Guyana Times August 1, 2019

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4002

Thursday, august 1, 2019

PRICE

Another massive protest held to demand President, Cabinet’s resignation Page 12

…calls reiterated for halting of H2H Registration

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Shop owner charged for operating P14 brothel Teen among 2 nabbed for ganja find at Sophia P14

Chicken shortage

Local P13 poultry farmers thrown offbalance by smugglers …situation to return to normalcy by mid-August

Opposition calls for probe into Immigration, GRO See story on page 3

…as influx of thousands of Haitians for 2019 alarmingly suspicious

4 narco-possession convicts pardoned

by President Unscrutinised H2H Registration will leave thousands off new list – Jagdeo

High tide warning in P16 effect

Page 12

Robert Bhagnauth

Michael Gouveia

See stories on pages 7&11

Andy Roberts

Joseph Yaw

…as Govt, Opposition Commissioners' meeting with new GECOM Chair cordial

Tucville man wanted for Sophia pool party murder

P16

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

Thursday, August 1 – 04:30h and 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, August 2 – 05:00h-06:30h.

Opposition calls for probe into Immigration, GRO

…as influx of thousands of Haitians for 2019 alarmingly suspicious

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, August 1 –17:00h-18:30h and Friday, August 2 – 04:50h-06:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny intervals are expected in the morning and early afternoon interrupted by light rain showers in the mid-morning hours. Light rain showers are expected for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening hours followed by clear to partly cloudy skies. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to South South-westerly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 17:02h reaching a maximum height of 2.69 metres.

Low Tide: 10:33h and 22:52h reaching minimum heights of 0.41 metre and 0.51 metre.

WEDNESday, JULY 31, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS n

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FREE TICKET

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DAILY MILLIONS

10 12 13 20 25 LUCKY 3

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Afternoon Draw

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10 11 13 SUPER PAY DAY

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

Opposition Jagdeo

R

Leader

Bharrat

eports of over 8000 Haitian immigrants entering Guyana for the year but only a handful leaving and concerns relating to collusion with Government officials have prompted calls by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for investigations into the immigration department and the General Registration Office (GRO).

According to Jagdeo, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic has for some time expressed concerns over the large influx of Haitian immigrants and reports that they are being helped and chaperoned by persons connected to the Government.

He alleged that the surge of immigrants and the ongoing House-toHouse Registration being conducted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) are more than mere coincidences. Jagdeo compared the number of Haitian immigrants arriving and departing from Guyana over the past few years.

“For a while now we have been speaking about the massive influx of foreign nationals. We believe a lot of it is for people’s smuggling, that it is a very lucrative, criminal enterprise. But recently, after the passage of the NoConfidence Motion, we saw a surge in the numbers.

This surge has to do something with the registration process that is going on now,” the Opposition Leader said.

He added, “If you look at the numbers that we have, in 2013: 188 persons came and 99 departed. In 2014: 227 came and 113 departed. In 2015: 770 came, 136 departed. In 2016: 722 came, 451 departed. (In) 2017: 3,515 came 291 departed. Up to April 30, 2018, we had 1, 238 came and 85 departed.

So this headline today is a shocking one. In the first seven months of the year, 8,600 persons came in.

And we gather less than 25

One of the Georgetown hotels where Haitian immigrants were tracked to by this publication on Tuesday

departed”.

Probe

The former President went on to call for investigations into the General Registration Office (GRO), which falls under Citizenship Minister Winston Felix, as well as the Immigration Department. Jagdeo was sceptical that these large numbers of immigrants could pass unbeknownst to these officials.

“When you come into Guyana, they have to fill up an immigration form.

And it says intended address. I’d like to see what these 8,600 placed on their forms to say where their addresses are. You can’t have every day, every two days, people putting on their address Sunflower hotel, when the place has maybe 25 rooms and 80 will say they’re living there every two days”.

Clearly, he added, there

has to be some collusion with some official at immigration.

“They must have seen this pattern every single day. This is more than hotel rooms they have. That alone should say to immigration, you’re coming to Guyana, you don’t have an intended address, it should raise a red flag. But nothing has happened”.

Last year, the Citizenship Ministry had revealed to the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament that over 22,000 persons entered Guyana from January to April. The Ministry had revealed that of this number, only 6, 170 had departed.

In addition, it was shown that there are no records of 17,615 immigrants departing from 2013 to 2018.

Back in March of this year, it was revealed that despite having thousands of Haitians enter Guyana

unaccounted for last year, the coalition Government had sought to extend the time that Haitians spend in Guyana to an automatic six months.

This was detailed in a letter dated January 31, 2019, addressed to Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and copied to Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Citizenship Minister Winston Felix, and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

The correspondence sent by the President’s Senior Confidential Secretary was titled “Immigration Order 2019”.

It noted that under the Immigration Act, Chapter 14:02, amendments were made to “allow Haitian nationals to be entitled to an automatic stay of six months”. The amendment was made by Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams.

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Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Emancipation: Lessons ignored?

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oday, Guyana and many parts of the world will be celebrating the 185th anniversary of Emancipation. It was a long and difficult road to freedom for the slaves, who were forced into bondage and made to endure inhumane conditions. They were resilient even in the face of unimaginable atrocities unleashed upon them.

In the end, freedom came with the expectation that the mental and economic shackles would be banished forever. Unfortunately, it hasn’t, and race has been infused, thereby creating many difficulties for humanity in general.

Renowned human rights activist Malcom X said, “If the emancipation proclamation was authentic, you wouldn’t have a race problem”. It’s a profound statement, with relevance even after some nineteen decades after emancipation. Today, sadly, the issue of race continues to haunt, discriminate and even displace.

In the land considered to be the beacon of hope for humanity and the leader of the free world, racism seems to have risen above the surface. There are, of course, various arguments as to whether it’s deliberately being peddled, and for what specific purpose. What many seem to agree on is that the effects are causing particular groups to be targeted and alienated, even in the land of the free.

In the process, human endeavours to free themselves from the bondage of poverty are seemingly disallowed, thereby exacerbating their dire circumstances. Not ambiguous within all of that are the perceived attempts to elevate one group over others. From all appearances, it is done without remorse or even consideration for those yearning for a better life. Frightening is how these attempts are gaining traction in other parts.

It seems as if some parts of the world are somehow rewinding to a dark and despicable period of human history. While the physical shackles may be absent, the mental bondage seems evident in every story. It’s unbelievable that even thoughts, such as the denial of humans to seek a better life, and the fact that it is actually been manifested in many ways, are occurring in this now modern and connected world.

Of course there is resistance, as people are pushing back.

Heartening is the fact that the resistance is not just from the groups targeted, but also from many who look like those accused of trampling on freedom. It shows that humanity as a whole will not succumb to the atrocities of the powerful.

This modern-day assault on freedom brings some relevance to an aspect of Malcolm X’s quote, for the shackles of slavery are manifesting themselves differently. Many are still being forced into situations that enchain them from opportunities for advancement; primarily, in many instances, based upon how they look.

Clearly, it can never be compared to the dreadful and cruel blot on humanity that slavery was, but when people are told to leave simply because of how they look, it furthers the belief of a preference of one over others.

While it will be naïve to even contemplate that racism somehow disappeared with emancipation, or with subsequent civil rights’ triumphs and agreements, there may not have been an expectation of what currently unfolds in some parts of the world. Some may even brand that expectation as naïve too.

Clearly, there is a race issue, and it seems to be growing. Here in Guyana, a cursory glance at the comments on social media would reveal the vile and hated being posted from people of various ethnicities. One could argue that the problem was always there, but raises its head at various times with varying magnitude.

The existence of the Ethnic Relations Commission underscores the presence of the problem.

Just after the 2015 elections, some two thousand Amerindian Community Workers were relieved of their jobs, as thousands of sugar workers were so relieved following the closure of some estates. Those actions, reportedly without any proper social impact assessment and contingency plan, have plunged many Guyanese further into poverty. Many remain convinced that such actions may be premised on race, which has been denied.

That and what’s happening in some parts of the world speak to the reality that those endeavouring to try and scale the walls of poverty have suddenly found shackles on their being. Many are now trapped, naturally bringing humiliation as their dignity evaporates.

Here, in Guyana, it demonstrates the fact that the atrocities of mass firing of Guyanese may have been preventable through a more prudent, humane and bipartisan approach to policy making.

While advancing humanity must not be toyed with, the unfortunate reality is that it is being used by some for preferential purposes. When protectionism and an imposition of one over others are factored in, an already bad situation worsens. This, unfortunately, and possibly deliberately, results in undesirable situations, including modern slavery.

It begs the questions: Were lessons learnt from history? Are some deliberately rewinding it for self-gratification? Are some trying to emulate historical figures? A simple answer could be that history lessons are being ignored. With race now seemingly foremost, Malcolm X could be right: the emancipation proclamation may not be authentic.

Employees of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry decked out in their African wear in observance of Emancipation Day 2019

(GBTI

photo)

Justice Claudette Singh’s unenviable mandate Dear Editor, After months of hiatus, uncertainty, political fencing and judicial drama, we can all breathe sighs of relief, as the way is now clearer for the inevitable premature General and Regional Elections to be held in Guyana.

The recent consentaneous appointment of a new GECOM Chairperson has made this possible.

Retired Justice Claudette Singh, the new-

ly appointed GECOM Chairperson, now enjoys the nation’s full confidence in her ability to efficiently fulfill this unenviable mandate.

Justice Singh has been fondly referred to as the “Iron Lady”, an alias derived from her tenacious jurisprudence over the years. With her new hat at the helm of GECOM, a more befitting epithet would be the “Pendulum Lady”, for she must ensure

that Guyana’s clock ticks symmetrically.

My privileged encounters with Justice Singh, on at least three occasions, were in the line of duty.

Justice Singh left an indelible impression with me, primarily through her unassuming articulation and legal insight.

As Justice Singh adjusts, in the oncoming days, to her new, critical and demanding portfolio, best wishes are extended

to her.

May God grant her the requisite wisdom in determining how the pendulum swings; determinations with consequences similar to those that left the biblical Pharaoh’s army drowning in the Red Sea and led the children of Israel right into the chartreuse promised land.

Dear Editor, I refer to a letter by one Gerhard Ramsaroop, published in a section of the media under the caption, “AFC has squandered its opportunity”, it should not have the PM position.

While I can agree with him that the AFC has squandered its chance, I want to remind Mr Ramsaroop to take off his blinkers and also recognise that the PNC, all by itself, has squandered the opportunity given to it by the citizens to rule Guyana after the last elections.

Mr Ramsaroop also has the audacity to state “The PNC retains goodwill, thanks largely to the Grangers”. What has this man been smoking lately?

Is he so desperate to be the PM Candidate of the PNC

that he spews such rubbish?

If one were to look at the credentials of the PNC over the last 4 years, it is one populated with prejudice against another group outside of Mr Granger’s group. This PNC-led administration is one buried in corruption, so much so that the Auditor-General, in his latest report, implored this Granger administration to produce the evidence on the $600 million missing from the Durban Park Project?

BOYO must be turning in his grave to be watching down on the nonsense his son has emitted here, and Gerhard must not be given a free pass, since he has now entered the political arena with this toxic piece.

So the question to ask

is: What do we do with someone who rolls from the PPP to the AFC to the PNC? We should treat him exactly like how we treat his arch-nemesis, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan and Mr Moses Nagamootoo -with scorn.

After Mr Granger offered him a big job, Mr Ramsaroop picked up his “paridhan” (belongings) and ran away from Mr Granger, and now he wants to walk into the PNC camp, and they must all clear the way for him to be Mr Granger’s PM Candidate?

What happened to people like Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, who has stood side-by-side with Mr. Granger, covering up his incompetence and deflecting all the allegations of

corruption against the regime?

What I see from Mr Gerhard Ramsaroop is the embodiment of one who is a naked political opportunist, equal in calibre to Mr Derek Basdeo or Mr Sherod Duncan from the AFC. What I see is someone seeking a job from his old friend, Mr Granger.

Well, it is too late now, since under a caretaker/ interim government, even Mr Granger cannot hire him, and soon Mr Granger will become an illegitimate head of a JUNTA, and then after than a private citizen on a pension if the voters are allowed to vote in free and fair elections.

