Guyana Times Tuesday December 10, 2019

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4133

tuesday, december 10, 2019

“Hold our feet to the fire” – Ali tells Moraikobai residents Page 12

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

4 homeless P13 after fire guts Cummings Lodge home

Marcus Bisram murder trial

Magistrate sick; accused, State Prosecutor a P15 no-show – case postponed to December 11 Page 13

GL&SC sends several employees packing for corrupt practices

Gun-toting Another section of masked bandits Leguan Stelling collapses rob shopkeeper, ...days after rehabilitation works miner …escape with quantity of

Pensioner P11 drowns after allegedly jumping into Berbice River Crabcatchers found alive in Suriname P15

See story on page 2

commence

Page 11

raw gold, loaded firearm

PPP “likely” to reclaim power in next elections – State Dept advisor Page 3

Miner severely chopped by cutlass-wielding P2 colleague – tells victim “a man send me to done you”

2 news

Tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Miner gets bail on attempted murder charge

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21-year-old miner was on Monday taken to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was arraigned for the attempted murder committed on his cousin during a misunderstanding.

Treshan Thomas of Baramita, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini), appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on December 2, 2019, at Baramita, NWD, with intent to commit murder, he

Treshan Thomas

wounded Kevon David.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that on the day in question, the men were at a camp when they had a misunderstanding, during which Thomas pulled out a knife from the waist of his pants and dealt his cousin several stabs to his left arm and upper abdomen.

The injured man reportedly collapsed to the ground and was subsequently picked up and rushed to a health centre and due to the injuries he sustained, he was air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he remains a patient.

The matter was reported and Thomas was arrested and charged for the offence.

The prosecutor highlighted that the victim’s injuries are life-threatening and will cause permanent disability. Thomas was released on $150,000 bail.

The bail condition is that he has to report to the Matthews Ridge Police Station every Friday until the hearing and determination of the Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

He is slated to make his next court appearance on February 4, 2020, at the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

Gun-toting masked bandits rob shopkeeper, miner

… armed trio escape with quantity of raw gold, loaded firearm

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hree masked gunmen carried out a daring robbery on a grocery shop on Sunday morning thereby escaping with an undisclosed quantity of raw gold and a licensed firearm at Rock Landing, Ekereku, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The business is owned

by Brazilian national Moses DaDilva. At the time of the incident, the 36-yearold shopkeeper, Vanessa Rodriguez was attending to business when a friend, Barry Constantine, a miner, visited her.

Constantine is said to be a licensed firearm holder of a CZ 83 semi-automatic pistol # 067532.

Reports are that between midnight and 01:00h on the day in question, three males armed with handguns pounced on the duo.

This led to a scuffle between

Constantine and two of the suspects who eventually managed to overpower him and relieve him of his loaded firearm.

The gun-toting trio then held the man and the shopkeeper at gunpoint, demanding money and gold.

Fearing for her life, the petrified woman quickly handed over all the cash and a quantity of raw gold to the bandits.

Moments later, the gunmen discharged Constantine’s weapon three times into the air before making good their escape on foot.

Hours later, the man and woman were able to travel out of the area and contact the Police who were informed of the incident.

According to the Police, no arrests have been made, but investigations are currently underway.

Miner severely chopped by cutlass-wielding colleague

– tells victim “a man send me to done you”

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miner is now nursing several chop wounds about his hands and arms after he was brutally attacked and chopped by a co-worker who attempted to kill him after being allegedly contracted to do so.

The injured man, identified as Mark Wilson called “Punter”, was at a creek in the Eroma backdam, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), on Sunday washing his clothing when he was attacked.

Reports are that Wilson noticed the suspect, who hails from Ann’s Grove on the East Coast Demerara (ECD), watching his every move from a distance.

The now injured miner told the police that after he completed washing and was walking back to his camp, the suspect confronted him with a cutlass.

The alleged perpetrator reportedly told Wilson “a man send me to done you” and immediately started to fire chops at him.

The man reacted instantly and barely managed to use both of his hands as shields to prevent being chopped to his head.

However, the cutlass and the impact of the chops resulted in a number of gaping wounds on Wilson’s hands.

Moments after the chopping

incident, the suspect fled the scene.

Wilson managed to make it back to his camp and notified persons there about what transpired. The police were immediately contacted and a manhunt was launched with the aim of arresting the suspect.

After a short search, Police ranks were able to locate the suspect and he was taken into custody. He subsequently admitted to wounding Wilson.

According to a police source, the suspect told investigators that he sold Wilson a quantity of ganja but he refused to pay.

As such, the suspect claimed an altercation took place between them which led to Wilson being wounded in the process.

Meanwhile, the badly injured and bleeding Wilson was rushed to the Aurora Mining Company’s location in the area where he was treated for his wounds and then air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for further treatment.

According to the police, the 34-year-old suspect is currently in Police custody at the Aranka Police Station, Region Seven, pending charges.

news

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TUESday, DECEMBER 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Tuesday, December 10 – 14:30h – 16:00h and Wednesday, December 11 – 04:30h-06:00h and 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, December 10 – 14:55h – 16:25h and Wednesday, December 11 – 15:30h – 17:00h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain and thundery showers are expected throughout the day. Light rain showers and light clouds are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 15:18h maximum height of

reaching a 2.63 metres.

Low Tide: 08:53h and 21:18h reaching minimum heights of 0.71 metre and 0.55 metre.

saturday, DECember 7, 2019

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PPP likely to reclaim power in next elections – State Dept advisor

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is likely to return to power in the next general and regional elections. So said a respected American academic, in a paper exploring the dynamics of Guyana’s political system.

The paper in question is Journals of America, Third Edition, and was written

by Dr Evan Ellis, PhD, a research professor and author at the Institute of Strategic Studies of the US Army War College who specialises in China and its engagements with non-Western nations.

According to Dr Ellis, the PPP has been citing a number of plans for new infrastructural development, projects that are likely to be funded from oil revenues. He also noted that Chinese companies are likely to participate in some of these projects.

“With the likely return of the PPP to power in 2019 elections, its leadership is talking about a new generation of infrastructure and other projects likely to be built by the Chinese and funded by the revenues from oil, including the resurrection of the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project and an interconnection to the Brazilian power grid,” Dr Ellis said in his journal.

Ellis noted that sharp divisions have arisen leading up to elections, with the PPP heavily critical of the Government’s delay to call elections. He also warned that whatever the outcome, a large section of Guyanese will be dissatisfied, raising the prospect of violence as they lose faith in traditional democratic measures.

“The PPP views the Government’s efforts to delay elections through a combination of legal challenges and obstacles generated by what they view as a purely partisan electoral commission (GECOM) as an attempt to short-circuit the nation’s democratic process and the will of the majority, as they contend the PNC did repeatedly in the past.”

“Moreover, as the conflict escalates, neighbouring Venezuela could take advantage of internal disorder to pursue its territorial claim, as many Guyanese perceive it tried to do in December 2018 with the attempted intercept of the Ramform Tethys.”

He also delved into the area of internal security, noting that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is undermined by internal corruption and woefully underfunded. Dr Ellis described the minimum pay

Research professor and author, Dr Evan Ellis, PhD

of a police officer, some $60,000 a month, as “half that of the next worst-paid police department in the Caribbean.”

“As a consequence, the GPF does not attract the most capable members of society to be part of its organisation, and Police personnel are readily tempted to engage in bribe-taking just to survive. GPF members are also frequently poorly equipped, sometimes delaying their responses to serious crimes because of the non-availability of Police cars. A number of GDF facilities are literally falling down from disrepair.”

Dr Ellis acknowledged that Guyana benefits from European Union (EU) funds that go towards improving Police training, equipment, and infrastructure. He cited the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP).

“Through CSSP, ap-

proximately 20 per cent of Guyanese Police Stations have been refurbished, although the conditions of those that remain is, in some cases, appalling,” Dr Ellis noted in his journal.

Ellis then went on to speak about the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), which he described as controversial. He noted that while SOCU was originally formed to conduct investigations of persons flagged by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Unit has been criticised for focusing its investiga-

tions almost entirely on senior PPP-affiliated functionaries of the previous Government. He noted that to date, this focus has produced no criminal convictions.

“Those more sympathetic to SOCU would say the focus was driven by the involvement of the members of that Government in corruption, and that the reason for the lack of convictions has been the inability or unwillingness of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) chambers to take cases forward.”

“As with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the GPF has interactions with the Chinese. Most prominently in November 2017, when the PRC donated US$2.6 million in vehicles and other equipment including 56 pick-up trucks, 44 motorcycles, 35 all-terrain vehicles, and 5 buses, helping the GPF to compensate for its severe shortage of vehicles. Nonetheless, several of these cars have been lost to accidents since their arrival, including one just a day after being donated,” Dr Ellis said.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 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

How many more on the roads?

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n the aftermath of the recent horrendous and seemingly unprecedented number of fatal road accidents that occurred within a fairly short period of time, the consequences have attracted national attention.

Many families are now left trying to cope with the loss of loved ones. Even the Head of State felt compelled to make a public statement over the dire situation, but before he lamented his distress, Guyanese across the country found common ground to condemn and empathize.

The sudden and shocking death of someone close, especially due to an accident, can never be easy. The ensuing excruciating pain and mental trauma that are inflicted on surviving relatives can be unbearable. In a fleeting moment, families were plunged into sadness and despair, having received the dreadful news that an accident had taken the life of someone dear to them.

That’s the painful result; and often, its real and lingering impact may be hidden from the spotlight of the media. The reality is that people, including those who survive an accident, suffer in unimaginable ways. The recent spate of accidents even prompted some to ask the question: How many more? One interpretation from that simple question speaks to whether lessons are being learnt from accidents over time. In other words, how many more have to die before better care is taken while using the roadways?

Given what has taken place over the past few weeks, one could not be faulted for concluding that the results of the accidents may not have inspired a more responsible behaviour. However, judging from sentiments expressed on social media, it appears that more cognizance has seemingly being brought to the mindsets of many.

While that is extremely heartening, there is uncertainty as to whether the mindsets of the regular errant drivers have been impacted, or whether they have learnt anything from what were obviously painful experiences of others. Judging from what continues to take place on the roadways, it seems clear that many drivers haven’t learnt, or are clearly refusing to even be bothered by the harrowing fatal accidents.

On a daily basis, many drivers use the roadways in a very reckless manner, thereby endangering occupants of vehicles and other road users; the least, themselves. It becomes painful even to see how they manoeuvre their vehicles, seemingly without an iota of care for others.

Again, it brings into question the role of law enforcement to try and curb such irresponsible behaviour, especially since some traffic violations do occur in the presence of Police.

Even if the Police were to offer an excuse, inexcusable as it may be, there is none that can be offered for not using the public CCTV cameras to take action against the errant drivers. Many of these cameras are strategically placed at some intersections where traffic lights are mounted and in other areas.

Very often, persons generally using the cameras from their cell phones would snap and post a picture of a traffic violation. Many of those violations involve a minibus. It begs another question: If members of the public can take the time and effort to highlight daily traffic violations, and from which the Police sometimes intervene, why can’t the Police themselves use the CCTV cameras in a sustained effort to make defaulters face the law? Millions of taxpayers’ dollars were used to procure and mount those cameras, therefore their value must be of benefit to the public.

The general public is hurting and is pleading for help. A twelveyear-old schoolgirl was killed in the horrifying accident just over a week ago at Nimses, West Bank Demerara. Despite the emotional devastation, her mother made a public appeal to passengers to demand being let out of a minibus because it is speeding, or the driver is imbibing alcoholic beverage.

If, in her time of extreme grief, she can use her painful experience to warn others, why then can’t the CCTV cameras be used for the purpose alluded to? How many more must suffer before the Police announce sustained usage of the CCTV cameras to combat the recklessness on the roads?

That seems a fair question in the context of not only what transpired over the past few weeks, but over time. In addition, the suggestion that undercover cops should pose as passengers is repeated. That would help to authenticate, if nothing else is working, violations of speeding, reckless driving, and overloading, among other transgressions.

A public Police WhatsApp account intended to receive pictures and videos of traffic violations captured by members of the public would also help. Importantly, the Police must holistically demonstrate that sense of commitment to genuinely collaborate with members of the public to collectively tackle the situation.

This becomes even more necessary given that, generally, the Police’s image in clamping down on errant drivers is not very flattering, especially since many are believed to own minibuses and taxis.

The pain people feel is real and crushing. The question of “how many” is therefore relevant, and the cries for mitigating actions must no longer fall on seemingly deaf ears.

A student poses for a photo in front of a new mural after taking part in a performance against gender violence, as part of a joint project of the European Union and the United Nations under the Spotlight Initiative to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, at a high school in Ecatepec de Morelos, which is one of the most dangerous municipalities on the outskirts of Mexico City (Reuters/Nadya Murillo)

Dissolution of Parliament is a must

Dear Editor, The vulgar refusal of Mr Granger to dissolve Parliament in keeping with his obligations under the Constitution of Guyana further exposes the flagrant dictatorial hegemony of his and the PNC’s abuse of the presidential authority.

Given the continuous and relentless exposure of their clandestine contaminating intent at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the cabal now attempts to further influence and scapegoat the organisation’s willing or unwilling patrimony to justify the ongoing exploitation of Guyanese decency. Citizens must, therefore, be prepared and decisively stop this runaway train now!

Public media recently reported the most unacceptable and flimsy excuses proffered by Joseph Harmon who said that “there is a likelihood that additional funds would be needed to facilitate the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections,” while Mr Granger also spoke to the media about having to access funds in the event of national emergencies.

The exigencies to which this abusive stand-in president refers are only in the conception of the PNC and their conveniently dumb coalition partners.

Although by now, most citizens have recognised the untrustworthiness of Mr Granger and his cabal from the fallacies they have adumbrated, one would have hoped in advancing national interests for some form of validity in the cabal’s statements. These false pretences, however, would be quickly recognised and extinguished with even the most cursory examination of the GECOM

financial scenario.

The facts reveal that the organisation received over $9 billion between April 2019 and November 2019. In the 2019 National Budget, appropriations approved for GECOM amounted to $ 5.546 billion, while Parliament also approved an additional amount in the sum of $3.482 billion in May 2019. This was after James Patterson indicated to caretaker President Granger, that the Commission lacked the financial resources to facilitate early elections.

Further, a substantial amount of money was ‘rolled over’ from 2018 for which GECOM must be accountable. It is of note that the Auditor General had serious questions with respect to the 2014 and 2015 Audit done for GECOM, and it is important that Mr Keith Lowenfield clear the entire documented audit queries in the interest of transparency.

Certainly, GECOM will have to account for all excessive and lavish spending, and the GECOM budget must address the use of over $10 billion before other allocations are considered. How they will account for the use of these finances will be interesting because the House-toHouse (H2H) activities were truncated, and GECOM never utilised more than $4 billion to conduct General and Regional Elections.

