Guyana Times Thursday September 5, 2019

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Issue No. 4037

thursday, september 5, 2019

hurricane-hit Bahamas …PPP urges consistent regional and global support …lauds bravery of Bahamians during storm …GBTI donates $3M

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Environmental awareness in schools' curriculum proposed P11

Pages 3

Fisherman P8 accused of chopping friend remanded US scholar to aid in transforming UG’s engineering programmes P11

Govt creating DHB to open to barriers to allocation regular traffic of Indigenous lands today –Yvonne Pearson NAREI warns against importation of agri supplies without permits Page 10

Pomeroon P14 coconut company to go public

…shares to be sold on local Stock Exchange Market

See story on page 7

Page 10

Indian companies awaiting new licensing round for oil blocks offshore Guyana ꟷ High Commissioner Page 7

P9 India's Chandrayaan-2 prepares for historic moon landing

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THURSDAY, september 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

news

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THURSDAY, september 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Thursday, September 5 – 09:00h 10:30h and Friday, September 6 – 10:30h – 12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, September 5 – 08:20h – 09:50h and Friday, September 6 – 09:20h – 10:50h.

Guyana offers support to hurricane-hit Bahamas …PPP urges consistent regional and global support …lauds bravery of Bahamians during storm …GBTI donates $3M

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine with cloudy intervals are expected throughout the day. There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 08:47h and 21:04h reaching maximum heights of 2.40 metres and 2.39 metres.

Low Tide: 02:17h and 14:36h reaching minimum heights of 0.68 metre and 0.89 metre.

wednesday, september 4, 2019

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

The destruction by Dorian – the Category 5 hurricane that made landfall on the Bahamas at about 12:40h with 185 mph winds on Sunday

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s support pours in from across the world for the Bahamas, the Guyana Government has activated a response mechanism to facilitate assistance and support for the Caribbean island, which was ravaged by Hurricane Dorian over the last few days.

The Category 5 hurricane left widespread and extensive destruction in the Bahamas with many homes, businesses and other buildings completely or partially destroyed. This devastation has triggered a worldwide show of solidarity as countries lend support to the island via various means.

Local relief efforts are being led by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and according to its Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, he will be meeting with members of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) today with the view of mobilising and dispatching resources to the hurricane-ravaged island.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is currently monitoring the effects of Hurricane Dorian. The Rapid Needs Assessment Team (RNAT) located in Bahamas has prepared a pre-impact analysis, in collaboration with the national lead agencies, which is currently being reviewed by the Government of Bahamas through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

According to Craig, the island has identified water pumps, reverse osmosis plant, bladder tanks, generators and hygiene kits as immediate needs. But he noted the most appropriate need at this time is financial support.

To this end, the CDC says it has established accounts at various commercial banks in Guyana so

that persons can make donations for relief efforts.

The accounts’ information will be circulated as soon as they are made available.

The monies raised would be used to support response teams deploy, establish and manage shelters and to procure relief supplies.

Donation

In addition to setting up an account, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) has also donated $3 million to the relief efforts.

“We see the destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian and we understand the need for the people to get back to their normal lives and it is inherent within us to help,” said GBTI Executive Director Richard Isava.

Persons interested in making contributions can use the ‘GBTI Hurricane Relief Fund – Bahamas’ with account number 011802963011.

Another account ‘Disaster Relief Fund’ with account number 651-993-8 was established at Republic Bank Limited for persons to make donations to the relief efforts.

Meanwhile, the Commission will also be reaching out to Guyanese living in the Bahamas who were impacted to determine what level of support is needed. Craig told Guyana Times on Wednesday that the Foreign Affairs Ministry here was in the process of obtaining the information of Guyanese on the island.

Additionally, the CDC is in talks with the Department of Energy (DoE) and other key partners after CDEMA made a request for an Oil and Gas Specialist in refineries to be identified within Member States so they can be deployed to the island as part of the RNAT.

The Commission has since updated Minister of State, Dawn HastingsWilliams, on the situation and she has, in turn, briefed Cabinet on Guyana’s preparedness to respond. The Government has committed to tangibly contribute to relief efforts after the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian.

Regional and global support

Meanwhile, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has also joined in extending sympathy and support to the Government and people of the Bahamas in this time of devastation. turn to page 9

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guyanatimesgy.com

tHURSDAY, september 5, 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

National contingency plans

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arlier this week, a barge crashed into the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), putting it out of operation for over 36 hours.

Thousands of commuters, including school children who normally use the facility, were left with no choice but to use water taxis at the old ferry stellings at Vreed-en-Hoop and Georgetown.

Chaos ensued and worsened by the fact that the accident occurred on the first day of the new school term.

This is not the first time the bridge has been rammed by an oceangoing vessel, resulting in much inconvenience to commuters.

From the vivid images of this latest incident, both stellings were overwhelmed by the sheer number of commuters offering another reminder of the need for more effective contingency plans.

The initial official notice, reportedly from the Management of the DHB about the accident, as brief as it was, seemed to lack any consideration of inconvenience to commuters. To just say “closed until further notice”, can possibly convey a sense of being insensitive to concerns. While it would not have made a difference to the repair timeline, noting that management is working around the clock to carry out necessary repairs to minimise the inconvenience, could be seen as a bit more considerate.

That may be deemed as insignificant and a casualty of expediency at the time; however, the lack of capacity and intolerable conditions, especially at the Georgetown end, to access the water taxis were very significant.

There is no disputing the very high volume of commuters and vehicles that cross the DHB on a daily basis, with traffic build-up on both ends bringing much frustration to all. The unusual easy flow of traffic on the East Bank Public Road on Monday and most of Tuesday puts into perspective the volume of vehicles that traverse the DHB from the west side.

From all reports, in Georgetown, commuters were crammed in multiple lines which stretched a long distance. With numbers overwhelming the available boats, commuters had to wait for lengthy periods. Part of that wait was in the old, hot stelling with infrastructure seemingly incapable of handling such volume and major concerns for safety.

While some commendable measures were put in place, including Police presence, barricades, extension of the deadline for the boats to traverse the river and an ambulance for medical emergencies, there have been many similar incidents in the past that offered experience to establish a friendlier environment at the Georgetown Stelling. Reportedly, it was only sometime in the evening that another access point to the water taxis was opened up there.

That could have been done much earlier to help mitigate the challenges faced. Also, there were reports of vehicles not being allowed from the Vreed-en-Hoop junction to the stelling there. That’s a fairly onerous walk especially for children, the sick and pensioners.

Reportedly, that decision was taken to avoid vehicles parking around the stelling. While there may be good reasons for that, disruption of the DHB creates an abnormal situation.

Consideration could have therefore been given to have the Police presence in the vicinity of the stelling to facilitate drop-offs and to ensure no one violates the suspected parking restriction. That simple change in operation would have eased the burdens of many forced to walk that distance.

Such interventions would constitute a simple component of a more detailed and effective contingency plan to deal with disruption in operations of the DHB and to mitigate historic challenges. It’s not about who didn’t do what, but what must be done— done in a timely manner to safeguard the welfare of commuters.

It would be interesting to know if any assessment was done on capacity and safety levels of the Georgetown Stelling area used to access the water taxis. People must travel for work and school primarily, regardless of the mechanism. The Government has the responsibility to ensure those mechanisms are safe. The experience of those who reportedly fainted must not be ignored but be used as indicators help improve the infrastructure.

Equally important, is the movement of food, critical medical supplies and patients who must access services in the city.

Additionally, there is an added cost to many who have to divert and use the water taxis.

This latest disruption was just over 36 hours, as light vehicles are now accommodated and the DHB crews that worked around the clock must be commended. However, in a scenario where the disruption could be more extensive, what plans are in place to ensure a far less challenging commute, the supply of goods and services and the minimising of additional financial burdens?

Any national contingency plan has to be holistic to cater for various situation. One, in addition to the DHB, is the alternative route for East Bank Demerara. With no option before Eccles and beyond Providence, commuters have been stranded for hours following accidents and even fires.

Four years and over into the tenure of the APNU/AFC government, the bypass road is still unrealised, despite vehement promises. Should that be taken as a lack of concern for the urgently needed alternative route? If so, optimism for an effective national contingency plan continues to wane.

India High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr K J Srinivasa recently paid a courtesy call to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at his Church Street, Georgetown office

Hurricane Dorian: Scale of Bahamas devastation emerges

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escuers have begun to reach areas of the northern Bahamas devastated by Hurricane Dorian, with aerial images showing a trail of destruction.

PM Hubert Minnis said some areas had been "decimated" and expected the current death toll of seven would rise.

The hurricane winds that hit the Abaco Islands equalled the highest ever recorded at landfall, and Grand Bahama also suffered severe damage and floods.

Dorian has moved off north but still threatens the eastern US seaboard.

Forecasters have warned it could make landfall on the coast of South or North Carolina on Thursday.

Although the hurricane has weakened to a category two storm with maximum sustained winds of 105mph (165km/h), it has grown larger in area.

Minnis confirmed the death toll had risen from five to seven, but added: "We can expect more deaths to be recorded. This is just preliminary information".

He said the Bahamas was facing "one of the greatest national crises in our country's history".

Lia Head-Rigby, who runs a relief group and overflew the Abacos, said her representatives had told her there were "a lot more dead".

"It's total devastation.

It's decimated.

Apocalyptic," she told the Associated Press (AP) news agency.

Aerial images over the

Aerial views of the damage done to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian [Photo by: REUTERS/Joe Skipper]

Abacos, including the port town of Marsh Harbour, showed mile upon mile of destruction, with roofs torn off, scattered debris, overturned cars, shipping containers and boats, and high water levels.

"There's nothing left in most of Marsh Harbour," said Alicia Cook, who evacuated from the area. "People are starting to panic: pillaging, looting... it's just no way everyone's going to get out".

Bob Cornea also spoke

to the BBC in the capital Nassau after being evacuated from Marsh Harbour.

He said he and his wife took shelter on the second storey of their son's house.

"Water was up to my neck. It stayed like that for two or three hours... My son... he got us out and we got over to safety.

"We've been through all kinds of hurricanes, all kinds of storms: never anything that bad. I mean, it was like we were standing

in the middle of the ocean.

That's what it looked like.

Waves, the water just crashing in over us. Horrifying.

Absolutely horrifying".

Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis described the scenes from a flight over the islands as a "horrible sight".

Parts of the Bahamas received up to 35in (89cm) of rain.

The situation on Grand Bahama is less clear, as Dorian only moved on late on Tuesday after nearly two days of pummelling, cutting many communication lines.

Most rescue work was being done on an ad hoc basis by locals using boats and jet skis, but it was being hampered by flooded roads, fallen trees and submerged debris.

Rescue teams were "beginning to get on the ground", National Security Minister Marvin Dames said on Wednesday, according to AP. Minnis said: "Our priority at this time is search, rescue and recovery. It will take all of us as a caring community - government, church, businesses and individuals - to help restore the lives of our people".

People have taken to social media to post lists of those they have lost contact with during the storm.

The International Red Cross fears 45% of homes on Grand Bahama and the Abacos - some 13,000 properties - have been severely damaged or destroyed.

Some 60,000 people will need food aid and clean water, UN officials say. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, september 5, 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

Correcting Lincoln Lewis’ on sugar Dear Editor, GTUC General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis in his column on September 1, 2019, among other things, spoke about the sugar industry as he continued his public disagreement with Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo. While we are aware that Messrs Lewis and Jagdeo have for some weeks now been caught up in a war of words regarding opinion and approach, the GAWU, at the same time, finds it necessary to correct some of the inaccurate statements made in the GTUC General Secretary’s column.

Mr Lewis charges that Mr Jagdeo, during his time as President, closed Diamond Estate.

This, however, is not true. The

Diamond factory was closed in 1985 and a significant section of the estate’s cultivation was retired. It was ironic that the factory was identified for closure in the first place having been upgraded just prior to its closure. In fact, the Diamond factory has the distinction of having the first punt dumper installed in the industry.

It appears that the closure of Diamond, like the recent closure of sugar estates, was not thoroughly considered but premised on whims and fancies.

The columnist also charged that the Diamond workers were represented by now Minister Khemraj Ramjattan in order to receive their severance. This too is not correct. It was the GAWU that approached

the courts for its intervention after GuySuCo did not wish to respect the workers right to severance. In fact, Minister Ramjattan, at that time, indicated to a Union leader that he could not find in the law the relevant Section which supported the workers’ right to severance pay. Our Union later withdrew the court action, after the then Government intervened in 2011 and ensured that the relevant law was upheld. Moreover, many of the affected workers were offered employment at Wales Estate and continued to work there until that estate was closed at the end of 2016. Our Union has drawn attention to these facts on several occasions now.

Of course, Mr Lewis would well know that the

incumbent Administration ignored the very section and forced the Union and the workers of Wales to approach the courts for justice.

As we well know, justice prevailed and the court ruled in the workers’ favour which saw them belatedly receiving their severance payments. Similarly, the workers of East Demerara, Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates had some of their severance entitlements wrongly withheld. It was judicial intervention initiated by GAWU that saw that wrong being righted.

The GTUC General Secretary said too that Mr Jagdeo “…closed down LBI estate. Thousands of sugar workers were put on the breadline”. Again, this is not an accurate statement.

In 2011, a decision was made to close the LBI factory. The decision was taken against the backdrop of the improvement of the Enmore factory and the construction of the packaging plant which yielded a higher price for the sugar produced. Of the workers affected by the closure, some were retained at LBI to work in the enlarged workshop that was created while the others were transferred to work in the Enmore factory and the newly constructed packaging plant. There was a small number that opted for early retirement instead.

