Guyana Times Wednesday May 8, 2019

UNICEF-funded $13M Sexual Offences Court opens in Berbice P14

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

Issue No. 3917

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNesday, may 8, 2019

PRICE

Revocation of leases

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

High Court finds Govt breached Region 5 farmers’ rights …awards $6.5M in damages, costs

See story on page 3

Extradition proceedings begin for ex-cop wanted in US

Dispute in Region 1

Illegal miners blocking foreign investment – Canadian P12 company

Region 2 dental department crippled by lack of essential P12 supplies

Page 9

Guyanese man burns 3-yearold daughter to death in NYC

P15 Salary increase for nurses

Page 13

Page 15

Woman caught trying to smuggle ganja for imprisoned fiancé

CCJ to hear unilateral GECOM Chair appointment case today Page 7

Catholic priest robbed after leaving bank

Page 7

Father, son jailed for 85 years for killing accountant Page 2

US pumps P11 $850,000 more into criminal justice system project Hotelier to P8 face Judge, jury for death of neighbour

2 news

wednesday, may 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Father, son jailed for 85 years for killing accountant

F

ifty-four-year-old Sukhdeo Dharamdat called “Toney” and his 25-year-old son, Eshwardat Dharamdat called “Bruddow” were on Tuesday sentenced to a total of 85 years in prison for the murder of Suresh Nandkishore called “Ravo”, which occurred on February 3, 2015, at Handsome Tree Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

The father and son were on trial before Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court.

During the trial, the court heard that the duo and the deceased were involved in a confrontation regarding the erection of a fence on a plot of land.

There was a confrontation which led to the two accused attacking the victim, his brother and father. During the attack, Nandkishore received head injuries and later died, while his father was knocked unconscious and his brother received bodily injuries.

Jailed: Eshwardat Dharamdat (left) and his father Sukhdeo Dharamdat

The two were initially charged jointly with Chaitram Dharamdat, Sukhdeo Dharamdat’s younger son. However, the younger Dharamdat died during the Camp Street Prison fire in 2017.

In court on Tuesday, Sukhdeo Dharamdat was sentenced to 65 years for the capital offence of murder while his son was sentenced to 20 years for manslaughter, after being previously found guilty of the respective offences by a 12-member jury.

Both accused were represented by Attorneys-at-Law Pamela DaSantos, Brandon DaSantos and Alanna Lall while the State was represented by Prosecutors Tuanna Hardy, Abigail Gibbs and Teriq Mohammed.

Sentencing was set for Tuesday to facilitate a probation report. This report revealed that the older Dharamdat (Sukhdeo) was described by neighbours and relatives as a bully, the re-

Dead: Suresh Nandkishore

port went on to say that the accused was covetous, especially when it comes to land ownership.

Meanwhile, during the sentencing, Justice Singh stated that according to the probation report, the younger Dharamdat (Eshwardat), who expressed remorse for the incident, was not a bad person, rather, it is his father that is of negative influence.

During the sentencing, Justice Singh initially give a 60-year sentence to the father, but added another 10 years for lack of remorse. He also subtracted five years for the probation report. On the

other hand, his son was given a 30-year sentence from which a total of 10 years was deducted for expressing remorse and the probation report. The High Court judge also ordered that the time the duo spent on remand awaiting trial be deducted from their sentence.

Reports stated that on the day in question, the deceased, his father, Bhopaul Nandkishore, and brother, Parmanand, were erecting a fence on their plot of land when they were approached by the Dharamdats and a heated argument ensued.

The victims tried to avoid any further exchange of words by walking away but the Dharamdats did not gave up so easily. They reportedly armed themselves with the posts that were being used for the fence and attacked the victims during which the now dead man received lashes to his head, and his brother and father were also beaten with the weapon.

The victim’s brother, Parmanand, managed to escape and seek help for his father and brother. However, the victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

news

3

wednesday, may 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, May 8 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, May 9 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, May 8 – 06:00h-07:30h and Thursday, May 9 – 06:45h-08:15h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to light rain showers are expected until the early afternoon hours followed by lightly cloudy skies, with partly cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 06:31h and 19:05h reaching maximum heights of 2.72 metres and 2.54 metres respectively.

Revocation of leases

High Court finds Govt breached Region 5 farmers’ rights …awards $6.5M in damages, costs

F

ive rice farmers who sued the State over the cancellation of their leases by the Mahaica Maichony Abary/ Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA) have been vindicated by the High Court.

It was the familiar court battle between former Attorney General Anil Nandlall and his successor, Basil Williams, who was named as a respondent on behalf of the State.

In the court ruling handed down by Justice Priya Seenarine-Beharry, farmer Sonita Bristol of West Coast Berbice (WCB) was awarded $1 million as damages and

Farmers back in 2017 protesting increases in land rental fees by the MMA/ADA

$300,000 in costs.

The court ruled that the revocation of her lease was null and void and granted injunctions preventing the MMA/ADA from moving against her land. It also ordered the third named re-

saturday, may 4, 2019

Low Tide: 12:45h reaching a minimum height of 0.48 metre.

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

10

13

18

19

21

27

FREE TICKET

02 Bonus Ball

Tuesday, may 7, 2019

DAILY MILLIONS

07

18

09

21

25

LUCKY 3

7

8

7

2

Afternoon Draw

4

4

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03

04

08

09

10

12

PAY DAY

02

05

09 12

20 SUPER PAY DAY

17

01

06

15 17

18

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

spondent to give up the land.

Bristol, whose land was located south of the MMA main canal in Number 40 Village, West Coast Berbice, claimed in her affidavit that she learnt of her lease being cancelled without notice

on March 18, 2016, through a notice in the newspaper.

She subsequently learned that her land was occupied

by Nigel Gordon, the third named respondent in her claim. turn to page 7

4

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, may 8, 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

Taking credit for visionary projects

T

he Government continues to bask as it slowly completes a few projects which were envisaged and commenced by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration just prior to the May 2015 General Elections. Despite serious accusations of not delivering the initial intended expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the Government takes credit for the new structure now in place as it has done with the Indian Arrival Monument.

Nothing is wrong with this or any Government continuing developmental projects and policies started by its predecessor.

Since benefits are intended for the people, it becomes difficult for arguments to be made against continuity. While that is what the people would expect, what makes the current situation in Guyana a bit different?

First, the context must be taken into consideration. During the PPP/C’s minority Government of 2011-2015, many transformative projects were already on the table with some at different stages of implementation. These included the Amaila Falls Hydro, the said modernisation of the CJIA, expansion of the East Bank and East Coast thoroughfares, the Specialty Hospital and plans to materialise a new Demerara Harbour Bridge, and the West Coast Demerara and Sheriff Street road extensions.

These visionary projects, as the Berbice Bridge, the National Stadium and the Marriott Hotel, were not only designed to further advance the country’s then ongoing unprecedented development, but to better position it to meet new demands faced by every developing nation especially one where oil will play a major part in its future economy.

Having witnessed Guyana’s unprecedented transformation as it moved from a highly-indebted poor country to a developing one within the 23-year tenure of the PPP/C Administration, Guyanese were very expectant of further advancement as they saw their standards rapidly improve. That expectation was rooted in the fact that their lives were positively impacted during the PPP/C’s tenure with many only familiar with modernity.

All would have wanted a state-of-the-art airport with protection from the elements of the weather. All would have wanted reliable, cheaper and cleaner electricity which the Amaila Hydro would have provided and which would have led to a reduction in manufacturing costs and by extension, cheaper local products. All would have wanted the services of a modern hospital with treatment in specialised areas.

The only set of people who appeared not wanting these positively impacting projects is the current Government when in Opposition.

Then, Guyanese were flabbergasted to know that 33 people would have then not wanted their motherland to further progress. The answer as to why can only be found within the confines of selfish and vindictive politics to the detriment of Guyanese, including their own supporters.

The reality is, that set of Guyanese lawmakers squashed those transformation projects of the PPP/C Administration. One may objectively not deny some of their concerns as they claim, but despite being afforded all the information regarding feasibility studies, recouping revenue and benefits to the nation, even interaction with major players as in the case of the Amaila Hydro, they refused to see the value in these undertakings.

An astonished nation was at pains of trying to understand as to how the Amaila Hydro and the Specialty Hospital were scuttled by the said 33, who also severely criticised the CJIA and Marriott projects.

Many attempted to unearth some semblance of rationality for those decisions, but were unsuccessful. Again, the answer lies in politics rather than in objectivity, rationality and concern for Guyanese welfare.

Politically, the power of the combined one-seat majority of A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) while in Opposition was ruthlessly wielded to demonstrate the belief of who control the seat of power. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just about whom, but about the assumed power itself, and the brandishing of it with scant regard if it compromised the future.

But what has changed since? Why would the said set of 33 people, officially in the seat of power, now boast of some of these projects which they had previously blanked? How suddenly these projects make sense to them? Politics seems most plausible as, in their minds, support for such transformative projects while in Opposition would have made the then PPP/C Government look good.

Such thinking can only be seen as a transgression into the realms of unbridled hypocrisy. On the flip side, why not execute sound projects so as to look good while now in Government? This obviously is in the context of them once killing and burying those projects and now unashamedly taking credit.

One positive is that Guyanese can eventually benefit from what was originally intended if these projects are executed as designed. Is there any iota of hope for the Amaila Hydro under the said 33? Given their recent seemingly unexpected flip-flopping, it may be ill-advised to carve an absolute no in stone.

After all, who would have expected the AFC to have expressed “deep concern” for sugar workers after vehemently defending its coalition Government’s decision to close a number of estates and with a relative of one of its high-ranking officials reportedly tasked with finding buyers for the factories? It appears another confirmation of the boundless potential for hypocrisy.

Pushpanjali 19: Eight persons were honoured on Sunday at the Indian Monument Garden annual Pushpanjali. Those honoured were Chief Executive Officer of Demerara Bank Limited, Pravinchandra Dave; Managing Director of N&S Mattai, Harry Mattai; Guyanese jeweller, L Seepersaud Maraj; Christopher Mahendranauth Persaud; Purshotam Shivraj; Dr Leslie Persaud; Khainwattie Panchu and Heidi Nadira Dalip. Also in photo is former chairman of Demerara Distillers Limited, Yesu Persaud. Pushpanjali is hosted annually to observe the anniversary of the arrival of the first East Indians to Guyana

Venezuela arrested 2000 for political reasons this year – NGO M ore than 2000 people have been arrested in Venezuela for political reasons since the beginning of the year, most of them detained during anti-government protests, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) reported Tuesday.

“Between January 1 and the month of May 2019, 2014 persons have been arrested, the majority of them protesters,” said Alfredo Romero, head of Venezuela’s Foro Penal prisoners’ rights NGO. More than 800 are still in detention, Romero told a press conference.

Protests have proliferated throughout Venezuela since Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó proclaimed himself acting President on January 23.

Tensions increased last week when Guaidó called for an uprising by troops loyal to President Nicolás Maduro.

Romero said 339 people were arrested after the failed uprising and the demonstrations that followed on April 30 and May 1, adding that 82 were still in jail.

On Monday, Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said 233 people were arrested in the protests sparked by the failed uprising.

Venezuela has suffered five years of recession that has seen more than 2.7 million people flee poverty and insecurity since 2015, according to United Nations figures.

Of the 30 million people left behind, the UN says almost a quarter of them are in desperate need of humanitarian aid. (AFP)

US lifts sanctions on general who broke ranks

The United States has lifted sanctions on a Venezuelan general who broke ranks from the Nicolás Maduro regime, saying it hoped it would push others to follow.

Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday said the US would “consider sanctions relief for all those who step up”.

Pence reiterated US support for Opposition Leader Guaidó, who has

An anti-government protester is detained by security forces during clashes with security forces in Caracas on the commemoration of May Day on May 1, 2019, after a day of violent clashes on the streets of the capital spurred by Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó’s call on the military to rise up against President Nicolás Maduro (AFP)

been recognised by more than 50 nations as Venezuela’s “interim president”.

Guaido is challenging the legitimacy of President Maduro.

“We hope the action that our nation is taking today will encourage others to follow the example of General Cristopher Figuera and members of the military who have also stepped forward,” Pence said in a speech at the US State Department.

Pence’s remarks came as Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered the prosecution of seven Members of Parliament (MPs) over their alleged participation in a failed military uprising led by Guaidó.

The Opposition Leader rejected the ruling, accusing the court of “only responding to the orders of Maduro”.

Pence accused Venezuela’s Supreme Court of becoming a “political tool” of the Maduro Government and called on it to “return to its founding principles”.

“If it doesn’t, the US will hold all 25 of its magistrates accountable,” he said.

The US Treasury sanctioned the court’s President, Maikel Moreno, and the seven principal members of its constitutional chamber in 2017.

The US was the first nation to recognise Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela, but 50 powers have since followed, including the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Guaidó declared himself Venezuela’s interim leader in January. As the head of the Opposition-controlled National Assembly, he invoked the Constitution to assume an interim presidency, arguing that Maduro’s re-election last year was illegitimate.

But Maduro – who is backed by Russia, China and the leaders of Venezuela’s military – has refused to cede power.

Pence also announced that the US ship USNS Comfort would begin a five-month mission in June to the Caribbean, Central America and South America to help relieve pressure on countries that have taken in large numbers of people fleeing Venezuela.

(BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNesday, may 8, 2019

5

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

In modern societies, Ramjattan would be called on to resign

Dear Editor, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan is quoted by an online news agency about the scourge of prostitution, as “A lot of these big men go there and they say how they want to feel up these girls because they said they never eat a white meat yet and they pay a lot for the services.

So it is all a trade of immorality and it is unhealthy for my country”. This statement is racist and sexist in equally offensive measure and should be retracted immediately and an apology to all Guyanese offered forthwith.

Editor, in modern societies, Ramjattan would be called on to resign; the fruitlessness of such calls forbids such impotent action. Guyana is often

described as ‘a land of six races’, Europeans or ‘white’ people are listed proudly in all of our heritage documentation, as such, they should be entitled to equal protection by the Ethnic Relations Commission which was established in 2000 and whose constitutional functions offer such protection.

Minister Ramjattan has openly referred to one of our ethnicities as ‘white meat’, this should not go unchallenged.

Acceptance of any official derogatory descriptor is the thin edge of the wedge.

Guyana is about to undergo rapid change, we already have people of all ethnicities and genders coming here to invest and work in the extractive industries (think oil), do we want the females

of European ethnicities to be greeted or treated as ‘white meat’? The challenges posed by a sudden influx of moneyed people of other ethnicities are well documented in the Caribbean, it is not going to be an easy period of transition, statements such as this, made by a Minister, makes it even more so, it does our image and character much harm.

Minister Ramjattan is on a campaign to boost his profile in a bid to make himself an attractive prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming general elections and pronouncements on every aspect of Guyanese life have been pouring forth - dogs and horses were needed by the GPF; late night parties are the cause of crime and domes-

What is being done about corruption?

Dear Editor, A lot has been said about corruption, especially during the last general election on May 11, 2015, yet nothing seems to have been done about it. It was claimed that hundreds of billions of Guyana dollars was “misappropriated”. Forensic audits were undertaken yet nothing seems to have happened in that there have not been large-scale successful prosecutions.

Could it be that the

APNU/AFC got it terribly wrong in claiming “corruption, corruption” during their election campaigns and started to believe their own propaganda? Could it be that the APNU/AFC then lied to their supporters and lied to the Guyanese nation to get elected? The evidence (or lack of evidence), so far, suggests this is the case.

Clearly, nothing has been done about corruption other than those who once be-

lieved that corruption was taking place under the PPP/C Government are surprisingly silent now that they got a Government to their own liking in power.

Even before coming to power the APNU/AFC had to have some evidence before screeching “corruption, corruption”.

Where is the evidence?

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

Bringing Dr Brian O’Toole’s shooter to justice Dear Editor, Dr Brian O’Toole, principal and owner of School of the Nations, one of the best private secondary schools of this nation of ours, was shot by a rogue criminal several months ago and to date, no one was caught and charged for that heinous crime.

That incident could have been fatal but providence has decreed otherwise!

I have known Dr O’Toole and his benign family for several decades now, and have known of their unique and highly significant contributions they have so far contributed sacrificially to this nation in the field of primary, secondary and tertiary education and also employment. They have given also, in many cases, the opportunity for better tertia-

ry education to many children who otherwise would have none, due to poverty!

Many Guyanese children of all ethnic backgrounds have benefited from their unique unalloyed kindness, given with no strings attached, over the decades, to this nation’s children which Dr O’Toole and his kind and unselfish wife, Pam O’Toole, has given to this nation’s children so far.

