Guyana Times Tuesday December 17, 2019

NIS treats elderly to Christmas lunch

P14 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Exxon, BP & Shell among traders vying to sell Guyana’s oil …Energy Dept defends secrecy guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4140

tuesday, december 17, 2019

See story on page 3

…claims “commercial sensitivities” of companies must be respected

17 children, 5 adults homeless after 3 separate fires Page 10

Region 2 flooding

Rice farmers stand to suffer major losses

Page 2

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Marcus Bisram murder trial

Magistrate recuses himself from case P10

P2

Minibus conductor in viral video fined $40,000 …driver denies charges

P8

British firm begins audit of US$460M Exxon pre-contract P7 costs …auditors charge Guyana US$300,000

Protesters call for transparent management of P12 oil sale

Flooded rice fields along Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) which have farmers distressed as the floodwaters are not receding and they stand to lose huge acres of cultivated rice

Motorcyclist dies in GECOM calls Berbice emergency 2-vehicle smash-up meeting

H2H “new” registrants

Page 7

Page 9

Poor drainage, leaking roof P12 stymie Stabroek Bazaar vendors’ trade

2 NEWS

TUESday, DECEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 2 flooding

Rice farmers stand to suffer major losses …“I have no comments” – REO

Rice fields under floodwaters in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam)

A

s heavy rainfall caused several communities in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) to be flooded, residents and farmers especially, are becoming more distressed as the floodwaters are taking an extremely long time to recede due to poor drainage and lack of proper systems in place to address the issue.

Rice farmers are furious as thousands of acres of cultivated rice fields remain inundated for almost a week now and they expect to suffer major financial losses.

Guyana Times was told that some farmers who have pumps have taken it upon themselves to pump the water out of their fields while the majority will have to depend on the drainage system.

Regional Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt, when contacted, said that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is seeking the timely intervention of the Government especially the Agriculture Ministry to address the issue.

According to Ramdatt,

the situation is becoming more challenging and the RDC is requesting that a careful assessment be conducted by the relevant Government Ministries and agencies to provide information which will guide response mechanisms.

The Regional Chairman is also calling for a timely supply of fuel in addition to proper maintenance of all the drainage pumps in the region. He expressed that despite the heavy rainfall, he believes that the water levels would not have been a major issue had there been a timely supply of fuel to enable the pumps to be put into operation. He said that this is a system which was not adopted by the relevant bodies.

“In the absence of that system being adopted by the regional administration, the administrative arm of the region which is by the REO, because at the level of the RDC we’ve always been recommending that that be the approach, that we have timely supply of fuel for the pump, so that in the event of

any rainfall while the tide is up, that the pump can [be] put into operation,” he stated.

He disclosed that when the heavy rainfall was experienced, many of the pumps were not operational as a result of inadequate fuel supply. This, he explained, created major complications, which contributed to the situation becoming exacerbated.

The Regional Chairman added that there is adequate budgetary allocation in the system which can rectify this issue. He stated that recommendations have always been made at the level of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), however, the support from the Clerk of the Council to implement decisions is lacking. It has been reported that the high levels of floodwaters are affecting both residential and cultivation areas in the region.

The RDC and the people of Region Two are concerned about the continued negligence and delayed response from the Agriculture Ministry on such key matters.

When contacted for a comment on the situation, Regional Executive Officer (REO), Denis Jaikarran said, “I have no comments”.

Meanwhile, the Civil Defence Commission posted on its Facebook page that the Rapid Damage Assessment Teams have been deployed to support Regions Two and Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara). Cleanup hampers were also distributed in those regions.

3 Exxon, BP & Shell among traders vying to sell Guyana’s oil news

tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Tuesday, December 17 – 09:00h-10:30h and Wednesday, December 18 – 10:00h-11:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, December 17 – 08:15h-09:45h and Wednesday, December 18 – 09:20h-10:50h.

…Energy Dept defends secrecy …claims “commercial sensitivities” of companies must be respected

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers will prevail in the morning hours followed by lightly cloudy skies with sunny intervals in the late afternoon. Partly cloudy to lightly cloudy skies are expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 08:15h and 20:35h reaching maximum heights of 2.41 metres and 2.47 metres.

Low Tide: 14:05h minimum height of

reaching a 0.85 metre.

saturday, DECember 14, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS D

02 03 05

18 19 22

FREE TICKET

06 Bonus Ball

Monday, December 16, 2019 DAILY MILLIONS

02 13 15 18 19 LUCKY 3

1

8

1

4

Afternoon Draw

9

2

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03

09

11

14

16 19

21

PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY

FRIDAY, DECember 13, 2019

03 04 08 09 12

4

7

11 14 16

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

Department of Energy Director, Dr Mark Bynoe

T

he Energy Department has released the names of the traders it invited to vie for Guyana’s oil, though details of the negotiations are likely to be limited until they are concluded as the Department said the “commercial sensitivities” of the companies must be respected.

This was explained by Energy Department Director, Dr Mark Bynoe and newly contracted Crude Marketing Specialist, Virginia Markouizos. The pair were asked why the Guyanese public only became aware of plans to sell Guyana’s crude using the on the spot method, through a report in a foreign publication.

According to Bynoe, there are times they can discuss things related to Guyana’s natural resource with the media and “times that they can’t.”

“The companies were invited… the companies that were selected included the operator and co-ventures.

So you had Exxon, CNOOC, Hess, BP (British Petroleum), Chevron, Shell, Total, E&I. So these are internationally reputable IOC (International Oil Companies),” Bynoe said.

Bynoe went on to say that preferably, Guyana would not have known what was happening until discussions were wrapped up. According to him, negotiating these matters in the public eye could negatively affect the process.

“The decision was made after multiple rounds of consultation internally. As I said before, there are some things we will speak to at the beginning, some things we can speak to you during, some things we can speak about post and some things we won’t be able to speak about at all.”

“Guyana doesn’t operate within a vacuum. Guyana is operating in a system where it has to deal with international commercial transactions as well. What we were aiming to do was come to you when the matter was concluded, not be-

fore. Because what that can do is weaken the Government’s negotiating position.”

Adding to Dr Bynoe’s point, Markouizos explained that while it is good to have transparency, the traders and their commercial sensitivities have to be respected during negotiations. However, she claimed that much of the oil market already self-regulates itself.

“Not only we work on transparency, but the market itself welcomes transparency.

Because this is all building to a good reputation of Guyana crude. But at the same time, there’s a realisation that we must respect commercial sensitivities and at the same time, we have to respect public sensitivities.”

Justification Bynoe also justified Guyana selling the oil to the operators rather than the

open market, noting that the benchmark set now was important for pricing reasons. According to Bynoe, the decision was made based on advice from specialists like Markouizos, commercial expert Juan Lopez-Raggi and oil and gas legal expert Peter Stewart.

“Value equals money. First impressions count. If you have a bad first impression, that’s how you benchmark. Do you

has excluded the independent crude oil traders that are much more competitive and larger than the oil producers in the trading field.

Several of those very traders who will be negotiating with the Government to sell Guyana’s crude lifts are al-

Crude Marketing Specialist Virginia Markouizos

want to take crude to the market that has not yet been stabilised, which will affect the price Guyana gets for its crude? That then becomes the mark we’ll be marked against for future cargo.”

Bynoe, therefore, noted that it was important for both them and the operator, noting that they will also do likewise by taking it through the refining system before introducing it to the market. When asked if other options were considered, Markouizos had this to say.

“We had a range of different options we analysed for the introductory phase, but it was clear from the beginning that this is the preliminary stage. There was a realisation and clarity on the fact that first, we have to introduce and test the grade before moving on. So different options were examined and we had all the pros and cons laid out, before selecting [this] one,” Markouizos noted.

It must be noted that if the list supplied is exhaustive it would appear that Bynoe

ready players in the lucrative 6.6 million acres Stabroek Block. ExxonMobil’s affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is the operator in the Block and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd, meanwhile, holds a 30 per cent interest and CNOOC

Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 per cent interest in the Block.

At one point, Shell was also one of Exxon’s partners.

However, it pulled out of the Stabroek Block prior to 2015.

Meanwhile, French oil company Total has shares in both the Orinduik and Kanuku Blocks.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 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

Fighting bullyism B

ullying is defined as the “repeated oppression, psychological or physical, of a less powerful person by a more powerful person or group of persons”.

There have been many letters to the press and editorials written regarding this very troubling issue of bullying in schools. Talk show hosts on radio and television and their enthusiastic followers express outrage and offer suggestions to resolve this problem. Many propose zero tolerance as the answer. This makes for a powerful sound bite, inspiring false confidence in Government’s or school officials’ determination and ability to curb school violence. But the indisputable evidence from numerous studies shows such a policy and its concomitant twins – suspension and expulsion – leads to numerous negative outcomes, including later entry into the criminal justice system.

The American Psychological Association Zero Tolerance Task Force reported in 2008 that severe punishment at schools neither reduces violence nor promotes learning. The United Nations Panel of Experts Report on School Discipline recommended in 2016 that “the US Government develop guidelines on how to ensure school discipline policies and practices comply with international human rights standards.” These experts recommended that “positive behaviour intervention and support and restorative practices in school discipline should be used for reducing disciplinary incidents and improving learning in schools.” Bullying, as well as other aspects of school misbehaviour, is not peculiar to Trinidad and Tobago. Research by Morrison, presented at the International Conference on Violence in Schools and Public Policies in 2002, revealed that “bullying in schools is a worldwide phenomenon and that statistics from Australia mirror that of countries such as Canada, Scandinavia, Ireland, and England and show that 50 per cent of children have been bullied at school at least once.” So what is the solution to this problem which has been described as a social justice as well as a public health problem?

A study of behaviour management in schools in Australia revealed that the abolition of corporal punishment in schools did not lead to a reevaluation of the nature and exercise of power and authority in schools and suspensions and expulsions became the substitute. When this failed to bring about the desired result, schools began to look at other solutions. Restorative approaches have proven to be the successful solution to school violence and misbehaviour.

A parliamentary inquiry into bullying in Australia schools recommended the Rozelle School as a centre of excellence. The school had been “suffering significant behavioural problems among students, and the staff felt disempowered, until they decided to embed a whole-school philosophy of restorative practices, based on building, maintaining and repairing healthy relationships, with positive results.”

Restorative practices which teach principles of respect, accountability, and strengthening or repair of relationships, have been adopted in many schools in Australia. Research from Hong Kong and Hungary show that bullying behaviour dropped significantly where a restorative approach was adopted.

In Hull, described as the worst place to live in the UK by the BBC in 2005, restorative practices achieved outstanding results and in the United States, a number of high schools reported dramatic reductions in student suspensions and disciplinary referrals after instituting restorative practices. Restorative practices are now in schools and justice systems on every continent.

In the Caribbean, principals, deputy principals, guidance counsellors and education officers from eight Caricom countries were recently trained in restorative practices. Jamaica was the first to mandate training for staff in their justice and education systems. Last year, probation officers, social workers, Magistrates, correction officers and other juvenile justice practitioners from Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Vincent and the Grenadines came to Trinidad to be trained in restorative practices by Epiphany Consultancy Services. Their staff is licensed by the International Institute of Restorative Practices, a graduate school in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and have been conducting training since 2013. School guidance officers used to attend the training, until this was discontinued in 2014. Bullying is regarded by psychologists as a behavioural problem, to be treated as such and not as criminal conduct. Solving the problem of bullying needs to be a multifaceted approach. One Hong Kong study included the following recommendations: 1. The school must have a long-term anti-bullying policy, that includes peace-education; 2. The entire staff (including cafeteria attendants, security and janitors) should be trained in restorative practices, that is, circles to build relationships, and including restorative justice to repair harm when an incident of wrong-doing occurs; 3. The victim should receive training in how to face bullies assertively; 4. Since several studies prove that bullies lack empathy, they need training that builds empathy. They should also be trained in anger management, emotional control and rational problem-solving, to seek attention in socially-acceptable ways.

5. Workshops should be organised for parents to learn restorative practices. None of the three dozen or so studies on bullying in schools, which I have at hand, and which in turn discuss several mega-studies, recommend suspension of a principal after an incident of bullying, alleged or proven, in a school.

MP Insurance Brokers Chairman Manniram Prashad shares a hamper to a Salvation Army resident as part of the company’s social project for the holidays

GECOM has a sacred responsibility

Dear Editor, There are now about twenty political parties who want to contest the upcoming elections, but it seems only the PPP is prepared to struggle for a clean list of electors and for free and fair elections. The others are recklessly staying on the sidelines depending on the PPP to carry the struggle for a clean list of electors and for free and fair elections. Where is Mr Ramkarran and A New and United Guyana (ANUG)?

Where is Mr Badal and his Change Guyana? Where is Mr Shuman and his party? Where are all the others, the doctors, the pastors, the lawyers who have all formed parties? Why have they abandoned their obligation to speak out against GECOM’s messing around?

GECOM claims there are 20,556 new registrants from the illegal house-to-house (HtH) Registration and they want to merge this list into the OLE. They continue to ignore the salient, critical fact that these names were gathered in an exercise that did not include scrutiny and verification by the largest political party in Guyana, as mandated by law. Already, PPP activists have shown exposed names purported to be new registrants who are really persons previously registered. Two such names that have emerged as examples are the names of Justice Cecil Kennard, a former Chancellor, and Mr Jailall Kissoon, a former Minister of the PNC and a prominent attorney. Then there are names of persons who died many years ago. How did these dead persons get to register in the recent illegal House-to-House Registration?

Just these examples demon-

strate that the list of new registrants that GECOM has generated is hopelessly flawed and raises the possibility of criminal shenanigans. Why then is GECOM so dead-set to merge these names without 100 per cent verification?

Such verification is something that could be done within days. Their haste to merge this list and their absolute objection for comprehensive verification raises serious suspicion that GECOM’s intention is not pure, that GECOM’s intention is towards something evil.

