Guyana Times Thursday May 2, 2019

Rights of consumers in a ‘digital economy’ take centre stage P11 ...as 21st CI World Congress opens in Portugal Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3911

THE BEACON OF TRUTH thursday, MAY 2, 2019

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Canada “disappointed” over Guyana’s Govt honouring convicted terrorist

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WHAT'S INSIDE: Tullow promises strong local content policy should wells be successful

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Telecommunications Ministry awarded See story on page 7 contract to Minister’s company Labour Day rally

Opposition, Govt clash over dismissed sugar workers, unemployment rate Page 13

Region 1 farmers in need of training – agriculturist P12 Guyana concerned about Venezuela crisis – Govt P2

High Court P15 asked to remove Thomas, Heath-Retemyer from SARA

Caricom urges US to maintain duty-free market access

…workers struggling to keep their heads above water – union As Guyana celebrated Labour Day on Wednesday, hundreds of workers joined their unions in a march through the streets of Georgetown and culminated at the National Park for a joint rally

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Venezuelans rally in rival protests as crisis intensifies

Bandits kill Parika businessman during home Page invasion 2

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NA pensioner chops home intruder

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THURsday, may 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bandits kill Parika businessman during home invasion

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Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) businessman was killed on Tuesday night when bandits invaded his home and shot him to his chest.

Dead is Somdat Ramgobin, 46, also known as “Rakesh”, a grocery shop owner.

According to reports, two bandits entered the man’s home just after he had closed his business about 21:00h and asked

for him. The man’s sister revealed that she was informed by her brother’s friend, Ravi Gonsalves, who was at the home at the time of the robbery, that the two men entered and asked him for the businessman by name. After forcing Gonsalves to lie on the ground, one of the perpetrators who was brandishing a gun began calling out for “Rakesh”. Unaware of what was transpiring out-

side, Ramgobin responded, but was immediately struck with a glass bottle by one of the bandits. Reports are that the now dead man was severely beaten to his head and about his body and was then dragged inside where the bandits demanded cash.

Ramgobin’s sister revealed that her brother had about $600,000 in the house at the time of the robbery. “I does stay with him four days a week, because he lives alone

so I know he had that money,” the woman explained.

She related that Gonsalves recounted that the men were unsatisfied and demanded jewellery, but after being told that there was none, they took Ramgobin to a bedroom in his house, where they shot him to his chest. The bandits then quickly made good their escape in a white motor car which was parked outside the house.

“People said that they saw the car, but nobody ain’t really paid attention to it; until after the thing happen, then they realised,” the grieving sister revealed.

This newspaper was told that after the men left, Gonsalves ran out of the house and sounded an alarm; however, by that time Ramgobin had already succumbed.

The matter was reported to the Police, who visited

Dead: Somdat Ramgobin, called “Rakesh”

the scene. An investigation has been launched.

Guyana concerned about Venezuela crisis – Govt T

he Guyana Government has expressed concerns over new developments in neighbouring Venezuela, where the unrest has worsened in recent days.

In a statement on Wednesday, Government said it is following and paying keen attention to the evolution of events in Venezuela.

It noted particularly, the potential for grave consequences both for its civilian population, and for the peace and security of Latin America and the Caribbean as a result of events there.

“Guyana reiterates its rejection of violence and the threat or use of force as acceptable means for the resolution of conflict, and calls

upon all parties involved to vigorously pursue the search for a peaceful and democratic solution to the crisis for the benefit and wellbeing of the Venezuelan people,” the Government added in the statement.

The standoff between President Nicolás Maduro and Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó has escalated and sparked renewed violence and unrest in Venezuela, which has been undergoing economic turmoil for more than five years.

On Tuesday, Guaidó, who has been recognised as the interim leader by most countries around the world, called for an uprising to oust Maduro from the presidency. However, Maduro, who

is being backed by Russia and China following a 2018 elections that were marred by fraud, claimed he had stopped an “attempted coup”.

Tuesday’s heightened unrest is said to be the most violent episode of the Venezuelan political crisis this year. Local reports revealed that some 69 people were injured in the clashes, including two with bullet wounds.

Video footage from international new agencies show large Amy tanks driving into and running over street protesters on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, Guaidó on Wednesday renewed calls for his supporters to return to the streets as the standoff between the two sides con-

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó, who many nations have recognised as the country’s rightful interim ruler, gestures as he speaks to supporters during a rally against the government of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and to commemorate May Day in Caracas Venezuela

Demonstrators in front of a burning military vehicle during clashes with security forces (Reuters photo)

tinue for power.

In recent years, Venezuela has been experiencing worsened economic turmoil following the decline of oil prices on the world market. The country is now in its fifth consecutive year of recession, with hyperinflation at an all-time high.

Reports coming out of the Spanish-speak State reveal that there is massive food shortage and limited access to basic health care and basic amenities such as electricity in certain parts.

Additionally, there continues to be rampant outbursts of looting and violence across some of the most affected cities in the neighbouring country. These conditions have forced millions to flee the country, with thousands seeking refuge in Guyana.

Meanwhile, there seems to be international divide

on the political situation in the South American nation, which has given birth to a parallel government, putting the nation into unchartered territory – with two presidents.

Following snap elections in May 2018, Nicolás Maduro – who has lead the oil-rich nation since 2013 into its worst economic free fall – was re-elected President for another six-year term. But the elections were held with widespread boycott and with claims of rigging. However, attempts to challenge the polls by the Opposition were banned by the pro-Maduro Supreme Court. Hence his assumption to office on January 10.

The Venezuelan Constitution allows citizens to rebel against a Government that takes power from the legislative

branch and gives the head of that branch the authority to become an interim President in the absence of an elected one. Hence the recognition of Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó as President.

The 35-year-old declared himself interim leader in January, receiving the backings from a large number of countries such as the United States and Canada as well as majority of Latin American and South American nations, including Venezuela’s neighbours Brazil and Colombia.

But Guyana had steered clear of throwing support behind either sides.

Meanwhile, Maduro – who still enjoys control over the courts, central bank and the military – has gotten the backing of Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua along with several other Middle East countries.

3 Canada “disappointed” over Guyana’s Govt honouring convicted terrorist T news

THURsday, may 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, May 2 – a night retraction at 03:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, May 3 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, May 2 – 15:15h-16:45h and Friday, May 3 – 15:50h-17:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers in the morning are expected to give way to light cloudy skies in the afternoon.

Partly cloudy skies with light rain showers can be expected in the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 02:59h and 15:18h reaching maximum heights of 2.49 metres and 2.52 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:53h and 21:09h reaching minimum heights of 0.70 and 0.67 metres.

Tuesday, april 30, 2019

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he Canadian High Commission has become the latest in a number of diplomatic delegations to criticise the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government for honouring convicted terrorist Abdul Kadir.

On Wednesday, the Government of Canada made its position known through its High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjeet, who in a statement said that Canada was “disappointed” in the fact that members of the National Assembly would pay tribute to Kadir, a convicted terrorist. The statement comes days after the Government passed a motion, in the absence of the Opposition, in the National Assembly paying tribute to the convicted terrorist and former parliamentarian. Canada has joined the United States, Britain and European Union delegations, which have condemned the Guyana Administration’s actions.

Meanwhile, Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, who is Government’s Chief Whip in the National Assembly, in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the Labour Day march on Wednesday, said that with all the criticisms on the issue, Government will have to review how sympathy motions are done.

Canada’s criticism comes in the wake of rebukes from not only the diplomatic community but from a wide cross-section of Guyanese.

On Monday, the US, had in a strong statement, condemned the motion to honour Kadir which was passed in the National Assembly on Friday.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregory Quinn, threw his support behind the US Embassy’s statement, noting in a tweet on Monday that the Government’s actions were inappropriate. The EU also came out against the Government’s actions.

In a statement on its Guyanese mission website, the EU delegation expressed surprise that the Government would honour someone convicted of terrorism. The EU wrote that eulogising a person convicted of terrorist acts was inappropriate.

Opposition condemnation

Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjeet

Meanwhile, the Opposition – People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) – has since denounced the act by the Government, saying that such a motion is another act of betrayal of democracy and the rule of law.

In a stinging statement on Saturday evening, the PPP said the move by Government to pass such a motion was clearly not reflective of the will of the people of Guyana.

The Party, which boycotted the sitting as the Government’s very legality is to be decided by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which is hearing no-confidence related cases next month, said that the People’s National Congress (PNC) had a “history of honouring and exonerating violent criminals.

Linden “Blackie” London, whose reign of terror ended when he was killed in a shootout with law enforcement services of Guyana, was honoured by PNC leaders, who infamously draped his coffin with Guyana’s national flag, the Golden Arrowhead. In addition, the five prison escapees who wreaked havoc and were

President David Granger

Convicted terrorist Abdul Kadir

responsible for murder, mayhem, and an unprecedented crime wave were dubbed ‘freedom fighters’ by many leaders of the PNC”.

May 2006, and to the people of Guyana.

“The people of Linden and Guyana have lost a great man, a stalwart, a bold and courageous man. So I ask this National Assembly that we direct an expression of sympathy (to) be conveyed to his sorrowing widow, children, grandchildren, and relatives,” Minister AdamsYearwood said as she tabled the motion, which was eventually carried in the absence of the PPP/C Opposition.

Kadir, a former PNC MP and Mayor of Linden, died back in June 2018 in a penitentiary in the United States of America, where he had been serving a life sentence for plotting a 2007 terror attack at the John F Kennedy International Airport, New York.

Motion

The motion – Sympathy on the Death of Mr Abdul Kadir, former Member of Parliament – was tabled by Junior Agriculture Minister Valerie Adams-Yearwood in Parliament on April 26, and was moved under Government business.

The motion states: “Be it resolved that this National Assembly records its deep regret on the death of Mr Abdul Kadir on 28th June, 2018, and pays tribute to his dedicated service to the Parliament of Guyana as a Member of Parliament, where he served in the Eighth Parliament, from 17th April 2001 to 2nd

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THURsday, MAY 2, 2019

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

Tarnishing Guyana’s image

G

uyanese were astonished after learning that the APNU/AFC Government used taxpayers’ money and the hallowed halls of the National Assembly to posthumously honour one of their former Members of Parliament (MP), Abdul Kadir, who was convicted for terrorism. Kadir, who was charged for plotting to bomb the John K Kennedy International Airport in New York, died while serving a life sentence in a United States penitentiary.

To merely state that the charges against Kadir were serious would be a gross understatement, especially in the context of the bombing of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre, also in New York. That event, which resulted in the deaths of close to three thousand persons, arguably has the most global impact since the Second World War. For sure, it drastically changed international travel requirements and airport security across the planet.

That puts a better perspective to the seriousness of Kadir’s charges and ultimate conviction. Had he been successful in what he was convicted for, more lives would have been lost on US soil. For the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Government to therefore use a sitting of the highest decisionmaking forum in the country to shower praise on a criminal, especially given what he was convicted for, reeks of utter disrespect for both Guyanese and Americans including those who perished at the hands of terrorists.

As expected, it was condemned by Guyanese and the United States Government. For many, especially young people, the Government’s action to honour Kadir may seem bizarre and even unbelievable in the context of rationality. Following the forthright condemnation by the US, the Government sought to explain that its action was in keeping with parliamentary tradition to honour the services of MPs. It also noted its regret over the US’ interpretation.

While honouring MPs is a noble gesture, the Government may have conveniently forgotten that Kadir was convicted for a criminal offence which may have rendered him expelled by default.

Many are now questioning how such a motion was tabled given Government’s legal expertise not the least, the Attorney General.

That aside, the Kadir parliamentary motion was not the first instance that the People’s National Congress (PNC) would have embraced criminal elements.

Its relationship with Rabbi Edward Washington while in Government prior to 1992, readily comes to mind. Washington was the Leader of the House of Israel here; an organisation described as a cult. Reportedly, before coming to Guyana, Washington, or David Hill as he was known, was found guilty for blackmail and sentenced to serve a 4-25-year term in Cleveland, Ohio. In another trial, a Chicago grand jury found him guilty of grand theft felony charges.

Here, he found a comfortable place seemingly through the courtesy of the PNC. During that oppressive regime, many Guyanese who opposed and fought for freedom and democracy had thugs unleased upon them, believably by Washington reportedly at the PNC’s bidding. Many were brutally assaulted and in the case of Father Bernard Darke, a photographer for the Catholic Standard, he was stabbed and killed on Brickdam while covering a protest again the PNC Government.

Despite the cries, what many victims related and the belief of Guyanese then, Washington appeared untouchable under the Forbes Burnham Government. Many remain convinced that the suspected relationship between a convicted US felon, Washington, and the PNC, which is now the dominant party in the current coalition Government, led to many other acts of violence unleashed on Guyanese. Those familiar with that aspect of our history may therefore not be so surprised at the honouring of Kadir.

While Washington may not have been honoured in Parliament like Kadir, he was allowed to be his own king even with a weekly programme on the national radio station. He was eventually charged and convicted under the Desmond Hoyte Administration following Burnham’s death. That, however, cannot erase the horror inflicted on the memories and minds of the victims during that dark period. But such association between the PNC and criminals didn’t end with Washington’s incarceration.

In Opposition, it’s then leader, Hoyte, attended the funeral of the feared criminal Linden “Blackie” London, whose coffin was draped with the Guyana flag during the ceremony at the Square of the Revolution; a place synonymous with PNC gatherings. “Blackie”, who was wanted by the authorities, was killed during an extended heavy exchange of gunfire between him and law enforcement in 2000. Just two years after on Mashramani Day, five bandits escaped from the Camp Street Prison.

A reign of terror ensued instilling fear across the land through robberies, some of which led to the deaths of victims. They took an East Coast village to ransom and set chilling examples by killing suspected informants and burnt homes in their rampage. They brandished heavy weapons in videos reportedly captured by a few believably associated with the PNC. They were even given the title of “freedom fighters” by some defenders of that party.

While such relationships seemingly flourished over time and for which some from the younger generation may be oblivious, it was at the expense of the ordinary citizens. Similar for the Kadir motion as taxpayers’ monies were spent and the country’s international image tarnished with possible repercussions. What this latest incident shows is the PNC’s seeming ongoing penchant to embrace criminal elements. Would Kadir be the last?

People drive their motorcycles near a burnt bus during anti-government protests, in Caracas, Venezuela (Reuters photo)

Venezuelans rally in rival protests as crisis intensifies

...tension rises between US and Russia

V

enezuelans heeded Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó’s call to take to the streets on Wednesday in a bid to force President Nicolás Maduro from power, but there was little sign of any concrete effects on what increasingly looked like a political stalemate.

The standoff increased tensions between the United States and Russia, who accused each other of interference in the OPEC-member nation’s affairs, however.

Guaidó had called for the “largest march” in Venezuela’s history and said on Twitter that “millions of Venezuelans” were in the streets in “this final phase” of his move to oust Maduro.

But by late afternoon, many of the protesters in the capital Caracas were drifting home. Despite Guaidó’s calls for the military to support him, the armed forces leadership has so far remained loyal to Maduro, who has been in power since 2013.

The Venezuelan Opposition has often staged huge street protests against Maduro but has failed to dislodge him despite a deep economic recession and hyperinflation. Guaidó faces a challenge to keep up the momentum.

Under a scorching sun early on Wednesday, supporters banged drums and carried Venezuelan flags and banners proclaiming “freedom.” Some protesters in Caracas, their faces covered in shirts, threw projectiles from an overpass at National Guard officers be-

low, who responded by firing tear gas canisters.

“If the regime thought we had reached maximum pressure, they cannot even imagine,” Guaidó told thousands of cheering supporters. “We have to remain in the streets.”

Some supporters are frustrated that nothing has changed more than three months after Guaidó, head of the opposition-run National Assembly, invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency, arguing that Maduro’s 2018 re-election was illegitimate.

Guaidó is recognised as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state by the United States, Europe and others, while Maduro is backed by countries including Russia, China, and Cuba.

US-Russia friction

The fault lines are increasingly putting Venezuela at the heart of global geopolitical tensions. US President Donald Trump’s Administration has imposed sanctions on the Maduro government and refused to rule out military intervention, although it says it prefers a peaceful transition.

