Guyana Times Tuesday August 27, 2019

08 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 4028

THE BEACON OF TRUTH tuesday, august 27, 2019

Teen stabbed to death while purchasing fish & chips guyanatimesgy.com

– in another incident, battered body of poultry farmer found at Corriverton See stories on pages 2 and 11 Revision of Cummingsburg Accord

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

24 Guyanese P14 commence overseas training as technicians

Pradoville land sale

SOCU Prosecutor a no-show P8 Questions arise over fake survey on political climate

Talks between APNU/ AFC fail to take off

P10

Page 9

Teen gets 18 P8 months for assaulting, robbing ex-boss Tullow prepares to drill 2nd well offshore Guyana P12

First Lady Sandra Granger on Monday opened a one-day Robotics Camp for the children of the staff of the Ministry of the Presidency (MotP). During the workshop, facilitators from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Guyana taught the participants to build and code robots, while practising teamwork, communication and other soft skills. In photo is First Lady, along with facilitators and participants of the Robotics Camp

Victoria murder

Consumer Price Index increase

6-year-old Mid-year report daughter witnessed shows food father stabbing mom – prices on the rise victim’s brother recalls …average cost of living $118,000 per month Page 7

Page 3

New substances being abused by youths – survey …groups trained to rehabilitate abusers

P14

2 news

Tuesday, august 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Battered body of poultry farmer found at Corriverton

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poultry farmer of Springlands, Corriverton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) was on Monday morning found dead with three stab wounds to his chest.

Dead is 49-year-old Nigel Lesley Matthews, also called

‘Tubby’, of Lot 14 Springlands.

His body was found at about 3:00h lying on the road in front of an abandoned house at Rampoor, Corriverton.

Initial investigation has revealed that the deceased and four others were gambling, during which the now

Dead: Nigel Lesley Matthews

dead man accused the suspect of flipping a card, which resulted in a heated argument.

However, a few hours later his motionless body was discovered.

Guyana Times understands that the man had reportedly left home about five hours before his body was discovered. According to his roommate Malcolm Hernandes, Matthews left home shortly after 22:00h on Sunday evening.

As he was leaving, the roommate explained that he attempted to persuade him from going out that late but

he was completely ignored.

He nevertheless left on his bicycle, which was found at the scene of the crime.

At the scene, the dead man was reportedly clutching to a piece of broken wood. The remainder of the wood was seen a short distance away.

“His head was bashed in and he had a couple of stabs to his left side – some fine stabs, lets us assume that it is with something like an ice pick. It is about three stabs he got.

The wounds were to the left around the heart”, Hernandez added.

According to the man, he received a telephone call informing him that his room-

Matthews’ roommate, Malcolm Hernandes

The area where the body was found

mate was lying in a pool of blood. He arrived at the scene only to be confronted by his worst fears.

He said it appeared that the Matthews had been dead for quite some time before he was discovered.

Earlier on Sunday, Mathews reportedly planted about one hundred ears of corn in his farm. Reports are that on Friday, he sold one hundred chickens. It also had been reported that when he left home on Sunday, he had most of that money with him.

Reports are that he was

seen at a gamble shop and had been losing huge sums of money. This publication was informed that the now dead man and one of the gamblers were involved in an altercation over money owed.

Police have since arrested one person for questioning relating to the murder.

The farmer reportedly spent most of the day imbibing by himself and according to Hernandez it was not unusual for him to go out by himself late at nights. Police are continuing their investigations.

news

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Tuesday, august 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Tuesday, August 27 – 02:00h – 03:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h and Wednesday, August 28 – 03:00h – 04:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, August 27 – 14:15h – 15:45h and Wednesday, August 28 – 15:10h – 16:40h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Mostly sunny with intervals of cloudy conditions are expected throughout the day. There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

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

Consumer Price Index increase

Mid-year report shows food prices on the rise ...average cost of living $118,000 per month

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hile the Government contends that the economy is on the rise, at the grassroots level consumers continue to feel the squeeze; with the Ministry of Finance’s own mid-year report finding that it is food prices that are actually on the rise.

According to the report, the inflation rate from December of 2018 to June 2019 reached 1.6 per cent, which the report says was “moderate”. But behind this marginal increase is an increase in food prices.

expansion of 5.7 per cent…

Lending to households increased by 13.5 per cent, and this was driven by lending to the housing sector, lending for motor cars and other purchases… Real estate mortgages grew by 5.7 per cent. The fastest growth in the last three years and this was driven by lending for private dwellings and industrial and commercial properties,” Jordan had said.

The mid-year report had taken note of increased expenditure on the import of food. According to the report,

High Tide: 14:26h reaching a maximum height of 2.38 metres.

Low Tide: 07:42h and 20:07h reaching minimum heights of 0.76 metre and 0.83 metre.

Bank of Guyana

saturday, AUGUST 24, 2019

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“The 12-month inflation rate at the end of June 2019, which grew to 2.4 per cent, was driven mainly by higher food prices. Over the 12 months, these prices rose by 6.3 per cent, and affected 2.5 percentage points of the increase in the Georgetownbased Consumer Price Index (CPI),” the report states.

Meanwhile, the CPI itself shows that the average cost of living rose to $118,000 per month at the half-year mark, compared to the $116,000 it was at last year. This includes cost for food, clothing, footwear and repairs, housing, furniture, transportation and medical care and miscellaneous goods and services.

All of this belies the Government touting consumer confidence in the economy. When he presented the mid-year report earlier this month, the Minister of Finance had said that the report shows strong confidence in the economy. He had strongly denied that there was a slump.

“You have no evidence of this slump. None from the Bank of Guyana (BoG) or anywhere but you hear these figures being trotted out. It will show that net domestic credit has expanded by 14.1 per cent by the end of June, and this has been driven by Private Sector credit

expenditure on consumption goods, which include food and electronics, grew

by US$2.2 million to reach US$236.8 million. The report attributes this to an increase in the importation of perishable and semi perishable items.

Total imports increased by 31.6 per cent to US$1.371 billion. On the other hand, revenue earned from exports was US$743.8 million.

A breakdown shows that imports of intermediate and capital goods showed increases.

Increased cost of living has been recorded by the Ministry of Finance

“Imports of intermediate goods expanded by US$170.4 million to US$706 million, driven largely by other intermediate goods, chemicals, parts and accessories imported growing significantly on account of oil and gas activities,” the report states.

“There was marginal growth of 1.1 per cent, or US$2.6 million, in the imports of fuel and lubricants.

Imported capital goods increased substantially, by US$155.2 million to US$423 million, primarily attributed to a substantial expansion in mining machinery, again, supported by oil and gas activity.”

When it comes to the

overall economy, the Bank of Guyana’s recently released first-quarter statistical bulletin had shown that nearly all the major productive sectors declined. For instance, sugar experienced a major decline of 34.3 per cent, owing to the restructuring process the Guyana Sugar Corporation is undergoing.

On the other hand, the decline of rice output by 9.3 per cent was attributed to the rice bug infestation and the increased costs of production. The mining and quarrying sectors exhibited lower production. According to the bulletin, there was a 4.9 per cent decline in gold declarations.

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guyanatimesgy.com

Tuesday, august 27, 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

Guyanese continue to go unheard

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few weeks ago, a leading US Diplomat brought attention to some factors he believes are deterring investors from coming to Guyana. He identified some as high cost of electricity, security concerns, and a lack of transparency. He alluded to a 2018 World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report in which Guyana stands at 134 out of 190 countries. That report also noted infrastructure and Guyana’s complex taxation, citing duties on export, as other factors that deter business investments.

Those comments have to be put into context. First, the APNU/ AFC coalition Government has been in office over four years now.

Secondly, the Government, when in Opposition, blamed the previous administration, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), of being incapable of dealing with security concerns and accused it of fostering lack of transparency under its tenure. Then, it also accused the PPP/C of creating unnecessary bureaucracy for investors and promised to make it easier. Fourthly, it used its combined Opposition one-seat Parliamentary majority to scuttle the Amaila Falls Hydropower project, which was designed to drastically cut energy cost.

The latter was a major transformative project envisaged by the PPP/C. Had the APNU/AFC not deny parliamentary funding, it would have been completed already and Guyanese would have been reaping the much-needed benefits. Today, the ordinary citizens and investors, both local and foreign, are lamenting the unreliable and unstable electricity supply.

The utility service has worsened over the Government’s four years in office as large sums are spent almost on a daily basis to inform consumers of scheduled countrywide prolonged power outages. This is in 2019!

Many have resorted to both the traditional and non-traditional media to voice discontent over the continually increasing inconvenience imposed by the ongoing erratic supply. In addition, the APNU/AFC Government introduced VAT on the use of electricity and removed subsidies for pensioners, making more financially difficult for consumers.

Many are still dumbfounded as to why political parties like APNU and AFC, and which continue to boast of having the welfare of the country and its people at heart, callously derailed the Amaila Falls project. Had it been realised, it would have furthered ongoing transformation at the time and ensured clean, reliable and cheap energy.

Some political pundits posited that the APNU/AFC Opposition scuttled the project simply because it was envisaged by the PPP/C and its completion would have been another ground-breaking achievement by that Party.

Any semblance of truth in that would suggest a transgression into the realms of political sabotage and duplicitousness on having the welfare of Guyana and Guyanese at heart on the part of APNU/AFC. The coalition also scuttled the Specialty Hospital project, withheld funding for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion and condemned the construction of the Marriott Hotel. The magnitude of the posited duplicitousness increases when those projects are taken into consideration.

As it is, there seems no end in sight for the present electricity woes. That cannot be comforting to the ordinary citizens and investors.

Similarly, despite the Government’s rhetoric and the allegation of it skewing statistics, crime continues unabated as fears are continually exacerbated. Much has been said about the Government’s boasts, while in Opposition, of intelligence capacity to effectively combat crime. This is one of the few areas that many believed the APNU/AFC coalition would deliver on given the personnel in its line-up.

Four years after, crime has worsened with the main prison set ablaze by inmates and another now prone to escape. Having failed abysmally to combat the situation, the assigned Minister allegedly blamed victims for crimes perpetuated on them. This, reportedly, is on the heels of unabated lamentations by the citizenry and foreigners targeted by criminals.

That aside, one of APNU/AFC’s main campaign issue, while in Opposition, was the restoration of transparency having accused the PPP/C government of fostering a lack of it. The coalition was relentless in its approach to convince the electorate and immediately after taking office, launched a slew of forensic audits of government agencies in its quest to unearth corruption it claimed was pervasive under the PPPC. Those audits failed to vindicate the APNU/AFC’s claims.

Gauging from APNU/AFC’s position on transparency while in Opposition, one expected that as the government, any accusation of an absence of it, would be inconceivable. That expectation remains unfulfilled as a plethora of accusations of corruption continues to be levelled against it. The Durban Park project, the Sussex Street Bond and sole sourcing of medical supplies, are just a few instances of alleged corruption.

Under this government, some two hundred new taxes were unleashed on Guyanese while investors have bemoaned prohibitive taxation. Some local businesses were either closed or downsized thereby increasing unemployment. Physical infrastructure continues to deteriorate as evident from that of the electricity’s and major roadways, including parts of the Lethem trail.

The issues cited by the Diplomat are not new to what Guyanese would have raised concerns over; issues that APNU/AFC coalition castigated the PPP/C for and promised to deliver change. Questions abound over potential impact of the Diplomat’s comments as the cries of Guyanese continue to go unheard.

The jaguar is the largest feline on the South American continent and can reach 135 kg. It is a robust animal with great muscular strength, with the power of its bite considered the largest among felines of the world (Fabio Olmos photo published by Amazonia)

G7 cash for Amazon fires is ‘chump change’, say campaigners

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he G7’s pledge of US$20M to douse the fires in the Amazon has been dismissed as “chump change” by environmental campaigners, as concerns grow about political cooperation on deforestation and other climate issues.

The summit host, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, told reporters he would try to deal with the long-term causes by creating an international alliance to save the rainforest, with details of a reforestation programme to be unveiled at next month’s UN climate meeting in New York.

But the US president, Donald Trump, skipped the summit session aimed at finding solutions to global heating through tree planting and shifting from fossil fuels to wind energy. In a press conference after the summit, he was dismissive of efforts to change direction.

“I feel the US has tremendous wealth … I’m not going to lose that wealth on dreams, on windmills – which, frankly, aren’t working too well,” he said. “I think I know more about the environment than most”.

The most concrete outcome of the three-day summit of major industrialised democracies in Biarritz was the $20M that leaders promised to make immediately available to Amazonian nations such as Brazil and Bolivia, primarily for more fire-fighting planes.

The assistance plan, announced by the French and Chilean Presidents on Monday, would involve a programme of reforestation, to be unveiled at the UN general assembly meeting next month.

“We must respond to the call of the forest, which is burning today in the Amazon,” said Macron.

A Brazilian air force Hercules C-130 waiting to collect bags of water to fight fires in the Amazon rainforest on Saturday [Photo by: Isac Nobrega/Agencia Brazil/EPA]

Environmental groups said the emergency fire aid was insufficient and failed to address the trade and consumption drivers of deforestation. “The offer of $20M is chump change, especially as the crisis in the Amazon is directly linked to overconsumption of meat and dairy in the UK and other G7 countries,” said Richard George, the head of forests for Greenpeace UK. “The UK has plenty of leverage to stop the destruction of the Amazon by suspending trade talks with Brazil until its full protection is guaranteed. Any post-Brexit trade deals must prioritise the environment and human rights.”

But there was also appreciation that several G7 leaders, including the UK’s Boris Johnson, had expressed concerns about the Amazon.

Macron said he had had long and in-depth talks with Trump on the Amazon fires and that Trump “shares our objectives” and was “fully engaged” in the joint effort to help put out the fires and reforest.

“It’s good to see the fate of this vital forest on the global agenda, as well as new commitments of fund-

ing, especially from the UK. But protecting this incredible forest, and the future of the planet, will take bolder action,” WWF said. “That will require us to stop importing commodities that drive deforestation”.

Conservation groups in Brazil said the sums were tiny compared with the hundreds of millions of dollars Brazil was losing in donations from Norway and Germany as a result of President Jair Bolsonaro’s policies in the Amazon.

“The amount offered [by the G7] is far from significant, but resources do not seem to be a problem for the Brazilian government,” said Adriana Ramos, the policy director of Brazilian NGO Instituto Socioambiental.

“This money that has been blocked could be made available with a stroke of the pen by the president if he really had any political interest in combating deforestation and fires in this country.”

Satellite data has recorded more than 41,000 fires in the Amazon region so far this year – more than half of those this month alone.

