Guyana Times Tuesday October 18, 2019

GLDA concerned about African swine flu spreading to Guyana via oil ships, aircraft

P13

…warns that precautions must be taken

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

Issue No. 4080

THE BEACON OF TRUTH friday, OCTOber 18, 2019

Crime unabated, continues to spiral under APNU/AFC leadership – Opposition Leader See story on page 3

…US Govt prepared to offer expert to assist with security issues – Ambassador …no credibility in Govt’s notion of criminal activities on decline – FITUG

Former Canadian Chief Electoral Officer to give GECOM technical aid

Page 9

$292M fireboat commissioned Page 14

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Court throws out $300M fraud charges P8 against former GRDB Directors

Boathouses, equipment P9 destroyed after man sets shack on fire …stolen cash caused rage – suspect

Stepfather charged for killing 4-year-old

P8

New UGSS President elected

P8

Plane crashes in Region 7

P8

The $292 million fireboat on display in the Demerara River on Thursday

Bandits beat, rob Corentyne family See story on page 11

See Removal of story on names from page 7 voters’ list illegal, unconstitutional – Jagdeo

Shopkeeper, businessman charged P11 for narcotrafficking

2 news

friday, october 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Court throws out $300M fraud charges against former GRDB Directors

Nigel Dharamlall

S

enior Magistrate Leron Daly on Thursday dismissed

Dharamkumar Seeraj

several fraud-related charges against six former officials of the Guyana

Rice Development Board (GRDB) when the matter was called before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Charges were instituted against People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Members of Parliament Nigel Dharamlall and Dharamkumar Seeraj. Also charged were former GRDB General Manager Jagnarine Singh, Deputy General Manager Ricky Ramraj, former GRDB Board member Badrie Persaud and former Deputy Permanent

Jagnarine Singh

Ricky Ramraj

the case was called, Special Prosecutor of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Lawrence Harris failed to make another appearance.

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall and Glenn Hanoman, who were representing the defendants, requested for the charges to be dismissed on the grounds that the Prosecutor was a no-show for several court hearings. The Attorney’s

Badrie Persaud

Prema Roopnarine

Secretary (Finance) of the Agriculture Ministry, Prema Roopnarine.

One of the charges alleged that while being then members of GRDB Board in 2012, they had omitted to enter into the ledger $77.3 million. The second charge stated that between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015, they omitted to enter into the GRDB ledger $130 million, $9.7 million and $147 million, respectively. Charges were not instituted against Dharamlall for the second offence.

A d d i t i o n a l l y , Dharamlall, Roopnarine, Singh and Ramraj were jointly charged for fraudulently omitting to account for $52 million in 2011.

On Wednesday, when

submissions were upheld and the charges were dismissed.

In August, Magistrate Daly had also dismissed the charge against Singh, Dharamlall and Roopnarine.

The charge which was dismissed alleged that in 2011, while being members of the GRDB, with intent to defraud, they omitted to enter some $52 million in the GRDB ledger.

The charge was dismissed after Magistrate Daly found that Special Prosecutor of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Lawrence Harris failed to prove his case against them.

news

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friday, october 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Friday, October 18 – 05:00h – 06:30h and Saturday, October 19 – 08:30h – 10:00h.

Crime unabated, continues to spiral under APNU/AFC leadership – Opposition Leader

…no credibility in Govt’s notion of criminal activities on decline – FITUG …US Govt prepared to offer experts to assist with security issues – Ambassador

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, October 18 – 06:50h – 08:20h and Saturday, October 19 – 07:30h – 09:00h.

over a week ago in front of his office at Queenstown, Georgetown, where a man was strangled to death with a belt. The perpetrator had been caught by public-spirited persons and then handed over to the Police.

According to Jagdeo, these crimes could have been prevented but now the result is that innocent lives were lost while families and loved ones are left to suffer.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine is expected; however, there will be thundery showers in the early afternoon.

There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Climbing crime rate

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

High Tide: 06:55h and 19:06h reaching maximum heights of 2.54 metres and 2.60 metres.

Low Tide: 24:27h and 12:41h reaching minimum heights of 0.52 metre and 0.73 metre.

WEDNESday, october 16, 2019

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20 Bonus Ball

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

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch

espite promises by the APNU/AFC Government under the leadership of President David Granger, even after British Security Advisor Russel Krombe handed over a report of recommendations in 2018, the coalition administration has failed to address the crime situation in Guyana.

This is according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who on Thursday said that the David Grangerled administration had touted its “security credentials” prior to assuming office in 2015, with claims that its security experts would have resolved the frequency of criminal activities throughout the country but to date, nothing has been done, as crime spirals.

“He (President Granger) was supposed to end all crime in Guyana, saying that the PPP was all bluff.

Then to see the appalling failures of his government and his Security Minister on a daily basis, saying things that simply do not make sense without addressing the real problem. Then clearly, the people of this country have a right and we have a right to examine their failures. From the 17 persons losing lives in the prison fire…and until now the situation at Lusignan is appalling, and you can have a prison break at any time”.

Jagdeo stated that statistics can support the fact that the APNU/AFC have failed to protect citizens and curb the crime rate here and noted that the spike in criminal activities has been ongoing but that relevant authorities have been denying the figures.

He lamented the current situation in Guyana where robberies and murders, coupled with accidents, occur on a daily basis, claiming the lives of innocent people, while the APNU/AFC is yet to address such an issue.

“For the piracy recently, those who suffered from the acts of piracy in Berbice, our Presidential Candidate

went up there and also met with several members of the family and witnessed the dire poverty in which people live in those areas. How important the earnings of these individuals who went to sea to earn a living were to maintaining the livelihoods of their families. Then we had the incident with the robbery (at El Dorado Trading) and I spoke with Mrs Stoll (wife of the dead businessman)…another young Guyanese businessman whose life was snuffed out and there are others who suffered death and injury there and so that too, that is senseless killing”.

The Opposition Leader even referred to a murder, which occurred little

D

Meanwhile, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) on Thursday also called out the APNU/AFC Government for its failure in addressing the climbing crime rate in Guyana.

The Union, in a statement to the media, said that in recent times, pronouncements from officialdom have sought to communicate and indicate that criminal activity were on the decline.

This, the Union said, is being preached but “while our people are hearing one thing, they are seeing, and some are experiencing, an entirely different state-ofaffairs”.

According to the FITUG, Guyanese are genuinely and sincerely concerned and very worried that they can be the next unwitting victim and the present situation has caused persons to feel insecure to be home alone or

President David Granger

to venture out for social activities.

“Certainly, our people ought not to be confined to living in perpetual fear of being attacked, this is not the way people should live as it has serious implications for their well-being and psyche. Undoubtedly, there is a critical need for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to proactively address what is clearly a frightening situation. The need for regular patrols, intelligence gathering, proactive Police action, among other things cannot be underscored, these initiatives, among others, could be helpful to bring the situation under control,” the Union said.

Turn to page 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, october 18, 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

Action, as against words

A

few years ago, a former Commissioner of Police invited the nation at his swearing in ceremony to hold him accountable. That was in the context of him being held responsible, as the Top Cop, presumably for the actions of the Force and for crime fighting under his tenure.

Some years after, the current President said he wanted an “unbribable” Top Cop. After that, the officer appointed threatened to charge members of the public who offer bribes to the Police, while at the same time urged ranks to desist from accepting bribes.

There is a tremendous sense of moral value in the statements made by the three individuals; statements that are well-intended and good for public confidence. However, people want to see a sustainable manifestation into reality. This is not suggesting any impropriety on the part of the individuals to which the various statements can be attributed, but the reality on the ground is starkly different.

The threat to charge people for offering bribes, ironically, may have stemmed from numerous complaints received from the public.

While the Commissioner is spot on that bribery is a two-way street and arguments can probably be made that some members of the public may engage for ease of convenience, there are many instances of them being forced to do so.

The term “royal run-around” is commonly used to sum up the sentiments of customers who believe they are deliberately being frustrated when seeking a particular service and/or engaging the timeconsuming voluminous-paper-work bureaucratic process to close a transaction. Many can relate, when accessing some public services, as some minibus operators allege, harassment by the Police and claims that relief is only through bribes.

While it is legally not right, these situations create the environment for bribery, since tremendous value is attached to time and the easing of the pains of frustration. This, of course, is not confined to Guyana, but is common in many, if not all, societies, with varying degrees of prevalence.

The argument has always been for the systems to be fixed to maximise efficiency and confidence through the removal of “red-tape”, unnecessary long wait, and favouritism. If that were to be done, and officers who are found circumventing the process for personal gains are disciplined, then the possibility of removing/ reducing bribery may raise its head.

There is the strong belief that situations are deliberately exploited by some public officers to force the offering of a bribe. While there is national concern over the dangers and flagrant breaking of traffic laws by some road users, there are complaints by some minibus operators that they had been compliant but had been made to face trumped-up charges so that a bribe could be paid.

With an average traffic ticket costing in the vicinity of about seven thousand dollars, and with lengthy delays when stopped, including being asked to visit the Police station, the imposed understanding is for the “offering” of half that amount in order to proceed and to avoid frustration.

Over the years, terms like “a towel” or a “granger” are used to indicate the amounts in question. This has become fodder for satire, with other terms like “write” or “left” being made popular. The former suggests a seeming bluff to issue a ticket, while the latter suggests “leave something” as the alternative.

Reportedly, there have also been instances when some ranks blatantly demanded an amount from drivers in effort to satisfy their alleged thirst or hunger. This practice is seemingly more prevalent during random stops and when some traffic cops “hide” and then suddenly present themselves at points along the various roadways.

Aspects of this situation have prompted a response from the subject Minister, who suggested that such traffic operations be conducted in the vicinity of the stations, and that ranks must not hide and “ambush” drivers.

The current Commissioner of Police also made it clear that if ranks are uncomfortable with their salaries, they should leave the job. That’s a fair comment, especially when there have been numerous complaints of harassment for bribery levelled against some members of the Force.

It would have been very useful if the Commissioner had stated that cops who are found guilty of demanding bribes would be charged. While it might have been implied, the clarity of language might have been more impacting.

For sure, those guilty of breaking traffic laws must be made to face the relevant penalty. This, however, has to be professionally enforced in order to build public confidence. What would also be useful is to have sustained education on procedures of stop-and-search, traffic operations, issuing of traffic tickets, and other areas considered to be of contention to the general public.

Likewise, the same for public agencies that provide vital services.

The few that have taken some steps towards that must be commended.

While education in the context alluded is not a panacea, it helps to reduce ambiguities, leading to better understanding of processes.

However, even with such good intentions, the current reality would cause optimism for holistic success to be low. This is premised on the seemingly engrained proclivity of some public officers for the status quo to remain, so that benefits can continue to flow. That underscores the need for sustain action, as against words.

These two young ladies were seen enjoying the “Nature Blooms” exhibition at Castellani House on Thursday. The paintings are by Sandra LaRocque and Aelisha Garnette-Williams (Shaconeil Burnette photo)

Activists outraged as Venezuela wins UN Human Rights Council seat … despite record of abuses …other seat for Latin America went to Brazil, whose far-right leader has expressed contempt for the concept of human rights

A

ctivists have responded with outrage after Venezuela won a fiercely contested vote for a seat on the United Nations’ human rights council on Thursday, despite its well-documented record of human rights abuses.

The 193-member world body elected 14 members to the 47-member council on Thursday for three-year terms starting in January, with Venezuela claiming one of the two seats allocated to Latin America with 105 votes.

The other seat went to Brazil, whose far-right leader, Jair Bolsonaro, has frequently expressed contempt for the concept of human rights.

About 4.5 million Venezuelans have fled their nation’s economic and social collapse, as the embattled President, Nicolás Maduro, has deployed the military to snuff out dissent. Opposition activists, Journalists and human rights defenders are often jailed, while security forces loyal to Maduro commit abuses with impunity.

“The inclusion of Venezuela and Brazil to the human rights council marks a backwards step in the advancement of human rights in the region,” said Rodolfo Montes de Oca, a lawyer at Provea, a Venezuelan rights group.

Bolsonaro has repeatedly praised the torturers of the country’s military dictatorship, encouraged Police to carry out extrajudicial killings and said that

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

he hoped criminals would “die in the streets like cockroaches”.

However, José Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director at Human Rights Watch, said that Brazil’s institutions still offered a degree of protection.

“Despite Bolsonaro’s very poor record and anti-rights rhetoric, Brazil is still a democracy in which the judiciary, an independent media and NGOs are bravely pushing back,” Vivanco said. “The Brazilian congress has also been able to stop some of the most egregious draft legislation proposals promoted by Bolsonaro to grant the Police power to kill with impunity.”

“On the other hand, Venezuela is beyond the pale,” Vivanco said. “Its authorities are responsible for systematic egregious

abuses and a humanitarian emergency.”

