Guyana Times Tuesday December 24, 2019

P14

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

Issue No. 4147

Police issue plan to ease Christmas Eve traffic congestion

THE BEACON OF TRUTH tuesday, december 24, 2019

Exxon makes 15th oil discovery offshore Guyana See story on page 7

…pushes Stabroek Block beyond 6B barrels H2H verification

Over 6500 ‘new’ registrants cannot be located – GECOM Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Guyanese P15 couple die in Canada smashup

Labourer P8 stabbed to death with BBQ fork GPL promises reliable electricity supply for Christmas P15

...less than 4 months after $3B exercise

No charges for boys who sodomised 6-year-old P10 5 sentenced to death, 3 jailed for killing Journalist P17

People's Progressive Party/Civic Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali visited several communities in the Berbice River on Monday, meeting with residents to listen to their concerns and discuss plans for the future of Guyana

Norway releases final $9.1B in climate funds to Guyana Page 10

Approaching IOCs to sell first lifts could Page lead to corruption 7 ꟷ financial analyst

Bus, taxi P15 fares should not be hiked on Christmas Eve – Minibus Association P3 Police unearth over 46kg ganja at roadblock

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TUESday, DECEMBER 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

news

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TUESday, DECEMBER 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Tuesday, December 24 – 03:30h – 05:00h and 14:30h – 16:00h and Wednesday, December 25 – 04:00h – 05:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, December 24 – 15:10h – 16:40h and Wednesday, December 25 – 15:50h – 17:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals are expected during the day.

Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 30 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 15:10h maximum height of

reaching a 2.66 metres.

Low Tide: 08:44h and 21:14h reaching minimum heights of 0.71 metre and 0.54 metre.

H2H verification

Over 6500 ‘new’ registrants cannot be located – GECOM ...less than 4 months after $3B exercise

O

ver 6500 persons of the 16,863 ‘new’ registrants were not confirmed in the five-day field verification exercise conducted by the Guyana Elections Commission which concluded on Sunday.

The figures released to the media on Monday evening show that Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) has the highest number of unconfirmed persons – ie 3657.

According to GECOM, there were 16,863 ‘new’ registrants but only 10,329 were confirmed. The figures show 6534 people were not confirmed.

Meanwhile, at a meeting on Monday, GECOM Commissioners discussed dates and timelines with respect to Nomination Day, approval of symbols and other matters pertaining to preparations for the upcoming General and Regional Elections which is slated for March 2, 2020.

Over the weekend, even before GECOM released the figures, chief scrutineer of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Zulficar Mustapha told this publication that not all of the persons listed as ‘new’ registrants were found during the verification.

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

The People’s Progressive Party has always contended that the House-to-House (H2H) exercise, which ran from July 20 to August 31 and cost $3 billion, was largely unsupervised and would produce flawed results. The party subsequently found that many of the persons listed as new registrants are either dead or were previously registered.

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

However, it was recently reported that international digital security company, Gemalto, indicated that some 37,300 were new registrants who are eligible

for voting, that is, they are above the age of 18. But an internal check conducted by GECOM showed that approximately 17,000 of those “new registrants” were already on the voters’ list and some even voted in the past.

The remaining 20,000 “new names” were up for further verification. Previously, it was reported that the

Government-nominated Commissioners were pushing to have a sample survey done from a sample size of 10 per cent from the 20,000 to verify these new names before they go on the voters’ list – a process which the PPP Opposition had objected to.

That figure was further reduced to 16,863 names af-

ter multiple registrations were found.

At last Tuesday’s statutory meeting, there was a split vote on whether to proceed with a field verification exercise or not. GECOM Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh then sided with the Opposition and used her casting vote to break the deadlock.

Police unearth over 46kg ganja at roadblock

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olice unearthed 46.25 kilograms of ganja during a roadblock at Weldaad Police Station, Berbice, on Monday.

According to Police, at about 12:00h on Monday ranks intercepted an Eastbound public transportation vehicle, conducted a search and found concealed, 35 parcels of suspected cannabis.

The 26-year-old driver/mechanic of Corentyne, Berbice, was arrested and is assisting with the investigation.

The parcels of cannabis which were intercepted during a police roadblock

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, DECEMBER 24, 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

Hunger in festive season

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t this time of year, Guyanese from all walks of life are engaged -- some more than others -- in preparation for Christmas. It is a most anticipated occasion, and cuts across religious boundaries, epitomizing enviable tolerance, a hallmark for Guyana and Guyanese. While it is a time for celebration, there are some who would be unable to do so for various reasons, including health, bereavement, and the lack of financial resources.

Despite those challenges, traditionally, Guyanese have found a way, modest as it may be, to participate in aspects of what the season represents. That does not take away from the fact that there are families whose circumstances would not allow for any semblance of participation. Breadwinners who had lost their jobs would find it extremely difficult to provide any necessity for celebration. That, in itself, brings humiliation to those already broadsided by the circumstances they face, similarly for those who may not be able to access a meal.

The absence of a meal presents a very distressing situation, wherein some Guyanese could unfortunately go hungry during this season. Only recently, the Leader of the Opposition alluded to what he believes has been a return of hunger among some Guyanese. He pointed out that he never thought he would have seen such a situation recurring.

That is in the context of the unprecedented development and positive transformation of the lives of Guyanese during the twenty-three years the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) was in government. Despite inheriting a poor, highly indebted and bankrupt country in 1992, the PPPC was able to transform the social and physical infrastructure and drastically reduce poverty.

During that time, Guyanese had seen their lives improved, and accumulated wealth through home ownership and other assets. In addition, hunger became something of the past. A stark contrast followed the 2015 elections, as poor fiscal policies of the APNU/AFC government led to a downturn of the economy, thousands of jobs lost, and lack of investments.

Those combined factors have resulted in many Guyanese facing unnecessary hardships, with some being plunged into poverty, which can precipitate hunger. Much has been said about the devastating social impact, especially on the thousands of sugar workers who were fired following the closure of some estates after 2015. Horrific stories of dire poverty and hunger forcing undesirable alternatives have been told.

It is therefore extremely worrying that some Guyanese are experiencing hunger, and could go hungry during this festive season.

As always, Guyanese, either individually or through organizations, would reach out via charitable endeavours to assist those in need, especially at this time. That unbridled generosity, which has become a fixture, must be commended and encouraged, since for some of our fellow citizens it provides when things are hard to come by.

Here, in Guyana, Christmas is deemed unique, for the spirt of sharing and bringing joy to others seems to be embedded in the characteristic of our people. While these welcomed gestures would go a far way in assisting the needy and the less fortunate, from a macro perspective, the return of hunger is not only a major cause for concern, but an indictment on those who hold the reins of power.

One of the criticisms of this government is alleged extravagance.

Many have opined that the nation’s financial resources were not prudently managed, and have been channelled to some areas that reportedly benefit no one; expensive drones to the tune of some 186 million dollars being the latest example. Before that, repainting state edifices in green; building Durban Park when the National Park is just a stone’s throw away; an increased Government through some twenty-eight Ministers; extravagant celebrations; increased security and dietary needs, and constructing a massive fence around the Ministry of the Presidency are seen as totally unnecessary.

Many believe those monies and sums spent in other areas deemed a non-priority could have been used to support the sugar industry, thereby not only saving thousands of jobs, but preventing the crippling and humiliating social impact on those workers and their families. In other words, money saved from extravagance could more than likely have prevented the return of hunger in a nation that was classified as a developing one at 2015.

What is also worrying is the manner in which some Government cronies have dismissed the return of poverty. In their exuberance to naturally defend the Government, they have failed to accept the situation that has been imposed on workers who were fired. They have failed to accept that those workers and their families have continued to suffer Christmas after Christmas since 2015. They have failed to accept that the Government has refused to give sugar workers a bonus, which was granted to Public Servants.

One could ask if sugar workers are directly targeted to wallow in poverty. Whatever the argument, it’s difficult to argue against the fact that some Guyanese would unfortunately be unable to experience the true meaning of the season and some would be imbued with the pangs of hunger. The irony in a festive time could not be clearer.

WHAT TO GET? This father was spotted on Regent Street, Georgetown with his daughter inspecting toys as Christmas Day fast approaches (Dexter Ceres photo)

Courage, vision of JJ and BJ: Guyana now officially an oil-producing country

Dear Editor, According to a release from ExxonMobil and a statement from the Energy Department, Guyana, as of December 20, 2019, is now officially an oil-producing country. This is a proud moment for all Guyanese. This is a moment that can transform our country, bringing socio-economic benefits for all Guyanese. The possibilities are endless. In spite of many misgivings, oil is undoubtedly good for Guyana.

In spite of serious concerns, Exxon and the big oil companies flocking to Guyana are good for our country.

There is no sure thing, but oil places Guyana in a position to propel itself into a high middle-income country immediately and the talk of being a developed country is no longer utopian rhetoric.

Sure, oil by itself is not going to make these possibilities real. Many other things will have to fall in place, but Guyana has its best shot of achieving its “El Dorado” destiny at this very moment. We will either grab the opportunity and seize the possibilities or we will damn ourselves.

We did not reach this fork in the road by accident. We got here because two momentous decisions were made in the last two decades. The first was made

by Janet Jagan (JJ). When JJ agreed to solicit and encourage big oil to explore seriously in Guyana’s waters, it was a decision she made against her own lifetime distrust of big oil and big multinational corporation.

But she was convinced that among Guyana’s natural resources was an oil resource and she persuaded herself that only big oil could confirm that such a resource existed. Her own ideology and make-up, her own determination that Guyana must own and benefit from its resources made it difficult for a decision to provide enough incentives for big oil to be interested.

I know. After dealing with her Cabinet and her party executives, she often talked to me about her concerns and misgivings.

But in the end, she made a decision, difficult for her, but one she had to make in the interest of Guyana.

Many commentators, some of whom today are basking in the glory of oil, denounced and blasted her decision. After oil findings were confirmed beginning in March 2015, these same commentators were ugly in denouncing the exploration agreements, condemning the concessions provided to Exxon and big oil. But without the exploration agreements in 1999 and what some considered as generous incentives, Guyana would not have been an official oil-producing country today.

The second momentous decision that contributed to Guyana today being an oil-producing country is the decision made by Bharat Jagdeo (BJ) after Suriname attacked with its gunboats an oil exploration team from CGX in the deep sea in 2002. The then President

BJ decided in April 2004, with total backing from his Cabinet, to approach the International Tribunal on the Laws of the Sea under the UNCLOS treaty for a decision to confirm Guyana’s maritime borders in Guyana’s EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), using the formula of the Laws of the Seas. The laws and the treaty agreed to by virtually all countries, including Guyana and Suriname, under the UNCLOS, determined how rights in the seas and oceans and national EEZs are determined.

Guyana was always convinced that our borders and rights to the seas and our EEZ were in accordance with the UNCLOS laws and agreements. Suriname sought to interpret those laws differently to expand its rights to maritime hydrocarbon resources.

