Guyana Times Thursday February 13, 2020

Guyana's oil spill response capability tested at simulation exercise P16

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

Issue No. 4195

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

PRICE

After attacking NICIL & PPP Govt for pioneering Marriott

PNC-led Govt somersaults to have NICIL facilitate 2nd Marriott on secret terms Page 3

Page 10

Greek oil tanker to carry Guyana’s oil to arrive today

…lifting will start on Monday, price still not announced

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Guns from P18 Venezuela being sold for food in Guyana – Minister Knife-wielding bandit slashes social worker’s face P10

Bus driver P8 lands in jail for threatening woman Local Content Policy finally released P15 …allows operators to reclaim all expenses as cost oil

Corentyne man jailed for 15 years for killing P18 villager

Commuters are again faced with delays after another bridge on the LindenLethem trail collapsed. The bridge, which is located between Mabura and Kurupukari along the Linden-Lethem trail, had previously collapsed leaving commuters stranded

Coalition shameless for campaigning with slogan on “progress” – Irfaan Ali Page 7

UK suspends funding to Commonwealth Secretariat P16

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, February 13 – 09:00h – 10:30h and Friday, February 14 – 09:00h – 10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, February 13 – 07:25h – 08:55h and Friday, February 14 – 08:10h – 09:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Cloudy skies will prevail throughout the day. There will also be cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 07:34h and 19:58h reaching maximum heights of 2.72 metres and 2.67 metres.

Low Tide: 01:08h and 13:30h reaching minimum heights of 0.47 metre and 0.51 metre.

After attacking NICIL & PPP Govt for pioneering Marriott

PNC-led Govt somersaults to have NICIL facilitate 2nd Marriott on secret terms

A

fter tendentiously mounting incessant criticism for years over the Guyana Marriott Hotel project pioneered by the People’s Progressive Party Government from its conception in 2010 to completion in 2015, the caretaker APNU/ AFC administration is now moving secretly with National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) to facilitate the construction of another hotel under the Marriott brand. However, questions have been raised of the legality of a caretaker government approving such a megaproject.

The AC Marriott Hotel will be built to the tune of US$75 million and is a collaboration between NICIL and Trinidad-based Triniyuana Investment Inc (a portmanteau of Trinidad and Guyana) — which is supposedly funding the project. The hotel, which will be located in the vicinity of the Ogle airport, East Coast Demerara, will have some 150 rooms over four floors.

AC Hotels by Marriott is a chain of hotels in Austria, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and North America. The “AC Marriotts” are a notch in service and quality below the Marriott constructed by the PPP Government at Kingston, Georgetown.

No information

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Crude Oil Rough Rice London Sugar

$54.01/barrel $241.02/ton $451.00/ton

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

$1569.20 $1561.40 +3.40

Change %

+1.37 -1.58 0.00

USD Per Ounce $1570.20 $1572.00 +0.22%

The sod-turning for the hotel will be done today at what is assumed to be lands owned by Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) from the Enmore/LBI estate which was closed suddenly by the PNC-led Government in 2017. Last week, while on the campaign trail, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had assured the 7000 workers who had been fired in the estate closings that the abandoned lands under the aegis of NICIL would be leased to them for agricultural use since most were unable to find employment. However, NICIL did not say on what basis the land was allocated nor whether there was a public tender and, if so, how many bids they received.

The construction of the hotel is expected to take some 30 months.

In a statement on Wednesday, NICIL’s acting Privatisation Specialist, Racheal Henry, disclosed that the agency and the CEO of Triniyuana Investment Inc, John Aboud, held lengthy discussions before arriving at the decision to construct the hotel. Since soil tests were declared to have been already been done, it means that the property has presumably already been transferred to the Trinidadian company. No funds have been transferred from the lease or sale into the Consolidated Fund as would, therefore, be held by NICIL – a practice for which the governing parties have tren-

chantly criticised the PPP for doing in relation to the first Marriott.

In 2012, Khemraj Ramjattan had introduced legislation to block the PPP’s move to construct the Marriott from these moneys.

Henry said that the eagerly-anticipated hotel will have several amenities. Among the facilities are conference, offices and some state-of-theart living facilities, which, he said, would be integrated into the hotel complex. The additional facility of a casino at the Kingston Marriott was not completed by the PNC Government.

“This is the culmination of negotiations that NICIL had with this company and the result is a major brandname hotel coming to Guyana so that all can benefit from it as it certainly will boost our tourism and ultimately our country revenues,” Henry noted, even though the brand had already been introduced by the PPP Administration.

Meanwhile, Aboud said that he is excited over the fact that the project will finally be rolled out, stressing that the

work of NICIL was significant in ensuring that the hotel project becomes a reality.

He disclosed that he was very impressed with the manner in how NICIL and their team conducted the discussion, stressing gratuitously that NICIL sought to secure the best possible deal for Guyana.

The CEO of Triniyuana related that he was eyeing Guyana for a number of years but only moved ahead with the project three years ago.

He pointed out that while they do not have major personnel on the ground as yet, he foresees this being a reality in early March while noting that they anticipate construction commencing in a

few months.

He added that the hotel site is a strategic location for the future stressing that the hotel’s presence will further enhance and greatly boost the economic activity taking place at Ogle.

The Triniyuana CEO went on to express significant excitement about the deal being wrapped up, stating that the relevant agencies responsible for a number of decisions are expected to make several decisions shortly, thus, further helping to boost the planned construction of the hotel, which he said will help to enhance and market Guyana tourism product immensely.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

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

Putting the nation’s interest second

T

he oil contract signed under the APNU/AFC coalition government continues to come in for sharp criticism from both local and overseas reputable organisations and individuals. In some cases, condemnation seems unavoidable.

Recently, in-depth analysis/investigation by a respected international body revealed that possibly US$55B may have been lost as a result of what was allegedly signed off by representatives of the APNU/AFC Government. Senior functionaries are now embroiled in that fiasco.

From what has been made public by the analysts alluded to, there is a belief that self-interest, on the part of those entrusted to sign the contract, may have taken precedence over the best interest of the country and its people. If the reported loss is as stated, then the magnitude of how the country may have been set back is startling.

Experts have already made known how that revenue could be used to improve facilities and the lives of Guyanese. There have also been calls for the officials in question to be held accountable for their alleged actions in what many believe was a “sell-out” of the country’s oil and gas resources.

Naturally, the APNU/AFC Government has offered a defence of what it has been accused of with regard to the said oil contract. Some analysts have found the Government’s response wanting in many ways in the face of what seems as irrefutable evidence to suggest that the country’s best interest may not have been foremost during the process.

Allegations of improprieties continue and, with an election just a few weeks away, expectation for the Government to concede and have its operatives involved be made accountable is extremely low or probably absent. Clearly, the numbers seem not to be adding up and as time progresses, Guyanese are becoming more aware of the Government’s action and the potential impact of the reported loss.

Since taking Government in May 2015, APNU/AFC never quelled its boasts to provide a good life to the citizenry. From all indications, through its seeming lack of interest in other industries like sugar, rice etc, APNU/ AFC’s boasts appear solely dependent on the revenues from oil and gas which it sees as a panacea.

None can dispute that the good life promised remains a myth and made worse by APNU/AFC’s mismanagement of the economy. Since its tenure, Guyanese have been broadsided by a plethora of new tax measures and fees introduced by the coalition government. That, in turn, led to the closure of many businesses and a stark increase in unemployment.

In reality, the lives of those Guyanese have been made worse, a stark contrast to those of APNU/AFC officials who gave themselves a whopping salary increase at the expense of the ordinary workers. In addition, the extravagance of those officials in terms of travel, security, rentals and food shows that the good life was delivered just for them and not the ordinary citizens.

With a potential loss of the US$55B, Guyanese will continue to feel the brunt while the officials bask in the reported rewards. When everything is examined, it becomes extremely difficult to dismiss the alleged acts of self-interest that seemed a priority. It would not have been the first instance while in Government; the salary increase remains unforgettable at the expense of Guyanese, including thousands of sugar and Indigenous workers.

Clearly, it’s not the first time APNU/AFC would have placed itself above the best interest of Guyana and Guyanese. While in Opposition, it scuttled the Amaila Falls Hydroelectricity project – which would have been completed by now providing cheap and reliable supply.

It was a project designed to transform Guyana and to support its once rapid unprecedented development and economic growth evident under the stewardship of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government.

The Specialty Hospital suffered a similar fate at the hands of APNU/ AFC and even funding for the Marriott, which they now use extensively, was slashed. The belief was that funding for the Marriott was withheld to safeguard the interest of one of the coalition’s major financier who is in the hospitality sector.

Such actions can only be interpreted as putting the interest of Guyana and Guyanese second to that of the APNU/AFC and its officials.

It also demonstrates a hypocritical position of not only reneging on its boast to work in the best interest of the Guyanese people but on its much-touted promise to stop corruption. To date, numerous allegations have been levelled against it with untold reported financial improprieties raised in the Auditor General’s reports.

When those are examined, the magnitude of the self-interest becomes glaring. In other words, the extent to which Guyana and Guyanese may have been placed second becomes difficult to refute. The related allegations surrounding the US$55B potential loss in revenue may not have only further highlighted that propensity but would have embedded it internationally. That makes it difficult to for it to be swept under the carpet despite valiant attempts.

CURIOUS MINDS: The grade five class of Belle West Primary School, Canal No 2, West Bank Demerara listens keenly as Guyana Times Journalist Lakhram Bhagirat explains the various processes that go into the production of the daily newspaper. The students also got the chance to tour the other entities under the Times Media Group umbrella

World Radio Day

Pluralism, representation, diversity

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adio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. At the global level, radio remains the most widely consumed medium. This unique ability to reach out the widest audience means radio can shape a society’s experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard. Radio stations should serve diverse communities, offering a wide variety of programs,

viewpoints and content, and reflect the diversity of audiences in their organizations and operations.

Radio is a low-cost medium specifically suited to reaching remote communities and vulnerable people, offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level. It also plays a crucial role in

emergency communication and disaster relief.

Radio is uniquely positioned to bring communities together and foster positive dialogue for change. By listening to its audiences and responding to their needs, radio services provide the diversity of views and voices needed to address the challenges we all face.

For World Radio Day 2020, UNESCO calls on radio stations to uphold diversity, both in their newsroom and on the airwaves.

Origin

UNESCO’s Executive Board recommended to the General Conference the proclamation of World Radio Day, on the basis of a wide consultation process, carried out by UNESCO in 2011, further to a proposal from Spain. The leader of the project, the Academia Española de la Radio, received support for the pro-

UN Secretary-General António Guterres

posal from diverse stakeholders, including major international broadcasters and broadcasting unions and associations.

