Guyana Times Tuesday May 7, 2019

Guyana Petroleum Summit set P13 for May 9 in Houston, Texas – to feature oil and gas experts Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3916

THE BEACON OF TRUTH Tuesday, may 7, 2019

PRICE

Reassignment of former Housing Minister

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt playing musical chairs, full probe should have been conducted – Ram EITI recommends review of – concerned State losing revenue mining permits to inaccurately categorised miners

Charlestown man dies, 2 P2 injured after minibus plunges into trench 10,000 ganja plants destroyed during separate eradication exercises in P2 Linden

Page 7

Page 3

Ramjattan P7 accuses educators of selling illegal substances in schools Little Diamond residents P15 blast BK for destroying main access bridge/road Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chambers President Manniram Prashad; GO-Invest Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Owen Verwey; Ravin Prashad, along with other members of the GOGEC delegation, and officials of Dyna MAC Holdings on Monday at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas

Business community anxiously awaits CCJ ruling on no-confidence case Page 10

Labourer crushed by molasses truck Page 11

– driver arrested after fleeing scene

Guyanese gunned down in Barbados during robbery Page 2

No arrest made for Albouystown businesswoman’s P8 murder – husband struggling to cope with loss of wife

2 news

tuesday, may 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

10,000 ganja plants destroyed during separate eradication exercises in Linden

A

lmost 7000 cannabis plants ranging from two to six feet in height were destroyed at a seven-acre marijuana farm by the police on Sunday last.

These plants were estimated to weigh about 485 kilograms.

Reports are that between 10:30h and 12:00h on the day in question, several ranks of E Division (LindenKwakwani) went to Eleven Miles, off of the Ituni Main Road, Upper Demerara where the discovery was made.

found. It is averaged that there were close 2500-3000 cannabis plants cultivated there ranging from one foot to six and a half feet.

The police said that there was also a makeshift tent at that location comprising one hammock, a quantity of utensils, as well as green and dried suspect cannabis on this farm. The cannabis plants had an estimated weight of 250 kilograms and were also destroyed by fire.

In both cases, each location was marked and samples were taken. No arrests have been made in either matter as investigations continue.

Last month, Head of the Police Narcotics Branch, Senior Superintendent Kurleigh Simon told this publication that there were several major cannabis busts and interceptions of individuals transporting the illicit substance from Berbice, Region Six and Linden, Region 10, and this is because this illicit substance is largely cultivated in those areas.

Simon had said that for the first quarter of 2019, the Police Narcotics Branch

There was also a makeshift camp along with a quantity of kitchen utensils and foodstuff at that location. However, when the police arrived at that location, there was no one in sight.

The farm was subsequently destroyed by fire.

On Saturday last, ranks of E Division also made a similar discovery at the back of the Wisroc village, Wismar, Linden.

Police acting on information ventured to that location where the one-and-a-halfacre marijuana farm was

completed in excess of 15 eradication exercises in Berbice, and these were done in more than 30 fields where marijuana was being cultivated and harvested.

“Since the year started, [the] total eradication exercises totalled in excess of 50

acres of land that cannabis was grown [on].”

According to the Senior Superintendent, a lot of work has been done by ranks during the first quarter of 2019 in comparison to what was completed for the entirety of last year.

After the accident, the injured passengers were assisted out of the wreckage by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where Lyken was pronounced dead on arrival.

Charles and Benjamin were treated and transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital due to the severity of their injuries.

Charles is presently suffering from injuries to his spine while Benjamin has a fractured right hand and his condition is listed as “seri-

ous”.

The others were treated and sent away. Guyana Times was told that immediately after the accident, the driver of the minibus fled the scene and has since gone into hiding.

Nevertheless, the body of the deceased is presently at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

The wrecked minibus was pulled from the trench and taken to the Grove Police Station as investigations continue.

Guyanese gunned down in Charlestown man dies, 2 injured Barbados during robbery after minibus plunges into trench

A

Guyanese businessman living in Barbados was on Sunday morning shot and killed during a robbery at Beckles Road, Barbados.

The dead man has been identified as Eton “Junior” Lyken, 46, of St Michael, Barbados. The now dead man was the owner of Eton Bakery and Variety Store.

Based on reports received, the now dead man and another man were having a conversation in a car when they were pounced on and ordered out of the car by a lone gunman who was at the time wearing a mask.

As the two men exited the motorcar, they were reportedly held at gunpoint and relieved of their jewellery, cash and other valuables. It is believed that the Guyanese businessman attempted to fight off the ban-

Dead: Eton Junior Lyken

dit but instead, he was shot to the head once. The bandit then left the scene.

Lyken reportedly died instantly. His reputed wife, Mia Kirton, was quoted in Barbados Today saying that her husband always looked out for others and she is still trying to come to grips with the manner in which he died. As such, she is calling

for justice to be served.

“I still can’t believe it. I still can’t believe it. I would really like justice to be served because a man dead for no reason. Someone who use to help out any and everybody. Junior use to pick up people from off of the road and help them. He would pick up people off of the road to come and work.

And I use to tell Junior be careful who you picking up off of the road, because everybody you smile at ain’t you friend”, she told the Barbadian newspapers.

Lyken left Guyana several years ago and opened up a business and lived comfortably with his reputed wife and three children up to the time of this demise.

The Barbadian authorities have launched an investigation into the latest murder.

O

ne man is now dead and two remain in a serious condition after the minibus in which they were travelling ended up in a trench at Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara.

The dead man has been identified as 34-year-old Michael Cozier of Lot 3 Charlestown, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, the accident occurred around 22:50h as the minibus, bearing registration number BXX 3014 was heading to Georgetown at a fast rate of speed and while in the vicinity of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Army Corps, the driver lost control.

This resulted in the minibus toppling several times before coming to a halt in the trench. At the time of the accident, there were reportedly seven passengers in the minibus including a Police Constable, Linden Charles, and Devon Benjamin.

news

3

tuesday, may 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Tuesday, May 7 – 05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, May 8 – 05:00h-06:30h.

– concerned State losing revenue to inaccurately categorised miners

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, May 7 – 05:20h-06:50h and Wednesday, May 8 – 06:00h-07:30h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Heavy to light rain showers are expected until mid-afternoon followed by cloudy skies into the evening. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 05:51h and 18:21h reaching maximum heights of 2.79 metres and 2.64 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:52h reaching a minimum height of 0.41 metre.

saturday, may 4, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

10 13 18

19 21 27

FREE TICKET

02 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

05 06 07 15 26 LUCKY 3

3

4

5

8

Afternoon Draw

9

4

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

04

05

06

08

PAY DAY

04 07 08 11 12

EITI recommends review of mining permits

11 14 15 SUPER PAY DAY

01 06 15 17 18

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

T

he Extractive I n d u s t r i e s Transparency Initiative (EITI) has recommended in its first report on Guyana’s extractive sector that a wholesale review be done to weed out wrongly categorized miners.

According to the organization in its recently released report, this is because thousands of acres of mining permits have been awarded to claimants on a scale that should be considered large scale. Large scale permits involve higher rental fees and more revenue to the state. But the report states that in some cases this is not happening.

“We note that several mining permits, covering plots in the same location as per GGMC list of permits, had been awarded on the same date to the same applicant following the award process of medium scale mining permits instead of following the award process for large-scale mining licenses.”

“The total combined acreage of several mining permits awarded during FY 2017 to a same applicant exceeded 1,200 acres which is the maximum surface for a medium scale mining permit. If these plots had been combined, they would have exceeded 1,200-acre threshold and would have been categorized as being “large scale tenures,” it also states.

Besides paying higher rental fees, EITI pointed out that large scale permit holders also have to go through more stringent license award procedures.

These procedures include requiring further approvals from other Government Agencies.

According to EITI, this oversight may cost the state a large sum of money per year.

“Additionally, the list of active mining permits shows that several plots were held by the same extractive entity and within the same location. The combined surfaces of these mining permits exceed 1,200acre threshold in several instances.”

“Such mining permit holders may need to be categorized as large-scale extractive operators as defined by the current legislation whenever it is established that the relating plots run consecutively one after the other. The annual rental fees due by large scale operators is USD 3 per acre as opposed to USD 1 per acre for medium scale mining operators.”

The EITI therefore recommended a review and an update of the list of current active mining permits in order to ensure all are in com-

pliance with the definition of the large scale mining license.

In a press release after the EITI report was completed, however, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) had staunchly refuted the finding of the report. According to the association, only a small percentage of the mining lands have been mined.

“From reviewing the report, the author of the report apparently thought that the entire 1200 acres are mineralized and has gold and as such, by separating the permits the government and people of Guyana (are) being short-changed.”

“This is far from the case. The large-scale companies receive Investment Development Agreement (IDA) where duty free is granted for equipment, fuel, spares etc. which more than compensate for the extra fees. Medium scale permit holders are paying for most of the land and of which only 5 per cent is mined,” GGDMA had claimed.

As of December 31, 2018, total gold declarations from all sources amount to

6.22 per cent lower than the figures from 2017.

Additionally, the foreign exchange value of exports processed on behalf of dealers and the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) came to US$443,961,666.

The Guyana Gold Board has meanwhile projected that for 2019, declarations and exportations will be at 651,000 ounces.

613,073 ounces, which was

4

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, may 7, 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

Growing crime rate

T

he misrepresented statement by Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan late last week that the crime rate in Guyana is not really in a bad state and there must be an appreciation of the fact that Guyanese live in a geopolitical space (Latin America and the Caribbean) where interpersonal violence is the highest in the world, is downright unacceptable.

In an editorial a few months ago the question of whether fighting crime was a fake campaign promise by the then APNU/ AFC Opposition, was asked. The question was natural given what was seen as a continual increase in criminal attacks.

From then to now, nothing seemed to have changed and for many, it appears to be worse.

This has gone seemingly unchecked over the years as mindsets are inundated with fear and the question of “who is next” seems involuntary. The stories that emanate daily are horrific to say the least; some with brutal sexual assaults. Not only are families scared, humiliated, deprived of valuables, communities ravished and left even more vulnerable, but life is brutally snuffed out in some instances.

Unfortunately, crime has not only become a fixture in daily news, but a prominent one. There seems no respite despite the much publicized increase in resources and new recruits. While crime will realistically not be erased, taxpayers expect sustained quick responses and robust approaches in combating. This is not taking away from the brave men and women from law enforcement who risk their lives.

The issue, of what can only be described as current failed policy in combating crime, has to be put into a particular context. The previous administration was constantly berated by the then Opposition, which is now the government, for being weak and incapable of fighting crime. This was used as a major campaign theme to rile sentiments against the PPP government’s perceived lack of vision and expertise in the security sector. At the same time, the then Opposition spared no effort to boast of its prowess in security.

The voting populace probably needed no convincing over security personnel who were part of the APNU/AFC opposition coalition. The fairly extensive list of former senior Police and Army officials who joined the slate might have instilled a sense of belief in relief from crime even from non-supporters. That seeming prolific gathering of security specialists probably caused crime itself to shudder.

None can dispute the esteem offices which they served.

That might have tilted the balance of the crime-fighting scale in favour of the coalition since probably there was little or no reason to doubt the capabilities showcased.

Regardless of where the ballot was cast, expectation for a vast reduction in crime was real and immediate. Therein lies the profound disappointment. The expectation afterwards was for the promised new approach to effectively combat crime through more robust interventions.

Sadly, it did not happen and remains elusive. Families are now reeling in despair and mindsets preoccupied with trying to stay safe whether indoors or outdoors. People are still being trailed from financial institutions and regularly robbed. The unsuspecting on their way home are relieved of possession at gunpoint. Schoolchildren are not spared while overseas-based Guyanese returning for holidays are robbed.

When the belief that not every detail of a robbery is reported for fear of further humiliation is taken into consideration, a more frightening scenario is revealed. The question is, what has the coalition done since in government to effectively combat crime? Given the boasts, the expectation would not be farfetched for close to a crime free society by now.

The reality is that fear has taken a stranglehold on the nation depriving people their freedom from that mindset so as to be able to focus on making a living. This brings into the fray the nexus of the current harsh economic policies and a derivative of crime.

While there will always be some who will engage in criminal activities regardless of the economic situation, forcing people into poverty will have a frightening effect.

Analysts will postulate the nexus of youth in crime as a result of unemployment. Cleary many jobs have been loss under this administration and this is not an attempt to state that all those who were fired have resorted to crime for many are forced into humiliation in finding a legal livelihood.

After four years and the upward spiral of crime, one may rightfully question polices and interventions, if any, and its effects. With the current circumstance, one can again question the genuineness of this particular influential campaign promise.

There needs to be some impacting action to address the growing crime rate in Guyana as countless murders and armed robberies are now becoming a daily phenomenon.

A group of dancers from the Indian Cultural Centre performs a routine at the commissioning of the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra Village, East Berbice on Sunday

“Venezuela was beautiful once... It wasn’t until the very end that we realised we were losing everything”

V

enezuela was a powerhouse. Employment was high. The streets were clean and safe. The hospitals housed some of the best doctors in the region.

Colombians crossed the border to take refuge from the civil conflict.

Investors from the United States, Italy, and Spain dined in Caracas’ many restaurants.

The Bolivar was strong and its value a source of pride to all who traded in it. The idea that this would crumble was unfathomable.

Today Venezuela is on its knees.

Three million people have left since 2015. Hyperinflation has wiped out life savings and diminished salaries. Food is scarce. People queue outside supermarkets for hours to get rationed rice or a piece of meat.

In the hospitals people are dying because of a lack of medical supplies. Blackouts have plunged the country into darkness.

In a bright apartment in western Colombia, Adolfo Doza, 60, and his wife Elizabeth Aguirre, 56, try to come to terms with this series of events.

He is Venezuelan, she Colombian, they met in the Colombian capital Bogotá as students and later moved to Venezuela.

It was home to their two children Annick and Adolfo Junior and the place where Adolfo Senior founded Induquip, a manufacturing company.

“Venezuela was beautiful,” Adolfo says, “There was no inflation, very little taxes, there was a lot of construction and nearly everyone had a job. I remember when I was studying employers would come into the university and hire students. The economic situation in Venezuela was good. As a family we were not rich, but we had a high standard of living.”

Now their family is scattered across the world. Their daughter Annick lives in Dublin. Brothers and sisters

An anti-government rally in Barquisimeto, Venezuela on April 28

live in Venezuela, the United States and Mexico. Four years ago they moved to Cali, Elizabeth’s birthplace. The decision to leave was difficult.

“We had a good life,” Elizabeth recalls, “The company was doing okay and everything was there. We were always hoping things would start to improve instead of getting worse. Then when the doctors said that if Adolfo Junior needed emergency health care, that he wouldn’t be able to get it in Venezuela, that was when I knew we had to go.”

Adolfo Junior, 42, requires care after a traumatic brain injury. Twenty-five years ago he was celebrating his graduation and was hit by a car while crossing the road. Years of recovery followed, leaving him in need of 24-hour care.

Theirs is a middle-class story. In Cali, they can afford to rent an apartment, eat and travel. However, Venezuela’s collapse has taken its toll.

Savings were lost due to hyperinflation. Induquip has two remaining employees and should they leave, the company may have to close.

The home they raised a family in – that was built lovingly – now lies dormant in Valencia. The secure retirement they worked for has essentially been wiped out.

“The price for my parents is the peace of mind you have in your 70s. That’s the part that is lost. Now they live hoping they will return to Venezuela one day,” Annick tells TheJournal.

ie from Dublin.

“The decision to leave was made because my mum was scared. She was fearful every day for my brother’s health.

Everywhere she went she experienced a challenge and wanted to get out early before something bad happened.”

Annick adds, “My dad, he is the eternal optimist. He always thought things would get better. It wasn’t until he moved to Colombia that he realised how bad things were.”

The family regard themselves as lucky. As the situation in Venezuela deteriorates, people are becoming desperate. Many get a bus to the border city of San Antonio del Táchira and cross into Colombia through informal routes known as ‘trochas’, these are run by Venezuelan colectivos and Colombian paramilitary groups.

In the Colombian city of Cúcuta those unable to pay for a bus ticket to Bogotá, Cali or Medellin have to walk and face the extremes of the Colombian climate.

“It’s so sad,” Elizabeth says quietly. She shakes her head and glances to the ceiling. “You see them at the traffic lights and you want to help.

When I moved back to Cali, I tried to set up an organisation but the demand was too much and we didn’t have funding.

Our employees in Venezuela always tell us how hard it is for everyone and it’s difficult to hear. I thank God every day that we could make it.”

The Venezuelan migrant crisis has moved in waves. At first people with wealth established safeguards in the United States, Spain or Colombia.

Then those with savings and documentation went abroad to find work. Now, an estimated 5000 people move to Colombia every day.

“I was back in Venezuela last year,” Elizabeth adds, “You could see the poverty, but you could also see the wealthy are still there. That’s something you might not expect.