We hasten to point out that in April 2016, the Corporation actually closed the LBI Estate, under the guise of consolidation. In so doing, LBI Estate ceased to

exist and a number of workers were shown the door. At that time, the Corporation contended that the decision was taken to safeguard the future operations of East Demerara Estate. As is now well-known, just mere weeks after that decision, the Corporation and the Government announced its intention to fully close East Demerara Estate and put thousands out of work.

We hope that this serves to bring clarity to the reality of the situation at Diamond and LBI Estates and will assist fellow trade unionist Mr Lewis in his future writings on the matter.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

Compromise on rule of law is invitation to Questions for the President or Prime Minister anarchy

Dear Editor, The talk of compromise on the rule of law is an invitation to anarchy. Indeed, it may be anarchy itself, a proposal for a nonrecognition of authority (here, the courts).

The CCJ says the NCM is legitimate, but now there are public whispers saying otherwise.

This may be enticing to some who have argued about the principle of separation of powers. However, with their invitation to anarchy, these “powers” are becoming so separate that the Executive feels it no longer needs to recognise the others.

It is an abnormal situation; a distending or stretching of the law to fashion a new definition of compromise to undermine both

public and court orders.

Compromise is a good word, but the sincerity of compliance makes “compliance” a much better one.

Compliance with a doctor’s prescription to save a human life or compliance with a court order to preserve the security of the State, as we know them to be.

There is none among us, no attorney, judge, professor, or member of the caretaker Government who has the skill to marshal the English language into battle against the Constitution, in order to lawfully change compliance with into compromise of the law.

Instead, what we have are architects of what the late Vaclav Havel, the famous dissident and former President of the Czech Republic called “evasive

thinking,” or “a way of thinking that turns away from the core of the matter to something else”. They seek to introduce the public into a new universe where the public is asked to tiptoe around the Constitution.

Repeated mention of the rule of law is noise to their ears.

Maybe Guyana should close its courtrooms to prevent Judges and Magistrates from being accused of having their heads in the sand, with their usual lofty talk about the legalities of the rule of law.

Listening to these architects, perhaps it is true that if dunces make laws the learned just may follow.

However, in their new universe, if the President gets a free pass in the name of compromise, then other violators will also demand free

passes of compromise. A man convicted of rape shall no longer receive a sentence for rape, due to his free pass of compromise.

Further, they will strangle the customary freedoms known to the public and keep for themselves new tyrannies. Government will cut loose. Things will fall apart as the poet, Yeats, wrote.

For example, some in Government may compromise on the law to satisfy a demand for mob justice by manufacturing evidence to charge anyone, such as a deportee returning from the United States after serving time for a drug-related conviction.

One must respectfully decline this invitation to anarchy for love of country.

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

GPL’s never-ending power outages Dear Editor, School has just reopened, and we are already having power outages (blackouts) around the clock, non-stop.

I am very annoyed at this, and it does not make any sense why we are having a lot of power outages now, of all times. A lot of time was given to the Guyana Power & Light Inc to fix the issues of the numerous power outages. For the two-month break, we had less power outages that were bearable enough, given that the company fixes the problem. Now that school has reopened and power outages are on every day for long hours during the day and night, sometimes even continuing into the next day, it is very frustrating.

Why is it that we have to have power outages, especially on the first day back at school? Businesses and schools are depending on the electricity to carry out their daily tasks. The students, most importantly, de-

pend on the internet to get their research assignments and homework finished. The constant power outages are making our simple activities even more difficult, and are throwing more time off for us. We need to address this situation, and have it fixed for once and for all.

I am very surprised that this isn’t a headline on the news and on the radio. We need to put more focus on this situation, and not let it slide away every time.

It is time that we make a change in this regard. This is very sickening. Not every Guyanese can afford a generator, and it is very torturing at this point.

From what I personally overheard on the radio, the announcer was saying so proudly that when we do have blackouts, the young generation should count themselves lucky and use it as a lesson for us to go to the library more and do research, and use candles to shed some light on our stud-

ies in the night. I am not nothing is wrong with that, but what message exactly are you trying to send to the young generation? We are not trying to head backwards, we should be progressing and have these major issues fixed. The younger generation is progressing, and technology plays a big role in our lives today. We cannot head back to those days; our elders certainly wouldn’t want it that way.

Why hasn’t the Guyana Power & Light ever given a proper explanation to the public as to why we get power outages consistently? Is there a reason so major that

it has to occur several times?

There has to be a way for us to tackle this problem once and for all, and find a permanent solution that benefits all. We cannot let this matter be tucked away easily every time, and sit back and do nothing about it. We need to speak up, as Guyanese, and have this matter fixed.

It is time enough that the Guyana Power & Light should stop playing these games with the citizens of this country, and get the problem resolved.

Sincerely, Crystal-Ann Ramrattan

Dear Editor, I addressed my letter to the President or Prime Minister because I was not sure under whose portfolio my issue lies. My concern has to do with two State agencies – the National Communication Network (NCN) and the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA). I have noticed that both agencies lost their CEOs quite a while ago, but somehow the responsibilities for managing the organisations appear to have been shifted to the chairmen of the respective organisations. As far as I am aware, Boards are set up to guide the policy direction of organisations and to ensure accountability, efficiency and effective management. I am extremely

concerned that these two gentlemen performing dual roles is not in the best interest of the organisations or the country by extension. Can anyone say who these gentlemen report to and who holds them accountable? I would also like to know when these positions are likely to be filled (I distinctly recall seeing ads in the local newspaper for a CEO of GNBA sometime last year) since it is prudent that these vacancies are filled immediately.

I end by also asking the question of when will the highly politicised vacancy of the General Manager for the Guyana Chronicle be filled?

Yours truly, Peter Thom

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Note-taking tips

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ote-taking is a skill that can help you do well on all your schoolwork — everything from taking tests to researching a paper. Here are some tips on how to take good notes.

Write down key facts

If you have a teach-

Don’t go crazy taking notes, though: You’ll be frantic if you try to write down every word that’s said in class. And if you focus too much on getting your notes right, you might miss listening to what the teacher is saying. Some people actually learn better by listening, writing down a few key points, and then going over

the notes right as you study.

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er who writes notes on the board, that’s a bonus: You can copy them down. If not, write down the most important points from class.

Does your history teacher mention the date of a key battle? Does your English teacher give examples of Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony? Does your Maths teacher go over a particular formula? Write it down!

It can take time to learn how to listen for the main ideas and key facts, so keep trying and don’t give up.

Some teachers may mention lots of dates and facts in class, but only write the key ones on the board. Other teachers might not write anything down, but may repeat a certain date or piece of information. That’s a clue that it’s probably important.

After a while, you’ll get to know a teacher’s style.

Don’t overdo it

the material after class when t h e y have

more time.

Ask

Don’t be afraid to ask the teacher to repeat something you miss. If the teacher’s going too fast, chances are your classmates will also be relieved to hear the information again. If you don’t want to ask in class, see your teacher afterwards. It’s much easier than wondering if you got

Keep your notes handy when you’re doing your reading assignments.

Compare what you wrote with what the readings say — you can add to your notes as you read.

Going over your notes with a friend and comparing what the two of you put down can help reinforce what you’re learning. It also can help you rememb e r i n formation when it’s time for the test. And going over your notes will alert you and your friend to any errors.

Copy

If you’ve scribbled down notes in a hurry, you might not be able to read them when it comes time to prepare for a test. Look over your notes when you get home, and recopy them if you need to.

Copying them also helps you learn and remember what you wrote.

Organise

Keep notes for each subject in one place so you can find everything easily when it comes time for a test. This could mean keeping a notebook or section of a notebook for each subject as you take notes in class.

Some people combine the copying technique with organisation by using just one notebook for class notes and then copying these notes into a notebook for each subject when they get back home. The trick to making this technique work is to be sure you actually do it regularly. If you don’t, your notes will be all over the place and things will get totally crazed when it’s time to study for the test.

Good note-taking takes time. But the time you spend writing and reviewing notes pays off. Taking time to recopy your notes each evening saves time later when it comes to studying for the actual test.

Note-taking gives your mind a chance to absorb the material it needs to learn.

Not only can this help you to do better on a test, it’s also a great confidence booster when you’re studying and find yourself saying, “Hey, I remember that!” (kidshealth.org)

ivers make beautiful music. From the trickle of melting snow to the babble of a full-flowing stream to the cascade of water over boulders and stones, the sounds and rhythms of the river can sooth and invite. A river can also make harsh tones, like when it floods and spills over its banks or when it carries a lot of ships and other vessels to a busy harbour.

Just as much as the river seems to want you to hear its music, people throughout time have been compelled to describe their feelings about the river through music of their own making. In this activity, channel your own feelings about rivers into a rap or folk song.

Supplies

• paper and pencil • musical instrument (can be a real instrument or homemade, such as a container of rice to shake) • a recording device (optional) • Internet access (optional)

Getting started

Think about rivers. Why would a river stimulate creativity and excite someone to write a song? What kinds of good and bad characteristics a river has that would be interesting or entertaining to hear about in a song?

Traditional folk songs are related to a particular culture and often to historic or personal events or holidays. Rap music also expresses personal, as well as emotional, feelings in spoken rhyme. If you have visited a river, write down thoughts about the experience. If you haven’t, base the song on the books you have read featuring rivers. Go back to the books you have read and search for a simple story to tell.

The story you want to tell about the river becomes the song lyrics. To generate a melody, just try to sing the words and see what comes out! If you need more help framing the tune or finding a beat, borrow or modify another folk song, or generate ideas by listening to other songs or raps: Once you’re ready to perform, where better to gather an audience than down by the river! If possible, record the song. (startwithabook.org)

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THURSDAY, september 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Indian companies awaiting new licensing round for oil blocks offshore Guyana

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s Guyana prepares for oil production early next year, having had successful discoveries in several blocks offshore, companies in India are eagerly awaiting the opening of a new licensing round to scoop up oil blocks here.

Guyana is expected to have its second oil licensing round in the first quarter of 2020.

India had first expressed interest in Guyana’s budding oil and gas industry last year when a high-level Ministerial delegation, which included Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, met with Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, during a visit to the Asian country.

Recently, accredited High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa told Guyana Times on Wednesday that if more oil blocks become available on the market, then Indian oil companies would “seriously” consider bidding for same. “…We would await Government of Guyana, if they are planning to [open] bidding for more blocks. We would consider that seriously… Our companies believe in transparent bidding and stuff, so they will come and bid if it’s open [because] who doesn’t want oil,” he posited.

Head of the Energy Department, Dr Mark Bynoe, had told reporters back in February that next year’s licensing round would be done via a competitive bidding process as opposed to one-on-one deals. He had explained too that they created a new production sharing agreement (PSA) template which will be used to guide future oil contracts.

However, he noted that the template would not be a one-size-fits-all, given the varying exploration conditions, but will ensure the best deal for both the country and investor.

“This is going to be used

India High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa

in new licensing rounds going forward. Let me emphasise, it’s a template, meaning that we will have varying conditions depending on how we are engaging… It will always be a balancing act on what Guyana wants and how Guyana perceives to get what Guyana wants,” Bynoe had stated.

India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister had stated on his twitter handle in February 2018 that the meeting with the Guyanese Ministers was useful, since they “discussed the possibilities of E&P (Exploration & Production) activities

by Indian companies in Guyana”.

Moreover, he noted that India had agreed to work with Guyana and share its experience in the oil and gas sector. In fact, Minister Pradhan had tweeted: “(India) agreed to work with Guyana and share our experience in the entire gamut of hydrocarbon sector… (We) will share India’s cumulative experience in refinery, petrochemicals and capacity-building in the oil-andgas sector”.

Dr Srinivasa told Guyana Times on Wednesday that Indian companies such as Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Bharrat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) and

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) – all state-owned companies – would be interested in buying crude from Guyana in the future.

According to the Indian envoy, his country’s refineries are geared towards refining and processing the oil from across the world.

“These three are huge and they have the technical expertise, they have the knowledge and the experience to not only develop but also both upstream and downstream activities in any oil production area. They have already bid and got, and also successfully processed, many oil blocks across the world from Russia, Siberia, to Central Asia to South American – we have oil blocks,” he noted.

While India already have oil stakes in many territories, it is part of the Asian economic powerhouse’s strategy to ensure security as it relates to its energy needs.

With a large economy growing rapidly at 7 per cent and a population of 1.35 billion, Dr Srinivasa pointed out that India’s energy needs are humongous.

“So even though we have oil – we have found oil in big quantities in India – but because of our oil requirement, we source it through imports. About 80% comes through imports from around the world,” he noted.

India’s primary source for oil is the Gulf region, and up to recently, Venezuela.

“We recently started importing oil from the US, so for our companies, we can get oil from anywhere around the world and we can process it as part of our strategy for energy security and also for maintaining long term contracts, and to maintain a stability of oil flow. So we are willing to negotiate with all of the countries with good oil production,” he posited.

However, the Indian

High Commissioner noted that India will be waiting until first oil before moving ahead with plans to buy oil from Guyana since no mechanism has been stated as how it will be disposed of.

US oil giant ExxonMobil is expected to commence oil production in the first

quarter of next year. The company’s first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, Liza Destiny, arrived in Guyana last week. The vessel can produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day and has a storage capacity of 1.6 million barrels.