It was a difficult decision to place our destiny in the hands of an international court, but Bharat Jagdeo displayed the courage and the vision necessary to do so. He chose legal recourse over a military confrontation. This decision built on the platform JJ created by issuing exploration agreements with big oil. Guyana won that case when the International Tribunal ruled in 2007 and the opportunities to explore for hydrocarbons exploded.

The decision to approach the International Tribunal was not based only on the Suriname attack on CGX, it was based on decades of Suriname refusing to hon-

our mutual agreements on the use of the sea by the two countries. The approach to the international court was a risky one and many commentators had misgivings.

In the end, Guyana won that case and removed all uncertainties for exploration in Guyana’s seas.

Some will argue that the 2004 approach to the international judiciary and its 2007 decision have nothing to do with the Exxon exploration and discovery because the Exxon fields are well away from the limits of Guyana’s EEZ. But the UNCLOS approach demonstrated that Guyana and her leaders had the courage to defend itself and its resources and this provided confidence for the big investors to explore knowing that Guyana will not be cowered into not issuing exploration and production licenses.

For those who think it is impossible for our politicians to work together, consider this. In 2004, when BJ announced Guyana was going to the International Tribunal of the UNCLOS, the then PNC gave unconditional support, even if privately some expressed doubts. When Guyana, through the APNU/AFC Government, approached the ICJ to defend the integrity of our borders with Venezuela, the Opposition PPP declared unconditional support. There is still hope that our politicians can work together for the benefit of Guyana. continued on page 5

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tuesday, DECEMBER 24, 2019

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

Probe needed into allegations of PNC-led Granger Administration massive land grab by MMA-ADA has left Guyanese behind

Dear Editor, At a time when farmers of Region Five are being told that their applications for state land to cultivate rice cannot be processed because no land is available, it is alleged that a Director on the Board of the Mahaica Mahaicony AbaryAgricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) and others, are involved in a massive land grab in an area near Abary, once occupied by the now-defunct Livestock Development Company - LIDCO. Dr Dwight Waldron is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA). He is also a Director of the MMAADA Board and member of its Lands Sub-Committee.

This Committee makes recommendations to the MMAADA Board for the approval and distribution of

Government land to farmers.

Reliable sources allege that an application for over 300 acres of land was applied for in the name of a female friend of Dr Waldron named Sharon. The Lands Sub-Committee of which Dr Waldron is a member, recommended this application which was approved by the MMA-ADA Board.

This in itself is a serious conflict of interest. Now, Dr Waldron is believed to be occupying hundreds of acres of state land illegally in the same LIDCO area without the approval of the MMAADA Board. A Hi-Mac excavator has been seen working to clear the land, and the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock vehicle he is assigned to is used to transport seed paddy and other planting materials unto the site.

In addition, it is also alleged that large sums of

Courage, vision of...

These two courageous and visionary decisions play a pivotal role in Guyana finally joining the ranks of oil-producing countries.

Other persons played a role.

President Donald Ramotar provided support and encouragement during the initial exploration drills that finally led to the April 2015 confirmation that oil was present in commercial levels in Guyana. The transformation of the exploration agreements into production agreements was eventually signed in 2016 by President Granger. Mistakes have been made, but Guyana is now an oil-producing coun-

try.

On paper, Guyana is about to become one of the richest countries in the world. Our GDP is about to almost double from about US$4500 to more than US$9000 per capita and overall from about US$5 billion to almost US$10 billion annually. Transparent and accountable management of the oil resources can lead to socio-economic transformation. Those in charge of these resources now must acknowledge we begin life as an oil-producing country with some serious missteps which have to be corrected. Those who will be in

bribe money have been paid by individuals to some members of the MMA-ADA Board and senior staff to help them acquire state land.

These are serious allegations that require Dr Waldron to come clean to protect his character. I have no problem mentioning names because I have tremendous confidence in the accuracy of the information I receive from my sources.

And as my lawyer always reiterates, the best defence to a lawsuit is the truth!

I now call upon the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, to investigate this allegation of massive land grab, and the high level of corruption involving some members of the MMA-ADA Board.

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament From page 4

charge in the future must be guided by the principle that oil resources must reach the most vulnerable in our country. While international oil companies are sure to get richer, Guyana must ensure all of our people benefit meaningfully from oil and not only a handful. It is times like these when the courage and vision of those who made this happen must be acknowledged. In this regard, the two momentous decisions by JJ and BJ have brought us to this transformative moment.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Dear Editor, Minutes before Exxon’s announcement that it has started production of oil in Guyana, Mr David Granger delivered an address to the nation heralding the start of oil production and assuring that “no one will be left behind”. But what has the PNC-led Granger team done over the last 4 years and 5 months but leave the people of this nation behind? All that team Granger did was to work arduously to enrich the 500 or so members of the Granger cabal and their friends and family.

The question that Mr Granger should really be asking himself rather than seeking to fool the nation is – “Has a deposit of cash been made at the Bank of Guyana because of first oil”? Both he and I know that zero dollars was deposited at the Central Bank because of the first day of oil production and we may have to wait for months before we see pennies on the dollars from this Guyanese crude oil. But upon checking, I found that the investors earned some US$2.2 million for that “first day” of production which will be added to their asset base as ballast (stabiliser in the boat). This reality clearly represents the exploitation that is happening to the Guyanese people as a result of this 2016 contract that was authored and executed

by Team Granger.

But in addition to the exploitation of the people as is being facilitated by

team Granger, these people are also disconnected from the pains of the man in the street. History has proven such indifference to the plight of the people always end up hurting the rulers at the ballot box. Does team Granger know just how angry the Guyanese people are? Those who have taken the time to study the cash distribution clauses on this Stabroek Block contract are even more outraged.

The local media have done a fine job of bringing this knowledge to the people by way of their newspaper reports or publication of the actual contract documents. So if Mr Granger believes that the people are unaware of what is happening, all he has to do is to dissect why the excitement and euphoria at the announcement of first oil are so mute across Guyana. As I walk the streets of Guyana, I am reassured by many people that they are upset at how team Granger continues to play with their intelligence.

The people know what is happening Mr Granger, and they are waiting for you at the ballot box.

And in every circus, there must be a “dog and pony show”. And up comes Mr Moses Nagamootoo with his usual hilarious commentary. This time his parody of comedy starts with the phrase – “out of economic bondage” after the first day of oil production. How more clueless can a public official get? Over the last 4 years

and 5 months, it is public policies crafted by people like Mr Nagamootoo in team Granger that has subjected the Guyanese masses to a level of economic depression, only comparable to the bad old days of the ERP under the PNC when empty rice pots was a real occurrence in many kitchens.

So no amount of sugar coating from Mr Granger or Mr Nagamootoo or anyone else will erase how raped the people feel this Christmas because the PNC’s man signed on the dotted line and bequeathed our patrimony for peanuts on this oil deal.

Then to add salt to our injury, team Granger has abandoned the local Private Sector by failing to put any administrative framework in place to facilitate a seamless insertion of Guyanese-owned businesses into the international oil services trade that is happening on our soil. The outcome of such policy paralysis on the part of team Granger is that many local businesses have been made into aliens in their own country when it comes to this oil services trade.

So do not be surprised Mr Granger when the people speak directly to you on March 2, 2020. What is important is that you act like an adult and not a child and accept the voice of the people when they speak to you directly on March 2, 2020.

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

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tuesday, DECEMBER 24, 2019

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Foundation

G

et the kids in the kitchen at Christmas with these festive recipes. It might be messy but it will be fun and yum!

Rudolph pancakes

What could be a better breakfast on Christmas morning than these fun Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer pancakes? The kids will think all their Christmases have come at once!

Ingredients * 1 cup (250ml) milk * 1 egg, lightly beaten * 1 cup (150g) self-raising flour * 2 tbsp butter * 4 rashers streaky bacon * 4 white marshmallows * 8 dark choc chips * 4 strawberries Method 1. Make a basic pancake batter by whisking together milk and egg in a large bowl. Sift over flour and whisk until smooth.

2. Melt 2 teaspoons butter in a large frying pan. Pour in batter to form one large circle, one smaller circle and two triangles for ears. Cook for a couple of minutes until bubbles form, flip and cook for a further minute until cooked through. Remove and keep warm. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

3. Cut bacon rashers in half and cook until crisp. To arrange Rudolph, place the large pancake on a plate. Place smaller pancake on top. Position rashers for antlers and the triangular pancakes for ears. Decorate with marshmallow eyes and strawberry nose.

4. Cut marshmallows in half. Press a choc chip into the centre of each half.

Christmas tree brownies

These Christmas tree brownies make gorgeous Christmas gifts to give or just look great to take on a platter for a party. They are easy to make and even the kids can help with this recipe. They are a traditional brownie recipe with a Christmas spin!

Ingredients * 3/4 cup butter (melted) * 1 1/4 cup sugar * 2 tsp vanilla extract * 3 eggs

* 3/4 cup self-raising flour * 1/2 cup cocoa powder (sifted) * 1 tub Betty Crocker vanilla icing * M&Ms Method 1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a round cake tin with baking paper and set aside.

2. In a bowl, beat the sugar and eggs together and light and fluffy.

3. Beat in the flour, melted butter, cocoa and vanilla until well combined.

4. Pour into cake tin and bake for 25-30 minutes.

5. Leave to cool and slice into eight wedges.

6. Place the vanilla icing in a zip-lock bag and snip the corner off. Pipe the icing onto the wedges to cover the whole brownie.

7. Place a rice cracker into the bottom to create a tree stump.

8. Decorate with various decorations to your liking.

Little cookie houses

Gingerbread houses are a true Christmas tradition. These little cookie houses are a simplified version that the kids will love making and eating.

Ingredients * 2 cup icing sugar * 2 tbs milk * 1 packet of vanilla or chocolate Shirley or Devon biscuits * 1 handful lollies * 1 handful M&Ms * 1 handful sprinkles Method 1. Sift icing sugar into a large bowl. Add milk a little at a time and stir until you have a thick, paste-like icing.

2. Spread a little icing onto one biscuit and top with another to form the base of a house. Spread icing onto this top biscuit as well. Repeat to make six bases.

3. Spread some more icing along the long edge of one biscuit and press it against another to create a V shape. Place this upside down onto a base, using icing to adhere. Repeat to make six houses.

4. Decorate the houses with lollies using icing to stick them to the roof and base. (Excerpt from kidspot.com.au)

‘T

By Clement Clarke Moore

was the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; “Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN! On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, H A P P Y CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT! (teachervision.com)

7 Exxon makes 15th oil discovery offshore Guyana NEWS

TUESday, DECEMBER 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…pushes Stabroek Block beyond 6B barrels

By Jarryl Bryan

F

resh on the heels of first oil, ExxonMobil announced on Monday that it had made its 15th oil find off the coast of Guyana and the fifth for this year, this time striking oil in its Mako-1 well southeast of the Liza Field.

In a statement, Exxon explained that the discovery added to the more than six billion oil equivalent barrels estimated for the Block.

According to Exxon, the drill ship encountered 164 feet of high-quality oil-bearing reservoirs.

The Mako-1 well was drilled in 5315 feet of water and is just 10 kilometres southeast of the Liza Field.