Those people fly to Miami for everything they need. Then in Venezuela they live as normal.”

In Ireland, Annick feels that people’s awareness of the Venezuelan crisis is fleeting.

“People think what’s happened to Venezuela is recent.

They don’t understand that this is the complete unravelling of a nation and that is exceptionally painful for everyone,” she says.

“It’s also not just the poor who are suffering. It’s families who can survive but who have lost their savings, businesses, money for their children’s education. That’s what makes it so emotional.”

Some 3.5 per cent of all Venezuelan migrants in Colombia are living in Cali, according to Migración Colombia.

On the drive into the city, they can be seen at the traffic lights or huddling together on grassy banks. They drive the taxis, wait the tables and work in industry from retail to agriculture.

Towards the beginning of many of their stories is the phrase: “Venezuela was beautiful once.”

“It’s true” Elizabeth says, “It was. Maybe now we look at those times with rose-tinted glasses, but it was beautiful. Many people had a nice life. We didn’t pay a lot of attention to politics or economics because we could live well.

Then, it wasn’t until the very end that we realised we were losing everything.” (Excerpt from The

Journal.ie)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, may 7, 2019

5

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

We desperately need a change Dear Editor, Since December 21, 2018, there has been a mad scramble by the President David Granger clan to remove the self-created suck sand from their feet. At this year’s May Day rally, the pundits certainly sent a clear message to the APNU/AFC, that their downright rejection to the establishment of a Ministry of Labour is an absolute insult to the workers of Guyana. As Guyana celebrates 100 years of “formal” existence in trade unionism in our country, workers are crying out for better work-

ing conditions, jobs for our youths, for women to be respected and enjoy better opportunities.

The APNU/AFC cabal is justifiably condemned for the brutal dismissal without alternatives, of more than seven thousand sugar workers; more than two thousand Amerindians and the dismissal of one hundred and sixty-seven youths by the closing down of the call centre in Linden. In the case of the latter, they vindictively took away bread and butter from more than three hundred persons who

had jobs under the PPP/C. The cries of the workers and their families are falling on the exposed APNU/AFC coalition Government, who are trying their best to utilise unwarranted time to come up with other lies and trickery.

Equally woeful, is the recent unthinking demoralisation and further discredit of our international image by the one seat majority clan, through the wilful use of the National Assembly to promote ‘terrorism’, in total disrespect for the Parliament and the Guyana

Constitution. Only the citizens of our country can suffer from the malfeasance of the Government’s honouring of a former citizen convicted for terrorism. The ‘fallen coalition’ must accept that they have been illegal since March 21, 2019.

This illegal coalition Government is committing too many unpardonable sins and their uncanny desperation is publicly evident, as they spend millions of dollars trying to buy votes. Corruption has become exponentially rampant and driven from the highest

echelon of the Government, while violence and crime are reaching the worst levels ever experienced in Guyana.

Almost every day, the unrestricted crime situation that is strongly related to the less than potent economic environment, encourages the violent robberies and senseless killings of citizens and visitors who are now in fear of living in their own homes. The situation is worse than under Burnham’s ‘kick down the doors’ era. There are increasing levels of school dropouts, more delinquents,

and the situation is forcing young people into prostitution and crime for their mere survival. Life under this corrupt APNU/ PNC is getting very serious and is certainly not the good life.

We must unite and struggle for immediate “Free and Fair Elections” and as we offer our prayers and await the CCJ rulings on the NCM, let us unite for a better Guyana. We desperately need a change.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

The CCJ should reject the flawed mathematical reasoning from Guyana’s Court of Appeal Dear Editor, This week, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will hear oral arguments regarding whether 34 votes (as opposed to 33) constitutes a “majority” and is required for a successful passage of a No-Confidence Motion brought in Guyana’s 65-membered Parliament, pursuant to Article 106 (6) of the Constitution of Guyana.

In March, Guyana’s Court of Appeals (the Court), in a 2 to 1 vote, controversially overturned a decision by the lower court, which previously held that the aforesaid motion filed by Guyana’s Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, was successfully carried by a vote of 33 to 32, thereby warranting the Government’s resignation and new elections.

The Government moved to court arguing that 34 votes were needed. The Court agreed, but in doing so, it erred significantly because the Government’s argument is only applicable in legislative bodies with even-numbered membership. Secondly, the Court’s calculation defied two universally accepted methods used for calculation: the median formula and the PEMDAS method of operation.

For many decades, 33 has been accepted as a “majority” in Guyana’s 65-membered Parliament, as the

Constitution of Guyana is silent as to what it is. The Government resorted to a definition found in the Constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu (a tiny island nation in South Pacific Ocean), which says that a “majority” is one-half the number plus one. In mathematical language that is: 1/2 n +1.

Using this formula and a two-step process, the Government argued and the Court agreed that 34 votes were needed from a total of 65 elected members of Parliament to defeat the Government by way of a NoConfidence Motion.

In the first step, we have 65 divided by 2 or (65/2) which is: 32.5 members. This 32.5 is rounded up to 33 in order to avoid having a fraction or a .5 person. In step two, we add 1 to 33. We add 1 because, as we recall, the Vanuatu Constitution tells us to do so: one-half the number plus one. Thirty-three plus one is 34 (33+1=34). This is how 34 became the new majority of 65.

The Court of Appeal’s erroneous mathematical calculation However, as already noted, the Court erred in its calculation when it failed to comply with the median formula and the PEMDAS method of operation. The median formula is one half the sum of numbers plus one, or ½ (n

+1). PEMDAS is a universally recognised acronym that tells us in what order we are to perform mathematical operations. It is as follows: parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and finally, subtraction.

Here, had the Court complied with the median formula and the PEMDAS method, it would have addressed the items inside the parenthesis first; it would have taken 65 and add 1 to get 66, as its first step. Then as its second step, it would have divided this 66 by 2, (66/2), to get 33. Mathematically, 33 constitutes a “majority” in a 65-membered Parliament (as in Guyana).

Without the median formula and the PEMDAS order for calculation, the Court’s method of calculation only works for legislative bodies with even-numbered membership. To illustrate, imagine a Parliament has 66 members. What is its majority? Using the Court’s formula of 1/2 n +1, we have half of 66 which is 33 in the first step.

In the second step, we add 1 to 33 and that gives us 34.

Thus, using the Court’s reasoning, a Parliament with 65 members and a Parliament with 66 members will have an identical majority of 34!

Dire effects across the Caribbean and beyond Clearly, this flawed method of calculation will intro-

duce unprecedented confusion amongst educational, scientific, and legislative bodies across the entire Caribbean region, if not beyond. The effect is already being felt.

For example, retired Professor Emeritus Errol

Miller (The University of the West Indies), a recognised expert in elections matters, admitted that should the CCJ uphold the Court’s decision, it will have serious implications for Trinidad and Tobago’s 41-member Parliament. To avoid chaos on such an ex-

traordinary scale, it is important that the CCJ reject the flawed mathematical reasoning upheld by the Court of Appeal of Guyana.

Sincerely, Professor Dev Rawana, PhD

Ramjattan’s inaccurate statements

Dear Editor, Our democracy will be half-baked if people like Khemraj Ramjattan are allowed to make such inaccurate statements without a response. Therefore, it would be remiss of me to leave such a glaring misinformed position to go unremarked upon.

Stabroek News of May 4, 2019, reported: “Ramjattan sees nothing wrong in contract awards to Minister’s company”. What utter nonsense!

The law is very clear that when you procure goods on behalf of the people, you do it to promote the following objectives: 1. Maximise economy and efficiency in procurement. (How do we know that Videomega was not overpaid for services that could have been done cheaper by the competitors?)

2. Foster and encourage wider participation in the procurement process. (But

this cannot happen if one company is exclusively offered the contract thereby shutting the competitor out) 3. Provide for fair and equitable treatment of all suppliers. (How can this be achieved when it appears that agents of the Ministers, under political instructions, choose only certain companies connected to these top officials to be the only suppliers of that service? Are the other suppliers being treated fairly and equitably?)

4. Promote the integrity of, and fairness and public confidence in the procurement process. (What integrity? Does it not appear that the entire milieu of these particular transactions is laced with cocktails of conflict of interest? How can the public have confidence in such a discriminatory process?)

5. Achieve transparency in the procurement process.

(What transparency? If the

information was not leaked and published, would there have been prior disclosure by the Ministers?)

But the big question remains - who collects the profits from these companies?

So think about this. Joan is the hired boss in a company but she is not the owner. Jack owns the company.

Without Jack’s knowledge, Joan buys all stationary and cleaning supplies from a company she personally owns. She always finds a reason why the competitors are not good enough to steer this contract to her personal company. Is that fair to Jack? Is Joan conducting a relationship that is improper and can be seen as a conflict of interest?

If Jack finds out, should he ask Joan to resign? Was Joan being ethical? Let the conversation continue.

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

6

TUESday, may 7, 2019

Page

H

Foundation

ave you ever hit the inside of your elbow in just the right spot and felt a tingling or prickly kind of dull pain? That’s your funny bone! It doesn’t really hurt as much as it feels weird. The “funny bone” got its nickname because of that funny feeling you get after you hit it.

But your funny bone isn’t actually a bone at all. Running

down the inside part of your elbow is a nerve called the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve lets your brain know about feelings in your fourth and fifth fingers. It’s also one of the nerves that control some movement of your hand.

You get that funny feeling when the ulnar nerve is bumped against the humerus (say: HYOO-muh-rus), the long bone that starts at your elbow and goes up to your shoulder. Tapping your funny bone doesn’t do any damage to your elbow, arm, or ulnar nerve. But it sure feels strange!

People sometimes mention the funny bone when they talk about their sense of humour. Maybe you’ve heard someone say that something “really tickled my funny bone”.

We’ll leave you with a joke and hope that it tickles yours: What’s a bone in your body that you can never break? Your funny bone!

What’s a bone in your body that you can never break? Your funny bone!

(kidshealth.org)

E

very single person has a skeleton made up of many bones. These bones give your body structure, let you move in many ways, protect your internal organs, and more.

It’s time to look at all your bones – the adult human body has 206 of them!

What are bones made of?

If you’ve ever seen a real skeleton or fossil in a museum, you might think that all bones are dead. Although bones in museums are dry, hard, or crumbly, the bones in your body are different.

The bones that make up your skeleton are all very much alive, growing and changing all the time like other parts of your body.

Almost every bone in your body is made of the same materials: The outer surface of bone is called the periosteum (say: pare-ee-OSS-teeum). It’s a thin, dense membrane that contains nerves and blood vessels that nourish the bone.

The next layer is made up of compact bone. This part is smooth and very hard. It’s the part you see when you look at a skeleton.

Within the compact bone are many layers of cancellous (say: KAN-sell-us) bone, which looks a bit like a sponge.

Cancellous bone is not quite as hard as compact bone, but it is still very strong.

In many bones, the cancellous bone protects the innermost part of the bone, the bone marrow (say: MAIR-oh).

Bone marrow is sort of like a thick jelly, and its job is to make blood cells.

How Bones Grow When you were a baby, you had tiny hands, tiny feet, and tiny everything!

Slowly, as you grew older, everything became a bit bigger, including your bones.

A baby’s body has about 300 bones at birth. These

eventually fuse (grow together) to form the 206 bones that adults have. Some of a baby’s bones are made entirely of a special material called cartilage (say: KAR-tel-ij).

Other bones in a baby are partly made of cartilage. This cartilage is soft and flexible. During childhood, as you are growing, the cartilage grows and is slowly replaced by bone, with help from calcium.

By the time you are about 25, this process will be complete. After this happens, there can be no more growth — the bones are as big as they will ever be. All of these bones make up a skeleton that is both very strong and very light.

Your spine Your spine is one part of the skeleton that’s easy to check out: Reach around to the centre of your back and you’ll feel its bumps under your fingers.

The spine lets you twist and bend, and it holds your body upright. It also protects the spinal cord, a large bundle of nerves that sends information from your brain to the rest of your body. The spine is special because it isn’t made of one or even two bones: It’s made of 33 bones in all! These bones are called vertebrae (say: VER-tuh-bray) and each one is shaped like a ring.

There are different types of vertebrae in the spine and each does a different kind of job: The first seven vertebrae at the top are called the cervical (say: SIR-vih-kul) vertebrae. These bones are in the back of your neck, just below your brain, and they support your head and neck. Your head is pretty heavy, so it’s lucky to have help from the cervical vertebrae!

Below the cervical vertebrae are the thoracic (say: thuh-RAS-ik) vertebrae, and there are 12 in all. These guys anchor your ribs in place. Below the thoracic vertebrae are five lumbar (say: LUM-bar) vertebrae. Beneath the lumbar vertebrae is the sacrum (say: SAYkrum), which is made up of five vertebrae that are fused together to form one single bone.

Finally, all the way at the bottom of the spine is the coccyx (say: COK-siks), which is one bone made of four fused vertebrae. The bottom sections of the spine are important when it comes to bearing weight and giving you a good centre of gravity. So when you pick up a heavy backpack, the lumbar vertebrae, sacrum, and coccyx give you the power.

When you dance, skip, and even walk, these parts help keep you balanced.

In between each vertebra (the name for just one of the vertebrae) are small disks made of cartilage. These disks keep the vertebrae from rubbing against one another, and they also act as your spine’s natural shock absorbers. When you jump in the air, or twist while slamming a dunk, the disks give your vertebrae the cushioning they need.(Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

news

7

tuesday, may 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Reassignment of former Housing Minister

Govt playing musical chairs, full probe should have been conducted – Ram

Political commentator Christopher Ram

P

olitical commentator Christopher Ram is of the firm belief that a full probe should have been ordered into the former Housing Minister, Valerie Adams-Yearwood, who was stripped of her responsibility of the housing sector following revelations that her husband received Government contracts.

Ram in an invited comment on Monday told this publication, “I think that the Government is playing musical chairs but that has been the style and mode of operation for this Government”.

He was at the time making reference to the fact that a number of Ministers have been switched around several times in the past owing to various reasons.

In this particular matter, however, the political analyst was keen to note that a full probe should have been ordered before further steps were taken to reassign her to the Agriculture Ministry.

“I think that this thing

should have been fully investigated. [A] Minister should not be dealt with by any standard other than those which would have been applied to anyone else.

All we heard is what she said but she certainly is not the best and most reliable person to exonerate herself,” Ram added.

Only last week, President David Granger admitted that Adams-Yearwood was reassigned in the “public’s interest”.

“There were certain allegations and I felt that it will be in the public’s interest for her to go to another Ministry. She has not been convicted of any crime and I feel that her services could be used in supporting the Minister of Agriculture with responsibility for rural affairs,” he noted.

The Head of State added, “At this point, I am satisfied that she has not committed any criminal offence, that she is a fit and proper person to continue to serve in the Department of Rural Affairs in the Ministry of Agriculture”.

The former Housing Minister within the Communities Ministry came under scrutiny last month after it was revealed that her husband, Godfrey Yearwood, was awarded a contract to build homes for a project spearheaded by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), an agency which fell under her then Ministry.

As such, the President, in reshuffling his Cabinet as a result of the recent resignation of four senior Ministers, reassigned Minister Adams-Yearwood

to the Agriculture Ministry as Minister with responsibility for Rural Affairs.

Minister AdamsYearwood has been replaced

by Junior Minister Annette Ferguson, who was also removed from the Public Infrastructure Ministry and placed at the Communities Ministry as Housing Minister.

However, Minister Adams-Yearwood said she does not view her reassignment as a demotion but a promotion instead. In fact, she made it a point to note that there were no changes to her remunerations.

“What is a demotion? My salary is not affected, my allowances [or] anything are not affected. Nothing is affected so why would it be a demotion? I see it as a promotion because I’m going into new and exciting areas,” Adams-Yearwood told reporters.

Meanwhile, even as the Minister denied that her reassignment had nothing to do with the issue involving her husband, local transparency watchdog, Transparency International Guyana Inc (TIGI) had said in a statement recently that it supports calls for the multimillion-dollar contract to be reviewed.

This issue came to the limelight last month when Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed that the Minister’s husband had sub-contracted the project to a contractor from Victoria, East Coast Demerara, who claims that he is yet to be paid for the works done more than a year ago.

According to TIGI, this situation is particularly per-

Ramjattan accuses educators of selling illegal substances in schools – law enforcement officials monitoring suspects

P

Agriculture Minister with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Valerie Adams-Yearwood

nicious since it comes at a time when Guyanese workers are struggling for fair treatment.

Chief Executive Officer of the CH&PA, Leon Saul had revealed that he was aware of this issue of non-payment.

“A complaint was lodged at the Ministry, I think it was some time last year, and we would have called in both parties and we advised them to settle the issue,” Saul told reporters earlier this month.

Furthermore, the CH&PA Head had also noted that the award of the contract to the Minister’s husband for works under a Ministry she was heading, was a clear conflict of interest even if the contract was awarded through a competitive bidding process.

ersons within the school system are suspected to be culprits in the emerging issue of students using illegal drugs. This is according to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who said all efforts are being made to put an end to this scourge.

