Guyana times Sunday December 8, 2019

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4131 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, December 8, 2019

PRICE

Guyana’s oil money offshore

Guyana will still control funds ꟷ Central Bank Governor …claims money safe from external shocks Sugar still viable CANU unearths from economic ganja, ecstasy, perspective crystal meth – Opposition Leader Pages …reforming sugar industry will take years ꟷ Granger admits

3&9

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Page 10

Page 2

P9 Mystery surrounds sale of Chateau Margot Chimney site, land to private developer

Debris from cemetery P9 dumped on Regent Street …causes disturbance to taxi drivers, vendors

during raids

Bank of Baroda introduces Remote Deposit Capture to P7 Guyana

Nismes fatal accident

Minibus driver left scene P15 as uninjured ‘passenger’

Project Chhauni from Odisha, India, performing “Mayurbhanj Chhau Dance” of India in Guyana at the Dharmic Sanskritik Kendra, Prashad Nagar on Saturday evening. The production was done in collaboration with the High Commission of India, along with Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Georgetown, Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India (Dexter Ceres photo)

PPP condemns David Granger's "waging civil war" accusation Page 16

115 road deaths recorded so far for 2019 ꟷ Traffic Chief Page 12

Drugs, razor P8 blades found during Mazaruni Prison raid

Oceans P16 running out of oxygen – conservation group

2

news

SUnDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

CANU unearths ganja, ecstasy, crystal meth during raids …suspect nabbed in high-speed chase

A

high-speed chase between ranks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) and a motorcar along the West Coast Demerara (WCD) Public Road led to the arrest of one man and the seizure of almost 31 kilograms of cannabis that was being transported inside of the vehicle he was driving.

According to CANU, the seizure took place on Thursday at about 23:00h. The driver of the car, a 30-year-old from Zeeburg, WCD, which had three other occupants, has since been taken into custody.

Although the driver at- nine hours later in tempted to evade the CANU the ancient county ranks, the car was eventu- of Berbice, Region ally intercepted in the De Six (East BerbiceWilliam Village, WCD, Corentyne), anwhere the large quantity other man was of cannabis was discovered. When the substance was weighed, it totalled 30.902kg.

The three persons who were inside the car managed to escape.

According to the CANU, they are in search of the trio.

The 100 ecstasy pills weighing 56 grams Meanwhile,

The 254 grams of ‘crystal meth’

arrested by CANU ranks after 100 ecstasy pills and a quantity of ‘crystal meth’ were found inside of his haversack moments after he arrived from Suriname.

The ganja which was found by CANU

The man, of Norton Street, Georgetown, had just disembarked a speedboat at about 08:00h on Friday at the “Golden Gloves Speed Boat Service” commonly called the “BackTrack Speed Boat

Service” in Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice.

One hundred ecstasy pills weighing 56 grams and 254 grams of crystal meth were discovered hidden between pieces of clothing inside of the man’s bag.

3 Sugar still viable from economic perspective – Opposition Leader news

SUnDAY, December 8, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, December 8 – 02:30h – 04:00h and 14:30h – 16:00h and Monday, December 9 – 03:00h – 04:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, December 8 – 13:40h – 15:10h and Monday, December 9 – 14:15h – 15:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Sunday, December 1 – 07:10 – 08:40h and Monday, December 2 – 07:50h – 09:20h.

WEATHER TODAY Cloudy skies with intervals of showers will prevail during the day. There will be light rain showers and cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 01:39h and 14:00h reaching a maximum height of 2.32 metres and 2.42 metres.

Low Tide: 07:32h and 19:58h reaching minimum heights of 0.87 metre and 0.77 metre.

W

hile Government claims that the sugar industry has decreased in value from a financial outlook, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo has positioned that the industry is a vast contributor from an economic perspective.

Jagdeo, at the recent press conference, identified several ways in which the economic value of sugar is still viable, especially with the ripple effect it created in other sectors.

He said this could have been realised earlier if Government had opted to conduct the economic feasibility study, which was suggested. The closure of the estates, he examined, came at a greater cost than keeping the factories alive.

“Sugar is still viable from an economic perspective and not necessarily from a financial perspective because of the multiple benefits that are associated with sugar from

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Estate on the West Bank of Demerara; Enmore in Demerara; and Rose Hall and Skeldon in Berbice, were closed less than two years after the coalition Administration took office.

According to the former Head of State, the closed sugar estates can be sold to in-

fact-based decisions for the sugar industry. During an address to the Association of Concerned Guyanese in Toronto, Canada, he acknowledged that sugar needed transitional help but added that the Government’s approach was anything but transitional.

According to GAWU, the performance of the factories, as it has lamented before, brings into question the efficacy of the industry’s factory operations department.

“That department’s skills, we gathered, has been augmented in recent times as several new recruits were engaged. We hasten to wonder what have been their collective contributions in assuaging the situation and trying to bring some semblance to the difficulties that are being faced at this time. The situation for the Union and the workers are very much concerning and disconcerting at the same time,” the missive stated.

The Union went on to point out that this situation has been especially hard for the sugar workers. It noted that the poor reliability of the factories has seen workers on many days not being offered work.

It added that this makes

A scene from one of the several protests former GuySuCo workers mounted against the Government

saturday, DECember 7, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

10 11 15

24 25 28

FREE TICKET

03 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

12 15 16 20 26 LUCKY 3

5

6

8

3

Afternoon Draw

2

2

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

05

10

11

12

16 20 21

PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, DECember 7, 2019

1

5

7

13 15

6

12 13 14 16

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

the linkages to the taxes to the NIS to the drainage and irrigation services which still have to be funded.”

“We argued for an economic feasibility study. This is not a financial feasibility study. This is about people’s lives, their contribution to the economy…Had they done the economic feasibility study that we had asked for, you would have seen that the cost of closure is greater than the cost of keeping sugar going,” the Opposition Leader added.

The four estates: Wales

vestors but these stakeholders are not willing to make an investment presently.

The Opposition Leader shared, “He [President David Granger] said people don’t want to buy the estates but they’re selling off the scraps and assets without telling us…It’s not that people don’t want to buy the estates. It’s just that they don’t want to invest now in Guyana with this bunch of incompetent people running the show.”

Just last month, he had argued that the coalition Government failed to make

Recently, it was announced that more than 660 hours of downtime at all of the three remaining factories in the sugar belt has resulted in the second crop production plummeting.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) had said that the Albion Estate factory was experiencing its worse performance in the longest of time. In fact, the Union noted that the problems at that location are so acute that the Corporation has lost some three weeks of operations.

a bad situation worse as they have been struggling with the declines in their nominal and real pay and that the inability to work every day for them and their family, especially as they approach the year-end season, must be distressing.

Bearing in mind the most recent performance, the Union has now estimated that the industry’s second crop production by December 20, will reach 60,236 tonnes sugar with a total deficit of 16,107 tonnes.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, DECEMBER 8, 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

Local content and development

F

our years after oil was struck, in quantities that now qualify the find as one of the largest worldwide for the decade, and is being pumped into a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, the PNC coalition finally presented a third, and what they said was the final, draft of a Local Content Policy (LCP). The question is whether the country is receiving the commensurate benefits from its resources that will be depleted within a few decades.

While there has been much-deserved attention focused on the revenues that will accrue to the country from the signing bonuses, the royalties and share of production from the International Oil Companies (IOCs) that were, and are being, hired as operators, the LCP is the second prong through which oil-producing countries can benefit from their resource. We can consider LCP as a coherent set of initiatives that promote inputs into the local economy from the O&G sector through the transfer of technology, the creation of local employment opportunities and increasing local ownership and control.

Basically, a country can push local content by ensuring that the oil companies and the ones supporting their operations are hiring local Guyanese labour and procuring local goods and services. It is as simple as that. But the problem with only having a draft LCP at this stage is akin to not even locking the stable as the horse is escaping since the enforcement legislation might be lacking. Take the commonsensical-sounding need to hire local labour: the riposte by the operators is that Guyanese are not “qualified” for the very technical and specialised tasks demanded.

At this point, while numbers of Guyanese hired are being bandied about, there has been no breakdown of what areas of competence or positions in those fields they are occupying. There have been anecdotal accusations that Guyanese are performing mostly basic unskilled tasks, and even these are not paid at the same rates as foreigners.

So does the LCP draft require, for instance, that a certain percentage of Guyanese with the basic training in the particular field be hired and given the requisite training?

It does not.

Another mechanism that was used in other countries to increase local content benefits was to require foreign companies that desire to bid for contracts in the supply chain of the oil and gas industry (goods and services) to become part of local corporate bodies that have a specified percentage of local ownership. This would have increased the participation of local businesses and allowed them to absorb best practices in procedures and operations that would gradually spread into the local corporate culture and increase the competitiveness of the country overall.

However, this has been specifically prohibited in the last LCP draft on the grounds that it is open to corruption.

Properly designed LCPs have a menu of measures that can be used to incorporate local content, which include quotas on indigenisation, training programmes with local educational institutions, public education, incentives for small businesses, processing and production of derivative products etc. With our present legislation sorely lacking in these areas, we are left at the mercy of the subject minister to whom periodic LC reports are to be submitted from the operators hoping they will be beneficent. This is unlikely since they could easily source more qualified labour and required products from overseas. These reports are not required to be made public and are, therefore, susceptible to what is called “grand corruption”. There should be an independent body to certify LC compliance.

Another problem with the draft LCP is that it is not integrated into the strategic development plan for the country (the Green Development Strategy). Meaning that identified skills for wider development, say in building infrastructure, could be prioritised so that Guyana could benefit from the externalities of skills and technologies.

Lastly, the promised Local Content Compliance Unit to monitor the LCP and suggest modifications to the legislation over time is still not in place.

Santa came early for this little girl who attended Banks DIH Limited annual Santa’s Enchanted Christmas Village on Saturday at Demerara Park, Georgetown (Dexter Ceres photo)

Unwise decision by APNU/AFC Govt

Dear Editor, It is quite unwise to have a sovereign nation such as Guyana place the revenue from its natural resources in a bank account out of its control. The oil contracts have already given a foreign supplier substantial power over the resolution of disputes with the laws of their homeland being very instrumental for any such dispute that could occur. In addi-

tion, the APNU/AFC party is placing the revenue from our oil into a low interest bearing account in a foreign Government’s federal banking system in the foreign supplier’s country of origin.

In the event of a dispute, funds can be easily withheld from Guyana. Resulting in significant financial distress for our nation. This is not a very astute move on the part of a party that may not

be in power after the March 2020 elections. The party of the APNU/AFC has no idea what a new Administration may result in, via oil contract renegotiations or via new legislation resulting from public action. It seems quite unwise to place a key source of the country’s future budget in a location out of our Government’s direct control. If there is a concern over the principles

of transparency, good governance and international best practices being in place in Guyana’s banking system, then the more prudent action is to correct what is wrong and ensure our auditing team is empowered to report regularly on the status of the nation’s funds and the associated processes.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

Is that such an outlandish desire?

Dear Editor, Mr Winston Mars, in his letter that was published on December 5, 2019, in a section of the media, was critical of the recent protest actions by sugar workers. In expressing his criticism, Mr Mars contends that “… more than 60 per cent of its expenditure had to be apportioned to wages” and against that background sugar workers should not get any pay rise. It appears to us that the letter writer is a stranger to the industry. Certainly, was he knowledgeable, he would have known that in 2018, about 45 per cent of costs concerned employment. Of course, we should mention that expenditure included from the lowest to the highest-paid employees, it also concerned monies paid to the industry’s pensioners as well as monies expended on transportation, purchase of safety equipment, among

other things.

Mr Mars said that “… some middle ground has to be reached here quickly…” but in the very next breath said, “…the workers and their unions must be aware that the situation in the industry is not getting better but rather worse”.

It appears that the middle ground spoken about is really a skewed attempt to say workers should swallow bitterly no improvement in pay though they do not control and direct the industry.

It should be recollected that it was not the workers that secured a $30 billion bond.

Certainly, it was not the workers that significantly stripped the industry of its assets and are selling them at a fire sale. Definitely, it was not the workers that stood by with arms folded and allowed a public escalation between the NICILSPU and the GuySuCo. Undoubtedly, it was not the

workers that have caused the locking away of bond proceeds aimed at re-vitalising the industry. The fact is that the workers are the least responsible but the most affected.

The sugar unions are next accused of making “… unreasonable demands… over the decades …”. It appears, in Mr Mars’ mind, that it was some cardinal sin to give sugar workers a pay rise. It was wrong to want them and their families to live a decent life. It was a crime for wanting them to be better able to cope with the cost of living.

And, it appears, at least in the letter writer’s mind, that only certain persons must move up and others left behind.

It is next said that the workers’ actions are influenced by the Opposition.

This is most funny. The workers’ actions are influenced after they soberly

consider their situation. In considering the situation, the workers would well recognise that they are unable to cope with the costs of contemporary life. They would be aware that their dollars are not going as far as they once did. They have the distressing and depressing situation of looking at their families and knowing that they cannot afford them a little treat or a special meal at Christmas time while they see others around them having a merry time. That, Mr Mars, is the mindset of the workers.

They simply want to live happy and contented lives.

They just want to work dedicatedly and receive decent earnings. Is that such an outlandish desire?

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary, GAWU

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, december 8, 2019

5

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

What will GECOM do with $10B? Dear Editor, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) received over $9 billion between April 2019 and November 2019. As provided from the National Budget for 2019, GECOM was allocated $5.546 billion and this sum was further supplemented with an additional $3.482 billion in May 2019 after the Commission indicated to the ‘caretaker President Granger’ that the Commission lacked the financial resources to facilitate early elections.

Further, a substantial amount of money ‘rolled’ over from 2018. GECOM must be accountable. The Auditor General had serious questions in respect to the 2014 and 2015 audit that was done for GECOM, it is important that Mr Keith Lowenfield clears all the audit queries Further, the audit for the year 2016, 2017, 2018

and now 2019 are all pending. Our taxpayers must not allow this thieving to continue. There is absolutely no trust, no confidence, no accountability and we depend on these same people to deliver credible elections. We have full confidence in the Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh to restore trust, confidence, and accountability and most of all to deliver free and fair elections.

The question of the renewal of Lowenfield’s contract must be carefully looked at and fully discussed. Renewal of any person’s contract must be fully scrutinised and thoroughly discussed at the level of the Commission members.

Vincent Alexander, after making all sorts of wicked and slanderous remarks about the ID cards that were not uplifted is now quiet, as GECOM agreed to

an indefinite extension for citizens to pick up their ID cards. GECOM is also rethinking the proposed plan to put out a supplemental list. Any supplemental list will be challenged and it will lead to confusion.

The truncated House-toHouse (H-t-H) Registration is in serious trouble. The cross-matching that was done in Jamaica is highly questionable with over sixty-thousand names being questioned. While GECOM is awaiting the result of the cross-matching data, it is clear that the H-t-H cannot be used and that exercise was a total waste of money and time.

More serious is the fact that up to the last statutory meeting of GECOM, on Tuesday, the Commission was still waiting for the cross-matching results from the just-concluded Claims and Objections exercise.

GECOM must produce the Revised List of Electors and further, all Guyanese are waiting to see the Official List of Electors. This is very serious; Nomination Day is January 10, 2020. The RLE will have to be out for public and party scrutiny twenty-one days before the CEO has his final say and produces the OLE. Now the ball is in the Illegal President’s court.

When will he dissolve Parliament? His recent excuse for not dissolving Parliament as proffered by Harmon was that he wants to ensure that GECOM has enough finances to manage the 2020 Election.

GECOM, including the PNC Commissioners, has verbally stated that the Election Body has enough money. So why wait?

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

There is no place for violence in Guyana’s schools Dear Editor, As member organisations of the Guyana Equality Forum (GEF), we are deeply concerned about increasingly visible incidents of school violence and bullying in our country. Recently, a video was widely circulated across media platforms in which a male student at a city high school was seen viciously beating a female student of the same school, both in uniform and in the school compound with other students witnessing. No one intervened to stop the violence against the girl.

Following the incident, Minister of Education, Hon Dr Nicolette Henry, MP, was quoted by iNews Guyana on November 27, 2019, in an invited comment as saying “students fight, there is nothing unusual as you would know, you have gone to school and we all would have seen those”. It was later reported in many sections of the media that the Education Minister visited the school, made the two students apologise to each other and spoke at a special assembly where she encouraged all students at the school to find non-violent ways to resolve conflicts. The Ministry also issued a statement that their investigation into the incident was ongoing.

The GEF finds these responses inappropriate and woefully inadequate. In a society where gender-based violence (GBV) remains rampant, a survivor of violence should never be made to apologise to the person who

has perpetrated violence against them. While the Minister’s statements and intervention were no doubt made with the best of intentions, they, unfortunately, feed into pervasive and misleading stereotypes about GBV – that victims bring violence on themselves, act in ways that leave perpetrators unable to control themselves or their tempers, or otherwise contribute to their own victimisation.

These stereotypes are false and contribute to wrongful beliefs that fuel all forms of GBV, and violence against women and girls (VAWG), in particular. The only person responsible for violence is the perpetrator; the only person who should be held accountable and sanctioned for violence is the perpetrator. Survivors of GBV are entitled to support; they should not be made complicit in their own oppression by being required to apologise to the person who violated them.

The Minister’s statement also fails to recognise that this is a problem that goes beyond in-school fighting.

GBV flourishes in environments of impunity. When education officials fail to intervene or hold students accountable for less severe instances of misogyny or discrimination, it becomes easier for students to feel that escalating behaviour, including violence, is justified or appropriate.

Minister Henry is right to call upon students to find ways other than violence to resolve disputes, but adults

in a position of authority need to do more. Students need the adults and leaders around them, to demonstrate that being a boy does not mean being violent – it means being respectful, caring for others, and standing up for each other, especially when doing so takes courage.

During these 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, from November 25 to December 10, the Ministry of Education has an opportunity to stand in solidarity with survivors of GBV. Lead by example. Show that violence has no place in Guyana. The GEF calls upon the Ministry of Education to take meaningful steps to confront all forms of prejudice and violence in Guyana’s schools – between students, teachers, parents and education officials.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education should be systemically rolled out in all schools across the country. In 21st century Guyana, teachers should focus on teaching children to communicate, problem solve and build healthy relations practically develop their people skills. Whilst the GEF is not suggesting that the education system abandons its academic goals, we have to deliver the kind of education that supports holistic development. And while discipline should be paramount in schools, corporal punishment should be eradicated as it perpetuates the notion that violence is an appropriate response or punishment for any transgression.

Counsellors should be avail-

able in every school to provide therapy for students, parents and teachers who need psycho-social and emotional support. Perpetrators of violence should be appropriately punished. Survivors should be supported and not made to feel that they did anything to cause the violence. There is no place for violence in Guyana’s schools.

Yours respectfully, SASOD Guyana; Help and Shelter; CAFRA Guyana; ChildLink Inc; Come Alive Network Inc (CANI); Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA); Comforting Hearts; Deaf Association of Guyana (DAG); Family Awareness C o n s c i o u s n e s s Togetherness (FACT); Global Shapers Georgetown Hub; Guyana Organisation of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP); Guyana Sex Work Coalition (GSWC); Guyana Trans United (GTU); SAVE Guyana; United Bricklayers; CPIC Monique’s Caring Hands; Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU); Hope for All Foundation; Dillon Mohammed, Conversa Global (CG); Women’s Wednesdays Guyana (WWG); SASOD Women’s Arm Guyana (SWAG); Human Rights and Social Justice Commission - Diocese of Guyana; Hope of Christ Anglican Church – The United Anglo-Catholic Church

Social cohesion is like a kith and kin affair Dear Editor, I read your editorial of December 6, 2019, titled “Purpose of Social Cohesion Dept” with interest and felt compelled to share an observation hereto: Any Guyanese with a clear un-

derstanding of social cohesion should look no further nor anticipate any fulfilment of national unity under the APNU/AFC regime, as it was well-exhibited from the onset at Mr David A Granger’s presidential in-

auguration at Providence National Stadium in 2015.

A country of six peoples; the entire ceremony was dominated by one ethnic group (like a kit and kin affair).

Undoubtedly, anyone can draw his or her conclusion

on the APNU/AFC position on social cohesion as it is clear as crystal for all to see.

Sincerely, Paul Ramrattan

We need to get back to basics Dear Editor, It hurt me to the core when I read of the rape of a six-year-old boy in his school’s toilet, by pupils a few years older than him.

Imagine the pain that this child was forced to endure! Imagine the agony of his parents as they seek to come to grips with the violation of their child in the “safety” of his school! Then there’s the ripple effect as other parents, fearing for their children’s safety, congregate outside the school, seeking assurance that their children are safe.

This case is just one more negative scenario that has been exposed. We have been hearing more and more of bullyism, drug use, sexual experimentation etc in our schools. Where did we go wrong? Can we blame the internet for all of society’s ills? We cannot merely sit and wring our hands and ask ‘ what is the world coming to...?’. We must find solutions on different fronts!

I believe that firstly, we must instil moral values in our children at home, so that they can act responsibly and humanely, standing tall and unshakeable in a world of shifting standards.

We may need to arrange parenting seminars for parents, who themselves may need help! Secondly, because children spend more waking hours at school than at home, our teachers must be equipped to encourage and guide our children in the way of truth and help to shape their behaviour

in a positive way. Thirdly, we need national leaders who will stand resolutely against anything, anyone, or any system that seeks to tamper with or distort this God-ordained (not manmade) foundation of our world - the family and family-oriented values! Also, we must be our brothers’(and sisters’) keepers. We have to look out for each other and lend a helping hand if or when the occasion demands it.

Religious education, which benefited all of us who were privileged to experience this system (regardless of our religious persuasion) was taken out of the school system. Now we have become more “enlightened” and accommodating, and we and our children are reaping the rewards of rejecting absolutes - right or wrong, true or false!

I propose that at least once weekly there be a general assembly in every school, and for just about ten minutes or so, students are given a talk on moral issues, for, if we lose our children, we lose ourselves, we lose our nation, we lose our world!

There is hope! Let us get back to basics! Our nation will prosper, our children and the wave of the future will flourish, as we see beyond oil and other forms of material prosperity and embrace tried and tested values!

Sincerely, Claudia Heywood

6

sunday, december 8, 2019

Page

Foundation

The reason children should do chores is because it’s good for them by

Robert Myers, PhD

C

ompleting chores promotes the development of many basic skills necessary for success in life. For younger children completing simple chores such as folding clothes or helping make their bed can improve coordination and motor skills. Completing chores also enhances a child’s ability to follow directions and helps develop planning and organisation skills. Completing chores also helps children develop time management skills.

Researchers in the groundbreaking "Learning Habits Study" found that children who did household chores also scored high on measures of academic success.

Doing chores also helps children develop a sense of responsibility. They not only engage in self-help skills which foster a sense of independence but also a sense of shared responsibility and contribution to the well-being of the whole family. Successfully completing chores also promotes feelings of self-worth and belonging. When parents do everything, children may feel either dependent on others or may feel entitled and expect things to be done for them.

When the topic of chores comes up in a family therapy session, I remind kids there is a reason we call chores, chores. Most people, including parents, don’t love doing them, but they need to be done anyway. I may ask about the things their parents do and what the home would be like if they were not completed. I point out that learning to take care of themselves and help around the house help them to become more independent and ready for the freedom that will come when they get older.

I think it is essential to distinguish between self-help and maintaining the household.

Some children look at picking up toys, making their bed, or even brushing their teeth as a chore.