Another FPSO with a capacity of 220,000 barrels per day is expected as part of the Liza Phase 2 development, and a third is under consideration for the Payara development. Together, these three developments will produce more than 500,000 barrels of oil per day.

DHB to open to regular traffic today

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fter hours spent trying to repair damages to the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), commuters and traffic will soon return to normal as Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has announced that repairs are complete.

In a statement on his social media account on Wednesday, Patterson revealed that staff of the DHB have completed the realignment of the bridge, which went down after being struck by a barge on Monday.

He also announced that by today, the bridge will be opened completely to all traffic. This comes after the bridge was opened to light traffic on Tuesday, while persons living on West Bank Demerara (WBD) were forced to use water taxis to commute.

On Monday, the very day that school reopened, a barge and tug slammed into the southern side of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

The impact shifted the spans and resulted in serious damage to a car that was caught in between two separated plates.

Emergency actions were deployed. Engineers had also noticed that structure was shifted from its aligned position between the two damaged spans.

As the morning wore on, there was confusion as pas-

Crowds of commuters inconvenienced after the DHB was out of commission

sengers fainted while waiting to board speedboats at the Stabroek Stelling. While some commuters complained about the inordinate time it took to board, others complained about the stagnant location and the toxic air.

Floating at 1.25 miles, the Demerara Harbour Bridge has the distinction of being the longest floating bridge in the world. It is a strategic link between the eastern and western banks of the Demerara River that facilitates the daily movement of a large numbers of vehicles, people and cargo.

The structure was built in the 1970s, but was opened in July 1978 with the expectation of lasting only 10 years. As such, there have been concerted efforts by both the previous and current administration to build a new bridge, though the latest efforts have been marred by procurement con-

troversies.

In 2017, a feasibility study and design for a new Demerara River Bridge was done by Dutch company LievenseCSO. The project team had included officials from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation and Transport and Harbours Department.

That the feasibility study had determined the proposed location of HoustonVersailles as the most ideal. A low-level bridge with a movable part and threelanes was recommended for construction.

However, another study had been completed back in 2013, when the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation had collaborated with the then Public Works Ministry to carry out a pre-feasibility analysis. That study had concluded that a ‘fixed, high level’ bridge was the best option to pursue, rather than the retractable model.

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Duo jailed for breaking and entering

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eon Brown and Trevon Alleyne were both sentenced to one year’s imprisonment each on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after being found guilty of a breaking and entering charge.

The two men were jointly charged in April and were on trial before Magistrate Annette Singh, who handed down the sentence. She found that the prosecution provided sufficient evidence for a conviction. The charge detailed that between April 26 and 27, 2019, at Lot 104 Regent Road, Bourda, Georgetown, Brown, 38, a mason of Lot 207 Charlotte Street, Georgetown, and

Deon Brown

Alleyne, 20, broke and entered the business place of Vivekananda Ramoutar and stole a number of items worth $1.2 million.

Both men had denied the charge. The prosecution’s

case contended that on April 27, Police ranks, acting on information received, went to the location, where it was discovered that the business had been broken into and the ranks found the two men on the premises with the articles. They were arrested and charged. Brown in his defence told the court that he resides next door to the business, in a house with eight other persons.

He added that he woke up and saw four cops standing over him, asking him for the stolen items. He further indicated to the court that the ranks went into the upper flat of the house and brought down a battery and nipper. The man said

Twiddling thumbs…

Trevon Alleyne

he was arrested along with the other occupants of the home, but the others were later released. Alleyne in his defence said that he saw a battery outside the premise and took it.

Mason slapped with robbery charge

…released on $150,000 bail

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25-year-old man was released on $150,000 bail on Wednesday when he made his first court appearance for a robbery charge.

Osafo Johnson, a mason of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Dillon

Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Johnson denied the charge which stated that on August 27, 2019, at Jackson Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he robbed Howard McPherson of a phone valued $40,000 and $20,000.

Defence Counsel Adrian Thompson in a bail application requested that the court release his client on bail.

However, Police Prosecutor Annalisa Brummell objected to bail on the grounds of the prevalence of the offence and penalty the charge attracts.

Magistrate Bess re-

leased Johnson on $150,000 bail. However as a condition for bail, Johnson had to lodge his passport with the court and has to report to the East La Penitence Police Station every Friday until the completion of the case.

Johnson is expected to make his next court appearance on September 9, 2019.

Fisherman accused of chopping friend remanded

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fisherman, who allegedly chopped his drinking partner during a night out, was taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

Calvin Murray of Waramuri Village, Moruca,

North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini), appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly where he denied committing the act.

The charge stated that on September 2, 2019, at Waramuri Village, Moruca, North West District, he un-

lawfully and maliciously wounded Shane Peters with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh informed the court that on September 2, the Virtual Complainant and the 27-year-old man went to a birthday party, however, after consuming a quantity

Calvin Murray

of alcohol, they became intoxicated. The prosecution’s case is contending that at about 22:45h, the two men got into a heated argument, which resulted in the defendant leaving. He later returned, armed with a cutlass.

Murray allegedly attacked the Virtual Compliant with the cutlass and dealt him several chops to his left leg.

The VC was then rushed to the Kumaka District Hospital but due to the severity of his injuries, he was later transferred to Suddie Regional Hospital, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), where he remains a patient.

The prosecutor further objected to bail, informing the court that the VC is still hospitalised and is in a serious condition. The Magistrate upheld the prosecution’s submission and remanded Murray to prison.

The case will continue on September 9, 2019.

I

…or thumbs on the scale? f anyone wanted to know how to subvert a constitution, they only have to look at the farce going on in GECOM, after the tragedy in the CCJ, which refused to do its duty and issue a specific order after its judgement on the NCM. Our Constitution has been treated worse than toilet paper…even though that’s thrown away, at least it’s done AFTER the mess is cleaned up. Right now, we’re still stuck with the mess the PNC caused in its desperate gambit to rig its way back into office.

In all of this, the PNC and its leader David Granger formed a tag team with GECOM to make a mockery of the Constitution. This was all carefully planned by Granger early in the day when he blatantly refused to follow the Constitution’s clear directive that the all-important Chair must be selected from a list provided by the Opposition Leader. He insisted he’d select James Patterson and only James Patterson, who was on none of the three lists Jagdeo submitted. And Patterson it was!

Now, Patterson wasn’t selected for any special knowledge of elections; in fact, he had absolutely none!! He was chosen because, like his predecessors Jackman and Bollers, he would ask, “How high”, when told to jump by the PNC!! The NCM by the PPP came out of the blue…and momentarily threw the PNC into a loop. You can still see how bitter they are with Charrandas voting his conscience by looking at the nasty names they still label him: “Treachery”, “Judas” and “snake” are some of the milder ones!!

But it’s par for the treacherous course we’re traversing to note that none of those words are being used to describe Patterson’s final act of perfidy when he ordered “H2H” registration even after the CCJ had ruled that his appointment was illegal. Never mind the mysterious “ex ante” Gazetted notice which suddenly appeared: THAT didn’t fool anyone! Something was foul in the state of Guyana.

When the new Chair was chosen after talks between Granger and Jagdeo, some hoped the Gordian knot had been cut. But not your Eyewitness!! Go back to the record in this space and you’ll see that the minute Claudette Singh said she’ll be meeting the Commissioner teams separately he smelled a rat! If she wanted to follow the Constitution and schedule elections ASAP, she knew she’d have to be the one to change the status quo. She wasn’t living on Mars, was she?!!

And from then, matters have continued going downhill, with every decision she’s made: to continue H2H for another 4 days; to merge the two lists, etc.

And now to print new IDs??

…while marginalising Indo-Caribbean Culture A very poignant letter by a Trinidadian was carried in another section of the press about the performances in her island for Carifesta XIV. Noting that Indians are a plurality in Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname and the largest ethnic minority in the Caribbean, she noted there was only token representation of Indian Caribbean culture.

But then, it’s been like that from the very first one here in Guyana in 1972, hasn’t it??

She noted that when the topic “Re-imagining Caribbean Futures” was discussed, “They spoke only of pan, moko jumbies, J’ouvert, blue devils, Dame Lorraine, Sailor Mas, etc. as well as dancehall, reggae, and soca. Not a word from any of them about Divali, Hosay, Ramleela, kassida, Pichakaree, Rath Yatra, chutney, churail, saaphin, tassa, etc.”

This becomes more poignant when you realise the day the letter was published - Sept 4, the last ship returning Indian immigrants to India, the MV Resurgent, set sail on Sept 4, 1955. The rest decided the Caribbean was home.

But are still made to feel like strangers. …on local content Once again, your Eyewitness raises his hands to the heavens and wails at the iniquity and folly of the PNC, who has allowing a modern “Rape of the Sabines”.

It dawdled to craft and enforce a local content policy.

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

9 India’s Chandrayaan-2 prepares for historic moon landing news

THURSDAY, september 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…changing paradigm for women – High Commissioner

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ll eyes will be on India as it creates history by landing its second lunar mission on the moon this Friday.

The “Chandrayaan-2”

According to the diplomat, Chandrayaan-2, which he said means “mission to moon”, displays a lot of confidence in India’s technological prowess. He pointed out

kind to develop and the sudden explosion of development, science had everything to do with that…” he contended.

Currently, he noted that

– garnered tremendous interests and scientific developments. One of which, he explained, is cost.

According to the diplomat, the general notion of space missions is that it is a very costly exercise. But he noted that India has been able to develop a low budget mission despite being a developing country.

This, he noted, is depicted in the Hindi-cinema movie “Mission Mangal”, which portrays the country’s journey to Mars using a low-cost model to become the first country in the world to reach Mars in its first attempt.

Furthermore, Dr Srinivasa asserted that Chandrayaan-2 is blazing

the trail for future generations having brought young scientists, especially women scientists, to the fore.

The Project Director of Chandrayaan-2 is Muthayya Vanitha while the Mission Director is Ritu Karidhal – both engineers at the ISRO. However, the Indian High Commissioner noted that the way was paved for females since the Chandrayaan-1 mission.

“That changed the paradigm of how space exploration and women’s [involvement] were being looked at.

The proverbial glass ceiling has been broken…,” he noted.

Recognising that encouragement for women had been previously lacking both at home and in the profes-

sional environment for varying reasons, this is now becoming a thing of the past.

“But in this modern era, I think [women] are being given a safer involvement, a secure involvement in the laboratories and working fields. It has helped them to get their talents to be exposed to the fullest,” he said.

The Indian diplomat added, “This is the new India, brave India or, I would say, bold India which we are seeing now. Women especially have had a very important role in India and this will actually help them to get into more scientific streams, get into space explorations, and also at the same time contribute meaningfully to the development of the country”.

Guyana offers support...

Chandrayaan-2 launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, in Sriharikota, India, on July 22, 2019

mission was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on July 22, leaving the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in southern Andhra Pradesh. It weighs 3.8 tonnes and has three elements: lunar orbiter, lander and rover.

According to the ISRO, the touchdown is scheduled for late Friday afternoon, which would be early Saturday morning India time. The mission will be studying previously discovered water deposits.

If all goes well then India will become the fourth nation to land a spacecraft on the moon and the first to land towards the lunar South Pole.

Thus far, only the United States, Russia and China have put landing crafts on the moon. Israel had attempted to join the elite club but failed in April.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Wednesday, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr K J Srinivasa explained that this mission is the second phase and an upgraded version of Chandrayaan-1, which successfully landed on the moon in 2008.

“This mission will be used to explore the topography of the lunar surface, the middle content and mostly important, the presence of water on the moon,” he explained, adding that it is “intended to be sort of a technology demonstrator for future planning, management, development and also the organisation of inter-planet remissions and also to see how we can use the moon as a preparatory platform for using India’s technology in future missions”.

that India’s steady growth of 7 per cent GDP is not only because of one particular sector but an amalgamation of all. This, he noted, is part of India’s aim of becoming the fifth largest economy in the world and having successes such as the Chandrayaan-2 mission will propel these efforts, especially on the technological education front.

“Success breeds interests and for us, we are seeing this as a trailer for bigger things to come,” he posited.

Dr Srinivasa reminded that Indian ancestors had vast knowledge of space and this serves as an additional impetus for the country to work on new technologies and also promoting science in India.

“Science has help man-

Indian students, especially researchers, have helped the country develop great interests in the science field and these people have evolved into experts who are flourishing abroad. In fact, he highlighted a recent study which shows that more than half of NASA’s scientists are Indians.

“So when such missions happen, it helps promote science at a micro level,” he stated, noting that India’s education sector is geared at encouraging more people to go into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) areas.

Dr Srinivasa noted that the country’s previous space missions – lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and its mission to Mars in 2014

“Guyanese are horrified by the unspeakable destruction of life and property on the Abaco and the Grand Bahama Islands. At the same time, we salute the bravery and selflessness of so many Bahamians to res-

cue people in their communities under dangerous conditions,” the Party stated.

Furthermore, the PPP recognised that the Bahamas will require consistent regional and global support for a long time to

from page 3

come as it reconstructs the once tourist-haven.

“Guyana must extend its support to Bahamas as quickly as possible, as it has unflinchingly done in the past for fellow brothers and sisters in the Caribbean who

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Govt creating barriers to allocation of Indigenous lands – Yvonne Pearson

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he APNU/AFC coalition Government is now making it more difficult for Indigenous peoples to obtain lands and land extensions by stipulating that they provide a Village Improvement Plan (VIP) as part of the process in the granting of their rightfully owned properties.