He recently noted that law enforcement officials have been successful in capturing some persons who were involved with the introduction and/or sale of ecstasy and other illegal substances in certain schools but there still may be some who are employed in the school environments.

“I would not want to give you all the activities that we have done but we believe that people inside of the school system might now be indulging and that is why we will still have [illegal substances in schools]. And all we can do in relation to that is, of course, when we caught them we will prosecute and so on. But we are asking those persons not to do those things, it is harming our society, it is harming our children, and we have to have some self-restraint in what you indulge in.”

According to the Minister, persons who are trying to earn monies by threatening the wellbeing and health of children need to desist from doing so, especially in instances where they are acting outside of the law.

“That’s a crime to begin

with to be in possession of ecstasy and whatever else these new forms of drugs and plastic drugs, and whatever the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) people call them. But it is endangering our next generation. And we don’t want them and these are bright kids and just for a couple dollars these officials might very well be doing it.”

Minister Ramjattan also pointed out that it is a very difficult task in identifying every individual who may be indulging in the use of illegal substances in the school system but reiterated that law enforcement officials are monitoring those suspected.

“We have done certain activities that have seen them or others who we have suspected moving away from those schools…and so we have to talk to some of these school officials too because we believe that the culprits are within those schools. It is very difficult to identify them but we have some suspects…so we will be carrying on that activity and hopefully, more and more information is going to come from the other students too.”

In February of this year, a 20-year-old private school student was sentenced to three years in prison after he was found to have ecstasy in his possession.

CANU had also recently disclosed that it discovered a drug ring in several city schools.

8 News

tuesday, may 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden Block 42 residents voice concerns over land issues

Some of the residents along with Indigenous Peoples Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock at the meeting

R

esidents of Block 42, a developing community in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), have voiced numerous concerns regarding land access and ownership with Indigenous Peoples Affairs Minister, Sydney Allicock.

Issues such as the occupation of lands and its allocation as well as concerns regarding land titles were raised with the Minister during a recent visit to the Speightland community situated at Mackenzie, Linden.

Residents of Block 42, who attended the meeting, said they were fearful that the untitled lands that they occupy might be taken away by persons as was the case in the past.

Issues regarding land for both housing and commercial purposes are major concerns within the region and according to officials, this is majorly due to National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) having ownership

of the land.

During the meeting, Haniff Emamudin, a resident, stated, “Minister, this land thing, we’re just asking if you could just look into it... where I am living, I’m on a part of NICIL land and I’m not looking that somebody would come now and say, ‘well listen my great grandfather used to occupy this land here fifty years ago and you just came here the other day’. I believe people who develop this land and is living there with their families, making a living and develop this land ...at least they should get some rights.

Not a man who was [here] fifty years ago, as they say, ‘a mark land’”, the resident noted.

The resident noted that he has put a lot of labour into the plot of land he is currently occupying and it would be unreasonable if someone turns up to inform him that their relatives are the owners.

“This has happened in

the past, that people come up with a whole map of 50 or 60 years back and a man who put his soul out there [on the land] they had a big problem”, he outlined.

Another resident noted that 61 plots of land in the community have already been surveyed but noted that people are coming into the community and selling them.

“People coming in from all sides now and they claiming lands which is not dem own”, the resident alleged.

“I’ve been pushing a long time to get title for me land”, another resident noted.

In response, the Minister noted that checks have to be made with NICIL, which he explained would take some time. He further encouraged residents to check for records related to land before laying their foundations.

He also alluded that an Inquiry, which was expected to deal with such issues across the country, had been shut down years ago.

“That is why the President, in 2015, recognised the difficulty with lands in Guyana in general and ordered that there be a Commission of Inquiry into all lands. That process started and it had a period of time it was stopped. For us, as Indigenous Peoples, we had a number of groups including the National Toshao’s Council saying they didn’t want it and put it to a halt. And that is now back to haunt us because this could have been something in progress. The idea was to sort out all these land issues and let everybody be treated equally, fairly”, the Minister related.

The outcome, he noted, is that presently there are communities fighting amongst themselves as it relates to land and the issue is difficult to sort it out.

Nevertheless, the Minister said the Region 10 Democratic Council and Linden Mayor and Town Council have a lot of work to do as it relates to sorting out the lands and their titles.

“As somebody was saying, there’s confusion in the lands here. You don’t know where your boundaries [are] and all of that. These need to be sorted out and it’s not easy. So I understand what the people are saying. It is for us to settle it, how do we go about this”, the Minister said.

He also recalled situations where lands have been sold multiple times.

Minister Allicock believes that one day, the situation will be sorted out and is optimistic that residents and Government have to work in resolving these issues. For the developing community of Block 42, he said it is slowly evolving with improvements in water, lighting and roads.

No arrest made for Albouystown businesswoman’s murder – husband struggling to cope with loss of wife

L

ess than a week after Nalini Persaud was brutally murdered at her Albouystown, Georgetown home, her husband is struggling to cope with the trauma while the Police are still to make an arrest.

Still trying to come to grips with the death of his wife, Mahendra Rampersaud related that it has been very difficult for him to cope, especially since he solely has to make all her funeral arrangements.

‘I jus deh by myself all the time and cry sometimes, especially when people are coming and sympathise with

Dead: Nalini Persaud

you. I don’t have family living in Guyana,” Rampersaud related.

The man said his wife was a loving and charitable woman, since she gave back to the children in her community every year on her birthday. “My wife was loved in this community; when she died it was a big commotion, people of all races were crying,” he noted.

The grieving man related that he was still waiting on feedback from the Police regarding the arrest of suspects, but was holding out that justice would be served.

The businesswoman was killed during a robbery

in the wee hours of May 2, 2019 at her home.

Her lifeless body was discovered with a rope tied around her neck. Armed men reportedly gained entry into the home by boring a hole in the wall.

The woman and her husband were beaten by the men as they demanded cash and other valuables. Before leaving, the woman was strangled to death by the perpetrators while the man had to be taken to the hospital to seek medical attention.

The funeral service of the woman is expected to be held on Thursday, May 9, 2019.

Discordant notes…

A

…on Indian Arrival Monument t long last, the Indian Arrival Monument (IAM) has been installed and officially dedicated at Palmyra in Berbice. Mirroring the passage of the original Indian immigrants across the Indian and Atlantic oceans, the construction of the monument had more than its fair share of travails.

First of all, unlike other monuments dedicated to other groups’ histories, this one had to be proposed, funded, and crafted by a foreign country – India.

Then came the modelling – done by two local Guyanese sculptors (one Indian, one African) almost a decade ago. It was later cast in bronze in India, but returned only in early 2015, whereupon it stood in some warehouse for four years.

The six stylised figures are shown disembarking, presumably from a ship that had brought them across the dreaded Kala Pani/“black waters”. There are three men, two women and one boy. Anachronistically, one of the men is wearing a “Nehru/Congress” cap, which was fashioned only after indentureship and during India’s struggle for independence.

The siting of the monument then stirred controversy.

While the first Indian immigrants did set foot first in Berbice, it wasn’t at Palmyra, but miles upriver, at Highbury.

For years, Indian Arrival had been commemorated at that location, and permanent structures had been erected to facilitate the activities. But since it was off the beaten track, the previous Government had decided to situate it right opposite the Berbice Bridge, to ensure anyone entering or leaving Berbice would see it. It’s as if the US moved Independence Hall – where their declaration of Independence was signed – from Philadelphia to New York, so that more folks could visit!!

But, believe it or not, the biggest struggle was to construct the base on which the 17-ton sculpture would stand. The spot at Palmyra was in a cane field that had to be cleared and levelled. Disregarding the plans left them by the departed PPP Government, the new PNC Government awarded the $42- million contract to some mom-andpop firm from Linden that had absolutely no experience in heavy construction. Rather than casting solid concrete walls for the base, the Lindener used hollow blocks for the walls, which not surprisingly crumbled when they started to sand-fill the base!!

It took a year to start over and complete a much more modest (lower) base, but by then the cost had doubled because of the hollow blocks fiasco.

But the travails weren’t over. The Minister of Social Cohesion – who’s responsible for monuments and such like - announced that the IAM would be unveiled on April 17, even though Indian Arrival Day was only three weeks away!! Your Eyewitness understands the Indian High Commission had to dig their heels in for the May 5th date!! …and square pegs PNC leader Granger’s certainly making a mockery of governance. First, he created the largest Cabinet in the history of Guyana with 24 Ministers – plus another 4 who aren’t members! By comparison, the USA, with a Budget of US$4.5 TRILLION, makes do with 15 Ministers (called Secretaries)!! He seems to believe quantity is a substitute for quality!!

Another idiosyncrasy is that he doesn’t ever fire Ministers, no matter how flagrant their transgressions or the non-performance of their tasks. His solution is to “transfer”, as if character flaws like corrupt behaviour or laziness can be solved with new job titles!! But then, the practice of putting square pegs in round holes once they’re loyal to the PNC was par for the course under his hero Burnham, wasn’t it? How else can you explain his latest decisions to deal with the 4 resignations ensuing from the dual-citizen constitutional violations?

Imagine someone whose foreign service experience is limited to flying to NY being made Minister of Foreign Affairs!

Granger’s playing Russian roulette with our future just to reward PNC loyalty! …and shafting Indians Granger was fulsome in his praise of Indians’ achievements at the IAM ceremony. So how come he couldn’t find 1 Indian Permanent Secretary out of 17?

Have they regressed in the last four years? Or been shafted?

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

news

9

tuesday, may 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Energy Dept working on deficiencies Offshore Technology Conference Participation important for boosting in local technical training local content opportunities – GCCI – based on needs assessment done on TVET institutions

Energy Department Head, Dr Mark Bynoe

A

prevailing concern is that lack of capacity will see locals losing out on technical jobs arising from the oil and gas sector.

But armed with a needs assessment report, the Energy Department is looking to fix that.

This was explained at a press conference held on Friday by the Department at the Ministry of the Presidency. According to Head of the Department, Dr Mark Bynoe, they are working in collaboration with the Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (CTVET) and its Director, Floyd Scott.

“We’ve been working very closely with the Council and those entities that have been coming trying to set up parallel structures; we’ve been encouraging them to set up partnerships with the TVET institutions,” he explained.

Dr Bynoe related that they are considering initiating two pilot programmes within the TVET institutions. He also referenced the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and the University of Guyana, which are also building capacity for the sector.

“The University of

Guyana has recently launched their own petroleum programme. We are also working with the Board of Industrial Training. And one must recall the Public Service Ministry still provides opportunities for Guyana to build its capacity as we move towards the oil and gas sector,” Dr Bynoe stated.

In 2016, the Government had signed an agreement that would see the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) contributing US$14 million towards TVET institutions.

Another agreement to develop TVET worth US$83,000 was signed between Guyana and the Organisation of American States (OAS) last year.

This year, the University of Guyana also launched its Masters and Associate of Science in Petroleum Engineering programmes.

TVET

In March of this year, CTVET Director Scott had revealed at a forum in Albouystown that Guyana was missing hundreds of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) skills from its technical and vocational curriculums.

“There is currently in the region of Occupational Health and Safety standards, 250 skills. In Guyana, within our TVET institutions, we only have 17 occupational skills being taught. So, if there is a need for a skill outside of that 17, the foreigners will come,” he had said.

Scott also revealed that during a recent meeting of the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT), he learnt that they were now issuing skilled certificates to categories of workers.

...as Guyanese contingent showcases local technology in Texas

CTVET Director Floyd Scott

“The agriculture workers, security workers and domestic household… What was interesting is what the skilled certificates mean, it’s a work permit to travel throughout the Caricom Region.

Guyanese cannot get it…because that certification is not afforded in Guyana,” Scott noted.

“With oil and gas, you will see tourism. You will see a lot of hotels. You will see the need for people to be day-care workers. And the foreigners aren’t going to come and ask you to work for them, because you look good.

They want to know you are capable of doing the job.”

Local content and what it will do for Guyana has been a burning question since the announcement of the oil discovery in the Stabroek Block.

After Exxon first tempered expectations by saying that few job opportunities will be created by oil, it has since said that it would help with local content delivery.

One measure it has taken is to set up a Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD). A major complaint has been that Guyanese are losing out to foreigners when it comes to local content, especially as the Local Content Policy is still to take effect.

GO-Invest Chief Executive Officer Owen Verwey (second from right) and Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes interacting with other attendees

G

uyana made its presence known at the opening of a threeday conference on Monday in Houston, Texas, with several booths showcasing what the country has to offer as it created opportunities for business and networking.

The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is being held this year under the theme “OTC: The Next 50 Years”.

Speaking at a recently held press conference, President of GCCI Nicholas Boyer said that participation

at the OTC is necessary for local content development.

He had noted that it allows for Guyanese businesses to learn and seek partnerships in pursuit of the emerging opportunities in the South American country.

GCCI represents more than 240 companies in Guyana and has been advocating for local content development, with emphasis on oil and gas, over the past two years.

“Participating at OTC will help us to bring more of the supply chain on to Guyana’s shores,” he said.

“It was very important that Guyana has representation at this conference, and as such, in January, I reached out to the CEO of GO-Invest and the Ministry of Business to pursue a partnership so that we can ensure there is an adequate representation.” turn to page 11

10 news

tuesday, may 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Business community anxiously awaits CCJ ruling on no-confidence case

GCCI President Nicholas Boyer

T

he Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is holding its stance on the state of business in Guyana as many entrepreneurs are still awaiting the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the NoConfidence case.

This is according to President of the Chamber, Nicholas Boyer during a recent interview with this publication.

Back in February, the GCCI conducted a study following the passage of the December 21, 2018, No-Confidence Motion and found that the looming political uncertainty has caused some 64 per cent of businesses to register some sort of decline.

“From the results, 64 per cent of respondents [or about two in every three businesses] experienced some form

of decline due to uncertainty over the state of political affairs in Guyana. For those businesses which registered a decline in activity, approximately 85 per cent experienced a 25 to 50 per cent drop in the level of commercial activity. The remaining 15 per cent experienced 75 to 100 per cent decline in business,” the GCCI said.

Against this backdrop, Boyer noted that there has been no improvement as business owners remain in suspense.

“Right now we don’t see a major improvement yet because everybody is aware that May 9 and May 10 will be a hearing at the CCJ so in other words we know that there is a third round to this game and until you get a final decision [we are] still getting that effect from the No-Confidence Motion,” he explained.

Furthermore, the Chamber’s President pointed out that this is likely to be the case because most persons are simply waiting on the ruling from the CCJ before making further decisions.

“I think that right now businesses are still on a wait and see mode because clearly everybody is aware that on May 9 and 10 the Caribbean Court of Justice will hear arguments for and against whether the No-Confidence Motion was properly passed and then subsequent to that, make a decision,” Boyer said.

He made reference to the

fact that if the CCJ rules in favour of the Government to say the motion of NoConfidence was not passed then it means business as usual, however, if the court rules that the motion was validly passed to overthrow the Government then the entire country will be in uncertainty, given that the stipulated timeline for Regional and General Elections would have elapsed.

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

Meanwhile, 106 (7) goes on to state that, “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign af-

Businesses along Regent Street

ter the President takes the oath of office following the election”.

On March 22, a divided Appeal Court ruled that a majority of 34 votes would have been needed to validly pass the No-Confidence Motion brought against the A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government last year.

Government had subsequently asked the House to reverse the passage of the motion, but its Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, had declined the request and

had advised that the court be approached. As such, Government had gone to the High Court to challenge the validity of the motion, saying that a 34 majority is needed for it to be successfully passed.

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George had, in January, upheld the December 21, 2018, passage of the No-Confidence Motion, ruling that in Guyana’s 65-member National Assembly, a majority is 33. This, however, was appealed by Attorney General Basil Williams.

While Justice Rishi Persaud dismissed the appeal and conferred with the ruling of the High Court, his colleague appellate judges allowed the State’s appeal.

Both Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Dawn Gregory opined that while 33 is the majority of the 65-member National Assembly, the successful passage of a No-Confidence Motion requires an “absolute majority” of 34, and not the “simple” majority of 33 that has been used to pass ordinary business in the House.

ther during which he visited both the hospital and police station but this also proved futile.

“It got me really bothered now that’s where I decided to search. I went to do a search hunt at the hospital, I check with the police station and stuff like that, nobody knows anything. At this point I am kinda disappointed because he never said anything where he going and here it is, he gone missing” he related.

However, Joseph’s son revealed that his father’s disappearances are constant. Becunha told this publication that prior to this incident, his father at one time told him that he was heading to Venezuela for one week but surprisingly, he spent ten years in the neighbouring country before returning home.

The son is now of the be-

lief that his father may have headed back to the country or even to Region One (Barima-Waini) since he was constantly expressing an interest in visiting the area.