This is Exxon’s fifth oil find for the year, with the last oil find being the Tripletail dis-

covery in September.

In his comments accompanying the statement, Exxon’s Senior Vice President in charge of exploration and new ventures, Mike Cousins, gave credit to its full-wave seismic technology for the rapid development of the Block.

“New discoveries in this world-class basin have the potential to support additional developments. Our proprietary full-wave seismic inversion technology continues to help us better define our discovered resource and move rapidly to the development phase,” Cousins said.

In a Ministry of the Presidency statement, Energy Department head, Dr Mark Bynoe called this a historic moment. He also noted that his department would continue to strengthen

Exxon Senior Vice President Mike Cousins

its capacity and put in place a legislative framework.

“This discovery by ExxonMobil and its partners comes on the heels of the start of oil production.

The Cooperative Republic of Guyana is experiencing a truly historic moment that has all the ingredients to facilitate a paradigm shift to-

wards sustained economic transformation,” Dr Bynoe was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Exxon continues its drilling activities with four drill ships to further explore and appraise new resources. The company also noted that pending Government approvals and project sanctioning of a third development, production from the Payara field north of the Liza discoveries could start as early as 2023, with oil production reaching an estimated 220,000 barrels per day.

Top producer

It was only a few months ago that Guyana was ranked second in the world, after only Russia, for most oil finds this year. This was revealed in a report by Norwegian research company Rystad

Approaching IOCs to sell first lifts could lead to corruption – financial analyst

…questions Dept of Energy’s explanation for method to sell oil

T

he Department of Energy’s decision to approach several International Oil Companies (IOCs) to sell Guyana’s crude has not only raised eyebrows at the Audit Office of Guyana (AOG). It also has finance professionals questioning the move.

In an interview with financial analyst and accountant Sase Singh, he was of the view that the transaction leaves the entire process susceptible to corruption. This is not unique to Guyana, as many oil-producing countries have fallen prey to corruption in their dealings with various IOCs, who have been documented paying off officials.

“While we should have been able to go to the market in a transparent way to auction our oil, we have not done it. What is happening is a very opaque, dark, non-transparent transaction that is susceptible to corruption,” he said.

Singh does not believe in the explanation given by the Energy Department that the oil has to be subjected to

tests not only in the refinery but also on the market.

According to the financial analyst, persons’ familiar with the industry already have an idea of the value of Guyana’s crude and what kind of price it will fetch.

“Absolutely ludicrous.

The world has already tested different shades and shapes of oil on all the markets. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Selling oil is a standard operating procedure across the globe.

People know what grade of oil to sell. People know what the market is like and how it operates. People know where the supply and demand is.

There’s no testing needed for Guyana.”

“Seeing as they dropped the ball in 2019, they could have sold the first lifts to Exxon and say hey, we need some time to go to the market transparently, but we’re already doing business with Exxon. So sell the first and second lifts, this then gives us time to set up a system that is transparent. Why this deliberate attempt to go the dark way? It has exposed the

transaction to corruption.”

The Energy Department had announced that it approached a number of IOCs, with a view of having them vie to sell Guyana’s crude.

These companies include Exxon, CNOOC, Hess, BP (British Petroleum), Chevron, Shell, Total, E&I. This news was immediately criticised by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

In addition, Auditor General Deodat Sharma has said in sections of the media that his department would look into the transaction.

Singh also spoke about the general lack of preparation for the oil sector. For one, first oil, he said, has come and met Guyana without critical safeguards like a Local Content Policy and related legislation.

He pointed out that the coalition Government knew definitively since May 2015 that Guyana had oil reserves. Singh pointed out that they had four years and change to put in place the necessary measures so that Guyana could comprehensively manage the sector. In

that time, however, all the Government has completed is the National Resource Fund Act. “Team Granger’s priorities is all pageantry, politics and parades. What they should be doing is spending more time on public policy formulation, conceptualisation and implementation, so that the good life can come to the people,” he said.

“But they only parrot this term the good life, without backing it up with actionable strategies. So they can come to the people and say, we have done this for you on this oil investment. And you can expect this and that by such and such a time. There is no project planning.”

Diagram of the Stabroek Block showing some of the previous discoveries

Energy, which compiled all the discoveries of oil around the world and came up with a list of the top 10 countries.

At the time, Russia was followed closely by Guyana, where oil was found in the Liza 1 field in the Stabroek Block by the US-based ExxonMobil and in the Orinduik Block by British oil firm Tullow.

A distant third was Cyprus. They were followed by South Africa, Malaysia, Norway, Angola and Indonesia. The United Kingdom (UK) and the US were in the cellar on the top 10 oil finds list.

Commenting on the steep rise in oil drilling in the Caribbean, the report had noted that in 2013, only seven offshore wells were drilled in the Region. Now, the report noted, 23 new exploration wells are expected for 2019.

“Rystad Energy expects the Guyana-Suriname basin will continue to occupy headlines with a few planned wells in both Guyana and Suriname. The basin is pinned as one of the most prospective, underexplored basins in the world and will definitely get a facelift from its current assigned volumes if hydrocarbons are estab-

lished towards the east,” a statement from the company had said.

So far, Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) – Exxon’s local subsidiary – has now made 15 oil finds in the Stabroek Block over 100 miles offshore Guyana.

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 approximately 30 wells.

The Liza Destiny, Guyana’s first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, arrived in local waters at the end of August. The vessel will play a key role in oil production.

It was only on Friday that first oil officially started flowing in the Liza field, which has the capacity to produce 120,000 barrels of oil per day. While the news has been greeted with optimism in some quarters, others have not shared this sunny outlook. There has been criticism that critical policies such as a local content policy is not in place.

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TUESday, DECEMBER 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Labourer stabbed to death with BBQ fork

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32-year-old labourer was on Sunday stabbed to death with a barbecue fork, after an altercation between himself and a fisherman.

Dead is Balchan “Avai” Baichan, who had no fixed place of abode.

Reports are the incident occurred at about 13:20h at the suspect’s house, located at Logwood Squatting Area, Enmore North, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Police investigation revealed that the 67-year-old suspect was imbibing on his verandah when Baichan en-

tered his yard. According to the police, the fisherman asked him to leave but he refused. This led to an argument and the suspect then armed himself with a barbecue fork and stabbed Baichan to his neck. The injured man was rushed to the Nabacalis Health Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body was later taken to Jerrick’s Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, the pensioner was taken into custody and is assisting with the investigation.

Just last October, a 22-year-old fisherman was knifed to death in front of his home by a young man with whom he had an old grievance. Noel Singh of Lot 33 Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, was returning home from a local bar where he and his friends had been consuming alcohol and as he arrived in front of his yard, he was confronted by the suspect.

This led to a continuation of an argument the duo had some six days prior to the stabbing incident. The row, however, escalated and the

suspect reportedly whipped out a knife from his waistband and stabbed Singh twice to the left side of his chest and once to his back.

He then cut the fisherman along his left wrist.

As a result, Singh collapsed and fell into a drain in front of his yard. He managed to climb out and was picked up by one of his friends, who raised an alarm. The injured teen’s brother and others rushed him to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara (WCD), but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Man busted with cannabis at NA bus park

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anks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Sunday nabbed a New Amsterdam, Berbice man after he was found with a quantity of cannabis.

Officers of the Central Police Station acting on information received proceeded to the Route 56 bus park, located at New Amsterdam Stelling Road.

The man, who resides at Ferry Street, NA, was searched and three parcels of suspected cannabis were found. The weighed substance amounted to 465 grams.

He was arrested and is being processed for court.

The 2019 Guyana Drug Information Network (GUYDIN) Report revealed that more than 500 persons were charged with drug-related offences during the course of last year.

Of the 500 persons

charged, 110 of them were convicted for trafficking narcotics, that is, 89 for trafficking marijuana and 21 for trafficking cocaine. Additionally, a total of 38 were convicted for the possession of narcotics in 2018 – 14 for posses-

sion of marijuana, five for possession of cocaine, and seven for possession of other drugs such as ecstasy, heroin and meth. There were no convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia.

The report went on to reveal that a total of 579,412 kilograms of narcotics were taken off of the streets in 2018. This included 1050.3 kg marijuana, 182.6 kg cocaine, 0.72 kg ecstasy, 0.30 kg heroin, and 0.10 kg meth that were seized by authorities last year and a total of 578,178 kilograms of marijuana plants that were destroyed during that period.

before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and denied the charge which stated that on November 29, 2019, at Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded

Navindra Kumar.

The court heard on Monday that the two men had a misunderstanding when the 49-year-old father of two took an object out of his pocket and wounded the

virtual complaint. A report was made and Morris was arrested.

Magistrate IsaacsMarcus released Morris on $60,000 bail. The case will continue on January 6, 2020.

old Andre Pollydore of South Ruimveldt, Greater Georgetown appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and denied the charge, which stated that on December

18, 2019 at Sheriff Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, he had in his possession one 9mm pistol without being the holder of a firearm licence in force at the time.

He was represented by

Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd, who, in a bail application, told the court that his client was innocent, noting that the alleged firearm was found in a car which had four other occupants.

The court heard that Police ranks, acting on information, stopped motor vehicle PWW 57, in which Pollydore was among the occupants. A search was conducted and the firearm was found in the front passenger seat. But another prosecutor who was in court told the Magistrate that Pollydore handed over the gun to the ranks when the vehicle was stopped.

Following the conflicting statements by the Prosecutors, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus released the ex-cop on $100,000 bail.

However, as a condition for bail, Pollydore has to report to the Kitty Police Station every Friday until the conclusion of the case. The case will continue on January 27, 2020.

In 2017, Pollydore and two others, including excop Teon Alleyne, were charged after Police found firearms and ammunition at a house in Campbellville, Georgetown.

The men were slapped with four charges each: two for illegal firearm possession and two for illegal possession of ammunition.

The illegal substance found during the search at New Amsterdam, Berbice

Amputee granted bail on wounding charge

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n amputee was slapped with a wounding charge and granted bail on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Gary Morris appeared

Ex-cop granted bail on illegal firearm charge

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n ex-cop was on Monday granted bail on an illegal firearm possession charge when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Thirty-two-year-

Perspective…

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…on Desmond Hoyte ver the weekend, the PNC commemorated the 17th death anniversary of Desmond Hoyte, who’d succeeded Burnham as President back in 1985 – when the former suddenly expired. As PNC leader, Granger has to observe the formalities established before Corbin rigged the 2011 internal PNC elections to make him such.

But one wonders what goes through his mind at how the Burnhamites, in general, and he in particular, were treated

by Hoyte after he was thrust into the presidency.

Hoyte didn’t really have a mass base in the PNC, like say Hamilton Green. The latter was kept out of the Prime Ministership for that very reason – since he could’ve mounted a challenge to Burnham from there. Hoyte was the loyal apparatchik who’d worked in Burnham’s law offices and “taken care of business” in the Elections Commission as the PNC rep in 1967, in preparation for the first rigging of 1968. Hoyte also represented in court most of the bigger thugs who did the PNC’s dirty work in the 1960s.

