Guyana Times Thursday June 27, 2019

Forensic lab finally able to conduct DNA tests P14 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3967

thursday, june 27, 2019

PRICE

Despite CCJ ruling

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Caretaker Govt pushes ahead with 2020 Budget preparations See story on page 3

…PPP says Budget circular not in keeping with Court ruling ...nor conventions of caretaker Govts

Armed bandits beat, rob Campbellville woman

See story on page 2

62 years' jail sentence for serial rapist

Page 10

Another inmate killed at Lusignan Prison

See story on page 7

Page 14

$80 vat included

Better tabulation process needed for faster P9 election results – diplomat UG’s backlogP7 of financial reports cause for concern – Auditor General …says preparations continuing for audit

Father, son remanded on armed robbery P8 charge Essequibo P10 Coast man critical after hit-and-run accident

After 2 years

Essequibo Coast ranger nabbed with cocaine P13

Mother still cries for justice for death of 4-year-old son

No agreement on lifting catfish ban – Holder P12

2 news

thursday, JUNE 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Armed bandits beat, rob Campbellville woman A

n Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown woman is now traumatised and nursing injuries to her head after she was beaten and robbed by gunmen who invaded her home in a brazen daylight robbery on Wednesday morning.

The woman, 49-yearold Baljinder Kaur, was at home with her maid when the three armed men invaded at about 10:00h.

CCTV footage showed the three men scaling the front fence of the woman’s yard and gaining entry into the upper flat of her house through the veranda.

This newspaper was

told that neighbours heard screams emanating from Kaur’s residence and shortly after saw men with a black bag exiting the premises. One of the men was seen placing a gun into his pants’ waist as they escaped. Persons in the area, realizing that it was a robbery, rushed over to Kaur’s home and found her with a bloodied face.

“It had a huge burst on she forehead, she said they come with two guns, they use one to lash she in the forehead, but they didn’t do the maid anything,” a neighbour who went to the woman’s aid revealed.

The neighbours are con-

CCTV footage showing the robbers escaping after robbing the Campbellville woman

tending that the bandits seem to be familiar with the area.

“These people know what they were doing, they didn’t spend any time. How they know that at that ex-

act time these people had this cash in the house? This thing happened within five to ten minutes; because my aunty said when she saw the people them go in there, she watch to see what they

were doing and then she went to stir her pot and by the time she came back, they come out and she said look the boys them coming out,” another neighbour remarked.

Kaur was rushed to the hospital where she received several stitches for the head wound.

The gunmen reportedly escaped with over $1.5 million and some $600,000 worth of jewellery. The money was withdrawn from a city bank on Tuesday to use for construction work on the house.

This publication understands that this was not the first robbery that was

carried out on the woman, whose husband is a businessman.

Just two weeks ago, the man had parked his vehicle in front of his premises when it was vandalised and the vehicle’s battery was removed.

“The man is businessman, he come and park he jeep out here and later find it break into and they remove he battery and so and went away with it, I’m thinking is the same guys them” another neighbour speculated.

The matter was reported to the Police who visited the scene and are said to be investigating.

Essequibo Coast

ranger nabbed with cocaine

The cocaine that was unearthed

R

anks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in G Division (Essequibo) have arrested a ranger after he was found in possession of a quantity of cocaine.

The discovery was made some time between 15:30h and 16:50h on Wednesday.

According to Police reports, the ranks had conducted a cordon-and-search

exercise between Lima and Walton Hall on the Essequibo Coast. During that operation, they unearthed the substance on the 32-year-old ranger of Walton Hall.

He was arrested and taken into custody, where the narcotics was weighed, amounting to 22 grams.

The suspect is being processed for court.

news

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thursday, JUNE 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Thursday, June 27 – 13:00h-14:30h and Friday, June 28 – 01:00h and 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers in the early morning hours will be followed by light rain showers until early afternoon, with cloudy skies and sunny intervals expected for the remainder of the afternoon. Partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 12:11h reaching a maximum height of 2.25 metres.

Low Tide: 05:42h and 18:08h reaching minimum heights of 0.97 metre and 0.94 metre.

wednesday, JUNE 26, 2019

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Caretaker Govt pushes ahead with 2020 Budget preparations …PPP says Budget circular not in keeping with Court ruling ...nor conventions of caretaker Govts

Thursday, June 27 – 12:10h-13:40h and Friday, June 28 –13:10h-14:40h.

E

Despite CCJ ruling

20 SUPER PAY DAY

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

D

espite the passage of a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against the Government and the fact that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has said Government should be in caretaker mode, preparations have commenced for 2020’s Budget. This is in implicit violation of the CCJ’s ruling of the functions of a Caretaker Government following a NCM. The CCJ ruled on June 18 that the Government was defeated by a vote of NCM, meaning early elections must be called. But just three days later, the Ministry of Finance issued a circular to commence preparations for Budget 2020 with specific timelines for Budget Debate in November, which is beyond the proposed date for new elections as proposed by the Opposition in a concession to the exigencies of the appeal by the Government to the NCM’s passage.

The circular, which was leaked to the media, is dated June 21, 2019. The document gives instructions to department heads, permanent secretaries, regional executives and heads of constitutional agencies. The document was issued under the hand of the Finance Secretary, who stated in the correspondence that the missive was penned as the delegated authority of the Minister of Finance, pursuant to Section 13 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. In it, they are given deadlines for making submissions to the Ministry and completing aspects of Budget preparations. For instance, these officers were given until August 7, 2019, to hand in their Budget submissions.

The Budget agencies were given between August 19 and September 27 to consult with the Ministry on their submissions. October 10 was named as the date to present the constitutional agencies’ budgets to the National Assembly.

The circular also named November 25, 2019 as the date to present the overall budget in the National Assembly. Affixing his signature to the circular is the Ministry’s Finance Secretary, Michael Joseph.

In several parliamentary democracies, such as New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan etc., there are explicit “Caretaker Conventions” and in those that do not, the practice is to follow the precedents in these jurisdictions. A fundamental tenet in these conventions is that only routing functions of the Government must be maintained and there can be no

PPP/C Member of Parliament, Bishop Juan Edghill

initiative that will bind any new incoming Government to policies with which they do not agree.

On Wednesday, following the issuance of the circular, former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill lambasted the Government for issuing the circular. Edghill had also urged these technical officers not to succumb to pressure from the Government and to save themselves from culpability in illegal actions.

“It is unbelievable that a Government that was defeated by way of a No Confidence Vote on December 21, 2018 who by way of spurious and incredible arguments of a ‘34 majority theory’, used the legal system to buy themselves seven months and counting to implement a Budget that they had no mandate to implement,” Edghill expressed in his a statement on the matter.

Edghill noted that rather than offering goods and services to all the people of Guyana, the Government

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

used questionable processes of procurement to award contracts to its “political allies, friends and families to shore up political support”.

The letter, which was sent to all heads of Budget agencies and departments including constitutional bodies, came eight days after a definitive and explicit ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and in face of the operationalization of Articles 106 (6) and (7) of the Constitution.

“Is someone being delusional, or is it plain stubbornness? Or maybe it is a mentality that is being exposed that this Government believes that it can contin-

Finance Secretary Michael Joseph

ue to hang on to power indefinitely. How desperate can one be? So the charade continues. Government operatives used an argument of the ‘34 majority theory’ to implement the 2019 Budget, and now they hope to use the argument of House-toHouse registration to buy themselves more time, so that they can formulate, prepare, and present a 2020 Budget,” he added.

The former Junior Finance Minister noted that, Winston Jordan, who resigned on December 21, 2018, is presumptuously pursuing a path of provocation by causing the circular to be issued. turn to page 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, JUNE 27, 2019

Views HP, Microsoft highlight new products 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

The value of context

C

ontext, more especially historical context, can offer invaluable guidance on present situations. Very often, and conveniently by some, context is forgotten, thereby allowing for either an imposed outcome or a weakened capacity for prudent decision-making. Sometimes a simple lack of knowledge engenders vulnerability.

Why is this relevant? The answers would become clearer when some recent developments are revisited.

Immediately, the “war break”, the “CCJ cannot rule here”, and “dire and catastrophic consequences if the CCJ uphold the December 21 no-confidence motion and forces elections without new voters’ list” comments by senior Government functionaries come to mind. Throw in the “trouble in the country” comment in the context of no house-to-house registration, and the need to be informed on how the Constitution was breached on the appointment of the former GECOM Chairman by the two most senior Government officials, and the pattern becomes obvious.

Those utterances are from officials representing a Government that, from all appearances, has become very unpopular with the masses. Its believed focus on itself at the expense of the people has led to the current discontent. While the parliamentary no-confidence motion (NCM) delivered the general sentiments of dissatisfaction in the Government, subsequent actions by the administration can only be deemed as dismissive of the rule of law. Therein lies much cause for concern.

Based upon feedbacks, government’s actions to delay the implementation of constitutional requirements following the NCM created an environment of worry among many. That grew as time progressed, and may have reached the point of profound fear following the utterances noted.

For those who experienced the consequences of past political impasse and oppressive rule under the People’s National Congress (PNC), that fear may have been instinctive.

For others, the non-adherence to the rule of law must be extremely worrisome, and surprising within the modern context.

On the point of instinctive fear, history offers that context.

Words like “war break”, “catastrophic consequences”, and “trouble in the country”, to indicate possible actions seemingly premised on if things are not in its favour, would have driven fear into the minds of many Guyanese. That is aside from the apparent transgression into the realms of incitement, for which, other than the Opposition, a noticeable silence prevails; probably from either condoning it, or fear of speaking out.

Those with authentic recollection would be aware how fear saturated the mindsets of Guyanese during the PNC’s authoritative rule from 1964-1992. Over those years, that Government became very unpopular, but took drastic actions to stay in power. Rigging of elections became routine, despite vigorous opposition to such undemocratic manoeuvres. In the process of standing up for the rule of law to be respected, many were brutality beaten and incarcerated, with some paying the ultimate price with their lives.

While the political Opposition maintained pressure, including seeking international intervention, many Guyanese succumbed to the prevailing fear in an atmosphere in which survival was foremost, given the deprivation of basic food items and freedom. That was an extremely turbulent period in our history, but it unfortunately was not the end of politically engineered instability.

Out of Government, and in the Opposition, the PNC refused to accept the results of the 1997 elections. Street protests were mounted, and in the process, some businesses were set ablaze, people were robbed and beaten, the economy was stagnated, the hard-fought democracy was under assault, the country’s international image was tarnished, and the then PPPC’s term in Government was cut short from five to three years. Violent protests were repeated in 2001, with similar consequences, except for a term reduction.

What is clearly common from those incidents over the decades is the reported propensity of the PNC to create instability for its self-preservation in the seat of power, or to try to have it by means outside the democratic norms. In other words, consequence, including disregard for the Constitution, if that party does not have its way. That is the historical reality and context which seems to be raising its head in the present.

Given the seemingly dangerous utterances alluded to, disassociation and condemnation in the interest of the country and people were not farfetched expectations. Naivety would explain an absence of such thus far, which leaves condoning as the belief. That may not be an unfair conclusion, given that the President is yet to address those comments and other reportedly deplorable actions under his watch.

While there are reasonable and patriotic people in that party, their silence then and now, whether through fear or a reluctance to contradict senior party operatives, has also not gone unnoticed. Currently, democratic gains are being threatened, and the past actions of a party which now dominates the current Government seem to put the violence on a path to repeating itself if left unchecked.

That is the frightening prospect now, and in this technological age of real-time and independent reporting, all civic-minded organisations and citizens would need to safeguard those democratic gains and ensure the Constitution is upheld at all times. Failure to so do could not only lead to a rewinding of history, but a stripping of the value of the context herein, and the elevation of fear. There is still room for statesmanship in the context of the well-being of Guyana and Guyanese.

From right: Gustavo Guardian hands over the award to Starr Computer Inc President Mike Mohan in the presence of the company’s General Manager, Raymon Majeed following the introduction of new products and technologies in the local market specifically for the emerging oil and gas sector

“Our country is dying” – Guaidó envoy

urges international community to

help Venezuela reclaim its freedom

V

enezuelan Opposition Leader and National Assembly Leader Juan Guaidó believes there is still reason to be hopeful when it comes to dislodging President Nicolás Maduro from power.

“Things are advancing. There is a strategy that is advancing,” Vanessa Neumann, the chief diplomat in London for Guaidó, told CNBC in an exclusive interview. She did not go into specific details about the National Assembly leader’s plans over the coming months.

The South American country is in the midst of one of the Western Hemisphere’s worst humanitarian crises in recent memory, with some four million people having fled the country since 2015 amid an economic meltdown.

A protracted political stand-off has thrust the oilrich, but cash-poor, country into uncharted territory.

Guaidó declared himself interim President in January, citing Venezuela’s Constitution, and denounced Maduro’s Government as illegitimate as he had secured re-election last year in a vote widely criticised as rigged.

Guaidó has since been recognised by more than 50 countries, including the US and most Latin American and European countries.

However, Maduro has refused to cede power. And, crucially, he still has the broad support of the military.

“Maduro has not accepted the situation, but other countries have,” Neumann said, before adding that there was a growing sense that the “international com-

Venezuelan Opposition Leader and National Assembly Leader Juan Guaidó speaks during a press conference with international media at Centro Plaza on June 17, 2019 in Caracas, Venezuela [Matias Delacroix|Getty Images News|Getty Images]

munity is coalescing at least around a diagnosis of the problem”.

“They are starting to realise that this regime is criminal.”

On April 30, Guaidó appeared outside one of the most important military installations in the capital city of Caracas flanked by defecting soldiers and said “the time is now” for Venezuela’s armed forces to turn on their embattled Commander-inChief.

The dramatic pre-dawn declaration appeared to symbolise an extraordinary watershed moment in the country’s political history.

“I remember saying to my friend at the time …

It’s happened, we are free,” Neumann said, as she tearfully recalled what many believed would come to mark Maduro’s downfall.

As it turned out, most of the military top brass remained loyal to their socialist president and Guaidó’s attempt to trigger a nationwide uprising failed.

When asked whether she feared the failed uprising would represent the beginning of an enduring political stalemate in the crisis-stricken country,

Neumann replied: “No. I am optimistic. They can’t hold much longer.”

“It is perfectly clear that none of us have accepted the status quo. Our country is dying, our people are dying, and the international community is increasingly alarmed with what they are seeing.”

“Diplomatically, we really need the international community to help us reclaim our freedom,” Neumann said.

In the weeks after April’s failed rebellion, which was described by Maduro as a US-orchestrated coup, many Opposition lawmakers in the country have lost their parliamentary immunity and some have been arrested.

Guaidó has also lost his parliamentary immunity, but has so far not been jailed.

Venezuela’s inflation rate fell under one million per cent in May, after peaking above 1.3 million per cent the previous month, nearly a year after Maduro instituted attempted reforms in August 2018 that cut five zeroes off the currency and prices.

The largest note in circulation had been 500 bolivars,

which is now reportedly not enough to buy a piece of candy.

Officials in Venezuela blame the inflation crisis on US sanctions that have restricted the country’s ability to sell oil. Critics, though, say economic mismanagement and an oversupply of currency have been the main issues.

Last year, Venezuelans filed more asylum claims than citizens of any other country – including wartorn Syria – according to a recent report from the United Nations refugee agency. That’s despite the fact more than 10 per cent of the South American country’s population had already left.

Looking ahead, Neumann said her diplomatic objectives included getting more countries to recognise Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate interim leader, highlighting the criminality of the Maduro regime and improving global awareness of the human rights abuses in the country.

More than five months after Guaidó took to the streets of Caracas and declared himself as the rightful interim president of the nation, it remains unclear how the political impasse will be resolved.

“Don’t forget, our sole goal is to get to free and fair elections. That is what is driving us to break the logjam,” Neumann said.

“It is so hard to know what will happen next. But you can see it is like a dam.

The regime has some cracks in it already and eventually they will start inter-connecting and the water will break through.” (CNBC)

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, JUNE 27, 2019

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

Ethical and acceptable behaviour Dear Editor, The revelation that ExxonMobil paid the travelling expenses of the Minister of Petroleum’s wife, First Lady Sandra Granger; Head of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe; and that of the entourage is extremely disappointing to learn.

It would seem that the Granger Administration is incapable of comprehending what constitutes ethical and acceptable behaviour.

In sports coaching, we look for ‘teaching’ moments, and then there are times when repetition of mistakes is so glaring that the coach must take the ‘hairdryer’ approach, made famous by Sir Alex Ferguson

of Manchester United fame, and bellow at players.

This is not a teaching moment; that was in 2017, when five members of Granger’s Cabinet went on an all-expenses-paid junket to ExxonMobil’s headquarters in Houston for as yet unspecified reasons.

First Lady Sandra Granger should have been better advised, and her office should have stood all expenses for her participation in this ceremony.

The naivety of the Minister of Petroleum, President Granger, is stunning, and again raises questions in regard to his competence in any area of governance.

Dr Mark Bynoe, who has spent his time as Head of

the Department of Energy engaged in talks with primary school children and in churches delivering sermons on ‘Christian oil and gas’, has seminally failed the people of Guyana by not producing a working Local Content Policy, regulations, and enforcing legislation.

Dr Bynoe is a professional, and must have known that he cannot, and must not, accept any gift, paid expense, or reimbursement of any kind from any entity, more so one which he is expected to regulate. Dr. Bynoe has compromised his office and himself beyond personal repair.

Arguments about the suitability of the First Lady for the launching of

the FPSO are a distraction, for that is not in question. The facts are that the Head of the Department of Energy and the wife of the Minister of Petroleum accepted an improper gift of travel; these are unquestionable facts, damming ones.

Editor, Mrs Granger and Dr Bynoe, no doubt, met with officials from companies such as SBM (Liza Destiny Constructor) who are notorious for bribing government officials all over the world. For example, SBM ordered a hull for the Liza Destiny weeks before being awarded the contract by ExxonMobil; and, six months later, were charged under the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act by the

What made President Granger think he can outrun the law?

Dear Editor, Retired Justice James Patterson, the illegally appointed Chairman of GECOM, has finally vacated his post. This is a commendable act, and I say: “Enjoy your retirement years in peace”.

