Guyana Times Wednesday May 15, 2019

GTUC pays tribute to Critchlow on 61st death anniversary P10 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3924

THE BEACON OF TRUTH wednesday, may 15, 2019

PRICE

Delaying tactics

Finance Secretary instructs allocated monies not be transferred for elections – Commissioner …says Secretariat has to wait for Parliament for additional funds …maintains elections cannot be held before November 2019

See story on page 3

Govt creates positions for Gaskin, Roopnaraine Page 2

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Farmer jailed for killing neighbour P11

Minibuses should not fuel up with passengers onboard – Code of Conduct

P11

...still receiving super salaries

29 years jail for man who sexually assaulted minor

P11

Food businesses breaching major sanitary regulations – GA-FDD P14

Dead: Zaila Sugrim

Missing woman found in shallow grave behind estranged husband’s home Page 7

Zaila Sugrim’s body being removed by undertakers as Police ranks look on after she was found in a shallow grave behind her husband’s Crane, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home

Calls made for APNU REO walks probe into Legal out of RDC meeting Affairs Ministry after criticisms by …as 19 lawyers resign since 2015 AFC Councillor Page 9

Page 12

TIP, illegal P10 immigrants concern raised in Region 10

Division at GECOM over tabling of legal opinion by legal P9 advisor

2 news

wednesday, may 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt creates positions for Gaskin, Roopnaraine ... still receiving super salaries

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he Government of Guyana has created two new positions to accommodate the rehiring of former Ministers Dominic Gaskin and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of the Presidency announced that Gaskin has been appointed Director of Manufacturing and Marketing within the Business Ministry with responsibility for the enforcement of standards, providing assistance to small producers and ac-

cess to markets, particularly Eastern Caribbean markets. Additionally, Dr Roopnarine has been appointed Director of Public Service Training within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for training standards at the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, Guyana Defence Force Staff College and Guyana Police Force Staff College.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge has been appointed Foreign Secretary

at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for the Department of Frontiers and Territorial Integrity and the Department of Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Guyana Times understands that both Gaskin and Roopnaraine continue to recieve super salaries.

Gaskin, Dr Roopnaraine, Greenidge and former Minister Joseph Harmon, all dual citizens, resigned as Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) effective

Dominic Gaskin

Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

President David Granger

April 25.

On April 30, Harmon, a United States citizen, was appointed Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency.

Article 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states that “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”.

In February, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George had ruled on the case filed by Compton Reid over the dual citizenship of former AFC MP Charrandas Persaud. In the case it brought to the Chief Justice, Government had argued that Persaud’s dual citizenship status invalidated his vote in support of the No-confidence Motion that brought the Government down.

The Court of Appeal later upheld the January High Court ruling that it is illegal for persons holding dual citizenship status to be sitting in the National Assembly.

These latest appointments by Government have already received much criticism by sections of society as the move by the Administration is viewed as an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. From their job descriptions, Gaskin and Dr Roopnarine have full control of several aspects of the Ministries, despite having a sitting Minister.

With respect to Greenidge, he has gotten much support since he plays an integral role in the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy case.

Last week, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo threw his support behind the retention of the services of Greenidge, saying “With all due respect, with our border case before the International Court of Justice, you need someone who has in-depth knowledge about the issue…he should be retained because of that concern”.

news

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wednesday, may 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

Delaying tactics

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

Wednesday, May 15 – a night-time retraction at 02:30h and a daytime retraction at 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, May 16 – a night-time retraction at 03:00h and a daytime retraction at 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, May 15 – 13:40h-15:10h and Thursday, May 16 – 14:35h-16:05h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloudy conditions are expected in the early morning hours, followed by light rain showers in the mid-afternoon to early evening period. Light cloudy skies will return in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North Easterly and North North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 01:44h and 14:10h reaching maximum heights of 2.49 metres and 2.51 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 07:43h and 20:04h reaching minimum heights of 0.72 metre and 0.66 metre respectively.

saturday, may 11, 2019

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DAILY MILLIONS

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

Finance Secretary instructs allocated monies not be transferred for elections – Commissioner …says Secretariat has to wait for Parliament for additional funds …maintains elections cannot be held before November 2019

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ack of finances and advice given by the Finance Ministry’s Finance Secretary that it could not transfer existing finances, are being cited by a Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner against criticisms of the entity’s delaying tactics when it comes to election preparation.

Commissioner Desmond Trotman, who was interviewed by the media after a statutory meeting on Tuesday, was asked about criticism from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) regarding the perceived sloth of GECOM, despite the passage of a Noconfidence Motion and the possibility of early elections.

But according to Trotman, persons must also consider the fact that GECOM does not have the requisite funds to speed up preparations.

Trotman pointed out that money still has to be allocated for elections by the National Assembly and further explained that no less than the Finance Ministry’s Finance Secretary advised against transferring funds meant for house-to-house registration, for general election preparations.

“The Commission cannot act in relation to an election, until it has money. So it’s all well and good to say the Commission should always be in a position to carry out elections. But one of the primary things for the Commission to act towards elections is money.

The Commission is only given money for elections when elections are held,” Trotman said.

“We sought the advice of the Finance Secretary and the Finance Secretary said to us that the money given for a specific item has got to be used for that item and if it is you require money for elections, you have to go back to Parliament,” he said.

He noted that there are preparations ongoing, including training persons for house-to-house registration.

According to Trotman, more than 8000 persons are expected to be trained and the actual exercise is expected to start in the first week of June.

“Well you know that in the 2019 programme, one of the things it has to deal with is the whole question of house-tohouse registration. So training is taking place. When the training is finished, they will be putting in place the mechanisms for holding house-tohouse registration.”

“In the meantime, there are other things taking place.

Procurement of certain materials are happening. And whatever the secretariat can do outside of the Commission’s permission, they are doing.”

CCJ

But asked about the possibility that GECOM may be called upon by the CCJ to hold elections before November, Trotman reiterated the GECOM Chairman, retired

GECOM Commissioner Desmond Trotman

Finance Secretary Michael Joseph

Justice James Patterson’s position that elections can only be held by November 2019.

In a letter sent to President David Granger since March 19, 2019, the GECOM Chairman had explained that since the elections body is continuing with its normal work programme; that is, the holding of house-to-house registration, it would need some $3.5 billion to host elections.

In this regard, the GECOM chair said “no election date should be contemplated less than five months after these funds are placed at the disposal of and under the control of GECOM.” And according to Trotman, this position has not changed.

“The Commission has already said, based on information coming from the Secretariat, that elections cannot be held earlier than November, month-end. And the secretariat was hardpressed to arrive at that date,” Trotman said.

The advice of Finance Secretary Michael Joseph, would fly in the face of the utterances of his own boss, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who had declared to the Assembly that monies al-

located to GECOM are lump sums.

Last year, he had announced that $5.4 billion has been allocated in the 2019 Budget for GECOM to hold the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

It has also been suggested that the CCJ could possibly recommend the extension of

the life of the previous voters list, which expired in April.

According to Trotman, however, it is unclear whether the CCJ can even do this.

While Trotman indicated that GECOM gave the November timeline, this was in fact not a unanimous position. The Opposition nominated Commissioners have long contended that GECOM could work faster and compress activities, to hold elections way before November.

At present, everything hangs in the balance of the CCJ ruling on whether last year’s No-confidence Motion against the coalition was validly passed or not. Should it rule that it was validly passed, it means that elections were constitutionally due since March of this year.

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WEDNesday, may 15, 2019

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

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Déjà vu?

uring the recent hearings at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on matters relating to the December 21, 2018 No-confidence Motion (NCM), the Attorney General was reported as issuing a warning of dire and catastrophic consequences if the decision goes against the Government. His warning was in the context of a possible decision ordering elections probably with the use of the current voters’ list.

The Government is headstrong for a new list which would take months for new registration. They demanded it in what is believed to be a deliberate ploy to further delay the constitutional mandated elections which should have been held by March 21 this year. The Government backpedalled on its initial position of accepting the NCM and unleashed delaying tactics showing its desire to hold on to power with no regard for the Constitution; hence the journey to the CCJ. Many have rightfully questioned the purpose of the seemingly chilling warning by the Attorney General. The answer lies in desperation and within the wider context of the historical political nature of the party he represents; the People’s National Congress (PNC). While some may want to question the relevance of that party’s past, history has a way of repeating itself, especially when the seat of power is at stake.

The PNC is the dominant party in the current Government; so much so that it is seen as the Government. Within its four-year rule since May 2015, the country has regressed economically; investments have dwindled; hardships have been foisted upon Guyanese; parliamentary democracy has eroded; the Constitution has been disrespected; Government’s extravagance and party paramountcy have returned and thousands of jobs have been lost as a dictatorship burgeons.

These, which unfolded even in these modern times, are no different from when the PNC was the Government for almost three decades prior to 1992. During that regime, law enforcement agencies were used as tools to instil fear and oppress. Freedom of speech was suppressed as free and fair elections. History is inundated with reports of massive electoral rigging to keep the PNC in office. That party was not unaware of its inability to win elections fairly.

The BBC produced a documentary on aspects of the riggings and photographs of soldiers removing ballot boxes are frightening reminders. In addition, party thugs were always available to unleash violence and mayhem, sometimes just for emphasis. It was all part of a deliberate process of holding on to power as the country descended into poverty as physical and social infrastructure crumbled; food became scarce with some basic items banned and non-Government media entities muzzled.

There was no regard for the devastating impact in had on the people and the country. All that mattered was staying in Government. When free and fair elections came in 1992 following robust efforts by the then Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and some from civil society, it was not without violence reportedly at the behest of some within the PNC. Many stores were looted and innocent citizens beaten and robbed.

This featured in subsequent elections even when the PNC became the Opposition. The atrocities, of the 1997 and 2001 elections, reportedly at the beckoning call of the PNC, can easily be researched. That is what drives fear of the PNC into Guyanese and are consequences when that party seemingly doesn’t get its way. One cannot help but ask if that’s the consequence the Attorney General was referring to during his presentation to the CCJ. This question has not escaped Guyanese and sections of the business community have already voiced concerns over the creation of fear through the prediction of unrest by the Attorney General who is the immediate past Chairman of the PNC. On the heels of taking office in May 2015, the Government gave itself a massive salary increase while firing thousands and removing critical subsidies for water and electricity for pensioners and education grant to schoolchildren.

That is still seen as enriching and putting itself first at the expense of the Guyanese people. Its defiance of the Constitution to unilaterally appoint its Chairman of choice for GECOM and its outlandish mathematical theory for what it believes constitute a majority of voting members of the National Assembly, are just two examples within the past four years that exude shades of the PNC dictatorship in a show of scant regard for country and people.

Is the Attorney General therefore giving some sort of reminder of what can possibly happen if the CCJ ruling is unfavourable to the Government? Therein lies the wider context and relevance of revisiting history so as to better understand why the warning may have been issued; the need to hold on to power. In its quest to keep power at the expense of the welfare of Guyana and Guyanese, many today have seen their lives decline. Déjà vu?

Buddhist nuns pray during a ceremony at the Tam Chuc pagoda in Ha Nam province, Vietnam, ahead of Vesak Day celebrations, which will be held on May 19, 2019 (VOA photo)

Venezuela top court accuses more lawmakers of treason as Congress building blocked V enezuela’s top court accused four Opposition lawmakers of treason on Tuesday, following similar accusations against 10 legislators this month, escalating a deep political crisis in the South American country.

Security forces had earlier prevented lawmakers from entering the legislature for Tuesday’s session, saying they were investigating the possible presence of an explosive device inside the building.

The Supreme Court in a statement posted on its Facebook page accused lawmakers Carlos Paparoni, Miguel Pizarro, Franco Casella and Winston Flores of treason and inciting rebellion. The accusations marked the latest step in a crackdown by President Nicolás Maduro on allies of Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó following a failed effort to spur a military uprising in April.

“This simply gives us more strength,” Flores told Reuters, calling the Supreme Court’s accusations “illegitimate orders from the dictator”.

“We know they will continue with this process of trying to destroy the National Assembly.”

Last week, one Opposition lawmaker was arrested and several took refuge in foreign embassies in Caracas or fled the country after similar accusations from the court.

Flores said he would make an “emergency” trip to Uruguay to denounce the

Venezuelan National Police members stand in line near the National Assembly building in Caracas, Venezuela, May 14, 2019

wave of accusations against Venezuelan lawmakers to the Parliament of the Mercosur trade bloc, where he is also a representative, in Montevideo.

In a tweet, Pizarro called the court ruling “an illegal sentence that seeks only to generate fear to shut us up”.

Reuters was unable to obtain comment from the other legislators.

Opposition leaders in recent weeks have called such charges an effort by the ruling Socialist Party to shutter the legislature.

The Trump administration strongly condemned this month’s detention of Edgar Zambrano, the Vice President of the legislature.

Guaidó, leader of the Opposition-controlled Assembly, in January invoked Venezuela’s Constitution to declare himself interim President, arguing Maduro’s 2018

re-election was illegitimate.

More than 50 countries have recognised him as the country’s rightful leader, and say the assembly is its last remaining democratic institution.

“This is a dictatorship that goes after dissidents, and we are fighting for a political change,” lawmaker Juan Pablo Guanipa told Reuters, referring to the blocking of Congress.

Tuesday’s session was scheduled for 10:00h (1400 GMT), but never began.

The lawmakers were set to discuss the charges against their colleagues and the arrest of Zambrano, an outspoken critic of Maduro.

Venezuela’s Information Ministry, which handles media enquiries on behalf of the Government, did not respond to a request for comment on why security forces blocked the entrance to Parliament. Maduro, a socialist, calls Guaidó a

puppet of the United States seeking to oust him in a coup.

The Government stripped the Assembly of most of its powers after the Opposition won a majority in 2015 elections. Lawmakers loyal to Maduro generally do not attend the sessions, but go to meetings of the Constituent Assembly, a legislative body created in 2017 that meets in the same building.