Experts said most of the fires were started by farmers or ranchers clearing ex-

isting farmland.

Environmental experts said Bolsonaro’s policies have fuelled accelerating deforestation and contributed to the intensity of the wildfires. France and Ireland have threatened to block an EU trade deal with Brazil and three other Latin American countries if Bolsonaro does not change course.

Macron’s criticism sparked an angry response from Bolsonaro, who accused him on Monday of treating Brazil like “a colony or no man’s land”. But the international pressure has prompted the president to deploy two C-130 Hercules aircraft to tackle the fires.

The reforestation plan would require the consent of Bolsonaro and local communities. The Chilean president, Sebastián Piñera, a Bolsonaro ally on the political right, said he was in constant touch with the Brazilian president and that the two leaders had spoken as recently as Sunday.

He said he was confident he would be able to convince him about the need for reforestation of the Amazon.

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

Tuesday, august 27, 2019

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

GECOM disobeying court, Constitution Only country to have a Dear Editor, The Guyana Elections Commission continues to run daily and nightly advertisements calling on members to register in its current House-to-House Registration exercise, “even if they were previously registered”. The ad goes further: it threatens

members of the public with criminal sanctions if they fail to register.

This scaremongering is patently and legally false and dangerous. GECOM has no power to remove names of eligible voters by any device or subterfuge.

The constitutional court has ruled that no person

who was previously registered can be removed except on the narrow grounds set out in the Constitution.

GECOM, consistent with the dictates of Granger and his APNU/ AFC Government, is determined to disobey the court and the Constitution. The purpose is clear: to disre-

gard the very list on which they came into Government in 2015 and create a new list meant to give them an electoral advantage as a mechanism to lead us back to the era of rigged elections.

Sincerely, Christopher Ram

Demanding that Mr Granger call elections now Dear Editor, The House-to-House Registration was unreasonably and deliberately unleashed by the caretaker Granger Government to delay and to ultimately deny the benefits of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) which was passed more than eight months ago. It is simply a fraud by GECOM to initiate House-toHouse Registration after six months of the passage of the NCM to benefit Government. Guyanese need to be convinced that GECOM is functioning independently from Government.

Without a doubt, such a useless and dubious registration process will push the Regional and National Elections way past 2020 because it simply takes time to arrive at an accurate database and this is why House-to-House Registration was unreasonably unleashed six months after the passage of the NCM. All of this is dead wrong, irrational, unacceptable and deliberate deception which is fraud. Guyanese

are convinced that the existing database can be updated through Claims and Objections and can be used to satisfy the constitutional requirements triggered by the passage of the NCM in a fair election. So those who are upholding such fraud are obviously enabling Mr Granger to deny the NoConfidence Motion. This is a disgrace in a democracy.

Editor, it would only be morally right for those who are in the capacity to bring the House-to-House Registration to a halt to immediately do so. Further, such a registration process is a colossal waste of much-needed tax dollars. It is marred with problems. The House-to-House Registration only serves the purpose of enabling Government to disrespect our Constitution and to trample our democracy in the most lawless and vulgar way to remain in power. This has to be traumatic for the Guyanese people.

Moreover, it needs to be reminded that the NCM is a democratic tool which allows citizens in a democracy to bring an end to an unfit Government in power. So why deny the NCM and act as if it has no place in a democracy? Civilised nations do not behave this way. The Granger Government is the only country on this planet to trample the benefits of the passage of a NCM. This is the kind of lawless reputation Guyana earned under the Granger Government. And last but not least, I must point out the sufferings in this country under the Granger Government by highlighting that there are not even functional morgues in many parts of our country.

With that said, I call on all those who are in charge to do the decent thing by demanding that Mr Granger call elections now.

Sincerely, Annie Baliram (PhD)

Ramjattan has lost his mind

Dear Editor, Every human being has some moral compass and decency. Whatever moral authority and decency Khemraj Ramjattan might have possessed, he has totally lost today. His arrogant boasting, taking responsibility for the closure of sugar estates, for putting people out of jobs – the very people who helped him become a Minister and rise to the position of a Vice-President – prove he has totally lost his mind, has no moral authority and any decency left in him. The sad caricature of Ramjattan today – despised by the vast majority of Guyanese, including in his own home region, some of whom once genuinely admired and treated him as a hero – is utterly humiliating. He is now a traitor who betrayed decent people, a liar who “sings for his supper”, a consummate soup-drinker. Ramjattan is a despised puppet, dangling on a string. His parents had higher hopes for him.

Last week, Ramjattan boasted he, Moses Nagamootoo and their AFC colleagues did not just “went along” with APNU to close sugar estates, they actually advocated for the closure.

He went out of his way to take credit for the closure of the estates, taking credit for terminating the employment of more than 7000 workers, directly jeopardising the livelihood of more than 60,000 persons, including children, women and

the elderly, and indirectly jeopardising the livelihood of tens of thousands more.

After the closure, the unemployed sugar workers had to fight for their severance and many of them had to approach the courts to force APNU/AFC to pay the legally-required severance. This is the burgeoning insanity, the steaming garbage this arrogant, blithering idiot is taking credit for. It is disgraceful to see him singing for his supper, all because he wants power and salivating at the prospects of being Prime Minister, zero chance it may be.

It is baffling, outrageous, unfathomable, just plain bizarre that Ramjattan is owning and boasting of the most potent, painful mistakes APNU/AFC made since May 2015, one that APNU/AFC itself is trying to hide from, one that has led to the most humiliating defeat any Government can experience, more than twothirds rejection in Two Local Government Elections and the loss of a No-Confidence Motion. Mark my word, APNU (PNC) itself will distant themselves from the closure of the estates and the termination of employment for more than 7000 people, insisting in the upcoming election campaign that they merely “went along” with the AFC. Not only did they close four estates, but APNU/ AFC is doing everything, including pushing incompetence and mismanagement

of the remaining three sugar estates, everything to demoralise the remaining sugar workers and create the excuse for the entire closure of sugar in Guyana.

Ramjattan and none of his colleagues can now assure anyone the rest of sugar will not close under APNU/AFC, should they still be there in 2020. Who will believe the same people who told them during the 2015 elections campaign that no estate will be closed and every worker will receive a 20 per cent wage increase, and, immediately after closing four estates, terminated more than 7000 jobs, and froze all sugar workers’ wages that they will not proceed to close the whole industry? I said before the 2015 elections that one of the major goals of APNU/ AFC was to close sugar estates and eventually sugar. They railed that I was fear-mongering. But, sadly, my prediction came through.

Now I am again predicting, should APNU/AFC stay in Government, the other estates will also be closed, with Uitvlugt being next, followed by Blairmont and eventually Albion.

Ramjattan, as he bloviates nonsense, refuses to talk about the $30 billion loan they took on the books of GuySuCo. He refuses to talk about the more than $1 billion in interest already paid. He refuses to say who has the money, how it was spent. NICIL insists it has given GuySuCo more than $17 billion of the money al-

ready and that GuySuCo cannot tell them what they did with the money.

GuySuCo denies this assertion, but Ramjattan is boasting he personally, together with his AFC colleagues, including Moses Nagamootoo, are the ones calling the shots.

As families sink deeper into poverty, as local small family businesses like the grocery shops struggle for survival, as local seamstress and tailors barely survive, as local vendors find it hard to make ends meet, this blithering, arrogant man feels he needs to boast and take responsibility for the suffering foisted on innocent people.

Why? Because he wants to be Prime Minister, he wants to continue to live the “good life” on the backs of poor people, he wants to suck the blood out of the very people he once fooled into voting for him. Now it is election time, he will make more promises to them, he will brazenly lie full-throated, as he sings for his supper. If ever there was a poster child for a soup drinker, Ramjattan has laid claim to being the champion soup-drinker poster child. Meanwhile, since the disgraceful admission that AFC played the pivotal role in estate closing, Nagamootoo has gone silent.

Is he also willing to publicly boast he too is responsible, as Ramjattan confessed?

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

successful motion of noconfidence be unsuccessful Dear Editor, The term “no-confidence” motion is not an alien term to me. I pursued (and completed) a political science degree at York University. During my time there the then Prime Minister Steven Harper faced a No-Confidence Motion which led to early elections.

A No-Confidence Motion is not unique to Guyana’s Constitution. It is in all parliamentary democracies, as a method to keep the Government in check.

Britain, from where we inherited our Constitution, saw Margaret Thatcher, then Leader of the Opposition, bring a motion of no-confidence on March 28, 1979. She won by a single vote, and they held elections on May 3, 1979, thirty-seven (37) days after the motion passed.

Canada in 2011 saw a motion of no-confidence passing on March 25, and elections were held on May 2, thirty-nine (39) days later.

It should be noted that the Prime Minister actually prorogued Parliament twice before returning and finally facing the No-Confidence Motion.

In the year 2018, we saw multiple motions of no-confidence brought forward.

Greece kicked off the show on January 16, 2018, however, their Government was able to withstand the motion of no-confidence. Spain’s motion was brought on May 25, 2018, debated on May 31 and June 1 – the Government resigned June 5. In a matter of four days, the Spanish Government faced the consequences of falling to a motion of no-confidence.

Sweden’s Prime Minister lost a vote of no-confidence on September 25, 2018, and immediately complied with the Constitution. He was eventually confirmed on January 18, 2019, as the Prime Minister again. Sri Lanka, on November 14, 2018, elections held January 5, 2019.

Sri Lanka’s Government, after fifty-three (53) days, complied. Guyana saw her motion of no-confidence in the year of no-confidence and the consequences are still to be faced.

Just this year, the Austrian Chancellor (Head of Government) was voted out of office by a motion of no-confidence on May 27, (2019). On May 28, a caretaker Government was appointed and elections were scheduled for September 29, 2019.

The motion of no-confidence was brought to Parliament two hundred and eighty-five (285) days ago, debated and passed two-hundred and forty-nine (249) days ago. This was the first time a motion of no-confidence was filed and debated on by National Assembly.

The Government decided to challenge its legality on three different fronts and after a myriad of court cases, it was determined that the motion was successful. Seventy (70) days have now elapsed since the Caribbean Court of Justice ruled that to the motion of no-confidence carried.

Guyana seems to be the only country to have a successful motion of no-confidence be unsuccessful.

Regards, Nalinie Singh

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tuesday, august 27, 2019

Page

Foundation how much will it cost per day or per week?

Have you stocked up on all of the necessary school supplies? (Letting children pick out a new lunchbox and a set of pens, pencils, binders, etc, helps get them geared up for going back to school.)

Medical issues:

Part 1

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hether their summer was jam-packed with activities or filled with complaints about being bored with nothing to do, children often have a tough time making the back-to-school transition.

Battling the butterflies

As with any new or potentially unsettling situation — like starting school for the first time or entering a new grade or new school — allow children time to adjust.

Remind them that everyone feels a little nervous about the first day of school and that it will all become an everyday routine in no time.

Emphasise the positive things about going back to school, such as hanging out with old friends, meeting new classmates, buying cool school supplies, getting involved in sports and other activities, and showing off the new snazzy accessories.

It’s also important to talk to children about what worries them and offer reassurance: Are they afraid they won’t make new friends or get along with their teachers?

Is the thought of schoolwork stressing them out? Are they worried about the bully from last year?

Consider adjusting your own schedule to make the transition smoother. If possible, it’s especially beneficial for parents to be home at the end of the school day for the first week. But many working moms and dads just don’t have that flexibility. Instead, try to arrange your evenings so you can give children as much time as they need, especially during those first few days.

If your child is starting a new school, contact the school before the first day to arrange a visit. And ask if your child can be paired up with another student, or “buddy,” and if you can be connected with other new parents.

This will help both of you with the adjustment to new people and surroundings. Some schools give children maps to use until things become more familiar.

To help ease back-toschool butterflies, try to transition children into a consistent school-night routine several days before school starts.

Also make sure that they: get enough

sleep (establish a reasonable bedtime so that they’ll be well-rested and ready to learn in the morning) eat a healthy breakfast (they’re more alert and do better in school if they eat a good breakfast every day) write down the need-to-know info to help them remember details such as what time classes and lunch start and end, teachers’ and/or bus drivers’ names, etc use a wall calendar or personal planner to record when assignments are due, tests will be given, extracurricular practices and rehearsals will be held, etc have them organise and set out what they need the night before (homework and books should be put in their backpacks by the door and clothes should be laid out in their bedrooms) Although it’s normal to be anxious in any new situation, a few children develop real physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, associated with the start of school. If you’re concerned that your child’s worries go beyond the normal back-to-school jitters, speak with your child’s doctor, teacher, or school counsellor.

Back-to-School To-Do’s

Parents themselves can be a little nervous about the first day of school, especially if they’re seeing their little one off for the first time or if their child will be attending a new school.

To help make going to school a little easier on everyone, here’s a handy checklist:

Have your children received all necessary immunisations?

Have you filled out any forms that the school has sent home, such as emergency contact and health information

forms?

Do the school nurse and teachers know about any medical conditions your child may have, particularly food allergies, asthma, diabetes, and any other conditions that may need to be managed during the school day?

Have you made arrangements with the school nurse to administer any medications your child might need?

Do the teachers know about any conditions that may affect how your child learns? For example, children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be seated in the front of the room, and a child with vision problems should sit near the board. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

Make a Rain Gauge

You need:

A bottle Scissors Permanent marker Ruler

What to wear, bring, and eat:

Does the school have a dress code? Are there certain things students can’t wear?

Will children need a change of clothes for PE or art class?

Do your children have a safe backpack that’s lightweight, with two wide, padded shoulder straps, a waist belt, a padded back, and multiple compartments?

Do children know not to overload their backpacks and to stow them safely at home and school?

Will your children buy lunch at school or bring it from home? If they buy a school lunch,

Method

First, you need to cut the top off the bottle, approximately 5 cm down, turn it over and insert it back into the bottom part of the bottle, so it acts as a funnel for the rain to be collected.

Next, use the ruler to mark the measurements up the side, so it’s easy to check the rainfall.

Place it outside in an open area. You may need to wedge it between something, like I did between 2 pots to stop it blowing away.

Take measurements each day and record it on a chart.

You can print a chart off the internet, but a homemade one would work just as well.

Check and record the rainfall every day.

It is a wonderful teaching tool too. Learn about the weather. Learn about recording data and numbers.

