Guyana Times Sunday January 12, 2020

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4163 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Ali promises reversal of Govt's economic onslaught on Amerindians Centre Pages

...“Your rights are important” – tells massive Moruca rally

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Armed bandits storm Tuschen P16 home P8

Leguan residents counting losses P14 …after widespread flooding owing to negligence

Linden centenarian refuses to be left behind:

keeps active by farming P16

General and Regional Elections 2020

ERC condemns incidents of intimidation, abuse, assault

...everyone must be able to express political views openly – diplomats

PPP/C's visionary manifesto, APNU/AFC's violations reasons behind decision to enter politics – new candidates Page 9

See stories on pages 3&7

Guyanese P5 surgeon Dr Bud Lee dies

Newspaper vendor’s murder

2479 fires P15 recorded in Berbice in 2019

Family alleges loan Page 8 information leaked to bandits

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NEWS

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

General and Regional Elections 2020

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

Sunday, January 12 – 05:30h – 07:00h and Monday, January 13 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, January 12 – 05:40h – 07:10h Monday, January 13 – 06:25h-07:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine is expected during the day. There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 05:38h and 17:52h reaching maximum heights of 2.64 metres and 2.79 metres.

Low Tide: 11:25h and 23:55h reaching minimum heights of 0.59 metre and 0.43 metre.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

06 11 12 19 25 27 15

FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

03 04 08 15 18 LUCKY 3

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Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

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06 07 15 18 21

PAY DAY

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

SUPER PAY DAY

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

Everyone must be able to express political views openly – diplomats W ith 49 days to go before General and Regional Elections in Guyana, members of the diplomatic community are urging political parties to practice true social cohesion and tolerance for differing political views during the campaign season.

In a joint statement by United States Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn, and European Union representative Fernando Ponz, which comes just one day after Nomination Day, the diplomatic community is urging the embracing of unity.

“Now the hard work of campaigning begins in earnest. During this election season, we encourage all Guyanese and the leaders of Guyana’s political parties, civil society organisation, business chambers, the media, religious groups and educational institutions to embrace the essence of unity and social cohesion as enshrined in Guyana’s Constitution,” they stated.

“We urge all parties to promote and support a peaceful and mature elections campaign—one where everyone, regardless of political leanings, is able to express their political views openly,” the statement said.

The diplomats noted that while parties can and should campaign, they ought to campaign in the spirit of “hearty and respectful competition”. The envoys made it clear that the ultimate objective is free and fair elections that reflect the will of the people.

Ahead of Nomination Day, there were several instances and even a Police report regarding A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) supporters bullying People’s Progressive Party (PPP) supporters.

There was the case of former parliamentarian Harry Gill, along with other members of the PPP/C, who were on Monday last attacked while erecting elections campaign flags at Number 10 Village, West Coast Berbice.

The incident, which was captured on camera, shows persons verbally abusing and physically blocking the team as they attempted to

United States Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

EU representative Fernando Ponz

British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn

place the flags on the utility poles. Gill, in an invited comment to Guyana Times, had stated that a formal Police report would be filed and that the international community would be informed of the incident.

This was only one instance where party members were verbally abused. Only recently, several PPP supporters were attacked and abused in Laing Avenue, Georgetown by residents as they were announcing the launch of its elections campaign.

In light of the recent attacks, the Party had writ-

ten to Police Commissioner Leslie James, asking for swift actions to be taken against supporters of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership

for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition who attacked Opposition members and destroyed the party’s impedimenta.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 12 2020

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

The race is on

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ow that Nomination Day is over, we know that there are thirteen parties – down from the nineteen that had declared their intention and symbols – that will be contesting the March 2 General and Regional Elections. It is possible by tomorrow that number may be further reduced since the GECOM Secretariat would have scrutinised the lists for duplications and other transgressions of the rules of the nomination process.

Only three of the parties were able to field candidates in all ten regions and as such claim to be “national” parties. Ironically, the party that joined the PNC-led APNU/AFC and the PPP/C was the URP, which has been around since 1992 but has never been able to garner even close to the number of votes to match the number of signatures which allowed them to compete. It is very unlikely that any of the other new parties would be able to better the URP’s abysmal performance.

But what might encourage them to continue with their seemingly quixotic effort is the role that such other insignificant entities, such as Keith Scott’s National Democratic Party, which was absorbed by the PNC-played to allow the latter to claim “national representation”.

They are actuated by the cold calculus of power and actually undermine the necessity for actual democratic legitimacy based on popular support. Can anyone with a straight face say that APNU’s five “parties” and the AFC represent Guyana’s diversity equitably?

We are therefore left with a race in which there are only two parties going into the stretch. On one hand, we have the PNC which seems determined to continue with the charade of inclusivity built with smoke and mirrors of one-man parties. And on the other, we have the PPP, which has eschewed that patently offensive ploy to hoodwink the Guyanese populace. As their Candidate Irfaan Ali informed the latter at their campaign launch, the PPP is using the model of the original PPP, which was founded “three scores and ten years ago”.

To wit, to enter this game-changing election – equivalent to the 1953 one which heralded the political independence movement but this time promising economic independence with the onset of oil – with an agglomeration of like-minded young, bright minds that are more au fait with the demands of a globalised millennium economy. Unlike the absorption of a welter of paper parties that are silenced by the disequilibrium of size between them and the PNC, the PPP’s approach to garner young professionals from across the divides, who bring diverse views to the table where the “old heads” act as mentors, creates a cohesive force that can take Guyana forward.

Even though it could not have been easy, the PPP has convinced most of their old guard that the old must make way for the new, while still retaining a contributory role.

This approach obviates the need for the debilitating manoeuvrings within the PNC-led coalition of the various “partners” to jockey for influence – and even attention – from the PNC. The PPP has always been very open about the ancillary nature of their Civic component, which provides a base for those individuals “from various classes and strata” who have not become members of the party, to work together with them.

After experiencing five years of the PNC-model of Government for Guyana, the people are in a position to gauge the aptness of the vehicle their country needs at this juncture. Just as in biology, in politics, form dictates function. It should be self-evident to most open-minded Guyanese that a government that is pulling in two or more directions cannot accomplish what is necessary for the transformation of their long-suffering country.

The disgraceful episode where David Granger toyed with Khemraj Ramjattan like a cat playing with a mouse, on whether he would or would not be the Prime Ministerial candidate as was explicitly agreed to, does not give much confidence on what lies ahead if their coalition were to continue in office.

Local spectators drink tea and coffee on the dunes during stage six of the Dakar Rally between Hail and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (VOA)

Track record of indecency, dishonesty and flagrant disregard for the rule of law

Dear Editor, Even as the APNU-AFC heads to elections in March 2020, it appears as though it will continue to trample upon our laws without any remorse until their last day in office, instead of seeking forgiveness from the electorate for disregarding our laws over the four-plus year.

Since assuming office, the APNU-AFC has consistently demonstrated its proclivity for disregarding the laws of Guyana, including the Constitution.

Two Constitutional breaches that will remain forever in our memories are the unilateral appointment of the Chairman of GECOM by the President and failure of his Cabinet to resign and call elections per the Constitution.

Unfortunately, these were not the only legal transgressions by the APNU-AFC coalition. They are countless other breaches that rarely attract the same attention as these constitutional breaches. The reports of the Auditor General that covers the period 20152018 provides numerous instances of violations to the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, Stores

Regulations, Procurement Act 2003, and Circularized instructions. A summary of these breaches is provided in the table below.

Source: Report of Auditor General (various years) While it is human to err, another truism is that responsible 'god-fearing' people usually express remorse and make the necessary adjustments to avoid repeating their mistakes. I am not aware of any public apology from members of the APNU-AFC for these breaches. However, based on available information, it is clear the APNU-AFC government does not have any intention of correcting these mistakes. The Report of the Auditor General for 2018 revealed that the recommendations from the Auditor General to remedy breaches to circularized instructions and the Procurement Act in 2017 were never im-

As we speak, the APNUAFC continues to breach the Procurement Act with the apparent complicity of the Procurement Commission that is supposed to ensure compliance with the Procurement Act 2003. We saw the notification of 54 contract awards

by Cabinet that was terminated by the passage of time and our Constitution that required the resignation of the Cabinet upon the passage of a No Confidence Vote (Citizens Report, January 10, 2020). A contract valued at $826 million was also signed between BK International and the Ministry 2019 by a caretaker government that is only empowered to incur recurring expenses to the tune of

Dear Editor, I was confused by Mr Granger’s early behaviour when he first came to office.

How was this man, intelligent by all accounts, unable to understand, in those early days, his enormous good-fortune and see that his first duty as President of Guyana was to be magnanimous – to embrace all and unite the country? It was not until a year after that I was told by a gentleman who enjoyed strong ties to the PNC, knows Mr Granger personally, held advisory roles in the Administration and moreover, was a fierce PPP critic, that our President was blinded by race.

By then, this gentleman was himself already disillusioned.

As the years rolled on, the real man behind the presidency emerged. His unilater-

al closure of four sugar estates and putting 7000 workers on the breadline, against the recommendations of his own CoI was one revelation. Just after the NCM, we saw our caretaker President express disdain for our Constitution and rule of law. He refused to acknowledge what was written in plain black and white and completely ignored established precedents related to the appointment of the GECOM Chairman. We saw him adopt nonsensical mathematics put forward by an opportunistic lawyer to stay in office, breaking democratic norms in the process. We also saw him making up his own rules as he went along.

In SN editorial yesterday, the writer marvelled at the President’s blissful unawareness in the reduction of his

powers since the NCM. The Editor also mentioned that the President berated the GPA on fairness, of all things, when challenged for pulling SN ads.

This is what we call wrong and strong. It appears he thinks that whatever he speaks is absolute gospel and that it is accepted as such by everyone.

This is a narcissistic and dictatorial failing. I have observed a similar attitude being adopted by his Ministers when publicly challenged.

At this juncture, I wonder what the second tier leadership and the supporters of the AFC, if they exist, must be thinking in respect of the new and still secret Cummingsburg Accord.

AFC top brass is not concerned because they are convinced that they are secure if there are spoils to go around but other-

plemented. The advice from the Audit Office regarding overpayment for construction works in 2017, was also never implemented in 2018.

1/12 of the previous budget (Guyana Standard, January 7, 2020). These breaches confirm that the APNUAFC government has no in-

Breaches 2015 2016 2017 2018 Stores Regulations 53 60 34 57 Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 21 82 40 71 Procurement Act 2003 18 71 27 28 Circularized instructions … …

29 41 tention of respecting our laws.

The many violations of our laws are testimony of the decency, honesty, and real intention of the APNUAFC to respect our laws.

The hoisting of flags with words such as 'decency and honesty' as well as sloganizing these catchwords during the election season cannot erase the fact that the APNU-AFC government is hardly decent, honest, and law-abiding. Guyanese are smart enough to know that 'actions speak louder than words.' They will pay attention and vote based on the track record of the APNUAFC on March 2, 2020.

Sincerely, Name withheld

Succumbing to his true nature

wise no one in their right mind would trust Granger. Doubters should consider that he has already circumvented the first Accord. This is, after all, a man who perceives whatever he conceives to be the reality and, therefore, cannot be reasoned with.

I am still at a loss to reconcile my early perception of the President and the man I see today but maybe there is nothing there and we have all been taken for a ride because in one of WikiLeaks releases from 2015, https:// wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/ 1974GEORGE01076_b. html, our caretaker President was labelled as a racist.

Sincerely, Ravi Ram

NEWS

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Popular Guyanese APNU/AFC list is dominated surgeon Dr Bud Lee dies by the same squanderers P

opular Guyanese surgeon Dr Wallace Irving Lee, known as Dr Bud Lee, died at the Woodlands Hospital on Saturday. He was 87 years old.

In a newsletter published by the Woodlands Hospital, it was stated that Dr Lee, or as he is known by his friends and colleagues as “Bud”, was a consultant surgeon at Woodlands Hospital. He was also a Director of the Hospital, and had been at that institution since its inception.

He was born in Georgetown on July 14, 1932, and was one of his parents’ three sons. His primary education was obtained at the Christ Church Primary School, and his secondary schooling was obtained at Queen’s College, where he had the distinction of being “Head Boy”.

He did medicine at the University of the West Indies and his FRCS in Edinburgh… he has represented Guyana in Squash and Badminton. He was also called for trials for Guyana’s cricket side, but… it was the same time that he had to attend the University.

He played Squash up to the time of his demise. When

he returned to Guyana, he worked as a Consultant in Surgery at P.H.G, the newsletter stated.

Dr Lee, the newsletter stated as it fondly remembers that at that time he had to do all specialities in surgery, including Orthopaedics, Urology and Neurology.

He had also worked at Prasad’s Hospital, Medical Arts Centre and St Joseph’s Mercy Hospital. His vision for Woodlands had been to pro-

vide the best possible service for its patients, the newsletter detailed.

His contribution to Medicine in Guyana was recognized by the Government, who awarded him the Golden Arrowhead of Achievement (A.A.) and later the Cacique Crown of Honour (C.C.H.).

He was also recognized by his peers for his contribution to surgery when he received an award given by ‘The institute of Medicine, GPHC’.

Dear Editor, It is an honour to be selected as a candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic for the upcoming General and Regional Elections. Over the course of the last eighteen months, I have had the pleasure to work with many of the fellow candidates and work it has been as we have struggled with the obduracy of the Granger Administration.

At 52, I am one of the older members of the list, which augurs well for Guyana’s future; the destiny of our country should be driven by youth guided by experience.

The balance achieved on the PPP/C list is exquisite.

Those of you familiar with my advocacy via the letter columns will know of my fierce passion for honesty, accountability, and transparency in governance. The world has moved to a point where Governments are expected to work in fishbowls and provide unprecedented access to the decision-making process as well as contracts and public expenditure; Guyana under an Irfaan Ali-led Government would see a paradigm shift to openness in all its business. Looking at the team

backdated infused Houseto-House Registration following the CCJ’s ruling on the carried No-Confidence Motion (NCM). Therefore, GECOM’s decision to add unverified names from the truncated House-to-House Registration to the NRR given the existence and continuance of the legally binding Claims and Objections is clearly wrong and highly objectionable. It creates a recipe for serious confusion and lawlessness and the GECOM Chairperson must remember her ruling went against using of ‘voters identification card’, although, the political parties had agreed to that process.

Clearly, the approximately six thousand (6000) unverified names cannot be added to the Revised List of Electors. Further, it is unacceptable for the Guyanese voting population to carry the burden of the uncertainty of names that GECOM staff and APNU scrutineers registered, which, within days cannot find the persons who registered them. It is of note that the Secretariat under Keith Lowenfield had utilised surreptitious approaches to exclude the scrutineers from the main Opposition or any other party from the process.

To read in the press that the Government Commissioners walked out of the statutory meeting before Nomination Day is a clear signal of what is to come. The PNC as the core of APNU/AFC coalition is clearly exhibiting a determined manoeuvre based on procrastinating and delay-

ing the process in order to stay illegally longer in office. The obvious approach is the use of an infiltrative approach at GECOM to realise a contaminated list which they hope and expect will be rejected, towards a recurrence of the 1990 position when elections were delayed by two years to clean up the mess.

For quite some time, stakeholders have observed that Keith Lowenfield has continued to usurp the authority of the GECOM Commission. There have been numerous complaints from Commission members that he has implemented the decision of his own accord, without following or bringing the appropriate matters before the Commission for approval and directions. There are no objections by the proven highly partisan PNC/APNU Commissioners when these matters are discussed.

Opposition Commissioners raise objections, and it indicates the existence of clandestine behind the scene manoeuvres which undermines the required level of transparency for this key organisation.

The foregoing highlights the highly conflicting issue of hiring of staff, which functionally, fall under the Commission’s responsibility. Of real concern is the recent publication of hired Regional Returning Officers (ROs) who are supposed to be temporary appointments, while these persons are actually permanent members employed at the GECOM Secretariat without the

blessings of the Commission members. Regarding the hiring of staff, Act No 15 of 2000 Election Laws (Amendment) Act 2000 states: “17. (1) There shall be a Permanent Secretariat to the Commission to ensure institutional memory and capacity and the Commission shall be responsible for the efficient functioning of the Secretariat.

(2) The Commission shall be responsible for appointing on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Commission such permanent and temporary staff to the offices of the Commission as are considered by the necessary for the discharge of its function under the Constitution and any written law.

18.

The Chief Election Officer and the Commissioner of Registration shall, notwithstanding anything in any written law, be subject to the direction and control of the Commission. In essence, let us be clear, all hiring and appointment of staff, “permanent and temporary” must be done by the Commission.”

Taxpayers and Guyanese at large cannot accept the continuously partisan and incompetent staff the GECOM Secretariat hired to do the House-to-House Registration, and which, within days, cannot find the registrants. I had forewarned that the shenanigans of those behind the farcical House-to-House, is strongly linked to milking cow syndrome of thiev-

Dr Wallace Irving Lee, known as Dr Bud Lee (Woodlands Hospital photo)

assembled I can assure that capability, competence, intellect and work ethic are well represented. I have no doubt that the PPP/C team can deliver on the policies, plans and projects outlined in our manifesto. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the opposing lists.

The APNU/AFC list is dominated by the same people who have squandered the country’s reserves in four and a half years, as they have engaged in their Danse Macabre since the fall on December 21 2018, they have racked up an overdraft of a billion dollars per week; at last count, in November 2019 our overdraft stood at $76 billion, consider it was $69 billion at the end of October! The Granger cabal has no intention of even appearing transparent, following the rule of law or giving a fig about our parliamentary democracy. The procurement process has been odiously bypassed; the ceiling for solesourced contracts increased dramatically and contract splitting has become the new order as the treasury has been emptied of reserves and filled with debt notes once again.

For we have been here

before, the PPP/C inherited a bankrupt, heavily indebted poor country in 1992; 153 per cent of our country’s earnings were used to service debts. Granger has squandered with the hope that ‘oil money’ will be the panacea for all ills caused. I fear even massive oil revenues could not put this nation back on the road to progress if the geriatric, friends and cronies of APNU/AFC that comprise their list are ever allowed to govern again.

I urge the public to peruse our team list; it is full of successful people from a myriad of professions, who are fully prepared to do the hard work required in the service of our nation. Pele summed up what is required when he said “Success is no accident.

It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do”. I reiterate that an Irfaan Ali-led Government would be the embodiment of these sentiments as we work for the love of our nation and its people. Elections are on March 2, 2020.

ing and spending money.

Further, it must be noted that the ‘unverified’ Houseto-House Registration was done on the wrong statutory forms.

Observers have noted that persons added to the RLE presumably from the truncated House-to-House, have been assigned an identification card number.

These have included the thousands of unverified persons that are clearly challengeable. It is, therefore, necessary that we ask when will the GECOM Secretariat issue the National ID cards to the people who applied and are waiting for months for their ID cards.

As in the previous General and Regional Elections, another area of conflict has been the absence and neglect of the GECOM CEO to provide the reconciled position of the electronic result to the Commission for approval before announcing and publishing the results of votes counted in the ascertainment of the elections results. I advocated for the definitive and procedural legal compliance in this respect. Section 96 (1) and (2) of Act No 15 of 2000 Election Laws (Amendment) Act 2000 states respectively: “(1) The Chief Elections Officer shall, after calculating the total number of valid votes of electors which have been cast for each list of candidates, on the basis of the votes counted and the information furnished

by Returning Officers under Section 84 (11), ascertain the results of the elections

in accordance with Sections 97 and 98.

(2) The Chief Elections Officer shall prepare a report manually and in electronic form in terms of Section 99 for the benefit of the Commission, which shall be the basis for the Commission to declare and publish the election results under Section 99.”