At the launch of Indigenous Heritage Month 2019, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister, Sydney Allicock told the gathering that some Indigenous villages in the country have failed to adequately occupy the lands that they possess and utilise them accordingly yet they are applying for more access to lands.

In addition, he declared that a Village Improvement Plan is important in identifying developments that are needed and that this should, instead, be the focus of the Indigenous communities in the country.

However, according to People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament, Yvonne Pearson, who represents the rights of Indigenous people on the Opposition side in the National Assembly, such a

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock

statement goes against the rights of Indigenous peoples that are outlined in the Amerindian Act of 2006.

She pointed out that the Government should not be withholding lands from the Indigenous communities; lands that belong to them, but should seek to honour its obligations to Indigenous folks in the country and abide by the guidelines of the Amerindian Act of 2006.

According to Pearson, at present, the livelihoods and development of Indigenous

peoples are being stymied because of policies that the current Government has implemented.

She emphasised that the Indigenous populace depends heavily on farming activities on these lands; therefore, the APNU/AFC Government must facilitate land extensions since they are necessary for Indigenous folks to survive.

Minister Allicock, on Sunday at the launching activity to usher in Indigenous Heritage Month this year, had pointed out that while the issue of land rights is important, the Indigenous peoples need to take into consideration that they are not the only ones who are entitled to such.

“Then there are those [villages] that have outgrown their land space. Let us firstly justify our need for land extension, showing how, and what plans are in place to utilise the additional land…. It is also important that Indigenous peoples understand that all Guyanese have a right to share in the distribution of our resources…”

He stated that Indigenous peoples across

Improvement Plan,” he explained.

Amerindian Act of 2006

President David Granger

the country need to collaborate with others to find “a middle ground” in relation to ownership and rights of lands that belong to the country.

“Our land rights are multifaceted and while it is important that our policymakers understand the value of space for other forms of life to survive…Many villages have been applying for land extension with no clear vision with how the land will be used.

Claims for ancestral lands which our fore-parents used…to hunt, fish and farm now need to be supported by a Village

The Amerindian Act of 2006 states that a village may apply in writing to the Minister (of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs) for a grant of State lands as an extension to its village lands.

The application should include the name of the village, the number of persons living in that village, the area of land which the village already owns, the reason for application, a description of the area and a resolution passed by two-thirds of the “Village General Meeting” which authorises the Village Council to make the application.

It further states that an application shall be signed by the Toshao, the Secretary, along with two other members of the Village Council.

The application shall be accompanied by a plan showing the existing village lands prepared by a qualified land surveyor on the basis of a survey authorised by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC).

Opposition Indigenous peoples representative, Yvonne Pearson

Additionally, according to the Amerindian Act of 2006, the State shall pay for the cost of the survey.

Meanwhile, for the Indigenous communities, they can apply in writing to the subject Minister provided that it has been in existence for over 25 years at the time of application and for the immediately preceding five years, it comprises at least 150 persons among others. However, the Act does not require a Village Improvement Plan for the processing or granting of land extensions to any Indigenous village or community.

NAREI warns against importation of agri supplies without permits

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he National Agriculture and Research Extension Institute (NAREI) has requested all importers of agricultural products to be aware of the requisite documentations that are needed to transport these items into the country, since legal actions will be taken against offenders.

In a notice on Wednesday, the agency informed that the importation of agricultural commodities and regulated articles, namely fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, plants, plant parts, timber and timber products require an importation permit. This is according to the Plant Protection Act No 9: Part Three, which specially deals with imports.

Failure to provide these documents prior to importation will result in legal actions being imposed against defaulters. Guyana Times understands that the imported goods can be seized, along with the imposition of penalties. Imprisonment will depend on the offence as dictated in the legislation.

In the past, the

National Plant Protection Organisation, which is spearheaded by NAREI, would make impromptu visits to local supermarkets and other business establishments to examine the products being retailed. Products which were brought into the country without permits would be seized and destroyed.

According to the Plant Protection Act 2011, “Consignments shall be imported into Guyana only by the issue of an import permit granted by the Institute upon application by an importer in the prescribed form; where accompanied by an original phytosanitary certificate including an additional declaration if so required by phytosanitary requirements”.

It further specifies that

any person that commits an offence under the Act is liable on “summary conviction”. The magnitude of the offence will determine what actions are taken.

In the case of a first offence, a fine of more than $20,000 but less than $60,000 and imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years will be activated.

For a subsequent office, liable offenders will be slapped with a fine exceeding $40,000 but no more than $80,000 and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.

Where it is a continuing offence, there will be an additional fine of more than $5000 and imprisonment for five days for each day of which the offence continues.

“Upon the conviction of any person for any offence under this Act, the court may, in addition to any other sentence imposed, declare any plant, plant product or other object in respect of which the offence has been committed, or which was used in connection with the offence, forfeited and disposed of as the court may direct,” the Act reads.

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US scholar to aid in transforming UG’s engineering programmes

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n order to better prepare Guyanese for the budding oil and gas industry, Fulbright US Scholar, Dr Norman Munroe of Florida International University (FIU) is in Guyana to assist the University of Guyana (UG) in developing internationally accredited Engineering programmes.

Dr Munroe was welcomed by US Ambassador to

Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch.

He was brought here in keeping with the US commitment to help Guyana efficiently manage the anticipated oil revenues for the benefit of the Guyanese people.

The Fulbright US Scholar will help UG to pursue the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredi-

tation of its engineering programmes, including the recently introduced Petroleum and Geological Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology.

“Dr Munroe will pursue accreditation of engineering programmes at the University of Guyana by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as part of a project

Environmental awareness in schools’ curriculum proposed

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he Department of Environment on Wednesday handed over a series of proposals to the National Centre for Educational Research Development (NCERD) to introduce environmental topics in the current school curriculum.

Since October last year, a team of specialists would have converged to examine the current syllabus used from Grades One to Nine and ways in which these topics can be incorporated into daily lessons.

Four areas were mainly targeted, namely: agriculture and forestry, biodiversity, climate and land geography in subject areas: English language, social studies, agricultural science and integrated science.

Environmental Policy and Education Coordinator of the Department, Alvin Doris stated that the idea was to determine whether there was comprehensive environmental coverage across these subjects. As expected, lessons on pertinent environmental issues were lacking.

“As you can imagine, there was little to none because our school’s curriculum had not been revised in part for decades…

We thought that it was incumbent upon us, being the State agency with overarching mandate for environmental governance, to contribute to that process somehow…We saw that the lack of environmental coverage provided us an opportunity to propose what could be infused,” Doris indicated.

He acknowledged the fact that students are sometimes burdened with numerous topics to cover before the end of the school year. Hence, they inserted information where it was relevant in existing topics.

“The complaint has always been that the schools’ curriculum is so packed already so we had to be mindful of how much we propose, we had to strategically think about infusion rather than altogether wholesale introduction of new topics,” the Coordinator pointed out.

Guyana has taken up the mantle of executing the Rio Conventions, namely on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification.

For this, Rio Mainstreaming Project

Fulbright US Scholar, Dr Norman Munroe, with Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

to transition the Faculty of Engineering and Technology along a path of global excellence in engineering,” a missive from the US Embassy in Georgetown on Wednesday stated.

ABET accreditation is recognised worldwide through international agreements and it provides assurance that programmes meet

Environmental Policy and Education Coordinator of the Department, Alvin Doris handing over the revised document to NCERD Director Jennifer Cumberbatch

Manager, Michelle Klass explained that a four-year project, slated to conclude next year, was employed to monitor the implementation of the Convention and strengthen technical capacities. Now, the Rio Convention and other environmental issues will be taught at a different level.

“The objective is to strengthen technical capacities for mainstreaming and monitoring achievements of the Rio Convention….

This important exercise will see our children benefitting from an updated curriculum that incorporates not only the Rio Convention that the project is focusing on but other aspects of the environment including our Green State Development Strategy,” Klass asserted.

In receiving the revised syllabus, Director of NCERD, Jennifer Cumberbatch said they will review these suggestions before introducing them in the curriculum. This initiative has been welcomed by

educators and both public and private institutions.

“Having a meaningful curriculum is essential to a child’s education, life and thus, to a whole nation…We are thankful for the tangible way in which the Office of Climate Change has supported us by these suggested inclusions in the curriculum. I’ve seen a bit of it and recognised that some of it is really good but we have not looked at it in its entirety,” the NCERD Director noted.

Through its curriculum reform project, the Education Ministry had introduced a reformed curriculum in schools across the country, through a pilot programme which included space for any modifications.

Assistant Chief Education Officer, Carol Benn made this announcement earlier this year, where she also informed that a new timetable would’ve accompanied the syllabus in 115 primary schools. Both were implemented as pilot projects.

the global quality standards of the engineering profession.

Graduates from an ABET-accredited programme have a solid educational foundation and are capable of leading the way in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating the environmental and safety needs of the

public. While in Guyana, Professor Munroe will also seek to initiate research on the prevention of corrosion of pipelines in the oil and gas industry that he is currently conducting in his laboratory at FIU. Professor Munroe is one of over 800 US citizens globally who will teach, conduct research, and/or provide expertise abroad for the 20192020 academic year through the Fulbright US Scholar Programme. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields. He is the fifth Fulbright Scholar to work in Guyana since 2015.

The Fulbright Programme is the US Government’s flagship international educational exchange programme and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

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Pomeroon coconut company to go public …shares to be sold on local Stock Exchange Market

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ocal agri-business Pomeroon Trading is looking to share its success and growth with Guyanese investors, now that the company recently announced its plans to list shares on the Guyana Stock Exchange Market.

The company is a grower and processor of coconuts and spices, and has been in operation since 2017 along the Pomeroon River.

This Initial-PublicOffering (IPO) will make the company just one of three companies to successfully join the Guyana Stock Exchange over the last decade and will be the first agri-business on the exchange. In an interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, Chief

Chief Operating Officer Jared Kissoon

Operating Officer Jared Kissoon explained that the listing of shares is timely for the local firm and will give Guyanese an opportunity to invest in a local company, which is guaranteed

to expand.

“Basically, giving Guyanese a chance to invest into a local company, invest into a local business, and invest back into Guyana. It’s a massive opportunity notwithstanding the opportunity that they have as a very sound investment for their money in terms of seeing their money grow over a period of time with a respected and reputable company,” he stated.

The company shares will be sold at a price of US$7.50 per share for any new investor who wishes to invest in the company, but according to Kissoon, the return rate per share will be similar to those of other agri-businesses, which is estimated to be around 25 per cent.

Some of the company’s coconut plants

“Early investors last year got in at 6.00 dollar per share they’re currently trading, we’re gonna release them at 7.50 dollar per share that’s a modest increase in share value… again, we are an operating business, so in terms of dividend pay-outs, we will be

commensurate with other agri-business companies throughout the region which is between 22 to 25 per cent,” Kissoon noted Pomeroon Trading, as a company, is also involved in estate rehabilitation— which includes replanting with more efficient coco-

nuts varieties, building a coconut nursery for seedlings, and implementing an intercropping programme spanning from bananas to ginger. Some of the main by-products include copra and processed spice. In the near future, we plan to invest in additional processing facilities including coconut water and tropical fruits Investors wishing to participate in the listing, via the company’s agent, Guyana Americas Merchant Bank, may receive copies of management presentations and materials. There will also be openhouse sessions with company management held at Cara Lodge in Georgetown on Thursday, September 12 and Wednesday, September 18 from 17:00h to 18:30h.

Linden business community encouraged to be tax-compliant

…GRA hosts tax sensitisation campaign

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embers of the Linden business community were encouraged to be tax compliant, as the Communication and Tax Advisory Services of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) took the final leg of its Regional Tax Sensitisation Campaign into the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) community on Tuesday.

The objective of the exercise, which was hosted at the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN), was to promote taxpayer education and compliance. It was facilitated by a team of experts including Assistant Commissioner of Value Added Tax (VAT) Audit

and Enforcement Lavina Waldrond, Tax Specialist Christopher Roberts, Representative of the Linden Integrated Regional Tax Office Ronesha Ajeday and Communication Officer Fabian Clowes.

Speaking with this publication, Clowes stressed the importance of the exercise.

“Each year we go across the country to talk to residents - individuals and corporate taxpayers, about what is new with the GRA, what we expect of them and what changes have taken place with the law that they should know about...it’s part of GRA’s mission to promote compliance through educa-

tion. The mission is to promote compliance through service, enforcement and education,” he explained.

Those in attendance were educated on topics such as VAT registration and de-registration, VAT refunds, what is meant by “zero-rated”, “exempt supplies”, “partial exemptions” which according to Clowes are all things that VAT registrants should know about if they are to engage the GRA. Attendees were also educated on VAT return submissions and penalties.

In referencing the topic of tax invoice versus sales invoice, which was also discussed, Clowes pointed out that there are some busi-

Assistant Commissioner of VAT Audit and Enforcement Lavina Waldrond addressing a section of the gathering at the GRA Regional Tax Sensitisation Campaign in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice)

nesses which refuse to give persons VAT receipts, noting that if they issue a receipt then the person will have to pay VAT. This is an issue which he noted clarity was needed on. Facilitators in their address also warned

against this practice as they stressed the importance of businesses registered for VAT to issue receipts.

Clowes further stressed that businesses are expected to be tax compliant if they wish to obtain certain

licenses from the GRA. In addressing business professionals who were present, Assistant Commissioner of VAT Audit and Enforcement Lavina Waldrond pointed to several issues as she urged that they be more compliant. In this regard, she stressed the timely payment of taxes, citing penalties.