Yours faithfully, Orette Cutting

Naked political opportunist

Sincerely, Lisa Ally

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Use Emancipation as source Emancipation 2019 period of inspiration to guide should reinforce lessons of towards nation free from post-1838 history – GAWU poverty, discrimination – PPP

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) wishes to extend warmest greetings to every Guyanese, especially our Afro-Guyanese brothers and sisters, on the occasion of the 185th Anniversary of Emancipation.

Slavery remains the cruellest and most inhumane system of subjugation and discrimination known in human history.

The celebration of its abolition is the right and duty of every single human being.

This occasion again provides another opportunity for all to reflect on the tremendous sacrifices made by our Afro-Guyanese an-

cestors, who were brought inhumanely to this land in chains to provide free labour for the sugar plantations.

They were stripped of their humanity and dignity, and were forced to toil for long hours. Many were tortured and brutally killed for simply standing up for their rights. In their long and unyielding march for freedom, many battles were fought, including the Berbice Slave Rebellion led by our nation’s Hero, Cuffy.

When freedom finally came, the freed slaves and their descendants, though uneducated, demonstrated an exceptional degree of industry, thrift and fi-

nancial acumen, and hence were able to acquire large portions of land, which today remain the foundation of our Village Movement and subsistence cash crop industry.

Indeed, the contributions of slaves and their descendants to every facet of life in this nation is simply immeasurable, and would be impossible to accurately capture in a mere statement of this nature.

As we celebrate this important historic and national occasion, we urge every Guyanese not only to reflect upon the Herculean sacrifices of the slaves and their descendants, their incomparable struggles and their remarkable achievements, but also to use those as a source of inspiration and guide as we continue to work together to build a united and democratic nation, free from poverty and discrimination.

Happy Emancipation Day to all.

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he final “full freedom” of Emancipation was won after decades of death, suffering, slavery and exploitation from 1763 through 1823 to 1834 and finally 1838.

The spirit of yearning for freedom -- that liberty of mind, body and soul from ownership by others -- never deserted the African slaves, and the indentured contracted workers who followed them after full Emancipation in 1838. Numerous were the uprisings, rebellions, protests, riots and strikes.

Emancipation never came willingly or cheaply from the colonialists.

Against those sentiments, GAWU salutes the memory of those who struggled and sacrificed for freedom, and the descendants of our African forefathers, who today have hopefully

inherited their spirit of justice and true freedom from those who dared to stand up against the brutal, enslaving colonial system.

It is now popular to repeat that, “Had there been no Emancipation, there would have been no Arrival”.

But it is still a valid observation of our shared history.

Both slaves, “apprentices” and indentured labourers were integrally linked to the plantation.

Sugar historically cannot be separated from today’s demography we know as Guyanese society.

It is perhaps a curious but understandable fact of Guyana’s socio-economic history that sugar brought us together, and often forged our collective struggle against the plantocracy and for independence.

GAWU feels that this period of Emancipation 2019 should reinforce in all of us the lessons of the post-1838 history: In unity, strength is most sustained. Today, sugar workers are at low ebb, facing painful trials and tribulations of unemployment as Government flounders to fashion a valid, structured, lasting plan

to rescue a historic industry.

Closure has affected thousands - both sugar workers and other members of the working class.

As with the forced apprentices in 1838, today’s sugar workers face a bleak, hopeless future, unless economic sense prevails and the workers’ representatives are listened to with serious intent.

The descendants of Emancipation must all share in equal opportunity as our natural and human resources become available to development for all. No group should be favoured or discriminated against because of political expediency. Such approaches would help preserve, and give enduring meaning to, achievements like Emancipation and Independence.

GAWU urges reflection at this time. Emancipation, Arrival and today’s challenges are issues that hold lessons for us, and guide us in our pursuit and future endeavours. Let us heed them on Emancipation Day and onwards.

A pleasant Emancipation observance 2019, from GAWU.

Entire Guyanese nation should Emancipation is our human movement – ERC participate in public celebration of Emancipation – PNC

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he Chairman, commissioners, and staff of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) join with all Guyanese to celebrate the 185th commemoration on the declaration of the abolition of slavery and the undue sacrifice of apprenticeship that lasted to 1838.

The ERC sees this commemoration as a historical landmark that has changed the landscape of our nation forever – initiating the genesis of modern Guyana with the subsequent era of indentureship.

Emancipation then heralded the coming of indentureship, enriching the

landscape and compelling the need for answers from a new depth of clarification and fortitude towards an inevitable collective destiny beyond contentions, fears and fragmenting dogmas. Emancipation is the stage that challenges all Guyana to evolve continuously.

The years of slavery were the eternal twilight that slipped into the darkest night of struggle, sacrifice and consuming hopelessness, to awake from that long bloodstained night to the promise of a new dawn with Emancipation.

The struggles and efforts of our African ancestors redound to the benefit of all Guyanese. As a diverse nation of five peoples, we must collectively build on these triumphs, persevere, and resolutely aspire to greater heights and a

deepening of the spirit of social cohesion.

We must continue to unite, mobilise and together lift our nation to higher heights socially, economically and culturally. We must elevate our mindset, eschew mediocrity and believe in a culture of excellence.

Through the eyes of the ERC, Emancipation is our human movement. A process of cultural and mental awakening that must envelope us all, as we contemplate ground covered; acknowledge causes and errors made, and finally, truly emancipate ourselves collectively and commit a most significant positive posterity to the present and future Guyana.

The ERC takes this opportunity to extend best wishes to all Guyanese on the occasion of Emancipation.

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he People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) joins the Guyanese people in celebrating the 181st anniversary of the Emancipation of enslaved Africans. The Party regards this event as the most significant in the foundation of our nation and the formation of our society. It was the first step in our country’s long march towards social equality, economic independence and political freedom.

Africans in the united Guiana colonies of Berbice,

Demerara and Essequibo regained their freedom on August 1, 1838, after two hundred years of enslavement. Emancipation on that day commemorates not only the bloody sacrifices of the Africans who struggled, suffered, and slaughtered for the sake of the freedom we all enjoy today, but also the birth of the nation itself. The entire Guyanese nation should participate in this public celebration.

Emancipation is Guyana’s most important national celebration. It marks the start of the most significant demographic change through the coming of the Portuguese, East Indians, West Africans and Chinese and the transformation of the coastal landscape through the creation of free villages and the diversification of the econ-

omy into the production of food crops, gold-mining and logging. It led, also, to the liberation of society through the popular movements for educational development, labour organisation and political mobilisation.

Emancipation celebrations in 2019 also commemorate the 256th anniversary of the Berbice Revolt of 1763, led by Kofi, and the 196th anniversary of the Demerara Revolt of 1823, inspired by Kwamina.

Guyanese of all races are the beneficiaries and heirs of the sacrifices of our nation’s first freedom fighters.

Emancipation, after all, was not a finite event that occurred 181 years ago. It was the commencement of a continuing process which must aim at providing a “good life to all Guyanese”.

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Foundation #5: Let the games begin Light the Olympic Flame You might want to kick off your Olympic Games with an official ceremony for lighting the Olympic torch.

Lighting the Olympic torch adds an authentic touch.

Mature children can carry a lit candle or a long BBQ lighter to pass the torch and light the flame.

Keep torchlight or a candle burning throughout the competition ONLY if you have someone to keep an eye on it.

By Gloria Rand

D

o you like a little friendly competition?

Want to get your family outdoors for some fun?

In this article, I’ll show you how to produce Olympic Games (kids version) right in your own backyard.

You and your friends will remember it for years to come.

Why hold your own Backyard Olympics?

Watching the Olympic Games on television is a great way to introduce yourself to a wide variety of sporting events. But watching isn’t everything. Many of today’s children and teens spend too many hours in front of computer screens and TV sets.

A Backyard Olympics gives you an opportunity to get some exercise, engage in healthy competition and have a lot of fun at the same time.

As a side benefit, you can make this a learning experience too: Research the flags, customs and cultures of different countries they plan to represent.

Test your Olympic knowledge by taking an online quiz at Kidzworld.

Flex your creative muscles, design flag bibs to wear and choose which races and games should be included in the competition.

the number of competitors to six. With 10 or more children competing, it might be better to hold the event in a neighbourhood park.

Make sure you have enough adults on hand to help with the event. #2: Choose the countries Next, you’ll need to decide on the countries participants will represent. Each child can represent an individual country or you can create teams.

Visit Flagpedia.net to find each country’s flag. Make a copy of the flag with crayons or markers on a 4×6 inch (10×15 cm) piece of paper or you can print out a copy of the flag.

Punch holes in the four corners of the paper to make a flag bib and feed string through each side so it can be tied on over a shirt.

Download music from NationalAnthems.info so you can play the national anthem of each child’s country during the awards ceremony. This will give your Olympics an authentic feel.

Have awards ready in advance so you can hand them out at your closing ceremony. You can buy medals or ribbons from a local party-supply store or online. Another option is to make your own ribbons out of construction paper.

Preparation Time Allow a few hours to plan and gather materials in advance of your Olympics day.

Staging a Backyard Olympics requires a moderate amount of preparation, but you can take these easy steps to get started.

The smiles and memories make it well worth the effort.

#3: Choose your competitions Now you’ll decide on the number and type of games to be played. Brainstorm on the types of challenges for your Olympic Games.

Here are a few suggestions: Water Balloon Toss Jump Rope Contest Hula Hoop Contest 3-Legged Race Hot potato Egg and spoon race Pool noodle javelin toss Once the games are chosen, you’ll need to gather the supplies you need for each contest, such as a jump rope, stop watch, hula hoop and balloons.

Keep in mind that the more competitions you include, the more time it will take. For example, if you have six children performing six challenges, plan on the event taking about two to three hours.

#1: Decide on participants and location First, you need to decide how many people will participate and where to hold the competition. Let the size of your backyard be a guide. If you have a small area, you might want to limit

#4: Judging the event You also need to get volunteers to help with your Backyard Olympics. You’ll need people to judge the events, tally awards and be in charge of the music playback at the medal ceremony.

You will need Flag bibs (hand-made or printed pictures of country flags, hole punch, string) Smartphone, tablet or laptop to play national anthems Torch (candle, gas firestarter, or hand-made replica) Ribbons and/or medals Paper and pen to keep track of scores Stopwatch or phone with stopwatch function Supplies to run each game Sunscreen and water for everyone

Set expectations and explain the rules As part of your opening ceremony, ask the participants to take an oath of good sportsmanship. This is a good way to remind everyone to play fairly during the competition.

You can use the Olympic Oath as a model or come up with your own. Here’s the one we used: “I promise to play fair. I promise to be a good sportsman. I’ll try hard and I’ll have fun. So help me God.” Before each contest begins, explain the rules to make sure everyone understands how to play. #6: Reward the winners. Celebrate all Once all the events are completed and the winners determined, it’s time to hold an awards ceremony.

Have each child come forward to receive his or her medal or ribbon and play the appropriate national anthem for the country represented.

With a little creativity and effort, your family and friends can have fun taking part in a Backyard Olympics. (mykidsadventures.com)

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he word Gele comes from the Yoruba people in Nigeria. It is a beautiful scarf used as an ornament for women.

The “Gele” allows persons to identify the social status and the origin of a person through the way it is tied.

For example, the side to which the “Gele” is pointed indicates whether a woman is single or married. ―If the scarf points to the right side, it means that the woman is married. ―If the scarf points to the left side, it means that the woman is single.

Method 1 Step 1: Fold the Gele into half Step 2: Wrap around your head Step 3: Put the Gele on the back of your neck Step 4: Bring the hand of the Gele forward and pause in the middle of your forehead Step 5: Make some folds Step 6: Take the fold at the back Step 7: Change hands to help create wings Step 10: Make sure both edges are firm Step 11: Then tighten (twice if necessary) Step 12: Make more folds in the front of your Gele

Method 2 Step 1: Make a crease of about 2 cm on the frozen lengthwise.

Step 2: Place the crease on the front of the head, just at the edge of the forehead and bring the rest of the frost back to the neck. Two straps are thus created.

Step 3: Tie the straps at the neck. Make sure to leave a longer strap and a shorter strap.