The date of 13 February, the day United Nations Radio was established in 1946, was proposed by the Director-General of UNESCO. UNESCO’s General Conference, at its 36th session, proclaimed 13 February as World Radio Day. On 14 January 2013, the United Nations General Assembly formally endorsed UNESCO’s proclamation of World Radio Day. During its 67th Session, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 13 February as World Radio Day.

Purpose

The objectives of the Day are to raise greater awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio; to encourage decision makers to establish and provide access to information through radio; as well as to enhance networking and

international cooperation among broadcasters.

Messages

UN Secretary-General Radio brings people together. In an era of rapid media evolution, radio retains a special place in every community as an accessible source of vital news and information.

But radio is also a source of innovation that pioneered interaction with audiences and user-generated content decades before they became mainstream.

Radio offers a wonderful display of diversity in its formats, in its languages, and among radio professionals themselves.

This sends an important message to the world.

As we strive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and tackle the climate crisis, radio has a key role to play as a source of information and inspiration alike.

On this World Radio Day, let us recognize the enduring power of radio to promote diversity and help build a more peaceful and inclusive world.

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

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

Team Granger continues to ignore the IMF’s warning

Dear Editor, On its face, the state of the nation’s public deposits might specifically and narrowly appear to be a central banking technical matter but it is not. But if you look at the direct impact it has on your personal pocket as Guyanese living in Guyana, you will see this plunder of the public deposits is taking place in a deeply worrying situation; the Granger Cabal is now unhinged when it comes to their squander-mania and the spending of your money without your permission.

But before I proceed, let us focus on some definitions so that we all can understand what is going on.

Public Deposits are Government deposits from the central Government – the place where the revenue raised from the Government by way of taxes, etc is hosted in order to back the payments made by the Central Government.

It is similar to the current account of any businessman. The businessman deposits his sales revenue in his checking account and it is from that account he

writes his cheque against to make his payments.

Well similarly, the Public Deposit is the nation’s checking account – the controllers of the nation’s finance at the Ministry of Finance deposit all of its income there and then write Government cheques against it to meet its obligations and as approved by the Parliament.

When the PPP/C Government left office in May 2015, there was a positive cash balance in the Public Deposit of G$15.8 billion. That translates to the

nation having G$15.8 billion in actual cash that we can touch, feel and spend; we had what my elders will call “the KAJA”, real cash.

Unfortunately, when I look at the Bank of Guyana’s balance sheet as of January 15, 2020, there is a NEGATIVE cash balance in the Public Deposit of G$74.5 billion. That translates to the Granger CABAL spending out all of that cash left by the PPP/C (some G$15.8 billion) and then went on to write cheques aggregating to some G$74.5 billion but this time none of those

cheques are backed by real cash. The only thing those cheques have is a promise to pay from the Central Bank. But if this trend continues, confidence in the Central Bank to pay these cheques will deteriorate. It is has been 52 consistent months now since we have been having these negative balances, so this is not an anomaly, this is a hard-core overdraft.

This situation caused the IMF to warn in 2018 that to further prevent the weakening of the Asset Base of the Central Bank,

these Government liability balances at the Bank of Guyana must be “settled” by issuing Treasury Bills to cover these imposed debts on the books of the Central Bank.

It has been 20 months now and team Granger continues to ignore the IMF’s warning.

Who would bring such harm to our nation’s bank account and refuse to act responsibly and fix it?

Sincerely, Sasenarine Singh

Ramjattan shamelessly taking credit for rice farmers’ success Dear Editor, Khemraj Ramjattan went into Black Bush Polder and boasted of APNU/AFC’s success in the rice industry. He claimed that under APNU/ AFC, Guyana has achieved the two highest ever production in rice in history. He ignored his Leader, David Granger, as President of Guyana, had on more than one occasion, when asked for help by rice farmers, stoutly refused any support to rice farmers, insisting that rice farmers and millers are engaged in a 100% Private Sector activity. His own AFC colleague, Noel Holder, as Minister of Agriculture, has told rice farmers and millers too many times that the rice industry is a total Private Sector responsibility. Both Granger and Holder and several of their colleagues over the last five years rejected calls from farmers for help, making the excuse that Government has no responsibility for rice. How then, can Ramjattan dare go into one of the lifelines for the rice industry, Black Bush Polder, and claim rice success for APNU/AFC? This is the same Ramjattan that promised farmers in Black Bush Polder and other parts of Guyana they will get $9000 per bag of paddy, their production costs will be reduced, there will be better markets,

better drainage and irrigation and dams for transport.

On every one of these promises, they have failed miserably. It is reprehensible and shameless to now claim rice farmers’ success as theirs. It is insulting to the farmers.

What makes Ramjattan’s boast even more reprehensible is he was speaking in an area that presently is facing catastrophic losses if someone does not help them. The Government has been missing in action, even as the Ministry of Agriculture, the NDIA and the REO of Region 6 refuse to act. More than 22,000 acres of paddy are facing total or significant losses in the #52-74 NDC areas because of a severe shortage of irrigation water. Similarly, almost 28,000 acres of paddy in Black Bush Polder is under stress because of limited and rationed irrigation water. Even as Ramjattan was boasting to his fetchedin supporters, a handful of them from outside of Black Bush Polder, he assiduously refused to address these real problems that farmers face.

There are five irrigation pumps in Mibicuri and two irrigation pumps at Manarabisi. Both of the Manarabisi pumps and three of the Mibicuri pumps are at a standstill because of a lack of fuel. The old arrangements for fuel supply were discontinued by the REO.

Instead of the arrangements to supply fuel by boat, an arrangement that was in place for decades, the REO gave a new contract to a company supplying with a truck.

This truck’s supply fuel that is barely enough to use two pumps on a part-time basis. The consequence is that there is not enough irrigation water to meet the needs of the Black Bush farmers and none to meet the needs for the front land farmers.

Compounding the problem is the lack of maintenance of the irrigation canals. The Water Users Association used to clean these and other canals at a cost of about $38M annually. Now contracts are given out for $98M for one cleaning and this is not done with the expected quality. This situation has been ongoing for weeks.

Newspaper articles have described the plight of the farmers. APNU/AFC has been MIA, totally missing in action. They have held several public meetings in the

area, both along the coast in the #52 to #74 areas and in Black Bush Polder, begging for votes, but never address the farmers’ plight.

These are not the only rice farmers facing serious stress with their paddy fields. Just this past week, Guyana Times highlighted the plight of the Mahaicony rice farmers. The farmers in the Mahaicony area, particularly those north of the highway, are again facing flooding with salt water because of high tides and a breached sea defence. Already, the land north of the highway, along the seashore have been lost to farming for the next two years. But the salt water that floods the area also enters the irrigation and drainage canals and encroaches into the larger farming areas to the south.

Further, just this past week, Stabroek News highlighted the plight of rice farmers in the Essequibo Islands, like Wakenaam and Leguan.

APNU/AFC has reduced

spending on drainage and irrigation in rice areas, reduced maintenance of dams, increased land rental and lease fee payments by between 200 and 400%, eliminated subsidies for chemicals and equipment, introduced VAT on all agricultural supplies, removed all support for quick and timely payment to farmers, lost vital high-priced markets for rice, promoted low-priced markets, reduced value-added markets. This is their legacy.

Yet, the hard work and resilience of farmers and millers to keep the industry viable have gone unrecognised by APNU/AFC. It is this hard work, with support from the PPP Government that led to a whopping increase in rice production between 2011 and 2015. Rice production increased from about 350,000 tons in 2011 to almost 640,000 tons in 2014. The target for 2015 was 700,000 tons. At the end of the first crop of 2015, under the PPP, Guyana’s rice

production exceeded the target for the first crop, which was 340,000 tons and produced 400,000 tons, making the 2015 target of 700,000 a walkover. But, Guyana failed to achieve this target in 2015 and is yet to attain that goal. That is the real story of rice under APNU/AFC. The 700,000 tons which appeared as an easy target by the end of May 2015 has never been achieved. In the meanwhile, the rice production in Region 9 which was achieved under the PPP in 2013 with the emergence of Santa Fe Farms has collapsed.

Ramjattan should be ashamed to take the resilience of the farmers, take their struggles and boast of it as an achievement of his Government, especially since they so vigorously distanced themselves from the farmers.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

Page

Foundation …grab the scissors and glue

V

alentine's Day is often filled with roses, chocolates, and romance, but that doesn't mean that the kids can't get in on the fun too. Spend some time making any one of these adorable DIY Valentine's Day crafts for kids. These amazing crafts will leave you with some beautiful creations from cards to candy holders to crowns.

Crafting is a great way to spend some bonding time and it can even serve double duty making decorations for a Valentine’s Day party. Or if you have no party to plan for, kids can hand their creations out to classmates, teachers, grandma and grandpa, or even the mailman as a gesture that's sure to bring a little extra love to their Valentine's Day.

Shadowbox Valentine

A candy heart and red construction paper make for a precious Valentine that your loved one is going to want to keep for years to come.

Use construction paper and an X-Acto knife to craft this charming double-layer decoration, which can feature a candy heart with the

message of your choice.

Leave a hidden note inside!

Materials: • Craft glue • Red construction paper or cardstock: 5" x 5" square, 11" x 5" rectangle 5" square of foam-core, 3?16" thick • Metal ruler • Pencil • Cutting mat or corrugated cardboard • X-Acto knife (use with adult supervision) • 26" length of 3?16"-wide red velvet ribbon • Hot-glue gun and glue (use with adult supervision) • Conversation heart candy Directions: * Apply craft glue along the edges of the 5" square of

red paper and paste it on top of the foamcore. Align the metal ruler from the top left corner of the red foam square to the bottom right corner; with a pencil, draw a diagonal line roughly 3" long. Repeat with ruler placed from the top right corner to the bottom left corner. Mark 1?2" out from the intersection on all 4 lines; connect the marks to draw a 1" centre square. * Lay the red foam square on the cutting mat; using the ruler, cut out the centre square with the X-Acto knife. Erase the pencil lines. Apply craft glue along the edges of the back of the foam square and paste it onto the farright side of the 11" x 5" piece of red paper. * Fold the left side of the 11" x 5" piece of paper over the foam, creasing at the corners as if forming a book. Flip the card over and cut off any excess paper with the X-Acto knife.

Flip over again so square is right-side up; open front flap. Draw 21?2" diagonal lines on the inside of the front flap using the technique in step 1. Mark 3?4" out from the intersection of all 4 lines; connect the marks to form a 11?2" square. Using the ruler, cut out the centre square with the X-Acto knife.