Waldrond also highlighted that tax returns have been sent back to the GRA due to persons failing to sign to receive same. To this end, she said the GRA is working to improve its services by putting more suitable measures in place Members of the business community were also given an opportunity to share concerns and make recommendations.

Vreed-en-Hoop/Stabroek crossing

Reopening of ferry service not an option – Patterson

T

he recent incident at the Demerara Harbour Bridge led to calls for the resurgence of a ferry service between Vreeden-Hoop and Georgetown to

cater for such emergencies.

However, Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson dismissed the suggestion, admitting that the stellings are in a de-

People waiting to cross the Demerara River on Monday

plorable condition for such a service.

While addressing the incident which caused a complete shutdown of the DHB on Monday, Patterson said, “I know that persons have already asked but I would want to say that it is not possible for us to put a ferry vessel back in operation. People have been asking why not reactivate the Vreed-enHoop/Stabroek Ferry. The conditions of the stellings on both sides cannot accommodate a restarting of a ferry vessel. That’s not possible.”

A barge and tug slammed into the southern side of the DHB on Monday morning, shifting the spans, which later resulted in a shutdown to both vehicular and marine traffic.

Until Tuesday afternoon, chaos ensued at the Stabroek and Vreed-en-Hoop stellings after hundreds of persons were in lines to cross the Demerara River.

Due to this situation, garbage collection also ceased since Puran Brothers Waste Disposal Services was unable to provide services to

the city, since they are headquartered in the West Bank of Demerara.

Patterson acknowledged that a backup mechanism is essential during these unfortunate events. But this venture would be costly, he claimed. While the stellings are up for rehabilitation, it was to improve facilities for the water taxi operation without consideration for increased vehicular traffic.

Public Infrastructure Minister “It would be quite an David Patterson expensive endeavour.

Obviously, what you want but it was hindered by unfais some sort of redundan- vourable tidal conditions for cy. That is something that a few hours. Engineers had we would have to look at. also noticed that the strucI would have announced ture was shifted from its earlier that I have a wa- aligned position between the terfront development proj- two damaged spans. ect on, which is upgrade of During the confusion, the Stabroek and Vreed- several passengers fainten-Hoop Stellings…but the ed after waiting for some idea behind that was to up- time to board speedboats at grade them for more and the Stabroek Stelling, while better water taxi services. some complained that the At that time, we weren’t con- movement was stagnant templating additional vehic- and complained about the ular traffic,” he said. toxic air. One woman was Emergency systems were even seen hyperventilating. put in place to fix the dam- Elderly and sickly persons aged sections of the bridge suffered the same fate.

news

15

THURSDAY, september 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Oil spill response 90% completed G uyana’s National Oil Spill Response Contingency Plan, which is ninety per cent complete, is being drafted by local experts in key sectors.

In an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig explained that the planning and drafting of the plan was done by local agencies with some technical advice from international bodies.

“We decided to use our in-house experts within the country because these persons understand their roles and responsibilities better than those (international) experts when it comes to developing a plan that is tailored to Guyana and is spe-

cific to our environment,” he said.

Consultation development of the oil spill response plan commenced in 2017 with technical support from the United States Coast Guard. In February of this year, more emphasis was placed on the development of the plan and a National Oil Spill Planning Committee.

The committee comprised representatives from the CDC, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Energy Agency, Maritime Administration.

Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Since the establishment, the team has met regularly on Tuesdays to identify key roles, responsibilities and to craft the plan.

“We are about 90 per cent complete and we are

now making final edits and developing some of the annexes”.

Craig explained that the annexes in the plan will be used for guidance on the

types of resources, contact information and call-out procedures. The DG emphasised that the most critical aspect in the development of the strategy was the planning process.

“Going through the planning process with key stakeholder would ensure that people know what their roles are,” he stressed.

The CDC has already begun procuring oil spill response equipment.

According to Lt Col Craig, there are approximately four containers containing millions of dollars’ worth of response equipment stored at the Commission’s warehouse in Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

“We are now working with the main agencies to identify some of the key resources and where they will be deployed because once

made through a community development project to have a doctor within the area.

The influx of migrants has placed a demand on the health post to render both preventative and curative treatments for these minor illnesses and as such, residents should be safeguarded. This is according to the

Community Health Worker, Orbin Domingo.

“Before we never had malaria cases but now we have two within our catchment area… White Water is generally a healthy community… so we are protecting them [migrants] as well,” Domingo said.

Domingo explained that the health facility serves as a checkpoint for migrants, as he added that medical

staff work closely with border control officers to ensure that migrants entering the country, when the health post is closed, are located and immunised.

However, the staffers are being posed with challenges, with the most dominant being language barrier preventing effective communication when administering drugs or vaccines to migrants. But nevertheless, ef-

Participants in a Volunteer Emergency Response Team training in May 2019

something happens, you want to have almost immediate response and having the resources deployed and having persons trained in the use of these resources is very essential in responding, containing and minimising the impact of an oil spill,” he explained.

Craig also related that as part of the plan, volunteers are being trained and equipped to respond in the unlikely event of an oil spill on or offshore.

It was noted that operators in Guyana’s basin are also required to have an oil spill plan which must be approved by the CDC. In the event of a spill offshore, each operator is responsible for responding and managing that spill. Before the end of October, the CDC will host a broader stakeholder engagement.

forts are being made to cease same.

Since the first group of migrants entered Guyana, to date, there are more than 36,000 persons who have crossed the borders, most of them seeking healthcare.

This has led to the public health officials increasing supplies of drugs, vaccines and medical supplies for health posts and centres in bordering communities.

Region 1 health post boosts immunisation efforts

T

he White Water Health Post in Region One (Barima-Waini), has expanded its primary healthcare services within the community to not only its residents but to a number of Venezuelan migrants entering Guyana.

With an increased supply of drugs, vaccines and other

medical supplies, health officers at the facility are now enabled to enhance their immunisation efforts to protect the local population from diseases and infections.

The health team includes a microscopist, and two Community Health Workers (CHW) while provisions are currently being

M&CC to start littering penalties’ enforcement

…business entities are not civic and lawabiding – acting Town Clerk

T

he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will soon harshly clamp down on litterers by enforcing punitive penalties against them.

“In our littering campaign, and when it comes to the enforcement aspect, we will be taking measures against them, we will have systems in place to take care of that,” acting Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick told media operatives on Tuesday.

The littering campaign will take into consideration public awareness, public education with a special emphasis to be placed on enforcement.

Lambasting illegal dumpers, the acting Town Clerk noted that garbage build-up in Georgetown is as a result of the non-compliance of commercial businesses.

According to Jerrick, the business entities are not civic and law-abiding and continue disobey the City Council’s bylaws.

“We must take notice of the glaring fact which is on our streets, take Regent Street, which is a commercial district…persons do not have adequate waste receptacles to cater for their garbage, they are not law-abiding, they are not responsible, they are not civic , these businesses continue to have boxes, throwing them

on the streets, they do not have garbage bins , if they had that, I am quite certain that one day of non-collection will never ever result in what we are seeing out there on the streets and that is the problem”.

She added that businesses in the city do not have enough receptacles to take off the waste that they generate.

“They are comfortable with dumping those waste on the streets. How can that be the right thing to do? It is not and it must stop. We have got to come together and take concern and care about our environment and about the public health crisis that can come as a result of that… can’t keep the garbage on their premises until such time that clearances are made,” the Town Clerk lambasted.

However, the Mayor Ubraj Narine noted that the new sets of bylaws approved by the Council in 2018 cater for increased penalties to be implemented for those found to be littering. Narine revealed that presently, the Council’s hands are tied since it is awaiting a finalising process to be completed.

“The policy is already placed there, but it has to now finalise with an attorney and so on, the Minister of Communities.

These things must run through

Acting Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick these other officials so that we can able to have clearance to move forward with it,” Narine said.

Previously, the Mayor had called for the littering penalty fee to be increase from its current $10,000 to $50,000 as part of the new anti-littering law.

“The Council is cashstrapped, and so if persons continue to litter, we will not be able to accomplish anything; we will be going around in circles. Every time we clean, persons will go back and dump garbage… As part of the strategy, we are also considering a raise in the fee from $10,000 to $50,000”.

“I appeal to the public, I am begging to let us work together, to have respect for environment and be able to find a way to deal with this garbage situation in the city,” Narine appealed.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, september 5, 2019

Regional

Vulture funds are circling Argentina, waiting to buy T he sell-off in Argentina bonds is so severe that it may soon attract distressed-debt investors betting that there's money to be made in a restructuring.

With overseas notes trading at about 38 cents on the dollar, the vulture funds are probably still a ways from swooping in.

Shops including Morgan Stanley and Merian Global

Investors expect buyers with a strong appetite for risk will emerge at about 30 cents.

"The market will go lower and distressed investors will step in at some point, even with the uncertainty," said Alain Nydegger, a money manager at Pala Assets in Switzerland, which focuses on emerging-market debt.

Less than five years af-

In an attempt to rein in a financial crisis and support its economy, Argentina's Government this week imposed currency controls hoping to shore up the peso which has lost more than 30 per cent of its value this year [Photo by: Erica Canepa/Bloomberg]

mittee to oversee the drafting of policies to protect fisher folk.

Speaking today at a press conference hosted by Fishermen and the Friends of Sea (FFOS) and other fishing stakeholders, Hosein detailed his encounter with suspected pirates two weeks ago while he was fishing from his boat. He described how he scared away pirates

by pretending to record them live on Facebook.

"I was fishing in the Gulf of Paria near Sea Lots and while out there, this boat began approaching us. The men on the boat began asking us all kinds of questions about where I came from, what kind of engine I had and how many boats I had.

"Those kinds of questions usually come from people who want to take your boat...

ter settling with holdout creditors from a record default in 2001, Argentina is again looking like a ripe target for funds that specialize in wringing value out of distressed assets. Following a market rout in the wake of a primary election that showed the populist opposition likely to win the presidency this year, the government said Sunday it will impose capital controls as

an emergency measure to shore up the peso.

Money managers and analysts had been saying that bondholders were likely to recoup 30 cents-40 cents on the dollar on Argentina's international notes if the country goes through with a restructuring. So far, the government has said it wants to delay payments on up to $101 billion of debt.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Trinidad fisherman: Social media saved Venezuela on alert as Maduro alleges me from pirates

A

fishing enthusiast is crediting his smartphone for saving his life after he encountered pirates while fishing near Sea Lots recently.

Sayyed Hosein, a recreational fisherman and blogger, is joining with other fishermen in calling for heightened security measures along the coast as well as a multi-stakeholder com-

"They scoping you out, whether you're a fisherman or not. This happened at around 11 am, almost midday. And if they can do something like that in broad daylight, what will they do under the cover of darkness?"

He said while the conversation was going on, his cousin was on board and Hosein took out his phone and pretended he was doing a live Facebook video. (Excerpt

Colombian plot to attack

from Trinidad Newsday)

UWI Five Islands Campus officially opens

H

undreds of attendees including residents, alumni, and faculty members of the University of the West Indies (UWI) turned out on Tuesday to commemorate a proud moment in the history of Antigua and Barbuda — the ceremonial opening of the UWI’s fourth landed campus, Five Islands.

But leading up to the momentous occasion, the decision to convert the Five Islands institution into a university was met with quite a bit of turbulence. And at the formal opening, Minister of Education Michael Browne did not fall shy in describing just how much was endured to achieve the significant milestone.

“I remember we came

Unveiling of UWI’s fourth landed campus [Photo by: Latrishka Thomas]

down to crunch time and coming down to crunch time there oftentimes where many of you like me that time, rec-

ognized that you need the closure, you needed that final voice. The reality is it doesn’t matter how polished

a diamond looks in the end a diamond has to go through struggle,” Browne said.

Moreover, in Browne’s opening remarks, he explained that the university is the Government’s fulfilment of its mandate to build an economic powerhouse.

“The history of the University of the West Indies, the history of the people of Antigua and Barbuda and the Eastern Caribbean and by broader extension the Caribbean, married to the vision of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and government and people of Antigua and Barbuda produces and births a vision. That vision captured in very, very simple words: Our country shall and must be an economic powerhouse”. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Mexico attacks decision to release suspect blamed Mexican Deputy Interior ly present a complaint to the for student massacre Minister responsible for hu- attorney general’s office and

T

he Mexican Government on Wednesday attacked a court’s decision to release a key suspect in the 2014 disappearance of 43 student teachers and said it will ask authorities to review the conduct of the judges and prosecutors involved in the case.

The abduction and apparent massacre of the trainee teachers by corrupt police working with local drug gang Guerreros Unidos

Maduro has ordered Venezuela's military to begin military exercises on September 10 [Photo by: Cristian Hernández/EPA]

V

enezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has put the military on alert ahead of exercises along the border with Colombia, accusing the neighbouring nation's President of plotting an attack as tensions mounted between the two South American countries.

"Colombia's government doesn't want peace," Maduro told a class of officers in a nationally televised military ceremony late on Tuesday.

"It wants war. It wants violence".

It was the latest salvo between Maduro and Colombian President Ivan Duque, who have traded accusations of harbouring armed rebels recently.

Animosity between Colombia and Venezuela flared last week when the former chief negotiator for the Revolutionary Armed

Forces of Colombia announced he would take up arms again, saying the Colombian government had failed to uphold a 2016 peace accord.

Duque and Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaido have accused Maduro of harbouring leftist fighters in Venezuela.

Guaido declared himself interim President of Venezuela in January, claiming Maduro's 2018 re-election was invalid; he has been recognised by Colombia, the United States and more than 50 other countries.