If you can’t beat the weather……use it to learn! (chil-

drens-room.com)

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tuesday, august 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden construction worker 6-year-old daughter witnessed regains consciousness, remains hospitalised father stabbing mom – Victoria murder

victim’s brother recalls

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amily members are still reeling after the horrid Sunday morning murder which claimed the life of a young mother of three at Victoria Village on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

While it was a tale of abuse dating back years ago, her six-year-old daughter was unfortunately left to witness her mother taking her last few breaths.

Shamaine Frank, 27, who resided at Lot 317 Victoria Village, was brutally stabbed to death by the father of her

Murdered: Shamaine Frank

The man had stealthily entered the house by removing a few louvre panes from a window at the back of the house.

Their eldest child, who is six years of age, confided in relatives that she was awakened by her father during the ordeal and threatened not to utter a word. If she did, he would also kill her.

Meanwhile, the woman was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she was pronounced dead on arrival. By

T

hirty-eight-yearold Samuel Porter, who was discovered in an unconscious state on the Washer Pond Road at Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), on Saturday August 17 has regained consciousness but remains a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Porter, who is a resident of West Watooka, Wismar, Linden, was transferred to

the medical institution after he was discovered lying on the roadway with several injuries to his head, both hands, knees and feet.

The victim’s sister, Deesa Bethune, had told Police that she last saw him in good health at approximately 17:30h on Friday, August 16, 2019, at West Watooka.

At the time, she noted he was at his mother’s home, but left sometime later to purchase something at Mackenzie, Linden.

Police had questioned several persons in the said area but noted, however, that no useful information was received.

Speaking in relation to the incident on Monday, E Division (LindenKwakwani) Commander, Linden Lord noted that Police are waiting for the victim to recuperate before questioning him in relation to what may have transpired.

Investigations are continuing.

Over 100 students benefit from GBTI's annual Back-to-School programme

O

The house where the woman was killed

children in the wee hours of Sunday.

The woman’s brother, Junior Frank, detailed that he was always protective of his sister and had restricted her estranged lover from visiting.

However, the woman would rekindle her relationship with the suspect because of their three children. Only a few months ago, the now dead woman moved out of the family’s home to live with the suspect in Mon Repos, ECD, but after continued abuse, she returned home.

On that fateful Sunday morning, the victim’s brother recalled that the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Clive Wilson, visited the house.

Junior told Guyana Times that he instructed the man to

leave. Thinking that he left the area, he was awakened from his slumber by the wailing screams of his sister crying for help.

“I had to ban him from the yard. When I come home the night, I drop to sleep in the chair and I see somebody hovering over me and it was he. We had a little talk and I put him out the yard.

Because it was dark, I didn’t get to see which direction he went. After that, I went inside and bolt the door and went to bed. About half-hour after, I hear she shouting for me,” the younger brother remembered.

By that time, his sister was already stabbed twice to her chest and abdomen. She was lying on the ground but her lover had vanished without a trace, possibly through a backdoor which was left open.

that time, the community had already gotten wind of what had transpired and patrol units were dashing through the streets in search of the murderer.

Initial reports had indicated that tensions between the couple impact the children and as such, the Welfare Department of the Social Protection Ministry was called in. The couple was instructed to seek counselling in order to reconcile their relationship but the abuse continued. For now, the children, aged six, three and two, have been residing with relatives.

The police continue their hunt for the suspect, who is suspected to have returned to the interior of Guyana where he works. (Rupa Seenaraine)

ver 100 primary and nursery school students from the Crabwood Creek and Moleson Creek areas in Berbice were outfitted with back-to-school gears for the new school term on Saturday last during an exercise at the Crabwood Creek Community Centre.

The financial institution Corriverton Branch partnered with FACT (Family Awareness Consciousness Togetherness -Community Developers) to distribute school uniforms, stationery, back-packs and lunch bags to the lesser privileged children in these areas.

Manager of the GBTI Corriverton Branch, Andre Yhap, said that this is the second year for the back-toback programme and that the Bank is happy to support the attendance and tooling of the school children in the communities they serve.

He noted that this is a reciprocation of the support ac-

Staff members and recipients on Saturday in Berbice

corded to the Bank over the years by the community. The inaugural distribution programme was held last year at the Scottsburg Community Centre Ground in Corriverton, where the Bank provided uniforms and stationery to approximately 76 students.

This year, the Bank touched 42 students, each re-

ceiving uniforms, stationery and bags uniforms and another 36 students received stationery items.

Some 90 children in the audience also partook in the Bank's Early Savers Lottery game, where 10 lucky winners received a GBTI Early Savers Gift Voucher valued at $2,000.

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tuesday, august 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Pradoville land sale

SOCU Prosecutor a no-show

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he Special Organised Crime Unit’s (SOCU) prosecutor was a noshow in court on Monday when the Pradoville land sale case was called at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

People’s Progressive Party Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali, is before the court as a result of trumped-up po-

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan

litical motivated charges for allegedly selling State lands under market value, was present in court with his lawyers when the matter was called. After the prosecutor failed to make an appearance, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan adjourned the case to September 27, 2019.

Ali’s lawyers informed the Chief Magistrate that they

intend to file proceedings in the full court for a stay in the matter.

High Court Judge Dawn Gregory, on Friday last did not grant a stay order.

Ali is facing 19 charges in relation to the sale of land in the ‘Pradoville 2’ Housing Scheme between 2010-2015.

He was serving as Housing Minister during the time.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that Persaud was employed with the businessman but by reason of a misunderstanding with the Virtual Complainant (VC), he walked off the job.

The Court further heard that on the day in question, the businessman went to work and noticed the defendant and another person sitting in his store.

Shiek then decided to confront Persaud and it was at this time he was dealt one blow to the head with a piece of wood. The accused then relieved the injured man of the bag containing

the cash and the DVR before making his good escape.

The matter was reported to the nearest Police station and following an investigation, the defendant was arrested and confessed to the robbery.

The Prosecutor added

that the victim is the owner of a furniture store and after Persaud had left the job, he was paid for the two days that he worked.

In addition to the sentencing, the Magistrate instructed Persaud to seek counselling while incarcerated.

Teen gets 18 months for assaulting, robbing ex-boss

A

teenager was given an 18-month jail sentence on Monday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he admitted to attacking and robbing his ex-boss of $500,000.

Nineteen-year-old Imran Mohammed Persaud of Brickdam, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on June 1, 2019, at Lot 333 Cummings Street, Georgetown, he robbed his employer Kamran Sheik of $500,000 in cash and one DVR player.

Deportee charged for stealing 2 deodorants

A

deportee of French Guiana was on Monday arraigned for stealing two deodorants from Bounty Supermarket when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts.

Thirty-eight-year-old Ryan Hing pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on August 23, 2019, at Regent Road, Georgetown, he stole two deodor-

ants belonging to Bounty Supermarket.

Hing told the court that he was deported from French Guiana for attempted murder and has been living on the streets ever since.

He further told the court that upon his deportation, he found out that his brother had sold the family property, which led him to take up residency at any location when it gets dark.

“I went to Queen’s College and I was in class with Principal Magistrate Sherdel Marcus-Isaacs.

I wrote CXC, including French, and was successful.

I am sorry for stealing the deodorants but I must ad-

mit I returned both,” Hing expressed.

Police stated that on the day in question, Hing went to Bounty Supermarket and was observed by a security guard acting in a suspicious manner. The security guard then approached him and requested to carry out a search and it was while doing so that the items were found in his possession.

The police were called and the accused was arrested.

The Magistrate, after listening to the facts, sentenced Hing to 80 hours of community service or an alternative of two-week imprisonment.

Unanswered questions…

V

…on GECOM incent Alexander, PNC Commissioner in GECOM, claimed that in a country where the population is 750,000, it’s impossible for the voters’ list – meaning persons over 18 years old – to be 573,923 persons. He claimed the “bloating” was 200,000 persons.

This “bloating” business had come up before and had been tested before by no other than a previous PNC Commissioner, the mathematically-minded Haslyn Parris, and found to be wanting. And that’s why CEO Lowenfield confessed he hadn’t given any such number to the PNC! But we know it was just another “thing” to keep the big, bad wolf of elections from the PNC’s door, didn’t we?

Now before we proceed, we have to clear up some underbrush on this “bloated” voters business. After the 2001 elections, it was decided to institute “cycles of continuous registration” to “sanitise” and update the lists.

The 1st cycle of continuous registration was completed in preparation for the 2006 general elections. Whenever GECOM is asked to prepare a voters’ list for an election, they would be able to spew out all names of persons over 18.

At that time to address PNC concerns about the integrity of the voters’ list after the 2006 elections, the political parties decided on a new H2H Registration exercise to stop this bitching and moaning once and for all. They enacted legislation to permit this and we had the 2008 H2H. As a GECOM document records, “The Commission, consequent upon the conclusion of House-to-House Registration on July 4, 2008, immediately commenced planning for the implementation of the 2nd cycle of continuous registration in 2009. This would provide the opportunity for persons 14 years and over who were not registered during House-toHouse Registration to apply for registration”.

“This proposed 2nd cycle of the continuous registration process and consecutive cycles, would become a routine process for updating/sanitising the National Register of Registrants Database during the years running up to the next General and Regional Elections due in 2011, ***and thereafter***”. At no time was there talk of another H2H Registration. Your Eyewitness doesn’t know how Vincent Alexander could claim that in 2012, there was an agreement that there should be H2H exercises “every seven years”. Where did he get that from??

Even if it was so decided by the two parties, there was always the elephant in the room of which the Chief Justice took “judicial notice”: H2H cannot strike off from the NRR citizens who’ve migrated or are outside the jurisdiction purely from the fact that they aren’t at the location they’d registered at before.

That’d be introducing a residency requirement to vote… it ain’t constitutional. We know the new GECOM Chair isn’t on the BENCH any longer, but still… …on city fence The PNC used to blame the PPP for whatever ails the City – even when folks dropped banana peels on the sidewalks of Georgetown! They screamed bloody hell about crime around Stabroek Market and the clogged drains etc. Your Eyewitness used to wonder what was the point of Municipal Elections – which always awarded the PNC into the Mayoral and every other chair in the MC&CC. They clearly seen as responsible for the eyesores and body sores – since they were never blamed.

But what do they say now, four years after the PPP’s been out of office?? The sleazy operations of the “Den of Iniquity”, that is, City Hall, were exposed in living colour by the Justice Kendall CoI. He not only pointed fingers at the guilty City officials who were responsible for the degradation of the City – but he named names! Yet, they’re all there…doing what they do best: twiddling their thumbs as they await the bribes!!

Just look at the latest outrage: “The Case of the Disappeared Chain Link Fence”.

The PPP dunnit? …on elections date In refusing to set a date for elections, the President’s hiding under the GECOM Chair’s skirt!! It ain’t manly!

Constitutionally, HE has to proclaim a date and she tells him the best she can do.

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

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tuesday, august 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Revision of Cummingsburg Accord

Talks between APNU/AFC fail to take off A

s the country draws closer to inevitable elections, the revision of the Cummingsburg Accord has been delayed after talks between A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) failed to materialise.

It is understood that a meeting between the two coalition partners was supposed to have been held on Monday.

According to a press release from APNU however, the

leadership,” the statement added.

Questions have been raised whether the People’s National Congress (PNC) would offer AFC the same terms it offered them in 2015, when the accord was first signed. These questions took on a life of their own after the AFC’s wretched performance in Local Government Elections (LGE) in 2018.

Despite the AFC choosing Public Security Minister

Council Meeting on Saturday at Congress Place, where they were addressed by their leader, President David Granger.

In his address, Granger claimed that the coalition Government was “observing the rules and convention which govern Interim Administrations,” adding that “so as far as the Executive branch is concerned, we are still functional, we are still the Government.”

This comes even as

The mood was a sombre one during the PNC General Council meeting

President David Granger and Vice President Moses Nagamootoo after the AFC and APNU formed the coalition

promised meeting was cancelled.

“However, the two sides exchanged documents on the review of the Cummingsburg Accord and will meet at a date fixed after consideration of the documents by their respective

Khemraj Ramjattan as its prime ministerial candidate in waiting, the PNC has shown a dogged preference for the incumbent Moses Nagamootoo.

Meanwhile, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) held their General

Guyana is months overdue for elections. A No-Confidence Motion was passed against the Government on December 21 of last year. Article 106 of the Constitution stipulates that elections must be held within three months.

Multimillion-dollar dining hall opens in Berbice

A

sparkling new dining hall which equates to a scriptural one was on Sunday commissioned on the Corentyne by President David Granger.

The new dining hall features royalty as the cutlery is covered in gold, so too are most of the utensils, walls and most of the internal architecture.

Just as the curtains – they were custom made and imported from Israel.

The dining hall is located at Philipp Village at Solomon’s Temple and was opened as part of the church’s 12th anniversary.

Pastor Egbert Baggot told Guyana Times that the intention was to create a “one of a kind” dining hall in the

President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger being given a tour of the facility

Another section of the dining hall

ancient county.

“We did not just want the church to be one of a kind, but everything about the sanatory to be one of a kind, so, for the dining room we had stuff brought from the Middle East.”

He said the objective was to have the hall built with as many as possible “scriptural products” and enriched with lots of gold.

Noting that in biblical days Solomon’s Temple was enriched with a lot of gold,

Pastor Baggot said it cost the church a whole lot but they wanted it to be one of a kind.

“I know if you come to the Temple or if you come to the dining hall you can still that you are way off.”

The tables are made of marble and even the washroom has gold. The paper towel holder has a golden finish and the toilet seats, while not made of gold, is gold in colour.

The dining hall is also available for rental.

However, elections were not held and there was no resignation.

Instead, Government went to court, unsuccessfully arguing that the No-Confidence Motion was not validly passed. The case reached the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), where the regional court ruled against the Government but stopped short of issuing an order fixing an election date.

Instead, CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders had said that when the NoConfidence Motion was passed on December 21, 2019, Article 106 of the Constitution had immediately been activated.

GECOM was then taken before the courts after a challenge from accountant Christopher Ram sought an injunction against the current House-to-House Registration exercise. While acting Chief

Justice Roxane George did not rule the exercise illegal, she had elucidated that the old Register of Registrants could not be scrapped, thus rendering the exercise unnecessary.

Inclusionary democracy

Another claim made by the President was that the People’s National Congress (PNC) believed in inclusionary democracy. This, however, comes after complaints from the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), about the way in which they have been treated by their coalition counterpart.

Amidst growing concerns last year, prior to the NoConfidence Motion, that the PNC was showing disregard and even disdain for the spirit and letter of agreements it signed with key coalition partners, political scientist and WPA executive Dr David

Hinds had said the PNC must recognise that it cannot win a free and fair election on its own at this juncture in Guyana’s history, as its core support group is no longer emotionally attached to the party.

