Guyana Times Tuesday June 25, 2019

PPP/C Presidential Candidate proposes plan to improve standard of P9 living Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3965

THE BEACON OF TRUTH tuesday, june 25, 2019

PRICE

CCJ post-judgement hearing

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Court maintains necessity of upholding Constitution See story on page 3

…PPP sticks to constitutional stipulations …says Govt should have a caretaker status …as GECOM proposes another delaying tactic with Christmas Day voters' list

Canadian High Commissioner underscores acceptance of elections’ result

Consumers now paying $70,000 per P11 drum

Opposition rules out extending life of Govt …Jagdeo willing to meet President P11

Canada Day 2019 P13

Region 1 fuel shortage woes

Page 7

Linden to Lethem road woes continue

$80 vat included

GECOM has no Chairman – CCJ Page 9

DIPCON’s US$2.2M payment

Court orders Finance Businesses, passengers Minister paying hefty sums to get to pay up or goods into Mahdia face jail time

P2

Region P14 2 truck drivers decry long wait at Parika Stelling

Mayor’s P8 driver slapped with causing death charge Carambola fruit fly Infestation P14 caused economic hardship among farmers – NAREI CEO

2 news

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

DIPCON’s US$2.2M payment

Court orders Finance Minister to pay up or face jail time er from the Government of Guyana, the amount in excess of US$2.2 million together with interest of six per cent per annum from February 10, 2009,

to October 21, 2015, and thereafter at a rate of four per cent per annum until fully paid.

It was also ordered that Government pay

DIPCON costs to the tune of $1,200,000 along with a stay of execution for six weeks from the date of the ruling.

Accused in Berbice “revenge” murder remanded

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Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Attorney General Basil Williams

Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry

he hearings into the civil matter involving Trinidadian company, DIPCON Engineering Services and Finance Minister, Winston Jordan on Monday came to a conclusion before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, as final rulings into the matter were made at the Demerara High Court.

Justice SewnarineBeharry, in delivering her decision, ruled that the applicant (DIPCON) recover from the respondent (Minister Jordan) costs in excess of US$2.2 million together with interest at a rate of 4 per cent per annum by July 8, 2019, which was outlined by the court.

The High Court judge

further ruled that the Finance Minister’s failure to comply with the court orders will result in him being liable to imprisonment until the judgment is paid in full.

At the commencement of the hearing of the legal proceeding, Attorney General, Basil Williams had made an application for an extension of 14 days (two weeks) for the State to serve and file a defence into the case challenging the Finance Minister. The said application was accepted.

This application was made in light of DIPCON moving to the court over non-payment of some US$2.2 million which the Government was ordered

to pay back in 2015. The legal proceedings were this time brought against the Finance Minister as he failed to adhere to the court order, compelling the State to pay the aforementioned amount of money to the Trinidadian company.

In 2015, the case, heard

by Justice Rishi Persaud, concluded with a judgment in favour of the company, however, the Trinidadian company claimed that Minister Jordan did not take steps to make the payments.

As such, the company’s lawyers have applied to the court for an administrative order to compel the Minister to pay.

Justice Persaud had ruled that DIPCON recov-

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he accused in the Berbice River revenge murder was on Monday remanded when he appeared in a New Amsterdam, Berbice court.

Roy Gladstone appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Peter Hugh and was not required to plea to the indictable charge.

It is alleged that on June 18, 2019, at Sand Hills, Upper Berbice River, the 28-year-old man murdered Elvis Benedict, a 40-yearold chainsaw operator. He was remanded to prison until Thursday.

Reports are the two men had an ongoing feud, which dates back several years. According to reports, Benedict allegedly went to the home of the accused with a cutlass and made several threats which lead to a confrontation. On June 19, one day after the threats were made, Benedict was found lying at the side of the road by a lorry driver with multi-

Murder accused: Roy Gladstone

ple injuries. He was picked up and ferried to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. However, before he died, he reportedly phoned a relative and related that he was injured by the accused, who was later arrested and handed over to Police.

An autopsy performed on the body by Government

Dead: Elvis Benedict

Pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage resulting from multiple injuries. The body reportedly had lacerations to the lower back, centre, arm and jaw. Meanwhile, the accused will be returning to court on Thursday for a decision on the jurisdiction in which the matter is to be heard.

news

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

Tuesday, June 25 – 11:00h-13:30h and Wednesday, June 26 – 10:00h-11:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, June 25 – 09:50h-11:20h and Wednesday, June 26 – 11:00h-12:30h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to light rain showers are expected in the morning, followed by sunny skies in the afternoon. Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 10:07h and 22:43h reaching maximum heights of 2.23 metres and 2.22 metres.

Low Tide: 16:09h reaching a minimum height of 0.97 metre.

saturday, JUNE 22, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

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CCJ post-judgement hearing

Court maintains necessity of upholding Constitution …PPP sticks to constitutional stipulations …says Govt should have a caretaker status …as GECOM proposes another delaying tactic with Christmas Day voters’ list

Mendes said.

“It is a matter now for the Court to fix a date by which the elections are to be held. But the position of the Opposition Leader is that an election ought to be held within three months of today’s date.”

When given a chance to speak, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) lawyer Stanley Marcus revealed that elections were CCJ President, actually not possible until Justice Adrian Saunders after Christmas. It was an announcerging that ment that President D a v i d “Our remit is to up- c a u s e d C C J Granger meet with hold this document President, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo (the Constitution of J u s t i c e A d r i a n to come up with a Guyana). And if it Saunders consensus on the to express has a clear proviway forward, the disappointCaribbean Court sion, then what you ment, conof Justice (CCJ) sidering want us to do? To has pushed back fact the date to issue ignore it? To reject the that elecconsequential ortions were it? To rewrite it?” ders on the NoconstituConfidence Motion – CCJ President, tionally until July 12, Justice Adrian due since 2019.

M a r c h This came Saunders 21 of this out of Monday’s year. post-judgement “From hearing, where my consulthe CCJ had expected the two sides to have come tations, putting everything up with an agreement. into place and complying Instead, Trinidad Senior with all the necessary proviCounsel and lawyer for the sions, a list would be ready Opposition Leader, Douglas by the 25th of December.

Elections to be held any time after,” Marcus informed the Court, to the vis-

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tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mendes, informed the Court that the two sides were not able to reach an agreement.

Nevertheless, Mendes put forward his proposals for what the consequential orders should be. One such proposal put forward

by Mendes is that the Court fix an election date within a 90-day time frame, a proposal that was initially put forward by his client last week during a press conference.

“The elections ought to have been held on March 21. If the intention of the Court is to bring us back to the position we ought to have been but for the decision of the Court of Appeal, an election ought to have been held on 21 March with the list in existence,”

ible surprise of the Judges.

“Mr Marcus, this is very disappointing.

Because, as Mr Mendes said, the Constitution suggests that these elections should have been held sometime in March!” Justice Saunders replied. “You are suggesting an outside date that carries us down nine more months.”

Caretaker Government

Meanwhile, Article 106 (6) and 106 (7) of the Constitution caused some amount of contention. Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

Article 106 (7) states that “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within

Attorney General Basil Williams

Lawyer for the Opposition, T&T Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes

three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

But while Marcus and Attorney General Basil Williams both argued that this meant the President and his Cabinet had to remain in power until after a new President was sworn in, the CCJ had a different opinion.

Justice Jacob Wit noted that it was international practice that following a successful no-confidence motion, a caretaker government was usually left in place with a limited time frame in which to carry out snap elections.

Turn to page 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, JUNE 25, 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

Let the people decide

V

ery soon, Guyanese are expected to be heading to the polls to vote for a political party that will form the Government that they believe will push for the kind of development they wish to see. Citizens will also make their decision on the basis on which political party will more than likely follow the necessary principles and practices in keeping with transparent and accountable governance.

But, of course, we all know by now that holding elections in such a time is dependent on whether the Coalition Government would abide, not only with the provisions in the Constitution following its defeat in the recent no-confidence vote, but also with the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice. Already two ministers of Government are parading the idea that Guyana is a sovereign and independent state and the CCJ cannot impose elections.

It was stated before, and we repeat for emphasis sake: The Constitution is clear as to the actions that must be followed after a no-confidence vote. Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states, “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

With the Government’s defeat, the next steps in Clause 7 of Article 106 goes on to state that: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than twothirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

The Government had initially accepted the motion, now turned resolution, but subsequently shifted its position. The President and the Leader of the Opposition are expected to meet soon for dialogue and to determine the way forward, taking into consideration that the APNU/AFC Administration has lost the confidence of the majority of the people’s representatives in Parliament.

The APNU/AFC Government had stated on numerous occasions before that it is proud of its accomplishments over the past three years. It had provided a long list of ‘achievements’, and boasted about not being afraid to face the electorate again. However, based on its recent actions, it is clear that the Coalition Government is using all avenues to buy time.

One would think that if the Government is confident that it has performed creditably since it took the reins of political power, it would be anxious to go to the polls. Any Government that is confident of the way it has performed would call elections to get a renewed mandate from the electorate; more so considering the fact that one of its own members has expressed a loss of confidence in the way the administration governs.

That said, once a date is set for national elections, the nation could expect fierce competition between the political parties, as the stakes are high, considering oil is expected to start flowing in 2020. Given the many concerns being raised with respect to the management of the oil sector, the new Government would be expected to take urgent measures to ensure that the revenues which accrue from the sector would not be squandered, but would be used towards building human and institutional capacity, addressing our poor infrastructure, and providing economic security for future generations.

Considering the events that have unfolded over the past months, we believe it is in the nation’s best interest if the country were to proceed with new elections, and allow citizens to elect a Government of their choice.

An indigenous dance being performed during the celebration of Canada Day 2019, at the Marriott Hotel on Monday night. This traditional performance, native to Canada, was selected in celebration of National Indigenous History Month

Venezuelans take risky voyage to Curaçao to flee crisis

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uri Chirinos keeps close watch over her two-year-old twin daughters as she walks with them through La Vela de Coro, a fishing town on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast.

She’s extremely protective of the toddlers — and for good reason.

She recently lost her eldest daughter, who drowned while trying to reach the island of Curaçao.

In January 2018, Jeanauri Jiménez Chirinos, 18, squeezed aboard a small boat captained by smugglers and packed with migrants bound for Curaçao, a Dutch island located 40 miles off the Venezuelan coast. They were part of an exodus of four million Venezuelans — about 12 per cent of Venezuela’s population — who have emigrated, largely within the past four years, amid the country’s worst economic crisis in history.

Jiménez hoped to work as a housekeeper in Curaçao, where she could earn more in one day than she could in one month in Venezuela.

She planned to send money back to her mother, who was struggling to provide food and clothes for the twins.

But shortly before reaching the Caribbean island, the boat hit rocks and broke apart. About half of the 30 passengers on board, including Jiménez, drowned, were crushed to death on the rocks or disappeared at sea.

“It’s so horrible. Every day that goes by, I miss her even more,” says a sobbing Chirinos as she clutches photos of a smiling Jiménez.

Most Venezuelans looking to emigrate cross land borders into Colombia or Brazil.

But for many Venezuelans in coastal towns, Curaçao, Aruba and the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago are much closer. And owing to a long history of trade and travel, many main-

Venezuelan boats are moored at a port in Willemstad, Curaçao, in February. For many Venezuelans, Caribbean islands like Curaçao are escapes from their country’s turmoil

landers have friends and relatives on the islands who can provide housing and job connections.

Refugees International, a non-profit advocacy organisation, reports that as many as 13,000 Venezuelans may now be living in Curaçao, which is home to just 162,000 people. More than 60,000 Venezuelans now live in Trinidad and Tobago, whose population is 1.3 million.

But migrating to the islands is getting harder.

Authorities are scrutinising Venezuelans who enter legally and expelling those who overstay their travel permits, according to Refugees International. All this has fuelled illegal migration.

Clandestine boats that attempt the crossing sometimes encounter storms and massive waves or run out of gas.

To avoid getting caught by authorities on shore, smugglers often force their passengers to swim the final few hundred yards to the beach.

In just the past two months, two boats carrying about 60 Venezuelans to Curaçao disappeared.

Another boat, packed with 34 Venezuelans, apparently sank last month on its way to Trinidad. None of its passengers have been found, though a man suspected of being the boat’s captain was plucked from the sea by a fisherman and taken to Grenada, where he went into hiding.

“These trips are organ-

ised by smugglers who offer their services to migrants who are desperate to get to the other shore,” Venezuelan Opposition legislator Luis Stefanelli said in a recent interview with VPItv, a Venezuelan online television channel.

He said that more than 100 Venezuelans per week leave the northwest Venezuelan coast bound for Curaçao, each paying about US$400 for passage.

Great migration

Driving migration to the islands is the collapsing economy along the coast.

The port town of La Vela de Coro, for example, has long depended on fruit sales to Curaçao, a tiny island that lacks both farmland and water. Hundreds of vendors from the town used to travel to the island on cargo boats to sell mangoes, papayas, and watermelons.

But in February, Venezuela cut diplomatic ties with Curaçao over its support for Venezuela’s Opposition, which is trying to depose authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro.

Now the maritime border with Curaçao is closed.

“This has hit us really hard,” says fruit salesman Douglas Amayo, who used to make the trip to Curaçao twice a month. He now sells fish at the town’s outdoor market but earns bolívares, the Venezuelan currency that

has been rendered almost worthless by hyperinflation.

La Vela de Coro is not yet a ghost town. But there are signs that many residents are joining Venezuela’s great migration.

Not far from the market, the town’s youth orchestra tunes up for a practice session. But many of the chairs are empty. The orchestra used to have 40 musicians, but is down to 22 because so many families have left the country.

“This has been a huge loss,” says José Rafael Chirinos, the orchestra’s director (no relation to Auri Chirinos).

Curaçao remains a popular destination even though people keep dying in trying to get there. Despite the risks, Gleyber Marín, an unemployed 20-year-old from La Vela de Coro, is saving money for the journey. Several of his friends have already made the crossing.

“They told me it was terrible. They could not believe how dangerous it was. You either make it or you die,” he said. “But if I get the chance, I will go.”

Many victims from last year’s tragedy, including Jeanauri Jiménez Chirinos, hailed from the sleepy La Vela de Coro, a town of parks, beaches and colonial buildings where most people know one another. For a while, the whole town was in mourning, says Tiffany Tovar, a friend of Jiménez’s.

“It was a very sombre atmosphere due to the loss of all these young people” she said.

For Auri Chirinos, the death of her daughter continues to haunt her. Another loss came a few months ago when her husband left for Ecuador seeking work. But at least she still has the twins.

“When I lost one of my daughters,” she says, “that’s when I understood why God gave me two more.” (NPR)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, JUNE 25, 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

President must reprimand/fire Ministers over CCJ comments Dear Editor, Two Government Ministers were reported to have said that Guyana is a sovereign country (whatever that means) so the CCJ cannot instruct Guyana how to run its affairs (including holding elections or replacing the Chairman of GECOM). The Ministers are wrong and are on a war footing for which there is no justification. The statements were made out of complete ignorance.

Although I am not a lawyer, I am versed in constitutional matters and the concept of sovereignty. When I was doing doctoral studies in political science, my field of specialisation was inter-

national relations. But students were also mandated to take doctoral courses in each of at least three of five subfields. Two sub-fields I did were American constitutional law and international law.

And when I undertook graduate studies in educational management to become an administrator in higher education, one requirement was courses in American Educational Law that focused heavily on Education Constitutional Law. I also taught constitutional law.

Thus, I am knowledgeable on constitutional and international legal matters. I can say without any fear of being contradicted that the CCJ has sovereignty over

Guyana because of a treaty the Government signed (the PNC Government at that) in 1973.

