Guyana Times Monday May 6, 2019

Charity residents concerned about spike in teen P13 pregnancies, child crimes Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 3915

guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH monday, may 6, 2019

Arrival Day celebrates contribution of all races – Granger See story on page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

EITI urges P7 acceleration of petroleum laws review …says current legal framework a hindrance to investments

Miners complain of GGMC/Police destruction of P12 camps …agencies acted to enforce CCJ ruling – Minister

Local Content Policy still in consultation phase – P14 Energy Dept

…as Indian Arrival Day Monument commissioned

Essequibo Coast family homeless after drunken man sets home on fire Farmer stabbed Waiakabra residents to death by decry condition Page Page of water stepson 11 2

Page 9

…say GWI needs to do better

Page 7

Berbice money changer shot, robbed by bandits

More extraditions of fugitives P10 hiding in Guyana imminent

2 news Farmer stabbed to death by stepson A MONday, may 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

n argument between a Pomeroon River, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) man and his stepson ended in murder on Sunday morning.

Dead is Eon Williams of Grant Bethany, Pomeroon River.

Reports are the 40-yearold man and his 20-year-old stepson, along with another relative, were imbibing at their home about 03:00h on Sunday when an argument ensued between the accused and his cousin.

Guyana Times was told

that the stepfather intervened to make peace, but he too became embroiled in an argument with the accused. The man then picked up an old standby generator frame and hit his stepson on his hand. In retaliation, the 20-year-old armed him-

self with a knife and dealt his stepfather a fatal stab to his right abdomen. The man fell to the ground where he bled out. The Police were informed and visited the scene about 07:30h on Sunday.

The body was brought out by the Police to Charity

Eon Williams’s body being transported to the Oscar Joseph District Hospital

by boat, and doctors at the Oscar Joseph District Hospital, Charity confirmed the death.

Williams’s stepson is presently in Police custody assisting with the investigation.

Domestic violence

Timehri woman’s family remains fearful as suspect yet to be arrested

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anks attached to the Timehri Police Station, East Bank Demerara (EBD) are coming in for harsh criticism for their non-action to effect the arrest of a Timehri man, who attacked and severely beat the mother of his child on April 25, 2019 causing the woman to lose several teeth and sustain other injuries.

Nirmala Sookwah, 20, was beaten by the father of her child after she refused to continue the relationship with him after suffering domestic violence.

“If the Police had told us that they can’t find him, we would’ve accepted that, because at least we would know that they were trying, but up to yesterday (Saturday) I saw this bai, he ain’t hiding, so the Police can easily find him, but they are not trying,” Naresh Sookwah, the woman’s father, told Guyana Times.

As such, the man is pleading with the authorities to protect his daughter from the suspect.

“The gyal afraid, she can’t live in peace because he deh out here and we ain’t know when he can try something again, because nobody ain’t doing anything to him. We really need to see him arrested; she have a small son to live for,” the elder Sookwah added.

As a result of the beating at the hands of the suspect, Sookwah lost several teeth, sustained a broken jaw and nose, and suffered injuries to her left knee.

On the night of the incident, Sookwah had already retired to bed in her Lot 131 Hyde Park, Timehri home, when there was a knock on her door followed by the suspect calling out her name.

Scared for her life,

Nirmala Sookwah

Sookwah recounted that she did not respond to the calls which caused the suspect to leave. He, however, returned later, broke a window, and gained access to the house.

The woman said that she ran out of the house, but was caught by the man and thrown down a hill in the area.

She was then further attacked and beaten. A relative went to her aid and the suspect fled the scene.

Sookwah’s father had earlier related to this newspaper that his daughter was in an abusive relationship with her attacker, but separated from him two months ago.

Sookwah left the relationship after she was severely beaten after questioning her then lover about a sum of money which belonged to her that he allegedly used to purchase a motorcycle. Following the beating and her departure from the home, the suspect has been following her and begging her to resume the relationship.

When contacted, Divisional Commander Marlon Chapman assured that stringent efforts were still being made to apprehend the suspect.

news

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monday, may 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, May 6 – 05:30h-07:00h and Tuesday, May 7 – 05:00h-06:30h.

…as Indian Arrival Day Monument commissioned

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, May 6 – 04:45h-06:15h and Tuesday, May 7 – 05:20h-06:50h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers are expected until midmorning, followed by light rain showers and then cloudy skies from the mid-afternoon to early evening followed by light rain showers.

Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 05:14h and 17:41h reaching maximum heights of 2.80 metres and 2.70 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:14h and 23:27h reaching minimum heights of 0.38 metre and 0.57 metre.

saturday, may 4, 2019

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Arrival Day celebrates contribution of all races – Granger

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

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rrival Day was commemorated on Sunday with the unveiling of the long awaited $160 million Palmyra Monument in a ceremony wherein President David Granger saluted not only the arrival of East Indian migrants, but the arrival of all races to Guyana.

At that commissioning ceremony, attended by Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, HE Venkatachalam Mahalingam, Granger hailed the diversity of Berbice, and the contributions of all races to the development of Guyana.

“Arrival Day celebrates the contributions of all of our peoples – Amerindians, Africans, Asians and Europeans. Our nation was established on the foundation of their sacrifices and achievements,” he declared.

“Arrival Day recognises the nation’s diversity. It signifies the creation of a conglomeration of cultures. The nation is multicultural, and always will be; and each culture enriches national integration despite differences in origin,” he continued.

According to the President, Arrival Day is a national holiday that happens to coincide with the observance of Indian Arrival Day. He noted that the East Berbice-Corentyne Region is a melting pot of different ethnicities; like “Africans, Amerindians and East Indian communities”, as well as persons of “Chinese and European descent.”

“Almost 240,000 indentured immigrants arrived in British Guiana in the ensuing eight decades until the system was abolished in 1917. More than seven out of every ten of these immigrants opted to stay and make this country their home,” he said.

“The abolition of Indian indentured immigration intensified migrants’ efforts to integrate more fully into our multi-ethnic society.

Indians already shared a common space with other ethnic groups, with whom they had sought and enjoyed respectful relations,” the President explained.

He noted that the contributions of the Indians to Guyana’s economy are unquestionable; and pointed out that Indians, who began arriving even before the abolition of African enslavement in 1838, eventually became the main source of labour in the sugar and rice industries.

“They have helped to sustain these pillars of our economy for more than 180 years. Indian resourcefulness contributed also to the diversification of the rural economy through the development of cattle rearing, cash crop and coconut cultivation, paddy growing, rice milling and fishing,” he ex-

Dancers from Berbice Delight perform a traditional Indian dance at the commissioning of the $160 million Palmyra Monument

plained.

He noted that village economies and settlements, and skills the Indians brought from India -- as bakers, boatmen, charcoal burners, chemists, fishermen, goldsmiths, hucksters, milk and sweetmeat vendors, shopkeepers and tailors -- helped to reshape the Guyanese rural economic and social landscape.

Indians, he added, became a considerable commercial and landowning class after they quit the plantations.

“Some, through thrift and industry, became part of a thriving business elite,” he declared.

Granger also hailed the contributions of specific East Indians, including academics Clem Seecharan and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine; attorneys Edward Alfred Luckhoo and Stanley Hardyal; business persons Sattaur Gafoor and

Lyla Kissoon; diplomats Sir Shridath Ramphal and Sir Lionel Luckhoo; and doctors Balwant Singh and Deborah Persaud. “…trade unionists Ayube Edun and Joseph Latchmansingh; public servants Eshwar Persaud and Lloyd Searwar; religious leaders Reepu Daman Persaud, Faizal Ferouz and Benedict Singh; cultural champions Rajkumarie Singh and Lakshmi Kallicharran; and sportsmen Rohan Kanhai and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, all of whom are excellent examples of Guyanese of Indian descent who attained eminence in professional and public life,” he stated.

“We must preserve this precious multicultural heritage by working together to secure a common future, where all are recognised and respected and where everyone could enjoy this

country’s bounty. Arrival Day and Indian Arrival Day both commit us to continue to work together for the good life for all. Happy Arrival Day, and may God bless you all,” he said as he concluded his remarks.

The $160 million Palmyra Monument is composed of six 12-foot-tall bronze statues depicting a child, two women and three men as they perform their daily tasks.

The monument itself has a rocky history.

In April 2018, months before the sculptures were installed, the base which was constructed to support the six statues collapsed, costing much fallout between the contractors and designers after the design by the previous administration was modified by the Government.

The monument has been funded by the Government of India.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, may 6, 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

Rodney rejected Burnham’s clean-up

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any Guyanese have wondered about the utility of the WPA in the PNC’s formation of APNU when, objectively, the WPA had dwindled to a handful of elderly armchair warriors by 2011.

The answer lies in the WPA’s role in rehabilitation of the PNC in the aftermath of the PNC’s sordid history, by deploying the moral capital Dr Walter Rodney had earned in Guyana as a member of the WPA between his return in 1974 and his assassination by Burnham in June 1980.

In the continued effort to prove their relevancy in the upcoming elections, and to ensure that the WPA continue to occupy a possible Cabinet seat, WPA Executive Dr David Hinds recently went even further, by seeking to rehabilitate the founder leader of the PNC, Forbes Burnham, as summarised in the caption of his column: “Our Guyana, Our Caribbean and Our Forbes Burnham,” (KN 5-45-19).

“Our Burnham” He begins his restorative project by setting up a false dichotomy in asserting he “realize(d) that there is no line between our critique of leaders and our demonization of them.” Why does “critique” have to be contraposed with “demonization” if the critique is factually based? Hinds’s denunciation of “demonisation” of Burnham would be morally offensive to the hundreds of thousands of Guyanese whose lives were ruined by Burnham’s policies. The rice farmers, for instance, who were immiserated by being forced to sell their rice and paddy for a song to the PNC Government, which made windfall profits on the world market. Or sugar workers who saw their hard-won profit-sharing snatched away with the levy Burnham imposed.

Hinds’s epiphany on Burnham evidently arose because he has “become aware that Mr. Burnham meant a great deal to the earlier generations of African Guyanese.” But this is an epistemologically untenable position. That Burnham was a hero to a great many Guyanese does not confer on his positions any greater truth or validity. Hitler was a hero to the vast majority of Germans, but that does not excuse his horrible excesses.

As Walter Rodney said in his “People’s Power: No Dictator”: “We cannot say that Guyana today has reached the same stage as Germany under Hitler’s rule, because that would be to lose a sense of proportion. Burnham as a dictator is petty because ours is a nation of less than a million people.”

Situating Burnham in a “complex Guyana”, Hinds postulated, “There are three narratives about Burnham, each of which is valid. First, there is the narrative of Burnham the visionary who used government to empower Guyanese, especially the poor, and who lifted the image of Guyana globally through a most progressive foreign policy.” But we know that Burnham did not seek to “empower Guyanese”, just those who had PNC “party cards”; as recently reiterated

by PNC Chair, Volda Lawrence.

As for Burnham’s “progressive foreign policy”, Rodney had this to say: “On the international scene, Burnham could never be a powerful force.” Rodney, of course, experienced the opportunism of Burnham with his pretentions on “progressiveness”, and this was expressed decades later when African progressives opposed the latter receiving an honour from South Africa.

According to Hinds, “The second narrative about Burnham is that of the dictator”, which he concedes but excuses: “to think that that was all that defined him is to be equally dishonest. And many in our midst, especially our Indian Guyanese brethren and sistren, are of that mindset.”

But did not Rodney describe why Indian Guyanese might hold that view? “We should refer to the pamphlet by Jessie Burnham, entitled Beware My Brother Forbes, in which she describes his racist attitude to Indians, his absolute selfishness, and his limitless ambition to hold others in domination.”