Pam O’Toole is also a teacher and a kind humanitarian to this nation!

Their two kind and generous boys have also emulated their parents and have done their part of kindness too.

Editor, not only me, but several thousand Guyanese of all strata of our society and of all the races here, are concerned for Dr O’Toole and his

kind family’s safety in this nation.

Their safety is also our concern and we all ask that the actors and architects of that heinous and near-fatal crime be brought before the courts to answer to that heinous crime.

Not only is Dr O’Toole an educator but also, his unique life is one to be emulated by others. In all three counties of this nation, they are admired and are emulated for their unique brand of education.

Finally, we ask respectfully that the actors and perpetrators of that heinous and almost fatal crime be brought to trial as justice is the best beloved of all things in the sight of God! Yours respectfully, Rooplall Dudhnath

tic violence; tint was the major culprit in crime; crime is not as bad as in neighbouring countries; whorehouses are posing a security risk for Guyana; the PPP is preparing to meddle ‘Russia style’ in the elections. Ramjattan is yet

to provide a mildly successful solution to the crime problem and as to the last, the PPP has no need for specialised public relations, all that is needed is for Minister Ramjattan and his colleagues in the Granger Administration to keep

talking; the Guyanese public can easily see how dense, backward, racist, sexist and fossilised they are by their actions and pronouncements.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Addressing crime and domestic violence Dear Editor, Crime and domestic violence are two issues which continue to feature heavily in our local news and seem to have become an unsavoury aspect of our culture. Although we can lay much of the blame for our inadequate incomes and depressed welfares on poor government policies, as a society, we also help to contribute to the social and economic hardships we face. In economics, the responsible group is that of “households”.

A cursory examination of the news reveals that households are often plagued by domestic problems which very often result in broken homes and offspring who generally mature into adults without the essential social skills necessary as a successful partner and parent. But what is the best and most efficient household? Unsurprisingly, the best and most efficient household is one which at the very least comprises both parents who understand and fulfil their roles and responsibilities in their home and to their children.

One of the things that we would admit is that our culture, which includes our social activities, the music, artistes and ‘stars’ we listen to and in many cases unintentionally emulate, very often do not celebrate the virtues of social behaviours and traits which yield successful adults and promote the survivability of households. Worse, quite a few of these stars overtly support gangsterism and disrespect, violence towards and abuse of women, and casual relations. These stars have become the individuals who influence us most regarding our social interactions and ‘condition’ our thinking into our ‘societal norms,’ what is acceptable, so that disrespect, violence towards and abuse of women becomes acceptable, even to our women, who of-

ten suffer the consequences of their participation at these social events.

Addressing crime and domestic violence, which are the roots of the failure of many of our households, therefore, needs to be addressed by broader society, particularly those who are most affected. Young women in particular need to avoid being conned by the first, or any other ‘I love you.’ Also, they might want to steer clear from individuals who do not display any sense of responsibility, or have overly aggressive tendencies.

They might say it’s okay, but it’s not. Women need to recognise the crucial role they have in protecting themselves from violence and abuse. They need to start by demanding long-term commitments from males as social partners.

For their part, men need to recognise that their social relations with women, the disrespect, violence and abuse they mete out to women, are largely due to their exposure to, and acculturalisation by much of the music and (anti) social activities in which they engage. Our menfolk need to recognise also that such attitudes are condescending, predatory and negative, and impact on their behaviour at home. Further, men need to recognise their roles and responsibilities in their homes, to their wives, and to their children, and ensure that everything they do is geared towards ensuring the survival of their homes and ultimate success of their children in growing into responsible men who do not abuse and misuse women, and who as women, know what to ask for, and will not tolerate disrespect, violence and abuse from men.

Men who have been disadvantaged by society because of inadequate education necessary to secure a regular job, and who consider crime as a means of earning money

should reconsider this notion.

Individuals who are unwilling to work for depressed incomes and who consider such a great risk as crime are encouraged to reflect that they are confronting the basic reality of survival. This is courageous and should be applauded, but it is advisable that such desperation should best be channelled into the challenge of looking for work in other areas in the country such as the interior. Here the risks are very often matched by the rewards, provided they ensure that they do not get caught working for the occasional plundering ‘boss’.

Our institutions, particularly NGOs, Government social services and media organisations, need to actively develop programmes which educate and inform society about costs of embracing violence, abuse and other unhealthy attitudes towards women encouraged by some of our popular artistes. Social services could consider regulatory mechanisms (imposition of stiff taxes, for example) which eliminate content which even subliminally advocates violence and abuse of women, from our society.

Among the groups of persons who will object to such policies on the basis of ‘freedom of expression’ would probably be the promoters and businesses who make hundreds of millions every year from these events. However, freedom of expression does not extend to incitation and promotion of violence and abuse against women, or any group or segment of society, for that matter. Finally, women should stop allowing themselves to be used to promote social events which encourage disrespect, violence and abuse towards themselves.

Yours faithfully, Craig Sylvester

6

WEDNESday, may 8, 2019

Page

Foundation Part 1

E

Bullying is a big problem

very day thousands of teens wake up afraid to go to school.

Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students, and it has everyone worried, not just the kids on its receiving end. Yet because parents, teachers, and other adults don’t always see it, they may not understand how extreme bullying can get.

Bullying is when a person is picked on over and over again by an individual or group with more power, either in terms of physical strength or social standing.

Two of the main reasons people are bullied are because of appearance and social status. Bullies pick on the people they think don’t fit in, maybe because of how they look, how they act (for example, kids who are shy and withdrawn), their race or religion.

Some bullies attack their targets physically, which can mean anything from shoving or tripping to punching or hitting, or even sexual assault. Others use psychological control or verbal insults to put themselves in charge. For example, people in popular groups or cliques often bully people they categorise as different by excluding them or gossiping about them (psychological bullying).

They may also taunt or tease their targets (verbal bullying).

Verbal bullying can also involve cyberbullying — sending cruel texts, messages, or posting insults about a person on Facebook or other social sites.

How does bullying make people feel?

One of the most painful aspects of bullying is that it is relentless. Most

people can take one episode of teasing or name calling or being shunned at the mall. However, when it goes on and on, bullying can put a person in a state of constant fear.

Guys and girls who are bullied may find their schoolwork and health suffering. Amber began having stomach pains and diarrhoea and was diagnosed with a digestive condition called irritable bowel syndrome as a result of the stress that came from being bullied throughout ninth grade. Mahfooz spent his afternoons hungry and unable to concentrate in class because he was too afraid to go to the school cafeteria at lunchtime.

Studies show

that people who are abused by their peers are at risk for mental health problems, such as low self-esteem, stress, depression, or anxiety.

Bullies are at risk for problems, too.

Bullying is violence, and it often leads to more violent behaviour as the bully grows up. It’s estimated that one out of four elementary-school bullies will have a criminal record by the time they are 30. Some teen bullies end up being rejected by their peers and lose friendships as they grow older. Bullies may also fail in school and not have the career or relationship success that other people enjoy.

Who bullies?

Both guys and girls can be bullies.

Bullies may be outgoing and aggressive. Or a bully can appear reserved on the surface, but may try to manipulate people in subtle, deceptive ways, like anonymously starting a damaging rumour just to see what happens.

Many bullies share some common characteristics. They like to dominate others and are generally focused on themselves. They often have poor social skills and poor social judgment.

Sometimes they have no feelings of empathy or caring toward other people.

Although most bullies think they’re hot stuff and have

the right to push people around, others are actually insecure.

They put other people down to make themselves feel more interesting or powerful. And some bullies act the way they do because they’ve been hurt by bullies in the past – maybe even a bullying figure in their own family, like a parent or other adult.

Some bullies actually have personality disorders that don’t allow them to understand normal social emotions like guilt, empathy, compassion, or remorse. These people need help from a mental health professional like a counsellor, social worker, psychiatrist, or psychologist. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

F

Acts of friendship or Ashley, it was like this: She was sitting with a big group in the school lunchroom when she accidentally knocked her drink onto her lap. As word spread that it looked like Ashley had wet herself, the laughter began to mount. Then she noticed her best friend doing something strange.

“She poured water on herself,” Ashley said.

True friendship is hard to find, Ashley says. But she knows it when she sees it. And so do many of you. We asked our readers what it takes to be a good friend. More than 5000 of you shared your thoughts on friendship.

For some, the defining moments of friendship were profound, such as the soulmate who helps you through the grief of losing a family member or camps out in your hospital room when you’re sick. For others, it’s smaller gestures that loom large – the friend who talks for hours when you’re feeling alone, even if it means going over on his cell phone minutes; the one who helps you with your homework, even when she hasn’t done her own; or the friend who helps you search for your retainer, even when it means going through the garbage from the school lunch.

What friends do for you Big or small, it’s actions that seem to count the most in friendship. In a time when we can chat effortlessly by text and IM, talk is getting cheaper. Many of you believe that the evidence of true friends is what they do to show their loyalty, honesty, trustworthiness, or willingness to make a sacrifice when you need help.

Kaitlin, 14, told us about a friend who took the blame for her when she got in a fight at school. Her friend was suspended for 10 days. And Marissa, 16, said she discovered the difference between a close friend and casual friend on a school trip to California.

“I got sick, and my friend ran to the bathroom after me to hold my hair back as I became the Exorcist,” Marissa said. “She stood by me, while my other ‘friend’ yelled at me to get off the floor and clean it up.”

What you do for friends It works both ways: Nearly three quarters of the people who wrote to us said they do as much for their friends as their friends do for them. Sometimes the most treasured acts of friendship are those for which you expect to get nothing in return, not even credit for a good deed.

“The nicest thing I ever did

for a friend was when I let her date my ex — without ever telling her that I was against it,” Rae’Johne said.

Elaina, 15, remembers the day she went clothes shopping with her best friend, who is overweight. The saleslady was being rude to her friend because there was so little in her size and nothing fit quite right.

Elaina is proud of how she helped her friend that day. “I had like an armful of clothes for myself (and may I add these clothes were to DIE for!) and I put all my clothes back and said, ‘I don’t like what they have in here, why don’t we go somewhere with better clothes, not these cheap ones.’”

The one and only Many of the people who wrote us thought it was important to have a best friend, one who stood out from the rest.

“In reality, you are truly blessed to have one true friend to the backbone,” Bizaflak, 14, said. “All the others are basically your acquaintances.” That’s what Rich, 17, meant when he described a person’s friends being “like a pyramid” with one at the peak and others in supporting roles.

Some of you described the communication between best friends as being a perfectly clear connection, almost as if it’s on a frequency only they can hear.

“A true friend understands you, even when you’re not talking,” Casey, 14, said.

“We practically finish each other’s sentences,” Kayla, 15, said.

The wisdom of friends Often what you look for in your best friend is good judgment. Jackie, 14, said the nicest thing a friend did for her was to tell her mom a secret Jackie had told to her friend – that she was extremely depressed.

“My friend was scared and even though I told her not to tell anyone, she knew she had to,” Jackie said. “She ended up saving my life, and I am grateful.”

Not everyone thinks it’s important to have one best friend. Molly, 14, said that together her friends make up all the aspects of what one “true friend’ would be.

“I have friends who I would confide anything in and trust them to keep it all a secret,” Molly said. “I have smart friends, funny friends, goofy friends, ‘bodyguard’ friends (aka the friends who will stick up for you no matter what), and just friends who are there on the weekends who want to hang out. So really, no one person can fill every void in your life.”(Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

news

7

wednesday, may 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

to hear unilateral GECOM Chair Catholic priest CCJ appointment case today robbed after S leaving bank

Catholic priest, Paul Martin

A

Catholic priest was robbed in front of his Oronoque Street, Queenstown, home on Tuesday afternoon after conducting business at a city bank.

Reports are Father Paul Martin was robbed at gunpoint of cash and important documents at about 13:00h.

According to a social media post by Catholic Media

Guyana, as the priest exited his car in front of his driveway, another car stopped behind him from which a man exited, pointed a gun at him and demanded the bag, which contained the cash. The priest complied and handed over the bag, after which the gunman reentered the car and fled the scene. The matter was reported to the police.

High Court finds...

Meanwhile, a similar ruling was made in the case of Chalyn Ann McKalman, who took Attorney General Basil Williams, on behalf of the State, the MMA/ADA and Mark and Joseph Ross to court over her land.

In the cases of Sharon Solomon, Fariel Johnson and Doreen Monah, they were also awarded $1 million in damages and $300,000 in costs. Monah, in particular, argued in her affidavit that after being dispossessed of her land by the MMA/ADA, it was awarded to other people.

In Solomon’s affidavit, she detailed that before her lease was revoked, her land was occupied by the Seafield Co-op, which rented her

land to a farmer known as “Big bull”. This farmer, the affidavit states, was forcefully removed from said land by the Co-op, which instead of giving it to her, rented it to the fourth named respondent, Lincoln Samaroo.

Besides awarding them their damages and costs, the court also issued an injunction restraining MMA/ADA from interfering with the farmers’ land.

It was only in 2015 that another set of farmers – Phillip Johnson, Rupert Blackman and Rawle Miller – had filed legal action against the MMA/ADA, challenging the cancellation of State land leases in the rear of Seafield, West Coast Berbice.

tarting from today, a number of cases will come up for hearing before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) - cases which, when decided upon, will have major effects on Guyana and the holding of General and Regional Elections.

The first such case, which will be heard at 10:00h, will be the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman’s unilateral appointment cases. This is a matter which will ultimately decide the future of current Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson, being at the helm of the agency.

The CCJ had set May 8 as the date to hear the case, which was brought by the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha, challenging the appointment of Patterson.

Patterson was appointed to the position of Chairman of GECOM in 2017 after President Granger had rejected three lists comprising 18 names submitted by

From page 3

The farmers had claimed that the leases were granted by former President Donald Ramotar and only the Head of State has the right to make such a cancellation.

After months of hearing, former Chief Justice Ian Chang in February of 2016 quashed the cancellation of the leases in favour of the farmers.

However, the farmers said they were subsequently informed by General Manager of MMA/ ADA Aubrey Charles that President Granger has cancelled their leases. Besides their leases being revoked, farmers also had to deal with land rental fee increases.

The Caribbean Court of Justice

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for the post of GECOM Chairman.

Last year, Chief Justice (acting) Roxane George had ruled that the Constitution of Guyana, in fact, allows for the President to unilaterally appoint someone to fill the position of Chairman of GECOM. Meanwhile, the three No-Confidence Motion cases deal with Christopher Ram v The Attorney General of Guyana, the Leader of the Opposition and Joseph Harmon; Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo v the Attorney General of Guyana, Dr Barton Scotland and Joseph Harmon; and Charrandas Persaud v Compton Herbert Reid, Dr Barton Scotland, Bharrat Jagdeo and Joseph Harmon; the last of which deals with Persaud’s eligibility to vote in the House.

These cases have all been consolidated and will be heard on Thursday, May 9, at 10:00h and continue to Friday, May 10, at 9:00h, before CCJ Justices Adrian Saunders, David Hayton and Jacob Wit in Courtroom 1.

On March 22, a divided Appeal Court ruled that a majority of 34 votes would have been needed to validly pass the No-Confidence Motion brought against the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government last year.

Government had subsequently asked the House to reverse the passage of the motion, but its Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, had declined the request and had advised that the court be approached. As such,

Government had gone to the High Court to challenge the validity of the motion, saying that a 34 majority is needed for it to be successfully passed.

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George had, in January, upheld the December 21, 2018, passage of the No-Confidence Motion, ruling that in Guyana’s 65-member National Assembly, a majority is 33.

This, however, was appealed

by Attorney General Basil Williams.

While Justice Rishi Persaud dismissed the appeal and conferred with the ruling of the High Court, his colleague appellate judges allowed the State’s appeal.

Both Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Dawn Gregory opined that while 33 is the majority of the 65-member National Assembly, the successful passage of a No-Confidence Motion requires an “absolute majority” of 34, and not the “simple” majority of 33 that has been used to pass ordinary business in the House.

8 News Hotelier to face Judge, jury for death of neighbour wednesday, may 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hotelier Erwin Bacchus

E

rwin Bacchus of Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown, was on Tuesday committed to stand trial at the High Court for the murder of his neighbour, Jason De Florimonte.

The 46-old-year man, who is the owner of Tourist

Villa Hotel in Subryanville, Georgetown, was committed to stand trial by Magistrate Judy Latchman after a prima facie case was made out against him at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

Bacchus was represented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes, while Attorney-atLaw Dexter Todd prosecuted the matter.