A clean list of voters is indispensable for free and fair elections. Guyana’s continuous registration system is designed to ensure that every citizen above 18 years old has the opportunity to be listed. For the upcoming March 2020 general elections, there appears to be a vulgar messing around with the list of voters, promoted by APNU/AFC, with GECOM being complicit as an agent to mess with the list, all in contravention of the laws of Guyana.

Initially, GECOM wanted to merge 370,000 names from the HtH into the NRR (National Register of Registrants) and then extract a new PLE (Preliminary Voters’ List). But the mandated fingerprint cross-matching determined that about 300,000 of the names, in fact, were already in the NRR. GECOM then proposed merging the remaining 70,000, even though these were never verified by all political stakeholders and even though there were other anomalies.

Under pressure from the PPP, GECOM admitted that only 20,556 names were actual-

ly new registrants eligible to vote. Even with serious questions surrounding the list of 20,556 persons, GECOM is insisting they will merge this list into the NRR and into the new OLE. They are steadfast in their refusal for verification, even as the list is already impugned, even as GECOM attracts further humiliation and embarrassment.

The refusal for verification is suspicious because this same GECOM wanted to remove about 20,000 names from the list because these persons still are to collect their ID cards. The persons whose names they want to remove were legitimately registered, their registration was scrutinised and verified with at-home proof of residency and they met all legal requirements during their registration exercise and have voted in previous elections. Yet GECOM demands they prove all over again that they actually exist. Contrast this posture with the existing one for the so-called new registrants.

These persons were registered with no scrutiny by the largest political party in Guyana or by any of the other political parties outside of the APNU/AFC grouping, in contravention of the laws of Guyana.

From even before the No Confidence Motion, GECOM was messing with the voters’ list, the oldest cheating trick in elections around the world.

Guyana has a history of bogus voting lists under Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte and the PNC. Just think of the BBC series showing Burnham registering horses in England as Guyanese voters. From the moment Granger became President in 2015, his

game-plan was to follow the Burnham formula to mess with the voters’ list. This was the real intention when he bucked the well-established Carter formula to appoint James Patterson as GECOM’s Chair. That is why before the CCJ forced Patterson to leave GECOM, he ordered a new HtH. The intention was clear, pad the voters’ list and remove as many names of persons suspected to be PPP supporters.

GECOM has a sacred responsibility to generate an environment of confidence in the election. What GECOM is doing with the OLE presently is creating too much suspicion. The refusal to verify the list of so-called new registrants is reckless, particularly given the flaws already exposed. To add to the recklessness is GECOM’s demand that the PPP can verify by itself. The PPP will do so. But will GECOM accept the PPP’s findings? Is this going to be another unnecessary fight?

Justice Claudette Singh must act with fairness and firmness. At the same time, GECOM’s insistence that they will remove 20,000 names of persons who legitimately registered, many of whom voted in previous elections, just because they did not collect their ID cards is puzzling. The bottom line is that there is a compromised group at GECOM which is wickedly fooling around, messing with the list of voters. The question is why?

Nothing good could come out of this messing around with the list of voters.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2019

5

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

There is no ‘ethnic impetus’ with regard to domestic abuse Dear Editor, With respect to a recent letter in the local media, The Caribbean Voice (TCV) categorically and emphatically states that there is no ‘ethnic impetus’ for domestic violence. There never has been and anyone familiar with the literature will know that no research, survey, poll or study has ever found ‘ethnic impetus’ for domestic violence.

The letter cited a recent article in another section of the media by Queens, New York City-based lawyer and activist, Aminta Khilawan, and then stated: “I believe she did not go far enough in capturing the racial elements in cases of domestic violence, suicide and abuse among Guyanese.”

The fact is that Aminta’s article focused on the IndoCaribbean community in New York City, more specifically Queens. So naturally, all her references would

be located within that focus. She was addressing the problem within the Indo Caribbean community in New York City, not “capturing the racial elements in cases of domestic violence, suicide and abuse among Guyanese”.

In fact, a look at the statistics in the US will reveal that Blacks are most likely to experience domestic abuse, followed by Hispanics, then Whites.

Asians (including Indo Americans) are least likely to experience domestic abuse. But then 40 per cent of Police officer families experience domestic violence, in contrast to 10 per cent of families in the general population. And do note that 77.7 per cent of Police officers are whites. As well a content analysis of the US media will reveal that a vast majority of domestic abuse cases in the police force have to do with

whites.

The fact is that the root causes of domestic violence are the same globally as are the risk factors, although they may be manifested differently in different societies. Domestic abuse is the result of gender inequality and inequitable gender power relations and abusers are fueled by the culture of patriarchy and their desire to assert power and control.

One should note that in the latest global human development ranking Guyana is ranked 118 out of 162 countries on the gender inequality index.

In effect “violence is part of a system of coercive controls through which men maintain societal dominance over women” (Anderson 1997: 655).

“Rape and domestic violence, for example, can be seen as the effect of social structures that situate men in a hierarchical rela-

Linden Highway & East Bank Public Road Dear Editor, Last weekend I drove to Linden and back. The surface of the Linden highway has deteriorated appreciably and it is definitely not safe on a number of stretches to drive in excess of 80kph. I was a successful racing driver and speak from experience, yet, while driving at that speed, minibuses and a number of private cars passed me as though I was standing still.

The majority of them don’t have the skills to drive at those speeds even on a good road, but are content to put themselves and everyone around them at risk of a fatal accident.

On two occasions I was overtaken on a blind corner and at the top of a hill. An oncoming car would have re-

sulted in a head-on crash.

On the East Bank Public Road, it was bumper to bumper traffic on Saturday morning, but minibus drivers continued to overtake and force their way into line when faced with oncoming traffic. Regular Police motorbike patrols in heavy traffic conditions could easily stop this nonsense.

I describe this experience because it explains exactly why almost every day we read of fatal accidents on our roads. A substantial number of drivers are simply grossly indisciplined.

People are dying because too many of our drivers deliberately drive dangerously regardless of the consequences.

No amount of Traffic Police talk will cure this.

When the Traffic Police and the courts together determine to suspend and cancel driving licences on each occasion that a charge of dangerous driving comes before them, we might get somewhere.

It would also, of course, help if people were unable to buy their licences and bribe dishonest Traffic Policemen.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

tion to women and to each other according to historical forms of social differentiation” (Ingraham 1994: 205).

“Marital power is derived from the amount of resources (eg, income, education, and communication skills), and when one partner lacks resources, violence is used to maintain and restore a sense of power in the relationship” (Ronfeldt, Kimerling & Arias 1998: 71) A man in a highly patriarchal society who feels that he cannot prove his masculinity through legitimate means, ie being the breadwinner for his family, may attempt to prove his masculinity through violence. In his 1971 study, Goode “argued that individuals lacking other means of power, income or educational status, will be more likely to rely on violence to achieve greater power within a relationship” (Anderson 1997: 656).

Risk factors for gender-based violence include low education levels, a history of child maltreatment, exposure to domestic violence against their mothers, harmful use of alcohol, unequal gender norms including attitudes accepting of violence, a sense of entitlement over women, abuse during childhood, attitudes accepting violence, male privilege, women’s subordinate status, alcohol and drug use, unemployment and poverty, weak community sanctions against violence, stress and depression, dysfunctional relationships and emotional

dependence and insecurity.

The latest figures (2018) for global rates of domestic violence lists the following top fifteen nations: Namibia, Guinea, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Liberia Congo, Cameroon, Uganda, Rwanda, Haiti, Tanzania, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Ghana. These are followed (in no specific order) by Chad, Afghanistan, Sudan, Guatemala, Mali, Somalia, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Russia. A look at the ethno-differentiation among these nations will clearly debunk any assertion about ‘ethnic impetus’ for domestic abuse.

It would seem then that if one group in a society does indicate a higher prevalence of DV, then that group would obviously be characterised to a greater extent by the root causes and risk factors, none of which have anything to do with ethnic impetus or ’racial elements’. In fact, currently in Guyana, the group

that has the highest rate of domestic abuse is the Amerindians for many and varied reasons including the rupturing of their cultural bedrock and traditional way of life resulting in an array of risk factors that did not previously exist as well as the creation of a deepening gender inequity.

Once again, The Caribbean Voice urges those who want to write about issues like domestic violence to please get the facts as the only way that these issues can be addressed is through evidence-based prevention measures. Thus perpetuating myths, misinformation and baseless opinions not only make harder the work of prevention groups such as TCV but also compounds the entire issue.

Finally, without going into details, it is important to also point out that like gender-based violence, suicide has no ethnic impetus or racial elements.

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

6

tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2019

Page

T

Foundation

Tips for better behaviour during the holidays Hosting

he skills of hosting will serve our kids their whole lives. If you have the (mis?) fortune of hosting a big holiday

making your life a little easier. Four gestures make anyone feel welcome, and kids and teens can handle them all.

Greet guests at the door.

Take their coats. Relieve your guest of packages and outerwear so they can get comfortable.

Offer food and drink. ‘Tis the season, after all, and

tle. The restroom, the toys, the main gathering of people. Even if this is someone who’s frequently in your home, a phrase like, “There are appetizers in the kitchen”, will give your guests direction.

Getting together with friends and family for the holidays can be stressful for kids as well as adults, but there are valuable lessons to be learned.

Guesting

Even if kids don’t always love the family gatherings they are dragged to, they do often love being a guest at their friends’ homes. So, use your holiday visiting to reinforce good guest manners.

Ask. Hungry? Ask politely. See a cool toy or want to watch their screen? Ask if it’s OK. Need the bathroom?

Ask which one to use.

Knock. On any closed door, and don’t go in until you get permission.

Help. Take an empty serving dish to the kitchen, grab a full bag of garbage and put it in the trash can outside, wash a dish. It won’t kill you and it will impress the heck out of all the adults.

of me!”

“Thank you for being a part of my life.” Best of all is to take the gift out of the equation entirely and show some gratitude for the gift-giver.

Adult interaction

For some kids, talking to adults is the most painful part of gatherings. They dislike answering the same stilted questions dozens of times, or get in trouble for finding their screens more fascinating than the company.

The truth is that when we were their age, we also would have brought all of our friends along in our pockets if we could have!

So have compassion for how boring, uncomfortable and annoying this may be, but still tell them about the good behaviour you expect.

When you first see an adult, stand up and look in their eyes. Whether you’re meeting someone new or saying hello to an adult

who’s known you since you were born, these two simple steps will make that person feel respected.

Put down the device.

Put the phone in your pocket, pause the game, put the tablet face down for the duration of the conversation.

Answer and ask. Answer questions in full sentences. Ask a question yourself.

This is a great way to talk about something besides what grade you’re in and if you like school.

Disciplining

Choose a signal. Pick a sign your parent can give with a hand to silently let you know to improve your behaviour.

Getting together with friends and family for the holidays can be stressful for kids as well as adults, but there are valuable lessons to be learned. Consult this guide to see which tips work best for which ages.

(Adapted from today.com)

Gift receiving

meal or party, use that as a chance to teach your kids how to wow guests while

Put down the device, get up and go say “Hi” as they walk in.

nothing makes someone feel more welcome.

Show them around a lit-

The point here is to remember the point. Gifts are an expression of warmth.

Getting them should add to the warmth, not freeze over the room. Receiving gifts gracefully, even — maybe especially — horrible gifts, is an important skill to master. So, “Thank you” is always the right answer and can be a complete sentence!

“Thank you for the gift!”

Sometimes simple is best.

“Thank you for thinking

T

hese reindeer are easy to make! Here’s what you’ll need to make them: Toilet roll reindeer supplies: toilet roll tubes (or paper towel rolls, wrapping paper rolls, etc) brown wallpaper samples (you could use sandpaper or brown paint) brown pipe cleaners red artificial berries or red pom poms, buttons, etc googly eyes glue

How we made our toilet roll reindeer:

We cut our toilet rolls in half and covered them with a brown wallpaper sample. Alternatively, you could paint your toilet roll or cover it with a piece of brown felt or sandpaper) Then we poked a hole in each side of the top of the tube to slide the pipe cleaner “antlers” through.

For the noses, we used some artificial berries that were on a wire. We poked that wire through a hole in the front of the tube, and bent the wire inside the tube, to hold the nose in place.

Then we glued the eyes in place, and attached a ribbon for hanging.

Aren’t they adorable? (happyhooligans.ca)

NEWS

7

tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

British firm begins audit of US$460M Exxon pre-contract costs …auditors charge Guyana US$300,000

H

aving finally secured someone to audit ExxonMobil’s cost oil claims, Energy Department Director Dr Mark Bynoe announced on Monday that the company, IHS Markit, has already begun its work.

Bynoe made the announcement during a press conference at the Department of Energy’s new office in Brickdam, Georgetown. He explained that the contract, to the tune of over US$300,000, will be for a four-month duration.

“The contract for the firm to complete the cost recovery audit, the historical cost, was signed. The contract was awarded to IHS Markit and the company has commenced its work with an in-country visit from December 9 to 11, 2019.”

Bynoe further explained that in addition to his Department, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will also be collaborating with IHS Markit on the project.

“The Department of Energy and the GGMC will be working along closely with the GRA, on this project. Additionally, the Department of Energy has secured external legal expertise to assist the audit process,” Bynoe said.

“It runs for four months; the full team will be on the ground early January. They have already presented to us their work plan.

IHS Markit is the product of a 2016 merger between two companies, United States (US) based IHS and London-based Markit. Its data and information ser-

vices business caters to industries such as automotive, energy, financial services, defence and maritime.

The company is no stranger to Guyana’s oil sector, having published a number of write-ups and analyses on Guyana’s efforts to develop its capacity. This includes ‘Guyana’s deepwater areas will remain competitive, despite changes to fiscal terms (IHS Markit, 2018)’ and ‘How activity in the Guyana mini basin is booming with five exciting discoveries since 2015 (IHS Markit, 2017)’.