But cognisant of his mass support deficit, Hoyte moved quickly and determinedly to ease out the Burnhamites from positions of power through “deployments”, demotions and dismissals. He moved out Burnham’s two ideologues – first Elvin Mc David to Russia as ambassador, then bypassed David Granger as head of the army by bringing in Joe Singh immediately from the Guyana National Service. He didn’t want any coup from that quarter: he knew Burnham had appointed Granger to the position by pipping several senior officers to head off infiltration by Walter Rodney in 1979. Singh, unlike Granger, couldn’t foment a coup!!

The ultimate insult and humiliation was to make Joe Singh as Chief of Staff of the entire Disciplined Forces and appointing Granger as “security advisor” – who was never called upon to give advice!! This was when Granger boned up on history and – even though long in the tooth - was given a US Humphry Fellow to study journalism.

Hamilton Green was peripheralised and eventually kicked out after 1992 – only to be rescued in 2015 by – guess who? – Granger!! Viola and Chandisingh were kept in the beginning as symbolic sops to the Burnhamite faithful as Hoyte brought in a slew of “moderates” – who were notable for their lack of a political base – to “democratise” the PNC. On Sunday, Granger bigged up Hoyte for “crafting” the ERP – never mind the IMF imposed its one-size-fits-all neoliberal, Washington Consensus prescription of stabilisation, privatisation and liberalisation!! The resultant high “growth rates” were because Hoyte removed the Government’s hands from the throat of the economy after controlling “the commanding heights of the economy”.

Granger agreed with Green that Hoyte should’ve never accepted the 1992 elections’ results!! …on H2H registrants Today, we’re supposed to be getting the final numbers of those actually found in their homes – from the 16,339 names whittled out of the 370,000 from the aborted H2H exercise and deemed “new”. From the trends it’s possible that 11,000 might be found – and this raises several interesting questions.

First, how many are over 23 – who could’ve voted in 2015 (being at least 18+5) but didn’t – since their names aren’t on the NRR, created in 2001 and updated in the H2H of 2008? Are these phantoms?? Then what happens with those 5000 or so who weren’t “found”?? If we accept the addition of the “found” 11,000 to the RLE, do we then “drop” the 5000 names – which we’re told, we can’t do??

As PNC’s Vincent Alexander insists, in for a penny, in for a pound?? Are these 5000 the PNC’s extra seat?

Should we extend the “search parties” exercise for another few days, since it’s more likely everybody will be home for Christmas? …on first oil A friend insists your Eyewitness shouldn’t be using inductive logic on the PNC’s horrible track record on economic development to be so “pessimistic” on oil.

So, if the sun’s been rising in the east for eternity, we shouldn’t predict it’ll rise there tomorrow?

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

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TUESday, DECEMBER 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Norway releases final $9.1B No charges for boys who in climate funds to Guyana sodomised 6-year-old

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ith Guyana just months away from General and Regional Elections, Norway has decided to release some $393.4 million Norwegian Kroner or $9.1 billion in climate-related funds, to the David Granger-led caretaker Government.

This was announced

by Head of the Project Management Office in the Ministry of the Presidency, Dr Marlon Bristol, in a statement on Monday. According to Bristol, the money will go into the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), which is administered by the World Bank.

According to Bristol, the funds were released last Wednesday to the World Bank, which issued a confirmation on Monday that the funds, which represent the remainder of the country’s 2009 pledge, were received.

According to him, the funds

Norway has released the final tranche of money pledged for Guyana based on its forest cover

will be used in a number of areas, including the European Union Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).

“The funds will be used for projects in areas such as renewable energy, ‘green’ tourism, biodiversity, strengthening of Indigenous mechanisms, and the European Union-FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) Partnership, which is a legally binding trade agreement between the European Union and a timber-producing country outside the EU,” Bristol was

also quoted saying.

It is unclear how readily the Government should have access to these funds, since they fell to a NoConfidence Motion since December 2018 and will not be holding elections until March 2020 – well over a year after it was defeated by the motion. The Constitution of Guyana stipulates that elections must be held within three months of the passage of a No-Confidence Motion.

The constitutional deadline for holding elections, as set out by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), had

expired as of September 18.

When it made its July 18 ruling on the no-confidence cases, the CCJ had said that the effect of the NoConfidence Motion was on pause while the cases were being litigated.

That process, CCJ President Adrian Saunders had said, was no longer on pause following the court’s June 18, 2019 ruling, which upheld the validity of the No-Confidence Motion and thus triggered the need for fresh elections.

In their ruling, the CCJ had also made it clear that the Government continued in office as a caretaker Government. The parliamentary Opposition and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, have made it clear that as a caretaker, the Government should only carry out routine functions and set the stage for new elections.

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o charges will be implemented against the two primary school boys, who allegedly sexually assaulted a sixyear-old student in the washroom of an East Coast Demerara (ECD) school.

This is according to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who after reviewing the file recommended counselling for the duo.

Divisional Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner Royston Andries-Junor when asked for an update on the matter said that the boys – aged nine and 10 – were interviewed by ranks and the file was sent for advice to the DPP, who recommended they receive counselling.

He added that the Child Care and Protection Agency is currently engaging the matter.

Social Protection Ministry’s Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) Director, Ann Greene had confirmed earlier this month that three primary school students have been implicated in the alleged sodomy of the six-year-old boy, who complained to his parents that he was sexually as-

saulted in the washroom.

Greene told Guyana Times that the traumatised child is receiving the necessary care he requires.

According to Greene, the CCPA was spearheading the probe.

The Education Ministry, in a release to the press following the incident, appealed to individuals to desist from sensationalising issues related to minors.

A police source has since revealed that one of the suspects has confessed to the assault, claiming that he inserted a pencil into the child’s anus while the second student denied the allegation.

In light of reports, parents came out in solidarity and called for the removal of the boys from the school.

Parents of students attending the school turned up in their numbers in front of the school’s premises and voiced their concerns by expressing fear for their children attending the school, where the alleged attack occurred.

They further claimed that the two boys are bullies and would usually harass other students by taking away their pencils and money.

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TUESday, DECEMBER 24, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Police issue plan to ease Christmas Eve traffic congestion T

he Guyana Police Force has outlined strategic routes for high-traffic areas today, as many motorists will be using the roadways for their Christmas Eve activities.

On Monday, it was announced that in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), vehicular traffic proceeding south from the Parika Stelling would proceed east into the Parika Old Road.

For Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), there will be no entry to east-bound traffic on Robb Street, between Alexander and Light Streets. At Bourda, there will also be no entry of vehicular traffic between Regent Street and North Road.

Meanwhile on Regent Street, Georgetown, no en-

Vehicular traffic last week at West Demerara

try will be permitted to east-bound traffic between Avenue of the Republic and Albert Street between 15:00h and 23:00h.

In Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), vehicles proceeding east will be diverted north into Bennett Dam, Rosignol and Burnham Avenue will be closed to southbound traffic.

Over in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), there will be a road closure at Main Street, New Amsterdam between St Ann and John Streets. Vehicles proceeding east will be diverted north or south into Rose Hall Access Road and vehicles proceeding west will be diverted north or south into JC Chandisingh

School Street.

Adding to that, Independence Road has been closed for vehicular traffic proceeding north.

Vehicles proceeding south will be diverted west into Bank Road, Corriverton.

Those proceeding north will be diverted into Number 79 Access Road.

This traffic control mechanism comes just a few days after residents of West Demerara requested better traffic management, owing to the build-up of vehicles for hours. The Christmas season has resulted in many traffic jams along the West Demerara Public Road, with lines extending hundreds of metres.

Last Thursday, several motorists and taxi operators had called for better traf-

fic management, especially at the Harbour Bridge and Vreed-en-Hoop junction in the early hours of the day.

In the morning, one driver told Guyana Times, he would spend 35 minutes travelling from Goed Fortuin to the junction – a journey that in normal circumstances would take just over 10 minutes. This is owing to motorists boycotting the lines to use the side-

walk, coupled with an increase in holiday shoppers crowding the streets.

Police Commissioner Leslie James recently spoke about traffic and carnage on the roadways, stating that motorists must develop better attitudes. He said that road users need to change their attitude, for there to be a significant reduction in minor, serious and fatal accidents.

Ruimveldt man admits to breaking into aunt’s store

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33-year-old labourer who admitted to breaking into his aunt’s boutique and carting

off a quantity of clothing, was on Monday remanded to prison.

Orlando Rickett of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

He admitted that on December 20, 2019, at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he broke and entered the boutique of Asha Gray and stole a quantity of luxury brand clothing valued $315,000 and $100,000.

The court heard that the Virtual Complainant secured her boutique at about 13:00h and went out but upon her return, she noticed that the door was open.

According to the prosecutor, upon entering the boutique the woman noticed several articles missing and reviewed the CCTV footage.

It was then she realised that it was her nephew who went in and exited with the items.

As such, she reported the matter to the police. He was remanded to prison and will be sentenced on January 20, 2020.

news

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TUESday, DECEMBER 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GPL promises reliable electricity Guyanese couple die in supply for Christmas Canada smash-up

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he Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is assuring its consumers that it remains committed to providing reliable electricity supply during the holiday season. According to the power company on Monday, efforts are being made to ensure the availability of its generating units, however, the inadequacies in the aged Transmission and Distribution (T&D) network continue to pose problems. The company further stated that it concluded preplanned maintenance activities on the T&D network and prudent operational practic-

es.

“GPL concluded preplanned maintenance activities on the T&D network on December 8. The team, however, continues to ensure that issues that could cause potential widespread outages during the holidays are addressed. In some instances, this may mean having localised outages for shorter periods of time. We apologise for these situations, but they are necessary, given the vulnerabilities of the T&D network,” GPL stated.

Moreover, it should be noted that the distribution

Bus, taxi fares should not be hiked on Christmas Eve – Minibus Association

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Buses on the Route 44 minibus park

nited Minibus Union (UMU) President Eon Andrews is calling on minibus and taxi drivers not to hike their fares today – Christmas Eve. Andrews related that fares should remain standard during the Christmas season, and no passenger should have to pay extra or exorbitant fares to get home.

“It is against the law. It is bullying people to pay… if the fare is one thing, that is it. Hire cars are also doing this nonsense, persons should make complaints to the Ministry of Business Consumer Affairs Department …. at any time of the day or night, the fare is standard and they choose the night to rob people,” Andrews said in an interview with Guyana Times.

Commuters are already complaining about the hike in fare by both minibuses and taxis.

When this publication visited the minibus parks around the city, persons expressed their concerns about the hiked fare.

A resident of Golden Grove on the ECD said: “The fare is $180, but the conduc-

tors are demanding $200.

Twenty dollars is not bad, but today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday), the fares will go sky-high.”

Another commuter related that he lived in Strathspey, ECD, where his fare is $140, but on Christmas Eve, he was usually forced to pay $500.

Meanwhile, Abigale Samuels of Victoria, ECD, said: “It is crazy on Christmas Eve; we always have to pay a lot of money to go home. The funny thing is, not only we will have to pay $500 and a $1000 to go home, but we will have to sit four and five in a seat. If we only talk about the double up, we will have to sleep in town,” she explained.

