Guyana Times Thursday January 9, 2020

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Issue No. 4160

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

Granger toys with Ramjattan as PM candidate See story …insists will select PM after elections on page 2 …hours later calls him “my PM candidate” …embarrassed AFC says President’s statement “gratuitous”, “confusing”

President arrives at political rally in GDF chopper

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Disciplined P7 Services to vote on Feb 21 …ROs, ballot officers sworn in Tuschen robbery

High Court gives Police more time to hold suspects

P15

Woman collapses, dies at APNU/AFC’s Hopetown rally P13

4 fires in 6 days P12 recorded in Berbice Bodies at Aracari Resort

President David Granger arriving at the APNU/AFC political rally at Hopetown, Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) on Wednesday

Autopsy reveals woman murdered, P10 boyfriend committed suicide

After almost 5 years in office

APNU/AFC’s major renewable energy projects remain incomplete Page 9

GECOM “tampering” with NRR – PPP ...Commission denies allegation

Murder convicts appeal life sentences P8

Page 3

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Granger toys with Ramjattan as PM candidate …insists will select PM after elections …hours later calls him “my PM candidate” …embarrassed AFC says President’s statement “gratuitous”, “confusing”

T

he tit for tat over the coalition’s Prime Ministerial position seems never-ending with the Alliance for Change claiming that their candidate is the substantive choice, while President David Granger claims the right to choose who would serve as his chief minister.

President Granger, on Wednesday, told reporters that he is yet to decide on who his running mate is, although AFC announced Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan as the coalition’s Prime Ministerial candidate.

“We have completed our review of the Cummingsburg Accord and I have started to campaign as you know from the 3rd January with Mr Khemraj Ramjattan who

has been nominated by the Alliance For Change. As you said, it is not a constitutional requirement and I have not named a Prime Ministerial candidate but I know what I am going to do and my partners…I reserve the right to choose and nominate a Prime Minister. I will nominate all ministers including the Prime Minister, who is my chief minister after the elections,” Granger said in response to questions posed by reporters.

However, hours later, at a party rally at Hopetown, Region Five, he referred to Ramjattan as his Prime Ministerial candidate.

However, at the very rally, Ramjattan was not introduced as the Prime Ministerial candidate but rather simply as AFC lead-

Khemraj Ramjattan

er.

Concerns have been raised as to who is the APNU/AFC coalition’s PM candidate when it launched its campaign on January 3.

At the launching, Ramjattan was introduced as Leader of the AFC and not the PM candidate as well as he was noticeably absent from the campaign posters.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Ramjattan told Guyana Times that he has “no comment to make” and promptly disconnected the call.

Meanwhile, AFC later released a statement where

it reiterated its position that the President naming the Prime Ministerial candidate is in direct contradiction with provisions of the recently signed Revised Cummingsburg Accord, which embodies the agreements between the two political organisations.

“The assertion that he will choose and nominate the Prime Minister after the election is gratuitous and confusing to our supporters and the wider electorate,” said the General Secretary of the AFC David Patterson.

The statement added that AFC is well aware of the constitutional steps regarding appointments once the election results are known.

However, the party said the process does not change the fundamental agreement that the AFC names the Prime Ministerial candidate and have named its leader, Ramjattan.

“Consequently, the AFC is not confused by the comments, which we notice has subsequently been clarified by the General Secretary of APNU. The AFC said it hoped clarity has been brought to the issue, which

President David Granger

was carefully considered and agreed during the Cummingsburg Accord discussions,” the statement added.

The AFC and APNU have been at loggerhead over the selection of a Prime Ministerial candidate since the 2015 Cummingsburg Accord gave the PM slot to the AFC. However, the revised agreement was signed on December 24 but details surrounding the agreement have not been made public. The signing was done at State House, with President David Granger

and Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, representing APNU as the party’s Chairman and General Secretary respectively.

On the other hand, the smaller party was represented by Ramjattan (as AFC leader) and Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson (as AFC General Secretary).

Ramjattan was elected at the AFC’s last National Executive Conference to be the PM candidate, effectively overthrowing current Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

There has been much speculation in the public domain on whether the AFC would have been able to reclaim its previous Cummingsburg Accord concessions after its showing at Local Government Elections (LGE) last year. In the revised Accord, AFC seats have been downgraded to a mere 30 per cent of parliamentary seats while the APNU will get 70 per cent.

In the previous agreement, AFC had 40 per cent while APNU had 60 per cent.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, January 9 – 04:30h – 06:00h and 14:30h – 16:00h and Friday, January 10 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, January 9 – 15:05h – 16:35h and Friday, January 10 – 15:50h – 17:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine is expected during the day.

There will be partly cloudy skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 03:24h and 15:37h reaching maximum heights of 2.47 metres and 2.64 metres.

GECOM “tampering” with NRR – PPP ...Commission denies allegation

T

he Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Wednesday said that there is tampering of the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB) at the Guyana Elections Commission – an allegation which GECOM Chairperson Retired Justice Claudette Singh has denied.

In a statement on Wednesday, PPP said it was informed of adjustments being made to data on the NRR, using unverified information generated from the scrapped House-to-House Registration exercise.

“This information is not only replete with errors but was never subjected to the legal requirement of a Claims and Objections process… This exercise is being conducted by Melanie

Opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj

and… GECOM does not wish to rig any elections,” she asserted.

Justice Singh went on to explain that GECOM is currently merely updating the data of existing registrants

Low Tide: 09:11h and 21:40h reaching minimum heights of 0.75 metre and 0.53 metre.

– the policy here— they always use the latest registration transaction. So that is being done to update [the NRR]. So there is nothing with tampering, no one is tampering,” the GECOM Chair contended.

Moreover, a subsequent statement from GECOM outlined that the ongoing “administrative process” being conducted at the Secretariat is to ensure that electors are placed within their correct divisions for easy voting on elections day.

“Failure to conduct this necessary exercise may very well result in electors being displaced and unable to vote at a polling station in their area,” the missive stated.

The RLE was published on January 4 and is available for public scrutiny for 21 days. To this end, GECOM is urging electors to check the lists at locations in their respective areas or on the Commission’s website to verify their information.

In the case of inadvertence on the part of GECOM, persons are advised to visit the GECOM Registration Office in their district to have these corrected by January 25.

Alarmed

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Marshall, the controversial Returning Officer of Region Four, who deliberately made herself unavailable to receive the PPP’s request for a recount of votes in Region Four at the 2015 National and Regional Elections,” the Party stated.

The Opposition explained that it only agreed to have the new verified registrants added to the Revised Lists of Electors (RLE) and that this “tampering” with the NRR is not only unlawful but is clearly intended to cause chaos and confusion on elections day by facilitating duplicate voting, permitting unqualified persons to vote and preventing qualified persons from voting.

PPP added that “This may result in violence, mayhem and public disorder on elections day. Certainly, this illicit design is intended to compromise the integrity of the electoral process and is another brazen attempt at perpetrating fraud at the upcoming National and Regional elections”.

As such, the Opposition party urged the international community to pay keen attention to this situation while also calling on the GECOM Chair to immediately put an end to the illegal course of action.

No tampering

However, on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday morning at GECOM’s head office, Justice Singh denied any attempts to tamper with the NRR or any intention to rig the upcoming polls.

“No one is tampering with the NRRDB at GECOM

on the NRR with changes that were captured during the H2H exercise. These changes include those who have had their names and/ or addresses changed.

“For example, persons like me who’ve changed my address since the last House-to-House. Now, my name would have appeared on the RLE with the old address but GECOM always

However, Oppositionnominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj pointed out in a letter to the Editor on

GECOM Chairperson Retired Justice Claudette Singh

Wednesday that the publication of the RLE is a statutory event and as such, very limited scope is available to the Commissioner of National Registration to make changes to the RLE after it is published.

“This is limited to entries or omissions that are incorrect due to inadvertence.

The circumstances now being relied upon can hardly be considered as inadvertence. More importantly, the widespread changes being executed by the Secretariat will not be subject to any scrutiny and these changes will only be known after the publication of the Official List of Electors (OLE). At this time, there is no opportunity for errors, either deliberate or intentional, to be corrected. It does not inspire confidence in the integrity of the process…,” he noted.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 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

Ominous threats to democracy

D

uring the APNU/AFC’s official 2020 elections campaign launch at D’Urban Park on January 3, President David Granger is reported as saying that if the coalition were to win the upcoming March 2 polls, his Government will target constitutional provisions for a No-Confidence Motion (NCM).

The State newspaper quoted him as saying, “We are going to reform the Constitution so that the nonsense they tried with us over the last 12 months does not happen again.” The “they” referred to the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Given what was reported, it becomes extremely worrying that the Head of State would refer to the democratic application of enshrined articles of the country’s Constitution as nonsense.

His utter disdain for the validly passed December 21, 2018, NCM, as upheld by the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), is now common knowledge.

He did not mince words on his dissatisfaction and his government’s resort to the courts to have the NCM motion overturned speaks volumes of his desire to not accept constitutional and democratic processes.

It is also common knowledge that the President defied constitutional procedures and unilaterally appointed Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The CCJ subsequently ruled that his action was unconstitutional and Justice Patterson resigned.

The President’s action over time with regard to the Constitution demonstrates a seeming misinterpretation which many believe may be deliberate to realise his desires. What resulted from that directly conflicted with the Constitution and the rule of law. Justice Patterson’s appointment and refusal to abide by the validly-passed NCM are glaring examples.

If there was any doubt, his latest indication to once again target the Constitution with regard to provisions for an NCM further confirms his and the APNU/AFC’s reluctance to respect what is enshrined. In addition, it speaks to a more sinister plan that, in the event the coalition is re-elected following the March 2 elections, it will endeavour to deny Guyanese their democratic and constitutional option of holding the Government accountable through the means of an NCM. When that is examined in its entirety, it becomes extremely difficult not to conclude that APNU/AFC is bent on denuding the Constitution to safeguard its hold on power if re-elected. In other words, the President’s utterances unambiguously speak to a dictatorship.

The two examples cited could have only been realised through dictatorial tendencies. Yet, in his said address at the campaign launch, he was quoted by the State newspaper as saying, “We are a constitutional government…everything we have done for the last 12 months was in accordance with the law and in accordance with the Constitution”.

The President’s actions and those of the APNU/AFC could only render such a statement as grossly hypocritical. That aside, the totality of what the President and the coalition would have done since 2015 with regard to the Constitution shows contempt for the rule of law with an unbridled tendency to defy the tenets of democracy.

Again, if there is any doubt, the history the People’s National Congress (PNC), which is the lead party in the coalition and which ruled oppressively for almost three decades, will reveal the dictatorial characteristic that suppressed democracy during that period.

President Granger has been the Leader of the PNC for about a decade now. His actions over the past four and a half years as President seem to suggest that his party’s historical authoritarian disposition remains a hallmark. His remarks in question make it virtually impossible to believe otherwise.

That, therefore, has serious implications for Guyana which is now an oil-producing nation. With democracy being put on notice to be threatened, fears of a repeat of what occurred under the past PNC government’s oppressive rule, are real. Fear, sadly, returned after 2015 as a result of Mr Granger and APNU/AFC’s wanton disregard for the Constitution.

That fear has since been exacerbated by the recent brazen attacks on PPP’s supporters in Laing Avenue and in other parts as those Guyanese endeavoured to bring awareness to their Party’s election campaign. A few had to seek medical attention. Those unprovoked actions by persons believably affiliated to APNU/AFC are not just an assault on PPP supporters but on democracy as a whole.

From all appearances, there has been no condemnation of that attack coming from the President or a direct public message to his supporters for them not to engage in such acts. That, along with the President’s and APNU/AFC’s refusal to abide by the Constitution, evident by the unilateral appointment of Justice Patterson and its actions to invalidate the NCM, exemplify the assault of democracy.

The President’s remarks to target constitutional provisions for the NCM, therefore, speak to a most ominous future if the coalition were to win come March 2. The Constitution is expected to safeguard democracy and freedoms. By threatening to strip it, the President may have hinted of his desire to strip Guyanese of their enshrined rights.

Adelaide wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk is seen with a koala rescued at a burning forest near Cape Borda on Kangaroo Island, southwest of Adelaide, Australia (Credit: AAP Image/David Mariuz)

Measures should be put in place to ensure election results are respected Dear Editor, I started a paper on political stability and development that I need to complete. It will be the first study to examine the nexus between political stability and economic growth in the Caribbean. Using data for the period 19602018 and Generalized Auto Regressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) models, I found convincing evidence that political stability is negatively related to economic growth.

My findings would appear to defy rational thinking since it means that when the economy performs poorly, the country enjoys relatively more peace and political stability. In civilised democratic societies, we would expect the reverse. That is, when the economy performs poorly, there should be more agitation from the ordinary man who would tend to suffer and rebel.

While strange, there is a rational explanation for my findings. The PNC is perceived to control the coercive arms of the state in and out of power. Thus, even when this political party delivers hardships during their rule, as was the case in the 80s (eg, blackouts, food shortages) and trampled upon the rule of law as they did over the last year, the people fall in line. The false impression created by the PNC is that the security forces will stand behind this political party regardless of its performance or transgressions.

My study shows that whenever the PPP is in power, which is usually characterised by economic and social development, there is less peace and stability in Guyana. For instance, the

country was one of the most advanced economies in the Caribbean during the 1960s under the PPP-led government. However, during this period, we experienced the deadliest riots in our history. Similarly, during the 23 years of the PPP/C rule that ended in 2015, the country was crippled by riots associated with the ‘more fyah and slow fyah’ campaign, a crime spree supported by politicians who described the criminals as ‘freedom fighters’ and violent protest in Linden and East Bank aimed at destabilising the PPP/C Government. Paradoxically, during the 1992-2015 period, the country experienced two episodes of sustained economic growth under the PPP/C. The contradiction may be explained by the perceived control exercised by the PNC over the security forces.