His comments came after concerns over the disregard and neglect shown to the concerns raised by other coalition partners about some of the decisions made by the David Granger Administration, particularly without their consultation and consent in some instances.

Meanwhile, the General Council also had reports for the last quarter being presented by the Campaign Managers of the ten administrative regions. The General Council is the second-highest decision-making forum of the party and meets once every quarter.

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tuesday, august 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Questions arise over fake Chicken shortage roll over into survey on political climate may September – GPPA

D

espite the absence of basic information to verify its authenticity, such as where it gets its funding or who trained its polling agents, a one-man representative of a little known group has released preliminary findings from an opinion poll it claimed to have carried out in Guyana.

The results of the ‘poll’ were announced on Monday

by Dr Kirk Meighoo of “Turkeyen Research and Polling Institute” but when asked how many persons were interviewed, he replied “several hundreds”.

Yet in his announcement of the “findings”, he asserted that 1400 persons were interviewed in all of the ten administrative regions of Guyana. He asserted that there were 12 interviewers but yet, could not identify their deployment in the specific regions. He also asserted that the sample was stratified to include the exact

Dr Kirk Meighoo

percentage of ethnic groups as found in the 2012 census but unless individuals were selected by sight at the point of interview, it is difficult to see how they could have been preselected randomly.

Discussing the poll, one respected local social scientist questioned the relevance of the questions concerning the popularity of the prospective presidential candidates who had been passed over by the Central Committee of the People’s

Progressive Party when the majority of them voted in a ballot for the successful candidate as the party was pushing for elections within three months as constitutionally stated following the passage of a No-Confidence Motion. This was seen as an attempt at creating discord within the party at a critical juncture.

Among the findings of the ‘poll’ was that most persons want elections as soon as possible and they have a negative view of the Government’s failure to call elections.

Another finding of the ‘poll’, which was done through face-to-face interviews, was that citizens have a lack of optimism that the recent oil finds and the wealth it generates will make any difference at the grass-root level.

When questioned by the media, however, Meighoo struggled to defend the au-

thenticity of the poll or answer basic questions such as who organised and funded the poll. Asked how he could guarantee the veracity of the results, Meighoo claimed to be able to tell when poll results are fake.

He emphasised that he was just a “consultant”, but this was belied by the fact that he appeared to be completely at sea on the concrete details of the poll.

“You can tell when its fake results. The way the data is collected. You can tell by that. You can tell if it was done in an actual exercise or whether it was done in an office. So that’s part of it. I did speak to some of the surveyors and I met some of them. I couldn’t meet with everyone, but I did spot check,” he said.

But Meighoo was clearly protesting too much about the TRPI polls being “fake”, when no one actually suggested it.

Guyana Poultry Producers Association Director Patrick De Groot

T

he current shortage of chicken in Guyana is likely to roll over into September although it was expected to come to an end by mid-August.

Director of the Guyana Poultry Producers Association (GPPA), Patrick De Groot in an interview with Guyana Times on Monday explained that a few other major chicken manufactures are still short of the produce.

He is anticipating that production should return to normalcy by the second week in September.

He was keen to note that although there may be a shortage of meat supply, eggs are still being sold as normal on the market as no shortage has been recorded.

Further, De Groot indicated that he was made to understand that chicken smugglers are still at work.

In fact, he related that a few smugglers were caught by agents of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) over the weekend.

De Groot said that while not properly briefed on the issue, he is aware that chicken in commercial quantities was seized.

As a result of the shortage, small chicken businesses were forced to cease operations and as such, this has taken a toll on their livelihood.

On July 24, the Guyana Livestock and Development Authority (GLDA) announced the shortage of chicken.

The Authority said based on their records, there has been a reduction in the number of cases of hatching eggs imported when compared to 2018 and without a doubt, this was attributed to the shortage.

Additionally, some farmers have also been complaining of reduced growth rates and higher mortality, which resulted in the reduction of poultry meat on the market.

One week later, the GPPA had stated that local poultry farmers were thrown off-balance by chicken smugglers. According to the Association, smuggling of chicken in large quantities began in early 2018.

It explained at that time that Suriname only had a five per cent duty on imported chickens, which resulted in the meat bird being imported into the country in large quantities from the United States and Brazil legally. The poultry was then smuggled across the Surinamese border into Guyana.

Further, the GPPA had stated that the surplus lasted from May 2018 to March 2019, which accounted for the largest glut of chicken Guyana has ever experienced.

The GPPA further noted that last month, the duty on imported chicken to Suriname climbed from five to 40 per cent, which put a dent in the smuggling business.

Moreover, it said the Enforcement Department of the GRA would have stepped up its campaign against chicken smuggling. “It appeared that their efforts resulted in large seizures of chicken brought in illegally from across the border.”

Additionally, in March of this year, the Poultry Association said farmers were left with excess birds in their pens which were between 12 and 15 weeks old although the normal growth period was six weeks.

This too, played a part in the current shortage.

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tuesday, august 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Teen stabbed to death while purchasing fish & chips …several others injured

A

n 18-year-old boy was stabbed to death on Sunday night by a group of men after he stopped at a stand at the main entrance to the Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara to purchase fish and chips.

Dead is 18-year-old Ravildo “Michael” Williams of Lot 37 Friendship, EBD. According to information received, the incident occurred at about 23:30h.

The young man left a wedding reception at Grove, EBD with his family but they stopped to purchase fish and chips from stand before going home.

As they placed their order, they were approached by a group of men in a bid to rob them and it was this time, the teenager was fa-

Murdered: Ravildo Williams

He recalled the men arriving on bicycles and was about to rob them, but his son intervened and was

The Diamond Housing Scheme entrance where the family stopped to purchase food

tally stabbed after he put up resistance.

After realising that the teen was wounded, the suspects fled the scene.

Williams was picked up and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

At the home of the dead teen, relatives and friends crowded the yard to offer their condolences to the family. The teen’s father, Romel Paknram said he was present at the scene when they were approached by suspects.

stabbed several times to the left side of his upper body with a sharp object.

His 25-year-old daughter was dealt one blow to her head as she attempted to render assistance to her brother.

“We had left the wedding. My niece got married.

We were heading home that time but we went to buy fish and chips and in the heights of that, couple guys roll up with bicycle and go to rob them. After my daughter see they hold her brother, she come out the bus and they lash she in her head and she fall

down. She brother run behind them and they start stabbing him up,” the distraught father recalled.

Moments after, the perpetrators fled the scene.

Williams was found lying on the ground with blood

oozing from the wounds he received.

“It was about four or five of them that I see…They gone and we just see he lying on the ground and we take him to the hospital”.

Guyana Times under-

stands that several others were injured during the incident. One of teen’s cousins received a stab wound to his left chest while another was injured on his hand.

They too were tak-

en to the hospital where they were treated and sent home.

So far, the Police have arrested one person in connection with the murder and he is assisting with their investigations.

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tuesday, august 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Tullow prepares to drill 2nd well offshore Guyana M otivated by its first oil find, United Kingdom-based oil company Tullow has commenced preparations to drill a second well within the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana.

Although an exact date was not published stating when the drilling works would commence, the Maritime Administration Department recently notified mariners of these operations as a precautionary measure when navigating the area.

According to a notice published in one of the daily newspapers, the oil company will now be heading to the Joe-1 well site to drill.

This operation, which will

incorporate the use of the MODU Stena Forth drillship, is expected to conclude on December 31, 2019.

The Joe is located in approximately 650 metres of water and costs approximately US$3 million to drill.

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

About two weeks ago, Tullow announced a major oil find at the Jethro-1 exploration well in the Orinduik Block, becoming the second oil company to announce an oil find offshore Guyana.

It is understood that the Jethro-1 well was drilled by the Stena Forth drillship to

a total depth of 4400 metres in approximately 1350 metres of water. According to a statement from the company, evaluation of the logging data confirmed that Jethro-1 comprises high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs of Lower Tertiary age, which simply means they date back to millions of years ago.

According to the statement, the well encountered 55m of net oil pay, which indicates a recoverable oil resource estimate that exceeds Tullow’s pre-drill forecast of 100 million barrels of oil.

News of the find created waves in financial centres around the world, as well as international news outlets.

Up to press time, Tullow’s

shares had jumped by over 19 per cent on the London Stock Exchange. In fact, it was the biggest gainer on the index.

In addition to these sites, Tullow plans to drill another well later this year, the Carapa-1, on the adjacent Kanuku Block.

“We look forward to drilling both the Joe and Carapa prospects in our 2019 drilling campaign and the material follow-up exploration potential in both the Orinduik and Kanuku licenses,” Tullow’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul McDade was quoted as saying.

The Orinduik oil block is just a few kilometres from Exxon’s discoveries in the Liza and Payara fields.

Tullow has already promised close collaboration with locals when development starts. In fact, the company’s Head of Communications,

George Cazenove, explained that the company has a positive track record in local content.

SuperBet gives back to communities through annual back-to-school drive

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cores of young children within the communities of Kaneville, on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and Albouystown, Georgetown, were beneficiaries of school items, courtesy of Superbet, on Monday.

The annual event which is aimed at giving back to the communities in which the company presently operates, saw over 250 children getting backpacks and other school supplies.

At a simple handing over ceremony in Albouystown, Marketing Personnel for the subsidiary company of Guyana Holding Inc, Nicholai Primo briefly explained that the initiative is a demonstration of the organisation’s support for youth development.

“Superbet, besides being an organisation that’s business-centred, we often try to give back to the communities in ways we can be recognised. We care a lot about our youths so this project is to

Marketing Personnel, Nicholai Primo

ensure that they have a stepping stone towards the new school term and we wanna ensure that we remain close to the community and to our youths, so basically, we are just trying to be present in the lives of these kids. We’ve delivered a lot of joy today.”

Primo noted.

The drive is expected to continue today in other communities.

“We’re donating to not just Albouystown but as well in Grove”.

The back to school activity in Kaneville, East Bank Demerara

A child receives a backpack from Marketing Personnel Nicholai Primo at the Albouystown drive

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tuesday, august 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden storm/flood

RDC budgets for relief storage bond, as relief efforts continue

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n the aftermath of the destruction caused by a severe rainstorm in Linden, Region 10, on Friday last, regional officials are continuing to organise relief efforts to assist over 100 affected families.

Officials indicated on Monday that they have requested money to construct a relief bond which will assist in the storage of items in such times.

The storm, which lasted for approximately two and a half hours, resulted in damage to homes in areas such as Blueberry Hill, Silvertown, Burnham Drive, Retrieve, Fair’s Rust and other areas.

Following the storm, several residents complained that their rooftops had blown off and numerous trees were uprooted across the community. It also resulted in intense flooding in several residential areas as well as Central Mackenzie – which houses the main shopping district

Regional Chairman Renis Morian

course of the week.

“We are pushing to have some relief by Wednesday, to have zinc sheets delivered. Instead of people nailing down [zinc sheets] we want them to screw them down and we’re delivering some hampers.

For some people, with the devastation, everything went down- electrical TV, laptops and whatnot. On Blueberry Hill, the sad part was to see all the children’s

A section of Linden following the downpour

in the community.

Numerous electrical power lines and posts were also damaged during the ordeal.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian noted on Wednesday that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has organised relief efforts and has so far been successful in assisting some of the affected families. This, he noted, will continue during the

school clothes that was already bought, books and so on outside. So, we are taking that relief to them by now and Thursday”, Morian said.

The Regional Chairman continued that already, the RDC, Government, Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and Banks DIH have lent support towards the relief efforts.

He noted, however, that

they are unable to deal with all of the affected residents at once, but is currently dealing with the “worstcase scenarios”. He further hailed residents for supporting each other in terms of assisting with repair work to affected homes.

Morian, who focuses on Disaster Risk Management, said Friday’s incident was a “wake up call” as he pointed to the effects of global warming and climate change. He also noted that it is time for the region to improve in its relief efforts.

“What I’m hoping to see, and I know we’ve put it in the budget for 2020, is to have a bond – a Disaster Risk Management bond...

If we have a bond here in Linden and it is supplied, it means that first response will be on us. So that is what we’re moving to”, Morian noted.

Similar sentiments were also echoed by Regional Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph, who stressed the need for such a bond.

“We’ve put it in for next year’s budget, for natural disasters...so come next year we want to have a building, a storehouse that we can store these things for whenever disaster comes. Right now, we really don’t have any direct fund to really help”, he explained.

Adolph pointed out that while Morian had appealed for assistance for the affected families, there is no direct funding available for incidents such as these. He added that the Council is still open to receiving assistance from those willing to donate.

“Actually, about a hundred families [were affected] and the destruction is about in the millions. So, we were asking for help to see how many persons [we could help]. A lady said there was actually 420 chicks for her died, so some people had losses and the losses [accumulated] were in the hundreds of millions”, Adolph noted.

He added that given the current weather pattern in Guyana, much more is expected. The Regional Vice

One of the roofs that were blown off as a result of the heavy wind

Chairman has also urged residents to secure their roofs and to keep all drains in their communities clear to avoid blockages.

“One of the things that I would advise residents is to try to keep your drains clear of plastics. Let us try to avoid dumping plastics which would cause many of the culverts to block. So when you get heavy rainfalls the water would run off...and let us try not to nail our zinc sheets, use more screws on the rafters when we are putting down our zinc sheets”, he noted.

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tuesday, august 27, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

New substances being abused by youths – survey …groups trained to rehabilitate abusers

A

recent survey conducted in various parts of the country by the Public Health Ministry has discovered that new substances are being abused by youths at a rapid pace.

With this in mind, the Ministry has embarked on an initiative to train persons to help young people stay away from these harmful substances.

Project Director at the Drug Demand Reduction Services arm of the Ministry, Sylvia Cort told the media on Monday that from an exercise in Essequibo, lots of reports were forwarded that more young people are misusing substances, while at the same time pointing out that there are some new substances that are on the market.

Psychologist Ren Gonsalves engaging the participants of the programme

In fact, she said there are reports of persons even “sniffing” gasoline. “We know they are misusing prescription drugs…they are misusing solvents; some young people are even sniffing gasoline. So there is an upsurge. There is also an upsurge in them using ecstasy and there is a new one on the market, Malay I

think is one”.

This new drug she noted is a “night club” substance which is generally added to drinks. Cort said it disturbs a person’s thought process, meaning that a drugged person will be unconscious of their actions.

As a consequence, she appealed for partyholics not to take sips of opened drinks

from friends or acquaintances.

