Guyana Times Wednesday January 15, 2020

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

Issue No. 4166

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

Carter Center launches observer mission See story on page 7

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Traffic lights vandalised, batteries P16 stolen – MoPI unable to put end to criminal act

– amid widespread fears of election rigging Nomination squabble

Dual citizens’ false declarations nabbed

...could be charged by Police – GECOM Commissioners See story on page 3 ...another candidate under review

WBD woman torches home after argument Page with brother 16

63-year-old miner arrested over suspected P9 cocaine

Timehri man arraigned for murder of P8 court tout President yet to intervene in request for pay hike for sugar workers P13

Wedding house fatal brawl

Police issue wanted bulletin for murder suspect See story on page 9

Body found at Hadfield Street

Victim was allegedly stabbed to death by lover’s girlfriend See story on page 9

Residents cite drainage, taxes as major concerns as M&CC hosts ‘open day’ P13

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Nomination squabble

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, January 15 – 09:00h – 10:30h and Thursday, January 16 – 09:30h – 11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, January 15 – 07:55h – 09:25h and Thursday, January 16 – 08:45h – 10:15h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Cloudy conditions with midday showers will prevail during the day. There will be cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 07:59h and 20:20h reaching maximum heights of 2.56 metres and 2.58 metres.

Low Tide: 01:30h and 13:51h reaching minimum heights of 0.55 metre and 0.68 metre.

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Dual citizens’ false declarations nabbed

...could be charged by Police – GECOM Commissioners ...another candidate under review

J

ust days after Nomination Day, Presidential Candidate for the United Republican Party (URP), Dr Vishnu Bandhu, has withdrawn his name from the contest after knowingly signing a statutory declaration form attesting that he was not a dual citizen when, in fact, he is.

Dr Bandhu signed the statutory declaration form on January 10, Nomination Day. On Tuesday, it emerged that he was, in fact, a dual citizen and had written to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) asking to withdraw himself from the election contest.

Article 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states: “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who (a) is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state”.

Section four of the Statutory Declaration Act, Chapter 5:09 states that “Everyone who makes a declaration according to this Act containing any statement false in fact, which he knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and shall be liable to imprisonment for one year”.

When asked on Tuesday what action will be taken against Dr Bandhu and whether Police will be called in, Government-nominated GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander conceded that this is a possibility.

“In the first instance, if Dr Bandhu is not eligible, what GECOM will essentially do is not approve him as a candidate. There is no other action GECOM will take in direct relation with Dr Bandhu,” he said, though he acknowledged that if the Police got involved, this is an indirect action on GECOM’s part.

Another candidate, who has in the past been known to be a dual citizen, is Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Presidential Candidate Lennox Shuman.

Shuman was on record last year announcing that he would be taking steps to relinquish his Canadian citizenship. When asked,

Former URP Presidential Candidate, Dr Vishnu Bandhu

Alexander noted that GECOM has no confirmation that he has completed the relinquishment process.

“We have not verified that he has relinquished his citizenship. He’s advised us, by virtue of information in the public domain. What GECOM will do is seek further clarification from him,” Alexander explained.

Meanwhile, Oppositionnominated GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj was also asked about the situation with Dr Bandhu.

While he indicated that Chief Elections Officer

Keith Lowenfield has been instructed to follow up the matter, he steered clear of confirming if the Police would be called in.

“I think it is URP that has indicated that the Presidential Candidate is a dual citizen. And he has indicated a desire to withdraw from the process as a candidate,” Gunraj said, also confirming that Dr Bandhu did sign the statutory declaration form on Nomination Day. The Commissioner was asked what would be GECOM’s course of action, since Dr Bandhu by signing the declaration form while knowing he was a dual citizen, despite what the law says about dual citizens running for high office. He was also asked what mechanism GECOM has in place to weed out dual citizens.

“We have given certain instructions to the Chief Elections Officer, which we have every confidence he will implement,” was all Gunraj would say, declining to confirm whether the Police have been called in.

“The Commission does not have a mechanism to verify one’s citizenship.

Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Presidential Candidate Lennox Shuman

What do we do? Do we write to all 200 countries in the world to inquire whether (candidates) are citizens of those countries? I’m not sure if we can do that.

There is the statutory declaration and there are certain ramifications as a result of a false declaration”.

When asked about Change Guyana’s former Prime Ministerial candidate, Nigel Hinds, Gunraj indicated that Hinds did not offer himself up as a candidate on Nomination Day. As a consequence, he is in the clear.

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

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

The battle against cancer

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ccording to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths, in 2018. Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical and thyroid cancer are the most common among women.

The WHO has pointed out that the cancer burden continues to grow globally, exerting tremendous physical, emotional and financial strain on individuals, families, communities and health systems.

Many health systems in low and middle-income countries are the least prepared to manage this burden, and large numbers of cancer patients globally do not have access to timely, quality diagnosis and treatment. However, according to WHO, in countries where health systems are strong, survival rates of many types of cancers are improving thanks to accessible early detection, quality treatment and survivorship care.

What is very worrying is the fact that the number of cancer deaths could increase by over 50 per cent by 2030 if immediate global action is not taken, especially in the low and middle-income countries where most of the deaths are likely to occur. The statistics regarding cancer and its impact on individuals and society tell a sad tale. However, it should motivate us to work harder for better results.

It should be noted that between 30 to 40 per cent of cancer cases could be prevented and one-third of cancer cases could be cured through early diagnoses and treatment. The sad thing, however, is that the medicines, technologies and services are not widely available in low and middle-income countries and this results in the majority of premature cancer deaths each year.

In Guyana, cancer is one of the leading causes of death and we, as guardians of our own destiny, should continue to make arduous efforts in our campaign to reduce the number of persons dying from the disease. For example, individuals could assist in the prevention of cancer by doing simple things such as making sure they eat a healthy diet, engage in regular adequate physical activity and the overall maintenance of good health.

Research has shown that physical inactivity is linked to breast and colon cancers. WHO’s Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health detail how different amounts and intensities of physical activity for all age groups can help reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including some cancers. It is also worthy to note that the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research has advised that cancer could be prevented if persons could be as lean as possible without becoming underweight; be physically active for at least thirty minutes each day, and avoid sugary drinks among other things.

The three main cancers in Guyana are breast cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer. While cervical cancer is a slow-growing cancer that is easily prevented through regular screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions, far too many women ignore the pre-testing option and seek medical advice and treatment only when they begin to develop signs of illness. In many cases, indications of physical illness or signs of discomfort often suggest that the cancer is at an advanced stage. Persons should, therefore, be encouraged to have regular tests done since pre-symptoms are not that visible.

The Public Health Ministry, along with NGOs such as the Cancer Society and leading private sector bodies such as GTT must be commended for the work they are doing in spreading awareness and encouraging persons to get screening etc.

These efforts must be stepped up with the involvement and funding from more stakeholders so that the impact could be more far-reaching.

We can never overstate the importance of having more public awareness and education campaigns about the disease with the aim of changing lifestyles and getting persons to do regular testing so that treatment could be administered before the disease becomes life-threatening.

People attend a wedding ceremony as the Taal Volcano sends out a column of ash in the background in Alfonso, Cavite, Philippines.

The volcano had a sudden eruption on Monday with ash, steam and red-hot lava pouring out, forcing villagers to flee and shutting down Manila’s international airport, offices and schools. The volcano continues to spew, as residents brace for a huge eruption (Courtesy of Randolf Evan Photography/via Reuters)

Government was unwilling to listen to any suggestion to save sugar Dear Editor, Trade unionist, Mr Lincoln Lewis in his letter which appeared in the January 12, Stabroek News and Kaieteur News weighed in on the attitude of the Government to sugar workers. Of course, as Mr Lewis well knows, sugar workers have not been granted any rise in pay since this Government took office.

Even long-standing benefits have been suspended which has only served to further erode their pay levels.

Added to that woeful situation is the heavy rise in the cost of living which pushed their living standards even lower. Mr Lewis queried whether the “…attitude is driven by some desire for political collateral, thereby allowing for the workers’ right to be trampled, with the intent of embarrassing the Government”. While we do not know the answer to the question, we would find it alarming were Mr Lewis’ supposition the truth.

The long-standing unionist goes on to tell the public that “[i]t is not being said the coalition Government has done a stellar job in handling the sugar industry”. We had to wonder where or what is this stellar job Mr Lewis speaks about.

Was it “a stellar job” when 7000 sugar workers were shown the door without any plan to deal with the social and economic implication of their joblessness?

Was it also “a stellar job”

when the coalition decided to borrow $30 billion only to keep it largely locked away though the industry requires the investment?

Maybe it was “a stellar job” when this caretaker APNU/ AFC Government approved the substantial stripping of GuySuCo assets without any consideration for the impact on the industry.

Could it have been “a stellar job” that sugar workers remain the only group of the State’s employees whose rates-of-pay are stuck at 2014 levels?

The reality is there is nothing at all that is “stellar” about the Government’s approach to the sugar industry. It has been just simply an attitude of destruction.

Destruction of the industry! Destruction of people’s lives! Destruction of children’s future! Destruction of communities!

Mr Lewis next moved to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. He asked why is it that Mr Jagdeo didn’t offer a proposal to the Government to address the plight of the sugar workers.

While we hold, obviously, no brief for the Opposition Leader and Mr Jagdeo himself may choose to address Mr Lewis’ question, we are aware that the Opposition Leader did offer some suggestions to the Government.

Mr Lewis himself was present when Mr Jagdeo addressed the GAWU one-day conference titled “Sugar too big to fail” in September 2018. In his

address, the Opposition Leader shared several proposals to turn the industry around. Present also during Mr Jagdeo’s address, among others, was then Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

The Opposition Leader was represented too during the three (3) meetings held between December 2016 and February 2017 regarding the so-called consultations on the future of the sugar industry. At that time, the Opposition Leader, through his representative, made some proposals. Of course, those of us there were taken aback when the chief Government representative, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, told us all that if we want a socio-economic study, we should do it ourselves. That outlandish and outrageous statement by the now prime ministerial hopeful was captured in the transcript of that meeting and was a clear indicator of the Administration’s attitude and level of openness to suggestions and proposals.

But putting that aside, for the time being, our Union, which has an even more direct link with the industry, has offered the Government several suggestions. Apart from receiving a ‘thank you’ we have never ever heard from the Administration regarding our proposals. We have never ever been told that what we are saying is impossible or improbable.

Of course, such a re-

sponse would be just as outrageous as Mr Ramjattan, as our proposals have been based on several studies conducted with positive results. Moreover, our suggestions were not dissimilar from those recommended by the Government’s sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

We wish to remind Mr Lewis that the President himself, when he engaged GAWU and NAACIE in January 2018, said that his Government and the Unions would work together until the situation of the displaced sugar workers was addressed. Despite the good-faith intentions of the sugar unions, that was the first and last engagement.

The point we wish to make is that the Government was never prepared to hear or never had an open mind to any suggestion no matter how workable or justifiable it is and no matter where it came from.

There was no sincerity but rather a closed ear, eye and mind to any solution. In our view, the Government had a clear, jaundiced, position to close estates notwithstanding the consequences or ramifications. It was almost a shoot first ask questions later cavalier attitude that was and continues to be displayed.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

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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

Lay the blame where it rightly belongs Dear Editor, I watched with great consternation the actions of a Guyanese man at Canal Number One Polder walking in the pouring rain with a long pole swatting down each PPP/C poster he could get his hands on. He was probably removing every PPP/C poster from the lamp posts in that area with the hope that in removing them, he might somehow turn away persons’ interest in the party that flag represents.

But I might well tell him that that belief is mistaken because with every poster he removes, persons looking on would be taken aback by the thought, why should a man led by a party sink to such lows to even try to obliterate another party, why? In fact, if anything, it will cause persons to abhor the party rather than embrace it.

The question goes even further, why is that political party always in aggressive mode whenever election time comes around? Why are they so peeved, why are

they so nervous and out of sorts? These are the burning questions the PNC has to answer.

I also bring to your attention two other incidents of base idiotic hostilities, and this other atrocity comes from another Guyanese at Number 10 Village, West Coast Berbice, he too in hostile aggression withstood PPP/C activists erecting symbols of their party on a public lamp post, you are talking here about someone being annoyed, mad at another party erecting its symbol on a “public utility pole,” so asinine a response!

