Guyana Times Sunday, April 14, 2019

LOOK INSIDE !

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 3894 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, April 14, 2019

PRICE

Bank of Guyana report

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Balance of Payment deficit widens …as exports show 4.4% decline for 2018

$2.5M project for Tuschen NDC never executed – Chairman

WPA’s Sarabo-Halley tipped to replace Rupert Roopnaraine as MP

Govt signs another loan agreement P17

…blames P12 RDC for poor supervision, loss of money

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Page 7

Teacher killed in hit-and-run accident P9

President still in Cuba for radiology treatment P14

Children displaying their unique hat designs on Saturday during the National Library’s Easter Hat Show and Mini Fair (Dexter Ceres photo)

Berbice pensioner found with throat slit

Page 11

…daughter, friend in custody

CANU, Police can search persons only if there is “reasonable suspicion” Page 16 – attorney

Crime Chief warns about purchasing SIM cards for others

See story on Page 16

GBTI hosts auto fair for affordable vehicle P13 financing

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SUnDAY, april 14, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

news

Bank of Guyana report

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, April 14 – 09:00h-10:30h (no marine traffic) and Monday, April 15 – 13:30h-15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, April 14 – 11:40h-13:10h and Monday, April 15 – 12:50h-14:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers can be expected throughout the morning, followed by clear skies in the early afternoon and sunny intervals in the later afternoon. Partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly and North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 12:20h reaching a maximum height of 2.27 metres.

Low Tide: 05:48h and 18:32h reaching minimum heights of 1.07 metres and 0.87 metre respectively.

saturday, april 13, 2019

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SUnDAY, april 14, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Balance of Payment deficit widens – as exports show 4.4% decline for 2018 T

he Bank of Guyana’s recently released annual report has shown that while the Government has optimistic projections for next year, the Balance of Payment deficit and export earnings for the previous year continue to be a source of worry.

According to the figures provided by the bank, the overall Balance of Payment deficit widened due to a relatively larger current account deficit.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Financial Analyst Sasenarine Singh said this is a clear sign that Guyana is stricken by a crisis of confidence as the export sector implodes. The report notes that while the overall deficit in 2018 is US$132.2 million, this is 90 per cent deterioration from 2017 when it was at $69.5 million. According to the report, the current account deficit worsened to US$679.7 million in 2018 from a deficit of US$297.2 million in the previous year. Singh’s stated principle reason for this is the state of the export sector.

The report stated that exports declined by 4.4 per cent. This is an equivalent of US$63.6 million to US$1,373.8 million. The report explained that revenue from sugar, rice, timber and gold declined by 44.1 per cent, 7.5 per cent, 6.9 per cent and 6.2 per cent respectively. Both the decline in exports and the average export price was cited in the case of sugar.

But Singh also pointed to the decline of exports from the fish and shrimp industry, which was down 2.5 per cent; exports of fruits and vegetables were down; pharmaceutical exports were also down; diamond exports were down; and molasses exports collapsed. Singh said, “this is the story of Guyana, the export sector is in a tailspin and yet, we are in April 2019 and we cannot hear one word of a coordinated set of policy measures to stem this implosion in the export sector”.

“Sugar export earnings amounted to US$27.1 million, 44.1 per cent less than the 2017 earnings. This outturn was attributed to a 28.0 per cent decline in the volume of sugar exported as well as a decline in the average export price… the volume of sugar exported amounted to 77,796 metric tonnes or 30,191 metric tonnes less than the level exported in 2017,” the report states.

The sole bright spots were bauxite and other exports, which actually increased by 22.6 and 1.0 per cent respec-

The Bank of Guyana

tively. Bauxite export earnings totalled US$128.2 million, 22.6 per cent above the 2017 level. And meanwhile, other exports include commodities like rum.

“The capital account surplus resulted from higher inflows to the Private Sector in the form of FDIs and to the Non-Financial Public Sector in the form of disbursements,” the report also states. This, Singh highlighted, is mainly as a result of the oil investments, which are nothing other than a book entry when it comes to Guyana because the bulk of that investment does not directly impact the local economy, but those countries that are building the machinery and equipment needed out there in the sea. The Dutch, for example, are building the

FPSO to temporarily store the crude oil. That is where those dollars will end up, in Holland, after just passing through the Guyanese books for bookkeeping purposes. Singh asks what good is that for the well-being of the locals? Where are the hundreds of oil jobs from these billion-dollar investments?

According to the report, the overall deficit was financed from the gross foreign reserves of the Bank of Guyana and debt forgiveness. It noted that Guyana’s entire international reserves were equivalent to approximately 2.3 months of import cover.

“The total volume of foreign exchange transactions increased by 19.6 per cent to US$8,548.1 million… the market was impacted by in-

creases in transactions in most segments – licensed bank and non-bank cambios, as well as hard currency and foreign currency accounts.”

The Balance of Payment tables in the report contains statistical data on a country’s fiscal transactions, including imports and exports.

To record a deficit, Guyana would, therefore, have had to spend more on imports, among other things, that is derived from exports.

The parliamentary Opposition had previously expressed concern over the increasing deficit in the country’s balance of payments, which it had said would continue to have serious implications for the local economy.

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SUnDAY, april 14, 2019

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 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

Editorial

Breaching the social contract

T

he issue of the legitimacy of rulership has been an ancient preoccupation of mankind ever since we crept out of caves and formed settlements wherein we were forced to devise rules for choosing leaders. Initially, it was probably a matter of self-selection, with the man who could wield the largest club enforcing his selection of himself as the most suitable candidate.

From that, it was not long before those rulers were legitimised by the newly developed religions, which sanctified the notion of the “divine right of kings” to rule.

In the West, it was not until Henry VIII decided to rebel against the legitimising role of the dominant European Catholic Church in the late 16th century, by insisting that his English Anglican Church could perform the role just as well, that the legitimacy question came under wider scrutiny.

By 1660, the political philosopher Thomas Hobbes proposed that legitimacy is conferred by the citizens of a country, who execute a “social contract” with their leaders.

He proposed that outside of civilised society, man lived in a “state of nature” wherein life was “nasty, brutish and short”, so that it was in his interest to transfer his sovereignty to a ruler - the “Leviathan” - who would guarantee peace.

Over the centuries, the notion of the social contract remained at the centre of political philosophy as developed

by John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and all the way into the 20th century by John Rawls. The idea that all power and sovereignty reside in the people, which they confer to their government of choice, has now become the cornerstone of democratic legitimacy; surviving, as it has, the divine rule of kings, fascism, totalitarianism, authoritarianism, and the “dictatorship of the proletariat”.

At the highest level, the social contract is literally encompassed by the people forming themselves into a constituent assembly and crafting a constitution that adumbrates the terms of the contract. The government and the people, therefore, must give the greatest respect to the constitution, and breaches by either party must be dealt with condignly. History in general, and our own history in particular, has shown that the Leviathan is always prone to violating its delegated powers, and the people must have an almost reflexive reaction against this tendency. This tendency is even greater when the government in question has utilised the law of the jungle to create a constitution without the participation of the people to create the “general will” that confers on that constitution the highest legitimacy.

And this is exactly what the PNC did in the 1970s, when they rigged themselves a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, transformed that Assembly into a Constituent Assembly, and created a constitution that was never ratified by the people through a transparent sleight of hand.

The Guyana Constitution promulgated by the PNC in 1980 therefore never reflected the necessary social contract between the Guyanese people and the rulers; it merely codified the existential iron rule of the self-described “paramount party”. While there were extensive changes to the constitution in 2000, those, ironically, were occasioned by the PNC using force in the streets to “democratise” the structure of Parliament to include them in governance.

Because of this history, the PNC have very little respect for the Constitution, as far as following its rules to secure legitimacy from the people is concerned. Their antediluvian attitude is more reminiscent of the “beat them over the head” cave man theory of rulership, as illustrated most recently by their refusal to obey the Constitution’s sanctified no-confidence motion to test the legitimacy of governments.

When the shoe was on the other foot, they were willing to use the NCM in 2014 to oust the PPP Government. But suddenly, when deployed by the PPP, the PNC resorted to the most blatant sophistry to remain in office.

The Guyanese people will have to look beyond partisan politics and realise that we risk toppling our entire political edifice if we allow the PNC to flaunt the rules of democratic legitimacy. Power to the people!

People’s Progressive Party Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali on Saturday evening joined worshippers at the Alexander Village mandir for service after which he interacted with members (Dexter Ceres photo)

US urges Saudi prince to ditch aide linked to Khashoggi killing

Jamal Khashoggi, pictured in December 2014

M

ike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, has privately urged Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the Saudi throne, to cut his ties to a close adviser whom the US has sanctioned for his alleged role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Pompeo is understood to have raised his concerns about Saud al-Qahtani in private conversations with Prince Mohammed and his brother Khalid bin Salman.

US authorities believe that Qahtani, a former aide to the crown prince, oversaw the team that killed Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. He is thought to have remained a confidant of Prince Mohammed despite having a lower profile in recent months.

The advice to sideline Qahtani comes at a time when Pompeo’s support for Saudi Arabia is facing intense scrutiny in Congress, where the Trump administration has been criticised for not condemning Saudi Arabia strongly enough following Khashoggi’s murder last year.

A state department spokesperson told the Guardian it would not discuss details of private diplomatic conversations.

Qahtani was publicly rebuked after the Khashoggi murder, when Saudi’s ruler, King Salman, had his son’s adviser removed from

his role at the royal court.

The decision was seen as an acknowledgment that the powerful aide and social media tsar had a role in the plot to murder Khashoggi.

But within months reports emerged that Qahtani was still communicating with the young crown prince – who is known as MBS – and was actively participating in his crackdown against dissidents.

Some reports, and one human rights activist who spoke to the Guardian, also linked Qahtani to allegations of torture against female political prisoners.

The Guardian has been told that Qahtani, who formerly served as the head of Saudi’s cyber-unit, is still actively engaged in a similar role within Prince Mohammed’s private office.

According to a source with knowledge of the matter, the crown prince has remained loyal to Qahtani. “I am not sure MBS will take any notice of the US over this,” the source said.

A spokesman for the Saudi embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment about Qahtani’s role in the kingdom or the claims made against him by the US government. Qahtani is now on two official sanctions lists.

Last November the US Treasury said Qahtani was “part of the planning and execution of the operation that led to the killing of Mr Khashoggi”.

The Treasury said Qahtani was one of the Saudi officials involved in “the abhorrent killing” of the journalist in a targeted and brutal operation.

Earlier this week the state department included Qahtani on a list of 16 individuals who have been barred from entering the US because of their alleged role in the killing.

The notice was issued, the state department said, because it “has credible information that officials of foreign governments have

Mike Pompeo and Mohammed bin Salman pictured in Riyadh on January 14

been involved in significant corruption or gross violations of human rights”.

The Saudi government has said the Khashoggi murder was a rogue operation and has denied the crown prince had any role in it.

The Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, said: “The crown prince was not aware of this … This was an operation where individuals ended up exceeding the authorities and responsibilities they had. They made a mistake when they killed Jamal Khashoggi in the consulate, and they tried to cover up for it.”

But the CIA is widely reported to have concluded with a medium-to-high degree of confidence that the crown prince ordered the murder.

Bruce Riedel, a director of the Brookings Intelligence Project and 30year veteran of the CIA, said Pompeo’s private effort to force Mohammed to cut ties to Qahtani proved that the “cover story” concocted by the Saudis was “not working”.

“No one is taking it seriously, so this is a sign of increasing desperation, and that now they are going to try to throw [bin Salman’s] top henchman under the bus and blame it on him, and he will be the ‘rogue operator’,” Riedel said.

He added: “I don’t think that will pass muster either

because there is all kinds of evidence that Qahtani works closely with MBS on this operation and other operations.”

The crown prince was considered “persona non grata” in most democratic parts of the world, Riedel said, apart from the White House. Hopes within the Trump administration that the Khashoggi murder would “fade away” have not materialised, he added.

Pompeo’s condemnation of Qahtani comes at a turbulent time for Saudi in Washington. While the crown prince has received steadfast support from his closest allies – Trump, the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Pompeo – the country is coming under fire on Capitol Hill, which earlier this month voted to end American military assistance for Saudi’s war in Yemen.

There is also increasing speculation about the whereabouts of the kingdom’s incoming ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, who was named to her new role by MBS in February.

Bandar has not yet been sworn in as a diplomat or as a minister by King Salman and has been largely absent from the press except for appointment to serve as the head of the Saudi Special Olympics Federation, which was announced in March.

(The Guardian)

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

Contradictory derogation from assigned constitutional mandate Dear Editor, Since President Granger’s flagrant appointment of Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the organisation’s credentials has swiftly degenerated to a spectrum of laugh and gaff at every opportunity of examination at home and abroad.

In effect, under the watch of Patterson, there is an absolute contradictory derogation from the assigned constitutional mandate, which he and the Government’s Commissioners are trampling in full public view.

The nature of national self-conflict that Commission has become is one of biased factual con-

venience. One that is solely intent on serving the political control and directions of the PNC/R cabal. We are reliably informed that from the miserable failures to hold meetings, sometimes because of the Chairman’s preference to become ill, to the unparliamentary and callous approach of addressing matters at meetings have become the characteristic nature. Often times, there has been no agenda, evidence of deliberate poor communication with Opposition Commissioners; together with the Chairman and his PNC colleagues prevailing bias dictatorial altitude.

GECOM is not an ‘arm’ of the People’s National Congress and the meet-

ings of the Commission are certainly not caucuses of the PNC/R as treated by Patterson. Neither is the Guyana Constitution a compendium of jokes written by joker Vincent Alexander, whose current gloating approach will come full circle.

The Constitution is our bible and supreme establishment of citizens’ rights and limitations to Government’s excessiveness. With the passing of the No-Confidence Motion, it is clear that our Constitution kicks in automatically.

Further, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, publicly said that the organisation is ready for elections while the Chief Executive Officer, Keith Lowenfield, said pub-

licly that the voters’ list is ready. In conflict with its constitutional mandate, the now structurally flawed and biased Commission has taken every possible step to reverse this position, invoking options intended on contaminating an accepted and legitimate prudently verifiable status. The likes of Nigel Hughes and the vindictive Vincent Alexander, who is trying desperately to find a playing space in the PNC/R, is trying all sorts of sand dancing in an effort to kick sand in the eyes of citizens.

GECOM’s website is clear: it states, “subsequent to the 2001 General and Regional Elections, political parties had agitated for legislative changes which

would ensure that a new system of voter registration guarantees Guyanese in General, but more specifically their own supporters, their constitutional right to be registered and vote at future General, Regional and Local Government Elections.

This led to the introduction of Continuous Registration with two primary objectives as follow: 1. Introducing a system which would ensure that all eligible persons are afforded unlimited opportunities to become registered on the National Register of Registrants Database. And, 2. Ensuring that GECOM is in a perpetual state of preparedness which would enable it to respond to calls for

elections in a timely manner thus guaranteeing eligible persons their constitutional right to become registered in accordance with the relevant legal provisions and to cast their ballots at future General, Regional and Local Government Elections.”

GECOM is a creature (agency) of the Constitution with autonomy and responsibility to comply with the constitutional intent. In this case, that meant readying itself for General and Regional Elections, which were due on March 21, 2019, after the successful passage of the NCM that resulted in the fall of the APNU/AFC coalition Government.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Public’s trust in Govt diminished Dear Editor, Of recent, there has been a series of ministerial meetings with Ministers from the joint APNU/AFC where they urge the public to reach with them so they can work to a solution together. Over the years, since gaining power, this ruling party has only succeeded in disappointing a majority of the population in Guyana amidst the accusations of corruption, bullyism and lack of vision for development. Now that General Election is somewhere close, we are seeing various attempts to regain the public’s confidence and regardless of what is being said about the main opposition, they seem more favourable in comparison. Under the previous Administration, many were benefiting from the little gestures that were extend-

ed by the PPP/C, especially school children (vouchers) and the pensioners.

Immediately after taking power, these gestures were cruelly ripped away with promises for betterment.

Instead, we saw an increase in almost everything in Guyana including tolls.

Added to that, there was a massive downsize across Guyana from various companies after they were being targeted for victimisation and closure of estates with unfulfilled promises to the workers. Without a doubt, we are experiencing tremendous hardship and are only hearing about the promises of oil while they continue to go about talking about working to a solution when they themselves destroy the little hope that Guyanese were living on.