The Constituent Assembly is controlled by the ruling Socialist Party and its powers supersede those of the National Assembly.

Opposition lawmaker Jorge Millan told reporters the report of “bombs” in the building was false.

“It is a trick to prevent the Parliament from functioning today,” he said. “If we do not have a session today, we will do it tomorrow.” (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNesday, may 15, 2019

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

Guyana stuck in Gangs pushing drugs in schools ‘imbalance mode’ Dear Editor, I would like to take this opportunity to commend Christine Bissessar for her letter “Why was Rajendra Bissessar betrayed and underutilised for so long?”.

Perhaps Christine Bissessar needs to direct her question more directly at Volda Lawrence who invoked that she was only hiring PNC people.

Guyanese politicians are not hiring people who are best suited to the job. They are hiring people who are affiliated to them. Hence,

Guyana is stuck in underdevelopment mode.

Even without oil money, Guyana has enough resources to be a medium developed nation with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of about US$10,000 as opposed to the current GDP per capita of US$4500.

The problem is that politics and politicians have too much sway in what gets done in Guyana. I do not envisage this situation changing soon.

With the educational system failing Guyanese and

with some local Guyanese not wanting Guyanese from the Guyanese diaspora to get involved in Guyana’s development (now that oil has been discovered) I just do not envisage Guyana being on an upward trajectory. I say this because the politicians will be doing the same thing the same way over and over again and expect a different result.

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

Dear Editor, According to the media, “Officials within the school system are suspected to be culprits in the emerging issue of students using illegal drugs, says Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan”. Does he really have no clue?

Surely the Minister is aware that drugs are becoming a big business in Guyana with a number of gangs operating in various parts of Guyana and being responsible, to a significant degree, in getting drugs in schools. Is he not aware that these gangs coerce kids, especially from rich families, to push the drugs in schools after either getting them hooked

Is SARA living in a bubble?

Dear Editor, Several media houses reported that “SARA was awaiting additional information from Teixeira on signing bonus complaint” or similar such words. All reported that this emanated from the Deputy Director of the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), HeathRetmeyer.

For the record, I wrote three letters to the Director of SARA, Dr Clive Thomas, in 2018. I have had no dealings with the Deputy Director.

In the first, dated April 16, 2018, l called on SARA to investigate a number of cases which l chronicled with regards to corruption, breach of the procurement laws and wastage of taxpayers’ monies and state resources: 1. The Public Health Ministry’s $620 million purchase of drugs and medical supplies without any recourse to the procurement process; 2. The Public Health Ministry’s contract for the rental of the Sussex Street house as a pharmacy bond without resort to any procurement process; 3. The construction of the Jubilee D’Urban Park facilities costing over $2 billion with no resort to public procurement. (The Auditor General to date cannot access required documents); 4. The pre-feasibility study of a New Demerara Harbour Bridge in violation of the procurement laws (this matter was sent to the Public Procurement Commission and its report was sent to the Special Organised Crime Unit by me to bring criminal charges against the subject Minister and a copy was shared with SARA); 5.

The Petroleum Production Sharing Agreement with Exxon in 2016; 6. The US$18 million signature bonus deposited in an interest-bearing foreign currency account in the Bank of Guyana and not deposited in the Consolidated Fund as required by the Constitution nor reflected in the country’s revenue; 7. Breaches of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) identified in the 2016 Auditor General Report

I received a reply from the Director of SARA, Dr Thomas, on April 19, 2018, in which he acknowledged “receipt of the complaints in your letter. SARA does not and cannot initiate investigations without first receiving a complaint such as yours....”

I then responded in a 5-page letter dated April 21, 2018, in which l made additional complaints which “fall squarely in your remit: 1. The acquisition of a house and land in Bel Air Gardens, then Stateowned, below market value at that time and with no recourse to any procurement process by the former Minister of Finance of the PNC Government and now second Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge of the APNU/AFC coalition.

2. The PPP/C Government responded to the Burnham family’s request for land and issued 5 acres of prime land in Georgetown at no costs to former Vice President and First Lady Viola Burnham and widow of President Forbes Burnham in D’Urban Backlands.

3. The acquisition of a huge tract of land to the People’s National Congress for their party headquarters, Congress Place, in Sophia, at no cost and where sections have been sold over the years at market value and for profit, the most recent sale took place after the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

As such, l am now formally laying my complaint with reference to the cases regarding corruption, abuse in public office and violation of the Constitution, Procurement Act, and financial laws listed in my letter dated April 16, 2018, and those listed above and call on SARA to investigate them.

The most egregious case relates to the sale of our national patrimony in oil and natural gas well below what is observed internationally and “relatively favourable to investors by international standards,” as stated in the International Monetary Fund report prepared for Guyanese officials. Follow the trail Dr Thomas, you will find the answers and the accounts of those who

benefitted.

In closing, l note your statement that “the goal is to repel procurement fraud, stolen state assets, corruption so that Guyanese of all walks of life can be assured their roads, national patrimony, gold and other state assets [which] are used for the betterment of all Guyanese”. In other words, all the cases l brought to your attention in my first letter and this follow-up falls into that stated goal.

On June 5, 2018, Dr Thomas responded to my April 16, 2018, letter in which he listed 6 of the 7 cases l referred to, excluding the US$18 million signature bonus requesting “that any evidence which you might have in relation to any unlawful conduct in this matter be forwarded to us to aid in our consideration and investigation”.

I then responded on June 15, 2018, to Dr Thomas advising that the information l referred to in my letters were all publicly available. Further, l advised Dr Thomas where he could find the information with regards to each case. (I have attached a copy of this letter to Dr Thomas) That was the last l heard from the Director of SARA, Dr Thomas, or anyone from SARA until l saw HeathRetmeyer’s comment today.

What information is SARA waiting on with regards to the US$18 million signature bonus? The letter

from the Finance Ministry to the Bank of Guyana advising it to deposit the US$18 million in an interest-bearing foreign currency account was published in the media in December 2017, a year after the Government received the money. The US$18 million has, to date, not been deposited in the Consolidated Fund, despite the matter being raised in National Assembly on several occasions and in the media on numerous occasions.

Is SARA living in a bubble? An expensive bubble for the Guyanese taxpayers with budgetary provisions of $260 million in 2018 and $285 million in 2019, yet the Deputy Director wants to give the public the impression that SARA cannot investigate unless l, the complainant, provide more information on the US$18 million? This is his response on a serious violation of the Constitution?!

What a pathetic whimper from SARA! Maybe SARA should first “clean up” its own act.

The Act was assented to on May 4, 2017, more than two years ago, yet a Director has not been appointed and approved by the National Assembly within the 4 months of the commencement of the Act. Or does SARA need a complaint to be filed and additional information on this matter too?

Sincerely, Gail Teixeira

or taking pictures of them in very compromising positions and then blackmailing them?

Perhaps the Minister needs to talk to members of the Police Force who have their fingers on the pulse on communities or researchers from the University of Guyana student and staff population or even senior students in schools.

Even if it is true that a few school staff are involved, they would be insignificant cogs in the wheel.

So Minister Ramjattan, please do get the facts. The whole issue is an open secret really.

Sincerely, Annan Boodram The Caribbean Voice

GFC Restructuring Committee highly unbalanced Dear Editor, On April 26, 2019, following repeated requests from the staff, the GFC Restructuring Committee finally met with staff and introduced the members of the Committee. Various articles have reported on the chaos that erupted following the meeting. However, as was suspected and the reason for withholding the information on the Committee makeup to the general public was that it was clearly an unbalanced Committee. The staff has noted this and during the engagement, questions were consistently asked as to why there was no HR or management specialist on the committee.

For general information, the members introduced or announced to staff comprise of at least four political figures from the Government APNU/AFC membership and three other members.

To be specific, the convener is an adviser to Minister Trotman and an employee of the Ministry and an AFC executive member.

There is also another adviser (female) working out of the Ministry who is also an AFC member, a third AFC member from the lower East Coast of Demerara comes as a Private Sector representative who has vested interest in forestry (this can be

a conflict of interest) and is also a senior member of the AFC. All three of these persons were on the AFC list of candidates for the 2015 elections and possibility the 2018 Local Government Elections. Another member introduced is a senior political adviser of the Ministry of the Presidency and a member of the APNU. So here you have four out of seven who are political appointees.

The fifth member, a former Director of Conservation International is perhaps the only specialist in environment and management. The sixth member is a GFC lawyer and in private practice and the seventh, and perhaps most junior, is a middle division management staff of GFC. This imbalance did not escape the attention of staff and questions emerged as to the glaring absence of any HR and other specialist trained in these types of activities as part of the panel. No satisfactory answer was provided. The Minister, soon after in a sign of desperation, tried to justify the members of this Committee.

However, this is a modern era and these missteps by the Minister will not go unnoticed.

Sincerely, Staff (name withheld)

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Foundation ings of discomfort — this is a time when someone absolutely needs to feel connected to others.

If you are having difficulty dealing with a friend or classmate’s suicide, it’s best to talk to an adult you trust. Feeling grief after a friend dies by suicide is normal. But if that sadness begins to interfere with your everyday life, it’s a sign that you may need to speak with someone about your feelings. (kidshealth.org)

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arning signs of suicide Everyone feels sad, depressed, or angry sometimes – especially when dealing with the pressures of school, friends, and family. But some people may feel sadness or hopelessness that just won’t go away, and even small problems may seem like too much to handle.

Depression can affect many areas of a person’s life and outlook. Someone who has very intense feelings of depression, emotional pain, or irritability may begin to think about suicide.

You may have heard that people who talk about suicide won’t actually go through with it. That’s not true. People who talk about suicide may be likely to try it.

Other warning signs that someone may be thinking of suicide include: talking about suicide or death in general talking about “going away” talking about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty pulling away from friends or family and losing the desire to go out having no desire to take part in favourite activities having trouble concentrating or thinking clearly experiencing changes in eating or sleeping habits engaging in self-destructive behaviour (drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or driving too fast, for example) As a friend, you may also know if the person is going through some tough times. Sometimes, a specific event, stress, or crisis — like a relationship breaking up or a death in the family — can trigger suicidal behaviour in someone who is already feeling depressed and showing the warning signs listed above.

What you can do Ask

If you have a friend who is talking about suicide or showing other warning signs, don’t wait to see if he or she starts to feel better. Talk about it.

Most of the time, people who are considering suicide are willing to discuss it if someone asks them out of concern and care.

Some people (both teens and adults) are reluctant to ask teens if they have been thinking about suicide or hurting themselves. That’s because they’re afraid that, by asking, they may plant the idea of suicide. This is not true. It is always a good thing to ask.

Starting the conversation with someone you think may be considering suicide helps in many ways. First, it allows you to get help for the person. Second, just talking about it may help the person to feel less alone, less isolated, and more cared about and understood — the opposite of the feelings that may have led to suicidal thinking to begin with.

Third, talking may provide a chance to consider that there may be another solution.

Asking someone if he or she is having thoughts about suicide can be difficult. Sometimes it helps to let your friend know why you are asking. For instance, you might say, “I’ve noticed that you’ve been talking a lot about wanting to be dead. Have you been having thoughts about trying to kill yourself?”

Listen

Listen to your friend without judging and offer reassurance that you’re there and you care. If you think your friend is in immediate danger, stay close – make sure he or she isn’t left alone.

Tell

Even if you’re sworn to secrecy and you feel like you’ll be betraying your friend if you tell, you should still get help.

Share your concerns with an adult you trust as soon as possible. You can also call the toll-free number for a suicide crisis line or a local emergency number (911).

The important thing is to notify a responsible adult.

Although it may be tempting to try to help your friend on your own, it’s always safest to get help.

After suicide

Sometimes even if you get help and adults intervene, a friend or classmate may attempt or die by suicide.

When this happens, it’s common to have many different emotions. Some teens say they feel guilty – especially if they felt they could have interpreted their friend’s actions and words better.

Others say they feel angry with the person for doing something so selfish. Still others say they feel nothing at all – they are too filled with grief to process their emotions.

When someone attempts suicide, those who know that person may feel afraid or uncomfortable about talking to him or her. Try to overcome these feel-

What is therapy?

Therapy is a way to get help with a problem. If you go to therapy, you’ll have meetings with a therapist to talk.

The therapist will ask questions and listen to you. This helps the therapist know what you need. Going to therapy helps people learn to cope better, communicate better, and do better.

Your parent or doctor might suggest you go to a therapist if you’re dealing with a problem. Or it might be your idea – you might be the one to ask your parent or doctor to find a therapist to talk with.

What problems do therapists help with?

Therapists are trained to help people with all kinds of problems.

Therapists help people going through tough times like: family trouble school problems bullying health problems They help people with painful feelings like: sadness anger stress and worry low self-esteem grief They help people with conditions like: ADHD depression OCD and anxiety eating disorders self-injury trauma oppositional behaviour Why do people need therapy?

People need therapy when they have problems they can’t cope with alone. Therapy helps people talk about their feelings. It helps them work through problems and learn new skills. When they do this, they start to communicate better and do better.

People need therapy for different reasons. Some people need to ease depression or anxiety. Others need it to improve their attention, learning, and focus. Some people need help with anxiety, worry, or fear. Everyone deserves help to deal with problems.

How does therapy work?

In therapy, people learn by talking and doing. A therapist will share activities and ideas to build the skills a person needs. People learn ways to solve their problems.

Therapy builds helpful thoughts and encourages healthy behaviours. Therapists help people feel encouraged as they learn.

They help people see the good in themselves and find their strengths.

What happens in therapy?

At first, your therapist will talk with you, ask questions, and listen to learn more about you. This helps your therapist understand the problem. Together you will make goals for what you want help with.

In therapy sessions, you might: Talk. Therapists have people talk about their feelings. Talking is a healthy way to express feelings. It helps people feel accepted, understood, and ready to learn.

