Guyana Times Wednesday May 22, 2019

CXC to consider P petition for Mathematics re-sit following breaches 10

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 3931

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESday, may 22, 2019

Baby found dead in tub guyanatimesgy.com

Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

P10 Gunmen gagged, bound Bartica businesswoman during robbery …escape with $1.2M in cash, jewellery

…as 15-year-old mother slept

Murder suspect gunned down Page 7

Guyanese P10 killed after motorcycle slams into NYC garbage truck

Operator P8 charged for attempting to kill dredge GM People’s Progressive Party/Civic Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali visited Region One (Barima-Waini), on Tuesday, where he met with residents of several communities.

In photo, Ali addresses residents of Haimara Creek

Page 2 British High Water woes Commission holds Page 2 persist for off on further Hubu residents collaboration with SOCU

No need for house-to-house registration

GECOM’s legal opinion being pushed aside

…as Govt Commissioners display reluctance to update old voters’ list …Chairman saw legal opinion before list expired Page 9 …Commissioner describes opinion as “water under bridge”

Prisoners P10 charged for assaulting each other

Soldiers held P4 hostage, villagers killed: The untold story of Venezuelan aid violence

2 News British High Commission holds off on further collaboration with SOCU wednesday, may 22, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

T

he British Government is currently awaiting the outcome of the recent probe conducted into allegations of fraud at the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) before determining the way forward in terms of collaborating with the agency.

This is according to British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, who told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Tuesday that while they are reviewing relations with SOCU internally, his Government is still willing to continue its relations with the Unit.

“We’ve been assist-

ing SOCU from the inception so there is certainly an expectation that we would get requests to continue to work with SOCU and I wouldn’t rule out that. We would continue to work with SOCU going forward,” he stated.

However, High Commissioner Quinn outlined the importance of SOCU operating within the confines of what it was created to do. This, he noted, has been the goal of all the assistance the country has been providing to the investigative body, which has now been slapped with damning fraud allegations.

“We’ll certainly consider any requests going for-

ward… But there is also the question of the current investigation that’s going on in SOCU and we’d want to be sure of the outcome of that because, fundamentally and ultimately, whatever we want to be done, we want to do with an organisation that’s operat-

ing the way it should be,” he stated.

The British envoy went on to note, however, they are at the stage where they are trying to figure out what might be feasible going forward given the fact that this is the last term for the exist-

ing programme which former UK Advisor, Dr Sam Sittlington, was on.

Dr Sittlington, who was fired by the UK Government back in January over a private fraud company he had set up here, was brought as an advisor to SOCU on a three-year contract.

The fraud expert’s tenure in Guyana would have been up in March 2020 and according to High Commissioner Quinn, there was never any intention of extending or continuing that programme.

However, the British diplomat told Guyana Times, when asked, that now that circumstanc-

es have changed and the work is undone, then there is a possibility that his Government can start a new programme with a new expert but this, he insists, will depend on the outcome of the current fraud probe at SOCU. “So we are still at the stage where we’re trying to figure out what might be feasible given the fact that we are already nearly three months into what might have been the last year of the contract anyway. So we have to figure out whether by the time we have someone trained up, selected and ready (to take over) how TURN TO PAGE 3

Water woes persist for Hubu residents

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The condition of the water residents are forced to utilise

ays after the well station at Hubu, Region Three was recommissioned, residents are still fuming over the poor quality of the water supply.

The water, which emits a foul odor and is severely discoloured, cannot be used for cooking, washing, bathing, drinking or cleaning purposes.

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), at the recommissioning of the station just last week on May 16, promised that a water treatment plant will be installed within 14 days.

But the residents are de-

manding some form of relief now, as they cannot survive for two weeks without proper water.

“The water is no good.

Why did the commission the well when it is of no use?” asked Devi Singh, a resident of the farming community.

“Why didn’t they wait the two weeks and then commission the well,” she posited, expressing skepticism about the utility company’s commitment to address the issue in the timeframe.

Hubu was connected to the Vergenoegen Pump Station and were receiving potable water.

However, some time in 2015, they were switched over to the Hubu Station.

But the situation was dire, as they were receiving the untreated and muddy water.

The Guyana Times had reported on the issue, prompting GWI to intervene.

The community was eventually switched back to the Vergenoegen Pump Station, up until last week, when the Hubu Well was recommissioned. GWI had pumped some $2M to improve the facility.

“But the water would be

like complete trench water.

Brown and muddy,” Singh explained.

She challenged GWI’s Managing Director, Dr Richard Van West-Charles to live at least one day with only that source of water.

Singh, who is representing the views of the community, explained that not many residents can afford alternative means of water, such as black tanks to store rain water.

As such, they are forced to used the filthy water – which can pose health risks.

Komal Narine, one of the village leaders, reached out

to this publication to vent about the situation. He reminded that this situation is not new for the residents of Hubu, as they have been fighting for better water for years.

He recalled the relief which was provided to the community after the Guyana Times reported on the issue, but he lamented that the solution was shortlived.

Narine also contended that GWI should have left the community connected to the Vergenoegen Pump Station until the Hubu Station was fully completed.

news

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WEDNESday, may 22, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, May 22 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, May 23 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, May 22 – 06:20h-07:50h and Thursday, May 23 – 06:50h-08:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Early morning thundery showers will give way to light rain showers, with light cloudy skies expected in the afternoon. Light rain showers will prevail in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 06:21h and 18:50h reaching maximum heights of 2.62 metres and 2.42 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:24h and 12:34h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 metre and 0.84 metre respectively.

Baby found dead in tub …as 15-year-old mother slept

A

nine-month-old baby was found death in a wash tub at Looknaut Street, D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice, after he was left unattended as his teen mother slept.

Dead is Trevor Albert of Lot 14 Looknaut Street, D’Edward Village.

Reports are the toddle reportedly crept to the bathroom which is situated outside the house and fell into the tub of clothes.

The child’s body was found by his grandmother, Surojdai Trim, called “Navita”.

According to the grandmother, she left the 15-yearold mother and her child in the lower flat and went to take a nap.

According to the grandmother, her daughter was lying in a chair and the child was playing on the floor. She related that about 30 minutes later, she awoke and saw her daughter asleep but did not see her grandchild.

The tub in which the child’s body was found

Dead: Trevor Albert

“He does move all over.

You put him in his walker, he don’t want to say in the walker, he does move right away around. When I go outside and turn I saw the bathroom door open so right away I get weak,” the grandmother related. She said as she peered into the bathroom, she saw her grandson’s body in the tub.

British High Commission...

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much time they might actually have left to do some work within SOCU… But it might actually be easier for us to look at a future programme and future series of activities separate from what (already) we have here,” High Commissioner Quinn pointed out.

SOCU, the orgainsation that is supposed to be investigating fraud, has found itself under scrutiny in recent months after allegations of fraud were levelled against the agency, which falls under the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The audit that was conducted by the Police Force had unearthed irregularities that included falsified records and missing documents.

According to reports, there was even a case of an official who alleged his signature was forged. In addition, there are reports of listed expenditure being concocted and receipts being backdated.

Last week, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan told media operatives that the file of the fraud probe has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice. The Minister had noted that there is a possibility that criminal charges may be filed against officers found culpable.

According to Ramjattan, the audit into SOCU made some damning allegations and legal advice will be needed on how to proceed.

“It is not a nice report. It had some damning allegations. But these are operational matters now, the implementation of the recommendations is in the hands of the (Police) Commissioner. I understand the Commissioner, because of the damning nature of the allegations, has decided to take it to the DPP’s Chambers and the legal advisers. That will take some time,” Ramjattan had stated.

The Public Security Minister had noted that even a restructuring of the Unit is not on the table, adding that fixing SOCU requires that the recommendations from the

fraud probe be followed.

According to Ramjattan, they have not sat down with Sydney James to have him defend his Unit against the findings of the auditors.

Despite this however, the parliamentary Opposition People’s Progressive Party had called for the shutting down of the Unit in light of these allegations. But Ramjattan does not believe the now tainted integrity of the Unit will affect the many cases pending, most of which are against officials of the former PPP Administration.

The PPP had long accused the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition of using SOCU as part of a witching hunting exercise against former Government officials.

“I pull him out and start to shake him up and do everything that I know,” the grieving grandmother related. She said she raised an alarm and her daughter woke up and a neighbour rushed over to help.

Trim said she was advised to put the child down and call the Police.

“They tell me that the child dead, don’t do anything,” she related.

Guyana Times was told that the Police arrived sev-

eral minutes later and the baby was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, the 15-yearold mother related that she had no knowledge of what transpired since she fell asleep.

The baby’s 18-year-old father lives a few villages away and broke down in tears when he received the news that his child had died.

Police are investigating the matter.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wedneSday, may 22, 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

Special interest in minibus operations?

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uch has been said before in this space regarding the minibus code of conduct and the expectations for a much-desired improvement in the service provided.

From all appearances, this well-intended initiative has made little or no positive impact on the overall operations. If the intention was just for a focus group then it’s possible some gains may have been made. That said, commuters would guage impact based upon visible improvements, which sad to say, are still to be forthcoming.

The implementation of the code of conduct is never going to be easy, given what has unfortunately become an engrained culture of disrespect for traffic laws and scant regard for passengers’ welfare by many operators. Numerous complaints have been made in the past about harassment of passengers by touts and a few weeks ago, the Police took action and effected many arrests.

While that is welcomed and commendable, it has been long overdue prompting the obvious question; why wasn’t it done earlier and sustained? Not only have commuters pleaded for such Police intervention over time, but there are reports of some operators, who refused to engage the “services” of the touts, being abused and left to languish in their wait for passengers.

Touts, who have no investments in the minibuses, demand a sum that they fix from operators to solicit passengers. In the ensuing competition among them, many passengers, including senior citizens, are tugged back and forth at the various parks. It becomes a nightmare for commuters as all helplessly watch the ill-mannered touts continue their daily reprehensible routine.

It therefore becomes imperative that the Police sustain their crackdown to curb the menace of the touts. Similarly, they must also provide adequate and constant support to those who are working assiduously to implement the code of conduct. The goal is for commuters to be free from harassment in their travel which can possible see the implementation of a monitored turn-system of loading, as in the speedboat operation. Passengers with a personal choice of bus, wait at their own convenience.

This goal is not without challenges. In almost every bus park, there are drivers who adhere to what may exist as a line/ turn system of loading. However, there are others operating “special buses”, with no regard for such order and blatantly use selected space to load which generally conflicts with traffic laws.

Indivertibly, it leads to an extension in the waiting time by those in the line.

This concern has been raised over time with very sporadic intervention seemingly just to appease for a particular moment.

Aggrieved operators have alleged that a high number of the “special buses” are owned by influential persons of which many are from the Police Force. If true, it would probably explain the glaring lack of interest for meaningful intervention as allegations have been levelled against the Police of turning a blind eye; not just to that, but to overloading, loud music, breach of road licence to name a few.

This is where a more holistic approach for improvement in the service becomes difficult unless all operators are treated equally. Some operators indicated that all can benefit and achieve their daily targets without the harassment and frustration if a systematic approach to loading is implemented and to which all must abide. However, abiding seems extremely difficult for some operators who fragrantly refuse to respect traffic laws and their road service licences.

From all understanding, the road service demarks the various routes through specific streets as in the City and roadways for other areas. The reality is that unauthorised streets, even through some villages, are used daily and recklessly by some operators in an effort to avoid traffic lights and to race ahead of others.

The official routes have been designed and agreed for a particular purpose which took safety into consideration. A lack of adherence poses tremendous dangers to residents, including children. It also adds to congestion and heightens risk for other users. In addition, undertaking and cutting abruptly into traffic now appears a legal aspect of driving.

Adding to frustration is that many of these incidents occur in the presence of the Police who cannot claim to be oblivious of this daily practice. If they were to crack down on the use of unauthorised streets and roadways and ensure defaulters feel the brunt of the law, there is a good chance this menace will be curbed. The same for undertaking especially at the approaches of traffic lights. Not too long ago, a minibus toppled and passengers injured as it reportedly tried to undertake, hitting in the process a concrete curb at Diamond.

While the Police can cite challenges in their human resources, there can be no excuse for turning a blind eye when a violation occurs in their presence. Such action, or lack thereof, will only serve to give credence to special and vested interest on their part in the context of the ownership of buses, if not directly; for a colleague. Such scenarios would likely spell doom for the code of conduct. Given the reality, self-interest seems to be taking priority.

