Guyana Times Thursday May 30, 2019

Parliament unveils gallery honouring former Presidents Page 13

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3939

THURSday, may 30, 2019

Govt Ministers greeted with protests

at outreach on Essequibo Coast Page 2

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Depressed P13 Guyanese woman in failing marriage dies in fiery suicide

Ecuadorian P8 jailed in Guyana for cocaine possession, fraud

Residents of Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) took to the streets of Anna Regina, near the hosting of a Government ministerial outreach, to voice their disapproval over the state of affairs of the region and issues of national importance

Pensioner crushed to death by drunk driver

Gunman nabbed after robbing Stabroek P11 Market vendors

Page 7

PSC calls out Govt over lack of progress of security reforms ...says more should be done to curb crime

See story on Page 3

Corriverton Town Council US$18M vulnerable to suspends treasurer over capricious, potentially financial irregularities illegal use – TIGI Oil signing bonus

Page 14

Page 2

Reports of SARA investigating oil blocks harmful to investment – GCCI …questions timing of probe without regulatory oil agencies

Subvention P10 to Queen’s College insufficient – consultant

See story on Page 7

Waiakabra residents call for Govt’s assistance to send children to school P11 ExxonMobil, El Dorado Offshore recruit 12 Guyanese P12

2 news

thursday, may 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt Ministers greeted with protests at outreach on Essequibo Coast

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undreds of disgruntled citizens lined the streets of Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) to protest the presence of Government officials who are currently holding outreaches across the country.

Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt was also in the protest line, after the Regional Executive Officer (REO) reportedly denied him a fuel allowance to attend the activity.

The majority of the residents questioned the tim-

Protesters along the road at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, Region Two on Wednesday

These young women held placards in front of the Cabinet outreach at Anna Regina

ing of the outreach, pointing out that after four years in office, this is the first time such a large ministerial delegation has vis-

the No-confidence Motion against it and the likelihood of early elections.

One rice farmer said rice is the breadbasket of

ited the region to offer support.

They believe Government is merely campaigning, in light of

the region and although many calls were made for Government to intervene to save the industry from collapsing, nothing has been done.

At Wednesday’s pro-

test also, over 30 trench cleaners join the picketing line after they were denied payments for over three months. Like at the other outreaches so far, residents flocked the booth dealing with housing issues. Scores of persons said they left the outreach very disappointed since their housing issues could not have been fully dealt with despite waiting long hours to have their issues addressed. This led some persons to question why the Government is inviting persons to the Cabinet outreaches when they cannot address their issues.

Oil signing bonus

US$18M vulnerable to capricious, potentially illegal use – TIGI

TIGI President, Dr Troy Thomas

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aving tried unsuccessfully to get the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) to recover the US$18 million signing bonus from a private account and deposit it in the rightful place, Transparency International Guyana Inc (TIGI) remains worried that the monies will be siphoned off.

TIGI on Wednesday questioned the rationale behind Government opting not to follow constitutional provisions and deposit the multimillion-dollar signing bonus into the Consolidated Fund, rather than an account at the Bank of Guyana.

According to the group, the money will remain vulnerable if it is not treated with the necessary constitutional provisions.

“We maintain that the signing bonus is vulnerable to capricious and potentially illegal use as long as it is not reflected in the Consolidated Fund where it would receive parliamentary oversight.

We also continue to ponder what the Government might find compelling enough as a reason for preferring to violate the constitutional pro-

vision on managing public funds and to evade accountability in this matter,” the transparency watchdog said.

The TIGI’s statement came in light of recent pronouncements made by SARA’s Director, Professor Clive Thomas, who said recently that there was no premise to go after the money since it is in the State’s possession and there has been no accusation of any misappropriation.

However, the transparency body stressed that it never made any accusation of misuse of the money. In fact, TIGI said its request to SARA was to recover the money to be placed into the Consolidated Fund as required by law.

“It is important to note that the SARA Director’s expressed view does not challenge the assertion that the signing bonus was deposited outside of the Consolidated Fund. Hence, we conclude that we were unsuccessful at pointing to “any unlawful conduct” in relation to the signing bonus that is compelling enough for SARA to act.”

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news

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thursday, may 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Thursday, May 30 – 02:00h and 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, May 31 – 02:30h and 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, May 30 – 13:55h-15:25h and Friday, May 31 – 14:40h-16:10h.

PSC calls out Govt over lack of progress of security reforms ...says more should be done to curb crime

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

WEATHER TODAY

Early morning sunny intervals are expected to give way to light rain showers that will last throughout the morning. Sunny intervals are expected to return in the afternoon, followed by partly cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures will range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 13:56h reaching a maximum height of 2.36 metres.

Low Tide: 07:30h and 19:49h reaching minimum heights of 0.86 metre and 0.82 metre

wednesday, may 29, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS C

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

PSC Chairman Desmond Sears

Police Commissioner Leslie James

hile acknowledging the recent efforts of the Guyana Police Force, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) believes more should be done to curb the spate of violent crimes across the country.

Over recent weeks, there has been an alarming increase in crimes, particularly in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) where several armed robberies ended in fatalities.

The situation resulted in the Force’s SWAT unit being deployed to the region and some days later, three bandits were shot and killed during a standoff with the Police.

It is believed that the now dead men were behind daring robberies on the Corentyne over the past weeks. At the Johanna backdam in Black Bush Polder, where they were killed, Police found several weapons including an AR15 rifle, which is suspected to have been used in a previous robbery where matching spent shells were found.

The PSC, in a statement on Wednesday, commended the most recent success of the Police in confronting the violent crime in Berbice and recognises the continuing efforts of the Police to meet this growing challenge threatening the safety and wellbeing of every citizen.

However, the Commission nevertheless believes that much more can and should be done to meet this challenge.

“The Commission is convinced of the need for significantly greater human and financial resources being placed at the disposal of the Police Force… The Commission believes there is considerable room for enhancement in intelligence gathering and analysis than is currently in place,” the Commission said its missive.

According to the umbrella Private Sector body, its Governance and Security Committee met on Wednesday to address the increasing and widespread public concern over the manifestly “frightening and disturbing” incidents of violent crime across the country.

Coming out of that meeting, the Committee de-

cided to request a joint meeting with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Commissioner of Police Leslie James, to discuss the matter.

“The Commission believes that there is a much greater need for public confidence and trust in the Police Force… The Commission looks forward to a strong and uncompromising standard of leadership in our security forces,” it added.

Furthermore, the PSC went on to highlight its deep concerns over the “insufficient progress” being made with regards to the implementation of Security Sector Reforms.

At the Police Force’s Annual Officers’ Conference earlier this year, President David Granger had underscored the need to accelerate the implementation of security sector reforms, which he said will, among other things, restore public trust in the Force as well as correct any mismanagement of the country’s premiere law enforcement agency.

“Security sector is aimed to improving public trust

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Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

and confidence. It means having a strong organisation and boosting the Force’s intelligence, investigative capabilities and producing more versatile Police Officers. The security sector therefore must be accelerated in 2019,” the Head of State had asserted.

At the same event in January, the Top Cop had

revealed that they have engaged their counterparts in the United Kingdom and at the time, had already begun implementing three main pillars of the reforms – training, human resources management and infrastructure.

The US$4.7 million Security Sector Reform programme was initially launched in 2007 but was scrapped two years later after major disagreements between the then Administration and the United Kingdom Government over some of the conditions of the plan.

However, during a meeting with then British Prime Minister David Cameron back in 2016, President David Granger had requested that the multimillion-dollar security sector pact be revived.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, may 30, 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

Can the Windies

break World Cup drought?

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ricket World Cup (CWC) 2019 begins today in England with matches to be played on grounds there and in Wales. Ten teams will vie for the coveted cup with the winner becoming the undisputed kings of cricket’s most prestigious competition. For some of the teams and players, it was a long and difficult journey to be a part of the esteem and enviable squads which will grace the fields. Those efforts now have a chance to pay off.

Expectations for spectacular performances is rife as this particular tournament is branded to be the most competitive. This is not surprising given how well many of the teams and players have performed in various competitions in the run up, especially within the last year. This augurs well for fans and if the expectations were to be delivered then all will be in for a treat with the game becoming the eventual winner.

There will be moments of glory and moments of disappointment for both players and fans, after all, only one team can win. With that a given, one basic expectation would be for all the players to perform to potential. That can result in both graceful, the not so graceful and innovative but effective cricketing shots; miserly or expensive bowling and spectacular fielding with mind-blowing, acrobatic and gravity-defying catches.

Simultaneously, those will be accompanied by the pulsating beats of drums fusing with various other deafening sounds with a pageantry of costumes all of which have come to epitomize the evolution in the how the game of cricket is being watched today. It has become a truly family event as evident closer to home in what the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has delivered.

In this part of the cricketing world, optimism remains high for the cup coming this way after the West Indies failed to do so over the past forty years having last won in 1979. Despite the many challenges in regional cricket over the years, the next few weeks will see West Indian fans, both in the region and in the diaspora, united in their desire for Jason Holder, the team’s Captain, lifting the championship trophy at Lord’s on July 14.

The joy, pride and the strong bonds of togetherness that will invoke among West Indians across the globe, would be unimaginable. History reminds when Guyanese Clive Lloyd lifted the trophy in the inaugural competition in 1975 and the one that immediately followed in 1979. Since then, fans have been craving for a repeat while having to endure the ups and downs of the team which showed moments of glory and moments of utter disappointment. Sadly, the latter outnumbered the former in recent years.

CWC 2019 offers a new slate and motivation for the West Indies which teased a return to the dominance it commanded during the glory days of regional cricket as evident the late 70s and 80s. Then, they were simply unbeatable. As time progressed, various factors led to a waning of success and the team beaten time and again even by those considered to be minnows of the game.

That led to despondency among even loyal fans and empty stands for regional competitions aside from the CPL. To put that decline into perspective, the West Indies, for the first time in CWC history, could not automatically qualify and were forced to play in the qualifying stages with the minnows in order to make it into the final ten. And made it; they just.

With a formidable team, at least on paper, the West Indies have a very good chance of capturing the title. However, that can only be possible by them playing as a unit with each individual taking responsibility to deliver on their potential.

Here Guyanese fans, while rooting for the team, will cheer on the explosive and immensely talented, Shimron Hetmyer. He is the lone player from Guyana as against five in 1975 and four in 1979 and one of the players that global fans expect much of. If he were to deliver on that expectation, West Indies chances to win, will increase. While he may have faltered in the earlier part of his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) stint this year, his final innings showed the class he brings and which could intimidate opposing teams.

The host England carries into the competition the title of favourites maybe just above India. One downside of such labelling is the burden to perform and which can take a toll if things doesn’t go to plan. The West Indies come in without that particular burden allowing for a freer mindset to play to their best while outplaying others in the process. The same can be said for first timers, Afghanistan who have impressed in every aspect of the game over the recent years.

With each team actually carrying a burden, i.e. the expectation of their country, there will be little room for mistakes. The West Indies have much to learn from. CWC 2019 could reveal how impacting those lessons over the years might have been. Can they break the forty-year losing streak in CWC? Time will inform. Go Windies!

The National Assembly unveiled its Gallery of Presidents of Guyana at Parliament Building on Wednesday in the presence of President David Granger, former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo, Samuel Hinds and Donald Ramotar, as part of Guyana’s 53rd Independence Anniversary celebrations

Childhood, disrupted: Venezuela is in danger of losing a generation To be a child in Venezuela today is dangerous.

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ere in the capital on any given afternoon, emaciated teens pick through rotting garbage for food. Children have been abandoned to extended family or orphanages by parents who can no longer afford to keep them. Newborns have been discarded in dumpsters.

Poverty isn’t new here.

The distribution of wealth in this oil-rich nation has always been unequal — a reason the socialist leader Hugo Chávez rose to power two decades ago. But years into Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis, the government systems that once coordinated services for the poor have collapsed, and children have been among those hit the hardest. Consider some numbers: In seven of the largest states, more than half of children under 5 suffer from malnutrition, according to the relief agency Caritas Venezuela.

An estimated 840,000 children have lost at least one parent to emigration, the child advocacy group Cecodap reports.

School attendance has fallen by half in the past two years, according to Fe y Alegria, a network of Jesuit schools that serve the nation’s poorest neighborhoods.

Infant mortality spiked to 11,466 deaths in 2016, a 30?percent increase from the year before, the Ministry of Health reported in 2017.

The health minister who published that information was fired days after its release; the government hasn’t provided data on children’s health since.

That’s on top of the conditions that are devastating much of Venezuela’s population: Hyperinflation and joblessness, power outages and shortages of medicine, food and water. The United Nations estimates that 3.7

Two kids climb through a hole in the wall of the San Alberto Hurtado school in the Caracas neighbourhood of La Vega (Andrea Hernandez for The Washington Post)

million people have fled the country.

While the government is paralyzed by mismanagement, corruption and political stalemate, social workers, teachers and advocates say children are losing their childhood to uncertainty, anxiety and fear, robbing them of healthy development and threatening long-term harm to the nation.

“We have a broken country that is sacrificing its future,” says Abel Saraiba, a psychologist with Cecodap.

Under the government’s centralized child welfare system, social workers once managed cases and directed services through school programs, family courts and orphanages. But that safety net has tattered. Nelson Villasmil, a government social worker in Caracas, says thousands of cases in the judicial system have been waiting for resolution for years.

Each day, Villasmil says, he receives 15 to 20 parents struggling to figure out what do with their kids because they’re emigrating.

“I often ask myself if I’m doing enough to protect children,” he said. “The answer is no. Because I can’t. This is the worst time to be a child in Venezuela.”

The Venezuelan government did not respond to re-

peated requests for comment.

Nonprofits — Caritas, Fe y Alegria, the Red Cross and others — are trying to fill the gaps: Providing meals for children, helping parents lay out care instructions for the children they leave behind when they migrate, seeking donations from Venezuelans abroad to equip schools with water filters and basic supplies.

Private orphanages are full, holding children for longer than is recommended and scrambling for money to provide psychological services to street children.

Milagros Parada is a lanky teenager with a lot on her mind. The 14-yearold, who used to own plenty of shoes, has skipped school some days because she had nothing to wear on her feet.

She goes weeks without eating meat. She’s forgotten what a cup of cold water tastes like.

Her family — her mother and six siblings, living in the west Caracas barrio of La Vega — was never rich.

But they never went without.

There was always money for food and for school supplies and uniforms. Now those basics are out of reach.

So Milagros worries.

Sometimes she loses sleep, thinking about all the things she has lost and all the things

her mother needs and all the ways Milagros wants to help and all the ways she can’t.

“Sometimes I think my mom is going to have a heart attack or her head is going to explode,” she says. “I’ve never seen my mother like this.”

Why, Milagros asks of no one in particular, can’t she have a drink of cold water before bed? What will it mean for her education that class ends two hours early because the teacher left the country?

Why doesn’t she get a snack after school anymore, or meat for dinner?

The answers are always unsatisfying.

“I want Venezuela to be like it was,” she says.

At an orphanage on the other side of Caracas, a 4-year-old cups her great-grandmother’s shriveled face in her plump little hands and pecks her with kisses.

“Take me home with you,” she implores.

Gabriela Román endures this farewell twice a week at Las Villas de Los Chiquiticos orphanage, where she has surrendered her three great-granddaughters.

Their mother left for Colombia last year. Then their father went after her.

They have not been heard from since.

Román, who survives on a meager government pension, can barely afford to feed herself.

Chronic malnutrition is now widespread. The food that is available is unaffordable for many families.