“Military action is possible. If that’s what’s required, that’s what the United States will do,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox Business Network.

The Pentagon appeared to downplay any active preparations to directly intervene in Venezuela, but acknowledged detailed contingency planning. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei

Lavrov told Pompeo by phone on Wednesday that further “aggressive steps” in Venezuela would have grave consequences, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

In turn, the United States has accused Moscow of interfering in the South American country, an ally of Russia since the time of Maduro’s predecessor and mentor, the late President Hugo Chávez.

Pompeo said on Tuesday that Maduro had recently been prepared to leave Venezuela but changed his plan after Russia intervened. A spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry denied that.

White House national security adviser John Bolton, a foreign policy hawk, said Moscow’s involvement was not welcome.

“This is our hemisphere,” he told reporters outside the White House. “It’s not where the Russians ought to be interfering. This is a mistake on their part. It’s not going to lead to an improvement of relations.”

Test for Guaidó

Maduro retains control of state institutions and the loyalty of the armed forces, frustrating Guaidó’s bid to assume the day-to-day functions of government, which he says would be a prelude to calling new elections.

Seeking to appeal to Maduro’s traditional base among the working class, Guaidó said on Wednesday he would consider a proposal from public workers to call for a series of stoppages leading up to a general

strike.

Carlos Alberto, a 70-yearold small-business owner, draped in a Venezuelan flag at the Caracas protest, said: “We are tired of this regime that has brutally impoverished us. My children and almost all my family have already left Venezuela. ...

We know that if it’s not today, it will be tomorrow, because this has to end.”

Venezuelan living standards have declined even further in the first several months of the year, with blackouts and water shortages adding to hyperinflation and chronic shortages of food and medicine that have prompted millions to emigrate.

Triple the usual daily number of Venezuelans fled across the border to Brazil on Tuesday, Brazilian Government data showed.

Maduro, who says Guaidó is a puppet of the United States seeking to orchestrate a coup, called a march of his own supporters on Wednesday. “We have been confronting different types of aggression and attempted coups never before seen in our history,” he said on Tuesday.

Several thousand Maduro supporters, wearing red shirts, headed toward the Miraflores presidential palace. Educator Mercedes Martinez called Guaidó a “lapdog” and said: “The empire wants to smother us, cut off our head and colonise us. ... The people of Venezuela are defending Venezuela.”

(Reuters)

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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

Honouring a convicted terrorist is unforgiveable Dear Editor, An NCN “Government responds to the US Embassy” report on the evening of April 29, 2019 presented the General Secretary of the People’s National Congress, Minister Amna Ally’s pathetic response to the US Embassy’s “objection, in the strongest terms, to the actions taken in the National Assembly to pay homage to former Member of Parliament Abdul Kadir, who was convicted of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism on US soil”.

In her response, the GS trivialized the significance of the objections not just of the US Administration but of all decent minded Guyanese.

How could the General Secretary of the PNC not comprehend that this was an MP who was sentenced for a serious crime against humanity and therefore forfeited his rights as a former parliamentarian to be honoured.

The GS dismissed the outcry of the majority of Guyanese and the statements by the diplomatic representatives of the USA, the UK and the European Union which have all suffered as a result of terrorist acts. Coming on the recent terrorist acts committed in Sri Lanka and New Zealand, the statements by the GS of the PNC and her government that it “regrets the interpretation by the US Embassy” demonstrates the callous and opportunistic nature of the government and its leaders.

This is in sharp contrast to the PPP press release dated April 27, 2019 which recognized that the passage of the motion in the National Assembly on April 26th, 2019 put an “indelible stain on our

people and national character that will not be forgiven or forgotten by those who have suffered at the hands of international terrorism.”

The PNC and the APNUAFC government brought the National Assembly into disrepute and the entire nation under international scrutiny. One also has to ask how was this motion allowed by the Speaker when so many Opposition motions of national importance such as the rice industry, Wales Estate closure, the economy, for example, were disallowed ? Surely the Speaker could not have been so naïve? He could have used his pen to strike out the motion as he did before.

Minister Ally’s banal attempt to split hairs and do damage control by saying that the government only spoke about him as a parliamentarian and not as a terrorist leaves one dumbfounded. Her callous assurance that the “sympathy motion that was passed in the National Assembly for its late member Abdul Kadir, who was convicted of a terrorist act in the US, in no way supports terrorism” is an insult to Guyanese and to all victims of terrorism across the world.

The GS then most deceptively tried to cover up her government’s shame by drawing a comparison between former Minister and MP Ronald Gajraj and Mr. Kadir. Let us put the facts in case the PNC believes they can continue to kafuffle the public with impunity.

First of all, Gajraj was never charged, arrested, convicted or sentenced for terrorism or terrorist activities in Guyana, or, elsewhere, or,

for any crime anywhere. Mr. Kadir was. Judge Irizarry at the time of his trial stated that “There can be no doubt whatsoever that the offences for which Mr. Kadir was convicted are about as serious as they come, short of actual murder,” In contrast, the Commission of Inquiry appointed by then President Jagdeo--which Brigadier David Granger was a member---to investigate allegations of extra-judicial killings, demanded by the then PNC opposition, exonerated Minister Ronald Gajraj.

The GS in spinning this web of deception goes on to claim that there was a similar motion tabled in honour of former Minister and MP Ronald Gajraj. Mr. Gajraj passed on December 15, 2018 and since then there has been no motion tabled or debated in the National Assembly on Mr. Gajraj. At the January 3, 2019 sitting, it is reported that there was one minute silence for 3 former MPs, Heralall Mohan, Ronald Gajraj and Abdul Kadir.

Following the US Embassy statement, the government should have issued an unequivocal apology to the US Administration and to other nations which have suffered as a result of terrorism and terrorist activities and continue to be under threat.

In fact, no nation is safe as we have also experienced in Guyana. The trail of Abdul Kadir provided that insight to our own vulnerability at that time.

The FBI Archives (U.S. Attorney’s Office ( NY Eastern District) December 15, 2010, revealed that “At trial, “Kadir, a former member of the Guyanese par-

liament, admitted that he regularly passed information to Iranian authorities about sensitive topics, including the Guyanese military, and believed himself bound to follow fatwas from Iranian religious leaders. On June 2, 2007, Kadir was arrested in Trinidad aboard a plane headed to Venezuela, en route to Iran.

He was subsequently extradited to the United States”.

Furthermore, “Kadir admitted under cross-examination that he drafted regular reports for the Iranian ambassador to Venezuela, including details like the “low morale” in the Guyanese army. The documents he allegedly drafted included a five-year development plan to promote Islam in Guyana, which included references to infiltrating the military, police and other government agencies.”

So not only did the Government offend the USA and all nations who have suffered from terrorism but simultaneously offended all Guyanese. Here was a person who violated the constitution art 155 (1) (a) that a person was disqualified to be a member of the National Assembly who had “any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power”. Kadir by his action and admissions in court did have allegiance to a foreign power. While one must remember this same article has been interpreted by the Guyana judiciary as the reason given for the removal of parliamentarians with dual citizenship, it also refers to Guyanese citizens who are accused of spying, treason and undermining the security of a nation.

Surely it must have concerned the Commander in Chief President Granger that the Guyana National Assembly was honouring a man who spied on his country, including the very Guyana Defence Force which he had previously headed, and, sent reports to a representative of foreign state?

Surely it should have struck the President that under his government’s Anti-Terrorism Act Kadir would have been charged with treason?

But then maybe one should not be surprised, as the PPP statement of April 27, 2019 pointed out “The PNC has a history of honoring and exonerating violent criminals. Linden ‘Blackie’ London whose reign of terror ended when he was killed in a shootout with law enforcement services of Guyana, was honored

by PNC leaders, who infamously draped Blackie’s coffin with Guyana’s national flag, the Golden Arrowhead.

In addition, the five prison escapees who wreaked havoc and were responsible for murder, mayhem and an unprecedented crime wave, were dubbed ‘freedom fighters’ by many leaders of the PNC. The Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry (COI), during which the father of a sitting Minister was its lone Commissioner and the brother of another Minister its legal counsel, was aimed at “exonerating” Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins.

All of these actions show a pattern of association and glorification of homegrown terrorists.”

The main objective of the same Commission was to point the finger and blame

the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force for the Lindo Creek massacre.

One must also not forget that the kidnapping and the grotesque murder of the Iranian Cleric, Imam Ibrahemi in 2004 remains a mystery. The Imam was associated with Kadir and the mosque he set up in Georgetown. The link between Kadir and the “Buxton gang” and international terrorists is/was known to several leading former members of the security services and leaders of the present day PNC and AFC. Maybe the Guyana Police Force should re-open this cold case and others of the 2002-2008 era.

I have tried to comprehend why the APNUAFC government would take such a risky and reckless action and more disturbing such a cold hearted reaction to the US, UK and EU statements. l can only wonder if this motion, being brought 6 months after Kadir passed, was merely a desperate attempt by the PNC to win back sections of the Kadir family and disillusioned supporters in Linden back to the PNC fold.

If l am right --and l hope that l am wrong ---that the government would risk our nation’s image and place us under additional international scrutiny as a “defender of terrorists” for such self-serving and opportunist reasons, then, all Guyanese, must call on the government to resign forthwith. They have betrayed our people, our constitution and rule of law repeatedly but this one is unforgiveable.

Sincerely, Gail Teixeira

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thursday, MAY 2, 2019

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Foundation

Mind your medicines

So medicines sound like a pretty good thing, right? In many cases they are – as long as they are used correctly.

Too much of a medicine can be harmful, and old or outdated medicines may not work or can make people sick. Taking the wrong medicine or medicine prescribed for someone else is also very bad news.

You should always follow your doctor’s instructions for taking medicine — especially for how long. If your doctor says to take medicine for 10 days, take it for the whole time, even if you start to feel better sooner. Those medicines need time to finish the job and make you better! (kidshealth.org)

Y

ou’ve taken medicine before.

How did it work to make you better? And how did the doctor know to give you the right medicine for your sickness?

Let’s find out.

But the germs and the body’s natural way of germ fighting, like getting a fever, can make a person feel ill. In many cases, the right kind of medicine can help kill the germs and help the person feel better.

A rainbow of medicine

Medicines help in many ways

One medicine might be a pink liquid, another medicine might come in a special mist, another might be a blue pill, and still another might come out of a yellow tube. But they’re all used for the same purpose – to make you feel better when you’re sick.

Most medicines today are made in laboratories and many are based on things found in nature. After a medicine is created, it is tested over and over in many different ways. This lets scientists make sure it’s safe for people to take and that it can fight or prevent an illness.

Some new medicines actually are new versions of old medicines that have been improved to help people feel better quicker.

Medicines can replace what’s missing

Sometimes a part of the body can’t make enough of a certain substance, and this can make a person sick. When someone has type 1 diabetes (say: dyeuh-BEE-tees), the pancreas (a body organ that is part of the digestive system) can’t make enough of an important chemical called insulin, which the body needs to stay healthy.

If your body makes too much of a certain chemical, that can make you sick too. Luckily, medicines can replace what’s missing (like insulin) or they can block production of a chemical when the body is making too much of it.

Most of the time when kids get sick, the illness comes from germs that get into the body. The body’s immune system works to fight off these invaders.

People take medicines to fight illness, to feel better when they’re sick, and to keep from getting sick in the first place.

When deciding which medicine to give a patient, a doctor thinks about what is causing the patient’s problem.

Someone may need to take more than one type of medicine at the same time – one to fight off an infection and one to help the person feel better, for example.

When it comes to fighting illnesses, there are many types of medicines.

Antibiotics (say: an-ty-by-AH-tiks) are one type of medicine that many kids have taken. Antibiotics kill germs called bacteria, and different antibiotics can fight different kinds of bacteria.

So if your doctor found out that streptococcal bacteria were causing your sore throat, he or she could prescribe just the right antibiotic.

Pain relievers and symptom soothers

But while the antibiotic is starting to fight the bacteria, you might still feel achy and hot, so the doctor might tell your parent to also give you a pain reliever. Pain relievers can’t make you well, but they do help you feel better while you’re getting well.

Cream that helps a bug bite stop itching is another example. Your cold had to go away on its own, just like the bug bite needed to heal on its own, but in the meantime, these medicines helped you feel less sick or itchy.

Many people also take medicines to control illnesses that don’t complete-

ly go away, such as diabetes, asthma, or high blood pressure. With help from these medicines, people can enjoy life and avoid some of the worst symptoms of their illnesses.

Finally, there are important medicines that keep people from getting sick in the first place. Some of these are called immunizations (say: ihmyoo-nuh-ZAY-shunz), and they are usually given as a shot. They prevent people from catching serious illnesses like measles and mumps. There is even an immunization that prevents chickenpox, and many people get a flu shot each fall to avoid the flu. Although shots are never fun, they are a very important part of staying healthy.

What’s a fever?

Many ways to take medicine

Medicines are given in different ways, depending on how they work best in the body.

A lot of medicines are swallowed, either as a pill or a liquid. Once the medicine is swallowed, the digestive juices in the stomach break it down, and the medicine can pass into the bloodstream. Your blood then carries it to other parts of your body where the medicine works best.

But some medicines wouldn’t work if the stomach’s digestive juices broke them down. For example, insulin is given as a shot under the skin and then it can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Other medicines would take too long to work if they were swallowed.

When you get an IV in the hospital the medicine gets into your blood quickly.

Other medicines need to be breathed into the lungs where they work best for lung problems, like some of the medicines used to treat asthma.

Still others work best when they are put directly on the spot that needs the medicine — like patting ointment on an infected cut or dropping ear drops into a clogged-up ear.

Y

ou come home from school feeling awful with a sore throat. Your mom takes your temperature with a thermometer. Within a few minutes, you hear the word fever.

But what are fevers, exactly? Why do kids get them?

Why do parents and doctors care so much about them? Let’s find out.

What causes a fever?

Most human beings have a body temperature of around 98.6°F (37°C). Some people will have a normal temperature that’s a little higher; others will have a normal temperature that’s a little lower.

Most people’s body temperatures even change a little bit during the course of the day: It is usually a little lower in the morning and a little higher in the evening. For most kids, their body temperature stays pretty much the same from day to day — until germs enter the picture.

Remember that strep throat that made you feel so rotten? Or another time when the flu made you feel tired and achy? These kinds of infections are caused by germs that make their way into your body, usually in the form of bacteria (say: bak-TEER-ee-uh) or viruses.

When these germs march in and make you sick, your body’s thermostat goes higher. Instead of saying your body should be 98.6°F (37°C), your body’s thermostat might say that it should be 102°F (38.9°C).

Why does your body change to a new temperature?

Researchers believe turning up the heat is the body’s way of fighting the germs and making your body a less comfortable place for them.

A fever is also a good signal to you, your parents, and your doctor that you are sick. Without a fever, it’s much harder to tell if a person has an infection. That’s why grownups are concerned when you have a fever.

Fighting a fever

For almost all kids, fevers aren’t a big problem. When the cause of the fever is treated or goes away on its own, your body temperature comes back down to normal and you feel like your old self again. Most doctors agree that many kids with a fever don’t need to take any special medicine unless their fevers are making them uncomfortable.

If a kid has a higher fever and feels uncomfortable, the doctor might tell a parent to give the child medicine. The two medicines most often recommended are acetaminophen (say: uh-SEE-tuh-min-uh-fen) or ibuprofen (say: eye-byooPRO-fen). The medicine blocks the chemicals that tell the body to turn up the heat. Kids should never take aspirin to treat a fever because it can cause a rare but serious illness.

If you have a fever, your mom or dad will probably ask you to drink more fluids than usual. That’s important because as your body heats up, it’s easy for it to get dehydrated (say: dee-HI-dray-ted). This means there isn’t enough water in your body. You have a lot of choices when it comes to fluids – juice, water, sports drinks, soup, flavoured gelatin, and even ice pops.

Before you know it, your mom or dad will pull the thermometer out of your mouth and say, “Your temperature is normal. No more fever!” (kidshealth.org)

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THURsday, may 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Telecommunications Ministry awarded contract to Minister’s company

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes

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i d e o m e g a Productions, the company owned by Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes, has not only received contracts from several oth-

er Ministries, but also received a contract from the Minister’s own Ministry.