Step 4: Pass the shorter strap inside the scarf.

Step 5: Reassemble the longer strap at the front of the head.

Make a full turn and tie it at the neck.

Step 6: Always fix the ends of the straps behind the head and adjust the top (afroculture.net)

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Govt, Opposition Commissioners' meeting with new GECOM Chair cordial

Opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj speaking to media operatives after Wednesday’s meeting

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ollowing more than three hours of talks with the new Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice Claudette Singh, the Government-nominated commissioners appeared to have toned down their push for the conduction of Houseto-House Registration.

After Wednesday’s meeting at the GECOM headquarters, Commissioner Vincent Alexander told reporters that they discussed “everything possible”— including House-to-House Registration— in a cordial atmosphere.

When asked, however, whether they still support

the conduct of fresh registration, which is currently ongoing, Alexander said “… at this time, yes”. But when further pressed if this position was likely to change, the Government-nominated Commissioner insisted that the voters’ list should be sanitised for the upcoming elections.

“My view is that there should be sanitation of the list, sanitation of the National Register of Registrants (NRR) for the provision of list that can provide friendly elections. That is not likely to change… So far (sanitisation via Houseto-House) is a matter which is on the table,” Alexander

told reporters.

The sanitising of the voters’ list is something the Opposition has been calling for with Claims and Objections.

House-to-House Registration started on July 20, and it was reported that some 50,000 persons have already registered. The exercise is scheduled to last up to three months, which will pass the September 18, 2019 deadline given for the holding of early elections.

Claims and Objections period

The PPP Opposition and its nominated commissioners at GECOM have been contended that the current voters’ list can be cleaned through an extended Claims and Objections period. This method was confirmed by both the Chief Elections Officers (CEO) Keith Lowenfield and GECOM’s legal advisor Attorney-atLaw Excellence Dazzle.

Meanwhile, following the near two-hour long meeting earlier on Wednesday with the Opposition-nominated commissioners, media operatives were told that the engagement was also very cordial. In fact, Commissioner

Sase Gunraj related that the new GECOM Chair appeared receptive and respectful of their views.

“Obviously some of the issues that were discussed are all matters that are in the public domain in relation to the conduct of elections as constitutionally due. The issue of House-toHouse Registration was raised, the alternative of Claims and Objections etc – those were all the issues raised,” he noted.

The Opposition Commissioner would not say, however, what views Justice Singh hold on the ongoing registration exercise.

“I’m not at liberty to disclose her views on House-toHouse… but I am satisfied that I’ve raised the issues and dealt with the factors that militate against the conduct of House-to-House registration at this point, vis-à-vis the holding of elections… I believe it is my duty to convince her of my position and views, and I’ve presented those views as best as I could as part of a team that met with her this morning… We look forward to have meaningful deliber-

Government-nominated Commissioners leaving GECOM after meeting with new Chairperson, Justice Claudette Singh

ations with all sides present when that time comes,” he stated.

Wednesday’s meetings with the commissioners from the two sides come on the heels of a series of meetings held on Tuesday

by Justice Singh and with CEO Lowenfield and other GECOM officials as she familiarises herself with the operations at the elections body.

While many are awaiting a decision from her as

to whether they will continue with the House-to-House exercise, or use Claims and Objections to sanitise the voters’ list in time for early elections as mandated by the Caribbean Court of Justice in its June 18 rulings and subsequently July 12 consequential orders, Justice Singh has already stated that any decision she makes will be in accordance with the Guyana Constitution.

4 narco-possession convicts pardoned by President

Robert Bhagnauth

Michael Gouveia

our persons convicted of narcotics possession charges were granted an early release from President David Granger in commemoration of today’s Emancipation celebrations.

According to a statement from the Public Security Ministry on Wednesday, the presidential pardons, which take effect today, were done by virtue of the powers vested in the Head of State under Article 188 of the Constitution of Guyana.

Article 188 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Guyana states that the President has the power to grant any person concerned in, or convicted of, any offence under

the laws of Guyana, a pardon, either free or subject to lawful condition.

The four pardon beneficiaries are: Robert Bhagnauth, age 39; Michael Gouveia, age 23; Andy Roberts, age 38; and Joseph Yaw, age 54. They have all served a portion of their sentences for possession of cannabis.

According to the missive, these men were considered to be “fit and proper” to receive such pardons by the President.

The early release of these four men comes at a time when the caretaker coalition Government has taken steps to remove custodial sentences for possession

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of small amounts of marijuana. About a month ago, Government said in a statement that after extensive discussions and reviews, “Cabinet has approved a proposal to remove custodial sentences for persons found to be in possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana”.

The issue of non-custodial sentences for small amounts of marijuana gained momentum back in March 2016 when inmates at the Georgetown Prison started a fire which eventually killed 17 prisoners while several others, along with prison staff, were injured. A subsequent probe had found, among other issues, significant overcrowding at the facility contributed to the events and as such, considerations were reignited to reduce custodial sen-

Andy Roberts

Joseph Yaw

tences for certain offences such as possession of small amounts of marjiuana.

Last year, however, Government had come under fire for failing to act on the matter after a 27-yearold poultry farmer, who was charged for possession of 8.4 grams of marijuana, was

sentenced to three years imprisonment in May 2018.

According to Guyana’s

law, possession of any amount of cannabis over 15 grams is considered trafficking. At the time, former Minister of State Joseph Harmon had explained that the magistrates are operating within the confines of the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances Act, which does not allow discretion when dealing with narcotics of certain quantities. Harmon had further posited that any Legislative reform on penalties for marijuana use and possession will have to be done with widespread public consultations.

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Court to proceed with illegal firearm case against Maryann Daby

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wo weeks after Magistrate Leron Daly discharged an attempted murder charged against businesswoman Maryann Daby, who was accused of attempting to kill a Police officer by pointing a gun to his head and pulling the trigger, the same Magistrate will be presiding over the trial in which Daby is charged with the possession of an illegal gun and ammo.

The senior Magistrate disclosed that she will proceed with the illegal firearm trial.

Police Prosecutor Richard Harris had asked for the illegal gun and ammo charges to be transferred to another court for trial.

Prosecutor Harris, in justifying his request, had stated that it would be prejudicial for the same Magistrate, who found Daby not guilty on the attempted murder charge, to

try her for two other offences.

The Prosecutor maintained his position and insisted that the matters be transferred to another court.

Magistrate Daly said that she is ready to proceed with the trial when the Prosecutor is ready. Prosecutor Harris subsequently ask the court for leave to seek further advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the way forward. The case was adjourned to September 3.

It is alleged that on May 13, 2018, at Albert Street, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, Daby had a .32 pistol in her possession when she was not the holder of an enforced firearm licence.

It was further alleged that on the same day, she had six live rounds of .32 ammunition in her possession when she was not the holder of a firearm licence enforced at the

Maryann Daby

time. She has since denied both charges.

Two weeks ago, Magistrate Daly dismissed an attempted murder against Daby citing the lack of evidence.

That charge had alleged that the 25-year-old woman of D’Aguiar Park, Houston, Georgetown, on May 13, 2018,

at Albert Street, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, with the intent to commit murder, allegedly attempted to discharge a firearm at Police Constable Christopher Kissoon.

According to reports, on the day in question, Daby and her friends were at the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club. Constable Kissoon, who was off-duty and at the club at the time, reportedly heard what appeared to be gunshots.

While checking for the source of the gunfire, he reportedly saw Daby firing rounds into the air and, as a result, he confronted her.

Daby allegedly became annoyed and pointed a firearm to his head and pulled the trigger. However, the barrel was empty at the time. Daby was represented by AttorneyAt-Law Mark Waldron.

Woman jailed for breaking car windscreen

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woman, who was behaving disorderly in the court room on Wednesday, was sentenced to nine months in prison after she admitted to damaging a car.

Forty-five-year-old Vanessa Schroeder appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

She pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on July 31, 2019, at Hadfield and Cross Streets, Georgetown,

she unlawfully and maliciously damaged a $70,000 windscreen of a car – the property of Donna Bailey.

In court on Wednesday, the woman said, “…they always troubling me, that’s why I damaged the vehicle”.

The woman, in handcuffs, began to behave in a disorderly manner in the courtroom, which caused a female Police officer to approach her and ask her to quiet down.

The irate woman turned to the officer and shouted, “Don’t ****ing touch me! Let

me talk to the Magistrate because I am sick and tired of y’all pushing me around, I am tired of the pushing around”.

Police Prosecutor Ceon Blackman, who presented the facts of the matter to the court, stated that on the day in question, the Virtual Complainant parked her vehicle at Hadfield and Cross Streets, Georgetown, when Schroeder approached the vehicle with a brick and threw it at the front windscreen, causing it to break.

The matter was reported

to the Police and the woman was arrested.

The Magistrate, after listening to the facts, sentenced the woman to nine months behind bars.

The woman, upon hearing she was jailed, began cursing the Magistrate and shouting “I gon’ chop off all them prisoners’ head!”

The woman began to throw water on the male prisoners who were inside the holding area, moments after she was escorted to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts lock-ups.

Emancipation…

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…vs freedom oday is Emancipation Day…the anniversary of the seminal event in 1838 (Aug 1st) when the 82,000 slaves in then British Guiana were freed by an act of the British Parliament passed in 1833.

While the Act kicked into force in 1834, there was going to be a six-year “Apprenticeship” period (soon reduced to 4 years) during which the slaves would be transitioned into a money economy. In other words, they’d be paid for their labour during that time.

Problem was, even after the Apprenticeship period, Emancipation was confined to what’s been called “negative freedom”, i.e. the freedom from being constrained – of which slavery had been the most extreme form, save possibly solitary confinement in the penal system. The slave wasn’t “chattel”, or property with absolutely no rights, any longer. He couldn’t be forced to work, or “breed”, or even live on the plantations any longer.

The question was: Did he have “positive” freedom – the freedom to live in accordance with his own will, to fulfil his own potentialities? In your Eyewitness’s opinion, the jury’s still out on that question 171 years later.

In the immediate post-slavery period, most of the exslaves decamped the plantations to fend for themselves.

As we all know, some of them pooled their savings during the Apprenticeship period and bought up abandoned plantations to launch what we now call the Village Movement.

This enlarged their scope of positive freedom, but a combination of planter vindictiveness, geographic/ hydraulic constraints, and structural/cultural factors inculcated during the slave era served to restrict the full flowering of their freedom.

Now, in the modern world, everyone is subject to societal forces that constrain their freedom to a lesser or greater extent. But for the newly freed slaves and their descendants, there were unique factors acting against them.

For one, the plantations they bought had to be drained and irrigated because of the unique geography of our coastland. To accomplish that, capital was needed far in excess of what was going to be generated from the subsistence agriculture practised at that time. The planters didn’t upkeep the drainage and irrigation canals, and pretty soon life became a continuous struggle. The British rulers preferred the ex-slaves drift into the towns, where they could provide a cheap and readily available reserve of workers who would compete with each other and keep down wages.

What was most debilitating, however, were the cultural patterns fostered during slavery and structurally perpetuated afterwards. The propensity of some to “live for the day” – lesser deferred gratification - loose family bonds, with absentee fathers etc conspired to impart a negative stereotype of the descendants of slaves that crippled their development.

Their leadership, which used the less fortunate as a voting bloc, hasn’t helped their plight. …and Haitians Looks like the method behind the madness of the PNC insistence on H2H is coming to light!! Your Eyewitness always knew it had to do with the PNC’s rigging of the upcoming elections…and nothing to do with them just drawing their salaries for another year. (Not that THAT isn’t the motivation for hangers-on like Ramjattan and Nagamootoo!!) Well, mouth open and story jump out!!

8600 Haitians entered Guyana in the last seven months!!

They get to Panama, and then fly in via Copa airlines.

Last year, Felix was grilled by a Parliamentary Committee about the phenomenon. He weakly suggested the Haitians were just en route to Suriname, and then on to French Guiana. But Suriname introduced the need for visas (even though it’s also a Caricom country) on September 15,2016, and there’s been no upsurge for Surinamese visas by Haitians!!

Is Felix approving backtracking? Or is he playing the fool, knowing he’s using them to pad the electoral lists??