It is alleged that on August 4, 2018, Jason De Florimonte of Lot 96 Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown, was reportedly assaulting his girlfriend, Christine Rambarran, in front of his home at about 01:45h.

This caught the attention of a 29-year-old handyman employed at the hotel, who intervened to assist the woman. That intervention reportedly angered

Jason De Florimonte

30-year-old De Florimonte, and an argument ensued.

Realising that the situation was escalating, the handyman ran into the hotel, with De Florimonte in hot pursuit.

Bacchus reportedly whipped out his licensed firearm and allegedly

fired several shots in De Florimonte’s direction. De Florimonte was shot and subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem examination conducted on his body gave his cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds.

Erwin Bacchus, of Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, was initially charged with manslaughter when he made his first court appearance and was released on $1.5 million bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

However, the manslaughter charge was withdrawn and upgraded to the capital offence of murder, based on the recommendations by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after an investigation into the incident was completed.

On corruption…

A

…and vendettas hhh…how the haughty have been brought low!!

When they were in Opposition, the PNC – operating under its fig leaf “APNU” – and its sidekick the AFC washed their mouths daily on the PPP and their appointees about “corruption”. Now, after four years with them in Government, it’s clear they were performing what Freud called “projection”!! This, of course, is a defence mechanism, adopted by folks who have thoughts they know are unacceptable – like ‘taking’ from the Government – but then attribute those thoughts to others!!

Simply put, all the PNC and AFC fellas and felines were thinking about was “taking’” from the treasury, but projected that onto the PPP. In Guyana, we’ve got a much more succinct expression: “taking your doo-doo and rubbing it on someone else’s bamsie!” Now this isn’t just any theory by your Eyewitness. How else can you explain the orgy of taking from the public purse – which started from the moment the PNC/AFC entered office?

The enormity of those criminal depradations is on a scale that aren’t just happenstance – or even coincidence.

They came out of years of obsessing on the ways and means to get their hands on the loot. In a Freudian slip, this was revealed early on – when this paper published that the bloated Cabinet of 27 Ministers; four Vice Presidents and one Prime Minister had given themselves 50 per cent raises while dropping a 5 per cent crumb to Public Service workers and FIRING 7000 sugar workers!! Now if that ain’t highway robbery, what is? The slip was the Minister of State justifying the mega salaries by claiming it was meant to curb kleptocratic tendencies in the governmental big wigs!!

But it didn’t work, did it? Even those who some thought were above the grime became caught into what was to become a vortex of corruption. Rupert Roopnaraine, the erstwhile comrade of the inimitable Walter Rodney, was caught with his hand in the till when over $600 million couldn’t be accounted for in starting the wood ants-infested Jubilee Stadium that was being rushed for Guyana’s Golden Jubilee. The revelations made some wish the British had never departed. Ironically, Roopnaraine was recently defrocked as being British!! Say wot!!?

As the looting continued with Exxon-bonus-gate; warehouse-gate; pharma-gate; new DHB gate; more pharma-gate; house-contract-gate; advertisement-gate; GuySuCo Bond-gate; factory-scrap-iron-gate, etc, etc, the PNC/AFC went on to launch a misdirection initiative against alleged PPP’s corruption by siccing the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) – boosted by special British anticorruption “experts” - and a newly-created State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) on the PPP, after any number of high-priced audits were conducted.

Turns out SOCU – including the Brits – was taking as much as the PNC/AFC!!

Monkey see; monkey do!?! …and ostentation Your Eyewitness is reminded of Henry II’s famous ejaculation against his Chancellor Thomas Becket, “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest”?? Save in this case it’s not a recalcitrant priest who won’t go, but a VICE Chancellor!

If we’re to go, however, by the court this UG VC has created at what was once called “Jagan’s night school”, one might be inclined not to compare him with Henry II, but with Louis XIV’s wife Marie Antoinette!! It was her, after all, who after being told that the peasants were storming the Palace because they wanted “bread” asked without irony, “Then why don’t they eat cake?”!!

As with dear Marie, it’s clear this VC has no conception of how the staff – academic and services – have to grunge for their bread. After all, his Cabinet – yes Cabinet!! – shields him from the hoi polloi!!

On to a good thing, he has his foreign buddies lobbying for him in the press.

As if they know what it is not to have “bread”!! …and revolution The PNC/AFC have done their darndest to provoke a rebellion – without success. Shutting down sugar factories, strangulating businesses, giving away the store on oil, etc, etc, haven’t worked.

But the announcement that Banks Brewery has run out of beer might just do the trick!!

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

news

9

wednesday, may 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Raising mining permit fees will be Extradition proceedings begin detrimental to industry – GGDMA for ex-cop wanted in US

F

ollowing an Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) report that shone a spotlight on the mining sector, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is arguing for the status quo regarding fees for mining permits to remain untouched.

In the EITI report, the organisation had stated that the State might be losing money from incorrectly categorised miners. It had noted that some large-scale miners are, in fact, paying fees for smaller scale permits. It had, therefore, recommended a review of permits.

According to GGDMA in its statement, however, raising fees will, in fact, be counterproductive for the industry. The association noted that the mining sector is already in decline. As such, they noted that additional burdens on miners will negatively impact the economy.

“The sector is already in decline, proposing to put such additional burden on the local entrepreneurs that operate with tremendous uncertainties will further impact the communities and villages that depend on it for sustenance.”

According to GGDMA, the industry, in fact, needs more roads to access mining lands and assistance with better techniques. They noted that the industry needs a regulatory system that is more modernised and with fewer bottle-necks “The industry needs more roads to access mining lands, assistance with better techniques for recovery and environmental standards, access to finance and a regulatory system that is more modernised and freer from bottle-necks to ensure that the sector continues to contribute to Guyana’s economy.”

The GGDMA warned that raising the fees for mining permits are counterproductive and will be detrimental to the survival of this vital sector.

Recommendations

In its report, EITI had recommended that a wholesale review be done to weed out wrongly categorised miners. According to the organisation in its recently released report, this is be-

GGDMA President Terrence Adams

cause thousands of acres of mining permits have been awarded to claimants on a scale that should be considered large-scale. Largescale permits involve higher rental fees and more revenue to the State. But the report states that in some cases, this is not happening.

“We note that several mining permits, covering plots in the same location as per GGMC list of permits, had been awarded on the same date to the same applicant following the award process of medium-scale mining permits instead of following the award process for large-scale mining licenses,” they had stated.

“The total combined acreage of several mining permits awarded during FY 2017 to a same applicant exceeded 1200 acres which is the maximum surface for a medium-scale mining

permit. If these plots had been combined, they would have exceeded 1200-acre threshold and would have been categorised as being ‘large-scale tenures’,” it also states.

Besides paying higher rental fees, EITI pointed out that large-scale permit holders also have to go through more stringent license award procedures.

These procedures include requiring further approvals from other Government agencies. According to EITI, this oversight may cost the State a large sum of money per year.

“Additionally, the list of active mining permits shows that several plots were held by the same extractive entity and within the same location. The combined surfaces of these mining permits exceed 1200-acre threshold in several instances.”

“Such mining permit holders may need to be categorised as large-scale extractive operators as defined by the current legislation whenever it is established that the relating plots run consecutively one after the other. The annual rental fees due by large-scale operators is US$3 per acre as opposed to US$1 per acre for medium-scale mining operators.”

The EITI, therefore, recommended a review and an update of the list of current active mining permits in order to ensure all are in compliance with the definition of the large-scale mining license.

E

xtradition proceedings began on Tuesday for a former member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), who is wanted by the United States for cocaine trafficking.

Shawn Neblett, of Community Lane, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was on Tuesday hauled before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where the formal proceedings for extradition begun.

Neblett was recently nabbed by local law enforcement officials as he was attempting to flee to neighbouring Suriname.

During the court proceedings, a representative of the US Government, Stacy Gooding, told the court that proceedings have commenced for the wanted man in the United States.

She submitted that Neblett should be remanded to prison until the extradition process is completed.

On Tuesday, Neblett told the court he was travelling legally to Suriname and had no knowledge that he was blacklisted until he was nabbed by immigration authorities. He denied he was trying to flee the country. However, Magistrate McGusty upheld Gooding’s submissions and remanded Neblett to prison. The case will continue on June 6, 2019.

According to reports, Neblett is wanted for his role in the trafficking of 4178 grams of cocaine, which was found at the Cheddi Jagan International

Ex-cop Shawn Neblett

Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on January 24, 2017. The drug was found in four parcels hidden in a suitcase.

The recent successful extradition of US fugitive Troy Thomas has paved the way for similar procedures for criminals hiding in Guyana.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan recently warned that fugitives would no longer be able to hide in Guyana after committing crimes abroad. He told the media at a recent press conference that more persons were expected to be extradited in the near future to face charges for crimes they committed in other countries.

Last week, US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch told the media that her country would continue to partner with Guyana on the security front. “… US and Guyanese se-

curity collaboration made history as we worked together on the highly successful extradition of alleged murderer Troy Thomas; the first extradition to the US in well over a decade. We will continue to partner on the governance front to adhere to the rule of law and to strengthen institutions, both governmental and non-governmental to become more transparent and accountable,” the Ambassador said.

Thomas fled to Guyana after allegedly killing Keith Frank, 20, a Guyanese, on December 11, 2011, at Richmond Hill, New York.

He has also been accused of inflicting injuries upon Dr Katherine Maloney.

Since 2012, authorities in the US had issued a wanted bulletin for the murder suspect. In 2018, the US Attorney General and the US Secretary of State sent an extradition request to the Guyana Government.

As a result of the request, Thomas was apprehended by the GPF last year and was kept in custody at the Lusignan Prison. However, a legal battle ensued after Thomas claimed that he was in fact Marvin Williams and not Troy Thomas. After a year of legal proceedings, High Court Judge, Justice Navindra Singh ruled on April 4, 2019, that there was sufficient evidence against Thomas to warrant his extradition to the US. After being taken back to the US, Thomas was charged with second-degree murder.

10 news

wednesday, may 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 6 unprepared for rains – acting Chairman

T

The outfall channel at Number 43 Village

he average total rainfall recorded across Guyana between January and April was 150mm, with Bee Hive, Region Four, hav-

ing the highest record of 381mm according to the Hydrometeorological office of the Agriculture Ministry.

Already for the month of May, Region Six (East

Berbice-Corentyne), has experienced 500mm of rainfall.

The region is predominantly agriculture-based and according to the Acting

Regional Chairman, Dennis DeRoop, it is not prepared for the May-June rains.

This was told to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) when it met on Thursday.

Following the meeting, DeRoop told Guyana Times that the rains are already here but the region is unprepared. He, however, acknowledged that it is expected that the months of May and June will produce high-intensity rainfall.

DeRoop said that many of the outfall channels in the region are blocked while some are silted. Some of them are maintained by the Regional Administration but the major ones are maintained by the National Drainage and Irrigation

The sluice to drain Mibicuri Black Bush Polder is clogged

outfalls are at Lesbeholden, Liverpool, Adventure, Eversham and Number 43 Village.

“We are not seeing any preparedness for the rains at these outfalls channels.”

He said that the Regional

Siltation caused fishing boats to be stuck. Fishermen are awaiting Friday’s spring tide to get back into operation

Authority (NDIA).

There are four major sluices across the region and fifteen small outfalls. The outfalls are maintained by the Regional Administration and one is outfitted with a pump to assist with quick drainage of the Fyrish area.

The four which are maintained by the NDIA are all equipped with drainage pumps, however, they are all silted and in some cases, the sluice doors cannot be opened because of siltation.

DeRoop said that the

Administration is concerned about the situation since they are aware that many farming communities would be flooded for days if there is continuous rainfall for one day.

“Especially the Black Bush Polder. Last year, we had a situation where the pump at Number 43 Village where we had to run the pump throughout the rainy season, every day all the time for almost three months to alleviate flooding in the Black Bush Polder,”

DeRoop explained.

While the Hydrometeorological office predicts that this year there will be less rainfall when compared with the May-June period last year, DeRoop noted that the contractor employed by the NDIA to clear the Number 43 Village outfall did not complete the project.

“This time, however, it will be impossible for pumping because even around the pump is totally silted, so even though we have the pumps, if the heavy rains should come, we’ll have flooding.”

Asked whether the Regional Administration should be accountable for the current situation, DeRoop said no, explaining that it was the NDIA. “Normally the region would have responsibility for all the pumps and all the outfalls in the region, a few years back the NDIA took over the major ones,” DeRoop said.

Meanwhile, on Friday the NDIA invited bids to be tendered for the clearing of the outfall channels and the clearing and repair of the sluices.

Only selective contractors were asked to tender for the contracts. (Andrew Carmichael)

news

11

wednesday, may 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

US pumps US$850,000 more into criminal justice system project

T

he United States Government has invested an additional US$850,000 into a local project aimed at strengthening the country’s criminal justice system.

The project is aimed at building the capacity of agencies involved in the criminal justice system including the Guyana Police Force and the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The project, which began in 2016, was slated to end in 2019.

However, the US Government, through the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, has extended its financial support for the project until March 2021.

As such, the US Embassy on Tuesday committed an additional US$850,000 to the project.

Therefore, in full, the Embassy will invest over US$17 million in Guyana’s justice system through this project.

So far, the project has built the Police Force’s forensic video analysis capacity, which has already resulted in the successful prosecution of several cases.

Additionally, the project has provided training and technical assistance in

case management, including major crimes, crime scene management, evidence management and chain of custody, and law enforcement supervisory skills.

By the end of this project, the Embassy intends for Guyana to have a cadre of police officers and justice sector officials who will successfully pursue and complete effective evidence-based prosecutions.

GWI conducts flushing exercise at Waiakabra was becoming worse. She said residents had previously complained of the stench of the water and oil which is usually settled on top. The mother of four noted that she is forced to purchase bottled water for her children to use because the water they are receiving through the tap is not

D

The condition of the water that residents of Waiakabra were receiving from GWI

ays after Guyana Times published an article highlighting the substandard quality of water being supplied to residents of Waiakabra, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) visited the area to inspect the quality of the water.

In an invited comment on Tuesday, GWI’s Public Relations Officer, Leana Bradshaw said that the inspection was done and a visual assessment of the water being distributed to residents, even at the end of the network, did not indicate water with a high iron concentration.

Nevertheless, GWI has

since flushed the lines so as to further improve the quality of water being supplied to residents. She noted that GWI collected water samples prior to and after the flushing exercise in Waiakabra. Those samples have been sent to the Water Quality Laboratory to be tested and results are expected to be available today.

Last week, residents of Waiakabra reached out to this publication, calling on the GWI to pay a much-needed visit to the community and answer questions about the condition of the tap water they were being forced to consume, as there is no alter-

native source of water for the community.

Residents described the condition of the water as “unacceptable” and “inhumane” and after several weeks of calling and making reports, they were still to receive a visit or any sort of intervention from the water company.

The community is mainly populated by Amerindians who depend on small-scale farming for their daily bread and cannot afford to purchase water for consumption. Guyana Times visited the community on Saturday last and spoke to a few residents who expressed dissatisfaction with the way they are being treated by the

Administration.

Leon DaSilva, who shared his concerns with this publication, said that over the years, the community has been overlooked by the Administration. The quality of the water being supplied to residents, he said, is unfair to residents since they are paying for second-class service, which is of no benefit to them.

Another resident, Leana Melville, who also spoke to this publication, said that the condition of the water

safe for consumption. “To be honest, we can’t use the water to do anything. A few days ago, I was trying to strain it with a cloth, but that didn’t work. There is thick rust in the water. And that would do more harm than good to anybody,” she had said.

12 news

wednesday, may 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 2 dental department crippled by lack of essential supplies

Regional Chairperson (acting) Nandranie Coonjah

R

esidents of Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are left to bear the heavy cost, paying privately-owned dental offices for services like tooth extractions as the dental department in the region is out of needles.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Bob Mahadeo, a resident of Charity Housing Scheme said that his daugh-

ter, a student of the Charity Primary School, was turned away from the Oscar Joseph District Hospital Dental Department because of lack of dental needles to do the extraction.

Several other residents reached out to this publication regarding the same issue.

A check found that all of the Government dental clinics in the region haven’t had any dental needles for over two weeks now.

When contacted, acting Regional Chairman, Nandranie Coonjah said that she was on sick leave and only returned to the job on Tuesday but noted that the region’s health department is in what she described as “a total mess”.

She said that the Chairman on the RDC Health Committee, Councillor Arnold Adams informed her of the health situation in the region.

