Guyana Times Tuesday November 5, 2019

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Berbice businessman shoots home invader guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4098

tuesday, november 5, 2019

See story on page 3

…as bandits hammer way into premises Claims and Objections

Reports of persons being turned away from GECOM offices – PPP Chief Scrutineer …as video released of woman being prevented from transferring Page 7

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Flamingo on sale at Port Mourant sparks outrage …authorities launch investigation

P2

Woman charged for posting obscene video to porn site P13 P10 Disease outbreak triggers restriction on imported lettuce

Teen found dead on roadway after birthday celebration P2 Lone robber P14 raids Corentyne chicken outlet

Several sections of Georgetown were flooded as heavy rainfall bashed the coastal plain of Guyana on Monday. In photo, GPHC CEO, Brigadier (Retired) George Lewis and Head of the Civil Defence Commission, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig walk in flooded sections in and around GPHC

GCCI calls out Only 500 GECOM on objections decision to voters' list disenfranchise to …despite Granger’s claim thousands that voters’ list bloated Page 9

Page 9

…says decision unconstitutional by 200,000

Teen found dead in bedroom P12

2 NEWS

tuesday, november 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

found dead on roadway Flamingo on sale at Port Teen after birthday celebration Mourant sparks outrage W …authorities launch investigation

A

uthorities have launched an investigation into what appeared to be the abuse and mistreatment of a flamingo, which was on sale at the Port Mourant Market, Region Six (East Berbice Corentyne).

In a viral video on social media, the flamingo is seen strung upside down, in clear distress.

There has since been public outrage, with many calling on the authorities to take action against the persons responsible for capturing the bird.

However, the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC), in a statement on Monday, explained that flamingos are not protected according to Guyana’s laws.

It is listed under CITES Appendix II which places it under the Second Schedule of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act. Notwithstanding this, the Commission said the manner in which the flamingo was displayed amounts to cruelty and is a violation of Regulation 28 of the Wildlife Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use Regulations.

The flamingo on sale at the Port Mourant Market, Region Six

The penalty for such a violation is a fine which can range from $400,000 to $750,000 and imprisonment for not more than six months.

“We are currently conducting an investigation in a bid to apprehend those re-

sponsible,” the Commission stated.

Anyone with information that would assist in the investigation is encouraged to make contact with the nearest police station or the GWCMC on 223-0331, 2230939, or 223-0940.

hat started out as a night for celebration turned into a nightmare for the parents of a teenager whose body was found lying on the roadway less than an hour after he ushered in his 18th birthday.

Dead is Dallon Francis of Rupertee Village, North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

He, along with both of his parents, had visited an entertainment bar at Aranaputa Valley, North Rupununi, on Thursday night as part of his pre-birthday celebration.

The trio was at the bar for some time and had been imbibing alcohol together as they spoke about future plans for the youth. This newspaper was told that as the night progressed, the teen’s parents left for home while he stayed at the bar with friends.

Reports are at about midnight, the bar attendant closed off business for the night but an intoxicated Francis did not want to leave and so the barman left him there and went home.

However, some two hours later, a resident of Central Rupununi was driving along the Aranaputa Public Road when he noticed a man’s body in the

The body of 18-year-old Dallon Francis lying on the roadway

centre of that road.

The resident told Police that he was unsure whether the person was intoxicated and had “passed out” or if he was dead. He said he stopped his vehicle with the aim of rendering assistance and walked over to the body.

It was only when he was in close proximity of Francis’ body did, he realise that the young man was motionless and lying in a pool of blood.

The driver contacted the police and a community health worker who went to the location but Francis had already died.

According to the police, upon their arrival at the scene, there was a visible wound on the left side of

the young man’s head and a large pool of blood close to his head.

The 18-year-old’s body is presently at the Lethem Public Hospital’s mortuary where it awaits a post-mortem examination (PME).

Police Commander of Region Nine, Superintendent Keithon King when contacted told Guyana Times that a probe into the young man’s death is ongoing and that there are two sets of investigators working on the case.

He explained that he deployed ranks into the area to follow two leads – information received suggests that Francis was a victim of a hit-and-run accident and another possibility is that he was murdered. (Kristen Macklingam)

3 Berbice businessman shoots home invader news

tuesday, november 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Tuesday, November 5 – 10:00h-11:30h and Wednesday, November 6 – 11:30h-13:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

…as bandits hammer way into premises

Tuesday, November 5 – 11:30h-13:00h and Wednesday, November 6 – 12:45h-14:15h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals are expected all day, with clear skies in the evening interrupted by a brief spell of cloudiness in the mid-evening hours.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 11:01h and 23:26h reaching maximum heights of 2.02 metres and 2.06 metres.

Low Tide: 16:55h reaching a minimum height of 1.24 metres.

Businessman Oreall Balram

O

ne of several bandits was injured during a shoot-out with a Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) businessman on Monday.

The bandit was shot while he and his accomplic-

into the concrete wall to enter the building. Mangal said from the time she realised that they were under attack by bandits she tried to call the Police. There are reports that at least seven persons were part of the operation.

As the men were breaking the wall, gunshots were being fired.

Meanwhile, 49-year-old businessman Oreall Balram did not hesitate and positioned himself where the men were breaking the wall, and began to fire gunshots at them. This newspaper was told that the men returned fire. The licensed firearm holder explained that all of the lights were off in the building giving him an advantage.

“When I come out, I did not see no bandit I just hear the sound of them breaking the wall and I rush back in

The businessman’s home at Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

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es hammered their way into the businessman’s Lot 48B Number 69 Village home around 00:30h. As the men broke the wall to the businessman’s home, calls were made to the Springlands Police Station for Police help, but the telephone numbers were out of service.

At the time, five persons were at home, including a five- and 11-year-old.

According to Navita Mangal, the first sound they heard was that of persons climbing onto a roof and then smashing a window to gain entry to the balcony. She related that the men then hammered a hole

the room. When they come in, they start shoot up and I shoot back too.”

He said the men were in the building for about 20 minutes. Two men were reportedly inside the house

The hole the gunmen created to gain entry

and two stayed on the balcony while others stayed outside and continuously kept firing gunshots, scaring neighbours in the process.

Meanwhile, Mangal related that a flashlight was left behind after the intruders left since one of the men was shot by Balram. Blood was seen on the floor suggesting that at least one of the men was shot.

This is not the first time bandits attacked the businessman’s home. During an invasion five years ago, his son was shot and still cannot walk as a result.

In recounting that incident, Balram said that four persons had entered his

home by creating a human ladder and climbing into the veranda.

Shortly after, shots were fired at his son while he took cover. The businessman still cannot get over that incident.

“Fifteen years now, I have a licence for a handgun and I applied for a shotgun two times and they refuse me,” he said as tears filled his eyes. The angry man added, “If I had a shotgun, I would have killed them.”

Police eventually turned up at the scene, but by then the bandits were long gone.

An investigation has been launched.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, november 5, 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

Guyana’s AIDS fight

W

orld AIDS Day 2019 will be observed on December 1 and as expected, the World Health Organisation (WHO) will be highlighting the progress being made in several countries while drawing global attention to the need for broader engagement with various stakeholders, especially those at the frontline involved in providing health care and support to those affected.

Global leaders have recognised the essential role that communities play in ending AIDS and achieving health for all in the first-ever United Nations declaration on universal health coverage and the “Global action plan for healthy lives and well-being for all”, approved by Member States in September 2019.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to be a major global public health issue that claims the lives of thousands worldwide every year. According to the WHO, in 2017, 940,000 people died from HIV-related causes globally.

And in its most recent statistics, the WHO stated that of the 37.9 million people living with HIV at the end of 2018, 79 per cent received testing, 62 per cent received treatment, and 53 per cent had achieved suppression of the HIV virus with no risk of infecting others.

Also, according to the WHO, 59 per cent of adults and 52 per cent of children living with HIV were receiving lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 2017. Global ART coverage for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV is high at 80 per cent. Thousands of community health workers and members of the HIV and key population networks – many of whom are living with HIV or affected by the epidemic – contributed to this success.

To reach the target of 90 per cent, an additional 7.5 million people need to access HIV testing services. It should be noted though that many more people with HIV are now receiving life-saving drugs which help to keep the virus under control. But millions of people who need treatment still do not have it. For example, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most severely-affected part of the world, though some countries in the region have made impressive efforts in reducing fresh cases.

Caribbean countries, including Guyana, can boast of several successes in relation to their HIV response.

Programmes to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, reduce new HIV infections and treat people living with the virus have yielded encouraging results. Additionally, the Caribbean is the only developing region that has approached the near-universal coverage of antiretroviral medicines to prevent mother-to-child transmission. According to official statistics, the Caribbean leads the world in the rates of its reduction in new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths.

In Guyana’s case, there are some 8200 persons living with HIV. In 2018, about 500 new infections occurred mainly from key populations and young people. Of the 8200 persons living with the virus, 93 per cent of them know their status, making Guyana the only Caribbean country to achieve the first 90 of the UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 target ahead of the 2020 timeline. The 90-90-90 target aims to diagnose 90 per cent of all HIV-positive persons, provide antiretroviral therapy for 90 per cent of those diagnosed, and achieve viral suppression for 90 per cent of those treated by 2020.

When it comes to the other targets, 73 per cent of infected persons are presently on treatment and 81 per cent have so far achieved viral suppression so they can no longer transmit the infection to their partners.

The programmes that have been implemented have resulted in significant progress being made and should certainly be continued. Guyana cannot become complacent, as the gains made over the years could easily be reversed.

In order to sustain the advances made, the Government and other development partners need to put more money and effort towards ensuring that their HIV programmes are sustained.

That said, it would be good if the health authorities were to reassess where we are at present, what could be done differently, and what sort of interventions and resources are needed to ensure that Guyana is on top of its game in meeting the relevant HIV/AIDS targets.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali graduated from the University of the West Indies with a Doctorate of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Planning. In photo, Ali collects his certification during a graduation ceremony at UWI’s St Augustine Campus in Trinidad

Brazilian state creates task force to protect Amazon tribe from loggers

T

he Government of the Brazilian state of Maranhao set up a Police task force on Monday to protect the Guajajara tribe from illegal loggers that killed one of its warriors in a clash over deforestation on their Amazon reservation.

Illegal loggers ambushed an Indigenous group that was formed to protect the forest and shot dead one of its leaders and wounded another on Friday, the tribe said. It said a logger also died in the shootout.

Paulo Paulino Guajajara, or Lobo (which means ‘wolf’ in Portuguese), was hunting inside the Arariboia reservation when loggers opened fire and shot him in the neck. Another Guajajara, Laercio, was wounded in the arm and back, but managed to escape.

Law enforcement on Indigenous reservations is a federal responsibility, but the Guajajara “guardians of the forest” have taken on the task in the absence of federal protection and in the face of increased invasions by armed loggers since right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro took office in January.

Maranhao Governor Flavio Dino decreed the creation of the task force of Policemen to protect the Guajajaras and train them in security practices to defend and patrol their reservation, though not in firearm instruction.

Dino said that given the absence of federal agencies protecting Indigenous people in his state, the task force would cooperate in emergencies and in fighting illegal logging on reservation lands.

“We take the defence of Indigenous rights seriously and want to help. We do

Indigenous leader Laercio Guajajara, a “forest guardian”, puts on a bulletproof vest as he prepares to search for illegal loggers on Arariboia Indigenous land near the city of Amarante, Maranhao state, Brazil

not condone ethnocide,” the Governor tweeted.

Federal Justice Minister Sergio Moro deplored the killing and vowed a thorough investigation in a Twitter post. Federal Police were sent to determine the circumstances of the deaths.

“Maranhao state understood how the urgency of the situation in view of the Federal Government’s failure to act, almost inconnivance with the attackers by encouraging the invasion of reservations,” said national Indigenous leader Sonia Guajajara.

Guajajara, head of the pan-Indigenous organisation APIB, which represents many of Brazil’s 900,000 native people, spoke to Reuters from Europe where she is meeting authorities to explain growing threats to Brazil’s tribes and the forests they inhabit.

The Guajajaras, one of Brazil’s largest Indigenous groups with some 20,000 people, set up the Guardians of the Forest in 2012 to patrol a vast reservation. The area is so large that a small and endangered tribe, the Awá Guajá, lives deep in the

forest without any contact with the outside world.

Indigenous leader pushes EU to block Brazil deal over deaths

Europe must press Brazil to end killings of Indigenous people by refusing to sign off on a major trade deal, a community leader said on Monday.

The head of APIB urged lawmakers to refuse the deal after the death on Friday. “(Signing) this deal would be turning a blind eye to what is happening in Brazil. It would be institutionalising genocide,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Sonia said the EU deal would grant countries from the South American trading bloc Mercosur greater access to markets in the European Union, which could result in farmers and loggers invading Indigenous lands to drive production.

Mercosur includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

“It facilitates trade ... for companies that will want to exploit Indigenous lands even more,” she said.

“We are asking

Governments here not to sign the deal as it stands,” said Sonia. “We are planting a seed ... showing how much these territories are important to the world’s well-being.”

Indigenous leaders are touring 12 European countries to denounce attacks on Brazil’s native communities.

The group was set to meet members of the Belgium Parliament on Monday and also expects to meet with the European Parliament. They have already spoken with lawmakers and representatives of companies from seven other countries.

The deal reached in June after 20 years of negotiations was hailed by Brazil as a major diplomatic victory.

But it was criticised by environmentalists and French President Emmanuel Macron after large swathes of Amazon rainforest were burned by illegal loggers and farmers.

France and other countries could form a blocking minority to prevent the deal from going into effect.

In welcoming the move to set up the taskforce, Sonia, however, said that it was too little after Brazil’s right wing President’s repeated vows to open Indigenous lands to economic development.

Indigenous communities have reported increasing attacks since Bolsonaro’s election in 2018.

“Invaders feel empowered by (Bolsonaro’s) rhetoric,” Sonia said, adding “A crime like this cannot go unpunished.”

Despite the deaths, Sonia believes her people are winning the war against deforestation, noting “Cases like this have an enormous impact, and people are watching.” (Excerpts from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 5, 2019

5

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

Justice Singh, GECOM illegally removing names from OLE Dear Editor, It is an egregious mistake and a blatant illegality - GECOM has an absolute obligation to extract every name of every person who is at least eighteen years old on the National Register of Registrants (NRR) to compile the voters’ list. Already a Preliminary Voters’ List (PLE) was prepared from the NRR and is presently subjected to Claims and Objections. GECOM’s decision to keep persons on the NRR, but removing them from the voters’ list, even though they are eighteen years old is not just illegal, it is fully voter suppression. The only way to remove a person from the voters’ list is if the person has died or there has been a successful objection to that person during Claims and Objections.

Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP are fighting the illegal move by GECOM to disenfranchise more than 25,000 persons. While the PPP is carrying the heavy

lifting fighting for these persons, none of the other political parties seem interested in meaningfully joining the fight. Where are Ramkarran, Shuman, Badal, Ruel Johnson, Vishnu Bandoo, Fed-Up and their parties? Where are other stakeholders, such as the Private Sector Commission, the trade unions, Transparency International, the Guyana Human Rights Association, the Bar Association, the Women Lawyers Association? Where are the ABCE countries?

Surely, this should be a joint fight to protect the integrity of Guyana’s voters’ list. Whether anyone likes Bharrat Jagdeo or the PPP or not, everyone should join them to fight for the integrity of the voters’ list. Today, the attack is against these 25,000 persons, tomorrow, it might be each of us. This fight is for Guyana’s democracy.

GECOM plans to remove more than 25,000 persons from the voters’ list un-

less these people show up at a GECOM office to pick up their ID cards which they had previously not picked up. These persons, according to GECOM’s dictate, have 21 days to pick up their cards, failing which, their names will be removed from the voters’ list. Justice Singh and GECOM must show Guyanese and the world the law that permits them to commit this egregious act; the law does not exist.

But APNU/AFC, the political party behind the move, and the GECOM Secretariat are unbothered by this blatant illegality. No one in APNU/AFC or within GECOM questions the legitimacy of these persons being listed in the NRR and, therefore, know that these persons had legitimately registered.

In fact, Justice Claudette Singh insists these persons will retain their registration in the NRR. But this is a violation of the law - the voters’ list is obtained by extracting all names from the NRR of persons who are eighteen

(18) years old as of a particular date. For the March 2, 2020 elections, the cut-off date is December 31, 2019.

There is no other requirement for the extraction of names. GECOM has no flexibility - they must extract every name of persons who are at least 18 years old, outside of dead persons.

At the time of registration, these persons’ personal data, including their then residency, were verified and scrutinised. GECOM staff, accompanied by scrutinisers from the PPP and the PNC and other political parties, had verified these persons’ physical being and verified the presence of these persons at their addresses.

Notable in the present Claims and Objections conducted by GECOM is that no one has objected to any of these names. The only legitimate reasons to object to anyone are those described in the law, such as the person has died. Not picking up one’s ID card is not remotely a reason described in the

GuySuCo cannot withstand the truth Dear Editor, Our Unions – the GAWU and the NAACIE – have seen a letter under the hand of the GuySuCo which appeared in sections of the media on November 1 and November 2, 2019.

The GuySuCo begins its letter charging that our Unions were engaged in insincere representations.

While the Corporation failed to really qualify what it meant, it appeared that the GuySuCo, rather than acknowledging our expressions, has apparently decided to treat them insincerely and possibly with contempt and derision. This is saddening if true and speaks to the esteem held by the Corporation for its workers.

It appears that the GuySuCo prefers us to meekly stand at the sidelines while the workers are disadvantaged and pushed into poverty. Just recently, the Corporation criticised the GAWU for supporting workers during a protest action at Blairmont Estate though the workers stood on most principled grounds.

We hasten to add that the GuySuCo workforce is not confined to the field, factory and offices but ascends to the managerial cadre as well.

As we told the Corporation officials, at our truncated October 29 engagement, the expressions we shared were also being whispered in close quarters by the managerial personnel. They, like their non-managerial colleagues, are hard-pressed at this time as they too are being crushed by the heavily increased costs of living. Several managerial personnel told us that they were supportive of the recent petition of the sugar workers which was addressed to President David Granger.

Some even wished they could

have appended their signatures but were obviously reluctant given their position in the Corporation and the real threats to their jobs.

The GuySuCo said that our expressions could not have been displayed “…within the Corporation premises”. What the Corporation refrained from saying is that it ranted, sometimes in an intimidating manner, that the meeting was being held on private property and our Unions were almost demanded to put away our expressions. Our Unions pointed out then, and strongly hold, that GuySuCo is Stateowned and thus we were on the Guyanese people’s and not any private property. Moreover, as far as we know, our right to Freedom of Expression did not stop at the Corporation’s gate or doorway. Certainly, the rights and freedoms we enjoy, and which were won out of struggle, must apply at all times.

The State-owned company contends that our expressions saw the engagement “…being held under duress…”. We hasten to wonder how this is so. Duress, we should remind the GuySuCo, regards a situation whereby there is compulsion, coercion, or pressure to do something. Our Unions cannot see how the displaying of slogans to the GuySuCo qualifies as duress. In fact, at no time did anyone from the Unions utter a word. We were not disruptive or disrespectful as we displayed our slogans. We remained in our seats listening attentively to presentations. To charge our Unions, unwittingly, is misguided and clearly an impertinent reaction.

The sugar company said that it “…was not given the

opportunity to share essential information with the Unions and their delegations as it intended on the Corporation’s production, financials, marketing outlook, perspectives and plans towards growth and sustainability of the industry”.

While the Corporation says this, it, so far, has not released certain information that has been requested of it though it received our request over a month ago. The data requested is not unusual and has previously been shared with the Unions. We are at a loss to understand the seeming denial and it ap-

pears that the information sought may be eye-opening.

Nevertheless, our Unions did not prevent or obstruct the Corporation from sharing the information it was intent on disclosing.

Maybe it is the truth, as expressed by our slogans, that hurt the GuySuCo, a truth they could not withstand.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary – GAWU; Dawchan Nagasar General Secretary – NAACIE

Constitution or any law. The move by GECOM, supported by Commissioners linked to APNU/AFC and by the Chair of GECOM, is, therefore, barefacedly disenfranchising voters, rigging the election.

There is no law that obligates a citizen collecting his National ID card from GECOM. There is a law that describes the eligibility of persons who want to vote in an election in Guyana (Articles 59 and 159 of Guyana’s Constitution).

Nowhere in the Constitution or in any law does it state that a person must have in his or her possession a National ID Card to register or vote. The law does require someone to register and be on a voters’ list in order to vote, but he or she can use any approved document as an ID, including a National ID Card, a passport or any other approved document. In fact, in Guyana, the voters’ lists in possession of officials from GECOM contain photographs of individuals and, in all elections since 2001, provisions are in place for these folio pictures to be used whenever someone shows up without an ID card.

The High Court had already ruled in 2001 that the voter ID card is illegal. The Judge in that ruling was Justice Claudette Singh.

The Parliament had voted unanimously to make it lawful for the use of a voter ID card for the 1997 elections, after the PNC had demanded there must be a voter ID card. Subsequently, having lost the elections very badly, the PNC, through a surrogate named Ester Perreira, challenged the use of a voter ID card and Justice Claudette Singh ruled the law was unconstitution-

al. Acknowledging the results of the election would not have changed, she still vitiated the 1997 elections and, therefore, the then PPP Government was forced to schedule elections more than a year earlier than the full term. In addition, Chief Justice Roxane George this year ruled that no one can be removed from the NRR, even if the person is resident somewhere else at present.

There are many reasons why persons did not pick up their ID cards. For some, they tried and could not and subsequently did not feel they needed the card, since there are other ways they can verify who they are.

From her FB page, Ms Priya Manickchand admitted she never picked up her card.

Is her name going to be removed from the voters’ list?

I tried to pick up my card several times after 2008 and failed. I eventually picked it up after I was assisted by the then Chairman. He had referred me to a senior officer who then assisted me. I have never used my ID card for anything, never used it to vote since I always use my passport. There are, in fact, thousands of Guyanese who have lost their ID cards and have not bothered to replace them. Are these persons going to lose their rights to vote?

The decision by GECOM is illegal, it is patently voter suppression and thousands of Guyanese will challenge them. What happens if someone, in fact, communicates they will not be able, within the 21 days given, to pick up their card, but gives notice that they will turn up to vote?

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

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tuesday, november 5, 2019

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I

n some families, new adults and kids seem to fit in easily, as though they’ve been there all along.

But some families brought together through marriage can be so different that the best everyone can do is grit their teeth and work hard to get through a weekend together.

Building a relationship with a stepparent can be quite different from building other new relationships.

After all, when you meet a new friend or love interest, you’re the one deciding if that person will have a role in your life.

You get to introduce these new people into your life gradually, taking time to decide how they fit and how you really feel about them.

A stepparent is different; he or she is someone your mom or dad has invited into the family. Sometimes a stepparent can feel like a stranger who is suddenly inserted into the most personal aspects of your life.

The pressure to get along can be intense.

Because everyone’s situation is different, there are no easy answers to accepting a stepparent. Some people find themselves with new stepparents after a parent has died, others after parents have divorced. Some parents take years to meet and marry other people; some remarry almost immediate-

Foundation

ly.

When a parent remarries, you may find yourself with an instant family of stepsiblings or, eventually, with younger half-brothers or half-sisters.

Although every family is different, there are some things that can help you deal with a new stepparent.

Dealing with feelings

You’ll probably have plenty of feelings about your new situation, and some of these may conflict. For example, even

when someone likes a new stepparent, it’s natural to feel some pangs that this new person is “re-

placing” a beloved parent in some way.

Change – good or bad – is difficult. Even if you don’t have negative feelings about the new person in your family, you may have very strong feelings about the changes a stepparent is creating.

At some point, you’re probably going to feel confused, conflicted about your loyalties, angry, and possibly sad. Here are a few things to

try that may help put your feelings into focus: Keep a journal. Write down the changes in your life and how you feel about

them.

Confide in a friend.

Some of your close, trusted friends may have their own stepparent experiences. This can help you feel you’re not alone. Friends also can share tips on what they did in situations similar to yours — everything from sharing a room with a new stepsibling to juggling computer time. Even if your

friends’ situations are different (just because your best friend doesn’t get along with his or her stepparents, that’s not a hard and fast rule for anyone else), it always helps to have a sympathetic ear.

Talk to your parent or another trusted adult about how you’re feeling. It’s important to share your fears, feelings, and frustrations with an adult you trust — no matter how crazy you may think these feelings are. Don’t be afraid that something you say will cause hurt feelings or make you seem like a problem.

An adult who loves you will want to help.

Find support. Look for a group at school or in your community where you can vent. Or talk to a teacher or a guidance counsellor about what’s going on in your life. It helps when others know and care about what we’re going through. And sometimes they have great suggestions.

If you find that your new situation has left you feeling sad most of the time or you just can’t shake the blues, you may want to talk to a doctor or therapist. Mental health professionals, such as social workers or therapists, are trained to help people sort out the conflicting mix of feelings that can come with a parent’s remarriage.

Facing the realities

So what can you do to adjust to the daily realities of living with a stepparent?

Instead of worrying about the “what ifs” and the inevitable changes, talk to your mom or dad about what to expect before your new stepparent joins the family.

That way, you can be prepared for what lies ahead.

For example: Figure out ahead of time what to call your stepparent.

Ask about stepsiblings and things like if you have to share a room now.

Ask about holiday plans and who’s giving presents to whom.

If your house is about to explode with new people, find out how this affects you and that spare room where you listen to music.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions as they come to mind. Your parents and new stepparent might not have thought about the things you’re asking either, so there’s an opportunity to explore options together. And if there’s something you absolutely don’t want to change, try to negotiate. For example, if you and your dad always go fishing

over Thanksgiving but your mom made plans for you to spend the holiday with her new husband’s family, she might not realize how important the fishing trip is to you.

Handling disagreements

What about those times when you flat out disagree with a stepparent? You’ll have a better chance of getting what you want if you disagree without disrespect.

Explain your feelings calmly and rationally. For example, if you have a new half-brother or -sister and you feel like you’re constantly being expected to babysit at the last minute, talk it over with your stepparent before the situation gets to the stage where you feel taken advantage of.

Present your side — maybe you have to study for a test or you already made plans with friends and they’re relying on you. Then listen to the other person’s perspective. Include your parent in the discussion, too.

If you’re particularly mad about something, it can feel hard not to lose control. But managing your anger and taking extra care to choose respectful language will help your stepparent see you for the mature person you are, not as a child.

Find a way to get to know the new stepparent in your life. Suggest a bike ride or go to a movie together. It may not be easy, but you can use the same relationship and communication skills you would use to make anyone feel welcome.

It may help to remember that your stepparent is walking into a new situation, too. He or she could feel just as nervous and confused as you do.

Expect some rough spots. You know that establishing a good relationship takes time. Your new life won’t always be smooth, so be ready to make some compromises. The good thing is, the ups and downs of adjusting to a new family situation can offer some really great life lessons. Many people look back on their experiences getting to know new family members and realize they learned some great relationship (and negotiating!) skills in the process.

Remind yourself that every situation is different. There’s no real script for a new family that’s being pulled together from all sorts of directions. Be open to lots of possibilities. And savour the good moments.

Although change is often difficult, it can be good, too. (kidshealth.org)

NEWS

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Claims and Objections

Reports of persons being turned away from GECOM offices – PPP Chief Scrutineer …as video released of woman being prevented from transferring

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eports have emerged that there have been persons who went to get registered or change their particulars at Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) offices, only to be turned away by staff – something that is being denounced as illegal.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Monday, the People’s Progressive Party’s Chief Elections Scrutineer, Zulficar Mustapha confirmed that the Party has received complaints from several persons in various locations.

He said that persons have been turned away from GECOM’s offices on Church Street, Georgetown and Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara. Mustapha noted that when this happened, these voters were told that they had already registered during the House-to-House Registration.

“At Diamond, they turned away another six or seven persons… at Eccles they turned away persons earlier in the week. I had to write to the Chief Elections Officer (Keith Lowenfield).

And the understanding is, as long as your names are not on the PLE, then GECOM Registration Officers (RO) have an obligation to reg-

A still from the video, showing the padlocked GECOM office

ister that person or make changes to their particulars, if it is incorrect,” Mustapha told this newspaper.

“As long as their names do not appear on the [Preliminary List of Electors] PLE, that’s the law. They have to have a transaction done. Yesterday (Sunday), when these people turned up, they were told by the RO that their names are on the Houseto-House data. The data is information GECOM put up there. They haven’t put out any advisory on what

they’re doing with it.”

Mustapha, who is also the Executive Secretary of the PPP, noted that ROs turning away persons who need to update the PLE with their information during the Claims and Objections (C&O) period was, therefore, illegal.

In footage seen by this publication, taken outside one of GECOM’s registration offices that are being used for C&O, a woman who was locked out from the office was seen questioning the security guard over the

fact that the gate was padlocked.

When she informed the guard that her companion was just there to do a transfer, the guard told her that he was told not to allow anyone into the compound. When asked who gave him those orders, the guard revealed that it was the GECOM staff.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact officials from GECOM for clarification on the matter were unsuccessful.