It goes beyond crass stupidity, no wonder he was summarily charged for this stupid and senseless act, I say - serves him right - I guess the lawmen would have given him a lecture as to the right and civilised way to behave.

Another display of asinine retrogression was PNC supporter Lurlene Nestor bringing out children into the streets to drive out another PPP/C campaign per-

sonnel out of the area, here again, a public display of PNC’s emptiness. This activist is well known for her mindless antics and this instance was no different, she gave full vent to her illiteracy.

However, there are two things Nestor has to face up to, the first is, children cannot vote in the next election and secondly, Warlock, Sophia and all such communities were given to them

by Mrs Janet Jagan when as Home Affairs Minister in the 60s and again as President of “all” of Guyana.

That is on record in our history books that no one can erase.

And to think of it, the PPP/C did all of these things for the people of our country when the PNC was forcibly removing poor people from off the land! It is really sad when you can repay your helpers in such a lowdown fashion, it all goes to show the retrograde mentality of the PNC and its simpletons for supporters.

But I must inform that

man of Canal Number One Polder, that the PPP/C will be back to help him and others like himself get jobs and help him make a useful and meaningful contribution to his home and society.

I must close here, and I will do so by pointing out the following stark realities, the PNC must stop this retrogression now! The tearing down of Opposition posters must cease immediately, it represents backwardness and stinks of desperation, for too long this party has been going on with this nonsense!

Whether in Opposition or in Government - as the case is now - that party is known for its dark deeds and violent behaviour.

Readers, I urge you to contrast them with the PPP/C and you will see a huge difference. For starters, we have suffered much these near five years of PNC’s dictatorial rule but never have we ever carried out violence or promoted its use. In all our protests and there have been many, was there any violence, so, why

Dear Editor, As expected, the “usual suspects” have surfaced on the issue of Elections coverage and how it ought to be handled in terms of fairness, balance, accuracy and truth.

As a former President of the GPA (Guyana Press Association) and as a journalist, I have advocated for years the position that in an environment where the State/Government owns and controls the dominant TV, a monopolistic radio station and in the then absence of social media, it was palpably unfair to dominate the airwaves with only one position.

It would appear that Kit Nascimento and his classist comrade Anthony Vieira have converged platforms in this day and age of a plethora of platforms and multiplicity of media. I reiterate there is a difference between

broadcasting and telecommunication services in the Guyanese context.

Let me add for clarity that NCN on its broadcast TV network carried the President and only the President as general programming. Coverage of all of its news and other current affairs programmes is available for review by the Guyana National Broadcast Authority.

Kit in his usual highbrow attitude called me a few months ago insisting that under “The Fairness Doctrine” I should comply with a request he made. I pointed out that his reference to “The Fairness Doctrine” is over 30 years old, it is obsolete and not applicable in his case. He was wrong then as he is now but I know he likes the attention and will entertain him.

Using his usual logic, it

means everyone who “live streams “ licensed broadcaster or not, is a broadcaster. Here he is taking the world down a silly if not crooked path. I have been an Election Observer, am a graduate in International Relations, and a journalist for over three decades.

I am aware that certain individuals/groups in society will speak out at particular times and places to catch the ear and eye of the media, observers and the soi-disant “international community” because those individuals know how the reports are formatted and want their views reflected within that template. So the chatter has started.

NCN is governed by a Board and the Board has considered and indicated to management how election coverage shall be conducted

by NCN within the period

of Nominations Day to the Declaration of Results.

The Board will also be guided by what GECOM promulgates and work within the guidelines, if any, set out by the GNBA. Kit as is his wont states “the fact”, “quite properly points out” and goes down a media maze of terms and opinions as if all of what he says is the unvarnished truth and profound learning.

I have documents dating back to the early 1960s authored by Kit Nascimento and as the saying goes, even an old leopard cannot change its spots.

Watch the classist, contemptuous community clapback.

Dear Editor, In responding to both Tony Vieira and myself on the subject of broadcast coverage of the political parties contesting the elections, Mr Enrico Woolford has indulged in ad hominem attacks on Vieira and myself, attacking the messenger rather than the message.

I suppose that this will impress the party faithful but it does not address the issue at hand. Tony Vieira, Kit Nascimento and Enrico Woolford are not the issues.

The issue is that both of the State-owned and operated media, the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Guyana Chronicle, are being used

by Government for political propaganda purposes and this is patently obvious to even the casual observer.

In the period of a General Election, this is particularly pernicious. In the case of broadcasting which is supposed to be regulated by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority

(GNBA) to serve the public interest and convenience, it is particularly offensive and is in violation of the licence under which NCN is governed.

As I have stated in my letter, “a general election would be neither free nor fair if a contesting party is unfairly denied access to the broadcast media…or a particular party is favoured access to the broadcast media”. The fact remains that the assets of NCN are being used to favour coverage of

the APNU/AFC political rallies by comparison with the PPP/C. It matters not whether this is conducted through the means of public broadcasting on the airwaves or network streaming. It is wrong, it is indefensible and it should attract the attention of the GNBA and GECOM who are ultimately responsible for the conduct of a free and fair election.

OK for NCN to be unfair

With regards, Enrico Woolford Chairman

Elections broadcast coverage

With regards, Kit Nascimento

must we tolerate it from them? There have been no Molotov cocktails or channa bombs at our protests or campaign rallies, no one has ever been beaten or ridiculed or their houses burnt; we have carried out a peaceful and dignified campaign throughout these five years.

So, my point remains

that the print and electronic media must lay blame where it rightfully belongs, please be honest with yourselves and come out plainly and tell the PNC that they need to stop the violence now!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

H2H non-verification as a synonym for verification

Dear Editor, It is undoubtedly true that the PPP/C has led the battle against the three APNU/AFC-appointed Commissioners of GECOM and their many subjects in the GECOM Secretariat.

The battle is ongoing even in this 99th hour to prevent pre-Election Day rigging, Election Day rigging and post-Election Day rigging.

Change Guyana Party is in solidarity with all legitimate efforts to avert rigging of Guyana’s National and Regional Elections scheduled for March 2, 2020.

However, the two dinosaur parties have created and fostered or festered an election system that leaves a less than 2% functional space for small or new parties to have a meaningful role in the modus operandi of the Guyana Elections from the election of the Commissioners and the GECOM Chairperson to the convoluted system for new parties to participate in Guyana’s General and Regional Elections.

Nevertheless, we have written articles condemning the futile, defective and

aborted H2H Registration process that was conceived and executed in a treacherous and vacuous manner.

The current efforts of the new parties to primarily focus on the need to qualify for the ballot overtook our focus on the H2H Registration sleight of hand that has reconstituted and word twisted non-verification as a synonym for verification and for inclusion on the Revised List of Electors (RLE).

GECOM is now upending centuries of accepted grammar and semantics.

Yet, the witless pursuit of treating unverified as verified unverified and placing these phantoms on the RLE continue to this day and may well seep into and stain the Official List of Electors.

One cannot reconcile the flawed with the unflawed.

It’s like trying to mate a hyena with an elephant.

The longer Justice Singh takes to discard the unverified, unwarranted and ineffectual H2H defective registration, the deeper we are into pre-rigging of Guyana’s General and Regional Elections set for March 2, 2020.

Name withheld

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

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Foundation

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close friend – we’ve been friends for a long time – told me she’s been having sex a lot and that she doesn’t use protection. What should I do?

– JJ* First, it’s obvious you’re a caring friend. No one wants to see a friend get an STD or have her life put on hold by an unplanned pregnancy. Both of these are possible when a person has unprotected sex.

But sex is a topic that can be tough to talk about, even with friends we’ve known a long time. So, where do you start?

Tell your friend that you want to talk about something personal. Find a private place to chat. Mention that you came across information about STDs, like herpes and HIV. Say that some of the stuff you read caused you to feel worried about her. For example, it’s not always possible to tell if a partner has an STD.

STDs/STIs

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are infections spread from person to person during sex or close intimate contact.

STDs also called sexually transmitted in-

fections, or STIs. It’s important to learn about STDs so you can protect yourself.

Most STDs can be prevented by using a condom the right way, every time someone has sex.

The most common STDs are: Chlamydia – (pronounced: kluh-MID-eeuh) Genital Herpes Genital Warts Gonorrhoea Hepatitis B (HBV) HIV and AIDS Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Pubic Lice (Crabs) Syphilis Trichomoniasis The most common STD, chlamydia spreads through sex with someone who has the infection.

Can chlamydia be prevented?

The only way to prevent chlamydia and other STDs is to not have sex.

Anyone who is sexually active should get tested for STDs every year (or more often if recommended by doctors) Sometimes people don’t realise they have an STD. They may tell partners they are OK because they honestly don’t know otherwise.

But they can still pass the infect i o n o n .

Protection from STDs is one reason why even people who use birth control methods like the Pill need to use a condom as well.

I

When someone with an STD doesn’t get treatment, the disease can get worse or cause other health problems. It’s tempting to put off finding out about STDs. But that can cause bigger problems — like not being able to have children – later on.

Tell your friend you’re not trying to lecture or play mom. You just really care about her. Encourage her to make an appointment with her health care provider to talk about how to prevent STDs and pregnancy. Or your friend can visit a local clinic like Planned Parenthood. Health clinics often provide low-cost birth control and testing for STDs and pregnancy without any need for insurance. You can even go with your friend if she’d like some support.

Good luck! You can’t make your friend use protection – although she may be reaching out to you because she realises she should. No matter what she decides, though, congratulate yourself for speaking up, knowing what’s smart, and being a caring friend. *Names have been changed to protect privacy. (kidshealth.org)

f you wear a bra that’s either a little bit big or a little too small, will it cause your chest to not grow?

– Gilly* No. A girl’s bra won’t affect the growth of her breasts.

That’s because genes and hormones control breast growth, not what a girl wears.

Bras don’t make breasts grow or stop growing, but wearing the right-size bra may help you feel more comfortable. Bras that are too small may cause breast pain because of how sensitive some girls’ breasts can be as they grow. And bras that are too big won’t offer enough support, which could also lead to discomfort if your breasts move or bounce around too much. Find a bra that’s the right size for you and

comfortable to wear.Want your breasts to develop the way nature intended? Eat a variety of healthy foods and exercise regularly. And don’t worry if you don’t develop at the same rate as your friends.

Some girls develop earlier, others later. A girl’s breasts can keep growing and changing into her late teens. *Names have been changed to protect p ri vacy.

(kidshealth. org)

7 Carter Center launches observer mission NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– amid widespread fears of election rigging

T

he Carter Center has officially launched its observer mission for Guyana’s General and Regional Elections due March 2, while at the same time making it clear they are also prepared for any potential post-election legal challenges.

This was communicated in a statement sent out earlier on Tuesday. According to the Carter Center, the observer mission has already been deployed around the country. These observers, it was explained, will later be joined by short-term observers and high-level officials from the Center.

“The mission will observe and examine key aspects of the electoral process, including the pre-electoral environment, status of the Guyana Elections Commission’s preparations for elections, and campaigning.”

“Teams of long-term observers are currently de-

ploying across the country and will later be joined by short-term observers and high-level leadership to observe voting, counting, and tabulation procedures,” the Center further explained.

Their roles will include observing voting, counting and tabulation procedures

by GECOM staff. The Carter Center also noted that they are prepared for any eventuality post-elections, including mediating any potential legal challenges against the results.

They also assured that periodic updates will be issued to inform the public of key findings. At the end of their mission, an independent assessment of the electoral process and whether it followed international standards will be issued.

The Carter Center’s announcement comes following GECOM issuing ads for local observers to send in applications. So far, reports indicate that 10 local ob-

Jason Carter, a Carter Center representative and grandson of former US President Jimmy Carter, was in Guyana only last year helping to mediate disputes

servers have applied for observer status.

Speaking to the media after Tuesday’s statutory meeting, GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj explained that the closing date for expressions of interest for local observer status is today. The applications, he said, will be reviewed on January 16.

Several organisations have already applied to become observes of the “Mother

of all” elections due to widespread fears of rigging.

People’s Progressive Party General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo had stated that these fears expressed by various pockets of people across the country are not unreasonable and points right back to previous rigged elections which occurred in Guyana under the leadership of the People’s National Congress (PNC).