No wonder he needed 23,000 birth certificate forms!!

Emancipating Haitians to enslave Guyanese! …and food Well, for one day, your Eyewitness is taking the day off and heading down to the Emancipation goings-on. He’s gonna gorge himself with some old-fashioned metemgee and conkie.

Happy Emancipation Day, Guyana!!

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

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Mother jailed for killing son appeals 20-year prison sentence

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onvicted child killer Sonia King, through her attorney Mark Conway, has filed an appeal with Guyana’s Appellate Court to reduce a 20-year prison sentence, which was recently imposed by Justice Navindra Singh, after she admitted to the lesser count of manslaughter.

King’s appeal is being filed on the grounds that Justice Singh had failed to recognise the convicted killer’s psychological condition – which should have been con-

a severe nature.

The mother of two had pleaded guilty to killing her eight-year-old son while he was asleep on February 21, 2016. Justice Singh, who had heard the matter on July 18, sentenced the woman to serve 20 years for the crime.

Reports are that King initially claimed that the child

Deceased: Emmanuel King

Convicted: Sonia King

sidered as a mitigating factor at the time the offence was

committed and further that the sentence imposed was of

fell from a guava tree during the afternoon of February 21 after which he retired to bed.

At about 22:00h, the mother had claimed that she went to check on the child but found him in a motionless state.

He was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. However,

she later confessed that she killed the child because of frustration, saying that she took a bed sheet and choked the child to death while he was sleeping.

After the incident, King reportedly confessed to her husband to killing the child.

She was arrested after confessing to investigators.

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79 at-risk youths graduate from skills training

The graduands along with Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, Mark Cullinane; CEO of VYC Goldie Scott; Principal of GTI, Renita Duncan and business coach Vishnu Doerga

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ome 79 young persons on Wednesday graduated from a ninemonth technical and vocational skills training programme preparing them for the world of work.

The programme, funded

by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Community, Family and Youth

Resilience (CFYR) initiative, aims to strengthen opportunities for at-risk youth between the ages of 16 – 29 years, to become more marketable and successful in joining the work force.

The participating students were from four CFYR-targeted communities in Georgetown: East La Penitence, Lodge, East Ruimveldt, and Sophia’s C, D and E Fields.

At Wednesday’s graduation ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) — the organisation that implemented the training programme— Goldie Scott, give a breakdown of the participants. She explained that there was a ratio of 52% female to 48% male participation, add-

ing that only 58 per cent of them had completed high school, while 18.5 per cent received vocational education before and 48 per cent dropped out of school.

A staggering 86 per cent of the youths in the training programme are unemployed, while the other 14 per cent are receiving livelihood support. In addition, Scott also disclosed that 6 participants or seven per cent have had brushes with the law in minor offences.

To this end, she noted that “The programme designed has taken a holistic approach by offering a holistic package to empower youths with soft and hard skills, while addressing directly their livelihood needs”.

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Unscrutinised H2H Registration will leave thousands off new list – Jagdeo

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ith thousands of people taking a decision to boycott the exercise and with lack of oversight for the enumerators, House-to-House Registration is unlikely to produce a clean list. This is according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

Jagdeo was at the time speaking during his weekly press conference at his Church Street office on Wednesday. According to the former President, this process may, in fact, produce the opposite of what it is supposed to achieve.

“The PPP made a decision not to participate, not to be complicit in an illegality. It is illegal, for the way it is being conducted. Any list created on the basis of this House-to-House, would have no credibility. Because people are refusing to be registered. The registration of people is being done in a manner not scrutinised”.

“So they could put in 10 people. They just need to get

one enumerator… and you have a whole group of people working a propaganda machine on the Government side, that there are 200,000 people who should not be on the list. They didn’t discover this until after the NoConfidence Motion. (Chief Elections Officer Keith) Lowenfield has made it clear that is not true, that’s speculative”.

Jagdeo pointed out that while the Official List of Electors has expired, the National Registrar of Registrants has not. In addition, Jagdeo noted that based on GECOM’s timeline for the exercise, elections would be pushed back until next year the earliest.

Attacks

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield had revealed recently that enumerators have been met by non-cooperation from some citizens. Reports have ranged from staff being told they will not be paid,

A team of enumerators carrying out the House-to-House Registration exercise

to some citizens employing dogs on the hapless GECOM workers.

In the wake of these reports, Jagdeo also issued a plea for such persons to desist. He urged citizens to act responsibly and not to resort to such measures, but to treat enumerators with respect.

“I want to urge Guyanese not to target the enumerators. They are doing a job,

a lot of them are professionals. But people see them as being complicit in this illegality. They are doing this for pay. You can treat them politely and say, I’m not registering”.

“Because these are Guyanese people who are trying to earn a living too.

So we shouldn’t disparage them. In fact, I suggest they should suspend the activity and give the enumerators

a month or two salaries for their work and their training. But suspend the activity”.

GECOM is currently undertaking House-to-House Registration, which was last conducted in 2008 and will see enumerators going in teams of two to three, from door to door in various communities across Guyana.

The enumerators will present forms to registrants to fill up, as well as take fingerprints and pictures.

It is understood that these enumerators work from 15:30h to 18:30h during the week and from 9:00h to 16:00h on weekends and holidays. The exercise is intended to produce a new National Register of Registrants Database and Official List of Electors.

This means that everyone, regardless of whether they were registered before, must register anew at their place of residence between July 20 and October of this year. However, a

No-Confidence Motion was passed against the Government since December 21 last year— necessitating elections in three months.

In addition, the requirement for proof of residency has produced alarm for overseas-based Guyanese to the point where a court case was filed earlier this year by an overseas-based Guyanese against Houseto-House Registration, on the basis that it would disenfranchise her. That case was later withdrawn out of the belief that GECOM would adhere to the recent Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) rulings which reiterated the need for elections in three months.

Currently, Attorney and social commentator Christopher Ram has a case before the High Court in which he is seeking an injunction against the exercise. That case comes up for hearing on Friday before acting Chief Justice Roxanne George.

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Another massive protest held to demand President, Cabinet’s resignation …calls reiterated for halting of H2H Registration

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Supporters holding various placards

large group of People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) supporters, including the party’s Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, and several senior members of the party braved the heat on Wednesday as they protested on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, demanding that the President and his Cabinet resign and announce a date for elections — as is constitutionally mandated. The protesters also reiterated calls for the

halting of the illegal Houseto-House Registration (H2H).

The protest was held outside of the Ministry of the Presidency, Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, and attracted scores of PPP/C supporters from all across Guyana, who were displaying the party’s colours, waving placards and shouting various slogans— including “Granger must go” and “Call elections now” – all in an effort to reiterate that elections should

be held in keeping with the Constitution of Guyana and the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

PPP/C’s Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali and former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, along with a number of senior party officials, were present at the picketing line.

During brief interviews with Guyana Times, these party members expressed similar views as they called for Government to act in accordance with

the law. The Opposition’s Presidential Candidate has disclosed that because the elections are being continuously delayed, more and more Guyanese are becoming impatient, hence, the number of protesters would increase.

“Once again, the people of Guyana are out here in defence of our Constitution, in defence to the rule of law and standing up for democracy…week after week the numbers are growing, more people are becoming impa-

The scores of protesters outside the Ministry of the Presidency

PPP/C Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali leads a line of protesters

tient, businesses are becoming impatient and all of this is happening because the country is uneasy…. the President and the Government must resign now, they must dissolve Parliament now and they must call the elections,” Ali said.

Meanwhile, Hinds warned that more protests will be underway if elections are not in line with the September deadline.

“We’re calling on our President to comply with our Constitution, comply with the CCJ ruling, call elections now, set a date

for elections. We demand that GECOM comes inline, meets that date, and the date we should be thinking of now is September 18,” Hinds expressed.

Only last week, the PPP/C supporters organised a massive countrywide protest where supporters in every administrative region picketed offices of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), demanding that they scrap the House-to-House Registration exercise and begin preparing for elections to be held no later than September 18.

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Chicken shortage

Local poultry farmers thrown off-balance by smugglers …situation to return to normalcy by mid-August

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ocal poultry farmers were thrown off-balance by chicken smugglers and as such when the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) clamped down on the illegal trade, this triggered a shortage of chicken on the market.

This is according to the Guyana Poultry Producers Association (GPPA), which on Wednesday in an advertisement in the local media said that the smuggling of chicken from Suriname contributed to a surplus of chicken in Guyana, because the local poultry farmers could not estimate the amount of smuggled chicken entering the country and continued producing as per norm.

According to the GPPA, smuggling of chicken in large quantities began in early 2018.

It explained at that time Suriname only had a five

per cent duty on imported chicken, which resulted in the meat bird being imported into the country in large quantities from the United States and Brazil legally.

The poultry was then smuggled across the Surinamese border into Guyana.

Further, the GPPA stated that the surplus lasted from May 2018 to March 2019, which accounted for the largest glut of chicken Guyana has ever experienced.

The GPPA further noted that last month, the duty on imported chicken to Suriname climbed from five to 40 per cent which dented the smuggling business.

Moreover, it said the Enforcement Department of the GRA got wind of this illegal trade and stepped up its campaign against the smuggled chicken. “It appeared that their efforts resulted in large seizures of

chicken brought in illegally from across the border.”

In March of this year, the Poultry Association said farmers were left with excess birds in their pens which were between 12 and 15 weeks old although the normal growth period was six weeks.

This, too, played a part in the current shortage.

“The delayed time for this excess chicken to be sold resulted in long delays before farmers could start a new crop of chicks, since

new crops require the pens to be empty,” the organisation explained.

Normalcy

Presently, hatching egg imports have increased and local farmers have placed adequate supplies of chicken on their farms that will reach processing age in another week or two which is expected to bring an end to the shortage of local chicken, the GPPA assured.

“The GPPA would also like to assure the Guyanese

public that chicken supplies would return to normal by mid-August,” the statement said.

Further, it said this problem was unlikely to reoccur now that the disruption has been rectified. As such, the grouping expressed gratitude to the Enforcement Department of the GRA for its efforts in clamping down on the illegal entry of chicken into Guyana.

Last week, the Guyana Livestock and Development Authority (GLDA) announced a shortage of chicken on the local market. It said it was “monitoring the situation”.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the Authority said based on its records, there has been a reduction in the number of cases of hatching eggs imported compared to 2018, which perhaps could have contributed to the shortage.

Additionally, some farmers have also been complaining of reduced growth rates and higher mortality.

“The major players in the sector were consulted and assured that the situation would be rectified during the week. This is based on the hatching and grow-out time for the chickens. They have also assured that they are able to maintain supply to their major customers,” the statement noted.

Days after, a major fast food establishment, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) came out saying that it has been affected by the recent chicken shortage, causing it to limit the meals that are available.

In a public notice, the fast food franchise informed customers that some of the combos they are accustomed to ordering would not be available owing to the poultry shortage.

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151 youths benefit from job-readiness, web-designing training

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pecialists in Sustained Youth Development and Research Incorporated (SSYDR) opened its job readiness programme to some 151 persons this year, enabling them with life skills to gain employment and reintegrate successfully into their communities.

Through partnership with ExxonMobil Guyana, the batch of youths was sourced from Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Having completed the fiveweek session, they would be moving on towards a career of their choice.

Executive Director of SSYDR Magda Wills explained that at-risk persons were mainly chosen to participate to reduce the climbing violence and crime rate here in Guyana.

“SSYDR Inc has as its vision, inspired youth transforming themselves, their house, community [and] nation. Our mission is to really promote youth access to resources, opportunities and ongoing support for lifelong learning, leadership and livelihood, towards the reduction of violence, crime and poverty,” Wills stated.

According to her, there is a high probability that these persons will remain unemployed if intervention is not sought at the earliest.

She expressed, “Youths

Youths partaking in the summer camp

from lower performing secondary schools and from lower socioeconomic conditions stand a greater chance of becoming unemployed statistics, as well as becom-

ing entangled with the law.

As such, we have recognised the need for those who have recently completed their secondary education or would have, in some cases,

dropped out of the formal school system”.

This year, Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Guyana was involved to provide additional support.

