Guyana Times Sunday January 26, 2020

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4177 guyanatimesgy.com

Irfaan Ali in Bartica

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, January 26, 2020

PRICE

$120 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

PPP/C will reverse decline of forestry ...lower vehicle sector import taxes

Fired RUSAL workers

Bauxite P15 Union loses confidence in Minister Scott's management of dispute

See story on page 3

...remove cell phone taxes ...incentivise private healthcare, education

Motorcyclist killed after struck by car P7

Guyana must have strong Local Content Policies – Jagdeo tells Bartica Page 9

Volda's "vigilant nightshift"

Police, not supporters, entrusted to secure ballot boxes – GECOM CEO Page 10

6000 acres rice lost in Region 6 owing to lack of water

Page 19

Govt cancels $9000 per P8 month public assistance to 2-year-old 1 year later

Sharezer P18 Mendonca's family still awaits death certificate

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Irfaan Ali in Bartica

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, January 26 – 05:30h – 07:00h and Monday, January 27 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, January 26 – 05:10h – 06:40h and Monday, January 27 – 05:40h – 07:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be partly cloudy skies during the day with late afternoon drizzles. There will also be partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

PPP/C will reverse decline of forestry sector ...lower vehicle import taxes, remove cell phone taxes ...incentivise private healthcare, education

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) held its rally in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on Saturday, where the party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, sent the crowd into loud applause with

new hotels. Those things will happen, but we must build the capacity to train our people to function in these sectors.”

“We’re going to give incentives for the private sector to establish new educational institutions. And

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 0.89 metre and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 05:25h and 17:37h reaching maximum heights of 2.50 metres and 2.62 metres.

Low Tide: 11:12h and 23:37h reaching minimum heights of 0.71 metre and 0.61 metre.

is used to pay taxes. Every time you get a $1000, the Government is taking away $300 from you to pay taxes. That is why there is less money in your pockets.”

“From the time we left Government to now, spending in the economy has reduced. This is the legacy of the APNU/AFC Government. This is the legacy we have to change.

After spending (billions) from government deposits and gold reserves, there is nothing to show. Nothing to show of development.

Not a single investment of a major scale that can transform lives.”

Mining lands

A section of the gathering at the Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) rally

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various commitments – including the reversal of the declining forestry sector, lowering taxes on vehicle imports and other measures to improve the lives of thousands.

According to Ali, the time has come for real development for the people of Bartica and the country as a whole. He explained that during their consultations before launching the manifesto, the cost for vehicular imports was a prevalent issue raised by residents.

“I know Bartica. And I know Region Seven. And Guyanese love to have nice vehicles. So we are going to lower the taxes on vehicles!” he announced to visible smiles and flag-waving from the crowd.

“When we had the consultation on the manifesto, you asked for it! And we said we’d examine the viability. We have examined it and we are reporting to you now that after March 2, we are going to lower the taxes on vehicles and remove the age limit that they put in place that was a burden and a hindrance to you owning your own vehicle!”

When it comes to Value Added Taxes (VAT), Ali spoke of some other items that will be targeted to bring their cost down, including cell phones and data. He made it clear that VAT will be removed from these commodities. He also noted that efforts will be made to incentivise education and make access to private education easier.

“Your next PPP Government will be investing in an International Institute for Technology.

And an international institute in hospitality management. Because we can’t only talk about building the tourism sector in Region Seven. We cannot only talk about bringing in

we’re going to remove the corporate taxes so that they can bring down the cost of private education all across our country,” he said, adding that other educational initiatives they will invest in have to do with environmental and oil studies.

According to the former Housing Minister, many of the people’s woes lie in the high cost of living and increased range of taxes.

He noted that the spending power of the people has steadily eroded since 2015.

“Why is it things are so difficult today? We must know by now that more than $300 on every $1000

Ali also rapped the Government for not giving out enough mining lands for ordinary people until after the No-Confidence Motion, after which there was a rush to send out letters to cover the fact that cronies were being awarded lands. He made it clear that the next PPP

PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali

Government would revoke corruptly awarded land.

“It is only in the last few months they start sending out letters. Those letters are to protect the widespread theft when they hand out large portions of land to their families and friends, so they can tie the PPP hands when we return to power.”

“But we are going to take the corrupt land and transactions back! From all the way to the back dams to Bartica, we are going to take it back and give it to you, the people, in a fair and transparent manner.”

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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 threat of elections violence

U

nfortunately, for Guyana, our politics is not your ordinary garden variety type, where politicians pitch their plans for the development of the country to an open-minded electorate which make their voting decision based on an assessment of these plans and the parties’ capabilities for executing the same, based on their histories. In Guyana, the genie of ethnically directed political violence was let out of the bottle as far back as February 16, 1962, by the PNC and other forces and has never been put back since.

On that fateful day, subsequently dubbed “Black Friday”, following months of protests in Georgetown by thousands of supporters of the Opposition PNC and UF, ostensibly against the PPP’s budget, after failing to attack that party’s HQ, started to loot and burn business places owned by Indian Guyanese. They focused on Robb, Regent, Water, High and Camp Streets and Stabroek Market. Before they were finished, fifty-six buildings had been destroyed by fire, twenty-one damaged; sixtysix both damaged and looted; twenty-nine market stalls damaged and five cars burned. Hundreds of Indian Guyanese were beaten, one Police Officer and four looters were killed.

Black Friday 1962 pretty much created the template for all subsequent political riots – confined to Georgetown and executed by the PNC’s support and direction of urban lumpen elements. The Wynn Parry Commission noted in their sanitised report: “The rioters were not drawn from any one particular race or political party, nor were the victims from one particular class. The looters belonged to the category of irresponsible individuals consisting for the most part of hooligans and criminals, who, in moments of excitement and mass hysteria, throw away the inhibitions of a civilised society and seized the opportunity of preying upon their fellow citizens.”

Because the PNC were to rig all elections between 1964 and 1985, the directed political riots did not rear its head until 1992 with the return of free and fair elections.

That does not mean there was no political violence but these were meted out to opponents of the PNC by the state’s coercive apparatus, organised pro-government goons, such as the House of Israel disrupting political meetings. In 1992, the incipient violent protests were not allowed to spread beyond an attack on the elections HQ after it became apparent that the PNC was losing the elections. However, President Carter, whose Center was observing the elections, was caught in the mayhem and made a call to the White House. PNC leader Desmond Hoyte was persuaded to call out the army.

After losing the following 1997 elections, the same Desmond Hoyte reverted to the 1962 template and launched violent protests in Georgetown that resulted in the same arson and lootings accompanied by beatings of Indian Guyanese perceived to be supporters of the PPP. The PPP’s term of office was truncated by two years and a raft of constitutional changes were enacted to give the opposition PNC a greater input into the political system.

But rather than dampening the violence, Hoyte launched a “slow fyah; mo fyah” strategy that escalated the protests beyond Georgetown and exacerbated both their intensity and volume. This political violence was then ratcheted up to a level never encountered in Guyana: a band of hard-core prison escapees in 2002 ensconced themselves in Buxton, from where they launched attacks on Policemen and neighbouring Indian-dominated villages. They called themselves “Freedom Fighters” for African Guyanese which meant they were pursuing a political agenda by attacking innocent citizens judged to be supporters of the PPP Government. This gang was not eliminated until 2008 by which time, hundreds of persons had been killed by the security forces and armed vigilante gangs, dubbed “Phantom Squads”.

It is against this background that we call upon President Granger and the other leaders of the caretaker coalition to follow the lead of the PPP’s PM Candidate Brigadier (retired) and reject the provocative call of PNC Chair Volda Lawrence for PNC supporters to congregate in front of polling stations to “guard” ballot boxes.

PICTURESQUE: An aerial view of the Central Benab in Shulinab Village, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). In most Indigenous communities, there is a Central Benab where important meetings about the development of the villages as well as cultural activities are conducted

GECOM will have to answer for all its unpardonable sins Dear Editor, The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been at the centre of a very bumpy road; towards what the nation thought was the homestretch to clearly deserved elections. Our citizens and international observers bear witness to Mr David Granger and his coalition partner’s imposition of monstrous obstacles that the main Opposition finally dispelled with, after strenuous protests and legal battles. The fallen Granger Government has not fully complied with rulings of the CCJ and the continuance of frustrating the nation seems to have willing partners in many who work as administrators in the GECOM Secretariat.

The mere fact that GECOM stood as an equal challenger supporting the clearly flawed position in the legal constitutional matters highlight the poisoned chalice suicidal position that still hangs over free and fair national elections. Suddenly after all the glaring abuse of authority by Mr Granger, his Commissioners and the Chief Elections Office at the Secretariat, GECOM now hurls another sucksand in the path to block the progression of our dear nation. A mere thirty-nine hours before the statutory due date for the release of the Official List of Electors, GECOM announces and circulates 91,000 changes to the Revised List of Electors.

It seems as though someone injected the GECOM staff charged with the administrative responsibility of finalising the registration issues with a dose of mad

blood. They are using the unverified, truncated and highly questionable Houseto-House Registration data, to deliberately and illegally contaminate the Register of Registrants and this illegal act will undoubtedly produce a confused and convoluted OLE. The Secretariat made the changes without following the stipulated statutory approach, although much evidence has been provided regarding the error-laced and deliberately falsified exercise conducted

by Keith Lowenfield.

This is indeed an extremely serious matter. The nation is way past the point of calling on the ‘learned’ ret’d Justice Claudette Singh, Chairman of GECOM to exercise assertiveness over the process and make the wise and correct decisions.

There are no provisions in the law for GECOM to make these sweeping changes to the RLE. Further, the law clearly states that before any additional names to the Register of Registrants, there must be a statutory period of Claims and Objections process before the changes can be accepted by the Commissioner of Registration and the names be added to the Voters’ List.

Additionally, before the Chief Election Officer makes any changes to the RLE, he must write to each person informing them of the changes, and publish the information. Something is seriously wrong at GECOM where the environment is rotting in decay, and no longer inspires confidence in the nation it serves. The approach adopted by those in control suggests that they

are set to bully the nation in a partisan exercise, even though the presented evidence and rational position confirm otherwise. The fact is that the many complaints brought to the attention of the Commission seem to fall on deaf ears, although it is clear as day that the evidence presented needs to be examined to inform the decisions of the Commission.

Simply put, it is outright unacceptable for GECOM to use unverified data from the truncated data while breaching all rational reasoning and legislative procedural guidelines. The timelines granted for political parties to examine the 90,000 changes made to the RLE is impossible, given the error-laced inundation of these positions. Some of the checks made confirm far too many persons whose registered positions reflect that they are living on an empty lot of at location clearly uninhabitable. There are simply too many errors and/ or deliberate omissions and inclusions, suggesting total contamination of the RLE. GECOM is not providing a schedule and timely information and when their approach varies from procedural norms, it sets up a clear legally challenging environment since it favours only those making the decisions. At this point, it appears to be the Government Commissioners and Mr Lowenfield. I once again advocate on behalf of the thousands of persons who are waiting for their ID cards, to hear from the GECOM Chairman. Why are they not hearing from GECOM about receiving their ID cards?

Recently, Government Executive Mr Harmon recently wielded statements at a Linden APNU/AFC rally, about persons with ‘pink slips’ being allowed to vote.

These threats and directions are unacceptable to GECOM and yet, not one word has come from GECOM to address the mess. It is indeed most shameful!

Inside information received presents quite a revelation. The appointment of the ‘unfit’ Patterson was central to the ploy to set up all the confusion at GECOM. The imbalanced hiring of staff to achieve a partisan control of the APNU/AFC Secretariat was all in the making to delay the National and Regional Elections.

From inside GECOM, reliable sources informed me that the Secretariat recruited enumerators to do the House-to-House Registration, to whom they deliberately provided sub-optimal training.

The cameras used for the Registrations were cheap and the people were unable to produce quality photographs. Worst, the inkpads GECOM bought and used were cheap stuff that encouraged excessive smudging. Further, the persons hired to do the “encoding” deliberately made a mess of the situation. This nation is sitting on the edges of their seats and from all indications; GECOM will have to answer for all these unpardonable sins.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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Preparation of List of Electors for APNU/AFC joint manifesto General and Regional Elections 2015: scorecard and final grade Dear Editor, Relative to the ongoing controversy associated with the intended amendment of the current Revised List of Electors (RLE) by changing the addresses of approximately 91,000 voters, the following points are delineated to give clarity on whether the Commissioner of National Registration (CNR) is empowered with legal authority to make any such change.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is statutorily charged with preparation of the Official List of Electors in compliance with the following steps: 1. Establish a qualifying date by which any person who is registered in the National Register of Registrants (NRR) will be eligible to vote at the elections being prepared for.

2. Extract the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) from the NRR, in accordance with Section 14 of the National Registration Act, Cap 19:08, using the qualifying date established by GECOM. 3. The PLE must be posted at two conspicuous locations within each Division/ Subdivision for public scrutiny, and as the basis for the conduct of a Claims and Objections (C&O) exercise.

4. Conduct a C&O exercise in accordance with Section 14 of the National Registration Act, Cap 19:08.

During this exercise, eligible persons can apply specifically to make (i) claims for entry into the PLE, (ii) changes to their existing particulars eg name(s) and gender, transfers – Change of address, and (iv) objections to names not qualified for including in the PLE eg deceased or underaged.

5. Production of a Revised List of Electors (RLE) is the outcome of the C&O exercise.

6. The RLE must be (statutorily) published for 21 days for public scrutiny to determine accuracy.

7. Consequent upon the discovery of any error in the RLE, which might have occurred due to inadvertence, the CNR is empowered by Regulation 37 of the National Registration (Residents) Regulations to make correc-

tions accordingly.

8. Subsequent to the publication of the RLE for 21 days, and the application of corrections to any errors which might have occurred through inadvertence, the Chief Election Officer, who is also the CNR, certifies the list as the Official List of Electors.

Ms Yolanda Ward, Public Relations Officer of GECOM has penned a letter which was published in the Stabroek News of Friday, January 24, 2020, titled “GECOM satisfied that changes to Revised List of Electors is being done lawfully”.

In her letter, Ms Ward posits that Regulation 37 provides that, “If within the period of twenty-one days after he had certified lists, the Commissioner is satisfied that any entry or omission in any list as revised pursuant to Regulation 35 is incorrect through inadvertence in the course of such revision, he shall make or cause to be made the requisite correction to that list and such copy thereof as is open for inspection at any registration office and the Commissioner shall give to the person to whom such correction relates notice thereof, which may be sent by registered post to his last known address.” In so doing, Ms Ward seeks to justify the proposed act of changing approximately 91,000 addresses in the RLE. However, Ms Ward did not touch on the provisions of Regulation 35 to which she refers in her letter although she mentioned that Section 37 has to be operationalised pursuant to Section 35.

Under the caption “Preparations of revised lists on determination of claims and objections”, the following is what Regulation 35 of the National Registration (Residents) Regulations provide: “The Commissioner shall revise the list (including that for each registration division) by way of the annexation thereto of supplementary lists in such form as determined by the Commissioner containing all such changes and additions to the list (including that for any registration division) as are necessary from

time to time by virtue of the final determination of Claims and Objections or by virtue of the Commissioner being satisfied that at the time of the publication of the preliminary list entries thereof were omitted and a supplementary list, together with the list or that for any division shall constitute the revised list or that for the respective division, as the case may be, at the date of the latest of such supplementary list.”

In view of the preceding paragraph, it must be obvious that in recognition of Regulation 35, Regulation 37 authorises the Commissioner of Registration to make corrections only to errors which occurred through “inadvertence”, specifically relevant to the relevant C&O exercise, or an omission which might have occurred at the time of the extraction of the PLE. It is important to note that the order gazetted by GECOM for the conduct of Claims and Objections in preparation of the List of Electors for the upcoming elections was very specific in listing the type of transactions which could have been conducted therein. Treating with data from House-to-House Registration was not included in that order.

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines “inadvertence” as (i) the fact or action of being inadvertent, and (ii) a result of inattention: oversight. Accordingly, it should be obvious that the adding of data which were not captured during the C&O exercise, or which were omitted at the time of the extraction of the PLE from the National Register of Registrants cannot be classified under the heading of “inadvertence”. Hence such data would be inapplicable to the RLE. In view of their foregoing, the addition of any data from the last House-to-House Registration exercise would be ultra vires, since none of that data would have been associated with the extraction of the PLE and C&O exercise in any way shape or form.

Dear Editor, We all know that Guyana’s health care system is in a disastrous state but no action is taken by the APNU/PNC/AFC Government to improve it.

Government even has the gall to use our tax dollars to travel abroad for life-saving medical care.

To this end, Mr Granger and Mr Nagamootoo travel abroad for cancer treatment and open-heart surgery while the poor in this country die because such lifesaving treatments are not available. We all know that Mr Granger and

Mr Nagamootoo are alive today because they can access foreign medical treatments.

Under this situation, our loved ones are left to die in this country. This is painful.

Government even has the hubris to buy medical insurance for all of its Cabinet members.

Today, Government officials receive medical treatments from Ireland and other foreign countries. Government must know that no human being is superior over the other.

We also deserve quality health care. We are all human beings.

All of this is evidence of

the cruelty unleashed by this Government. Guyanese should never tolerate such an inconsiderate Government.

We all know that if this Government gets back into power, it will continue its cruel trend. And to my fellow Guyanese, we need to break this trend by swinging power away from Government.

These are some of the reasons why the elections are important. The elections are about our lives.

Sincerely, Name provided

Guyanese should never tolerate an inconsiderate Govt

Sincerely, Dr Annie Baliram

Dear Editor,

Goal: Healing and reconciliation

To acknowledge, embrace and celebrate our ethnic diversity.

Analysis and comments:

One of APNU/AFC’s first executive decision following their ascension to office in May 2015 was to fire 1972 newly trained, mainly young Guyanese of Amerindian descent who were employed in the public sector (Inews, Aug 13, 2015).

Since then the Government systematically terminated certain ethnicities holding public sector positions.

APNU/AFC fired 7000 sugar workers (S Narine, SN Dec 20, 2018) who we know are mainly Indo Guyanese.

15 out of 16 permanent secretaries are Afro Guyanese (S Singh, KN, Jun 16, 2017). Volda Lawrence, Minister of Health and General Secretary of the PNC, has made it publicly known that only PNC supporters will get jobs and Government contracts (KN, Nov 30, 2018). She was not reprimanded for making this statement.

This Administration has done nothing to heal the ethnic divide in Guyana.

If anything, their actions, exemplified by Volda Lawrence’s comments, widen the rift.

Grade: F

Goal: Good governance

To defend and increase the civil liberties of our people and regulate Government’s intervention in political, economic and social issues affecting the people.

Analysis and comments:

Repeat above.

This Government has violated established practices relating to conflict of interest and race relations in less than 5 years in office.

By frustrating the results of the NCM the Government denied Guyanese their democratic right to elect their own leaders. The March 2 polls will be more than 14 months after the APNU/AFC Government was toppled by the No-Confidence vote. In addition, the Government stole more than a year of socioeconomic development from the people and, in the context of first oil, and APNU/AFC mismanagement of the sector, Guyana could not have lost a more valuable year.

Grade: F To build institutions to eliminate corruption and Government waste and improve fairness in the distribution of wealth of the nation.

Analysis and comments:

The following are some of the main findings regarding Government corrup-

tion in the leaked Auditor General report for 2018: 1. In excess of $800 million unaccounted for – this is a new finding which is not in previous AG reports 2. U n a u t h o r i s e d spending from the Consolidated Fund which is now $75 billion in overdraft. The foreign currency reserve is also in serious decline.

3. Tax concessions nearly doubled in 2018.

4. Rampant corruption in drug purchases in the regions – Page 417 of the AG Report 5. Contracts being awarded outside public tender.

6. Complete disregard for the AG recommendations.

Outside the AG report, we have seen the award of major contracts without a budget by the caretaker Government to known supporters under questionable circumstances just prior to elections (KN, Jan 12, 2020). It is alleged that APNU/AFC has stolen $300 million from Lotto and used it to buy campaign materials. We have seen that Suriname secured 3 times what we are getting for our oil (KN, Jan 16, 2020) and a US$100 million signing bonus (SN, Jan 24, 2020) whereas we got US$18 million which was kept secret until it was leaked to the public. The Parking Meter contract is another atrocious deal where the entire capital city of Georgetown, not just the key, was gifted by the APNU/AFC controlled City Hall to a foreigner for 50 + 50 years.