The third narrative, according to Hinds, is his selfdescribed “critical” one adopted by himself.

Rodney, however, had a different position. He demanded Guyanese call a spade a spade: “Our language must express not only ridicule but anger and disgust….Guyana has seen the “Burnham Touch” -- anything he touches turns to shit!”

Members of the Arya Samaj Organisation pose for a photo in front of the monument, which honours the arrival of East Indians to Guyana at the Indian Monument Gardens, Camp and Church Streets, Georgetown. This year marks the 181st Anniversary of the arrival of East Indians to Guyana

Govt’s reckless move has stained Guyana’s reputation

Dear Editor, APNU/AFC’s motion in Guyana’s Parliament honouring Abdul Kadir -- a man convicted of conspiracy for terrorism against America -- was severely, rightfully and broadly blasted in and out of Guyana. The Guyanese people’s position to APNU/AFC is, “Speak for yourself”, not for the people of Guyana.

The Opposition PPP has distanced itself from the Parliamentary motion. The Private Sector Commission and other organisations have chastised APNU/AFC for passing the motion praising Kadir for being a “great man”. The letter columns and social media postings have been dominated by the unequivocal rejection of the motion by the Guyanese people. America, Canada, the UK, the EU have all unequivocally rejected the motion and blasted APNU/AFC in unusually stern language.

In a single but reckless move, APNU/AFC stained Guyana’s reputation as a country unwavering in its posture against terrorism of any kind. Guyana’s solid international standing against domestic and international terrorism is now under serious suspicion. APNU/AFC has left Guyana open to scrutiny as a centre for the export of terrorism. This is political malfeasance, and this is yet another example why the Guyanese people over-

whelmingly have no confidence in APNU/AFC. People are shaking their heads and asking themselves, “Can these people be so stupid?”

In damage control mode, APNU/AFC first tried to deny they ever honoured a man jailed for conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, insisting they were simply acknowledging Kadir served in the National Assembly.

They asserted they were merely expressing sympathy to Kadir’s family for their loss.

When that silly stunt did not work, they tried to blame the Clerk of the National Assembly, saying that it was his handiwork.

The Speaker of the National Assembly tried to soften the outrage by timidly suggesting he had placed the motion on the Order Paper.

Even if the Clerk or the Speaker or anyone else had written the text of the motion, the motion had to be presented by a sitting MP, and that MP would need the support of at least the party that MP belongs to.

The Order Paper of that day confirms the motion was a Government business in the name of Minister Patterson-Yearwood, an APNU+AFC Cabinet Member and a member of the PNC. It was not in the name of the Speaker, and not in the name of the Clerk. This deception was entirely intended to kerfuffle the issue.

No matter how they try to distant themselves, how they spin this debacle, they were totally responsible for the presentation and passage of the motion honouring Abdul Kadir in Parliament.

Patterson-Yearwood, in desperation, screamed out she only praised Kadir as a “great man” because Amna Ally told her to do so. APNU+AFC, through their own mouths, loudly praised Kadir on behalf of the Guyanese people, and they voted for passage 100 per cent.

Their praise for Kadir in Parliament was either a direct challenge of the authenticity of the Americans’ charges against him, or siding with the crimes with which the Americans had charged him, and for which they convicted him. They said nothing when Kadir was intercepted in Trinidad and taken to America. They said nothing when the Americans charged Kadir.

They said nothing when Kadir was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. They said nothing when he died in an American jail. This APNU/ AFC motion in Parliament expressing regret for his death and sympathy to his family for losing a “great man” is either a direct rebuke of the Americans for fake charges against Kadir, or an APNU/AFC full endorsement of Kadir’s conspiracy. If APNU/AFC can-

not see that their motion can only be seen from those perspectives, then they are truly incompetent and insensitive, and are not deserving of being the Government of Guyana.

Kadir is either a “great man” or he is a convicted criminal who died in jail.

In their presentation of the motion in Parliament, the presenting Minister made clear they were honouring a “great man” for his work in Guyana’s Parliament and for his service on behalf of the people of Guyana. Did Kadir serve the interest and welfare of the people of Guyana when he conspired to commit a terrorist act in America; a crime for which he was convicted? Did he serve the people of Guyana when he served Iran as a spy, as alleged by the Americans when they presented evidence in court?

If APNU/AFC have reasons to doubt these charges, why have they been silent for so long?

Our Government decided to thumb its nose on America, and in fact poke America in her eyes and then claim they did it on our behalf. In enshrining in the annals of our Parliament praises for Kadir, APNU/ AFC, on behalf of all of us, said it is okay to export terrorism. The Guyanese people say, “No!” Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, may 6, 2019

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

Enveloping Guyana in a Is the coalition itself a kind of half? serious, deliberate crisis

Dear Editor, The illegal APNU/AFC coalition Government, along with their hybrid extensions in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), have uncaringly enveloped Guyana in a serious and deliberate crisis. As they stubbornly attempt to cling on to power in breach of widely accepted constitutional norms, their actions and the implications now have far-reaching consequences for Guyana in the short, medium, and long terms.

In the first instance, the ungainly policies of the Government have significantly contributed to the no-confidence motion (NCM) which was tabled in Parliament and ruled upon 33 to 32 votes in favour of the Opposition by the National Assembly after a fierce debate. This, in tandem with the now shamelessly flagrant manoeuvres by their biased quartet in the GECOM seven-member Commission, has been used to orchestrate the expiry of the voters’ list on April 30, 2019.

As the cabal’s sneaky and abusive moves continue however, our troubled Guyanese nation can have a measure of solace in a correction that should rationally emerge from the upcoming ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) before advancing other options.

It is public knowledge

that the hierarchy of the PNC/APNU is aware of its foundationless position, and many among them were not shy about revealing, at the General Council meeting, that the coalition is merely hanging on to power.

It is also crystal clear that the PNC/APNU’s twisted interest in GECOM conducting house-to-house registration is solely for the purpose of delaying elections and extending the time they have in power.

In fact, such sinister manoeuvres target defeating the intent of the drafters of the Constitution following the carried NCM; that is, to halt the damages to the country and people caused by the incumbent loser of the motion. In this regard, the Guyana Constitution posits having National Elections at the earliest time, or with appropriate speed.

In effect, the approach ought to ensure that the voters’ list is updated by conducting a short period of continuous registration, in keeping with the approved legal mechanism.

This is in regard to the fact that there was deliberate invalidation on April 30, 2019, mainly due to the bundle of excuses and legal challenges raised following the ruling by the Speaker.

The PNC/APNU have been caught with their pants down and in flagrant violation of commitments

made to the people. It is also clear that GECOM’s failure to address the readiness for elections at this time is obviously due to the aligned Chairman’s allowance of intentional intrusion, and influences by the PNC party. Such abuse must be prevented in the future by treatment of opposite radical countenance.

As the highest and final Court of Jurisdiction, the CCJ, in its considerations with respect to the NCM passed by the Guyana National Assembly on December 21, 2018, is called upon to give clear guidance for the immediate holding of elections, given the continued damage being inflicted by APNU/AFC on the nation over their five months of defiance since the carried motion.

The PNC/APNU quartet at GECOM simply cannot hope to continuously violate the organisation’s constitutional mandate and sanctity of entrusted autonomy for the benefit of the PNC cabal, while holding the nation at ransom. It is also expected, therefore, that such wanton disregard for the immediacy of the constitutional directives of Article 106 be enforced as a consideration when the CCJ rejects the position taken by the Guyana Court of Appeal.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Dear Editor, These are times of a half-man (NCM), lessthan-half Parliament (recent sitting without Opposition), and morethan-half criminal (Kadir).

Is some other kind of half or more-than-half being created in Ministries for

persons to serve?

How is the post of Administrator at the Natural Resources Ministry related to the Permanent Secretary’s post? Is this administrator’s post another new role? Does the new post of Director-General halve the

Ministry, or separate the roles at the top?

Is the coalition itself a kind of half; not joined together, but operating parallel to create half roles, people and new posts?

Dear Editor, The APNU/AFC coalition Government can be considered a “military” Government, since its composition is mostly personnel with military and security background; but there is no demonstration of Government’s ability to control crime and criminals, as well as to use the perceived experts -- through Government’s intervention -- to protect the lives of Guyanese and control crime.

This Government, therefore, must place security of the Guyanese people at the top of its agenda, and ensure the institutions of the state that are responsible for security execute their mission effectively and professionally.

After approximately four years of Government doggedly refusing to concede that crime is a growing menace confronting the citizenry, and insisting that crime rates were instead actually decreasing, the reality is now clear that elements of the Government, including

President David Granger and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, have failed miserably to ensure the Guyanese people are safe and secure.

The present reality is that crime in Guyana is not politically motivated, but is caused by the deteriorating economic situation. Since the APNU/AFC Government’s assumption of office, no new jobs have been created to absorb the thousands of persons who have been dismissed directly or indirectly by this Government. And the situation has been compounded by the regular release of criminals by this regime.

While we had expected more effective action from the Police in the fight against crime, the incumbent Minister is unable to manage the Police Force in order to ensure maximum results.

This Government has managed to ensure that the Police Force is being used to enhance Government officials’ personal security and

that outriders are there to navigate them through the congested traffic, while ordinary Guyanese are being left to the mercy of the criminals.

The Police Force in Berbice is being used to enhance the suffering of Berbicians, especially the traffic section. The impact of the severed sugar workers and unemployment is the main reason for the present escalation of crime in the ancient county. The APNU/ AFC coalition Government must take full responsibility for this situation.

President David Granger; Ministers Ramjattan and Winston Felix; and Joseph Harmon and Gary Best, among others had, before 2015, all the solutions for crime in Guyana; but after four years, they have failed the Guyanese people in regard to their constitutional right of getting protection from the state.

Sincerely, SP Wright

Govt has failed to protect Guyanese

Regards, Zamal Hussain

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monday, may 6, 2019

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Foundation

How can I improve my self-esteem?

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What is self-esteem?

elf-esteem means feeling good about yourself.

People with self-esteem: feel liked and accepted are proud of what they do believe in themselves People with low self-esteem: feel bad about themselves are hard on themselves think they are not good enough

Where does selfesteem come from?

Parents, teachers, and others. The people in our lives can affect how we feel about ourselves. When they focus on what’s good about us, we feel good about ourselves. When they are patient when we make mistakes, we learn to accept ourselves. When we have friends and get along, we feel liked.

But if adults scold more than they praise, it’s hard to feel good about yourself.

Bullying and mean teasing by siblings or peers can hurt self-esteem, too. Harsh words can stick, and become part of how you think about yourself. Luckily, it doesn’t have to stay that way.

The voice in your own head. The things you say to yourself play a big part in how you feel about yourself.

Thinking, “I’m such a loser”

or “I’ll never make friends,” hurts your self-esteem.

There are other ways to think about the same things.

“I didn’t win this time – but maybe next time.” “Maybe I can make some friends.”

That voice is more hopeful.

It helps you feel OK. And it could turn out to be true.

Sometimes, the voice in our head is based on harsh words others have said. Or on bad times we have faced.

Sometimes, the voice is just us being hard on ourselves.

But we can change the voice in our own head. We can learn to think better of ourselves.

Learning to do things.

We feel good when we learn to read, add, draw, or build.

Play a sport, play music, write an essay, ride a bike.

Set the table, wash the car.

Help a friend, walk the dog.

Each thing you learn and do is a chance to feel good about yourself. Step back and look what you can do. Let yourself feel happy with it.