Earlier this year, GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia had announced that five audit firms had been shortlisted from a pool of 14 applicants vying to conduct audits into the over US$400 million in cost oil claims submitted by oil giant Exxon Mobil to the Government.

He had referenced the World Bank US$35 million Development Policy Credit to Guyana, noting that money from this will enable the Government to procure the services of the accounting firm to do the cost oil analysis. Statia also revealed that Exxon was co-operating with the Authority.

According to Annex C of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana signed with Exxon, pre-contract cost “shall include four hundred and sixty million, two hundred and thirty-seven hundred thousand and nine hundred and eighteen United States Dollars (US$460,237,918) in respect of all such costs incurred under the 1999 Petroleum Agreement prior to the year

ended 2015.”

So far, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL, Exxon’s local subsidiary) has made 14 oil finds in the Stabroek Block over 100 miles offshore Guyana, including four for this year.

Last year, the company made five discoveries. These discoveries have pushed the total estimated recoverable barrels of oil equivalent to over six billion. In addition, Exxon is moving ahead with its Liza Phase Two project, which will contain approxi-

mately 30 wells.

ExxonMobil has estimated the recoverable resource in the block to be 5 billion oil-equivalent barrels. At US$50 a barrel, that equates to well over US$200 billion. In addition, an independent assessment, or competent people’s report, had found that 2.9 billion barrels of oil existed in the Orinduik Block.

Exxon is expected to use revenue from its production in order to recoup its capital investment. Whatever

remains of this is the “profit oil” Guyana will have to split with the oil company and its associates.

The Liza Destiny, Guyana’s first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, arrived in Guyana’s waters at the end of August. The vessel will play a key role in oil production, which was originally scheduled to begin in the first quarter of next year but has been moved up to this month.

Motorcyclist dies in Berbice smash-up

Dead: Dean Grenville

A

28-year-old motorcyclist is now the country’s latest road fatality after he lost control of his motorcycle (CH 6868) while he was reportedly speeding and collided with another speeding motorcyclist in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Dead is Dean Grenville of Lot 60 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Meanwhile, the other motorcyclist who was badly injured in the accident has

been identified as 36-yearold Rodrick Ageeday, also of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice. He was riding motorcycle CJ 6265 at the time of the accident.

Reports are that on Sunday at about 15:00h, both motorcyclists were proceeding south along the eastern drive lane at a fast rate when both riders lost control of their motorcycles.

They collided into each other and as a result of the impact, both men received severe injuries about their bodies and were rushed to the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital by public-spirited citizens. Ageeday was admitted with multiple fractures while Grenville was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for emergency medical attention. The 28-yearold, at the time of the accident, suffered a fractured skull, fractures about his body, and was bleeding.

However, on Monday at

One of the motorcycles involved in the accident

about 02:00h, he succumbed to his injuries.

Grenville’s mother, 53-year-old Barbara Lashley, when contacted by this publication on Monday, stated that since her son was a young boy he was always fond of bikes.

According to the distraught mother, Grenville only recently acquired the motorcycle.

Although she was too traumatised to speak about

the details of her son’s death, she stated that he was known to be involved in daily races around the town of New Amsterdam.

Both motorcycles involved in the fatal accident have been lodged at the police station in Berbice.

However, the police said that no documents have been produced for either motorcycle. An investigation is ongoing.

8 NEWS

tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Minibus conductor in viral video fined $40,000 …driver denies charges

A

minibus driver and conductor who were caught on video endangering the lives of their passengers on November 15, 2019 were slapped with several charges and appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

Jermaine Waldron, 27, the conductor, of Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Trevin Bobb-Semple,28, the driver, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

Bobb-Semple denied the charges of operating a tinted motor vehicle; untidiness; failure to control said motor vehicle; breaching the condition of his road service licence; and dangerous driving. He was placed on $100,000 bail and his driver’s licence was suspended

until the determination of the cases. The cases will continue on March 19, 2020.

On the other hand, Waldron pleaded guilty to inappropriate conduct; failure to ensure passengers’ safety and untidiness. He was fined $40,000 for the offences.

According to Police, after the video went viral, an investigation was conducted which led to the arrest of the two men. The incident occurred on November 15, 2019, at the Strathspey Embankment, ECD while several passengers were in minibus BYY 1309.

The video, which was posted on social media, showed the minibus conductor opening the door of a moving vehicle and dancing while placing his body out-

Oily…

A The minibus driver and conductor during their gyrations

side, gripping only the outer part of the doorway. In the process of this unflattering behaviour, passengers were cheering him on.

The driver of the minibus was later seen opening his door and putting both his legs outside of the moving vehicle while holding on to the

steering wheel.

Just recently, the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) reported that from January 1 to April 2019, there was a 20.8 per cent increase in fatal accidents and an almost 20 per cent increase in road deaths related to accidents.

Miners accused of stealing ATV on $200,000 bail

T

wo miners, who are accused of ambushing a man on a trail and stealing his All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), were on Monday charged and released on bail when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The miners, thirty-one-

year-old Mark Smith of Lot 132 Nelson Street Mocha, East Bank Demerara, and Robin Patrick, 20, of Charity, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and denied the charge when it was read to

them.

The charge stated that on December 9, 2019, at Essequibo District, while armed with a piece of wood and cutlasses, they robbed Claudio DaSilva of one ATV motorcycle valued at $3.5 million.

Police Prosecutor Gordon

Mansfield informed the court that on December 9, the Virtual Complainant was on his bike heading to his mining camp when he was forced to slow down on the trail.

The court heard that the two accused, who were hiding in a clump of bushes, ambushed the VC, and dealt him several lashes about his body before taking his bike.

The men then made good their escape and the matter was reported to the Mahdia Police Station, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). Following an investigation, the two accused were arrested.

In court on Monday, the prosecutor said that the duo was positively identified by the VC during an identification parade. He did not object to bail being granted but asked for it to be substantial.

The men were each released on $200,000 bail. As a condition for bail, they have to report to the Mahdia Police Station once per week until the hearing and determination of the case. The case will continue on January 14, 2020.

…deal by PNC whole lotta eyebrows were raised when Granger sole-sourced Dr Mark Bynoe to head the Energy Department. Granger’s energy advisor complained that the post was supposed to be advertised. The man was an “Environment and Resource Economist” and had been in charge of Caricom’s Climate Change Centre!! It’s as if there weren’t other options – you had the eminently qualified Dr Vincent Adams with 3 decades’ experience with the US Department of Energy!! Ah…but he was from the AFC! He was fobbed off to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)!!

Bynoe, on the other hand, had been a protege of the Grangers - brought in by Mrs Granger who’d spent decades at Caricom. Granger needed someone who would do his bidding on the biggest thing to hit Guyana -- oil -- and so he declared Bynoe “fit and proper”! As to why, he didn’t say!! Bynoe himself used a sole-sourcing method to hire a consultant to produce the final Local Content Policy Draft – which was widely panned. But he also held a series of oil briefings for schoolchildren and members of various Christian denominations! It would appear that (with good reason!!) he was quite diffident on briefing individuals and groups, who could ask uncomfortable questions.

Anyhow, he’s back in the news. After announcing that Exxon would be taking the first three lifts of oil – 3 million barrels – to their refineries on the US Gulf Coast, it was revealed by the US news agency Bloomburg that Guyana had contacted oil traders to come to Guyana to negotiate spot contracts for the first oil that Guyana was going to receive, as its “in kind” bonus and “profit oil” share!! Now, there’s nothing wrong about selling our oil on the “spot market – where the oil is loaded into tankers and sold to traders.

One briefing paper calls this method “the quick and dirty way, where buyers and sellers of individual cargoes find each other and transact a deal, creating the spot market where prices for specific grades of crude are “discovered.”

This is contrasted with “term sales”, which is when “A national oil company negotiates a contract with a buyer for a longer period, typically a year, and the agreement stipulates how the price will be determined against a specified spot benchmark.” In the world, term contracts are three times spot sales.

Bynoe gave some cock-and-bull about assaying “quality” as the reason for the spot sales – when there are professional billion-dollar companies like S&P Global Platts and Argus that do this routinely. The concern is Bynoe’s demand that traders come PERSONALLY to Guyana. This is unheard of, since these matters are handled electronically.

But, then, the traders won’t be able to see the “wink”!! …evidence This coming Saturday is the anniversary of Charrandass Persaud’s “Yes! Yes! Yes!” to the Opposition’s No Confidence Motion. It threw the PNC coalition into a tailspin, from which they’ll never recover! Never mind their Sherman-like scorched earth manoeuvres; that simply delayed their day of Judgement!! At the time, with all eyes on him to explain Persaud’s action, Ramjattan attempted a Shaggy: “Wasn’t me!!”

He revealed that his fellow VP, Allicock, had given him a screenshot of Persaud enquiring to purchase gold from a miner. With great fanfare, Ramjattan passed this on to the Police as “evidence” that Persaud was guilty!! Now we know why he’s a CRIMINAL lawyer!! It’s criminal!! Over the weekend, Ramjattan still insisted that evidence of bribery exists. Why? “Persaud has spoken to people”! But why wasn’t PNC Exec Aubrey Norton hauled in by the Police for questioning?? Hadn’t he insisted he had evidence that Jagdeo “colluded with forces in Trinidad and mobilised resources to bribe a sitting member of Parliament (Persaud)?

And whatever happened to the gold lead?? …integrity The Integrity Commission had explained that they couldn’t publish the names of the defaulters who hadn’t filed their assets, because they didn’t have funds. Shown that funds had actually INCREASED, they explained that funds were spent “elsewhere” – like on salaries!!

Who watches the watchmen??

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

NEWS

9

tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

H2H “new” registrants

GECOM calls emergency meeting F

ollowing the discovery of major discrepancies in the list of “new” registrants generated from the scrapped House-to-House (H2H) Registration exercise, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) convened an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the way forward on the matter after the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has refused to take the onus of conducting the verification process which GECOM has hurled at them. Chief Scrutineer of the Opposition, Zulfikar Mustapha, told Guyana Times that the party remains unwavering in their decision for 100 per cent verification to be done.

“The entire data from the H2H Registration that I saw is flawed and that demands a total verification and that verification has to be done by GECOM and the stakeholders because GECOM is the only party that can do verification and the stakeholders are there to scrutinise the process, so you can’t get the stakeholder to go and do verification.”

He added that the onus is on GECOM to do the verification and not the PPP. “When I look at the data, the entire data is flawed, it’s corrupted and they have to get proper verification that is done to ensure that those data are flawless…so we are demanding that we should have total verification and GECOM must bid that

process. They have to get GECOM officials with the stakeholders…the [political] party to go and do it,” Mustapha expressed.

Some 370,000 registrations obtained during the scrapped H2H Registration exercise were sent overseas to be crossmatched with the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRD) in order to filter out the duplicates.

Gemalto indicated that some 37,300 were new registrants who are eligible for voting, that is, they are above the age of 18. However, an internal check conducted

by GECOM revealed that approximately 17,000 of those “new registrants” were already on the voters’ list and some have even voted in the past. The remaining 20,000 “new names” were up for further verification.

On Saturday last, as the PPP scrutinised the list of “new” registrants, names of persons who were previously registered and others who are dead are on that list. In two instances of previously registered persons, former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Retired Justice Cecil Kennard is listed as a ‘new’ registrant with his occupation being Chancellor. However, Justice Kennard retired many years ago and a search of the 2015 Official List of Electors and the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) showed that he was on that list. In another instance, former Member of

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

Parliament and Attorney-atLaw Jai Lall Kissoon is listed as a ‘new’ registrant. A perusal of the 2015 OLE and the PLE also shows that he is already registered. Additionally, the brother of a former Guyana Revenue Authority official, who died in 2007 is listed as a ‘new’ registrant. Addressing the issue at a luncheon in New York on Saturday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that the party has found that thousands of persons who are listed as “new” registrants are already on the PLE. “Just to show how things evolve, I left Guyana Friday morning under the impression that we will have 20,556 persons, who they claimed are new registrants that GECOM will [carry out the] verification of those persons before they’re added to the voters’ list or the NRR from which they will

extract the OLE…By the time I’m driving to the airport, it changed. So Lowenfield [Keith] called Zulfikar [Mustapha] that the PPP will have to do the verification, not GECOM. And so that can result now in 20000 names being added to the voters’ list who are unverified…To get it down to 20,000 was another fight…We managed to get the numbers down from 37000 to 20000 after they did the fingerprint cross-matching…

We found 50 per cent of the new people already in [the] list… they just found former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard is now on the list of new registrants. He’s already on the PLE but part of the 20,000 new registrants,” the Opposition Leader said.

Earlier last week, it was reported that the Government-nominated Commissioners were pushing to have a sample survey done from a sample size of 10 per cent of the 20,000 “new names”, to have them verified before they are placed on the voters’ list – a process which the PPP Opposition had objected.

In a statement on Friday, PPP Executive and former Attorney General Anil Nandlall indicated that the Elections Commission will not be verifying the names.

“Today (Friday), GECOM has decided that it will do no verification; that the PPP scrutineers alone will have to do the field verification

checks in respect of these new intended registrants and that GECOM officials will only work in the offices.

This is totally unacceptable,” Nandlall contended.

He noted that this decision by the Commission can only be viewed as retrograde and has the potential of impugning the integrity of the OLE and by extension, the entire General and Regional Elections set for March 2, 2020.

“I can understand why the Government Commissioners may not want a 100 per cent verification exercise, because if this data is padded and fraudulent then the

verification exercise will unmask it. However, the law mandates that not a single name must eventuate onto the OLE without verification.

GECOM has an unconditional duty to ensure compliance with this legal requirement.

Nothing short will suffice,” the former Attorney General asserted.

On August 27, GECOM had announced that the controversial House-to-House Registration process would be halted on August 31.

The Commissioners are expected to reconvene today to continue discussions.