At the Route 42 Minibus Park, a resident of Soesdyke said that persons living on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway were also facing the same challenge.

“They calling for $300 today (Monday), but tomorrow we have to pay $1000 which is ridiculous. If we don’t pay it, how will we get home?

What I am scared of is that they got us sitting four in a seat to go home.”

network is circular and failure of any one component may result in service interruption to customers. The company noted that every effort will be made to avert these failures and to act promptly if they transpire. For this year, thousands of Guyanese were inconvenienced by the constant power outages due to, in one instance, the late delivery of fuel from the regular overseas supplier. Other issues with the T&D system has also left persons without electricity for prolonged periods in 2019.

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Guyanese couple is now dead following a crash on Highway 401 westbound, Ontario, Canada.

Dead are Ramnauth Seebachan, 65, and his wife Padmini Seebachan, both of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

Guyana Times understands that the couple were on their way home on Saturday after visiting their daughter when a speeding vehicle crashed into their van.

According to a release from Canada’s Ontario

Ramnauth Seebachan and his wife, Padmini Seebachan in happier times

Provincial Police Highway Safety Division, Ramnauth

and his wife were both pronounced dead at the scene.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, december 24, 2019

Regional

Barge carrying 600 gallons of Honduras prison crisis: Inmates killed in fresh violence fuel sinks in Galapagos Islands

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t least 16 inmates have been killed in a fight between rival gangs at a Honduran prison, less than two days after deadly violence at another jail.

Officials said guns, knives, and machetes were used in the fight on Sunday at El Porvenir prison east of the capital, Tegucigalpa.

On Friday, 18 inmates were killed and 16 hurt in the northern city of Tela.

There has been a wave of prison violence in Honduras, where prisons are notoriously overcrowded.

The Government declared a state of emergency in the prison system last Wednesday, transferring control to security forces.

President Orlando Hernandez made the decision after five members of the MS-13 gang were killed while in detention.

cuador was fighting to contain the environmental impact of a fuel spill in the Galapagos Islands after a flatboat carrying 600 gallons of diesel fuel sank.

The Orca barge tipped over after a crane collapsed

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The injured inmates were transferred to a hospital in Tegucigalpa

It was not immediately clear what had triggered the outbreak of violence at El Porvenir prison, but Government security official Luis Suazo said gangs there were trying to "reverse this process" of intervention.

At least two other inmates were injured, officials added.

"The dead and wound-

ed were attacked with bullets and sharp weapons," said Lieutenant t Antonio Coello.

Honduran prisons house more than 20,000 inmates, despite only having capacity for about 8000.

Fights are common, as rival street gangs vie for control. (Excerpt from BBC News)

tional dollars, to the nearest whole dollar, reflecting a single year’s (2018) currency exchange rates and PPP adjustments.

The article examined how a country is seen as rich, “Especially in an era of growing income inequality between the rich and everyone else. While Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the value of all goods and services produced in a nation, dividing a country’s GDP by the number of the full-time residents is a better way of determining how rich or poor one country’s population is relative to another’s.”

According to the article,

“The reason why ‘rich’ often equals ‘small’ then becomes clear: these countries’ economies are disproportionately large compared to their comparatively small populations.”

“However, only when taking into account inflation rates and the cost of local goods and services can we get a more accurate picture of a nation’s average standard of living: the resulting figure is what is called purchasing power parity (PPP), which is often expressed in international dollars in order to allow comparisons between different countries,” the article stated. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Mexico accuses Bolivia of intimidating its diplomats in La Paz

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exico on Monday accused Bolivia of intimidating its diplomats while Bolivia said Mexico had hijacked a regional summit and dragged its feet in recognising its new, conservative premier.

Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it was “deeply concerned” about “excessive” surveillance of the Mexican Ambassador’s residence and Mexican Embassy in Bolivia by about 150 Bolivian intelligence and security service personnel.

Mexico said the Bolivians were “intimidating” diplomatic staff and attempted to “detain and inspect” the Ambassador’s vehicle on Monday.

Bolivia has tilted rightward since socialist former President Evo Morales resigned in November after a presidential election

systems on the planet and the Galapagos National Park said military personnel and environmentalists were "putting up containment barriers and absorbent cloths to reduce the environmental risk". (BBC News)

Chile's Pinera inks law for vote on new Constitution

T&T outranks China, India & Russia in standard of living

rinidad and Tobago has ranked 49th – higher than 142 other well-known countries globally – in terms of standard of living. That is in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) per capita.

This is indicated in a Global Finance article from the International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook) on the World’s Richest Countries 2019.

The article stated that the wealthiest nations are among the tiniest globally.

The rankings which were calculated on values are expressed in current interna-

while it was loading a container onto it.

Ecuador's Integrated Security Service added, "the barge crew jumped into the sea to safeguard their lives".

The Unesco World Heritage Site is home to one of the most fragile eco-

Bolivian Foreign Minister Karen Longaric speaks during a news conference in La Paz, Bolivia, December 23, 2019

which the Organisation of American States (OAS) said was rigged in his favour.

Bolivia is currently governed by interim President Jeanine Añez, a former conservative senator and opponent of Morales.

Mexico’s leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador granted asylum to

Morales, and he is now in Argentina where the new Peronist Government of President Alberto Fernandez has indicated it will also give him political asylum.

On Monday, Bolivia’s foreign ministry said it was considering pulling out of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) because Mexico, the 2020 president of the organisation, made plans this year during Bolivia’s presidency for a meeting on January 8.

Mexico had also been guilty of “unfriendly conduct” and had shown itself to be “reluctant” to recognise the Añez presidency, it added.

Bolivia’s Foreign Minister Karen Longaric said she would not attend the January 8 meeting in Mexico. (Excerpt from Reuters)

C

hilean President Sebastian Pinera on Monday signed off on a referendum to be held on a new constitution, which he vowed would generate a “solid, compassionate and legitimate framework” that would help reunify the country after nine weeks of intense protest over inequality and elitism.

Pinera said the plebiscite, which was approved

by Congress last week and is to be held next year, would kickstart a process of “broad and effective citizen participation.”

“It is of the utmost importance to recover the value of unity, of dialogue, of agreements, especially with those who think differently,” he added.

Chileans will on Sunday, April 26 decide whether they want a new constitution and if they do, whether the body that draws up the new document should be a popularly elected assembly or one

Chile's President Sebastian Pinera (file photo)

mixed with current lawmakers.

The country’s current Constitution dates back to General Augusto Pinochet’s 1973-1990 military dictatorship and, critics say, fails to guarantee proper healthcare, education and citizen participation in Government.

The scrapping of the old Constitution emerged as one of the main demands of pro-

testers who have mobilised across the country over the two months.

A poll by Cadem last month suggested that 82 per cent of Chileans believe the country needs a new Constitution and 60 per cent want it drawn up by a popularly elected assembly, compared with 35 per cent who want a mix with politicians.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Ambassador caught shoplifting book resigns citing health problems

M

exico's Ambassador to Argentina has resigned amid new allegations of theft, after video previously emerged of him attempting to shoplift a book.

Ricardo Valero, 77, cited health problems as he stepped down, and the Mexican Foreign Minister said he was undergoing neurological treatment.

Valero was recalled this month after CCTV showed him taking a book from a Buenos Aires shop without paying.

He is now accused of at-

tempting to steal a shirt from an airport shop.

The diplomat made headlines after he was caught picking up a book from the shelf in the El Ateneo Grand Splendid in October and then slipping it inside a newspaper before attempting to exit the store.

The US$10 book was reportedly a biography of Giacomo Casanova, the 18th century Italian writer, soldier and spy best known as a charming adventurer.

He pleaded diplomatic immunity and the case was not taken further, but

he was recalled by Mexico's Foreign Ministry after the video was leaked.

Valero then reportedly attempted to steal a shirt from a duty-free shop at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires just before he boarded a flight to Mexico.

The Ministry accepted his resignation on Sunday.

"Ricardo Valero is a great person, he's undergoing neurological treatment and I wish him a speedy recovery," Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard wrote on Twitter.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

UK resident fined J$1.5M for cocaine possession in Jamaica

T

he United Kingdom resident who attempted to smuggle over two pounds of cocaine from the island was fined TT$1.5 million when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court last Friday.

Justine Toolan, who has been in custody for three months, was fined TT$500,000 for possession of cocaine and TT$1 million or an alternative 10

months for taking steps to export cocaine after a social inquiry report was presented to Parish Judge Chester Crooks.

The dealing in cocaine and conspiracy charges against Toolan were discharged. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, december 24, 2019

17

Around the World

Saudi sentences 5 to death, 3 to jail over Khashoggi murder

S

audi Arabia on Monday sentenced five people to death and three to jail over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but a UN investigator accused it of making a “mockery” of justice by allowing the masterminds of last year’s killing to go free.

A Saudi court rejected the findings of a UN inquiry by ruling that the killing was not premeditated, but carried out “at the spur of the moment”. Saudi Deputy Public Prosecutor and spokesman Shalaan al-Shalaan said the court dismissed charges against three of the 11 people tried, finding them not guilty.

A senior official of the Trump Administration, which critics say has been too soft on Saudi Arabia over the killing of Khashoggi, called the verdicts “an important step” in holding those responsible accountable.

A source familiar with US intelligence assessments said key US Government agencies rejected the validity of the court proceedings and CIA experts still believed the crown prince personally ordered, or at least

Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi speaks at an event hosted by Middle East Monitor in London, Britain, September 29, 2018

approved of, the killing.

The source said the five men condemned to death were essentially foot soldiers in the killing, while two senior security officials acquitted played a more significant role.

A Saudi prosecutor said there was no evidence connecting one of those senior officials, Saud al-Qahtani, to the killing and the court dismissed charges against Ahmed al-Asiri, a former Deputy Intelligence Chief.

Khashoggi was last seen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct 2, 2018, where he had gone to obtain documents for his impending wedding. His body was

reportedly dismembered and removed from the building, and his remains have not been found.

The murder caused a global uproar, tarnishing the crown prince’s image. Some Western Governments, as well as the CIA, said they believed he had ordered the killing.

Saudi officials say he had no role, though in September MbS indicated some personal accountability, saying “it happened under my watch”.

Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur for extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions, said the trial verdict was a “mockery” of justice.

“The hit-men are guilty, sentenced to death. The masterminds not only walk free, they have barely been touched by the investigation and the trial,” she said on Twitter.

Eleven Saudi suspects were put on trial in secretive proceedings in the capital Riyadh. None of their names was immediately released.

“The investigation showed that the killing was not premeditated ... The decision was taken at the spur of the moment,” Shalaan said, a position directly contradicting the findings of a United Nations-led investigation.

The UN-led inquiry reported in February that the evidence pointed to “a brutal and premeditated killing, planned and perpetrated” by Saudi officials.

Human rights group Amnesty International said the verdict was a “whitewash” that failed to address the Saudi authorities’ involvement or the location of Khashoggi’s remains.