A coalition of western countries, led by the US, backs Venezuela’s Opposition Leader, Juan Guaidó, officially recognising him as the South American nation’s legitimate president in January this year.

But Maduro still clings to power and will probably be emboldened by his country’s new post at the UN. “They can say they were elected to the human rights council and from there have a voice to push back on their critics,” said David Smilde, an analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America, a thinktank.

Opposition politicians, however, were appalled.

“It’s shameful, a travesty,” said Vanessa Neumann, Guaidó’s Ambassador to

the UK, who added that the vote will do little to silence Maduro’s critics.

“Ultimately the march of history’s harsh judgment on Maduro and his regime will not be stopped by this.”

Earlier this year, the UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, issued a scathing report on Venezuela, which described widespread cases of torture, extrajudicial killings and withholding food and medicines from civilians.

The UN human rights council is no stranger to controversy, with repressive countries including Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China, Indonesia and Russia taking seats in the past.

The US abandoned the council for the second time in June last year, claiming the institution was biased against Israel. (The Guardian)

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friday, october 18, 2019

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

Democracy has fled Dear Editor, Suddenly, the dark era of the PNC has descended on Guyanese like a relentless plague, a phenomenon which many had thought would never return after savouring the fruits of democracy for 23 years. The ghosts of the dark past have now returned to life once again to haunt this nation. In the meantime, our hard-won democracy has been so much trampled upon that it has fled with great alacrity. The PNC has once again displayed its penchant for violating the Constitution and this time, the violation is not about delaying the elections but it is the violation of one’s right to freedom of movement, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and by extension the right to peacefully protest.

All the fundamental rights and freedom of individuals are being violated daily. The PNC has become the Constitution!

Article 148(1) of the Constitution states that, “No person shall be deprived of his freedom of movement, that is to say, the right to move freely throughout Guyana…” The exception would be to prevent the commission of a crime, or in the interest of public safety, or to protect public morality or to PREVENT THE SUBVERSION OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS. In the case of the Guyana Police Force’s action against the protestors at Cornelia Ida, there is a clear indication that it is in complete defiance of Article

148. Moreover, they did the opposite of the constitutional stipulation: they subverted the democratic institutions.

The GPF was committing a crime NOT the protesters!

The caretaker President, David Granger, was attending a graduation ceremony and dinner at the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School in the area and an NGO, the Association of Democracy and Human Rights Guyana launched a protest to show their concern about the many violations of the Constitution and the CCJ’s rulings resulting on an assault on the democratic institutions in Guyana. David Granger has so far shown scant regard for these institutions. It is apparent that Granger knew about the protest beforehand and the Police erected a barricade in the streets to prevent the protesters from getting in close proximity to the school where the graduation was held and so neutralise the effect. It must be noted that it is normal for protesters to line the shoulders of the public roads but in this case they were prevented from doing so. It seems that Granger cannot bear to behold the sight of people protecting their inalienable rights; however, he is not averse to school children lining the streets and waving flags for his own pleasure.

In addition, to add insult to injury, the peaceful protesters were pushed further down the streets in a bid to stifle their democratic voices. In

this maddening haste to chase the protesters further down, the barricades were used as battering rams which resulted in injuries to some. But the Police was not satisfied with this, they arrested two of the protesters and held them in detention at the station for a couple of hours. Until now, they were not given any reason for their unlawful detention. This act is simply to stir fear and prevent others from standing up for their rights. It is clear that just as it was in Burnham days the Police has become the shameless tool of fear and intimidation of the PNC dictatorship. It can be assumed that it is only a matter of time before the Police is used to take out political opponents under the slightest pretext of aggression. The signs are manifesting!

What is also alarming is the discriminatory action of the Police. This was so blatant since the PNC counter-protesters were allowed free access to the main road by the Police. Will these counter-protesters morph later into the House of Israel? We have seen in the not so distant past that protests led by the PNC had subjected law-abiding citizens who they deemed to be supporters of the PPP to the most demeaning and horrific actsthey were robbed, beaten and sexually molested. I could not recall any arrests made by the Guyana Police Force, for instance, the Agricola protest when these acts were done in broad daylight and in the

presence of the Police. In addition, businesses were razed to the ground in some cases resulting in multimillion dollars losses. Where were the Police then? How many were arrested?

As expected, the growing dictatorship has now made it the norm for Granger to travel around with heavy Police escorts and other security presence which only serve to instil fear and insecurity in the minds of Guyanese. The people now have to dive for cover anytime they hear a siren in the distant. The siren has now become a messenger of death. This is a lot more than Burnham was used to, so it may be prudent to assume a bigger dictator in the making.

But such is the life of a dictator who feels unsafe to walk freely even among invitees at a graduation function. Can you imagine that invitees to this graduation function were body searched at the gate by the Police before being admitted? Since exposed to Pegasus, the courage of the caretaker President has certainly taken a sudden flight! The paranoia is growing rapidly!

Guyanese must now stand up to this Granger dictatorship. It is time that we must register our non-cooperation with evil through peaceful protests and civil disobedience in order to eradicate this growing scourge.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Situation for sugar workers and their families has not improved

Dear Editor, The GAWU could not miss Mr Earl John’s letter appearing in the October 17 section of the media titled: “Loud silence on plans for the former sugar workers”. Indeed, we felt the title was most appropriate considering, it seems, the powers-that-be have all but forgotten about the some 7000 workers they put on the breadline following their decision to shutter sugar estates.

Mr John begins his missive by recognising GAWU’s presence on the corporation’s Board of Directors. Our Union, for some time now, as he is no doubt aware, has been invited to name a nominee to sit on the Board. We have grasped that opportunity as, we contend, we should not fail to use every opportunity and platform to advocate on behalf of our members. We should add, on that note, that though having a representative on the Board, the plans to minimise the industry were not discussed in the representative’s presence, though he was a Board member at the time. It seemed to indicate that the corporation’s Board was not really privy to the plans to minimise the industry and gave rise to suspicion as to who was really giving di-

rection. This fact of notoriety we drew to the Government’s attention at the inaugural meeting held on December 31, 2016 to discuss the future of the sugar industry.

Mr John may recall our concern as he was present at that December 2016 meeting.

At the meeting held at Enmore in December, 2017, our Union along with Mr John, who represented GuySuCo, among others, listened carefully and attentively to what NICIL-SPU had to say regarding its plans for the estates identified for divestment. We agreed, at that time, there was much optimism from the NICIL-SPU and the workers who stood to be affected were hopeful those plans would have become a reality. Of course, now nearly 2 years down the road, those plans have all but evaporated and been replaced with suffering, misery and hardship for thousands in the affected communities.

In furthering his concern, Mr John drew attention to a study that was conducted regarding transitioning sugar workers into farmers. The study which, was done by consultants contracted by the European Union (EU), was tasked to prepare a roadmap,

as we understand, to pursue the transition. Of course, as we recollect, the GuySuCo did not want the consultants engaging our Union. In fact, it was only after a stern foot was put down that the consultants were eventually allowed to meet with the Union.

During that engagement, we did share with the consultants some of the concerns we had and some of the matters we believed required attention for the transition to be successful. Following our meeting, we never heard from the consultants or what finally they recommended.

This apparently is a State secret. The transition of displaced workers into farmers were also expressed by Government officials and during an engagement with President David Granger in January 2018 we did share our views on the matter.

It was, therefore, for

us, a surprise to learn that GuySuCo Managers were actually trained to facilitate the programme. We wonder how many workers were trained, since as far as we know the Alternative Livelihood Programme developed by the Corporation also was not as impactful as may have been envisaged. That programme, we understand, trained a small number of the displaced workers.

Nevertheless, the situation for the workers and their families has not improved.

Their remains a dearth of opportunities whether for entrepreneurship or jobs. The talk about taking care and assisting the workers has all died down. And, as Mr John puts it there is a loud silence.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

Different strokes for different folks?

Dear Editor, A recent article in the media mentioned that a certain NGO has received permission from the Ministry of Education to go to all schools in Guyana to deliver training with respect to drugs and alcohol use. That is indeed highly commendable and we do wish them every success. But we also sincerely hope that the training includes the provision of the mental wherewithal for students to be able to say ‘no’ to drugs and alcohol. As well, one would expect that not only will teachers be trained to help in this respect but that a set of teachers in every school will be prepared to turnkey the training to new teachers and to parents. The bottom line is to ensure that all stakeholders are part of the process and that the information and skill sets are not phased out over time so that this current endeavour does not become a piecemeal Band-Aid. Some years ago, The Caribbean Voice had reached out to the Ministry of Education to seek similar permission to deliver our youth and student workshops that focused on mental health in general, including such issues as building self-esteem, developing coping skills, child and sex abuse, living in a home with domestic violence, selfharm including cutting and suicide ideation, bullying, safe use of the Internet, as well as drugs and alcohol use.

We were told that no NGO could be given permission for all schools but that we would have to apply for permission on a school-by-school basis.

And since our training is always delivered free of cost, all schools had to do were to cover cost of training materials.

At that time, our Youth & Student Workshops had

already been delivered and well received at many private schools and to a number of youth groups. As well many public schools had also requested our services but the principals requested that TCV sought permission from the Ministry of Education. And the Ministry of Education was so impressed by the training curriculum that they promised to incorporate it into their Health and family Life Curricula, supposedly offered in schools.

From inception, TCV has made strenuous attempts to ensure that we are not aligned politically, ethnically, culturally, ideologically or religiously not only because our members reflect the gamut of politics, ethnicity, culture, ideology and religion but also because we work with people across all these demarcations, although our advocacy has sometimes being affixed various labels over the years, depending on who’s doing the labelling. In fact, at one time most of our then Guyana-based members were highly apprehensive of our advocacy as they felt that their jobs could be jeopardised, given that most of what is advocated for falls into the realm of Government undertaking.

In any case, if there are conditions to be met for us to be accorded permission, TCV certainly was not informed of any such in our many meetings with Ministry of Education officials and we do have the emails and reports to prove this. So our question is this: does the Ministry of Education operate on the basis of ‘different strokes for different folks when it comes to delivery of much-needed mental health training in schools?’

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

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friday, OCTOber 18, 2019

Page C

liques are groups of friends, but not all groups of friends are cliques. The thing that makes a group a clique (say: KLIK) is that they leave some kids out on purpose. They form groups that they won’t let other kids belong to. Sometimes kids in the clique are mean to kids they think are on the outside. Usually one or two popular kids control who gets to be in the clique and who gets left out.

Kids may act differently than they did before they were part of the clique.

They may even act differently today from how they were yesterday. It can be really confusing.

Kids might form cliques in primary school or at the start of high school.

Sometimes cliques are made of kids who share an interest in something, like

sports or computer games or music. Sometimes the kids in them want to be popular or want to belong.

They might say you can only join in if you wear certain clothes, or they might make you feel bad if your mom or dad can’t afford the same stuff they can.

Both boys and girls have

Foundation Continued from Thursday

The five-step approach is good when you’re in a particular situation that’s got you mad and you need to decide what action to take. But other things can help you manage anger too.

Try these things even if you’re not mad right now to help prevent angry feelings from building up inside.

cliques, though people who study these groups say girl cliques may be more common. Girl cliques are often meaner and more hurtful in the way they treat girls who aren’t in the group.

Exercise

Feeling left out

If you are on the outside of a clique, it can make you frustrated and confused.

Maybe someone who was your BFF last week is now mean to you and won’t sit with you at lunch. It can make you feel like crying or just feel really angry or sad. You might feel lonely at lunch or after school, or even afraid if you feel that someone might pick on you or fight with you. You might be frustrated or upset because you don’t know what to do. You might feel hurt because of the ways other kids leave you out.

Why do other kids join cliques?

One of the hard things about cliques is if a person who was your friend joins one and starts treating you differently. Sometimes, the problem starts with an argument between the two of you. But other times you can find yourself on the

outside of a clique even if nothing happened.

Sometimes you get left out because you look, act, or dress differently from other kids. Or just because you’re the “new kid” in class. Kids who get into cliques usually want to be popular and feel cool.

Sometimes kids think that belonging to a clique will keep them from feeling left out. Some kids feel more powerful when they’re mean to other people (like bullies).

Kids in cliques sometimes act differently than they would outside the group. They often go along with what the others are doing, even if they know it’s not right — even if it means leaving out a friend.

Some kids might even feel bad about the way they treat other kids, but they can’t figure out how to be cool and still be nice to the person who’s not in the clique. This is no excuse, though. Plenty of kids manage to be nice to everyone — kids in and outside their closest group of friends — without being part of a clique.

Feeling trapped in a clique

Sometimes kids in cliques find that they don’t really want to belong to it anymore. They don’t want to leave others out

and hurt people’s feelings.

Sometimes they realise they’re missing out on being friends with great kids outside of the clique.