All of the above points to a significant rise in Statesponsored corruption under this APNU/AFC administration.

Corruption has become endemic; the Government is unmoved and does not even bother to respond when confronted. Even reporters seem to have lost interest in the subject.

Grade: F To ensure that every citizen has equitable access to the resources of the State and the national decision-making processes, in keeping with Article 13 of our Constitution

Analysis and comments:

See Volda Lawrence’s comments and remarks on the denial of elections and democracy above. Small plots of leased land are being seized from farmers nationwide for the most frivolous of reasons. At the same time 10,000-acre tracts are being handed to APNU/ AFC supporters days before the elections (KN, Dec 27, 2019, and Jan 1, 2020).

In June 2019 we learned that large tracts of commercial State lands including those bordering our main

rivers and close to shore base, sometimes up to 100 acres and more in size, have been allotted to members of this Government (GTimes Jun 28, 2019). Some of the recipients are ironically Government officials who are tasked with the recovery of State assets and work with SOCU/SARA/SARU. That was not the only irony.

The Head of SOCU is being investigated for corruption at SOCU (KN, Jan 15, 2020.

Grade: F

Goal: Industrialisation and jobs

To create a new economy that will stimulate rapid development through Guyana’s transformation from a raw material producer to a manufacturer of value-added goods and services.

Analysis and comments:

It is estimated that 30,000 jobs have been lost since APNU/AFC came into office (R Singh, KN, Apr 5, 2019). As mentioned earlier 1900 Amerindians were fired within a few days of APNU/AFC taking the oath of office and 7000 sugar workers have been dismissed and their severance pay was illegally withheld for several months. As if that is not enough, the sugar workers who are still on the job have been denied a salary increase since 2015 (Newsroom, Oct 7, 2019).

On the other hand, the Government awarded itself a 50 per cent salary increase mere days from taking office while all other public servants have received very little to date.

The economy is in decline and with the exception of rice and gold, all other sectors are struggling. The derailment of Amaila by APNU/AFC, when in Opposition, effectively put an end to the possibility of reducing the cost of energy and that torpedoed any realistic opportunity to diversify the economy, increase value-added and create jobs. Rice production is up because sugar lands have been converted and more people are out of employment and have turned to farming but paddy prices still remain low.

The Government cannot take any credit for gold output because they came and met success in that industry which is operated by foreigners. What can be more discouraging than knowing in spite of our great oil bonanza we have no chance to secure jobs and tap that resource because the APNU/ AFC Government neglected to craft and implement suitable local content legislation to safeguard the rights of Guyanese?

Grade: F Sincerely, Ravi Ram

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

Page Foundation Raising well-behaved kids:

mistaken vs smart discipline

By Susan Heitler PhD

Let’s start with what not to do.

Spanking children has been going out of fashion. Yet, is it true that spanking is such a bad idea? Many parents do believe that physical punishment makes their children more compliant and better behaved.

At the same time, a newly-published book from the American Psychological Association details the serious costs of this discipline method. The book, which is by Gershoff and Lee, is called Ending the Physical Punishment of Children.

Spanking research

The new APA book details several decades of research on parents’ use of physical punishment. Clearly, physical punishment, including spanking, is ineffective. It wins the battle but loses the war. Spanking predicts worse and worse behaviour over time (Altschul, Lee, & Gershoff, 2016; Gershoff & Grogan-Kaylor, 2016; Gershoff, Lansford, Sexton, Davis-Kean, & Sameroff, 2012).

Instead of teaching children to behave better, the more that children are physically punished, the more aggressive they become and the more behaviour problems they are likely to develop. It’s a case of "Do as I do rather than do as I say."

With further age, physically disciplined children suffer more mental health problems like anxiety, depression, excessive anger, and character disorders. Physically disciplined children also do worse on tests of cognitive ability (Gershoff & Grogan-Kaylor, 2016).

Here's yet another negative side effect—physical disciplinary measures teach children to develop what psychologists refer to as external locus of control. That is, as long as authority figures are nearby, physically punished children conform to what they know will not lead to being hit. Once out of sight of potential punish-

ment-givers, however, they may feel free to behave badly—bullying other kids, for example.

By contrast, children whose parents do not spank or physically punish them to develop an internal locus of control.

That is, they develop an internal sense of right and wrong for deciding what they will and will not do. The presence of adults who might punish them is not necessary for them to behave well.

post, prevention and distraction are consistently winning strategies for getting kids to behave well.

Prevention with younger children means feeding them often, making

discipline principle: Separate children from a situation they can’t handle. If kids are fighting over a toy, remove the toy.

If children or teenagers—and adults as well—start yelling, suggest to them please to go to their quiet space (usually their bedroom) so they can calm down. That is, either remove the situation (eg, the contested toy) or the participants from the scene as soon as you hear even the first sounds of angry voices or fighting.

Yet another discipline technique: Establish effective routines (which is a form of prevention) for likely-to-be-problematic situations.

For instance, to prevent anger eruptions, establish that kids will go to their quiet space to calm themselves when they are get-

Methods that are as bad—or worse

Alas, far too many parents slap negative labels on their children. Negative labels, especially combined with an angry tone of voice, are verbal abuse.

Angry voices plus poisonous words like lazy, stupid, and selfish can create self-fulfilling prophesies, as children tend to try to prove their parents right: "Call me dumb and I'll act that way." In addition, for the rest of their lives, these children are likely to use the same negative words on themselves when they make mistakes. Psychologist Haim Ginott's classic parenting book Between Parent and Child gets credit for clarifying this far-toocommon parenting error.

Discipline measures that work without doing harm

As I describe in detail in this and in a second earlier PT

not for punishing; they are for learning.

Building new routines in response to upsets that happen frequently at similar daily times also models awareness that irritation and anger signal that there is a problem somewhere, and problems are for solving. Problem-solving lies at the core of how to sustain well-being. Shared problem-solving via calmly talking together, for instance, prevents and resolves relationship problems. Now there's an essential skill to model for your children! Monkey see, monkey do.

The same is true for children: Children see, children do.

The bottom line

Parents are responsible for

teaching their kids how to become well-behaved teens and mature adults who talk over differences cooperatively with others instead of acting mad, bad, or sad to get their way.

Note that the keyword here is teaching. Discipline comes from the word disciple.

Discipline is about teaching, not about punishing.

In sum, physical and verbal violence signal that a parent’s discipline techniques are misguided, based on punishing instead of on teaching.

Developing a new repertoire of techniques that are both less harmful and more effective increases the odds that your kids will turn out great, and that everyone in your family will thrive. (PsychologyToday)

What really happens when parents spank kids?

By The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research

sure they get enough sleep and ensuring that they have constructive activities to ward off boredom. Hunger, tiredness, and boredom are the three most common precursors of misbehaviour in young children.

For older children, prevention also includes talking with them about what they need to do and why. Explaining ahead of time instead of criticising them after they have made mistakes effectively programs children to be well-behaved.

Distraction refers to turning attention to more constructive activities when children’s behaviours are getting off-track. Siblings beginning to fight? “Hey kids, look what I have here! Let’s …!”

Here’s another essential

ting upset.

They then can return to “the situation they couldn’t handle” when they feel ready to deal with the problem from the calm zone.

When transition times prove to be difficult, re-think these routines. If morning getting-ready-for school rushing around, for instance, provokes upsets, figure out new routines that will sustain calm. The same with coming to the table for meals, as well as bedtimes.

Establishing more effective routines has an added benefit.

The process of responding to difficulties with devising new action plans clarifies for your children that mistakes are for learning. Yes, mistakes are

A

s a first-time parent, I was completely surprised one day when I was nearly overcome by the urge to spank my two-year-old. After a challenging hour or two at a crowded mall, he purposely pulled a pile of T-shirts off a shelf in a tantrum. I should have known better than to take a tired toddler shopping for clothes. But that was cold comfort as I stood in the middle of a crowded store watching my son throw merchandise on the floor.

At the time, I was lucky to have read some of the research on physical punishment. Because—as I learned that day—it takes a lot of knowledge to overcome the feelings I had toward my little guy in that moment. That’s why I think it’s important to share this new evidence regarding the impact of physical punishment on children.

Earlier this year, researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan conducted a sweeping systematic review of more than 50 years of research on spanking that involved more than 160,000 children. It is the most complete analysis to date of how spanking affects children.

For starters, the paper defined spanking as "an open-handed hit on the behind, arm, or legs." The review found that about 80 per cent of children are spanked or receive some sort of physical discipline as a punishment. Overwhelmingly, the review found that spanking is an ineffective way to discipline children and has harmful effects—nearly as harmful as more serious physical abuse such as punching.

The review found spanking to be associated with more than a dozen negative outcomes. Over the short term, spanking was found to harm the relationship between a parent and child and lead to anti-social behaviour, depression, increased aggressive misbehaviour, and low self-esteem among children. Over the long term, the research found that spanking leads to anti-social behaviour, mental illnesses, and anxiety later in life—and adults who were spanked as children were also more likely to use physical punishment with their own children.

The question of whether to use physical punishment on children has been on the minds of parents and educators for decades, but this new research clearly demonstrates, without a question, the negative consequences of spanking.

“When parents use physical discipline with their children, they are modelling the use of aggression as a means of controlling the behaviour of others,” says Jane Powers, a Cornell researcher at the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research who specializes in the impact on violence on youth.

“Consequently, the child learns to use violence to get what she wants. In spite of the research that demonstrates that spanking is associated with higher rates of child aggression, most parents in the US approve of and use corporal punishment to discipline their children.”

In our family, my husband and I have agreed that spanking is not a form of discipline we want to use. For those times when our frustration levels rise, we find it helps to have coping mechanisms in place. Two strategies that work for us are taking a break from parenting when needed—whether asking for help from the other parent or just stepping into the other room for a few deep breaths—and trying to see the humour in everything, including that formerly neatly-folded stack of shirts strewn across a store floor. (PsychologyToday)

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Motorcyclist killed after struck by car …driver escapes, turns self in with lawyer

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47-year-old motorcyclist who was on his way home from work lost his life on Saturday morning at Craig, East Bank Demerara.

Dead is Dhanraj Budhram. He was struck by motor car PVV 8691, which sped away from the scene.

Budhram was employed at Gafoor’s Complex located at Land of Canaan, EBD. Reports are at about 12:20h on Saturday, Budhram was en route to his Belle West, Canal Polder Number Two home, when the accident occurred.

Reports are that Budhram was on the northern lane in the vicinity of a turn at Craig, as the motor car was approaching from the southern side. While both the motorcyclist and the car’s driver were navigating the turn, the car ended up colliding with Budhram and knocked him off his motorcycle.

However, the 27-year-old driver did not stop to render any assistance but instead sped away from the scene.

Another driver who witnessed the incident recorded the license plate of the car.

He then rushed to aid the motorcyclist while the police were summoned to the scene. However, Budhram succumbed to his injuries before he could have received medical help. This

Dhanraj Budhram and his wife, Nanda in happier times

publication understands that the 27-year-old driver of the motor car was said to be heading towards his Supply, EBD home when the accident occurred.

Some hours later he turned up at a police station accompanied by a lawyer.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver but

there was no trace of alcohol.

He is in Police custody as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, Budhram’s wife, Nanda, when contacted by Guyana Times was at a loss for words about the details of her husband’s death.

She stated that on Saturday morning she received a tele-

phone call at about 12:45h from the police informing her that Budhram had died in an accident.

As the woman broke down in tears, she stated that she has five young children with her husband and that he was the sole breadwinner of their family.

(Kristen Macklingam)

Taxi driver held at gunpoint, car hijacked …bandits posed as customers

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taxi-driver is now counting his losses after being held at gunpoint by armed bandits before the duo hijacked his vehicle, HB 6272, and left him on the roadway.

The 48-year-old taxi driver, who hails from Rosetta, Canal Polder Number Two, West Bank Demerara (WBD), reported that he usually operates near the Stabroek Market Square, Georgetown, with his yellow Toyota Wagon.

According to the man, on Saturday morning he was approached by the two men posing as customers, who hired him to transport them to a location at Cane View, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. He said that after reaching the destination at about 06:15h, he was waiting on his fare but was rather greeted with a gun to his face.

According to the taxi driver, he was ordered to leave the car keys in the ignition and exit the vehicle, to which he complied.

He said that one of the men held him at gunpoint while the other entered the driver’s seat. They both then escaped with the car.

Commander of Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Sub-division A (Georgetown), Assistant Police Commissioner Edgar Thomas, when contacted said that ranks are currently reviewing Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage from cameras installed around the capital city to locate the

missing vehicle.

In addition, Police officers are trying to ascertain if any privately-owned security cameras around the area captured the crime.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

On January 2, a motor vehicle was stolen less than five hours after the driver parked it in front of his home and retired to bed.

Reports are that about 21:30h, the Hope Low Lands, East Coast Demerara (ECD) resident retired to bed and as he woke up at 02:15h the next morning, he realised that the car was missing.

In another incident, a 42-year-old contractor, who visited a city bank and withdrew over $3 million in cash, had his vehicle hijacked when he had parked it in the capital city while running errands.

The man had all of his money inside of his Mazda motor car when he had parked it at New Garden Street, between Church and Foreshaw Streets, Queenstown, and exited the vehicle.

Local cops retrieved the man’s motor car some hours after, abandoned in the parking lot of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), located on Oronoque and Croal Streets, Georgetown.

The money along with important documents that were inside of the vehicle were missing.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt cancels $9000 per month public assistance to 2-year-old …after NGO assisted family

T

he public assistance which was given to a two-year-old child after her mother was murdered and her father was imprisoned last year, has been cancelled.

The child has been living with her grandmother since March 31, 2019, after her father killed her mother.

However, according to the grandmother, Tajwatee Jhinkoon, called “Sharda”, she was surprised when she was informed by the Whim Office of the agency that the monthly assistance has been cancelled. She said she sought an explanation and was informed by the officer that a NonGovernmental Organisation is assisting the child and as such a decision was taken by the Ministry to stop the public assistance. The assistance that the child was receiving was $9000 a month.

The grandmother told this newspaper that Humanitarian Mission

Guyana Inc informed her that it had established a go-fundme in the United States.

“Mr Sugrim (Head of the Humanitarian Mission) told me that he set up the gofund for Hailey (the child) and US$1440 was raised. And he brought the money two weeks ago and he took me to the bank and opened an account for Hailey because the money is for Hailey alone and she can’t get it until she reach 18.”

Jhinkoon explained that prior to that she had applied to the Social Protection Ministry for a new book for the public assistance since the previous one expired on December 31, 2019.

“Everything went well… the girl fill out the form and told me that I will have to come back to collect the book but on Tuesday I get a call from the Ministry and the person told me that the book has been cancelled because Hailey getting money from an organisation,” the grandmother said.

Silence…

Tajwatee Jhinkoon, called “Sharda”, and her two-year-old granddaughter, Hailey

She further stated that she explained to the Social Protection Ministry’s official that it was a one-time donation and she is not sure if she will get more assistance from the organisation. However, she said that the officer told her that she cannot further assist her.

Meanwhile, in an invited comment, Head of the Humanitarian Mission, Pandit Suresh Sugrim said the money was given by donors as an investment in the child’s future.

“I was made to understand

that her public assistance was taken away because of the contributions made by donors.

I will like to make an open declaration that this go-fund to assist Baby Hailey was a one-time setup. The organisation is not supporting Hailey on a week to week, month to month or year to year basis – it was a one-time investment.”

Sugrim is calling on the Government to investigate properly as he is willing to submit documents on behalf of the Mission to prove that the go-fund-me was a onetime setup. TURN TO PAGE 18

U

…is Granger’s consent

nlike David Granger, PNC’s Chairwoman, Volda Lawrence, came through the party’s ranks— more specifically, the Georgetown PNC ranks.

While Granger boasted of being a “member” of the PNC since the sixties, he was a key cog in another of the triumvirate institutions on which the Burnhamite dictatorship was built – the Armed Forces. The third leg, of course, was the Public Service, which Burnham straightened out during stints at Hope Coconut Estate!!

Volda Lawrence isn’t called “Vulga” Lawrence just because her name is easily corruptible to that form. She’s been in the trenches for donkey years and knows how to use the strategic advantage of “owning” Georgetown to the party’s benefit. That advantage was shown as far back as 1905 when lumpen elements from the poorer sections of the city were mobilised by demagogues to loot and burn whole sections of Georgetown in protests.

They were called “centipedes” from their penchant of running in crowds along the streets as if coordinated by one mind!

Burnham and foreign elements were to use these elements in the Black Friday Riots of 1962 to prove to the incumbent PPP regime: might be in office, but not in power!! The centipede elements were brought out with predictable regularity whenever the PNC wanted to remind its opponents that their politics weren’t waged only in Parliament – but in the streets. The 199798 PNC protests and riots were the fin de siècle events which signalled that the PNC was going to continue its centipede tradition into the new millennium!

Granger was made leader of the PNC since 2011— his accepting of rigging the party elections to hand him that role proved he accepted that corrupt act as mere “blooding”! He’s perfectly comfortable with all the dirty and bloody tricks the PNC will use to stay in power and the “clean” church-going image he cultivates is nothing more than that: an image. While his virtue signals at the drop of a hat, with carefully-scripted kneeling in churches and such like, Volda Lawrence does the “vulgar” PNC signalling to the centipede mob!

But you’ll notice Granger never, ever disavows Lawrence’s vulgarities – much less censuring her: they’ve worked out their good cop, bad cop routine to a “T”!! He never uttered a word about Lawrence’s declaration about giving “wuk” only to PNC people?

Or that the centipedes should come out in front of the polling stations after polling closes?? This is patently and blatantly illegal and shouldn’t be countenanced in a democracy!

Granger should remember Burnham’s quote: Qui tacet consentire videtur, ubi loqui debuit ac potuit: “He who is silent when he ought to have spoken and was able to, is taken to agree”!!

Where’s the “integrity”?? …and fools Over the years, the wisdom of Mark Twain’s quip, “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt” has been proven beyond even a quibble. But it’s clear that Moses Nagamootoo – the man still fighting to be Prime Minister! – feels compelled to ignore the advice.

His latest foray in removing doubts that he’s a fool was his utterances on the sugar estates’ closure, at a meeting (certainly NOT “rally” as he claimed!) at his home village of Whim. He claimed the PPP wanted “to show that this Government spite … Indo Guyanese” and were “racist”!! So his party hadn’t promised the estates wouldn’t be closed during the 2015 campaign?

As did his Govt’s CoI! So the PPP shouldn’t point out the hypocrisy?

Nagamootoo also repeated assertions he’d made after the sugar closures that workers would get land to farm.

But after doling out lands to every PNC supporter in sight, why are sugar workers still landless??

Fool!! …on sugar, not bauxite Referring to Rusal’s temporary layoff of 142 workers, Labour Minister Keith Scott bemoaned, “We do not support the workers being laid off. They have families to care for and bills to pay.”

And sugar workers didn’t?

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

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana must have strong Local Content Policies – Jagdeo tells Bartica G

uyana has already begun oil production, even without critical pieces of legislation being put in place. One such piece of legislation is the Local Content Policy – which would guarantee the locals a fair fight for services in the oil and gas sector.

According to the Leader of the Opposition and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo, under a PPP/C Government, those critical pieces of legislation would be given prominence. He was at the time addressing a large gathering of supporters at Dino Square, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

“Exxon came here under the PPP. They were exploring for oil under the PPP. They found oil before the last elections (2015) and these people came into office with a gift there. All they had to do was to protect our interests and they failed absolutely,” he said.

“The oil belongs to the people of Guyana, all 800,000 of us and it must benefit our people. The young people must have jobs, our people must get more business. There must be a strong Local Content Policy to force the oil companies to send business our way,” Jagdeo added.

He noted that Guyanese businesses have no protection under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

Under a PPP/C Government, Jagdeo noted that every Guyanese would see their wealth and prosperity grow because of the oil resources.