Residents of Ezbet Hamada in Cairo’s Mataria district gather to eat Iftar, the meal to end their fast at sunset, during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Cairo, Egypt (Reuters/Mohamed Abd El Ghany)

Soldiers held hostage, villagers killed: The untold story of Venezuelan aid violence

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t dawn on February 22, as Venezuela’s opposition was preparing to bring humanitarian aid into the country, a convoy of military vehicles drove into the indigenous village of Kumarakapay on its way to the Brazilian border. Members of the Pemon community, a tribe whose territory includes the road to Brazil, wanted to keep the border open to ensure the aid got through despite President Nicolas Maduro commanding the military to block it.

Before dawn, the villagers had ordered military vehicles headed toward the border to turn around, citing the tribe’s constitutionally guaranteed autonomy over their territory.

But the army convoy that arrived at dawn was moving quickly and the tribesman were only able to stop the last of the four vehicles - a Jeep carrying four National Guard officials, who told the villagers they were working on a mining project.

Believing the officers were on their way to block the aid, several villagers pulled them from the vehicle, seized their weapons and detained them, according to interviews with 15 villagers.

Some of the other soldiers, who had stopped several hundred meters ahead, got out of their vehicles with weapons in hand and approached. Shouting broke out and one of the soldiers fired a shot downward onto the road, according to the villagers and a cellphone video seen by Reuters that was filmed by a resident.

The remaining soldiers began firing repeatedly in the direction of the village as they ran back toward their vehicles, according to witnesses and the video.

The shooting would leave dozens of villagers wounded and three villagers dead, an unusually bloody confrontation between Venezuelan troops and indigenous people.

The incident itself was widely reported on the day it took place but has drawn little scrutiny until Reuters examined it.

The repercussions included the arrest of 23 Pemon tribesmen, some of whom say they were beaten in custody. Pemon villagers also held more than 40 members of the military hostage, some of whom suffered severe bites after being left half-naked atop ant nests in retribution for the killings, according to interviews with Pemon tribe members.

The incidents are a stark illustration of how Venezuela’s economic and political crises have undermined the once-close relationship between impoverished

A crashed car is seen at the scene where Venezuelan soldiers opened fire on Indigenous people near the border with Brazil, according to community members, in Kumarakapay, Venezuela (Reuters/William Urdaneta/file photo)

indigenous communities and a socialist movement launched two decades ago by Maduro’s predecessor, president Hugo Chavez, which had promised to help them.

“We couldn’t understand the attitude of Maduro’s regime of using arms against indigenous people,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, brother of Zoraida Rodriguez, one of the people killed in Kumarakapay.

Rodriguez now lives in the Brazilian border town of Pacaraima after fleeing the violence in late February. He is one of nearly 1,000 members of the Pemon tribe who crossed into Brazil, many on foot, according to the Brazil office of the International Organization for Migration.

They now live in wooden huts they built themselves or camped under canvas donated by the United Nations refugee commission.

The incident followed recent tensions in southern Venezuela between military officers and Pemon tribesmen involved in informal gold mining operations.

The Pemon complain of extortion and shakedowns by troops.

The National Guard, the information ministry - which handles media enquiries for the Venezuelan government - and the defense ministry did not respond to requests for this story.

However, Maduro’s government has in the past denied mistreatment of the Pemon. It says the Pemon, who live in southern Venezuela and northern Brazil and number about 30,000 in total, have benefited from state resources and increased autonomy.

The government has not commented on the extortion accusations, but Maduro in recent years has said that opposition leaders are involved in gold “mafias.”

Bolivar state governor Justo Noguera of the ruling Socialist Party in a March interview with Reuters blamed the violence on armed members of the Pemon tribe, without presenting evi-

dence. He added that the incident is under investigation.

“Unfortunately, there were terrorist acts. They attacked a unit of our Bolivarian Army that was only carrying communications equipment,” said Noguera. “There were elements within the peaceful community of Kumarakapay that were armed, and the community rejects that.”

Opposition leader Juan Guaido, who invoked the constitution in January to assume an interim presidency, led the attempt to bring US-backed aid convoys across Venezuela’s borders in an effort to shame Maduro for refusing to accept foreign aid despite shortages of food and basic goods.

Maduro said the aid effort was a disguised invasion by Washington. He said the Trump administration should have lifted economic and oil industry sanctions if it really wanted to help Venezuelans.

The tribal leaders of Kumarakapay were the first of the main Pemon communities in the area to openly support the aid plan.

When residents learned of the killings in Kumarakapay on February 22, a group of them beat the four members of the National Guard held hostage that morning, according to two villagers who witnessed the events.

That same day, a group of around 10 Pemon tribesmen from the village of Maurak detained 42 members of the National Guard at a small airport in the town of Santa Elena, about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the border with Brazil and 75 kilometers (47 miles) south of Kumarakapay, according to one Pemon tribal leader.

They drove the troops to a small farm at the edge of the jungle and ordered them to sit on top of fire ant hills, said a second tribal leader, who also asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak on behalf of the tribe.

Bites by fire ants can be

painful and are known to cause blisters severe enough to warrant hospital attention.

Some of the troops were tied up and beaten, one of the leaders said, noting that some Pemon members had objected to their detention and to the violence against them.

“Everything was out of control,” he said.

A second leader, who also asked not to be identified, said that during the detention villagers put hot peppers in the troops’ mouths and on their genitals.

The Pemon chieftain’s council did not respond to requests for comment.

The following day, on February 23, residents of Kumarakapay sought to block another group of military vehicles from reaching the border.

Four village residents brought in General Jose Montoya, the National Guard commander for Bolivar state, to help convince the military convoys not to go to the border.

However, National Guard troops handcuffed the four Pemon, covered their faces with masks and pushed them into police vehicles, according to resident Aldemaro Perez. Montoya was detained at the same time and all five were taken to an army base called Escamoto.

“So you Pemon tribesmen think you’re tough? You’re going to die here,” Perez recalls one police officer shouting.

Perez, 35, a community leader in Kumarakapay, did not identify any specific policemen or soldiers involved in his detention. Details of his account were confirmed to Reuters by three other detained Pemon tribesmen and a representative of civil rights group Penal Forum, who also said they were unable to identify the specific individuals or military units involved.

Noguera, the Bolivar state governor, denied the detained men were beaten in custody.

Reuters was unable to determine why the National Guard used police vehicles to transport detainees to the army base, nor why they detained Montoya - who was stripped of his post in a resolution published days later in the Official Gazette. The resolution did not say the reasons for his dismissal.

Reuters was unable to obtain comment from Montoya or determine his whereabouts.

A regional military command center operating in Bolivar state and the interior ministry, which oversees the National Police, did not respond to requests for comment. (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, may 22, 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

Harold Hoyte supported free and fair elections in Guyana

Dear Editor, The publisher of the Barbados Nation newspaper, Harold Hoyte, passed away a week ago. Mr Hoyte will be long remembered for championing freedom of the press, for which he received widespread accolades. But he also supported democratic governance in Guyana during the critical period of authoritarian rule (1966 to 1992).

I spoke with Harold Hoyte on the phone (from New York) several times during the period of the struggle against the dictatorships led by the tyrannical Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte. From New York, I was closely affiliated with the struggle against the fascist, racist Burnham dic-

tatorship and was charged, along with Dr Baytoram Ramharack, with the task of public relations, reaching out to media people and support groups across the Caribbean region, Canada, and the UK. Harold Hoyte and I also spoke on a few occasions after the restoration of democracy in Guyana in 1992. Pieces of mine were published in the Nation relating to Guyana.

I came to know of Harold Hoyte (who has no relationship with the dictator Desmond Hoyte) through the Black nationalist Contrast newspaper in Toronto, for which he was a writer. When he returned to Barbados, he started a paper that catered to all nationalities. Although a

Black nationalist, Harold did not seek to oppress or marginalise other ethnic groups, as currently happens in State media in Guyana, and he provided media space for responses to letters critiquing articles and viewpoints. Mine was published.

I am most grateful for Harold’s support to help end ethnic supremacist rule in Guyana during the Burnham/Hoyte dictatorships and the struggle for democratic governance.

Harold developed the courage to call a spade a spade unlike other media stalwarts in the region. He knew Burnham, Hoyte, and others rigged elections, and he called them riggers. He recognised that Burnham

and Hoyte were oppressors and persecutors, and he boldly referred to them as such. He held Burnham responsible for the murder of Dr Walter Rodney.

Few other media outlets in the Caribbean region gave support to the Guyanese people’s struggle against the dictatorship. Like other democratic loving media personnel, he courageously called for an end to food ban that denied ethnic groups access to their cultural diets and religious paraphernalia in Guyana. He also called for the restoration of democratic governance in the country.

Harold Hoyte was enamoured with the persistence and long years of struggle of Dr Cheddi Jagan for free

and fair elections in Guyana and for championing workers’ rights. Jagan was overthrown by the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1964 and kept out of office in Guyana by the US and Britain (in favour of the opportunistic Forbes Burnham) because of Jagan’s communist ideology that hurt his supporters.

Had Jagan abandoned communism, the US and UK would have restored democratic rule and free and fair elections decades earlier.

Eventually, when communism collapsed in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1990, the US forced the Hoyte dictatorship to restore democratic governance in Guyana. Jagan was allowed

to return to office in relatively free and fair elections, after mellowing and embracing capitalist economics in line with the perestroika model promoted by Mikhail Gorbachev. Harold saluted Jagan’s victory.

Harold also tried to bring the region closer together and was critical of the policy of his country that unfairly targeted (and maligned) Guyanese migrants who were fleeing the oppression of Burnham/Hoyte dictatorships and the economic difficulties experienced by that country in subsequent years.

The Guyanese people are indebted to Harold Hoyte.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram (PhD)

Build stakeholders’ collaboration to tackle domestic violence Dear Editor, In response to the domestic violence crisis, The Caribbean Voice beseeches and implores the Government to urgently organise a stakeholders’ focus group to come up with a coherent and concerted action plan for immediate implementation.

By stakeholders we mean organisations that are currently directly involved in gender-based activism – not those who say they are but do nothing, not those who talk, talk and talk but do nothing else and not those who engage in photo ops and pageantry but no concrete action. We also urge that politics be taken out of the equation and that only the passionate and committed, who already give of their time and efforts, be involved.

Consultants are not needed because there is absolutely nothing to consult on. Contractors are

not needed because there is nothing to contract out. And consultations are not needed because everyone is aware of the harsh realities on the ground.

In short, bring together all those who are already striving to address the issue, build a plan that is practical and doable and implement it across Guyana, with Government and the Private Sector providing the financial and logistical resources.

Provide the requisite training, develop and deploy signposting, create gatekeepers/first responders in every community, map a network of counsellors nationwide that can almost be immediately available to jump in and help, provide capacity to shelters and safe houses to be able to handle intake, and enhance and nationally extend the victims assistance plan that already exists through the Social Protection Ministry.

Establish trained do-

mestic violence units in every police station with the ability for quick responses and the skillsets to know what to do and how to do it with priority on victims’ safety. Establish strident efforts to ensure that police do not allow themselves to be influenced to dismiss reports, belittle victims, engage in casual investigations that destroy cases and ignore any and every sign that clearly points to abuse and potential for femicide.

Give teeth to the requisite legislation and protection orders, sensitise victims to the concept of safety first, last and always, follow through on all reports taking cognisance that victims will often withdraw complaints or refuse to testify because of threats to self, children and family, economic dependence on abusers and ‘because of the children’. The judiciary system must be advised to maximise all sentencing and con-

victed abusers must be mandated to periodically report to Police after serving their sentences.

Additionally, all convicted abusers should be publicly listed along with their photos in a registry that would be easily accessible.

There are those who would academically argue about rights of abusers but completely ignore the rights of victims and the potential for abuse to be repeated. Furthermore, they completely ignore the fact that there is a mountain of literature and lived experiences that clearly say that every abuser is a potential murderer.

In effect, what to do is very clear. Now, instead of verbiage and rhetoric from officialdom and wastage of resources in piecemeal, ad hoc, infrequent and ineffective action, the political fortitude needs to be displayed to build a network of activism, nationally armed with

skillsets and resources to handle this crisis, through stakeholders’ collaboration.

The Caribbean Voice stands ready to be part of such a process and, in fact, to assist

from the inception with realising the stakeholders’ focus group.

Dear Editor, In March, I wrote to point out that the traffic lights controlling the junction of the Rupert Craig Highway and Sheriff Street were not working. These lights are still not working.