Erase the pencil lines. * Centre the ribbon end on the edge of exposed foamcore in the inside of the card; hot-glue end in place.

Wrap ribbon around outer edge of foam-core square, hot-gluing in place until

entire outer edge is covered. Snip off ribbon end; hot-glue ribbon in place. Cut 4 pieces of ribbon, each slightly less than 1", and hot-glue onto inside edges of exposed foam-core in small centre square cutout. * Apply a dab of glue to a heart candy and press inside the centre cutout.

Write a message on the construction paper below it; fold over front flap.

Scratch-Off Gifts Cards

Materials: Heavy cardstock Scissors Pen White crayon Plastic cup Craft stick Measuring spoons Dish soap Acrylic paint Paintbrush Directions: 1. Print your card design onto heavy cardstock and cut out with scissors (check https://www.good-

housekeeping.com for templates).

2. Write the gift options into the circles or hearts.

3. Fill in your circle or heart with white crayon, colouring heavily over your writing.

4. Thoroughly mix 2 tsp. acrylic paint with 1 tsp. dish soap.

5. Fill in the circles or hearts with your paint mixture using a small paintbrush.

6. Let dry.

When you gift it, don't forget to include the penny — or quarter, if you're feeling extra generous.

glue y o u r red/pink hearts to the back so that they are sticking out the sides. These will make your wings.

To make your antennas, cut a pipe cleaner in half and tape each half to one of your medium sized red/pink hearts. Tape the other end of the pipe cleaners to the back of your bumblebee.

All you’ve got left to do is add the face!

Glue on some googly eyes, draw a mouth and stick your smallest red/pink hearts on each end of his smile and you’ve got yourself an adorable little bumblebee!

Add the words and you’re officially done.

You Make My Heart Flutter Valentine Craft

Bee Mine Valentine

You’ll need: Black, yellow, and either pink or red construction paper A marker Glue and/or tape Scissors Pipe cleaners Googly eyes Now, are you ready to cut some hearts?

Cut 2 large hearts from each colour of construction paper (black, yellow, and red/pink). From your red/ pink paper, you’ll also need 2 medium size hearts for the antennas, and 2 small hearts for the mouth.

Starting with one of your black hearts, start creating a pattern of black, yellow, black, yellow by laying each heart on top of the one before it and gluing them together. To make sure that you can see the face of your bumblebee, start with black

on the bottom and work your way up finishing with a yellow heart.

When the glue has dried on those, turn them over and

Here’s what you need for the craft: paint construction paper googly eyes pipe cleaners glue marker Before doing the activity, cut two large hearts and one small heart out of construction paper. Also cut out a long oval for the butterfly’s body. Cut the pipe cleaners to 3 inches and curl the ends.

Dip your hand into washable paint and stamp it onto both hearts. (I recommend placing a bowl of water next to you so you can wash your hands right away.) Let the paint dry.

After it’s dry, attach the two hearts to the back of the body. (If you can, use a hot glue gun. I found that Elmer’s glue made the marker bleed through the paper.) Then write the words “You make my heart

flutter” on the body. Glue on the googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and draw a smile. (womansday.com)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Coalition shameless for campaigning with slogan on “progress” – Irfaan Ali

P

residential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Irfaan Ali on Wednesday said that the incumbent APNU/AFC Coalition is “shameless” to be campaigning with a slogan on progress when its term in office has been defined by regress in almost all economic sectors that once drove the country.

The governing Coalition has been using “Don’t Stop the Progress” as its slogan on the campaign trail.

But according to Ali, “These guys are shameless to campaign, first on dignity and honesty which has been dismantled already and then to use a tagline ‘Don’t Stop the Progress’.”

Bauxite export earnings falling, infant mortality increasing, non-performing loan increasing, some 30,000 Guyanese losing their jobs, $118B was squandered from government and gold reserves, forestry sector contracting were among some of the areas that have declined Ali highlighted during a public meeting held in Alexander Village, Greater Georgetown.

“This is the reality of the Guyana we living in today so what progressing are they talking about. What progressing are they campaigning that we should not stop? It is clear from

PPP/C supporters at a public meeting in Alexander Village on Wednesday evening

all the fact that our country has regressed in the last five years. You know it, you feel it in your pockets everyday…,” he contended.

The presidential candidate went onto outline plans that the PPP/C has to not only return Guyana to a state of economic progress but put back money into people’s pockets.

Better equipped

He added too that a PPP/C Government will spend money to ensure that young people are properly trained and better equip to benefit from the many job opportunities that will be coming Guyana’s way in the various sectors as a result of the oil and gas sector.

Ali questioned how many persons from communities such as Alexander Village

have benefited from activities connected to shorebase developments.

“How many young people from this community, who are the closest to shorebase opportunities, were employed. What this tells you is that there is a misguided approach to ensuring local content. There is a misguided approach to ensure that the opportunities from the oil and gas sector reaches the people of our country and that is why one of the first things we have to do is to ensure we visit all of these communities and we enable you by training and investing in you to ensure that the jobs and benefits of the oil and gas come to Guyanese first,” he asserted.

According to Ali, the party manifesto has outlined many such initiatives

to ensure this including the establishment of various Centres of Excellence, creation of 50,000 jobs, reduction of electricity costs, free university education and online scholarships, reversal of over 200 new taxes, improve healthcare services and reintroduce subsidies and grants to pensioners and students, respectively, among other things.

Urban improvement programme

Additionally, he noted that the implementation of an Urban Improvement Programme will see focus not only placed on roads, water, drainage, health and garbage disposal but one that will focus on social and economic issues to ensure that the communities are vibrant and upgraded

to transform lives and livelihood.

The PPP presidential candidate posited that the PPP Manifesto will ensure that all Guyanese are winners after March 2.

Meanwhile, PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo told supporters and residents of Alexander Village that they do not need any more evidence or reinforcement on the incompetence of the incumbent Coalition Government and how much it has cost the country during its tenure.

“We have marked time for five years, and in development terms, that means a lot for the country. We have no vision, we are drifting and even the most elementary of plans is not available now. [President David] Granger talks about a lot of

strategies, etc. but when it comes down to reality and getting things done, he is incapable of translating very lofty ideas into very practical things that matter to people like jobs, addressing cost of living, getting low income housing to people, addressing the crime rate, making sure that people pay less taxes… how they education their children and making it affordable,” he posited.

According to Jagdeo, the track record of developments under the PPP during its 20 plus years in office is well known. That progress, he noted, was achieved within any oil money and is something that the coalition is incapable of doing even with resources from the petroleum sector.

The PPP General Secretary went onto dispel rumours that the party is paying people in Region Five to vote in its favour at the upcoming polls, noting that this stemmed from the desperation of a panicking Coalition.

“We are three weeks away from a change of Government and they are panicking…,” he posited.

Jagdeo noted that the people who would have voted for the Coalition in the past have had their lives changed for the worst over the past five years.

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IN THE COURTS Bus driver lands in jail for threatening woman

A

minibus driver is now in hot water after he allegedly threat-

ened a shop owner and was hauled before the court.

Rawle Miller, 26, was

remanded to prison by Magistrate Faith McGusty on Wednesday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Miller, of Lot 441 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on February 10 at Croal Street, Georgetown, he made use of threatening language towards Rochelle Reece.

The court heard that on February 10, the Virtual Complainant (VC) was at

her shop when she was approached by Miller, who began to threaten her.

According to the prosecution’s case, the VC reported the matter as she was fearful for her life. Following an investigation, the defendant was arrested and charged for the offence.

The Prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that Miller gave different addresses to the court.

The case will continue on February 26, 2020.

A known…

I …hotel brand

t was just announced that a Trini investor is working with NICIL to open up an AC Marriott-branded hotel near the Ogle Airport within the next three years. The first question that popped into your Eyewitness’ mind was “why NICIL?” when their release clearly states that the investor was one of the “Syrians” from Trinidad “who heads a major investment company” there. If the fella will be footing the US$75M bill for the structure, what’s gonna be NICIL’s role.

Enquiring minds want to know! Did NICIL sell or lease of some of the nearby GuySuCo lands from the shuttered Enmore/LBI Sugar Estate? But if that’s so, it ought to be a straightforward transaction that should not have NICIL involved in touting the hotel investment. Or is it that with NICIL having responsibility for the Marriott constructed by the PPP Government, they’re now expanding their hotel business??

And that, of course, brings up the burning question: by boasting about the value that a Marriott-branded hotel will bring to Guyana, will NICIL’s CEO Colvin Heath now be informing the PNC-led caretaker Govt to issue an apology to the PPP in general – and Bharrat Jagdeo in particular – to have had the foresight to bring that world-recognised hotel brand to Guyana?? Just as he was proven to be a prophet about a Low Carbon Development Strategy – which the PNC cogged as “Green State Development” – isn’t he also just as prophetic for the need of top-class hotels in the hospitality/ tourism sector??

What this plan for a new Marriott demonstrates is yet another proof that the PNC’s clueless when it comes to development in the 21st century. Jagdeo had a vision for this country’s development and was confident it would deliver the goods. But that plan involved bringing worldclass businesses to Guyana – which means businessmen and women, who run those businesses, would have to come into our “black hole” country!! The days are long gone when businessmen would take Lawrence of Arabia’s lead in opening up frontier economies. They now want to be assured they’ll be in safe and comfortable lodgings while they conduct their business.

And that’s what a “Marriott” does. Jagdeo didn’t know at that time oil would hasten our country’s development trajectory, but he knew the said development was guaranteed. Not because of wishes but because of concrete plans and having persons like Irfaan Ali who could execute projects. In the meantime, we wish NICIL wouldn’t sell out the sugar workers’ patrimony as he’s done and evidently now at LBI/Ogle. Didn’t he get the memo from Granger and Nagamootoo that sugar lands are slotted for sugar works??

Or does he know that’s just a Trini “mamaguy”!! …corruption investigator The PNC’s virulent ad hominem attacks on Global Witness because of their report on Trotman’s treachery – directed and approved by Granger – reeks of desperation.

“Why now?” Granger shrieks in despair – with arms upraised to the heavens!! He insists it’s a “conspiracy” between the anti-corruption crusading group and the PPP and doesn’t care that this assertion makes him into a laughing stock in every capital in the world!!

The fact of the matter is that Global Witness has worked hard to earn the credibility it presently has – starting with the expose on the illegal timber trade from Cambodia and the remnants from the Pol Pot regime who perpetuated the genocide of almost 2 million Cambodians. From there, GW showed the world that the raping of natural resources is invariably tied up with corrupt officials – both domestic ones and foreign companies.

Along the way, they earned a nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize and presently have Shell in front of the courts in Europe for corruption in Nigeria.