At the time of writing, it is a known fact that audits for the years 2016, 2017, 2018, and now 2019 are pending. We must, therefore, not allow our taxpayers’ money to fund the reported thieving occurrences at the GECOM Secretariat.

There is simply no trust, confidence, or accountability in the Lowenfield styled oper-

ations, even as we depend on the involvement of these same people to deliver credible elections.

It is, therefore, necessary that Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh move swiftly to address the counterchecks towards restoring the trust, confidence, and accountability, that are critical to the delivery of free and fair elections. Further, the question of the renewal of Lowenfield’s contract must be carefully looked at and fully discussed at the level of the Commission, since the renewal of any staff contract falls under its mandate.

Given the apparent conjuring up which resulted in the Lowenfield’s partisan H2H, it is very necessary for this column to sustain the strong public advocacy for improvements regarding the Secretariat’s apparent hesitancy to provide timely information with respect to the Revised List of Electors (RLE), and by extension, the Official List of Electors (OLE).

Political parties expect to have sufficient time to scrutinise the RLE before GECOM produces the OLE. In this respect, they must be given a suitable period to review the changes, and not be overrushed at Lowenfield’s fantasy.

It is also a known fact that in addition to the PPP/C and APNU, there are at this time about six emerged parties who have signalled their intention to contest the upcoming elections. These parties would have to find backers of their list from the OLE and GECOM’s delays and inefficacy is not helping the process. Rather, the delayed approach would serve to complicate the fluency required in a transparent pro-

cess.

Readers would have observed that Vincent Alexander, after making all sorts of wicked and slanderous contrary remarks about the unuplifted ID cards, is now very quiet as GECOM agrees to an indefinite extension for citizens to pick up their ID cards. GECOM must also review the proposed plan to put out a supplemental list.

Any supplemental list will be a challenge and it will lead to confusion. Notably, the truncated H2H Registration is in serious trouble given that cross-matching done in Jamaica is highly questionable, with over sixty thousand names being queried.

While GECOM awaits the results of the cross-matching data, it is clearer that the H2H cannot be used as a consideration for the RLE and that exercise was a total waste of money and time.

More serious is the fact that up to the last statutory meeting on Tuesday, the Commission was still waiting for the cross-matching results from the just-concluded Claims and Objections exercise. GECOM must produce the Revised List of Electors and all Guyanese are waiting to see the Official List of Electors. This has serious consequences for Nomination Day scheduled for January 10, 2020. The RLE will have to be out for public and party scrutiny twenty-one days before the CEO has his final say and produces the OLE. Now the ball is in the Illegal President’s court, as we all know that GECOM has enough money. So why wait? Dissolve Parliament now!

Yours respectfully, Neil Kumar

guyanatimesgy.com

Tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 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

The journey of destruction continues Dear Editor, I had written in the media on October 11, 2019, that profitability should not have been the sole criterion for the closure of the estates and that has always been the position of the PPP/C in Government and as the Opposition.

The Leader of the Opposition is emphatic that the focus should have been on the economic viability and he succinctly pointed out the numerous economic benefits as well as the devastating effects of the multiplier effect. The closure of the estates have cost the economy more than it has saved but the coalition was not only trigger happy but greedy as well!

In direct contravention of sound economic policies, the coalition took no time

to shutter four estates and ‘wrong sized’ the remaining three to the point of utter destruction. In this letter, I will be dealing with the APNU/AFC‘s deliberate and vindictive acts to obliterate sugar from the economic landscape of Guyana.

It must be recalled that in May 2017, the coalition Government prepared and presented in Parliament a ‘White Paper’ on sugar in which they embarked on their journey of deceit to paint a good picture of how they would return the sugar industry to profitability.

This was a deliberate smokescreen to camouflage its callous closure of the four estates and firing over 7000 workers. The restructure was supposed to produce 147,000 tons of sugar to satisfy the local and for-

eign markets. Over 2 years later, the sugar industry is still struggling to produce a mere 100,000 tons after spending $12 billion subsidies and $17.6 billion from the $30 billion bond.

In this ‘White Paper’ the Government admitted that the sugar industry made an “invaluable contribution” over the years and yet they deliberately destroyed the same industry. Moreover, the Paper did not address the negative social and economic impacts due to the closure of the estates since the sugar workers are expendable. The promise to upgrade and embark on co-generation and the production of plantation white sugar are yet to be put in motion.

But what is more appalling is the fact that the shut-

tered estates, both the factories and the fields, have been destroyed to such an extent that no investor will ever pursue it as an investment. This is to make them viable to cronies and party hacks at grossly undervalued prices. We have seen a typical example at Wales.

In addition, the machinery and equipment at these estates have been the subject of much corruption, where operational machinery and equipment have been sold as scrap, again to cronies. It would seem that the ‘White Paper’ was only meant to legitimise these corrupt acts through the Special Purpose Unit, another corrupt arm of the coalition Government.

Despite all these corrupt acts and failed economic policies, the Government is still

The Ministry of Citizenship needs guidance Dear Editor, The recent actions of the Ministry of Citizenship are appalling at best. The Ministry has already created a homestead, which they should not have done in the first place, for a group of Venezuelans in Essequibo.

Thus, strengthening their claim on Essequibo while we are in the middle of a dispute in the world court. What's next? Will this Ministry also issue the Venezuelan ID cards on behalf of the Maduro Government? In our recent history, Maduro was attempting to issue over 200,000 ID cards in Essequibo.

This poorly directed Ministry is now in the process of relocating Venezuelan migrants who have been squatting on the riverbank to a "permanent" location on an old military training base.

Not the same "homestead" location, but yet another location where they can stake another claim on our territory.

The action of this Ministry speaks to the level of short-sightedness and lack of consideration for the gravity of our nation's current border controversy. It is hard to believe that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aligned with the current actions being undertaken by the Ministry of Citizenship.

If some of these Venezuelan migrants turn out to be military operatives from Venezuela who are posing to be destitute, our Ministry of Citizenship would have single-handedly enabled the Venezuelan military in infiltrating our nation's defence system while giving our declared enemy more than one foothold in the event of a war.

Yes, I said War! This was a very present reality for those of us who grew up in the 1980s. Some of our citizens can remember when our country lost half of Ankoko Island in the 1960s via occupation as it is occurring

today. This was followed by military action and to date, Guyana has been unsuccessful in recovering this lost territory.

I remember to this day having a long discussion with a military officer who participated in the Ankoko military engagement under President Burnham. He simply said that they were outgunned. As a nation, we should also remember how the Venezuelan Government had supported a plan for secession in the Rupununi around the same time. The GDF had to be called in and eventually were successful in regaining control.

The current situation of our dispute and the independent-mindedness of Maduro should not be taken lightly. The cry of the 1980s "not a blade of grass" has now turned into anything you want you can get. Our nation's military needs to take charge of this situation and round up all Venezuelan migrants. Transport them to Ankoko Island and release them to the half of the island that was stolen by the Venezuelan military and their Venezuelan citizens.

Stop allowing them to scout our land for potential invasion, do not allow them to assess our military training methods and do not let them forage on our resources. We have many mouths to feed including the unemployed sugar workers and our efforts are best served in strengthening our own citizens. Do not willingly deplete our resources to strengthen our declared enemy.

Otherwise, how are we Guyanese to continue to trust our current leadership with our nation's independence when such shortsighted actions are being taken.

Not only has this Ministry's actions undermined our nation's efforts to secure our territory, but they have also gone a step further and offered them an old military installation which can be con-

verted into a paramilitary base for the Venezuelans during a war. Where are the military strategists in the GDF? This nonsense has to be reeled in and done so quickly before it gets further out of control. Maduro has shown his resistance to the USA and his Russian allies have also shown their willingness to support his Administration. If we continue down this current path, we may either be the spark that causes a war in the event of a favourable court ruling, or we may be collateral damage in the event the USA moves from economic embargoes to military action.

Our Government is currently having trouble stopping accidents on the road and has struggled to reel in

the criminal activity of those on bicycles. We should not take the Venezuelan criminal organisation of the syndicato and Venezuelan military operatives lightly.

Those two organisations may be one and the same or at least with significant overlap as seen in other parts of the world. The Ministry of Citizenship needs to wake up from its utopian dream and get back to the reality of our nation's territorial dispute. The President can no longer afford to delegate this important issue and a coordinated effort has to taken to prevent further infiltration while correcting the current situation.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

trying to blame the PPP/C for the current failures. A Government Member of Parliament sought to blame the PPP/C for acts of sabotage at the Estates, especially Albion Estate, when she claimed on the Chat Group, Moving Guyana Forward, that workers at the Albion Factory were deliberately throwing away cane juice.

She ridiculously claimed that was the reason why the Estate cannot achieve its target. She said that this was told to her by some employees! Of course, she failed to investigate the matter.

Had she done that she would have realised that: substandard and old parts are being used in the factory, resulting in frequent breakdowns and time lost, the old and substandard valves and seals break frequently causing cane juice to be spilt, and that her Government employed some geriatric PNC engineers who cannot even climb the factory steps and who are more asleep than awake! These are employed by the Head Office and furthermore, they employed a man on an electrical contract who should have been dismissed when he burnt eight motors costing millions of dollars.

He went on pension this year and was immediately hired on contract. The job he is now doing was done before by the Factory Workshop. It can be seen that jobs for the ‘boys’ have also contributed immensely to the downward spiral of GuySuCo! It is clear that GuySuCo has now become the nursing home for the retired PNC hacks and the vacation destination for others. The coalition is not responsible to give a wage

increase to sugar workers but they can dump their garbage there!

Lastly, this coalition has spent $32 billion in ‘bailouts’ and $17.6 billion from a $30 billion bond, a total of $49.6 billion and everything has fallen apart! That amount of money could have subsidised the entire GuySuCo, inclusive of the closed estates for a period of at least 8 years, that is until 2023 and the economic and social devastation this nation is now plunged into would have been avoided.

Granger, it seems, had slept through his entire tenure as President since he has now awoken to the fact that to make the industry economically viable will take 3 to 4 years. This is what the PPP/C was saying all along and as seen above, the entire sugar industry could have been saved with the $49.6 billion wasted by his Government. It is worth noting that the PPP/C only spent $26 billion to keep the entire GuySuCo afloat for 5 years (2011-2015).

I could recall that the PPP/C in its 2015 manifesto had said that the sugar industry needed $20 billion to bring it back to viability and the Commission of Inquiry done by the coalition made a similar conclusion. The CoI never mentioned closure! I have no doubt that a PPP/C Government will be able to reopen the estates. They are not comprised of voodoo economists and Dr Irfaan Ali is a competent and worldclass economist backed by a most competent team led by the maestro Jagdeo.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

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tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 2019

Page

…If you’re going to have a new brother or sister, you’ll want to know some baby facts. Answer this question — a new baby is: smelly funny annoying great all of the above The answer is #5, of course!

Babies are wonderful, but they can also wake you up at night. They dribble, spit, and make lots and lots of dirty diapers. They can’t talk, walk, or go to the bathroom like you do! Because they need so much care, your mom and dad will be busy making sure the baby gets the rest, food, clean diapers, and love he or she needs. But just because your parents are busy with the baby doesn’t mean they love you any less — they just love the baby too!

It can be a lot of fun to have a new baby in the house, but it can be tiring, too. You might love the baby right from the start. But it’s also OK if you miss the way things were before the baby came. If you feel left out or need some attention, tell your mom or dad. Also be sure to tell a parent if you’re having trouble getting your homework done or you’re not getting enough sleep.

Before the baby arrives A baby takes nine months to grow big enough to be born. Before the baby comes, ask your parents any questions that you have. Where will the baby sleep?

Who will take care of you while everyone is at the hospital? Some hospitals offer classes for kids who are about to be big sisters or big brothers. These classes help kids learn about babies so they know what to expect.

You also can learn about babies by

Foundation

getting books out of the library. But the best way is to spend time with a real, live baby. Maybe your mom or dad can arrange for you to visit a friend who has a young baby. Then you’ll get to see how a baby looks, smells, and sounds!

Who is this little person?

When it is time for the baby to be born, your mom will probably spend a few nights at the hospital. After the baby arrives, you can visit her in the maternity ward where the babies are delivered.

There you can get your first look at the newest member of your family.

Expect your brother or sister to be small, s q u i r m y,

a n d sleepy. When they’re first born, babies are too little to play with toys o r play peek-a-boo with you. They’re just getting adjusted to the world. In time, your baby sister or brother will be able to smile at you, laugh, and play. But for now, babies mostly want to sleep, snuggle, and eat.

The baby comes home So what can you do at home with the baby? Early on, you can be a wonderful

help to your mom and dad. If you’re old enough, you may be able to hold or feed the baby. Your mom and dad can show you the right way to care for your brother or sister. You’ll have to learn the rules for what you’re allowed to do on your own and what you need to have another grown-up help you with. For instance, only grown-ups can give the baby a bath. But you might be able to do some important jobs, like put on the baby’s little socks!

Kids also can help in many other ways, like being a personal assistant to your mom or dad. What does a personal assistant do? You run all over the house getting the stuff your mom or dad needs for the baby. Diaper? You got it! Pacifier?

You got it! Paper towel because the baby just spit up again? You got that, too!

Kids also can fold baby clothes, answer the phone, or get their dear, sweet mothers a drink from the kitchen. That is so helpful, especially if she feels busy and tired. And if the baby is cranky, you can work your magic by smiling at the baby and trying to cheer him or her up.

You could even read the baby a book. The baby won’t know what you’re talking about, but will like hearing the sound of your voice. Maybe the story will help the baby drift off to sleep. When that happens, everyone can relax a little. And it might be a good time to ask your mom or dad to spend a little time together – just the two of you.

When a new baby joins the family, you’re in for some changes. But so many of them are good ones. Not only do you have this cute little bundle around the house, before you know it, that little bundle will sit up, crawl, walk, run, and even play hide-and-seek with you. In other words, this baby just might grow up to be a lifetime pal! (kidshealth.org)

K

ids can assemble, decorate and light these adorable little lanterns themselves — their glow comes from electric tea lights Here’s what you’ll need to make these glowing angels: • Clear plastic cups • Printer paper • Pen • Crayons • Sharpie markers • Scissors • Clear Tape • LED Tea Lights (1-2 per angel)

Let’s make some paper cup angels!

Step 1: Roll your plastic cup over a sheet of paper and trace along its edges as it rolls. Now you’ll have a curved shape which will fit nicely over your cup. Cut the shape out, and trim off about 1” to 1 ½” off the top (shown by the curved line) so that you’ll have space for the angel’s face.

Step 2: Colour in your curved shape.

Step 3: Accordion fold your shape.

Step 4: Cut out different shapes holes (it’s like you’re cutting out a snowflake!)