This was revealed when the company released several invoices for work it did arranging advertisements for various Ministries. A total of $3.6 million was paid to the media houses, but according to Videomega Productions, all it pocketed was a 15 per cent agency commission totalling $481,577.

The contract that Hughes’ Ministry awarded to her company was for ads ranging from full paged full colour to 7x2 in size to be placed in the daily newspapers for its Caribbean Information Communication Technology (ICT) road show 2018.

In addition, the Natural

Resources Ministry also commissioned Hughes’ company to produce full page full colour camera ready artwork that was placed in almost all the dailies on March 22, 2018. This cost $406,501.

Ads were also placed in all the dailies for the tobacco legislation media campaign, on behalf of the Public Health Ministry in October and November of 2018. These two campaigns cost $1 million each.

Videomega Productions, a company which is owned by Minister Hughes and managed by Russel Lancaster since 2015, received contracts from the Energy Department to produce television public service announcements (PSAs)

for the department, which is coordinating preparations for Guyana’s oil and gas sector.

It had been reported that the company was also contracted to produce brochures. It is unclear at this point in time what, if any, tendering process the Minister’s company went through to get these contracts.

Hughes has repeatedly insisted that she played

no part in the running of her company after 2015 and had no knowledge of the Government contracts it was receiving.

“In May 2015 upon my assumption of the role of Minister of Tourism, I relinquished any involvement in the day to day running of Videomega Productions.

Russel Lancaster was appointed Manager and is responsible for the operations of the company. I have since

been informed that the contract was for the production of three 60-second television public service announcements.”

“The value of the contract is $ 832,200. The award of this contract was never brought to my attention neither would I have been aware of it in the normal conduct of the company’s business,” the Minister had said in a statement last month.

Videomega Productions

NA pensioner chops home intruder

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20-year-old alleged burglar was this morning chopped about his body with a cutlass after he broke into the home of a pensioner of Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The suspect, of Angoy’s Avenue, is under guard at the New Amsterdam Hospital. He had to undergo surgery and is currently

in a stable condition, police said in a statement.

Reports are that the pensioner, who is 67-yearsold, was awakened by a noise at around 03:00hrs today. Upon investigation, he was confronted by the perpetrator who was armed with a cutlass.

The perpetrator wounded the pensioner to his right palm, police said.

However, the pensioner quickly armed himself with a cutlass and chopped the intruder multiple times about his body.

He then summoned the police via 911.

Police responded promptly and arrested the suspect, who reportedly attempted to steal a laptop from the premises.

One of the invoices released by Videomega Productions on Wednesday

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THURSday, may 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 9 man jailed for killing father

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North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) man who killed his father in 2014 was jailed for 12 years when he appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Suddie High Court.

Danny Stephen admitted that on November 22, 2014 at North Rupununi, Region Nine, he murdered his father, Donaldson Stephen.

The court heard that the victim and the accused were at a neighbour’s home assisting in some rehabilitation activities after which they all started to imbibe.

About 19:00h, the now deceased man left and made his way home. However, moments after he arrived home, his wife was disturbed by loud noises coming from outside the home; upon checking, she recognised it was

her son who was making the noises as he was at the time intoxicated.

The older Stephen became annoyed at his son and went into the yard where he and the accused had an altercation, during which the accused armed himself with a cutlass and inflicted chop wounds about the victim’s body. The injured man was rushed to the nearby health post where he was

pronounced dead on arrival.

The younger Stephen arrested and he handed over the murder weapon.

Before handing down the sentence, Justice Kissoon took into consideration the accused’s early guilty plea.

He handed down the 12year sentence and ordered that the years spent on remand be deducted from the sentence.

Several Police Stations to be rebuilt, 12 to be rehabilitated

Police Commissioner Leslie James

P

olice Commissioner Leslie James have announced plans to rehabilitate some 12 Police

Stations and buildings attached to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) while several others will be rebuilt in 2019, as the Force seeks to focus on the working and living condition of Police ranks countrywide.

Through coordination with the Public Security Ministry, the Police Force has rehabilitated several Police Stations and living quarters in 2018. However, as much more work is needed, Commissioner James announced further rehabilitation works to be carried in 2019.

“As regards infrastructure, the administration continues to focus on the working and living conditions

of its ranks; through the Ministry of Public Security, the Force has rehabilitated several Police Stations and buildings in 2018 and has on schedule an additional 12 buildings for 2019,” James revealed.

Some of the security facilities to be rehabilitated are located at Mackenzie, Kwakwani, Aurora, Suddie, Annai, Aishalton, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Issano, La Grange, Mibicuri and Cane Grove.

Further, to strengthen the capacity of the GPF, several new units have been established and operationalised.

“Some of those are the cybercrimes unit, the cold

case unit, the firearms investigation unit, the missing persons units and the Police Prosecuting Coordinating Unit,” the Police Commissioner stated.

According to James, the introduction and establishment of the new units is to bring dedicated focus to the individual tasks of each rank.

He noted that while the Force’s management structure has not changed in a significant way, the meetings of the executive leadership team have increased; as such, proper decision making has also increased.

As such, the reform process of the Force has since been strengthened.

NDC blasts Govt for blaming reps for infrastructural, drainage problems

Chairman of the NDC, Vishal Ambedkar

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he Tuschen-Uitvlugt Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) has condemned sentiments shared by Government officials during a community outreach, recently held on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD).

Chairman of the NDC, Vishal Ambedkar stated that outreach was conducted at the Tuschen Primary School in the company of Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and other Government MPs. The NDC was blamed for the infrastructural and drainage problems plaguing

the Tuschen New Housing Scheme, but the local organ body maintained that it is a shortcoming on the Government’s end.

The chairman shared his position, noting that the community is populated with thousands of persons and the Communities Ministry is responsible for initiating or providing appraisal for properties which are not rated within the Valuation Act. Presently, the Central Government holds jurisdiction over the areas and it has not been handed over to the NDC as yet.

He gave a synopsis of how their subvention is being handled noting that, “$4M is to be used in 10 constituencies where approximately 25,000 persons reside.

This means that in Tuschen/ Uitvlugt Government gives $160 to be spent on each person within the Local Authority Area.”

As it relates to recreational grounds, the Chairman stated that the Communities Ministry was written and a grant of $7.8M was requested for the Tuschen and Zeelugt grounds to be rehabilitated. However, a response was never received.

Furthermore, the Council had requested the Regional Democratic Council and Ministry yet again, for assistance to level the roads and clean drains along the scheme. After some 10 letters, no response was ever sent from these agencies.

The chairman stated that there has been numerous efforts to engage Government on improving the aesthetics of the community but there has been little to no support, except for the yearly subvention.

“The impression given

by Cabinet Members that the NDC is working against the people within the LAA is totally untrue and is a clear attempt to misinform and confuse the residents of Tuschen. The council has requested from the RDC and Ministry of Communities,

assistance with machinery or fuel to grade roads, parapets and clean drains in Tuschen New Scheme. In, fact I have written over 10 letters to that effect since assuming office in 2018, all without a single response.

These issues were discussed with Minister Bulkan, Minister Patterson and former Minister, Harmon all to no avail,” he posited.

The NDC reminded that proper roads and drains are still to be provided to these residents and called on the RDC and Central Government once again, to bring relief to these communities.

Last year, Guyana Times had reported the cries of many residents within the same housing scheme, who were dissatisfied with the state of the roads. One of the councilors had stated that under the previous administration, there were regular maintenance of the roadway and attention was being paid to drainage issues.

“It has been like that for the past three years. What happened is under the previous administration, we would’ve seen regular maintenance of that road occurring on a yearly basis and not only the road, but the drainage system. Right now, no work has been done in the scheme. The entire road network in Tuschen Block Eight is in terrible situation,” one of the councilors had stated.

Whither... ...labour’s spite for sugar workers?

Yesterday, May 1st, was “Labour Day” – a public Holiday.

The day wasn’t always called that. For over a millennia, it was actually called “May Day” in most of Europe and signified the coming of Spring. Associated with Dionysus it was, not surprisingly, an exuberant day filled with dancing, feasting and cavorting of various sorts. From England we had girls skipping around a “May Pole” to which ribbons in their hands were tethered.

In the late 19th century, the socialists declared it to be “Labour Day” to commemorate the rights of the working class against the “rapacious” capitalists as was illustrated by a worker-owner battle in Chicago in the US on that day. And this militancy was adopted by our labour leaders in Guyana, coming out as we did from a history of exploitation in slavery and indentureship. Well, today in Guyana and most of the world, workers are shouting “Mayday!! Mayday” on this day and not because they want to dance around Maypoles, but because that’s the universal call for “HELP”!!!

The vehicle for articulating worker’s rights were the “trade unions” – the “trades” being the skilled workers who first demanded better working conditions and pay.

For most of the 20th century, trade unions were pretty powerful, since they not only could flex their muscles in strikes against their employers, but they could influence their members to vote for particular political parties!

In Guyana, as a matter of fact, practically all our early leaders like Jagan and Burnham came out of the trade union movement.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the 21st century – the election of Thatcher in Britain (1979) and Reagan (1980) in the US. Together they espoused the primacy of the “free market” in all social relations – including the labour market – and defenestrated the labour movement. With the global spread of neoliberal, philosophy workers were channeled into making individual accommodations with their employers.

In Guyana, however, trade unions we never just about workers’ rights. Since the economy was essentially run by colonial expatriates, to agitate against them was to make a “political” point! Nowhere was this more evident than in sugar where the tentacles of the largest sugar company, Bookers, were so intrusive in the economy, British Guiana was known as “Bookers Guyana”.

The strikes by sugar workers were actions against the British state – and in every decade from 1872 to 1948 sugar workers were killed for asserting their rights. In this way, they fought for the rights of ALL Guyanese. But the PNC conspired to peripheralize the Sugar Union within the umbrella TUC. With the present PNC leader, Granger, just rendering the coup de grace by firing 5700 sugar workers!! …PNC corruption?

When the modern history of Guyana is written, surely the period of 2015-2020 under the PNC will be known as the era in which “never was so much stolen in such a short time by so few”!! There’s no other way to describe this period than “the rape of Guyana”, since only “rape” can convey the nature of the forcible and violent violation of our country against it’s will. And as in rape, it’s all about power being used to humiliate the powerless!!

There’s not a day that goes by without the revelation of another padded contract from the government handed out to PNC cronies and family – the Colda Principle through sole sourcing and other underhanded manner.

These contracts range from the billions to the thousands.

The NCM was like an intimation of mortality to the PNC since it threw them into an intensified orgy of grabbing as much as they can in this last year. The most recent was the revelations about their man in Region 9 – Carl Parker.

Venality, they name is PNC!! …the terrorism honour The Clerk of the National Assembly was made to fall on his sword in the PNC’s terrorism honour debacle. He now says he drafted motion! So what?

Was it not the PNC that originated it?

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

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THURsday, may 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Tullow promises strong local content policy should wells be successful ...says small, medium-scale local companies to be included in development phase

By Jarryl Bryan

W

ith Tullow and its partners making preparations to drill three wells this year, local content and jobs in the sector will be a concern for many. According to the British company, it will be collaborating as closely as possible with locals should oil be discovered and development start.

This was according to Tullow’s Head of Communications, George Cazenove, who in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times explained that the company has a positive track record in local content.

“Tullow is a company that is mostly based in Africa and we have huge experience of oil development in Africa, particularly in Ghana and also in Kenya and Uganda… we are very committed to a way of working we call shared prosperity,” Cazenove explained.

“Shared prosperity includes a firm commitment to local content… Tullow has made significant efforts in both East and West Africa to make sure that local companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, are involved in the supply chain in the oil and gas developments we are involved with.”

Cazenove noted that in the current exploration phase the company is in with its Orinduik block, it’s

Tullow’s Head of Communications, George Cazenove

difficult for small and medium-sized companies to take part due to the need for technical expertise. But he added that the Government would naturally expect that Tullow do as much as it can to advance local content opportunities for the Guyanese people to directly benefit.

“But during the development phase, if we have success, we will certainly seek to include small and medium-sized Guyanese companies as much as we can,” Cazenove explained to this publication.

When it comes to the potential for that success, Cazenove expressed the need for caution due to the unpredictable nature of oil exploration.

Notwithstanding the success of relatively nearby wells like Exxon’s Hammerhead prospect,

Cazenove noted that the wells Jethro-Lobe, Joe and Carapa still carry an element of risk.

“We’re delighted to be working in Guyana. We’re very excited about the drilling programme ahead of us. We’re hopeful that the wells will be successful. But I would add that caution… they are risky wells. There’s no guarantee of success. As I said earlier, there’s a one in four chance of successful campaign.”

“The Hammerhead well is definitely of interest to Tullow and its partners. It’s certainly helped in de-risking some of the geology. But you can’t read too much into anything. You have to be very careful that you don’t see one prospect and then read across too far into others. It’s exciting. It gives us huge interest, but we’re very cautious. Exploration is a risky game and we don’t take anything for granted.”

2019 plans

Tullow had in February announced it was bringing forward its drilling programme from the previously scheduled end of the year to the second quarter. It had announced that the Jethro prospect would be drilled in June.

On the other hand, its Carapa prospect in Kanuku will be drilled in the third quarter. It is understood that the net cost of the Jethro well is US$30 mil-

lion, while the Carapa well will cost US$20 million.

Tullow’s partner in the Orinduik block, Eco Atlantic, had announced that drilling on the Joe prospect will begin in mid-July of this year. They had announced that the Stena forth drill ship will move directly to the Joe, after it finishes drilling the Jethro Lobe Well in the Orinduik block.

It is understood that the Joe is located in approximately 650 meters of water and will cost Eco approximately US$3 million to drill.

A recently published report from international company Gustavson Associates has estimated that the well has a 43.2 per cent chance of success.

The Orinduik oil block is just a few kilometres from Exxon’s discoveries in

the Liza and Payara fields.

It is under the administration of Eco Guyana and Tullow, who signed a 10year Petroleum Prospecting licence and Production Sharing Agreement with the Guyana in 2016 French firm Total E&P Activities Petrolieres entered the fray in 2017; partnering with Eco with the option to get a 25 per cent share in the block.

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THURsday, may 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt has no respect for workers – MP tells Berbicians M

ember of Parliament, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo told hundreds of Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorenyne) workers that Government has no respect for workers.

The statement was made as he addressed workers at a Labour Day rally organised by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) held at the Port Mourant Community Centre.

Mahadeo said he based his conclusion on Government’s four-year track record, which has been disappointing, adding that one of the first things that Government did after taking office was to abolish the Labour Ministry and to reduce it to a department.

“A lot of us thought at

Member of Parliament, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo

that time that it was no big deal, but that was a signal as to how workers will be treated in the ensuing years,” Mahadeo explained.

He said the next move that was a slap in the face for workers was when Government Ministers gave themselves hundreds of

thousands of dollars in salary increases while public servants and other workers were forced to take to the streets before they received meager increases.

“They (workers) were sent home just because they were perceived to be supportive of another political party

and in most cases, they were replaced by persons who had no qualifications for the jobs they were employed to do.”

That was followed by massive dismissal of workers across. This included the closure of several sugar estates, leaving thousands jobless.

The parliamentarian noted that in Guyana’s history, never had there been an instance where over 7000 workers were fired. He added that sending home those workers in both Demerara and Berbice resulted in many in the Private Sector becoming jobless while some businesses have been forced to downsize and also send home workers while others have reduced the amount of days workers earn.

Meanwhile, GAWU urged workers to take stock of what

A section of workers from Blairmont and Albion Sugar Estates

is still to be realised.

Assistant General Secretary of GAWU, Aslim Singh said workers no longer are seen as important as they should be.

Noting that the former Ministry of Labour which has now been reduced to a department under the current Administration, Singh said it is unacceptable and a matter which the trade unions movement has on more than one occasion expressed vexations but sadly it has fallen on the deft ears of those in charge.

“Comrades, on this May Day it is simply inexcusable that in the birthplace of trade unionism in the British colonial empire, there is no longer a Ministry of Labour; the Ministry which existed up to May 2015.