This gentleman, in his golden years, was made to suffer ridicule and shame by his president, who, for 20 long months, dragged him through the mud, all because he was a willing participant in a grand scheme of things. However,

that has all ended.

We are accustomed to the cliché “all good things must come to an end”; however, conversely, all bad things must come to an end, and that ‘bad thing’ is Mr Patterson, who had to go.

Now, as much as I ridiculed Mr Patterson for being so obstinate in allowing that illegal process to take root for so long, my sternest rebuke is for Granger; he is the one who crafted this great fraud, and he is the one whom we will cas-

tigate.

Mr Granger, what made you think that you could outrun the law of the land?

The inevitable was always there as a stern reminder lurking at every turn: the supreme law of the land must be adhered to. Mr President, you cannot outrun the long arm of the law. It finally caught up with Mr Patterson, and it will also catch up with you.

In this regard, we turn our gaze on you, Mr President, and I use this term with great reluctance,

because, in the present circumstances, you are an illegal occupant yourself. So, I say to you, Mr Granger, you are next in line. We are looking forward to you being in strict compliance with Article 106 (6) and (7). In less than a week, we expect your full cooperation with this aspect of the Constitution. There should be no further delay, the world is watching!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

United States Department of Justice.

Other countries have had cause to prosecute SBM for corruption: The SBM Offshore probe in Brazil is referred to as Operation Black Blood.

Brazilian prosecutors allege that at least US$46 million in “undue payments” were made in Switzerland between 1998 and 2012 in relation to contracts for floating oil production, storage and offloading ships (FPSO).

Renato Duque, former Petrobras executive, allegedly asked SBM sales agents for US$300 million for the ruling Workers’ Party, to fund its 2010 election campaign.

SBM has been award-

ed another contract by ExxonMobil to build the second FPSO vessel. These are costs that would be repaid by Guyana. We cannot become blind to the dangers posed by acceptance of gifts from those we are entrusted to do business with on behalf of the people of Guyana.

ExxonMobil officials are aware that gifted travel compromises Government officials, and yet they continue to dangle carrots. The deep waters of oil production are filled with sharks; let us use every caution of ethics and anti-corruption to avoid the fatal bites.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

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thursday, JUNE 27, 2019

Page

I

Foundation

f you have a learning problem, it doesn’t mean you can’t learn.

But you’ll need some help and you’ll need to work extra hard. If you have a learning disability, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia (serious trouble with math), remember that you are not slow or dumb.

Learning problems happen because of the way the brain takes in and processes information. As a result, some people learn differently. The trick will be figuring out how you learn best.

There are people who know how to do just that.

Your parents and teachers can help you and they can find you a learning specialist or a school psychologist.

These professionals can help figure out what a kid’s learning problem is — and come up with ideas for how to make it better.

have trouble with math may have dyscalculia (say: disskal-KYOO-lee-uh). And people who have trouble forming letters when they write may have dysgraphia (say: diss-GRAF-ee-uh).

Other kids may have language disorders, meaning they have trouble understanding language and understanding what they read.

It can be confusing, though. What qualifies as “trouble” enough to be diag-

What are learning disabilities?

nosed as a learning disability? Reading, doing math, and writing letters may be tough for lots of kids at first.

But when those early troubles don’t fade away, and it’s really difficult to make any progress, it’s possible the kid has a learning disability.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is sometimes thought of as a learning disability but usually it’s not. Why? Because most kids with ADHD can learn in school without special assistance, even though they may be easily distracted or have trouble sitting still in class. Although ADHD itself isn’t a learning disability, researchers believe kids with ADHD may be more likely to have learning problems.

Learning disabilities aren’t contagious, but they can be genetic. That means they can be passed down in families through the genes, like many other traits we get from our parents and grandparents. Someone with a learning problem probably has other family members who have had some learning troubles, too.

Kids with learning problems are sometimes surprised to find out that one of their parents had similar troubles in school. But kids today have an advantage over their parents. Learning experts now know a lot more about the brain and how learning works — so it’s easier for kids to get the help they need.

Dyslexia (say: dissLEKS-ee-uh) is a learning disability that means a kid has a lot of trouble reading and writing. Kids who

How do I know if I have a learning disability?

It’s very hard for a kid to know if he or she has a

learning disability. But kids don’t have to figure all this out on their own. What a kid needs to do is tell someone.

Start with your teacher and your mom or dad.

Even if you feel a little shy about it, tell them what kinds of problems you’re having in school. Maybe you read a chapter for homework and then can’t remember anything you read. Or in class, maybe everyone else seems to follow along easily,

but you get stuck and don’t know what page everyone is on. You might open your book to do an assignment and have no idea where to start.

Kids with a learning problem also might answer “yes” to many of these questions: Do you struggle in school?

Do you think you should be doing better than you are in school?

Is reading harder for you than it should be?

Does your head think one thing but your hand writes something else?

Is writing slow and really hard for you?

Do you make spelling and other errors when you write?

Are you having trouble with math?

Is it hard for you to keep your notebooks and papers organised? Do you end up

losing or forgetting them?

But even if you say “yes” to some of these questions, you won’t know for sure that there’s a problem until you visit a school psychologist or a learning specialist. They can give you some tests to spot any learning problems you might have.

They’ll also be able to identify what your strengths are — in other words, what you’re good at! Once a psychologist or learning specialist figures out what your learning problem is, you both can start working on solutions.

A kid might work with a tutor or specialist or even go to a special class. But often, kids with learning disabilities can continue in their regular classrooms and there’s no reason they can’t do normal stuff, like participate in school activities and sports.

Though some kids might feel shy about having a learning problem, it can be a relief to finally know what’s going on. Then, the kid doesn’t have to feel as worried and upset about school — because he or she is learning how to learn in new ways. The psychologist or learning specialist might even give you a learning plan — then you can see what the strategy is for helping you learn. They can even offer help with organizational skills. If you’re not organized, it’s hard to get any schoolwork done.

What you can do about learning problems

Finding out you have a learning disability can be upsetting. You might feel different from everyone else.

But the truth is that learning problems are pretty common. And if your learning specialist or psychologist has figured out which one

you’re facing, you’re on the right track. Now, you can start getting the help you need to do better in school.

But for this special help to really work, you’ll need to practise the new skills

I

sn’t every kid special? We think so.

But what do we mean when we say “kids with special needs”?

This means any kid who might need extra help because of a medical, emotional, or learning problem. These kids have special needs because they might need medicine, therapy, or extra help in school — stuff other kids don’t typically need or only need once in a while.

Maybe you know of kids in your school who need a wheelchair or use braces when they walk.

Those kids have special needs. They not only need the equipment that helps them get around, but they might need to have ramps or elevators available. They also might need to get a special bus to school — one that lifts them up into the bus so they don’t have to get up the steps.

Kids who have illnesses, such as epilepsy or diabetes, would have special needs, too.

They might need medicine or other help as they go about their day.

Kids with sight problems might use special apps, tablets, or computers to read. Those with hearing or speech problems would have special needs, too. A kid who has hearing trouble might need hearing aids to hear and speech therapy, too, since it can be hard to say words correctly when you can’t hear very well.

Kids with learning problems often have special needs. Kids with Down syndrome might go to a regular school and might even be in your class. But they have special needs when it comes to learning, so an aide (someone to help) might come with them to class.

You might be able to spot a few kids with special needs, but you probably don’t notice all of them. A kid could have a problem that isn’t noticeable unless you

you’re learning. It may take a lot of effort every day.

That can be a challenge, but you can do it. Soon, you’ll enjoy the results of all your hard work: more fun and success at school! (kidshealth.org)

know the person well.

For example, someone could have trouble with anxiety (worry), but you wouldn’t know it unless the kid told you about it.

Privately, their parents, teachers, and counsellors may be working to help them worry less.

What’s life like for a kid with special needs?

Life can be extra-challenging for a kid with special needs.

It might be harder to do everyday stuff – like learning to read or, if a person has physical handicaps, just getting around school or the mall. The good news is that parents, doctors, nurses, therapists, teachers, and others can help. The goal is to help kids be as independent as possible.

Other kids also can be a big help. How? By being a friend. Kids who need a wheelchair or have other health problems want friends just like you do. But meeting people and making friends can be tough.

Some kids might tease them or make fun of them. Be sure to tell a teacher if you see someone being bullied or teased. That’s a very lonely feeling.

Also try to be helpful if you know someone with special needs.

Ask if they would like help with carrying their books or opening a door.

Ask them to join you and your friends at lunch.

It’s important not to be “overly helpful” when no help is needed. Why? Because just like you, kids with special needs like to be as independent as they can be.

Being friendly to kids with special needs is one of the best ways to be helpful. As you get to know them, they may help you understand what it’s like to be in their shoes. And you’ll be helping fill a very special need, one that everybody has – the need for good friends. (kidshealth.org)

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thursday, JUNE 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Another inmate killed at Lusignan Prison O

ne week after a 23-year-old prisoner was remanded for breaking and entering and larceny, he was killed in the Lusignan Holding Bay by another inmate.

Dead is Samuel Little of Lot 1 Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.

Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels told the media that Little died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Wednesday at about 10:30h

after receiving injuries on Tuesday by another inmate.

According to the Director, Little was taken to the prison on June 19.

Reports are that Little was involved in an argument with another male prisoner on Tuesday at about 14:00h.

During the argument, the enraged prisoner struck him with a piece of wood. Initially, he was treated at the prison infirmary but was rushed to GPHC due to the severity of his injuries.

Police have since confirmed that they have launched an investigation while the suspect was said to be assisting.

In April, an inmate who was on remand for a murder charge at the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara, was killed after being beaten by several prisoners.

Dead is 30-year-old Shaheed Ali of Albouystown, Georgetown.

Reports are that at about 22:58h, Ali was in Bay One at the Lusignan Prison when sev-

eral other prisoners began to beat him following a dispute.

Only last month, a Mazaruni Prison inmate died after allegedly consuming a poisonous substance which he had believed to be alcohol.

This was according to acting Guyana Prison Service (GPS) Director Kevin Pilgrim, who, during an interview with Guyana Times, said the other inmates who consumed the same substance were also taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital for medical atten-

tion.

He said that upon discovering the condition of Stuart before he succumbed, GPS ranks rushed the other prisoners to that hospital as a proactive measure.

The dead prisoner, Gary Stuart, was part of the Reintegration Training Project.

Stuart died at about 05:45h on May 11, less than 24 hours after working at a nearby quarry. He was said to be washing and painting

boats when he, along with other inmates, found the bottle of what they believed was alcohol.

The inmates hid the bottle from the prison officer on duty and Stuart was said to have drunk the substance.

However, it was not until 05:15h on Saturday that Stuart cried out for pains in his stomach and, as a result, was escorted to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

UG’s backlog of financial reports cause for concern – Auditor General

…says preparations continuing for audit

W

hile preparations are ongoing for the Audit Office of Guyana (AOG) to commence an audit into the University of Guyana (UG), the backlog of years UG did not complete its audited financial statements is a cause for worry.

This is according to Auditor General Deodat Sharma in an interview with this publication on Wednesday. According to Sharma, they are moving full steam ahead and an auditor has been contracted to assist with the audit.

“Remember the PS had asked me not to go ahead. I did indicate that. But we are going ahead. I have a contracted auditor that’s working on that. And we’re formulating a plan to do that investigation, regardless.”

“The issue [is] UG’s audited [financials] were up to 2017. They’ve now submitted financial statements for 2015. So we still have 16, 17, and 18 due. So until you get those statements and audits up to date, you really can’t do a proper audit, unless you do a special investigation in particular areas.”

Sharma, whose agency audits Government’s public accounts on an annual basis, went on to note the importance of having those accounts up to date up to 2018.

He was not convinced about the UG administration’s sin-

cerity in clearing this backlog.

“They’ve just submitted the 2015 [report]. But we’re still awaiting 16, 17 and 18.

So I don’t think they are taking very serious steps,” the Auditor General remarked.

UG’s administration has previously been accused of wanton spending— including hosting several events, standing the expenses of meals and accommodation for guest speakers, as well as hiring select individuals, paying them super salaries, and sending large delegations over-

to question why monies were allocated in previous budgets to entities which do not exist and what became of those funds.

They had also demanded answers from the administration on how much money was spent on nonessential events within the last two and half years— which included, but were not limited to, the Law and Society series, the Turkeyen-Tain talks, and the Vice-Chancellor’s installation ceremony.

They had argued that

The University of Guyana

seas, all on the University’s bill. Former Vice Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith had always denied those claims.

The University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) have levelled these accusations, in particular.

The Unions had joined forces

while these monies were being spent, the core units of the University, which include faculties and schools, had been informed that no money is available for essential repairs and payment for stationery, among others.

The Education Ministry had previously supported and, in fact, asked that the

Auditor General conduct a probe into the University.

But mysteriously, the Ministry had withdrawn its request for the probe.

Stakeholders had urged that the AG conduct his probe anyway.

In his 2016 Audit Report, Sharma had found that $209 million had been unaccounted for from the University of Guyana’s Science and Technology Support Project, funded by the Government

Auditor General Deodat Sharma

of Guyana (GoG) and the International Development Association (IDA) under Credit Agreement No 4969GY. However, the University had insisted that the monies were used for infrastructure projects on the campus, including a fibre optic cable to provide students with Wi-Fi. It had also noted that some of the monies were used to renovate the faculty buildings.

Caretaker Govt pushes ahead...

“We, in the PPP/C parliamentary Opposition, will not allow this folly and untamed ignorance, coupled with the brazen arrogance of this APNU/AFC Government to go unchecked. No Caretaker Government, which is the current status of this Granger-led Coalition, should be allowed to be this blatant and disrespectful in its conduct. To pursue this illegality is to create an environment for collision and confrontation, rather than conciliation and preserving the well-being of our people. “ He added that the provisions in the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act provide for a Budget by March/April 2020.

“A Budget which defines the vision, priorities and programmes for the prosperity and development of all the people of Guyana by a Government that is legal, constitutional and democratically elected through free and fair elections is the only one that will be accepted”.

Legal implications

Meanwhile, when asked about this new development, Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin explained that the issuance of a Budget circular at a time like this is not in keeping with the Court’s ruling. He pointed out that Parliament, in fact, has to be dissolved following the passage of a NCM, so elections could be held.

Datadin, who played an important part in the recent CCJ cases as the legal representative for former Alliance for Change (AFC) Parliamentarian Charandass Persaud, found the move puzzling.

“The Government can’t

engage in doing a budget.

What they have to do, the country has to go to an election. We anticipate that will happen within the next three months of the Court’s ruling.”

“So we find it very strange that they issued a circular to that effect… because of the No- Confidence Motion, Parliament is supposed to be dissolved forthwith. This is certainly not in keeping with the current situation and it’s certainly not in keeping with the ruling of the Court,” Datadin added.

Caretaker Government

Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

Meanwhile, Article 106 (7) states that “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

During the post-judgement hearing at the CCJ on Monday, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) lawyer Stanley Marcus and Attorney General Basil Williams both argued that these provisions meant the President and his cabinet had to remain in power until after a new President was sworn in.

From page 3

But CCJ Judge, Justice Jacob Wit, had debunked this argument. He had noted that it is international practice that following a successful NCM, a Caretaker Government is usually left in place with a limited timeframe in which to carry out snap elections.

He made it clear that contrary to the Government’s arguments, a provision for a Caretaker Government does not have to be explicit in the Constitution, as this is a standard and recognized international practice.

This is a point that has been repeatedly emphasized by the Opposition Leader, who has noted that contracts and decisions taken that are not in line with what a Caretaker Government is ought to be doing will not be recognized by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Caretaker conventions

There is a convention on Caretaker Governments used in New Zealand.

Section 6.21 states that “On occasion, it is necessary for a Government to remain in office for a period on an interim basis, when it has lost the confidence of the House, or (after an election) until a new ministry is appointed following the Government formation process”.

It continues that “during such periods, the incumbent Government is still the lawful executive authority, with all the powers and responsibilities that go with executive office. However, Governments in this situation have traditionally constrained their actions until the political situation is resolved, in accordance with what is known as the convention on Caretaker Government”.

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thursday, JUNE 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

DIPCON’s US$2.2M payment

Jordan appeals Judge’s orders to pay or face jail Rotten apples…

O ne day after the High Court ordered him to pay Trinidadian construction firm, DIPCON Engineering, US$2.2 million by July 8 or face confinement for 21 days, Finance Minister Winston Jordan is challenging the judgement.

The proceedings, filed on Tuesday, asked the Appellate Court to set aside, reserve and/or vary the judgement handed down by High Court Judge Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry.

Moreover, among the grounds in the Notice of Appeal was that the Trial Judge erred and misdirected herself when she proceeded to hear the application for contempt against Minister Jordan in his personal capacity for monies alleged to be owed by the State and Government of Guyana.

It was outlined that there was no action, proceeding, judgement or order made against the Finance Minister in his private capacity, hence the application was bad in law. It further stated, among other things, that the High Court Judge erred when she failed to set aside the entire proceedings, which were misconceived.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan “The Learned Trial Judge, Honourable Madam Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, erred and misdirected herself in law when she omitted to set aside the entire proceedings as void abinitio (invalid from the onset); because the application is bad in law and misconceived since sections of the State Liability Act Chapter 6:05 bars the Respondent/ Applicant from obtaining any coercive order against the Minister of Finance in his private or official capacity, compelling or coercing him to pay a judgement in civil proceedings against the State,” one of the grounds preferred.

Additionally, the legal document outlined that the Trial Judge erred when she

refused to grant the stay of the order for contempt to permit the State and Government of Guyana to pure the process of Appeal, and that she further misdirected herself on the evidence as a whole.

On Monday, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry ordered Minister Jordan to pay DIPCON the US$2.2 million award or face jail time.

The Trinidad-based construction company had taken the Finance Minister to Court for failing to honour the payment of millions of dollars, which was awarded to DIPCON Justice Rishi Persaud in 2015.