Children “don’t know when they’re going to eat, and they get the sense, growing up, that no matter what they do, they’re not going to make it,” said psychologist Ninoska Zambrano, who works with the nonprofit that runs the orphanage. Organizers now offer food to more than 500 vulnerable families in the slums of Caracas. (The Washington Post )

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, may 30, 2019

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

Auditor General It’s time APNU/AFC deliver has a responsibility on promise of accountability to be transparent Dear Editor, I read the letter by Michael B Joseph, Finance Secretary, published in the media on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, with some astonishment. Joseph, according to his letter, took issue with the comments made

by Deodat Sharma, Auditor General, which were reported on by the local media. Sharma, in his comments, addressed: 1 – the issue of sole sourced contracts in a recent news reports; 2 – the increased breaches of Guyana’s financial laws; and 3 – the non-implementation of recommendations for corrective action to be taken.

First, the reports from the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee in the local media, last year, had one common line – a line repeated when the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee reviewed different Government Ministries. It was that the recommendations for corrective action were not implemented.

How can Joseph then object to the comments made

by Sharma?

Second, the Audit Reports for 2014 (the last full year of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government) and the 2016 (the first full year of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition Government)

show a clear increase in breaches of Guyana’s financial laws.

The following are only some examples: • Breaches of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act: 2014 – 47; 2016 – 82 • Breaches of the Procurement Act: 2014 – 16; 2016 – 71 • Overpayment on construction contracts: 2014 – 50; 2016 -126 • Misstatement of Appropriation Accounts: 2014 – 1; 2016 – 3 I ask again, how can Joseph then object to the comments made by Sharma?

Thirdly, Sharma complained about an increase in sole sourced contracts and, in response, Joseph talks about single sourcing.

Does Joseph understand the difference between sole sourced contracts and single sourced contracts? From his letter, it is clear that he either does not understand the difference or he is willfully trying to mislead Guyanese people by talking about single sourced contracts when the issue is about sole sourced contracts. In any case no right thinking Guyanese can accept Joseph’s position as a position that is untainted by tainted by bias and political influence. ?

Also, it is curious that Joseph went on to talk

about the $150 million of taxpayers’ monies that was spent on 45 forensic audits when he ignored that these contracts were given to handpicked companies.

Joseph talks about the audits without talking about the controversial nature of the award of the contracts for the very forensic audits.

Joseph talks about what the audit finds while contradicting what was said by President David Granger.

President David Granger in 2016 admitted that the audits did not find “sufficient evidence” to bring criminal charges against former Government officials.

Joseph’s focus on reminding the Auditor General that he must be independent seems clearly misplaced. Given the clear failings in his own missive, the notion of independence should have been one that he reminded himself of.

In addition to being independent, the Auditor General also has a responsibility to be transparent.

For the Auditor General to not respond to the questions from the local media corps because it puts the current coalition Government in a bad light would be a dereliction of Sharma’s duty as Guyana’s Auditor General.

Yours faithfully, Joseph Hamilton PPP/C MP

Dear Editor, There are increasing reports about misconduct in office by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government Ministers; reports that are accompanied by a worrying silence from those coalition officials who are implicated.

A few weeks ago, the report related to Minister David Patterson and the

transfer of US$9000 to his personal bank account. Until now, Minister David Patterson has not answered adequately to clear the air – to assure Guyanese that his conduct in office is above reproach.

Guyanese see the same silence from Minister Simona Broomes, who remains silent about monies allegedly paid to her two children – almost $10 million. Why were the monies

paid over? Will this be investigated?

The people of this country are awaiting answers to these questions.

The APNU/AFC coalition Government promised transparency and accountability. It is time that it delivers on what it promised the Guyanese people in that regard.

Sincerely, Todd Morgan

Another standoff brewing?

Dear Editor, Is there another standoff between management and workers brewing similar to the one which occurred some months ago? (‘Goldfield refuses to meet with “unrecognised” unions’ – Guyana Times, May 28, 2019).

The authorities responsible for labour matters should take all necessary steps to ensure this does not happen, especially in view of the ill-conceived notion that workers reached out to the unrecognised union rather that the Labour Department as an indication of ‘a lack of faith in the Government taking action’.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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Foundation

How to help teens deal with REJECTION

- rejection isn’t easy at any age, especially for teenagers. But if you help your kids overcome it, they’ll learn important coping skills for the future

By Ashlea Halpern

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t’s the last thing any parent wants to hear her child say. “Mom, I didn’t make the basketball team.” Or “Dad, NYU rejected me.”

Even the incredulous “She invited everyone but me!” is enough to make your stomach churn. “Rejection is like breathing—an unavoidable, important part of life,” says Harlan Cohen, founder of the International Risk-Taking Project. “Our job as parents is to help teens manage it and use it as a springboard to success.”

Studies show that adolescents who don’t learn how to positively channel their disappointment may struggle with bigger issues down the road, including low self-esteem, anxiety, aggression and depression. Your kids will invariably face rejection, but you can help them through it.

The let-down: Social As teens start to distance themselves from their parents, they look to their friends for cues on how to dress and act, who to hang out with and who to ditch. This means your kids may be picked on for reasons ranging from weight to hairstyle or even the car you drive to drop them off at school. From a teen’s standpoint, it can be blindsiding (your daughter’s best friend from childhood defects to a new clique— and suddenly doesn’t want anything to do with her) and often beyond his control (your son is teased because he has braces, acne or a speech impediment).

Why it’s a big deal: Teens are vulnerable and tend to measure their self-worth by the reactions of their classmates.

Mitch Prinstein, PhD, director of Clinical Psychology at UNC Chapel Hill and editor of the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, says that kids who experience peer rejection are more likely to drop out of school, use drugs and alcohol, and engage in risky sexual behaviour. This is caused by a combination of factors, including stress and loneliness, the development of a hostile way of viewing the world, and the fact that rejected teens tend to seek out one another and together are more likely to do something dangerous.

How to help: Don’t downplay the importance of popularity at this age – your teen won’t buy it – and don’t intervene directly by contacting a bully or his parents. (Doing so infantilises the child, warns Prinstein.) Instead, help your kid understand what is happening and why it’s not her fault. If, for example, a group of girls make snide remarks any time your daughter passes their table in the school cafeteria, explain to her that they’re

insecure and are poking fun at others in order to feel better about themselves; your daughter should pity them for being so closed-minded. “When kids are able to understand that this doesn’t have to do with their own shortcomings, they tend to handle it better,” says Prinstein. Social psychologist and parenting expert Susan Newman, PhD, meanwhile, encourages them to “go out and be social.” The idea is that the more your teen stays connected, the more likely she is to meet people who will accept her for who she is. Volunteering at a soup kitchen, animal shelter or other organization is a great start: Your teen will feel better about herself after helping others, and volunteer activities are less likely to attract judgmental or mean-spirited people.

The let-down: Romantic Love hurts at any age, especially when it’s unrequited.

Whether your son was snubbed when he asked his crush to the dance or your daughter was just dumped via text message by her boyfriend, romantic rejection ranks among the most painful – not to mention public – let-downs, thanks to gossip mills like Facebook and Twitter.

Why it’s a big deal: A devastating amorous disappointment can scar a teen for years to come. When his ego takes a beating, his confidence dwindles. He blames himself, compares himself to others and may be less inclined to take future risks.

How to help: Resist the urge to put down the object of your teen’s affection – thrilled though you may be that Black Fingernail Polish is finally out of her life – and avoid repeating phrases like “It’s his loss,” even if you truly believe it is. Rather, focus on the qualities that make your teen a catch, like her sharp sense of humour. Try introducing what Cohen calls the “universal rejection truth,” the basic idea that some people will like us and some people won’t and that’s okay – we just need to focus our energies on the people who appreciate us. Maybe the track star gave your son a withering look when he asked her to the prom. Instead of letting him dwell on it, encourage him to ask any of the three girls from his math class who are always giving him moon eyes. Lastly, remind your kid to use this as a learning experience. At some point he will be the one doing the dumping, and hopefully he’ll remember and be kinder to others than that cheerleader was to him.

The let-down: Extracurricular Assigned a bit part in the school play or crushed in the

student-body election: Your teen put her mind to something and fell short. No one likes to lose, so it’s your job as a parent to make sure she doesn’t get discouraged.

Why it’s a big deal: Trying out or auditioning involves a calculated risk, so teens who end up not making it tend to beat themselves up (“I’m such a loser!”) or lash out at others (“The try outs were fixed!”). Proactivity and confidence can fall by the wayside, says women’s career and leadership coach Kris Parfitt, when people would rather feel sorry for themselves than figure out what they need to do to improve.

How to help: Avoid bad-mouthing the school or teachers, advises Parfitt; instead, let your teen do the talking. Ask her what she thinks she could have done better or differently. If she’s interested in trying again, encourage her to ask the coach or teacher how she can improve. Seeking out interim activities (an intramural sports league, a community theatre group) will help her practice. You can also capitalize on your teen’s ambition by exploring all aspects of her interest. For example, encourage a Broadway aspirant who can’t carry a tune to consider directing or costume design instead. (www.familycircle.com)

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Rejection: How do you deal?

ejection. It’s impossible to avoid. So how good are you at coping? Let our quiz give you some insight.

1. You apply to be a lifeguard at the local pool. You don’t get the job, but they ask if you want to be considered as a camp counsellor. a) You say, “Yes, I’d love to!” It’s not your first choice and you’re totally pretending to be excited. But you need a job. b) You say, “No, thanks.” You’ll only get turned down again so why go through that twice? c) You say yes, but don’t hold out much hope. If you’re not good enough to be a lifeguard, why would they want you as a counsellor?

2. You audition for the lead in the school musical. It’s down to you and one other girl – and she gets the part. a) You plan to put itching powder in her makeup on opening night. b) You decide the drama teacher picked her because she’s prettier. You may have a better voice, but you’ll never amount to anything because you don’t have the looks. c) You go out with friends for ice cream and commiseration, then refocus your attention on training for Saturday’s track meet.

3. You’ve wanted to go to one college since you were 14, so you didn’t put much thought into your safety schools. But today that thin (rejection) envelope arrived. a) You tell yourself you’re fine, but keep thinking about how your dream is shattered and your life is ruined. b) You talk it over with your parents and decide to go to another school and try to transfer after a while. This definitely taught you the value of a backup plan! c) You give up on your dreams of college. You’re just not smart enough.

4. You’ve been crushing on someone for months. You lost sleep thinking up the best prom invite ever. You finally asked and . . . got turned down. a) You tell yourself, “Wow, what was I thinking? That person is totally out of my league! b) You feel totally devastated, have a good cry, then re-evaluate: Do you ask your crush to something else? Or ask someone else to prom? c) You decide it’s best not to ask anyone out in future, so you don’t embarrass yourself like that again.

5. You’re telling your friends a funny story when one of your teachers walks into a glass door. Everyone collapses into laughter – just not at your story. a) You laugh so hard you forget your story – it wasn’t nearly as good as watching Mr Perkins being a goof. b) You think, “That was funny, but my story was better. If I were a good storyteller I wouldn’t have flubbed it like that. c) You decide to avoid those friends for a day. If they can’t listen to your stories, why should you listen to theirs? (Excerpt from kidshealth.org) To be continued

7 Pensioner crushed to death by drunk driver A news

thurSday, may 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

pensioner was on Tuesday afternoon crushed to death in his car after a sand truck being driven by a drunken man crashed into it on the Corentyne Highway.

Dead is 71-yearold Narinedatt Lowhar, called “Uncle Balo”, of lot 23 Number 47 Village, Corentyne. At the time of the accident, he and his wife were in a motorcar bearing registration plate number PJJ 25 and were turning into their yard when the truck bearing registration plate number GPP 2369 slammed into the car sending it 30 meters away.

Welliama Lingen, 55, the dead man’s wife, said she was rendered unconscious by the impact and cannot remember much,

Dead: Narinedatt Lowhar

but recalls residents having to remove her husband from the wreckage.

“When ah catch myself they take me out from the car and my husband leave in and I tell them to go and see what happen to him,” the grieving widow said.

She added that she saw per-

The damaged car in which the couple were travelling

sons wrenching open the car and then she lost consciousness the second time.

Meanwhile, an eyewitness, Zoreen (only name given), who lives nearby said it took villagers several minutes to remove Lowhar from the wreckage. She said they were on their way

home when they noticed the wrecked car on the road and screamed for help.

The woman related that when she went to the rescue of Lingen, her husband got some men who were in the vicinity to wrench open the vehicle to get the injured man out.

“When they get him out they put him to lie down on the ground and I check and his heart was beating,” she told this publication.

Lowhar was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Skeldon Hospital and then transferred to the New Amsterdam where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, the Police said the accident occurred at about 18:40h.

Reports are the truck driver told the Police that he was about to overtake the jeep, when Lowhar made a right turn a short distance in front of his lorry and in the process, the left front of the lorry collided with the right side of the jeep.

The Police said a breathalyser test was conducted

on the driver and his alcohol level was above the legal level. A close relative of the driver said the lorry driver was overtaking another sand truck being driven by his son when he collided with the car.

Meanwhile, Rohan Singh, 45, on Number 52 Village was refused bail when he appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Orin Joseph told the court that the Police are preparing other charges for Singh and asked for bail to be refused.

He was remanded to prison and the case will continue on June 9 when other charges are expected to be filed against him.

Reports of SARA investigating oil blocks harmful to investment – GCCI …questions timing of probe without regulatory oil agencies

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eports of an investigation into the award of oil blocks being done by the State Asset Recovery Unit can harm Guyana by discouraging investors from vying for future oil blocks. This is according to the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI).

At a press conference on Tuesday, head of the GCCI’s Petroleum arm, Charles Ramson, expressed worry over the impact these revelations have on Guyana’s image. He noted that the fact that the revelations initially appeared in Bloomberg means thousands in the global business community would have read this unsavoury news.

“It’s dangerous for our investment climate, destroys investor confidence and it creates that level of uncertainty that we don’t need right now. We haven’t produced a drop as yet. And you already want to send bad signals to the international community? It’s highly improper, irregular and totally disturbing.”

Ramson hastened to add that in cases where there is evidence of fraud,

SARA Director, Professor Clive Thomas

an investigation would be warranted. But he noted that because of the impact such pronouncements would have on investor climate, preliminary disclosures should be kept under wraps.

Meanwhile, GCCI President Nicholas Boyer decried the haphazard way in which the investigation is being done. He also noted that the investigation is being done at a time when much of the regulatory framework for the industry has not even been set up.

“At this point I think we’re shooting in the dark.

I think SARA is wasting its time because of the lack of having a petroleum com-

mission in place, lack of policies saying how it’s going to issue future blocks and approach relinquishment.”

On May 22, an article appeared in the New Yorkbased Bloomberg website, in which SARA Director, Dr Clive Thomas was quoted confirming that there was a probe. According to Thomas, the probe was in its early stages and would be centred on the award of blocks and licences to ExxonMobil and Tullow.

Thomas was quoted by Bloomberg as saying “we’re investigating the issuance of the licences, for example, and the various blocks.

We’re building up a case.

This is an area of investigation into how the blocks were allocated and the decisions that were made.”

“We’re at an investigatory stage so we can’t libel persons by saying that we found proof of anything.

There’s enough evidence for us to want to continue the investigation,” the article also quoted him saying.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres).

ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production

More should be...

As such, British security expert, Colonel Russel Combe, was brought in to conduct an assessment of the local security sector and compiled a report with steps to be taken to improve services.

While the report focuses primarily on reforms within the Guyana Police Force, there are also measures included to address issues plaguing the prisons and the fire services as well as the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF’s) Coast Guard.

At the handing over of the report back in January,

Combe had said the presentation of the report is not just the beginning or end of efforts to reform the local security sector.

“The report is dynamic; it’s not to represent just the beginning. Activities supported by the United Kingdom have already commenced: the training of (Police’s) Strategic Planning Unit last year and then in November there was consultancy on the marine capability of the Police Force and indeed engaged with the coast guards as well… So this is not the beginning, nor is it

from page 3

the end,” he had noted.

The UK expert had further stated that his Government does not want to see the report sitting on the shelf, gathering dust.