When H2H started this year, it was without the input of the Opposition. In fact, the only party that scrutinised the enumerators during the exercise was the ruling party, as the PPP was not even invited to participate.

This, together with the surreptitious nature in which the exercise started under the backdated order of the former Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson and the fact that many people boycotted the exercise, have fuelled suspicion about GECOM’s insis-

tence on using the data.

A decision was taken by GECOM days ago to post the H2H data at its registration offices for persons to inspect and use as a reference to make changes to the PLE. At the time, the Opposition was opposed to this decision since the H2H data would be inaccurate.

The PPP subsequently complained in a statement to the media last week that after checks on the H2H list posted by GECOM, it was found that the list was littered with mistakes and duplicate names.

According to the Party, the fact that the list contains many errors confirms the suspicions the PPP and its commissioners have been expressing from the start. The Party noted that it made checks and did its own investigations and made some startling discoveries.

“There are thousands of names duplicated on the Preliminary List of Electors and thousands of persons who are under the voting age of 18. Our investiga-

PPP Chief Scrutineer Zulficar Mustapha

tions would have found, too, that dozens of persons listed as new registrants cannot be found at the addresses listed and this is a serious cause for concern – fuelling the worry that there are many non-existent persons on the list published by GECOM. “Further, the House-toHouse registrants’ list is not a supplementary list to the PLE and cannot be used during a Claims and Objections exercise. There is no provision in the laws of Guyana to authorize the publication of a duplicate list that does not originate from the National Register of Registrants Database.”

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In denial…

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…on crime he top COP was recently confronted with the report that crime is rising all across the country and is forcing a beleaguered citizenry to demand action.

He retorted, “I’m not necessarily BOTHERED, because I’m saying there are a few sensational crimes that are occurring”. He thus continues the line the Granger-led PNC regime adopted since they sidled into office: the populace is overreacting to the crime situation, which the Police have “firmly under control”, as “proven” by the statistics they regularly trot out.

So, for instance, the 16 murders that occurred over the last two weeks are nothing to worry about. Not to worry about the return of piracy. Not to worry about the spike in burglaries and snatching of phones that’s become the new “choke-and-rob”. So also for armed robberies that have become so routine that, rather than launching programmes to combat the robbers, citizens are now cautioned to avoid certain areas -- evidently accepting, like the Police, that as with the 36% poor, the high crime rate will always be with us.

Caretaker President Granger, however, inadvertently revealed what’s behind the inexorably rising crime wave when he tried to explain away the inability of the Government - via SOCU - to convict a SINGLE PPP official of any of the crimes they’d been accused of. He said it was due to “corruption in the Police Force”, since SOCU was part of that crime fighting unit.

Another Columbus!! But Granger, for obvious reasons, didn’t go on to admit that this corruption in the Police Force is a systemic one, which he’s failed to address even though it was one of his main campaign promises.

With great fanfare early on, he shook up the top brass of the Force by using the transparent ploy that the then incumbents hadn’t investigated some cockamamie “assassination plot” against him. He insisted he must have “incorruptible” officers leading the GPF, and personally vetted the new command structure. He notably and personally insisted that Berbice Divisional Commander Linden Alves be appointed a Deputy Commissioner and Crime Chief.

Alves was going to spearhead the fight against crime and fulfil the PNC’s campaign promise, but after some damming evidence of Police involvement in a notorious criminal incident in Berbice, ranks there pointed to Alves as the ringleader in the Police-Criminal conspiracy. This was swept under the carpet until there were just too many bumps to ignore. He was, however, investigated only INTERNALLY by the Police, and was cleared!

However, we now hear he was sent on administrative leave, and won’t be back.

On crime, then, the question is, “Who will guard the guardians?” since it’s clear that corruption is rampant in the GPF from top to bottom!! …on electoral prospects Granger insisted recently that, at the next elections, the PNC coalition will end up with 36 seats and thus command a comfortable majority in the National Assembly. We don’t know at this time exactly which other parties will join him in the coalition, since the AFC have threatened to walk unless their leader Khemraj Ramjattan is the PM candidate. Unlike Burnham, who told Jagan, “Leader or nothing”, and kept his promise, Ramjattan’s “emasculated PM or nothing” is definitely a bluff, which will be called.

So where’s the PNC going to pick up another 3 seats or 18,000 votes after its record in the last 4 1/2 years?? Is the PNC even going to retain its traditional base – especially the urban youths – who’ve been left to swing in the wind since 2015?? Even if the AFC comes back with its tail between its legs, they ain’t pulling anything from the PPP! They’re dead meat there!

So it could only be Granger modestly imitating Burnham’s 1973 prediction of “securing” a 2/3 majority.

He secured it through rigging!! …on agriculture Caretaker President Granger insisted that agriculture “will remain the primary focus of our economy”. But right away you know he’s bullsh*tting – saying whatever comes into his head.

Why doesn’t he still not have a plan for the 60,000 acres of abandoned GuySuCo lands??

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

news

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tuesday, november 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GCCI calls out GECOM on decision

to disenfranchise thousands …says decision unconstitutional

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he Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has become the latest to come out against the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) decision to disenfranchise those who did not collect their identification cards.

According to the Chamber in a statement on Monday, the decision, which was made by GECOM Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh, would be regarded as unconstitutional owing to what acting Chief Justice, Roxane George herself ruled on the matter.

“The Georgetown

Chamber of Commerce and Industry has noted with deep concern the decision of the Guyana Elections Commission to have some 28,000 persons be removed from the voters’ list who have not uplifted their identification cards.”

The Chamber has also noted the rationale given for this decision - wherein these persons were registered as voters since 2008 and did not uplift their identification card.

While noting the unconstitutional nature of such a decision, GCCI pointed out that possession of an identification card is not a requirement to vote since registered voters can present

a valid passport or other forms of identification.

Last week Tuesday it was announced at the conclusion of the Commission’s weekly statutory meeting that GECOM Chair, retired Justice Singh decided to give persons 21 days to collect their ID cards.

If they do not collect their ID cards, they will not be put on the Official List of Electors. These persons will, however, remain in the registration database. It is estimated that this decision affects as many as 25,000 voters.

Her decision followed calls from Government and Opposition Commissioners for the Chair to make a de-

cision and break the deadlock between the two sides of the Commission. The Opposition was not happy with the decision, however, with People’s Progressive Party (PPP) nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj describing it as egregious.

“The Chair has ruled that persons who have not uplifted their identification cards, their names will be published in the newspapers and they will be given 21 days within which to collect it. And if they fail to respond to that, then they will be prevented from voting.”

“I am of the considered view that this is an unlawful decision, because it imposes an additional requirement

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

for persons to be allowed to vote. For that reason, it can be considered unlawful, but there are many other reasons it is considered unlawful,” Gunraj, a lawyer by profession, had said.

This publication had re-

ported a few weeks ago that the Government-nominated Commissioners at GECOM were attempting to remove some 20,000 persons from the voters’ list, who have failed to uplift their identification (ID) cards – which will disenfranchise them.

This is despite the fact that in Guyana, there is no requirement for someone to have an ID card to vote.

In 2015, when over 35,000 identification cards were still sitting at GECOM that belonged to persons registered since 2008, the then GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, had said that persons would not need ID cards to vote at the May 11, 2015 elections.

Only 500 objections to voters’ list …despite Granger’s claim that voters’ list bloated by 200,000

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onday was the final day for claims to be made for voters to be included on the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE). Just seven more days remain for objections.

However, as of Monday, only 500 voters have made objections to information contained on the PLE. This is according to information released by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward. In addition to objections, 2639 changes to voters’ information were made since the exercise started on October 1.

In addition, 14,474 transfers of voters from one area to another were conducted

while there were 5636 new registrations. There were also 2400 ID card replacements done and 651 photos retaken. In total, there were 26,300 transactions as of November 3, 2019.

The number of objections is in stark contrast to the often-repeated statement from the Government that the voters’ list was bloated by as many as 200,000 names, thus necessitating the controversial House-toHouse (H2H) Registration exercise.

The Government and President David Granger have repeatedly claimed that the existence of 200,000 extra names necessitated House-to-House Registration, an exercise that ended up delay-

ing GECOM’s preparations for elections as both sides struggled for and against the exercise.

On the sidelines of a GECOM court case back in July, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield himself had admitted that he never advised the President that the voters’ list was bloated with 200,000 names, raising questions about where President Granger got such information.

“I have not engaged His Excellency on the numbers game. And I cannot pronounce on that … it’s speculative. I would want to do an exercise to determine that amount,” Lowenfield said when asked about the President’s comment.

In addition, the very voters’ list, which was derived from the National Register of Registrants (NRR), was used for Local Government Elections (LGE) last year.

The elections were held with only minor hiccups, leading many to question whether the advocacy for H2H was nothing more than a delaying tactic.

The H2H itself was carried out under a cloud.

When H2H started this year, it was without the input of the opposition. In fact, the only party that

scrutinized the enumerators during the exercise was the ruling party, as the PPP was not even invited to participate.

This, together with the surreptitious nature in which the exercise started under the backdated order of the former GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson and the fact that many people boycotted the exercise, has fuelled suspicion about GECOM’s insistence on using the data.

A decision was taken by

GECOM days ago to post the H2H data at its registration offices for persons to inspect and then use as a reference to make changes to the PLE. At the time, the Opposition was opposed to this decision since the H2H data would be inaccurate.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) subsequently complained in a statement to the media last week that after checks on the H2H list posted by GECOM, it was found that the list was littered with mistakes and duplicate names.

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tuesday, november 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Clinical competency affecting high mortality rate – PAHO/WHO Rep …concerned about alarming teen pregnancies

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n Guyana, there is a high percentage of women losing their life during or after childbirth, an epidemic which is influenced by the level of care and treatment offered by healthcare facilities.

This was according to Country Representative of the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), Dr William Adu-Krow on Monday, during the quarterly meeting on Maternal Child Health and Expanded Programme Immunisation.

While death from haemorrhaging has decreased in

PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr William Adu-Krow

However, the overall statistics were once higher, reducing to 169 per ever 100,000.

“The data reveals that

“Now, what is killing our women in pregnancy happens to be issues of primary healthcare. They happen to be issues that we should find out even well before they get pregnant. They have to be issues that we should help manage well before they come into labour. I keep saying that there is no point that we can have about 52 per cent of our women come with HB (haemoglobin) less than 10” – PAHO representative pregnant mothers, the statistics are still high. In fact, September’s statics revealed that the number of cases for the month was equivalent to that for the entire 2019 – data which is quite alarming.

there is a need to improve the quality of care in terms of clinical competencies, adequate assessment of highrisk management and timely referral and emergency obstetric care. Through all the

efforts of all of us, we are not getting as many deaths from haemorrhage as we used to, which is a good thing,” AduKrow highlighted.

It was indicated that women die because of issues in the primary healthcare division. These should be detected early and addressed before the child is born.

He further stated, “Now, what is killing our women in pregnancy happens to be issues of primary healthcare.

They happen to be issues that we should find out even well before they get pregnant. They have to be issues that we should help manage well before they come into labour. I keep saying that there is no point that we can have about 52 per cent of our women come with HB (haemoglobin) less than 10.”

While post-partum haemorrhage has reduced, the PAHO representative noted, “The challenge now is the management of early bleeding in pregnancy, which has increased in the first half of 2019.

Teenage pregnancy

He also pointed out that many teenagers are getting pregnant. In fact, one in five pregnant women is in her teenage years.

“PAHO/WHO has assisted the Public Health Ministry in the situation analysis of adolescent health…This is to

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

reduce the alarming rates of teenage pregnancy. We have to help the adolescent, the teenagers so that this teenage pregnancy of between 20 to 22 per cent needs to fall.”

Family planning continues to play an important role in lowering mortality rate and moreover, providing a choice for women. At regional hospitals within the country, family planning is offered to women through contraception.

“If one out of every five pregnant woman happens to be a teenager, if it is by choice, it is their right. If it’s an accident that means that we as a system has failed them.”

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud indicated that some women are not subjected to pelvic examinations and haemoglobin testing. However, even though hospitals are

equipped with the facilities, the examinations are sometimes ignored. This is one factor which needs to be mitigated.

“Monitoring pregnancies have become a critical part of ensuring that we prevent both maternal, neonatal and infant deaths. We’re strongly recommending, we’re still not there yet, that at least each mother have twice check at HB [and] pelvic examinations. I still see, from time to time, these examinations are not done and doc-

tors are even present within the communities that have the capacity to do this,” Dr Persaud pointed out.

Nevertheless, he indicated that the MCH unit has made strides in lowering high statistics of deaths and complications in recent time.

Data published by PAHO reveals that 68 per 100,000 live births was the regional average benchmark in 2015 for maternal deaths. At that time, Guyana’s statistics was 229 per 100,000 - placing second on the list after Haiti.

Disease outbreak triggers restriction on imported lettuce

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he National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) will be restricting the importation of romaine lettuce, due to the outbreak of the E. coli disease in the United States.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium commonly found in the gut of warm-blooded organisms.

Most strains of E. coli are not harmful but are part of the healthful bacterial flora in the human gut. However, some types can cause illness in humans, including diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, and sometimes vomiting.

NAREI, in a notice to the public on Monday, said the restriction on the commodity will be temporary.

The Institute said it will not be issuing import permits and will be recalling all

permits issued within the past three months.

The restriction will be removed when Guyana is notified by the United States of America FDA that there is no threat to the romaine lettuce.

Only recently, NAREI announced that it was tightening up on the importation of citrus fruits, peppers and cabbages into the country.

The Institute had explained that importers will have to obtain the requisite permission from the National Plant Protection Organisation, which will determine whether the commodities adhere to the necessary phytosanitary requirements and pest risk analysis.

If these requirements are not satisfied, these commodities will be rejected, NAREI had stated.

NEws

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tuesday, november 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hepatitis B, other vaccines needed in national campaign – CMO

C

hief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud on Monday revealed that other vaccines should be readily available for the public and health workers, an important one being the implementation of Hepatitis B immunisation.

He was at the time speaking during the Expanded Programme Immunisation’s (EPI) engagement with health workers from across the country. Presently, there is a 95 per cent coverage of immunisation in Guyana.

“I would like to reiterate the need for us to expand ac-

cess to persons, especially in the far-flung areas where you have small groups of children who are missing vaccines. We have to ensure that we reach those persons… I would like to mention the need for us to look at some of the other vaccines, particularly Hepatitis B vaccines,” he asserted.