But sometimes we’re too hard on ourselves. We don’t accept that what we do is good enough. If we think, “It’s not really any good”, “It’s not perfect”, or “I can’t do it well enough”, we miss the chance to build self-esteem.

What if my self-esteem is low?

You can do things to feel better about yourself.

It’s never too late. Here are some tips to raise your self-esteem: Be with people who treat you well. Some people act in ways that tear you down. Others lift you up by

what they say and do. Learn to tell the difference. Choose friends who help you feel OK about yourself. Find people you can be yourself with. Be that type of friend for others.

Say helpful things to yourself. Tune in to the voice in your head. Is it too critical? Are you too hard on yourself? For a few days, write down some of the things you say to yourself. Look over your list.

Are these things you’d say to a good friend? If not, rewrite them in a way that’s true, fair, and kind. Read your new phrases often. Do it until it’s more of a habit to think that way.

Accept what’s not perfect. It’s always good to do the best you can. But when you think you need to be perfect, you can’t feel good

about anything less. Accept your best. Let yourself feel good about that. Ask for help if you can’t get past a need to be perfect.

Set goals and work toward them. If you want to feel good about yourself, do things that are good for you. Maybe you want to eat a healthier diet, get more fit, or study better. Make a goal. Then make a plan for how to do it. Stick with your plan. Track your progress.

Be proud of what you’ve done so far. Say to yourself, “I’ve been following my plan to work out every day for 45 minutes. I feel good about it.

I know I can keep it up.”

Focus on what goes well. Are you so used to talking about problems that

they’re all you see? It’s easy to get caught up in what’s wrong. But unless you balance it with what’s good, it just makes you feel bad.

Next time, catch yourself when you complain about yourself or your day. Find something that went well instead.

Give and help. Giving is one the best ways to build self-esteem. Tutor a classmate, help clean up your neighbourhood, walk for a good cause. Help out at home or at school. Make it a habit to be kind and fair.

Do things that make you proud of the kind of person you are. When you do things that make a difference (even a small one), your self-esteem will grow.(kidshealth.org)

5 facts about goal setting T

hese practical tips on goal setting can help make it easier to set and reach goals: Specific, realistic goals work best. When it comes to making a change, the people who succeed are those who set realistic, specific goals. “I’m going to recycle all my plastic bottles, soda cans, and magazines” is a much more doable goal than “I’m going to do more for the environment.” And that makes it easier to stick with.

It takes time for a change to become an established habit. It will probably take a couple of months before any changes – like getting up half an hour early to exercise – become a routine part of your life. That’s because your brain needs time to get used to the idea that this new thing you’re doing is part of your regular routine.

Repeating a goal makes it stick. Say your goal out loud each morning to remind yourself of what you want and what you’re working for. (Writing it down works too.) Every time you remind yourself of your goal, you’re training your brain to make it happen.

Pleasing other people doesn’t work. The key to making any change is to find the desire within yourself – you have to do it because you want it, not because a girlfriend, boyfriend, coach, parent, or someone else wants you to. It will be harder to stay on track and motivated if you’re doing something out of obligation to another person.

Roadblocks don’t mean failure. Slip-ups are actually part of the learning process as you retrain your brain into a new way of thinking. It may take a few tries to reach a goal. But that’s OK – it’s normal to mess up or give up a few times when trying to make a change. So remember that everyone slips up and don’t beat yourself up about it. Just remind yourself to get back on track. (kidshealth.org)

7 EITI urges acceleration of petroleum laws review news

monday, may 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…says current legal framework a hindrance to investments

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he Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) has recommended that with first oil approaching rapidly, the Government needs to step up its review of existing legislation dealing with the oil and gas sector.

This is contained in the organisation’s first report on Guyana, which was recently released. There, it noted the need for a review of legislation such as the Petroleum and Exploration Regulations (1986), to equip Government to better regulate the sector.

“The Government of Guyana is currently undertaking several reforms in the preparation for the emerging oil and gas sector such as the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill, which will replace the current Act and Petroleum Environmental Production Pollution Control Regulations as well as the Petroleum Health and Safety Regulations, which are currently being reviewed.

“The oil and gas sector in Guyana are currently in the production phase, which is expected to start in the beginning of the year 2020,” the report continues. “However, to date, the reform of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act is still in progress.”

According to the report, this state of affairs does not bode well for allowing a favourable investment environment for petroleum companies to carry out exploration and production activities.

“In order to promote a favourable legal environment for investment and in a bid to boost the confidence of private operators in the country, we recommend that the GYEITI MSG (Multi Stakeholder Group) follows up with the Department of Energy at the Ministry of the Presidency in a bid to accelerate the reform of the petroleum legislation and how to address any tech-

Department of Energy Head, Dr Mark Bynoe

nical barriers delaying the process,” the report advises.

The review

Meanwhile, Department of Energy Head, Dr Mark Bynoe revealed at a recent press conference that they have completed a gap analysis of existing laws – an exercise that would have highlighted shortcomings in Guyana’s oil and gas-related laws, compared to industry standards.

“One of the things we have in our possession at this point in time is that draft gap analysis and diagnostic review,” Dr Bynoe said. “That has to go through us speaking to other partners as well, because it doesn’t only impact the Department, it impacts a number of other departments and stakeholders.

“It is because of that review you would now see us advertising for legal advisory services, because that review will point the way in terms of what needs to be repealed, what needs to be replaced and what needs to be amended and made more contextually relevant to the realities we face today.”

He gave as an example primary legislation like the 1986 Exploration and Production Act. According to Dr Bynoe, the Act is silent on issues like downstream ac-

tivities in the oil and gas sector.

“It also requires enhancement in decommissioning and local content. So these are all areas we’ll be looking at. Once these things are put in place, we then move towards issues of [the] petroleum commission bill, that we have put in abeyance until the primary legislation is put in place,” he explained.

After its 10th discovery of oil in the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil estimated the recoverable resource in the block to be five billion oil equivalent barrels. At US$50 a barrel, that equates to well over US$200 billion.

Exxon has since found oil in two other wells. In addition, an independent assessment, or competent persons report, had found that 2.9 billion barrels of oil exist in the Orinduik Block.

All of this will represent a monetary windfall for Guyana, which will be saved and invested through a Natural Resources Fund.

Previously, a green paper on the fund was laid in the National Assembly.

Government released the draft Natural Resources Fund Bill of 2018, which had, among other things, proposed the creation of a 22-member Public Accountability and Oversight Committee that would oversee the management of the Fund and provide checks and balances.

President David Granger assented to this bill on January 23.

But a prevailing concern is that Guyana is still unprepared for the sector. During a Nations School of Business and Management-facilitated seminar on oil and gas in March, Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin had noted that Guyana was behind in its preparations to regulate the oil and gas sector compared to other countries.

“Look at it this way,” Datadin had explained. “If we take England, England

has had at least 3000 pages of legislation. That was the basics. Then they had subsidiary legislation. That was probably another 10,000. At present, we have 60 pages.”

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is the operator, and holds a 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds a 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds the other 25 per cent interest.

A prevailing concern is that Guyana is still unprepared for the oil and gas sector

Berbice money changer shot, robbed by bandits

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Berbice money changer was on Sunday morning robbed and shot by bandits who pounced on him at Springlands, Corriverton, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Reports are Mohamed Abdel Razack, also called Azim, of Elijah Avenue, Springlands, was plying his trade at Springlands when the armed bandits attacked him.

Guyana Times was told that the 42-yearold man was standing outside the Boyo’s Beer Garden along the Corriverton Public Road about 05:25h when the incident occurred.

According to information received, the men confronted Razack and pulled him off of the concrete structure where he was sitting and took the money he had in his pocket.

The money changer told this newspaper that he has been in business for over two years and had in excess of 8000 Surinamese dollars (SRD), US$100 and in excess of $200,000 local currency.

“When they pull me off and I fall, one of them take the gun and lash me behind my head and ask where the money,” the man related.

The money changer said he wrestled with the bandits to defend himself and screamed for help, but the road was desolate.

“I hold on on his hand and twist it, because if I did not twist the hand, he could have shot me in my face or stomach.”

He further detailed that a shot was fired, but he did not know at the time that he had been struck.

“I beg a car driver to drop me at the station, because I just get rob and the Police respond to me same time. We went and search

Money changer Mohamed Abdel Razack, also called Azim

in all the back streets and we ain’t find nobody. When we come back to the Station, then I feel the burning on my foot and realised that I get shot in the left thigh,” Razack explained.

He was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital, where he was treated.

All three bandits are said to have been wearing hoods and two of them carried firearms.

The Police are on the hunt for them.

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monday, may 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

World Bank approved local content specialist contract – Energy Director

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he contracting of British local content specialist, Dr Michael Warner to help Guyana with its local content framework has been defended

by Department of Energy Director, Dr Mark Bynoe, who has noted that Warner was appointed with the backing of the World Bank.

Warner is presently the Director for Local Content reporting, Sustainable Business Group of the DAI Global. It was DAI Global that helped to launch and then manage ExxonMobil’s Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD) based in Guyana.

At a press conference on Friday, Dr Bynoe was asked about Warner considering his links with Exxon. But Dr Bynoe expressed confidence in the specialist and the services he would provide.

“He is not an ExxonMobil specialist,” Dr Bynoe clarified. “He’s a local content specialist, whose expertise has been used by a multiplicity of entities, inclusive of ExxonMobil. Guyana is utilising his services.

“And we have hired him

Local content consultant, Dr Michael Warner

based on a competitive process where, like other consultants, he had the opportunity to have his CV (Curriculum Vitae) submitted to us. It was sent to the World Bank, who’s financing this project. And we’re confident that we are getting value for money.”

In February of this year, it was announced that a contract to the tune of over US$100,000 was awarded to Dr Warner for individual consultancy services to the State pertaining to the oil

and gas sector.

This was one of several contracts that had been approved by the Government.

The local content specialist has also presented on Guyana’s own draft Local Content Policy, where he gave it positive reviews.

It had previously been announced that the Department of Energy was collaborating with the Private Sector in order to draft the Local Content Policy. A draft Local Content Policy created by the Government has previously been criticised for lacking provisions which would safeguard against exploitation by companies.

This was especially since there have been complaints from local companies of them being bypassed for contracts and services, with foreign companies being favoured. This has been countered by observers noting the lack of capacity among local companies for certain services, something that must be built over time.

The document did not cater for issues such as how to avoid procurement fraud, conflict of interest and fa-

vouritism. According to the draft local content framework document, the policy seeks to address the suite of opportunities that may arise.

It had also addressed the approaches to be taken in selecting and developing opportunities related to enhancing the capabilities of Guyanese nationals and businesses through training and well-tailored social contributions for greater impact and benefits among others.

The initial draft, after being released, was unfavourably critiqued by an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)sponsored report. According to the report, Guyana’s draft was missing critical parts of generally accepted local content principles. For one, the report stated that the draft policy did not contain concrete targets or performance metrics.

Former Business Minister Dominic Gaskin had announced last year that the second review of the Local Content Policy is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2019.

Elderly caught in brutal trap of Venezuelan crisis

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he slap of dominoes on the rickety wooden table echoes around the courtyard of the Mother Teresa Senior Home on the outskirts of Caracas.

The residents are dotted around soaking up the sun, most on their own and in silence, contemplating a retirement that falls well short of being their "golden years".

Venezuela is not a good place in which to grow old.

Life is tough for all Venezuelans and the economic catastrophe that has befallen the country is the reason. Inflation is mind-boggling – more than a million per cent – food is in short supply and, if found, difficult for most to afford.