However, on Monday, a five-day workshop kicked off at the Red Cross Society, Eve Leary, Georgetown with representatives from the Social Protection Ministry, youth groups, Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) and several others who are involved directly in counselling youths.

The Project Director outlined the importance of this activity as she referred to youths as not only the future but a neglected group.

“We thought that as the future leaders, as our future, we need to pay special attention to them and therefore this workshop is very important to build the capacity of those persons who come into contact or work direct-

Project Director, Drug Demand Reduction Services, Public Health Ministry, Sylvia Cort

ly with adolescents who may be vulnerable or at risk”.

Further, she noted that young people are often times pressured not only by their peers, but at school, home, and in their groups.

These pressures, she said, may lead to them abuse substances for leisure or relief. The programme, on the

other hand, will help leaders to recognise the issues faced by young people and address them swiftly.

Over the next few days, Psychologist Ren Gonsalves of the Philippines will be engaging the participants.

A United States State Department report has declared that while Guyana has a comprehensive drug demand reduction strategy, the use of drugs like marijuana and even cocaine is a growing problem.

This information is contained in the recently released 2019 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which has a section dedicated to Guyana’s profile.

Notwithstanding the trafficking, the report notes actual consumption of these drugs is a growing problem. According to the report, marijuana is the most commonly used drug.

Workforce in agriculture sector benefit from training on planting technology

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ollowing the signing of an Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation in 2018 between the Government of Guyana and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, a number of technical employees in the country’s agricultural sector on Saturday last commenced training in the area of planting technology, a course offered under the said agreement.

Specialised lecturers in the field of cassava and vegetables, sugar and rice have arrived from the foreign country to offer their expertise to the technical employees attached to organisations including the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Guyana Rice Development Board

(GRDB), the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the University of Guyana The four-week course is being offered by the Ministry of Commerce, China, through the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China (in Guyana) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.

In addressing the opening ceremony on Monday at the Guyana School of Agriculture, Chief Executive Officer of NAREI, Dr Oudho Homenauth explained that discussions on the course started more than a year ago between representatives of the two countries.

“This exercise started more than a year ago where we would have had intense

Representatives of the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDG), the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the University of Guyana at the opening ceremony

discussion between representatives from China and our personnel here before this course was finalised,” he said.

The CEO further pointed out that rice and sugar were selected because these are the two main commodities produced in Guyana while

cassava was chosen because it is a major source of food security, especially in the hinterland communities.

“China is offering the course on cassava because the country is ranked among the top 10 countries in the world in respect to cassava production.

They produce approximately five million tons of cassava annually and cultivate 300,000 hectares,” NAREI’s CEO explained.

On this note, Homenauth urged the staff to pay keen attention since this course can provide new information in cassava production,

pro-harvesting and industrial processing.

Meanwhile, a representative from the Ministry of Commerce, Hanming Hu stated that his country has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Guyana for a long time and has offered support in the health, educational and agricultural sectors.

In 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the training course presently being offered. Later this year, another course will be offered in the field of soil and gas development.

At the end of the current course, participants are expected to transfer the knowledge learnt to end users such as farmers since agriculture is among the main income givers within the country.

24 Guyanese commence overseas training as technicians

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s oil giant ExxonMobil seeks to develop its local content, the first batch of the country’s Operations and Maintenance (O&M) technicians, recruited by the oil company to work on the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, has embarked on their Advanced Systems Training at the Cape Brenton University in Canada.

The one-year training exercise, which is expected to conclude in 2020, will focus on four specific areas, namely: electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, and operations as the 24 trainees have already completed basic systems training in the four disciplines, earlier this year.

According to ExxonMobil, upon completion of the one year training in Canada, the trainees will continue on the job training on the FPSO as it aims to develop a diverse and skilled workforce that can meaningfully contribute to its operations in Guyana.

During brief interviews

with some of the country’s newest operations and maintenance technicians, the same level of enthusiasm was expressed as they described the experience at their ongoing training.

One trainee, Earl Williams, who specialises in the mechanical craft, has described the overseas training experience as life changing, as he plans to make full use of the opportunity awarded to him.

“I hope to achieve the knowledge, especially in the mechanical field and to be able to execute it efficiently on the FPSO at the best of my ability…this has been a great opportunity for me, not just in a training perspective, but as an individual,” Williams stated.

Meanwhile, Kathy James, one of two females in the batch, is of the view that the opportunity will pave way for her to represent Guyana.

“I can’t find the words to describe how happy I am for

Operations and Maintenance trainee Earl Williams

this opportunity. It is something wonderful and I know it will serve well in the future,” she expressed.

ExxonMobil Guyana’s development model for operations and maintenance employees is designed for trainees to advance from Technician I to III over time.

The intent is to enhance their capacity to such a level that they are able to replace an experienced international worker.

In the coming year, another batch of approximately 50 technicians will be recruited and undergo similar training.

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tuesday, august 27, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Carifesta XIV wraps up in a kaleidoscope of colours

─ Antigua and Barbuda to host Carifesta XV

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arifesta XIV, held in Trinidad and Tobago, closed in a kaleidoscope of colours befitting this diverse festival. The honour of hosting the next event has been bestowed on Antigua and Barbuda.

In brief remarks, during the closing ceremony held at Queen’s Park Savannah, Assistant SecretaryGeneral of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Dr Douglas Slater said that this year’s festival has added a meaningful chapter to Carifesta’s history, whilst raising the bar.

“Carifesta XIV has been a very vibrant and exciting experience of sharing and showcasing our rich Caribbean culture and that of many visiting artists and experts outside of our region… we know that a mega-concert such as Carifesta is no simple task and no matter how many times it has been hosted before, every edition brings new experiences and challenges but also opportunities to learn and improve the festival,” he explained.

According to Slater, Trinidad as this year’s host country has created a welcoming embrace and an environment where both the cultural and creative attributes provided by all participating delegations became the main focus. This, he added, is the true meaning of Carifesta.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Dr Nyan GadsyDolly said the country has once more proudly demonstrated its cultural artistry while upholding the festi-

Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly presents the baton to Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Sports, Culture, National Festivals and the Arts, Daryll Matthew, to host Carifesta XV in 2021

val’s objectives.

“For the past ten days, this festival impacted the way we valued Caribbean identity and shifted our paradigms… we set out on a mission to take our Caribbean film, dance, music, theatre, visual arts, symposium, literary arts, food and fashion and meticulously devise an impactful plan to the people and diaspora,” she added.

As the baton now passes to Antigua and Barbuda, that island’s Minister of Sports, Culture, National Festivals and the Arts, Daryll Matthew said the country is quite eager to assume the mantle of hosting Carifesta XV. “In two short years (2021), Antigua and Barbuda will have the opportunity to continue this rich tradition

of the Caribbean, it will coincide with the nation’s 40 post-Independence era…

Antigua and Barbuda is the Caribbean; no other country in our region can boast that their society has the cosmopolitan mix of the Caribbean people as Antigua and Barbuda, so, in fact, we will be welcoming you all back home,” Minister Matthew noted. This festival, he said, will allow the country to “harness the awareness of the people and the attention of the collective diaspora to play a greater role to unite people. It will also capitalise on the country’s uniqueness as an economic and cultural juggernaut”.

This year’s event in the twin-island republic was hosted under the theme “Connect, Share, Invest”.

50,000+ households from Regions 3, 4, 6 to benefit from water treatment plants

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ollowing the establishment of water treatment plants at Uitvlugt, Diamond and Sheet Anchor to be completed by yearend, more than 50,000 households will benefit.

While over 4,000 households within Vergenoegen, Region 3 (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) will soon be able to gain access to potable water through the establishment of a well—including ongoing works on wells at Pouderoyen and Westminister, which are expected to be completed

by August 2019— these wells are expected to increase the capacity of the three water treatment plants installed in the region, whilst improving service delivery to residents.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Managing Director, Dr Richard Van West-Charles said the efficiency of treating water goes in tandem with the agency’s metering efforts.

“We know that the water is being treated but the metering has allowed us to take two stations off… we have been able to reduce the operational cost by taking

two stations which are now redundant in case of one of the stations going down, we can then re-activate one of the two,” he explained.

This efficiency can also be seen within the Uitvlugt and Diamond communities, according to the Managing Director, which has tightened the network and improved the water pressure.

“For us at GWI, metering is crit-

ical for t h e improvement of the service and the level of service for people throughout the system,” Dr Van West-Charles added.

For the first half of 2019, the coalition Government has expended $1.4Billion of the $2.9Billion allocated to improve potable water supply and distribution sys-

tems.

Thus far, to ensure efficient management of this valuable resource, GWI has installed 3,952 water meters in 1,271 communities across Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 to reduce the loss of non-revenue water. This speaks to approximately 8,640 cubic metres each month.

In the Berbice area, roughly 60% of the metering activities have been completed under the New Amsterdam Water Treatment Plant Project. This reduction in non-revenue water will allow for improved delivery of water to residents of Sandvoort by increasing water pressure in the mains.

In addition, works will commence in the second half of the year on the expansion of Parika water supply systems. Upgrades to the water distribution network and transmission mains at Orealla, Ithaca and Kingelly are set to commence and are expected to be completed by year-end.

New pumps were also installed at water treatment plants in Linden, more specifically Watooka, Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, august 27, 2019

Regional

Brazilians rally in support of Macron condemns Bolsonaro for “Car Wash” corruption probe ‘disrespectful’ post about his wife

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housands of Brazilians joined demonstrations across the country on Sunday to urge the Government to keep pursuing a mammoth corruption investigation and show support for the Justice Minister, who has been hit with allegations he abused his powers as a Judge overseeing the inquiry.

The protesters also urged President Jair Bolsonaro to reject recently passed legislation that would impose prison time for officials who obtain evidence by unlawful means.

Marchers carried posters backing Justice Minister Sergio Moro, who is widely popular with many Brazilians for leading the "Car Wash" corruption investigation that has upended the country's political elite and sent dozens of people to prison.

"We want to stop the process that exists against Car Wash," said Sergio Bruno, one of the organisers of a

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Supporters of the President called for the nationwide demonstration [Photo by: Silvia Izquierdo/AP]

demonstration at Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach.

Moro also is vilified by many on the left for putting former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in jail on a corruption conviction that arose from the probe.

That kept Da Silva from running in last year's presidential election, which was won by the far-right Bolsonaro.

Reports by the website The Intercept since June have used leaked transcripts of hacked mobile phone con-

versations to raise questions about whether Moro, as a judge, improperly worked with prosecutors in the case against Da Silva. Moro has denied wrongdoing.

Moro's conviction of Lula was the highest-profile verdict in the ongoing Car Wash investigation, which has led to the imprisonment of scores of powerful politicians and businessman in Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America, reshaping the region's political landscape. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

rench President Emmanuel Macron has lashed out at Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro for endorsing "rude" remarks about his wife.

A supporter of the Brazilian President mocked Macron's wife, Brigitte, 66, in a Facebook post.

The post contained a photo contrasting the French first lady's appearance with that of Bolsonaro's wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, 37.

"Now you understand why Macron is persecuting Bolsonaro?" it reads.

In response to the comment, Bolsonaro wrote (in Portuguese): "Do not humiliate (him)... man, ha ha".

Asked about Bolsonaro's remarks, Macron said it was "extraordinarily rude" and "sad".

"He said very disrespectful things about my wife. I have great respect for the

Jair Bolsonaro with his wife Michelle in a presidential convoy

Brazilian people and can only hope they soon have a President who is up to the job," Macron said at a news conference at the G7 summit in Biarritz on Monday.

The exchange highlights the acrimony between Macron and Bolsonaro in a diplomatic spat sparked by the Amazon fires.

Macron is spearheading efforts to get world leaders to do something about the

fires ravaging parts of the Amazon rainforest.

Macron has described the wildfires as an "international crisis", which critics have blamed on Bolsonaro's anti-environmental rhetoric and lack of action on deforestation.

But Bolsonaro, whose country is not in the G7, accused Macron of having a "colonialist mentality". (Excerpt from BBC News)

Hurricane watch in effect Mexico President says “doing well” for St Lucia on migration ahead of US deadline

M

exico’s President said on Monday his country was “doing well” in addressing US demands to contain illegal immigration and that Mexican and American officials will meet on September 10 to take stock of the situation after a key deadline expires.

In June, Mexico’s Government averted a threat by US President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on all Mexican exports if it did not act by vowing to take tougher measures to curb a surge in US-bound migrants within 90 days.

In late July, after an initial 45-day period to evaluate progress, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised Mexico’s efforts, but said he would circle back with Trump about how to

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador attends a news conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico [Photo by: REUTERS/Edgard

Garrido]

proceed.

The Trump administration has pressured Mexico to become a so-called safe third country for asylum seekers, which would require Central

Americans to apply for refuge in Mexico rather than the United States.

Mexico rejects that demand, saying the measure is inappropriate and unnecessary.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador struck an upbeat note at his regular morning news conference on Monday when he noted the 90-day period would conclude on September 5.

“We’re fulfilling the commitment we made ... we’re doing well,” he said.

Migrant apprehensions on the US southern border fell in June to some 100,000 people, according to US data, after Mexico enforced new measures including the deployment of militarised National Guard police to its borders. (Reuters)

Trinidad: Police suspect ‘zessin pills’ a factor in recent murders

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olice believe hard drugs may have triggered the violence that led to two recent murders.

Speaking with Newsday Monday afternoon, one officer said investigators believed the suspects in both incidents, both 19, may have been under the influence of a new brand of drugs entering the black market.

He said Police noticed a new influx of drugs called "Zessin' pills assuming growing popularity at parties and limes.

The drug, which is a mixture of cocaine and ecstasy, is sold wrapped in foil.

Police are urging the public to avoid using drugs of any kind while liming.

"They're crushing the ecstasy and the cocaine rocks and mixing them together.

When you take that it sends you into a frame of mind where you really can't control yourself.

"There's another drug called “Molly”, which is ecstasy, cocaine and another drug we haven't identified as

yet.

"These drugs they are taking now are really damaging. We have even heard from interviews that there are people running naked through the streets. We are getting a lot of violence from youths and it's being linked to these new drugs".

Newsday understands members of the Organised Crime Intelligence Unit (OCIU) have noticed similar behaviour to that of both suspects among frequent users of the drug. (Trinidad Newsday)

S

t Lucia has been put on a hurricane watch as Tropical Storm Dorian inched closer to the island on Monday, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) has said.

St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet is to chair a meeting of the National Emergency Management Advisory Committee (NEMAC) shortly and will make a statement on national preparations after receiving a briefing from local officials including representatives of the Met Office and the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO).