When contacted, Councillor

Oscar Joseph District Hospital at Charity, Essequibo Coast

Councillor Arnold Adams

Arnold Adams said that for over two weeks, patients have been turned away from all Government dental clinics in the region due to the lack of dental needles. He added also that the biochemistry machine at Suddie Public Hospital is once again out of order and patients who need that service have to travel to Georgetown. The biochemistry analysers are used to

determine the concentrations of chemical substances in a biological process.

It has its applications in the medical field in which it uses an enzyme, glucose oxidase, to break down the

level of glucose in the blood.

The poor and needy and those who live in the riverine and interior locations, the councillor added, are the ones suffering the most.

Those affected by teeth-re-

lated problems, including senior citizens and children, are left to bear the severe pain without any other medical aid, not even a pain killer, said one senior citizen.

Dispute in Region 1

Illegal miners blocking foreign investment – Canadian company

CAL partners with UG for Diaspora and Entrepreneur Conference

C

aribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) has partnered with the University of Guyana to host its second annual Diaspora and Entrepreneur Conference.

The conference is billed for July 21-25.

The partnership will see CAL customers benefiting from special concessions if they register to attend the conference, which will focus on best practices in leadership, technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, economic growth, diversity and inclusion and the role of the

Caribbean diaspora.

“Caribbean Airlines will provide special concessions to customers who register to attend the conference through the University of Guyana,” CAL said in a statement.

The airline’s CEO, Garvin Medera, stated: “Caribbean Airlines is about connecting the Caribbean and this goes beyond the thousands of people we transport daily. It extends into the communities we serve, and the diaspora is one of the most important.

We are happy to support

this conference which will see aspiring and established entrepreneurs from the diaspora meet in Guyana from July 21-25 to collaborate and innovate, which is critical to the development of our entire Caribbean region”.

On commenting on the partnership, Dr Fitzgerald Yaw of the University of Guyana said: “Our partnership with Caribbean Airlines will help diaspora members to participate in this important Diaspora and Entrepreneurship Conference. This conference will facilitate dialogue and spark innovative collaborations and discussions, as we engage with the diaspora.

As an authentic Caribbean air carrier with strong links to the diaspora, Caribbean Airlines is a natural partner for the University of Guyana”.

CAL operates a minimum of six daily flights to and from Guyana, including non-stop service to JFK International Airport, New York and direct service to other North American and Caribbean destinations.

C

Land dredges at Tassawini, Region One

anadian gold mining company, Vangold Mining said that the mining being undertaken by miners of Chinese Landing, Barama River, Region One (Barima-Waini), is illegal and that the court has ruled that the blocks are owned by Wayne Vieira.

“The land does not belong or is part of the Chinese Landing Community. They have no title and we’re given no title nor can produce title,” Vangold Mining said in a statement to Guyana Times.

According to Vangold Mining, Vieira is the lawful owner of the four mining permits as is in accordance with the decision by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

“The Chinese Landing community does not have mining rights. The court ruled that it is not an Amerindian village,” the Canadian gold mining company said on Tuesday.

The company added that the illegal mining on Vieira’s concession has caused extensive damage to the buildings that were constructed there by the previous company that operated lawfully on the concessions.

According to the company, the core shack has collapsed and the core samples are strewn about and this could result in tens of millions of US dollars being spent to replace. Other buildings were also damaged and are in a deteriorated state.

“The illegal mining activities have caused extensive environmental damage. The

Chinese Landing community is allowing illegal mining to occur in unsafe conditions and is depriving the Republic of Guyana of its lawful royalties for the production of gold, the community is charging an illegal tax to the miners,” the company said.

It added that illegal miners are blocking foreign investment, which would create good jobs and revenue to this country.

The company stressed that the miners were never interested in the land until 2011 when a Canadian company had spent C$34 million, proven a substantial resource, to commence operations there.

“Vieira has worked peacefully until then since 1995 when he acquired the concessions. The community blocked access to the title holder and his representatives and threatened to use force,” the company said.

Further, it pointed out that the illegal miners are allowing potentially toxic substances and sediments to flow into nearby rivers.

Dispute

Miners from Chinese Landing on Sunday complained that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) officials and Police are destroying their mining camps and halting their dredging operations. The miners called on the GGMC to offer some direction on the issue so that it can be resolved speedily.

They are contending that

the rights of Amerindians are being trampled upon and Amerindian communities are being taken advantage of by these officials and the Administration as a whole.

This exercise, the miners said, began last week and they are being forced to move out of the worksite.

Meanwhile, in an invited comment on the issue on Sunday, Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman said that the area has a mining concession owned

by Wayne Vieira and after many years of court battles, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that the GGMC cannot prevent him from mining.

During the time, many miners started mining there, and Vieira and his investors have complained for several months that the area was being “raided” by illegal miners and called for the mining to cease.

Minister Trotman noted that both the GGMC and the Natural Resources Ministry have met with the representatives of Chinese Landing to explain the legal ramifications of the CCJ’s decision and that they have received a letter threatening contempt of court proceedings if they failed to honour that decision.

Trotman highlighted that the Ministry and the GGMC would work with both the miners and the Chinese Landing Village Council to ensure respect for the law and respect for the rights of the village as per the Amerindian Act prevailed.

13

news

wednesday, may 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyanese man burns 3-year-old daughter to death in NY

Dead: 3-year-old Zoey Pereira

T

he mother of a little Queens, New York, girl who was burned alive in a car with its doors chained shut said on Monday that the words she heard from the tot’s deranged father before the crime are forever etched in her mind: “You’ll never see your daughter again.”

“I always thought he was going to hurt me,” said Cherone Coleman, 36, who spoke to the NY Daily News surrounded by family as she seesawed between grief and anger.

“I never thought he was going to hurt my daughter,” Coleman said.

“My daughter was perfect. She was loving, always smiling, and oh so caring,” said the grieving mom. “She was my only child, and I can’t have any more.”

On Sunday night, cops and firefighters pulled her badly-burned three-yearold daughter, Zoey, from a charred Audi in Springfield Gardens, just blocks from where Coleman and her only child lived, the NY Daily News reported.

Coleman told NY Daily News that the girl’s vindictive dad, Martin Pereira, a Guyanese, had become unhinged in recent weeks as they battled over Zoey’s custody. Coleman said she had gone to court to modify their visitation agreement, but a judge denied her request.

Against her wishes, but with the court’s blessing, she said, Pereira left with the girl for a weekend visit on Saturday and Sunday. It was only the second time he had been entrusted with Zoey since she and Pereira broke up, Coleman said.

On Monday, Coleman said she wished she had disobeyed the judge’s order. “I should’ve just kept her and

gone to jail,” she said.

Coleman said the nightmare began on Saturday when Pereira took Zoey to Cohen Children’s Medical Centre in New Hyde Park and claimed to its staff that Coleman had abused the child. ”He was calling me a drug dealer and a drug addict,” Coleman said.

Coleman denied being an abuser — but nonetheless, she said, the hospital staff let Pereira continue spending the weekend with their daughter. “They let him leave with her because he had all the paperwork stating he had visitation,” Coleman said.

On Sunday morning, Coleman said, Pereira repeatedly dialled her phone — but she would not take his calls.

Finally, he called a relative, who then called her.

Coleman said she finally spoke with Pereira later on Sunday.

“Just before he burned my daughter he called saying crazy things,” Coleman said.

“I couldn’t even understand some of them, but he said, “Do I have your attention now, bitch? I got your attention now, bitch. You’re nev-

West La Penitence man to face Judge, jury for murder

A

West La Penitence, Georgetown man was on Tuesday committed to stand trial in the High Court after a prima facie case was made out against him.

Wayne Gilbert was committed by Magistrate Leron Daly when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The 27-year-old man stood before Magistrate Daly for the Preliminary Inquiry which commenced in 2017.

It is alleged that Gilbert, on January 20, 2017, while in the company of two others, murdered 34-year-old Rawle Rodrigues during a robbery at Croal Street, Stabroek, Georgetown.

In court on Tuesday, Magistrate Daly informed Gilbert that there was sufficient evidence and a prima facie case has been made out against him.

The prosecution’s case was presented by Police Prosecutor Richard Harris.

In 2018, City Magistrate Judy Latchman had committed Afabia Yankana and Akeem Hayman, Gilbert’s alleged accomplices, to also stand trial in the High Court.

Reports are on January 17, 2017, Rodrigues was stabbed multiple times to his chest by three men at the Route 32 Minibus Park, Georgetown. The prosecution had contended that the men trailed the victim from a nearby bar where he was seen consuming alcohol.

The burnt out car parked on Baisley Boulevard near 154th Street in Springfield Gardens, New York

er going to see your daughter again.”

Coleman said she then called 911 in a panic to report that she had argued with her ex and feared he was going to harm himself and their daughter.

The phone calls were just a prelude to the horror that unfolded on Sunday night.

That’s when Zoey died, in the back of her father’s flame-engulfed Audi, on Baisley Boulevard at 154th Street, near Baisley Pond Park.

The doors to the car were chained shut as bright orange flames roared in the passenger compartment, said witnesses.

Pereira’s clothes were on fire and someone in the neighbourhood urged him to run into nearby Baisley Pond.

A passerby brought Pereira a blanket to help douse his flaming clothes.

“I have my kid in the car,” the father said, prompting the good Samaritan to call 911, sources said.

The fire was so hot, the car door handles securing the chains melted, enabling rescuers to get inside. They rushed Zoey to Jamaica Hospital in a police vehicle, but she could not be saved.

First responders found two gasoline canisters in the car, and a propane tank in the trunk, sources said.

Cops found Pereira in the park. They took him to New York Presbyterian Hospital/ Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan, where he was being treated for burns. As of Monday evening, he was in Police custody at the hos-

pital, but he had not been charged.

Cops on Monday morning declared little Zoey’s death a homicide.

“He’s the devil. His family is responsible too. They have called ACS on me so many times with so many lies.”

Whipsawed by emotion during an interview, Coleman said at one point she wished Pereira dead.

Pereira has three prior arrests, sources said. Two are sealed. The third is for aggravated harassment and stems from phone calls he made in 2013, the sources said.

Pereira’s Facebook page is devoted almost entirely to pictures of Zoey. He most recently updated his cover photo with a sweet picture of Zoey just hours before the car fire. (NY Daily News)

14 News UNICEF-funded $13M Sexual Offences Court opens in Berbice wednesday, may 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

A

$13 million United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) funded Sexual Offences Court was on Tuesday opened at the Berbice High Court in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

This follows the opening of the Sexual Offences Court in Georgetown in November 2017. The new facility is expected to provide protection for victims of sexual offences as the formal courtroom can be a harrowing place for victims. While judicial proceedings are essential in restoring a sense of safety and

confidence in the survivor, inadvertently, survivors are re-victimised when trying to seek justice. Consequently, victims are oftentimes hesitant to come forward and report sexual violence cases due to the procedure. The new facility is expected to put an end to such a practice and make the courtroom more comfortable for victims.

Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards while speaking at the opening, said it is aimed at providing protection for men, women and children, who are victims of

sexual violence which is a criminal offence and a violation of one’s rights.

The Chancellor quoted the 2007 World Bank and United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report titled, “Crime, Violence, and Development: Trends, Costs, and Policy Options in the Caribbean”, saying that the report noted with much concern the high incidence of rape in the Caribbean region and acknowledged that it poses a serious problem for the region.

“The impact of sexual abuse has lasting emotion-

Linden municipality gifted 4500 gallons of paint

T

he municipality of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) was recently gifted 4500 gallons of paint to assist with the beautification of its environs. The paint was handed over following a collaboration between members of overseas-based groups and the town. Mayor Waneka Arrindell said that the paint will be used for beautifying several areas in need across the community.

“From our visit to Stonecrest, Georgia, as it relates to our [city to city] twinning, we were able to meet a group called Libra Management, and they, through some other groups, were able to garner for the town of Linden, 4500 gallons of paint to help to change the aesthetics of Linden and to help beautify [the town]”, Arrindell stated during an interview with this publication on Tuesday.

She noted that the Council is happy with the arrival of the paint in the country and is now looking at how to have it utilised.

The focus, she noted, will be on municipal, Government buildings, schools and other Government structures that are in need of a “facelift”.

The paint that was donated to the town of Linden

Arrindell said the New Horizons team which is currently working on community projects in Linden will also be on board with the initiative.

“The New Horizons team is going to designate what they call ‘painting days’ to Linden. They will come up and they will give their support and services...our first painting day should start early June. Spirit of America is another group that gives voluntary support to countries, and they are willing to provide us with the supplies we need to paint - the

brushes, rollers and things like that,” Arrindell further related.

She added that as soon as the project is rolled out, dates will be published as she urged the community to come out and lend support.

“While we’re at it, we are in conversations with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure in terms of brightening up back the signs on the roadways. So if we can have all of that together to change the face of Linden, it’s something that we want to have on board”, the Mayor said.

The inside of the newly commissioned Sexual Offences Court in Berbice

al and psychological effects on survivors. It preys on and affects one’s emotions, and leaves behind the deepest psychological scars. It is also ubiquitous in that it can be perpetrated anywhere on any victim regardless of age, gender or sexuality preferences,” the Chancellor noted.

She said the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child; both treaties ratified by Guyana and recognised in our Constitution, require State parties to take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect children and women from physical, mental and sexual violence.

Meanwhile, Deputy British High Commissioner Ray Davison noted that for a long time the criminal justice response to rape and sexual assault in the UK has been criticised for treating

victims with suspicion and subjecting them to aggressive questioning.

They can be subjected to harsh questioning leaving them feeling as if they themselves are on trial because of the focus placed on their character and actions rather than the defendants.

Survivors of rape and sexual assault, he added, don’t want to use the term victim as this plays down their bravery in confronting what has been done to them, but survivors often come across stereotypical views and myths when they come into the courtroom.

“For example, it is often raised in argument that those who delay reporting an incident to the police are more likely to be lying. They can be subjected to harsh questioning leaving them feeling as if they themselves are on trial because of the focus placed on their character and actions rather than the defendants. Further, judges and prosecution barris-

ters do not always intervene when cross-examination of the victim becomes irrelevant or distressing. Now that is bad enough for an adult, but now consider the impact on a child who has already gone through the most horrific ordeal that one can imagine,” the British official said.

The work of the court will be complemented by the support services offered by the Social Protection Ministry and other partners. This includes the one-stop centres or Child Advocacy Centres for the reporting of abuse, UNICEF said.

Resident representative for Guyana and Suriname, Sylvia Fouet noted that UNICEF will soon be funding a Sexual Offences Court in Essequibo.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Berbice Bar, Adrian Anamayah noted that in recent times the conditions at the court has been improving.

Teen jailed for illegal ammo possession

A

19-year-old miner was on Tuesday brought before the court on a charge of illegal possession of ammunition. The unrepresented teenager, Steven King, appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly where he admitted to the charge which detailed that on May 5, 2019, at 35 Miles Backdam, Region Eight

(Potaro-Siparuni), he had in his possession .32 calibre ammunition without being a licensed firearm holder.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh informed the court that on May 5, at about 12:30h, ranks of the Guyana Police Force were acting on a report of simple larceny committed. However, based on information received,

they were able to intercept the defendant and a search was conducted on his person. The ammunition was found in King’s bag in a transparent container. The teen later admitted ownership of the illegal item, the prosecution’s case stated.

Magistrate Daly sentenced the teen to two years’ imprisonment.

news

15

wednesday, may 8, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

Agriculture Ministry continues to be MIA, even with a 2nd Minister

T

he Ministry of Agriculture under Noel Holder has been missing in action (MIA) for four years. Now with the addition of Minister Adams-Yearwood, the Ministry is still MIA. Four years too late, after assuming control of the Government, APNU/AFC has done the right thing, for all the wrong reasons, in giving Noel Holder support with a second Minister. Minister Adams-Yearwood was appointed in the Agriculture Ministry not because APNU/ AFC recognised they were wrong in not appointing a second Agriculture Minister four years ago, or conceding Minister Holder has been ineffective and unable to run the Agriculture Ministry Dr Leslie Ramsammy alone. Her appointment is a stunt falsely proclaiming they are serious in combating corruption.

Minister Adams-Yearwood had been under public outrage for presiding over the Ministry of Housing that awarded contracts to her husband. In the face of public condemnation for corruption and nepotism, President Granger banished the Minister to Agriculture in the “public’s interest”, saying she was “fit and proper” for a new Ministry. A Minister found unfit for one Ministry because of possible corrupt practices cannot be “fit and proper” for banishment to another Ministry. If there was enough reason to find her “not fit and proper” for the Housing Ministry, then it is improper and irresponsible to reward her by foisting her on the Agriculture Ministry.