Some kids don’t want to be bossed around by the rules of the clique and don’t like that another kid is trying to be in charge of them. Being in a clique might mean that they have to give up some freedom and maybe even change the kind of people they are or what kind of music they like or clothes they want to wear.

Even if no one is being mean to you personally, you still might find it annoying if there are cliques you’re not part of. Or you might be part of a clique, but are getting tired of being bossed around or worried that your so-called friends will embarrass you or play a mean joke on you.

Maybe someone said something mean about you or a friend of yours online.

As kids get older, they can outgrow the need to be part of a clique or feel more relaxed about who is “in” and who is “out.” For some kids this takes a while.

Most cliques disappear by the end of high school, making way for more fun and enjoyable friendship groups. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

Go for a walk/run, work out, or go play a sport.

Lots of research has shown that exercise is a great way to improve your mood and decrease negative feelings.

Listen to music (with your headphones on)

Music has also been shown to change a person’s mood pretty quickly. And if you dance, then you’re exercising and it’s a two-for-one.

Write down your thoughts and emotions

You can write things in lots of ways; for example, in a journal or as your own poetry or song lyrics. After you’ve written it down, you can keep it or throw it away – it doesn’t matter. The important thing is, writing down your thoughts and feelings can improve how you feel. When you notice, label, and release feelings as they show up in smaller portions, they don’t have a chance to build up inside.

Draw

Scribbling, doodling, or sketching your thoughts or feelings might help too.

Meditate or practise deep breathing

This one works best if you do it regularly, as it’s more of an overall stress management technique that can help you use self-control when you’re mad. If you do this regularly, you’ll find that anger is less likely to build up.

Talk about your feelings with someone you trust

Lots of times there are other emotions, such as fear or sadness, beneath anger. Talking about them can help.

Distract yourself

If you find yourself stewing about something and just can’t seem to let go, it can help to do something that will get your mind past what’s bugging you – watch TV, read, or go to the movies. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

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friday, october 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Removal of names from voters’ list illegal, unconstitutional – Jagdeo …says proposal by Govt GECOM Commissioners “a move to rig elections”

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has expressed concerns about the likelihood of rigged elections in light of a proposal by a Governmentnominated Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner to strike off some 20,000 names from the voters’ list for failure to uplift their identification (ID) cards.

Jagdeo, during his weekly press conference on Thursday, condemned the proposal, which was made

by Government-nominated GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander, stating that such a move would be unconstitutional and would result in thousands of persons being disenfranchised.

He told the media that the proposal was “downright illegal”.

“Then imagine after the elections, when APNU loses, they are going to use the same thing that ‘oh, we took people’s names off the voters’ list because they didn’t collect their ID cards’ – that it is illegal. Therefore, they

will go to court to try to invalidate the results, because of what they are proposing now to the Commission either setting the basis for elections challenge in the future or want to create violence. That is why we have to resist this proposal and I hope that the Commission doesn’t buy into this or the Chairperson,” Jagdeo said.

Court rulings

He reminded that the very Chairperson of the GECOM, Retired Justice Claudette Singh in 1997 had invalidated the results of that year’s elections in her ruling that an ID card was not required for a Guyanese to cast a vote at an election here.

“She (Justice Singh) ruled against it and invalidated the results of the elections … So now, it is even worse: although you don’t need an ID card to vote, you can show up in the polling place, you can use your passport, your ID card or you can swear to an oath and vote. They want to take

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

off and not just to cancel the ID cards which they have a right to do if they want to, but they want to take those names off the voters’ list.”

Jagdeo also reminded that acting Chief Justice Roxane George recently had ruled that the names of persons on the voters’ list could not be removed for any reason outside of those outlined in Guyana’s Constitution – that is death or insanity.

“Those are the two rea-

sons; you cannot remove their names for any other reasons, not because they didn’t collect their ID cards or did not show up to check their names on the voters’ list. Whether they migrated or not, their names have to be there and that is a feature of continuous registration what we agreed to in the early 2000s. This is an attempt to disenfranchise some 20,000 people, knock their names off the voters’

Crime unabated, continues to spiral...

It noted that the rising crime rate also could not be delinked from what is taking place elsewhere in society, adding that the most recent Labour Force Survey, prepared by the Bureau of Statistics, indicated that the unemployment rate increased from 12.2 per cent at the end of

2017 to 13.8 per cent at the end of 2018.

“In the same period, youth unemployment rose from 22.9 per cent to 25.6 per cent, the report also disclosed that earnings of workers also declined during the period. This worrying trend cannot be ignored, as it well has an

impact on crime in our society. For a Government which possesses so many self-identified security experts, it is disheartening to take stock of the present crime situation, clearly, there is an urgent need to address and arrest the declining situation in the interest of people’s and na-

tion’s well-being”.

US experts

Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, recently addressed members of the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) when she met with the group.

According to a state-

list so imagine if you did not collect your ID card … but when you show up on Election Day you would not be on the voters’ list, imagine the confusion and I think that’s what they want,” Jagdeo stated.

According to the Opposition Leader, the removal of persons’ names from the voters’ list would most likely result in some form of violence on Election Day when voters turn up to cast their votes and would be faced with a situation such as their names being struck off the voters’ list.

On Wednesday, the People’s Progressive Party in a statement on the issue said that “...it is clear that the APNU/AFC is preparing the ground either to set aside the entire elections as illegal and unconstitutional, when they lose, or by rigging the elections by disenfranchising tens of thousands of Guyanese electors.”

Earlier this week, PPP-nominated GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shadick had revealed the intention of

the Government-appointed Commissioners to disenfranchise the tens of thousands who had not uplifted their ID cards as yet.

“Right now the push is to let people not vote… There’s a push to deregister some people because they didn’t go and uplift their ID cards and they don’t know where they [are],” she had told reporters.

Guyana Times understands that some 20,000 persons have not uplifted their ID cards since 2008. It was explained that GECOM will be putting out notices and advertisements to alert those persons to collect their IDs. But according to Shadick, there are some people who think there is no need for ID cards so they never bothered to collect them. Moreover, she noted that there are cases where persons would have moved to other parts of the country, such as the hinterland, and could not conveniently come out to uplift their ID cards.

From page 3

ment from the US Embassy in Guyana, the OSAC’s mission is to build cooperation between the public and private sectors to address security issues in Guyana.

In her remarks, Ambassador Lynch said that focusing on safety and security helps put a country on the path to prosper-

ity. “Nothing says consumer confidence,” she said, “like a safe place to live and raise a family”. She assured OSAC members that the US Embassy is prepared to work with OSAC to connect Guyana’s leadership with US experts, who can provide guidance on security issues.

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friday, october 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Stepfather charged for killing 4-year-old

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he stepfather of a four-year-old boy was hauled before the court on Thursday after he was charged for killing the child.

Joseph James appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The charge alleged that on October 7, 2019, at Silver Hill, Linden-Soesdyke

Highway, James murdered Alex Price, his stepson, during the course of the rape.

The child was found unconscious, naked and with injuries to the head and eye on October 7 at approximately 12:00h.

Reports were that his 21-year-old stepfather claimed that he found the child with the injuries at their Silver Hill home on the

Linden-Soesdyke Highway home.

The man had claimed that he left the child at home to go to a nearby shop to buy groceries. According to the prosecution’s case, the stepfather said that when he returned from the shop, he found the unconscious child.

An alarm was then raised, and nurses from the nearby Health Centre were

summoned to the home. The child, however, succumbed on his way to the Linden Hospital Complex. An investigation was launched by Police. According to the PostMortem report, the child was sodomised and died from blunt trauma to the head.

Following an investigation, Police arrested the stepfather and the murder charge was instituted.

Plane crashes in Region 7

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small aircraft, which was shuttling fuel to Guyana’s interior, has crashed at Aricheng, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

The incident occurred on Thursday around 07:53h.

The plane was piloted by Captain Bernard Singh, who is said to have survived the crash.

The Piper PA31 aircraft, bearing registration 8R-HAI, is owned by Domestic Airways.

According to a press release from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Air Traffic Services at Timehri has confirmed that an emergency locator signal was received from Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT).

The location was confirmed to be 2.71 Nautical Mile Northwest of Aricheng

The aircraft with registration 8R-HAI which crashed at Aricheng, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

aerodrome.

The GCAA stated that search and rescue team comprising the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Special Forces and Air Navigation Services Personnel of the GCAA went to the location to rescue the pilot. A fixed aircraft and a helicopter were dispatched with the search and rescue team.

Captain Bernard Singh was rescued. He only suffered minor injuries.

According to GCAA, he was

able to walk with the search and rescue team to Aricheng airstrip from where he was flown to Georgetown.

The GCAA has launched an investigation into this ac-

cident.

This is not the first plane crash Captain Singh has encountered. In March 2014, he was behind the controls when the aircraft he was operating crashed after takeoff from Arau in Region Seven. No one died in the accident.

Meanwhile, Domestic Aviation is still recovering from a plane crash which occurred in February 2019.

That accident claimed the life of Captain Randy Liverpool, who died while attempting to land the Cessna 206 at Eteringbang.

New UGSS President elected

J

afar Gibbons has been elected the new President of the University of Guyana

Students’ Society (UGSS).

The University of Guyana held the installation ceremony for the Executive Council of the UGSS for the 2019/2020 academic year on October 15, 2019 at the Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus.

The faculty representatives are: Sven Anthony, Clebert Wade, Daniel Anthony and Teesha Mangra from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry; Junior Alexander, Patrick Benjamin- Huntley and Michael Morrison from the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences; Tavanne Archer, Athena Prentice and Keith Whyte from the Faculty of Education and Humanities; Kevon David, Marvin Scott and Joshua Sargent from the Faculty of Health Sciences; Kimalie George, Sileena Arjune and Shemar Trotman from the Faculty of Natural Sciences; Marissa Scott from the Faculty of Social Sciences; Joshua Trotman, Desmond Kissoon and Shanese Lilly from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology; and Keyon Duke, Ashli Marks and Deamon Whitney from the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation.

The Oath of Office and installation of the Student President and members of the Executive of the UGSS were administered by Professor Paloma Mohamed, Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE) and Chair, Transitional Management Committee (TMC) of the University of Guyana.

The law…

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…is made an ass he expression that is frequently thrown about when folks have a problem with “the law” is “the law is an ass”. But this misses the entire point about the law that Charles Dickens illustrated in his book “Oliver Twist”.

In the story, Mr Bumble is the wretchedly unhappy spouse of a domineering wife, so when he’s told in court that “... the law supposes that your wife acts under your direction,” he replies: “If the law supposes that, the law is an ass – an idiot”.

So dear reader, it’s not always the law that’s an ass…. but, most frequently, some INTERPRETATIONS of the law!!

Take, for instance, the ruling just handed down by the Chief Justice on the application for the Court to grant an order compelling Cabinet, including the President, to resign in light of the successful passage of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against the Government. Not only did she deny the order, she intoned: “This application is not only wholly misconceived, it is vexatious and an absolute abuse of the process of the court,” and slapped a $500,000 cost for him to pay the Government!!

Now, what’s going on here?? All Nandlall was claiming was the Constitution is as clear as crystal when it comes to what follows a successful NCM. “Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of the majority of all elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence”. Unfortunately, the CCJ didn’t issue a specific order for that on the grounds that Art 106 (6) was so clear that it needed no “gloss”, ie, any explanation.

As Nandlall’s lawyer pointed out, the CCJ expected the PNC Government would act with “integrity” and do the right thing. And it was that assumption that precipitated a wave of guffaws across the legal community of the Caribbean. The PNC and “integrity” in the same sentence?? The CJ cited the CCJ’s citation of a legal scholar: “…The Government continues in office as a caretaker government or an interim government until the next elections ensue and a President is appointed (or reappointed) depending on the results of that election”. Which, of course, is Art 106 (7).

However, the CJ continued, “Given the language used by the CCJ, it is evident that the effect of the NCM was the immediate resignation of the Cabinet, but the court clearly stated that notwithstanding this, the tenure in office of the Cabinet including the President, as well as the government as a whole, ‘is on a different footing’—is that of being in a caretaker mode consequent on the passage of the said NCM”.

But the CCJ spoke about the GOVERNMENT, not the President and Cabinet.

The Government isn’t coterminous with the President and Cabinet!! …and ineptitude In Nov 2016, with great fanfare (even bugles blaring!!)

Winston Jordan announced that the first “large-scale” solar farm in Guyana would be constructed at Mabaruma at a cost of GY$264 million dollars. This was good news since this could push the Green Agenda and improve the lives of Reg 1 citizens. But 3 years later, not a kilowatt of power has been generated and only now that the PPP regional officials pointed out that the jungle was overtaking the solar farm, have we been told a new tale of ineptitude that characterises the MPI. The money was spent, panels were shown, but no power by mid-2018 when the project was supposed to be completed. Minister Patterson said it was being “retrofitted” and elaborated: “They’re putting in some extra, additional batteries. So as soon as that’s in, we’re 100 per cent up and running. It should be completed anytime now, I should think”.