“We have to spend the

A section of the crowd at the Bartica rally

money wisely. We have to ensure that the money is not stolen. That is why we said we will criminalise non-disclosures. Any minister, even under the PPP, who does not reveal the sums of money we receive under the oil companies, that person can go to jail for 10 years. We will pass laws to do that so we can avoid what happened,” Jagdeo said.

Jagdeo – a former Finance Minister himself— also took a jab at the current Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, who claimed that the Government thought the US$18 million signing bonus was a gift from ExxonMobil.

He accused the Government of being incompetent when it comes to managing the natural resources of the country.

The seasoned politician told supporters that they are grateful for the level of support the campaign has received as they continue to present their plans to take Guyana forward. He noted that everywhere the Party has been, there have been complaints of doom under the current administration.

Destructive policies Likening the APNU/AFC coalition government to that of the Forbes Burnham-led People’s National Congress (PNC) Government, Jagdeo told supporters that all the signs are there for disaster should the coalition remain in office after March 2, 2020.

He noted that the destructive policies of the APNU/AFC were not started when they took office in 2015 but rather, it all began some three years prior when they had a majority in the National Assembly. The two parties would have teamed up to shoot down a number of developmental projects as well as significantly reduce budgetary allocation to a number of state agencies in moves that the PPP/C has described as vindictive.

He informed supporters that despite being at the helm of the country’s leadership, the David Granger-led Government cannot campaign on their achievements.

“We have seen 8 years of destructive policies of this Government. Their entire campaign is not about their achievements. When a party

is running after five years in office, it wants to come to the people and talk about all the good it has done in the five years but this bunch can’t do that because they don’t have many achievements. They can’t talk about their plans for the future because they have none,” Jagdeo said as he roused supporters.

He reminded that the APNU/AFC continues to flout the Constitution while alluding to the Government’s actions following the passage of the No-Confidence Motion on December 21, 2018, that was passed in the National Assembly. He explained that had the PPP/C not protested the Government’s non-compliance and had the international community not call out the Government’s actions, then the constitu-

tionally mandated elections would have been further delayed.

He accused President Granger of threading the path of dictatorship and urged supporters to reject this when they go to the ballots on March 2. He reminded that Granger promised to remove the no-confidence provision in the Constitution so that no Government is removed before its allotted five years.

The former President reminded supporters that under the PPP/C Government in the past, the party has never once flouted the rule of law. He said that it is hypocritical for the President to talk about honesty and decency when the present administration lacks every definition of that terminolo-

Leader of the Opposition and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo, addressing the gathering

gy.

Jagdeo urged their supporters to mobilise and come out in their numbers on Election Day and vote early so that a PPP/C victory could be ensured.

The PPP/C hosts its next rally in Lethem later today, where it is expected to outline its developmental plans for the Indigenous communities in the Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo region.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Volda's "vigilant nightshift"

Police, not supporters, entrusted to secure ballot boxes – GECOM CEO …says it’s illegal for persons to gather within 200 yards of polling stations

G

uyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield has made it clear that when polls are closed and ballot boxes prepared to be transported, it is the Police and/or army, not party supporters, who are entrusted with securing them.

Lowenfield was at the time addressing members of the media at an election coverage training session at Palm Court on Saturday when he was asked to comment on the issue. It comes after Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence would have encouraged APNU/AFC’s party’s supporters to mobilise on polling stations after voting ends, rather than go home.

The CEO made it clear that the only time parties have a role in securing ballot boxes is when disciplined ser-

GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield

PNC Chair Volda Lawrence

vices go out and vote.

He noted that on Election Day, when the entire population votes, no such arrangement exists.

“Let’s start with the disciplined services. For disciplined services balloting 10 days before elections, we have ballot stations in Police and army localities. When I go to Timehri, for instance, and the day is ended, I facilitate the movement of those votes back to the centre to be secured,” Lowenfield said.

“Each location will have a (party) agent. So the Commission has approved the movement of agents from the respective parties to accompany. We can only take X amount in the bus we have.

So yes, there is accompaniment of the votes from the disciplined services, so they arrive at the destination at GECOM. And they will observe us placing the boxes in a container. For general and regional, there is no such arrangement.”

According to Lowenfield, he will be meeting with the various election parties where they will be briefed on these and other issues. He was also asked about the specific laws pertaining to persons converging on polling stations.

about to vote or has voted either on his own behalf or as a proxy on behalf of another elector.”

200-yard limit

Lowenfield noted that Section 103 of the Representation of the People’s Act makes it clear that persons cannot converge within 200 yards of polling stations and interfere with the election process. The penalty for breaching this law, he said, was a $65,000 fine and imprisonment for six months.

“The law speaks to molestation. You should not, legally, be within the 200 yards as specified in the law. But the Commission will have to deliberate and meet with the agents of the various parties to address this and ensure that they are aware.”

The People’s Representation Act states that: “No person shall anywhere within a distance of two hundred yards of a polling place annoy, molest or otherwise interfere with an elector or attempt to obtain any information as to the list of candidates for whom any elector in the polling place is

Irresponsible

Last week, People’s National Congress (PNC) Chair Volda Lawrence made her controversial comments during a meeting in the Kitty Market Square, Georgetown.

She had urged supporters to remain at polling stations until ballots are counted and statements of polls posted, after which the party will secure the ballot boxes.

“When six o’clock hit, you supposed to have already had your bath and put on your nightshift clothing. You understand what I’m saying, comrades? This is not the time to be sleeping. They must not catch us sleeping on the job! At six o’clock, you’re required to work at the places of polling and you will remain out there and let our staff inside know that you are out there.”

“Let them know everything is covered, APNU/ AFC! You have to give that support. You have to remain there until they get it right… and then our nice, strong men will be mobilised to follow that ballot box until it goes into that container and the APNU/AFC padlock and chain is placed on that container… we aren’t making no joke with them votes.”

In comments on the matter, former Attorney General and PPP candidate Anil Nandlall had described the comments as irresponsible.

According to him, a crowd of supporters mobilising on polling stations can get out of control. He compared this to what occurred in 2015 when PPP activists were assaulted and a house and car torched after voting had ended.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has also come out in criticism of Lawrence’s statements.

Urging President David Granger to address the issue, the Commission noted that they view the statements “with considerable concern as they are provocative have all the potential for leading to a violent confrontation between the supporters of the contesting parties and are a direct threat to the peaceful conduct of the elections.”

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Taxi driver caught throwing gun through car window A The memory war 23-year-old taxi driver has landed himself in hot water after trying to dispose of an illegal firearm with live rounds in

the presence of Police officers.

Reports are at about 04:15h on Saturday morning, Police ranks patrolling

John and Norton Streets received information that the man, who was inside of a bar at the time, had an unlicensed gun.

Ranks were given a description of the vehicle he had arrived at the establishment in and turned up at that location.

Upon venturing inside,

they observed the man exiting the building and entering the motor car which also had another occupant seated at that time.

The policemen followed him with the intention of conducting a search.

When the man realised that the cops were closing in on him, he quickly threw the gun through the window and sped away. The ranks picked up the weapon, which turned out to be a .32 pistol with two live rounds of ammunition. They then pursued the car and cornered the car. The suspect, along with his 28-year-old passenger were both arrested.

The men are assisting with investigations.

O

bserving the rhetoric deployed in the blogosphere, social media, and the letter pages of the newspapers, I have been struck by the ubiquitous invocation of the trope of “400 Black youths killed during the PPP years” to argue that no matter how badly the PNC-led coalition performed during the last five years, they should be returned to office. In an effort to examine this claim factually, the Stabroek News went back to its archives and laboriously listed the 420 persons murdered between Feb 23, 2002, and Sept 2006.

They found that “151 had been murdered by bandits; 239 killed during confrontations with Police and in unexplained circumstances and 30 security officers murdered.” But what was most revealing was that there were 105 Indian Guyanese listed among the 420 killed overall and all were killed by the bandits: this is never mentioned by the polemists. Also never mentioned is the killing wave that immediately preceded the prison Ravi Dev breakout and following the 1997 elections.

As I wrote at the time, “In the wake of violent urban protests by the PNC in Georgetown after that party claimed that the December 1997 general elections were rigged, anti-Indian riots erupted in Georgetown on Jan 12, 1998.

Throughout 1998, the kick-down-the-door banditry against Indians intensified to such an extent that one Magistrate called it “guerrilla warfare against Indians”. In this new round of violence in which thirty-one Indian and one AfricanGuyanese were murdered, Indian businessmen were the targets. The attacks and murders – primarily on Indians – continued in tandem with regular protest-related violence in Georgetown during 1999 and 2000.”

The point I wish to make is if we are ever to even begin addressing our political quagmire, we have to question the one-sided narratives that are being deployed in the present and which only serve to widen the chasms between our two major groups. But this slanted, toxic version of our history started even as the events were still unfolding. In 2004, I spoke at the Square of the Revolution at a “People’s Movement for Justice (PMJ) Rally”, to support calls for a Commission of Inquiry into the killing wave sweeping Georgetown and the East Coast.

In the Indian community, this was seen as supporting the PNC, but I felt that Guyana needed a professional Police Force to deal with criminality and resorting to vigilante groups was exacerbating our crisis. But at the beginning of the event, to a roll of drums, the names of only the persons killed by the Police were announced in commemoration and mourning: it was the beginning of the lopsided accounting of our millennium political history. I warned: “We cannot have the lives of our sisters and brothers snuffled out with impunity. And I would like to say that when I listened to the litany of deaths when this meeting began, I was saddened because – and again I speak my truth to you – not only those who were gunned by the arms of the state we should mourn, but we should also mourn every individual, every innocent individual, who was killed by others. So it means that that litany should include the Indians also who were killed by bandits, the Africans who were killed by bandits, the Chinese or whoever were killed by bandits. They also suffered the ultimate denial of their human rights – the right to life.”

What we are witnessing in Guyana, with its one-sided narrative, is not unusual in areas with ethnic conflict and in fact, the phenomenon has been described as “memory wars”. A distinction is made between “history” and “collective memory” in that while even the former’s authors may be selective in their recordings and silencing, the latter is even more distorted being what is “memorised” and “memorialised” by groups.

As one author suggests, “it might be useful to think in terms of different ‘memory communities’ within a given society. It is important to ask the question, who wants whom to remember what and why?” There are the “mnemonic warriors” who insist that only their narrative of history and memory are “the truth” and must determine our actions into the future.

I have a “mnemonic perspective” and believe that the positions of the different “histories” and “memory communities” must be integrated to create a vision of a future that delivers justice, dignity and respect to all of us in Guyana.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

AmCham pledges support to World GECOM for free, fair elections …collaborates with press association for media workshop

A

merican Chamber Guyana (AmCham) has pledged its continued support to the election process and further engagements with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), in the interest of ensuring free and fair elections.

This was communicated by AmCham President, Zulfikar Ally, during a training seminar held with the media on Saturday at Palm Court. According to Ally, the importance of free and fair elections to the country as well as to the business community and investments cannot be overstated.

“AmCham wishes to

play its role, along with GECOM, the US embassy and the substantial number of both local and international stakeholders in ensuring credible, peaceful elections.

The Chamber and its members have a vested interest in the development of Guyana and recognise the strong link between democracy, economic development and business success.

“With this in mind, we intend to continue supporting activities that promote democracy in Guyana. We will continue to work closely with the US embassy in Guyana, Ambassador Lynch and her team and with Justice Singh

and her team at GECOM.” In his address, Ally went on to urge media houses to be accurate in their reporting. It was a point reinforced by the United States Ambassador, Sarah Ann-Lynch. She went a step further, however, noting the importance of citizens doing some fact-checking of their own.

“The US Embassy is in the midst of a social media campaign that we gave the hashtag check for yourself.

The campaign is aimed at stopping the spread of misinformation online. Unlike journalists, the average [person] may lack access to powerful facts and figures or the re-

sources to seek out additional sources for a claim on their own.”

“But this campaign encourages all Guyanese to recognise that freedom of the press requires citizens to bear the responsibility with journalists to always stop, reflect and verify to stop the spread of misinformation,” she added.

The training exercise, which is a collaboration between the Guyana Press Association, GECOM and AmCham, concludes today.

At the exercise, various officials from GECOM explained the processes involved in covering elections.

Wetland Day 2020

G

uyana is known as the “Land of Many Waters”.

In a bird-eye view, you will be able to see a vast network of rivers and creeks spread throughout the country. Even so, it is not only the aesthetics of our waterways that we can boast of but rather, the intricate link to the unique ecosystem and the diversity of life they support. To that extent, wetlands are of significant importance to the world.

Wetlands can be defined as a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally, where oxygen-free processes prevail. This year’s theme is “Wetlands and Biodiversity”. As we join the world in observing World Wetlands Day on February 2, 2020, let us raise awareness about the vital role wetlands plays for us and our planet.

Wetlands have been called “biological super systems” because they produce great volumes of food that support a remarkable level of biodiversity. In terms of number and variety of species supported, they are as rich as rainforests and coral reefs. Their combination of shallow water, high levels of nutrients, and high primary productivity are ideal for the development of organisms that form the essential base of our planet’s food web.

What are wetlands?

Wetlands are areas of land where water covers the soil all year or just at certain times of the year. They include: * Billabongs, lakes, lagoons * Saltmarshes, mudflats * Mangroves, coral reefs * Bogs, fens, and peatlands * Swamps, marshes Values & importance of wetlands * Cleaner waters * High biodiversity * Less food damage * Cooler planet * More recreation * Healthy economy Wetlands and Indigenous peoples in Guyana Indigenous communities are very much dependent on the natural environment to meet their local needs. The rainforest, river, creeks associated with wetlands have been key to the lives of Indigenous people throughout the centuries. Our Indigenous brothers and sisters have strong cultural and traditional ties to the lands they occupy. More so, it has long been recognised that they have played a vital role in protecting and managing these ecosystems, way before the implementation of conventional conservation measures such as National Protected Areas Systems.

Here in Guyana, the mega wetland area associated with the Rupununi, Essequibo and Rewa Rivers along with many lakes and ponds is known as the North Rupununi Wetlands. It’s amazing how, during the rainy season, the usually open, dry savannas soundly become a part of a massive flood plain. Wetlands form an important part of the livelihood of these communities; they provide clean water, food, materials to make craft, housing material and traditional medicine. Even more striking is the fact that these communities have adapted well to these wetlands.

Hence, the Ramsar Convention encourages the integration of traditional knowledge in the wise use and management of wetlands. To that extent, it has been observed that Indigenous communities, by means of traditional fishing, hunting and harvesting practices, have naturally engaged in the respectful use and protection of these wetlands. Many of these traditional practices are passed from generation to generation. Other traditional knowledge may see the transfer of information through dance or stories. Today, the challenge is to address the changing dynamics within many Indigenous communities, where other things are competing for the attention of the youths. Consequently, many of this traditional knowledge is being lost.

To reduce pollution * Improve drainage on your property to reduce rainwater runoff into your waterway or wetland (low impact development, rain gardens, etc) * Landscape your yard to minimise rainwater runoff * Maintain your septic system carefully * Use Indigenous plants in your landscape plan to reduce watering and fertilising needs * Use natural methods of insect and disease control to minimise the use of pesticides * Dispose of paint, oil, solvents and other toxic wastes properly * Don’t use exotic plants in fish or Lily ponds near waterways— they’ll wash in and pollute

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

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fired RUSAL workers

Bauxite Union loses confidence in Minister Scott’s management of dispute

…questions his “trustworthiness”

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he Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU) has declared that it has lost confidence in Minister within the Protection Ministry, Keith Scott’s management of its current dispute with the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), which fired 142 workers last week.

A report from the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Friday stated that Minister Scott, who has the responsibility of the Labour Department, was part of a meeting on Thursday, January 23, 2020, to engage the Union and the management of the BCGI, the local subsidiary of the Russia-owned RUSAL, over the sacked employees.

However, in a statement on Saturday, the GB&GWU said that while such a meeting was indeed held and chaired by the Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, the Minister was nowhere in sight.

“Minister Scott did not even have an invisible presence that was felt. He did

not even make a brief entrance,” the Union noted. It added that if the report is accurate then the Minister is involved in “serious misrepresentations”, which raises question as to his trustworthiness and motive.

According to GB&GWU, this is not the first incident of deception and mistrust on the issues of labour, in particular, those relating to bauxite workers that involved Minister Scott and his department.

“This is, however, the most blatant and disreputable. It is more so since said claim can be easily disproved by those in attendance and the register of attendance at the Department of Labour. This act begs the question of the Minister’s desperation or confidence that he can successfully lie and have his lie circulated via the media. As a consequence, GB&GWU is declaring publicly that it has lost all confidence in Minister Scott’s management of this labour dispute,” the missive detailed.

Some 142 RUSAL workers were given marching orders effective Thursday, January 23, 2020, and were told by the management of that company that such a decision had to be made since Government has blocked the duty-free importation of fuel.

The Union went on to say that the GB&GWU has reflected on many occasions of the goodwill of Minister Scott in seeking timely and meaningful resolution of the bauxite workers’ industrial dispute. It was noted that the BCGI/GB&GWU dispute is more than a decade-old issue and outside of the gains made last year March through the stern grit of Social Protection Minister Amna Ally in bringing the BCGI management to the bargaining table to respect the Union as the recognised workers' representative, no other meaningful achievements have been made under Minister Scott’s sole oversight.

“GB&GWU is of the strong view that Minister Scott has also not demon-

The dangers of redistribution of wealth and unplanned economic restructuring:

I

Labour Minister Keith Scott

strated he has the capacity, political, experiential, or labour driven perspectives to successfully manage the department he leads. He has certainly not in the case of the bauxite and gold workers demonstrated ministerial trustworthiness,” the Saturday statement contained.

In 2019, the BCGI had dismissed over 90 workers during a dispute over strike action due to a demand for a pay hike.

the effects on rising income inequality and poverty

n 2017, readers might recall that this column featured an extensive series of articles dedicated to assessing the social and economic impacts of the restructuring programme of the sugar industry. This theme was examined on the macro and micro-level which highlighted the impact on the foreign exchange, extraction of wealth from more than 40,000 direct and indirect dependents on the industry, and the cost to the economy in terms of circulation of money when considering the multiplier effect on the banking system and other sectors.

In addition to this, it was reported in various sections of the media over the past few years, instances of repossession of lands – rice farmers to be specific – the increases in taxes which extracted billions from the disposable income of consumers that resulted in the loss of $74 billion in consumer spending over the last four-five years from $526 billion in 2014 to $454 billion at the end of 2018. This is $74 billion taken away from the pockets of the ordinary working-class people. The case of downsizing the sugar industry resulted in the extraction of over $40 billion from the economy, in terms of sustaining the village economies on the micro-level, income distribution, taxes that are paid over to the Government, National Insurance (social security), spending in the economy, losses in foreign exchange. The consequences, as highlighted herein and more extensively in previous writings, are akin to what this author describes as “unplanned restructuring of the economic system geared towards the redistribution of wealth from one section of the economic system and players within the system to another, rather than, generating new wealth”. Today’s piece, therefore, seeks to address empirical evidence of the impact of such policies on income inequality and poverty.

Explanations for the extent to which governments redistribute income through the tax and transfer system provide for an interesting example to contrast rational choice and behavioural perspectives, and how they differ in understanding human motivation. In a classical paper, Meltzer and Richard (1981) provide a theoretical ‘proof’ that individual utility maximisation and the vote-seeking behaviour of politicians under majority rule produce greater redistribution when inequality is high. The model exemplifies the deductive reasoning of rational choice and applies the median-voter theory of Schumpeter (1942) and Downs (1957) to a tangible question. As even critics would concede, the model is elegant and parsimonious, and its logic is intuitively compelling. Yet, it suffers from the shortcomings of its very foundations that behavioural economics has found wanting.

By portraying humans as ‘rational fools’ (to use Amartya Sen’s term), rational choice ignores that people are embedded in a society and share values and perceptions of fairness and social justice. The empirical shows that the simple mechanism of rational choice is a poor guide to reality.

One caveat needs to be added to this analysis. People’s views on what is just and fair, and on how the government should intervene in market outcomes, are of course shaped (but not fully conditioned) by their socialization in a political system.