“Since my mom died he was back and forth with us, from here to Venezuela all the time…he got some relatives in North West because he always wanted to go to North West, so I’m wondering if he gone out there now or he gone back to Venezuela, so I don’t know” he related.

Nevertheless, Becunha is worried as he related that his father suffers from memory loss among other illnesses. Becunha is, therefore, asking the public to forward any information on the whereabouts of Joseph by calling 638-0710 or contacting the nearest police station.

Better Hope pensioner goes missing

T

he family of 72-yearold Cecil Joseph also called “Berty” of Lot 16 Kissoon Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is seeking the public’s assistance in locating the pensioner after he left his home the day after Easter Monday and failed to return.

The missing man’s son, Chaitanya Becunha, told Guyana Times on Monday that his father has been residing with him at Better Hope, ECD, for the past two years since the death of his wife.

Becunha added that his father would regularly visit his brother’s home and would return after a week or two, however, this was not the case. The worried son contacted relatives to check on his father but was told that he was not seen, hence he suspected something was

Missing: Cecil Joseph also called “Berty”

amiss.

After calls to relatives seeking information on Joseph’s whereabouts proved futile, the desperate son went in search of his fa-

news

11

tuesday, may 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Labourer crushed by molasses truck – driver arrested after fleeing scene

A

Dead: Keyno Akeem Sinclair

n East Canje labourer was on Monday morning crushed to death by a molasses truck along the East Canje Public Road, Berbice.

Dead is Keyno Akeem Sinclair, 24, of Lot 136 West Canefield, East Canje. He

was last seen leaving a wake house in the community sometime after midnight.

However, his body was found lying on the roadway at about 03:00h with his head smashed. He was identified by a pair of slippers that were in close proximity of the body.

As news spread, some villagers reported that a driver was seen trying to clean what appeared to be blood from the cargo truck that he operates.

As such, Police later arrested a 43-year-old man from Don Robin, East Coast Berbice. He reportedly told investigators that he was unaware that he had hit anything.

The driver of the molasses truck

The truck that was involved in the accident

Participation important for...

“One of the key things we are aiming for in this mission is first education, secondly connection and networking. The underpinning of these two is to promote local content,” he said Meanwhile, the Business Ministry on its social media page posted the Guyanese contingent interacting with other high-level experts in the field.

“This year, 24 representatives of Guyanese companies are in Houston, Texas, to market their companies, interact with potential investors and partners and to learn of modern advances in the oil and gas sector.

Guyana’s participation at the conference is being coordinated by the Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI),” the Ministry said in its post.

Before leaving to attend the Conference, Chief Executive Officer of GOInvest, Owen Verwey told media operatives on Thursday that Guyana will form part of more than 60,000 that will be in attendance and it will create opportunities for business networking and education sharing among Guyana and other countries.

He had explained that the goal of the mission is to foster relations with other oil-producing companies to benefit the country and its economy. Furthermore, Verwey said the aim is to allow members of the Guyana delegation to network with other participants, as well as to gather relevant information on the offshore oil and gas sector.

“We will have two booths at the Conference and we will be looking into specific activities that are Guyana-

from page 9

focused and that will also complement OTC activity that is Guyana-focused, with emphasis on the country’s upcoming oil and gas industry,” Verwey explained.

There will also be a Guyana night of information sharing and networking in collaboration with a major partner ExxonMobil.

Some of the businesses attending the conference include Roraima Airways, Hughes Fields and Stoby, Ramps Logistics, GTT, Guyana National Shipping Corporation, Sterling and Japarts.

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

The dead man’s mother, Jounell Natasha Sinclair, said the suspect is well aware that he stuck down her son.

“I am not going to leave this so. It is a life he took.

Yes, it was night time but

the driver should have seen; the truck have lights.” She referred to her son as very loving and said she is going to miss him.

“He does make his achar and mango sour to sell. He send some pepper for me the other day.”

The woman, who lives in Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, said she did not see her son since last Tuesday. At the time of his demise, he was living with

an aunt in East Canje.

The grieving mother told this publication that she has a difficult time “bringing up” her four children; two are still at school and one is a cricketer.

Meanwhile, the driver remains in custody as Police continue their investigations. Sinclair leaves to mourn his mother and three siblings along with other relatives and friends.

12 news Ramjattan praises public-Police relations for successful drug operations, convictions tuesday, may 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

formation from the citizens of the country and a genuine desire on the police to solve these crimes. A greater resolve of wanting the security sector to improve and I also believe too the new leadership has played a role in that regard”, the Minister stated.

which is critical. You know we had an issue with trust sometime back where persons give you the information and they are left out in the cold. So it is just that we are building back that bridge, and in the case of narcotics cases, persons are more comfortable now coming forward and giving information [knowing] fully well that the source will not be

More money for agencies

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

T

he numerous successful operations, seizures, and arrests with convictions during the first quarter of this year are testimonies to the fact that public trust with law enforcement agencies is being repaired and rebuilt.

This is according to Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, who told Guyana Times in an interview that the public has regained some confidence with law enforcement officers and as such, the successes in narcotics cases.

“There are the four factors I think – it is the paying off of a long-standing set of training, it is paying off now, a long-standing set of bettering the relationship and confidence of members of the public and the leadership of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) also helps. The efforts that have been gone into the training, the efforts that have gone into getting better community relations so that we are going to get more in-

Minister Ramjattan stated that plans are underway to secure more monies for the various units of the GPF, along with other law enforcement agencies, since they are constantly requesting access to more finances to continue to execute their duties effectively and efficiently.

“All of them, that does not only [cater] for the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) but also for the Guyana Prison Service, it goes for the GPF, all of which have been making demands from the Ministry and myself for increased allocations, increased monies, funding for more vehicles. Some want All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) for the interior, they want more comfortable police stations, furnishing, and the list goes. We have come from a very low level of comfort when it comes to police infrastructure and the CANU’s infrastructure.”

According to the Public Security Minister, more monies for these agencies would be ideal, so that they each can continue to build on the trajectory they have set with regard to reaping more successes in their respective fields.

However, the issue of more finances being distributed or allotted to these

Crime Chief Lyndon Alves

agencies is dependent on the resources that Government has available.

“We are now opening up new buildings, one in Skeldon (Region Six), one in Lethem (Region Nine), a number of places also, so… it is going to evolve. It is not going to happen just the next day and that also depends on our resources. We are going to get far more resources with a better revenue stream as you know and that is what is going to help us,” the Minister added.

revealed, they are assured of confidentiality”, Alves highlighted.

The Crime Chief also noted that as the law enforcement agencies continue to clamp down the drug trade and the seizure of illicit substances, it must be clear that this does not necessarily mean that there are more drugs in Guyana.

“It does not necessarily

mean there is more frequent use of drugs in Guyana. It is more information being able to come out in the open.

More people are now coming forward so there are more reports but this does not necessarily mean there is an increase in drugs usage or trade in the country,” the Crime Chief added. (Kristen Macklingam)

Coomacka elects new CDC executives – re-elected Chairman outlines developmental plans

More arrests don’t mean more drugs being used

Meanwhile, Deputy Police Commissioner and Crime Chief Lyndon Alves told this publication that the collaboration between the public and the GPF has played an integral role in ranks making arrests and justice being served, not only in the Narcotics Department.

“More information is being shared with the police from members of the public and we are building trust

F

Dexter Harding (extreme right) and members of the new CDC

ollowing the hosting of community elections last Friday, new members have been elected to serve on the Coomacka Community Development Council (CDC) in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Re-elected as Chairman was Councillor Dexter Harding, while Carolyn Ettiene was elected ViceChairman. Harding won against his opponent Wendy Wagner, 78 votes to 38.

Other members of the Council now include Secretary, Bernadette Torres; Treasurer, Verna Wilson-Thom; Secretary/ Treasurer, Donna Thom, while Committee Members include Odessa Jones-

Adams, Oswald Charles, Kenrick DeClou and Kurt Lewis. The election was officiated by Community Development Officer and Councillor Denise Belgrave.

Speaking with this publication on Monday, the newly re-elected Chairman of the CDC outlined some of the plans of the Committee in moving the community forward. Some of the top priorities on the agenda is working to eradicate land and political issues.

“NICIL [National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited] officials are working to regularise lands in the area, but... they had side-stepped the previous CDC and worked with a political activist on the ground and it had caused confusion, where residents were not pleased with the way it was carried out.

So, I’ll be working to see that folks in the community are pleased with NICIL. I’m asking also that the President and relevant officials see that transparency be carried out in the community so that we’ll not further fracture the community politically, because we have a political fracture whereby we have a division in the community. I’ll be working on this to ensure that as a people we have unity to move forward so that the next generation would not

be in the situation that we are in,” Harding noted.

He added that the new CDC will meet today to propose the completion of a community hub and kitchen, a poultry pen, which will house 100 meat birds, and a permanent place to house a forestry, hub and CDC offices.

“So we’ll be working on these projects to have them completed...we’ll also be talking about the 20 persons to join the HEYS [Hinterland Employment and Youth Service] programme and we have to put together a list for the drainage project, also for those who will be cooking on the feeding programme for the primary and nursery schools. These are things we will ensure we put in place in the first quarter”, Harding further outlined. He noted too that the lighting and fencing of the community ballfield and other projects are also on the agenda.

Harding said he was happy and excited to continue to work within the community. With this being his third time being elected to serve in the capacity, he said he does not think he will be running for a fourth term. He noted, however, that he will be working over the next two years to accomplish the goals set out by the CDC.

13

news

tuesday, may 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Port Kaituma River contaminated – GWI Guyana Petroleum Summit set ...residents, farmers continue to suffer due to lack of water

R

esidents of Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), are fuming over the lack of water supply in their community as a result of the prolonged dry weather.

The residents are forced to walk several miles to the only operational water source in the community and fetch water for their daily consumption.

The only alternative source of water available to them is the river, however, they were informed that the Guyana Water Incorporated halted the pumping of water from that source due to possible contamination.

The company in an advertisement on Sunday in the daily newspapers advised residents in Port Kaituma to desist from using the river water following the discovery of possible contamination.

The company noted that

samples have been collected and will be sent for testing both locally and overseas and the results of those tests will determine the way forward.

The company also advised that potable water is available from the Port Kaituma Pump via a dispenser and residents are being urged to make full use of that water source.

Meanwhile, residents said that this source of water is not adequate to service the entire community and residents of the outlying areas have difficulty in accessing that source.

“We were using the river alone because that water source they advising people to use is far away from where we living. Is months of dry weather and residents are complaining all the time but nothing is being done. GWI is doing nothing for us here. The springs

are dry. No pumping could be done. We are suffering here for basic water,” Trevor De Costa, a resident, told Guyana Times on Monday.

The dry weather season continues to affect residents and farmers in hinterland communities throughout the country. Residents of Region One have been complaining of the negative impacts of the lack of access to potable water. Residents and farmers said enough is not being done by the water company to offer substantial relief.

Another resident, Patricia Mendonca, who also spoke to this publication, said that her husband depends on farming to take care of his family and since the shortage of water, he has been unable to do so.

“My husband can’t look after his crops properly. We don’t even have water to drink so imagine where we find-

ing water from [to] do anything else. We are pleading for help. More work needs to be done by GWI in supplying these communities with water in the dry spell,” she said.

Meanwhile, farmers in that and other hinterland communities continue to suffer losses and are facing extreme difficulty in feeding their families.

Region One Chairman, Brentnol Ashley had told Guyana Times that the dry spell is severely affecting all communities in the region as the water level of the GWI springs dropped drastically and pumping is being done periodically once per week and three times per week in some areas. This, he said, continues to have harsh effects on residents since there is very limited access to potable water. He added that as a result of the dry spell, the rivers are salted, making it impossible for residents of riverine communities to access. Subsequently, some residents are forced to walk for miles to access the limited water supply available in springs.

He also confirmed that the lack of water is affecting farmers in the area who depend on farming for their livelihood. Guyana Times was unable to reach the public relations department of GWI for a comment on the efforts being made by the company to offer relief to the residents in that and other hinterland communities.

Over 700 to benefit from new water well in Region 9

Officials and villagers of Nappi, Region Nine, at the new well that was dug

O

ver seven hundred residents of Nappi Village, Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), will be beneficiaries of a new well that was drilled to provide the community with easier access to potable water.

The drilling of the well was undertaken through a collaborative effort between the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Under the Japan-

Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCCP), the two parties are working towards increasing resilience of indigenous communities to vulnerabilities in the drought period, through improved water quality, access and storage.

As a result, Brazilian company, Fox Trading was contracted to drill the well, which was completed on Saturday, May 4, at a depth of 144 metres.

The initial water production from the well was witnessed by GWI officials

along with the Toshao of Nappi Village, Region Nine, Guy Frederick, at approximately 23:00h on Saturday.

GWI is now tasked with installing distribution and transmission mains, pumps and service connections, while the UNDP is expected to erect a trestle with storage tanks, all of which will ensure residents are adequately served.

According to residents, the new well will ease their burden of having to walk approximately 600 metres downhill to fetch water for

daily use.

One middle-aged resident, Egbert Frederick said he could not have believed his eyes when he saw the well being drilled.

Austin Domingo, 85 years of age, said he has reached the age where he can no longer walk long distances and fetch water since his knees are now weak. He thanked the Government of Guyana and other stakeholders involved in the project for supplying potable water to his community.

for May 9 in Houston, Texas

– to feature oil and gas experts

S

everal companies and oil experts are slated to attend and provide their input during the Guyana Petroleum Summit, which will be held on Thursday at the Marriott Marquis in Houston, Texas.

Companies such as Chevron, SBM Offshore, PRT Offshore, Manuchar, Technip FMC, EOG Resources, OEG Offshore Limited, Shell, Maersk, BHGE, Eni, Repsol, Stena Drilling, Marubeni Venezuela, Sanchez Oil & Gas, Tidewater, and PRT Offshore have already pledged their support.

This event comes as Guyana is preparing for first oil in 2020, and some of these corporations are positioned to share their insight on the establishment of a regulatory framework and building new infrastructure to support the industry.

So far, a number of Guyanese have been exposed to oil and gas training, but there are other challenges which lie ahead. Companies continue to advance their operations and prepare new facilities to support the sector. The Guyana Summit is also seeking to enable networking among new investors, independent oil and gas operators, contractors, and service companies.

Speakers at the event include former Business Minister Dominic Gaskin; Global Geologist and Advisor of Dribus Geologic Consulting LLC, John Dribus; Tidewater Chief Operating Officer Jeff Gorski; former Petroleum Advisor of the Ministry of

the Presidency, Jan Mangal and TOTALTEC Chairman Lars Mangal.

Just a few days ago, ExxonMobil was granted approval to go ahead with its Liza Phase 2 development offshore Guyana, which will commence in mid-2022. So far, 13 of 15 prospects drilled have recorded a success rate of 86 per cent, which is equivalent to four times the industry average worldwide.

The company stated that it has funded the Liza Phase 2 development at the cost of some US$6 billion, including a lease capitalisation cost of approximately $1.6 billion, for the Liza Utility Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

The Liza Phase 2 will produce up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day and a total of 600 million from that development. For the Phase 2 development, six drill centres are planned, along with approximately 30 wells – 15 production, nine water injection and six gas injection wells.

Nevertheless, the US oil giant noted that Liza Phase 1 remains on track to achieve first oil by the first quarter of 2020 and will produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day at peak rates utilising the Liza Destiny FPSO, which is expected to arrive offshore Guyana in the third quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, as the deadline to get registered for the one-off conference looms, persons are reminded to do so as early as possible by visiting the registration page.

14 News

tuesday, may 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Stabroek Market “is in a bad shape” – vendors … leaking roof affects sellers …wharf rehabilitation still pending

A section of the wharf which was destroyed by fire

I

t has been more than half a year since the Stabroek Market Wharf was cordoned off for commencement of much needed rehabilitation works, and numerous other problems have since arisen on its main edifice, including leaks during the rainy periods that affect a number of vendors.

A group of merchants have voiced their concerns to Guyana Times in light of the onset of the current rainy season, wherein several damages have been caused.

Fazir (only name provided) explained that while works were done externally to give the market a facelift, the internal facilities are somewhat worrying.

Heavy rainfall over the past few days has resulted in leakages from the roof, and dry goods and clothes from neighbouring stalls have been damaged. Fazir explained that this is usually the norm, and merchants are forced to operate in an uncomfortable environment.

“The outside of the market look nice, but when you come in here on a rainy day and see what we paying for, you would be surprised.

From the night before, we got to set a bucket and look after if rain might fall. This market is in a bad shape, and it’s not nice to be selling here in this condition,” he declared.

He added, “I get goods that, if water touch it, I will suffer the loss. City Council won’t come and reimburse nobody. Then other people get clothes that could wet. They can’t display the clothes, cause the roof leaking bad.”

Fazir said that, along with this dilemma, the electricity and water supply is unreliable.

“The electrical setup is a hazard. If the lights not blinking, it not working.