He told the workers if they stand together they will score many gains and receive the respect they deserve.

“As we observe Labour Day 2019, we cannot ignore the heavy burdens of the high cost of living. In recent years, the tentacles of taxation have reached several essential goods and services apart from other impositions that have been levelled and served to mount cost of living.”

Over the last year, he added, those burdens be-

Assistant General Secretary of GAWU, Aslim Singh

came weightier “as we have had to contend with increased water rates and higher public transportation costs. Clearly, our workers are beleaguered and in need of help and reprieve as they struggle to keep their heads above the proverbial waterline. Comrades almost daily, we hear and need about people being victims of banditry, robbery and other forms of crime. It seems to us that crime has been more pervasive and those engaged in such acts have become more brazen.”

The situation, the Assistant General Secretary noted, is not a healthy one an ddoes not augur well for the people of this country who are generally terrified at this time.

Ghanaian medical duo conducts cataract surgery at Berbice Ophthalmology Hospital

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doctor and nurse visiting from Ghana have conducted 22 cataract surgeries at the National Ophthalmology Hospital (NOH) at Port Mourant, Corentyne.

According to the Doctor in Charge at the hospital, Dr Devendra Radhay, the duo – Dr Boateng Wiafe and the accompanying nurse – were here for three days during which time they performed the surgeries.

Benefiting from the work of the Ghanaian team were patients from Berbice and as far away as the communities of Orealla and Orima.

When the Department of Public Information (DPI) visited the hospital, patients were seen being taken care of by the staff attached to the NOH. Khaymattie Gharbarana of Tain, Port Mourant, was the first patient to have her cataract surgery done at the NOH for the year 2019.

“Nothing but happiness and the joy is what I have to express,” Gharbarana said following her surgery.

Naline Boodhu and Manita Mangal of Number 59 and Number 66 Villages, Corriverton respectively, were both diagnosed with

cataracts in their left eyes in 2015. However, they, were unable to conduct the surgeries due to the conditions at the NOH at that time.

Rajdai Gridharry, 74, of Number 19 Village, had successful surgery to remove cataract in her left eye in 2015. However, one year later she was diagnosed with the same illness in her right eye. “It bothered me a lot when I could not see clearly even with the glasses so I am thankful for this opportunity to have the other surgery done now, I was so happy when

I received the call from the doctor in charge of the hospital to come to get my surgery done.”

Parbattie Jagmohan, 73, of Liverpool Village, Corentyne, noted that she received her diagnosis a year ago and like the others, the cataract was found in her left eye. According to Jagmohan, she was a bit nervous the first day which saw a spike in her blood pressure, so she was encouraged to return home and visit the following day when she was calmer.

Also, among the patients who successfully completed their surgeries was Reddie Cobis.

The 75-year-old Cobis who hails from Orima Village was contacted by Dr Radhay, inviting him to travel to Berbice in order to have his eye surgery done. Cobis complimented the doctors and nurses attached to the Port Mourant Hospital. Dr Radhay told DPI that a team from “New Horizon” is slated to commence further more surgeries. According to the doctor in charge, it is expected that this will make an immense dent in the current backlog of close to 800 cases. However, it was noted that the list has not been updated in a while and the names of persons who may have passed away or had their surgeries done remain on the list.

Following this, he fur-

Dr Boateng Wiafe and nurse from Ghana, along with doctor and administrator of the Port Mourant Hospital, Dr Devendra Radhay handing over the certificate of appreciation

ther noted that medical teams from the Sai Baba and the Medical Relief team will also be performing additional cataract surgeries, as well as working along

with doctors attached to the hospital to lay the foundation for the facility to be able to perform at least 20 surgeries per month after their departure.

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THURsday, may 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Rights of consumers in a ‘digital economy’ take centre stage ...as 21st CI World Congress opens in Portugal

T

he 21st World Congress of C o n s u m e r s International; the organisation that is responsible for the protection and promotion of consumer rights around the globe, began on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, in Estoril, Portugal, with several stakeholders calling for increased focus on the challenges faced by consumers due to an increasingly digitised world.

The event is being held in partnership with Consumers International, The Consumer Directorate-

General of Portugal and the Internet Society; and has brought together consumer experts from around the world, businesses, civil society, regulators and governments to engage with each other on a range of issues which organisers hope would result in unique perspectives on the digitised world, its possibilities and potential pitfalls.

In declaring the summit open, Portugal’s Minister of the Economy, Pedro Siza Vieira, underlined the constant efforts that are needed to address the

challenges of protecting and empowering consumers in a complex and rapidly developing online environment. He urged all stakeholders; including regulators, businesses and consumer organisations to work together to overcome these challenges in order to ensure that everyone benefits from the opportunities that are available.

The theme of this year’s summit, ‘Putting Consumers at the heart of digital innovation’.

The Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) is be-

ing represented at the Congress by Secretary/ Executive Member Jainarine Deonauth.

According to Consumers International, “by harnessing the power of collective intelligence and fostering understanding between those who create digital products and services, and those who use and regulate them, we will catalyse future change, and support breakthroughs and innovations which will benefit consumers, digital businesses and society as a whole”.

Speaking briefly with Guyana Times, head of the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch Division of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Teresa Moreira, related that her organisation is committed to working with other international organisations to assist developing countries such as Guyana, better deal with

Representative of the Guyana Consumer’s Association, Jainarine Deonauth sharing a light moment with Head of Competition and Consumer Policies Branch Division of UNCTAD, Teresa Moreira (centre) and Consumer Directorate General of Portugal, Anna Catarina Fonseca

the challenges of a digital economy, but such request must come from countries and/or organisations themselves.

She explained that UNCTAD has worked

previously with Latin American countries and Caricom in strengthening their legislative and institutional frameworks for consumer protection.

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THURsday, may 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 1 farmers in need of training – agriculturist R

egion One (BarimaWaini) farmers are calling on the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to offer much-needed guidance as an aid to support farmers in that region in proper farming techniques.

Farmers are asking for training and other resources to be introduced in the area, since residents there depend wholly on farming for their livelihood.

Agriculturist Brijesh Singh, during a recent visit to the Region, disclosed that farmers there were in dire need of proper guidance as to the correct farming techniques.

In an interview with Guyana Times on

Wednesday, Singh expressed surprise that farmers were not planting cassava in the appropriate manner and it was observed that the farmers, particularly those at Moruca, plant the entire stick when cassava is commonly cultivated from cuttings coming from the stick.

“I was surprised. I could not believe that these farmers do not know how to cultivate the cassava the right way and they said they never learnt this. NAREI needs to do more work with farmers in getting them up to speed with farming techniques and so on,” he said. He said the farmers welcomed any training that could be offered to them by NAREI at this point so as to improve their way of cultivating their crops.

“These farmers are open to learning about proper cultivation of crops. They are excited and would accept and welcome such at this time,” Singh said.

He added that with cassava being a premium staple crop in Moruca, it was disappointing to learn that these farmers were not familiar with proper planting techniques and as a result, he worked with farmers to plant cassava that is drought tolerant. Over the weeks, farmers in the regions have called on NAREI to do much more work in those farming communities to offer training as well as assistance in identifying and treating diseases that have been destroying their crops. Farmers had also made calls for urgent

intervention by the Guyana Water Inc in bringing relief to them as they continue to suffer the harsh effects of dry weather.

Coffee Project

Meanwhile, Singh also concluded work on the coffee cultivation project in Moruca, which is expected to provide multiple benefits for farmers and the economy of the communities there.

The Moruca farmers are caring for approximately 12,000 coffee seedlings on an effective rotation basis in a nursery which was established in the village. Fifteen farmers are executing the coffee project and also have security arrangements at the facility, which is important at this point in the life of

the plants.

Moruca’s fertile land has long been known for its ability to produce coffee; however, this venture will ensure farmers receive triple dividends for their efforts, since the seedlings will be reaped and processed to supply the local, regional and later, international markets. This initiative was lauded by the farmers and residents of Moruca, since it will provide great economic benefits for them.

A farmer, Trevor Phillips, who spoke to this publication Wednesday, said that the project was progressing effectively and expressed optimism that it would be a continuous one which will bring much-needed economic opportunities for the communi-

ty. He said too that over the years ground coffee production there had declined and this was a step in the right direction. “I personally am excited about this initiative.

It is a good one. It’s been over a month now since this project started and is going well and there will be tremendous benefits for farmers and the community as a whole. I am excited about it and the project will be a continuous one,” he said.

The Santa Rosa Ground Coffee Project, as well as other projects that are being implemented by the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, is in keeping with Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy.

Temporary fix keeps water Caricom urges US to maintain out of Zeelugt as tide rises duty-free market access

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Water rushing in at the Zeelugt koker

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s the high tide impends across coastal communities, the Cinderella Park koker at Zeelugt on the West Coast of Demerara recorded a rushing channel of water entering the community, which resulted in a temporary fix to normalise the situation.

A regional official confirmed on Wednesday that water was seen entering from the koker during the afternoon hours. Officials from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the regional administration was called in immediately. While there was an increase in the water levels, the situation was being monitored until a stop-

page medium could be installed.

“We have the NDIA engineer and the regional engineer out here. The water levels in some areas in close proximity to this area has raised but we’re monitoring the situation. Maybe when the tide changes, they will put a stop block to prevent any further flooding to the area,” the official said.

It was indicated that a permanent fix is required but there has been no confirmations as to when this will be done.

“They’re looking at the situation. So far, they have indicated that some repair needs to be carried out.

We’re not sure as to when

that will happen. In the meantime, the stop block will be placed there before the tide comes back,” the official said.

Over the past months, a series of sluices were rehabilitated along the WCD with special attention on sections of the sea defence, which was ruptured during the April high tide last year, causing mass flooding and millions of dollars in damages to property and livestock.

The areas for rehabilitation includes Blankenburg, Windsor Forest, La Jalousie and Cornelia Ida, Leonora, Uitvlugt, Stewartville, De Willem and At Anna Catherina. Presently, those works are still ongoing.

aricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque has expressed the bloc’s interest in the renewal of legislation for the extension of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) waiver beyond December 2019 to allow continued duty-free access to the US market.

The Secretary General made the case as he accredited the new US envoy to Caricom, Sarah-Ann Lynch, at the Secretariat’s Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana on Tuesday. He said the Region also welcomed greater flows of US investments in agriculture, tourism, and transportation.

Ambassador LaRocque underscored the importance of cooperation in clean and renewable energy, and in security amidst increasing security threats in the current global environment. In that context, he said Caricom looked forward to collaborating with the United States at the US-Caribbean Security Cooperation Commission in Barbados, and at the Eighth Caribbean-US High-Level Dialogue in Washington next month.

He told Ambassador Lynch that her country should now be more sensitive to Caricom’s concerns about black-listing by the European Union, since the US recently experienced that action itself.

“As we seek to diversify our economies through services, some of our Member States which have developed their financial services sector have been labelled as non-cooperative tax jurisdictions. This is so despite the fact that the countries in question are not designated by the relevant regulatory authorities, such as the Financial Action Task Force and the OECD [Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development] Global Forum,” the SG said.

“Blacklisted jurisdictions face major reputational damage which has an adverse effect, demonstrated by the

Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque greets US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch at the Secretariat Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana

“de-risking” strategies of international banks resulting in the withdrawal of crucial correspondent banking relationships. This development has had an impact on investment flows, on trade and on the financial operations of our economies, not to mention impeding the flow of remittances sent by Caribbean nationals living abroad. The US itself has the experience of being recently blacklisted and would, therefore, be now more sensitive to our situation,” Secretary General LaRocque stated.

The US envoy in her remarks lauded the structures of Caricom integration which have “successfully dismantled barriers to fair trade, and created the formidable Caribbean Court of Justice”.

Caricom has “impressively coordinated collective approaches to education, public health, disaster response, and development financing”, Ambassador Lynch, who is also the US envoy to Guyana, said. She added that the US was proud to continue to support the work of Caricom and envisioned a Community that was “an innovative and competitive force in the world’s economy”.

The new envoy noted that US supported and encouraged the single eco-

nomic space of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).

“With this economic integration, we have already seen new opportunities to attract investment and increase economies of scale. We expect to witness an even greater boost in trade, as well as an increased respect for intellectual property rights and consumer protection regulations.”

“We also envision a populace in which every citizen has the opportunity to realise their potential, and contribute to economic, social, and cultural prosperity for themselves and for their society,” the envoy stated.

She said as the USA strengthened its cooperation with the Region, its Caribbean 2020 strategy provided a framework for focusing US interagency efforts on security, diplomacy, prosperity, energy, education, and health.

She lauded the successes of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), which has boosted the capabilities of Caribbean law enforcement and security forces to deter violent crime, reduce the rate of organised crime, and curb illicit narcotics and weapons trafficking.

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news

THURsday, may 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Labour Day rally

Opposition, Govt clash over dismissed sugar workers, unemployment rate …workers struggling to keep their heads above water – union

A crowded section of the National Park

Workers parading through the streets of Georgetown

By Davina Ramdass

tions this year come at a time when workers are struggling to keep their heads above water due to increased water rates, transportation costs and other pressures.

“Several matters cannot escape our attention at this time given the bearing they have on workers wellbeing. High on that list are the heavy burdens nowadays that workers are made to fetch occasion largely by increased taxation. We have on several occasions expressed our deep concern and dismay regarding the situation which has seen several essential items falling under the tax hammer,” Narine ex-

T

he Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament and Government Ministers on Wednesday clashed at the Labour Day rally on the issues of fired sugar workers as well as the high rates of unemployment in Guyana.

Opposition MP Vickram Bharrat blasted the Government for firing the sugar workers, contributing to the number of jobless people in the country.

Bharrat was at the time addressing workers at the Labour Day rally held at the National Park.

“Our teachers should be in the classrooms preparing our future generation and not on the street protesting for salary increases and better working conditions. Our bauxite workers should not block rivers and roadways to attract the attention of employers, union leaders and Government officials. Our sugar workers should not be put on the breadline, unable to provide for their families Opposition MP due to the closure of estates Vickram Bharrat without assistance or alternative,” he told the gathering.

The MP added, “We are already faced with a high unemployment rate, especially among our young people in a country with such a small workforce. Today as we celebrate, there are over 30,000 Guyanese without jobs due to the closure of key industries and businesses, lack of education for employment in new and technical fields, a sluggish economy, contracting productive sectors, a complete lack of investments (are) among the contributing factors.”

Bharrat took the opportunity to remind workers gathered at the National Park that there are several persons unable to provide for their families and even send their children to school as a result of the move made by the Government to close the sugar estates.

However, Attorney General Basil Williams, who represented the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration at the rally, told workers the sugar industry was actually downsized to save it.

“We are not responsible for the predicament of the sugar workers in Guyana… we spent within the first three years $30 billion and what we were forced to do because of the Skeldon Sugar Factory… we have had to downsize the industry to save it and even those sugar industries that are now extant they are doing very well,” he added.

In this regard, the Attorney General said the Government will continue to “take care” of the sugar workers. He however did not say how Government has been taking care of the fired workers.

While responding to the PPP MP on the issue of unemployment, he assured that the Government is aware of the number of people that are currently jobless and is working to reduce the figures.

The Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara (Enmore) estates were closed in December 2017, leaving thousands of workers jobless. The Wales Sugar Estate was the first to shut down in 2016.

Only three estates are currently in operation – Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt.

Unions

Meanwhile, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) was represented by the Union’s Treasurer, Seepaul Narine, who said Labour Day celebra-

A section of workers making their way into the National Park

plained.

Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Coretta McDonald told Government that they need to find more jobs for the youths. She urged that social polices be quickly designed to remedy the situation as she also lobbied for gender equality in the workplace.

Furthermore, McDonald told the gathering that the country deserves leaders that are not in love with money but who are loyal to their posts.

“We need leaders who are not in love with money but who are in love with social justice. Let me remind our politi-

Despite arguments, the Opposition and Government held hands at the end, encouraging togetherness and love

cians that we do not need leaders who are in love with publicity but we need those leaders who are in love with humanity. Guyana is ready to move and we cannot move forward if it’s about I and them. We cannot move forward if it’s about race and colour or creed, within the labour movement we see workers and the issues that our workers face they are common across the board and so I would want to urge us all to remember the principles that our forefathers fought for,” she shared.