No…by backing Trotman, the PNC has sealed their doom!! …voting proclivity Our Disciplined Forces – Army, Police, Fire Services, Prison Services, and People’s Militia etc— will vote ahead of the rest of the populace on March 2.

Shouldn’t we return to the system where we announced their votes separately??

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

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Greek oil tanker to carry Guyana’s oil to arrive today …lifting will start on Monday, price still not announced

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ith the news that Guyana can expect to lift its first share of oil next week, it has been confirmed by the Energy Department that a Greek oil tanker, Cap Philippe, will be arriving in Guyana today to lift this oil.

This is according to a statement from the department, in which Director of Energy Dr Mark Bynoe is quoted announcing the impending arrival of the Greek-registered tanker.

The statement also observes that Guyana is expected to get at least five cargoes this year.

“The vessel will be moored to Guyana’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, the Liza Destiny, on Sunday, February 16, 2020, and the crude transfer

will take place on Monday, February 17 and Tuesday, February 18, 2020.”

According to the statement, Guyana’s first three cargoes have been sold to Royal Dutch Shell Plc. The Department of Energy has also indicated that it will be launching a Request for Proposal (RFP) shortly to recruit a marketing firm on a term basis to assist in selling Guyana’s crude entitlement.

Back in December, the department had announced that Guyana’s first three lifts of one million barrels of oil each will be sold to Shell.

Shell was chosen ahead of companies like Exxon, CNNOC, Hess and BP, all of which bid for the oil. But since the oil would be sold on the spot market, there have been questions as to wheth-

er Guyana would earn less money for the oil.

This news was immediately criticised by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who has also said that companies participating in this process could be barred from doing business in Guyana should his party be elected next year. In addition, Auditor General Deodat Sharma had said in sections of the media that his department would look into the transaction.

In defending the decision, the Department had said that at the end of the process, Shell had the most competitive yet secure pricing.

The Department had also claimed that Shell’s global trading reach, Latin America interests and willingness to share refinery info were factors in the de-

PNC-led Govt somersaults...

Prior to the announcement on Tuesday, no other information on the negotiation has been revealed to the public. It is unclear what role NICIL will play in the project and why it was handled by that entity, save for the speculation on their utilisation of GuySuCo’s lands.

APNU/AFC blocked Marriott

While in Opposition during the 10th Parliament, the APNU and AFC had individually criticised the construction of the Marriott Hotel and other major projects undertaken by the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration. ****They had conducted picketing exercises in front of the hotel

when construction started in 2011 and also when it was being opened in 2015***.

In fact, during the 2015 elections campaign, the coalition party had talked about selling off the multi-million-dollar tourism flagship project as well as making it into a hospital facility.

Having abandoning those plans, the APNU/AFC had recently come under criticism for attempting to block the realisation a casino centre at the hotel.

The US$58 million Guyana Marriott Hotel was completed in 2015 and was accepted as a state-of-theart, energy-efficient edifice, complete with hotel, casino and entertainment complex. APNU and AFC had threatened to charge the

FROM PAGE 3

then Chairman of NICIL Winston Brassington and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh for their role in securing lands in Kingston for NICIL’s subsidiary AHI to construct the hotel. The spotlight will now fall for Colvin Heath London the present NICIL chair for securing lands for a private developer without funds being transferred into the Consolidated Fund.

In fact, Marriott’s financing structure had depended on a casino and entertainment centre to make enough money to repay up to US$30 million in debts to the banks and other creditors. Currently, the Kingston Marriott is generating a profit and is consistently fully booked.

cision. In addition, they had reported that Shell was ready to support the Energy Department in operating the cargoes.

However, the lift is occurring at a time when the Department of Energy Director, Dr Mark Bynoe, has deferred the question of what price has been agreed on for the oil. In fact, Bynoe referred the media to the GYEITI. However, GYEITI is yet to receive a report on the transaction.

“We haven’t received any information as yet. We have a meeting with the Department of Energy. And they have agreed to collaborate with us and provide the

necessary information so that we can prepare the EITI reporting for public disclosure…But as of now, no specific information has been provided to us,” GYEITI National Coordinator, Dr Rudy Jadoopat told this publication on Tuesday.

The EITI is a global standard to promote the open and accountable management of oil, gas, and mineral resources. Under the EITI standard, companies publish what they pay to Governments and Governments publish what they receive in an annual EITI country report.

Meanwhile, Oilprice.com reported that with West

Texas Intermediate (WTI) sliding below US$50 , even more downsides should be expected according to S&P Global Platts' Claudia Carpenter, who wrote that oil prices will probably drop to the "mid-$40s" a barrel in the next couple of weeks because of weak demand, according to Matt Stanley, Director of Starfuels commodities brokerage.

Crude prices have dropped significantly in the past few weeks on concern that the virus outbreak could blunt global crude demand.

Front-month Brent settled Friday at US$54.47/b, 16 per cent below its most recent peak on January 20.

Knife-wielding bandit slashes social worker’s face

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ocial worker Robeena Zaman is now left with a permanent scar after she was slashed to her face by a bandit on Tuesday during an attempted robbery.

Reports are the incident occurred in Albouystown, Georgetown about 07:30h as the mother of three was making her way to work.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Zaman said that the bandit attempted to steal her shoulder bag and, in the process, cut her in the face.

“Normally, my husband would drop me out, but yesterday (Tuesday) was different day… so I decide to walk out, we living on Punt Trench, so I walking out to the public road a corner from where I’m living; I saw this youth playing music and he combing up he hair and I pay no heed and I proceed,” she related.

Zaman said it was her hijab that saved her life after the knife got entangled in her headwear. She said that the bandit pulled the knife and slashed upper lip.

She received 26 stitches for her injuries. She said that in fighting off the bandit, she was also cut to one of her fingers.

Robeena Zaman shows the injury she received to her face during an attempted robbery

“About 50 footsteps I made away from him and then he pounce on me just so and scramble on to my bag, my bag was in my right hand. I was going to help out some poor people, I asked my sister for some money and I had it in that bag and I was going to help this family knowing that I had the money, by instinct, I held on to the bag,” she recalled.

The woman noted that no one came to her assistance until the bandit left.

“There were people who

witness but nobody did anything,” she expressed in disappointment.

According to Zaman, persons in the area related to her that they know her assailant and he would frequently rob persons at the same corner.

“He didn’t show no mercy to me; it is like he just keep firing the knife without any consideration for me,” she said.

After the incident, Zaman called her husband and made a report at the Ruimveldt Police Station.

She said that she and her family have been living in the area for almost eight years now.

“I traverse this road actually on a daily basis and this is the first time something like this happened…I got licks as a child, but I never got a scar. I am living with my husband and he never hit me. I am just disappointed, because I am a child care worker and I try to make a difference in youths’ lives; I try to help young people and it is sad to know a young person did this to me. Every time I look at this scar, I would remember that,” Zaman lamented.

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very year on February 14, people honour their love for one another by spending time together, sending flowers and sharing Valentine’s messages of love.

What is best gift for Valentine's Day? Cuddly cushions, soft toys, chocolates, handbags, cosmetics, and flowers are some of the best Valentine gifts for “her”. You can also choose from an array of luxury items, such as watches, pendants, gift hampers, chocolates, cakes and flowers, and more.

NEWS

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Local Content Policy finally released …allows operators to reclaim all expenses as cost oil

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he Department of Energy has released the Local Content Policy, but while it is full of expectations that oil and gas operators will spend money to develop local expertise and support local businesses, it also allows operators to be compensated for such expenditure under cost recovery.

This is one of several features of the policy, which says that a number of ministries, departments and organisations— including the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Georgetown, Berbice, Essequibo and West Demerara and American Chambers of Commerce— were consulted prior to the policy being published.

“Where an operator’s local content plan has been approved by the Minister, the operator’s cost for delivery of the activities and programmes in the plan shall be eligible for cost recovery to the extent consistent with applicable contractual and legal frameworks,” the policy reads.

Guyana’s model Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), used to craft the legal agreements with various oil companies

operating offshore Guyana, allows them to use revenue from their production to recover the money they invested. Whatever remains of this is the ‘profit oil’ Guyana will initially have to split with the oil company and its associates.

The Local Content Policy, however, states that it will be updated from time to time “to be aligned with a maturing petroleum sector and with evolving national development strategies and goals”.

Moreover, it notes that it is meant to be a precursor for local content legislation, which can only be brought to the National Assembly after the March 2 polls since Parliament has been dissolved.

“At this time, the current policy framework is therefore limited in scope to the upstream petroleum sector and does not as yet address directly the following policy areas: mid and downstream petroleum sector opportunities, other policy issues related to the upstream petroleum sector, such as health, safety, security, environment, community impacts, tax and fiscal matters. Other petroleum-re-

lated national issues such as national development and planning,” the policy states.

Implementation

When it comes to the implementation of the plan, the policy makes it clear very early that the annual local content plans being submitted by the operator are the core instrument to be used for ensuring that operators comply with the policy.

“Operators’ local content plans provide a forward-looking, efficient, focused and flexible mechanism for Government and operators to identify, plan, implement and assure delivery of local content. The policy notes, however, that the sending out a tender aimed at including Guyanese will take into consideration whether Guyanese persons and suppliers will be able to deliver.”

A visible trend in the policy is that it seeks to temper expectations. It makes it clear that until Guyana can build enough capacity, a significant amount of the specialised skills and services, as well as materials, products and equipment are unlikely to be competitively sourced locally.

Local content

According to the policy, the operator is obligated to provide to the department a list of contracts it is expected to tender over the forthcoming half-year, as well as the dates when they will invite expressions of interest.

As part of its reporting, operators will also have to provide figures of how much money they spent in Guyana’s economy from expenditure on services as well as goods.

Another feature of the policy is that the operator has to describe its plans for supporting the development of local suppliers.

“In association with each project and related work, activities described in the operator’s yearly local content plan, the operator shall describe in its plan, programmes of support and development to Guyanese suppliers for the forthcoming year and for 2 to 5 years out that involve the operator and its primary contractors and shall include milestones and anticipated outcomes.”

According to the policy, some of the areas operators shall consider include sup-

GTT store robbery

Giftland Mall employs armed security guards

F

ollowing a daring armed robbery at the Giftland Mall on Monday night, management has announced that armed guards will now be stationed at all entrances of the facility.

In a statement, Giftland Mall’s Proprietor Roy Beepat said: “we wish to assure the public that we are aware of their security concerns, which are our security concerns. As such we have further strengthened the mall with armed guards at our entrances effective immediately”.

On Monday evening, the two bandits robbed the Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) store on the ground floor of the Giftland Mall, Plantation Pattensen, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.