Contrary to what the Ministers feel and say, the fact is, for the record, the CCJ is Guyana’s final court of appeal. The CCJ is part of Guyana’s sovereignty that happens to be located in another territory – not different from say, when the Privy Council was Guyana’s final court of appeal. So those two Ministers must be reprimanded for their statements – words of defiance against the court should be sanctioned (served with contempt charges for attacking the court which is a separate and independent branch of

our Government). Can you imagine Government officers telling the Privy Council it had no jurisdiction over Guyana when the court had standing before the dictator Forbes Burnham broke the link without legitimate approval? No wonder the white people laugh at us for our stupidity. Already the judges in Guyana have shown they don’t know simple maths on how to calculate a majority and experience challenges in understanding what they read in the Constitution. I usually travel to the UK, India, Singapore, Malaysia, and throughout the Caribbean and in all of those countries, the Guyanese judges are be-

SOCU needs to investigate money given to Minister’s children

Dear Editor, I commend the whistleblowers who courageously exposed the secretive and unethical transfers of tens of millions of dollars from the treasury to the kids of former Minister Broomes for personal use.

Such a situation arouses suspicion that there is rampant stealing of State finances within the former Government (APNU/PNC/ AFC). SOCU needs to investigate these problems or else Guyana will never stand a chance to develop in spite of our vast natural resources.

It is clear that the Granger Government is hell-bent on holding to power to continue stealing.

Life is good in Government.

And it needs to be highlighted that the PNC eliminates racial/ethnic diversity to create a secretive environment to simply steal. And this is one of the major reasons why the Granger Government largely shuts out IndoGuyanese from the public

service.

Editor, I am convinced that such PNC values embolden dysfunction and they are responsible for rampant corruption and armed robbery in Guyana.

Also, it can easily be predicted that the current lawlessness will worsen because of dysfunctional PNC values being modelled in Guyana.

Under the current level of corruption, there is a dire need for whistleblowers.

But the executive head of the WPA, Dr David Hinds, took a retaliatory stance when three whistleblowers exposed the illegal transfer of funds to the kids of former Minister Broomes.

Dr Hinds can’t be fair and he can’t be of any good to Guyana because he is fixated on unjustly defending an Afro-Guyanesebacked Government. He even stereotyped the whistleblowers as PPP/C moles and PPP/C spies and he even called on the former Granger Government to fire them. Flagrantly,

Dr Hinds supports wrongdoings in the Granger Government because he is blinded by the issue of race/ethnicity. Dr Hinds is downright divisive and destructive.

Dr Hinds needs to be informed that whistleblowers are patriotic citizens whose contributions cannot be underestimated.

They are needed. They selflessly expose corruption so that Guyana becomes a better place where every Guyanese can benefit from the fruits of this country, not just PNC Ministers.

To this end, I urge every Guyanese to call out stealing within the Granger Government but Dr Hinds will never endorse this. He will use his voice to destroy Guyana. Dr Hinds is the least interested in the welfare of all Guyanese. His actions can never benefit Guyana and its people.

Also, the former WPA Minister within the Granger Government confirmed to Dr Hinds when

she unjustly fired three whistleblowers to also conceal corruption in her Government. This is abuse of power.

This former Minister ought to be fired.

Her actions are inexcusable. This is all corruption which can never be good for Guyana. Guyana needs whistleblowers or anyone who will expose outright stealing, corruption and lawlessness.

And it needs to be clear that whistleblowers ought to be protected and at the very least, those whistleblowers who were fired by the former WPA Minister need to be reinstated in their jobs.

They did nothing wrong.

And I once again commend the whistleblowers for their selfless act. The former Minister Broomes needs to return the tens of millions of dollars to the treasury.

This is the decent thing to do.

Sincerely, Annie Baliram PhD

ing ridiculed making the diaspora feel embarrassed and insulted. Now, Ministers of Government are adding to the embarrassment by revealing their ignorance that they don’t know that the CCJ is Guyana’s court.

Those of us who study international law or “domestic law” would now that the CCJ has jurisdiction and even if you are not schooled in law, common sense tells you that the CCJ has jurisdiction over Guyana’s and can compel Government officials or citizens to carry out acts.

The CCJ can also order the arrest of officials for contempt although it has never done so in its history – that

is the power of the court.

The court should issue firm consequential orders and oversee their implementation itself since the Guyana courts seem to lack the ability to understand simple language.

The two Ministers and others who made idiotic statements need a lesson on the concept of sovereignty and judicial jurisdiction.

How can we have regional integration if we dismiss the rulings of the CCJ? Chastising or even firing the Ministers will send a signal that the Government respect the rulings.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

Who paid for Sandra Granger’s trip?

Dear Editor, Who paid the expenses of First Lady Sandra Granger, Director of the Department of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe and accompanying entourage for the visit to attend the commissioning of ExxonMobil’s Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel,

Liza Destiny, in Singapore?

I could not ascertain from the media reports to date and I would appreciate the information before further comment or speculation.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

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Foundation

Your endocrine system

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arbohydrates, found in foods such as bread, fruit, and candy, make your blood sugar rise. So if you have diabetes, you might think you shouldn’t eat carbohydrates (carbs) at all. But carbohydrates are one of the three main components of food (the others are proteins and fats). All kids, including those with diabetes, can and should eat carbs as part of a healthy diet.

Kids with diabetes will need to pay closer attention to what they eat, though. Why? Because the more carbs you eat, the more insulin your body will need. Why? Because your body turns carbs into the sugar glucose (say: GLOO-kose), which is used for energy by your cells. And glucose can’t get into your cells without insulin (say: IN-suh-lin).

Following a meal plan can help kids balance carbs with medications and exercise so that they maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Like exercising and taking medications, it’s just another step many kids with diabetes take to stay healthy.

Why you need a plan

It’s a little easier for people to control their diabetes if they eat about the same amount of carbs at about the same times each day. That’s where a meal plan comes in. Your parents and diabetes health care team can help you create a meal plan that maps out what you will eat.

You might say, “I don’t even know what a carbohydrate is!”

Don’t worry. The adults in your

life can help you figure it out and can spell it out in your meal plan. But just to give you a taste of carbohydrate knowledge: Carbs are not found in just one kind of food. Carbs are found in many foods, such as soda, candy, breads, crackers, fruits, vegetables, and milk. Some carb-containing foods, like whole-grain bread, are healthier than others, such as candy. These healthy carbs should be included in your meal plan.

Let’s talk a little more about what happens to carbs after you eat them. You know the body turns carbs into glucose. Then the g l u -

cose is absorbed into the bloodstream, which makes the sugar level in the blood go up.

As the sugar level rises, the pancreas (say: PAN-kree-us) releases the hormone insulin into the blood. Insulin is needed to move glucose from the blood into the cells, where it can be used as a source of energy.

But for kids with diabetes, the pancreas does not make enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or the body can’t respond normally to the insulin that is made (type 2 diabetes). This makes blood sug-

ar levels go up. And when blood sugar is too high, a person won’t feel well and his or her body won’t work as it should.

How many carbs should I eat?

In your meal plan, there’s no “right” amount of carbs to eat every day. Your meal plan will take into account your age, size, how much you exercise, the medicines you take, and other medical problems you might have.

You’ll be happy to hear that the meal plan will definitely include plenty of the foods you love to eat. Your meal plan might also suggest when you should eat.

If you’re not sure how many carbohydrates a food contains, check the food label or ask your parent.

You should also remember to check the labels of diet foods.

Sometimes these foods contain extra sugar.

You might be tempted to “cheat” on your meal plan by eating sugary snacks.

It’s OK to have soda and cookies once in a while, but eating too many sugary foods could be a bad idea. If you overdo it, don’t hide it — talk to your mom or dad. Your parent or your doctor can help you get your blood sugar levels back on track.

Better yet, stick to your meal plan. If some foods you like aren’t currently in your meal plan, ask your parent or health care team how to include them. By taking a smart approach to balancing carbs with insulin and exercise, you can love your food and stay healthy, too. (kidshealth.org)

Y

ou might say endocrine (say: EN-doh-krin) glands are a little bossy — they tell your cells what to do! But that’s actually a good thing. Without your endocrine glands — and the hormones they release — your cells wouldn’t know when to do important things.

For instance, your bones wouldn’t get the message that it’s time for you to grow and get bigger.

And your body wouldn’t know that it’s time to begin puberty, the body changes that turn kids into grownups.

You have a variety of endocrine glands in different sizes and shapes located in different parts of the body. You might be surprised to learn that the pituitary (say: pih-TOO-uh-ter-ee) gland, which is about the size of a pea, is the “master gland” of the endocrine system. It makes and releases a bunch of hormones that control other glands and body functions. Tiny and tucked beneath your brain, the pituitary helps you grow big by producing growth hormone.

Your thyroid (say: THY-royd) gland is in your neck and it’s shaped like a bowtie or a butterfly.

It makes hormones that are important for growth and it helps you stay alert and full of energy.

Your adrenal (say: uh-DREE-nul) glands are really important to your body in times of trouble, like when you’re sick or under stress. Adrenaline (say: uh-DREN-uh-lin), one of the adrenal gland hormones, gives you the boost you need if you’re being chased by a wild animal — or even your brother!

Insulin is essential

Your pancreas (say: PAN-kree-us) is your largest endocrine gland and it’s found in your belly.

The pancreas makes several hormones, including insulin (say: IN-suh-lin), which helps glucose (say: GLOO-kose), the sugar that’s in your blood, enter the cells of your body. Your cells need to be fueled with glucose to function, like a car’s engine needs gas. And we all know what happens when you run out of fuel!

Your body does an amazing job of making sure that hormones are released in just the right amounts at just the right time. If there’s a problem with the endocrine system, a person’s body might not grow like it should or it might not work the way it’s supposed to.

Diabetes (say: dye-uh-BEE-tees) is one common problem with the endocrine system. It occurs when a person’s pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin. It’s also an endocrine problem if a kid isn’t growing as quickly as expected because his or her pituitary gland isn’t making enough growth hormone.

Fortunately, special doctors called endocrinologists (say: en-duh-krih-NOL-eh-jists) know a lot about the endocrine system and can help treat people with hormone problems. But most kids will never need to worry about their endocrine system because it works fine on its own. How does that make a kid feel? Gland-tastic! (kidshealth.org)

7 Opposition rules out extending life of Govt news

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…Jagdeo willing to meet President …slams AG for misleading CCJ

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has made it clear that the parliamentary Opposition will not be extending the coalition Government’s time in office, almost eight months after the Government was defeated by a No-Confidence Motion that means the President and Cabinet must resign and elections be held.

Jagdeo made these comments during a press conference on Monday evening when he discussed the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) post-judgement hearing that was held earlier in the day. During the hearing, Attorney General Basil Williams had suggested that Parliament could extend the life of the Government.

This is in keeping with Article 106 (6 and 7) of the Constitution, which states that on the passage of a no-confidence motion, elections must be called within three months or at a time agreed to by two-thirds of the National Assembly. But Jagdeo made it clear this was a line he would not cross.

“As (CCJ President) Justice Saunders said, are you asking me to rewrite the Constitution? He posed to the other side. And the Constitution says once a no-confidence motion is validly passed, elections have to be held in three months.

And so we are going to insist on that. Three months to hold elections. We’re already been living on borrowed time in the Government, because of the delaying tactics.

“So effectively, they have had a six months’ grace period so far. And we’re not going to tolerate any continued

violation of the Constitution.

So, we will insist on elections in three months. And when I meet with President Granger that is a non-negotiable. What is non-negotiable too is us going back to Parliament to extend the life of this government. That’s non-negotiable.”

The Opposition Leader also called out Williams for deliberately misleading the CCJ, by saying that the President invited him “forthwith” for a meeting following the Court’s ruling on June 17, but the Opposition Leader is yet to respond. According to Jagdeo, a letter was dispatched to his office stating that he was being invited for a meeting after the June 24 consequential ruling. The Opposition Leader made it clear that he has acted in good faith with respect to the CCJ’s directions.

Last week, the CCJ ruled that the No-Confidence Motion tabled in Guyana’s National Assembly in December 2018 had been validly passed and, therefore, general elections must be held within a stipulated time frame.

But while Granger publicly announced his respect for the CCJ ruling, his Ministers have been less respectful. Government Ministers have, in fact, made statements that defied the CCJ rulings and even questioned the CCJ’s jurisdiction in Guyana – even though Guyana has recognised the Court as its final appeals court since 2005.

The first such statements were made by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

According to Jordan, the coalition Government is not prepared to call elections unless House-to-House Registration is carried out regardless of what the CCJ or anyone says.

On Friday, Minister of State, Dawn HastingsWilliams rejected the CCJ’s appellate jurisdiction during a bizarre protest staged by several Government Ministers and a few A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporters outside the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) headquarters, where they were calling for House-to-House Registration before elections were held.

Hastings-Williams voiced her blatant disregard for the CCJ as Guyana’s final court of appeal by saying that the Court has no authority to issue any consequential orders on Monday, since Guyana is an independent state with its own laws.

The People’s National Congress (PNC), through General Secretary Amna Ally, has since distanced itself from her comments.

But these utterances will raise questions over the Government’s commitment to actually comply with the CCJ and exercise good faith in talks with the parliamentary Opposition.

GECOM

When it comes to GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson, Jagdeo made it clear that he would not countenance his continued presence at the Commission. According to Jagdeo, Patterson has to go.

“The second issue we

Court maintains necessity... from page 3

He made it clear that contrary to the Government’s arguments, a provision for a caretaker government does not have to be explicit in the Constitution as this is a standard and recognised international practice.

This is a point that has repeatedly been emphasised by the Opposition Leader, who has noted that contracts and decisions taken that were not in line with what a caretaker government ought to be doing would not be recognised by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

But Marcus’s continued arguments that Government has to continue in office with its full powers and that the three months’ deadline were an “imposition” eventually caused Justice Saunders to brandish the Constitution and remind the lawyer of the CCJ’s remit.

“We’re not imposing anything. We’re not involved in

politics. Our remit is to uphold this document (the Constitution of Guyana).

And if it has a clear provision, then what you want us to do? To ignore it? To reject it? To rewrite it?” Justice Saunders questioned.

Meanwhile, in his presentation, AG Williams blamed GECOM’s failure to prepare for elections after November on the Commissioners and walkouts. This is despite the fact that Commissioners on the PPP/C side have long complained about GECOM stalling preparations and the Government Commissioners’ push for House-to-House Registration, which would delay elections.

Williams, like Marcus, called for the two sides to come together in the National Assembly to extend the Government’s time in office. Jagdeo, who called a press conference soon after the proceedings, has since shot down that idea.

Eventually, the Court decided to give the two sides until July 1 to make written submissions on the consequential orders not exceeding 20 pages. It also decided that consequential orders would be issued on or before July 12, before which the CCJ urged President Granger to meet with Jagdeo, with their lawyers if necessary.

In his reaction following the post-judgement hearing, Attorney General Williams maintained that House-toHouse registration must be continued and the President and Cabinet must remain in power.

“We believe under 106(7) it takes precedence over 106(6). Six does not have any timelines and so 7 governs 106(6) and the President, the Government, the Cabinet should remain.

And the President does not leave until an election is held and a new president is sworn in,” he said.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

have clarity on is that the Chairman was unconstitutionally appointed and as of now, he should not make any decision in relation to elections. In fact, this is a former Justice and if decency prevailed, by now he should have demitted office.

“But he continues to hang on there, although the highest court of Guyana has ruled that his appointment was unconstitutional and illegal,” Jagdeo told the media during the press conference.

According to Jagdeo, GECOM’s independence and professionalism are suspect as long as Patterson remains ensconced as Chairman. He noted that since the No confidence motion was passed

President David Granger

in December of last year, GECOM has failed to carry out its mandate thanks to the machinations of political appointees.

“We had the [Public Relations Officer] PRO from GECOM say they can be ready at any time. The [Chief Executive Officer] CEO of GECOM said the list is clean. These comments have been in the public domain.

But why do we see now, suddenly, the staff wavering? Because we have three political Commissioners and a politically-appointed Chairman!