In fact, he noted that the report was compiled in such a way that it can be broken up and separated into parts to be dealt with by different groupings.

Colonel Combe was expected to oversee the implementation of his recommendations until March 2019 when his tenure came to end. However, the progress of the implementation of the reforms is not clear.

Guyana Limited, is operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 per cent interest.

Meanwhile, the Orinduik oil block administered by Tullow is just a few kilome-

tres from Exxon’s discoveries in the Liza and Payara fields in Stabroek. 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 million, 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.

8 News

thurSday, may 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Alleged fake cop slapped with false pretence charge

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man who pretended to be a cop and collected $75,000 to help another in a divorce case found himself before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Sherwin Prince, 44, appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty on Wednesday. Prince, of Plaisance, East Coast

Demerara, denied the charge which stated that between May 22 and May 23, 2019 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained $75,000 from Ewart Mathild, by pretending that he was in a position to have a divorce matter dismissed. The court heard that Mathild was currently before the

Georgetown High Court involved in a divorce matter and he was reportedly approached by Prince, who pretended to be a Police Officer and claimed that he could have the matter dismissed for $100,000.

The Virtual Complainant allegedly paid $75,000 to Prince and promised to pay the difference later.

Mathild later made inquiries about Prince and when he realised that he was scammed, he reported the matter to the Police.

Prince was arrested during a sting operation.

In court on Wednesday, Prince was released on $60,000 bail.

The case will continue on June 19, 2019.

ued $75,000 and one Guess watch valued $35,000.

The prosecution’s case stated that the victim secured his residence and went to bed, leaving the articles on his wall divider. However, the following morning, he discovered that the items were missing. He reported the matter to the Mabaruma Police Station. Based on information received, the teen was arrested and later confessed to stealing the items.

In court on Wednesday, the teen said that there was a power outage in the area, when a friend asked him to follow him to a house. He said that the friend told him to stand outside and he complied.

He said that his friend returned and he showed him the articles mentioned and gave him $10,000. The teen had previously served six months for a similar offence. He was jailed for 18 months by Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus.

Teen jailed for breaking and entering

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n 18-year-old resident of Kumaka, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima- Waini) appeared on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a breaking and entering charge.

Mark Samson stood before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus and admitted to the charge which stated that during the month of April 2019 at North West Kumaka Stretch, he broke

Mark Samson

and entered the dwelling of Leon Raymond and stole one gold chain val-

Wounding charge lands man in prison

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mmol Fox, of Lot 94 Regent and King Streets, Georgetown, was remanded to prison on Wednesday after he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for wounding.

The 46-year-old man denied the charge when

it was read to him by Magistrate Faith McGusty.

The charge stated that on May 21 at King Street, Georgetown, he inflicted grievous bodily harm on Ithacan Santool.

The prosecution’s case stated that on May 21 the Virtual Complainant (VC)

was on King Street shopping when he was attacked

by Fox, who dealt him several chops about his body and face with a cutlass.

In court on Wednesday, Fox was represented by Attorney-at-Law Ronald Daniels, who informed the court in a bail application

that his client has mental health issues, and he was expected to seek medical attention at a psychiatric ward. Bail was nevertheless refused after a video was provided by the VC to the court, showing the attack. Fox will return to court on June 19, 2019.

Ecuadorian jailed in Guyana for cocaine possession, fraud

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n Ecuadorian was slapped with two charges and taken to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

Julio Harreira stood before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus and admitted to both charges, which stated that on May 23 at Charlotte Street, Georgetown, he had in his possession 0.6 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The second charge stated that between May 1 and May 23, 2019 in Georgetown, he conspired with person(s) unknown to

commit forgery.

Police Prosecutor Adduni Innis told the court that on May 23, ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters were conducting an operation at a shipping company in Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, when a search was carried out on eight persons.

According to the Prosecutor, two passports with forged US visas were found in the persons’ possession. After the items were found, a further search was conducted, and the cocaine was found in a cigarette pack.

The defendant was arrested and was taken to the CID headquarters, where he admitted to both offences. However, the file was sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice, and immediate deportation was advised.

Harreira told the court that he had no intention of scamming anyone in Guyana, adding that he was sorry for the offence committed. He further begged the Magistrate for a lenient sentence, and urged the Magistrate to take into consideration the fact that he has no family in Guyana.

As a result, Magistrate

Jailed: Julio Harreira

Isaacs-Marcus sentenced Harreira to one year’s imprisonment for possession of cocaine and a $20,000 fine, along with four years’ imprisonment for the forgery. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

Men charged for killing friend, dumping body in pit latrine

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wo Region One (Barima-Waini) men were hauled before the court on Wednesday slapped with the capital offence of murder.

Leroy McKentire, 41, of Port Kaituma and Rayon Robert, 18, of Tassawini, North West District (NWD) are accused of killing their friend and dumping his body in a pit latrine at Tassawini.

The duo appeared before

acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The charge stated that between May 17 and May 22, 2019, the men murdered 25-year-old Darvin David.

Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels, in her submission to the court, related that on May 17, the two accused and David were at a shop in

Tassawini consuming alcohol when an argument ensued.

The shop owner intervened and chased the men out of his shop and David left the shop in the company of McKentire and Roberts, but was not seen again, the Prosecutor said.

Villagers in the area launched a search for the missing man and he was found in a pit latrine with stab wounds to his neck.

McKentire and Roberts were arrested by the Police and allegedly confessed to stabbing David and dumping his body in the pit latrine.

Prosecutor Daniels told the court that the Police were currently on the hunt for a third suspect, who is involved in the murder. The men were remanded to prison, and the case was scheduled to continue on July 2, 2019.

Fleecing Guyana…

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…on sugar workers’ sweat hen the PNC-led Government arbitrarily shut down four of the seven sugar estates in the country, they knew they were dooming over 7000 workers; their families of at least another 28,000 persons and depressing the surrounding communities, to “nasty, brutish and short” lives. It was a “condign” lesson to folks dubbed incorrigible supporters of their arch enemy, the PPP. But not satisfied with destroying so many lives, the PNC decided to play Monopoly with the closure. The Special Purpose Unit (SPU) formed to sell off the estates, floated a $30 billion bond – that’s US$150 million. The Opposition Leader was quite scathing in inquiring what could be done in such a short time span of five years. He pointed out the inanity of going to the securities market for a five-year bond since interest (at the agreed 4.75 per cent) of $132 million would have to be paid every year and the whole principal be repaid at the end of the five years!! Where would they get the money from in such a short time?

In a huff, the SPU announced its “plans” for the money: The GY$30 billion would be used to help finance “an ambitious strategic plan to turnaround the fortunes of the Guyana sugar industry. The strategy involved the development of two co-generation facilities, upgrades to the existing sugar factories to produce white sugar, the restructuring of debt, and ongoing training and education for the workers and management of GuySuCo.” Well, duh!! Didn’t that simply confirm the Opposition Leader’s surmise??!! Where’s the “white sugar”, or the Co-gen plants?? The bond syndicate prohibited paying off debt with the money!!

Well the first year’s interest was due the end of March and this newspaper had to turn cartwheels to get confirmation that the first $132 million was coughed up to the banks. Finally, it was grudgingly conceded so the question arises as to where they got this from. After all, the SPU had only sold some lots from the managers’ quarters at Wales – but had spent much more that those proceeds to transform the GuySuCo LBI Managers’ Club into a Sandals-like facility to be used for public soirees!!

Not to mention they’d spent another hundred million to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to “valuate” the closed estates – which now had to be “upkept”!!

After boasting that they had to beat off buyers of the closed estates with a stick, the SPU has been unable to conclude a single sale. Who was going to buy abandoned estates that had reverted to bush??

Meanwhile, the SPU charges fired workers $500 to fish in the canals.

Maybe that’ll compensate for blowing $132 million in interest?? …and intimidating the messenger Answering a question on breaches of the Procurement Law, the Auditor General evidently said, “I believe it’s more frequent now. There are a lot of sole-sourced contracts and every other day you have some issue with breaches of contractual or Tender Board procedures. Even the recommendations for corrective action, most of them are not being implemented.”

Well who told him he could offer an opinion on the subject matter of his constitutionally created organisation??!! The Finance Secretary, who’s part of the Finance Ministry, claimed the PPP committed more breaches and lashed out at the AG, PNC style: “I wish to remind the Auditor General that the Audit Office of Guyana is the Supreme Audit Institution of Guyana, it is clothed in Article 204 of the Constitution and is designed as an independent and professional body in the Government accounting chain and therefore, he is best advised to observe the spirit and letter of the code of ethics and auditing standards of the International Organisation of the Supreme Audit Institutions lest he be seen to be guilty of bias, subjectivity and political influence.”!! …and getting huffy The Finance Secretary neglected to mention the AG’s complaint that details still aren’t forthcoming from him on more than $600 million extended to the Jubilee Stadium!!

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

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thursday, may 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Floodwaters receding slowly at Black Bush Polder

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Water being pumped to the outfall channel at Number 43 Village on Wednesday

Floodwaters receding at Yakusari, Black Bush Polder

loodwaters in the Black Bush Polder have slowly begun to recede. On Wednesday, residents of some areas, which were previously under water in Yakusari, were breathing a sigh of relief.

The Polders of Johanna and Yakusari were inundated on Friday last following a few hours of heavy rainfall.

However, by Sunday most of the water had come off the land at Johanna, although even up to now the waterways are still filled to capacity; but at Yakusari, the water continued to rise.

When Guyana Times visited the Polder on Wednesday, the Yakusari Primary School was still un-

der water.

Regional Chairman David Armogan told this publication that efforts are continuing to have vegetation removed from the Yakusari main drainage canal. He noted that works are also being done to have the sluice doors operable. According to the Chairman, at the same time efforts are being made to clean the outfall channel at Joppa Number 43, which channels water from the Yakusari drainage canal into the ocean.

However, residents expressed concern over the fact that the machine clearing the vegetation from the canal is constantly inoperable, due to the constant need for

A section of the access dam under water at Yakusari, Black Bush Polder

repair.

Residents have also indicated that there have been several reported cases of diarrhoea, however, Director of Regional Health Services, Jevaughn Stephens said medical supplies have been boosted at the Mibicuri Hospital and the Regional Environmental Officer is expected to be visiting the affected communities today.

On Friday last, residents – most of them cash crop farmers – accused the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) of not taking the necessary measures ahead of time to prevent the flooding.

They pointed to the fact the Yakusari main drainage canal was covered with vegetation and the sluice door at Number 43 Village was silted.

The farmers also lamented that the outfall channel was silted, which only allowed for a limited flow of water to the Atlantic.

Regional Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Chairman David Armogan in an invited comment accused the NDIA for not ensuring that the Yakusari main drainage canal was

cleared in a timely manner.

He noted that the contractor, who the NDIA had given the contract to, did no work for the year and hence the contract should have been terminated.

Armogan said in addition to that the contractor did not finish cleaning the canal last year.

Regional Vice Chairman Dennis DeRoop, who chairs the Regional Works Committee, had previously reported that the contractor was paid in full for last year

and did not do all of the work as required; however, the NDIA renewed the contract for 2019 and for the first five months, the contractor executed no works.

Meanwhile, as the water has showed signs of receding, Armogan said the regional administration is ensuring that the pumps at Eversham which drain Mibicuri, and also the pump at Joppa which drains both Yakusari and Johanna, are in operation when the tide is high and the sluice doors

have to be closed.

The Black Bush Polder is made up of Lesbeholden, Mibicuri, Johanna and Yakusari.

“So we are cleaning the canal, getting the sluice door operable and cleaning the outfall channel so we hope that in another few days all of the water will be off the land.”

However, even as the waters were reseeding, there was a heavy downpour in the polder on Wednesday afternoon.

US$18M vulnerable to...

The Government had come under heavy criticism back in 2017 when it was revealed that it received the US$18 million signing bonus from US oil giant ExxonMobil in 2016. In addition of not revealing that it received the money, the coalition was bashed for not depositing same into the Consolidated Fund as required by the Constitution.

The bonus first came to light in a leaked correspondence dated September 20, 2016, and addressed to the Governor of the Bank of Guyana with this subject:

“Signing bonus granted by ExxonMobil – Request to open bank account”.

It shows that then Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Hector Butts, had requested that a foreign currency account be opened at the Bank of Guyana in order to receive a deposit in the form of a ‘signing bonus’ to be given

by ExxonMobil.

The letter stated, “This account should not be treated as part of the bank’s reserves. Instead, the proceeds should be held in the currency of the deposit,

FROM PAGE 2

that is United States dollars, and invested in secured interest-bearing securities.”

Last year, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had revealed that the money had been transferred overseas to an interest-bearing account while waiting to be used. Of the US$18 million, $15 million was set aside to pay legal fees for the ongoing Guyana-Venezuela border controversy case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the other $3 million for capacity building and training.

10 news

thursday, may 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Subvention to Queen’s College insufficient for annual expenditure – consultant

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Principal consultant Alfred Granger

he administration of Guyana’s leading secondary academic institution, Queen’s College has signalled its discontentment with the yearly subvention granted for general expenditures, saying that it is not sufficient to fill all gaps.

Principal consultant Alfred Granger made this disclosure on Wednesday, stating that when the salaries of employees are deducted from the total amount, only $20 million remains to service the school for the entire year. As such,

Queen’s College is “always in deficit”.

“One of the problems we have at Queen’s College is that we’re always short of money. The Board gets subvention and the subvention you get sounds large, but when you take out teachers and some auxiliary staff salaries from that subvention, we’re left with around $20 million to run the school so we’re always in deficit,” Granger informed.

The consultant reminded that the school sits on some 12 acres of land and contains three buildings,

Queen’s College

which require constant maintenance.

“Queen’s College stands on almost 12 acres of ground. The three buildings put together are the largest of any school in the country.

The monies we have cannot run the school and pay our bills,” he said.

Students and teachers had complained last year that the field was overgrown with bushes for almost over three years, making it difficult for athletes to train. It also pushed the administrative body to host their inter-house sports at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground.

Presently, the ground is almost 100 per cent completed.

After reports were made

by Guyana Times of the dilapidated facilities and other infrastructure, a decision was made to allocate $11 million for rehabilitation works.

The science labs, which

were considered by the teachers as “not conducive” to lab experiments, were to be repainted and new cupboards installed with the ceiling getting a facelift.

Anniversary

One week of activities has been launched for the school’s 175th anniversary celebration, and this is expected to provide funding for a music and orchestra programme. Granger noted that in the 1900s, the school was recognised for the performing orchestra and band. This will be reintroduced with steel pan and other components.

The events will commence on Sunday, October 27 and conclude on Saturday, November 2.

Activities on the agenda include a wreath-laying exercise at Sir William Percy Austin’s grave on October 27, followed by the renaming of the library and allied arts building on October

28.

October 29 is reserved for a golf tournament at the Lusignan Golf Club and a Women of Queen’s College panel discussion. This is accompanied by the election of office bearers, a museum tour, and the Ray Luck piano recital on October 30.

Students will gather at the school on October 31, for their Sports Day activities and a “Curry-Que”.

The last two days will conclude with long day tours and a 70s themed party at the Pegasus Hotel.

For these commemorative events, the Tourism Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) has given its support, since many Guyanese in the Diaspora are expected to return, spiking tourist arrivals.

Over the years, the overseas alumni has raised millions of dollars for the school to revamp infrastructure and pay other expenses.

Mahdia mulls relocating persons living near creeks

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uthorities in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) are considering removing persons who reside in close proximity to creeks, especially in floodprone areas.

This decision comes in light of the recent flash floods in the township of Mahdia, which has caused massive destruction to the infrastructure and even threatened lives.

Mahdia’s Mayor, David Adams told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the recent seasonal flash floods, which affected low-lying parts of the town, have highlighted the need for the regularisation of properties in the area.

He plans to start engaging with those residents and seek collaboration with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to aid in the relocation process.