10 NEWS

tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

17 children, 5 adults homeless Marcus Bisram murder trial Magistrate recuses himself from case after 3 separate fires

The two-storey house at Lot 1 Graham Street, Plaisance, which a fire of unknown origin completely destroyed

S

eventeen children and five adults are now homeless after fires gutted their homes.

In the first fire, two families comprising three adults and nine children lost their home after a fire of unknown origin destroyed the two-storey wooden and concrete home at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) on Monday morning.

Reports are the blaze started in a bedroom in the upper flat of the house where two children were left playing with their toys.

This newspaper was told that construction worker, Carl James, along with his reputed wife Junan Holland and their six children lived in the lower flat of the home located at Lot 1 Graham Street, Plaisance.

Meanwhile, a single mother, Shaya Quamina, and her three children re-

sided in the upper flat of the building.

According to Holland, her husband was not at home when the fire started. She said that at about 10:20h, she was painting in her apartment when two of Quamina’s children shouted that there was a fire upstairs. Moments later, their mother came downstairs with her youngest child as she tried to escape the burning upper flat.

Holland stated that she immediately grabbed her children, and rushed outside of their home. All of her valuables along with Quamina’s belongings were left inside the burning house.

While the blaze was happening, ranks attached to the Sparendaam Police Station, ECD, received and responded to a telephone call notifying them that a house was burning in Plaisance.

This newspaper was told that at about 10:45h, the

team of firefighters arrived at the scene but as a result of mechanical delays, they were unable to douse the fire.

Meanwhile, seven hours prior, a fire gutted a Novar Village, Mahaicony, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) home. The home was owned by 53-year-old Dularie Lall and her four children.

This newspaper was told that the family had retired to bed in the upper flat of their two-storey home at about 21:30h on Sunday.

However, at about 03:15h Lall was awakened by intense heat.

As she woke up, she realised that the lower flat of the house was on fire. Reports are the woman grabbed her children from their slumber and rushed to safety.

However, despite attempts by firefighters, the building was gutted. This newspaper was told that Lall’s residence was without electricity.

Additionally, some 24 hours before the Mahaicony fire, a shack, which a Linden mother and her four children had been staying in, burnt to the ground.

That fire, also of unknown origin, began at about 03:20h on Sunday at Block 22 Wisroc, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

The home belonged to a friend of the single mother, who had offered the woman and her children shelter after the mother reportedly left an abusive relationship.

(Kristen Macklingam)

Magistrate Alex Moore

M

agistrate Alex Moore has recused himself from the Marcus Bisram murder trial. Moore. while presiding at the Springlands Magistrate Court on Monday morning said he was instructed by the Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette CummingsEdwards to recuse himself.

When the case was called, special prosecutor Stacy Giddens told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had written to the Magistrate to have him recused.

Magistrate Moore said a copy of the request by the DPP was forwarded by the Chancellor to him and he was asked to respond, which he has since done but he is also in receipt of a copy of a petition which expressed similar sentiments of his continued involvement in the Marcus Bisram murder trial. Moore said as

Marcus Bisram being escorted to court on Monday

a result of that it was directed by the Chancellor for him to recuse himself from the matter – which he did on Monday.

Head of the defence team, Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin revealed to the court that the DPP did not inform the defence that there was a request to have the Magistrate recused.

Meanwhile, the Magistrate pointed out that the prosecution has refused to act in accordance with the directives of the court to make a disclosure until the Chancellor’s decision has been made.

Datadin called on the prosecutor to make a disclosure of the statements they have in their possession.

He requested that the order of disclosure be complied with while noting that it will have to be done at some stage.

Bisram is accused of ordering the death of 26-yearold carpenter, Faiyaz Narinedatt, some three years ago.

Bisram was initially charged 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.

At Monday’s hearing, Datadin noted that several Magistrates were removed from the case during the trial of the five accused.

“All my client wants is a Magistrate that will hear his matter. We have adjourned this matter because the other Magistrate who works in this district is not available.

How could that be reasonable? How can that be fair?

We will now have this matter adjourned for a long time for another Magistrate who is currently on leave comfortably in their home while Mr Bisram has to wait.”

He told reporters that the defence was never informed about the complaint against the Magistrate.

The matter has now been transferred to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, to be reassigned. That hearing will be held on January 13, 2020.

Meanwhile, Datadin pointed out to the media the fact that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) made a ruling on the matter saying that the prosecution is to be ready expeditiously. He questioned the actions of the prosecution in relation to the ruling by the CCJ.

11

tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

12 news Protesters call for transparent management of oil sale A tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

group of Guyanese on Monday assembled outside of the Ministry of the Presidency for a peaceful protest, calling for Guyana’s oil to be managed and sold in a transparent process.

Recognised as the Youth Movement Guyana, the protesters called for the country’s oil sales to be transparent, indicating that this resource must not be devalued.

This came in light of the Department of Energy’s revelation that Government plans to approach traders directly and have them buy Guyana’s oil. This announcement was first made in a Bloomberg report, which the agency later confirmed, adding that this arrangement was only intended for the first three crude lifts.

Standing on the picketing lines, Robin Singh shared that US oil giant,

ExxonMobil should be given the task of selling one lift of oil, until a new Government is elected. He said that with a caretaker Administration currently presiding over Guyana, any money obtained from a sale should be kept aside until a legitimate Government takes over.

Guyanese holding placards and voicing their concerns at the protest line on Monday outside President David Granger’s office

“We’re proposing that until the elections, there’s going to be one lifting of the oil. Exxon can handle that. Exxon can sell it and Exxon can put the money in escrow for whoever comes into Government or back into the Government. That is straightforward,” he positioned.

According to him, this matter is too important to ignore, since it entails a

substantial amount of the country’s money at stake, depending on the value of oil and what it is sold for.

Nevertheless, it was indicated that the Movement will continue to watch over the actions of any Government to ensure transparency.

“It’s too much to just

let it slide and say ‘Well its elections’. No. This is trying to sell before you got and the reasons given are not logical or valid...We’re going to keep monitoring whoever is in Government to make sure that they’re transparent. If you want to sell oil, advertise. We have a Tender Board. We have a Procurement Act. Follow those laws and we’re okay. I think we’d be better off. Oil is not going to sell more or less than it’s worth and at the market price.”

Meanwhile, Don Singh also spoke with Guyana Times, indicating that citizens are very sceptical about secretive deals, ever since the signing bonus was denied by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan and later brought to light.

“We had that PSA in 2015 that we knew nothing about. We didn’t hear anything about it. Then we heard rumours of an oil bonus and it was denied and then we heard about it a year later. When I heard Dr Bynoe talking about this now, face-to-face meetings, thanks to Bloomberg for actually busting it because we, Guyanese once again would not have known anything about it. We’re talking about a lot of money here, three million bar-

rels of oil. We would have to pay brokerage fees. Now we don’t know how we paying those brokerage fees to and as Bloomberg pointed out, face-to-face meetings are highly unusual.

These things are done eas-

the March elections when a new Government will be elected. He too expressed that Exxon should have brokered the first oil sale, since the value of the crude would be determined, allowing Guyana to assess its

ily through Skype or whatever,” he said.

Singh, who has been involved in other citizen-driven movements in the past, insisted that the Department should have waited until after

earnings from other such transactions.

“With an interim Government in place and elections less than 10 weeks away, why not just wait?

Why not let just Exxon do the first sale because they

have layers of transparency that they would have to report to and we would also get an adequate idea of the value and product that we have. Why this rush and this ‘face-to-face meetings’ and we will secure something in the future? And then we’re asking the broker, whoever that is, to handle our backroom…What is going on? I’m weary of this nonsense that is going on.”

Nadira Mohan also held a placard, stating that Guyana’s oil must not be sold for less than it is worth. She fears that with backroom deals, citizens will not reap the full benefits.

“It must not be devalued. We need that it must be spent properly and all Guyanese must equally [benefit],” Mohan voiced.

The Energy Department had indicated via a statement on Sunday that its uncertainty about the quality of the crude and the cost to refine it was another factor in this decision. This is despite Exxon consistently announcing that the crude it has found in the Liza Field is of high quality.

The Department admitted that this may be considered a “novel” approach, a point that was made by the Bloomberg article.

However, the Department defended the unusual situation by noting that learning from the traders was a strategic move that has precedent.

Poor drainage, leaking roof stymie Stabroek Bazaar vendors’ trade

A

s the rainy season prevails, vendors of both the Stabroek Market and Bazaar have expressed discomfort while plying their daily trade, after leaking roofs resulted in damaged goods.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Monday, a vendor explained that last week, he went to work and upon opening his stall, he found that the leakage had damaged a quantity of dry goods.

While the areas have been known for their dilapidated state, only droplets would fall from the roof and were easily fixed with the placement of a bucket.

However, it has become a bigger issue now and other stalls have also complained about losses. More importantly, this occurrence poses as a discomfort.

“I come in last Wednesday or Thursday and when I look down, the ground wet wet. That’s when I tell my son that the roof leaking bad and look at how much [things] get wet… All the soap and things that went open wet and I had to throw them away,” the woman indicated.

She retails primarily household items, and incurred over $90,000 in losses. Adding to that, the

Entrance to the Stabroek Market Bazaar

drainage mechanism is poor, causing a buildup of water which customers are not willing to traverse.

Meanwhile, other persons also complained bitterly about this issue. Another woman, Shehnaz, said a friend of hers owns a store in the Stabroek Market, where water seeped in from the ceiling from another stall. This would have damaged a number of electronic supplies and shoes.

“They lost a lot also but we out here and the place is wet and we don’t have a proper place to sell. We want to tell City Hall that we can’t go on like this.

They got to do something,” she implored.

Sections of the market have required dire repairs, especially the wharf at

the rear end and the iconic Stabroek Clock which has not ticked for years. In 2016, the United States embassy in Guyana donated US$41,000 for the rehabilitation of the Clock when the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown were battling to have it repaired.

In 2018, it was revealed during a Commission of Inquiry that the restoration was never completed. As usual, City Hall’s cashstrapped crisis was also blamed for failing to conduct repairs as well as the fact that additional works on supporting erections were necessary.

Meanwhile, at the adjoining wharf, vendors were removed over one year ago and they are stranded there until it commences.

13

TUESday, DECEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

14 NEWS

tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Ex-cop accused of shooting NIS treats elderly at Police released on bail to Christmas lunch

A

former policeman, who is no stranger to the law, was on Monday released on bail for discharging a loaded firearm at an inspector along

Linden Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and denied the

Police confronted the men at Rahaman’s Park, Houston

with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Teon Allen, also known as “Spoil Child”, of Lot 567 E Wismar Housing Scheme,

charges.

The first charge stated that on November 26, 2019, at Houston, East Bank Demerara, he had in

his possession a 9mm pistol when he was not a holder of a firearm license.

It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, he had in his possession 16 matching rounds and seven .45 ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm license.

The last charge stated that on the same day, he discharged a loaded firearm at Police Inspector Mohan.

Allen was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Siand Dhurjon, who asked that his client be released on reasonable bail.

Reports are Police were conducting a roadblock on November 26 when Allen allegedly drove his car through the roadblock, which resulted in the police giving chase. Realising that the police were in pursuit, shots were fired in the direction of the ranks.

As a result, the police

Teon Allen

then returned fire and Allen was shot during the exchange. The car then sped off the road and ended up crashing into a nearby ditch.

The ranks then approached the vehicle and Allen allegedly had the firearm in his hands. Hence, the man was arrested and taken into custody.

Allen was released on $240,000 bail. The case will continue on January 8, 2020.

“Bruckup” found guilty of 2017 nightclub murder

S

hawn Harris, called “Shawny” or “Brukup”, a mason formerly of Lot 40 Bougainvillea Park, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Lot 131 Pike Street, Kitty, was on Monday found guilty of the murder of Sunil Singh, who was knifed to death during a row outside the Blue Martini Nightclub in 2017.

Harris had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on February 5, 2017, he murdered Singh. However, he was convicted of same before Justice Jo Ann Barlow at the Demerara High

Guilty of murder: Shawn Harris, called “Shawny” or “Brukup”

Court after deliberations by a 12-member jury ended.

As such, “Brukup” is

expected to be sentenced on January 16, 2020. He is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay while the State is being represented by Prosecutors Shawnette Austin and Sarah Martin.

Guyana Times had previously reported that Singh was fatally stabbed in the nightclub when he attempted to rescue an employee, who was being attacked by three men.

The men attempted to enter the premises after closing hours, but were informed by the bartender that they could not enter.

This led to an argument

and during the subsequent altercation, the now convicted man whipped out a knife stabbing the employee, which led to Singh intervening. Singh, in the process of assisting the employee, hit Harris, who turned around and stabbed him about his body.

Singh was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

Harris was also charged, along with three others, in connection with the Bank of Baroda robbery committed at its Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) branch on January 22, 2016.

D

Senior citizens of The Palms being treated to lunch by NIS

ecked out in their fine attires, the elderly of The Palms were on Monday treated to a Christmas lunch by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

The event was held at the institution located on Brickdam, Georgetown, and saw some 188 senior citizens from the senior citizens home, who sat around tables that were put together by the insurance scheme.

those who might have been forgotten by their families.

“This has been going on for over 25 years and we come over to The Palms and we try to put a smile on the face of the residents, being so close to us as our neighbours. We have chosen to come to this institution to give back to some of the persons who have contributed to the development of Guyana. Many of them are NIS pensioners,” she said.

Residents of The Palms dancing at the luncheon on Monday

Public Relations Officer of NIS, Dianne Lewis Baxter, told Guyana Times that the lunch for the elderly is a way to give back to the community. She said it was a way of giving back to

Meanwhile, the senior citizens were also treated to songs, dances, words of encouragement, along with gifts that the PRO said: “can be used daily”.

news

15

tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Trump on track to become 3rd US President to be impeached

R

epublican Donald Trump is this week likely to become the third U.S. president to be impeached when the Democratic-led House of Representatives votes on charges stemming from his effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden.