According to CCTV footage seen by this publication, the two perpetrators casually entered the mall and pounced on the sales clerk at the kiosk.

At the time, several customers were in a queue; they quickly scattered when one of the bandits pulled out a gun.

After the robbery, the men ran out of the mall. The incident occurred at around 21:00h and the entire ordeal lasted just a few minutes.

On Tuesday, one of the thieves was nabbed by Police during a shootout on D’Urban Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown.

The other suspect managed to escape.

According to Commander of Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Sub-division A

(Georgetown), Assistant Police Commissioner Edgar Thomas, the police used social media to track down the two bandits.

Police went to the location on D’Urban Street but upon spotting the police, one of the men discharged a round in their direction.

Police retaliated by return-

ing fire but one of the men escaped through a yard and onto Princes Street, then into the Le Repentir Cemetery. During the exchange of gunfire between the police and the bandits, a parked car was damaged.

Meanwhile, the Giftland Mall has commended the police on its operation.

porting Guyanese in accessing the procurement process and international partnerships, developing skills, quality standards and certification, as well as “access to finance to develop capacity for Guyanese suppliers”.

Reporting

The report also sets out the chain by which the operator has to submit reports on its local content compliance.

In the first instance, the operator has to submit a half-year local content report by August 15.

According to the report, the subject Minister for Petroleum then has to review the report. During the review, the Minister may invite the operator in to discuss aspects of the report or make adjustments going forward. The operator will also have to submit

an end-of-year local content report by February 15, which will also be subject to review by the Minister.

The operator is also obligated to local content plans on dates specified in the report.

For instance, the operator has to submit its proposed local content plan by November 1, after which the Minister has to issue an invitation within 20 days and meet with the operator. The operator then has to submit a final local content plan within 21 days after this meeting.

The report specifies that the Minister has to approve this local content plan. The minister has to send either a letter of approval or rejection within 14 days of receiving the final plan. In case the plan is rejected, the policy says, the Minister has to invite the operator to a meeting.

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Guyana's oil spill response capability tested at simulation exercise oil spill response system and two is flood response…so for oil spill response we will be having several sessions which are table-top exercise to mainly orient the players that are a part of our oil spill contingency plan to their main role and responsibility.”

The CDC Director further explained that when the exercise culminates, some changes will be made — citing that by then, a proper understanding of the roles’ challenges will be gained.

Some of the participants at the opening session of the simulation exercise

T

he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in collaboration with international and local partners rolled out the first session of a simulation exercise focused on testing the country’s oil spill response proficiency.

During the opening ceremony at the Commission’s headquarters on Wednesday, CDC Director-General Kester Craig explained that the ex-

ercise is one of several activities leading up to Tradewinds 2020— to be held in June.

Tradewinds is a US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)-sponsored maritime security and disaster response exercise executed annually to strengthen the security of the Caribbean region.

This local exercise will see participants divided into groups and presented with

an oil spill scenario for which they have to strategise a response.

Craig noted that these sessions will outline the responsibilities of individuals and organisations who are part of the country’s oil spill contingency plan.

“So this year, for exercise Tradewinds Guyana, has opted to two of its main hazard response systems; one is our

“So, today’s exercise is really one of the next steps in the operationalisation of our national contingency plan.

Coming out of the exercise, we will be making further adjustments to the plan because we don’t really understand some of the challenges of the roles and responsibilities properly until we test it,” Craig asserted.

Future implementation of the plan will see the deployment of acquired oil spill equipment to those agencies

playing a critical role in responding.

Some of the international, regional and local partners include US SOUTHCOM, the US Coast Guard, US Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP), the Canadian Military, NASA, Global Fishing Watch, CDEMA, the Guyana Fire Service, the GDF Coast Guard, Immigration Services, and the Guyana Police Force among others.

UK suspends funding to Commonwealth Secretariat

T

he British government has suspended its funding of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the body that runs the international organisation from London, the BBC has learned.

UK diplomats have told Lady Scotland, the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, that Britain's annual £4.7m voluntary contribution will be withheld until her secretariat improves its financial procedures.

The Secretariat insisted it was implementing recommendations made by external auditors.

The UK decision came after Lady Scotland was criticised by auditors for "circumventing" usual competitive tendering rules when she awarded a lucrative consultancy contract to a company run by a friend.

The auditors also discovered that procurement rules had been waived by the secre-

tariat on no fewer than 50 occasions over three years.

Both New Zealand and Australia have also suspended their discretionary funding to the Commonwealth Secretariat until its financial systems are tightened up and tested by external auditors.

The UK decision threatens to plunge the secretariat into a financial crisis and will raise fresh questions about Lady Scotland's leadership.

Commonwealth heads of government have already rejected calls to give Lady Scotland an automatic second term of office when it comes up for renewal this year.

The funding crisis came to a head last week when Commonwealth high commissioners in London - who together form the organisation's board of governors - met to discuss the results of the investigation by the external accountancy firm KPMG. The Commonwealth Secretariat is the central administrative

hub for the intergovernmental organisation that comprises 54 countries - many of them former British colonies - and encompasses almost a third of the world's population. About two-thirds of the Commonwealth Secretariat's funding - some £18.4m in 2018 - comes from automatic subscriptions from member states.

But there is also a second budget for the secretariat - the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation which is discretionary and provides about a third of its funding, worth about £12m in the most recent audited accounts. The UK is the largest contributor to this fund.

A senior British diplomat wrote to Lady Scotland on 3 February to say that continued UK funding would be suspended until the Commonwealth Secretariat complied with the recommendations of the KPMG report.

(BBC)

17 Real estate company burglarised P NEWS

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OILNEWS

olice are investigating a break and enter robbery at Fabulous Home International on Robb Street, Georgetown.

Reports are that thieves torched and cut the locks to the doors of the manager and

CEO’s office, taking a safe with an undisclosed amount of cash along with cheques.

This publication was told that the incident occurred sometime over the weekend, as the staff made the discovery when they turned up for

OPEC sees oil demand grow by 990,000 BPD in 2020 Stabbed bank teller still in hospital

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PEC slashed on Wednesday its global oil demand growth forecast for 2020, expecting the coronavirus outbreak to weigh heavily on fuel demand in the world’s oil demand growth driver, China.

In its closely watched Monthly Oil Market Report published on Wednesday, OPEC slashed its oil demand growth estimate by 230,000 BPD from last month’s assessment and now sees global oil demand growth at just below 1 million BPD this year—at 990,000 BPD. The coronavirus outbreak which is crippling oil demand amid travel restrictions and industrial activity slowdown is the major factor behind the slashed demand growth forecast, OPEC said.

“The recent outbreak of the coronavirus in China necessitated a further downward revision to the country’s oil demand growth forecast compared to last month, as transportation fuels, notably aviation fuels, are expected to be impacted in 1H20,” the report reads.

OPEC revised down its oil demand estimate for China by 400,000 BPD for H1 and by 200,000 BPD for the full year 2020.

“The impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on China’s economy has added to the uncertainties surrounding global economic growth in 2020, and by extension global oil demand growth in 2020,” OPEC said.

The cartel also revised down its estimate of demand for OPEC crude by 200,000 BPD to 29.3 million BPD, or about 1.3 million BPD lower than the 2019 level, also due to the coronavirus outbreak and its expected impact on China’s oil demand and, by extension, global oil demand.

OPEC’s production, including Ecuador, plunged by 509,000 BPD compared to December, to 28.859 million BPD in January, the first month in which the deeper cuts are in force, according to OPEC’s secondary sources.

Yet, the current deeper cuts are unlikely to be enough to prevent another glut from building as the depressed oil demand in China is inflicting the worst shock to oil demand in over a decade. (Excerpt from Oil Price)

Oil ends higher as worries ease over coronavirus hit to crude demand

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il futures finished higher on Wednesday, finding support as a slowdown in the number of new, confirmed cases of COVID-19 in China may translate into a smaller-than-feared hit to crude demand.

Prices settled off the session’s best levels, however, as U.S. government showed a third straight weekly rise in crude inventories that was bigger than market expectations.

Before the petroleum supply figures came out Wednesday, “we saw strength in crude as fears on the virus have subsided,” said Tariq Zahir, managing member at Tyche Capital Advisors.

“We firmly do feel the story has not been written on the virus outbreak,” he said. “The absence of new cases developing here in the U.S. is reassuring...[but] here is no doubt that China will experience a demand drop off [that’s] quite significant.”

Still, “if we see this spread further in Europe, or here in the U.S., we do expect demand to drop even further,” he added.

West Texas Intermediate crude for March delivery CLH20, +3.30% on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose $1.23, or about 2.5%, to settle at $51.17 a barrel after trading as high as $51.73. April Brent BRNJ20, +0.68%, the global benchmark, added $1.78, or 3.3%, to $55.79 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe.

Data from the Energy Information Administration Wednesday revealed that U.S. crude supplies rose by 7.5 million barrels for the week ended Feb. 7. That followed increases in each of the previous two weeks.

Analysts polled by S&P Global Platts forecast a rise of 2.3 million barrels, while the American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday reported a rise of 6 million barrels, according to sources. (Excerpt Market Watch)

Clifton Richmond and his injured wife Sheria Khalil, called “Sherry”, in happier times

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he 22-year-old bank teller who was stabbed to the neck with a knife by her spouse, who subsequently consumed a poisonous substance and died, remains hospitalised.

This was confirmed by Commander of Region Four (B), Kurleigh Simon, when contacted by Guyana Times.

He related that Sheria Khalil was “gradually improving”.

Khalil’s 24-year-old reputed husband, Clifton Richmond, also called “Steve”, died on February 1, at the Georgetown Public Hospital while receiving medical treatment. Reports are that Richmond had made arrangements to pick up his reputed wife at her workplace. However, when he got there, she had already left. He then went to their Lot 25 Timehri Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home and she arrived about 21:15h.

Reports are that Khalil disembarked a Route 42 minibus and Richmond, who was in their yard, walked towards her on the public road where an argument ensued.

Guyana Times was told that during the argument, Richmond lifted his reputed wife off the ground and took her into a nearby churchyard. Khalil’s family reported that they heard her screams and rushed to that location where they noticed the 22-year-old bleeding profusely from a stab wound on the left side of her neck.

Upon realising that his in-laws had arrived, Richmond then consumed a substance and jumped into the Demerara River.

He was subsequently taken out of the river in an unconscious state and rushed to the Diamond hospital. Both Khalil and Richmond were rushed to the Diamond hospital, but were later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, with Khalil being rushed into emergency surgery.

work on Monday.