Mayor Adams said a regularisation plan would prevent homeowners again being affected by the seasonal

An aerial view of the extent of the flooding in Mahdia last week

flash floods.

Prolonged rainfall, which intensified on May 23, caused massive flooding in the region, and resulted in several homes and businesses being destroyed.

In some cases, buildings were under as much as four feet of water.

Many of the affected structures were adjacent to creeks and waterways.

The Civil Defence

Commission (CDC) led a clean-up process, which saw cleaning kits and other supplies being distributed to the residents.

Furthermore, works were done to restore the infrastructure.

The CDC, through the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS), is continuing to monitor the flooding situation in various regions across the country.

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thurSday, may 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Gunman nabbed after robbing Waiakabra residents call for Govt’s assistance to send children to school Stabroek Market vendors

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inutes after three vendors were robbed by armed men at the Stabroek Market, Police nabbed one of the suspects.

Reports are the incident occurred about 02:10h on Wednesday.

The vendors were relieved of cash and other items by two perpetrators, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

At the time of the incident, Police ranks were patrolling the area. They promptly responded to the situation and gave chase behind the suspects.

One of the perpetrators was apprehended; an unlicensed .38 revolver with four matching rounds was found in his possession.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said stringent efforts were being made

to apprehend the other suspect who managed to elude the lawmen; he has been identified as going by the alias “Awara”.

Police said an increased and concentrated law enforcement presence in and around the Stabroek Market block recently has so far resulted in a decrease in reported incidents of crime.

esidents of Waiakabra on the Soesdyke Linden Highway have made calls on the relevant authorities to visit the community and offer guidance and assistance to parents in getting their children into the school system. Residents, who recently reached out to Guyana Times said the issues affecting them included the lack of resources, such as finance and transportation and necessary documentation, for their children to attend school which is located a far distance from their community.

Ramona Da Silva, one of the residents who spoke to this newspaper said she has two children ages five and eight who are not attending school since they do not have birth certificates. She said she had visited the Social Protection Ministry where she was advised that a late registration would have to be done for the children. “My children don’t have birth certificate. And the school said they can’t take them in without it. I went to the Ministry and they tell me about a late registration but it’s a long process and I don’t have the means to get it done right now. If I can just get a permission slip for them to be taken into the school I would be very happy because I can work on getting the documents after that,” she said.

A few of the other residents, who shared similar issues, called on the authorities to visit the community and advise

them on how those and other issues can be addressed. Brian Reynolds who also shared his concerns told this newspaper that there is no school in the community and the schools in closest proximity are located a far distance and there is no public transportation that works in the area and parents usually have to walk their children to and from school if they cannot afford taxi fare.

“If you don’t have a taxi fare or your own transportation, you have to walk out of this place. And it goes way down to the back. It’s a long sand road. If we can get one of those school bus the President had shared out we would be grateful because we more need it up here. We are pleading for any interest or help at all from the Administration. We are all citizens of this country but it seems as if we are forgotten most times,” he said.

During an interview with Guyana Times, the Education Ministry’s Senior Guidance and Counselling Officer, Vickram Mohabir, in response to the issues outlined by the residents stated he is aware of the issues in that community and believes residents there need to make a greater effort in having those problems addressed. He said the community has a bus which should assist in taking the children to school, however, according to the residents, this is not the case.

Mohabir highlighted that the Ministry through its tru-

ancy campaign has been making strides in getting vulnerable children off the streets and into the school system. He added that a countrywide truancy campaign is ongoing with the aim of tackling nonattendance among school aged children.

According to Mohabir, welfare officers within the various education districts plan truancy campaigns to tackle vulnerable areas with low-income households and high crime rates. He explained that the campaign has taken a new shape as is focuses more on encouraging and empowering parents to send their children to school rather than prosecution. “We are looking to work with these parents to see how we can assist them in getting the children in schools. We want to move away from the prosecution of these parents and we are interfacing with other agencies in this regard,” he stated.

The exercises are ongoing in all regions except Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) where the welfare officer there had to be removed for specific reasons. He said overall, the campaign is bearing fruit as they have recorded an improvement in the number of children that were removed from the streets.

Mohabir is urging persons to continue to report nonattendance of school aged children by contacting welfare officers on telephone number 2259537 and all information will be treated with strictest confidentiality.

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thurSday, may 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ghana’s President to visit Guyana next month

President David Granger along with the newly-accredited Ambassador of Indonesia to Guyana, Julang Pujianto and other officials

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he Guyana Government is preparing to host the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo next month.

This high-level State visit was announced by President David Granger on Wednesday as he accepted the letters of credence from Ghana’s new High Commissioner to Guyana.

In brief remarks, the Guyanese Head of State posited that he had met President Akufo-Addo twice – at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference last year and again this year, in Cuba, where the African leader accepted an invitation to visit Georgetown.

“Guyana prepares to host a State Visit of President Akufo-Addo on 11th-12th June 2019. We are confident that this visit will result in practical

measures aimed at enhancing relations and cooperation between our two States, particularly in the fields of agriculture, culture, energy, environment, investment, petroleum production, Private Sector cooperation, tourism and transportation,” President Granger said.

Meanwhile, the newly-accredited Ghanaian High Commissioner, Professor Abena Busia, in her remarks, noted that the two countries, bound by historical relations, could learn from each other as they positioned themselves in the global energy market. “… I single out the aspirations we both have for cooperation and support as comparative newcomers to the global energy market. We have much to learn from each other, and I hope to count on the support of all stakeholders to create

the enabling environment for the promotion of this sector…,” the Ghanaian diplomat stated.

Professor Busia’s accreditation comes as a large high-level Ghanaian delegation is currently in Guyana to engage local stakeholders on areas of mutual interest in the oil and gas sector, among other areas.

The team – which numbers in excess of 15 and is led by Ghana’s Energy Minister and Deputy Minister (Petroleum), Dr Mohammed Amin Adam –met with Director of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe and other officials from his department on Tuesday.

“I think anybody who says Guyana is not the hottest place to be and I am not speaking about climatologically, but in terms of what we have found thus far in the oil and gas sec-

President David Granger greeting the new Ghanaian High Commissioner to Guyana, Professor Abena Busia

tor would not be lying. It’s a time in which also, we are keen to ensure that as a Department, though young, … we seek as best we can to ensure that these resources are managed in an efficient manner and an effective manner for all of Guyana,” Dr Bynoe said.

The Director of Energy further noted that the Department did not underestimate the momentous task ahead and continued to seek for partnerships to ensure it obtained the best value for the nation.

“We do not pretend to have all the answers to all the challenges that are before us, but we are very much positioned and we are keen to learn from others; the good, the not-so good and even the indifferent experiences, so we do not have to trod the same path which others may have trod before us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Adam posited that he was pleased for the opportunity to discuss issues relative to cooperation with the Energy Department here.

“We are bound by so many factors [that] unite us because as you know, the … formation in your offshore bases is analogous to what we have in Ghana.

So, it’s not surprising that Exxon, which is here, has also entered Ghana and so we are united by so many factors and … will be able to leverage that for the benefit of the people of our two countries,” the Ghanaian Minister said.

Oil and gas exploration in Ghana is ongoing, and with the amount of discoveries of both crude oil and natural gas continuing to increase, it was reported last year that the West African nation is set to experience an “oil boom”.

Meanwhile, Guyana is gearing up for the commencement of first oil. US oil giant ExxonMobil is expected to start production early next year having made 13 discoveries thus far offshore Guyana.

The estimated recoverable resource from these finds has been pegged at approximately 5.5 billion oil-equivalent barrels in the Stabroek Block alone.

According to President Granger, it is anticipated that the delegation’s visit will lay a solid foundation for further cooperation between the two States, which are now in their 40th year of bilateral relations.

The Head of State also accepted letters of credence on Wednesday from the new Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Guyana, Julang Pujianto, at the Ministry of the Presidency.

ExxonMobil, El Dorado Offshore recruit 12 Guyanese

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l Dorado Offshore and Ramps Logistics has partnered once again with US oil giant ExxonMobil to recruit 12 rig clerk trainees for the emergent oil and gas industry.

Recruitment Director Natasha Jairam-Abai explained that this was the third batch of individuals to benefit from this type of training, but this year, the number of women increased.

“El Dorado Offshore and

Ramps Logistics is collaborating with Exxon and we’re launching our third batch of rig clerk trainees within our programme. This batch consists of 12 candidates, six of those are females and we don’t have much rig clerks that are female within the oil and gas industry, so we’re proud of that at this moment,” she explained.

The candidates will undergo 10 weeks of training, both theoretical and practical, at four different loca-

The new trainees who will be introduced to the oil industry as rig clerks

tions. From Guyana, they will move to Trinidad and Tobago and one of the drill ships as part of the exercise to forge their skills in all areas.

Jairam-Abai reiterated that local content development was essential in the industry and their agencies have pledged to do what was necessary to fill that gap.

“We’re committed to local content development for Guyana. As such, this programme has been rolled out with Exxon’s support.

Over the progression of the next 10 weeks, these candidates will go from four different locations, which is the Guyana office; GYSBI (Guyana Shore Base

Incorporated), our Trinidad office, and the Noble Bob Douglas drillship,” she expressed.

Guyana Times spoke to a few recruits who were eager to take a leap into this new sector. Anna Lane explained that she had applied for a different position, but opted for this role since it provided more opportunity.

“This is something completely new for me, something that I was not expecting and it wasn’t what I came in the office for, but it was a better opportunity and so I decided to take it … I don’t think we were expecting for it to be such a big deal,” she explained.

El Dorado Offshore sent

its first batch of recruits back in 2017, in an effort to meet the human resources demands of the oil industry. Presently, it has deployed many persons to serve the industry. Some are stationed right here in Guyana while others have been placed on supply vessels as well as in countries as far as Singapore.

“We have persons at the onshore which is at GYSBI, the supply vessels, the drill ships, and we have persons on the FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel) right now in Singapore that will be coming back with the vessel,” the Director informed.

Guyana is expected to

extract first oil in late 2019 or early 2020. In April, principal explorer ExxonMobil made its 13th discovery offshore Guyana at the Yellowtail-1 well.

It was only two months ago that the US supermajor made double oil discoveries at the Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 wells in the South-west section of the Stabroek Block.

Approximately 292 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir was found at Yellowtail-1, which is located some six miles North-west of the Tilapia discovery.

According to ExxonMobil, it was drilled to a depth of 18,445 feet (5622 metres) in 6046 feet (1843 meters) of water.

The Noble Tom Madden began drilling the Yellowtail well on March 27 and it will next drill the Hammerhead-2 well.

This latest discovery adds to the previously announced estimated recoverable resource of approximately 5.5 billion oil-equivalent barrels on the Stabroek Block.

Yellowtail-1 is the fifth discovery in the Turbot area, which ExxonMobil expects to become a major development hub.

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thursday, may 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Parliament unveils gallery

Depressed Guyanese

honouring former Presidents woman in failing

President David Granger and former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar and Samuel Hinds share a light moment at the unveiling ceremony

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he Parliament office on Wednesday unveiled a gallery of portraits honouring the present and past presidents of Guyana.

The event was hosted in observance of Guyana’s 53rd Independence Anniversary celebration.

Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland during his remarks at the unveiling ceremony said the creation of the gallery of presidents is a presentation of the

people of Guyana in deep appreciation for the presidents’ dedicated and exceptional service to Guyana.

According to Scotland, the idea of the gallery of presidents was birthed after discussions with himself and the other staff of the National Assembly. “Beyond the observance of our independence, our fellow Guyanese and those who visit would have much to contemplate through the reality of this

gallery of presidents. It would add adornment and luster to the national assembly,” he said.

The portraits unveiled were those of President David Granger and former Presidents Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar, Samuel Hinds, Dr Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, Hugh Desmond Hoyte, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham and Arthur Chung.

Giving brief remarks at

the unveiling ceremony, former President Samuel Hinds said that Guyana since its independence has not done too poorly given the challenges it faced as nation. He believes that one of these challenges was the challenges of our six peoples who all were from different backgrounds but had to come together. He added that Guyana should be proud that it did not falter even when it was called to partition from two different directions.

Further, Hinds explained that Guyana has been underestimating two major challenges that it faces namely the challenges of coming together as one people and the other of developing the country materially. He expressed hope that Guyana joins the group of countries that managed to do well with fortunes that come its way. “My hope is that we would find ourselves in the better half of those countries that have had the fortune of finding oil,” he said.

Also president at Wednesday’s unveiling ceremony were President Granger and former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Ramotar along members of the diplomatic corps and staff of the National Assembly.

Offshore Technology Conference results in more interest in foreign/local partnerships – GCCI President Government.

The Offshore Technology Conference was founded in 1969, and forms a series of conferences and exhibitions focused on the exchanging technical knowledge relevant to the development of offshore energy resources, primarily oil and natural gas.

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GCCI President Nicholas Boyer

ith a team from Guyana having participated at the Offshore Technology Conference in Texas, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has revealed that their presence resulted in increased foreign interest in local partnerships.

This is according to GCCI President Nicholas Boyer, who was at the time hosting a press conference on Wednesday. Boyer was asked what tangible benefits arose out of the Conference, which lasted from May 6-9.

“There were a lot of agencies or organisations interested in partnering with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce. And we had a number of non-resident companies interested in joining our membership.

So from our perspective the trade mission was a success,” Boyer said.

According to Boyer, the GCCI team also participated in a supplier caucus sponsored by ExxonMobil, where they made presen-

Scenes from the conference

tations to between 300 and 400 of the oil company’s suppliers.

“I think that the information presented there satisfied a thirst for what was going on in the Guyana market. It really gave people an overview of the Government’s perspective, so we had the Department of Energy presenting.”

“We also had the Guyana Geology and Mines presenting and they gave an overview of the basin. And then I presented and gave an overview of what the Private Sector was expecting from this oil find.”

Meanwhile, past GCCI President, Vishnu Doerga noted that investors seemed most interested in sectors such as transportation, logistics, equipment and supplies. He noted that individual companies have already made their connections with their foreign counterparts.

“In short, I think every company that was there found either similar compa-

nies that were in their industries or close and made connections that they could then use to import skill sets, systems and then begin to provide those services to the tier one oil companies.”

Guyana’s Government, through the Office for Investment (GO-Invest), collaborated with the GCCI to facilitate the participation of representatives from approximately 24 local companies and several state agencies.

The OTC provides a platform where energy professionals meet to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters.

The Conference, which concluded on Thursday, was held at Houston’s NRG Park from May 4. Guyana’s participation at OTC is being funded by Private Sector sponsorship, along with approximately 20 per cent funding from the

marriage dies in fiery suicide

Shamwatie Loutan, 48, took her own life about 01:20h behind her Rosedale, Queens residence (Vic Nicastro/for New York Daily News)

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Queens, New York woman depressed over her impending divorce died early Tuesday in a fiery suicide, setting herself ablaze in the backyard of her home, Police sources said.

Shamwatie Loutan, 48, formerly of Black Bush Polder, Berbice, took her own life about 01:20h behind her Rosedale residence at 147th Drive near 257th Street, with first responders pronouncing her dead at the scene, cops said.

After dousing herself with a flammable liquid, the woman struck a match to start the deadly fire, sources said.

“She had a heart of gold,” said the victim’s daughter, speaking through tears with the Daily News. “She put God first and her children above everything else and she meant well. And her dreams and her goals were to see us aspire.”

According to the daughter and a neighbour, Loutan fell into a funk as she await-

ed the final signoff on her marital split. But the daughter was stunned by her mother’s middle-of-thenight suicide.

“It was just out of nowhere,” she said. “I’m feeling a feeling I’ve never felt.”

A man coming out of Loutan’s former home on E 183rd Street confirmed “she was depressed”, but declined to say anything more about the victim.