Additionally, General Secretary of the GTUC, Lincoln Lewis told Government that they need to look into the natural resources industry to ensure workers there are not being exploited.

He warned, “The exploitation of oil and gas, another natural resource, that attract external investment and attention, similar to what happened in bauxite, gold, diamond and forestry must be looked at. We have to guard against where our citizens are being forced to settle for the crumbs. There must be a new approach to making sure Guyanese benefit tremendously from these resources. Already it has been brought to labour’s attention that there exits have disparity in remuneration for locals doing the same job as foreign labourers”.

May Day march

Nevertheless, workers were well represented by their respective unions at the Labour Day march in Georgetown on Wednesday.

The atmosphere when hundreds of workers marched along the streets in observance of workers’ day was almost electric as they danced and sang songs of solidarity along the trail.

Some began assembling at Parade Ground from as early as 07:30h as they prepared themselves for the march.

The march saw the participation of a number of workers’ unions, including the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) among a number of others.

Labour Day has always been observed in Guyana on the first day in May since the 1930s. It commemorates the struggles of workers and their significant input into society. Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, the father of trade unionism, is remembered on that day as he fought for the The light showers did not prevent workers from enjoying their day as they danced through the rights of workers. streets of Georgetown

14 News

THURsday, may 2, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GCCI to ink agreement with City Hall F

ollowing the calling out of businesses that owe taxes to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) by the Mayor of Georgetown and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI) reaction to the issue, the two parties have since mend their differences of opinion and are soon expected to ink an agreement, which will address these and other issues.

This is according to the President of the Chamber, Nicholas Boyer, who in an interview with Guyana Times explained an initial meeting was held with the two parties to discuss issues of the business community.

“We’ve discussed at a high

level a collaboration with the Mayor and City Council, our next step was to draft a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) which we’ve drafted. The Mayor and City Council has vetted that and we expect to be signing that MoU very soon,” Boyer said.

He highlighted that the MoU will address a number of areas such as solid waste management, construction permits and several others.

“One of the parts of the MoU is the rates and taxes so we will ensure that we create an avenue for the Mayor and City Council and businesses that are members of the Chamber to have interactions so that we reduce any sort of issues there are under

President of GCCI, Nicholas Boyer

the heading of rates and taxes,” he revealed.

The President of the Chamber added that he would like to see positive steps taken to develop the City which he believes the Mayor is do-

ing. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is expected to be signed within the next two weeks.

Earlier this month, Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine called a press conference where he disclosed that just about 144 business proprietors have failed to pay taxes which attributes to the build-up of garbage in Georgetown.

The business community was quick to jump to the defence of its members and had requested that the Mayor produce a list of defaulters which was never publicised.

Boyer, in response, had said he is cognisant of the fact that some businesses in the city may run away from pay-

ing their taxes; however, he believes that direct appeals should be made to those establishments, rather than label every organisation with the same title.

“Before you got to that stage of just calling out highend businesses and so those comments may start to create a more contentious atmosphere… we understand why he is doing it because he may feel like these businesses have not been paying taxes over such and such a period so maybe he feels frustration,” Boyer explained.

The Mayor had said he needed permission from the other Council members before revealing the list of defaulters.

Nevertheless, in a recent interview with Guyana Times, Public Relations Officer of City Hall, Debra Lewis said errant business owners have been forthcoming in paying their dues to the Council. Several business owners have also enquired about the possibility of setting up payment plans to reduce the taxes owed to the Council, she said.

Lewis nevertheless reminded that some $8 billion is collectively owed by those business owners with personal accounts ranging from $200,000 to $300,000. Some businesses even owe the municipality millions, the PRO added.

Public Health Ministry aiming for CDC distributes food, water, supplies to Venezuelan migrants 30% malaria reduction in 2019

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s the number of Venezuelan migrants crossing the borders to enter Guyana continues to increase, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has been trying to render assistance in the form of food supplies to those seeking refuge.

Over the past few days, the Commission said it visited some of the highly populated areas, including the communities of Black Water, White Water, Khan’s Hill, Yarakita, and Jausha Landing in Region One (Barima-Waini).

Hundreds of thousands in items were donated to the smiling migrants who were more than happy to collect the food supplies for their younger ones who they brought with them.

The Venezuelans, who are living under benab-like structures, had been promised a proper roof over their heads by Citizenship Minister Winston Felix.

Last August during the fifth multi-agency coordinating committee meeting, held at the Citizenship Ministry,

Venezuelan migrants waiting to collect food supplies from the organisation

it was announced that a plot of land in Mabaruma, Region One, has been identified for the establishment of a homestead settlement area or Humanitarian Centre for the registered Venezuelans, who are currently occupying sections in the said region.

According to the Minister, the land has been identified due to collaborative effort between the Mayor and Town Council of Mabaruma and his Ministry.

Felix back then had said the resettlement area was privately owned and that the Government will initiate efforts to determine what arrangements can be put in place to acquire the land for the establishment of the centre.

The Ministry of the Presidency said in a statement that the Minister also said while this process is being undertaken, he has tasked the regional admin-

istration to set up a regional coordinating sub-committee, which can take charge of the situation on the ground even as the agencies on the national committee continue to lend the necessary assistance to those in the region.

More recently, the Minister at the National Multisectoral Coordinating Committee informed that a special committee is being set up to explore the option of transforming the Papaya Centre, located in BarimaWaini, Region One, into a facility for migrants; noting that “the greater the inflow of migrants, the more pressed we will be to find space”.

Additionally, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) will be seeking permission from the relevant authorities to renovate an abandoned hostel at Kumaka, Region One, to house migrants, particularly since this is a region where the inflow is greater.

To date, there are 5863 documented Venezuelan migrants in Guyana.

Cops in Police fraud probe on “open arrest”

T

he two Police Sergeants who were detained at the Tactical Services Unit were released on Tuesday afternoon on “open arrest” as investigations into the alleged conspiracy to commit fraud against the Guyana Police Force continues. The ranks were arrested on Wednesday last after irregularities at the Forces’ Finance Department were discovered.

A source close to the investigations told Guyana Times on Wednesday that the two Sergeants were released on Tuesday afternoon as the extended 72-hour period they had sought to hold the ranks came to an end.

The source said the ranks were instructed to report for duty as per normal even as investigators continue to probe the fraud allegations.

After the ranks’ arrest on Wednesday last, Police investigators had obtained permission to further detain the two

colleagues on Saturday for a further 72 hours. The source had told Guyana Times on Sunday last that the Police thought it necessary to keep the ranks in custody as the investigations continue.

He said the investigation, thus far, has gone to a new dimension and the sum involved has amounted to millions of dollars.

The ranks were called in for questioning after a number of irregularities pertaining to the accounting system at the Guyana Police Force appeared to have been compromised.

According to information received, the two Sergeants have been working within the Finance Department for a number of years.

The irregularities found are with respect to monies and vouchers for ranks, who would have performed extra duties and were to receive additional payments.

Among the duties some

ranks were to be paid for were for working at shows, cricket games and other national events. This publication was told that the parents of one rank and relatives close to the other rank were called in for questioning on Friday last.

“This is all part of the investigation process. We are dealing with serious allegations here,” the source said.

In the past, Police ranks complained that they were either short-changed or in other instances, not paid at all for extra duties. There are also claims by some that they would sign for the monies but those monies are not given to them. “There are lots of allegations and [they] are all being investigated. Information is being gathered right now after which charges will follow if necessary. We are carrying a very thorough investigation because this has been going on for quite some time and we are leaving no

stone unturned,” a source told Guyana Times.

Efforts to contact Crime Chief, Deputy Commissioner Lyndon Alves on Wednesday were unsuccessful and the Force is yet to offer an official statement on the matter.

Just recently, Police Commissioner Leslie James had urged Police ranks to desist from accepting bribes and any involvement in unlawful activities, stating that they will be “penalised”.

The Top Cop had made these comments while addressing the opening of a training programme at the Officers’ Training Centre, Eve Leary, where he also stated that he is looking for a change in performance of ranks and fewer allegations of corruption. He added that while the Force will be engaging particular departments to tackle the issue of corruption; if the ranks believe that their salaries are too small, they should tender

W

hen compared to the malaria statistics for 2018, the Public Health Ministry is aiming to lower this number by 30 per cent through its National Malaria Programme (NMP) by improving the distribution network of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.

This was revealed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Collette Adams, who stated earlier this week that four strategic regions – Region One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) – have the concentrated malaria cases.

“Better quality of living includes protection against vector borne diseases, such as the malaria epidemic in the interior location of Barima-Waini, CuyuniMazaruni and PotaroSiparuni and Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo… For this year, the NMP aims to reduce malaria cases to approximately 11,000, a 30 per cent reduction over 2018 figures,” said Adams.

Earlier last year, some 92,000 Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) were distributed within these regions to target the at-risk population. Persons were encouraged to seek immediate medical treatment if symptoms of malaria surface.

“The treated LLIN help to prevent the spread of the malaria by the anopheles mosquito. There is significant treatment available for everyone with malaria-like symptoms. I want to encourage [persons] to seek immediate treatment, following the guidelines given by the Ministry,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary mentioned that the Ministry is now catering for Venezuelan refugees. This is primarily done at the border to ensure measles and other

their resignation.

“If you’re not comfortable with your salaries, leave the job. You came on, you were told what is being of-

diseases are kept at bay.

“The Ministry of Public Health also encourages vaccines, available to cater for high volume of neighbouring Venezuelans seeking assistance in our country. The risk of importing measles is real and to respond to this imminent threat, Guyana’s collaboration with its technical partners PAHO/WHO to increase the vaccination coverage along the border and the most vulnerable groups.”

Last March, Chief Medical Officer Shamdeo Persaud had stated that the inflow of Venezuelan migrants can challenge the healthcare sector.

As a result of these concerns, an action plan was created to boost the immunisation efforts in both adults and children. Adding to that, there are mechanisms in place to cater for calls of additional supplies and human resources.

She further added, “The action plan developed focuses not only on childhood immunisation but across all of the lifestyle cycles, which means protecting the adolescents, young adults and the elderly. Special emphasis was placed on ensuring that all migrants were screened or relevant vaccines were (administered) where evidence was lacking.”

It was announced last year that there was a 58 per cent reduction in malaria cases from 2000 to 2015. The estimated number of malaria deaths was approximately 435,000 in 2017. fered and you decided to become an agent of the Force.

How come you have an issue with your remuneration,” the Commissioner stated.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, MAY 2, 2019

Regional

Venezuela crisis: Defiant Maduro Trinidad: Former Attorney General, UNC claims victory over Guaidó 'coup' colleague arrested in legal fees kickback probe

Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó is appealing to the military for support

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enezuela's President Nicolás Maduro says he has defeated an "attempted coup" by Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó.

Dozens of National Guardsmen sided with the Opposition in clashes on Tuesday that injured more than 100 people.

But in a defiant TV address, President Maduro said Guaidó had failed to turn the military against him.

Guaidó insists that Maduro has lost control of the armed forces. The Opposition Leader called for more streets protests.

"Today we continue," he tweeted. "We will keep going with more strength than ever, Venezuela."

Guaidó has been recognised as interim leader of Venezuela by more than 50 countries, including the US, the UK and most in Latin America.

The US reiterated its

support for Guaidó on Wednesday, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying "military action is possible" if necessary.

But Maduro, backed by Russia, China and the top of the country's military, has refused to cede leadership to his rival.

Pompeo is scheduled to speak with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, National Security Adviser John Bolton said.

In his televised address, flanked by military commanders, Maduro accused protesters of "serious crimes" which he said would "not go unpunished".

Both the President and Guaidó have called on their supporters to take to the streets, setting up more potential violent unrest in a nation already beset by economic crisis, chronic power cuts and widespread food shortages. (Excerpt from Venezuela)

Jamaican food exporters seek new markets at Canadian trade show

Toronto Deputy Mayor; Chair, Economic and Community Development Committee, and Councillor, Scarborough Centre, Michael Thompson (centre left) takes a photo with the Jamaican delegation including representatives from Scotch Boyz, JAMPRO, Tru Juice, Caribbean Dreams and Linga Ya, at trade exhibition SIAL Canada, April 30, 2019

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even Jamaican brands are currently displaying the best of the island's food at the SIAL Canada trade exhibition being held in Toronto, Canada.

According to the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), whose mission is to drive economic devel-

opment through growth in investment and export, the delegation aims to promote Jamaican food for export, and will be making valuable connections in the market as they seek to raise their international profiles.

Jamaica's participation at SIAL Canada started

April 30 and will end today.

Carita Jamaica, Scotch Boyz, Linga Ya Farms, Caribbean Dreams, Tru Juice, Monymusk Plantation Rums and Home Choice are representing Jamaica at the event, which had over 15,000 buyers from 60 countries in attendance in 2018.

JAMPRO said the local brands are seeking to increase their presence in the market, as Canada's demand for ethnic and organic food continues to increase.

There is said to be more than 20,000 grocery stores in Canada and suppliers hope to gain prominence on a few of the shelves.

JAMPRO's President, Diane Edwards, explained that Canada has always been part of JAMPRO's export promotion focus, however, with projected and current trends; the agency has boosted its activity in the market. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

We can't stop a Venezuelan influx – T&T MP

E

ven as National Security Minister Stuart Young announced Tuesday that security forces were locking down T&T’s borders in response to Venezuela’s worsening crisis, Opposition Members of Parliament said it was a little too late to do this.

In an interview with the T&T Guardian, Princes Town MP Barry Padarath said nothing will stop desperate people from fleeing their homeland if civil war breaks out in neighbouring Venezuela.

Padarath said with factions of Venezuela’s military

supporting Opposition leader Juan Guaidó, T&T could become caught in the fallout as fleeing Venezuelans could flock to the island, creating a negative impact on T&T’s national security among other issues.

“Could our resources handle the influx of Venezuelans and would we be able to manage the situation?” he asked in relation to Government’s decision to register Venezuelans and allow them to work for up to a year legally.

He said education and the health sector will also be strained under this scenario, adding that while it

was important to deal with the situation in a humanitarian way, the Government should also take precautions to ensure there is no negative impact on T&Ts security.

MP for Mayaro/Rio Claro Rushton Paray said since the attempt was made by Guaidó to overthrow the Nicolas Maduro regime there have been no reports of a high influx of Venezuelans coming to T&T from the east coast.

However, he said he was sure they were coming in from other points along the coast. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

F

ormer Attorney General Anand Ramlogan was arrested at the Piarco Airport early Wednesday, and Gerald Ramdeen, a United National Congress (UNC) colleague, was taken in custody by anti-corruption Police who are investigating allegations of kickbacks and money laundering linked to high legal fees paid during the Attorney General's tenure.

Ramlogan was detained at the Piarco International Airport around 04:15h shortly before he was expected to board a flight to the British Virgin Islands, where he was scheduled to appear in court.

Former UNC Senator Ramdeen turned him-

self into officers attached to the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau (ACIB) in Port of Spain.

For the last few years, investigators have been looking into hefty sums of money paid out by the AG's office to a "favoured few", according to senior Government Minister Stuart Young.

Under Ramlogan's tenure, more than TT$1 billion was paid to a handful of people in the legal profession. That figure ballooned from about TT$40 million during the previous administration.

Both Ramlogan and Ramdeen have previously denied any wrongdoing.

Ramlogan had sued then Opposition Leader Keith Rowley in 2012 after he questioned him about the

massive payments by the Attorney General's office.

Ramlogan later dropped the lawsuit.

The arrests of Ramlogan and Ramdeen are the first action into seven active investigations involving legal fees approved by Ramlogan.

Ramdeen, a former UNC senator received a substantial portion of those fees.

The arrests were directly linked to a statement given by a British Queen's Counsel who received several high-profile cases during Ramlogan's tenure.

"Shockwaves will be going through the legal fraternity all now," said a senior official close to the investigation. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

LIAT, which currently operates 491 flights weekly, is also looking forward to a good summer period, with many festivals and events scheduled across the region, she said.

“LIAT is committed to fly, and we are flying to the 15 destinations across the network,” Reifer-Jones said.