He was just bullshitting. Actually, the facility was improperly grounded and lightning knocked out the transformer!!

Shouldn’t Patterson be charged?? …and helping GECOM A former Canadian Chief Electoral Officer will provide technical electoral aid to GECOM Chair Claudette Singh.

Shouldn’t that aid be to the Secretariat??

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

9 Former Canadian Chief Electoral Officer to give GECOM technical aid T news

friday, october 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

he Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) will be benefiting from the technical expertise of retired Chief Electoral Officer of Canada’s elections body, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, as it prepares to head into the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

His appointment is being funded by the Canadian Government. According to GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, the Canadian High Commission here had offered the elections body technical assistance in the form of providing an expert and the seven-member Elections Commission had approved

Retired Canadian Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley

accepting the offer, which resulted in the former

Canadian Electoral Officer being appointed.

Kingsley, who has 17 years of experience under his belt, is currently in Guyana, conducting familiarisation meetings with stakeholders. He has already met the Justice Claudette Singhled GECOM Commission on Tuesday as well as the senior management at the elections body the following day.

On Thursday, he was slated to meet with the political leaders from both the Government and Opposition.

Ward further told Guyana Times during a telephone interview that while Kingsley would not have a

Boathouses, equipment destroyed after man sets shack on fire

…stolen cash caused rage – suspect

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illions of dollars in fishing equipment and cash went up in flames at the Goed Fortuin koker, West Bank Demerara (WBD) on Wednesday night when a man doused his shack with gasoline and then lit it afire after discovering that his cash and clothing were missing from his home.

Reports are that about 22:40h, the suspect, a 38-year-old fisherman, who lived in a wooden shack on the eastern side of the koker, returned home and noticed that some of his clothing, along with $40,000 had been stolen.

This newspaper was told that this led to the man becoming furious and caused him to throw gasoline inside his home as well on the boat landing he utilised and lit the structures afire. The fire quickly spread and burnt the

man to the right side of his leg.

Meanwhile, the flames engulfed the premises and destroyed five boathouses that were in close proximity.

Forty-year-old fisherman Kawall Ramnarine, called “Baby”, of Lot 20562 La Parfaite Harmonie, WBD, owned one of the boathouses that went up in flames.

Inside his boathouse, he said there was $500,000, one HP 40 Yamaha outboard engine, along with other articles.

Sooknanan Takchand, a 57-year-old fisherman of Lot 1-2-3 Goed Fortuin, WBD, who owned another boathouse that was completely burnt, valued his structure at $500,000. He also lost one HP 48 Yamaha outboard engine worth $ 1,100,000 and fishing equipment valued at $ 3,000,000.

Another fisherman,

32-year-old Raffick Khalil, lost fishing equipment worth $2,000,000 along with his boathouse that was valued at $500,000.

Guyana Times understands that the owners of the two other boathouses along with items that had been stored inside of them when the fire took place are yet to be identified.

Although a fire truck from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) responded promptly to the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze, nothing was saved or salvaged from the boathouses.

At the time of the fire, the suspect was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was treated for burns to his feet.

He was subsequently taken into custody. (Kristen Macklingam)

continuous stay in Guyana, he would remain in contact with the Commission and have periodic visits leading up to next year’s elections.

“Maybe as it gets closer to elections, he will be here on a longer term. But basically, he is here to offer technical assistance in terms of sharing best practices as it relates to conduct of elections and so on. So this visit is really to be in contact in the Commission and offer his opinions, and so on, based on best practices that he would have utilised in his past,” the GECOM PRO stated.

The former Canadian Chief Electoral Officer served from 1990 to 2007 during which he participated in many significant international development missions aimed at promoting democratic electoral processes through cooperation, capacity building, and mutually beneficial relationships.

He also provided electoral assistance to several Caribbean countries, includ-

ing Trinidad and Tobago.

According to his profile on the Canadian elections body website, Kingsley was proactive during his term in office, recommending and promoting key initiatives to make the electoral process more accessible.

While ushering in reforms needed to comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, he led Elections Canada into the age of computerised election administration.

In 1992, with the adoption of Bill C-78, the elections body gained a new mandate to inform and educate voters, particularly those most likely to experience difficulties in exercising their democratic rights.

Kingsley’s other achievements include the introduction of the 36-day election calendar, digitised electoral geography systems and products, and the establishment of the National Register of Electors.

In addition, the election financing regime was expanded to regulate

third-party advertising and election financing of all political entities, combining to make the electoral process more fair and transparent.

He also presided over a period of unprecedented technological change, including the development of the Elections Canada website as a comprehensive tool for public information. Moreover following his recommendations to Parliament, the Canada Elections Act was amended in 2006 to authorise the Chief Electoral Officer to appoint returning officers.

Kingsley’s appointment comes at a time when concerns are mounting as Guyana prepares for elections on March 2, 2020.

Meanwhile, GECOM has also received offers for technical support from the Commonwealth and other members of the international community. In fact, a joint statement from British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn, United States Ambassador Sarah Ann-Lynch and Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Cantol last month reiterated their willingness to give such assistance after President David Granger announced the elections date. He has since named March 2, 2020 as E-Day. Further, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo last month had noted too that the extended elections timeline gave additional time for observers, both overseas and local, to scrutinise the preparation process leading up to next year’s polling day.

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friday, october 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bandits beat, rob Corentyne family

Chobudai Ketwaru

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Corentyne, Berbice family was beaten by bandits on Wednesday evening during a home invasion.

Reports are that three armed bandits forced their way into the Lot 16 Liverpool, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) home owned by Sunderlall Ketwaru, called “Viky” around 18:30h on

Wednesday.

His wife, Chobudai Ketwaru, who operates a business, was at home with her 39-year-old son when the men brandishing guns entered the building.

Speaking with this publication, the woman explained that one of the gunmen grabbed her, while another dragged her son into another part of the house.

She said she was pushed onto a chair, choked and hit on the head several times with a gun.

“He ask me for the money, ‘Where is the money, give he the money’ but I couldn’t respond,” she revealed.

According to Chobudai, she was losing her breath and managed to release the tight grip of one of the bandit’s fingers around her throat.

The woman explained that after taking a deep breath, she begged to be allowed to go into the kitchen to be allowed to

Beaten Annand Ketwaru

turn off the stove. This, she pleaded with the bandit, could start a fire.

“He grabble me back and ask me ‘where is the money’.

So, I told him, ‘come let us go into the shop and see what I could get in the shop’. I go in the shop and go where the cigarette is and passing my hand by the shelf. The same time the rest of them run in the shop and start open-

ing up all the drawers. And then I push the one that was holding me all the time… He get so stupid and I run out”.

She said that she shouted for help as she ran into the yard. The neighbours called the Police.

Meanwhile, her husband, who is a rice framer, said he was on his way home when he saw Police and a crowd at his home.

“I was coming home from the rice field in Black Bush.

When I reach, I see a flock of Police in front of my home, so, I run in the house and discovered that they beat my son with a gun and burst his head; he has a few stitches. My wife, they beat her in her head and choke her and my son run across the road where a truck was coming and miss him. My wife run to another neighbour and tell them to call the Police and the Police respond in about five minutes,” the rice farmer said.

The Berbice business place which was robbed

The men escaped with $2500, two cellular phones valued at $80,000, a gold chain, along with cigarettes. This newspaper was told that the men were all masked and gained entry by breaking through the back fence and an inner fence around the building.

This is the fifth time bandits have attacked the fam-

ily.

“I applied for a firearm licence and was denied. I need protection. Mr (Khemraj) Ramjattan (Public Security Minister) must help the people. Some people who don’t need firearms have firearms,” Ketwaru said.

Police have since launched an investigation.

Shopkeeper, businessman remanded Gun, ammo charges land labourer in jail on narco-trafficking charges A

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shopkeeper and a businessman, who reside in Montrose, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and were arrested on Sunday following a Police raid on the premises, made their first court appearance on Thursday after they were each slapped with two narcotics charges.

Fifty-two-year-old Sattie Persaud appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Rochelle

Liverpool to answer to the charges of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and also possession of narcotics.

It was alleged that Persaud was at home when Police officers swooped down on her residence on Sunday.

Some 300 grams of cocaine and 10 grams of cannabis were unearthed. Persaud denied both charges but was nonetheless remanded to prison. The case will continue on October 25.

Meanwhile, 35-year-old businessman Parmanand Persaud, who also lived at the same residence and was arrested on Sunday following the discovery by the Police ranks, also pleaded not guilty to the charges of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and also possession of narcotics.

He was also remanded to prison by the Magistrate.

His case will also continue on October 25.

23-year-old labourer of South Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Thursday remanded to prison after he was slapped with two unlicensed gun related charges.

Kevin Peters appeared before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool, at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and denied the charges.

The prosecution is contending that Peters was one of the five persons who were taken into Police cus-

tody following the discovery of a quantity of illicit drugs, guns and ammunition during several exercises on the ECD. The Police had stated that between 06:00h and 08:00h on October 13, they conducted several cordonand-search operations at Vryheid’s Lust, Montrose, Nabaclis and Plaisance, during which the items were found.

The defendant was remanded to prison and the case was scheduled to continue on November 11, 2019.

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friday, october 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GLDA concerned about African swine flu spreading to Guyana via oil ships, aircraft

…warns that precautions must be taken

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n light of the outbreak of the African Swine Flu (ASF) disease in Europe and more recently in Asia, the Guyana Livestock and Development Authority (GLDA) has taken steps to prevent the transmission of the disease to Guyana’s shores, especially given the increased traffic from those two continents to the emerging oil and gas sector.

At a press conference on Thursday, GLDA Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Dwight Walrond pointed out that Guyana was also becoming an important hub because of its petroleum industry and as such, special attention needed to be placed on this sector.

“We know and we’ve been talking a lot about oil and what oil would be doing for us or should be doing for us… What is important is for the relevant ministries and departments to have a grip of what is coming off of those ships and aircraft that are involved in those

GLDA Deputy CEO, Dr Dwight Walrond

trades,” Dr Walrond posited.

According to the Deputy CEO, Guyana simply cannot allow vessels such as supply boats from affected parts of the world to come to the local shores without any measures in place to monitor them for diseases like ASF. “Guyana is a sovereign nation and we cannot and will not allow any country or anyone to ship livestock or livestock product to any part of Guyana directly from another country to the [local oil] platforms…

Currently we are faced with a situation where boats are coming directly and heading directly to some of the platforms and then they’re coming to Port Georgetown subsequently so we’re basically doing post-mortem,” he pointed out.

On this note, Dr Walrond posited that once these vessels were in Guyana’s territory, they would need an import permit to bring in any animal or animal-based products.

Though the disease has not reached the American Region, of which Guyana is a part of, the local authority is currently monitoring the disease to keep Guyana’s free status preserved.

According to the GLDA Deputy CEO, the recent spread of the ASF disease is the cause of huge economic losses within the pig industry.

Of recent, there has been increased traffic from Europe and Asia to Guyana as a result of the budding oil and gas sector. Only

last month, Guyana started a new route to Europe via Amsterdam through neighbouring Suriname, with which it also shares a ferry port. The Livestock Authority is now importing pigs from the neighbouring country.

Given the situation at hand, the World

Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has launched a global initiative to have the ASF disease under control. With the objective to minimise the effects of the disease, along with strengthening countries’ prevention and preparation efforts, the GLDA insisted that preventing the intro-

duction of this awful disease is very important.

In fact, the GLDA Deputy CEO cautioned that the lack of precautionary measures by stakeholders such as hunters, professionals, and farmers may result in the emergence of ASF in Guyana.

Continue on page 14

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friday, october 18, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Region 5 RDC statutory meeting lasted 60 seconds

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he Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) October statutory meeting was adjourned on Thursday, 60 seconds after it commenced.

Thursday’s entire episode was no different from previous meetings in the recent past. After the meeting was called to order by Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal, he made mention of two persons who were seated around the horseshoe and asked for them to be excused so that the issues pertaining to their presence could be addressed.

As he did, that the Regional Executive Office (REO) Ovid Morrison rose to his feet and said he could not stay because the Chairman was not following the agenda which he had set. He said the first item on the agenda was announcements as he walked out of the board room.

Councillors who represent the coalition government followed the REO, forcing Ramphal to adjourn the meeting.

This is the 10th time for the year that meetings were adjourned without any meaningful discussions.

In April, three new

Councillors took up positions at the table but were not given recognition, forcing the April RDC meeting to be adjourned.

Only two of them were present at Thursday’s meeting.

Following another failed RDC meeting, Ramphal met with the media where he expressed disappointment.