“Imagine the legal officer, who was appointed by this commission. She gave a legal opinion saying that Continuous Registration is

the only way provided by law to update the voters’ list. And immediately, (they) started damaging her reputation, because she chose to be professional. So anything you hear about timelines form this commission until the Chairman is removed and you have a credible commission, would be just political pressure from the other side,” Jagdeo declared.

The CCJ had found that Patterson’s appointment was flawed and in breach of the Constitution. The Court also ruled that the President ought to have given the Opposition Leader an explanation as to why consecutive lists of nominees for the position of GECOM Chairman were being rejected.

8 News

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mayor’s driver slapped with causing death charge J

oel Bond, the driver attached to Georgetown Mayor, was on Monday placed on $100,000 bail

by Magistrate George when he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts on a causing death charge.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that he drove his vehicle in a dangerous manner, causing the death of Mitford Cambridge.

On June 11, the vehicle assigned to the Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, slammed into three other vehicles along the Turkeyen Public Road.

In the process, Cambridge was injured and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted but died one day later.

Cambridge was reportedly sitting in his car at the time of the accident and had sustained severe bodily injuries.

At the time of the smash-up, the Mayor was not in the vehicle but Bond, told traffic ranks that he had fallen asleep, causing the vehicle to collide with the concrete median and subsequently barrel into three vehicles parked in the vicinity of MovieTowne.

Just under a month ago, seven

H

The Mayor’s vehicle being towed after the accident

parked cars were badly damaged as a result of a speeding car losing control in the vicinity of Liliendaal on the East

Coast of Demerara.

Meanwhile, Bond will return to court on July 31.

Overseas-based Guyanese arrested for firing shots with illegal gun in Parika

…claims gun was for his “protection” while in Guyana

A

n overseas-based Guyanese will soon be arraigned before a court of law for discharging a loaded firearm in the air on Sunday night, thereby scaring a number of residents at Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Reports are that the man, who is on vacation from the United States, was spending time with relatives at Parika. This newspaper was told that the overseas-based Guyanese was caught driving a car and firing shots as he made his way through the streets of the village.

A Police source told this publication that the man admitted to owning the illegal firearm, which he claimed he had obtained to “ensure his safety” for the duration of his stay in Guyana.

Speaking with this newspaper, Commander of “D” Division, Edmond Cooper, said the Police received reports from residents in Parika that shots were being fired, and upon a prompt response by the Police, the man was nabbed.

“We caught him with the illegal firearm in his possession. He was immediately arrested and placed in our

2 men granted bail for wounding

T

wo men appeared on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates Courts to answer charges of unlawful wounding.

Patrick Dotson, 26, of Plum Park, Greater Sophia, denied the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus. The charge stated that on April 18, 2019 at Sophia, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Ucine Joseph.

Septon Barton of 98 Plum Park, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, the other defendant, pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawful wounding, which alleged that on April 18, 2019 at Sophia, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Patrick Dotson.

Prosecutor Adduni Innis

This confounded nonsense…

Septon Barton

did not object to either defendant being placed on bail, thus either defendant was placed on $40,000 bail.

This case will continue on July 15.

custody. He will be placed before the court before this week is out,” Cooper confirmed.

Suspected bandits

Meanwhile, in relation to another incident which occurred on the same night at Ruby Backdam, Parika, wherein three suspected bandits were arrested while two others had managed to escape, the commander explained that the detainees are being interrogated for other crimes they may have committed recently.

“We are carrying out the investigation right now with them. We are questioning them as to whether they were involved in other criminal activities in this policing district. We have got their firearm; they will be charged for court soon; sometime this week,” he said.

Last Sunday night, a resident of Ruby Backdam was driving along the main access road heading towards his home when he came under gunfire.

He had reportedly attempted to overtake two cars – a Carina 212 and a Toyota Premio -- when the occupants opened fire.

However, he had managed to escape, and had immediately contacted the Police.

A cousin of the traumatised man explained that upon the arrival of the Police, as ranks were making their way into the Backdam, they reportedly intercepted one of the cars, which had five occupants.

When the car came to a halt, two of the men exited the vehicle and ran into the

bushes. The Police reportedly discharged rounds in their direction, but the two suspected bandits managed to make good their escape.

The other three occupants in the detained car were immediately arrested.

Upon searching the vehicle while the trio were being arrest, a gun and a quantity of ammunition were discovered inside the motor car.

The cousin of the traumatised Ruby resident has said that villagers are fearful for their lives, given that the two men remain at large.

He recalled that, about two months ago, a businessman was shot and killed during the commission of a robbery, and he said he believes the group of men who had been intercepted were on a mission to commit other robberies in the area.

Somdat Ramgobin, 46, also known as “Rakesh”, was killed in mid-May when bandits invaded his Parika Backdam home.

It was reported that two men had entered the premises -- one brandishing a gun – and had asked for “Rakesh”.

The men had then proceeded to call out to Ramgobin, who responded and was immediately attacked with a glass bottle and beaten to his head and body.

The duo had then demanded cash, and were given some $600,000 by the now deceased man.

Unsatisfied, the men had demanded jewellery; and after being told there was none, had taken Ramgobin to a bedroom in his house, where they shot him to his chest.

…by PNC must stop

ow much more shame and embarrassment must this PNC government and its myrmidons be allowed to bring upon the Guyanese people? When are we going to stand up and say, “No more!!”? Your Eyewitness, of course, is referring to the CCJ’s “post-judgement hearing” that was held yesterday - when the eminent justices had to literally roll their eyes at the submissions of the “government side” as to what consequential orders ought to be issued.

Mendez for the Opposition side was extremely succinct: just follow the very clear language of the constitution and issue orders accordingly, he advised the court! On elections, since the 3-month period from Dec 21 had obviously expired PLUS another three months, the Opposition Leader (OL) graciously allowed the government ANOTHER three months – which would bring us to Sept 24th. On the GECOM Chairman, he proposed ONE week to consult with the President and submit a list and for the President to select one of the names. Story done!!

Delicately asking as to whether the lawyers or their principals for the two sides had met, the Court was informed that they hadn’t! Chief Justice Saunders ruefully remarked, “The same degree of urgency that is expected of the court we don’t see in the behaviour of the political directorate!” Mendez didn’t seek to cast blame for the failure to meet – much less fail to reach a consensus; but Basil Williams slyly claimed that the president had “immediately” invited the OL to a meeting but hadn’t even received a reply!! A Senior Counsel and AG being so duplicitous!”

As Mendez calmly pointed out later, Granger’s invitation had explicitly stated the meeting was to be AFTER yesterday’s post-judgement hearing!! But that’s the sort of low-down behaviour that’s standard for the PNC, isn’t it? That behaviour was also very clear in Basil Williams total focus on insisting that the President remains the president until AFTER the elections – whenever that is held!! So he’d give no effect to Art 106 (6) which is pellucid: “The President and Cabinet SHALL resign” immediately after an NCM!!

Williams eagerly grasped at a straw thrown by Marcus, the GECOM shill, that Art 106 96) was merely “directory” and not mandatory! More half-men!! The Court was forced to pin him down on this concoction and asked whether he was saying that Art106(6) “three months” was of no effect! Williams then extrapolated that notwithstanding Art 106(6) the President retained total discretion on setting the dates for elections!!

Reminded about his client’s RECOMMENDATIONS, he launched into a long soliloquy on the need for a president to hold off the Venezuelans on our western border!!

Pathetic!!

Enough is enough!!

…by GECOM must stop

The high-paid Counsel for GECOM, Marcus, once again made a “mocking stock” of himself and his client.

He bobbed and weaved – like Williams - in answering the simple question as to what was his client recommending !

He even mixed up the relevant sections of the Constitution he sought to buttress his argument– such as that was!!

But he exploded a bombshell to the Court that visibly shocked the Justices, who’d been emphasising that the Constitution had clearly stipulated elections after an NCM HAD to be within THREE months! Clearly exposing the tag-team arrangement the PNC had with GECOM, he claimed the best date for presenting a list of electors for elections was going to be Dec 24th!! Knowing that nothing happens in Guyana between Christmas and New Year, he was incredibly telling the Guyanese people that elections wouldn’t be until some way in Jan 2019!!

Their ploy to revert to the Assembly and the PPP refusing an extension, Granger then resorts to Art162 (2) and proclaims the election based on GECOM’s “hardship” date!

Enough!!

…WILL end!!

But old people have long experience with folks like the PNC when they say, “time longer than twine”. Your Eyewitness has faith there are enough decent folks who’d given the PNC-led coalition a chance.

And have now decided Guyana must do better!!

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

news

9

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP/C Presidential Candidate proposes plan to improve standard of living

P

PP Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali has outlined several initiatives which he plans to introduce to improve the standard of living for all Guyanese once his party returns to power.

With thousands of jobs lost under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government and the rising cost of living in Guyana, PPP Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali in a recent interview explained his plan to correct this situation, starting with employment creation.

He added that as a party, the PPP has already said that it will be reopening the sugar estates which were closed by the Government, leaving thousands on the breadline.

“We already spoke about reopening the sugar es-

PPP/C Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali

tates, that will help to create income that will help to have the issue of disposable income and spending power corrected in a number of these communities,” he explained.

Government ordered the closure of several sugar estates based on what

it has called a “cost-saving measure” which resulted in thousands of workers from Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon being dismissed.

On another corrective measure, Ali committed to the reintroduction of the $10,000 per child cash

grant.

In fact, Ali intends to have this allowance increased to $50,000 per child after a five year period.

The PPP presidential candidate pointed out that he believes the money will be useful especially for single parents and deprived families across the country to meet the needs of their children.

Ali said he has also taken note of the water and electricity subsidies for pensioners, something he wishes to reintroduce in Guyana.

“Over a five year period we are talking about water subsidies for the pensioners of $2.5 billion, that is being taken away from pensioners so we also have to ensure that we return this and these are things that are going to be done immediately,” he assured.

Additionally, he prom-

ised to remove the 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) added to these services by the coalition Government. According to him, these taxes have had tremendous effects on the cost of living for people across Guyana, something he observed during several outreaches to parts of the country.

The coalition Government withdrew the electricity and water assistance programme which had started under the previous Government. For many, this was viewed as a very unpopular move which led to severe hardships for our senior citizens.

Senior citizens had argued when the initiative was scrapped by this Government that their small increase in pension cannot equate to the benefits that were offered through the provision of

electricity and water subsidies.

Prior to 2016, pensioners across Guyana received relief from Government through water and electricity subsidies, coupled with a monthly pension.

Further, Ali promised to reinstate bonuses for joint services ranks – an initiative which was scrapped by the APNU/AFC coalition.

“One officer told me that he utilised his bonus to buy a freezer and he is using that freezer at home to supplement his income because he is selling chicken and the freezer helps to keep the chicken throughout the week…he tells me that that has been able to supplement his family income to the extent that he pays his monthly mortgage out of that small business,” Ali shared as he alluded to the importance of the bonus salary.

GECOM has no Chairman – CCJ

D

espite the Caribbean Court of Justice’s ruling last week that he was illegally appointed, there has been no definitive word on whether Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson has stepped down.

But according to CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders on Monday during the post-judgement hearing, GECOM, in fact, has no legal Chairman since the Court ruled on June 18 that Patterson’s appointment was flawed and in breach of the Constitution.

“In relation to the GECOM case, by concluding that the procedure was flawed and in breach of the Constitution, the inexorable result unless that result is somehow stayed, is that there isn’t a GECOM Chairman.

And that process has to be reengaged.”

Justice Saunders questioned whether elections could be carried out in three months, without a GECOM Chairman.

In answer, Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, who appeared in the courtroom on behalf of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, said that it could.

The issue, Mendes noted, was the voters’ list and the process that would have to be used to update it. But

when the time comes, but you know the decision of the Court is that the appointment was void abinicio so in effect there is no Chairman,” he said.

$724M and counting

Former GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson, who was unconstitutionally appointed

when it comes to the GECOM Chairman, Mendes suggested that a strict timeline of seven days be ordered by the CCJ to ensure a Chairman is appointed without the protracted delays that accompanied the previous appointment.

He suggested that President David Granger work together with his client to come up with a list of candidates “not unacceptable” to the President, to ensure a GECOM Chairman is appointed quickly to replace Retired Justice Patterson.

“In relation to that, we’re proposing that the order be that the appointment be quashed and then we’re going to ask the Court to assist the parties by fixing a timeta-

ble during which they are to communicate with each other, not excluding face-to-face meetings, to agree on a list of six persons not unacceptable to the President. We were suggesting a period of seven days,” Mendes said.

He noted that once a list is provided, the President could then be given three days within which to choose his Chairman. Questioned about Patterson’s continued presence at GECOM, Attorney General Basil Williams confirmed that by virtue of the ruling, Patterson was, in fact, no longer the GECOM Chairman.

“Well, I am sure that question would be addressed

Meanwhile, proceedings at the CCJ took an interesting turn when it was revealed by GECOM lawyer Stanley Marcus that close to a billion has already been spent by GECOM on Houseto-House Registration preparations.

“From my consultations, GECOM has engaged over 9000 persons in the field on the operation and has already spent $724 million on the operation. And any other process is going to be longer than the operation in progress,” Marcus told the

court.

Registration is catered for under section 6 of the National Registration Act, Cap 19:08, with the intent of having those 14 and over included on the National Register of Registrants. But on August 4, 2005, then President Bharrat Jagdeo assented to amendments of the Act by including provisions for Continuous Registration.

These amendments were in keeping with an international push away from House-to-House registration and towards Continuous Registration as the more effective method of registering voters.

According to Section 6 (A) of the Amendments, “the Elections Commission shall use the official list of elec-

tors from the 2001 General and Regional Elections as the base to commence continuing registration.”

This meant that persons not on the 2001 Official List of Electors were legally required to visit registration offices in their respective registration areas to apply to be included on the list (though it is understood that GECOM officers flex by visiting the homes of those who are disabled). The same held true for the next (and last) time House-to-House Registration would be done, which was in 2008.

The Opposition has consistently argued that Houseto-House Registration was nothing more than a delaying ploy and has noted that Claims and Objections are the way to go.

10 news

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Caribbean auditors urged to analyse regional gaps pressures on Governments and SAIs. The sessions over the next few days will reflect this theme.

Those who attended yesterday’s (Sunday) executive workshop on root cause analysis saw just how much we need to focus on accountability in our performance on audit work,” Belanger pointed out.

The packed event will allow these delegates to review the Organisation’s achieve-

Executive Members of the CAROSAI conference pose for a photo with PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali; Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun; Auditor General Deodat Sharma and Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

A

s the 11th Caribbean Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (CAROSAI) Congress opened on Monday morning, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate and Public Accounts Committee Chairman Irfaan Ali urged regional leaders to analyse the existing gaps that would, in turn, help their respective countries to leapfrog into the future.

The official opening ceremony of the five-day regional conference was held at the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel.

The event is being hosted from June 23 to June 27, under the theme “Vision of Performance; for Relevance and Success”.

According to Ali, “For us to understand this vision, we have to have a perfect analysis of the gaps that exist in the Region and these gaps do not necessary have to do only with audit – [it may be]

governmental gaps, national development priorities and differences within the Region itself and how our audit institutions and our audit framework is aligned to national development and regional development.”

In this regard, he told the regional gathering that emerging issues have to be dealt with, which may even include climate change.

“To ensure success, we have to have professionalism, we have to have trust, the population must trust the audit office, we have to ensure there is independence and that independence must be safeguarded and supported by all kinds.

We have to build … institutional capacity.

We have to ensure we have the right human resources trained and placed in the right places,” he recommended.

Eighteen countries are participating in the 11th Congress.

Auditor General Deodat

Sharma explained the reason behind the conference. “This Congress aims to highlight the incredible contributions of members of [Supreme Audit Institutions] SAIs and success stories that would help to forge a better future for the SAIs,” he said.

He explained that the presentations over the next few days will be centred on performance audits, debt management to investment needs, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an effort to strengthen the countries’ values of professionalism, credibility, and accountability among others.