The NHC in its 11:00h bulletin said that Dorian has strengthened as it moves toward the Lesser Antilles and that hurricane conditions are possible in portions of the northern Windward Islands.

The storm is located 135 miles, east south east of Barbados, 245 miles, east south east of St Lucia with maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour (mph).

The St Lucia government has since issued a hurricane watch for the island while “the government of France has upgraded the

tropical storm watch to a tropical storm warning for Martinique.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines, while a tropical storm watch is remains in effect for Dominica, Grenada and its dependencies, Saba and St Eustatius. (Excerpt from

Jamaica Observer)

LIAT cancels flights as TS Dorian approaches

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he passage of Tropical Storm (TS) Dorian has forced the regional airline, LIAT, to cancel over 10 flights slated for a few destinations within its network.

According to information provided by LIAT’s Corporate Communications Manager, Shavar Maloney, the flights that have been cancelled for August 26 were: LI 756 from St. Lucia to Barbados; LI 512 from Ogle, Guyana to Barbados; LI 512 from Barbados to Antigua (LI 512 will operate direct from Ogle to

Antigua); LI 726 from St Vincent to Barbados; LI 336 from Trinidad to Barbados; LI 368 from Barbados to St Lucia; LI 369 from St Lucia to Barbados; LI 737 from Barbados to St Vincent; and LI 393 from Barbados to Ogle, Guyana.

Also cancelled are LI 769 from Barbados to St Vincent, LI 770 from St Vincent to Barbados, LI 309 from Antigua to St Lucia, LI 309 from St Lucia to Trinidad, LI 523 from Antigua to Barbados and LI 523 from Barbados to Grenada (LI 523 will operate direct from

Antigua to Grenada).

In considering the inconvenience, the airline said it will allow passengers who have been affected by the cancellations to rebook between August 25 and August 28 2019 and “affected passengers will have all change fees and fare differences waived for travel within the specified rebooking period”.

LIAT will, however, continue to operate its normal flight schedule in the unaffected territories in the network.(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, august 27, 2019

17

Around the World

PM Hamdok seeks to remove Hong Kong Government warns of great danger Sudan from US terror list

S

udan's new Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has said that he has talked to US officials about removing Sudan from Washington's list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

The news comes just days after Hamdok took charge of the country's complex civilian-military transitional Government. His formal appointment last week followed a mass protest movement that forced the

removal of longtime authoritarian President Omar alBashir in April.

As Sudan begins a new chapter, getting off the United States's state sponsor of terror list is the "key to anything that we can do in this country", Hamdok told the Associated Press news agency on Sunday, adding that a "democratic Sudan is not a threat to anybody in the world".

Removing Sudan from

the list would open the door to foreign investment and allow the country to receive a much-needed International Monetary Fund and World Bank bailout package, Hamdok said.

The US named Sudan a state sponsor of "terror" in 1993, and the designation stuck through the al-Bashir regime.

As one of the last acts of the Obama Administration, the US began a formal process

to delist Sudan in January 2017, lifting trade and economic sanctions in October.

But the process was put on hold when mass protests began in December 2018.

"We appreciate and understand that there is a process, both I think in Government and Congress," Hamdok said, adding that he hopes it happens soon because "it has very serious implications on our situation". (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Donald Trump backs off, says India and Pakistan can work things out

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rime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump passed off without a hiccup with no offer of mediation on Jammu and Kashmir cropping up and Trump, in fact, saying Modi had told him the situation was under control.

Trump repeated the bilateral mantra during his meeting with Modi, saying India and Pakistan could arrive at solutions between themselves. “I am here... I am good friends with both PMs. But I think they can manage it themselves,” he said, responding to a persistent question on his “offer” to mediate.

The much-anticipat-

ed meeting on the margins of the G7 summit saw Trump say, “We spoke last night about Kashmir, Prime Minister Modi really feels he has it under control. They speak with Pakistan and I’m sure that they will be able to do something that will be very good.”

Modi answered, “We

have many issues with Pakistan that are bilateral.

We don’t bother other countries about these issues. We can find solutions through discussions.”

The meeting passing off with no reference to Kashmir and Trump’s endorsement of India’s position that the matter be settled bilateral-

ly marks a milestone after the government’s decision to nullify J&K’s special status.

The meeting was preceded by an exchange of pleasantries, holding of hands and some banter with Trump saying, “He (Modi) actually speaks very good English, he just doesn’t want to talk.”

Modi took a careful stand on Pakistan, not ruling out talks altogether. The PM said solutions could be found through talks, though he offered no indication that the condition that Pakistan should crack down on terror had been altered. The tone adopted by Modi may be a sign that in public at least, India doesn’t want to sound strident and a country spoiling for a fight. (Times of India)

On Monday, Iraq’s President Barham Salih hosted leading members of the PMF along with the Prime Minister and the Parliament Speaker to discuss the instability.

It stressed the Government would take all necessary steps to “deter aggressors and defend Iraq”, but did not threaten a military response.

Iraq’s military spokesman Yehya Rasool told AFP news agency on Monday the Government had launched

a new investigation into Sunday’s attack.

Asked what diplomatic action Iraq could take, the Foreign Ministry told AFP it would wait for official conclusions before resorting to the UN. Earlier on Monday, Israeli jets attacked a Palestinian base in eastern Lebanon near the border with Syria, Lebanon’s staterun National News Agency reported.

Three attacks which came minutes apart struck

a base for a Syrian-backed group known as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command (PFLP-GC), an ally of Hezbollah.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on the attack, which the agency said hit near the Lebanese village of Qusaya in the eastern Bekaa Valley.

Air raids by Israel against Palestinian factions in Lebanon, such as this one, have been rare in the past years. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump

Lebanon President: Israel drone attack a declaration of war

L

ebanon’s President has said an Israeli drone attack on Beirut at the weekend was a “declaration of war” that justified a military response.

Also on Monday, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri said his Government wants to avoid an escalation with Israel, but the international community must reject Israel’s “blatant violation” of Lebanese sovereignty.

Brexit: Job of Parliament is to ‘get this thing done’ - Johnson

“T

he job of everybody in Parliament” is to deliver Brexit, the PM has said at the end of the G7 summit in France.

Boris Johnson also said he was “marginally more optimistic” about striking a new Brexit deal with the EU. But he refused to be drawn on whether he would suspend Parliament to stop it preventing a no-deal exit.

Johnson’s comments come as MPs from other parties prepare to meet to

Prime Minister Boris Johnson: Brexit “is a matter for parliamentarians to get right ourselves”

discuss ways to avoid the UK leaving the EU without a deal on October 31.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hopes to win a vote of no-confidence in the Government and then delay Brexit to stop a no-deal exit.

Asked about the possibility of MPs thwarting plans to leave the EU at the end of October, Johnson said: “I think it’s the job of everybody in Parliament to get this thing done.

“I think it’s what the people want, I also think, by the way, it’s what our

friends and partners on the other side of the Channel want - they want it over.”

On Sunday, Johnson had told the BBC the chances of securing a new Brexit deal were “touch and go” - but on Monday he said: “I am marginally more optimistic.”

Labour leader Corbyn wants to call a vote of no-confidence in the Government to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

If he were to win a vote, Corbyn plans to become a caretaker Prime Minister, delay Brexit, call a snap election and campaign for another referendum. (Excerpt from BBC News)

after weekend of violence

An anti-extradition bill protester throws a Molotov cocktail as protesters clash with riot police during a rally to demand democracy and political reforms, at Tsuen Wan, in Hong Kong, China August 25

Illegal violence is pushing Hong Kong to the brink of great danger, the city Government said on Monday, after a weekend of clashes that included the first gun-shot and the arrest of 86 people, the youngest just 12.

Police fired water cannon and volleys of tear gas in running battles with protesters who threw bricks and petrol bombs on Sunday, the second day of weekend clashes in the Chinese-ruled city.

Six officers drew their pistols and one officer fired a warning shot into the air, Police said in a statement, adding that 215 rounds of tear gas and 74 rubber bullets were fired over the two days.

The protests began in mid-June over a now-suspended extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong people to be sent to mainland China for trial.

But the demonstrations have evolved over 12 straight weeks into a broad demand for greater democracy in the financial hub that was promised a high degree of autonomy under a “one country, two systems” formula when it was handed to China by colonial ruler Britain in 1997.

More demonstrations are planned in the days and weeks ahead, including a rally at Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways headquarters on Wednesday to protest against perceived “white terror”, a term used to describe anonymous acts that create a climate of fear.

Cathay has emerged as the biggest corporate casualty of the protests after China demanded it suspend staff involved in, or who supported, the anti-Government demonstrations that have plunged the city into its biggest crisis since 1997.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Trump says ready to meet Iran’s President to solve nuclear impasse

U

S President Donald Trump said on Monday he would meet Iran’s President under the right circumstances to end a confrontation over a 2015 nuclear deal and that talks were underway to see how countries could open credit lines to keep Iran’s economy afloat.

But Trump, speaking at a G7 summit in the French resort of Biarritz, ruled out lifting economic sanctions to compensate for losses suffered by Iran.

Trump told reporters it was realistic to envisage a meeting between him and President Hassan Rouhani in coming weeks, describing Iran as a country of “tremendous potential”.

“I have a good feeling. I think he (Rouhani) is going to want to meet and get their situation straightened out. They are hurting badly,” Trump said.

French President

Emmanuel Macron, host of the G7 summit, told the same news conference that Rouhani had told him he would be open to meeting Trump. Macron said he hoped a summit between the two men could happen in coming weeks. Trump and Rouhani head to the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Rouhani is not Iran’s top decision-maker. That role is held by the fiercely anti-American Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - and anything agreed at a Trump-Rouhani encounter would be subject to Khamenei’s approval.

European leaders have struggled to calm the deepening confrontation between Iran and the United States since Trump pulled Washington out of Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and reimposed sanctions on the Iranian economy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

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tuesday, august 27, 2019

ARCHIE

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tuesday, august 27, 2019

Magnificent Ben Stokes is England’s greatest ever all-rounder – Moeen Ali I

n the biggest summer in English cricket history, Ben Stokes has stood head and shoulders above the rest. His team mate Moeen Ali had the following to say of him.

“He is the best cricketer I have played alongside, and while it might be a massive shout – and admittedly, he is a very close friend – I would argue he is now the greatest all-rounder this country has ever produced.

“To deliver an innings like the one he played at Headingley just six weeks after winning us the World Cup final, and with the Ashes on the line, is what seals it for me. I know there are past greats, like Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff, but we’re watching another legend in the making here.

“When everyone woke up on Sunday morning, there was a sense that England could do something very special. I followed the run chase throughout the day, but with two runs to win, I had to be peeled away from the TV screen in the dressing room to go out and bat for Worcestershire in our T20 game against Lancashire.

“The match actually paused for a good minute or so, when a huge roar went up. It must have been Jack Leach levelling the scores with that textbook nudge off the hip. And then soon after this, it was followed by an even bigger one when Stokesy smacked that four.

“He was literally stopping games around the whole country. The thing is, none of it surprised me. Stokesy has always had the talent

and potential. My beliefs are that good people who work hard get their rewards. There will be struggle at times and hurdles along the way – life throws up all sorts – but in the end, you will prevail if you stick to the right path.

“Stokesy first came on my radar when I saw him hitting an 88-ball century against India in the Under-19s World Cup in 2010. We didn’t become teammates until 2014 on a one-day tour to the Caribbean. And he was going through a rough patch at the time, with some low scores and then a busted hand when he struck a locker.

“It may surprise some people when I follow this by saying he was already a mature guy at just 22, with a young family. And what I liked about him was that he treated everyone the same. It didn’t matter who you were, your background or what you looked like, he always had time for you.

We hit it off straight away.

“Just before the incident in Bristol in 2017, I really thought he was coming into his own as a cricketer. That set him back a bit; but, since then, he has become more aware of his surroundings and responsibilities. He has the Test vicecaptaincy back now, but he doesn’t need a label because he leads any team he plays in, regardless.

“What we witnessed on Sunday wasn’t a fluke, it was the result of the hard work I mentioned. Seriously, you will not find a cricketer more dedicated to self-improvement. He trains at 100mph, and is just unrelenting with it; and, over time, it has made him into the player you

Nice: British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos buys Ligue 1 club

F

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos has partnered with Sir Ben Ainslie (left) in Britain’s America’s Cup sailing team

rench Ligue 1 club Nice has been bought

by Ineos, the chemical company founded by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe, who is Britain’s third richest man, had reportedly made a €100m (£88.77m) offer for the club earlier this year.

Nice, managed by former Arsenal and France midfielder Patrick Vieira, will be part of the ‘Ineos Football’ group.

“It has been quite a long journey getting here,” said Ratcliffe, 66. “We have looked at a lot of clubs in the manner we look at businesses in Ineos - for value and potential - and Nice fulfils that criteria.”

Ratcliffe took over and rebranded cycling’s Team Sky in May, and also invested £110m in Britain’s America’s Cup sailing team last year.

Ineos also owns Swiss sec-

ond division side Lausanne, which the firm took over in 2017.

“We made some mistakes at Lausanne, but we are fast learners. These have been rectified, and we are already seeing the benefits,” Ratcliffe added. “Clubs need to be successful off the pitch as well as on it, and Nice will be no different.”

The deal was approved by the French Competition Authority last week.

see today. Those mammoth bowling spells at Headingley are testament to that.

“As a batsman, he has become excellent at judging scenarios. He now has the all-round game and technique to adapt. Think about the start and end to that innings: (In) his first 73 balls, he scored three runs; (in) his last 45, (he scored) 74. Incredible!

Even when Jos Buttler was run out, he kept his cool.

Refusing to celebrate personal milestones sums him up too. It is team first every time.

“Huge credit must also go to Leach, for sticking with him. He is a better batsman than some would give him credit for. He gets in line, fights his corner, and is harder to get out than you would think. Cricket is an amazing game, because he scored one run and yet it is probably the biggest he will make in his life.

“The decision to give him the nod over myself after Edgbaston was one I couldn’t argue with.

All I care about is England doing well, and if that means I’m looking on for a bit, I won’t lose any sleep. Whatever happens will happen, and I will support Leachy and the boys, regardless.

“The schedule makes it tricky to get back in, but I am enjoying my time at Worcestershire.

A video of me bowling seamers went around social media the other week, and while I’m not on it, I heard it caused a bit of a stir. People were thinking I’d lost confidence in my spin bowling, but, to be honest, that was nonsense.

One of our quicks, Josh Tongue, was injured; and after bowling some -- ahem -- half-decent seam last year, our captain Joe Leach asked me to switch for a spell.