He added that some of

the key players during that period in the 1980s are still prominent in the current Government which gives more reasons why citizens across Guyana may have that level of fear about election rigging.

Jagdeo has in the past called on Guyanese to be alert and work hard toward preventing this but he has vowed to fight against any form of election rigging.

But President David Granger has brushed aside suggestions that he would follow in the footsteps of the late President Forbes Burnham. Burnham was accused of rigging elections to stay in power. He ruled Guyana from 1964 until his death in 1985.

Parties

Meanwhile, it was announced after Tuesday’s statutory meeting at GECOM that 11 parties were cleared by the Commission to take

part in the March 2 General and Regional Elections. A total of 13 parties had initially sought to take part in the elections.

It is understood that the two parties which failed to meet the requirements were the National Service Party and the National Independent Party (NIP).

According to GECOM’s Commissioner Sase Gunraj, the Secretariat tried to work with these parties to ensure they were compliant.

“Those letters will be sent off by the CEO to inform them. But even prior to today, I understand, it was reported to us that they were informed of their defects and given an opportunity to remedy them,” he explained.

When it comes to balloting, Gunraj said that a decision has not been taken as yet. However, he explained that there is a timeline for this that will be adhered.

Murder accused refuses State-assigned lawyers …granted 14 days to secure legal representation

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ifty-two-year-old Gavin Graham, who was charged with the murders of his ex-lover and her father, is yet to face a trial after he continually refused to be represented by State-assigned lawyers.

In April of 2019, Graham’s case came up for hearing before Justice Navindra Singh, but further adjournment had to be given on each occasion the case was called since Graham repeatedly failed to secure legal representation and refused to be represented by

any State lawyer.

However, when the matter was called again at the commencement of the January Demerara Assizes on Tuesday, Justice Sandil Kissoon granted the accused an extra 14 days to secure an attorney or he will be facing trial even if he doesn’t do so.

The accused is being indicted for the murders of his

Murder accused: Gavin Graham

ex-lover, Tabola Abrams, and her 68-year-old stepfather, Clifford Sampson, who died following injuries sustained in a fire that the accused allegedly set to their home at Lot 636 C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

According to reports, after Abrams ended her relationship with the accused, he set the two-storey build-

ing alight which was at the time occupied by the victims and other persons, to get revenge for being rejected.

Sampson perished in the fire and Abrams died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Graham was arrested moments after he committed the act.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Timehri man arraigned for murder of court tout

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ne of the alleged gunmen who broke into a Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts tout’s home and killed him during a home invasion was on Tuesday arraigned for the heinous crime and remanded to prison.

Twenty-six-year-old Terrence Pitt called “Sonna Boy” or “Shots” of Third Street, Timehri Hill Top, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus.

Pitt was slapped with two charges which alleged that on October 5, 2019, at Hummingbird Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he murdered Darrell Breedy during the course of a robbery.

The police also stated that between November 11 and November 12, 2019, at Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Eve Leary, Georgetown, while in custody pending an investigation for murder, he escaped from lawful custody.

He was not required to plead to the murder charge.

The court heard that Pitt

room and the other ran into Breedy’s step-daughter’s room to keep her quiet.

The gunman and Breedy allegedly got into a scuffle thus resulting in the victim being fatally shot. The

armed men then grabbed the cash and television set and made good their escape.

It was reported that the bandits removed a few louvre panes to gain entry into the home.

Repeat offender slapped with robbery charge Terrence Pitt

served three years’ imprisonment for narcotics possession and was released from prison prior to him committing the murder.

Pitt is scheduled to appear in court on January 29, 2020.

Breedy, 55, of Lot 2037 Hummingbird Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was shot and killed in the wee hours on October 5, 2019, when two gunmen broke into his home and robbed him of $11,000 and his television set.

According to reports, the man was in the lower flat of the house when one of the men rushed into his bed-

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cting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Tuesday remanded Joshua Austin to prison on an armed robbery charge when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Austin, 21, of Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown, denied the charge which alleged that on December 22, 2019, at Albouystown, Georgetown, while in the company of another and armed with a handgun, he robbed Derrick Gaskin of one chain valued $510,000, one ring valued $42,000 and a gold band valued $180,000.

Austin was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Paul Fung-at-Fat, who contended that his client has an alibi for the day the alleged robbery took place.

According to facts presented by Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris, on the day in question, Austin and another man confronted the victim who was walking in Albouystown and relieved him of the items mentioned in the charge.

The men then attempted to make good their escape but Austin was captured by public-spirited citizens and subsequently handed over to the police.

Hence, he was arrested and charged for the offence.

Meanwhile, Austin along with three others were charged in 2018 for attacking and robbing a police officer. Austin, however, was granted bail for the offence.

It was reported that on December 15, 2018, at Second Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, Austin and his accomplices robbed Julius Bowlin of a .32 revolver valued $125,000, property of the Guyana Police Force, as well as a gold chain valued $20,000.

It was also alleged that on the same date, Austin and others unlawfully wounded Bowlin.

At the time of the attack, Bowlin was performing undercover duties next to a nightclub.

The attack was captured

by CCTV cameras and the gun was later recovered in a garbage heap in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

No country…

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…for old men hen somebody decides to write a history of the PNC’s second go at running this country with a coalition, the role of Noel Holder – who they appointed as “Agriculture Minister” – will take a lot of explaining. He was supposed to have been one of the “AFC ministers” but had never been a member of the AFC!! And they didn’t even nominate him!! And it couldn’t be that Granger wanted to acknowledge AFC founder, Sheila Holder, who’d been Noel’s wife!!

Be as it may, the answer was soon provided: Holder proved to be David Granger’s perfect tool to destroy the sugar industry – which, since the 1950s, had provided the PPP with its most loyal vote bank. Holder, after all, was the emblematic PNC-minister type: full of book knowledge but completely bereft of practical experience in his field of study – agriculture!! He was like the fella who knew all the theory of swimming – Archimedes floatation principle, Bernoulli’s principle of fluid dynamics etc…but had never jumped into the water!!

In all the time he was Minister of Agriculture, he never once stepped into a cane or rice field! So when the order came down from Granger to shutter those 4 estates, he just swallowed the PNC “rationale”, hook, line and sinker!! The man just didn’t have a clue! But maybe there’s a silver lining behind this particular dark Holder cloud: the fella just gave a sweet parting shot to the PNC after they dropped him from their list.

He announced the PNC’s full of old geezers – headed by Granger – and at this point of our history, this was no country for old men!! He claimed that since last year, he’d told the AFC he didn’t want to return! But what he was really saying, was, if they dropped him because of old age, what about all the other geriatrics they kept!!? Hell hath no fury like an old geezer scorned!!

But as soon as your Eyewitness read Holder’s blast, he remembered a couple of lines from the mouth of Sheriff Ed Bell, in the movie “No country for Old Men”: “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot, the truth will be there yet. It don’t move about from place to place and it don’t change from time to time. You can’t corrupt it any more than you can salt salt”.

And the truth is, the PNC’s regime of lies will end on March 2. The truth will out: the people of Guyana have seen through the PNC and AFC – all they’re concerned about is “pelf and power”.

You’d think these old men would’ve wanted to leave some sort of legacy.

But this legacy of venality and corruption?! …for Royals Over in old Blighty, two members of the Royal Family – Prince Harry and his American wife Meghan - have announced they want to “withdraw” from their royal duties. Now, your Eyewitness, as a staunch Republican – on the eve of our 50th Republic Celebrations – is rather taken aback by the amount of coverage this story’s getting; not only in his Yahoo feed but even the local press!!

He can understand the American obsession with Royalty and all that – after all, while they might’ve fought a war of independence and all that – that was just a family squabble, wasn’t it??

But we’d been enslaved, for goodness sake!! Is this local fascination emanating from some Freudian desire to return to the British fold? Did you notice how so many folks puffed up their chests when Clive Lloyd received that Knighthood? What’s wrong with our “Order of Roraima”?

Has the PNC so messed up our honours by giving one to Hamilton Green, some feel they’d be better off under the Union Jack?? …wit and banter The bitter gall – rather than snappy wit – that has typified the PNC’s campaign, is rather disappointing.

Unlike Irfaan Ali’s riposte to Ramjattan: “Of the dead, I will speak only good” – but since there’s no good, I remain silent!!

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

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Body found at Hadfield Street

Wedding house fatal brawl

Victim was allegedly stabbed to death by lover’s girlfriend

Police issue wanted bulletin for murder suspect A T

he Guyana Police Force has issued a wanted bulletin for 20-year-old Errol Thapordeen also called “Buffy”, “Bowie” and “Powie” for questioning in connection with the murder of Rudendra Persaud.

The last known address of the suspect was given as Lot 319 Enterprise, ECD. Persaud died hours after he was beaten by a group of men at a wedding house on Saturday evening at Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara.

It was reported that the 26-year-old victim also called “Bayo” of Enmore, ECD, was lashed to the head by members of a gang who allegedly invaded the wedding house.

Police stated that the now dead man and his family were at his cousin’s wedding at Non Pariel on the night in question when a group of young men invaded the property and attacked the invitees.

However, upon realising what was happening, Persaud went to intervene but instead,

Murder suspect: Errol Thapordeen

Dead: Rudendra Persaud

he was dealt one blow to the head with a piece of wood.

Despite being injured, the young man managed to protect his family members but later collapsed. He was picked up and taken to the GPHC where he was admitted but subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

Guyana Times understands that one member of the gang was taken into custody and he is assisting with

the investigations. The police are on the hunt for two others.

Meanwhile, anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Thapordeen is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 226-6978, 225-8196, 226-2870, 911 or the nearest police station.

All information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

63-year-old miner arrested over suspected cocaine

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63-year-old miner was on Tuesday morning arrested after being caught with suspected cocaine in his possession. The illegal substance measured some 164.5 grams.

Based on information received, ranks in Region One (Barima-Waini), acting on information received, went to a location at Skull Mountain, Arakaka North West District (NWD), where they came into contact with a male who was sitting in an open veranda on the premis-

The cocaine found on the suspect

es of a businesswoman.

The ranks, after confronting and questioning the suspect, conducted a search

on his persons during which the illegal substance was unearthed.

The Police reportedly found one black bag wrapped in a transparent plastic containing a quantity of whitish substance suspected to be cocaine in a haversack belonging to the suspect.

The suspect, a miner of Kingelly Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), was arrested and escorted to the Arakaka Police Outpost and is currently assisting with the investigation.

s investigations continue into the death of 43-yearold Richard Fresco also called “Foots” of Lot 23 East La Penitence, Georgetown, the detectives are reportedly hunting a female suspect with whom the now dead man had an argument.

Freso was found with a stab wound in the vicinity of his heart between Leopold and Hadfield Streets on Monday.

Based on information reaching Guyana Times, the victim was stabbed by a female who accused him of having an affair with her “woman”.

Reports received revealed that the stabbing happened around 02:00h but the body was discovered at about 03:40h.

It was reported that the dead man and a woman known as “Fat Girl”, had an altercation over a woman she is in a relationship with that Freso was also seeing at the same time.

According to a source, “Fat Girl” asked Freso, “what you doing in this yard? I ain’t ban you from this yard?”

Soon after, the woman reportedly called out to the now dead man in a friendly manner and as he approached her, she stabbed him in the region of the chest.

It was said that the two, (Freso and “Fat Girl”), would normally have heated exchanges of words, but on the day in question,

Dead: Richard Fresco

it came to a tragic end.

Meanwhile, Police reports stated that the

man was discovered by passersby in a motionless state, taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital and was pronounced dead.

Police, on the other hand, stated that the now dead man and an unidentified male were heard having a heated argument over money.

The victim was subsequently found lying next to a fence, after having been removed by persons unknown and placed on the eastern cross street with what appeared to be a stab wound to his upper right chest.

His body is presently at Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

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GPL says it delivered “commendable” service during the holidays

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he Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc believes it delivered “commendable” service during the holidays.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Power Company said this was the result of staff working tirelessly to ensure consumers experience little to minimum interruptions.

“For the second consecutive year, the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) has successfully maintained a stable supply of electricity during the Christmas season,” GPL said in the statement.

Between December 18 and December 31, 2019, the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) had a total of 144.7 megawatts available generation capacity, while the Power Plants at Anna Regina, Bartica, Leguan, and Wakenaam had a total of 17.18 megawatts collectively.