Step 5: Open up your folded piece of paper.

Use Sharpie markers to add more decorations to your design. Yay! Now your angel has a lovely lacy dress to wear.

Cut out and colour a face and pair of wings. add details, face, and wings Step 6: Tape your dress, face, and wings onto your plastic cup. paper cup angels Place 1-2 LED tea lights under each cup to make your angels glow. glowing paper cup angel luminaries Aren’t they beautiful? I hope you enjoy making these lovely glowing pretties with your children. (mollymoocrafts.com/)

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Tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Top Tullow officials resign after company suffers oil production setbacks A

series of production setbacks from Tullow’s oil blocks in West Africa and Guyana have resulted in two top executives of the British oil company resigning with immediate effect; even as the company’s shares tumbled by more than 60 per cent on the stock market.

Chief Executive Officer, Paul McDade, and Exploration Director, Angus McCoss, both resigned after being stalwarts at the company for over a decade. The duo had presided over discoveries from West Africa to Guyana, but also encountered a slew of operational setbacks.

“Whilst financial performance has been solid, production performance has been significantly below expectations from the group’s main producing assets, the TEN and Jubilee fields in Ghana,” London-based Tullow noted in a statement on Monday.

Meanwhile, group output in 2020 is forecast at 70,000 to 80,000 barrels per day, which is a reduction from the 87,000 barrels a day expected for 2019.

Additionally, production for the following three years will hover around the bottom of that range.

According to British media outlets, the executive departures come after a year of disappointments at Tullow,

Tullow Oil Plc Exploration Director Angus McCoss

where technical difficulties have hampered output in Ghana, projects in Uganda and Kenya have faced delays, and results from wells in Guyana missed expectations. The company reduced its 2019 production forecast several times as the glitches in Ghana dragged on.

Stock dive

It was reported that the shares sank 61 per cent to 55.28 pence as of 11:54h on Monday, London time. This is recorded as the biggest decline since the oil company started trading in the city 30 years ago.

The stock has dropped more than 90 per cent since 2012. Tullow’s dollar notes due 2025 declined the most since they were issued in March 2018.

“There is a risk that the market will lose sight of the true value of our underlying assets,” interim Chairman

Dorothy Thompson said by phone to the media, insisting that the Jubilee development and Uganda reserves remain world-class oil fields.

The company is conducting a review “to create a sustainable business, which we believe we can do,” she said.

Thompson declined to comment on whether Tullow is actively seeking buyers, but reiterated the standard position that the company would always be open to any offers that were attractive to shareholders.

Here in Guyana, just three months ago, Tullow announced its second oil discovery offshore the Stabroek Block.

At that time, Guyana’s Department of Energy Director, Dr Mark Bynoe, announced that UK-based Tullow Oil Plc’s (Tullow) Joe-1 exploration well had successfully opened a new Upper Tertiary oil play in

the Guyana basin.

That was the second discovery of oil in two different wells operated by Tullow, in less than six weeks.

The Joe-1 exploration well was drilled by the Stena Forth drillship to a total depth of 2175 metres in a water depth of 780 metres.

The evaluation of logging and sampling data confirms that Joe-1 has encountered 14 metres of net oil pay in high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs of Upper Tertiary age.

The Energy Director had explained that the Joe-1 well is the first oil discovery to be made in the Upper Tertiary play type, which further derisks the petroleum system of the western area of the Orinduik Block, where a significant number of Tertiary and Cretaceous age prospects have been identified.

“Guyana’s future is bright but more importantly, the time is ripe for all Guyanese to focus on how they want to see their oil revenues spent and invested”, Dr Bynoe had said.

Meanwhile, the Repsoloperated Carapa-1 well on the Kanuku licence (Tullow 37.5 per cent) is scheduled to commence drilling in late

Tullow Oil Plc former CEO Paul McDade, who resigned with immediate effect

September with the Rowan EXL II jack-up rig and will test the Cretaceous oil play with a result due in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Dr Bynoe had added that Tullow and its partners, at that time, would have evaluated data from the Joe1 discovery alongside data from the Jethro-1 discovery announced in August 2019.

It would have then awaited the outcome of the Carapa well to determine the optimal follow-on exploration and appraisal programme.

The well was drilled on the Orinduik licence, offshore Guyana by Tullow’s wholly-owned subsidiary Tullow Guyana BV. Tullow Guyana BV is the operator

of the Orinduik Block with a 60 per cent stake. Total E&P Guyana BV holds 25 per cent with the remaining 15 per cent being held

by Eco (Atlantic) Guyana Incorporated.

Meanwhile, according to the Uk-oil company, Dorothy Thompson has been appointed Executive Chair on a temporary basis and Mark MacFarlane, Executive VicePresident, East Africa and Non-Operated, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer in a non-Board role.

Les Wood continues as an Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer. The Board has initiated a process to find a new Group Chief Executive.

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Tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Albouystown man remanded on robbery charge

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rin Mitchell who allegedly choked and relieved a man of his cash was on Monday arraigned for the offence when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Mitchell, 29, of Lot 86 Hunter Street, Albouystown, appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and denied the charge which stated that on December 1, 2019, at La Penitence, Georgetown, while being in the company of another, he robbed Ron Ramcharran of

$43,000.

Police Prosecutor Quinn

Harris told the court that on the day in question, the

victim was walking along La Penitence Public Road when he was confronted by the defendant and another man.

Ramcharran was choked and relieved of his cash after which the men fled the scene.

The matter was reported and the defendant was arrested and charged. The court heard that the defendant was positively identified by the victim during an identification parade.

Mitchell is slated to make his next court appearance on December 30, 2019.

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PNC…

…and their campaign he PNC have indicated – sorta - on their Facebook page that their elections campaign will be launched on Jan 3rd. Now, why are they so coy about showing their hand?? Is it that they’re so contemptuous of their base, which they believe is only interested in “jump up” and “wine down” at Guinness Bars or their equivalent? Or are they fearful of “peaking” too early? You know, tossing their wad right now and having nothing left for next year??

Are their plans so prosaic that they’ll wilt and die in three months??

The PPP, on the other hand, haven’t only been campaigning all over the country, but even threw out a synopsis of their manifesto two weeks ago!! That shows confidence…and has served to demoralise the PNC’s base that still haven’t the foggiest notion as to how their party plans to take another stab at delivering the “good life”.

That 2015 promise joined Burnham’s “Feed, House and Clothe the Nation” in the dustbin of history. Maybe Granger learnt something from that debacle, and that’s why he wasn’t too specific this time around!!

But their sloth might also be due to the disarray in the coalition that Granger and Corbin worked so hard to cobble together to “put lipstick on a pig” – to quote their Executive, Aubrey Norton! After trying all sorts of gimmicks to add appendages to their name – PNC/R, PNCR, and the most honest PNCR1G – they decided on a complete name change to APNU. They hoped that by bringing four alphabet-soup paper parties – NDA, NFA, JFAP, WPA – under one umbrella, it would throw folks off the scent.

Didn’t work in 2011!!

And that’s why AFC was brought aboard for 2015 – and it worked. It worked because some folks thought the AFC would do what it said it would – represent interests outside of the PNC’s traditional base, so that there’d be some sort of NATIONAL consensus. Never happened…and that’s why Ramjattan feared that the AFC would become “dead meat” if it coalesced with the PNC. The holdup in the campaign is most likely due to the dilemma the PNC face in trying to convince the country – and the international community - that they have a “national coalition” with the AFC, when they, their supporters and the rest of the world KNOW that the AFC ain’t bringing squat to the party in March!! Most grating is Ramjattan’s insistence that he gotta be the PM Candidate!

Granger has already castrated that position, so he has no fears of competition from that quarter.

His dilemmas is what happens to their pappy show when it’s exposed that Ramjattan has agreed to a “morganatic” union.

That is, he has no right of succession!! Ouch!! …and China As first oil looms, Guyanese must come to grips with the reality that the money that will be coming their way via the bonus, royalty and profit-sharing that’re stipulated in our PSAs could end up in the pockets of the PNC big wigs.

That’s why your Eyewitness was pleased to learn that the funds allocated to the NRF – our Sovereign Wealth Fund would be placed in an account with the NY Fed. This PNC Government, from its very beginning, cosied up to China – and it’s not just trips! Early in 2018, it officially confirmed its leanings when it signed onto China’s Trojan Horse “Belt and Road Initiative”.

Most pertinently, it stated, “The parties will expand the use of their respective local currency in investment and trade based on the investment and trade demands, strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between their Currency and Financial Regulators, and promote the mutual establishment of the Financial Institutions between the two countries.”

It ain’t gonna be so easy now!! …and Local Content Chris Ram was forced to call out the business community – and even the accounting profession – for not taking a more principled and coherent stand against the PNC’s abdication of its responsibilities to Guyana on a Local Content Policy.

We’re crewed coming and going – on the oil contracts and LCP. Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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Tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Skeletal remains of human found in Marudi

Remains appear to have been there for number of years – Commander

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he skeletal remains of the human body found in the Marudi Backdam, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), are believed to have been there for a number of years.

This is according to Police Commander of that region, Superintendent Keithon King, who told Guyana Times on Monday that based on the location of the discovery and the

that the remains belong to a miner or pork-knocker.

The Commander explained that it would be premature to state that the body was found in a shallow grave or that a murder was committed since the area is desolate and the person could have died of natural causes.

However, he stated that the investigation is open and ongoing from all angles while noting that Police

The skeletal remains found at Marudi on Saturday

fact that it is a mining area, there is a high possibility

are not ruling out any possibilities until a medical

professional has examined the remains.

Guyana Times was told that Police ranks were deployed to the area on Sunday following the discovery but due to the location and its mountainous terrain, it would take about two days for them to reach.

According to the Commander, the bones will be retrieved and sent to the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory so that the necessary testing can be done.

Just three weeks ago, the headless body of 22-year-old Dico Davi Roberto Moreira was discovered along the Tabatinga Road, Lethem, Central Rupununi.

Moreira, a labourer who hailed from Bon Fim, Brazil, was reportedly decapitated between 19:00h on Saturday, November 16 and 07:15h on Sunday, November 17.

To date, there has been no news from the Brazilian authorities, who were asked to assist in the investigations and more so, to locate the murder suspect, a cousin of the now-dead man who resides in Brazil.

It was initially believed

unidentified male in the wee hours of the morning, after he heard persons arguing outside of his home.

Reports are that around 02:20h on the day in question, the man was awakened by several voices speaking loudly in Spanish.

He then heard a shout followed by a scream before the place went silent.

After hearing the sounds, he ventured outside of his Commander of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Superintendent Keithon King

that Moreira’s teenage cousin is responsible for his death since he had gone into hiding immediately after the discovery.

On November 17, the headless body of Moreira was seen lying on the road with multiple stab wounds to the upper back. Both of his wrists were partly severed.

A tattoo with a cannabis leaf was seen on the left hand the body and shortly after, Moreira’s sister, Joy Roberto, identified the headless corpse to be that of her brother’s.

In addition, on November 2, a villager in Tabatinga discovered the body of an

home and began looking in various directions and it was then that he noticed a body lying on the street.

The man immediately made contact with the nearest police station. The dead man appeared to be of Venezuelan descent, but despite questioning several Venezuelans in the area about the identity of the deceased, Police were unable to determine same.

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Tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hotelier, ‘hitman’ to face Judge “Short Boss” for plotting to kill businessman pleads guilty to

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he proprietor of Rocky’s Hotel and his alleged hired ‘hitman’ who were jointly charged for conspiring to murder a businessman in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) were on Monday committed to stand trial at the Demerara High Court after a prima facie case was made out against them.

Fifty-seven-year-old Mark Grimmond, of Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and Chatterpaul Singh, a 36-year-old miner of First Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD), were charged with the offence on June 13, 2019.

It is alleged that between April 1, 2018 and June 7, 2019, in Georgetown, they conspired with each other and persons unknown to kill Dwayne Grant.

Mark Grimmond and Chatterpaul Singh

The men were on trial before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

When the matter was called on Monday, the Chief Magistrate ruled that there

was sufficient evidence against the duo for them to stand trial before a Judge and jury at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes.

The case was prosecuted

by Inspector Neville Jeffers.

It was reported that the

Virtual Complainant, a businessman in Lethem, reported to the Police that he received information that the defendants were plotting to kill him.

As such, an investigation was conducted by the Police during which Singh was arrested after a firearm was found in his possession.

When questioned, Singh reportedly had a detailed conversation with the ranks and admitted that he and Grimmond were planning to kill Grant.

Officers were also able to obtain recordings of telephone conversations between the defendants. Advice was sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who recommended that charges be instituted.

The defendants are currently out on $500,000 bail each.

Man busted with crystal meth and ecstasy pills gets bail

A

man who was recently caught with a quantity of crystal meth and ecstasy pills at Springlands, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) was on Monday arraigned for possession of an illicit substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Thirty-year-old Collis Steve Burrowes of Lot 1919 Norton Street, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and

Collis Steve Burrowes

denied the charge which stated that on December 6, 2019, at Springlands, he had in his possession 254 grams of suspected crys-

tal meth for the purpose of trafficking.

It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, he had in his possession 56 grams (100) pills suspected to be ecstasy for the purpose of trafficking.

Burrowes was represented by Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson, who told the court during a successful bail application that his client was never previously charged and was the sole breadwinner for his family.

CANU Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford told the court that on the day in

question, CANU ranks intercepted the defendant who was an incoming passenger from Suriname and searched the haversack he was carrying. It was then a quantity of suspected crystal meth and ecstasy tablets were found hidden in clothing.

Sandiford was arrested and taken into custody, and hence charged for the offence. Burrowes was released on $170,000 bail.

He was instructed to make his next court appearance on January 14, 2020, at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

rape, armed robbery …remains on remand for 2 murders

Convicted for armed robbery, rape: Travis Evans, called “Short Boss”

Murdered: Gregory “Wayne” Frank

wenty-four-year-old Travis Evans also known as “Short Boss” is expected to be sentenced on December 18, 2019, after he pleaded guilty to armed robbery and rape when he made his first High Court appearance on Monday.

“Short Boss” pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to him by Justice Simone Ramlall.

The first indictment stated that on October 30, 2010, in the county of Demerara, whilst being armed with a dangerous weapon – a knife – he robbed Marlyn Kisson of $650,500.

The second charge read that during the said period, he engaged in sexual penetration with a woman without her consent.

Evans was charged for both offences alongside John

Sampson and Alex Williams after being on the run for several years.

He was also charged for the murders of 46-year-old Gregory “Wayne” Frank and 21-year-old Ronsley Clarke.

Both murders reportedly took place in August of 2018.

It was reported that Frank’s body was discovered days after his demise, lying in his Kuru Kururu, LindenSoesdyke Highway home with visible head injuries.

His entire home was ransacked which indicated that he was killed during a robbery.