Do activities. Therapists might teach lessons about emotions, coping skills, or facing fears. Activities and worksheets help make these lessons interesting.

Practise new skills. A therapist might teach skills like mindfulness and calm breathing. You might learn ways to face fears or lower stress. Or how to speak up for yourself. In your therapy meetings, you might practice the skills you learn.

Solve problems. Your therapist will ask how problems affect you at home and at school. You will talk together about how to solve these problems.

How long do people do therapy?

How long therapy lasts depends on your goals. Most of the time, a therapist will want to meet with you once a week for a few months.

How can you help yourself?

If you’re going to a therapist, here are ways to build on the work you will do: Be ready to grow. Have a positive attitude. Believe in yourself.

Tell yourself, “I can” instead of “I can’t.”

Ask parents, teachers, and friends for support. Let them help and show they care.

Work on your strengths. Spend time doing the things you are good at. This helps you build confidence.

Take care of your body. Exercise and eat healthy foods. Get enough sleep. Take time to relax. Be with people who bring out your best.

Take care of your mind. Learn mindful breathing to help you be calm and focused. The more you do this, the more it helps. (kidshealth.org)

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wednesday, may 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Missing woman found in shallow grave behind estranged husband’s home

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Dead: Zaila Sugrim

n a grim atmosphere and with tears flowing down their cheeks, the children of 37-year old Zaila Sugrim looked on as undertakers removed the body of their mother from a shallow grave behind the Crane, West Coast Demerara (WCD) yard in which they lived.

Zaila Sugrim was last seen by her sister at the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling on Saturday when she entered the motorcar of her estranged husband.

Guyana Times was told that on Saturday last at about 13:00h, Sugrim left her brother’s Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) house where she had been living for the last eight months, to be picked up by her estranged husband to visit the businessman’s home where she was expected to celebrate the birthday of her eldest child.

However, the 14-yearold child reported that she did not see nor hear from her mother. By nightfall the family became worried since it was very unusual for her not to call if she was out for long periods.

Her brother, Ahmad Haniff, grew worried and called her cellphone but the phone was turned off.

“In the afternoon like around six o’clock I get worried because she does normally call me and she and I coming home lil late or I might not come home… so when I see six o’clock,

I calling she phone, she phone turn off, I call me sista, me brother them and so, father, everybody saying that no, them aint hear from she… at around 10, 11 the night, I keep calling no response,” Haniff told this publication.

On Sunday morning, the worried man visited the Diamond Police Station where he filled a missing persons’ report. In the company of several Police Officers, a visit was made to his sister’s estranged husband’s home, where the man was uncooperative, but nonetheless informed Haniff and the Police that he did not see Zaila nor does he want anything to do with her.

“So I seh bai, Zaila left to come by you, and we get footage to show that you pick she up Saturday 02:30h; he said no, he nah left the place and the children them know that he nah left the place,” the grieving brother related.

After realising that something was amiss, the suspect’s children reportedly inspected CCTV footage of the home but a particular time period was deleted.

This was reported to Sugrim’s relatives, who in

out, however, nothing was found.

After relatives made additional reports on Monday at the Diamond Police Station, another group of ranks swooped down on the suspect’s Crane home.

After a search of the suspect’s motorcar, it was then that the Police received a break in the case after blood was spotted in the car’s trunk. This prompted Police to arrest the suspect and impound the car.

After much interrogation, the suspect finally broke down and confessed that he indeed killed his estranged wife and led Police to where he buried the body, which was buried in a shallow grave behind his Crane home.

When this publication visited the scene, the stench of Sugrim’s decomposed body was strong and a large group of onlookers were gathered. All her personal belongings which included her purse, shoes, jewellery and other items were found in the shallow grave.

The woman’s remains were placed in a hearse and taken away as her children, family, friends and residents watched in disbelief.

Police at the scene of the crime

turn informed Police ranks.

This led to ranks swooping down on the suspect’s La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD) property where a search was carried

Years of severe abuse

In 2004, after graduating from the University of Guyana, where the couple met, the suspect and Zaila tied the knot in what

was described as a happy, grand ceremony.

Shortly after though, things changed for the worst when a disagreement between the couple led to the suspect allegedly chopping Kalam Ahmad, his wife’s father to his head.

The situation intensified which saw the suspect banning his wife’s family from visiting her. Overwhelmed with emotions, Ahmad revealed that following the chopping incident, his family did not see nor did they hear from his daughter for 15 years.

Guyana Times was told that the couple was married and their union brought forth five children.

Upon delivering her first child, the man, according to an aunt, filed for divorce unknowing to her.

Nevertheless, things reportedly changed and the couple got back together but the abuse continued.

Meanwhile, Haniff recounted that when he heard his sister’s voice after 15 years in 2018, he did not recognise it. “She contacted we by phone and we didn’t even know it was her, we had to ask she certain questions and then we realise that it was her,” the man relayed.

The now dead woman had made contact with her family from a hospital bed where she was hospitalised after she was severely beaten. That incident occurred on December 14, 2018. Her relatives related that she was restrained by duct tape before she was beaten.

The matter was reported to the Police and her husband was arrested and charged.

He was taken before the Leonora Magistrate’s Court after he was charged for

Residents at the scene on Tuesday

unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous bodily harm to Sugrim.

The woman who was present at the hearing had expressed fear for her life.

However, in a bail application at the time, the suspect’s attorney informed the court that he was the sole breadwinner for his five children and he was granted bail on the condition that he stays 100 feet away from Sugrim.

Following the incident, the woman had moved in with her brother. Not being able to provide for her children, she gave up custody to the suspect. She was however allowed to visit her children.

Her attorney, Priya Manickchand, who was seen comforting the victim’s children at the scene on Tuesday, told the media that her client was making every attempt to untie herself from the suspect.

“She was really trying to get out of this abusive relationship, that was abusive for many years that she had allegedly against the person they have in custody right now, which was her husband and that is where I was representing her,” the Attorney revealed.

D Division (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo) Commander

TURN TO PAGE 15

The home behind which the body was found.

8 News

wednesday, may 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Accused phone snatcher on $50,000 bail

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19-year-old, who snatched a cellular phone, on Tuesday appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts to answer to the charge of simple larceny.

Denzil Benjamin of Lot 84 D’Urban Street, Georgetown, stood before Chief Magistrate Ann

McLennan and denied the charge which stated that on May 6, 2019, at Robb and King Streets, Georgetown, he stole a Samsung Galaxy S7 from Savita Singh; property of Shavindra Ramraj, valued at $120,000.

The prosecution’s case stated that on May 6, Ramraj and his fiancée stopped at

the location and exited their motorcar.

Singh, at the time, had the cell phone which belonged to Ramraj. According to the prosecution’s case, Benjamin, who was standing at the corner of the streets, approached Singh and snatched the phone from her.

He made good his escape.

However, four days later, Singh spotted Benjamin and pointed him out to Police.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that the defendant has two similar charges before the court.

He was, nonetheless, released on $50,000 bail. The case will continue on May 20, 2019.

Leguan man slapped with capital offence

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40-year-old farmer was arraigned on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts for the capital offence of murder.

Phillip Jhagroo called “Tanky” of Good Intent, Leguan, Region Three

(Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), stood before Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plea to the indictable charge. The murder charge stated that between March 30-31, 2019, at School Dam, Richmond Hill, Leguan

Island, he killed Mark Narine.

On Tuesday, Police Prosecutor Stacy Gittens told the court that Narine was on his way home when he was lashed off his motorcycle by the accused. The accused allegedly tossed

Narine’s body in a nearby trench. The body was found the following day, submerged in the trench.

Jhagroo was remanded to prison. The case will continue on May 30, 2019, at the Leguan Magistrate’s Court.

Another charged for Lodge man’s murder

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safa Grundall, also known as “Safo” appeared on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts slapped with a murder charge.

The 39-year-old man of Lot 40 Freeman Street,

East La Penitence, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charge stated that on April 25, 2019, at Norton Street, Lodge, while being in the company of oth-

ers, he shot Marlon Rodney.

However, Rodney succumbed to his injuries on April 30.

According to the prosecution’s case, Rodney was walking along Norton Street in an eastern direc-

tion on the northern side of the road when he was confronted by Grundall, Fraser and another man called “Curl-up”, who exited a tinted white motor vehicle, and an argument ensued.

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No respect…

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…for the Mayor

he Lord Mayor of Georgetown wrote a very poignant letter to the press about the importance of “respect” for the proper functioning of society.

He outlined all the things Mayors do while in office and insisted: “it is important that respect is given to the office and post of the Mayor as an official governing individual and body, in the city.” He went on to claim: “Many years ago in villages, respect was a number one value embraced by families; you could not dare pass an adult without giving respect in greeting or salutation.”

Now your Eyewitness doesn’t think anyone would argue with His Worship on all of the foregoing. But something was amiss with the missive – why the rumination on “respect”?? From whence did it come?

And to whom was it directed? Well, it didn’t take very long for your perspicuous Eyewitness to put two and two together when he saw a news item in the same paper: the Mayor had to call off a meeting of the City Council – over which he was supposed to preside – because for the third time, he hadn’t received an agenda for the meeting!!

Now that’s a bit much, isn’t it?? Enough to raise the hackles of even the most sanguine soul – much less one who’s not only a Mayor, but as billboards across the city have trumpeted since the municipal elections, even a PANDIT!! Seems the Lord Mayor can’t get any respect from the Deputy Town Clerk – who gotta have the same megalomaniac, stiff necked personality of her predecessor, the inimitable Royston King!!

But the Mayor’s allusion to the days of yore when kids genuflected when in the presence of “elders” couldn’t have come from his Worship’s personal experience. That life of gentility and respect were “gone for channa” after Burnham destroyed the economy and created a Police state from the 1960s onwards; forcing every man, woman and child to be for himself – and the devil take the hindmost!! There remained very little respect to go around when many of the elders had to do some pretty low-down runnings to survive.

But even then, there were pleas for “respect”.

Remember the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin’s 1967 chartbuster R-E-S-P-E-C-T: “All I’m askin’ is for a little respect when you get home (just a little bit).” The point, of course, is the one asking for respect is being taken for granted – and until that’s resolved, respect can’t be demanded. Is it possible the Mayor was chosen by the powers that be as a “placeholder” and expected to “know his place”?

Or is it they’re from the Kean Gibson school and believe a Pandit can’t be respected?

…for Berbicians

To hear Ramjattan – who’s ironically from Berbice, as he’s never tired of telling the nation – you’d never understand why Berbicians insist they’re being inundated by a tsunami of crime. Sixty-three-yearold Koomarie from Number 63 Village was thrown off her roof shed after being burglarised? Yasoda from Cumberland robbed and beaten in broad daylight?

Ditto Hamza, the goldsmith also from Cumberland, later that week? The cambio fella from Springlands?

The pensioner from Alness? Not to worry!! Just look at what goes on in foreign climes on crime, said Ramjattan, and consider how lucky you are to be living in Guyana!!

It took 30 bullets fired at a Chinese supermarket that was right next to the Albion Police Station, during a brazen hold-up and robbery, to get some action to relieve the besieged Berbicians!! But maybe not!!Some of the bullets hit the Police vehicle parked outside!!

So lo and behold, the SWAT Unit that’s been sitting around in Georgetown has finally been rushed to the Ancient County.

Let’s hope they don’t pull a SOCU and go rogue!!

…for the US Visa

Was a time – not so long ago – when it cost US$10,000 to get a US Visa. Well imagine the chutzpah of 66,000 visas issued for free, yet 3220 overstayed!!

Spoiling it for the rest!

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

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wednesday, may 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Calls made for probe into Division at GECOM over tabling Legal Affairs Ministry of legal opinion by legal advisor

…as 19 lawyers resign since 2015

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ith the resignations of 19 lawyers from the Legal Affairs Ministry/Attorney General’s Chambers since this Government took over in 2015, calls are being made for an investigation into the Ministry’s high turnover rate.

According to staff who reached out to Guyana Times, lawyers in the AG’s Chambers have to contend with a difficult and even toxic and abusive working environment.

Pointing to the large proportion of cases being lost by the Chambers in the courts, the employees recommended an investigation into claims of mismanagement and bad legal advice being followed.

“Donna Sulker’s matter in which the Police killed a young man,” the source gave as an example. “Donna Sulker was prepared to accept $7 million… the court awarded in excess of $20 million after a full trial was concluded.”

“The same level of incompetence was displayed in the matter concerning Ambassador (Harry Narine) Nawbatt. The contract was not properly terminated and the Ambassador was prepared to accept approximately $7 million, which represented his gratuity and other benefits… on (the Chamber’s advice) the State has been ordered by the court to pay in excess of $20 million in this case.”

Those lawyers, who de-

Attorney General Basil Williams

parted the Chambers include former Registrar and Solicitor General, Sita Ramlall, who was forced to move to the High Court last year over her pension and gratuity being withheld and former Deputy Solicitor General Prithima Kissoon, who sued for wrongful dismissal. The vast majority of the lawyers departing are female. Efforts to contact Attorney General Basil Williams for a comment on the issue proved futile.

The Attorney General had come in for much criticism previously for his comments on Kissoon, with commentators bashing the manner in which he dealt with the matter.

In a letter to the Editor published in local newspapers in 2017, the former Deputy Solicitor General’s father, prominent Attorney Jailall Kissoon, pointed out that this is the first time in legal history that an AG has levelled such a blast of terror and fear upon the Judiciary or his own legal officer.

– Commissioner wants probe, as questions raised over hiring of CCJ lawyer “The fallout from this scurrilous blast has radiated its tremulous fear through the spinal cord of the entire body of the Judiciary in Guyana and elsewhere,” he pointed out.

According to the senior Kissoon, there are recorded documents in court to support that the ruling against the State-sponsored appeal was a pure stream of justice flowing uninterruptedly; that is, until it was polluted by the Attorney General in an article published in the Stateowned Guyana Chronicle newspaper.