At least 85 per cent of medicines are in scarce supply, according to the Pharmaceutical Federation of Venezuela. If it's an economy in freefall, the landing is hardest for the elderly.

Baudilio Vega and his volunteer staff do their best to feed and house the nearly 80 people here, the oldest, 84-year-old Carmen Cecelia. He shows us around spartan facilities, a bunk bed and small locker for each resident. Their possessions are few – they don't need big lockers.

"If we didn't have this place how many of these people would be on the streets or dead?" Baudilio Vega says.

"Thank God here they are alive. It's not five-star but at least they survive."

“It was too much”

It's a heartbreaking fact that many elderly in Venezuela are essentially given up by their families. They're not unwanted – far from it –- but are victims of a brutal choice: feed the children, or feed the grandparents.

We meet 74-year-old Victoria Madriz, a resident here for more than a decade.

Her husband died, her daughter left the country for better opportunities and she moved to her brother's home. Everyone soon realised there was simply no room or money to support her.

"There were a lot of people in the house – my brother's children and their children and it was too much," she says.

"I can understand, but it is difficult."

Most at the home tell a familiar sto-

The elderly left behind in Venezuela

ry – families who couldn't cope, or who simply left the country. According to the United Nations, an estimated 3.6 million people have fled Venezuela and its wretched economy in recent years, many leaving behind parents or grandparents they couldn't afford to support.

At the Mother Teresa home, the residents range in age from 60 to 84. They have somewhere to sleep and – thanks to donors – some meals to keep them alive. Baudilio shows us the kitchen and pantry – a few dozen eggs, half a dozen bags of rice and little else on the shelves.

Pensions – if you can get one – are worthless in this crumbling economy, amounting to perhaps US$7 a month. There's no basking in retirement in Venezuela.

"I had a lot of expectations of a nice retirement, because I had a good job and income," 74-year-old Omar Ochoa tells me. He used to work in the leather industry and did not expect his final years to be what they've become. He sits in a wheelchair, both legs amputated because of complications from untreated diabetes, and exudes a stoicism we see in others here. Stoicism but also resignation.

Omar's children left the country years ago and relatives who remained couldn't take him in. I ask him what he thinks about what the Government does for the elderly. "Nothing, nothing, nothing," he replies.

In the middle of a small room on the edge of the facility, we see a coffin.

When a resident passes away, they hold

a service in the room. But the coffin is – like everything – a precious commodity. After the service, the body of the deceased is taken away for cremation and the coffin remains in place awaiting the next service.

Medicines hard to find

Baudilio feeds what he calls his "guests" with leftover food donated by local restaurants and whatever financial help trickles in from locals. But the donations are shrinking along with the economy. Food, of course, is key, but also in drastic short supply are medicines.

Some residents have Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, cancer or dementia – common ailments for the elderly, but what they don't have are medicines to treat these conditions.

"Virtually none," says Baudilio when we ask what medications he has on hand. "I myself have diabetes, but haven't had insulin in two years. If I had some I'd give it to our guests who have diabetes. But we have none."

Bauldilio says he won't let these people down even if he says his government has. What he wants is change.

"I urge Venezuela – let the humanitarian aid in. We need the food, the medicine – instead of buying weapons we need medicines and food."

Before we leave, 68-year-old Brigida Zulay stops us. "All of us, we have hope... yes, yes." For most here, that's all they have. (CNN)

Remembering…

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…anniversaries esterday, May 5th 2019, was the 181st anniversary of the arrival of Indians to Guyana. The day was widely commemorated across Guyana by, not surprisingly, Indian Guyanese, even though the PPP Government, back in 2004, had designated the day “Arrival Day”, supposedly to mark the arrival of ALL the “six peoples” of Guyana.

Not unexpectedly, it was ignored by the Indigenous Peoples – who’d been here since “time immemorial – and by the descendants of African ex-slaves, whose arrival hasn’t been pinpointed to the day. Emancipation Day was supposed to be “their day”.

The Portuguese (arrival May 3rd, 1835) and Chinese (arrival Jan 12th 1853) were also miffed over being lumped with the Indian arrival. What were they? Chopped liver?

Well, the historian-as-President, Granger, finally decoupled the several “arrival days” – about the only positive act of his regime! Now every race has their day!

But forgotten in all these commemoration activities has been the birthday of a man who had a most profound effect on the history of Guyana – Karl Marx! Yes, the man who gave the world “The Communist Manifesto”, “Das Capital” -- and the “Marxist” Jagan, Burnham and Rodney, our three most prominent politicians -- was born on May 5th, 201 years ago!! And yet, not even a letter to the editor mentioned his achievements!! Oi vey!!

But it’s a sign of the times, isn’t it? Marx’s ideas on socialism as an alternative to “capitalism” spawned the Russian Revolution, the Chinese Revolution and the Vietnamese Revolution, etc. but they all failed miserably.

While the Chinese may talk about their “Communist” party running their state, their heralded economic miracle is totally based on dyed-in-the-wool capitalist principles. But maybe folks who ignore Marx might’ve thrown out the baby with the bathwater.

Over in the US, a whole new generation is looking for an alternative to their system, which has produced a one per cent class owning 90 per cent of their wealth. They figure that something surely isn’t kosher with that state of affairs.

But with Marx’s name being certainly NOT kosher in the land of McCarthy, folks who’re influenced by Marx -- from the venerable Bernie Sanders to the upstart Congresswoman AOC -- just say they’re “progressives”.

But what about the PNC, now led by David Granger.

They keep extolling the “genius” of Forbes Burnham, and insist on “fulfilling his legacy”; so how come they’re ignoring Marx’s influence on their Founder Leader? Wasn’t it his membership in the Communist Party in England that got him a recommendation to Jagan as the “African” rep in the about-to-be-formed PPP? Okay, so he insisted that his co-operative socialism was inspired by the “Ujaama” of Tanzania’s Nyerere, but the Mwalimu was also influenced by Marx, wasn’t he?

C’mon Granger, move a motion to honour Marx! …our Constitution And while we’re on the subject of Marx, and the PNC’s studied attempts to distance themselves from him even as they insist on honouring the two-bit terrorist Kadir, why don’t they remove that abominable remnant of Burnham’s Marxist dogma from the very opening lines of our Constitution? Article 1 declares unambiguously: Guyana is an indivisible, secular, democratic sovereign state in the course of transition from capitalism to socialism and shall be known as the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.”

It’s either the PNC still hold on to their founder leader’s Marxist position or not on the latter’s insistence of the “inevitability” of the socialist nirvana based on the “objective” laws of development. Granger was Burnham’s “boy” who was responsible for transmitting the Marxist ideas of Burnham to the armed forces. Didn’t he berate recruits to stop calling him and other officers, “Sir”, and say, “Comrade”??

Surely Granger hasn’t forgotten all the purple prose about Marxism he spouted in the Armed Forces’ magazine, “Purple Beret”?

C’mon Granger, either change Art 1 or honour Marx! …greed The GGDMA’s fighting ‘tooth and nail’ to not have persons who harvest the profits of companies in gold and diamond mining be made known to the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI).

If we allow this, whither Exxon’s obligation?

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

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monday, may 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Essequibo Coast family homeless after drunken man sets home on fire

The Charity New Housing Scheme home engulfed in flames

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mother and her five children are now homeless after fire believed to be set by her drunken husband burnt the family home to ashes.

Juliet Badhri, 33, of Charity, New Housing Scheme, on Sunday said that she was now left traumatised after the only place she called home was com-

Crisis looms if influx of Venezuelan migrants continues – Ramjattan

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uyana is continuing to provide refuge to Venezuelan migrants coming here, and while there is an obligation to render assistance to those affected citizens from the neighbouring country, it can lead to a crisis situation in Guyana.

This is according to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who recently told the media that if the number of Venezuelans becomes too high, then there are challenges which will occur.

“We have seen a number of Venezuelans coming in, but our policy is that once they identify themselves with certain identification documents, they can stay in Guyana for a period of six months. We know that that can lead to if it gets very extensive, and the population of them increasing exponentially, we are going to be in crisis. Because we won’t have the necessary health services to provide them nor the necessary services of water and probably housing,” he explained.

According to Ramjattan, any Venezuelan entering Guyana seeking aid needs to be properly identified and registered and the Government of Guyana has already sought assistance from the United Nations and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). These two agencies are helping Guyana to cater for the Venezuelan migrants.

Moreover, Minister Ramjattan added that Government was trying to secure land in the interior regions so that these locations could be prepared to facilitate the Venezuelans and cater for their needs.

Last month, newly-appointed US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch said there were no direct bilateral arrangements between Guyana and the US for aiding the Venezuelans who were fleeing their homeland.

Nevertheless, she said, if approached by the Guyana Government, she was willing to explore the options available.

In fact, Ambassador Lynch noted that she even indicated this during her engagements with the various Government officials.

In March last, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) provided some US$1.6 million to Trinidad and Tobago to assist with Venezuelans moving there.

Thus far in Guyana, there are over 5800 Venezuelan migrants – double the number recorded six months ago – and this number is expected to increase daily.

On this note, Ambassador Lynch noted that while the situation was not a “serious concern” to the Guyana Government as yet, it may soon become so owing to the heightened influx of migrants from the neighbouring Spanish-speaking country.

“In the past, the majority of Venezuelans have been on the border. But a few weeks ago, there was a vessel with about 140 Venezuelans that came right into Georgetown.

So that is an indicator that maybe things are worsening a little bit,” she noted, while recently she met a Venezuelan working in a restaurant in Berbice, which is quite a long way from the border.

pletely destroyed by fire.

According to Badhri, her husband arrived home on Saturday night under the influence of alcohol and began quarrelling with her.

She said to avoid a confrontation with the man, she took the children and went over to a relative, who lived nearby, about 09:00h.

The distressed woman related that about 23:00h, she saw flames coming from her two-bedroom single-flat wooden home and rushed over, but could not save anything. She further related that neighbours rushed out to render assistance, but by then, the house was engulfed in flames.

The area where the building once stood

Guyana Times was told that the fire department was informed, but by the time they arrived, the entire house was destroyed with all the family’s belongings, including the children’s, burnt.

Badhri said that she worked as a domestic for over 12 years. She said that her eldest daughter, who is currently writing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate

(CSEC) exams, lost all her school work, uniform, textbooks, etc. A pastor and his family have since offered a section of their home for the woman and her children to use. Following the fire, this publication was told that the woman’s husband was seen crying and expressing remorse for his actions.

Pastor Deo (only name given), who has offered the family refuge, has since made a public appeal for persons to help the mother and children to put a roof back over their heads along with clothing for the children. Anyone wished to assist can contact the mother on (592) 693-9502.

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monday, may 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

More US extraditions of fugitives hiding in Guyana imminent

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he successful extradition of United States fugitive Troy Thomas has paved the way for similar procedures for criminals hiding in Guyana.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said 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.

“So, we are moving forward. We are also internationally collaborating with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) far more, get-

ting people to be extradited out of the country; all those are major developments with America when previously we could not. And we are going to extradite lots more people quite frankly, so it is going to be progress being made,” he said.

Minister Ramjattan added that the collaborative efforts to ensure that extraditions were done so that justice could be served, regardless of which country a fugitive may be hiding in, would ensure that people pay for the crimes they commit.

Just 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 security 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 Guyana Police Force 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.

Currently, US-based Guyanese Marcus Bisram is trying to fight his extradition from the North American country to Guyana for the murder of a Corentyne, Berbice carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt, who was killed at Number 70 Village.