Minister Adams-Yearwood shuffling into the Agriculture Ministry is cosmetic jiggery-pokery, nothing else. Her placement in agriculture was intended only to distract people from the clear cases of corruption in the Ministry of Housing, no matter how much President Granger and Minister Adams-Yearwood try to spin the story. But this newest stunt will not remedy the complacency and the persistent MIA of the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry has been MIA for all important agriculture matters, including matters such as the unemployed sugar workers coping with unemployment and poverty. The promised new economic planks in the closed sugar estates have not emerged, even as three years have now elapsed at Wales Estate. The Ministry of Agriculture is MIA in conceptualising and implementing new economic activities for the closed estates.

During the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) in 2013, I spoke of cyber-agriculture, using cyber-technology to advance agriculture in Guyana. This generated much interest among several international organisations. Between 2015 and now, at least one of these organisations showed up with a funded proposal for cyber-agriculture in Guyana. The Minister of Agriculture and the Ministry showed no interest and only provided a lukewarm reception to the organisation’s representatives who expended both financial resources and time to come to Guyana. Guyana’s articulation at the CWA 2013 encouraged the agriculture international bodies to focus attention on Guyana. Because the Ministry of Agriculture has been MIA on this issue since 2015 and because of their lukewarm reception of the organisation which was willing to start a cyber-agriculture project here, Guyana lost a golden opportunity when that organisation shifted the proposal to Africa, where cyber-agriculture is flourishing.

In 2014, Guyana played an important role in getting the European Union (EU) to include more than 6 million euros in the 11th EU Economic Development Fund (EDF) 2014-2020 for the further development of the coconut industry, with Guyana being a major beneficiary. I had lobbied and it was agreed that Guyana will be on the coordinating mechanism for the coconut project. It is now 2019; I have not seen the manifestation of any meaningful activity under the 11th EDF for the coconut industry, nor for any of the agriculture projects in Guyana. I do know that Guyana is not included in the coordinating mechanism. How did we get left out? It is nothing short of the Ministry of Agriculture MIA. Both the cyber-agriculture and the 11th EDF coconut projects are significant projects and on both of these the Ministry of Agriculture, by being MIA, cost Guyana valuable resources and the opportunity to advance agriculture. Just as they have been MIA with the $30 billion GuySuCo loan in twilight zone, as unemployed sugar workers struggle, as rice farmers face unending challenges, paddy bugs being their latest catastrophe, this Ministry continues to be MIA at all important times. When farmers are faced with onerous increases in land leases or drainage and irrigation fees, the Ministry of Agriculture is MIA. When farmers have their land leases revoked, the Ministry is MIA. Will any of this change with the addition of Minister AdamsYearwood in the Ministry of Agriculture, with responsibility for rural development? Maybe, the real question is will Minister Adams-Yearwood be doing the Ministry of Communities work, addressing rural development, from the Ministry of Agriculture?

Woman caught trying to smuggle ganja for imprisoned fiancé

A

woman, who attempted to smuggle marijuana in blue soap for her fiancé who is incarcerated at the Lusignan Prison has now found herself behind bars.

The 20-year-old woman visited the Lusignan Prison at about 15:30h on Tuesday to visit her fiancé who is in the holding bay area.

In a statement, Director of Prison Gladwin Samuels said that alert officers on duty conducted a detailed

The marijuana in blue soap which was detected by prison authorities

search on the soaps and found the marijuana concealed.

Police have since weighed the contraband, which amounted to 19 grams.

The woman has since been taken into Police custody.

The Prison Director has since warned that persons should desist from smuggling prohibited items into the prison as there are serious consequences for such actions.

Salary increase for nurses

F

ollowing much deliberation and representation being made in the interest of nurses, they can now expect a pay raise before the end of 2019. This was hinted at by Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Public Health Ministry, Colette Adams, who noted that this is “good news” for the nurses.

“The Ministry of Public Health takes nursing and the nursing profession seriously. We looked at all of the demands, and we try to fix what we can, and I want to bring good news to you nurses, and that is you will have your increase in salary,” Colette Adams is quoted by the Department of Public

Information as saying.

Adams was at the time speaking to nurses in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) at the first event in observances of Nurses Week 2019.

Adams assured that the Ministry has long sought to have this particular issue resolved. She added that while nurses stand to benefit, the increase will be applied to all healthcare workers in the public health system.

“This increase is because we lobbied, we talked, we took your cases where it was ought to be heard and we were successful and I want to say this is not only for the nurses, but for all healthcare workers, because we

are looking to spread the increases across the board the doctors, the nurses even to the assistant nurses and patient care assistants.”

The PS noted that this is just the beginning of a push to safeguard the future of the nursing profession in Guyana. More specifically, the Ministry is looking to have more specialised nurses in the system.

Further, Adams noted that as the health sector develops, there is an increasing demand for complex nursing care especially at secondary health care institutions and the only tertiary main referral establishment in Guyana, the Georgetown

Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

“When we put a nurse in the theatre, that nurse would have had that training to perform all the theatre work. We are not looking at nurses generally anymore, the world is changing and we have to look to have a more diverse and developed nursing profession… nurses will be paid across the board according to their professional training.”

It was stressed that even as the Ministry seeks to do more for the nursing profession, a higher level of service is expected. “If we are going to pay you better, serve us better.”

Linden municipality seeks to partner with US Embassy in achieving SDGs

T

he Municipality of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) is seeking to partner with the United States Embassy in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Last Thursday, newly appointed US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch paid a courtesy call to the office of Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell, during which this among other initiatives was discussed.

The SDGs are a combination of 17 global goals set out by the United Nations General Assembly to be achieved by 2030. It includes, among other goals, the movement towards zero hunger, no poverty and gender equality, however, Arrindell said the Linden municipality will be working towards the goals of quality education, clean water and sanitation as well as sustainable communities and cities. This, she noted, was advanced during the meet with the Ambassador.

“We spoke about the Sustainable Development Goals that we want to start teaching to the community of Linden so as to change the perspectives of how we live... it talks about sustainable development, water and sanitation. And so we do want to embark on training within the schools in terms of disposal and separation of garbage within the school system, and of course, we want to look at branding

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch meets Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell

in front of the market; that gives education to the people of Linden on what these Sustainable Development Goals are because, of course, Guyana has a target to meet by 2030 [which includes a] majority of these goals,” the Mayor said.

She added that the municipality will be looking at how Linden can play a major role, in terms of what can be changed within the community in order to have these targeted goals become a reality. Arrindell said since the Embassy has a strong focus on education, it is her hope that it continues to assist within the Linden school system in terms of the sanitation and waste management initiatives.

She noted that the two sides also engaged in talks about some of the projects which the Embassy is pres-

ently working along with the community on and continued collaboration.

“We spoke about how can we continue to collaborate. And so the Ambassador would have pledged her continued support. Since we got in here, the American Government has been working closely with Linden Mayor and Town Council.

I’ve been able to receive a five weeks training on Local Government Management through the American Embassy. So there has been continued collaboration and I’m happy to know that that collaboration would continue throughout our stint as we work together with the Ambassador and with the Government of the United States of America”, Arrindell noted.

In outlining ongoing collaborations which fall un-

der the US Embassy’s umbrella, the Mayor pointed to annual medical outreaches through the Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP). She said the team has also been assisting with sports development in terms of the distribution of sports equipment to various schools and community centres. “...and I know that they’re continuing with some health work in Linden. They’re consistent, every six months there’s a new batch that comes in and every six months they work with us on some sort of project. This year, I think they have one more health programme to complete before they leave”, she noted.

Arrindell also alluded to the ongoing New Horizons projects in the community which will see the construction of a Women’s Home in Linden and two community centre grounds which have since commenced. She added that the Peace Corps has been re-introduced into the community after being absent for some time. This, she noted, consists of two teachers who are presently working within the school system.

“The Americans have been on the ground for a while now, in terms of giving and they’re supporting the Linden community, and of course, we must say how grateful we are for that,” Arrindell said. (Utamu Belle)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

wedneSday, may 8, 2019

Regional

As Venezuela tensions mount, US St Lucia PM worried at number of to deploy hospital ship to region illegal Venezuelans entering island

People hold lit candles and Venezuelan flags while participating in a candlelight vigil held for victims of recent violence in Caracas, Venezuela, May 5, 2019

A

s tensions with Venezuela mount, the United States is planning to announce on Tuesday the deployment of a military hospital ship to the Region, US officials say, in the latest sign of the Pentagon’s limited, and targeted, involvement in the crisis.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not specify where in the region the ship would trav-

el to. Last year, a hospital ship – the USNS Comfort – cared for Venezuelan refugees and others as it stopped in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Honduras.

The US military’s Southern Command, which oversees US forces in Latin America, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The deployment will fall far short of satisfying some of President Donald

Trump’s fellow Republicans, who have called for more robust US military support to Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó, who seeks to oust President Nicolás Maduro.

The United States and some 50 countries recognise Guaidó as the legitimate Head of State.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has called for the deployment of a US aircraft carrier, something critics say is tantamount to threatening US military intervention to topple Maduro.

President Trump has invested considerable political capital in the diplomatic and economic intervention in the Venezuela crisis. But he has not signalled an intent to use military force.

Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan, however, stressed last week that the Pentagon has been planning a full range of military options. (Excerpt from Reuters)

S

t Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet says he is concerned at the number of illegal Venezuelans entering the island after law enforcement authorities intercepted four of them in a pirogue.

The four, along with three St Lucians, were intercepted by a United States Coast Guard vessel and brought there on Monday.

“We did not capture any of the evidence. We believe that they dropped it off in the ocean,” Chastanet told reporters in reference to drug and arms trafficking.

Chastanet, who attend-

ed a Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Governments summit on Security in Trinidad and Tobago last Friday, said that the issue for Castries regarding the Venezuelans is mainly drugs and arms.

“When I went to Trinidad, you are seeing it is much bigger than that. There are thousands of Venezuelans who are coming across on a regular basis and taking up residence in Trinidad which is now putting pressure on the education system, the health-care system and the local policing system,” Chastanet said.

Venezuelans have been

BHP Billiton “woefully negligent” over Brazil dam collapse, facing US$5B claim

At least 7 killed, 17 injured in shooting at Guatemala prison

A

t least seven people were killed and 17 injured after shooting broke out at a prison near Guatemala City on Tuesday, according to officials, who said that authorities have regained control at the prison.

“Security forces have already entered and have regained control of the centre. Regarding the number of deceased inmates, there are seven confirmed. That is a preliminary number,” Carlos Morales, a spokesman for Guatemala’s prison

system, said.

A spokesman for the volunteer firefighters, Mario Cruz, said eight people were killed and 17 injured.

“So far we have already removed seven bodies and we are waiting for the last one,” Cruz said.

Camilo Gilberto Morales, director of Guatemala’s penitentiary system, said the gunfire in one part of the prison appeared to have stemmed from an altercation between inmates.

“According to preliminary information it was a

confrontation between an inmate in an alleged state of intoxication, shooting at another inmate,” he told local television channel TN23.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said officials were still gathering information about the incident.

The Pavon prison, some 10 miles (16 km) from the Guatemalan capital, houses more than 4100 inmates, according to official data.

In 2016, a riot at the same prison left 14 people dead. (Reuters)

Trinidad: Ramdeen resigns before court hearing

Former UNC Senator Gerald Ramdeen, left, and his attorney Wayne Sturge make their way to the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court on Monday

T

he Opposition United National Congress (UNC) of Trinidad had a new Senator in the Senate following the resignation of UNC’s Gerald Ramdeen on Monday.

Ramdeen tendered his resignation to Opposition Leader Kamla PersadBissessar prior to his 09:00h appearance in the Port-ofSpain Magistrates’ Court.

The resignation was accepted.

Ramdeen and former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan were charged with corruption-related offences last Friday.

Persad-Bissessar who has maintained the decision to charge Ramdeen and Ramlogan were politically motivated because of upcoming elections, spoke about the situation during Monday’s Parliament teabreak.

The Opposition Leader

said if Ramdeen had not offered to resign the post, she would have requested it of him.

“It is keeping with the manner I have always operated in public office. So I think he did the right thing in that I didn’t have to request it, he sent it. I received it sometime earlier today,” said Persad-Bissessar.

“In due course, we will share with you our replacement for the Senate,” said Persad-Bissessar.

She also was not clear if Ramlogan and Ramdeen would continue to represent the UNC in legal matters.

“I can’t say at the moment, there are several matters in which they are counsel on record, lawyers on record so we shall see based on what happens in the circumstances whether they will have the same amount of time to devote to those matters that are before the court,” said the UNC leader.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

fleeing their country by the thousands and last week the Opposition Leader, Juan Guaidó, called on the military to support the move to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power as a result of the economic and political situation in the South American country.

Chastanet, who has been critical of the elections that brought Maduro to office last year, said St Lucia has taken some “strong and bold initiatives,” including imposing visa restrictions on Venezuelans. (Excerpt from CMC)

When the dam burst, it unleashed a deluge of toxic mud

M

ining giant BHP Billiton is facing a US$5 billion claim for damages over a dam collapse in Brazil in 2015.

Law firm SPG, which is representing more than 200,000 Brazilian claimants, said the company "knew of the risks" at the Samarco mine in Minas Gerais state.

The claim, which was served at Liverpool's High Court on Tuesday, is the largest in UK legal history.

BHP, an AngloAustralian firm listed in London, rejects all of the charges.

Tom Goodhead, partner at SPG, said: "The repeated warnings and recommendations of dam safety experts were acted upon too slowly, or sidestepped entirely.

"Driven by concern for declining revenues amidst the falling market price of iron ore, the company took risks, increased production and turned a blind eye

to dangers that ultimately claimed lives and destroyed communities."

The Samarco disaster in Minas Gerais state, south-eastern Brazil, killed 19 people and displaced 700, and is considered the country's worst environmental disaster.

When the dam burst, it unleashed a deluge of thick, red toxic mud that wiped out the village of Bento Rodrigues.

It also polluted the Rio Doce river and Atlantic Ocean 650 kilometres away, devastating wildlife and tainting drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people.

The lawsuit is being brought on behalf of 235,000 Brazilian people and organisations, including municipal governments, Indigenous tribes, utility companies and the Catholic Church.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Grenada becomes 5th shareholder Govt in LIAT

G

renada has become the latest shareholder Government of the cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT, saying that the island stands to benefit from the decision to become a shareholder.

“When we look at the figures from the number of passengers that LIAT brings to Grenada, of course the multiplier effect is great,” said Caricom Affairs Minister Oliver Joseph.

“LIAT brings in thousands of visitors to Grenada every year and, therefore, from an economic and social point of view Grenada had to support LIAT because not supporting LIAT

will mean the loss of revenue and economic development to our country,” he told reporters at the end of the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Official Government data shows that last year, 44,072 passengers used the services of the airline to and from Grenada while for the first quarter of 2019 the number stands at 10,896.

Joseph said that Grenada's decision to become a shareholder had been made and accepted at the shareholders meeting in Antigua on April 30.

“I am pleased to announce that Grenada is

now the fifth shareholder in the airline, so together with the Governments of Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada at that meeting, is now accepted as the fifth main shareholder in LIAT,” he said.

Joseph, who is also the Trade and Industry Minister, said that Grenada has given an undertaking to continue supporting LIAT restructuring and a number of models have been examined, but a final decision is yet to be presented to shareholders.

(Excerpt from CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESday, may 8, 2019

17

Around the World

Protests erupt in India after top With low expectations, Conservatives judge cleared of sexual harassment and Labour resume Brexit talks

Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest after a panel of judges dismissed a sexual harassment complaint against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, outside Supreme Court in New Delhi, India May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

D

ozens of protesters gathered outside India’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, a day after a panel of judges dismissed a sexual harassment complaint against the Chief Justice, carrying placards demanding a new and impartial investigation.

A former court assistant accused Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi of having made unwanted sexual ad-

vances last year, the most high-profile case in a wave of sexual harassment accusations after a #metoo movement swept the country.

Gogoi has denied the charges and an internal panel of judges cleared him of wrongdoing, a court statement said on Monday.

But protesters gathered on a street in the Indian capital said they were not satisfied with the decision.

Police quickly dispersed the crowd and most protesters were taken away in police vans soon after they gathered.

Police at the site said it was illegal to hold demonstrations at the Supreme Court.

In her complaint filed to the court last month, the 35-year-old woman accused Gogoi of harassing her when she worked in an office at his home last year, saying she and her family were victimised after she spurned his advances.

Last week, the woman, whose identity has been withheld, withdrew from proceedings of the three-member panel of judges investigating the case, saying she did not expect justice from it.

Gogoi has called the allegations part of a wider conspiracy to taint India’s Judiciary, without elaborating.