Trump faces one charge of abusing his power by asking Ukraine to investigate Biden, a leading Democratic contender to oppose him in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and one of obstructing Congress’ investigation into the matter.

The president has denied wrongdoing and accused Democrats of a baseless and politically-motivated bid to oust him from power.

The House is likely to take up impeachment on Wednesday, setting the stage for a vote this week on whether to approve the charges and send the matter to the Republican-led Senate to hold a trial on whether to remove Trump from office.

Democrats, who en-

agreement about a fair trial,” Schumer told MSNBC in an interview on Monday.

House Democrats also sought testimony from the four men in their inquiry, but they did not appear.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 23-17 on Friday along party lines to approve the two charges against Trump and to send

White House acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, former national security adviser John Bolton, Mulvaney aide Robert Blair and budget official Michael Duffey.

Schumer made his appeal in a letter to Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said last week he was coordinating with the White House and has raised the prospect of a short impeachment trial in which no witnesses would be called.

“I hope we can come to an

Amazon blocks sellers from using FedEx for some Prime shipments

A

mazon.com Inc is temporarily blocking third-party sellers from using FedEx Corp’s ground delivery network to handle Prime shipments as it strives to hit accelerated delivery deadlines this holiday season.

This is likely to affect only a small number of sellers but “limits the options for those small businesses on some of the highest-demand shipping days in history,” a FedEx representative said.

Amazon and FedEx did not say how many packages would be affected by the restriction. Amazon declined to say how long the move would last. The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that the ban was due to FedEx’s on-time performance.

Amazon said sellers can still use FedEx’s pricier and

faster Express services, including air transport, for Prime deliveries. The FedEx Ground and Home delivery options that are temporarily restricted for sellers’ Prime shipments remain available for non-Prime shipments.

Third-party sellers offer more than 50% of the goods on Amazon’s site.

Amazon Prime members

pay $119 per year for fast, “free” delivery. Tensions between Amazon and FedEx became public this summer.

FedEx canceled its delivery agreements with the world’s leading online retailer just months after Amazon announced plans to speed up Prime shipping to one day from two days on millions of items. (Reuters)

cion.

He was taken to the hospital where x-ray scans reportedly showed anomalies.

The Police said he later expelled 142 homemade

capsules containing cocaine.

Williams is to answer to charges of possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, and attempting to export cocaine. (Jamaica Observer)

Canadian man to answer to cocaine charges

A

Canadian man who was arrested on Sunday, December 8, while trying to board a flight with J$1.5 million worth of cocaine is to appear in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday, December 18.

The man has been identified as 61-year-old Fredrick Williams, a tiler of Mississauga, Canada.

Williams was arrested at the Sangster International Airport as he attempted to board a flight destined for Toronto, Canada.

Lawmen said that during the security screening, Williams' behaviour aroused the officers' suspi-

dle of the night. Thankfully the people of this country continue to see the partisan sham that this is.”

A McConnell spokesman did not directly address Schumer’s requests, but said the Senate majority leader “plans to meet with Leader Schumer to discuss the contours of a trial soon.”

(Reuters)

ing appropriate training requirements, must be extraordinarily thorough and robust, to ensure that our regulators, customers, and the flying public have confidence in the 737 Max updates.”

Last week a congressional hearing was told that US aviation regulators were aware following the first crash in Indonesia in October 2018 that there was a risk of further accidents.

The Federal Aviation Authority’s analysis suggested there could be more than a dozen more crashes over the lifetime of the aircraft unless changes were made to its design.

Despite that, the 737 Max was not grounded until after the second crash in Ethiopia in March 2019.

Boeing is redesigning the

automated control system thought to have been the primary cause of the crashes.

Travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt said the decision to suspend production was unprecedented and likely to have a “massive impact on Boeing, its suppliers and the airlines”.

“It’s really going to create some chaos for the airlines that are involved in this as well as the six-hundred or so companies that are part of the 737-Max supply chain and Boeing itself.”

The suspension of the 737 Max has already cost Boeing around $9bn (£6.75bn; €8.07bn). Boeing shares fell more than 4% on Monday amid speculation the airline would announce a production suspension.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Boeing to temporarily halt 737 Max production in January

US President Donald Trump

joy a 36-seat majority in the House, are expected to win an impeachment vote, which requires a simple majority.

Republicans hold 53 of the 100 seats in the Senate, where they appear likely to prevail in any trial against Trump, which would require a two-thirds majority of those present to remove him from office.

Seeking to shape any trial, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called on Sunday for testimony from

the matter to the full chamber. Late on Sunday, the panel issued its full report detailing the case against him.

In a tweet on Monday, White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said Schumer’s comments seeking fairness were “laughable” after the release of the 658-page report “in the mid-

B

oeing will temporarily halt production of its troubled 737 Max airliner in January, the manufacturer said.

Production of the jet had continued despite the model being grounded for nine months after two deadly crashes.

More than 300 people died when two 737 Max aircraft crashed in Indonesia and Ethiopia after reported problems with a new feature.

Boeing had been hoping to have the aircraft back in the air by the end of this year.

But US regulators made it clear that the planes would not be certified to return to the skies that quickly.

Boeing, based in Seattle, Washington is one of the US’s largest exporters. The company said in a statement that it would not lay off workers associated with the 737 Max, but the stoppage is likely to affect suppliers and the wider economy.

“Safely returning the 737 Max to service is our top priority,” the aircraft manufacturer said. “We know that the process of approving the 737 Max’s return to service, and of determin-

16

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, december 17, 2019

Regional

Under fire over climate summit, 1 killed, 3 arrested following PoliceChile blames big polluters involved shooting C O hile defended itself on Monday against criticism it was too weak in presiding over international climate change negotiations, saying it did all it could but that four big polluting countries got in the way.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera described as “insufficient” the agreements reached on Sunday after marathon talks, but said it was not for the host’s lack of trying and criticism of its role was unfair.

“You have to convince 195 countries, and so if just one opposes, there is no agreement,” Pinera said in comments to local media.

When it came to rules governing carbon markets, he said: “The four big countries didn’t accept the proposals.”

Pinera said he personally lobbied other Presidents to reach a deal, but would

Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City, New York, US, September 24, 2019 (file photo)

not identify who he called and did not name the countries which he said blocked the deal.

“The countries that pollute the most did not live up to the challenge and remain in debt,” he said in a subse-

quent tweet.

Diplomats have listed Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the United States among those resisting bolder action.

Chile had stepped in to preside over the talks af-

a longtime advocate for sustainable tourism development, is suggesting that a sustainable hotel would be one that is locally owned; employs a large percentage of local workers; is designed in a manner that supports and respects the vernacular architectural style; features local art, craft, and furniture in its furnishings and decorations and sources most of its food inputs from the local farming community.

Additionally, he said that it would also be a hotel that provides employment opportunities for local artistes and entertainers; features and develops the

national cuisine; utilises solar and photovoltaic energy sources and facilitates commercial participation by local taxi drivers, craft sellers and beach vendors. He went further and identified four more criteria to be met to be a sustainable hotel – the conservation of the local water supply by catching and using the hotel’s runoff rainwater; not encroaching on the beach; encouraging guests to experience the entire island; and developing a constructive relationship with the residents of the surrounding or adjacent community. (Excerpt from Barbados Advocate)

ter Brazil pulled out following the election victory of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. It was then forced to host them more than 10,000 kilometres away in Spain owing to unrest at home.

Environment Minister Carolina Schmidt, President of the UN summit known as COP25, came under fire on Saturday for circulating a draft text that campaigners said threatened to undermine the landmark 2015 Paris agreement on carbon reduction.

By extending the talks, Schmidt salvaged a face-saving compromise text during late-night discussions. It cited the “urgent need” to close the gap between existing emissions pledges and the temperature goals of the Paris agreement to avert catastrophic global warming. (Excerpt from Reuters)

ne man was killed and three others arrested following a report of robbery against two businesses in the Central Division Sunday morning.

According to official Police reports, Officers of the Central Division Task Force, Central Division Operational Unit, Emergency Response Patrol and Chaguanas Patrol Unit, responded to a report of a robbery in progress in the Charlieville district, around 03:17h, on Sunday.

Upon arrival at the scene where the robbery was in progress, officers were shot at by armed assailants from inside the building. Officers returned fire (in accordance with the minimum use of force policy), injuring one of

the gunmen.

Police confirm that a 20-year-old Enterprise man was taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility, where he died.

Further investigations resulted in two other men being apprehended while running along the southbound lane of the Uriah Butler Highway.

The suspects, a 21-yearold and a 20-year-old, both of Goodwill Road, Enterprise, Chaguanas, were arrested in connection with the incident.

A short while later, based on information, officers proceeded to Ocean Drive, Enterprise, where a 21-year-old suspect was also arrested in connection with the robbery. (Trinidad Guardian)

Sustainable tourism needed Cuba braced for United States to sever diplomatic relations – diplomat – Barbados Ambassador

B

arbados Ambassador to Caricom and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), David Comissiong is putting a case for Barbados and the wider Caribbean region to truly embrace the concept of sustainable tourism.

In a statement issued recently, Ambassador Comissiong said Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean should be seeking to establish sustainable hotels and sustainable tourism industries and he has set out some 13 indicators for what a Barbadian or Caribbean sustainable hotel should look like.

Ambassador Comissiong,

Mexico violence: 12 Police Officers killed in 1 week in Guanajuato

T

welve Police Officers have been killed in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato in the space of a week.

One of those killed was María Sonia Arellano, a decorated officer who was kidnapped along with her husband and son in the city of Irapuato.

While her son and husband were freed, Arellano’s body was later found dumped and dismembered.

The powerful criminal group Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) said it was behind her murder.

The brutal killing of Arellano, who was awarded the Order of Police Merit a few months ago, has caused outrage in Mexico, where murders of members of the security forces are not uncommon.

The 47-year-old was

the initials CJNG. Arellano was known to be “fearless” according to her colleagues, who said that she had played a key role in the fight against the local drugs trade and oil theft in her home town of Irapuato.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Among the deceased is María Sonia Arellano

taken from her home by armed men on Tuesday. Her 27-year-old son and her husband, who is also a Police Officer, were released the following day, but she was killed and her body dumped by a rural road.

A message scrawled on cardboard and left next to her body was signed with

C

uba’s Communist Government is braced for the Administration of US President Donald Trump to sever diplomatic relations although it hopes that does not come to pass, a top Cuban diplomat said on Monday.

Relations were re-established five years ago this week under former Democratic President Barack Obama following half a century of hostility.

Washington loosened trade and travel restrictions, Obama visited Havana, and the old Cold War foes looked on track to fully normalising their relationship.

But under Republican Trump all that has changed.

Amid an attack on socialism in Latin America, his administration has not only tightened restrictions, such as banning US cruises again, but even imposed sanctions it had never resorted to before.

It has, for example, allowed US citizens to bring lawsuits against foreign companies deemed to be trafficking in Cuban proper-

Cuba’s Foreign Ministry’s General Director for US Affairs, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio attends the annual US-Cuban academic conference in Havana, Cuba, December 16, 2019

ties nationalised after Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution, damaging investor appetite.

And it has imposed sanctions on shipments of Venezuelan oil to the Caribbean island.

“There are powerful people today in the US Government that want to increasingly apply hostile measures and severe our bilateral relationship,” the Cuban Foreign Ministry’s General Director for US Affairs, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told reporters on the sidelines of an annual US-Cuban academic confer-

ence in Havana.

“If that were to be the case, we are ready to face that reality, but it is not what the people of Cuba want and not what the Government of Cuba is seeking.”

The Trump administration says it is pressuring Cuba to reform and end human rights’ violations like the harassment of opponents to its one-party system. It has vigorously campaigned for the release of top dissident Jose Daniel Ferrer.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuela’s Constituent Assembly approves trial of 4 Opposition lawmakers

V

enezuela’s pro-Government Constituent Assembly on Monday approved a trial for four Opposition lawmakers accused of committing crimes including treason and conspiracy.

The lawmakers’ parties have denied the charges and denounced the process as another step taken by President Nicolás Maduro’s Government to dismantle the Opposition-controlled national assembly, led by Juan Guaidó.

Guaidó in January declared himself interim President and called for

Maduro’s removal, though his campaign has lost momentum in recent months and the ruling Socialist Party retains control of the State and military.

The Constituent Assembly, a legislative superbody created by Maduro to override the national assembly, on Monday voted unanimously to approve the trial after a request by Venezuela’s top court, which is also stacked with pro-Government judges.

It was not immediately evident when the trial would take place.

Chief State Prosecutor Tarek Saab,

in a statement, said lawmakers Jorge Millan, Hernan Aleman, Carlos Lozano and Luis Stefanelli had conspired to seize military installations in Sucre state with the aim of “destabilising this Christmas”.

Venezuelan authorities this year have opened criminal probes into Guaidó and stripped many of his colleagues of their parliamentary immunity, paving the way for their prosecution.

Guaidó says some 30 lawmakers remain detained, in exile, or in refuge at embassies in Caracas. (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, december 17, 2019

17

Around the World China's Xi vows support for Hong Kong Zimbabwe VP's wife charged with attempting leader during “most difficult” time to murder her husband

C

hinese President Xi Jinping offered his support for Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Monday, praising her courage in governing the Chineseruled financial hub in these “most difficult” times after months of often violent anti-Government protests.

His comments came after Hong Kong Police fired tear gas in late-night street clashes with anti-Government protesters as the former British colony’s worst political crisis in decades shows no sign of resolution.

“The situation in Hong

China's President Xi Jinping applauds Russian President Vladimir Putin as they talk via a video link, from the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, December 2, 2019

Kong in 2019 was the most complex and difficult since its return to the motherland,” Xi told local media in brief comments before a closed-door meeting with Lam in Beijing.

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise of wide-ranging autonomy under a “one country, two systems” formula, including a free press and independent judiciary, which the protesters say is being eroded by Communist Party rulers in Beijing.

China denies the charge.