So far, five men – Orlando Dickie, Radesh Motie, Diodath Datt, Harri Paul Parsram, and Niran

Yacoob – have been charged and have been recently committed to stand trial at the High Court for the killing, for which Bisram is alleged to be the mastermind.

Bisram had challenged his extradition in a New York court, which recently ruled that there was sufficient evidence for Bisram to be repatriated to Guyana.

In November 2018, Guyanese hotelier Shervington “Big Head” Lovell was arrested in Jamaica for narcotics trafficking and extradited to the US, where he faced additional drug trafficking charges as well as charges for money laundering. (Kristen Macklingam)

Foreigner robbed on South Road

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The suspects escaping following the robbery

foreigner is left counting his losses after he was robbed on Sunday on South Road, Georgetown in front of the South Road Nursery School.

The robbery occurred just after midday as the man had finished shopping on Regent Street, Georgetown.

According to reports, the man was standing on South Road when he was accosted from behind by a male.

While the victim was strug-

gling to break free, two other perpetrators quickly relieved the man of a suitcase he was carrying and other valuables.

The bandits – one clad in a white shirt and the others in black T-shirts and three-quarter pants – were then captured on camera escaping West along South Road before turning North into Bourda Street.

The matter has since been reported to the Police.

Police hunting 3 suspects as probe continues into Karasabai murder

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man is presently being questioned by Police in relation to the murder of 23-year-old Elton Leonard, who was stabbed to death in the wee hours of Friday at Karasabai Village, South Pakaraimas, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

F Division (Interior Locations) Commander Kevin Adonis said on Sunday the person being questioned by Police was not a suspect but a witness to the murder. The witness has identified three persons for whom the Police are currently hunting.

“There is no main suspect per se; as it is at this point, we cannot say definitively who stabbed the young man.

But the three men we are looking for them; we are told they are still somewhere in that area. They have gone into hiding somewhere in the North Pakaraima area, but we are close to capturing them,” he stated.

According to the Commander, the three sus-

pects were friends of the now deceased man and on Friday last, while they were consuming alcohol, an argument ensued.

“They went sporting: drinking at a shop in the area that they are all from.

This was about minutes to 1:00 am (01:00h) on Friday morning when the young man was stabbed. But prior to that we are told that all of them were together drinking with each other since they are friends,” the Commander said.

Leonard had left his home about 19:00h on Thursday under the influence of alcohol.

Initial reports were that some five hours later, he was engaged in a heated row with the trio which escalated and resulted in Leonard being stabbed to the left side of his chest.

He reportedly collapsed and died almost immediately. The three men are said to have made good their escape as the injured man lay on the ground in a pool of blood.

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monday, may 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Waiakabra residents decry condition of water …say GWI needs to do better

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esidents of Waiakabra, Linden-Soesdyke Highway are calling on the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) to pay a much-needed visit to the community and answer questions about the condition of the tap water they are being forced to consume, as there is no alternative source of water for the community.

Residents describe the condition of the water as “ unacceptable” and “inhumane” and after several weeks of calling and making reports, they are 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 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. “Year go year come, is the same thing.

We never had tap water in the past and now that we get it … look the condition.

You can’t even bathe with it, much more wash or cook, so what purpose is it really serving?” he asked. He added that every month, the residents have to pay their bills on time, as failure to do so would result in their water being disconnected instantly. This, he said, is unfair since they are paying for sec-

Truck driver’s murder

Main suspect released from Police custody

…insufficient evidence – Commander

Murdered truck driver Nicolas Perion Bobb

F Division (Interior Locations) Commander Kevin Adonis

he main suspect in the murder of truck driver Nicholas Perion Bobb, who was shot and killed two weeks ago along the Kuribrong Trail, Potaro River, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), has been released from Police custody.

This was confirmed by F Division (Interior Locations) Commander Kevin Adonis, who in an interview with Guyana Times stated that the matter was still being investigated, but at this point there was insufficient evidence to keep the suspect in custody.

He explained that the area where Bobb’s murder took place was isolated and there were no witnesses to the crime, at least none who have come forward or made contact with the Police.

Therefore, in light of that fact, there is not enough evidence to keep the alleged mastermind in Police custody, he noted.

However, he pointed out that this did not necessarily mean that the man was no longer under the Police radar.

“We are coming close, really close, to completing the investigations. The thing is, it is simply not a cut—anddry case where you have the requisite evidence at hand to prosecute. This murder happened in the back dam

and there are many speculations, but the only statements we have right now is from the alleged abducted escapee who had given us conflicting reports,” Commander Adonis said.

Thirty-fouryear-old Bobb, also known as “Red Man”, a driver/mechanic of Lot 23 Caribese Hill, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was shot to the stomach at close range and reportedly died immediately on April 21.

The miner, who was in the vehicle at the time of the shooting, was allegedly abducted by the suspects, but managed to escape from his abductors.

It was reported that the shooting might have stemmed from an old grievance involving the stripping of a truck of its parts which were later taken and installed on another vehicle.

It was also believed that the miner who alleged that he had been abducted by the perpetrators responsible for Bobb’s death might not have been a victim.

Commander Adonis had previously said that statements given by the miner were “conflicting”, and, therefore, he was still being investigated in relation to the murder. (Kristen Macklingam)

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The condition of the water residents of Waiakabra receive from GWI

ond-class service, which is of no benefit to them.

“We are citizens of this country just like anybody else. Town people does go on TV and carry on, but nobody comes on the Highway.

Nobody cares about anybody up here…but by the time your bill late, they coming to disconnect,” the frustrated DaSilva said.

Another resident, Leana Melville, who also spoke to this publication, said that the condition of the water was becoming worse. She said residents had previously complained of the stench of the water and oil which is

usually settled on top. “Since we started getting water, it’s always an issue. All the while we were still using the water, because it wasn’t this bad. It was stink and very oily, but it didn’t have this colour and it wasn’t so bad. But now we definitely can’t use it,” she said.

The mother of four notes she is forced to purchase bottled water for her children to use, because the water they are receiving through the tap is not 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 added.

The residents called for officials from GWI to pay an urgent visit to the community and carry out an inspection to ascertain the cause of the problem and to make efforts to remedy the situation and bring relief to the residents.

“We’re begging GWI to come and see how best they can fix this water situation for us. It is unacceptable, man. We are humans … we need to have a basic safe sup-

ply of water. We have children and we can’t afford to buy water. We are poor people and there aren’t any job opportunities up here. They can come themselves to see the condition under which we live,” one resident said.

Meanwhile, when Guyana Times contacted GWI Public Relations Officer Leanna Bradshaw, she said she was unaware of the situation and could not offer a comment. She committed to making enquiries and updating this publication; however, efforts to make contact with her subsequently proved futile.

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Miners complain of GGMC/Police destruction of camps …agencies acted to enforce CCJ ruling – Minister

poor Amerindian people,” Nunes said.

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

of the exercise is to remove several illegal miners (who are mainly villagers from Tassawini) and other encumbrances from Wayne Vieira’s mineral properties located within the Tassawini A m e r i n d i a n Reservation.”

Chinese Landing group

M

iners from Chinese Landing, Barama River, Region One (Barima-Waini) are complaining bitterly of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) officials and Police destroying their mining camps and halting their dredging operations.

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

One miner, John Nunes told Guyana Times on Sunday that the officials have burnt and destroyed several camps and “chased’ miners out of the area saying that they were instructed by a large-scale miner to

monitor the plot of land.

“We need help in our village right now. These people come in and stop all our dredging work without any notice or explanation.

They are chopping down our tents, it’s a scary situation.

We are just trying to earn a dollar to take care of our families,” he said.

The miners called on the GGMC to offer some direction on the issue so that it could be resolved speedily.

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

“These people eye pass

“These people eye pass the Amerindians. We have no jobs in our communities.

This is what we depend on for our livelihood and this is what we have to do to support our families. This is how they are treating us poor Amerindian people” – miner

Land dredges at Tassawini

the Amerindians. We have no jobs in our communities.

This is what we depend on for our livelihood and this is what we have to do to support our families. This is how they are treating us

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 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 miner 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.

A letter to the Minister briefing him on the enforcement exercise stated that “on Tuesday 30th April, 2019 a team of three GGMC officers headed by Snr Mining Engineer Michael Howard, along with three members of the Core of Wardens from Ministry of Natural Resources and four members of the Guyana Police Force, departed Moruca for Tassawini to conduct an enforcement exercise. The aim

The letter to Minister Trotman stated that the enforcement team arrived at Tassawini on May 1, 2019 and had discussions with the Toshao and Councillors of Tassawini Village on the purpose of the visit and its intended activities. The enforcement activities begun with the dismantling of 11 wooden sluice-boxes and the retrieval of several pieces of tackling associated with the mining operations. There are an estimated 17 mining operations on Vieira’s mineral property V-4/MP/000. The remaining persons had asked for additional time to remove their equipment from the mineral properties. This part of the exercise would continue with the expectation that all equipment would be placed beyond the boundaries of the mining permit.

Vieira would be expected to secure the concession within seven days, which is the duration of the enforcement exercise.

Marudi Mountain issue

A similar exercise was also done at Marudi Mountain, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on April 30 when a team of officers headed

by Engineer Trevor Hurry, along with three other members and four members of the Guyana Police Force, departed for Marudi to conduct an enforcement exercise.

This was in response to major deviations from the mediated agreement of 2016, the letter stated.

Back in April 2016, the Government, through Minister Trotman, had intervened in a standoff between small miners from the Marudi Mountain area, representatives of Indigenous communities, and Romanex Guyana Exploration Limited, and had facilitated a historic mediation process with the help of Major General (Rtd) Joseph Singh. The mediation resulted in all parties signing the ‘Mediation of the Marudi Mountain Dispute Agreement’. This agreement paved the way for some 70 small-scale mining operations to be able to continue once the environmental, safety and health issues stipulated were adhered to. In late 2018 and early 2019, a number of smallscale operators had descended on the Mazoa Hill area and started to excavate in a manner considered dangerous to life and limb.

This was followed by the issuance of Orders to Remove from claim or permit area under Regulation 154 to operators who were not listed or authorised to be or operate within the Marudi Mining Licence.

Thirty-four operators of “crushers” and four operators of hydraulic excavators were so far issued with orders to remove. The time allowed on the removal orders expired on Sunday.

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news

monday, may 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Charity residents concerned US Ambassador’s vehicle involved in accident over spike in teen pregnancies, child crimes …G Division Police to collaborate with stakeholders to curb growing trends

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hough several programmes and proposals have been put in place countrywide to address the issues of truancy, teenage pregnancy and children involved in criminal activities, the prevalence of these matters is worrisome to a large number of Essequibians.

Over 50 residents of Charity Village in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Sunday last attended a “Face the Community” meeting hosted by Commander of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) G Division, Khali Pareshram, where they voiced several concerns.

Guyana Times was told that over 80 per cent of the issues affecting those residents stem from actions by school age children.

Commander Pareshram told this publication that the meeting was held at the Charity Secondary School, and was art of his administration’s drive to improve public trust and create partnerships in “improving Police postures and community relations.”

He explained that at the top of the long list of concerns raised was the matter wherein several persons pointed out that a specific group of young men was committing crimes in their community. According to the

G Division Commander Khali Pareshram

Commander, those pinpointed are the same individuals who had alleged “Police brutality” when they were earlier apprehended by Police ranks in relation to other crimes committed.

“The residents called on the Police and the relevant stakeholders to quickly address the very unpleasant situation with the young boys, which has now become unbearable.”