After DIPCON took the Government to Court back in 2009 to recover monies owed for road works done, Justice Rishi Persaud had ordered Government to pay the company US$665,032.17 as payment for the works done along with US$1,563,368.50 for costs it incurred for those works, together with interest on both amounts, at a rate of six per cent per annum from February 10, 2009 to October 21, 2015 and, thereafter, at the rate of four per cent per annum until fully paid.

However, none of the payments were made to

I

Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry date and as such, DIPCON successfully approached the Court for an administrative order to compel the Minister to make the payment.

At the time when that proceeding was filed in May, Jordan had explained to Guyana Times that the company will receive the money but noted the Government needs some time.

However, during a parliamentary sitting late last month, the Finance Minister had secured some $800,000,000 in supplementary funding from the National Assembly. Jordan had informed the House that about $750,000,000 of the sum was for the Court-ordered payments to DIPCON.

Father, son remanded on armed robbery charge

A

father and son were taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday on an armed robbery charge.

The men, 48-yearold Richard Edwards of Lot 30 School Street, Albouystown, Georgetown and 20-year-old Iran Ali of Lot 205 Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown, stood before Magistrate Faith

McGusty and denied the charge.

It is alleged that on June 11, 2019 at Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, while being armed with a knife, they robbed Toutula Singh a quantity of gold jewellery worth $3 million and $1.7 million totalling $4.7 million which was property of Isiah Kumash.

The prosecution’s case, presented by Police

Prosecutor Ceon Blackman, stated that the father was once employed by the Virtual Complainant and had knowledge of where the victim kept her jewellery and cash. He further told the Court that on the day in question, both men pounced on the woman, held her at knife point and robbed her.

Prosecutor Blackman objected to bail being

granted, telling the Court that the defendants may try to tamper with the victim. The Prosecutor also cited the prevalence of the offence and the fact that a dangerous weapon was used.

Magistrate McGusty upheld the Prosecutor’s submission and remanded the two men to prison. The matter was adjourned to July 17.

Handyman remanded for series of robbery charges

A

handyman was remanded to prison on Wednesday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was slapped with a series of charges involving robbery under arms.

Cheddie Bacchus, of Lot 28 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, stood before Magistrate Faith McGusty and pleaded not guilty to the four charges.

The first charge alleged that on May 12, 2019 at Cemetery Road, Georgetown, while being in company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Basil Agar a gold chain worth $150,000 and

a cellular phone valued at $10,000.

It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, while being in the company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed Annette Ferguson of a motorcycle valued at $275,000, a phone valued at $10,000, and $3,000.

The third charge stated that on June 20, 2019, at Princes Street, Georgetown, while being in the company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed Onika Hinds of a gold chain valued at $46,000.

The last charge stated that on the same day and at the same location as the

previous charge, he robbed Ashanti Wilson of a phone valued at $46,000, a gold chain valued at $120,000, and a watch valued at $15,000.

Police Prosecutor Ceon Blackman objected to bail being granted, telling the Court that when the defendant was arrested, he admitted to robbing the victims and selling their items in a caution statement.

The Prosecutor also based his objections on the grounds of the serious nature of the allegations, the penalty the charges attract, and the fact that a gun was used to commit the offences.

Bacchus, in his own bail

Cheddie Bacchus covers his face as he is being escorted from Court on Wednesday

application, told the Court, “Is one particular officer keep locking me up. Look at my foot, it ain’t good, I can’t even walk properly, much less run. Why would I rob people in my own neighbourhood?”

Bacchus was remanded to prison and the case will continue on July 3.

…in the Police Force t’s not coincidental that the competition for headlines in this country is divided between politics and police abuses – and not necessarily in that order. They’re both connected as we can see from the June 26 headlines about CRIME CHIEF Alves being relieved from duties.

The fella was only appointed to his position a year ago, after President Granger’s personal intervention following a one-man Commission of Inquiry (COI) into some cockamamie two-year old “assassination” plot against him.

Alves had been Head of the Presidential Guard and, therefore, had extensive personal contact with President Granger. He was also a very significant— in light of present revelations— head of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Berbice “B” Division. The question, of course, is why was he judged to be better than his predecessor Crime Chief Blanhaum, when Granger had announced he was looking for “UNBRIBABLE” officers in the top brass??

After the Paul Slowe COI, when Granger signalled that he was going to “shake up” that top brass, the Leader of the Opposition rang alarm bells about the propriety of the telegraphed moves, since that was within the remit of the Police Service Commission (PSC). Jagdeo opined that Guyana was well on its way to becoming a “Banana Republic” since Granger was ignoring a slew of officially commissioned Police Reform Studies and only making changes based on a perceived threat to himself. While the Opposition Leader didn’t explicitly say it, it was clear that Granger was going to appoint Police Officers whose prime qualification were personal loyalty to him and not those who were necessarily best suited for their substantive positions.

Before Granger actually had Alves appointed by the new Private Sector Commission (PSC) which he constituted under the head of the COI, Paul Slowe, his Public Security Minister Ramjattan had this to say about the incumbent Blanhaum: “I notice a lot of people are saying that we are trying to get rid of Blanhaum. Blanhaum is a serious pillar in this police force. Whatever it is, understand that he has done a fantastic job in the opinion of the Government, in the opinion of the minister.” We all know that Ramjattan was basically a rubber stamp, but jeez, at least Granger could’ve been a tad more sensitive!!

But they do say that karma’s a bitch! What’s coming out from whistleblowers from within the GPF is that Alves had been running a force within the force for years – a corrupt force that didn’t stop at shakedowns of drug dealers, but went on to be in cahoots with bandits and actually acted as hit men for hire!! Reports are naming places, persons and crimes in which Alves was alleged to have been involved.

What does Granger have to say about “his man”?? …in politics In the PPP’s 23 years, of course there were rotten apples – even “ganga eggs”—among some appointed to high office and Government departments. Not as many as during the 28 years of the first PNC regime, of course, but many folks felt a shakeup was needed and the rest became history in 2015. But even in the eyes of their most fervent supporters, over the past four years of this iteration of the PNC, there has never been so much stolen by so (comparatively) few on a per capita basis!!

But the “bad apple” syndrome isn’t restricted to raping the state coffers; it extends to the lack of scruples, much less principles, in the PNC-led Government politicians – in terms of acting in the country’s interests. And it’s not just the PNC, who after all, are congenitally predisposed to be treacherous. Look at the AFC’s motley crew, wasn’t it Trotman who sold our patrimony for a mess of pottage?

And Nagamooto, for Larwah?

And Ramjattan gratuitously endorsing Granger’s unilateral appointment of Patterson?

A pox on them!! …in lawyers Your Eyewitness doesn’t know much about the Code of Ethics for lawyers in the Caribbean, but can’t someone haul Basil Williams’ sorry a55 before some disciplinary committee for lying through his teeth to the CCJ? Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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thursday, JUNE 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Better tabulation process needed for faster election results – diplomat

By Vahnu Manikchand

A

s Guyana prepares for General and Regional Elections in a few months’ time, outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam believes that the country needs to have a better tabulation and compilation process so as to reduce the lengthy delays in delivering the poll results.

Having observed the 2015 General and Regional Elections as well as two Local Government Elections – 2016 and 2018 – during his five-year tenure here, High Commissioner Mahalingam explained during an interview with Guyana Times one thing that would ensure the timely delivery of election results was the fast tracking of the tabulation process and the way in which the results from each polling station get to the elections body headquarters.

“I’ve seen definitively (the delays in declaring elections results here). It’s not desirable for the anxious voters to wait for a week to get to know

their results because it can lead to other complications.

So, therefore, it is advisable, and it is better, to have a better system of compilation of the votes from each polling centre to a centralised location in a secured way, which can be used for declaring the results in the fastest way possible,” the Indian diplomat asserted.

Only recently, India was highly praised for delivering timely elections and election results within a short period.

According to the Indian diplomat, his country uses electronic voting machines and that is how Indian’s elections body was able to declare election results after 900 million voters exercised their franchise over a period of 39 days in seven phases.

He noted that while it was up to Guyana to decide on whether to pursue e-voting, finding a less time-consuming and efficient way of tabulating election results would be an “extremely useful step” for Guyana at this point in time in the absence of electronic voting here.

Moreover, the High

Indian High Commissioner, Venkatachalam Mahalingam

Commissioner disclosed that his country has already sponsored several officials from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to be trained on electoral processes in India. At least, six persons have benefited from the country’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and GECOM is being encouraged to nominate more staffers for training, Mahalingam added.

The Indian High Commissioner is not the only foreign diplomat to rec-

ommend faster tabulation of election results in Guyana.

Last year, then United States Ambassador Perry Holloway had also touted the idea.

“I’m still a big believer that electronic tabulation can go a long way towards getting the results quicker…

It would be nice to be able to almost have near or as close as to instantaneous [results] as you could … I think electronic tabulation go a long way for that and I think it’s a way to ease in the greater electronic voting… The tabulation, I think, is very doable and I think it’s a way to get started,” Holloway had contended.

The need for electoral reform, and constitution reform as a whole, has long been highlighted and during the campaign trail leading up to the 2015 elections which got it into office, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition had committed to have these reforms but was yet to take tangible steps to do so – something it has received much criticism for.

Over the years, there have been numerous and repeated recommendations for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to undergo reform. In fact, elections observer groups, both internationally and regionally, have been insisting that while GECOM’s purpose for existence is to administer free and fair electoral processes, Guyana should consider reforms that would reduce or eliminate the politicised composition of the elections body in order to ensure independence and impartiality.

Currently, the elections oversight body is constituted using the Carter Centre model that was introduced for the 1992 elections to guide the composition of GECOM. This model provides for three members each from Government and the Opposition; and the Chairman to be appointed by the President from a list of names submitted to him by the Opposition, a process which many say has since exhausted its usefulness.

In fact, this was the position taken by President David

Granger back in September during a press conference, where he said that the matter would be included on the agenda to be discussed with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

In turn, Jagdeo had said that he was open to having these discussions with the Head of State, but only if the new method proposed would ensure complete impartiality at GECOM. However, President Granger’s willingness to host talks on the matter was made at a time when he was under heavy criticism over his unilateral appointment of Retired Justice James Patterson as the new GECOM Chairman in 2017 after rejecting three lists of six nominees each submitted by the Opposition Leader.

Patterson has since stepped down after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) last week ruled that his appointment was flawed and unconstitutional. The two leaders are expected to meet sometime soon to discuss the appointment of a new GECOM Chair.

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thursday, JUNE 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

62 years’ jail sentence for serial rapist 3 Venezuelans

J

ustice was served to three victims on Wednesday morning, after their attacker, who made them subjects to sexual assault, was sentenced to 62 years in prison for the heinous acts committed in the years 2012, 2013 and 2016.

Twenty-two-yearold Leon Jordan of Lot 102 Front Street, Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara (WCD) re-appeared before Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Sexual Offences Court of the Demerara High Court.

Jordan, on his previous Court appearance, pleaded guilty to three rape charges which were levelled against him. The first charge detailed that on February 2, 2012, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16, another stated that on January 13, 2013, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration of a child aged 14 years. The final charge detailed that on October 25, 2016, he engaged in sexual penetration of a 28-year-old woman.

State Counsels Seeta Bishundial and Abigail Gibbs presented the prosecution’s case, while Defence Attorney Maxwell McKay represented Jordan.

Jailed: Leon Jordan being escorted by Police at the High Court

Short facts were presented by Prosecutor Bishundial in relation to each of the charges. The Court heard that in relation to the first charge, at about 14:30h on February 2, 2012, the seven-year-old victim had just finished her day at school and was awaiting her older brother to travel home together. However, the accused, who is known to the victim, rode up on a bicycle and said he would take her home after doing an errand for the child’s mother. After the victim expressed some reluctance, the accused

grabbed the victim onto his bicycle and threatened to stab her if she screamed, in addition, Jordan took the victim to the seawall and committed the act.

Facts relating to the second charge revealed that the 14-year-old victim was on her way home when Jordan approached her, and being armed with an ice picker, he demanded her to jump onto his bicycle. As such, Jordan took the victim to a deserted, bushy area and performed the act.

Finally, the facts into the last charge detailed that the

mother of five was on her way to work, when the convict rode up and informed her that something was wrong at home. Heeding the information, the victim made her way back home only to be later attacked and dragged into a clump of bushes by Jordan. The victim put up a fight but was overpowered by her rapist, who bit off her eyelid and spat in on the ground.

Nevertheless, she managed to free herself and ran, and was later taken to the hospital to seek medical attention and undergo surgery to restore her eyesight.

Each of the victims’ impact statement disclosed the trauma and nightmares they face whenever they recall the horrific incident.

One of the victims stated “I screamed that day for help and no one came to my help….I told him to stop and he wouldn’t stop….I am full of emotions,” she cried.

As such, Justice Reynolds in addressing the Court, stated that there are no mitigating factors for Jordan, and as such sentenced him to 12, 15, and 35 years respectively on the three charges. Justice Reynolds further ordered that the sentence will run consecutively and that Jordan become eligible for parole after serving 30 years.

remanded to prison

T

Alexis Zapata

Oscar Joramillo

hree Venezuelan men were remanded to prison on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for breaking and entering as well as possession of stolen items.

Twenty-four-year old Oscar Joramillo and 22-yearold Alexis Zapata plead not guilty to the charge which was read by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charge alleged that between June 21 and June 22, 2019 at Kumaka Waterfront, North West Region One (Barima-Waini), they broke and entered the shop of Alicia Wong and stole a quantity of articles and cash totalling $273,000.

The two men told the Court that they have been in Guyana for the past six months and they were

here looking for jobs because of the difficult situation in Venezuela. The second charge alleged that 26-year-old Nikito Garcia on June 21, 2019 at Kumaka Waterfront, North West, Region One (Barima-Waini), while knowing the items were stolen, unlawfully obtained stolen articles from Joramillo and Zapata totalling $173,000.

Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail because the defendants are not from Guyana and they are a flight risk. He further stated that some of the items were recovered.

Magistrate McLennan upheld the Prosecutor’s submission and remanded the three men to prison, where their next Court appearance is slated for July 8.

Man jailed for Essequibo Coast man critical after hit- ganja trafficking and-run accident A

A

forty-four-year-old man is now battling for his life after he was struck down by a speeding motorcar at Queenstown Village, Essequibo Coast.

Injured is Errol Richardson.

Reports were that the incident occurred at about 19:30h on Sunday.

This newspaper was told that the father of four was riding his bicycle on the Queenstown Public Road when he was struck down by a speeding motorcar. The driver then fled the scene.

Public-spirited citizens rushed to the unconscious man’s assistance, picked him up and took him to the Suddie Public Hospital. The man suffered severe head injuries

and was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Monday.

A relative told this newspaper that the man is in a critical condition at the GPHC. “When I visited him at Suddie Hospital, he was still unconscious. I saw a very big wound across his head and I know the car had to hit him with full speed,” the relative stated.

A report was made to the Police, and based on information received, a car with registration number PMM 7554 was found hidden at Lima Sands.

Lima Sands is located deep on the sand reef on the Essequibo Coast. The Police are working on a theory that the driver

Injured: Errol Richardson

abandoned the car and fled the Essequibo Coast. Efforts are now being made to determine

the owner of the vehicle.

Police are hunting for the driver.

man, who claimed he found cannabis on the roadway, was sentenced to two years imprisonment when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

Twenty-six-year-old Darren Sears stood before Magistrate Faith McGusty and plead guilty to the charge which stated that on June 25, 2019 at Hunter Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, he had 20 grams of cannabis in his possession for trafficking.

Sears told the Court that he was heading home from work when he noticed the narcotics in a bag on the ground and picked it up.

He further told the Court that as he was walking, a Police patrol vehicle

Darren Sears

that was passing stopped him and the ranks began to search him, leading them to find the narcotic.

He went on to tell the Court, “I work for a low salary, sometimes no salary”.

Magistrate McGusty, after listening to the man’s explanation, sentenced him to two years imprisonment.

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Thursday, JUNE 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Wakapao suspected poisoning

Father, daughter laid to rest …son remains in ICU

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s members of the Thomas family of Wakapao in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones who died as a result of a mysterious illness last week after consuming cassava bread, they are thankful that three other family members were discharged and recovering at home. However, Gavin Thomas, the brother and son of the two deceased, remains hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Selena Thomas and her father, Edward Richards, were laid to rest on Tuesday at Wakapao during an emotional funeral service where scores of persons from their village gathered to get a glimpse of their remains.

A relative told Guyana Times on Wednesday that they are trying to come to grips with what transpired and are praying for a speedy recovery of the only

Edward Richards

Selena Thomas

member that is still hospitalised. “We are still trying to deal with the whole situation. Everything happened so fast. Just like that we lost two of our family together it’s really rough.

They were both healthy and jovial. We are happy the other three were discharged and we are praying for a successful recovery for Gavin too. It’s been a while already. He is still receiving treatment in ICU and he is the only member of the family that couldn’t be at the funeral yesterday

(Tuesday),” she said.

She stated that the family has made no alternative arrangements regarding what will be done with their farm; as they insisted that no pesticides were used. “They haven’t decided yet what they will do about their crops and so on, but they maintained that they never used any pesticides or chemicals or anything like that,” she said.

The relative added that Police had visited the community and questioned several residents; however, no

Family, friends and villagers pay their last respects to the father and daughter

further information was obtained.

The entire family became ill after consuming cassava bread on June 10.

It was also reported that two dogs were also fed the cassava bread and subse-

quently died.

However, Post Mortem Examinations conducted on both Richards and Thomas were inconclusive. Samples were sent overseas for further testing.

Meanwhile Indigenous

leaders have come out to voice their concerns over this issue. They called for a full investigation into the matter and refuted the claims of cyanide poisoning reported to relatives by medical officials.

Councillors, businesses accuse Region 8 admin of discrimination of the Mahdia Power and Light Company and hired another AFC supporter who has no experience in that field.

A section of the mining town of Mahdia

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People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillor of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and other party supporters who operate businesses in the mining town of Mahdia are accusing the regional administration of victimisation and discrimination against them owing to their party affiliation.

Other party supporters are accusing the regional authorities of taking away their contracts and giving same to A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) supporters.

This, they say, is unfair as everyone irrespective of which party they support should be allowed to earn their daily bread.