In response to my letter, a section of the media invited a comment from Chief Works Officer, Mr Geoffrey Vaughn, who said that these lights would be replaced within a few weeks. More than two months have elapsed since then.

I also referred to the fact that the traffic lights con-

trolling the junction of the Ogle Airport Road and the Railway Embankment Road have been left permanently flashing even at peak traffic hours.

Both of these situations are extremely dangerous but, it seems, continue to be ignored in spite of Mr Vaughn’s promises. When, may I ask, will the Public Infrastructure Ministry have these lights operational or do we have to wait for someone to be seriously maimed or killed?

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

Traffic lights are still not working

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

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WEDNESday, may 22, 2019

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Foundation O

“D

id you wash your hands?”

How many times did you hear that today?

Probably a lot. But why are adults so hung up on hand washing? Why are they so in love with lather?

Washing your hands is the best way to stop germs from spreading.

Think about all of the things that you touched today – from the telephone to the toilet. Maybe you blew your nose in a tissue and then went outside to dig around the dirt.

Whatever you did today, you came into contact with germs.

It’s easy for a germ on your hand to end up in your mouth.

Think about how many foods you eat with your hands.

You can’t wear rubber gloves all day long, but you can wash your hands so those germs don’t

get a chance to make The next time you or someone else you’re told to step up sick. to the sink and scrub up, remember these So when are handy hints: the best times Use warm or cold to wash your (not hot) water when hands? you wash your hands. when your Use whatever soap hands are dirty you like. Some soaps before eating or come in cool shapes touching food and colors or smell nice, (like if you’re but whatever kind gets helping cook you scrubbing is the or bake, for kind you should use. example) Antibacterial soaps are after using the OK to use, but regular bathroom soap works fine. after blowing Work up some your nose or lather on both sides of coughing your hands (front and after touching back!), your wrists, and pets or other between your fingers. animals Don’t forget to wash after playing around your nails. This outside is one place germs before and after like to hide. Wash for visiting a sick about 10 to 15 seconds relative or friend – about how long it takes to sing “Happy Birthday.” (Sing it Now you have the quickly two times or when and the why of just once if you go nice hand washing. But did and slow.) you know that a lot Rinse and dry well of people don’t know with a clean towel. how to get their paws perfectly clean? (kidshealth.

org)

ur bodies are pretty amazing. Day after day, they work hard – digesting food, pumping blood and oxygen, sending signals from our brains and much more.

But there is a group of tiny invaders that can make our bodies sick – they’re called germs.

Some kids may think that germs are bugs or cooties or other gross stuff. Actually, germs are tiny organisms, or living things, that can cause disease. Germs are so small and sneaky that they creep into our bodies without being noticed. In fact, germs are so tiny that you need to use a microscope to see them. When they get in our bodies, we don’t know what hit us until we have symptoms that say we’ve been attacked!

What types of germs are there?

Germs are found all over the world, in all kinds of places. The four major types of germs are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. They can invade plants, animals, and people, and sometimes they can make us sick.

Bacteria (say: BAK-teeree-uh) are tiny, one-celled creatures that get nutrients from their environments in order to live. In some cases that environment is a human body. Bacteria can reproduce outside of the body or within the body as they cause infections. Some infections that bacteria can cause include ear infections, sore throats (tonsillitis or strep throat),

cavities, and pneumonia (say: new-MO-nyuh).

But not all bacteria are bad. Some bacteria are good for our bodies — they help keep things in balance. Good bacteria live in our intestines and help us use the nutrients in the food we eat and make waste from what’s left over. We couldn’t make the most of a healthy meal without these important helper germs! Some bacteria are also used by scientists in labs to produce medicines and vaccines (say: VAK-seens).

Viruses (say: VY-rus-iz) need to be inside living cells to grow and reproduce. Most viruses can’t survive very long if they’re not inside a living thing like a plant, animal, or person. Whatever a virus lives in is called its host. When viruses get inside people’s bodies, they can spread and make people sick. Viruses cause chickenpox, measles, flu, and many other diseases. Because some viruses can live for a short time on something like a doorknob or countertop, be sure to wash your hands regularly!

Fungi (say: FUN-guy) are multi-celled (made of many cells), plant-like organisms.

Unlike other plants, fungi cannot make their own food from soil, water, and air. Instead, fungi get their nutrition from plants, people, and animals.

They love to live in damp, warm places, and many fungi are not dangerous in healthy people. An example of something caused by fungi is athlete’s foot, that itchy rash that teens and adults sometimes get between their toes.

Protozoa (say: pro-tohZOH-uh) are one-cell organisms that love moisture and often spread diseases through water. Some protozoa cause intestinal infections that lead to diarrhea, nausea, and belly pain.

What do germs do?

Once germs invade our bodies, they snuggle in for a long stay. They gobble up nutrients and energy, and can produce toxins (say: TOKsinz), which are proteins that act like poisons. Those toxins can cause symptoms of common infections, like fevers, sniffles, rashes, coughing, vomiting, and diarrhea.

How do doctors figure out what germs are doing?

They take a closer look. By looking at samples of blood,

pee, and other fluids under a microscope or sending these samples to a laboratory for more tests, doctors can tell which germs are living in your body and how they are making you sick.

How can you protect yourself from germs?

Most germs are spread through the air in sneezes, coughs, or even breaths.

Germs can also spread in sweat, saliva, and blood.

Some pass from person to person by touching something that is contaminated, like shaking hands with someone who has a cold and then touching your own nose.

Steering clear of the things that can spread germs is the best way to protect yourself. And that means . .

Hand washing!

Remember the words that germs fear — soap and water. Washing your hands well and often is the best way to beat these tiny warriors.

Wash your hands every time you cough or sneeze, before you eat or prepare foods, after you use the bathroom, after you touch animals and pets, after you play outside, and after you visit a sick relative or friend.

Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze and cover your mouth when you cough to keep from spreading germs. So if you have to cough, it is best to do it in your elbow so you are not contaminating your hands.

Using tissues for your sneezes and sniffles is another great weapon against germs. But don’t just throw tissues on the floor to pick up later. Toss them in the trash and, again, wash your hands!

Another way to fight and prevent infections is to make sure you get all the routine immunisations from your doctor. No one likes to get shots but these help keep your immune system strong and prepared to battle germs. You can also keep your immune system strong and healthy by eating well, exercising regularly, and getting good sleep. All this will help you to be prepared to fight germs that cause illness.

Now that you know the facts about germs, you may still pick up a cough or a cold once in a while, but you’ll be ready to keep most of those invading germs from moving in. (kidshealth.org)

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wednesday, may 22, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

ERC probe into GECOM’s hiring practice

Commissioner urges sanctions for HR Manager, DCEO for not cooperating …suggests re-engagement of Vishnu Persaud to lend expertise

GECOM’s Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson

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uyana Elections Commissioner Sase Gunraj believes that penalties should be applied against GECOM employees, who disobeyed orders from the chairman to cooperate with the Ethnic Relations Commission during their investigation into hiring practices of the entity.

Gunraj was at the time speaking at the conclusion of a statutory meeting on Tuesday.

The ERC in its report had complained that the Human Resource Manager had stymied its investigation by not submitting documents.

The commissioner revealed that when the matter came up for discussion, GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson, claimed that at the time of the investigation he instructed his Human Resources manager to cooperate with the ERC. “I raised that issue as my primary concern arising out of that report and I was surprised to be informed by the Chairman that the statements contained in the report about

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

Former DCEO Vishnu Persaud

his failure to provide information were inaccurate because he in fact had given instructions to staff members of the commission to provide those reports.”

“I find that very disappointing to say the least… why would instructions from the Chairman, pursuant to an undertaking he gave to a constitutional body, be flagrantly disobeyed?” Gunraj questioned.

According to Gunraj, a proposal was made at the statutory meeting to have the matter escalated to the administrative and finance subcommittee of GECOM, which would deal with Human Resource matters.

“Another proposal is that we further discuss this matter at the commission level, first of all to ascertain the veracity of those positions contained in the ERC report. And thereafter, what steps are to be taken? I’m firm in my view that penalties should be attracted for failure to comply with those undertakings.”

GECOM’s hiring practices were brought under the microscope after the opposition nominated Commissioners cited the ethnic composition of the secretariat’s workforce.

The commissioners had alleged that a majority of the staff of the Commission were persons of one ethnicity.

While the ERC found that a more qualified candidate for Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Vishnu Persaud, was passed over in favor of current DCEO Roxanne Myers, it was unable to conclude ethnic bias in the decision. However, the ERC had complained that documents it requested were not provided by staff like the Human Resource Manager.

Re-engagement

Meanwhile, Gunraj suggested that Persaud by virtue of his experience in elections could be re-engaged by GECOM to assist with election preparations. According to Gunraj, Persaud is likely to be an asset to the organization.

“This has nothing to do with Mr. Persaud in person, but anyone who has had the benefit of the training and experiences of the nature that he has had, should be an asset to the commission and I believe that the commission should take into consideration how best it uses that expertise if it is made available to the commission.”

In 2018, the Elections Commission was embroiled

in controversy after it was alleged former acting Deputy Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud was overlooked for the position because of his ethnicity despite him being the top ranked candidate.

The Commission went ahead and hired the second-ranked candidate Roxanne Meyers, after GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson broke the deadlock and voted in fa-

vour of her.

Since then, there have been allegations that candidates applying for posts at GECOM were being rejected and accepted based on their ethnicity and political alignment.

After these claims were made, the ERC had met with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, where the matters were raised. The ERC also met with President David Granger at that time.

Murder suspect gunned down

Collin Hooper’s body on the dam where he was gunned down

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45-year-old man, who was wanted by the Police for murder was on Monday evening gunned down near his home at East La Penitence, Georgetown.

Dead is Collin Hooper called “Gun Youth”. Reports are Hooper was killed at about 20:30h on an East La Penitence Dam as he was walking home. The Police have since recovered six spend shells of a small caliber weapon close to the dead man’s body.

When Guyana Times visited the scene, persons in the area were all tightlipped about the shooting. However,

one person described the area as a “nest” for criminals while calling for more Police patrol in the area. The dam where the shooting took place is a stone throw away from the East La Penitence Outpost.

Meanwhile, another resident told this publication that the man killed moved in the area a few months ago. On Tuesday, Police has said that Hooper’s body was found with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Hooper’s body is at the Lyken’s Funeral home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The dead man, who was

said to be a carpenter, had several robbery charges pending before the courts and was wanted by the police for questioning in relation to the murder of 57-year-old Prince Alleyne, who was killed on High Street, Georgetown on April 16.

Alleyne, a money changer was killed in front of the Ashmins building on High Street, Georgetown.

Reports are Alleyne, who operates as a money changer on America Street, Georgetown, was parking his car, PMM 9512, at the Ashmins building on High Street when two gunmen pounced on him.

The gunmen rode up to the now dead man on a motorcycle just as he was about to exit his motorcar.

The men, according to an eyewitness, grabbed Alleyne and demanded that he hand over his valuables. However, when the victim refused and attempted to fight them off, one of the gunmen shot him to his head.

8 News

wednesday, may 22, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Labourer charged for killing biker

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labourer, who allegedly confessed to killing Patrick Matthew Fraser, also known as “White boy”, who was a biker, was on Tuesday slapped with the capital offence of murder and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Kevin Rose of Lot 1058 Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, stood before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charge stated that on May 9, 2019, at Norton Street, Bagotstown, EBD, while in the company of others, he murdered Fraser during an attempted robbery.

Remanded: Kevin Rose

The 22-year-old man was represented by Attorneyat-Law Everton Singh.

In court on Tuesday, Police Prosecutor Nevin Jeffers said that the prosecution’s file is incomplete, adding that he is waiting for the ballistic results and post-mortem report. Rose was remanded to prison and the case will continue on June 4, 2019.

Patrick Fraser was shot twice in the yard of a burnt house in Bagotstown, EBD, on May 9. He was picked up and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

Reports are Rose reportedly confessed to killing the teen. He allegedly told Police that he reportedly

Crime…

Y Dead: Patrick Matthew Fraser

wanted a gun the biker had in his possession.

Operator charged Cook remanded for for attempting to ganja trafficking kill dredge GM

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34-year-old man was on Tuesday taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where an attempted murder charge was read to him.

Kenny Paul of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, stood before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plea to the indictable charge which stated that on May 17, 2019, at Malibunta Backdam, Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), with intent to commit murder, he wounded Paul Troy.