We are heading to elections in a few months from now. If the polls are free and fair, I am confident of victory for the PPP/C is guaranteed since the vast majority of Guyanese will support this party. However, whether the PNC-dominated Government will relinquish power without a fight is another issue. There is a real and genuine fear that there will be severe violence should the PPP/C win the election, as was the case in 1992 and 1997. Already, we are witnessing the open display of hate for the PPP/C by a small group of disruptive people across Guyana. I believe that this small group is signalling to all Guyanese that they will rebel if the APNU/AFC loses the elections. We should not ignore this signal. Instead, we should make the nec-

essary arrangements so that violence is minimised during the election season.

More importantly, measures should be put in place to ensure the results are respected by those who may choose to do otherwise when the results are declared. In the meantime, the supporters of the PPP/C should exercise restraint in the face of all the provocation engineered by this small disruptive group. We need to be mindful that the PNCdominated coalition is desperate and wants to spread fear among the electorate as

well as invoke racism to appeal to their traditional support base. The coalition is aware that it cannot win the upcoming elections based on policies and programmes or their track record over the past four-plus year. The only option available to the coalition is race hate and bullyism. We must not fall prey to this trap but greet supporters of the coalition with messages of hope and prosperity for everyone under a PPP/C administration.

Regards, Name provided

Management mantra number 1: “People are more important” Dear Editor, I joined the management team of Bookers Sugar Estates Ltd when this management mantra was originated by Sir Jock Campbell (later Lord Campbell of Eskan) as head of the Booker Group of Companies which then owned and operated the sugar estates of British Guiana. The essential message is as relevant now as it was then….and I dare say… it will remain pertinent as time goes by.

Even as we race into the ‘new age’ world of mechanisation and automation, the essential human element will retain its pre-eminence.

Therefore, this must be lesson #1 for all entrants into the field of supervision and management.

An interesting anomaly in management is that while practically all man-

agers start their employment as subordinates who like bosses who treat them well and with respect, often, when these same employees become managers, they forget what they wanted from their bosses. The golden rule of ‘doing unto others what you would like done to you’ is sometimes forgotten or ignored……often at one’s own peril!

If I were to pick the number one rule for supervisors and managers of people, this would be it by a long shot.

I am often amazed at how much time and money organisations spend to train and develop supervisors and managers while ignoring the infinite power of this costfree lesson!

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

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Tampering with RLE is unlawful End of a long road in the search for oil Dear Editor, I note, with alarm, the admission by the Secretariat of the Guyana Elections Commission that it is tinkering with the Revised List of Electors (RLE), after it has been published on the 4th January 2020.

The publication of the RLE is a statutory event and similarly, very limited scope is available to the Commissioner of National Registration to make changes to the RLE after it is published.

This is limited to entries or omissions that are incorrect due to inadvertence. The circumstances now being relied upon can hardly be considered as inadvertence.

More importantly, the widespread changes being executed by the Secretariat

will not be subject to any scrutiny and these changes will only be known after the publication of the Official List of Electors (OLE). At this time, there is no opportunity for errors, either deliberate or intentional, to be corrected.

It does not inspire confidence in the integrity of the process when the following is considered: 1. It was undertaken clandestinely without the knowledge of the entire Commission; 2. It is being undertaken by the very department that was previously responsible for the bungled handling of data collected during the House-to-House Registration exercise.

Up to the present time, no information has been pro-

vided to the Commission regarding the process being utilised or the number of records to which changes are being made. It should be noted that any change to an elector’s record is a statutory process, requiring the use of statutory forms. This process has clearly not been complied with.

All things considered, the only likely outcome of this process is confusing to the electorate, particularly with Elections Day mere weeks ahead.

It is unlawful and ought to be immediately discontinued.

Sincerely, Sase Gunraj Commissioner Guyana Elections Commission

Mr Granger is a “stranger to the truth” Dear Editor, I must confess, I watched the APNU launch at D’Urban Park from a purely academic angle to see what substance the APNU leaders have but I was in for a serious shock.

From all indications, the crowd came energised to enjoy a Farmer Nappy concert and to receive a charge

Mr David Granger arrived in the office in May 2015 to the end of December 2019, Guyana reduced its import of (non-oil related) capital equipment by some US$30 million.

What does this mean for Guyana? When a nation imports capital equipment, there are more opportunities for technology trans-

for consistency sake, most of that O&G investment is being done offshore and has a negligible direct impact on the lives of the Guyanese people save and except from the approximately 1.5% of the investment associated with the local players. So this O&G sector is a stranger to the pockets of the ordi-

from their political leaders but were they in for a surprise also. The concert was what it was – a concert; but the political messages were flat and lacked conviction.

I was also stunned at how disconnected Mr David Granger’s rhetoric was from reality. From the public statements he made that night, one is struck by how out of touch he was to the happenings on the ground. Heaven forbids if we are trapped with him in office after March 2, 2020, because I do not know how this country will survive another year of his policy paralysis? What is clear is that the road to a new Guyana appears today littered with the wreckage from the actions of Team Granger.

Let us look no further than the evidence as sourced from the Bank of Guyana on the importation of capital goods into the economy. From the day

fer than with the importation of intermediate goods.

Because of this decline, unfortunately, Guyana has lost that opportunity to enhance its productivity and competitiveness. I have spoken to several private sector players and very few of them are investing and if they are, it is happening as fringe partners to bigger companies in the oil and gas (O&G) sector.

Such a situation will have long-term detrimental consequences for the nation when it comes to lifting the nation’s productive capacity. But from his message at D’Urban Park, clearly, Mr Granger does not care and is more interested in deceiving the listeners with his empty thoughtset of the “good life”.

So while the national figures point to a situation where all and sundry are investing in the O&G sector which was not included in the graph above

nary folks living in Guyana save and except for the few businesses that were lucky enough to qualify for some small opportunities in that sector. I want to take this opportunity to again caution the Guyanese nation, real oil funds will not hit the ordinary people until about 2024 and beyond.

So do not be misled by Mr Granger and count on these oil funds before that time.

So Mr Granger and his vocal gimmickry regarding the “decade of development” is a mere act of subterfuge and deception.

But the youths of Guyana in this modern age of the Internet will not fall for another of his political illusions. With a click of a button today, many of the youths are finding out that Mr Granger is a “stranger to the truth”.

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

Dear Editor, In the wee hours of December 20, 2019, it was announced that ExxonMobil had started to produce oil.

“First oil” was the shout all around. This date ended a 62-year search for the “Black Gold” by successive PPP and PPP/C Governments.

Although Guyana was a colony for centuries, the colonial powers did very little to explore for oil.

This is despite the fact Trinidad has been producing oil commercially since 1908 and Venezuela in the 1930s.

Many people were convinced that Guyana had to have oil.

The leaders of the PPP were among them. The 1953 Government did not have the time to launch the hunt for oil. That Government, elected for the first time by universal adult suffrage, was removed after only 133 days in office.

However, from the time it regained office in 1957, Cheddi Jagan and his then Minister of Natural Resources, Edward Beharry, launched the search for oil.

By 1958, they had succeeded in attracting a company to pursue that dream.

A newspaper report in 1958 reported the following: “Oil exploration is getting underway in British Guiana.

The California oil Company (British Guiana) Ltd has started a marine seismic exploration programme in the offshore waters.

The survey is being undertaken by Western Geophysical Company of America which is under contract to the California Oil Company. This exploration is expected to last about five weeks.

It will cover part of the 16,000 square miles included under the Oil Exploration Licence granted to the company by Government in April this year (1958). Under the terms of this agreement, if oil is found in appreciable quantities, a certain percentage will be refined in British Guiana which will also share

over 50 per cent of the profits”.

Having done the survey and collected the data, the company seemed to have lost interest. It means that they either felt that no oil was there in commercial quantities or that they found oil and, for more political and strategic reasons, was discouraged from developing the find.

It appears too that Cheddi Jagan had his doubt as to why the California Company did not pursue its find while taking away the results of the survey. Therefore, in 1961, he approached the United Nations seeking technical assistance to search for oil. The UN agreed to assist and at the end of June, beginning of July 1962, it sent two Soviet scientists— Dr VV Fedinsky and Dr S M Simakor – to study and advise the PPP Government.

The report was encouraging and they recommended that further exploration be done. After all, their stay here was relatively short.

On the basis of that report, the Government applied to the UN for assistance to do aero-magnetic surveys.

That did not get off the ground. Even though the UN was working closely with the PPP Government, no work was done. It appears that because of the political problems in the country which included riots and the PPP forced out of office in 1964, that project did not materialise.

However, the Soviet Union seemed convinced that British Guiana had oil in commercial quantities. On Friday, December 27, 1962, a four-man Trade Delegation arrived in the then British Guiana. They were Vassle Kamerisky, the leader; Serhei Erin, Veadirmir Ivankov and Alexander Tfhikov.

One of the projects set for discussion with the BG Government was for the Soviet Union to provide technical support for the establishment of an oil refinery if oil was found. That was a big

display of confidence in the earlier investigation in that year (1962).

This had to have the support of the colonial power. At the time, they were on course to frustrate every project put up by the Government. The Instant Coffee Factory, the Oil from Rice Brand Factory, the Glass Factory, a Tannery, and Hydropower from Tiger Hill— all were frustrated.

Even though the UK said they had no money for such projects, they refused to give guarantees to the Hungarian, German Democratic Republic and Cuban Governments who were willing to loan money at concessionary terms to develop these projects.

The whole idea was to help the PNC’s racist propaganda and frustrate the PPP’s job creation efforts. By doing so, they gave grist to the PNC’s racist propaganda.

Since December 1964, the date that the PPP left office, precious little was done by the PNC in pursuit of oil.

We had Hunt Oil, hunting in the Rupununi, and claimed to have come up empty. No other major effort was made.

It was only after the PPP/C came to office in 1992 that more focused attention was placed in the pursuit of oil. The companies now finding oil all came during the PPP’s period in office.

December 20, 2019, was the crowning of those efforts.

The only unfortunate thing is the one-sided agreement in favour of the oil companies that was signed by this corrupt PNC-led APNU regime.

Nevertheless, now a new era begins in which Guyana is now counted as an important player in the oil sector.

Time will judge how well we do. However, we must give recognition to the work done in the late 1950s and early 1960s that has now borne fruit.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

An open letter to Khemraj Ramjattan Dear Editor, Please allow me space in your publication to share my open letter to the Honourable Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, the founder/leader of the Alliance for Change.

Mr Ramjattan, I am asking you to take the AFC out of this ‘paper coalition’. I would like to remind the public that this unholy alliance with the PNC was done against your wishes and advice.

I recall clearly that in November 2014, you said that you were personally against such a move as it rendered the AFC as “dead meat”. Sir, those words have been proven prophetic; it pains me to see your humiliating treatment at the hands of the PNC leader Brigadier David

A Granger. I believe it is not too late to trust the instincts that stood you in great stead during your illustrious political career. Mr Ramjattan, pull out of this coalition!

If you do not, you are simply fulfilling your own prophecy of doom.

The level of disdain and disrespect showed to our party by the PNC is reminiscent of that shown to Peter D’Aguiar by Forbes Burnham; imagine your face is not even on the campaign posters at this late date.

The PPP hatchet-men are having a field day making a mockery of us just as you predicted back in 2014.

Mr Ramjattan, I am sure that the PNC will betray you and all of us who support the

AFC, let us thwart this final act of treachery!

I am certain that once the AFC removes itself from the PNC and its dictatorship-style leader, the members and supporters who left after becoming disillusioned will return. Our only hope for the future of the AFC is a return to the polls as a single entity, with our own values, ethics, and morals that you embody.

Let us regain our pride that has been trampled on by the PNC and work with you to rebuild our ‘third force’ until one day we become the ‘main force’.

Yours faithfully, Keyara Johnson

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

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re you a student looking to build good study habits? Is your daily routine not as effective as it could be?

Maybe it’s time to follow a new study schedule that will help you better retain material, manage your time and even help you improve your concentration and focus.

Here are 11 habits you can use to enhance your learning style, develop a good study routine and start achieving your educational goals.

Good Study Habit #1 – Know your dominant learning style

It’s important to know that there are many different styles of learning and each person will retain information better in different ways.

As you can see, visual learners learn best when pictures, images, and spatial understanding is used.

Auditory learners prefer using music, sounds or both.

Kinesthetic learners prefer a more physical style of learning through using the body, sense of touch and hands.

Logical learners desire to use reasoning, logic and systems.

Verbal learners will prefer using words in writing and speech.

Social learners will prefer to learn with other people or in groups.

Solitary learners are able to learn best alone.

Once you have figured out which style of learning works best for you, it will help you determine how to study, where to study, when to study and other important factors like what study aids you should use and be aware of, and knowing what things may distract you while you are trying to study.

Consistency gets results!

Make your study habit

part of your morning routine so that it becomes an effortless part of your day.

Get excited about learning instead of dreading your study schedule.

Good Study Habit #2 – Create and write down realistic study goals

If your goal is too big to achieve, then you might be setting yourself up for failure and this will also not help motivate you to study and accomplish your goals.

Once you know your learning style, do a self-assessment of your current study habits and your current grades.

Build a good study routine using SMART goals.

Use the SMART method when setting up study goals: set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.

Here are some questions to ask yourself that will help you create realistic goals and come up with a plan for good study habits.

When do you usually study and for how long?

Do you find that it is effective?

Are you happy with your grades?

What subjects do you need to focus on or are having difficulty with?

What grades do you need to have in order to pass?

What are your personal commitments and priorities?

After answering and reflecting on these questions, you’ll be able to see what areas you need to put a little more focus on.

Maybe you are not spending enough time doing the right amount of work necessary each day or perhaps you choose to study late at night when you’re not as alert and energetic.