Complaints were also made about other children between the ages of 10 and 14 who are also said to be engaging in criminal activities. Many of these children should be attending school, but, for reasons unknown, they are not in classrooms

but are reportedly involved in illegal actions, he noted.

“These children that the residents are complaining about, apparently they are all delinquents, they are not going to school. The residents also said that there are children living in stalls at the Market Centre. A request was made for a truancy campaign (to be launched),” he disclosed.

The residents also pointed out that a growing trend in their community is the issue of an increase in teenage pregnancies.

Commander Pareshram noted that they also highlighted that there are young females in their area who are involved in “sexual favours.”

As such, the collective request was that there be an official mentoring programme for the children in that village; and in light of the pressing issues that involve children, it has been decided that an action committee be formed to address them.

The Police Commander added that, due to the nature of these concerns, ‘G’ Division will be partnering with stakeholders from respective Government agencies and regional authorities to tackle these problems, which are resulting in negative effects in that community. (Kristen Macklingam)

The vehicle of US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, was involved in an accident at Lamaha Street, Georgetown on Sunday morning, but the ambassador was not in the vehicle at the time.

Guyana Times was told that the ambassador’s driver and a security officer were the only occupants of the vehicle at time of the accident. There are no reports of serious injuries being sustained by anyone involved in that accident.

New EPA office for Linden

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xecutive Director of the EPA, Dr Vincent Adams, has announced that the agency would this month be opening a sub-office in the mining town of Linden, in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

He made this announcement during the ‘Government comes to you’ outreach that was held last Tuesday in the region.

Adams said the office is the first step in reaching out to the agency’s clien-

tele while ensuring there is greater efficiency in the services provided.

“It’s the intent of the Government to ensure that the right things are in place…to get all the opportunities available in Georgetown to citizens across the board,” he explained.

It is a known fact that citizens who want to access the EPA’s services would have to travel to its Sophia, Greater Georgetown office.

Adams has described the opening of the new Linden office as “a major step forward in reaching customers”.

Opening of the new EPA office comes on the heels of the opening of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission’s (GL&SC’s) New Amsterdam sub-office which was commissioned in March, and the soon-to-beopened passport offices in several regions, the (DPI) has reported.

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monday, may 6, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Use oil revenues to Local Content Policy still in consultation phase – Energy Dept fund free tertiary

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espite mounting pressure on the Energy Department to finalise a Local Content Policy which would allow Guyanese to benefit from the oil and gas sector, the key piece of legislation is still in consultation phase.

This was revealed on Friday during a press conference hosted by the Department of Energy. According to the Director of the Department, Dr Mark Bynoe, he is looking forward to the consultancy phase being completed by June.

“The Local Content Policy… draft report is currently with us, and we are looking towards possibly the ending of June for the completion of that consultancy, given the consultations necessary before that policy is finalised,” he explained.

The Government’s Energy Department Head had assured that the document would be ready long before first oil, which is now due in a matter of months. This commitment was given more than three years after oil was first discovered off Guyana’s coast

by United States oil giant

Director of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe

ExxonMobil.

During a recent interview with this publication, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Nicholas Boyer, had said he was not too pleased with the slothful way in which the Local Content Policy is being developed.

Moreover, Boyer stated that he would like to see the Policy created before, and not after, first oil.

“We would like to see the regulations governing the oil industry in place before first oil, not after. We want to see the regulatory environment

that will govern the oil industry in place before first oil, and a regulatory environment that has the buy-in of the nation,” he detailed.

The Chamber has long been demanding a Local Content Policy to ensure that locals get their share of the pie from oil and gas revenues.

In the most recent call made by the Chamber, its President reminded that a number of drafts for the said policy had been completed, but the locals remain in suspense for the final document.

“We were even teased with the fact that the policy would

Ex-soldier died from gunshot wounds – autopsy

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he finding of the autopsy done on the body of Marlon Rodney, the ex-soldier who was shot at the junction of Durban Street and Mandela Avenue in Georgetown during a heated argument with two men, is that he died as a result of gunshot wounds.

Rodney was shot at least four times on April 25, 2019 during a heated argument over money owed to one

of his assailants. During the incident, 20-year-old Shaquille Dion of Durban Street, Georgetown, who was passing at the time, also sustained gunshot injury, but has since been discharged from the hospital.

Guyana Times was told that the shooting occurred at about 09:30h, and stemmed from a disagreement Rodney had had with one of the gunmen. According to reports,

Rodney and one of the men reportedly had had a heated argument over money owed to him by Rodney when the suspect left and returned with two others.

Following another headed argument, the trio, who were reportedly brandishing guns, opened fire on Rodney.

Following the shooting, the suspects escaped.

An investigation has since been launched.

then be followed by legislation; but, to date, we need to see the regulatory environment be put in place to manage the oil industry,” Boyer pointed out.

He referred to the fact that first oil is expected as early as this year end, but Government is still dragging its feet on preparation of the legislation.

The President of the Chamber acknowledged that he has taken note of some positive steps the Government has made in this regard, but he noted that the business community remains concerned about its involvement in the nascent oil and gas sector.

Boyer was keen to note that the GCCI has been engaging policy-makers in this regard. In fact, he explained that several meetings were held with former Business Minister Dominic Gaskin and other agencies tied into the sector, but the GCCI is still waiting to see the fruits of those discussions.

He concluded that the Government should work harder to ensure everything is in place before first oil. “On the Government and regulatory side, we need to do more to be able to have our things in place, to be able to take on local content or have local businesses participate in the industry.”

The Local Content Policy would guide the State in guarding against local companies being bypassed for contracts and services while foreign companies and workers are favoured.

Former Business Minister Dominic Gaskin had said the second review of the Local Content Policy is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2019, as Government wants the new legislation to be ‘balanced’.

Government’s position is that a ‘too strongly national’ Local Content Policy could jeopardise the efficiency or viability of the company being relied on to extract the resource.

According to the draft Local Content Framework document, the policy seeks to address the suite of opportunities that may arise, and the approaches to be taken in selecting and developing opportunities related to enhancing the capabilities of Guyanese nationals and businesses through training and well-tailored social contributions for greater impact and benefits, among other things.

The draft Local Content Policy has been criticised for lacking provisions which would safeguard against exploitation by companies. It had been reported that the document does not cater for issues such as: how to avoid procurement fraud, and conflict of interest and favouritism, among other things.

Like the Private Sector, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party has also been blasting Government for its failure to have this key piece of legislation produced.

education – GTUC

GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis

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ays after the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) had come out calling for free tertiary education, the General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis, had called for future oil revenues to be used to fund free education from the nursery to the university level.

The call was resonated by Lewis during the Labour Day Rally held at the National Park.

“We call for the provision of free education from nursery to university, as enshrined in the Constitution, Article 27…

“Tek some ah de money that alyuh gun get from oil, go in the National Assembly, Bharrat (Jagdeo) and Moses (Nagamootoo), and mek plans. We want free education. We want an educated nation,” Lewis said.

The trade unionist was cheered on by the large crowd as he reminded the ministers present that they had benefited from free tertiary education in the past.

Prior to this call, he had also demanded better health care services in all 10 administrative regions across the country.

“Labour calls on Government to revamp the health care system so that all 10 administrative regions could have a main referral hospital with modern diagnostic and treatment capabilities, including emergency facilities capable of dealing with severe injuries… A healthy nation is a productive nation,” Lewis had declared.

His calls for better health care come at a time when drug shortage in particular has been plaguing the nation’s health system.

Moreover, most health posts across the country are generally unable to cater for severe ailments, hence the reason for many being airdashed in recent times to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

Many had flagged this as an issue in the past, as patients tend to lose their lives while being rushed to the institution.

On the other hand, calls

for free tertiary education have surfaced at a time when, only recently, the University of Guyana (UG) announced an increase in tuition fees.

The hike has been criticised by many students, and even workers attached to the University’s Turkeyen Campus, as they bashed the facilities and conditions under which they are forced to operate.

Just over a week ago, the UGSS had staged a walk-out to highlight their discomfort with the fees, as they believe that free tertiary education is their right.

President of the UGSS, Devat Ramroop, told Guyana Times that the University has been hiking tuition fees much to the dislike of the students. She said that most persons who attend the University are already under a lot of financial strain, and increasing the fees would mean that some students may be forced to drop out.

Single parents, the UGSS President added, would also be forced to amend their budgets just to ensure that their children complete their studies and hopefully find a job amidst reports of the high unemployment rate.

“So (in) 2017 we had a 15 per cent increase, then in 2018 we had 10 per cent; and now in 2019 we’re having another 10 per cent,” she complained.

The student body’s request for free tertiary education comes at a time when UG is bracing itself for a financial audit of its spending, as it has been accused of lavish disbursements in insignificant areas. In the meantime, this publication was told that the Auditor General’s Office has already commenced the preparatory stages to kick-start the audit.

The University of Guyana Workers’ Union had first requested a financial audit of the spending of the University, as UG is allegedly unable to properly account for its expenditures and, more so, offer a salary increase to its staffers, although tuition fees have been increasing annually.

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VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

Guyanese share their views on the recent decision by Government to pass a motion honouring convicted terrorist Abdul Kadir Don Singh “Isn’t that the most ridiculous thing? A man convicted not by some Third World kangaroo court but by a system which gives every right and opportunity to the defendant. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for plotting an act of terror that would no doubt have taken many, many lives including Guyanese. If the PNC wanted to laud this “great man”, they should have done so at their party headquarters, but nah, these brainiacs decided on the National Assembly and thus stained every Guyanese, whether local or in the Diaspora, with the nasty taint of terrorism.”

Christopher Singh “Best thing PPP could have done was to skip this illegal Parliament anyway.”

Denisia Liddell “Well, I would say given the public backlash the Government received, then maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. But then again I’m sure this man would have done good in his lifetime too.”

Dan Rahim “The basic way of showing how this government is committed to showing their bullish and saying they are not afraid of no one, they in power and they can do what they want.”

Ignatius Hernandez “In my view, I think that the Government was not really honouring the guy, because he was a convicted terrorist, but because the contributions he made to the country. But in the eyes of those who are condemning, it is different, but that’s just how I see it.”

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

Andrew Khan “It’s shameful that those three countries could condemn the convicted terrorist and Guyana didn’t. It’s wrong and unprofessional and in Parliament too they did it.

He was plotting an act of terror, which would have taken many lives, including Guyanese; it’s wrong that they honoured a terrorist.”

Jason Singh “As far as I am concerned, Guyana is an independent sovereign nation who has capable people making choices that are in the best interests of this country.

We have never suggested to the EU or the US how to run their countries, because if we did then we would be disappointed they haven’t banned guns yet amidst the rising rates of gun violence.“

Vickanand Deokie “Such an act puts a stain on Guyana on the international stage. We are now being viewed as a country which supports the work of criminals. It is my opinion that this decision should be recalled and that the Government apologise for this blunder. “

Davika Seeraj “Government should make careful deliberations before committing such acts. How does that look now that “their decision” was called out by several countries? The work of Guyana has now being publicised and it is not for the right reasons.“

Caesar McAlmont “I think everyone deserves to be honoured for their good works, but it reflected in a bad light since this man was convicted of a serious crime.”

Ricardo Rodriguez “This was not a smart move by the Government... confidence lost!!!”

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, may 6, 2019

Regional

7 Venezuelan military officers ExxonMobil sues Cuba’s oil companies for their use of properties die in helicopter crash

S

even Venezuelan military officers were killed on Saturday when their helicopter crashed while heading to a state where President Nicolás Maduro appeared alongside troops, days after

the political opposition had called in vain for a military uprising.