GPL CEO Albert Gordon

GPL’s available generation capacity in the DBIS from December 18 to December 31, 2019

GPL said these megawatts were available owing to its efforts to efficiently service aged generation plants, some of which are semi-retired.

Unfortunately, accidents during the holiday season re-

sulted in damage to some of GPL’s poles.

Those accidents coupled with a few transformer failures resulted in minor service disruptions in some communities.

“Amidst this setback, GPL field staff swiftly expedited work to restore electricity,” the company explained.

In fact, GPL revealed that an unprecedented five shutdowns were experienced in the year 2019, whereas there was a total of 12 shutdowns in 2018, and 25 in 2017.

“The aim is to completely eliminate these events, even

though this will be a challenge until existing generation, transmission, and distribution (T&D) systems are upgraded,” GPL outlined.

It posited that the improvement in performance has resulted in customers in Demerara, Berbice, Anna Regina, Bartica, Leguan and Wakenaam only experiencing minimal service interruptions, which were largely attributed to localised faults.

Despite being plagued with an aged T&D network, the public utility company says it is diligently conducting planned maintenance activities on the network while having an increased number of emergency response crews on standby to address localised faults.

GPL said these planned maintenance activities were being executed by its workers across the country, who “worked the miles putting in

extra hours, beyond their normal working time”, to complete the tasks.

Moving forward, the power company said it intended to continue to ensure there was sufficient and available capacity to meet demand while improving the quality of supply to all customers.

In the statement, GPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Gordon explained that planned maintenance for the upkeep of units as well as other operational works would continue for the new year as the company continued its journey towards becoming a world-class utility.

He added that GPL was also pursuing a number of developmental and expansion plans, which once implemented, would see the systems operating throughout the year with little chance of service interruptions.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President yet to intervene in request for pay hike for sugar workers

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t has been over two months since an estimated 3500 sugar workers from fields and factories of Albion, Blairmont, and Uitvlugt estates have petitioned the caretaker President for him to intervene in an anticipated pay rise to sugar workers and to date no word is forthcoming.

The workers’ bargaining agent, the Guyana Agricultural and General

Workers Union (GAWU) noted that the President has committed that he would send the petition to the GuySuCo to receive their advice before offering a response.

But GAWU is contending that the President has received a proposal on the way forward, but has not acted on it to date.

“In our January 6 correspondence, the GAWU

pointed out to Mr Granger noting that a quarter of a year had elapsed, expectedly, the sugar company would have offered its advice and he would have formed his own opinion. Indeed, the GAWU has learnt that the President has received from GuySuCo, some weeks ago, several proposals regarding a pay rise to sugar workers.

Those proposals, we learnt too, were also re-sent to the

President recently,” GAWU stated.

Moreover, the Union cited that both GuySuCo and the President are not following through on their promises.

“Our Union is also aware that the GuySuCo CEO, Dr Harold Davis (Junior) was representing this matter to the Government. In fact, the CEO, when we met him on November 20, 2019, felt

Residents cite drainage, taxes as major concerns as M&CC hosts ‘open day’

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine along with other officials assisting residents

shared his concerns and welcomed the initiative taken by the Council.

“It is concerning the interest rate on my property and I am seeking a waiver because the compound interest that is what mashing up a lot of things. As you know compound interest is on interest on interest. It seems as well I am going to be assisted,” Colin noted.

Another city resident,

s part of an effort to address concerns expressed by city residents, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council held its first open day on Tuesday.

His worship the Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine during an interview with Guyana Times relayed some of the issues raised by residents during the event.

“Most of the concerns we are getting especially in Newtown Kitty area and concern drainage and also a few on street lights. The next issue we are getting, it’s about rates and taxes people want to pay but what happened it is that they interest build up so in a large amount,” the Mayor explained.

Back in February, the

John Shepard, raised concern on the infrastructure works that are being carried out in his community. He noted that these can be hazardous to the school children due to the fact that the roads are narrow.

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European Union (EU) had handed over a document to the Mayor in relation to the restoration of City Hall’s deplorable structure and ways in which the space can be utilised to garner independent revenues.

EU Ambassador to Guyana Jernej Videtic made the presentation to which he stated that some £280,000 was expended to craft the document, bringing new ideas to the restoration project.

He noted that some plans include using the historic building as a tourism spot where it can be booked for special events to earn money. But this plan seems not to be working.

However, Mayor Narine also spoke of his plans for the restoration of City Hall.

“The Council plan is numerous plan, my plan is to restore City Hall. I want to set up a recycle plant and that would be in a handout very soon in the City for 2020,” he remarked.

Guyana Times caught up with a city resident who also

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine

that he would have had an answer on the matter by mid-December, 2019. That timeframe elapsed and after follow-up by the GAWU, the Corporation subsequently undertook to provide a response by the end of 2019.

That also lapsed and the GAWU has reminded the GuySuCo that a response is outstanding,” the Union remarked.

The Union is of the strong belief that the entire sugar policy of the coalition Government was done with one intention – that is to punish the sugar workers, their families, and their villages.

“The GAWU has said before, it appears, the President and his Administration had really no intention of even considering the sugar workers and their families’ plight and wellbeing. While holding that strong belief, we felt it was also appropriate to give the President an opportunity to respond. The fact that he has not even acknowledged our follow-up letter though is known for his acknowledgement of correspondences, much less offering a response, in our view, is justifying our suspicion.”

The sugar workers and the GAWU noted that they are disappointed, but would continue the struggle to ensure fairness, equity and justice are served.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NYC sanctuary policy spared undocumented Guyanese immigrant from deportation – ICE official

ꟷ left him on street to rape, murder Queens woman

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ederal immigration officials, after blaming the city’s sanctuary policy for a 92-year-old woman’s rape and murder, were blasted on Tuesday

by City Hall for using the tragedy to trumpet their immigration agenda.

The NYPD ignored a federal request to turn over an undocumented Guyanese immigrant busted in November for assaulting his father, leaving the twisted suspect free to kill helpless nonagenarian Maria Fuentes six weeks later, charged Thomas Decker, Field Office Director for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement removal operations.

“Clearly the politicians care more about criminal illegal aliens than the citizens they are elected to serve and protect," said Decker. “It was a deadly choice to release a man on an active ICE detainer back on the streets, and now he faces new charges, including murder."

The NYPD and City Hall fired back in tandem at the allegation of blood on their hands in the gruesome Fuentes murder.

The police first issued a statement refuting ICE’s

the same time that Fuertes was walking through Richmond Hills shortly after midnight on Jan 6. His own brother called the police to identify Reeaz as the suspect after a video of the horrifying incident was released by Police.

The sobbing, sniffling suspect denied any part in the elderly woman’s death during an exclusive Rikers Island interview with the Daily News.

Decker said his agency filed a second detainer on Monday with the NYPD in

hopes of taking Khan into custody following the murder arrest, adding that the suspect was an “unlawfully present Guyanese national" while taking a shot at city policy. (New York Daily News)

Murder accused: Reeaz Khan

version of what happened, insisting the department was never notified about any detainer in this case.

A City Hall source echoed the police account, adding that the city’s standard for turning over suspects was conviction rather than just allegations.

“We mourn with the family of Ms Fuertes,” said mayoral spokeswoman Olivia Lapeyrolerie. "If Mr Khan is convicted, the city will cooperate with federal officials in accordance with local law. It is shameful that the Trump Administration is politicising this tragedy.”

Khan, 21, remains jailed on Rikers Island

in last week’s savage and deadly assault on Fuertes as the helpless old Queens resident scavenged for returnable bottles and cans to collect a few extra dollars.

ICE officials said they targeted Khan following the Nov 27 attack on his dad with a broken coffee cup, only to get the cold shoulder in their effort to deport the suspect because of the city’s sanctuary policies. Khan was arraigned on charges of assault and criminal possession of a weapon and released after cutting his dad in the chest and arm with the mug.

Six weeks later, he was on the Queens streets at

Digicel Guyana launched its Mash Fit 2020 on Monday at Georgetown Cricket Club Ground, Bourda, with over 200 persons. Mash Fit, as it is commonly known, is an annual programme that the telephone giant hosts leading up to Mashramani. Fitness sessions are being conducted by Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts on Mondays to Fridays from 17:00h- 18:00h. The sessions are free of cost

Guyana’s first LGBTQ+ place of worship launched

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Some of the members after the church service

he lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+ (LGBTQ+) community has not traditionally been welcomed into churches with open arms and has continued to experience discrimination at its highest that negatively impacts all aspects of their lives.

But the Hope of Christ Anglican Church has become the first church in Guyana to include LGBTQ+ persons in its congregation.

The all-inclusive church, which holds services at Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) on Duncan Street, Georgetown every first and third Sunday of each month at 10:00h, is aiming to provide a place of worship for people of all races, genders, and sexualities, along with getting the message of love, inclusiveness, and affirmation to the people.

Founder and Pastor of the church, Marvin Livan, explained that he decided to launch the church owing to the neglect and rejection of the LGBTQ+ community from traditional churches based on their sexual orientation.

“We started the all-inclusive church for those like my-

self who have been kicked out of their local church based on their sexual orientation or gender identity and they don’t serve in the church or have any purpose in the church anymore.

It is for those LGBTQ persons who are Christians that have been home, away from church and away from everything and away from the calling on their life,” Livan added.

Livan also added that as a result of rejections persons in the LGBTQ+ community faced, it has stifled their ministry, hence the church is all about reviving that ministry.

“Last week, in our service, we had somebody from the LGBTQ community that their latent was exposed within our circle and I tell you even me was amazed when I humble myself when someone is praying for me.

The gift of that person was buried down there due to discrimination and rejection from the church that he used to attend and that gift was unveiled at the service,” Livan explained.

The Pastor added that the response from persons has been overwhelming while noting that the church is being operated by the

Holy Spirit, which has seen a great movement with the congregation midst during the first service.

“Persons cannot wait for the next service. During our last service, the power of God came down and he is doing mighty things. The anointing

Founder and Pastor, Marvin Livan

was so rich in the worship. I believe it was God mandate and I worked with God’s mandate because if I hadn’t worked with God’s mandate, I would have gotten a hard time with everything that we did and is presently doing,” the Pastor cited.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GTT honours longstanding employees Miner remanded on attempted murder charge

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ifteen employees attached to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) were recognised for their stellar contributions to the company over the past 25 years.

The telephone company presented the longstanding employees with plaques and gift certificates of their choice from King’s Jewellery, Courts Guyana and Singers.

Two staff members being rewarded for their 25 years of service to GTT

Among those being recognised were Petal Burrowes, Mary Evelyn, Hugh Hartley, Donna Moses, Stephanie Robertson, Jemel Jeffrey, Debra Boodie, Bonita Halley, Petal Adams, Virgil Hazel, Kurbin Lewis, Michelle Abel-Roberts, Adrian Adams, Terrence Robertson and Andre Greene.

GTT’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Justin Nedd, extended gratefulness to the

employees for their commitment to the company for 25 years.

“Being the employer of choice means finding and retaining the right talent.

25 years of service speaks not only to the dedication of those employed but to GTT already having hired and retained the right talent to ensure the vision and mission of the company are achieved. We are honoured to have empowered, en-

gaged and happy employees and we look forward to building a stronger company with their continued efforts,” Nedd said.

The employees all shared their experience at GTT and expressed gratitude to the company for its “interest in employee growth and development,” while noting how privileged they were to see the company’s transformation over the 25 years period.

Grove man gets life sentence for stabbing girlfriend 41 times

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ustice Sandil Kissoon on Tuesday handed a life sentence to Shivanand Roopnarine of School Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara, who brutally stabbed his 18-year-old girlfriend Alissa McPherson to death in April 2015.

Roopnarine, 26, pleaded guilty to a murder indictment presented against him

by State Prosecutors Tiffini Lyken, Tuanna Hardy and Nafeeza Baig.

He could be eligible for parole after serving 20 years’ imprisonment.

Attorney Siand Dhurjon pleaded with the Judge for a lesser sentence for his client. He highlighted that Roopnarine was under the influence of alcohol when he

down the sentence: the age of the deceased, the manner in which she was killed and the fact that a weapon was used.

Dead: Alissa McPherson

fessed to the crime.

According to reports, McPherson left her home and went to a party in Sophia with a male friend.

Shivanand Roopnarine

committed the offence.