PPP/C supporter Davo Ramphal, who reached out to Guyana Times, on Wednesday explained that he was awarded the garbage disposal contract for the region; however, without reason, the contract was taken away from him and given to a known AFC supporter, who is unequipped to execute the job.

“I was providing this service to the region all the time and there were never any issues. Just like that, they took the contract and give it

to their supporter that didn’t even have the tools to do the job. Then after things got messy, they had to give it back to my company. They are just giving these contracts to party comrades who do not even own a spade or a shovel or even has an address. They are giving contracts to their friends without even going through the tender process,” he said.

The businessman added that in some cases regional officials were deliberately stifling PPP/C supporters.

Ramphal explained that during the independence celebrations in the mining town last month, when Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence attended a flag-raising ceremony, she visited the hospital where the garbage was piled up as the newly contracted service provider was doing a poor job.

The authorities then requested his company do the disposal of garbage for that day after which they awarded him the contract again and it was this that angered the AFC supporter. “They behave as if only they are entitled … Once you’re a PPP in this region you should not be allowed to make a living,” a businessman said.

He noted that in one case,

an AFC Councillor (name withheld) was heard in a recording threatening to pull support if any PPP/C supporters were awarded any contracts or benefited in any way from the region.

Other business owners also expressed their dissatisfaction with treatment they have been receiving from officials in the region who continue to encourage supporters to boycott “PPP” businesses.

Another businessman told Guyana Times on Wednesday that his sales have declined significantly and he was struggling to make ends meet. He blamed the regional authorities for inciting division and discrimination within that region.

“All the years we have been living and doing business here, and we have never encountered problems like this. Everyone lived well and supported each other no matter which party they support but now it’s a big race (ethnic) thing. It’s as if once you aren’t a supporter of APNU/AFC, you don’t belong. Imagine you have their councillors telling people where to shop and where to dine. It’s almost unbelievable,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ramphal also disclosed that last week, the region dismissed the Manager

“This is another instance of these people doing their own thing. They don’t have a transparent process or con-

sultation or anything like that, it’s once you’re APNU or AFC, you’re qualified,” he said.

12 News

thursday, JUNE 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Canadian mining companies seek GDF Commissioning Parade marks promotion of 55 ensigns investments in Guyana – HC

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Some of the ensigns during the Commissioning Parade

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he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Wednesday held its Commissioning Parade at Durban Park, where 55 ensigns were promoted to second lieutenants after completing the Standard Officer Course 50 and the Reserve Officer Course 16.

In fulfilling protocol, President David Granger was tasked with the inspection of troops which included 374 ranks, 20 officers and the ensigns.

This year, 28 officers successfully completed the Standard Officers Course 50 while 27 completed the Reserve Officers Course 16.

After being presented

with their badges from the Head of State, the Sword of Honour was presented to Jehu West and Robert Skeete, while the runner-up Best Student was awarded to Trevaughn Waldron. Best International Student was presented to Mark Choc.

On Tuesday, a Commissioning Service for the ensigns were held at Camp Ayanganna. These activities will continue on Thursday when the officers take their official oath.

Earlier this year, 12 senior officers from the GDF were promoted having received their new badges of rank after approval from the President.

The list of promotions included Lieutenant Colonel Sherwin Anderson, who at that time was pursuing overseas training. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel.

Majors Jermain Cort, Sean Harmon, (Lieutenant Commander – Coast Guard) Roger Nurse, Eon Murray, Ron Caulder, and Drumson Mc Caulay were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, while Captains Ron Daniels, Jose Ferreira, Delrae McLean, Jamie Castello, (Lieutenant Coast Guard) Adrian McLean, and Farhaan Uthman were awarded with the rank of Major.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce will soon be established in Guyana to foster increased trade activities and a better economic relationship between the two countries.

This has partially stemmed from a vast number of companies which have expressed interest in the country’s potential.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, made the disclosure earlier this week, positing that her country has been Guyana’s largest trading partner.

“Newfoundlanders have been trading with Guyanese for hundreds of years. We exchanged our cod for your rum…In recognition of the growing Canadian presence in Guyana, I am pleased to announce that we will be launching a Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Guyana. Some of you might not be aware that Canada is Guyana’s largest trading partner.”

With an official launch later this year, interested stakeholders can contact the Trade Commissioner at the Canadian High Commission in Georgetown.

Chatterjee went on to say that remittances

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee

from Canada to Guyana have accounted for nearly US$208M over the past five years. Additionally, mining companies have taken great interest in the gold resources, with 10 mining companies in various stages of exploration and production.

These include Guyana Gold Strike, Sandspring, and Reunion among others.

Three companies in Toronto namely CGX, JHI and Eco-Atlantic will be drilling offshore Guyana.

Presently, 12 partnerships exist between the two countries in the oil and gas sector. LearnCorp, which focuses on technical oil and gas training, is currently training 24 people from Guyana to work on the Liza Destiny

Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

Just last year, an American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) was opened here to create a fair business environment for small enterprises.

The President of AmCham Guyana, Zulfikar Ally, was quoted as saying, “We see this Chamber as a chamber that will help to facilitate investment into Guyana. There are 116 chambers all around the world and… our job will be to help to facilitate and guide [businesses].”

AmCham said its purpose was to “promote America–Guyana bilateral trade opportunities and activities, to improve market access for America-Guyana goods and services, to provide an economic, social, and policy platform for its members, and to encourage networking and build business connections, among others.

The current board comprises a dynamic mix of both local, regional, and US directors who are eager to dedicate their service, knowledge, and expertise to ensuring a productive start for the chamber.

No agreement on lifting catfish ban – Holder

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t has been over one year since the United States imposed a ban on the exportation of catfish from Guyana. To date, the Agriculture Ministry has fostered discussions, but there has been no definite conclusion on when the sanction would be lifted.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder recently posited that discussions with his US counterpart would continue in the future.

“We’re still in talks with the Americans. There’s no conclusion as yet … We will have discussions later and then we’ll get closer,” Holder said.

Last February, he had pointed towards the bureaucratic movement between the Fisheries Department of the Agriculture Ministry and the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department of the Public Health Ministry as one of the main challenges against compliance with the USimposed catfish ban, which was enforced to achieve standardisation of seafood entering the country.

Holder had stated that while work has been done to lift the ban, it was an international issue which had to be dealt with in a holistic manner. At that time, “nothing new” had emerged from discussions, and they were working towards an arrangement to adhere to the standards set out by the United States of America.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

“There is nothing new on it. It’s the question of coming to an arrangement with the US concerning our adherence to their rule or how we can best adhere to it. We just can’t lift the ban, because it is worldwide and not just against Guyana,” the Minister said.

He sought to mention that if the Food Safety Authority – which was brought into force by the Food Safety Bill – was established, the process would have been faster than having two Ministries involved.

“We are working with the US. If we had the Food Safety Authority in place, it would have been way much faster but what is happening here is that you have two different ministries involved … the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries Department and the Ministry of [Public] Health Food and Drug Department, so the bureaucratic movement between Ministries have some chal-

lenges.”

The Food Safety Bill was presented to the National Assembly in 2016, providing for a Food Safety Authority, which would spearhead all aspects of food production, including preparation and transportation for exportation.

Meanwhile, on the part of the Public Health Ministry, former junior Minister Dr Karen Cummings was quoted as saying that “progress” has been made on their end, but she did not elaborate.

Last December, Holder was questioned

by Opposition officials as to what Government has been initiating to lift the ban after some $14.7 million was set aside for the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism as part of Guyana’s contribution to international organisations.

Then Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira questioned whether Guyana could get help from this very organisation, to which Holder replied in the affirmative. She also enquired whether legislation was being drafted to assist Guyana with gaining compliance.

According to the regulations, Guyana must be able to catch catfish and transport fish to a processing plant while it is alive. This is in contrast to the normal practice here, in which the fish is caught, disembowelled and the carcass is iced until it reaches the shore.

13 Over 300 reports of financial crimes received in 2018 – FIU Director news

thursday, JUNE 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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or the year 2018 alone, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has received more than 300 reports of crimes ranging from drug trafficking to money laundering and even corruption.

This is according to FIU Director Matthew Langevine, in a recent interview with Guyana Times.

According to Langevine, of these 300 reports, his Unit’s investigations would have led to more than 25 intelligence reports being completed. These reports, he said, were then forwarded to FIU’s sister agency, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

“Based on those intelligence reports, which would

have covered a number of areas, including suspected drug trafficking that would have led to suspected money laundering, there were a number of cases related to suspected tax evasion, and corruption-related cases,” Langevine explained.

“So, we’ve been working hard. I think we can look forward to the first annual report being published by the FIU within the next month or so, as required by the recent amendments to the [Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism] AML/CFT Act.” Langevine explained that their work encompassed not only the reports they have shared with their counterpart, but also train-

FIU Director Matthew Langevine

ing and outreaches with other stakeholders. When it comes to challenges his Unit faces, Langevine identified receiving data from reporting entities as the number one challenge.

“One of the important things for the FIU is receiving data, information from the reporting entities.

I think one of the challenges we continue to encounter is that there are still a number of sectors not reporting to us.”

“Specifically, in the areas of the designated non-financial entities. The lawyers and accountants come to mind. On the positive side, we’ve recently had a couple of workshops with those entities and I think it was well-received, especially from the accounting side”.

The FIU is an autonomous agency that investigates financial crimes. It operates under the AML/CFT Act. The Unit has to work

closely with other agencies, including the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Gaming Authority.

But while the FIU has been walking the straight and narrow, its sister agency SOCU has been beleaguered with problems, since an audit into its operations was carried out by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The audit into SOCU, an arm of the Police, was first ordered by Police Commissioner Leslie James in February following claims of grave mismanagement which included the misuse of its operational fund.

The audit of the financial records of SOCU subsequently uncovered serious irregularities, including the

falsification of records, and it has recommended immediate transfers and a fraud investigation of several of the discrepancies, sources say.

It has resulted in Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan announcing in May of this year that several SOCU ranks would be transferred or even have their services terminated based on the findings.

Added to this, SOCU has had several of its cases tossed out by the courts, including one involving a number of charges against former Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) executives and Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry (GBTI) Directors.

CCPA takes pregnancy prevention HP, Microsoft highlight new outreach to D’Urban Backlands products for oil and gas sector

….host training programme for businesses

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A session being conducted with youths in the community (CCPA photo)

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he Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) recently launched its Pregnancy Prevention and Empowerment Programme in collaboration with the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) in D”Urban Backlands to help children make better choices when it comes to this decision.

Director of the Agency Ann Greene told Guyana Times in an interview on Tuesday that this programme has been ongoing for the past two years; however, the Department took the project to the area after calls were made by the young people there for the initiative.

During this six-week programme, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays until July 4, young people between the ages of 12 and 17 years old will benefit from discussions on substance abuse, risky behaviours and self-development.

They will also be schooled on condom use and its benefits. The Director of the Childcare Agency noted that some young people cannot resist the urge of being sexually involved. Against this backdrop, she noted

that they will be informed on how condoms can prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and pregnancy.

Moreover, the youths will be involved in sessions geared at career building, which will hopefully help them to become more organized and set goals in this regard.

Greene underscored the importance of this project as she reiterated that many parents are still uncomfortable with having these discussions with their children; who, out of curiosity, may try to learn more about sex on their own, which in turn ends with teenage pregnancies.

This project will target 30 youths in the community. CCPA intends to have this project taken to other Regions in the country to help empower young people in making wise decisions.

Most recently, the initiative was conducted in Region Nine (Upper Takutu – Upper Essequibo), according to Greene.

A recent report on the practices of adolescents revealed the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in the country were recorded in Regions One, Seven, and

Nine, according to Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence.

“Our situation is critical … some of the contributory factors are lack of access to contraceptives and comprehensive sexual education, risky sexual behaviour and early sex, and there is also another overriding factor that many times we overlook and that is the cultural differences. And that is something, that in everything we do, we must take into account, whether it is in Region One, Region Seven or in Region Nine, we will find that as we move from one tribe to the other, their cultural differences stand out,” the Minister said.

As such, the India-United Nations Development Partnership Fund threeyear Project can be seen as a timely intervention, since the issue of teenage pregnancy continues to be a thorn in the side of the Guyanese populace, she noted.

“Our adolescent fertility rate is above average, especially among our Indigenous girls. Seventy-four out of every 1000 in Regions One, Seven and Nine between the age group of 15 to 19 years old,” Lawrence said.

s innovators and leaders in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, Hewlett Packard (HP) and Microsoft, during a discussion with media personnel on Wednesday, introduced to the Guyanese population new products and technologies which could be utilised, specifically in the emerging oil and gas sector.

The inaugural visit by officials of the international companies was organised by Starr Computer Inc, which is a front-runner in providing modern technology to the local market.

The brief discussion, which was hosted at the company’s Brickdam office, saw HP product trainer Luz Romero presenting the feature address in which much emphasis was placed on the security of the company’s products.

According to Romero, the company, being developers of new technologies, is focusing on security measures, so that its line of products could be well protected for the benefit of end-users.

“The security pillar is one of our main concerns, because, basically security is something that concerns all of us; some of us think that it’s just an IT problem, that somebody else has to be making the right decisions.

But at the end, if we are not part of the solution, we can be part of the threat. So, as the developers of new platforms, of new products, we are making a major emphasis on security trends, so we can be all safe using these new technologies,” Romero explained.

In addition to this, the trainer brought attention to the newest product line of work stations, which

HP product trainer Luz Romero

could be vital for the graphics needs in the oil and gas industry, especially for Guyana.

“In our product line, we have the work stations, it’s a special product line that is meant for those users that have graphics needs, the specific applications that

need a lot of performance and reliability … An example of these is the oil and gas industry, oil and gas needs a lot of graphics performance to be able to know where their location should be, what they should do and how they can improve the investments day by day,” Romero noted.

Apart from these discussions, the facilitators also hosted a training programme earlier on Wednesday for representatives from the Government, business and professional sectors, which showcased HP products with special emphasis on standard features built into the HP products that protect data and network operations.

At the event, Starr Computer was also presented with the HP Platinum partner award by Caribbean Territory Manager Gustavo Guardian and was now an authorised HP service centre in Guyana.

14 news

thursday, JUNE 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

5 years after opening

Forensic lab finally able to conduct DNA tests C

lose to five years after it officially opened its doors here, the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) is now able to conduct critical tests that will aid in the fight against crime.

On Wednesday, the spanking new equipment funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) was commissioned at the lab which is housed at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.

Director of the $1.049B building Delon France listed the newly added features.

“The laboratory is now a national pioneer for human identification using Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) testing and it enables us to conduct three main things: DNA testing for comparison or matching evidence to a suspect, paternity testing, family mapping or family testing where you can use the family DNA to identify a suspect even if we don’t have that particular suspect’s DNA. We can match a crime scene to a family member and then we can narrow it down through investigation of who actually committed the crime,” he explained.

The Director noted that

these tests can be conducted using samples from the human cheeks, semen and vagina, hair, blood and most importantly, finger prints or touch.

When the building was first commissioned it had four departments including toxicology, documents, trace evidence and chemistry with six non-analytical departments namely security, quality system, information system, facilities operations, evidence and administration departments.

Following its launch, however, the GFSL opened two other departments, namely the Forensic Radio Evidence and the DNA aspect which was commissioned Wednesday.

Acknowledging that the wait for such services was indeed a lengthy one, the Director informed that four persons are being trained to use the long awaited equipment. In addition, a number of training sessions are also on schedule for crime scene personnel of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Important to note, is that plans are afoot to establish a national DNA database.

“With future expansion in mind, there are plans to

Back in March, the Minister had assured that the Lab would be up and running before year end.

Although the $1.049B building was opened since July 2014, the forensic laboratory was unequipped with the required tools it needed.

Accreditation

Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory

establish a national DNA database that would require legal intervention and amendments to Chapters of the Laws of Guyana, especially the Police Act Chapter 16:01 Section 35 which should include DNA records to facilitate this venture,” France pointed out.

Meanwhile, a smiling Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, said the commissioning of such services was good news for the country as he explained how it will aid in crime fighting.

He informed, “The Scanning Electron Microscope will be used for gunshot residue testing, and the presence or absence of this residue can corroborate with misstatements and testimony and provide investigational leads…this forensic equipment is important in crimes involving firearms and the discharge of those firearms”.

While on investigations, he also assured that unresolved crime related matters, including murder, rape or found body parts can now

After 2 years

Mother still cries for justice for death of 4-year-old son

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nna Persaud, the mother of fouryear-old Mohan Ramkaran, who was killed by a reckless driver on the morning of March 15, 2017 is, still almost three years after the accident, calling for justice for her son’s unfortunate demise.

The woman, who has been relentless in pursuing the course of justice for her son, is now at a standstill and uncertain of her next move after she was told by Top Cop Leslie James that a further inquest has now been requested into the matter.

This follows an inquest which reportedly concluded with no clear indication as to whether the errant driver involved in the accident will be charged.

Ramkaran, of Lot 108 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was struck down and killed a short distance from his home.

Guyana Times had reported that Ramkaran and his uncle had gone to purchase a ball at a nearby shop when the accident occurred.

While returning home, the child was struck down and dragged several feet, and it was not until his uncle ran behind the driver to

Suspended Crime Chief Lyndon Alves

stop her, did the woman realised what had transpired.

“The boy was waiting to cross with the two lil’ boys because he see the car coming so he was waiting for it to pass before they cross, but then she (the car driver) swerve into the grass corner and hook the child.

She run over the child and she drag him, she didn’t stop. The boy (teenager) had to run behind the car and stop the car, and then she knows that she had the child under the car,” the child’s grandmother, Bibi Nazmoon Khan had said.

Ramkaran was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Cottage Hospital.

Following the tragic accident, the child’s family was forced to take protest action after the Police refused to charge the driver.

Dead: Mohan Ramkaran

The driver, who is the daughter of now suspended Crime Chief Lyndon Alves, was placed on $20,000 station bail and was seen days after the accident driving on the roadways again.

Vague response

Persaud related on Wednesday that frequent visits to the Police were met with vague responses and being pushed around.

