however, there were a few challenges in getting students who were already

writing exams to safe locations.

“We managed to get those folks out of the compound and into safety zone.

But when we got there, some students had already commenced certain exams, so we had to try to get them into a safe zone too. At the same time, we did not know where the sender alleged he placed bombs so we had to check every single part of the campus,” the Commander said.

When this newspaper arrived on campus on Friday, the gates were still closed and security personnel were not allowing anyone into the compound.

This is the second bomb threat that the Turkeyen campus of UG has faced since the start of 2019.

In February, a female student of that campus was charged for allegedly sending threatening messages saying that a bomb was placed on campus. She has since denied the allegation and is currently on trial.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, may 25, 2019

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Holder looks to make giant step and lift World Cup W est Indies captain Jason Holder spoke about the excitement and huge opportunity to again lead the region at the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament. Four years ago, then a fledgling 23-yearold took on the mantle of

leadership in Australia and New Zealand when they bowled out at the quarter-final stage. Now, in 2019, he believes with the last four years under his belt and renewed confidence in his ability and that of his teammates, the West Indies have a great chance of lifting the

Jason Holder sits with other CWC captains

coveted trophy.

With just over a week to go to the start of the 12th edition of the global showpiece, Holder joined the nine other captains who assembled at The Film Shed on the lively east end of London for the official Captains Media Day. They all took turns to address a packed audience and spoke of their desire to win the title and lift the golden prize at Lord’s on July 14. It was an event with a difference – aimed at taking the game into an area where previously it had not ventured.

It caught the imagination of the players and they lapped up the atmosphere and new vibes.

“We’re all excited for this tournament and we want it to start tomorrow. I’m happy with my squad, so hopefully we can play well and enjoy ourselves,” Holder said.

West Indies won the first two editions of the ICC Cricket World Cup, both held in England, in 1975 and 1979 under the astute leadership of the great Clive Lloyd. To end the 40-year wait for the title, Holder’s side will need to come through a group stage where they face every other country once, before a semi-final and final, and the all-rounder is relishing the new format.

“You only had five or six games previously, with a few

more if you made the knockout stages … so it’s exciting to play every other team this time.

You’ll have to work hard to win the World Cup by playing every other team – it’s the top ten in world but you want to play all the other nine to give yourself a chance,” the skipper continued.

West Indies arrived in Bristol on Thursday afternoon from Southampton where they had a pre-tournament camp and an unofficial warmup match against Australia.

In Bristol they will play two official warm-up matches against South Africa and New Zealand.

“We’re taking it one game at a time – it’s a pretty level playing field and cricket is a game played on the day.

Everyone is up to the task and knows what standard the competition is, so it comes down to who plays better on the day. When the schedule came out, we didn’t look for one fixture in particular – we just looked at the first half of our schedule and turned our focus to the first few games,” Holder added.

West Indies open their campaign on Friday, May 31 against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. First ball is 10:30am (5:30am Eastern Caribbean Time/4:30am Jamaica Time). (CWI)

Dottin-less Windies Women set to battle Ireland on Sunday

I

reland will host West Indies in the first of three T20 Internationals from tomorrow Sunday May 26 at the YMCA Cricket Club in Dublin Ireland. The first ball will bowl off from 11:00h local time. West Indies are expecting to face a young Ireland team led by the 26-year old, Laura Delany while Stafanie Taylor will lead the Caribbean team.

The West Indies team will be without their start all-rounder, the destructive Deandra Dottin who was replaced by Britney Cooper in the squad. West Indies will play the three T20 matches in Dublin before they travel to England in June where they will meet England on June 6 for a One Day International (ODI).

Stafanie Taylor will be assisted by newly appointed vice-captain, Hayley Matthews while Shemaine Campbelle is the lone Guyanese in the squad for the Ireland and England tours. Ireland captain, Delany is expecting an attacking and aggressive West Indies team approach in tomorrow’s clash.

Addressing the media earlier this week, the Ireland captain

stated they Caribbean team have a destructive approach towards the game.

The Ireland team will be weakened with the likes of Isobel Joyce, Cecelia Joyce, Clare Shillington and Ciara Metcalfe retiring. With the experience campaigners retired, West Indies will have to cash in but the young Irish players are capable, having represented in the Women’s Big Bash League, and seven players in the Irish squad are based in Australia.

West Indies full squad: Stafanie Taylor (captain), Hayley Matthews (vicecaptain), Britney Cooper, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack, Chedean Nation, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Shakera Selman, Shamilia Connell, Shemaine Campbell, Natasha McLean and Stacy Ann King.