Dr Persaud said that these measures should be undertaken as migrants enter the country from the border regions. This includes the expansion of immunisation to all corners of the country and to the migrants

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

rants, cafés and coffee joints are listed to participate, namely – Aagman Restaurant, Antonio’s Grille, Bistro Café and Bar, Café Bellvana, Caribbean Inn, Grand Coastal Hotel, Pegasus Hotel, Java Coffee Bar, New Thriving Chinese Restaurant – Main Street, OMG! Restaurant, Herdmanston Lodge, Marriott Hotel, Roraima Duke Lodge, The Vintage Wine Bar and Lounge, Windjammer Restaurant, Xie Xie, Palm Court, Jaxx International Grill, Hibiscus Restaurant, Curramba La Bella, Park Vue Hotel, Watooka House and Cara Lodge.

The last GRW was hosted this year in June. Each restaurant had featured two-course lunch menus and three-course dinner

menus at a fixed price per person. There is a wide variety of cuisines to choose from, ranging from the Mediterranean, Chinese, Indian, Italian and much more.

President of THAG, Mitra Ramkumar had said that Restaurant Week is an excellent marketing opportunity for businesses and will benefit patrons as well.

“Restaurant Week was designed to appeal to the local market and for people who feel certain restaurants are not for them. I’m encouraging all Guyanese to come out and explore them all,” he was quoted as saying.

This initiative has already amassed support from scores of persons and its base continues to increase.

Guyana Restaurant Week returns this month

T

he introduction of Guyana Restaurant Week has sparked many positive comments from local and foreign diners, and reservations are already booked for later this month when it returns for a second time this year. Commencing from November 22 to December 1, persons would capitalise on the opportunity to dine in participating restaurants, with cutbacks on their speciality dishes.

The entire event is organised by the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and is also a marketing strategy to introduce the services that Guyana has to offer. The Guyana Tourism Authority had also collaborated last year.

This time, 23 restau-

also. Yellow fever, measles and polio are some cases which have not been spotted here in many decades and authorities are working towards preventing any active scenario.

“EPI continues to be a flagship programme of the Ministry and especially with the emerging threats from our bordering areas and the need for us to keep our population safe, we continue to expand this programme,” the CMO said.

He further emphasised, “The advent of movement of persons especially from Venezuela and other neighbouring countries have

caused us to be concerned about the reintroduction of some diseases…things like measles and yellow fever.

We need to be cognisant of that and as providers, our frontline workers, the regional staff is critical to ensuring that we keep that very small window that exists or pockets of persons not covered by immunisation, closed.”

Health workers are also at risk of contracting diseases from their patients or through other contacts.

Many health workers have, over the years, questioned the rationale behind getting protected from these threats.

“We have concluded training with [a group of] health workers, the mortuary attendants and a lot of our workers still had doubts about taking vaccines. Imagine workers who handle human remains and the risks associated with contracting things like Hepatitis B remains very high.”

Meanwhile, Dr Persaud mentioned that there are reports of persons visiting health centres and other hospitals to be vaccinated but were told to return on

another day.

Back in June, Acting Maternal and Child Health Officer, Dr Oneka Scott had told Guyana Times that measles outbreaks in Venezuela, Brazil and the United States of America had resulted in the continuation of stringent measures in Guyana, which was implemented some two years ago to prevent an epidemic.

In 2015, there was an outbreak in Venezuela. Between June 2017 and October 2018, some 7500 suspected cases of measles were reported in Venezuela. With thousands of Venezuelan refugees flocking the Cooperative Republic in 2017, the WHO had declared an emergency response for Guyana following Venezuela’s crises and a subsequent spread of this re-emerging disease to Brazil. From January to November 2018, there were 2801 confirmed measles cases in Brazil.In the USA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently reported an increase in cases amounting to over 970. With cases continuing in New York for some eight months, it was feared that the country can lose its measles elimination status.

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tuesday, november 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Body in torched vehicle

Identity of charred remains still to be determined – Crime Chief

…Police working with GRA to determine owner of car

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he identity of the charred remains that were discovered inside the trunk of a burnt car in a swampy area in Mahaicony, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), on Friday still remains a mystery to local cops.

Investigators are, however, working along with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) with the hope of locating the owner of the burnt vehicle.

This is according to acting Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Michael Kingston, who told Guyana Times on Monday that to

date, there has been no testing on the remains but investigations into the matter continue.

“We have to get approval to send the samples overseas because I think it is bones. I am not certain whether the lab here can do it but whatever we do, we have to get approval to send overseas.”

According to Kingston, since the gruesome discovery on Friday, news has been circulating that the burnt body belongs to a missing witness in a murder trial, 36-year-old Collin Rodney, of 70 Joseph

Pollydore Street, Lodge, Georgetown. However, he stressed that such pronouncements at this stage of investigations are “speculation and presumptions.”

Local forensic lab

Less than five months ago, the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) had announced that almost five years after being officially opened, it was now able to conduct critical tests that would aid in the fight against crime.

Director of the $1.049 billion building, Delon France during the commis-

Teen found dead in bedroom

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he close-knit community of Hubu, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) was plunged into a state of shock on Friday morning following the discovery of a dead teenager hanging from a rope in her home.

Dead is 17-year-old Marissa Persaud of Lot 8 Hubu.

Reports are that about 07:30h on Friday, the teen’s grandmother made the discovery, after she went into Persaud’s bedroom to enquire why the teen was not responding to calls.

She raised an alarm and neighbours rushed to her assistance. Police were immediately summoned to the scene and they removed the teen’s body.

According to investigators, there were no visible marks of violence on the girl’s body.

Her body is presently at a funeral home awaiting a

Dead: Marissa Persaud

post-mortem as investigations into the matter continue.

Guyana Times understands that Persaud’s parents had separated and the teen was living with her maternal grandmother.

Earlier this year, Persaud had written five subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level.

She was scheduled to attend

her school’s graduation ceremony on Thursday.

Meanwhile, newly-appointed Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Simon McBean, when contacted, lamented that such a young life was lost.

He explained that although persons were assuming that the young girl took her own life it would be imprudent and premature for the Police to pronounce suicide as her cause of death.

“We are currently investigating and the statements are being taken by ranks about the matter.

Then, there is the post-mortem that has to be conducted so that we will be aware of what caused the young lady’s demise. However, we are leaving no stone unturned with investigations so that we know what really happened to her,” he stated.

Missing murder trial witness Collin Rodney, also known as “Glock”, “Troy” and “Cutty”

sioning ceremony for the new services this year had listed the newly added features, stating that DNA tests which can be conducted there would use samples from the human cheeks, se-

men and vagina, hair, blood and most importantly, fingerprints or touch.

However, no mention was made about the testing of bones that could possibly be discovered at some crime scenes.

Rodney, a former policeman, also known as “Glock”, “Troy” and “Cutty” was last seen on October 25, 2019, at about 08:00h, when he left his home to attend court to give evidence in the murder trial of his cousin, Marlon Rodney. He was a witness to his cousin’s murder.

He had left his residence driving his car, a silver-grey Toyota Allion, PRR 1076, which is believed to be the car that was torched on Friday. However, he was a no show in court.

Thirty-nine-year-old Osafa Grundell, called “Safo”, of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, and James

Fraser, 21, called “Dab”, of Garnett Street, Georgetown, were charged for the murder of Marlon Seon Rodney, called “George”.

It is alleged that between April 25 and April 30 last, at Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, the 35-year-old taxi driver of Lot 71 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, was involved in a heated argument with Grundell, Fraser and another man called “Curl Up”.

The accused reportedly whipped out firearms after the row escalated and discharged several rounds at Marlon Rodney, who was hit in the left leg.

A passerby was also shot in the process.

The injured men were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where Rodney later succumbed.

DPP institutes joint charge in attempted murder of ex-cop

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fter being charged separately for the attempted murder of an ex-cop, Teon Allen called “Spoil Child”, the two accused, 23-year-old Renard Caesar and 22-year-old Lashawn Lewis were on Monday slapped with a joint charge that was instituted by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In court on Monday, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan withdrew the separate attempted murder charges against the men, and read the new charge which stated that while being in the company of others on October 5, 2019, at La Penitence Market, Georgetown, they discharged several rounds at Allen, with intent to commit murder.

The defence attorney for both accused, Gordon Gilhuys, renewed a bail application for his clients stating that they have no knowledge of the crime.

Gilhuys reiterated the fact that Lewis is unable

Charged jointly for attempted murder: 23-year-old Renard Caesar and 22-year-old Lashawn Lewis

to walk due to the gunshot wound he received to his back and is still receiving medical attention.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Neville Jeffers once again objected to bail on the basis of the serious nature of the allegation and the penalty the charge attracts.

According to the prosecution’s case, Allen was at the East La Penitence Market making a purchase when the accused, along with others, exited a car and opened fire in his direc-

tion.

Allen returned fire, injuring Lewis in the process.

This resulted in the men retreating.

The matter was reported to the police and a wanted bulletin was subsequently issued for the duo.

Following the wanted bulletin, Caesar turned himself in at the Mackenzie Police Station.

The Chief Magistrate remanded the duo and the case will continue on November 18, 2019.

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tuesday, november 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Over 300 persons benefit from Berbice medical outreach M

ore than 300 persons on Monday benefitted from a medical outreach conducted by the Guyana Medical Relief Council. The outreach, which was held at the St Francis Community Developers building at Port Mourant, was hosted by Roots and Friends of Rose Hall Town.

More than 22 doctors from the Mission were on hand to attend to patients.

They included doctors specialised in general medicine, ophthalmology, orthopaedics and obstetrician-gynaecology. Reading glasses were also available for persons.

The outreach initially ca-

ter they would have commenced, they had already seen 300 persons. However, he noted that medication was available for up to 600 persons.

He said the Club was supporting the venture since it is of the belief that the outreach will allow persons to have free access to high-quality healthcare.

It is the first time that the Mission used Rose Hall Town as a location to hold an outreach. President of Roots and Friends of Rose Hall Town, Clement Mann, while expressing optimism that it will become an annual feature, revealed that Roots and Friends of Rose

An ophthalmologist examines a patient’s eye

we are called upon to make financial contributions to persons who are ill and need

Some of the persons who benefited from the medical outreach

tered for 300 persons.

President of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Hilbert Foster revealed that the programme was expected to last for nine hours but three hours af-

Hall Town was formed in October 1995 in New York.

“And since then we have been raisings and donating things like clothing, books and school supplies, printers, copiers and sometimes

financial support to seek medical attention and those who need financial resources to travel abroad.”

This year, Roots and Friends provided some $1 million for the medical sup-

plies distributed on Monday.

The organisation has been involved in projects and activities that will benefit, improve and advance the lives of residents of the community in areas of education, health and social issues.

“Roots and Friends of Rose Hall Town was formed by members of Rose Hall who was born in Rose Hall or have their parents or grandparents from Rose Hall so we call them the ‘roots’ and then ‘friends; anybody can be a friend of one of those categories,” Mann explained.

Woman charged for posting obscene video to porn site

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nessa Williams of Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, was taken before Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday after she was charged for exposing obscene content.

The 29-year-old denied the charge, which stated that between July 1 and July 31, 2019, at Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, she knowingly or without lawful justification, exposed for public viewing, an obscene matter, that is a video intending to corrupt public morals.

Defence Attorney George Thomas in a bail application asked that the court release Williams on bail since it was not her who posted the video to the website and it has brought much embarrassment her way.

Attorney Thomas further stressed that his client’s now ex-husband is the offender since she had recently filed for a divorce.

Anessa Willians

Magistrate IsaacsMarcus released the woman on $30,000 bail and the case will continue on November 25, 2019.

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tuesday, november 5, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Lone robber raids Man jailed for 2 years on Corentyne chicken outlet illegal gun, ammo charge

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fter pleading guilty to two counts of firearm-related charges earlier this month, 29-yearold Kevin Bruce was on Monday handed a twoyear sentence by Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The first charge stated

It was further stated that on the same day and location, he had in his possession one .32 Taurus pistol without being the licensed firearm holder at the time.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris had previously told the court that on September 26, a party of policemen from the East La Penitence Police Station, acting on information received, visited the residence of a police sergeant who was at the time on vacation. While there, ranks noticed Bruce exiting the home with a bag.

Upon approaching Bruce, he began running with the ranks in hot pursuit.

He was subsequently nabbed.

However, while in custody, Bruce managed to reach into his pockets for a firearm and pointed it at a rank in the

Illegal Gun The intruder in the business premises removing items

A

lone thief on Sunday evening broke into a chicken outlet at Number 76 Village, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and stole a number of items.

However, 12 hours after the discovery, Police were yet to visit the premises.

Businessman Tizal Azees told this publication that the entire episode was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

According to the poultry retailer, when he went to his poultry outlet at Lot Z Number 76 Village, Corentyne, he noticed that

the building’s front door was open. The hinges of the door were ripped off.

Azees said that he immediately reviewed the CCTV footage and it revealed that at about 23:00h on Sunday, a suspect entered the building.

He said the man was able to trap the three watchdogs between the gate and fence and then made his way into the compound, where he was seen cutting the hasp and staple from door to the poultry outlet.

The man, who was unmasked, was also seen re-

moving a flat-screen television, “two cases of plastic bags” and eight “Bastard birds” in their cages, each valued at $30,000.

The intruder was also seen pulling the standby generator close to the front door but was unable to escape with it.

According to the CCTV footage, the intruder was in the compound for about 30 minutes.

“I went to the Springlands Police Station and made a report sometime between 05:30h and 06:00h and the CID [Criminal Investigation Department] officer took a statement from me and promised to visit me later in the day,” the businessman told this publication.

He added that he waited all day for the police to arrive but 12 hours later, no one had made an appearance.

Divisional Commander Calvin Brutus promised immediate action.

that Bruce, on September 26, 2019, at East La Penitence Police Station, Georgetown, had in his possession 10 live rounds of .32 ammunition without being the licensed firearm holder at the time.

Jailed: Kevin Bruce

station. However, the cop whipped out his service pistol and discharged a round at Bruce, hitting him to his abdomen.

In a plea of mitigation, Bruce told the Magistrate “a man gave me the gun because he was recently robbed and I was hired to take care of his home. I was in the yard when I saw the three persons and I thought they were bandits, so I ran”.

B&E lands man in jail for 2 years

F

orty-three-year-old Selwyn Jackman, called “Dingo”, on Monday made his first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, and was sentenced to two years and six months in prison after he admitted to a break-and-enter charge.

Jackman admitted that between October 28 and October 29, 2019, at Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he broke in to the dwelling of Andrew Richardson and stole a number of amplifiers and car parts valued $312,000.

Police Prosecutor Garfield Edwards informed the court that the men were known to each other and

r e t n k&e

Brea

Jackman would spend time at the victim’s home.

Prosecutor Edwards revealed that the Virtual Complainant (VC) secured his belongings and left for work. However, upon returning home, he observed several articles missing.

Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) footage obtained from security cameras

around his home showed Jackman entering the premises, and leaving with the missing articles sometime after.

A report was made, and Jackman was subsequently arrested.

Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, after listening to the facts, jailed Jackman.