Hence, it is imperative that all systems must be in place for efficient functioning in the Information Technology Department. In this sense, the UNDP offer previously rejected by previous Chairman James Patterson must be accepted immediately. There must be no resistance to the UNDP IT presence at GECOM. Things are not looking good with the GECOM staff, the proven highly politically tarnished persons of the like to Melanie Marshall is bad news. The public demands that persons, which fall in this category, are not tolerated around GECOM! There are questions about why the Returning Officer for Region Five’s appointment was delayed and only named after Granger’s announcement about having to ‘win’ in this region.

There is something sinister about this because Region Five is a suspect area for housing many Haitians, while the PNC representative had falsely tried to remove thousands of legitimate Guyanese from the voters’ list. What, therefore, is GECOM’s motive?

Respectfully, Robin Singh

GECOM must not interfere with the NRR Dear Editor, It is necessary and timely for all stakeholders in these critical and overdue General and Regional Elections to establish the measures of adeptness that will ensure the application of processes consistent with the applicable legislative framework. Certainly, non-compliance in this respect leads to default variances from the legitimate expectations by competing parties and creates partisan impacts that will likely favour one group against other competitors. Already, there have been myriad challenges to the applied processes including the tinkering with the NRR and RLE after publication without following the mandatory statutory processes.

The National Registration Act Cap 19.08 establishes the divisional basis for continuous registration and stipulates the conditions and procedures the Commissioner and specific deputies must follow during any period of Registration. Specifically, Section 15 of this Act addresses the process including the right of appeal following Claims and Objections to which the Commissioner of Registration’s decision is final; before any name is added or subtracted from the National Register of Registrants Database. Certainly, there is no evidence that the Chief Elections Officer at GECOM is following these mandated obligations.

Foremost, the halting of the Patterson/Lowenfield

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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Foundation

you know what Childhood emotional neglect: Do makes a good mother? what it is and how to heal Are you sure? …the absence of emotional support in childhood can be damaging …both holding on and letting go can be expressions of maternal love

and long-lasting

By Andrea Brandt, PhD

P

hysical abuse can leave physical scars while emotional abuse leaves psychic ones, but what about emotional neglect? The absence of emotional support in childhood can be as damaging and long-lasting as other traumas.

But, because you can’t point to exactly where and when the wounding happened, it can be hard to identify and overcome it. Emotional neglect is not the same as child abuse because it is often unintentional. While some parents might intentionally ignore their child’s emotions, others may fail to notice or respond to their child’s emotional needs. Your parents could have tried their best and loved you very much, but they may still have neglected your emotional needs, nonetheless.

Your parents may have been emotionally neglected by their own parents, and because they didn’t have good role models for how to treat a child’s emotions, they didn’t know how to treat yours. Even if they tried to correct for the mistakes their parents made, they might still have come up short. Illness, death, divorce, and job losses can all lead to emotional neglect because the parents may not have the ability to respond to their child’s emotional needs.

When parents treat children’s emotions as unimportant, not valid, excessive, or of lesser importance than other issues, they neglect the child emotionally. Some phrases that may be familiar to you if you were a victim of childhood emotional neglect include: “You don’t really feel that way.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

“It’s not worth getting upset about.”

“Stop being so dramatic.”

When your parents don’t notice, value, or respond to your emotions, or they question your emotions when you express them, they unintentionally send a message to you that your feelings don’t matter or that there’s something wrong with the way you feel. To cope, you learn to bury your feelings or to transform an “unacceptable” emotion like anger into an “acceptable” one like anxiety.

Does this sound like it might describe your childhood?

Here are nine signs you may have suffered from childhood emotional neglect: You’re afraid of relying on others, and you reject offers of help, support, or care.

You have a hard time identifying your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, and life goals.

You are harder on yourself than you would be even on a stranger, and you lack self-compassion and understanding.

You blame yourself almost exclusively, direct your anger inward, or feel guilt or shame about your needs or feelings.

You feel numb, empty, or cut off from your emotions, or you feel unable to manage or express them.

You are easily overwhelmed and give up quickly.

You have low self-esteem.

You are extra sensitive to rejection.

You believe you are deeply flawed, and that there’s some-

By Noam Shpancer, PhD

Continued from Saturday

Y

thing about you that is wrong even though you can’t specifically name what it is.

If these signs sound familiar to you, and you think you may be a victim of childhood emotional neglect, there are things you can do to heal.

ou may also begin to realise that your notion of what constitutes ‘a good mother’ may not be a deeply intuitive, instinctual, biologically wired, universal concept, but rather the by-product of the specific nature of your cultural environment.

You may begin to realise that the idea of holding, protecting, nurturing, and attaching to every newborn child from day one is a luxury afforded by living conditions of abundance, stability, and security, and as such a product of historically recent cultural and technological developments.

You may realise then that for most of our species’ history, maternal living conditions – and hence maternal behaviour – resembled more those of the mother in my story than your own. For most of our history, most deaths were child deaths.

The maternal values, behaviours, and feelings we take for

Learn to recognise your emotions

If your parents treated your emotions like they weren’t valid or essential, you might have trouble as an adult identifying what you feel or knowing how to behave when difficult emotions arise. Without feelings, decision-making is almost impossible. How we feel drives our choices. What we do, where we go, who we spend time with, and even what we eat are decisions made through emotion. They tell us how we feel about our world, others, and ourselves.

Identify your needs and ask others to meet them

You deserve to have your needs met just like anyone else does. Start small by asking for things that should be easy to achieve. For example, ask for a hug from your best friend or partner when you’re sad, or for a few moments of quiet when you get home from work after a hard day.

Find a therapist

A therapist can’t undo your childhood or erase mistakes your parents made, but they can provide you with the emotional toolkit your parents didn’t. A good therapist can help you identify your emotions, ask for what you need, learn to trust others, build self-esteem, handle rejection, build selflove, and more.

Childhood emotional neglect may not leave scars, but it does real harm to children and to the adults they become.

To heal, you have to turn what’s invisible visible. Name it, explore it, learn from it, and recover. (psychologytoday.com)

granted as normal and good are made possible – and make sense – in a certain environment, one more like ours; one in which most children, even weak, small, and sickly ones, are likely to survive; one in which resources are sufficiently abundant that spending them on trying to save a seriously ill or handicapped infant can be both morally righteous and economically feasible; one in which the effort of holding and feeding and playing and bonding emotionally with a newborn is almost assured of leading to the payoff of seeing that newborn grow into a healthy, full person who can reasonably entertain hopes and dreams and long-term ambitions.

And while you’re re-evaluating your definition of the ‘good mother’, you may also want to think again about the meaning and definition of love, about how behaviours that are considered loving in one context – for example, attaching emotionally to and fighting for a newborn – may prove destructive, reckless, or untenable in another, and how, likewise, behaviours we consider loathsome – like letting a sickly newborn die – may, in another context, be seen as responsible, rational, and merciful. Both ‘holding on’ and ‘letting go’ can be expressions of maternal love.

The scenario I described above is not fictional. It is taken from the detailed field reports of the great Berkeley anthropologist Nancy Scheper Hughes, who spent years in the 1980s living with and documenting the life of impoverished favela (shantytown) dwellers in Northeast Brazil.

Summarising her experience, Scheper-Hughes wrote: “In those parts of the Third World where infectious diseases interact with food shortages to make infant lives particularly fragile, maternal thinking is predicated on a different set of assumptions…the high expectancy of death and the ability to face death with stoicism and equanimity produced patterns of infant tending that differentiated infants who were ‘thrivers’ from those thought of as impossible to raise because of their willingness to die and their fragile hold on life. Thrivers were nurtured, while the ‘condemned’ infants were allowed to die of hunger, dehydration, and neglect… mothering in a context of hunger, scarcity, and early death requires an ethic of the battlefield, survivor ethics… where triage… resignation, and acceptable death predominate.”

Among other things, this now classic work demonstrated, in vivid, heart-breaking detail, the breadth of the phenomena of human adaptation, how even those aspects of humanity we deem universal, timeless, and innate are in fact dynamic nature/nurture negotiations, and how understanding context is necessary for making, and determining, meaning, (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Elections campaign

ERC condemns incidents of intimidation, abuse, assault T

he Ethnic Relations Members of Parliament Commission (ERC) were written to in an effort is appealing to to remind of the importance Guyanese to put an end to of keeping the campaigns the hostility towards each and other interactions, inother during this elections cluding social media, free season. of any utterance which can On Saturday the ERC impact negatively on nanoted that it remains mind- tional harmony and good reful of the various incidents lations amongst Guyanese. of intimidation, abuse and However, since that enassault on Guyanese while gagement, the Commission they were engaged in activ- noted that statements such ities to sensitise on politi- as “giving jobs only to my cal messages reflective of people”, “chase them out” the parties they represent. and “war break”, from some ERC Chairman, Dr John Smith It explained that such acts, public officials have been which are counterproduc- made and their effects are ed”, are most unhelpful to tive to the valiant efforts still being felt. building and sustaining a being made for the foster“The Commission firm- cohesive nation,” the stateing of unity and harmony, ly believes that incidents ment noted. have no place in our socie- of harassment, the reThe Commission rety and must be condemned. moval of party flags and minded that while it is In doing so, the prevention of persons to constitutionally mandatCommission said that ed to promote it wishes to reiterharmony and “The Commission firmly believes ate sentiments it regood relations, peatedly expressed that incidents of harassment, the task can in the past for the peonly be realthe removal of party flags and riods, prior and post ised through the March 2, 2020 the collective prevention of persons to mount, General and Regional efforts of all social media incitement and attacks Guyanese. In elections, to be free of hate, violence and raregard, it including those on some performing that cial or any other form took the opporof incitement. artistes, propagation of religious tunity to comAt the beginmend those, inpreference, referencing Guyanese ning of this year, the cluding public Commission, in a officials, who by ethnicity as tokenism and the public message, statexpressed disalleged stereotyping of ethnic ed its expectation for approval over peaceful and transsome of the acgroups as “hardheaded”, are most parent elections in tions in queskeeping with demunhelpful to building and sustaining tion. ocratic principles.

It reminded a cohesive nation” – ERC ERC, in a statement, that freedoms noted that following are enshrined its reconstitution in allowing each 2018, Leaders and repre- mount, social media incite- and every Guyanese the sentatives of various polit- ment and attacks includ- democratic right to freeical parties were engaged ing those on some perform- ly associate and support where mutual sentiments ing artistes, propagation of a political party of his/her for peace and unity were religious preference, ref- choice and to engage in lawexpressed. erencing Guyanese by eth- ful activities concomitant In addition, in the nicity as tokenism and the with election campaigning. run-up to the 2018 Local alleged stereotyping of eth- That must be respected.

Government Elections, all nic groups as “hardheadThe Commission called

for an immediate cessation of all hostilities during and after this campaign period and reminded that the welfare of Guyana and its people is in the hands of all. “So is peace, during and after the process. The Commission will, in the near future, embark on initiatives to examine inherent causes which have led to current suspicions and stereotypes and explore possible mitigating measures. Guided by its constitutional parameters in the discharge of its mandate, it will also endeavour to re-engage the political leadership while monitoring the current situation,” the ERC stated.

Only on Friday, Police said that they have arrested a suspect who was caught ripping down elections paraphernalia of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic. The suspect is also accused of attacking the party’s supporters.

Last week, former parliamentarian Harry Gill, along with other members of the PPP/C, were attacked while erecting elections campaign flags at Number 10 Village, West Coast Berbice.

The incident, which was captured on camera, shows persons verbally abusing and physically blocking the team as it attempted to place the flags on the utility poles.

In light of the recent attacks, the party had written to Police Commissioner Leslie James, asking for swift actions to be taken against supporters of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC)

coalition, who attacked Opposition members and destroyed the party’s impedimenta.

PPP supporters were also attacked in Laing Avenue, Georgetown, and Sophia, Greater Georgetown, as they were announcing party meetings and erecting elections campaign flags.

The PPP had strongly

condemned the acts. More so, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Bharrat Jagdeo has expressed dissatisfaction in the way the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) was dealing with the reported campaign attacks while calling on the body to implement stricter penalties.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Newspaper vendor’s murder

Family alleges loan information leaked to bandits Like a bad penny… …4 suspects in custody F O

amily members of the now-dead newspaper vendor Sham Munilall of Queenstown Village on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are alleging that information was leaked to the bandits that the man had collected money from the bank.

Forty-eight-yearold Munilall, also called “newspaper man” and “Chunnilall”, was shot and killed on Friday night at his home by two armed bandits.

According to relatives, Munilall had collected some money on Thursday from the bank and was keeping the money at home since he was going to restart his chicken business. <<< Guyana Times >>> understands that the amount collected was a sum of $125,000, which was a part payment on the loan taken from the bank.

However, when the two bandits attacked the Munilall family on Friday night, they

…Nagamootoo keeps showing up

Munilall’s family mourning his loss

demanded directly for the $125,000 he collected from the bank.

Relatives believe that someone from the bank might have been in collusion with the bandits and passed on information.

Police have since arrested four suspects including the two who had attacked Munilall and his family.

The other two suspects were found in the company of the two prime suspects.

The four young men remained in custody and are assisting with further investigations.

This newspaper was told that Munilall was at the front of the yard with a neighbour doing Bar-B-Que when the two bandits, both

Newspaper Munilall

vendor

Sham

wearing helmets, and one armed with a gun and the other with a cutlass, scaled the fence from the southern side. They attacked his wife, Rita, who was at the front door of the flat house.

Upon seeing his wife captured by the bandits, who were trying to gain entry into his home, Munilall attacked the perpetrators with a rake he had retrieved from the front of the yard.

In retaliation, however, the gunman opened fire at the father of two, shooting him four times about his body before escaping by scaling the fence again.

The 48-year-old man was hit to his chest, shoulder and right side abdomen, causing him to collapse. He was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival.

His body is currently at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a Post-Mortem.

When this publication visited the family’s home on Saturday, the man’s wife and two daughters were still in shock. Unable to speak about the incident, they had to be consoled by relatives and friends who gathered at their home.

Relatives say that one of the suspects in custody used to live nearby the Munilalls.

They believe he is the mastermind behind the attack.

Meanwhile, Mayor of the Anna Regina Town, Rajendra Prabhulall, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Regional Supervisor and former Vice Chairman, Vishnu Samaroo, and other party members visited the grieving family on Saturday.

A prayer service was done by the Mayor, who is also a pastor.

ne of the persons who stuck out like a sore thumb on Nomination Day to your Eyewitness was Moses Nagamootoo. What exactly is his role going forward in the PNC-led coalition? Shouldn’t that role be determined by the AFC which brought him to the dance to begin with?? Well, that party resoundingly rejected him as the nominee for the coalition’s PM slot and, instead, chose Khemraj Ramjattan.

He then asserted he was not competing for any position in the party. So, who exactly who gave him any sort of standing to represent the AFC going forward?

The truth of the matter is that Nagamootoo’s loathed by even the few AFCites left. After all, he’s so consistently and intensely brown-nosed Granger after given Larwah by the PNC – instead of a Prime Ministership on steroids as promised – it was downright mortifying!! Even for the AFCites who’ve already crossed over the River Styx!!

But Nagamootoo knows what he’s doing. He’s always been a sycophant – starting with Cheddi and Janet when he was in the PPP and used to carry the latter’s handbag at the mirror!! Has any man sung the Jagans’ hosannas as loudly as Nagamootoo?? Even their own son – prodigal as he might be – never called them “Ma and Pa” so ostentatiously and simperingly!!

Not that the Jagans were fooled: they never appointed him to any high office when they were still around.

They knew from long (and bitter) experience, he was a “talk man” and not a “do man”.

But this is exactly the quality that Granger and the PNC were looking for. They never intended to give any real power to anyone who was not “born PNC” – and were pleased when Nagamootoo accepted the Larwah he got, without even a whimper. He’d do anything for that salary, air-conditioned quarters and those outriders!! So suddenly, just when Harry and Meghan were ditching the British Royals, Nagamootoo was pronounced “royalty” by the PNC!! Bigger than Clive Lloyd!!

Did you see the armchair he was seated in at Hopetown when poor Ramjattan had to perch precariously on that plastic chair?? Royalty, boy!! It’s your Eyewitness considered view that Nagamootoo will still be appointed as PM by Granger – if by some fluke (or rigging) he were to capture the Presidency. It’s not only that they neither trust nor like Ramjattan (they don’t – and it has nothing to do with being shiftyeyed!) but they love Nagamootoo so much!

Nagamootoo’s the man who’ll go along with the succession plan. He’s a “Polka” expert – that 19th-century Bohemian dance with three steps and a hop!

Ramjattan, on the other hand, only knows the “Conga”: three steps and a kick!!

…living off the PPP

Now that the PNC will be forced to boast about their “record”, it’s time the Guyanese people understand something. It’s not for nothing that their refrain was immortalised in their D’Urban Park launch in calypso – “Give David more time”!! They’ve done precious little over the past five years! And it’s not that they didn’t know what to do!! Their glossy manifesto – which fooled many Guyanese – were chock full of plans.

The point is, the PNC is just like Nagamootoo – they can talk the talk but can’t walk the walk!! They think they can take some book learning and translate it into achievements. Look how they torpedoed our oil contract negotiations by sending Trotman to negotiate with Exxon’s battery of experienced lawyers. The PNC was impressed that Trotman has an MA from Tufts!! The Texas lawyers just skinned up this neophyte!! But even the few “accomplishments” – the WCD and ECD Highways, Mandela bypass; CJIA modernisation etc were all initiated by the PPP who left them in the Pipeline.

Including the two they couldn’t get around to – the DHB and the Ogle-Diamond bypass!!

The PNC is hapless and hopeless.

…getting last lick

From the moment they acceded to office, the PNC’s been consumed by corruption.

Is that $826.7M contract for Yarrowkabra Secondary School their last lick?!!

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

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PPP/C’s visionary manifesto, APNU/AFC’s violations reasons behind decision to enter politics – new candidates

N

Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin

omination Day is over and with it, Guyana got a glimpse of the candidates on each party’s list.

Among the most prominent, first-time names on the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) list is former Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Deodat Indar and outspoken attorney Sanjeev Datadin.

In a video statement made for Nomination Day, Deodat Indar threw his support behind PPP Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali. Recalling his shared background with Dr Ali, Indar cited the PPP manifesto as containing solutions for the local private sector.

“Over the past three years, I have held the leadership of the private sector. And I have met a multitude of small and medium-sized businesses who complained of a myriad of problems they face in Guyana. And to date, these problems have not been addressed by this Government.”

According to Indar, these problems range from taxation to burdensome fees to red tape and bureaucracy. Indeed, Guyana has

consistently done poorly on the ease of doing business report and more recently, an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) study titled “Wait No More: Citizens, Red Tape and Digital Government.”

“I believe that the PPP’s manifesto is the answer to Guyana’s problems. It is developmental, it has vision in it for the future of Guyana. I have known Irfaan Ali since 1992. We grew up on the West Side of Guyana and from time to time, we will bump into each other on the ferry while going to school at St Stanislaus College.”

“I have seen Irfaan Ali grow in competence and stature, brick by brick. Irfaan Ali shines bright when it comes to economic development, finance, visioning for Guyana. I believe he will make the best President for Guyana,” he said, making it clear that he and his household will be putting their X by the cup.

PPP/C’s visionary manifesto

Meanwhile, Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin cited the PPP’s manifesto coupled with last year’s constitutional crisis as the reasoning behind getting into politics. According to the lawyer, the time has come to move from the sidelines to the frontlines in the fight for democracy.

“I considered (politics) because I think now, with everything that is going on and the way things have turned out after the NoConfidence Motion, I think now staying on the sidelines is not to the benefit. There’s much to be done and we have a fight on our hands.”

“Because we have a situation where the rules and the Constitution are not being obeyed.