“When we cannot have a meeting, it affects the people of the entire region because we cannot sit and make solid decisions to address the many problems, issues and situations that are affecting our people in this Region,” Ramphal

said.

According to him, the recent flooding at Mahaica could have been avoided had the RDC been sitting and having meaningful discussions to make proper representation.

However, Ramphal noted that almost a year before the sea defence at Dantzig gave way, he brought it to the attention of the media that had highlighted that there was a small breach and urged for urgent attention to be paid to the area.

“First, when I spoke about it, the same Mr Morrison called a press conference immediately and said to the media that

Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal

the Regional Chairman is misleading the entire public of the situation there. If Mr Morrison had peddled

the right information to the relevant authorities, then that situation there could have been prevented. And if we had the opportunity to address it at the council level, it would have gotten wider representation from all the various Government agencies”.

Ramphal said many of the farmers cannot go back on those lands because it is contaminated with salt water.

“It might take years for it to come back to its natural state and there is very little help being given to those people of that area,” the Chairman told reporters on Thursday.

Texila welcomes new batch of students $292M fireboat

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he Texila American University (TAU) once again opens its doors to another batch of students for the 2019-2020 academic year.

The University, in welcoming their new intake, conducted a three-day ceremony that embraced a total of 61 students.

The freshmen, who were all ready to venture out on their journeys, were greeted with welcoming tools and a series of events that were aimed at ensuring that the integration period was funfilled.

On day one of the ceremony, the students were greeted by staff and members of the University and later taken on a campus tour so that they would become familiar with the facility and its framework. This activity was expected to help the students have easy access and mobility.

Meanwhile, the second day saw them interacting with their seniors and on day three, the school’s faculty team briefed the students on their various policies.

Even with a fun-filled programme and with their new students’ welfare in mind, the University hosted a separate programme that catered for the parents of the students.

With the main objective in

mind to create a friendly relationship between parents and the institution, this programme fostered a discussion with parents on the challenges and difficulties students face in day-to-day life.

Business Administration and Public Health are the new programmes TAU has introduced into the programmes they already offer.

These classes are expected to be more interactive while creating a liberal experience from both ends.

Mr Sepersaud Denonarain, the Academic Coordinator of the Programmes, expressed how elated he is to for the new journey the University is about to venture on. He said, “I am especially pleased to say that we are starting something great here in our University, and it is going to be very successful for our students and faculties. We are inviting anyone who wants to further their education in these areas of life”.

White coat ceremony

Furthermore, 33 students moved on to their clinical practices after the white coat ceremony at the Texila American University. This ceremony has now become a part of the University, more

commissioned

Students of Texila University during the white coat ceremony

or less as a new tradition with great significance. It symbolises the transition from the completion of studies to the world of work.

The keynote speaker during the ceremony was Chairperson of Medical Council of Guyana, Dr Navindranauth Rambaran.

Other speakers included: Dr Hugh Duckworth, Chief Academic Officer; Dr Jeffrey Antonio, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Dr Dheeraj Bansal, Dean of the College of Medicine.

Dr Jeffrey Antonio addressed the gathering, highlighting the significance and importance of the white coat ceremony; while Dr Bansal introduced the faculty members of the College of Medicine and

shared some words of encouragement as the students progressed into their MD level.

At this event, each new student was tasked with reciting a version of the Hippocratic Oath, which acknowledged their commitment to serve humanity with honour, compassion, and dignity. The Oath was followed by the presentation of the coats to each student by the Chief Guest, Dr Rambaran, as well as Dr Bansal.

Out of a total number of 1046 accepted applicants for admissions for the medical school, this batch of students was from a diverse class of 54 per cent females, with students hailing from Guyana, Africa, India, and the Caribbean region.

The fireboat which was commissioned on Thursday

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$292 million fireboat was on Thursday commissioned to boost the capabilities of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).

Speaking at the small commissioning ceremony, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle reiterated the vision of the GFS. He said that the GFS has over the years received tangible support, resulting in a tremendous

effort over the past seven years to rebuild the organisation.

The vessel was constructed by UK-based company Angloco Limited.

In opening remarks, Divisional Officer Gregory Wickham noted this new contribution will add tremendous firefighting capabilities by strengthening its contribution to the preservation of life.

GLDA concerned...

Continued from page 13

On this note, he indicated that the local authority was in the process of imple-

menting measures to mitigate the possible introduction of ASF. One of the measures that are on the table for discussion is that importers of meat would not be able to ship any kind of meat to Guyana without a permit.

He added that currently there was no treatment available for the disease and no treatment should be attempted. Moreover, he explained that humans were not susceptible to the disease and there were no public health or food safety concerns.

The disease can be transmitted through direct contact with pigs, environmental contaminations, and bites from flies and mosquitoes among other vectors.

ASF is a highly contagious haemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs. It is caused by a DNA virus that is related to the Asfarviridae family.

It is known to infect ticks of the genus Ornithodoros.

Even though signs of ASF and classical swine fever (CSF) may be similar, the ASF virus is unrelated to the CSF virus.

news

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friday, october 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Almost 200 patients on GPHC’s waiting list for orthopaedic surgery

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lmost 200 persons are on a waiting list to have some form of orthopaedic surgery done at the Georgetown Public Hospital and while local doctors are skilled enough to perform these procedures, the lack of adequate equipment and high cost are contributing to the delays.

According to Head of the Orthopaedic Department at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr David Samaroo, local doctors were competent to do the surgeries at the GPHC, especially in relation to trauma, orthopaedic deformities and joint surgeries, but the cost factor has resulted in a backlog of the number of persons seeking such treatment even with assistance from overseas medical teams visiting Guyana.

“The problem that we have is that the cost of implants are somewhat a bit expensive and because of

Head of the Orthopaedic Department at the GPHC, Dr David Samaroo

that, we are unable to do the amount of joint surgeries that we would like to do. Since the team came last year and left, we would have done joint surgeries; in my opinion, they are not sufficient in terms of the amount of patients that are coming to us. If you compare the number of patients that require the surgery and the rate at which we are getting the surgery, there is a great disparity there and that is because of the cost of the implants and the cost of

actually getting the surgeries done,” Dr Samaroo said.

He also acknowledged that there was a great need for more equipment.

“From time to time, some of the instruments become a bit worn or sometimes a bit damaged and because of logistics where we have to import them, it takes some time to get them here. In terms of orthopaedic surgeries, they are somewhat the high end of surgery, there is really a cost for these equipment and instruments for the surgery that is much more expensive than doing the trauma surgeries, but we do have the instruments for the surgeries. What is keeping us back to some extent is implants and to get newer instrumentation – to update our instrumentation.”

Dr Samaroo added that a number of local and overseas companies have already placed bids to facilitate the GPHC with the

much-needed instruments and implants.

However, it is the relevant authorities who now have to decide which company they will approve to supply the hospital with the items that are required for the abovementioned surgeries.

“And we have all gone through the bids that were presented in terms of looking at which is more feasible and which is technically of the correct quality to do the surgeries. So that

Georgetown Public Hospital

process has been for some time under review before it can be approved by Cabinet for us to select which company to take these instruments from,” Dr Samaroo explained.

Just recently, dozens of patients who for many years were suffering from orthopaedic ailments benefited from specialised surgeries at the GPHC spearheaded by US medical team “Operation Walk” from Maryland. A team from “Operation Walk”

had visited Guyana last year and 47 patients benefited from the much-needed surgeries. This year, the medical team was able to provide more services in this regard. There were 50 replacement surgeries conducted over a three-and-ahalf-day period as part of this collaborative initiative.

Dr Samaroo had stated that the presence of the US medical team here last year and once again in 2019 tremendously assisted the Hospital with the number of patients who were in dire need of surgeries.

“In addition to conducting 50 patient surgeries; last year, we did six, patients had bilateral knee replacement surgeries so that took the number of joints replaced to 53.

While this year, eight patients had bilateral surgeries, bilateral limb surgeries done, so that took that number to 58 surgeries.”

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, october 18, 2019

Around the World

Turkey to suspend Syria offensive, Mike Pence announces

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urkey has agreed to a ceasefire in northern Syria to let Kurdishled forces withdraw, US Vice-President Mike Pence has announced.

The development followed talks in Ankara between Mr Pence and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

All military operations will be paused for five days, and the US will help facilitate an "orderly withdrawal" of Kurdish-led troops from what Turkey has

Vice-President Mike Pence made the announcement beside US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

termed a "safe zone" on the border.

Turkey launched its assault last week.

It aimed to push back the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdishled militia that Ankara views as a terrorist group, and resettle up to two million Syrian refugees in the area.

Critics raised fears that the move could trigger ethnic cleansing of the local Kurdish population.

The cross-border of-

fensive came after US President Donald Trump announced he was pulling US forces out of the border region - a decision widely criticised in the US and internationally.

Mr Trump tweeted about the ceasefire before Mr Pence unveiled it, writing: "Millions of lives will be saved!"

He added later: "This deal could NEVER have been made 3 days ago.

There needed to be some "tough" love in order to get

it done. Great for everybody. Proud of all!"

Mr Pence credited Donald Trump's "strong leadership" during the announcement, saying: "He wanted a ceasefire. He wanted to stop the violence."

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told journalists the offensive would only be permanently halted when the SDF had left the border zone. (Excerpt from BBC News)

US jury begins deliberating in drug Ecuador’s Indigenous leaders re-assert trial of Honduran President’s brother influence but face obstacles to power

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urors on Thursday began deliberating in the US drug trafficking case of Honduran politician Juan Antonio “Tony” Hernandez, brother of the Central American country’s current President, following a two-week trial in federal court in Manhattan.

Prosecutors have accused Hernandez of helping smuggle almost 200,000 kilograms (220 tonnes) of cocaine into the United States while enjoying the protection of his brother, President

Juan Orlando Hernandez.

Assistant US Attorney Emil Bove told jurors in his closing argument on Wednesday that Tony Hernandez and his associates were able to operate with impunity by corrupting the highest levels of government.

“They turned the government against its people,” he said. “And they used the government for state-sponsored drug trafficking”.

Hernandez’s lawyers told jurors their client is inno-

cent of all the charges, and the President has denied the allegation.

In the course of the trial, jurors heard testimony from several drug traffickers who are now in US custody and cooperating with authorities, including Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga, former leader of Honduras’ Cachiros gang, and Amilcar Alexander Ardon, former mayor of the town of El Paraiso. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexico flies 300 Indian migrants to New Delhi in "unprecedented" mass deportation

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exico has deported over 300 Indian nationals to New Delhi, the National Migration Institute (INM) said late on Wednesday, in what it described as an unprecedented transatlantic deportation.

The 310 men and one woman that INM said were in Mexico illegally were sent on a chartered flight, accompanied by federal immigration agents and Mexico’s National Guard.

The people had been scattered in eight states around the country, INM

said, including in southern Mexico where many Indian migrants enter the country, hoping to transit to the US border.

“It is unprecedented in INM’s history – in either form or the number of people – for a transatlantic air transport like the one carried out on this day,” INM said in a statement.

The Mexican Government in June struck a deal with the United States, vowing to significantly curb USbound migration in exchange for averting US

tariffs on Mexican exports.

Caitlyn Yates, a research coordinator at IBI Consultants who has studied increasing numbers of US-bound Asian and African migrants arriving in Mexico, said the backlog of migrants in southern Mexico has grown as officials have stopped issuing permits for them to cross the country.

“This type of deportation in Mexico is the first of its kind but likely to continue,” Yates said.

(Reuters)

Desperate African refugees pay to get into Libyan jails – UNHCR

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frican refugees in Libya are so desperate that some are bribing their way into detention centers in the hope of eventually being resettled out of the war-torn, lawless country, the United Nations said on Thursday.

Forces loyal to eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive in April to try to wrest control of Tripoli from forces aligned with the internationally-recognised government, which is based in the capital.

An air strike by opposition forces in July that killed more than 50 people at Tajoura de-

tention center in Tripoli increased pressure on countries to find a safe haven for trapped refugees and migrants.

But despite continuing shelling and air attacks – fighting has killed more than 1000 people and displaced 28,000 since April – few countries have agreed to take refugees out of Libya, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.

“So far 14 states have pledged 6611 places of resettlement...That’s all,” Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR special envoy for the central Mediterranean situation, told a briefing.

Canada, Norway and Italy are among them, while Niger and Rwanda have offered others temporary sanctuary, he said.

“There are many countries that could offer places of resettlement and that do not,” he added.

Libya has become the main conduit for Africans fleeing war and poverty trying to reach Europe since former leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011, though the number of crossings dropped sharply from 2017 amid a European Unionbacked push to block arrivals.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

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cuador’s Indigenous leaders, emboldened by their success in derailing IMF-backed fuel-subsidy cuts, have set their sights on high office, but experts say they face formidable obstacles - a small population, infighting and struggles with campaign finance.