“The Commander would send us to look for case file, and then they tell us they waiting on this body and that body, but up to now…. three weeks ago we went to see the Police Commissioner and he told us that the matter didn’t reach his desk as yet, and then we were told that now they are seeking a further inquest. But is because the girl is the daughter of the Crime Chief,” the woman said, adding that she was praying for

the day she would get justice for her son.

This newspaper was reminded by relatives that Police Commissioner Leslie James was the Divisional Commander at the time of the accident.

Crime Chief Alves has been suspended following several allegations of corruption made against him.

Alves was suspended from duties on Monday to facilitate the probe into the allegations of corruption.

In that matter, a Police Lance Corporal Detective who is reportedly linked to a criminal network was said to have the protection of Alves.

The said rank’s phone number was reportedly discovered in the cellphone of now dead criminal Kelvin “Kelly” Shivgobin, who was shot and killed recently in the backlands of Black Bush Polder during a shootout with the Police.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has since disclosed that a probe was launched by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

Alves was, in August of last year, handpicked with several others to serve as Deputy Commissioner alongside the Police Commissioner.

He was handpicked by President David Granger after having been found to be “unbribable”.

come to a closure with the aid of the new tools.

Along with reducing the time for an investigation, these equipment will also help to cut costs as usually about $1.5 million is spent on a DNA test. This will be slashed to about $60,000.

The Director of the GFSL had noted that plans are in place to have the lab accredited to make it financially viable, by conducting DNA services to other countries.

“Our main focus is on quality forensic service and we are currently working towards international accreditation with the aim to make our service more marketable to initiate activities under one of our core functions and objectives which is to make the organization financially viable, supported by our business plan that is drafted for local, international and regional clients,” he revealed.

Critical medicine stolen from hospital

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undreds of thousands of dollars worth of critical medication for patients, including those with terminal illnesses such as cancer, have been stolen from the pharmacy at the St James Medical Complex (SJMC).

In an immediate response to this “tragedy” that struck the health institution, acting chief executive officer at the North West Regional Health (NWRHA), Terron Gilchrist condemned the act and questioned, “Why would someone want to take God out of their thoughts and steal medicine for the survival of sick people?”

Speaking with the Guardian Media on Wednesday, Gilchrist assured that the pharmacy had not been severely affected in dispersing drugs for in and out-patients as they had restocked, “enabling the operations to continue smoothly.”

The incident occurred sometime on Sunday where the suspect or suspects gained entry to the building by prying open a padlock of a burglar proof gate at the back of the building.

The wooden cupboards in the pharmacy department were ransacked and the drugs were stolen. Photos of the bare cupboards and opened lock were shared with Guardian Media.

A staff member, who spoke to Guardian Media under strict anonymity, said the theft came after days the pharmacy was fully restocked and believed it was “a possible inside job”.

The staff member also alleged that there was a breakin under similar circumstances in March.

Guardian Media sent a subsequent message to Gilchrist informing him of the claims made by the staff member and about the burglary in March, however, up to press time no further comment was

given.

Gilchrist during the interview said the facility will soon get a technological upgrade for security reasons including the installation of “CCTV surveillance cameras, etc.”

NWRHA’s acting manager of corporate communications, Anesa Alleyne, in a release issued last evening, confirmed that “a host of drugs for the treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD’s) and infectious diseases were missing.”

“In addressing the incident, the Authority has reviewed its current security measures at the pharmacy department and plans are in progress to improve the security infrastructure at the St James Medical Complex,” the release stated.

“The management of the NWRHA condemns this heinous act against vulnerable patients accessing care at the St. James Medical Complex,” it added.

The Authority said it remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all our employees, patients and persons visiting the SJMC and all institutions under its purview.

The SJMC is the home to the National Radiotherapy Centre, The Women’s Health Clinic and Eye Clinic. It has a 97-bed capacity and also houses an accident and emergency department which provides 24-hour emergency medical treatment, a gerontology ward, a physical medicine and rehabilitation unit, a therapeutic care unit and the NWRHA’S Learning Resource Centre.

Support services include pharmacy, radiology and laboratory services.

An investigating police officer from the St James Police Station confirmed that a man in his 20’s has been detained for questioning. (T&T Guardian)

15 Harmony Village hosted in Berbice R news

thursday, JUNE 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

eligion, sports and culture were among the activities being used to promote social cohesion when the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport hosted its Harmony Village on Wednesday in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) for a second time.

The event was first held in New Amsterdam back in 2017. Wednesday’s event was held at Scottsburg, Corriverton – some 50 miles away.

Acting Programme Coordinator Natasha Singh-Lewis said the decision to take the Village to the Upper Corentyne was made to promote inclusivity.

Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton told Guyana Times that all efforts were being made to achieve the goals and objectives of social cohesion.

“I wish I could have this activity not only in all the regions, but in so many of the villages in regions, particularly in Region Six, because this certainly will help us to achieve the goals and objectives of social

cohesion,” he said.

The Minister made reference to the cultural presentation, which addressed adequately the issue of “One Nation One People One Destiny”, which is Guyana’s motto.

He noted that apart from the Harmony Village, the Ministry sought to promote social cohesion by using youth activities, culture, and sport.

“You know sports break

the barriers across the racial divide, the gender divide and the ethnic divide and we are very much into that. As it relates to culture, we are taking a contingent – 100 Guyanese – to Carifesta in August and there we are going to showcase what Guyana is all about.”

He said the event would also provide for the world to see Guyana as a united country, adding that the

Ministry also had youth activities enabling young persons to be a welcome part of our society.

“So many youths have thrown their hands up in the air asking, ‘what are you doing for us?’

Right here at this Village display, we have so many booths that are catering for youths, showing them

application forms and also making available application drop boxes and showing them what they have to offer. I don’t know if the information is not getting out there. I know for a fact that would be very useful for youths to know – what is precisely out there for them. Take, for instance, in the area of public health, you have an entire booklet on all the different courses that are available,” Dr Norton noted.

These, he said, include technical jobs and jobs like nursing assistants, dental technicians, midwives and others in the field of medicine.

The Culture, Youth and Sport arms of the Ministry were well represented as well as the religious aspect of Guyana’s culture.

Addressing the issue of unity, Abdur Rajan Khan of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community said it could only be achieved if there was one leader.

Meanwhile, Ingrid DeVair of Orealla, an Amerindian community

situated 50 miles up the Corentyne River, explained that the event gave Amerindians an opportunity to promote harmony among themselves.

She said as a community they have been preparing for the event for the past two months, forcing them as a people to cooperate.

At the Harmony Village, Orealla had a booth and also showcased agricultural products.

“It took a lot of preparation, organising and planning, so the event in itself contributes to us developing ourselves as Indigenous people that we can promote our culture, our way of life and it has given us the privilege of working together.

Cooperating is key in the development of this country so this Harmony Village is something that we look forward to,” DeVair said.

Among the agencies and entities represented at the 65 booths were the Education Ministry, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Fire Service.

“Time to act”– UN expert urges international Khashoggi probe

A

United Nations rights expert has criticised UN “paralysis” for preventing accountability for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, accusing Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of failing to act.

In a harsh statement on Wednesday, Agnes Callamard, UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, said ignoring the targeted killing will put the protection of free speech at risk.

“The time to act is now,” she said, reiterating her appeal for an international criminal investigation.

Callamard criticised the UN while presenting her report into the killing of Khashoggi, who was murdered by a team of Saudi agents in the country’s consulate in Istanbul, to the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Addressing the media on Tuesday she had expressed her frustration at the UN, saying “there was a role for the UN to investigate this.

The silence of this intergovernmental body and the lack of measures were a disservice to the UN and to the world.”

Secretary-General Guterres gave a chilly response to Callamard’s appeal.

“The only way to effectively pursue such an investigation is through a Security Council’s resolu-

tion under the appropriate measures,” said Guterres’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Tuesday, adding that the secretary-general was “not hiding behind any protocol”.

Callamard on Wednesday told reporters she was “disappointed” by the response, adding that “it is in his power to ... to establish this panel of [criminal] experts.”

“I don’t believe you need a member state official demand,” she added. “This being said, I certainly call on member states to proceed with that official demarche so that the secretary-general will not be able to just create more firewalls between him and his responsibilities to take action.”

Callamard is an independent expert who does not speak for the UN, but reports her findings to it.

Saudi rejection Saudi Arabia said it will reject any attempt to take the inquiry into the killing of Khashoggi away from its judiciary, accusing Callamard of “breaching UN procedures”.

Addressing member states at the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday, Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz alWasil said Callamard’s report was full of “prefabricated ideas”.

“We reject any idea to remove the inquiry from our national justice sys-

tem,” said al-Wasil after Callamard suggested the launch of an international criminal investigation built on her findings.

Her 100-page report released last week linked the killing of Khashoggi to the kingdom’s highest authorities.

On Wednesday, she strongly reiterated how her human rights inquiry pointed presumably to the involvement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and his close aid Saud al-Qahtani in the murder and disappearance of Khashoggi.

“Fingers have been pointed, supported by non-credible sources …

[Callamard] has breached her mandate, she has not respected our national laws,” said al-Wasil.

The Turkish delegate said Ankara was ready to continue its cooperation with the UN in the case.

Saudi trial

Saudi Arabia is conducting a trial of 11 Saudi nationals apparently involved in the killing of the former Washington Post columnist, who lived in self-exile in the United States and was in Turkey to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage.

Riyadh has denied Callamard access to the country and has refused to collaborate with the inquiry she opened in January.

(Al Jazeera)

Tassa and African drummers performing at Harmony Village at Scottsburg Community Ground, Corriverton

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thursday, JUNE 27, 2019, 2019

Regional

Venezuelan Government says Jamaica passes legislation to establish country’s thwarted attempted coup

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enezuela's socialist Government said Wednesday it had derailed an attempted coup, claiming the United States, Colombia and Chile colluded in a military plot to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro and install a general and former defence minister in his place.

Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said the plan involved active and retired army officers and was to have been executed between Sunday and Monday this past weekend.

"We were in all the meetings to plan the coup d’état.

We were in all the conferences," Rodriguez said, suggesting that Government informers had infiltrated the alleged plotters during planning meetings.

He accused Colombia's right-wing President Ivan Duque of "planning coups,

Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez [The Guardian file photo]

assassinations of the President" as well as implicating Chile's conservative President Sebastian Pinera and US National Security Advisor John Bolton in the plot.

At least six of the alleged plotters had been de-

tained, the Minister said in a televised speech in Caracas, presenting testimony from one of them, named as Lieutenant Carlos Saavedra.

Four of the officers were arrested last Friday, a move denounced by Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó in a statement on Tuesday, though no details of the circumstances, or the reasons for their arrests, emerged.

Saavedra was identified as the nephew of retired General Ramon Saavedra, who was arrested Wednesday by intelligence agents in Venezuela's western Barinas state.

According to Rodriguez, surveillance of the plotters and Saavedra's recorded confession revealed that the plan envisaged the takeover of three military bases, including the La Carlota air base in Caracas. (Excerpt from AFP)

largest single pension plan

T

he House of Representatives has passed the Tourism Workers Pension Bill, which seeks to establish a defined contribution pension scheme for hospitality industry workers.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said the scheme would be the largest single pension plan in Jamaica and, arguably, the Caribbean, and a landmark development for the country’s workforce.

“It will involve in excess of 300,000 workers which will represent onefifth of the total workforce of Jamaica. That accumulation of affordable capital will present an opportunity for investment and for capital distribution for all sorts of development in the country,” he said.

The Minister said the Government was “excited about the prospect of Jamaica offering to the

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said the scheme for tourism workers would be the largest single pension plan in Jamaica and, arguably, the Caribbean (JIS photo)

world, a model of social security for the workers of the tourism industry”.

He further noted that it represents the Administration’s commit-

ment to the social market arrangement, which aims to ensure that the appropriate legislation and regulations are developed to protect the vulnerable. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

was stabbed to death last Friday after he tried to stop two assailants from snatching his backpack. The two assailants fled the scene while the victim’s family members were reportedly unharmed.

The two suspects were to appear before a judge on

Wednesday, local media reported.

The victim resided in Chile’s capital Santiago, which is located about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Valparaiso, one of the South American country’s most popular tourist destinations.

Guatemalan Prosecutors raid election body after vote questioned Chile Police arrest 2 for murder of Canadian G u a t e m a l a n Prosecutors raided the offices of the Supreme Election Tribunal to investigate alleged discrepancies in the vote count for the first round of a presidential election this month, the Attorney General’s Office said Wednesday.

The Attorney General’s Office said it carried out the search to get evidence from the tribunal, includ-

ing copying voting data and digital systems in order to clear up “various reports” of irregularities it had received about the first round vote.

In a statement, the Attorney General’s Office said their search of the tribunal’s offices should not derail the electoral process.

It did not reveal details of the complaints.

On Tuesday, the elec-

toral tribunal reviewed its own preliminary vote count. It said that there had been some technical problems in transmitting voting data, but no errors in the results. It denied that there had been electoral fraud.

Election watchdog Mirador Electoral said in a statement on Wednesday it had no evidence of electoral fraud. (Reuters)

C

hilean Police arrested two men suspected of killing a Canadian citizen last week during an attempted mugging while he strolled with his family through the port city of Valparaiso, Police said on Tuesday.

The Canadian man

(Reuters)

Brazil congressional pension T&T Police Officer refused bail on rape charge committee vote pushed back

B

razil’s special congressional committee on pension reform may still vote on the bill this week, according to the Government’s spokeswoman in the Lower House, dashing earlier hopes the vote would be concluded by Wednesday.

Earlier this month, Lower House Speaker Rodrigo Maia had said he hoped the committee would give its verdict on the

Government’s signature reform bill by June 26, before sending it on to the Lower House plenary for a full vote.

But on Wednesday, Joice Hasselmann, a congresswoman and the Government’s leader in the Lower House, said today was now the target, or failing that, early next week, so the bill could still be put to the plenary vote before Parliament breaks for recess on July 18. (Excerpt from Reuters)

S

pecial Reserve Police Officer Akeem James has been denied bail on charges of rape, grievous sexual assault and false imprisonment of a 29-year-old Venezuelan woman.

James, 28, appeared on Wednesday before Princes Town First Court Magistrate Wendy

Brazil's Lower House President Rodrigo Maia attends a session at the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies in Brasilia, Brazil May 22, 2019

Dougdeen-Bally.

The Magistrate was told that James had a pending matter of a similar nature.

James was charged on Tuesday night by Women Corporal Dane-Marie Marshal of the Professional Standards Bureau.

The offences allegedly occurred between

November 23 and 24, 2018, at a house at Fairfield Road, Princes Town.

Prosecutor Sergeant Gary Santlal objected to bail, citing that James was on bail for a similar offence, the seriousness of the offences and the safety of the victim. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

UN Security Council approves

political mission in Haiti, UWI gives green light for fourth ending peacekeeping role landed campus in Antigua

I

t's official. Antigua and Barbuda is the fourth landed campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

UWI Vice Chancellor, Sir Hilary Beckles told a news conference Wednesday that the Chancellor, Robert Bermudez and Council of the UWI “have formally approved the establishment of a campus of the University of the West Indies in

Antigua and Barbuda” He said that the approval came “within the wider context of the country's membership of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)”.

Sir Hilary said that the Five Islands campus will serve the development needs of Antigua and Barbuda as well as the wider OECS sub-region that in-

cludes Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St KittsNevis, and Montserrat.

“In addition to serving the special developmental needs of Antigua and Barbuda, it will provide a hub to enable the greater participation in the development agendas of the OECS by the University of the West Indies. (Excerpt from

CMC)

T

he United Nations (UN) Security Council has approved a resolution to create an “Integrated Office” in Haiti, designed to support the country’s Government in strengthening political stability and good governance.

The office, named BINUH, will replace the 15-year-long peacekeeping mission, MINUJUSTH, on October 16.

BINUH will be run by

a Special Representative, who will assist the Government of Haiti with planning elections; training the Haitian National Police on human rights; responding to gang violence; ensuring compliance with international human rights obligations; improving prison oversight; and strengthening the justice sector.

Speaking on behalf of the United States, which drafted the resolution, Acting Ambassador

Jonathan Cohen described the adoption of the resolution as “a historic moment”, but said that US was “cleareyed” about the challenges that lie ahead, and recognised that a successful transition in Haiti would depend on the Government assuming responsibility for a range of issues, including ensuring free and fair elections, a reduction in gang violence, and the protection of human rights. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

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thursday, JUNE 27, 2019

17

Around the World

European countries set new June Hong Kong activists urge G20 leaders to help ‘liberate’ city heat records amid heatwave

T

G

ermany, Poland and the Czech Republic hit their highest-ever recorded June temperatures on Wednesday – with more records anticipated to fall as the heat continues to rise in the coming days.

Some nations, including France and Switzerland, are expected to see levels above 40 Celsius on Thursday.

Meteorologists say exceptionally hot air blown in from northern Africa is to blame for the European heatwave.

French officials have issued stark warnings about the risk to life.

On Wednesday, their Minister for Solidarity and Health, Agnès Buzyn, defended the Government against claims it was being alarmist about the conditions.

France was traumatised by a heatwave in 2003 which was blamed for 15,000 extra deaths.

Nearly all of country is now on orange alert – the second-highest warning level af-

France is bracing for temperatures over 40C in the coming days

ter red – with local authorities issuing advice on how to keep cool.

Spanish officials have also warned of a “significant risk” of forest fires in some areas.

Temperatures have been climbing in recent days – but are expected to get even hotter in places towards the end of the week.

On Wednesday, Coschen in Brandenburg peaked at 38.6C – a new German record for June.

Radzyn in Poland and Doksany in the Czech

Republic also recorded new national highs, with temperatures hitting 38.2C and 38.9C respectively.

Parts of France and Switzerland also recorded their local all-time highest temperatures ever.

Even in the high-altitude Aps, temperatures topped 30C in places.

Meteorologists warn the heatwave’s conditions will intensify over the coming days. In parts of northeastern Spain, it may reach 45C on Friday. (Excerpt from BBC News)

housands of people in Hong Kong joined an evening protest and marched to major foreign consulates on Wednesday, urging leaders gathering for this week’s G20 summit to back their demand to scrap a much criticised extradition bill.