Reports are the accused and Virtual Complainant are employed at the same mining operation – with Paul employed as an engine oper-

ator and Troy the General Manager (GM). According to the prosecution’s case, the two men had a misunderstanding which led to the accused arming himself with a cutlass and dealing the VC several chops to his left arm and to the left side of his face. Troy was rushed to the Mahdia Hospital but due to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail informing the court that the VC is still hospitalised.

Paul was remanded to prison. The case will continue on July 16, 2019, at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Courts.

A

cook was on Tuesday remanded to prison at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where she made her first appearance for narcotics trafficking.

Tricia Hanes stood before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, who read the charge which stated that on May 18, 2019, at the Bartica Police Station, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), she had in her possession 576 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. The 40-year-old woman denied the charge.

The prosecution’s case contended that on May 18, ranks from the Criminal

Tricia Hanes

Investigation Department (CID) at Bartica, acting on information, went to the Bartica Ferry Stelling where they conducted a search on passengers. When a search was carried out on the defendant’s handbag, two parcels were found containing stems and leaves of cannabis. The woman was arrested and taken to the Bartica Police Station.

Hanes was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Trenton Lake, who told the court in his bail application that his client was a passenger in a minibus when the search was conducted. According to the lawyer, when the cannabis was discovered, his client was not present and his client maintained that the bag did not belong to her. In the bail application, the lawyer also noted that it was another passenger of the same bus who claimed that the bag belonged to Hanes. He further stated that the narcotic was discovered at the Bartica Ferry Stelling, not at the police station.

Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail based on the fact that the defendant had not provided an address to the police.

She was remanded to prison and the case will continue on June 19, 2019, at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

…and retribution our Eyewitness was one of those who called for a more proactive response by the Police to the crime tsunami sweeping the country in general, and Berbice in particular. With the overwhelming majority of the crimes being committed by gun-toting bandits, he called for the deployment of the SWAT Unit to take them on, on an equal footing. The regular Police were invariably late on the scene, even after frantic calls and it was suspected they feared they’d be outgunned.

Well, the SWAT Unit WAS rushed out to Berbice but it was the “regular” Police who, evidently acted on intelligence, swooped down on the bandits’ hideout and claiming they were greeted by gun fire, returned the same and killed all three bandits. Now we know they were the bandits since an AR15, several handguns, bullets, burglary equipment, jewellery and cash were recovered. But several questions arise.

The first one, of course, is why hadn’t the Police launched this operation before?? From what we heard from relatives after the strike, all three dead bandits were “known characters”, whose homes had been raided before when crimes in the area had been committed. What was lacking, in the estimation of your Eyewitness, was the intelligence.

And the main reason for this is there aren’t enough Police personnel drawn from the local communities who would be able to cultivate a network of informers to keep them posted.

These bandits didn’t helicopter out after their depredations. Like the bandits who’d been holed up in Buxton back in the day, these fellas remained in the community – and obviously were supported by their own network in the community. We’re told they had freshly cooked food – someone must’ve have prepared and delivered this! Police intelligence is lacking in all areas of the country – and this leads to another question on the minds of some citizens.

Are the Police in cahoots with some of the criminals??

And is this why in most of these encounters, the bandits are invariably all slaughtered and the Police don’t even get a scratch? If there were actually bullets flying first from the bandits – as is invariably the reason given by the Police for their deadly fusillade – how come their element of surprise is always lost?? Is it a case of dead men don’t tell no tales??

Last month we learnt that Police were being equipped with body cameras for traffic stops and other ordinary interactions with the public. Shouldn’t the units conducting raids with the possibility of using deadly force also wear cameras as Standard Operating Practice??

Your Eyewitness won’t discuss the accusations by some that deadly force is only used on bandits of a certain ilk.

Save to note this was this point made by Mr Hoyte, re “Blackie”. …and its origins In the mind-boggling round of criminality kicked off in the first decade of this millennium – with its epicentre in Buxton and led by the prison-breakout Mash 5 – there was a welter of analyses on the conditions producing it. While there were vehement disputations on many points, there was unanimity on two: the bandits were prison graduates and were nurtured in poverty stricken environments. There evidently weren’t too many ways to enjoy the “good life” by honest means.

And what do we already know about the Berbice bandits? They were all prison graduates and were operating in Berbice, which had always been at the lower end of the economic ladder. But with 4000+ sugar workers thrown out of work, they quickly slid to the bottom. The point is, while structural factors mightn’t ALWAYS compel people into certain actions, they certainly encourage those actions.

And it’s for this reason, the Government should’ve rethought their unilateral action on sugar. But vengeance is mine, said the PNC! …and punishment It was interesting that after one person was apprehended for a murder committed at Leguan, the father of the victim wrote a fervent thank you to some high-level Police officials from GT. Why couldn’t the arrest be made by the locals?

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

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wednesday, may 22, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

No need for house-to-house registration

GECOM’s legal opinion being pushed aside …as Govt Commissioners display reluctance to update old voters’ list …Chairman saw legal opinion before list expired …Commissioner describes opinion as “water under the bridge”

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iscussions on the legal opinion offered by the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM’s) legal officer of the need to update the voters’ list are being pushed aside even as the possible need for early elections loom larger by the day.

At the conclusion of GECOM’s statutory meeting on Tuesday, Government-nominated Commissioner Vincent Alexander informed the media that the legal opinion is, in fact, “water under the bridge”.

“For all intents and purposes, we are not discussing the substance of that opinion at this time…the substance of the opinion, as described in the meeting, is, in a sense, water under the bridge,” Alexander said, citing the current no-confidence cases before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

But according to Opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase

GECOM Legal Officer Excellence Dazzell

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

Gunraj, there has been a marked reluctance from the Government-nominated Commissioners – Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman – to even contemplate updating the old list, as advised by the legal officer and urged by the Oppositionnominated Commissioners for some time.

“There has been a refusal by the full Commission, particularly a majority of the Commission, to take

any steps to refresh that list outside of house-to-house registration. You recall my earlier complaints in relation to the decision of three members of the Commission and the Chairman, in relation to dealing with that issue,” Gunraj said.

He added: “And the secretariat seems hell-bent on conducting this house-tohouse registration, when there is no list present in effect and when there is need to have a list, as is mandat-

ed by law.”

Gunraj pointed out that GECOM’s Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson, acknowledged seeing the legal opinion of GECOM’s legal officer, Excellence Dazzell, before April 30, when the old voters’ list expired.

“The Chairman has said that he has seen that opinion…at some time prior to the expiry of the list, sometime in April before April 30. He has acknowledged that he has received and perused that report prior…

It is because of the acquiescence of the Chairman that that report was presented to the full Commission,” Gunraj said.

Last week Tuesday, Dazzell’s legal opinion was tabled at a statutory meeting of GECOM. In the opinion, she set out that “based on [election laws], the list must be updated bi-annually by adding persons who are now qualified to be registered, to that list and those who are no longer

qualified to be registered, to be taken off that list”.

This runs counter to the arguments made by the Government-nominated Commissioners on GECOM that a new list was required through house-tohouse registration. In fact,

a United Kingdom (UK)based Guyanese has gone to the courts over the exercise, arguing that if it goes forward, she will be disenfranchised. In fact, the Opposition has contended that many more will be in the same predicament.

10 news

WEDNESday, may 22, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Gunmen gagged, bound Bartica Guyanese killed after motorcycle businesswoman during robbery slams into NYC garbage truck …escape with $1.2M in cash, jewellery

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The Bartica businesswoman’s home

wo armed and masked men executed a daring daylight robbery on Monday at 7th Street, 4th Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), during which they terrorised the lone occupant of the house.

Reports are Lisa

Simmons had just returned home from a commercial bank when she was confronted by the two gunmen.

She was led into the house where the men gagged and bound her.

They first relieved her of the money she withdrew from the bank after which

they ransacked the house for gold and cash. Guyana Times understands that the men further terrorised the woman to show them where she hid her jewellery.

She was, however, knocked unconscious as the men made good their escape.

Upon regaining consciousness, the woman freed herself and raised an alarm.

The police were summoned to the area and an investigation was launched.

A police source related that the men escaped with some $1.2 million in cash, jewellery and gold.

The woman operates a butcher shop and also has a mining concession in the interior. Seven persons were arrested as Police continue their investigations.

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Guyanese biker was on Monday evening killed while his friend is in a critical condition after the motorcycle on which they were travelling slammed into a garbage truck in Queens, New York.

Dead is Devendra “Joey” Deonarine, 30, formerly of Bloomfield Village, Corentyne, Berbice. The pillion rider was identified as Christopher Sansarran, also a Guyanese.

Reports on PIX 11 News reported that the two men were riding a 1986 Honda motorcycle at a fast rate of speed, going westbound on Liberty Avenue toward 157th Street. Police stated that the motorcycle struck a private sanitation truck as it was backing up in the vicinity of the location.

Dead: Devendra Deonarine

Injured: Christopher Sansarran

Both men were thrown from the motorcycle, sustaining severe body trauma. The injured men were taken to the Jamaica Hospital where Deonarine was pronounced dead on arrival.

His 23-year-old male friend remains in the hospital but critical. The re-

port further stated that the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad is conducting an investigation into the accident.

Deonarine left Guyana about seven years ago where he got married and has one child.

Prisoners charged for assaulting each other

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e o r g e t o w n Magistrate Faith McGusty on Tuesday, remanded two female prisoners for assaulting and wounding each other during an altercation at the East La Penitence Police Station Holding Centre.

Savita Persaud, who is on remand for two counts of trafficking-in-person and Revelana Smith, who is also on remand on a charge of attempted murder, both denied assaulting each other.

The charged against Persaud stated on April 23 at East La Penitence Police Station Holding Centre

Prison but escalated while they were at the East La Penitence Police Station.

Magistrate McGusty re-

manded Smith to prison while Persaud was granted $20,000, however, she still remains on remand for the

trafficking charges.

The cases will continue on June 24.

CXC to consider petition for Mathematics re-sit following breaches

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Savita Persaud and Revelana Smith

she unlawfully assaulted Smith, while Smith is accused of unlawfully wounding Persaud on the same day in question.

The court heard that

Smith attacked Persaud who retaliated and defended herself, however Smith in an explanation to the court stated that incident began at the New Amsterdam

he Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) is to consider a petition calling for all students to re-sit the 2019 CSEC Mathematics exams following serious breaches of the examination regulations, a representative from the Barbados-based institution has said, according to Jamaica Observer.

“All of the queries regarding such were [reported] to the head of the department and it’s being worked on.

The queries have not fallen on deaf ears so everyone will be notified of a decision in due course,” the representative was quoted as saying by Jamaica Observer.

It is unclear who launched the petition that has so far gained 5085 signatures – more than 60 per

cent of the 7500 signatures required.

According to the report, last week CXC announced that it was investigating a breach in examination security in Trinidad and Tobago, where students were said to have used mobile phones and textbooks during the exam.

“It would be unfair if these students are allowed a free pass, and equally unfair if only selected schools/ students are allowed to resit a supplementary exam.

The extent to which exams

could have been scanned and shared, not only nationally, but regionally is unfathomable.

“Students could have been privy to the exam questions earlier than the start time and they could have sent these images on social media to their counterparts in other schools across the country and Region. The invigilator also could have further compromised the situation by sharing the exam with other invigilators.

“Given the conditions and circumstances, it is only fair and just that all students in the entire Region re-sit a supplementary Mathematics exam which should be done before the end of the exam period, June 6, 2019,” a summary of the petition read.

wednesday, may 22, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

G

uyana has just been added to the list of countries in the region where Buju Banton will be in concert.

Banton, who was released from a US jail in December 2018, will begin his tour throughout the Caribbean following his “Long Walk to Freedom” concert in Jamaica on March 16.

H e will perform in Guyana on

May 25, the night before Independence at the National Stadium.

The concert will be called “I Am Legend”, and is being held in collaboration with High Frequency Entertainment; promoters of “I Am Legend”, Trinidad; Guyana Carnival and King Leo Promotions.

Tickets will go on sale from tomorrow and are priced at US$25 for early-bird general admission, US$150 for VIP tickets and US$200 VVIP All

11

Inclusive.

Rawle Ferguson, the founder of Guyana Carnival, told Loop that Banton has performed in Guyana twice before, and there is tons of interest and excitement to see him.

“Guyana has been waiting on something on this for a long time to bring all walks of life together and settle the emotional high points we have been experiencing recently. This show will level a lot of feelings,” he said.