“Your prejudiced perception is that the Chancellor, together with applicant Bharrat Jagdeo, his Attorney-at-Law, Mr (Mursaline) Bacchus and the Deputy Solicitor General Prithima Kissoon, all of common ethnicity, caused the Attorney General and the Editor to fall in the dark mud of malice and partiality that Jagdeo must receive the benefit from the court unjustly.

But the law does not recognise skin colour, the law is the law,” the Attorney penned.

He went on to say that, “the Attorney General, who has such legal wisdom and foresight, ought to have seen the unholy conspiracy of the bench and Bar and should have appeared in person, as leader of the Bar, filed his Affidavit in Answer, argued his case as a legal luminary and eminent counsel and crushed the Applicant’s case to smithereens.”

GECOM’s lawyer before the CCJ, Stanley Marcus, SC

GECOM’s Legal Officer Excellence Dazzel

GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shadick

er job includes providing legal advice to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), but on Tuesday, Legal Advisor Excellence Dazzel’s tabling of a legal opinion requested by a Commissioner nevertheless landed her in hot water.

The legal advice pertains to the voter’s list that expired last month and was requested by Opposition nominated Commissioner Bibi Shadick. According to Government nominated Commissioner Desmond Trotman, the tabling of the opinion was done without the permission of the full Commission.

According to Trotman, the matter is before the court. He noted that Shadick said she put together her request for an opinion since April, but added that there was no indication of a draft being formulated.

While he admitted that any Commissioner could

make a request from staff for something, acting on that request depends on the entire Commission meeting. He said the Chairman will eventually determine whether an investigation is warranted.

But while Trotman had objections to the legal opinion being offered without the input of the Commission, he had no such issues with the unilateral hiring of Senior Counsel Stanley Marcus, who represented GECOM before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the case of Christopher Ram v the Attorney General of Guyana, the Leader of the Opposition and Joseph Harmon.

“The Commission as a body would not have made that decision, but the Chairman would have been the person to maybe advise that we go in that direction… I think it had to do with time, time constraints.

So the Chairman, I believe, on behalf of the Commission,

(acted),” Trotman said.

“Shadick raised the question of payment (for the lawyer). And what the Chairman has said, is that no bill has been presented to the Commission so far. I think what happens is that each member of the legal fraternity names their own price,” he added, when asked how much was being paid to Marcus.

Meanwhile, Shadick herself informed the media that despite the retention of Marcus by GECOM, questions about how much he is being paid are not being answered by the GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson.

“I don’t know how much money he is getting, God knows. I have (been questioning), but I’m not getting any answers. And no decision was taken here, no discussion was done. So things are happening without the Commission having any idea,” Shadick said.

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10 news

wednesday, may 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

TIP, illegal immigrants concern raised in Region 10

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oncerns have recently been raised by officials over the issues of human trafficking and illegal immigrants entering Guyana via the Kurupukari settlement on the Upper Essequibo River in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) from neighbouring Brazil.

The issues were brought to the fore during a consultation between officials of design consultancy company Beston/SRKN’gineering and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) which was hosted in Linden.

These among other secu-

rity issues were highlighted by the region’s officials during the engagement with the company which has been contracted by the Public Infrastructure Ministry to conduct feasibility studies and detailed designs for the major rehabilitation of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and upgrades to the Linden-Mabura Hill road in addition to the construction of a river/bridge crossing at Kurupukari.

During the discourse which was hosted at the office of the RDC, Regional Councillor Owen DeSouza pointed to the issue

of monitoring illegal immigrants suspected to be entering the country, especially through Kurupukari.

Project Director and team leader attached to SRKN, Stuart Hughes said while this is not necessarily a part of the company’s Terms of Reference, the issue has been highlighted before. The existence of the issue was confirmed by Social and Gender Specialist Vanda Radzick, who is currently attached to the team of experts working on the project. According to Radzick, she is aware of the issue where immigrants are being brought from Brazil

through Kurupukari under the pretence of coming to Guyana for betterment. She also pointed to a recent case where she noted that 17 boys have allegedly disappeared without a trace.

Radzick noted that there is a fully apprised police outpost at Kurupukari which manages its barriers, as she explained that the company will soon be meeting with officers there and checking their records.

Radzick added that there is also an existing trend where young boys are trafficked for cheap or free labour. As such, she made

the call for stricter monitoring systems to be put in place to ensure that the social well-being of everyone is protected.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian pointed to the removal of 18 Indonesians from Christianburg, Linden, who were reportedly in the country illegally. Morian questioned the security measures as it relates to the opening up of new roads which will be directly linked to Brazil.

“Whatever we have right now... the security arrangement is not working...The fact that we’re finding ille-

gals in Linden means that they’re coming there so whatever system [is being put in place], that system needs to be a part of this whole thing,” he noted.

Radzick further explained that the company will be making recommendations based on social impacts as she stressed the need for strong recommendations.

Project Manager attached to the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Dionne Amsterdam assured that the feedback and concerns given by stakeholders will be recorded.

GTUC pays tribute to Critchlow on 61st death anniversary

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he Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) on Tuesday paid homage to the father of trade unionism in Guyana, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, in observance of his 61st death anniversary.

The programme was hosted on Tuesday at

the Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, and included a moment of silence, tributes to Critchlow and a candle lighting segment.

GTUC President Coretta McDonald, in her remarks said Critchlow is remembered as a man who pumped

GTUC President Coretta McDonald

Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow statute at Parliament Building

all his time and energies into ensuring workers’ rights were upheld. She said if he could have made such an impact then, unions today can do even more now since they have enough ground to stand on. “Getting into the workforce at that time at such a young age…

he was recognised as a man with potential; a man who can make things happen. If he could have done it then we can do it now,” she said.

She added that Critchlow, while working at a young age, recognised that the conditions under which they were working

were unacceptable and the salaries they were receiving were not acceptable. “She said Critchlow was dedicated and committed in what he did and expressed hope that trade union leaders of today can take that page out of Critchlow’s book to lead their unions and continue to battle for better working conditions for workers.

The GTUC President expressed gratitude to Critchlow for paving the way for trade unions and for allowing them to stand on the solid ground that he and others fearlessly stood up for.

Critchlow’s initial work experiences consisted of a series of low-paying jobs under abject conditions, yet it was as a trade union activist that Critchlow made his greatest contributions to Guyana and the Caribbean. turn to page 12

NEWS

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wednesday, may 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Farmer jailed for killing neighbour

29 years jail for man who sexually assaulted minor J

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rape victim’s desire of having her abuser put away became a reality on Tuesday after her abuser was sentenced to 29 years in prison on four rape-related charges by Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Demerara High Court.

Fifty-two-year-old Gingesh Khan also called “Links” was recently found guilty by a 12-member jury on three counts of indecent assault and one count of carnal knowledge on a child under the age of 15 years. The offences were committed between August 1 and 31, 2008, at Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo.

Khan’s sentencing was handed down on Tuesday to accommodate a probation report.

In court on Tuesday, the report presented by a senior probation officer revealed that Khan was unemployed

Accused: Gingesh Khan

prior to his incarceration as he depended on financial support from a sibling, who is a businessperson. The court was further informed that persons in the community described Khan as disorderly when he is intoxicated but is otherwise a quiet person. The court also heard that the accused is also known for being involved

in sexual acts with cattle as residents voiced that he was not a “positive influence” in the village.

The report was followed by an emotional statement written and presented by the victim, who was nine years old at the time of the incident. The statement revealed that she had much respect and trust for the accused but what he did to her caused suicidal thoughts, which eventually led to the victim’s parents moving her to a different community since she was hurt, embarrassed and ashamed.

“I felt hurt, ashamed and embarrassed about what he did to me…. I had trust and respect for him and I can remember having suicidal thoughts, everyone in the village know what he did to me,” the victim said in her statement.

Meanwhile, Defence

Attorney Ravindra Mohabir in his plea of mitigation told the court that his client has been unemployed due to a back injury sustained on his previous job, thus, he needs physical therapy. Mohabir further divulged that his client was charged for bestiality but the charge was later dismissed.

Justice Reynolds, in handing down the sentence, told the accused that he breached the trust of both the victim and her family, and groomed and defiled her in the vilest way. On this note, the Judge described Khan as a “sick man”, while handing down the 29-year sentence. Khan was ordered to benefit from the appropriate treatment while being incarcerated.

The State’s case was presented by Prosecutors Seeta Bishundial and Lisa Cave.

ustice Navindra Singh on Tuesday sentenced 47-year-old Godfrey Dass to 14 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for the death of his neighbour, Kenneth Kennedy, in June of 2009.

Dass was initially charged for murder but opted to plead guilty to the manslaughter charge, which stated that on June 5, 2009, in the county of Essequibo, he unlawfully killed Kennedy.

The accused was represented by Attorney Mark Conway, while the State’s case was led by Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy in association with Teriq Mohammed and Abigail Gibbs.

In a plea of mitigation, the defence attorney informed the court that during his client’s time awaiting trial, he has been attending and benefiting from church services.

Conway pleaded for leniency on behalf of his client, so that his client can return to society and be a better person.

Facts presented indicated that, on June 5, 2009, the accused and the victim were consuming alcohol when a fight ensued. During the altercation, Dass managed to arm himself with a knife and dealt the now dead man a stab to his head which later lead to his death.

The wife of the deceased man, who was unable to travel to Georgetown for the case, explained to the court in a statement submitted that since her husband’s death it has been difficult to provide for her children’s financial needs. The statement continued that her daughter, who witnessed the death of her father, is still affected by that traumatic experience.

Justice Singh sentenced the father of two to 14 years in prison, while ordering that the prison authority deduct the years that the accused has spent on remand.

Justice Singh also ordered the accused to stay away from the victim’s family when he is released from prison.

Minibuses should not fuel up with passengers onboard – Code of Conduct

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inibuses are now prohibited from fuelling up their vehicles while passengers are on board, according to the Code of Conduct.

The practice of minibuses dipping into gas stations with passengers on board is an all too familiar routine, which many have complained about in the past.

For example, the main contention is that it is time-consuming, and inconveniences travellers, especially those on a

time-crunch.

The Code of Conduct, which was officially launched in February 2019, was compiled through efforts of the Business Ministry, the Guyana Police Force, the National Road Safety Council and the United Minibus Association.

It is intended to improve the public transportation service sector to ensure that commuters’ rights are respected.

“The Code of Conduct will regulate that rela-

tionship between the public transportation providers (minibus/hire cars) and the travelling public and requires exemplary conduct by members of

this sector while they are serving commuters,” the Business Ministry said in the document’s foreword.

Apart from the rule regarding when to fuel up

their vehicles, the code stipulates that minibuses must be equipped with fire extinguishers and bin receptacles.

The other codes are more general and they deal with the playing of loud music and treating passengers with respect.

In particular, it mandates that minibus operators must not discriminate against passengers.

Most of the codes are actually in accordance with the law. For example, it bans texting while

driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, adhering to speed limits, and ensuring all motor vehicle documents are up to date.

The document, which has been officially released to the public, is silent on penalties for those who violate the code.

However, it noted that the implementation will be carried out by the Consumers Affairs Division of the Business Ministry with support from other stakeholders.

12 News

wednesday, may 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

APNU REO walks out of RDC meeting Man to face Judge, jury for Pandit, after criticisms by AFC Councillor son’s deaths

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he Region Two ( P o m e r o o n Supenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) statutory meeting came to an abrupt end when Regional Executive Officer (REO) Dennis Jaikarran walked out of the meeting on Tuesday and instructed all regional staff to follow suit.

At the time of the walkout, Government Councillor Nathram was addressing the RDC on the behaviour of the REO at the last sitting of the RDC. During Nathram’s presentation, the REO tried to dispute what the Councillor was stating, but was asked to take his seat and allow the Councillor to make his point.

However, this angered Jaikarran, who then got up and instructed the administrative staff to leave the Anna Regina boardroom as he walked out of the meeting. Following the walkout, Nathram expressed much

Administrative staff walking out of the RDC meeting following instructions by the REO

disappointment at the act, pointing out that the RDC has been unable to meet for the past two months.

There has been tension between the REO and the Regional Vice Chairperson, Nandranie Coonjah, who has been acting in the capacity as chairperson since Chairman Devanand Ramdatt is on annual leave. However, according to Nathram, the REO has refused to recognise Coonjah as the acting chairperson.

At the first meeting, there was no quorum; at the second sitting, the REO said he

GTUC pays tribute...

On January 11, 1919, he formed the British Guiana Labour Union (BGLU), the first of its kind in British Guiana.

Critchlow served as General Secretary of the union until his resignation in 1952. Under his guidance, the BGLU initiated the British Guiana and West Indian Labour Congress, a regional meeting of trade unionists.

His most significant accomplishments include the 1922 introduction of a Rent Restriction Bill in the British

was not informed that the Chairman was proceeding on his annual leave and will not be participating in the meeting chaired by the acting regional chairperson.

At Tuesday’s sitting, as Councillor Nathram tried to explain that in the absence of the Regional Chairman, the Vice Chairman is by law responsible for chairing the RDC, the REO attempted to rebut Nathram.

Meanwhile, Coonjah said the RDC has decided to write the Communities Minister on the REO’s behaviour.

from page10

Guiana Legislative Council.

He also advocated the introduction of national health insurance, old-age pensions, a girls’ industrial training school, and a children’s court.

He also served on the Discharged Prisoners Aid Committee; the Advisory Committee to the Rent Assessor, Georgetown; the Ex-Servicemen Committee; Poor Law and Local Government Boards; the Old Age Pensions Board; and the Public Works Advisory Committee.

In 1943, Critchlow was appointed the first labour representative in the British Guiana Legislative Council.