On the other hand, Clarke was reportedly shot twice to his body by Evans in full view of his friends.

The murder occurred in Sophia while the deceased and his girlfriend were at a party.

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Tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Lands & Surveys mulls opening Another section of Leguan up 6000 acres of land in Region 4 Stelling collapses – to re-embark on mapping exercise ...days after rehabilitation works commence after stolen computer delays project

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he Guyana Lands and Survey’s Commission (GL&SC) processes thousands of lease applicants each year and as the demand for land grows, it is considering opening up some 6000 acres of state land in Region Four for various purposes.

This was explained by Chief Executive Officer of GL&SC, Trevor Benn, during their end of year press conference at the Commission on Monday. He explained that as of now, this land is undeveloped, without basic infrastructure. The whole process, he noted, will cost millions.

“What we have been doing over the years is land given to you, we take it back if you don’t properly occupy it and we give it to someone else. So it’s an exchange since the 1980s, because we

of 489 leases were prepared

by GL≻ a process Benn said is currently being digitised.

“We have started with the designs. We’re working with various Government agencies to get their buy-in and input into what a modern 21st-century community should look like. And what we’re hearing and seeing from them is we want to have a community that we don’t have to go back to in 10 years to build new roads.”

“To build hospital spaces. You know, when the Soesdykye-Linden Highway was developed all those years ago and most of the land development schemes, you could have known before you entered the community, where a police station as going to be built.

Where a playfield would

An example of the imagery generated by LIDAR technology

have not opened up new areas. So we have been trying since then, to open up land.”

“There’s no infrastructure in the area, but we have designed a plan, consisting of infrastructure that will see us removing issues of space and ensuring that we have a more structured land use in place. We’re going to have commercial, light industrial, residential.”

To illustrate the demand for land, Benn explained that for the year, the Commission has processed 3537 applications and approved 849. He further explained that a total

have been built. Where the school would be built. How many house lots would be there.”

The CEO also noted the importance of them establishing adequate sized lots, big enough to allow persons to plant kitchen gardens if they so desire. In addition, there should be ‘green’ spaces to have mini-parks that persons in the communities could use.

Also, Benn noted that they are working on putting all Land and Survey services online, so persons won’t have to visit the office for basic services. He

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GL&SC CEO Trevor Benn

said that another initiative being pursued is a National Base mapping process, to remap the country using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology. The whole project will cost some $3.7 billion.

There has been a hitch with that plan, however.

According to Benn, a laptop that belonged to the North West Geomatics Limited, the Canadian-based company undertaking the remapping, was “illegally removed” from an aircraft at one of the airports.

“That work is about to start, the consultant and team is on the ground. There are two aircrafts on the ground at the Ogle airport.

Unfortunately, when they arrived here three Fridays ago we had a very ugly incident, where their laptop was removed from the aircraft without their consent, at one of our airports.”

“And that delayed the work and now that they have been able to replace the laptop, the rain is upon us. So it’s further delayed… we are going to be doing Region One and part of Region Four first.”

Asked where the house lots will be, Benn could not say. He cited the need for mapping to be done and also the threat of squatters taking up illegal residence.

According to Benn, squatters in the new areas being opened up is the last thing the GL&SC needs.

ven though residents were reassured that the dilapidated stelling at Leguan, Essequibo River, would be upgraded to its required standard, yet another section of the stelling has collapsed, inconveniencing residents in the area.

Guyana Times understands that part of the structure collapsed at about 15:00h on Monday.

When contacted, the Public Infrastructure Ministry confirmed that it had received reports of the destruction while noting that a statement on the issue will be released today.

A resident in the area, Hans Buer, briefly told this publication that the contractors were at the scene assessing the damage since some rehabilitation works have only begun sometime last week.

“The contractor is already on the stelling because they started last week with some rehabilitation of the stelling”, he added.

Just last month, Minister David Patterson assured commuters that works on the deteriorating structure would commence since residents have reported collapses in other sec-

The collapsed section of the stelling

tions.

Back in September 2018, the Government revealed that a contract, to the tune of $413.2 million, was awarded to Maraj Contracting Services.

Construction work was slated to commence this year since the stelling is the main entry and exit for persons living on the Island.

The project came on the heels of outcries from residents on the island in the

Essequibo River on the state of the facility.

This newspaper had previously visited the stelling, where it was observed that the timber planks supporting the stelling have rotted, making residents fearful since heavy vehicles traverse the stelling.

In addition, the decking was observed to be loose and uneven, with rails having no support at certain sections on the ramp.

Pensioner drowns after allegedly jumping into Berbice River

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he body of a pensioner was reportedly found floating in the Upper Berbice River in the vicinity of the Kwakwani waterfront in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Monday morning.

A resident, who was travelling in a canoe, made the discovery and notified Police who were summoned to the scene.

Suspected to have drowned is Leon Williams of Kwakwani Waterfront, Upper Berbice River. He is suspected to have met his demise sometime between Sunday evening and

Monday.

Based on reports received, at about 21:00h on Sunday, a report was made to the Kwakwani Police Station by an unknown caller, informing ranks about the disorderly behaviour of the pensioner.

The now deceased was reportedly armed with a cutlass and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol at the Waterfront.

However, upon seeing the ranks, Williams allegedly ran and jumped overboard and never resurfaced.

A search was conducted but there were no signs of

the man.

It was not until Monday morning that a cousin of the deceased reportedly called the Kwakwani Police Station and reported that his body was found motionless approximately 50 feet away from her house in the Upper Berbice River.

The police responded to the scene and Williams’ body was pulled from the river.

It was transported to the Kwakwani Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem. An investigation was launched into the man’s demise.

12 NEWS

Tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

“Hold our feet to the fire” – Ali tells Moraikobai residents

PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali being welcomed by residents of Moraikobai

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rfaan Ali, the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), has committed to strongly disciplining his Ministers, even having them fired, if they are found to be disrespectful to the people.

During a recent outreach to Moraikobai Village in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), Ali reflected on

the incident where Minister with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, insinuated that the Indigenous peoples are greedy.

“As your President, if one of my Ministers make a statement like that they will have to hand in their resignation because no Minister, no Government has the right to disrespect people, disrespect their communities and disrespect their

wishes,” Ali posited.

Minister Scott had staunchly refused to apologise for making the remark, even under fire from various officials including executives of the National Toshaos Council (NTC).

The Minister had called the Indigenous peoples “avaricious” during a 2017 sitting of the National Assembly.

“For that statement

alone, this Government should be removed and for not apologising, they should be given no vote from this community in protest,” Ali expressed to rounds of applause from the community, which comprises of mainly Amerindian folks.

Meanwhile, Ali called on the people to hold his Government accountable and ensure they deliver on the promises they are currently making.

“You can hold my feet and your next Government feet to the fire. And, if we do not deliver, based on this contract we are establishing with you, then you will get to make a choice five years from March 2020 and you will let us know how you feel,” he explained, noting that “you are trusting us by voting for us to deliver on those promises and if we don’t deliver on those promises we will be breaching that trust you give to us.”

In this regard, Ali con-

increased for the children?”

Ali questioned.

“More resources to be spent on the communities, has the presidential grant been doubled? Better healthcare, has your healthcare been improved? Better

AFC, Guyana has slipped four positions in the employment rate for the 2554 age group and seven positions for the age group 54 to 64 on the Global Human Capital Index. With regards to youths, he disclosed that

access to education and transportation, has it been improved?”

“A higher standard of living, more jobs and greater opportunities. Have you seen any of this in your community? Then they have betrayed you,” Ali said, explaining that the words in a

the country declined nine positions in unemployment for the 15-24 age group.

As such, Ali had stated that unlike the coalition Administration, his party will not falter in its efforts to ensure that what is being promised to the populace is achieved.

tended that the PPP/C has a track-record of always keeping its promises to the people. And he noted that in situations where they were unable to deliver, reasonable explanations were provided.

He contrasted this with the promises made by the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government.

“Over the last five years, remember the promises?

‘More scholarships for the children’, has scholarships

manifesto are an honour.

“And you have to upkeep and uphold that honour,” he stated.

Ali had stated that 50,000 jobs will be created for Guyanese should his party return to office. He reminded of the coalition Government’s promise to stimulate job creation, especially for youths, but instead, they have caused the country to face 37,000 job losses in various economy-driven sectors.

He went on to reveal that under the APNU/

Guyana is slated to hold elections on March 2, 2020, and Ali is urging people who did not vote for the party during the last elections, to seriously consider them now at the upcoming polls.

“Reflect on the past five years… Be true to your conscience and ask yourself: ‘Did my life improve? Did the prospects for my family improve? Did the prospect for the community improve?’…and if your conscience tells you ‘no’, then you have to vote the right way,” Ali expressed.

“As your President, if one of my Ministers makes a statement like that, they will have to hand in their resignation, because no Minister, no Government has the right to disrespect people” – Dr Irfaan Ali

NEWS

13

tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GL&SC sends several employees packing for corruption – cases not turned over to Police; complainants didn’t want to pursue

I

n keeping with its internal policies, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) has so far sent several of its employees home for corruption-related reasons, including taking bribes to fast-track land transactions.

Several former employees of GL&SC are likely to spend Christmas without a job, having been booted from the agency for corruption. This was revealed by the Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Benn during a press confer-

ence on Monday.

However, Human Resources Manager Shonda James-Williams explained that the Police were not called in, although such actions were criminal offences.

James-Williams explained that this was because the Virtual Complainants (VCs) did not want to pursue the matter further.

“We had about three employees who were terminated for corruption. And in those cases, staff entered into agreements with clients, issued receipts and collected

money in exchange for land.

So, when those cases came to us as a Commission, we acted in relation to our policy.

“However, in those cases, they weren’t turned over to the Police, since the client didn’t want to pursue. As a Commission though, we took our action based on our policies. We also had another staff who was terminated for inflating bills, taking advances to do surveys. So, we had to terminate that staff, since it is dishonest and against our policy,” she revealed.

Explaining how the em-

4 homeless after fire guts Cummings Lodge home

ning electrical cords under carpets.

In October, records of the GFS showed that there were already over 700 fires for 2019.

Debris of the house which was completely burnt to the ground

A

couple and their two children are now homeless after a fire completely gutted their two-storey home at Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, on Monday.

One of the couple’s daughters, 21-year-old Fazeela Mohamed was the only one at home when the fire started. Based on reports received, the fire start-

The homeowner, Shivana Deolall

ed at about 11:00h.

The owner of the house, Shivana Deolall, told Guyana Times that she and her 11-year-old son, Gavin Deolall, had already left home and were in a minibus when she heard the driver speaking about a house on fire.

Upon realising that it was her home, Deolall said that she immediately ordered the driver to stop the minibus and disembarked.

By the time she reached the scene, her house was already completely burnt to the ground.

“I couldn’t bear it, I make it fast out of the bus. When I come it almost flat,” a tearful Deolall cried.

She stated that her losses are estimated to be in the millions as they were un-

able to save anything. “… millions, because is a lot of music appliance downstairs, then I have all my jewels them upstairs, I had cash upstairs, a lot, a lot... It’s a shock to me right now, a big shock. I didn’t expect this,” the distraught Deolall told this newspaper.

According to Divisional Officer of Operations of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Gregory Wickham, a total of three fire tenders responded to the incident.

“The first tender that was coming was on its way to another emergency so it was well within the area of the fire scene. On arrival of that first tender and the crew, they realised that the building was well alight and so they went into firefighting with water from the tank supply. The other two tenders that came, they used open-source of water from the canal and did water relay system,” Wickham related.

The fire official further indicated that the cause and origin of the fire are yet to be ascertained as investigations are still ongoing.

He stated that this is the fifth fire of this magnitude which has occurred within the space of two weeks and, therefore, urged the public to adopt safe practices to avoid the occurrence of fires especially during the Christmas holidays.

He advised that persons should remain attentive while carrying out chores that can result in fires such as cooking.

He further emphasised the importance of using appropriate electrical wiring both indoors and outdoors as staying away from run-

The Guyana Lands and Surveys head office

ployees were caught, JamesWilliams noted that some were nabbed after audits were conducted. Others were nabbed when the clients’ suspicions were aroused after having paid their money and not receiving the land.

She noted that while some clients were reimbursed by the culprits, the GL&SC could not reimburse anyone since they did a private transaction outside of the

Commission’s policies. Asked about the systems to prevent corruption from taking place, James-Williams pointed to the agency’s policies.

“We have our policies. We keep meetings. And we also issue memos and internal messages to staff. Corruption is something we can’t stop.

But as soon as we find it, we deal with it. Some of them, the clients came in after time would have passed and the

promise of land wasn’t coming through. Others, from audits. The one with the inflated bill, that was an audit,” the Human Resources Manager detailed.

The Commission has had to also deal with various cybersecurity threats, some of which Benn said has targeted his own computer. According to Benn, however, no sensitive information was stolen.

14 NEWS

tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Miss South Africa crowned Miss Universe 2019

Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi being crowned Miss Universe 2019 when the pageant was hosted at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, USA, on Sunday evening

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iss South Africa has snagged the crown this year for Miss Universe. Zozibini Tunzi won the 2019 Miss Universe pageant on Sunday night, beating out nearly 90 other women from various countries and territories in the annual competition.

Tunzi, 26, is a public relations professional and activist whose platform is

largely based on her fight against gender-based violence, according to her contestant biography.

“She has devoted her social media campaign to changing the narrative around gender stereotypes,” her bio reads. “She is a proud advocate for natural beauty and encourages women to love themselves the way they are.”

Tunzi edged out her runner-up, Miss Puerto Rico Madison Anderson, as well as Miss Mexico Sofía Aragón, who came in third place. “I’m so ecstatic,” Tunzi told reporters after her victory.

As she did on the stage Sunday night, she also spoke candidly about the importance of diversity and how her own life had been

shaped by racial attitudes.

“Society has been programmed for a very long time that never saw beauty in a way that was black girl magic, but now we are slowing moving to a time where women like myself can finally find a place in society, can finally know they’re beautiful.”

Tunzi said she was bringing “a new, fresh and different perspective of what South Africa is.” And she said she hoped to lift other voices up as well — so that, as a chorus, they could be heard.

“I believe that whatever we put into the universe always come back to us, and I think that if we all work together and do all that we can, truly we can make a change,” she said.

This year’s Miss Universe pageant, which aired live from Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, featured an impressive roster of women from a variety of different backgrounds, including the history-making Miss Myanmar, Swe Zin Htet.

Htet, 21, is the pageant’s first openly gay contestant, and only just came out as a lesbian days ago, something she recently told PEOPLE she timed to coincide with

Top three: Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi (centre); Miss Puerto Rico Madison Anderson and Miss Mexico Sofía Aragón moments before the crowning

her moment in the spotlight.