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wednesday, may 22, 2019 | guya

About the Festival

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uyana Carnival is a privately-owned festival in Georgetown, Guyana, during May 17-27. It’s an amalgamation of influential entertainment bodies, the Government of Guyana and other key stakeholders to create a new exciting product to boost tourism, entertainment, and nightlife in our emerging city.

It will attract thousands of tourist, locals and carnival chasers daring to indulge in something new and exciting. The nonstop party includes an action-packed week of activities fused with Guyanese cuisine, music, entertainment and masqueraders which culminates at the highly-anticipated finish line.

It is finally here! Guyana Carnival is here!

The Guyana Carnival Committee is a dynamic and diverse group of optimistic and

excited people.

This idea was birthed out of G Independence celebration when recorded thousands of arrivals Guyana. The Minister of Tourism Cathy Hughes had alluded to t Guyana should capitalise on this event on a grand scale annu this call to action serving catalyst, the committee it fit to formulate a grand event to satisfy the demand of the masses. The event is marketed heavily, both locally and internationally

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y 22, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

e. was birthed out of Guyana's 50th celebration when the country sands of arrivals of visitors to Minister of Tourism at that time, s had alluded to the fact that ld capitalise on celebrating a grand scale annually. With ction serving as the committee saw late a o satand of The riy

drinks and day tours to the country's most fascinating tourist sites.

A frequently asked question we wish to address is: what the difference between Mashramani and Carnival is?

Mashramani is our local cultural festival “celebration after hard work” as defined by the Amerindians and celebrates Guyana becoming a republic. It is a cultural festival and parade to be

in collaboration with media houses and event coordinators throughout the Caribbean, North America and Europe.

Carnival Guyana provides a major economic boost to several industries, as from taxi drivers to hairdressers, clothing stores to hotels and airlines to restaurants will see an increase in business.

It will also bring about much-needed exposure to our local musicians and DJs. Carnival is a well-known cultural phenomenon celebrated in several Caribbean and Latin American c o u n tries and is known for elabo r a t e costumes, festivities, entertainment, and frolic. Participants engage in events and festivals such as premium fetes, cooler fetes, and boat rides. It is a much-anticipated season for revelry and enjoyment amid all the troubles and struggles of life.

It is intended to be a destination event targeting those in the Diaspora and others from around the world with world-class events such as all-inclusive parties, concerts, boat rides, day tours and a grand costume day parade, through the beautiful streets of Georgetown, known as “mas”. The all-inclusive packages will include hotel accommodation, admission tickets, costume, food,

enjoyed by all ages. Ministries and local companies participate in a float parade, which is then judged by a panel based on cultural themes.

Carnival is a series of events leading up to one, or in some cases two days of “mas” or masquerade where revellers can frolic in an all-inclusive experience on the streets. A carnival is basically a “big private party” for adult

revellers to enjoy events and then oneday carefree masquerading. We do not intend to cast a shadow or forget about our auspicious cultural festival in Guyana, we aim to expand tourism and show Guyana’s beauty, uniqueness, and unity through our private international event.

We look forward to bringing you an event like none other!

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wednesday, may 22, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

EL DORADO STINGING NETTLES

EVENTS MACHEL MONTANO & MR KILLA

Rum N’ Soca Edition featuring KES the band live in Concert Thu, May 23, 2019, 9:00 PM –Fri, May 24, 2019, 3:00 AM” “Brunch Mi Deh” — The premier brunch event

Live in concert destroying WET WEDNESDAY 22nd May, 2019 WET or DRY...Which side will be the best side?

Wed, May 22, 2019, 7:00 PM –Thu, May 23, 2019, 3:00 AM

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wednesday, may 22, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

Region 10 HCPs receive diabetes, eye care training

An insult to every S decent Guyanese

T

he Auditor General announced his intention of auditing a Chinese company depositing US$9000 into the private account of Minister David Patterson. Minister Patterson now insists there was nothing sinister in that deposit, it was not a bribe and not in any way related to any corruption. The Minister’s justification for a US$9000 deposit in his personal account in 2017 by a Chinese company was just a refund for a meeting the Chinese company invited him to attend in early 2016.

Minister Patterson insists he used money from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), an agency under his Ministry, and that when he was refunded in 2017, a year later, he refunded the money to MARAD. Minister Patterson tried Dr Leslie Ramsammy desperately to deflect the truth when he demanded that people be charged for exposing information in his personal account. Patterson was a lead voice once for whistleblowers. Now that he is in the shoe, he wants people charged. But this deflection will not make the corrupt perception disappear. Why was a refund only given almost a year after Minister Patterson attended the meeting in Macao? Did he receive Cabinet approval to use money from MARAD? Who at MARAD approved such use and what evidence is there to show the money ever left Minister Patterson’s account and returned to MARAD’s account?

While the Minister was loud in his denial, he never provided any evidence to support his side.

Minister Patterson and his colleagues, when they were in Opposition before 2015, were critical of Chinese companies operating in Guyana, claiming the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was allowing the Chinese to take over Guyana. In fact, they blocked the Budget for significant projects in 2013 and 2014 in which Chinese companies were engaged. These projects included the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion, the East Coast highway, GPL, and the Amaila Hydro-electric Project etc. After Patterson’s visit to the Macao meeting and a meeting earlier in China which Joseph Harmon attended, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC) Chinese perspective changed; the Chinese companies were welcomed with open arms, and all the projects, excepting Amaila, resumed. Indeed, existing contracts were amended and became sweetheart deals. CJIA’s US$150 million contract retained the sum, but reduced the scope of work, with new terminals becoming rehabilitated terminals and, instead of eight air bridges, we ended up with two, with an additional two added at Government’s additional cost. There were billion-dollar contracts for GPL etc. What happened in Macao that changed their perceptive?

Almost two weeks after the Patterson reports, President Granger has said nothing. The Prime Minister has said nothing. The former Minister of Business, now in charge of Manufacturing in that Ministry, dared anyone to prove him wrong, that the allegation of the $9000 deposit in Minister Patterson’s account is nothing but fake news – just a PPP fabrication. With Patterson’s admission that the deposit was real, Gaskin has become silent. Minister Jordan admitted the deposit is not usual practice, as Patterson claims.

This Patterson fiasco demands a Commission of Inquiry, but no one should hold their breath.

Meanwhile, a senior Minister of Government deemed Guyanese innately corrupt, that corruption and cheating are merely every day reflections of who we are as a people. With corruption endemic and never more pervasive, with APNU/AFC consolidating its position as the Caribbean Community’s most corrupt Government, the Government of Guyana is openly rationalising corruption.

This past week, Minister Cathy Hughes, the Telecommunications Minister – exposed for giving contracts to a company she owns – explained that Government’s corruption and cheating only reflect the Guyanese culture, nothing to worry about.

It is now past a week since Minister Hughes defended her Ministry’s and Government’s corruption by saying the real problem is Guyanese people, who are all innately corrupt. The President has said nothing about one of his Ministers insulting the Guyanese people. His silence speaks volumes. But recall some time ago President Granger in addressing the issue of Government’s corruption, similarly, dismissed people’s concerns of the runaway train of corruption, positing that the Private Sector is itself corrupt, that the media and the Guyanese people must, instead, focus on corruption in the Private Sector. The problem, from the President’s perspective, was not the Ministers and Government officials, but those who actually provide the perks and bribes. This is the kind of attitude and mindset that saw six Ministers and other Government officials jetting away to Trinidad, at taxpayers’ expense, to create a spectacle at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) meeting, with the only justification being the CCJ Judges needed to know Government is serious; Government giving the Guyana Elections Commission another more than $3 billion, “just in case”; the Housing Minister giving her husband lucrative contracts and another Ministry giving out contracts like half a billion dollars for a warehouse it did not need and medicines costing triple-time the real cost. It is why they disregard the Integrity Commission. The APNU/AFC’s perspective that corruption is no big deal, that it is a reflection of the Guyanese culture is damning, an insult to every decent Guyanese.

ome 34 Health Care Professionals (HCPs) were on Sunday trained at a workshop on diabetes and eye care at the Linden Hospital Complex in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The one-day Health Care

such as general medical practitioners and nurses with the objective of increasing awareness of diabetic complications of the eye.

A total of 34 healthcare professionals – 18 doctors, 13 nurses, 2 optometrists

Participants during the practical demonstration

Professionals’ workshop is part of the Guyana Diabetic Retinopathy programme’s mandate to promote education and awareness about diabetes in the eye amongst HCPs

and 1 medex – were trained in sessions about diabetes, nutritional aspects of diabetes care, counselling of persons with diabetes, diabetes and how it affects the eye, screening for

Participants of the workshop at the Linden Hospital Complex

diabetic retinopathy, and they were also taught how to examine the eye during practical sessions.

At the end of the workshop, participants gave positive reviews and indicated that they have a better understanding of how diabetes affects the eye. A majority of participants were pleased with the curriculum and the format and flow of the presentations.

The 5-member training team comprised of personnel from various levels at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and included an ophthalmologist, optometrist, general practitioner, nutritionist

and a nurse.

The Guyana Diabetic Retinopathy programme is part of the Guyana Diabetes Care Project of the Public Health Ministry. This project is being funded by the World Diabetes Foundation along with other international stakeholders such as Orbis International and the University of Toronto.

The main objective of the programme is to establish a formal Diabetic Retinopathy Screening and Treatment programme in Guyana.

Since the project started in July 2016, persons with diabetes can now have regular screening for diabetic eye complications.

16 news UK donates $68M in sonar equipment to MARAD I wednesday, may 22, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

n efforts to aid in building the maritime capacity here, the United Kingdom (UK) Government has handed over in excess of $68 million in sonar equipment that will enable Guyana to carry out its own seabed mapping in the future.

The donation was done under the Commonwealth Marine Economies (CME) Programme, which aims to support the sustainable economic growth of Guyana by enabling the collection of accurate hydrographic and scientific data, as well as training to manage and develop the emerging marine econo-

my.

With the country’s ocean floor having been unmapped before, the CME Programme in collaboration with the Guyana Government embark on a project to reverse this and in 2017, both the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers mouth were surveyed back 2017 with the assistance of experts from the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO).

That first phase of the project resulted in new nautical charts being produced and the data has since been requested by a number of agencies and consultancies working on new projects

From left: Head of GLSC Trevor Benn; British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn; CEO of MARAD, Claudette Rogers; along with UK hydrographic expert Ian Davies at the handing over ceremony on Tuesday at MARAD

along the waterfront demonstrating the value of the data.

However, according to UKHO expert, Ian Davies, there is much more work to be done in Guyana’s coastal waters. In fact, he noted that stemming from consultations with various stakeholders in Guyana, it was identified that there was the possibility to develop a local surveying capacity.

To this end, using funding provided by the CME Programme, a modern multibeam system was purchased to be being installed on MT Aruka. Following its installation, personnel from

MARAD and Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GLSC) will undergo training so that Guyana have its own capability to undertake seabed mapping.

“UKHO will continue to provide advice and guidance to the survey team and the National Hydrographic Committee on the planning and conduct of surveys to ensure that data collected meets international standards and contributes not only to Safety of Navigation through updated charting but also provides information to be used across government to support the development and management of your coastal waters from fisheries to disaster management and climate change mitigation measures,” Davies stated.

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, in brief remarks outlined that sustainable use of the oceans is fast climbing to the top of the agenda.

He went onto underscore the importance of the ‘blue economy’ and the marine realm, noting that it sustains life, regulates climate and weather patterns, and facilitates transport and trade.

On this note, he said that the multi-beam echo sounder, tide guage, sound velocity profiler and accompanying equipment will now allow Guyana to be equipped to conduct constant mapping in keeping with the changes in the dynamic environment such as the ocean.

Furthermore, the British Envoy took the opportunity to congratulate Guyana on becoming the 90th member of the International Hydrographic Organisation earlier this month.

“The equipment we are providing today will help Guyana meet its obligations of members of that august organization, High Commissioner Quinn stated.

On the other hand, Claudette Rogers, head of MARAD posited that the equipment will go a long way in assisting Guyana with compiling modern navigational charts of the priority areas, among other things. She noted that going forward, they are hopeful that the CME Programme will enable further capacity building within the maritime sector to enable Guyana to better understand and manage its marine estate.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, may 22, 2019

17

Around the World

Brexit: PM says MPs have “one Argentina’s ex-President last chance” to back her deal Fernández goes on trial

PM Theresa May said failure to back her deal risks “no Brexit at all”

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heresa May has said MPs have “one last chance” to deliver Brexit, urging them to back

what she said was a “new deal”.