Hong Kong media have

speculated that Lam’s talks with Xi could yield fresh directives on the crisis, including a possible Cabinet reshuffle. Xi did not go into specifics, but reiterated his support for Lam despite some previous media reports suggesting she might be replaced.

Xi said last month that China was “unwavering” in defending national security and sovereignty, implementing the “one country, two systems” policy and opposing foreign forces interfering in Hong Kong. (Excerpt from Reuters)

General election 2019: MPs' vote on Brexit bill planned for Friday

T

he Government plans to ask MPs to vote on Boris Johnson's Brexit bill on Friday, Downing Street has said.

The Withdrawal Agreement Bill is the legislation that will enable Brexit to happen - the UK is due to leave the EU on January 31.

It comes as the PM prepares to address his new MPs in Westminster.

Many of the 109 new

Conservative MPs won in areas traditionally held by Labour in Thursday's election, which saw the party gain an 80-seat majority.

Johnson is also carrying out a mini Cabinet reshuffle, naming Simon Hart as Welsh Secretary.

It marks a big promotion for the 56-year-old MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, who was previously a Junior Minister in the Cabinet

Office.

The Queen will formally open Parliament on Thursday when she sets out the Government's legislative programme.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman told a Westminster briefing: "We plan to start the process [of the withdrawal agreement bill] before Christmas and will do so in the proper constitutional way in discussion with the Speaker."

The bill is expected to pass through Parliament in time to meet Boris Johnson's promise for the UK to leave the EU on January 31.

Johnson then has to negotiate a new trade agreement with the EU and have it ratified before the end of the post-Brexit transition period that ends on December 31, 2020. He has repeatedly said that the transition period will not be extended.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

T

he wife of Zimbabwe's Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been charged with attempting to murder her husband.

Marry Mubaiwa appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court on Monday where she was also charged with money laundering and fraud.

Mubaiwa, who on Monday was described by the staterun Herald newspaper as "the estranged wife" of Chiwenga, waved to journalists as she entered the court's holding cells.

The Magistrate ordered that she remain in custody pending a bail hearing.

She is accused of trying to kill her husband in South Africa in July. First, she tried to deny medical treatment to Chiwenga by insisting he stay at a hotel instead of a hospital when he was flown to South Africa for emergency medical treatment, according to the chargesheet.

Mubaiwa allegedly went to the hospital on July 8, asked the security to leave the room and "while alone" with Chiwenga, she "unlawfully removed the medical intravenous drip as well as a central venous catheter", causing him to bleed profusely, according to the

Marry Mubaiwa is also accused of laundering about $1 million to neighbouring South Africa by pretending to pay for goods that were never brought into Zimbabwe

chargesheet.

She forced her husband off the hospital bed and tried to lead him out of the ward before being intercepted by his security details, it was alleged.

Chiwenga later went to China where he received medical treatment for four months and he returned to Zimbabwe in November.

Mubaiwa is also accused of laundering about $1 million to neighbouring South Africa by pretending to pay for goods that were never brought into Zimbabwe, according to the charges. She was arrested by security forces on Saturday. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Lebanon delays nomination of new PM amid protests, divisions Italy's Salvini drops calls for Government to quit, T urges unity on reforms he nomination of Lebanon's next Prime Minister has been postponed after major Christian parties said they would not support the candidacy of caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri, presenting a new impasse after weeks of political wrangling.

Under Lebanon's complex political system, where power is shared among religious groups, the Prime Minister must always be a Sunni, the President a Maronite Christian and the speaker of Parliament a Shia Muslim. Meanwhile, according to the modern-day interpretation of a key article in the Constitution, there must be parity in the representation of Christians and Muslims in Parliament and

Government.

This premise of sectarian power-sharing now poses the greatest obstacle to Hariri's candidacy, as, without the support of the major Christian parties in Government, the Free

Patriotic Movement (FPM) and the Lebanese Forces, the Government’s constitutional legitimacy could be called into question.

A statement from Hariri's office said that the caretaker PM on Monday

requested that Aoun postpone the binding parliamentary consultations during which a new Prime Minister is selected, "in order to avoid adding constitutional and national problems to the great social, economic and financial crisis facing our country".

Aoun rescheduled the talks for Thursday.

The UN's representative in Lebanon Jan Kubis Monday said the postponement of parliamentary consultations was "either a sign that following the events and statements of the last days politicians start to understand that they cannot neglect the voice of the people, or another attempt to buy time for business as usual."

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

DR Congo produces 60 per cent of the world's supply of cobalt.

The mineral is used to produce lithium-ion batteries used to power electric cars, laptops and smartphones.

However, the extraction process has been beset with concerns of illegal mining, human rights abuses and corruption.

They say the companies failed to regulate their supply chains and instead prof-

ited from exploitation.

Other companies listed in the lawsuit are computer manufacturer Dell and mining companies, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Glencore, who own the minefields where the Congolese families allege their children worked.

Glencore said in a statement to the UK's Telegraph newspaper that it "does not purchase, process or trade any artisanally mined ore" adding that it also "does not

tolerate any form of child, forced, or compulsory labour."

The 14 Congolese families want the companies to compensate them for forced labour, emotional distress and negligent supervision.

In a response to the Telegraph, Microsoft said it was committed to responsible sourcing of minerals and that it investigates any violations by its suppliers and takes action. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Lebanese Police clashed with anti-Government protesters in Beirut late Sunday, firing tear gas to prevent them from breaching barricades near Parliament

Top tech firms sued over DR Congo cobalt mining deaths

A

pple, Google, Tesla and Microsoft are among firms named in a lawsuit seeking damages over deaths and injuries of child miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The case has been filed by the International Rights Advocates on behalf of 14 Congolese families.

They accuse the companies of knowing that cobalt used in their products could be linked to child labour.

M

atteo Salvini, the leader of Italy’s right-wing League party, has suddenly dropped his calls for the Government to resign and is instead proposing that all the main parties work together to solve the country’s most pressing problems.

Salvini’s switch from fierce opposition to appeals for collaboration has left many observers puzzled, with some interpreting it as a sign that he is losing hope that the fractious ruling coalition will collapse any time soon.

In an interview with private television station Canale 5, Salvini added that a new electoral law would also have to be agreed, and said the League was not asking for a role in Government while the reform process went on.

The League is Italy’s most popular party, with some 30 per cent of voter support, according to opinion polls, but recently Salvini has hit some headwinds and support for his party has flattened out.

A grassroots movement known as “the sardines”, launched only a month ago in opposition to Salvini, has quickly gathered momentum

League party leader Matteo Salvini speaks during an antiGovernment demonstration in Rome, Italy, October 19, 2019

with a spate of well-attended rallies, and on Saturday tens of thousands joined a demonstration in Rome.

At the same time, Salvini is finding it harder to exploit his core campaigning theme of immigration, as migrant arrivals have dwindled and the new Government, which took office in September, is managing to re-locate more among other EU states.

Italy’s new coalition of 5-Star and the centre-left Democratic Party has bickered constantly since it came to power, but it looks set to fulfil its first main task of approving a 2020 budget without friction with the European Commission.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESday, december 17, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

dilbert

(April 20May 20)

Peanuts

Stick to basics and tell the truth. If you aren’t sure about something, sit tight.

Emotions will escalate quickly if you let an outsider interfere in personal matters.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

The race is on, and you appear to be in the lead.

Don’t hesitate or dither, when all that’s required is to follow through with your plans until they are complete.

Money issues should not be ignored. Don’t feel that you must spend money to make someone love you. Use your charm and have fun, and everything else will fall into place.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Take care of details that can make or break plans for family fun. An enthusiastic attitude will encourage others to pitch in and help. A lifestyle change will give you the boost you need.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Know what you want to do and what your responsibilities are. How you handle others will affect the amount of support and help you are offered.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Don’t feel that you must agree or side with someone who is putting pressure on you. Have the courage to do what’s best for yourself and your loved ones.

A new look at an old concept will lead to a new beginning. Turn one of your ideas into a plan that is geared toward saving more and spending less.

A change will be useful for you. Whether it’s at home or at work, you’ll discover that you can make extra cash doing something you enjoy. Participate and profit.

Listen carefully and conSAGITTARIUS sider the source of any infor(Nov. 23mation you are given. Get Dec. 21) your home ready for the festive season and clear a space for a project you want to start.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Yesterday’s WORD

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Take on a little extra work and watch your savings grow. Hang on to your cash instead of spending it on useless items. Innovative gift ideas should be kept well within budget.

Don’t rely on anyone to do things for you. A change someone makes will be done behind your back. Protect your money, possessions and reputation.

Certain memories will lead to a sentimental moment. Don’t have regrets; learn from your experiences and move forward with a clear head and a good plan.

tuesday, DECember 17, 2019

19

round-up: Nets snap Embiid

less Sixers' win streak with 109-89 rout S

pencer Dinwiddie scored 24 points as the Brooklyn Nets capitalized on Joel Embiid’s absence and led most of the way in a 109-89 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night in New York.

The Nets led for the final 41:54 in the first meeting between the teams since the first round of last spring’s postseason. Embiid averaged 24.8 points in the four games he played in that series but sat out with an upper respiratory illness and missed his sixth game of the season.

Dinwiddie helped the Nets improve to 10-5 without Kyrie Irving (right shoulder impingement) by shooting 9 of 21 from the field and adding six assists. It was Dinwiddie’s fourth straight 24-point game and 13th game scoring at least 20 since being elevated to the starting lineup to replace Irving.

Joe Harris added 16 for the Nets, who led by as many as 23 and shot 45.7 percent.

Garrett Temple added 13 while DeAndre Jordan had 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Nets scored 64 points in the paint and outrebounded Philadelphia 51-38.

Orlando Magic 130 - New Orleans Pelicans 119

Eight Orlando players scored in double figures in handing host New Orleans its franchise-worst 12th consecutive loss.

Jonathan Isaac led the Magic with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Nikola Vucevic, returning from an 11-game absence due to a sprained ankle, scored 20. D.J. Augustin scored 17, while Evan Fournier had 16.

Terrence Ross added 14, Mo Bamba 13 and Michael Carter-Williams and Markelle Fultz had 10 each.

The Magic, who made 17 of 34 3-pointers, ended a three-game losing streak. Jrue Holiday scored 29 points, JJ Redick added 23, Brandon Ingram had 21 and Josh Hart had 20 for the Pelicans, who haven’t won since a 124-121 victory at Phoenix on Nov.

avenge a 122-120 overtime loss on Nov. 5.

Cody Zeller collected 19 points and 12 rebounds and Bismack Biyombo added 11 points and a season-high 17 boards for the Hornets, who saw their three-game winning streak come to a halt.

Denver Nuggets 111 - New York Knicks 105

Nikola Jokic had game highs of 25 points and 10 rebounds, Will Barton scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and host Denver beat New York.

Jokic has recorded double-doubles in six straight games, including a triple-double against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night.

Gary Harris had 15 points and Jamal Murray and Mason Plumlee scored 14 points each to help the Nuggets beat New York for the 12th straight time in Denver.

Marcus Morris Sr. led the Knicks with 22 points, Julius Randle had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Frank Ntilikina scored 13 and had four steals and four assists for New York.

Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter defends Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (USA Today Sports)

21.

Los Angeles Lakers 101 - Atlanta Hawks 96

LeBron James scored 32 points to lead visiting Los Angeles to a win over Atlanta and extend their road win streak to 14 games.

James made 12 of 21 from the field, four of them 3-pointers, and added 13 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks to help the Lakers extend their overall winning streak to seven.

The Lakers’ road winning streak is the longest by the club since they won 18 straight away from home during their NBA record 33-game winning streak in 197273. Their only road loss this season was

in their own building in their first regular-season contest, when the Clippers were the “home” team at Staples Center, which the teams share.

Indiana Pacers 107 - Charlotte Hornets 85

Aaron Holiday scored 23 points off the bench as Indiana rode a dominant fourth quarter to a victory over Charlotte in Indianapolis.

Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis recorded his 12th consecutive double-double after collecting 12 points and 12 rebounds to propel the Pacers to their 11th win in 14 games.

Myles Turner added 14 points and 10 boards as Indiana outscored Charlotte by a 35-19 margin in the fourth quarter to

Sacramento Kings 100 - Golden State Warriors 79

Bogdan Bogdanovic recorded 25 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench to lead Sacramento to a win over Golden State in San Francisco.

Buddy Hield scored 19 points and Marvin Bagley III added 17 points as the Kings won for the fourth time in their past five games. Harrison Barnes tallied 15 points as Sacramento ended a five-game losing streak to the Warriors.

Willie Cauley-Stein had 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting and notched a season-high six steals for Golden State. Damion Lee scored 13 points and Alec Burks had 11 for the Warriors, who lost their fourth straight game to drop their NBA-worst record to 5-23. (Reuters)

Kipchoge's new shoes shatter 2-hour barrier, fans shun Doha

M

ost people said it couldn’t be done and the record books say it hasn’t been, but for the thousands watching in Vienna and millions more online, Eliud Kipchoge unquestionably this year became the first human to run a marathon in under two hours.

When the peerless Kenyan unleashed a final kick to charge through the tape in one hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds in the specially set-up event in October, the sporting world reeled at not only that such a notable barrier could be broken, but destroyed and seemingly with ease.

It did not count as an official world record due to the use of “in and out” pacers and a moving drinks provider, yet probably the greatest aid of all - the latest version of Nike’s Vaporfly shoes - were entirely legal.

Anyone still unsure how much the combination of carbon plates and super-compressed foam was the x-factor that enabled Kipchoge to reach such levels, would have been convinced 24 hours later when Brigid Kosgei used Vaporfly trainers to smash the women’s marathon record.

The Kenyan took 81 seconds off Paula Radcliffe’s official mark that had never been threatened in the previous 16 years.

Then in December, the six year-old 10km world road record was also blown away by Joshua Cheptegei - the Ugandan also wearing “the shoes”.