Approximately 400 persons have already benefitted altogether from the training programmes over the years.

“This collaboration allows youth not only to gather key work-ready skills, but also to become even more marketable with this new ability to develop websites…

To date, through funding at various times from ExxonMobil Guyana, we have been able to reach approximately 400 young persons across six of Guyana’s ten administrative regions”.

M e a n w h i l e ,

ExxonMobil’s Public and Government Affairs Manager Deedra Moe emphasised that employment readiness should not be underestimated.

“It has a multiplier effect in being able to help not only the youth, but potentially communities which they are returning. You really can underestimate the value of job readiness. It is a matter of individual empowerment of making sure that you’re able to be employed and provide an opportunity into the future,” Moe asserted.

The unit is moving towards the hinterland regions next year to provide equal access to youths in those communities.

Shop owner charged for operating brothel Teen among 2 nabbed for ganja find at Sophia A

shop owner was granted bail on Wednesday after being charged with operating a brothel.

Ceon Dawson, of First Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni- Mazaruni), appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge stated that between June 21 and June 28, 2019, at Red Man Shop, Upper Mazaruni River, Region Seven, he operated a brothel at the shop.

According to information, ranks from the Trafficking in Person (TIP) Unit and persons from the Social Protection Ministry received

information that underage girls and foreign nationals were at the shop engaging in prostitution. As such, a party of Police officers went to the location to conduct an investigation and they found several foreigners at the 33-yearold man’s shop.

The father of three was arrested and taken to the

Criminal Investigation Department where further investigation was carried out and the charge instituted.

The Prosecutor did not object to bail. Dawson was released on $100,000 bail. The case will continue on August 5 before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

A

The cannabis discovered in the Sophia house

n 18-year-old Sophia, Georgetown resident and a 22-yearold relative are now in the custody of the Police after a quantity of cannabis was discovered in their house

by Police on Wednesday.

Reports are Police were in the area investigating a missing person’s report when they swooped down at

the Lot 22 B Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown house.

The duo was at home at the time the ranks conducted the search. Leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis were discovered hidden in a green hand bag. As such, the two were taken into Police custody.

The cannabis weighed 180 grams.

79 at-risk youths...

During the program, the first two months were focused on basic life skills training and then the following seven months were competency-based training done in partnership with the Georgetown Technical Institute (GTI), where the participants took and completed courses in data operations; electrical installation and motor vehicle repairs.

Principal of GTI, Renita Duncan, encourage the participants to enroll at the institution for full courses, telling them that “education doesn’t stop once you graduate”.

The completion of the ‘Workforce Development Programme’ now paves the way for the next phase of the project, that is, focusing on the placement of youths.

For this, the organisers will be collaborating with the Private Sector to provide employment opportunities.

On this note, former President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and business coach, Vishnu Doerga, urged the graduants to take advantage of the skills acquired and put them to use so that they can get better at them.

“Always remember, now that you’ve been exposed for seven to nine months, to a particular skill you need to practice the skill. If you do not practice the skill, just like knowledge, you could lose it. So make sure the

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skill you gained, you continue practicing it so that you can then develop it to the final stage where you actually get paid for that skill,” he told the youths.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, Mark Cullinane, told the graduants that they should be proud of their accomplishments and the impact it will have on not only their lives but their communities as well as the country as a whole.

“Our hope is that you, as graduates, can take advantage of the opportunity available under the CFYR programme and access sustainable, long-lasting and meaningful employment,” he noted.

Cullinane went onto to note that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has estimated youth unemployment in Guyana to be almost 23%, while the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has found that 80% of prosecuted crimes here are committed by youths between the ages of 19 and 29.

“These are significant development challenges and CFYR hopes to address them in close Under the CFYR programme, some 385 young persons have been trained thus far and 93 already placed in employment with more to be given job opportunities following Wednesday’s graduation exercise.

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Tucville man wanted for Sophia pool party murder

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he Police have now issued a wanted bulletin for a Tucville Squatting Area, Georgetown man who is wanted in connection with the murder of 28-year-old Terry Ault, which occurred July 21.

Wanted is 38-year-old Joseph Sargeant called “Joey” of Lot 3458 Postal Housing Scheme, North Ruimveldt and LH Stevedore Scheme, Tucville Squatting Area, Georgetown.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Sargeant is being asked to contact the Police on tele-

Ault, a father of one, reportedly left his Lot 63, Block A, South Sophia home to attend a pool party in the same community.

However, at about 03:00h on July 21, the man’s relative received reports

that he had been shot.

Ault was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

It is still unclear what caused the shooting; how-

ever, five persons, including two women, were held for questioning by the Police.

Acting Crime Chief Michael Kingston had also confirmed that advice was given for one person to be charged with the murder.

to De Willem on West Coast Demerara; Parika and Salem to Sparta on East Bank Essequibo.

Water Street, Georgetown; Chapman Grove-Greenfield, Mahaicony, and Mahaica will also be affected. It is expected that the highest tides will be experienced on Friday, August 2 at 04:30h

at a height of 3.28 metres and Saturday, August 3 at 05:19h at a height of 3.29m.

The Ministry has sent a warning to mariners to display caution during these times, especially those operating fishing boats and larger vessels. The use of beaches and foreshore areas for recreation is heavily forbidden.

High tide warning in effect Wanted: Joseph called “Joey”

Sargeant

phone numbers 226-6978, 225-8196, 226-2870, 2267065, 227-1149, 226-7065,

Murdered: Terry Ault

911 or the nearest Police station. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

C

itizens residing in low-lying areas across the coastal region are advised to brace themselves for predicted high tides this week, since storms and flooding are likely to occur.

According to the Public Infrastructure Ministry, tides will rise beyond the normal levels until August 5. Areas susceptible to possible flooding or overtopping at sea defence structures include the Pomeroon river banks; San Souci to Sarah and Maria’s Pleasure to Meerzorg in Wakenaam; Cane FieldAmsterdam, EndeavourBlenheim and Cane Garden in Leguan; Windsor Forest

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSday, AUGUST 1, 2019

17

Around the World

2nd confirmed Ebola patient Jamaica ready to exit IMF arrangement in DR Congo’s Goma dies I T

he second patient to be diagnosed with Ebola in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest city, Goma, has died, according to officials DRC’s Ebola response coordinator, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum confirmed the death on Wednesday, a day after the case was announced.

“A patient who was confirmed with Ebola in Goma has died. Every measure has been taken to block the chain of transmission,” MuyembeTamfum said.

The incident has increased fears the virus could take root in the densely populated city of around one million, which is more than 350 kilometres south of where the outbreak was first de-

tected. This would accelerate the spread of disease which has killed over 1800 people over the past year and become the second-worst outbreak on record.

In a joint statement hours after the death was confirmed, several United Nations agencies expressed concern, saying: “This latest case in such a dense population centre underscores the very real risk of further disease transmission, perhaps beyond the country’s borders.”

Aruna Abedi, who is coordinating the Ebola response in North Kivu, the worsthit province, said the second patient to die from Ebola in Goma had arrived at a treatment centre “11 days after falling ill”.

“His was really a hope-

Amid the Ebola outbreak, health workers have vaccinated some 160,000 people [Pamela Tulizo/AFP]

less case because the illness was already at an advanced stage and he died overnight on Tuesday.”

Abedi urged the public to respond swiftly to symptoms of Ebola and “not hide suspect cases”.

“The treatment centre is not a dying room – you have to bring the patient in early,”

he said.

The man who died was a miner in his 40s returning home from an area of north-eastern Ituri province where no Ebola cases in this outbreak have been recorded, World Health Organisation (WHO) officials told reporters. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

nternational Monetary Fund (IMF) Resident Representative, Dr Constant Lonkeng Ngouana says Jamaica has made tremendous progress over the past six years and was now ready to exit its current arrangement with the Washington-based financial institution.

“Jamaica has reached a place where we don’t need to be here all the time. We are taking the back seat and Jamaica is in the driver’s seat….With what Jamaica has achieved over the past six years, we believe Jamaica is ready to exit the IMF and run its own business,” he said.

Jamaica’s current programme with the IMF is scheduled to officially end in November. The country will, however, continue to benefit from technical assistance.

“When Jamaica exits the financial support of the IMF, there will still be that consultation, which we do for the United States, United

Kingdom, all our member countries. But it is not going to be the same [arrangement] of setting the targets and monitoring,” Dr Ngouana said.

“We will offer our advice through technical assistance and so on, but not the heavy monitoring,” he continued, adding that this is “a sign of maturity” and confidence in Jamaica’s ability to manage its own affairs.

In the meantime, Dr Ngouana praised the efforts of successive Administrations, since 2013, in turning the Jamaican economy around, and noted the seamless continuity of the IMF programme across Administrations.

“Up to 2011, Jamaica was in and out of IMF programmes… [and] there wasn’t a steady process.

Since 2013, which is believed to be the turning point…Jamaica acknowledged the problem and said, ‘we need to fix this’,” he noted. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Iran says it’s prepared for dialogue Indian court to probe if Saudi Arabia also ready alleged threats by BJP I leader in rape case ran is prepared for dialogue if Saudi Arabia is also ready, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Tensions have spiked between Iran and Saudi Arabia, arch-rivals for predominance in the Middle East, since Riyadh accused the Islamic Republic of carrying out attacks that damaged six oil tankers in the Gulf. Tehran has denied the

allegation.

“If Saudi Arabia is ready for dialogue, we are always ready for dialogue with our neighbours,” Zarif was quoted as saying by the IRIB news agency. “We have never closed the door to dialogue with our neighbours and we will never close the door to dialogue with our neighbours.”

The attacks on the oil tankers came as the United States, Saudi Arabia’s major big power ally, tough-

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

ened sanctions on Iran in an attempt to force it into negotiations on stricter limits to its nuclear activity and curbs on its ballistic missile programme.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, called on the international community in mid-June to take a “decisive stand” over the tanker attacks, but said the kingdom did not want a war in the region. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Thousands bid their final goodbye to Café Coffee Day founder VG Siddhartha

A

n outpouring of grief marked the last journey and rites of Café Coffee Day founder-owner VG Siddhartha on Wednesday, as thousands lined the route of the ambulance conveying his body from Mangaluru to his hometown in Chikkamagaluru district.

Many more – including public figures, corporate bosses, villagers whose lives were touched by the entrepreneur and his enterprise, coffee planters, and CCD employees – gathered at his ancestral residence, Chethanahally Estate, in

VG Siddhartha

Chikkamagaluru, where he was cremated in the evening. Almost everyone had

a memorable story to share about Siddharatha.

Chief minister BS Yediyurappa led a long line of politicians who paid their respects to Siddhartha, 59, and offered condolences to his devastated family.

Siddhartha, the son-in-law of former Union minister SM Krishna, is survived by his wife Malavika and two sons.

Siddhartha, who had been grappling with a financial crisis, was reported to have jumped off a bridge over Nethravathi River, on the outskirts of Mangaluru, on Monday evening.

There were emotional scenes at Amber Valley Residential School, the brainchild of Siddhartha.

“He viewed the school as a place to do good things for children and to make them good human beings,” said the institution’s trustee and chairman, Poornima Jairaj. “The school was set up in 2004 and the following year, a vocational centre was set up to train locals in hospitality.”

Many schoolchildren said Siddhartha was their role model. Siddhartha had forestry operations in Guyana.

(Excerpt from Times of India)

CCJ to hear matter involving Caricom countries in October

T

he Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will sit in October to hear a request for an advisory opinion by the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

The CCJ, which was established in 2003, replacing the London-based Privy Council as the Region’s final court, also acts as an international tribunal interpret-

ing the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the 15-member regional integration grouping.

CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders, in the case management of the matter in which Attorneys representing Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St Kitts-Nevis and Jamaica as well as the Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat made

appearances, said that the matter would be heard on October 22-23.

The CCJ is hearing a request for an advisory opinion by Caricom pursuant to Article 212 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas which states “the Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to deliver advisory opinions concerning the interpretation and application of the

Treaty” and that “advisory opinions shall be delivered only at the request of the Member States parties to a dispute or the Community”.