Holding placards with messages such as “Please liberate Hong Kong”, the demonstrators, some wearing masks, marched to consulates of major economies represented at the Japan summit, including the host nation, Britain, Canada, Russia, the United States, and the European Union.

“This is the first time so many march to so many consulates to express a single view,” said one of the organisers of the march, who gave only his surname, Lau. Millions have protested in recent weeks against the bill that would allow individuals, including foreigners, to be extradited to main-

Holding placards with messages such as “Please liberate Hong Kong”, the demonstrators, some wearing masks, marched to consulates of major economies represented at the Japan summit

land China to face trial in courts controlled by its ruling Communist Party.

Hong Kong’s Beijingappointed leader Carrie Lam eventually caved in after some of the worst violence seen in decades on the city’s streets, with Police firing tear gas and rubber bullets.

But Lam stopped short of protesters’ demands to scrap the bill altogether, saying it

would be suspended indefinitely.

The day culminated in several thousand, mostly young activists, surrounding police headquarters, using metal barricades to blockade entrances. Many donned helmets, masks and goggles, as they cursed Hong Kong’s Police Chief for what they say was a brutal clampdown on some protests in recent weeks. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“Great friends are bound to have Libya: GNA-allied forces claim disagreements” – Pompeo soothes recapture of key town from Haftar F trade tensions on India trip

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ecent trade tensions between the US and India won’t impact ties between the two nations, and their partnership is “already beginning to reach new heights”, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a visit to New Delhi Wednesday, less than two weeks after India increased tariffs on some US exports.

Delhi’s decision in midJune was in response the Trump Administration’s move to end India’s participation in a preferential trade programme. The Indian Government did not specify the value of the goods targeted at the time, but had previously told the World Trade Organisation that they were worth around US$241 million.

Speaking to report-

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with India’s newly re-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi

ers in New Delhi, following meetings with India’s newly re-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Pompeo said: “Great friends

are bound to have disagreements. The United States has been clear we seek greater market access and the removal of trade barriers in our economic relationship.” (Excerpt

orces allied to Libya’s United Nations-recognised Government say they have retaken Gharyan, a strategic town south of the capital, Tripoli, although forces loyal to the renegade general Khalifa Haftar denied the claims.

Gharyan is the main forward base for the eastern-based Libya National Army (LNA) under Haftar which has been fighting to take control of Tripoli.

Mustafa al-Mejii, spokesman for forces loyal to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord, told AFP news agency: “Gharyan is under our total control.”

Dozens of pro-Haftar fighters were killed and at least 18 were taken prisoner, he said.

The claim came after the spokesman for Haftar’s forces accused “sleeper cells” of allowing GNA forces to enter part of Gharyan, 100 kilometres southwest of Tripoli, without admitting the loss of the town.

He said the fighting was ongoing and that the situation was under control.

Witnesses told Reuters that GNA troops seized the main operations room of the LNA in Gharyan, as well as LNA vehicles and other gear. The town hosts LNA field hospitals and is also where supplies arrive from

the east.

The LNA has set up a helicopter base outside the town.

Images were circulated on social media networks of GNA forces patrolling Gharyan and of prisoners said to be pro-Haftar fighters.

Mejii hailed what he described as a “significant victory” and said he now expected Haftar’s forces to “collapse”.

Libya has been mired in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with a multitude of militias vying for control of the oilrich country. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Photo of drowned migrants triggers fight over Trump Holocaust: Dutch rail firm asylum clampdown NS confirms compensation A

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he Netherlands’ Staterun rail company NS has said it will pay tens of millions of euros in compensation to Holocaust victims and their families.

The company earned millions in today’s terms by transporting Jewish families to a Nazi transit camp.

Some 107,000 Jews were taken to Westerbork and deported, mainly to deaths camps at Auschwitz and Sobibor. Only 5000 survived.

NS said the deportations were a “black page in the history of the company”.

It apologised in 2005 for its role in helping the Nazi

occupiers in World War Two, but it only set up a commission to decide how much to pay in November last year.

Its decision to “learn, honour and remember in an enduring way” followed a campaign by Salo Muller, whose parents were murdered at Auschwitz.

“It is estimated that several thousand people are eligible for the allowance, including an estimated 500 survivors.

NS will set aside several tens of millions of euros for this in the coming years,” NS said in a statement.

Each survivor will receive €15,000 (US$17,000), while

from CNN)

€5-7000 will go to children and widowed spouses of victims.

NS said in November that it had operated trains on behalf of Germany’s Nazi occupiers, but it did more than just run the trains.

“The NS complied with the German order to make trains available,” Dirk Mulder from the National Westerbork Memorial told Dutch TV last year. “The Germans paid for it and said the NS had to come up with a timetable.

And the company went and did it without a word of objection.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

harrowing photo of a Salvadoran migrant and his young daughter who drowned in the Rio Grande at the US-Mexico border became the focus on Wednesday of a US political debate over President Donald Trump’s asylum policies.

The picture of Oscar Alberto Martinez, 25, and his 24-month-old daughter Angie Valeria put a renewed focus on the plight of refugees and migrants who are mostly from Central America. The pair had travelled from El Salvador and were seeking asylum in the United States.

US presidential candi-

date Bernie Sanders called the image “horrific” and said the President’s migration clampdown made deaths more likely.

“Trump’s policy of making it harder and harder to seek asylum – and separating families who do – is cruel, inhumane and leads to tragedies like this,” he wrote on Twitter.

In turn, Trump blamed the Democrats, whom he said were blocking his Government’s attempts at closing “loopholes” in US law that encourage migrants to apply for US asylum.

“If they fixed the laws you wouldn’t have that.

People are coming up,

they’re running through the Rio Grande,” he said, referring to the river known as the Rio Bravo in Mexico that forms a large part of the border between the two countries.

“They can change it very easily so people don’t come up, and people won’t get killed,” Trump told reporters.

Record numbers of Central American migrants are reaching the United States this year despite a crackdown by Trump. Many flee their homes in Central America to escape poverty, drought and high levels of criminal violence, much of it carried out by street gangs.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, JUNE 27, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Review your life. A robust set of ethics and morals will see you through any dilemma you face.

Change can be useful if you take your time and think matters through.

Evaluate your eating and TAURUS exercise habits, and make (April 20adjustments. Check out orMay 20) ganizations in your community that can help you achieve your goals. Feeling good will improve your attitude and personal life.

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Make a subtle change.

Research the possibilities and consider what you can afford. Don’t buy into a scam. Good results come with hard work and discipline.

CANCER

Offer suggestions but don’t take charge, or you will end up doing all the work while someone else takes the credit. Make it clear what you want, and don’t undervalue your skills.

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

SUDOKU

Don’t be too quick to get involved in an idea that sounds lucrative but risky.

Put your energy toward a practical deal or a lifestyle change that will bring longterm benefits.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Spend time with someone who enjoys the same things you do. Whether at work or play, you’ll accomplish far more by surrounding yourself with positive, like-minded people.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Keep the momentum going until you reach your goal. Refuse to let someone’s negativity or criticism cause you to give up.

Follow your intuition, and trust and believe in yourself.

SCORPIO

Take care of small but essential details. If someone needs help, offer it without being judgmental. Anger won’t help you solve a problem, while understanding and patience will.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Spend time with someone you enjoy being around.

An adventure will take your mind off some of the tedious jobs that have been weighing you down. Make plans with a loved one.

Nothing will go according to plan. Oversee everything that someone else is handling. If you look out for your interests, you will save money and time. An emotional matter will require patience.

Participate in something that sounds like fun.

Getting out with friends or reconnecting with someone from your past will help you put your life and goals in perspective.

With a little effort, you can tie up loose ends and feel good about what you’ve accomplished. Consider getting rid of old items and possessions that you no longer use.

THURsday, JUNE 27, 2019

19

CWC 2019…

Babar, Haris and Shaheen’s genius keep Pakistan alive World Cup pressure increases on England 3

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midwicket. It broke a 66-run stand that allowed t is incredible how Pakistan find ways of roaring back from out to deep hopeless situations. They were written off only a week Pakistan to get back on track after the two early strikes had earlier, languishing at ninth position, with a solitary win threatened to blow the lid off their chase. in five games. They were yet to crack a chase - both above Fortunately for them, Babar wasn’t going to At the other end, Haris attacked spin and pace 330 - in two attempts this World Cup. Then, when it give it away. alike, muscling Santner first, and later the returnseemed as if they would finally restrict an opponent to below 300 - New Zealand ing Boult for sixes, even as Williamson tried his last roll of the dice. This partnership were 83 for 5 in the 27th over - Colin de Grandhomme (64) and James Neesham proved to be the ice to Shaheen Afridi’s fire earlier in the day, when he ripped the heart (97 not out) put together the side’s best sixth-wicket stand in World Cup history to haul New Zealand back. out of New Zealand’s batting in a searing spell, after beduced first change in the fifth over.

Then, chasing 238, against two fast bowlers upfront - ing introShaheen’s first spell read a magical 4-2-8one who wickedly swings the ball and another who is often at their throat at 150 clicks - they 2, in which he accounted for the huge scalps Jimmy Neesham and Colin lost Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq. of Colin Munro and Ross Taylor. The Taylor de Grandhomme led the The experienced Mohammad Hafeez wicket in particular was as much because of fight back (Neesham) played and missed, beaten on the Sarfaraz as it was Shaheen’s angle and late moveinside and outside. Then he was ment. Sarfaraz deserve credit hit on the helmet by Lockie f o r two reasons: One, for being ulFerguson. tra-aggressive and looking to continuously make inroads, Who really gave them a chance? unlike in the past, when he was happy to sit back Yet, amid the chaos, they found some calm in and let the game drift. Two: for leading the Babar Azam, who sealed victory with an un- way with the catching at a time when Pakistan beaten tenth ODI century, a pristine 101 that had were trying to stave off the dubious distinction a cateam at the tournapacity crowd, a majority of it Pakistan fans, of being the poorest catching crooning with, “Oohs and aahs”. In Haris Sohail ment. The Taylor catch was right out of the top drawer, A za m found an invaluable ally, the pair conjur- with Sarfaraz diving full-length to his right and taking it ing a 126-run fourth-wicket stand to see one-handed just as it was about to hit the turf.

Pakistan home with five balls to spare. Haris’s Only a week ago, he was unfairly shamed not just by contribution was a noteworthy 68 that built on a stray fan, but also by a former cricketer who knows the 89 against South Africa at Lord’s. a thing or two about playing in World Cups. Sarfaraz Pakistan are now within two wins of a possible admitted that that took a toll on him and his young semi-final berth that would have their fans talking o f family. Yet under pressure, this wasn’t a bad way of shutrie similarities be- ting up the haters. the eeIn another intangible contribution, no scorecard tween 1992 and 2019 for a t least another week. would ever reveal that Shaheen was kept on for a fifth over, third wicket when For large parts of their c h a s e , and Sarfaraz reaped the rewards with a it was as if they were battling to he had Tom Latham nicking behind.

This ripper of a save a game on a fifth-day surf a c e . spell from Shaheen came on the back of Mohammad Hafeez had a leg gully for the s h o r t Amir’s early strike of Martin Guptill, as he chopped on tryball, deep square for the hook or pull, t h r e e ing to drive with minimal feet movement. slips for his open-faced pokes. This was serious pressure; In walked Williamson, and he looked Shaheen Afridi: and yet, from time-to-time, as if to ask what the fuss to be in control, knowing where the off- celebrating after the was all about, he played delightful pull shots and oozed stump was and relying on the delicate dismissal of Ross Taylor lazy Rohit Sharma-like elegance in gliding the ball be- dabs behind the wicket. If it was pitched hind point. up, he was happy to leave it, frustrating Babar showed patience early on, and e x h i b i t e d the bowlers; and then suddenly, when they erred, he picked them off. enough class to keep putting the bad ball away. When Runs didn’t exactly flow, but he rebuilt the innings slowly to make 41 he was attacked with short balls, he was happy both off 68 before he was done in by Shadab Khan’s mastery - drift, turn and to let go of his ego and to ignore them.

The pair set bounce - to have him nicking behind in trying to jab at the ball. It was preout to rebuild the chase, least perturbed with the ask- cisely at this moment you wondered if New Zealand erred by not picking rate, focusing on milking runs and ensuring Sodhi.

With half the side back, Sarfaraz slightly allowed the game to drift by ing they wouldn’t lose too many wickets goHaris Sohail ing into the last 20 overs, where teams believe introducing Imad Wasim’s left-arm darts when he really could’ve punted goes for a they can chase down 150 if it comes to that. with Amir, who had bowled only four overs in his first spell. And by the big shot time Amir returned, Neesham was well set.

Here they only needed 110.

Even as this strategy played out, New Zealand De Grandhomme is a serial six-hitter for New Zealand, but here he kept looking to pick up wickets. Invariably, this strategy brings with it the needed to hang in and take the game deep. And that is exactly what he risk of leaking runs. As Mitchell Santner came on, there was grip and did until the 40th over, before taking off. square turn. Suddenly, the two batsmen, tailor-made for such surfaces, Neesham continued to take calculated risks, never giving the impresstruggled, and New Zealand may have just begun to wonder if they had sion that he was blindly swinging. After overcoming a burst of genuine erred by not picking Ish Sodhi, the leg-spinner. pace, New Zealand second-guessed the bowlers, waited for the slower This was evident when Kane Williamson brought himself on, but he balls, used the depth of the crease, and whacked it downtown or square struck gold immediately, as Hafeez had a brain fade moment and holed of the wicket.

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand Innings (50 overs maximum) MJ Guptill b Mohammad Amir 5 C Munro c Haris Sohail b Shaheen Shah Afridi 12 KS Williamson (c) c †Sarfaraz Ahmed b Shadab Khan 41 LRPL Taylor c †Sarfaraz Ahmed b Shaheen Shah Afridi 3 TWM Latham † c †Sarfaraz Ahmed b Shaheen Shah Afridi 1 JDS Neesham not out 97 C de Grandhomme run out (Mohammad Amir/†Sarfaraz Ahmed) 64 MJ Santner not out 5 Extras (b 2, lb 3, w 4) 9 TOTAL 237/6 (50 Overs, RR: 4.74) Did not bat: MJ Henry, LH Ferguson, TA Boult Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Martin Guptill, 1.1 ov), 2-24 (Colin Munro, 6.2 ov), 3-38 (Ross Taylor, 8.6 ov), 4-46 (Tom Latham, 12.3 ov), 5-83 (Kane Williamson, 26.2 ov), 6-215 (Colin de Grandhomme, 47.4 ov) BOWLING O M R W Mohammad Hafeez 7-0-22-0 Mohammad Amir 10-0-67-1 Shaheen Shah Afridi

10-3-28-3 Imad Wasim 3-0-17-0 Colin De Grandhomme’s knock of 64 ended in the 48th over when an adventurous second to third man resulted in his run-out.

Neesham batted right through, muscling the last ball for six to finish on 97. This didn’t bring with it the promise of victory, but the position New Zealand found themselves in was heaps better than the 166 they threatened to crash out at one stage (their score in that famous 1992 World Cup group clash). Yet it came in second-best to Babar’s masterclass that continued to give this tournament another wild twirl as it approaches the semi-final stage.

Shadab Khan 10-0-43-1 Wahab Riaz 10-0-55-0 Pakistan Innings (target: 238 runs from 50 overs) Imam-ul-Haq c Guptill b Ferguson 19 Fakhar Zaman c Guptill b Boult 9 Babar Azam not out 101 Mohammad Hafeez c Ferguson b Williamson 32 Haris Sohail run out (Guptill)

68 Sarfaraz Ahmed (c) † not out 5 Extras(w 7) 7 TOTAL 241/4 (49.1 Overs, RR: 4.9) Yet to bat: Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Fakhar Zaman, 2.6 ov), 2-44 (Imamul-Haq, 10.2 ov), 3-110 (Mohammad Hafeez, 24.5 ov), 4-236 (Haris Sohail, 48.3 ov) BOWLING O M R W TA Boult 10-0-48-1 MJ Henry 7-0-25-0 LH Ferguson 8.1-0-50-1 C de Grandhomme 2-0-12-0 MJ Santner 1 0-0-38-0 JDS Neesham 3-0-20-0 KS Williamson 8-0-39-1 C Munro 1-0-9-0

POINTS TABLE

TEAM M W L PT

NRR

AUS

7 6 1 12

0.906

NZ

7 5 1 11

1.028

INDIA 5 4 0

9

0.809

ENG

8

1.051

7 4 3

BDESH 7 3 3

7 -0.133

PAK

7 3 3

7 -0.976

SL

6 2 2 6 -1.119

WI

6 1 4

3

SA

7 1 5

3 -0.324

AFG

7 0 7

0 -1.634

0.19

BCB Brian Ramphal Awards Ceremony…

BCB, Region 6 RDC honour Thorne, Ramnauth

“B

oth of you have made us proud to be Berbicians, and you are following in the footsteps of numerous cricketing legends. We are very confident that you would uphold the high traditions set by Kanhai, Trim, Butcher, Solomon and Fredericks.

“As you leave to represent the West Indies Under-15 Team, I would like to urge you to be disciplined, hard-working, dedicated, and to always remain humble. Remember the people who assisted you along the way; be kind to everyone; and, most importantly, have faith in the God you believe in”.

Those were the inspiring words of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President, Hilbert Foster, at the 2nd annual Brian Ramphal Awards Ceremony staged by the BCB to honour West Indies Under-15 selectees Isaiah Thorne and Rampersaud Ramnauth.

The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 6 joined the BCB in honouring these two young Berbicians who would shortly be leaving for England with the touring party of the West Indies Under 15 Cricket Team.

Foster has sternly admonished the youths to be disciplined at all times, to be humble, and not to let fame get the better of them. Noting that Berbice is known by the cricketing legends it has produced, he urged the attentive duo to always fly the flag of

Regional Vice Chairman Dennis Deoroop presenting the bat to Isaiah Thorne

the Ancient County high, and pledged the BCB’s assistance in every step of their career development.

He pledged that, under his leadership, every

youth in Berbice would be given the opportunity to fulfill his/her full potential in spite of race, creed or status.