The man was on the run for one year before being captured by the Police.

He was reportedly heading to Mahdia, Region Eight and while at the checkpoint at Mabura, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), he was asked to produce a form of identification.

It was at this point that Police recognised the young man and made the arrest. It was while in custody he con-

While at the party, McPherson was confronted by Roopnarine, who accused her

of cheating on him with the male friend.

However, McPherson denied, and Roopnarine took her to the back of the yard, pulled out a black object from the waist of his pants and stabbed her.

McPherson was discovered in the toilet area with stab wounds and she was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.

A post-mortem report later revealed that McPherson was stabbed 41 times about her body.

During his address to the court, a remorseful Roopnarine begged his girlfriend’s family for forgiveness.

The Judge considered several factors before handing

29-year-old miner was remanded to prison on Monday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for unlawfully wounding another man during an argument.

Don Giddings of Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD), appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus and was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on January 8, 2020, at Mazaruni River, Essequibo, with intent to commit murder, he unlawfully wounded Kendrick Jones.

According to informa-

tion, on the day in question, the men were involved in an argument during which Giddings picked up a cutlass and dealt the victim several chops about his body.

The injured man was rushed to the Bartica Hospital where he remains a patient.

The matter was reported, and Giddings was later arrested and charged for the offence.

The court heard that the victim was still hospitalised and was in a serious condition.

Giddings’ next court appearance is slated for January 17, 2020, at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WBD woman torches home Traffic lights vandalised, after argument with brother batteries stolen – MoPI unable to put end to criminal act

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t least 28 traffic lights in Georgetown have been vandalised and their batteries have been stolen, according to the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

The issue of the traffic lights being vandalised was raised in September last but as of recent, the issue has become a major concern for the Ministry which claimed that it is impossible to protect the facilities.

As a result of the vandalism, the traffic lights are unable to function, thus, causing much concern for commuters.

The remains of the torched house

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alisa McKenzie, a mother of two, decided to risk everything she owned on Monday evening when she intentionally set her Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD) home ablaze following an argument with her brother.

This publication visited the scene on Tuesday and spoke to McKenzie’s relatives who explained what transpired.

Dianne Johnson, the woman’s cousin’s stated that McKenzie had an argument with her brother with whom she and her two children shared the home.

But while Johnson is unsure of what caused the argument, she added that around 23:30h, the woman made the first attempt to set the house on fire by placing clothing on her gas stove.

However, a relative intervened and put the flames out.

Mackenzie, determined to finish what she had started, then ventured into her bedroom and reignited the flames, which complete-

Vandalised traffic light

Dianne Johnson

ly destroyed the one-storey wooden structure located at Lot 28 Sisters Village, WBD, and scorched another house situated in the same yard.

“She and her brother had this argument, and she went upstairs and put some clothes on her gas stove and light it…she go into the bedroom and she lock the door, front and back and light the fire in the front room,” Johnson explained.

The cousin shared that after committing the act, the mother of two fled before Police ranks and firefighters arrived at the scene.

“When I came out here

is didn’t see her… her house was already gone and they were trying to assist in bucket brigade and so on here, before the fire reel got here.”

Meanwhile, McKenzie’s brother, Matthew Thomas told this publication that this was not the first time his sister committed such an act, while noting that he was not at home when the fire started.

“This is normal thing, she burn down a house before…I stand up at the corner and I hear the shouting, the fire start first and dem boy out the fire, she lock up the fire and start a next fire.”

Massy officially launches Grace’s newest product line

M

assy Distribution on Tuesday officially launched its newest product – multi-flavoured pure Colombian coffee under its Grace brand.

The simple launching ceremony was held at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown, where attendees had a firsthand opportunity to sample the new product.

In brief remarks, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Navin Thakur shared the reason for the product while adding that it is different from the many others on the market.

“So when this one came along, we had some discussions with Grace. We resisted it at first but after we tasted it and so, we said this is really good. It distinguishes from other instant coffees because the drying process, other coffee is heated five times and grace is two, so that way it doesn’t damage the flavour,” he said.

The Grace Coffee is 100

Minister David Patterson

According to the Ministry, the batteries will cost over G$2 million to replace. Not only did the vandals remove the solar-powered batteries, but also the backups.

Subject Minister David Patterson, speaking at a recent press briefing, explained that while the necessary information and evidence have been handed over to the Police, nothing of substance has come out of the investigations.

The Ministry, he stated, is open to suggestions as to what could be done to prevent this from occurring in the future, as such vandalism is costing the country.

“It is highly irresponsible, not only for the persons that are stealing the batteries but also the persons who are

buying the batteries. They are equally or more culpable for encouraging such acts,” said Patterson.

According to Patterson, the lights are solar-powered, using solar energy during daylight and storing the excess power for use at night.

As such, Patterson stressed that the public needs to play its part in dealing with such criminal acts since the Police cannot handle the job alone.

“The Public Security Ministry may have other issues to look at that may be of more importance…that may be why we have such a low prosecution number,” the Minister outlined.

He highlighted that they will continue with their campaigns to sensitise the public while pointing out that persons can take photos and post same on the Ministry’s Facebook page.

During a press conference on Wednesday last, the Minister stated that the Ministry is unable to put a stop to the constant vandalism of its properties and

Woman remanded for dousing lover with hot oil

A

The newly-launched product

per cent Colombian coffee and is naturally freeze-dried to preserve the flavour and aroma to make an even more perfect cup of coffee.

Guyanese are being urged to try the newest coffee, since it comes in 5 different flavours which are

Vanilla, Amaretto, Irish, Caramel and Regular, which is also available in decaf.

Massy Distribution is the sole distributor of the product and it can be found at supermarkets countrywide.

Grace coffees are available in sizes of 50g, 100g, and 200g.

woman who allegedly poured hot oil on her partner last week was on Monday remanded to prison on an attempted murder charge.

Thirty-year-old Latoya Angel, a salesgirl of Gangaram Village, East Canje, Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court. The accused will appear in court on January 15, 2020.

Reports are that the couple had a heated argument and the woman was allegedly assaulted by the man.

The woman then waited until the victim was asleep, picked up the hot pot of oil from the stove and dumped the scorching liquid on the man.

Suspect: Latoya Angel

Upon hearing the screams, neighbours rushed to his rescue and took him to the hospital. The police were summoned and the woman was arrested.

other structures across the country.

From traffic lights to the newly-commissioned overhead pedestrian crossings, many public structures continue to be vandalised daily.

In August 2019, parts of the pedestrian overpasses at Diamond and Providence were stolen. During an inspection, engineers observed that the elevator’s glass door at Providence, EBD was smashed and electrical and solar panel lights were stolen while at the Diamond overpass; wires were disconnected from the camera systems and both the no-cycle and disable signs were stolen.

Further, the corrugated electrical wire cover was removed, the earthing connection was vandalised and its protective cover was stolen.

A US$364,000 contract was awarded for the construction of a pedestrian overpass at Diamond and a US$1 million contract for those at Houston, Peter’s Hall, and Providence. The overpasses were constructed to ensure pedestrians can cross the road safely.

During the construction of the overpasses, security cameras and other measures were put in place to nab perpetrators.

The contract for the overpasses at Houston, Eccles and Peter’s Hall was awarded to B and J Civil Works in the sum of US$1,034,326.

Meanwhile, there were separate contracts for the Providence and Diamond overpasses which were both awarded to S Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services to the tune of US$364,247 and US$364,727 respectively.

Trinidadian supervision firm – RM Engineering Limited – was recruited to oversee the construction of the overpasses.

It was recently observed two days ago that the batteries from the traffic light on the main access Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara were stolen and vandalised.

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

17

Around the World

Kashmir avalanches and Mexico mass grave holding 29 landslides leave 62 people dead bodies found near Guadalajara

A

t least 62 people have been killed and more are missing after avalanches and landslides hit Pakistan-administered Kashmir over the past three days.

The region’s Neelum Valley was particularly hard hit, with many people left cut off from help.

While the area is prone to weather disasters, the current toll is one of the deadliest in recent history.

The harsh weather has also killed dozens in other parts of Pakistan, and in India and Afghanistan.

Pakistani Kashmir was the worst-hit area, with 62 people killed and several missing, Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority said.

In most places, the weather improved on Tuesday, but many of the worst affected areas remain cut off.

In Pakistan’s Balochistan province, officials put the death toll at 20 including 12

T

People are still thought to be missing amid the rubble in the Neelum Valley

women and seven children.

Eight people have also died in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, according to local media.

In Afghanistan, the official toll stands at 24 dead and 40 wounded over the past two weeks, with most of the casualties occurring over the past three days.

Pakistani authorities have told the BBC that across Neelum Valley, at least 59 people have been killed and over 40 injured by

both avalanches and landslides.

More than 100 houses have been destroyed or damaged.

Police say most routes to access the valley are blocked, so rescue teams cannot get in.

Neelum Valley is a narrow crescent-shaped valley that runs some 130km (81 miles) from end to end, surrounded on both sides by tall mountains. (Excerpt from BBC News)

he bodies of at least 29 people have been found in a mass grave on the outskirts of the city of Guadalajara in western Mexico, officials say.

It was near two other shallow graves in which 81 bodies were found last year.

Last week, Mexico revised the figure of people who had disappeared since 2006 from 40,000 to 60,000.

Many of them are thought to have been killed

by Mexico’s powerful criminal gangs, their bodies disposed of in makeshift graves.

Officials said they had been able to identify four of the 29 bodies so far and that they belonged to those of people reported missing.

Forensic tests are continuing on the remaining bodies.

All three graves were found after members of Mexico’s National Guard raided a warehouse in nearby Toluquilla on 6 November.

They were on a routine patrol of the area when they

Forensic experts have been examining the site of a mass grave in Jalisco state

spotted armed men outside the warehouse. They raided the premises and found eight people who were being held by the gunmen as well as a large arsenal of weapons.

They arrested 15 people, three of whom were juveniles, and information provided by them led them to the three graves at a local farm.

The discovery of mass graves in Mexico is not unusual.

In the 13 months between 1 December 2018 and 31

December 2019, more than 1000 bodies were exhumed from clandestine burial sites.

Some are believed to have been gang members killed either by their own gang for perceived trespasses or by rival gangs. Others were kidnapped for ransom and killed when their relatives were not able to pay up. Others were killed for entering territory controlled by a gang or because they were perceived as a threat by a criminal group.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

they still wanted the nuclear deal with Tehran to succeed and were not joining a “maximum pressure” campaign by the United States, which abandoned the pact in 2018 and has reimposed economic sanctions on Iran.

The countries triggered what is called the dispute mechanism in the deal.

Triggering the mechanism amounts to formally accusing Iran of violating the terms of the agreement.

Iran’s Foreign Minister criticised the move.

Iran, which denies its nuclear programme is aimed at building a bomb, has gradual-

ly rolled back its commitments under the accord since the United States quit. It argues that Washington’s actions justify such a course.

Iran has long accused the Europeans of reneging on promises to protect its economy from US sanctions. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi dismissed the “completely passive action” of the three countries.

He said Iran would support any act of “goodwill and constructive effort” to save the agreement but would give a “serious response to any destructive measures.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bolivia’s caretaker President seeks to unite opposition to Morales as Britain, France, Germany formally accuse Iran of breaking nuclear deal election battle reignites

B

olivia’s interim President Jeanine Anez is pushing to unite a divided opposition to secure an election win in May and prevent the return to power of the socialist party of ousted leader Evo Morales.

Anez, a 52-year-old conservative who took office amid a power vacuum following Morales’ resignation under pressure last year, said she was calling this week for a summit of political parties to help defeat Morales’ Movement to Socialism (MAS).

She said, however, that she currently has no plans to run herself. Morales himself is in Argentina and has said he will not take part in May’s election, but he is playing a key role in the campaign of the party he founded.

“If we dilute the vote obviously that will benefit Evo Morales,” Anez said in an inter-

view with Reuters at the presidential palace in the historic centre of La Paz. “We cannot risk a return to the same 14 years of oppression and authoritarianism of Evo Morales, who is totally sick for power.”

The scrabble to unite the opposition underscores the challenge for Bolivia’s conservatives in an election that could be key in deciding the future direction of the gas and lithium-rich nation.