Her husband, Indar Kumar Singh, 50, was staying in Rosedale with family Tuesday night. “We have no idea what caused this,” said a man who identified himself as Singh’s cousin. “We never had a problem with her.”

“He’s with her family now,” he said. “He’s holding up.”

Singh’s other relatives declined comment.

Two weeks ago, a Hasidic yeshiva student committed suicide by setting himself ablaze behind the wheel of his car in Brooklyn. (NY Daily News)

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thursday, may 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Corriverton Town Council suspends treasurer over financial irregularities

Corriverton Mayor Winston Roberts

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he Corriverton Town Council wants the Local Government Commission (LGC) to dismiss its Treasurer, whom it alleges has been engaged in gross financial irregularities, causing the Council to be in debt.

In a recent statement, Corriverton Mayor Winston Roberts said the Council has written the Commission

about the Treasurer’s actions and recommended that she be dismissed after sending her on administrative leave last week.

According to Roberts, this decision was taken after it was uncovered that she deliberately misled the Council, kept inaccurate records and could not account for an expenditure of some $3.2 million.

“As a direct of result of the municipal Treasurer’s actions, the Council spent money that it never had in 2017/2018, and now finds itself in a deficit of $3.2 million for the year 2019. This will adversely affect the execution of a number of projects and the delivery of services by the Council.

Needless to say, the Council has been placed in an embarrassing position,” the Mayor lamented.

Roberts explained that the glaring deficit was discovered back in February

Chairman of LGC Mortimer Mingo

upon examination of the Council’s records and financial statements prepared by the Treasurer. According to the Mayor, the Council has been requesting a proper explanation from the Treasurer on the matter but she had been giving several different explanations.

“One explanation given by the municipal Treasurer is that the sum of $3.2 was utilised to purchase a skid

steer in the year 2016.

However, the records of the Council that were prepared by the Treasurer shows no expenditure in the year 2016,” Roberts stated.

Furthermore, the Mayor went on to claim that before a decision was made, the Treasurer’s personal file was reviewed by the Councillors and it was revealed that due to her “gross incompetence”, the Council lost in excess of $3.6 million in rates and taxes from the Black Bush Rice Milling Company for the period 2007 to 2016, which she claimed was a miscalculation.

“For this infraction, the Council had recommended to the Local Government Commission that the [Treasurer] be suspended but no action was taken by the Local Government Commission to date. Taking the above matters into consideration and other infractions, the Council immediately after its ordinary

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

meeting dispatched a letter to the Local Government Commission with its recommendation. Given the serious nature of the issues raised, the Council is expecting swift action from the Local Government Commission. It is hoped that there will be no foot-dragging,” the mayor posited.

On the other hand, however, Roberts revealed that despite being sent on leave on May 22, the Treasure turned up to work

the following day and declared that she spoke with “her people” at the Local Government Commission and “she is not going anywhere” and that “no one can touch her from the Council.”

In light of this, the Corriverton Mayor said the Council has taken the necessary steps to secure all records and the office of the Town Council. He said the Council holds strong of its decision to send the Treasurer on administrative leave pending any investigations or decisions of the LGC since it has “absolutely no confidence” in her, and that her continued presence on the job will undermine any investigation undertaken.

Nevertheless, Mayor Roberts pointed out that despite the glaring financial irregularities uncovered involving public funds, the Commission seems “quite comfortable” with the Treasurer remaining on the job pending a decision.

Technological gap between hinterland, Coast to be bridged

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he Education Ministry recently inked an agreement with the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the ProFuturo Foundation which will see a digital learning platform being developed to bridge the technological gap between the coastal and the hinterland regions of Guyana.

According to the Ministry, the technical assistance cooperation agreement was signed on May 25, by Education Minister Nicolette Henry on behalf of Guyana; while Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the OAS, and Sofia Ferandez de Mesa, General Director of ProFuturo Foundation attached their signatures to the document.

Some 28 hinterland schools are set to benefit from the initiative which will provide training for 449 teachers as well as 5435

students attending primary schools.

Guyana Times was told that five Caribbean countries were chosen to benefit from the technical assistance agreement, however Guyana was the only country that met the necessary implementation criteria to launch the programme.

The other states are likely to sign on to the agreement later on.

“ProFuturo is an education programme launched in 2016 by Telefónica Foundation and “La Caixa” Foundation, whose mission is to narrow the education gap in the world by providing quality digital education for children in vulnerable environments in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In line with Goal 4 of the United Nations’ 2030 sustainable development agenda on access to equitable and inclu-

sive quality education for all,” the Ministry explained in a statement.

Minister Henry expressed gratitude on behalf of the Government for the technical assistance which will be used to advance digital education.

She also highlighted the importance of the aid as she reminded that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is important if Guyana is to achieve equitable education, given its topographies.

Meanwhile Almagro from the OAS pointed out that Guyana is the first country in the Caribbean region to sign on to the cooperation agreement with Profuturo.

The General Secretary further noted that it is hoped that this serves as the impetus for other Caribbean countries, the Education Ministry statement said.

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thurSday, may 30, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

New Mon Repos market tarmac to be completed soon – NDC chair

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endors who have been plying their trade at the Lusignan Market, East Coast Demerara, and in range on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) public road, are expected to be relocated very soon as the new marketing tarmac, at Annandale, ECD is slated to be completed by next week.

This revelation was made

by Chairman of the Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Ayube Mohammed during a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday.

Mohammed explained that the completion of the tarmac was previously delayed due to challenges faced with the acquisition

of the land for construction of same; nevertheless, he noted that the situation was resolved.

“It was slated to be completed a long time back, but we had some problems with the acquisition of the land because we had a problem with the residents who would’ve had a piece of land that we wanted to use for the building of the tarmac, and they actually took us to court…. the land was acquired by compulsory acquisition,” Mohammed stated.

Additionally, the Chairman further underscored that vendors will now have to move to this location, as a lottery for the allocation of a vending spot will be held shortly after the

A section of the incomplete vending tarmac

tarmac’s completion next week.

“The tarmac is being done, it is slated to be completed by next week and as soon as it is completed we will mark it out and then we will do the drawing of lottery to allocate spots. So those people who are presently vending on the road needs to adhere to be moved to this spot,” he pointed out.

Only recently, over 300 merchants at the Lusignan Market demonstrated their reluctance to be relocated to what they referred to as “a desolate area in Annandale” and “a hole” given that there are no proper vending facilities, which may lead to them experiencing significant losses.

Despite the

denouncement of this decision by the vendors, the NDC chair had previously mentioned that the relocation was only temporary.

However, in 2018, it was noted by then Minister of State Joseph Harmon that the $30 million initiative is necessary since these vendors are affecting road works of the East Coast Demerara road widening project.

“The construction of this tarmac is necessary for the removal of the roadside market which is in fact affecting the completion of the East Coast Demerara widening of the Highway project,” Harmon noted.

Government mulls IDB support to develop communities hosting migrants

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itizenship Minister Winston Felix on Wednesday said he is considering a proposal of financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to enhance the services available in communities where Venezuelan migrants have settled.

Minister Felix was at the time leading the Multi-

Agency Coordinating Committee on Venezuelan migration to Guyana in a meeting with the IDB, which was held in the boardroom of the Department of Citizenship. He noted that the Government has been trying its utmost to host Venezuelan migrants, which has put some strain on its resources.

“As a nation we have

budgeted for our people in the host communities, but now we have to take care of those who come… What we have decided is that there are some migrants with no fixed place of abode [and] there are those migrants for whom we should find some place safe from push back [opposition from host communities] and so we have found a section of

Fourth farmers market fair set for this weekend

A local producer of rice varieties at the 2017 farmers market

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oing into its fourth year since the event was launched, the much anticipated Farmers Market Day organised and hosted by the Agriculture Ministry, through the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) is set to commence on June 1, with its main goal of promoting products and produce of local farmers and agroprocessors.

Farmers from various regions across the country are expected to flock D’Urban Park, Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown to display the variety and quality of their products with the purpose of widening their market supply.

Some of the expected products range from fruits drinks, cooking sauces, oils and various rice varieties to the showcasing of plants,

handmade craft and locally designed ornaments.

General Manager of GMC, Ida Sealey-Adams, had noted that the role of the Marketing Corporation is to develop the non-traditional agricultural sector and to expand all production sectors locally, regionally and internationally.

The event which was first held in 2017, directly after the country celebrated its 51st Independence anniversary, it was made a reality through a collaboration between the Agriculture Ministry and the Business Ministry.

Only recently, the Public Telecommunications Ministry in an effort to introduce modern technology into the agriculture sector had commenced training for persons in the said field

to successfully utilise the Agricultural Commodities Trading Exchange app which is expected to bring together producers, sellers and buyers of vegetables, fruits and other agricultural products anywhere in the world, into a single online marketplace.

Business Analyst Tamika Inglis said by the time MoPT launches the National Agriculture Strategy later this year, most frontline operators in agriculture will be familiar with the app and farmers will be using it to market their produce.

This new technology is recognised as a solution to the decades-old marketing problems faced by hinterland and remote farmers who lose revenue from spoilage.

[Barima-Waini], Region One and we are trying to make an assessment of the requirements to house some sections of the Venezuelans there,” Minister Felix is quoted as saying by the Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency.

IDB Public Management – Sector Specialist, Jason Wilks, said the IDB is focused on funding migration related investments, which will not only provide direct aid to Venezuelans, but develop host communities.

He asserted too that once the community is developed, the quality of life should be better for all inhabitants.

“If we’ve got a Guyanese vulnerable community, with development gaps because the school is not good enough, we can improve that school for the Guyanese … provided that the education policy is in place it will benefit Venezuelan migrants too,” Wilks said.

Additionally, IDB

Inter-American Development Bank, Migration Specialist, Alison Elias )third from right) gestures as she makes a point during a meeting with Citizenship Minister Winston Felix; IDB Principal Specialist Joaquim Tres; Operations Senior Analyst, Clevern Liddell; Migration Specialist, Public Management – Sector Specialist, Jason Wilks; and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Resident Representative, Sylvie Fouet; among other participants

Migration Specialist, Alison Elias, said the IDB is focusing on access to identification; access to basic services and access to social services and economic opportunities as thematic areas under which countries may qualify for loans and grants. She also noted that the IDB is focused on nine countries that have been

receiving a large influx of Venezuelan migrants. Those countries are Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Chile, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Guyana.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Resident Representative, Sylvie Fouet also attended the meeting.

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURsday, may 30, 2019

Regional

Guatemala busts alleged Barbados Government US$10M people-smuggling ring addressing corruption at port

Thomson Reuters Migrants cross the Suchiate river in a raft from Tecun Uman, in Guatemala, to Ciudad Hidalgo, in Mexico, as seen from a raft next to the shore of Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, May 15, 2019

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uatemalan officials say they have broken up a people-smuggling ring that purportedly moved 800 migrants a year

through the country and took in some US$10 million doing so.

Wednesday's announcement comes amid a visit by

the acting US Homeland Security Secretary during which the two countries signed an agreement on jointly addressing migration and people-trafficking.

The prosecutor's office and National Civil Police arrested nine people in the case, including the alleged ringleader. The suspects are said to have housed migrants from Central and South America in Guatemala and moved them across the border into Mexico, bound for the United States.

The smugglers allegedly charged US$11,000 to US$12,000 per adult and US$3500 for minors.

Officials said the operation was carried out with support from US Homeland Security Investigations. (MSN)

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overnment has sought to put measures in place to strengthen and enhance security at the Bridgetown Port. Chairman of the Barbados Port Inc (BPI), Senator Lisa Cummins, said the entity had started the process of integrity testing for members of staff over the last two to three weeks to ensure that they did not have any criminal activity, and that there were no criminal ties.

“That process has be-

gun, and we expect it to continue over the next year….

That is one of the steps that we are taking to address the issue at the individual level in terms of corruption,” she said, while thanking the Barbados Workers’ Union for its support in the process.

Cummins added that the infrastructural challenges being experienced with the scanners were expected to be addressed by late June or early July. The senator also noted that structurally the port has a system in place

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try an attractive destination for investment, simplify citizenship by investment rules for dependants, making it competitive with other CIP’s in the Caribbean, and attract high net worth individuals and direct investments.

However, these milestones have been elusive with no tangible progress. Not one brick has been laid through CIP Saint Lucia in contrast to Dominica, Grenada, even St Kitts and Nevis (to some extent) since the introduction of the programme and multiple deviations.

The Eastern Caribbean

Central Bank (ECCB) annual economic review, December 2018, indicate that Dominica despite tropical storm Erika in 2015 and hurricane Maria in 2017, grew by 0.5 per cent in contrast to Saint Lucia which grew by 0.6 per cent.

Dominica is closer to becoming the world’s first climate resilient nation. It is investing its citizenship by investment programme (CBI), earnings in Dominica Housing, infrastructure projects and ecotourism, and has approved a total of seven major real estate projects under CBI. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Caribbean360)

BVI calls on UK Parliament to support modern partnership with overseas territories

St Lucia amends CIP legislation amid heightened competition from Dominica and Grenada he Government of Saint Lucia amended its legislative and regulatory framework for Citizenship by Investment (CIP) processing to averaging just 80 days, amid weak performance and heightened competition from Dominica and Grenada.

The legislative amendments (Act 12) of 2019 make it easy for child[ren] and spouse to be granted citizenship within five years post granting citizenship.

One of the main objectives of Saint Lucia’s economic policy is to make the coun-

where persons were required to bring a certificate of character during the vetting process.

And, in instances where an employee is found guilty of an offence, they would be handed over to the regulatory authorities to be dealt with appropriately.

Meantime, Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy Kirk Humphrey said he did not want people to feel that the port staff is corrupt and needs to be watched. (Excerpt from

From left: Senior political officer Siobhan Flax; special envoy Benito Wheatley; acting deputy director of the BVI London office, Tracy Bradshaw and chair of the OT APPG, Andrew Rosindell, MP

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he UK Government is being urged to back the renewal of a contemporary partnership between BVI Overseas Territories (OTs) such as the BVI. Benito Wheatley, the special envoy to the British Virgin Islands, encouraged that partnership during a recent meeting at the House of Commons

with Andrew Rosindell, MP, Chairman of the Overseas Territories All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).

In the meeting, Wheatley said that the BVI is satisfied with the UK Government’s judgement not to force the OTs, which includes BVI to end Belongership status, inter alia. He said: “We wel-

come the UK government’s position stated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in its response to the FAC report that Orders in Council should not be used by the UK Parliament to force the Overseas Territories to adopt the proposals of the committee or to impose UK decisions on the Territories in areas of governance constitutionally devolved to them without their consent.” Wheatley also lauded Rosindell for what was reported as his long-standing devotion to the Overseas Territories and for respecting their constitutions.

In related news, the UK Government is said to be taking significant steps to mitigate against possible adverse impacts Britain’s exit from the European Union — a process known as Brexit — will have on the BVI. The current target date for Britain to exit the EU is October 31. (Excerpt from Caribbean News

Freedom of movement application fails at CCJ Fiery bus accident in southern Mexico leaves at least 20 dead

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he Trinidad and Tobago based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Wednesday ruled that citizens of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) “have important rights but to exercise these rights clear documentary evidence of their nationality is required.”

The ruling was handed down in the case of Bain vs Trinidad and Tobago.

Bain, a citizen of both Grenada and the United States had claimed that his right to freedom of movement was infringed when he was denied entry into the twin-is-

land state when arriving from Grenada just before midnight on December 14, 2017.

It's reported that on that day, he presented himself as an American citizen, producing only his USA passport, as his Grenadian passport had expired some years earlier.

Upon arrival at Piarco International Airport, immigration officials questioned him concerning information they had received about a man with the same name who has convictions on drug-related offences. Although he denied any drug convictions, Bain was refused entry and

was sent back to Grenada on an early flight the following day although he had also informed the immigration officers that he was a citizen of Grenada and thus entitled to freedom of movement in Caribbean Community (Caricom) states.