One year later, in 1944, he became the first labour leader appointed to the executive council of the British Guiana Legislature. He was a Government nominee to the Georgetown Town Council and also a member of the Arbitration Tribunal, under Sir Clement Malone, which inquired into a wage dispute concerning waterfront workers in Grenada, West Indies.

rlando Douglas was on Tuesday committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murders of Pandit Deonarine Liliah and his son Gopaul Liliah.

The 31-year-old man, who resides in Campbellville, Georgetown, was committed to stand trial by Magistrate Judy Latchman after a prima facie case was made out against him at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

Douglas was not required to plea to the indictable charge which stated that between July 7-10, 2018, at Craig Street, Campbellville, he murdered Deonarine Liliah and his son Gopaul Liliah. The man was represented by Attorney Melville Duke.

Police Prosecutors Shawn Gonsalves and Shellon Daniels led evidence in the case against Douglas.

Reports stated the Pandit and his son were found dead on July 10, 2018, in their Lot 25 Craig Street, South Half Section G, Campbellville home after tenants complained of a stench emanating from their home. When the Police

Pandit Deonarine Liliah and his son Gopaul Liliah

arrived, detectives found the back door was left ajar.

The young man’s body was found lying face down on the floor in a pool of blood with a red jersey wrapped around his head. There were three stab wounds to his back, one each to the left and rightside abdomen and two to the chest.

On the other hand, his father was found lying on his back in the living room.

He was clad in a pair of white long pants and a mul-

Another charged...

Grundall, Fraser and “Curl-up” allegedly whipped out a gun and fired several shots in his direction, which hit him to his foot. The man was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injury.

ticoloured top and his face was covered with a multicoloured jersey.

However, CCTV footage collected from nearby buildings revealed that a man scaled the fence and entered the premises through a front door. After some time, he was seen leaving the house with two bulky bags and a bucket. The house was ransacked.

Douglas was later arrested and slapped with the murder charges.

from page 8

Grundall was represented by Attorney-at-Law Eustace Anderson, who informed the court that Nigel Hughes will be the defence counsel in the case.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield informed the court that James Fraser, the co-accused, ap-

peared last week before the court.

The father of three was remanded to prison. The case will continue on May 21, 2019. James Fraser, also known as “Damo”, was recently charged for the same murder and was remanded to prison.

News

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wednesday, may 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

14 News Food businesses breaching major sanitary regulations – GA-FDD A wednesday, may 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

n alarming number of food businesses are breaching sanitary regulatory requirements, ranging from employees not properly washing their hands to the storage and preparation of meals.

This is according to a survey conducted by the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GAFDD) from September 2018 to March 2019 among 55 randomly selected food service establishments in Regions Four and Six. The inspection checklist assessed six areas: food storage, cold storage, food preparation, sanitation, garbage disposal and employee hygiene.

Only 25 per cent of the facilities practised adequate food storage. Cold storage was satisfactory in 34 per cent of the facilities, and only 22 per cent had a functional temperature monitoring device (thermometer).

In regard to food preparation, only 18 per cent of the businesses effectively protected the food from con-

Photo captured at a food service establishment showing the improper thawing of meat

tamination, whilst a mere 11 per cent practised meat thawing safely.

Food handlers in only 13 per cent of establishments used gloves. As it relates to sanitation, only four per cent of establishments’ workers were observed applying the correct principles of cleaning and sanitising.

While adequate external garbage disposal was present in the majority (73 per cent) of establishments, only 56 per cent had adequate temporary internal garbage disposal. In regard to employee hygiene, only 20 per cent practised handwashing

correctly and in 42 per cent of the establishments, workers used no hair nets.

Microbiological samples were taken of the food; from workers’ hands, from food contact surfaces, from food service containers, and air quality.

Of the 99 food samples submitted, 37 per cent was unsatisfactory and of the 102 hands of workers that were swabbed after washing, 47 per cent was unsatisfactory. In regard to food contact surfaces (cutting boards and utensils), 30 per cent of the 125 surfaces swabbed after cleaning and/or sanitising

Photo captured at a food service establishment showing improper cold storage

was unsatisfactory.

Furthermore, 46 per cent of the 48 food service containers (food boxes) sampled were unsatisfactory. The air quality in the majority of establishments was generally satisfactory since 95 per cent of the 64 air quality samples taken was satisfactory.

Cross-contamination

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Department explained that the high percentage of unsatisfactory foods, which are generally served hot and should, therefore, be free of microorganisms, may be as a result of cross-contamination.

Cross-contamination, it noted, can stem from unsatisfactory food storage conditions, unsatisfactory thawing practices, inadequate cleaning/sanitising of food contact surfaces and workers’ hands.

The observed limited glove use may also be a contributing factor, the Department explained.

“High microbial contamination of food contact surfaces and the hands of workers can be as a result of the incorrect or inadequate methods used to clean and sanitise workers’ hands and food contact surfaces.

Food handlers were generally unaware of the difference between the process of

cleaning to remove dirt and sanitising to kill bacteria,” GA-FDD posited.

It also noted that inadequate temporary garbage disposal (uncovered bins) inside processing areas may suggest why insect infestation (flies and cockroaches) was observed in many food service establishments.

“Garbage disposal in close proximity to the processing area(s) may also result in cross-contamination.

Lastly, employees’ hygiene was generally adequate except for the practices employed after hand washing which may have led to re-contamination of the hands,” GA-FDD stated.

The Department contended that this ultimately called into question the knowledge of food handlers on the correct method employed to the effect of proper hand washing and the availability of adequate handwashing facilities.

Compliance

In light of the findings, the GA-FDD will be embarking on an initiative to ensure food establishments comply with the sanitary regulations.

In fact, the findings were shared with members of the National Food Safety and Control Committee Meeting hosted on May 7, 2019.

Members are expected to

take the detailed results and findings to food service establishments that fall under their purview, where they are to either work collaboratively with proprietors to ensure compliance with sanitary regulations or take appropriate action in the very best interest of consumer protection and safety.

In the meantime, Analytical Scientific Officers will continue to expand this exercise to other regions and municipalities.

GA-FDD explained that the purpose of the survey was to determine compliance of the food service industry with existing sanitary regulatory requirements.

Analytical Scientific Officers attached to the GA-FDD’s Food Laboratory conducted the survey in collaboration with Food Inspectors of the GA-FDD’s Public Health Officers from the city and municipalities, Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) of the region and Port Health Officers.

Operating procedures in the establishments were assessed using an inspection checklist and samples were taken and submitted for microbiological analysis. Micro-organisms of interest were salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus.

Contaminated food

In 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates suggested that 1 in 10 or approximately 600 million persons fall ill each year after consuming contaminated food, with approximately 420,000 deaths.

In Guyana, a 2009 Burden of Illness study estimated the occurrence of approximately 131,012 cases of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) or diarrhoea annually and each person in Guyana experiences at least one episode of diarrhoea each year.

news

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wednesday, may 15, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Tesoro Resources donates Missing woman computers to Shaheed Orphanage found...

I

n its efforts to rebuild the Shaheed Orphanage to its former glory following a fire which destroyed the facility late last year, Tesoro Resources on Tuesday donated over $500,000 computers to the all-girl orphanage.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tesoro Resources,

FROM PAGE 7

Dean Hassan made the donation of seven monitors along with related accessories to the orphanage.

Director of the orphanage, Dolly Rahaman received the computers on behalf of the orphanage Last year, the company reached out to the orphanage’s director and challenged her to come up

with a sustainable project which she would like to see realised.

As such, Rahaman lobbied for the computer laboratory.

General Manager of Tesoro, Jaswick Williams in handing over the donation said that as a consequence of the fire at the orphanage in October

2018, which completely destroyed the orphanage, it was important for the organisation to lend a helping hand.

The general manager expressed the company’s satisfaction with the new partnership with the orphanage and pledged its continued support.

The new Shaheed Orphanage building, located at Oleander Gardens, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was commissioned in April of 2019. Rahaman has been managing the Shaheed Girls’ and Boys’ Orphanage since 2003.

This is another in a series of assistance given to the wider community by Tesoro Resources. Around this time last year, the Orphanage was among five homes that benefited from the company.

They each received more than $1 million to further a project to the benefit of the youngsters who reside there.

Some of the residents of the orphanage viewing the new computers

Another charged for Lodge man’s murder

O

safa Grundall, also known as “Safo” appeared on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts slapped with a murder charge.

The 39-year-old man of Lot 40 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charge stated that on April 25, 2019, at Norton Street, Lodge, while being in the company of others, he shot Marlon Rodney. However, Rodney succumbed to his injuries on April 30.

According to the prosecution’s case, Rodney was walking along Norton Street in an eastern direction on the northern side of the road when he was confronted by Grundall, Fraser and another man called “Curl-up”, who exited a tinted white motor vehicle, and an argument ensued.

Grundall, Fraser and “Curl-up” allegedly whipped out a gun and fired several shots in his direction, which hit him to his foot. The man was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injury.

Grundall was represented by Attorney-at-Law Eustace Anderson, who informed the court that Nigel Hughes will be the defence counsel in the case.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield informed the court that

James Fraser, the co-accused, appeared last week before the court.

The father of three was

remanded to prison. The case will continue on May 21, 2019. James Fraser, also known as “Damo”, was

recently charged for the same murder and was remanded to prison.

Edmond Cooper confirmed that the interrogation of the suspect led to the discovery of Sugrim’s body and informed that the man is assisting with investigations.

In November 2010, Babita Sarjou had left her mother’s Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) residence to meet her estranged husband and son – who was four years old at that time – to view the annual Diwali motorcade at the Kitty Seawall, Georgetown.

She was never seen again and despite repeated telephone calls to both of Sarjou’s cellular phones on that night and after, every attempt to contact her proved futile.

A report was made at the Timehri Police Station, EBD, and then another at the Kitty Police Station about the woman’s disappearance.

Shortly before the woman’s disappearance she had filed a harassment case against her husband, Sharadanand Narine, called “Anand”, but the case was later dismissed.

Narine was accused of pasting numerous copies of a nude photo of her on the walls and fence of her workplace at BK International, Soesdyke, EBD. However, six years later, Darell Punton, called “Yankee”, confessed to helping Narine murder Sarjou and burying her body in the backyard of Narine’s Lot 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown property.

The accomplice allegedly took investigators to where the skeletal remains were buried and upon unearthing the bones, Police ranks arrested the duo for the crime. (Kizzy Coleman and Bhisham Mohamed)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, may 15, 2019

Regional

Venezuela’s Guaidó tells Canada PM he wants elections as soon as possible

V

enezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday and told him he was committed to holding free and fair elections as soon as possible, Trudeau’s office said in a statement.

“Guaidó conveyed his commitment to holding free and fair elections as soon as possible, in line with the Venezuelan Constitution, and thanked the Prime Minister for Canada’s role in helping lead the international response to the crisis in Venezuela,” it said.

Meanwhile, the

Brazilian Government’s top security adviser said on Tuesday that Venezuela’s armed forces will either depose President Nicolás Maduro and lead a transition to democratic rule or face divisions that risk a civil war,.

Retired General Augusto Heleno, national security adviser to President Jair Bolsonaro, told Reuters the situation in Venezuela was unpredictable after the Opposition Leader unsuccessfully called on the military to change sides last month.

Only a handful of soldiers headed Guaidó’s call to

Maduro and just over 1000 troops have defected, mostly to Colombia and Brazil.

“The future of Venezuela will be decided by the armed forces: either they stay in power with the same government or they remove Maduro,” Heleno said in an interview.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó

back the Opposition on April 30 and since then Maduro’s Government has launched a crackdown on Opposition legislators allegedly linked to the attempt.

Despite US sanctions, the upper echelons of Venezuela’s military have largely ignored entreaties from the Opposition and Washington to turn against

Activists in Venezuelan Embassy defiant despite eviction notice

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that activists protesting inside the Venezuelan Washington DC Embassy for the past 35 days plan to remain despite law enforce-

ment warnings that they were trespassing.

“We are not following the order. It is illegal,” activist Kevin Zeese was quoted as saying on Tuesday from a window on the second floor of the building.

The activists, whose numbers have reportedly dwindled from 30-plus to four, have been living inside the Embassy, because they consider Maduro to be the legitimate President.

Carlos Vecchio, the new Ambassador to Washington designated by Guaidó, requested US assistance in clearing the building.(Excerpts from Reuters and Associated Press)

Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador urges US to seek extension of WTO waiver for Caribbean

A

ntigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders on Tuesday urged that the US

Government and Congress seek an extension of a waiver to allow Caribbean countries to continue to benefit from the Caribbean Basin

Economic Recovery Act (CBERA).

He testified before the US International Trade Commission which is con-

ducting an investigation into the impact on US industries, persons and the US economy of CBERA that was enacted in 1983. CBERA is part of the Caribbean Basin Initiative, launched by then US President Ronald Reagan and kept in place by successive US Governments.

Sir Ronald pointed out that CBERA and the Caribbean Basin Trade

Partnership Act (CBTPA) which grants preferential access for Caribbean exports to the US market is only possible because of a waiver from the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

That waiver expires at the end of this year.

The Ambassador told the Commission that, over the years, the US has benefited more from the existing

trade arrangements than the 17 Caribbean countries for whom benefits were intended.

Despite this, Sir Ronald argued that seven Caricom countries that are the principal beneficiaries of CBERA “would face serious financial challenges if they were to lose the preferential access from which they now gain”. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Guatemala ex-dictator’s daughter barred from presidency

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he constitutional court of Guatemala has barred Zury Ríos, the daughter of ex-military ruler Efraín Ríos Montt, from running for the presidency.

Ríos was one of the frontrunners ahead of elections on June 16.

The court argued that Guatemala’s Constitution bars close relatives of coup leaders from serving as President.

Efraín Ríos Montt’s rule in the 1980s is considered one of the most ruthless periods of Guatemala’s civil war, when entire Mayan villages were wiped out.

General Rios Montt seized power during a 1982 coup d’état, in the midst of a war between the military regime and Marxist rebels. He was accused of ordering the killing of more

Zury Ríos

than 1700 ethnic Mayans, whom his regime suspected of harbouring insurgents.