In a statement on Tuesday, a group of 350 women’s rights activists and civil society members called for a fresh inquiry into the accusations. (Excerpt from Reuters)

FILE PHOTO: Anti-Brexit protesters hold EU flags as they demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament, as uncertainty over Brexit continues, in London, Britain, April 11, 2019. REUTERS/

B

Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo

ritain’s Conservative Government and the opposition Labour Party resumed Brexit talks on Tuesday to try to find a way to break the deadlock in Parliament over the country’s departure from the European Union.

After Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal was rejected three times and she

was forced to delay Brexit, the Government has spent more than four weeks in talks with Labour - negotiations that have done little to soften positions in either party.

So far, there has been no agreement and few held out any hope of a breakthrough. The Government on Tuesday also conced-

ed Britain would take part in European elections this month, a poll which could deliver more bruising results to both major parties.

Almost three years since Britain voted to leave the EU, there is little clarity about how, when or even if Brexit will happen.

David Lidington, May’s de facto deputy, said despite taking part in the elections to the European Parliament on May 23, there was still time to avoid those elected taking their seats.

May deeply regretted the move, her spokesman said, describing the Prime Minister as determined to find a way to get a deal to leave the EU over the line.

However, many proEU lawmakers used the results of local elections to argue that the tide is turning against Brexit after the Liberal Democrats, who support opposed Brexit and want a second referendum, gained many council seats.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Iran nuclear deal: Powers International outcry over await Rouhani announcement Istanbul election re-run

Protests have erupted across Istanbul over the decision to re-run the election

T

he EU and leading member states have sharply criticised a decision in Turkey to re-run Istanbul’s mayoral election, after a shock opposition win.

An EU spokesperson called on Turkey’s electoral body to explain the controversial decision “without delay”.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Mass called the re-run “incomprehensible”.

The move was also criticised by the French Government and by leading

Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Guy Verhofstadt, who said Turkey was “drifting towards dictatorship”.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month lost the mayorship of Turkey’s biggest city by a narrow margin, but Erdogan refused to accept defeat.

The AKP claims that there were irregularities that invalidate the vote. The decision to hold a new poll on June 23 sparked protests

across Istanbul on Monday.

Hundreds of people gathered in several districts, banging pots and pans and shouting anti-Government slogans.

Opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu, who won the mayoral election but has now been stripped of his duties, described the move as “treacherous”. His CHP party has accused election authorities of bowing to pressure from Erdogan.

An AKP representative on the electoral board, Recep Ozel, said the re-run was called because some electoral officials were not civil servants and some result papers had not been signed.

But CHP Deputy Chair Onursal Adiguzel said the re-run showed it was “illegal to win against the AK Party”.

In a speech broadcast on social media, Imamoglu condemned the electoral board and said they were influenced by the ruling party.

The US has been ratcheting up the pressure on Iran over the past year

I

ran nuclear deal: Powers await Rouhani announcement Iran is due to announce plans to “diminish its commitments” to the 2015 nuclear deal today, State media report, one year after US President Donald Trump abandoned the agreement.

It is unclear what steps Iran will take, but it said it does not intend to completely withdraw from the pact.

The landmark deal is aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions in return for

sanctions relief.

Tensions between Iran and the US have risen since Washington quit.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is to send a letter informing the remaining parties to the deal - the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia - of Iran’s decision, its State news agency Irna said.

Rouhani is also due to deliver a speech, outlining the details.

The landmark nuclear deal agreed by Iran and the

five permanent members of the UN Security Council was thrown into flux when President Trump announced the US withdrawal one year ago.

Iran’s economy was subsequently hit by reinstated US sanctions on its oil and financial sectors, which has pushed the value of its currency to record lows, quadrupled its annual inflation rate and driven away foreign investment.

Despite this, Iran has upheld its commitments to the deal, according to inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - the body charged with monitoring Iran’s nuclear activity.

In response to the US ending the sanctions waivers, Iran repeated threats to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for the world’s oil exports. However, it has not done so before and experts see this move as unlikely.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

US: Georgia’s Republican Governor Trump supports plan for humanitarian signs early abortion ban food aid to North Korea – Yonhap T

S

outh Korea said that US President Donald Trump supports the country’s plan to provide humanitarian food aid to North Korea, Yonhap reported on Tuesday.

Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in spoke for 35 minutes earlier on Tuesday, during a call in which the two leaders also discussed ways to continue dialogue with Pyongyang, the South Korean news agency reported.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Asked by reporters in April whether he was prepared to ease some sanctions on North Korea, Trump said he and Moon were discussing “certain humanitarian things” and the possibility of South Korea helping North Korea with food.

Nearly half of North Koreans suffer from severe food insecurity and meagre official rations are ex-

(Excerpt from BBC News)

pected to be cut further after dry spells, heat waves and flooding have led to the worst harvest in a decade, the United Nations said on Friday.

Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have met twice, but talks between the two leaders have stalled. On Saturday, North Korea fired projectiles off its coast, but Trump and his administration have played down the weapons tests.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

he Republican Governor in the US State of Georgia on Tuesday signed legislation banning abortions once a foetal heartbeat can be detected. That can be as early as six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant.

Anti-abortion rights activists and politicians across the country, energised by the new conservative majority on the US Supreme Court that includes President Donald Trump ap-

pointees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, are pushing abortion bans in an attack on the high court’s 1973 Roe v Wade ruling, which legalised abortion nationwide until a foetus is developed enough to live outside a woman’s uterus.

Under current law, women in Georgia can seek an abortion during the first 20 weeks of a pregnancy. If it’s not blocked in court, the new ban would take effect on January 1, 2020.

HB 481 makes excep-

tions in the case of rape and incest - if the woman files a police report first - and to save the life of the mother.

It also would allow for abortions when a foetus is determined not to be viable because of serious medical issues.

The bill also deals with alimony, child support and even income tax deductions for foetuses, declaring that “the full value of a child begins at the point when a detectable human heartbeat exists.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNEsday, MAY 8, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Keep your life simple and headed in the right direction. Don’t count on others or trust someone to take care of your responsibilities. Using tact in certain relationships will promote greater respect and romance.

CANCER

Choose the right attitude. If you let moodiness set in, you will waste a good day that should be spent helping others and developing closer ties with loved ones.

Participate in events that offer help to people in need. Don’t be a follower when you can be a leader who makes a difference.

Romance is highlighted.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

A business trip or meeting will bring you one step closer to a personal or professional goal. If you share your ideas and plans, it will result in a positive change.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Get fit. Take the plunge and challenge yourself to live healthily. Exercise and diet will ease stress and build strength. Love and romance are highlighted.

Take a deep breath and do what needs to be done.

Having a plan in place will help to eliminate someone from meddling in your affairs.

Trouble will surface if you let your emotions take the reins. Separate your personal and professional problems. Look for ways to cut your costs and live within your means.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

A trip or meeting will help you put your plans in motion. Listen to the voice of reason and to what experts have to say before you make an unnecessary purchase.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Express yourself with action. How you treat someone will affect the response you get. Don’t make assumptions or believe a rival who likes to gossip or meddle.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

A change to the way you live or an adjustment to household rules will be beneficial. You are likely to face opposition. Protect yourself against insult, injury and negativity.

Stay focused on what’s important to you and what you are capable of achieving. Getting together with a loved one or someone who brings out the best in you will be uplifting. Romance is encouraged.

Do what you can to help an organization or cause you believe in. Problems at home should be handled by taking action, not with harsh words. Offer love and peace, not discord.

WEDNEsday, MAY 8, 2019

19

VIVO IPL Edition 12…

Yadav’s fifty puts Mumbai Indians in 5th IPL final M

umbai Indians have beaten Chennai Super Kings for the third time in three meetings this season. They’ve beaten Super Kings on their home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium, for the sixth straight time in all competitions.

Let’s put that record in context. Between them, all the other IPL teams, put together, have come here 49 times and picked up ten wins.

The latest chapter in Mumbai’s psychological stranglehold over Super Kings came via a comfortable six-wicket win on a pitch affording sharp turn throughout. Both teams went in with three spinners - a legspinner, Mumbai Indians celebrate and offspinner and a left-arm the wicket of Suresh Raina orthodox spinner each - and Mumbai’s trio outperformed Super Kings’ on the day. While the pitch wasn’t straightforward to bat on, 131 seemed a below-par total considering Super Kings only lost four wickets, and an unbeaten 71 from Suryakumar Yadav steered Mumbai home with nine balls remaining.

Super Kings’ Powerplay woes continue

Both captains said at the toss that they wanted to bat first, and the coin fell in MS Dhoni’s favour. Super Kings came into the match with the worst Powerplay average (20.38) and scoring rate (6.30 per over) of any team this season, and they proceeded to slip up once again.

Mumbai used all three of their spinners in the Powerplay, bowling them for four out of six overs, and they took out Super Kings’ top three. Faf du Plessis picked out backward point with a cut, while Suresh Raina and Shane Watson fell trying to hit against the turn when the length wasn’t in their favour; on this pitch, it was only really a percentage shot if the batsman got to the pitch of the ball or if it was a rank long-hop.

Watson fell off the last ball of the Powerplay, and Super Kings were 32 for 3.

Did Super Kings go too far into their shell?

By the end of the 12th over, the right-handed fourth-wicket pair of M Vijay - brought in for the injured Kedar Jadhav - and Ambati Rayudu had put on 33 in 36 balls. They took no real risks even against the seamers or the offspinner Jayant Yadav, who between them bowled four of those six overs and conceded exactly a run a ball.

Vijay was out first ball of the 13th over, stumped attempting to step out and hit Rahul Chahar inside-out. That brought Dhoni to the crease.

3

SCOREBOARD

Dhoni and Rayudu ramped up the intent a little, hitting Jayant for a six each and then taking eight off the 15th over, bowled by Hardik Pandya. But they weren’t prepared to go after the left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya or the legspinner Chahar, and they carefully played out the 16th and 17th overs, scoring a total of eight runs off them. By that point, Super Kings were 99 for 4.

The last three overs went for 32 - decent, but not the explosion Super Kings may have hoped for - with Dhoni launching successive sixes off Lasith Malinga in the 19th but Jasprit Bumrah proving harder to hit either side of it.

Two early wickets

That left Mumbai 132 to get. Super Kings sent back both their openers by the fourth over, leaving them at 21 for 2.

Deepak Chahar got Rohit Sharma lbw with an outswinger that beat his attempted leg-side flick, and Harbhajan Singh had Quinton de Kock reaching for the ball and caught at wide long-off.

Suryakumar sparkles

Reaching for the ball had been a key element of how Mumbai’s spinners kept Super Kings quiet - their line had been outside off stump for most part, and their length short of the driving arc. At the end of the match, Dhoni reasoned that his spinners hadn’t managed to emulate them, and had bowled too full a length or too straight a line too often.

This allowed the Mumbai batsmen to pick up key boundaries while hitting against the turn. Ishan Kishan launched Harbhajan Singh over the midwicket boundary to end the Powerplay, and Suryakumar Yadav whipped and drove Imran Tahir for successive boundaries through midwicket in the 11th over.

Before all that, both batsmen had enjoyed moments of

Chennai Super Kings Innings F du Plessis c sub (Anmolpreet Singh) b Chahar 6 SR Watson c J Yadav b KH Pandya 10 SK Raina c & b J Yadav 5 M Vijay st †de Kock b Chahar 26 AT Rayudu not out 42 MS Dhoni (c) † not out 37 Extras (lb 1, nb 3, w 1) 5 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 6.55) 131/4 Did not bat: RA Jadeja, DJ Bravo, DL Chahar, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir Fall of wickets: 1-6 (F du Plessis, 2.1 ov), 2-12 (SK Raina, 3.3 ov), 3-32 (SR Watson, 5.6 ov), 4-65 (M Vijay, 12.1 ov) BOWLING SL Malinga (3-0-26-0) KH Pandya (4-0-21-1) RD Chahar (4-0-14-2) J Yadav (3-0-25-1) JJ Bumrah (4-0-31-0) HH Pandya (2-0-13-0)

Mumbai Indians Innings RG Sharma (c) lbw b Chahar 4 Q de Kock † c du Plessis b Singh 8 SA Yadav not out 71 I Kishan b Tahir 28 KH Pandya c & b Tahir 0 HH Pandya not out 13 Extras (lb 1, w 7) 8 TOTAL (18.3 Overs, RR: 7.13) 132/4 Yet to bat: KA Pollard, J Yadav, RD Chahar, SL Malinga, JJ Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-4 (RG Sharma, 0.2 ov), 2-21 (Q de Kock, 3.2 ov), 3-101 (Ishan Kishan, 13.5 ov), 4-101 (KH Pandya, 13.6 ov) BOWLING DL Chahar (3.3-0-30-1) H Singh (4-0-25-1) RA Jadeja (4-0-18-0) DJ Bravo (3-0-25-0) I Tahir (4-0-33-2)

luck. Suryakumar was dropped by a diving Vijay at midon on 11, off Deepak Chahar, and Kishan edged Harbhajan wide of slip on 2.

Suryakumar made Super Kings pay for the miss, using his feet well to get to the pitch of the ball as often as he could, or waiting on the back foot to use the pace of the bowler. Ravindra Jadeja and Tahir are among the quicker spinners in world cricket, and Suryakumar steered both of them deftly to the third man boundary in the 13th and 14th overs, the second of those shots bringing up his fifty, off 37 balls.

Too little, too late

That left Mumbai needing 32 off 40 balls. It proved a pretty straightforward task, even though Tahir took wickets off the last two balls of the 14th over. First he bowled Kishan, who ended up in an awkward position after stepping out too early, and then he had Krunal Pandya caught and bowled to bring up 300 T20 wickets.

Super Kings nearly had another wicket next ball, when Suryakumar stretched out to defend Jadeja and edged him between keeper and first slip. But Shane Watson, diving to his left, couldn’t hold on despite getting a hand to the ball. That was pretty much it, and Suryakumar and Hardik steered Mumbai home with an unbroken partnership of 31 in 27 balls. (ESPN cricinfo)

BCB to launch Water Pitchers Inter Guianas Games Volleyball…

Project for clubs Questionable officiating leaves - Linden Fraser donates $100,000 for venture Guyanese in 2nd place

“A

s a Cricket Board, we have fulfilled our mandate of organising cricket on the field for clubs at all levels. Over 40 tournaments have been organised at the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21, Female, Schools, Intermediate, Second Division, Zone, Double Wicket and First Division levels.

Additionally, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has assisted clubs in Berbice at several levels during 2019; we would continue to do so in a massive way.”

Those were the reassuring words of BCB President Hilbert Foster as he received a $100,000 donation from former Berbice and Guyana fast bowler Linden Fraser.

The donation will be used by the very proactive Board to purchase water pitchers to donate to members of the Board.

Foster is currently spearheading the project to assist clubs during the year with water pitchers, cricket balls, score books and white T-shirts.

He stated that 40 clubs

would benefit from water pitchers, 60 from score books while 90 would receive white cricket shirts and cricket balls.

Foster disclosed that over the past 14 months, he has visited 80 per cent of the clubs and venues across Berbice.

During these visits, club officials requested assistance in the form of the above-mentioned items.

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), which enjoys a very close relationship with corporate Guyana and overseas-based Guyanese, is working along with the Cricket Board to obtain the items.

A Georgetown-based Berbician business executive has already committed to donating 1000 white T-shirts while the National Sports Commission has donated $200,000 worth of balls.

Fraser’s donation will be used to purchase 15 water pitchers to assist the first set of clubs.

Foster disclosed that three junior cricketers would benefit from receiving cricket

The Male Under-21 Volleyball team

gears while his club would start construction of Berbice’s first outdoor cricket practice facility.

This project will be open to all Berbicians especially the Berbice junior cricket team during the rainy season.

BCB Administrator Angela Haniff expressed gratitude to Fraser for his contribution, and stated that the Board was totally committed to the development of Berbice cricket.

T

he Guyanese male Under-21 volleyball team will return home heavy-hearted and questioning the game’s officials after the defending champions were edged out of the top spot in the two-day competition hosted in French Guiana.

What was said to be a case of bizarre officiating on the part of the game officials robbed the male defending champions of their second victory at the recently conclud-

ed Inter-Guianas Under-21 Male and Female volleyball tournament held in French Guiana on May 3 and 4, 2019.

As such, the five-set game concluded: 25-17, 18-25, 2518, 19-25 and 12-15 in favour of the French Guiana males.

The first instance of dissatisfaction was aired by the Guyanese and even by the technical official of the French Federation.