She also noted there are ongoing discussions with Governments on the need for all the territories served by LIAT to contribute through a Minimum Revenue Guarantee model.

Reifer-Jones said that while the pace of these dis-

cussions was slower than anticipated, LIAT remains optimistic that the discussions would be concluded shortly.

The CEO added that the company continued to update its restructuring plan “so that LIAT can evolve into a more efficient and sustainable company serving the Region”.

And she reiterated the company’s commitment to the region, adding that the improved on-time performance and customer service provided are evidence of the changes taking place in the company. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

LIAT staying the course despite financial challenges, assures CEO

A

s shareholders of regional airline LIAT met on Tuesday amid concerns that its financial situation could force it out of the skies, the company’s chief executive officer has sought to allay fears, declaring that the carrier continues to operate its daily flight schedule despite its challenges.

Julie Reifer-Jones said in a statement the Antiguabased airline was committed to connecting the Region and had operated all its flights over the peak Easter season with an on-time performance of 80 per cent.

Trade Ministers support international competitiveness for rum industry

Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Sandra Husbands (right) alongside Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque.

C

aricom Trade Ministers who met in Guyana this week, on April 29, approved a range of recommendations aimed at positioning the Region’s rum industry to better take advantage of the global market.

The measures address a host of domestic and international issues that affect the competitiveness of the industry, which is considered the Region’s premier export sector and its largest foreign exchange earner, after mineral exports.

The range of strate-

gies and measures were agreed on by a special working group set up by Trade Ministers to address constraints facing the industry, as producers seek to take advantage of a fast-growing international market for their premium products.

The recommendations of the working group encompassed a broad set of initiatives, ranging from international trade strategies, measures to improve the domestic regulatory environment, strengthening of linkages with the agriculture and tourism sectors, as well

as a regional initiative by the industry to address the impact of harmful alcohol consumption.

Chair of the Caricom Council of Ministers for Trade and Economic Development, Barbados Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Trade Sandra Husbands, speaking on behalf of the Council, welcomed the report from the working group and its recommendations, and called on the industry and governments to continue working together to realise the full potential of the industry.

Speaking on behalf of the industry, Komal Samaroo, Chairman of the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers’ Association (WIRSPA) and head of the regional conglomerate Demerara Distillers, expressed the gratitude of the grouping for the support provided by Governments, as the industry sought to capture a share of the global market in an extremely competitive international marketplace. (Excerpt from Barbados Advocate)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURsday, MAY 2, 2019

17

Around the World

Conservatives want Catholic Bishops UK’s PM May fires Defence Secretary over Huawei leak to denounce Pope as heretic B

ritish Prime Minister Theresa May fired her Defence Minister on Wednesday over a leak of discussions in the National Security Council about Chinese telecoms company Huawei, the latest of her allies to be ousted from Government.

The sudden dismissal of Gavin Williamson, who “strenuously” denied involvement in the leak, was another blow for May, whose own premiership hangs by a thread after her failure so far to usher Britain smoothly out of the European Union.

The firing also underlined how seriously her team

A

Pope Francis

group of 19 Catholic priests and academics have urged Bishops to denounce Pope Francis as a heretic, in the latest ultra-conservative broadside against the pontiff over a range of topics from communion for the divorced to religious diversity.

The most prominent of the group is Father Aidan Nichols, a 70-year-old British priest of the Dominican order who has written many books and is one of most recognised theologians in the English-speaking world. The others are less well-known.

“We take this measure as a last resort to respond to the accumulating harm caused by Pope Francis’s words and actions over several years, which have given rise to one of the worst crises in the history of the Catholic Church,” they said in a 20-page open letter.

The letter attacks Francis for allegedly softening the Church’s stance on a range of subjects. They say he has not been outspoken enough against abortion and has been too welcoming to homosexuals and too accommodating to Protestants and Muslims.

It was published on Tuesday by LifeSiteNews, a conservative Catholic website that often is a platform for attacks on the Pope. Last year, it ran a document by the Vatican’s former Ambassador to Washington, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, calling on the Pope to resign.

A Vatican spokesman had no comment on the letter, which includes dozens of footnotes, Bible verses, pronouncements by previous Popes, and a separate bibliography.

The letter invites people to join an on-line signature drive. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US Attorney General Barr defends actions after Mueller complaint

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S Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday defended his handling of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia report after it was revealed that Mueller sent a letter to the top Justice Department official expressing frustration over how his team’s findings were being portrayed.

According to a letter, dated March 27, Mueller said Barr’s four-page summary of the report sent to Congress on March 24 “did not fully capture the context, nature, and substance” of the special counsel’s investigation.

“There is now public con-

fusion about critical aspects of the results of our investigation. This threatens to undermine a central purpose for which the Department appointed the Special Counsel: to assure full public confidence in the outcome of the investigations,” Mueller wrote In his first public appearance since releasing the redacted 448-page report, Barr told Senators on Wednesday that he had a 15-minute phone call with Mueller after receiving the letter.

“I called Bob, and said, ‘What’s the issue here?’ and I asked him if he was suggesting that the March 24

letter was inaccurate and he said ‘No’, but that the press reporting had been inaccurate and that the press was reading too much into it,” Barr told the Senate panel.

“I asked him specifically what his concern was and he said that his concern focused on his explanation on why he did not reach a conclusion on obstruction and he wanted more put out on that issue,” Barr said.

Barr had previously told Congress he did not know whether Mueller had concurred or disagreed with Barr’s summary of the investigation results. (Excerpt from

Al Jazeera)

Libya ‘war crimes’ videos shared on social media

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n investigation by BBC Arabic has found evidence of alleged war crimes in Libya being widely shared on Facebook and YouTube.

The BBC found images and videos on social media of the bodies of fighters and civilians being desecrated by fighters from the self-styled Libyan National Army.

The force, led by strongman General Khalifa Haftar, controls a swathe of territory in the east of Libya and is trying to seize the capital, Tripoli.

Under international law the desecration of bodies and posting the images online for propaganda is a war crime.

The Foreign Office says it takes the allegations extremely seriously and is con-

Under international law the desecration of bodies and posting the images online for propaganda is a war crime

cerned about the impact the recent violence is having on the civilian population. (BBC News)

treated the leak from the National Security Council, which discusses Britain’s national security, intelligence coordination and defence strategy, and involves only certain Ministers from her Cabinet to keep its talks as secret as possible.

That secrecy was broken last month when the Telegraph newspaper reported Britain would allow Huawei a role in building parts of its 5G network, setting London at odds with Washington over the next generation of communications technology.

Sources were forced to say that the role would be limited.

In a letter to Williamson, May wrote that an investigation into the leaks had provided “compelling evidence suggesting your responsibility for the unauthorised disclosure”.

“No other, credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified,” she added after putting the “latest information from the investigation” to Williamson earlier on Wednesday.

Williamson, who rose quickly up the ranks of the governing Conservative Party after backing May to become Prime Minister in 2016, denied responsibility.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

India begins evacuations as Cyclone Fani moves up coast

Storm clouds gather over the Indian city of Visakhapatnam

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housands of people are being evacuated from villages along India’s northeast coastline ahead of a severe cyclone.

Cyclone Fani is heading towards the state of Orissa with wind speeds of up to 190 kilometres per hour (120 mph), and is expected to make landfall on Friday.

Officials have now shut down operations at two major ports on the east coast, and thousands of rescuers are helping people evacuate low-lying areas.

Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states are also on high alert.

The cyclone is currently moving up the Bay of Bengal, east of Andhra Pradesh.

HR Biswas, director of the meteorological centre in the state capital Bhubaneshwar, said that at least 11 districts in Orissa

would be hit – and that they have “suggested people to stay indoors”.

India’s National Disaster Management Authority has also warned people along the rest of India’s east coast, including the coastal towns’ many fishermen, not to go out to sea because the conditions are “phenomenal”.

Once the cyclone has made landfall in north-eastern India, it is expected to move towards Chittagong in Bangladesh.

Indian officials say they have set up more than 850 shelters, which are thought to be able to hold almost one million people.

The navy, the coast guard and the National Disaster Response Force have all been prepared for deployment. (Excerpt from BBC News)

UN puts Pakistani armed group chief Masood Azhar on terror list

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he United Nations added Masood Azhar, leader of a Pakistanbased armed group, to its list of “global terrorists” on Wednesday after China lifted its objections to the move.

The UN sanctions committee on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) and al-Qaeda announced in a press release the designation of Azhar – the chief of Jaish-eMuhammad (JeM) – over his ties to al-Qaeda.

JeM claimed responsibility for the February 14 attack in the disputed Himalayan region of

Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops and stoked tensions between India and Pakistan.

China had blocked three previous attempts by the sanctions committee to blacklist Azhar and put a technical hold on a fourth request from Britain, France and the United States in March.

Azhar founded JeM in 2000 after being released from an Indian prison in exchange for 155 hostages from a hijacked Indian Airlines plane. JeM itself has been on the UN’s “terrorist” list since 2001.

Under the decision, Azhar, considered the founder of JeM, will be subject to an assets freeze, global ban and arms embargo.

The sanctions committee accused Azhar of “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities” carried out

by JeM. UN diplomats said the request was again submitted to the committee and China had not opposed the move to blacklist Azhar.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, MAY 2, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Transparency will help you avoid getting into a dispute or being led astray.

Spend more time working on personal gains and self-improvement, and less time trying to change someone else.

CANCER

Be observant, but don’t feel that you must be a follower. Choose your course of action carefully and make sure it will lead you where you want to go.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Take a closer look at what someone is proposing and consider if it will benefit you before you decide to get involved. Joint ventures are not in your best interest.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Set your sights on something that will bring you joy. Taking a trip or getting together with people you find inspiring will motivate you to follow your dreams.

Romance is featured.

Believe in your abilities.

The assistance and problem-solving techniques you offer others will make a difference. Personal change will boost your ego and appeal.

Set up a meeting with someone who has information you need. Sharing ideas and making changes will help to improve your life. Keep your distance from anyone who is argumentative or indulgent.

Stay focused on what you are trying to achieve. Refuse to let someone interfere or take up your time. Traveling, learning and nurturing an important relationship will encourage positive change.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Consider the best way to stretch your disposable cash. Take an innovative approach, form valuable partnerships and be creative in all that you do.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

How you handle personal situations and your relationships with the people you spend the most time with will count for much.

Romance is highlighted.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Be secretive about what you are up to. Someone will be eager to take charge or use your ideas to outmaneuver you. Stick close to home, where you can work privately.

Say no to anyone pestering you to change or pushing you in a direction you don’t want to go. Establish your position and move on to self-improvement and personal gains.

Put your energy where it counts. Don’t get caught up in someone else’s chaos. You will gain respect and satisfaction if you focus on helping a cause you believe in.

THURsday, MAY 2, 2019

19

Dhoni, Jadeja and Tahir put a dent in Capitals’ confidence Imran Tahir did the damage to Delhi’s batting line-up

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here was a five-over game at the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday, and while this was played over the full 20, it was the final five of the Chennai Super Kings’ innings that effectively sealed Delhi Capitals’ fate.

Having made a sluggish start, Super Kings’ innings came to life in the death overs, more than half of their 179 coming in the last six. It might have looked slightly above par at the change of innings, but on a pitch that obviously favoured the spinners, Imran Tahir and Ravindra Jadeja put on masterclasses, taking seven wickets for 21 runs between them that sealed a comprehensive 80run win for the hosts.

A half-century from Suresh Raina had kept things ticking along in a first hour firmly played on the Capitals’ terms, but a cameo from Jadeja and yet another MS Dhoni blitz at the end was enough to undo most of the Capitals’ good work in the early overs. The final over from Trent Boult, who had conceded just two in his first two overs, was tonked for 21, creating a wave of momentum Super Kings surfed on for the remainder of the game.

The chase suggested a tight game as far as the opening powerplay went, but a sensational collapse saw Shreyas Iyer’s side slip from 81 for 4 to 99 all out. A game that had begun so auspiciously for the Capitals finished up as a proper drubbing that leaves their quest for a top-two finish on shaky ground.

The ageless MS Dhoni Dhoni has spent much of 2019 making fools of those who wrote him off. He has always appeared to produce his best clad in the yellow of the Super Kings, and Wednesday’s performance was just another in the ever-burgeoning catalogue of memorable Dhoni performances for his beloved franchise.

Super Kings were barely batting above a run a ball with 6.2 overs to go when he walked out to bat. He couldn’t quite get going straightaway, so found himself content rotating the strike, allowing a more fluid Jadeja to do the heavy lifting. But with seven balls left in the innings, Dhoni showed his unmatched ability to make up for lost time, and then some.

A six off a beamer from Chris Morris off the final ball of the 19th got him going, but it was the Capitals’ best bowler who would come in for the roughest treatment. Boult had kept Super Kings

on a leash in his opening spell, with the hosts managing just seven runs off the first four.

A boundary off the third delivery followed by a scampered single didn’t seem too bad, but Boult would send down a wide that enabled Dhoni to scurry back to the strikers’ end. The final two balls went halfway up the second tier to power Dhoni to 44 off 22, with 21 coming off the last over alone.

This was Dhoni at his cavalier best;

he has struck 46 sixes in the final over of an IPL innings, more than twice as much as anyone else. And he wasn’t nearly done, because Dhoni continues to take his wicketkeeping duties exceptionally seriously. Lightning-quick glove work behind the stumps saw both Chris Morris and Iyer, who top-scored with a sparkling 44, stumped, the elegant flicking off the bail indistinguishable from the final hammered nail into the Capitals’ coffin.

The spin threat Graeme Swann said at the pitch report the surface was such a delicious turner that he regretted having hung up his boots, but someone just three days younger than him continued to plug away. Imran Tahir, 40, presumably shared Swann’s excitement at how the surface looked, and showed everyone why when he came on.

He was summoned first for the 11th over, and two balls later, made his initial mark. A google from Tahir flummoxed Axar Patel, who found himself lured into a drive, only to nick to Shane Watson at first slip. Four balls later, rising star Sherfane Rutherford was undone by another googly, a comfortable catch going straight

to backward point.

Tahir would take two more wickets to finish up with four for 12, but Jadeja at the other end was having an equally MS Dhoni devastating effect. He had struck with led CSK to a defendable his fourth delivery to send Colin Ingram score packing with a sharp turner, and two more – thanks in part to Dhoni’s reflexes in his third over all but sealed Capitals’ fate. All 3 told, eight of the Capitals’ wickets had fallen to spin, and their own inability to take advantage of the wicket in the first Chennai Super Kings Innings (20 Overs) F du Plessis c Dhawan b Patel 39 SR Watson c Patel b Suchith 0 SK Raina c Dhawan b Suchith 59 MS Dhoni (c) † not out 44 RA Jadeja c & b Morris 25 AT Rayudu not out 5 Extras: 7 (lb 1, nb 1, w 5) TOTAL: 179/4 (20 Overs, RR: 8.95) Did not bat: KM Jadhav, DJ Bravo, DL Chahar, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir Fall of wickets: 1-4 (SR Watson, 3.2 ov), 2-87 (F du Plessis, 13.3 ov), 3-102 (SK Raina, 14.5 ov), 4-145 (RA Jadeja, 18.3 ov)

SCOREBOARD

innings saw them pay a heavy price.

CSK’s start It all looked very different in an odd start to the match. Super Kings may have been put in to bat, but Dhoni had indicated he wanted that anyway, and for a side that opens with Watson and Faf du Plessis, they began exceptionally sluggishly.

Watson was back to looking like the player who had struggled in the first 10 games, while a beautiful opening spell from Boult, complemented superbly by J Suchith, meant only seven were scored in the first four. Had the Capitals’ not lost complete control over the last six, in which Super Kings plundered 91, the chase would not have been as steep as it ended up being.

The mental toll the target took, and indeed the manner in which it had been set, was enough to scramble the visitors’ minds, with the clear-thinking, unflappable Dhoni ensuring his side struck a telling blow ahead of the upcoming play-offs, where they could well play the first qualifier at home.