In its submissions, Grenada said it would like to know when a State has in the past opted out of a decision, nationals of that State nevertheless enjoyed the benefits of the decision adopted by Caricom. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

I

ndia’s Supreme Court will look into accusations that a powerful regional politician threatened the family of a teenager who accused him of rape, the country’s Chief Justice said, stepping into a case that has triggered outrage.

The 19-year-old woman is fighting for her life in hospital after the car she was in was smashed by a truck in her northern home state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, killing two of her aunts and severely injuring her lawyer.

It was the latest tragedy to befall her family since she accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of raping her at his home in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, in 2017.

Weeks before the collision, the family wrote a letter to the Supreme Court saying they faced threats

to their lives from the legislator she accused, and the Chief Justice said he would look into the matter.

“We [will] try to do something constructive in the midst of this highly destructive volatile environment,” Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said in the court on Wednesday.

Gogoi also asked for a status report on the case, and was expected to look into the matter further today.

The rape case and the car crash are already being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a national agency, amid fears the local Police may be influenced by the politician.

The State legislator, Sengar, has denied the accusation of rape and any involvement in the car crash that has brought the case back into the public spotlight. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Ex-TCI Premier loses bid to toss US$100M graft case

A

former Turks and Caicos Premier who allegedly funded his playboy lifestyle by selling off chunks of the islands has lost a bid to have the US$100 million corruption case thrown out.

Attorneys for nine defendants including ex-Premier Michael Misick and four of his one-time Cabinet Ministers had urged the Judge to dismiss the case, claiming insufficient evidence.

But in a hearing at the Supreme Court in

Providenciales on Monday, Judge Paul Harrison declared there was indeed a case for them to answer.

The proceedings officially opened in December 2015 and were expected to last just six months, but have dragged on.

They followed a Commission of Inquiry initiated by London in 2008 that brought to light a litany of allegedly crooked dealings in the territory 1000 kilometres (600 miles) southeast of Miami. (Excerpt from AFP)

18

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THURSday, AUGUST 1, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

solution for LAST PUBLISHED puzzle AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

You don’t have to make a change because someone else does. Follow your heart and your head, and use skill and knowhow to make your dreams come true.

Check out your options and use your intelligence to do what’s right and best for you. Don’t follow someone who exaggerates or uses emotional manipulation to pressure you.

Trust in yourself, not in what someone tries to lead you to believe. Make new friends and search for ways to improve your current lifestyle. Romance is in the stars.

An innovative approach to what you do or how you use your skills will pay off.

The opportunity will come to you if you actively pursue your goals. Believe and invest in yourself.

Don’t worry about what others are doing. Stay focused on your objective and keep moving forward until you reach your goal.

Make your words and actions count. Celebrate with a loved one.

Change begins within.

If you don’t like something, do something about it.

Look for solutions instead of putting up with situations that are costing you emotionally, financially or physically.

You’ll find it more gratifying if you help a cause rather than assisting someone who tends to complain or criticize. Be open to suggestions, but don’t let anyone put demands on you.

Learn from past mistakes to avoid getting caught in someone else’s melodrama. Do something creative or try an activity that you have never done before.

Work alone.

Don’t accept an offer if you distrust the person making it.

Don’t let the power of persuasion lead to excessive behavior. Focus on health, wealth and doing what’s right.

Rely on knowledge, experience and what has worked well for you in the past. A change may initially seem unwarranted, but given time, you’ll see the benefits.

Make a move for the right reason. An offer is useful only if it encourages personal growth and a better future. Make romance and personal improvement priorities.

Look at what you have, not at what you don’t have.

Making assumptions or taking on too much will not help you overcome an obstacle. Choose the smart way to get what you want.

thursday, august 1, 2019

19

England & Australia set for 1st Test at Edgbaston

E

ngland’s bid to regain the Ashes from Australia begins with the first Test being played at Edgbaston. The home side were beaten 4-0 on their tour Down Under in 2017-18, but won the World Cup just over two weeks ago.

England have not lost a home Ashes series since 2001, and at Edgbaston, have not lost to any side in 11 years. They have opted against handing a debut to pace bowler Jofra Archer, instead preferring Chris Woakes on his home ground.

Australia are yet to confirm their team, but batsmen Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft are in line to play Test cricket for the first time since being banned for their part in the ball-tampering scandal on the tour of South Africa in 2018.

The series, the latest start to an Ashes in the UK, will move on to Lord’s, Headingley and Old Trafford before the urn is lifted at The Oval after a fifth Test that begins on September 12.

England captain Joe Root was, 18 months ago, on his first tour in charge when England were outplayed on the field and dogged by problems off it. Ben Stokes, this week restored as Test vice-captain, missed the tour after an incident outside a Bristol nightclub, and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow was accused of ‘head-butting’ Bancroft in the same Perth bar where England Lions batsman Ben Duckett would later pour a drink over James Anderson.

“You look back at an experience like that and take as much out of it as you can,” said 28-year-old Root. “I felt absolutely gutted and raw at the end of it. I never want to lose a big series like the Ashes, but it does make you more steely and desperate to turn things around this time.”

Until 2005, England went 20 years without lifting the urn on home soil. Since then, each captain - Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook twice - has got his hands on the tiny trophy at The Oval.

Although Root admitted he had “dreamt” about joining them, he said his team must focus on playing “strong cricket”.

“It’s easy to get carried away in a dream world, and it is

something growing up as a kid you want to be a part of,” he told BBC Sport.

“It’s an opportunity for this team to put themselves in the bracket with some famous teams, but we have to earn that right.

We have to play some good cricket to get there, and we’re more than capable of doing so.”

For Australia, Thursday sees them returning to the ground where they were heavily defeated by England in the World Cup semi-final this month. Edgbaston is famous for its partisan support of the home team, but Paine has claimed he could name 15 more intimidating venues in world cricket.

“It’s great to be out on the ground. It’s not as great if you’re the person copping the songs, but it’s one of those things,” he said. “The guys are looking forward to that. It’s part and parcel of coming here, and it can sometimes bind the group and make them even better.

“We’ve spoken about making sure we’re driving our own energy, building our own atmosphere out on the ground. If we can do that, we know that our own circle is unbreakable.”

Paine took over as captain following the sandpaper scandal that saw then captain, Smith, and deputy, Warner, banned for a year, and opening batsman Bancroft for nine months. Smith and Warner were booed throughout the World Cup, and wicketkeeper Paine said: “We spoke about the fact we think it’s going to go up a notch.

It’s got the potential to unsettle anyone,” he said.

“They’re human beings; they’ve got feelings. They’re no different to anyone else.”

Where will The Ashes be won and lost?

Curiously, there is a similar look to the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.

Whereas each team is stacked with fast-bowling options, their batting looks vulnerable, especially in English conditions, which

usually favour the seamers.

England have Archer, all-rounder Sam Curran, and Mark Wood who is currently nursing a side injury, waiting in the wings; while Australia have only three places for Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Josh Hazlewood.

However, the hosts were bowled out for only 85 in their win over Ireland at Lord’s last week, with Root now opting to promote himself from number four to three in a bid to stiffen the top order.

With Australia similarly fragile, it is a huge boost for the tourists to be able to call on Warner, and Smith, who was ‘man of the series’ in the last Ashes, thanks to his 687 runs at an average of 137.

On a wet Wednesday at Edgbaston, Root was asked if it would be a pattern of the series for the batsmen to struggle.

“It will play a massive hand, especially if conditions are how they are today,” he said. “It’s not like sides have been consistently banging out 500 around the world, never mind in England or Australia. That has been the rhythm of cricket globally in this format.

“There is a lot of talk about bowlers, but with that comes the opportunity for batters to prove a point.”

As interesting as the action with bat and ball will be the interaction between the two sides. The last series Down Under was occasionally bad-tempered, but since then, both teams have looked at their conduct; England in the wake of the Stokes’ incident, Australia after the ball-tampering affair.

Not only that, but England and Australia players have featured in global Twenty20 leagues together. Bairstow and Warner, for example, have opened together with great success in the Indian Premier League.

Paine said: “We’re going to play competitive Test match cricket like any other nation does. Our guys understand what’s expected of them. They are role models, not just for Australian people, but all around the world.” (Excerpted from BBC)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursday, august 1, 2019

Coach Reifer gives thumbs-up to training camp ahead of India tour I

t’s hot, hot, hot in Florida, but the West Indies players have been doing a great job of beating the heat in the sunshine state. After two days of training camp in the 100+ degrees (Fahrenheit) weather, coach Floyd Reifer says he is quite happy with what he is seeing from his players.

“The team is young, and we like to mix the experienced players with the youth. We have a very good blend. We are looking forward to the matches here in Florida. It should be a very exciting weekend, with lots of entertainment for the fans,” Reifer told CWI Media.

“We have players like (Kieron) Pollard and (Sunil) Narine making a return to the team, as well as the captain, Carlos Brathwaite; and they have a lot of experience at this level and in this format.

“The camp has been going really great so far. We have had some intense training sessions, and we are acclimatised. It’s hot here, very hot…hotter than what we are accustomed to in the Caribbean…and we are preparing the players to perform at the highest international standard,” he explained.

West Indies are in Fort Lauderdale this week as international cricket makes a return to American shores. The twotime World T20 champions will face India in two matches

Sunil Narine and Shimron Hetmyer at training

Albion CCCC officially launch 10/10 tournament T he Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (Albion CCCC) has officially launched its second division cricket competition, which will take the form of a 10/10 tournament that bowls off from 9:00 hours on Sunday August 4, 2019 at its historic ground on the Corentyne Coast in East Berbice.

At the media launch of this tournament, a simple but significant ceremony held on Tuesday last at the Albion Community Centre Ground, it was revealed that the winning team would receive a trophy and $50,000, while the runner-up team would receive a trophy and $30,000.

Outstanding performers would also thus be recognised: a trophy will be awarded to the batsman with the most runs across the tournament, and the bowler with the most wickets in the tournament would be awarded. A “player of the final” would also be awarded a special trophy.

Eight teams will

Albion CCCC Vice President Imtiaz Bacchus receiving sponsorship from a representative of Permaul Trading

be participating in this tournament, the finale of which is slated to be played under international-standard floodlights. The teams are Fyrish Cricket Club, Chesney Cricket Club, Jai Hind Cricket Club, Tamarind Root Cricket

Club, Belvedere United Cricket Club, Hamid Xi Cricket Club, Albion Community Centre Cricket Club and the Kendall’s Union Sports Club.

The fixtures are as follows: Round 1: Tamarind Root vs.

Kendall’s Union Round 2: Chesney vs.

Albion Round 3: Fyrish vs.

Belvedere United Round 4: Hamid Xi vs. Jai Hind Semi-finals: Winner of Round 1 vs. winner of Round 4 Winner of Round 2 vs. winner of Round 3 Finale will feature winner of semi-final 1 vs. winner of semi-final 2.

The primary purpose of the Albion CC is to develop and promote the game of cricket for the benefit of its members and the citizens of Guyana as a whole. The Albion CC aids in the promotion of cricket development among cricket clubs in the Albion community and outlying areas.

The Albion Community Centre CC has a wellorganised, disciplined and vigorous training programme for its members. Training is conducted by the international and national cricketers of the Albion CC. Qualified guest coaches are also invited to conduct training sessions.

All training materials are provided by the club. In addition, the club provides uniforms and gear to members who represent the club in competitions and tournaments.

The training programme is not confined to cricket and physical development. Albion CC imparts to its trainees knowledge on the laws of the game, public-speaking, social graces and etiquette, social habits, and development of high self-esteem, among other things.

Membership is open to all persons over eight years old, irrespective of race, ethnicity or religion. An application form must be completed and a parent or guardian must sign for applicants below the age of 18 years old.

at the Broward County Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.

The last time the two teams met here -- in the summer of 2016 -- both matches were sold out, and the same is expected this weekend.

Reifer highlighted the newer members of the squad: Left-arm spinner Khary Pierre, 27, made his international debut against India in India late last year; while wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble, 28, has been called up for the first time.

“We have young Khary Pierre (who is) a very good spinner. He played in India last year and he bowled quite well.

He is also a good fielder.

“Bramble has been around First Class cricket for a while, and he has played some very good innings for Guyana. He toured with the West ‘Indies B’ team to Canada, and did a great job as captain. You can see how eager he is to get out there on the park and perform at this level.