If you have noticed your

grades are slipping in certain courses then perhaps you need to hire a tutor to help you with those subjects.

If you are finding yourself short on study time and are more focused on your personal commitments, then maybe you may need to give up some social activities and devote more time to focus on your studying.

Good Study Habit #3 – Make study time a part of your daily routine

If cramming all of your study time into a few long days isn’t working for you then it’s time to try something new (and way less stressful).

Make time for studying every single day, with or without exams coming up.

Remember that consistency is key and once you start getting into good study habits, it will become a routine and that you will be able to maintain throughout the school year.

Check your schedule for the week or month, and consider your personal commitments: chores, must-attend activities and appointments.

By looking at your calendar, and setting up your priorities, you will be able to schedule your study sessions for the month. All you need to do now is to stay committed to your new study schedule.

When placing your study sections on your calendar, choose blocks of time during the day when you are at your peak performance. Some people work best in the mornings, and others, at night. If you’re unsure when you work best, try studying at different times of the day to see which suits you and your body clock best.

Learn how to create your own daily study routine and build good study habits.

Make time for study-

ing every single day, with or without exams coming up.

Once you have found which block of time works best for you and scheduled it in, be aware that you can always add in additional time to study by waking up an extra hour early to review your notes, or if you work better at nights, go to bed an extra hour later.

Make sure you build flexibility into your schedule.

Your calendar and schedule will change because of unforeseen events. Be ready to plan around some things that come your way and still make time to study.

Good Study Habit #4 – How to structure your daily study routine Here are some great ways to structure your study routine. It works best when you are mixing some of the different learning styles as mentioned above.

Try starting with watching or attending your lectures/class, and then doing an additional 1-3 hours of personal study (with breaks) to reflect and review notes on those lectures. This way, you are using your auditory and visual learning styles as well as repetition, which will help you remember what you learned more clearly.

Start with the difficult topics and subjects first, so that you are not going to put them off until a later date. If these subjects are really difficult for you, then shorter study sessions will work better.

Schedule study sessions in 2, 30-minute to 1-hour blocks and be sure to take short 5- to 10-minute breaks in between.

When you take breaks, you allow your mind to rest, revitalise and be ready for more learning. (Excerpt from developgoodhabits.com)

new children privacy practices

…the video service is making several changes after a settlement with federal and state regulators

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n September, Google agreed to pay a US$170 million fine and make privacy changes as regulators said that its YouTube platform had illegally harvested children’s personal information and used it to profit by targeting them with ads. The penalty and changes were part of an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney General of New York, which had accused YouTube of violating the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. On Monday, YouTube said it was beginning to introduce changes to address regulators’ concerns and better protect children. Here is what you need to know about those changes.

Limited collection of digital data

YouTube said that, starting Monday, it would begin to limit the collection and use of personal information from people who watched children’s videos, no matter the age of the viewer.

Federal law prohibits online services aimed at children under 13 from collecting the personal information of those young users without parental consent.

YouTube said it had also turned off or limited some features on children’s videos tied to personal information. These include comments and live-chat features, as well as the ability to save videos to a playlist.

Changes to ads and recommendations

YouTube will no longer show ads on children’s videos that are targeted at viewers based on their web-browsing or other online activity data. Instead, the company said, it may now show ads based on the context of what people are viewing.

YouTube said viewers who watched a video made for children on its platform would now be more likely to see recommendations for other children’s videos.

New requirement for YouTube producers

In September, YouTube said it would require all video producers on its platform to designate their videos as made for children or not made for children. In November, it introduced a new setting to help producers flag children’s content, a designation that signals YouTube to limit data collection on those videos.

The video service said that it was also using artificial intelligence to help identify children’s content and that it could override a video producer’s categorisation if its system detected a mistake.

Why the YouTube changes matter

YouTube is one of the most popular platforms for children.

Some animated videos on YouTube channels aimed at younger children — like Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes and ChuChu TV — have been viewed more than a billion times.

The platform’s new limits on data-mining send a signal to other popular sites offering children’s content that they also may be subject to the federal children’s online privacy law.

Musical.ly, a wildly popular video social network now known as TikTok, also had to pay a fine last year to settle FTC charges that it had illegally collected children’s personal information.

(New York Times)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Members of the Disciplined Services to vote on Feb 21 …ROs, ballot officers sworn in

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embers of the Disciplined Services will be heading to the polls on February 21 ahead of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

As customary during any elections, members of the disciplined services are required to cast their votes ahead of the polling day so that they are available for posting at the various polling stations and other strategic locations as required by law without disenfranchising them.

and the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) – were sworn-in on Wednesday at GECOM’s head office. These are Roxanne RamdyhanLewi for GDF, Nardeo Persaud for GPF, and Onicia Bynoe for GPS. According to Lowenfield, they are ensuring that all systems are in place for the various ranks to cast their votes and that their voters are sorted and dispatched to their respective locations.

“Ten days prior to the elections, Disciplined Services balloting will take

The three ballot officers assigned to the various Disciplined Services with GECOM Chair Retired Justice Claudette Singh and CEO Keith Lowenfield

Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield on Wednesday disclosed that “D-Day”, as it is referred to, will be held 10 days before the March 2 elections day, that is, February 21.

Three ballot officers (BO) – one each for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force (GPF)

place and those ballot stations to be confirmed by these recently sworn-in officers. They will be working along with the liaisons from the respective services to ensure that all the ranks identified for voting that day, that they’re satisfied,” he stated.

The CEO went on to note

that they have already done some work with the ranks in the respective services, and those who have retired, to sort them out and ensure that the list of eligible voters is accurate ahead of D-Day. At the 2015 General and Regional Elections, over 7000 Disciplined Servicemen and women were registered to vote. At least 84 polling stations were step up for those ranks to cast their votes.

Returning officers

Meanwhile, nine returning officers from the various regions, with the exception of Region Five – where no one has been selected as yet – were also sworn-in on Wednesday before the CEO. These include Trevor Harris from Region One (Barima-Waini), Roxanne Smith of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Mohanlall Jagdeo of Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Clairmont Mingo from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Savitri Mangar of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Glendon Fredericks of Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Dwayne Marco from Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), John Abraham of Region Nine (Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo), and Rensford Alleyne from Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

In brief remarks after these ROs took their oaths before him, Lowenfield underscored the importance of the ROs engaging in a fair,

GECOM “tampering” with...

Gunraj further expressed alarm at the explanation given by the GECOM Chair regarding the ongoing exercise at the Commission to update the NRR. He said that no information has been provided to the seven-member Commission regarding the process being utilised or the number of records to which changes are being made. He added too that any change to an elector’s record is a statutory process, requiring the use of statutory forms and this process has not been complied with.

During Wednesday’s engagement, the GECOM Chair was asked whether

the Commissioners are unaware of what is happening within the Elections Secretariat, hence the concerns of “tampering” were raised. But Justice Singh responded saying that it is “just an accusation” made

by Commissioners who wanted to voice their opinions.

She pointed out that some decisions taken by the seven-member Commission would not be consensual, thus, resulting in disagreements among the Commissioners from the two sides – something which Justice Singh says is “healthy”.

Meanwhile, the GECOM

FROM PAGE 3

Chair further said that a decision was taken by the Commission back in December to have the 6000+ names that were unverified during the recently concluded field exercise to be included in the RLE. This, she explained, was to ensure that no one was disenfranchised.

However, Justice Singh noted that persons are allowed to object to the names on the list.

“So when you hear about 6000 unverified names, it’s not a question of rigging.

It’s a question of persons not being disenfranchised, and persons would have an opportunity to object to those names,” she posited.

The nine newly sworn-in returning officers with GECOM Chair Retired Justice Claudette Singh and CEO Keith Lowenfield

impartial and transparent manner when carrying out their duties.

“That is an absolute necessity. The nation, and I dare say the wider world, expects of you performance par excellence during the conduct of this tour of duty,” he noted.

Meanwhile, GECOM Chairperson Retired Justice Claudette Singh, who observed the swearing-in ceremony, also called on the managers of the regional election to discharge their duties with integrity since they will be under scrutiny on elections day and even before that.

“I would like you to just bear in mind at all times that you are serving your country and you must do so

with the utmost care and diligence. You must be diligent in servicing because if something goes wrong, you know who they will blame.

They will say the RO did this and the RO did that,” she noted.

Justice Singh also urged the ROs to resolve any issues that may arise in their districts in the best way they can and not wait for things to escalate, cautioning that things can get “nasty”.

Both the ROs and ballot officers were also encouraged to sort out their respective offices by the end of Wednesday or today, the latest. In fact, following the simple ceremony, the newly sworn-in officers met with the CEO and other senior officials from the Elections

Secretariat to discuss operationalising their offices.

On the other hand, Lowenfield informed reporters that general elections preparations are on stream for the March 2 polling day.

“We're moving ahead with our planning to ensure the elections day is satisfied,” he posited.

Guyanese will be heading to the polls in less than eight weeks. In preparation for elections, GECOM will be holding Nominations Day this Friday at the Umana Yana in Kingston, Georgetown.

At least 19 political parties, including 14 new ones, are expected to submit their lists of candidates and nominators to the CEO on that day.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Teen charged Murder convicts with murder of appeal life sentences homeless man

Visions…

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T

Dave Jacobs

he teen accused of killing a homeless man in Corriverton Market, Berbice was on Wednesday slapped with a murder charge and hauled before Magistrate Alex Moore.

Dave Jacobs, 19, is accused of killing Richard Persaud Kamaldeo, called “Tyie”, on January 3, 2020. Reports are 43-year-old Kamaldeo had been living on the streets for a number of years, often sleeping at the Corriverton Market.

On the day in question,

Jacob and Kamaldeo had an argument, during which the teen allegedly armed himself with a sharp object and stabbed the homeless man.

Jacobs reportedly told the Police that he had gone to the Market looking for a place to sleep when Kamaldeo objected, saying that it was his place of rest.

Jacobs was remanded.

The case will be called again on February 20, 2020 at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

Convicted: Alvin Kissoon and Calvin King

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urder convicts Alvin Kissoon and Calvin King after being sentenced to life in prison for the 2013 murder of security guard John Friday in December have now moved to the country’s appeal court to challenge the convictions.

In separate court documents, the convicts have put forward several grounds on

which they have filed the appeal through their Attorneyat-Law, Lyndon Amsterdam.

In Kissoon’s case, defence counsel is arguing that trial judge Justice Sandil Kissoon during the summing up of the evidence posited several rhetorical questions to the jury which had the effect of leading the jury to conclude that Kissoon was guilty of the crime. Attorney Amsterdam added that the summing up was not fair and balanced.

The Attorney further submitted that the Judge erred in law when he admitted the confession statement purportedly given by Kissoon to the Police after conducting a voir dire (trial within a trial), as well as not adequately addressing the issues to be considered by the jury concerning the confession statement in his summation of the evidence.

Meanwhile, on King’s behalf, it is being argued that he did not have a fair trial, since Justice Kissoon erred when he refused an application made on behalf of King to have the indictment severed and have separate trials for the two accused.

Defence Attorney Amsterdam has also based arguments for King on similar grounds as laid out in Kissoon’s appeal.

After being sentenced, the two men will have to serve a minimum of 32 years before becoming eligible for parole.

The State was represented by Abigail Gibbs and Mandel Moore, who both proved that Kissoon and King left Georgetown for Lethem, where they carried out a robbery on the Lethem Post Office on January 18, 2013.

It was reported that the men entered the Post Office and bound the two security officers after beating them.

Friday died on the spot as a result of the beating he received.

The armed men then broke into the safe and carted off h a huge sum of cash.

Another guard on duty reportedly raised an alarm and the Police were summoned.

Subsequently, Police at the Mabura checkpoint stopped and searched a motor car during which over $4 million was found hidden under the rear seat. They also found other articles linked to the robbery.

…vs dreams enry Jeffrey’s a funny fella. He spent almost two decades in the PPP/C Government – as a representative from the “C” yet when he writes his weekly column, you’d think he spent all that time locked away in some ivory tower, hoping for some knight (even in rusted armour) to rescue him!! This week, he took another swipe at the PPP for not being serious about “shared governance”: “how could any African Guyanese take Mr Bharrat Jagdeo seriously when at last Sunday’s launch of the PPP’s 2020 election campaign he claimed that the PPP ‘is the natural home for AfroGuyanese?’”

Well, as a fella who drops ponderous quotes from all sorts of esoteric tomes at the drop of a hat, you’d have thought he’d offer some justification for his bald assertion. Is he not “Afro Guyanese”? Didn’t he find a home in the PPP along with the 58 per cent of nonIndian Ministers that was the average for the PPP during their 23 years in office? If his “home” was so “unnatural”, why quit only when the perks he demanded on being posted as Ambassador to Suriname wasn’t granted??

Anyhow, the point this founder-of-ANUG-whosupports-ANUG-but-is-not-a-member wanted to make was he’d insisted that political leaders at this juncture had to be “visionary”. But while Granger insisted he was a “see far man”, his rhetoric at the PNC launch wasn’t visionary enough! Too humdrum and banal!

But Jeffrey misses the point: and if he’d remember his Sunday School lessons, he’d know that a real “see far” man – called “prophets”, had pronounced that when the time for a real reckoning arrives, “Old men shall dream dreams and young men shall have visions”.

But why go as far back as the prophets? If he listened to Jagdeo at the PPP rally, surely he’d heard the PPP candidate Irfaan Ali explain Granger’s dilemma.

Granger’s an old man…his mind has become ossified… he can only remember the past and that’s what dreams are all about, aren’t they?? You may rearrange that past in your dreams, but you can’t come up something new – which is what “visions” are all about! And that’s why some of your dreams – like Granger’s!! – can be nightmares!!

But Irfaan Ali did more than just dissect Granger and exposed his constraints – as a young man capable of having visions, he offered a vision for the country.