The General was ousted by his Defence Minister in August 1983 and 30 years later he became the first former Head of State to face genocide charges in his own country.

He was found guilty, but that ruling was later thrown out by Guatemala’s high court. He died aged

91 on April 1, 2018, six months after his genocide trial had resumed.

His daughter Zury Ríos was the right-wing candidate for the Valor (Courage) party.

Relatives of victims of the hundreds of thousands of mainly indigenous people killed during Guatemala’s civil war welcomed the court’s decision to bar Ríos.

Ríos had earlier said that a bar would not only impinge on her rights to stand as a candidate, but also on those of her supporters who want to cast their votes for her.

Polls had placed her among the top three candidates. Her main rivals are former First Lady Sandra Torres and the former Attorney General, Thelma Aldana. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Coca-Cola heir arrested in Caribbean with US$1.3M in cannabis, 5000 plants aboard private jet – reports

A

Greek billionaire and heir to the Coca-Cola fortune was arrested on the Caribbean Island of St Kitts after a search of his private jet uncovered more than US$1.3 million worth of cannabis on board, according to multiple reports.

Alkiviades “Alki” David, 50, was arrested by the AntiNarcotics Unit at the Robert L Bradshaw International Airport after customs officials found approximately 5000 cannabis plants in addition to seeds and a variety of other

cannabis products, according to the Vancouver Sun. He was charged with intent to supply, possession of controlled drugs and importation of a controlled drug into the Federation, officials from the St Christopher and Nevis Police Force confirmed to The Daily Express.

David claimed the plants on board were “all hemp” and were related to a new venture to start a legal cannabis business in the region. He and Chase Ergen, the heir to the satellite fortune, announced in April that they formed a

consortium aimed at developing the cannabis business in Eastern Caribbean nations such as St Kitts-Nevis, Dominica and Antigua.

Plans included purchasing agricultural land and partnering with farmers to create a cooperative entity modelled after the ones in Switzerland.

David and Ergen will create thousands of jobs and also tap into the rich cultural history and cannabis know-how of the strengthening Rastafarian movement in the Region. (Excerpt from Fox News)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, may 15, 2019

Violence overshadows Sudan’s transition push

S

udan’s opposition alliance blamed military rulers on Tuesday for renewed street violence complicating efforts to negotiate a handover to civilian power after last month’s ouster of President Omar alBashir.

At least four people died and dozens were injured during protests on Monday as the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and opposition Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces (DFCF) said they had reached a partial agreement for transition.

The protesters, who want to keep pressure on the military for a swift handover, were back on Tuesday, blocking roads and bridges with bricks and rocks, images on social media showed.

The military council, which took over after overthrowing the long-ruling Bashir last month, blamed the violence on saboteurs

Sudanese protesters burn tyres and barricade the road leading to al-Mek Nimir Bridge crossing over Blue Nile; that links Khartoum North and Khartoum, in Sudan May 13, 2019

unhappy with the transition deal.

The opposition and military were meeting again on Tuesday to discuss two sticking points: the military-civilian balance of power in transitional bodies and the timeframe for elections.

Talks would wrap up today, Khalid Omar Youssef, a senior figure in the DFCF said.

The United States backed the opposition alliance in pinning the blame for Monday’s chaos on the

military for trying to remove roadblocks set up by protesters.

One hospital in Khartoum said it received more than 60 wounded on Monday as well as three dead bodies.

One wounded patient said a shooter was about 20 metres (22 yards) away when he took aim. “He shot at my chest ... he meant to kill me, not to scare or terrorise,” said protester Raed Mubarak. (Excerpt from Reuters)

British PM, Ministers agree Brexit deal must be ratified by summer break

T

he British Government agreed on Tuesday it was “imperative” to ratify Britain’s exit from the European Union before the summer break, setting out the clearest deadline so far for the embattled plan and the Prime Minister’s possible departure.

Britain had been due to leave the EU on March 29, but May was unable to get her divorce deal ratified by Parliament.

To try to break the deadlock in Parliament, May turned to Labour, led by Corbyn, a veteran socialist,

but after weeks of talks they have failed to reach agreement. May has been urged by senior members of her own party to abandon the talks.

Senior Ministers agreed at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, however, to press ahead with the talks, May’s spokesman said.

Parliament usually breaks for the summer in the second half of July, although the exact date has not yet been set.

It must approve the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in order to ratify Britain’s exit from the bloc. May has

said she will step down once the first phase of Brexit is complete. It would be followed by negotiations on a new trade deal with the EU. May, who secured the leadership in the chaos that followed Britain’s 2016 vote to leave the EU, has promised to step down if lawmakers back the Brexit deal she struck with Brussels.

But the Prime Minister has lost heavily in three attempts to get it through Parliament. And some of her own lawmakers want her to name a date for her departure. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Pompeo tells Russia: Don’t meddle in next US presidential vote

U

S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday that Washington would brook no interference

by Moscow in the 2020 US presidential election, saying such a move would seriously harm already poor relations.

Relations have long been strained by allegations - denied by Moscow - that Russia tried to influence the results of the 2016 US presidential election.

But though Pompeo and Lavrov made some positive remarks about the potential for cooperation on nuclear arms control, Pompeo listed a large number of US complaints about Russia.

As well as the issue of interference in US elections, the two men also clashed over Venezuela, with Lavrov sharply criticising Washington for trying to undermine President Nicolas Maduro, who Pompeo said must now step down in the face of economic crisis and

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shake hands as they pose for a photo prior to their talks in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia, May 14, 2019

large-scale protests against his rule.

On Ukraine, Pompeo told Lavrov the United States would not recognise Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and would keep in place economic sanctions imposed on Russia over that move.

Russia should now work with Ukraine’s new President-elect to bring peace to eastern Ukraine,

said Pompeo, adding that he wanted Moscow to free a group of captured Ukrainian sailors.

Lavrov told reporters the two countries continued to disagree about Iran’s nuclear programme and the international community’s approach to Tehran, while Pompeo said he had raised US concerns about escalating fighting in Syria’s Idlib. (Excerpt from Reuters)

17

Around the World

Iran suggests oil attacks orchestrated to spark conflict

I

ranian officials accused “hardliners” in the United States and elsewhere of attempting to orchestrate an incident that would ratchet up tensions with the Islamic Republic, as the supreme leader vowed there would be no war.

The allegation by Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday came as tensions in the Gulf continue to rise as American military forces head to the region and amid a series of attacks on oil infrastructure.

Four ships - two Saudi, one Norwegian and one Emirati - were damaged on

Sunday off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in what Emirati officials described as acts of sabotage near the port of Fujairah.

The incident happened 140km south of the Strait of Hormuz, where about onethird of all oil traded by sea passes through.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday there would be no war with the US despite mounting concerns.

In comments to senior officials carried by State television, Khamenei also reiterated that Iran would not negotiate with the US on a new nuclear deal.

Details of the alleged oil vessel sabotage remained unclear, and UAE officials have declined to say who they suspected was responsible.

Mohammad Javad Jamali, an Iranian Member of Parliament, accused unidentified countries in the region of trying “to drag Trump into a war”.

An unnamed US official familiar with American intelligence told Reuters news agency that Iran was a prime suspect in Sunday’s sabotage off the UAE coast, although Washington had no conclusive proof. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Sri Lanka extends nationwide curfew after anti-Muslim riots

S

ri Lanka imposed a nationwide curfew for the second night in a row after a wave of anti-Muslim violence in the wake of the Easter bombings.

A Muslim man was stabbed to death while rioters torched Muslimowned shops and vandalised mosques during Monday’s attacks.

Police have arrested 60 people, including the leader of a far-right Buddhist group.

The United Nations has called for calm and a “rejection of hate”.

A nationwide curfew, declared for the second night running, came into effect at 21:00h (15:30 GMT) on Tuesday.

Rioting there, north of the capital Colombo, saw police fire bullets into the air to disperse mobs marauding through several towns.

Tensions have been high

Heavily-armed Police ride past the Jumha Mosque, one of those attacked by rioters

since Islamist militants attacked churches and hotels three weeks ago on Easter Sunday, killing more than 250 people.

In response to the rioting, the UN’s Colombo office has urged Sri Lankan authorities to “ensure that the situation does not escalate”.

It stressed the importance of holding the perpetrators and inciters of violence to account at this “critical juncture” if peace is to be maintained.

In a televised address, Police Chief Chandana Wickramaratne warned that officers would respond to rioters with maximum force.

Muslims make up nearly 10 per cent of Sri Lanka’s 22 million people, who are predominantly Sinhalese Buddhists. Mob violence in central Sri Lanka targeting Muslim communities in March of last year prompted the Government to declare a state of emergency. (Excerpt from BBC News)

“Maximum restraint”: Europe allies reject US escalation with Iran

E

uropean diplomats urged the United States to exercise “maximum restraint” as tensions mount in the Gulf a year after Washington withdrew from a landmark deal that curbed Iran’s nuclear programme.

The European Union’s diplomatic chief, Federica Mogherini, stressed the need for dialogue following a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who made a last-minute visit to Brussels on Monday to share information on “escalating” threats from Iran.

The US has re-imposed punishing sanctions on Iran since its unilateral exit from the nuclear deal, negotiated between Tehran and six world powers in 2015. Last week, Washington sent naval vessels and bombers to the Middle East citing unspecified threats from Tehran.

Iran responded by declaring it will scale back

Federica Mogherini, right, chaired a meeting with German, French and British Foreign Ministers in Brussels

compliance with parts of the nuclear deal.

The Ministers from the European signatories to the nuclear accord - Germany, United Kingdom and France - all publicly criticised the hardline US approach.

Heiko Maas, German Foreign Minister, said Berlin “still regards this nuclear agreement as the basis for Iran not having any nuclear weapons in the future and we regard this as existential for our security”.

J e r e m y Hunt, UK Foreign Minister, warned that armed conflict

might be sparked “by accident” as tensions mount.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s Foreign Minister, joined the criticism saying Washington’s move to step up sanctions against Iran “does not suit us”.

The US pulled out of the accord saying the agreement does nothing to stop Iran from developing missiles or destabilising the Middle East. The European parties insist the agreement was never meant to address those issues but has been effective in curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wedneSday, MAY 15, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Concentrate on work and on getting along with your peers. Relationships will face some difficulty if you or the other party is evasive or manipulative. Indulgent behavior will lead to problems.

CANCER

Self-help, personal improvements and a healthier lifestyle will get you moving in a positive direction. Surround yourself with happy or like-minded people. Romance is encouraged.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

A peer will use emotional tactics or manipulation to take advantage of you. Be smart and say little. Once you assess the situation, make a calculated move.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Be careful what you wish for. A change may entice you, but be sure to take your time and consider your motivations. Ulterior motives are apparent and will lead to a mistake that’s difficult to undo.

A change at work should be accepted and dealt with professionally. Refuse to let your emotions lead to an unnecessary fuss that could damage your status or reputation.

Step out and do your own thing. Participate in events that provide knowledge, camaraderie and opportunities. A positive change to your feelings about someone is apparent.

Expand your interests, read, study and take physical action to reach your goals. It’s up to you to make things happen, so stop procrastinating.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Turn a negative into a positive. Make adjustments to your lifestyle. Size up a relationship with someone and make a romantic gesture if you want to spend more time together.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Don’t be too quick to dismiss what others are doing or to believe what you hear.

You’ll be better off looking for opportunities that are geared toward personal improvements and a healthier lifestyle.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

solution for LAST PUBLISHED puzzle AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

At home and at work, positive change is apparent.

Use your intelligence and drive to help you get things moving in a direction that is better for you emotionally, physically and financially.

You know what’s best for yourself, so don’t give in to outside influences or pressure. Make your own opportunities and stick to what you deem reasonable.

Get together with people you have worked well with in the past, or attend a reunion that will bring you in contact with people who will jog your memory regarding old goals.

wednesday, MAY 15, 2019

19

NBA Playoffs: Can Raptors hunt the Bucks?

T

hey took slightly different paths, but the East’s top two teams are now set to meet in the Conference Finals as many expected all season. It’s the first time these two franchises will meet in the postseason since 2017.

The first meeting between the Raptors and Bucks this season came early when both teams were a perfect 6-0. Giannis Antetokounmpo (concussion) and Kawhi Leonard (rest) missed the game, and Milwaukee cruised to a 124-109 win behind a balanced effort that saw seven players score in double figures.

Serge Ibaka led the Raptors in scoring that night with 30 points and Pascal Siakam chipped in with 22 points.

The second meeting was much closer but the end result was the same. Behind a 19-point, 19-rebound double-double from Antetokounmpo, the Bucks defeated the Raptors in Toronto, 104-99.

Kyle Lowry struggled in the loss, going scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting from the field.

The Raptors picked up their lone win against the Bucks on Jan. 5 in what turned out to be the best game between the two teams this season. Leonard and Siakam led the Raptors in scoring with 30 points each, but they got a scoring punch out of Ibaka (25), Danny Green (12) and Fred VanVleet (21), the latter of whom started in place of Lowry, who was dealing with a back injury.

The five of them helped Toronto overcome 43 points, 18 rebounds and four assists from Antetokounmpo to beat the Bucks, 123-116.

The Bucks got some revenge in the final game of the season, winning by a final score of 105-92 at the Scotiabank Arena. It

was a team effort once again, as seven players scored in double figures, including D.J. Wilson (16) and George Hill (10) off the bench.

Can the Raptors contain Giannis Antetokounmpo?

The Raptors will have their hands full trying to slow down Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 27.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in these playoffs.

The Bucks have built a team around Antetokounmpo that plays perfectly to his strengths, surrounding him with shooters to give him the space he needs to attack the paint, where he led the league in scoring this season.