Earlier in the tournament, Guyana defeated French

Guiana 25-21, 17-25, 2519 and Suriname 25-17, 1925,25-21, in the three-set round-robin preliminaries.

Following the completion of the three best in five finals, Guyana’s Captain Andy Rohoman was adjudged best attacker and was presented with a trophy while his teammate, Jaleel Roberts was adjudged best blocker and also received a trophy.

On the other hand, the female team were not quite as successful as their male counterparts. The ladies were defeated in the preliminary round by both French Guiana and Suriname, both of which are said to be much more experienced teams.

The Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) has extended its utmost gratitude to the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Director of Sport, Christopher Jones for their unwavering support in making the tour the tremendous success that it was.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesday, may 8, 2019

UEFA Champions League

Liverpool stage sensational comeback to beat Barcelona and reach final O f all the incredible nights at Anfield, where does this one count? It has to be somewhere near the top and, genuinely, there is no hyperbole whatsoever to say that it probably trumps the lot, everything that has happened before at this famous old stadium, with the floodlights on and the European Cup as the target.

By the time it was all done, it was the players of Liverpool who could look forward to the final in Madrid on 1 June and, for Barcelona, that made it one of the more harrowing ordeals of all their years when they have graced Europe’s premier club competition. Barça once overcame a 4-0 first-leg deficit against Paris Saint-Germain by winning 6-1 in the return fixture. They will know now what it is like to be on the receiving end when it comes to the list of great Champions League comebacks.

Jürgen Klopp’s team had begun the night with a 3-0 deficit and, ultimately, more fool anyone who thought it was beyond them.

Plenty of us did. Yet they had levelled the match on aggregate, incredibly, by the 56th minute courtesy of Divock Origi’s first-half goal and two in quick succession from the substitute Georginio Wijnaldum. Origi was playing because Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino were both missing and it was the replacement striker, again, who came up with the fourth goal.

Another team, deprived of key personnel, might have shrunk because of what happened to them in the Camp Nou. Not this Liverpool side, though. Andy Robertson’s two-handed shove at the back of Messi’s head was an early glimpse of how pumped-up they were. Anfield always cranks up the volume on the European nights and Origi’s goal came early enough to

fill the stadium with the genuine belief that, fenders, when Alba beat the offside trap. Yet, yes, it was not fantasy to think Liverpool rather than shoot, he elected to pass to Messi, might actually pull it off. who was in a worse position, and the chance Sadio Mané, in particular, played as though was passed up. Messi, on reflection, might conaffronted by the suggestion that the tie could sider it a compliment that his colleagues are so not be salvaged. It was a blitz during the open- obsessed with getting the ball to him. At the ing exchanges and Barça seemed unprepared time, however, he seemed bewildered by his judging by the misplaced header from Jordi teammate’s choice.

Alba that let The probin Mané in lem for the build-up Liverpool was to the openthat Messi ing goal. Mané rarely lets picked up the big octhe loose ball casions pass and played him by and, in Jordan for this one, Henderson, Klopp did not r u n n i n g seem to have through the made any spemiddle, for the cial provisions initial shootto try to reing opportustrain the fivenity.

Marc- After a quick-corner routine, Divock Origi was left all alone in time Ballon André ter d’Or winner. the Barcelona box to score a dramatic winner Stegen manLiverpool’s inaged to get his hand to Henderson’s shot but tention primarily was to let Barça worry about Origi was following up to put in the rebound. them. All of which meant Messi was free to Liverpool’s dedication to prolonging the ar- amble into pockets of space, then suddenly the gument made it a thrilling occasion. In return, ball would be with him and he would pick up everybody knew Barça would eventually shake speed – a blur of fluorescent yellow followed by their heads clear and start to play more in the a clutch of players wearing all red. manner of a team striving to win their fifth As for Luis Suárez, the crowd did not European Cup in 13 years. In one five-minute bother with any superficial niceties as the spell of the first half, Messi alone had four at- Uruguayan returned to the ground where tempts at goal and, on the last of those occa- they once cherished his Machiavellian traits. sions, it was an almighty let-off for Liverpool. Not that Suárez left the impression he would Barça had four different attackers inside the be wounded in the slightest by their hostility. penalty area, as opposed to Liverpool’s two de- He continued where he had left off in the first

leg, arguing with his opponents, exaggerating every fall, winding up the occasion and making it his business, true to form, to harden the suspicion that when he enters a football pitch he sees himself wearing the devil’s horns. It was everything that once made him a hero of the Kop. This time, there was outrage. “Fuck off Suárez,” came the hissed chant, over and again, from the supporters who had previously afforded him something close to deification.

Robertson was injured in the first half, meaning Wijnaldum being added to midfield and James Milner dropping back into the leftback position. Liverpool had 45 minutes to save themselves and, by any standards, what happened next was truly astonishing.

It began with Trent Alexander-Arnold losing the ball, then winning it back, before firing in a low cross from the right that Wijnaldum, on the run, fired in with such power his shot went beneath the dive of Ter Stegen.

Wijnaldum followed the ball into the goal to wrestle the ball off the goalkeeper and that summed up Liverpool’s attitude. They knew they could not delay.

All the time, there was the danger created

by Messi, Suárez and, not forgetting, Philippe Coutinho, another former Liverpool favourite. Yet in Liverpool’s next attack Xherdan Shaqiri crossed from the left and Wijnaldum was there again. It was a twisting header and, for Liverpool, an equaliser many people would have thought inconceivable at the start of play.

And then we came to the 79th minute.

Barça were in disarray at the back. Liverpool had a corner and Alexander-Arnold took it quickly. Origi was the only player to react, clipping in a goal that Anfield will never forget. (The Guardian)

11th Edward “Screw” Richmond...

Christianburg-Wismar retain championship

N

ational junior goalkeeper Jonathan Copeland showed his versatility by striking on the forward line to net the most goals as his team, Christianburg-Wismar Secondary, retained their hold on football at the school level.

They eased past Linden Technical Institute (LTI) 2-1 in the final of this year’s Edward “Screw” Richmond Secondary Schools Under-18 football championship, which was played at the Wisburg Secondary School Ground.

Copeland netted one of the goals in that final’s win and got a brace as his team after Jonathan Copeland copped the best forward, MVP and Most gaining a bye through the first Goals awards

round were able to win another championship to add to their bulging trophy case at this level.

In the final, they faced LTI where it was Copeland, who once more demonstrated his scoring prowess to find the back of the net in the 2-1 win.

The Linden Foundation Secondary (LFS) had to settle for third place in the 11th edition of the championship as they won against Wisburg Secondary via sudden penalties after they were locked 1-1

after open play failed to decide a winner.

To advance to the final, LTI, after a 0-0 stalemate with LFS, won penalty spot kicks 4-3.

In the other semi-final, Christianburg-Wismar defeated Wisburg Secondary 3-1 as Copeland netted twice and Janeuve Waldron accounted for the other goal.

The burly Copeland copped the Most Goals prize and Best Forward awards to go with the Most Valuable

Player of the final prize, with teammates Bani Dow collecting the Best Defender prize while Andre Mayers copped the Best Midfielder prize.

Tyrese Azore walked away with the Best Goalkeeper award while the Most Improved Player of the tournament award was won by the LTI’s Jamal Yaw. The Best Coach prize was copped by the LTI’s Joel Humphrey and LFS were adjudged the Best Dressed team.

Arokium Memorial 50-mile Road Race hits Berbice May 12 Flying Ace Cycle Club Coach Randolph Roberts receives the cheque from Pearl Arokium

S

ome of the best cyclists in the country will feature in an exciting racing event in the Ancient County of Berbice in a 50-mile Road Race between Alexander Street, New Amsterdam and Nand Persaud No 36 Village on the Corentyne Coast.

In honour of the late proprietor of the Arokium Funeral Parlour, Phillip Arokium, the road race will commence on Sunday, May 12, 2019.

Pearl Arokium, the daughter of Phillip and Managing Director of the funeral establishment, has handed the sponsorship cheque to Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) Coach Randolph Roberts.

The race is expected to attract some of the country’s top cyclists in Romello Crawford, Balram Narine, Andre Padlock Greene, Michael Anthony, Ralph Seenarine, Paul DeNobrega, Junior Niles, Paul Choo-e-

Naam, Whitney Poyer, Mario Washington, Jerimiah Joseph, and Maria Carrington among others.

The race will commence at 10:00h local time with a cruise around the town of New Amsterdam, from in front of Arokium Funeral Parlour, left into Republic Road into Tacama, and into Stanleytown.

The race officially starts when the cyclists cross Alexander Street where they will ride up to Nand Persaud Rice Milling Complex at Number 36 Village, Corentyne before turning back to finish at Alexander Street.

Prizes will be awarded to the first eight finishers, first three veterans, top three juveniles, and top three females along with prizes for the first three FACC members to cross the finish line. There will also be 10 sprint prizes up for grabs. The prizes will be pre-

Curtis Dey won the last race held in Berbice

sented to the winners by the Managing Director and relatives immediately after the race.

The event was organised on Monday, May 7, 2019 at the Lot 30 Philadelphia Street, New Amsterdam office. During the launching ceremony, Ms Arokium stated that the family was pleased to host the event once again in her father’s memory. Coach Roberts expressed his gratitude to the business entity for honouring its former owner by way of a cycling event. Interested cyclists can make contact with the organiser, Coach Roberts on 6288211 if they wish to be a part of the event.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, may 8, 2019

21

Guyanese trio wing out for Windies Women’s camp

T

hree of Guyana’s premier female players – Shemaine Campbelle, Shabika Gajnabi and Sheneta Grimmond –departed local shores on Monday for the training camp in Antigua.

This training camp is in preparation for the limited overs tours to Ireland and England.

Campbelle is the lone Guyanese in the 14-member squad while Gajnabi and Grimmond are the reserve players for the training camp only. The train-

ing camp in Antigua will conclude on May 20, and the 14-member squad will depart Antigua for Ireland on May 21.

The Caribbean ladies will play the Irish women in three T20 Internationals on May 26, 28 and 29. After the T20 tour to Ireland, West Indies Women will play the defending OneDay International (ODI) World Cup winners, England in three ODIs as part of the ICC Women’s Championships. The first of the three matches will

Shemaine Campbelle

Sheneta Grimmond

commence from June 6, followed by the second match on June 9.

The tour in England will

sign off when West Indies Women play England in three T20 Internationals on June 18, 21 and 25.

Stafanie Taylor, who is currently in India playing the Women’s T20 challenge, will lead the Windies Women on both tours. Her deputy will be Barbados’ winning Super50 and T20 Blaze Captain, Hayley Matthews, who is also on duty in India.

Shakera Selman, who is also in India playing in the Women’s T20 challenge, will join the camp after the tournament in India.

West Indies full 14-member squad reads: Stafanie Taylor (Captain);

Hayley Matthews (Vice Captain); Deandra Dottin; Afy Fletcher; Karishma Ramharack; Chedean Nation; Chinelle Henry; Kycia Knight; Kyshona Knight; Shakera Selman; Shamilia Connell; Shemaine Campbell; Natasha McLean and Stacy Ann King.

Additional Players: FOR CAMP ONLY reads: Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Reniece Boyce, Britney Cooper, Shanika Bruce and Shawnisha Hector.

GFF/KFC U20 Independence KO Cup – East Bank

Soesdyke Falcons dismantle Diamond United

H

Tyrone Khan (second right) slots one on the way to his hat-trick against Diamond United

CLASSIFIED ADS ARACARI ARACARI HOTEL, WBD (NEAR HARBOUR BRIDGE) ALL MODERN AMENITIES- RATES FROM US$25.

TEL #264-2946-8 CONFERENCE & RETREATS- FULL SERVICE: HOTEL, CATERING & FACILITES. ARACARI RESORT, WBD. ALEX WAYNE: 264-2946.

WEDDINGS & ANNIVERSARIES. RENTAL OR FULL SERVICE: BANQUET HALL & CATERING, ARACARI RESORT. ALEX WAYNE: 264-2946.

SALON: COSMETOLOGY-FULL COURSE $100,000. TECHNICIAN $40,000. ARACARI SALON & SPA, WBD 264-3312, 600-3927.

FOR SALE 1 COMPLETE 6 BASS MUSIC SYSTEM. TEL: 601-9855 / 253-3070

LAND for sale TRANSPORTED LAND 11.6 ACRES, LOT 15 PUBLIC ROAD, NO 2 VILLAGE W.C.B. PRICE $18M. CONTACT # 686-4818, 648-7109

TO LET FOR RENT BY OWNER . 8000 sq ft of warehouse/office space on the BV (Beterverwagting) Public Rd, East Coast Demerara. Multiple air-conditioned offices. Call or Whatsapp 592-610-6580

WANTED TAILOR AND SEAMSTRESS TEL: 6019855 / 253-3070

at-tricks from Mark Barker and Tyrone Khan along with a double from Nickozie Hope guided Soesdyke Falcons to an emphatic 13-2 triumph over Diamond United and a place in the semi-finals of the Guyana Football federation-Kentucky Fried Chicken (GFF/ KFC) U-20 Independence Cup, East Bank Football Association leg.

All the action unfolded on Monday as the match was the feature of a double header when the GFF/ EBFA Senior League was unveiled.

The young Falcons, many of whom will be turning out for the senior unit, were in a no-nonsense mood and scored on the first run

down after the opening whistle, Barker finishing after being sent the ball by Khan in the first minute.

Barker followed up with goals in the 65th and 83rd minutes. Khan, a quick and nippy forward, tormented United’s defence throughout the encounter and on many occasions rather than finish on his own, he set up his colleague to score.

But he banged in three of his own in the 11th, 58th and 65th minutes to cement his side’s place in the semis. Hope was on target for his double in the 40th and 82nd minutes while one goal each was scored

by Kevin Sobers in the 6th; Junior Williams (18th), Malachi Leacock (45); Raymond Khan (50th) and

Chaim Pathon in the 85th minute.

Diamond United featured a number of U-15 players as their Coach, Orein Angoy said they were preparing for the U-15 and U- 17 leagues, but they were no pushovers and fought back admirably in spurts. They got consolation goals in the 64th and 69th minute from Carlos Wilkie and Jaheem Small.

The three teams now in the semi-finals are Soesdyke Falcons, Timehri Panthers and Grove Hi Tech. A draw will be done among the teams and one team would be gifted a place in the final while the other two would battle it out in the lone semi-final this Saturday.

GFF/EBFA Senior League…

Grove Hi Tech fire 6 past Kuru Kururu Warriors

T

he 2019 East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Senior League sponsored by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) kicked off on Monday at the GFF National Training Centre following a colourful marchpast of teams, witnessed by Director of Sport, Christopher Jones; GFF boss Wayne Forde and EBFA President Franklin Wilson among others.

The lone match contested saw Grove Hi Tech defeating a determined Kuru Kururu Warriors 6-3 to set the tone for what is anticipated to be an exciting league which 11 clubs would be contesting.

Darren Mc Pherson led Grove to victory with a double (17th and 37th minutes) with one apiece from Jonathan Bailey (19th); Delroy Dodson (25th); Nicholai Matthews (43rd) and Marvin Squires (46th).

Kuru Kururu Warriors got their goals through Christopher Alleyne who netted an own goal in the 22nd minute with Joseph and Kevon Walker finding the back of the net in the 87th and 91st minute, respectively.

Prior to the match, taking part in the marchpast were the two above-named clubs, Herstelling Raiders, Diamond United, Friendship All Stars, Timehri Panthers, Samatta Point/Kaneville and Agricola Red Triangle. The referees who would be in charge of matches were also part of the march-past; the best dressed team, selected by Forde and Jones, were Timehri Panthers and they were rewarded with a trophy.

Wilson, in brief remarks, expressed gratitude to Forde and the GFF for fulfilling his commitment to sponsor the Senior League. He cautioned the players to be at their best and be

Part of the action on opening day of the EBFA Senior League

disciplined on and off the field of play.

Jones, in his remarks, congratulated the EBFA and GFF for the work they have been collectively engaged in towards the development of youths along the East Bank and LindenSoesdyke Highway corridor.

GFF President Forde, in the feature remarks, stated that it was a moment of personal pride for him and his executive to witness what was unfolding before his eyes.

He challenged the players to commit themselves to being the best possible first and foremost and the best possible human being.

Forde also informed that the GFF would be announcing at its Congress on May 25 next, plans for what would be the biggest tournament in the nation’s history, the Federation Cup, which would be held to commemorate Guyana’s football association’s 117th anniversary as an organised body.