However, one of Khashoggi’s sons said the verdicts had been fair to his children. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Boeing fires boss Muilenburg amid 737 troubles

B

oeing has fired its chief executive, Dennis Muilenburg, a move the Board of Directors said "was necessary to restore confidence" in the firm.

Muilenburg has been under pressure since two deadly crashes involving Boeing's best selling 737 Max airliner.

Lawmakers had accused the firm of putting profit over safety, as it rushed to get planes to customers.

Families of the victims called the change a good "first step" but expressed doubts over his replacement.

Boeing named David Calhoun, who has served on the firm's Board since 2009 and is its current Chairman, as chief executive and president.

Dennis Muilenburg had faced calls for his resignation

The crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia, which occurred within five months of each other, killed 346 people and led to the global grounding of Boeing's 737 Max fleet.

While the company had

been hoping to have the jet back in the air by the end of this year, US regulators have made it clear that it would not be certified to return to the skies that quickly.

Last week, Boeing said it

would halt production of the aircraft.

Then on Friday, the company's reputation took another hit when its Starliner spacecraft suffered technical problems that prevented it from taking the right path to the International Space Station.

Boeing's Board said it had "decided that a change in leadership was necessary to restore confidence in the company moving forward as it works to repair relationships with regulators, customers, and all other stakeholders".

Calhoun, a former private equity executive and Boeing board member since 2009, will take over from January 13. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Unmarried Chinese woman sues hospital over refusal to freeze eggs

A

n unmarried Chinese woman filed a suit against a hospital on Monday for rejecting her request to undergo a medical procedure to freeze her eggs due to her marital status, in China’s first legal challenge of a woman fighting for her reproductive rights.

According to China’s laws on human assisted reproduction, only married couples can use such health services, and they must be able to

prove their marital status by showing a marriage license.

Teresa Xu, 31, visited the Beijing Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital at Capital Medical University in November 2018, wanting to freeze her eggs while she focused on her career as a writer on gender issues.

A woman’s eggs deteriorate in quality as she ages, presenting obstacles to conception among older women. Through a medical pro-

cedure, a woman’s eggs can be removed from her ovaries and frozen for use at a later time.

Xu, from northeastern Heilongjiang province, said on her first visit to the hospital for a checkup, the doctor asked about her marital status and urged her to have a child now instead of freezing her eggs.

Upon her second visit, the doctor told her she could not proceed any further.

When asked by Reuters to comment, the hospital declined, saying it could not speak to international media.

Those who can afford it have circumvented China’s strict laws on fertility by going abroad. Xu said she had made enquiries but found it too expensive.

Xu said her case was expected to go on for several months. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russia Crimea: Putin's new rail link condemned by EU

The three-carriage train made the journey across the Kerch Strait to Taman in Russia

P

resident Vladimir Putin has heralded the opening of a railway bridge to the Russianannexed Crimea peninsula by posing in the driver's cab and praising construction workers.

But the opening of the railway was immediately condemned by the European Union as "another violation"

by Russia of Ukraine's sovereignty and territory.

Russia's 19km (12mile) bridge to Crimea first opened in May last year.

President Putin marked that occasion by driving a lorry over it.

On Monday he asserted that millions of cars had already crossed the bridge and said the rail link "was a big deal as well", with plans to carry 14 million passengers and 13 million tonnes of freight in 2020.

Until the bridge was built, Russia had to rely on sea and air to supply the peninsula, which it seized

from Ukraine in February 2014 before annexing it through a referendum rejected by the United Nations as invalid.

The US$3.6 billion (£2.8 billion; €3.2 billion) bridge was built by a close friend of the President, Arkady Rotenberg. Rotenberg and several of his companies had EU and US sanctions imposed on them.

Russia's President said the Kerch Strait bridge, with its new rail link, would have an impact on Russia's economy as a whole.

The first train left St Petersburg on Monday afternoon carrying more than 500 people on the 2500km trip to Sevastopol.

The Ukrainian President's office in Crimea also condemned the new link saying it showed a disregard by the Kremlin of "the universally recognised principles and norms of international law". (Excerpt from BBC News)

Algerian Army Chief Ahmed Gaid Salah dies

General Ahmed Gaid Salah had attended newly elected President Abdelmajid Tebboune's swearing-in ceremony in Algiers last week [Ramzi Boudina/Reuters]

A

lgeria's powerful Army Chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah has died, state television reported.

Algerian Government radio said he died on Monday morning in an Algiers military hospital after a heart attack.

Gaid Salah, 79, was seen as Algeria's de facto leader since the country's longtime President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was removed from office in April amid

widespread anti-Government demonstrations.

He played a key role pushing through the December 12 presidential elections in the face of stiff opposition on the streets.

Gaid Salah was present at the inauguration of this gas-rich country's new President last week.

The new President, Abdelmajid Tabboune, announced a three-day mourning period.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, december 24, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

SUDOKU

Focus on intelligent conversation and steer clear of anyone who is being indulgent or pushy. Call the shots if a choice or ultimatum is offered.

You’ll have last-minute things to do, but if you delegate odd jobs, you will still have time to spend with loved ones. An early gift can be expected.

Enjoy the festivities.

Everyone will be interested in what you are up to and how your life is going.

Chatter will lead to some interesting suggestions.

Romance is on the rise.

Spend time with people who can offer insight into your lineage. An unusual offer will bring you closer to someone special. Be prepared to try something different.

Volunteer work will make you feel good and give you a greater appreciation of life. Love, generosity and kindness are what count, and they will bring you unexpected rewards. Share your thoughts and feelings.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Your actions will have a more significant impact than your words. If you pitch in and do your part, positive change will take place.

An unexpected development will lead to more significant opportunities.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Participate in events, even if you don’t feel particularly festive. A kind word or romantic gesture will lift your spirits. Let someone special know how much you care.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

A unique surprise is heading your way. You will be rewarded for the things you have been taking care of for others and the responsibilities that you have incurred.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Lots of anticipation and plenty of good cheer are heading your way. A surprise will turn out as you planned. Someone will give you the go-ahead that you’ve been waiting for.

Refuse to let stress mount or drama take control. Get together with people who make you smile. A change at home will be beneficial. Kick back with a loved one.

Be responsible. Listen to reason and useful advice. An unexpected opportunity will bring you closer to achieving one of your goals. Choose to stick to rules and regulations.

Refuse to let what someone says upset you. Spend time with loved ones or engage in spiritual practices.

Be moderate in all things.

tuesday, DECEMBER 24, 2019

19

NBA round-up:

Raptors stun Mavs with 30-point comeback K

yle Lowry scored 20 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and added 10 assists and eight rebounds as the Toronto Raptors overcame a 30-point third-quarter deficit to post a 110-107 victory over the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

The 30-point deficit was the largest the Raptors have overcome to win a game in franchise history. The previous high was 27.

Toronto extended its winning streak to five games and handed Dallas its first road loss since a 106-103 setback to New York on Nov. 14.

Chris Boucher added a career-best 21 points for the injury-depleted Raptors, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 18 points and Fred VanVleet had 10.

Thunder 118, Clippers 112

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander matched his career high of 32 points set in his previous game to lift host Oklahoma City past Los Angeles, which played without Kawhi Leonard.

Gilgeous-Alexander was part of the trade that sent six-time NBA All-Star Paul George to the Clippers last July. George, who received a warm reception from the crowd in his first return to Oklahoma City, finished with 18 points.

Steven Adams had 20 points and a season-high 17 rebounds as the Thunder won a season-high fourth straight to move over .500 for the first time (15-14). The Clippers rested Leonard after he played 27 minutes on Saturday night in a 134-109 win at the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard has not played in back-to-back games this season because

of lingering knee issues.

Nuggets 128, Lakers 104

Paul Millsap scored 21 points and Gary Harris added 19 as Denver used a second-half burst to defeat host Los Angeles, which played without the injured LeBron James.

Nikola Jokic had 18 points and six rebounds, while Will Barton finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets, who won their sixth straight. Malik Beasley chipped in 16 points off the bench.

Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 32 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, but he sustained a knee injury. Kyle Kuzma, who returned after missing the previous five games with an ankle sprain, had 16 points off the bench for the Lakers, who dropped their third in a row. No other Laker scored in double figures.

Bucks 117, Pacers 89

Wesley Matthews scored 19 points in his return from a one-game absence due to a right thigh contusion as host Milwaukee recorded a victory over Indiana.

Giannis Antetokounmpo collected 18 points, 19 rebounds and nine assists for the Bucks, who outscored the Pacers 58-34 in the second half to improve to 21-1 in their last 22 games. George Hill and Brook Lopez each made three 3-pointers en route to 17-point performances as the Bucks improved to 9-0 against Central Division rivals.

Domantas Sabonis recorded 19 points and 18 rebounds, and Doug McDermott added 15 points for the Pacers, who saw their five-game winning streak come to a halt as

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) controls a ball as Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson (13) tries to defend (USA Today Sports)

they fell 6 1/2 games in back of first-place Milwaukee in the Central Division.

Celtics 119, Hornets 93

Jayson Tatum scored a career-high 39 points and Kemba Walker added 23 against his former team as Boston hammered visiting Charlotte.

Jaylen Brown had 16 points, Grant Williams chipped in 12 and Enes Kanter

contributed 13 rebounds as the Celtics won their third straight. Tatum, who also had 12 rebounds, scored 22 points in the fourth quarter alone to eclipse his previous career best of 34 set in January.

Devonte’ Graham scored 23 points and Bismack Biyombo had 18 for the Hornets, who have lost four of their last five. Charlotte was playing the second night of a back-toback. (Reuters)

Philander to retire after England Test series

V

ernon Philander, the South Africa allrounder, has announced his impending retirement from international cricket. The upcoming Test series against England will be his final outing for his country, bringing to a close a career that began in 2007.

Philander, 34, has taken more than 200 wickets in his 60 Tests to date, putting him seventh on the all-time list for South Africa.

However, he has increasingly had to battle injury, making only six appearances in the last 18 months. He played in 40 ODIs, most recently at the 2015 World Cup, and also featured at the inaugural World T20 in 2007.

"It's been coming on for a while, you get to the stage in your career when you've got to make a decision," Philander said.

"I've had a wonderful career but I'm moving into the darker area for fast bowlers, 35 next year, so I think it's an appropriate time to call it a day in international cricket.

Philander hopes to bow out on a winning note, however,

with the four-Test series against England beginning at Centurion on Boxing Day. He is the senior member of the bowling attack, which has lost the services of Steyn, Morkel, Duanne Olivier and Kyle Abbott over recent years.

"We've got a g ood opportunity playing at home against England," he said. "It would be a fitting farewell, beating England in South Africa. They're one of the top-four international sides at the moment and would definitely be a fitting send-off if we can beat them."