Anez, President almost by chance after she took over according to a line of succession when Morales and his deputy resigned, is at the heart of a political storm that has rocked Bolivia, where the image of Morales was ubiquitous from public transport to sports stadia for more than a decade.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

B

ritain, France and Germany on Tuesday formally accused Iran of violating the terms of its 2015 agreement to curb its nuclear programme, a step by the three powers that could lead eventually to the reimposing of UN sanctions lifted under the deal.

The European powers said they were acting to avoid a crisis over nuclear proliferation adding to an escalating confrontation in the Middle East. Russia, another signatory to the pact, said it saw no grounds to trigger the mechanism and Iran dismissed the step as a “strategic mistake”.

The three countries said

One dead after chemical factory US targets Maduroexplosion in Spain’s Tarragona backed legislator

O

ne person died after an explosion on Tuesday at a chemical factory in northeastern Spain that was most likely caused by a chemical accident, local media said, citing rescue services.

The person was killed when a building collapsed as a consequence of the shockwave generated by the explosion in Tarragona province, media including La Vanguardia and El Pais newspapers said on their websites.

Another person was missing, TVE broadcaster said.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s office said he was in touch with Catalan authorities and that Madrid was ready to “provide the necessary support due to this serious event, which has caused several injuries and substantial material damage”.

A spokesman in Catalonia’s rescue services, which provides rescue services and disaster relief

and allies in fresh Venezuelan sanctions

T

An explosion is seen through a car window, in Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain January 14, 2020, in this picture grab obtained from a social media video

in the region, confirmed someone had died in a nearby building that collapsed, adding that it could not confirm yet if this was linked directly to the explosion or fire.

The fire was now contained, the spokesman said, adding that two people suffered severe burns, one less severe burns and three had light injuries.

The civil defence agency advised people nearby to stay inside with doors and windows shut as a

precaution, but added: “There is no evidence of a toxic cloud.”

Local trains between Tarragona and neighbouring Port Aventura were suspended on Police orders, the train operator Rodalies said, while the regional transport authority said some roads had been closed.

The affected company is Industrias Quimicas del Oxido de Etileno, the fire brigade said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

he United States on Monday imposed sanctions on seven Venezuelan politicians it said led a bid by President Nicolas Maduro to wrest control of the country’s congress from US-backed Opposition Leader Juan Guaido.

Earlier this month, troops blocked Guaido from entering congress long enough for the Socialist Party to declare allied legislator Luis Parra as head of Parliament.

Opposition legislators in a separate session on Jan 5 re-elected Guaido and later returned to the legislative palace to hold a session.

Washington blacklisted Parra and six of his allies “who, at the bidding of Maduro, attempted to block the democratic process in Venezuela,” US Treasury

Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

The other Maduro-aligned politicians sanctioned on Monday are Jose Noriega, Franklyn Duarte, Jose Brito, Conrado Perez, Adolfo Superlano and Negal Morales.

Reuters reported last week that the Trump administration was weighing imposing sanctions against Parra and more than a dozen others who took part in the Socialist Party’s attempt to take control of congress.

The sanctions, Washington’s latest action targeting the socialist Maduro government, freeze any U.S. assets of those targeted and generally prohibit Americans from doing business with them. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

PEANUTS

Push the boundaries, set big goals and exceed your expectations. Today is about discipline, hard work and proving what you can do. A personal change will prompt romance.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Refuse to let the words or actions of others stand in your way. Handle an emotional matter very delicately. You will be amazed by how much you can learn if you listen.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Do your own thing and enjoy what transpires. Take a unique approach to how you handle money, your health and contractual negotiations. Romance is in the stars.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Take the responses you get from others to heart.

Defend your principles, but be open-minded enough to allow others to follow their own beliefs. Getting along will require work and compromise.

VIRGO

Take control and do whatever is necessary to improve your life. A change will lead to new opportunities. Don’t fear letting go of something that is no longer working for you.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Don’t jump to conclusions or make assumptions that will get you into trouble.

Nothing will be as it appears.

It’s time to sit back and let others come to you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Outside pressure shouldn’t daunt you or make you conform to someone else’s dream.

If you don’t like what you see or hear, remove yourself from the situation that is causing you grief.

SCORPIO

Handle money matters like an expert. Invest in your skills, talents and ideas. If you keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, you will make the right decisions. Romance is encouraged.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Refuse to let restlessness SAGITTARIUS lead to unnecessary changes.

(Nov. 23Initiate reform and look for Dec. 21) a solution. Remain calm and discuss your options with people who share your concerns.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR YESTERDAY’S PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Less fuss will help you get things done. Put one foot in front of the other until you reach your destination.

Financial gain is heading your way.

Personal change will boost your morale and confidence. Fitness, health and a proper diet will help you improve your quality of life.

Take on responsibility and show everyone what you are capable of doing. Dealing with other people’s jobs or problems will give you leverage when you need a favor.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

19

Gilgeous-Alexander notches historic triple-double NBA round-up:

tory over Philadelphia in Indianapolis.

TJ Warren also tallied 21 points, and Domantas Sabonis collected 10 points and 16 rebounds for the Pacers, who improved to 16-5 at home this season.

Myles Turner and Justin Holiday each had 14 points for Indiana, who overcame an 11-point deficit in the third quarter to post their third win in the past four games.

Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half and finished with 14 rebounds for the game. Eastern

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Shabazz Napier (13) chase a loose ball (USA Today Sports)

S

hai GilgeousAlexander produced his first career triple-double, finishing with 20 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 117-104 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night in Minneapolis.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s second-year guard, hadn’t pulled down more than 10 rebounds in any of his first 121 career games. At age 21 and 185 days, he is the youngest player ever with 20 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game (topping a mark held by Maurice Stokes since 1956), and he is the youngest with a 20-rebound triple-double (breaking a mark set by Shaquille O’Neal in 1993).

Danilo Gallinari led Oklahoma City with a season-high 30 points. The Thunder posted their 12th win in 15 games, while the Timberwolves fell for the third time in four games.

Rookie centre Naz Reid scored a season-high 20 points off the bench to lead the Timberwolves.

Minnesota’s Robert Covington added 18 points.

Dwight Howard recorded 21 points and 15 rebounds off the bench as the Lakers snapped Cleveland’s twogame winning streak.

Kevin Love (21 points, 11 rebounds) and Tristan Thompson (17 points, 10 rebounds) had double-doubles for the Cavaliers, who had opened a six-game trip with victories at Detroit and Denver.

points and Markelle Fultz added 16 as the Magic earned the victory in a game between teams struggling with injuries. Gordon (calf) and DJ Augustin (knee) each played after missing Orlando’s Friday loss at Phoenix.

Nemanja Bjelica scored a career-high 34 points and De’Aaron Fox added 31 for the Kings.

Boston Celtics 113Chicago Bulls 101

New Orleans Pelicans 117Detroit Pistons 110 (OT)

Los Angeles Lakers 128Cleveland Cavaliers 99

Orlando Magic 114Sacramento Kings 112

Avery Bradley ignited a third-quarter run with a 3-pointer as hosts Los Angeles, after trailing the entire first half, blew past Cleveland for their ninth straight win.

LeBron James scored a game-high 31 points while

Jayson Tatum scored 21 points and Jaylen Brown chipped in 19 to lead hosts Boston past Chicago for their second straight victory following a three-game losing streak.

Chicago sputtered to its seventh loss in eight games despite a game-high 30 points from Zach LaVine.

Thaddeus Young scored 17 points for Chicago, while Tomas Satoransky (12) and Daniel Gafford (10) also produced double-figure totals.

Enes Kanter (15 points), Kemba Walker (14), Marcus Smart (12) and Grant Williams (11) posted double-figure scoring totals for the Celtics. Kanter grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

Nikola Vucevic scored 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, and Aaron Gordon added 19 points, including a three-point play with 1.1 seconds remaining, as Orlando pulled out a victory at Sacramento.

Evan Fournier scored 25

Little-used Jahlil Okafor had 25 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and three blocks as short-handed New Orleans handed hosts Detroit their third straight loss.

The Pelicans were missing three starters, including leading scorer and power forward Brandon Ingram (right knee soreness). Derrick Favors (right hamstring strain) and Jrue Holiday (left elbow contusion) were also sidelined.

Detroit has been playing without three of its projected starters in recent weeks.

Nicolo Melli had 20 points and Lonzo Ball supplied 17 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, but also committed seven turnovers for New Orleans. Derrick Rose led Detroit with 23 points and eight assists while Christian Wood supplied 18 points and nine rebounds.

Indiana Pacers 101Philadelphia 76ers 95

Malcolm Brogdon scored 21 points in his return from a sore back and strep throat as Indiana posted a vic-

Conference Player of the Week Josh Richardson scored 17 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the 76ers, who have lost six of eight overall and six in a row on the road.

Portland Trail Blazers 115-Charlotte Hornets 112

Damian Lillard recorded 30 points and nine assists as Portland posted a victory over visiting Charlotte.

CJ McCollum added 27 points and Carmelo Anthony notched 17 as the Trail Blazers won for just the third time in the past 11 games. Anthony Tolliver

came off the bench to score 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting while also collecting 11 rebounds. Devonte’ Graham made eight 3-pointers and had 27 points and 10 assists for the Hornets, who have lost five straight games and 11 of their past 13. Terry Rozier registered 25 points and seven rebounds, PJ Washington added 20 points and 11 rebounds for Charlotte, which lost their 12th straight game in Portland since last winning there on March 29, 2008. (Reuters)

Wilder v Fury II: Brit fears he will not get a points decision in the US

B

WBC heavyweight title holder Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury (AFP)

ritain's Tyson Fury says he will never get a judges' decision in his rematch with Deontay Wilder and his desire to knock the American out was one of the reasons he dropped trainer Ben Davison.

Fury, 31, will fight WBC heavyweight title holder Wilder on 22 February in Las Vegas after their 2018 bout in Los Angeles ended in a controversial draw.

Last month, Fury moved from Davison to team up with Javan "Sugar" Hill.

"I know I will not get a decision in the US," said Fury on Monday.

In a news conference held in Los Angeles to promote the fight, Fury added: "They had to rob a man who had been out of the ring for three years and they still couldn't beat him.

"I'm not coming here for a points decision, I've had too many of them - nine of them - I'm coming here for a knockout, I've had 21 of them and from the heart that's what I'm looking to do.

"This is why I employed Sugar Hill. If I didn't want a knockout, I wouldn't have hired a Kronk [the famous Detroit gym] trainer. If I didn't want a knockout, I'd have kept Ben Davison and working on that herky-jerky style."

Davison had worked with Fury for two years and oversaw the fighter's 10-stone weight loss

and five fights, including the draw with Wilder in December 2018.

However, after a points win over Sweden's Otto Wallin in September, Fury's father John was critical of Davison, saying his son looked "weak as a kitten" and the display was "the worst I have seen from Tyson".

Three months later, it was announced Fury had chosen Hill, the nephew of the late Emmanuel Steward, as his new trainer.

Steward, who died in 2012, trained Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko, while Fury worked out in Steward's Kronk Gym back in 2010.

"You're going to sleep in two rounds," Fury told Wilder. "I keep having the same dream and when I'm playing poker I keep getting dealt two.

It's definitely a thing. He is getting knocked out in two.

Despite knocking Fury down twice in their original meeting, many pundits thought Wilder deserved to lose on points.

This time, the American, who is unbeaten in 43 fights, said: "It's called unfinished business and he won't be able to get back up. I'm going to knock him out.

"I'm the lion, the king of the jungle, and come 22 February I'm going to rip his head off his body. I'm going to knock him out of those ropes." (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

David Warner, Aaron Finch dismantle India with record stand A

ustralia outsmarted India with the ball and then bullied them in the chase, with centuries from David Warner and Aaron Finch not even allowing the hosts a sniff.

Together they put on the highest partnership for any wicket against India as Australia cantered home by ten wickets with 12.2 overs to spare. Earlier, they restricted India to 255 after putting them in. At the forefront of the bowling effort were Mitchell Starc, who strangled India in three different phases to finish with 3 for 56, and Pat Cummins, who took the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan for 74 and Rishabh Pant for 28 to deny India any acceleration.

India’s bowlers found swing from both ends, but it was also clear that the pitch had less of the grip or stoppage that it had shown under daylight. With deliveries sliding on sweetly off the surface, both Finch and Warner were mostly unfazed by the odd ones that beat them.