Editor, I am still looking for the job creation that was

promised, I am not looking at those that were given to close comrades or families from within the parties, but what was promised to benefit Guyanese across the country. Go around the country, you will see various changes of staff at most Government places and should you interact with them, you will observe a serious attitude problem. Many people are complaining and no action is being taken to remedy this. Under the previous Administration, you could have visited any hospital and be able to get some if not all the prescribed drugs.

Regardless of what is being said, that was there, you could have gone to the hospital pharmacy night or day, even weekends and get your prescription. That tells me that things were looking good. Under this

present Administration, the pharmacy only works Monday-Friday between 08:00h to 16:00h and presently, there isn’t any medication available. The doctors and nurses inform you that there’s a shortage and that you can purchase them at a pharmacy. In order for the pharmacy to operate day and night under the PPP/C Administration, you had to get more staff to work the shifts, under this Administration, they were laid off because they were not required after this Administration disabled that. I guess people only get sick between 8-4 in the day during the week. So much for having this country’s interest at heart but it doesn’t end there. Guyanese are still benefiting under the free eye care that was introduced by the PPP/C but that too, like many other

GFC restructuring will be a national embarrassment to Govt

Dear Editor, The recent announcement through the media of the imminent restructuring of the Forestry Commission has left the Commission bitterly disappointed and divided. Staff have complained and as expressed in a Guyana Times article on Friday, April 12, the staff body had no idea this was in the making. Staff are feeling a sense of disrespect and betrayal by the Government and Natural Resources Ministry which seem to be behind this ordeal. Some questions that staff require answers to are: Why was there no communication to the staff of this? Who selected the person named in the release (Mr Hall) to lead this process? What are the terms of reference for this exercise?

Why were the staff union and workers representative not involved and who are the committee members?

Additionally, the staff wants

to know the reason behind this and if on all accounts, the Ministry, Government and Board have been praising the work of the GFC; how is a restructuring suddenly needed.

Many staff feel they will be victimised and discriminated in this exercise as already there is talk of organisational cleanup. Most of the staff have no confidence in the convener, Mr Hall. He is a former Commissioner of the Forestry Commission and persons have indicated that he is very bitter and wants to settle the score.

More alarming, he has publicly stated that time is short so he has to do what he has to do. His tenure at the GFC is marked with many incidences of glaring acts of corruption and mismanagement. This is the state that he wants to take the Commission into again.

During his tenure, the Commission was in a state

of disrepair with dilapidated office buildings, corrupt staff, broken vehicles, high incidences of illegal logging, low levels of production and exports and generally a broken sector.

The restructuring seems to be an AFC thing as through the grapevine we understand that most of the committee members being selected are AFC persons (at least three other AFC officials) from the Ministry. We understand the Board has been shut out from this process as our workers representative, Mr Kevin Periera cannot provide any answers to us and seems to be at a loss. He said this was never brought to the Board’s attention and he first heard of it like everybody else through the media.

Staff are calling on the President to intervene and put a stop to this exercise.

We are not opposed to restructuring but let us have

a voice. Let us have an independent body or company come in and do a general assessment of the state of affairs and then make recommendations. Mr Hall’s intention is not right, he seems to want to get his close associate into positions like what he did for the head of the main division forest monitoring. He wants to remove the head of the forest resource and land allocation division and insert someone he can control. Overall, we think his intention is to come back as Commissioner.

Is this what the APNU Government wants, an AFC Commissioner?

Mr President, the Green State will lose all credibility if this exercise is allowed to proceed in this manner and with the current convener.

Respectfully, Richard Smith

systems that were in place, seems to be slowly deteriorating. To conduct certain eye tests, patients have to travel to Port Mourant, bearing their own travelling expense whilst under the previous Administration, travelling expenses were taken care of. The hurtful thing about this is that you have people travelling from Bartica, Pomeroon etc, to Port Mourant, only to be given another date to come back all because time ran out. I cannot understand why they can’t only make appointments with the amount of people they are able to look at per day. Is it because it’s a free service that you’re providing that makes you have to treat people like that or is it the vision that you have cannot address this issue?

Editor, we all wanted to be able to live comfort-

ably in Guyana, thus some were entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that mechanisms are in place but when it’s not, they should be criticised and they must be able to remedy the situation. This was not happening under the previous Administration, thus the public’s trust diminished. Instead, now, you are being labelled because you talk against. Within the ruling Administration, there are many who are seeing wrongs being committed and are afraid to talk because of the fear of victimisation. Regardless of who, people must be free to express their minds and share their opinions freely. I thought we all wanted change for betterment, but incidentally, it’s worse.

Sincerely, Sahadeo Bates

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Foundation

5 tips for parenting

Y

together when your styles conflict

our parenting style began to evolve when you were a small child. How you were parented, your experiences growing up, and your values shape how you approach parenting. Your goals for your child and your definition of parenting success play an important role in your personal parenting style.

Your spouse comes to the role of parenting with his own experiences, beliefs, and values. Often styles can conflict. When two parents don’t agree on how to raise their children, it isn’t just difficult on the marriage, it’s challenging for the children. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel – with an open heart and an open mind, the two of you can work together.

1.

of you realize that while there may be differences, there are also similarities.

3.

4. Establish a system that supports team parenting

Agree on how you’re going to approach parenting together. For example, small issues can be handled in the moment. However, larger discipline problems may be handled together after you’ve had a chance to discuss the situation.

Understand your style

There are essentially three different styles of parenting.

There is authoritarian, which entails strict rules and consequences.

Authoritative parenting also has rules and consequences. However, it’s more responsive to the particular child’s personality and needs. Permissive parents place few rules on their child and are quite lenient. Understanding where your style fits, and where your spouse’s style fits, is the beginning.

2.

Communicate

Sit down and talk about what you each view your role as a parent to be. What are your goals? How do you define a successful parent? What values do you want to instil in your child and how do you think you can help them grow up to be a successful adult? Talking about will help both

Create a pan

Consider creating what you might call a parenting mission statement. This outlines the various areas that are important to you and your family, and what priorities you want to emphasize. For example, in terms of education, what do you expect from your child? Creating a parenting plan gives you both a template to work from and it’s a document that you create together.

5.

Allow room for mistakes

Neither parent is perfect and both will make mistakes. Blame, anger, and conflict don’t help either one of you nor does it help your children. Keep parental conflict away from your children and discuss your differences calmly.

Finally, if you’re struggling to come to an agreement, consider getting professional help. A parenting class or a counsellor can help the two of you come together. It is possible for you to find common ground and parent even when your styles conflict. (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

Tips for encouraging open communication in the home O

By Robert Myers, PhD

pen communication results in each family member feeling loved and respected. It also makes it easier to handle conflicts when they arise. The basics of resolving disagreements include listening, empathy, supportive communication, and collaborative problem-solving.

Make conversation a priority with your kids.

Open and comfortable communication develops confidence, self-esteem, cooperation, as well as healthy and warm relationships. Take the time and effort to foster your relationship and communication skills by talking with your kids as much as you can. Remember that talking with kids is a two-way street. Talk with them and then listen to what they have to say; listening is as essential as speaking.

Make time for one-on-one conversations; this is especially important if there is an age gap between your children. Sometimes older siblings talk over the younger ones, and sometimes the younger ones prefer to let the older siblings do the talking. Conversations with older siblings can sometimes be above the younger kid’s level of understanding. Additionally, older siblings require stimulating discussions where they can learn and inquire for more information. Therefore, try to get some one-on-one time with your children so you can speak to them at their level and use appropriate vocabulary. It might be while walking to the park, reading a book together before bed, or driving to get ice cream. It doesn’t have to be structured time; try to make use of opportunities as they arise.

Ask open-ended questions to improve communication with your children. If you want your kids to open their minds and think more, ask them open-ended questions.

Such questions are not answered with a simple “yes” or “no” answer. These types of questions are invitations to say more as well as share their ideas and feelings. For example, instead of asking “Did you enjoy Peter’s party today?” you could ask, “What was the best part of Peter’s party today?” Respond to their ideas to show them you are interested in what they have to say by using phrases such as: Empathy is one of those strange qualities – something almost everyone wants, but few know how to truly give or receive. In a world where self-gratification is emphasized, it is in short supply but high demand; this is all the more reason to teach the next generation what it means to have empathy for those around them.

Many people confuse sympathy and empathy, but they are two distinct values. Empathy is not just the ability to understand someone’s feelings. Criminals often take advantage of people by appearing to understand their feelings and subsequently gaining their trust. Having empathy is more than that. Not only is it the ability to recognize how someone feels, but it also values and respects the feelings of another person. It means treating others with kindness, dignity, and understanding.

While some children are gifted with naturally kind hearts, in most cases, kids need to see empathy modelled by the adults around them. It begins with the way parents relate to their children. Parents who show an interest in the things that matter to their kids and respond to emotions in a positive and caring way are teaching the skill of empathy.

Finally, make sure you look for opportunities throughout the day to take a moment to communicate a word of praise and to simply say, “I love you.” (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

news

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SUnDAY, april 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

WPA’s Tabitha Sarabo-Halley tipped to replace Rupert Roopnaraine as MP

WPA Chairperson, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley

F

ollowing the resignation of dual citizen Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Rupert Roopnaraine from the National Assembly, his Working People’s Alliance (WPA) party has settled on its Chairperson, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, as his replacement.

According to information reaching this publication, Halley was touted as a replacement along with fellow party members Desmond Trotman, a current Guyana Elections Commissioner (GECOM) and Dr Rishi Thakur.

According to a source, one of the reasons is because Halley is reportedly favoured by some party leaders. While the party has settled on a final name and sources indicate that name is Sarabo-Halley, it is understood that the party is awaiting confirmation from its coalition partner, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

In March 2018, SaraboHalley was one of three Directors from the Guyana Chronicle who had resigned after two outspoken columnists – who were critical to the APNU/AFC – were dropped from the State’s newspaper.

In 2016, Sarabo-Halley was also one of three persons whom Government had been secretly expending millions of dollars for full scholarship programmes.

Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry and Junior Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine’s daughter, Alicia Roopnaraine, former Chief Education Officer Olato Sam and SaraboHalley were the beneficiaries.

Henry was doing her PhD in Public Health to the tune of $3.36 million, while Ferguson benefitted from a $3.38 million schol-

arship in Public Policy Management.

Additionally, Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine’s daughter, Alicia, benefitted from a $2.58 million scholarship at a university in the UK. She is studying psychology.

Former Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, who was studying Education Policy in Jamaica, costing some $946,000 and SaraboHalley was pursuing Public Policy Management studies in the UK to the tune of $3.4 million.

In February, acting Chief Justice Roxanne George had ruled on the case filed by Compton Reid over the dual citizenship of former AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Charrandas Persaud. In the case it brought to the Chief Justice, Government had argued that Persaud’s dual citizenship status invalidated his vote in sup-

port of the No-Confidence Motion that brought the Government down last year.

This argument also formed part of the opinions presented to Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland in the hopes that he would reverse the ruling, something the Speaker ultimately refused to do.

The Court of Appeal later upheld the January High Court ruling that it is illegal for persons holding dual citizenship status to be sitting in the National Assembly. Government has been under increasing criticism, even from its own supporters, for stating that dual citizens will return to the National Assembly despite these two rulings.

On April 2, the Ministry of the Presidency had announced that effective from April 1, Members of Parliament (MP’s) on the Government side that have

dual citizenship had resigned.

These MP’s were Minister of State Joseph Harmon (United States citizenship), Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin and Public Service Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine (all British citizenships).

In a statement afterwards, Government had said that the vacated ministerial posts will be occupied by the former Ministers’ Cabinet colleagues. According to a statement, Ministers who acted in the past for them will once more fill in.

But then in another statement the next day, the Ministry of the Presidency had announced that the resignation of four Ministers would not take immediate effect. Further, the statement had said

Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

that three of the four parliamentarians who had indicated their intention to resign, planned on renouncing their foreign citizenship.

But in another twist, it emerged that Dr Roopnaraine had resigned with immediate effect. It would not be the first time, having tendered his resignation back in 2017 citing health reasons.

8 news

SUnDAY, april 14, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

High Court dismisses petition for ownership of city property

T

he lengthy court battle between two top players in the local hardware business over prime property in Georgetown recently came to an end with the High Court dismissing a petition for declaration of title filed by Guyana Realty Investments Ltd (GRIL) – a company owned by Sattaur Gafoor.

Proprietor of National Hardware Limited, Eddie Boyer claimed that he and his wife, Donna Boyer, have been legal owners of the property located at Lot 117 B Regent and Alexander Streets, Georgetown, since September 2008, and that they, in fact, have a transport title to show same.

However, Gafoor, Chairman of Gafoor and Sons Group of Companies, alleged that GRIL – of which he is also the Chairman – has a prescriptive title, having purchased the property from Stanley Collymore back in 1993 to use as a paint shop.

GRIL had filed a petition back in May 2009 for a declaration of title in relation to the property, which according to court documents, is in “the prime commercial district of Regent Street, Bourda, Georgetown.”

The matter was heard by acting Chief Justice Roxanne George. GRIL was repre-

sented by Senior Counsels (SC) Rex McKay, Edward Luckhoo and Neil Boston; while the Boyers were defended by commercial lawyer Devindra Kissoon of London House Chambers and senior land lawyer Rajendra Poonai, SC. According to court documents, GRIL maintained that it bought the property in 1993 from Bhaidwatie Bissoon and went into possession in that year and relies on its possession from 1993. The Boyers, on the other hand, while not acknowledging that GRIL was in possession from 1993, said that at best GRIL was in occupation of only a part of the property and was not in exclusive custody and control of the whole of the property and that the evidence on its behalf so confirms.

In response, GRIL said that the evidence by and on behalf of the Boyers is replete with inconsistencies and cannot be relied on such as to negate its control of the entire property.

In her judgement, Justice George pointed out that evidence during the trial show that Bissoon bought the property in 1989 for $1.5 million of which $1 million was paid and receipt acknowledged on the signing of agreement. The balance of $500,000 was to be

paid on the passing of transport. But it was highlighted too that the 1989 agreement acknowledges that Bissoon was only in occupation and possession of a portion of the property.

Judgement

“There is no evidence that Bissoon was ever in possession of the remainder of the property or that she sought to exercise acts of ownership and control over it… [A] term of the 1993 contract clearly demonstrates that GRIL entered into actual possession of only one of the buildings [on the disputed property],” Justice George said in her judgment, which was seen by Guyana Times.

According to the High Court judge, no evidence was led as to who the tenants were and which building or buildings they occupied. She further asserted that there was no evidence that the balance of the purchase price ($500,000) was indeed paid on the agreement by Bissoon.

This, according to Justice George, is significant since no evidence was led on behalf of GRIL that this balance was ever paid. She contended that the non-payment of this balance on the purchase price has significance and cited the 2018 decision of the CCJ in Narine v Natram [2018] CCJ

26 AJ. “It was held in this case that where a purchaser has not completed payment for a property, they cannot seek to prescribe as being an owner in undisturbed possession as against the titleholder.

This, coupled with my conclusion that the clause in the 1989 contract which as quoted above provides that Ms Bissoon continued in possession of a portion of the property with the then vendor to give up vacant possession of the remainder of the property by the passing of transport, indicates that she was not in exclusive control of the entire property. Thus, I have concluded that the four years of possession that Ms Bissoon allegedly had cannot be counted as being adverse exclusive possession of the property,” the judge found.

On the other hand, the Chief Justice outlined that an agreement between the Boyers and Anthony Collymore (whom they bought the property from in 1978 and obtained the title until 2008) suggests that Collymore had control of the entire lot. However, the judge noted that no definitive findings were made in this regard since Collymore did not testify to confirm this and the evidence of two witnesses who did, lacks credibility.

However, according to the High Court judge, the lack of credibility or evidence to support the Boyers’ case that GRIL could not have been in possession does not mean that this company can succeed in its petition.

“This is because I have concluded that although I believe the evidence that GRIL purchased the property in 1993 and was in possession of a building which housed a paint store unto 2007, which would be in excess of 12 years; the evidence for GRIL does not establish actual possession and an intention to possess the whole property for the requisite period… It is clear from the 1993 agreement which they tendered that GRIL went into possession of that portion of the property which Ms Bissoon herself had possession of, which possession was confirmed by the agreement she had with Carol Blackmore (from whom she purchased the property),” she stated in her ruling.