The obsession with screen time by many children adds to the problem. They detest any activity that may rob them of a few more minutes on their electronic devices. One rule of thumb should be that activities related to personal care, homework, and helping out the family or the family pet come first. When responsibilities are met if there is time left, it can be used for recreational activities.

Many parents debate whether children should be paid for chores. In his book, The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money, Ron Leiber, a New York Times personal-finance columnist, states that kids should do chores “for the same reason we do – because the chores need to be done, and not with the expectation of compensation”.

He suggests that an allowance “ought to stand on its own, not as a wage but as a teaching tool”. For example, allowances can teach kids about the value of saving, how much things cost, budgeting, and giving to others.

What children and teens should receive instead of an allowance is praise and a thank you. They also should be taught to feel good about themselves and to be proud of their abilities, their independence, and their contributions to the good of the family.

Praise should be intermittent and sometimes just a "thank you" or "I am proud of you" will do. Constant praise takes away from a sense of initiative and personal responsibility.

Sometimes praise should be descriptive such as, “I like the way you put all of your toys exactly in their place”, “I am proud that you did all of your chores without being reminded”, or “You are really getting good at making your bed and being careful to make it neatly.”

Starting kids off early with chores (personal responsibili-

The ultimate list of ageappropriate chores

By Robert Myers, PhD

T

ty) is best. With toddlers, you can make it a game, “playing being mommy & daddy”. Younger children may need to learn at first from observation or coaching. Praise should be based on effort, not perfection at first. This goes for older children learning new chores as well.

If your children are older, including teens, a different approach may be needed to welcome them to the world of personal responsibility. I suggest holding a family meeting to discuss the issue. Welcome input and suggestions from your kids. Come up with a plan that everyone agrees on. Make a chore checklist for all members of the family (that means parents also). This helps serve as a reminder, provides accountability, and also demonstrates that all family members are “pulling their weight”. Seeing all that parents do in addition to earning a living, can be an “eye-opener” for some kids.

Once you have agreed to a plan, you should use praise for accomplishment and reminders for lack of achievement.

Sometimes, reminders may need to be stated several times.

Any materials or devices for fun time mustn’t be available until the chores are completed.

Again effort is what needs to be reinforced. Two techniques may be helpful. One is referred to as “Grandma’s Rule”. It states, “when your chores are done, you can use your phone.”

T h e other is the “broken record” technique. “Remember the rule is to complete putting away your toys before personal time…Again, chores before fun time”. Being assertive does not include yelling or putdowns. It just requires calm consistency.

By the way, chores should NEVER be used as punishment for inappropriate behaviour.

Finally, chores should be appropriate for your child’s age and development. Toddlers (ages 2-3) should be able to put their toys away, place clothes in the hamper, fill up a cat's or dog’s food bowl. Preschoolers (ages 3-5) can help clear the table, water flowers, or dust with a cloth. Elementary school kids (ages 6-9) can sweep floors, load the dishwasher, or clean their own bedrooms.

Those aged 10-13 can wash the family car, prepare meals, or take out the trash. High schoolers (ages 14+) can clean out the fridge, mow the lawn and iron clothes.

It is never too late to help your child learn to be self-sufficient and responsible. Down the road of life, they will probably thank you for assisting them in gaining valuable skills and developing admirable traits. This is important to living a happy and successful life. (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

here are many benefits to having children help around the home.

Giving children chores can make them feel wanted, teach important life skills, and help ease the workload for parents. Recent studies have found that giving children chores from an early age will help teach them work ethic, responsibility, self-reliance, and other vital life skills.

Children are capable of handling much more than some people think. Even toddlers can help with the smallest, simplest of chores, and by the time children are teenagers, they are capable of handling most of what their parents can. The key is to start children off with small household tasks at a young age, and slowly teach them more complicated chores as they get older.

The following is an ultimate listing of chores for children from ages two to eighteen.

Ages 2-3

Even toddlers can complete simple tasks around the home. Starting children early can help ease any arguing about doing the chores as they become older and begin to test boundaries. Toddlers are also at an age where they find the idea of helping their parents, caretakers, or older siblings one of the most exciting things they could do. This is thanks to toddlers being “copy-cats.” The primary way they learn about their world is through watching others do something and then copying their actions.

It is important to note that toddlers will need supervision and guidance with their chores, but can usually complete some tasks unsupervised by their preschool years. A few examples of chores that toddlers can do are: Put their toys away Fill up a cat's or dog’s food bowl Place clothes in the hamper Dust or wipe baseboards with socks on their hands Pile up books and magazines on shelves or tables Help make the beds Mop small areas with a dry mop

Ages 4-5

Preschoolers still feel the same desire to help their parents, because they are still learning through copying their elders. At this age, there are even some chores children can do without supervision. Typically, these will be the ones they began doing as toddlers, although there might be one or two new tasks, they are naturally talented at.

The reason for this increasing inability is that preschoolers have started to master the skills necessary to complete tasks unsupervised. Their hand-eye

coordination will have increased, as will have their ability to follow more complex instructions. Whereas toddlers need to be told each individual step associated with a task, preschoolers may be able to remember and follow instructions up to two or three steps at a time.

In addition to the chores listed above, preschoolers can typically help with the following chores: Make their bed without supervision Clear the table Pull weeds Use a hand-held vacuum for crumbs or room edges Water flowers Put away clean utensils Wash plastic dishes with supervision Assist an older sibling with setting the table Help bring in light groceries Sort laundry into whites and colours before wash Match socks together Dust with a cloth Care for an animal’s food and water dishes

Ages 6-9

Once a child reaches primary school age, they can take on a lot more responsibility without supervision.

They can start learning more physically difficult or complex tasks, as they are continuing to learn the necessary skills to do so.

Parents should understand that this age group will sometimes start “rebelling” against the idea of chores, as they learn more independence. With patience, however, they will understand they are still expected to help around the home. Some children may never rebel against their chores. Whether they do or not will largely depend on their own unique personalities.

In addition to the chores listed for both toddlers and preschoolers above, primary schoolers between the ages of 6 and 9 can usually do the following chores: Sweep the floors Help make bagged or boxed lunches Rake the yard Clean their own bedrooms, with minimal supervision Put away the groceries Load the dishwasher Empty the dishwasher or drain Vacuum Help a parent prepare dinner Make their own snacks/ breakfast Scrub the table after meals Put away their own laundry Take the family dog for a walk (in the yard or with supervision) Wet mop Empty indoor trash bins into the kitchen trash (Excerpt from childdevelopmentinfo.com)

news

7

SUnDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mystery surrounds Bank of Baroda introduces sale of Chateau Margot Remote Deposit Capture Chimney site, land to to Guyana private developer

I

t is a national heritage site but the Chateau Margot Chimney, which has been around since the 19th century, is in the hands of the private land development company which ordered the gates locked.

Over the weekend, concerns were raised about the appearance of a sign on the gate of the site, which stated that it was owned by Nadia Gardens Housing Development Incorporated and directed all queries to RK Security proprietor, Roshan Khan.

When this publication contacted Khan on Saturday, he confirmed that the Chateau Margot Chimney was in the hands of the private development company. However, Khan made it clear that they would not deny anyone who wishes to access the chimney for educational or tourism purposes.

“It is a private development… The land is owned by them. But they normally allow people who want to go in and visit for tourism. But recently, the gates were open for a long time and some guys go in and tried to steal the Chimney blocks. They were using drugs,” Khan claimed.

“We will allow access to anyone who wants to enter the compound for tourism, educational purposes, school tours. You just can’t leave the gate open permanently because of criminals, vandals, thieves and delinquents.

I’ve just been appointed to stop, control the van-

W

dalism and the criminal [trespassing].”

National Trust Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Trust, Nirvana Persaud also confirmed that the land is in private hands. She acknowledged that the historical landmark is under the Trust’s protection and they maintain the immediate surroundings.

“But we do access the site and we do take care of the immediate surroundings of the chimney. Not the entire complex. But the chimney is within private property.

Not all heritage sites are owned by the National Trust. Chateau Margot is one such.”

It is understood that the Chateau Margot Chimney was built and completed on July 1, 1889. The structure is a well-known landmark that identifies when one has reached Chateau Margot on the East Coast of Demerara.

It is all that is left standing of a former sugar factory which, according to an 1883 contemporary description, “boasted the finest cane land in the colony of British Guiana during the nineteenth century, operating successfully on the vacuum pan process for many years.”

The chimney itself was constructed by Antonio Gordon, a bricklayer from Buxton and stands on a huge concrete base of red bricks. Besides its industrial function as an important part of the sug-

The Chateau Margot chimney

The sign that now graces the gate leading to the chimney

ar factory, the chimney also served as a beacon to ships approaching Port Georgetown.

This is the case even after the factory was demolished, with reports indicating that the structure is still being cited in the Caribbean Shipping Association’s landmarks for Georgetown along with the lighthouse beacon.

ith the aim of improving its services, Bank of Baroda has introduced a new banking facility, Remote Deposit Capture, which will now see customers saving trips to the bank when conducting certain transactions.

This announcement was made by a director of the bank at an event held by the financial institution on Friday evening at the Georgetown Club.

Remote Deposit Capture is a technology-based method which allows banks to accept cheques for deposit using electronic images instead of the original physical paper versions. With this feature, customers can use their computers, tablets or smartphones to deposit their cheques instead of having to make trips to the bank in order to conduct transactions.

The Director indicated that this facility is only designed for the deposit of US cheques to customers’ local bank accounts.

“It has been our endeavour to bring to customers the best of the products. In that context, today we want to put in place a facility which we call Remote Deposit Capture…what happens is those people who are depositing a US cheque in their bank account here…normally what happens is that cheque physically travels to the USA and then we present it to the clearing system there. With this particular instrument, the transport of the physical cheque will not be there. The image will be scanned here and it will be ready for being lodged in the first clearing,” the Director stated.

According to the Director, in addition to enjoying a convenient way of depositing their US cheques, the bank’s customers utilising this facili-

Bank of Baroda, Georgetown

ty will also benefit from a low transaction processing fee.

“The benefit to the customer [includes] faster payment being credited to the account, we have certain norms around five days to seven days we have to keep, and it will be at a reduced cost because the courier charge [or] transport cost will not be there”.

Governor of Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga, speaking at the event lauded Bank of Baroda for serving Guyana’s market for over 50 years despite its challenges and for utilising its potential to improve its services and products to Guyanese.

“You wouldn’t expect any bank in Guyana at this time to have such a system available where a physical cheque can be internationally cleared within a very, very short period of time. For that, Bank of Baroda should be applauded,” Dr Ganga said.

He commended the institution for taking this big step in advancing Guyana’s financial services offered to the market.

“This is universal, this is global, and wholeheartedly they have indicated their support to us here in Guyana to have such a system be put in

place…so while you are sitting there, you could be doing your banking business, and that is what we are looking forward to…because a few years back we started to modernise our system and part of our modernisation would also be in terms of utilising whatever service is available not only to make life easy to big customers and to the banks in terms of movement of money but also in terms of what the local, in terms of the retail, the small men, or the small women, all would be able to do with respect to the movement of money in terms of payment, intermediation…”

Bank of Baroda is an India-based, State-owned entity, with a network of 9583 branches spanning 23 countries.

Just a year ago, the financial institution had announced that it was going to be pulling out from Guyana’s shores. According to reports from the Financial Express, the banking institution was looking to divest its entire 100 per cent stake in its Bank of Baroda Guyana Inc subsidiary through investment bankers. However, the bank has since reversed that decision.

8 NEWS Drugs, razor blades found during Mazaruni Prison raid A SUnDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

five-hour sweep of the Mazaruni Prison by ranks of both the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Saturday unearthed a number of contraband items among inmates.

Police Officers stationed at the Bartica Police Station, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) along with Prison Officers unearthed 85 razor blades, 12 cigarette lighters, 18 smoking utensils, seven metal spoons, five pieces of rope, three cellular phone charges, one cellular phone battery and three packs of playing cards.

Additionally, a small number of cannabis leaves, seeds and stems were found during the search, which commenced at 06:00h and ended at 11:00h on Saturday.

Just one month ago, a search conducted by ranks of the GPS and GPF at the same prison led to the discovery of a number of contraband items inclusive of cigarettes and marijuana.

On November 6, three SIM cards, 10 cellular phones, 59 packs of cigarettes, six pairs of scissors, 11 improvised weapons, eight lighters, two smoking utensils, eight charges, eight pieces of broken mirrors, and over 1400 grams of cannabis were seized by law

The contraband items seized by law enforcement officials after a five-hour search at the Mazaruni Prison

enforcement officials.

The GPS conducts regular raids within the prisons, be it internal or joint operation with the Guyana Police Force, to confiscate narcotics, cell phones, improvised weapons and alco-

hol, among other illegal items.

In the past, prison warders, relatives and friends of inmates have been caught attempting to smuggle contraband items inside of the prisons.

On many occasions, Acting Prisons Director Gladwin Samuels had issued several calls to prison warders and officers to desist from trafficking contraband in the prisons while asking those who are guilty to understand the consequences as the law will take its course.

The Prison Director had told the media in mid-2019 that getting rid of contraband in prison could not be a fight by a few while noting the need for collective efforts.

The trafficking of contraband in the prison environment also put the perpetrators and warders at risk, Samuels had said.

“Prison Officers should not be putting their fellow officers at risk. What about our motto: ‘Together in Service?’

Trafficking in contraband at all locations is a matter of grave concern but at the Mazaruni Prison, which is a maximum-security prison, it is worst because of the extent of the collusion that is needed for many contraband items to get into the prison”.

Hustling...

S

…sugar workers tung by the electoral implications of their coldblooded treatment of sugar workers – both the ones fired and the ones left to swing in the wind – the PNC and their myrmidons have unleashed a two-pronged misdirection initiative. The first prong claims – as Volda Lawrence and Aubrey Norton did– that the PPP didn’t use EU-provided funds to mitigate the damage from their 36% slash in sugar prices.

Now you know these inveterate liars are just drawing a red herring over the bloody trail of their closure of 4 sugar estates and throwing 7000 workers into the streets.

How could they accuse the PPP of not directing these funds into sugar to cause its demise and at the same time, accuse the same PPP of “pandering” to sugar workers by subsidising the industry to the tune of “billions and billions” year after year? Which subsidy, they claim, was the reason they had to shutter the said estates!!

So which is it?? The PPP withheld money or spent money on sugar?? The PNC can’t have it both ways!!

The accusation sounds just like those about the PPP “siphoning off billions and billions” from the Treasury.

But after five years, has had every case brought on these accusations thrown out of court!! We know the PNC is incompetent…but even the big-time lawyers they hired??

How many times are they going to cry wolf to a bemused citizenry??

The other prong was just floated (we can’t say “launched”!) by the AFC’s Raphael Trotman, who has defied the folk wisdom that “you can’t go back home”!!

Referring to the sugar workers fired by the PNC – which his erstwhile party founder Ramjattan boasted was their brainchild! – Trotman claimed: “With oil coming, we will transition most, if not all, those workers in the sugar industry…Quite a few have been already retrained or are being retrained… We had trained about 100 sugar workers at the Port Mourant Training Centre, and most of them have been hired by ExxonMobil or its subsidiaries”.

7000 persons fired since 2016-17 and Trotman is boasting about ONE HUNDRED retrained in their much publicised Industry Skills Training Enhancement Programme (IN-STEP)?? How many times are they going to pull out this chestnut since the training in 2018??

Can Trotman say exactly how many of these “retrained” workers were actually HIRED by Exxon or its suppliers??

After all, we know that the private outfit TotalTec had to give about a dozen ex-GuySuCo technical personnel further FURTHER training to meet the O&G standards!!

But we know this is all BS. Why hasn’t the PNC replicated for sugar workers on abandoned sugar lands the $2.6Billion agri-scheme they unfurled behind Ithaca, Buxton, BV and Mocha??

Why different strokes…? …civilians What your Eyewitness found most interesting about the “Mona and Tina” video that went so viral it ended up even in his inbox, was how so few persons commented on the Police’s behaviour even as they lambasted the two young women. Now the Police are supposed to “serve and protect” we civilians, did you know that?? Of course, you don’t— if you’ve had even the slightest encounter with any member of the GPF. Have you ever been pulled over by a cop for a supposed infraction on the road and hauled to the station??

Have you ever experienced the complete helplessness they impose on you at the station? The disdain? Your Eyewitness found the response to the bullying of the two women quite spunky, under the circumstances and hope there will be a full investigation.

Are the Police going to be charged for invading the privacy of the two women by uploading their video on the internet?? Why weren’t the women allowed to video the Police?

Free Mona and Tina!! …on the “troubles” Granger now says he doesn’t have evidence to even order a CoI into all the massacres between 2000 and 2008 for which the PNC’s been blaming the PPP. So with all his connections in the security apparatus, it’s nothing but hearsay??

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

news

9

SUnDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Debris from cemetery dumped Reforming sugar industry will take years ꟷ Granger admits on Regent Street …causes disturbance to taxi drivers, vendors

T

he dumping of garbage, plant matter and other items on the side of Regent Street, opposite the Bourda Market, has mounted several complaints by persons who ply their trade in the vicinity.

Guyana Times visited the area on Saturday, where a pile of unwanted items was heaped onto the corner of the busy street, which also houses taxi drivers. It was placed there by workers attached to the Mayor and City Council who were employed to clean the Bourda Cemetery.

As the lawns were cleared, wheelbarrows of waste were transported to the street, with two cones strategically placed to caution citizens.

The area is primarily occupied by taxi-drivers who would collect passengers as they wrapped up their shopping at the nearby Bourda Market. Since they could not occupy the area, many were forced to cease work until the debris is removed.

However, one man sought to comment on the situation, labelling it as “unacceptable”. He said during this time where there is increased shopping, many are dependent on the drivers. It is also disappointing since their day’s earning is stymied.

“This is the time that we

does catch some work and you have this unacceptable behaviour. City Hall should know better. Why don’t they get a big bin and place it in the cemetery for the people to put everything in,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, the situation was also an eyesore to vendors, since it was placed right in front of their stalls.

Some complained about the unpleasant scent while others were seemingly upset about the aesthetics.

“I just want to say that this is not right,” said one of the vendors.

As it relates to the works, the workers were contracted to clear the entire cemetery by removing the overgrown bushes around the tombs.

Bourda Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Georgetown and the only surviving plantation ceme-

tery in the city. It is considered a national landmark and has been listed as a national monument by the National Trust of Guyana.

Similar works were carried out at the Le Repentir Cemetery last year as part of a $150-million-dollar restoration exercise. This was the first time that a contractor had been hired to assist in the maintenance of the premises. In fact, it was revealed that the fences and gates would be restored, and interest would shift to constructing another crematorium. The development of roads in the cemetery was also part of the package.

However, months later, the former Town Clerk Royston King had expressed that despite these works, the area was “still in a bad shape”.

A

fter firing over 7000 sugar workers, Government is attempting to restructure Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to produce 147,000 tonnes of sugar, even though the latest statistics from the remaining estates show they are some distance from achieving that goal.

This projected figure was quoted by President David Granger during his appearance on the radio programme “The Hot Seat” with Stan Gouveia. He willingly admitted, however, that this cannot be achieved this year or next year, but, rather, will take time.

“The idea is not to shut down the industry. The idea is to reform the industry, bring the production to 147,000 tonnes and maintain as large a labour force as is necessary. And keep the sugar industry alive”.

“And we’re very confident that we’ll be able to return it, if not to profitability then to sustainability, at least in the middle term. It’s not something that is going to happen this year or next year but in the middle term, next three to five years, I’m very confident”.

With General and Regional Elections just around the corner, the President also expressed regret at the number of persons who lost their jobs as a result of the closure of estates.

He said that besides the 147,000 tonnes of sugar, the Government is also target-

ing a 5000 member GuySuCo workforce.

“It’s very unfortunate that some people had to be terminated… I’m very confident that with the funding they’re getting, this is an achievable target. 147,000 tonnes, as well as a 5000-member labour force”.

Last year, GuySuCo produced little over 100,000 tonnes of sugar from the three estates left standing— Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt. In terms of this year, it was reported in October that GuySuCo was lagging in its second crop production target of 33,800 tonnes.

Back in 2017, Government had announced plans to close the Enmore and Rose Hall Sugar Estates, sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services offered by GuySuCo. Subsequently, in November of that year, GuySuCo announced plans to retrench 2500 workers by the end of that year. Amid much criticism, over 7000 were retrenched. Many of these former workers had to take the Government to court to fight for the severance payments they were legally entitled to.

The Government then established the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) under the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) to take over the divestment of GuySuCo’s

assets that were earmarked for sale. The SPU then recruited accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to conduct a valuation of the assets to be privatised and divested.

In June, PWC Managing Director Wilfred Bhagaloo had announced at a press conference that negotiations with a consortium of investors from Guyana, India and Ghana have reached an advanced stage. He had also revealed that Rose Hall estate, which received the most interest from investors, was the targeted estate.

That process has effectively been put on hold, owing to the 2018 No-Confidence Motion and the ensuing political upheaval. Government fell to the No-Confidence Motion and approached the courts soon after to overturn the vote. When the matter reached the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which is based in Trinidad, the regional court validated the no-confidence vote after months of legal wrangling.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has always maintained that the Government should be acting in a caretaker capacity only and not be entering into large-scale contracts. In the wake of reports that State assets were being sold to cronies of the party, he has repeatedly warned that, should the PPP take office, any underhand transactions will be investigated. Elections are scheduled for March 2, 2020.

10 news

SUnDAY, december 8, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana’s oil money offshore

Guyana will still control funds – Central Bank Governor

T

he billions of dollars that Guyana will earn from the oil and gas sector will be held by an overseas bank, rather than Guyana’s Central Bank; an arrangement that Bank of Guyana Governor Dr Gobind Ganga said is normal.

When asked by this publication about Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s announcement that the oil money will be held by the United States (US) Federal Reserve Bank, Dr Ganga said that the money will still be managed by Guyana.

“What Central Bank will be doing; Central Bank will be managing the fund.

It’s Government funds, but it will be held at the federal reserve like any other Government fund. It’s the Bank of Guyana that opened and took the necessary steps to operationalise the fund.”

Dr Ganga was also asked about whether the funds could be vulnerable to external shocks, since it would be denominated in United States Dollars and would be offshore Guyana. There have also been cases where the US has seized funds that belonged to other countries

but were being banked in the US. “No, it wouldn’t expose the money to external shocks. It is very safe at the federal reserve. That is just part of the picture. The fund is going into the federal reserve, it’s just like funds going into the consolidated fund. So when it goes there, you utilise it [according to your determination].”

The long-awaited Natural Resources Fund Bill was assented to by President David Granger in February of this year. It is a crucial piece of legislation that is intended to create a framework for saving and investing revenue from Guyana’s oil and gas sector.

All of this will represent a monetary windfall for Guyana, which will be saved and invested through a Natural Resources Fund.

Previously, a green paper on the Fund was laid in the National Assembly.

Government had released the draft Natural Resources Fund Bill of 2018, which had proposed, among other things, a 22-member Public Accountability and Oversight Committee that

Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga

would oversee the management of the Fund and provide checks and balances.

NRF Act

Part VI of the act speaks to the management of the fund and states that the Minister shall be responsible for the overall management of the fund and shall – (a) be responsible for preparing of the the Investment Mandate and include the items specified in section 36; (b) when preparing or admending the Investment Mandate, seek the advice of the Investment committee established under sec-

Guyana’s Central Bank

tion 13;(c) be assisted by the Senior nvestment Adviser and Analyst; and(d) enter into an operatioal agreement with the Bank for the operational management of the Fund. Section 12. ( I) states that the Bank shall be responsible for the operational management of the Fund and shall manage the Fund in accordance with the

Investment Mandate and the operational aggreement.