As evidence of his citizenship, Bain had produced his Grenadian driver's licence, which stated that he was a Grenadian citizen. He also showed his Grenadian voter's identification card which stated that he was born in Grenada. In addition, his US passport also listed Grenada as his country of birth.

In its judgment on Thursday, the court determined that, while there was no doubt that Bain is a Grenadian citizen, he did not present sufficient documentation to prove it to the immigration officers. The court also rejected the argument that the notation in Bain's US passport that he was born in Grenada, conclusively proved citizenship.

The CCJ dismissed the claims against Trinidad and Tobago and ordered the parties to bear their own costs.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

A

t least 20 people died in a fiery accident in the South-eastern Mexican state of Veracruz on Wednesday when a bus collided with a cargo truck, a state official and various local media outlets reported.

The bus was travelling

from Mexico City to Tuxtla Gutierrez in the southern state of Chiapas when the accident occurred. “Civil Protection informed us that 20 people burned to death at the scene of the accident and another 31 were taken to hospital,” said German

Now)

Arena, a spokesman for the municipality of Maltrata, where the accident occurred.

The causes of the accident were being investigated. Photos and videos circulating on social media showed the bus and truck engulfed in flames. (Reuters)

Argentina: Crowds gather to back pro-choice abortion bill

A

large crowd has marched on the Congress building in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, to demand the decriminalisation of abortion.

Tuesday's march came as a bill was introduced to legalise terminations in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.

A similar bill was defeated at almost the last hurdle last year when senators voted 38 to 31 against it. Currently abortion in Argentina is allowed only in cases of rape, or if the mother's health is in danger.

Thousands of women wearing green handkerchiefs,

which have become symbolic of their fight to legalise abortion, chanted slogans and held up placards backing the latest attempt to get the bill made into law.

Advocates of the bill say getting it passed is an urgent public health matter as official figures suggest that illegal abortions are the leading cause of maternal deaths in Argentina.

The Health Ministry estimates that at least 350,000 illegal abortions are performed in Argentina every year but women's rights groups think that number may be much

higher.

The founder of the National Campaign for the Right to Legal, Safe and Free Abortion, Nina Burgo, said that the bill introduced on Tuesday was largely the same as that defeated last year but that it included some extra safeguards for women seeking an abortion.

The defeat of the bill in the senate last year – after it had been narrowly passed in the lower house – was a blow to pro-choice activists who nevertheless promised to introduce new legislation as soon as parliamentary rules allowed. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, may 30, 2019

17

Around the World

Israel to hold fresh election as Pregnant woman killed in Sudan Netanyahu fails to form coalition after security forces clash

PM Benjamin Netanyahu during the vote in the Israeli Parliament

I

sraeli lawmakers have voted to dissolve Parliament after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government.

The decision triggers a fresh election, to be held on September 17.

Netanyahu was unable to reach a deal for a fresh right-wing coalition follow-

ing last month’s election.

At the heart of the impasse was a military conscription bill governing exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students.

It is the first time in Israel’s history that a prime minister-designate has failed to form a coalition.

Parliament voted 7445 in favour of dissolving itself after Netanyahu missed a midnight local time (21:00 GMT) deadline on Wednesday.

Netanyahu appeared set for a fifth term after his Likud Party won 35 of the Knesset’s 120 seats in April’s election, but he could not reach a deal with former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman, whose support became vital.

Lieberman, from the nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, had conditioned allying with ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties on changes

to their military draft exemptions.

Netanyahu pushed for new elections to prevent Israeli President Reuven Rivlin selecting another Member of Parliament to try to form a government.

Speaking to reporters after the vote, Netanyahu said: “We’ll run a sharp, clear election campaign which will bring us victory.

We’ll win, we’ll win and the public will win.”

The Prime Minister is facing fraud and bribery charges in the coming months and has been accused of attempting to secure for himself immunity from prosecution.

He is alleged to have accepted gifts from wealthy businessmen and dispensed favours to try to get more positive press coverage. Netanyahu denies all wrongdoing. (Excerpt from BBC News)

The deadly incident occurred on the second day of a nationwide general strike organised by Opposition groups with a view to pressuring Sudan’s ruling Transitional Military Council [Mohamed

A

Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters]

pregnant woman was killed in the Sudanese capital after a firefight broke out between members of the country’s security forces.

The Sudan Doctors Committee (SDC) said in a statement on Wednesday the woman, a street vendor, was killed outside the army headquarters by “stray bullets” when soldiers attempt-

ed to disperse the sit-in.

The incident coincided with the second and final day of a two-day general strike launched at the behest of the Sudanese Professionals Associated (SPA), an umbrella group of various trade unions.

“The Rapid Support Forces and the military seem to have had some sort of argument, which led to a

shoot-out between the two sides and in which a pregnant woman got shot,” said Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan, reporting from Khartoum.

“There were several injuries also reported by the SPA, the body which has spearheading calls for protests over the past few months in Sudan.”

In a statement, SPA condemned what it described as “the irresponsible behaviour of the Sudanese security forces, who are supposed to preserve citizens’ security and safety”.

It went on to demand that those responsible for the woman’s death “be held to account for their actions”.

The nationwide strike is aimed at pressuring members of the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) to make way for a civilian-led interim Government. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

No negotiations with US, Russia probe: Mueller says charging says Iran’s Supreme Leader Trump was “not an option”

I

ran will not negotiate with the United States, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday, after President Hassan Rouhani signalled talks with Washington might be possible if sanctions were lifted.

Washington withdrew last year from an international nuclear deal signed with Tehran in 2015, and it is ratcheting up sanctions in efforts to shut down Iran’s economy by ending its international sales of crude oil.

US President Donald Trump condemned the accord, signed by his prede-

cessor Barack Obama, as flawed for not being permanent and for not covering Iran’s ballistic missile programme and role in conflicts around the Middle East.

Trump said on Monday he was hopeful Iran would come to negotiating table to reach a new deal: “I really believe that Iran would like to make a deal ... and I think that’s a possibility to happen.”

Khamenei was quoted as saying on his website: “We said before that we will not negotiate with America, because negotiation has no benefit and carries harm.”

Khamenei said Iran had no problems negotiating with Europeans and other countries, but added, “We will not negotiate over the core values of the revolution. We will not negotiate over our military capabilities.”

Earlier in the day, Rouhani had taken a more positive stance.

In remarks carried by State television, he said: “Whenever they lift the unjust sanctions and fulfil their commitments and return to the negotiations table, which they left themselves, the door is not closed.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

U

S Special Counsel Robert Mueller said on Wednesday that he is leaving the Justice Department now that he has concluded his Russia probe.

In his first public statement on the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Mueller said he is also closing the special counsel’s office.

The announcement comes amid demands for Mueller to testify on Capitol Hill about his findings and tension with Attorney General William Barr over the handling of his report.

Mueller said on Wednesday that the report is his testimony. He said that he hopes and expects that Wednesday is the “the only time” that he speaks about the report, but “any testimony from [his] office would not go beyond the report”.

A redacted version of the Mueller report was published in April, concluding there was no conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Moscow. But Mueller declined to make a judgment on whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice, though the re-

port outlined 10 instances in which Trump tried to impede the investigation.

Barr and former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein subsequently determined Trump had not broken the law.

Mueller said on Wednesday that charging Trump was never an option for his team of prosecutors, citing Justice Department guidelines that prohibit charging a sitting president.

“Charging the president with a crime was ... not an option we could consider,” Mueller told reporters. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

North Korea accuses US of “evil ambition”, 16 charged in Bangladesh for burning girl alive says use of strength not a US monopoly

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump talk in the garden of the Metropole hotel during the second North Korea-US summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, February 28, 2019

N

orth Korea on Wednesday accused the United States of showing bad faith in negotiations by conducting nuclear and missile tests and military drills as part of an “evil ambition” to conquer North Korea by force, even while advocating dialogue.

In the latest uptick in angry rhetoric from Pyongyang after a failed summit with the United States in February, a North Korean Foreign Ministry statement

repeated complaints about an ongoing US sanctions campaign, including the seizure of one of the country’s biggest cargo ships, and warned that “use of strength is not at all a monopoly of the United States”.

The statement, attributed to the Policy Research Director of the Ministry’s Institute for American Studies and carried by official media, noted that the United States had conducted a subcritical nuclear test

on February 13, just days before a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “The US has thus showcased its ulterior intention that it seeks a strengthbased solution of the issues, though outwardly it advocates for dialogue,” the statement said.

It aimed fresh attacks at John Bolton, Trump’s national security adviser, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, accusing them and other high-ranking US officials of having “insulted the dignity of our supreme leadership and spitted out abusive language” by calling North Korea a “rogue regime”.

It also accused the US officials of a “hostile scheme to stifle us by force” by warning that Washington would “change its path” if North Korea did not give up its nuclear weapons. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Nusrat Jahan Rafi was doused with kerosene and set on fire on a rooftop

S

ixteen people have been charged in Bangladesh over the shocking murder of a teenager who was burned to death after reporting sexual harassment.

Nusrat Jahan Rafi, 19, was doused with kerosene and set on fire on the roof of her Islamic school on 6 April, days after filing a complaint.

Headmaster Siraj Ud Doula, targeted in the com-

plaint, is among those charged.

Police say he ordered her murder from prison when she refused to withdraw her accusations against him.

They described the preparations for the killing as being like a “military plan”.

The case sparked mass protests in Bangladesh and shone a spotlight on the vulnerability of victims of sex-

ual assault and harassment in the country.

Rafi filed a Police complaint against Doula in late March and he was arrested. On April 6, she attended the school to sit her final exams when she was allegedly lured to the roof of the school and set alight by a group of people wearing burkas, a one-piece veil that covers the face and body.

They had planned to make it look like a suicide, Police said, but Rafi – who suffered burns to 80 per cent of her body – was able to give a statement before she died on April 10.

Police in Feni, a small town some 160 kilometres (100 miles) outside the capital Dhaka, formally laid murder charges on Wednesday against the 16 accused. They include students at the madrassa and two local politicians from the governing Awami League party who were in prominent positions at the school.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, may 30, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Observe what others can do firsthand. Assess what’s going on around you to find a valuable opening. Charm will help you get your way.

CANCER

Trust your instincts, not what someone else tells you.

Alter what you are offering others. Helping out is one thing, but taking charge and doing everything yourself is another.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

SUDOKU

Say what’s on your mind. Offer suggestions and solutions, and be willing to listen to what others have to say as well.

Working in unison will bring good results.

Aim to get things done.

The level of your activity will affect your productivity. It’s not what you say or promise that will impress others, but what you do to make a difference.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

A chance to try something different will become a learning experience. Proceed with an open mind, but also use common sense when dealing with anyone pressuring you to take on something questionable.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Take an active role when it comes to money, legal or medical issues. Do your research and look at alternative methods before you make a decision that will have a lasting effect.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Socializing will do you good. Being receptive to different cultures, lifestyles or activities will change the way you do things and lead to new friendships.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD -- ANCIENT

A change you make will stabilize your life and make you more aware of the possibilities within reach.

Choose to do things you love with people you love.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Slow down and think matters through before you make a move that could alter your ability to earn an income, change your status or hurt your reputation.

Anger isn’t the answer.

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

A change you want to make should be approved by the people your decision will affect before you get moving. Your success will be determined by how you treat others.

Take better care of your health and physical wellness. Use common sense when dealing with children or anyone showing excessive or indulgent tendencies.

Facts and truth matter.

Look inward and make personal changes that will improve your overall outlook and physical health. If you need help, call in a favor. Romance will improve your life.

thursday, MAY 30, 2019

19

2019 ICC Cricket World Cup Match 1 Preview…

Years of WC planning, preparation and hurt all come down to this: England v South Africa F

our years of planning, four years of preparation.

Forty-four years of hurt and counting. And maybe the chance, at long last, for long-overdue World Cup redemption. But which team are we discussing here? England, the hosts, or South Africa, the challengers?

For there could be no more apt contest with which to launch the 12th Cricket World Cup - the fifth on English soil but the first for 20 years - than a match-up between the two sides with arguably the most torrid World Cup histories of them all.

In the (light-) blue corner … the hosts, the favourites, the perpetual laughing stocks. A team that reached three World Cup finals in the first five editions, lost the lot, and have not won a single knock-out fixture in the three decades since - as if the pain of further rejection has superseded any desire to countenance that long-awaited success.

And in the green-with-yellow-tinges corner, the quadrennial accidents waiting to happen. The team that spent the first four editions of the tournament on the outside looking in, but then - welcomed into the fold from 1992 onwards somehow hit upon new and ever more gruesome ways to screw up their best-laid plans.

From rain-rules (times two), to last-ball sixes, via the single most storied run-out in World Cup history, South Africa - unlike England - have been a team from which great things have been expected, and on which great calamity has endlessly been bestowed.

Have those expectations now been swapped going into the 2019 edition? South Africa are now the team coasting into the competition with expectations at an all-time low, and the squad are consequently in something approaching a chilled-out frame of mind (although the news that SACA has just instigated legal proceedings against the board may yet be the start of a new means to disrupt that sangfroid).

Instead, it is England about whom the entire world is talking … and about whom everyone is doubtless preparing to burst out laughing if they fail to fulfil their destiny this summer. But, tellingly, no matter how wishful the thinking may be on that front, there is no escaping the notes of respect and trepidation that underpin every mention of the world No.1s.

England’s four-year journey from no-hopers to world-beaters has been stunning and well-documented - as many as five players still survive from the team that crashed out in the quarter-final against Bangladesh four years ago, but it is the transformation in mindset that has been stunning and unequivocal.

It began with Eoin Morgan’s insistence, after that 2015 debacle, that things had to change - that England had to embrace players who, in the first instance, weren’t afraid to fail, in order to free them up to become the attacking team they needed to be.

And it has continued with an almost Olympian pursuit of

Leggies union: Adil Rashid and Imran Tahir cross paths at training

batting excellence. Citius, altius, fortius has been the message from the top. If in doubt, go for your shots. And if it goes wrong - as it has done on a handful of notable occasions - go again. England have made it their business to embrace their status as favourites, and to absorb the pressure that comes with that status, by wearing their learning lightly and projecting an impenetrable confidence in their overall direction of travel.

There’s every possibility that England will once again fall short as they attempt to claim the silverware that eluded the likes of Gooch and Botham, Gatting and Gower. But the round-robin format mitigates against one-off accidents - and two notable notches in this team’s recent history stand as testaments to the fact that no contest is over until it is over.

The brutality of England’s defeat in the World T20 final in 2016 was followed a year later by the totality of their collapse against Pakistan in the 2017 Champions Trophy. Both matches, however, came earlier than expected in England’s journey into the light. Morgan himself had always envisaged a four-year plan when it came to scraping his team off the turf after that dreadful defeat in Adelaide.

As for South Africa … who could forget the shattered minds and bodies that littered the Auckland outfield after that semi-final defeat four years ago? They perhaps felt, in that moment, that their latest and best chance at glory had been snatched by Grant Elliott’s scythe through the line.

And yet, the core of that squad are back for another go four years on - lessened by the loss of AB de Villiers in the interim, but emboldened perhaps by their relative anonymity and bolstered by a raft of young guns who, as Faf du Plessis pointed out in the pre-match press conference, have experi-

ence of winning a World Cup at under-19 level.

And so here we are, at the start of a potential 11 matches on the road to overdue glory. So near, so far. So often. So what’s it to be this time?

England’s XI has been chosen a full 24 hours in advance, and seeing as Eoin Morgan has declared a “full bill of health”, there would seem to be just one strategic call to be made - do they trust Mark Wood, post-ankle scare, to hurtle in at the 90mph pace that he was able to display in his solitary outing against Pakistan earlier this month, despite having bowled just 13.1 competitive overs this season. Or do they revert to the tried-and-tested Liam Plunkett, England’s most prolific fast-bowling wicket-taker since the 2015 World Cup, and a man whose very modus operandi is that he will let no-one down?