The series concludes in Johannesburg at the end of January, and Philander said he would take some time off to decide on his next move but indicated that he saw a future for himself in a developmental role. "I'll still be involved in the game somehow," he said. "There's a massive part for us still to be played in South African cricket, because of development, young and upcoming players need guidance. I see myself playing a massive role in that." (ESPN Cricinfo)

Vernon Philander joined the South African side in 2007 (BCCI photo)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesday, DECEMBER 24, 2019

West Indies take giant strides despite trophy-less tour K

ieron Pollard’s West Indies dug deep into their reserves to stretch India, but were unable to win both the T20I and ODI deciders. That the young West Indian hopefuls gave a good account of themselves bodes well for the side’s immediate future.

India too were encouraged by contributions from their younger players like KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Kuldeep Yadav, Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur. These in addition to the performances of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli completed what Kohli termed “one of the most successful years”.

Here’s a look back at the major talking points from the tour.

Jadeja + one wristspinner > two wristspinners?

India picked both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in their squad for the first time since the 2019 World Cup. However, they didn’t field the ‘KulCha’ combination for the want of batting depth. And so, Ravindra Jadeja got the nod ahead of Chahal in all three ODIs. On his part, Jadeja repaid the faith with an unflappable unbeaten 31-ball 39 to help tip a tense ODI decider in India’s favour.

In all, Jadeja featured in five of the six games against West Indies, pitching in with bat, ball, and the field. Even when he wasn’t in the XI - like in the T20I decider in

Mumbai - he still left his mark by plucking two catches, including that of Pollard.

West Indies provide a glimpse into their batting future

At the World Cup, West Indies went on a boundary-hitting spree.

But the madness resulted in collapses leading to defeats. In India, they found two anchormen in Shai Hope and Roston Chase who lent a method to the madness. They batted around their big-hitters to take the innings deep.

Pollard even spoke about this in Visakhapatnam. “You’ve got to build a foundation first. You can’t build the top part of the house and then look to build the bottom.

We’ve identified Shai [Hope] as the guy to lay the foundation for us.”

In Cuttack, West Indies bumped up Chase to No.3 to join Hope at the top, and although they both couldn’t convert starts, they set the scene for a late assault from Pollard and Nicholas Pooran.

With Shimron Hetmyer returning to form, Pooran extending his rich form, and Pollard sussing out conditions and situations smartly, West Indies’ batting is in the pink of health.

Should West Indies re-think their bowling combination?

Their bowling was patchy at best. Sheldon Cottrell impressed with his variations, as did Keemo

mats. KL Rahul felt the low floodlights in Hyderabad made catching tricky, but the lapses weren’t restricted to Uppal alone. Kohli was critical of the multiple reprieves after India slid to defeat in the second T20I in Thiruvananthapuram, with Lendl Simmons, who had been dropped on 6, making a bruising match-winning unbeaten 67.

Iyer settles into the middle order

Kieron Pollard and Shimron Hetmyer celebrate the wicket of Virat Kohli (BCCI Photo)

Paul, but the rest of the attack didn’t quite have a Plan B, especially on flat tracks.

Jason Holder wasn’t accurate enough and on a placid Mumbai surface in the T20I decider, he conceded 54 in four overs. In hindsight, you have to wonder if West Indies may have been better off playing Paul because of his variations.

The spinners Hayden Walsh Jr. and Khary Pierre bowled some tidy spells in the shortest format,

but couldn’t make much of an impact in the ODIs. Chase too proved ineffective with his offspin in the 50-over format. These are still early days yet for the CPL stars - Pierre and Walsh Jr. - but they need to do more to show they can be a wicket-taking threat in the middle overs.

India need to step up in the field

India dropped as many as 21 catches in the six games across for-

After making two fifties from No. 5 in the Caribbean, Shreyas Iyer enhanced his reputation as a middle-order bat with with backto-back half-centuries in the ODIs. While the one in Chennai was built on a sluggish track, he hit the high notes quickly in a must-win game in Visakhapatnam. After being on a run-a-ball 20 at one point, he clobbered 33 off his next 12 balls.

“I think it [the No.4 slot] was more of an issue that it was,” Kohli told Star Sports. “If the No. 4 doesn’t get to bat consistently for you, there’s no real reason behind someone not doing well. I think Shreyas [Iyer] got an opportunity in the last four-five games, and he’s got four fifties in a row. So, he has grabbed his chances and has performed well.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

Ferrari driver signs new 5-year contract until 2024 C harles Leclerc has signed a new fiveyear contract with Ferrari until 2024.

It follows an impressive first season for the Italian

team after replacing Kimi Raikkonen for the 2019 season.

The 22-year-old from Monaco won back-to-back races in Belgium and Italy

“I’m so grateful to be driving for such a team. I’ve learnt so much during this first year. It is a great starting point to build a strong relationship for the years ahead.”

Leclerc joined the

and scored seven pole positions, more than any other driver.

Leclerc finished fourth in the drivers’ standings, ahead of his four-time

Charles Leclerc won two races in his first season with Ferrari (Getty Images)

world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who he beat on every metric in 2019.

Leclerc scored more wins, poles and points than Vettel, and in qualifying beat him 12-nine on their head-to-head and was 0.111 seconds quicker on average.

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said: “With each passing race this year, our wish to extend our contract with Charles became ever more self-evident and the decision means he will now be with us for the next five seasons.

“We are very pleased that he will be with us for many years to come and I’m sure that together we will write many new pages in the history of the Prancing Horse.”

Leclerc said on Twitter:

Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and made his Formula 1 debut with the affiliated Alfa Romeo-backed Sauber team in the 2018 season, finishing 13th in the standings with 39 points from 21 races. (BBC.COM)

Ibrahimovic statue has nose cut off by vandals

V

andals have cut off the nose of a statue of Zlatan Ibrahimovic outside Malmo’s stadium in Sweden.

It is the latest act of vandalism directed at the statue since it was announced that Ibrahimovic had invested in a rival club last month.

Former Sweden striker Ibrahimovic, 38, made his professional debut for Malmo 20 years ago.

The statue’s artist Peter Linde has appealed for people to stop the vandalism.

The former Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris St-Germain and Manchester United player is looking for his next club having left LA Galaxy at the end of the MLS season.

On 27 November it was announced he had bought 25% of the shares in Hammarby,

who finished third in this year’s Swedish championship That same day, the 3.5 metre high bronze structure, commissioned by the Swedish FA and unveiled on 9 October, was sprayed with paint, set on fire and a toilet seat put over its arm. Ibrahimovic’s house in Stockholm was also vandalised, with ‘Judas’ painted on the front door.

Earlier in December, Vandals have tried to saw through the feet of a statue and placed a rope around its neck.

Police have put a fence up around the statue, outside Malmo’s stadium in Sweden, in case it falls down. (BBC Sport)

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Shimron Hetmyer

est Indies middle-order batsman, Shimron Hetmyer, while happy for a second chance at the Indian Premier

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21 Former Windies wicketkeeper and wife injured in fatal accident guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, DECEMBER 24, 2019

League, isn’t focusing on the lucrative, high-profile show, in which his price tag suggests he needs to play a starring role.

Hetmyer was discarded by the Royal Challengers Bangalore after just one season but scored a brilliant century in the first One-Day International against India, as well as a few attractive-looking cameos in T20 Internationals against the same team, inclusive of his first half-century.

The left-hander went for US1.1 million to the Capitals at the IPL draft but wasn’t paying any attention to it, choosing instead to focus on the final game his Windies side have against India on Sunday.

The teams go into that third ODI locked at a game apiece.

“I wasn’t really looking too far ahead about it (auction). Really and truly I was just thinking all about the West Indies,” he said.

Hetmyer believes it is what has happened while playing with the Windies that makes him an attractive sell in the IPL and he doesn’t want to quickly forget that.

“They have brought me [here] and made me the person I am today so all thanks to the West Indies for just giving me the chance to represent [them]. I just do my thing and it’s all for the team,” he said. (Sportsmax)

Courtney Browne

F

ormer West Indies wicketkeeper Courtney Browne is in a hospital in Barbados with serious injuries suffered in a motor vehicle mishap in which a man died on Sunday morning.

Browne, 49, reportedly suffered a broken leg after the car he was travelling in collided with another vehicle along Bennetts Road in St. Thomas, at approximately 4:00 am.

The driver of the other vehicle, who has been identified as Michael McLean, has died.

Browne and his wife, Tricia, who complained of chest and back pains, were taken to hospital by ambulance, reports said.

President of the Barbados Cricket Association Conde Riley said the former player remains in hospital but he was unable to provide any additional information on his condition. He did confirm, however, that Browne did suffer a broken leg.

Browne represented the West Indies in 20 Test matches between 1995 and 2005. He was also the Chairman of the Selection Committee of Cricket West Indies until earlier this year. (Sportsmax)

Trophy Stall on board Kennard Memorial Boxing Day Horse Meet T

he much-anticipated Kennard Memorial Turf Club Boxing Day Horse Race Meet will be held on Thursday, December 26 at the Club’s facility at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.

Trophy Stall has joined the list of sponsors by donating the Champion Jockey Trophy.

In a release, proprietor of this generous trophy business, Ramesh Sunich, said, “I am really happy to be onboard of this exclusive event.

It is something I always do every year, as far as I can remember. The reason I (do) this is because of my dad, Neville Sunich, who was a jockey in Guyana, hence I decided that it was the best move to give the trophy for the champion jockey, come Boxing Day.” The feature event of the meet is the Metro Million Mile race, which will be contested over eight furlongs (one mile) for a winner’s purse of one million dollars. Horses placing from second to fourth would respectively earn $500,000, $250,000 and $125,000. The event is open to all horses.

The race for horses classified H & Lower will be run over seven furlongs for a winner’s purse of $250,000. The second to fourth place finishers would respectively receive $125,000, $63,000 and $32,000.

The race for 2-year-old maiden Guyana-bred horses will be competed over a distance of six furlongs for a winner’s purse of $200,000.

Second to fourth place finishers would respectively earn $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000.

The J&K Lower race will be contested over seven furlongs for a winner’s purse of $200,000. Second to fourth place finishers would respectively earn $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000.

The race for animals classified ‘L Open’ will be run over five furlongs for a winner’s purse of $170,000.

Second to fourth place finishers would respectively pocket $85,000, $43,000 and $22,000.

The race for horses classified `L Non-Winners’ will be run over five furlongs for a winner’s purse of $150,000. Second to fourth place finishers would respectively receive $75,000, $38,000 and $19,000.

The race for L Non-Earners would allegedly be run over a distance of four furlongs for a winner’s purse of $130,000. Second to fourth place finishers would respectively receive $65,000, $33,000 and $17,000.

All the events at this meet would be conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.

Proprietor of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich presenting the honorary President of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club, Retired Justice Cecil Kennard with the Champion Jockey Trophy

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tuesday, DECember 24, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

KFC Goodwill Tournament…

Amazing Annai annihilate Lodge for championship title

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fter years of being mere bridesmaids at nationwide schools’ football tournaments, Annai Secondary of Region 9 have finally had their moment of glory; which came when they emerged champions of the 2019 edition of the KFC Goodwill Tournament following a feisty encounter with Lodge Secondary.