“I have that platform that, if I say that I’m a lesbian, it will have a big impact on the LGBTQ community back in Burma,” she said through a translator, as homosexuality remains a crime in her country.

Nicknamed “Superman” by her fans, Htet said she hoped to help change anti-LGBTQ attitudes both through her very public coming out and future advocacy, made stronger with her Miss Universe fame.

“It’s like I just started a new chapter in life,” she

said.

Another notable new face was Miss Ireland Fionnghuala O’Reilly, who works as a NASA Datanaut and who has used her platform to advocate for young girls in STEM fields.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to bring my two passions together,” she recently told PEOPLE of her interests in both pageantry and engineering. “But the world is so different now. You can be a Renaissance woman and you can have multiple passions.” (People.com)

news

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Tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Marcus Bisram murder trial

Crab catchers found alive in Suriname

Magistrate sick; accused, T State Prosecutor a no-show – case postponed to December 11

Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin speaking with the media on Monday

T

he absence of Senior Magistrate Alex Moor at the Springslands Court on Monday has put a hold on the Marcus Bisram murder trial.

However, there was still heated debate when the matter was instead called at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court, but Magistrate Peter Hugh contended that that court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Defence Attorney Sanjeev Datadin had been pushing to get the court to rule on the issue of jurisdiction.

When the matter was initially called on Monday morning, Police Prosecutor Rudolph Poliah told the court that the State wanted to have the matter adjourned until January 7, 2020.

However, Datadin objected and asked the court for

the prosecution to provide credible reasons as to why the one-month delay was being suggested.

The matter was adjourned and recalled after lunch but the prosecution did not have any acceptable reasons for a delay and as such, the court ruled that the matter will be called on December 11, 2019, at Springlands.

Meanwhile, Special Prosecutor Stacy Godings did not attend court on Monday and Datadin expressed concern that the prosecution did not provide copies of a statement from its witness as ordered by the court on December 2, when the matter was last called.

Speaking with the media after Monday’s hearing, Datadin related that those statements should have been handed over on Monday even though the Magistrate was absent.

“If the Magistrate is not here and is not on duty, that doesn’t remove the obligation from the State to serve statements and they should have served those statements. No one from the State even bothered to come,” he lamented.

He further stated, “I don’t know what game the prosecution is playing.

They brought Mr Bisram to Guyana and has been alleging for the past two years that they have all the evidence and statements. What

Marcus Bisram

is the reason for the delay?”.

On Monday, Bisram also did not show up at court.

It was expected that the Preliminary Inquiry would have commenced on Monday with the court revisiting the scene of the crime.

Bisram is accused of ordering the death of Fayaz Narinedatt, a carpenter of Number 70 Village Corentyne, on November 30, 2016.

His death was initially reported as a suspected hit-and-run accident. It was later reported that Bisram made sexual advances to Narinedatt, who objected to the advances.

Bisram was initially charged here in absentia, while five others: Orlando Dickie, Radesh Motie, Diodath Datt, Harri Paul Parsram, and Niran Yacoob have also been committed to stand trial for the murder of Faiyaz Narinedatt.

he four crab catchers who were reported missing after going on a crab-catching expedition in neighbouring Suriname have been found alive.

The police were asked to get involved after relatives made reports that the men were missing while their boat was found abandoned.

The crew of four crab catchers had been away for one week when relatives went in search of them.

They were initially expected back in two days.

They left the shores of Guyana on December 1, for Nickerie, Suriname, and were expected back the following day.

The men, Yogeshwar Mangal, also called “Boyo”, of Number Two Village East Canje, Nelson Dejonge, 22, of Fort Ordnance Housing Scheme, Ramdat Goonraj also called “Azad”, 23, of Rose Hall Town and Anand Deoharry of Cumberland,

The boat that was left abandoned

East Canje, were found on Monday morning.

Based on information received, the men ran out of food supplies and went in search of same, leaving the boat behind. The boat, however, reportedly drifted due to the high waters.

Mangal and Dejonge, nevertheless, were able to get help for the other two, who had given up on the walk and decided to camp out in the mosquito-infested bushes.

According to Mangal, as they moved towards

Nickerie in the dark, they met a man and were able to get a telephone call from him.

Help arrived on Monday morning and the crab catchers were later transported across the border later in the day.

Dejonge related that this was the second time he had such an experience. His first trip to Suriname, he recalled, created problems for the crew some three years ago.

According to the crab catchers, the trips would normally last about two days and would see them taking home about $60,000 each. Despite the ordeal, the men stated that they will continue to ply their trade.

International Human Rights Day

Message from UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet

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his has been a year of tremendous activism – notably by young people. It is particularly fitting that this year we mark Human Rights Day during the crucial UN conference in Madrid to uphold climate justice. We owe a debt of gratitude to all those millions of children, teenagers and young adults who have been standing up and speaking out more and more loudly about the crisis facing our planet.

Rightly, these young people are pointing out that it is their future which is at stake, and the future of all those who have not yet even been born. It is they who will have to bear the full consequences of the actions, or lack of action, by the older generations who currently run Governments and businesses, the decision-makers on whom the future of individual countries, regions and the planet as a whole depends.

It cannot, of course, be left to young people alone to tackle the climate emergency, or indeed the many other human rights crises that are currently causing simulta-

neous turbulence in so many countries across the world.

All of us must stand together, in solidarity, and act with principle and urgency.

We can, and must, uphold the painstakingly developed universal human rights principles that sustain peace, justice and sustainable development. A world with diminished human rights is a world that is stepping backwards into a darker past, when the powerful could prey on the powerless with little or no moral or legal restraint.

However, among the many human rights challenges that have been metastasising during the first two decades of the 21st century, the global climate emergency presents perhaps the most profound planet-wide threat to human rights that we have seen since World War II. From the right to life, to health, to food, water and shelter, to our rights to be free of discrimination, to development and to self-determination, its impacts are already making themselves felt.

We have a duty to ensure young people’s voices

are heard. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, was a firm commitment by States to protect the rights of everyone – and that includes making it possible for future generations to uphold human dignity, equality and rights.

All human beings have a right to participate in decisions that have impacts on their lives. In order to ensure more effective decision-making, and to build greater trust and harmony across their nations, the leaders of every society should be listening to their people – and acting in accordance with their needs and demands.

Nothing summarises these aims, the leitmotif of the international human rights system, more clearly and succinctly than Article 1 of the Universal Declaration, which states boldly and unequivocally that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act

UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet

towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

No country, no community, will be spared by the climate emergency, as it intensifies. Already, we are seeing the most vulnerable communities and nations suffering terrible damage. People are losing homes, livelihoods – and lives. Inequalities are deepening, and more people are being forced into displacement. We must act

quickly, and with principle, to ensure the least possible harm is done to human beings, and to our environment.

Climate harms will not be halted by national borders – and reactions based on hostile nationalism, or short-term financial considerations, will not only fail: they will tear our world apart. The struggles for climate justice and human rights are not a political quarrel. This is not about left or right: it is about rights – and wrongs.

It is not just concerns about the accelerating climate crisis that have driven millions to stand up and demand action. In every region, people are finding their voice to speak up about inequalities and repressive institutions. I am inspired by the courage, clarity and principle of all these people, some of them very young indeed, who are standing up peacefully, in order to right the wrongs of our era and create greater freedom and justice. They are the living expression of human rights.

Policy-makers everywhere need to listen to these

calls. And in response, they need to shape more effective, and more principled, policies.

We have a right to live free from discrimination on any grounds. We have a right to access education, health-care, economic opportunities and a decent standard of living. We – all of us – have a right to participate in decisions that affect our lives. This is about our future, our livelihoods, our freedoms, our security and our environment.

And not just our future, but the future of our children, grand-children and greatgrand-children.

We need to mobilise across the world – peacefully and powerfully – to advance a world of rights, dignity and choice for everyone.

The decision-makers understood that vision very clearly in 1948. Do they understand it now? I urge world leaders to show true leadership and long-term vision and set aside narrow national political interests for the sake of everyone, including themselves and all their descendants.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, december 10, 2019

Regional

Venezuela releases on house Barbados Government extends deadline on ban of single-use plastic bags arrest 6 Citgo executives detained in 2017 – sources T he ban on single-use plastic bags in Barbados will now take effect from April 1, 2020. That’s because Government has extended the deadline from January 1, 2020.

The announcement was made over the weekend by Minister of Maritime Affairs and Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey.

“The manufacturers in Barbados of single-use plas-

V

enezuela has granted house arrest to six executives of US refiner Citgo, a unit of Venezuelan State oil company PDVSA, who were jailed on corruption charges in Caracas in late 2017, two sources close to the case said on Monday.

US Vice President Mike Pence and two US Senators had called on Venezuela to release Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Zambrano, Jorge Toledo, Tomeu Vadell, Gustavo Cardenas and Jose Pereira, citing concerns about their health.

Neither Venezuela’s Information Ministry nor its chief prosecutor’s office immediately responded to requests for comment.

The executives, some of whom were naturalised US citizens, were arrested after being called into a meeting at PDVSA’s Caracas office. The conditions of their

F

A José Luis Zambrano (pictured here with his family) is one of the six men currently being held in Venezuela [Houston Chronicle]

release prevent them from leaving the country, one of the sources said.

A Venezuelan court in June ruled that the six men should stand trial. (Reuters)

Fires in Brazil’s section of the rainforest, which accounts for 60 per cent of the overall Amazon and is seen as a bulwark against climate change, surged in August to their highest point since 2010. The widespread blazes provoked an international outcry that Brazil was not doing enough to protect its forest.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for urgent actions to be taken on the fires, rapidly becoming embroiled in a war of words with Brazil’s right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro.

Macron accused Bolsonaro of lying to world

leaders about Brazil’s commitment to preserving the environment. Bolsonaro at one-point insulted Macron’s wife and said he would only accept US$20 million in aid offered by the G7 group of wealthy nations if Macron withdrew his “insults”.

Macron said he thought Brazilian women must be ashamed of Bolsonaro, and suggested he was not up to the job of President.

Goes said the nine Brazilian states would announce a mechanism today to allow foreign countries to contribute directly to state-level projects to preserve the Amazon. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil to send Vice President to inauguration of Argentina President

B

“That is to allow the manufacturers of plastic bags in Barbados to be able to do what they have to do,” Humphrey stressed, making reference to the switch over from one process to another.

Earlier this year, Government enforced a ban on all petro-based single-use plastic containers, and those caught using the banned items face prosecution. (Caribbean360)

Trinidad: Current $100 bill will have no value from Dec 31

France to forge partnership with Brazilian states on Amazon, bypassing Bolsonaro rance and a group of Brazilian states plan to announce a partnership to preserve the Amazon rainforest, the group’s leader said on Monday, bypassing Brazil’s federal Government after a spat between the Presidents of the two countries.

Amapa state Governor Waldez Goes, who heads the consortium of the nine states that comprise Brazil’s vast Amazon region, told Reuters that the partnership would be announced at the United Nations climate summit in Madrid this week and would include other initiatives aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

tic bags have over the last year…been able to produce a bag that is made from a completely organic compound…a natural organic bag. They asked me, and the Cabinet agreed, to delay the ban on the plastic bags from January 1, to March 31. The ban will take effect from the April 1, 2020,” he said.

However, he insisted that this did not mean Government was “reneging on its promises”.

Vice President Hamilton Mourao

razil has decided to send Vice President Hamilton Mourao to the swearing-in today of Argentine President-elect Alberto Fernández, Brazil’s presidential spokesman said on Monday.

The move comes after Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, had said he would not attend the ceremony and would not send a senior government representative.

Relations between Brazil and Argentina, which are traditionally political and trade allies, have worsened in recent weeks amid an ideological clash between Fernandez’s left-wing movement and Bolsonaro’s hardright administration. The spat has also raised prospects that Latin America’s largest economy may pull out of the Mercosur customs union – which counts Brazil and Argentina as its two largest members – if differences persist.

Hours after his election victory, Fernandez set the stage for the first diplomatic tiff between the two countries by calling for the release of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a leftist icon and Bolsonaro adversary. Bolsonaro later said he wouldn’t call Fernandez to congratulate him and wouldn’t attend the Argentine presidential inauguration, marking the first time in recent history for a Brazilian Head of State. (Reuters)

s of December 31, the current $100 bill will no longer be legal tender in Trinidad and Tobago.

This was announced by Central Bank Governor, Dr Alvin Hilaire at a news conference Monday morning.

He said the existing law allowed for demonetisation of currency to come three months after the pre-announcement, but that the amendments made by Parliament over the weekend allowed for it to be done after two weeks.

Dr Hilaire told the news conference that it was in that regard, the decision was taken to have the change done by the end of the month.

He told the news conference that the Central Bank has met with the commercial banks and they were working to turn around operations in one day.

The currency was given to the banks on Monday and will be available to the public from today.

“Don’t rush them,” he

Central Bank Governor, Dr Alvin Hillaire addresses a news conference at the Central Bank on Monday

said, adding that while the banks were making the effort, it could take a little while for everything to flow smoothly.

“It wouldn’t run out,” he added.

Dr Hillaire said the Central Bank did not know much about the national security decisions behind the quick change, but added that they were working to ensure that their objectives were met.

“The Central Bank was approached .... there are a few things we know that are already in the public domain. There are many things that we don’t know and many things we don’t need to know but we are rising to the call,” he added.

He said that all other denominations will be converted to polymer by March 31, 2020. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

3 Caricom countries to benefit from e-mobility programme

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hree Caribbean C o m m u n i t y (Caricom) countries are to benefit from a new Global Environment Facility (GEF) global e-mobility programme that has been launched at the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25).

The programme is expected to help an initial set of 17 developing countries deploy electric vehicles at scale, in support of improved air quality and reduced fossil fuel dependency.

The new US$33 million programme, launched in Madrid in coordination with the European Commission’s new e-mobility solutions plus project, represents the first global, coordinated effort to promote and accelerate the uptake of electric mobility in developing countries.

Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and St Lucia are

among the initial countries that will participate in the programme that also includes Armenia, Burundi, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, India, Madagascar, Maldives, Peru, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Togo, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

The programme will help Governments establish supportive policies to enable technology transfer, Private Sector engagement, and access to commercial finance for the introduction of fleets of electric buses, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, trucks, light-duty vehicles and private vehicles.

It will also create three regional platforms to support the transition to electric mobility in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

This work will be closely tied to the GEF sustainable cities impact programme.

“Globally, there will be twice as many vehicles

on the road by 2050, with nearly all of the projected growth taking place in developing countries where air pollution is already a major challenge in many cities,” said Gustavo Fonseca, GEF Director of Programmes.

“We see tremendous benefit from Governments opting to phase out internal combustion engines, both in terms of lower emissions and improved quality of life.

The GEF is delighted to help create scale for such efforts through this programme.”