“We saw the door open, and money on the floor and the other young lady that was with us she told us that she saw the manager’s door open. So, when we go up, we saw the manager’s door was opened and it was tumbled, and then we go upstairs to the door where we entered and the CEO’s door was open as well,” one employee said.

The thieves also removed the Digital Video Recorder

(DVR) and cut the company’s telephone lines.

Guyana Times was told that Police were able to obtain surveillance footage from a nearby building.

The footage showed the men fetching the safe to an awaiting car.

Just last year, the company was robbed at gunpoint by masked men who demanded cash; shots were also fired during that ordeal but no one was injured.

18 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guns from Venezuela being sold for food in Guyana – Minister

…says stamping out gun-running a challenge

E

uropean experts will be conducting a workshop with local law enforcement officials to develop improved policies for Guyana to stamp out the illegal arms trade, even as Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan admits the system is already

under strain from cross-border smuggling.

The workshop is being conducted from February 12 to 13 at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, under the European Union’s Export Control Programme for arms.

A key part of this programme

is implementing the Arms Trade Treaty of 2013, which Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan noted is the only of its kind.

According to Ramjattan, the programme provides for Guyana to reach out to the international community for

Corentyne man jailed for 15 years for killing villager

A

Corentyne, Berbice man, who admitted that he killed a fellow villager, was on Wednesday jailed for 15 years by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall in the Berbice High Court.

Vejai Rickbarran, of Williamsburg, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), had previously pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and had to return to court on Wednesday for sentencing.

Rickbarran admitted that he killed Muhamed Assad Abdul on October 29, 2017, at Williamsburg, Corentyne.

State Prosecutor Seeta Bissoondial told the court that on the day in question, Rickbarran walked into Abdul’s yard with a cutlass and started lashing the nowdead man’s wife. The prosecutor said that the woman shouted for her husband who went to her assistance but he

was chopped several times and collapsed.

When Police arrived, Rickbarran handed over a rusty cutlass to them, telling them he did not know what overtook him to commit the act. Abdul was rushed to the hospital but died on October 3, 2017. Reports are the man’s 48-year-old wife was taking dry wood from the public road into her yard when Rickbarran charged towards her armed with a cutlass.

According to woman, she ran into her yard and her husband confronted Rickbarran, who chopped him.

The court heard that back in 2005, Rickbarran was a pillion rider when the motorcycle slammed into a house which was being transported on the road. The rider died on the scene and Rickbarran suffered head injuries and was hospitalised for several weeks.

Following that, he was be-

Jailed: Vejai Rickbarran

ing treated by the National Psychiatric Hospital.

When Rickbarran was placed before the court charged with murder, the court ordered a psychiatric evaluation. It was then determined that he was fit to stand trial.

Justice Morris-Ramlall initially said that she was imposing a 30-year sentence but reduced 15 years for mitigating circumstances including the three years he spent in prison.

Rickbarran was represented by Attorney-at-Law Chandra Sohan.

Some of the participants at the European Union’s Export Control Programme for arms workshop

help, building capacity. It is a capacity that is sorely needed, according to Ramjattan, Guyana’s control of the illicit trade is under strain.

“This system that we have is being stretched and strained. Largely one of the causes, as we know, is Brazil is a manufacturer of weapons. And we have very close contacts with Brazil. It’s to our southern border. And ever so often, Police catch a culprit found with a Brazil-made Taurus (gun). And it is unregistered.”

“It is also stretched and strained because we have a problem west of us in Venezuela, where there are lots of guns and lots of migration out from Venezuela into Guyana, Brazil, Columbia and so. The migration problem is

a huge problem globally. But when people are coming across your border and you don’t have the resources to control border entries that exist, you will have people who want to come across with guns.”

He also noted that there have been reports of persons from Venezuela, in the throes of an economic crisis, selling guns for food. Ramjattan also noted that in Guyana’s case, it is situated in a region notorious for its high rate of gun violence.

In fact, he explained that it determined with expert advice that illicit guns represent the greatest danger to the Caribbean Community (Caricom), followed by organised crime and drug trafficking.

“Anecdotally, if I may say

so, we have heard of situations where some across the border with Venezuela have been selling guns for food!

And very cheaply at that. And we are providing the food for them, they provide the gun.

That’s a very serious development and one can appreciate that indeed, that can happen.

Because those parts of the border have huge difficulties in sometimes getting food.”

The participants at the workshop include representatives of the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile, the EU is represented by Johnny Capelle, a Belgian Customs officer; Pascal Van Mele of the French Ministry of Defence and Trade Treaty expert, Dr Sylvain Paile-Calvo.

Trial of rape accused ends in hung jury

T

hirty-seven-year-old Dexter, who is accused of raping an underage girl, will remain a free man after the trial ended in a hung jury on Wednesday.

McIntosh had denied the indictment which detailed that January 1, 2015, he engaged in sexual penetration of a 12-year-old girl.

At the trial’s conclusion, the 12-member jury empanelled before Justice Jo-Ann

Barlow in the Sexual Offences Court was unable to reach a verdict after deliberations.

The prosecution’s case presented by Teriq Mohammed and Mandel Moore contended that on January 1, 2015, the accused visited the victim’s home and lured her outside.

It is alleged that the victim, who heeded, was later taken by the accused to an abandoned area.

Father of the victim af-

ter calling out for her in their home realised that something was amiss and that she was not at home. The man began looking for his daughter and observed the accused leaving the location when he began calling out his daughter’s name. The man was later charged and placed on bail.

A retrial is expected in the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes.

19

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

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Think matters through before you share your thoughts. Getting along with someone who could help boost your wages or lifestyle will be mandatory if you want to excel.

Make a change because it’s what you want to do, not because it’s what someone else wants. Use your intelligence and do your best to help those who face uncertainty or difficult times.

Keep moving. Channel your energy into something that will encourage fitness, creativity and positive change. Romance is on the rise and will enhance your life. Be careful whom you trust with personal information.

Express your plans and intentions and make changes based on the response you receive. A lot can change if you are willing to compromise. If you strive for equality, good things will transpire.

Don’t feel that you must make a change because someone else does. Look at your options, concentrate on personal growth and physical improvements, and surround yourself with like-minded people.

A change will give you the boost needed to stimulate your mind and push you in a direction that will inspire you to do your own thing.

Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and pay closer attention to things that make you happy. Put your energy into a project that shows profit potential.

Make attention to detail a priority. Your creative input will impress your peers.

Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. Help a cause that you care about.

Put your energy into someSAGITTARIUS thing that matters to you. A (Nov. 23promising partnership, physiDec. 21) cal improvement or investment opportunity is within reach.

Leave nothing to chance, and success will follow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

If you keep an open mind, you’ll be offered information that can change your life.

Personal growth that leads to better health, less stress and greater freedom is possible.

AQUARIUS

Follow your chosen path.

Don’t feel that you must give in to someone else’s plans or let anyone pressure you into making a move you don’t care to make. Do your own thing.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Ward off an argument by refusing to engage.

Concentrate on doing your best and supporting the people who support you. Listen to your intuition and follow your heart.

20

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

Windies Women seal 2-0 practice series win over Pakistan Women W

Hayley Matthews

LeeAnn Kirby and Anisa Mohammed

DCB U-17 Inter-association…

Georgetown brush aside East Bank in 6-wicket win

est Indies Women defeated Pakistan Women by 19 runs in the third unofficial practice match at the Tewantin Cricket Ground, thereby winning the three-match series twonil. The second match of the series was called off due to rain.

The West Indies Women won the toss and elected to bat first.

Hayley Matthews and LeeAnn Kirby got the Caribbean ladies’ innings off to a flyer. Matthews was the aggressor of the pair, carting the Pakistani bowlers to various parts of the ground. She struck five boundaries on her way to a quick 27 runs. Not to be outdone, Kirby also got in on the action, as she took a liking to the fast pace of the opening Pakistan bowlers. She struck a lofty six and three fours for her 32 runs, but going for a big heave was bowled by Iqbal.

Deandra Dottin and Shemaine Campbelle once again combined for a quick partnership of 38 runs, with Dottin scoring 18 of them. Despite the threatening rain, the West Indies Women crossed 100 on the scoreboard as they batted out the overs.

The West Indies Women finished their innings on 122/7 from 20 overs. LeeAnn Kirby top-scored with 32 runs, while Hayley Matthew finished with 27 runs. Aliyah Riaz was the best Pakistan bowler, finishing with figures of 4-23-3. Pakistan never looked settled in the run-chase as the West Indies bowlers had them on edge at all times. With near perfect line and lengths, Shakera Selman and Chinelle Henry had the Pakistanis on the back foot from the first ball. With 18 runs on the board, Anisa Mohammed’s spin proved to be the trick as she bagged the first wicket of Javeria Khan, caught for 12.

Matthews then trapped Muneeba Ali LBW for 7 and the wickets started tumbling. Only the captain, Bisma Maroof was able to provide some stubborn resistance for Pakistan, as she finished on a valiant 51 not out. Pakistan all out for 103 in 19.3 overs.

Once again, Mohammed was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, finishing with figures of 3-12-3, followed by Selman with 3-11-2.

The West Indies Women now move to their pre-World Cup base in Brisbane where they will play Australia on Saturday, February 15 and India on Tuesday, February 18 in the official ICC warm-up matches before their first group game on February 22 against Thailand at the WACA in Perth.

(CWI)

No 73 Young Warriors defeat Scottsburg United

Two-time defending champions Number 73 Young Warriors show off their silverware after winning the Trophy Stall and UCCA 50-over cricket competition

Georgetown’s U-17 team celebrate a wicket (Brandon Corlette photos)

L

ed by a collective bowling effort with Ezekiel Wilson being the highlight, Georgetown recorded a six-wicket win against their East Bank counterparts in the opening round of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Under-17 Inter-association on Wednesday.

Playing at the Everest Cricket Club, East Bank were bundled out for 67 in 24.4 overs while Georgetown ended victorious on 68-4 in 20.4 overs. Batting first on a sticky wicket, East Bank made only 67 with West Indies U-16 batsman Mavindra Dindyal top-scoring with 26. Zachary Jodah made 13 while Tahddeus Lovell scored 10, the only three batsmen to surpass double digits. Off-spinner Wilson was the pick of the bowlers with 4-11 in five overs. He was backed up by Alvin Mohabir who claimed 2-0, Inderjeet Nanan who had 2-3 and Yohance Angoy, who took 2-15. In reply, Georgetown lost four wickets but ended victorious on 68 after 20.4 overs. Opener Jadon Ezekiel Wilson Campbellle led the batting with 23 while appeals successfully during his 4-11 Nanan scored an unbeaten 15. Mohabir (14) and Tatesh Shivrattan ended unbeaten on 12.