Justice George, in applying Narine v Natram, explained that Bissoon could not have had exclusive possession of the property. She pointed out that with the revocation of Blackmore’s grant of probate and Bissoon not having concretised her ownership of the property, the right, title and interest she sold to GRIL would have been limited at best.

“This is a case that has turned not on the weakness of the case for the Boyers as opposers, but on the weakness of the case for GRIL as petitioner. Thus, I hold that the petition is dismissed with costs to the Boyers in the sum of $300,000,” Justice George ruled.

Governments...

T

…and jobs he Department of Youth – part of the Ministry of the Presidency – organised a “job fair” for youths at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in Georgetown. It looks like after four years in office, the PNC-led Government has awoken to the fact that 40 per cent of all youths in Guyana are unemployed -- even though the CDB announced this fact in early 2015, the same time the PNC slipped into office, in their report, “Youth are our Future: The Imperative of Youth Employment for Sustainable Development.”

Ours was the highest level of youth unemployment in the entire Caribbean, and it wasn’t as if the Government didn’t take notice then; but their response shows how clueless they are in running a free enterprise economy, and what steps must be taken to create jobs in one.

Six months later, then Minister within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, Nicollette Henry, announced: “Our young people need to understand that in order to take up meaningful positions, they must first be willing to be mentored to acquire leadership skills so that they can contribute meaningfully while earning.

We are taking steps building on what was already there from the previous administration, and we do have skills development opportunities through our training centres at Kuru Kururu, Sophia, and at Vryman’s Erven in New Amsterdam that provide training opportunities, but some of them don’t want to be part of the process.”

Imagine that!! This is what they’ve continued to do: continue to provide “training” in areas where their constituency reside, as adumbrated by Henry. The fly in the ointment, of course, is: what’s the point of training youths for jobs if the economy isn’t expanding to create those “jobs” in the first place??

Now, this isn’t some kind of esoteric “chicken and egg” question; it’s basic common sense. Even the training is questionable: how do they KNOW what kinds of jobs will be needed, so as to offer training? Have they stimulated any particular sector to expand??

But to confirm that the Department of Youth is pulling the youths’ chain four years later, just look at the handful of companies that showed up. And these have been feeding at the Government’s trough recently. It’d be interesting to see how many jobs would actually result from the exercise.

After Wales was shuttered, the PSC conducted a job fair on their own, and had to concede that even though 800 persons showed up, only 86 were actually offered jobs.

There are the folks saying the Government should heed: “dew cyan full wha’ rain na full”.

Maybe they should take a leaf out of PPP presidential candidate Irfaan Ali’s book as to how to go about creating jobs!! …and national awards The Government just announced they’ll be conferring their latest batch of “national awardees” on May 24. This, of course, will be smack in the middle of the National Carnival that will be held from May 17-27. Now, you gotta hand it to the PNC, they might be totally clueless about creating jobs or running an economy, but when it comes to awards and “spo’t”, they’re right up there with Barnum and Bailey!!

Anyway, your Eyewitness would like to nominate some individuals for awards for their performance in the last year. Right up there has to be an Order of Roraima for Nigel Hughes, for his contribution to the field of mathematics.

He overturned 4000 years of “received wisdom” that 33 was larger than 32. Guyana hasn’t received this kind of attention since Jim Jones and his Cool Aid brew!!

A Golden Arrow of Courage must be given to PM Nagamootoo for his back-flipping on the NCM vote.

For a man who just had his valves fixed, this was better than Aly Raisman!! …SOCU Seriously, dear readers, do the Government really need the PPP to tell them to shut down SOCU? What’d they expect after their British-imported trainer Sittlington couldn’t see a conflict of interest to open up his private investigating office??

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

news

9

SUnDAY, april 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Teacher killed in hit-and-run accident P

olice in Berbice are investigating an accident which left a teacher dead.

Dead is Joel Wills, 27, of Rosignol, West Bank Berbice.

Following the hit-andrun, Wills was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited persons and rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he died while receiving medical attention.

Reports are that Wills,

Dead: Joel Wills

a teacher attached to the Canje Secondary School, was riding his motorcycle when he was hit by a lorry on the Number One Public Road, East Berbice Corentyne, on Saturday evening.

Wills was on his way home from the Albion Community Centre where he was a part of a group that cleaned the arena for a Jehovah’s Witnesses Convention to be held today.

According to information

Triple the blessings!!

This is considered to be the first delivery of triplets at the hospital for 2019.

Public support for this family is guaranteed as various sections of civil society and the business community have pledged to provide hampers while the Government will aid the family through Public Health and Social Protection ministries.

Latifa Stephen shares a light moment with Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings as she gifts her a bouquet

The triplets resting comfortably at the GPHC

L

atifa Stephen, 21, of Paradise on the East Coast of Demerara, checked in to the Georgetown Public Hospital at about 10:00h on Friday, with the expectation of giving birth to twins. This was determined after she did an ultrasound at the Enterprise Health Centre on the East Coast of Demerara when she was seven months pregnant.

This was not her first pregnancy, in fact, it was her third as she was already a mother of two (a boy and a girl), ages 3 and 2 years old, respectively. At 33 weeks, Stephen’s delivery was to be considered a pre-term since it takes at least 37-40 weeks for a baby to be fully developed.

As the time for delivery drew near, the team on the afternoon shift at GPHC’s maternity unit was mobilised to ensure the successful the delivery of the expected triplets.

Stephen had a normal delivery with the first baby at 15:30h and the second at 15:31h. Both the midwife and mother thought the job was done but the midwife’s intuition led her to realise that there was a third baby and at 15:37h the third baby came, making it a triplet de-

livery. All three babies are boys.

Speaking with a Communication Officer of the Department of Public Information (DPI), Stephen said, “I was actually shocked; I couldn’t believe it… the ultrasound said twins so I thought was only twins.” She reflected that she cannot recall such cases in her genealogy hence the surprise.

The father of the children, Dillon Prince, an officer in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) stationed in Corentyne, Berbice was eagerly awaiting the news of the successful delivery.

However, he too was shocked to hear that he is now the father of triplets. The mother of the triplets, who is also a final year trainee teacher at the Cyril Potter College of Education, says she does not plan to have any more children.

The babies are currently under watch by specialised doctors of the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings was among the first of well-wishers to extend congratulations to the mother and seized a photo opportunity with her and the babies.

received, following the collision, the driver of the motor

lorry fled the scene without rendering any assistance to

the injured man. Police are investigating.

10 news

SUnDAY, april 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Minibus touts beg Police to stop clampdown ...promise to act professionally ...blame unemployment for job choice

By Kizzy Coleman

A

mid a Police campaign to get rid of all touts from minibus parks, the touts are begging the authorities not to take bread out of their mouths, while promising to act in a more professional manner.

According to the touts, it is unfair for Guyanese who are attempting to make an honest living, in a country with a high percentage of unemployment, to be prosecuted for doing so.

With the support of passengers, bus drivers and conductors, several touts told Guyana Times that they are appealing to the hearts of the officials within the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department to stop prosecuting them.

One tout, who refers to himself as “King Tout”, having been in the touting profession for some 20 years, said he continues to be a target of traffic officers but is merely doing that type of job to put food on his table.

The man said he was arrested recently three times and made to pay hefty bail sums, which he stated is un-

fair since he is no criminal.

“Touting does give me my daily bread…three times them lock me up in one week you know and its real heart-rending right now, when you go to court, the fine you does gotta pay is $15,000 to $20,000,” the tout angrily revealed.

According to the man, he is a tradesman, however, because of difficulties being encountered in gaining employment in the field, he had to settle for touting.

He noted that if Government could provide employment for him, he would happily leave the touting profession.

“I is a tradesman, they could set up a nice job for me you know but no, they cant so they gotta be lenient because they keep locking we up and wasting we time, them aint giving you nothing in the Police lock up plus they sending you to court, I want justice or something must happen man, what more they want I do?” the South park tout questioned.

A female tout of the Sophia minibus park and the breadwinner of three grandchildren said touting

is her livelihood since she is aged and is unable to find employment.

“For me, no matter what they do they cant stop tout…to full the buses and get your lil change, I aint see that as nothing because this is how I does feed my grandchildren,” the woman explained.

Another tout of A section of the East Coast minibus park the Georgetownthem come out in the afterMahaica bus park not- noon and the people aint ed that many times touts catching bus. So when a scare off bandits, who may bus show up and the peobe lurking around to snatch ple rushing in, the thief men valuables and at times even them does put their hands rescue people who are being in their bags and steal their robbed. money and so…we does proThe tout recalled tect people from these things that just recently, a thief out here, the Police them snatched a woman’s phone don’t care,” the man argued. through the window of a bus “We know that the pullwhere she was sitting. The ing and tugging of people thief was allegedly caught must stop and we are willing by a tout who gave chase as to comply with that but this no Police Officer was pres- is honest work man”. ent at the time.

One bus driver called for “The tout them does look touts to be organised, inout for the people them be- stead of removed. cause when the thief man

“What they need to do is more or less organise them, the thing about it is that the law is against them but they’ve been in existence for a pretty long time and regardless of what the Police attempt to do they still shoot up. The time has come now to look at the problem and try to tackle the problem by changing the laws to accommodate them or by organising something to put them properly,” the route 45 minibus driver explained.

While some persons have made representation for the touts, many others have

complained about the disorderly manner in which they behave at the minibus parks.

Just recently, 17 touts were arrested and charged as the clampdown exercise was initiated by the traffic department.

Traffic Chief Linden Isles said the exercise is aimed at ridding the parks of all touts and as such the public cooperation is critical. He also noted that the campaign will be ongoing until the desired results are achieved. So far, over 100 touts have been arrested and charged.

news

11

SUnDAY, april 14, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Berbice pensioner found with throat slit …daughter, friend in custody

A Our continuing Guyanese tragedy

A

s I observe the hardening of positions between the “two sides” in our sixty-year-old internecine political struggle, I am once again struck by parallels in that ancient conflict as described in the Mahabharata and ours in Guyana.

The Mahabharata is rather unique among Hindu texts in dealing extensively with the world of politics. It is about the way we deceive ourselves, how we are false to others, how we oppress fellow human beings, and how deeply unjust we are in our day-to-day lives. And, all the while, we hold fast to the belief that our position is “just”, and those of others “unjust”.

But the Mahabharata also teaches that there are no “pure” heroes. Unlike what is conventionally depicted, the conflict between the two sides is not a battle between “right and wrong”; the Pandavas, the nominal “good guys”, are not perfect, and several who fight for the Kauravas, the “bad guys”, are truly noble. The potential for “good” or “bad” lies in every human being, and is Ravi Dev frequently dictated by our circumstances.

In Guyana, I have always maintained that our history has conspired to create a tragic situation. Not tragic in the sense of terrible things happening – even though we’ve had more that our fair share of those – but in the way that Hegel interpreted Greek tragedy. His famous interpretation of Antigone as the paradigmatic Greek tragedy might be particularly apt to our situation. In this narrative, both “sides” have claims that are morally right. The conflict is not between good and evil, but between “goods” on which each is making exclusive claim.

The “sides” I refer to in our country are, of course, the descendants of the Africans, who were brought as slaves, and those of Indians, brought as indentured servants - both to labour on the sugar plantations. Those African slaves were, against their will, dragged across the Atlantic to work under conditions of mind-numbing cruelty. “Emancipation” had to be a bitter pill to swallow when Indentured labourers (Portuguese, WI Africans, Indians and Chinese) were brought in as “scabs” to undercut their demand for higher living wages. It was to be only the beginning of many manoeuvres to deny justice to Africans, and it set the tone of what was to follow.

The Indentureds, dominated by Indians, countered that they were unwitting pawns in the British game of “divide and rule”. They could, and did, point to the increasingly meagre wages they were forced to work for on the plantations in the subsequent century. Their “saving” of the sugar industry, which was the raison d’etre for the colony, and their demonstrated capacity to produce “two blades of grass where there was but one” -- under the severest pressures, as pointed out by George Lamming -- formed the basis of their moral claim to justice and equality. As in the Mahabharata, both sides were promised that if they played by the rules, the “kingdom” would eventually be theirs.

While we may rail against Durjodhan (and Burnham) for their overweening ambition, no one can deny that they were leaders of groups that had legitimate moral claims to power. Similarly, the gambling away of their inheritance by Yuddhistir (at dice) and Jagan (with Kennedy and Duncan Sandys) cannot be glossed over, but does not vitiate the similar moral claims of their supporters.

That the two groups coexisted without major conflicts until the sixties was not coincidental; it was the majoritarian system of choosing who would inherit the kingdom in 1953 – as was the Emperor-making ceremony in the Mahabharata - that precipitated the internecine warfare that continues to the present. It was not surprising that the manipulator (the US/British here, Duryodhan’s uncle in the Mahabharata) would inveigle one side to try to grab the entire pie. The “rules”, after all, made “right” an exclusive claim to rule by each group.

But we must concede that it does not make it moral. If we accept that as citizens of this land we are all equal, we must arrange the rules of selecting the rulers in such a manner as to make both sides (and indeed all “sides”) feel involved in governance. Our history, if nothing else, demands this outcome for the sake of morality.

In the next elections, we hope that all parties should commit themselves to such an arrangement. The opposite, I fear, is the war of the Mahabharata, which, let us not forget, destroyed almost all – including the group backed by God Himself.

War, we are taught, has no winners.

pensioner was on Friday found with her throat slit near her kitchen door in her Tempe Village, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) home.

Dead is Rookmin Jameer, called "Joycelyn", 69, of Lot 303 Tempe Village, WCB. The woman’s body was discovered by her 47-yearold daughter, who lives in the house with her mother.

According to Police, the woman was found at about 17:00h in front of her kitchen door with a gaping wound to the throat. The Police stated that nothing was reported stolen from

the home nor was the house ransacked.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the dead woman’s son, Shaieed Jameer, said he was at work when he was informed about the incident. He explained that when he arrived at the house, the Police were already there and he was not permitted to enter.

“The police stop me so I couldn’t see she,” he related while noting that his sister reported that when she returned from church and found their mother lying at the door.

Reports are that there was an alleged outgoing feud between the mother

and daughter. According to Police sources, there was an alleged scuffle between the two women on Tuesday last and her other children had advise her to report the matter to the Police.

However, on the day of the alleged scuffle the elderly woman was reportedly locked inside the house as a mean of preventing her from reporting the matter.

“I live at Britania and they live at Tempe. They live together. One day when I come from work my wife tell me that she call home by we and tell she daughter thief she money,” the son stated.

Police have since tak-

Dead: Rookmin Jameer

en the daughter and her male overseas based Guyanese friend into custody. Investigations are continuing.

12 NEWS Parika road rupture $2.5M project for Tuschen NDC Public Infrastructure Ministry says never executed – Chairman SUnDAY, APRIL 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

...blames RDC for poor supervision, loss of money

T

he Tuschen-Uitvlugt Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) has lost over half of its yearly subvention for 2018, because one of five projects it awarded was never executed, due to suspected negligence on the part of regional officials to monitor the operation.

Guyana Times understands that that NDC is usually allocated a $4 million subvention for the year, and the Regional Administration would control the flow of this money to mobilise the respective projects.

Chairman of this NDC, Vishal Ambedkar, explained that while four projects were completed, a contract was last December awarded for the fifth project -- construction of a shed and concrete base at the NDC compound, to the tune of $2.5 million -to C King Construction, but those works were never initiated.

“In 2018, the NDC would have identified five projects to be done from our subvention grant, which is given

by Central Government. Of those five projects, four of them were completed, and one was incomplete. That one was awarded, and the contract was signed on the 14th December, 2018. However,

that project was never realised,” Ambedkar explained.

He said that that project entailed construction of a shed and concrete base within the compound of the NDC, to house a few pieces of mechanical equipment which the Council possesses.

“This project was for the construction of a shed and concrete base at the NDC compound. We have a mini excavator and a tractor, and we were planning to buy a tractor-driven attachment to maintain recreational grounds and school compounds. These (pieces of) equipment need to be stored in an enclosed area, so that they’re not exposed to the elements,” Ambedkar explained.

This publication understands that the NDCs are responsible only for signalling what projects should be done.

Thereafter, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) would tender and award the operation to a contracting company.

“The input that the NDC had in this project was basically to identify the work to be done. Everything else falls under the responsibility of the RDC, where it is monitored and payments are distributed,” Ambedkar explained.