Beyond the GEF financing, the e-mobility programme is set to leverage more than US$400 million in co-financing, including from the European Commission, the Asian Development Bank, and several other national institutions, international financial and philanthropic organisations, and the Private Sector. (Excerpt from CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, december 10, 2019

17

Around the World

New Zealand volcano: 5 dead South Africa’s record rolling blackouts and 8 missing after eruption raise recession risk N

ew Zealand Police have confirmed that five people have died and eight are missing after White Island volcano erupted on Monday as tourists visited.

Thirty-four people survived, with 31 still receiving treatment in hospital.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she shared the “unfathomable grief” of those who had lost loved ones.

In a press conference on Tuesday morning, she said further rescue efforts were now “very sadly a recovery operation”.

The survivors were taken off the uninhabited island by boat or by helicopter.

Tourists could be seen waiting to be evacuated from White Island

Emergency services have so far been unable to search the area because of dangerous conditions, with plumes of smoke and ash continuing to rise above the volcano on Tuesday.

Tourists had been seen walking inside the crater of White Island volcano moments before it erupted.

White Island, also called Whakaari, is the country’s most active volcano. Despite

that, the privately-owned island is a tourist destination with frequent day tours and scenic flights available.

Police confirmed that a total of 47 people had been on the island when the disaster happened on Monday afternoon local time.

Rescuers will only go to the island when it is safe to do so, Police Supt Bruce Bird stressed, but reconnaissance flights have detected no signs of life there.

Speaking at the same news conference, Prime Minister Ardern paid tribute to helicopter crews who had flown to the island on Monday to bring people out despite the dangers.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Factory owner, manager arrested after Indian capital’s deadliest fire in 20 years

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olice in New Delhi have arrested the owner and manager of a factory where 43 people died in the Indian capital’s deadliest fire in 20 years, a spokesman said on Monday.

The blaze started early on Sunday morning when more than a hundred workers were sleeping in the four-storey building located in a residential part of Delhi.

The factory, which made school bags, toys and stationery goods, was packed with combustible materials like paper, plastic and cardboard, causing it to burn for hours before being brought under control.

Most workers employed at the unit live in the factory itself, cooking meals there.

The Indian Express quot-

A woman cries as she waits outside a mortuary to receive the body of her relative who died in a fire that swept through a factory where labourers were sleeping on Sunday, in New Delhi, India, December 9, 2019

ed one of the victims who had telephoned a neighbour in his hometown in central India saying he was trapped and going to die soon and

that he should take care of his family.

Fire engines had struggled to access the congested lane where the building was

located, witnesses said.

About five people died due to burn injuries and the rest because of asphyxiation, said local resident Arjun Kumar.

“After unloading piles of raw materials from a truck that arrived late at night, most labourers had gone to bed barely a couple of hours before the fire broke out at about 4 am. They couldn’t leave the building because of the lock which they couldn’t open,” said Kumar.

Frequent raids by civic authorities to enforce building codes, fire safety measures and evacuation procedures have failed to curb violations in the rapidly expanding city of about 20 million people. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US Supreme Court leaves in place Finnish Minister Sanna Marin, 34, Kentucky abortion restriction to become world’s youngest PM

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he United States Supreme Court on Monday left in place a Kentucky restriction requiring doctors to show and describe ultrasound images to women seeking an abortion, turning away a challenge arguing that the measure violates the free speech rights of physicians.

The justices declined without comment to hear an appeal by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of a lower court ruling that upheld the law after a Federal Judge previously had struck it down as a violation of the US Constitution’s First Amendment guarantee of free speech.

The Supreme Court has a 5-4 conservative majority and is closely divided on abortion rights.

On March 4, the court is scheduled to hear its first major abortion case in three years in a dispute over the legality of a Republican-backed Louisiana law that imposes

restrictions on abortion doctors.

The ACLU filed the lawsuit on behalf of EMW Women’s Surgical Center, Kentucky’s only licensed abortion clinic, as well as physicians who work there shortly after the law was passed in 2017.

Kentucky requires a physician or qualified technician to perform the ultrasound and position the screen so the woman can view the images of the fetus. The medical staff are required to describe what the images show, including the size of the fetus and any organs or appendages visible. They are also required to make the sound of the fetal heartbeat audible.

The law requires the physicians to continue with the process even if the patient objects and shows signs of distress. Doctors can be fined and referred to the state’s Medical Licensing Board if they fail to comply with the Kentucky law. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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inland’s Sanna Marin is to become the world’s youngest Prime Minister at the age of 34.

The Transport Minister was picked by her Social Democratic party after its leader, Antti Rinne, quit as PM. She will be sworn in this week.

She will lead a centre-left coalition with four other parties, all headed by women, three of whom are under 35.

Rinne stepped down after losing the confidence of a coalition member over his handling of a postal strike.

When she takes office, Marin will be the world’s youngest sitting Prime Minister. New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern is 39, while Ukrainian premier Oleksiy Honcharuk is 35.

She will be the third female Prime Minister in the Nordic country.

Marin rose quickly through the ranks of the

Social Democrats, heading the city administration in Tampere at the age of 27 and becoming an MP in 2015.

She has been Transport and Communications Minister since June and has a 22-month-old daughter.

Indeed women, especially younger women, have always been active in Finnish politics, and in recent years the public has come to expect 40 per cent or more women Ministers in its Governments.

That changed in 2015, when the relatively male-dominated centre-right Government of Juha Sipila took power - only 36 per cent of its Ministers were female.

Combined with the rise of the #MeToo movement worldwide, this was a huge wakeup call for gender equality advocates prompting a very active civil society discussion, Siukola said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

S

outh Africa’s state power company intensified rolling blackouts to a record, signalling a deepening crisis at the debt-ridden utility and raising the risk of a second recession in as many years.

Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd said on Monday it will move to Stage 6 load-shedding, meaning it will cut 6000 megawatts from the national grid, after a technical problem at the giant new Medupi Power Station curbed supply. That’s the biggest cut yet.

The utility is curbing power for a fifth straight day as it struggles with breakdowns at plants and heavy rains that have soaked coal used as fuel. The blackouts have a debilitating effect on the economy by curtailing mining and factory output and causing crippling traffic delays.

“It does mean that the

economy is heading for a recession,” Iraj Abedian, chief executive officer of PanAfrican Investments and Research Services, said by phone from Johannesburg.

“There’s no way that hot on the heels of the previous quarter’s negative growth in GDP with this type of humongous and material disruption to the continuity of business that the economy can register positive growth.”

Power cuts also dented the economy in the first quarter, when it contracted the most in a decade, led by a drop in manufacturing, mining and agriculture output The one thing that could prevent GDP from dipping as deep as it did in the first quarter is the fact that many businesses are winding down as the Christmas holidays approach. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China says people held in Xinjiang camps have ‘graduated’, condemns US bill

An image of what has been described as scenes of past violence is displayed in excerpts from a documentary “Fighting Terrorism in Xinjiang” at a news conference in Beijing, China, December 9, 2019

P

eople held in camps in China’s Xinjiang region have now “graduated” and new trainees will have the freedom to come and go, the regional governor said on Monday.

Governor Shohrat Zakir also hit out at Western criticism of the camps and said the United States had launched a smear campaign against Xinjiang.

China has repeatedly denied any mistreatment of Uighurs and said the camps provide vocational training.

It describes the detainees as students.

He also called a measure passed by the US House of Representatives that condemned China’s treatment of the Uighur minority a severe violation of international law and a gross interference in China’s internal affairs.

In July, a Xinjiang official said most people had returned to society from the

camps. Asked on Monday how many people had completed the training, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she could not give an exact number.

Human rights groups and former detainees have said conditions in the camps are poor, with inmates subject to psychological and physical abuse.

The US Uighur Act passed by the House of Representatives last week requires the US President to condemn abuses against Muslims and calls for the closure of the camps in Xinjiang.

The issue, along with Washington’s support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, complicates prospects for a near-term deal to end a 17-month long trade war between China and the United States.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESday, december 10, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

dilbert

(April 20May 20)

Peanuts

Confusion will set in if you cannot decide what you want to do next. Consider the goals you set and find out what you have to do to fulfill those dreams.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Nothing will be for sure, so don’t feel uneasy trying to find out where you stand.

Ask and you will receive all the information required to make the right choice.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Use your charismatic appeal to attract interest in what you are trying to pursue. Personal improvements and new connections can be made if you network or attend a social function.

VIRGO

Listen to what’s being said and consider the validity of what’s being offered before you say yes or no. Take your time, as impulsiveness will lead to mistakes.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Follow your intuition.

False information is likely if you listen to gossip or someone who paints an elaborate picture with words. Make decisions based on facts.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Think before you spend money. Don’t feel that you must buy luxurious gifts or go into debt to keep up with someone who has more disposable income. Smart choices will ease stress.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Take control and finish what you start. Traveling and sharing your ideas will bring excellent results.

Refuse to let someone stand between you and what you want.

Gifts are heading in your direction. Your ability to negotiate strategically will lead to monetary gain. Get everything in writing and look forward to a positive lifestyle change.

Control your emotions, so SAGITTARIUS you don’t appear vulnerable.

(Nov. 23If someone tries to take advanDec. 21) tage of you, be sure to shut them down quickly. Concentrate on what’s possible, not on what someone wants you to believe.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOr LAST PUBLISHED puzzle AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Your competitive nature will enable you to drum up support to complete whatever you start. Don’t waste time; approach whoever is in charge and start working.

Evaluate your current position and consider the changes you would like to make. Sign up for a personal consultation that will help you get on track regarding health, physical fitness and diet.

A pick-me-up will be energizing. There is nothing wrong with taking time out to read a good book or mull over how best to utilize your day.

tuesday, DECember 10, 2019

19

round-up: AD drops 50, Lakers beat Wolves

A

nthony Davis scored a season-high 50 points, sparking the Los Angeles Lakers to a 142-125 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.

Davis connected on 20 of 29 shots from the floor and converted all 10 of his free throws in 39 minutes. It was his fourth career 50plus scoring game. Davis also had seven rebounds, six assists and four steals.

LeBron James had 32 points and 13 assists for the Lakers, who won their fourth in a row and 14th in 15 games. Alex Caruso added 16 points, while Danny Green finished with 12.

Andrew Wiggins, who missed Friday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder with a left thumb sprain, and Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 19 points each.

Josh Okogie added 18 points, while Robert Covington had 16 for the Timberwolves, who lost their fourth consecutive contest.

Eight players scored in double figures for the Timberwolves.

Brooklyn Nets 105 - Denver Nuggets 102

Spencer Dinwiddie scored the go-ahead layup with 26.3 seconds left, and Brooklyn came up with defensive stops on Denver’s final two possessions to win at home.

Dinwiddie led the Nets with 24 points and using a high screen set by Taurean Prince, he glided through the middle of the lane. He got by Gary Harris and gave the Nets a 103102 lead just before Jerami Grant could provide help.

The Nuggets called their last timeout with the intention of getting the ball to Nikola Jokic, but the Nets immediately provided a double team with Prince and Jarrett Allen. The ball wound up in Will Barton’s hand, but he missed an off-balance jumper in the paint.

Philadelphia 76ers 110 - Toronto Raptors 104

Tobias Harris scored 26 points, and host Philadelphia improved to 12-0 at home this season in a narrow win over Toronto.

Rookie Matisse Thybulle added five 3-pointers for a career-high 20 points, and Ben Simmons contributed 16 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Sixers.

James Ennis III and Al Horford had 11 points each, and Joel Embiid had 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists along with seven turnovers.

Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with 26 points, while OG Anunoby added 19 points and 10 rebounds. Pascal Siakam chipped in with 16 points for the Raptors, who dropped their third in a row for the first time this season. Marc Gasol went scoreless on 0-for6 shooting.

Los Angeles Clippers 135 Washington Wizards 119

Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Paul George added 27 points, and Los Angeles pushed past host Washington thanks to a dominant fourth quarter.

Leonard played an outstanding all-around game, shooting 12-of-18 from the floor and, in addition to his own scoring contributions, dishing five assists. George also distributed the ball well with six assists, matching Lou Williams and Washington’s Chris Chiozza for the game-high total.

Davis Bertans led the Wizards with 25

as Miami continued the best home start in franchise history at the expense of Chicago.

Miami improved to 10-0 at AmericanAirlines Arena this season. The Heat trailed 92-89 with 2:32 to go but pulled ahead behind a strong showing from the free-throw line. Miami went 35-for-44 from the line, with Jimmy Butler contributing 17 of those makes en route to 23 points.

Herro swished five treys. Kendrick Nunn added 18 points for Miami, while Butler (seven) and Adebayo (six) paced the team in assists. Lauri Markkanen scored 22 points to lead six Bulls players in double figures.

Zach LaVine had 18 points and Kris Dunn followed with a season-high 16.

Atlanta Hawks 122 - Charlotte Hornets 107

Trae Young scored 30 points, and Atlanta won for just the second time in its last 13 games by knocking off host Charlotte.

The Hawks had a huge second half, scoring 37 points in the third quarter to move to an 88-83 lead. Then Atlanta outscored Charlotte 19-8 to begin the fourth quarter.

Young posted seven of those points.

Jabari Parker poured in 19 points and Vince Carter, coming off the bench, racked Minnesota Timberwolves forward Keita Bates-Diop (31) and centre Gorgui Dieng (5) defend Los up 17 points as Atlanta received 57 points from its reserves. PJ Washington and Miles Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) as he makes a basket (USA TODAY Sports) Bridges scored 20 points apiece for the points, while Troy Brown Jr. added 22, maining in overtime, and Bam Adebayo Hornets. Washington was 12 of 13 on free both off the bench. Wizards leading scorer finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds throws. (Reuters) Bradley Beal, who came in averaging just below 29 points per game, finished with 20 points on 5-of-18 shooting.

Sacramento Kings 110 - Dallas Mavericks 106

Nemanja Bjelica matched a career high with 30 points, and Buddy Hield added 26 as Sacramento snapped a three-game losing skid with a victory at Dallas.

Bjelica made 13 of 18 attempts from the field to finish with 30 points. Hield went 10 of 15 from the floor for the Kings, who swept the three-game season series against the Mavericks in 2018-19 and have won five in a row in Dallas.

Dallas’ Luka Doncic collected 27 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to mark the 19th consecutive contest in which he recorded at least 20, five and five in those categories. That snapped a tie with Michael Jordan (1988-89) for the longest such streak since the NBA-ABA merger, but Oscar Robertson holds the all-time record (29).

Oklahoma City Thunder 108 Portland Trail Blazers 96

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 21 points and nine rebounds, and Dennis Schroder also scored 21 points as Oklahoma City fended off host Portland.

Chris Paul added 20 points, and Nerlens Noel had 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Thunder won for the fifth time in the past seven games. Danilo Gallinari had 12 points for Oklahoma City.