MPs will get a vote on whether to hold another referendum if they back the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill, she said.

The bill also contains new guarantees on workers’ rights, environmental protections and the Northern Irish border, as well a customs “compromise”.

Labour said it was a “rehash” of existing plans and Tory Brexiteers took to social media to vent their anger.

MPs have rejected the withdrawal agreement negotiated with the EU three times and attempts to find a formal compromise with Labour also failed.

In what is seen as a last roll of the dice, May is now

bringing the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - legislation required to bring the agreement into UK law - to Parliament in early June.

In a speech in London, the PM implored MPs to come together, saying a negotiated exit from the EU would be “dead in the water” if they rejected the plan.

While she personally opposed another referendum on the terms of Brexit, the PM said she recognised the “genuine and sincere” feelings on the issue in Parliament.

She urged MPs to back the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at its first parliamentary hurdle in June and then “make the case” for another public vote when the bill was examined in detail later. (Excerpt from BBC News)

North Korea warns US over seized ship at rare UN news conference

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orth Korea stepped up its campaign on Tuesday for the United States to return a seized cargo ship belonging to Pyongyang, warning Washington that it had violated its sovereignty in a move that could affect “future developments” between the countries.

North Korea’s UN Ambassador Kim Song held a rare news conference at the United Nations in New York to demand the immediate return of the ship, which the United States said earlier this month it had seized over accusations it was used for coal ship-

ments in violation of US and UN sanctions.

He said the seizure of the ship, known as the “Wise Honest,” defied the spirit of a statement by US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after their first meeting in Singapore in June 2018. They pledged to build new ties between their countries and work toward North Korea’s denuclearisation.

A second meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un in Hanoi broke down in February. With talks on denuclearisation stalled, North Korea went

ahead with more weapons tests this month. The tests were seen as a protest by Kim Jong Un after Trump rejected his calls for sanctions relief at the Hanoi summit.

The UN Security Council has unanimously strengthened sanctions on North Korea since 2006 in a bid to choke funding for Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, banning exports including coal, iron, lead, textiles and seafood, and capping imports of crude oil and refined petroleum products. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuela’s Ambassador to Italy resigns, blaming Govt’s lack of money

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he Venezuelan ambassador to Italy has resigned, saying his Government’s financial difficulties have made his job impossible.

In a letter addressed directly to President Nicolás Maduro and posted on Twitter, Ambassador Isaías Rodríguez reiterated his “immense respect for Maduro’s battle” but insisted the sanctions imposed by the US mean he cannot carry out his duties.

Last week, at a press conference in Rome, Rodríguez said that – due to the sanctions adopted against Caracas – he no longer has the money to pay his employees’ salaries and the rent of his office in Rome, whose debt amounted to €9m.

The US Government imposed financial sanctions on Venezuela’s president after the election of a new legislative body to redraft the country’s constitution in a vote described by Washington as a “sham”, as Trump put its full backing behind the opposition leader Juan Guaidó.

Ambassador Isaías Rodríguez

Rodríguez explained that the sanctions had heavy repercussions on the embassy’s financial budget and that they were no longer able to bear the expenses of the diplomatic headquarters in Italy. Rodriguez, 77, explained that he wanted to dedicate himself to “being a grandfather”.

“I leave without rancour and without money,” Rodriguez said, “my wife has just sold the clothes her previous husband gave her in order to survive in the face

of the US embargo. I’m trying to sell the car I bought when I arrived at the embassy and as you know I do not have a bank account because the gringos have sanctioned me and the Italian bank has closed its doors to me.

“I want the president to know that I am and will be by his side”, said Rodríguez, who took office in Rome in 2011. “I wanted to be a faithful companion and not a fearful amateur flatterer.

I clung to chavismo with absolute faith, but I have come to understand that I cannot turn water into wine, or raise the dead.”

The Venezuelan crisis has reignited tensions between Washington and Moscow.

Two weeks ago, Russia’s foreign minister urged the US to abandon its “irresponsible” plan to depose Maduro.

Any US attempt to topple Maduro through force would bring “grave consequences”, Lavrov reportedly warned on 5 May during a visit to Moscow by Venezuela’s foreign minister, Jorge Arreaza. (The Guardian)

T

he corruption trial of Argentina’s former President, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, has begun in Buenos Aires.

Fernández is accused of accepting bribes from construction firms in exchange for lucrative Government contracts while in power.

This trial, the first of

12 cases Fernández faces, comes days after she announced she was running for office.

Posting on Twitter ahead of the trial, she dismissed the accusations as a politically motivated “smokescreen”.

Fernández, a left-leaning populist, is standing for the

vice-presidency in the country’s national election on October 27.

Her attendance at the opening hearing at the city’s Comodoro Py court was mandatory, but she will be able to send a representative to the follow-up hearings held every week. (Excerpt

underway and the arms control landscape is changing, partly due to strategic competition between China and the United States.

With disarmament talks stalemated for the past two decades, 122 countries have signed a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, partly out of frustration and partly out of a recognition of the risks, she said.

The nuclear ban treaty,

officially called the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, was backed by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.

The treaty has so far gathered 23 of the 50 ratifications that it needs to come into force, including South Africa, Austria, Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico. (Excerpt from

from BBC News)

Risk of nuclear war now highest since WWII, UN arms research chief says

T

he risk of nuclear weapons being used is at its highest since World War Two, a senior UN security expert said on Tuesday, calling it an “urgent” issue that the world should take more seriously.

Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), Renata Dwan said all states with nuclear weapons have nuclear modernisation programmes

Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, may 22, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

You’ll have plenty of options, but some will not live up to your expectations.

Trust in factual information, written agreements and your own ability to get things done.

CANCER

Finish what you start.

What you do for others will help build solid relationships. Personal growth will change your attitude toward those who differ from you.

Love is highlighted.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

SUDOKU

Study what the experts do and follow suit. Take charge of your interests and learn what you need to know to reach your goal. Romance will improve your personal life.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Hide your emotions and avoid getting into an argument with someone who doesn’t see things your way.

Be smart, go about your business and aim to achieve your goals.

Proceed with caution.

Think before taking action.

Protect against illness or injury. Reconnect with someone you’ve enjoyed collaborating with in the past. Curb poor habits to avoid repercussions.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Make a physical change that lifts your spirits. How you present who you are and the image you want to project will affect the way others respond.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

If you learn to let go, you’ll find personal freedom and success. Don’t get involved in a time-consuming dispute when it’s safer, wiser and more productive to compromise or walk away.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Don’t lose sight of who you are, what you want and how you plan to reach your goals. A trip, investment or personal change will lead to a financial gain.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Refuse to let anyone sidetrack you. Use your intelligence and get the facts firsthand.

Walk away from temptation or unrealistic suggestions or promises. Moderation is in your best interest.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Take a step in the right direction and make adjustments at home that will bring about peace and tranquility. Sharing with someone you love will bring you closer together.

Develop something you enjoy doing and rearrange an area at home to accommodate what you want to pursue. Helping others is honorable, but make sure no one takes advantage of you.

Do whatever it takes to make a positive change.

Updating your looks, improving your environment or helping a cause you believe in will lift your spirits and bring you joy.

wednesday, MAY 22, 2019

Pelicans VP pictures future with Davis, Williamson

F

or a team with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, vice president of basketball operations David Griffin confesses the New Orleans Pelicans are still living in the past.

The franchise is not entirely rear-focused, but since a shocking stroke of luck left the Pelicans with the top pick in the June 20 draft and the inside track to Duke freshman Zion Williamson, Griffin has been locked in on selling six-time All-Star Anthony Davis on sticking around.

Davis requested a trade before the All-Star break and then told media he would consider all options if the Pelicans were willing to move him.

Griffin’s goal is a reversal from Davis, convincing him the Pelicans are ready to build a winner with staying power around Davis and presumptive No. 1 pick Williamson.

“We’ll probably sit together in Los Angeles at some point around the draft workouts that take place there,” Griffin said Tuesday on a team conference call. “And I think that’s the next step — really to look each other in the eye and talk about what’s important to us. And we’re very optimistic from previous conversations with Rich Paul, his agent, and with all of the peop l e here that know Anthony and know what he’s about, we’re very confident that we have a compelling situation for him here.

“And if winning is what he is indeed all about, which we have every reason to believe, we feel confident that we

can create — and are creating — the right environment for Anthony and frankly for high-caliber players of all types to want to be a part of. This is something that we hope creates an energy that recruits itself, and Anthony would just be one step in that process.”

Davis reportedly was unmoved by the Pelicans landing the No. 1 pick and is ready to dig in his heels to force a trade to a bigger market with win-now resources.

“I’m certain that’s a false narrative relative to the players that could potentially be the No. 1 pick,” Griffin said. “We’ve sat with multiple players that we’re looking at for that first pick. In fact, in the case of Zion Williamson, (head coach) Alvin Gentry and I sat with he and his parents the night of the lottery.

And Alvin and I were also together in interviewing Ja Morant in Chicago as well. And I think because we sat with those kids who are both incredible human beings and all about all the right things, we know unequivocally that either one of them would be thrilled to join us in New Orleans. And they’re both very much excited about the concept.”

Davis might remain steadfast in his trade request, but that could also wind up working in the Pelicans’ favor.

The teams most often connected to Davis, the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, are slated to pick No. 3 (Knicks) and No. 4 (Lakers). Connecting the dots on a rapid rebuilding plan, the Pelicans could restock on the fly by landing Williamson and either college teammate RJ Barrett or Murray State’s Morant, the consensus top three players in the 2019 draft.

(Reuters)

Giroud signs new contract at Chelsea before possible transfer ban for club

O

livier Giroud has given Chelsea a boost by signing a new oneyear contract for next season ahead of next week’s Europa League final.

Giroud was due to be out of contract this summer, 18 months after his arrival from Arsenal, and had been linked with a return to France as he struggled for regular playing time at Stamford Bridge.

But with the club facing a transfer ban for the next two windows, subject to an appeal before the court of arbitration for sport, they were keen to keep a reliable performer in an area of the pitch where they lack depth.

“I am very happy to sign a new contract,” Giroud said on the Chelsea website. “I really wanted to stay at least one more year – I have felt a part of the team, the family, since the beginning and hopefully there will be more trophies to come.”

The 32-year-old Giroud has scored 17 goals in 62 appearances for the Blues, 10 of them in this season’s Europa League to get them to next Wednesday’s final against his former club in Baku.

The former Montpellier player helped Chelsea to FA Cup glory in his first season at Stamford Bridge before going on to lift t h e World Cup with F r a n c e later that summer. But though Chelsea have been unsettled in attack this season, sending expensive import Álvaro Morata on loan to Atlético Madrid in January and bringing in Gonzalo Higuaín from Juventus on a similar deal, Giroud has remained a back-up.

Only seven of his 27 Premier League appearances this season were starts, with most of his playing time coming in Europe where he started 11 games, becoming the first Chelsea player to reach double figures in any European competition in a single season. (The Guardian)

19

Record London Marathon entries pass 450,000

The commencement of the London Marathon 2018 was a spectacular sight

M

ore than 450,000 runners have entered the ballot for next year’s London Marathon, breaking the event’s own world record for registrations, organizers said on Tuesday.

The final total of 457,861 applicants from Britain and overseas represents a 10.5% increase on last year’s 414,168 bidding for a place in the world’s most popular marathon.

More than 56% of British entries were from people who have never run a marathon, and the majority of those are women.

“One of our goals is to inspire people to take up sport and it’s fantastic that more than 210,000 people from the UK have been inspired to apply to run a marathon for the first time in 2020,” event director Hugh Brasher said in a statement.

“At the first London Marathon back in 1981, fewer than 300 of the 6,300 finishers were women.

“More than 179,000 women from the UK have applied to run in 2020 and, for the third successive year, there are more female than male first-time marathon runners from the UK.” The 40th London marathon will take place on April 26, 2020. (Reuters)

“Only thing now is to win the World Cup” – Gayle

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est Indies vice captain Chris Gayle spoke to members of the media following the team’s training session on Tuesday afternoon. The experienced 39-year-old said he is eagerly looking forward to the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, to be played in England and Wales from May 30 to July 14.