Hence, the institutions that redistribute income — primarily the tax system and social security institutions — will influence voters’ views on redistribution and can often generate their own legitimacy through performance. The direction of causality is therefore open to debate, and it may well run in both ways.

In Easton’s (1965) terminology, the output of a political system is evaluated by the population and, through a feedback loop, influences the input that feeds into the system through elections or other forms of political participation. The central argument made in this paper is that, when analysing inputs into the system, observing and measuring what people want is a better guide to reality than simply deducting what they want on the basis of assumptions about their rational utility maximisation.

The failure of voters to demand sharp tax increases for the top 1 per cent of income earners who control almost a quarter of incomes (Atkinson et al. 2011) could be pinned down to plain ‘irrationality’, but historical explanations are richer and more useful to understand why Americans are so adverse to government redistribution (see eg Lipset and Marks 2001).

Having established that beliefs in fairness matter, behavioural economics has broadened the perspective of economics to include such considerations.

The historical evolution of wealth and income inequality in Latin America is a case in point. The lack of welfare states in the region needs a complex explanation and is certainly not due to lack of public support for redistribution. Opinion survey data from Latin America, in fact, show overwhelming support for reducing income inequality, but the historical legacy and wealth concentration mean that inclusive social security institutions are largely absent. However, the upshot is that leaders such as President Lula da Silva in Brazil can ride on public opinion to expand social security schemes like as bolsa familia — and that even conservative opposition parties extend their support to them once they have become popular. Redistribution might not follow automatically where it is most needed to reduce poverty, but democracy opens up space for human agency to affect policy outcomes (Huber et al. 2006).

(The author is an experienced macro-finance and research analyst, Lecturer and Business & Finance Consultant. The views expressed are exclusively his own and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper and the institutions he represents. For comments, send to jbbankingadvice@gmail. com).

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18 NEWS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Corentyne man chops Sharezer Mendonca’s family wife, commits suicide One year later

still await death certificate

L

oss will forever be a part of our existence but the loss of a child will never feel normal. The loss of a child has the innate ability to wear down even the strongest of person to the point of no return. Losing your child under suspicious circumstances only increases that burden to do right by them.

For the past year, Shazella Mendonca has been fighting tooth and nail to get justice for her baby.

However, it seems that the obstacles are never-ending in her quest for justice.

The hardest goodbye is the one that was never said or heard, but what can be more devastating is not being able to bring your perpetrator to justice.

Hearing Shazella Mendonca speak about that unbearable loss is enough to reduce one to tears. The

mother speaks with an emptiness that only the presence of her six-yearold child can fill. The emptiness is growing with every tick of the clock and not a moment goes by without her remembering her Sharezer.

Sharezer died at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) on January 24, 2019, after the injection was administered intravenously instead of intrathecal administration.

Sharezer and two other children were injected intravenously, causing them to become paralysed, which then led to multiple organ failures and their subsequent deaths.

The drugs, Vincristine and Methotrexate, formed part of the children’s pre-chemotherapy treatment. A probe by the hospital found that malprac-

tice resulted in the deaths of Sharezer, seven-yearold Corwin Edwards and three-yearold Roshini Seegobin.

S i n c e her daughter’s death, Shazella has been trying to find some closure because of the way in which her daughter died.

Although she has two other children, Mendonca still feels that emptiness because Sharezer was her first and precious little girl.

Death certificate

Now, one year after her the death of her baby girl, Mendonca is still to receive critical documentation from the GPHC. The still grieving mother is yet to receive her baby’s death certificate from the institution that is reportedly the cause of her loss.

“We haven’t up to now received death certificate up to now and Friday was one year since Sharezer’s death and there is nothing up to now,” the grieving mother said in an interview with Guyana Times.

She said she is becoming increasingly frustrated with the GPHC and the Guyana Medical Council, which is supposedly investigating the circumstances surrounding the six-yearold’s death.

Sanctions

“Guyana’s Medical Council and the Ministry of Health has been silent on the possible sanctions for those involved.

There really is no justice in Guyana. The system continues to frustrate us.

I haven’t received any information from the hospital like in months. I haven’t heard anything from them. It been a while,” she explained.

In December last, Chairman of the Medical Council of Guyana, Dr Navindranauth Rambaran said that hearings on the deaths of the three children will start in January 2020 before the Council’s Disciplinary Committee.

He added that after the hearings are concluded, the Council will decide on the way forward based on the recommendations put forward by the disciplinary committee. However, calls to get an update on this proved futile.

Since the incidents, parents and other activists have been calling for the suspension of medical licenses of those doctors responsible for the deaths of Edwards on January 14,

Injured: Nalicia Ragoonauth

A

Sharezer Mendonca

Seegobin on January 18 and Mendonca on January 24.

The GPHC and the Public Health Ministry had launched separate investigations, which found that the medication was incorrectly administered. In addition, the investigation found that the medical personnel did not follow the established protocol in administering the drug.

In March last year, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) of Guyana, Dr Karen GordonCampbell, told the media that the doctors who treated the trio for suspected leukaemia administered the drug intravenously instead of intrathecal administration – which means that the drug was supposed to be injected into the spinal canal of the children.

Based on the findings, the incorrect administration led to a series of adverse reactions and the untimely deaths of the children.

Dr Gordon-Campbell had indicated that the three medical personnel involved in the matters were aware that they had broken protocol but not at the initial stage of administering the medicinal drugs to those patients.

Following the deaths, Chairperson of the GPHC Board of Directors, Kesaundra Alves had told the media that human deficiencies and systemic challenges contributed to the demise of those three children.

Ever since her death, Sharezer’s mother has been running from pillar to post to get answers and to date, she continues to run around. She has noted that no matter how frustrating the process gets, she will go to great lengths to have justice served, not only for her daughter but for the others who died as a result of the malpractice of the health personnel at that time.

Nevertheless, she said she will continue fighting the fight to get justice.

nother woman has been chopped by her husband in an attempt to kill her while the husband was found dead in their Berbice home on Saturday.

Dead is 27-yearold Ganesh Narine of Lot 426 Bush Lot Village, Corentyne, while his wife, Nalicia Ragoonauth, is a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital after undergoing emergency surgery.

Only on Thursday an East Coast Demerara man slit his wife’s throat with a kitchen knife before attempting suicide but was apprehended by Police.

However, on the Corentyne on Saturday, Narine did not attempt to flee.

Reports are that shortly after midnight, Narine and his wife were heard arguing at their home shortly after returning from a birthday party at a neighbour’s house.

During the argument, Narine reportedly threatened to kill Ragoonauth. The couple’s eight-year-old daughter

rushed for help after she was awakened by a loud sound and then saw her mother exiting her bedroom covered in blood. Her father was seen with a cutlass in pursuit.

As the child ran for help, the injured woman rushed out of the house and onto the street where she collapsed.

Meanwhile, her brother, Bheem Ragoonath, said he was still at the birthday party when he was alerted about the incident.

“When I reach I see a helpless body on the ground covered in blood and then when I watch I see that is my sister,” the man related. He said she was rushed to the Port Mourant Public Hospital and subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where she remains a patient.

Ragoonauth suffered injuries to both wrists, forearms and neck.

Meanwhile, Police went to the home, where they found Narine dead. The body was cut down from the ceiling and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

FROM PAGE 8

Govt cancels $9000 per...

“It is very sad to know that a child who has lost her mother, her father is in prison and through the benevolence of the Guyanese donors and the Humanitarian Mission we are trying to assist people like Hailey and many other families in that [situation] and the Government is doing something like this,” Sugrim added.

Shock

M e a n w h i l e , Region Six Chairman David Armogan has expressed shock at the development and has promised to intervene.

On March 31, 2019, the child’s mother, Omwattie “Anjalie” Gill, of Lot 33 Williamsburg, East Berbice Corentyne, was allegedly stabbed to death on her way to work by her former lover.

The 20-year-old mother had two weeks prior walked away from an abusive relationship.

However, on that day she was ambushed and attacked by her partner. She was reportedly first knocked down

by the vehicle being driven by her husband, sending her flying several feet away. The man then exited the vehicle and allegedly began stabbing the woman until she was motionless.

Four days later, 31-yearold Gavin Gill was charged with the murder of his wife.

The matter is currently engaging the attention of the court. (Andrew Carmichael)

Dead: Omwattie “Anjalie” Gill and her husband, Gavin Gill, who is on remand for allegedly killing his wife

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NEWS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

6000 acres rice lost in Region 6 owing to lack of water

S

ix thousand acres of rice has been lost in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) as a result of a lack of water. That is according to Regional Vice Chairman Dennis Deoroop.

The loss occurred on the Corentyne between Number 52 and 74 Villages.

Rice farmers in the region have for weeks been calling on the regional administration to utilise the full capacity of the five pumps at Black Bush Polder and the two at Manarbisi. However, the regional administration said that there was insufficient fuel at the pump stations in Black Bush Polder for all five pumps to be operational.

According to the Vice Chairman, more rice might be lost if the necessary arrangements are not put in place immediately.

Only last week rice farmers in the region went to the office of the Regional Democratic Council in New Amsterdam to demonstrate the plight they are going through to have irrigation water for the rice.

Over 60,000 acres are under rice cultivation in the region.

Some of the rice farmers outside of the Region Six Administrative building on Tuesday last

Inadequate fuel The pumps should have started on November 1, 2019, but because of a delay in carrying out the necessary repairs and the lack of adequate

tions are.

He said that they are also being frustrated by the actions of the Superintendent of Works, who is at Whim, who he said does not understand Rice fields in urgent need of water

effort the maximise time in an attempt to save the rice crop “The Superintendent of Works told me that he will only give one drum of fuel to each machine every two days and he will not give any more fuel.”

The Vice Chairman explained that in order to get the extra hours, each machine would need about two drums of fuel over a three-day peri-

Threat

Over 20,000 acres are under threat in the front lands and according to the President of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) Leaka Rambrich, there will be more in a few days if the situation is not rectified immediately.

Rambrich said the relevant authorities must take the necessary steps urgently to ensure that water is available to farmers.

“Presently at Black Bush Polder there are only two pumps working and the two pumps are insufficient to serve 42,000 acres of land; Black Bush Polder and the front lands adjacent to Black Bush Polder catchment area.

We have five pumps there.

I don’t know why they are not starting the remainder pumps. We can’t say if fuel is the problem, this is what the authorities need to let us know,” Rambrich said.

In the 52/74 area where in excess of 14,000 acres are under rice cultivation, about 40 per cent is under threat, Rambrich claimed.

According to the RPA President, the entire cultivation is getting red because of the lease water entering rice fields. He noted that the canals need to be flushed but there is no water coming into the system to do so.

It has been reported that only one pump has been in operation at 52/74.

One farmer, Uric Matterson, who cultivates land at Cromarty on the Corentyne, said that the pumps at Black Bush Polder do not operate at nights.

The pumps are expected to operate on a 24-hour basis.

With only a percentage of the pumps being put into operation and for only a part of the day, the rice farmers situated further away from the pumps will not be able to get needed water.

fuel, this was not done.

The regional administration claimed that it had been experiencing difficulty in taking fuel to the pumps.

However, when the pumps were put into operation, the full capacity was not utilised.

After there was no fuel for the pumps and there was no money available to purchase, the Government gave $20 million to purchase fuel in December. It was only last week that the first shipment of fuel went to the pump at Black Bush Polder.

“Dilly-dallying”

AccordingtoRiceProducers Association Extension Officer Ramlakan Singh, who is himself a rice farmer, the “dilly-dallying” resulted in many of the canals they depend on for irrigation water drying up.

“We don’t know if we will be able to save the crop, but at present, over 14,000 acres are cultivated and the farmers badly need water. The water only come up to Number 56 Village from Manarbisi and from Number 55 Village to Number 52, no water in all the canals. From Number 70 Village there is no water in the 71, 72, 73 and 74 Village canals because the pump is only working in the day.

Dennis Deoroop in an invited comment explained that the crop started late because of irrigation water and the fact that the Superintendent of Works has not been following instructions.

Deoroop explained that a contract was awarded more than six weeks ago to transport fuel to the pumps and the fuel is yet to get to the two locations where the pump sta-

the system and has not been taking instructions.

That, he said, is creating difficulty for them to manage the system.

According to Deoroop, the Superintendent of Works told him that he was not going to have five pumps operating because the available fuel was only sufficient for two pumps.

“There is a need to get the fuel into the pumps and to get all of the pumps operating,” Deoroop noted.

“I see what is happening as a deliberate act. I have seen that two or three weeks this is being intensified with the Superintendent [of] Works refusing on many occasions to carry out instructions.”

Deoroop related that he spoke with the person who has been contracted to transport the fuel to the pump stations who claims that officials have been refusing to accompany him to take the fuel in.

Under the arrangement with the contractor, officials from the regional administration must accompany the trucks taking fuel to the pump stations.

“I am seeing it now as a deliberate attempt to frustrate the farmers and to create a crisis situation on the ground. We have had the excavators moving into certain areas in order to ease the existing situation in order to assist the farmers operating in the front lands. We worked out an arrangement with the excavator operators where they start working very early in the morning and go up to 22:00h which would give them about 12 or 13-hours machine operation.”

This arrangement, Deoroop said, was in an

od.

Deoroop related that recently at Port Mourant, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority sent one of its excavators into that community to assist. The farmers had agreed to pay for the transportation of the excavator to the location and after one and a half week it had done no work because fuel was not supplied.

“The Superintendent of Works refused [to] supply fuel for the machine.”

The farmers then made an offer to supply the fuel for the machine themselves but that offer was rejected.

Meanwhile, a delegation of farmers met with the Regional Executive Officer William-Stevens on Tuesday last to address the issue. (Andrew Carmichael)

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

Jersey Cricket Club awards…

Player, patrons get lifetime ban for assaulting official Guyanese enjoying overseas success in GSCL triple crown

T

Referees

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has imposed an immediate lifetime ban on Kelvin Moore of the North East La Penitence football team, and his brothers Kevin and Calvin Moore have also been banned from all football venues.

These brothers have all been found guilty of assaulting match referee Errol Squires during the Adoni Productionsorganized GT Beer “Keep Your Five Alive” Indoor Football Tournament, held at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue over the period October 17/November 9, 2019.

These measures are among a raft of recommendations made following an internal investigation of the incident.

While this matter is engaging the attention of law enforcement officers, the organizers of ‘Adoni Productions’ have been requested to assist Mr. Squires in defraying a substantial part of his medical expense for treatment for injuries sustained during this assault.

The following are among the other recommendations made: (1) That one of the conditions for the approval of any tournament by the GFF is that the promoter/ organizer MUST undertake to provide close security for match officials as far as is practically possible throughout their presence at the venue, and for their safe exit of same.

(2) That promoters/organizers MUST undertake to provide adequate securi-

ty personnel to prevent intruders from making unauthorized entry into the playing area.

(3) That promoters/organizers be required to lodge a financial security deposit with the GFF, which can be used to offset any unanticipated expense, inclusive of, but not limited to, contributing to any medical bills for persons injured through negligence of the promoter/ organizer in providing conditions required to guard against such; and/or (4) That promoters/organizers be required to provide temporary insurance coverage for players and match officials for the period immediately preceding, during, and immediately after play on match day.

Awardees of the Jersey Cricket Club

D

uring the past week, Jersey Cricket Club hosted their annual award ceremony in New Jersey, United States of America. The cricket club had a fruitful 2019 season, claiming championship wins in the Garden State Cricket League Division Two 40 over Division, the Garden State Cricket League Division 2 Knockouts, and the Garden State Cricket League Division Two T20.

The award of “best batsman for 2019” was given to Vishwanath Rampaul, brother of former West Indies seamer Ravi Rampaul.

Devendra Narain was awarded the “cricketer of the year”, the “best 40-over bowler”, the “MVP in the 40 overs and T20” and the “man of the final” in the 40-over tournament. Sean Stanislaus was awarded “best T20 batsman”, Randy Budhu was awarded “best fielder”, and Kumar Joseph was awarded “man of the final” in the T20 final.

The “most improved cricketer” award was given to Tarun Mandem, and the award for “commitment” went to Subie Harrypersaud.

Mohendra Khuball bagged the most wickets and had the best average for the 40 overs division stage.

Captain Richie Ramsuchit is a former Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC)

off-spinner, and vice-captain Avinash Ramsuchit is a former softball cricketer from Rose Hall Town, who learnt hardball cricket at Jersey City Cricket Club. Devendra Narain started his cricket at D’Edward Village Cricket Club before playing for Blairmont and for Guyana U-17.

Randy Budhu is a 16-year-old who hails from New Amsterdam. He started playing cricket with Jersey City only last year, and emerged as “the best fielder”, taking 10 out of 12 catches in the outfield.

Shailendra Shameer who played T20 is a former Guyana Under-19 player.

Mohendra Khublall, a former Number 45 Village Cricket Club player from Berbice, has represented three different regions in the USA Cricket Association National Championships.

Former RHTY&SC member Monish Singh is a member of the US club, Kumar Joseph is a former RHTY&SC U-19 cricketer who also played regional cricket for New York U-23.

This club has been around for 30 years, and this is the second triple crown championship it has won. The last one was won in 2012, when Jersey Cricket Club had copped 11 awards.

CWI must stick to commitment to share Windies cricket around region – Grave C

ricket West Indies Chief Executive, Johnny Grave, has insisted that the CWI board would look to continue its objective of spreading the sport across regional venues.

Insularity and some amount of bias have often been charges levelled at those who select which grounds will be picked to host international cricket on various West Indies tours.

International grounds in bigger countries have often been given the nod, but Grave insists this might not be the case in the future.

“The highest crowds we experienced in this series was in Grenada. Grenada didn’t have cricket between 2015 and 2019, and I think it is important we spread cricket around our international grounds,” Grave has said.

“I think we need to do far more as an organization to promote and market, to make sure all the cricket fans, and even the non-cricket fans, know that the West Indies team is coming to their country to play,” he added.

“I hope everyone understands that policy, and we do our best to spread cricket around the region.”

With exception of Barbados, the West

Cricket West Indies Chief Executive Officer Johnny Grave

Indies’ first tour of the new year -- against Ireland -- was played in Grenada and St Kitts. The New Zealand tour in July will be hosted in Antigua, Dominica, and Guyana, with Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia and Jamaica missing out. (sportsmax)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

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Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden Zone tournament…

High rollers begin on a high! …Silver Bullets, Presidential, Swag Entertainment also bag wins

D

efending champions in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden Zone tournament, the youthful High Rollers, stormed their way into the quarterfinal round of play when they defeated NK Ballers 1-nil on Friday evening at the Silver City Tarmac in the opening round of this tournament’s 2020 season.

Futsal giants Silver Bullets, Swag Entertainment and Presidential also recorded similar performances in the opening round. Silver Bullets demolished Haynes Hitters 4-2; Presidential registered a win over Elite Ballers by a similar margin; and Swag Entertainment sent a stern warning to the field by brushing aside Barsenal 5-1.

In other opening night results, Retrieve Unknowns

final night of the event, and will be held before the thirdplace playoff.”

The quarterfinal round of matches was underway up to press time.

The other playing nights for the tournament are February 7th [semi-final round] and February 8th [Final]. The Berbice Zonal tournament is slated to commence upon conclusion of this Linden

Complete Results Part of the action on opening night of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Linden Championship between Presidential and Elite Ballers at the Silver City Hard Court

defeated Quiet Storm 1-0 on penalty kicks, after their game ended 0-0 in regulation time; and Amelia’s Ward Russians edged Capital Storm 3-2 on

Alexander “Alex” Bunbury making waves in sports through ABSAA

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Guyana-born Canadian football legend Alex Bunbury and team ABSAA showing appreciation to The Outdoor Store and Pet Shop for their unwavering support

A

lexander “Alex” Bunbury, who was born on June 18, 1967 in the East Coast Demerara village of Plaisance in Guyana, is a retired Canadian soccer player who used to play as a striker. Now retired, this footballer has not forgotten his proverbial roots, and constantly seeks to impact sports in Guyana through the organization which he has founded, the ‘Alex Bunbury Sports and Academics Academy’ (ABSAA).

Bunbury aims to launch the ABSAA-GUYANA Project, which would be a step higher than the current non-profit organization which he heads, and hopes to build and manage a multi-million-US dollar, ecofriendly, state-of-the-art sports, academics and resort facility in Guyana.