So we have to, everybody should be actively involved in restoring things to the way they are. But I think the PPP manifesto is also a sensible manifesto, in terms of the things they want to achieve.”

Apart from these two, former

Former GCCI President Deodat Indar

People’s National Congress (PNC) MP Anthony Vieira is another notable name. There is also a plethora of youths who made the cut to the PPP candidate lists. In a statement, the PPP/C noted that not only is its lists of candidates impressive but demonstrates that it is truly a national party, with competent candidates, drawn from across Guyana, who reflect our country’s unique diversity.

“This diversity illustrates that the PPP/C, in this its 70th anniversary, remains relevant and rooted amongst the Guyanese people and nation. It has fielded lists of competent candidates to carry out elected positions in the 10 Administrative Regions and in the Legislature. These bring youth, energy, experience, technical and professional competence and a wealth of knowledge from all walks of life,” the PPP/C noted.

The Opposition party went on to outline that these candidates, both old and new, as well as thousand others across Guyana, have committed to deliver the PPP/C’s vision and plans for the development of the country and of all of its people.

“Many of the candidates are new and many are young, many have decided that it was time after nearly five years of the APNU/ AFC coalition government that they could not sit on the fence anymore and decided to take that brave step forward to join the PPP/C as the only party with the policies and programmes that could restore Guyana to a development path for the benefit of all.

Many candidates have already proven their capabilities in their own professions, whilst others have demonstrated unquestionable proficiency during the Party’s tenure in Government…” the missive from the Opposition stated.

The Head of the PPP/C’s lists of candidates is the party’s General Secretary and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, while the Deputy Representative is its Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali.

The other candidates on the list are:

Adams David, Adams Dwayne, Albert Vania Elenie,Ali Mitradevi Ali Mohamed Irfaan, Alleyne Faye Elizabeth,Allicock Bryan, Ally Hydar, Ambedkar Vishal Vijay Rai, Anthony Frank Christopher, Stanislaus, Armoogan Permaul, Ashley Brentnol Patrick Shane, Balgobin Roodi, Beharry Gloria Patricia, Belgrave Shellon Alicia,Belle Stephen Adolphus, Bentham Ivan Augustus, Bharrat Vickram Outar, Blackman Geneveieve Melissa, Browne Sarah Alyssa, Casimero Douglas Edward, Chandarpal Indranie, Charlie Alister Saturnius, Cheong Paul Christopher, Coonjah Nandranie, Croal Collin David, Dalrymple Verland Nickola, Damon Carnel, Danny Dave Dibar, Datadin Sanjeev Jaichandra, Deoroop Dennis, Dharamlall Nigel Deonarine, Dwarka Durmilla, Edghill Juan Anthony, Edwards Sixtus Patrick, Evans Shameera, Faerber Julius Oliver, FindlayWilliams Suelle Valeriea, Forsythe Albert Andrew, Forte

Erica Antonella, Fredericks Pearson Yvonne, Gill Harry, Gouveia Annagabriella Yormeris, Halley Grayson Orville, Hamilton Joseph Linden, Fitzclarence, Harris Vanelda Karwinstine, Hussain Majeed, Hussain Mohamed Liaquat, Hussain Zamal, Indar Deodat, Jaffarally Faizal Mohamoud, John Dwight Fidel, John Tarcellia Cecilly, Kalicharran Gomati, Khan Bibi Fajina, Kissoon Ramkarran, Kuppen Bishram Salamaya, Mahadeo Vishwa Deva, Budhram, Manickchand Priya Devi, Mc Coy Warren Kwame Eusi, Mustapha Zulfikar, Nadir Manzoor, Nandlall Mohabir, Narine Anjanie, Narine Seepaul, Neendkumar, Ninvalle Steve Paul Anthony Nokta Shyam Mahendra, Oodit Humace, Parag Savitri Sonia, Paul Stanley Anthony Vivion, Pereira-Jardine Phileena Angelena, Persaud Anand, Persaud Ganga, Persaud Gillian Rosemarie, Persaud Marcel Nickolai, Persaud Narindra, Persaud Rabindranath, Persaud Vindhya Vasini Harshkumari, Phillips Mark Anthony, Prashad Manniram, Rahman Reyaud Hakim, Ramdatt Devanand, Ramdeen Melissa Rebecca, Ramkissoon Vikash, Ramnauth Bob Andy Davendra, Ramotar Donald Rabindranauth, Ramphal Vickchand, Ramsaran Bheri Sygmond, Ramson Charles Shiva, Rodrigues Susan Margaret, Rohee Clement James, Roopnarine Mahendra, Samaroo, Samlall Shivani, Satyanand Omesh, Seeraj Dharamkumar, Selman Africo Archibald, Shamsudeen Tracy Amanda, Sharma Vishalya, Singh Claire, Singh Nalinie Latchmi, Singh Robin, Singh Suresh, Smith Tandika Simone, Somwar Jagnarine, Sukhai Pauline Rose Ann, Teixeira Gail, Thomas Mae, Toussaint Jr, Todd Hugh Hilton, Veerasammy Bhagmattie, Vieira Anthony Joseph, Westford Jennifer, Reginalda Ann, Williams Lee Gendre Hakkim, Younge Dion.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Delayed projects costing billions in foreign funding – AG report T

he delay in the execution of Government projects is costing Guyana billions in foreign funding. This is according to Auditor General Deodat Sharma, who in his 2018 audit report stated that there was a shortfall of capital expenditure that totalled $4.683 billion. According to him, this was attributed mainly to delays and slow progress in the execution of various foreign-funded projects.

“These activities included construction of an ocean-going ferry - $1.133 billion; slow progress on Sheriff Street and delays in startup of reprogrammed housing component - $1.008 billion; delays in agriculture census - $464.382 million; construction of two secondary schools -

$369.778 million; and site identification for hospitality institute upgrading of PIC/ PIDs - $300 million.”

In its response, the Government admitted that there were delays. According to the Government, the negative variance was due to challenges faced in executing these projects ranging from delays in fulfilling conditions before the funds were disbursed to poor contractors' performance.

“Also, the time between initiation of procurement for bilateral funded projects where procurement is done in donor country has proven very challenging in the period under review, for example, the procurement of the ocean-going ferry from India,” the report stated.

Another example of delays was in National Parks Commission and Guyana Protected Areas administered projects. According to the AG, there was a shortfall of $129.8 million, including $50 million for building a fence and pavilion, among other things.

According to the Appropriation Accounts, amounts totalling $20.130 million was expended as at December 31, 2018, resulting in a shortfall of $29.870 million, however, the reason/s for the shortfall was not provided for audit.

“The sum of

N

Auditor General Deodat Sharma

$100 million was allocated for the improvement of infrastructure and supply of equipment to enhance the management and conservation of biodiversity in three protected areas: Kanuku Mountains, Shell Beach and Kaieteur National Park.

According to the Appropriation Accounts, no expenditure was incurred during 2018, resulting in a shortfall of $100 million. However, the reason/s for the no expenditure was not provided for audit.”

According to the AG, these projects were nevertheless re-budgeted in 2019. In explaining the reasons for the shortfalls, the Government said that there were delays in project start-up and approval, as well as executing the project itself.

“The sum of $100 million was allocated in the Budget, however, this sum was not disbursed by the German counterpart. As a result, the funds were not available to the Protected Areas System for execution of the work plan. Direct payments from the German counterpart were made in 2018 for consultancy services,” the Government said in its response.

Where is the third force?

ow that Nomination Day has come and gone, after all the buzz about the need for a “third force” to deny both the PPP and PNC a majority and use their strategic few seats like jujitsu in the National Assembly to steer development in a non-partisan direction, the opportunity was allowed to slip away. There will now be eleven small parties to contest the elections of March 2 against the PPP/C and APNU/AFC. Frankly, I was not surprised at this outcome. Early in 2005, we had written: “ROAR believes it is time for a “centre force” to be created and nurtured. What is this centre force? For one, it’s not a “third force” that feels it can wish away the PPP and PNC. It’s a force that should seek to occupy the political, social, and cultural ground between the PPP and PNC – hence “centre”. Today, in Guyana, there are a number of political parties outside the ambit of the PPP and Ravi Dev the PNC – GAP, WPA, ROAR, UP, JFAP, etc that can begin the process of creating this centre force. These could be joined by the parties now in formation by other committed Guyanese. What would be some of the incentives for these parties to work together?

“There’s the experience of The United Force with the PNC that demonstrates the inadvisability of the smaller parties seeking a coalition arrangement with the behemoths. There’s the matter of “the disequilibrium of size” when it comes to coalitions between parties of vastly different strengths. It matters not the good intentions of the parties to the coalitions. If a mosquito joins forces with an elephant it should not be surprised when it is taken for granted or even ignored during crucial decisions. Then there’s the “iron law of oligarchy” – in all organisations power will accrete in the hands of a few – and we can be sure the few won’t come from the ranks of the mosquitoes.

“What would be the ground rules for a centre force?

Firstly, they should not get together simply to deny the PPP or PNC the Government. And secondly, their success would depend on whether the principals in the abovementioned groupings can rise to the need of the moment and work on a common program for Guyana. The issue would then be not whether the PPP or PNC forms the Government but that either of them would have to negotiate with the third/centre force on the basis of what’s good for all of Guyana.”

The above-mentioned groups – plus several others – did come together but decided to call themselves the “third force”. We agreed on five “Core Principles” that would guide our relationship with each other and the Guyanese people and proceeded to work on a common programme.

The Chairmanship was rotated among the leadership of the parties and there were regularly scheduled meetings.

But the initiative was aborted and I believe the reasons for that failure might have played a role in the present dispensation.

First, there was the question of leadership and egos.

One group – the newcomer that was to become the AFC – insisted that they should lead whatever endeavour that ensued. It was not clear to others then as to why this should be so and the long-established WPA was quite scathing about their insistence. Secondly, there was the question of strategy: whether the group should be open to joining with the PNC, which had launched its “big tent” initiative. This was pushed by the WPA and as a matter of fact, ROAR and GAP pulled out of the group after the WPA and several others met with the PNC. Eventually, ROAR, which had been taken aback by what they considered to be racist reasons for denying leadership to the Amerindian party, GAP, coalesced with the latter, conceded them the “presidential” spot but they managed to only secure one seat which by common consent was given to GAP. The AFC was formed after the breakup of the Third Force and went on to significant success because of their foreign assistance. But ironically, they have now destroyed themselves because they ignored the rationale for a “third or centre force”.

We suspect efforts to craft coalitions among the present new partiers might have foundered on the same rocks of leadership, egos and strategy and will prove fatal to their chances in March. They refused to hang together and will hang separately.

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SUNDAY, JANURY 12, 2020

Ali promises reversal of Govt's econ ...“Your rights are important”

T

he A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government continues to trample on the rights of the Indigenous peoples and a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government would ensure that those rights are restored along with honest and decent leadership, according to the party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali. Ali was at the time addressing a gathering in Santa Rosa, Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini), as part of the party’s March 2 General and Regional Elections campaign.

He was accompanied by a number of PPP/C Executives inclusive of General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo and former Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira.

Speaking directly to the issues affecting the Indigenous communities, the former Housing Minister noted that under the PPP/C, those issues would be given top priority.

“Your rights are important. Your rights to land, your rights to forest, your rights the minerals, your rights to development, your rights to electricity, your rights to housing, your rights to water, your rights are important. We in the PPP/C have outlined a clear vision in which we will [work] to ensure that your rights are protected and that you here in Region One have an equal share in the development of Guyana as every other Guyanese,” Ali said.

Ever since his election as presidential candidate over a year ago, the former Housing Minister has been travelling the country in an effort to completely understand the issues affecting the citizens. He noted that from those information-gathering missions, he was able to work with

Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali and General Sec

his party to formulate policies and plans to address the issues.

Ali noted that the citizenry, particularly in the remote areas, feels left out. He explained that, particularly in Region One, the issue of old-age pension is a big one.

Pensioners have to travel, for days sometimes, to uplift their pension and a long journey means higher travelling expenses.

“When I visited the communities over the last year in the Region, they [pensioners] complain that not only they have to wait days for the pension but they spend over half to travel to get the pension. We have to fix this on March 2. When we elect the People’s Progressive Party/Civic we will be fixing this.

“We are voting to ensure that our children and our young people must have the same access as any other young person from any other part of Guyana. Young people here are no different. They have the same potential, the same capacity and they have the same capabilities. The only thing they don’t have is the access that other people gave and now as we move forward we are outlining to you a clear plan in which we will bridge the gap to ensure that we give you the same equal access and opportunities so they can compete on every level,” Ali outlined.

Failing the hinterland

Additionally, the presidential candidate accused the current Administration of failing the hinterland residents since they have done very little to address the high cost of transportation. He said that residents in riverine and hinterland communities have been relentlessly complaining about the big chunks of their earnings that have to go towards transportation.

“One of the important problem we must address is transportation. We have to reduce the cost of transportation because it is taking up too much of your money which can be used for other things…The transportation plan must see removal of taxes on air travel, will see more spent on hinterland roads, direct support to riverine communities.”

He further related that they will build a transportation network so that residents would not have to complain about the lack of transportation or high costs, especially when they have access to health and education services.

Shredding the APNU/AFC campaign slogan of “honesty and decency”, Ali accused David Granger of being dishonest and indecent. He said based on Granger’s track record of not disciplining his errant Ministers and being unable to account for public funds, makes him one of the most dishonest leaders in the country.

Speaking to issues of the mining industry, Ali said that

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

13

conomic onslaught on Amerindians

t” – tells massive Moruca rally

eneral Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo with supporters

since the Government came to office, over 60 per cent of the dredges that were operating prior to 2015 have closed up shop and left. This, he noted, has resulted in the loss of employment of over 7000 persons which adds to the list of unemployment.

“More than 70 per cent are Amerindian jobs. That is why I have said that you got the greatest of onslaught because they hit you on the CSO programme, they hit in forestry and they hit you also in mining. This is the type of onslaught we have to reverse on March 2. The way we are going to reverse this is by voting solidly for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.

“We are voting for the restoration of jobs, we are voting for the restoration of mining, the restoration of forestry, the restoration of the LCDS, the restoration of the village economy. We are voting because we want to ensure that our children have a brighter future. We are voting because we want to ensure women are empowered,” Ali urged.

On the oil and gas front, Ali told the gathering that it is the firm belief of the PPP/C that the resources of the country belong to all citizens and that they would ensure that everyone receives their equal share of benefits. He rapped the Government for their lack of creation of opportunities for the residents of Region One, noting that his party will fix that once elected to govern.

Long history of struggles

Going back to before the PPP/C took office in 1992, former President Bharrat Jagdeo said that the Indigenous peoples did not enjoy the basic respect for their rights. He

A section of the gathering

Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali and General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo among the massive crowds of supporters

noted that the PPP/C have long fought for the Indigenous peoples and will continue doing so.

“When we got into office after a long struggle and we returned people’s right to choose their Government, Amerindians owned just over 6 per cent of Guyana. By the time we left office, they owned, in titled lands, over 14 per cent of Guyana. We left US$10.2 million from the Norwegian fund that we got through the Low Carbon Development Strategy to continue the land titling programme. US$10.2 million is over GY$2 billion and they (APNU/AFC) have not titled a single Amerindian village until recently. After the no-confidence [motion] they busy running around.”

He added that the PPP Administration passed the Amerindian Act to give more rights to Indigenous people to determine a pathway to “owning land, to give Amerindian people subsurface rights - one of the few countries in the world that allowed subsurface rights and they tried to undermine the Act. In 2001, we had a single Amerindian doctor by 2014 when we left office we had over 140 Amerindian doctors.”

He further reminded that it was under the Jagan Administration that the Amerindian Heritage celebrations came about.

“We have a long history of this, of struggle to bring rights to Amerindian people and to ensure that their rights are not neglected. In the constitutional reform, we created an Indigenous Peoples Commission, they now trying to water down Amerindian representation on the Indigenous Peoples Commission,” he noted.

Jagdeo told supporters that they will continue the fight to restore honesty and decency in Guyana while accusing the David Granger-led Government of being the most corrupt in Guyana’s history. He took the time also to rap the Government over the development they are boasting about.

Referencing the recently constructed bridge at Moruca, Jagdeo noted that the project is one way of the Administration financing their heavy spending. He explained that since they took office, the coalition spent almost $1.2 trillion and significantly increased taxes, ultimately taking much-needed monies out of ordinary citizens’ pockets.

14 NEWS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Leguan residents counting losses

…after widespread flooding owing to negligence

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esidents on the Essequibo Island of Leguan in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) are now cleaning up their homes and counting their losses after they were flooded out on Friday.

According to information reaching this publication, the Leguan – Endeavour Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) reportedly gave permission to the farmers to open the koker doors to irrigate their farmlands and that was done during the high tide on Friday.

A resident of the island, Ravi, told Guyana Times that the farmers opened the koker doors sometime during the day on Friday despite residents warning against it. He related that the farmers would usually do that during the dry season so they can irrigate their lands and save their

crops.

“Them man does open the koker door when them nah get water at the back

man nah learn. The NDC does let them do what they want too and them nah care about nobody else,” he said.

A flooded yard

there. Every time them open the door somebody always getting flood out. Is nah even two good week now since the last time we get flood out and yet them

The Civil Defence Commission said it received reports that several communities in Leguan were flooded as a result of multiple kokers being breached.

The impacted communities include Blenheim, Success, and Amsterdam.

The water rose as high as three feet in some areas, causing major damages to residents and farmers alike.

Former NDC Councillor Amjad Shaw said that the situation is better now since engineers from the Regional Administration along with the Drainage and Irrigation Authority and the Public Infrastructure Ministry, came and made repairs.

“Leguan is a declared drainage area and whenever there is a need to irrigate, farmers would go and take out the door and raise it up so we would always have this problem. It is an ongoing problem. I was discussing it with engineers and we would have to look at ways in which how they can separate the drainage areas,” Shaw said.

“The drainage areas in

The ripped out koker door at Amsterdam, Leguan

Leguan are interconnected, meaning the residential, as well as the cultivation, are being serviced by the same koker trench and it [irrigation] can be problematic if it is not done in a monitored way. I think the NDC has to be more proactive and my views are they have allowed the farmers the leisure and pleasure to do what they want and they have flooded out the residential area,” he

added.

Residents have since received cleaning supplies from the CDC and have commenced the cleaning process but they are calling for better systems to be put in place to prevent further reoccurrence.

The recently repaired koker doors at Success were ripped off from their hinges and others were raised too high.

NEWS

15

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2479 fires recorded in Berbice in 2019 …7 killed

S

even persons were killed by fires in Berbice in 2019, which is two more than in 2018.

Divisional Commander Dwayne Scotland has issued an appeal for persons to be more careful in their activities as the fire service in Berbice was called out to 2479 fires last year compared with 1776 the previous year.

Due to the fires, both private buildings and businesses were destroyed.

Some 125 private build-

ings were completely destroyed by fires last year as against 113 the previous year while 18 businesses were completely destroyed as compared to 30 the previous year, showing a 40 per cent reduction.

Nineteen private buildings were damaged when compared to 12 in 2019 and 30 businesses, compared with 9 in 2018, showing a 67 per cent increase.

Buildings that were slightly damaged amounted to 124 private properties and 21 businesses

Natural gas and economic transformation

It was recently disclosed that Liza phase one suffices to provide some 200 megawatts of power, which is more than the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is providing. To this end, institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) noted that Guyana is well positioned, with its abundant natural resources, to create a diversified electricity generation mix.

Divisional Fire Commander Dwayne Scotland

for last year.

The fire service was

called out to 1595 vegetation fires as against 913 in 2018, showing a 74.4 per cent increase.

“Carelessness” was the main cause of most of the fires, the Commander said.