Friction escalated in recent days amid the protracted struggle between Maduro and Guaido, who wants to remove the socialist President entirely, with backing from the US and Colombia, among others.

sparked international condemnation of Mexico and battered the credibility of previous president Enrique Pena Nieto.

On Saturday, Gildardo Lopez Astudillo, the Guerreros Unidos leader blamed for ordering the murder of the students who is known as El Gil, was released from prison after a judge found that the Government had tortured him to obtain evidence.

Alejandro Encinas, the

man rights, sharply criticized the court’s decision, saying during a news conference that it had set a “very serious precedent” and that the government would look into the decision to release Lopez.

Speaking alongside Encinas, Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the Government would challenge the decision to release the Guerreros Unidos leader.

“We are going to formal-

the judicial branch in this case,” Lopez Obrador said.

The precedent set in the case could ultimately lead to the release of 50 other suspects who have been detained in connection with the disappearances, Encinas said.

The United Nations’ human rights office said in a report last year that Mexican authorities had probably tortured dozens of people during the investigation. (Excerpt from Reuters)

razil's President Jair Bolsonaro is refusing to give additional land to Indigenous tribes who say they've been pushed out of their rightful homes and onto packed reserves.

This comes as some

Indigenous areas have been wiped out by wildfires tearing through the Amazon jungle.

It has put some Indigenous groups in direct confrontation with farmers laying claim to the same land. (Al Jazeera)

the attack.

The soldiers were deployed to the area after reports of a shootout between the Gulf Clan and a rival criminal group, Los Caparrapos.

The area is a key transit

route for drug being smuggled out of Colombia and has high levels of violence.

Colombia's security forces say the Gulf Clan is the country's most powerful criminal gang. It has extensive international connections and

the US Department of State has described it as a "heavily armed, extremely violent criminal organisation".

Led by Dairo Antonio Úsuga, also known as Otoniel, it engages in drug and people smuggling, ille-

gal gold mining and extortion.

US authorities have offered a reward of $5M for information leading to Otoniel's arrest.

The soldiers were sent to the outskirts of Caucasia

where members of the Gulf Clan were clashing with their rivals from Los Caparrapos, an armed group which has tried to wrest control of the gold- and coca-rich area from the Gulf Clan.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Brazil cancels Indigenous land requests after land dispute

B

Colombian soldiers killed in ambush by drugs gang

F

our soldiers have been killed and two more injured in an ambush near the town of Caucasia in northern Colombia.

A powerful criminal gang known as the Gulf Clan is believed to have been behind

(Excerpt from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, september 5, 2019

Around the World

Nigeria boycotts Africa economic summit over anti-foreign riots N igeria said on Wednesday it would boycott an Africa economic summit in Cape Town, intensifying a diplomatic row after a series of deadly attacks on foreigners in South African cities.

The withdrawal of Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo from the World Economic Forum gathering has cast a cloud over initiatives to boost intra-African trade. He was scheduled to address a panel on universal energy access today.

The rioting has killed

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa

at least five people in Johannesburg and Pretoria in recent days, and on Wednesday South African companies MTN and Shoprite closed stores in Nigeria after retaliatory attacks on their premises.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, on a charm offensive to attract $100 billion of new investment, tried to limit fallout from the violence, which has rekindled memories of previous deadly attacks on foreigners that also led to reprisals on South African businesses abroad.

Police have made almost 300 arrests, while people across the continent have protested and voiced their anger on social media.

It is unclear what ignited the latest attacks, which mainly targeted shops owned by African migrants, but unemployment is high and many South Africans feel frustration with limited economic opportunities.

Ramaphosa said on Wednesday that South Africans should never take justice into their own hands against people from other countries. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Hong Kong leader pulls extradition bill, but too little too late, say some

H

ong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Wednesday withdrew an extradition bill that triggered months of often violent protests so the Chinese-ruled city can move forward from a “highly vulnerable and dangerous” place and find solutions.

The bill would have allowed extraditions to mainland China where courts are controlled by the Communist Party. Its withdrawal is a key demand of protesters but just one of five. The move came after pitched battles across the former

British colony of 7 million.

More than 1000 protesters were arrested.

Many are furious about perceived Police brutality and the number of arrests and want an independent inquiry.

“The Government will formally withdraw the bill in order to fully allay public concerns,” Lam said.

The protests began in March but snowballed in June and have evolved into a push for greater democracy for the city which returned to China in 1997.

Some lawmakers said

the move should have come earlier.

“The damage has been done. The scars and wounds

was a major campaign pledge of President Trump but it has faced significant opposition.

Tough action on immigration also forms a central part of his re-election bid.

Esper’s letter did not use the term “wall” but the border barriers described are likely to be cited by Trump as evidence of progress as he gears up for the vote in 2020.

Last July, the Supreme Court handed Trump a vic-

tory in a related case, saying that the national emergency he issued in February allowed him the power to use $2.5 billion in defence funds for wall construction while the matter proceeds in courts.

Democrats argue that by diverting funds to the wall, the Trump Administration is attempting to circumvent Congress’ role in making budgets for Government agencies.

Democrat Senate

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam

are still bleeding,” said pro-democracy legislator Claudia Mo. “She thinks she can use a garden hose to put out a hill fire. That’s not going to be acceptable.”

Many people on street corners after nightfall were shouting: “Five demands, not one missing.”

The four other demands are: retraction of the word “riot” to describe rallies, release of all demonstrators, an independent inquiry into perceived Police brutality and the right for Hong Kong people to choose their own leaders. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Pentagon diverts $3.6B in funds for southern border wall

P

entagon diverts $3.6B in funds for southern border wall US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper has granted $3.6 billion (£3 billion) in Pentagon funding to be redirected to help build a USMexico border wall.

The money will fund 175 miles (280km) of construction and will force 127 military projects to be put on hold, he told lawmakers in a letter on Tuesday.

Building a border wall

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said it showed Trump “is willing to cannibalise already allocated military funding to boost his own ego and for a wall he promised Mexico would pay to build”.

The American Civil Liberties Union promised to seek a court order to block “the President’s abuse of emergency powers to secure funds for a wall Congress denied”. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Stena Impero: Iran to free seven crew of seized British tanker

I

ran said it will free on humanitarian grounds seven of the 23 crew members of a Swedish-owned, British-flagged tanker seized in the Strait of Hormuz in July.

The sailors - five Indians, one Latvian and one Russian - had already left the Stena Impero, a Foreign Ministry spokesman told State television.

Iran accuses the vessel of “violating international maritime rules”.

The seizure came two weeks after an Iranian tanker was held off Gibraltar with the help of the Royal Marines.

That ship, now called the Adrian Darya 1, was suspect-

17

Iranian authorities say the Stena Impero broke “international maritime rules”

ed of violating EU sanctions on Syria but it was released

by Gibraltar on August 15.

The Stena Impero was passing through international waters in the Strait of

Hormuz, a narrow waterway that connects the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, on July 19 when it was detained by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps.

Its Swedish operator, Stena Bulk, said last month it had been able to maintain limited communication with the crew and that they remained in good health “considering the circumstances”. But it expressed concern about their welfare.

On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told State TV that the ship’s captain had selected seven members of its crew to be released.

“They have left the vessel and the final procedures are underway to send them back to their countries,” he said, adding that the decision had been made in line with Iran’s “humanitarian policies”.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Putin, Modi promise closer ties at Eastern Economic Forum

India is a key client for Russia’s arms industry and Moscow will be looking to make progress on new deals during the talks [Reuters]

I

ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he would boost ties with Moscow as he met President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin’s showcase economic forum in the Russian Far East on Wednesday.

Russia has hosted the three-day forum in its Pacific coast city of Vladivostok since 2015 to boost partnerships with Asian countries amid tensions with the West.

“This is a historic opportunity to give a new impetus to cooperation between our countries,” Modi said at the start of talks after the men toured a naval shipyard.

“Today we are going to sign a declaration ... expressing our desire to further increase cooperation,” Putin said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was also due to visit Vladivostok, along with Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir

Mohamad.

But Putin was spending most of his time on Wednesday with Modi, who highlighted his ties with the Russian leader in an interview ahead of the forum.

“Our relationship has special chemistry, special ease,” Modi told newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

“With each meeting with President Putin, we get closer and our relationship grows.”

Modi pointed out that mutual ties also extend to nature, as every year “Siberian cranes migrate to my home state Gujarat”.

The Indian leader said he also planned to discuss tiger conservation with Putin, a lover of big cats.

India is a key client for Russia’s arms industry and Moscow will be looking to make progress on new deals during the talks.

Trade between the two countries amounted to approximately $11 billion in 2018. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Boris Johnson's call for general election rejected by MPs

B

oris Johnson has faced a double defeat in the Commons after MPs turned down his motion for a general election.

Earlier, MPs backed a bill aimed at blocking a nodeal Brexit if the PM hadn't agreed a plan with the EU ahead of the October 31 deadline.

Johnson said the bill "scuppered" negotiations and the only way forward now was an election.

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the PM of "playing a disingenuous game" to force a no-deal Brexit.

He said his party would back an election after the bill had been passed, but not before.

Johnson wanted MPs to agree to an early general election on October 15, saying the bill - which forces him to ask for an extension to the Brexit deadline if no deal had been agreed left him unable to negotiate a deal.

He needed two thirds of all MPs to vote in fa-

Boris Johnson

vour under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, but the result only saw 298 vote for the motion and 56 against 136 short of the number he needed.

The bill to block no deal passed all its stages in the Commons in one day, with the support of most Opposition parties and 21 Tory rebels, as they tried to push it through ahead of Parliament being suspended next week.

It will now go to the Lords for approval. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, september 5, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Spending time with family and using your talents to reach your personal and professional goals should be your priorities. Don’t wait for someone else to make the first move. Be proactive.

Expand your interests, but don’t get into something that is beyond your means.

Know your limitations and boundaries before you proceed. Question someone’s motives.

VIRGO

If you don’t pay enough attention to what’s going on behind the scenes at home or with your finances, you’ll be forced to backtrack. Take control before you suffer a loss.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Look for the good in everyone, but don’t let someone who is a smooth talker take advantage of your kindness and generosity. If someone is manipulative, recognize what’s happening and walk away.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Look at all aspects of a situation before you get involved. You should focus on listening, learning and exploring the possibilities.

Time is on your side, so slow down and think the matter through.

Look, see and do. Let your imagination take charge and your intelligence help you develop what you want to pursue. Success will follow if you take action and chase your dream.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

Doing research, relying on experience and expanding your knowledge will help you adjust to the changes going on around you and will encourage you to assess your lifestyle and goals.

Having a face-to-face conversation with someone will give you a much better read on the situation at hand. Know with whom you are dealing before you commit.

Emotions will spin out of control if you get into conversations that touch on sensitive issues. You should listen more than talk, and intervene only if someone is offering false information.

Settle any unfinished business. Negotiate and draw up new contracts, or discuss what you want to happen and find out who is on board with your plans.

Romance is encouraged.

Don’t let the actions of others throw you off-guard.

You should follow your plan and stick to your standards.

Joint ventures are discouraged.

Motional meddling is apPISCES parent. Stick to what you (Feb. 20know and to people whom March 20) you can trust. Keep your life simple, activities reasonable and spending minimal.

Avoid indulgent situations.

THURSDAY, september 5, 2019

19

Smith leads Australia again before rain forces early close T

wo hours of play was lost in the middle session due to persistent rain, which pushed the tea break further into the day.

However, once the break was taken, no play was possible thereafter with rains returning once again, forcing play to be called off early on the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test.

Steve Smith led Australia's charge once again, unbeaten on 60, as Australia ended the day on 170/3 in the 44 overs bowled on Wednesday (September 4).

England were a tad wayward once play resumed after Lunch, bowling on both sides of the wicket. Only Craig Overton was able to provide the breakthrough, breaking the century partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith to get the former for 67.

Compounding the frustration due to the erratic rain in Manchester, was the wind, with the bails falling off and packets from the crowd blowing onto the

field to delay proceedings with the batsmen pulling out. England's bowlers didn't get their lines right either. They peppered Australia's batsmen with short stuff from time to time but Labuschagne and Smith kept the scoreboard ticking. Labuschagne reached his fourth fifty on the trot, while Smith continued to be the thorn in England's flesh with Australia scoring at just under 4.

Labuschagne fell a few overs shy of tea after Overton got one to seam in and sneak past his defence to rattle the stumps for 67. England even lost a review soon after after a leg-before call was turned down against Travis Head.

But it was found to be pitching outside leg.

In the morning, Steve returned to the Australian line-up after a missed Test due to a concussion and continued to do what he does best - damage control - alongside Labuschagne after the Australian openers fell early once again. After opting to bat, Stuart Broad's

round-the-wicket angle accounted for both David Warner and Marcus Harris a s

Steve Smith brought up his half century with this shot

Australia were dented early, with their openers averaging just 11.64 in the series.

Warner's indecision to play or leave resulted in him just half-heartedly poking at one that was angling away to get a faint nick to the 'keeper, falling to Broad for the

Stokes appeals for LBW as Head gets back to his feet (AFP/Getty Images)

fifth time this series.