The US$100 million multipurpose facility he has in mind would be built on the Ituni road, about 15 minutes’ drive from Linden, and would be the flagship facility for the other regions, with satellites mirroring it.

Bunbury has been collaborating with other Guyanese investors who share the conviction that this facility can propel Guyana into the 21st century in terms of sports, and be beneficial to Guyanese citizens as it would also create thousands of well-paying jobs.

Bunbury explained that

US$3 million would be used as life insurance, so if anything goes wrong, the Government would be repaid by the insurance.

The investors also plan to repay all money borrowed within a 24-month period, and no taxpayers’ money would be used, as this project is fully funded and ready to go. Once approved, it can be completed in 18-22 months.

Bunbury played football mainly for Marítimo in Portugal during a 13-year professional career, and for the Canadian national team for 11 years.

Bunbury played in all three of Canada’s games at the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Soviet Union. He made his debut with the senior side in an August 1986 Merlion Cup match against Singapore, and went on to earn 65 caps and score 16 goals during 11 years.

Ranked fourth in the AllTime Scorers List in June 2008, and eighth in appearances representing the nation in 30 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Bunbury had also participated in the inaugural 1989 FIFA Futsal World Championship.

Bunbury’s final international appearance was in a November 1997 World Cup qualification match against Costa Rica, a game in which Paul Dolan, Geoff Aunger, Frank Yallop and Colin Miller also said farewell to the national team.

sudden death penalty kicks following a scoreless regulation time interval. Further, last year’s losing finalist, Amazings, defeated Dave & Celina’s via the walkover route.

Events coordinator Rawle Gittens declared, “The opening night illustrated the enthusiasm and excitement surrounding the tournament, as the fans -- who descended on the venue in the traditional large numbers -- were treated to quality and exciting action, which is certainly only going to improve as the tournament progresses.”

He explained: “With the tournament only being four days in duration, everyone was required to compete on the opening night, as the tournament is being contested

Game 1

Retrieve Unknowns: nil, vs Quiet Storm: nil Quiet Storm won 1-0 on penalty kicks

Game 2

Presidential: 4, vs Elite Ballers: 2

Game 3

Dave & Celina’s vs Amazings: Amazings won via walko ver

utilizing an elimination format.

The eventual winners will progress to the quarterfinal section, with the losers advancing to the Plate Exhibition Round. The winning teams from the quarterfinals will then advance to the semifinals, while the four losing quarterfinalists will also enter the Plate Round. The Plate Round will conclude on the

Game 4

High Rollers: 1, vs NK Ballers: nil

Game 5

Amelia’s Ward Russians: nil, vs Capital Storm: nil Amelia’s Ward Russians won 3-2 on sudden death penalty kicks

Game 6

Swag Entertainment: 5, vs Barsenal: 1

Game 7

Silver Bullets: 4, vs Haynes Hitters: 2

tournament.

Winners of this event will collect $400,000 and the championship trophy, while the runner-up team will pocket $150,000 and the respective accolade. Third- and fourthplace finishers would receive $100,000 and $75,000 respectively, together with a trophy.

BCB/Lewison General Store Under-15 Tournament…

Blairmont Blazers topple Paradise in one-sided affair

T

he Blairmont Blazers Cricket Club have followed up a stellar performance against Achievers Cricket Club by defeating the Paradise Cricket Club in another onesided affair played at the Blairmont Cricket Ground.

Batting first, Blairmont posted 217 all out in 49 overs -- a total

less than the 289 scored in round one of this competition, but it proved challenging for a weak Paradise side.

In-form opening batsman Romeo Deonarain scored an impressive 40, which was supported

by Arun Jaikarran’s 37

and 20 from the tournament’s only centurion, Rasaad Gaffur.

Bowling for Paradise, R. McDonald returned figures of 2-34.

Needing 218 for victory off 300 balls, Paradise lost a cluster of wickets and were unable to forge a solid p a r t n e rs h i p .

Deonarain, who starred with the bat, returned bowling figures of 5-35.

He maintained a disciplined line and length, and pitched the ball in the right areas.

Sajaad Ishmeal, also, was economical with the ball, returning figures of 3-13.

The only Paradise batsman to offer resistance was Daniel Ramotar, who Arun Jaikarran, Sajaad Ishmeal made 36. and Romeo Deonarain

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COMOM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

National Junior Table Tennis Championships…

Persaud, Burrowes, Baksh through to knockout stage

By Timothy Jaikarran

knockout stages.

he National Junior Table Tennis Championships commenced at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Friday, January 24, with several exciting encounters scheduled.

This highly anticipated event saw various young athletes battling in the Novices and Intermediate categories on the first night of competition, in

Boys Novices The first encounter featured Yuteshwar Persaud and Osaye Emmanuel. This contest was easily won by Persaud, who returned scores of 1110, 11-9 and 11-6. He then won his third-round match against Marayana Bostwick 11-8, 11-10

T

which play began at 16:00hrs with all players seemingly poised and ready for action.

The first category of play was the Novices Boys 1st stage, in which there were two groups in this category with a total of four players per group.

According to the rules, after the first stage, the top two players from each group would advance to the

and 11-8. Persaud’s final match, against Narayan Goodridge, saw him losing the first game (12-11), but bouncing back to win the last three matches 11-8, 11-7 and 11-7.

In the end, Persaud topped group one to advance to the knockout stage.

Second place was more technical in nature, as

the remaining three players in the group: Osaye Emmanuel, Marayana Bostwick and Narayan Goodridge, each ended on four points at the end of play, each having won two matches and lost one.

This meant the ratio of the number of points won to points lost had to be calculated, and the player with the better ratio ranked higher.

Goodridge was thus ranked second in his group with a ratio score of 133. Bostwick had 125, and Emmanuel 33.33.

In Group 2, Muhammad Baksh and Dominic Sandy qualified for their group. Baksh made light work of Sandy, defeating him 11-6, 11-6, 11-3; Shane Razack 11-6, 11-5, 11-6; and Jelani Jones 111, 1-0, 11-2).

Sandy defeated Razak (11-11, 11-5, 11-5) and Jones (11-8, 11-3, 11-3).

Heading into the knockout stages, Yuteshwar Persaud was pitted against Diminic Sandy and Narayan Goodridge against Muhammad Baksh.

Intermediate Girls This section of the competition saw two groups divided into a total of 7 persons, with three in Group One and four in Group Two. Topping Group One was Samirah Burrowes, who defeated Maria Da Silva 11-6, 11-4, 11-3; and Shamy Lynch 11-2, 11-4, 11-3.

Da Silva settled for second, defeating Lynch 2-11, 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5.

In Group Two, Surah Burrowes and Isasha Harry emerged victors. Burrowes defeated Harry 10-0, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5; Akeira Fowler 11-8, 11-8, 112, and Laetitia Garner 11-5, 11-5, 11-6. The second placed Fowler defeated Harry 11-6, 11-8, 11-0; and Garner 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-10.

In the knockout stages, Samirah Burrowes will be going against Akeira Fowler and Maria DaSilva will be going against Surah Burrowes.

Georgetown Cricket Club 2019 Annual Awards Ceremony…

Athletes in cricket, hockey honoured for performances

…Indian High Commissioner calls for partnerships

T

he Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) hosted an impressive Annual Awards Ceremony on Friday evening at its premises at the Bourda Cricket Ground in Georgetown, to recognize its athletes who had registered outstanding performances in 2019.

This auspicious activity was attended by members of its very active cricket and hockey clubs, and was graced by the presence of His Excellency Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, High Commissioner of India to Guyana.

Club President Timothy Tucker spoke of the lengths to which the club’s executives had gone in order to ensure that the club’s athletes can train and perform in a Grade ‘A’ environment.

He gave details of an insurance arrangement that the club had entered into that would guarantee athletes receive medical attention if they are injured while representing the club. “…the club is also concerned about the wellbeing of our players, and, as such, we have procured an accident and injury insurance policy for all our players. So, when you go out and you represent GCC and you get injured, there’s a policy to take care of you,” Tucker disclosed.

The club president also urged and encouraged the athletes to be great

ambassadors of the club at all times.

“We encourage you to continue to give back to your club, where you would have learnt and established the love for your sport. But it’s not just the love for your sport that makes you excel; excelling as a cricketer or a hockey player requires discipline on and off the field, and commitment to your sport,” Tucker stated.

Collaboration Indian High Commissioner Dr Srinivasa, in remarks, spoke about Guyana’s rich cricketing history being similar to that of India’s.

For this reason, he urged, stronger ties should be established between the two countries in direct relation to the ‘gentleman’s game’. “…but today there is need for grooming young talent, and we want to put together this proposal to the West Indies Cricket Board: let’s see how best we can collaborate; and even here in Georgetown, at this particular ground that has a rich history.

“Anything that we can do from the Indian side, we would be happy to collaborate, and let’s see where it will take us together to greater heights,” the Indian High Commissioner detailed.

President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), K.A.

Juman-Yassin, who delivered the feature address of the night, urged athletes to strive for balance in their sporting and academic lives, and advised them to avoid letting stress affect their performances.

At the end of the night, 14-year-old cricketer Mavindra Dindyal was probably the most

decorated athlete. Following an outstanding 2019, Dindyal was recognized as “the best under-15 and under-17/19 player: for making the Guyana and West Indies teams, and for being among the most promising juniors at the club.

Tw e n t y- o n e - ye a r- o l d cricketer Ronaldo Alimohamed,

who recently became a part of the Guyana Jaguars 50-Over and One Day International squads, was recognized for these achievements and was declared the best all-rounder in the 1st and 2nd division squads.

Guyana Jaguars Captain Leon Johnson was recognized as the best 2nd division batsman

and the most successful national team captain.

Among the hockey athletes, Marzana Fiedtkou, Dominique DeGroot, Abosaide Cadogan, Kareem McKenzie and Meshach Sargeant were awarded for being the best performing players in their age categories.

(Jemima Holmes)

Cricket Awardees U-13

Fyad Mohammed Omari Cummings Yusuf Hack Alex Balgobin Promising Junior Wicket Keeper Shaahid Vieira

U-15

Mavindra Dindyal: Best Batsman Johnoton Sooklall: Best Bowler Thaddeus Lovell: Best All-Rounder Zachary Jodah: Best Fielder

U-19/U-17

Mavindra Dindyal: Best Batsman Darrius Andrews: Best Bowler Zachary Jodah: Best AllRounder Mavindra Dindial: Best Fielder

First Division

Leon Johnson: Best Batsman Stephon Wilson: Best Bowler Ronaldo Mohammed: Best AllRounder Bernard Bailey: Best Fielder

Second Division

Winston Forrester: Best Batsman Stephon Wilson: Best Bowler Ronaldo Mohammed: Best AllRounder Bernard Bailey: Best Fielder

Emerging players

Seniors Ronaldo Mohammed Stephon Wilson Juniors Mavindra Dindyal Zachary Jodah Taddeious Lovell Darrius Andrews Arian Persaud Ravildo Philips Krsna Singh Joash Charles Dominic Roberts Jonathan Sookhlall

Special Awards

Leon Johnson: Most Successful Guyana Senior Captain Ronaldo Mohammed: Making the

Guyana Senior Side Zachary Jodah: Making and Captaining the Guyana U-15 Team Mavindra Dindyal: Making the Guyana U-15, U-17 and WI U-15 Team Thaddeus Lovell: Making the Guyana U-15 Team Krsna Singh: Making the Guyana U-15-Team

Hockey Awardees

Abosaide Cadogan: Female Most Promising Player Meshach Sargeant: Male Most Promising Player Makeda Harding: Female Best Junior Player Kareem Mckenzie: Male Best Junior Player Marzana Fiedtkou: Female Most Valuable Player Kevin Spencer: Male Most Valuable Player Dominique De Groot: Female Outstanding Contributor on and off the Field Dwayne Scott: Male Outstanding Contributor on and off the Field

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

23

CWI PCL 4-Day Championships…

Jaguars scenting sweet victory heading into final day ꟷ Permaul grabs 500th first-class wicket Story and Photos By Brandon Corlette

F

ive-time defending champions in the Regional 4-Day Tournament, Guyana Jaguars, are scenting a victory in the third-round clash against arch rivals Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the National Stadium, Providence.

Having been set a target of 403 runs by the Jaguars, the Red Force visitors were reeling at 122-6 at stumps on the third day, requiring another 281 runs for an improbable victory.

The third day was action-packed, although just under 50 spectators had turned up to observe the proceedings, in the process witnessing heated banters between Jason Mohammed and Guyana Jaguars players, and Veerasammy Permaul taking his 500 First-Class wicket.

Resuming the day on 53-0 with a lead of 278 runs, Jaguars lost Tagenarine Chanderpaul for 33 when

the score was at 65-1.

Chanderpaul was trapped in front by the impressive off-spinner Bryan Charles after batting for 92 minutes, during which he faced 98 deliveries and hit five fours.

After that 65-run opening partnership, Chandrapaul Hemraj and Leon Johnson carried on in cautious fashion. Hemraj looked on point playing his strokes, and soon reached his second fifty of the season in the process.

The left-hander, however, had his stumps destroyed by part-time medium pacer Darren Bravo, after scoring 54 from 92 balls. Hemraj’s innings spanned 142 minutes and was decorated with five sweet boundaries.

Captain Johnson continued his patchy form, and was the next wicket to fall, when the score was at 1153. He scored a painstaking 15 from 54 balls, after batting for 77 minutes and hitting one streaky boundary.

Christopher Barnwell and Vishal Singh saw the Jaguars to lunch on 136-3,

at that stage enjoying a lead of 361 runs. Singh was unbeaten on 14 while Barnwell was on 15.

At the resumption of play after the lunch interval, Red Force spinner Kjorn Ottley picked up two wickets in four balls. He sent back Barnwell for a 44ball 21 which spanned 97 minutes, and ended a 44run partnership with Singh.

Anthony Bramble, who top-scored in the first innings with 91, had a brief stay at the crease before falling for a second ball duck to the same Ottley.

Jaguars were at that stage reduced to 159-5, but Kevin Sinclair and Singh added 18 runs to take the score to 177-5, when Jaguars declared with a lead of 402 runs.

Ottley had 2-8 in five overs, while Charles buttressed his five-wicket haul in the first innings with 2-58 in 22 top overs.

In the Red Force second innings, as they pursued 403 runs for victory, Keon Joseph got two early break-

throughs before tea when he removed Keagan Simmons caught behind for a duck, then rocked Bravo’s stumps for two.

At the Tea interval, Red Force were 18-2, with Jeremy Solozano and Jason Mohammed settling the nerves and battling it out on a pitch whereon things kept low. The duo added 62 runs together, but Solozano’s survival knock came to an end when he was trapped in front by Sinclair at 67-3. He departed for a 72-ball 34, but Joshua Da Silva (08), who showed signs of aggression, fell at 71-4 to give Veerasammy Permaul his 500th First Class wicket.

Yannic Cariah and Kjorn Ottley added 35 runs together, but late in the day, Devendra Bishoo got a much-needed wicket when he dismissed Cariah, trapped at the crease with the score at 117-6.

Red Force crept to 1226 in 46 overs, at stumps requiring another 281 runs with only four wickets in hand. Ottley is on 13, while

SCOREBOARD

Jaguars 1st Innings 323 all out Red Force 1st Innings 98 all out Jaguars 2nd Innings 177-5 dec Tagenarine Chanderpaul lbw b Charles 33 Chanderpaul Hemraj b Bravo 54 Leon Johnson lbw b Charles

15 Vishaul Singh not out 37 Christopher Barnwell c Da Silva b Ottley 21 Anthony Bramble b Ottley 0 Kevin Sinclair not out 12 Total (5 wickets, 64.0) (5 extras) 177 Fall of Wickets 65/1 (25.5) Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 103/2 (38.4) Chanderpaul Hemraj, 115/3 (43.1) Leon Johnson, 158/4 (57.2) Christopher Barnwell, 158/5 (57.4) Anthony Bramble Bowling Terrance Hinds (13-1-43) Akeal Hosein is on five.

Joseph ended the day with 2-15 in six overs, while Permaul had 2-27 in 14 overs. Sinclair and Bishoo

Odean Smith (2-0-2-0) Akeal Hosein (12-2-35-0) Bryan Charles (22-2-57-2) Darren Bravo (9-0-24-1) Yannick Ottley (5-1-8-2) Jeremy Solozano (1-0-5-0) Red Force 2nd Innings 122-6 (403 target) Jeremy Solozano lbw b Sinclair 34 Keagan Simmons c Bramble b Joseph 0 Darren Bravo b Joseph 2 Jason Mohammed b Permaul 33 Joshua Da Silva c Johnson b Permaul 8 Yannic Cariah lbw b Bishoo 27 Yannick Ottley 13 not out Akeal Hosein 5 not out Total (6 wickets, 46.0) (0 extras) 122 Keon Joseph 6-1-15-2 Nial Smith 9.0-1-30-0 Kevin Sinclair 12.0-4-41-1 Veerasammy Permaul 14.0-627-2 Devendra Bishoo 5.0-1-9-1 have each captured one wicket thus far.

The final day’s play will commence from 9:30h local time.

Turbo Knockout Football Tournament…

By Jemima Holmes

W

henever the names of longstanding and consistent football clubs in the capital city of Georgetown are mentioned, the names Fruta Conquerors and Georgetown Football Club (GFC) always come to mind. As such, encounters between these two clubs should be a regular occurrence.

But since the GFA has not been in constant operation for some years, a clash between these two powerhouse Georgetown teams would surely be a sight to behold. And it is happening tonight!

Two of the most popular football teams in Georgetown will collide this evening at the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue, as they vie for top honours in the Turbo Knockout Football competition.

In this particular meeting, much more than a first prize is at stake. Although it will not be the senior Fruta Conquerors team on the pitch, the Under 20 squad has been dominating the scene in recent times, and is a worthy rival of the newly composed GFC team.

Defeating opponents with respective scores of 5-2 and 2-0 in the semifinal round, GFC and Fruta Conquerors U20 will definitely put on a fast-paced, energetic final mainly because of the strong youth component in both teams.

Needless to say, the Under 20 outfit is currently feeding off the adrenaline of winning the Limacol 2019 tournament. And this was referred to by their Head Coach Wayne St. Jules at a pre-game press conference.

“We’ve already copped the Limacol Tournament, so we’re coming out here to prove that we can do the double. We’re not underrating

GFC, from what I saw, they’ve been playing good football; but we’ll be coming with all guns blazing,” St. Jules has affirmed.

The Georgetown Football Club (GFC) is, however, the team with a point to prove. While GFC has been consistent in its participation, the team has not been able to make it to this stage of any competition in recent times.

For this reason, a win in the Turbo final would be more than just another title for GFC. To the GFC, a victory -- especially over a team of Fruta Conquerors’ calibre -- would signify their complete redemption, and thus the legitimate resumption of their quest to return to the summit of Georgetown football excellence.

Team Coach Dellon Cadogan, while refraining from saying too much, has noted only that his XI would be leaving the talking for the field.

“Sunday’s match is going to be a really great match. I think the victory is going to go to the team that makes the least mistakes; and for some time, we’ve been working on not making mistakes, because there’s no room for that in the final. Let’s leave the talking for the field,” Cadogan suggested.

However, winning will “not come easy” for the GFC, especially against this particular opponent.

Fruta Conquerors U20 team boasts talents like Nicholas Mc Arthur and Ryan Hackett, who have both spent time in the National Senior Men’s team set-up.

Other stars, like Wayne Baker and Joel Yhap, who in all probability currently has the safest pair of hands in the Under 20 division, will make things difficult for GFC. Nevertheless, the GFC is not bereft of its own stars. Forward Kelsey Benjamin is quite experienced, having featured for Guyana on the

Team Captains Nicholas McArthur and Kelsey Benjamin are flanked by their teammates Ryan Hackett and Deon Alfred, GBI’s Raymond Govinda and Petra’s Jackie Boodie

international stage.

Deon Alfred has “made the rounds” in senior football, and possesses a wealth of knowledge on the game. Moreover, he possesses a marksman’s shot at goal.

Goalkeeper Ronnell Mc Lean has been a force to be reckoned with in this tournament.