Those caused by external electrical faults were 276 as against 319 the previous year and those caused by internal electrical faults amounted to 61 compared with 49 in 2018 Carelessness accounted for 73 fires last year compared to 47 the previous year, giving a 53 per cent increase.

According to Scotland,

Fires in Berbice that is unacceptable.

“People need to be more cognisant of their environment and the way they operate. We have children playing with matches also at an increase; parents leaving their children unattended and going and do what they want to do and the child has free time and finds some ways of making use of their time and most of the time they like playing with matches or experimenting with fire,” Scotland added.

Meanwhile, fires caused as a result of children playing with matches increased by 53 per cent, moving from 16 in 2018 to 22 last year.

Fires of unknown origin were four compared with 14 the previous year. 109 were maliciously started in both years and 1597 were started deliberately last year compared with 913 the previous year, giving a 75 per cent increase.

Fires that were accidentally started were 16 last year compared with 11 the previous year.

There was a total of 222 malicious false alarm calls made last year and 25 false alarm calls made with good intent.

Natural gas explained According to the US Energy Information Administration, “natural gas occurs deep beneath the earth’s surface. Natural gas contains mainly of methane, a compound with one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Natural gas also contains small amounts of hydrocarbon gas liquids and nonhydrocarbon gases.” Natural gas is used as a fuel and to make materials and chemicals, including electricity generation as well.

Drivers of new natural gas demands In the next decade, the power sector will provide the largest growth in gas demand which depends on two major drivers: growth in total electric generation and growth in the gas share of electric generation.

Most of the growth in the power-sector demand will be met by increasing amounts of natural gas-fired generation and by renewables.

Coal-fired power plants will be retired in response to more stringent environmental regulations and more competitive low gas prices, which will lead to a change in the mix of generation fuel and an increase in natural gas market share. The second-largest demand increases are felt in the US industrial sector, which uses natural gas as both a fuel and feedstock to meet a variety of energy requirements. The US manufacturing sector accounts for about 80% of total industrial gas demand, with the remaining 20% coming from agriculture, construction and mining.

Use of natural gas for electric energy generation In recent years, the amount of natural gas being used as fuel to generate electricity has been gradually increasing due in part to the decreasing price and increased supply. Electric utilities have been increasingly turning to natural gas as a fuel source, especially for new electric generating plants, such as combustion turbines and combinedcycle plants.

The primary benefit to the manufacturing sector is that the increasing use of fuel will result in lower generation cost for electric power. The significance of shifting electric power sources is such that the rising demand for the use of natural gas fuel in electric power generation will contribute to electric power generation, investment in new natural gas infrastructure, such as transmission lines, gas processing plants, and compressor stations.

Forward linkages The outputs from the natural gas-intensive sectors are used as inputs by other sectors of the economy in a variety of ways. Such uses are referred to as forwarding linkages and include: * Intermediate inputs (eg, goods and services sold to other sectors that are used in production processes to make other types of goods and services, with no sales to final demand occurs). * Sales to final demand (eg, goods and services that are not used as intermediate inputs and no further processing of the output occur).

Types of final demand include: * Personal consumption expenditure (eg, purchases of refined products such as gasoline at filling stations or home heating oil). * Gross private investment * Private inventory accumulation * Exports or imports * Government consumption and gross investment The forward linkage or downstream manufacturing sectors will potentially benefit from increases in supply and/or the lower cost for natural gas. Final demand sectors, such as personal consumption, exports, and imports are also affected by changes in natural gas production and pricing, but indirectly, through industrial production changes captured by intermediate inputs shifts to industrial production.

For example, personal consumption impacts, such as those resulting from lower electricity prices, are captured first by feedstock inputs to the electricity industry and flow through to all industries before resulting in lower prices for the consumer.

In the final analyses, the natural gas industry is a major contributor to the GDP of many countries. The industry is inherently large-scale, generating millions of dollars in associated revenues and tax income and employing thousands. As an example, in 2008 natural gas production in the US added US$385 billion to GDP. Gas exporting countries as diverse such as the UK, Netherlands, Russia, Qatar, Australia and Indonesia have benefited from the enormous economic benefits that are the combinations of the following: * Taxation of profits and of gas production * Wider job creation in the industry from upstream exploration and production (E&P) companies, midstream processing and pipeline transportation companies, downstream local supporting arms focusing on law, human resources, public relations and many other aspects * A local source of natural gas can act as a catalyst to other industries such as chemicals, driving wider economic growth * Employment transformation from old industries such as coal and steel to new high-tech natural gas extraction and innovative appliances. * New job creation across the skills and knowledge base, from entrylevel to PhD. A study by the Center for Global Development (CGD), found that the greater use of natural gas for electricity could help lift some countries out of poverty by providing greater access to affordable and reliable power. Natural gas must be extracted in sufficient volumes, however, in order to be economically viable.

It is within these conceptual frameworks that for Guyana, natural gas development in tandem with the oil industry, could potentially transform Guyana and alleviate poverty, under prudent management and politically visionary commitments.

16 NEWS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Armed bandits storm Tuschen home Linden centenarian …use family’s vehicle as getaway car refuses to be left behind: A keeps active by farming Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo family was on Friday evening attacked and robbed by armed bandits, who carted off with the family’s motor vehicle, a quantity of cash and other valuables.

Reports are that 21-yearold Vidram Shiridac and his family members, 37-yearold Devika Muneshwar and Jessica Muneshwar, 29, were at home when at about 21: 35h, six bandits stormed

L

inden’s newest centenarian, Johanna Patrick, presently has her eyes set on her 101st birthday which will be observed in just a few months from now. Patrick, who resides at Amelia’s Ward, Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was born on May 14, 1919. She made her century last year. The centenarian, who is of Amerindian heritage, is originally from the Sand Creek village in Region Nine (Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo) but migrated to Linden over 40 years ago. There, she lives with her husband, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is of the Wapishana Amerindian tribe and still speaks in the tribe’s native language in addition to some English.

Patrick has six children, numerous grandchildren and over 20 great-grandchildren.

She has been married to her husband for 50 years.

Even at her age, the centenarian refuses to be left behind by keeping herself meaningfully occupied daily. Speaking and translating on the centenarian’s behalf, her granddaughter, Tessa Nearso, related that her grandmother originally came to Linden in search of work and eventually settled. To this day, she said her grandmother loves and is very much involved in farming, as is evident by the countless blooming cassava plants strewn around her yard. She said Patrick also enjoys tending to her chickens in addition to taking care of her pit bulldog. At this stage in her life, the centenarian has no major health complaints. She also enjoys making Amerindian dishes such as the cassava bread and parakari (a fermented bev-

through their front door and pointed guns to their heads while demanding cash.

Three of the men were armed with guns and were left to monitor the family while the others ransacked the house.

After raiding the home, the bandits hijacked the family’s motor vehicle for use as a getaway car and made good their escape with a total of $300,000, cellphones, a laptop and a quantity of jewellery.

Police Commander of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Simon McBean told Guyana Times on Saturday that Police are presently investigating the matter but no arrests were made.

However, the Commander informed that the stolen vehicle, a Toyota Primo bearing registration number PVV 648, was recovered at about 03:55h on Saturday morning at Uitvlugt Housing Scheme.

Tax waiver granted on costume materials – Mash coordinator

A

Centenarian: Johanna Patrick

erage).

While she can walk without her cane, she oftentimes utilises it for assistance.

Nearso explained that her grandmother only suffers from minor back pains but explained that her eyesight can be considered 20/20 with mild blurred vision.

“But if you show her money she would know it good...she might be blind to everything else but not money,” she noted humorously.

While she is unable to attend church due to difficulty sitting for long periods, a church minister delivers communion every month to the centenarian and her husband. (Utamu Belle)

fter years of criticism about the quality of local costumes that are produced for Mashramani festivities, 35 local designers are set to undergo a one-week training, seminar, and workshop to help improve the quality in 2020.

According to Mashramani coordinator Andrew Tyndall, the workshop will be hosted by international and award-winning designers. He added that Guyanese can look forward to more colour, creativity and overall quality in the designs of the costumes that will be displayed on the February 23 Float Parade as Guyana celebrates 50 years as a Republic.

“We are working with Antonio Butts who is a Guyanese designer living in Trinidad, operating out of the Trinidad Carnival Commission, Alan Vaughn who is the current winner for the individual male and female pieces for Carnival 2019… he is also a Guyanese living in the UK, and we are working with the Guyana Cultural Association (GCA), and the STEM Robotic programme”, he said.

Tyndall further added: “We were able to

increase the capacity of our local designers and all of those designers are on board with us for Mash 2020.”

However, one of the challenges that designers have pointed out is the high cost of the costume materials. Tyndall said that a decision was taken by the Government to waive taxes on costume materials during the Mashramani season.

He added that collaboration will be done with local businesses that will be importing the materials.

“We would have had a conversation with Muneshwar, and Kirpalani [Shamdas], and China Trading about them sourcing the materials, having them here. Instead of designers having to travel to Trinidad to buy that material and then come back to here…. it’s not just the cost of the material, it’s the additional cost of travelling. These entities would have given us the assurance…to have most of the material here”, he said.

Meanwhile, several local designers recently underwent a series of training to better their craft.

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020

17

Regional

Venezuela’s Maduro starts year Antiguan man charged with hit and run killing in Georgia with a 67% minimum wage hike J P resident Nicolas Maduro ordered a 67% increase in Venezuela’s monthly minimum wage, the first this year and the eleventh in the past 24 months.

The presidential decree, announced by pro-government lawmaker Francisco Torrealba on Twitter, boosts the minimum wage to 250,000 bolivars ($3.61 at the official exchange rate), up from 150,000 bolivars. In addition, workers will receive a food bonus of 200,000 bolivars, for a total minimum income of 450,000 bolivars, according to Torrealba’s publication of an image from an extraordinary edition of the Official Gazette dated Jan. 9.

The new hike, which applies retroactively as of Jan. 1, threatens to refuel hyperinflation after restrictive monetary

policies helped slow the pace of price increases in 2019. Still, the increase is well below the 275% hike of Oct 2019, which lifted the minimum wage enough to buy about 4 kilograms of beef. The new salary, however, is not enough to buy one kilogram at current prices.

The country’s historic economic crisis has seen the annual rate of consumer price increases surge to at least quadruple digits. According to data from the National Assembly, the annual inflation rate was 13,476% in November 2019.

Bloomberg’s Café con Leche Index estimates annual inflation at 9900% as of Jan 8.

Price increases quickly destroyed the value of the previous minimum wage increase in Oct. The government has directed its efforts to control

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

the price of the dollar by reducing liquidity in the financial system and restricting bank loans. Maduro earlier this month vowed to lower inflation in 2020 to a single digit.

(Excerpt from Bloomberg)

St Lucia wants medical university

T

he St Lucia Government on Friday said it was holding negotiations “with several institutions” to allow for the establishment of a medical university here.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, who is due to address the nation on Sunday, wrote on his Facebook page that the proposed university “will serve as a strategic move as it will allow both the hospital and the university to benefit from the services and opportunities of each other”.

While Chastanet gave no details as to who the government is “currently negotiating” with regarding the proposed medical university, it is likely that the facility would be situated in the south of the island.

He wrote that the progress

is ongoing with the reconstruction of the St Jude’s Hospital in the south and that the 90-bed facility, when completed, will include a new wing to incorporate all the functions and services of the existing East and Surgical Wings and that there would be retrofitting of some existing buildings to achieve a fully functioning hospital to match the services of a level 4 facility.

“Given that the previous buildings were not built up to standard for a hospital, our Government is currently negotiating with several institutions to allow for the establishment of a Medical University in the buildings which were previously constructed,” he wrote.

Chastanet said his address

St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet

on Sunday night will “touch on key areas including security and justice, health care, education, investments, major projects and speak about the continuing journey to bring empowerment to the people and plans to build a new St Lucia”. (CMC)

oel John Jnr, a national of Antigua and Barbuda, is alleged to be the perpetrator of a deadly hit and run accident in the US state of Georgia.

He reportedly crashed his vehicle into 35-year-old sanitation worker Brandon McCrary on Monday before fleeing the scene.

McCrary, a Union City Georgia employee, died in the accident.

According to international media reports, officers were able to track down the driv-

T

also to members of the public who have information on domestic abuse. Please pass that information to the police, so we can deal with it before it is too late,” he said.

Griffith is hoping to meet with all stakeholders, some of whom are experts in dealing with such matters.

“We want to know that everyone is on board and to ensure there is maximum efficiency. There is going to be a spike in reporting of domestic violence matters and this will go a long way in preventing death or injury to persons. We want the victims of such abuse to feel confident that action will be taken. We also want to let the perpetrators know that there will be consequences for their actions,” he said.

Griffith is also promising that heavy emphasis will be placed on persons who breach protection orders. He warned that “the time for allowing such per-

B

razil’s government on Friday said it was pushing ahead with plans to allow mining on tribal lands, briefing European diplomats on proposals that have drawn criticism from indigenous advocates in Brazil and overseas.

Mining and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque told the diplomats that “significant leadership” from native communities had asked for the opportunity to mine on their lands, according to a public statement on the ministry’s website.

The initiative is part of President Jair Bolsonaro’s push to encourage farming, ranching and mining on tribal reser-

sons a free pass is over.”

According to Griffith, members of the GenderBased Violence Unit have been specially-trained by an international agency which was responsible for reducing domestic violence in New York. (Excerpt from T&T Guardian)

vations, which he has criticized for slowing economic progress.

European leaders have voiced concerns that his policies will increase deforestation and threaten indigenous cultures.

“There is a lot of misinformation regarding this issue, so it is important that the international community listen to what the government has to say,” said Alexandre Vidigal, secretary for geology and mining at the ministry, in the statement.

The ministry said representatives of France, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Denmark, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands and the European Union took part in the meeting

on Thursday. The Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), which advocates for native rights in Brazil, has argued against Bolsonaro’s plans to open up mining on reservation lands, saying most indigenous groups are opposed. Conflicts between illegal miners and natives have led to bloodshed on both sides in recent years.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Puerto Rico rattled by another strong quake

A Commissioner Griffith says all FUL applications go through a strict process

ed in Antigua. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Brazil pushes plans for mining on tribal lands to European diplomats

Trinidad: Gender-based violence unit soon

he T&T Police Service (TTPS) intends to get tough on perpetrators of domestic violence and is warning them that the “free pass is over.”

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith will launch a new Gender-Based Violence Unit on January 21.

The launch of the unit comes in the face of growing concerns from several quarters about the number of domestic violence deaths so far recorded for 2020.

The TTPS also notes the increase of breaches of restraining orders last year.

The unit will focus heavily on dealing with domestic violence cases and breaches of restraining orders.

Commissioner Griffith said a campaign will be rolled out to the public which will state quite clearly that it is not business as usual where domestic violence is concerned.

“This will not only be for the victim to report, but

er, John Jnr by following tyre marks left at the scene.

John Jnr was subsequently captured and charged with first-degree hit-and-run and homicide by vehicle and few other misdemeanour charges, such as failure to maintain a lane, tampering with evidence, failure to report an accident, and driving without a licence.

The 27-year-old was said to be a former student of the St John’s Catholic Primary School and the Antigua Grammar School during his formative years while he resid-

6.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Puerto Rico Saturday, the latest in a series of powerful tremors that have struck the US territory in recent days, the US Geological Survey reported.

The latest quake was felt at 8:54 am local time (1254 GMT) 14 kilometres (eight miles) southeast of Guanica, a town on the island's southern Caribbean coastline that was hard hit by earlier quakes.

It follows a 6.4 magnitude quake Tuesday that killed one person, knocked out electric power and caused widespread damage. (AFP)

18

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Iran says it shot down Ukrainian US storms: At least 8 killed in severe weather plane in 'disastrous mistake' A

I

ran said on Saturday its military had shot down a Ukrainian plane killing all 176 aboard in a “disastrous mistake”, saying air defences were fired in error while on alert after Iranian missile strikes on US targets in Iraq.

Iran had denied for days after Wednesday’s crash that it brought down the plane, although a top Revolutionary Guards Commander said on Saturday that he told authorities about the unintentional missile strike the day it happened.

Foreign Governments condemned Iran’s action, with Ukraine demanding compensation and a US official calling the downing reckless, although Britain said Tehran’s admission was an important first step and urged a de-escalation in tensions.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,

whose country had 57 citizens on board the airliner, said Iran must take full responsibility and be held accountable.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, until now silent about the crash, said information about the incident should be made public, while top officials and the military issued apologies.

On Twitter, videos showed protesters demanding that Khamenei should step down because of the disaster.

The crash heightened international pressure on Iran after months of friction with the United States and titfor-tat attacks.

Experts said mounting international scrutiny would have made it all but impossible to hide signs of a missile strike in any investigation and Iran may have felt a U-turn was better than battling rising criticism

General view of the debris of the Ukraine International Airlines, flight PS752, Boeing 737-800 plane that crashed after takeoff from Iran's Imam Khomeini airport, on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran January 8, 2020, is seen in this screen grab obtained from a social media video via REUTERS

abroad and growing grief and anger at home, as many victims were Iranians with dual nationality. (Excerpt from Reuters)

German Chancellor Merkel says Berlin will host Libya peace talks

G

erman Chancellor Angela Merkel said Libyan peace talks will be held in Berlin, as Turkey and Russia appealed to the north African nation’s warring factions to enter a ceasefire.

She stressed that the United Nations would lead talks if a meeting were to take place in Berlin, and that Libya’s warring parties would need to play a major role to help find a solution.

The aim was to give Libya the chance to become a sovereign and peaceful country, Merkel said.

Putin expressed support for the process, saying it was a “timely” idea and necessary to bring the conflict in Libya to an end.

The comments came days after Turkey and Russia urged Libya’s warring parties to declare a ceasefire.

Fayez al-Serraj, head of Libya’s internationally recognised Government, said he welcomed the peace initiative Russian President Vladimir Putin and German

by Russia and Chancellor Angela Merkel hold a joint news Turkey. conference in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Libyan forc- January 11, 2020 es loyal to eastnation” to General Haftar ern-based commander Khalifa Haftar said for the January 4 attack in this week they had tak- Tripoli, after meeting him in en control of the strategic Rome earlier this week.

Turkey backs al-Serraj’s coastal city of Sirte in a rapid advance preceded by air- Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and has strikes.

Haftar’s self-styled said it will send military adLibyan National Army was visers and possibly troops to also considered responsible reinforce its support, while for a deadly drone attack on Russian military contraca military academy in the tors have been deployed alongside General Haftar. capital Tripoli.

Conte said on Saturday (Excerpt from Reuters) he expressed his “conster-

India demolishes Kerala skyscrapers over environmental violations

A

uthorities in southern India have demolished two luxury lakeside apartment complexes that were built in violation of environmental rules.

Residents of the high-rises in the state of Kerala watched as their homes and investments imploded in seconds.

Two more skyscrapers were set to be razed today.

In total, some 343 flats - home to about 2000 people - were expected to be destroyed over the weekend in what has been described as one of India's largest demolition drives involving residential buildings.

The H2O Holy Faith complex, containing 90 flats, was the first to be brought down on Saturday. It took just seconds for the 19-floor building to be destroyed in a controlled implosion.

The twin towers of Alfa Serene were next.

The Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA), which was created to prevent degradation of coastal and marine areas, said permission for the buildings to be constructed was given by local officials without its approval.

The KCZMA said the location of the apartment complexes, in the municipality of Maradu, was a critically vul-

nerable area where no new construction was allowed.

The court said builders were in breach of construction rules and called illegal construction in the area a "colossal loss" to the environment.

It also referred to the devastating floods in Kerala in 2018 and said they were the result of "the entire environment being degraded and coastal zones being illegally occupied".