Sometimes it don’t come on, or we get blackout and we got to wait for hours…sometimes days,” he disclosed.

Meanwhile, another

vendor pointed out that he markets vegetables in close proximity to the wharf, and the downpours have severely affected his business.

It is the same situation for persons at the Stabroek Bazaar, which reportedly is often flooded.

Wharf

Meanwhile, six months after 70 persons were vacated to rehabilitate the Stabroek Wharf, works are yet to commence. Vendors are fearful that the structure might collapse.

A recent visit to the wharf saw many vagrants occupying the uninhabited stalls, while the floor was thatched together with loose wood.

One individual whose stall was closed said he had moved over to the Route 42 bus park with expectation that the wharf would be fixed soon enough. However, the delay in effecting those works has caused him much worry.

“I want go back at the wharf. All of we waiting, and we ain’t seeing nothing happening. If they leff it like this and a couple more months pass, it gon fall down…that gon affect the front side of the building, and then is a bigger problem,” he said as he gestured.

Last November, a fire suspected to be arson destroyed a section of the structure. Since beginning of June 2016, former Town Clerk Royston King had announced that works would commence on the structure after Council had received word from the Public Infrastructure Ministry to go ahead with the project.

He had said that the budget for the complete refurbishment of the Wharf has been pegged at some $400 million. After the wharf has been rehabilitated, he had disclosed, the section of the market which faces the Demerara River would be converted into a mall that includes a boardwalk and entertainment areas.

The plans concerning the

wharf had been met with approval from the vendors, and they were informed that they would be required to pay a larger sum to rent spaces on the new structure.

But after more than three years, those works have not been undertaken.

Noise nuisance taking toll on Soesdyke residents

T

he Kozy Nook Restaurant and Bar at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, which has been around for decades is once again in the spotlight as residents are complaining about noise nuisance.

The police were called in on several occasions to no avail.

As such, one resident, who is primarily affected by the loud music said he cannot take it any longer. Nigel Gossai claimed that the business establishment has no consideration for the sick and continues to blast the music systems in the day and late into the nights.

He told Guyana Times that only recently, he was diagnosed with a brain condition and the loud music has taken a toll on his health.

“My house shakes. These people have no regards for others who live around here.

As we speak, the music is so loud we can’t hear anything… the music is being played it in the open. It has been happening every day.

This has been going on far too long, nobody seems to be bothered”, he stated.

According to Gossai, he

would have filed a number of complaints to the police while noting that the business enterprise was once taken to court for loud and offensive music but this, he noted, has not stopped the proprietor from tuning up his volume to the highest.

“We even went to court and so forth and the result is dissatisfactory. We have a court order and these people treat the order like trash.

We went to the court again and one of them was charged and it still continue.”

Efforts to make contact with the entity proved futile.

Back in 2018, the Public Security Ministry had re-enforced the “02:00 am curfew” for nightspots and other places of entertainment.

It was explained that after taking into account the effects of alcohol consumption on crime and violence – including domestic violence, traffic accidents, the unproductive capacities of the population the day after along with other attendant circumstances such as the adverse effects of the proliferation of noise nuisance – Minister Khemraj

Ramjattan determined that “it is in the best interest of the country to enforce the existing laws which have mandated that these entertainment facilities to be closed at 02:00h”.

The “02:00 am closing time” is provided for in the Music and Dancing Licences (Amendment), Act Chapter 23:03, Act Number 12 of 1982.

That Act states at section 9 that: “A place, so kept or used, although so licensed as aforesaid, shall not be opened for any of the purposes aforesaid except on the days and between the hours stated on the licence: Provided that the holder of a first-class hotel licence may keep open the licensed premises for the purpose of dancing, singing, music or other public entertainment once in every week until the hour of two of the clock in the morning except on any Sunday”.

“Place” as used in Section 9 means “house, room, garden, or other place” and covers bars, clubs and restaurants as well as open spaces used for dances and entertainment purposes.

Overseas-based Guyanese opens multimillion-dollar business in Berbice

fortunately, the owner of the establishment, who could not have been in Guyana for the grand opening, believes that the state-of-the-art facility will cater to the fashion needs of both men and women.

He noted that as a businessman, he takes pleasure is creating a unique atmosphere that has never been seen before in Corentyne. He also congratulated his partners who have come on board while noting that Fancey’s Outlet and Make-Up Academy will be around for a very long time.

Popular make-up artist, Vincent Shelto in his brief remarks outlined that his Master Class will be taken to Berbice on a monthly basis to provide the opportunity for those who wish to take applying make-up to another level.

B

erbicians were on Saturday last given another alternative to shop for brand name clothing and cosmetics as Fancey’s Outlet and Make-up Academy located at Clifton Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, opened its doors for the first time.

The idea of the establishment was birthed in October 2018 during a discussion with the owner, Mohabir Persaud, and popular make-up artist, Vincent Shelto. After a few months of brainstorming ideas, the construction of the state-of-the-art facility commenced in February 2019.

Three months later, the doors to one of the most sophisticated stores were opened, presenting more choices to Berbicians. The facility, which cost about $30 million will offer affordable branded clothing.

At the opening on Saturday, a representative from the Rose Hall Town Council, Dave Boodhoo, congratulated the owners of the business while noting his concerns about the timing of the venture especially as it relates to the unstable political atmosphere.

In addition, he further expressed

concerns about the spending power of Berbicians at this time but nevertheless, is optimistic that business will pick up in due time.

Public Relations Officer of the Central Corentyne Chambers, Poonai, who had to leave abruptly to attend to his customers, also extended best wishes to the owners and staff of the newly-opened business. However, un-

The first make-up class commenced on Monday, May 6 and will last for a week. Nevertheless, Shelto believes that the collaboration will provide high-end clothing and make-up on a new level. The establishment falls under the MMP Global Inc, which has provided employment for close to 20 persons.

news

15

tuesday, may 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Little Diamond residents blast BK for destroying main access bridge/road

The Little Diamond roadway which was damaged by BK contracting firm

R

esidents of Little Diamond East Bank Demerara have accused BK International of damaging the only access to their community; a bridge

and the main roadway.

BK International is presently constructing a sluice behind the community and as such, this has caused major destruction to the bridge

and road as a result of workers transporting heavy-duty equipment.

Works Chairman of the Little Diamond/Herstelling Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Wilfred Bassant in an interview with Guyana Times on Sunday said that the bridge to the new developing community was built some five years ago and was in perfect condition up until two months ago when BK began works in the area.

“The destruction of this bridge and the road started two months ago. They brought in piles on a hauler truck and a few of the boards broke which they replaced with some old pieces of timber and continued fetching their equipment and materials via these heavy-duty trucks. And more and more the boards keep breaking,” he explained.

Bassant said that over the last few weeks, the bridge continued to sink

Govt signs MoU with Republic of Chile on mining sector

deeper and is in a deteriorating state. The NDC has written to the Public Infrastructure Ministry, the regional authorities and the Communities Minister and to date they are still to receive a response.

He said the condition of the road “is like a mud dam” and residents are suffering greatly while noting that the contractor is unconscionable.

“I was at home when I heard a cracking sound and when I came out, I noticed three more boards were broken as the workers were transporting sand across the bridge in one of those big sand trucks,” the NDC Chairman added.

Residents are now fearful of using this bridge due to its condition and it is the only entrance and exit to the community.

Residents are also fearful that in the case of an emergency, they will be left to suffer the consequences since a fire truck or ambulance cannot traverse that bridge in a hurry.

“Nothing can come in here. We even afraid to walk over that bridge. We have children going to school and that bridge is in a terrible state and we have no other means of getting in or out of here. Taxis don’t even want

The deteriorated bridge which serves as the only access to the Little Diamond community

to bring people in here, this is how bad it is,” Nandanie Singh, a resident, told Guyana Times on Monday.

Further, Bassant pointed out that in some other areas where works are being done, the contractors take responsibility for maintenance of damaged roads and access ways. “We are saying if BK is using the bridge to fetch his heavy-duty equipment and materials then he should maintain it. When the contractor was doing works in Herstelling, they

built their own access road without creating disruption to residents of Herstelling and that posed no problems for those residents so why can’t they do the same thing in here,” Bassant argued.

He expressed hope that one of the Ministries respond soon to the NDC’s letter and offer some guidance and assistance on the way forward. Attempts to get a comment from the owner of BK International, Brian Tiwari, proved futile.

CJIA says no contracts were entered into for Arrivals Duty-Free Concession

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and Chilean Mining Minister Baldo Prokurica after the signing of the MoU

N

atural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chile’s Minister of Mining, Baldo Prokurica and the National Service of Geology and Mining of the Government of the Republic of Chile (SERNAGEOMIN).

The Memorandum provides a framework for the exchange of scientific and technical knowledge and the augmentation of scientific and technical capabilities of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and SERNAGEOMIN with respect to Earth Sciences and Mining.

“The signing of this MoU brings to fruition areas discussed when His Excellency, President David Granger visited Chile two years ago.

We look to Chile as a good example for productive and safe mining practices and how the proceeds of mining can be utilised for the ben-

efit of the citizens. This relationship between Guyana and Chile will benefit our people immensely and we can look to no better example than Chile of how to do it properly”, Trotman stated.

Chile’s Mining Minister Prokurica said his country was pleased to be able to share its knowledge and expertise with Guyana.

He noted that Chile was known throughout the world as an important mining country. “We are very interested in signing this agreement and further collaboration especially in geological services … 20 per cent of mining services provided in Peru are Chileans,” he added.

Forms of cooperation under the Memorandum may consist of exchanges of technical information; visits; participation in training courses, conferences, and symposia; exchange of professional geoscientists in areas of mutual interest; and

any other cooperative research consistent with programmes of the parties.

Specific areas of cooperation include, but are not limited to geochemical and geological mapping and data analysis, economic geology and metallogenesis.

GGMC Geological Services Division Manager Gordon Nestor noted that the MoU cleared the way for greater capacity building in the Commission.

“It will help boost capacity for geological and land management platforms and the development of professionals in geosciences, geophysics and structural management and data management,” he noted.

Collaboration between SERNAGEOMIN and GGMC has started with two outward visits of GGMC staff to Chile and one inward from SERNAGEOMIN to the GGMC. There are three Chileans working at the GGMC.

I

n light of concerns raised by local operators with respect to the tendering process applicable for duty-free shops at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the CJIA has said that no new contract was entered into for any Arrivals Duty-Free Concession.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) has reported that, over the past few years, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation had been publicly advertising and inviting Expressions of Interest for the various concessions available at the airport.

This policy decision allows for qualifying individuals and companies to be awarded concessions in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner.

Recently, the CJIA engaged in a public process for Expressions of Interest for Arrivals Duty-Free Concession; Departures Duty-Free Concession; Advertising Concession; Provision of Insurance Services; Provision of Legal Services; Ground Handling

Concessions; Executive Lounge Concession and Office Rental Concession.

Similar to the public tendering process, the qualifying criteria for the various concessions are clearly spelled out in the Expression of Interest document.

Once these Expressions of Interest are received, they are evaluated, and a decision is taken based on criteria set out in the document.

The Arrivals Duty-Free Concession was publicly advertised, and a conditional award was made to the most responsive bidders. No new contract was entered into for Arrivals Duty-Free Concession.

CJIAC has said it values the relationship with its existing stakeholders, and will continue to work with them to ensure that all new awards are done in an impartial and transparent manner.

“As a matter of fact, we have had several meetings with stakeholders to provide clarification and guidance on the bidding process”.

Notwithstanding the

above, CJIAC has said, it has an obligation to provide a variety of services for airport users; and “we remain committed to promoting and supporting our local companies and manufacturers”.

“As in any public solicitation process, we are committed to honouring all the conditions set out in the evaluation and award process. Companies and bidders that require assistance/ clarification on the tendering process are encouraged to reach out to the management of the airport for guidance and assistance”.

It has been reported that several firms had met with Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson last week, and raised their concerns. Thus far, ANSA McAL and Kings Enterprises were given spots at the recently rehabilitated DutyFree Area.

Guyana Times has been told that Banks DIH Limited and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) have applied for spots, but are yet to be given the green light.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESday, may 7, 2019

Regional

Venezuela crisis: Guaidó 'considering T&T rattled by small tremor asking US for military intervention' A

Self-declared interim President Juan Guaidó says that the US has been "decisive" in its support for him

V

enezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó has said he is considering asking the United States to launch a military intervention in the embattled country.

Speaking to the BBC's Nick Bryant, he said he would "evaluate all options" to oust President Nicolás Maduro.

Last week, he launched a failed attempt to spark a military rebellion and force Maduro out of power.

The President responded by delivering an address from an army base in Caracas, flanked by soldiers.

Guaidó declared himself Venezuela's interim leader in January. As the head of the Opposition-controlled National Assembly, he invoked the Constitution to declare himself interim president, arguing that Maduro's re-election last year was illegitimate.

But Maduro – who is backed by Russia, China and the leaders of Venezuela's military – has refused to cede power.

Guaidó has the support of more than 50 countries, including the US, United Kingdom and most Latin American nations – and he has told the BBC that US support for him has been "decisive".

"I think President [Donald] Trump's position is very firm, which we appreciate, as does the entire world," he said.

Asked whether he would like Trump and the US mil-

itary to intervene, he responded it is "responsible to evaluate" the possibility of international intervention, adding: "I, as the president in charge of the national parliament, will evaluate all options if necessary."

Trump told reporters on Friday that he wasn't looking to get the US military involved in Venezuela.

He said that in a call, Russian President Vladimir Putin had assured him that "he is not looking to get involved in Venezuela other than he'd like to see something positive happen for Venezuela", before adding: "And I feel the same way."

But Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had much stronger words for Russia on Sunday, telling the US broadcaster ABC that "the Russians must get out".

"No one dare touch our sacred ground or bring war to Venezuela," he added, in a show of defiance that followed days of clashes. Four people died in the violence, including two teenagers. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Trinidad: State to expedite Ramlogan, Ramdeen trial

F

ormer Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and United National Congress (UNC) Senator Gerald Ramdeen will have their cases in court dealt with in the shortest possible time frame, following their first appearance in court on Monday.

The two have been called to answer charges related to kickbacks from State briefs.

When they appeared before Chief Magistrate Maria Busby EarleCaddle in the Port-ofSpain Magistrates Court Monday morning, Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard agreed with

Ramlogan and Ramdeen's lawyers, to expedite the case.

Ramlogan's Attorney, Pamela Elder asked for expediency as she pointed out that the witness Vincent Nelson is ill and could even die before giving evidence.

The matter was adjourned to June 28.

Speaking with the media outside the court, Ramlogan said that he believed the "truth will emerge in due time".

"I will live my life as usual. No weapon that formed against me will prosper," Ramlogan added.

He said he has confi-

dence in his lawyers.

On May 1, Ramlogan was detained at the Piarco International Airport by ACIB officers at 04:15h and taken to the office at 33 Independence Square, Portof-Spain.

Ramdeen was told that there was a warrant out for his arrest and surrendered to officers at the same ACIB office around 07:00h that same morning.

It was reported that the two were held in connection with information received from a whistleblower, Queen’s Counsel Vincent Nelson. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Panama's Cortizo wins close presidential race, calls for unity

Presidential candidate Laurentino Cortizo of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) and his wife Yazmin Colon react after Panama's electoral tribunal declared him as the winner of Sunday's election with 95 per cent of votes counted, in Panama City, Panama, May 6, 2019

U

S-educated political veteran Laurentino “Nito” Cortizo won Panama’s presidential election in a close race on Sunday, with the electoral tribunal declaring him winner by just over two percentage points.

In his victory speech, Cortizo called for national unity, after winning 33.2 per cent of the vote with the Central American country divided about its choice in the one-

round election.

“Panama won today, and today more than ever, Panama needs to join forces,” the former Agriculture Minister told cheering supporters in the midnight speech at his campaign hotel.

During the election campaign Cortizo vowed to clean up politics after the isthmus nation’s image was tarnished by a corruption scandal involving Brazilian engineering firm

Odebrecht, and the Panama Papers leak of millions of documents detailing tax evasion by the rich and powerful.

“Panamanians don’t want, or merit, and won’t put up with more of the same,” Cortizo added. “The chaos is over. Public funds belong to the public, and they are sacred.”

Cortizo takes office on July 1 and has signalled his desire to balance relations with Washington and Beijing.

His nearest rival Romulo Roux received a sliver over 31 per cent of the vote according to preliminary results from the electoral tribunal, with five other candidates taking the rest.

Roux was reluctant to concede defeat on Sunday, saying he had found some irregularities in ballots in some voting areas.

“We’re really upset by the situation,” Roux said, but stopped short of saying he had won.

By Monday morning other countries were congratulating Cortizo for his victory, including the Mexican Government.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

n earthquake with a magnitude of 3.8 rattled Trinidad during the early hours of Monday, the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) has reported.