Finch, in particular, stayed leg side of the ball and drove and chopped confidently through the covers of both front and back foot.

Warner was more tentative to start off, getting his first boundary in the seventh over after Finch had already hit five. Once he got a taste, he too started hitting from a predominantly leg-side position, starting with a big plant down the pitch to lace Shardul Thakur over midoff.

So brutal was the stroke-making that India’s bowlers took a while before they tried to pull their lengths back the way Australia had. Even when they did manage it, they started erring on the shorter side. Thakur was especially punished, his relatively lower pace suiting Warner particularly.

In his first over, the 11th of the innings, Kuldeep Yadav appeared like he might be able to apply the brakes and change the scoring pattern. He found Finch’s leading edge twice in that over, but soon enough a release ball lobbed full on middle stump was smoked straight for six.

That brought up 100 in 12.3 overs, 70 of those runs coming in boundaries.

Soon enough, the spinners also started dropping them short, and the faultiness started showing. More misfields crept in, a review was wasted in the 20th over, and by the end of the 21st over Virat Kohli was pictured animatedly arguing an lbw decision with umpire C Shamshuddin.

In the meantime, Warner and Finch had made fifties, marched the team past 150, and set themselves up for hundreds that were reached

SCOREBOARD

Virat Kohli looks on as Aaron Finch and David Warner pile on the runs (AFP)

with comfort after the 200 partnership was brought up in the 31st over.

Not at any point after the first drinks break did India appear like they had ideas to stop the pair, which was far from the case when Australia had the ball. Their fast bowlers had adjusted brilliantly on the fly in good batting conditions and were aided by impressive bowler rotation from captain Finch.

The first over of the match from Starc was indicative of two things to Australia ꟷ there wasn’t going to be too much swing, and straying too full was always going to cost boundaries.

Cummins relied more on whacking the ball into the surface at the other end, and soon enough, Starc adjusted his lengths too. After eight in the first over, India were tied to 13 in the middle of the fifth, when Rohit Sharma attempted a third expansive drive. On this occasion, Starc had gone crossseam and natural variation forced a harmless chip to mid-off.

KL Rahul, India’s third opener in the squad, came in at No. 3. At the start, he looked more fluent than the returning Shikhar Dhawan, who crawled to 3 off 22 before he got his first boundary by running down at Starc.

He followed up with one through midwicket next ball and with a slap over midwicket off Kane Richardson soon after, Dhawan became increasingly confident.

Both he and Rahul seemed to have assessed that there was some grip on the surface. Hardly any of the boundaries they picked up were forced - save one elegant six against the turn and over mid-off by Dhawan.

Even so, their 121-run stand came in good time at 22.4 overs.

A slight lapse from Rahul, however, gave Australia an opening that they aggressively took advantage of. After stepping out to Agar, he lobbed his drive straight to extra cover to fall for 47. Next over, Cummins was brought on as soon as Kohli was at the

crease. He managed to find Dhawan’s leading edge as he looked to flick and suddenly India were three down.

From the other end, Finch also brought back Adam Zampa, who had troubled Kohli on Australia’s last tour. It resulted in a wicket, Kohli looking to force a drive off Zampa but only managing to drill it straight back at him. Next over, another bowling change brought another wicket. Starc replaced Cummins, roughed Shreyas Iyer up with a bouncer, and pushed one across him next ball to have him caught-behind on the drive. From 134

for 1, the score read 164 for 5, with 17 overs still to play.

With Kedar Jadhav making way for a third opener, Pant was India’s No. 6, and one half of the last recognised batting pair alongside Ravindra Jadeja. The left-handers went about it much like Dhawan and Rahul had ꟷ no serious risks were taken, but the scoring rate kept India alive for a chance at 280.

But far too much was to be done. Just as they were on the verge of putting up 50 for the sixth wicket though, Jadeja’s attempted glide to third man off a Kane

India Innings (50 overs maximum) RG Sharma c Warner b Starc 10 S Dhawan c Agar b Cummins 74 KL Rahul c Smith b Agar 47 V Kohli (c) c & b Zampa 16 SS Iyer c †Carey b Starc 4 RR Pant † c Turner b Cummins 28 RA Jadeja c †Carey b Richardson 25 SN Thakur b Starc 13 M Shami c †Carey b Richardson 10 Kuldeep Yadav run out (Smi th) 17 JJ Bumrah not out 0 Extras (lb 3, w 8) 11 TOTAL (49.1 Overs, RR: 5.18) 255 all out Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Rohit Sharma, 4.3 ov), 2-134 (KL Rahul, 27.1 ov), 3-140 (Shikhar Dhawan, 28.5 ov), 4-156 (Virat Kohli, 31.2 ov), 5-164 (Shreyas Iyer, 32.5 ov), 6-213 (Ravindra Jadeja, 42.1 ov), 7-217 (Rishabh Pant, 43.2 ov), 8-229 (Shardul Thakur, 44.5 ov), 9-255 (Kuldeep

Richardson offcutter found Alex Carey. True to pattern, Cummins was brought on next over and produced a short one that Pant ended up pulling to point via the top edge and his helmet.

That blow kept him from wicketkeeping later, with

Yadav, 48.6 ov), 10-255 (Mohammed Shami, 49.1 ov) BOWLING MA Starc (10-0-56-3) PJ Cummins (10-1-44-2) KW Richardson (9.1-0-43-2) A Zampa (10-0-53-1) AC Agar (10-1-56-1) Australia Innings (target: 256 runs from 50 overs) DA Warner not out 128 AJ Finch (c) not out 110 Extras (b 4, lb 7, w 9) 20 TOTAL (37.4 Overs, RR: 6.84) 258-0 Yet to bat: M Labuschagne, SPD Smith, AT Carey †, AJ Turner, AC Agar, PJ Cummins, MA Starc, KW Richardson, A Zampa BOWLING M Shami (7.4-0-58-0) JJ Bumrah (7-0-50-0) SN Thakur (5-0-43-0) K Yadav (10-0-55-0) RA Jadeja (8-0-41-0)

Rahul taking the gloves during the chase.

Thakur, Mohammed Shami, and Kuldeep had the crowd briefly interested and cheering for them, but 255 was never going to be enough. (ESPNcricinfo)

WNBA reaches tentative 8-year labour deal with players

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he Women’s National Basketball Association and its players’ union on Tuesday said they reached a tentative eight-year labour deal that for the first time will see the average annual compensation for players hit six figures.

The agreement, which commences with the 2020 season and runs through 2027, will see players earn an average of US$130,000

and allow women to collect a full salary while on maternity leave.

Under the new agreement, which runs through 2027, the WNBA’s top players will be able to earn more than US$500,000, which more than triples the existing maximum compensation.

Under the new deal, players with children will be provided with two-bedroom apartments as well as

a comfortable, safe and private place at work for nursing.

The deal even includes improvements to travel, which means players will receive premium economy airline tickets and individual hotel rooms for road games.

The WNBA will also work with affiliated leagues, teams and sponsors to provide off-season job opportunities designed

to prepare players for their post-playing careers, and will advance diversity in coaching initiatives for veteran players.

“I am pleased that this agreement guarantees substantial increases in compensation and progressive benefits for the women of the WNBA,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. (Reuters)

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Dr Singh commits $1.3M to BCB for coaching programmes, Cricket Academy T he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has already raised $2.5 million worth of sponsorship in two weeks for 2020 as it forges ahead with its unmatched cricket development programme.

This represents 25 per cent of the targeted $10 million the Board has set as its goal.

Overseas-based Guyanese Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, on Saturday last, confirmed sponsorship for 2020 to the tune of approximately $1.3 million.

The Texas-based Berbician since February 2018 has invested more than $4 million of his own funds to assist the Hilbert Foster-led administration to fulfil its mandate.

Foster welcomed the sponsorship from Dr Singh and stated that the doctor was one of the main reasons his presidency has been successful.

Dr Singh has sponsored a countywide coach-

Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh

ing programme at the cost of $860,000, and has also assisted with the third annual BCB Cricket Academy, scheduled for July.

These events will be the main programme in a comprehensive Berbice-wide developmental effort to unearth new talent. Since Foster’s election, the Board has invested heavily in the development of youths and the BCB boss stated that much more would be done during his second term.

With Dr Singh’s sponsorship, the BCB intends to also host four major twoday coaching clinics in West Berbice, New Amsterdam/ Canje, Upper Corentyne/ Black Bush Polder and Lower/Central Corentyne.

The BCB is aiming to coach at least 70 youths between the ages of 11 and 19 in each sub-zone, for a combined 280 participants. The Coaches to feature at the programme are Winston Smith, Delbert Hicks,

BCB-Ramnaresh Sarwan Under-17 Tournament...

RHT Bakewell join Albion in final

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21

wo of Berbice's most promising youth cricketers Jonathan Rampersaud and Ricardo Ramdehol struck centuries while off-spinner Matthew Pottaya took a five-wicket haul to power Rose Hall Town Bakewell past Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club (Canje) by a record 351 runs.

They have now advanced to the final of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)-Ramnaresh Sarwan Under-17 Tournament.

Rampersaud, a former Guyana Under-15 and West Indies Under-15 player, scored 141 while Ramdehol, another national youth player, blasted 191 not out.

Rose Hall Canje won the toss and elected to field first after early-morning showers left the pitch with some moisture. West Indies Under-15 pacer Isiah Thorne bowled Vikash Subramanir without him scoring, but former national Under-15 batsman Mahendra Gopilall joined Ramdehol at the crease and added a crucial 75 for the second wicket in 10 overs.

Gopilall made an attacking 47 before he was caught at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of promising Under-15 off-spinner Sanjay Algoo. Gopilall struck six boundaries and two sixes.

The in-form Rampersaud, who played for the Upper Corentyne franchise in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) tournament and Ramdehol then added a re-

Jonathan Rampersaud (left) and Ricardo Ramdehol after they each blasted centuries

cord 331 for the third wicket off 27 overs.

Rampersaud struck seven huge sixes and nine boundaries in his classy 141 not out while the talented Ramdehol blasted eight sixes and 10 boundaries against the Canje attack. Thorne and Algoo ended with a wicket apiece for 37 and 91 runs respectively from eight overs.

In reply, Rose Hall Canje were bowled out for 67 with only Aditya Doobai reaching double figures with an unbeaten 21.

Off-spinner Pottaya took 5 for 23; Nyron Hicks had 2

for 10.

The BCB has scheduled the final for Friday, January 17 at the Area H Ground from 09:30h.

Rose Hall Town will be spearheaded by Rampersaud, Jeremy Sandia, Ramdehol, Lucas Arthur, Gopilall, Subramanir, Jai Tika, Pottaya, and Alex Mangla.

Albion squad includes Sarwan Chaitnarine, Gourav Ramesh, Hemendra Gurdyal, Reyad Karim, Tameshwar Mahadeo, Leon Cecil, Surendra Ramcharitar, and Pavendra Ganesh.

Leslie Solomon, and Balram Samaroo. Special emphasis will be placed on identifying female youths as the BCB continues to invest heavily in female cricket.

At the end of the coaching programme, the Coaches will select 70 players to participate in the third annual Dr Singh Cricket Academy from August 3-August 7.

They will also take part in several special one-day clinics for batsmen, fast bowlers, wicketkeepers, and spinners.

Apart from on-field coaching, the Academy participants will be involved in extensive classwork using the historic BCB/Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) Youth Information booklet.

Among the topics to be covered are the importance of education for sportsmen, how to handle on interviews, ways of dismissals, cricket field positions, table manners, how to behave at a public ceremony, person-

al hygiene and appearance, importance of religion, peer pressure, history of cricket and rules/laws of cricket.

The preparation of all Berbice teams are also covered under the sponsorship.

Foster expressed confidence that the coaching panel led by Smith would do a good job, and all the youths would benefit and become better players and individuals.

He expressed his gratitude to Dr Singh for his massive investment, and reassured him that his funds would be used for the intended purposes.

Dr Singh, who received the BCB highest award, Tribute to Heroes in 2019, stated that he was very impressed with the work of the Berbice Board, its feedback to sponsors and accountability for his funds.

The BCB, he stated, makes sure that he is regularly updated about the sponsored programmes with reports and photos.

Windies Over-50s overcome Clarke Road United Masters

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est Indies Over50 squad of selectees continued their week of trials in Trinidad a n d Tobago with a 45-over per side match against Clarke R o a d United Masters on Tuesday at the Inshan Ali Park in Preysal.