The state Government has been ordered to pay "interim compensation" of about US$35,000 (£27,000) to affected residents, according to local media reports.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

t least eight people have died as a result of severe storms sweeping across parts of the southern US, bringing high winds and heavy rain.

Deaths were reported in the states of Alabama, Louisiana and Texas.

Tens of thousands of people have been affected by power cuts as a result of the storms, while homes have been destroyed and roads flooded.

Several tornado warnings were in place on Saturday, with Alabama said to be most at risk.

The storms have also brought the threat of ice and snow to parts of the Midwest.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled on Saturday at Chicago's two main airports.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana

said an elderly couple died on Friday, when a tornado destroyed their mobile home, carrying it some 200ft (61m) from its foundations.

The couple's A tornado killed two people and left major three dogs re- damage in its wake in Bossier Parish, Louisiana mained unacIn Texas, one person died counted for. on Friday night when a car Another man in the state was killed on Friday when flipped into a creek in the a tree fell on his home, offi- city of Dallas. A 44-yearold man in the state's cials said.

The National Weather Nacogdoches County also Service (NWS) confirmed died when a tree fell onto his that three people were home, officials said.

People affected by the killed in Pickens County, storms were urged on Alabama. Details were not Saturday to seek shelter and immediately clear, but loavoid flooded roads. (Excerpt cal media reported that they from BBC News) died as a result of an apparent tornado.

French PM offers concession to unions over pension reform

F

rench Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Saturday offered a major concession to unions contesting his Government’s overhaul of the pension system, in a move aimed at ending strikes which are now in their fifth week.

Philippe said in a letter to unions and employers that he was prepared to withdraw plans to raise the retirement age for full pension benefits by two years to 64 if certain conditions were met.

He made the concession after talks between the Government and trade

unions to break the deadlock failed on Friday.

The CFDT, France’s biggest union which is inclined to accept a limited reform, welcomed the move, saying in a statement that it showed “the Government’s will to find a compromise”.

But the hardline CGT union, which wants the reform dropped altogether, rejected the offer and called on workers to participate in a series of protests planned for next week.

The Government’s concession comes as tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through east-

ern Paris against the reform, which aims to replace France’s myriad sector-specific pension schemes with a single points-based scheme.

The government’s standoff with the unions is the biggest challenge yet of President Emmanuel Macron’s will to reform the euro zone’s second-biggest economy.

The government has argued that the pension reform, which would be the biggest since World War II, would make the system fairer while also putting it on a more sound financial footing. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Australian bushfires ease, promise reprieve to build defences

B

ushfire conditions eased in Australia on Saturday after a gruelling night for firefighters, with authorities saying they expect at least a week of milder weather in which to step up defences against the huge blazes still burning.

Cooler temperatures and rainfall had eased conditions after Friday’s strong southerly wind change that packed gusts of more than 100 kph (60 mph), whipping some fires on the east coast up to the emergency warning level.

The much-needed respite was an opportunity to consolidate and try and get the upper hand over the fires, said Shane Fitzsimmons, commissioner of the New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service.

New South Wales Police said in a statement that areas not affected by the bushfires of the South Coast, a popular holiday destination, are in a position to reopen for business, although national parks remain closed

The remains of a structure are seen following a bushfire in the village of Cobargo, Australia January 10, 2020

until Feb 1.

Officials have been urging foreign tourists to continue visiting Australia, which depends on income from tourism as the industry accounts for 3.1 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Since October, 27 people have been killed in Australia and thousands

subjected to repeat evacuations as huge and unpredictable fires scorched more than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres), an area roughly the size of South Korea.

Despite Saturday’s respite, authorities were clear, however, that the risk was far from over. (Excerpt from Reuters)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020

19

round-up: James fills void

L

ꟷ as streaking Lakers handle Mavs

eBron James had 35 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists to lead the visiting Los Angeles Lakers to their seventh straight win, a 129-114 decision against the Dallas Mavericks, on Friday night.

Kyle Kuzma started in place of Anthony Davis, and scored a season-high 26 points for the Lakers. Davis, the leading scorer (27.1 points per game) and rebounder (9.4 boards per game) for the Lakers, sat out the game after taking a hard fall against the visiting New York Knicks on Tuesday night, from which he sustained a contusion to his gluteus maximus.

Dallas forward Luka Doncic, who came in third in the NBA in both scoring (29.6 ppg) and assists (9.0 bpg), got off to a slow start, before finishing with 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. However, he contributed a game-high six turnovers.

Tim Hardaway Jr. added 22 points for the Mavericks, who have dropped five of seven, and Seth Curry scored 16 off the bench.

Phoenix Suns: 98, Orlando Magic: 94 Devin Booker hit a threepointer, stole a pass, and buried another trey in a 16.9-second flurry in the final minute that allowed Phoenix to overtake the visiting Orlando.

Booker drilled a 26-footer to get the Suns within one point with 52.9 seconds left.

Then he stole a Markelle Fultz pass and buried another from behind the arc to give Phoenix a 96-94 lead with just 36 seconds to go.

Orlando, who are seeking a third straight win, had two subsequent chances to tie, but Nikola Vucevic had the ball stolen by Ricky Rubio, and after the Suns’ guard made it a three-point game by sinking one of two free throws, Evan Fournier misfired on a 3-pointer with nine seconds to go.

Milwaukee Bucks: 127, Sacramento Kings: 106 Khris Middleton recorded 27 points and 11 rebounds to help Milwaukee post a victory over host Sacramento. The Bucks (34-6) have recorded the top 40-game start in franchise history, one win better than the 1970-71 team led by Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Eric Bledsoe scored 24 points and Donte DiVincenzo added a career-high 18 for the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and Sterling Brown had 11 points and a

season-best 12 rebounds for his first career double-double.

De’Aaron Fox registered 19 points, 10 assists and four steals, and Harrison Barnes also scored 19 points for the Kings, who lost to the Bucks for the seventh straight time.

Buddy Hield tallied 16 points, Nemanja Bjelica added 12 points and 13 rebounds, Trevor Ariza contributed 11 points and nine rebounds, and Harry Giles III had 10 points.

Los Angeles Clippers:109, Golden State Warriors:100 Kawhi Leonard scored 21 of his 36 points in the second half as he led Los Angeles to a come-from-behind victory over the visiting Golden State Warriors.

The Clippers overcame a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit despite playing without All-Star Paul George, who sat out the game after aggravating a left hamstring strain in practice earlier this week.

George, who had initially sustained the injury against the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 2, is also expected to miss Los Angeles’ road game against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

Leonard, who converted 14 of 25 shots from the floor, also had nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. Lou Williams scored 21 points for the Clippers.

Omari Spellman and Glenn Robinson III scored 17 apiece for the Warriors, who lost for the seventh consecutive game. Alec Burks added 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Memphis Grizzlies: 134, San Antonio Spurs: 121 Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 24 points and Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant added 22 each, as surging Memphis played its best basketball in the fourth quarter and defeated visiting San Antonio.

Jonas Valanciunas totalled 21 points; Morant also had 14 assists, and De’Anthony Melton and Brandon Clarke scored 13 and 10 points respectively for Memphis.

The Grizzlies play their next four games at home, and eight of their next 11 games are against teams with losing records.

DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 36 points for the Spurs, while LaMarcus Aldridge and Bryn Forbes had 21 points each, and Rudy Gay added 13 points for San Antonio.

Brooklyn Nets: 117, Miami Heat: 113 Caris LeVert hit two key 3-pointers in the final minutes, and Spencer Dinwiddie posted

26 points and a game-high 14 assists, as host Brooklyn snapped a seven-game losing streak by rallying to defeat Miami.

Miami, which got a gamehigh 33 points and nine rebounds from Jimmy Butler, led 109-100 with 5:09 left in the fourth quarter, before Brooklyn rallied.

Heat centre Bam Adebayo showed his versatility with 22 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

LeVert had missed seven of his first eight 3-pointers before connecting late. This was just his third game back since missing eight weeks due to a thumb injury. His second three-pointer — with 69 seconds left — gave Brooklyn a 112-111 lead. The Nets did not trail after that.

New Orleans Pelicans: 123, New York Knicks: 111 Brandon Ingram continued his hot play by scoring a game-high 28 points, as New Orleans pulled away late for a win in New York. The Pelicans have won eight of 11 since Dec. 18, when they snapped a franchise-record 13-game losing streak.

The Knicks have lost five game straight, to record their second losing streak of at least five games this season.

Ingram has scored at least 25 points in seven of his past 11 games. He added nine assists and six rebounds.

Jaxson Hayes (18 points, 10 rebounds) posted a doubledouble for the Pelicans, and went 7-for-8 from the field, missing only his last attempt.

Taj Gibson scored 19 points on 8-of-8 shooting from the field for the Knicks, who had all five starters score in double figures.

Washington Wizards: 111, Atlanta Hawks: 101 Jordan McRae scored 29 points, and short-handed Washington overcame a sixpoint fourth-quarter deficit to defeat visiting Atlanta.

The Hawks had led 89-83 on a John Collins basket with 8:39 left, but the Wizards went on a 24-8 run to take the lead for good at 94-93 on McRae’s driving layup with 5:03 remaining.

The Wizards were playing without guard Bradley Beal, who missed his fifth straight game with lower right leg soreness. Washington was missing four regulars.

Atlanta’s Trae Young was held to 19 points — 10.2 below his season average — and went 0-for-7 on 3-pointers. He had scored 40-plus in two of the previous three games.

Kevin Huerter scored 16

before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Collins had a doubledouble, with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

Indiana Pacers: 116, Chicago Bulls: 105 Myles Turner registered a double-double with 27 points and 14 rebounds, and Aaron Holiday added 19 points to lead visiting Indiana to a victory against Chicago.

Five Indiana players scored in double figures as the Pacers overcame the absence of leading scorer Domantas Sabonis, who missed the game with a sore left knee.

Zach LaVine scored a game-high 43 points for the Bulls, who lost their seasonhigh sixth straight game.

T.J. Warren (17 points), Doug McDermott (16) and Edmond Sumner (10) rounded out the balanced attack for the Pacers, who led by as many as 16 points.

Utah Jazz: 109, Charlotte Hornets: 92 Jordan Clarkson scored 20 points, and Rudy Gobert added 15 points with 13 rebounds as Utah started fast and never

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) makes a jump shot over Dallas Mavericks guard Delon Wright (55) during the second half at the American Airlines Cente

relented, extending its NBAbest winning streak to eight games with a win over visiting Charlotte in Salt Lake City.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 16 points and Georges Niang added 15 as the Jazz won their sixth consecutive home game in advance of a three-game road trip through Washington,

Brooklyn and New Orleans.

Terry Rozier scored 23 points and Miles Bridges added 11, as the Hornets lost their third consecutive game and fell for the ninth time in their last 11 games. Rozier saw his career-long streak of games with at least 25 points come to an end at four. (Reuters)

20

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020

ATP Cup tennis…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic inspires visitors Djokovic-Nadal final looming on first start ꟷ Cagliari: 0, Milan: 2

Z

latan Ibrahimovic has inspired Milan to victory on his first start since returning to the club. He netted in a 2-0 Serie A win at Cagliari.

Milan had gone three straight games without scoring, but the 38-year-old netted the decisive second goal for Milan with an excellent finish after 64 minutes.

The visitors had moved ahead on Saturday through Rafael Leao’s deflected effort -his first goal since September -which arrived just 32 seconds after the restart of play.

Cagliari remain sixth on the points table, but have lost four straight Serie A matches and are on their worst run since October 2017.

The only chance at scoring in a quiet first-half hour came with Milan’s Theo Hernandez’s shot from a tight angle, but it

was saved by the legs of Robin Olsen.

Milan almost broke through when Ibrahimovic’s header was touched onto the upright

by Olsen; and they came close again from the resulting corner, which was flicked on

by Alessio Romagnoli to a stretching Leao, but he could not convert at the far post.

Cagliari, rarely threatened but an audacious Nahitan Nandez lob from the right touchline, had to be saved by a back-tracking Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Milan made an ideal start to the second half when Samu Castillejo’s lofted pass found Leao, who controlled neatly before seeing his shot deflect off defender Fabio Pisacane and loop into the net over a helpless Olsen.

Midway through this second half, Ibrahimovic sealed victory when he swept a firsttime, left-footed effort into the far corner from 12 yards, after latching on to Hernandez’s delivery from the left.

Ibrahimovic thought he had a second late on, having headed in a cross from Ismael Bennacer with Donnarumma not having a save to make in the closing stages, but he was denied by an offside flag.

Milan, however, held on to their lead to win the match comfortably. (Sportsmax)

S

Rafael Nadal has won 19 Grand Slam titles as a singles player

erbia and Spain have both prevailed in the ATP Cup, which sets up a dream final that could see Novak Djokovic facing Rafael Nadal.

Having won all three matches of their quarter-final tie with Canada in the quarter-finals, Serbia again remained unbeaten versus Russia, while Spain dispatched hosts Australia with successive singles’ wins.

Reigning Australian Open champion Djokovic came through an engrossing three-setter with US Open finalist Daniil Medvedev. Djokovic had lost his last two meetings with Medvedev, who threatened a comeback in Sydney after he recovered from a hugely disappointing first set to force a decider.

The world number two struck the ultimately decisive break in the fifth game of the third. However, typically obdurate to the end, Medvedev had three break-back points before Djokovic finally took his second match point.

The match fittingly finished with the type of lengthy baseline rally that defines a captivating contest: Medvedev firing a cross-court forehand into the net, to give Serbia an unassailable 2-0 lead with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 victory.

Earlier, Dusan Lajovic beat Karen Khachanov 7-5, 7-6 (7-1), and Serbia also came through in the dead rubber doubles clash as Nikola Cacic and Viktor Troicki defeated Teymuraz Gabashvili and Konstantin Kravchuk.

Paying tribute to Medvedev, Djokovic said of the match: “[It was] ex-

citing, exhausting, joyful (and) dreadful all at once. At one point, we both refused to miss from the baseline, so it was a lot of rallies, and it was very exhausting. “(It was) a very physical battle, but (it was) also a mental battle. He showed why he’s one of the best players in the world, why he’s top five. This kind of consistency and this kind of solid game from back of the court -- big serves -- got him to where he is. He deserves to be there. “[It was] definitely one of the most exciting matches I have played against him or any other top player in the last few years,” Djokovic conceded.

World number one Nadal was similarly tested by Alex de Minaur, whose energy and intensity had the home crowd in Sydney on their feet, as he took the first set in his quest to level the tie after Roberto Bautista Agut easily beat Nick Kyrgios 6-1, 6-4.

US Open champion Nadal did not have a break point until the 12th game of the second, but he took it to force a decider, and subsequently raced away to claim a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 success.

Wary of the obvious threat posed

by Djokovic and Serbia in the final, Nadal said on court: “It’s going to be a super-tough final against Serbia.

Novak likes to play here, and Serbia has a great team and is playing very well. But Roberto played an amazing match this afternoon, and we have a good team, so we are ready for it.”

(Sportsmax)

Premiere League…

Firmino goal gives Liverpool excellent start

L

iverpool have extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 16 points with a game in hand, having battled to a hardfought win against the Spurs at Tottenham.

Jurgen Klopp’s men became the first team in Europe’s top-five leagues to win 20 of their first 21 games, as they withstood a secondhalf fightback from Spurs to win, courtesy of Roberto Firmino’s first-half goal.

The Brazil forward turned Spurs’ young debutant Japhet Tanganga, then beat Paulo Gazzaniga with a sweet leftfoot strike, to give the visitors a deserved lead.

However, Liverpool were then grateful to poor finishing from Jose Mourinho’s side who were without the injured Harry Kane - in order to record another victory on their seemingly relentless march to a first title in 30 years.

Son Heung-Min and substitute Giovani Lo Celso each missed glorious secondhalf chances to give Spurs some reward for a performance that improved as the game went on; but Liverpool, their position strengthened further

by Leicester City’s shock home loss to Southampton, held on to increase the sense of formality about the destination of this season’s

Premier League Trophy.

Liverpool not at most fluent, but win again Liverpool may not have been at their best - there were even spells in the second half when they looked jaded - but this is a team on a seemingly unstoppable run to the Premier League title.

This was their 12th successive league win, and it is a remarkable feat to have dropped only two league points from their first 21 games. It is something no other team in Europe’s major leagues has ever achieved.

It’s true they were let off

by Spurs’ missed chances, but there is perhaps a sense that Liverpool’s dominance is having a psychological impact on their opponents, so that when rare opportunities come along, they are being snatched.

And even when not in prime form, Liverpool’s forward line is so potent that there is always a goal in them - as Firmino proved with his neat 37th-minute sidestep and thumping finish.

Spurs will claim, with justification, that they should have had a throw-in before the goal, but Liverpool are now being propelled with growing momentum to end that long wait to reclaim their

perch at summit English game.

of

t h e the

Spurs lack killer instinct The root of Spurs’ downfall came in two distinct aspects of their performance; albeit, one did get better as the game wore on.

In the first half, Spurs were far too passive and negative, as they sat back, presumably waiting for an opportunity to strike on the counter-attack.

The tactic was undone

by Firmino’s goal, which left Spurs with no option but to be more positive in the second period.

It was then -- without the marksmanship of long-term injury victim Kane -- that they were so wasteful in front of goal, with both Son and Lo Celso missing when it seemed easier to score. Lo Celso’s miss, in particular, left Mourinho openly lamenting his side’s absence of a clinical edge, as he collapsed dramatically to his knees after the Argentina midfielder failed to hit the target from close range.

Spurs’ wasteful moments against Liverpool may well further convince their manager that he has to strengthen his attacking options in this transfer window, as the fight for a topfour place intensifies.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020

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21

BCB launches Lewison General Store Under-15 Tournament

ꟷ first of 25+ tournaments for 2020

“S

ince my election as President of the BCB in February 2018, the board has launched over sixty tournaments at the different levels, and it is my aim to host another 25 in 2020. By the end of my second term, in December 2021, the BCB would have successfully completed a minimum of 120 tournaments, as we seek to make sure that all of our cricketers have adequate opportunity to develop their skills”.

Those were the words of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster as he launched the Lewison General Store Under- 15 tournament for 2020.

Foster also disclosed that the BCB is currently pushing to complete the Mike’s Pharmacy Under-15 tournament for 2019. Albion is a finalist in that tournament, and the team it will be opposing would be decided shortly.

He further disclosed that, as part of an expanded youth development programme, the BCB is aiming to host two under-15 tournaments in 2020. The Lewison General Store Under-15 tourney will start on January 18, and at least 20 teams will participate therein. Those teams will be divided into three zones, with the top two teams from each zone qualifying for the playoff segments. This tournament would be played in a 50-oversper-side format as part of the country’s preparation for the inter-county tournament.

The cut-off date of birth for players participating in this tournament has been determined at September 1, 2005, and Foster has admonished clubs to make sure they have the relevant documents to verify the dates of birth of their players, as any club fielding an overage player would face a ban.

Keen competition

is anticipated in this tournament, with teams like Albion, Port Mourant, Blairmont, Tucber Park, Rose Hall Canje, Edinburgh, #73, Achievers, Bush Lot United and Mt. Sinai expected to participate.

Among the players expected to register dominant performances are Matthew Pottaya, Rampertab Ramnauth, Salim Khan, Damion Cecil, Sanjay Algoo, Avishkar Persaud, Tuvraj Shaundeo and Kumar Deopersaud.

Foster has also disclosed that the BCB would be hosting tournaments at the under-13, under-17, under-19, under-21 and under-23 levels; and trial matches would be organised at the under-15, under-17 and under-19 levels to make sure the best possible team is selected to represent Berbice.

The BCB President has expressed deep gratitude to the sponsors of tournaments

Horse-racing in Berbice…

CMTC President’s Cup set for Mash Day

Neal Lewis of Lewison General Store hands over sponsorship to BCB President Hilbert Foster

for coming on board the BCB programmes, and has assured that the BCB would work assiduously to complete each tournament within a threemonth timeframe.