And he expressed it in the soaring prose as Jeffrey felt was necessary. As your Eyewitness wrote, “at one point seemed to be channelling MLK as he intoned with pitchperfect delivery: “Three score and ten years ago, the PPP was founded and for one brief, glorious moment all of the peoples of our land were united as one!”

Ali’s vision is to recreate that unity!! …versus mamaguy The PNC finally fessed up: they won’t be releasing ALL the details of the Revised Cummingsburg Accord!!

Now your Eyewitness – plus everyone and their uncle – had figured that since it wasn’t even announced at their launch, at best if Ramjattan was going to be the PM Candidate, he’d agreed to a “morganatic” marriage.

That’s when you marry a king or queen, but if they croak, you don’t succeed them!! So, at best, his chances of becoming President were less than those of a snowball surviving in hell!!

But Granger just announced that he hasn’t even picked a Prime Ministerial Candidate at this point – and will only do so AFTER the elections!! Frankly, your Eyewitness isn’t surprised – as you Dear Readers would know: he called this from day one!! Nagamootoo is “royalty” since the PNC figures that no one can match him with obsequiousness – not that Ramjattan didn’t try at the launch!!

This means that the PNC’s hiding something worse than screwing Ramjattan over. What could it be??

The mind boggles!! …and tokenism Joseph Harmon accused his former Chief-of-Staff, Brig Phillips, of being a “token Black” as the PPP’s PM Candidate!!

So, what was Moses Nagamootoo, whose powers were slashed rather than boosted as promised??!!

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

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

After almost 5 years in office

APNU/AFC’s major renewable energy projects remain incomplete

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fter almost five years in Government, the Public Infrastructure Ministry has only been able to install solar panels and energy-efficient lights, while a number of major projects that Government had announced would lead to renewable energy remain unfinished, even as elections and the end of a term in office draws closer.

The Public Infrastructure Ministry held a press conference on Wednesday, where an account was given for the Ministry’s performance for last year. When it comes to energy, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson announced that they installed 81 solar panels on Government buildings for 2019.

He also noted that at a cost of $165 million, over 20,000 energy-effi-

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

area of about an acre. The rumour on the ground of it being taken over by bush was a question of the guys not weeding it... that has been taken care of. That’s (not what’s) wrong with them, the solar panels have a lifespan of 25 years.”

Image of the proposed site for the Hope wind farm which is incomplete

cient lights were changed in the hinterland. But projects such as the Hope wind farm, the Kato hydropower project, and the Mabaruma solar farm remain in the works.

The Mabaruma solar farm project, according to the Minister, is presently still at the tendering phase for certain components.

Patterson was, nevertheless, optimistic that the project would be completed by next month.

“The panels are installed… we have a series of panels on posts on the ground. They take over an

“The issue with the operation of the whole system is the panels, the software, battery and inverters.

The issue was the batteries and inverters were incorrectly installed. So those are the new ones that are out to tender and will be installed… the tender was out two months ago… it’s supposed to be finished before (February 23).”

In the case of the wind farm, Patterson explained that all the technical aspects are supposed to have been completed. He noted that the project is now a matter for the developer and

his financing. Other projects are also in the pipeline.

Some are being carried out by the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), while others are being overseen by the Hinterland Electrification Company Incorporated (HECI). Both come under the jurisdiction of the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

“The GEA has identified seven potential sites located along the Guyana coast to conduct detailed wind resource assessments, to develop utility-scale grid-connected wind farms. And we’re monitoring them as we speak now. We need a year’s data, and with that data, we will invite persons to bid or develop projects to harness the wind energy,” he said.

In the case of several of these projects, 2019 had been cited as the year for them to come on stream.

The Mabaruma solar farm, one such project, in the end, was not completed in that

stipulated timeframe, while a contract for B&J to construct a hydropower plant on Cheung River in Kato was signed last year.

Discussions about building the Hope wind farm, which has International Pharmaceutical Agency’s (IPA) Lloyd Singh as an investor, had resurrected since 2015 when the current Government came into office.

In addition, there has been criticism of how much electricity they can actually provide to the grid, compared with the Amaila Falls Hydro Project (AFHP) – a project started by the previous Government but was scrapped by this administration, who had controlled the National Assembly by a one-seat majority.

The project could have been generating about 50 per cent more electricity than the entire Guyana Power and Light (GPL) supply.

Cheung Falls in Kato which is yet to come on stream The Government it- have an installed capaciself has announced that ty of 165 MW. To give an the Mabaruma solar farm idea of its potential, a rewhen it comes on stream, port by Norwegian compawill be able to provide 400 ny Norconsult had found Kilowatts (KW) of power. that the Demerara-Berbice Meanwhile, Kato hydro- Interconnected System power is expected to provide (DBIS) had a generation ca150 KW. On the other hand, pacity of 164.9 Mega Watts, the Hope wind farm will less than Amaila. This an provide an estimated 16.8 example of a project that, Megawatts (MW). had it been pursued, may The AFHP, on the oth- have come on stream by er hand, was supposed to now.

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cuban accused of Autopsy reveals woman murdered, forging passport stamp Bodies at Aracari Resort

boyfriend committed suicide

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n autopsy conducted on the bodies of 23-year-old Kevin Singh and his girlfriend, 25-year-old Subrina Nandram who were found in a bathtub at Aracari Resort has revealed that the woman was murdered and Singh committed suicide.

The post-mortem examination was conducted by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh on Wednesday.

Dr Singh gave Nandram’s cause of death as asphyxiation (suffocation) owing to manual strangulation compounded by blunt trauma to the head. The autopsy results for the young woman’s boyfriend showed that he died from asphyxiation caused by drowning, compounded by ingestion of pesticide.

Nandram, a mother of two who resided at

Dead: Kevin Singh

Dead: Subrina Nandram

Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and her boyfriend, of Triumph, ECD, were found dead about 18:00h by staff of the resort on Sunday.

Reports are the lovers checked into the resort on

Saturday just after lunch and were due to check out at 12:00h on Sunday, but Singh extended their stay.

On Sunday, the hotel staff attempted to make contact with the couple, but calls to their room went un-

answered.

After some time had passed, the staff attempted to contact the couple for a second time, but no one answered the call. The staff, suspecting that something was amiss, proceeded to check the couple’s room and made the gruesome discovery.

The dead woman’s mother, Sabita Singh had strongly doubted that her daughter would commit suicide, since Nandram seemed happy with her relationship with Singh.

Meanwhile, Kuntie Tekchand, the mother of Singh, recently told Guyana Times that the young man left their home on Saturday, but there was no indication that something was amiss.

According to the distraught mother, she did not know much about her son’s girlfriend.

Kenlhys Hernandez Cartaya

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Cuban was charged and released on bail at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was allegedly caught at the Guyana Passport Office with a forged passport stamp.

Thirty-six-yearold Kenlhys Hernandez Cartaya appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty on Wednesday and denied the charge which stated that on January 6, 2020, at the Central Immigration Passport Office, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Jenell Lovell, an Immigration Officer, one Cuban passport in favour of himself containing one forged Guyana immigration stamp.

Defence counsel Latchmi Rahamat, in a bail application, told the court that

Cartaya and his wife entered Guyana illegally; however, the couple are presently working with a United Nations organisation which assist persons like them who came to Guyana to get jobs.

She added that the couple work as interpreters, adding that her client was not a flight risk.

However, the Prosecutor objected to bail citing the prevalence of the offence and the fact that the Cuban man has no ties to Guyana.

Cartaya was released on $100,000 bail. As a condition for bail, he is required to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters every Monday until the completion of the case. The matter will continue on February 5, 2020.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NIS announces increase in Old Age Pension …raises insurable earnings ceiling

NIS head office, Brickdam and Winter Place, Georgetown

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he National Insurance Scheme (NIS) has announced an increase in old-age pension which took effect from January 1, 2020; however, it was noted that the insurable earnings ceiling has increased.

This is according to a statement that was issued by NIS declaring the increase in minimum old age and invalidity pensions, an increase in minimum survivors’ pension, an increase in the insurable earnings ceiling-monthly, and increase in the insurable earnings ceiling- weekly.

The minimum rates for old age and invalidity pensions have been increased from $32,100 to $35,000 per month, while the increase for minimum rate for survivors’ pension has been increased from $16,050 to$17,500 per month.

Meanwhile, the monthly insurable earnings ceiling has been increased from

$256,800 to $280,000 per month and the weekly insurable earnings ceiling has been increased from $59,262 to $64,615 per week Last year, the Finance Ministry’s Half-Year Report had stated that NIS recorded an overall deficit of $748.4 million for the year, compared to the $715.6 million it recorded in the same half-year period for 2018.

Revenue collection so far for 2019 was $11.9 billion, 9.7 per cent more than the same period for 2018.

“This improved position resulted from higher wage bands, on account of an increase in wages and salaries, as well as an improved collection of outstanding contributions from delinquent employers,” the report had stated.

Earlier this year, chartered accountant Christopher Ram, in an interview with Guyana Times explained

Mocha child rapist appeals sentence

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fter being sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment on four counts of rape, 48-year-old Jegede Hodge of Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD) is asking the Court of Appeal to reduce his “excessive” sentence.

In appeal documents, Hodge’s present attorney, Everton Singh-Lammy, is arguing that the lawyer, Ravindra Mohabir, failed to adequately mitigate the sentence when he represented the convicted man during his trial. Singh-Lammy continued that the sentence is unfair, too severe and excessive in all circumstances of the case.

The man’s lawyer made note that more grounds will be added at an appropriate time.

The man was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a child between May 1 and 31, 2014.

The child was 13 at the time.

However, in 2015, he committed the act twice between January 21 and December

31. She was 14 at the time.

As the child turned 16, he again raped her between September 1 and 30, 2017.

For the first charge, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall sentenced Hodge to 18 years’ imprisonment and another 20 years for the second. She further imposed a 22-year sentence for the third charge and 25 for the last. The sentences will run concurrently, hence, he will only serve 25 years.

The victim, in a statement to the court, said she is still traumatised by the incidents and at times thought about ending her life. She also stated that she was disappointed that her mother did not believe her when she confided in her.

The young lady noted that the convicted rapist collected her from school and took her to various locations where he would commit the act. The statement also revealed that the victim had pleaded with the man to use a condom to prevent her from getting pregnant.

that many persons do not see their NIS deduction in the positive light of being a contribution to their future pension, but rather, they see it as a deduction from an already small salary.

Driver disqualified from driving after 3rd DUI conviction

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residing Linden Magistrate Dylon Bess on Wednesday permanently disqualified the driver’s licence of a Speightland, Linden resident who appeared before him at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, charged with the offences of Driving under the Influence (DUI) and failure to have his vehicular parts maintained.

Joshua Mangar was ordered to pay a fine amounting to a total of $12,500 after pleading guilty to the offences. The court heard that it was Mangar’s third DUI conviction, which, by law, is the requirement for disqualification. Prior to this, his licence was suspended twice for DUI. The court further heard that on December 4, 2019, Mangar, who is a taxi driver, drove motor vehicle HD 84 along the Bamia Public Road, Linden-Soesdyke Highway while his breath

alcohol level was 185 micrograms, which is above the prescribed legal limit.

He also admitted to failing to have the vehicular parts maintained in order to prevent danger. Prosecutor Vernetté Pindar told the court that it was Mangar’s third time appearing before the court on separate DUI charges, noting that his licence

was suspended twice before and this was his third conviction. When asked by the Magistrate for a plausible reason why his licence should not be taken away, Mangar failed to offer a plea of mitigation.

He was also fined $7500 or one week imprisonment on the DUI charge and $5000 for the motor vehicle maintenance charge.

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 fires in 6 days recorded in Berbice T

he ancient county of Berbice recorded some four fires in six days according to the Fire Department there. This has caused the Divisional Commander to call on residents to take more precautions when it comes to managing items of flammable nature.

According to Divisional Commander Dwayne Scotland, more fires are being caused as a result of carelessness, while outlining that only on Tuesday, there were two such fires in East Berbice and West Berbice respectively.

He called on homeowners to be more careful and act in a more responsible manner, noting that of the four fires, three homes were completely destroyed. In all, the Fire Police in Berbice have responded to 12 fires in less than one week.

“We have an increase in fires being started by some persons being careless. We have an increase for last year

Divisional Commander Dwayne Scotland

over the previous year of 57 per cent which is totally unacceptable. People need to be more cognizant of their environment and the way they operate. We have children playing with matches also at an increase. Parents leaving unattended and going and do whatever they want to do and the child has free time and finds some ways of making use of their time. Most of

the time they want to play with matches or they want to experiment with fire,” Scotland noted.

On Monday, a Bath Settlement, West Berbice woman went to a nearby shop while cooking and locked her three young children in the house. It was a neighbour who broke in and saved their lives after the kerosene oil stove went

The scorched building in East Canje on Monday

up in flames. While, East Berbice neighbours formed a bucket brigade and prevented extensive damage to a building situated at lot 121 New Street Cumberland, East Canje.

At the time, four children were alone at home, the eldest being 15 when one of the younger ones started to experiment with matches.

Ronnie Glasgow, one of

the occupants, related to this publication that matches are not normally kept in their house but on Monday evening, they were giv-

the blaze with damages to the lower flat including the ceiling and furniture.

Meanwhile, one resident reported that the fire tender had difficulties responding as a bar has been erected across the street. Firefighters had to use shears to cut the padlock before passing.

On Sunday, the Fire Service also responded to a fire in Tucburg, New Amsterdam. The building was totally destroyed. According to Scotland’s investigations, someone left an electrical fan unattended and it overheated. The flames caught on combustible material and eventually spread throughout the building. At the time, no one was at home.

The owner is overseas and had put a caretaker to live in

Destruction to the building at Bath Settlement on Monday

en three boxes and accepted it. He said he was a short distance away working when he got the message but by the time he got home, neighbours had already put out

the house.