England: 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Liam Plunkett/Mark Wood.

Steyn, as mentioned, is hors de combat, although it’s a scenario that has not caught his captain, Faf du Plessis, unawares - South Africa’s spearhead came into the World Cup about “60 percent ready”, he explained on the eve of the match. Lungi Ngidi and Rabada will provide ample pace interjections in his absence, while South Africa have a brace of seasoned allrounders to fill the Steyn void. Of the two, Chris Morris seems more likely to get first dibs than Dwayne Pretorius.

South Africa: (possible) 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 Rassie van der Dussen, 5 David Miller, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Chris Morris, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Imran Tahir.

Neither team has lost a match in their most recent fivematch ODI series. South Africa crushed Sri Lanka 5-0 on home soil in their final outing in March, while England beat Pakistan 4-0 (with one game, at The Oval, washed out).

England beat South Africa 2-1 in their most recent ODI encounter, in 2017. However, their one defeat was instructive. Facing up to Rabada on a Lord’s green top, they suffered one of their habitual batting malfunctions, tumbling to 20 for 6 and a seven-wicket defeat.

Warm-up matches may not count for much in the final analysis, but England certainly enjoyed their preview of the Oval conditions on Monday, battering Afghanistan by nine wickets with 195 balls left unused.

England fared okay on the last occasion that they hosted a World Cup opener - beating Sri Lanka by eight wickets at Lord’s in 1999 - in one of their few highlights of a dismal campaign.

South Africa, however, had less to write home about when they hosted West Indies in the 2003 curtain-raiser. A Brian Lara special condemned them to a three-run defeat, one that would prove rather costly a few weeks down the line.

(ESPNcricinfo)

French Open 2019: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal reach 3rd round F

ormer champion Roger Federer and 11time winner Rafael Nadal moved into the third round of the French Open at Roland Garros without dropping a set.

Federer, the 2009 champion, needed only 96 minutes to see off Germany’s lucky loser Oscar Otte. The Swiss third seed, playing in the tournament for the first time since 2015, beat the world 144 6-4 6-3 6-4.

Defending champion Nadal eased to a 6-1 6-2 6-4 win over Germany’s world number 114 Yannick Maden.

It was difficult, he really played a great match -

Federer Otte held his serve in his opening four services games but was broken in his fifth as Federer took the opening set. The 37-year-old then took control to move two sets ahead and a break in the ninth game of the third set gave him the opportunity to clinch an assured victory on his serve.

Otte had lost in the third qualifying round but took his place in the main draw as a ‘lucky loser’ because of withdrawals. “The Grand Slams are incredible. You can meet a player who qualified who you have not heard of before,” said Federer,

who had to save four break points on his serve. “It was difficult, he really played a great match. Happily, for me, he helped me with some mistakes at the end of the sets.”

Next up for Federer is a match against N o r w a y ’ s Casper Ruud w h o

Rafael Nadal has not lost a match at the French Open since a defeat by Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the 2015 tournament

knocked out Italian 29th seed Matteo Berrettini 6-4 7-5 6-3. Nadal won the first five games of the match on his way to taking the opening set in 42 minutes and then broke 29-year-old Maden’s serve in the opening service game of the second.

Maden, playing in the second round of a

Grand Slam for the f i r s t time, managed to break Nadal’s serve twice in the third set, but struggled to

hold on to his own serve as the second seed moved into the last 32. He is the second German qualifier that Nadal has defeated at this year’s French Open after his firstround win over Yannick Hanfmann on Monday.

Nadal will now face Belgium’s David Goffin in round three.

T s i t s i p a s , Nishikori & Wawrinka all advance Elsewhere, sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece fought back from a set down to beat Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien 4-6 6-0 6-3 7-5. Kei Nishikori, seeded seventh,

also suffered a scare in his match against France’s JoWilfried Tsonga.

Two-time French Open semi-finalist Tsonga won the opening set but the Japanese player came back to win 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4. Former champion Stan Wawrinka won in straight sets, overcoming Chile’s Cristian Garin 6-1 6-4 6-0.

The Swiss will play either Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov or former US Open winner Marin Cilic next. Meanwhile, France’s Corentin Moutet, the world’s number 110, defeated Argentina’s 19th seed Guido Pella 6-3 6-1 2-6 7-5.

(BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursday, MAY 30, 2019

Nelson Pleased With Overall Results…

Says not being able to hold his nerves may have cost him level for the first time it goes without saying that it’s going to be very difficult battling the nerves.”

Nelson also went on to state that while there is much improvement needed in his game, he was particularly pleased about the one game he played and lost, after leading the matchup for most of the game. He noted that the game he lost, he was up two major pieces as well as having one minute and twenty-four seconds on the clock, while his opponent only had seventeen seconds. Nelson related to this

By Timothy Jaikarran

A

fter travelling to Colombia to participate in the XVII Juegos Deportes Universitarios Centro Americanos y Del Caribe Colombian Mayo 20-26 2019, Sidney Nelson of the University of Guyana Chess team was able to bag three bronze medals after competing in the Classical, Rapids and Blitz categories.

Nelson an avid chess, was able to amass a total of 2 valuable points in the classical senior male team category to take the team to 6 points thus securing them third place in the competition. His no retreat, no surrender attitude led him to dig deep, pulling out all the stops earning him important draws and wins in the Rapids and Blitz categories to hand his team two more bronze medals. In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport when asked of his performance nelson said, “Myself along with team mates Andre and Davion were presented three medals a piece for finishing third across three categories, Classical,

publication that because of the pressure he played an illegal move awarding his opponent two extra minutes on the clock. The pressure then got to him again thus resulting in him playing yet another illegal move and practically handing his opponent the win.

According to the FIDE rules 2018 “7.5.5 After the action taken under Article 7.5.1, 7.5.2, 7.5.3 or 7.5.4 for the first completed illegal move by a player, the arbiter shall give two minutes extra time to his opponent; for the second completed illegal move by the

same player the arbiter shall declare the game lost by this player. However, the game is drawn if the position is such that the opponent cannot checkmate the player’s king by any possible series of legal moves.”

In closing Nelson said, “I believe that was my biggest challenge, and ended up losing a game against an opponent I was completely crushing because I couldn’t hold my nerves.

That corrected I’m convinced that we will come away with better results next time.”

Vickram Seubarran re-elected President of Port Mourant CC – new executives elected Sidney Nelson grabbed three bronze medals

Rapids and Blitz. While I’m pleased with the overall results (we medaled in all sections) I’ll be the first to say there is room for improvement. Looking at the

competition, they seemed to have nerves of steel.

They displayed great positional understanding and in depth knowledge of the game. Playing at such a

Shallow elected Windward Islands Cricket President

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) VicePresident Dr. Kishore Shallow has been elected President of the Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control (WICBC), at the association’s annual general meeting that was held on Saturday 25 May, in St.Lucia. Dr. Shallow, who is also president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association, replaced Dominican Emmanuel Nanthan who did not run for re-election. The President of the Grenada Cricket Association, Dwain Gill, was also elected as the new Windwards Islands Director on the board of Cricket West Indies, joining Julian Charles as the second of the WICBC’s representatives. Gill has a long history in Caribbean cricket coaching, management and administration. He is a CWI Level Two Coaching Certification holder, where his skills have been utilized for the West Indies Under-19, Windward Islands Under-15 and Grenada teams at all levels. Gill has also regularly held management roles including for the St Lucia CPL Franchise, Global T20 Canada, the West Indies A Team, and the World Champion

A few members of the Port Mourant CC

P

CWI vice-president and Windward Islands Cricket President Dr. Kishore Shallow

Indies Cricket. I am humbled and honoured and will continPresident - Dr. Kishore Shallow ue to devote time and attenVice President - Julian Charles tion to West Indies Cricket Directors to CWI - Julian Charles and Dwain Gill as I’ve done all my life”, said Alternates - Patrick Felix and Miles Bascombe Gill. The 35 year old Shallow Selectors - Steve Mohorn (chairman), Roland expressed his enthusiasm at Wilkinson, Greg Wilson, and Trevor Shillingford the added responsibility. “My Treasurer - Dougal James love for this game is immeaSecretary - Kezron Walters surable, and I am tremendously honored to be given 2016 Under 19 Team. He is a Director on the opportunity to serve cricket across the the WICBC and Windward Cricket Inc. that region and to be in a leadership role to adoversees the PCL franchise, Windwards vance Caribbean cricket,” said Shallow. Dr. Volcanoes. “The appointment is another Shallow has been a director of WICBC for opportunity to make a meaningful contri- five years, and prior to becoming the Vicebution to the overall development of West President of CWI, he served as a director of the regional body for two years.

Summary of Results:

opular Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Universal DVD and Stationery Store, Vickram Seubarran, was re-elected as President of the historic Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Club’s pavillion.

A total of 35 members turned up for the meeting which was postponed earlier in the year when the Secretary for 2018, Godwyn Allicock, failed to turn up with minutes for the last AGM and the annual report.

Allicock, who is also the Region Six Sports Organiser, again failed to turn up on May 22, 2019, at the AGM, and sent no excuse for his absence. As a result, the Club took a decision to proceed as it was the general view that the past Secretary was not interested in the affairs of the PMCC. Seubarran was elected unopposed in the election which was supervised by Industrial Welfare Officer Orvin Mangru of the Albion Estate. The other executives were also elected unopposed as members strongly supported the Seubarran team. Berbice Under-15 Coach Leslie Solomon was

elected Vice President, while First Division player Daniel Samaroo is the new Secretary.

Another First Division player, Fardun Khan, would be in charge of the Club’s finances as the Treasurer, while Haresh Deonarine would serve as his Deputy.

The Committee Members are Collis Greene, Ashik Ishak and Roopnarine Rampertab.

President Seubarran thanked the members for their confidence in him and stated he was committed to returning the once powerful cricket club to its former glory.

Seubarran urged the newly-elected electives to work as a collective and called on the entire membership to be committed to training harder for the Club to be more competitive in the numerous cricket tournaments being organised by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB).

PMCC in 2018 won the Da Silva Under-13 Tournament organised by the BCB and has performed creditably at the junior level. The Club has an impressive list of upcoming junior players, including the highly talented Rampertab Ramnauth and Salim Khan.

Four members of the Club recently represented Berbice at the Under-15 level, while Ramnauth went on to represent Guyana with great success, including scoring a brilliant century on debut century versus Jamaica.

The Port Mourant Cricket Club has the distinction of having produced the most Test players in Berbice for any club.

The seven PMCC Test players are John Trim, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Ivan Madray, Joe Solomon, Alvin Kallicharran and Mahendra Nagamootoo. Apart from Madray, the others are part of the Berbice All Time XI, selected by the Berbice Cricket Board.

Other popular players produced by the PMCC include Romain Etwaroo, Tyrone Etwaroo, Deonarine Persaud, Veersammy Verapen, Derick Kallicharran, David Fingal, Arjune Nandu, Rajendra Sadeo, Sunil Dhaniram, Vishal Nagamootoo and Robert Fingal among others.

President of the BCB Hilbert Foster congratulated the newly elected President and his executives and pledged his support to assist the PMCC in any way possible.

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, may 30, 2019

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5 outstanding Guyanese receive Dolphin Award of Excellence from RHTY&SC

T

he management of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) in 2015 established the Dolphin Award of Excellence to honour Guyanese they view as positive role models to youths while recognising their contributions to the development of Guyana.

The Award has a maximum limit of 60 awardees who are specially selected by the Club Management and representatives of the Club’s 10 cricket teams.

Among the awardees recognised and honoured this year are Dr Aaron Fraser, Dr Devendra Radhay, Dennis

Deroop, Geeta ChandanEdmond and Donna Todd.

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21

Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster hands over the award to Attorneyat-Law Geeta Chandan-Edmond

Wills, David Armogan and Avia Lindie.

Some non-Guyanese like former General Manager of Busta Robert Selman, West Indies Female Captain Stafanie Taylor and overseas-based Guyanese Brian Ramphal have also received the prestigious award, Dr Radhay, a Cubatrained medical doctor at the Port Mourant Hospital, has made a remarkable impression as Doctor in Charge of the Port Mourant Hospital and has spearheaded a transformation of the institution.

The highly-respected doctor also played a major role in the recovery of RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, who was

recently a patient at the Hospital. Dennis Deroop is the Regional Vice Chairman of Region 6 and a strong supporter of the Club. He has assisted the RHTY&SC to obtain funding to upgrade the Area ‘H’ Ground and is a positive role model to the Club where he is a regular visitor to matches and practice sessions. His son Christopher Deroop, a member of the Club, recently represented Berbice at the Under-15 level.

Attorney-at-Law Chandan-Edmond is a Berbician by birth who has excelled in her profession.

She once served as a highly respected Magistrate and currently serves as a Legal Advisor to the Ministry of

the Presidency. Dr Fraser is the Chief Executive of Power Producer and Distribution Inc and a highly-respected accountant. Mrs Todd currently serves as the General Manager (ag) of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited and has been at the forefront of a positive transformation of the Guyana Chronicle.

Secretary Foster congratulated the awardees and stated that the Club was honoured to recognize them as role models and committed Guyanese. He urged them to uplift their high standards and to share their work ethics with the younger generation of Guyanese as our young nation seeks to develop even further.

Adams proud of her achievements …remains focused on 2020

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he University of Guyana athletics team have returned from Colombia after recently participating in the University Games that was held on May 20-26. For Leoni Adams, the journey was one to remember as she copped a total of four medals – gold in the triple jump, bronze in the long jump and silver medals for the 4x100m and 4×400m respectively.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport in an exclusive interview, Adams when asked about her performance said, “It wasn’t my best performance, but I’m very much satisfied with what I have achieved due to the fact the weather condition was very much challenging. It was a bit diffi-

cult trying to adapt to the cold in the short time.

However, I was still able to cope and at the end of it all still being able to medal in every event that I competed in. In terms of what could have been done for me to do better, I would say if the climate was a bit warmer because one of the most important things for an athlete to avoid injury is to stay warm in preparation for your event and that was one of the most difficult things for me to do with the place being very cold but, it was a good performance.”

Adams also noted to this publication that come 2020 at the next University Games she is looking forward to competing in the games not only to medal in every event but to achieve her personal

best. This would allow Adams to move to another level in her athletic performance and be able to widen her career as an athlete. Even though the games are now completed, the young athlete is working and training hard towards accomplishing her goals not only for 2020 but beyond that.

In closing, Adams said, “I would like to thank my coaches – Coach Raymond Daw for bringing me to where I am and Coach Mark Scott. I would also like to thank my family members for supporting me in every way, my friends, the University of Guyana Sport Department and my UG athletics team for all the advice and support that I have achieved since I started to compete for the University.”

RFA Champions League…

Rush Saints, Paiwomak Warriors, Kanuku Harpies advance to semi-finals

T

he preliminary rounds and knockout stages of the Rupununi Football Association (RFA) Champions League have been completed, and the semi-finals have commenced.

Guyana Rush Saints male squad and Paiwomak Warriors female team have both qualified for the semi-finals. In the first matchup of the male quarter-finals, the in-form Rush Saints booked their spot in the semis as they edged Strikers FC at Saints Sports Club.

The encounter saw both teams attempting to break each other’s defences, but it was the Saints that emerged victorious as they were

able to keep their opponents at bay to take the win 2-0 as Romario Jose was able to find the back of the net on both occasions. In the other semi-final fixture, Paiwomak Warriors thumped Gladiators Football Club 3-2 at the Annai Ground as they advanced 5-3 on aggregate, thus knocking out the defending female champions. Paiwomak dominated in the first 45 minutes of the game; despite the Gladiators scoring two consolation goals, they were able to maintain their one-goal lead. In the final male semi-final, Kanuku Harpies battled the in-form Jaguars FC and lost 1-2 at the Katoka Ground. However, as luck would have it, the

Harpies still managed to qualify for the semis as they advanced 5-4 on aggregate.