Meanwhile, Program Officer at the Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation, Marc Belanger shared how happy he was to be in Guyana and how timely such a forum was.

“The theme, “Vision of Performance; for Relevance and Success” is a very timely and topical one given the

Sentencing for teen who killed Professor postponed

E

ighteen-year-old Naomi Adams, called “Shortee”, who recently admitted to unlawfully killing overseas-based Professor Pariedeau Mars, also called “Perry”, in furtherance of a robbery, had her sentencing further postponed to July 16, 2019.

The teen, who was represented by Attorney-atLaw Mark Conway on her first appearance, opted to plead guilty to a manslaughter charge which stated that on May 12, 2016 in the county of Demerara, she killed Mars, in the furtherance of a robbery.

Moreover, the trial judge, Justice Navindra Singh had postponed the teen’s sentencing to Monday to accommodate a probation report; however, the sentencing was further postponed to July 16, 2019.

Two other accomplices of Adams – Nikkisha Dover and Orin McCrae – are also expected to be sentenced after they too had opted to plead guilty to the

Professor Pariedeau Mars

lesser count of manslaughter.

Five teens were originally slapped with a murder charge; however, three of the accused have taken guilty pleas with the other two expected to stand trial.

According to Police reports, 75-year-old Mars, of Bissessar Avenue, Prashad Nagar, Greater Georgetown, was found bound and beaten in his home about 18:30h on the day in question by his

18-year-old Naomi called “Shortee”

Adams,

wife. He was subsequently rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Investigations revealed that an accused, who was 17 years old at the time was known to the now dead man as she would visit his home from time to time; it was further revealed that the said accused confessed to conspiring with her boyfriend to rob the elderly man as he was home alone that particular day.

ments over the period 2016 to 2019, analyse data, discuss the SDGs and foster conversations on strengthening human resources and use of technology to improve the quality of public sector auditing among other issues.

On the last day of the meeting, the visitors will get a taste of the world’s best eco-tourism destination through a visit to a popular nature resort.

news

11

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden to Lethem road woes continue

Businesses, passengers paying

hefty sums to get goods into Mahdia

E

A pickup transporting goods into the mining town

ven as the Administration continues to downplay the deteriorated state of the Linden to Lethem road, which has been creating hardships for road users, particularly minibus operators and businesses, the condition of the trail continues to worsen.

With no efforts being made by the Administration to remedy the issue, road users are left to push through by any means necessary to secure their daily bread. Minibus operators, who over the past two weeks were forced to park their buses due to the state of the road, are now back on the trail but this time with a new initiative whereby they transport passengers and goods up to a certain point that their minibuses can reach then transfer those goods and passengers onto pickups and ATVs that continue the journey into the mining town. This in itself is posing new challenges for passengers and businesses who now have to pay two fares to get into Mahdia.

Further, consumers are feeling the squeeze as businesses were forced to in-

flate their prices to offset the transportation cost. A route 72 minibus operator, Lionel Gilkes, who spoke to Guyana Times on Monday, explained that he along with other operators took the decision to go back out to work since they were facing economic hardships and were not able to take care of their families. “We had to make a decision, it’s hard on that trail. You see these pictures, seeing is one thing but actually having to drive there, that’s something totally different. But I was home for three weeks, no money. We had to do something and this is the best we could do. We thought the strike would have allowed for the Government to do something for us even if is to say they will fix parts and when, anything, but nothing. It’s clear this Government is not for the poor people, they are for themselves alone and their families,” he stated.

Further, a small-scale businessman, who gave his name only as Perry, also reached out to this publication and said that businesses are now forced to pay double fare to take their goods into Mahdia.

He explained that a usually $8000 trip is now costing as much as $16,000 and sometimes $20,000 to get goods into the town.

“This is stress for us that have to pay double to get our stocks into Mahdia.

Usually, it’s about $7-8000 per seat which would take you straight into Mahdia… now you have to pay that plus an additional 8 or more depending on how much goods you have. When you calculate that, it’s a lot.

Imagine now you gotta up your prices just to offset this exorbitant sum, it’s killing the people man. Is poor people. This is pure suffering. This Government doing bare stupidity. Killing out the small man…pressure too much on the people. I hope people opening their eyes and seeing well is what really going on here,” the frustrated Perry opined.

This ongoing issue of the deteriorated Linden to Lethem road has been a bother for those traversing that roadway. Several concerns were raised in this regard by those users who reached out to this publication on several occasions to have their views heard.

Videos, photographs and live feeds complaining of the state of that road were also shared on social media over the past weeks.

Meanwhile, Toshao of Toka Village, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), Eugene Isaac in a video aired on the Government’s Department of Public Information website last week claimed that nothing is wrong with the road. He rather commended the Government’s “great work” being done on the said roadway. He said the Linden to Lethem road was in great shape as it is not impassible but only has a “few holes”.

The Public Infrastructure Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Krest Cummings, last week in an invited comment on this issue told this publication that the Ministry was in discussions with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on the way forward with regards to the much-needed repairs to the road. However, when contacted on Monday for an update on those discussions, Cummings was unable to offer an update up to press time.

A minibus struggling through the deplorable road

Region 1 fuel shortage woes

Consumers now paying $70,000 per drum

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early two months after communities in Region One (BarimaWaini) were hit by a fuel shortage, which is significantly affecting businesses, households and even the regional administration, regional authorities are yet to receive any response, updates or intervention of Central Government.

A letter was sent by the region to the Communities Minister, however, it is still awaiting a response of receipt or any update from that entity with regards to the issue.

Region One Chairman, Brentnol Ashley in an invited comment on Monday told Guyana Times that the region is still plagued with this problem. He pointed out that the Guyana Oil Company had visited the region last month, however, there were no updates or directives as to what steps will be taken.

Ashley noted, however, that there has been no intervention or solution offered by the Government thus far.

Ashley explained that businesses are hiring boats to transport fuel from Charity into Mabaruma. He said the region now pays some $70,000 per drum of fuel against the usual cost of $20,000 per drum. He added that this is a crisis which is having even harsher consequences on communities in the Matarkai District.

Prices for services like transportation in the region has tripled and major projects have been suspended as a result of the limited fuel supply in the district. Due to the limited supply and high demand of the commodity, residents are forced to pay between $8000 to $10,000 per five gallons of gasoline in Mabaruma.

In Matarkai, the price can go as high as $15,000, Ashley stated.

In cases where taxis usually cost $1000, the fare is now as high as $4000. School children are forced to pay $200 from Kumaka to Mabaruma, up from a fee of roughly $60.

“It is affecting us tremendously,” Ashley added.

He said regional projects and activities are at a standstill because of this short-

Region One Chairman Brentnol Ashley

age. “It also puts a threat to those emergency calls that we get for patients who are sick to get to the hospital,” the Regional Chairman explained.

From his assessment, the shortage of fuel is as a result of the crisis in neighbouring Venezuela.

Region One gets fuel from the Spanish-speaking nation, and with the permission of the relevant authorities, the fuel is transported across the border. This practice is only legal up to the Pomeroon River mouth in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

But over the past weeks, the supply has dwindled due to the worsening social and economic situation in Venezuela, he said.

Ashley reiterated calls on Central Government to intervene. He explained that with no GuyOil service station in the region, the State-owned entity should send fuel tankers to the area to supply retailers.

The Regional Democratic Council recently made recommendations to Government via social media that there be an immediate relaxation on the $5000 a barrel GRA tax on all fuel.

Additionally, it called for the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and other authorities to look into the ships that are coming to Waini point and purchasing the unmarked fuel and shipping them to Georgetown, Bartica and Suriname, causing local dealers to be disadvantaged.

Further, it recommended that GuyOil provide an urgent supply to the region as this shortage is creating major challenges to not only the region but also the residents and businesses.

12 News

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ruimveldt resident remanded on multiple counts of armed robbery

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26-year-old man was remanded to prison on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was slapped with multiple counts of armed robbery and escaping lawful custody.

Travis Payne of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts.

The first four charges stated that during the month of October 2018, at East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Rawle Ramnarine, Mohamed Ishmael and Colin

Edwards of phones and articles valuing $428,000. He also escaped from the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost while in custody for robbery under arms.

It is also alleged that on May 23, 2019, at Tucville, Georgetown, he discharged a firearm at Roxcell Nepal with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.

Additionally, it was alleged that on April 12, 2019, at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Faith Desouza of a phone valued $48,000.

It was further alleged that on January 21,

2019, at Castello Housing Scheme, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Angela Caesar of a purse valued $13,000.

The last four charges

stated that on January 30, 2019, at Kitty, Georgetown, while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Randy Simons, Michael Agrica, Terrence Parke and Ronaldo Etwaro of phones and cash totalling $632,000.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris made serious objections to bail being granted to the defendant on the grounds of the penalties the charges attract and the prevalence of the offences.

Magistrate IsaacsMarcus remanded the man to prison, where he will make his next court appearance on July 15, 2019.

pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charge stated that on June 26, 2019, at Regent and Wellington Streets, Georgetown, he stole from Claire Rambarran a gold band worth $120,000.

Prosecutor Adduni Innis told the court that on the day in question the victim was walking along Regent and Wellington Streets.

While she was crossing the intersection of the road, the accused walked up to her, grabbed her right hand and snatched her gold band.

He then attempted to flee the scene, but the virtual complainant’s sister, who was with her at the time, raised an alarm and a Police patrol vehicle that was passing gave chase and apprehended the defendant.

A search was carried out on his person, and the band

Remanded: Travis Payne

Sophia man charged for stealing chicken

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23-year-old man who is accused of stealing chicken was granted bail at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.

Omalo Dick, of A Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

The charge stated that on June 22, 2019 at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, he stole 77 kilograms (170 pounds) of chicken valued at $51,680 from Rawle Burkette.

Prosecutor Adduni Innis did not object to bail. She did not disclose the facts of the

Charged: Omalo Dick

matter.

Magistrate IsaacsMarcus granted bail in the sum of $10,000, and the matter was adjourned to July 8, 2019.

Father of 2 remanded for snatching gold band

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26-year-old man who claimed he stole a gold band to fend for his children was taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.

Jason Thomas, of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara,

was found in his pocket.

According to the prosecutor, the VC positively identified the defendant during an identification parade.

In court on Monday, the father of two told the court, “My child mother was speeding my head for mon-

ey to buy milk for my two children, and she (said she) will lock me up if I didn’t get the money.” The man told the court that he was sorry for his actions.

He was remanded to prison, and the case was set for calling on July 6 for sentencing.

Horses in Georgetown to be tested for swamp fever today T

he veterinary staff of the Guyana Livestock D e v e l o p m e n t Authority (GLDA) will be in Georgetown today to take blood samples from horses to test for Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA), also known

as swamp fever.

In a social media post, the Agriculture Ministry said the disease was caused by a virus and was transmitted by blood-sucking insects.

Further, the Ministry informed, “The horses from

which samples will be taken will also be dewormed and given vitamins at no cost to the owner as part of this exercise.”

The exercise will commence at 07:00h in central Georgetown and will wind down at 15:00h in Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Officials at the GLDA told Guyana Times that owners of horses had no reason to panic as there was no outbreak of the disease. It was explained that the project is part of the organisation’s animal health work programme for this year.

Similar exercises were conducted from Turkeyen to Good Hope on the East Coast of Demerara and from Brickery to Ruimveldt on the East Bank of Demerara on June 18 and 20, respectively.

EIA, or swamp fever, is also called horse malaria.

The virus attacks the red

blood cells of horses causing anaemia, weakness, and even death.

Research shows that there is no cure for the disease, and horses are required to be tested regularly.

Once a horse is infected, the virus remains in the animal’s body for the rest of its life.

A few warning signs of the disease may include slight to high fever for a few

days, weakness, weight loss, depression, and even disorientation.

Persons with enquiries can contact the GLDA on 220-6556 or 220-6557 for more information.

The sudden testing for these animals come at a time when the Trinidad and Tobago Government recently took a stance to ban all poultry items from Guyana after expressing concerns over duck viral hepatitis.

A memo dated May 31, 2019, and signed by the twin-island republic’s Senior Veterinary Officer informed the Customs and Excise Division of the ban.

The Agriculture Ministry had announced that the GLDA’s hatchery was closed owing to the unusual death of ducklings.

“There is an increased mortality rate of ducklings being hatched at our facility; additionally, we were also informed by some farmers that a similar occurrence was taking place on a number of farms throughout the various regions,” the statement said.

It was later mentioned that the Muscovy breed was under threat, especially those two to three weeks old. This precipitated surveillance and monitoring exercise targeting the animals.

At that time, the deaths were labelled as an “unusual occurrence”.

news

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tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Canada Day 2019

Canadian High Commissioner underscores acceptance of elections result

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s Guyana prepares to head to the polls, Canada is following, with its elections being held in October. This has prompted High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee to underscore some outcomes which should prevail.

During celebration

to Government or any political party. Naturally, I’m speaking of our Canadian elections,” Chatterjee posited.

Elections Canada is the agency responsible for these arrangements, and reports directly to the Parliament -- an arrange-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo: sharing a photo moment with Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee during Canada Day celebrations

of Canada Day 2019 on Monday evening, the diplomat pointed out that elections preparations are underway in Canada, and are being overseen by an independent body that is unaffected by political parties or Government.

“Speaking of elections, there is one coming up in a few months. Elections preparations are currently underway by an independent, non-partisan body, answerable to Parliament and not

ment that is somewhat similar to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). She hinted that while it is uncertain who will prevail, there will be a “clash” of policies, but the final proclamation will not result in violence.

She said, “It is still early to know who will form Government in Canada’s next elections. There will be a clash of policies and ideas, but there will be no clash of fists. When the election is decided, there may be tears,

Linden fatal accident

Teen died from fractured skull, spine – PME

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post-mortem examination conducted on the body of 15-yearold Lindener, Derick Rambharrat, who died days after being struck down by a car on Wednesday has indicated that he died from a fractured skull and spine sustained in the accident.

The examination was conducted at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh on Monday.

Prior to his death, the teen was on life support at the GPHC, however, he succumbed to the injuries at about 14:00h on Saturday. Rambharrat of Speightland, Lower Kara Kara, was a Fourth Form student of the Linden Foundation Secondary School. Reports are the teen was struck at about 11:40h on the Amelia’s Ward access road, Mackenzie, Linden.

Enquiries disclosed that the motorcar which was driven by a female teacher at the time, was travelling north along the western side of the access road at a

Dead: 15-year-old Derick Rambharrat

fast rate of speed whilst the teen was proceeding west.

Rambharrat is said to have ridden into the path of the motorcar. As a result of the collision, the teen sustained multiple injuries about his body and did not regain consciousness. He was picked up and rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

Police said the driver of the motorcar tested negative for alcohol in her system. E Division (LindenKwakwani) Commander, Linden Lord on Monday indicated that legal advice has been sought in relation to the matter.

but there will be no violence.

I can guarantee you that whoever loses will accept it as the will of the people.”

The High Commissioner asserted that there were differentiating factors of race, religion and ethnicity in the past, but those were bridged by consensus, and led the way for the country’s success.

“We are not better than you, and we’re certainly not perfect. Canada’s independence was forged by brokering among very distinct regions, ethnicities and religions.

Consensus and compromise are hallmark Canadian values, and led the way to Canada’s success,” she declared.

On another note, the Canadian envoy reminded of that country’s support to Guyana, dating back to 1964 and before the massive oil discoveries.

“We were here when you had no oil. We have accompanied you in all stages of your development when very few were here to sup-

port you. We are not your donors, we are your partners and you can continue to count on Canada as we cultivate our gardens of liberal democracy,” the diplomat expressed.

In response, President David Granger mentioned the respect for internal affairs and sovereignty which has existed between the two nations.

“Guyana and Canada have founded their friendship on the principles of mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs; mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; cooperation for mutual benefit; respect for international law and treaties; and the maintenance of international peace and security. Guyana acknowledges, and expresses its gratitude to Canada, for its strong support for our sovereignty and territorial integrity over the past five decades,” the Head of State said.