On Monday, after days of violent indigenous-led protests, President Lenin Moreno abandoned a measure to end decades-old fuel subsidies aimed at getting the country’s finances in check.

Moreno’s backtracking was a major victory for Ecuador’s indigenous peoples, who have led uprisings that helped topple at least three governments but have struggled to make a mark in day-to-day politics.

Jaime Vargas, one of the protest leaders from the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, or CONAIE, said he was mobbed as he left a market this week.

“I couldn’t get out of there because everyone was coming up to me, saying ‘Jaime Vargas for president,’” he told

Ecuadorean Indigenous leader Jaime Vargas (3rd from right) gestures with fellow leaders from different ethnic communities during a news conference in Quito, Ecuador

Reuters in an interview. “‘If you say so,’” he said he told them. “‘If you decide, I’m willing’”.

The Indigenous officially represent 7% of Ecuador’s 17 million people, but activists say the true figure, obscured by how the census measures the long-marginalized population, and could be as high as 40%.

However, as a national force, they wield little power. Pachakutik, the political wing of CONAIE, has just

five federal lawmakers in the country’s 137-seat National Assembly, with five regionally elected prefects.

“The Indigenous movement has demonstrated it has regained its ability ... to make governments blink,” said Nicholas Watson of Teneo.

“However, knocking down is easier than building up, and it is not clear that the indigenous movement has embarked on a pathway that leads inexorably to more power”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

European Union announces new Brexit deal with UK

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ritain and the European Union have finally struck a new Brexit deal after days of intense backand-forth negotiations, setting the stage for another major parliamentary showdown over the United Kingdom’s bid to leave the bloc after months of political chaos.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, announced the agreement on Thursday just hours before EU leaders were due to meet in Brussels, whom he called on to back the deal.

“Where there is a will, there is a deal – we have one!

It’s a fair and balanced agreement for the EU and the UK and it is testament to our commitment to find solutions,” Juncker said in a post on Twitter.

The new agreement – which sets out a revised plan for Northern Ireland, a major stumbling block in the previous deal – must still be for-

The United Kingdom is scheduled to depart the European Union on October 31

mally approved by all of the EU’s member states and ratified by the European and UK Parliaments.

It comes just two weeks before the United Kingdom is scheduled to depart the 28-member bloc on October 31.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the last-minute breakthrough.

“We’ve got a great new deal that takes back control – now Parliament should get Brexit done on Saturday so we can move on to other prior-

ities like the cost of living, the NHS, violent crime and our environment #GetBrexitDone #TakeBackControl,” Johnson said in a post on Twitter.

Johnson’s plan will now be put to British legislators, who are set to vote on the agreement during a special sitting of the House of Commons on Saturday.

The UK Parliament has already rejected a prior Brexit deal – negotiated by Johnson’s predecessor Theresa May – three times (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

A

fter a nine-year hiatus, Guyana will once again have a sari pageant to usher in the festival of lights and will see five amazing girls competing for the title. The pageant is set for Saturday, October 19 at the Guyana National Stadium during the hosting of the

Delegate #1: Sarah Alana Madramootoo Age: 19 Village: Beehive North, East Coast Demerara Platform: Preventing suicide & fighting for a positive body image Hobbies: Dancing, reading, yoga & crossword puzzles

Guyana Divya Jyoti Annual Diwali Motorcade.

The five delegates will compete in several segments including introduction, talent, sari display and intelligence. The pageant is expected to commence at 19:00h following the motorcade.

Delegate #2: Truvanie Persaud Age: 19 Village: Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara Platform: Depression Hobbies: Modelling, Pageantry, Sports, Makeup

D Delegate #5: Nikito Nafeeza Lochan Age: 21 Village: Georgetown Platform: Motivation and empowerment of juvenile delinquents Hobbies: Dancing, reading, writing short stories & hanging out with friends & family

friDAY, october 18, 2019

Apart from the entertainment that will be provided by the delegates, the members of the Ishara Dance Troupe will be heating things up along with GTT star Ganesh Singh, dancers of the Indian Cultural Centre and the National School of Dance. In addition, the Shakti String

Orchestra will be in the house.

Emcee for the evening will be Joel Ganshaam. Admission is absolutely free but a cost of 1000 will be charged for parking in the stadium. There will be lots of sweet meat and seven curry on sale.

Delegate #3: Madhurie Raishma Ramgolam Age: 18 Village: Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara Platform: Teen suicide Hobbies: Reading

Delegate #4: Dhanwanttie Amisha Tajeshwar Age: 19 Village: Diamond, East Bank Demerara Platform: Women empowerment Hobbies: Reading, web surfing & listening to music

eejay Andrew Yee, popularly known as “Chinese Assassin”, will be celebrating his 29th birthday in grandeur this year with several high-level parties in Guyana, the USA and Suriname.

Presently in the US, this dynamic deejay is getting ready to take NY by storm on Saturday, October 19.

The action then moves to Club Sowiya, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) on Friday, November 1, 2019.

It will be a grand affair as this year, it will be one party with a difference. It will be the first “Glow Party” event – one that

allows patrons make a statement by stepping out in their neon glow outfits.

Advance tickets for the event cost only $800 but more will be charged at the gate. Music will be provided by Chinese Assassin Sound System. This event is sponsored by 592 Beer, Jaigobin Hotel & Supermarket, Multi Care Pharmacy and Biway Music Master.

Further, the party continues on Saturday, November 2 in Suriname. As usual, Deejay Andrew Yee will leave no stones unturned as he reps the 592 nation in the Dutch-speaking country.

guyanatimesgy.com

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he H i n d u Swayamsevak SanghHindus for Selfless Service (HSS) will host its annual “National Diya Lightup” on Sunday, October 20, 2019 at Rahaman’s Park, Greater Georgetown.

The first National Diya was lit in 2015 at the same location and would have illuminated the entire area, ushering the period of Diwali.

This event will mark the fifth consecutive National Diya of Guyana and as usual, will be attended by Heads of leading Hindu and other religious organisations, young leaders and the general public.

The period of Diwali is one of the most festive and beautiful times of the year.

Diwali literally means a row of lights. It is a time filled with light and love; a time when Hindus all over the world rejoice. It is the darkest night of

friDAY, october 18, 2019

the darkest period, yet it is a celebration of light!

Diwali is heralded as the triumph of good over evil.

The meaning of Diwali, its symbols and rituals, and the reasons for celebration are innumerable. Diwali celebrates Lord Rama’s glorious and long-awaited return to his kingdom of Ayodhya after his fourteen years of exile in the forests.

It commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakaasura who had kidnapped and terrorised the gopis of Vrindavan.

It is also celebrated as the day Bhagwan Vishnu married Maha Lakshmi. Diwali is also associated with the story of the fall of Bali – a de-

mon king who was defeated

by Lord Vishnu. In general, Diwali signifies the triumph of good over evil, of righteousness over treachery, of truth over falsehood, and of light over darkness.

However, Diwali is not

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just a festival of lights so that we may burn candles, fireworks and sparklers. Sure, these are wonderful ways of expressing our gaiety. But it is not the only or true meaning of ‘light’.

Diwali is a festival of the light which dispels the darkness of our ignorance; it is a festival of the light which shows us the way on our journey through life.

Hence, the theme for this year’s National Diya is “The Light from Within Dispelling the Darkness Across Guyana”. The purpose is not to glorify the light of the lamp or the firecracker. The purpose is to glorify the light of God. It is He who bestows the real light, the everlasting light upon the darkness of this mundane world. A candle burns out.

A firework is a momentary visual experience.

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But, the candle of a still mind and the fireworks of a heart filled with bhakti are divine and eternal; these are what we should be celebrating. The light of Diwali should be within us. It should symbolise the personal relationship between God and ourselves. Let the light penetrate inward, for only there will it have lasting benefit. A piece of cotton soaked in ghee, lit with a pure heart, a conscious mind and a desire to be free from ignorance is far “brighter” than 100 expensive deepaks (lamps).

Apart from the spectacular display of the National Diya, it will be a cultural evening of dances, skits and music to portray the significance of the national holiday. This event will commence at 18:00h a n d conclude at 20:00h.

he most anticipated pageant in the ancient county, Miss Berbice—I’m a BIG deal beauty & empowerment pageant returns for its 3rd edition this year and promises to be bigger and better.

The Miss Berbice Pageant is more than the beauty, glitz, and glam, it is about women empowerment and using the stage to confront and change the issues that continue to plague Berbicians in their day-to-day lives.

The 2019 delegates are undergoing training under the watchful eyes of professional pageant trained Miss Shenelly Kendall as they prepare for the sashing ceremony set for Saturday, October 19 at the Main Hall of the Albion Sports Complex ground on the Corentyne.

This year’s pageant will be held in four-segments, starting with the sashing ceremony, followed by the swimwear, then costume competition, the home and public impression of delegates to the organisers and trainers and finally the main event which will focus on the delegates, talent, evening gowns, and intelligence, according to pageant coordinator Tracey Khan.

As part of the mandate of the pageant, the delegates would have to be involved in community projects to raise awareness on their platform. The platforms chosen are topical and include issues like crime, suicide, domestic violence, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy among others.

After the sashing, the young ladies will prepare for the Swimsuit and Costume Competition on November 23 and the curtain will come down with the crowning of a new queen on Saturday, November 30 at the Albion Sports Complex ground.

Over $500,000 in cash and prizes will be up for grabs. The event is promoted by Royston Drakes Production.

friday, october 18, 2019

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Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers U-18 League…

2nd edition begins next week ꟷ to use little-known format

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he Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers Under-18 Football Tournament returns next week for a second installment of league action, but this time a format would be utilised that is not often used in schools’ football tournaments.

Instead of round-robin action preceding the knockout stage, the new format being utilised would allow school teams to test their skills against every other team in the tournament, before the winner is determined by highest points scored.

At the tournament's launch, which was hosted at the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue yesterday afternoon, the competition received the blessing of the Education Ministry in a message delivered

by Allied Arts Administrator Lorraine Barker-King, who ably highlighted the importance of having rounded students in the nation's schools.

“We are aware of the multiplicity of benefits to be derived from exposure to the arts in the area of physical education and sport.

Some of these benefits are: development of healthy lifestyles, positive attitudes, and cognitive development; that is, we see an impact on academics, we see better performances,” she explained.

And while extending gratitude to the Guyana Oil Company for their generosity exhibited for the second consecutive year, Petra CoDirector Troy Mendonca described Guyoil's commitment to sport as admirable.

“Most companies, as you know, will make investment decisions based on expected results, or (decisions are) results-driven; and the mere fact that, for this U18 football tournament, the officials and executives of this company can’t immediately measure what results they will get, shows serious commitment by the companies to invest in the human capital of the country,” Mendonca explained.

On Tradewind Tankers' behalf, former Spanish player Jorge Abukhalil explained why the company got involved, and encouraged students to seize the glorious opportunity provided.

“We at Tradewind Tankers strongly believe in sports.

We believe that it’s a great opportunity for you guys, not only to develop physical activity, but to learn the quality of playing as a team. We’re very happy. I wish you the best,” the Tradewind Tankers’ Representative said.

Ten secondary schools will be participating in this year’s tournament: defending

Guyoil’s Jacquelin James, MoE’s Lorraine Barker-King, Petra’s Troy Mendonca and Tradewind Tankers’ Jorge Abukhalil take a photo opportunity with some participating students

champs Annandale Secondary, Bishops’ High School, St. Stanislaus College, St. John’s College, President’s College, Cummings Lodge Secondary, Marian Academy, Lodge Secondary, Queen’s College and Charlestown Secondary.

Standby teams are Tucville Secondary and Carmel Secondary. Guyoil Marketing Manager Jacqueline James also encouraged the teams while declaring Guyoil’s continued commitment to partnership with the Petra Organization.

“One of the things we recognise is that you’re doing something that you love; and also it has a benefit for your school, ‘cause some teams last

year were able to give back to their schools. On behalf of Tradewind Tankers and Guyoil, we wish you a successful tournament, and we will definitely continue to support the Petra Organization,” she said.

As is the norm with school tournaments, the prizes will be in kind, with the top four winning teams selecting the project to which their win would be dedicated. Cash prizes on offer in this tournament are as follows: $200,000, $100,000,

$50,000 and $25,000.The top two finishers in this league will get opportunity to compete in the KFC Goodwill Tournament which will kick off in December.

(Jemima Holmes)

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friday, october 18, 2019

GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships…

Excitement and entertainment abound in 3rd night’s play E

xcitement and entertainment abounded as the GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships continued for a third night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown.

In the First Division Men’s category, Pepsi Hikers defeated their rivals Bounty GCC 6-4 in an electrifying event; while action in the counterpart Ladies’ category saw GBTI GCC Spice continue their dominance by edging out their junior counterparts GBTI GCC Spartans 3-2; and GBTI GCC Tigers demolished Saints 5-0.