D

efending champions Number 73 Young Warriors defeated Scottsburg United to win the second edition of the Trophy Stall and Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) Under-19 Interclub 50 overs cricket competition.

In the final, which was played at the Crabwood Creek Ground, Scottsburg United made 194 in 31.5 overs with Clifford Embrack scoring 50 (5x6, 3x4); Brandon Nandalall striking 27, Ashton Nohar, 25 and Trevon Sukhoo, 21.

Bowling for Number 73 Young Warriors, Sarwan Chitnarine picked up three wickets with Niraha Singh and Eton Odell taking two each. In reply, the team then batted solidly to race to 195-2 in 31.4 overs to win by eight wickets. All-rounder Chitnarine hammered an unbeaten 80 (10x4, 1x6) and was supported by Nicholas Tahal (44) and Singh (24).

In the presentation that followed, Young Warriors received cash incentives and the Trophy Stall trophy from a representative of its Port Mourant branch. The individual pre-

sentations were swept by players of Number 73 Young Warriors. Chitnarine was adjudged the man of the match for his all-round performance.

Niradj Singh was adjudged the player with the most runs and also the most valuable while Paul Jabbar was adjudged the player with the most wickets in the tournament. The tournament was sponsored by Trophy Stall’s Port Mourant branch through its General Manager Ramesh Sunich. The other teams that participated in the competition were 43 Cricket Club, Number 66 Cricket Club, Number 73 Mandir and Number 52 Cricket Club.

Trophy Stall, with its head office at Bourda Market, is one of the leading sponsors of sporting activities in Guyana. It is also one of the leading sports and trophy stores in the country. General Manager Sunich was happy to give back to the people of Berbice for their unstinted support over the years. He is pleased with the way the competition has been organised so far and has committed to continue the sponsorship.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

21

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Enmore CCCC, Lusignan SC to clash in final under floodlights this Sunday T he finalists for the 2019 Banks Beer 100-Ball Bash was decided on Sunday last at Enmore Community Centre Ground when Enmore CCCC defeated Strathavon SC by 61 runs, and Lusignan SC got the better of Lusignan East by eight wickets in their respective semi-finals. As a result, the final match-up will be a repeat of 2018 between ECCCC and Lusignan SC. In the inaugural competition, Lusignan SC defeated Enmore CCCC, but with both teams being unbeaten in this format during 2019, Enmore will no doubt fancy their chances, having defeated a strong Lusignan team in the final of the 40Over format earlier this year. This competition, which is sponsored by the Banks Beer brand, is in its second year and commenced in October last among 20 teams on the East Coast Demerara.

The final, which is set for this Sunday, will be played under floodlights at Enmore after matches be-

tween Enmore Masters and Floodlights select team and the third-place match-up between Lusignan East and Strathavon SC. The East Coast Cricket Committee 2019 presentation and awards ceremony will also be held before the final game as all matches for the 2019 season will be completed this weekend.

Scores from the semi-finals are as follows: ECCCC 145 for 7 wickets. Imran Hassan 61, V Ramlakhan 27 and B Ramkelawan 23.

M Ronald took 4 wickets for 34 runs for Strathavon SC, who were then dismissed for 84. For ECCCC, Chaitram Balgobin took 2 for 14 and Satash Jainarine 2 for 11.

In the second semi-final, Lusignan East were bowled out for 96 in the final over.

T Persaud made 33 runs and K Amsterdam, 21. V Doodnauth, C Ramraj, V Ramjeet and R Williams each took two wickets for Lusignan. Lusignan SC’s run chase was led by Robin Williams, who made 64* and V Ramjeet had 25*

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Aurora Knight Riders and Bacchus Bulls clash in finale this Sunday

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South/Central Essequibo T20 Cricket Competition

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ECCCC Captain B Ramkelawan (left) and Lusignan SC Captain Shazam Ali (right)

CMTC horse meet shifted to February 24

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VACANCIES

while A Sammy took 2 wickets for 14.

ECCCC team: B Ramkelawan (Captain); Yuvraj Dayal; Satash Jainarine; Amir Khan; Imran Hassan; Ranjeet Hiralall; Rudolph Singh; Vishwanuth Ramlakhan; Chris Surat; Navindra Gobin; Hemraj Garbarran; Chaitram Balgobin and Vivikanand Ishwardin.

Lusignan SC: Shazam Ali (Captain); Rajpaul Basdeo; Robin Williams; Vishnu Ramjeet; Gavin Boodwah; Kumar Bishundial; Azad Mohamed; Vickram Doodnauth; Chaterpaul Ramraj; Somnauth Bharrat; Steve Ramdas; Jadesh Dowlatram and Deokarran Kumar.

Event schedule: 12:00h – Enmore Masters v Floodlights 11; 14:30h – Lusignan East v Strathavon SC; 18:00h – E/ Coast Cricket Committee Presentation/awards ceremony and 19:00h – Enmore CCCC v Lusignan SC. There will also be barbecue on sale, bar refreshments, and off-field entertainment.

T

he Crawford Memorial Turf Club (CMTC) was scheduled to host its annual President’s Cup this Saturday; however, owing to unforeseen circumstances and limited sponsors coming on board, the club has shifted the date to February 24, 2020.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, Club President Marcel Crawford Jr said, “One of the reasons why the race was shifted was because Rising Sun had shifted their race a week before mine; also, there had been lots of campaigns in Berbice and I felt that this would affected the atmosphere of the meet and the individuals would have not been able to enjoy themselves fully. We are also hoping to get more sponsors on board as we have seen a few come on board thus far. So far, we have Banks DIH, Attorney Senior Counsel Poonai

of Georgetown, Poonai Pharmacy of Rose Hall, Fazal Habbibulla, Diquan Trading, Guy Hookumchand of Number 41 Village. Plus, the Monday will be Mash Day and the spirits will be high; hence we capitalised on the opportunity.”

The feature event of this meet is The Crawford Stakes, set to be run over 1400 metres for a winner’s purse of $500,000 and a trophy. The J and Lower race will run over 1400 metres for a winner’s purse of $220,000 and a trophy; the race for 3-Year-Olds which runs over 1400 metres has a winner’s purse of $200,000 and a trophy; the L1 and Lower race over 1000 metres has a winner’s purse of $150,000 and a trophy; the L2 and Lower race over 1000 metres has a winner’s purse of $80,000 while the winner of the L3 Unclassified race over 1000 metres pockets a prize of

I

t all goes down this Sunday February 16, 2020 in the grand finale of the South/ Central Essequibo T20 Cricket Competition, as the Aurora Knights take on the in-form Bacchus Bulls, at Imam Bacchus Ground.

The third-place playoff will take place at 10:00h and will see Affiance Sports Club duking it out with Invaders Masters while the final will commence at 14:00h.

Earlier in semi-final 1, Aurora Knight Riders d e fe a t e d Affiance Sports Club by 58 runs.

Winning the toss a n d selecting

Yougeshwar Lall

to bat, Knight Riders made 154 for 9 in 20 overs. Opener Quacy Reedon 51 (4x6,2x4), Roddie Spencer 31 (3x6,1x4) and Garfield Phillips 21 (1x4) were the main contributors.

B o w l i n g f o r Affiance Sports Club were Amit Persaud (4 for 20); Badesh Parsotam (2 for 30) and Yaseer Mohamed (2 for 40).

Affiance Sports Club could only post 96 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs, with Eishwar Singh 26*(3x4) and Hemant Singh 20 no. Bowling for Knight Riders was Garfield Phillips with figures of 4 for 20.

In semi-final 2, Bacchus Bulls defeated Invaders Masters by 50 runs. Winning the toss and batting first, Bacchus Bulls were restricted to 134 for 9 in 20 overs with Captain Yougeshwar Lall making 40 (4x4), Sheldon Charles 24 (5x4) and Wayne Osburne 19 (2x4). Bowling for Invaders were Richie Bishop (5 for 13) and Ricardo Adams (4 for 13). Invaders Masters could only have mustered 84 for 9 when their overs expired. Ryan Adam made 24 (1x6,2x4) and Seenauth Balbadar, 19 (1x4). Bowling for Bacchus were Punraj Singh (3 for 23) and Lallbachan Narine (2 for 6).

Garfield Phillips

22

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MVP Sports throws support behind Magnum Mash Cup

A

s the Magnum Mash Cup futsal competition heads into the business end, high-end sporting apparel store MVP Sports has joined the sponsorship team for the event.

Following a riveting, high-scoring night of futsal action on Saturday last, four teams now remain in the hunt for a $600,000 grand prize in the third edition of the Magnum Mashramani Cup futsal tournament.

While the semi-final round of the tournament featuring Bent Street, Rio All Stars, Kingston and Leopold Street is slated for Saturday, February 15; MVP Sports has taken the timely decision to jump on board the 2020 tournament.

Disclosing that the sporting apparel store, located in the Giftland Mall, will be donating the third-place prize, proprietor Ian Ramdeo stressed on the company’s commitment to sport. He further noted that he was happy to see variations of the sport being practiced.

“Once again, MVP Sports is happy to be a part of this tournament and, as you said, sport in general in Guyana. The commitment from us remains the same to athletes and to sports in Guyana and we look forward to continuing the support.

“We’re very happy to see different tourna-

MVP Sports’ Ian Ramdeo

ment, different setting for our local athletes happening, so they can continue training and practising,” Ramdeo went on to state.

Recapping last Saturday’s action: underdog team Kingston stunned the once-dominant Spartacus in a 3-1 encounter. Stephon Reynolds was the lone scorer for Kingston with a hat-trick in the 19th, 21st and 24th minute.

Bent Street booked their ticket to the semis with a rain of goals over Sophia in a

RHTY&SC, Guyana Beverage Company launch children’s Mash parade

Busta Marketing Manager Raymond Govindha hands over the sponsorship cheque to Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster

T

he cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), on February 23 will take their highly successful Say No Say Yes Campaign to a higher level when they host a 500-person children’s Mash parade as part of Guyana’s 50th Republic anniversary celebrations.

The teams, Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Metro Females, Poonai Pharmacy Under-13, Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Under-21 and First Division on Friday last joined hands with the Guyana Beverage Company to host the parade.

Club Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster stated that the parade would include

seven schools – Rose Hall Town Primary, Belvedere Primary, Cropper Primary, Tain Primary, Port Mourant Primary, Rose Hall Town Nursery and the Lower Corentyne Secondary School.

Fifty students from each school would participate in the parade along with the RHTY&SC members, parents and well-wishers of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation.