Scotland says persons must take more care of their children’s affairs and ensure that they are always supervised.

Man accused of stealing from friend on bail

C

hief Magistrate Ann McLennan released Glendon Moses of Dazzle Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for stealing from his male friend.

The 32-year-old miner denied that on December 29, 2019 at Status Hotel, Georgetown, he stole one phone valued $180,000, a phone charger valued $10,000, $180,000 and a hand sanitiser valued $500, property of Hollister Hooper.

Prosecutor David Goodman informed the court that the duo checked into the hotel for three days.

However, Hooper left with a friend and the articles were left in the room.

According to the Prosecutor, when Hooper returned, he was informed by the receptionist that Moses had checked out of the hotel.

He nonetheless went to the room and the items were all missing. As such, the matter was reported.

The Prosecutor stat-

Glendon Moses

ed that Moses was seeking refuge at City Hall after a group of men attacked him, but was subsequently arrested when a search was conducted and the items found in his possession. Moses was released on $15,000 bail. The case will continue on January 28, 2019.

NEWS

13

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Woman collapses, dies Islamic Association donates wheelchair to Bartica Speedboat Association at APNU/AFC rally

A

66-year-old woman collapsed and died at the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change rally at Hopetown, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) on Wednesday.

Dead is Shandraine Mc Donald. Reports are after Mc Donald collapsed, she was rushed to the Fort

Wellington Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Speaking with this publication, the dead woman’s daughter-in-law said that she was told that her mother-in-law went to the rally. She said that at about 18:00h, she received a telephone call that she col-

lapsed at the function. She said she was later told that Mc Donald had died. The daughter-in-law added that the family is still trying to ascertain what occurred and information is limited.

She advised that this publication call at a later time to speak to Mc Donald’s son for more details.

$250,000 bail for conspiracy accused

C

urwin Estwick, also known as Timothy Estwick, on Wednesday denied a charge of conspiracy to commit a felony in the torching of a car at Linden.

It is alleged that the 25-year-old man conspired with others to torch the car belonging to ex-cop Teon Allen, also known as “Spoil Child”. Allen himself has had several charges instituted against him and is currently before the court for various offences. Estwick, of Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was charged in connection with the incident which occurred on September 10, 2019. It is alleged that he conspired along with other unknown persons to unlawfully and maliciously damage the ex- cop’s car, PXX4598, at

Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden. The car is valued $ 2.4 million. Estwick, who appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Dylon Bess, was previously granted $300,000 bail by Magistrate Wanda Fortune on December 3, 2019. The sum was reduced to $250,000 by Magistrate Bess on Wednesday following a request for a reduction.

Estwick, who, on his appearances, is assisted by crutch-

es due to injuries he allegedly sustained from being shot, was ordered to report to the Mackenzie Police Station Criminal Investigations Department (CID) every Friday until the competition of his trial. Also, as a condition for bail, Estwick is also required to lodge his passport with the court. The accused was previously not required to plead to the indictable charge. The case will continue on January 21.

T

he Bartica Islamic Association donated a wheelchair to the Bartica Speedboat Association (BSA) over the holidays.

President of the BSA, Stephen Belle, expressed delight and gratitude for the charitable donation.

“We feel good. We feel it’s a kind and very good gesture and we would like to thank the Muslim church for the donation. It will help the Bartica community,” Belle expressed.

According to the BSA President, the wheelchair will help to facilitate the easy and convenient movement of elderly as well as sick passengers on and off speedboats at the Bartica Stelling.

BSA President Stephen Belle (left) and Vice Chair Lashley Gomes (centre) receive the wheelchair from a Bartica Islamic Association representative (right)

14 NEWS Young professionals endorse PPP/C’s “Plan for Prosperity” A THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

t the launch of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) 2020 elections campaign on Sunday, several young professionals eagerly endorsed the Party’s “Plan for Prosperity”.

The PPP/C had among its list of speakers a number of young professionals.

One issue that stood out in all their speeches was the fact that they lamented the broken promises of the APNU/AFC coalition to create opportunities and a better life for young people in Guyana. Thus, they urged the crowd, especially youths, to vote for the PPP/C, which is the only party that they believe has the best interest of youths at heart.

The current Vice Chair of Region One (BarimaWaini), Sarah Browne, described to the crowd her personal experience with the PPP/C as a young woman who was able to contribute to Guyana because of the Party providing opportunities for youths across our country.

“Almost five years ago, at the age of 23, voting for the first time, I strongly endorsed and campaigned for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic based on nothing more or nothing less than a progressive track record— a decision to date I have not regretted… I stand here today [Sunday] as evidence that the People’s Progressive Party believes in the abilities and capabilities of young people regardless of our ethnicity, regardless of our religion and regardless of what-

Entrepreneur Susan Rodrigues

Dr Erica Forte

Region One Vice Chair Sarah Browne

Attorney-at-Law Savitri Parag

ever differences we may have,” she stated.

Browne went on further to lament the struggles which the residents of Region One have faced since the coalition assumed office in 2015. “…I travelled from Region One, a region where we are fed up, sick and tired of this Government.

We are fed up because the increased taxes [have] begun to take its toll, and our lives… the cost of living has become higher.

We are currently experiencing severe fuel shortage and a hike in fuel prices, so yes we’re fed up. We are fed up because this Government has failed to address our land titling issues and land extension issues which are necessary and important for our survival as Amerindians. We are fed up because this Government has refused to look at the interest of our farmers… Yes, we are definitely fed up because the funding from Government

has dried up for sports, for culture, for other infrastructure, and so yes our region is definitely fed up,” she passionately expressed.

The Vice Chair also made her case for the PPP/C and why it is critical that they are elected into office at this upcoming General and Regional Elections.

“As a young Amerindian woman, I believe that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic is the only party that believes in equality, that believes in inclusive governance and that believes that there is a place for all of us in our leadership. Compare that to a Government that campaigned strongly and appealed to young people for their support, who today, in Government, most of them are eligible for pension or they’re getting there”.

Another young woman, Susan Rodrigues, who is an entrepreneur, told her tale

to the crowd about feeling deceived by the APNU/ AFC coalition government and did not hold back on listing all the failures and deceptions she feels the Government has meted out to every Guyanese over the past five years.

“I was born and raised in a family of ordinary, hardworking people like most of you here today.

But if you had asked me five years ago where I saw myself in the future, I would not have said in politics. But after having witnessed the deception by the APNU/AFC Government, their abuses in office, the flagrant violation of our Constitution, the incompetence, the corruption, the escalating cost of living, the decline in our economy, the exclusion of young people, the desperate need to hang on to the perks of office, I cannot and will not as a young, educated, professional woman, be excluded from the political arena anymore,” she said.

Further, she added: “I watched on as the coalition took the reins of power in 2015 and I can never forget their first act in office: they raised their own salaries. It is on our minds and it is in our hearts we remember how you made us feel when some of their salaries were raised by 100 per cent. They took care of themselves. They immediately forgot about us, they forgot about you, they forgot about the people that put them there. That one act would determine and shape Granger’s entire presidency and the legacy of his Government. They took care of themselves”.

Medical doctor, Erica Forte, also stated her case, specifically with regard to the failure of the Government in improving healthcare in Guyana but she expressed her confidence in and support of the PPP/C’s plans, especially for the health sector.

“As a young woman

who intends to raise a family in this environment, I, like so many others, no matter where I am, I want to have access to quality healthcare. PPP/C intends to correct this…my people, the time has come for us to take a stand like we did in 1992 to correct the wrong that occurred in 2015.

2020 is our time. Let us secure our victory together,” Forte posited.

Further, Savitri Parag, an Attorney-at-Law, also gave her take on how she believes the coalition government failed young people and why they should not be allowed to return.

“The reality is there is oppression pushed in every corner of the society and especially so with our young people… The progression of a lawless society has caused young people to wonder whether there is a future for them in this illegal administration; young people who are qualified and hungry to give back to their country. Instead, they are victimised by not having jobs, by being demoted from positions for which they are well qualified. Meanwhile, the vast majority of the high positions in the public systems are filled with persons over their 60s and upwards and with political associations. There is no room left for the upward mobility of our youths,” Parag explained.

In 2015, the APNU/AFC coalition’s campaign was focused mainly on targeting young people who they promised would be the pivot of their Government.

NEWS

15

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Tuschen robbery

High Court gives Police more time to hold suspects

The gun that was found in the getaway car

T

he three suspects, who were arrested following a brazen armed attack on a Tuschen Housing Scheme Chinese restaurateur on Friday, have been further detained by investigators, even as Police are searching for a female who was part of the robbery.

Dead bandit: Mark Prince

On Wednesday, investigators applied to the High Court for an extension of time to detain the suspects. This was granted and the Police have another 72 hours to hold the men before instituting charges.

It was further revealed that a file was prepared and sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution for advice into the matter. This advice will assist investigators in how to proceed with the matter and what charges should be implemented.

This newspaper was told that the three suspects who were caught trying to make their good escape have confessed that they knew of the robbery but it was Mark Prince – who was fatally shot during the robbery – was the mastermind. One of the suspects was also wounded during the robbery. The suspects in custody are a Police Constable attached to the Special Branch at Eve Leary, Georgetown; a 20-year-old Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident and a Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) resident On Friday last, Prince was among the bandits who pounced on Guang Hong Wang, 43, proprietor of the Five Star Chinese Restaurant and her husband who operate the food establishment in the lower flat of their premis-

es. A customer, Navindra Lakahalall, 37, of Zeelugt New Housing, Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was also robbed when the bandits invaded the premises.

Reports are Lakahalall was in the restaurant when one of the male suspects and a female entered and purchased two beverages. Police reports stated that as soon as they consumed the beverages, they ordered a case of beer and in the process of Wang delivering the same, the male suspect whipped out a handgun and relieved her of two cell phones and an undisclosed sum of cash.

He then turned his attention to Lakahalall and relieved him of one silver chain and an undisclosed sum of cash. At the height of the robbery, the three other suspects entered.

However, a neighbour, who is a licensed firearm holder, heard the commotion and immediately went to investigate and was attacked by the armed suspect and another with a cutlass.

He then discharged several rounds in their direction after which the suspects fled the premises in a motor car with licence plate PTT 8606 that had been parked nearby, leaving their accomplice Prince, who had been shot, at the scene.

The Police were contacted and the vehicle was intercepted at a roadblock on the public road in front of the Den Amstel Police Station.

At the time, the car had three occupants – one was in the back seat with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. He was questioned, arrested, and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

An unlicensed pistol with an empty magazine was found in the vehicle along with an undisclosed sum of cash and cellular phones.

It was later revealed that Prince, who had been left behind with a gunshot wound to the neck, died on the spot. A cutlass was in his right hand and a haversack was on his back.

His body was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Some $130,000 was found in his possession.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

Regional

Mexican migrants removed from border Barbados: Govt eyes camp after family separation threat cruise berths, northern

M

exican authorities on Tuesday removed almost 100 Mexican migrants seeking asylum in the United States from a camp in downtown Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas, according to a Reuters witness, after state police threatened to separate parents from their children.

Ciudad Juarez has been received growing numbers of Mexicans seeking to apply for asylum in the United States, leading to a backlog in the city as US border officials limit the number of asylum cases they receive at the port of entry each day.

The operation came a day after news that the United States will deport some Mexican asylum seekers to Guatemala.

Mexican authorities have for months tried to move

Mexican asylum seekers camping near the Paso del Norte international border crossing bridge while waiting to apply for asylum to the US are evicted by the local government, who will move them to a local shelter, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

the migrants from outdoor camps into shelters, citing cold weather, as temperatures dropped below freezing. The 93 Mexicans had so far declined the offer.

In a video recorded

Monday night by a Mexican migrant, a man identifies himself as part of the Chihuahua state police and accuses the migrants, who have been camping near the border crossing for months,

of neglecting their children.

Reuters has seen the video but did not witness that incident.

In the video, the man orders the migrants to leave the camp by Tuesday and move to a shelter. He then threatens to separate the parents from their children.

“Tomorrow, we’ll be here and if you don’t obey, you’ll be arrested and your children will be taken to family services,” he said. “Now, whatever family services does is up to them, whether they keep your children in Juarez or take them out of the state.”

A spokesman for the state prosecutor’s office confirmed to Reuters that the man in the video was one of their officials but denied that the migrants were threatened. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trini among US troops struck by Iran

A

Trinidadian woman in the US military was among those at a US airbase in Iraq that was struck by Iran on Tuesday night.

The attacks were carried out in response to the recent killing of Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani during a US drone strike in Baghdad.

In a post to Twitter on Tuesday night, Leann

Saunders said, "My aunt's US base was hit an hour ago. All I ask of anyone that sees this is a prayer of protection. Thank you."

Saunders told Newsday her aunt, who she preferred not to name, was born and raised in Santa Cruz but moved to the US where she has been living for over 12 years.

She said it was the first scare the family has had

since her aunt joined the military.

"My emotions were all over. My entire household was in tears as there was no contact so we were just praying, waiting on the next phone call for good news."

She said her grandmother, who also lives in the US, called a few hours later saying her aunt was alive.

But Saunders said she is worried the situation may

worsen as the tension between the US and Iran continues to rise. She said, "It's just the start," and that her aunt is still "not out of harm's way."

"We're just praying for her safe return."

In an official response on Wednesday afternoon, US President Donald Trump said there were no injuries or casualties. (Trinidad Newsday)

Bahamas Health Minister wants country to declare over 200 killed by Dorian

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ore than three months after Hurricane Dorian swept through The Bahamas causing damage estimated at US$3.4 billion, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands says the time has come for the country to acknowledge that more than 200 people lost their lives as a result of the category five storm.

At the end of November last year, the official death toll was put at 70, with 282 people missing.