Berbice Cricket, he has said, is attracting unmatched sponsorship because the business community has full confidence in its leadership.

He noted that the BCB administration assumed

control of a savings account that had a mere fortythousand dollars therein, but has, over the last 22 months, raised in excess of $20 million in cash and kind.

Co-owner of Lewison General Store, Neal Lewis, has said the entity is delighted to assist Berbice Cricket, and there is full confidence that the tournament would be well organised.

ICC four-day Test cricket proposal…

Gayle joins long list of opposing players

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Action in a CMTC event in 2019

A

ttorney-at-Law Ryan Crawford, President of the Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports Facility at Alness Village, Corentyne Berbice, has disclosed that the CMTC’s first major tournament for 2020 would be the President’s Cup horse meet, which has been scheduled for staging on Mash Day, February 23rd.

He has said the day promises to be an exciting one, as many entries have already been confirmed for the card, which would consist of six races run in various categories.

Feature event of this meet is ‘The Crawford Stakes’, set to be run over 1400 metres for a winner’s purse of $500,000 and a trophy.

Other events listed on the card are as follows: The ‘J and Lower’ race over 1400 metres for a winner’s purse of $220,000 and a trophy. The race for 3-Year-Old horses over 1400 metres for a winner’s purse of $200,000 and a trophy. The ‘L1 and Lower’ race over 1000 metres for a winner’s purse of $150,000 and a trophy.

The ‘L2 and Lower’ race over 1000 metres for a winner’s purse of $80,000. And the ‘L3 Unclassified’ race over 1000 metres for a winner’s prize of $60,000.

The club president has, in a release, expressed hope that the big stables would participate in this meet, and not boycott this event as had obtained in times past.

He has said that individual trophies and other incentives would be given to riders who perform exceptionally well.

He also said the races would be run under the rules of the legislative draft of his father, the late Attorney-at-Law Marcel Crawford, and all bookings must be done with a deposit of $5000.

If a race has less than five horses participating, the winner’s purse would be reduced, he said.

All entries close on 14 February 2020, he has said.

Persons desiring further information are invited to contact Marcel Crawford Jr on 678-5342, or 600-7690.

Gayle last appeared for the West Indies Test team six years ago

V

eteran Windies batsman Chris Gayle has declared he is not a fan of the proposed four-day Test cricket format. He is of the firm opinion that shortening the game would lessen its appeal.

Having scored a total of 7,214 runs in 104 Test matches, with a high score of 333, Gayle is no stranger to this format of the game. Although he last set foot in the Test area six years ago, he has not lost affinity for the gruelling nature of cricket’s longest format.

It is of little surprise that Gayle recently added his voice to the throng of players and former players who have come out strongly against the possibility of reducing five-

day Test matches to four-day events.

The topic is expected to be discussed by the ICC over the next few months.

“It (Test cricket) has set the trend, and it’s been there for ages; so why go and mess with that? If they give other players a chance to experience that (Test cricket), it can be a lifechanging experience to play five-day cricket. It is a mental state, so that you can cope in life as well,” Gayle has said.

Indian captain Virat Kohli, South African skipper Faf du Plessis, English captain Joe Root, and Indian great Sachin Tendulkar are among the other players to have spoken out in opposition to this change.

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COMOM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020

Colonial Medical Insurance Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Jaguars fight back! ꟷ despite resistance from Powell, Hodge ꟷ Smith bags 6 for 55

ed the latter his first wicket even as he left the immovable Hodge at the crease.

But all good things must come to an end, and Hodge was finally dismissed for 62 made in 205 balls off the bowling of Permaul.

With Jahmar Hamilton and Jaison Peters being the fresh faces at the crease, and with the Leeward Islands trailing by 39 runs, the pair needed to last out the night; but, once again, a repeat of day 2 loomed over the Leeward side, as

A

ction in the Colonial Medical Insurance Regional 4-Day tournament continued on day three with the Guyana Jaguars maintaining the upper hand over the Leeward Islands in the first innings, and Nial Smith wreaking havoc on that team with figures of 6 for 55.

Heading into the second innings at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua & Barbuda, Montcin Hogde and Kieran Powell ensured that the Jaguars toil for any success, but in the latter part of the innings, Versammy Permaul was able to peg the Leeward Islands on the proverbial back foot.

Resuming their start at 14:00hrs and with the score on 125-5, the last respectable pair of Leeward Islands’ batsmen, Jacques Taylor and Jahmar Hamilton, could extend their overnight 40run partnership by only five runs before Taylor fell to Versammy Permaul.

Hamilton continued to rally on, and brought up his half- century before being bowled on 52. Wickets continued to fall as Nial

SCOREBOARD

Nial Smith bagged 6-55

Smith continued to live his dream debut in bagging 6 wickets for a mere 55 runs.

The Leeward Islands were bundled out for 154 runs, and thus trailed by a whopping 234 runs.

They had lost a total of 5 wickets for a mere 29 runs, Nail Smith bagging 6-55, with support of 2 for 11 from Permaul, while Christopher Barnwell and Keon Joseph each chipped in with one wicket.

The Jaguars then enforced the follow-on in hope of dismissing the weak Leewards side inside of the second innings, but the rain had other plans, as it forced a break in momentum even as the Jaguars

they lost Peters to Permaul and Jacques Taylor to Keon Joseph, to have their score plummet from 181-2 to 204-6.

In the end, the Leeward Islands head into the final day with the score on 2146; with Jahmar Hamilton and Damion Jacobs remaining unbeaten on 15 and 3 runs respectively, and their team trailing by 20 runs.

Play on the final day will commence at 14:00 hrs.

Kieran Powell scored 99 for the Leeward Islands

Versammy Permaul mounted the pressure on the Leeward Islands

were on fire.

The short break saw a different Jaguars unit taking to the field, and Kieran Powell and Montcin Hodge made their lives miserable.

Powell, the more aggressive of the two, smashed the ball to all parts of the ground as he scored his runs quickly, and the pair put together a partnership of 152 before Powell fell to Keon Joseph for 99, which

included seven boundaries and three maximums.

From there Hodge and Devon Thomas looked to carry on, Hodge bringing up his half-century with ease in being the anchor of the innings. But Just as things were looking settled for the Leeward side, Thomas played an irresponsible shot in attempting to drive Permaul, and was bowled with the score on 181-2.

With some distance still to go, Kacy Carty made the mistake of swiping at a delivery off the bowling of Raymond Reifer, and hand-

Leeward Islands Batting 1st Innings Montcin Hodge lbw b Smith 13 Kieran Powell lbw b Smith 34 Kacey Carty c Barnwell b Joseph 7 Devon Thomas c Bramble b Smi th 13 Jaison Peters b Barnwell 4 Jahmar Hamilton c Barnwell b Sm ith 52 Jacques Taylor b Permaul 11 Kezron Archibald b Smith 0 Damion Jacobs b Smith 0 Quinton Boatswain c Bramble b Permaul 0 Sheeno Beridge not out 0 Total 154 (10 wickets, 47.2) Extras 20 Bowling O M Keon Joseph 9 0 Raymond Reifer 9 2 Nial Smith 16 4 C Barnwell 6 2 VPermaul 6.2 1 Devendra Bishoo 1 0

R W 34 1 28 0 55 6 12 1 11 2 7 0

Leeward Islands Batting 2nd Innings Montcin Hodge c Johnson b Permaul 62 Kieran Powell c Bramble b Joseph 99 Kacey Carty c Bramble b Reifer 0 Devon Thomas c Johnson b Permaul 15 Jaison Peters c Bramble b Permaul Jahmar Hamilton 15 not out Jacques Taylor c Bramble b Joseph Damion Jacobs 3 not out Total 214 (6 wickets, 78 overs) Extras 14 Bowling Keon Joseph Raymond Reifer Nial Smith C Barnwell V Permaul Devendra Bishoo

O 13 8 8 7 26 15

M R 4 34 1 34 1 24 2 6 9 52 0 56

W 2 1 0 0 3 0

“All’s well in Cuba!”

By Jemima Holmes

A

ll is reportedly going well with the four Guyanese boxers who are going through rigorous training in Cuba in preparation for the 2020 Olympic Qualifiers in March.

The quad, comprised of Colin Lewis, Keevin Allicock, Dennis Thomas and Desmond Amsterdam, left Guyana with two coaches, Terrence Poole and Sebert Blake, just over a week ago; and have wasted no time in commencing the various training activities which should give them a better chance at securing a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics in Japan later this year.

Moreover, Cuban Coach Roland Francisco is assisting in preparing this Guyanese team.

Speaking exclusively with Guyana Times Sport, the boxers disclosed that their tight training schedule includes such aspects as strength and conditioning, six rounds of school boxing and shadow boxing respectively, and a mandatory 2-mile run each morning.

According to Dennis Thomas, the team is in no rush to get accustomed to the climate, but each boxer has been making good progress since touching down in the Spanishspeaking island. The most important factor, he said, is that team members have been supporting each other.

“We have a long time (here), so our (bodies are) going to acclimatize very soon, (be)cause the intensity of the training is very high right now. So, we’re going to be okay, because we’re supporting each other,” Thomas explained.

The pugilist also disclosed that while they have not begun sparring as yet (which they are expected to work on extensively), each member of the team is completely fit.

“I believe everyone is underweight because of the pace that we’re going (at), and we just got here. The team is in a fit condition,” he declared.

Thomas noted that since members began training in Cuba, the Guyanese team has been exposed to sessions with two Olympic 2012 medallists and Junior World Champions who have imparted knowledge and insight into the sport

Team Captain Colin Lewis is being instructed by Cuban Coach Roland Francisco

Dennis Thomas goes through a training session

that has been very instrumental in the way they would now approach a fight.

Further, the team has now acquired a fuller realization of the importance of the three-month training stint, since each member has been exposed to various formats of the sport that none of them would have discovered at home.

“Just the technical parts we have to work on…so we’re seeing a lot of boxing that we’ve never seen before,” Thomas explained to Guyana Times Sport.

The three-month training stint was made possible because the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) contributed a whopping US$15,000 and the National Sports Commission (NSC) gave Gy$1 million (approximately US$5000). The NSC has also promised to make another contribution to the boxers’ three-month stay in Cuba, while the GOA has already pledged an additional Gy$1 million to enable the team to participate in the Olympic Qualifiers.

The highly anticipated Olympic Qualifiers will be hosted in Argentina from March 26 to April 3.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020

23

ODI Series between West Indies and Ireland…

Is a ‘clean sweep’ possible?

T

he first ODI match between the West Indies and Ireland saw a below-par performance from the Irish, but the second ODI was an absolute cricket classic.

The two sides battled it out over 100 overs, and the end result could figuratively have been measured in millimetres. The West Indies gained a one-wicket win off the penultimate ball of the game and literally broke Irish hearts, but that game will, for a long time, be remembered as “the one that got away”.

Ireland The continued improvement in the batting and bowling performances of the Irish team in the second ODI would have pleased their fans, especially since a more determined and disciplined display in these two areas would have reaped rewards and exposing critical weaknesses in the home side’s line-up.

The Irish bowlers would be largely pleased with their execution of tactics, particularly since Barry McCarthy’s energising spell (2-28 from 10 overs), Simi Singh’s knack for taking wickets when it matters, and Boyd Rankin’s line and bounce caused issues for Windies batsmen for the second Alzarri Jospeh

straight match.

The third match will, however, require more disciplined bowling from the Irish, as the flamboyant home batsmen may look to attack more freely, given that the series has been sealed.

The Irish batsmen again showed promise, but failed to produce that one big innings around which the side could build. Paul Stirling (63) was most likely to produce that innings, while Kevin O’Brien and William Porterfield showed what they are capable of achieving.

Nevertheless, in the end, it took a late flurry of runs from Barry McCarthy (17*) to push the Irish innings from average to defendable.

The key is partnerships. Ireland has struggled to build those, but should they find the knack, they would be well served in building or chasing a target.

Ireland’s ODI squad: Andrew Balbirnie (Captain), Mark Adair, Gareth Delany, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Kevin O’Brien, William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson and Craig Young.

The West Indies The West Indies ought not to be pleased with their performance. Various commentators have questioned their depth of bowling and their technique with the bat, particularly their forcing shots to balls that are not there to be hit.

Alzarri Joseph is undoubtedly a star, and Sheldon Cottrell provides a danger that the Irish

batsmen have struggled to combat. However, the Irish batsmen had periods in the second ODI when they looked reasonably comfortable against the rest of the Windies team.

The Windies batting unit has again received a mixed scorecard. Shai Hope found form, but fell when he was looking to accelerate his innings.

Shimron Hetmyer again failed to show fans the immense talent he possesses, offering another shot that belied his usual judgement. Kieron Pollard was in monstrous hitting-form, as he put two balls on the grandstand roof; while Nicholas Pooran looked in good touch, but he and his captain both fell to balls of good line and length. Thus, discipline is the key to Irish bowlers building pressure and frustrating the home batters.

West Indies ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (Captain), Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.

Focus Focus will be on Shimron Hetmyer. After playing some determined and good cricket against India, Hetmyer has thrown it all away in the last couple of games. His shot selection hasn’t been precise, and he seems a bit dicey.

As one of the important players in the West Indies line-up going forward, he should look to perform at a more consistent level.

Alzarri Joseph is an obvious choice, with two identical returns of 4-32.

The confidence he built with the ball has even seemingly Sheldon Cottrell will be flowed through to a key factor in the game his batting in game two. It demonstrates that he may have more than just one string to his cricket bow.

The Irish batters would need to be patient and expect having to deal with shorter-pitched balls.

Andrew Balbirnie, in his maiden series as the ODI captain of Ireland, hasn’t had a great time. His batting performance has been disappointing, as he has been out for cheap scores in both the matches.

The 29-year-old has got great talent with the willow in hand, and has played some great knocks for his team in the past. He should take up more responsibility and try to play more sensible cricket.

Conditions Unlike in the other two games, the third ODI is a day fixture. The weather is expected to be partly sunny and partly windy, with a brief shower or two in the mid-afternoon.

The last ODI played here, in February last year against England, was a high-scoring affair, with West Indies falling short of a target of 419 by a mere 29 runs.

Turbo Knockout Football Tournament…

Pouderoyen, Fruta Conquerors U-20 book semi-final spots

…second set of quarterfinal games on tonight Story and Photos by Jemima Holmes

F

ruta Conquerors Under-20 FC and Pouderoyen FC are the first two teams to make it into the semifinal round of the third annual Turbo Knockout Football Tournament, following two nail-biting encounters at the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue last Friday night.

Opposing the Buxton United Under-20 team in the first quarterfinal, Pouderoyen FC were made to work for their victory, with two extremely lucky goal-keepers facing from either side fired shots that went astray, thereby setting up a stalemate by the end of regulation time.

But what could hitherto have been considered a boring game quickly became interesting as Darrell Abrams beat the Buxton United Under-20 goalkeeper in

the 98th minute.

The reply from Buxton’s Troni Semple came quickly and just in time. His careless shot at the goal somehow found the back of the net in the 106th minute because the Pouderoyen goalie was focused on anything but the incoming ball.

At the penalty mark, both sides connected their initial five tries, plunging the game into sudden-death kicks. At that stage, the Pouderoyen goalie executed his best save of the night to hand his team the win.

With the memory of their last encounter fresh in their minds, Buxton Stars challenged Fruta Conquerors Under-20 from the get-go, and were successful with their defense until Nicholas Mc Arthur weaved his way from the left wing to get a clear shot in front of the goal in the 21st minute.

While Fruta continued to

press, Buxton Stars resisted well, and managed to pass the first half without another goal being scored.

Ryan Hackett opened the second on a high note for Fruta with a goal in the 46th minute, but Fruta let the game slip away briefly after their goalkeeper, Joel Yhap, gave away an own goal in the 63rd minute, and Buxton’s Shemar Scott made it a 2-2 game in the 71st.

With the possibility of an unlikely win within arm’s reach of Buxton Stars, the East Coast outfit switched on their aggression, and the hunt for the winning goal turned up the intensity of the encounter for both sides, and made it even more frustrating for both sides, as each team’s shots at the goal went off-target.

Osafo Simpson was the hero for Fruta, as he found the back of the net two minutes before

the end of regulation time for their 3-2 victory.

Action in the Turbo Knockout competition will continue tonight at the same venue, where Riddim Squad will spar with defending champions Northern Rangers at 19:00hrs, and Santos Under-20 will lock horns with GFC at 21:00hrs.

The first game of the night is expected to be a very interesting one, as it causes a collision of the experience of Northern Rangers with the Pouderoyen and Buxton United played to a stalemate before the aggression of Riddim Squad. went down to penalties The Northern Rangers fight-to-the-death attitude will camp have already made it clear that they intend to secure surely challenge the defending back-to-back championship champions and make for a feisty titles; and have even fought game.

The Georgetown Football to add some weight to their words in their first game of the Club (GFC) have a strong youth tournament, when they pulled component that might be able to test the Santos Under-20 off a 6-5 win.

However, Riddim Squad’s outfit. However, in their past

U-20 game

few tournaments, the GFC have been unable to make it out of the shaky rounds, falling short by a small margin.

The Santos U20 are reportedly confident in their abilities, and judging by their last 8-0 victory, the youngsters are out for blood. However, they will first need to overcome the mixture of youth and experience that the GFC are bringing to the table.

The eventual winners of the Guyana Beverage Inc-sponsored, Petraorganized tournament would walk away with a grand prize of $400,000, while second place settles for $200,000.

Third and fourth places will pocket $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.

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

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

Colonial Medical Insurance Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Can Windies Jaguars fight back! pull off a Pg 23

ꟷ despite resistance from Powell, Hodge ꟷ Smith bags 6 for 55 Pg 22

‘clean sweep’?

Turbo knockout football tournament Pg 23

Pouderoyen, Fruta Conquerors U-20 book semi-final spots

“All’s well in Cuba!” …second set of quarterfinal games on tonight 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.

JANUARY 12, 2020

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2 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 12, 2020

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Feature

T

he first set of Chinese indentured immigrants arrived in Guyana on January 12, 1853.

They came as a form of cheap labour to replace the freed slaves.

According to the records, plantation owners in Guyana began expressing interest in having Chinese labourers from the onset of emancipation but recruitment formally began in 1851. Because of the long travel distance from China, at first Chinese were not recruited since it was cheaper to transport Indians.

While it cost a planter 13 British pounds to transport an Indian labourer from Calcutta or Madras, the cost was 15 pounds to transport a Chinese immigrant from any of the Chinese ports. But because of the growing need for labourers for the sugar estates, some planters decided to recruit Chinese especially during the period between 1848 and 1851 when Indian immigration was suspended.

In August 1851, the British Guiana Government agreed to pay the planters a bounty of $100 for each Chinese landed in the Colony. The following month George Booker, one of the sugar estate owners, arranged for the first shipment of Chinese to work as indentured labourers.

The 115 men and 39 boys who were recruited were transported from the port of Amoy on the Lord Elgin. The ship departed on July 23, 1852 and after a journey of 177 days arrived in Georgetown on January 17, 1853. On this difficult voyage 69 of the passengers died.

Another ship, the Glentanner, chartered by Hyde, Hodge & Co, left Amoy with 305 men and boys and arrived in Georgetown on January 12, 1853. A total of 51 passengers died on the journey. The same Company recruited another 352 men and boys later in the year and they were shipped from Amoy on the Samuel Boddington on November 25, 1852 and arrived in Georgetown on March 4, 1853, after a voyage which lasted only 98 days during which 52 passengers died. (On this journey, the Chinese mutinied and almost managed to take control of the ship).

Most of the Chinese who arrived during this period were assigned to estates in West Demerara.