It further noted that the operational agreement shall state (a) the fee charged by the Bank for the operational management of the Fund;(b) the liability for paying damages to the Government for losses that occur due to negligence or intent on the part of the bank or private man-

gers in managing the fund and (c) all other matters required for the effective operational management of the Fund.

The Act also provides for the committee to include a media representative proposed by the Guyana Press Association (GPA). Other entities that will have to turn to page 13

NEWS

11

SUnDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Voting in the next elections

L

ast week, we wrote about voting patterns in Guyana and what we may expect on March 2, next year. By 1992, the left-right ideological divide had disappeared and it surprised some when in the elections of that year after the PNC had brought the country to its knees, it yet received 42.3% of the votes cast – even surpassing their 40.5% garnered in 1964 – the last free and fair elections. The WPA, which some thought had broken the back of “racial voting proclivities” because of the multiracial crowds they pulled in the 1970s, received a mere 2%. It confirmed what a poll conducted by Baytoram Ramharack’s TRPI had shown the year before: the electorate was still oriented “racially/ethnically”: AfricanGuyanese voted for PNC; Indian-Guyanese for the PPP and the remainder cast their lots somewhat more randomly.

One may look at the voting behaviour of the Indian segment as “rational” because of the failure of Ravi Dev the PNC to deliver their promise to develop Guyana.

But what about the African section? Their behaviour was just as “rational” because of their fears that the PPP would only reward their own (Indian) supporters and discriminate against them – echoing what the PNC had done during their tenure.

In fact, those fears were exacerbated when the WPA took out full-page ads in the newspapers warning African Guyanese to “organise for their survival” against a “triumphalist” PPP. The PPP did not help matters when they insisted that their “Civic” appendage satisfied their promise that they would not practice “winner-takes-all” politics were they to win. The PNC, under Desmond Hoyte, immediately unleashed a rearguard war of attrition, claiming that the PPP’s policies— from government staffing to house lot allocation – were “racist”.

It did not matter that objective, internationally sanctioned “Household Income and Expenditure Surveys” (HIES) between 1992 and 1999 showed that poverty was significantly reduced on the coastland, with urban residents (where African Guyanese predominated) doing significantly better.

When the PPP won the December 1997 elections, street protests by the PNC against the results escalated into an armed uprising against the PPP Government, its supporters and the State by gunmen based in Buxton, led by 5 prison escapees calling themselves “African Freedom Fighters”. Back in 1995, this writer had warned of this violence erupting because of the operation of what he had labelled the “ethnic security dilemmas” in the country. African-Guyanese, a minority in a majoritarian electoral system could potentially be locked out of office in perpetuity.

However, since they overwhelmingly dominated the Police Force, Army, Civil Service and most crucially, the capital Georgetown, their leadership in the PNC could always hope that their “kith and kin” (as Desmond Hoyte called them) would not be unsympathetic against efforts to take extra-parliamentary measures to “manners” the PPP. The Indian-Guyanese Security Dilemma was that while they may win elections because of their superior numbers, would “their government” – the PPP – be allowed to govern because of the above-mentioned forces that could be arrayed against them? Harking to the “principle of anticipated reactions”, the PPP Government was always on the back foot and eventually, presumably under the doctrine that the state must be protected by any means, allowed private groups to engage in vigilante action against the forces arrayed against the State. This standoff only ended with the killings of the last gang members in 2008, but left a bitter taste in the African-Guyanese community, while heightening the unprotectedness of Indian Guyanese.

But by then, there were two significant developments.

Firstly, heavier Indian-Guyanese migration destroyed their majority status and thus ending the African-Guyanese Security Dilemma. Secondly, a significant number of citizens from across the divide voted in 2006 for the “multi-racial” AFC, signalling that the reflexive racial/ethnic voting orientation was loosening.

This increased in 2011 and served to oust the PPP in 2015 after they coalesced with the PNC. With the failure of the PNC/AFC coalition to deliver development, as discussed last week, it is up to the PPP to convince the fragile “multi-racial” bloc that they are more competent on this “valence” metric all agree on. In addition, African-Guyanese political leadership, now knowing that Indian Guyanese cannot win on their own and the PPP must, therefore, be accommodative – especially with the augmented coercive arms of the state they dominate, watching on – hopefully, will accept the majoritarian imperative.

Ramps Logistics treats orphans to day of fun R amps Logistics on Saturday put smiles on over 350 orphans’ faces with a day of fun at their second annual Ramps logistics Christmas Treat at the National Park, Georgetown.

Business Development Director Marisca Jordan told Guyana Times that the company decided to treat the children of the orphanages they work with all year long, along with a few other homes. She related that their company catered for almost 400 children, with a total of 500 persons after including adults and staff.

Meanwhile, the event was filled with many activities which included a list of games and entertainment for the children, pony riding, a locally-made single bowling rink, bouncy castles, rock climbing, ‘decorate your cookie’, among other friendly games.

hot dogs, a candy station, snow cones from Jerry’s; Palm Court sponsored Royal Castle chicken for all the kids,” she further added.

Nevertheless, every child present at the event was given a present that was personally labelled and handed to them by Santa.

“We are providing food, turn to page 16

Children meeting Santa

Jordan said, ‘’we tried to make it fun and interactive, GTT sponsored the arts and craft section so they sent a few of their volunteers to just be here working with the kids”.

Besides, everything available to the kids was free of cost. Also, there was a food station where the children were treated to all they can eat.

“We have cupcakes, all you can eat, by the way,

Elves dancing at the National Park, Georgetown on Saturday to put smiles on the faces of 350 orphans who were at the event

12 NEWS

SUnDAY, december 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

115 road deaths recorded so far for 2019 ꟷ Traffic Chief

W

ith just over three weeks remaining for 2019, the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has already recorded 115 road deaths throughout the country, a figure that surpasses the total number of road fatalities for the entire 2018.

Traffic Chief, Superintendent Linden Isles told Guyana Times on Saturday that for last year, there were 92 deaths recorded from a total of 79 accidents while in 2019 to date, 98 accidents claimed the lives of 115 persons.

On December 3, 18-yearold cyclist Deshon Morris lost his life while his pillion rider was injured after the motorcycle they were riding collided with a truck at Industrial Estate, Ruimveldt, Greater Georgetown.

Morris, of Lot 4 East La Penitence, Georgetown, was pronounced dead on the spot while Keon Granville, 27, of Phase 2 Lot 1 East Ruimveldt, was treated for minor injuries.

On Sunday, December 1, a pedestrian identified as 39-year-old Romel Carter of D Field South Sophia,

Greater Georgetown, was killed after being hit by a truck that was allegedly speeding along the Leonora Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Meanwhile, in the month of November, 15 accidents resulted in the deaths of 21 persons inclusive of three children. In total for this year to date, nine children were killed in fatal accidents.

In the last week of November, 12 persons lost their lives on the roadways.

Policeman, banker

Just after midnight on Sunday, November 24, 29-year-old Police Officer Carl Roach died after his Ducati motorcycle collided with a car at the corner of Brickdam and Chalmers Place, Georgetown. The impact is said to have killed him instantly.

The second fatal accident took place hours later, at about 05:00h, at Felicity on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) Public Road. Republic Bank employee 31-year-old David Matthew Headly was killed after his car allegedly slammed into a bridge.

Reports are that Headly was driving his car, PRR 253, at a fast rate when the acci-

Traffic Chief, Superintendent Linden Isles

dent took place. He is said to have died on the spot.

Hit-and-run

On Monday, November 25, 52-year-old Essequibo labourer Raymond Cassal had his life snuffed out when he was hit by a vehicle that quickly sped away from the accident scene.

Residents later discovered his body lying on the roadway with several visible injuries. He was taken to the nearest hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Child, cop & businessman

On Tuesday, November 26, in Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice, a seven-year-old child lost his life while in the company of his mother and sibling who had collected him from school.

Nifran Nazamadeen, along with his mother and eight-year-old sister, was standing on the parapet when a speeding car slammed into them, killing the young boy instantly.

Meanwhile, at about 19:30h on Tuesday, Senior Superintendent of Police Brian Eastman and his high school friend businessman Dillon DeRamos, who owns the Kosmos Restaurant & Bar, were killed in a horrific smash-up at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. The SUV that the men were travelling in slammed into a concrete fence and was wrecked beyond repair.

5 dead, 18 injured

Early Saturday morning, on November 30, another Republic Bank employee, 25-year-old Riley Charles Newton, died after allegedly falling asleep at the wheel of his car while travelling to Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) to drop a friend home.

The father of a onemonth baby, who hailed from Windsor Forest village, WCD, died at about 05:00h in the vicinity of the Leonora Police Station after he lost control of his vehicle (PRR 1703)and it ended up turning turtle.

There were two other occupants inside of Newton’s car at the time of the accident.

The trio had been imbibing in Georgetown and

was heading to Parika, East Bank Essequibo when the accident occurred.

Public-spirited persons managed to pull the three men out of the badly-damaged vehicle and rush them to the Leonora Cottage Hospital but Newton was pronounced dead on arrival, while his two friends, who had sustained injuries, were treated at that health facility.

Meanwhile, on Saturday last at about 19:20h, minibus BYY 2981 slammed into motor car PTT 691, killing four persons and leaving 16 others injured.

Dead are 52-year-old Rawle Williams, 29-year-old Ayesha Sealey, 22-year-old Zavira Jona and 12-year-old Maria Bisnauth.

Williams, of Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara (WBD), had been the driver of the car.

Sealey had lived at Patentia Housing Scheme, WBD, while Jona had been from Patentia village, WBD, and Bisnauth had resided at Lot 125 Sideline Dam, Sisters Village, WBD. The accident occurred on the Nismes Public Road, WBD. According to Police, the accident resulted when the front right side of the minibus collided with the front right-side door of the motor car, causing both vehicles to spin off the road and end up on the grass parapet before plunging into a trench.

news

13

SUnDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bistro opens new Champagne and Wine Bar at MovieTowne

G

uyanese looking to enjoy champagne and wine in an exclusive atmosphere can now do so at the Bistro Wine and Champagne Bar, located in the MovieTowne Mall at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.

Dozens of excited and exuberant patrons attended the resplendent opening of the Bistro Wine and Champagne Bar at the MovieTowne Mall on Friday night.

According to the owner, Harrinand Ralph Persaud, the newly-opened Bistro Wine and Champagne Bar was conceived about two years ago, around the time when the first Bistro Café and Bar opened at Middle Street, Georgetown.

The owner explained that it was while establishing

Businessman Harrinand Persaud along with family members cutting the ribbon to declare Bistro’s new location open

plans for the King’s Jewellery World stores at MovieTowne, he felt the desire to bring Bistro to the same location.

Persaud emphasised that they intended to allow persons to have a great view of the outdoors while sipping on their beverage.

Meanwhile, Persaud said all the wines are directly from vineyards in Chile, Argentina, France, and Italy, local beers and rum are also available with a wide selection of cocktails and champagne.

Patrons going to the bar

can pair their drinks with authentic dishes. The bar’s Indian Chef, Loshal Thuptan, said that the spot will be offering its main cuisine sushi, along with Japanese fish, tuna, salmon, prawns and vegetable sushi every day of the week.

President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Mitra Ramkumar, who was also present at the opening, applauded Persaud for the initiative.

According to Ramkumar, this bar’s opening will add to Guyana’s Tourism sector in a significant way.

“They have been serving the industry with a high degree of excellence, they offer a premium product and it only adds to the value of the industry,” Ramkumar said.

Guyana will still control funds... propose representatives include the Guyana Bar Association; the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GY-EITI); Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated (TIGI), the Guyana Consumers’ Association and the various trade unions.

The Act specifically excludes persons such as Members of Parliament, Ministry staff, persons of unsound mind, ex-convicts and the bankrupt from serving on the Committee. It also lists the functions of the Committee, which will include monitoring and evaluating the compliance of Government and other of-

ficials related to the NRF, with the provisions of the Act.

Stabroek Block

The Stabroek Block, by far the most successful oil block in Guyana, is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is the operator and holds a 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds a 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds a 25 per cent interest.

A contract was inked on October 7, 2016, between the coalition Government, ExxonMobil and its part-

ners in the Stabroek Block.

In the renegotiated contract, Guyana agreed to a two per cent royalty for every barrel of oil, a 50 per cent share of profit oil and a US$18 million signing bonus.

Guyana’s profit sharing arrangement with ExxonMobil is for 50 per cent of profit oil. But with Exxon reclaiming its investment costs as cost oil, it means Guyana will initially get 12.5 per cent of profit.

Originally scheduled for 2020, first oil production has been moved up to this month. It is understood that the initial crude lifts will be 1 million barrels. With the first lift going to Exxon, Guyana is not expected to

get its share until February to March.

Out of the contract, Guyana also secured the company’s agreement to set up a fund for social and environmental projects.

Businessman Harrinand Persaud

He added that as Guyana moves towards the year of first oil, other businesses should be consistent.

“You need to be consistent in quality service delivery, you need to train and retrain, all of this has to be a continuous work in progress, it can-

not be a one-off situation,” he vocalised.

In doing so, he advises that businesses train and retrain their staff to foster growth so that they will be able to deal with challenges when faced.

“Every single member of the organisation gets involved in that process, not only the frontline staff, the person who washes the dishes, the person who welcomes you at the door, everyone needs to be a part,” Ramkumar said.

Currently, through the Guyana Tourism Authority in collaboration with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, there is a programme that is offered to restaurants, hotels, and immigration and customs officers for delivering quality service.

from page 10

Exxon has to contribute US$300,000 per year to this fund. The sums roll over and the company together with Government will determine which projects to fund.

The contract sets aside

another US$300,000 per year to ensure Guyanese personnel are trained at local or overseas universities and conferences.

14 NEWS

SUnDAY, december 8, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Suspected Venezuelan pirates attack Guyanese fishermen F

ive Guyanese fishermen have been left traumatised after being held at gunpoint by an armed quartet, who robbed the men of their cellular phones, groceries, outboard engines, clothing and a small catch of fish, onboard their fishing vessel “Shivanie” on Friday morning.

The gun-toting pirates, who are believed to be Venezuelans, attacked the fishermen at about 08:40h. According to the rescued fishermen, the pirates approached them in a fibreglass boat in close proximity of the Waini Rivermouth, Region One (Barima-Waini).

This newspaper was told that the pirates then brandished their weapons, demanding that the five fishermen hand over their valuables, inclusive of their clothing, before the perpetrators relieved the men of a 60-horsepower Yamaha boat engine and a 48-horsepower boat engine.

The four pirates, three of whom reportedly conversed throughout the robbery in Spanish, took their loot and fled. The men managed to make it to shore and reported the matter to the police.

The issue of border patrol and security measures being intensified in the areas separating Guyana from Venezuela continues to be a major one.

Six weeks ago, a

Venezuelan woman, who had been residing in Guyana with her boyfriend, was shot dead while he received a gunshot wound to his foot after the duo came under gunfire by five armed men at Wenamu Riverfront, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Dead is 28-yearold Valentina Marelis Pacheco. Her Guyanese boyfriend was identified as 28-year-old Mark Anthony Gonsalves, a miner of Mabaruma, North West District, Region One. Reports are that on October 27, between 00:35h and 01:00, the couple was at Rock Landing, Kaikan, at the Wenamu River, at a shop near the riverfront when Gonsalves noticed a light shining from the opposite direction which is the Venezuelan side of the order.

According to information, it is customary for persons from Guyana to cross the border and transport persons from Venezuela to purchase items at the shop where the couple was at the time.

According to police, Gonsalves, thinking that it was passengers who needed to cross, decided to cross the border with a paddleboat to transport the persons. However, when he arrived at the other side of the border, he noticed a Venezuelan male, who told him that he wished to purchase a pack of cigarettes

and alcohol.

Police said that the Venezuelan man then told the Guyanese miner that he needed to “wait for about a minute” so that a few other men could arrive to “pay with the gold”.

However, as Gonsalves waited, he observed five more Venezuelan men emerging from the bushes armed with high-powered rifles. Police said that the men immediately opened fire at the Guyanese man, prompting him to plunge into the water and swim to Guyana’s shores. He was shot in the process.

After climbing out of the water and standing on Guyana’s side of the border, the men continued shooting in his direction from across the Venezuelan territory.

Gonsalves’ girlfriend then rushed to his aid to help him get to safety but in the process, she was shot to her nasal region. The bullet exited the back of her head, killing her instantly.

Earlier in October, armed men believed to have been Venezuelans also killed two brothers, Eon Mathias and his brother Rakesh.

The duo had left their home on the afternoon of October 10 on their boat to fish at Father’s Beach, North West District, Region One, but was never seen alive again.

Reports are that between 14:00h and 14:30h, residents near that loca-

tion (including the brothers’ relatives) heard a series of gunshots being fired. The stepfather of the two men immediately ventured to the location that the brothers would have been fishing at but did not locate them.

He then made a report to the police and accompanied by ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), they conducted a search in the area but their efforts were futile.

Fearing the worst, the man returned to his community and notified persons that his stepsons could not be found. It was days later that persons around the area noticed two bodies on Father’s Beach.

Upon closer inspection, they realised that the men were dead and immediately notified the police.

The autopsy report revealed that one brother died from three gunshot wounds to his back while the other lost his life after being tortured, chopped about his body, and shot to his back twice.

The bullets, believed to have come from high calibre weapons, exited the men’s bodies through the front.

GMSA’s marketplace uncappeD returns today

T

he Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has organised another Marketplace UncappeD exhibition, which will feature a number of local manufacturers at the Providence Stadium today.

Organisers are expecting over 75 different booths from several regions of Guyana and admission is free. The activity was recently held at the Sophia Exhibition Centre and the Stadium, providing a platform for local stakeholders to showcase their products to the Guyanese community. Neatly labelled sauces, packaged dried goods along with craft items can be expected at the event.

Guyanese are encouraged to try the local products which are of good quality and made from ingredients that are produced right in Guyana.

International Mountain Day 2019

A

day to celebrate mountains? This question may have crossed your minds, but, have you ever wondered what the world would have been like without mountains? They add a special touch to the landscape and have enormous benefits.

Recognising the value of mountains, not only as home to 15% of the world’s population but also a vital source of freshwater for half of humanity, the United Nations declared 2002 as the UN International Year of Mountains. One year later (2003), International Mountains Day was celebrated for the first time. Celebrated under the theme, “Mountains Matter for Youth”, this year’s observance aims to educate children about the role mountains play in supporting billions up and downstream by providing fresh water, clean energy, food and recreation. It also seeks to connect with youths living in rural areas where mountains are prevalent and life can be very challenging.

Why are mountains important?

Mountain environments cover approximately 25% of the world’s land surface and directly support one-tenth of the world’s people who live within mountainous regions. Lowland people also depend on mountain environments for a wide range of goods and services, including: * water * energy * timber * biodiversity maintenance * Opportunities for recreation * Spiritual renewal Mountains provide for the freshwater (60-80%) needs of more than half of humanity, and are, in effect, the water towers of the world.

The world’s mountains encompass some of the most spectacular landscapes, a great diversity of species and habitat types, and distinctive human communities. Mountains support a wide variety of ecosystems and occur on all continents, in all latitude zones.

Mountain ecosystems are important for biological diversity, particularly in the tropics and warmer temperate latitudes. Isolated mountain blocks are known for their rich endemic species.

With the sustainability of mountains being threatened by several human-induced and environmental factors, International Mountain Day plays a key role in the support of global environmental, economic, social and cultural sectors through connections to invasive species, air pollution, climate change, mining, hydropower, tourism, forests, and agriculture.

Mountains in Guyana

Guyana is home to many breath-taking mountains and mountain ranges. Like other mountains around the world, these boast enormous biological wealth and are home to many, especially our Indigenous communities.

Did you know Guyana has over 100 mountains and 4 mountain ranges?

Activity

* How many mountains in Guyana can you name? * Test your knowledge of Guyana’s mountains by trying to identify the two highlighted in the photos below.

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 Reference: https://www.greeningtheblue.org/event/internationalmountain-day http://www.fao.org/international-mountain-day/keymessages/en/ http://www.fao.org /fileadmin/templates/mountain_ partnership/doc/POLICY_BRIEFS/Mountains_and_the_Sustainable_ Development_Goals_-_NY_-_8Jan.2014.pdf

news

15

SUnDAY, december 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Nismes fatal accident

Central banks’ credit to governments: Lessons learned from international practices

T

oday’s article outlines the theoretical construct of central bank credit to governments and the macroeconomic implications. This article referenced largely a study conducted by the International Monetary Fund and it lays the framework for further analysis and contextualisation of the Guyana case which will follow in forthcoming articles. This thematic area is currently being examined by this analyst together with two other prominent Guyanese scholars, one of whom resides locally and the other in the diaspora.

As a key general principle, central banks should refrain from lending to the government, although this may not always be possible depending on the country’s level of development. Governments in industrial countries and emerging market economies should have no access to central bank money because they can raise money to finance fiscal deficits from domestic and international capital markets. In practice, a full prohibition of central bank financing to the government is in place in most industrial countries, most notably in Europe, whereas in emerging markets, a number of countries still allow the central bank to lend to the government, albeit at short-term maturity.

In developing countries, central bank financing to the government may be warranted in the short run. In these countries, government revenues exhibit seasonal fluctuations and capital markets are shallow, thus, making the case for allowing central bank financing in the short run—via overdrafts or through advances—to smooth out seasonal revenue fluctuations. As tax administration improves and money and capital markets deepen, governments should be able to smooth out the seasonality of fiscal revenues.

Central banks may purchase government securities in the secondary market exclusively for monetary policy purposes. Limiting the amounts of these transactions would restrict quantitative easing policies and, hence, this should be done only in extreme circumstances—as the United States and the United Kingdom did in the wake of the recent financial crisis—and under clear and transparent rules. Disclosure of stock and flows of these purchases, visà-vis a pre-specified rule or programme, is advisable to allow market participants to monitor that these transactions are made exclusively for the purposes of monetary operations. In countries where the central bank lacks credibility, legislators should consider limiting the number of government securities that the central bank can hold at any one time to avoid any indirect government financing. The limit could be either the number of banknotes in circulation or a proportion of some other central bank liability.

When central bank lending to the government is warranted to smooth out tax revenue fluctuations, and until a fiscal reform smoothens seasonal fluctuations or deeper capital markets compensate for the fluctuations, the operational arrangements in place should follow key principles with the aim of limiting market distortions. These principles are the following: loans should be provided at short-run maturity. Governments should pay back within a short period of time, and certainly before the end of the fiscal year in which the loan is granted. Establishing a more specific term to pay back central bank loans should be determined, identifying seasonal fluctuations of government revenues and how to better smooth them out using short-term central bank money.

The cost of central bank lending to the government should be established by law and be based on market interest rates. Using market criteria is critical in order to reduce government incentives to use central bank money as a source of financing as a first alternative rather than as a last resort. If the interest rate is not a priori defined in legislation, the central bank will generally need to negotiate the rate with the government, which creates an opportunity for government interference in monetary policy implementation.

Central bank loans to the government should have an upper bound. This limit should typically be expressed in terms of a proportion of tax revenues, although other relative measures could also be used, ie, with respect to a central bank liability. This proportion should be set on a case-by-case basis. In practice, most countries limit credit, overdrafts, or advances to 10–20 per cent of government revenues in the previous fiscal year. Establishing limits in terms of government expenditures is not recommended as it tends to be accommodative of expansionary fiscal policy.