This will be Gayle’s fifth appearance in the marquee event and said his aim is to win the top prize which would mark a high point in this outstanding career. Gayle started the year well in the ODI format with a scores of 135, 50, 162 and 77 against England during the home series in the West Indies. His heroics earned him the Man-of-the-Series award and helped the home side draw the series 2-2.

Overall, he has played 289 matches with 10,151 runs (average 38.16) including a West Indies record 25 centuries and 51 half centuries. His career-best score is 215 made against Zimbabwe at the Cricket World Cup in 2015. It is the highest score by a West Indian in this format.

“There is nothing to prove, the only thing now is to win the World Cup. That’s the goal for me … want us to play well here in England,

b r i n g those smiles to the faces o f

our fans and lift the trophy at Lord’s. This is the ‘big stage event’ and everyone is looking forward to it. All the guys have been putting in the work. We will be ready to start against Pakistan,” Gayle said.

West Indies are presently in Southampton as part of preparations for the tournament.

Their opening match is on May 31 against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

First ball is 5:30am Eastern Caribbean Time.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesday, MAY 22, 2019

Pestano named RHTY&SC Cricketer of the Year – Giddings cops top female award

The 10 cricket teams of the Club over the past 14 months have won a total of 15 cricket tournaments, including Pepsi 50-Overs, Busta Champion of Champions 40-Overs, New York Business Group Under-19, New Building Society 40-Over Second Division, Patron’s Cup 10/10 and Raffik Construction 100 Balls Tournaments. The Club currently has a total of 17 national players including Clinton Pestano, Jonathan Rampersaud, Kevin Sinclair, Shemaine Campbelle, Junior Sinclair, Erva Giddings, Kevlon Anderson, Shabiki Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond RHTY&SC Cricketer of the Year Clinton Pestano receives his and Mahendra Gopilall. prizes from Regional Vice Chairman Dennis Deroop Among the numerous activities completed in 2018 were he large training hall of the St Francis Community Developers was almost the Scotiabank Mash Parade, the Award filled to capacity as Guyana’s leading Ceremony, the Gregory Gaskin Sports youth and sports club, the Rose Hall Town Award, the Cricket Academy, Republic Bank Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) held its Summer Camp, the ANSA McAL Award of Excellence, the Christmas Village, medical 29th Annual Award Ceremony.

A total of $2.5 million worth of trophies, clinics, Say No/Say Yes Campaign, Annual medals, framed certificates, prizes and dona- Christmas Charity Programme and monthly tions were distributed to dozens of club mem- Old Age Pensioners Programme. Foster also bers, cricket clubs, youths, medical person- unveiled some major plans for the RHTY&SC nel, retired teachers, outstanding teachers in the future, including repairs to its office, and students, law enforcement officers and construction of an all-weather cricket practice centre and an expansion of the Say No/ deserving members of the public.

Among the prizes shared out were cell Say Yes Campaign.

The Mayor of Rose Hall Town and Town phones, smart watches, gold jewellery, gold medallions, designer clothing, electrical Clerk Natasha Griffith both hailed the Club equipment, household and kitchen items, as a proud symbol of the township, and laudfood hampers, cricket bats, sport gear, cos- ed the positive impact the Club has had on metics, hampers, educational materials and the lives of residents in Guyana’s smallest township. designer watches.

Regional Vice Chairman Dennis Deroop, RHTY&SC CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the Award Ceremony was hosted every one of the five awardees of the RHTY&SC’s year to recognise and honour outstanding Dolphin Award of Excellence stated that the club members who excel during the past cal- Club should be cherished by all Berbicians endar year and to encourage all RHTY&SC and used as a role model.

He pledged the cooperation of the Region members to always strive for excellence.

The Club, during the three-hour ceremo- Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to ny, also honoured 16 medical personnel, four the Club on its community and youth develretired teachers, four outstanding law en- opment efforts. Guest speaker Jimeel Davis, forcement officers, eight Teachers of the Year, in a well-received feature address, spoke diand eight Students of the Year and present- rectly to the young members of the Club on ed its highest award “The Dolphin Award of the importance of education, discipline, and being a role model for others to emulate.

Excellence” to five outstanding Guyanese.

The longstanding CEO, in a comprehen- Davis told the attentive audience that sucsive report, stated that the Club in 2018 com- cess was achieved through hard work. Like pleted a record 718 activities and was very the other speakers, he urged Club members to continue striving for excellence and to upsuccessful on the cricket field.

T

The awardees of the RHTY&SC’s 29th Award Ceremony take a photo op with the special invitees

hold the high standards they have set themselves. Over $500,000 worth of cricket balls, bicycles, cricket gear, stationery, trophies, household items and medals were donated to 20 cricket clubs, the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, Berbice Cricket Board, students, the Rose Hall Town Hindu Temple, an elderly resident from New Amsterdam and a nurse whose house was recently destroyed by fire.

National player Clinton Pestano copped the prestigious RHTY&SC Cricketer of the Year Award and took home $350,000 worth of prizes including a Steven Jacobs-sponsored gold ring, bicycle, smartphone, watches,

household items, electrical items, ‘Lazy Boy’ furniture and kitchen utensils.

Assistant Secretary Simon Naidu collected a West Indian gold medallion from King’s Jewellery World and smart watch after being named “Worker of the Year/Benefit Year” while West Indies female fast bowler Erva Giddings copped the Female Cricketer of the Year Award.

Additionally, the Sports Club and official sponsor Bakewell honoured 15 members of the Rose Hall Town Bakewell Second Division Team for winning six major titles over the past 14 months.

The full list of awardees for 2018 is as follows: Under-13 Batsman/Cricketer of the Year – Nyron Hicks Under-13 Bowler of the Year – Nathan Kistama Under-15 Batsman – Christopher Deroop Under-15 Bowler/Cricketer – Matthew Pottaya Under-17 Batsman – Mahendra Gopilall Under-17 Bowler – Tyrese Sealey Under-17 Cricketer – Jonathan Rampersaud Under-19 Batsman/Bowler/Cricketer Kevin Sinclair Under-21 Batsman – Kevlon Anderson Under-21 Bowler – Keith Simpson Under-21 Cricketer – Kevin Sinclair

–

Metro Female Batter – Shemaine Campbelle Metro Female Bowler/Cricketer – Erva Giddings Second Division Batsman – Kevin Sinclair Second Division Bowler/Cricketer – Junior Sinclair First Division Batsman – Kevlon Anderson First Division Bowler – Shawn Pereira First Division Cricketer – Kevin Sinclair Disciplined Male Player – Chanderpaul Govindan

Disciplined Female Player – Mariam Samaroo Most Promising Female Player – Sheneta Grimmond Most Promising Male Player – Kevin Sueraj Most Committed Male Player – Mahendra Gopilall Most Committed Female Player – Uma Matadin Worker of the Year/Benefit Year – Simon Naidu Most Improved Female Cricketer – Abigail Kishun Most Improved Male Cricketer – Nicholas Lawson/Shivnarine Ramnarine Male Fielder of the Year – Junior Sinclair Female Fielder of the Year – Shabiki Gajnabi Special Award – Eon Hooper Special Under-13 Award – Terell Hutson Cricketer of the Year – Clinton Pestano Secretary/CEO Special Award: Terry Pike, Sohan Harry, Tyrone Pottaya, Keith Hicks, Ravindranauth Kissoonlall, Surendra Kissoonlall, Navin Raghoo, Mark Papannah, Eon Wiggins, Elizabeth Brusch, Phil Arthur, Brenda Millington and Neville Beaton.

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wednesday, may 22, 2019

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3 challenging battles slated for Guyana T

he Guyana Golden Jaguars have a packed schedule for the rest of the year as the team prepare to take on the Gold Cup and the CONCACAF Nations League later in the year.

While the Golden Jags will enter a camp in Bermuda on June 1 ahead of their first-ever Gold Cup appearance in Guyana’s footballing history on June 18, it has been disclosed that the team will have many more international games to look forward to before 2019 is over – six games to be exact.

These six games will come as part of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League, where Guyana have played their hearts out to earn a spot in League B. The Nations League, which was launched in

September 6 on their opponents’ home turf. Guyana will play their home games on September 9, October 14, and November 15.

If the Golden Jaguars survive the Group Stage, they will be able to go on to the semi-finals and final, which are scheduled for March 21-23, 2020.

Part of the Golden Jaguars squad

March of 2018 and began shortly after in September with a series of qualification matches, found Guyana finishing in seventh place just outside of the League A bracket and ahead of Caribbean footballing giants Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz.

Finishing so high after the qualification stage also allowed the Golden Jaguars to enter the coveted CONCACAF Gold Cup. After the Gold Cup is concluded this summer, the Guyanese outfit will turn their attention to the

RHTY&SC hosts 1st-ever “Tribute to Medical Workers Programme”

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Nations League, where they have been drawn in Group G, League B. The local team will play three home and away game against their group mates Aruba, Jamaica, and Antigua and Barbuda. Their first game will be against Aruba on

Golden Jaguars Nations League Schedule: September 6 Guyana v Aruba (Away) September 9 Guyana v Jamaica (Home) October 11 Guyana v Antigua and Barbuda (Away) October 14 Guyana v Antigua and Barbuda (Home) November 15 Guyana v Aruba (Home) November 18 Guyana v Jamaica (Away)

Corona Futsal’s group toppers rewarded

Some of the team representatives display their cheques upon receiving them

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21

The nurses and medical staff honoured by the RHTY&SC stand with Secretary/ CEO Hilbert Foster

“

Each one of you are a perfect example of a professional health worker and also an outstanding ambassador of Guyana’s health sector. The Port Mourant Hospital is now considered one of the best medical facilities in the country and we at the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club are very proud to honour you under our first “Tribute to Public Medical Workers Programme”. We are also honoured to recognise the outstanding performances of our law enforcement officers who worked hard every minute of the day to make us feel safe in our homes. The Guyana Police Force should be very proud of our four awardees, who are all role model law enforcement officers.”

Those were the words of longstanding Club Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster as the Club hosted the first edition of the “Tribute to Public Medical Workers Programme” and the sixth edition of “Tribute to Law Enforcement Officers Programme”.

The teams honoured 16 outstanding medical personnel from the Port Mourant Hospital. They included four doctors, 10 nurses and two cleaners. Among those honoured were Dr Devendra Radhay, Dr Lachan Sultan, Dr Melissa Singh, Elizabeth Samaroo, Jacqueline Spencer, Mary Lyte, Venisa Persaud, Claudia Ross, Shaundelle Laundry, and Rhonda Ferreira.

Foster stated that the idea of honouring the medical personnel came to him after he was a patient at the Port Mourant Hospital for a week. Noting that he was one of those

uncomfortable with the public health-care system because of negative media coverage, Foster stated he witnessed first-hand the hard work, kindness, dedication and professionalism of the staff of the hospital under the leadership of Doctor in Charge Radhay and Head Nurse Spencer.

He urged the medical staff to uphold their high standards and to continue to treat every patient at the Port Mourant Hospital with the same commitment and compassion as they did him. Foster also urged members of the media to visit the medical institution and report on the outstanding work of its management and staff, along with the remarkable progress being made in its provision of medical care.

The main objectives of the “Tribute to Law Enforcement Officers” are to identify and honour outstanding Policemen and women while providing positive role models for others to emulate.

The Guyana Police Force, Foster stated, like the public health sector, receives a lot of negative reports, but there are many unsung heroes who work hard and honestly to protect the nation. The four awardees selected by the B (Berbice) Division of the Force were Inspector Michael Newland, Corporal Racquel Mars, Lance Corporal Garfield Edwards and Lance Corporal Leon Crandon.

Foster praised the officers and urged them to keep working hard. Each of the medical personnel and law enforcement officers received a trophy, medal, framed certificate and a special gift.

he eight remaining teams in the Corona Futsal Tournament were on Tuesday given an incentive to play harder as the tournament enters the quarter-final stage.

When the tournament was launched last month, Co-Director of the organising body, Troy Mendonca pledged that each team who made it into the round-robin stage would, for the first time, be duly rewarded according to their rank in their respective groups.

In good faith, the teams were rewarded on Tuesday at the tournament’s venue, the National Gymnasium. The team that finished on top of the group was presented with $40,000 while the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers received $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000, respectively.

Reflecting on the completed round-robin stage, Mendonca stated that he was not only impressed with the teams’ discipline but their tenacity. Here’s what he had to say: “Well, based on what we saw in the earlier games, there is no prediction that I think anyone can make, except for die-hard supporters who maybe don’t have a choice. But we can’t predict these games come Monday. I think all the teams are evenly balanced and they have all displayed the kind of tenacity and organisation that warrants them to be in this posi-

tion,” Mendonca said.