It said that the quake, which occurred at 02:09h local time, occurred west of Trinidad. It was located at 10.88°N and 61.94°W at a depth of four kilometres (km).

SRC said there were no initial reports of any dam-

age or injuries as a result of the quake, the first to be felt in a Caribbean island this month, following a 4.2 earthquake, south east of Barbados and a 3.8 tremor south east of Antigua on April 30. (CMC)

COTED accepts Ja's application for 2-year suspension of CET on batteries

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green (file photo)

T

he Council for Trade and Economic D e v e l o p m e n t (COTED) has accepted Jamaica's application to suspend the Common External Tariff (CET) on lithium ion

batteries for two years.

The application was put forward by Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green, who lead a Jamaican delegation at the 48th COTED Meeting in Georgetown, Guyana last week.

In line with the Government's aim to foster the increased use of renewable energy in Jamaica, the State Minister made a presentation, which sought to enable players in the renewable energy market to have lithium ion batteries enter Jamaica at a reduced cost.

Green noted that COTED accepted this application and also considered Jamaica's proposal to put condensed milk and evaporated milk on the ineligible

list of commodities.

The Ministry said the application included that Caricom Member States be charged a set duty in the importation of condensed milk and evaporated milk that come from outside the Region. It was made based on the ability of a Jamaican company to provide 75 per cent of the condensed milk and evaporated milk that the Region requires.

The agreement was that COTED will assemble a team consisting of Member States and technical experts to assess Jamaica's claim that it has the ability to meet this demand.

The Caricom Secretariat will advise of the team and terms of assessment in a month, following which a determination will be made.

(Excerpt from CMC)

St Vincent defends tax concessions to Rainforest Seafood

T

he St Vincent and the Grenadines Government has defended the decision to grant a 15-year tax break and other concessions to Jamaicabased Rainforest Seafoods SVG Ltd that has promised to invest EC$10 million (US$3.7 million) in a fish-processing facility there.

“I just want to say that almost all the concessions given to Rainforest Seafoods are concessions given to manufacturers in this country and to hoteliers, people who invest,” Prime Minister,

Dr Ralph Gonsalves said.

“Well, if you bring that in a hotel, you get a similar length of concession. You also get for hoteliers and manufacturers – and these people we must remember are a packaging entity.

Cleaning and packaging, in other words, they are taking the raw materials and putting it together in a way for the market. And they're bringing with them expertise and they are bringing with them also markets,” he told radio listeners.

Gonsalves said that there were persons com-

menting on the initiative because his administration had not approved their application to operate the existing fisheries facility at Calliaqua, which is being administered by a fisheries cooperative.

Prime Minister Gonsalves said that Rainforest Seafoods has similar businesses in other parts of the Region, adding “a manufacturing entity is coming in; they get the raw materials for the building duty free. The same thing with an hotelier”. (Excerpt from

Corporal Kirk Fraser, turned himself in about 16:00h on Sunday according to his Attorney-at-Law Valrie Neita Robertson.

The Corporal was implicated in the incident, which started with a shooting at a dance in Chedwin Park

in the parish and led to a high-speed chase, a crash and more shooting.

Three people including Sheldon Junior Biggs Daley of Chedwin Park, Kevron Burrell, and Corporal Rohan Williams were killed. (Jamaica Observer)

been held with the British business magnate, investor and philanthropist. He said the talks involved helping the Antigua-based LIAT out of its struggling financial situation to become a profit-making enterprise.

“The entrepreneur has proposed investing several million dollars. He would wet lease several aircraft

– jets – and they would fly from Fort Lauderdale to Jamaica, Haiti and down into Antigua and Barbados.

The whole idea is to enlarge LIAT, rather than collapse LIAT or making it a smaller entity,” Hurst said, explaining that this would allow the air carrier to fly to destinations outside the Region. (Excerpt from caribbean360)

Reuters)

Jamaica: Accused 'rogue cop' surrenders

T

he Policeman who was involved in the shooting incident last Sunday which left three persons dead in Spanish Town, St Catherine, Jamaica has surrendered to the Police.

The Policeman,

Virgin Atlantic boss expresses interest in investing in LIAT

B

usiness magnate Sir Richard Branson is reported to be interested in investing in cashstrapped regional airline LIAT. Chief of Staff within the Office of the Prime Minister in Antigua and Barbuda, Lionel Hurst, told reporters following a Cabinet meeting that discussions had

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESday, may 7, 2019

17

Around the World

Gaza conflict: ‘Ceasefire’ 2 US warships sail in disputed South China Sea after days of violence

T

he US military said two of its warships sailed near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea on Monday, a move that angered Beijing at a time of tense ties between the world’s two biggest economies.

The busy waterway is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the US-China relationship, which also include a trade war, US sanctions and Taiwan.

President Donald Trump dramatically increased pressure on China to reach a trade deal by threatening to hike US tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods

this week and soon target hundreds of billions more.

The US guided-missile destroyers Preble and Chung Hoon travelled within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson Reefs in the Spratly Islands, a US military spokesman told Reuters.

Commander Clay Doss, a spokesman for the Seventh Fleet, said the “innocent passage” aimed “to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law”.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the US ships

entered the waters near the islets without the Chinese Government’s permission, and the Chinese navy warned them to leave.

The operation was the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as Beijing’s efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters, where Chinese, Japanese and some Southeast Asian navies operate.

China claims almost all of the strategic South China Sea and frequently lambasts the United States and its allies over naval operations near Chinese-occupied islands. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ranjan Gogoi: India’s Chief Justice cleared of sexual harassment

Ranjan Gogoi was sworn in as India’s Chief Justice on October 3, 2018

I

ndia’s Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi has been cleared of sexual harassment allegations.

An inquiry panel ruled on Monday that there was “no substance” to the accusations, adding that its

report would not be made public.

Gogoi has previously called the allegations “false” and an attempt to “destabilise the Judiciary”.

The ruling comes days after a woman who accused Gogoi withdrew from the inquiry after questioning its fairness.

The woman, a former Supreme Court employee, alleged that two instances of misconduct took place in October – the month Gogoi was sworn in as Chief Justice.

After she filed an affidavit on April 19 detailing the alleged harassment, the Supreme Court set up an “in-house committee” with three judges, including two women, to look into the allegations.

Gogoi’s accuser, a married woman, cannot be named under Indian law.

She alleged that on October 10 and 11 the Chief Justice pressed his body against her in his offices, “hugged me around the waist, and touched me all over my body with his arms” until she physically pushed him away.

She said Gogoi told her that her family “would be greatly disturbed” if she told anyone what happened. The woman said her family was victimised after she refused his advances and that she was transferred three times before being fired in December.

The Chief Justice has denied the allegations.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Czechs protest for 2nd week against new Justice Minister over meddling fears

Demonstrators hold placards during a protest rally demanding the resignation of Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis in Prague, Czech Republic, May 6, 2019. Placards read, “Stop totalitarianism” and “Stop Babis”

T

housands of Czechs filled the centre of Prague and other cities for a second week in a row to protest against the appointment of a new Justice Minister whom they say they fear could meddle with a criminal case involving the Prime Minister.

Marie Benesova was named to head the Justice Ministry last week after the resignation of her predecessor. Protesters say they are

worried she will try to protect Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who potentially faces a fraud trial.

The case against Babis, a billionaire with business interests in media, food and chemicals, centres on allegations he hid ownership of a farm and convention centre a decade ago to get a 2 million euro EU subsidy for small businesses.

He has denied wrongdoing and calls the case po-

litically motivated. He said Benesova’s appointment was not a threat to the justice system.

Monday’s protest was larger than a week ago.

Organisers estimated at least 20,000 people filled Prague’s Old Town Square, according to CTK news agency. Police did not give official estimates.

Thousands also gathered in Brno, the country’s second largest city, and in Ostrava.

Benesova had previously served in a caretaker Cabinet in 2013, appointed

by President Milos Zeman, who has backed Babis. She worked as the top State attorney, appointed by a Zeman-led Government in 1999.

Babis, the country’s second richest person, put his Agrofert business empire into trusts in 2017 to meet legal requirements.

Despite the allegations and conflict of interest accusations against Babis, his ANO party remains the clear poll leader. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

A car, apparently belonging to a Hamas militant, was one of the sites targeted by Israel on Sunday

T

here has been a lull in hostilities in the Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants said that a ceasefire with Israel had been agreed.

It comes after a weekend during which Palestinian militants launched hundreds of rockets into Israel prompting retaliatory air and artillery strikes.

At least four Israelis and 25 Palestinians were killed.

Israel has not confirmed the truce, but its military

has lifted emergency measures in place in southern Israel.

The violence flared up on Friday during a protest against the blockade of Gaza.

A TV station run by Hamas - the militant movement which controls Gaza announced that both sides had agreed on the ceasefire, beginning at 04:30 local time (01:30 GMT) on Monday.

Egypt is said to have brokered it - assisted by the

United Nations and Qatar.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has not mentioned the truce, though the military said it had lifted protective restrictions imposed on residents in southern Israel since the flareup began, including schools close to the strip reopening.

Early on Monday the IDF said militants had fired 690 rockets into southern Israel during the past 48 hours 240 of which had been intercepted by the country’s Iron Dome missile defence system.

In response, Israel had targeted 350 sites belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the IDF said.

It has been one of the biggest surges in violence since the conflict of July and August 2014, when Israel launched a ground offensive on Gaza following the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teenagers. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Oil tanker explosion kills dozens in Niger

Residents look at the tanker truck after a deadly explosion near the airport of Niamey on Monday [Boureima Hama/AFP]

F

ifty-five people died in Niger’s capital when an overturned tanker truck carrying petrol exploded as crowds tried to collect spilled fuel.

The blast on the RN1 route near Niamey’s international airport left the burned vehicle’s wreckage, motorcycles and debris

scattered over the road.

Nearby houses were also damaged by fire.

According to Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum, the death toll from the explosion was 55 with 36 others injured.

The explosion happened as some residents were trying to syphon fuel from the

tanker, which had overturned on railway tracks near the airport, Bazoum wrote on Twitter.

President Issoufou Mahamadou called the explosion a “national tragedy” after visiting a hospital where dozens were wounded, some with serious burns. The death toll was expected to rise as doctors said some were in critical condition.

Niger, a poor West African country, has been trying to stamp out fuel smuggling from neighbouring Nigeria.

Nigeria, a major oil producer, has seen similar deadly accidents and explosions in the past when people try to steal fuel from oil pipelines. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Turkey’s Election Board orders rerun of Istanbul mayoral vote

T

urkey’s top Election Board announced on Monday that the vote for the Mayor of Istanbul, the country’s largest city and economic hub, will be redone.

The new vote will be held on June 23, the high Election Board said in its statement, adding that the March 31 election was cancelled due to “situations which affected the result and honesty” of the polls.

The Board said some ballot box committees were formed against the law by district Election Boards and criminal complains would be filed against those members.

It also ruled to cancel the mandate of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party had lodged an “extraordinary objection” and asked for a rerun of the election after several previous appeals. The party alleged voting irregularities made the results invalid.

Erdogan Toprak, an Istanbul parliamentarian with the CHP, told Al Jazeera the Board’s decision to rerun the Istanbul polls opened the reliabili-

ty of the Turkish legal and electoral systems up for discussion.

According to the final tally announced by the provincial Election Board on April 17, Imamoglu secured the mayoral seat with 4,169,765 votes, while the AK Party’s Binali Yildirim received 4,156,036 votes – a difference of 13,729 votes.

The election took place against the backdrop of an economic slowdown in Turkey, amid spiralling inflation, rising unemployment, and a devalued currency. The Turkish economy entered recession for the first time in a decade last year. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, MAY 7, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Share your thoughts and feelings with a special someone. Building a solid relationship requires honesty.

If someone breaches your trust, question his or her loyalty. An open dialogue will be necessary.

CANCER

Compromise will get you where you want to go. What you have to offer and how you get what you want in return will be determined by the standards you set.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Protect your reputation, possessions and position.

Make a positive change that will stabilise your life.

When in doubt, go directly to the source.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Get out and explore new possibilities. If something appears to be confusing or inconsistent, walk away and do your own thing. A lifestyle change will be enlightening.

Participate in events that offer help to people in need. Don’t be a follower when you can be a leader who makes a difference.

Romance is highlighted.

Walk away from discord or anyone who is being difficult, indulgent or over-thetop. If you cannot make a difference, move on and try something that will get positive results.

Pay attention to what’s going on at home and anything regarding joint money matters. A meeting will help you sort out any differences you have with someone close to you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Take a break and make personal changes that will leave you feeling good. A different approach to your lifestyle will encourage you to save money. Avoid joint ventures.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Partnerships will be highlighted. Consider what you have to offer and what you will get in return.

Negotiate and map out how to move forward. Romance is in the stars.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Make a clean break from anything or anyone who isn’t heading in the same direction as you. Surrounding yourself with supportive individuals will lead to positive change and success.

Observe, but don’t follow. If someone pressures you to do something that isn’t right for you, turn your attention to personal growth, self-improvement and spending time with a loved one.

Don’t get angry when you can get moving. Channel your energy into something that moves you. Helping others will raise your profile and lead to unexpected rewards. Take the initiative and make a difference.

tuesday, MAY 7, 2019

19

VIVO IPL Edition 12…

MI hope to conquer CSK fortress in Qualifier 1 M

umbai Indians (MI) registered convincing victories over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in both home and away matches of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019. However, the initial success doesn’t guarantee Mumbai Indiansanother win over CSK at their home ground MA Chidambaram Stadium. The two teams will face off in the IPL 2019 Qualifier 1 on Tuesday. The losing team will then take on the winner of the Eliminator, to be played between Delhi Capitals vs SunRisers Hyderabad, in the Qualifier 2 in Visakhapatnam on Friday.

CSK were handed a reality check in their last league fixture, though they would bank on home advantage to seal their place in the summit clash.

The MS Dhoni-led CSK has been patchy after a strong start and finished its league engagements with a six-wicket defeat to Kings XI Punjab at Mohali on Sunday.

But CSK will be happy to return to their den to take on table-toppers MI, probably their biggest IPL rivals, to decide which team seals a spot in the May 12 final.

CSK boasts of a tremendous record at home this season, winning six of its seven games at the MA Chidambaram Stadium and come Tuesday, it will act as a big advantage for the hosts.

The CSK top-order has fired in fits and starts in the league phase and will need to come out all guns blazing against a formidable MI bowling attack that includes Jasprit Bumrah (17 wickets), Lasith Malinga (15 wickets), the Pandya broth-

ers (Hardik 14 wickets and Krunal 10 wickets), leggie Rahul Chahar (10 wickets) and possibly Mitchell McClenaghan.

Skipper Dhoni (CSK’s highest run-getter with 368 runs from 12 matches, 3 fifties) has been the mainstay of a rather inconsistent CSK batting unit and along with openers Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina holds the key in Saturday’s game as the usually fluent Ambati Rayudu has struggled to get going.

CSK, however, will miss the services of the Kedar Jadhav, who sustained a freak shoulder injury in the match against Kings XI. But Jadhav wasn’t in the best of form and his absence would open up a spot for either Murali Vijay or Dhruv Shorey.

Bowling has been CSK’s strong point so far this season and becomes even more potent on MA Chidambaram stadium’s sluggish wicket.

Imran Tahir (21 scalps), the second highest-wicket taker this season after Kagiso Rabada (25), has been at the forefront of an effective CSK spin trio, also including veteran Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja (both with 13 wickets each).

The success of Tahir and the rest against the powerful MI batting line-up could very well determine the course of the match.

MI captain Rohit Sharma (386 runs), the impressive Quinton de Kock (492, third leading run-scorer), Hardik Pandya (380) and Kieron Pollard will be hard to stop once

they get going and CSK’s bowlers have a tough task at hand.

The onus would also be on the ever-improving Deepak Chahar, who has taken 16 scalps so far, to pick up early wickets for CSK and stifle the rival batting line-up.

Going by the head-to-head record this year, MI holds the upperhand having won both their encounters against CSK in the preliminary phase. MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene would be aware of the job at hand and won’t take CSK lightly despite the Lions’ recent wobbly form.

Squads: Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Yuvraj Singh, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mayank Markande, Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Anmolpreet Singh, Siddhesh Lad, Ankul Roy, Evin Lewis, Pankaj Jaiswal, Ben Cutting, Ishan Kishan, Aditya Tare, Rasikh Salam, Barinder Sran, Jayant Yadav, Beuran Hendricks and Lasith Malinga Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Murali Vijay, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Shorey, Chaitanya Bishnoi, Rituraj Gaikwad, Dwayne Bravo, Karn Sharma, Imran Tahir, Harbhajan Singh, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Mohit Sharma, K M Asif, Deepak Chahar, N Jagadeesan, Scott Kuggeleijn The match starts at 10:00h. (NDTVsports)

Kompany’s thunderbolt puts Man City in control of title race P

erhaps Gary Neville put it best in his commentary duties from the television gantry: “Where do you want your statue, Vincent Kompany?” It was, without question, the goal-of-alifetime from the Manchester City captain and the rewards will be considerable if his team can extend their winning 13game sequence by just one more match. It is simple now: a win at Brighton on Sunday and there will be nothing Liverpool, a point behind in second position, can do about it.