Damian Lillard scored 26 points for the Blazers but was a woeful 8 of 24 from the field, including 2 of 12 from 3-point range.

CJ McCollum added 20 points, and Hassan Whiteside recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots for Portland, which has lost three of its last four games.

Miami Heat 110 - Chicago Bulls 105 (OT)

Tyler Herro scored 27 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 38.2 seconds re-

Russia banned for 4 years to include 2020 Olympics and 2022 World Cup

A

thletes will not be allowed to compete under the Russian flag at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics or Beijing 2022 Winter Games Russia has been handed a four-year ban from all major sporting events by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).

It means the Russia flag and anthem will not be allowed at events such as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics and football's 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

But athletes who can prove they are untainted by the doping scandal will be able to compete under a neutral flag.

Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said the ban was part of "chronic anti-Russian hysteria".

"It is obvious that significant doping problems still exist in Russia, I mean our sporting community," he said. "This is impossible to deny.

"But on the other hand the fact that all these decisions are repeated, often affecting athletes who have already been punished in one way or another, not to mention some other points - of course this makes one think that this is part of anti-Russian hysteria which has become chronic."

Wada's executive committee made the unanimous decision to impose the ban on Russia in a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Monday.

It comes after Russia's Anti Doping Agency (Rusada) was declared non-compliant for manipulating laboratory data handed over to investigators in January 2019.

It had to hand over data to Wada as a condition of its controversial reinstatement in

Athletes will not be allowed to compete under the Russian flag at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics or Beijing 2022 Winter Games (Getty Images)

2018 after a three-year suspension for its vast state-sponsored doping scandal.

Wada says Rusada has 21 days to appeal against the ban. If it does so, the appeal will be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

Wada president Sir Craig Reedie said the decision showed its "determination to act resolutely in the face of the Russian doping crisis".

He added: "For too long, Russian doping has detracted from clean sport. The blatant breach by the Russian authorities of Rusada's reinstatement conditions demanded a robust response.

"That is exactly what has been delivered."

"Russia was afforded every opportunity to get its house in order and re-join the global anti-doping community for the good of its athletes and of the integrity of sport, but it chose instead to continue in its stance of deception and denial." (Reuters)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesday, DECember 10, 2019

In Saudi Arabia, the fight for rights puts Joshua v Ruiz in the shade A

s Saturday night spilled into Sunday morning in Saudi Arabia, something unusual happens. The shrieking bass line of House of Pain’s Jump Around starts pumping out across the Diriyah stadium, where Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown against Andy Ruiz Jr is about to begin. A few people stand up. Then several more. And suddenly hundreds of men and women in traditional dress are pogoing and waving their hands in delirium.

This, to put it mildly, is not something one expects to see in a country that is a byword for patriarchy and religious extremism. But when I speak to one local, he tells me this is another sign of the dizzying change of the past two years. “Although I agree a lot of bad things are still happening, it is improving,” he says. “In 10 years’ time we won’t be living in the same place.”

The heir to the Saudi throne, Mohammad bin Salman, watches the fight on a private terrace. And afterwards Joshua takes care to thank his team, his opponent – and then, gazing upwards to Salman, gives him a fistpump. The crown prince responds with a pump of his own.

But here is a more sober story, also from last week. A female friend from Britain wants a swim, only to be told that her hotel pool is exclusively for men, except between 7 and 8pm. Most gyms, meanwhile, are out of bounds for women. Then there is the recent Human Rights Watch report detailing another side of Saudi Arabia, including mass arrests and detention, a crackdown on dissent and free speech and jailing of the country’s most prominent women’s rights advocates, including Loujain al-Hathloul, who called for women to be able to drive.

And that is before we get to the beheadings, or the murder by a 15-man Saudi hit squad of the prominent critic Jamal Khashoggi , who was probably drugged and asphyxiated, then dismembered and stuffed

into bags last year. The winds of change are blowing in Saudi Arabia. The trick is trying to decipher in which direction.

Sport is a growing part of this, of course.

Soon the Spanish Super Cup between Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Valencia will take place in Jeddah, with the clubs splitting around £34m. In February the Saudi Cup will become the world’s richest horse race with prize money of £15m. Many more events are in the pipeline.

Of course the Saudis are doing this partly to sportswash their dubious rights record.

It would be foolish to suggest otherwise. But locals and foreigners working here insist it is true that the regime’s Vision 2030 plan has led to significant if modest changes, including more women doing sport, being allowed to drive and leave the country without their guardian’s permission.

True, a pungent whiff of misogyny remains. Most women still feel compelled to wear long black abaya robes or the burka in public and may train only in female-only gyms. But socially things do seem different from in 2016, when 6,000 Saudi women responded to New York Times to outline their frustrations.

The response of one 24-year-old woman was typical. “We’re not allowed to even go to the supermarket without permission or a companion, and that’s a simple thing on the huge, horrendous list of rules we have to follow,” she wrote. Another was just as blunt.

“The male guardianship makes my life like a hell!! We want to hang out with our friends, go and have lunch outside. I feel hopeless.”

When it comes to other freedoms, including political expression, the voices I speak to are less optimistic. Last week when I asked the Saudi sports minister, Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, about Amnesty International’s criticisms, he replied: “We don’t want to impose anything we can get a

Anthony Joshua speaks with Prince Abdulaziz Al Saud after regaining the IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO world heavyweight titles at the Diriyah Arena, Saudi Arabia (PA)

backlash from, that could reflect negatively around us. But change is happening and it will come.”

I doubt if I could have asked such a question if I was a Saudi. After all, the regime has arrested several journalists in the past month.

Another local I spoke to hoped that the lack of free speech was being used to control not only voices for democracy but powerful conservative clerics kicking up a fuss about the reforms. “Eventually they will have to create institutions that can govern apart from the royal family,” he continued, his voice carrying more hope than expectation.

For now, though, the best sport can do is shout about the issues whenever it visits countries like Saudi Arabia and China.

As Human Rights Watch puts it: “Increased pressure from fans and consumers would

also raise the bar for human rights.”

In January more than a dozen women drivers will take part in the Dakar Rally.

Any journalist present should be questioning why Saudi women’s rights activists who fought for the right to drive in Saudi Arabia remain banned from travel, on trial or behind bars.

And when it comes to sportswashing, Human Rights Watch also has some salient advice. “Instead of using sports to rehabilitate its global image, it would be cheaper and easier for Saudi Arabia to simply undertake fundamental human rights reforms and respect the basic rights of its citizens in order to improve its image and standing in the world.”

Whatever you made of Joshua v Ruiz II coming to Diriyah, it is surely impossible to argue with that.

Banks DIH 15/15 Softball cricket League…

Hooper’s 58 not-out helps Grill Masters win tourney E

xcellent batting from former Guyana National U19 cricketer Eon Hooper -- which crowned a fine, all-round performance -- helped Grill Masters recover from the precarious position of 64 for 6 in the 5th over and register a score of 175 for 8 in the 14th over, to defeat Regal Stars in the Banks DIH 15/15 Softball Cricket League.

The quarterfinals, semifinals and final were played at the Albion Community Centre ground on Sunday, with the third-place playoff and the finale concluding under lights.

Regal Stars, batting first, made 172 all out in their 15 overs. Top scorers were Omar Tulsie (60) and A Ramrattie (52), who featured in a 103-run partnership for the second wicket.

Bowling for Grill Masters, David Looknauth and Chandrashakar Arjune each took 4 wickets, with Arjune snaring a hat-trick.

Hooper, arrived at the crease with his team tottering at 64-6 in the 5th over, and hammered a classy 58 not out as he and Arjune (14) batted sensibly, ran aggressively, and timed their hitting to take the score to 132 in the 11th over.

Grill Masters were able to register 175-8 in 14 overs, with Looknauth making 27.

Bowling for Regal Stars, K. Munir picked up 2 wickets.

Hooper received the “Man of the Final” award.

The large crowd on hand to witness the proceedings included Banks DIH Banks Beer Brand Manager Brian Choo Hen, Berbice Sales Manager Nandram Basdeo, and Parliamentarian Reynard Ward.

The day’s excitement, which began from as early as 11:00 hrs, ended in the wee hours of

Monday morning.

Choo Hen, Basdeo, and other officials met the teams before the start of the final.

They thanked the teams for participating in the tourney, congratulated the winners, and wished the other teams better luck next time.

They also assured that the tournament would continue next year, and that it was all part of the Banks corporate responsibility of giving back to the community.

The spectators were told how much the company appreciated their participation, and the organisers and GuySuCo were thanked for allowing the use of their venues.

Everyone was encouraged to continue supporting Banks DIH products.

In a third-place play-off, Chase XI defeated Young Strikers by 19 runs. Chase XI made 1514, with Roy Drakes scoring 65, and M Singh 38.

M De Jonge picked up 3 wickets bowling for Young Strikers as they replied with 132-8, of which K Joseph made 18.

Bowling for Chase XI, K Gangaram took 3 wickets.

In semifinal play, Grill Masters defeated Chase XI by 18 runs, after posting 123. Chase XI were dismissed for 105.

In the other semifinal, Young Strikers made 126-5 as Regal Stars replied with 126-6, winning the game by 4 wickets.

In quarterfinal play, Grill Masters (112-5) defeated Turbo XI (110 all out) by 5 wickets.

Young Strikers (122-9) whipped Port Mourant (68 all out) by 54 runs.

Franchise XI (151 all out) lost to Chase XI (155-5) by 5 wickets.

Regal Stars defeated Betsy Ground United by 4 wickets, after making 121-6 in reply to

The victorious Grill Masters Team

Betsy Ground United’s 116 all out.

Each team was required to play one female in their XI to make the games more exciting.

The best female on show was Dian Naidoo of Grill Masters. The most disciplined team on show was Young Strikers.

An exhibition 6-over game was played between a Davendra Bishoo XI and Scorpion XI, which the Bishoo XI won by 5 wickets.

Over $700,000 in cash, trophies and other incentives were up for grabs during the competition. Grill Masters collected $150,000

and a trophy; Regal Stars collected $100,000 and a trophy; Chase XI collected $75,000 and a trophy; and Young Strikers received $25,000 and a trophy.

There were special giveaways through the day, with patrons winning Banks DIH caps, pens, keyrings and other souvenirs.

There were also bouncy castles and trampolines, among other activities.

Trophy Stall and Guy Signs were cosponsors, while the tournament was coordinated by Omeshwar Sirikishun.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, DECember 10, 2019

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property for sale Property for Sale: 2 Huge Land by Street Corner/ Public Road in Grove EBD. 2 Story Building on 1 Land and Bond on the other land, 100 x 99 or 9,940 Square Feet. Ideal for Supermarket/ Hardware Store etc.

For further info, Call: 694-6606.

RHTY&SC, Bakewell assist young cricketers on CEO’s 50th birth anniversary

T

he management and members of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organization, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, hosted a surprise gala dinner and presentation ceremony last Thursday in honour of the 50th birthday of their CEO, Hilbert Foster.

Held at the St Francis Community Developers Training Centre on the Corentyne, this gala ceremony was attended by executives of the RHTY&SC, MS, the Berbice Cricket Board, club members, sponsors and friends.

With support from longtime sponsor Bakewell, the RHTY&SC, MS, presented eight of its most promising players with a pair of batting pads as part of the celebrations.

Businessman Gregory Rambarran, a longstanding friend of Foster’s, congratulated him on reaching the half-century landmark, and noted that Foster’s life is a perfect example of service to humanity, and others should emulate his high standards.

RHTY&SC Assistant Secretary Simon Naidu, who organised the event, declared that working on a daily basis with Foster has been the most rewarding period of his life. He said Foster has transformed the lives of countless youths and elderly persons, and described Foster as a very simple, down-to-earth and loving individual.

Naidu said that, for 2019, the RHTY&SC has assisted

RHTY&SC CEO Hilbert Foster, posing with young cricketers after presenting each with a pair of batting pads

more than 50 youth cricketers across Berbice, and that a decision has been taken to assist club members at the Under-15 level for Foster’s 50th birthday celebrations.

The players who stand to benefit from assistance are Tyrone Smartt, Dharshanie, Tyrell Hutson, Nyron Hicks, Sohail Hardwar, Nathan Kistama, Trisha Hardat, and Matthew Pottaya.

An emotional Foster, in re-

sponding, hailed the support of his entire family, members of both the RHTY&SC, the BCB, and tournament sponsors. Noting that the club’s gesture has surprised him, Foster described the entire club as a family which works as a collective unit to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

He described his daughter, who graduated from the University of Guyana with

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distinction and is a newspaper columnist, as his greatest achievement; and listed the restoration of the Area ‘H’ Ground; construction of the charity kitchen; restoration of the children’s playfield at the Lower Corentyne Secondary School (1991-1992); winning two national cricket titles, and producing players for the West Indies and Guyana as some of his proudest moments.

As he always does at club functions, Foster urged his audience to touch the lives of those less fortunate than themselves, and to spread the Say No/Say Yes message to every youth across Berbice.

He also pledged that, as long as God grants him health and strength, he would ensure that the RHTY&SC, MS, and the BCB remain the best institutions in Guyana.

Banks Beer 2-Day, 1st Division Tourney…

Golden Grove, Albion savage Friendship in final 8 Rose Hall Canje G A olden Grove and Friendship have each secured their berths to the quarterfinal round of the inaugural ‘592 Beer Inter-Village Football Festival’ when play continued on Sunday at the Golden Grove Community ground on the East Coast of Demerara.

In front of a large partisan crowd of supporters, Golden Grove crushed Annandale 4-0, Seretsi Huntley opening the scoring in the fifth minute when he blasted a powerful shot into the top right corner.

The second goal came in the 18th minute, compliments of a Quason McAulay right-foot drive into the far corner from outside the penalty area.

Veteran forward and captain Dwain Jacobs made it 3-0 in the 25th minute when he slipped a left-foot effort through the goalkeeper’s grasping hands and into the back of net.

Then Quason McAulay rifled a powerful shot into the roof of the left corner goal in the 60th minute to apply the final nail in the Annandale coffin.

Friendship edged Paradise 2-1. Dillon Wright opened the scoring for Friendship in the 32nd minute when he lashed a leftfoot shot from inside the box, and it rolled under the body of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Wright returned to score his second goal in the 51st minute of the game as he placed another left foot shot into the far corner from inside the box.

Tyreek Cummings scored a consolation

goal for Paradise in the 80th minute when he blasted a powerful effort past the custodian from inside the 18-yard area.

Play in this tournament resumes at the Buxton ground on Sunday December 15th with the opening round of the quarterfinal section.

This 12-team tourney featured four groups of three. ‘Group A’ comprised Buxton, Plaisance and Mahaica; ‘Group B’ comprised Friendship, Paradise and Victoria; ‘Group C’ featured Brush Dam, Melanie and Ann’s Grove; and ‘Group D’ featured Annandale, Golden Grove and Beterverwagting [BV].