Action in the Second Division Men’s category saw YMCA Old Fort Top Form being silenced by Saints Silencers 5-0, while the Bounty GCC Pitbulls mauled YMCA Old Fort Hard Ball 7-0; and in the Vets category, Antonio’s Hikers drew 4-4 with YMCA Old Fort Hot Shotz.

In the Men’s First Division action, Aroydy Branford netted five goals for Pepsi Hikers, one goal short of securing a double hat-trick; and a lone goal was contributed by teammate Robert France to enable the defeat of Bounty GCC 6-4.

The game got off to a fiery start, with Aroydy Branford opening the score for Pepsi Hikers in the 4th minute, before increasing their lead to two-nil with a goal scored in the 7th minute.

Bounty GCC pressed on, and the calm, experienced Dwayne Scott netted a penalty stroke in the 9th minute. Pepsi Hikers nevertheless continued to showcase their skills, and in the 17th minute, Robert France extended their lead to 3-1, which remained unchanged at the end of the first half.

A determined Bounty GCC,

however, fought back, and levelled the scores at 3-3 with goals from Orland Semple in the 13th minute and Kevin Spencer in the 25th minute.

But Hikers regained the lead when Aroydy Branford scored goals

the victory for Pepsi Hikers.

In the night’s first match of the Ladies’ First Division action, a scintillating clash ensued between GBTI GCC Spartans and GBTI GCC Spice.

Swift and feline, Shebiki Baptiste found the back of the net in the 6th minute, enabling GBTI GCC Spice to take the lead. Shortly thereafter, her teammate Sandy Roopnarine

Cadogan to level the scores.

The tussle between the teams continued until Shebiki Baptiste, heroine of the GCC Spice, found the back of the net in the 36th minute to ensure defeat of the Spartans by a margin of 3 goals to 2.

In the Ladies’ First Division second match of the night, Marzana Fiedtkou netted a hat-trick of goals and Gabriella

attempted a fightback but seemingly could not find the back of the net; and to compound their misfortune, a defensive error caused a penalty stroke to be awarded to the Tigers.

Marzana Fiedtkou, though, fired the ball unerringly past Nia Williams and into the net, to take the score to 3-Nil. And Gabriella Xavier, with nimble stick work,

Xavier scored two goals in the GBTI GCC Tigers’ mauling of the Saints.

Having opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a skilfully placed penalty corner, Marzana Fiedtkou doubled the Tigers’ lead with a 9th minute goal; and the first half of play ended with the scoreline reading 2-Nil. In second-half play, Saints

made light work of the Saints’ defence as she scored field goals in the 36th and 39th minutes to engineer the game ending on 5-0 in favour of the GCC Tigers.

YMCA Old Fort Hot Shotz drew with Antonio’s Hikers 4-4 in an exhilarating veterans’ match. Jason De Santos led his team to the front with a field goal scored in the 3rd minute

Action on night three of the GTT Indoor Hockey Championships

in the 26th and 27th minutes to push the score to 5-3. GCC then narrowed that lead to one with a field goal from young Mesach Sargeant, who found the back of the net in the 35th minute.

Hikers, however, kept the momentum up, and in the final minute of the game, Aroydy Branford made no mistake with his penalty corner, which sealed

scored a field goal, extending that lead to 2-nil.

Undaunted, GBTI GCC Spartans responded in the 23rd minute when Sarah Klautky converted a penalty corner to reduce the lead to 2-1, thus applying pressure on the GCC Spice. One minute later, a brilliant build-up from the Spartans enabled Abosaide

of the game; and it wasn’t until the 18th minute that the Hikers were able to respond with a field goal from Rene Edwards.

In the 20th minute, Old Fort were awarded a penalty, and the confident Jason De Santos easily found the back of the net to take the score to 2-1.

Hikers, however, levelled the scores in the 21st minute with a field goal from Devin Munroe.

The game intensified when Old Fort regained the lead in the 22nd minute with a field goal from John Abrahams. Their short-lived celebrations ended in the 23rd minute when the Hikers, through excellent buildup of play, levelled the scores at 3-all, with Nicolette Fernandes making no mistake in finding the back of the net.

Jason De Santos, with his hat-trick goal, finally broke the deadlock and converted a penalty corner for Old Fort to take the score to 4-3.

But the game was not over, because the mythical fat lady had not yet sung her tune; and in the dying seconds of the game, the Hikers were awarded a penalty corner.

Captain Devin Munroe, shouldering the weight of the Hikers’ earnest expectations, and with the game on the line, fortuitously found the back of the net to secure the draw for his team and end the game on 4-All. In Second Division matches, Bounty GCC Pitbulls destroyed YMCA Old Fort Hall Ball 7-Nil, with goals coming from Mesach Sargeant, Kareem McKenzie, Rahim Oliver, John Phang and Samuel Woodroffe.

YMCA Old Fort Top Form defeated the Saints Silencers by 5 goals to nil, with goals coming from Omar Hopkinson, Chris Low-Koan, Theodore Thierens and Daniel Wolford.

Matches in this tournament continue all week at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, and the finals are set for Sunday evening.

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, october 18, 2019

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR SALE

21

CAC 2019 Bodybuilding Championships…

Clarke proud of his achievements

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By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he 2019 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding Championships which were recently held have seen Guyana’s five-time ‘Mr Guyana’ title-holder Kerwin Clarke add a gold medal to his resume after using his well-defined physique to dominate his weight class.

Clarke’s quest for greatness has been beset by ups and downs, but he continues to strive determinedly in the face of dogged challenges. Prior to obtaining this gold medal, he had competed in the CAC four times, and in 2016 was able to earn a silver medal, bettering the fourth place he had earned in 2015.

In 2017, Clarke suffered a major leg injury that prevented him from competing, and although he had got himself together in 2018, he could not compete because of unforeseen circumstances. He did not give up, though, knowing in himself that 2019 was his year and time to bring home the gold.

And finally, with his 175 pounds of striated muscle suspended on a stately frame, Clarke was quite easily able to

obliterate the competition in the under 176-pound class of nine musclemen in the 2019 Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport Clarke was asked how he feels about his performance, considering everything against which he has had to contend. His response was, “I would have invested a lot of time in the gym, dedicating the amount of time to each specific body part. Xie Xie (in Barr St, Kitty) played an important part in my meal prep, as this allowed me to be more focused, primarily on training. “I would have invested a lot of my time in training and strategising how I want to appear on stage. I feel well accomplished, as I have always had this attitude that whatever negative encounter I face, I use it as a motivation. This is what helps me to be a better individual holistically.”

Clarke was sponsored by Fitness Express; Xie Xie; Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion; Innovative Mining; Global Health Care; Prem’s Electrical; Attorneyat-law Sohan Poonai, and by the Guyana Olympic House Association.

GT Beer "Keep Your 5 Alive" futsal on at National Gymnasium

O

ver the next three weeks, 24 teams will battle for supremacy in the 7th Annual GT Beer ‘Keep Your 5 Alive’ Futsal tournament which began in earnest at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue from yesterday.

Nine matches got the tournament rolling on Thursday, and nine other games will on Saturday be played at the same venue.

Teams from Georgetown, West Demerara, East Coast and East Bank Demerara are contending for a top prize of $550,000 and the Championship Trophy.

The finals are set for November 9th.

The opening night of competition saw Upsetters battle Bad-A-Yard; North East contend against Back Circle; Leopold Street square off against Avocado Ballers; Showstoppers clash with LA Ballers; BV collided with Stabroek Ballers; Tiger Bay come up against Melanie; Bent Street face

down Broad Street; Alexander Village face off against Old School Ballers; and Sparta taking on Charlotte Street.

The tournament is sponsored by GT Beer; and Kevin Adonis, founder/coordinator of the tournament, received the sponsorship cheque from Banks DIH Limited during a presentation at Thirst Park earlier this week.

Having thanked this benevolent corporate giant for again sponsoring the tournament, Adonis disclosed that play would be in a round-robin format this year, with four teams each competing in six groups, and respective winners advancing to the knockout round.

First-round matches will also be played next Tuesday and Thursday before the knockout stage gets underway.

The winning purse is worth $550,000; but 2nd place is worth $250,000 and 3rd place is worth $125,000, while 4th place is worth $75,000.

22

friday, october 18, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

SBF Petroleum CGI Jaguars 50-over franchise cricket…

Steaming "Smithy" sends Georgetown packing with 6-for

By Brandon Corlette

A

vicious spell of fast bowling by Lower Corentyne’s Nial Smith has engineered a third straight defeat for Georgetown in the SBF Petroleum Cricket Guyana Inc. Jaguars 50-Over franchise cricket tournament.

In a match played at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground at Bourda yesterday, Smith’s haul of 6-41 restricted Georgetown to 104 all out, as the city side’s batting woes continued.

In reply, Lower Corentyne secured victory on 105-3 in 28.4 overs.

The 23-year-old Smith, who bowls at speeds in excess of 85mph, began the carnage when he surprised Joshua Persaud with his extreme pace and had him dismissed for a paltry six runs. Georgetown had, with the second ball of the match, lost Robin Bacchus to off-spinner Junior Sinclair; and Smith woke up the Bourda wicket win his venomous fast bowling, even striking Raymond Perez a blow to the rib cage.

After Perez left the field, the peppering continued as the red-hot Smith sent the Guyana Jaguars captain back to the dressing room for a five-ball duck, his having slashed one to Seon Hetmyer at point.

At 11-3 Christopher Barnwell and Steven Jacobs attempted a repair job, and took the score to 38-4 before Barnwell, on 11, fell victim to Smith by means of leg-before.

Despite some ordinary umpiring, Smith analyzed the conditions and pitched up the ball at searing pace to remove Barnwell.

One run later, Smith trapped Jacobs, who hit two sixes at the crease, for 19.

Young Jerimiah Scott, who fell for a duck, was Smith’s fifth wicket.

West Indies Under-19 player Ashmead Nedd and Paul Wintz briefly weathered the storm before both were struck down by the lightning fast Smith.

Wintz made a pugnacious 19 while Nedd scored 11.

Qumar Torrington (15) was the final wicket to fall, bounced out by Smith as Georgetown failed to reach 150 for the third time in the tournament.

In addition to Smith recording figures of 6-41 in 9.2 overs, left-arm spinner Trevon Stanislaus had 2-24 in 10 overs, while Kelvin Umroa and Sinclair each had one wicket.

Responding, Jonathan Foo and Kevlon Anderson accumulated 64 runs to take Lower Corentyne to 105-3 in 28.4 overs and register a 7-wicket win. Foo top-scored with an unbeaten 42 that included four boundaries, while Anderson struck a classy 35 that was decorated with three fours. Stephan Sankar took 2-27 in 7.4 overs, while the impressive Nedd had 1-17 in 10 brilliant overs.

Pestano's blistering 92 takes Upper Corentyne to victory Over at Enmore, Upper Corentyne racked up 258-7 in 50 overs. Clinton Pestano, batting at number 5, scored 92 while Anthony Bramble scored 34 and Alex Algoo chipped in with 31. Bowling for East Coast, Damuka Ngquando had 3-51.

In reply, East Coast made 207 all out, with Amir Khan leading the way with an unbeaten 75, and Robin Willliams scoring 54.

Eon Hooper and Jonathan Rampersad had two wickets each in Upper Corentyne’s 46-

Essequibo remain unbeaten, Hetmyer fails Anthony and Ricardo Adams defended 83 runs to make Essequibo win by five runs a match played at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice against the West Berbice Franchise.

In a team that included batting maestro Shimron Hetmyer, West Berbice made 77 all out as Anthony Adams ended with 6-25 in nine overs, while his brother Ricardo took 4-30 in 10

overs. This included the big wicket of Shimron Hetmyer for eight, after hitting a six and being caught at the boundary.

Teenager Marvan Prashad scored 19 for West Berbice in a losing effort.

Earlier, the ever-reliable Kevin Sinclair

Anthony Adams took six wickets for Essequibo

continued his dream season with a brilliant spell of 5-31, this right-arm off-spinner ensuring that defending champions Essequibo stumble to 82 all out in 28.4 overs.

Sinclair was supported by veteran first-class seamer Keon Joseph, who ended with 3-21 while Gudakesh Motie had 2-26 in 10 overs.

The fourth round of matches will continue on Saturday with West Berbice meeting Lower Corentyne at Young Warriors ground; East Bank meeting East Coast at Enmore ground; Georgetown meeting Upper Corentyne at Port Mourant ground; and Essequibo meeting West Demerara at GCC. Pace like fire! Smith hits Ashmead Nedd (Brandon Corlette photos)

run win.