As such, the odds are even in this fiery encounter, which begins at 21:00hrs at the MoE Ground on Carifesta Avenue. The eventual winner

would walk away with $400,000, while second place settles for $200,000.

The third-place playoff, which begins at 18:30hrs, would involve Pouderoyen FC and 2018 champions Northern Rangers vying for the $100,000 third place prize. The loser will take home $50,000.

The Turbo tournament is sponsored by the Guyana Beverage Inc, and is coordinated by the Petra Organization.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI PCL 4-Day Championships...

Pg 23

Pg 23

Turbo Knockout Football Tournament…

GFC, Fruta U-20 Jaguars scenting sweet hunting glory victory heading into final day in Turbo final ꟷ Permaul grabs 500th first-class wicket

Georgetown Cricket Club 2019 Annual Awards Ceremony…

Pg 22

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Feature

By Utamu Belle

W

hen 42-year-old Lindener Shellon Swaving ventured into the amazing world of teaching 25 years ago, she was unaware at the time that she would be motivated to be steered down the path to becoming actively involved in the lives of children with special needs.

Swaving initially began teaching in 1995 but while she was trying to gain employment in Linden, teaching positions were not opened in the community at the time, which led her to the Victoria Primary School on the East Coast of Demerara that same year.

Swaving recently shared the story of how she found her life’s calling of educating and empowering children with special needs during an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine.

She noted that it was during her first year of teaching that she realised that she was especially drawn to assisting students who had learning disabilities.

“At the time, the children at the school, we would consider them as special needs children – most of them – because it was children who didn’t have a desire to learn. I always wanted to know why...Since then, my desire was always to make an impact in their lives”, she related.

After teaching for about a year at the school, Swaving shared that she was transferred to her hometown Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to attend Teacher’s Training College.

However, this was delayed as she was placed at the Kwakwani Primary along the Berbice River in the same Region.

“I taught another year at Kwakwani and again the experience was completely different, another set of children with not this zeal for education,” she said.

In 1997, when she was placed at the Wismar Hill Primary and started attending college, she began working with students whom she noted were motivated but she was plagued with thoughts about those students which she had left behind.

“It always kept me wondering what I could have done to motivate those children...I tried my best but I did not feel accomplished in terms of getting them to perform the way I wanted them to perform,” she admitted.

After graduating in 1999, she continued working at the Wismar Hill Primary School which contains a unit for the blind. Having seen the struggles of her own blind 10-year-old sister who was taken out of school due to the disability, she was even more motivated to make a difference in the lives of such students. Swaving related that though she was a mainstream teacher at the time, she would always show interest in the unit by attending training workshops, though she was not assigned to unit at the time. Her chance came in 2008 as her efforts were recognised and she was recommended to be placed at the unit. She has not looked back since then.

“I love Special Education. I could have moved on for promotion sake and all of these things but I refuse. I said I would like to stay in Special Education because I would like to see something good coming out of our children”, she noted.

The unit has since transformed into a Centre for Special Needs children. Though she admitted that there are challenges, Swaving said she would not trade her job for anything as she is quite passionate about working with the children.

“Yes, there are challenges and a lot of things we would like to see for them. When we look at overseas compared to Guyana, I would say that we have come a very far way. And now, the Ministry of Education, they’re paving a path for persons in Special Education where you can be promoted and remain where you are and that’s great”, she said.

Swaving is a stickler for inclusive education, which includes Special Education. She noted that her desire was always to assist those who might be considered slow learners. She now has the chance to work with students with different disabilities as the Unit has since expanded from just catering for low vision students as it now caters for children with other disabilities including autism, Down Syndrome as well as children with intellectual, learning and physical disabilities.

On board with her are 2 other teachers and 2 volunteers.

She explained that sometimes it can be very challenging. The Unit is presently in the process of being extended to include a sickbay for the students, compliments of the Education Ministry and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

It has approximately 18 students which also include students from the Wismar Hill Primary. Swaving said her aim is to try to make the classroom a home away from home where the students can feel safe and loved. She referred to her experience as “motherhood in the classroom”, explaining that she would sometimes work beyond the call of duty.

She acknowledged that there is a stigma attached to special needs here in Guyana but urged persons to read and become educated about it.

“This is not like back in the day when my sister went blind and we didn’t know how to deal with her...parents as well as persons in the community should be knowledgeable enough.

These are human beings just like us. It’s difficult sometimes, let’s say a parent might want a taxi to take their child to school. Somebody might say, ‘don’t carry he, he does dribble up’...and so you have this stigma attached to the children...We would really like for persons in the community to see the person before they see the disability”, she urged.

She pointed out too that she would love to have special transportation for the students who attend the Unit, noting that sometimes it is hard financially for parents.

The Unit has had many educational success stories over the years with students performing

exemplary at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations. This is remarkable, Swaving noted as she explained that students sometimes come in not knowing how to write but leave with enhanced learning capabilities.

“They’re moving not at a very fast rate but we’re seeing improvements, a lot. And even the parents can testify”, she said.

For them, simple things such as learning to write and opening their lunch bowls are considered as great steps and achievements.

Her dream is to one day see a levelled playing field being created for persons with disabilities to become more employable.

“It is heart-breaking to know that when they get older they have to depend on maybe a husband to maintain them, they cannot go to work, pay daycare to keep their children. They need to go to work like everybody else and earn a living”, she said.

Swaving also pointed to the need for community groups to give support as she shared stories of the difficulties faced by students, parents and past students who encounter daily lifestyle challenges. She said there is need for community support and love especially for those who now have families of their own. She also pointed to the need for a special agency or channel to lobby on these families behalf as she posited that there is hope.

Swaving stressed that children oftentimes are born with eye defects and may need glasses, but said apart from the Unit writing and requesting free glasses, there is no other link.

“We try to tap in to find out who has an issue. Children need wheelchairs...walkers and we see how things ‘tight’ in Linden. At the hospital, there’s a physio department, but who links physio to the baby that was just born? So we really need that support mechanism...you need a community worker that can identify”, she stated.

Swaving is also involved in the screening of students to determine their abilities and to verify whether they are delayed. She related too that sometimes even parents are frustrated as she highlighted the need for support through counselling for both children and parents in such circumstances. Considered a vulnerable group, she further pointed to the need for counselling.

Swaving added that there is a need for a Special Needs Education specialised programme at the University of Guyana. She said while it is a part of the Curriculum for other subject areas, there is no specialised training available in Linden. She said she has had part-time training in various areas but nothing specialised. Having experienced two vehicular accidents, she noted that she is unable to attend the University as constant travelling is very traumatic for her.

“So if we get Special Education training available to us whether online or whatever, we would be happy to get the same student loans given to persons who attend University and myself and my teachers, we would go for it because we want to be Special Education trained...because when certain cases are brought to us we really don’t know how to deal with it, unless we get Special Education trained”, she noted.

Swaving said if this becomes available for teachers in Special Education there would be more specialists in the area. She cited that criteria to become a specialist require that you have a Degree in Special Education as she noted this is more so necessary since there are more children being born with disabilities.

Following screenings in the Region years ago, Swaving said it was discovered that some persons refused to acknowledge that there were persons with disabilities living within their homes and kept them locked away. She noted that there were also issues such as neglect and heavy financial constraints faced by families, some whom she noted do not receive public assistance.

“If you spend a day in Special Education you would be amazed by what is happening...this is how it is for a number of years and I expect to stay in Special Education “, she posited.

Swaving said over the years she has developed trustworthy relationships with students even into adulthood as she noted that some still pay her visits at the Unit and keep her up to date with various aspects of their lives.

Recently, she got the opportunity of attending a Seventh Day Adventist Special Needs Summit in St Lucia, through which she is working to help persons with disabilities at an educational and religious level.

The Special Needs Teacher is optimistic about the programme being implemented in Guyana which she noted will see such persons becoming much more integrated into society.

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JANUARY 26, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

eaching takes patience and one of the major driving forces behind one’s decision to take up the profession is the mere fact that they love doing it. A teacher who truly loves their job would exude a certain level of passion every time they stand before the classroom.

They make the best use of the very limited resources available to them and they go above and way beyond the call of duty to ensure that those in their care are afforded the best opportunities. They are the substitute for our parents and quite often become our role models because of their level of drive and passion.

A great teacher is one who can be patient even in the most challenging situations. Love for the profession cannot be taught, rather, it is something one has to develop. It makes no sense going before a classroom full of impressionable minds and not love what you are doing.

The love for teaching has been engrained in the being of André Ramon Ramaldo despite the profession not being his first choice— although it could be considered as his first job. Romaldo comes from a long line of successful teachers whose impact and contributions are immeasurable.

Some would say it was destined for him to become a teacher because of the fact that it was the ‘family business’ but for him, it has been a beautiful journey of self-realisation.

It is said that a teacher never stops learning because of the fact that they encounter children from all walks of life with their unique stories.

That, for Romaldo, makes the job all more interesting.

The 29-year-old English teacher hails from the ancient county of Berbice where he received his education.

As we have established before, teachers are quite a few in his family and it meant that emphasis was placed on attaining a quality education. There was no such thing as skipping school or refusing to do homework.

While he said that his childhood was ordinary, it is quite evident that it produced an extraordinary individual.

“My parents and grandfather ensured my siblings and I were educated both academically and spiritually. Going to school was a must, I don't ever remember being kept home from school and church. From a very young age, I was thrust into the world of public speaking. I represented my nursery school, at a science fair and presented my project on wind turbines,” he recounts.

Romaldo would, throughout his school life, represent the various institution in public speaking competitions, thus, instilling in him a level of bravado and love for the art. Those experiences are what he credits as his driving force and the sole reason he is such an outspoken person today.

As a Grade Six student, Romaldo’s interest was piqued when everyone began urging him to become a lawyer since he was so exceptional at public speaking. It went from a casual suggestion to his main goal as he entered into his secondary life. The goal was to become a lawyer and he worked to position himself on the path to accomplishing that. He took comfort in the fact that as a lawyer, he would be equipped to address the needs of those that required his services but most importantly, he would be positioned to help underprivileged children.

“Of course this never happened; instead, in 2011, after a teacher colleague sat me down and talked sense into me, pointing out how well I worked with my students.

Her exact words were 'André you are no lawyer, you are a teacher, and we need you, the students need you'. Around that same time I was reading a biographical account of my great grandfather, the section about his life as an educator and headmaster inspired me to pursue a career in education and teaching.

So, in September of 2011, I commenced training at Cyril Potter College of Education. I originally wanted to get trained as a Social Studies teacher but the Vice Principal at the time talked me into pursuing English. I have always had a knack for teaching others.

Coming from a family of educators, it was in my blood as people would say. I have had good role models growing up. My mother would tell me stories about my grandmother, who was herself a teacher, and how she would take great care to ensure her pupils learn, even if it meant holding their hands as they learned to write. My great aunt, who was a formidable figure during her days as a teacher, always inspired me to be effective and efficient and ‘prepared’. She somehow has set the standard,” he noted.

As you would have figured, Romaldo started teaching when he came out of Secondary School but in addition to teaching, he also mentored youth in the Line Path, Skeldon community. He became involved in Youth Can Move the World, a programme focused on personal and community transformation, and engaged many youths in the process of contributing to the development of their community. So far, he has taught at Tagore Memorial Secondary, St Rose’s High and is now at the Bishops’ High.

For him, much of the knowledge he now possesses, particularly in working with chil-

dren, was developed during that time. A stringent follower of the Bahai Faith, Romaldo allowed his service to his community to play a big part in his teaching style.

“When I started my teaching career in 2009, I was immersed in the teachings of the Bahai Faith. I had experienced a personal transformation having just learned about the principles of the Faith. I was particularly impressed and inspired by the Faith's teaching on the purpose and importance of education. Thus, a lot of my own epistemology about education had been inspired by the Faith and I went about doing my job with just that in mind. I commenced teaching knowing the importance of academic education but also knowing that without moral education, an individual amounts to nothing.”

When he joined the profession, Romaldo was particularly rudely awakened by the poor treatment of students followed by the utilisation of corporal punishment as a means of discipline. Those were two things that made him feel powerless but he decided that change had to start with him; so he began swimming against the proverbial current.

Being a new teacher came with some amount of fear because of the fact that students became observant and from the moment they smelled fear they would pounce. He recalled one student that was on the bad list of every teacher and the warnings he received before entering that student’s class. However, he treated the student as he would any other and never had an issue with him behaving unmannerly in class.

It is his treatment of every student as equals that sets him apart and has contributed to motivating them to aim for the stars but reach beyond. He empowers his student to believe that there is no unachievable task so that they can tap into parts of them that they did not know existed.

“Over the years, I learned that many students come from broken homes and communities and I saw the need to be compassionate and open-minded to the various realities of students. The board chairman of the school always encouraged teachers to be the 'significant other' for our students. This is taken to heart as I realised many students needed such a person.”

When asked about what advice he would give to young teachers, this is what Romaldo had to say: “Teaching will not make you a fortune, it's a noble profession, a calling some would say. As teachers, you have an opportunity to awaken and animate the innate qualities of your students. You help bring to life their talents and their varied abilities. A successful teacher is one who is compassionate and takes time to connect with each student, I know this can be a challenge when our classrooms are overflowing but work out a strategy where you have time to have a one-to-one with each student.

“Be prepared, students sense when a teacher is not prepared and they take advantage of that. Be several steps ahead of your students, like them, you must also know about the latest piece of technology, students appreciate when teachers are relevant. Set out your expectations for your students, let them know that you are there to guide and assist them, let them know you expect them to be respectful and responsible. Encourage students to express themselves, cultivate a culture in your classroom where every student has a voice, an opinion.

Teach your students people skills.

Promote inclusivity, be aware of those who have special educational needs. Let the hidden curriculum you reveal to your students be seen to be positive. They are looking at you when you interact with your seniors and your equals. They are looking at you when you are out of the classroom. Yes, you have to live your life but do not bring ill repute to the profession. Never be afraid to say ' I don't know', it's better to say this than lie. Be the kind of teacher you would want. Be a light, an inspiration to your students.

I would like to see the removal of corporal punishment from the system. Schools should be safe spaces. We have to move away from the slavish mentality of flogging as a deterrent to wrongdoing or indiscipline. As such, all schools should be equipped with school counsellors or psychologists. Values education should be given the same degree of importance as academic education. Schools should be more inclusive.”

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Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 26, 2020

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Feature

By Lakhram Bhagirat

A

t the end of the day, the feeling of achieving our goals is one that becomes indescribable. The feeling of mere satisfaction every time we are confronted with the results of our hard work and sacrifices is one which becomes incomparable.

For the past four plus years, Keanu Thomas has been living his dreams every day that he steps into his classroom. The question of a person’s intended career is one that comes up every so often, even after one has settled into a particular field.

For Thomas, the question was never what he wanted to do, rather it was when he would begin doing it. The dream for him has always been to enter the teaching profession not because it is a lucrative field, but because he believes his purpose is better served there.

So when he finished school, it was only right that he take up a job as a teacher.

“I always wanted to be a teacher. I could remember my childhood days looking up to my primary school teachers and saying in my mind ‘I wanna be like them.’ I believe in giving back to society and what better way I could’ve find by doing something I love and giving back service to my community,” the 21-year-old said.

Service to others was instilled in his upbringing from a tender age while growing up with his grandparents in the village of Tapakuma on the Essequibo Coast. He remembers his childhood as a quiet one which he spent mostly engrossed in books.

“I grew up in a peaceful community named Tapakuma in the care of my grandparents. It’s about 18 kilometres from the town of Anna Regina. In this paradise, nature is at its best and connecting with nature has taught me to try my best to live a peaceful life and to be grateful for everything,” he said.

Because of his dedication to achieving the best possible education he could have, Thomas made it his prerogative to always maintain a high performance. He was the top student of the Tapakuma Lake Primary School when he sat the National Grade Six Assessment Examination. This earned him a place at President’s College on the East Coast of Demerara but he had no desire of moving away from his village, so he took up residence at the Anna Regina Multilateral School where he completed his sec-

ondary education.

“Now I didn’t want to stay at the dormitory so I had to wake at, I'd say about 6 o’clock every morning for 5 years, to go with the one bus that used to transport passengers from home to Anna Regina. I had a wonderful secondary school experience.

Challenging, but I overcame obstacles with support from family.

“I started teaching in October 2015 and started college (Cyril Potter College of Education) in 2016. I remember saying that I would like to finish college by 19 (years old). However, I failed a course in the second year. This came as a surprise since I was doing exceptionally well. Maybe I misinterpreted the questions and it still puzzles me today but I graduated in 2019,” he said.

He said attending CPCE and teaching was no walk in the park for him but he made it work. He persevered and when morale was low, he would remind himself of why he joined the profession.

Ever since he joined the teaching profession, he has been placed at Tapakuma Lake Primary School, where he remains.

“I love every bit of teaching.

Not just being in the class with your wonderful pupils but also involving in different co-curricular activities. Our school is the reigning Road March Champion for the Primary Division, three years now and secured second for a dance last year at the National Schools’ Mashramani Competition,” Thomas boasted.

“Always remember that the pupils are like your children. Not all pupils learn at the same rate.

Be patient and kind. Keep reminding the pupils that they have value and teach to the best of your ability so that we can have a brighter future. Teach pupils to be grateful for what they have while working for what they want,” he advised.

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JANUARY 26, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

eachers have, perhaps, the most important job in this world. They have the ability to shape the view of the world through their teachings and quite often they do just that.

The power teachers have, over their subjects, is unmatched because they are the ones who teach us to think critically and how to analyse situations.

Teachers are the ones who inspire us or they beat our spirits down. But most of the time, they inspire us to achieve the greatest things because, for them, their students are the best. Every achievement of a student is quite often dubbed as a reflection of the teacher and it is a responsibility they take seriously.

Naheem Mohamed has been taking that responsibility seriously for a number of years as he continues to mould the impressionable minds of the younger generation. Though still young, the 28-year-old has been teaching for over a decade now.

Mohamed’s journey as a teacher has been one that was shaped by past experiences which he shared with the Sunday Times Magazine during a recent interview.

Going back to his formative years, the English teacher at the Johanna Cecilia Secondary School said he grew up on the Essequibo Coast with his very large family. Back then, for him, those were simple days as his rice farmer father ensured he was equipped with the relevant tools needed for him to get a proper education.

“During the early days of school, we hadn’t electricity nor portable water in our yard. Because of this, we used to find the littlest of chore to be exciting. We bathed whilst fetching water from a standpipe and did homework in front of a battery-powered television where only one channel showed.

“At the earliest of age, I admired the respect a teacher was given and wanted to gain that same respect. During my school days, I was very fortunate to be moulded by some of the best names in this profession. But special tribute must be made to my now deceased mother. She was and still serves as my driving power to achieve great things. She was a housewife, who, in her days, was not allowed to go throughout secondary because of her family constraints and who made taking care of her husband and children her priority. Every single homework and assignment she was there checking and making sure that whatever is done is completed with neatness and accuracy. Whatever I am today I owe every single bit of it to her,” he remembered.

For Mohamed, education was integral to getting himself developed and he never lapsed in making sure that his homework was completed and time was dedicated to reading. He recalled that growing up, he was never an avid reader but because of his shyness in class, he was forced to read in order to keep up.

When he sat the then Common Entrance Examinations, he was awarded a place at President’s College but because of the distance coupled with the fact that he could not be apart from his family, Mohamed eventually attended Anna Regina Multilateral School (ARMS).

“At ARMS, I was encouraged by all of the teachers and my peers to pursue and achieve.

In Fourth Form, I lost a best friend to suicide. This was life-changing but with the support of my family, teachers and peers I was able to graduate with 11 subjects at the

CSEC examinations.

At this stage, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to become or what direction to go. My mom advised me to give back to my community and from there I will decide to my next step.”

By giving back, he became a teacher at a private institution. During his stay at the Islamic School, he crossed paths with students from all backgrounds and knew that it was in that field he belonged. However, one of the shocking things he discovered was that there were children who could not read.

It was from that point that he decided to become an advocate for his students. He began to advocate for better learning situations for them as well as basic resources. He also knew that he would have been of more help to them if he became qualified so he set out on the path to the Cyril Potter College of Education.