Kompany might not get a statue – not yet, anyway – but another championship winner’s medal will make up for that, one imagines, and if his team can make sure the trophy remains in Manchester there can be no doubt how people will remember the defining moment of the title race.

There were 70 minutes on the clock when Kompany took possession of the ball and started loping forwards.

Nobody in a Leicester shirt went to close him down because, well, it was Vincent Kompany. Yet they underestimated him. He took the ball into striking range and pulled back his right foot. It was a mix of desperation and inspiration, all in one. His shot was still rising as it flew past Kasper Schmeichel, struck with curve and spin so it was arcing away from the goalkeeper.

And in that moment, amid all the euphoria and the restored sense that, yes, we were watching the championsin-waiting, suddenly it did

Vincent Kompany celebrates his goal for Manchester City to beat Leicester City

not seem to matter that Pep Guardiola’s players had seemed gripped by tension.

They certainly toyed with the emotions of their supporters. It was anything but straightforward for the reigning champions and, until Kompany decided to take matters into his own hands, it was straying dangerously close to becoming a tremendous ordeal. It still might have been but for Kelechi Iheanacho, their former player, squandering Leicester’s outstanding chance of the night, 87 minutes in.

Nerves?

Perhaps the occasion did get to them a little. Their inability to impose themselves in the first half certainly left Guardiola looking jumpy. It is always possible to gauge how this team

are playing judging by the manager’s behaviour. Here, the game had not even reached the 10-minute mark before he was frantically gesturing to his players, waving his arms in the manner of someone who patently did not like what he could see.

Guardiola was entitled to be concerned. As talented as Phil Foden is, Guardiola’s team are never quite the same proposition when they are missing Kevin De Bruyne.

Fernandinho was also on the list of absentees and early on, when an onslaught might have been anticipated, it did not happen. The crowd was flat, twitchy, waiting for something to materialise. The players were flat, too, with the honourable exception of

Bernardo Silva, who seemed utterly determined to lift everyone around him.

At one point Bernardo Silva turned up the volume with a lovely slaloming run through a clutch of Leicester defenders inside the penalty area. Yet, by half-time, there had been only one occasion when Schmeichel in the Leicester goal had been seriously called into action.

Sergio Agüero’s header had struck the underside of the crossbar, direct from a corner, but could conceivably have spun over the goalline had it not been for Schmeichel, mid-air, clawing the ball away. A goal at that stage would have soothed the crowd’s anxiety. Yet the ball stayed out and, 40 miles or so away on Merseyside, the Liverpool supporters watching

on television might have dared to think it could be their night.

It was certainly a difficult start for the team trying to defend their league title. Bernardo Silva was a constant menace but there was never really an occasion in the opening 45 minutes when he or Raheem Sterling, playing either side of Agüero, managed to get in behind the home defence. Leicester looked relatively comfortable and, though the home crowd occasionally took its frustration out on the officials, it would not have been out of the question for the referee, Mike Dean, to show David Silva, of all people, two yellow cards, rather than just one, in that period. Kompany escaped with a booking for a wild challenge

on James Maddison but that, again, demonstrated how the home side were not playing with their usual control.

For that, the credit ought to go to Leicester. It was certainly a clever tactic for the away side to try to play the game at their own tempo. The players in the darker shade of blue were quite happy to knock the ball around in their own defence – similar, indeed, to the approach Guardiola’s team had taken when they played at Liverpool in October.

It slowed down the game and stopped the home side from gaining any real momentum. If anything, it is a surprise more teams have not tried similar here this season.

Leicester also looked pretty useful on the break, meaning Kompany had to throw himself in the way of an early attempt from Ricardo Pereira, but there was no way the home side would be so passive after the break. Foden went off in the 56th minute, replaced by Leroy Sané, and that meant the team operating in a 4-2-4 formation.

The full-backs, Kyle Walker and Oleksandr Zinchenko, both had the licence to roam forward and, gradually, it became the kind of match that might have been expected earlier on: one side doing virtually all the attacking, the other pinned back. Even then, Leicester still had promising moments on the counterattack, most notably with Maddison. Schmeichel saved again from Aguero but then the ball was at Kompany’s feet and, in that moment, all the tension was released. (The Guardian)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesday, may 7, 2019

Salah, Firmino to miss Liverpool’s Kipchoge to attempt to Champions League tie with Barca break 2-hour barrier

L

iverpool forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino will miss today’s Champions League semi-final second leg with Barcelona through injury.

Salah left the pitch on a stretcher after an aerial collision with Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka during Saturday’s 3-2 win.

Manager Jurgen Klopp says concussion will keep Salah out, as Liverpool look to overhaul a 3-0 deficit at Anfield.

Firmino missed the win over Newcastle with a muscle injury.

“Two of the world’s best strikers are not available tomorrow night and we have to score four goals,” said Klopp.

“It doesn’t make life easier but we will try for 90 minutes to celebrate the Champions League campaign to give it a proper finish.”

Salah appeared to be in tears when he was carried from the pitch at St James’ Park but Klopp says the Egypt international now feels “OK”.

“It’s not good enough from a medical point of view,” Klopp added. “He is desperate to play but we cannot do it.

“It’s a concussion. That means he would not even be allowed to play.”

Klopp is confident Salah will be able to play in Liverpool’s final Premier League game of the season against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday, where the Reds could win the title for the first time since 1990.

Firmino was introduced as a substitute on 79 minutes in the away leg at Barcelona, shortly after Lionel Messi had extended the advantage to 2-0.

The Brazilian - who was left out of the win over Huddersfield prior to the Barca trip - then did not feature against Newcastle.

Firmino has 16 goals for the Reds this season, with Salah contributing 26.

Klopp also lost midfielder Naby Keita to injury against Newcastle, the club’s fourth game in 14 days.

“We have to make a lot of decisions.

Tomorrow night is the third game in six days,” Klopp added.

“Barcelona changed 11 positions at the weekend. We will see what the outcome is.”

(BBC Sport)

Roberto Firmino reacts to the injury incident

Eliud Kipchoge

E

liud Kipchoge will attempt to break the two-hour marathon barrier in the Ineos 1:59 Challenge later this year.

The Kenyan, 34, holds the world record of two hours one minute 39 seconds but this attempt would not be an official record as he will be assisted by in-out pacemakers.

He clocked 2:00.25 in a similar unofficial event in Italy in 2017.

The location and date for the challenge is yet to be confirmed, but it will take place in September or October.

“I always say that no human is limited,” said Kipchoge, who won the London Marathon for the fourth time on 28 April.

“I know that it is possible for me to break this barrier.”

He added: “Running the fastest-ever marathon time of 2:00:25 was the proudest moment of my career.

“To get another chance to break the magical two-hour mark is incredibly exciting.”

The announcement comes on the 65th anniversary of Sir Roger Bannister’s subfour-minute mile, an achievement which many had previously believed to be impossible.

Kipchoge’s latest London Marathon victory - in 2:02.38 - was the second fastest official time in history, and the Olympic champion believes he has what it takes to hit 1:59.

“I learnt a lot from my previous attempt and I truly believe that I can go 26 seconds faster than I did in Monza two years ago,” he said.

“I am very excited about the months of good preparation to come and to show the world that when you focus on your goal, when you work hard and when you believe in yourself, anything is possible.”

When Kipchoge ran 2:00.25 at Monza the home of the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix - on 6 May 2017, small groups of pacemakers ran pre-defined segments of the circuit before handing over to another group, and the Kenyan did not have to slow down for feed stations as drinks were delivered by scooter.

This meant the time was not recognised as a world record.

His official world record was set in Berlin in September.

London could host the 2019 challenge, which is being sponsored by Ineos, who formally took over cycling’s Team Sky last week.

The chemicals firm is owned by Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who said Kipchoge is the only athlete who has “any chance” of beating the two-hour mark.

“We are going to give him every support and hopefully witness sporting history,” he said. (BBC Sport)

Casillas discharged from hospital after heart attack Stephens beats Azarenka

S

pain’s World Cupwinning goalkeeper Iker Casillas said he “does not know what the future will be” as he was discharged from hospital after having a heart attack.

The Real Madrid legend, 37, suffered “an acute myocardial infarction” during training with Porto on Wednesday.

Speaking outside the Hospital CUF Porto he said he would rest for “for a couple of weeks or a couple of months”.

“The most important thing is to be here,” he told reporters.

“A few days ago I went through a difficult situation, something that can happen at any moment of life, but fortunately I’m fine. I am grateful and feel that I am very lucky.

“Thank you to all who cared, for I felt very dear and cherished. I can only get out of this situation with a smile.”

Casillas praised the Porto medical team’s quick actions which “allowed the effect of the infarction not to be so serious”.

He added: “I do not know what the future will be, but the most important thing

to reach round of 16

A

Iker Casillas

is to be here, to be able to speak and transmit to everyone how I am and how I feel.”

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

He was also part of the

Spain squad as they won two successive European Championships, in 2008 and 2012, and the World Cup in 2010.

Having joined Porto in 2015, he won the Portuguese title last season and holds the record for the most Champions League appearances with 177. (BBC

Sport)

merican Sloane Stephens recorded her fourth successive win over former world number one Victoria Azarenka to advance to the round of 16 at the Madrid Open.

The 26-year-old world number eight was broken twice as Azarenka, now ranked 52, took the match to a deciding set.

Belarusian Azarenka, 29, spurned two break points at 1-1 and Stephens won 6-4 2-6 6-2 in two hours, six minutes.

Stephens will face the winner of Tuesday’s match between China’s Zheng Saisai and Alize Cornet of France.

Seventh seed Kiki Bertens and 12thranked Anastasija Sevastova recorded straight-set victories over Jelena Ostapenko and Mihaela Buzarnescu respectively.

Meanwhile, British number one Johanna Konta began her Madrid Open campaign with a 6-4 6-1 win over American Alison Riske.

Only a day after losing the Morocco Open final to Maria Sakkari in three sets in Rabat, the world number 47 faced Riske, ranked two places lower.

From 4-1, she was pulled back to 4-4 but took the next five games and sealed the match in an hour and 14 minutes.

In round two, the 27-year-old faces world number three Simona Halep, who beat Margarita Gasparyan 6-0 6-4.

Konta, seeking her fourth WTA title, had won her only previous meeting with 28-yearold Riske and a superb angled forehand return gave her set point, which she duly secured with a backhand of precision into the

Sloane Stephens

corner.

A Riske double-fault gave Konta a 2-0 lead at the start of the second set and the Briton sealed victory with an ace at just after 9pm local time.

Unseeded Pauline Parmentier of France eliminated sixth seed Elina Svitolina, who had been struggling with a knee injury, 6-4 7-6 (8-6), while 13th seed Madison Keys lost 3-6 6-4 6-1 to Sorana Cirstea of Romania.

Former world number one and fourth seed Karolina Pliskova saved five match points to deny Ukrainian teenager Dayana Yastremska 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.

The 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki was trailing 3-0 when she retired with a lower back injury from her first-round match against world number 54 Alize Cornet of France. (BBC Sport)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, may 7, 2019

21

Cummings wins Roger Bishop Senior Linden TT Championships

M

aurice Cummings reigned supreme when he defeated Shavin Greene in the grand finale of the Roger Bishop Senior Linden Table Tennis Championships played at the Mackenzie High School auditorium on May 4.

Eager for competition after a hiatus in Linden, the competition began with a round-robin format of 5 players in two groups. Marlon Brando Washington and Ray Copter Anderson were the top seeds advancing out of the group stage to the semifinals, after defeating all comers.

In the first semifinal, Greene, who emerged second in Group 1, defeated Washington by a 3-0 margin in the crossover of top seed versus second place in groups.

In the second semifinal, Cummings, who advanced as the second-seeded player in Group 2, defeated Raynor Anderson 3-0, to set up a final match between himself and Greene.

Greene and Cummings have, over the last few years, emerged as Linden’s top table tennis players, and have

Maurice Cummings receiving his first-place prize

shared the spoils in different competitions. Their journey to the finale of this competition set up the scenario for another eagerly awaited encounter that would determine who would claim supremacy.

In a very competitive and entertaining encounter, the dreadlocked Cummings, despite fierce and tactical play

by Greene, took his game up a notch with some dazzling displays of third ball attacks, and proved that he wanted the title more than Greene by winning the encounter 3-1.

Cummings took the first game 11-9, lost the second 8-11, but came out on top in the final two matches 11-9 and 117. Washington and Anderson secured joint third positions.

This event was staged by the Linden Table Tennis Steering Committee, and was sponsored by Roger Bishop.

The Committee’s next engagement will be the Linden Schools Table Tennis ‘Team and Individual Challenge’, scheduled to be held from May 24 to 26.

Women’s T20 Challenge…

Trailblazers clinch last-ball win despite Harmanpreet cameo

T

wo big stars of Indian women’s cricket took centrestage in Jaipur as the multi-team Women’s T20 Challenge kicked off with a final-ball thriller, much like how the oneoff exhibition game had ended in Mumbai last year. Trailblazers captain Smriti Mandhana’s enterprising 90 trumped her opposite number Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 46 as Supernovas fell short by an agonising two runs.

Chasing 19 off the last over, Harmanpreet nearly pulled off an encore of her performance on her Lancashire Thunder debut at last year’s Kia Super League, when she struck a last-ball six in a chase, carting Jhulan Goswami for four fours off the first five balls, the last one landing only inches inside the rope. Needing three off the last ball, Harmanpreet slashed hard but couldn’t connect with the length ball outside off, and the attempted bye ended with wicketkeeper R Kalpana catching non-striker Lea Tahuhu short of her ground at her end.

The near-perfect Harman-Devine show

When Harmanpreet walked in at No. 4 after eight overs, Supernovas’ asking rate (7.16) was only a shade above their run rate 6.87. With Trailblazers shelling several chances, little suggested Mandhana’s side won’t have to pay for the drops. Keeping to her scratchy-atfirst-sublime-thereafter template, Harmanpreet scored six off her first 10 balls. An unforgiving punch off Harleen Deol in the 12th over fetched Harmanpreet the first of her eight fours, the same number collected by the six other Supernovas batsmen.

During her 48-run stand with No. 6 Sophie Devine, Harmanpreet was off the strike for the major part as Devine herself, with her 22-ball 32, looked set to hand Trailblazers the finality. Having taken Supernovas to 122, Devine was trapped in front by Sophie Ecclestone.

Devine used the review, the first of the tournament, but it wasn’t overturned. The dismissal, eventually, proved a match-winning one as Ecclestone rounded out her 20th birthday with 2 for 11 that played a key role in victory for her side.

Below-par fielding a worry for Trailblazers

CLASSIFIED ADS ARACARI ARACARI HOTEL, WBD (NEAR HARBOUR BRIDGE) ALL MODERN AMENITIES- RATES FROM US$25.

TEL #264-2946-8 CONFERENCE & RETREATS- FULL SERVICE: HOTEL, CATERING & FACILITES. ARACARI RESORT, WBD. ALEX WAYNE: 264-2946.

WEDDINGS & ANNIVERSARIES. RENTAL OR FULL SERVICE: BANQUET HALL & CATERING, ARACARI RESORT. ALEX WAYNE: 264-2946.

SALON: COSMETOLOGY-FULL COURSE $100,000. TECHNICIAN $40,000. ARACARI SALON & SPA, WBD 264-3312, 600-3927.

LAND for sale TRANSPORTED LAND 11.6 ACRES, LOT 15 PUBLIC ROAD, NO 2 VILLAGE W.C.B. PRICE $18M. CONTACT # 686-4818, 648-7109

TO LET FOR RENT BY OWNER . 8000 sq ft of warehouse/office space on the BV (Beterverwagting) Public Rd, East Coast Demerara. Multiple air-conditioned offices. Call or Whatsapp 592-610-6580

A misfield in the third over from Deepti Sharma handed Jemimah Rodrigues her first four. In the sixth, Deepti dropped the same batsman on 16, the ball popping out of her hands over her head at mid-on after she got both hands to it, and it was just the start of more telling shoddiness that was to follow.

Chamari Atapattu got two lives in the eighth over, bowled by Shakera Selman. Stafanie Taylor first put down a straightforward chance at deep square leg on the first ball before D Hemalatha ran in hard from sweeper cover two balls later, but couldn’t hold on despite getting her hands under the ball.

The first drop had Mandhana clutch her knees, the second brought out a huge sigh (of disbelief) from Selman.

But then came a moment of brilliance, courtesy Selman herself. Anticipating the striker Atapattu’s call for a quick single on the leg side, Selman swooped in while carrying on from her follow-through, and put in a full-length for-

Stafanie Taylor and Shakera Selman of Trailblazers celebrate

ward-stretch to fire a direct hit at the wicketkeeper’s end to catch Rodrigues well short of her ground, for a 19-ball 24.