Ireland full squad reads: Laura Delany (Captain), Kim Garth, Shauna Kavanagh, Gaby Lewis, Louise Little, Sophie MacMahon, Lara Maritz, Naomi Matthews, Leah Paul, Celeste Raack, Una RaymondHoey, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron.

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saturday, MAY 25, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Windies seeking perfect warm-up against South Africa – teams last battled 3 years ago

By Brandon Corlette

T

he West Indies will continue their preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup matches when they lock horns with the World number three ODI team, South African, tomorrow, Sunday May 26.

The match will commence from 5:30h local time at the county Ground Bristol in England.

In their first unofficial warmup match, the West Indies w e n t

Shimron Hetmyer is turning one into the on-side

Darren Bravo on his way to a century during the 2016 tour against South Africa

t

down o Australia by seven wickets despite Carlos Brathwaite and Evin Lewis scoring halfcenturies.

West Indies have last played South Africa in an official One-Day International in June 2016, during a tri-nation series in the Caribbean

that saw Australia finishing at the top.

The first official World Cup match for the West Indies will be against Pakistan on Friday May 31, and that will be followed by a game

against Australia on June 6, and South Africa on Monday June 10.

In this penultimate warm-up match, all the Caribbean players will be eager to tick all the necessary boxes.

South Africa will be brimming with confidence. With only England and India ranking above them, they will bring their ‘A’ game to this encounter.

In their warm-up match against Sri Lanka on Friday last, the South Africans proved their dominance with an 87-run victory.

West Indies and South Africa have been engaged in some riveting encounters in past ODI matches, but in the last ODI between these two teams – the 2016 TriNation Series with Australia in the Caribbean -- South Africa lost to the West Indies by 100 runs. In that encounter, played at

Bridgetown, Barbados, Darren Bravo -- who is currently struggling in the team -- had smashed a century to lead West Indies to a score of 285 all out; and Shannon Gabriel and Sunil Narine had each taken three wickets, to restrict South Africa to 185 all out.

A memorable event between these two teams had occurred in 2015 when AB de Villiers had smashed a record-breaking 149 from 44 balls, including 16 sixes and nine fours. Leon Johnson had played for the West Indies in that match, and two other South African batsmen had hit centuries -- Hashim Amla, the premier opener currently in the South African Team, and the now retired Rilee Rossouw.

That West Indies team is completely different from its present counterpart in that only Jason Holder, Chris Gayle and Andre Russell had featured in that match. Conversely, South Africa will have six of their players from that match

playing in the warm-up match against the West Indies.

With South Africa being West Indies’ third opponent in the World Cup matches, both teams would be aiming to get a good look at their opponents’ strengths after approximately three years of not facing each other.

The South Africa squad is comprised of: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), JP Duminy, Aiden Markram, David Miller, *Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, and Rassie van der Dussen.

The West Indies squad is comprised of: Jason Holder (capt), Fabian Allen, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell and Oshane Thomas.

White Tiger MA Academy completes Meten-meer-Zorg Masters thump Everest T first Taekwondo grading for 2019 he Meten-Meer-Zorg Masters have defeated a full strength Everest squad by 21 runs in the Ronold “Sticky” Jaisingh’s 50th Birthday Anniversary 25 Overs friendly match played at Everest.

Batting first after winning the toss, MMZ Masters were off to a slow start, and the Everest bowlers kept things tight by bowling wicket to wicket; thus, at the end of the 15th over, Meten-Meer-Zorg were on 82 for 2. However, the West Side team picked up the pace in the last 10 overs to finish at 180 for 6.

Chabiraj Ramcharran top scored for MMZ Masters with a workmanlike 73, which included four sixes and four fours.

He was well supported by Sham Persaud on 24 not out, Jetendra Kishore on 21, and Muneshwar Balgobin who contributed a resistant 20.

The pick of the Everest bowlers was Imtiaz Sadik, who returned figures of 3-33 from his five overs.