However, life had other plans and he was forced to drop out of CPCE after a period of illness. This also forced him to reconsider his career path and he eventually went into the accounting field.

“I realised being confined to an office space was not my calling. I left and restarted my training at college. At CPCE I was very lucky to receive training from the best of lecturers. I was a resident student and took part in most of the activities. I graduated the college and moved to Wakapao Secondary then to 8th of May Secondary then North Georgetown Secondary where I was attached to whilst studying at the University of Guyana.

“Attending the University, I was teaching and engaged in part-time jobs to ensure that my rent was paid and I was comfortable. Battling with a second job and studies, mentally, I had to adjust. There were many times I wanted to give up and return home but my mom always encouraged me to go on and keep fighting. My mom passed away just a few days before I completed my studies at the University. Coming home has always been difficult since the day I lost her. Eventually, I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Education, majoring in English. I returned to 8th of May Secondary and was later promoted to Johanna Cecilia Secondary,” Mohamed noted.

Though there is a heightened level of violence against teachers, Mohamed said he is not deterred. He is in the profession to stay and will continue moulding the minds of future generations. He noted that it is not just a job for him now rather it is part of who he is.

“We as teachers learn so much as each day passes by. We make differences to kids every day. We are in charge of what our country will become because we get to guide and motivate the future generations. All profession has its challenges but in this line of duty, we only gain. No matter the situation at our school we always tend to activate our creative side and come up with a solution. We gain every day because at the end of the day at least one child would’ve learnt something new. We would’ve made an impact on someone’s future for the better. To those of you out there who are wondering whether to join this profession, I would like to say joining this profession would never bring about regrets,” he advised.

“I have been in this profession from the age of 16 up until now and have grown day by day to love the profession I am in. I am an educator who moulds the future minds of our country. I am a parent figure to most kids who don’t have anyone to look up to. I am an advocate for those kids who needs a voice to stand up for themselves.”

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JANUARY 26, 2020

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Feature

W

e quite often take our teachers for granted because of the fact that they are always there for us. It is because they would rush to help us whenever we need it and they nurture us the way our parents do.

Some teachers would go the extra mile to ensure that we have the necessary tools required to make us the best at everything we do.

Quite often we do not appreciate everything a teacher does for us because most of the times they never let us in. They never allow us to see or know the level of sacrifice they make so that we can become the doctors, lawyers, engineers or embrace whatever path we choose.

The saying that teaching is a selfless profession is indeed one of the truest, and teachers are very noble people.

To get an insight into the life of a teacher, the Sunday Times Magazine caught up with 31-yearold English teacher, Noreema Azaad-Ledra who shared a rare glimpse into her journey.

Here is what she wrote:

“Being the youngest of six, I, somewhat, grew up alone. The age gap between my siblings and I were one of the reasons for this. In my single-parent family, my mother worked arduously to make ends meet, my sisters were married and the boys were pretty much busy with their own lives, and I was left to experiment with the rights and wrongs of life.

As a child growing, one definite thing that I wanted out of life was to complete my high school education. Only one of my sibling was able to complete high school and I watched my mother struggle to be both my mother and father and I knew that my education was a sure thing out of the challenges my family faced.

As a teenager, the distractions were plenty and I struggled to stay focused on the goal.

Nevertheless, I graduated with nine subjects and started my teaching career at age seventeen. The following year, I began my journey at the Cyril Potter College of Education,

Vreed-en-Hoop Branch. There were many obstacles, I contemplated dropping out many times, but the light in me kept me going even when the odds were against me.

In June 2010, I graduated from CPCE and started the University of Guyana in September of that same year.

To say it was challenging would be an understatement.

I juggled with my family, work and studies and made some life-changing decisions during this period.

Through it all, I knew that I am not a quitter and like a survivor, I pulled through and graduated in 2014 with a BA in English. In continuing with my quest for knowledge, I joined the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama that same year and graduated with a Diploma in 2015. During this time, I climbed the professional ladder to the current designation of Graduate Senior Assistant Mistress at the St Rose’s High School.

As a child, I remember beating up on the posts around the house, telling them to ‘pay attention’, imitating my teachers at school. I would also, steal chalk from school and take it home to write on anything with a flat surface. Looking back, I have never thought of being anything else and I felt that this was the easiest thing, as I urgently needed a job.

However, I do not still agree that it is the easiest job.

Teaching takes patience, dedication and commitment to get through each day with children and teenagers whose lives you mould into young adults. I have had some influential teachers who have positively impacted upon my life and somewhat influenced my life’s choice and I strive to emulate the values that they imparted.

Being a teacher for almost 14 years, I can say that I feel tremendous joy when I see my students graduate.

This feeling comes from knowing that I have contributed one way or another into shaping their young minds, helping them learn and guiding them every step of the way. Teaching is not for the faint at heart; it doesn’t end when school dismisses.

I have taken students to the hospital. I have cried bitterly when one of my students passed, and I have been deeply connected with those under my care, and try my utmost to help them get through their challenges, most times beyond the call of duty. What else would you call it, if not love for the job?

To upcoming teachers, do not be discouraged by the issues faced by teachers in present-

day society, look beyond the surface and if this is your passion, then go for it. There is satisfaction and glory in knowing that in this job, you mould minds and shape lives.

It is sad that many persons are taking the job teachers do, for granted. However, this does not diminish the merits of teachers. We are not be measured against the salaries we collect, in fact, our value far surpassed that meagre amount we take home on a monthly basis.”

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JANUARY 26, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

By Utamu Belle

W

hile Headmistress, MichelleAustin Mendonca spends most of her time in her school’s office owing to administrative duties these days, she admits that her true passion lies within the classroom- imparting knowledge unto the students and

sharing in their daily joys and laughter.

In the teaching profession for twenty- two years, AustinMendonca has spent a significant amount of years at the Wisroc Nursery school in Linden where she presently serves as Headmistress. She told the Sunday Times Magazine that she did not intend on becoming a Teacher at first but just considered it as one of two options which were available to her at the time. Fresh out of school high school, she decided on applying for teaching and another post with the intention of choosing whichever option was made available to her first.

“Initially I never wanted to be a teacher because I always said it was too much work, but here I am twenty- two years later”, she mused.

Out of her twenty-two years of teaching, she has only spent a few months at the Wismar Hill Nursery School while the rest of her years were spent at the Wisroc Nursery. She wouldn’t trade it for anything, as Austin- Mendonca explained that over the years she has developed a love for children and teaching, especially at the Nursery level.

“There are moments that I regret, where I felt things could have been better but my love for children has grown so much over the years. Especially this level, I love Nursery...

I have developed a love for teaching and Nursery”, she exclaimed.

Having been recently promoted to Headmistress of the school where she has spent most of her teaching years, Austin- Mendonca now misses being in the classroom.

“I love making teaching aids. I love when you take it to the classroom and everyone is excited. I love it and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Right now, being in the office I feel as though my talent is being stagnated... you have stages, you have growth and I’m learning daily that you have to grow”, she posited.

She has assumed her role in office since last February

and had juggled between the two at first, but she explained that it had been challenging. Nevertheless, she said she still ensures that she spends time with the students even though her roles have changed.

“My love is actually being in the classroom... I tell people everybody has their calling, mine is being in the classroom... at the end of the day I would still go to the classroom and sit with the children”, she related.

The students also keep her motivated, as she explained that she is greeted by shouts of “Teacher Michelle!” as she enters the school in the morning.

This is sometimes followed by hugs or high fives from the students.

“I love that, to me by doing that you help them to relax for the day ahead so they feel comfortable.

And that is the relationship I have developed with them...Everything I do here is because I love it. It feels like you’re home. It’s not just your workplace but it’s home”, Austin-Mendonca exclaimed.

During her years at the school, she said she has managed to see a lot of positive changes and is still working to achieve more. According to her, it is a learning process and she is confident that more can and will be achieved.

But she advised teaching entails much more than imparting knowledge.

“We’re all-rounders, we’re mothers, we’re nurses, we’re confidantes. I love it when they can come and say,’Teacher, this bothering me’ and I’ve learned how to tune into them...the love and the understanding that I’ve developed, I’ve learned to zero in on issues and deal with them...This is one profession you just don’t put your tools down and go home.

When you leave you go home with these children on your mind and you study, ‘what could I have done differently?’, ‘what could I do to help?’”

Even at the level, she is now, she said she still tries her best to develop a close relationship with the students and teachers.

“It’s not just coming and teach and make aides and go out. It’s way deeper than that”.

The Headmistress also pointed to the need for Education to be revised and for classroom teachers to be more involved in the planning of the schools’ curriculum. She also noted that there is a need for schools to be more on par with technology.

“There is need for Education to be revised, to cater for this era we’re in. Because the curriculum that we had from years back would not apply. This is a technological age and we have to set the curriculum in a way that it embraces technology. As it is right now it’s not totally on par with that”, she explained as she stressed that teachers need to have their input in the planning of the schools’ curriculum and for a level playing field to be developed where everyone is comfortable.

This, she explained can only be achieved through communication and collaboration of all necessary stakeholders.

There is also a need to accept that change has come in terms of education, Austin- Mendonca said.

She shared her hope for parents to realize that the Nursery level is the foundation for students and one which is necessary.

“Gone are the days when children would just come and play. Now they have so much that is being done. If parents can embrace the importance of Nursery Education it’s going to be so much more”, she stated, noting that Teachers also need to embrace this level.

Austin- Mendonca also took a stance against brutality directed against teachers in light of recent incidents involving parents and teachers at schools.

“Gone are the days when school was a sacred place. You had full respect, now there is none...I don’t think that where we’re headed right now is good at all”, she stressed as she cited that it was different in times past when such issues were dealt with respectfully.

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Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 26, 2020

Fashion

F

ashion trends are ever-changing. New trends and styles are constantly entering into the mainstream, and most of us are just struggling to keep up.

How are we supposed to afford an entirely new wardrobe every single season?

Well, we’re about to let you in on a little secret. Fashion is cyclical, and what was old will almost certainly become new again. It’s no coincidence that styles like flared denim and crop tops that were popular decades ago have now, once again, permeated the trend-driven landscape of today’s youth. This is why you should never throw away your favorite pieces. If they fit and flatter you but have gone out of style, store them away in a box in the back of your closet for a few years, and they just might make a style comeback.

You’ll be ahead of the game without having to spend any of your hard-earned paychecks on a new version of something you already own!

Check out some of the classic styles that fell out of fashion for a brief while but have returned in all their vintage glory and are once again in vogue. From full circle skirts that fall below the knee to wiggle dresses that were de rigueur in the 1940s and ’50s, these fashion trends have proven to withstand the test of time and are now back and better than ever.

Here are some of our absolute favorites:

Circle Skirts

Circle skirts were a prim lady’s style staple in the 1950s. Not much has changed these days as modern-day gals are still rocking this classic piece but updating it with a more modern edge by adding cute, current accents like a fun felt beret and cool leather accessories.

White Shirt Dresses

Crop Tops

This minimalist look will never go out of style due to its clean lines and classic silhouette.

Designers have been reinventing the crop top ever since it became popular as part of twopiece matching sets in the 1930s and ’40s. Crop tops have since come back every single decade in new and different iterations.

Peasant Blouses

Bishop Sleeves

P e a s a n t blouses were popular in the 1970s and came in all sorts of fun florals. Luckily, this carefree style isn’t going anywhere.

The bishop sleeve is recognizable due to its full, voluminous sleeve and fitted cuff for a dramatic effect.

Bell Bottoms

Bell bottoms actually came onto the scene as a naval design for sailors but quickly wound up permeating trend culture in the ’70s. We have since brought them back into fashion and are coming up with new ways to rock this far-out look all the time!

Head Scarves

There are so many different ways to tie a head scarf to add some vintage charm to your look.

Just pick a pretty print you love, and go for it!

Wiggle Dresses

Minidresses

The minidress was a super-scandalous mod style that made appearances at every go-go dance from Akron to London. We’re so glad it’s back!

Shoulder Pads

Shoulder pads were very popular in the 1930s and ‘4os to create an exaggerated hourglass figure that was feminine and put together.

Unfortunately, they got a bit out of control in the ’80s, but we’ve finally figured out how to tame them, and don’t they look chic?

Everyone remembers Marilyn Monroe and the iconic wiggle dresses she wore in films like The Seven Year Itch. Luckily, this flattering style has re-entered the style scene, and we’re seeing it all over the place on runways and sidewalks alike

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JANUARY 26, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Recipes

Baked Chicken Wontons

Ingredients • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 2 tablespoons shallots

(finely chopped) • 1 clove garlic (finely chopped) • 2 green onions • 8 ounces ground chicken meat • 3 tablespoons reduced-fat peanut butter • 3 tablespoon carrot (shredded) • 1 teaspoon green curry paste • 2 tablespoons soy sauce • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar substitute

(such as ZSweet) • 2 teaspoons lime juice • 32 wonton wrappers Steps to Make It 1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray two 9-by-13-inch baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray (such as Pam).

2. Heat the wok over medium-high to high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil, drizzling it down the sides of the wok. When the oil is hot, add the shallots, garlic, and green onion.

Stir-fry briefly then add the chicken meat and

CHINESE LEMON CHICKEN

CHICKEN: • 21 oz (600 g) chicken tenderloins

cut into 1-inch pieces • 1 large egg • 2 tablespoons soy sauce • 2 tablespoons Chinese shaoxing

wine (or white vinegar) • 1/2 cup corn starch • 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola oil LEMON SAUCE: • 1 tablespoon oil • 3 teaspoons minced garlic • 1 teaspoon minced or finely

grated ginger • 1/2 cup chicken stock or broth • 2 tablespoons soy sauce • juice of 1 lemon (about 3-4 tablespoons) • 2 tablespoons sugar • 2 tablespoons honey • salt to taste • 2 teaspoons corn starch

dissolved in 2 tablespoons water • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds to garnish • thinly sliced green onions to garnish • lemon slices, to serve (optional) INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CHICKEN: 1. In a large shallow bowl whisk egg, soy sauce and wine. Add in chicken, mix well and allow to marinate for 20 minutes, covered.

2. Place corn starch into a large baking tray. Pour chicken and marinade into the corn starch and coat chicken pieces evenly, lightly pressing the corn starch around the chicken.

3. Heat oil in a large wok, pan or skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot (325°F or 165°C), shake off excess corn starch and fry chicken in

I batches in a single layer for about 5-6 minutes, turning half way during cooking, until golden and cooked through.

4. Drain on a plate lined with paper towel. Discard oil and wipe wok/pan over with paper towel.

FOR THE SAUCE: • Heat oil over medium-high heat.

Sauté the garlic and ginger until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add stock, soy sauce, lemon juice, sugar, honey, and a pinch of salt. Whisk, bring to a simmer until the sugar dissolves.

• Whisk corn starch mixture into the simmering sauce and stir until thickened. Toss chicken in the sauce until evenly coated (about 2 minutes).

• Garnish with sesame seeds, green onions and lemon slices. Serve.

Do your best to set up your altar as a beautiful, inspiring energy spot. The very minimum for a feng shui space clearing altar is candles and incense, which are the purifying fire element, and fresh flowers, which stand in as the wood element. The other three feng shui elements can be presented as follows: water, in the form of a small bowl with pure water, metal, with the metal bells used for space clearing, and earth, which can be represented by natural rock crystals. Use your sense of beauty while creating your energy spot for the feng shui space clearing altar. Do not overcomplicate it and experiment and see what works for you.

minutes to an hour. Maybe you would like to change some parts or modify and omit some steps. Experiment and see what works, but do not avoid the process completely.

Turn on the music and place at least one candle in each room. Try to sense the energy in each room and connect to it. You can also go into each room with your incense stick to spread the gentle sweet scent in preparation for the session. Be sure to have at least one window open to allow stale energy to leave and fresh energy to enter.

Pick a Good Time

Get a Feel for the Energy

Gather Your Materials

until they are cooked al dente (tender, but still firm). This will take about 3 minutes for fresh noodles, and 4 to 5 minutes for dried noodles. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again.

4. Cut the carrot into thin strips to match the chicken.

5. Rinse the straw mushrooms under running water to remove any “tinny” taste. Drain thoroughly.

6. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high to high heat. Add the garlic and stir-fry for a few seconds until aromatic. Add the chicken and stir-fry until it changes color and is 80 percent cooked.

(If you need more oil, try adding 1 tablespoon water).

7. Remove the chicken and clean out the wok. Heat 2 tablespoons oil and the salt in the wok. Add the carrots and mushrooms. Stir-fry for 1 minute. Then add the chicken and the noodles, stirring to mix in with the other ingredients.

8. Add the sauce into the wok, mixing well. Cook for 2 more minutes. Taste and add salt or pepper if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!

Set up an Altar

Set the Ambiance

Think of best timing, plan and prepare for your feng shui and space clearing session.

Find the best day and time when you will not be rushed or disturbed. The optimum time for a feng shui space clearing session is in between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Do not start later than 3 p.m.

Chicken Lo Mein

Ingredients 1/2 pound chicken breast (boneless, skinless) For the Marinade • 2 teaspoons light soy sauce • 1 teaspoon rice wine (or dry sherry) • 1/4 teaspoon sesame seed oil • 1 teaspoon cornstarch For the Sauce • 3/4 cup chicken broth • 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon oyster sauce • 3/4 teaspoon sugar Other Stir-Fry Ingredients • 1/2 pound Chinese noodles (thin

or thick noodles are fine) • 1 cup carrots (shredded; about 1 carrot) • 1 (8-ounce) can straw mushrooms • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

(or peanut oil for stir-frying, or

as needed) • 1 teaspoon garlic (chopped) • 1/4 teaspoon salt (plus more,

to taste) • Freshly ground black pepper

(to taste) Steps to Make It 1. Cut the chicken into thin strips about 2 inches long. In a medium-sized bowl, add the light soy sauce, rice wine or sherry, sesame oil and the cornstarch.

Marinate the chicken for 20 minutes.

2. While the chicken is marinating, combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

3. Cook the noodles in boiling water

n feng shui, it is recommended to do a deep space clearing at least once a year.

It is also recommended to do space clearing after an intense negative event, such as a divorce, for example, or before moving into a house that might have many negative energies, such as a foreclosure of a house or new house purchase from a divorced couple.

Do not let the word "major" scare you.

Learn more about the principles and basic methodology of a deep space clearing session and see if you can do it. It can take from 45

stir-fry on high heat until the chicken changes color and is nearly cooked through.

3. Stir in the remaining ingredients (peanut butter, shredded carrots, green curry paste, soy sauce, sugar substitute, and lime juice). Remove the wok from the burner and allow the mixture to cool.

4. Fill and fold the wontons and continue with the rest of the mixture and wontons.

5. To cook the wonton, lay them out on the baking sheets and spray lightly with cooking spray. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden, turning halfway through cooking.

Be sure you have all the materials you need (listed below). Also, be sure to prepare a spot that will center the energies, such as an altar, on which you will place all the needed space cleaning tools. This can be your dining table, or the fireplace mantel, or something similar with easy access to it.

• Candles: Several (at least one for

each room plus the altar) • Music: Uplifting, healing • Bells: Ideally two or three with dif

ferent resonance • Sage: A smudge stick is ideal, essen

tial oil spray can work too • Incense: Frankincense, or nag

champa, or sandalwood • Essential oils: Lavender and/or

mint, lemongrass • High energy items: Fresh flowers,

crystals, or specific images

Bring Good Energy to the Session

Be sure you feel balanced, be sure your energy is calm and clear. See what works

best to put you into the right frame of mind: it might be an early morning walk in the woods or maybe a yoga class. You decide.

Take a shower right before the space clearing session, and be sure to wear fresh clean clothes.

Roll up your sleeves (you will sense the energy better this way) and do the following: starting at the main door and moving clockwise, clap strongly into each corner of your house. A clap from the lowest level to as high as you can reach to the ceiling. You will feel a huge difference in the quality of energy as the sound of clapping will be different depending on the accumulated energy.

Sage Your Space

Use your sage smudge stick on the same

pathway around the house to purify any energy residue. Be careful not to stain your furniture or flooring, be mindful that the sage ashes can burn fabric or slightly damage the floors.