“Sometimes the view from the sofa isn’t always the most informed. I am finding form with the bat too, and when the time comes, I will be ready”.

19

Ben Stokes salutes the Headingley crowd

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesday, august 27, 2019

McIlroy plays down the money factor after FedEx Cup success I

t may placate those offended by the largesse of a golfer scooping $15m for tournament success to hear that the value of that prize doesn’t matter to the individual in question.

When seeking to close out the Tour Championship with the associated FedEx Cup bounty as the standard reference point, Rory McIlroy’s focus was solely on professional entities.

“I didn’t think about it once,” McIlroy insisted of the biggest payday in golf’s history. “I was thinking about winning this tournament. Winning the stroke average, getting back to second in the world, all those things are way more important to me. I realise I’m in a very privileged position that I can say that, but at this stage in my career, they are way more important to me.”

Success at East Lake did, however, mean McIlroy could alter the life of someone close to him. The golfer’s best friend and caddie, Harry Diamond, will collect $1.5m as per typical percentages bestowed on a bag man. This alliance, however, stretches beyond clubs and yardages.

“Harry would be happy with anything,” said McIlroy. “It’s just so cool to be able to do this with him. Aside from money or anything else, we are sharing these experiences. We watched Tiger win at East Lake a year ago, and now we walk up to the last green and have that moment. That stuff is so cool, and will stay with us forever. It’s worth way

more than cheques.”

The scoring average to which McIlroy referred has closed at under 70, and as the best in this PGA Tour season, has earned him The Vardon Trophy.

Having also won the Players’ Championship and Canadian Open, McIlroy has a case to challenge Brooks Koepka as the ‘player of the year’. From 19 PGA Tour starts in 2019, McIlroy notched 14 top 10s. Consistency of performance is linked to a stable state of mind.

“Sometimes emotion has worked against me, and that’s the real reason that I maybe don’t show as much out there as I used to,” explained the four-time major winner. “I don’t want to get too high, and I don’t want to get too low.

If I needed to get emotional and get really riled up, this isn’t the sport to do that. I’m not a football player; it’s golf, and you sort of need to try to be pretty evenkeeled the whole way through.”

McIlroy, who now only has Koepka ahead of him in the world rankings, has scaled back matters of technicality.

“I made a plan at the start of the year not to really focus or worry about my swing the weeks that I’m

US Open 2019: Britain’s Johanna Konta, Dan Evans into 2nd round

B

ritain’s Johanna Konta and Dan Evans came through tricky encounters to reach the second round of the US Open.

British number one Konta started in devastating form against Daria Kasatkina, winning the first set in 24 minutes, but was then frustrated before going on to triumph 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

She is the only British woman left in the singles, after Harriet Dart lost 6-3, 6-1 to Romanian Ana Bogdan.

Evans progressed with a 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win over Adrian Mannarino.

Konta will play Russian world number 61 Margarita Gasparyan next, while Evans takes on French 25th seed Lucas Pouille or Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Fellow Briton Cameron Norrie is also in action on day one of the final Grand Slam tournament of the year, while British number one Kyle Edmund opens his campaign on Tuesday against Spaniard Pablo Andujar.

Konta overcomes frustrations to advance Konta, who reached the French Open semifinals and Wimbledon quarter-finals this year, got off to a flying start in what was a tough first-round draw against former top-10 player Kasatkina.

The British 16th seed did not drop a point on her first serve in the opening set, but was then held back in the second when unforced errors crept in. She was also left frustrated by a series of line calls, which were overruled by the umpire.

She was particularly angry after a Kasatkina forehand was called out, before the umpire overruled and awarded the point to the Russian; and her mood darkened moments later when her own shot was called out and overruled, only for the point to be replayed.

“How is replay the point?” she asked the umpire. “It’s the same situation!”

She went on to lose that set, but after taking a bathroom break before the start of the third, she returned to deliver more of the dominance she had shown in the opening set.

Johanna Konta has reached the French Open semi-finals and Wimbledon quarter-finals this year

After trading breaks early in the third, Konta got the key breakthrough to go 4-1 up, eventually sealing victory when Kasatkina served back-toback double faults.

Konta was supported by award-winning British actor Tom Hiddleston, who sat courtside in her player’s box, alongside his co-stars in the Broadway play Betrayal. Konta says she met the 39-year-old, who is most famous for appearing in several Marvel films and BBC drama The Night Manager, when he approached her on a New York street last week.

“I did the Good Samaritan thing and said to myself, ‘Don’t bother him, he’s obviously busy’,” Konta said.

“And then he actually said, ‘I don’t usually do this, but I’m a massive fan,’ and I was like, ‘What!

Who? Who else is here?’ So I invited him to come down, and it was a good match for everyone to watch.”

Evans is the first British man into the second round.

Like Konta, Evans started his match comfortably, going two sets up against French world number 57 Mannarino. But the British number two, who split with his coach David Felgate earlier this month, then became increasingly frustrated with himself as errors began to creep in on his serve, and he was broken twice to lose the third set.

“I haven’t felt comfortable; I was frustrated.

I didn’t like how I was hitting the ball or serving.

I was pretty angry; I wasn’t great out there,” he said in a courtside interview. “I was fine physically.

It was more mental, going through service games - my own games - which I was struggling with.”

Evans, who reached the third round on his last outing to Flushing Meadows in 2016, is hoping to build on an excellent grass-court season this year, which included reaching the Wimbledon third round and backto-back Challenger titles.

playing,” he said. “I try to do all of my work with my coach Michael Bannon on off-weeks. I think you should do your work before the tournament starts, and then once you’re there, just go with what you have.”

Lessons learned 11 months ago, when McIlroy was beaten to

Rory McIlroy shows off the FedEx Cup trophy

the Tour Championship by Tiger Woods, have also proved pivotal. “I had played in another final group and didn’t get the job done,” McIlroy recalled. “I said to myself that I had to make a few changes. I started to approach things differently.”

A key example: stop treating Sundays like any other tournament round. “You have to be a realist and realise it’s not,” said McIlroy.

“You have to prepare for it. Brooks went out there on Sunday in Memphis (at the World Golf Championship in July), shot 65, and just basically dominated the tournament; dominated me. I realize (that) if I want to become the dominant player in the world again, I need to be more like that.”

It was day one at this year’s Open Championship that saw McIlroy stumble.

His 79 in front of a stunned audience in his native Northern Ireland proved irretrievable in respect of surviving for the weekend.

When assessing McIlroy’s year, this looks the clear outlier.

“It is, and it isn’t. The first round is, but I shot six-under on the second day,” he said. “So the golf was in there, but I had a horrific start. It was a bit of an anomaly, I feel. People put their own importance on certain things; it’s all perception.

“The majors are very important to me. They are the biggest tournaments in the world, and you want to win them; but, at the same time, there are four chances a year. It’s not as: if you don’t win them, then there is nothing left to play for. It [success] is not guaranteed, there’s a law of averages.”

Vuelta a Espana: Sam Bennett wins stage 3, as Nicolas Roche retains lead

Sam Bennett (white shirt) takes the line to win stage three of the Vuelta a Espana

I

reland’s Sam Bennett timed his sprint finish to perfection as he claimed stage three at the Vuelta a Espana.

The Irish national champion took the line comfortably ahead of Edward Theuns and Luka Mezgec for his maiden Vuelta stage and fourth Grand Tour stage win.

Bennett’s fellow Irishman Nicolas Roche retains the leader’s red jersey, remaining

Stage 3 result:

two seconds ahead of 2016 Vuelta winner Nairo Quintana.

Sean Kelly is the only previous Irish overall winner of the Vuelta, in 1988.

“It means a lot to get another Grand Tour stage victory,” said 28-year-old Bora Hansgrohe rider Bennett, who won three stages at last year’s Giro d’Italia.

Defending champion Simon Yates, fellow Britons Chris

1. Sam Bennett (Ire/Bora-Hansgrohe) 4 hrs 25 mins 02 secs 2. Edward Theuns (Bel/TrekSegafredo) same time 3. Luka Mezgec (Slo/Mitchelton-Scott) “ 4. Jon Aberasturi (Spa/Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) “ 5. Phil Bauhaus (Ger/Bahrain-Merida) “ 6. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg/ Deceuninck-Quick-Step) “ 7. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned/ Deceuninck-Quick-Step) “ 8. Cyril Barthe (Fra/Euskadi-Murias) “ 9. Szymon Sajnok (Pol/CCC Team) “ 10. Clement Venturini (Fra/AG2R La Mondiale) “

Froome and Geraint Thomas, plus Tour de France winner Egan Bernal and Giro d’Italia winner Richard Carapaz are some of the leading riders not competing in this year’s event.

There is another flat stage on Tuesday, a 175.5km run from Cullera to El Puig.

The 21-stage Grand Tour event concludes in Madrid on 15th September.

General Classification standings (after stage three):

1. Nicolas Roche (Ire/Sunweb) 9hrs 51 mins 14 secs 2. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +2 secs 3. Rigoberto Uran (Col/EF Education First) +8 secs 4. Mikel Nieve (Spa/Mitchelton-Scott) +22 secs 5. Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno (Spa/ Astana Pro) +33 secs 6. Primoz Roglic (Svn/UAE Team Emirates) +35 secs 7. Sergio Andres Higuita Garcia (Col/ EF Education First) +37 secs 8. Wilco Kelderman (Ned/Sunweb) +38 secs 9. Davide Formolo (Ita/BoraHansgrohe) +46 secs 10. Rafal Majka (Pol/Bora-Hansgrohe) “

tuesday, august 27, 2019

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Forrester propels Novo CC to US Cricket League T20I title

Misbah steps down from PCB

Cricket Committee M isbah-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan skipper, has stepped down from the PCB Cricket Committee in order to apply for the post of the national head coach, it was announced on Monday (August 26) the deadline for application for the role.

Misbah met Zakir Khan, PCB Director of International Cricket, on Monday afternoon and informed him of his decision, following which he formally applied for the head coach role.

“It has been interesting to see my name being mentioned as a future head coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team, but the fact is, I only made the deci-

T

he action that concluded the US Cricket League (USCL) T20 tournament featured Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) player Winston Forrester notching up yet another half century to see his side, Novo CC, triumph over the in-form Sparks CC in the grand finale played in New Jersey, USA. Having had a good season through the efforts of their man Forrester in the three games he played – wherein he scored two centuries and one half century (80) -- Novo CC won the toss under sunny conditions and elected to bowl, aiming to dismiss their opponents for a paltry score.

And indeed, the Sparks CC never got off to a good start, as they soon found themselves at 15-3 within the ‘power play’ overs. Their batsmen generally struggled to hold their own, and could form no vital partnership as they struggled for basic survival.

By the time 12.4 overs had been bowled, Sparks CC were 60-6 and on the verge of being bowled out for less than 100. However, Mikky Gumber and Krishna Vagvala contributed respective scores of 30 and 23 to propel the Sparks to 115-6 in their allotted 20 overs.

Bowling for Novo, Ashish Singla returned figures of 3-18; while Kunal Karkhanis, Paresh Deshmukh and Mahesh Kesarkar each bagged a wicket.

Needing a simple target of 116 for victory, Novo CC’s Winston Forrester and Vatsa Joshi took to the crease and smacked the ball to every part of the ground as they dealt in maximums and boundaries.

In the end, Novo overhauled the target to close their innings on 118-1, made in 11.3 overs. Forrester’s contribution was a 33-ball 56 that included 3 boundaries and 3 maximums before he was bowled. Joshi, however, remained unbeaten on 50 off 31 balls.

Forrester’s season in the USCL has thus far seen him score four centuries across all formats of the game.

And of the four matches he has played in the USCL T20 tournament, he scored a total of 342 runs, inclusive of two centuries and two half- centuries.

21

sion today,” Misbah said.

“I am applying for the head coach’s role, fully aware that the competition will be tough, as I envisage there will be a few more very competent and highly qualified people applying for one of the most challenging jobs in the game.

“In saying so, I have to admit it is everyone’s dream to coach the Pakistan Cricket Team, which has tremendous potential to be a force to be reckoned with across all formats.”

The process for appointment of the coach is expected to be completed by early September, so that members of the new team management can assume their roles well in time to prepare the team for the upcoming season, starting with the limited overs home series against Sri Lanka, which is set to begin on September 27.

Former skipper Misbah-ul-Haq applied for the role on deadline day

Winston Forrester

Satisfied Andy Murray makes light work of teenager Imran Sibille I

t was a match in name only, and the setting was a world away from the US Open; but Andy Murray cared not a jot, as he notched his first singles win since returning from career-saving hip surgery.

The 32-year-old former world No 1 crushed teenage French novice Imran Sibille 6-0, 6-1 to move into the second round of the Rafa Nadal Open Challenger tournament.

Murray had hipresurfacing surgery in January, and opted against competing at Flushing Meadows.

H e

on

Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 55

Andy Murray lost just one game in the first round of the Rafa Nadal Open

dropped down to the ATP’s second-tier circuit for the first time since 2005 in order to continue his comeback.

Big Apple it was not, but he was not slumming it.

The Rafa Nadal Academy, on the edge of 18-time Grand Slam champion Nadal’s home town of Manacor, is a plush, state-of-the-art facility backed by olive green hills.

Word of Murray’s late decision to accept an entry had spectators, many of them breaking off from the beach, packed around the show court to watch the threetime Grand Slam champion’s 42-minute hardcourt exhibition.

Sibille, who trains at the academy, has no ATP ranking, and has earned $150 from tennis. He may look back on his clash with Murray as the highlight of his career. For Murray, it was a taste of the winning feeling -something he has not experienced in singles since January in Brisbane, shortly before a tearful first-round exit at the Australian Open, when it appeared that a flaking hip would end his career.

Far bigger tests of that metal-coated joint await, including on Tuesday, when he faces third seed Norbert Gombos of Slovakia, the world number 115; but Murray i s

back!

“I need to get a bit quicker and get a little bit

more match-fit before I’m back competing at that level again,” Murray told reporters.

“That’s why I decided to drop down a level and try to get some more matches in.

“It’s still only seven months since my surgery, and I was told that, ‘Nine to 12 months after, you will still be seeing improvements, muscles will still be healing and recovering’; so (I’m) hoping (that) by the end of this year I will be feeling better,” he said.

Murray played in second gear throughout this match, and even resisted the temptation to claim a “double bagel” when he casually netted a forehand in the 12th game to hand Sibille a game, prompting the biggest cheer of the evening.