Region 6 Vice Chairman Dennis Deoroop has said the RDC is pleased to work along with the BCB, as the BCB is a perfect example of how a sports organisation should operate. Cricket, he said, is now one of the top financial earners for athletes, and he urged Thorne and Ramnauth to grab their opportunities with both hands.

Regional Chairman David Armogan, in a passionate speech as he recalled speaking to Indian Superstar Amitabh Bachchan during his visit to Guyana, said Bachchan had told him that he knew of Guyana only because of Rohan Kanhai.

Like the two other speakers, Armogan spoke of the importance of cultivating a culture of discipline and humility. He said the Regional Democratic Council would continue to invest heavily in sports, as it is a safe avenue for youths. He told the packed Port Mourant Community Centre Hall that the Berbice Cricket Board is privileged to have Hilbert Foster as its president because, like King Midas, everything and every project Foster touches turns, as it were, to gold.

Each of these West Indies selectees received from the RDC a cricket bat valued at $30,000.

Ramnauth also was declared the BCB Under-13

Regional Chairman David Armogan presenting the bat to Rampersaud Ramnauth

Player of the Year, while Thorne was adjudged the Most Promising Male Player. Both Players have expressed gratitude to the Berbice Cricket Board and the Regional Democratic Council for the bats, and each has pledged to make Berbice very proud of them.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

THURsday, JUNE 27, 2019

Chris Gayle reverses plans to retire after Cricket World Cup - wants Test recall

Chris Gayle has suggested he would be open to a return to Test cricket, and will not retire from ODIs after the World Cup

C

hris Gayle has apparently reconsidered his plans to retire from One-Day cricket after the World Cup; and has, moreover, declared himself amenable to playing Test cricket after being absent from that arena for five years.

The talismanic West Indies batsman had said he would end his 50-Over career after the ICC tournament, but speaking before Thursday’s match against India, this self-proclaimed “Universe Boss” appeared to have changed his mind. Whilst ruling himself out of the Twenty20I double-header to be played against India in Florida in August, the 39-year-old seemed to set his sights on the subsequent one-day International series, and most improbably a 104th Test cap.

Asked what lay ahead, he said: “Maybe a Test match against India; and then I’ll play -- definitely play -- the ODIs against India.

I won’t play the T20s. That’s my plan after World Cup. I still have a few games to

go, maybe another series to go, who knows?

We’ll see what happens.”

It is not known whether the national selectors see things the same way that Gayle does. While he retains that big-hitting power that has brought him more than 19,000 international runs, his mobility around the park has, for some time, been a cause for concern.

The idea of him performing throughout a five-day match for the first time since September 2014 seems fanciful, but with the second Test taking place on his home island of Jamaica, he perhaps views that as a fitting farewell to his two-decade-long international career.

His appearance in front of the gathered media at Old Trafford was less about the intricacies of the fixture ahead and more of a reflection on the life and times of one of the sport’s most colourful characters.

“In these next three games, I’d love to get a hundred,” he said. “But if it doesn’t happen, I can’t actually complain, or be too hard on myself. I’ve actually achieved a lot.

“I’m definitely up there with the greats, without a doubt. I enjoyed each and every moment playing for the West Indies. It’s been a lot of ups and downs, but I could not have had a better career as a player representing the West Indies,” he disclosed.

Gayle was invited to nominate a successor to act as a “mini Universe Boss” in the future, and though he was reticent to share the mantle, he had fond words for some of his teammates.

“Mini Universe Boss? That’s a serious name. But definitely the future is bright for West Indies cricket, without a doubt,” he said. “Nicholas Pooran is going to be a savage youngster; trust me on that one.

[Shimron] Hetmyer: his name has been calling in all forms of the game so far.

Carlos [Brathwaite] actually came of age and produced such a good innings. (He) got his first ODI 100 [against New Zealand] as well; so that’s fantastic. Trust me, it will be much, much better for them within their career going forward.” (The Guardian)

Commonwealth Cricket League…

Shivpersaud scores back-to-back half-centuries

T

wo outstanding players of the West Coast Warriors Cricket Club (WCWCC), a team which is currently engaged in the Commonwealth Cricket League being played in New York, are each making a fabulous contribution to their team’s success while individually making a name for themselves.

Having successfully represented the Zeeburg Cricket Club (ZCC) of West Coast Demerara in local tournaments staged in 2018 and 2019, Yutesh Dhanpaul and Balbiner Shivpersaud have now taken their cricketing brilliance to ‘The Big Apple’; where, in the Warriors’ sixth match, a 30over affair against the in-form Spring Valley Cricket Club, the ever reliable Shivpersaud again took his team over the line with an unbeaten half-century.

In this Commonwealth Cricket League, Shivpersaud has had scores of 24*, 19, 81*, 54, 56* and 59*. He currently has accumulated 289 runs in six innings, with his highest score being 81. He has scored 4 half-centuries and has recorded 4 unbeaten innings.

At the toss of the coin in the match between his team and Spring Valley Cricket Club, the latter team won the toss and elected to first bat the 30 overs allotted. They never got things going, and lost wickets at regular intervals, consequently being pegged back and forced to go on the defensive.

After winning five games in a stretch, WCWCC confidence was at an all-time high; and despite a resistant 52 from Jay Masspeht and 21 from Anthony Harris, Spring Valley were limited to 131-7 in their allotted 30 overs.

Bowling for WCWCC, Rajin Rahaman took 4 for 20 and Anil Sookdeo took 2 for 21.

Needing only 132 for victory off 180 balls, WCWCC started their chase in an aggressive manner. In the process, they lost Rasool Khan for a well-played 33.

Balbinder Shivpersaud was awarded for his fourth 50 in a row

Thereafter, the Shivpersaud and Dhanpaul show, as the batsmen at the crease, took centre stage, with Shivpersaud taking most of the strike as he blasted almost every ball to the boundary. Eventually, WCWCC achieved the target in 18.3 overs, ending their innings on 134-1, with Shivpersaud having played an unbeaten 58 and Dhanpaul having supported with a fine knock of 29 not out. Rajin Rahaman was adjudged ‘man of the match’ for his 4 for 20 in 6 overs.

GFF expresses gratitude for Gold Cup support

BCB Brian Ramphal Awards Ceremony

RHTY&SC Patron’s Fund donates $200,000 worth in cricket balls

T

Saying thanks! Guyana’s senior team and Head Coach Michael Johnson express their gratitude

RHTY&SC Executives Robby Kissoonlall and Keith Hicks pose with representatives of the Clubs after receiving the balls

T

he ten Cricket Teams of Guyana’s most active youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS on Sunday 23rd June, 2019, continued to make a positive contribution to the promotion of sports. The teams under the RHTYSC Patron’s Fund donated $200 000.00 worth of cricket balls and rain coats to thirteen clubs and groundsmen at the Albion and Port Mourant Cricket Grounds. The Patron’s Fund is a programme under which the cricket teams of the RHTYSC make a positive difference in tribute to its Patron His Excellency President David Granger on his birthday. The president on the 15th July, 2019 would be celebrating his 74th Birthday and the Club would be sharing out about $2M worth of cycles, school bags, cricket balls and cricket bats to youths across Berbice.

The Club with support from Mr. Suresh Jagmohan of S. Jagmohan Construction and his brother Joe Jagmohan of International Imports donated $150 000.00 of cricket balls which were shared out to the Clubs under the Patron’s Fund.

The Clubs receiving the balls were Albion Cricket Club, Fyrish Cricket Club, No. 73 Young Warriors, No. 72 Cut and Load, Rose Hall Tigers, Toopoo, Tamarind Root, Belvedere United, Tain Block 4, Big Star, Albion Open and East Bank Blazers.

The groundsmen at the Albion Community Centre and the Port Mourant Ground also benefitted from a donation of rain costs to assist them during the rainy season.

Secretary/CEO of the RHTYSC, MS Hilbert

Foster who is also the President BCB stated that one of the main objectives is to assist every Club in Berbice with a box of balls for the 2019 Cricket Season. The BCB, RHTYSC and former BCB President Anil Beharry last year assisted over 80 clubs with $1M worth of balls and Foster stated that for 2019, the RHTYSC has already assisted 33 clubs with balls. Beharry and Foster would both spearhead the raising of the remaining funds to assist the other clubs.

The energetic President also informed the gathering that before the end of the third quarter of 2019, Clubs would receive assistance in form of water pitchers and white T/Shirts. The BCB with the support of the RHTYSC has already assisted dozens of clubs with trophies, medals, prizes, stumps and score books. In its developmental programme as well, the BCB would also stand the cost of coaches for major clubs in Berbice to host cricket Academies during the August holidays.

The BCB is also making attempts to obtain large pitch covers that would be stored at the Albion Ground.

The ten cricket teams of the RHTYSC are Poonai Pharmacy Under-12 and Under-13, Farfan & Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Female, Namilco Thunderbolt Under-21 and First Division. The teams would like to express gratitude to Suresh and Joe Jagmohan for the sponsorship of the balls.

he Government of Guyana (GoG) has made a timely monetary contribution towards the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the Golden Jaguars’ inaugural sojourn at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA. This commitment was made even as Guyana wraps up its participation at the premier tournament with its final match today against Trinidad and Tobago in Kansas City.

President Wayne Forde, who is in the USA following the progress of the team, commented on the support given by the GoG and singled out the Hon. Dr. George Norton MP, Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sport for the role he played in making the investment possible: “The GFF wishes to express deep appreciation to the Government of Guyana and the Minister of Sport for this timely show of tangible support, which certainly empowers the programme and our desire to show the football world what Guyana is capable of. I can assure you that your partnership has given the players and technical staff a major boost knowing that the government is fully behind them in their quest to represent the Golden Arrowhead with pride in this historic journey.”

President Forde correspondingly said that the momentum built at the CONCACAF Gold Cup would be strengthened going forward reminding that Guyana will, in September, be contesting the CONCACAF Nations League ‘B’ competition, Group ‘G’, which also has Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda and Aruba.

Guyana’s first match would be away to Aruba on September 6.

“We look forward to the continued strengthening of this partnership with the Government and Ministry of Social Cohesion as we work to build a product that will fly the Golden Arrowhead with pride in both the male and female segments of our beautiful

sport.”

Following their final pre-match training last evening, Golden Jaguars’ Head Coach Michael Johnson, joined in expressing gratitude for the contribution: “On behalf of the Men’s Senior Team, everybody connected to Guyana, just want to say how much we appreciate your kind gesture in supporting the programme. It really does go a long way to ensure that we can do as best as we can to make the nation proud. So, from the bottom of our hearts, just one more time, thank you so much.”

The GFF, led by President Forde, had pulled out all the stops to ensure that Guyana was well prepared for their Group ‘D’ matches against defending champions, USA, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago by investing in an overseas camp, which saw the team travelling to Bermuda and Costa Rica where they engaged in friendly internationals against Bermuda and Haiti, the latter played in Costa Rica.

This investment came at a great cost to the GFF but President Forde disclosed that it was absolutely necessary given the fact that the CONCACAF Gold Cup is the pinnacle of rivalry in the confederation and therefore warranted the Federation giving the team the requisite high level of preparation.

Guyana’s flagship senior team, the ‘Golden Jaguars’ gave a very good account of themselves in their matches against CONCACAF powerhouse USA, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago, the three nations collectively playing well over 100 CONCACAF Gold Cup matches between them, Guyana playing a mere three.

While many felt that the only Englishspeaking country in South America was just at the CONCACAF Gold Cup to make up numbers, they were all pleasantly surprised by the level of play and passion exhibited by the Guyanese.

21 BCB honours outstanding officials, grounds staff, sponsors and media personnel guyanatimesgy.com

THURsday, JUNE 27, 2019

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spirituality & ASTROLOGY

“T

he success of Berbice Cricket over the last 17 months would not have been possible without the support of countless individuals who worked hard to make a positive difference.

“Our success is a collective effort, as no single person can claim sole praise; all of you deserve the highest praise. And as President of Guyana’s most dynamic cricket board, it is with great pride and honour that we recognise your contributions.

“Since I became president of this board, I have always stated that every hero, every sponsor and friend of Berbice would be made to feel special, as without you Berbice Cricket would be dead”.

Those were the sentiments shared by BCB president, Hilbert Foster, as the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) honoured more than 65 persons and companies for their outstanding contributions to Berbice Cricket during the period January 2018 to June

2019.

Twenty-three persons each received a Presidential Certificate of Excellence from Foster, along with a Medal of Excellence.

Those honoured were Orvin Mangru, Neil Rudder, Dr. Cecil Beharry, Angela Haniff, Sydney Jackman, Simon Naidu, Dennis D’Andrade, Vemen Walter, Ruthel Henry, Sylvia Autar, Lakeram Latchman, Leslie Solomon, Andre Percival, Delbert Hicks, Winston Smith, Mark Papannah, Tremayne Smartt, Roger Mc Donald, Anil Beharry, Qualis Winter, Moses and Jerome Inderdat, Malcolm Peters, Teka Pooran and David Black.

Foster said Pooran, Mc Donald and the Inderdats were honoured for their assistance at the Albion Ground, while Vemen Walter and Orvin Mangru were recognised for their cooperation as executives of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club and GuySuCo.

Rain provides soggy ending to Windies Women’s tour of England

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Action took place in only one T20 International

ain reigned supreme in the final match of the Vitality T20 International Series between the West Indies Women and England Women, preventing a single ball from being bowled, and even the toss could not be taken.

The first of this 3-match series had an exact outcome, and England had won the second match by 42 runs.

The West Indies Women were hoping to finish their UK tour on a winning note and head back to the Caribbean with a little wind in their sails. That was not to be, as rain commenced during the early morning, and despite a short respite, when play looked possible, the deluge returned, leav-

ing match officials with no choice but to declare the match abandoned.

As expected, Windies Women were disappointed at not being able to draw the series, but despite this most unexpected result, will return to the Caribbean with a better focus in terms of purpose and execution.

Karishma Ramharack, playing in only her second series for the West Indies Women, has said each player would reflect on the tour and work on improving their shortfalls in time for the next series.

The West Indies Women will host Australia for three One Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals in September. (CWI)

fter months of intense action, the highly anticipated ECCC/Neville Ramotar Memorial T/20 competition will come to an end on the East Coast of Demerara with the final four teams battling for supremacy on July 1 (CARICOM Day).

This final game of the tournament and the third place play-off games will be held at the Enmore Community Centre ground, and organizers are hoping that the weather remains favourable for

cricket, since two other competitions are slated to commence shortly on the Essequibo Coast.

This T/20 competition, played in memory of the late Enmore resident Neville Ramotar, commenced in April 2019 with 18 teams and with matches being played on a knockout basis. In the remaining games that precede the finals, Strathavon ‘B’ will battle Ogle CC on Saturday at 14:00 hrs at Ogle, with the winner taking on Lusignan East on Sunday at 9:30hrs at the

Special mention was made of Ruthel Henry, the Cleaner/Office Assistant at the Berbice Cricket Board’s offices, who has been a faithful worker for Berbice Cricket for over a decade; and of 19-year-old Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu, who Foster noted has spearheaded a very informative public relations campaign for the Berbice Cricket Board, including Facebook, television programmes and releases in the print and electronic media. Naidu, has over the last year, also spearheaded the physical organisation of every cricket final match and important Berbice Cricket Board events.

The Berbice Cricket Board also recognised the outstanding support it has received via wide spread media coverage from various media houses. Those honoured therefor were NCN Radio and Television, DTV-8, LRTVS CH10, TVG, Guyana Times, Guyana Chronicle, Stabroek News, Kaieteur

Executives of the BCB posing after the ceremony. CEO Hilbert Foster and Secretary Rabindranauth Saywack are in front row

News and News Room.

There was a long list of sponsors who were recognised for their contribution to the development of Berbice Cricket. Among them were Brian Ramphal, Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Da Silva’s Motor Spares, Mike’s Pharmacy, New York Business Group, Magic Moments (Sueria Manufacturing), Elizabeth Styles, Lindon Lewis, ANSA

McAL, Pepsi, Mohamed Raffik, Nand Persaud & Co. Ltd, RHTY&SC, MS, GNNL, GuySuCo, Vickram Suebarran, and Albion Community Centre Cricket Club.

The president reassured all the awardees that the Berbice Cricket Board would always put cricket first, and would work unselfishly to lift the game in the Ancient County even higher.

Professional Regal Masters ready for ‘Big Apple’ title defence

D

efending New York Softball Cricket League Masters champions, Regal Masters, have completed their preparations in Guyana ahead of the 2019 New York Independence Cup, and are confident of bringing back the ‘eagle.’

The side, comprising over-45- year-old players, had its final warm-up match last Sunday at Everest; and after the match, tour captain Mohendra Arjune informed the media that his side has ticked all its boxes for a successful [defence] in the ‘Big Apple.’

“We had some rain (in Guyana) but, overall, we had some field work. We had a look at everybody, but when we land in New York we will assemble again to finetune our tactics,” Arjune disclosed.

Regal Masters took the ‘Eagle’ in 2018 when they beat New York Better Hope in the final at Roy Wilkins Park, and the skipper has said his side has players with international experience who will be using their professionalism to set them apart from the competition.

“On the field we are ready. All we have to do now is to polish off the tour by being professional in everything we do on and off the

field.

“Every team wants to beat us, but we are ready,” the right handed all-rounder said.

Other members of the championship-winning side also expressed optimism at doing well, including team owner Mahendra Arjune, who is leaving no stone unturned as he looks for another major title.

“The guys are ready; so when we get to New York, we will hit the ground running and continue from where we left off last year, and once again take the title. However, we know it is cricket, and anything can happen; so we will take it one game at a time, but still keep our eyes on the prize,” Hardyal posited.

The multi-dimensional Throy Kippins offered few words, but had a strong message, “We are going to play hard cricket, and to win.

We [are] proud to be representing the Regal brand and Guyana. This title is we own.”

The Regal Masters also won this trophy -- shaped like an eagle, in 2016 -- and were runners-up in 2015 and 2017. They will start as favourites when the tournament begins on Friday, June 28.

The tournament compris-

es three categories: Open, Masters (Over 45 years old) and Legends (Over 50 years old). Fishermen Masters are the other Guyanese team in the 3-day tournament, and are also in the Masters category.