Sound the Bells

If you decided to use bells, now is the time to ring the deepest sound/vibration bell into each corner, and wait slowly for the sound to penetrate the space.

Complete the Session

These are the basic steps of a deep feng shui space clearing session. There might be a lot of information about the house coming to you during space clearing, take the time to process and honor the information. Do not rush to finish the session, let the music still play for a while and let the candles and the incense burn on their own accord.

Just be in that clear space and see what else comes up. Maybe your living room needs more attention, or maybe it is your front door.

Pay attention. If all is well, then make yourself a nice cup of tea and enjoy a job well done.

(The Spruce)

R

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 26, 2020

Puzzles

ACROSS 1 Vamoose!

6 Seductive women 11 Get real! (2 wds.)

15 Bay or city 20 Honestly!

21 Hamburger extra 22 Takeoff 24 Wall climbers 25 "M*A*S*H" clerk 26 Female vampire 27 Sachet component 28 Goes a few rounds 29 Bite off too much 31 Ice grabbers 33 Mandala builder 34 Habituate 35 Arctic phenome non 37 Pfc's superiors 39 Md. neighbor 41 Portland hrs.

42 Alpaca kin 43 Big leaguers 44 Throw for -- -46 Red-waxed cheese 50 Golfer -- Alcott 51 Flag down 52 Yuletide 53 Rock star, say 57 They pay monthly 59 Crocus "bulb" 60 Second to none 61 Lacking covering 62 Trite phrase 63 Things to chew on 64 Blows gently 65 Survey choice 66 Veronica of "Hill

Street Blues" 67 Airport queue 68 Shade-loving plant 69 It builds deep nests 72 Actress -- Hartman 73 Hoard 74 Funny Feldman 75 Europe-Asia range 76 Kind of bed 79 Fall colors 80 Liszt piece 84 Verve 85 Money drawers 86 Kind of compan ion 87 Pair 88 Lava-flow rock 91 Meat-locker units 92 Ex-frosh

93 Correct a text 95 Yang complement 96 Bankrolls 97 Verdict givers 98 Where a medium

isn't rare 99 Monsieur's egg 101 Dance all night 102 Swimming -103 Leisurely study 104 Rich rum cake 105 Building exten sions 106 Toucan feature 107 Role for Whoopi 108 Monocle 109 Poser 111 Mountain lake 112 Playwright Oscar -114 AMA members 117 Not decaf.

118 Pirate song start (hyph.)

119 Strike it rich (3 wds.)

124 Au contraire! (2 wds.)

126 Net surfer 128 Cowboy's charge 130 More astute 131 Tarmac area 132 Colorado river 134 Yearly record 136 Veranda, on Maui 137 Bowling score 138 Flock of geese 139 The fabulous Garbo 140 January in Acapulco 141 Beat the drums 142 Memorial Day race 143 Was an ancestor 144 Come to -DOWN 1 Leather for hon ing 2 Hunger for 3 More arrogant 4 Morning rouser 5 Economics

Nobelist in 1974 6 TV knob 7 Gray area?

8 Flowering tree 9 Main idea 10 Hitch in plans 11 Deadly snake 12 Hexes

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- RECLINES (RECLINES: rih-KLINES: Lies back or down.)

Average mark 37 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 54 or more words in RECLINES?

TODAY'S WORD -- RECLINES reel rein relic relies resile resin rice rile rinse rise risen else enisle ensile

erne cense censer cerise cire creel cries leer lenis lens lice license licenser lien

line liner isle nice nicer niece scene scree screen secern seen seer seine senile

sere silence silencer since sincere sine sire siren slice slicer slier sneer

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.

13 Jots or tittles 14 Froth 15 Shinbones 16 Cosmetics brand 17 Snafu (hyph.)

18 Looks curiously 19 Portfolio item 23 Like a "10" 30 Recently (2 wds.)

32 Curtain material 36 L.A. gridders 38 Nov. runner 40 Bit of a shock 43 Duffers' goals 44 Ventricle neigh bor 45 Bro or sis 46 Writer on metal 47 Part of FDR 48 Critter 49 Nutmeg-like spice 51 Coal scuttles 52 Super 54 "The Banana Boat Song" hyph.)

55 Pitcher -- Hershiser 56 -- -majeste 58 Red Wings org.

59 Dice 60 Lays off food 63 Guinea pig

64 Author's need 67 "Misery" co-star 68 Foyers 69 North African port 70 Hip-hop music 71 They, in Calais 73 Flatten a fly 74 Tunnel makers 75 Oops! (hyph.)

77 Open meadow 78 "-- in the Family" 79 Lightheaded 80 Viscous 81 City in Denmark 82 King in "Macbeth" 83 Tyrolean tunes 85 Faint colors 86 Cause to yawn 88 T.G.I.F. request 89 Town near Honolulu 90 Ignore socially 91 Bad-tempered 92 Mope 93 Constantly, to Poe 94 Wood splitter 96 Easy marks (2 wds.)

97 Blondell of old

films 98 Author Maurice -100 Brief craze 101 Volcano goddess 102 Kind of welcome 103 Paper source 106 "--, humbug!"

107 Common fertiliz er 110 De-creased?

111 Sluggish 112 Campfire fare 113 Grommet 114 Grind one's teeth 115 Orange flower 116 Subway hanger

118 Gulf nation 119 Painter -- Matisse 120 1776 patriot Silas -121 Secret 122 Fix Venus de Milo?

123 Small combos 125 Feeling miffed 127 Wine served warm 129 Follows closely 133 Your choice 135 Aberdeen kid SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE 13

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JANUARY 26, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

F

A

dobe is previewing a new feature for Premiere Pro called Productions that’ll help teams work together on projects.

Announced on Thursday at the Sundance Film Festival, the new panel was designed with filmmakers in mind, and was created with input from the production teams behind Terminator: Dark Fate and Dolemite is My Name. Adobe says a special build of the feature is also currently being used in editorial on David Fincher’s Mank.

Productions is essentially a new panel that acts as a shared folder system, like Google Drive, to make sharing assets between editors easier and more collaborative. On its blog, Adobe describes potential use cases like managing large projects by dividing them into smaller pieces organized around reels and scenes, or grouping episodic shows by season. The feature is meant to make assets easily accessible so teams can retrieve recurring assets like title sequences or audio elements without having to create duplicates.

H

uawei has announced the postponement of a major developers’ conference because of safety precautions around the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China. HDC.Cloud 2020 was planned to take place in Shenzhen on February 11th to 12th, but has been pushed back to March 27th-28th, according to the event’s website. 17 people are confirmed to have been killed by the SARS-like virus so far.

The conference is enterprisefocused and serves as Huawei’s primary event for IT developers.

“We want to share the ICT technologies and capabilities Huawei has developed over the past 30 years,” Huawei said to promote it. “Our Kunpeng and Ascend processors, in particular, will be powerful new engines for global developers.”

Huawei is unlikely to be the last Chinese company to alter its upcoming events calendar, as the situation in Wuhan is being treat-

Agencies can also allocate productions to each of their clients.

The new Production panel uses shared local storage, which allows for multiple editors to work on different projects in the same Production. A project-locking feature protects your work from being saved over, while still letting other people access your work. Other users will be able to copy content, but they won’t be able to make changes until you finish your edit. Adobe says everyone working on a Production will share the same settings for projects, including scratch disks, GPU renderer, and capture and ingest presets. “Nothing is on the cloud unless you put it there,” Adobe explains on its blog. “If needed, you can do all your work without an internet connection.”

Adobe has been introducing collaborative features to more of its software, making the Creative Cloud more conducive to teamwork. The company’s UI prototyping software, Adobe XD, added a beta co-editing feature in November last year. (The Verge)

ed with serious countermeasures. Foxconn CEO Terry Gou has warned staff not to travel to mainland China during the upcoming Lunar New Year period, Reuters reports. The entire city of Wuhan, which has more than 11 million residents, is on lockdown as of Thursday morning, with airports and train stations closed until further notice.

It’s unclear how effective the unprecedented containment effort will be. “To my knowledge, trying to contain a city of 11 million people is new to science,” Gauden Galea, the World Health Organization’s China representative Gauden Galea told the Associated Press. “It has not been tried before as a public health measure. We cannot at this stage say it will or it will not work.”

(The Verge)

ujifilm has announced the X-T200, the follow-up to 2018’s X-T100 mirrorless camera. It’s Fujifilm’s entry-level model with a built-in electronic viewfinder.

The X-T200 looks pretty similar to its predecessor, with the biggest physical changes a 2.82oz (80g) reduction in weight and a new vari-angle LCD that can be tilted while it’s flipped out.

The X-T200 still has a 24-megapixel

APS-C sensor, but it now has full phasedetection coverage for better autofocus performance. Fujifilm has added gyro sensors to the camera to help with video stabilization, along with support for HDR and 1080p video at 120 frames per second.

4K video, meanwhile, has been boosted to 30fps from a basically unusable 15.

The X-T200 will sell for $699.95 bodyonly or $799.95 with a 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 power zoom lens. Three color options are available: silver, dark silver, and champagne. It’ll go on sale in late February.

Fujifilm has also announced its cheapest X-mount prime lens yet, which would be a good fit for the X-T200. The XC 35mm f/2 (pictured above) will cost $199; that’s half as expensive as Fujifilm’s XF 35mm f/2 WR, but you give up metal construction, an aperture ring, and weather sealing. (The Verge)

14 Sunday Times Magazine

V

arun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor are winning hearts with their cute chemistry in Remo D’Souza’s Street Dancer 3D, so much so that fans want them to get together in real life. During an interaction with Bollywood Hungama, Shraddha was asked to respond to a YouTube comment on the trailer of Street Dancer 3D, which urged her to get married to Varun.

“That’s a compliment.

It’s so cute,” she said, adding, “We have been getting that a lot, that kind of love.

So we want to say thank you to the fans for appreciating us.”

However, Varun had a slightly different take on it.

According to him, it is difficult to translate an offscreen romance into onscreen chemistry. “I don’t think that if people are actually very romantically inclined, they can behave like that. Maine kisi patni aur pati ko aise behave karte hue dekha nahi… Pata nahi (I have never seen a hus-

A

ctor Jackie Shroff has joined Tiger Shroff in his upcoming film Baaghi 3 and this will be the first time he will be sharing the screen with his son. They will reportedly play father-son in the film direct-

band-wife behave like this…

I don’t know),” he said.

Shraddha said that when she does get married, her husband must be someone that she can be “completely crack” with. She said, “But I have to say, whenever I get married and whoever I get married to, I have to be completely crack with that person. I have to! It’s very important, for me.”

Varun and Shraddha, who are childhood friends, have earlier talked about having a crush on each other when they were in primary school. During a radio show, Varun had said that his story with Shraddha is quite similar to Street Dancer 3D, in that their rivalry transforms into love.

“Actually, jo humari bachpan ki story hai, woh film ki story se bohot miltijulti hai. Bachpan mein kaafi takraar hota tha, inter-school problem hota tha aur thoda-thoda chhupa hua fondness bhi tha. (Actually, our childhood story is similar to the story of the film.

ed by Ahmed Khan.

A Mumbai Mirror report claimed Jackie began shooting for his portion in Mumbai on January 20.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala told the tabloid, “Everyone has been waiting to see Tiger team

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JANUARY 26, 2020

F

Initially, there were interschool problems and rivalry but there was some hidden fondness as well),” he said, adding that he did not act on his feelings because he was too young.

He added, “It was very pure. Agar humara love story hua bhi toh 8-9 saal ki umar mein hua tha (If we had a love story, then it was at the age of 8-9 years old).”

Street Dancer 3D, which also stars Nora Fatehi, Prabhudeva, Raghav Juyal, Punit Pathak and Dharmesh Yelande in key roles, will release on January 24.

(Hindustan Times)

ans of the epic fantasy series “Games of Thrones” could get something they’ve been waiting for — a new ending.

George R.R. Martin, the writer of the novels behind the show, said he is finally finishing the series “A Song of Fire and Ice.” Martin’s two remaining books, “The Winds of Winter” and “A Dream of Spring,” will diverge from the HBO series that ended in May 2019.

“People know an ending — but not the ending,” Martin said in a new interview with the German newspaper Welt.

After Season 4 of “Game of Thrones,” co-creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss no longer had Martin’s original source material to work with. So the two forged their own narratives for major characters — and received lukewarm reactions from book readers and show viewers.

Martin said he “didn’t

expect” the HBO adaptation to outpace him.

After a polarizing final season, fans created a petition that over 1 million people signed, urging HBO to remake the season.

When asked if “Game of Thrones” could still be turned into a movie, Martin responded, “At this point in time, it wouldn’t be for me to decide, because HBO controls the film rights for ‘Game of Thrones.’”

“David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the two creators behind the series, actual-

ly wanted to end the saga after the seventh season with three big movies,” according to Martin.

The writer claimed “Game of Thrones” was supposed to end in the theaters.

“Four or five years ago, it was seriously discussed,” he said.

Ultimately, HBO nixed the idea.

“The executives said: ‘We produce TV shows, we are not in the cinema business,'” Martin said. (Page Six)

flaunts a toned torso in a long trench coat, with black bottoms and black sunglasses, reminiscent of Reeves’ trademark wardrobe in The Matrix. Tiger posted the video on his Instagram account with the caption, “Matrix feels on the sets of #Baaghi3”.

Baaghi 3 features Shraddha Kapoor, Ankita Lokhande and is expected to release in March 2020.

Tiger will next be seen in Rambo, which is a remake of the Rambo film series.

The movie is slated for release in 2020. (Hindustan Times)

up with his Hero, father Jackie since we launched him. There have been plenty of speculations, but no one has been able to bring them together in the last six years as the duo was categorical that they would only share the

screen when a film and role merited their presence. Ahmed and I feel the storyline required Jackie to be a part of the film and our visions matched because it’s a pivotal role.”

Jackie reportedly has a five-day schedule which ends on Friday. He plays a cop, with Tiger and Riteish Deshmukh as his sons, the daily added. It also quoted a source as saying, “The father-son duo coming together will only add to the expectations from Baaghi 3, but I am confident no one will be disappointed by this double dose of the Shroffs. It will be a strong USP of the film.”

Tiger had earlier shared a video of himself where he was practising for an action scene.

The sequence looked like a throwback to a trademark stunt filmed on Keanu Reeves in classic Hollywood film The Matrix. In the video, Tiger

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JANUARY 26, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine 15

Feature

T

elephone calls and a letter from cat fans castigated us for putting emphasis on dogs (as pets) and neglecting cats. Actually, almost everything we advise potential caregivers to consider when adopting/acquiring a dog is valid for cats as well.

However, by way of an apology, please accept this week’s publication as being specifically targeted at the considerations that you must factor into the decision to make a cat your pet.

Firstly, we must recognise that cats are mainly house creatures.

They want to be cared for and just love living in clean surroundings. If anything displeases them enough, they’ll leave – and may not even come back.

One of the things that your feline friend will appreciate is its sleeping quarters. You must be prepared to place his/her soft bed in a draft-free corner. The ‘bed’ could be a towel or a flat stuffed cushion. Don’t feel too bad if, after all your effort, he/she prefers to sleep elsewhere. You chose a cat as a pet. You chose Mr/Ms Independence.

Just move the bed to the cat’s spot of choice. Cats instinctively seem to like high places to sleep.

Urinating and defecating in the house

Are you prepared to have your feline ward defecate/urinate in the house? An important need of the house cat is its litterbox. We are lucky here. Because cats are so clean, they naturally migrate towards the litterbox. In other words, they are easy to train. The litterbox is simply a flat pan lined with newspapers (your choice) on top of which you may place clean sand, straw, or sawdust. Place the animal in the box and move its front legs in a scratching motion, the same movement that cats make after they defecate. It’s as simple as that. Keep the litterbox clean (change the litter daily or even after every usage). If you use disinfectants (eg bleach) to sterilise the pan, please try to remove the disinfectant scent. Cats don’t seem to like soap/bleach/jeyes fluid/pine smells.

Scratching the furniture

Can you accept cats scratching the furniture? So now that we have solved the sleeping and urinating/stooling problem, let’s look to the big one: furniture destruction. Well, let’s face it: all cats in catdom love and need to scratch. We just don’t want to offer our expensive (and expensive they are) furniture to promote our cat’s needs. At the outset, let me tell you what not to do. You do not try to train the cat away from scratching.

You do not beat the cat or, as one educated Ranch Manager did, soak the cat’s tail in kerosene and light it afire and boast about how the running cat, with its tail ablaze, lit up the savannahs.

Instead, you use one of two methods to solve the furniture-scratching problem: Firstly, you should construct a scratching post. This is simple. Just tack some old flat carpet onto a 1-2 foot high post that is firmly fixed to the ground. Show the cat how to use the post by holding the cat’s front legs and moving them down the carpeted post. (You may even ‘decorate’ the post with some toy that bobs up and down so that the kitten/cat also has something to play with).

May I also suggest that you begin the training exercise while the animal is a kitten or, in any case, before it begins to get into the habit of scratching the furniture. If the cat still seems to prefer the chair or table legs to the scratching post, then hang some naphthalene balls around the spot the cat seems to have a predilection for.

Secondly, and not preferably, is the possibility of surgically removing the front claws.

That, of course, has to be done by your veterinarian. This option is to be considered only in those obstinate cases as the final solution. This alternative is still preferable to getting rid of the cat from your home.

Cat fights

Cat fights also represent a big problem that cat owners have to face. Usually the fights are between males – most of the time these fights take place during the mating season.

Cats fight viciously and without remorse. The injuries are sometimes life-threatening. And it is not easy to part the fight. Not so much because it is dangerous to the persons who interferes, but because the fight does not take place in one spot. They might begin fighting on your property, but the continuous fight could end up in the yard of your neighbor twice removed. So what can you do? Saying “shoo, kitty, shoo,” will surely have no impact. Pulling the tail of one cat away to dislodge his jaws/claws from his adversary might result in a serious laceration on your hand. Cats are that fast.

My only suggestion is that you douse the fighting pair with a pail of water. That splitsecond cessation of hostilities would give the cat that is not faring too well, perhaps enough respite for him to beat a hasty retreat. The last word, unfortunately, is that there is no real successful way to separate fighting cats. Please just be careful when you intervene, for intervene you should.

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 26, 2020

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES

Less talk and more ac-

(March 21- tion will put you in a good April 19) position. Don't let someone

else's uncertainty stand in your way. Love is featured, and a promise made will please you.

Someone will be quick TAURUS to point out flaws. Go over (April 20- every detail and leave nothMay 20) ing to chance. Don't present what you have to offer until you are ready.

Speak up, follow your heart GEMINI and make changes that (MAY 28- will please you. Don't worJune 20) ry about what others say or do. What's important is how your decisions affect you.

Prove how valuable you are by taking charge and (June 21- doing what you say you are July 22) going to do. Living up to the goals you set and the promises you make will be satisfying.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Getting involved in other people's affairs will be to your detriment. You won't get much in return, and you are likely to end up paying emotionally and financially.

Mix and mingle. You have a lot to offer and plenty to gain if you participate in events that appeal to you. Show your interest in others and listen and learn.

LIBRA Don't stop before you finish. Visit a friend or relative (Sept. 23who could use your help.

Oct. 23) Someone you encounter will help you figure out where you see yourself heading.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts

Get out and do something that will challenge you mentally, physically and emotionally. Put your energy into doing something constructive, entertaining or creative. Romance will enhance your personal life.

SAGITTARIUS Unusual or unfamiliar des(Nov. 23- tinations will spark your Dec. 21) imagination and give life to new ideas and plans. Get involved in matters that concern you, and explore the best way to contribute.

Finish something that you CAPRICORN left undone. You will pro(Dec. 22- duce much if you are alJan. 19) lowed to work independently of others. Don't give in to someone asking for a handout. Charity begins at home.

Calvin and Hobbes

Avoid battles that you canAQUARIUS not win. Ease your stress (Jan. 20- by doing something you enFeb. 19) joy. Taking time out will give you a new perspective on how to fix what's troubling you.

PISCES Don't make a move if you (Feb. 20- don't have all the facts. An Mar. 20) impulsive decision will send you on an adventure that tests your patience, causes anxiety and costs you time or money.