He added, “Canada

President David Granger: sharing a toast on Monday with Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee

has provided assistance to Guyana in a wide range of fields, including education, the environment and climate resilience, indigenous peoples’ development, governance, justice administration, public administration, private sector development, social development, and of course support for the National Assembly. Canada has been a leader in the global efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. It continues to provide support to small states seeking to build greater en-

vironmental resilience.”

Guyana is on the brink of an unsteady political climate, occasioned ever since the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Tuesday threw out Government’s arguments and ruled that the No Confidence Motion of December 21, 2018 was indeed validly passed.

The Court found that 33, and not 34 as the Government and supporters have argued, was the majority the Opposition needed out of 65 Members of Parliament (MPs) to pass the motion.

Programme to tackle social ills at Night Shelter begins August

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he Night Shelter continues to provide 24hour service to its residents as it strives to address their social needs.

The residents are also prepared for reintegration into society. A diversified programme aimed at helping them to curb the social ills which they struggle with will be rolled out in August.

Probation and Social Services Officer Natasha Mansfield, who was attached to the Shelter three months ago, in an interview with the Department of Public Information, said the programme will cover several topics, including depression, substance abuse, self-care, and mental illness/mental health.

Mansfield explained that when she began her job at the Night Shelter, she met with residents and held

one-on-one discussions with them to determine their needs.

“When I interacted with the residents, I began to understand their challenges. I found that most of them are depressed and have a mental illness. I did some counselling sessions with them, and engaged them in physical exercise and group discussions. I am aiming to commence the formal programme in August, where we’ll have formal discussions and professionals come in and talk with the residents,” Mansfield explained.

The programme will begin with a concentrated focus on depression, which is most prevalent among the Night Shelter residents.

This will be followed by other topics. The Probation and Social Services Officer said

Probation and Social Services Officer Natasha Mansfield

she would be liaising with professionals in the mental illness area to facilitate the discussion.

The institution currently houses 59 residents and provides meals and other amenities. The staff complement was boosted with additional Patient

Care Assistants, and a Registered Nurse is expected to be added to the staff.

There were also recent upgrades to some of the facilities at the institution, including renovation of the kitchen and eating areas for staff and for male and female residents. For the first time, a security camera, fire extinguisher and wet floor signs were secured, and the institution is regularly fumigated.

Imminently, an Occupational Health and Safety (OS&H) Standard for the Shelter will be developed to promote safety on the job.

To date, the residents are entertained with celebrations such as the most recently observed Mother’s and Father’s Days celebrations which saw mothers and fathers being honoured.

14 news

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Carambola fruit fly

Infestation caused economic hardship among farmers – NAREI CEO

…critical inspection done with fruits from Brazil

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ntensified spread of the Carambola Fruit Fly (CFF) in several regions of Guyana has initiated a partnership between the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to end this scourge and foster normal trade internationally.

On Monday, efforts to combat the CFFs commenced with a workshop at the Regency Suites. Chief Executive Officer of NAREI, Dr Oudho Homenauth explained that the infestation has caused much unease among farmers, especially those from the hinterland

where the pest population is high.

He pointed out that rigorous inspection is required for fruits entering from Brazil but the CFF has since spread to other parts of the country through movement of people. Findings from a recent survey would have indicated prevalence of the pest in Regions Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). This revelation formed the basis of the workshop.

NAREI and IICA have also collaborated to enhance public awareness of the pest through social media, radio broadcast, posters

and community outreaches. However, Guyana’s porous borders have made it more difficult to control the spread.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry, Delma Nedd reminded that citrus are among the fresh fruits with the greatest export potential. But exporting is heavily challenged by the Phytosanitary requirements demanded by the importing country.

Adding to that, the agriculture sector is stymied by the limited exportation of non-traditional fruits due to the uncontrolled presence of the CFF. Just a few weeks ago,

over 4000 male fruit flies were captured at Orealla, Region where there is a huge pest problem affecting vegetables and other crops. According to NAREI, this pest hinders Guyana’s ability to export certain fresh fruits and vegetables to North American and European markets.

“Twenty-two traps that were set for monitoring purposes recorded an extremely high B carambola population. Over 4000 male fruit flies were captured. Four of the traps that were missing were also replaced,” NAREI said.

Public awareness sessions were conducted within all communities to en-

Region 2 truck drivers decry long wait at Parika Stelling

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ruck drivers on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) are frustrated at the long delay in boarding the ferry at the Parika Steeling, East Bank Essequibo.

The delay is as a result of the docking of MV Sabanto which makes it difficult for MV Kanawan to transport all the Heavy-Duty vehicles. As such, there is a back-up of vehicles at the Parika Stelling.

Several drivers told Guyana Times that as a result of the present situation, the staff at the Parika Stelling are demanding money from drivers to book them

A truck disembarking the ferry at Parika Stelling

early thus securing their place on the ferry when it arrives.

“If you don't pay up you surely get left for days,” one driver stated.

The drivers further stated that over 70 trucks use the Ferry Service to transport goods to and from Georgetown on a regular basis and it is risky for them to park more than a mile away from the ferry stelling for long hours.

Getting a parking space closer to the stelling proves even more difficult. “The minute you go next to the stelling to park, the Police come and charge you but we have to think about our security”.

One driver said that he is in the trucking business for over 25 years and the situation at the stelling has gotten worst when compared to the past.

He recalled about two weeks ago, his truck was broken into and a quantity of items stolen including money and clothing.

“Me had to borrow money from a relative to pay for the truck to get on the Ferry”, he stated. The drivers suggested that the MV Malali which is plying the Wakenaam and Parika route divert to Supenaam to assist with transporting the smaller vehicles.

"The MV Malali goes to Supenaam once per week, but due to the MV Sabanto not in service why not use the MV Malali to go to Supenaam every day to ease the congestion at Parika", the driver added.

With the present situation, the drivers are calling on Transport and Harbour Department (T&HD) to look into the matter with the hope of finding a solution until the MV Sabanto becomes operational.

Fruit flies have been affecting several regions

sure residents are informed about the importance as well as the harm this pest could have on agriculture and the economy.

Villagers were encouraged to participate and assist NAREI’s Extension

staff, especially those working within the areas affected. Also, key community leaders and pilot farmers were trained to ensure the continuation and sustainability of the programme.

HAB-IT opens new Water St branch …offers no commission on purchases this week

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A section of the new facility equipped for online shopping

ne of Guyana’s most efficient shipping companies, HAB International Incorporation (HAB-IT), on Monday opened its Water Street branch to the public, offering no commission on purchases for this entire week.

Lisa Beharry of the freight agency explained that this new branch adds to their existing location at Eccles, on the East Bank of Demerara. Located at Fogarty’s Building, this venture widens the scope of services offered, which ranges from small and large packages to online shopping.

The new building features a boutique-like experience, where persons can receive their packages on the same day. It is a service which is only offered

by HAB-IT through partnership with Caribbean Airlines.

“We are the only company in Miami to offer such a service. It is called the jetpack service and we have teamed up with Caribbean Airlines. With them, we are able to offer same-day delivery so if we have some-

thing that is an emergency, it would be landed the same day,” Beharry announced.

“We decided to move to the Fogarty’s Building because it is central and we are catering for the online shopping. We kinda did a boutique setup and the reason is because we want to focus on small packages and online shopping for clients in the area. You can either shop from home and come to pick up your package or you can come in and shop with us.”

Partnership was also extended with the local banks, offering customers with an additional medium to make payments. For this week, all online purchases will be transacted without a commission for the agency. Consolidated shipping is also among the list of services.

“Once we receive the link, we would send the price with commission included and an estimate of the shipping. We do consolidate so if you purchase something so you can decide if you want to wait and ship all of it together.”

15 Venezuelan held with US$69,000 strapped to body A news

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Venezuelan national has been held at the Piarco International Airport with US$69,000 strapped to her body.The woman was attempting to board a flight out of the country last Thursday.

Immigration officials say she could not properly account for the money.

Immigration sources told Guardian Media that the

woman who was destined to Caracas walked through the airport security scanners and was later subjected to a body search by security officers of the Airports Authority.

It was while the woman was being 'pat down' by the officers they discovered the money strapped to her body. She had failed to declare the money. She

was later handed over to Customs officers who also found in US$1500 in her handbag. The woman, who is in her early 30s, claimed she was in the nail polish business and told officers she travelled frequently to Trinidad. She was later handed over to police for questioning. Under the Customs Act all arriving and departing passengers

at the airport or seaports are required to declare to a Customs officer on duty whether they are carrying cash currency of monetary instruments in excess of US$5,000 or its equivalent in any currency or TT$20,000.Anyone who travels in excess of this amount and declares it will then have to justify the funds. (T&T Guardian)

Another American tourist dies US Coast Guard denies illtreating Jamaican fishermen in the Dominican Republic

Vittorio Caruso

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n American died last week while vacationing in the Dominican Republic, bringing the total of US citizens who died while traveling on the island to at least eight this year and 11 in the past year. Vittorio Caruso, 56, died on June 17 while vacationing on the island, CBS News New York reported.

The State Department confirmed to CBS New York that Caruso, a recently retired owner of a pizza shop from Glen Cove, NY, died on vacation there this month, but his cause of death is unknown at this time. Caruso's family was too distraught to speak on camera to CBS but said the Dominican Republic has given them conflicting information about where and when he died.

According to the Fox News, Caruso was scheduled to return on June 27. He was vacationing at the Boca Chico Resort in Santo Domingo. Caruso's sister-inlaw told Fox News, "he was brought by ambulance to the hospital in respiratory distress after drinking something."

Caruso's family told the New York Post that he was "very healthy" and that "he went to the doctor before he left, and he had no problems."

CBS News has reported on what we know so far about the multiple American tourist deaths in the Dominican Republic this

year and last year. Some of the deaths reportedly occurred after the visitors complained of feeling ill after eating a meal or drinking out of the hotel minibar. The U.S. embassy in Santo Domingo said there is no proof at this point the deaths are linked. Several of the deaths were reported

to be a heart attack, which health officials say is the most common cause of death for Americans on vacation.

CBS News spoke last week with César Duverany, a spokesperson for the Dominican Republic's foreign ministry, who said the cases are isolated out of more than 6 million tourists, and that this doesn't mean the country is unsafe. He noted that the government has a special body focused on tourism safety, with protocols in place that have not changed.

On Friday, the island's tourism minister said the tourist deaths were a medically and statistically normal phenomenon. "We want the truth to prevail," Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García said. "There is nothing to hide here."

The FBI has a team in the Dominican Republic investigating the American deaths. (CBS News)

T

he United States Coast Guard (USCG) has denied claims that it ill-treated five Jamaican fishermen who were apprehended In Haitian waters in 2017.

The USCG denied the allegations made by the fishermen and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that they were ill-treated between mid-September and mid-October, 2017 after their Go Fast Vessel (GFV), Josette, was intercepted.

The Jamaican authorities had approved the detention of the men under the so-called Shiprider Agreement between Caribbean states and the US, on the basis that the Coast Guard had recovered over 600 pounds of ganja (marijuana), which had been jettisoned by the fishermen during the interdiction.

“The Coast Guard complies with both international and US domestic law, and works closely with our Department of Justice and Department of State colleagues to ensure

The ACLU affidavit said that the Jamaican fishermen were transferred to US Coast Guard vessel USCG Confidence seen here.

compliance. All suspects are cared for humanely while preserving the security of both the crew and suspects,” the USCG responded to questions raised by the local media since last week.

The Coast Guard explained that they were unable to transfer the detainees ashore in Puerto Rico, given the conditions there following Hurricane Maria, and for the safety of the detainees.

In mid-October 2017, the five detainees were transferred into the custody of Homeland Security Investigations agents in

Port Everglades, Florida.

In January 2018, each of the crew members pled guilty to making a false official statement to a law enforcement officer and they were sentenced to ten months' imprisonment. They were eventually deported to Jamaica last year.

However, the Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade says it has no evidence of the fishermen making any contact with its consular services in the United States while they were detained, or with the ministry since their return last year. (Jamaica Observer)

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESday, JUNE 25, 2019

Regional

Russian air force plane Antigua and Barbuda lands in Venezuela – report warns citizens against sponsoring visits A of non-nationals

An aeroplane with the Russian flag is parked at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas [Manaure Quintero/Reuters]

Minister: No evidence

of woman's overdose of radiation claim

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probe into claims that a patient at a private medical institution received an overdose of radiation during a routine CT scan, revealed there was no evidence to substantiate the claim, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has said.

Deyalsingh gave the information in the Senate replying to Opposition queries. He said experts involved in the probe found there was no evidence to back the claim.

The issue involved a com-

plaint the Ministry received from a lawyer against a private hospital. The Ministry did a thorough investigation into the matter in July 2018. The final report included input from the institution plus independent reviews from consultant radiologists and an independent medical physicist.

He said all concerns about excess radiation are probed and if deemed necessary, referred to the International Atomic Energy Agency of which TT is a member.. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Russian air force plane has landed in Venezuela's main airport, according to a Reuters News Agency witness and a website that tracks plane movements.

An Ilyushin 62 jet with tail number RA-86496 was parked at Simon Bolivar International Airport in the capital Caracas on Monday, three months after a similar arrival prompted a war of words between the United States and Russia.

The tail number is registered to a Russian air force jet, according to website Flightradar24, and matches

the tail number of the plane that arrived in March.

Two Russian air force planes landed in Venezuela in March carrying Russian defence officials and 100 troops, leading Washington to accuse Moscow of "reckless escalation" of the situation in the struggling South American nation.

US President Donald Trump in March ordered Russia to remove all troops from Venezuela, while Russia's Foreign Ministry said the planes were only carrying specialists who were servicing arms sales contracts. (Al Jazeera)

US Govt reacts to T&T's criticism on TIP report

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he United States Government says it looks forward to working with the Trinidad and Tobago Government after Port of Spain reacted angrily to a report by the US State Department that placed the oil-rich twin-island republic among several Caribbean countries not in compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of Trafficking In Persons (TIP).

Of the Caribbean countries listed in the “2019 Trafficking in Persons Report,” only The Bahamas and Guyana “fully” met the

minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

The report noted that Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, Haiti, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago had been placed on Tier Two. But Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, speaking at a ceremony last Friday, wondered whether or not the country that gave Port of Spain a failing grade was doing much better with its own migration and TIP situation. (Excerpt from CMC)

Brazil's Bolsonaro to meet China's Xi for 1st time at G20

B

razilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who criticised China last year for “buying” up his country, will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time on the sidelines of this week’s G20 meeting in Japan, his office said on Monday.

Bolsonaro, a far-right firebrand, has softened his stance on Brazil’s largest trading partner since taking office in January and will meet with Xi for 40 minutes on Friday morning before the summit of leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies kicks off in Osaka, according

to the schedule released by his office.

A representative of China’s Embassy in Brazil said the two countries were discussing a bilateral meeting, although the details had yet to be agreed to. Given the packed schedule at the G20, any bilateral meeting would likely be informal and brief, the diplomat said, speaking on background.

China is by far the largest buyer of Brazilian soybeans and iron ore, and Brazil hopes to upgrade its commodities exports to include products with greater added value. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro attends a ceremony of hoisting the national flag in front of the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil June 18, 2019

Italian mafia boss escapes from Uruguayan prison

I

talian mafia boss Rocco Morabito has escaped from prison in Uruguay, where he was awaiting extradition to Italy, the Interior Ministry has said.

Uruguay had agreed to extradite the notorious drug trader known as the "cocaine king of Milan" back to Italy.

The suspected head of

the 'Ndrangheta crime gang has been one of Italy's most wanted fugitives since 1995.

He was arrested in 2017 in Punta del Este, where he had been living under a false identity for about a decade.

The 'Ndrangheta mafia comes from Calabria in southern Italy, and is thought to control as much

as 80 per cent of Europe's cocaine trade.