But Sands told The Tribune newspaper that the relevant authorities will have to make a decision to confirm that more than 200 people died as a result of

A man salvages debris in Marsh Harbour, The Bahamas, on September 10, 2019, one week after Hurricane Dorian

the storm that lashed the archipelago on September 1 last year.

“At some point, the Government of The Bahamas will have to de-

clare that over 200 people have died in Hurricane Dorian, but I cannot officially say that, as that is a multi-ministerial decision.

“We have to do our due diligence and meet to decide. We want to move all of the outstanding matters to an agreed consensus or conclusion; we want to bring some closure. Again, we have not walked this road before,” Sands told the newspaper.

The storm caused widespread damage mainly on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, with officials indicating that the death toll in those two areas were 60 and 10, respectively. (Excerpt from CMC)

Antigua PM hints at possible downsizing of public sector

W

ith the glaring uncertainty surrounding the sustainability of Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizen By Investment Programme (CIP), the Minister of Finance, Prime Minister Gaston Browne indicated that “if we lose CIP revenues, we will end up in a total crisis”.

Though the government

has made a forecast that CIP revenues in 2019 could stand at $132 million, there has been recent uncertainty as to the viability of the CIP/CBI industry in the Caribbean in the coming years.

Several countries of interest to CIP applicants such as the United States and Canada have changed

travel and immigration policies in response to the growing number of persons gaining citizenship as a result of the Caribbean programme.

“I do accept that if we lose the revenue, it will create some difficulties. And, maybe under those circumstances, we will be forced to maybe downsize, which is something that we’re to-

tally against. But, provided that those revenues remain viable and consistent, we’re going to utilise them to cover our expenditure,” Browne explained earlier this week.

Salaries, wages and debt repayments account for 115 per cent of total tax revenues collected, according to the finance minister.

(Antigua Observer)

port amid record visits

Cruise port in Barbados

2

019 was a record year for Barbados’ cruise tourism as arrivals topped 800,000-plus visitors in a slight rise over the previous year, the Barbados Port Inc (BPI) reported Tuesday.

And boosted by the news, Minister of Maritime Affairs Kirk Humphrey has touted a raft of planned improvements for the industry, including a second cruise port, a mega-ship cruise centre and marina.

Cruise ship passenger arrivals totalled 853,200 from 422 cruise ship calls, representing a three per cent rise in arrivals at the Port of Bridgetown over 2018 when the country welcomed 826,267 passengers from 437 berths.

The island benefitted from the redeployment of ships from other destinations ravaged by hurricanes.

According to the BPI, Barbados also recorded significant growth in its homeporting operations. Some 227,192 homeporting arrivals were registered at the Port of Bridgetown in 2019, a 15.6 per cent increase over 2018 when 197,185 homeporting passengers passed

through the port.

Homeporting calls declined slightly from 157 in 2018 to 153 last year, but the visitor growth was achieved with the Marella, AIDA and TUI cruise lines all deploying larger capacity ships.

On the Barbados itinerary, AIDA exchanged its 2,030 passenger capacity AIDA Diva, for the AIDA Perla, which carries 3,286 passengers. TUI similarly exchanged its Mein Schiff 5 with a capacity of 2,500, for the 2,894 passenger Mein Schiff 2. The number of calls from Marella also increased from 31 in 2018 to 45 in 2019.

Humphrey linked the port’s improved performance to several upgrades to its cruise operations to benefit passengers as recommended by the National Cruise Development Commission Report.

The improvements included enhanced wayfinding and guest experiences through the installation of signage, the renovation of the taxi dispatch facilities and new services such as a quay-to-terminal tram.

(Excerpt from Barbados Today)

Jamaica: University scholarships for four prisoners

F

our prisoners have been given the chance to gain a university education through a multi-agency partnership that will see them accessing scholarships to pursue an associate of science degree in business administration at the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC).

The courses will be done online.

The announcement was made yesterday at the launch of the UCC Scholarship for Incarcerated Persons, which was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UCC, the Ministry of National Security (MNS), the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), and Stand Up For Jamaica — a non-governmental hu-

man rights organisation domiciled in Jamaica whose mission includes the provision of education to incarcerated offenders with the goal of enhanced rehabilitation.

According to Professor Bernadette Warner, executive vice-president for academic services at UCC, under the MOU, the four inmates will receive scholarships valued at $300,000 each, to pursue the degree programme online at the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre as a pilot project this spring semester 2020. Additionally, the inmates will be accompanied by an approved correctional officer, who has also received a scholarship to pursue the same course.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

17

Around the World

Trump avoids escalating crisis, Ukraine International Airline jet crashes killing 176 says Iran is “standing down”

U

S President Donald Trump on Wednesday backed away from days of angry rhetoric against Iran as the two countries tried to defuse a crisis over the American killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

In an address from the White House, Trump said the United States did not necessarily have to respond militarily to Iranian missile attacks on military bases housing US troops in Iraq overnight.

He said no Americans were harmed in the strikes.

“The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it. We do not want to use it. American strength, both military and economic, is the best deterrent,” he said.

“Our great American forces are prepared for anything. Iran appears to be

US President Donald Trump delivers a statement about Iran flanked by US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, Vice President Mike Pence and military leaders in the Grand Foyer at the White House in Washington, US, January 8, 2020

standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world,” he said.

Trump stopped short of making any direct threat of military action against Iran but said the United States “will immediately im-

pose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime” in response to what he called “Iranian aggression.”

He offered no specific measures.

Iranian forces fired missiles at military bases hous-

ing US troops in Iraq on Wednesday in retaliation for the killing last week in Iraq of Iranian general Soleimani, raising the stakes in its conflict with Washington amid concern about a wider war in the Middle East.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, addressing a gathering of Iranians chanting “Death to America,” said the missile attacks were a “slap on the face” of the United States and said US troops should leave the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had said the strikes “concluded” Tehran’s response to the killing of Soleimani, who had been responsible for building up Iran’s network of proxy armies across the Middle East. He was buried in his hometown Kerman on Monday after days of national mourning. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Norway to take 600 Libya evacuees from Rwanda camp

N

orway this year will take in 600 people evacuated to Rwanda from Libyan detention centres, the Nordic country said on Wednesday as it sought to discourage the smuggling of refugees across the Mediterranean Sea. Rwanda, from where more than 2 million people were displaced amid geno-

cide in 1994, signed a deal with the United Nations in September meant to help resettle people detained in Libya while trying to reach Europe.

The migrants evacuated to Rwanda have been given asylum-seeker status there while the UN refugee agency determines whether they are refugees.

“Norway accepted to re-

ceive close to 500 people and Sweden took in seven last month. Others are still waiting,” Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta told a news conference in the capital, Kigali.

In a statement to Reuters, Norwegian Justice Minister Joeran Kallmyr said the number for 2020 would, in fact, be 600, but added that would not lead

to an increase in the overall number of refugees the government previously committed to.

As part of a compromise last year among Norway’s four-party government coalition, Kallmyr’s anti-immigration Progress Party has agreed to accept a total of 3000 refugees from UN camps in 2020. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Prince Harry and Meghan to step back as senior royals

T

he Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they will step back as "senior" royals and work to become financially independent.

In a statement, Prince Harry and Meghan also said they plan to split their time between the UK and North America.

The BBC understands no other royal - including the Queen or Prince William was consulted before the statement and Buckingham Palace is "disappointed".

Senior royals are understood to be "hurt" by the announcement.

Last October, Prince Harry and Meghan publicly revealed their struggles under the media spotlight.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Prince Harry and Meghan

In their unexpected statement on Wednesday, also posted on their Instagram page, the couple said they

made the decision "after many months of reflection and internal discussions".

"We intend to step back

as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen."

They said they plan to balance their time between the UK and North America while "continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages".

"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity." (Excerpt from BBC News)

Putin and Erdogan call for Libya ceasefire

T

he Turkish and Russian presidents, who back opposing sides in the Libyan conflict, have called for a ceasefire in the war-torn country to begin at midnight on Sunday, January 12.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan was joined by Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Wednesday to inaugurate

a new pipeline carrying gas to Europe, but the pair commented on the Libyan situation and rising US-Iran tensions.

In a joint statement, Turkey and Russia called on all parties in Libya to "declare a sustainable ceasefire, supported by the necessary measures to be taken for stabilising the situation

on the ground and normalising daily life in Tripoli and other cities".

They also said Washington and Tehran should prioritise diplomacy, warning that the recent exchange of attacks could lead to a new cycle of instability in the region.

In Libya, Turkey backs Fayez al-Sarraj's Tripoli-

based Government of National Accord (GNA), which is recognised by the United Nations, while Russia has sent support to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar's opposing forces to the east.

Ankara has said it will send troops to Libya upon the GNA's request. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A

The remains of one of the plane's engines were among the debris

Ukrainian Boeing 737-800 with 176 people on board has crashed in Iran, and officials say there is no chance of finding survivors.

Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 to Kyiv went down just minutes after taking off from Tehran's airport at 06:12 local time (02:42 GMT).

The majority of passengers were from Iran and Canada.

Ukraine's Tehran embassy initially blamed engine failure but later removed the statement.

It said any comment regarding the cause of Wednesday's accident prior to a commission's inquiry was not official.

There was good visibility when the plane went down

near Iran's capital, according to the Flightradar24 aviation website. Officials from the airline said the crew were experienced.

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) said the Boeing 737-800 was built in 2016 and had its last scheduled maintenance on Monday.

Hours before the plane came down Iran carried out a ballistic missile attack on two airbases housing US forces in Iraq. There is no evidence that the two incidents were linked.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, warned against "speculation or unchecked theories regarding the catastrophe" until official reports were ready. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Bangladesh Police arrest man in connection with rape of student

Thousands took to the streets of Dhaka to demand the security services find the culprit [Photo by: Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]

P

olice in Bangladesh have arrested a man suspected of raping a university student in the capital Dhaka – an incident that sparked protest across the capital.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the elite police force, said they arrested the suspect, believed to be a "serial rapist", on Wednesday.

"He earlier raped [a] few street beggars and women with physical disabilities.

He confessed his crime to us," Mizanur Rahman, an official with the legal and media wing of RAB, told a packed news briefing in Dhaka.

The rape of the second-year student from Dhaka University - the largest public university in

Bangladesh – on Sunday made the headlines in local media.

Thousands of students from Dhaka University took to the street for two consecutive days, demanding justice for the rape victim.

They formed a large human chain near Shahbagh in the capital on Tuesday, demanding greater safety of women on the roads.

Their placards read: "No more rape, we want justice", "We want to see the ultimate punishment for the rapist", "We demand justice for our sister".

Four students went on a hunger strike and the protesters gave the government an ultimatum of 48 hours to make the arrest. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

PEANUTS

If you take control, you’ll have no regrets. Refuse to let stressful situations continue to plague you. Taking care of your mental and emotional well-being is necessary.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

It’s OK to show off if you have something worthwhile to present. Charm your way into a situation that will give you the platform you need to advance.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Channel your emotional energy into something special. Open up about your plans and discuss your intentions with someone you want to get to know better. A creative outlet will ease stress.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Live in the moment, learn all you can and make exciting, inspirational plans.

Romance is in the stars.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

If you want something to happen, be an instigator.

Participate in functions that will allow you to converse with people who can help you bring about the changes you want to see unfold.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Make a physical effort to bring about changes that will improve your life, surroundings and future. Walk away from people making demands and seek out individuals offering assistance.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Look at what’s available to you. Size up the consequence of your actions should you make a hasty move. Time is on your side, so slow down and think matters through.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Try something new and exciting. A change will be useful for you, and the people you encounter along the way will spark your imagination and encourage new beginnings.

SAGITTARIUS Refuse to let anyone take (Nov. 23care of your money, possesDec. 21) sions or responsibilities.

Doing things for yourself will ensure that they are done right and on time.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR YESTERDAY’S PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

A change will motivate you to explore new possibilities.

Discuss your plans with people who have something real to offer. Stagnation and uncertainty are the enemy. A passionate approach is favored.

Stick to your plan. If someone wants to make an impulsive move, refuse to get taken along for the ride. Concentrate on making physical improvements to your looks, surroundings or lifestyle.

Rethink the way you want to live. Figure out who puts a smile on your face and who costs you emotionally, financially and mentally, and seek the people who bring you peace of mind.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

19

round-up: Anthony, Blazers rally past Raptors nal minute to ice Oklahoma City’s win and send Brooklyn to their seventh consecutive

loss.

Taurean Prince scored 21 points to lead the Nets.

Memphis Grizzlies 119-Minnesota Timberwolves 112

Dillon Brooks scored 28 points to help hosts Memphis sweep the threegame season series over Minnesota.

Ja Morant added 25 points and seven assists as the Grizzlies matched

Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony (00) scores the winning basket during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena

C

armelo Anthony made a tiebreaking shot with 4.1 seconds remaining, and the visiting Portland Trail Blazers rallied to defeat the Toronto Raptors 10199 on Tuesday night.

Damian Lillard, who tied the game for Portland on a three-pointer with 38.5 seconds to play, had 20 points – 18 in the second half – and nine assists. Anthony finished with a game-high 28 points.

After the Raptors failed to score, the Trail Blazers took possession with 13.6 seconds to play and set up Anthony’s shot from the top of the key. Kyle Lowry, who missed the final shot of the game, had 24 points and 10 assists for Toronto.

The Raptors were without Fred VanVleet (hamstring injury); who joined Pascal Siakam (groin); Marc Gasol (hamstring) and Norman Powell (shoulder) on the sidelines.

Toronto, which led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, took a ninepoint lead into the fourth.

Los Angeles Lakers 117New York Knicks 87

LeBron James scored 31 points as hosts Los Angeles,

which lost Anthony Davis to a back injury, crushed New York.

Davis left the game with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter when he landed hard on the floor after losing his balance in a collision with the Knicks’ Julius Randle under the basket. X-rays on Davis’s lower back were negative, but he was to undergo more testing.