He said that, on one occasion, the contractor turned up at the site and indicated that works would commence shortly. However, it has been over three months and the individual never returned to undertake the works.

“During the project, we would check to see if the project was done in keeping with the contract. Nothing was ever done at the site.

The contractor came into the NDC and he told us he was going to start (working on) the following Monday. We have never seem him back after then,” Ambedkar clarified.

The NDC is of the view that poor supervision on the part of the regional officers, who have responsibility to monitor the execution of the project, is to be blamed for this situation. He said the NDC has sent several pieces of correspondence to the RDC, indicating what has transpired, but to no avail.

He added that it is extremely worrying, since that amount of money is more than half of the NDC’s yearly subvention, and cannot roll over to the next year if works are not completed.

Asked if another agency could be given the contract to execute the works, Ambedkar said he was told

that “a cheque was already prepared” for the initial contractor.

“We feel that the regional officers would have failed to monitor and supervise this project properly. The NDC would now be seeing a loss of $2.5 million, which is more than half of our funds.

We sent letters asking why this project wasn’t started since January, February and March. We don’t get a response unless we visit the office,” he clarified.

Ambedkar believes the system is flawed, in the sense that the NDCs are capable of handling the works and disbursing monies for the projects. He is convinced that closer attention would be paid to what is done, as well as to hiring contractors who are efficient and trustworthy, if the NDCs are allowed to be directly responsible for executing their projects.

The Chairman stated, “In my opinion, I think the system that is used is to implement these projects needs to be changed, where the projects are monitored and the allocation of payments should be done directly by the NDC. Right now, the funds do not come directly to the NDC. Our district will be losing $2.5 million, and it’s not the fault of the NDC.”

Agri Ministry responsible for issue

I

n light of concerns shared over drainage works which has caused a rupture along the Parika access road, the Public Infrastructure Ministry has responded by saying that the area is not within their jurisdiction.

After Guyana Times published an article highlighting the situation at Parika, the Public Infrastructure Ministry subsequently stated that the area falls under the responsibility of the Agriculture Ministry and the drainage works were being done by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

It later noted that this slippage should be fixed at the earliest and instructed the Agriculture Ministry and the RDC to look into the matter.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Thursday, Chairman of the Parika-Mora Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Jaideo Sookhoo had explained that works were carried out to fix the main drainage system.

He noted that it is the main access road to some communities and while the roadway was not obstructed, the crack can cause the road to collapse due to the absence of a support mechanism. Adding to that, it is dangerous to mo-

tor vehicles in the night and can cause serious accidents.

This publication was told that the road was recently upgraded and paved with asphalt. However, the rupture expanded and wooden planks were used to signal drivers.

“A construction company was doing work at the main drain and they machine cause the land to pull and cause that. People are using the same road but it is dangerous and can erode. They need to fix it because it is dangerous.

It is the only main access road for Parika back, Naamryck and that area,” the Chairman stated.

Meanwhile, one individual would have related that she was driving on the street a few days ago when she almost lost control from driving onto the fissure. At that time, the gap was just a few inches wide but it has been expanding after several observations were made.

NEWS

13

SUnDAY, APRIL 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GBTI hosts auto fair for affordable vehicle financing

T

es of our vehicles, whether it’s the motorcycle or motorcars,” the Hero representative posited.

he Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) is moving to provide Guyanese with affordable deals on vehicles through collaboration with auto companies and insurance agents.

Additionally, Best Buy Auto Sales was represented

by Richard Singh who noted that they are the importers of standard Japanese vehicles because there was a need for something new on the market.

This was witnessed on Saturday during the introduction of an auto expo at the Kingston headquarters, where customers were linked with these stakeholders to acquire a vehicle at low rates.

“The models are very vast and vide. We believe that a car is your unique expression and it doesn’t matter what you need the car for so it is our goal to give customers the choices,” Singh said.

Public Relations Officer of GBTI, Nadia DeAbreau said the aim was to provide an easy experience where all

Another dealer, Ramah’s Auto Sales, was present throughout the day, offering high-end brands and other vehicles from $1.9 million.

Meanwhile, Business Development Supervisor, Bin-Saud Bakhsh stated, “We’re offering easy access to financing. We have very competitive rates and flexible terms and conditions.

Our interest rate ranges from 6.99 per cent, down payment from as low as 15 per cent and we have a maximum repayment period of up to eight years”.

A fleet of cars on display by the auto dealers

formalities can be completed.

“We wanted to provide

an experience for customers.

Sometimes we have a vehicle but we don’t have the time to pursue it. We have

to go to the agent, the insurance company, so it is basically a one-stop shop,” she related.

Youth Department to commence ‘job readiness training’ initiative

Youth Director Melissa Carmichael

Recognising that young people are often lost to drugs and crime after finishing school, or even during the latter part of their school years, the Department of Youth has said it plans to launch a ‘job readiness training’ initiative for youths to better ease them into the work force.

This announcement was made on Wednesday

by Youth Director Melissa Carmichael during a press conference.

We recognise that there is a gap between when young people leave their

secondary education (and when they get) into the work force, or to becoming a part of the work force.

There is a great gap there.

Young people -- very often in that area or during that stage -- we lose them to different things; so, in order for us to ensure that they head towards careers, we have to start our work within the school system,” she said.

Carmichael pointed out that this project would require officials meeting with young people, not only within fifth and sixth forms, but those who have already left school.

According to her, youths require career guidance to prepare them for the world of work.

The Youth Director noted that the relevant agencies which would be responsible for working along with those youths have already been engaged, so that young people both in and out of school can benefit.

“I can tell you that we’ve already engaged the Manpower Unit that will be working with us to pro-

vide job readiness training moving forward…both for in-school and out-of-school young people. We believe that this will provide an opportunity for them to start thinking about, one: the place that they want to be in terms of career; and two: give them enough information and training so that, once they leave the secondary school system, they understand what is the next step,” she explained.

The Department is pushing to have youths ready for jobs, but youths are complaining that there is a lack of job opportunities. In fact, at the Department’s job fair hosted only on Friday, more than 600 youths were in attendance, but the Department said during that very press conference that only about 200 youths were being catered for.

Social Cohesion Minister Dr George Norton, who has responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, has expressed some concern over the fact that 40 per cent of youths are unemployed.

The auto dealers showcased a wide range of vehicles from different brands, all designed with specific

features.

Dion Williams of Hero Motor Corp and Rose Ramdehol Auto Sales stated that this initiative bridges the gap between dealers and lending agents. It is also seen as a positive venture where all partners can benefit.

“We’re pleased to be collaborating with GBTI on this financing event. We’re hoping that it would be the start to a professional partnership where customers can come and make purchas-

Robert Ramah told Guyana Times, “We have cars starting at $1.9 million.

We have high-end vehicles too like that Range Rover and Jaguar. We guarantee that you can get the best prices”.

Nalico and Nafico Insurance Companies were on site to provide some details on their financing rates and flexible terms and condition. The Guyana Oil Company also partnered with the bank to provide fuel and other lubricants to the customers after purchasing a new car.

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SUnDAY, april 14, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

President still in Cuba for radiology

Guyana’s Head of State David Granger

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resident David Granger is still in Cuba for radiology as part of the second phase of his treatment for NonHodgkin’s lymphoma.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, the Head of State’s medical treatment in Cuba has been successful thus far.

The Ministry of the Presidency on Saturday said that although the President has been in Cuba since April 2 for medical evaluation, he has still been pursuing av-

enues that will benefit the Guyanese populace.

“Last Friday, he visited the Escuela Taller de la Habana in Old Havana and met the administrative staff and two groups of trainees in a classroom situation.

The Taller Escuela was established in 1992 and is part of the Office of the Historian of the City of Havana. It trains young people in a variety of skills such as masonry, plumbing and carpentry, among others, and helps them to achieve upward mobility in the system.”

According to the statement from the Ministry, the President has expressed a strong interest in vocational and skills training and wanted to know and learn more about the Cuban approach to the training of Cuban youths who are not in the formal education system.

Additionally, in reviewing the Guyana-Cuba collaboration in the health sector, President Granger expressed a deep concern with the high incidence of

cancer, heart disease and diabetes in Guyana and is lobbying for stronger ties between Guyana and the Cuban medical institutions that specialise in those ailments.

The statement came mere days after the Opposition and several sections of the society questioned the whereabouts of the President.

The first phase of President Granger’s medical treatment in Cuba was successfully completed earlier this year.

However, he commenced radiotherapy this month.

The President’s chemotherapy commenced in November 2018 after he was diagnosed with NonHodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer which envelopes the lymphatic system.

On October 30, 2018, the President and First Lady Sandra Granger travelled to Cuba for him to undergo medical tests after he had complained of feeling unwell. Days later, he was diagnosed with cancer. The

President has since reduced his number of public engagements.

According to WebMD, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is cancer that starts in your body’s lymph system.

Lymphoma occurs when the lymph node cells or the lymphocytes begin to multiply uncontrollably, producing cancerous cells that have the abnormal capacity to invade other tissues throughout the body.

The website also states that radiation therapy treats cancer by using high-energy waves to kill tumour cells. The goal is to destroy or damage the cancer without hurting too many healthy cells. Early side effects, it states, are nausea and fatigue. Late side effects, such as lung or heart problems, may take years to show up and are often permanent when they do.

The most common early side effects are fatigue and skin problems and persons may also experience hair loss and nausea.

“I took my first step in 9 years” – Uttamkumar Isurdeen

Uttamkumar Isurdeen

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hirty-four-yearold, father of one, U t t a m k u m a r Isurdeen is a person living with a disability after he was involved in a vehicular accident in 2010. He suffered tremendous damaged to his spinal cord and has been using a wheelchair ever since to assist with his mobility.

On April 12, 2019, Isurdeen confidently testified that he took his first step in nine years. This was after an intervention was made through the collaboration of the Public Health Ministry with PAHO/WHO and ProsthetiKa, an international agency with the mission of restoring mobility to persons without it.

Collaborators started work at the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre to provide orthotics by utilising multidisciplinary measures to address spinal injuries and abnormalities.

A prosthetic brace was made to support Isurdeen’s hips, knees, ankles and feet to assist with relative mo-

ment. He remarked that the intervention has changed his life and “it is only the beginning.’

Isurdeen in an interview with Department of Public Information (DPI) recalled the accident when he was in the front passenger seat of a minibus which was being driven at a reckless rate, causing the vehicle to flip several times seriously injuring the passengers on board.

“Since then, up until now, I thought it was a huge setback. However, I didn’t think about giving up despite there was no advanced technology which would help me to walk again. But, today is the day after nine years I took my first set of steps. It was a breakthrough for me to get a brace, to stand up,” he said.

Jon Batzdorff, President of ProsthetiKa said, “we made this HKAFO, Hip, Knee, Ankle, Foot Orthosis and it was a big job, everybody worked on this job. So, he put it on and was ready to try it to stand up independently. He stood and waved… that was another victory.”

According to Batzdorff, the project changes people’s lives, and they are happy to have given Isurdeen the opportunity to be mobile again. This service offered

by ProsthetiKa is provided free of charge to beneficiaries. These braces could amount to hundreds of thousands of Guyana dollars.

The ProsthetiKa’s President said he never expected for Isurdeen to be walking on the very first day after trying the brace.

Echoing the call to protect our species Earth Day 2019

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very year, Earth Day is a timely reminder to each of us that the Earth and its vast ecosystems provide us with life and sustenance. This day also recognises a collective responsibility -- as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration -- to promote harmony with nature and the Earth, to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity.

Overcoming the many challenges to celebrate this day required collaboration and participation from key players at all levels. Fast forward forty nine (49) years later, even though much has changed, increased efforts and emphasis are still needed to overcome new and emerging environmental threats and challenges.

History of “Earth Day” On April 22, 1970, in the United States, millions of people took to the streets to protest the negative impacts of 150 years of industrial development. This was a time when smog was becoming deadly and evidence was growing that pollution led to developmental delays in children. Biodiversity was in decline as a result of the heavy use of pesticides and other pollutants. Industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of legal consequences or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. “Environment” was a word that appeared more often in spelling bees than on the evening news.

Although mainstream America largely remained oblivious to environmental concerns, the stage had been set for change by the publication of Rachel Carson’s New York Times’ bestseller Silent Spring in 1962. The book represented a watershed moment, selling more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries, and beginning to raise public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment, and links between pollution and public health.

The global ecological awareness was growing, and the US Congress and President Nixon responded quickly. In July of the same year, they created the Environmental Protection Agency and robust environmental laws, such as the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, among many.

Earth Day 1970 gave voice to that emerging consciousness, channelling the energy of the anti-war protest movement, and putting environmental concerns on the front page.

Earth Day 2019 Guyana has joined the rest of the world in raising awareness on this year’s theme, “Protect Our Species”, which has been modified to include “Safeguard Guyana’s natural wealth”. This modification aims to further raise awareness of the importance of our many plant and animal species to achieve our green and inclusive agenda. Even though we boast a variety of plant and animal species, the unprecedented global destruction and rapid reduction of plant and wildlife populations are directly linked to causes driven by human activity: climate change, deforestation, habitat loss, trafficking and poaching, unsustainable agriculture, pollution, and pesticides, to name a few. The impacts are far-reaching.

The Environmental Protection Agency The Environmental Protection Agency of Guyana has responsibility for management of Guyana’s natural environment. Anyone planning to do development or exploitation of natural resources must apply to EPA for a permit. If the activities are significant, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be completed to evaluate the potential risks of the activity to all existing resources and species, and ways to reduce the risks must be followed. EPA also monitors on-going activities such as logging, mining, oil exploration and drilling, road building, etc. in order to identify and regulate any unexpected damage to the environment and human health from these activities.

Specifically, we recognise the importance of local, regional and international research efforts in supporting biodiversity protection and conservation. This is why it is necessary that persons carrying out such research apply to the EPA for a permit. This will help us to ensure access to, and benefits of, these resources are equitably shared.

Uttamkumar Isurdeen walking with orthosis support which has restored his mobility

He noted that minor adjustments would be made which will allow him to walk more ably with support from the orthosis.

Isurdeen said that he is soon to begin a new job in an administrative capacity and is quite excited to be working again since the orthosis will play a major role in his new job. He shared that while using the wheelchair for mobility, he kept himself

active by being heavily involved in sports, particularly in 5k and 10k races that are hosted around the country, along with other athletic activities. Isurdeen said that his wife and his nine-yearold son remain his source of support and motivation.

“I want others who might have been injured, to be able to join this programme and be more improved than I am,” Isrudeen said.

Join the celebrations This year, the EPA, with guidance from the Department of Environment, will be teaming up with other environmental agencies, like the Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Protected Areas Commission and the Office of Climate Change, to commemorate Earth Day by safeguarding Guyana’s and the rest of the world’s natural wealth. A number of public and private engagements are planned all across the country.

So be sure to look out for these events at public spaces across the country. In addition, other NGOs will be coordinating their own events to celebrate this day. If you are unable to attend any one of these events, you can organise your own activities to educate and raise community awareness about the accelerating rate of extinction of millions of species, and the causes and consequences of this phenomenon.

You can engage in community cleanup and beautification, school talks, tree planting, or any other activity that would build and activate a global movement to embrace nature and its values. Be sure to also check out our social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram.

Join the single–use plastics free day on April 22. Refuse plastic bags, and take your own reusable bag when shopping. Remember, the change begins with you! Let’s help to protect out species by saying NOOOOO!!! to single-use plastics.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail. com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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SUnDAY, april 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Crime Chief warns about purchasing SIM cards for others

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GDP is no longer an accurate measure of economic progress

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n this author’s previous two columns, readers would recall that a thorough dissection and analysis of Guyana’s GDP outturn for 2018 was conducted. Those articles looked at the GDP growth rate achieved for 2018 and established that this was not reflective of any real substantive growth of the economy. Rather, it was -- more or less -- reflective of growth in terms of massive increases in Government expenditure, and not real expansive growth of the economy.

Consistent with this contention put forward by this analyst, a World Economic Forum article echoed the same concerns, which shall be summarised in today’s article as a consideration for policymakers in Guyana, going forward.

According to the article, the forum contended that “it is critically important we monitor societal progress and design responsive policies to 21st century challenges, such as climate change, the marginalisation of more than a billion people, resource depletion, and emerging pollution-driven health crises.”