Antetokounmpo is a matchup nightmare for every team because he’s too big and strong Raptors OG Anunoby and CJ Miles guard Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo for perimeter players to guard and too quick when the teams met earlier this year and athletic for big men to stay in front of. lowed by Leonard, Ibaka and OG Anunoby.

Double-teaming him is risky as well. Not only is This is another series where the Raptors will miss Anunoby Antetokounmpo a capable passer, the Bucks made and at- if he’s unable to play. While he wouldn’t be the primary detempted the second-most 3-pointers in the league this sea- fender on Antetokounmpo, Toronto would benefit greatly from son, trailing only the Houston Rockets. Every player on having another wing who can match up with him physically, Milwaukee’s roster is comfortable shooting 3-pointers, even especially now that Siakam is dealing with an injury.

Brook Lopez, who set the record for 3s made by a centre According to Blake Murphy of The Athletic, Anunoby is during the regular season. now travelling with the Raptors for the first time since underSo who on the Raptors will take on the responsibility of going an emergency appendectomy, but there’s still no update defending Antetokounmpo? According to NBA.com, Siakam on when he is expected to return. (NBA) matched up with the MVP candidate the most this season, fol-

Manchester City could face Uefa ban from Champions League

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efa investigators want Manchester City to be banned from the Champions League for a season if they are found guilty of breaking financial rules.

However, according to one well-placed source, a final decision is yet to be made by chief investigator Yves Leterme.

The former Belgian prime minister, chairman of the investigatory panel of Uefa’s independent financial control board, is set to make a recommendation this week.

With no vote in such cases, the final say lies with him but several of his colleagues are understood to have firmly expressed the view at a recent meeting that a season-long ban would be a suitable punishment if City are found guilty.

What are City alleged to have done?

Leterme and his team have been looking at evidence first uncovered in a series of leaks published by the German newspaper Der Spiegel last year.

The reports alleged that Manchester City had broken Financial Fair Play regulations by inflating the value of a multimillion-pound sponsorship deal. City were fined £49m in 2014 for a previous breach of regulations.

The Premier League champions denied any wrongdoing, and Uefa said it could not comment on an ongoing investigation, but according to the New York Times, investigators now want rules upheld and City punished with a ban.

Uefa’s adjudicatory chamber would have to decide whether it agreed with any recommendation from Leterme - expected in the next 48 hours - although it is unlikely to apply to next season’s competition because City could appeal, and even take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

But it would still be a major blow for a club desperate to win Europe’s most prestigious club competition for the first time, and who could also soon face a transfer ban, with the FA, Premier League and Fifa also currently investigating City over their signing of youth players.

A statement from Manchester City said: “Manchester City FC is fully cooperating in

good faith with the CFCB IC’s [Club Financial Control Body Investigatory Chamber] ongoing investigation.

“In doing so the club is reliant on both the CFCB IC’s independence and commitment to due process; and on Uefa’s commitment of the 7 March that it ‘will make no further comment on the matter while the investigation is ongoing’.

“The New York Times report citing ‘people familiar with the case’ is therefore extremely concerning.

“The implications are that either Manchester City’s good faith in the CFCB IC is misplaced or the CFCB IC process is being misrepresented by individuals intent on damaging the club’s reputation and its commercial interests. Or both.

“Manchester City’s published accounts are full and complete and a matter of legal and regulatory record. The accusation of financial irregularities are entirely false, and comprehensive proof of this fact has been provided to the CFCB IC.” What are the FFP rules?

Financial Fair Play was introduced by Uefa to prevent clubs in its competitions from spending beyond their means and stamp out what its then president Michel Platini called “financial doping” within football.

Under the rules, financial losses are limited and clubs are also obliged to meet all their transfer and employee payment commitments at all times.

Clubs need to balance football-related expenditure - transfers and wages - with television and ticket income, plus revenues raised by their commercial departments. Money spent on stadiums, training facilities, youth development or community projects is exempt.

The Club Financial Control Body, set up by Uefa, has the ultimate sanction of banning clubs from Uefa competitions, with other potential punishments including warnings, fines, withholding prize money, transfer bans, points deductions, a ban on registration of new players and a restriction on the number of players who can be registered for Uefa competitions. (BBC Sport)

Italian Open: Roger Federer criticises ticket prices in Rome

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wenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has criticised Italian Open organisers for doubling ticket prices after it was confirmed he would play.

Federer, 37, is playing the clay-court season for the first time since 2016.

The number three seed, who has a firstround bye and will begin his tournament against Portugal’s Joao Sousa, said the decision was “disappointing”.

“They made it in a way like they rewarded the fans who bought tickets earlier, which is sort of strange.”

Federer added: “I just really hope it doesn’t take away the fact I’m really happy to be here. There’s going to be good crowds hopefully, good atmosphere.”

The Swiss was beaten in the third round

by Dominic Thiem on his last appearance in Rome in 2016.

Thiem saved two match points to beat Federer and progress to the Madrid Open semi-finals last week, but Federer was pleased by a strong performance and has his eyes on a second French Open title in June.

His only Roland-Garros title came a decade ago when he beat Swede Robin Soderling in straight sets.

“I think I was playing well in Madrid, so I just said, again, ‘let’s come to Rome, a city I like so much as well’,” said Federer.

“Madrid is a tough place to play. I felt like playing maybe more sea-level conditions would be good for me. There would be excitement, more excitement than me coming to a practice court in Switzerland.

“Regardless of what happens here, I just think it’s good for me to play matches at this stage.”

Federer could come up against eight-time champion Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals in Rome, and Madrid Open runner-up and eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals.

Injured Serena withdraws

Twenty three-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams plans to compete at the

French Open despite withdrawing from the Italian Open with a knee injury.

The American, 37, was set to play sister Venus Williams in the second round but said she would be “concentrating on rehab” now.

“I look forward to seeing you all at the French Open and next year in Rome,” she added.

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki also pulled out in Italy.

Wozniacki, 28, withdrew from her firstround match against American Danielle Collins because of a leg injury, having lost the first set 7-6 (7-5).

It is the second straight tournament at which the Dane has been forced to retire early on.

She trailed 3-0 against Alize Cornet in the opening round of the Madrid Open earlier this month before pulling out with a back injury.

American Collins, 25, will now play twotime Grand Slam winner Garbine Muguruza of Spain in the second round of the Italian Open on Wednesday following Wozniacki’s withdrawal. (BBC Sport)

Serena Williams had not been in action since March and has only completed eight matches this year

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wednesday, MAY 15, 2019

GFF embarks on uniform deal with Capelli Sport

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hen Guyana finally qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in the country’s football history on March 23, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde promised that the Federation would do everything within its power to ensure that the senior men’s national team, the Golden Jags, are ready for the biggest games of their lives.

With just a month before the Golden Jags take to the Allianz Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota for their first game against the USA on June 18, Forde disclosed that the Federation has made good on its promise and to this end, revealed some of the plans for the national team.

At the moment, the biggest announcement is the Federation’s collaboration with sport gear company Capelli Sport. The company specialises in the production of top-quality football apparel, inclusive of uniforms, shoes, bags and balls.

Although the Federation still has some kinks to work out with the well-established company, the GFF President prematurely announced the collaboration, which entails the company producing Guyana’s Gold Cup uniform.

“We’re still working out the

pieces of the final agreement with Capelli Sports, but no doubt there’s a commitment on both parts for an agreement and we will announce some of the key details once the dotted lines are signed off,” Forde said.

Hinting at continuous conversations with the apparel company, Forde was confident that the GFF already has a solid relationship with Capelli Sport.

“We believe that we have been able to establish a remarkable working relationship with Capelli Sports; the fact that they’re here displaying some of their products, interacting with some of the other members and engaging with the local football fraternity, is a demonstration off their commitment to working with the GFF,” he said.

As such, the GFF boss revealed that an official announcement with added information about the deal would be done soon.

“We’re very pleased so far with all of the engagements we’ve been having with Capelli Sport and we look forward to a fruitful couple of years. We will make the final announcement on the deal in one week’s time,” he stated.

Now focusing on Gold Cup preparations, it was confirmed that the Golden Jaguars will

be playing an international friendly before they get to the tournament.

“We already have one international game locked in.

One of the countries that we’re likely to be playing for the second international game is here (at the FIFA

A green replica of the Capelli Sport Golden Jags uniform

Conference) so we’ll be having those discussions on the margins of the Conference,” Forde shared.

However, a Guyana-based camp looks dismal at the moment and Forde was not shy in sharing the reason for this.

“The preparation plan as it is, sees us doing a camp in New Jersey, flying to another country, playing a game and then to Minneapolis. So, we have abandoned the idea of doing the home camp, because we couldn’t find a worthy opponent that is willing to absorb the cost to travel this way for a game,”

Archery Guyana edges closer to Olympic qualification

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rchery Guyana has announced the participation of 29-yearold member Devin Persaud, who will be competing at the Hyundai World Archery Championships 2019 in the Netherlands.

Persaud has his roots in Rose Hall, Berbice but is currently residing and training in Canada. He has been involved in the sport of archery for the past five years, during which time he has become so

passionate about the sport that he has started Canada’s first online Archery Shop.

This is a platform from which he shares his passion while assisting with the continued growth of the sport as he continues to pursue his passion of representing Guyana at the highest level.

This world competition represents his first opportunity to secure a spot for Guyana in the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

the GFF President said.

He had cited limited resources as the reason for other CONCACAF nations being sceptical about travelling for friendlies.

Being drawn in Group D, the Golden Jaguars will have to battle with Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America in the preliminary stage of the Gold Cup. The boys hailing from the “Land of Many Waters” will

GFF President Wayne Forde poses alongside one of the Capelli Sport Golden Jags uniforms

play their first game on June 18 in Minneapolis, against hosts USA. Their second game will be on June 22 with a match-up against Panama in Cleveland,

Ohio. Their final game will be against Caribbean counterparts and long-time rivals Trinidad and Tobago in Kansas City, Kansas.

(Jemima Holmes)

CWI, sacked employees headed to mediation

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he Antigua and Barbuda Labour Commissioner has been informed of the dispute between Cricket West Indies (CWI) and former employees, Courtney Browne and Eldine Baptiste.

The two were sacked after a change in the leadership of CWI prompted a review of selection processes.

The two were members of CWI selection panel, with Brown, its chief selector.

Brown and Baptiste are claiming damages from the CWI, saying they were un-

fairly dismissed after they were served termination letters on April 10.

Attorneys Thomas, John & Co had written to the CWI requesting damages but have yet to be responded to in a way that would appease their clients and as such, have written to the labour commissioner, the office which deals with labour-related issues

with Cricket West Indies in Antigua. (Sportsmax)

Former West Indies chief selector Courtney Browne

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wednesday, may 15, 2019

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CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships 2019…

El Salvador punish Guyana with 8-4 drubbing G

uyana opened their 2019 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships campaign with a loss to the dominant El Salvador at Puerto Vallarta Stadium in Mexico on Tuesday.

El Salvador immediately climbed to the top of Group D with an 8-4 whipping of the Guyanese squad while Guadeloupe sat second with their 7-6 triumph over Belize in the other group encounter.

The first period of the 36-minute match saw Eliodor Portillo score the tournament’s quickest goal when he found the back of the net in the first minute to put El Salvador ahead.

However, Guyana were able to draw the equaliser in the sixth minute when Shane Luckie scored. The next minute Heber Ramos regained the lead for the eventual victors. At the end of the first 12 minutes, El Salvador were ahead 2-1.

Early in the second period, Jamal Haynes found the second equaliser for Guyana when he recorded the first of his brace

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in the 13th minute from a free kick. Two minutes later, Exon Perdomo (15th) made it a one-possession game with the first of three quick goals by El Salvador.

Agustin Ruiz slotted the fourth while Ruben Bates netted El Salvador’s fifth goal in the 17th minute. The 17th minute was also successful for Guyana when Haynes completed his brace.

The score then read 6-3.

Guyana’s Trevon Archibald accounted for the fourth goal when he scored in the 19th minute, but both Ramos and Bates scored in the 20th and 23rd minute, respectively, to complete their doubles. At the end of the second period, El Salvador led 7-4.

The final period had more relaxed play from the side that was in front, but they still managed to find a goal to complete a dominant win. Perdomo sealed his brace in the 28th minute.

Today, Guyana will face Guadeloupe in the first match of the day from 12:45h.

Woods “rested and ready” for PGA Championship after month off

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The Championship trophy currently belongs to Panama

Tiger Woods

T

iger Woods walked into the media interview room at the PGA Championship on Tuesday morning clutching a cup

of hot coffee on a cool New York morning.

He hopes to be holding something far more valuable on Sunday night — the Wanamaker Trophy awarded to the winner of the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black.

Judging by his words, the 43-year-old is in fine fettle as he prepares for his first tournament start since his Masters victory exactly one month ago.

Woods raised some eyebrows when he decided to skip the Wells Fargo Championship two weeks ago, thereby ensuring he would turn up this week without any competitive action between Augusta and Bethpage.

On Tuesday he erased concerns that there might be any physical issues behind his decision to play back-to-back majors without a

tune-up gallop in between.

“To be honest, I wasn’t ready yet to start the grind of practising and preparing and logging all those hours again,” he said. “I was lifting (weights), feeling good in the gym, but I wasn’t prepared to log in the hours.

“Coming here is a different story... I feel rested and ready. I’ve done a lot of the leg work and hard work already trying to find my game over the past year-and-a-half.

Now it’s just maintaining it.”

Woods’ Masters victory came two years after a spinal fusion that resurrected a career in danger of ending prematurely.

Instead, he notched one of the great comebacks of sporting history, ending a decade-long major drought and collecting his 15th major title.

Northern Ireland’s four-times major champion Rory McIlroy said on Tuesday: “I still don’t think people understand what he (Woods) did in April and coming back, and with everything that he’s been through.

“Whether it’s the greatest come-

back in sports, that’s probably up for debate, but from what I’ve experienced and the things that he said when I’ve been around him ... that’s unbelievable.”