Rookie guard RJ Barrett scored 19 points to top the Knicks, who were without leading scorer Marcus Morris Sr with a sore neck. Randle, a former Laker, had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Elfrid Payton contributed 12 points.

Detroit Pistons 115-Cleveland Cavaliers 113

Derrick Rose capped a 24-point performance by making the go-ahead shot with 26 seconds remaining as Detroit topped hosts Cleveland for just their third win in 12 games.

Detroit’s Andre Drummond recorded 23 points and 20 rebounds, including 11 and 10, respectively, in the first quarter. Tony Snell made four three-pointers to highlight

his 18-point performance for the Pistons. The Pistons announced earlier Tuesday that forward Blake Griffin was out indefinitely after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

Cleveland’s Kevin Love collected 30 points and nine rebounds, hours after calling his recent behaviour “childish” in referring to recent outbursts in showing up his teammates and coaches. Collin Sexton had 20 points, and Cedi Osman scored 17 points for the Cavaliers, who have dropped five in a row.

Oklahoma City Thunder 111-Brooklyn Nets 103 (OT)

Chris Paul scored 28 points and hit two clutch shots in overtime as surging Oklahoma City outlasted slumping hosts Brooklyn in the second night of a back-to-back for both teams.

The Thunder won for the 10th time in their last 12 games. Paul came within two of his season-high for points and shot 9 of 15 from the floor, including 4 of 8 from three-point range.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 22 points and hit four free throws in the fi-

a season best with their third consecutive win.

Jaren Jackson Jr had 21 points, seven rebounds, and three blocked shots, and Jae Crowder recorded 14 points, eight rebounds, and matched his career high of five steals for Memphis.

Rookie Jarrett Culver scored a season-high 24 points and Jeff Teague added 18 off the bench for Minnesota.

Robert Covington tallied 17 points, Andrew Wiggins scored 15, Gorgui Dieng added 11, and reserve Naz Reid scored 10 for the Timberwolves.

Minnesota centre KarlAnthony Towns (knee injury) missed his 11th straight contest.

Sacramento Kings 114-Phoenix Suns 103

Nemanja Bjelica gave visiting Sacramento the lead for good with a

three-pointer with 7:31 remaining in the game, and De’Aaron Fox saved nine of his team-high 27 points for the final 7:02 in rallying from a 21-point deficit to stun Phoenix.

Devin Booker shot 12for-21 in extending his franchise record of consecutive 30-point games to seven with a gamehigh 34-point effort, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Suns from sustaining a second consecutive home loss.

Bjelica finished with 19 points, and Buddy Hield had 16 for Sacramento.

Deandre Ayton had 21 points to go with a teamhigh nine rebounds, Oubre 17 points and Ricky Rubio a game-high nine assists to complement eight points for Phoenix, which had won two of the first three games in the now-complete season series. (Reuters)

Cricket Australia hands Green 90-day ban

S

ydney Thunder spinner Chris Green has been banned from bowling by Cricket Australia for 90 days because of an illegal action.

Green was reported by umpires after a Big Bash League clash between the Thunder and the Melbourne Stars at the Sydney Showgrounds last Thursday.

The off-spinner then underwent testing to replicate his bowling action on Sunday at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, when his action was confirmed as being illegal, with the Thunder informed on Wednesday.

An illegal bowling action is defined as being when a bowler throws the ball, extending a bent arm, rather than bowling a ball with a straight arm.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) states that an arm cannot extend more than 15 degrees between a player's arm reaching the horizontal and the ball being released.

Green is unable to play in any Cricket Australia competition in the 90-day period, missing the rest of summer, but can play in grade cricket with the consent of Cricket NSW. After the 90-day suspension period is over, Green will have to undergo fresh testing before he is permitted to return to bowl.

The ban is a blow to the Thunder, who are in the third spot on the Big Bash ladder, and recently handed Green a six-year deal to

stay with the franchise, the longest in their history.

Thunder Coach Shane Bond said that the club would stick with Green.

"Chris is a crowd favourite, and he's also an extremely popular member of our club," Bond said.

"Sydney Thunder signed Chris to a long-term deal with the club because of his leadership qualities and obvious talent.

"He's an important part of our future and the club will support him through this process."

The 26-year-old was withdrawn from the Sydney Thunder squad to play the Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Wednesday night.

The suspension is a major blow to Green's hopes of a callu p for this year's Twenty20 World Cup that is being hosted in Australia.

Green has taken three wickets at an average of 45.33 in this season's Big Bash tournament from seven matches. (abc.net. au) Chris Green

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

Players demand full picture on 4-day Tests

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four-day Test cricket, we would need to clearly understand what both the economic and scheduling benefits would be, so we can discuss that with players and gauge genuine collective feedback.

It is particularly important for us, and the players, to understand how any additional calendar space in the playing schedule would be used.”

Irish, who recently took up the role as head of the professional cricketers’ association in England in addition to his FICA role, stressed that Test cricket’s success and endurance have long been rooted in the fundamental belief of the players that it is the ultimate for the game. As such, they will look at any mooted changes to the format most carefully.

The recent Cape Town Test was a great advertisement for five-day Tests, Joe Root said

idespread opposition to four-day Tests among the current generation of international cricketers has little chance of abating unless the International Cricket Council (ICC) and member boards provide far greater details as to how the move would fit within future plans for the global game.

England’s Vice Captain Ben Stokes, India’s Captain Virat Kohli and Australia’s Captain Tim Paine have been the loudest voices in opposition to a prospective move to four-day matches in the World Test Championship from 2023, which, as first revealed by

ESPNcricinfo, is currently under serious consideration by member boards and is set to be tabled for the ICC’s cricket committee later this year.

But away from the rhetoric about “real cricket” in the words of Ian Botham or reference to four-day matches as “easy cricket” according to Stokes, the Executive Chairman of the Federation of International Cricketers Associations, the players’ global body, Tony Irish has articulated that the only way this opposition has a chance of dissipating is if the players are brought into the fold to discuss how a move to four-day Tests would do

more than simply free up days in the calendar in the cycle from 2023 to 2031.

“We continue to follow this issue closely and understand that discussions are taking place at various levels on this,” Irish said in a FICA release. “From our discussions with players around the world, and our global survey data, it is clear that there is currently a lot of negative sentiment within the global collective of players towards such a significant change to the game’s most traditional format.

“Given the obvious cricketing implications, if the ICC and/or Boards do want to make a broader case for

“Making a fundamental change simply in order to provide calendar space to fill with additional or meaningless cricket is clearly not something we can support,” Irish said. “Cricket’s global structure desperately needs clarity, rather than further confusion.“Until such a time as we and the players are provided with the full picture and compelling reasons for change, we remain supportive of five-day Test cricket, and would expect significant player resistance if a shift to that is imposed on players by the ICC and/ or Boards. Test cricket is a cherished format of the game and it needs player support and buy-in to survive. We urge those making decisions to understand that.” (Daniel Bretigg, ESPNcricinfo)

Nadal and Djokovic end ATP Cup group stage with perfect records

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afael Nadal and Novak Djokovic ensured they ended the group stages with 100 per cent winning records after victories on day six of the ATP Cup. Spain and Serbia are safely into the final eight and are not among the nations fighting it out to be one of the two best runners-up who join the six group winners in the knockout stage, which will be played in Sydney.

Nadal overcame his toughest test yet with a battling 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win over Yoshihito Nishioka, following up singles wins in earlier ties against Nikoloz Basilashvili and Pablo Cuevas.

The world number one, playing in the heat of the day session for the first time in Perth, was not at his best and made 36 unforced errors.

But Nadal claimed the first set in a tiebreak as he recovered from being broken twice, before improving slightly in the second where a solitary strike on Nishioka’s serve in game nine proved decisive.

Nadal then played doubles for the first time in the tournament, teaming up with Pablo Carreno Busta in a 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 10-6 win over Ben McLachlan and Go Soeda.

Soeda had earlier lost to Roberto Bautista Agut as Spain, who also won the Davis Cup in November, won their third consecutive tie by a 3-0 scoreline.

“It was the first experience with the heat here in Australia, so we played under heavy conditions and it was tough,” said Nadal.

“I played against a player who has started the season on fire, so it was an important victory for me and the team.”

Djokovic also made it three wins out of three in singles play with a 6-3 6-3 win over Chile’s Cristian Garin in Brisbane.

Serbia won the tie 2-1 and Djokovic, who also beat Kevin Anderson and Gael Monfils earlier in the event as well as win-

ning a doubles encounter against France, will lead his side against one of the best two runners-up in the final eight.

Djokovic insisted he relished having to play against so many other top players at an early stage of the season.

“I’ve never minded to face tough adversity from the blocks and have high-intensity matches from day one,” he said with the defence of his Australian Open title ahead later this month.

“I had Kevin Anderson who was playing some extraordinary tennis. I thought it was the toughest match I’ve played here in Brisbane.

“And again against Monfils, even though it was straight sets, it was still a lot of rallies and it was quite long and exhausting.

“I am really happy with the challenges that I’ve had in the last six, seven days here, and hopefully that can allow me to build my form for Sydney and Melbourne later.”

(SportsMax)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

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21

Belle Vue thump Christ Ambassadors in one-sided affair T

he action commenced on Sunday as Belle Vue played their first match of the new year and came out victorious against Christ Ambassadors Cricket Team.

At the Belle Vue Ground, the popular prediction was that the team batting second would definitely go on to win, but Belle Vue won the toss and elected to bat first in slightly breezy conditions. They were able to post a respectable total of 138-7 in their allotted overs. The Belle Vue batsmen took to the crease and blasted the ball to every part of the ground. Despite losing wickets in quick succession, they continued to press on. Belle Vue batters once again proved why they

were among some of the best teams on the West Coast of Demerara, as they dusted off the rust. Top scoring for Belle Vue were Shane Persaud (39) and Krishna Singh (33 not out); these two batsmen were instrumental providing assistance at the top and ending of the innings. Bowling for Christ Ambassadors was M Watlin with four wickets; no other bowler could make an impact.

Needing 139 for victory off 120 balls, the Christ Ambassadors side had their work cut out for them from ball one. If they were to execute such a run chase and upset the home team, they needed to focus and dig deep and produce big scores.

However, things did not go

The victorious Belle Vue side

as planned as they were skittled out for 72. D Andrews’s 34 was not enough to stop Belle Vue from walking away with a confident win, as no other member of the

squad could reach double figures. Bowling for Belle Vue were Safraz Baksh (412 from 3.2 overs) and Shane Persaud 3-16 in his allotted four overs.

Top Shattas win 3 Brothers Sports Bar inaugural futsal Lazio fined 20,000 tourney in Region 1 euros for racist W abuse of Balotelli

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOT RECEIVING YOUR DAILY & SUNDAY COPIES OF THE

atched by a fairsized crowd on a dazzling New Year’s night, Top Shattas FC did not disappoint their Fitzburg fans as they defeated Young Gunnerz FC 3-0 to claim the inaugural Three Brothers Futsal Tournament held at Fitzburg Recreational Ground, Port Kaituma.

Both teams went goalless at half time, but upon resuming the bruising battle, Top Shattas’ leading goal scorer Sisco Robinson continued his dominance as he buried his fourth goal

The MVP, goalkeeper Shemar Jordan (left) receives his prize from Three Brothers CEO and PKFF executive member Glenroy Hercules

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The victorious Top Shattas team

and first in the final, while his teammate Ronaldo Abrams supported with a brace to extend their team’s advantage.

The Young Gunnerz tried on many occasions to break away, but somehow were held back

by the impressive defence of the Top Shattas. In the end, they knew that it was over; despite several efforts

by Young Gunnerz, Top Shattas stood firm to ensure their team prevailed.

Top Shattas goalkeeper Shemar Jardan was adjudged the Most Valuable

Player (MVP) in the final, as he made two astonishing saves and was duly rewarded with a hamper, compliments of Clarence Hinds of Mabaruma, while his team received a cash prize for their efforts.

Earlier, Top Shattas defeated Oronoque 3-1, while PKSS Young Gunnerz humbled Platinum FC 2-0 to qualify for the final.

The competition was well supported by Port Kaituma Football Foundation trio of Ronaldo Rodrigues, Glenroy Hercules and Sherlon Rodrigues. They have expressed gratitude to Platinum General Store, Three Brothers Sports bar and Barber Shop, Roshan Rampersaud, Clarence Hinds of Mabaruma, Brion Thomas, and Shawn James among others for their unwavering support of sports development in the Matarkai Sub-region.

Mario Balotelli has scored five Serie A goals for Brescia this season

L

azio have been fined 20,000 euros (£16,958) for their fans' racist abuse of Brescia striker Mario Balotelli.

Sunday's Serie A match was temporarily halted and a stadium announcement made during the game urging fans not to sing discriminatory songs to Balotelli.

Balotelli, 29, later said the fans should be ashamed of themselves.

The Serie A judge has asked for further details to be given to the Italian Football Federation prosecutor to decide if more sanctions are necessary.

Balotelli had opened the scoring in the game, which Lazio went on to win 2-1, before fans twice chanted racial abuse in the first half.

Afterwards, Lazio said in a statement: "As always, Lazio dissociates in the most taxing way from the discriminatory behaviour carried out by a very small minority of fans during the match against Brescia.

"The club once again reiterates its condemnation of such unjustified misconduct and confirms its intent to prosecute those who in fact betray their sporting passion, causing serious damage to the image of the club."

Balotelli threatened to walk off the pitch in November when he was subjected to racist abuse in a match against Hellas Verona. (BBC Sport)

22

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Jaguars begin campaign for 6th Kares Caribbean consecutive 4-Day title today

Crossfit slated for February 9

B

owling stocks look strong for the moment, so it will all be about the batsmen to finalise the cast for the West Indies Test squad in the new year when the 2019-20 West Indies Championship opens today at three venues across the Caribbean.