Accordingly, this necessitates the need for reliable metrics, to know how we are performing on the yardsticks of our economy, sustainability, and social harmony. Unfortunately, the radar used to track progress is far from satisfactory, to such an extent that countries still use a 20th century metric to measure wellbeing other than Gross Domestic Product, or GDP. It is understandable -- that growing international interest in a tool that still captures financial and produced capital, but also the skills in our workforce (human capital), the cohesion in our society (social capital), and the value of our environment (natural capital), given that GDP functions as a good measurement of output, income, and expenditure. These are needed to understand and devise fiscal and monetary policies, but this measure flatly fails when it comes to wellbeing.

Its founder, Simon Kuznets, cautioned half a century ago that it is useful mainly in tracking income. More recently, other economists have suggested that knowing change in per capita wealth of all types is key to monitoring sustainability.

Work has advanced on some of these elements. The UN Environment Programme-led Inclusive Wealth Index shows the aggregation through accounting and shadow pricing of produced capital, natural capital, and human capital for 140 countries. The global growth rate of wealth tracked by this index is much lower than growth in GDP. In fact, the 2018 data suggests that natural capital declined for 140 countries for the period of 1992 to 2014 (World Economic Forum).

Interestingly, many countries record GDP growth while they lose natural capital. One can see the trade-off among various types of capital, but the report clearly conveys that mixing income with wealth is bad economics, and is dangerous for sustainability measurement.

The findings of the Index include strong recommendations to help reach global sustainability targets, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Closely tracking countries’ productive bases is key, as a declining asset base implies a non-sustainable trajectory. Many of the assets critical for maintaining productive bases are either not priced, or are priced at much lower levels than they should be. This is especially true for natural capital and human capital assets.

Natural capital assets, such as forests and water bodies, have only been valued for the products they provide for the market, such as timber and fish. However, these ecosystems offer a much larger suite of services, such as water purification, water regulation, and habitat provisioning for species, among many other things. (World Economic Forum).

Introduction of the Inclusive Wealth Index helps policy-

makers prepare to negotiate for reductions in greenhouse gases, as well as for compensations accruing from climate change. Further, past reports have shown conclusively how countries can become unsustainable in absolute terms when population growth is factored into the computation.

Understanding the impact population growth has on productive bases is a critical variable that leaders should factor into policy-making. Hence analytic progress has been made, but there is still need to bring all five elements of prosperity -- financial, produced, natural, human and social capital -- into one framework (World Economic Forum).

(For comments, questions and responses on articles featured in this column, readers can reach the author at jbinsights@outlook.com).

n unsuspicious act of purchasing a mobile SIM card for a friend, associate or even a relative, can land persons in jail if the phone number is linked to any criminal activity.

This is according to the country’s Crime Chief and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lyndon Alves, who bears responsibility for law enforcement in the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

During an interview with Guyana Times, he explained the implications of purchasing a SIM card and giving that SIM to another person instead of using it for your own purposes.

“If you go [to] the service providers to obtain a SIM card, they require your proof of address, photo identification and such, just like it is in any other country.

Now, SIM cards are commonly used in the execution of criminal activities

all over and we know this.

Therefore, the person under whose name such SIM cards are registered under will have to be held accountable,” the Crime Chief said.

He said that there are many cases where persons try to assist a relative or friend in obtaining a SIM card for their cellular phone, and the person(s) in need may not have met the requirements for purchasing a SIM card at the time that he/she needs it.

However, the Deputy Police Commissioner advised that persons be cautious if they choose to do this as part of assisting others.

“People unconsciously go out and buy a SIM card to help people out without thinking it through. There are implications that they [purchaser] can face if those SIMs are used to even send threatening messages to others and reports are made

to the police about that.

Even if the persons bought the SIMs and are not using it they will be investigated and have to deal with the police so that their stories can be verified but they can end up in trouble too if the police cannot verify their explanations,” Alves noted.

Globally, criminals continue to exploit prepaid SIM cards as an anonymous channel of communications for their illicit activities and this has resulted in some countries implementing revised limits to reduce the security risks associated with the anonymous use of prepaid SIM cards.

Fraudulently registered prepaid cards have been used to perpetrate criminal activities including unlicensed moneylending, cheating scams, vice-related and gambling-related activities.

For example, unlicensed moneylending syndicates

Crime Chief and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lyndon Alves

have been found to make use of prepaid SIM cards for communication with debtors and among syndicate members in support of their illegal activities.

In some cases, SIM cards purchased in one country and are on the roaming service have been recorded as being used in acts of terrorism in other countries.

Guyana, Cuba examine ways to curb illegal migration

Citizenship Minister Winston Felix

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o mitigate cases of illegal migration from persons travelling to Cuba and Guyana, the second round of bilateral talks between the two Governments were recently concluded, where discussions surfaced for the implementation of several workable measures.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, the Guyana delegation was led by acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Felix, and other officials of the Ministry, where the two countries pledged to strengthen their collaboration and implement a framework to review migratory patterns.

Guyana Times understands that the meeting examined the possibility of implementing a visa protocol for persons entering Guyana from Cuba. Felix stated that the policy has been to suppress visas as a requirement to enter the country but there are persons who sometimes become invisible.

For this, he stated, “What we have to do is to manage it and to ensure that over time, those who are invisible can be brought to light and we can understand what is happening.”

The Minister reiterated, “Once they leave Cuba legally and they arrive here legally; we are going to accept them and treat them as all other members of the Caribbean family are treated.”

Some of the matters focused primarily on the illegal migration but Trafficking in Persons was addressed as one of the burning issues, and how both territories can reduce the opportunities for persons to be held in such captivity.

Director of the Division of Consular Affairs and Cuban Residents Abroad, Ernesto Soberon Guzman, related Cuba shares a common goal with Guyana.

“Our main concern is to try to avoid Cuban people that visit Guyana, that use its territory as a transit in irregular migration… these people become victims of the trafficking of human beings, so in this regard we are very pleased with the conversation, with the results. I think that we share common goals in order to promote this regular, safe, orderly travel and, at the same time, to fight against irregular migration and against human trafficking,” he said.

The first discussions with between the two countries took place in 2016 and they will meet again in another two years.

In 2016, it was reported that Guyana along with other South American countries are major transit ports for Cubans refuges seeking access to the United States via the use of land as opposed to the more excruciating water

route they traditionally use.

This was according to NBC Nightly News in its April 30, 2016, broadcast where an investigative piece highlighted that there is a new migrant crisis unfolding in America where thousands of undocumented Cubans were stranded on a gruelling journey they hope would end in the US.

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SUnDAY, april 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

CANU, Police can search persons only if there is “reasonable suspicion” – attorney

Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin

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n light of recent incidents where outgoing passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) were strip-searched and had to endure embarrassing situations at the hands of Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks, there is much controversy as to the boundaries of the rights that agency has as well as members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to conduct such exercises.

Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times stated that CANU and the GPF have the right to search someone if they had, what the laws of Guyana recognises as “reasonable suspicion” that the person was committing, about to commit or had just committed an offence.

He, however, explained that these rules are intended to rely on the integrity of law enforcement officials which means that they must exercise proper judgement as to what is reasonable suspicion.

“So, reasonable suspicion can’t be that you’re acting on you know, very nebulous facts, it has to be that you are acting on specific facts. Now as it relates to the search, as it relates to the very intrusive cavity search that was apparently required [recently], that is in itself an area of law for which there is much

controversy because the suspicion would then have to relate that the person is concealing the narcotics in their body…Could she have refused the search? Not really, in most cases that arise, if the police have reasonable suspicion and they ask you to search you could say no but you really don’t have a right to stop it.”

Invasion of personal space

According to Datadin, the system that governs Guyana is based on the “English” system where rules are a little more liberal than those in the American system.

“She was entitled to say no and if they said well then you have to [do] an x-ray so that we could be satisfied then she would have to. She could choose to undergo the x-ray or if that is refused as well, then they can go get a judge and get the order now that would be what would happen in a perfect world.

The actual situation of what happens in Guyana is…they go ahead and, the Police Force and CANU seem to take it upon themselves that they have the right to do this, it is an invasion of your personal space and your person for them to do these sorts of things,” the attorney elaborated.

He reiterated that if ranks have information and enough suspicion then they are entitled to search a person but that the integrity of the law enforcement officials

should not have to be questioned in such cases.

Violation of constitutional rights

The attorney further stated that it is a clear threat to someone’s constitutional right if CANU and police ranks want to exercise their powers to arbitrarily stop and search individuals who are travelling.

“But is that going to stop them? I am not so sure because we have a very lax approach as to what rights are and it is time that some of the people that suffer these things, it is time for them to go to court and enforce their rights. Maybe the law enforcement officials need to engender better confidence, maybe they need to act more responsibly, maybe they need to conduct themselves in a more professional manner and then citizens would believe them when they say well they had a reasonable suspicion. As it stands right now, no one believes the Police Force or law enforcement in this country,” Datadin posited.

He added that due to the lack of confidence that society has in the local law enforcement agencies, it is hard to believe some explanations as to why someone’s constitutional right may have been violated and this means that the local authorities need to change such viewpoints.

“They do what they want, they feel that they would get away with it because most

“They do what they want, they feel that they would get away with it because most people wouldn’t bother to go to the courts because they are met with a system that is slow.

And so it is a waste of time for them so most people let it go.

That shouldn’t keep happening though and that shouldn’t be allowed to happen” – attorney people wouldn’t bother to go to the courts because they are met with a system that is slow. And so it is a waste of time for them so most people let it go. That shouldn’t keep happening though and that shouldn’t be allowed to happen,” the lawyer added.

The issue of cavity searches at CJIA came to the fore last week when two women in separate instances said that they had been subjected to searches by CANU ranks that entailed the two women having to “strip and squat”.

On Sunday last, a United States-based woman, Ayana Adams, who is a Guyanese by birth was in the process of returning to New York on

a Caribbean Airlines flight after vacationing in her homeland when she was taken into a room by two female ranks of CANU to be searched.

According to the young lady’s lawyer, Siand Dhurjon, she was told that she needed to remove her clothing for a thorough scan to be conducted.

According to the lawyer, his client reluctantly took off her jumpsuit, leaving just her bra and underwear but the agents were not satisfied, demanding that she take off all her clothes, squat and cough as they needed to check “her abdomen and her guts”.

Dhurjon explained that his client’s reason for not wanting to squat was because she was experiencing her menstrual cycle, a fact that was explained to the CANU officers to no avail.

The second female to come forward shortly after this incident was 40-year-old Malika Cole. She told the me-

dia that she is a Guyanese, who currently resides in Trinidad and Tobago.

According to Cole, on April 2, she was subjected to an intrusive search by a female rank of CANU at the CJIA. “She told me I have to strip and squat and do everything that she told me to do and that was it…”

Cole said she was then told to cough multiple times and the officer also ordered her to open her mouth for her to examine it. The search by the ranks revealed nothing, she noted.

Both women have signalled their intent to sue CANU for the intrusion and embarrassment they were forced to endure.

CANU later contended that it will continue to conduct searches of passengers, luggage, vehicles etc, at all ports of entry and exits in Guyana. It said that those searches will be done in accordance with local and international standards with due cordiality and professionalism.

17 Govt signs another loan agreement news

SUnDAY, april 14, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…to provide technical assistance to oil & gas sector

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he Government of Guyana has inked another loan agreement, this time with the World Bank, which will be providing funds and support for Guyana to build its framework for overseeing the oil and gas sector.

According to a statement from the Finance Ministry, the loan agreement was signed by Finance Minister Winston Jordan on Thursday with World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, Tahseen Khan.

“Minister Jordan noted the timely nature of the loan agreement as it sought to provide much-needed technical assistance to the emerging oil and gas sector,” the statement observed, adding that the money would build human resource capacity and strengthen institutional frameworks in the oil and gas sector.

“Ms Khan said that the loan agreement will aid in building the capacity of key institutions, such as the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Finance, for prudent management of the oil revenues.”

Jordan was accompanied

by Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga, Guyana’s Ambassador to USA Dr Riyad Insanally and Jason Fields from the Embassy of Guyana.

Last year, a total of $333.2 million in capital funds was allocated by the Government for petroleum and energy management.

The 2019 Budget estimates also detailed that current expenditure.

This amount, among other things, which will go towards employment and other recurrent costs was $90.9 million. Specifically, wages

Finance Minister Winston Jordan and World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, Tahseen Khan

and salaries were expected to cost the Treasury $20.5 million.

With little over a year to go before first oil, Government has been criticised for the slow pace of preparation. For instance, critical measures like a national oil spill strategy; a constitutional agency to regulate the sector; a national oil company, a local con-

tent policy and a Sovereign Wealth Fund are either still in the planning stages or have only been discussed.

This does not include several worrying fiscal indicators which have caused audit firm Ram and McRae to project reduced earnings from first oil for Guyana if these trends are allowed to continue.

One such trend is the

Government’s fiscal deficit, a case where monies are sourced more from loans than from revenue.

According to the firm in its Budget Focus, Guyana risks less money going towards the Natural Resources Fund and more going towards making up for the deficit.

When it comes to debt, it was only in February that Government announced it had signed two new loans with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), totalling US$31 million; monies that Government said will go towards areas of trade and energy.

This was revealed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon during a press conference. Harmon revealed that Finance Minister Jordan signed the agreements on February 11.

Part of the monies includes financing for a single

window trade system which is meant to simplify transactions. Monies will also go towards improving service from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and other energy-related expenses.

As of 2017, Guyana had a total public debt of $344.9 billion. According to the 2017 edition of the Public Debt Annual Report, this was an increase of 4.4 per cent in one year.

Even though Guyana’s indebtedness to external creditors has increased, so has debt servicing (repayments). According to the Bank of Guyana Quarterly Report and Statistical Bulletin released last year, repayment of external debt grew by some US$24.3 million to US$85.3 million. This is a rate of 59.1 per cent when compared to the corresponding period of 2017.

Arts, music, drama being pursued to target youths in “Say YES!” campaign

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hrough the use of the Arts, music and drama, among other creative avenues, the School of the Nations in partnership with Government is pushing this campaign to help deter youths from the path of negativity.

Principal of School of the Nations, Dr Brian O’Toole said that this campaign is taking a different approach from what young people may be accustomed to. It’s meant to be as creative as possible while delivering the message that they should not participate in any illegalities but focus on the positive aspects of life.

“Instead of that, we want to look at those issues that are totally new issues facing the youths of the world par-

ticularly the stuff that is on the internet but to present it in a way through arts and music and drama so that we can look at the creative ways to put over these messages.

[Ways] which look at the challenges that our youths face in terms of alcohol, drugs, violence, the internet, bullying. But to try to do it in a new way because our youths are tired of old people like myself getting up and pontificating and telling them what they should do.”

According to Dr O’Toole, the shooting incident that he was involved in some 11 weeks ago at his residence propelled such an initiative because it had a domino effect on other schools in the country as well as Guyana’s image in the internation-

A section of the gathering at the launching of the “Say YES!” campaign

al arena where many questions are being asked.

“Of what kind of society we have? Is this a place we want to invest in? And I am 95 per cent certain that the

shooting was related to the horrible video game fortnight which, incidentally, Prince Harry has now started a campaign in England to ban that game. So this

whole night is about our response at Nations but not the solution but we are in the process of launching a very exciting campaign, the Yes Youths Can Move The World campaign.”

According to School of the Nations’ Principal, the time is ripe for focusing on the positive aspects of the country. In fact, this is the aim of the new campaign that was launched on Thursday night at the residence of the British High Commissioner in Georgetown. According to Dr O’Toole, this campaign is the response of School of the Nations to such extreme violence, and while it is not the solution, it is a step in the right direction.

He added that instead of all the negatives, “what we

want to do is change the discourse a little bit or not a little bit, we want to change the discourse significantly to what are we going to do to face that kind of mayhem.

What happened to a sad little 17-year-old who jumps out of the bushes and shoots three times with the intent to kill? What creates that?”

Additionally, he said that already the support for this campaign has been tremendous, both the Government and the Private Sector have signalled their commitment to being a part of it.

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, posited that such an initiative should be adopted and promoted by all.

Former Region 3 hospital administrator appeals non-reinstatement decision

F

ormer acting hospital administrator of the West Demerara Regional Hospital in Region Three, Sanjah Persaud has appealed the April 10 decision by acting Chief Justice Roxane George, which ruled that he was not qualified for that respective position and, therefore, should not be reinstated.

The appeal was filed on Friday by Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall and listed the Public Service Commission and the Regional Executive Officer of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) as the respondents.