Morabito and three other inmates "escaped through a hole in the roof of the building" late on Sunday and robbed the owner of a nearby farmhouse of money, the Ministry said in a statement (in Spanish).

Police say Morabito, now aged 52, was behind the

Italian mafia boss Rocco Morabito

smuggling of hundreds of kilos of cocaine from Brazil to Italy. (Excerpt from BBC News)

T

he Antigua and Barbuda Government Monday warned nationals against engaging in a practice of volunteering to act as sponsors to facilitate the visit of non-nationals to the country.

In a statement, the Department of Immigration said it wanted to advise all persons that the act of serving as a sponsor for a non-national “is a serious undertaking that comes with many responsibilities”, adding “it is, therefore, not something to be taken lightly”.

“The person acting as a

sponsor is responsible for ensuring that the non-national obeys the laws of Antigua and Barbuda during the period of his/ her stay and to return to his/her country of origin at the expiration of his/her legal time in Antigua and Barbuda.”

The Department of Immigration said it has observed that persons are presenting themselves as sponsors for individuals visiting the country and that soon after the person arrives, forego all responsibilities related to the non-national (Excerpt from CMC)

Antigua Govt wants to buy out Digicel operation

Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne

T

he Antigua and Barbuda Government says it remains committed to buying out the operations of the Irish-owned telecommunication company Digicel, as the authorities announce new initiatives in their ongoing battle to have the company and competitor Flow, formerly the British telecommunication

giant Cable and Wireless, share the spectrum space with a State entity.

Last month, Digicel, defended its decision to secure a High Court order preventing the Government from sharing any of the 850 MHz spectrum it has been allocated with the State-owned Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA).

But speaking on his privately-owned radio station over the last weekend, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said he believes that Digicel was “showing an inclination to have possibly a 49-51 percentage situation.

Earlier, Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan told radio listeners that the Government is moving to amend the Telecommunications Bill so as to provide further protection for APUA. (Excerpt from CMC)

Illegal Haitian migrants apprehended in The Bahamas

A

joint operation by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) with the support of Bahamas Immigration Department has resulted in the apprehension of a Haitian sailing vessel with 100 undocumented Haitian nationals.

The vessel was intercepted approximately 30 nautical miles northwest of Inagua around 14:20h last Thursday, according to the

RBDF. The OPBAT helicopter spotted the vessel and the Defence Force interceptor stationed in Inagua subsequently apprehended it.

The vessel was later assisted by HMBS Livingstone Smith.

The migrants – 89 males, 11 females – were transported to Inagua where they were handed over to Immigration authorities for processing.

(Caribbean360)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019

17

Around the World

Ethiopia Amhara “coup Trump imposes new US sanctions on Iran's supreme leader, other top officials ringleader killed”

US President Donald Trump displays an executive order imposing fresh sanctions on Iran in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, US, June 24, 2019

U

S President Donald Trump targeted Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials with new US sanctions on Monday, looking for a fresh blow to Iran’s economy after

Tehran’s downing of an unmanned American drone.

With tensions running high between the two countries, Trump signed an executive order imposing the sanctions, which US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said would lock

billions of dollars more in Iranian assets.

The sanctions are aimed at denying Iran’s leadership access to financial resources, blocking them from using the United States financial system or having access to any assets in the United States.

“Anybody who conducts significant transactions with these sanctioned individuals may be exposed to sanctions themselves,” the White House said.

Some policy analysts say that earlier sanctions issued under Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign are why Iran has felt compelled to adopt more aggressive tactics as its economy feels the crunch.

The Trump Administration wants to force Tehran to open talks on its nuclear and missile programmes

and its activities in the region.

Mnuchin said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif would be targeted with US sanctions later this week.

Sanctions were also imposed on eight senior commanders of Navy, Aerospace, and Ground Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the US Treasury Department said.

“These commanders sit atop a bureaucracy that supervises the IRGC’s malicious regional activities, including its provocative ballistic missile programme, harassment and sabotage of commercial vessels in international waters, and its destabilising presence in Syria,” the department said in a statement. (Excerpt from Reuters)

China, US trade officials talk

ahead of Trump-Xi meeting

S

enior Chinese and US trade officials spoke by telephone on Monday ahead of talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump set for later this week as the world’s two largest economies remain locked in a tariff war.

Trump and Xi are expected to meet on the second

day of the Friday-Saturday Group of 20 summit in Japan, the first face-to-face meeting for the leaders since trade talks broke off in May. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He held a phone conversation with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, China’s Ministry of

Commerce said in a statement posted to its website on Tuesday morning.

During the call, the Chinese and US officials exchanged opinions on trade in accordance with the instructions of the two countries’ Heads of State, and agreed to maintain communications, the statement said.

China’s official Xinhua

News Agency said on Tuesday that the call took place at the request of US officials.

A senior US official said Monday that Trump viewed the meeting with Xi as a chance to see where Beijing stood on the two countries’ trade war, and was “comfortable with any outcome”.

(Reuters)

Germany crash: 2 Eurofighter jets in fatal collision

A

pilot has been killed in an air collision involving two German air force Eurofighter jets in the Müritz area of north-eastern Germany.

While both pilots managed to eject from the planes, only one of them survived.

One of the Eurofighters went down in a forest while the other crashed near a village about 10km (6 miles) away, the Interior Ministry in the state of MecklenburgWestern Pomerania said.

The pilot who survived was found dangling from a tree by rescue teams.

The mid-air colli-

sion happened as three Eurofighter Typhoons were taking part in an air combat exercise shortly after 14:00H (12:00 GMT), about 20 minutes after they had taken off.

The third pilot witnessed the collision over the Fleesensee and reported seeing two parachutes.

"All three aircraft were unarmed, and after 20 minutes for unknown reasons, two of the three Eurofighters touched each other in the air," air force commander Ingo Gerhartz said.

"According to the third pilot, who is of course still

U

Moon’s spokeswoman, Ko Min-jung, said.

Trump and Moon would have “in-depth discussions on ways to work together to foster lasting peace,” Ko told a news briefing on Monday.

Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that Kim had sent him birthday wishes. “It was just a very friendly letter both ways. We have a very good relationship,” he said.

T

he suspected ringleader of Saturday's failed coup attempt in Ethiopia's Amhara region has been shot dead, police say.

Brig-Gen Asaminew Tsige was killed as he attempted to escape from his hideout in Amhara's capital, police added.

Ethiopia's army chief Gen Seare Mekonnen was killed while trying to foil the coup, the Government said.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has urged Ethiopians to unite against "evil" forces set on dividing the country.

Gen Seare and Amhara Governor Ambachew Mekonnen, who was also killed on Saturday, were seen as close allies of the Prime Minister.

A heavy contingent of pro-Government forces has been deployed in Amhara's capital, Bahir Dar, and the federal capital, Addis Ababa.

Brig-Gen Asaminew was Amhara's regional security chief, and was said to have a significant following among

young people.

He was among a group of high-ranking military officers released from prison early last year when the Government moved to free political detainees in response to public pressure.

The general had been in custody for nine years for allegedly plotting a coup.

Brig-Gen Asaminew came from the Amhara ethnic group, the second largest in the country.

He had a reputation of being a hardline ethnic nationalist who wanted greater autonomy for the Amhara people.

Brig-Gen Asaminew openly advised the Amhara people this month to arm themselves, in a video spread via social media.

He was also known to have had a bad relationship with the Tigray regional Government, which said that Gen Seare and another general, Gezae Abera, had been killed because they came from the minority Tigray ethnic group. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Palestinians rally against Kushner's

economic peace plan

Two Eurofighter jets stationed at the same base near Rostock

in shock, he could see the two parachutes attached to the eject seats and he confirmed that both parachutes could be seen."

Built by a European consortium of Airbus, the UK's BAE Systems and Italy's Leonardo, the fighter costs around €90 million (£80

million).

Germany's military has some 140 Eurofighter Typhoons but has struggled to keep them ready for combat. A report last year said only four of its planes were available because of a leak of cooling fluid in the wing sensors. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Trump to visit South Korea as Pompeo raises hope for new North Korea talks after letter

S President Donald Trump will visit South Korea this weekend after an exchange of letters with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un boosted hopes for talks aimed at ending North Korea’s nuclear programme.

Trump is set to arrive in South Korea for a two-day visit on Saturday, and will meet President Moon Jae-in on Sunday, following a summit of G20 leaders in Japan,

The renegade general was released from prison last year

Kim and Moon held their historic first summit in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) last year, so a Trump visit to the border between the two Koreas this weekend could spark speculation of a meeting with Kim there.

Another official in the South Korean presidential office said she was not aware of any plan for Trump to meet Kim. Trump and Kim held their first, ground-break-

ing summit in Singapore in June last year, agreeing to establish new relations and work towards the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

But a second summit in Vietnam in February collapsed when the two sides were unable to bridge differences between US demands for denuclearisation and North Korean demands for sanctions relief. (Excerpt from Reuters)

P

alestinians burned portraits of President Donald Trump as they protested in both the Gaza Strip and the Israelioccupied West Bank on Monday against US-led plans for a conference on their economy in Bahrain.

Many Palestinian business groups have said they will boycott the June 2526 event, billed as part of Washington’s long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan and spearheaded by Trump’s adviser and son-inlaw Jared Kushner.

“Down with Bahrain, down with Trump, down with the Manama conference,” chanted crowds in Gaza, which is ruled by the armed Islamist group Hamas. Some burned large paintings of Trump marked with the words: “Deal of the devil”.

Leaders in both territories have accused Washington of pro-Israel bias and railed against the conference’s focus on economics, rather than their

aspirations for an independent state.

Kushner told Reuters on Saturday the plan would create a million jobs, halve Palestinian poverty and double the Palestinians’ GDP. In the West Bank, hundreds marched through Ramallah’s main squares, waving posters in support of President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Western-backed Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule in the territory.

The rallies marked a moment of political unity against the Bahrain conference, despite a 12-year political feud between Abbas’s Fatah party and Hamas.

Palestinian leaders on Monday renewed their calls for a boycott of the conference.

In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said: “They (Palestinians) will not sell out their rights for all treasures on earth”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

It isn’t likely that you’ll impress someone you care about by being bluntly honest. Show a little compassion and give him or her the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes, silence is golden.

Finish what you start.

TAURUS (April 20- Change can be useful if you May 20) focus on getting things done.

Use your skills to transform a negative situation into a positive experience.

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

SUDOKU

Your honesty and quick wit will be impressive. Love is opening up for you. Changing the dynamics of a relationship can lead to new beginnings.

Emotions will surface if you let someone get the better of you. Listen to others and respond honestly. Now is not the time to be shy.

Make your voice heard and your plans crystal-clear.

Be thankful and keep moving forward. An opportunity to do something you’ve always wanted to do should not be ignored. Don’t make choices based on what someone else is doing. Do your own thing.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Give your all to what brings in more cash, leads you to security and encourages you to balance work with friends, family and fun.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Finish what you start and leave no room for criticism or complaints. Once you take care of business, plan to enjoy your downtime with a loved one.

SCORPIO

Follow the path that beckons you. Don’t lose sight of your creative dreams or the people and pastimes that give you joy. Embrace new beginnings and let go of regrets.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Look for the good in everything and everyone, but don’t be gullible. A positive attitude will attract all sorts of individuals. Choose your associates based on trust, honesty and reputation.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Expect to face criticism if you have neglected personal responsibilities. A change that will surprise a loved one will help alleviate tension and stress. Kindness and consideration will make a difference.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Deal with issues that concern home, family or health. How you handle your time and money will affect the way others react to the choices you make.

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Start thinking about your future and what you can do to protect yourself.

Offering to help others is admirable, but don’t let anyone use you.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED puzzle

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019

19

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019…

Rapinoe penalties help USA beat Spain T

he United States came through a testing last-16 tie against Spain to set up a tantalising Women’s World Cup quarter-final against France.

The world’s number-one side and pre-tournament favourites were given a scare by the Spaniards but survived the first nervy match of their title defence with a narrow win thanks to two penalties.

Megan Rapinoe’s early goal from the spot gave the USA the lead but Spain hit back when Jennifer Hermoso capitalised on a defensive mix-up to equalise brilliantly.

Jill Ellis’ side were awarded another penalty in a tense second half, with the decision standing after a lengthy review from the VAR officials; Spain unhappy at what they saw as the soft nature of midfielder Rose Lavelle’s tumble in the box.

Rapinoe held her nerve to fire in from the spot for a second time and ensure the holders will face the hosts in Paris on Friday, in what promises to be one of the games of the competition.

A potential semi-final against England could follow, with the winner of the Lionesses’ quarter-final against Norway in Le Havre on Thursday set to meet the victors from the USA and France’s clash.

The three-time champions were made to work hard for their last-eight spot, and briefly gave their fans reason to fear they might not extend their record of having always at least reached the semi-finals.

There was a shocked reaction when Hermoso levelled for Spain, as the USA conceded for the first time this summer, having gone 648 minutes of football without letting a goal in since April.

And the USA, who have only lost once since 2017, looked slightly vulnerable in defence under pressure from an improving Spanish outfit.

Nevertheless, the holders created the better chances and were once again strong going forward, with Rapinoe denied by a nearpost save in the first half.

The game’s decisive moment came as Lavelle poked the ball beyond Virginia Torrecilla in the area and went down.

Hungarian referee Katalin Kulcsar initially awarded the spot-kick without hesitation, before taking a further look at the replay following guidance from her VAR colleagues. She opted to stick with her original call, much to the frustration of the Spain fans at a passion-fuelled Stade AugusteDelaune.

Sweden sink Canada to advance

Sweden beat Canada 1-0 in a hard-fought game to set up a Women’s World Cup quarter-final against Germany.

After a dull first half in Paris, Stina Blackstenius clipped the ball over keeper Stephanie Labbe to score with the game’s first shot on target.

Canada had the opportunity to equalise

from a penalty, given for a handball, but Janine Beckie’s effort was brilliantly saved

by Hedvig Lindahl.

Sweden rarely looked threatened as Canada struggled to create chance.

Peter Gerhardsson’s side face Germany in a repeat of the 2003 final - in Rennes on Saturday at 17:30 BST. There was almost controversy right at the end as referee Kate Jacewicz spoke with the video assistant referee (VAR) team after the final whistle had gone about a possible Sweden handball in the box, but the penalty was not awarded and Swedish celebrations could continue.

Sweden manager Gerhardsson named a weakened team in their final group game against the United States, with some people suggesting they wanted to be on the side of the draw that avoided hosts France.

It certainly helped them to be fresher than their opponents, although neither side really created a chance in the first half.

Their goal came from the match’s first shot on target - in the 55th minute. Elin Rubensson won the ball in her own half and played it to Kosovare Asllani on the left wing. Asllani played a wonderful ball to Blackstenius, who beat defender Shelina Zadorsky and Stephanie Labbe to the ball before lifting it over the keeper.

Canada had a brilliant chance to lev-

el when they were awarded a penalty.

Desiree Scott’s shot hit the arm of Asllani, although referee Jacewicz did not initially give a spot-kick and only awarded it after twice viewing the incident on the pitch-side screen.

Beckie’s effort was decent but Lindahl, a free agent after leaving Chelsea this summer, dived down to her right to stop it.

“If they doubted I can make any penalty saves, that proved them wrong,” said Lindahl.

“I had to stretch fully and it worked. I was really happy, actually. It was pure joy. We got a lot more energy because of that.”

Sweden were given a penalty of their own late on after Ashley Lawrence fouled Fridolina Rolfo, but VAR found a player was marginally offside in the build-up so the decision was overturned.

“I am proud of the players,” said Sweden boss Gerhardsson.

“There’s a courage in trying to play your way out of situations. I did feel we made use of that positively - Kosovare’s pass, Stina’s decisiveness, Hedvig’s save. There were a lot of heroes towards the end of the match too.” (BBC Sport)

New world number one Barty out Roy bats in nets, could make return against India of Eastbourne with arm injury

E

ngland have received a significant boost with news that Jason Roy is recovering well.