The drop that nearly cost them the game came in the 17th over. Harmanpreet, on 25, launched Taylor down the ground, where Hemalatha went to her left from long-on and shelled her second catch of the night. Four drops, yet ending on the winning side?

Trailblazers should be thanking their stars.

Mandhana magic: sedate and scintillating

Mandhana lived up to her reputation with an uncharacteristic 67-ball 90, her second-highest T20 score.

If her maiden T20 ton, for Western Storm in KSL 2018, against Harmanpreet’s Lancashire Thunder was all menace, the magic took time to unfold on Monday. It wasn’t until the 35th ball of her innings that Mandhana’s strike rate touched 100. That was largely down to Harmanpreet persisting with spin for the major part of that period, and Mandhana’s early struggle was borne out in the seven runs she scored off her Maharashtra team-mate Anuja Patil, the offspinner. Her first two fours - in a combined tally of 10 fours and three sixes - came 23 balls apart.

As she loves pace on the ball, the four she broke her shackles with came off the first delivery bowled by Tahuhu. Thereafter, her willow oozed the class the 22-year-old is famed for. The highlight of her 119-run second-wicket stand with Deol (36 off 44) was the six - the first of the match - off wristpinner Poonam Yadav that floated over the extra cover boundary. Dragging her side to a respectable total has become second-nature to Mandhana in the recent past, thanks to India’s middle-order woes. But on Monday, her knock also cushioned her side amid an otherwise deplorable fielding performance. (ESPNcricinfo)

Transcend Entertainment Tape-ball Tournament postponed

W

ith more than 20 teams having signalled their interest in competing in the third annual Transcend Entertainment Seven-a-Side Independence Cricket Festival which was scheduled to be held from May 5-6 at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac in Georgetown, this event has had to be postponed because of unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of both organisers and sponsors.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, event organiser Dwight Dodson said, “Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we regrettably inform you that Transcend Entertainment Independence Cricket Festival has been postponed until further notice. We deeply apologise, but we really couldn’t do any-

thing about it. Please stay tuned to be updated accordingly.”

Although the tournament has been postponed, three new sponsors have come on board in support of the venture. They are Regal Stationery & Computer Centre, Movement Auto Rental & Bus Service, and Sankar’s Auto Works.

Some of the teams expected to participate in the tournament are Team Corruption, Village Rams, Tallawahs United, Tarmac, Eccles All Stars, Outlaws, and Hangover. There are many others who would be participating.

Dodson has also said the tournament is an initiative to provide opportunity for players to continue their cricket, even with the current weather pattern. He related that during the May-June

rainy season, there is a decrease in hardball cricket being played as most grounds are washed out.

This event, which has gained support of the National Sports Commission (NSC), is so far sponsored by Superbet, Banks DIH, Ramps Logistics Ltd, Imperial Trading, Red Carpet Wash Bay, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Star Party Rentals, Xavier’s Investment, Movement Auto Sales, Precision Auto Works, W&J Enterprise, Fung-a-Fatt Hatchery, Ole’s Jewellery, Seeta’s Bar, Regent Household Electronics, Royal Real Estate, Church’s Chicken, Fireside Grill, Magic City, S&D Enterprises, Movement Auto Rental & Bus Service, and Sankar’s Auto Works.

22

tuesday, MAY 7, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Hand-in-Hand 3-Day Inter-County Tournament…

Berbice complete comprehensive win against Essequibo – Sinclair, Algoo, Deodat star on final day Junior Sinclair hit twin fifties for Berbice in the match

By Brandon Corlette

D

e f e n d ing inter-county champions Berbice showed their class with a 146run win over a depleted Essequibo team in their second round clash, played at the Lusignan Community Centre Ground on the Demerara East Coast.

Berbice rode on stellar performances from ‘player of the match’ Junior Sinclair, who scored twin fifties and grabbed three wickets.

Starting the second innings with a lead of 138, the dynamic duo of Alex Algoo and Junior Sinclair pushed the Berbice lead towards 269, as they scored 131-2 in 13.2 overs of explosive batting. When the declaration was made at 10:55 hours, Essequibo were left requiring 270 for victory.

Following up on his first round 175 against a Select U-17 Team, Alex Algoo smashed 52 from 28 balls in his 36-minute

stay at the crease. The stocky lad from the Young Warriors Cricket Club in East Canje Berbice hit four sixes and five fours in his gem of an innings, before departing with the score on 92-1 inside nine overs.

Batting at number three, Kevlon Anderson came to the crease and smashed 11 runs from seven balls. He hit two classy fours before he was out caught from an Amit Persaud delivery.

Junior Sinclair, who had scored 50 in the first innings, remained unbeaten on 50 from 33 balls in his 62-minute innings.

Seon Glasgow, batting at number four, remained unbeaten on 12 at the declaration.

Bowling for Essequibo, off-spinners Lance Roberts and Amit Persaud took one wicket each in expensive spells that saw the Berbice batsmen scoring quickly.

Facing the daunting task of scoring 270 runs for victory on the third and final day of play, the Essequibo openers got off to a fluent start, adding 44 runs in eight overs. Kevin Christian was the aggressor, smashing two fours and two sixes in his fluent 31. He eventually was out caught at gully off Seon Glasgow from a beautiful Kevlon Anderson delivery.

By the lunch interval, Essequibo had reached 61-1 in 13 overs, with Orlando Jailall on 17 and Ameer Singh on 13. Resumption of the afternoon session saw the demise of Singh, who departed for 13 when he was bowled all ends up by off-spinner Junior Sinclair.

The big breakthrough came for Berbice when Junior Sinclair removed Orlando Jailall for 24, his being out caught by wicket-keeper Kevlon Anderson. With some tight bowl-

Rupununi FA Champions League Quarter-finals…

Guyana Rush Saints, Paiwomak Warriors advance

ing from the defendNigel Deodat bowled ing champions, Essequibo with great flight lost their final seven wickets for 51 runs.

The introduction of Nigel Deodat, who bowled with extreme control and flight, saw the Essequibo batsmen playing some reckless shots. Deodat removed Azim Mohammed for 01, Ellian White for 12, Lance Roberts for 13, and Amit Persaud for 05 as Essequibo fell for 123 all out in 45.4 overs, losing to Berbice by 146 runs.

Deodat ended with figures of 4-45 in 17 overs, including two maidens; while ‘player of the match’, Junior Sinclair, had 3-14 in 12 overs, among which were nine maidens.

West Indies U-19 selectee Kelvin Umrao had 2-23 in 5.4 overs with his left-arm spin.

Berbice will play their third and final round on Wednesday, May 8, against Demerara at the GCC Ground in Bourda, while the Select U-17 Team will oppose Essequibo at the Everest Cricket Club in Georgetown.

Corona eliminations continue tonight

Guyana Rush Saints

T

he preliminary round of the Rupununi Football Association (RFA) Champions League has been completed, and the knockout stages have commenced.

The Guyana Rush Saints, a female team, have moved into the quarterfinal round, while the Paiwomak Warriors, a male team, have advanced into the semifinals.

In the first matchup of the female quarterfinals, Guyana Rush Saints dominated Sun Parakeets for the entire match, in the process administering them a 5-0 thrashing. Amanda Cabral registered the first goal of that match in the 16th minute. Eight minutes later, she blasted another into the back of the net as she made her opponent’s defence look useless.

She returned in the 31st minute to improve her tally of goals by taking the score to 3-0 in the first half.

Needing a resurgence, Sun Parakeets failed to rise to the challenge, even as Rosie Ritchie scored the Saints’ fourth goal in the 65th minute; while Cabral returned in the 87th minute to improve her tally of goals to four.

In the male quarterfinals, Paiwomak Warriors eased past Sun Parakeets 2-1 to book their spot in the semifinals. The first goal came off the boot of Stephen Glasgow in the 11th minute, to give Paiwomak an early lead. The final goal came in the 38th minute, to hand Paiwomak a 2-0 lead at half time.

In second-half play, Royal Leo of Sun Parakeets managed to slip the lone goal of the second half past his opponents. However, it was not enough to save them, as Paiwomak Warriors tightened their defenses to keep the Parakeets at bay.

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

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

T

he National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue will tonight open its doors for the second night of the Corona Futsal competition, wherein twelve team will compete but only six will make it into the next round.

After tonight’s elimination round, the competition will head into the round-robin phase, and teams will look to finish the group stage in a dominant position in order to get their hands on the $40,000 prize.

Tonight’s first game will pit renowned football club Pele against ward team California Square, who are no strangers to the futsal arena. Their match will commence at 19.30hrs.

The Georgetown Football Club (GFC), who are also new to the competition, will take on West Front Road at 20.15hrs.

One of the most consistent street football teams, Broad Street, will lace up their boots preparatory to taking on fellow ward team Mocha at 21.00hrs in the third game of the night.

Following that clash, Order and Discipline will face off against Future Stars, at 21.45hrs.

The penultimate clash of the elimination round will see Beacons taking on Sophia at 22.30hrs, and the final showdown of the night can be witnessed at 23.15hrs, when the equally dominant Eastveldt take on Tiger Bay. Thus far, Tucville, North East La Penitence, Leopold Street, Back Circle, Sparta Boss and Bent Street have all survived the first round of eliminations.

The teams are competing for the chance to get their hands on the $500,000 grand prize, and bragging rights as the best futsal team around town. The second place team will pocket $250,000, while third place will cop $125,000. The fourth place team will be rewarded with $75,000.

In addition to the grand prizes, teams finishing at the top of their groups will receive monetary rewards. Second, third and fourth place holders in the groups will also be rewarded.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, may 7, 2019

23

Ireland Tri-Nation Series…

Windies seek to consolidate lead John Campbell

Tamim Iqbal

A

fter a resounding 196run win over Ireland in the opening game, a buoyant West Indies side will look to turn over Bangladesh in the second match of the tri-series on Tuesday, 7 May. The last time these two teams met, Bangladesh won the bilateral one-day international series 2-1 in December 2018.

Since the start of 2019, however, West Indies have been in a different form altogether.

After levelling the fivematch one-day international series against England 2-2,

they enjoyed a strong start to the tri-nation tournament and decimated the hosts with ease – openers Shai Hope and John Campbell setting up the 196-run win with a record opening stand.

While they are not playing their full-strength side, the form of their bench strength bodes well for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019.

On the other hand, Bangladesh are coming from a 0-3 ODI series loss against New Zealand. They were the better team when they faced West Indies last year but replicating that success will not be easy against a confident opposition.

They are playing the same squad they will be taking to the World Cup with two additional names – off-spinner Nayeem Hasan and right-handed batsman Yasir Ali. Both youngsters have been performing well in domestic cricket and provide the Asian team with extra options.

Shai Hope (West Indies): The brilliant opener was in beast mode when he took guard against Ireland on Sunday.

Hope smashed a 152-ball 170, his highest ODI score and shared a record 365-run opening stand with John Campbell.

He was also the top run-scorer for Windies in the bilateral ODI series against Bangladesh in December and scored close to 300 runs. Hope has an average of 98 against Bangladesh and he will look to ride on those numbers when he faces them on Tuesday.

Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh): Having played only three ODIs in 2019 so far, Tamim’s numbers don’t to justice to his

Linden’s Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Football Tournament

S

The final two matchups which culminated the night’s action saw Swag Entertainment whipping Presidential 4-0, and Silver Bullets humiliating High Rollers 3-0.

Delon McAllister scored for Swag in the 3rd minute, and Colwyn Drakes completed the whipping in the 5th and 19th [GG] minutes.

And Robin Adams’, Jermaine Samuels’ and Damion Williams’ goals, scored respectively in the 4th, 13th and 16th minutes, resulted in Silver Bullets humiliating High Rollers 3-0.

The tournament is initially being contested in a round-robin format featuring four groups of four teams. Upon conclusion of the group stage, the top two finishers will advance to the knockout round.

Group ‘A’ is comprised of Assassa Ballers, Amazings, NK Ballers and Capital Storm; Group ‘B’ features Amelia’s Ward Russians, Quiet Storm, ‘Coomacka ‘B’ and Haynes Hitters; Group ‘C’ consists of Silver Bullets, High Rollers, Retrieve Unknowns and Barsenal; and Swag Entertainment, Dave & Celina’s All-Stars, Presidential and Wisroc make up Group ‘D’.

The other playing dates are May 10th and 17th, with the grand finale being slated for May 24th.

Conditions

It’s cold, it’s cloudy and there is a ~50% chance of rain in morning and mid-afternoon. The cloud cover might compel the team winning the toss to bowl first. But that ploy didn’t go to well in the first match when Ireland put West Indies in to bat. The last ODI Bangladesh played here was in May 2017, in which they comfortably chased the 270 set by New Zealand.

Squads

West Indies: Jason Holder (c), Fabian Allen, Sunil Ambris, Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Ashley Nurse, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach Bangladesh: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (c), Liton Das, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Saifuddin, Abu Jayed Rahi, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Yasir Ali, Nayeem Hasan. (ICCcricket)

Shai Hope and Chris Gayle named as Vice Captains

Fiedtkou scores hat-trick S

econd night action in Linden’s Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Football tournament being contested at the Silver City Hard-Court Tarmac saw David Fiedtkou of Amazings scoring a hat trick of goals to highlight the proceedings.

In Sunday evening’s first match, Quiet Storm defeated Haynes Hitters 1-0, with Mark Richards scoring in the 4th minute to give his team the edge, which they retained until full time.

Match two saw Amazings dominate NK Ballers 4-2, with Fiedtkou recording goals in the 8th, 10th and 13th minutes, to add to his team mate Errol Davis’s goal scored in the 6th minute, and be supplemented by Jamal Harris’s Guinness Goal (GG) scored in the 18th minute.

The third fixture of the night saw Assassa Ballers edge Capital Storm 1-0, compliments of Dorwayne Luke’s goal scored in the 12th minute; while match four saw Dave and Celina’s All-Stars battle Wisroc to a 3-3 stalemate. Dave and Celina’s eventually prevailed 1-0 on penalty kicks.

Scoring for Dave and Celina’s All-Stars were Keon Sears [GG] in the 18th minute and Steve Brewley in the 10th minute.

Wisroc’s scorers were Orandy Wills [GG] in the 19th minute, and Omeion Wills in the 7th minute.

calibre. He had a string on single digit scores in the bilateral series against New Zealand but had scored the maximum runs for Bangladesh against West Indies in the December series. With the World Cup less than a month away, the veteran opener will want to get some runs under his belt.

hai Hope and Chris Gayle have been named as the vice captains of West Indies team for the Ireland TriNation Series and ICC Cricket World Cup, respectively.

Hope, the 25-year-old wicket-keeper/batsman was named as the deputy to Jason Holder for the ODI Series which started on Sunday and runs until May 18. He played his 50th match for West Indies on Sunday and has so far scored 1,947 runs (average 48.67) including five centuries.

Gayle, the hugely experienced 39-yearold opener and former captain, will be Holder’s deputy for the ICC Cricket World Cup to be played in England and Wales from May 30 to July 14. He has played 289 matches with 10,151 runs (average 38.16) including 25 centuries and 51 half centuries. His career-best is 215 against Zimbabwe during the ICC World Cup four years ago – the highest score by a West Indian in this format.

“It’s a tremendous honour to be appointed vice captain for this series here in Ireland. Ahead of this tournament I was asked to take on this role and I was happy to accept. Anything I’m asked to do for West Indies cricket I’m always happy and willing to put my hand up, so this is great,” Hope said.

Gayle said: “It is always an honour to represent the West Indies in any

format and this World Cup for me is special. As a senior player it is my responsibility to support the captain and everyone else in the team. This will probably be the biggest World Cup, so there will be great expectations and I know we will do very well for the people of the West Indies.”

The West Indies started the Tri-Nation Series on Sunday when they defeated Ireland by 196 runs at the picturesque Clontarf Ground. Hope made a career-best 170 and added a record opening stand of 365 with John Campbell – who scored 179 – his maiden international century.

West Indies will face Bangladesh on Tuesday at the same venue. First ball is 5:45 am.

The ICC Cricket World Cup which will be played in England and Wales from May 30 to July 14. West Indies will be playing in the marquee event for the 12th time and have won twice in 1975 and 1979. They open this year’s campaign against Pakistan at Trent Bridge on May 31. First ball is 5:45 am.

(CWI)

Chris Gayle (left) and Shai Hope

tuesday, MAY 7, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hand-in-Hand 3-Day Inter-County Tournament…

Berbice complete comprehensive win against Essequibo – Sinclair, Algoo, Deodat star on final day

Linden’s Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Football Tournament

Fiedtkou scores hat-trick Page 23

Page 22

Cummings wins Roger Bishop Senior Linden TT Championships

Page 21 Participants of the Linden Table Tennis Championships

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.