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tuesday, november 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Lindeners urged to be alert, report signs of flooding W

ith the issuing of a countrywide flood warning by the Hydrometeorological office for flood-prone areas, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) Chairman Renis Morian is urging residents within the region to monitor and report possible flood signs early. There are several areas within the region which are more prone to flooding including Lamp Island at Kwakwani and areas in Linden. As such, Morian on Monday advised residents to pay keen atten-

tion and to be prepared to have these cases reported to the relevant agencies in their areas.

“One of the things that the residents living close to the river should do is to look and monitor. Rain is falling so just keep an eye on the river and make reports to the Local Government agencies. In Kwakwani, there’s the KNDC – they can report to the KNDC (Kwakwani Neighbourhood Democratic Council) or the police station which would report to either me or directly to the

Civil Defence Commission,” he stated.

The Regional Chairman added that while there have not been any recent flood reports from Linden, persons need to be aware and alert, including farmers. He said the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is prepared and willing to lend support in cases where residents might be affected.

He said an important point to note is that many people remain in areas prone to flooding due to culture or family ties. Asked

US appeals court agrees Trump tax returns can be turned over

A

United States appeals court on Monday dealt another blow to US President Donald Trump’s attempt to keep his financial records private.

A three-judge panel of the New York-based 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that prosecutors have the right to enforce a subpoena against Mazars USA, Trump’s longtime accounting firm, for eight years of tax returns ordered by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance.

Vance is seeking the returns as part of a criminal investigation into Trump and his family real estate business.

The judgement upheld a lower court ruling earlier in October that rejected Trump’s broad claim of immunity from criminal investigations.

The judges in the most recent ruling specifically said that Trump’s claims of immunity could not stop Vance from ordering a third party, in this case - Trump’s accountants, from handing over the financial documents.

The immunity claimed by the president could also not stop officials from prosecuting him after he leaves office, the ruling said. It would “exact a heavy toll on our criminal justice system to prohibit a state from even investigating potential

crimes committed by him for potential later prosecution,” 2nd Circuit Chief Judge Robert Katzmann wrote in the decision.

The ruling, however, did not decide on Trump’s most central claim, that he is immune from being charged with a state crime while in office. That position had one of Trump’s lawyers arguing before the appeals court on October 23 that state authorities would be powerless to act against the president even if he shot someone on the street, unless he were removed from office first.

Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for the president, said Trump will appeal the ruling, sending the case to the Supreme Court, whose 5-4 conservative majority includes two justices appointed by Trump.

The ruling was the latest setback in Trump’s apparent attempt to keep his personal finances private - despite promising during his 2016 White House run that he would disclose the documents, which are also being sought by two congressional committees.

It has become customary in the US for presidential candidates to release their returns, which offer a window into their personal finances and business dealings. Trump is the first president in decades to buck that

US President Donald Trump

expectation.

The House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform subpoenaed financial records from Trump’s accountants, Mazars USA, in April as part of an investigation into possible conflicts of interest.

Despite the president’s legal team mounting a robust defence, judges in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in October that the firm must hand over the requested documents, which do not include Trump’s tax returns.

The ruling was the first time a federal court had waded into the debate about how far Congress can go in probing Trump and his business affairs, and marked an important victory for House Democrats. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

M

Meanwhile, opioid deaths in the United States have soared over the last two decades, driving a wave of government-backed efforts to disrupt illegal distribution and treat addicts.

The DEA said that 27% of a sample of counterfeit pills tested in the United States during the first three months of this year contained potentially lethal doses of fentanyl.

The DEA did not specify what pills were being faked, but photos of what it said it had seized showed mostly blue tablets stamped with the letter “M” on one side, and containing the number

“30” on the other, similar to a brand of opioid oxycodone hydrochloride.

“Capitalizing on the opioid epidemic and prescription drug abuse in the United States, drug trafficking organizations are now sending counterfeit pills made with fentanyl in bulk to the United States for distribution,” the DEA’s acting head Uttam Dhillon said in a statement.

Dhillon added that pills containing fentanyl and fentanyl-laced heroin cause thousands of deaths every year in the United States.

(Reuters)

ing is always available.

“While we don’t have Disaster Risk Management like a storeroom, the RDC is always prepared as it relates to funding....”, the Regional Chairman said.

The Hydrometeorological office has indicated that northern Guyana will be experiencing moderate showers and thundershowers with rainfall to range between 20mm to 50mm. It noted that weather conditions may produce water accumulation and flooding in flood-prone locations

and that the Civil Defence Commission is monitoring the situation and would be deploying teams to conduct assessments.

The Commission is also expected to be in contact with all RDCs across the country for updates on water accumulation and flooding.

Signs of flooding can be reported to the Civil Defence Commission’s 24Hour National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on 623-1700, 600-5700 or 226-1114.

Suspected Swine Flu case in Tobago A

Mexico’s drug gangs churning out deadly laced pills – DEA exican drug cartels are making “mass quantities” of fake prescription pills containing the synthetic opioid fentanyl with the intention of selling them to users throughout North America, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said on Monday.

Mexico’s cartels have for years diversified into a wide variety of illicit activity, helped by porous domestic law enforcement agencies as well as long-standing trafficking routes into the United States, their biggest market.

how prepared the RDC is for such situations, Morian said its preparations are linked to the relevant support agencies in Georgetown. As such, he said he is prepared to send reports to the Civil Defence Commission. In the aftermath of a recent storm in Linden, Morian had made calls for the region to improve in its relief efforts.

He had indicated that the RDC has placed in the budget for 2020, a Disaster Risk Management bond as a means of first response.

Nevertheless, he said fund-

patient, suspected of being infected with the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu), has been warded at the Scarborough General Hospital.

Guardian Media was informed that the patient went to the hospital over the weekend, with symptoms of the virus.

This was confirmed by Health Secretary Agatha Carrington.

“The report that we got from officials indicate that there was one patient with the virus,” she told Guardian Media.

She said she cannot confirm whether the patient has the virus, until the patient’s results return from the laboratory.

“We do not confirm the cases, we will send all our samples to the public health laboratory and they will say what it is,” she said.

Asked if Tobago’s health care system is ready to deal with patients suffering from

the virus, she said: “H1N1 is not a new disease and we are equipped.”

Over the weekend, social media was abuzz with information that the hospital was put in emergency mode as its Internal Medicine department was short-staffed.

This after a letter from the Medical Chief of Staff Dr Rufuro Celestine surfaced instructing staff to change how the hospital normally operates.

“We can no longer provide specialist medical care to our adult patients,” the letter said.

However, Secretary Carrington said this was not the case.

She said “services at the hospital are not being compromised” as other doctors were called out to work on the ward.

The Ministry of Health has provided guidelines to prevent contracting the Swine Flu: · Wash your hands often

with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. · Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. · Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs. Where possible, avoid close contact with sick people. · While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. · Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the bin and wash your hands.

The Ministry is also advising children between 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women and adults over 65 and people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asthma, to take extra precautions to prevent contracting the virus. (T&T Guardian)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 5, 2019

Regional

Bolivia protests enter 3rd week Mass protests expose cracks in as Morales faces ultimatum Chile's 'economic success' story

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olivian protests sparked by the contentious election victory last month of President Evo Morales entered their third week on Monday, with the long-standing leader facing rising pressure from an ultimatum by Opposition groups to step down.

Morales, who came to power in 2006 and has become an iconic figure in the landlocked South American nation, has defended his election win and has backed an international audit of the result to resolve the crisis.

Amid the political turmoil, a helicopter carrying Morales made an emergency landing owing to a mechanical malfunction on take-off from the town of Colquiri, south of La Paz, the air force said. No injuries were reported. Video of the incident spread on social media.

Bolivia’s Opposition, made up of runner-up Carlos Mesa’s party as well as increasingly prominent civic organisations, ramped up calls to remove the Morales

T

The long-standing leader is facing rising pressure from an ultimatum by Opposition groups to step down

completely, with one popular civic leader setting a deadline on Monday night.

“Today is a good day to recover democracy. 10 hours...” Luis Fernando Camacho, the head of a civic group in the eastern city of Santa Cruz, wrote on Twitter early on Monday, after setting a 48-hour deadline for Morales that expires at 19:00h (2300 GMT).

It was unclear what exactly would happen at that

deadline, though Camacho – who has gained widespread popular support around the country – promised “measures that would give us the freedom of an entire nation within a matter of days”.

Mesa, who came second in the October 20 election, slammed Morales’ candidacy as illegal and on Sunday proposed new elections. He has maintained allegations of electoral fraud. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil's Bolsonaro pushes new reforms in sceptical Congress

B

razilian President Jair Bolsonaro will try to build momentum for his government’s market-friendly reforms on Tuesday, proposing new measures to tackle a budget deficit that are likely to be met with scepticism among lawmakers.

With a landmark pension reform approved, Bolsonaro plans to accompany Economy Minister Paulo Guedes on a visit to Congress, hoping to defy the backlash against belt-tightening policies in Latin America and a crisis in his own party.

The wide-ranging proposals include reducing tax

breaks by 10 per cent, freeing up Government funds to pay down public debt, easing budget rules to lower obligatory spending and ending job stability for new civil servants, Government officials said.

Guedes will propose a constitutional amendment to allow the Government to cut public sector employee salaries, hours and benefits to help it comply with a public spending cap.

Whatever the reception today, a noisy split in Bolsonaro’s party and his lack of a broader coalition will slow progress on his agenda. The President

has threatened in recent weeks to leave his right-wing Liberal Social Party.

Lawmakers say none of the major reforms he proposes will pass this year and there is a tight window next year to pass laws before campaigning starts for local elections in October.

“I don’t see anything substantial getting through Congress before the end of the year,” said lawmaker Marcelo Ramos, of the Liberal Party, which like other centrist parties broadly sees the reforms as needed to jumpstart an underperforming economy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Violence against women: “Day of the Dead Women” protest in Mexico City

F

ollowing "Day of the Dead" celebrations, demonstrators marched through Mexico City calling for an end to violence against women.

The marchers carried more than 100 purple crosses through the capital, each bearing the name of a woman who has been murdered or gone missing.

The demonstration was called "Dia de Muertas", or "Day of the Dead Women".

Femicide, the murder of a woman because of her gender, kills 12 women daily in Latin America according to the United Nations.

Large posters showed the faces of missing or murdered women in rows of up to forty, with captions calling for justice. Another poster simply read "Not one more".

The names of the victims

Femicide, the murder of a woman because of her gender, kills 12 women daily in Latin America according to the United Nations

were also written on the surfaces of two larger purple crosses that were carried through the demonstration.

The march was organised by "Voices of Absence", led by Frida Guerrera, a journalist and activist.

The group say they want to give a voice to the women who are killed because of their gender by raising

awareness of cases, and demanding justice through the legal system.

Frida Guerrera posted about the march on her website, saying it represented "the eternal altars that are installed in the homes of these families in perpetual mourning". (Excerpt from BBC News)

o understand the wellspring of discontent that exploded into violent protests across Chile more than two weeks ago, one should look no further than the placards held aloft by demonstrators listing grievances from rising transport costs and student loan debt, to paltry pension payouts and tone-deaf elites.

The wave of civil unrest that has so far claimed 20 lives and left thousands injured has laid bare festering resentment in a middle-income country lauded as a shining beacon of sound economic management, despite its failure to redress staggering inequality.

From a macro point of view, Chile is a success story. The world's biggest copper producer, it has been among Latin America's fastest-growing economies in recent decades and boasts one of the largest middle classes in the region.

Much of that growth can be attributed to market-friendly policies that have encouraged private enterprise, trade and investment and discouraged the

A person dressed as a clown takes part in a protest against Chile's state economic model in Valparaiso, Chile as a man behind him holds a placard that reads “Shameless and freeloading politicians” [Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters]

Government from spending beyond its means.

Chile has deftly avoided boom-bust traps that so often plague countries whose fortunes pivot on commodity prices. And its political system has proven remarkably stable since the reinstatement of democracy in 1990.

The results have been impressive in some respects.

Chile is the highest-ranking Latin American coun-

try in the United Nations Human Development Index.

However, the percentage of the country's 18-million strong population living on US$5.50 a day – the poverty threshold for an upper-middle-income country – has plummeted from 30 per cent at the start of this century to less than seven per cent by 2017, according to the World Bank. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

T&T mother held for ‘pimping’ daughters aged 12,16

A

n Arouca, Trinidad woman is in custody after she was caught offering her daughters for sex Monday morning.

Police said Arouca Police and members of the Northern Division Emergency Response Patrol

were told the 38-year-old woman was offering the girls, aged 12 and 16, for prostitution at a home on the Eastern Main Road, Arouca, around 10:00h Police went to the house, arrested the woman and took both girls into custody.

Up to press time, the woman and both girls were in custody at the Arouca Police Station.

Investigators said the woman is believed to have been exploiting the girls for several years. (Trinidad Newsday)

Global Tourism Resilience Centre hands over US$50,000 for Bahamas relief

J

amaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett on Monday handed over US$50,000 to Director General of the Bahamas Tourism and Aviation Ministry, Joy Jibrilu at the second Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM) Board of Governors Meeting held in London.

The money forms part of the overall relief fund established by the GTRCM to support tourism-dependent economies impacted by disruptions such as natural disasters and pandemics.

“This donation symbolises the Centre's commitment to assisting tourism-dependent States that are vulnerable to disruptions to recover and rebound. Two islands of the Bahamas suffered much damage from the passage of Hurricane Dorian and still needs support to rebuild and this contribution will go towards

Jamaican Tourism Edmund Bartlett

Minister

that,” Bartlett said.

In collaboration with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), the GTRCM is providing US$100,000 in support of the ravaged economies of the Bahamas and other areas in the Caribbean that

may be impacted in the future.

The JHTA has contributed US$20,000 to assist in relief efforts through the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the GTRCM. In accepting the donation, Jibrilu said “On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation and Government of the Bahamas, I am pleased to accept this contribution which will help with our recovery and rebuilding efforts. This show of support is deeply appreciated and shows the importance of collaboration on issues of disaster and crisis management.”

The fund will also go towards the commissioning of a baseline study to assess the vulnerabilities of the Caribbean to major disruptions such as hurricanes, pandemics and epidemics and building capacity to deal with them. (CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 5, 2019

17

Around the World

China's Xi reiterates support for 'Catalonia has no king,' protesters say embattled HK leader Carrie Lam separatist during Spanish royals' visit

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hina's President Xi Jinping on Monday told embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam he has a high degree of confidence in her and fully recognises the work she and her team have done, state media reported.

The Chinese leader said the Hong Kong Government had done a lot of hard work to control the volatile situation with pro-democracy demonstrators and improve sentiment in society, the Xinhua news agency said.