The teams that have made it into the quarter-finals are Back Circle and Sparta, Boss who were the top two teams in Group A; Future Stars and Bent Street, who tied for the top spot on points in Group B, and Tiger Bay and West Front Road from Group C. California Square and North East La Penitence were the final two teams to qualify as the best two third-place teams.

Speaking on the renowned Sparta Boss’s behalf, Devon Charles explained that the team had a bit of a stumble at the beginning, but were now determined to take the 2019 title.

“The first set of games we didn’t get to play how we would like to play, because we had lots of quarrels. But I saw in the last game we sat down and we talked and put our best foot forward. We already planned how we’re going to play, so the next games we will play better and try to win it,” Charles stated.

The quarter-finals of the fourth Corona Futsal tournament will be contested on Monday, May 27. Future Stars will take on West Front Road in the first quarterfinal match at 09:00h. Bent Street will battle with California Square at 10:00h, while Back Circle go toe to toe with North East La Penitence at 11:00h.

In the last quarter-final fixture, Sparta Boss will face off against Tiger Bay at 12:00h.

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wednesday, MAY 22, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Holder not above revenge as World Cup looms

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est Indies skipper Jason Holder is anxious to do well at the ICC Cricket World Cup at the end of this month, but he is also looking back to previous One Day Internationals for what you could term, inspiration.

During qualifiers for the World Cup, the West Indies had to go through Afghanistan, who beat them in the final.

Although the two had already qualified as finalists, the loss hurt the West Indies captain and he wants revenge.

“I’m looking forward to playing Afghanistan, mainly because they beat us in the final of the World Cup qualifiers,” said Holder in an interview with ESPN. Afghanistan have been one of the West Indies’ bogey teams, if you will, and Holder, well aware of that, wants to get the proverbial monkey off his side’s back.

“I think in head-to-head contests they have probably edged us out, so I really want to get at them. They are a great team - a team in transition, and they’ve done

wonderful things, but I really want to make amends for what happened in the Qualifiers,” said Holder.

ed for a July 4 meeting at Headingley.

Russell fit and ready to battle for WC trophy

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has de-

Jason Holder

The West Indies have only beaten Afghanistan once from the four occasions the teams have played each other, with Afghanistan winning the other three, twice in the qualifiers.

In the 2019 World Cup, every team plays each other before the knockout stages, with Afghanistan and the West Indies slat-

clared that he is fit and ready to give his all for the West Indies at the ICC World Cup in England that bowls off in just over a week.

He has also urged fans of the team to pay scant regard to the recent results from the tri-series in Ireland where the West Indies lost all three matches to Bangladesh.

Russell, who left Jamaica for England on Monday, played for his club St. Catherine CC who were up against St Elizabeth CA in the JCA JamT20 Bashment on Sunday at Sir P’s Oval in Treadlight, Clarendon.

Asked to bat St. Catherine posted 167 for seven from their overs with Russell scoring 88 runs.

Bowling, Russell picked up two for 12 but St. Elizabeth won by seven.

Speaking between in-

nings on Sunday, Russell said those who are concerned that the West Indies lost all three matches against Bangladesh in Ireland, need not worry. A full-strength West Indies will be dangerous.

“This is England, so anything can happen. Once you bowl in good areas, stick to the plan we can hurt teams,” he said.

“We are a good unit at the moment. Apart from what happened against Bangladesh in Ireland, fans don’t need to pay that any mind because a few of us who will be in the eleven were not there so I am not even studying that series, to be honest.”

Russell, regarded as one of the best T20 players in the world, said he is in great shape and ready to battle for the West Indies as the Caribbean side goes hunting for their third hold of the ICC World Cup trophy. The West Indies last won the trophy in 1979.

“I am in good shape. My knees are feeling a lot better. I can move around a lot easier. I would be ungrateful if I said I am not where I want to be because a few months ago I could not even run properly so I am giving thanks and I appreciate the

hard work the physios and others have

been putting in behind the scenes and I am just looking forward to the World Cup,” Russell said.

“I am hitting the ball well and the ball is also coming out of my hand well so I hope I can contribute with the ball as well. I am looking forward to contributing with the bat or the ball, or if I need to take a Andre Russell brilliant catch I will do that as that we have,” he said. well.”

“I am just focused on The star player said the getting there, getting accliWest Indies’ job is simple – matized, getting my body just get the job done. right and making sure that “We have a good team. I leave everything on the The selectors have done field for the West Indies.” well select a balanced team.

Once the batters score runs we have the opportunity to defend it with the bowlers

RHTY&SC donates over $600K worth of items to NGOs, clubs and youths

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Janice John of Mt Sinai receives her new cycle

he 10 cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) on Sunday last continued their community development programme by donating over $600,000 worth of items to several NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs), cricket clubs, youths and an elderly resident.

The teams – 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 – are mandated by the management of the Club to successfully completed a target of 300 activities combined as part of their personal development and to make a positive difference in the lives of youths, the less fortunate, and elderly.

The 10 teams, with co-sponsorship from the National Sports Commission (NSC), handed over cricket balls to 20 clubs.

Among the clubs benefiting from the donations were Chesney, Guymine, Mt Sinai, Upper Corentyne, Whim,

Fire victim, Nurse Claudia Ross receives her donation from Keith Hicks

Rose Hall Canje, Kildonan, Port Mourant, Mental Hospital, Edinburgh, Young Warriors, and Police. The teams also donated six trophies, 12 medals and a bicycle to the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association towards the hosting of their second Annual Award Ceremony while the Rose Hall Town Hindu Temple, on special request, received a large quantity of trophies and medals towards the hosting of a fundraising Day of Sports.

The Edinburgh Cricket Club also received a complete set of cricket stumps and also benefited from a donation of four special prizes to host a fundraising raffle for the East Bankbased team.

RHTY&SC Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster also fulfilled a commitment to a 12-year-old cricketer from the Edinburgh Club by handing over a complete educational package to assist him in his educational career. Others to benefit included a nurse from the Port Mourant Hospital whose house was recently burnt down.

Claudia Ross recently received a quantity of kitchen uten-

sils while the team donated a new bicycle to a resident of Mt Sinai, New Amsterdam, to assist her to get to work after thieves stole her old one at her workplace.

The Berbice Cricket Board also benefited from a donation of stationery and office equipment.

Foster stated that the Club was proud of the outstanding work of its cricketers on and off the cricket field. He strongly believes in making a positive difference and in the creed that ‘the more you give, the more blessings you receive’.

Foster, who is also the President of the Berbice Cricket Board, hailed the Club’s 300-plus cricketers as true representatives of its brand, and urged them to maintain the high standard they have set themselves under the Cricket Management Committee of Keith Hicks, Simon Naidu, Tyrone Pottaya and Ravindranauth Kissoonlall. Among the numerous players of the RHTY&SC involved in the programme were Shemaine Campbelle, Clinton Pestano, Kevlon Anderson, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabiki Gajnabi, Kevin Sinclair, and Erva Giddings.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, MAY 22, 2019

23

Hero Caribbean Premier League Player Draft on today J

ust over three months remain before the commencement of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2019 Tournament.

The Hero CPL players’ draft will take place today at the Gfinity eSports Arena in London 2pm GMT (9am local time).

The state-of-the-art production facility will allow CPL fans from around the globe to follow the action, which will be hosted by a world-class panel of pundits.

Each of the teams will have the option to retain a maximum of six players. The players that they can potentially retain, although there is no obligation to retain any players from the 2018 squads are three West Indian players, one overseas player, the marquee player from 2018 and an ICC Americas player from 2018.

The marquee players may be signed before the draft and will sit in the second spot on the draft list. In the past, players who were selected in this spot included the likes of Chris Lynn, Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik, Evin Lewis, AB de Villiers, and Steve Smith.

Each team can draft a maximum of five overseas players, but only four of these players will be allowed in each starting XI. The ICC Americas player does not count in this overseas category.

Just under a week ago, a record number of 536 players from around the world signalled their intent to be a part of the tournament.

Players from a total of 20 countries, includ-

ing the West Indies, are listed in the draft, as Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Australia, Scotland, and USA cricketers have enrolled themselves for the seventh edition of the CPL draft.

Some of the star T20 cricketers are on the list, including the likes of Alex Hales, Rashid Khan, Shakib al Hasan, Jofra Archer and JP Duminy as well as Windies stars like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shai Hope, and Shimron Hetmyer.

Hero CPL Tournament Operations Director Michael Hall said: “The fact that so many players have registered for our draft is a testament to the stature of our league.

Playing cricket in the Caribbean is something that all players look forward to, and the CPL combines that allure with a high standard of cricket. We expect that this year’s tournament will be no different.”

Hero CPL will now take place from September 4 to October 12. The full schedule of matches will be released in due course with matches already confirmed for Barbados, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

LGC launches 16th edition of Busy Independence weekend Torginol Paints Golf Extravaganza scheduled for local athletes

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LGC President Aleem Hussain makes a point at the head table during the launch of the Tournament

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he annual Torginol Paints Golf Tournament is scheduled to be played on Saturday, June 1.

Delighted that the weather has not affected playing conditions at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC), President Aleem Hussain thanked the marketing team for their continued support.

Administrative Assistant Rajesh Ramgolam, and Dianne Deoraj and Robert Singh from the marketing team were on hand as Stacy

Wong handed over the sponsorship cheque at a simple launching ceremony at the company’s Industrial Site head office.

Ramgolam, on behalf of the company, reiterated Torginol’s 16 years of commitment to supporting the Golf Club and the sport in Guyana which it plans to continue.

In response, Club President Hussain expressed gratitude on the LGC’s behalf, for such resolute support from Torginol Paints.

He said, "Torginol is the

only locally manufactured paint with a special formula to beat the harsh weather conditions in Guyana.

Similarly, the top golfers will strive to win the Torginol Paints trophy and beat tough competition to emerge at the top of the field.”

The LGC continues to offer free lessons and equipment, compliments of the Shafura Hussain Foundation and persons can learn more by visiting its Facebook page or contacting 220-5660/645-0944.

hile others may celebrate Guyana’s Independence with song and dance, Guyana’s athletes will be able to celebrate on the track with a series of events for the Independence season.

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), in collaboration with the Ex-Athletes and Friends Association, will be running off three track events over the course of Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26.

On Saturday morning, a Plaisance/ Sparendaam one-mile race will be hosted for children within the area. Later in the afternoon at 17:00h (5pm), the 5K/10K race will run off. The route is from the GNS Ground on Carifesta Avenue to the University of Guyana turn and back to the starting point.

When the sun begins to set on Sunday, the athletes will head to the Leonora Track and Field Centre, West Coast Demerara for the relay festival.

Organiser Kenrick Smith disclosed some additions would be made for the second edition of the relay event.

“This year, we’re trying to make it more exciting by adding two events and that is the SMR and the BMR. The SMR is a sprint medley relay, which consists of four legs – that is two 100m, a 200m and a 400m. The BMR, which is a mixed medley relay, also consists of four legs and we have the 1200m, a 400m, an 800m and a 1600m,” Smith noted.

Citing the reason for the BMR relay, Smith

explained that the organisers wanted to give the middle and long-distance athletes an opportunity to shine in the relay format which is often linked to sprint alone.

Sixteen events are currently on the relay programme, with 13 local clubs already registered. As it relates to the one-mile event, athletes under eight will run a 400m race while those aged 9 to 18 years will be required to run the mile.

The athletes will be given many incentives to bring home the gold medals as the ExAthletes and Friends Association disclosed some of the prizes.

A total of 14 tablets, 8 bicycles and 65 pairs of running shoes are up for grabs while the male and female winners of the 5K/ 10K road race will pocket $50,000 each.

AAG President Aubrey Hutson expressed his gratitude to the organisers, stating that they should take credit for the successes of Guyanese athletes.

“The evidence of your work is reflected in what we’re doing internationally. I’m saying that the medals that we earn at CARIFTA and the performances that we’ve been having internationally comes directly from a collaborative effort. Every one of us here has a part to play and the initiative of these events is one such good thing that is happening in track and field, and it is being manifested in the results we’re getting. So, thanks a whole lot,” Hutson stated.

wednesday, MAY 22, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hero Caribbean Premier League Player Draft on today Page 23

Busy Independence LGC launches 16th edition of Torginol weekend scheduled Paints Golf Extravaganza for local athletes Page 23

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