Roy had sustained a hamstring tear during the game against West Indies on June 14. But a second scan, carried out on Monday morning, showed the injury was much improved, boosting hopes he will be fit to play in the match

Jason Roy

against India on June 30.

While there is no chance of him playing against Australia on Tuesday, he was able to bat in the nets on Monday morning - the first time he has been able to do so since the incident and will monitored on a daily basis with a view to him returning to the team for England’s final two group games.

“Jason went for a scan this morning. It was all positive news, but he won’t be fit for tomor-

r o w .

W e ’ l l monitor his progress in the week,” Eoin Morgan said.

“To put one game on it [his return] I don’t think is sensible, let’s just see how it goes.”

E ngla nd need to win at least one

and perh a p s t w o of their final three matches to ensure their progression to the semi-finals. While Roy has passed 50 five times in his six most recent ODI innings, 100 three times in his eight most recent, and has recorded the second-highest score (153 against Bangladesh) of the World Cup to date, his replacement, James Vince, has a top score of 51 in 10 ODIs and has scored 26 and 14 in his two innings in this tournament.

“It’s Jason Roy, of course he’s a big loss. He’s an outstanding performer for us,” Morgan said. “I’m confident we have the batting covered, James Vince is an extremely talented, gifted player. You can see that just watching him. We’ve every faith in him to go on and get a score at some stage.” (ESPN cricinfo)

N

ew world number one Ashleigh Barty has suffered a preWimbledon injury scare, withdrawn from this week’s Eastbourne grasscourt tournament with a recurrence of a right arm injury.

The 23-year-old became the first Australian woman to reach the top of the WTA rankings for 43 years on Sunday when she won the Birmingham Classic and will be top seed at Wimbledon.

“It’s an injury I’ve had to manage since I was 16 years old,” Barty told reporters at

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty poses with the WTA World No. 1 trophy

Devonshire Park on Monday.

“It happens when I have a spike in load, it’s just a bone stress injury and I need to look after it.”

Her coach Craig Tyzzer said Wimbledon might not have been “a viable option” had she played too much this week.

“It’s just loads,” he said. “We have to monitor how much she plays, so this makes sense.”

Barty won the French Open earlier this month, the first Australian woman to do so in 46 years, and is on a 12-match winning streak heading to the All England Club.

She is optimistic she will be ready in time.

“I think it will be fine but we will have to make sure that we manage it carefully over the next three or four days and that I’m ready to go next week,” she said.

“It’s smarter to take time to let me body rest. It’s just about monitoring how many balls I hit when I do get back on court, particularly the serve. Just need to let it settle.”

Three years ago Barty arrived at Eastbourne to play her first tournament since returning to the game after walking away from it in 2014 and spending a year playing cricket.

Barty reached the semifinal then as a qualifier and her trajectory since has been spectacular.

She broke into the top 10 for the first time when she won the Miami Open this year and then stormed to the title on the Parisian clay despite it being her least favorite surface.

Her win over Julia Goerges on Sunday on the Birmingham grass meant she woke up on Monday as world number one.

“It’s been a whirlwind, it’s been the most incredible time of my life, it really has, it’s come around so quickly but we’ve done so much work with my team and I,” she said.

“It’s been an incredible ride.” (Reuters)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019

“More needs to be done to encourage youth footballers” – former national player

By Jemima Holmes

A

fter seeing our youth players shine at the junior level, too many times thereafter, it is as though they have ‘fallen off the map’. Years after the fact, we find ourselves asking: “Where have these players gone?” or, “What could have happened to them?”

The reality of the situation is that circumstances can make or break an individual; more often than not, forcing an individual into a corner and causing them to forget their goals and aspirations in a desperate struggle for survival. While this is a common occurrence in any sport, the issue is quite prevalent in the world of Guyanese football.

This publication sat with a former youth player who chose to remain anonymous as he detailed the circumstances that arise when a

player heads into adulthood and tries to balance life between playing the sport and living without support.

“These players are turning to drugs, doing small jobs, and they can’t really focus on playing the football so much,” he explained.

Delving deeper into the issue, this player explained that many footballers are turning to the construction industry to make ends meet. While this is an honest job and is preferred over turning to a life of crime, it can have deleterious effects on a player. Those effects were detailed to this publication.

“Doing things like construction in boiling sun all day, and then having to go to training right after, that’s tough,” he stated.

While he explained the gravity of the issues that are keeping younger players away from the game, he was careful to highlight a

few alternatives which, in his eyes, can put a player on the path to recovery.

“The only way out of this issue is stability in terms of financial and emotional for players. ‘Cause nothing else can help, you can’t tell players what to do unless you’re willing to feed them. They need someone that can help them with nutrition, transportation, those simple things,” he detailed.

Asked if this is an issue that the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) or the Government can rectify, the former youth player answered in the negative. In fact, he had a different alternative to present.

“I don’t think there’s much that the GFF can do. I think private sector should be the ones to come on board and help,” he said. Probed to further explain how private sector and corporate Guyana can lend a hand to assist football, he suggested

England seek resurgence against arch-rivals Australia

E

ngland, who started their World Cup campaign with four resounding wins from their first five games, suffered a shocking 20-run defeat against Sri Lanka on Friday. The hosts, who came into the tournament as overwhelming favourites, now enter the toughest phase of their competition, marked by three tough games, starting with the one against Australia, needing a win. To add to their woes is the unavailability of Jason Roy, who has been sidelined due to hamstring injury.

Australia, powered by some monumental contributions from their openers and the wicket-taking form of their strike bowlers, currently occupy the second position in the points table, with five wins in six matches.

Marcus Stoinis’ return has further bolstered the team’s balance, as the all-rounder returned figures of 2/54 in the previous game, against Bangladesh. The middle-order, which hasn’t been able to contribute significantly in their last three games, is likely to face a stiff challenge against a well-rounded England attack.

Australia are ahead on the head-tohead count, with 81 wins to England’s 61.

However, the hosts have had an edge over the five-time World Cup winners in recent times, having won nine of the last ten games against them. With the stakes high for England, and Australia looking to continue their dominance, an exciting contest could be on the cards on Tuesday.

England’s wicket-keeper batsman has the potential to change the course of any match with his exemplary batting skills.

Buttler, who

Australia’s captain Aaron Finch (left) and England’s Captain Eion Morgan

scored a match-winning 110* in his last outing against Australia, will once again be an important player for the hosts, against an in-form Australian bowling unit.

The Australia captain, Aaron Finch, has been leading from the front in this tournament, having amassed 396 runs in six innings so far. Finch, who set the tone for Australia’s World Cup campaign in 2015 with a stroke-filled 135 against England, will once again look to play a long innings on Tuesday.

Though lingering overnight rain is expected to ease out by morning, the day is expected to be largely cloudy. Heavy and thundery showers might develop, leading to a delayed start. Teams batting first have won three of the last four games at Lord’s, which makes the toss crucial.

Squads England: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, G l e n n Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan CoulterNile, Adam Zampa, Nathan Lyon (ICC)

that the solution lies in borrowing a trick or two from arguably Guyana’s most successful sport, cricket.

“Cricket has a programme where players have contracts, academy contracts. Contracted players earn at least $60,000 just to train. Think about if football had these things. A lot of talent is being drained because they don’t have any support. If we can have a similar programme as cricket, that would be great for Guyana’s football,” he advanced.

Needless to say, having to choose between earning a livelihood and being dedicated to the sport you love is a difficult position to be in; and, more often than not, football does not win in such a situation. As this publication’s source explained, the most talented players are usually the ones who turn away from the sport.

Given this fact, one can

only wonder where the level of Guyanese football would have been if the players, from a very young age, had been encouraged to stick with the sport and had been given the incentive to so do.

The is-

and bodies time and time again.

Another solution to this problem is the promulgation of a National Sports Policy which would pave the way for Guyanese athletes to focus on their various sporting disciplines.

Still in its draft stage, this policy is said to be near completion, and

sue of talented sportsmen and w o m e n having

to abandon the sport that they love in order to earn a living is so common in the Guyanese sporting arena that it has been raised by other sporting associations

athletes are eagerly awaiting its publication.

That alone will tell what relief this can bring to football and the wider sport arena.

Commonwealth Cricket League…

Dhanpaul grateful for

experience T

wo of Zeeburg Cricket Club’s (ZCC’s) most senior players -- Yutesh Dhanpaul and Balbiner Shivpersaud -have been drafted into the Commonwealth Cricket League currently being played in New York. Having successfully represented the ZCC in local tournaments staged in 2018 and 2019, they now represent the West Coast Warriors Cricket Club (WCWCC) in the New York League.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, coach and member of the WCWCC, Yutesh Dhanpaul, was asked about his experience, and he replied as follows, “The cricket here is very competitive, (there are) lots of matches.

I would say the cricket over here is much more organized, and is run more efficiently.

Only challenges are the outfield, ‘cause the grounds and park have to be clipped to certain criteria.

“This is my fourth season playing in New York, and also as a coach. In terms of my experience: well, on my behalf, I played cricket out of Guyana a lot. (I) used to play in my youngster days in Barbados.

However, it’s an outstanding experience, because you get to play with lots of other cricketers: from Bangadesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and, of course, Caribbean players.”

He related that his fellow Zeeburg team mate Shivpersaud is currently enjoying the conditions the wicket has to offer because of its consistency of bounce and pace, which enables him to play his shots.

Balbinder Shivpersaud and Yutesh Avi Dhanpaul

Thus far, each player has played 6 matches, and Shivpersaud said he has made scores of 24*, 19, 81*, 54, 56*, 59*, while Dhanpaul has played 3 innings in the six matches, with scores of 33, 117 and 29* even as he bagged 10 wickets with his off-spin.

Shivpersaud currently has scored 289 runs in 6 innings, with his highest being 81. He has made 4 half-centuries and has had 4 unbeaten innings.

Dhanpaul says he has made 183 runs from 3 innings, with one unbeaten innings

and a high score of 117.

In closing Dhanpaul said, “We are looking to win the tournament and impress our sponsors so, come next year, they won’t hesitate to invest in our team. Our success is owed to our Zeeburg Sports Club president, Dhanpaul (only name), and our treasurer Omar Narine. These guys invest their time and money in organising various tournaments for us to play cricket every week in Guyana.

Thus, when we hit foreign fields, we represent the nation well.”

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Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo to host 2026 Winter Games M

ilan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are promising an Italian Olympics packed with style and elan after winning the right to stage the 2026 Winter Games on Monday.

Milan earned 47 votes from the International Olympic Committee membership, compared to Stockholm’s 34, prompting loud celebrations from the bid team, which had earlier included Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

“Italy, the future and sport have won,” Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said back in Italy.

“Thanks to those who believed in it right away, especially in the Municipalities and Regions, and a pity for those who gave up.

“There will be at least five billion (euros) in added value, 20,000 jobs, as well as many new roads and sports facilities. With the Winter Olympics we will confirm our excellence and our skills to the world.”

Milan and Stockholm were the only candidates

left after four other cities — Switzerland’s Sion, Japan’s Sapporo, Austria’s Graz and 1988 hosts Calgary in Canada — had dropped out of the race with concerns over the size and cost of the event.

Turkey’s Erzurum was cut by the IOC. “Congratulations to Milan-Cortina. We can look forward to outstanding and sustainable Olympic Winter Games in a traditional winter sports country,” IOC President Thomas Bach said after announcing the winner.

“We will contribute to the success of these Games 925 million dollars. This will greatly facilitate the preparations and will be an important part of a great partnership we will enjoy with Cortina and Milan.”

Strong support

The Games organizational budget is at $1.7 billion according to the bid file but that does not include infrastructure projects.

Bach said the strong public support in Italy of over

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Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala, CONI President Giovanni Malago, President of Lombardy Region Attilio Fontana, Under Secretary of State Giancarlo Giorgetti, Olympic Gold Medalist Diana Bianchedi, President of Veneto Region Luca Zaia and Mayor of Cortina Gianpietro Ghedina pose as they celebrate after the announcement of Milano and Cortina as the host cities for the 2026 Winter Olympics

80% was a key factor, with Stockholm having had just over 50% of local support in a recent IOC-commissioned poll.

Stockholm’s refusal to sign the host contract if the city won was another factor.

Co-hosts Are would have done it.

“Gathering a bit the atmosphere when leaving the room my assumption is that what made the difference was the gap in the public

support,” Bach said.

“Public support goes hand in hand with political support and this was maybe also the reason why the city of Stockholm was not ready to sign the host city contract.”

Italy last hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006 in Turin while Cortina staged the Winter Games back in 1956.

“I am really emotional because this is a very, very

important result,” said bid chief Giovanni Malago. “Not only for me but for the whole country. “What we did this afternoon is we represented successfully the images of our country.”

Sweden, a winter sports powerhouse which hosted the Summer Olympics in 1912, has now bid eight times unsuccessfully for the Winter Games. Sweden also failed to land the 2004 Summer Olympics. (Reuters)

NBA fines Knicks $50,000 Former IAAF President to stand trial in France for rules violation on corruption charges

wanted

COPIES

21

he NBA fined the New York Knicks $50,000 for failing to allow a New York Daily News reporter to attend a news conference introducing draft picks R.J. Barrett and Ignas Brazdeikis.

A l l other credentialed media members covering the team were invited to attend the news conference, held Friday.

The league said Monday that the team has agreed to comply with NBA rules regarding media access in the future.

The team issued a statement shortly after the league’s announcement.

“The Knicks acknowledge that we did not comply with the NBA’s media policy, and made an error in interpreting Friday’s announcement as an invite only event,” the statement read. “As we do throughout the year, we have and will continue to provide access to credentialed media as per the League’s policy.”

Team officials have been at odds with the Daily News in the past.

In December, the Knicks banned Daily News reporters from a news conference featuring president Steve Mills because of a headline reading “Do It” that accompanied a story about the possibility owner James Dolan would sell the team. (Reuters)

L

amine Diack, the ex-boss of athletics' world governing body the IAAF, is to stand trial in France on corruption and money-laundering charges.

The 86-year-old, whose son Papa Massata Diack has also been charged but fled to their native Senegal, has been under house arrest since November 2015.

Diack senior has been investigated over allegations he took payments for deferring sanctions against Russian drugs cheats.

They both deny all the charges.

Former French long jump champion Diack was in charge of the IAAF for 16 years and initially praised by Lord Coe when the British double Olympic champion replaced him as IAAF president in August 2015.

But within three months of Coe's election, details emerged of Diack's alleged involvement in a conspiracy to bury positive drug tests by Russian athletes in return for money.

Four others face prosecution Russian athletics chief and IAAF treasurer Valentin Balakhnichev, Russia's ex-national middle distance coach Alexei Melnikov, Diack's former aide Habib Cisse and the IAAF's ex-anti-doping boss Gabriel Dolle.

The French authorities have

Lamine Diack was president of the IAAF for 16 years until 2015

also been investigating allegations that Diack received bribes for his votes in several bidding contests for high-profile sports events.

The former International Olympic Committee member is claimed to have controlled the votes of several African colleagues.

It is alleged that Diack, a former mayor of Senegal's capital Dakar, used these payments to fund political campaigns in his homeland, as well as a lavish lifestyle in Monaco, where the IAAF is based.

The West African country has rejected several requests to extradite his son. (Reuters)

Windies replace injured Russell with Ambris

S

unil Ambris has been cleared to replace the injured Andre Russell in West Indies' Cricket World Cup squad.

A l l -

Sunil Ambris

rounder Russell was ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a knee injury.

Opening batsman Ambris was selected as the man to take Russell's place and the ICC on Monday sanctioned the replacement.

Ambris has played only six ODIs but scored 148 against Ireland last month and also made an unbeaten half-century against Bangladesh.

The 26-year-old right-hander will be hop-

ing to get the nod to partner Chris Gayle at the top of the order when the Windies face India in a mustwin contest at Old Trafford on Thursday.