“I like what I’m seeing here. Everybody is very enthusiastic…the energy levels are high…and the players are pushing one another. We are working hard, and these are the kinds of things we want to get into the team every time we come to training, as we build a solid culture going forward.”

(CWI)

Hungarian GP…

Lewis Hamilton aims to return to winning ways after Germany carnage

I

t was the race that had it all: spins, crashes, crazy weather, and incredible results, as Sunday’s German Grand Prix thrilled, amazed and excited us.

That is now three epic races we have had in a row -- Austria, Great Britain and Germany -- so can the resurgence of Formula 1 carry on this weekend for the 12th race of the season in Hungary?

It is the last race before the F1 four-week summer break, and Lewis Hamilton, ninth at Hockenheim, holds a 41-point advantage over Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, one of seven drivers to not finish in Germany.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took his second win of 2019, with Mercedes suffering their worst weekend of the season.

But the Silver Arrows will feel comforted by the fact that Hamilton has won six times at the Hungaroring, including four successes in the past seven years, to be the most successful driver there, with two more wins than the four Michael Schumacher had managed.

The Hungaroring, situated just over 10 miles north-east of the centre of Budapest, first held a Grand Prix in 1986, which was the first race to be held behind the Iron Curtain. Then F1 Chief, Bernie Ecclestone, wanted to stage a race in Russia, but was convinced to go to Hungary instead; and it has been part of the calendar every year since, and has a deal to stage races until at least 2026.

Hamilton won by 17 seconds last year, with the Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen coming second and third respectively; while Verstappen’s race ended on lap five with a loss of power, and Charles Leclerc, then of Sauber, failed to complete a lap because of a suspension issue.

The 20 drivers will race 70 laps on the 4.381km 14-turn circuit, and the weather forecast suggests showers for the opening two practice sessions on Friday; but, sadly, it is not expected to be a wet race, like the one that caused so much chaos in Germany.

Pit stops proved crucial last weekend, with Verstappen stopping five times on his way to victory, and the tactical strategy is often vital in Hungary.

Last year, Ferrari did not do two-time Hungary winner Vettel any favours, as they delayed and then botched a pit stop, which inadvertently left him behind Bottas, who repeatedly blocked off and delayed the German as Hamilton disappeared into the distance.

Bottas did such a good job at holding up Vettel that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff later called the Finn a “sensational wingman”, something to which the driver took exception, saying the description “hurt”.

This race has been good for Bottas’s Finnish compatriots over the years, as Mika Hakkinen won in 1999 and 2000, Raikkonen took the chequered flag in 2005, and Heikki Kovalainen clinched the only Grand Prix success of his career in Hungary 11 years ago.

The championship, and Bottas himself -- who still does not know if he will be driving with Mercedes in 2020 -- could really do with another victory for Finland on Sunday, and move from Hungary wingman to Hungary winner.

Lewis Hamilton

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thursday, august 1, 2019

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Emancipation action set for Port Mourant Turf Club today ─ racing begins at 13:00h

T

he highly anticipated Emancipation Day meet, being staged by the 4-Horse Man Promotions Group in collaboration with the Crawford Memorial Turf Club & Sports Facility (CMTC&SF), gets underway at the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) today at 13:00h.

Coordinator of the event, Colin Elcock, has said the meeting was put together by some of the top local minds in horse-racing, and the event is intended to celebrate the centenary Anniversary of the PMTC as well as to rescue horse racing from its current state of deterioration.

Elcock has said he intends to promote local horses and have them treated just like horses of international stature; thus he is confident that today’s event would help to restore the high standards local horse-racing had once enjoyed.

President of the Crawford Memorial Turf Club & Sports Facility, Marcel Crawford Jnr, has said he is hopeful that

horse-racing fanatics would turn out in their numbers in support of this event. He, moreover, is urging participants and fans to conduct themselves properly and in accordance with the rules, so the day’s meet can have a successful conclusion.

It has been revealed that more than 40 of Guyana’s top horses have been registered to participate in this meet. Among them are Red Rocket, Not This Time, Catch A Glimpse, Sweet Return, Gold Again, First Prince, Red Jet, Orion, The Republican and Princess Emma.

Seven races are on the day’s card, with the feature event being the 1300-metre race for three-year-old Guyana-bred horses, which has a winning purse of $300,000 and trophy.

Among the highly anticipated events of the day are: the race for horses classified H3 and Lower, to be run over a distance of 1000 metres for a first prize of $220,000 and a trophy. The

900-metre race for two-year-old Guyana-bred horses, which carries a winning prize of $220,000 and a trophy. The race for animals classified J and Lower, being run over a distance of 1000 metres by horses 4 years old and older for a first prize of $180,000 and a trophy.

The race for animals classified K2 and Lower, which is to be run over 1000 metres and reward the winner with $170,000. The race for L Class Open animals, which would cover a distance of 1100 metres for a top prize of $160,000. Also, animals classified L1 and Lower would be competing over a distance of 1000 metres for a top prize of $140,000.

Ketley Primary are windball champs Founder of the Jefford Track and Field Classic, Edison Jefford, with Ian Mahadeo of MVP Sports, one of the sponsors of this historic event

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Ketley Primary’s Naquisha Fraser receives the Championship trophy from Clanise Cobenna

K

etley Primary have beaten their rivals, Sophia Primary, to win their first major title in windball cricket competition. as the curtains came down on the 22nd annual end-of-school-year Edward Cobenna Memorial Windball Cricket Competition, which was organised by A. Munroe, promoted by AL Sports & Tour Promotions, and staged by the National Sports Commission, Ketley Primary prevailed in a keenly contested game played before screaming parents, players and their head-teacher, who were in the stands to witness the proceedings, to earn the right to uplift the Edward Cobenna Memorial Windball Cricket Competition Trophy.

In this game, played with the pink ball, Sophia were sent in to bat first. They put up a respectable score of 63–2, with Kiazianna Thompson scoring 20 from 14 balls; Latifa Sanford scoring 14, and Annessa Hussain scoring 10 not out.

Bowling for Ketley, Tia Fowler with 1-9 and N. Fraser with 1-18 had the best figures.

Ketley brushed aside their opponents as they cruised to their target of 64 without losing a wicket, and with 5 balls still to be bowled.

Tia Fowler was adjudged the ‘player of the tournament’ for her stellar performance with bat and ball. She hit 36 runs and took one wicket for just nine runs.

Her teammate Ommianna Vanderhyden

contributed 23 runs to the winning total.

Third and fourth places in the competition were respectively captured by Enterprise Primary and Saint Pius Primary.

Ketley Primary also won the Best Uniform Team award, while Gemacy Gittens of Enterprise Primary received the ‘most promising player’ prize donated by ASTP – David Wren.

The organisers of this tournament are hereby extending their gratitude to all who played a part in making it the memorable event it was. The following special guests are also being thanked: NSC Board Member Ryan Belgrave; Region 4 Education Office; former Ast DoS Brian Smith; Head Teacher of Winfer Gardens Primary, Clanise Cobenna; Hutton Mars; Kwabenna Wright; Head teacher of Ketley Primary, Francina Nichols; and especially all the parents and children who attended the event.

Gratitude is also being extended to those who especially supported the event, such as His Worship the Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall; Christopher Jones, Director of Sport; Marlyn Amanda Hope; and AL Sports & Tour Promotions.

The Edward Cobenna Windball Competition had seen commendable participation from a mammoth sixty-six (66) teams drawn from areas around the country, such as Regions 3, 4 and Georgetown.

s Sunday August 11 draws near -- when the Jefford Track and Field Classic X will be staged at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in Linden, Region 10 -- Edison Jefford, founder of the event, is optimistic that its staging would be an unqualified success.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, Jefford disclosed: “I am heartened by the response of sponsors this year, given the challenges I’ve had over the years.

This says something about our economy and our diversity, because I have sponsors from all kinds of different backgrounds and ethnic groups for an event in Linden, and I think that shows a lot of maturity from them.

“Our corporate donors have also decided to grow with this event, and I’m very overwhelmed by their contributions for making this event a success. I’m also happy that they have given me the opportunity to carry their brand on a national level and in a community that deserves such assistance.”

Athletes will compete for a total of $2 million in prize money. Each event carries a total purse of $80,000, with the winner receiving $40,000, second-placer $25,000 and third-placer $15,000, each with a memorabilia medal.

The ‘champion male and female athletes’ will benefit from $25,000 worth of Under Armour sports gear and $25,000 cash, along with trophies; while the top three finishers in the schoolboys’ and girls’ 150-metre races will each be awarded hampers and medals.

There also will be 10 gate prizes up for grabs for the patrons’ benefit.

Jefford has said the event is geared to be a celebration of athletics and athletes in Guyana, and athletes must accordingly be the biggest winners on the day; hence the prizes have been lucratively structured to be the most ever awarded at a single athletics meet in Guyana.

The Jefford Track and Field Classic X will be coordinated in accordance with the rules of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and will be sanctioned by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG).

Major sponsors of this year’s events are: ExxonMobil; ANSA McAL Trading Ltd, under the Rush Energy Drink; I-Cool Water; Lucozade; Heineken; MVP Sports; Urban Life; Magnum Tonic Wine brands; National Sports Commission; DeSinco Trading Ltd, under their Swiss Brands; Let’s Bet Sports; and Andrews Supermarket.

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thursday, august 1, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

RFA U-17 tournament to kick off on August 3 ‘U

p and coming’ female football teams in the Rupununi area are currently preparing to engage each other in weeks of competition that would provide them with great exposure to the intricacies of the game.

These female footballers will be in action from 16:00hrs this Saturday, August 3, when promoters Theresa & George Bobb, in collaboration with the Rupununi Football Association (RFA), host an under-17 female, 7-a-side, round-robin football tournament, scheduled for play from August 3rd to 31st at the St. Ignatius Sports Ground in Lethem.

Seven participating teams will be battling for the championship trophy and medals: Moco Moco FC, Rising Stars FC, Gladiators FC, Rush Saints FC, Terminators FC, Far East Sports Club, Potarinau Sky Kings FC and Tabatinga FC. The matches would each be played for a 50-minute duration, with 10 minutes allotted for half time.

The sponsors, Theresa & George Bobb, say they have decided to come on board with the RFA for this inaugural tournament in order to further develop the game and to have more female participation in the sport.

RFA President, Rayan Farias, has thanked the sponsors for their partnership, and has expressed hope that it would continue and be extended into the future.

Tournament fixtures, with clubs, dates and times are:

Global T20 Canada…

Nandu grateful for knowledge gained

…aims to capitalise on opportunity if given chance to play

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

Theresa Bobb, George Bobb, RFA President Rayan Farias and participating clubs’ representatives

Tournament Fixtures: Sky Kings FC vs. Rising Stars FC: 03/08/2019 from 4pm Tabatinga FC vs. Moco Moco FC: 03/08/2019 from 5pm Gladiators FC vs. Terminators FC: 03/08/2019 from 6pm Saints FC vs. Far East FC: 07/08/2019 from 5pm Sky Kings FC vs. Tabatinga FC: 07/08/2019 from 6pm Terminators FC vs. Moco Moco FC: 09/08/2019 from 5pm Gladiators FC vs. Saints FC: 09/08/2019 from 6pm Rising Stars FC vs. Tabatinga FC: 09/08/2019 from 7pm Sky Kings FC vs. Moco Moco FC: 16/08/2019 from 5pm Terminators FC vs. Far East FC: 16/08/2019 from 6pm Saints FC vs. Rising Stars FC: 16/08/2019 from 7pm Tabatinga FC vs. Gladiators FC: 18/08/2019 from 5pm Sky Kings FC vs. Terminators FC: 18/08/2019 from 6pm Moco Moco FC vs. Saints FC: 18/08/2019 from 7pm Far East SC vs. Rising Stars FC: 20/08/2019 from 5pm Gladiators FC vs. Sky Kings FC: 20/08/2019 from 6pm Tabatinga FC vs. Saints FC:

22/08/2019 from 5pm Terminators FC vs. Rising Stars FC: 22/08/2019 from 6pm Moco Moco FC vs. Far East FC: 23/08/2019 from 5pm Gladiators FC vs. Rising Stars FC: 23/08/2019 from 6pm Saints FC vs. Sky Kings FC: 23/08/2019 from 7pm Terminators FC vs. Tabatinga FC: 24/08/2019 from 5pm Moco Moco FC vs. Gladiators FC: 24/08/2019 from 6pm Far East FC vs. Sky Kings FC: 24/08/2019 from 7pm Rising Stars FC vs. Moco Moco FC: 25/08/2019 from 5pm Tabatinga FC vs. Far East FC: 25/08/2019 from 6pm Terminators FC vs. Saints FC: 27/08/2019 from 5pm Gladiators FC vs. Far East FC: 27/08/2019 from 6pm Semi-Finals 1:

29/08/2019 from 5pm

Semi-Finals 2:

29/08/2019 from 6pm

3rd Place Playoff: 31/08/2019 from 5pm Finale: 31/08/2019 from 6pm

he second edition of the Global T20 Canada cricket tournament is currently underway, and 15-year-old Guyanese Matthew Nandu, who currently represents the Vancouver Knights, is grateful for the opportunity given him, as he has been able to acquire knowledge from some of the top minds in cricket.