A total of 24 teams, eight per category, are expected to be in action from Guyana, New York, Florida, Canada and other parts of the USA. Over the three days from June 28 to 30, the action will be taking place at the Roy Wilkins Park, Canarsie, and Baisley Pond Park.

Regal Masters obtained support from Industrial Supplies of Guyana (ISG), Star Party Rentals, Ink Plus, Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Regal Sport, and Crown Mining for the trip.

The full squad reads: Mahendra Hardyal, Mohendra Arjune, Eric Thomas, Throy Kippins, Eon Abel, Fazleem Mohamed, David Harper, Parsram Persaud, Ramesh Deonarine, Unnis Yusuf, Lloyd Ruplall, Mahendranauth Parsnauth, Rudolph Baker, Laurie Singh and Lynden Lyght. Clive Grimmond (Coach), Divesh Ramjattan (Manager) and John Ramsingh (Media Liaison Officer).

Fairfield SC at Enmore.

The winners of these two games will then face off at Enmore at 14:00 hrs, while the better of the two losers would battle Enterprise BSC at Lusignan in the semi-finals at 14:00 hrs.

Meanwhile, Enmore CCCC has advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating Lusignan last Sunday at the Lusignan ground. Batting first in a game reduced to 15 overs due to rain, ECCCC were dismissed in the last over for 128. Imran Hassan with 42, Chris Surat with

28, and Vishwanauth Ramlakhan with 21 led with the scoring.

Lusignan, in reply, folded for 83 in the last over, as Yuvraj Dyal and Imran Hassan bagged 3 wickets for 16 runs and 2 wickets for 3 runs respectively.

The final and thirdplace games will be played on Monday at Enmore as part of the Enmore Community Centre’s BarB-Que and fund-raising event. Entrance to the venue is free.

GUYANA ECCC/Neville Ramotar Memorial Knockout T/20 Finals set for Caricom Day TIMES A in your area?

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Circulation Department on Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 55

Bhaskar Yadram will be keen on taking his team to the finals

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Enmore CCCC would also be coming up against

22

THURsday, JUNE 27, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Noble House Indoor Tournament

Hikers strike 21 for historic win

Aroydy Branford (18) as he netted one of his eleven goals

T

uesday evening’s matches of the 2019 Noble House “Goals Galore” Indoor Hockey Championships witnessed the first showing of the mighty PEPSI Hikers, who amassed the highest total of goals for a single match, with 21 to signal a real threat to their opposition.

Apart from the Hikers, GCC and Saints also had productive evenings in both male and female competitions.

The PEPSI Hikers, boast-

ing a plethora of senior national players, seemed to be on cruise control as they crafted goal after goal against the junior YMCA OFHC Champs. With the Champs beginning on a 12-goal handicap, the Hikers pulled within two by the half, and then continued their dominance in the second half en route to a victory of 21 goals to 12.

Prolific striker Aroydy Branford was the standout of the match, as his total of 11 in a single game is unmatched

in the tournament so far.

A fit and fast YMCA OFHC Top Form indeed seemed to be in top form as they took on the seasoned Hikers Generals. With Top Form beginning on a 5-goal handicap to the Generals 9, they first needed to make up a four-goal deficit to draw even.

Top Form earned a penalty corner in just the second minute of play, and it was converted with much aplomb by marksman Omar Hopkinson in what seemed like the beginning of a long and difficult match for the Generals. The seasoned Generals, however, led by former national Devin Munroe, stemmed the tide and held Top Form scoreless for the rest of the half.

The second half of play seemed a carbon copy of the first, as Hopkinson slammed home a second penalty corner goal two minutes after resumption, but was unable to produce any further goals for the match. The final outcome saw the Generals strolling off with a 9-7 victory.

GCC Vintage chalked up their second win of the competition by defeating the YMCA OFHC Pacesetters by a 1513 margin. While Vintage enjoyed a five-goal handicap,

they still needed six goals just to draw even with the Pacesetters, who had a handicap of eleven goals.

Veterans Dwayne Scott and Alan Fernandes led the charge for Vintage, who made up the deficit before the end of the first half, and cruised to victory in the second.

The ladies’ competition saw two close matches, with the unbeaten GBTI GCC Spice, with zero handicap, facing the Bingo Spartans, with five goals. From the opening whistle, the Tigers applied pressure on their junior opponents, and Dacia Woodroffe’s opening penalty corner goal in the fifth minute signalled their intent to win.

Skilful striker Gabriella Xavier added a second for the Tigers four minutes later, moving the score to 2-5 still in favour of the defensive Spartans. A surprise overlapping run however, from left back Makeda Harding, saw her pouncing on a rebound and scoring against the run of play for the Spartans.

Not to be outdone, Macaela Harding, opponent and sister of Makeda, nudged the GBTI ladies one step further with her field goal scored

Saints Captain Tekeisha Deleon controls the ball against Tamala Glenn of Bellatrix

two minutes before lemon time.

The second half saw some good counterattacks from the Spartans, but the Tigers dominated the score sheet with three more goals: being a Xavier double and a single from Woodroffe. The highly contested match between the two undefeated sides saw their unbeaten records remain intact, as the final score read 6-6.

The Saints ladies, with a five-goal handicap, took to

the court for the first time in the other female matchup of the evening against the YMCA OFHC Bellatrix with a nine-goal handicap.

Captain and national striker Tekeisha Deleon led from the front for Saints, scoring a helmet trick (four goals) for her side while young speedster Charlia Webb added a single.

The five unanswered goals, the last of which came in the final minute, saw Saints edge the Bellatrix by 10 goals to their 9.

Guyanese women cricketers deserve more opportunities in Windies colours

Tremayne Smartt

By Brandon Corlette

A

fter a disastrous series against England in the United Kingdom, West Indies Women will have to examine themselves on their way back to the drawing board. The Caribbean Women team suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the One Day International (ODI) series, and lost the threematch T20 International series 1-0.

In four matches on that tour in England, no West Indian Women surpassed 100 runs in those four innings. Chedean Nation was the leading batter with a par 98; while Stacy Ann King

scored 69 runs. Despite rain affecting the series, West Indies Women displayed a poor batting effort.

The first ODI saw England defeating West Indies by 208 runs, their largest defeat in history.

Then the English registered a thumping 121-run defeat against West Indies in a match determined by the Duckworth-Lewis system.

England then signed off with a 135-run win in that series, then went on to win the lone T20 match by 42 runs, as the others were abandoned because of rain.

In that tour to England, only one Guyanese wore the maroon colours, the sea-

soned Shemaine Campbelle.

Like most on that tour, the Berbician failed, and even sat out the starting XI at times. Campbelle was among the most prolific batters in the Regional female tournaments earlier this year, where she scored 211 runs in the 50-over format at an average of 42.2, including a century against Jamaica.

In addition to Campbelle’s explosive work with the bat, Erva Giddings, her fellow Berbician, was easily the best seam bowler. Giddings, who bagged 10 wickets in the 50-over format and scored 70 runs in the lower order, should have been given her opportunity at the top level.

She has proven her con-

sistency at the Regional level year after year, and with her left arm swing she would have been a great asset to the team, considering the English conditions.

Meanwhile, Sheneta Grimmond who was picked for the World T20 in the latter part of 2018, has not yet made it back to the West Indies Women squads after sustaining an injury on the buildup to the tournament.

With Deandra Dottin ruled out with injury, Britney Cooper was her replacement.

Cooper was tasked with an unfamiliar role, opening the batting along with Hayley Matthews.

Once an out-of-favour Windies player, Cooper scored 57 runs in her six

Shabika Gajnabi

Erva Giddings

Sheneta Grimmond

innings on tour, struggling to adapt at the top of the innings. Meanwhile, Grimmond was in the training squad, and she is a specialist opener who would have quickly adapted to playing at the top of the innings.

The next Guyanese player who should have been given an opportunity on tour is Shabika Gajnabi. This young Berbician has been making great strides wearing the tag as the most promising female player in the Caribbean. Gajnabi has been involved in training camps, but is yet to be given her maiden opportunity in the final squad.

Guyanese female cricketers continue to hurt by this type of treatment. The experienced Tremayne Smartt, who is a good seam bowler, has proved her credentials with the bat in the Regional tournaments, but has not gained the opportunity for higher representation.

Cricket West Indies have promised to invest in Women’s cricket after captain Stafanie Taylor lashed out; these women require a fair opportunity in West Indies cricket.

After that poor performance in England, changes must be made for the upcoming Home Series and the 2021 Women’s World Cup.

Georgetown Turf Club marks July 7 meet

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he Georgetown Turf Club will be catering to the appetite of horseracing fans especially on the East Bank of Demerara on Sunday, July 7, when it stages a meet at the Mocha Arcadia race track after hosting a successful pre-Mashramani Gymkhana event there in March. That meet is slated to commence at 13:00 hrs.

In a sit-down with Guyana Times Sport, Horse

Racing Promoter Compton Sancho said, “The track is placed within the ideal area, as everyone can come out and enjoy a packed day of action. We are currently in preparation for the event, but the weather has been a constant bother. We are hoping for it to ease, so we can complete the full works, such as repairing of the grand stand, the rails and the gates.

“So, should the weather ease its hands, we will be going straight into those ar-

eas as time draws closer for the July 7 event, as it will be bigger and better that the last event that was held.”

Sancho has said the venue would ideally facilitate people living at the new Herstelling Housing Scheme witnessing horse racing action. He said the main goal is to reintroduce horse racing in Demerara County, since most horse racing events are kept in Berbice and it is costly for individuals to travel so far.

The promoter disclosed

that the event would also feature some of Guyana’s top horses coming out to participate as they battle for supremacy.

Sancho said, “I would like to thank the horse racing fans for their support; and the sponsors, for always coming on board and making these events a success.

We at the Georgetown Turf Club promise to keep horse meets as regularly as possible, so that people can be comfortable and enjoy horse racing in Demerara.”

guyanatimesgy.com

THURsday, JUNE 27, 2019

CONCACAF Gold Cup…

23

T&T stifle Jaguars’ roar

The Jaguars celebrate Neil Danns’ 54th minute goal

By Jemima Holmes

I

ndeed, a draw is better than two losses but the surprise last minute goal from Trinidad and Tobago will haunt the Golden Jaguars for a long time and leave the team wondering, what if?

It was Guyana’s final Gold Cup 2019 game, coming up against an all too familiar opponent, Trinidad and Tobago.

While the two Caribbean neighbours have battled each other on the football field on countless occasions, the last game which was equally crucial to Wednesday evening’s Gold Cup encounter was a CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying fixture, which Guyana won by a 2-1 margin.

Fast forward to 2019, the Jaguars who had shown a

trace of ‘winner’ potential in their first two games against USA and Panama, were said to be ‘buoyant’ and ready to take on their CARICOM confederates at the Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas.

As promised by Head Coach Johnson, the starting XI saw a few fresh faces with locals Pernell Shultz and Sheldon Holder being featured. Captain Samuel Cox, Terrence Vancooten, Ronayne Marsh Brown, Neil Danns, Daniel Kadell, Elliot Bonds, Anthony Jeffrey, and Keanu Marsh Brown were all a part of the trusted XI, while Goal keeper Quillian Roberts was given the opportunity to be the goal’s custodian for the first time in this Gold Cup. The fresh faced XI seemed to work well but the highlight

was Goal Keeper Quillian Roberts who had three superb saves for the half. The Trinidadian’s were warned early that Robert was about his business in the 29th when he did a full stretch left to deflect what would have been Trinidad and Tobago’s first goal. Roberts was on his P’s and Q’s for the remainder of the half, stretching and diving at exactly the right moment to keep the Trinidadians goalless. Meanwhile, the same crisp playing did not transcend to the Guyanese forwards, who did not have the best opening half.

Between the sloppy forward passes and Holder being out of range of every incoming ball, Guyana did not have as many chances at the goal as their Caribbean counterparts.

This shortcoming would come back to haunt the Jaguars in the final minutes of the game, where they found themselves hunting a late goal, to no avail.

The second half had different things in store for the boys from the ‘Land of Many Waters’, who looked much more alert, than in the first 45 minutes. It seems as though Neil Danns is the man with the Golden boot for the Jaguars, having scored Guyana’s first ever Gold Cup goal and two others Danns’ third goal and the first of this game came when he began inserting himself in the forward positions for Guyana, thus opening scoring opportunities. A brilliant shot of Danns’ right foot made it way to the corner of the cross

Quillian Roberts had a superb night in the nets

Emery Welshman takes on the Trinidadian defence all at once

bar and then into the net to give Guyana the advantage.

After much celebration, the Jags held on to the lead for the majority of the half but their worst nightmare was yet to come through. Kevin Molino, playing for the Twin Island Republic, had made himself know on several occasions throughout the game, however Molino was now about to etch his name onto the score sheet as he charged in to challenge Goalkeeper, Roberts.

For the first time in 80 minutes, Quillian Roberts found the ball out of his grasp as it made it’s way into the goal. Try as Brandon Beresford did, he could not assist the goal keeper in redirecting the ball and as such, Trinidad equalized with 13 minutes of play remaining.

From this point on, the intensity of the game heightened but spectators were not treated to another goal and the neighbors had to settle for a draw. Even with a drawn result, it meant good news for the Golden Jaguars; they finished third in their Group (D) in their first ever Gold Cup campaign.

This third place is even more significant given the fact that Trinidad and Tobago are experienced campaigners at the Gold Cup. Guyana securing their first ever Gold Cup points against the ‘Soca Warriors’ is another positive that can be taken away.

The Guyana Golden Jaguars will now turn their attention to the CONCACAF Nations League which will be contested in the later months of the year.

CWC 2019…

Disconsolate West Indies face uphill challenge

J

ason Holder has been caught by surprise by Chris Gayle’s reversal of his retirement plans. He heard from the media manager what Gayle had said minutes before in the press conference, and he even managed a quick laugh about it, but he played it cool and revealed that he’d have a serious conversation with Gayle.

No fuss.

It’s an attitude of outward calm that cannot be mistaken for lack of interest.

Gayle feels the disappointment of not building on their win against Pakistan. So does Holder.

“It’s been two crushing defeats, and we felt them drastically over the past couple of days; but it’s a situation where learning must take place. I think it’s significant for everybody just to draw on their own resources

and look at themselves in the mirror and try to make sure that learning takes place,” were Holder’s words ahead of their game against India.

It reflected what Gayle wants from his younger team members as well. He wants the likes of Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran to not waste away starts. They cannot afford to do that with wins at a premium now for qualification. And they’d know that they’ll have a good chance even against an unbeaten Indian team.

The unbeaten tag that hovers big over the Indian team covers over some vulnerabilities that can as yet be exploited. Kohli insisted that the morale was high after avoiding a banana peel of a game against Afghanistan.

There’s no reason to doubt that, but can the team continue to give the loss column

West Indies’ chances of progressing hang by a thin thread

a slip despite not being at their best consistently?

What to expect: The forecast is for a clear day, which augurs well for the game.

The pitch has a dry look to it, which means that the spinners could come into play if the sun stays out for a good part of the day.

India: There’s unlikely to be any change to the team

with Bhuvneshwar Kumar still working his way back to fitness. He has been bowling under the watchful eyes of the bowling coach and physios in the days leading up to the game, but Mohammed Shami’s outstanding performance in the previous game makes it an easy decision for the selectors.

Probable XI: Rohit

Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah West Indies: Holder revealed that they’d wait on taking a decision on Evin Lewis until the morning of the game, but he also said that nothing had come out of the scans.

Probable XI: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Sheldon Cotterell, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas -> Chris Gayle (10290) is on the verge of becoming West Indies’ highest run-getter in ODI cricket; he is 59 away from overtaking Brian Lara.

-> West Indies last beat India in a World Cup encounter in 1992.

-> Virat Kohli’s last six innings vs West Inides: 111*, 140, 157*, 107, 16 & 33* “We’ve shown glimpses here and there of what we can produce. And as a side we just haven’t brought it together collectively, more often than not. And it’s hurt us in games before. So tomorrow is another opportunity for us to bring it all together and play a perfect game,” Jason Holder said.

“They’re an outstanding side, and they play real positive cricket. We are aware of the challenges that exist in this game, and I think our plans are pretty much in place and we are up for the challenge,” said Bharat Arun, India’s bowling coach on West Indies (Cricbuzz)

National Senior Championships

Men’s 100m at National Seniors set to be a scorcher T he marquee event at this year’s National Senior Championships, on June 29 and 30 at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, will undoubtedly be the men’s 100 metres.

With multiple reports confirming 400m National record holder Winston George’s participation in the men’s 100m, along with the return of Emmanuel Archibald from Jamaica, the synthetic surface at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora might

need a fire tender on standby.

Add to this mix the local feud between Davin ’Black Boy’ Fraser of the Guyana Police Force and the GDF’s Akeem Stewart and you have one combustible 100m final on Saturday.

There is also the threat posed by the dark horse in the upand-coming sprint sensation Loneil Marks, who is on a path to prove that he simply faltered at the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Games; while the potential greased light-

Guyanese Winston George is one of those contenders eyeing a podium position in the 100m event

ning Rupert Perry is back, after taking some time off from the sport.

All competitors have their various attributes: George has his finishing speed, Archibald has his incomparable acceleration phase, Stewart has his powerful starts, Perry has his raw power, Fraser has his indomitable will, and Marks has his enthusiasm; and these will all make for an interesting 100m final, along with the fact that sheer ego would make nobody willing to lose in the final.

Regardless of the outcome on Saturday, one thing is certain: the men’s 100 metre final will be one of the best in a long time, and nobody is earmarked a clear winner. That alone will provide some thrilling action for the National Senior Championships.

Action in these championships will be run off from 9am on Saturday and Sunday; and with an entry fee of only $300, pity the individual who would deny him/ herself this sumptuous treat in athletics.

THURsday, JUNE 27, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CONCACAF Gold Cup 2019…

Page 23

T&T stifle Jaguars’ roar

Disconsolate West Indies face uphill challenge

Page 23

Guyanese women cricketers deserve more opportunities in Windies colours

Page 22

West Indies’ chances of progressing hang by a thin thread

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