Stopping violence and chaos and restoring order continue to be the top priorities for Hong Kong, Xi told Lam in Shanghai, where she was attending the second China International Import Expo.

At the same time, Xi stated his hopes for citizens from "all walks of life" in Hong Kong to accurately implement the policies under the so-called "one country, two systems" principle, which allows the for-

mer British colony greater autonomy than the mainland, to stabilise the territory's economic growth.

Pro-democracy protesters are campaigning against what they see as Chinese meddling with the freedoms

promised when Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Hong Kong entered its 22nd week of protests over a now-scrapped extradition bill proposed by the Government, which drew widespread condemnation. Once considered one of the region's most respected Police Forces, it has become one of the territory's most controversial institutions, undoing decades of work to secure public trust.

Internal police documents obtained by legislators and seen by Al Jazeera show that since September the Hong Kong police force has lowered its threshold for the use of force. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

footage dates from.

But the army said it was probably filmed in the northeast, where jihadists have been fighting for years.

An army spokesman described the violence shown in the video as a "dastardly act" that was against the core values of the Nigerian army.

Correspondents say the Nigerian authorities usually dismiss allegations of human rights abuses in the conflict

against the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

But in this case, the Nigerian army issued a strong statement of condemnation and promised the perpetrators would be tried and punished.

The military has also been under scrutiny for recent allegations that it detained thousands of children for suspected links to Boko Haram.

It has denied those reports, saying it treats children as "victims of war and not as suspects".

Nigeria's armed forces have been fighting Boko Haram in the north-east for the past decade.

The authorities have said the group is "technically" defeated but it continues to attack military and civilian targets on a regular basis.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Xi told Lam the central Government 'fully recognises' the work she's done despite five months of unrest

Nigerian army investigates torture video

T

he Nigerian army is investigating allegations that soldiers tied up and killed a suspected Islamist militant before burying him in a shallow grave.

A video showing men dressed in army fatigues torturing and killing the victim was widely circulated on messaging apps over the weekend.

It is not clear when the

Indian capital banishes some cars in bid to curb hazardous air pollution

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uthorities in India’s capital New Delhi banished from the roads cars with number plates ending in an odd number on Monday in a bid to cut hazardous air pollution shrouding the city.

With toxic smog blanketing the streets, the US Embassy air quality index, which measures the concentration of tiny PM 2.5 particles that can be carried deep into the lungs, exceeded 500 during the day, far above the recommended “safe” limit of 60.

Such a pollution reading indicates serious aggravation of heart and lung disease, and premature mortality in people with existing diseases

A policewoman wears a mask to protect herself from air pollution at a junction during restrictions on private vehicles based on registration plates on a smoggy morning in New Delhi, India, November 4, 2019

and the elderly. It also means a serious risk of effects on the respiratory systems of the general population.

The city Government has declared a public health

emergency, and imposed an “odd-even” system restricting private vehicles to driving on alternate days, at least until Nov 15.

On Monday, drivers

with even-numbered licence plates were the lucky ones.

Morning traffic was thin and drivers appeared to be obeying the rule - a Reuters reporter saw no vehicles with odd-numbered licence plates on the streets.

Ride-hailing services were exempt from the rule and both Uber and Ola had announced they would not impose surge pricing for the duration of the odd-even scheme.

Late Monday evening, the Prime Minister’s Office said it had reviewed Delhi’s pollution issues and sought details of steps taken to check farm fires in neighbouring states. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Iran breaks further away from crumbling nuclear deal

I

ran has taken further steps away from its crumbling nuclear deal with world powers by announcing it is doubling the number of its advanced centrifuges, calling the move a direct result of the United States' withdrawal from the agreement last year.

As well as operating twice as many advanced centrifuges banned by the 2015 accord, Tehran is working on a prototype that is 50 times

faster than those allowed by the deal, Akbar Salehi, the Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, said on Monday.

Salehi said Iran is now operating 60 IR-6 advanced centrifuges. Such a centrifuge can produce enriched uranium 10 times as fast as the first-generation IR-1s allowed under the accord.

By starting up these advanced centrifuges, Iran further cuts into the one

year that experts estimate Tehran would need to have enough material for building a nuclear weapon - if it chose to pursue one.

Daryl Kimball, director of the US-based Arms Control Association, told Al Jazeera that though Iran was taking worrisome steps, these were quickly reversible if there were to be some diplomatic arrangement to bring both sides back into compliance.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Iranian Government said on Monday that President Hassan Rouhani will announce further steps away from the accord sometime soon. An announcement had been expected this week.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned that the announcement jeopardised the 2015 nuclear accord, urging Tehran to return to the pact. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Catalan separatist protesters burn signs during a demonstration outside the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya where Spain’s King Felipe presides over the Princesa de Girona awards ceremony in Baracelona, Spain, November 4, 2019

T

housands of demonstrators banged on kitchen pots and chanted “Catalonia has no king!” on Monday to protest a visit by the Spanish royal family to the capital of the region that has been hit by weeks of separatist demonstrations.

Attended by King Felipe, his wife Queen Letizia and two daughters, the venue of the Princess of Girona young talent awards ceremony in Barcelona was heavily guarded by Police who had installed heavy fences and blocked one of the city’s main thoroughfares with vans.

“Nowadays, there can be no space for violence, intolerance or disregard for the rights and freedoms of others”, King Felipe said during his speech at the ceremony, referring to Catalonia.

Some protesters burned pictures of the king and threw paint at riot Police.

Waving Catalan independence flags, some of the demonstrators yelled abuse at attendees as they tried to reach a police checkpoint, pushing at least one of them, and forcing a few to turn back and try to find another entrance, a Reuters reporter said.

Separatists want to establish a Catalan republic.

The mass protests were triggered by the Spanish Supreme Court’s sentencing of nine separatist leaders on Oct 14 to prison terms of between nine and 13 years on charges of sedition for their role in Catalonia’s failed independence bid in 2017.

The rekindled Catalonia crisis has also further complicated Spain’s fragmented political environment as preparations are being made for its fourth election in as many years on Sunday after having been without a proper Government for months.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Speaker John Bercow replaced by Lindsay Hoyle after MPs' vote

Sir Lindsay Hoyle was dragged to the chair after his election after four rounds of voting

L

abour MP and Deputy Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been elected by MPs as the new Commons Speaker, after John Bercow stepped down.

After winning the final round of voting against Chris Bryant, Sir Lindsay was dragged to the chair by MPs, where he pledged to be a "neutral" Speaker.

He also paid tribute to his daughter, Natalie, who died in 2017, saying she would "always be missed".

The Speaker keeps order in Commons debates and calls MPs to speak.

Speakers must be politically impartial, which means Sir Lindsay will be required to resign from the Labour Party in order to carry out his role.

Bercow stood down last week after an eventful and frequently controversial decade in the Speaker's chair.

His resignation as MP for Buckingham was officially confirmed on Monday.

Seven candidates were originally in the running to succeed Bercow, including former Minister and Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman and former Labour Minister Meg Hillier.

In the fourth and final round of voting, Sir Lindsay - who has been Bercow's Senior Deputy for years - received 325 votes to Labour MP Chris Bryant's 213.

Paying tribute to the new Speaker, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was sure Sir Lindsay would "stick up" for backbenchers and show his "signature kindness and reasonableness" in the chair.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told Sir Lindsay he would need eyes in the back of his head in his new role.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

18

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tuesday, november 5, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Calvin and Hobbes

Partnerships will play an essential role in decision-making. If you listen to how others feel and the ideas offered, you will come up with a suitable plan.

CANCER

Learn from experience.

Not everyone will like your plan, but don’t let that bother you. It’s best to focus your energy on what you need to do, not on distress and anger.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Don’t let the changes taking place around you stop you from pursuing a personal goal. Concentrate on health, inner strength and physical improvement.

Romance is on the rise.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Use your knowledge and experience to bring about change. Refuse to let anyone talk you into expensive or indulgent behavior that could damage your reputation.

LIBRA

Visit a place that has something to offer. Seeing is believing, and taking the time to look closer will help you make a decision that will improve your life.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Separate your emotions from the facts, and be reasonable. Making a good decision will be paramount.

Gather all the information and do what’s right.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Making a change may be scary, but so is stagnating.

Consider what makes you happy and head in that direction. A romantic gesture will bring you closer to a loved one.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOr last published puzzle AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

A change to where or how you live should be looked at carefully. Longterm plans will encourage you to tidy up loose ends in preparation to improve your life.

Make sure your plans are feasible before you start carrying them out. Check your sources of information as well as your motives.

Refuse to let your ego or emotions intervene.

A last-minute adjustment will help you out.

Attention to detail and precision will be vital in executing a plan that can help you get ahead. A change at home will make your life easier.

Do what feels right, not what someone else wants you to do. Look at the big picture and then make adjustments to fit your budget and schedule.

You’ll find it difficult to see the whole scope of a situation you face. When in doubt, ask someone you trust, or take a breather until you have more information.

tuesday, november 5, 2019

19

round-up: Heat lead by as

many as 41, throttle Rockets T

Despite enjoying a size advantage, Chicago struggled to capitalize inside, only attempting six free throws in the first half. While the Bulls made an adjustment after the break, a poor showing from the line kept them from challenging Indiana down the stretch. Chicago made just 14 of 25 free throws (56.0 percent) while the Pacers won the rebounding battle 4943.

he Miami Heat scored a franchise-record 46 first-quarter points and routed the Houston Rockets 129-100 on Sunday night in Miami.

The Heat led by as many as 41 points in the first half. Miami’s 5-1 start is its best since it last won an NBA title in the 2012-2013 season.

Jimmy Butler, Miami’s biggest offseason acquisition, had one of the game’s best stat lines with 18 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals.

The Heat, who never trailed in the game, also got a team-high 23 points from Duncan Robinson and 21 points from Meyers Leonard.

Robinson hit a career-high seven 3-pointers.

He made 8 of 12 shots from the floor and went 7-for-11 on 3-pointers.

Lakers 103, Spurs 96 LeBron James produced his second straight triple-double, and Anthony Davis scored 25 points and took 11 rebounds as visiting Los Angeles defeated San Antonio to win its fifth straight game.

James finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists. The Lakers went the entire 2018-19 season, James’ first with the team, without winning five straight games.

Dejounte Murray singlehandedly kept the Spurs in the game, scoring 16 straight San Antonio points over a seven-and-a-half minute stretch of the fourth quarter. Avery Bradley added 16 points for Los Angeles (5-1), while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dwight Howard had 14 points each. Howard also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.

Clippers 105, Jazz 94 Kawhi Leonard shook off a slow start and scored 25 of his 30 points in the second half to spark host Los Angeles past Utah.

Mavericks 131, Cavaliers 111 Luka Doncic recorded his second consecutive triple-double and contributed seven points to a key run late in the third quarter as Dallas broke free from host Cleveland.

Doncic finished with 29 points, 14 rebounds and 15 assists for the Mavericks, who trailed 73-69 with 4:52 remaining in the third period before dominating the rest of the game.

The Mavericks outshot the Cavaliers in the game 53.2 percent to 40.6. Kristaps Porzingis chipped in with 18 points, Jalen Brunson 14, Seth Curry 13, Boban Marjanovic and Tim Hardaway Jr. 12 apiece, and Finney-Smith 10 for the Mavericks, who have alternated wins and losses in their last five games.

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) drives to the basket against Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (USA TODAY Sports)

Leonard scored 18 points in the fourth quarter to help the Clippers hold off the Jazz. He made just 9 of 26 shots from the floor and only 2 of 8 of his 3-pointers, but his solid performance in the second half lifted Los Angeles.

Montrezl Harrell scored 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds, including six offensive boards, for the Clippers (5-2). Lou Williams added 17 points, while Ivica Zubac chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds. Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz (4-3) with 36 points. Bojan Bogdanovic finished with 19 points. Rudy Gobert had 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Pacers 108, Bulls 95 T.J. Warren scored a game-high 26 points and TJ Leaf posted a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds to lead the host Indiana past Chicago in Indianapolis.

Malcolm Brogdon added 22 points and Jeremy Lamb chipped in 11 to help Indiana to its third straight victory. Playing with a lineup missing numerous leaders due to injury — including Victor Oladipo, Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis — the Pacers shot 40-for-85 (47.1 percent) and maintained control for much of the night.

Kings 113, Knicks 92 De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points and visiting Sacramento cruised to victory over New York.

Fox made 8 of 18 shots and posted his fourth 20-point game of the season while also adding six assists. He capped his big night with a breakaway windmill dunk with 3:22 remaining and a deflected no-look pass for a 3-pointer by Harrison Barnes a little over a minute later.

Buddy Hield added 22, hitting five 3-pointers as the Kings shot 48.2 percent and made 15 3-pointers. The Kings improved to 2-5 and won their second straight game after starting off with five straight losses. They beat the Knicks for the fourth straight time and led for the final 43:51. (Reuters)

Cardiff City face FIFA transfer ban over fee dispute C

ardiff City face a three-window transfer ban if they fail to pay Nantes the first instalment of the £15m fee for striker Emiliano Sala.

Sala, 28, died in a plane crash in January while travelling from France to join his new club.

Fifa has released the full reasons for its September ruling ordering Cardiff to pay the first 6m euros (£5.3m).

Cardiff will lodge an appeal against the decision in the next two weeks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Championship club have argued they were not liable for any of the fee because the Argentine was not officially their player when he died.

The world governing body's players' status committee (PSC) ruled Cardiff must pay the sum "corresponding to the first instalment due" in the transfer a g r e e m e n t and rejected the Welsh club's arguments on a variety of grounds.

The PSC report reveals Cardiff had sought to delay Fifa's judgement until possible civil and criminal proceedings, as well as an Air Accident Investigation

Bureau investigation had been concluded.

They also argued Nantes would be "liable" for damages to them over the fatal flight, which was booked by Willie McKay and his son Mark, who was employed by the French club, to find a buyer for the player.

McKay has denied any involvement in the selection of the plane or pilot, Dave Ibbotson, whose body was never recovered.

The committee report says: "The members of the Bureau decided not to take into account any arguments brought forward by Cardiff in front of Fifa in relation to the circumstances surrounding the tragic passing of the player."

The PSC dismissed Cardiff's claim that Sala's employment with Nantes had not been terminated.

And they also rejected Cardiff's contention the transfer was not fully completed, saying the Football Association of Wales had undertaken "all the necessary requirements" less than two hours before Sala's flight left Nantes.

The report said: "The player's

transfer from Nantes to Cardiff has to be considered as validly concluded between the parties, hence the player was a player of Cardiff."

The PSC makes it clear this judgement relates only to the initial payment of the transfer fee and not to further instalments, which are due in January 2020 and January 2021.

Cardiff were allowed 45 days from the moment Nantes provided them with bank details to pay the French club an initial £5.3m, plus interest accrued since January.