On Monday, the West Indies Over-50 selectees had their first opportunity on the park when Amin’s XI overcame Maraj’s XI by four wickets at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain Couva.

Batting first, Maraj made 126-9 (33.2 overs) with Azad Mohammed hitting the top score of 49 while Fareed Hosein was unplayable in grabbing figures of 6.2-1-17-4.

Amin’s XI replied with 127-6 (32.5 overs) with Sudesh Dhaniram (42); Hanif Mohamed (29) and Zamin Amin (15*) all chipping in to reach the target with three balls to spare.

Azad Mohammed returned with the ball to claim 2-12 from seven overs.

The match originally set for 45 overs per side

was reduced to 35 overs per side after overnight and early morning rain forced play to begin two hours later at 11:30h.

T h e W e s t Indies Over-50 selectees are looking forward to a good outing against a Clarke Road United Veterans side that boasts players who wore the Trinidad and Tobago national colours at the youth and senior levels in their heyday.

The objective of the trial matches in Trinidad and Tobago is to select the first-ever West Indies Over-50s team that will take part in the upcoming Over-50s World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa in March this year.

West Indies Over50 team: Zamin Amin (Captain); Rajendra Sahadeo (Vice Captain); Fareed Hosein; Sudesh Dhaniram; Azad Mohammed; Kenny Girdharry; Julian Charles; Hanif Mohamed; Roy Singh (wicketkeeper); Ishwar Maraj; Mark Audain and Curtis Richards.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Linden cyclist gifted new racing cycle ꟷ set to compete in Suriname in a few days

J

ust a few days before she jets off to a regional competition in neighbouring Suriname, Linden youth cyclist Clivecia Spencer is now better equipped to compete in more cycling championships, as she was recently gifted a racing cycle.

The Fifth Form business student of the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) recently received the racing bike, which is estimated to cost over $200,000, compliments of the joint efforts of the corporate business community of Linden and Regional Councillor Antonio Hackett.

Spencer was a force to be reckoned with in the 59th National Schools’ Cycling Championships in 2019, where she was the runner-up in the Open Girls’ division, second to Alleia Alleyne. Representing District 10 Upper Demerara-Kwakwani, the young woman rode away with gold medals in the girls’ 3000m Open and 2000m Open events and bronze in the girls’ 1500m race. Before 2019, she was also declared ‘champion girl’ for two consecutive years in the girls’ Under-20 open cycling category.

The 16-year-old is set to compete in Suriname on January 16 with the Bauxite Flyers Club. With big plans for her future in the sport, she has her eyes set on the Tour de France as a highlight of her cycling endeavours.

Hackett, in handing over the cycle, noted that while it was not an easy task, he was thankful for the opportunity to assist the athlete.

“This young lady is in need of a real racing cycle and as a leader in my community, in my region, here, I decided that this is what I supposed to do and I stepped in and I know it was a long hardest trip to get to this point, but, however, it has been achieved. I want to thank all those who have really contributed to this happening and this is not the end, because this young lady has a lot of potential and she has places to go representing our region and our country at large,” he said.

The cyclist expressed gratitude for the cycle, noting that it would aid in making her dreams of excelling possible. Her parents were also present at the handing over and both expressed their thanks for the gesture noting it was refreshing to see the support given to their daughter.

Hackett expressed the hope that more persons would come on board and support young people in all sport disciplines in the region.

The upgraded and lighter racing cycle was made possible by contributions from Nigel Liu and Associates, Girls Stand-up Movement, Roy Hutson, Lear Nunes, Mr Kirton, Ms Burnette and Councillor Hackett.

Councillor Antonio Hackett hands over the new and improved cycle to Clivecia Spencer

Nand Persaud Co LtdNational Under-12 Chess Tournament to be RHTY&SC female cricket contested this weekend tournament officially launched

“I

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he Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) will commence 2020 with a bang as it stages an integral competition that is likely to determine which of its young players will represent Guyana at the regional level in a few months’ time.

The occasion will be the 2020 National Under-12 Chess Tournament that will give the youngest players an opportunity to flex their minds and skills. The upcoming tournament will be title-sponsored by DeSinco Trading under its Moo Milk brand. Also in support of the tournament are Rambarran Transport Services and School of the Nations, who will act as the hosts.

Registration for the Moo Milk Junior Championships will be conducted on Saturday January 18, after which the tournament will commence and run for two days (January 18 and 19). The young chess players will be involved in seven rounds of Swiss System action in two categories, male and female.

The likes of Mahir Rajkumar, Arysh Raghunauth, Jacob McDonald, and Omar Sharriff will bring their CARIFTA Junior Chess Championship 2019 experience to the competition, which is expected to significantly boost the level of chess.

Other strong contenders in the Moo Milk Junior Championship will include the Zhang brothers,

Alexander and Nicholas; Dante Persaud; Micaiah Enoe; Javy Archibald; Sean Fraser; Marcus Hinds and Ricardo Ramlall.

Maliha Rajkumar is tipped to dominate the girls’ section of the tournament, with Anaye Lall asserting herself as another strong contender. The female division is also expected to see participation from Jane Singh and Isabella Rodrigues giving a strong push to winning.

Adding a little flavour to the competition will be the likelihood that selection for the Junior CARIFTA Chess Championships in April will be made based on the Under-12 players’ performance at the national competition. The ninth Junior CARIFTA Chess Championships will be hosted right at home in Guyana from April 10 to 13 at the Princess Ramada Hotel, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Guyana’s participation at the CARIFTA championships is expected to increase significantly given the fact that they are the host country. The contingent in 2018 in Suriname consisted of some six players, while 2019’s contingent to Curaçao had increased to 14 players.

Parents, guardians, and players who wish to participate in the national Under-12 tournament coming up this weekend can contact the Chess Federation’s junior chess section on 681-8771. (Jemima Holmes)

would be the first to admit that we have failed our female cricketers by not arranging enough tournaments.

One of the main problems is that Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, is the only club in Guyana to have a structured female team.

As President of the BCB, I pledge to correct the situation in 2020 and today launching is the first of as least three tournaments.

Female cricket has made Berbice cricket proud with six of our players representing the West Indies over the last decade.”

Those were the words of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster, MS, as he launched the Nand PersaudRHTY&SC female 50-over cricket tournament.

The tournament will be played between Rose Hall Town Metro, New Amsterdam/Canje and West Berbice.

The three teams will play each other on a league basis with the team with the most points emerging as the winner.

Players such as Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Sheneta Grimmond, Tremayne Smartt, Shabika Gajnabi, Lafona Gilgeous, Katana Mentore, Ashley Ramnauth, Ashmini Munisar, Marian Samaroo, Dian Prahalad, Oma Matadin, Ameera Adram, Jamie Campbell, Abigail Kishun, Kimmone Thomas, and Kassie Munro are expected to participate in the tournament.

The tournament will also be used to select the

BCB President Hilbert Foster (left) receives the sponsorship cheque from Nand Persaud Marketing Manager Devash Persaud

Berbice team for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Female County Cricket Tournament.

Over the last decade, Berbice has produced six West Indies players: Shemaine Campbelle, Tremayne Smartt, Erva Giddings, Sabrina Munroe, Sheneta Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi.

Others like Meliane Henry, Plaffina Millington, Marian Samaroo, Ashley Ramnauth, Lafona Gilgeous, Dian Prahalad, Ashmini Munisar, and Katana Mentore have played for Guyana at the regional level.

Foster stated that the BCB would be very grateful if clubs like Rose Hall Canje, Tucber Park, Edinburgh and Achievers form permanent female teams, so the BCB would be able to arrange regular tournaments at the 20/20, 40-over and

50-over level as done for their male counterparts.

The BCB President expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the Nand Persaud Co Ltd for coming on board with Guyana’s most dynamic cricket board within days of receiving the proposal.

The Company contributed financially while the RHTY&SC will provide the trophies and medals for the winners and runners-up.

Nand Persaud Marketing Manager Devash Persaud expressed the company’s delight at sponsoring the tournament for the second time, and stated that he has full confidence in the organising skills of the BCB. Nand Persaud Co Ltd, he stated, strongly believes in giving back to society and does so via sports, education, community development, and culture.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

Ireland’s Tour of the West Indies 2020…

23

T20I series commences today in Grenada W

est Indies earned a 3-0 whitewash over Ireland in their ODI series and will now look to carry those efforts into the T20 series against the same side on Wednesday at the Grenada National Cricket Stadium in St George’s.

The hosts have only won one of their last seven T20 series’ with India proving too good for them in their most recent series and they will be eager to get back to winning ways as they build towards the T20 World Cup. Dwayne Bravo has returned to the fold for the Windies after coming out of T20I retirement and could make his first appearance since 2016 if selected, but he will not line-up alongside Jason Holder who is rested while Fabian Allen and Keemo Paul are out with injuries.

The Irish have named a mixture of youth and experience in their squad for this series with the likes of Boyd Rankin, Kevin O’Brien and Paul Stirling likely to be key to their side’s chances.

Ireland suffered defeat in the ODI series but they have by no means embarrassed themselves and will take plenty of positives into this T20 series.

Josh Little will get another chance to impress and he is joined in the squad by fellow youngster Harry Tector who will hope to get another chance batting in the middle of the order.

The hosts played well in patches across the three games with Evin Lewis leading with the bat, but failed to really dominate in any of those contests.

Ireland have a solid foundation

Nicholas Pooran

Evin Lewis

to build on from those matches and although they will make a few changes to their line-up, the core of the side will remain the same.

However, they are likely to fall short in this opening game with West Indies currently possessing too much power with the bat and more quality with the ball.

Windies full squad reads,

Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Lendl Simmons, Hayden Walsh Jr and Kesrick Williams.

Ireland T20 squad: Andrew Balbirnie

ECC benefits from Shiv Chanderpaul all-weather facility

GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie officially hands over the facility to Everest CC President Manzoor Nadir

I

nclement weather will no longer pose a threat to training sessions for cricketers, as the Shivnarine Chanderpaul all-weather practice facility was officially handed over to the Everest Cricket Club (ECC) by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on Tuesday morning.

The all-weather training facility, which is located in the compound of the Club adjacent to Camp Road, will allow net sessions to be carried on, even if the rain de-

cides to pour in all its glory.

Named after Guyanese and West Indies batting legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the facility will be opened for use to members of the ECC and members of the Guyana Jaguars national teams.

However, cricketers in other regions have nothing to worry about, since GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie disclosed that similar all-weather facilities were being established in various parts of the country.

“The GCB would be embarking this year on completing the practice facility at the LBI Community Centre where we’re developing a first-class venue. In addition to that, we have plans to build one in West Berbice and one in Linden. The exact location in Linden is to be decided,” Sanasie revealed.

The GCB Secretary went on to disclose that the Board would be commissioning another all-weather practice facility this Friday

at the Salem Ground in Essequibo. While the Bush Lot Ground at Berbice is being eyed for a facility, Linden is yet to present another cricket venue since the Bayrock Ground is currently being transformed into a synthetic track and field facility.

Sanasie, in revealing all this, shared the rationale behind constructing such facilities.

“This is all in our development plan to ensure that in the outlying areas also in Guyana, the youths and the clubs will have better facilities to use, especially in the rainy weather,” the GCB Secretary explained.

The facility was under construction for the past 18 months and to the tune of approximately $3.5 million; on the receiving end was ECC President Manzoor Nadir, who expressed his gratitude to the GCB for setting up the practice facility.

“We are very grateful to the GCB for this facility. We also pledge that we’re going to maintain it and keep it in operational use 24/7,” Nadir promised.

The fact that the Guyana Jaguars usually utilise the Everest Cricket Club was cited as one of the reasons why the Club was chosen for the first facility.

(Jemima Holmes)

(Captain), Mark Adair, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O'Brien, Boyd Rankin, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.

The match is scheduled to commence at 13:00 hrs.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Ireland’s Tour of the West Indies 2020…

Page 22

Linden cyclist gifted new T20I series commences racing cycle Page 23

today in Grenada

ꟷ set to compete in Suriname in a few days

Page 23

Dr Singh commits $1.3M to BCB for coaching programmes, Cricket Academy Page 21

ECC benefits from Shiv Chanderpaul all-weather facility

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