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, meanwhile, was impressed with the way Woods played within himself and closed out his one-shot Masters win in clinical fashion.

“He wasn’t interested in proving to the world that he’s a good driver of the ball or anything like that,” the Irishman added. “He just was interested in getting the job done.”

Woods for his part knows he has to play and practise without pushing his body too hard.

“That’s the fickle nature of having my back fused,” he said. “Some days I have more range of motion, some days I don’t.

“I can’t spend every day working on every part of my game and so I end up spending a lot of time on my short game, pitching and putting.

“I don’t load the body like I used to and be explosive on the range.

Those days are gone.” (Reuters)

Giro d’Italia: Dumoulin the big loser after crash splits peloton

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ovistar’s Richard Carapaz held on for victory on stage four of the Giro d’Italia in Frascati, but Primoz Roglic was the big winner as a late crash hit his rivals and saw him extend his lead in pink.

A touch of wheels a little over five kilometres from the finish saw several riders – among them Tom Dumoulin – hit the deck and caused a shake-up of the general classification.

There had been much speculation as to whether the slight uphill finish would suit a sprinter or a punchier rider but in the end only a small group was left to contest the stage, with Roglic and Carapaz the only one major general classification hopefuls among them.

Mitchelton-Scott’s Simon Yates was in the next group on the road alongside Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida), Miguel Ángel López (Astana) and Bob Jungels (DeceunickQuickStep), conceding 16 seconds to Roglic, but the big loser was the Dutchman Dumoulin.

The Team Sunweb rider, second in this race last year, already looks out of the reckoning this time around as he crossed the line more than four minutes after Roglic, bleeding heavily from his left knee. Roglic now leads by 35 seconds from Yates, with Nibali a further four seconds back.

The win could also bring Carapaz back into the reckoning after a disappointing opening time-trial, with the bonus seconds leaving him 81 seconds off pink in 16th place.

Yates’s fellow Lancastrian Hugh Carthy of EF Education First is 13th, 76 seconds down, while Team Ineos’s Pavel Sivakov sits in 17th, 84 seconds back as the team’s best-placed rider.

The crash completely split the peloton with only seven riders left in the front group to contest honours at the end of the 235km stage from Orbetello. Carapaz attacked in the final

Richard Carapaz celebrates as he finishes first

few hundred metres and though Lotto-Soudal’s Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan set off after him, the Ecuadorian had just enough to hold on.

For the second straight day, it was a nervy, chaotic finish to end what had been a long, slow day with riders taking it easy over the rolling 235km stage.

An all-Italian three-man break formed of

Marco Frapporti (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec), Marco Maestri (Bardiani CSF) and Damiano Cima (Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane), and had been allowed a lead that stretched to 11 minutes at one point but the peloton stepped up the chase in the final third of the stage. The catch was made with 10km to go but moments later came the crash which could yet prove pivotal in this race. (The Guardian)

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Saha named India A wicketkeeper for 4-day matches in West Indies

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riddhiman Saha, who last played a first-class game in Cape Town in January 2018, has been named the designated wicketkeeper for the three four-day matches that India A play on their tour of West Indies. Andhra's Srikar Bharat is also part of the squad for the three four-day games, giving India A an additional wicketkeeping option.

Rishabh Pant, India's incumbent wicketkeeper in Test matches, finds a place only in the five one-dayers that precede the four-day games.

India also tour West Indies after the World Cup, and will kick-start their campaign in the World Test Championship with a two-Test series. They will also play ODIs and T20s in what will constitute a full-blown tour. Keeping that in mind, Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal - the two incumbent Test openers - replace Priyank Panchal and Abhimanyu Easwaran for the third four-day match.

Shreyas Iyer will lead the side in all the three matches, and will steer the mid-

Fixtures for India A tour of West Indies:

Date Match Venue

July 11 1st one-day game Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua July 14 2nd one-day game Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua July 16 3rd one-day game Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua July 19 4th one-day game Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua July 21 5th one-day game Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua July 24-27 1st four-day game Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua July 31-Aug 3 2nd four-day game Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain August 6-9 3rd four-day game Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago dle-order along with Hanuma Vihari and Shubman Gill. Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan form the pace bowling attack whereas Shahbaz Nadeem and Mayank Markande are the two specialist spinners. Shivam Dube and K Gowtham are the two all-rounders in the squad.

As for the five one-dayers, Manish Pandey will lead India A. The tour begins July 11, nearly a month after India A host Sri Lanka A in Belgaum and Hubli.

The opening positions in the 50-over format will be a toss-up between Shaw, Agarwal and Gill, the latter having recently been named the emerging player in 2019 Indian Premier League. The middle-order will be populated by the likes of Iyer, Vihari, Pandey and Pant, who's also the designated wicketkeeper, while the all-rounders include Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Krunal Pandya.

Rahul Chahar is the specialist spin bowler while Deepak Chahar, Saini, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh form the pace quartet.

India A squad for five one-day matches: Manish Pandey (c), Prithvi Shaw, Mayank

Wriddhiman Saha's last first-class appearance was during the Test series against South Africa in January 2018

Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishab Pant (wk), Rahul Chahar, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan India A squad for 1st & 2nd four-day matches:Shreyas Iyer (c), Priyank Panchal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari, Shivam Dube, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), KS Bharat (wk), K Gowtham, S Nadeem, Mayank Markande, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan India A squad for 3rd four-day match:Shreyas Iyer (c), Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Shivam Dube, Mayank Markande, K Gowtham, Shahbaz Nadeem, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan (Cricbuzz)

Ince-Carvalhal, Alphonso draw 1st blood in National Juniors Unstable Venezuela situation impacts T&T’s Gold Cup preparations

Keen competition is expected in the female division of the 2019 edition of the tournament

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he Woodpecker Products 2019 National Junior Squash Tournament served off Monday evening and saw the likes of Michael Alphonso, Samuel Ince-Carvalhal, Nicholas Verwey and Mohryan Baksh registering wins.

It was just another day at the office for the usual front runners as they made light work of their opponents on the opening night of the National Juniors.

Ince-Carvalhal began what he is hoping would be a clean streak in the Tournament’s Under-17 category by upstaging Gianni Carpenter 11-9, 11-2, 113.

Over in the boys’ U-15 category, Alphonso gave his category mates something to watch as he dispatched Demetrius De Abreu easily, 11-2, 11-2, 11-3.

Also, in the U-15s, Verwey made his bid for the title after he met Zack Persaud.

The encounter went Verwey’s way without much contest by Persaud 11-1, 11-2, 11-2.

Joshua Verwey and Louis DaSilva both shone brightly in the boys’ Under-13 division as they picked up three wins each on opening night.

Earlier in the evening, Baksh was the first player to taste victory. First, he had his way with Chad De Abreu in an 11-0, 11-2, 11-0 encounter. Next, he dismantled Shiloh Asregado (11-2, 11-3, 11-1), who put up a little more fight than his first opponent.

The Woodpecker Products National Junior Tournament will see 24 young and promising players participating this year.

The competitors will vie for titles in the Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 boys’ and girls’ categories.

The games will continue every week night from 18:00h.

An opponent of the Nicolás Maduro Government waits for the arrival of Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó to lead a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 11, 2019

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power struggle for leadership of Venezuela that threatens to further destabilize the country has impacted the Gold Cup preparations of Trinidad and Tobago.

T&T were to have played in a friendly against the rising South American footballing power in a friendly on May 29 in Caracas that would have served as part of the twin-island republic’s preparation for the June 15 July 7 CONCACAF flagship

event.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó on April 30 had led a failed military uprising in a bid to oust Nicolás Maduro.

On Saturday Guaidó said he’s instructed his political envoy in Washington to immediately open relations with the U.S. military in a bid to bring more pressure on President Maduro to resign.

A once-wealthy oil nation, Venezuela has sunk into economic and social col-

lapse marked by soaring inflation and a scarcity of basic goods that has sent an estimated 3.7 million of its citizens to emigrate.

Fortunately for the Soca Warriors, the game was just one of two friendlies, with the integrity of a game against Japan in Osaka on June 5 still intact.

Trinidad and Tobago are in Group D of the Gold Cup’s preliminary round and take on Panama first up, before the United States and firsttime qualifiers, Guyana.

(Sportsmax)

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23

FIFA Development Conference in Guyana…

Sessions to focus on Regional Schools’ Football

By Jemima Holmes

of-the-art sporting facilities to make the point that player development needed to start at a young age. In he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will the same breath, the Minister disclosed that he looked be surrounded by the prestige of over 50 forward to stronger ties with FIFA. Confederation of North, Central American and “We have recognised the need to start preparing our Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF); Caribbean young players from an early age. As such, your decision Football Union (CFU) and Fédération Internationale de to focus this Conference on the implementation of a Football Association (FIFA) officials as they take up the comprehensive regional schools’ football programme mantle of hosting the FIFA Development Conference. is most timely and very much welcomed,” he said.

The two-day event was officially opened on Tuesday After presenting the Minister with a token from morning at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown FIFA, Member Associations and Development Director in the presence of Social Cohesion Minister with Veron Mosgengo-Omba shed some light on the responsibility for sport, Dr George Norton, and got purpose of the Conference while highlighting the underway immediately after. importance of continued development.

The Conference will see the delegates from the “We all know that development means the Caribbean and the wider world discussing how the future, the FIFA Development programme Forward is beloved sport can be further developed. A large essential for the future of our game. One of the main portion of the Conference will surround educating the ingredients in development is a project, so how to turn Member Association representatives on how to go our dreams into reality are projects. The agenda of this about planning and executing successful projects.

Conference will address all of this, it will be focused …

In his welcoming remarks, GFF President Wayne that will allow us to better plan and manage projects,” Forde expressed the need for a productive two days.

Mosgengo-Omba revealed.

“I just want to wish us all a productive and positive FIFA Development Director Veron Mosgengo-Omba presents Social Cohesion Minister with Tuesday’s agenda included multiple project responsibility for sport, Dr George Norton with a token in the presence of GFF President couple of days of deliberation. I know that for my Wayne Forde planning management sessions, discussions on the colleagues, the Presidents of various Football Member social dimensions of football and how the game can “I am most pleased with FIFA’s decision to host this Conference Associations, there’re more football experts outside of your foster local development and youth empowerment. federation than yourself and it’s something that we’ve become used on development here in Guyana. Football is a beloved national With the focus on football in schools, the FIFA Conference will be to. Unfortunately, the task falls to us to make the decisions that will sport and over the years, it has seen much progress here in Guyana graced by the presence of Education Minister Nicolette Henry today. change the game and improve the livelihood of the players under with the assistance of FIFA and the dedication of local organisations Also on the agenda, for the final day of the Conference is the and players. FIFA’s decision to host this Conference on these shores our care,” Forde stated. presentation of development projects by the Guyanese contingent Citing Guyana’s slow but steady improvements in the football is a clear indication of its confidence in this land of many waters,” which are expected to include the proposition of a regional schools’ arena such as their CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification, Dr Norton the Minister said. football tournament for the Caribbean nations. Additionally, Dr Norton went on to reference the recently-commissioned FIFA praised FIFA for selecting Guyana as their destination, noting that it the delegates will conclude their project planning management Forward project pitch at Providence and construction of other statewas the perfect place for development. sessions.

T

RHTY&SC, DTV-8 host successful Tribute to Mothers Programme

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he 10 cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) for the 13th consecutive year joined hands with long-term partner Daves Television Station to host the Annual RHTY&SC/DTV-8 Berbice Mother of the Year Award Ceremony.

Three outstanding mothers – Kamaldai Panday, Canesha Mc Kenzie and Indira Indarsingh – were honoured as Mothers of the Year for being outstanding role model parents and mentors to their children.

Club Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster stated that DTV-8 and RHTY&SC have hosted the popular award programme since 2007, with dozens of outstanding mothers being honoured. The main objectives of the award are to recognise the contribution of outstanding mothers, to highlight role model mothers for younger mothers to emulate and to promote the importance of motherhood.

Foster stated that motherhood was the most important job in the world, as it was no simple task to conceive a child, carry it within your body for nine months at great health risk and then nurture it to become an adult.

The bond between a mother and her children is unbreakable. Mothers, Foster noted, are God’s representatives on earth and he praised the three mothers for being outstanding parents. In today’s modern world with so many distractions such as

social media, it is very difficult to be a parent.

The RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO urged the parents to share their experiences with the younger generation of mothers. One of the main problems in Berbice today, he stated, is that teenagers are making children and most of them are not paying attention like the older generation of parents.

He decried the lack of involvement of grandmothers in the development of children, unlike the past when grandparents were actively involved in the day-to-day development of their grandchildren. Foster hailed the contribution of his mother Claudette and grandmother Josephine, who were the main reasons why he and his brothers were so successful because they made sure that the three brothers understood the importance of hard work, education and faith in God. He urged the parents to preach a daily gospel of personal discipline, and importance of education and family unity to their children and urged the attentive children to always respect and cherish their mothers.

DTV-8 Managing Director Anita Rambarran noted that the television station was proud to once again work along with the RHTY&SC to honour mothers in Berbice. DTV-8, popularly known as the Family Station, was dedicated to the development of families across Berbice and would continue to work along with the

The three outstanding mothers, their children, and RHTY&SC and DTV-8 officials after the presentation

Sports Club in the future, Rambarran stated.

Each of the awardees received a trophy, medal, framed certificate and a special gift from the Club. The winners were chosen after children across Berbice were encouraged to submit an essay on the Topic: “Why I love my Mother”. The 10 cricket teams of the RHTY&SC are Poonai Pharmacy Under-12

and Under-13, Farfan & Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Female, Gizmos & Gadgets Under-21 and First Division. The teams also provided snacks and refreshments to pensioners as they waited to uplift their monthly pension at the Rose Hall Town Post Office.

wednesday, MAY 15, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

FIFA Development Conference in Guyana…

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