The report also said: "The Bureau finds it regrettable that the dispute could not be settled amicably."

Cardiff have refused to comment on exact details of the PSC findings, but have reiterated their intention to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

BBC Wales Sport has learned the appeal has to be lodged in the next two weeks.

The plane carrying Sala and pilot Ibbotson, 59, crashed in the English Channel on 21 January, two days after the player's transfer was announced.

Sala was exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide prior to the crash, a report later revealed. (BBC Sport)

Emiliano Sala played for Bordeaux before joining Nantes in 2015

20

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tuesday, november 5, 2019

Dutch Olympian jailed Albion advance to finals for £2M drugs haul BCB/Ivan Madray T20 Tournament…

ꟷ Young Warriors and RHT to clash in lone semi-final game

T

he powerful Albion team have reached the finals of the Berbice Cricket Board-organised Ivan Madray T20 Tournament, having literally demolished Tucber Park of New Amsterdam by 114 runs in a match played at the Albion Ground.

Defending champions Young Warriors Cricket Club and 2018 runners-up Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour are scheduled to contest the lone semifinal match, after respectively defeating Rose Hall Canje and Blairmont teams.

After winning the toss in blazing sunshine, Albion elected to take first strike, amassing therefrom a healthy 178-5 in 20 overs. West Indies 20/20 selectee Anthony Bramble top scored with 71, which included 3 boundaries and 6 maximums. His efforts were supported by Kandasamy Surujnarine (33) and national player Jonathan Foo (32).

Kwesi Mickle took 2 for 17, while Leon Swamy, Martin Singh and Nial Smith each took a wicket; for 30, 46 and 17 respectively.

In reply, Tucber Park were bowled out for a mere 64 scored after 20 overs, with

Anthony D’Andrade being the only player to reach double figures, with 11.

Only three boundaries could be scored from 120 balls, as West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo took 3 for 7 from four overs, while the promising Gourav Ramesh chipped in with 2 for 14.

The Blairmont Report

The match played at Blairmont was reduced to 15 overs after the pitch was discovered to have preparation moisture. Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour had taken on home team Blairmont in a quarterfinal match that was originally set for the Area ‘H’ Ground, but was moved to Blairmont following request made

by Blairmont to BCB President Hilbert Foster.

RHT Thunderbolt Flour won the toss and elected to bat. They amassed 116-6 from 15 overs, with national player Clinton Pestano top-scoring with 46, and West Indies ‘emerging player’ Kevin Sinclair and Junior Sinclair supporting the effort respectively with 26 and 22.

Left-arm spinner Nigel Deodat was Blairmont’s best bowler, with 2 for 19 from 3 overs.

In reply, Blairmont were bundled out for 46 scored in 10.2 overs, with off-spinner Junior Sinclair taking 3 for 3 and left-arm spinner Keith Simpson taking 4 for 14.

The Cumberland Incident

Young Warriors eased past Rose Hall Canje by 119 runs in a match played at the Warriors’ ground in Cumberland, East Canje.

A solid 69 from Ishwar Singh and 57 from all-rounder Trevon Stanislaus propelled YWCC to 175-5 from their 20 overs. Bowling for Canje, Raymond Vankenic took 2 for 29 from 4 overs.

Replying, Canje were bundled out for 56 scored in 17.2 overs, with Z. Hussain and Sasenarine Sukhu, who each contributed 12, being the only batters to reach double figures. Amir Khan with 3 for 14, and Devendra Ramoutar with 2 for 15, bowled superbly for the Young Warriors.

The lone semifinal match would be played on Saturday November 9th between Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour and Young Warriors at the Area ‘H’ Ground from 13:00hrs.

Gomes “to make full recovery” after successful ankle surgery

Madiea Ghafoor is currently ranked 31 in the world by the IAAF for the women’s 400m (Getty Images)

D

utch Olympic athlete Madiea Ghafoor has been jailed for eight and a half years after being found guilty of drug smuggling and trafficking.

The 27-yearold, who competed in the 4x400m relay at Rio 2016, had £2m worth of drugs in the boot of her car when she was stopped at a routine border check near Elten in Germany in June.

She had 50kg of ecstasy tablets, 2kg of crystal meth and 11,950 euros in cash.

“We are stunned by the judgements,” the Dutch Athletics Union said.

“With the ruling of the

German court, the Athletics Union rejects the actions of Ghafoor. The Athletics Union condemns any use or trade in doping or drugs and fully commits itself to the Dutch doping law.”

At Kleve District Court on Monday, Ghafoor indicated that she is likely to appeal against the conviction, having pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court heard that she thought she was carrying doping m a t e r i - als and did not know she was transporting ecstasy and crystal meth.

In court she refused to say who had given her the drugs and said she was afraid for her friends and family. (BBC Sport)

Nadal reclaims world number one tag from Djokovic

R

E

Everton’s players rushed over to Andre Gomes and Tottenham’s Son Heung-min was distressed after seeing the aftermath (Reuters)

verton midfielder Andre Gomes is “expected to make a full recovery” after he had surgery to repair a fracture dislocation to his right ankle, his club have said.

The 26-year-old Portugal international suffered the injury during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

A club statement said the surgery on Monday “went extremely well”.

Gomes will recover in hospital before starting his rehabilitation under the guidance of Everton’s medical staff.

Everton’s statement added: “On behalf

of Andre, the club would like to thank all Everton supporters and members of the wider football family for the overwhelming messages of support we have received since yesterday’s match.”

Cenk Tosun, who scored Everton’s 97th-minute equaliser, said his team’s players “nearly cried” in the dressing room after the game.

“You win, you draw, you lose but all that doesn’t matter when something like this happens,”

Tosun wrote on Instagram.

“I wish I didn’t score; I wish we lost 0-5 and this didn’t happen. I know you will come back stronger bro and we will be there for you.”

There was a six-minute stoppage as medics attended to Gomes.

The incident, which involved Tottenham forward Son Heungmin, initially looked innocuous, but the mood immediately changed among the players and crowd as the full extent of the injury became apparent.

Son was sent off by referee Martin Atkinson as Gomes, who was eventually taken off on a stretcher, received extensive treatment. (BBC Sport)

afa Nadal dethroned Serbia’s Novak Djokovic to reclaim the number one spot in the ATP rankings on Monday following the Spaniard’s semi-final run at the Paris Masters.

Nadal withdrew minutes before his semi-final match against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov with an abdominal injury, with the 33-yearold deciding not to take any risks ahead of the Nov. 1017 ATP Finals.

Despite Djokovic winning the title in Paris, the semis run was enough for Nadal to become the second-oldest player to top the rankings after Swiss Roger Federer achieved the feat aged 36 in 2018.

“I’m super happy with my season,” Nadal said. “It was a tough beginning but then I was able to find a way to be back playing at a very high level of tennis and be in the situation that I am today.

“I’m very proud about the

Rafael Nadal

year that I am having.”

Nadal won two Grand Slams this year — the French Open and the U.S. Open — to move within one of Federer’s record of 20 titles.

But injuries have curtailed Nadal’s season and the ATP Finals will be his last chance to end the year as number one for the fifth time in his career. (Reuters)

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21

Afghanistan sink West Indies in ODI warm-up game T

he West Indies have had a poor start to their tour of Afghanistan, being demolished by their hosts in their One-Day International (ODI) warm-up game by 4 wickets.

Playing at Lucknow, the West Indians won the toss and took first strike.

They were then bowled out for 156 in 38.5 overs; and Afghanistan surpassed that total by scoring 160 runs in 34.5 overs with 91 balls remaining in the match.Sharafuddin Ashraf and Naveen-ul-Haq were the chief destroyers, finishing with 3–34 and 3–22 respectively, while Gulbadin Naib claimed 2–34 from seven overs. Yamin Ahmadzai and Karim Janat also each had a wicket.

Only sevRomario Shepherd e n runs extra were conceded to the opposition’s total by the tidy Afghanistan b o w l i n g unit.

Batting first seemingly backfired for the West Indian team with

the fall of Shai Hope for one; then Shimron Hetmyer and Brandon King were both removed without scoring.

Nicholas Pooran entered with the score on 12 for 3. Lewis got to 24 before he held out to Karim Janat, then Pooran departed for 20 via the same route.

Roston Chase

stood firm and contribu t ed 41, w i t h support from Jason Holder who was removed for 31. Skipper Kieron Pollard

was dismissed for 3 to bring the Barbadian top-scorers together, but that partnership could not undo the damage.

New b a t s m a n Keemo Paul (3) found it hard to score, but the last pair of Alzarri Joseph (9 not out) and Hayden Walsh Jr (17) fought valiantly until the demise of Walsh’s wicket.

When Afghanistan began their turn at the crease, the match seemed level, with West Indies picking up early wickets to rock the Afghan top order. However, Afghanistan recovered from 23 for 3 with solid innings coming from Rahmat Shah (47) and Najibullah Zadran (40).

After their departure, Asghar Afghan took up the mantle and piloted his side to victory with an unbeaten 33. He was supported

by Mohammad Nabi

Rahmat Shah

3

SCOREBOARD

West Indians Innings (50 overs maximum) E Lewis c † Alikhil b Janat 24 SD Hope c † Alikhil b Ahmadzai 1 SO Hetmyer c Naib b Naveen-ulHaq 0 BA King lbw b Naveen-ul-Haq 0 N Pooran † c Ahmadzai b Naib 20 RL Chase b Naveen-ul-Haq 41 KA Pollard (c) c Shah b Naib 3 JO Holder c Zadran b Ashraf 31 KMA Paul lbw b Ashraf 3 AS Joseph not out 9 HR Walsh b Sharafuddin Ashraf 17 Extras (lb 1, w 6) 7 TOTAL (38.5 Overs, RR: 4.01) 156 all out Did not bat: R Shepherd, SS Cottrell, K Pierre, SW Ambris Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Shai Hope, 2.6 ov), 2-12 (Shimron Hetmyer, 5.1 ov), 3-12 (Brandon King, 5.2 ov), 4-36 (Evin Lewis, 10.5 ov), 5-58 (Nicholas Pooran, 15.5 ov), 6-64 (Kieron Pollard, 17.1 ov), 7-111 (Roston Chase, 27.3 ov), 8-126 (Keemo Paul, 30.4 ov), 9-129 (Jason Holder, 32.2 ov), 10-156 (Hayden Walsh, 38.5 ov) BOWLING Y Ahmadzai (6-2-16-1) Naveen-ul-Haq (7-1-22-3) K Janat (8-0-37-1) J Ahmadi (2-0-12-0) G Naib (7-0-34-2)

(18) and Naib, who was left not out on 8.

Romario Shepherd was the best in the West Indian

S Ashraf (8.5-1-34-3) Afghanistan Innings (target: 157 runs from 50 overs) H Zazai c Hope b Shepherd 1 J Ahmadi b Shepherd 9 R Shah c †Pooran b Joseph 47 I Alikhil † c Pollard b Cottrell 1 N Zadran b Walsh 40 A Afghan not out 33 M Nabi c †Pooran b Shepherd 18 G Naib not out 8 Extras (nb 2, w 1) 3 TOTAL (34.5 Overs, RR: 4.59) 160-6 Yet to bat: Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Yamin Ahmadzai, Naveen-ul-Haq, Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Ibrahim Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Hazratullah Zazai, 1.2 ov), 2-12 (Javed Ahmadi, 3.3 ov), 3-23 (Ikram Alikhil, 6.5 ov), 4-78 (Rahmat Shah, 20.5 ov), 5-113 (Najibullah Zadran, 26.1 ov), 6-147 (Mohammad Nabi, 31.4 ov) BOWLING SS Cottrell (4-0-16-1) R Shepherd (6-2-16-3) KMA Paul (7-0-23-0) AS Joseph (6-0-33-1) RL Chase (5-0-30-0) HR Walsh (5.5-0-41-1) BA King (1-0-1-0)

attack, claiming 3 –16 from 6 overs, while Sheldon Cottrell, Joseph and Walsh each had a wicket.

The two teams play their first official ODI of the series on Thursday at the same venue from 4:30am (local time).

Sunshine Snacks/Farfan & Mendes/SIMCO Engineering Inc Junior Indoor Hockey tourney…

Championships begin tomorrow at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall T

he sixth Annual Junior Indoor Hockey Championships, under sponsorship of Sunshine Snacks, Farfan and Mendes Limited and SIMCO Engineering Inc, are scheduled to be held from Wednesday November 6th to Sunday November 10th at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown.

More than 100 persons in categories ranging from 7 years old to 21 years old would be participating in these championships. Matches begin at 17:00 hrs (5pm) each weekday, but the Saturday match begins at 10:00hrs and the Sunday match at 12:00 hrs (noon).

SIMCO Engineering Inc are sponsors of the ‘Mixed Under-10’ division, which always produces fun and lots of laughter for participants and their parents. Defending champions GCC Thunderbolts will again be challenged by last year’s runners-up: Saints, besides the Underdogs, Panthers, YMCA Old Fort and Hikers.

The ‘Under-13 Mixed’ competition is split into two

groups, with defending champions SHC Scalpels and runners-up SHC Scorchers both appearing in ‘Pool A’.

GCC Eagles and Hikers complete the pool.

‘Group B’ features GCC Falcons, SHC Snipers and SHC Samurai.

Farfan & Mendes Ltd sponsor the ‘Boys’ and ‘Girls’ Under-16 competitions. In the Girls’ division, defending champions GBTI GCC Spartans take on SHC Supreme, SHC Sensations, YMCA Old Fort and the GCC Her-ricanes. In the ‘Boys’ division, ferocious battles are brewing between the GCC War Dogs, SHC shockwave, SHC Silencers, YMCA Old Fort and defending champions St Joseph’s Warriors.

The Senior division, again sponsored by Sunshine Snacks, features both Girls and Boys Under -21 teams. YMCA Old Fort, defending champions in the Ladies’ division, will face tough opposition in both the GBTI GCC Spartans and the Saints.

The ‘Boys’ division champions, GCC Pitbulls, would be contending to retain their crown against Saints and YMCA Old

Fort.

The Sunshine Snacks Under-21 and the Farfan & Mendes Under-16 competitions will begin during the week and

Action in the Mixed Under-10 competition

conclude on Sunday, while the SIMCO Engineering Under-10 will, like the Sunshine Snacks Under-13 competition, be run off on Saturday.

22

tuesday, november 5, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Spin trio, Raut help India women pull level P

unam Raut led a competent Indian batting show, with Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur playing excellent supporting roles, before the Indian spinners got into the act to hand West Indies women a 53-run defeat and bring the threeODI series back on level terms in North Sound.