Defending champions in this tournament, the Vancouver Knights, comprise top players Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Shoaib Malik, Tim Southee, Rassie van der Dussen and Chadwick Walton, each of whom has been having a fantastic season thus far.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, Nandu described his experience thus far as follows, “It’s honestly really cool to be with these guys. I have already started talking to Chris Gayle and the other guys as well.

In terms of my fitness, it’s good.

I've been bowling to Chris Gayle, and what they do in practice they do in games. They have a lot of confidence in themselves to take on any task; and if things go wrong, they know how to be mature about it.

“I have learned a lot more being around some of the stars to play the game. I hope to achieve a lot more knowledge by asking questions.”

Nandu also said he is hopeful for the opportunity to play a game, as he would capitalise on the given opportunity and make his presence felt. He has said that, if given the chance, his goal would be to score runs and take wickets when called upon.

Nandu has also said he is extremely grateful to be working under the Knights’ head coach Donovan Miller, who became a coach at the tender age of 20, and now runs his own coaching

Mathew Nandu

company, directs the Chris Gayle Academy, and works with Essex CCC. The Jamaica-born Miller was a fast bowler who represented Hertfordshire and played second XI cricket for Derbyshire and Essex. Now a respected coach, he has twice won the Chance To Shine Coach Of The Year award, runs Don Cricket Ltd, and has been at the forefront of the Chris Gayle Academy programme.

Nandu described working under Miller as great, as Miller is able to answer many burning questions and constantly encourages him to continue working hard and putting his proverbial best foot forward.

Kumar Rampat Cricket Academy 2019 Tour to Guyana…

Everest dominate KRCA in 40-over affair T

he Everest Cricket Club have outplayed their guests, the Kumar Rampat Cricket Academy (KRCA) of Trinidad & Tobago, in a 40-over match played as part of the KRCA tour to Guyana with the main aim of exposing and developing their young players.

Although displaying a good, competitive spirit throughout the game, this Under-14 KRCA team could not prevent the Everest Cricket Club from registering a ninewicket win against them.

Taking first strike, KRCA were restricted to 46 all out in their allotment of 40 overs. Everest CC and Berbice Under-19 off-spinner Aaron Beharry was chiefly responsible for this collapse with miracle figures of 3-3 from 5 impressive overs, including three maidens.

He was well-supported by fellow spinners Vishal Persaud and Renaldo Mohammed.

Persaud grabbed 2-0 in three maiden overs, while Mohammed finished with 2-3 in three overs.

Keron Ramoutar was the lone KRCA batsman to reach double figures, scoring 12 from 43 balls after the KCRA top order had been dismantled.

In reply, Everest lost Guyana Under-15 batsman Anthony Khan for a duck – being bowled all ends up by Adan Racha after facing only four balls.

Ushardeva Balgobin then came to the crease, and lit up the vocal gathering with his aggressive batting. The left-hander single-handedly took his

Team Everest celebrate a wicket

team to victory with an impressive 39. Balgobin’s innings were decorated with three sixes and two fours as Everest scored 47 runs in only six overs.

With time remaining, the players assembled for a 20-over affair in which other players were given the chance to shine.

The KRCA advertised its main objectives for this tour as giving young players the opportunity to expand and develop both their cricketing and social skills, and to enable them to gain a sense of the geography of a neighbouring country.

The KRCA team will faceoff against an Enmore team at Lusignan today, August 1, and return to play Everest on Friday, August 2. Their tour will be concluded on Saturday August 3 on the East Bank of Essequibo, where they will do battle against a Parika side. (Brandon Corlette)

Ushardeva Balgobin smashed an aggressive 39

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, august 1, 2019

23

Sherfane Rutherford traded to Mumbai Indians for IPL 2020

I

PL 2019 champions Mumbai Indians have added West Indies batsman Sherfane Rutherford to their squad, after trading leg-spinner Mayank Markande to Delhi Capitals.

Rutherford is known for his big-hitting abilities. Playing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in his debut season of the Caribbean Premier League last year, Rutherford made

a mark against Trinbago Knight Riders when he smashed a 13-ball 45 with six sixes and a four in a match-winning partnership with Shimron Hetmyer.

His overall run tally in CPL 2018 was 171 runs at a strike rate of 142.5, and he earned a call-up to West Indies’ T20I side on the India tour. He went on to make his international

debut against Bangladesh in Dhaka in December.

Capitals bought Rutherford for INR 2 crore from a base price of INR 40 lakh in the December 2018 auction, and one of the most impactful performances from the 20-year-old came against Royal Challengers Bangalore, when he scored a 13-ball 28 and took the wicket of AB de Villiers with his medium pace.

Markande played only

three matches for Mumbai in IPL 2019, after a solid debut season last year, when he finished as the team’s thirdhighest wicket-taker with 15 dismissals in 14 matches.

He now joins Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane and Rahul Tewatia to form a legspinning quartet for Capitals to choose from.

From Mumbai’s point of view, young leg-spinner Rahul Chahar had a breakthrough

season in 2019, when he picked up 13 wickets in 13 games with an economy rate of 6.55 and Markande ended up picking just one wicket and going for plenty 59 runs in six overs, perhaps making the second leggie surplus to their requirements.

But they will now have to offload at least one overseas player, with Rutherford’s acquisition taking the

number up to nine. (Cricinfo)

Sherfane Rutherford

Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh renews BCB Cricket Academy sponsorship for US$2000

─ BCB receives donation of $600,000+

T

he vibrant and progressive Hilbert Foster-led Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues to attract the support of companies and individuals in its ongoing effort to develop Berbice Cricket even further.

On Saturday last, overseas- based Berbician Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh renewed his sponsorship of the BCB’s Annual Cricket Academy by handing over the sponsorship cheque of US$2,000 to BCB Treasurer Dr Cecil Beharry during a special programme at the St. Francis Community Developers Centre.

BCB President, Hilbert Foster, has hailed the renewal of the Academy sponsorship as another red letter day for the BCB as it strives to fulfill its objective of developing new talent.

The BCB has the most comprehensive developmental programme of any cricket board in Guyana, and Foster has said this would continue as long as he remains BCB President.

Leadership, he said, is about visionary planning, and the BCB vision is to make sure that every youth fulfills their potential as a cricketer. Over the last 80 years, Berbice Cricket has produced 19 Test cricketers, and Foster has expressed confidence that that figure could reach 25 by 2025. With players like Romario Shepherd, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Umroa, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Isiah Thorne and Rampersaud Ramnauth on the horizon, this hard working BCB President has predicted that the best days of Berbice Cricket are ahead. The Cricket Academy would be held for one week at the Albion Cricket Ground in mid- August. A total of 50 players between drawn from the under-13 to under-19 levels would be involved in the Academy under the supervision of a panel of coaches.

Special emphasis would be placed on physical fitness, batting, fast bowling, spin bowling, fielding, wicket keeping, and rules/ history of the game. Members of the Academy would also receive a copy of the RHTY&SC/BCB Youth Information Booklet, which would enable them to participate in a series of classroom lectures on drug

2nd unofficial Test…

Hodge, Brooks halfcenturies highlight opening day

W

est Indies ‘A’ have ended the opening day of the second unofficial Test against India ‘A’ on 243-5, after 90 overs of cautious batting at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago.

With the West Indies ‘A’ making wholesale changes for their second unofficial Test against India ‘A’, Romario Shepherd, Kraigg Brathwaite, Sunil Ambris, Raymon Reifer and Shane Dowrich have been included in the side. West Indies ‘A’ won the toss and elected to bat first. They were off to a stable start, with Kraigg Brathwaite and Montcin Hodge adding 87 runs for the opening partnership.

Brathwaite, however, was cleaned up by Sandeep Warrier for 36 scored from 121 balls, including three fours and one six.

Hodge was then partnered by skipper Shamarh Brooks, and the right-handed duo added 62 runs before Hodge misjudged a delivery by leaving it alone and it crashed onto his stumps. He had by then scored 65 runs from 189 balls, his innings being decorated with eight fours and one six.

Sunil Ambris, making his first appearance in this 4-Day team this series, came and went

quickly, scoring only 12 runs. He departed when West Indies ‘A’ were on 166-3 after facing 70.1 overs. Brooks then gifted his wicket away by handing Shivam Due a return catch. The West Indies ‘A’ captain scored 53 runs from 99 balls, including seven fours, having followed up his half-century in the first Test with another solid knock. The everaggressive Jermaine Blackwood came and played his shots with intent, but fell for 20 from 29 balls after smashing two fours and one six.

At 196-5, Dowrich and Reifer joined forces and steadied the ship with an unbeaten 47-run partnership. Reifer played a reckless shot and was dropped in the final over, but West Indies ‘A’ ended a day of caution with 243-5 in 90 overs.

Montcin Hodge and Shamarh Brooks, who each scored halfcenturies, were the Windies’ stars of the day.

India ‘A’ players Mohammed Siraj, Sandeep Warrier, Shivam Dube, Krishnappa Gowtam and Mayank Markande each took one wicket.

The second day of the fourday match will commence today from 9:30h local time.

abuse, HIV/AIDS, suicide, importance of education, personal hygiene and public speaking.

Dr Singh has also delivered a large quantity of specially designed pencils to the Berbice Cricket Board for members of the Academy, and also several copies of the 2019 Guyana Review Magazine which he published.

Dr Puran Singh, younger brother of Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, also handed over six boxes of cricket balls to the BCB, along with several score books. The balls and the score books would be shared out to clubs across Berbice as part of the Board’s outreach programme.

Dr Tulsi has also honoured BCB President, Hilbert Foster, for his outstanding leadership by presenting him with a specially designed pen which is one of only fifteen of its kind in the world.

The BCB has also officially launched its $600,000 water pitcher programme, under which the Board would assist more than 90 cricket clubs in Berbice with water pitchers.

Sponsor of the project, Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, officially launched the project by donating two five-gallon water pitchers to representatives of the Whim National Cricket Club and the Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club.

Clubs in the Upper Corentyne, Lower Corentyne, New Amsterdam/Canje and West Berbice areas would shortly receive their water pitchers as the Board is awaiting a shipment from overseas. The BCB has, in 2019, committed itself to assisting clubs in Berbice with more than $5 million worth of cricket balls, stumps, cricket gear, scorebooks, white T/shirts, water pitchers, educational materials, school bags, bicycles, trophies and medals, among other items. The RHTY&SC, MS, is Guyana’s leading youth and sports club.

It assists the BCB to fulfill its promise by providing most of the items under its Patron’s Fund. Foster has warned the clubs that the pitchers are to be used solely to provide refreshment during matches, and not for alcoholic drinking sessions.

thursday, august 1, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

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Sherfane Rutherford Emancipation action traded to set for Port Mourant Mumbai Indians Turf Club today for IPL 2020 ─ racing begins at 13:00h Kumar Rampat Cricket Academy 2019 Tour to Guyana…

Page 22

Everest dominate KRCA in 40-over affair

United we stand! The Kumar Rampat Cricket Academy at Everest Cricket Club (Brandon Corlette photos)

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