Participants who took the examination on May 19

The following students were promoted to their respective belts: Names Enter Exam at Rank Percentage Promoted to Chris Hope 7TH KUP Green Tip 75% 6TH KUP Green Belt Sayyid Rajbali 8TH KUP Yellow Belt 72% 7TH KUP Green Tip Jelani Lambert 8TH KUP Yellow Belt 70% 7TH KUP Green Tip Andrew Layne 6TH KUP Green Belt 76% 5TH KUP Blue Tip Aiden Kirton 6TH KUP Green Belt 75% 5TH KUP Blue Tip Hemchand Palaniandi 8TH KUP Yellow Belt 76% 7TH KUP Green Tip Alyssa Abdulla 8TH KUP Yellow Belt 78% 7TH KUP Green Tip Adrian La Rose 6TH KUP Green Belt 77% 5TH KUP Blue Tip Ethan Abdulla 9TH KUP Yellow Tip 76% 7TH KUP Green Tip Richard Vandenburg 10TH KUP White Belt 80% 8TH KUP Yellow Belt Cristopher Drupali 10TH KUP White Belt 71% 8TH KUP Yellow Belt Jai Gopilall 10TH KUP White Belt 80% 8TH KUP Yellow Belt Aliayah Harry 10TH KUP White Belt 72% 8TH KUP Yellow Belt Alisha Harry 10TH KUP White Belt 72% 8TH KUP Yellow Belt Ali Harry 10TH KUP White Belt 83% 8TH KUP Yellow Belt Michael Dundass 10TH KUP White Belt 72% 8TH KUP Yellow Belt Joshua Singh 10TH KUP White Belt 71% 8TH KUP Yellow Belt Reanna Seeram 10TH KUP White Belt 71% 8TH KUP Yellow Belt Nawaz Yang 10TH KUP White Belt 70% 8TH KUP Yellow Belt Micquiel Wilburgh 10TH KUP White Belt 72% 8TH KUP Yellow Belt

W

hite Tiger Martial Arts Academy has hosted its first Taekwondo grading for 2019. Proceedings were held on May 19 at the New Amsterdam Town Hall. A total of twenty students participated in this grading, and scores averaged between 70 and 83 percent.

The following students participated in the examination: Chris Hope, Sayyid Rajbali, Jelani Lambert, Andrew Layne, Aiden Kirton, Hemchand Palaniandi, Alyssa Abdulla, Adrian La Rose, Ethan Abdulla, Richard Vandenburg, Cristopher Drupali, Jai Gopilall, Aliayah Harry, Alisha Harry, Ali Harry,

Michael Dundass, Joshua Singh, Reanna Seeram, Nawaz Yang, Micquiel Wilburgh.

The White Tiger Martials Arts Academy will be hosting its first Annual Mathematics Competition on July 28. Other activities for 2019 are a tournament on July 14 and a Day of Sports on August 11.

Founder and Chief Instructor of White Tiger Martial Arts Academy, Marcello Small, wishes to congratulate his students on their performance, and encourages them to continue along this path of their lives, because greatness awaits.

In reply, Everest were made to work hard for the runs they scored. The MMZ Masters could have finished the match early, had they not somehow managed to drop six catches in the field.

Saheed Mohamed and Hemraj Garbarran put on 45 for the second wicket, which fell when Mohamed was caught on the boundary for 47, which included three sixes and three fours. Garbarran continued to fight for his team, but was caught for a well played 78, which comprised of two sixes and seven fours. No other batsman managed to reach fifteen, as the Everest innings ended at 159-8.

Sham Persaud was excellent with the ball, picking up 3-25. All three batsmen were stumped in his last over by Zamal Khan. Vinod Rajkumar supported with 2-28.

Chabiraj Ramcharran was adjudged ‘man of the match’.

The trophy of the tournament was sponsored by Trophy Stall.

Forde engages Brazilian Federation President in historic meeting

– establishment of development MoU discussed

T

he presidents of neighbouring football federations in Guyana and Brazil have engaged each other in discussion of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations for the further advancement of the game in Guyana.

The discussions were held at the Brazilian Football Federation (Confederação Brasileira de Futebol – CBF) on Thursday, and the MoU was high on the agenda.

President of the Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde, in presenting the MoU to his counterpart, CBF President Rogerio Caboclo, indicated that the historic agreement would be very beneficial to the continued development of football in Guyana.

Included in that MoU are areas for coaches, referees, competitions management, sports marketing, infrastructure development and pitch maintenance.

The Brazil interface between the two federation presidents would be followed up with another meeting when the presidents assemble for the 69th FIFA Congress, which will take place in Paris expo Porte de Versailles in Paris, France, on June 5th, 2019. This meeting would involve key officials of FIFA. Commenting on the engagement with his counterpart, GFF President Wayne Forde said: “There is no quick-fix to genuine football development; however, the process could be less arduous with technical

assistance from the Brazil Football Federation. The CBF has been very positive throughout our discussion, and they, too, have asked what took us this long to engage them.”

President Forde’s visit was a multi-faceted one, since similar MoUs are being pursued with other Brazilian clubs.