Harris, on the other hand, was trapped leg before to one that jagged back in struck above the knee roll. The batsman reviewed after being given out, but ball-tracking showed the ball clipping. Archer, who had begun limply, upped his pace once Smith was in

3

SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st Innings MS Harris lbw b Broad 13 DA Warner c †Bairstow b Broad 0 M Labuschagne b Overton 67 SPD Smith not out 60 TM Head not out 18 Extras (b 4, lb 8) 12

the middle but bowled just

TOTAL (44 Overs, RR: 3.86) 170-3 Yet to bat: MS Wade, TD Paine (c) †, PJ Cummins, MA Starc, JR Hazlewood, NM Lyon Fall of wickets: 1-1 (David Warner, 0.4 ov), 2-28 (Marcus Harris, 6.6 ov), 3-144 (Marnus Labuschagne, 39.2 ov)

the five overs in the session.

(Cricbuzz)

US Open 2019: Bencic beats Vekic to reach 1st Grand Slam semi-final

S

witzerland's Belinda Bencic put friendship aside to beat Croatia's Donna Vekic and reach her first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open.

The 13th seed, who knocked out defending champion Naomi Osaka in the previous round, won 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 against her good friend.

She will face Canadian Bianca Andreescu or Belgian Elise Mertens next.

The 22-year-old will now return to the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time in more than three years.

She reached a career-high seventh in February 2016 before injuries and wrist surgery left her as low as 328th.

"I dreamed of this like a little kid so now that I'm here I'm really enjoying it," said Bencic, who ended a five-year wait to improve on her previous best Grand Slam showing of a US Open quarter-final.

Serena into semis

Serena Williams underlined her tag as the favourite for the US Open with a brutal quarter-final win over China's Wang Qiang in just 44 minutes.

The 37-year-old American broke serve five times and hit 25 winners as she eased to a 6-1 6-0 win over the 18th seed on Arthur Ashe Stadium Williams, seeded eighth, is chasing a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

She will face Ukraine's fifth seed Elina Svitolina, who beat Britain's Johanna Konta, in the semi-finals.

"When I play someone who is playing well I have to step up or go home and I'm not ready to go," said Williams, who

earned her 100th singles win at the US Open.

"I knew I needed to come out and play well. I'm feeling good, had a really tough year and I'm still here.

"Physically I'm feeling great and more importantly I'm having fun every time I come out here."

Five-time champion Roger Federer is out of the US Open after Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov won a late-night thriller to finally beat the Swiss great.

Federer, 38, had won all seven of their previous meetings but unseeded Dimitrov fought back to win 3-6 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-2.

Federer, who needed treatment for a back injury in the latter stages, said: "I felt it the whole time, but I was able to play."

Dimitrov, 28, faces Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in the last four.

"Clearly in the end he was not at his best. I used every opportunity I had," said the Bulgarian.

World number 78 Dimitrov's shock win e n sured there will be at least one first-time Grand Slam finalist on Sunday.

Third seed Federer, who lost to Australian John Millman in the last 16 last year, has now b e e n knocked out of the US Open b y players ranked outside of the world's top 50 for the second successive year - af- ter never previously having lost to one at Flushing Meadows.

Afterwards, the 20-time Grand Slam champion said he was struggling with the back problem throughout the match.

Grigor Dimitrov

"I feel low. I'm disappointed it is over because I feel as I though I was playing well," Federer said.

"It is a missed opportunity. I thought if I could get through I'd have two days off after."

Federer's exit leaves long-time rival Rafael Nadal as the strong favourite to lift the trophy, with defending champion Novak Djokovic also out after retiring injured from his last-16 match against Stan Wawrinka on Sunday. (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

THURSDAY, september 5, 2019

Pele FC strike gold in Limacol Tournament

A

fter a dismal stint participating in the Limacol Football Tournament in 2018, Pele FC are participating in the 2019 edition of this tournament with a steely determination to excel; and on Tuesday evening, they won their first group encounter.

The management of the Pele FC team have finally seen the fruits of their labour, after making the decision to cultivate a youthful team.

Coming up against the Mahaica Determinators in the third match of the Limacol Football Tournament, which began on Saturday last, Pele, intent on turning around their fortunes, saw their player Daniel Gibson being the first to find the back of the net, in the 21st minute of play, to give them the advantage.

The Mahaica Determinators goalkeeper was however able to hold o u t for the rest of the half, leaving the score at 1-0.

In the second half, Pele were dominant early on, resulting in Dorwin George registering another goal in the 52nd minute of play for a Pele 2-nil score line.

Luck was not with the Mahaica Determinators, their Kevon Giddings fumbling in front of the nets in the 62nd minute to end up scoring an own goal and giving Pele a 3-nil advantage.

Speaking on the 3-0 victory, Pele captain Mark Jallou emphasised the team’s youth component and noted that they are grateful for the win.

U

FC lightweight champion Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon when he takes on interim lightweight champion Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier in the main event of UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 7.

It will be Nurmagomedov’s first fight since his victory over heated rival Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in October 2018, a bout which saw Nurmagomedov suspended nine months for the post-fight brawls that occurred in the immediate aftermath. Meanwhile, this will be Poirier’s first fight since his interim title win in April at UFC 236, where he bested UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway in a classic contest that saw “The Diamond” snap a 13-fight win streak Holloway came into the fight with.

The UFC 242 co-main event will feature two other noted lightweight names, as Edson Barboza and Paul Felder rematch as they jockey for position among the UFC’s 155-pound contenders. The rest of the main card features lightweight fights, as well as heavyweight contenders Curtis Blaydes and Shamil Abdurakhimov in action.

The preliminary bouts of UFC 242 will feature Joanne Calderwood, Belal Muhammad, Zak Cummings and more.

The Eagle vs The Diamond Unbeaten in the 11 bouts he’s had in the Octagon, let alone 27 professional MMA bouts, Nurmagomedov has been one of the more dominant forces in recent memory. Nurmagomoedov uses his wrestling and background in Sambo and judo to take his opponents to the ground, where he dominates. Opponents

The battle between Pouderoyen and Beacons was intense in its stalemate

“We wasn’t training a lot or so, so it was good that we could come out and get a victory. As you could see, it’s Pele! We’re now coming back with a youth team, not the normal senior players; so the win was excellent for us,” he explained.

The player went on to share some of the areas that team members hope to work on for their next encounter.

“One thing is fitness; we have to work on that. We still have to work on getting our passes together, and just basic teamwork. That’s all we have to look at so far,” Jallou noted.

In the second encounter of the night, Beacons FC and Pouderoyen FC played to a one-all draw. Pouderoyen’s Eon Sullivan was the first to find the back of the net, in the 29th minute; but Beacons’ Wesley Greenidge equalized in the 64th minute. Thereafter, neither side was able to get the advantage for the remainder of regulation time.

When the action resumes on Friday, September 6 at the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue, Buxton Stars will go head-to-head with Georgetown Football Club (GFC), and Fruta Conquerors FC will face off against Northern Rangers.

The tournament is sponsored by the New

The Eagle returns to 242: battle The Diamond

The youthful Pele FC were dominant on Tuesday evening

GPC under its Limacol brand, and will see the champions walking away with $400,000.

Second, third and fourth places will cop $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.

The tournament is also supported by W.J Enterprise, sole distributors of Croxley paper.

Misbah-ul-Haq: Former Pakistan Captain named new Coach, Chief Selector

Misbah is Pakistan’s most successful Test Captain with 26 wins in 56 Tests The Lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov (left) will face the interm Lightweight champion on Saturday.

often have no response to his control and any transitions and reversals are usually reversed, as “The Eagle” either goes for submissions or delivers ground-andpound. Nurmagomedov’s techniques have landed him big victories over the likes of Rafael dos Anjos, Michael Johnson, Edson Barboza, Al Iaquinta and Conor McGregor.

After his loss to McGregor at UFC 178, Poirier moved up to lightweight, where he’s had continued success. Poirier only has two blemishes in the 11 fights since moving up — a knockout loss at the hands of Michael Johnson and a No Contest with Eddie Alvarez. Poirier is unafraid to go to war, and he’s earned six Fight of the Night bonuses and Fight of the Year honors across media in 2012 and 2018. In addition to Max Holloway, Poirier has come out on top in classic bouts with Jim Miller, Anthony Pettis and Justin Gaethje and

avenged the No Contest against Alvarez.

Comparing the two side-by-side, the pair are even when it comes to striking accuracy, though Poirier lands more significant strikes — but that’s obvious because “The Diamond” does more trading on the feet than Nurmagomedov. And that’s where things turn even statistically; Poirier has absorbed a lot more than Nurmagomedov because “The Eagle” is so good at scoring takedowns (an average of five per 15 minutes) and defending any against him.

Nurmagomedov smothers his opponents and their offense time and time again, and while Poirier will certainly come to fight and put out a heck of a showing, it’s probably not going to be enough. And we may not know what “enough” will be to beat the Dagestani champion until it happens.

F

ormer captain Misbah-ul-Haq has been appointed Pakistan’s new head coach and chief selector.

The 45-year-old fills the role vacated by Mickey Arthur, whose contract was not renewed after they failed to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

Former skipper and paceman Waqar Younis is the new bowling coach.

“I know expectations are high, but I am absolutely ready and up for the task,” said Misbah, who scored 5,222 runs in 75 Tests at an average of 46.6.

“We have some of the most talented and exciting cricketers, and I will like to help them train and prepare in such a way that they can play intelligently, smartly and fearlessly.

“I am aware this will require a change in the dressing room culture but if we have to compete consistently at the highest level, we have to embrace these modern day requirements.”

A Pakistan Cricket Board committee also interviewed former Australian batsman Dean Jones and former Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan before awarding Misbah a three-year deal.

Misbah and Waqar will start with three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s at home to Sri Lanka from 27 September. (BBC Sport)

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THURSDAY, september 5, 2019

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Hero CPL sells out sponsorship programme for 2019 season T

he Hero Caribbean Premier League has once again filled out its partner programme with some of the biggest brands from across the Caribbean and from around the globe partnering with the unique and exciting Twenty20 cricket tournament.

Hero Motocorp have renewed their title sponsorship with the league for the second time, deepening their commitment to one of the world’s great cricket leagues One of the Hero CPL’s founding sponsors, Guardian Life, have also renewed their association with the tournament and they will continue to support the hugely successful volunteer programme which has played such a big part in making the Biggest Party in Sport such a great experience for the hundreds of thousands of supporters who

come to matches each year.

Continuing as part of long terms associations are El Dorado Rum, Carib, Republic Bank, Dream11, Sunshine Snacks and Caribbean Airlines who are all working on unique and innovative ways to engage with CPL fans, both at the ground and away from the stadiums. CPL’s Founding Partner, Digicel, will also be back for this season.

There are also new commercial partners joining the CPL family. VISA, FedEx Express Latin America and the Caribbean, Angostura Lemon & Lime Bitters and 10Cric will also be associated with the Biggest Party in Sport for 2019.

Jamie Stewart, Commercial Director of Hero CPL, said: “It is a great pleasure to have a com-

bination of the Caribbean’s best and most forward-thinking companies and some of the world’s leading sport sponsors as long-term Partners of Hero CPL. A special Hero CPL welcome to 10Cric, Angostura LLB, Visa and FedEx Express Latin America and the Caribbean, who join the fun for the first time this season. Without this support we get from our amazing set of sponsors, it wouldn’t be possible to deliver what is truly “the Biggest Party in Sport.” On behalf of the players, the League and the fans, a big thank you to all our brand supporters."

The Title Sponsor is Hero

21

Motorcorp Limited while the Founding Sponsor was Digicel; the Bigger, Better Network.

The Official Sponsors are Caribbean Airlines, Sunshine Snacks, Guardian Life, Nescafe, Dream11, FedEx Express Latin America and the Caribbean.

Official Partners include El Dorado Rum, Republic Bank, 10Cric, Carib and Angostura LLB.

Kwakwani United to host sports camp T

he Kwakwani United Sports Club (KKSUC) and TMT Global Inc. will host a sports camp catering to cricket, football and basketball development in Kwakwani, Upper Berbice, Region 10 under a project called the Kwakwani Sports Project.

Scheduled to begin on September 16th and end on September 27, the camp will be geared at teaching the basic skills of the three sporting disciplines to youngsters, along with other life skills like leadership, the importance of education, etc. A

on

Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 55

223-7230-1 (Ext 55) Anthony D’Andrade

main aim of this camp is to regenerate the community’s interest in sports, especially cricket.

Coaching activities will take place at Worrell’s Park in Kwakwani, and will begin at 3:30pm from Monday to Friday. Boys and girls aged 10 and over are invited to participate in the camp.

This camp was initially scheduled for August, but because a number of persons who attend the Kwakwani Secondary School were on holiday, particularly those from rive r - ine communities, it was rescheduled for this month to ac-

commodate them.

The KKSUC was formed only in February of this year, while TMT Global Inc. is a foreign-owned Kwakwani-based lumber business which has been assisting in the development of sports in Kwakwani since the beginning of this year.

Its Sports Consultant, Anthony D’Andrade, has been in charge of this project. He is a former national youth player and Berbice senior team batsman, who has also completed the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Level 2 Coaching course held in July at the National Stadium.

West Indies female all-rounder Tremayne Smartt, herself a recently qualified CWI Level 2 Coach, will assist D’Andrade. Jimmy McClean and Kinesha Stewart will be the coaches for football,

while Ann Gordon and Dave Causway will be in charge of the basketball coaching.

Persons interested in participating in this camp are asked to contact either Anthony D’Andrade (655-

4638), Dave Causway (6671064), Ann Gordon (6632719), Jimmy McClean (684-7137), or Kinesha Stewart (604-3697) to register.