The law should protect the central bank against the event that the government does not pay its obligation on time. The central bank should be empowered to debit the government account it holds, or to issue marketable securities on behalf of the government for a value equal to the loan plus interest in arrears. The latter is particularly relevant when it comes to government overdrafts at the central bank.

In addition, the government should not be allowed to borrow again from the central bank while it is in arrears. Only the central government should be entitled to borrow from the central bank.

Providing financing to local governments and public enterprises multiplies central bank financing and poses risks of adverse macroeconomic effects. The conditions under which the central bank lends to the government should be disclosed as a good transparency practice. The central bank should establish in the law the conditions governing lending operations to the government, and disclose them on a timely basis, including the amount, interest rate, and maturity of the loans, such that markets can internalise any potential impact on systemic liquidity.

By: JC Bhagwandin, MSc Email: jbbankingadvice@gmail.com (The Author is an experienced Macro-finance and Research Analyst; and a Senior Lecturer of BBA / MBA programs at Texila American University, University of Bedfordshire and the Association of Business Executives (ABE) programs in Guyana. The discussions and analyses presented are exclusively his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper nor the institutions he is affiliated with.)

Minibus driver left scene as uninjured ‘passenger’ …as Police kept hospitalised victim as driver

T

he man, who was believed to be the driver of minibus BYY 2981 that was involved in a two-vehicular smash-up that left four persons dead and 16 injured on Saturday last, at Nismes, West Bank Demerara (WBD), turned out not to be the driver after all. Rather the actual driver left the scene as an uninjured ‘passenger’.

This is according to Police Commander of Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Assistant Police Commissioner Simon McBean, who told Guyana Times on Saturday that investigators were given detailed descriptions by eyewitnesses and injured passengers of the driver. However, the description did not match the hospitalised injured man - who was initially believed to be the driver of the minibus.

As such, the police began a hunt for the driver, and shortly after the search began, the man turned up at a police station in the company of his attorney. According to Police, he admitted to having been the driver of the minibus when the accident occurred. He was subsequently

Dead: 29-year-old Ayesha Sealey

released on station bail.

However, Commander McBean noted that the man is in hot water since he will face several charges for a number of offences related to the tragic accident that occurred on November 30.

He is expected to be charged with causing death by dangerous driving, failure to report an accident, visiting the police way beyond the “reporting period”, and additionally, it was discovered that the suspect was not insured to drive the minibus.

The Commander noted that the matter has

been handed over to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

Of the 21 persons involved in this fatal accident, 12 were admitted at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and four were at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) for days receiving necessary medical attention.

When the tragedy took place, 52-year-old Rawle Williams of Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara (WBD), who is the driver of the car that was involved in the accident, lost his life.

The three others who died are females including a child.

Dead are 29-year-old Ayesha Sealey of Patentia Housing Scheme, WBD, 22-year-old Zavira Jona of Patentia, WBD, and 12-yearold Maria Bisnauth, who hailed from lot 125 Sideline Dam, Sister’s Village, WBD. The accident occurred at about 19:20h at Nismes Public Road, WBD, when the minibus was proceeding North along the Western carriageway of the road, reportedly at a fast rate of speed.

Dead: 12-year-old Maria Bisnauth

Reports are that while in the vicinity of a gas station which is located on the Western side of that roadway, the driver of motorcar PTT 691 drove out from the fuel station in a South-Eastern direction into the path of the minibus.

According to the police, this resulted in the right front portion of the minibus colliding with the right side front door of the motorcar and this caused both vehicles to spin off the road and end up on the grass parapet and the trench respectively.

At the time of the accident, the minibus had been overloaded with passengers.

Region 2 holds road safety march

I

n an effort to curb the increasing carnage on Guyana’s roadways, the Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) Administration hosted a road safety awareness march on Saturday.

The march was led by Regional Executive Officer Dennis Jaikarran in Anna Regina. The aim was to bring awareness among road users of the many accidents and fatalities in the Region and other parts of the country.

For the month of November, 21 persons, including three children, died from road accidents. A closer review showed that for last week, 12 persons lost their lives in a matter of seven accidents and the fatalities have continued into this week.

It was against this backdrop, the REO noted, that the march was organised by stakeholders in the Region so that road users can exercise the Five Cs (care, caution, consideration, common sense and courtesy) and play their part to ensure their safety and that of others.

Jaikarran is calling on all persons to “use the road with care, stop speeding, don’t drink and drive, stop double parking on the road, don’t overtake on the double lines, don’t stop on turns etc”.

Pedestrians are also urged to “stop, look and then cross” when using the roads.

Joining this morning’s march were members from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Guyana National Cadet Corps, the Regional

Administration staff, the Essequibo Coast Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Police Station Management Committee, the Secondary Schools in Region Two, the Essequibo Coast Technical Institute as well as members of the public.The march, which was deemed a success, was the first of its kind to be held in the Region.

Road safety awareness march in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) on Saturday

16 news

SUnDAY, december 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP condemns David Granger’s “waging civil war” accusation

T

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

he Opposition – People’s Progressive Party – on Saturday condemned President David Granger’s accusation that the Party is waging “civil war” in Guyana.

In a strongly-worded statement, the Party said that it was drawn to the attention of the Leader of the Opposition that “de facto President, Mr David Granger, accused the Opposition of ‘waging civil war’ in the country. He was speaking on a radio programme”.

The statement said that the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, unreservedly rejects this allegation and condemns such language since it is as inflammatory as it is irresponsible. According to the Party, “it is obvious that the de facto President cannot speak to a track record of accomplishments by his Government, neither can he articulate his party’s developmental plan and vision for Guyana. As a result, he resorts to such inane asser-

tions”.

It must take a special mind to perceive legitimate actions of an Opposition Party in the discharge of its constitutional duty to the citizenry, which is a norm in any democracy, as “waging civil war”, the Party said.

“Fortunately, we have a sensible and intelligent population who are very much aware of the politi-

cal activism of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in the Parliament, in the Judiciary and on the streets of this country”.

According to the statement from the PPP, not a single violation of the law has ever been alleged against the PPP in relation to any of these political pursuits.

“In fact, they were largely intended to get the de facto President and his recalcitrant Government to obey the Constitution, to comply with democratic norms and practices and to uphold the rule of law in our country”.

The Party said that having regard to his party’s political history, Granger should be the last person to accuse anyone of “waging civil war” in Guyana.

The PPP also called on the international community and the Ethnic Relations Commission to condemn this “irrational and incendiary utterance of Mr Granger”.

President David Granger

Oceans running out of oxygen – conservation group

C

limate change and nutrient pollution are driving the oxygen from our oceans, and threatening many species of fish.

That’s the conclusion of the biggest study of its kind, undertaken by conservation group IUCN. While nutrient run-off has been known for decades, researchers say that climate change is making the lack of oxygen worse.

Around 700 ocean sites are now suffering from low oxygen, compared with 45 in the 1960s.

Researchers say the depletion is threatening species including tuna, marlin and sharks.

The threat to oceans from nutrient run-off of chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorus from farms and industry has long been known to impact the levels of oxygen in the sea waters and still remains the primary factor, especially closer to coasts.

However, in recent years the threat from climate change has increased.

As more carbon dioxide is released enhancing the greenhouse effect, much of the heat is absorbed by the oceans. In turn, this warmer water can hold less oxygen. The scientists estimate that between 1960 and 2010, the amount of the gas dissolved in the oceans declined by two per cent.

That may not seem like much as it is a global average, but in some tropical locations the loss can range up to 40%.

Even small changes can impact marine life in a significant way. So waters with less oxygen favour species such as

jellyfish, but not so good for bigger, fast-swimming species like tuna.

“We have known about de-oxygenation but we haven’t known the linkages to climate

water column, which is richest in biodiversity.

Low levels of oxygen are also bad for basic processes like the cycling of elements crucial for life on Earth, in-

change and this is really worrying,” said Minna Epps from IUCN. “Not only has the decline of oxygen quadrupled in the past 50 years but even in the best case emissions scenario, oxygen is still going to decline in the oceans.”

For species like tuna, marlin and some sharks that are particularly sensitive to lack of oxygen - this is bad news.

Bigger fish like these have greater energy needs.

According to the authors, these animals are starting to move to the shallow surface layers of the seas where there is more of the gas dissolved.

However, this make the species much more vulnerable to over-fishing.

If countries continue with a business-as-usual approach to emissions, the world’s oceans are expected to lose 3-4% of their oxygen by the year 2100.

This is likely to be worse in the tropical regions of the world. Much of the loss is expected in the top 1,000m of the

cluding nitrogen and phosphorous.

“If we run out of oxygen it will mean habitat loss and biodiversity loss and a slippery slope down to slime and more jellyfish,” said Minna Epps.

“It will also change the energy and the biochemical cycling in the oceans and we don’t know what these biological and chemical shifts in the oceans can actually do.”

Changing the outcomes for the oceans is down to the world’s political leaders which is why the report has been launched here at COP25.

“Ocean oxygen depletion is menacing marine ecosystems already under stress from ocean warming and acidification,” said Dan Laffoley, also from IUCN and the report’s co-editor.

“To stop the worrying expansion of oxygen-poor areas, we need to decisively curb greenhouse gas emissions as well as nutrient pollution from agriculture and other sources.”

(Exerpt from BBC)

Ramps Logistics treats orphans... drinks, games and of course, security to these children”, the Director said.

She advised that other companies come on board since this initiative should

from page 11

be done all year round.

“This is an initiative we take with pride and it is not

something we just want to do around Christmas time, just

Children making crafts

for the kids at Christmas... especially kids coming from

these homes, it is very important to have something sustainable, and show that we really do care about them,” she further added.

Cartoon characters had the children excited throughout the event.

Meanwhile, appropriate children’s soundtracks were played as they lined up in numbers to play games, have their face painted and of course, see Santa.

The homes where the children came from were St Ann’s Home, Joshua House, Shaheed’s Orphanage, and Sophia Care Centre.

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, december 8, 2019

17

Regional

C'bean forecasters warn of Outrage in Mexico over videos expected decline in rainfall mocking viral feminist anthem

T

he Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) says as the region enters the new dry season, rainfall is expected to decline, with parts of the Caribbean already suffering drought conditions in recent months, feeling effects from long term drought by the end of the dry season.

“These would include Barbados, Belize and Cayman Islands. This is despite the eastern parts of the region likely having above normal rainfall during the first half of the season,” the CIMH said in its latest Caribbean Drought Bulletin

released here.

It said that much of the region should monitor conditions “as there is some chance that long term drought impacts can be felt in other parts of the region”.

The December issue of the Bulletin noted that the islands of the eastern Caribbean were predominantly normal to below normal for the month of October, with the exception of a few areas that were slightly wet.

It said Trinidad, St Lucia and Guadeloupe ranged from normal to moderately dry, Tobago, Dominica and Anguilla normal to slight-

ly wet while Grenada and St Thomas were slightly dry and Barbados moderate to severely dry.

The islands of St Vincent and Antigua were normal to slightly dry, while the French island of Martinique from slightly wet in the south to moderately dry in the north.

The Bulletin noted that in the Guianas, conditions were mainly normal to extremely wet, with the exception of the northern part of Guyana which was slight to severely dry, noting that the west and south west of Guyana ranged from slight to exceptionally dry. “Jamaica was normal to slightly dry from east to west, while Grand Cayman was normal,” the CIMH noted.

According to the CIMH, current drought situation indicates that severe or worse conditions have developed in Barbados, eastern Hispaniola, St Vincent, Trinidad, Aruba, Cayman Islands, Eastern Cuba and the eastern, southern and western most Hispaniola.

(CMC)

2 Indigenous men killed in Brazil, near where forest guardian died last month

T

wo indigenous men, members of the Guajajara tribe in northeastern Brazil, were shot dead on Saturday, and two others were hurt, not far from where a prominent tribesman who defended the Amazon rainforest was also killed last month, authorities said.

Indigenous tribes in Brazil are facing escalating violence during the presidency of Jair Bolsonario, who has promised to reduce tribal rights and encouraged the commercial exploita-

tion of their protected lands.

Tribes have faced violence especially from illegal loggers and miners.

Magno Guajajara, a spokesman for the tribe, said they did not know why the two men had been shot, whom he identified as Firmino Guajajara and Raimundo Guajajara. But the men were on a highway, coming back from a meeting, when the shooting happened.

“They were shooting at everyone,” he said.

Authorities said they were investigating but did not say if anyone had been detained.

The incident happened in the Cana Brava indigenous reservation, which spans 137,000 hectares (338,530 acres)in the state of Marahnao and has 4,500 inhabitants, according to government records.

Paulo Paulino Guajajara, the “forest guardian” killed last month was shot in a confrontation with illegal loggers. (Reuters)

Double-murder pushes T&T count over 500

T

rinidad and Tobago’s murder count last night crossed the 500 mark with the killings of two people on Lady Chancellor Hill on Friday evening.

According to reports at approximately 6:45 pm police received a call about a white Nissan Sylphy parked at the bottom of the Hill, with two dead male occupants inside.

The occupants were a 15-year-old boy and his father.

They suffered several gunshot wounds to the head and were found slumped in the front seats of the vehicle.

The bodies were discovered by joggers who opened

the vehicle after they noticed the engine running and the glass frosted. The killings pushed the murder toll to 501.

The murder count stood at 497 at the start of yesterday but rose with the killing of 37-year-old Winston Richards of Palo Seco who was gunned down at his home yesterday morning.

According to reports police, around 6:50 am Richards was outside his Beach Road home when three men emerged from bushes nearby and fired several shots at him. He ran to the back of his home where he collapsed and died.

That took the count up to 498.

It rose to 499, when police classified a decomposed body found in Cedar Hill, Arouca on Wednesday, as a murder.

He was identified as Joey Melville.

Police believe that he may have been killed around midnight on Wednesday as residents reportedly heard gunshots in the area. The officers found Melville’s body under a tree.

In the last five years, Trinidad and Tobago’s murder count passed 500 just once with 516 murders in 2018. The only other time it crossed the 500 marks was in 2008 when 550 persons were murdered. (T&T Guardian)

A

series of videos have surfaced in Mexico showing men and male teenagers appearing to mock a feminist anthem, sparking criticism on social and in traditional media and among women's rights activists and allies.

Born in Chile, the feminist anthem A Rapist in Your Path became an international phenomenon, with activists in countries from Latin America to the United States and Europe staging public performances to denounce violence and human rights abuses against women.

Created by the Chilean feminist collective "Lastesis", the anthem was first performed late last month in the South American country's capital, Santiago, amid widespread anti-government protests that elicited a harsh crackdown by security forces.

Thousands of women wearing blindfolds and bandannas replicated the performance on November 29 in Mexico City's sprawling main square, known as the Zocalo, and it has spread to other parts of the country as well.

The videos that went viral this week were seen by many as macho, disrespectful or at best tone-deaf in a country where killings of

Demonstrators wearing green handkerchiefs covering their eyes sing and dance in a feminist flash mob performing Rapist in Your Path in Santiago, Chile [File: Marcelo Hernandez/Getty Images]

women are a rising phenomenon that has gone largely unpunished.

The first to emerge involved the under-17 team of Mexico City football club America. A handful of players in a locker room, three of them shirtless, are shown laughing and dancing to the catchy chant, which translates as: "And the fault was not mine, neither where I was, nor how I was dressed," and "the rapist is you."

In the second video shows two men who are apparently Mexican marines gyrate and swivel their hips to a recording of the chant in what looks to be a military barracks.

If the first was ascribed by some to youthful naivete, the latter was troubling given that Mexican soldiers and other security forces have

repeatedly been implicated in human rights abuses including torture and rape.

Perhaps the most controversial was the third, shared on Instagram by frontman MC Babo of the prominent hip-hop group Cartel de Santa, which is based in a suburb of the northern city of Monterrey and was once nominated for a Latin Grammy.

In the video, a mashup of three scenes from existing music videos by the group is set to the sound of male voices singing the anthem while women in plunging-neckline costumes dance suggestively.

Babo is shown lounging with other scantily-clad women and a group of masked men surround a frightened woman whose hands are tied. (Al Jazeera)

Migrant teen dies while in US Customs and Border Protection custody

H

ouse Democrats are demanding an investigation into the death of a migrant teen from the flu while in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody after ProPublica released new video Thursday raising questions about the circumstances of the boy’s final moments.

"I was absolutely horrified and sickened by the video," Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., told ABC News Live.

"I think it was negligent homicide," Bass added.

Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez, a 16-year-old from Guatemala, was found traveling alone by U.S. Border Patrol agents in May after crossing the U.S.Mexico border near McAllen, Texas.

A week later, Vasquez came down with a 103-degree fever and tested positive for the flu, according to an autopsy report obtained

by ABC News. The report indicates he was prescribed Tamiflu the day before he died.

The video appears to dispute CBP’s account of how the boy was found in his

holding cell. CBP reported to the medical examiner that Vasquez was found during a routine welfare check. But the video, obtained from the Weslaco Police Department

by ProPublica, shows his cellmate discovering the 16-year-old's body and notifying a nearby official.

"The investigation into the death of Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez is ongoing," a CBP spokesperson said in a statement Thursday. "While we cannot discuss specific information or details of this investigation, we can tell you that the Department of Homeland Security and this agency are looking into all aspects of this case to ensure all procedures were followed."

In between medical checks Vasquez was seen vomiting while making several trips to the toilet in his cell, according to a review of surveillance video by the medical examiner.

"The inconsistencies between Border Patrol's official account and this video regarding the death of a migrant child is disturbing," the House Homeland Security Committee said in

a tweet Thursday. "We need answers from Border Patrol on why their account doesn't match up with this video."

The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether it was investigating the case.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, said in a statement, "Not only did CBP hold Carlos longer than the legal limit and apparently fail to care for him while he was sick, the agency seems to have been untruthful with Congress and the public about the circumstances around his tragic death. This is inexcusable." (ABC News)

18

sunDAY, december 8, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Democrats huddle to At least 10 killed in Kenya bus draft impeachment attack claimed by al-Shabab charges against Trump A

D

emocrats in the US House of Representatives met behind closed doors on Saturday to prepare for what could be the final week of their monthsold impeachment inquiry that has imperiled Donald Trump’s presidency.

The House Judiciary Committee’s Democratic lawmakers were working through the weekend to sift through evidence against the Republican president and draft formal charges, known as articles of impeachment, that the panel could recommend for a full House vote as early as Thursday.

The lawmakers released a 55-page report on Saturday morning outlining what they see as the constitutional grounds on which articles of impeachment could be built.

In releasing the report, the panel’s Democratic chairman, Jerrold Nadler, said impeachment was the only way to hold the Republican president to account.

“President Trump abused his power, betrayed our national security, and corrupted

our elections, all for personal gain,” Nadler said in a statement. “The Constitution details only one remedy for this misconduct: impeachment.”

The committee will hold a public hearing on Monday to consider evidence gathered in the inquiry.

Republicans have called for a full day of proceedings to examine their own evidence, including a 110-page report saying the inquiry had found no evidence of an impeachable offense.

On Friday, the White House told Nadler it would not take part in the panel’s hearings and condemned the inquiry as “completely baseless.”

Nadler, in turn, expressed his disappointment: “The American people deserve answers from President Trump.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, directed the committee to draw up the charges on Thursday after weeks of investigation into Trump’s request that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading con-

President Donald Trump

tender for the Democratic nomination to face the president in the 2020 U.S. election.

Passage of formal charges in the Democraticled House, now seen as all but certain, would lead to a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. The Republicans who control the Senate have shown little sign of supporting Trump’s removal.

While Trump has refused to cooperate with the House probe, he has made clear his lawyers will mount a defense in a Senate trial, where he believes he will prevail.

(Reuters)

US and Iranian men released in prisoner swap

t least 10 people, including several police officers, have been killed when gunmen attacked a bus in northeast Kenya.

The vehicle belonging to the Medina Bus Company was attacked on Friday on a lonely stretch of road in the Kotulo area as it travelled between the towns of Wajir and Mandera, close to the border with Somalia.

"People, among them police officers, were brutally murdered," President Uhuru Kenyatta's office said in a statement on Saturday.

The Somalia-based alShabab armed group, which has also carried out a number of attacks in neighbouring Kenya, took responsibility for the assault, saying it had killed people that included "secret security agents and government employees".

Police said 10 people had been killed and that the at-

tackers had specifically targeted non-Somalis after flagging down the bus. The area is mostly inhabited by ethnic Somali Kenyans.

Seven police officers were killed in the attack, local media reported. A security source gave the same figure to the AFP news agency.

Witnesses said the attackers had shot all the victims outside the bus at close range, but police and the government did not comment on those accounts.

Al-Shabab has been fighting for more than 10 years to overthrow successive internationally-backed Somali governments and has previously attacked many vehicles.

Although Somalia is slowly rebuilding after years of devastating conflict, it suffers regular bombings and assaults claimed by the group.

Al-Shabab's fighters were

driven out of Mogadishu by government forces backed by 20,000 African Union peacekeepers in 2011.

Kenya has often been targeted by al-Shabab, which killed 67 people at Nairobi's Westgate shopping centre in 2013 and nearly 150 students at Garissa University in 2015.

Al-Shabab says its attacks are revenge for Kenyan troops stationed inside Somalia.

In June, it took responsibility for a roadside bomb attack in Kenya's Wajir county that killed at least eight police officers. (Al Jazeera)

Blind man executed in US for killing ex-girlfriend

A

blind man was executed by the US state of Tennessee on Thursday for burning his ex-girlfriend to death.

Lee Hall, who was previously known as Leroy Hall, chose to be executed by electrocution rather than lethal injection, a choice that Tennessee has offered to those condemned to death before 1999.

He was pronounced dead at 7:26 pm local time (01:26 GMT), according to a statement from the Tennessee Department of Correction.

Hall, 52, was sentenced to death after he was convicted of setting a car on fire with his former girlfriend inside in 1991.

Hall's lawyers argued last year that executing him would "offend humanity" because he is blind due to glaucoma.

But efforts to appeal the

sentence were denied, and on Wednesday Tennessee Governor Bill Lee refused to grant Hall clemency.

"The justice system has extensively reviewed Lee Hall's case over the course of almost 30 years, including additional review and rulings by the Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday and today," Lee said in a statement. "The judgment and sentence stand based on these rulings, and I will not intervene in this case."

Lawyers then filed a last-minute appeal with the US Supreme Court, which was also denied.

Hall's lawyers have raised doubts about the jury that convicted him -- one of the jurors hid that she had been a domestic violence victim, raising questions about potential biases.

Tennessee had suspended executions, which are in

Lee Hall

decline across the United States, in 2009 amid controversy around the drugs used in lethal injections.

But the southern state reinstated the practice in 2018 and has executed five inmates since, including three by electrocution.

Hall is the 21st person to be executed in the US in 2019. (AFP)

Saudi suspect in US Navy base attack linked to anti-US Twitter screed Massoud Soleimani (right) with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif after his release

T

he US and Iran have conducted a prisoner swap in a rare sign of co-operation between the two countries.

The exchange involved a Chinese-American researcher convicted of spying in Iran and an Iranian scientist held by the US. Both deny wrongdoing.

Iran's foreign minister said he was glad as he announced the exchange.

Hours later, US President Donald Trump tweeted: "Thank you to Iran on a very fair negotiation. See, we can make a deal together!" Who were the prisoners?