The British Guiana Government expressed concerns about the physical quality of the Chinese who were recruited and also about the large number of boys who were apparently passed off as adults. Subsequently, the Government withdrew the bounty payment to the recruiting planters on August 1, 1853.

Earlier that year, James White, who had been the recruiting agent for the British Guiana Government in India, was appointed as Emigration Agent for the British West Indies in China. However, he was dismissed in June of the following year mainly be-

cause he failed to recruit any Chinese labourer.

In 1853 also, the British Government had decided to support a government-sponsored recruitment programme, but by May 1854 the British Guiana Government decided to halt immigration from China due to the transportation costs which had increased by over 66 per cent and also because of the failure to recruit women.

Chinese women began arriving in 1860, but in small numbers. The period from 1860 to 1866 saw a relatively large influx of immigrants, bringing the local Chinese population to a peak of 10,022 in 1866. Subsequently only two boats arrived with Chinese immigrants, one in 1874 and the other in 1879. After this Chinese immigrants came of their own free will and at their own expense.

The Chinese proved to be good workers on the estates to which they were indentured for a five-year period. The distribution of Chinese labourers to the sugar plantations in the three counties of Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo was made by the Immigration Agent-General, who based his decisions on the quotas submitted by the

plantation owners several months previously. Families were kept together in the distribution.

Guyanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first President was a Chinese man named Arthur Chung.

For the entire period of 1853 to 1879, a total of 13,541 Chinese landed in Guyana.

(Excerpts from guyana.org)

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Feature

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uyana is a melting pot of cultures and one of the most unique nations in the in the Caribbean region. It is unique in the sense that nowhere else can you find the level of cultural integration we have here. It is perhaps one of the goods that came out of the colonial period since it sets us apart from others.

One of the identifiable cultures in the melting pot is that of the Chinese people. The Chinese came to

Lei Fashion

Guyana after the colonial masters lost their slaves and was looking for cheap labour to further enrich themselves. So as a replacement for the lost slaves, they created the indenture system under which the Chinese came.

Ever since they landed on January 12, 1853, the Chinese have been adding their culture to the fabric of what would ultimately become the Guyanese society. Now, some 167 years later, one cannot imagine what Guyana would be without the Chinese people.

We would not have the every famous chicken fried rice that almost every Guyanese crave nor would we have been exposed to the dragon dance among other things.

There is no denying that the Chinese people have aided in the transformation of the Guyanese economy as well. In 2018, President David Granger alluded to the contribution of the Chinese to the Guyanese economy noting that their contribution could not be downplayed.

During the entire period 1853 to 1879, a total of 13,541 diverse Chinese landed in Guyana, bringing with them various religions, different languages and varying beliefs.

The Chinese came as the smallest group of indentured labourers and were distributed to the sugar plantations in the three counties of Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo.

“Engrained neatly in the fabric of the Guyanese society are contributions by Chinese that include the tasty cuisine that continues to be popular in Guyana and which is talked about in many other countries; folklore and the language which continues to be spoken by natives and is even taught here at the Confucius Institute,” Social Cohesion Minister Dr George Norton had stated while speaking about the contribution of the Chinese.

The Chinese were astute businessmen who operated grocery stores and were druggists, butchers, hucksters, cart and boat cab owners, barbers and laundrymen, among other things. Their contribution to commerce can still be seen today with various businesses across the country.

In almost every village along Guyana’s coast one can find Chinese restaurants and grocery stores. In the city, the Chinese owned stores creates employment for a number of Guyanese as well as goods and services to the public.

New Thriving Chinese resturant

China Trading (New Building)

The Chinese’s contributions are not only limited to business but also in the sport arena. They first started the Chinese Sports Club which is now the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club. Among the sporting disciplines of the club were cricket, tennis, basketball and hockey. The club shone in hockey back in 1961 when eight of its members were selected to tour with the national hockey team which won the first and only Quadrangular Hockey Tournament among British Guiana, Trinidad, Jamaica and Barbados. The club went on to have the leading hockey team in Guyana, winning all the hockey tournaments in 1974.

The Chinese have been fully integrated into the Guyanese society and have been able to excel in virtually every area, including in academia, the legal and medical fields. Some notable Guyanese Chinese includes the first President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the late Arthur Chung; former Chief Justice the late Ian Chang; entrepreneur Stanley Ming; General Surgeon, Dr Wallace Lee, and Mathematician Claude Lee. Over the years, the strong, comprehensive programme of bilateral cooperation between Guyana and China has resulted in Guyana benefiting from the services of the Chinese medical doctors and technicians, the donation of equipment to the health sector, the educational work of the Confucius Institute, the support given to the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, infrastructural support for the expansion and renovation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the widening of the East Coast Demerara Public Road, and the donation of vehicles and other equipment to the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.

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Feature

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achieved with brush, ink and water, transcending the limitanlike the art of ancient Egypt, tions of realistic colour and offering artists greater creative India, and Babylon, that of China freedom. has developed without interrupFollowing the Tang-Song period (612-1276 AD), “mountion from antiquity up to the prestain and water” landscape became one of the primary genres ent. Chinese art is richly diverse and highof Chinese painting. Unlike Western painting, traditionly comprehensive, encompassing all forms al Chinese painting does not employ a single focal point. and styles. Entering the treasure house of Rather, most Chinese landscapes utilize a shifting perspecChinese art is the start of a marvelous jourtive to portray a continuous sweep of connected views, such ney through calligraphy, painting, sculpture, as mountains and rivers or a long city street. These paintarchitecture, music, dance, drama, film, crafts ings, mounted on long horizontal or vertical scrolls, allow the and folk arts. viewer to appreciate panoramic vistas that cannot be seen Painting from a single perspective.

Traditional; chinses painting uses brushes Contemporary Chinese painting, influences by the ideas to apply ink wash and pigment to think silk or and techniques of Western art, gave rise to reforms in trapaper, which is then mounted on scrolls. This ditional chinses painting and brought a new infusion of viform of painting attaches the highest importality to the genre. The works of artist Xu Beihong (1895tance to fluidity and expressiveness of line, 19-53 AD) are representative of this trend. The emergence and is deeply influences by calligraphy. This of new schools of realists painting, deeply imbued with the is because both art forms utilize essentially spirit of popular life, also exerted a strong influence on trathe same tolls as well as similar brushstrokes. The Monument to the People’s Heroes in Beijing’s Tian’anmen Square ditional Chinese painting. As these transformations ocTraditional Chinese artists use minimal line to portray their subjects. Representing form is merely the basis for revealing essence. Even today, students of traditional Chinese paint- curred, Chinese artists drew from the combined spirits of Chinese and ing practice brushstrokes as part of their training.

Although early Chinese painting was primarily religiously oriented, it was imbued with Western art to create new styles of real-life atmosphere and generally used people as its subject material. Starting in the 7th oil painting that preserve the unique century AD, during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), Chinese painting started to be influ- features of traditional Chinese art. ences by philosophical thinking. Advocating harmony between Humanity and Nature, the The delicate waterscapes of contemnew school of paining called for breaking the bonds of concrete imagery, and rather us- porary painter Wu Guanzhong (b. ing symbolic themes to represent the interior world. As a result, subject matter gradually 1919) are a case in point, bringing a changed from religious figures to natural scenery, including “mountain and water” land- vision of classical beauty to the eye of the modern viewer. scape painting and “bird and flower” genres.

Sculpture Along with this change in thematic content, an increasing number of artists emerged “Sculpture is the forerunner of all who were outstanding in both painting and calligraphy. The brushwork inscriptions that started to appear on paintings at this time were an expression of the merging of the tow art art.” This saying truly describes the forms. These inscriptions described the theme of the painting, using highly poetic language Chinese sculptural arts. Jade carvings of people, pottery figurines of and beautiful calligraphy to deepen the appeal of the work.

Classical Chinese artists believed that paintings should not be limited by the actual co- young women, and sculptures and lour of their subject matter. For instance, bamboo could be portrayed using only black ink. carvings of animals appeared in As a result, the use of colour decreased and painting solely with ink became increasingly China as early as the Neolithic Age prevalent. Ink wash painting made full use of the tinting and bleeding effects that could be (c. 12,000-2000 BC). As china flourished and became more powerful, the spirit of its magnificent culture directly invigorated the sculptural arts. The mighty underground terracotta army of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC), as well as the massive and majestic Buddhist sculptures of the Yungang and Longmen grottoes, have all served to bring China’s extraordinary sculptural tradition to the eyes of the world.

Discovered in 1973, the terracotta army of Qin Shihuang, the first Qin emperor, bears witness to the extraordinary level of early Chinese sculpture. The army includes of a wide variety of soldiers, no two alike, Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy and compassion all with highly realistic carved faces and unique expressions. These figures must have been created by a large number of artisans otherwise the figures cannot display such richly varied technique.

The statues found in China’s grottoes and temples represent the epitome of traditional Chinese sculpture. These sculptures often feature beautifully carved clothing, and skill-

Terracotta army of Qin Shihuang

fully portray the form and dynamism of their subjects. Chinese carvings of Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy and compassion, with her exquisitely draped robes, kind and loving gaze, and quality of sanctity and serene beauty, rival Raphael’s paintings of the Sistine Madonna.

The concepts and techniques of Chinese sculpture continued to develop during the 20th century. The Monument to the People’s Heroes in Beijing’s Tian’anmen Square is one of the representative works of modern Chinese sculpture. The monument consists of ten engraved panels, each of which represents a certain historical event. Each engraving can stand on its own, while taken as a whole, they offer a comprehensive depiction of China’s revolutionary history.

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 12, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

By Lakhram Bhagirat

I

t does not matter which part of the world a Guyanese is, from the moment they find out that a fellow Guyanese is going to visit their area, their first request is “bring a fry rice fuh me nah”. Without even thinking twice, one knows exactly what type of fried rice they are craving, since it is something distinctly associated with us Guyanese.

Nowhere in the world, not even in China, can you find the perfect chicken fried rice as you would in Guyana. It is something we are eternally grateful for - something we get to call our own.

When the Chinese arrived here in then British Guiana on January 12, 1853 on board the “Glentanner”, they brought with them, like those before them, their culture and cuisine signalling the extension of Guyana as a diverse nation with a melting pot of different cultures. They brought their unique customs and food, but had to adapt to the harsh realities of then British Guiana.

The late Anthony Bourdain once said: “Food is everything we are. It’s an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those from the get-go,” and that is something that is very applicable in Guyanese society and particularly with the Chinese culinary influence.

It does not matter where you are in Guyana, one thing is certain: most of us Guyanese crave a chicken fried rice from our favourite Chinese restaurant. It is one of the most requested items from Guyana by Guyanese living overseas. A friend who works at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport once told me that on an average day they would see over one hundred parcels of Chinese fried rice frozen, wrapped in various types of packaging, stuffed away in suitcases with destinations all across the world.

But what is it that makes the Guyanese Chinese fried rice different from the rest of the world’s? Is it the fresh ingredients or is it just the way it is prepared? We will never know since the recipe is a safely guarded secret by the Chinese community.

I have had the opportunity to have Chinese food from several places within the Caribbean region and it is true that none tasted like the one I get from Bright Star Restaurant at Vreed-en-Hoop on the West Coast of Demerara.

Over the years, the influence of Chinese cuisine continues to bridge the cultural divide in society between the Chinese and other ethnic groups. The way our Chinese prepare their fried rice is a secret one would never know and while many have come close to figuring out the recipe and methods, it is something they are yet to achieve.

For me, I am always excited to walk into the restaurant and watch in amazement as they prepare my order. From the time they splash the wok with water to clean it, followed by the oil and veggies, I am intrigued. It always baffles me, since I am not sure whether they steam the rice before they fry it with the veggies, but that is a secret I and most Guyanese as a matter of fact would never know. But my bet is, it is steamed.

Chinese fried rice is a part of our Guyanese culture. It is part of our diverse identity as a people. So grab a ‘cokes’ and some fried rice and have a hearty meal.

6 Sunday Times Magazine Feature

JANUARY 12, 2020

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PRESERVING OUT LITERARY HERITAGE

By Petamber Persaud

F

riday, December 20, 2019, Georgetown, Guyana, six feet below sea level: first oil and it made headlines, locally and afar.

Friday, December 20, 2019, Paramakatoi, Guyana, 3,000 feet above sea level: also flowing at a blistering pace was a debate on indigenous languages conducted totally in Patamona. This is another first for Guyana yet it did not make the news. It did not make the news but it did move those who witnessed the debate.

For those who witnessed the debate, it was a treat, an engaging treat. All elements of a classy debate were present - the thrusting and parrying, the flow of the Patamona Language (Ovid Williams gave a live/running translation for the benefit of the ‘mudheads’ of the coastlands/non- Patamonaspeaking attendees only) , the articulation (no, these were not scholars nor orators but a people in tune with their language, in tune with their body – innate qualities, in tune with their culture and their identity), the crowd engagement with each side, each salient point presented was cheered.

Yes, you could also laugh and heckle in Patamona.

Before the start of the event, the air was filled with excitement as people despite Best Speaker Molly Simon the wet and slippery conditions trickles and thronged towards the venue which could not hold everyone so people were stand-

The three judges

ing around or seated on their ATVs outdoors. The din of exchanges in the language was a sign that sparks would fly during the debate.

The opening items on programme were designed to set the stage for a quality debate. The prayer in Patamona by Pastor Roy Edwin was poignant, so too was the reciting of the National Pledge by all standing reverently , capped by an elucidating overview of the debate by Ovid Williams, who also introduced the team from Georgetown and [those identifies ] were urged to stand to be acknowledged. But it was the moderator, Lennox Aaron, who did an outstanding job keeping the ball in play throughout the event and we were off like an ATV with Ovid Williams doing live translation for benefit of team from Georgetown.

The moot: ‘Indigenous Languages hold tremendous benefits, not just for Indigenous Peoples, but for all Guyanese, hence, it’s the responsibility of the Government to ensure that the languages are preserved and promoted nationally’.

The audience was into the action from the start as both the Opposition and Preposition Teams battled it out with emotion and gesticulations that paid dividend, even without the translation, we would have followed the direction of each presentation.

There were consensuses between the Preposition Team and Opposition Team on a few issues for instance both agreed that the indigenous languages must be preserved and one

way to do this is for the languages to be documented, documentation was of upmost priority. However, the disagreements fell in two main areas for instance it was the responsibility of the indigenous peoples to preserve the languages by keeping then in usage and functional and the focus of Government should be on more important things like improving or providing necessary amenities for indigenous peoples. A big issue was that speaking indigenous languages only poses a barrier in communication especially in the job arena and in the field of education where examination papers are set in English.

After the break, there was an informative cultural item showcasing people who were Patamona of different ethnicity – Blacks, East Indians, Chinese and Europeans, some who came and, in order, to survive and live in such an environment had to learn Patamona like the shop owner/immigration agent, Sammy.

In the end, the Preposition Team won the debate which meant that the moot also won the day as pointing the way forward, and just as well for the Both teams with trophies minister in the Ministry for Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Hon. Valerie GorridoLowe was present and the ball was lobbed into her court. In the end, there were no losers for on this momentous day everyone walked away with heads held high and pride beating their breasts.

The International Year of Indigenous Languages is a United Nations observance in 2019 that aims to raise awareness of the consequences of the endangerment of Indigenous languages across the world, with an aim to establish a link between language, development, peace, and reconciliation. (From UN website) It would be remiss if I The supreme existence of love and affailed to highlight at least one fection effortlessly blinded me part of the printed programme That I had no realization that among us, under the heading ‘keeping in Poverty was reigning. touch with your roots’ which Very poor, yet wealthy states ‘learning to speak in Because you see, true wealth resides in the heart the mother tongue is very imOurs was a perfect embodiportant for a child’s overall dement brimful of contentment velopment’ for it ‘benefits the Of love child in many ways ...it conOf happiness nects him to his culture, enAnd freestanding of hate and jealousy. sures better cognitive developPoverty is somewhat perceived as a curse by some ment, and aids in the learning But in our minds, we free -handof other languages’. edly accept it with a smile Guyana must be commendAs a blessing that taught us how to value ed and should be given a citaCherish tion by UN for executing the And harmonize happily. mandate of that august body.

Even unto the last days of As kids, it led us to true fun 2019, this country was in full In which exploration of now reand active support of the UN jected childhood activities call for the year 2019 to be desIt was our only teacher with farming ignated ‘International Year and fishing being our only institutions. for Indigenous Languages’ by hosting a debate in an inBaggy, ragged and little amount of clothing was our all-time fashion run digenous language with the For young and old moot ‘Indigenous Languages But never attempted to disturb a hold tremendous benefits, not thought of ours as being poor. just for Indigenous Peoples, So called houses made with cast off mabut for all Guyanese, hence, terials were seen as our palace it’s the responsibility of the A happy one Government to ensure that One in which leaves were our silver platthe languages are preserved ters and our fingers as multiple gold spoons and promoted nationally’.

Our cups as beautiful mugs and glasses Yes, Guyana sitting at 6 feet And tree branches as our dreamland place. below sea level should be commended for elevating such an Upon reflection issue to the height of 3,000 The place of our kind of poor remains my favourite place to be feet in the air - a fitting end to Since happiness resided in the little things the year.

For the reality is that true povResponses to this author erty wanders in the heart. telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yaBy hoo.com

True Wealth

Nickalos Mobin

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JANUARY 12, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

W

indsor Forest is a small village on the West Coast of Demerara and it is also the first village the Chinese indentured immigrants settled it. Today, the village is predominantly occupied by Indo-Guyanese with very little trace of its Chinese heritage.

However there is a monument in the compound of the Windsor Forest Primary School that is dedicated to the Chinese immigrants. Windsor Forest is also the home of Guyanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First President, Arthur Chung.

Photographer Dexter Ceres recently visited the village and took these photos.

The Chinese Commemoration Monument

The Windsor Forest Primary School

One of the many kokers in the in village

One of the many Chinese Restaurant in Windsor Forest

One of the Churches

8 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 12, 2020

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Feature

M

ore than 900 species from 79 different families of birds have a soft spot for the jungle canopies, coastal plains and golden savannahs of Guyana. Of these, almost 200 are found in the capital city of Georgetown. It should be no surprise it’s one of the world’s top destinations to spot a mind-boggling variety of birds. An estimated 80 percent of Guyana’s primary rainforest remains intact. It is complimented by numerous habitats such as savannah grasslands, mangrove forests and coastal swamps that are home to a plethora of intriguing birds.

Of all nature’s treasures in this tropical country, the birds are a special highlight for nature enthusiasts, with ample locations and trails suitable for birdwatchers. Avian enthusiasts can explore low coastal plains, thick highland forests, sand and clay areas of the hills and the golden savannahs of the interiors, with each region offering the perfect spot for finding particular species. During a trip, birders should keep their eyes peeled for the colourful hoatzin, Guyana’s glamorous national bird and other unique birds like the harpy eagle and cock-of-the-rock. Visitors to the country will be awestruck by the sheer variety and colours of other birds too. Even if one is a veteran birder, a trip to Guyana promises many first sightings to be checked off the list.

The best way to see Guyana’s offering of birds, is by staying at one of the many birding and wildlife lodges in the heart of the country; they are situated at the edge of forests and rivers. Not only do they include close access to thickets, trails that are only a stroll away from the rooms, but also the expertise of in-house guides. Here, birders will find comfortable rooms, that are aesthetically in tune with the natural surroundings. The experience is immersive and enjoyable at the same time.

(Guyana Tourism Authority)

Antbird

k-of-the-rock

Guianan coc

Harpy e

agle

Ringe

d King

fisher in

Hoatz

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Heron

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Sunday Times Magazine

9

Message from

H.E. CUI Jianchun, Ambassador

of the People’s Republic of China J anuary 12th, 2020 marks the 167th anniversary of the arrival of the first batch of Chinese indentured laborers in Guyana. Generations of Chinese have been working hard and forging ahead in this beautiful and rich land, making indelible contributions to the local society.

ation, and above all, by our respect for each other' s social system and development path.