In her decision, the Chief Justice had ruled that the applicant only served in the acting position and was not qualified for the position due to the fact that he could not supply sufficient evidence. During his probation period, George affirmed that Persaud did not qualify himself to suit his role.

For this, she stated that the Commission could not con-

firm the applicant to the post of hospital administrator.

The appeal was filed on the grounds that the decision of the judge is contrary to the law, erroneous and against the weight of evidence; that the presiding judge also misdirected herself on law by ruling that the applicant did not present evidence that he acted in the capacity of hospital administrator of the West Demerara Hospital; and that the judge misdirected herself in law by failing to appreciate that the legal challenge was for the decision-making process and not the decision of the respondents.

Persaud is also challenging the case on the grounds that the judge misapplied or failed to apply the legal principles in respect to the burden of proof when an order nisi is granted, calling upon the respondent to now show cause; and the appellant had a legitimate expectation that he would have been confirmed in that re-

cess of and without jurisdiction, unconstitutional, unfair, unlawful, null, void and of no effect”.

In Persaud’s affidavit, it was stated that the Regional Executive Officer at that

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George

spective post since 2013.

The applicant is seeking to have the decision reversed or a writ of certiorari to the Public Service Commission, quashing its letter which rescinded his appointment as hospital administrator and further reverting his position of accounts clerk II, with immediate effect.

That conclusion is based on the fact that the decision “is contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrary, whimsical, capricious, in ex-

time, Dennis Jaikaran, had notified him via a letter that approval was granted by the PSC for him to hold the position of hospital administrator. He had been acting in that capacity since March

2013.

However, Jaikaran wrote another letter in September 2017, rescinding the appointment and furthermore, rescinding him to the position of accounts clerk II.

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sunDAY, APRIL 14, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Democrats demand Trump Deport foreign criminal suspects immediately – T&T Top Cop tax returns by April 23

US President Donald Trump

D

emocratic lawmakers on Saturday gave the Internal Revenue Service a final deadline of April 23 to hand over President Donald Trump’s tax returns, days after an

earlier target date was missed.

“I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding my request and the authority of the committee.

Those concerns lack merit,” House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal said in a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig.

On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a deadline set for that date would be missed, citing possible constitutional issues raised by the Democratic request.

Trump argues that he cannot release his tax returns because they are being audited, but the IRS has

said this is no impediment to their release.

“It is not the proper function of the IRS, Treasury or Justice to question or second guess the motivations of the committee or its reasonable determinations regarding its need for the requested tax returns and return information,” Neal said.

“Concerns about what the committee may do with the tax returns and return information are baseless.”

Neal gave the government until 5:00 pm on April 23 to hand over the tax records. “Please know that, if you fail to comply, your failure will be interpreted as a denial of my request,” Neal wrote. (AFP)

Caribbean region urged to fight crime collectively

Dr Keith Mitchell

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hairman of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) Council for Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE), Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell says a collective approach is needed to effectively address security across the region.

“We need each other as our fight against crime is a collective one”, he said. “As small fledgling economies we are also unfairly subjected to international assessments that sometimes result in blacklisting,” said Mitchell at the opening of the 20th meeting of CONSLE in Grenada on Friday.

The prime minister, who is also the Minister of National Security, noted that “security could never be over-emphasised”. “Without security nothing else works”, he said and pointed to other matters including the issue of border security.

He emphasised that

there should be unified positions, given the nature of our borders. “The relevance of border security at the regional level takes on even greater significance because of the porous nature of our borders.”

Concerning the current situation in Venezuela, and its impact and potential impact to affect our countries, he called for regular discourse on security and for the” the adoption of regional positions that give consideration to what is best for all concerned“… each country’s security is correlated with others…[and], we have to accept that”, he said.

The prime minister reiterated that “crime is an escapable reality “that must be faced.

“Some of our neighbouring countries right here … are classified amongst the most violent in the world by virtue of the number of homicides to population ratio.”

“New and emerging threats in the domain of cyberspace” brought on by significant technological advances have been moved from being at our doorsteps to the status of fast becoming a pervasive threat, as our new virtual world often provides the cover of anonymity to many who wish to ply their nefarious trades within our borders”, he continued This 20th CONSLE will, among other matters, review the management framework for crime and security;

the regional single domestic space and the requirements for same. In this last context, matters such as the movement of persons within a harmonised framework for entry and a harmonised visa regime will receive consideration.

The Caribbean’s resilience agenda and its implications for hard security and diplomacy is another policy issue on the table, given the region’s vulnerability to natural hazards, geological and climate/weather related, as well as crime and security threats with their potential to amplify the impact of climate change and the after-effects of natural hazard events, poses serious challenges.

Geo-political issues affecting security in the region, and in this context, the implications of the Framework for Migrant Health on the security sector including the nexus for health security; implications of the non-hemispheric military presence in region, counter-terrorism in the region and what programmes have been put in place to respond to this challenge are included in the matters to be discussed.

Crime and security is the fourth pillar of the regional integration process and the Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) coordinates security and law enforcement arrangements across the community. (CMC)

T&T Police Commissioner Gary Griffith

P

olice Commissioner Gary Griffith wants Venezuelans suspected to be involved in criminal activity to be deported immediately.

Speaking one day after the National Security Minister announced an amnesty policy for Venezuelans in this country, Griffith said “I am asking for consideration now be given (although) they may have an amnesty but if based on law enforcement intelligence any individual who is here as an illegal immigrant and has been given an amnesty, based on suspicion, based on intelligence of that individual being involved in

any questionable activity and that individual is red flagged, that person is immediately deported.”

Griffith told the media at a press briefing at the Police Administration building on Friday, “I need to ensure that persons of interest do not easily find an opportunity to get in here and to be involved in criminal activity.

What they are basically getting is a get out of jail free card.”

He expressed concern about the rising number of Venezuelans involved in criminal activity as well recent murders of Venezuelan nationals.

“The concern that (we) the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service have, is that over the last three weeks, three Venezuelan nationals have been killed,” he said in reference to the murders of Jose Rodriguez, Alexander Cedeno Roroba and Maickal Martinez.

Rodriguez was shot dead in the front seat of a SUV while driving in Glencoe on Thursday, Martinez died after being shot in Laventille on April 5, while Roroba was shot dead on De Verteuil

Street, Woodbrook a short distance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office on Ariapita Avenue a day before Martinez was shot.

Griffith said: “The reports have shown that these three Venezuelan nationals have been involved in certain very questionable activities, involved with very questionable criminal elements especially in the Western Division and Portof-Spain.”

Griffith said many Venezuelans who arrived in the country illegally were being drawn to crime.

But he was also concerned that “there is the other aspect, where other Venezuelan nationals who have been involved in criminal activity have now seen here (T&T) as a better option for them to be involved in criminal activity, inclusive of drug dealing and gang activity.”

Griffith pointed out the recent human trafficking case involving Venezuelan minors as another example of illegal immigrants being lured into criminal activity.

(T&T Guardian)

Sudan’s military begins talks with protesters as curfew lifted

Sudanese women raise banners and a national flag as they rally outside the army headquarters in Khartoum [Ebrahim Hamid/ AFP]

S

udan’s ruling military council has begun talks with the organisers of mass protests demanding a civilian-led transition to democracy after the overthrow of longtime ruler Omar alBashir.

Saturday’s meeting in the capital, Khartoum, came as the new leader of the council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, promised to hand over power to a civilian government within two years following consultations with opposition groups.

Omar al-Digair, head of the 10-member delegation representing the protesters, told reporters the group delivered their demands to the military, including the for-

mation of a civilian-led transitional government and the release of protesters. He did not elaborate further.

The military overthrew Bashir on Thursday after almost four months of protests calling for an end to his nearly 30-year rule. General Awad Ibn Auf had initially taken over as the head of the military council, but he resigned just a day later amid a public outcry, with protesters saying he was too close to the deposed leader.

Burhan, who replaced Ibn Auf, previously served as the general inspector of the armed forces and had met the protesters in the streets after Bashir’s removal to listen to their demands.

The commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Force, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemeti, was appointed as Burhan’s deputy late on Saturday. A day after a-Bashir’s removal, Hemeti had previously urged the military council to hold talks with protesters.

Burhan, in his first televised address to the nation, said talks would include “all the people of Sudan, including political parties and civil society groups”.

The military council will rule the country for up to two years until elections, he said, reiterating a position outlined by the council the previous day. However, he lifted the nighttime curfew imposed on Thursday, which was to last for a month from 10pm to 4am, and vowed to “uproot the regime” of Bashir and its symbols. He also promised to bring to justice those involved in the killing of protesters.

Activists, however, have said they will remain on the streets until a civilian transitional government, as outlined in the so-called Declaration of Freedom and Change signed by various political and professional groups in January, is formed. (Al Jazeera)

Venezuela ex-spy chief fights extradition from Spain to US

Hugo Carvajal fled Venezuela after denouncing the country’s President Nicolas Maduro

A

court in Spain has ruled that a man previously heading Venezuela’s military intelligence service should be

kept in custody pending decision on an extradition request to the United States.

Hugo Carvajal, a retired general and close ally of late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez, appeared at the Spanish High Court on Saturday, a day after his arrest in the capital, Madrid, on the US warrant for drug trafficking charges.

During the hearing, Carvajal denied the accusations by US prosecutors and challenged his potential extradition, a court

spokesman said.

Carvajal told the court he left Venezuela a month ago, travelling by boat for 16 hours to reach The Dominican Republic before flying to Madrid.

The former spy chief had fled the country after denouncing Chávez’s successor, Nicolás Maduro, and backing Opposition Leader, Juan Guaidó, who in January declared himself Venezuela’s interim leader.

Carvajal, who retired from the intelligence ser-

vice in 2012 after leading the agency for 10 years, will fight the US extradition request on the grounds of having ties in Spain, where his family currently resides.

On Friday, the US Justice Department said it had requested Carvajal’s extradition on cocaine-smuggling charges filed in 2011 and unsealed in 2014.

This is the second time Carvajal has been arrested on the US charges, which allege that he coor-

dinated the transportation of 5,600kg of cocaine from Venezuela to Mexico in April 2006. That shipment was bound for the US, according to charges filed in a federal court in New York.

Carvajal was arrested on the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba in 2014, but the Dutch government accepted Venezuela’s argument that he had diplomatic immunity because he had been nominated consul to Aruba.

In February, Carvajal, who was also a member of

Venezuela’s Congress, became one of the most prominent politicians to turn against Maduro.

Maduro then demoted and expelled Carvajal from the military. He was also accused of “acts of treason”.

Guaidó was later recognised by the US and dozens of governments, but Maduro remains in office with the support of the military and has denounced Guaidó as a puppet of Washington. (Al Jazeera)

sunDAY, april 14, 2019

19

Kohli, de Villiers’ mastery trump ‘Gayle Storm’

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oyal Challengers Bangalore finally found reason to smile in IPL 2019. They broke a sequence of six consecutive defeats with their first victory of the season, an eight-wicket victory against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali.

Like several Royal Challengers’ wins in the past, this was built on the batting combination of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, although the choke the spinners applied in the middle overs after Chris Gayle had rocketed off played its part too. Kohli made a 53ball 67, while de Villiers was unbeaten on 59 off 38.

The win wasn’t achieved without a scare, as Royal Challengers saw a comfortable equation of 57 off 42 go to 38 off 18, before de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis biffed the ball around to seal the win.

The knocks by Kohli and de Villiers put to shade Gayle’s 99 not out, with the Kings XI opener becoming in IPL history only the second batsman, alongside Kohli, to end not out while one short of his century. Suresh Raina and Prithvi Shaw have both been out on 99 in the IPL. Kings XI also let themselves down with their fielding, dropped catches and sloppy out-fielding making the task tougher for themselves. The dew that set in during the second half didn’t help either.

Gayle’s start-stop-start innings The Gayle template for a T20 innings has stayed largely the same over several years.

Start slowly, get your bearings, and then make fielders and/ or boundaries irrelevant.

In this game though, Gayle flipped things around, with circumstances dictating it to some extent.

Gayle blasted off at the start, first taking a shine to Umesh Yadav, and then dismantling Mohammed Siraj.

At the end of the Powerplay, Gayle was on 48 off 23. Kohli then turned to his spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Moeen Ali, and the Kings XI momentum ground to a halt.

In the middle overs, till the end of the 16th, Gayle could add only 20 more runs in 27 balls.

He picked up the pace again at the death, not coincidentally with the pacers back in operation, and smashed 31 off his last 14 balls.

The Gayle slowdown mirrored his team’s innings, with only 67 runs coming in the 10 overs after the Powerplay had yielded 60. The last four overs brought 46.

The Chahal-Moeen choke Chahal came on to bowl immediately after the Powerplay, and was greeted by a huge six, with KL Rahul dancing down the crease and sending him over long-off.

Rahul tried to repeat that next ball, but Chahal hung it back just a bit, and got it to dip and turn past him for an easy

AB de Villiers watches closely as he shapes to scoop

SCOREBOARD Mumbai Indians Innings (20 overs maximum) BATSMEN RG Sharma (c) c Buttler b Archer 47 Q de Kock † c Buttler b Archer 81 SA Yadav b Kulkarni 16 KA Pollard c Gopal b Archer 6 HH Pandya not out 28 Ishan Kishan c Buttler b Unadkat 5 KH Pandya not out 0 Extras 4 (lb 1, w 3) TOTAL 187/5 (20 Overs, RR: 9.35) Did not bat: AS Joseph, RD Chahar, JP Behrendorff, JJ Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-96 (RG Sharma, 10.5 ov), 2-117 (SA Yadav, 13.1 ov), 3-136 (KA Pollard, 16.2 ov), 4-163 (Q de Kock, 18.3 ov), 5-175 (Ishan Kishan, 19.2 ov) BOWLING O M R W K Gowtham 3 0 39 0 DS Kulkarni 4 0 38 1 JC Archer 4 0 39 3 JD Unadkat 4 0 36 1 S Gopal 4 0 21 0 LS Livingstone 1 0 13 0 Rajasthan Royals Innings (target:

F

Alex Hepburn

The earlier trial in January had failed to reach a verdict.

The court heard that Hepburn was part of a WhatsApp group that kept a score of the women its members had slept with as part of a “conquest game”.

Worcestershire chairman Fanos Hira said in a statement on the club’s website that they were appalled by the details reported.

Kohli, de Villiers take charge K o h l i

188 runs from 20 overs) BATSMEN AM Rahane (c) c Yadav b KH Pandya 37 JC Buttler c Yadav b Chahar 89 SV Samson † lbw b Bumrah 31 SPD Smith c Ishan Kishan b Bumrah 12 RA Tripathi c HH Pandya b KH Pandya 1 LS Livingstone b KH Pandya 1 S Gopal not out 13 K Gowtham not out 0 Extras 4 (lb 2, w 2) TOTAL 188/6 (19.3 Overs, RR: 9.64) Did not bat: JC Archer, JD Unadkat, DS Kulkarni Fall of wickets: 1-60 (AM Rahane, 6.2 ov), 2-147 (JC Buttler, 13.2 ov), 3-170 (SV Samson, 16.5 ov), 4-171 (RA Tripathi, 17.1 ov), 5-174 (LS Livingstone, 17.6 ov), 6-174 (SPD Smith, 18.1 ov) BOWLING O M R W JP Behrendorff 3 0 31 0 S Joseph 3 0 53 0 RD Chahar 4 0 34 1 JJ Bumrah 4 0 23 2 KH Pandya 4 0 34 3 HH Pandya 1.3 0 11 0

Cricketer found guilty of raping sleeping woman ormer Worcestershire county cricketer Alex Hepburn has, at a retrial, been found guilty of orally raping a sleeping woman as part of a sex game conducted on WhatsApp. The BBC and Sky television reported that the jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict on one count of oral rape after deliberating for nearly 11 hours.

The 23-year-old Australianborn was cleared of a second rape charge involving the same woman, who had earlier had consensual sex with teammate Joe Clarke in his Worcester apartment after a night out with friends on April 1, 2017.

Hepburn had denied both charges.

He will be sentenced at Hereford Crown Court on April 30, with the judge warning a custodial sentence is inevitable.

stumping.

Chahal repeated that six-and-out sequence with Mayank Agarwal. Having seen one smoked over extra cover with whippy wrist-work, he bowled the ball of the match.