Xiyue Wang was arrested in Iran in 2016 for "collaborating with foreign governments".

Xiyue Wang, who was held in Iran for three years, was greeted by US Ambassador to Switzerland Edward McMullen

Massoud Soleimani, a stem cell expert, was arrested at a Chicago airport last year. He was accused violating trade sanctions by trying to export biological material to Iran.

Iran and the US have had an increasingly strained relationship in recent years and share no diplomatic links.

Both have thanked the Swiss government for its assistance as an intermediary facilitator.

Wang was flown in a Swiss government plane from Tehran to Zurich, and then to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where he will undergo medical check-ups before heading home.

Soleimani was also flown to Zurich and then on to Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted photos of himself with Soleimani after his release.

He was the first to announce the news, via a tweet. "Glad that Professor Massoud Soleimani and Mr Xiyue Wang will be joining their families shortly," he wrote. In a formal statement, US President Donald Trump said Mr Wang had been "held under the pretence of espionage".

"Freeing Americans held captive is of vital importance to my Administration, and we will continue to work hard to bring home all our citizens wrongfully held captive overseas," the statement said.

(BBC)

T

he Saudi airman accused of killing three people at a US Navy base in Florida appeared to have posted criticism of US wars and quoted slain al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on social media hours before the shooting spree, according to a group that monitors online extremism.

Federal investigators have not disclosed any motive behind the attack, which unfolded at dawn on Friday when the Saudi national is said to have began firing a handgun inside a classroom at the Naval Air Station Pensacola.

A vigil was held on Saturday for those wounded and killed, among them a recent Naval Academy graduate who dreamed of being a fighter pilot, according to the victim’s family.

A sheriff’s deputy fatally shot the gunman, authorities said, ending the second deadly attack at a U.S. mil-

The main gate at Naval Air Station Pensacola

itary base within a week.

Within hours, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman had called U.S. President Donald Trump to extend his condolences and pledge his kingdom’s support in the investigation.

Authorities confirmed the suspect was a member of the Royal Saudi Air Force who was on the base as part of a US Navy training program designed to foster links with foreign allies. They declined to disclose his name or identify his victims.

Two US officials, speaking

on condition of anonymity, named the shooter as Second Lieutenant Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani.

At least three of the eight people wounded were law enforcement shot as they responded to the attack, officials said, including one Navy police officer and two county sheriff’s deputies. They were expected to recover.

One of the dead was identified by relatives as Joshua Kaleb Watson, 23. A recent graduate of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, he had arrived at Pensacola two weeks ago for flight training, his family said.

“Joshua Kaleb Watson saved countless lives today with his own,” Watson’s brother, Adam Watson, wrote on Facebook on Friday. “After being shot multiple times he made it outside and told the first response team where the shooter was and those details were invaluable.” (Reuters)

sunDAY, december 8, 2019

19

West Indies Tour of India

Bowling key for West Indies after opening defeat W

Shreyas Iyer, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal Nicholas Pooran will most likely return to West Indies’ line-up after serving his four-match ban for ball-tampering, and take the keeping gloves from Denesh Ramdin. Fabian Allen missed the first game with a knee injury, and it’s unclear if he’s recovered enough to play in Thiruvananthapuram.

West Indies (probable): 1 Lendl Simmons, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Brandon King, 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6 Kieron Pollard (capt), 7 Jason Holder, 8 Khary Pierre, 9 Kesrick Williams, 10 Sheldon Cottrell, 11 Hayden Walsh

Big picture

est Indies seldom put all their best T20 stars on the park at the same time, so watching them between world tournaments is often an exercise in fantasy squad building. If this guy weren’t playing Global T20 Moldova, and if that other chap recovers from that knee injury…

It’s also the reason why their performances since the 2016 World T20 - 12 wins, 26 losses and even their more recent form - nine losses in their last ten games - feels less alarming than it looks. Sure, they have been losing a lot of games, but who’s going to bet against them when next year’s T20 World Cup rolls around?

West Indies’ display in Hyderabad summed up the above. A line-up packed with power-hitters - but missing three or four other, equally gifted hitters - posted a big total, but their bowlers lost control of the game in dewy conditions, and India won with ease. West Indies lost, but the dormantsuperpower narrative remained intact.

Losses like that might turn into wins if West Indies can assemble their best squad more often, but it can also happen if their bowlers get their act together. India completed their chase of 208 in 18.4 overs, and while that’s 112 balls in theory, they actually got to face 123, thanks to all the wides and no-balls.

There will probably be dew in Thiruvananthapuram too, and sweaty palms thanks to the muggy heat, so West Indies’ bowling discipline will once again come under the spotlight.

India, meanwhile, have a long-term issue of their own to address - or sidestep, depending on how the toss goes. You probably already know this, but it’s worth reiterating: since the start of 2018, India have a 14-3 record while chasing, which becomes 8-7 when they bat first.

They hunted down their biggest-ever T20I target on Friday, and did so with ease, but it’s still not certain that their batsmen know how to approach innings when they don’t have a required rate in mind. Thiruvananthapuram may or may not give us answers to that particular puzzle.

In the spotlight

Yuzvendra Chahal needs one wicket to go past R Ashwin and become India’s highest wickettaker in T20Is. The selectors left him out of India’s

Pitch and conditions

squads for the tour of the West Indies and the home series against South Africa, in order to try a few new options, but since his return, Chahal has reiterated his value in the shortest format.

He bowls the difficult overs, uses his variations intelligently, reads batsmen’s intentions better than most spinners, and picks up key wickets - as he showed by dismissing Shimron Hetmyer and Kieron Pollard in the 18th over in Hyderabad, to help keep West Indies from posting an even bigger total.

He took a beating at Virat Kohli’s hands in Hyderabad, and finished with the worst-ever T20I figures by a West Indies bowler, but Kesrick Williams knows that such days are part and parcel of a T20 bowler’s life. West Indies understand the value of his cutters and pace variations - among bowlers from Test-playing teams with a minimum of 20 wickets, he has the fourth-best strike rate of all time - and if the Thiruvananthapuram pitch offers a bit of grip, India might find him a little harder to put away.

T

Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association

Under-15 team to jet off to Florida

Team news

India don’t usually tinker much when series are still alive, which means Manish Pandey, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami

FAB Mining Company continues cricket resuscitation on the WCD

he Feroze Afzal Barakat (FAB) Mining Company has been throwing its support behind sports in general on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD). With the rains now approaching, the company is eagerly awaiting the dry season to continue the venture of bringing sports to everyone on the WCD. It’ started with the owner of the company’s Feroze Barakat and his brother Ishhack Barakat sponsoring cricket privately when there was no cricket playing on the West Demerara. Then Feroze opened his transportation company ODYSSEY transport service and FAB Mining company. The company started to organize cricket more professionally, to date for the last 10 years’ cricket was better organized by the company on the WCD. It should be noted that twice the company was in talks with cricket board on the West side to give them sponsorship. However, the cricket board didn’t accept the plans and most recently in November 2018 they were not interested.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Manager/ Company Secretary of FAB Mining,

might have to continue waiting their turn.

India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Rishabh Pant (wk), 5

The Greenfield International Stadium has only hosted two international games - an ODI and a rain-affected T20I - and slow turn was a feature of both games. The ground hosted 14 games during the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (India’s domestic T20 tournament), and spinners did well once again, averaging 20.85 and conceding 6.35 runs per over.

The weather is likely to be hot and humid, with a slight chance of rain. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Troy Khan, said, “We looking forward to do some school cricket, and hope that those who are administering West Demerara get more serious so we can able to reignite the glory of West Demerara cricket and not just a few teams as it’s seems now.”

Asked what the company has achieved through these sporting ventures, Khan responded, “Well, we are not looking for achievement; but we want to believe, after being so long among cricket in this region, it’s important for us to recognise the persons who have made contribution towards the game, so the youths can build on (it).

Khan also noted that it was only recently that FAB Mining Company started with a few neighboring villages at the club, MetenMeer-Zorg West. After that, the company was approached by almost all the teams in the West Demerara to join them, mainly because cricket was not being played in that area.

Khan related that the company has come a far way, and is currently working towards bigger and better things in the future.

The happy bunch of Under 15 players pose for the camera after an intense practice session at New Trafford

T

raditionally known for organising softball cricket in and out of Guyana, the GFSCA has put together an Under 15 team for the first time to participate at the annual Cricket Council United States of America Open Youth Tournament to be held from December 20 to 23, 2019 at the ICC approved Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill, Florida.

Since its inception, this tournament has grown from strength to strength and now is in its 11th year for senior teams and its third year for youths. The management of the GFSCA has started preparation with several practice sessions at New Trafford, Dennis Street, Georgetown. As the weather permits, more sessions will be held at grounds in and around Georgetown. Two T20 practice matches will be held on December 17, 2019 vs Berbice powerhouse youth team Blairmont. Several more should be played in Georgetown prior to this, weather permitting.

The GFSCA Under 15 youths will be led by Transport Sports Club and promising national youth player Alvin Mohabir. The team also consists of West Indies Under 15 batting star

Mavendra Dindial, National youth all-rounder Zachary Jodha V/Capt, Jonathan VanLange and Demerara under 15 opener Romeo Deonarain.

The management of the team is boosted by former West Indies Captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan as Manager and former national player, youth coach and senior selector, Hubern Evans acting as the coach.

The full team reads: Alvin Mohabir, Nicholas Shiopersad, Gabriel Rookhum, Arun Gainda, Zachary Jodah, Romeo Deonarain, Nityanand Mathura, John PerSaud, Mavendra Dindial, Jonathan VanLange, Dave Mohabir, Ravindra Singh, Stephon Sankar and Premkumar Permaul.

Ramnaresh Sarwan Manager, Hubern Evans Coach, Ricky Deonarain Assistant Manager, Davanand Mohabir Physio and Lalta Gainda, Technical Analyst.

Official sponsors of the Guyana Floodlights Youth team are , Survival Group of Companies, Ramchand Auto Spares, Rubis Guyana, Tropical Spring Waters ,Ariel Enterprise, Trophy Stall, 4R , Nauth Motor Spares, Mikes Pharmacy ,Motor Trend, Rohan Auto Spares , Steve Jewellery , WJ Enterprise and Clear Waters.

20

guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, december 8, 2019

Pakistan Super League 2020…

Paul to play for Quetta Gladiators ꟷ retained by Delhi Capitals for IPL 2020

G

uyanese all-rounder Keemo Paul will make his debut appearance in the Pakistan Super League next year, after being drafted in the 6-team tournament during the drafting process held in Lahore on Friday, December 6.

Quetta Gladiators picked up the 21-year-old Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) player in the PSL draft for the 2020 tournament, which will run from February 20 to March 22.

Paul, an excellent T20 prospect, has participated in 50 games, in which he has taken 51 wickets and returned best figures of 5-15.

In T2OIs, the Saxacalli native has played in 18 games, in which he has taken 24 wickets.

Paul has also been retained by the Delhi Capitals for the Indian Premiere League (IPL) 2020 season.

In the rest of the PSL draft, swashbuckling England opener Jason Roy was the first to be picked in the Platinum Category. Roy was picked up by defending champions Quetta Gladiators, whom he represented in a couple of games during the last PSL season.

Chris Lynn has been drafted in the Platinum Category by the

Lahore Qalandars, who have never hoisted the PSL Trophy. Other Platinum Category draftees include Moeen Ali (Multan Sultans), Dale Steyn (Islamabad United), Alex Hales (Karachi Kings), Colin Ingram (Islamabad United) and Rilee Rossouw (Multan Sultans).

In the Diamond Category, promising Somerset batsman Tom Banton has been bagged by Peshawar Zalmi, and his England team-mate Chris Jordan has gone to Karachi. Colin Munro, renowned for his hitting prowess, has been picked up by Islamabad.

Hard-hitting Australian all-rounder Ben Cutting would be playing for Quetta, while the experienced England allrounder Ravi Bopara has gone to Multan. Peshawar signed the seasoned pro Shoaib Malik.

In the Gold Category, Shrarjeel, who had been given a two-and-ahalf-year ban for his involvement in the 2017 PSL spot-fixing scandal, made a return to the tournament with Karachi bagging him.

Leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed has been retained by Quetta. Samit Patel has been bagged by Lahore, Rumman Raees by Islamabad, Sohail Tanvir by Multan, Liam Dawson by Peshawar, and

Cameron Delport by Karachi.

In the Emerging Category, Pakistan’s Under-19 captain Rohail Nazir has been bagged by Multan.

In the Supplementary Round, England pacer Liam Plunkett has gone to Karachi; experienced South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir to Multan; Rassie van der Dussen, who has already made an impact in the international arena, has gone to Islamabad; and Windies all-rounder Keemo Paul will make his debut in the league playing for Quetta.

The tournament is scheduled to start in February next year.

Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Rawalpindi are expected to host the matches, with UAE as the back-up option.

The teams stack up as follows:

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan, Amad Butt, Faheem Ashraf, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Muhammad Musa, Rizwan Hussain, Luke Ronchi, Dale Steyn, Colin Ingram, Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Zafar Gohar, Phil Salt, Akif Javed, Rassie van der Dussen, Saif Badar, Ahmed Safi Abdullah.

Karachi Kings: Imad Wasim

(c), Babar Azam, Iftikhar Imran Tahir, Bilawal Bhatti.

Peshawar Zalmi: Darren Ahmed, Mohammad Sammy (c), Hasan Amir, Aamer Yamin, Usama Ali, Kamran Mir, Umer Khan, Akmal, Alex Hales, Chris U m a r A m i n , Jordan, Sharjeel Imam-ul-Haq, Khan, Cameron Kieron Delport, Ali Khan, Dan Lawrence, M o h a m m a d Rizwan, Umaid Asif, Liam Plunkett, Awais Zia, Arshad Iqbal.

Pollard, Wahab Riaz, L a h o r e Qalandars: Sohail Keemo Paul has been Tom Banton, Shoaib Malik, Liam Dawson, Akhtar (c), the only Guyanese to be picked up during Mohammad Mohsin, M o h a m m a d the PSL draft 2020 Rahat Ali, Adil Amin, Hafeez, Shaheen Dwaine Pretorius, Afridi, David Wiese, Haris Rauf, Salman Butt, Usman Liam Livingstone, Haider Ali, Shinwari, Fakhar Zaman, Chris Mohammad Amir Khan, Aamir Lynn, Samit Patel, Seekkuge Ali. Quetta Gladiators: Sarfaraz Prasanna, Ben Dunk, Jaahid Ali, Raja Farzan, Faizan Khan, Lendl Ahmed (c), Ahmed Shehzad, Ahsan Ali, Ben Cutting, Mohammad Simmons, Dilbar Hussain.

Multan Sultans: Shahid Afridi, Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Ali Shafiq, Mohammad Irfan, Naseem Shah, Shane Watson, Mohammad Ilyas, James Vince, Umar Akmal, Jason Roy, Fawad Junaid Khan, Shan Masood, Ahmed, Tymal Mills, Abdul Nasir, Moeen Ali, Rilee Rossouw, Zeeshan Sohail Khan, Khurram Manzoor, Ashraf, Ravi Bopara, Sohail Keemo Paul, Aarish Ali, Azam Tanvir, Rohail Nazir, Khushdil Khan.

Shah, Fabian Allen, Usman Qadir,

Kennard elated with 4 matches to commence today sponsorship turnout MYO/ Trophy Stall Inter-Jamaat Softball Cricket Competition sees increase in team participation…

D

T

Diamond New Scheme were champions in the April 2019 edition of the competition

he highly anticipated MYO/ Trophy Stall InterJamaat Softball Cricket Competition has commenced and seen some of the top softball teams among the many Masjids in Guyana battle for supremacy at the MYO Ground, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Sports Committee Chairman and Senior Vice President Imran Ally stated that the goal of the competition was to bring out the youths to do something meaningful, as from this tournament they would be able to have clean recreational fun. Fostering brotherhood through sports is the tournament’s main objective. Ally went on to state that the tournament was usually held at least two times per year and would usually have intense action from the first ball bowled. Ally also noted that he is ecstatic that Trophy Stall which is headed

by proprietor Ramesh Sunich can come on board one again to support this exclusive tournament.

Upon the announcement of the tournament, ten teams registered which was two more than the last time the tournament was held. The teams in the competition are LBI A Masjid, LBI B Masjid, New Mosque, New Amsterdam Masjid, MYO, Cornelia Ida Masjid, Leonora Masjid, Tuschen Train Station Masjid, Hague Masjid and Diamond New Scheme Masjid. This increase of teams has seen new Masjids such as four from the West Coast and one all the way from Berbice.

Today’s fixtures will see the action continue at the MYO Ground, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands with 4 matches.

The first match will commence at 9:00 am which will see MYO see off LBI B, while at 11:00 am LBI B will duke it out with New Amsterdam Masjid. At 13:00

hrs New Amsterdam will lock horns with LBI A and at 15:00 hrs New Amsterdam will take on Diamond New Scheme to culminate the day of action.

This event is sponsored by Trophy Stall.

The current point standings are as follows: Name Games Points MYO 3

6

Diamond 4

2

LBI A 4

2

LBI B 4

4

NM 4

0

Tuschen 5

6

Cornelia Ida 6

8

N/A 4

6

Hague 5

6

Leonora 5

4

ecember 26 will be the day it all goes down as thousands are expected to flock the Kennard Memorial Turf Club for their annual Boxing Day Horse Meet at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice. As such Honurary President of the Club Justice Cecil Kennard is elated with the turnout of sponsors for the event.

Kennard has noted that he is grateful to the many sponsors on board as they have rushed in, eager to be a part of this grand meet. He related that he is extremely grateful to stalwart sponsors like, DDL who has been on board for over 40 years, Torginal Paint for 25 years, P&P Insurance Brokers for over 20 years and Metro who has been sponsoring the first place prize for the feature event for the past 10 years. Kennard also stated that the owner of Metro Ron Ramnarayan’s father was the former President of the club before he migrated, and in honour of him they have renamed one of the stands after him, under the name: “The Deo Kharag Memorial Stand”.

A total of 60 horses are expected for the event such as Don’t Over Look, Jus Call Me Bass, Vera’s Finally, Storm Bird, Lucky Star, TNT, Golden Blue Ecko, Not This Time, Justify the Heat, and the newly imported Santa Cruz Lady and Golden Dancer. Top stables such as Jumbo Jet Racing Stables, Fazal Habbibulla Stables, Chris Jagdeo Stables, Lenny Singh Stables, Nand Persaud Stables among others will also be participating These races will be conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority, and interested owners/train- ers and han-

Retired Justice Cecil Kennard

dlers can call the following persons for more information: Ivan Dipnarine (331-0316), Justice Kennard (623-7609 or 235-4818), Fazal Habibulla (657-7010), Dennis DeRoop (640-6396) or Compton Sancho (602-1567).

Some of the main sponsors on board are Metro Office and Computer Supplies, Torginal Paint Inc, Dalip Trading Limited, Republic Bank, P & P Insurance Brokers, TSM Inc, Movie Town, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Hand In Hand, New Building Society, Silvies General Store, C Gobin Agri Sales of Essequibo, Chatterpaul Deo, Nand Persaud and Company, Poonai Pharmacy of Rosehall town, Rohan Auto Spares, Rohan Oudit, Kissoon Dyal Rice Mill, Demerara Distillers Limited among others.

Entries close on December 16, 2019. No late entries will be accepted

sunday, december 8, 2019

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR SALE For sale as is, 2006 Nissan Bluebird Sylphy, $1.2M call 651-9620.

LAND FOR SALE TRANSPORTED HOUSELOTS SARAH JOANNA EAST BANK DEMERARA # 673-9231 / 216-4063/ 685-5476

property for sale Property for Sale: 2 Huge Land by Street Corner/ Public Road in Grove EBD. 2 Story Building on 1 Land and Bond on the other land, 100 x 99 or 9,940 Square Feet. Ideal for Supermarket/ Hardware Store etc.

For further info, Call: 694-6606.

Lot 90x90 excellent location at EBD, convenience, security and plenty privacy 12.5M. Has 2 family older house. WhatsApp 592-601-3232 Land/Lot 100x275 Prime location privacy security convenient to airport and Georgetown at EBD. Ideal for overseas residents and re-migrants 0.63 acre $27m WhatsApp 592-601-3232.

guyanatimesgy.com

Banks DIH 15/15 Softball Cricket League in Berbice…

Trophy Stall among sponsors …final to be played under floodlights

T

rophy Stall Guyana Limited has come on board as a sponsor of the Banks DIH Limited 15/15 Softball Cricket League for teams in East Berbice. They will be sponsoring some trophies for outstanding performances in today’s competition.

All systems are in place and all is set for the final showdown today, with the quarterfinals, semifinals and final to be played at the world-famous Albion Community Development Centre Ground in East Berbice. With the final set to be played under floodlights, an action-packed day is anticipated.

According to the organisers, any one of the teams can win the competition, as they are all set and ready to go. All of the teams were hard at practice throughout the week, with most playing warm up and friendly games against other opponents.

They each fancy themselves taking home the coveted prizes on offer.

With over $700,000 in cash, trophies and other incentives up for grabs compliments of Banks DIH Limited, a scintillating day’s activity is anticipated, as the best eight softball teams are set to go at each other for the massive prizes up for grabs.

‘Zone A’ comprises teams from East and West Canje, East Coast and East Bank Berbice, and New Amsterdam. ‘Zone B’ comprises teams from the Corentyne.

Teams that have qualified are as follows: ‘Zone A’ are Grill Masters, Chase X1, Betsy Ground United, and Young Strikers. ‘Zone B’ are Port Mourant United, Regal X1, Franchise and Turbo United.

Quarterfinal matches will see a team from ‘Zone A’ playing a team from ‘Zone B’. Semi-final matches will be between the winner of match number one and match number two.

Semifinal number two will see the winner of match number three playing the winner of match number four.

The fixture is as follows – Quarterfinal No 1 will be between Port Mourant United and Young Strikers.

Quarterfinal number two will be between Regal XI and Betsy Ground United.

Quarterfinal No 3 will be between Franchise XI and Chase XI. Quarter Final No 4 will see Turbo United matching skills will Grill Masters.

This tournament is being coordinated by Omeshwar Sirikishun. The

Some of the trophies and incentives up for grabs in the 15/15 competition

winning team will collect $150,000, trophies and other incentives.

Second-placed team would collect $100,000; third-placed team $75,000 and fourth-placed $25,000. There will be other incentives for outstanding individual players.

Banks DIH Berbice Branch Manager Reginald Matthews and Sales Manager Nandram Basdeo, among other staff members, will be on hand to bowl the first ball, participate in the day’s activities, and as-

592 Beer Inter-Village Football Championship…

Exciting clashes on as tournament continues today

A

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOT RECEIVING YOUR DAILY & SUNDAY

COPIES OF THE

GUYANA TIMES

in your area?

ll roads lead to the Golden Grove ground on the Demerara East Coast this evening when the inaugural ‘592 Beer Inter-Village Football Championship’ resumes with a pivotal doubleheader being played from 19:00hrs.

The opening game of the night will pit Friendship against the unbeaten Paradise in what promises to be a keenly contested affair. Friendship will be desperate for a positive result, following a drawn outcome in their previous outing.

Considered the dark horse of the tournament, Paradise will be aiming to seal their place in the elimination round, following an easy win over Victoria in their previous fixture.

F e a t u r e clash of the night will p i t

Contact our

Circulation Department on

Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 55

21

A n n a n d a l e against Golden Grove from 21:00hrs.