Former champions of this tournament, Shiva Boys Hindu College from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, were sent packing in the semifinal, paving the way for new champions to emerge.

Embracing the opportunity, Annai rose to the occasion, played a highly competitive game, and dominated the usually fiery Lodge Secondary team.

Sticking to a workable plan, Annai put Lodge under pressure early with two goals in the first 30 minutes of play; and those turned out to be the only goals scored for the

Annai controlled ball possession throughout the 90 minutes

entirety of the encounter.

Eventual tournament MVP Junior Rodrigues first found the back of the net in the 20th minute, and two minutes later, a premeditated shot from outside the 18-yard box

beat the Lodge goalkeeper, signalling the second goal.

While Lodge returned from the break determined as ever, their visibly injured star player Dorwin George was out of sorts, and the rest of the team scrambled to keep up with Annai’s pace. Lodge’s chances were, however, few and far apart, with players rarely making it past the Annai defense; which was a complete contrast to the way they had battled Shiva Boys in their semifinal encounter.

However, credit must be given to Lodge’s goal-keeper Rashad Roberts, who was resolute in restricting further goals from being scored.

As the final whistle sounded, the Annai team were joined in wanton jubilation by enthusiastic supporters who had showed up at every game.

The Shiva Boys Hindu College managed to saved themselves blushes by copping the third-place spot in the playoff against Region Seven’s

Subhas Powan Persaud: Investing in Guyanese talent B

usinessman Subhas Powan Persaud, owner of the prominent DX Sports Store in Nassau County, New York, has made an impact in the lives of many Guyanese cricketers who play cricket in the USA. The Christmas season is now upon us, but for the last 3 years, Persaud has been associated with the Bachan Cricket Club (BCC) in the New York National League, an upcoming league in which countless Guyanese cricketers participate and dominate.

Several Guyanese players have represented the BCC team; among them have been Yutesh Avi Dhanpaul, Subhas Persaud, Javed Karim, Balbinder Shivpersaud, Cornelius Jaisingh, Derrick Narine and Sudesh Dhaniram. These players have dominated cricket locally, and drastic improvement has been seen in their form as they donned equipment from DX Sports while continuing to move up the ranks in cricket locally and overseas.

Now well known in the NY Tri- State area for his unorthodox spin-bowling and charismatic batting skills, Subhas Powan Persaud, as a young lad, learned the game from his brothers and cousins, who all played at league level in New York, and have both a love for the game and strong and sincere desire for its promotion.

Born in the ancient county of Berbice in Guyana, Persaud migrated to America at a tender age, but still plays cricket in New York.

In the late 80s, the 45-year-old was with Castle Hill Cricket Club in the New York Cricket League, but later moved to the Commonwealth Cricket League with another family team, Bachan Cricket Club and GS43.

Persaud has said, “My business is (that) I like to see people happy when they buy products, and I try to save them money. Left alone, I help several entities now, like youth academies, girls’ cricket etc. (To) some players, I just give…items they need just to help. I guess it’s just me.

“My first bat was purchased by my brothers when I was 9 years old. (It was) an SS Jumbo, but a junior size of course. It was a joy to have my own bat at that age; now I have 20-30 of my

Shiva Boys a 3-1 victory.

The honours were shared as follows: Annai’s Lester Smith was recognized as the “best goalkeeper”, having conceded only five goals throughout the tournament. With seven goals to his credit, Shiva Boys’ Adica Ash copped the “highest goal-scorer” award, while Annai’s Junior Rodrigues was adjudged the tournament’s “most valuable player”.

Aside from the tournament’s title sponsor

A glimpse of the final action

Desiree Caesar Fox Secondary, aka Waramadong.

The team hailing from the twin-island republic drew first blood when Steven Thomas found the back of the net in the 15th minute. The encounter went on quietly until the second half, when Waramadong’s Ovid David rocked the net with the equalizing goal in the 55th minute. However, Waramadong’s high spirits were again deflated when Shiva Boys’ Adica Ash gave his team the lead with a goal in the 56th minute.

Waramadong dug deep

Shiva Boys fought hard to ensure they emerged thirdplace winners

for another equalizer, but it was not to be, as they missed a number of close calls. Then Adica Ash added the cherry atop the icing with a goal in the 89th minute to give the

KFC, Guyana Coema Construction Services Ltd, Mike’s Pharmacy, the Trophy Stall, and Tiger Rentals were also part-sponsors of this Petra-organized tournament.

Windies gain big in ODI rankings

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ig gains for West Indies and India players after the latest men's ODI rankings came out. Rahul, Iyer advance in rankings update carried out after India-West Indies series West Indies opener Shai Hope has entered the top 10 of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings after showing fine form in the three-match series in India that ended on Sunday.

The wicketkeeper-batsman has gained five places to reach ninth position after scoring 222 runs in the series including an unbeaten 102 in the opening match in Chennai, which his side won before going down in Visakhapatnam and

Cuttack.

Also moving up in the batting rankings are his teammates Shimron Hetmyer (up six places to 19th) and Nicholas Pooran (up 33 places to 30th). Fast bowlers Sheldon Cottrell (up six places to 30th) and Keemo Paul (up 35 places to 104th) have also gained in the latest rankings update.

The batting list continues to be led by the Indian pair of captain Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are in first and second place, while Lokesh Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have made notable gains. Rahul’s 185 runs in the series have lifted him 17 places to 71st place while Iyer’s 130-run aggregate sees him move from 104th to 81st.

Keemo Paul Subhas Powan Persaud is also an avid cricketer

own.”

Because of his generosity, not only in the season of giving, but throughout the year, Persaud is a definite inspiration and example of what the Christmas Spirit is all about, and what it means.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, DECEMBER 24, 2019

23

GFF Super 16 Cup…

Quarter-finals set after Den Amstel, Santos win

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ight senior football clubs are now set to contest the quarterfinal round of the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Super 16 Cup yearend tournament after the first round of knockout matches concluded on Sunday evening.

Defending champions Den Amstel FC, Santos FC, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC and Western Tigers were the final four teams to advance to this round-of-8, which is expected to be played tomorrow.

In Sunday evening action at the Leonora Track and Field Facility on the West Coast of Demerara, Santos FC trampled Eagles FC in a 4-0 encounter.

Despite taking a while to find their rhythm, after scoring the first goal, Santos continued scoring at regular intervals to keep a win out of reach of the Eagles FC. Additionally, the Santos’ defense was spot-on, ensuring their goal-keeper had an easy job.

Lavaughn Eniss first found the back of the net in the 33rd minute; and following the 1-0 score at the half, Eniss returned to score his second in the 57th minute, shortly after play had resumed.

Under-20 talent Marcus Wilson showed his worth with a goal scored in the 61st minute; and as the end of

592 Inter-Village Football…

regulation time approached, Kester Jacobs added the fourth for Santos, in the 87th.

The crowd trickled in for the second game of the night, a more scintillating encounter involving defending champions Den Amstel coming up against the challenge of an aggressive Riddim Squad.

Known for their extremely physical style of play, it came as no surprise when Riddim Squad went one up first, thanks to a Kevin Agard goal scored in the 3rd minute.

The crowd of predominantly Den Amstel supporters was not pleased that a goal had been scored

Golden Grove, BV advance to semis

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eterverwagting [BV] and Golden Grove have each secured semi-final berths when the inaugural 592 Beer Inter-Village Football Championship continued on Sunday evening at the Golden Grove Community Centre ground, ECD. When BV defeated Ann’s Grove and hosts Golden Grove downed Brusch Dam, both matches ended scoreless at the end of regulation time. However, both matches were eventually won by penalty shootout victories.

BV prevailed 3-1 over Ann’s Grove in a tense penalty shootout. Kicking first, BV got off to the perfect start; and the first round ended 1-0 in their favour following a miss from Ann’s Grove.

BV maintained their lead at 2-1, as both teams converted in the second round. However, BV missed to start the third round, gifting Ann’s Grove the perfect opportunity to equalise.

Ann’s Grove, however, spurned the opportunity by firing wide of the mark, much to the disappointment of their fans.

BV secured a 3-1 advantage to start the fourth round, as they converted. Needing to score to keep their hopes alive, Ann’s Grove were eliminated when the goalkeeper denied their fourth effort.

Similarly, Golden Grove defeated Brusch Dam 3-0 from the penalty mark. This clash was almost decided in the 89th minute, when Golden Grove were awarded a penalty kick for a wild challenge on Dwain Jacobs. The penalty kick was however wasted, being blasted over the crossbar.

Starting the penalty shootout, Brusch Dam missed from wide of the right corner. Golden Grove capitalized to take the 1-0 lead, as they scored. Brusch Dam’s misfortune continued, as they fired over the crossbar in the second attempt, but again the hosts capitalized, to make it 2-0.

Brusch Dam’s failure continued when they again blasted the ball over the crossbar to start the third round. The match was then sealed, as Golden Grove scored again.

In brief comments, tournament coordinator Eon Havercome said: “The knockout round has clearly lived up to its billing, and has provided entertaining football.

Both matches required penalty kicks to decide the outcome, which indicates the competitiveness of the tournament. The fans were treated to the drama of the penalty shootouts, which is always a sight to see; and I anticipate much more drama and excitement as we progress to Christmas Day for the second round of quarterfinals in Buxton.”

The first match on the card will pit Mahaica against Friendship from 20:00hrs. In the second fixture, hosts Buxton tackle Paradise from 22:00hrs.

The winner of the competition will receive $500,000 and the championship trophy; while the second, third and fourth place finishers would respectively receive $200,000, $150,000 and $100,000, together with the corresponding trophy.

Individual prizes would also be awarded for the Most Valuable Player [MVP] of the tournament, the MVP of the finale, the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament, and the Best Goalkeeper of the final.

Among the sponsors of the tournament are Bakewell Guyana Incorporated, ExxonMobil, the NSC, Flavours Boss BBQ Grill; and the Colin Talbot Construction Services.

A glimpse of the GFF Super 16 action

so early against their team, but was soon appeased when George Payne levelled the scores in the 14th minute.

The 1-1 score made for some interesting and forceful play, until Den Amstel’s Andre Hector broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, and followed up with a goal in the 67th minute to push the score to 3-1.

The defending champions

were not yet done with their opponents; Chris Macey netted their fourth goal in the 85th minute to give Den Amstel a 4-1 win.

As such, Milerock FC, Police FC, Fruta Conquerors FC, Buxton United, Western Tigers, GDF FC, Santos FC and Den Amstel FC will be the eight teams to advance to the next round of competition, which is expected to be played

tomorrow, Christmas Day, December 25.

The final of the Super 16 tournament is scheduled for January 1 at the National Stadium.

Among the tournament’s sponsors are MACORP; Pegasus Hotel; Brass, Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF); THAG; Marics and Company; NAMILCO; Impressions; and Hits and Jams.

tuesday, DECEMBER 24, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hetmyer staying grounded despite big IPL expectations Page 21

Page 21

Trophy Stall on board Kennard Memorial Boxing Day Horse Meet

KFC Goodwill Tournament…

Amazing Annai annihilate Lodge for championship title Page 22

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