(ESPNcricinfo)

BOWLING O M R W TA Boult 4 0 37 0 J Suchith 4 0 28 2 CH Morris 4 0 47 1 AR Patel 3 0 31 1 A Mishra 3 0 16 0 SE Rutherford 2 0 19 0 Delhi Capitals Innings (Target 180 from 20 Overs) PP Shaw c Raina b Chahar 4 S Dhawan b Harbhajan Singh 19 SS Iyer (c) st †Dhoni b Jadeja 44 RR Pant † c Bravo b Imran Tahir 5 CA Ingram lbw b Jadeja 1 AR Patel c Watson b Imran Tahir 9 SE Rutherford c Chahar b Imran Tahir 2 CH Morris st †Dhoni b Jadeja 0 J Suchith run out (Watson) 6 A Mishra c †Dhoni b Imran Tahir 8 TA Boult not out 1 Extras: 0 TOTAL: 99 all out (16.2 Overs, RR: 6.06) Fall of wickets: 1-4 (PP Shaw, 0.5 ov), 2-52 (S Dhawan, 5.3 ov), 3-63 (RR Pant, 6.2 ov), 4-66 (CA Ingram, 7.4 ov), 5-81 (AR Patel, 10.2 ov), 6-83 (SE Rutherford, 10.6 ov), 7-84 (CH Morris, 11.4 ov), 8-85 (SS Iyer, 11.6 ov), 9-92 (J Suchith, 15.2 ov), 10-99 (A Mishra, 16.2 ov) BOWLING O M R W DL Chahar 3 0 32 1 Harbhajan Singh 4 0 28 1 Imran Tahir 3.2 0 12 4 RA Jadeja 3 0 9 3 DJ Bravo 3 0 18 0

Messi scores twice as Barcelona take control

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iverpool will have to produce one of their best displays of the season at Anfield after Barcelona’s Lionel Messi hit them with a second-half sucker-punch in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

After a frustrating opening half when they fell behind to Luis Suarez’s strike, Jurgen Klopp’s men gained the upper hand and looked more likely to score the next, with both Mohamed Salah and James Milner testing the agility of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

However, Barcelona showed they can be at their most deadly with their backs to the wall.

The home side doubled their lead when Messi followed up after Suarez’s strike which came off the bar and then the Argentine maestro raised the decibel levels inside a packed Nou Camp with a sublime 25-yard free-kick that found the top-right corner.

The Reds came agonisingly close to a potentially crucial away goal when Roberto Firmino’s strike was cleared off the line, before

Salah struck the post with his follow-up.

Reds out of luck at Nou Camp

What more could Klopp ask of his men in the second leg on Tuesday after a display where they constantly probed and pressured the competition favourites?

Maybe some luck could have gone their way. Sadio Mane, with 15 goals in his past 18 games, missed from eight yards out after he was found by Jordan Henderson’s ball from the right in the first half.

And in their period of domination after the interval, Ter Stegen was at full stretch to push away Milner’s shot before the German dived low to his right to make a one-handed stop from Salah’s drive.

Liverpool refused to let their heads drop after Messi’s mini-show which took him to 600 goals for the Catalan club. However, they must have thought the gods are not shining on them this year after both Firmino and Salah missed clear-cut chances you would have put money on them to score.

The Reds have been known to produce miracles with a 3-0 deficit. They will need to produce another next week. (jivenaija)

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THURsday, MAY 2, 2019

“England made the right call on Hales” – Jonathan Agnew

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he Alex Hales saga is a very sorry state of affairs. He has been building to a home World Cup and now, after being withdrawn from the England squad for what is being reported as recreational drug use, he has thrown it away.

Hales is a very talented batsman who, if he had been called upon, may have had a big impact on the World Cup. However, England have done the right thing.

In terms of preparing for this huge summer, they have decided there is too much noise around Hales at the moment.

He was already under a cloud after being caught up in the Ben Stokes incident outside a Bristol nightclub in 2017.

Remember, although Hales didn’t face any criminal charges, he was fined by the Cricket Disciplinary Commission – which is independent from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) – for his role in that incident and in relation to “inappropriate images” on social media.

When all of their energy is going towards winning the World Cup, England cannot take the chance of his presence becoming a distraction.

There have been questions about the ECB’s handling of the whole affair, about assurances that may have been given to Hales about his World Cup place.

Frankly, given what has happened in Hales’ past, I’m not sure what assurances he could

reasonably expect to receive.

If there is a lesson for the ECB and all governing bodies, it is that the truth will always come out in the end.

For all the talk of confidentiality and a duty of care, it was unrealistic to try to keep a 21-day suspension under wraps.

The story that was cooked up, of Hales stepping away from the game for “personal reasons”, was never going to wash.

It can be said that this once-in-a-lifetime summer, which begins with a one-day international in Ireland on Friday, is beginning in troubling circumstances for England.

As well as the Hales controversy, key batsmen such as Jason Roy and Eoin Morgan have been dealing with niggles, while we still do not know if Jofra Archer or Chis Jordan will force their way into the final World Cup squad.

However, I cannot envisage the Hales affair having a long-term destabilising effect. Someone else will come in and, because of his place in the batting pecking order behind Roy, Bairstow and Joe Root, there was the very real chance he would have carried the drinks throughout the entire World Cup. As for the injuries, they happen. None of them sound too serious, so they are likely to be things that England can deal with at the moment.

The intrigue during the match against

Alex Hales

Ireland, and the Twenty20 and five OneDay Internationals (ODIs) that follow against Pakistan, comes from the presence of Archer and, to a lesser extent, Jordan.

For the players who have taken England on their four-year journey from one of the worst ODI sides in the world to favourites for the World Cup, it is only natural to be concerned about losing their place at the last moment.

After all, they have probably been dreaming about winning the World Cup on home soil. How

will they respond to being put under pressure?

But the same can also be said for Archer – and I highlight him because much more focus, rightly or wrongly, has been placed on him than Jordan.

Here is a young man who has played very little 50-over cricket and is being dropped into a new environment. He is being asked to prove himself under intense scrutiny and in a relatively short space of time.

How will he cope? It will be very interesting to see.

Will the whole idea of 17 men vying for 15 World Cup spots have a positive or negative effect on results? Only time will tell.

While Archer is a new face, an old face who will no longer be around is Paul Farbrace, the former assistant coach who is now with Warwickshire.

As caretaker coach back in 2011, it was Farbrace who threw away England’s shackles and kick-started their intent to play aggressive, entertaining, full-throttle cricket.

It will be up to the staff who remain to ensure his absence is not too keenly felt.

Ultimately, a summer that includes a home World Cup and Ashes series, with England having legitimate claims to win both, is a unique opportunity to breathe life into cricket in this country. (Jonathan Agnew was talking to BBC Sport’s Stephan Shemilt)

Ruby Walsh: Horse racing great retires after Punchestown Gold Cup win Walsh burst on to the racing scene when winning the 2000 Grand National on Papillon, trained by his father, Ted. He would also win the race on Mullins’ Hedgehunter in 2005. Perhaps the two horses who Walsh will be most remembered for, though, were the two-time Champion Hurdle Hero Hurricane Fly and the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star. Paul Nicholls trained Kauto Star and Walsh was aboard for each of his five King George VI Chase wins, as well as his Festival triumphs among numerous other wins.

Ruby Walsh rode Kemboy to a two-length victory over Al Boum Photo in what was his final race

Walsh with wife Gillian after announcing his retirement

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eading jockey Ruby Walsh announced his retirement immediately after riding joint favourite Kemboy to victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup. The 39-year-old has been one of the finest National Hunt jockeys in history, riding over 2500 winners in a 24-year career. His total of 59 Cheltenham Festival successes is more than any other rider and he won the Grand National twice.

“I think I knew going out that if he won I wouldn’t ride again,” he said. “I probably thought the same with Rathvinden at Aintree. Nothing goes on forever and it has always been about big races – it doesn’t get any bigger here than that.

“When a decision is made in your head, it’s easy enough to say it and I made it a good while ago. When I broke my leg at Cheltenham last year, I felt I couldn’t do that again. Time moves on, I’ve done it for 24 years and to be honest I want to do something else over the next 24 – I’m just not sure what.”

Wednesday’s Gold Cup was another one-

two finish for trainer Willie Mullins, with Al Boum Photo finishing second. Walsh opted to partner Kemboy, one of Mullins’ three runners in the feature race on the second day of the festival, for what proved to be the final race of a hugely successful career. Reflecting on Wednesday’s Gold Cup win, the County Kildare native added: “He jumped really well. He quickened and quickened and quickened – he has pace and stamina and has a real knack of jumping.”

Kemboy’s win denied stablemate Al Boum Photo a Cheltenham and Gold Cup double.

The Storyteller finished third, with last year’s winner Belishill (6/1) fourth. Kemboy came unstuck at the first fence at Cheltenham as Al Boum Photo claimed the blue riband, but he gained compensation under a positive ride from Walsh. British raider Definitly Red disputed the early lead with the eventual winner, but it was a duel between the Mullins’ runners turning for home, with Al Boum Photo unable to go with Kemboy, who ran out a two-length victor. There was a further 22 lengths back to The Storyteller in third.

Nicholls said: “The relationship with Kauto Star obviously particularly comes to mind. We had some amazing days with him, all the King Georges, the Gold Cups. We had some fantastic horses at that time – Denman, Neptune Collonges, Big Bucks, Master Minded - -they were all just great days.”

“He’s been a fantastic jockey, a fantastic ambassador for the sport and he’s just a great man. He’s one of the best jockeys ever to ride for us and will always be a friend.”

(BBC Sport)

Iker Casillas: Spain & Porto goalkeeper “stable” after heart attack

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pain’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Iker Casillas says “everything is controlled” after he had a heart attack during training with his club Porto.

The 37-year-old is “stable” in hospital and remains under observation. Casillas, regarded as one of Real Madrid’s greatest keepers, says he had “a big scare”, but added that his “strength was intact”. A Porto statement said he “suffered an acute myocardial infarction” on Wednesday morning.

“The work session was promptly interrupted to provide assistance to the Porto goalkeeper, who is currently at the Hospital CUF Porto. Casillas is well, stable and his heart problem [is] solved,” it added.

Casillas made 725 appearances for Spanish giants Real during a 16-year career at the Bernabeu, helping them win three Champions Leagues and five La Liga titles.

He was also part of the Spain squad as they won two successive European Championships, in 2008 and 2012, and the World Cup in 2010.

Madrid said they were sending their former keeper “all the courage of the world”.

“Real Madrid wants to transmit all their support to their beloved captain Casillas,” the statement read. “Casillas has taught us throughout his professional career to overcome the most incredible challenges to enhance the glory of our club.

“He has taught us that giving up does not fit into our philosophy of life and has shown us countless times that being stronger, the harder the challenge, is the way to achieve victory.

“Real Madrid want to see their eternal captain recovered as soon as possible and send him all the courage of the world.”

A Spanish footballing icon Casillas is held in high esteem at the Bernabeu, with the 13-time European champions describing him as “the best

Iker Casillas won five La Liga titles at Real Madrid and three Champions League crowns

goalkeeper in our history” on their official website.

Born a short distance from the stadium, he graduated from the youth ranks, and the ‘C’ and ‘B’ teams, to establish himself as a regular first-team player, winning 10 major titles during a 16-year career with Los Blancos.

The former club Captain, who moved to Porto on a free transfer in 2015, holds the distinction of having made the most Champions League appearances of any player – 176 – and became the first player to appear in 20 consecutive seasons of the competition.

Casillas is also the most-capped Spain player, having made 167 appearances. He helped Porto win the Portuguese title last season. (BBC Sport)

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THURSday, may 2, 2019

21

Semenya loses Cas case C aster Semenya has lost a landmark case against athletics’ governing body meaning it will be allowed to restrict testosterone levels in female runners.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) rejected the South African’s challenge against the new rules of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

But Cas said it had “serious concerns as to the future practical application” of the regulations.

Olympic 800 metres champion Semenya, 28, said in response to the

Caster Semenya

ruling that the IAAF “have always targeted me specifically”.

Now she – and other athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) – must either take medication in order to compete in track events from 400m to the mile, or change to another distance.

“For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger. The decision of Cas will not hold me back,” said Semenya in a statement.

“I will once again rise above and continue to inspire young women and athletes in South Africa and around the world.”

Previously, she had said that she wanted to “run naturally, the way I was born”.

Cas found that the rules for athletes with DSD were discriminatory – but that the discrimination was “necessary, reasonable and proportionate” to protect “the integrity of female athletics”.

However, Cas set out serious concerns about the application of the rules, including: worries that athletes might unintentionally break the strict testosterone levels set by the IAAF, questions about the advantage higher testosterone gives athletes over 1500m and the mile, the practicalities for athletes of complying with the new rules.

Cas has asked the IAAF to consider delaying the application of the rules to the 1500m and one-mile events until more evidence is available.

Semenya is still eligible to compete at the Diamond League meet in Doha on

Friday and can make an appeal against the Cas ruling to the Swiss Tribunal Courts within the next 30 days.

What are disorders/differences of sex development (DSD)?

People with a DSD do not develop along typical gender lines.

Their hormones, genes, reproductive organs may be a mix of male and female characteristics, which can lead to higher levels of testosterone – a hormone that increases muscle mass, strength and haemoglobin, which affects endurance.

The term “disorders” is controversial with some of those affected preferring the term “intersex” and referring to “differences in sex development”.

The new rules come into effect on May 8, which means athletes who want to compete at September’s World Championships – also in Doha – will have to start taking medication within one week.

Those affected by the rules will have to have a blood test on May 8 to test their eligibility. A statement from the IAAF said that no athlete “will be forced to undergo any assessment” and that any treatment was up to the individual athlete.

Athletes with DSD have higher levels of natural testosterone, which the IAAF believes gives them a competitive advantage – findings that were disputed by Semenya and her legal team.

Her lawyers had previously said her “genetic gift” should be celebrated, adding: “Women with differences in sexual development have genetic variations that are no different than other genetic variations in sport.”

They have also suggested that Semenya “does not wish to undergo medical

intervention to change who she is and how she was born”.

What are the proposed changes?

The rules, applying to women in track events from 400m up to the mile, require athletes to keep their testosterone levels below a prescribed amount “for at least six months prior to competing”.

However, 100m, 200m and 100m hurdles are exempt, as are races longer than one mile and field events.

Female athletes affected must take medication for six months before they can compete, and then maintain a lower testosterone level.

The rules were intended to be brought in on November 1, 2018, but the legal challenge from Semenya and Athletics South Africa caused that to be delayed until March 26.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has called the plans “unnecessary, harmful and humiliating”, and South Africa’s Sports Minister called them a “human rights violation”.

What next for Semenya?

On Friday, Semenya won 5000m gold at the South African Athletics Championships – a new distance for her, and one outside the scope of the IAAF rule change.

It was only the second time Semenya had run the distance and she finished more than 100m ahead of defending national champion Dominque Scott.

However, Scott said she was unsure whether Semenya could be a serious Olympic contender over the longer distance.

Semenya is national and Commonwealth champion at 1500m, and also broke the African 400m record in August. (BBC Sport)

Trophy Stall 15-over Softball Tournament...

Perch displays all-round performance to lead Wellman to final

T

he action continued in the Trophy Stall 15-over softball tournament ,which saw Ariel and Wellman Masters both secure their spots in the final at the Malteenoes Sports

Club.

In semi-final one, Ariel Masters duked it out with

Success Masters in their 15-over affair. Batting first, Ariel were able to post a

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Sheldon Perch scored an unbeaten 34 and bagged 3-0

commanding total of 1668. Leading Ariel from the top was the in-form Saheed Gittens who top-scored with 61 (6×4s 6×6s). He was supported by Oslyn Batson and Richard Persaud, who took advantage of the last few overs to score a belligerent 33 and 31 respectively.

Bowling for Success Masters was Randy Katwaroo, who claimed 2-20.

Needing 167 for victory, Success Masters needed to score boundaries from ball one, but they somehow managed to falter in the middle overs as Ariel Masters restricted them to 154-8 in their 15 overs. Scoring in a losing effort were Vijay

Baljit (47); Seekumar Budram (37) and Randy Katwaroo (27). Bowling for Ariel Masters was Rudy Rodrigues, who bagged miserly figures of 3-6.