Both teams will be desperate for a

positive result following respective losses in their opening match.

According to an official release from the tournament’s coordinators, “The tournament has re-ignited the respective traditional rivalries amongst the East Coast Demerara communities. We thank the fans for their unwavering support in making the event successful, and we anticipate further support as the event enters the knockout round.

“Thrilling football highlighted the event from the inception, and we anticipate further excitement as it nears the eventual conclusion. We must also applaud the players from the competing teams, who have displayed tremendous spirit and willingness to make the tournament a success, and who have competed fierce-

ly but admirably while representing their respective communities.”

The event features 12 teams battling in an initial group format. ‘Group A’ comprises Buxton, Plaisance and Mahaica; ‘Group B ’ Friendship, Paradise and Victoria; ‘Group C ’ Brush Dam, Melanie and Ann’s Grove; and ‘Group D’ Annandale, Golden Grove and Beterverwagting [BV].

Group winner and second place finisher would advance to the quarterfinal round. The grand finale is pegged for January 1st.

The eventual champion of the event will pocket $300,000 and the championship trophy; while the second, third and fourth place finishers would respectively receive $150,000, $100,000 and $75,000 and the corresponding trophy.

Individual prizes would also be awarded for the Most Valuable Player [MVP] and the Best Goalkeeper. Among the major sponsors of the tournament are Bakewell Guyana Incorporated, ExxonMobil, and the Colin Talbot Construction Services.

sist with the prize distribution ceremony at the end of the competition.

There will be special giveaways throughout the day’s activities.

Patrons will be able to win special Banks DIH caps, pens, keys and other souvenirs. A well-stocked bar would be in attendance, and there will be games and other family fun activities for children and adults, including the bouncy castle and the trampoline.

Forde invited to FIFA head office

GFF President Wayne Forde will be looking to make his mark at the FIFA Head Office

P

resident of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Mr. Wayne Forde, will travel to the FIFA Headquarters for a series of meetings with the Director of Member Association, Mr. Veron Mosenga-Omba, the FIFA General Secretary and other top officials.

The meetings which will take place between December 9th and 11th, will focus on the following areas: FIFA Green Building Initiative – Forward in sustainability. The FIFA Forward programme will now include in its regulations, sustainable energy engineering concepts and building codes for all in-

frastructure projects being funded through the FIFA Forward programme. The GFF President will participate in a series of think tanks sessions aimed at developing these new regulations.

GFF Strategic Priorities.

President Forde will also be discussing the GFF’s strategic priorities for Competitions, Capacity Building and Infrastructure Development.

GFF Constitutional matters and Regulation of Sport Locally, the Governance, Control and Regulation of the Game locally will also be discussed during the President’s visit.

22

guyanatimesgy.comom

SUnDAY, december 8, 2019

Guyana-Grenada Goodwill Basketball Series…

Guyana pip Grenada in 1st of 3 matches

I

n the Guyana-Grenada Goodwill Basketball Series being played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Homestretch Avenue, Guyana defeated Grenada 90-73 in the first of their three matches on Friday night, with overseas-based Guyanese player Ray Victor dunking 39 points to lead Guyana to this convincing win.

Both teams looked capable as they took to the court, and most of the pressure was on Guyana, as they needed to defend their home court and avoid an upset at all cost.

In the first quarter of the match, both teams gave their all, the back-and-forth encounter seeing the home team pipping Grenada by a mere 4 points to end on 22-16.

Needing to extend their lead, the home team immediately went on the offensive, and achieved their objective when the second quarter ended 53-36.

Heading into the third quarter with a 17-point deficit, Grenada put in the necessary work, although flustered by Guyanese

stars Ray Victor, Terron Welch and Travis Belgrave.

The hard work put in by the Grenadians was again overshadowed by Victor, who proved to be the proverbial thorn in their sides, and they lost the third quarter 68-57 although exhibiting remarkable play in that quarter.

Heading into the final leg of the game, the score read 68-57 in favour of the Guyana side. It meant that 11 points separated Grenada from a possible upset; but, again overshadowed by good offensive and defensive play from Guyana, they allowed Guyana to score an extra 22 points while they scored only 16 points in their losing effort.

At the end of the night, the score read 90-73 in Guyana’s favour. It represents the first nail Guyana has driven in the proverbial coffin of Grenada. The Guyanese are now only two wins away from clean sweeping Grenada in this series.

Scoring for Guyana were: Ray Victor with 39 points, Terron Welch with 19 and Travis

Nedd’s five-for spins West Indies U-19s to victory over England

W

est Indies U-19s are off to a winning start in the West Indies Rising Stars U-19 Tri-Series with a comfortable 36-run victory over England U-19s at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Sent in to bat, the Windies were dismissed for 164 in 46 overs. In reply, England were bowled out for just 128 in 30.3 overs.

Ashmead Nedd (5-27) and Leonardo Julien (69) starred with ball and bat for the West Indies youths, as the pair immediately displayed the benefit of being part of the successful West Indies Emerging Players team that won the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup. “It’s a great feeling (the win), the guys played really well and were clinical in all three departments,’’ said West Indies U-19 Captain Kimani Melius.

“We always believed defending the total was possible once we stuck to our bowling game plans.”

England U-19 after winning the toss chose to bowl first.

The visitors got an early breakthrough when medium pacer Blake Cullen got the big wicket of Melius for just seven, to leave the score 10 for one in the third over.

Julien, fresh off his match winning 83 in Sunday’s Super50 final, joined countryman, lefthander Mbeki Joseph at the wicket. Similar to the final when he was batting with Yannic Cariah after Melius got out, his 90-run partnership with Joseph who made 37 allowed the Windies’ innings to recover.

“I went out there, assessed the wicket and played my game,’’ said Julien about his knock.

“The wicket was difficult to bat on, so I was just telling myself to wait on the ball and get in.”

After their partnership was broken with the duo

being dismissed in the space of three overs, the Windies slipped from 100-2 to 122-3.

They then lost their final seven wickets for 42 runs in 14 overs.

H o w e v e r, in the chase, E n g l a n d struggled.

The new-ball bowling pair of Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales, took three wickets in the first six overs to put England o n

the back foot immediately.

This exposed their middle order to Nedd’s crafty leftarm spin and he took full advantage to propel the home side to victory.

“Coming into this match I was high on confidence after the Super50. I stuck to the task although we had a low score to defend, I believe in this team and we went out there and defended it (total)”, said Nedd. (Barbados Today) Ashmead Nedd

SCOREBOARD K Melius (c) c †Cox b Cullen 6 M Joseph c Aldridge b Goldsworthy 38 L Julien † c †Cox b Cullen 69 K Anderson c Charlesworth b Balderson 8 A Morris c †Cox b Balderson 5 M Patrick c †Cox b Aldridge 2 N Young lbw b Aldridge 2 M Forde c †Cox b Aldridge 5 J James not out 8 A Nedd c Clark b Aldridge 6 Jayden Seales lbw b Hamidullah Qadri 5 Extras 10 (b 2, lb 2, w 6) TOTAL 164 all out (46 Overs, RR: 3.56) Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Kimani Melius, 3.1 ov), 2-100 (Mbeki Joseph, 28.5 ov), 3-122 (Leonardo Julien, 31.5 ov), 4-129 (Antonio Morris, 34.5 ov), 5-132 (Kevlon Anderson, 36.5 ov), 6-132 (Matthew Patrick, 37.2 ov), 7-138 (Matthew Forde, 37.6 ov), 8-141 (Nyeem Young, 39.1 ov), 9-154 (Ashmead Nedd, 41.6 ov), 10-164 (Jayden Seales, 45.6 ov) BOWLING O M R W GP Balderson 8 1 17 2 BC Cullen 10 1 38 2 KL Aldridge 10 2 38 4 H Qadri 9 0 30 1 DR Mousley 1 0 3 0 GCH Hill 3 0 12 0 LP Goldsworthy 5 0 22 1

England Under-19s Innings (target: 165 runs from 50 overs) BG Charlesworth c Melius b Jayden Seales 0 TGR Clark c Nedd b Jayden Seal es 22 JM Cox † c †Julien b Forde 4 JA Haynes c Forde b Nedd 17 LP Goldsworthy c †Julien b For de 7 GCH Hill c Patrick b Young 12 DR Mousley c †Julien b Nedd 4 GP Balderson (c) c Forde b Ned d 7 KL Aldridge b Nedd 28 BC Cullen c Melius b Nedd 9 Hamidullah Qadri not out 1 Extras 17 (b 4, lb 3, nb 1, w 9) TOTAL 128 all out (30.4 Overs, RR: 4.17) Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Ben Charlesworth, 1.6 ov), 2-28 (Tom Clark, 5.3 ov), 3-28 (Jordan Cox, 6.2 ov), 4-46 (Lewis Goldsworthy, 10.2 ov), 5-65 (Jack Haynes, 12.3 ov), 6-71 (Dan Mousley, 14.4 ov), 7-83 (George Hill, 19.3 ov), 8-83 (George Balderson, 20.1 ov), 9-115 (Blake Cullen, 28.6 ov), 10128 (Kasey Aldridge, 30.4 ov) BOWLING O M R W M Forde 6 2 25 2 Jayden Seales 7 0 46 2 N Young 8 1 23 1 A Nedd 9.4 0 27 5

Part of the action on the first night of the three-match series

Belgrave with 18. Scoring for Grenada were James Andrew and Jonathan Williams (17

and 15 respectively). They were the only two players to register double figures.

GFF-Always Championship Cup 2019

Fruta Conquerors and Lady Panthers flay opponents

T

he clash of the G F F - A l w a y s Championship Cup 2019 will be today from 13:00hrs hours when the two undefeated sides face off in what is anticipated to be an exciting showdown.

Fruta Conquerors and Lady Panthers who both brushed aside their opponents yesterday at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence will clash today in a match that is anticipated to be an intense affair.

Conquerors have scored a total of 18 goals in two matches, thumping Santos 10-0 and yesterday they arrested the Guyana Police Force 8-0. Lady Panthers on the other hand have netted a total of eight (8) goals in their two wins so far, defeating the Guyana Police Force 3-0 and yesterday they romped to a 5-0 triumph over Foxy Ladies.

While Fruta Conquerors boasts a formidable side, Lady Panthers have shown that they will be a force to reckon with and would be led by the championship’s joint leading goal scorer, Shavey Reuben who has six to date; scoring all five in her team’s 5-0 win over Foxy Ladies yesterday.

Conquerors’ Tiandi Smith also has six goals to her account so far and would no doubt be seeking to further increase that tally against the Panthers today. Conquerors’ Lakesha Pearson and Abiosi Heywood both with four goals each will form potent support for Smith in their quest for their third win in

as many matches.

The feature match today will see Santos and the Guyana Police Force going for their first win after one

Shavey Reuben - Lady Panthers FC

with a Helmet-trick in the 5th, 11, 22nd and 48th minute in another dominating performance for the Tucville based side.

Her tally was complimented by goals from Shamya Daniels (15th), Lakeisha Pearson (31st), Jimmaica Hunte from the penalty spot (36th) and

Tiandi Smith (right), Shamya Daniels, Lakeisha Pearson, Abiosi Heywood and Jimmaica Hunte – Fruta Conquerors FC

and three matches respectively from 15:30hrs. Foxy Ladies won their opening match last week 2-0 against the Guyana Police Force.

Meanwhile, yesterday, the Fruta ladies continued to show that they are arguably the best female side in Guyana following in the footsteps of their male counterparts, the GFF Elite League champions.

They took care of business against one of the new kids on the block, Guyana Police Force, 8-0. Tiandi Smith led the goal account

Abiosi Heywood in the 55th minute.

In the opening match yesterday, it was the Shavey Reuben show. The #16 player was in ripping form as she single handedly mesmerized the Foxy Ladies defence netting all five goals.

Goalkeeper Leiona Douglas was beaten in the 15th, 17th, 40th, 45th and 51st minute. No doubt, Reuben would love to increase her personal tally today and lead her team to another win.

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, december 8, 2019

23

Smalta Girls Pee Wee Tournament

North Georgetown get sweet revenge!

Story and Photos by Jemima Holmes

A

s the saying goes, ‘Revenge is a dish best served cold’, and that is exactly what the young ladies from North Georgetown primary served up to their opponents on Saturday evening as they clinched the Smalta Girls 11 and Under Pee Wee tournament.

The final of the tournament went down on Saturday afternoon at the Ministry of Education Ground, where after 5 weeks of grueling and impressive competition from the girls, fate decided to have a rematch of last year’s final.

It may have escaped your memory, but the 3-1 score in last year’s final which was won by West Ruimveldt did not escape the memory of the North Georgetown outfit.

In fact, the reminder of heart breaking 2018 final seemed for fuel an urgency in the North Georgetown outfit.

The high paced encounter began with the defending champions looking to take

A glimpse of the final action

control of the game with an early goal but the North Georgetown defense had other plans as they fiercely held off their opponents. Thereafter, it was the Martha Chance show as she stepped up to put her team in the driver’s seat.

The North Georgetown striker, Chance, has been a shining star in this year’s (and 2018) tournament accumulating hat trick after hat trick to ensure that her team would make it to the final. But the question on

Saturday evening was whether the lanky pre-teen could take it home.

With a clever shot just outside the box, Chance secured North Georgetown’s first goal in the 11th to take the lead. The early advantage did not sit well with the defending champions as they mounted an immediate attack which eventually paid off, as Danella Lewis found the back of the net in the 15th. The equalizer meant that the half time score would read 1-1.

As though their game plan was already memorized, North Georgetown did not spend much time planning and plotting on the bench, but rather sat on the field in their playing formations, waiting intently on their prey.

Chance was at the fore front again, with another handful of crisp shots that either went awry or was scooped up by West’s goalkeeper. She eventually hit the target in the 23rd to take the lead once again. A now panicking West Ruimveldt side fought hard to gain control of the ball but their opponents were like a wall, preventing any lucky scoring opportunity that came by.

As the final whistle sounded, it was the first time that the North Georgetown side showed any emotion, with tears of joy and screams of content.

The third pave playoff which was hosted earlier in the day saw Tucville Primary walking away with the podium position after their encounter

Martha Chance (20) netted a double to hand her team the championship

with Redeemer Primary went down to penalties. The deadlocked scores at the end of regulation time, made way for Tucville’s 3-2 win at the penalty mark.

North Georgetown also dominated the individual awards as Ayanna Griffith

was adjudged the best goalkeeper and Martha Chance walked away with the highest goal scorer award for her 22 goals over the 5 week competition. As such, there was no question when Chance was also announced as the tournament’s MVP.

Banks Beer/BCB 2 Day 1st Division...

Mickle, Corlette, Smith among runs on opening day ꟷ Jawaher grabs 5

By Brandon Corlette in Berbice

L

ed by a collective batting effort including half-centuries from Kwesi Mickle and Brandon Corlette, Tucber Park took honors on the opening day of their second round clash in the Banks Beer BCB 2 Day first division match against Blairmont at Cotton Tree.

The visiting Tucber Park team racked up 274 all out in 58.4 overs and Blairmont were 37-1 at stumps.

Due to the moisture in the pitch, play began at 12:00h with Tucber Park winning the toss and opting to bat first.

Despite the damp surface, esteemed 19-year old Sport

Kwesi Mickle stroked an attractive 76 and Smith slammed 44

he edged on to second slip off the leggie, Kevin Jawaher.

Journalist, Brandon Corlette Benjamin’s classy knock of 30 and his opening partner, was decorated with two fours Malcolm Mickle took the and two sixes.

After Benjamin departed shine off the ball with a 24with the score on 85-2, Tucber run partnership.

Park lost some quick wickets.

Mickle held out to midon for 14 off veteran spinner Clifton Lindie departed for a Shabeer Baksh, the first duck, attempting to hit one ball he bowled. Corlette into the left-side. Former was joined by the National Guyana Under-15 batsman, Caesar joined Under 19 batsman, Garfield Tomani Benjamin who dominated the Corlette and the duo took the 61-run partnership for the the score to 109-4. Caesar second wicket. Corlette who was dismissed by Jawaher was absent from the game with a beauty which rattled for over six months returned the stumps. Corlette reached his patient fifty with a four in finesse.

Despite not timing the ball through covers.

The 19-year old Corlette, to perfection, Corlette dug who scored 59 departed deep and played a fighting when he was trapped in front knock. Benjamin looked at his classy best but his promising by a googly by the impressive innings was cut short when Jawaher. His solid knock was decorated with eight fours and two sweet sixes. Guyana Under-19 player Leon Swamy and K w e s i Mickle played s o m e explosive shots and took the score to 1656.

Swamy was dismissed for 31 after smashing four boundaries and one huge six.

Captain Keion DeJesus had brief stay at the crease after scoring three Corlette bats during as Tucber Park his solid knock slipped to 174-7 in 40 overs at Tea. After the break, Gevon

Schultz was dismissed for a duck as the score moved on to 174-8. The elder Mickle brother, Kwesi showed some great technique and scored freely with Guyana Jaguars player, Nial Smith. The dynamic duo in Smith and Mickle took the score to 266 with 92-run partnership.

In the process Mickle reached his aggressive fifty

but he lost Smith. The latter, struck a blistering 44 which included four sixes and the similar number of fours.

Mickle eventually fell for a well played 76 which was decorated with seven fours and five sixes. His wicket was the last to fall, ending the score on 274 all out in 58.4 overs. Jawaher snared 5-88 in 15 overs after returning

to bowling after some time.

Deodat took 3-63 in 19.4 overs.

In reply, Blairmont ended the day on 37-1 with Smith removing Guyana Youth player, Marvan Prashad for 16 who was strangled down the leg side. Today’s play will commence from 9:30h at Cotton Tree West coast Berbice.

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

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Smalta Girls Pee Wee Tournament Pg 23

North Georgetown get sweet revenge!

Pakistan Super League 2020…

Pg 20

Banks Beer/BCB 2 Day 1st Division...

Mickle, Corlette, Smith among runs on opening day

ꟷ Jawaher grabs 5

Paul to play for Quetta Gladiators ꟷ retained by Delhi Capitals for IPL 2020

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

Pg 23

December 8, 2019

TIMES BOLLYWOOD:

Page 14

FREE DISTRIBUTION

2 Sunday Times Magazine

december 8, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Feature

I

n Guyana, our roads have many stories. Stories of speeding, hit and runs, blatant disregard for traffic rules among a whole host of other stories. It is imperative that we create safe roads because of the number of unnecessary accidents. Drinking and driving is, by far, our most challenging story to deal with and is also the cause of numerous accidents.

It is time we start using our roads more cautiously. Do not be afraid to ask the driver to slow down because your life matters.

In Guyana, thus far, for 2019 some 114 persons have died in 97 accidents. Of this number, 9 were children. November, which is also Road Safety Week, proved to be the deadliest with 21 deaths as a result of 15 accidents.

These numbers are distressing and they only include the reported fatalities. They do not take into account the others who were critically injured or even received minor injuries. The situation on Guyana’s roadways deserve the attention of every stakeholder.

Drivers, especially in the public transporta-

tion system, are using our roadways callously with very little regard for the life or limbs of those in their charge.

The callous use of o u roadways have prompte

President David Granger to express his distress.

“This insane increase in road fatalities has been caused, mainly, by persons driving at excessive speeds; driving under the influence of alcohol; driving without due care and attention inattentiveness) and driving on roads which are congested or unsafe for other road users, particularly pedestrians, thirty of whom were killed,” the President said in an address to the nation.

r d

(or

The President had proposed a three-point approach to road safety.

That included: • more stringent enforcement of traffic laws • greater road safety education through a systematic and sustained countrywide campaign must be conducted • improved engineering solutions to ensure safer roadways World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) is commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year – to remember the many millions killed and injured on the world’s roads, together with their families, friends and many others who are also affected. It is also a Day on which we thank the emergency services and reflect on the tremendous burden and cost of this daily continuing disaster to families, communities and countries, and on ways to halt it.

Road deaths and injuries are sudden, violent, traumatic events.

Their impact is long-lasting, often permanent. Each year, millions of newly-injured and bereaved people from every corner of the world are added to the countless millions who already suffer. The cumulative toll is truly tremendous.

The grief and distress experienced by this huge number of people is all the greater because many of the victims are young, because many of the crashes could have and should have been prevented and because Governments’ and society’s response to road deaths and injury and to bereaved and injured victims is often inadequate, unsympathetic, and inappropriate concerning a loss of life or quality of life.

This special Remembrance Day is, therefore, intended to respond to the great need of road crash victims for public recognition of their loss and suffering. It has also become an important tool for Governments and those who work to prevent crashes or respond to the aftermath, since it offers the opportunity to demonstrate the enormous scale and impact of road deaths and injuries and the urgent need for action.

Many varied commemorative events are held on each World Day, or on the days before or after.

From 1995, road victim organisations under the umbrella of the European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR) observed this Day together – first as European Day of Remembrance, but soon as World Day when Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from Africa, South America and Asia who were associated members of FEVR joined the commemoration.

Therefore, FEVR is the creator and first owner of the World Day of Remembrance. From 2000 onwards, the Pope and other religious leaders remembered road victims worldwide on the third Sunday of November, calling it ‘World Day’ 10 years after it began – on October 26, 2005; the World Day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly as “the appropriate acknowledgement for victims of road traffic crashes and their families”.

guyanatimesgy.com

december 8, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

By Utamu Belle

A

lthough two years have passed since her son was killed after being struck down while riding his motorcycle along the Amelia’s Ward Public Road in Linden, Paulette Sydney and her family still remember it like it was just yesterday.

They are more so reminded with the recent fatal road accidents occurring almost daily across the country. Wilbert Sydney, a former Linden ambulance driver attached to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), was only 28 years old when he was killed while riding his motorcycle back in June 2017.

Reports at the time had indicated that his motorcycle had collided head-on with motor car PNN 4510, which was driven by Michael Luckhoo, 21, of Linden.

Sydney, a father of two, who resided at Lot 70 Half Mile, Wismar, was reportedly proceeding east along the northern side of the roadway on his motorcycle, registration number CH 5634, when the accident occurred. Several other vehicles were also said to be involved in the accident. As a result of the collision with the motor car, Sydney and his motorcycle were reportedly thrown into a motor lorry, thence to the northern parapet. He was later picked up, along with the drivers of the motor car and motor lorry, and taken to the LHC, where he was examined by a doctor on duty who pronounced him dead on arrival. While the drivers involved in the accident were questioned, no one has so far been held accountable in relation to the accident.

But memories of the accident remain fresh in the minds of his family.

The Sunday Times Magazine recently sat down with Sydney’s mother and his sister Shondell, a nurse attached to the LHC. His sister related that the pain of loss only increased recently as she also lost her nursing batchmate to a recent road accident in Linden involving an ambulance and motor car. The male nurse killed in the accident was also a friend of the family.

“That just brings back all the memories. We just keep remembering he all the time ...

It’s hard, it’s hard,” Sydney’s mother Paulette related.

She said not a day went by without her thinking of her son.

She related that each time she would learn about someone being killed in a motor vehicular accident, she would automatically begin to think about the pain the mothers experience, having been in that position herself.

“I was telling my husband that I could just imagine these mothers, because I was there...When I watch at the parents on the television, I could relate. Every day, every day, it ain’t got a day pass that we don’t talk about my son. It ain’t easy,” she reiterated.

According to Mrs Sydney, her deceased son’s daughter, who is almost four years old now, was only two years old at the time of his death, but she still remembers him to this day.