The journey from Guyana’s historical qualification to its first ever participation in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament commenced in Brazil last August when the Senior National Team, known as the ‘Golden Jaguars’, engaged in a two-week trainand-play camp, setting the foundation for its eventual qualification via matches in the CONCACAF Nations League.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, MAY 25, 2019

23

Regional U-19 Tournament set for probable return to St Vincent T he Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-19 tournament that was slated to be played in Guyana this year is potentially set for a return to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

In the 2018 edition of this tournament, played in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana had won the One-Day/ 50-Over format and had become five-time holders of the oneday championship title. This was remarkably done consecutively.

Customarily played in the three-day and one-day formats, this tournament will be played only in the limited overs’ format, with the Under-19 World Cup looming in January 2020 in South Africa.

The grounds in St Vincent and the Grenadines have made for good hunting for the Guyanese. In 2018, they recorded five wins in six matches, finishing the tournament as the best team with 27.8 points. Arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago, who won the three-day title in 2018, came in second position in the limited overs’ format with 22.3 points.

Kimani Melius, the Windward Islands youth sensation who has already represented West Indies at the U-19 World Cup, was the leading run-scorer in the Regional youth showpiece in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Melius, who will also be eligible for the 2020 World Cup, had 257 runs at an average of 51.4 in the one-day fixtures.

In the list of top 10 batsmen, only Guyanese Joshua Persaud (149) and Kevin Sinclair (129) were among the runs, but they have both graduated from the U-19 level in the 2018 tournament.

Sinclair had also taken 10 wickets, while Qumar Torrington, Guyana’s seam bowling spearhead in the 2019 tournament, had taken eight wickets in 2018.

The Guyanese are among the teams favoured to win the 2019 title, with some eight players being eligible to participate in a sixth consecutive one-day/50-over Regional U-19 tournament.

The 2018 victorious Guyana Regional U-19 Team in St Vincent and the Grenadines

CPL 2019: Smith seeking redemption with ball for GAW

By Brandon Corlette

O

dean Smith, a stocky 22-year-old fast bowler from Jamaica -- who has been lined up in the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) squad, having been snapped up in the 11th round of the CPL draft -- in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, shared some grateful sentiments on his selection.

“It was a good feeling (in) knowing I’ll be going to somewhere I actually like (to be engaged in) playing cricket; and (that) I’ll be playing with guys that are very good friends of mine. I could not have asked for anything better,” Smith declared.

One of the 12 emerging players in the CPL, Smith explained that his 2019 stint with the GAW would, for him, be a matter of redemption with the ball in hand.

“Well, I have to redeem myself with the ball, because my last CPL, in 2018 with St Lucia Stars, was not the best with the ball,” Smith explained.

He added that he is eagerly waiting to get an opportunity to showcase his skills

with the bat as well.

In his blooming career, Smith has played two T20 International matches for the West Indies: in April 2018 against Pakistan in Karachi, wherein he took two wickets.

This fiery fast bowler, whose deliveries could be described as ‘venomous’, has had CPL experience playing for the Jamaica Tallawahs and the St Lucia Stars. His 2018 season, wherein he played only three matches in the tournament, bowled six overs that cost 69 runs, and did not take a wicket, was below par; but he has since continued to improve his game, and his disclosures Odean Smith

made during this interview were a good indication that he would redeem himself for the GAW after that dismal 2018 performance.

Smith has been ‘turning things around’ at the Regional level, impressing the locals with his ability to bowl at 90 mph and hitting a long ball down the order in batting. In the 2018/19 Regional 4-Day tournament, he grabbed 17 wickets in the eight matches he played for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. In the 11 First-class matches he has played, he has taken 23 wickets.

Known as a power-player since making his debut in the 2017/18

season playing for Jamaica Scorpions, Smith has scored one half-century in Firstclass cricket: when he smashed his way to a 34-ball 64 against the Windward Islands in a “player of the match” performance that stands as one of his best performances. He also took one wicket in that match.

Further, he has played in the 2018 Regional Super50 Cup for the West Indies ‘B’ team, and had played for the victorious West Indies U-19s in the 2016 World Cup in Bangladesh. In all these experiences he has shown great promise, and fittingly has continued to play CPL for a third successive year.

He has played nine T20 matches thus far, and has a best bowling figure of 3-20 taken in 3.5 overs while playing for the Jamaica Tallawahs against Trinbago Knight Riders in 2017.

The CPL 2019 draft has seen more local players than overseas picks, and with CWI seeking to expose the young players in “the biggest party in sport”, Odean Smith is expected to shine for the GAW in 2019.

saturday, MAY 25, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Page 22

Windies seeking perfect warm-up against South Africa

– teams last battled 3 years ago

Page 22

Forde engages Brazilian Federation President in historic meeting

CPL 2019: Smith seeking redemption with ball for GAW

Page 23

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