It made a nice arc, sending Agarwal on the back foot, before drifting and dipping and then whizzing past to knock off-stump. Agarwal was left squared up, looking completely lost.

Moeen, meanwhile, bowled all four overs in one spell, and conceded only one boundary. None of the batsmen was able to get on top of his bowling, and with only 19 runs given in his four overs, he was the one who established the middleovers’ strangle that stalled Kings XI.

The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) said the case provided “a stark reminder to all PCA members of all requirements and behaviours demanded of a professional cricketer”.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Wall of West Mercia Police welcomed the conviction and said Hepburn had been in “a position of trust and power” at the time of the assault.

“I hope it will offer some comfort to the victim, who has shown great courage and strength in coming forward in reporting this to us, throughout the investigation and in giving evidence in court,” he said.

Hepburn was handed a one-year contract extension at Worcestershire on October 12, 2017, but was suspended from playing any form of cricket after he was charged with two counts of rape on November 9 that year.

looked assured from the start, settling into the chase with two peachy boundaries off Mohammed Shami in the second over. For the first half of the Royal Challengers innings, it was a typical Kohli chase, with the batsman looking in control and the asking rate never

Royal Challengers would have another heartbreak with Kohli getting out, de Villiers seized the baton and ran with it.

De Villiers had begun in his usual busy fashion, but was chugging along without quite exploding. When Kohli fell, though, he seamlessly shifted gears. There was a slapped six off Andrew Tye when the equation was getting steeper, and a trademark de Villiers’ slog-paddle-sweep off Shami that ensured only six runs would be needed off the final over. In between, he ran the galloping twos swiftly. too far away.

It’s not often that the The latter chasing team finds itself half of the on the losing side when de m i d d l e Villiers stays unbeaten. It had overs saw happened against Mumbai the chase Indians earlier this season, but dawdle there was no way de Villiers a little, was going to let it happen a but just Virat Kholi laid the second time. when it platform for RCB looked like with a brilliant 67

SCOREBOARD Kings XI Punjab Innings (20 overs maximum) Royal Challengers Bangalore Innings (target: 174 runs from 20 overs) BATSMEN BATSMEN KL Rahul st †Patel b Chahal 18 CH Gayle not out 99 PA Patel † c Agarwal b R Ashwin 19 MA Agarwal b Chahal 15 V Kohli (c) c M Ashwin b Mohammed Shami 67 SN Khan c †Patel b Mohammed Siraj 15 AB de Villiers not out 59 SM Curran lbw b Ali 1 MP Stoinis not out 28 Mandeep Singh not out 18 Extras 1 (w 1) Extras 7 (lb 2, w 5) TOTAL 174/2 (19.2 Overs, RR: 9.0) TOTAL 173/4 (20 Overs, RR: 8.65) Did not bat: MM Ali, AD Nath, P Negi, UT Did not bat: N Pooran †, AJ Tye, R Ashwin Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, YS Chahal, NA Saini (c), Mohammed Shami, M Ashwin Fall of wickets: 1-43 (PA Patel, 3.5 Fall of wickets: 1-66 (KL Rahul, 6.2 ov), ov), 2-128 (V Kohli, 15.3 ov) 2-86 (MA Agarwal, 8.5 ov), 3-110 (SN Khan, BOWLING O M R W 12.6 ov), 4-113 (SM Curran, 13.5 ov) 3 0 31 0 BOWLING SM Curran O M R W Mohammed Shami 4 0 43 1 UT Yadav 4 0 42 0 R Ashwin 4 0 30 1 NA Saini 4 0 23 0 M Ashwin 4 0 24 0 Mohammed Siraj 4 0 54 1 AJ Tye 4 0 40 0 YS Chahal 4 0 33 2 SN Khan 0.2 0 6 0 MM Ali 4 0 19 1

Linden Town Week Football

Winners Connection looking to knock out Shattas; Blueberry Hill tackle Net Rockers

T

wo rather interesting matches are set for tonight, when the final set of quarterfinal matches in the Linden Town Week Mayor’s Cup Football tournament are played at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Another large following is anticipated, since, regarding results, the clashes are not as straightforward as one might want to feel.

The first game kicks off at 19.00hrs, and will have the number three-ranked Haynes and Lewis Winners Connection going all out to stamp their authority on their opponents, Silver Shattas. Having edged past Shattas in their last meeting, Winners Connection will field a unit that would have players like skipper Marmalaque Davidson, who is now experienced, and in tandem with Javon Smith and Errol David, should be able to make Connections advance.

However, Shattas will not be push-overs, and with Kellon Major in goal, they have more than a goalkeeper there; while their defence is hinged around Deshawn Freeman, Jonah Simon and Jehu Regis, with Robin Adams on the strike line.

The other game, from 21.00hrs, will see Net Rockers hoping to roll over Blueberry Hill, after coasting past them in the GTT League.

Planning to get past this highly ranked Net Rockers side, Blueberry Hill’s midfield will be led by Mark Liddell, Troy Miller and Orin Scott; while Wayne Wilson will strike and Kelon Neblett is due for a return to duty between the uprights.

The Rockers will look to have their familiar lineup on the field, among whom are gifted players like Orande Wills, Denzil Pryce, Deshawn Joseph and Clarence Huggins.

20

guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, april 14, 2019

Buttler’s 50 sets up sloppy Royals win

J

ust two matches after recording the best bowling figures in IPL history, Alzarri Joseph found himself on the receiving end of a brutal assault from Jos Buttler, whose 89 off 43 balls spearheaded a successful chase in a four-wicket win for Rajasthan Royals over Mumbai Indians.

The result ended Mumbai’s three-match winning streak, while Royals notched just their second win of the season.

Set a target of 188 on a batting road, Royals coasted to 100 for 1 in 10 overs, as Buttler brought up a 30-ball half-century at the halfway point of the innings. The Englishman had already starred in the field, taking three sharp catches on the boundary after giving up the gloves to Sanju Samson for the first time this season, and seemingly had far more energy as a result.

Having brought up his third fifty of IPL 2019, Buttler unleashed himself on Joseph in the 13th.

With 70 needed off 48 balls, Buttler brought the required rate down to a run a ball by the end of the over. He began by lofting a full toss over longon for six, before driving wide of mid-off and cutting behind point for a pair of fours. Joseph tried to counter with a pair of yorkers on the next two balls, but each was stabbed out between the wicketkeeper and short third man for two more fours.

Buttler then heaved the final ball over midwicket for six, to end a demoralising sequence for Joseph and the hosts.

Buttler fell on his next ball in the following over to leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, but the damage

was done by that stage. Despite several hiccups in the final stages of the chase, which saw four wickets fall in the space of nine balls, Royals were still far enough in front, thanks to Buttler. Shreyas Gopal eventually sealed it with three balls to spare with a four driven off Hardik Pandya just wide of mid-off.

Quinton de Kock top-scored with 81 off 52 balls, but ran out of steam towards the end of his knock. The physio came out to attend to him at one point, as he struggled in the afternoon heat, and he eventually fell in the 19th over to give Archer his third wicket off a third phenomenal diving catch by Buttler at long-off.

Ro’s hits The Mumbai XI was boosted by the return of Captain Rohit Sharma, who had sat out the last match due to injury. He found his groove in the fourth over against Dhawal Kulkarni with three boundaries, including an exquisite square drive through point. He eventually made 47 off 32, before falling to Jofra Archer in the 11th, miscuing a drive to Buttler at long-on.

Kieron Pollard did his best Superman impression in Mumbai’s last-ball win in their previous match against Kings XI Punjab when he smashed 83 off 31 balls, including 10 sixes. He was decidedly human against the Royals’ bowling unit though, struggling to make a 12-ball 6 after entering in the 14th over, before skying a short ball from Archer over the circle. Shreyas took a sensational over-the-shoulder catch, running back from midwicket in the ring.

It was a crucial blow, as Mumbai stuttered to the finish without Pollard’s firepower. Despite 16 struck off the final over with some lusty blows from Hardik, who finished with an unbeaten 28 off 11 balls, Mumbai’s 187 appeared well-below par, after the start they had.

Buttler’s charge Royals went into the match without Ben Stokes, who sat out the encounter with an undisclosed injury. Yet Royals still had another Englishman with firepower to call on, as Buttler teamed with Ajinkya Rahane in a brisk 60-run opening stand.

Rahane was actually given out lbw for 4 to end the first over, but the decision was overturned on DRS after hawkeye showed the good length ball from tall left-armer Jason Behrendorff would have comfortably cleared the stumps.

Buttler also survived a tight DRS moment in the fourth, when he missed a reverse sweep to Krishnappa Gowtham’s leg-spin.

Given out on field, the replay showed the ball crashing into offstump, but that impact with the pad took place on the fringe of the off- stump line, and the decision stayed on field with the umpire’s call.

Joseph’s first wave of punishment came from Rahane in the fifth, when he was driven for four, flicked over midwicket for six, then ramped over

the keeper for another boundary. Once Rahane got out top-edging a sweep to deep midwicket off Krunal Pandya’s second ball in the seventh, Buttler took over and put his stamp on the chase.

He charged Krunal’s first ball in the ninth to bash him for six over wide long-on, and by the end of the next over had brought up his fifty, setting the stage for his scintillating spree against Joseph in the 13th, which put Royals firmly on course for a win.

Jos Buttler lining up another big hit

East Coast Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Competition

Champs impress on opening night ─ wins for Paradise ‘A’, Hustlers, BV ’A’

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hamar Scott’s brace which came in the 8th and 15th minutes ensured that defending champions Uprising got off to a positive start in this year’s East Coast Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition, which commenced on Friday evening at the Haslington Market Tarmac.

Played before another large turnout, among whom Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste was present, the champs enjoying tremendous

crowd support, and showed why they are favoured to retain the title when they cruised to a 2-0 triumph over Non Pareil.

They took the lead in the eighth minute when Scott finished neatly following a fast counter- attack, but despite creating numerous chances, they failed to increase their advantage before the half ended.

Five minutes into the resumption, Scott was again the man on target, squeezing his effort

past the last stop to give his team a two-goal cushion, which lasted until the final whistle sounded.

Paradise ‘A’ also looked in ominous form in their 3-0 win over debutants Victoria Eagles, with Tyreek Cummings slamming in a Guinness Goal, while Quincy Adams opened the scoring with a wonderful piece of artistry in the seventh

minute.

Seasoned campaigners BV ‘A’ and Victoria Church Yard looked in good form, despite narrow wins. The former beat Plaisance ‘B’ 1-0, while the latter survived a penalty shootout against Melanie ‘A’ after regulation time failed to produce goals.

The final will be played on Easter Monday.

Central Essequibo T20 Competition…

Bacchus Bulls, Cotton Field Strikers and Reliance Hustlers claim semifinal spots

I

n the penultimate round of the Central Essequibo T20 Cricket competition, action continued during the course of the week at the Imam Bacchus Ground at Affiance, as hosts Bacchus Bulls defeated Reliance Hustlers by 23 runs and Cotton Filed Strikers secured a 4wicket win over Ravens.

Asked to take first strike, Bacchus Bulls posted 152 all out in their allotted 20 overs.

Former national Under-19 batsman Parmesh Parsotam spanked 55 (2×6,5×4) to record his fourth consecutive half-century, while Navindra Persaud chipped in with 35 (3x4s). Bowling for Reliance, off-spinner Pavindra Persaud claimed 2-26.

In reply, Reliance Hustlers were restricted to 129 for 8 in their allotted overs. Opener Mark Austin’s 32 (5x4s) and Pavindra Persaud’s 30 (2x4s and 2x6s) were not enough to stop medium Pacer Ganesh Mangal from bagging 4-14 from his 4 overs.

In the second game played at the same venue, Cotton Field Strikers secured a tense 4-wicket victory against Ravens.

Asked to bat first, Ravens amassed a challenging 144-6

Parmesh Parsotam led the Bulls with a well played 55

Ganesh Mangal bagged 4-14 to guide the Bulls to victory

from overs reduced to 17 due to time. Ganesh Boodram scored 34 (4x4s and 2x6s), Glendon Smith scored 27 (5x4s), and Elroy Stephney chipped in with an unbeaten 25.

In their turn at the crease, Boomesh Ramdahin, whose superb 52 contained 6x4s and 2x6, received admirable support from Rajiv Ramkissoon, who scored 27 (3x4s), and Kevin Persaud, who scored 22 (4x4s), as Cotton Field chased the target all the way to the final over, in which they needed 11 runs.

A clean hit for 6 from the first delivery broke the Ravens’

wings, as they couldn’t deny Cotton Field an exciting win with 2 deliveries to spare.

Former Essequibo senior inter-county all-rounder Elroy Stephney (2-26) and Safraz Ally (2-24) bowled in a losing cause.

Action in this tournament will continue with Bacchus Bulls doing battle with Affiance Sports Club, and Ravens duking it out with Ramkisson’s X1.

These matches will take place at the Affiance Ground, while, over at Reliance Ground, Queenstown Sports Club will see off Reliance Sports Club, and Cotton Field Strikers will take on the Rebels.

sunday, APRIL 14, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

21

Caribbean School Boys and Juniors Tournament

T

Puerto Rico and The Dominican Republic to join lineup

he Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) is actively preparing to stage the fourth annual Caribbean School Boys and Juniors Tournament in a matter of months’ time.

This tournament, which sees participation from several Caribbean countries, such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Lucia, gives young amateur boxers an opportunity to not only showcase their skills, but to test their limits against their Caribbean counterparts.

The Pepsi/ Mike Parris U-16 tournaments which are hosted locally have, in the past three years, been used as a means of preparing youngsters for the big stage that the Caribbean School Boys and Juniors Tournament affords, and the situation will be no different in 2019.

The first of several tournaments will be hosted next Sunday, April 21, at the National Gymnasium. Usually, a competition on this scale is hosted at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown, but GBA President Steve Ninvalle has been able to acquire the gymnasium, which will give the young boxers a feel of the much larger venue.

Ninvalle is very grateful for this development. “We’re thankful that the National Sports Commission could’ve given

Guyana Boxing Association President, Steve Ninvalle

us approval to use that arena,” he declared.

This fourth Caribbean School Boys and Juniors Tournament is expected to get a major boost from the expected participation of boxing powerhouses Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and from a gym in the USA. Ninvalle disclosed that his team at the Pan American Games qualifier in Managua, Nicaragua was partially used to spark the interest of other countries in the Caribbean tournament. He disclosed that it was at this event that Puerto Rico confirmed their participation.

It is expected that the Guyanese boxers will be working even harder to match skills with their foreign boxing counterparts.

“So it means that we have to step up as a country with our preparations, because these are two powerhouses in boxing in Latin America -- the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico,” Ninvalle explained.

The Caribbean School Boys and Juniors Tournament will run from August 16 -18 at the National Gymnasium. Guyana has won the competition for three years straight, and will be looking to repeat the feat this year.

GT Tuners “Tournament still in early stages,” Meet UP 2 GCC, Everest to do battle in ‘Champion of Champions’ tournament…

says Gopaul

─ features opening of Auto Centre

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NBS Director, Dr Nanda Gopaul posing with the victorious GCC Team

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Azim Azeez bagged 23 wickets, the most in the tournament

Timothy Jaikarran

As the curtains came down on the NBS 2nd Division 40 Overs’ competition last weekend, many fans were thrilled to see GCC emerge champions in a thrilling finale encounter, while the Everest Cricket Team settled for first runners-up.

NBS Director Dr Nanda Gopaul commended the Georgetown Cricket Association for the work it has done in the tournament, and has promised that the NBS would contin-

Sachin Singh of DCC emerged MVP for Zone ‘A’ with 436 runs

the tournament. We at the NBS believe that the game of cricket is more than just a sport, but (is) something that helps to bring the players together and brings unity to the game.

I am very pleased with the way the GCA has run the tournament, as they have demonstrated exceptional leadership from starting to finish.”

Gopaul related that while the match was definitely a thriller, GCC should be proud of themselves, as they have worked hard to get to where they are. He noted that even though Everest had settled

for first runners-up, they should not be saddened, as the NBS, GCA and BCB are currently in the early stages of planning a tournament, the top two teams of which -- as in GCC and Everest -- will do battle against the top two teams in Berbice, in a T20 format competition to determine who will walk away with the title ‘Champion of Champions’.