“He didn’t live to see her go to nursery [school] and now she gone into primary…she stays just like that and start to cry. She remembers all the fun moments she had with her father and she talks about it all the time,” Mrs Sydney said.

She added that the child would also tell the family about her dreams of her father. The child would also remember when her father used to go out and tell her that he would return home. To this day, Mrs Sydney said the child would speak as though her father would return home one day.

“So now she says, ‘don’t lock the door, my father said he coming back’. Sometimes, I would try to talk to her and say, ‘Well, you know your father is dead’. She does say, ‘Granny, you must pray a lot for your son and your son would come back to you. Stop crying and pray’,” Mrs Sydney related between tears.

Her son is also survived by a two-year-old son who was just a few months old when he died. Mrs Sydney said that both children are growing in the image of their father.

His sister Shondell related between tears that she still thought of her brother with each passing day. She said she was comforted with words of encouragement from her friend, who related a story about an entire family that was killed in a road accident. She said the words of her friend were comforting as she was encouraged to be thankful that she still had other family members who were alive.

Nevertheless, she said the grief was hard to dismiss.

Mrs Sydney is urging motorists to slow down on the roadways, as she referenced recent accidents.

“This speeding, I don’t know what they speeding for,” she noted, as she expressed her view that motorcyclists weren’t really safe.

Reminiscing, she recalled that her son had kept the purchase of the motorcycle a secret from her until he brought it to Linden. She noted that at the time, she wasn’t too keen on him having a motorcycle, since he already had a car. Mrs Sydney noted, however, that being the fun-loving person that he was, he had used one of his favourite quotes which was everyone should just “live life” after she had raised her concern.

“That is what he used to tell me. I used to say, ‘I don’t want nothing happen to you, because I ain’t know what I gon do’. He used to say ‘Mommy, you strong don’t worry with that; you gonna be alright’. And I lived to see it. Honestly, it took a toll on me for the longest while ‘til now. Now I can sit down and talk about him. At first, whole day I used to lock up in my bedroom,” Mrs Sydney related.

She continued that she could not have ventured into her son’s room following his death. It wasn’t until recently that she mustered up the courage to do so.

She shared that she dreamt of her son for the first time since his death a few days ago. This, she noted, was not surprising since he loved the holidays. Mrs Sydney joked that he enjoyed eating lots of meat around this time. The accident has really taken a devastating toll on the family, as Mrs Sydney explained that she was now fearful whenever she travelled to Georgetown.

“Somehow, like I value my life even more than before,” she related.

Coping with grief The family agrees that coping with grief has not been an easy task. According to Sydney’s sister Shondell, it is a daily task.

“I don’t know how some people does cope with grief, but when you lose a loved one due to accident – if you know someone is sick or ailing, I can understand – but when you see it’s so unexpected, it is really upsetting. I don’t know if people actually get over losing loved ones, but for me, it’s more than two years since I lost my brother and there isn’t a day that pass that he don’t pass across my mind...it is not something easy. Especially when you remember the kind of relationship that you and this person had,” she remarked.

She related that she has had moments when she would just begin to cry, explaining that the grief was hard to shake, even with time.

“I could actually relate to not eating, not getting to sleep ... I tried to be strong throughout the whole process ... but I broke down ... Why people can’t take their time on the road? Going forward is going forward already. You don’t have to go forward with speed,” she stressed.

Shondell explained that people needed to value their lives and those of others, noting that not even justice could help bring them back once they were gone.

“You might go to court, you might win or you might not win, but nothing still ain’t bringing back your loved one. Some of these people got children that are dependants.

Some people got other siblings that are dependent on them and these people’s lives are snuffed out like this. And these drivers, they might go to court and then still get to drive again where they could kill somebody else. People need to be more careful,” she urged.

Shondell remembered feeling the same grief when her co-worker died in an accident recently.

She recalled thinking about his family and wondering how they would cope when she got the news.

Mrs Sydney believes that drivers get off too easily when they are involved in accidents which claim the lives of others. She said stiffer penalties were needed for a clearer message to be sent about speeding on our roadways.

“They should take away their licence forever. When they realise that if they hit somebody down and they can’t get to drive back again, they will take caution ... we went to court and not a thing ain’t come out of the story. They say they didn’t have enough evidence,” she related.

Mrs Sydney explained that the family was told that too many drivers were involved in the accident and it was difficult to ascertain who was really responsible for it.

Shondell believes that drivers involved in accidents which claim the lives of others should be held accountable.

“It is hard. When you lose a loved one, nobody ain’t checking to see if you get financial assistance or something off of the case,” she noted.

Following the death of her son, Mrs Sydney related that the family received another blow as she also lost a sister who passed away e -route to America after vacationing in Guyana. Months later, she recalled, she lost another sister. Both women had expressed grave concern over the number of road accidents occurring almost daily on the roadways in Guyana. Mrs Sydney encourages drivers to “take their time” on the roadways and to be each other’s keeper.

“Look out for each other. Stop the speeding. That is what does cause them accidents,” she scolded, noting her belief that speed played a major role in her son’s death.

On every anniversary of her son’s death, his friends host a ‘Night of Reflections’ in his memory, where they would reminisce on his life. His mother explained that they would wear jerseys with his image, cook, and share memories.

The family calls for support groups to be set up for families who would have lost their loved ones owing to road accidents where they can receive counselling, prayers and find solutions. Reflecting on their own experience, the women related that such situations could lead to depression. Sydney is remembered as a fun-loving person who was always there for his family and would lend a helping hand to even a stranger in need. Had he lived, he would have celebrated his 30th birthday this past October.

4

Sunday Times Magazine

decemner 8,2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Feature

B y M ohanlall S uelall

O

ne of the leading principles in Bhagwanlall Ramlagan’s life is the ability to forgive people despite their shortcomings. He, however, expects those who are pardoned to be somewhat remorseful, but he got a rude awakening a few weeks ago.

On November 20, 2019, Ramlagan was walking along Anna Regina Market Street in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region when he was hit from the back by a young man who was riding his motorcycle in a reckless manner. The 67-year-old recalled that all he felt was a heaviness on his back and then he fell face down onto the pavement.

He lost consciousness. When Ramlagan regained consciousness, he was already being transported to the Suddie Hospital on the Essequibo Coast, where he was treated and later sent away.

The youthful rider of the motorcycle was apparently blazing his way through the busy market area when he lost control of his bike and crashed into the Councillor.

Ramlagan never expected that he would have been in an accident that would leave him in pain to this day.

The motorcyclist was reportedly not wearing any safety gear, also putting himself at risk for serious injuries as well.

Ramlagan, popularly referred to as "Haribol", because of his religious beliefs, said that he was following a spiritual path, so he decided that forgiveness was the right thing to do. Although the young man did not render any assistance to him or even apologised for crashing into the elderly man, he was forgiven. With no strings attached to that forgiveness, Ramlagan said he later learnt that the young man has since paid for the damage he caused to the stalls at the market, but has yet to reach out to him to check to see how he is doing.

He said that he suffered injuries to his back, knees and other parts of his body and could not have worked for more than two weeks. The elderly man is still in pain, but because of religious teachings that he should show mercy to all of God's creation, he did not report the matter to the Police. He wanted to meet the young man personally and give him some good words of advice so as to be more careful on the roadways, but he was not fortunate because the young man did not make contact with him after the accident.

Ramlagan said that he was very much concerned about the many road accidents and fatalities and was calling on drivers to apply the 5 ‘Cs’ when driving, especially at this time of the year. He is calling on them to be extra careful when driving and also insisted that drivers stop speeding and not drink and drive.

He noted that while there were some reckless drivers, there were also some careless pedestrians who did not care how they used the roads. He urged all road users to be careful especially during the holiday season. He said that Christmas was a time of sharing and loving and he hoped that drivers would do the right thing to show love and compassion to the other road users by driving carefully, to avoid causing grief, sadness, and pain to themselves, families, friends, neighbours and the general public.

guyanatimesgy.com

december 8, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

By Rupa Seenaraine

A

s Guyana emerges as a leading eco-tourism destination in the Region, there are a few hidden treasures – from pristine waterfalls to majestic wildlife in the interior regions – which have captivated the eyes of many.

Just beyond the Pomeroon River at Akawini Creek in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) lies Adel’s Rainforest Resort, promising an unforgettable experience to tourists and the local community.

During a recent media tour, some of the wonders which could be experienced were revealed, from swimming in refreshing creeks to bird watching in the early afternoon hours. If you’re lucky, majestic scarlet ibises can be spotted at the mouth of the Essequibo River where the milky brown waters meet the blue Atlantic Ocean.

Resort owner Zena Stoll said her family has owned the land on which it is situated for over a century. The resort is named after her grandmother, and the original property was solely farm-

land which had remained dormant for some 45 years until she took up the mantle of revamping it as a destination to be explored.

This decision was taken primarily owing to the decline in eco-tourism some years ago. As such, Stoll explained that she returned from Barbados and developed the property into a prime eco-tourism site that could accommodate visitors.

Despite many challenges at first, the resort has been successful in providing all services to those who visit and can accommodate up to 20 persons in a comfortable atmosphere. Breakfast, lunch, and supper are provided along with any other services which visitors may request.

“There was a time when you heard that Adel’s was going down and it bothered me terribly. It was either to sell which I couldn’t answer to my family and superiors. After 145 years, how could I take it out of the family? Hence, I’m here. Quite honestly from March to now, I couldn’t do it without the help I’ve gotten,” she reflected.

Opening up about this hidden treasure, Stoll said all you need is a “cup of tea” on a bench outside to enjoy the tranquillity and peace. Rare sightings can be had, including those of baboons and parrots. The wildlife is most prevalent when the trees are laden with succulent fruits.

“My meet-greet is that you will be greeted with a glass of coconut water…In the evening at 06:30h, you just come out here with a cup of tea and the parrots are coming. They’re so gorgeous. Last week, we had a lot of baboons. I think it depends on what trees are producing. If you go to the mouth of the river in the afternoon, the trees are littered with scarlet ibis and the white egrets,” she explained.

While some may opt for this picturesque scenery, other thrilling options are available, including fishing or swimming.

But Stoll has cautioned that caimans have been spotted in the water – a natural occurrence which should not be disturbed.

“We do fishing and night-spotting…. The water is black

and, of course, the black water is from the tannin of the leaves. I’m asked ‘Are there caimans?’ Of course, these things got to live, because we are in their territory. But we do have people who swim and I make someone sit out here to see if anybody is in difficulty,” the resort owner highlighted.

“We do have solar systems which give us ample lighting. I think security-wise, we are protected. Our dogs are our protection. When we hear them bark, it doesn’t mean it is human.

We get agoutis walking on the dam, the labba. A couple of weeks ago, they caught the anteater.”

She also spoke the affordability of spending some time at the eco-tourism destination. The farmlands surrounding the resort is managed without pesticides, everything is organic. However, what complements the attractions most is the staff, who are always willing to assist and ensure that hospitality is up to par.

“My staff are the best. They work endlessly for me, because they too like the idea of tourism. I look forward to having them as partners and not workers.”

To visit the resort, the journey starts with a boat ride from Parika in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) to Supenaam. Thereafter is a drive from the Ferry Stelling to Charity where another boat will conclude the trip up the Pomeroon River. For the boat rides, most persons choose a slower boat, so they can take pictures and enjoy the view.

In March 2019, Guyana was named the “Best of Ecotourism” destination in the world. The award was presented to Guyana at the ITB global travel trade fair in Berlin, Germany.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

december 8, 2019

Feature

Preserving our literary heritage by Petamber Persaud

Was the moon an eyewitness, a sentinel or a participant?

O

n Saturday night, November 16, 2019, the moon stood majestically above a hillock in Santa Rosa, Moruca, spreading soft gold on an appreciative audience that had formed a huge semicircle witnessing the first Storytelling Festival in Indigenous Languages to be staged in Guyana.

This festival was designed to coincide with the UN declaration of 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. It was organized by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs and attended by both ministers of that ministry, the Hon. Sydney Alicock and the Hon.Valerie GorridoLowe who were suitably attired for the occasion and who were quite engrossed in the performances.

The moon held her own despite two glaring sets of floodlights, the crackling bonfire and scores of flickering screens of mobile phones. Each dark cloud she sent away with a silver lining so she may have full command of sky ensuring there were no drastic changes in the weather, using her celestial powers to also maintain a coolness fueling the event, creating the correct atmosphere for storytelling. The climate for storytelling is important in setting the stage, bringing out the best and connecting to the rest. What is good ole time storytelling without a moon!

And it was good ole storytelling at its best for it was participatory – the crowd was into to it (act/action) from the first welcome rendered in their own language. That connection was established and maintained throughout the session and the circle tightened around the tellers becoming more intimate as forgotten and unused sounds, words and gestures were invoked – things the people can relate to and in this climate they openly embraced these innate qualities, enthusiastic to be identified with their own languages and their own stories and their own histories, pride swelling in their breasts. At times, the tellers did

not own the stories so enthused was the ring of participants, supporting, challenging or correcting (I had ringside seat as one of the judges).

In this open air affair, many of the tellers were costumed each according to her/his particular nation, adding colour, charm and flair.

Flair was important as both young and no so young beat their breasts in pride and stamped their feet with authority (yes, there were also many types of indigenous dance dramas in which the crowd participated with relish and enthusiasm). These were moments to cherish and build on.

Each item on the programme was designed to give a glimpse into a wide cross section of indigenous stories from different communities performed in the following languages - Carib/Kali’na, Warrau and Arawak/Loko. So there were, just to mention a few items - the ‘Welcome song’ from Warapoka, a history of RC church by representatives of Santa Rosa village, the engaging story how Kwebana got its names and how to get rich by a member of Kwebana community. How Kanaima was overcome performed by Santa Cruz, and the history of shell mound performed

by Waramuri residences were two stories of triumph over evil that perhaps garnered the most enthusiastic crowd responses.

Even though a few pieces were seemingly without plots or storylines, this did not take away from the performances, in fact, the pieces without plots served to underline the need for more research and data collecting and preservation and ultimately coaching sessions on how to present these stories in a structured form to the public – gems in need of polishing.

There were no bad stories however at times the storytelling craft was poorly executed, indicating the need not only of saving the languages but the need of preserving the stories through oral and written structured presentations.

On the fringes, there were groups that were not on the programme proper but were itching to take the stage. And it was on the fringes that I heard other just-so and how-so and name stories like how the moon got her dirty face, how Wakapoa got its name through

a story loosely named ‘the moon sick girl and the watermumma’ – closely related to how Kwebana got its name, how the lazy man was cured which was not unlike one of the stories told in English and Creolese on how to get rich. Also on the fringes, I heard why honey is so scarce now and how Indians learned to paddle and with the piwari and fly flowing copiously, becoming heady, there were many intriguing stories about man/woman relationships.

The Moruca Storytelling Festival in Indigenous Languages was demystifying and magical at the same time akin to magic realism, a genre originated on the South American Continent and Guyana is part and parcel of such storytelling tradition which was put into practice on this occasion to good effect.

The Moruca Storytelling Festival in Indigenous Languages is only a beginning, another beginning to preserve the in-

digenous languages but this method of preservation through storytelling is the best form for now and it augurs well for the future.

What’s happening:  It is here in Guyana: ‘Kiskadee Days: Village People’

by Gaitri Pagrach-Chandra, please contact me for further information.  Coming soon: ‘Jung Bahadur Singh’ by Baytoram Ramharack.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

guyanatimesgy.com

december 8, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

W

hen construct i o n worker Lawrence Braithwaite lost his sight to glaucoma in 2007, the road ahead was a prospect filled with misgivings and uncertainty. He had to find something else to do to make money and maintain his family. Little did he know that he was about to embark on a new path in life that would lead him to overcome immense challenges, achieve triumphs and become an admired entrepreneur with innovative products produced under the company name Braf’s Manufacturing.

Looking back on how it all started, Lawrence remembers being told he would never see again. But even more, he remembers that the news made him aware of a steely inner resolve that he never knew he possessed. “It hurt, yes; but I told myself it was not the end of the road. This is not the end of my life.” Indeed, it was the beginning of a progressive chapter in his life.

Totally uncomfortable about accepting charity, the first major decision he made was to rely on his own wits and abilities to earn a living. His second decision was to open a small chicken-rearing business. It was a big mistake. He soon found out that raising chickens and selling them, which is not easy for persons with perfect vision, is an ordeal for sightless folk because they are easy prey for thieves. It was not long before some of Lawrence’s chickens were being stolen, forcing him to shift to producing salted fish. But this did not work because thieves were stealing some of the fish that was being dried and cured.

These setbacks might have broken a lesser man, but not Lawrence. He was more determined than ever to succeed. The big question was: What business to do next? His bad experiences taught him that outdoor ventures were more vulnerable to thieves. “So I decided to do something that would be processed indoors,” he recalled.

Lawrence decided to experiment with making plantain flour and selling it. He bought five pounds of plantains and ground them into powder using a hand-mill borrowed from a friend. He was able to get one pound of flour. “This has potential,” he said to himself.

He bought more and more plantains and used his borrowed hand-mill to make increasing amounts of flour. He would put the flour in bags and walk around in his community of Buxton and sell to his neighbours. In almost no time at all, he had a growing number of satisfied customers.

However, his troubles were not over. One day, while walking through the nighbourhood and selling his products, Lawrence accidentally walked into a trench. It was a stark reminder that life was tough without sight.

Then his bad experiences being a target for thieves continued. He bought 200 pounds of plantains from the market once, but a man he asked to help him take the load to a vehicle made off with the entire amount.

Lawrence was discouraged but quickly regained his cheerful personality, determined to press on.

“I never gave up,” he said. Instead, he borrowed money from his friends, bought more plantains and continued with his business.

His products had to satisfy Food and Drug certification requirements before he could go further. As a blind person, it was extraordinarily difficult for him to handle the running around and paperwork required, but he did what he had to do and his products are fully certified for both quality and hygiene.

Meanwhile, Lawrence beefed up his entrepreneurial skills by attending workshops, and he learned quickly how to market his products more effectively and operate a small business more efficiently. He was able to benefit from a special training programme for disabled people, conducted by the Small Business Bureau.

Around that time, Lawrence moved to East Ruimveldt in Georgetown. Through his participation in the Small Business Bureau programme, he was able to secure funding to buy dehydrators and electrical mills.

In this way, he was able to produce a wider range of products, including barley flour, tamarind balls, and instant porridge. Lawrence specialises in quick-preparation foods suitable for folk who are unable to spend much time in the kitchen.

For example, his flavoured instant porridge mix—made of whole wheat flour and milk—requires only the addition of warm water to be table-ready. Besides this, his fish-cake mix—made from potato flour, fish, oats and seasonings—only requires being mixed with water, left to rest for 10 minutes and fried for one minute.

Lawrence’s never-say-die attitude has paid off as his business continues to grow.

His long term goal is to set up a factory and create opportunities for employment. He is seeking land to achieve this goal.

Always keen to explore new opportunities, he is one of the innovative Guyanese manufacturers who will put their local products on display at the ‘Marketplace UncappeD’ exhibition hosted by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) on Sunday, December 8, 2019, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

This is not his first time at Uncapped. According to Lawrence, “A friend encouraged me to participate in UncappeD, and I have no regrets.” He said his products gained

great exposure at the event and many patrons had complimented him on their quality and presentation.

Lawrence has a treat in store for persons who visit his booth at the upcoming UncappeD event. “I will introduce a special dip made of tomatoes and bilimbi,” he said, noting that his various products will be on sale.

Right now, Lawrence’s preparations for the event are moving into high gear and, amazingly, he is putting everything together using a computer and a touch-screen smartphone.

He is looking forward to meeting customers and making new friends at UncappeD, particularly those of us who are intrigued by the incredible story of this indefatigable Guyanese entrepreneur who lost his eyesight, but never lost his inner vision. (Sagacity Inc)

8 Sunday Times Magazine

demember 8, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Feature

E

njoy incredible grass-root experiences and fall in love with Guyana. The country’s true ethos can be felt in the many community-based tourism initiatives, where villages have pooled their resources and come together to invest in tourism as one of their main sources of income. Guyana is a leading pioneer in community driven, owned and led tourism in the Caribbean and South American Regions. Stay in villages ecolodges, have meaningful interactions during hikes and river trips, and learn about the rhythm of life of the indigenous Peoples of Guyana. Your experiences here will be both fulfilling and transformational and will have a positive and direct impact on the lives the people who visit. (Explore Guyana – Guyana Undiscovered)

Surama Eco-Lodge

The village of Surama was one of the first indigenous communities in Guyana to invest in and embark on community-based tourism initiatives. Led by First Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs in Guyana, Sydney Allicok, Surama Eco-Lodge took its first steps to become a community that welcomed visitors in the late 1990s; this is probably why it is regarded as one of the best Amerindian hospitality. Surama Eco-Lodge lies at the edge of Burro Burro River in North Rupununi. Entirely managed by the local community and a wildlife club run by kids, it offers a chance to stay in benab styled huts and have access to nearby action-packed nature trails. Fill your days fishing in the river for piranhas, treading the forest trails, trying to spot Guyana’s giants, and eating excellent local meals. The amazing birds and wildlife around Surama gives you reason enough to linger here for a few extra days.

rainforest that promises an unforgettable experience.

Rockstone

Spend a few days on the Essequibo River’s shore and enjoy village life at Rockstone near the mining town of Linden. The village does an admirable job of marrying traditional living with the needs of modern travelers. You can stay at the Arawana Lodge on stilts, cruise the river in dugout canoes and stroll on the three nature trails with local guides. Trips to Gluck Island, isolated beach time and Arapaima fishing add to the fascinating and diverse array of activities. Time your trip to see the action at the annual Rockstone Fish Festival.

Santa Mission

You don’t have to travel too far from Georgetown to experience a slice of Arawak life. Santa Mission, on the Kamuni Creek on the Demerara River, is a wonderful place to see weavers and other artisans at work, sprawling farmlands and simply stunning nature. The value of community-owned and led tourism is apparent when you see the busy handicraft shop, or travelers enjoying the nature trails around the village.

St Cuthbert’s Mission Rewa Eco-Lodge

If you are a nature love, the Rewa Eco-Lodge is a dream come true. Stay amidst 300 Makushi natives who are extremely passionate about preserving their rainforests and the arapaima, the largest scaled freshwater fish in the world. Consider yourself lucky to be able to learn more about over 100 species of birds, jaguars, tapirs, giant river otters and other wildlife from the people who know these creatures the best. Get breathtaking views of the rainforest from Awarmie Mountain, and cruise along rivers and ponds in a dugout canoe. Sport fishermen consider the waters around the lodge as one of the best! Filled with piranhas, tiger fish, peacock bass and much more, the Rewa River offers you an unforgettable fishing experience. But what stays with you most of all is the warm hospitality of the Makushi and the insight that they share about their culture.

Recognised by many as the cultural centre of the Amerindian’s, St Cuthbert’s Mission is surrounded by savannah and dense vegetation. Local craft, hoatzin-watching, river trips on the Mahaica and staying in the local accommodation lie at the centre of community tourism here. Imagine time slowing down to give you ample hours to see baskets being made of liana or joining local children in splashing games along the river.

Victoria Village

The only way to feel really alive when you travel is to experience truly authentic slices of local life. Expect just that in Victoria Village on the East Coast of Demerara. It was the first village in Guyana to be bought by former slaves, who won their freedom in the 1800s. Passion for the land runs deep amongst its inhabitants and before you know it you will be meeting the locals. Take the Mangrove Heritage Tour and see this natural wonder in action.