22 4th Independence track meet runs off on May 18-19 WEDNESday, MAY 8, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

- CARIFTA 2021 plans already in the pipeline

The members of the head table at Tuesday’s launch: AAG President Aubrey Hutson, DoS Christopher Jones, Coordinator Sheryl Hermonstine, David Thomas, Linden Jones and Esan Griffith.

By Jemima Holmes

L

ocal athletes will have their opportunity to display their ever improving skills next weekend, as they compete in celebration of Guyana’s 53rd Independence Anniversary.

The fourth Independence Track and Field Championships which has become an annual event will run off next weekend on May 18 and 19 at the Leonora Track and Field Center. The Championship was the brain child of the Guyana Overseas Based Sports Association and since its inception has grown to be a highly anticipated event in the track and field community.

Speaking at the launch on Tuesday morning at the National Racquet Center, President of the Overseas Based Sports Association, David Thomas, disclosed that the organizers have sought to make the event more inclusive by gathering athletes from all ten administrative regions.

“This year at the classics that is going to be held, we going to be touching all ten regions of the country. We’re going to work on

making sure that all Guyanese youth who have the potential to participate in sports will be there,” Thomas stated.

Zeroing in on the logistics of the two day tournament, athletics Association of Guyana President Aubrey Hutson revealed that they will stick to the usual age categories but the younger athletes will be encouraged to participate in multiple events.

“Next Weekend is going to be an all age group championships, where we have athletes from 8-and-under doing multiple events and they must compete in all three events.

We have the 9-11 with the same thing because we don’t want to encourage the athletes to be specific in that early age group, so we encourage them to do multiple events and the later on we’ll see the ones they’re excelling in and then work with the coach on specialization,” Hutson explained.

The age groups for the competition will be 8 and Under, 9 – 11 years, 12-14 years, 15-17 years, 18 years and above and the Masters: 35 years and over.

Meanwhile, Director of Sport (Dos) Christopher Jones on behalf of the National

Sports Commission and the Ministry of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sport pledged the entities’ continued commitment to assisting the event.

“We’re only too pleased to be associated with this the fourth year of this tournament, as we made the commitment the first year to Mr. Thomas and his executives that whatever support is necessary providing that the funds are available, the NSC would lend support. Today again, we pledge our support, to this event,” the DoS assured.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Linden Jones of the Guyana Committee of Services while ensuring his support, commended the organizers of the event.

“We see this as an opportunity to make or presence felt, so we are going to be sponsoring one or more events along with Guybisco, to make this tournament an even bigger success. We want to congratulate the team that is organizing this event, we think it’s a timely venture and we look forward for a real competitive competition,” Jones said.

The GSC has been actively sponsoring sporting events and athletes in their respective ventures. Other members of the Committee are: Leslie Blacks, Eugiene Noel and Joseph Ramkumar.

Amongst the sponsors of the Independence Championships are Forrestor Lumber yard, Banks DIH, Guyana Committee of Services, Guybisco and Sybil’s of the USA. A small entrance fee of $300 will be charged on both competition days.

Peeking into CARIFTA 2021 While the occasion was set to launch the 4th Independence Track and Field tournament, the Director of Sport took advantage of the moment to share and discuss the plans for the 2021 Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Games that will be hosted in Guyana.

Jones disclosed that although the games are roughly two years away, the NSC along with the AAG have begun consultations on the way forward.

“As mentioned, in 2021, Guyana will be hosting the CARIFTA Junior championships and preparations for those meets in other countries would have perhaps started a

Director of Sports Christopher Jones

year before but Guyana has already started preparation,” Jones disclosed.

While detailing what will need to be done, the Director of Sport shared that in the coming weeks a secretariat will be set up where constant planning and execution will be done.

“We can tell you thus far that preparations are already being made to establish a secretariat which would first be located right here (National Racquet Center, Camp Street) and as we get closer to 2021 another venue will be sighted because we expect the committee would be widened,” he said.

Furthermore, the DoS is of the opinion that local tournaments such as the Independence Championships will act as scouting platforms.

“These tournaments that would be had by Mr. Thomas and his executives provides an opportunity to do scouting to identify those potential athletes that would be representing Guyana in 2021,” Additionally, Jones believes that having the games hosted on local soil will boost the numbers in the Guyanese contingent that will participate, owing to the elimination of travel costs.

Hand-in-Hand 3-Day Inter-County Tournament…

Berbice, Demerara to clash for title honours ― Essequibo seeking consolation win against Select U-17

Essequibo’s Orlando Jailall

By Brandon Corlette The defending Under 19 inter-county champions, Berbice and their arch rivals, Demerara will battle for supremacy when they meet at the Lusignan Community Centre. These two high quality teams will meet today May 8, from 10:00 hours local time, for their third and final round clash of the Under 19 inter-county 3-Day tournament.

Berbice are sitting pretty, at the top of the table with 17 points while Demerara are in second position with 16.3 points. The Kevlon Andersonled Berbice team played the first round against the

Select U-17 at Everest; where they lost first innings points but took control of the match, but rain stood in their way of registering a come-back victory.

Following their first round, Berbice then showed their class when they dispatched Essequibo by 146 runs at Lusignan. The opening batsmen from Berbice, Alex Algoo and Junior Sinclair has been amongst the runs. Algoo, the leading run-scorer of the tournament and the lone centurion after two rounds, has 255 runs. Algoo recorded a brilliant 175 in the first round against Select U-17, followed by an aggressive 52 against Essequibo.

He will once more be relied on to do the bulk of the runs along with Ashmead Nedd Junior Sinclair who has 159 runs in the two matches, including two halfcenturies against Essequibo. West Indies U-19 selectee, and Berbice captain, Kevlon Anderson will be eager to register a big score since he has a lone half-century thus far in this tournament.

The likes of Garfield Benjamin, Seon Galsgow and Nigel Deodat have shown their worth with the bat, chipping in with useful runs for Berbice.

The bowling department will be led by Kelvin Umroa who has two five-wicket hauls in this tournament thus far and his fellow leftarm spinner, Nigel Deodat has had wickets in the second round. Junior Sinclair, who had a superb spell against Essequibo and Seon Galsgow are the

right-arm off-spinners in the team. Leon Swamy, Kevlon Anderson and Christopher Harry has been the pacemen for the Berbicians. Demerara who made light work of Essequibo in their first round, are a confident unit with two Windies selectees in Sachin Singh and Ashmead Nedd.

However, these big players have not yet registered outstanding performances; it was Joel Spooner who starred against Essequibo with 11 wickets in the match while opening batsman, Robin Williams has been among the runs for Demerara. The match will certainly be a cracker with the big names on show but the weather may affect the match, hence the change of venue from GCC to Lusignan.

Essequibo will continue to rely on the likes of Orlando Jailall and Kevin Christian with the bat who has done the bulk of the runs at the top of the order. The bowling department looks covered with off-spinners, Amit Persaud and Lance Roberts. Persaud has led the wicket-charts thus far with 14 scalps.

The Select U-17 team, Essequibo’s next opponent has shown much promise in both rounds. In their first match against Berbice, the Select U-17 team rattled the defending champions to 127 all out. The second round match saw the U-17 team bowled out Demerara for 169 before rain ended the match, with Chanderpaul Ramraj grabbing five wickets.

Chanderpaul Ramraj

Essequibo has 0.2 points while Select U-17 has 10.4 points, the lads from the Cinderella county, will look for a consolation win against the upbeat Select U-17 team. After these final rounds of the 3-Day tournament the One Day 50-over format will commence and one of the matches will be played in Berbice.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, may 8, 2019

23

Ireland Tri-Nation Series…

Bangladesh top order leads comfortable victory charge

A

- Hope’s century in vain

bowling ing for the right opportunity, slamfightming Kemar Roach for successive fours in the tenth over. b a c k It set them for the next ten overs, and a solin which they added 69 runs. Soumya id chase from B a n g l a d e s h ’ s Mashrafe Mortaza blasted Jason Holder for a straight six, top-order led and then played the upper-cut off the them to an eight-wicket win over West same bowler a few overs later. Soumya Indies in the second match of the tri-se- and Tamim were looking ominous in ries in Ireland. Mashrafe Mortaza had the next six overs, hitting boundaries led a fine bowling effort to engineer and picking up singles quite easily.

West Indies’ batting collapse at the But a moment of brilliance in the death, where they went from 205 for 2 field separated the openers, when in 40.4 overs to 261 for 9 in 50 overs. Darren Bravo caught Soumya at the After that, Tamim Iqbal and Soumya deep midwicket boundary. He held the Sarkar set up the chase with a 144- ball at first, was overbalancing, so he run opening stand. Shakib Al Hasan threw it up in the air, then stepped and Mushfiqur Rahim over the boundary and came back incompleted the job with side to complete the catch. It was against the run of play, and gave West five overs to spare.

Indies a lifeline. Soumya had made 73 Shakib off 68 balls with a six and nine fours, completed the but where West Indies should have win with a beautiful straight drive, tightened their bowling and fieldwhich took ing, they did the opposite.

Their fielders kept misshim to an uning regulation balls, while beaten runtheir bowlers couldn’t a-ball 61 that instring together a tight cluded three fours and two sixes. He added 68 runs for the unbroken third spell. Tamim and Shakib wicket stand with Mushfiqur, havadded 52 for the second ing already put on 52 with wicket before Mushfiqur and Shakib kept hitting Tamim for the second wickthe gaps, and waiting et. for the West Indies Tamim, who top scored with 80 off 116 balls with sevbowlers to err in en fours, and Soumya added length, or for the Tamim Iqbal 144 runs, Bangladesh’s highest fielders to mess up.

Sunil Ambris opening stand against West Indies couldn’t judge a in ODIs. But it started with a bit of Mushfiqur slap luck when Roston Chase dropped Tamim’s uppish drive at cover, t o wards deep when he was on 1. The pair had put on point, and the wicketkeeper then only 38 runs in the first ten overs, with slammed a pull to reduce the target Soumya hitting three gorgeous bound- down to four runs.

While Bangladesh accelerated as aries and Tamim, after patiently wait-

the innings progressed, West Indies went in the opposite direction as they lost their last seven wickets for 56 runs in 9.2 overs. The collapse split their innings into two parts, but one didn’t complement the other as it should have. West Indies started off well, with Hope and Sunil Ambris putting on 89 runs for the opening wicket. Mashrafe bowled a mean spell during the Powerplay but control only came when he introduced spin in the 14th over.

Shakib started with a tight couple of overs before Mehidy Hasan Miraz removed Ambris, with Mahmudullah taking a smart catch at cover.

Bravo fell in the next over, but Hope and R o s t o n C h a s e put to-

geth- e r 115 runs for the third wicket, seemingly setting up a final flourish.

Shakib and Mehidy applied pressure in the middle overs to cut down the scoring, with Mashrafe utilising his bowlers splendidly.

Chase fell in the 41st o v e r when he top Shai Hope edged Mashrafe to short fine-leg, h a v ing made 51 o f f 62 balls.

T h e Bangladesh captain also removed Hope and Jason Holder in the space of three balls. Shakib then took a brilliant catch, diving to his

3

SCOREBOARD

West Indies Innings (50 overs maximum) SD Hope † c Mithun b Mortaza 109 SW Ambris c Mahmudullah b Miraz 38 DM Bravo c † Rahim b Shakib 1 RL Chase c Rahman b Mortaza 51 JL Carter c Shakib b Rahman 11 JO Holder (c) c † Rahim b Mortaza 4 SO Dowrich c Sarkar b Saifuddin 6 AR Nurse c Rahman b Rahman 19 KAJ Roach b Saifuddin 1 SS Cottrell not out 4 ST Gabriel not out 0 Extras (b 2, lb 8, nb 1, w 6) 17 TOTAL (50 Overs, RR: 5.22) 261-9 Fall of wickets: 1-89 (SW Ambris, 16.2 ov), 2-90 (DM Bravo, 17.2 ov), 3-205 (RL Chase, 40.5 ov), 4-207 (SD Hope, 42.1 ov), 5-211 (JO Holder, 42.3 ov), 6-219 (SO Dowrich, 44.1 ov), 7-245 (JL Carter, 47.3 ov), 8-251 (KAJ Roach, 48.2 ov), 9-260 (AR Nurse, 49.5 ov)

BOWLING M Saifuddin (10-1-47-2) M Mortaza (10-0-49-3) M Rahman (10-0-84-2) S Al Hasan (10-0-33-1) M Miraz (10-0-38-1) Bangladesh Innings (target: 262 runs from 50 overs) T Iqbal c Holder b Gabriel 80 S Sarkar c Bravo b Chase 73 S Al Hasan not out 61 Mushfiqur Rahim † not out 32 Extras (lb 5, w 13) 18 TOTAL (45 Overs, RR: 5.86) 264-2 Yet to bat: Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman Fall of wickets: 1-144 (Soumya Sarkar, 25.6 ov), 2-196 (Tamim Iqbal, 36.4 ov) BOWLING SS Cottrell (7-0-47-0) KAJ Roach (7-0-30-0) ST Gabriel (10-0-58-1) JO Holder (4-0-27-0) AR Nurse (7-0-46-0) RL Chase (10-0-51-1)

left at long-on, to send back Jonathan Carter. Mohammad Saifuddin and Mustafizur Rahman conceded 50 runs in the last seven overs, and didn’t concede a single boundary in the last 2.4 overs.

More runs in the last 16 balls perhaps could have helped West Indies, as would have more consistent bowling and better fielding. Bangladesh would also have liked to see Mustafizur bowl better, but that is why theseteams are playing the tri-nation series: so that they can iron out the gaps that exist before the World Cup comes around. (ESPN cricinfo)

Courtney Browne, Eldine Baptiste file suit against CWI for unfair dismissal

Courtney Browne and Eldine Baptiste believe that their termination was in part the result of the CWI President’s inferences that they victimised some players and banished them from selection consideration

C

ourtney Browne and Eldine Baptiste have filed suit against Cricket West Indies citing unfair dismissal from their jobs as West Indies selectors effective March 31, 2019.

Browne, a former Windies wicketkeeper, had been a member of the West Indies Selection Panel since 2010; Baptiste since 2014. Browne was being paid an annual salary of USD$71,000 with an annual telephone allowance of USD$6000. Baptiste was afforded a salary of USD$51,600 with an annual telephone allowance of USD$3600.

Both men were also entitled to a gratuity calculated at

10 per cent of their base salaries. According to a letter their attorneys – Thomas, John and Company that was addressed to Cricket West Indies CEO Johnny Grave, informing of the suit, both men claimed they had no other source of income and were financially dependent on the CWI. The men said they received letters from the CWI on April 10, 2019, in which it was said that a task force was being established to review the selection system at all levels and that the task force was to make their recommendations to the board at their next meeting in June 2019.

However, without the task force having met, or made

any recommendations to the board, they were informed that the selection panel was dissolved and that their services would not be required after March 31, 2019.

The letter to the CWI stated that the men do not accept the termination of their contracts of service “in accordance with the laws and particularly the Labour Code of Antigua and Barbuda on the grounds that notwithstanding the references to contractor and independent contractor in their respective contracts,” Browne and Baptiste, “were clearly employees under the Labour Code within the definition of employee and not independent contractors. Therefore they enjoyed the right under the Antigua Labour Law not to be unfairly dismissed.”

The lawyers for the plaintiffs also said their clients were and are not in business of their own and were not contracted as persons carrying on separate businesses but as persons required to personally perform their services under the contracts, and they could not under any circumstances subcontract or delegate any of their contractual services to any other person.

And, as it relates to their competency, the lawyers drew reference to evaluations that their clients were subjected to during their tenure. The evaluation forms referred to the men as “employees”.

In the most recent evaluations done in 2018, Browne was determined to be ‘excellent’ in the execution of his responsibilities by Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams, for “strict and uncompromising adherence to robust ethical ideals”.

Adams, in reference to Browne, was quoted in the evaluation as saying “He exhibits a high level of integrity in all he does.”

Baptiste was given the grade “Good” in his evaluation.

The lawyers representing the players claim that their clients believe that their termination was in part the result the CWI president’s inferences that they, Browne and Baptiste, were “part and parcel of and/or executed the old embedded selection policy which secretly, but actively victimized some players and banished them from selection consideration.”

Those “expressly and implicitly false” allegations from the president, the lawyers claim, were damaging to their clients.

WEDNESday, MAY 8, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

4th Independence track meet runs off on May 18-19

Page 22

― CARIFTA 2021 plans Ireland Tri-Nation Series…

Bangladesh top order leads comfortable victory charge

- Hope century in vain

Page 23

Arokium Memorial 50-mile Road Race hits Berbice May 12 Curtis Dey won the last race held in Berbice

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

Page 20