Griffith takes 6-8 against West Demerara In a match played at Tuschen (EBE), East Bank Demerara inflicted a 6-wicket thrashing on West Demerara after Trevon Griffith’s 6-8.

Batting first, West Demerara were bundled out for 81 in 30.2 overs, with only Tevin Imlach (27) and Renaldo Renne (10) being able to reach double-digit figures in a poor batting effort.

Bowling right-arm offspin, Griffith bowled 6.2 overs that included three maidens and produced the impressive figures of 6-8. Trevon France and Stephan Wilson supported with two wickets each.

In reply, East Bank easily lost Griffith (06) and Mavindra Dindyal (00), but Sachin Singh and Renaldo Ali Mohamed ensured that East Bank chase down the total in 18 overs.

Singh ended unbeaten on 30, which included four sixes, while Ali Mohamed scored a 22-ball 28 which included three sixes. Richie Looknauth had 2-38 for West Demerara.

Berbice Cricket Board/Let’s Bet Sports 100 balls Cricket Tournament…

Dukestown, #70 A Spartans, #72 All Stars join #68 in Upper Corentyne semis

T

he popular BCB/Let’s Bet Sports 100 balls cricket tournament for teams in the Upper Corentyne area continued last Sunday.

Three teams: Dukestown, #70 Spartans, and No 72 All Stars, advanced to the semifinals to join #68 Turn team, which had drawn a bye to the semifinals. Dukestown Warriors defeated Bomb Squad by seven wickets; #72 All Stars defeated #70 MYO by 23 runs, and #70 ‘A’ Spartans got past #64 Fighting Marines by 36 runs.

One of these four teams would eventually emerge Champions of the Upper Corentyne and then go on to play in the overall Berbice tournament. That team would clash with the Champions of West Berbice, New Amsterdam/ Canje and Lower/Central Corentyne.

BCB President Hilbert Foster has said the overall finals would most likely be played in the Upper Corentyne area, as crowd support there is usually very enthusiastic.

Five historic tournaments are being sponsored by the Guyana Lottery Company under its Let’s Bet Sports brand at a cost of $1 million, and scores from the quarterfinals matches are as follows: Dukestown Warriors beat Bomb Squad by 7 wickets at the #69 Ground. Bomb Squad made 110 for 9 from their 100 balls’ allotment; with Paran Pooran making 27, R. Mohabir 25, and I. Adams 13.

Errol Byass took 2 for 21 from 3 overs and K. Clarke took 2 for 18 from 3 overs.

Dukestown Warriors made 111 for 3 from 10.1 overs, with Errol Byass contributing 42, K. Clarke 23 and Jermaine Reid 13. #72 All Stars defeated #70 MYO by 23 runs at the #72 All Stars Sports Ground. #72 All Stars scored 134 for 9 from 16.4 overs, with K. Chatterpaul making 64 and S. Singh 23.

S. Khan took 4 for 18 from 3.2 overs, and J. Assad took 2 for 22 from 3 overs. #70 MYO made 111 for 7 from 16.4 overs, with J. Assad making 46 and M. Khan 13. Pradeep Gobind took 2 for 12 from 4.2 overs, and P. Chatterpaul took 2 for 30 from 3 overs. #70‘A’ Spartans defeated #64 Fighting Marines by 36 runs at the #70 Ground. #70‘A’ Spartans scored 98 all out in 16.4 overs, Naeem Yacoob made 38 and Omesh Kumar 17.

Shiraz Khan took 3 for 30 from 4.4 overs and Charles France took 2 for 25 from 3 overs. #64 Fighting Marines made 63 all out in 14.2 overs. Ramzan Subhan made 13 and Charles France 12. Omesh Kumar took 4 for 10 from 2.2 overs, and Rayan Yacoob took 3 for 14 from 3 overs.

The draw for the semifinals would be as follows: Dukestown Warriors vs #68 Turn Team at #68 ground, and #72 All Stars vs #70 ‘A’ Spartans at All Stars Ground.

The BCB hopes to complete all five tournaments by the end of November, as it pushes to complete about 30 tournaments for 2019 at all levels, including U13, U15, U17, U19, U21, Female, School, Intermediate, Internal Zone, Second Division and First Division.

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, october 18, 2019

23

An exclusive interview with Guyana Amazon Warriors’ analyst Saurabh Walkar By 100MB Team

A

fter establishing a record winning streak of 11 matches where they clean swept all 10 group games, the Guyana Amazon Warriors lost the CPL 2019 final against Barbados Tridents.

Despite the loss, Warriors became the first team to enjoy such a winning streak in franchise cricket. Although none of the Indian cricketers featured in the tournament, an Indian played an integral role in Guyana’s CPL success.

We caught up with the analyst of Guyana Amazon Warriors, Saurabh Walkar.

Saurabh has been in the field of cricket analysis for more than a decade. His longest assignment was with the Mumbai domestic team where he worked for around nine-ten years. Plying his trade in franchise cricket, the Mumbaikar has served in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and more recently in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). We caught up with him to know more about his experience in the CPL and his overall journey as an analyst.

Saurabh Walkar: Final is all about handling the pressure.

It does not matter how well you have performed in the past, it is all about how you perform on that day. I think we were going well in the first 15 overs of the first innings but we conceded a lot many runs in the final overs. In the league games, we were taking wickets in the death overs but we failed to do so in the final. Even in the chase, with Brandon King and Nicholas Pooran at the crease, we were in control but we lost wickets in a heap.

But the team did build a record winning streak of 11 matches.

How did that come about?

SW: Yes, we did end up winning 11 matches on the trot but our focus was always on the next match. We had certain plans in place which were based on our strengths as a team. We knew what we had to do against a specific opposition at a specific venue. Everyone including the support staff was very clear on the role each one had to play.

It was a fantastic team effort.

A lot of the credit goes to your strategy of using spin bowling as a primary weapon SW: It was our strategy.

That’s what my role is in the setup. I studied the past two-three seasons of the league and analysed player performances, worked on their strengths and weaknesses and realised that the spinners were more effective in CPL than the pace bowlers. They had better strike rates and better economy rates. If the spinners take early wickets, then the batting team will struggle to maximise the death overs so we planned to attack with spinners in the initial overs.

You had a tremendous variety in the spin attack, skill and experience-wise. How did you approach them? and what areas did you work on?

SW: Usually, teams rely on a part-time off-spinner but we

1) is a testimonial to Botha’s attachment.

Hemraj was impressive against both spin and pace.

Even Brandon played spin very well. That allowed us to be aggressive in the powerplay.

Shepherd showed his capability

setup in any franchise cricket.

Also, they know how to switch on and off the field. Visiting the world’s largest singledrop waterfall, Kaieteur falls in Guyana was a memorable experience for me.

Association (MCA) find you?

SW: I had joined SportsMechanics in Chennai and through them, I was working on an umpiring project for the BCCI. After that, I was called up by MCA. I served the association for

room.

With time, I became comfortable with them. I remember Mumbai were playing a semi-final against Services and Sachin was playing in that match. He came up to me and inquired about the Services bowlers since he had not seen them. For a player of his stature, he did not take anything for granted, it was a great learning experience for me. Wasim has been a great friend. All he talks about is cricket and he is very wellinformed on what’s happening in the game.

In the IPL, you were a part of Rajasthan Royals. How was your experience of working with Shane Warne?

SW: I was very tensed as my IPL stint approached, especially nervous about meeting Shane Warne. It was the second edition in South Africa. But when I met him, he took the first step and introduced himself to me. I could not believe as he went on saying, “My name is Shane Warne and welcome to the team”.

He made me comfortable and always treated me as an integral part of the team. It was a great experience working with him and coach Darren Berry.

Saurabh Walkar in discussion with GAW coach Johan Botha and Reon King

had a specialist in Chris Green.

I have seen him since his Big Bash League exploits and we were together in the PSL as well. He is a very intelligent bowler, he has a lot of variations. I won’t be surprised to see him in the IPL soon. We had Shadab (Khan) playing the first three matches for us.

Later Imran Tahir joined. We all know his wicket-taking ability.

Then we also had Qais Ahmed from Afghanistan. Although he is a leg-spinner like Tahir, Qais has a quick-arm action so that brought a lot of variety into our attack. On occasions, Shoaib Malik contributed with the ball.

Malik had a fantastic season with the bat, especially after a disappointing World Cup. What changed for him?

SW: Shoaib Malik is the backbone of our batting unit.

He was very clear about his role in the lineup. We had plenty of big-hitters in our side, so we needed someone to anchor the innings. And Shoaib was perfect for that role. He bats differently, initially focusing on singles and on rotating the strike, takes his time at the crease and then goes for his shots.

We saw new stars emerging from Guyana Amazon Warriors this season. The likes of Brandon King, Chandrapaul Hemraj and Romario Shepherd performed exceptionally well.

Your analysis of them?

SW: Brandon had played for other teams in the CPL but our coach Johan Botha had different plans for him.

I think a lot of credit goes to the coach, he was very keen on pushing Brandon ahead. In fact, him being emotional after Brandon’s century (132 against Barbados Tridents in Qualifier

last year also. Now he has been selected for the West Indies as well. I think these youngsters were very well prepared this year and that worked.

Your fondest memory from this CPL season?

SW: It was a pleasure working with such a professional team. Everyone in the team including the support staff was crystal clear about their role. I have never seen such a professional

Tell us about how you got into video analysis SW: In 2006-07, CCI (Cricket Club of India) hosted a cricket camp with English players participating. I used to bowl in that camp. There I met Dhananjai who is currently working with the Indian team as an analyst. He was the one who introduced me to this field.

I then trained in Chennai and started working as an analyst.

How did the Mumbai Cricket

9-10 years.

almost

How was it stepping into the Mumbai dressing room full of stalwarts?

SW: I remember the first time I entered the Mumbai dressing room. There was Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Jaffer, Ajit Agarkar, Ramesh Powar and other stars. It was an intimidating experience. I would not even keep my bag with the players, I would keep them outside the dressing

What will be your advice to someone who wants to build a career as a video analyst?

SW: Many think it is the simplest way of getting into the game. I get so many calls every day saying, “I want to be an analyst, what should I do?” It is not easy. I trained for two years to begin working as an analyst.

Anyone who wants to get here has to undergo proper training.

And of course, you need to be passionate about cricket.

Because there’s a tremendous struggle. Now that the CPL stint over, I have to seek work to keep myself busy.

“Rawle Toney 3X3 Basketball Classic” to be launched today

S

ome of the country’s top ‘ballers’ will converge on the Burnham Basketball Court for two days of what is expected to be exciting basketball when one of the country’s well-known sports journalists hosts the ‘Rawle Toney 3X3 Classic’ on November 9/10.

With $300,000 up for grabs for the winner of the round-robin/knockout tournament, Toney will launch the one-of-a-kind tournament today at the premises of one of the sponsors, FireSide and Grill located on Garnett Street, from 13:00hrs.

The team finishing second will pocket $100,000 while third place winner would get $50,000. The person deemed the ‘Most Valuable Player’ (MVP) in the finals will receive one pair of basketball sneakers of his choice.

ANSA McAL, under their Mackeson brand, are the tournament’s main sponsors, and will be joined by the Guyana Lottery Company’s Let’s Bet Sport, ‘STUFF’, Slingerz Family Entertainment, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Trophy Stall.

“I think, when you look around, basketball is the only sport in Guyana that doesn’t offer anything exciting and engaging for the fans. There’s futsal and T20, both shortened versions of the conventional football and cricket; but while 3X3 exists in basketball, locally it is not being utilised,” Toney has said.

“3X3 is the ‘T20 cricket’ of basketball; meaning, it’s fast (only 10 minutes a game) and has simpler rules compared to the usual format of the game. The last major tournament held under the Mackeson brand was hosted in 2013,” said Toney, who was once a standout

basketball player.

Toney explained that after Mackeson ceased sponsoring 3X3 basketball, the format never found another corporate entity or brand to replace ‘Smooth Moves’-- mostly because of the high standard set, and because players had grown accustomed to a quality tournament.

“It is my hope that this tournament will revive the 3X3 format, especially since FIBA had moved to regularise the sport, which sees it being used by the sport’s governing body globally to bring new fans to the sport,” the journalist added.

This tournament has received the blessings of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and its officials, and will be played under FIBA 3X3 rules.

Registration, according to Toney, has already started, and limited space is available.

More details will be available at today’s launch of the tournament.

Rawle Toney is one of Let’s Bet Sports’ Brand Ambassadors

friday, october 18, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

SBF Petroleum CGI Jaguars 50-over franchise cricket…

Steaming “Smithy” sends Georgetown packing with 6-for Page 22

GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships…

Operations Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team, Omar Khan presents First Lady Sandra Granger with and autographed cricket bat. The bat was autographed by the members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team (Department of Public Information photo)

Excitement and entertainment abound in 3rd night’s play

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