The helicopter hurtled into a mountain outside Caracas in the early hours of an overcast day. An investigation was underway.

The armed forces said in a statement that the copter was heading to San Carlos in Cojedes State, where Maduro appeared on Saturday at a military academy to oversee training exercises. It was an effort to demonstrate the armed forces’ loyalty to him after a small group of security forces turned against him earlier in the week in the failed attempt by the opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, to overthrow the government.

On board the helicopter were two lieutenant colonels as well as five lower-ranking officers. The statement did not say if the copter was part of the presidential delegation. (The New York Times)

Cattle rancher leads Panama presidential polls

S

ocial-democrat Laurentino Cortizo is the favorite to win as 2.7 million Panamanians take to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president following a campaign dominated by talk of corruption.

Cortizo, a 66-yearold businessman and cattle rancher, was 10 points clear of his closest challenger, former foreign minister Romulo Roux of the Democratic Change party, with polls showing independent Ricardo Lombana a close third.

Sunday’s winner will succeed Juan Carlos Varela, who is unable to stand for re-election as Panama’s constitution limits presidents to a single five-year term.

Corruption played a significant role in election campaigning in a country struggling to shed its image as a money-laundering paradise following the Panama

Social-democrat Laurentino Cortizo

Papers scandal three years ago.

Equally damaging was the admission by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht that it had paid $59 million in bribes in Panama between 2010 and 2014 to secure major public works contracts.

Cortizo, a veteran politician and former agriculture minister known popularly as

Mexican marine killed by fuel thieves

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uspected fuel thieves have opened fire on a marine patrol in Mexico, killing one marine and wounding three others.

The marines were patrolling a state-owned pipeline in central Puebla state that has been frequently targeted by thieves who drill illegal taps into the ducts.

The Navy said the attack occurred early Saturday and that the marines were outnumbered by gunmen. The three wounded marines are

listed in stable condition.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has declared an offensive against widespread fuel theft that costs the country an estimated $3 billion per year.

The Navy said “it is important to note that the fuel thefts gangs have increased their levels of aggression” against Navy personnel.

In 2017, a clash between army troops and fuel thieves killed four soldiers and six civilians. (MSN News)

T&T cop set on fire by husband

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police constable, Kelly Ann Humphrey, 29, is in critical condition after her husband, a Coast Guard officer, doused her with a flammable substance and set her on fire.

She is now in critical condition at Mt Hope hospital,

Trinidad, while the Coast Guard officer is in police custody assisting who are investigating the matter.

According to reports, Humphrey had gotten into an altercation with her husband at about 4 am, after which he committed the act. (T&T Newsday)

“Nito,” said he wants to “rescue and transform Panama” and “leave a legacy” untainted by corruption.

“I’m leaning towards Nito Cortizo because of his ability, experience and knowledge, and I think he has all the tools and structure to carry out a large part of what he has proposed,” Miguel Carrio, an insurance salesman, told AFP. (AFP)

I

n an expanding legal battle, ExxonMobil has filed suit in US federal court against Cuba’s CIMEX and CUPET companies for their use of an oil refinery and other properties seized by the Fidel Castro Government six decades ago.

ExxonMobil is the first US Company to file suit after President Donald Trump allowed Title III of the Helms-Burton Act to take effect, opening the way for demands against Cuban and foreign companies that benefit from properties seized by the communist government.

Title III had been suspended every six months by every U.S. president since the law was approved in 1996.

The Exxon Mobil law-

suit, filed in federal court in Washington Thursday, followed two other complaints filed in US court in Miami against Carnival Corp. for the use of port facilities in Havana and Santiago de Cuba, by descendants of the families that owned the docks and warehouses.

“This filing is immensely significant. The largest energy company in the United States, the fifth-largest energy company in the world (is) using Title III … to sue a company owned by the government of Cuba,” said John Kavulich, president of the US-Cuba Trade and Economic Council.

“This provides comfort for other large claimants to sue, will increase fear by companies in other countries from engagement with Cuba due to the reach of Exxon

Mobil and is consistent with Exxon Mobil efforts to recover assets in Venezuela and defend themselves in other countries,” he added.

Exxon has filed suit against the Venezuelan government’s PDVSA oil company for the nationalization of properties during the government of the late President Hugo Chavez.

ExxonMobil, a successor company to Standard Oil, argued in its lawsuit that CIMEX and CUPET (Cuba Petroleo) have long exploited a refinery in Havana, formerly called the Belot and now the Nico López refinery, as well as gasoline stations and other installations that were worth $72 million when they were seized by the Castro regime without compensation in 1960. (The

Miami Herald)

Jamaican taxi driver shot dead, 7-year-old daughter injured

A

St Thomas, Jamacai taxi operator was shot dead in Lloyds district, Yallahs this morning, while his seven-year-old daughter was shot and injured during the incident.

The deceased has been identified as 35-year-old Jermaine Kelly of Lloyds

district.

Reports from the Yallahs police are that about 3:40 am, Kelly was alerted by a fire at his doorway.

While extinguishing the blaze, he was reportedly greeted with gunfire from armed men.

The police were sum-

moned and upon arrival, Kelly and his daughter were seen suffering from gunshot wounds.

They were taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead and the little girl admitted for treatment.

The police said she is in serious condition. (Jamaica Observer)

TT$3M bail for former AG, UNC Senator

F

ormer attorney general Anand Ramlogan and his colleague, United National Congress Senator Gerald Ramdeen, were collectively granted close to TT$3 million in bail Friday night, after being charged with similar conspiracy offences related to an alleged legal fees kickback scheme.

Ramlogan was granted bail to cover three charges in the sum of TT$1.2 million according to his attorney Pamela Elder SC. Ramdeen was also granted bail in the sum of TT$1.5 million.

However, after they secured bail around 22:32h, both men were hustled out of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) on Independence Suqare, Port-of-Spain, in a black Toyota Prado that was allowed to drive into the back entrance parking lot along George Street.

CNC3 cameraman Kevin Maharaj was the only person able to capture Ramlogan, who was dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt, walking to the vehicle and climbing into the vehicle’s back seat. Within moments, the SUV then emerged from the car park after an of-

Former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan

ficer pulled the steel gate to allow it out and the driver then sped south along the northbound George Street onto South Quay and disappeared.

Moments later, Ramlogan’s attorney, Elder, SC, emerged through the ACIB front entrance and spoke briefly with the media.

Elder gave some details of what Ramlogan experienced during the day.

“My client was subjected to a very

long interview, it has ended with him being charged with three offences.

What I find interesting is that all these offences are what we call inchoate offences, they are the only conspiracies.

There is nothing here in these charges that my client received any money. No money has been stated here,” Elder told Guardian Media.

She continued: “It is only a conspiracy and there is nothing in any of these charges with respect of any monies that were paid to Anand Ramlogan, received

by Anand Ramlogan or transferred by Anand Ramlogan. In essence, it states that for five years he conspired to receive money but never received a cent.”

However, Elder indicated that Ramlogan was glad to be finally released.

“Understandably, he had been detained for over 70-something hours and he was eager to go home. The police officers were professional and we have no complaints about their treatment,” Elder said.

The charges for Ramlogan occurred between Friday, October 1, 2010 to September 9, 2015. (T&T Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, may 6, 2019

17

Around the World

Gaza conflict: Rocket barrage Moscow plane fire: At least and Israeli strikes intensify 41 killed on Aeroflot jet

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Rockets are fired from Gaza towards Israel

ockets and missiles from Gaza killed four civilians in Israel, while Israeli strikes killed 19 Palestinians, more than half of them civilians, in surging cross-border fighting on Sunday, according to Gazan officials and the Israeli military.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the military to continue “massive strikes” against Gaza’s ruling Hamas group and Islamic Jihad in the most serious border clashes since a spate of fighting

in November.

Israel’s military said that more than 600 rockets and other projectiles – over 150 of them intercepted by its Iron Dome anti-missile system –- had been fired at southern Israeli cities and villages since Friday.

It said it attacked more than 260 targets belonging to Gaza militant groups. Gaza officials said Israeli air strikes and artillery fire killed 27 people, including 14 civilians, since Friday.

A rocket that hit a house in

Ashkelon on Sunday killed a 58-yearold man, Police said. He was the first such Israeli civilian fatality since the seven-week Gaza war in 2014.

Another rocket strike killed a factory worker, a hospital official said.

The military said a civilian was killed near the border by an anti-tank missile fired at his car from Gaza and a fourth died when a rocket struck the city of Ashdod.

In Gaza, militant groups identified eight fighters killed in Israeli strikes, while medical officials said that nine civilians also died, including a couple and their baby daughter.

In what it said was a separate, targeted attack, Israel’s military killed Hamed Ahmed Al-Khodary, a Hamas commander. The military said he was responsible for transferring funds from Iran to armed factions in Gaza. Hamas confirmed Khodary had been killed.

The attack on his car was the first such killing by Israel of a top militant since the war five years ago. Israel had suspended what Palestinians call an assassination policy in an attempt to lower tensions.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh issued a statement late on Sunday saying his group was not seeking a broader conflict and held out the possibility of a ceasefire, although sirens warning of rocket fire continued to sound in Israeli cities into the night. (Reuters)

Trump vows higher US tariffs on China goods

U

S President Donald Trump on Sunday dramatically increased pressure on China to reach a long-sought trade deal by announcing he will markedly increase US tariffs on certain Chinese goods.

Trump had previously delayed the tariff increases earlier in the year, citing productive talks with China.

Sunday’s announcement casts into doubt previous expectations that China

and the United States were closing in on a deal to end a months-long trade war that has slowed global growth and disrupted markets.

Trump said on Twitter that tariffs will increase to 25% on Friday and that more Chinese goods will face additional tariffs.

“The Trade Deal with China continues, but too slowly, as they attempt to renegotiate. No!” Trump tweeted.

US-China trade talks are

due to resume this week, with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He due to travel to Washington. That follows talks in April in Beijing that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin called “productive.”

As recently as Friday, Trump said talks with China was going well.

Last week, industry sources said they believed the talks were in the endgame, and Mnuchin had said he hoped that the US nego-

tiating team would soon be able to recommend a deal to Trump or tell him that one could not be reached.

The administration has been insisting on a mechanism to ensure that China follows through on any promises to purchase more American goods.

Administration officials have said both sides are expected to launch new enforcement staffs to police the agreement. (Reuters)

Sri Lanka Police discover Turkey will not bow suspected training camp to US sanctions – for Islamist militants Vice President

T

A police officer stands inside a training camp allegedly linked to Islamist militants in Kattankudy, near Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

S

ri Lankan police on Sunday discovered a 10-acre camp in the eastern town of Kattankudy, where Islamist militants linked to the deadly Easter attacks are believed to have practiced shooting and bomb making.

The walled terrain is nestled in a poor residential area on the outskirts of the home town of Zahran Hashim, who

is believed to have been a key player in plotting the April 21 attacks. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the church and hotel bombings that killed more than 250 people.

The narrow, sandy plot is dotted with a cinderblock four-storey watchtower, as well as mango trees, a chicken coop and a goat shed.

(Reuters)

urkey will never bow to US sanctions over its agreement to buy Russian S-400 defence systems, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Sunday in reference to a deal that has strained ties between the NATO allies.

Washington has said the S-400s could compromise the capabilities of its F-35 fighter jets - for which it has a separate deal with Turkey - and warned of possible US sanctions if Ankara pushed on with the Russian deal.

Ankara has said the S-400s and F-35s would not affect each other and that it will not abandon the former.