The sport’s governing body World Athletics says it is comfortable that the technology gives no “mechanical advantage”.

But, fair or foul, its arrival means that comparisons with

Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, takes part in a team building exercise during 2019 Athletes Annual Conference in Eldoret, Kenya (Reuters)

previous records are now about as useful as looking at today’s golf driving distances using metal and carbon clubs versus the persimmon and bamboo shafts of yesteryear.

Doha disappointment Kipchoge’s amazing feat - coming a year after he claimed the official world record of 2:01.39 in Berlin, kept distance running in

the spotlight and how the sport needed some attention after the Doha world championships lived down to all expectations.

The blue riband event, the men’s 100 metres, was tainted before it began by the ludicrous situation that allowed Christian Coleman to escape, on a technicality, what should have been an automatic ban for missing doping tests under the whereabouts system within 12 months.

Having made a laughing stock of the sport’s anti-doping program, the American duly took gold in a scorching 9.76 seconds - the sixth-fastest legal time ever - with evergreen, twice dopebanned compatriot Justin Gatlin taking silver in a virtually empty stadium.

That patent lack of interest, repeated for the women’s 100m, in what is normally the hottest ticket in town, was only one of the fallouts of the controversial decision to take the event to Doha, where cooling technology worked inside the stadium but could do nothing for those on the roads.

It was a harrowing sight to see more than 40% of athletes dropping out of the women’s marathon in distress due to the heat and humidity, despite a midnight start. It made such an impression on the International Olympic Committee that they almost immediately shifted the marathon and walk events in next year’s Olympics from Tokyo to the cooler northern city of Sapporo.

While Coleman beat the system, highly-rated distance coach Alberto Salazar could not, as, despite none of his athletes failing a test, he was given a four-year ban for doping violations. (Reuters)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesday, DECember 17, 2019

How the squads stand and what they need IPL 2020 auction: T

he IPL auction on December 19 gives the best teams in the next edition of the competition a chance to plug the gaps in their squads, and the ones with unsettled line-ups to add muscle, even overhaul the core of their sides. But how do the franchises look as things stand?

Chennai Super Kings

Squad: Ambati Rayudu , KM Asif, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir, Jagadeesan Narayan, Karn Sharma, Kedar Jadhav, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Santner, Monu Singh, MS Dhoni, M Vijay, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shane Watson, Shardul Thakur, Suresh Raina Player slots left: Five (three domestic, two overseas) Money spent: INR 70.40 crore (US$ 9.9 million approx.)

Purse remaining: INR 14.60 crore (US$ 2.1 million approx.)

The Super Kings have a big enough purse to buy the one or two key players they might be looking for.

Historically, they have targeted players MS Dhoni has played with or who have experience with the side. The slow nature of the Chennai pitch will dictate their picks and if they want one major player, they could actually spend more than 60% of their available purse on him alone.

Delhi Capitals

Squad: Ajinkya Rahane, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Keemo Paul, Prithvi Shaw, R Ashwin, Rishabh Pant, Sandeep Lamichhane, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer Player slots left: 11 (six domestic, five overseas) Money spent: INR 57.15 crore (US$ 8.1 million approx.)

Purse remaining: INR 27.85 crore (US$ 3.9 million approx.)

The Capitals have a strong core Indian contingent and can, in fact, make a good first XI with only the domestic players. This auction, Capitals will be heavily focused on their overseas buys, but they are bound to face stiff competition from the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders, Royals Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab, all of whom will be on the prowl. The Capitals might need to think out of the box or look for a few X-factor players whom they can buy at low prices.

Kings XI Punjab

Squad: Arshdeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Darshan Nalkande, K Gowtham,

Hardus Viljoen, Harpreet Brar, Jagadeesha Suchith, Karun Nair, KL Rahul, Mandeep Singh, Mayank Agarwal, Mohammed Shami, Mujeeb ur Rahman, M Ashwin, Nicholas Pooran, Sarfaraz Khan Player slots left: Nine (five domestic, four overseas) Money spent: INR 42.30 crore (US$ 6 million approx.)

Purse remaining: INR 42.70 crore (INR 6 million approx.)

The franchise with the maximum money to spend.

Don’t be surprised if Kings XI look to pick up an experienced hand like Eoin Morgan or Aaron Finch first up as they could be potential candidates for the captaincy after R Ashwin was traded to Capitals. With so much money in the purse, Kings XI can also play spoilsport by hiking up the prices of players other franchises would be keen to buy. With former India captain Anil Kumble taking over as head coach, the franchise is likely to focus on putting together a strong bowling attack.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Squad: Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik, Harry Gurney, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Nitish Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Rinku Singh, Sandeep Warrier, Shivam Mavi, Shubman G i l l , Siddhesh Lad, Sunil Narine Player slots left: 11 (seven domestic, four overseas) M o n e y spent: INR 49.35 crore (US$ 7 million approx.)

Purse remaining: INR 35.65 crore (US$ 5 million approx.)

Having released Chris Lynn, Knight Riders will definitely target an overseas opener, potentially even trying to buy back Lynn.

The other tar-

get would be an allrounder, and the franchise could consider Glenn Maxwell and even think of playing him as an opener, as radical as it might sound. Having released Robin Uthappa and Piyush Chawla, and with Kuldeep Yadav still struggling for form, Knight Riders will aim to find replacements for the first two and a capable back-up for the third.

Mumbai Indians

Squad: Aditya Tare, Anmolpreet Singh, Anukul Roy, Dhawal Kulkarni, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah, Jayant Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Lasith Malinga, Mitchell McCleneghan, Quinton de Kock, Rahul Chahar, Rohit Sharma, Sherfane Rutherford, Suryakumar Yadav, Trent Boult Player slots left: Seven (five domestic, two overseas) Money spent: INR 71.95 crore (US$ 10.2 million approx.)

Purse remaining: INR 13.05 crore (US$ 1.8 million approx.)

Similar to Super Kings, Mumbai are well poised with a

first XI already in place. The purse will be used to just buy back-up options in case of injuries. This should be a pretty quiet auction for the reigning champions, who also do not have a lot of money to splurge.

Rajasthan Royals

Squad: Ankit Rajpoot, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, Mahipal Lomror, Manan Vohra, Mayank Markande, Rahul Tewatia, Riyan Parag, Sanju Samson, Shashank Singh, Shreyas Gopal, Steven Smith, Varun Aaron Player slots left: 11 (Seven domestic, four overseas) Money spent: INR 56.10 crore (US$ 7.9 million approx.)

Purse remaining: INR 28.90 crore (US$ 4.1 million approx.)

The overseas options Royals need to go for are pretty straightforward, but their support cast is a bit thin. Their focus will be to fill the domestic slots, which is not very easy in a small auction. With new coach Andrew McDonald at the helm, one can expect some

relatively smart role-specific players to be picked.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Squad: AB de Villiers, Devdutt Padikkal, Gurkeerat Singh, Moeen Ali, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Parthiv Patel, Pawan Negi, Shivam Dube, Umesh Yadav, Virat Kohli, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal Player slots left: 12 (six domestic, six overseas) Money spent: INR 57.10 crore (US$ 8.1 million approx.)

Purse remaining: INR 27.90 crore (US$ 3.9 million approx.)

This might turn out to be an interesting auction for the team. With the domestic players sorted, the focus will only be on the overseas buys. They need to fill up six slots and they do not have too much money for it.

They may be able to buy one expensive overseas player with their budget. With the T20 World Cup coming up, one could expect Virat Kohli to bat at three and Royal Challengers to look for overseas opening options. With a new coaching staff and

scouting system in place, it will be interesting to see if the franchise has some tricks up their sleeve.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Basil Thampi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Billy Stanlake, David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Shahbaz Nadeem, Shreevats Goswami, Siddarth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed, T Natarajan, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha Player slots left: Seven (five domestic, two overseas) Money spent: INR 68 crore (US$ 9.6 million approx.)

Purse remaining: INR 17 crore (US$ 2.4 million approx.)

Sunrisers do not have much money to play with and have specific gaps to fill to complete the squad.

They have been dependent on the top three for a while now and will be looking to get some strong finishers in their line-up, ideally Indian.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Zaha stunner saves Palace point against Brighton

Sheldon Cottrell

Wilfried Zaha has scored six goals against Brighton, more than against any other side (Getty Images)

W

Shimron Hetmyer

ilfried Zaha has improved the mental aspect of his game by refusing to allow fouls by rival teams and taunts from opposing fans to put him off his game, Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson says.

Zaha rescued a Premier League point for Palace against rivals Brighton & Hove Albion by smashing in an equaliser from the edge of the box.

The Ivory Coast winger - the second-most fouled player in the Premier League this season, behind Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish was fouled five times at Selhurst Park.

But he kept his composure to score his sixth goal against the Seagulls, who paid for failing to take their chances when on top.

“Wilf is doing extremely well mentally because things happen in the game - taunts from the crowd and little fouls off the ball - which he isn’t allowing to upset him as he might have done before,” said Hodgson, who was marking his 100th match as Palace manager.

His injury-hit side struggled as Brighton

dominated the opening 70 minutes, and Neal Maupay gave them a deserved lead with a fine finish into the top corner.

Palace’s recovery extended their unbeaten run to four games, as the point moved them above Arsenal into ninth place; Brighton are 13th.

“It was an incredibly gusty performance, full of character and determination because when they took the lead you could not say it was unjust,” said Hodgson.

“But for us to stay in it with all the problems and ending up playing with a central midfielder [James McArthur] at left-back against a very good team like Brighton, their performance was as good as any team we’ve seen here at Selhurst Park this season.”

Brightoon manager Graham Potter Potter told BBC Sport: “Apart from a five-minute spell, we were really good and controlled the game. Of course, we didn’t get the second goal. We played really well but one action from a top player does you.” (BBC Sport)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, DECember 17, 2019

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR SALE For sale as is, 2006 Nissan Bluebird Sylphy, $1.2M call 651-9620.

LAND FOR SALE TRANSPORTED HOUSELOTS SARAH JOANNA EAST BANK DEMERARA # 673-9231 / 216-4063/ 685-5476

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.

UDFA/GT Beer Year End Football Championship…

H & L Winners Connection, Aroaima record wins

H

aynes and Lewis’ Winners Connection battled their way past Hi Stars 4-3, while Aroaima downed Amelia’s Ward Panthers 1-0, as the Upper Demerara Football Association’s GT Beer YearEnd Football Championship continued on Sunday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Playing in the first game, Damian Williams and Marmalaque Davidson each got doubles in the win for the Winners Connection club, after Hi Stars had thrice fought back to level the scores in the close encounter.

Williams

gave his team the lead in the 8th minute, before Hi Stars’ Elijah Samuels netted to draw the game level. Then Williams got his second goal in the 12th minute, to give his side a 2-1 lead before Osaho Rose knotted the scores 2-2 in the 20th minute for Hi Stars.

Then Marmalaque Davidson got his name onto the score sheet when he scored his first goal in the 36th minute to hand Winners Connection the lead, which they still possessed when the first half ended.

But Hi Stars were not to be outdone, and in the 65th minute, Martin Leacock evened things out for the Hi Stars when he made the scores read 3-3.

However, Davidson gave his side the lead permanently with his second goal, scored in the 69th minute, which they maintained

following t h e goalkeeper’s error when he tried to save a shot f ro m outside, and Archer tucked in the winning goal of the game.

The competition continues tomorrow (Wednesday) with two more matches; the first, at 19:00hrs, is between Botafago and Panthers; and the other, at 21:00hrs, features Silver Shattas and Coomacka.

Javon Archer

to the end of the encounter to come away with a 4-3 victory.

The other game on the double- header card ended with Aroiama coming away with a 1-0 win, which was decided in the first half of the game.

In the 28th minute, Javon Archer made the best of an opportunity which came

Former Guyanese cricketer Basil Butcher dies

F

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOT RECEIVING YOUR DAILY & SUNDAY

COPIES OF THE

GUYANA TIMES

in your area?

Contact our

Circulation Department on

Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 55

21

ormer Guyanese cricketer Basil Butcher died on Monday at his Florida, United States home following a prolonged period of illness. The 86-year-old was also a Test batsman for the West Indies.

His son, Basil Butcher Jr took to social media on Monday evening to announce his father’s death.

“With a heavy heart I announce our Dad, Husband, Brother, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather and former Guyana and West Indies batting star Basil Butcher Sr passed earlier this evening in Florida after a long illness,” Butcher Jr wrote.

Butcher was born on September 3, 1933 at Port Mourant, Berbice. His father was a Barbadian, who migrated to British Guiana, and his mother a Guyanese.

Guyana-cricket.com, which published the biography of Butcher, stated that he attended the St Joseph Anglican and Corentyne High School. According to his biography after leaving Corentyne High School, Butcher joined the Port Mourant Sports Club. Early in 1955, Butcher made 0 and 9 on his debut for Guyana against Barbados in Barbados, followed by scores of 34 and 62 against the same opponents. His biography states that in 1956, in

the Quadrangular Cricket Tournament at Bourda, Butcher excelled with an unbeaten 154 against Jamaica, but could only muster four runs in the other match against Barbados. British Guiana, however, won the Quadrangular Tournament and the Guiana players could now truly dream of playing for the West Indies. At Trent Bridge in 1966, West Indies were 65 for two, still 25 runs behind England's first innings total, when Butcher joined his fellow Berbician, Rohan Kanhai.

Two and a half hours later, the score had been advanced by 73, England's rosy prospects of v i c t o r y had faded and the Sunday s p o r t s p a g e s were filled

Guyanese cricketer Basil Butcher early in his career

Former Guyanese cricketer Basil Butcher

with sarcastic obituaries on the death of calypso cricket. Butcher went on to the highest innings of his career; he shared in three successive century partnerships, reached 209 not out (24 fours) and effectively won a match that seemed lost when he faced his first ball seven and a half hours earlier. (More details in our Wednesday, December 18, 2019 edition)

Marmalaque Davidson

Dragon Stout Community Cup officially commences tonight

T

he inaugural Dragon Stout Street-ball ‘Community Cup’ competition, an eagerly anticipated streetball tournament, will officially kick-off this evening at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue with eight elimination matches that would conclude an unprecedented year for streetball football.