To add on more to the experience, visit the Victoria Honey House and get a bottle of locally-made honey as your take home souvenir.

Aranaputa

Aranaputa’s reputation is linked to the delicious peanut butter produced by a local factory here. Of course, this is only one of the many community initiatives of the village. Others include nature trails, hikes and an eco-lodge, where you can stay in a thatched roof benab. At the end of an adventure filled day celebrate the Makushi traditions, culture and cuisine – all in one place.

Konashen

Konashen is Guyana’s southernmost Amerindian village and the largest protected area run by a local community. Reason enough for you to follow in the steps of the Wai Wais and see the region through their eyes. Guided treks, overnighting in the community’s eco-lodge and nature immersion are some of the options in this dynamic

Wowetta

For the intrepid explorer an authentic travel experience is more important than anything else. The Makushi village in the heart of the country allows you to realise this travel dream. Lying at the edge of the untouched Iwokrama forest, it gives you a chance to witness the harmony between villagers and the forest. Cassava farming, weaving and the cock-of-the-rock birds are some of the many highlights of this village.

Yupukari

Yupukari’s terrain if grasslands and forests is just as gripping as the village’s cultural rhythm. Home to the Makushi people, Yupukari Village is best known for Caiman House Lodge.

This research centre focuses on preserving and measuring the growth of the black caiman population in this part of Guyana. Caiman tagging is a favoured activity among visitors to the village, and one you would not want to miss out on! If you’re lucky, you might catch a monthly village campfire where a stage is set for the Makushi, Parishara and Hummingbird daces in colourful costumes.

guyanatimesgy.com

december 8, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

9

Health

L

aryngitis is an inflammation of your voice box (larynx) from overuse, irritation or infection.

Inside the larynx are your vocal cords — two folds of mucous membrane covering muscle and cartilage. Normally, your vocal cords open and close smoothly, forming sounds through their movement and vibration.

But with laryngitis, your vocal cords become inflamed or irritated. This swelling causes distortion of the sounds produced by air passing over them. As a result, your voice sounds hoarse. In some cases of laryngitis, your voice can become almost undetectable.

Laryngitis may be short-lived (acute) or long lasting (chronic). Most cases of laryngitis are triggered by a temporary viral infection or vocal strain and aren't serious. Persistent hoarseness can sometimes

signal a more serious underlying medical condition.

Symptoms In most cases laryngitis symptoms last less than a couple of weeks and are caused by something minor, such as a virus. Less often, laryngitis symptoms are caused by something more serious or long lasting. Laryngitis signs and symptoms can include: • Hoarseness • Weak voice or voice loss • Tickling sensation and rawness of your throat • Sore throat • Dry throat • Dry cough Seek immediate medical attention if you: • Have trouble breathing • Cough up blood • Have a fever that won't go away • Have increasing pain • Have trouble swallowing Seek immediate medical attention if your child: • Makes noisy, high-pitched breathing sounds when inhaling (stridor) • Drools more than usual • Has trouble swallowing • Has difficulty breathing • Has a fever higher than 103 F (39.4 C) These signs and symptoms may indicate croup — inflammation of the larynx and the airway just beneath it. Although croup can usually be treated at home, severe symptoms require medical attention. These symptoms can also indicate epiglottitis, an inflammation of the tissue that acts as a lid (epiglottis) to cover the windpipe (trachea), which can be life-threatening for children and adults.

vaccination

Causes Acute laryngitis Most cases of laryngitis are temporary and improve after the underlying cause gets better. Causes of acute laryngitis include: • Viral infections similar to those that cause a cold • Vocal strain, caused by yelling or overusing your voice • Bacterial infections, such as diphtheria, although this is rare, in large part due to increasing rates of

Chronic laryngitis Laryngitis that lasts longer than three weeks is known as chronic laryngitis. This type of laryngitis is generally caused by exposure to irritants over time. Chronic laryngitis can cause vocal cord strain and injuries or growths on the vocal cords (polyps or nodules). These injuries can be caused by: • Inhaled irritants, such as chemical fumes, allergens or smoke • Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) • Chronic sinusitis • Excessive alcohol use

• Habitual overuse of your voice (such as with singers or cheerleaders) • Smoking Less common causes of chronic laryngitis include: • Bacterial or fungal infections • Infections with certain parasites Other causes of chronic hoarseness include: • Cancer • Vocal cord paralysis, which can result from injury, a stroke, a lung tumor or other health conditions • Bowing of the vocal cords in old age Risk factors Risk factors for laryngitis include: • Having a respiratory infection, such as a cold, bronchitis or sinusitis • Exposure to irritating substances, such as cigarette smoke, excessive alcohol intake, stomach acid or workplace chemicals • Overusing your voice, by speaking too much, speaking too loudly, shouting or singing Complications In some cases of laryngitis caused by infection, the infection may spread to other parts of the respiratory tract.

Prevention To prevent dryness or irritation to your vocal cords: • Don't smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke. Smoke dries your throat and irritates your vocal cords.

• Limit alcohol and caffeine. These cause you to lose total body water.

• Drink plenty of water. Fluids help keep the mucus in your throat thin and easy to clear.

• Avoid eating spicy foods. Spicy foods can cause stomach acid to move into the throat or esophagus, causing heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

• Include whole grains, fruits and vegetables in your diet. These foods contain vitamins A, E and C, and help keep the mucous membranes that line the throat healthy.

• Avoid clearing your throat. This does more harm than good, because it causes an abnormal

vibration of your vocal cords and can increase swelling. Clearing your throat also causes your throat to secrete more mucus and feel more irritated, making you want to clear your throat again.

• Avoid upper respiratory infections. Wash your hands often, and avoid contact with people who have upper respiratory infections such as colds.

Diagnosis The most common sign of laryngitis is hoarseness. Changes in your voice can vary with the degree of infection or irritation, ranging from mild hoarseness to almost total loss of your voice. If you have chronic hoarseness, your doctor may want to listen to your voice and to examine your vocal cords, and he or she may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist.

These techniques sometimes are used to help diagnose laryngitis: • Laryngoscopy. Your doctor can visually examine your vocal cords in a procedure called laryngoscopy, by using a light and a tiny mirror to look into the back of your throat. Or your doctor may use fiber-optic laryngoscopy. This involves inserting a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) with a tiny camera and light through your nose or mouth and into the back of your throat. Then your doctor can watch the motion of your vocal cords as you speak.

• Biopsy. If your doctor sees a suspicious area, he or she may do a biopsy — taking a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope.

Treatment Acute laryngitis often gets better on its own within a week or so. Self-care measures also can help improve symptoms.

Chronic laryngitis treatments are aimed at treating the underlying causes, such as heartburn, smoking or excessive use of alcohol.

Medications used in some cases include: • Antibiotics. In almost all cases of laryngitis, an antibiotic won't do any good because the cause is usually viral. But if you have a bacterial infection, your doctor may recommend an antibiotic.

• Corticosteroids. Sometimes, corticosteroids can help reduce vocal cord inflammation. However, this treatment is used only when there's an urgent need to treat laryngitis — for example, when you need to use your voice to sing or give a speech or oral presentation, or in some cases when a toddler has laryngitis associated with croup.

10 Sunday Times Magazine Fashion

december 8, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

guyanatimesgy.com

december 8, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Recipes

guyanatimesgy.com

December 8, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

Q

G

oogle co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who have mostly stayed out of the spotlight since restructuring their company four years ago, are relinquishing control of parent company Alphabet to current Google CEO Sundar Pichai, the duo announced in a joint letter published to Google’s public blog. The two men will remain employees of Alphabet and retain their seats on the board, but they will no longer oversee the company’s sprawling, almost trillion-dollar empire they created while at Stanford University more than 20 years ago.

“With Alphabet now well-established, and Google and the Other Bets operating effectively as independent companies, it’s the natural time to simplify our management structure. We’ve never been ones to hold on to management roles when we think there’s a better way to run the company. And Alphabet and Google no longer need two CEOs and a President. Going forward, Sundar will be the CEO of both Google and Alphabet,” Page and Brin wrote.

“He will be the executive responsible and accountable for leading Google, and managing Alphabet’s investment in our portfolio of Other Bets. We are deeply committed to Google and Alphabet for the long term, and will remain actively involved as Board members, shareholders and co-founders. In addition, we plan to continue talking with Sundar regularly, especially on topics we’re passionate about.”

In an email sent to employees and later published alongside Page and Brin’s letter, Pichai stressed that the change will have little to no impact on how Google operates on a day-to-day basis. “I want to be clear that this transition won’t affect the Alphabet structure or the work we do day to day. I will continue to be very focused on Google and the deep work we’re doing to push the boundaries of computing and build a more helpful Google for everyone,” Pichai wrote. “At the same time, I’m excited about Alphabet and its long term focus on tackling big challenges through technology.”

The news, while it sounds like a shocking development for the course of Google’s future, is not surprising to those who have followed Page and Brin’s careers since 2015. The duo have rarely made public appearances, spoken on investor calls, or shown their faces at product launches or the company’s annual I/O developer conference. Brin, who once hosted a live skydiving demo of the now-defunct Google Glass at I/O, was often a showy futurism-loving face of the company’s more experimental efforts, while Page — the acting CEO of Google until Pichai took over — was the overall executive face. Both effectively disappeared from public view, however, after the company was restructured.

The creation of Alphabet was controversial in 2015, marking an unprecedented new corporate structure for Silicon Valley at a time when the tech giants were amassing huge power and consolidating industries. Alphabet was designed to split Google into its main business, which includes its search engine and nearly a dozen other massive products, and the other disparate arms of the company, like its X lab (formerly the Moonshot factory Google X) and now its selfdriving unit Waymo.

But the creation of Alphabet also gave Page and Brin carte blanche to fade from the limelight and let Pichai take the reins. Page has since become involved in electric aircraft companies like California-based Kitty Hawk, while Brin has mostly stayed out of the headlines save a rare public appearance at San Francisco International Airport in early 2017 to protest President Donald Trump’s early-term immigration-related executive order.

Pichai has gone on to grow Google into an even larger facet of daily online life, overseeing the launch of the Pixel brand and Google’s other hardware efforts in addition to the company’s immense investments in artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Since the creation of Alphabet, the company’s stock price has more than doubled, as has the company’s revenue. In its first quarterly earnings report since Alphabet’s formation, the company reported sales of $18.7 billion. In its most recent quarterly earnings report, Alphabet reported sales of more than $36.3 billion.

But Page and Brin also handed the CEO title to Pichai at a time of increasing scrutiny of Big Tech, and Google and its YouTube subsidiary have faced a severe series of controversies since the company’s co-founders stepped back. Similar to fellow Big Tech companies Amazon and Facebook, the last four years have been arguably the most contentious in Google’s history, as an activist coalition of employees have arisen within the company to fight for change and lawmakers, activists, and regulators have sought to check Google’s power from the outside. (The Verge)

ualcomm has announced a second-generation version of its ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, the 3D Sonic Max that promises to fix the issues with the original 3D Sonic Sensor by offering a sensor that’s 17 times bigger. The 3D Sonic Max is so big, in fact, that it can read two fingerprints at once for extra authentication, via Engadget.

The company’s first-generation ultrasonic fingerprint reader, the 3D Sonic Sensor, promised improved reliability and security over existing optical in-display fingerprint readers. Despite a high-profile debut in Samsung’s Galaxy S10, the first-generation 3D Sonic Sensor was plagued by issues, including problems getting the smaller sensor to read prints accurately, slow speeds, and a glaring security hole caused by some types of screen protectors that was only fixed in October.

The new sensor looks to address those issues, thanks to being vastly larger: where the old sensor measured 4mm x 9mm, the new 3D Sonic Max is 20mm x 30mm, or 17 times larger.

According to Qualcomm, that should help solve most of the earlier problems. The bigger sensor makes it far easier to position a fingerprint (to avoid the positioning issues).

And in an interview with CNET, Alex Katouzian, SVP and general manager of mobile at Qualcomm, noted that the new 3D Sonic Max should avoid the screen protector problems by capturing a clearer complete fingerprint when reading due to the larger scanner size. The option to require two simultaneous fingerprints to scan together also should help increase security options.

One thing that won’t change, though, is the speed. According to Katouzian, scanning a fingerprint will take roughly the same amount of time with the new sensor as it did with the old one.

We’ll have to put the new 3D Sonic Max through its paces to see whether it actually solves the problems of the original 3D Sonic Sensor. There’s still no word yet as to which companies will actually be using the 3D Sonic Max in devices, although there should be more news on that sometime in 2020. One potential customer could be particularly interesting: early rumors claim that Apple is exploring using Qualcomm’s tech to add an in-display fingerprint reader to the iPhone as early as next year, per MacRumors. (The Verge)

M

otorola has been experimenting the last few years with its One line of phones, which look to blur the line between midrange and high-end smartphones. The latest attempt is the Motorola One Hyper, which is essentially a budget version of a OnePlus 7 Pro. Like the 7 Pro, Motorola is using a pop-up selfie camera to give the front of the device a completely screen-filled look with no notches (although there is still a bit of a bezel chin on the bottom). The net result is a 6.5-inch, 2340 x 1080 display that has a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio, which, if nothing else, looks great in the renders that Motorola has released.

There’s also the headlining spec that gives the phone its name: 45W USB-C “hyper charging” that’s among the fastest supported charging speeds we’ve seen yet on a smartphone.

(The budget One Hyper actually beats the 30W charging OnePlus 7 Pro here.)

Unfortunately, the rest of the specs are par for the course for a midrange Android phone: 128GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, and a Snapdragon 675 processor. The bright spot is the 4,000mAh battery, which, when combined with the weaker processor, should lead to some better-than-average battery life. Motorola promises 38 hours of continuous use from a charge. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is always nice to see. On the software side, the Motorola One Hyper ships with Android 10, which is especially welcome on a midrange device like this.

The cameras are also fairly standard for a midrange phone. The One Hyper offers two rear cameras: a 64-megapixel main lens, which captures quad-pixel 16-megapixel stills, and an 8-megapixel 118-degree ultra-wide lens. The One Hyper also supports Motorola’s usual suite of camera software, including the company’s AIpowered night mode and shot optimization features. The pop-up selfie camera is a 32-megapixel lens (effectively taking quad-pixel 8-megapixel stills).

Compared to the 7 Pro’s $699 price tag, the One Hyper doesn’t look like a bad phone for the $399 price.

But Motorola is launching the One Hyper in the middle of holiday sale season when the high-end 7 Pro is on sale for $549 (just $150 more than the One Hyper) — to say nothing of the various sales on other great Android phones like the Galaxy S10 — so the $399 One Hyper is a tougher sell.

The One Hyper marks the third Motorola One-branded phone that the company has released in the last few months, along with the Motorola One Zoom (which offered a four-camera system) and the Motorola One Action (which tried to build a GoPro-style action camera into a phone). The One Hyper looks nice, but it follows the trend of having a singular gimmick, which makes me wonder what kind of device Motorola could make if it focused all its innovations on a single great phone instead of splitting them into a trio of merely good ones.

The Motorola One Hyper will be available in the US starting on December 4th. It’ll be sold exclusively on Motorola.com as a GSM unlocked device. (The Verge)

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

decEMBER 8, 2019

Bollyollywood

K

A

ctor Rishi Kapoor, who will soon be seen in Emraan Hashmi’s The Body, reportedly began shooting for his first film post his cancer treatment on Thursday. Directed by Hitesh Bhatia, the film will also feature Juhi Chawla.

A Mumbai Mirror report quoted a source as saying, “Hitesh’s film is currently under pre-production. It will be shot from scratch and goes on the floors in Mumbai on Thursday. This will be followed by a month-long schedule in Delhi in January.”

Rishi had begun shooting for the untitled film in Delhi last year when he was diagnosed with cancer and had to rush to the Sloan Kettering Hospital in the US to begin his treatment, it added.

The film marks the re-

A

ctor Randeep Hooda, who was injured while shooting for Salman Khan’s Radhe, has revealed that he caused additional damage by giving more takes of a shot after the accident. Randeep essays the role of the main antagonist in Radhe Most Wanted Bhai.

Randeep got injured while shooting an action sequence on the sets of the film.

The 43-year-old actor had a slight dislocation and had to be rushed to Kokilaben

union of Juhi and Rishi on screen after a long gap of 10 years. The two last worked together in Zoya Akhtar’s Luck

By Chance (2009). The tabloid added that Rishi had completed some patchwork for The Body in a quick span of three days.

Recently, Rishi talked at length about young actors and asserted that craft should be the top priorities, not looks.

“These days, budding actors are more interested in grooming and building their body.

They focus on building muscles than emotional exercise, which is important for actors. Build your mind rather than your body when you prepare for acting, because if you have the acting skill, you will surely become an actor. If you don’t have that, you are replaceable. Look at me, do I

have the body? But I am still working, because in every film I try to create a character.” he told IANS last week.

“Okay, I maybe old, I do not inspire youngsters. But look at Ayushmann (Khurrana), Rajkummar Rao, Ranveer Singh, Vicky (Kaushal) and -- I’m not taking his name because he is my son -- but Ranbir too is a talented actor!

None of them have ‘dole-shole’ (muscles). Kyunki dole rahne se, kalakar nehi banoge. Bus gym mein paise phukega (Having muscles won’t ensure you will be an artist, you’ll only waste money in the gym).

(Amitabh) Bachchan saab ko dekho (look at Mr Amitabh Bachchan), he did not have muscles. But even today, he is the original angry young man of Hindi cinema,” he added.

(Hindustan Times)

Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. The incident occurred while shooting for the action sequence of the film. he makers have signed a special Korean stunt team to design the action sequences. A Pinkvilla report quoted Randeep as saying, “The Korean action director and his team are a stickler for perfection and had to get a long sequence in a single shot. A co-actor jumped on my back with all his might and weight in the heat of

the moment bringing all the weight down on one knee at an awkward angle. Dislocating the patella.

Tried to do more takes after but that caused more damage till I had to be carried off the set on people’s shoulders.”

Discharged from the hospital and currently on bed rest, Randeep also said that shooting is likely to resume soon. “Second opinions are being sought and should resume shooting ASAP,” he said.

The action-packed movie will have four to five major action sequences including a smoke fight, hand to hand fights and a shoot-out.

The most popular scene of every Salman Khan-starrer - a shirtless fight scene between the protagonist and antagonist - will also be shot with Salman and Randeep.

Randeep has earlier worked with Salman in the 2014 hit Kick that also marked the directorial debut of Sajid Nadiadwala, and Anushka Sharma’s 2016 film Sultan.

(Hindustan Times)

T

artik Aaryan is now the first Indian actor to have an Instagram filter dedicated to him; the new filter takes inspiration from Kartik’s new song Ankhiyon Se Goli Mare.

Kartik shared a video on his social media, using the filter. He also reposted several fans’ videos who used the filter. The filter offers the song from his upcoming film Pati Patni Aur Woh that also stars Ananya Panday and Bhumi Pednekar.

According to a Mumbai Mirror source, reps from the app approached Kartik with the idea to have his filter for the social media platform and it took them more than a month to give their best as they didn’t want to disappoint his fans.

Kartik also told the tabloid, “I’m addicted to Instagram.

As everyone knows, I’m always active on this platform because it helps me to connect with my fans and well-wish-

ers across the globe. When I met the young and brilliant creative team of Instagram, we discussed several ideas and finally zeroed on this. It feels really special to have my own filter on Instagram plus be the first one to do it here as well.”

Talking about his passion for films, Kartik recently said, “ I was born in the small town of Gwalior. My parents were in the medical field and I was going to do engineering. But in 9th grade, I saw Baazigar & I knew I wanted to be on the

other side of the screen,” Directed by Mudassar Aziz, Pati Patni Aur Woh is a remake of 1978 BR Chopra film by the same name that starred Sanjeev Kumar, Vidya Sinha and Ranjeeta.

Kartik plays a middle-class man with Bhumi as his wife.

Ananya plays his young and glamorous colleague.

The new film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Renu Ravi Chopra, and Krishan Kumar and is to release on December 6.

(Hindustan Times)

their opinion about the gift exchange because it was featured on the show.

The twins have not directly addressed the backlash,

but Khadijah tweeted in response to Kardashian’s defensive comments, “I love you!”

(Page Six)

T

he “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star defended twins Khadijah Haqq McCray and Malika Haqq after an episode of the E! reality series showed the sisters helped Kardashian’s ex, Tristan Thompson, make arrangements to gift her jewelry.

“I keep seeing people criticizing my best friends.

My best friends would never do anything to hurt me,” Kardashian, 35, tweeted on Tuesday. “I can say that with full confidence! You guys don’t know the entire story. EVER!!

You watch 44 minutes of an episode and really think you know it all.”

In a separate tweet, the Good American co-founder told the haters, “Stop talking about my friends. Focus on your own lives, which I’m pretty sure is NOT perfect.”

Kardashian also said she is able to handle negative comments about herself, but not her BFFs because they are “nothing but incredible.”

On Sunday’s episode of “KUWTK,” Khadijah and Malika were in the hotel room when Kardashian was surprised with a diamond necklace.

“It’s from Tristan,” Malika, 36, said. “He asked for help to surprise you with something.”

Kardashian and Thompson, 28, split in March after he cheated on the reality star a second time when he kissed her sister Kylie Jenner‘s former best friend Jordyn Woods. He was allegedly also previously unfaithful when Kardashian was nine months pregnant.

Viewers commented that they have a right to share

guyanatimesgy.com

december 8, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

decEMBER 8, 2019

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Evaluate your emotional wellness and consider what you can do to improve the status quo. Relationships will take work, compromise and understanding. Make a positive change and see what happens.

If you say what's on your TAURUS mind, positive change will (April 20- take place. Letting others May 20) know how you feel will open up a fruitful discussion.

Venture out by yourself GEMINI if you need to get something (MAY 28- done. Someone will take adJune 20) vantage of you if you are too accommodating. Do your own thing.

A positive change is headCANCER ing in your direction. If you are (June 21- aggressive in your pursuits, you July 22) will get your way and get things done. Romance is on the rise.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Don't share too much information, or you may end up being talked about behind your back. Listen and sit tight until you are fully prepared to make a move.

You'll shine, so don't shy away from saying what's on your mind and presenting what you want to do next.

You can make money and form lasting partnerships.

Romance looks promising.

Take care of your and othLIBRA ers' responsibilities. Whether (Sept. 23it has to do with you or someOct. 23) one close to you, you are best off clearing up whatever needs to be done.

Peanuts

Jump into action. You can SCORPIO (Oct. 24- accomplish a lot if you are Nov. 22) ambitious. A loved one will pitch in and help if you ask.

Offer a reward or romantic incentive.

Impulse needs to be SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23- tamed if you want to come Dec. 21) out on top. Refuse to be taken in by an embellished sales pitch. "Me time" will help you regenerate.

Calvin and Hobbes

Consider your needs and CAPRICORN follow through with your (Dec. 22- plans. Getting involved with Jan. 19) youngsters or taking up a creative hobby will bring you the pleasure you've denied yourself in the past.

Go directly to the source AQUARIUS and investigate what's possi(Jan. 20- ble and what's out of reach.

Feb. 19) Problems with a loved one will surface if you are judgmental. Offer others the same freedom you expect in return.

PISCES If you attend a gather(Feb. 20- ing, you'll be offered excitMar. 20) ing concepts. A community event will enrich your life.

The people you fraternize with will encourage personal growth. Romance is in the stars.