The objective of the parade, apart from celebrating the 50th anniversary, is to promote social cohesion among residents, to promote the Say No message to drugs, crime, suicide, alcohol, tobacco; to promote the Say Yes message to education, life, religion, culture, sports, and to encourage children to respect authority.

Assistant RHTY&SC

Secretary and CEO Simon Naidu, who would serve as the Parade Director, stated that the event would start at Belvedere and proceed to the end of Rose Hall Town before returning to the compound of the township’s Primary School for a fun day.

The Guyana Police Force is expected to provide security while the parade would be accompanied by a music set and steelband along the route. Each school received a financial grant from the organisers and sponsors to assist them to prepare for the parade. The cricket teams would be part of the parade and would display their silverware and promote the different message via banners and placards.

A three-man judging panel would select the best school on parade based on size of band, promotion of messages, choreography and uniformity. Naidu stated that the club’s cricketers would use the opportunity to encourage the students in the parade to stay in school and complete their education. The club and its cricketers also expressed gratitude to the management of the Guyana Beverage Company for its continued investment in the club’s activities. Special mention was made of CEO Samuel Arjoon, Marketing Manager Raymond Govindha and Berbice Manager Albert Budhoo for their cooperation in making the parade a reality.

7-2 game. Sheldon Holder led the way with a hat-trick while Colin Nelson, Daniel Wilson, and Jermain Beckles contributed for Bent Street.

With goals from Omallo Williams, Okeeny Fraser and Eon Alleyne, Leopold Street edged out Gold is Money 3-1.

It was another team effort from Rio AllStars as they dispatched Back Circle. Job Caesar, Jermin Junior, and Lennox Cort netted one apiece for the 3-0 victory.

Anticipating Saturday’s semi-final clash, Rio All-Stars Coach Troy Lambert shared that his team was moving forward from a shaky preliminary round, and urged fans and supporters to look forward to fireworks from Rio. “We ain’t really look back or lament too much on the past, because the past wasn’t too good for us. Eventually, we came out as one of the best third-place team in our group and we’re there in the semi-final now, so that’s just to show what a good team we are.

Going forward, you can look forward to some real good football from Rio,” Lambert stated.

On the other hand, Bent Street’s Kevin Layne shared that their team was coming to play their usual composed game and were not focused on trying to do anything too special.

“My team is consisted of some seasoned players, so there’s no worry. We’ll just go out on the night and do what we have to do, because it’s football and anything can happen on the given night. So, we’re not looking forward to nothing special, we’re just going to play a good game,” Layne said.

In Saturday’s semi-finals, Rio All-Stars will tackle Kingston while Bent Street go head to head with Leopold Street at the National Gymnasium from 21:00h.

While the eventual winner of the tournament will walk away with $600,000, second place will pocket $400,000 while third and fourth place will take home $200,000 and $100,000 respectively. (Jemima Holmes)

Dover pleased with U-20s’ preparation

Guyana’s match schedule is as follows: MATCH 1:

February 15 @ 17:30h – Guyana v Montserrat

MATCH 2:

February 17 @ 17:30h – St Vincent & the Grenadines v Guyana

MATCH 3:

February 21 @ 20:30h – US Virgin Islands v Guyana

MATCH 4:

F

February 23 @ 20:30h – Nicaragua v Guyana

ollowing weeks of continuous preparation, a batch of Guyana’s National Under-20 football team departed local shores on Tuesday with the remainder of the team jetting off today for their regional engagement.

Upon the team’s departure for Nicaragua, hosts of the CONCACAF U-20 Men’s Qualifiers, Head Coach Wayne Dover said he was pleased with their overall performance during their preparatory period.

Meanwhile, the staff, inclusive of coaches and medical staff, and a few players will depart today. The team played four training matches

– three against the Guyanabased senior men's national team and one against River View FC from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Dover said the objectives of the training matches were achieved as the team was exposed to some competitive fixtures. “The performance of the team was commendable in the matches played.

We saw the implementation of many areas worked on and also saw areas which needed more attention.

After each game, we fixed some of the problems identified. The toughest opponent was definitely the senior team. They played against us as if it were the final Gold

Cup qualifying game that they need to win. That was the kind of test needed to make a proper assessment of the team,” he noted.

A fresh face

Meanwhile, Development Coach and national midfielder Anthony Benfield has been assigned as Assistant Coach following an injury suffered by Calvin Allen in a motorcycle accident. “Coach Allen, who has initially been named as Assistant Coach has had an unfortunate motorcycle accident, which has incapacitated him and, under the medical practitioner’s advice, has been required to rest. Benfield, who has been with team, is knowledgeable and capable to function in the post he has now been assigned.”

A 20-man squad will represent Guyana at the CONCACAF U-20 Men’s Qualifiers in Nicaragua from February 15 to 23, 2020.

Guyana have been placed in Group A with St Vincent and The Grenadines, Montserrat, US Virgin Islands and hosts Nicaragua.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

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2020 CWI PCL 4-Day championships…

Jaguars seeking to switch fortunes in Volcanoes clash ꟷ Yadram joins Volcanoes squad

By Brandon Corlette

I

t has been a mixed season for Guyana Jaguars, having registered two wins and suffered two defeats in the four matches played in the 2020 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League (PCL) 4-Day championships.

Jaguars will be eyeing a rebound win when they meet Windward Islands Volcanoes from today Thursday, February 13 at the Grenada National Stadium, St George’s, Grenada.

With Shimron Hetmyer included in the 13man squad, he will be the centre of attention but the seven-run defeat against Jamaica Scorpions will still be fresh in the memory.

Promising Guyana Jaguars all-rounder Kevin Sinclair, who has shown great potential in the three matches he played thus far this season, stated that Jaguars still had a long way to go in the tournament.

“I just don’t think we should take that (the defeat against Scorpions) hard, still a long way to go in the tournament. We just need to put that behind us and keep doing what we do best and at the end of the tournament, to come out successful – champions again,” the 20-year-old Sinclair added.

Meanwhile, the legendary West Indies batsman, now Jaguars Assistant Coach and Manager, Shivnarine Chanderpaul shared that Jaguars had team goals and that as a unit, the team would have to adjust quickly in the match against Volcanoes. Without a doubt, Jaguars will be aiming to improve in the batting department. After four rounds, a triple-figure individual score by a Jaguars batsman has been out of reach.

The Jaguars batsmen have 10 half-centuries collectively. Chanderpaul stated that it was still early in the tournament and the batsmen would be aiming to hit the straps. The man inform has been Christopher Barnwell; he has been enjoying success at the regional level for an extended period. The pugnacious right-

hander, who continues to play positive cricket, leads the batting charts with 265 runs at 37.85 with two half-centuries under his belt.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul (264) is one run behind Barnwell. The left-hander has three half-centuries as an average of 44 with a strike rate of 26.85. Chandrapaul Hemraj has been getting the starts, and has an aggregate of 247 runs at 35.28 with two half-centuries alongside his name. The struggling batsmen this season have been Leon Johnson, who has 136 runs; Anthony Bramble and Vishaul Singh. Johnson is certainly equipped with the necessities required for a classy batsman and will be eyeing a significant score.

Despite Bramble being the only man to come close to the triple figure score, the wicketkeeper/ batsman has only 153 runs in a mixed season. Singh has 173 runs and the returning Raymon Reifer has 144 runs in his three matches.

The bowling, however, has been up there for the Jaguars; milestone man Veerasammy Permaul has 26 wickets, the most by any bowler in the season thus far. Nial Smith with 18 wickets, the second biggest return by a fast bowler this season thus far, has provided that hostility for the Jaguars’ bowling armoury. An experienced Keon Joseph has 11 wickets while Reifer has seven. Barnwell and Sinclair have four wickets each.

The five-time defending champions have tasted great success against this Volcanoes team. In their last five matches, Jaguars won four and one resulted in a tie. Volcanoes will rely on their experience, with the likes of Devon Smith, Andre Fletcher, and Shane Shillingford in the line-up.

Volcanoes have also recalled Guyana-born Bhaskar Yadram to the squad. Yadram had played two First-Class matches for Guyana Jaguars, but has featured in Volcanoes colours in the Regional Super50 Cup. Jaguars are in second position on the table with 49 points while Volcanoes are in fourth position with

Eagles restrict Trojans 89-77 … senior series now level 1-1

T

he Eagles, bidding to better their chances at any upcoming basketball competition in 2020, levelled the three-match pre-season warm-up series 89-77 against the UG Trojans in the senior division at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Having lost the first game on Monday, the Eagles needed to level the three-match series.

They had faced the senior squad on many occasions and the majority of the times have come out victorious. The Eagles commenced the first quarter with a bit of nerves, but managed to finish 18-17, as both teams gave their all in a must-win encounter. But things then took a strange turn as the Trojans bounced back in the second quarter to take the score to 45-40. At half-time, both teams seemed evenly matched as they were hungry for victory, they pulled out all the stops, but with two more quarters remaining, the battle wasn’t over as yet.

The third quarter was yet again another close

encounter as both teams gnawed away at each other’s offence a n d defence. The Coaches of both sides were on the edge of their seats as with one quarter remaining and the scores close, the match could flow either team’s way. In the end, the third quarter went in favour of the Eagles 7065.

The final quarter was an all-out war as the Eagles terrorised the Trojans; a sudden burst of adrenaline saw the Eagles dominating. The Trojans could not withstand a now determined Eagles; no matter what the Trojans did, it did not pay off. In the end, they succumbed to pressure losing by 12 points. Both the Eagles and Trojans have managed to level the three-match series in the senior and U-23 divisions 1-1, with one game each remaining.

Flashback! Guyana Jaguars celebrate the big wicket of Volcanoes legend Devon Smith (Brandon Corlette photos)

40.4 points.

VOLCANOES squad: Kavem Hodge (Captain); Alick Athanaze; Roland Cato; Keron Cottoy; Andre Fletcher; Ray Jordan; Shermon Lewis; Desron Maloney; Preston McSween; Shane Shillingford; Devon Smith; Emmanuel Stewart and Bhaskar Yadram.

IN – Yadram; OUT –Josh Thomas JAGUARS squad: Leon Johnson (Captain); Christopher Barnwell; Devendra Bishoo; Anthony Bramble; Tagenarine Chanderpaul; Chandrapaul Hemraj; Shimron Hetmyer; Keon Joseph; Veerasammy Permaul; Raymon Reifer; Kevin Sinclair; Vishaul Singh and Nial Smith.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

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

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2020 CWI PCL 4-Day championships…

Page 23

Jaguars seeking to switch fortunes in Volcanoes clash ꟷ Yadram joins Volcanoes squad

MVP Sports throws support behind Magnum Mash Cup Page 22

Dover pleased with U-20s’ preparation Page 22

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