(Sportsmax)

22

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Noble House "Goals Galore" indoor tournament bullies off

T

he annual Noble House ‘Goals Galore’ indoor hockey championships bullied-off last evening at the National Gymnasium, giving hockey players opportunity to flex their muscles during the inclement weather, when outdoor play is curtailed.

The tournament follows the unique concept of teams being awarded goal handicaps prior to commencement, and therefore allows junior sides to compete against the more mature and experienced sides.

GCC Vintage return as the defending men’s champions with a five-goal handicap (5), and will face top-ranked side PEPSI Hikers (0), SHC Slick Sticks(8), YMCA OFHC Pacesetters (11) and YMCA OFHC Champs (12) in Group A of the men’s competition.

Group B comprises last tournament’s finalists,

Tekeisha Deleon: leading the charge in a prior indoor action

Bounty GCC (3), YMCA OFHC T o p Form (5), SHC Splinters (9) and the Hikers Generals (9).

Young promising players like Shaquon Favourite of YMCA OFHC Champs and the entertaining Garnett boys: Tivesard, Shomere, Tahrea and Baraka of SHC Slick Sticks, will have an opportunity to test their skills against the country’s top national players, including Jamarj Assanah of PEPSI Hikers and Kareem McKenzie of Bounty GCC. Meanwhile veterans Ivor Thompson, Rene

Crawford Memorial Caricom Day Horse Meet…

Big names confirmed for event

L

women’s competition, which sees several teams on even handicaps making for a competitive tournament.

There has, however, been an emergence of young female players in recent years, like Makeda Harding of the Bingo GCC Spartans and Mariah Seegobind of Saints, who will be eager to step up to the challenge of matching skills against the seniors.

Games in the Noble House Indoor tournament will continue all week in the evenings from 5:00pm; and conclude this weekend with the action commencing from 2PM on those days.

Drayton’s Chess Club…

FIDE master in the early stages of planning

Anthony Drayton contemplating his next move

Part of the action on June 2 at the Club’s track

ess than one week remains before the highly anticipated Crawford Memorial Turf Club (CMTC) horse-racing meet unfolds on Caricom Day (July 1).

This meet will be held at the club’s sporting facility at Alness Village on the Corentyne Coast in East Berbice.

With over 25 entries confirmed thus far to contest the six categories in which races would be run, the day promises to be an exciting one.

Some of the horses set to participate in the event are Orion, First Prince, Touch Down, Red Jet, Gold Again, Irish Boy, Release The Heat, Fresh Dancer, He Is In Control, Cat Ruler Byron, and Flo Joe. Many other horses are expected to participate. The feature event of the meet is the 3-Year-Old races, which are set to be run over a distance of 1300 metres. A winning purse of $240,000 and trophy are being contested.

Other events listed on the card would see the J and Lower horses racing over a distance of 1000 metres for a first prize of $200,000 and trophy. The race for 2-Year-Old horses is to be

Edwards and Damon Woodroffe bring experience and guidance to the mix in the men’s competition.

In the ladies’ competition, GBTI GCC Spice takes the top seeded position and zero goal handicap (0). The ever-improving Saints (5), YMCA OFHC Wolves (5), Bingo GCC Spartans (5), YMCA OFHC Bellatrix (9) and defending champs the GBTI GCC Tigers (3) complete the single pool ladies’ competition.

The exciting play of “nationals” Minsodia Culpepper of the YMCA OFHC Wolves, Marzana Fiedtkou of the GBTI GCC Tigers and Tekeisha Deleon of Saints is sure to take centre stage in the

run over 900 metres and would carry a winning prize of $150,000 and trophy.

There is an event for horses classified L1 and Lower, to be run over 1000 metres for the package of $100,000 and trophy. The L2 and Lower race, which is to be run over 1000 metres, would reward the winner with $80,000; and the L3 Unclassified animals would be competing for a top prize of $60,000, duking it out in their 1200-metre journey.

The races will be run under the rules of the legislative draft of the late Marcel Crawford. All bookings must be done with a deposit of $5000.

If less than five horses are in a race, the winner’s prize will be reduced. All entries close on June 28.

Some of the sponsors on board thus far are Collin Ellcock, Banks DIH, Jumbo Jet, Attorney-atLaw Poonai of Georgetown, Guy Hookumchand, Annirude Constructions, Fazal Habibulla and NTN Studios.

Persons desiring further information can contact Marcel Crawford Jr on 678-5342 or 6969009.

By Timothy Jaikarran

B

eing the only Guyanese player to have a ranking above 2000, Anthony Drayton’s FIDE ranking of 2007 is impressive among the many chess players in Guyana. He has decided “to give back” to his country, and is in the early stages of hosting a summer programme under the name “Drayton’s Chess Club”.

Although only 24 years old, Anthony Drayton is considered as standing at the pinnacle of local chess, having made a name for himself among many of the world’s top chess players. By his FIDE ratings, Drayton is Guyana’s top player; and, he has the highest ELO rating of 2030.

He attained the title of Candidate Master at the Chess Olympiad of 2014 Open, and FIDE Master at the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in 2018.

The FIDE master, national instructor, national champion and national coach will be hosting free classes at Drayton’s Chess Club for at least once a week. In a comment invited by this publication, Drayton said, “I’m hosting these classes in an attempt to spread chess throughout Guyana. These classes will be mostly for persons or kids who want

to learn how to play chess, from moving the pieces to mastering the opening.

“Chess tactics, strategies, and all the other stuff will come if they want to learn more about it. Besides the free classes, I’m also planning on hosting private sessions for those who are interested in furthering their knowledge in the game,” he explained.

The FIDE master has said he is inspired by his three-year-old nephew, who is interested in the sport and is always learning something new.

He noted that learning the sport from a young age is important, because it helps you to take responsibility for your own actions.

He said chess helps the individual to understand things not only from their perception, but also from others’ perceptions. Chess is also beneficial in terms of pattern recognition and building of strategic and tactical thinking, he said.

In bringing our interview to a close, Drayton said, “Chess is a sport for everyone. The X-factor is that it’s a game that can be played anywhere at any time, thus meaning that it’s the perfect tool to help keep the idle mind focused at all times.”

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019

23

Shakib’s all-round brilliance downs Afghanistan S

hakib al Hasan’s all-round brilliance downed Afghanistan for the seventh time in the tournament as Bangladesh registered a 62-run win at the Rose Bowl on Monday. The veteran all-rounder backed up his half-century with a five-wicket haul to bundle out Afghanistan for 200 in pursuit of the 263-run target.

Despite another attempt to bat out 50 overs, Afghanistan failed to do so as they folded up in 47.

T h e fight shown by the top-order, especially skipper Gulbadin Naib, proved futile in the end as Bangladesh first choked the flow of runs and later, courtesy Shakib’s five wickets, ran through the middle order.

Afghanistan began well in the chase, with Rahmat Shah and Naib posting 48

specific, struggled his way to a 31-ball 11.

The veteran Samiullah Shenwari, who was included in this match in place of the big-hitting Hazratullah Zazai, showed promise with a 51-ball 49 but didn’t get ample support from the other end. Najibullah Zadran paired up with him for a 55run

stand but they could never keep themShakib Al Hasan celebrates after taking selves in tune the wicket of Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib with the required rate. Mustafizur runs without losing a wickRahman snared et in the first powerplay. two lower order wickets However, once Rahmat and Mohammad Shaifuddin fell to Shakib in the 11th wrapped up the formalover, Afghanistan failed to ities in the end to power sustain the scoring rate. Bangladesh to the fifth spot Hashmatullah Shahidi, in on the points table, only one

shy of England.

Earlier in the day, half-centuries by Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib set the tone for Bangladesh’s 262 for 7.

On a tricky surface where run-making wasn’t easy and big shots difficult to time, the duo put its experience to good use and scored at a fairly decent clip courtesy smart rotation of strike.

There was help for Afghanistan’s spin trio - Mujeeb ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan - with the ball gripping, and they did put the batsmen in some discomfort, especially Mujeeb who returned a three-wicket haul. However, some edges not carrying, some falling in gaps and some missing the stumps ensured that the Bangladesh batsmen had their share of luck to ride on.

With only four wickets lost till the 40th over, they were afforded the luxury of going big in the death. Mosaddek Hossain used that to good effect and scored a brisk 24-ball 35. In the end, the total proved too big for Afghanistan to compete with. (Cricbuzz)

ExxonMobil Under-14 Tournaments…

Charlestown, Campbellville win big on Girls’ opening day

W

hen their tournament began on Saturday last -- a week after that of the Boys had started -- twelve Girls teams joined their male counterparts to pursue the spoils on offer in the ExxonMobil Under 14 Boys’ and Girls’ tournaments.

The young ladies did not disappoint either, scoring 26 goals in just 6 matches.

Tucville Secondary trampled Uitvlugt Secondary in the opening match by a margin of 4-1. Keithann Mollyneaux and Karen Jupiter each netted two goals for Tucville, while Atesha Moore scored Uitvlugt’s consolation goal.

Lodge Secondary and East Ruimveldt Secondary both eased past their opponents, New Campbellville Secondary and Saint Stanislaus College respectively, with a one-goal win. Michelle Filter and Ginlena King were respective strikers for Lodge and East Ruimveldt.

The tournament’s defending champions, Charlestown Secondary, opened their 2019 campaign with a resounding win, scoring 7 goals against St. Mary’s and in process sending an ominous message to their competitors.

Danielle Smith wasted no time in getting her team’s score sheet ticking. She scored in the 3rd minute in what turned out to be a rain of goals for Charlestown Secondary; as Carletta Ross (5th, 24th, 31st) netted a hat-trick and Akilah Koster (15th, 21st) scored a brace, while Shania Easton contributed one for Charlestown’s resounding 7-0 win.

The second hat-trick of the day saw Keasha Jones powering East Ruimveldt to a 5-0 win over Dolphin Secondary. Also scoring for East Ruimveldt were Shaqwana Wright (12th) and Tamera Mendonca (30th).

Campbellville Secondary followed Charlestown’s lead by handing Ann’s Grove a 7-0 drubbing in the day’s final game. Roshana Warren led the way for her team with goals in the 16th, 27th and 30th, while a brace from Alicia Maynard (3rd, 9th) and one each from Imani Maxwell (15th) and Breanna Solomon (29th) did the trick for Campbellville.

As for the males, the twelve games staged on Saturday were equally competitive, with a handful of them being high-scoring encounters.

Dolphin Secondary “got the ball rolling in the right direction” with a 3-0 win over Saint Stanislaus College. Jequan Cole (8th), Dwayne James (10th) and Jude Charles (39th) were the scorers for Dolphin.

Carmel Secondary defeated Marian Academy by a similar margin, with Shem James (7th), Ian Daniels (8th) and Matthew Layne (12th) each netting a goal for the 3-0 win.

A brace from Treyon Grenville (20th, 33rd) and one from Allister Henry (7th) made for a comfortable President’s College win against Uitvlugt Secondary. Niaz Orella (11th) netted one for Uitvlugt to end the game at 3-1.

In the game following, Golden Grove Secondary made light work of Brickdam Secondary with a 5-0 drubbing.

Quintin December starred for A glimpse the East Coast team with a of the action helmet trick of goals scored in the Girls’ in the 6th, 24th, 35th and 3 8 t h encounters minutes; while Renford Cato brought which began on Golden Grove’s tally to 5 with a goal scored in Saturday last the 33rd.

The Charlestown boys proved to be less formidable than their female counterparts, receiving a 4-1 trashing at the hands of Cummings Lodge Secondary. Shiloh Adams (9th, 10th) and Jitzak Martinez (16th, 34th) each netted two each for Cummings Lodge, while Charlestown’s consolation goal came off the boots of Kurt Grant.

Ann’s Grove nosed past Richard Ishmael 3-2 in an eventful encounter. Richard Ishmael “controlled things” in the first half with goals from Shaquan Brancine and Sherwin Evans, but a late surge from Shemar Meredith (25th, 30th) and Akeem Gouveia (28th) underwrote the Ann’s Grove victory over Richard Ishmael.

Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan celebrates with teammate Mushfiqur Rahim after the dismissal of Afghanistan’s Najibullah Zadran

3

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh Innings (50 overs maximum) L Das c Shahidi b Rahman 16 T Iqbal b Mohammad Nabi 36 S Hasan lbw b Rahman 51 Mushfiqur Rahim † c Mohammad Nabi b Dawlat Zadran 83 Soumya Sarkar lbw b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3 Mahmudullah c Mohammad Nabi b Gulbadin Naib 27 Mosaddek Hossain b Gulbadin Naib 35 Mohammad Saifuddin not out 2 Extras (w 9) 9 TOTAL (50 Overs, RR: 5.24) 262-7 Did not bat: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Mustafizur Rahman Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Liton Das, 4.2 ov), 2-82 (Tamim Iqbal, 16.6 ov), 3-143 (Shakib Al Hasan, 29.2 ov), 4-151 (Soumya Sarkar, 31.6 ov), 5-207 (Mahmudullah, 42.6 ov), 6-251 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 48.3 ov), 7-262 (Mosaddek Hossain, 49.6 ov) BOWLING M Rahman (10-0-39-3) D Zadran (9-0-64-1) M Nabi(10-0-44-1) G Naib (10-1-56-2) R Khan (10-0-52-0) R Shah (1-0-7-0)7.00 Afghanistan Innings (target: 263 runs from 50 overs) G Naib (c) c Das b Hasan 47

R Shah c Iqbal b Hasan 24 H Shahidi st † Rahim b Hossain 11 A Afghan c sub (Rahman) b Hasan 20 M Nabi b Hasan 0 S Shinwari not out 49 I Alikhil † run out (Liton Das) 11 N Zadran st † Rahim b Hasan 23 R Khan c Mortaza b Rahman 2 D Zadran c † Rahim b Rahman 0 M Ur Rahman b Saifuddin 0 Extras (b 1, lb 6, w 6) 13 TOTAL (47 Overs, RR: 4.25) 200 all out Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Rahmat Shah, 10.5 ov), 2-79 (Hashmatullah Shahidi, 20.5 ov), 3-104 (Gulbadin Naib, 28.1 ov), 4-104 (Mohammad Nabi, 28.3 ov), 5-117 (Asghar Afghan, 32.2 ov), 6-132 (Ikram Alikhil, 35.1 ov), 7-188 (Najibullah Zadran, 42.4 ov), 8-191 (Rashid Khan, 43.3 ov), 9-195 (Dawlat Zadran, 45.4 ov), 10-200 (Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 46.6 ov) BOWLING Mashrafe Mortaza (7-0-37-0) Mustafizur Rahman (8-1-322) Mohammad Saifuddin (8-033-1) Shakib Al Hasan (10-1-29-5) Mehidy Hasan Miraz (8-0-370) Mosaddek Hossain (6-0-25-1)

Charlestown Secondary Girls seem to be eyeing the championship again, after a 7-0 opening victory

Lodge Secondary took an easy 2-0 win over Campbellville Secondary with goals from Joseph Harry and Akon Braithwaite; while the East Ruimveldt boys took home a 2-1 win over Kingston Secondary as their female counterparts had done to their opponents. Adrian Wharton (10th, 31st) netted both goals for East, while Dammany Barrow scored Kingston’s lone goal.

St. Mary’s and North Ruimveldt played to a draw, as did Annandale Secondary and Plaisance Orphanage. Likewise, Queenstown Secondary and Tucville Secondary; and St. John’s College and Tutorial High, shared points after their drawn encounters.

Action in the ExxonMobil Boys’ and Girls’ Under 14 tournaments will continue this weekend, Saturday June 29, at the Ministry of Education Ground.

tuesday, JUNE 25, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

ExxonMobil Under-14 Tournaments…

Charlestown, Campbellville win big on Girls’ opening day Page 23

Twelve Girls teams joined their male counterparts (pictured) to pursue the spoils on offer in the ExxonMobil Under 14 Boys’ and Girls’

Page 23

Page 20

England seek resurgence against arch-rivals Australia

Shakib’s all-round brilliance downs Afghanistan

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