The overall statistics of the tournament saw Jason Heyliger of the Police Team recording the best bowling figures of the tournament: 5-11 against Transport; while Azeem Azeez of Transport walked away with the most wickets in the tournament: 23. Sachin Singh of DCC also walked away with the highest score of the tournament: 171 against Diplomats; while UG Trojans’ Melroy Stephenson took 8 catches to register the most catches of the tournament.

In the end, Sachin Singh was adjudged the MVP of Zone ‘A’, having scored 436 runs; and Transport’s Sunil Singh was adjudged MVP of Zone B for scoring 230 runs in the tournament.

G

T Tuners, in collaboration with West Coast Customs Wash Bay and Imran Auto Works, present “GT TUNERS MEET UP 2” at the Blankenburg Public Road opposite the masjid today at 15:00 hrs.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, one of the four founders of GT Tuners, Kunal Persaud, said, “Well, GT Tuners was started in December 2017. We started as a platform to promote motor racing and the automotive culture in Guyana; also to help educate, guide and assist anyone who (plans) on building a project car, or (wishes) to get into the racing world.

“The organisation was founded by a team of four, namely myself (Kunal Persaud), Robin Samaru, Komal Tejram and Andrew Sukhlal. Well, at the event, we will have BBQ on sale, (and) West Coast Customs Wash Bay will be having a (promotional) wash. (We are) inviting all car enthusiasts to come out, exhibit their cars, and have

a good time getting to know each other in the automotive culture of Guyana, as we will also be introducing GT Tuners Auto Centre.”

The event provides occasion for all car enthusiasts to congregate, interact, and exhibit their rides. This event would also see the launching of GT Tuners Auto Centre, which will house West Coast Customs Wash Bay’s second location and Imran Auto Works.

GT Tuners would also be providing body work services, mechanical services and vehicle tinting, and West Coast Customs Wash Bay will be offering a foam wash for just $700. Every vehicle washed at the event will automatically be entered into a Facebookbased competition for which the winner will get four free foam washes, which will be valid for a one-month period.

Follow GT Tuners on Facebook for more details of the competition.

Halaal barbeque prepared

by Triple ‘A’ Halaal Foods will be available via ticket purchases for only $1200.

22

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, april 14, 2019

Milo Schools Football tournament…

Who will emerge the winner

... in this Georgetown vs Linden clash?

By Jemima Holmes

A

nother season of scintillating football at the Under 18 level will come to a close when the Milo Schools Football tournament concludes today, and a fiery final match is anticipated.

Bagging wins in last week’s semi-final matches, Lodge Secondary and Christiansburg-Wismar Secondary have scripted what is arguably the best possible finale for the seventh edition of the tournament, especially since both teams have maintained a spotless winning streak throughout this year’s tournament.

Tonight, however, one side will have to accept defeat while the other would celebrate their victory.

But this is not a rivalry that has not been played out before. In fact, it was only in December 2018 when Christianburg-Wismar and Lodge Secondary met in a final-like atmosphere in the inaugural Guyoil/ Tradewind Tankers league. While Christianburg-Wismar were battling for a chance to enter the KFC Goodwill tournament, Lodge were battling to stay at the top of the league table. As fate would have it, the Lindeners emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over the Georgetown team.

Today it will be up to either side to repeat or change history.

Expectedly, Lodge will be entering the final with a vengeance and determination to upend their rivals, but the Lindeners are confident in their ability to repeat the past.

“We just have to work on our togetherness and we will win this tournament,” the Christianburg-Wismar captain Andre Mayers has said.

If the two teams continue to play the way they have been

The battle was intense between Lodge and Christianburg in their last game

Lodge had a strong defence, but it was still penetrated in their last meeting

playing throughout the competition, there will surely be a rain of goals, as both sides are capable of hitting the target well and often.

The likes of Andre Mayers and Tyrese Lewis will be looking to fire for Christianburg-Wismar, while the agile Dorwin George and Shemroy Meyer will be putting in the work for Lodge.

But more than just the effort of the forwards will be needed to win this game. While the Lodge goalkeeper has not been tested often during the tournament, owing to a steely defense, the Christianburg keeper -- especially in their semifinal match against Annandale Secondary -- has proven that his small stature is no hindrance to his great ability to hold on to the ball.

Despite losing to the Lindeners in their last encounter, coach of this Georgetown team, Leon Bishop, is of the opinion that his team can pull off the championship.

“If you were here, you would have seen that it was a competitive match right down to the end. It was two basic errors that caused us

the two free kicks that they scored. So we know that once we play to our potential and we are focused, keep the possession of the ball, we can do well against them,” Bishop has confidently declared.

While football fans and students alike are eagerly awaiting this monumental clash, the organisers, Petra, are of the belief that they have arrived at a fiery final.

“I think Linden, over the years, has demonstrated a certain level of consistency; likewise Lodge. I think Linden is a more rounded team, but in any final, on the day in question, it’s about who wants it more. I’m not ruling out Lodge. So we anticipate a very, very good finale, and also the third place playoff,” The third place playoff, between Annandale Secondary and President’s College, is expected to begin at 17:00hrs at the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue, while the final between Lodge and Christianburg-Wismar Secondary will kick off at 19:00hrs.

Giddings not confident Michael Anthony bests of possible Windies “Padlock” in 35-lap event recall despite stellar performances Universal Auto & General Supplies 11-Race cycling event…

Erva Giddings playing against England in Jamaica in 2016 By Brandon Corlette

D

espite recording consistently good performances in past regional tournaments, West Indies Female Cricketer Erva Giddings has consistently been ignored by selectors.

This has reduced Giddings to an unbeliever and a skeptic, having lost faith in the selectors’ restoring her to the West Indies Women’s squad.

Despite her stellar performances in the 2019 CWI Women’s Tournaments that were recently held in Guyana, she remains both uncertain and skeptical of being recalled to the maroon colours.

Speaking exclusively with this daily publication, the 33-year-old declared that, from a realistic point-of-view, it would be “a tough task” to return to the team. Giddings, who finished as the most successful fast bowler in both the Colonial Medical Insurance

Super50 and the CWI T20 Blaze tournaments, has said that everyone is saying she would be returned to the team, since CWI is under new administration.

The West Indies Women’s Team will tour Ireland from May 26 to May 29 for three T20 Internationals, followed by a tour to England from June 6 to June 25 for both T20I and ODIs. With Robert Haynes dethroning Courtney Browne as Chief Selector, Giddings should stand some chance of being booked to tour Ireland or England, or both countries.

Giddings is a smooth leftarm seamer who has the ability to swing the ball. She told this reporter that the 2019 regional tournaments were the best season she has played.

“Prior to the tournament, I remained focused on hitting the perfect line and length, and I trained hard heading into the tournaments”, she disclosed.

Keeping her fingers crossed in regard to West Indies selection, she continues to participate in competitive cricket, playing for the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club male second division teams.

In the matches played in the Female Regional tournaments, Giddings displayed a knack for picking up wickets early in the innings.

She backed up her 10 wickets in the 50-Over format with another 10 in the T20 Blaze, and emerged with a bowling average of 7.9 and an economy rate of 4.65.

Michael Anthony on the go

Giddings sending down a delivery at a training session for Team Guyana in the just concluded regional tournaments

Besides that, Giddings turned in three Player of the Match performances in each of Guyana’s wins in the T20 Blaze tournaments.

Giddings, who hails from Alness Village, Corentyne Berbice, played two ODIs for West Indies in 2016. In what seem a lifetime ago, she has continued to knock on the selectors’ door with solid regional performances. It is only a matter of time before the selectors will have to come up with suitable squads for the Ireland and England tours.

The English conditions suit the controlled swing bowling that is Giddings’ specialty, and this should be her time to return to the West Indies’ fold as its newball bowler.

I

Jeremiah Joseph

n the 35-lap cycling event that was staged at the National Park on Saturday last, an intense clash between cycling giants Michael Anthony and Andre “Padlock” Greene, who tailed each other for over

20 minutes in a race that lasted some 1 hour, 17 minutes, saw Anthony emerge winner while the Berbician “Padlock” copped second position in a nail-biting finish to a contest that saw numerous cyclists dropping out of the race.

The lad from Berbice controlled the pack in the earlier stages of the race, while the experienced Anthony led the race for most of its duration, as the small gathering watched the competition from the confines of the playfield.

Team Evolution’s Paul De Nobrega rode in third after Anthony and Greene, who had enjoyed a huge lead over the others. In fourth position was Junior Niles, who showed his experience riding in top gear.

Christopher Griffith came in fifth, while Marcus Keiler rode in sixth.

This 35-lap event was the 15th of its kind to be sponsored by the Universal Auto and General Supplies. It was also the grand finale on the 11-race cycling card, and Prime prizes were won by Walter GrantStewart, Aleno Cumbroes, Marcus Keiler, Junior Niles and

Sherwin Sampson celebrating his win

Michael Anthony, w h o controlled the race to c o p the sprint prize on four occasions.

In the year 2018, Jamal John won the 35-lap event in a time of 1 hour 15 minutes. In the 10 lap event in 2018, Ajay Gopilall finished in 25 minutes.

In the first two editions of this race, Sherwin Sampson had won the veteran event while Jeremiah Joseph had won the juvenile race.

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, april 14, 2019

23

Consistent Carter, Reifer rewarded with Windies selection ─ Ambris lucky for another opportunity

By Brandon Corlette

Shane Dowrich has not announced himself in the shorter formats

F

rom topping the Regional Super50 charts with the most runs to finishing third in the Regional 4-Day championships, Jonathan Carter has had a prolific 2018-2019 Regional season. Guyana Jaguars player, the Barbadian Raymon Reifer was also rewarded for his stellar Regional performances in 2018-2019, with Windies selection for the tour to Ireland.

Meanwhile, Sunil Ambris may have to count himself lucky with likes of Jermaine Blackwood and Guyana’s Anthony Bramble overlooked after they chalked up strong Regional performances. The 31-year old Jonathan Carter played eight matches in the 2018-2019 Regional Super50 tournament and finished with 351 runs at an average of 50.14, showing his consistency with four half-centuries.

Barbados senior batsman, Carter who was amongst the runs in the Regional 4-Day, finished third behind Devon Smith and Montcin Hodge with 689 runs at an average of 40.52.

Carter scored a career best of 149* in the 4-Day tournament and five half-centuries in the ten matches he played this season for Barbados Pride.

Carter has played 28 ODIs for West Indies and he will be making a return to maroon colors after almost two years. Having made his debut since January 16, 2015, Carter played his last ODI in June 25, 2017. In his blooming International career he has three half-centuries for the West Indies. In recent Regional tournaments, Carter has also provided the extra seam bowling option.

Raymon Reifer, the 27-year old Barbadian who has been a consistent Regional perform-

Jonathan Carter watches on Anthony Bramble’s gloves work

er for Guyana Jaguars is rightfully getting his opportunity. In the 2018-2019 Regional Super50 tournament, Reifer finished third in the runs, behind Carter and Andre McCarthy. He scored 323 runs at an average of 64.60 carving out four half-centuries in the seven innings he had a bat.

Reifer, who also bowls left-arm seam, is seen as a complete package since his batting has shown improvements in recent seasons. In the Regional 4-Day, Reifer played six matches and scored 213 runs at an average of 30.42 floating in the Guyana Jaguars

batting order; he hit two half-centuries.

The 26-year old St Vincent lad, Sunil Ambris continues to have multiple opportunities attaining Windies selection.

Ambris played one ODI against England in Southhampton in 2017 where he scored 38*.

The right-handed Ambris played six Test matches and failed miserably averaging 15.09 failing to past 50 runs in an innings.

However, when he plays Regional cricket, he answers the selectors by scoring runs; in the 2018-2019 Regional 4-Day, Ambris scored 490 runs in six matches. He had

an average of 49 with one century and two half-centuries to his name. Therefore, his recent form may have earn him another selection in a West Indies squad.

Test wicket-keeper batsman, Shane Dowrich is one of the eight Barbadians selected in the 14-man squad to Ireland. Dowrich had shown his worth with the bat in the longer format of the game; he has three Test centuries and eight half-centuries in his 30 matches, averaging 29.82. He has not featured in the Regional arena often due to Windies duties but he remains the best First-class wicket-keeper in the Caribbean.

However, Anthony Bramble should have been considered as the other wicket-keeper in the squad along with Shai Hope, following his two stellar performances in the Regional 4-Day championships. Bramble finished as the best wicket-keeper twice, with the most dismissals and most runs by a gloves-man. By nature, the hard-hitting Bramble is a clean striker of the ball in contrast to Dowrich who is known for his defensive ability.

This squad is not the World Cup squad but it gives a wider pool of players experience in UK conditions since most players are still in the IPL. Devandra Bishoo, who is not playing in the IPL is available for selection but he has been axed following his ordinary showing in maroon colors; Roston Chase partnered Ashley Nurse and Fabian Allen as the spinners in the squad.

A series as this in Ireland would have been the perfect opportunity for Anthony Bramble since this squad aims to give a wider pool of players experience in English conditions.

Young talents shine at B Division badminton tournament

A

tournament with the purpose of identifying and giving young talents a platform to showcase their skills was hosted on Friday evening. After intense badminton action, Easa Sanichara and Christina Kumar emerged victorious in the male and female categories respectively, while Matthew Beharry and Kaylie Anthony championed the consolation round.

The night began with the first round seeing Isaac Mallampati defeating Matthew Beharry 21-17, 18-21, 1621; Sekhar Mallampati overcoming Xavier Anthon 2114, 21-11; and Mahendar Sharma tasting victory against Shimron Lewis 21-16, 21-13.

The male quarterfinal saw Easa Sanichara continuing in fine form, as he defeated Elion Beaton 21-4, 21-12. Isaac Mallampati sipped victory after he took on Damian Waithe and won 21-12, 26-24. Hemraj Beharry defeated Sekhar Mallampati 22-20, 21-13; and Jamal Shamsudeen overcame Mahendar Sharma 21-17, 21-3.

In the semifinal, Easa Sanichara kept his slate clean with another win, this time against Isaac Mallampati 2114, 21-12. The second semi saw Hemraj Beharry defeating Jamal Shamsudeen 21-11, 21-16.

The final between Sanichara and Beharry was intensely contested by the two up-and-coming players. Easa Sanichara took the first set easily, 21-16. Beharry fought back in the second set, matching points with Sanichara, but could not hold out, and conceded defeat in a 22-20 set.

On the female side of things, Stephine Sajar overpowered Gabriella Hinks 21-4, 21-7; Sacha Parmanand won against Kaylie Anthon 21-6, 21-12; Jayde DaSilva defeated Khaya Boswick 21-7, 21-10; and Ashley Escarraga enjoyed a win against Jonique Adams 21-6, 21-4.

Moving forward past the quarterfinal round were Christine Kumar, Emelia Ramdhani, Anna Perreira and Ayanna Watson, who defeated Stephine Sajar 21-12, 21-7; Sacha Parmanand 21-10, 21-6; Jayde DaSilva 21-12, 2115; and Ashley Escarraga 21-10, 21-5 respectively.

Both female semifinals went to three sets, following

The winners row in the B Division tournament

avid competition from both competitors. Emelia Ramdhani won her first set against Christine Kumar 21-19, but Kumar came from behind to take the next two sets for the win: 9-21, 14-21. The second semi saw Anna Perreira booking her place in the final after winning the first set 21-12.

Her opponent, Ayanna Watson, fought valiantly to take the second set 19-21, but did not have enough to win the third, which was won by Perreira 21-15.

Christine Kumar emerged as the better of the two competitors in the final, after she easily defeated Anna Perreira 21-8, 21-2.

The men’s singles consolation finals saw Matthew

Beharry defeating Shimron Lewis 21-16, 21-17.

On the other hand, Kaylie Anthon and Khaya Boswick sealed their places in the female consolation final after defeating Gabriella Hinks 21-12, 21-10, and Jonique Adams 21-12, 21-4 respectively.

Later on, Kaylie Anthon took the consolation win after she overpowered Khaya Boswick 21-11, 21-17.

The E-Networks Easter ‘B’ Division Badminton Tournament was hosted in hopes of exposing second tier players, and as such excluded the participation of national and ‘A’-listed payers.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Consistent Carter, Reifer rewarded with Windies "Padlock" selection

to win event

Pg 23

Pg 22 The defining moment; Michael Anthony leads Andre “Padlock” Greene

─ Ambris lucky for another opportunity

Milo Schools Football Tournament

Who will emerge the winner Pg 22

...in this Georgetown vs Linden clash?

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