The first game of the series had been a thriller, going down to the last ball before Anisa Mohammed performed the star turn to give the home team a onerun win. The Indians needed to hit the ground running this time, and though they lost openers Jemimah

Rodrigues and Priya Punia with just 17 runs on the board, Raut and Raj steadied the innings well after that.

The going was slow.

When the two had come together at the end of the ninth over, not a single ball had gone to the ropes, and it took Raj to get there off the third ball she faced, sending Shabika Gajnabi for four.

She followed it up with one more, off Aaliyah Alleyne, but even as she settled in well, Raut seemed content playing the patience game, knocking the ball around for ones and twos and scoring her runs with a strike rate

in the 30s.

Raj comfortably outscored Raut in their 66-run stand and half the innings had gone before Raut finally found the boundary off the 70th delivery she faced.

But Raj fell almost immediately after for a 67-ball 40, to Sheneta Grimmond.

The complexion of the game, however, changed after that as Kaur walked in with more intent than the ones before her, and her 93-run stand for the fourth wicket with Raut was a quick one in the circumstances, coming in just under 18 overs. Kaur hit 46 off 52 balls, with four fours,

and Raut also stepped it up in Kaur's company, bringing up her half-century and hitting three more fours, including two in one StacyAnn King over - the 46th of the innings - before they were both dismissed within six balls. Kaur was bowled

by Alleyne while Raut was caught by Alleyne off Afy Fletcher.

By then, though, India had reached 178, and small contributions from Taniya Bhatia and Deepti Sharma took them to 191 for 6, which didn't seem like too many but proved much more than enough in the end.

That was because, much

Marriott hosts inaugural Golf Tournament

like the West Indians, the Indian bowlers too choked the batsmen, preventing the scoring rate to ever become a concern. Shikha Pandey accounted for King early on, and the chase stuttered further when Natasha McLean had to be stretchered off after going down clutching her hamstring while taking a run.

The scoreboard read 33 for 1 (McLean didn't return to bat), and though Shemaine Campbelle and Stafanie Taylor revived the chase with a 45-run stand after that, once the spinners got into the act, only one team was going to win.

Taylor, who

had hit a match-winning 94 in the first game, made 20 off 31 balls, but then became Poonam Yadav's first victim. Yadav got her second not long after, sending back Chedean Nation. Then, Sharma got Kyshona Knight caught behind by Bhatia, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad had Grimmond stumped by the wicketkeeper.

Campbelle also couldn't carry on, her vigil ending after 90 balls in the middle when Gayakwad had her caught

by Raut for 39, and though Alleyne (16 off 43 balls) and Fletcher (14 off 18) did their bit, it wasn't enough.

The third and final game of the series, a part of the Women's Championship, will be played on Wednesday at the same venue. (Cricinfo)

ꟷ in honour of Global Customer Appreciation Week

Punam Raut

From left: Marriott GM Eduardo Reple, Christian Fazio, Aleem Hussain, Sandra Bernal, Mario Acuna, Mike Mangal, Lee Ehmling, Ryan Ramjit, Miguel Oviedo (accepting for Guillermo Escarraga), Romel Bhagwandin, Diana Chapman and Martin Joyce

M

arriott Hotels Georgetown kicked off ‘Global Customer Appreciation Week 2019' with a magnificent new feature: a 'funament' held at the Lusignan Golf Club on Sunday November 3, 2019.

"Global Customer Appreciation Week is always very special for us. It gives us the opportunity to personally thank our customers and get engaged with them in lots of activities,” said General Manager Eduardo Reple.

He decided that, instead of a traditional golf tournament, Marriott would combine fun and the game in a 9-hole activity wherein loyal customers of the top hotel chain played alongside some of Guyana's top golfers.

The activity commenced at 8:00 hrs (8am) with a sumptuous breakfast on the terrace overlooking the golf course, and the traditionally excellent service of Marriott's Head Chef Awanish Joshi and staff was on full display.

All the players were given tokens to start the day, and teams eagerly headed to the course to show off their skills. To ensure that players were hydrated and fed, the Marriott team provided two hospitality tents on the course.

Competition was keen, and players gathered eagerly and were treated to Sangria's as they returned to the clubhouse, before sitting down to an elegant lunch prepared

by Head Chef Joshi and served by a team of cordial Marriott staff.

Though General Manager Eduardo Reple (4th place overall), Sales & Marketing Manager Sandra Bernal and Mario Moonsammy represented Marriott on the course, they did not partake of the prizes, thereby allowing the Marriott customers to enjoy the many rewards.

In first place, the team of Guillermo Escarraga (Macorp) and Ryan Ramjit (Repsol) scored 36/27 playing with determination and excellent shot-making.

Second place went to Mario Acuna (Macorp) and Lee Ehmling (Exxon) who had a net score of 38/29.

Third place was won by Romel Bhagwandin (LGC member) and Martin Joyce (GYSBI) on a countback after three teams had tied on net 39/30.

Nearest to the Pin was won by LGC President Aleem Hussain, and Most Improved Player of the Day was won by Mike Mangal (LGC member) and Christian Fazio (InterOil).

The winners were awarded trophies and prizes, including overnight stays for two persons, and lunches and dinners for two at Marriott's Terra Mare restaurant, which overlooks the poolside and the Atlantic Ocean.

"Our aim is to strengthen our relationships with our clients, as they are the reason for Marriott’s success. This week provides us the opportunity to thank our guests personally by devoting the entire week towards this goal,” said Reple. "We are investing heavily in Guyana and Guyanese, and want to ensure that all citizens know that they have a great future with Marriott; not just in Guyana, but worldwide."

Reple thanked members of the LGC and his entire team for making their first golfing event a success.

"Our involvement with Aleem and the Club is only the beginning, and we look forward to a long-term partnership," he disclosed.

The grand finale of the 'Global Customer Appreciation Week' will be a cocktail reception to be held on Thursday at 18:30 hrs.

SCOREBOARD India Women Innings (50 overs maximum) PS Punia c †Campbelle b Gajnabi 5 JI Rodrigues c Taylor b Alleyne 0 PG Raut c Alleyne b Fletcher 77 M Raj (c) c Fletcher b Grimmond 40 H Kaur b Alleyne 46 DB Sharma st †Campbelle b Fletcher 5 T Bhatia † not out 9 J Goswami not out 1 Extras (w 8) 8 TOTAL (50 Overs, RR: 3.82) 191-6 Did not bat: S Pandey, Poonam Yadav, RS Gayakwad Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Jemimah Rodrigues, 2.4 ov), 2-17 (Priya Punia, 8.6 ov), 3-83 (Mithali Raj, 28.5 ov), 4-176 (Harmanpreet Kaur, 46.4 ov), 5-178 (Punam Raut, 47.4 ov), 6-190 (Deepti Sharma, 49.5 ov) BOWLING AA Alleyne (10-2-38-2) SACA King (7-1-22-0) S Gajnabi (5-0-23-1) ASS Fletcher (10-0-32-2) A Mohammed (7-1-31-0) SS Grimmond (4-0-22-1) SR Taylor (7-0-23-0)

West Indies Women Innings (target: 192 runs from 50 overs) NY McLean retired hurt 15 SACA King b Pandey 6 SA Campbelle † c Raut b Gayakwad 39 SR Taylor (c) lbw b Yadav 20 CN Nation c Sharma b Yadav 6 K Knight c †Bhatia b Sharma 1 SS Grimmond st †Bhatia b Gayakwad 0 S Gajnabi run out (Gayakwad/†Bhatia) 7 AA Alleyne c Raj b Goswami 16 ASS Fletcher b Sharma 14 A Mohammed not out 3 Extras (b 3, lb 1, w 7) 11 TOTAL (47.2 Overs, RR: 2.91) 138 all out Fall of wickets: 1-10 (StacyAnn King, 3.4 ov), 1-33* (Natasha McLean, retired not out ), 2-78 (Stafanie Taylor, 24.6 ov), 3-90 (Chedean Nation, 28.5 ov), 4-96 (Kyshona Knight, 30.6 ov), 5-97 (Sheneta Grimmond, 31.2 ov), 6-100 (Shemaine Campbelle, 33.2 ov), 7-105 (Shabika Gajnabi, 35.6 ov), 8-128 (Afy Fletcher, 42.1 ov), 9-138 (Aaliyah Alleyne, 47.2 ov) BOWLING J Goswami (7.2-2-24-1) S Pandey (7-1-19-1) RS Gayakwad (10-3-27-2) Poonam Yadav (10-1-26-2) DB Sharma (8-0-25-2) H Kaur (5-1-13-0)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 5, 2019

SA 10K Road Race…

23

Kenyan duo triumphant

T

he second leg of the South American 10K Road Race held on Sunday afternoon was dominated by Kenyan national Alex Ekesa despite a spirited challenge coming early in the race from Guyana’s Winston Missigher.

The blistering Guyanese sunshine also apparently proved to be too great a challenge for many of the competitors.

The course of the race was from the GTT Earth Station on Carifesta Avenue east along the Rupert Craig Highway before making a U-turn at the University of Guyana Road, then later south from the Kitty Public Road onto Irving Street, before turning west at Thomas Lands and finally finishing in the National Park.

When the race began, the front-runners were Kenyan Alex Ekesa and Guyanese Winston Missigher, Johnathan Fagundes and Cleveland Thomas. Two Trinidadian nationals and one runner from St. Vincent and the Grenadines completed the lineup of standouts.

After he had completed the U-turn at UG, Ekesa dropped gears as it were and raced away from the pack. He, however, could not shake the consistent Missigher, as the Guyanese doggedly kept stride with the Kenyan for as long as he could. Ekesa was nevertheless able to put some distance between himself and the determined Missigher on the Kitty Public Road; and he increased that gap to approximately 100 metres by the time they were at Thomas Lands.

Ekesa crossed the finish line at 32 minutes, 43 seconds, while Missigher did well in his final sprint to come in at 32 minutes, 57 seconds.

The Trinidadian pair of Shivran Baboolall and Matthew Hagley placed third and fourth respectively, while St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Junior Ashton finished in 5th position.

challenge.

“My idea was to hold him off and outsprint him, but he kept pressing the pace early in the race, so my legs began to get tired. I keep trying to go, but I was very tired in the moment; and the heat (was a negative factor) as well,” Missigher explained.

And in the female category of the race, Kenya’s Veronica Jepkostei dominated the opposition. Second place was taken by Linda McDowell of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with the best Guyanese females Abidemi Charles and Dheama Tyrell finishing in third and fourth places respectively. Kenesha Pascal of Grenada completed the top five placements.

Kenyan Alex Ekesa crossing the line in first position

Speaking to media operatives after the event, Ekesa noted that his only challenge was the heat. “The course was well organised, and one thing that was a bit of a challenge was there was much breeze and wind. The (harshest) on us was the heat; it was so harsh, and that was a very great challenge. You have to use a lot of strength, and that actually, to some extent, made us dehydrated so much,” Ekesa explained.

Admitting that Ekesa had held the upper hand in the race, Winston Missigher confessed that he just could not keep pace with the Kenyan. The Guyanese also cited the heat as a

Winston Missigher was the first Guyanese to finish the race

Veronica Jepkostei won the female category of the race

Speaking with this newscast afterwards, Veronica Jepkostei disclosed that climate conditioning in Trinidad & Tobago had enabled her to withstand the Guyanese humidity.

“For me it was not easy, seeing it is very humid, very hot; and I struggled very hard.

It is good, because I’ve been training in hot places, Trinidad, with my coach, so I was used (accustomed) to a little bit of heat,” Jepkostei explained.

Terrence Alli National Open…

GDF prevail again!

Delroy Fordyce and Clairmont Gibson in action

T

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Boxing Gym pulled off their 19th title heist of the Terrence Alli National Open tournament when activities concluded on Sunday night.

The National Open, which usually acts as scouting ground for the Caribbean Boxing Championships, was contested from November 1-3, and gyms from all across Guyana competed.

When the proverbial dust had settled on Sunday night, the GDF had recorded victory in eight of the ten title fights to walk away overall victors again.

The Forgotten Youth Foundation had fared well, and was considered the runner-up gym.

Twelve fights were on the cards in the final night of action, and the boisterous spectators were treated to some enthralling encounters featuring the likes of Keevin Allicock, Colin Lewis, and Dennis ‘The Menace’ Thomas,

Best Youth Boxer Mark Crawford in action

whose return was much anticipated.

In the Junior Welterweight division, Alex Butcher of the Winston Pompey Warriors Boxing Gym faced off with GDF’s Mark Crawford, and made it to the third and final round before Crawford won following a stoppage.

Quacy Abrams of GDF also took a win on points when he measured up to FYF’s Richard Subrati; and in the Bantamweight bout, GDF’s Julius Kesney pummelled FYF’s Asheer Al Azeem.Keevin Allicock did not waste time in his battle with GDF’s Teusimar Peters, completing his business in the first round.

One Lightweight contest saw Delroy Fordyce of GDF taking a beating from his gym mate Clairmont Gibson.

Another lightweight clash saw Colin Lewis keeping his slate clean against his fellow law officer Dewani Lampkin of the Guyana Police

Force (GPF) in a fight that was abandoned in the second round.

GDF’s Kevin McKenzie made light work of his compatriot Cranston McAllister with a points’ victory.

In the middleweight bout, Desmond Amsterdam of the GDF, living up to the high expectations, brushed aside his compatriot Aluko Bess in the first round.

Dennis ‘The Menace’ Thomas made an exciting return to boxing in the light heavyweight category when he menaced Markember Peters and won his first outing on points.

Darren France of the GDF pummelled Omar Sukhdeo (FYF) in a heavyweight fight for a round one knockout, while GDF’s Kevin Hunt brushed aside his gym mate Antonio Williams in the first round of the super heavyweight bout.

In the individual awards, Mark Crawford

(FYF) received the ‘best youth boxer’ accolade, while Clairmont Gibson of the GDF was adjudged the ‘best elite boxer’, and GDF’s longstanding coach Terrence Poole, MS, was adjudged the ‘best coach’.

“It was a stellar performance from them.

I was shocked with some of them, I was not expecting so much wins. The guys rose to the occasion, and they showed their dominance: that the GDF is the powerhouse of boxing in Guyana. And what we can do now is move from strength to strength,” Coach Poole told Guyana Times Sport in an exclusive statement. To make the victory even sweeter for the GDF, two of their boxers have copped the ‘Triple Champion’ crown for 2019. Darren France and Kevin Hunt have both recorded wins in the National Novices, National Intermediate and National Open tournaments. (Jemima Holmes)

tuesday, november 5, 2019

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

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SA 10K Road Race...

Terrence Alli National Open…

Page 23

GDF prevail again!

Kenyan duo triumphant

Page 23

Sunshine Snacks/Farfan & Mendes/SIMCO Engineering Inc Junior Indoor Hockey tourney…

Page 21

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