Sensei Bennett bestowed with Award of Service in the area of Sport

By Timothy Jaikarran

A

fter months of nominations and voting, the Department of Youth hosted its 2019 annual National Youth Awards at the Savannah Suite of the Pegasus Hotel on August 31.

The awards were bestowed in the following categories: Service in the area of Arts, Service in the area of Entrepreneurship, Service in the area of Volunteerism, Service in the area of Innovation in Science & Technology, Service in the area of Agriculture & Food Security, and Service in the area of Sport.

Sensei Miranda Bennett is the recipient of the Award of Service in the area of Sport. A certified Sensei, Bennett was part of the Little Diamond International Martial Arts Academy, known today as the Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy (GIKMAA) under guidance of Dr Nazim Yassim.

There is where she worked her way up the ladder to earn the title of 2nd Dan Black Belt.

In 2017, GIKMAA collaborated with ‘LiveProactive’, and was placed in charge of teaching Tai Chi, self-defence and kids’ karate classes. Bennett opted to teach kids’ karate classes, where she could use her platform as a positive way to teach self-defence.

Her accomplishments are numerous and are all stellar.

They include Community Spirit and Ambassador Hall of Fame Awards; being the first of 2 females to receive black belt certification in Guyana for Kyokushin, and representing Guyana at karate in Suriname.

Bennett is currently in training for her ‘D’ level Referee and Judging Certification exam, which would take place in November, along with her 1st Dan Kubodo Weapons Exam.

In 2019, she intends to focus on her 3rd Dan and Chief Instructor level exams, which are also set for November, as she aims to qualify herself to become a standout for Guyana in karate.

Also known for her standout work, Bennett is the main force behind the Miranda B Empowerment Club, which has assisted with the up-keep of the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre (RCAC) under the theme ‘Clean & Fresh’.

In celebration of Heritage Month, Bennett is offering a 20 percent discount on her karate classes for the month of September. The classes are held on Saturdays at the Berea International Hall, located opposite the Impeccable Hall on Brickdam.

22

THURSDAY, september 5, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Hero CPL 2019…

Knight Riders prevail over Patriots in opening thriller A

n all-round effort from respectable 152-7 in 20 overs.

Cottrell continued his Jimmy Nesham ensured that Trinbago Knight form with the ball in the just Riders started their campaign concluded T20I series against on a winning note, with an 11- India with 3-13 in four magical run win over St Kitts and Nevis overs. He was supported by Patriots. The visitors, St Kitts Emrit, who picked up 3-39. In and Nevis Patriots, won the response, Evin Lewis toss and elected to bowl first; in particular and they managed 152-7 in their his opening partner, the promising Kjorn allotted 20 overs.

On a pitch which was Ottley added 42 runs more suitable to the spinners, in the power play.

Trinbago Knight Riders lost Ottley who scored 25 their openers early and were from 30 balls, soaked reeling at 20-3 in four overs. up the deliveries and Pace duo, Sheldon Cottrell was finally undone and Alzarri Joseph made the by Jimmy Neesham ball talk; Joseph destroyed the after a top-edge which resulted in a woodworks of Lendl Simmons caught and (11) while the soldier saluted bowl. twice in the power play.

Cottrell, nipping the ball around, bowled Sunil Narine for a duck, who was the first dismissed, and Tion Webster who followed suit at 11-2. Denish Ramdin and Jimmy Neesham then settled the nerves for the defending champions, Trinbago Knight Riders. The duo added 60 runs together but Rayad Emrit put an end to the tea party between Ramdin and Neesham. Emrit removed Neesham for a wellcomposed 33 which came in 30 balls and included three fours and one six.

Ramdin, who was partnered by the dominant Kieron Pollard, took the score to 134-5 in 17.1 overs.

Pollard dominated that 54run partnership; Ramdin was removed for 33 from 32 balls, but Pollard’s fireworks of 47 from 32 balls, which was decorated with four boundaries and three sixes, ensured his team finished with a Kieron Pollard on the drive for Trinbago

At 47-1, Lewis was partnered by the professor, Mohammed Hafeez and continued to entertain the Queens Park crowd but the 2018 CPL player of the final,

Khary Pierre, got the final say. Lewis’ marauding innings ended on 36 from 27 balls, including two fours and three sixes.

At 72-3 in 11.5 overs, the Knight Riders clawed themselves back into the game in the middle overs.

Some disciplined bowling and sharp fielding by the Knight Riders saw the Pa t r i o t s stutter to 765. Jason

Mohammed was removed

by Sri Lankan legspinner, Seekkuge Prasanna for a duck while Devon Thomas was undone by Pierre f o r

one.

The inconsistent Captain, Carlos Brathwaite, was run out for one as hope was somewhat ended for Patriots.

The professor, Hafeez, saw all these wickets tumble but a dashing Fabian Allen came and shifted the game back into the Patriots’ favour.

Allen took 27 off the leg-spinner, Prasanna, in over number 16, which saw 18 runs scored in the first three legal balls and a six off the final ball. With 42 needed off the final four overs, it was set to be a thrilling match.

Allen’s fireworks ended when his 14-ball knock of 30 ended. At 112-6, it was a reunion for the Pakistanis; Usama Mir joined Hafeez.

Mir scored 10 in his first three balls but

Jimmy Neeshan did good recovery work

Hafeez was not finding the boundaries on the other end.

The right-handed Hafeez’s misery ended when the Knight Riders’ and Pakistan’s teenage fast bowler, Mohammad Hasnain, peeled off Hafeez’s edge for 16 from 22 balls.

Hasnain ended with 3-37 in his four overs, after removing Emrit for one. The Patriots required 13 in the final over but New

Zealand’s World Cup player, Neesham, sealed the deal for the Knight Riders after removing Mir for 24 from 10 balls. Neesham picked up his third wicket to end with 3-18.

The second match of the season will bowl off today, Thursday, September 5, with Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Lucia Zouks at Providence from 18:00h.

The salute was out early in CPL 2019

CONCACAF Nations League to serve as pathway for 2021 Gold Cup T

he Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) today confirmed that the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League, set to kick off on Thursday, September 5, will serve as the qualifying pathway for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, for all 41 Member Associations.

The new centralized men’s national team competition represents a new era of national team football for the Confederation.

Created to maximize the match dates available within the FIFA international calendar, and as part of a wider strategy to provide more competitive football for all Member Associations, the CONCACAF Nations League group stage will take place in the September, October and November FIFA windows of 2019.

After round-robin play, the four League A group winners will advance to the CONCACAF Nations League Finals to crown the first-ever competition champion.

The CONCACAF Nations League

The Golden Jaguars blend that made their inaugural appearance at the Gold Cup earlier this year

Finals, originally scheduled for March of 2020, will now take place in June.

Additionally, the group winners from League B and League C will be promoted to League A and B, respectively, while the teams at the bottom of League A and League B will be relegated to League B and

C, respectively, for the next edition of the CONCACAF Nations League. The official draw, which sub-divided the three Leagues into groups took place March 27, 2019, at the Chelsea Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“The CONCACAF Nations League is about uniting the

Confederation through meaningful competition, while providing an exciting pathway to the Gold Cup,” said CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani. “Through this tournament, all 41 CONCACAF Member Associations are able to follow the dream of competing on a more consistent basis, opening the door for continued development across our entire region.”

As announced in March of 2018, the CONCACAF Nations League qualifies the region’s top teams to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The qualifying process for the 2021 Gold Cup will be as follows: CONCACAF Nations League A (8 teams): After group stage play in November 2019, the top two teams from each of the four League A groups will qualify directly to the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. CONCACAF Nations League B (4 teams): After group stage play in November 2019, the winner of each of the four League B groups will qualify directly to the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Gold Cup Qualifiers (4 teams): After CONCACAF Nations League

group stage play in November 2019, the third-place finishers in League A, the second-place finishers in League B and the first-place finishers in League C will advance to a two-round qualifier, to be played in March and June of 2020.

For the first round of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup Qualifiers, the second-place finishers of League B will face the first-place finishers of League C in March of 2020. After home-and-away play, the four matchup winners will advance to the second round, where they will face the third-place finishers of League A in June of 2020.

The four match-ups winners of Round two will qualify to the 2021 Gold Cup. For the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, all 2019-2020 CONCACAF Nations League matches will be granted a coefficient score which corresponds to qualification matches to a Confederations final competition, rather than friendly international matches played during FIFA International Match Calendar window.

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, september 5, 2019

2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League…

23

Warriors, Zouks ready to ‘bring the party’ to Providence

Captains Shoaib Malik and Darren Sammy on the eve of their teams’ clash (Shaconeil Burnette photos)

match, and the rest of the Zouks squad is already here.

Zouks’ captain Darren Sammy, one of the better T20 West Indies captains, was first and foremost happy with the change of the team name (from Stars to Zouks). He disclosed that his Zouks team will be looking to kick-start proceedings on a positive note after their ordinary campaign in 2018.

Head Coaches and Captains of the GAW and Zouks teams

By Brandon Corlette

I

n the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tournament, the first match to be played at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence will feature the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) and the St Lucia Zouks. The action begins today, Thursday September 5, from 18:00 hours local time.

On the eve of this scintillating clash, the captains and coaches of the respective teams addressed media operatives at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown. GAW Head Coach Johan Botha disclosed that team members are rearing to go after a few good days of practice at Providence. He said all the players are touching base, and the team has implemented all the necessary plans.

“Everyone is fit coming into the tournament, and the team is looking to get it all going”, Botha explained.

With a lot expected from batting

star Shimron Hetmyer, Botha disclosed, the batsmen around Hetmyer will have to support well.

The calm and composed GAW captain Shoaib Malik said his team members have been gelling well.

“From the practice matches played, the team has been doing well. It’s like there is no senior or junior element in our team,” Malik explained. With senior players guiding their younger counterparts, Malik explained, the scenario is key for consistent success.

Meanwhile, St Lucia Zouks’ Head Coach James Foster shared similar sentiments as he explained that his team is ‘ready to rumble’ in this 2019 Hero CPL. He said Rahkeem Cornwall and John Campbell were due to arrive last night, before this opening

Sammy speaks on International return and Barnwell’s role

Shimron Hetmyer cuts late in front of Andre Fletcher in the 2018 edition of the Hero CPL

Sammy said he would be looking to perform well as team leader. He expressed his satisfaction with composition of the team, and disclosed that there are in its ranks players who can change the direction of games.

“As a player, I want to go out and perform as a player. This CPL is an audition (for) me to return in the International setup” Sammy declared.

Having expressed his intention to lead the team from the front, Sammy said that once the team performs, the desired results will follow.

Guyanese Christopher Barnwell is playing for the St Lucia Zouks, and Sammy said every player in his team has a part to play for the Zouks to win.

“With the experience that Barnwell has in Guyana, who knows, he will play -definitely has a part to play - in Zouks winning matches,” Sammy said.

He, however, did not confirm the Guyanese all-rounder’s place in the starting XI, but because Barnwell has experience in these conditions, who knows, he will be looking to impress the locals.

GAW Squad reads: Shadab Khan, Nicholas Pooran, Shoaib Malik, Shimron Hetmyer, Ben Lauglin, Chris Green, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Brandon King, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Keagan Simmons, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Veerasammy Permaul, Anthony Bramble, and Clinton Pestano.

St Lucia Zouks squad: Andre Fletcher, Ronald Cato, Andre McCarthy, Keddy Lesporis, Nitish Kumar, Darren Sammy, Kesrick Williams, John Campbell, Christopher Barnwell, Thisara Perera, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jeavor Royal, Harous Viljoen, Khrismar Santokie, Fawad Ahmed, Obed McCoy, Beuran Hendricks and Kaveem Hodge.

Golden Jags begin CNL quest tonight A

fter a change in scenery, Márcio Máximo, new Head Coach of Guyana’s flagship senior men’s national team the ‘Golden Jaguars’, will have his first test come this evening at the Stadion Ergilio Hato, Curacao. The action against Aruba begins at 19:00hrs.

With a surface similar to the Guyana Football Federation’s National Training Centre at Providence, the facility will see Guyana’s quest for qualification to participate in back-to-back Gold Cup tournaments commencing.

have been going through their paces as they seek to get going the chemistry of playing under a new head coach ahead of two important matches in four days.

Guyana will face Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz on Monday evening from 19:00hrs at the Leonora T r a c k & Field

A 20-member team with a blend of local and foreign-based players was selected

A glimpse of the Golden Jaguars’ practice session

Coach Máximo, his technical staff and the players (Guyana & Internationallybased) arrived in Curacao on Monday, and

Facility, West Coast Demerara.

The Golden Jags’ Head Coach informed that the players have already begun to

adapt to the new methodology and philosophy, and are settling in well to the tactical and physical training as they aim for a good start tomorrow night.

He said this match is the start of a new era of continued building of the national senior programme, and would be used to assess the potential of all the players, locally and internationally-based “It is our target to prepare the best group for World Cup qualifying, also the next Gold Cup qualifying. Of course we want to do well in this competition, but you should understand that this competition we can use to test as many players as possible,” he said.

Guyana will be seeking to build on the

momentum created on debut at this year’s edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Coach Máximo posited that they are very optimistic, and noted the reality is not easy when it comes to opening campaigns away.

“But we go to the pitch with high confidence, and we will do our best job. We’ll do our best in the three days possible to evaluate the team. We will do our best to come back with a good result, to play Jamaica on Monday. I also look forward to the full support of everyone in Guyana to back this team,” he said.

Admission to the Guyana-Jamaica match is $2,000, and tickets will be available at the ground on match day.

THURSDAY, september 5, 2019

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