In semi-final number two, Wellman Masters battled Narine XI which saw the Masters thrashing their opponents by 90 runs. Batting first, Wellman Masters posted a commanding total of 214-4 in their allotted 15 overs. Wellman Masters took command early on in the innings, sending the ball to all parts of the Malteenoes Ground. Leading Wellman was Latchman Kallicharan, who composed a well-played 54 at the top of the order.

After Kallicharan fell, it was now up to Greg De Franca and Nandram Samlall, who aggressively built their innings to compose scores of 44 and 35 respectively. After their wickets fell, Sheldon Perch chipped in with an unbeaten 34 to give his team a mammoth total.

Jailall Ramlall bagged 2-31 for Narine XI. In response to the mammoth total set before them, Narine XI folded for 124-9 succumbing to the pressure. Ganesh Sookdeo claimed 3-22 while Perch returned and bagged a three-wicket maiden to book his side’s spot in the final.

Pooran hoping for big World Cup impact

F

our years after suffering a serious car injury, Windies batsman Nicholas Pooran has high hopes of playing a big part for the team at this month’s International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup in England.

The 23-year-old Trinidad and Tobago native was named as part of a 15-man squad, which will travel to England determined to make a mark on the tournament in a few days’ time. However, the position he now finds himself in is

quite remarkable considering the fact that two years ago he was left to wonder if he would ever walk again. After returning from training in Port of Spain, Pooran ruptured his left patellar tendon and fractured his ankle. The injuries left the player sidelined for several months.

“West Indies has a lot of talented players like it has always had.

Obviously, things are shaping well for the World Cup and we are looking forward to it. Hope I do a great

job,” Pooran said.

“The conditions in England will obviously be colder. The one thing would be to (understand) the conditions and then adjusting (accordingly) to the longer format of the game. This is our job, and this is what we do day in and out, so we have to (realise) the situation and get ready for the World Cup.” (Sportsmax)

Nicholas Pooran

22

THURsday, MAY 2, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Poor selection process at youth level nothing new in Guyana – U-19 Inter-County continues to affect CSEC student-athletes

By Brandon Corlette

F

amiliar trends continue in Guyana’s cricket; from poor selection at the youth level to the Under-19 inter-county tourney being held simultaneously with the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations. In the ongoing Hand-in-Hand U-19 3-Day inter-county, some surprise selections were made, particularly in the Guyana Select U-17 team.

Among the notable omissions were former Guyana U-15 players Jonathan Rampersaud, a gifted off-spinner who is capable with the bat and star wicket-keeper batsman Shamar Yearwood. The present Guyana U-15 players Isai Thorne, Rampertab Ramnauth, and Alvin Mohabir were not given the opportunity to play in the U-19 inter-county tournament with the Guyana Select U-17 team, after registering solid performances.

Thorne, arguably the fastest bowler in his age group, has represented the Guyana U-15s twice in as many years and he has a bit of experience. In the recently-concluded regional tournament in Antigua, he had a good showing with the ball. His Berbician team-mate Ramnauth was also disappointed in his exclusion from the Select U-17 team.

The elegant stroke-maker was the leading batsman at the inter-county U-15 tournament with 251 runs, including a high score of 147*. He continued his dream year when he played for the Guyana Select U-15 in the inter-county U-17 tournament. In the U-17 tournament, Ramnauth had 109 runs with a high score of 76 in the three-match tournament. He accumulated similar runs with Matthew Nandu (103) and Sarwan Chaitnarine (109) who are currently in the Guyana Select U-17 team.

Nandu and Chaitnarine are class acts who deserve their opportunity but Ramnauth should have made the cut in the Guyana U-17 team. Ramnauth also scored 114 against Jamaica U-15, 57 against Windward Islands U-15 and 92* against Trinidad and Tobago U-15 in the final round of the Regional U-15 tournament in Antigua.

It now seems that performance does not earn selection these days, but Guyana U-15 Captain Zachary Jodah, who has also been a consistent performer, is currently in the Demerara U-19 team. His performances may have earned him selection as did those of the West Indies U-16 sensation Mavindra Dindyal, who is in the Guyana U-17 team.

Dindyal is easily the best batsman at his level; he shows his class against any opponent; hence, his readiness at the U-19 levels.

The biased selections have also been on display over the years in the Ancient County of Berbice: recently, the Albion Cricket Club have also been concerned that only a few of their players who have been performing are making the Berbice youth teams.

In addition, the U-19 inter-county is slated annually around the May-June period.

This time is known as exam time in Guyana for the fifth form students who are often between the ages of 16 and 18. This tournament continues to affect the cricketers who often opt out of school to pursue their dreams in cricket.

Others give up their dreams in cricket and pursue academics, since education is the key to success, and it allows student-athletes to fall back on something, since there is life after cricket. The issue with the poor selection process at the youth level requires addressing as do the timing of the staging of the U-19 inter-county tournament.

Jonathan Rampersaud

NSC donates javelin to CARIFTA gold medallist

Rampertab Ramnauth

Cas ruling “justifies discrimination” – Athletics South Africa

Anisha Gibbons displays her brand new javelin. She is surrounded by her Coach and NSC representatives

A

nisha Gibbons is already reaping the fruits of her 2019 CARIFTA gold-medal performance as she begins to gain recognition and generous donations for her feat.

The Girls Under-17 gold medallist on Tuesday received a Javelin from the National Sports Commission (NSC). She was accompanied by her Coach and her school’s Physical Education Teacher Raymond Daw at the time of the donation, at the NSC’s Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown office.

The more-than-generous donation, which will assist Gibbons to continuously train and perfect her craft, was made possible by Director of Sport, Christopher Jones after he learnt that the javelin that Gibbons currently trains with is almost thrice her age – 45. That was made known to the Director of Sport during a visit to the Linden Mayor last week.

Over the Easter weekend, Gibbons copped Guyana’s first Under-17 girls javelin gold at the CARIFTA Games. The young lady, who returned

home with her Guyanese colleagues to a hero’s welcome, was overcome with tears as she spoke about the monumental achievement.

Furthermore, Jones also asked the teacher to ensure that the 1974 javelin was placed in a history corner at the school. Jones intends to visit the school to get a first-hand look at the aged piece of equipment. He also encouraged Daw to ensure that he produced more gold medals.

In the same breath, the National Sports Commissioner also took the opportunity to support several other sporting ventures such as the Carl Hooper Cricket Club team, which departed Guyana on May 1 for Trinidad and Tobago, cyclist Walter Grant-Stuart, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Transcend Entertainment and New Beginners Co-operative Society Limited, which will be organising a maleonly football and male and female softball cricket competitions on May 5 at the Kildonan Community Centre.

A

thletics South Africa (ASA) says it is "reeling in shock" after Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya lost a landmark case against athletics' governing body.

The South African, 28, challenged new International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules which attempt to restrict testosterone levels in female runners.

Athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) must now take medication to compete in some track events or change to another distance.

ASA said the Cas decision "goes to lengths to justify" discrimination.

"We believe their decision is disgraceful," it added.

Cas found the rules for athletes with DSD, like Semenya, were discriminatory - -but that the discrimination was "necessary, reasonable and proportionate" to protect "the integrity of female athletics".

But, in making the ruling on Wednesday, Cas said it had "serious concerns as to the future practical application" of the regulations.

Semenya, a multiple Olympic, World and Commonwealth champion, said she believed the IAAF "have always targeted me specifically".

"We are reeling in shock at how a body held in high esteem like Cas can endorse discrimination without flinching," said ASA in a statement on Wednesday.

"For Cas does not only condone discrimination, but also goes to lengths to justify it, only undermines the integrity that this body is entrusted with.

"We are deeply disappointed and profoundly shocked."

Semenya is still eligible to compete at the Diamond League meet in Doha on Friday and can make an appeal against the Cas ruling to the Swiss Tribunal Courts within the next 30 days.

ASA said it was "encouraged to take the matter further" because of some of the observations raised by Cas in the ruling.

"ASA was confident of a favourable outcome given the human rights, medico-legal and scientific arguments and evidence that we believe invalidated the regulations," it added.

"It is these facts that have left ASA shocked that Cas rejected these compelling factors in favour of the IAAF. "ASA reiterates that this may not be the end of the matter." (BBC Sport)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURsday, MAY 2, 2019

23

2019 Hand-in-Hand Inter-county U-19 3-day tournament…

Algoo’s unbeaten century leads B’ce fightback on day 2 ─ Berbice 201 runs ahead

By Brandon Corlette

T

he well-built lad from Cumberland Canje, Alex Algoo, showed his supremacy at this level with a sensational century against the Guyana Select U-17 team at Everest. Berbice ended the second day on 292-4 in 70 overs; a lead of 201 runs. Alex Algoo remained unbeaten on 119 from 201 balls, decorated with six fours and three sixes. He was supported by his skipper, Kevlon Anderson who scored 53, Junior Sinclair 42, and Seon Glasgow 40.

E a r l i e r under overcast conditions, Guyana Select U-17 resumed the second day on 185-6, they were bowled out for 218 in 71.4 overs, losing four wickets for 33 runs. It was West Indies U-19 Kevlon Anderson selectee, Kevin constructed a Umroa being the half-century most destructive

reached the tea interval at 176-2 with Algoo occupying the crease with 72 and Anderson on 36 at the break.

The Windies U-19 selectee, Anderson looked above his U-19 class reaching his half-century with an exquisite cut shot off right arm pacer, Jagdesh Dowlatram. He further found the gaps with ease as his National U-19 partner, Algoo played out-of-the-box with patience. Anderson s o o n after reaching his half-century, threw his wicket away hitting one down long-on at 199-3. His Kevin Umroa had 68-minute innings ended on 53 5-55 for Berbice from 67 balls, including seven trademark boundaries.

T h e explosive Seon Glasgow partnered with Algoo and the duo took a liking to the Select U-17 bowlers. At 15:51h, the heavens opened up with Alex Algoo was unbeaten on 90 from 165 balls including six fours and one six. Glasgow was undefeated on 32 from 31 balls as Berbice reached 246-3 in 58.1

bowler f o r Berbice with 5-55 in 25.4 overs, including 10 maidens. The Select U-17 team attained a first innings lead of 91; Zeynul Ramsammy topscored with 58 while Mavindra Dindyal scored 56. Sarwan Chaitnarine was unbeaten on 38, including eight elegant boundaries.

With the exclusion of the left arm spinner in Umroa, who had five wickets, Junior Sinclair had 2-32 while Seon Glasgow, Nigel Deodat and Kevlon Anderson had one wicket each.

It was time to make amends for the Berbicians who displayed an ordinary performance in their first innings. The dynamic duo in Alex Algoo and Junior Sinclair played with maturity, adding 87 runs together for the opening partnership.

After playing some sweet shots, Sinclair was out bowled around his legs by leg-spinner, Niran Bissu for 42 from 71 balls, including five fours.

Albion’s Jetendra Outar partnered Algoo and the duo continued to work the bowling around and putting the bad balls into the gap. Outar was once more undone by the leg-spinner, Bissu when he played back and was bowled for six.

In came the class act, Kevlon Anderson at 1172 who showed his class scoring freely. Berbice

overs enjoying a lead of 155 runs.

The rain ended and at 16:23h; Algoo and Glasgow continued where they left off; Glasgow was adjudged leg before for 40 from 41 balls, including four boundaries and one Alex Algoo on the six. Garfield Benjamin charge at Everest partnered the opener, Algoo and the duo ended the day in a strong position.

Algoo is on 119 and Benjamin is on six; the third and final day will resume from 10:00h local time at Everest.

Extras cost Media XI victory against Odyssey XI

CONCACAF U-17 Championships

U-17 Jags go down 4-0 to El Salvador

The victorious Odyssey XI

By Timothy Jaikarran

I

T

he Guyanese National Under-17 team suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat as they made their debut in the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship Wednesday.

This is the first time that Guyana are participating in CONCACAF’s Under-17 men’s championships, having participated at the Under-15 and Under-20 levels.

From the 20-man strong team which set off for Florida on Monday last, Marcus Wilson (Captain); Shawn Adonis; Jermaine Padmore; Nicholai Andrews; Shannon Samnauth; Tyrel Khan; Jemar Harrigon; William Vaughan; Orville Daniels; Omari Glasgow and Ronaldo Rodrigues were the starting eleven against the usually skilled El Salvador.

The Guyanese squad, which has been going through rigorous training for quite some time, could not find the formula to challenge the Central Americans when they met at the IMG Academy stadium on Wednesday morning. The young team’s strength was previously displayed after they defeated Senior Elite League team Den Amstel 2-1 in

a practice match. But on this occasion, the opposing side was too much for the youths.

The Guyanese found themselves one down in the early stages of the game after El Salvador’s Kevin Roman Linares beat the goalkeeper in the 16th minute. On the other hand, Guyana could not capitalise on any of their opportunities, allowing their opponents to hold on to the lead going into the second half.

At this stage, El Salvador added insult to injury as Captain Emerson Saul connected his first goal in the 59th minute and another in the 67th. His brace was punctuated by a goal from Luis Vasquez in the 64th minute, which carried El Salvador to a fourgoal tally.

Guyana made no reply, as every attempt found the capable hand of the goal’s custodian.

The Guyanese Under-17 team will play their next CONCACAF match on May 3, they will be coming up against Honduras at 16:00h. Guyana was drawn in Group C with El Salvador, Haiti and Honduras.

t all went down to the final as Media XI battled Odyssey Transport Services Inc at the Meten-Meer-Zorg Ground in a thrilling 18 over affair.

With slight overcast skies hovering and the breeze blowing across the ground, the team batting second would have had the upper hand in the game and possibly go on to win it. At the spin of the toss, Media XI won and elected to utilise the conditions to their advantage and bowl first.

Opening the batting for Oddssey were Troy Khan and Seon Alleyne who played smartly, placing the ball along the ground running singles.

However, Khan fell victim to Romario Nauth, with in the power play for 8. Feroze Barakat then joined Alleyne at the crease, from there on it was simply about rebuilding the innings for their team.

The two batsmen entertained the crowd as the found the fence on multiple occasions, stroking classy boundaries and towering maximums. Both batsmen fell for 33 and 31 runs respectively, off the leg spin of

Esan Griffith scored a resistant 43

Fardeen Sheriffudeen. From there on it was easy pickings for the Media XI side as the other three wickets fell for 13 runs, with Andy Makeram bagging his first wicket and Sheriffudeen returning to bag 2 more wickets. Anthony Ferreira then walked to the crease and cracked a quickfire 24 to propel his side a modest total of 153-7 in their allotted 18 overs. Originally Oddssey would have posted 109-7 but the out of form Media XI bowlers gave away 44 extras. Bowling for Media XI were Fardeen Sheriffudeen

4-21, Andy Makeram 2-9 and Romario Nauth 1-13.

Needing 154 for victory, openers John Ramsingh and Safraz Sheriffudeen took to the crease – Ramsingh lasted one ball as he attempted to pull the ball aggressively and received a top edge to off the bowling of Barkat to be removed for duck. But it was the heroics of Esan Griffith that lifted the team out of trouble, even as Sheriffudeen fell for 23, Griffith continued to rally on as wickets fell around him. Things then took a turn in the favour of the Media team as the score was revised, with them needing 36 off 24 deliveries. Griffith accelerated and give the team another life line as they now needed 20 off 10 deliveries, when Griffith fell for 43, 16 runs were needed off the last over. The task was now left up to Nauth and Zaheer Mohamed who batted well but missed the target by four runs as Media XI could only post 124-6 in their allotted 15 overs. Bowling for Oddssey were Seon Alleyne 3-15, Feroze Barakat 2-18 and Mohamed Willie 1-11.

THURsday, MAY 2, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

2019 Hand-in-Hand Inter-county U-19 3-day tournament…

Page 23

Alex Algoo celebrates his impressive century

Algoo’s unbeaten century leads B’ce fightback on day 2 ─ Berbice 201 runs ahead

Poor U-17 Jags go down 4-0 to El Salvador selection process at youth level nothing new in Guyana CONCACAF U-17 Championships

Page 22

Page 23

– U-19 Inter-county continues to affect CSEC student-athletes Isai Thorne

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