The winner of each group and the second-place finisher would advance to the quarterfinal round. The grand finale is pegged for January 1st.

The eventual champion of the event would pocket $300,000 and the championship trophy; while the second, third and fourth place finishers would receive $150,000, $100,000 and $75,000 respectively, together with the trophy corresponding to their win.

Individual prizes will also be awarded for: The Most Valuable Player [MVP] and the Best Goalkeeper.

Among the major sponsors of the tournament are Bakewell Guyana Incorporated, ExxonMobil, and the Colin Talbot Construction Services.

lbion savaged Rose Hall Canje in a match in the Banks Beer 2-Day 1st Division Cricket Tournament played on Sunday in the latter team’s p r o verbial backy a r d -the Rose Hall

Community Centre Ground in East Canje, Berbice.

The Albion win -- by an innings and 216 runs -came just before lunch on the second and final day of the match. Rose Hall Canje, resuming on their overnight score of one run for one wicket in batting a second time as they faced a first innings deficit of 280, were sent packing for 64.

Albion’s Test leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo picked up five for 11, to end with match figures of 9 for 19. His skipper Veerasammy Permaul supported with three wickets, while fellow left-arm-spinners Gudakesh Motie and Kelvin Umroa each picked up a wicket.

Final scores in the match were: Albion, 350 for 6 declared; Rose Hall Canje, 70 and 64. The win was Albion's second in as many matches in this tournament.

Devendra Bishoo bagged 9-19

22

tuesday, DECember 10, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Rising Stars U-19 Tri-Series: England overcome West Indies in low-scoring contest E

Kimani Melius

ngland registered their first victory of the Rising Stars U19 Tri-Series, securing a hard fought 29 run victory over West Indies at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

The young English unit produced a fighting team bowling performance led by their two right-arm medium pace bowlers George Balderson (4/47) and Kasey Aldridge (3/32), that enabled them to defend what seemed like a paltry total at the mid innings mark.

“We always knew these games would be opportunities for us to learn.

Today there was a lot to learn and be pleased with”, said West Indies U19 coach Graeme West.

He continued: “We got into good positions in both innings and for two consecutive games have taken 10 wickets. Also, in both games the spinners have bowled well in the middle overs.

“Overall we have work a little bit harder. Firstly by completing the 50 overs in the field (with the ball) since we tailed off

a bit in the end. With the bat we made some poor decisions and that needs to be addressed moving forward.”

When off-spinner Matthew Patrick (10-2-27-3) struck with the score 114/8 in the 40th over, the West Indies were in full control of proceedings.

However England managed to resist being bowled out until the final over, due a 55-run ninth wicket partnership between top scorer Dan Mousely (48) and tailender Scott Currie (22).

During the run chase England captain and man of the match Balderson struck early dismissing Mbeki Joseph (5) and West Indies top scorer from game one Leonardo Julien (0), in the space of three deliveries, as West Indies slipped to 19/2 in the fifth over.

Captain Kimani Melius immediately began to counter attack and he was looking in brilliant form hitting two massive sixes over mid-wicket as the young West Indians were racing along at seven runs per over, when the 10 over power-play period ended.

Melius who was dropped at slip on 35 with score 49/2 in the eighth over eventually perished four short of his half century. After his dismissal, England slowly clawed their way back taking wickets at regular intervals to deny West Indies a second consecutive victory.

“Our bowlers bowlers did pretty well, it was just a case of our batsmen building partnership after we lost five wickets and rotating strike a bit more,'' said Melius.

“We can always improve on our game, it's now for the batsmen who have good starts going on to score hundreds.”

SCOREBOARD England U19 1st innings (50 Overs Maximum) Ben Charlesworth lbw b Forde 4 J Cox b Seales 8 T Clark c McKenzie b James 34 J Haynes c Julien b James 15 L Goldsworthy c Julien b You ng 10 G Hill st Julien b Patrick 7 D Mousley c&b Young 48 G Balderson c Julien b Patrick 8 K Aldridge c Julien b Patrick 0 S Currie not out 22 H Qadri (RHB) c & b Young 0 Extras - 13 Total (10 wickets, 49.4) 169 Bowling M Forde (10-1-43-1) J Seales (8-0-39-1) A Nedd (10-2-20-0) J James (5-0-23-2) N Young (6.4-1-16-3) M Patrick (10-2-27-3)

Windies U19 1st innings (50 Overs Maximum) K Melius c Cox b Aldridge 46 M Joseph c Cox b Balderson 5 L Julien c Mousley b Balderson 0 KSA McKenzie st Cox b Qadri 33 A Morris run out 8 M Patrick c Hill b Aldridge 12 N Young c Aldridge b Balderson 11 M Forde c Aldridge b Qadri 16 J James lbw b Balderson 2 A Nedd b Aldridge 1 J Seales not out 1 Extras – 5 Total (10 wickets, 36.4) 140 Bowling G Balderson (7-0-47-4) S Currie (4-1-22-0) K Aldridge (9-1-32-3) H Qadri (8.4-0-24-2) L Goldsworthy (8-1-15-0)

The host side takes on Sri Lanka today at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium from 9:00 hrs. (CWI)

2019 BCB/Trophy Stall Under-13 Tournament…

Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy edge Albion to clinch title

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Daniel Samaroo handing over winning Trophy to RHT Poonai Pharmacy Captain Raphael Fraser

The winning RHT Poonai Pharmacy Team pose with their sponsor, Poonai Bhirooj

ose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy were defeated by Port Mourant in the finals of the Berbice Cricket Board Under-13 one-day cricket tournament in 2018, but they held their nerve on Saturday last to edge Albion in the 2019 Trophy Stall Under-13 finale to emerge victorious.

Having won the toss and electing to take first strike, Albion were in trouble at 10 for 3 in the fifth over, as they lost opener Shazid Ali and Nathaniel Chinapen for nought.

Tyrone Hooper also trapped Dian Sital lbw, and skipper Afraz Budhoo (11)

and Lalbehari (12) were the only batsmen to reach double figures, as Albion were bowled out for 55 in 24 of their allotted first innings quota of 40 overs.

Bowling for RHT Poonai Pharmacy, off-spinner Deeraj Ramjit took 4 for 4; Khemraj Tika 2 for 8; and Tyron Hooper and Imran Mohammed each took a wicket, for 7 and 13 respectively.

Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy batted out their allotted 40 overs and ended on 68 for 8. Tyrese Smartt batted well to remain unbeaten on 15 not out, while Tyrell Hutson (10), Mario Butcher (09) and Imran Mohammed

(08) also contributed to lead their team to the crucial first innings points and their hands on the coveted Trophy Stall Championship.

The atmosphere was tense as Butcher joined Smart with Rose Hall requiring two runs for victory at 54 for 8. Smart then flicked Feaz Baksh for two, to spark wild celebration by his team- mates and parents. With a first innings deficit of 13 runs, and with time running out, Albion soon found themselves reeling at 8 for 4, as Khemraj Tika clean bowled Dion Sital, Shazid Ali and Afraz Budhoo for nought; while left-arm medium pacer Tyrone Smartt

bowled Nathaniel Chinapen for naught as well.

The promising Devin Lalbehari (23 not out) and Dhanesh Prabhudial 13 not out took the score to 46 for 4 when Albion in an unlikely bid for outright victory declared with six overs remaining in the day’s play. Tika ended on 3 for 8 while Smartt and Tyrell Hutson batted out five overs to end on 11 without loss when the game was called off.

BCB President Hilbert Foster described the tournament as a great success, and said that great several promising talents were identified for the future. These players,

he stated, will benefit from special coaching sessions early in 2020.

The BCB President urged the attentive Under 13 players to return to their respective clubs from Monday and continue training as the BCB intends to organise cricket tournaments on a regular basis for them. Foster, who will be seeking re-election on December 22nd, also unveiled plans to concentrate on assisting junior cricketers in 2020 on a large scale. In 2018 and 2019, the BCB, with support from the RHTY&SC, MS, had assisted clubs with cricket balls, gears, bicycles, educational materials, stumps, scorebooks; but in the future,

only clubs with a youth section would receive assistance.

Trophy Stall Representative Daniel Samaroo hailed the BCB for organizing a successful tournament, and expressed satisfaction at the level of cricket he witnessed at the finals.

The Trophy Stall, Samaroo stated, was quite passionate about sports, and would continue to offer support. Devin Lalbehari was named “Man of the finals”.

The winner and runner-up both receive trophies and a financial prize. The BCB expresses its gratitude to Ramesh Sunich for his sponsorship of the tournament.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, DECember 10, 2019

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Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers League…

Annandale pull off 12-0 thriller …Lodge thrash Cummings Lodge 8-1 Story and Photos by Jemima Holmes

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he place to be on Wednesday afternoon is at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Training Facility at Providence, as defending champions Annandale Secondary and league leaders Lodge Secondary battle for top honours in the final match of the Guyoil/ Tradewind Tankers Under 18 Secondary Schools league.

The highly anticipated encounter between the two secondary school football powerhouses was set in stone as a figurative ‘final’ in the league after Lodge and Annandale respectively secured 8-1 and 12-0 victories in the eighth round of play, to stay in contention for the top spot.

In the round 8 action, which began on Saturday, Marian Academy made a surge into the top five as they defeated St. Stanislaus 4-1.

Rolland Hamilton opened the scoring in the 8th, and

Annandale’s goalscorers: Omari Glasgow, Seon Haywood, Ajaye Sobers and Colin Henriques

It was often a one-on-one game as Omari Glasgow took on the St John’s goalkeeper

a chance in front the goal in their encounter with Cummings Lodge Secondary.

Cummings Lodge, a usually solid team, looked lost at sea when they came up against the league leaders, and leaked goals like a bro-

a draw.

Tariq Prince handed Charlestown 2 in the first half with goals in the 15th and 19th, while Acquino Luke scored one for the ‘Bishops side in the 17th for a 2-1 score. In the second half of the encounter, Bishops’ took the lead by way of a Malachi Richards goal in the 43rd and a successful penalty that was buried by captain and goalkeeper Makayah Smith in the 50th. Similar to their 3-3 draw with Annandale Secondary in the prior round, Charlestown had to dig deep in the final minutes of the game to ensure the points would be shared. Kurt

Carrington was the h e r o with a goal in the 65th resulting in the 3-3 draw.

Although the weather patterns said ‘overcast’ on Sunday afternoon, for St. John’s College it was a rainstorm of goals that flooded their nets when the faced Annandale Secondary.

Clearly no match for the defending champions, St. John’s College threw up their white flag by the second half, and just went through the

motions until the final whistle was sounded.

Had it not been for a few missed opportunities, the final score would have read 20-0.

Annandale’s scoring party began in the 9th minute as Colin Henriques found the back of the net for the first of his helmet trick. In the 11th, A j a y e Sobers netted his first goal of the tournament. It didn’t take Omari Glasgow long to join the action, as he scored in the following minute. The 14th, 15th and 30th minutes saw goals from Seon Haywood, Glasgow and Henriques as they pushed the half time score to 6-0, while visibly frustrating the goalkeeper.

One improvement that

Annandale has made during this year’s tournament is their ability to remain consistent in the second half. As such, the situation did not get better for the St. John’s goalie as Annandale hit home an additional six goals.

Henriques (42nd, 48th) and Glasgow (36th, 43rd, 45th, and 47th) were the two on show in the second segment, as they sought to surpass Lodge Secondary in goal difference on the league table.

With Annandale’s 12-0 victory, the winner of the league will be left up to the result in Wednesday afternoon’s game, which will see Annandale and Lodge battling for the first time in this tournament. Lodge currently has 24 points, while Annandale has 22.

However, there is currently a three-way tie for third place as Bishops’, Marian Academy and President’s College all sit on 13 points.

Guyana sweep Goodwill Basketball Series against Grenada Chopped! Colin Henriques outplays the St John’s defence

Marian held off until the second segment. There, Joel King equalized for St. Stanislaus in the 40th, but their relief was short-lived as Daniel Lowe gave Marian control of the encounter in the 42nd.

Ricardo Percival then netted back-to-back goals in the 51st and 56th minutes for the Marian victory, as they showed their true potential.

President’s College edged Queen’s College 2-1 when they met for battle. A kick from the penalty mark owing to an infraction saw President’s College securing their first goal in the 20th. Montell McAlmont later found the back of the net for PC’s second in the 46th.

The Queen’s College consolation goal came off the boots of Captain Diarra Thomas in the 50th.

It seemed as though all the Lodge strikers had

ken pipe.

After measuring their opponents, Carl Grant was the first to score for Lodge Secondary in the 18th. Curt Edwards and Dorwin George also found the back of the net in the 24th and 26th respectively for a 3-0 half time score.

Nicolas Trotman netted the first of his hat trick in the 40th, shortly after play resumed. Dorwin George had another in the 52nd, while Trotman completed his three with goals in the 57th and 60th minutes.

Grant later returned to complete his brace in the 68th for Lodge’s 8.

The Cummings Lodge lone goal came off the boots of Jitzak Martinez in the 45th.

The other two games in the round went down on Sunday, and Charlestown had a repeat of their previous game, this time holding the Bishops’ High School to

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he curtains came down on the 2019 three-match Basketball Goodwill Series with Guyana decimating Grenada 97–73 in the final match to clean sweep the series 3-nil.

The three nights of intense action at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) saw Guyana play their best basketball as a precursor to the 2020 CBC Championships, wherein Guyana will be defending the title they won last year in Suriname.

As per norm, the Grenada side were outscored in the first quarter to trail 17-21 heading into the second. They showed some intent of securing a consolation win early on, but that faded as time ticked over.

However, heading into the second quarter, luck was not on their side as their composure fell apart and that saw them only picking up 13 points before the half time whistle,

while Guyana cashed in 35 points.

The half ended with Guyana sitting pretty with a 26-point lead as the score read 56–30.

Despite showing some fight in the third quarter, matching the locals with bucket for bucket, the massive lead still remained; and the penulti-

m a t e period ended 81 – 55.

For Guyana it was smooth sailing in the fourth, as they put on only 16 points and allowed the opposition some consolation shots, which brought them 22 points before the final buzzer.

Guyana was once again led by the in-form Ray Victor who scored 17 points,

while he was supported by Nikkoloi Smith (16), Travis Belgrave (15) and Terron Welch (10).

Victor accumulated the most points for the series with 72 points while Welch ended with 57 and Belgrave counted 33.

This display has proven that 2018 CBC Champions are well on course to defend their title in 2020.

tuesday, DECember 10, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Page 23

Guyana sweep Goodwill Basketball Series against Grenada Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers League…

2019 BCB/Trophy Stall Under-13 Tournament…

Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy Annandale pull edge Albion to clinch title off 12-0 thriller Page 22

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