While he was never stretched, Murray moved well, although he says improvements are required, especially when forced to change direction quickly. The physical battle is, however, not the only challenge; regaining his old aura will be equally challenging.

Murray, who has to his name 45 career titles, 663 Tour match wins, and more than $61 million in prize money, lost first round matches to Richard Gasquet and Tennys Sangdren in Cincinnati and Winston-Salem this month. Those were his first ATP singles matches in a comeback so far most notable for his winning the doubles title at Queen’s Club with Spain’s Feliciano Lopez.

While 17-year-old Sibille has admitted to not sleeping a wink after finding out he was playing Murray at 6pm the previous night, more grizzled opponents will not be intimidated.

22

tuesday, august 27, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Guyana U-17 Women seal spot in CONCACAF Championship H

onduras, Cayman Islands, Belize and Guyana have all punched tickets to the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, after finishing atop their respective groups in last week’s 2019 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship Qualifying matches.

Matched with Saint Lucia, Bonaire and Anguilla in Group ‘A’, Honduras marched to a first-place finish with a 3W-0D-0L, 17GF0GC record at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

The Truman Bodden Sports Complex in George Town, Cayman Islands was the site of Group ‘B’ action wherein hosts Cayman Islands took top spot with a 2W-1D-0L, 16GF-3GC record, finishing ahead of Martinique, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica.

While the Cayman Islands and Martinique each finished with seven points, Cayman Islands’ superior goal difference (+13 to +7) proved the difference.

Goal difference also factored into the winner of Group ‘C’ at the Wildey Astro Turf Stadium in Wildey, Barbados, with Belize claiming first place with a 2W-1D-0L, 10GF-4GC record compared to second-place Barbados, who finished 2W-1D-0L, 3GF-1GC. Rounding out the group was

Guyana’s U17 starting lineup

Saint Kitts and Nevis and U.S. Virgin Islands.

There was no need for a tiebreaker in Group ‘D’, as Guyana completed a perfect 3W-0D-0L, 11GF-4GC record over Bahamas, Curacao and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the Stadion Ergilio Hato in Willemstad, Curacao.

Areka Hooper (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Rachell Rolle

(Bahamas) and Jalade Trim of Guyana netted three goals each.

The CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship is scheduled to be played from March 21 to April 5th, 2020. The top 3 teams of the Championship will qualify to participate in the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India from September 21 to October 4th.

Meanwhile, Head Coach of the

2019 Caribbean Mini and Pre Cadet Table Tennis Championships…

Wong advances, Mc Neil’s journey ends in quarterfinals

C

olin Wong and Ebo Mc Neil were the Guyana racquet wielders to advance respectively to the quarterfinals of the boys’ 13years-andunder and 11years-and-under singles events in the 2019 Caribbean Mini and Pre Cadet Table Tennis Championships.

Mc Neil’s journey has, however, come to an end in his quarterfinal match, while Wong has advanced to the semi -finals.

Having enjoyed a fairytale outing in his debut at the games as he extended his quest for a medal for Guyana, Ebo McNeil was seeded 3 in group three of the boys’ 11years-and-under tournament, along with Sebastian Cruz of Puerto Rico, seeded 1; Geovanny Cruceta of the Dominican Republic, seeded two; and Samuel Garcia of the Dominican Republic, seeded 4.

Mc Neil commenced his journey on shaky grounds when he lost his first match to the top seed in the group, Puerto Rican Sebestian Cruz. However, in his second match, he came out with a neversay-die attitude when he faced the number twoseeded Geovanny Cruceta of the Dominican Republic in a must- win match. Things were not smooth sailing, since he trailed Cruceta by a 2-0 deficit, but with the fighting spirit of Guyana’s national animal, the jaguar, Ebo fought valiantly to reverse the situation, and won three straight matches to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as he overcame Cruceta and advanced to the knockout round of 16, where he drew a bye into the Colin Wong

quarterfinals.

Mc Neil was set to face number one seed Enrique Rios of Puerto Rico, to fight for a spot in the semifinals. However, his opponent proved too strong, thus Mc Neil’s journey ended with him failing to advance in the Boys’ under-11 quarterfinals, which he lost 0-3.

Colin Wong, seeded #1 in group 7, slowly came into form, winning his group matches against Andelson Acvedo of Dominican Republic, the number 2 seed, by a 3-1 margin, and Sameer Ali of Trinidad and Tobago, seeded 3, by a 3-0 margin to advance to the round of 16; where he faced Jamaica Jayden Ebanks, whom he defeated by a 3-1 margin with scores of (-9, 8, 6, 6).

This allowed him to advance to the quarterfinals, where he faced Trinidad and Tobago’s Samuel Humphrey. Wong made light work of Humphrey, winning by a 3-1 margin in the quarterfinals. He will now face Rafael Cabrera of the Dominican Republic for a possible chance to go to the finals, already assured of a secured bronze medal.

Jonathan Van Lange, Guyana’s only other player, along with Mc Neil and Wong, to advance to the knockout stage, suffered tough luck by losing 3-2 to Dominican Republic’s Eduardo Arryl in a thrilling five-setter, which finished 12-14 in the fifth game, after being up 7-3 and 9-5.

Ebo Mc Neil

Female U17 Team, Akilah Castello, was very pleased with the ladies’ achievement. Speaking on their ability to move on to the next round, she disclosed that a win against the Bahamas was of utmost importance.

“Going up against the Bahamas in our final match was considered one of our most important games, since we had to win in order to move on to the next round of this

U17 competition. The coaching staff would’ve had the chance to see them play in their matchup against St. Vincent, and was able to come up with a game plan to come out on top.

Our girls were very receptive and were able to follow the plan set out by the coaching staff, and they executed very well,” Castello revealed.

“The Bahamians came out very strong in the second half after being down two, and scored an early second-half goal, but our girls kept their composure and continued the high pressure, which resulted in a third goal for Guyana to seal the top spot in the group,” she said.

The head Coach went on to explain how Guyana fought to secure their qualification spot. Guyana defeated the Bahamas 3-1, thanks to goals from Jalade Trim (7, 29) and Jaida Brooks (70).

In their opening match of the competition, the Guyanese girls overcame Curacao 2-1. Shanic Thornhill (8, 74) was the lone goal-scorer in that encounter for Guyana.

However, the largest win the Guyanese girls enjoyed came against St. Vincent & The Grenadines in their second encounter. Samantha Banfield netted a brace; while Alleia Alleyne, Shamya Daniels, Jaida Brooks and Jalade Trim each netted one goal for the 6-2 victory.

Neymar indispensable to PSG – says Thiago Silva

N

eymar is indispensable to Paris SaintGermain, and can win his fans back if he stays at the club, says Thiago Silva.

Brazil international Neymar has yet to feature for the Ligue 1 champions this season, with coach Thomas Tuchel confirming he will not select the forward until his future has been clarified.

PSG Sporting Director Leonardo previously announced the 27-year-old Neymar had informed the club of his desire to leave, and some fans had displayed banners criticising the former Barcelona forward during the PSG game against Nimes on August 11.

Despite losing Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe to injury in a 4-0 defeat of Toulouse on Sunday, Tuchel indicated he was unsure w h e t h e r Neymar would be available to face Metz on Friday.

But Silva has no doubt PSG should be fighting to keep Neymar, a reported target for Real Madrid and Barcelona, with RAC1 claiming the latter will send representatives to Paris for negotiations on Tuesday.

“Neymar is an indispensable player for any team. He was at Barca, he is for us,” Silva said to RMC. “It’s a particular problem for a player with the club, we cannot get involved; but, in my head, I hope he stays.

“Yes, I already told him. It’s hard to tell him all the time, ‘You stay!

You stay…’ I do not know exactly what’s going on between him and the club, (but) I honestly hope that the transfer window is

over soon, because I cannot stand it anymore.”

Of the apparent breakdown in Neymar’s relationship with PSG fans, Silva added: “It’s hard to talk about this situation. The fans could do it in a different way, but they think a lot with the heart. I think if Neymar comes back and starts helping the club and plays like last year, at the end of the season; we will all be happy, especially the fans.

“That’s why I say he must stay. He can still help us a lot; and if he leaves, it will be difficult for us: he would strengthen a team that has the same goal as us [winning the Champions League]. For me, it’s not good.”

Neymar has thus far been unable to inspire PSG to European glory, with the superstar missing key knockout games due to injury in both of his seasons in the French capital.

After dominating domestically, it is clear PSG desire the Champions League above all else, but Silva is unsure whether 2019-20 will be their year in the competition.

“Winning, I do not know; but of course we’re going to work to win and (be the) first to go further. We have to think match after match,” Silva said. “Even without Neymar, in Manchester (against United), we made an incredible match in the first leg. At home, we thought a little bit that we were already in the quarter-finals. We should not think like that in top-level matches; we have to work, and celebrate qualification afterwards.” (Excerpted from Sportamax)

Brazil international and PSG player, Neymar

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, august 27, 2019

23

Chris Green: The T20 Globe trotter

By Jemima Holmes

N

o t

m a n y persons can say they

have been to five of the seven continents that exist on the world map, b u t this is

Chris Green is returning for his second season with the Warriors

Warriors (GAW) took a chance on the lanky South Africa-born off-spinner, and never regretted the stellar addition to the team. Coming into the GAW Squad as a partial replacement for Cameron Delport, Green quickly showed why he was worth keeping for the entire 2018 CPL season.

His first appearance on the domestic scene was in 2014, when he made his List A debut representing his current club, New South Wales. The all-rounder has a batting average of 26, and has bagged a total of 8 wickets in his 8 matches.

Green is more commonly known around the world for his T20 abil- ities, as he represents a number of leagues across t h e globe.

In 2014, h e

Christopher James Green’s reality. He has travelled and played one of the best sports in the world, in what is without a doubt the most exciting format.

On the continent of Australia, where Green is a citizen, he has suited up for New South Wales and the Sydney Thunder. In Asia, Green has played for the Lahore Qalanders and the Multan Sultans; while, in Europe, the all-rounder often campaigns for Warwickshire. On the continent of North America, Green made his Global T20 debut for the Toronto Nationals in 2019.

The best yet, he says, is travelling to the Caribbean region for “the biggest party in sport”.

In 2018, the Guyana Amazon

Green’s partnership with Hetmyer has produced his highest total for the GAW to date

Patrick Prashad emerges champion T

Graphic Design Company.

Interestingly, this company is ideal for producing the entire gamut of excellent print jobs that anyone may require, in small or large quantities. With a general maximum turnaround time of 24 hours, A&R Printery has been tried and trusted.

An outstanding supporter of the Lusignan Golf Club, this company contributes also to the Club’s printing and stationery needs.

As MD of the establishment, Jiwanram was on hand to congratulate the winners during the end-ofplay prize-distribution ceremony. In the 0-14 ‘A’ Flight, winners were Patrick Prashad– 1st (71/9); Aleem Hussain – 2nd (78/9); and Joaan Deo – 3rd (82/14). In the 15-36 ‘B’ Flight, Maxim

6.27.

With bat in hand, the 25-year-old right arm batsman accumulated 53 runs over 7 innings played. His highest score came right in the Warriors’ backyard, at the National Stadium, Providence, when he teamed up with local boy Shimron Hetmyer (79*) and hit an unbeaten 25* to lead the Warriors to their first victory of 2018 against the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, in their opening encounter.

It therefore came as no surprise when the mantle of captaincy was handed to Green after Shoaib Malik was recalled to Pakistan for international duties. The all-rounder surpassed all expectations, leading the Warriors to their fourth CPL final in the six-year history of the tournament.

While Green is preparing to suit up for the Guyana Amazon Warriors from September 4, there is no doubt that Guyanese fans, especially the ladies, are patiently awaiting the return of the handsome face and charismatic personality in order to indulge in flights of fantasy.

Given his stellar performances around the globe, already for 2019, Green is likely to light up the National Stadium, Providence on September 5, 7 and 8, and on October 3 and 4.

Catch it!

Even in the outfield, the allrounder is superb

A&R Jiwanram Printery 4th golf classic…

wo days of intense golf action finally came to an end on Sunday with former captain and veteran golfer Patrick Prashad pulling out all the stops to romp home as champion of the A&R Jiwanram Printery’s Fourth Golf Classic with a magnificent gross 80 and net 71.

Golfers took advantage of the fine weather to gather in support of the A&R Printery’s fourth golf classic (the 3rd for this year) sponsored by Guyana Presidential hopeful Ramroop ‘Cecil’ Jiwanram, Managing Director of A&R Jiwanram Printery of 31 Back St., Bel Air Village, Georgetown, (Tel: 592-226-5588; 592-6031250/1255) a modern, professional, hi-tech Printing &

joined the Australian Big Bash League.

To this day, he represents the Sydney Thunder. In 2017, he was drafted in the Pakistan Super League, and played for the Lahore Qalandars; while, in 2019, he represented the Multan Sultans.

The 6ft 3’ right-arm batsman has thus far played 61 T20 matches, scoring over 430 runs with a strike rate of 127.66 and a top score of 49. He presently has 47 wickets to his name, and best bowling figures of 3-27. The Australian national has a bowling average of 28.12 and an impressive bowling economy rate of 6.75.

The right-arm off-break bowler added the Guyana Amazon Warriors to his list of T20 Franchises in 2018, and did not disappoint. After picking up 5 wickets and having an economy of 6.5, by the Warriors’ fifth game, Green was quickly eyed as a standout player.

Always baring a pearly white smile, Green picked up ten wickets during his debut season for the Amazon Warriors, with a best bowling performance of 2/8. While his bowling average sat pretty at 25.10, his 2018 economy was

Mangra (72/21) placed 1st, followed by Bridgelall Harry (75/16), 2nd; while Marlon Loncke placed 3rd with a score of (77/15). Securing honorable mention was Pur “I love that winning feeling” Persaud, who scored (78/16).

Club President Aleem Hussain outdrove the competition to emerge winner of the Longest Drive.

Mr Ramroop ‘Cecil’ Jiwanram has expressed his commitment to hosting two one-day golf tournaments to encourage golfers to hone their skills in preparation for other tournaments, and in particular the Guyana Open scheduled for October 25 & 26. This is after there has been a three-week layoff, due primarily to extremely high rainfall.

tuesday, august 27, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Page 23

Chris Green: The T20 Globe trotter

Guyana U-17 Women seal spot in CONCACAF Championship Page 22

A&R Jiwanram Printery 4th golf classic…

Patrick Prashad emerges champion Page 23

From left to right: Marlon Loncke, Bridgelall Harry, Mr Jiwanram, Aleem Hussain, Joaan Deo, Maxim Mangra and Patrick Prashad

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