The year 2020 is destined to be an extraordinary year. China will complete building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and realize its first centenary goal. In the meantime, Guyana will celebrate Republic Jubilee and begin its story of oil production. At this particularly important time, it’s the responsibility of us to think back about the past in order to better grasp the present and embrace the future.

The Chinese and English languages share a proverb: Time and tide wait for no man. As the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, I am looking forward to meeting more Guyanese people from different walks of life to take the China-Guyana relationship to a new high.

The seeds sowed by our ancestors have sprouted. Guyana took the lead in the English-speaking Caribbean region to establish diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China in 1972. Today, the relations between China and Guyana have become a model of friendship and cooperation between countries that are different in size and social system. This is made possible by our people’s mutual goodwill, by a shared commitment to growing our bilateral relations on the basis of equality, innovation and win-win cooper-

10 Sunday Times Magazine Fashion

C

hina first signalled that it was ready to set trends in 2011 when local designers combined their talent and energy to stage the first-ever Shanghai Fashion Week. The most recent Shanghai Fashion Week took place in April 2019, and featured creations from some of the best new talent in Chinese fashion design.

One of the trends which has been predicted to be huge in China is gender-bending clothing; suits and faux-menswear for women and ‘feminine’ items like pink clothes or floral shirts for men.

Another big trend? Buying local. ‘Chinese heritage hip’ is now a buzzword amongst those who choose Chinese fashion over Western haute couture. As luxury brands become increasingly popular, Chinese fashionistas yearn for more exclusive items to stand out. The need for exclusivity and the rise of the ‘woke’ millennial shopper meant that more people are now interested in traditional designs and supporting homegrown talent. With all these new potential buyers, it’s no surprise that Chinese fashion is flourishing!

Here are some Chinese fashion trends you can include in your wardrobe:

JANUARY 12, 2020

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JANUARY 12, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Recipes

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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Puzzles

ACROSS 1 6 10 15 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 34 36 37 40 41 42 44 48 49 50 53 55 56 58 59 61 63 64 65 66 67 69 70 71 74 75 78 81 82 83 84 86 87 89 93 94 95 96 97

Indifferent Heels -- nova Tot Repair-bill item -- Wayne (Batman) Quechua speaker Keep -- -- out for Saudi neighbor Bogart in "High Sierra" First American in orbit Preferred strategy (2 wds.)

Hand-dye with wax Stuffy See-through items OPEC, e.g.

Trawler gear Left in a hurry Smidgens Turner or Koppel Size above med.

Riviera summer Geodesic -Ottoman official Daffodil digs Sherpa's sighting Cel characters Hunky-dory (hyph.)

Ballroom numbers Edible bulb Genetic double -- Oberon of films Of the Vatican Micro opposite Urges Played false Charcoal grill Mild expletive Comic-strip dog Happy shouts Foreman foe -- of Aquitaine Latin dance (hyph.)

Pizarro's quest Bone, in combos 40-cup brewer Types Auntie Em's st.

Meat on skewers Refracted light Casual farewell Largest continent -- noire Uptight Squirreled away

100 102 103 104 108 109 110 111 112 113 115 116 117 118 120 121 123 124 125 127 129 131 136 138 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Tusked animal Ess molding Luxury fur More than willing Spicy stews Like hush puppies Urge along Philly NHL team Fair-hiring abbr.

Grand stories Bistro -- Moines Hebrew T Ride the waves Zoologists' mouths -- -- tree falls . . .

Long, fluffy scarf Breathe hard Lime cooler Breaks suddenly Hepburn of film Meter maid? (2 wds.)

Taking advantage of Gives it a go Improvise (hyph.)

Anwar of Egypt Tomato product "-- la vista, baby!"

Gist Raise spirits Cherbourg shes Video-game pioneer Wades through "Lou Grant" lead Marsh grass Banister post Viscous mass Prayer-wheel turner Blind as -- -Onetime Seattle team Slezak of soaps Ready to ship Of the ears Cicero's 651 Pits or stones Honcho Two-thirds of AOL Public spat Hourglass contents Livy's year Phi Beta -Far from the sea Faculty head Unit of force Stadium shouts

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- EXTRADITE (EXTRADITE: EK-struh-dite: To give up a fugitive to another jurisdiction.)

Average mark 47 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 68 or more words in EXTRADITE? TODAY'S WORD -- EXTRADITE eared eater edit eider exed exert exit extra tare tart taxed taxer taxi tear teat teed

tetra tetrad text tide tied tier tiered tirade tire titer trade trait tread treat tree triad

tried trite raid rate ratite ratted read reed retie ride rite aerie aide aired arete arid

attire axed dare dart date dater dear deer deet deter dexter diet dieter dire dirt drat

idea ideate irate iterate

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

21 31 33 35 37 38 39 42 43 45 46 47 49 50 51 52 53 54 57 58 59 60 62 64 66 68 69

Got the better of Little chirper Tpks.

Bulldogs backer Rain protector Water, in Tijuana Clammy Practically forever Bunion site Rowboat parts Unknown spy Barely managed Exotic island Ugh! Like a wolf's howl Round stopper Kemo Sabe's friend Anvil pros Derisive snorts More frilly Rostand hero Slant Is, in Segovia Soda fountain order Ridiculed Choir members Bowler hat

71 72 73 76 77 79 80 82 85 88 90 91 92 94 98 99 100 101 102 103 105 106 107 109 111 114 115

Stir-fry pan Source of iron More unsteady Pounced Bawdy Shogun's yes Wheel buy (2 wds.)

Thick-skulled Orpheus played it Airy prefix Patronage -- fixe Dock Call it -- -Orchestra member Morays and congers Misfortunes Noted diamond surname Fierce whale Hot tub -- -- grip!

Distinct periods Say you're coming Balsam -The creeps Limerick writer Salary limit

116 119 121 122 123 124 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 137 139 140 141

Leaps aside Feigning Natural More buttery Hit close to home?

Whirl around Loans, to some Family car Custodian, briefly Usher's beat Hawke of "Gattaca" Bugle call Goddess's statue Muse of history Crossing the ocean Guys' dates Red-tag event "-- -- Her Standing There" Be, to Henri Iceboat necessity

SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE 13

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Sunday Times Magazine 13

Feature

By Dr. Steve Surujbally And ‘Bambi’ the deer invariably succumbs to a nutritional imbalance.

That is not caring for your pet; that is torture.

Now, let’s look at our more common pets (cats/dogs).

The situation here is also clear. If you for example, have an allergy to fur, you can’t keep cats, because they are largely house animals and will shed hair in those places where the best pointer broom or vacuum cleaner will not reach.

And if you wish to keep a dog, do you have enough yard space for its kennel and its exercise?

In fact, one of your decisions is whether you will choose to

A

s you may have noticed, the first three “Pet Care” columns were quite season-specific. However, the intention of these articles is primarily to advise pet (we prefer to call them Companion Animals) owners how to recognize and deal with all aspects of pet care which could ensure their pets’ perpetual health, recognizing impending ailments and actual sickness, therapeutic (treatment) interventions (sometimes necessarily even before you visit your veterinarian). Physical, psychological and emotional problems and symptoms associated therewith will also be discussed.

Every now and then, we will take a break from the description of specific maladies and deal with issues like dog/cock fighting, grooming, training, (in)breeding and so on.

Within this context, let us look today at the matter of ADOPTION/ACQUISITION of companion animals.

Before we even think of adopting/acquiring a pet, there are certain important considerations that must be factored into our desire to make a pet part of our family.

We have notice that, especially at Christmas and immediately at the commencement of a New Year, pups and kittens are shared out to children as gifts. In fact, some “breeders” (“in-breeders”) make this a commercial undertaking – ensuring that their cute dogs are mated at such a time that would produce puppies at the appropriate Season. (Female dogs come into “heat” about twice yearly and their pregnancies would last for approximately 2 months; therefore, it is not difficult to make the calculation as to when the pups would be ready for sale).

Like all babies, puppies and kittens are the cutest things. It is no wonder that parents and children fall in love with these wonderful, interactive animals.

Before we actually acquire/adopt a pet let us now engage in some general and specific discussion on the matter.

General It has been said that mankind is divided into two categories – those who love dogs and those who love cats. Well, whether you prefer the gratitude-showing, devoted tail-wagger or the independent, aloof feline with its quiet grace and mysterious charm, there are certain common activities that you as owner/caregiver must carry out if the pet is to be happy.

All children love animals! Whether it is a child at Kabakaburi with his pet monkey or the little city girl who has just acquired a live ball of fur and fun.

All animals require love unconditionally and infinitely. However, love alone will not keep the pet healthy and the owner happy. Care for your pet is a huge responsibility.

Affection isn’t enough. You need some degree of ‘know-how’.

So, when we are talking about your choice of pet, right away let me advise you that although most animals can become pets to a lesser or larger degree, one should shy away from keeping those ‘exotic’ animals as pets about which one knows very little.

For example, one would have to know a lot about physiology and behavioural and dietary habits of snakes before the latter can be kept as pets. In fact, much debate can be generated as to whether monkeys or birds (macaws, parrots etc) or deer should be kept as pets. That discussion is for another time.

How often have we not seen ‘Polly’ come into the clinic with all sorts of problems due to poor feeding regimes and parasites in her ungroomed feathers.

Poor ‘Jacko the monkey, that is instinctively mischievous, harvests the wrath of his owner who only a couple of months ago found his antics cute. The belt around Jacko’s waist is tied tighter and the chain is made shorter.

keep a cat or a dog, because even though they are both four-footed and furry that’s the end of the similarity. You’d better recognize this at once.

A dog craves your attention and affection; he will fawn over you and his tail is the barometer expressing his happiness.

A cat, on the other hand doesn’t even remotely consider the need to please you. She is individualistic, and full of surprises.

A dog is a mixer! A cat is often a loner and mixes only when it wants to.

So, as a potential caretaker of a canine or feline ward you have to decide whether you want a dog because of its responsiveness to you, or whether your personality prefers the more subtle signs of affection of a cat.

Be sure you don’t take into your family a cat that you wish to act like a dog or vice versa. No such animals exist.

Next week, we will deal with specific issues before your ultimate choice is made.

14 Sunday Times Magazine A

ctor Kajol has given an interview to popular Instagram page, Humans on Bombay. In it, she has talked about meeting husband Ajay Devgn for the first time, how they fell for each other, got married and started a family. She also talked about the painful memories of her two miscarriages.

“Over time, we began planning to have kids. I was pregnant during Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham in 2001, but had a miscarriage. I was in the hospital that day–the film had done so well, but it wasn’t a happy time. I had another miscarriage after that–it was tough,” she said in the interview. “But eventually it worked out–we had Nysa and Yug and our family’s complete,” she added.

Kajol and Ajay will be seen together on the big screen again in Tanhaji: The Unsung

I

shaan Khatter has said his brother Shahid Kapoor’s character in the film Kabir Singh was “flawed” and it was more of a “cautionary tale”.

During his appearance on Neha Dhupia’s radio show No Filter Neha, Ishaan also spoke about the film’s ending and what it implied.

Ishaan said that he had already watched the original Arjun Reddy twice before he sat to watch Kabir Singh. The actor claimed that he felt empathetic towards the character and was also affected by it.

Ishaan said, “I loved him and I hated him. I was compelled to know more about his story. I saw the character as a very flawed guy. I saw the character not as an example of somebody to learn from or live your life like. But I saw the character as somebody who is going through ups and downs, most of the downs created by himself and his own actions. It was more of a cautionary tale for me. This guy through his choices had led himself on a

A

ctor Deepika Padukone’s political statement has divided the nation. The actor expressed solidarity with JNU students who were allegedly assaulted by a masked mob on Sunday, by appearing at a student-led protest on Tuesday. Deepika’s first film as producer, Chhapaak -- she also stars in the lead role – was released on Friday.

Deepika told NDTV in an interview, “I feel proud that we are not scared of expressing ourselves... it is nice to see people coming out on to the streets and elsewhere to voice their opinions.” The film industry, and Deepika, has often been criticised for not taking stands on political issues.

Deepika, who was previously threatened with violence for starring in the film Padmaavat, told AajTak in an

Warrior, which releases on Friday. They have previously worked in films such as Ishq, Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha and You, Me Aur Hum. Talking about meeting him for the first time, she said, “We met 25 years ago, on the sets of Hulchul–I was ready for the shot & asked, ‘Where’s my hero?’ Someone

path of self destruction.”

Talking about its climax scene, Ishaan said, “It was a director’s choice. It could have ended very differently. It could have ended in a very tragic way like Devdas. He chose hope over a tragedy.”

Ishaan had also penned a note in praise of his brother and the film. He wrote, “As happy as can be for my big brother today who’s always been a shining example of a human being for me. Not a doubt in the world that you deserve the smashing success but it continues to baffle me how you were able to play one of the most complex, lost and damaged characters with such perfection while returning home to being the most centered, loving and responsible family man I know. Thank you for showing me what it means to be a responsible son, father, husband and brother always AND for knocking me out with your performance in and as #KabirSingh. You are a gem.”

When one of his followers called his reaction “sweet justi-

interview, “What I wanted to say I said it two years ago when Padmaavat was released. What I am seeing today, it pains me.

I hope it doesn’t become the new normal.

That anyone can say anything and they can get away with it. I fear and I’m sad. This is not the foundation of our country.”

Following her appearance at Tuesday’s protest, hashtags both in support of and against Deepika began trending on Twitter. While members of the film industry such as Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Swara Bhasker, Neeraj Ghaywan, Anubhav

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JANUARY 12, 2020

pointed him out–he was broodily sitting in a corner. So 10 minutes before I met him, I bitched about him! We began talking on set & became friends.”

“I was dating someone at the time & so was he–I’ve even complained about my then boyfriend to him! Soon, we both broke up with our significant others. Neither of us proposed–it was understood that we were to be together.

It went from hand-holding to a lot more before we knew it,” she added.

Ajay is essaying the role of the warrior Taanaji Malusare, while Kajol is playing his wife, Savitribai Malusare.

The movie will also feature Saif Ali Khan as the antagonist Uday Bhan, a Rajput official who works for Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

The 3D movie is set to release on January 10, 2020.

(Hindustan Times)

fication of misogyny, he replied, “No, actually it’s quite the opposite. It’s an appreciation post for a gem of a human being and an actor par excellence. As for your read on the film, it’s cinema. Everybody should have an opinion. I don’t agree with yours. But that’s a conversation for another day enjoy your day!”

Kabir Singh was directed

by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and collected Rs 278 crore at the domestic box office. It starred Kiara Advani as the female lead opposite Shahid. (Hindustan Times)

Sinha, Nikkhil Advani, Vikrant Massey, Simi Garewal, Shabana Azmi and others came out in full support of Deepika, others called for a boycott on Chhapaak.

Anurag changed his Twitter profile picture to a shot of Deepika at the JNU protests.

BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga tweeted a photo of Deepika, and called

P

rince Harry and Meghan Markle are quitting the royal family, they announced Wednesday.

In an extraordinary move — and after spending six weeks away in a multimillion-dollar bolthole in Canada — the couple said they wanted to take a “progressive new role” and leave their roles as “senior” royals.

The couple said they wanted to make their own money, adding they will now split their time between the UK and North America.

In the unprecedented statement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to bal-

ance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.

“This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.”

Harry and Meghan’s marriage has been blighted by rows over their spending — and their desperate attempt at privacy — as they even refused to release where their son, Archie, was born, and who his godparents were.

But critics lambasted them as they continued to accept money from the British taxpayer.

In a documentary filmed in South Africa, the pair said they were unhappy — and Harry, 35, admitted that he had fallen out with his older brother, Prince William.

Although they were dubbed the “Fab Four,” William, wife Kate Middleton and Harry and Meghan, 38, split their royal foundation last year.

Harry and Meghan are launching their own Sussex Royal Foundation shortly.

Meghan was seen earlier Wednesday at the National Theatre in London, of which she is patron, while the couple visited the Canadian Embassy in London on Wednesday to thank them for their hospitality during the holidays. (Page Six)

take place on February 2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

It is the second major confirmation for Koffee in recent days, as only Monday it was announced that she will be performing at the Coachella Valley

Music and Arts Festival, which is scheduled for April 10-19 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

Koffee is currently riding a successful musical crest that includes a Grammy nomination for her EP ‘Rapture’.

J

amaica’s rising reggaesinging sensation Koffee is to perform at Marlins Park, Miami in the United States of America (USA) during Super Bowl weekend, January 31 to February 1.

She was added to the list of performers for the weekend show and is to join dancehall acts Shenseesa and Squash as Jamaicans who have been drafted to perform at the event.

They will be joined by American performers Cardi B, Chris Brown, Migos, DJ Khaled, Gunna, Megan Thee Stallion, Burna Boy, Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign and Safaree.

Headliners for the weekend will be Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, who will perform during the famous Super Bowl Half-Time Show, which is to for a boycott of her film. Some Twitter users shared screengrabs of cancelled Chhapaak tickets, many of which appear to be the same exact image. The film, based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, is due out on Friday. A number of people tweeted in support of the film, making the hashtag #ChhapakDekhoTapaakSe trend.

Earlier, celebrities joined protesters in Mumbai as they protested JNU attacks. Swara Bhasker, Sudhir Mishra, Rekha Bhardwaj, Anubhav Sinha, Dia Mirza, Rahul Dholakia, Ali Fazal, Neeraj Ghaywan, Reema Kagti, Hansal Mehta, Vikramaditya Motwane, Saurabh Shukla and Rajkumar Gupta were among those who were a part of the protest. (Hindustan Times)

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Sunday Times Magazine 15

Feature

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 12, 2020

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES

Consider what brings you joy (March 21- when choosing what you want April 19) to do with the rest of your life. A personal change looks promising, and romance is on the rise.

If you shake things up a TAURUS bit, you will see your life dif(April 20- ferently. Discussions with May 20) someone who has more experience will be eye-opening and will point you in a positive direction.

Put more time and effort GEMINI into personal improvements.

(MAY 28- Altering your lifestyle, curJune 20) rent living situation or location is favored. Spend more time with people who share your sentiments.

Creativity will bring you the CANCER most joy. Taking better care of (June 21- your health and emotional wellJuly 22) being will boost your morale.

Romance is featured.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

The way you look and feel will be transparent, so don't try to hide what's on your mind. Resolve issues instead of avoiding them.

Make peace and love priorities.

Go with the current, follow what draws your interest most and surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. Walk away from instability, irresponsibility and argumentative personalities.

Stop worrying about what LIBRA others do and start focusing (Sept. 23on what makes you happy.

Oct. 23) The less time spent with users and abusers and the more time spent with positive supporters, the better.

Peanuts

A change is favored.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24- Embrace the world and what Nov. 22) it has to offer. Put the past behind you, use what you have experienced to your advantage and follow your heart.

Keep moving forward.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23- Less time talking and more Dec. 21) time doing will help you stay out of trouble. Don't believe or pass along what you hear without verifying the facts first.

Calvin and Hobbes

Keep an open mind and CAPRICORN be willing to discuss possibil(Dec. 22- ities, even if they seem farJan. 19) fetched. Consider what you can do to have a positive, life-altering influence on someone close to you.

How you respond to othAQUARIUS ers will matter. If you offer (Jan. 20- incentives, assistance and Feb. 19) your time, something good will transpire. Engage in physical activity and make romance a priority.

PISCES Touch base with people (Feb. 20- from your past. What you Mar. 20) hear will make you reconsider a decision you made a long time ago. It's never too late to backtrack.