According to an official release from Dragon Stout Brand Manager Jamal Baird, “Tonight is the start of an exciting project which I envision will catapult the brand into the realm and conversation of being a viable staple within the Streetball fraternity.

“The objective is simple, don’t lose. With the championship being contested utilizing an elimination format, a simple mistake could be the difference between the joy of victory and the agony of defeat, as there is no safety (in) the group stage.

“The tournament provides the opportunity to foster a truly significant relationship with urban Guyana, while providing the platform for the development of the players and the format”.

Baird further stated, “I want to reiterate to the spectators and players that all systems and structures have been formulated to ensure a memorable event that (would) leave a lasting impression in the minds of everyone. There is a genuine atmosphere of excitement amongst the competing teams and communities, which bodes well for the successful staging of the championship.

“I am truly excited for the tournament and the festivities to begin, as we aim to conclude 2019 with the proverbial bang.”

In the opening match of this tournament, Avocado Ballers will oppose North East La Penitence from 19:00hrs, while Sophia battles Festival City from 19:30hrs and Leopold St tackles Ansa All-Stars at 20:00hrs. In the fourth affair, Gold is Money matches skills with Mocha from 20:30hrs, while Future Stars tackle Albouystown at 21:00hrs and Rio All-Stars battle Alexander Village from 21:30hrs.

In the final two matches, Bent Street takes aim at Broad Street from 22:00hrs, and Sparta faces off with Showstoppers at 22:30hrs.

The second playing date will be December 19th, with the semi-final and grand finale pegged for December 28th.

Sixteen teams will contest the opening night, with the resulting eight winners advancing to the quarterfinal round.

Upon determination of the final eight teams, the semi-final and final will occur on the final night of proceedings.

Winner of the tournament will pocket $300,000 and the championship trophy, while runner-up will collect $150,000. Third and fourth place finishers would respectively receive $75,000 and $50,000 respectively, together with the corresponding accolade.

The complete results for the event are listed below.

22

tuesday, DECember 17, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

UG Sports Awards 2019…

Seymour advises athletes to use talents to foster discipline

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he University of Guyana on Friday held its Annual Sports Awards exercise for the 2018/2019 season at the Education Lecture Theatre at the Turkeyen campus.

With all the formalities in

The awardees pose for a photo

Principal of St Winefride’s Secondary, Rowena Seymour, delivered the feature address

place, the ceremony was chaired by Sports Organiser Lavern Fraser, and was at-

tended by many esteemed guests.

Addressing the large body of students present, UG Registrar Dr Nigel Gravesande said, “We’ve had a very successful 2019; and as we approach 2020, you would see the sporting calendar intensify and the synergies being established between your academic life and sports.”

He encouraged the athletes to continue being discreet in their respective dis-

ciplines, and to not give up or compromise their standing.

The night’s feature address was delivered by Rowena Seymour, Principal of St Winefride’s Secondary, who said, “Athletes take responsibility for their mistakes, and (make) commitment to bettering themselves. The life skills that (you) have picked up will surely prepare you to handle the challenges ahead of you.

GCA 2019/2020 cricketing season closed…

“To the student-athletes: I urge you to use these skills in the outside world (in order) to build those skills. You can make a difference in the students we have in schools, as most of our students need discipline, and we know that through sports there is discipline. The school system will be looking to work with you, not only in athletics, but chess and scrabble, so that the next generation can follow in your footsteps.”

Principal awardees were

Champion female athlete Ruth Sanmoogan

Osafa Dos Santos (Faculty of Education and Humanities) and Ruth Sanmoogan (Faculty of Health Sciences) who were declared respective male and female champion athletes following completion of the 2019 InterFaculty Championships.

Among the awards pre-

sented at this ceremony were for the recently concluded chess and scrabble competitions, which saw ‘chess king’ Davion Mars, ‘chess queen’ Anicia Patterson, ‘scrabble king’ Jafar Gibbons and ‘scrabble queen’ Christina Basil all being among the plethora of awardees.

Youth Basketball Guyana Titan Bowl X…

Kwakwani seal Girls’ Transfer period to U-16 Boys’ titles close in January 2020 and ꟷ President’s College cop U-18 crown

O

nset of the rainy season has brought the Guyana Cricket Association’s (GCA’s) cricket season to a premature end, but resumption thereof is planned for January 18, 2020.

In the NBS 2nd Division 40 overs competition for 2018/2019, GCC were the winners, while Everest settled for runners-up.

In the Noble House Seafoods Generation Next 2019 Under 19 one hundred overs (55/45) Competition, DCC were the winners and GCC were the runners-up.

The GCA New York Tri-State Under 19 fifty overs’ competition for 2019 saw the New York Tri State Team emerging as the winners and DCC as the runners-up; while in the Toucan Distributors Under 15 Competition, GCC were announced the winners and DCC the runners-up.

For the 2019/2020 season, the ongoing competitions are: GISE Star Party Rental & Trophy Stall 1st Division 2-day Competition, which has a total of 5 matches left between the 2 zones. GCC lead Zone A, with DCC in second but with a match to play.

In Zone B, Everest lead, with MSC and Police in a battle for second. However, MSC have 1 match to play, while Police have two remaining in the group stage.

Noble House Seafoods 2nd Division 2 days’ tournament has a total of 17 matches to be played between the two zones, with GCC leading and the second position left wide open. In Zone B, DCC are the leaders.

In the NBS 2nd Division 40 overs competition, there are 20 matches left to be played, with GCC leading and MSC in second. Zone B has DCC leading, and TSC in second.

The upcoming competitions that are awaiting sponsorship are 1st Division 50 overs, T20, 2nd Division T20, Under 19 hundred overs and 50 overs; Under 17, Under 15 and Under 13 competitions.

The executives and Competitions Committee would like to extend gratitude to the sponsors, friends of cricket, media/press,

curators, affiliated clubs’ executives, players, and all of their families and relatives for the support.

Clubs and players can use this period for transfer from one club to another. The period is from 1st December to 31st January 2020.

The victorious President’s College team

A

fter four days of intense basketball action, curtains came down yesterday on the Youth Basketball Guyana Titan Bowl X competition, which was being held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Kwakwani emerged champions of the girls’ and male under-16 categories, while President’s College emerged winners of the under-18 category.

In the first final of the night, Kwakwani battled Marian Academy in a one-sided affair. Marian Academy knew that securing a win against one of the most dominant female sides in the competition would have been an achievement to relish, but Kwakwani flexed their muscles and punished Marian 50-29.

Kelliann Sauers led for Marian with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals in a futile effort; while Kwakwani’s Shania Sears, who was adjudged the MVP, scored 29 points and had 7 rebounds.

She was assisted by Atalia Rose, with 9 points, 11 rebounds.

Emboldened by their win of the girls’ title, the under- 16 Kwakwani side dug deep to de-

feat Arima Secondary in a thriller that ended 39-34 in their favour. The encounter saw both Kwakwani and Arima match each other’s style of play pound for pound, but coming down to the last few minutes, Kwakwani managed to get a few shots in to secure themselves a much needed 4-point lead, and thus the title.

Arima scorers Kelon Philips (14 points) and Jamal Lyte (8 points, 9 rebounds) were outshone by the combination of Elijah David (12 points), and Hosea Conway who was awarded MVP; he scored a valuable 6 points.

In the final, played between New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) and President’s College (PC), a mere 6 points prevented NATI from lifting the trophy.

President’s College were able to defend their title 60-54, and lift the trophy.

Scoring for PC were Gabriel Lim (16 points) and MVP Jushawn Bailey (21 points).

Kadeen Dover had 21 points, while Charles Williams put up 15 points, but those were not enough to save the NATI side from defeat.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, DECember 17, 2019

23

Milerock, Police strike gold on Super 16 opening night

…MACORP pledges continued support for football

By Jemima Holmes

T

he star-studded Guyana Football Federation’s Super 16 tournament began on Sunday evening, paving the way for three weeks of exhilarating year-end football action.

The matches are being played at the Police Sports Club Ground in Eve Leary, and the first double-header was attended by top notch officials and scores of football fanatics who had been starved of senior club action.

In the evening’s first encounter, Milerock FC out of Linden brushed aside Pele FC in what was originally a tight game. The first half of the encounter ended in a stalemate, with both sides looking for the deciding goal at the beginning of the second.

Milerock’s Jose Depaz finally broke the ice in the 51st minute, and then team captain Rawle Gittens followed suit with another goal in the 59th to put a win out of the reach of Pele, whose play had become lacklustre in the second segment.

Speaking with this publication, Gittens evaluated his team’s performance and expressed gratitude to those who played a part in their success.

“First of all, I must say thank God. For the last couple of weeks, we were pushing in a lot of hard work; so, for me, as a senior campaigner with the youngsters, I’m pleased to jump this hurdle.

“We’ll go back now to the table and try to correct our mistakes, cause the quarterfinal won’t be easy. I just want to say thanks to the youngsters (and) the coaching staff,” the Milerock captain expressed.

“What we take out from this win is that we

MACORP CEO Guillermo Escarraga

gain a lot of experience from it. It wasn’t an easy game against a young Pele team like us, but the better team wins, and I think we were the better team on the night,” Gittens declared.

In the following match-up, Police FC used their home advantage to give Timehri Panthers a 6-2 thrashing. The law officers wasted no time in getting the ball in the net, Jamal Harvey opening the scoring in the 10th and following up in the 21st with another. Colwyn Adams scored a goal in the 24th minute that made it a 3-0 game by the half.

Even as the second segment of play began, the relentless star-studded policemen made it 4-0 in the 52nd minute through a Daniel Wilson strike.

Lloyd Matthews then attempted to save face for Timehri Panthers with a magnificent free kick in the 60th that found the back of the net. His brilliance did not deter the law officers, as Darren Benjamin (64th) and Trayon Bobb (74th) each went on to contribute a goal.

Pele worked hard to match strides with Milerock, but could not quite manage the feat

Jarel Walcott netted Timehri Panthers’ second goal in the 75th minute.

Machinery Corporation of Guyana (MACORP’s) executives were present at the event, having contributed a hefty million dollars to its staging.

MACORP CEO Guillermo Escarraga shared the rationale behind the company’s involvement.

“We saw the work they have done and how far they have come, and we thought that it was a good idea to support them, because we know that they have a good plan. The company, they strive for supporting sporting activities, and football is something that young kids get involved in, and we want to be a part of it,” Escarraga explained.

Regarding the future, Escarraga noted that it is MACORP’s hope to be in stride with the GFF as

they attempt to take Guyanese football to higher heights.

“The plan that the Federation has is a plan for long-term (development) and we want to be with them along the way. We want to be on their side in this journey to attempt to qualify for a World Cup, which is a really big objective,” the MACORP CEO detailed.

The GFF’s Super 16 will continue on December 20 at a venue on the East Coast of Demerara that is ‘to be announced’. In those fixtures, elite league champions Fruta Conquerors will take on Buxton Stars, while Buxton United will battle New Amsterdam United.

The final is slated to be played at the Guyana National Stadium on January 1.

KFC Goodwill Tournament…

Shiva Boys, Waramadong start on a high note

It was all net for Dorwin George as he shot from the penalty mark

Lodge Secondary fought valiantly but could not hold Waramadong

essons in humility were taught at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Training Facility at Providence, EBD on Monday afternoon when victors of the first two preliminary games suffered tough losses as the Petra-organized KFC Goodwill Tournament continued.

The Shiva Boys Hindu College made a great claim to their title retention when they brushed aside a once dominant Annai Secondary, while Waramadong schooled the Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers Champions, Lodge Secondary.

Coming off of a thrilling 6-1 victory over Marian Academy on Saturday last, Lodge Secondary had the necessary momentous ammunition heading into the first encounter of the day against an

A penalty opportunity afforded to Lodge paved the way for their consolation goal, as Dorwin George made no mistake from the penalty mark in the 53rd minute.

Ovid Andrews hammered the final nail in the Lodge coffin in the 67th minute to give Waramadong a 3-1 victory.

The Shiva Boys team seemed to have had a walk in the park against Annai Secondary, who had looked threatening in their first preliminary game.

Starting on a high note, Annai had brushed aside Annandale Secondary by a 9-1 margin, and had looked as though they would pose a challenge to their Trinidadian counterparts.

L

untested Waramadong.

The teams took a while to get comfortable with each other’s playing style, but thereafter Waramadong wasted no time in decorating the score sheet.

Ovid Andrews was the first to find the back of the net, in the 35th minute. Trailing closely behind, Whitaker Paul made it a double with a goal in the 35th, to put Lodge under serious pressure.

While the Lodge slippage can be attributed to their missing goalkeeper Rashad Roberts, his stand-in, Joshua Denny, represented well, as he held off a hail of shots which could have made the score sheet even more alarming.

They flattered to deceive on Monday, as the defending champions kept Annai quiet for the entire encounter.

Captain Adica Ash put on a brilliant performance for the team from the twin-island republic, as his hat trick comprised goals scored in the 23rd, 66th and 89th minutes for his team’s 3-0 win.

The final preliminary games will be contested tomorrow (Wednesday, December 18), when Annandale Secondary take on Shiva Boys Hindu College at 1pm, and Waramadong go toe-to-toe with Marian Academy at 3pm.

The semifinals and final will be contested on Friday, December 20 and Sunday, December 22.

tuesday, DECember 17, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

UG Sports Awards 2019…

Page 22

Seymour advises athletes to use talents to foster discipline Page 21

Former Guyanese cricketer Basil Butcher dies

KFC Goodwill Tournament…

Shiva Boys, Waramadong start on a high note Page 22

For request and renewal of Guyana Times newspaper subscription, call 231-0544 | ext 26 or 55 GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.