With seven Tests on the cards for West Indies this year when they resume their participation in the ICC Test Championship, this season’s West Indies Championship presents a perfect opportunity for a number of hopefuls to advance their cases.

The winner of the Championship also holds intrigue with defending champions Guyana Jaguars seeking to become the first regional First-Class side to win six successive titles.

Among the strong contenders are Barbados Pride, the runners-up to the Jaguars in each of those title-winning seasons, and Leeward Islands Hurricanes, one of the main challengers last season before they stumbled late in the season.

Darren Bravo and John Campbell, two top-order West Indies left-handed batsmen, have been made Captains of Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and Jamaica Scorpions respectively, for the first time in their playing careers.

Red Force, Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes, also under new leadership with emerging batsman Kavem Hodge being appointed Captain, are hoping these decisions could help to spark a revival in their fortunes.

Carty of Hurricanes and Jaguars opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of former West Indies left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul, whose solid batting at the top of the order has not gone unnoticed.

Two personal milestones appear within reach in the match for two Jaguars players. Christopher Barnwell has scored 1971 Championship runs and needs 29 more for 2000, and West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo has taken 241 wickets and needs nine for 250.

Jaguars vs Hurricanes at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua

All except two of the previous 10 contests between Red Force and Scorpions during the Professional Cricket League era of the Championship have produced a winner and the two teams have equally shared the wins.

Three of the four Scorpions wins during that period have come in the Red Force’s backyard, but the home team have a bit of an advantage, having won the corresponding contest last year at this venue.

The form of the two captains will be closely monitored by those to whom it matters most, but uncapped young players like Jeremy Solozano, Joshua da Silva and former West Indies Under-19 player Keagan Simmons of Red Force will also be on the radar, as well as left-arm spinner Dennis Bulli of Scorpions.

Hurricanes and Jaguars have provided plenty of intrigue during their matches in the previous five seasons.

Jaguars hold the edge with five wins out of the 10 matches contested, including two wins out of the three matches they have played at this venue.

But Hurricanes have two valuable wins during the same period on which they can draw to give them confidence that they can repel the challenge of the Jags.

They completed the highest successful fourth innings chase in the West Indies First-Class competition three seasons ago and won a feisty battle in the final round last season on the Jaguars’ home soil, a rarity in recent years.

One of the players to watch in this contest will be Hurricanes pacer Sheeno Berridge. He made a big impact during the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup this past November and will want to make further strides in the four-day format.

Two other uncapped players looking to step up will be former West Indies Under-19 World Cup hero Keacy

Squads:

HURRICANES: Jahmar Hamilton (Captain); Colin Archibald; Sheeno Berridge; Quinton Boatswain; Keacy Carty; Nino Henry; Montcin Hodge; Damion Jacobs; Amir Jangoo; Jaison Peters; Kieran Powell; Jacques Taylor and Devon Thomas JAGUARS: Leon Johnson (Captain); Christopher Barnwell; Devendra Bishoo; Anthony Bramble; Tagenarine Chanderpaul; Chandrapaul Hemraj; Tevin Imlach; Keon Joseph; Veerasammy Permaul; Raymon Reifer; Kevin Sinclair; Vishaul Singh and Nial Smith UMPIRES: Carl Tuckett, Verdayne Smith (Jamaica) MATCH REFEREE: Vanroy Burnes RESERVE UMPIRE: Bernard Joseph

Red Force v Scorpions at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad

Squads:

RED FORCE: Darren Bravo (Captain); Yannic Cariah; Bryan Charles; Joshua da Silva; Terrance Hinds; Kyle Hope; Akeal Hosein; Uthman Muhammed; Yannick Ottley; Isaiah Rajah; Keagan Simmons; Jeremy Solozano and Odean Smith SCORPIONS: John Campbell (Captain); Jermaine Blackwood;

Paul Palmer Jr; Dennis Bulli; Assad Fudadin; Nicholson Gordon; Derval Green; Patrick Harty Jr; Marquino Mindley; Rovman Powell; Denis Smith; Aldaine Thomas and Alwyn Williams UMPIRES: Danesh Ramdhanie, Shannon Crawford (Guyana) MATCH REFEREE: Michael Ragoonath RESERVE UMPIRE: Lyndon Rajkumar

Volcanoes v Pride at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground, St Vincent

Pride have dominated their matches against Volcanoes in the PCL era of the Championship, winning six out of 10.

The Volcanoes must also be wary that the Pride have won all three times the two teams have played at this venue during that period.

This contest features a number of uncapped players that could catch the eye of the West Indies senior selection panel.

Hodge will be important to the balance of power in the Volcanoes batting; Desron Maloney is a newcomer who made an impression during the Windwards senior tournament and Josh Thomas made a bit of an impact with ball in his debut season last term.

For the Pride, it’s mostly their pace bowling attack with West Indies Under-19 winning pacer Chemar Holder, the top bowler in the Super50 Cup Keon Harding; and left-arm pacer Dominic Drakes, son of former West Indies pacer Vasbert Drakes, being the three to watch.

Two personal milestones appear within reach in the match for two Pride players. All-rounder Justin Greaves has taken 46 Championship wickets and needs four more for 50 and off-spinner Ashley Nurse has taken 148 Championship wickets and needs 2 more for 150.

Squads:

VOLCANOES: Kavem Hodge (Captain); Alick Athanaze; Keron Cottoy; Kirk Edwards; Ray Jordan; Shermon Lewis; Desron Maloney; Preston McSween; Devon Smith; Shane Shillingford; Emmanuel Stewart; Josh Thomas and Bhaskar Yadram PRIDE: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain); Shamarh Brooks; Jonathan Carter; Shane Dowrich; Dominic Drakes; Justin Greaves; Keon Harding; Chemar Holder; Kyle Mayers; Shayne Moseley; Ashley Nurse; Tevyn Walcott and Jomel Warrican UMPIRES: Deighton Butler, Zahid Bassarath (Trinidad & Tobago) MATCH REFEREE: Reon King (Guyana) RESERVE UMPIRE: Roger Davis

Dillon “The Beast” effortlessly last year

C

Mahadeo

ross-fit action will return to the National Park tarmac in a few weeks as Kares Crossfit seeks to bring out the ‘beast’ in not only Guyanese but other Caribbean athletes in the sixth instalment of the Kares Caribbean Fitness Challenge.

The event titled “Bring out the beast in you” will have plenty of muscle on show as over 50 prospective athletes vie for a plethora of increased prizes, which were made more tangible through the support of the event’s sponsors.

The action, which is expected to commence at 13:00h (1:00pm) on Sunday, February 9 where the likes of five-time male champion Dillon “The Beast” Mahadeo, Paul Meusa, Semonica Duke, and Omisi Williams will p u t their

stunned

the

competition

gladiator status to the test on a tarmac of exercises that will exhilarate participants and fans alike.

Aside from the usual Guyanese suspects, it was revealed that athletes from Suriname and Barbados have already confirmed their attendance while invitations were also sent out to athletes hailing from Jamaica, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

One thing that is for certain is the fact that athletes will have the opportunity to get their hands on some lucrative prizes.

With the top prize being $500,000, Mahadeo will be fiercely challenged, as other competitors try to grab the Lotus Hardwaresponsored purse. Should they fall short by a spot or two, there will be no worries with the runners-up prizes slated at $400,000, $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Registration for the Kares Caribbean Fitness Challenge is currently ongoing and will conclude on Friday, January 17. Registration fees are US$25 (roughly $5000).

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

23

Clinical West Indies eye series win against jolted Ireland A

fter an all-round show in the first One-Day International (ODI) in Barbados, West Indies now have a chance to seal the series in the second game at the same venue today (Thursday, January 9).

West Indies' win on Tuesday further widened the head-tohead gulf between the two sides, with Kieron Pollard's men having now won eight of the nine completed games against Ireland.

While Sheldon Cottrell continued to impress, Alzarri Joseph's match-winning spell of 4-32 would have pleased the management immensely, as must have the return in form of opener Evin Lewis, who powered the run chase with a stroke-filled unbeaten 99.

Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, and Nicholas Pooran all failed to create an impact: a rare occurrence in recent times, but their current form would hardly bother skipper Pollard. He would, however, expect more from Brandon King, who had topped the run charts in the 2019 Caribbean Premier League, but is yet to make a mark in his short international career so far.

Ireland, on the other hand, looked rusty on their return to ODI cricket after nearly six months, as a collective batting failure presented little chance to their bowlers to make a game out of it.

Each of their top four got starts, as did the keeper-batsman Lorcan Tucker, who top-scored with 31.

But that, by no means, was enough to challenge the hosts. Their hopes rest on the experienced men – skipper Andy Balbirnie, Paul Stirling, William Porterfield and the dynamic Kevin O' Brien – to give themselves a chance to take the series into the decider in Grenada.

Remember the last time

Balbirnie's decision to bat first looked good till the sixth over, with Ireland making steady progress until that point, moving along to 30-0. However, Joseph removed opener Stirling for 15, marking the beginning of a batting collapse from which the visitors never really recovered.

At 88-6 in the 23rd over, even 150 seemed well beyond reach, before a 54-run seventh-wicket stand between Tucker and Mark Adair provided some substance in an innings that fizzled out for 180 in the 47th over.

Ireland got rid of Hope early, but once Lewis unleashed his power-hitting game, striking three fours and two sixes in the final two overs of the mandatory Powerplay, it became all too Alzarri Joseph was easy for the home impressive in the first ODI team. The visi-

tors might've had a slight glimmer of hope when they had King, Hetmyer, and Pooran back in the hut in quick succession, but Lewis continued the assault, as the hosts completed the task with 100 balls to spare.

What they said

Alzarri Joseph, West Indies bowler: "It is a really good start to the year. I have been training hard and looking to concentrate hard.

Everyone in the coaching staff are helpful and I turn to them for advice.

Everyone in the camp is supportive. Personally, I just want to stay focused on my game and do whatever the Captain asks me to do."

Andrew Balbirnie, Ireland Captain: "We are disappointed with our dismissals throughout, but we haven’t got long until the next game, so we’ve got to dust ourselves off, regroup and come out on Thursday all guns blazing. They bowled well, but I think we still have a lot of areas to work on with the bat. There’s no reason why we can’t turn Evin Lewis pulls a ball to the boundary

it around and look to put in a much better performance in the next game.”

Conditions

Light rains are expected in Barbados today, which might result in a delayed start or frequent

interruptions later. If the weather does stay clear, teams might still look to bat first, owing to the recent history at the venue, where four of the last six games have been won by teams defending the total. Even in the first ODI, no West Indies batsman, barring Lewis, looked comfortable in the chase. (IccCricket.com) Tournament Schedule Thursday, Jan 9: 2nd Colonial Medical Insurance ODI – Kensington Oval Sunday, Jan 12: 3rd Colonial Medical Insurance ODI – Grenada National Stadium,

Grenada Wednesday, Jan 15: 1st Sandals Resorts T20I – Grenada National Stadium Saturday, Jan 18: 2nd Sandals Resorts T20I – Warner Park, St Kitts Sunday, Jan 19: 3rd Sandals Resorts T20I – Warner Park

Enmore CCCC and Lusignan SC ‘A’ to clash in SPR Enterprise final this weekend T

he Enmore CCCC ‘A’ will take on defending champions Lusignan SC ‘A’ in the finals of the 2019 SPR Enterprise 40 overs cricket competition this Sunday at the Enmore Community Centre Ground.

The event, which was postponed in December 2019 owing to inclement weather and is in its fourth year, commenced in January 2019 among 20 teams and was played between two groups in a round-robin format.

Both teams, who are evenly matched, played unbeaten throughout the preliminary rounds, thus topping their respective groups. ECCCC won the inaugural edition in 2016 against Lusignan ‘A’ in a low-scoring thriller. Lusignan’s batting will be led by Krishna Deosarran, Steve Ramdas, and Robin Williams while ECCCC will depend on Amir Khan, Imran Hassan, and national U-17 player

Chaitram Balgobin. In the bowling department, LSC A will bank on Kumar Bishundial and national U-17 player Chaterpaul Ramraj while ECCCC will look to Amir Khan and East Coast’s 2019 top wicket takers, Satash Jainarine and Yuvraj Dayal to restrict the Lusignan batting. Match time is 10:00h.

Meanwhile, Ogle CC and Lusignan East are the third- and fourth-place teams respectively.

Lusignan A: K Deosarran (Captain); S Bharrat; G Boodwah; S Ramdas; R Williams; V Ramjeet; J Heliger; R Naikarran; V Ramjeet; E Khan; A Mohammed; K Franklin; R Gopaul and K Bishundial Enmore CCCC ‘A’: B Ramkelawan (Captain); R Singh; C Surat; N Gobin; S Jainarine; A Khan; R Hiralal; C Seemangal; S Jainarine; Y Dyal; C Balgobin; V Ramlakhan and I Hassan.

Meanwhile, the remaining 2019

competition games will resume this weekend also.

In the Bel Air Rubis-sponsored U-15 competition, Lusignan will be at home to Enmore on Saturday (12pm) and Strathavon will host President’s College at 12 pm. On Sunday at Strathavon Ground, the ECCC T10 competition will resume with Fairfield SC against LBI SC at 10:00h and Young Rivals (Unity) will face off with Lusignan East at 11:45h while the last quarter-final game in the Banks Beer 100 Ball Bash between Strathavon SC and Cane Grove Renegades will be contested at 14:00h.

All teams are advised that the 2020 edition of the SPR Enterprise 40 overs competition will commence on January 19, 2020 and since this competition will be played in two leagues, all interested teams are asked to register before Monday, January 13, 2020 to facilitate the announcement of early fixtures.

National U-17 player Chaterpaul Ramraj

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

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Clinical West Indies eye series win against jolted Ireland Page 22

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