The female teams competing in this tournament are Sun Parakeets, Guyana Rush Saints, Strikers FC, Titans United, Kanuku Harpies, Flash FC, Paiwomak Warriors and Gladiators FC (defending champions); while the male competing teams are Sun Parakeets, Paiwomak Warriors, Titans United, Kanuku Harpies, Jaguars FC, Guyana Rush Saints, Strikers FC and Tabatinga FC (defending champions).

The Rupununi Football Association Leagues kicked off in February last with 24 clubs battling for top honours.

22

thursday, MAY 30, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Matthews’ maiden ton hands Ireland T20 whitewash P

layer of the series, Hayley Matthews was at her sublime best during her career-best 107 against the jaded Ireland team in the final T20 International match in Dublin, Ireland.

West Indies Women won by 72 runs to complete a cleansweep of the three-match Handley EnergyT20 International series. The 21-year-old Matthews became only the second female West Indian to score a T20 century, after Deandra Dottin who has two centuries of her own.

With rain in sight, Ireland won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first; Windies Women rallied to 188-1, their second highest T20I total. Early in the inCheadan nings, Britney Copper continued her strugNation struck gles at the top, scoring only 10 runs from an unbeaten her 15 balls before being out caught. half-century Chedean Nation was promoted to number three where she partnered Matthews with the score at 26-1. It was the Matthews-Nation show, as the duo piled on a record-breaking second-wicket stand that produced 162 runs.

The heavens opened and the visitors were 81-1 in 11.3 overs with Matthews on 37 from 34 balls and Nation on 29 from 22 balls. Despite the rain delay, there was no loss of overs; the duo came out with intent, bossing around the bowling.

Matthews took 22 runs off a Celeste Raack over, as the leg-spinner found it difficult to grip the wet ball as Matthews smashed her for three successive sixes in the 15th over. The Barbadian reached her maiden century in T20 cricket with a boundary at wide long-on off the bowling of Sophie MacMahon.

Nation played the supporting role in her unbeaten 63 from 43 balls, her second T20 half-century while Matthews was dominant, hitting nine sixes and Hayley seven fours in her brilliant innings.

Matthews Sophie MacMahon, who was takcelebrates her en for 36 runs in her four overs, maiden T20 was the lone wicket-taker for International Ireland. century In reply, Ireland looked far from reaching the target as they ended on 116-3. Having lost a wicket at 19-1 in the fourth over of play, Ireland found it difficult to score quickly against the quality Windies bowling. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mary Waldron scored an unbeaten 55 while Captain Kim Garth,

3

SCOREBOARD

West Indies Innings HK Matthews not out 107 B Cooper c †Waldron b MacMahon 10 CN Nation not out 63 Extras 8 (lb 3, nb 3, w 2) TOTAL 188/1 (20 Overs, RR: 9.4) Did not bat: SA Campbelle, NY McLean, ASS Fletcher, SR Taylor (c), SS Connell, Kycia A Knight †, K Ramharack, SACA King Fall of wickets: 1-26 (B Cooper, 4.6 ov) BOWLING C Raack (3-0-32-0) KJ Garth (3-0-32-0) L Little (3-0-29-0) MacMahon (4-0-36-1) L Maritz (4-0-41-0)

AL Kerrison (3-0-21-0) Ireland Innings MV Waldron † not out 55 GH Lewis c Matthews b King 8 KJ Garth (c) c Cooper b Taylor

45 R Stokell b Taylor 4 Extras 4 (lb 2, w 2) TOTAL 116/3 (20 Overs, RR: 5.8) Fall of wickets: 1-17 (GH Lewis, 3.3 ov), 2-111 (KJ Garth, 19.1 ov), 3-116 (R Stokell, 19.6 ov) BOWLING SS Connell (4-0-27-0) SACA King (3-1-8-1) HK Matthews (2-0-9-0) ASS Fletcher (4-0-25-0) K Ramharack (4-0-26-0) SR Taylor (3-0-19-2)

who was the second wicket to fall at 111-2 in the 19th over, scored 45.

WI Captain Stafanie Taylor picked up two of three wickets while Stacy Ann King had one wicket with her left-arm medium pace. West Indies will now travel to England where they will meet England from June 6 in a One-Day International series. This series against is the ICC Championship where qualification for the 50-over World Cup will be determined. (Brandon Corlette)

Holder and company Peterson-Griffith, Pluck confident ahead of WC suspended for 1 year opener …performance against Black ...after violating IPF & GAPLF constitutions Caps confidence booster G Chris Gayle will be playing his fifth World Cup

West Indies captain Jason Holder

A

fter stunning New Zealand in their final warm-up encounter, Jason Holder and his West Indies team are a confident group heading into their opening game of the World Cup, tomorrow, Friday, May 31, against Pakistan.

Sharing his sentiments during a media conference post the warm-up victory, Holder was a happy captain, to see his team

score 421 runs and successfully defended.

“That performance should give the entire group a lot of confidence, I thought we batted really well and we kept the momentum going through the innings,” Holder said. “Credit to the way Shai played, I thought Chris was outstanding at the beginning, getting us off to a good start, and Evin batted beautifully as well … and then Russell played a really good knock as well.”

The West Indies Captain added: “We had the foundation up front, I think we hit every target that we set to hit and the beautiful thing is that we had set batters in most of the time and wickets in hand to launch at the end. We have put so many smiles on people’s faces back home in the Caribbean and for me, I just want to continue to do that. I think we’re at our best when we play with freedom and a smile.”

Holder was also pleased with the bowling performance. Carlos Brathwaite was the leading wicket-taker with three wickets, while left-arm spinner Fabien Allen also bowled well to take two wickets in the middle overs – both coming via stumpings. “I thought the bowlers were outstanding as well. To defend on such a good wicket and a small field it can be difficult and we went both sides of the park last time against South Africa. It was good to see the bowlers come back and show a lot more discipline.

“The plans worked well against the New Zealanders and we want to carry this

sort of performance and this level of focus into the tournament,” Holder said.

West Indies will travel to Nottingham for their first World Cup match against Pakistan at Trent Bridge tomorrow. First ball will be at 5:30am local time.

West Indies World Cup squad reads: Jason Holder (capt), Fabian Allen, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas.

West Indies Match Schedule (First ball for all matches is 5:30am local time) May 31: vs Pakistan – Nottingham June 6: vs Australia – Nottingham June 10: vs South Africa – Southampton June 14: vs England – Southampton June 17: vs Bangladesh – Taunton June 22: vs New Zealand – Manchester (8:30am EC Time/7:30am Jamaica) June 27: vs India – Manchester July 1: vs Sri Lanka – Chester-le-Street July 4: vs Afghanistan – Leeds Semi-Finals July 9: 1st vs 4th – Manchester July 11: 2nd vs 3rd – Birmingham The Final July 14: Semi-final Winner 1 vs Semi-final Winner 2 – Lord’s July 15: Reserve Day.

uyana’s very own Carlos PetersonGriffith and Junica Pluck have competed at a StrongFit competition in Barbados on May 4-5.

The competition included a powerlifting aspect (Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift) and as such, the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) needed to make a decision on what would happen.

This occurred because the athletes violated both the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) constitution along with the GAPLF constitution. In Article 14.9 of the IPF constitution it states, "Participating in non-IPF competition: any lifter, coach, referee

Junica Pluck has been suspended for one year

or offic i a l w h o competes or participates in an international powerlifting or bench press competition not organised, sanctioned or approved by the Carlos PetersonIPF shall not be permitGriffith will not ted to take part in any IPF be participating international or regional in the upcoming competition for a period of Worlds 12 months from the date of competition that non-approved competiin June 2019 tion."

Alongside that, the GAPLF's constitution states in Section 12, Article 1, point 4 "The stated reasons for suspension are not a closed list and the executive members shall collectively exercise their discretion when opting to suspend a member of the GAPLF. The following may be subject to suspension: “Any lifter, who participates in a contest with other countries without the permission of the GAPLF." Both athletes did not inform the Federation that they were going to participate in the event. If the Federation had been made aware, it would have been able to let them know that Barbados was not an affiliate of the IPF and as such, the event they competed in was not sanctioned by the IPF. The GAPLF has made the decision to not support Peterson-Griffith’s trip to Worlds in Sweden, since he competed at the event without the express permission of the body.

He will not be competing at the upcoming Worlds competition in June 2019 or any other IPF-sanctioned events for a period of 12 months (May 5, 2019 to May 5, 2020).

Pluck will also face the same consequences as Peterson-Griffith.

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, may 30, 2019

CPL fixtures

23

Games will be played in Guyana – Norton ...says “no need to get nervous”

F

ollowing the release of the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) fixtures, Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr George Norton is urging cricket fans, especially those who follow the Hero CPL, not to worry.

When the fixtures were released on Tuesday, ‘To be confirmed’ was listed next to a number of Guyanese games.

As such, Minister Norton is assuring local fans that Guyana remained an integral part of the CPL. Dr Norton said that there was absolutely no need for persons to panic over the delayed fixture of matches for the Guyana National Stadium, as the tournament would see games

Allicock in hot water over missed training sessions …boxer’s stipend to be withheld

Allicock during a training session with Cuban Coach Francisco Roldan

By Jemima Holmes

C

aribbean bantamweight champion Keevin Allicock has found himself in hot water after Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle recommended that his trip to Cuba, for the purpose of training for the Pan Am Games, be put on hold owing to the boxer’s lacklustre behaviour.

In a letter addressed to the President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K JumanYassin, which was viewed by Guyana Times Sport, Ninvalle cited a number of reasons as to why the Cuba training trip should be put on hold. The most significant was that Allicock has missed more than 50 per cent of his local training sessions with Cuban Coach Roland Francisco.

“Upon careful investigation, it was uncovered that Mr Allicock has been delinquent in regards to attending training sessions locally and his attitude towards the task at hand is nothing short of lackadaisical,” the letter stated.

Spanning the period of May 1 to May 23, it alleged that Allicock missed 18 of 30 training sessions scheduled with the Coach. While stating that “less than 50 per cent attendance at training leading up to any competition is unacceptable barring illness”, the GBA came to the conclusion that the boxer was unconcerned with his training and its fear was that the same would happen when he travels to Cuba.

To make matters worse, it was revealed that Allicock was previously warned about his approach to training and yet, the boxer’s training ethic has not improved.

“We had then warned the Caribbean

bantamweight champion that his attitude towards training needed to drastically improve.

This has not happened and his attendance has gotten worse. In fact, Mr Allicock failed to even attend a medical examination provided by the GOA and offered the excuse of “not feeling well” as the reason for his absence,” Ninvalle wrote.

The GBA President listed the boxer’s weight as another concern, explaining that he came in 6 pounds over the bantamweight restriction (115lb – 120lb) during his last weigh-in. In addition to the Cuba trip being on hold, it was suggested that Allicock’s stipend should also be put on hold until the GBA signals an improvement in his approach to training.

In an invited comment, Ninvalle revealed that the GBA’s approach to the situation would have been the same for any other boxer.

“We want the best for him; that is why we have taken the stand that we did. We know that he can do better and we want him to do better.

So, there is no animosity at all as it relates to it; this would have been done for any boxer,” Ninvalle said.

He went on to say that the GBA has the boxer’s best interests at heart and believe that he can succeed once he ‘pulls up his socks’.

“We cannot afford to allow him to slip. We know that he has the potential and that is why we’re doing this. We’re being like good parents and we have to be stern if we want them to be successful.”

The training sessions here and in Cuba are in preparation for Allicock’s appearance at the 2019 Pan-American Games. The Pan Am Games will be hosted in Lima, Peru from July 26 to August 11.

being played here.

A similar delay presented itself last year for CPL 2018; however, when the agreements were finally signed, Guyana was able to secure, for the first time ever, two playoff games, in addition to five exciting matches.

“There can be no CPL tournament where Guyana is not a host country. Cricket is part of who we are. In addition to having one of the best teams in the tournament, we have some of the most passionate and loyal cricket fans,” Minister Norton pointed out.

He is urging fans to be patient and not get deterred by some of the negativity being peddled on social media.

“CPL will be played here,” Dr Norton reassured.

Batsmen to break new barriers at World Cup – 500-run team total on the cards

By Brandon Corlette

S

ince the International Cricket Council (ICC) 2015 World Cup (WC) in Australia and New Zealand, the brand of One-Day International (ODI) cricket has changed greatly: teams have been chasing down 300 and 400 totals.

In the last WC, there were three scores of 400-plus; since then there have been five instances where teams have surpassed 400 runs in ODI cricket (excluding warm-ups).

With Team England setting the trend, being involved in four of those matches, they are the team most confident of reaching 500 runs in ODI cricket. In 2015, a new-era England scored 408-9 against New Zealand at Birmingham.

England’s first opponents of the WC, South Africa have also scored 400-plus post the 2015 WC, in a match against India at Mumbai.

The pitches in England have proven a batsman’s paradise especially in white-ball cricket.

Since the 2015 WC, 400-plus totals have been scored three times in England, one time in India and on one occasion in the Caribbean.

With the WC staged in England, the batsmen will be looking to take full opportunity of scoring heavy runs. When speaking of batsmen, the first name that comes to mind these days is Virat Kohli, the world number one ranked batsman in ODI and Test cricket.

The modern giant, King Kohli, has 41 ODI centuries and since the 2015 WC, he has been the highest rungetter with 4306 runs at an average of 78.29. His overall record is above all, with an average just below 60 and 10,843 career runs, including 49 centuries in his 227 appearances for India.

The world number two, Rohit Sharma,

the only man to score three double centuries in the ODI game is among the many batsmen looking to score big in batting-friendly conditions.

Sharma has been the second leading run-scorer since the 2015 WC with 3790 runs at an average of 61.12.

The ever-consistent Joe Root has also been having a fruitful run since the 2015 WC. He has scored the third highest number of runs since that period – 3498 at an average of 58.30. England’s Captain, Eoin Morgan, who is set to make his 200th ODI appearance, completes the top four since the 2015 WC, with 2039 runs at an average of 46.75.

The likes of Steven Smith, David Warner and Aaron Finch are also capable of taking their teams to huge totals. All of the teams in the WC are capable of achieving that 500-run mark with much fire-power; West Indies are the perfect example given a good day they can demolish any bowling attack in the world.

The most recent example c a m e w h e n t h e y played N e w Zealand in their warmup

match and scored 421 against a bowling line-up that includes the world number two bowler, Trent Boult. With explosive batsmen in the team such as Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis and Andre Russell, the Windies are equally confident as England to reach the 500-run mark in ODIs. In the 2015 WC, two double centuries were scored; Gayle and Martin Guptill were the batsmen. The latter, Guptill, was also the leading run-scorer in the last WC and shared the same dose against the West Indies in the WC match played at Wellington, New Zealand.

The WC will be an exciting event and even double hundreds by batsmen will be on the cards – only eight of them have been scored in the history of the game.

The most recent came from Pakistan WC opener Fakhar Zaman, who smashed 210 in July 2018 against Zimbabwe.

Additionally, most teams have realised that 300-350 are par totals and the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup will certainly see batsmen reach greater heights.

World number one Virat Kohli has scored the most runs since the 2015 World Cup and world number two Rohit Sharma has three double centuries

thursday, MAY 30, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

RFA Champions League…

Page 23

Page 21

Allicock in hot water over Rush Saints, Paiwomak missed training Warriors, Kanuku Harpies sessions advance to semi-finals …boxer’s stipend to be withheld

CPL fixtures

Page 22

Page 23

Peterson-Griffith, Pluck suspended Games will be played in Guyana – Norton for 1 year ...after violating IPF & GAPLF constitutions

...says “no need to get nervous”

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