Speaking in an interview with broadcaster Kanal 7, Oktay said United States concerns on the issue were not reasonable and added that Turkey would not back down.

Oktay’s comments come after Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan warned Friday that the Pentagon will halt manufacturing support for the F-35 in Turkey if Ankara buys a Russian missile defence system.

“If Turkey decides that the S-400 is a decision they want to go forward with, then we have to move work out of Turkey,” he said.

Shanahan noted that he had met delegations from US aerospace manufacturers Lockheed Martin and United Technologies to discuss options if Turkey refuses to forego the S-400.

As a member of NATO, Turkey is taking part in the production of the fighter jet for use by members of the treaty and has plans to buy 100 of the jets itself. (Al Jazeera)

A

The plane was reportedly carrying 78 people

t least 41 people were killed after a Russian plane made an emergency landing and burst into flames at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow.

Videos on social media show passengers using emergency exit slides to escape the burning Aeroflot aircraft.

Two children and a flight attendant were among the dead, Russian media reports.

One witness said it was a “miracle” anyone escaped the jet, which was carrying 78 passengers and five crew.

Veronika Skvortsova, Head of Russia’s Ministry of Health, said in a statement that six patients were in hospital – three of whom are in critical condition.

Aeroflot, Russia’s national carrier, said the plane was forced to return to the airport “for technical reasons”, but did not elaborate.

The aircraft, a Sukhoi Superjet-100, departed Sheremetyevo airport at 18:02 local time (15:02 GMT) for the city of Murmansk.

The crew issued a distress signal when “malfunctions” occurred shortly after departure.

After making an emergency landing at the airport, the plane’s engines caught fire on the runway, Aeroflot said in a statement.

The crew “did everything to save the passengers”, who were evacuated in 55 seconds, the firm said.

Of the 78 people on board the Superjet-100, only 37 have been accounted for, the Russian Investigative Committee said.

Aeroflot published a list of survivors (in Russian) who have been identified so far, adding that it will continue to be updated as new information comes to light.

(BBC News)

13 dead in Taliban attack on Afghanistan’s Police HQ

Officials said eight armed fighters belonging to the group entered the Police headquarters after the blast (Reuters)

T

aliban fighters stormed a police headquarters in Afghanistan’s northern Baghlan province on Sunday killing at least 13 police with more than 50 people wounded, including 20 civilians, the interior ministry said.

The assault began when a Taliban fighter driving a Humvee packed with explosives blew himself up at the entrance of the police compound in Pul-e-Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province, Afghan officials said.

Eight gunmen rushed in after the explosion, setting off a gun battle that lasted more than six hours.

“Thirteen policemen were killed and 35 others injured,” said Nasrat Rahimi, a spokesman at the Interior

Ministry, adding that 20 civilians were also wounded.

“The complex attack on Baghlan police headquarters has ended with the death of all nine attackers, including the suicide bomber,” he said.

Assadullah Shahbaz, a member of the Baghlan provincial council, said that local officials had sought immediate support from neighbouring provinces as the Taliban attack unfolded.

The group often uses military vehicles captured from Afghan forces as car bombs.

The Taliban has stepped up attacks on security installations to demoralise Afghan police and troops, even as it holds direct negotiations with officials from the United States to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan. (Al Jazeera)

18

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ARCHIE

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dilbert

Consider the possibilities and head in a promising direction. How you get along with the people you encounter will determine your success. Offer help, truth and kindness.

CANCER

Your objective should be positive change. Offer suggestions and solutions, and be open to what others have to contribute. If you force change on others, you’ll end up in a stalemate.

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Calvin and Hobbes

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Size up a situation, set your objective and make it happen. Don’t let anyone else interfere. Stick to what’s realistic and within budget.

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Stop worrying about what others do or say, and start trying to perfect who you are and find out what you want to achieve. Don’t let others control your destiny.

An offer may sound good, but before you follow in someone else’s footsteps, get the lowdown on what’s expected of you. If it’s a good fit, take charge and enjoy the ride.

Put your energy to where it will do the most good.

Opposition will surface regarding sensitive issues, but if you focus on learning and self-improvement, much can be accomplished.

Taking care of your responsibilities will ease stress. Spending time with someone who shares your likes and dislikes will bring you closer together.

Romance is highlighted.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

A change will help build momentum and bring you closer to something or someone that inspires you. Be practical when it comes to money matters and joint ventures.

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Fix up your space, pay attention to important relationships and take time to make subtle improvements to your appearance. A proper health routine will show favorable results.

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

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Make improvements at home that will lower your overhead and add to your comfort while lowering your stress. Do things for the right reasons.

It’s up to you to bring about positive changes at home and in your social life.

Reconnecting with someone from your past will confirm that you are headed in the right direction.

A steady pace will be in your best interest. Refuse to let emotional matters spin out of control and eat up valuable time that should be spent doing something positive.

monday, MAY 6, 2019

19

CSK seal top-two finish despite convincing KXIP defeat A

blistering half-century from KL Rahul to begin their chase ensured Kings XI Punjab avoided the wooden spoon, scoring a consolation six-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings to finish their IPL 2019 campaign on a high. Rahul’s 71 off 36 balls as part of a 108-run opening stand with a sedate Chris Gayle powered Kings XI towards the target of 171, eventually knocked off with 12 balls to spare.

The main objective for Super Kings, though, was to ensure the second innings lasted at least 14.3 overs, which would ensure their spot in the top two of the standings and an automatic berth in Tuesday’s Qualifier 1. Nicholas Pooran had threatened to overhaul the target in that span after taking over the reins from Rahul with some sensational big-hitting, but the spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja continued slowed down the Kings XI charge long enough to get the job done.

Rahul’s innings turned Faf du Plessis’ superb 96 off 54 balls into a footnote. But the fall of du Plessis, Sam Curran’s third wicket on the day, ground the Super Kings innings to a halt at the death. They managed just seven runs off the last nine balls thanks to the brilliance of Curran and Mohammed Shami. It set up a cinch of a chase for Kings XI to give the home fans a bit of cheer at the end of another season in which they fell short of the playoffs.

Du Plessis turns it on

The South African’s innings was classically paced, easing his way to a half-century off 37 balls before bringing out the fireworks. Du Plessis added 120 for the second wicket with Suresh Raina, who made a 34-ball half-century of his own, to steer Super Kings through a majority of the innings after Shane Watson had lost his off stump to Curran in the Powerplay.

But Du Plessis ramped up the intensity from the 15th over.

He charged M Ashwin twice in that frame, driving him for four and six before unleashing more carnage on Andrew Tye in the next over, cracking the first three balls for two fours and a six.

Another pair of sixes off Curran took him into the 90s, the latter of which was flat-batted over the leg side to take him one shot away from a century - he had added 46 off the next 17 balls after reaching 50. But that’s when the wheels came off, both for du Plessis and Super Kings.

The Curran and Shami death choke

The England allrounder made his presence felt at various stages of the Super Kings innings. It was Curran who made the initial breakthrough. Raina then became his second victim when he got too cute trying to flick a slower ball past short fineleg that instead became a simple catch for Shami on the ring.

But his finest ball was the follow-up to du Plessis after a half-tracker had been belted over the leg side. Curran speared a yorker into the pads of du Plessis, who couldn’t get his bat down in time as the ball ricocheted off his toes on to the stumps, leaving the batsman bundled over on the ground.

Shami then built off Curran’s trio of wickets in the final over with a pair of his own. Ambati Rayudu clipped a full ball in the air to deep midwicket before Kedar Jadhav flailed over a yorker that cannoned into off stump for a golden duck. Despite having plenty of wickets in hand thanks to the platform set by Raina and du Plessis, Super Kings stumbled in the last two overs leaving a well below-par total for Kings XI to get.

he took 3 for 16 off his final two to at least stem the bleeding.

Pooran’s fiery cameo followed, in which he blasted three sixes in his 36 off 22 Lokesh Rahul reached his half balls before Jadeja claimed century in just 19 balls him with seven needed for victory. Having taken three key wickets in the first innings, Curran appropriately finished off the chase with a boundary.

(cricinfo)

Harbhajan’s Jekyll & Hyde spell

During the Powerplay, it looked like Harbhajan Singh might be the reason for Super Kings to keep their fingers crossed for a Mumbai Indians loss to Kolkata Knight Riders later in the day to ensure a top-two finish. Harbhajan was pummelled by Rahul in his first two overs after opening with the new ball.

After two sixes by Rahul to round off the second over, the batsman showed nifty footwork to carve Harbhajan over the off and leg side for three straight boundaries to start the fourth.

He then charged Harbhajan off the fourth ball to hit him inside out over extra cover for six, and then ended the over with another straight drive for six to bring up a 19-ball half-century as the score stood at 60 for no loss.

At that stage, Kings XI needed a very achievable 111 off 57 balls to make Super Kings sweat on the Mumbai result for a place in the top two.

That equation was 65 off 27 balls by the time Harbhajan was reintroduced in the 11th. Within four balls, he was on a hattrick having claimed both Rahul and the far more sedate Chris Gayle. Rahul miscued a drive after charging down the pitch before Gayle flat-batted a pull to long-on. Harbhajan fetched a third in his next over as Mayank Agarwal pulled him to Jadeja on the leg-side rope. Having conceded 41 off his first two overs,

3

SCOREBOARD

Chennai Super Kings Innings (20 overs maximum) F du Plessis b Curran 96 SR Watson b Curran 7 SK Raina c Shami b Curran 53 MS Dhoni (c) † not out 10 AT Rayudu c Singh b Shami 1 KM Jadhav b Shami 0 DJ Bravo not out 1 Extras (lb 1, w 1) 2 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 8.5) 170-5 Did not bat: RA Jadeja, DL Chahar, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir Fall of wickets: 1-30 (SR Watson, 4.1 ov), 2-150 (SK Raina, 16.4 ov), 3-163 (F du Plessis, 18.4 ov), 4-166 (AT Rayudu, 19.2 ov), 5-167 (KM Jadhav, 19.4 ov) BOWLING H Brar (3-0-24-0) M Shami (3-0-17-2) SM Curran (4-0-35-3) R Ashwin (4-0-23-0) AJ Tye (3-0-37-0) M Ashwin (3-0-33-0)

Kings XI Punjab Innings

(target: 171 runs from 20 overs)

KL Rahul c Tahir b Singh 71 CH Gayle c sub (DR Shorey) b Singh 28 N Pooran † c †Dhoni b Jadeja 36 MA Agarwal c Jadeja b Singh 7 M Singh not out 11 SM Curran not out 6 Extras (b 4, lb 5, w 5) 14 TOTAL (18 Overs, RR: 9.61) 173-4 Yet to bat: R Ashwin (c), AJ Tye, Mohammed Shami, M Ashwin, Harpreet Brar Fall of wickets: 1-108 (KL Rahul, 10.3 ov), 2-108 (CH Gayle, 10.4 ov), 3-118 (MA Agarwal, 12.2 ov), 4-164 (N Pooran, 16.2 ov) BOWLING DL Chahar (4-0-28-0) H Singh (4-0-57-3) DJ Bravo (4-0-27-0) I Tahir (4-0-36-0) RA Jadeja (2-0-16-1)

Hetmyer and Dube: examples of RCB’s underused resources

I

n the IPL auction for the 2019 season, Royal Challengers Bangalore spent a total of INR 15.85 crore in buying eight players.

Almost 60% of that money was spent on two men: Shimron Hetmyer and Shivam Dube.

Of the 14 games Royal Challengers played in the season, Hetmyer played five and Dube played four. Even without digging deeper, those seem like very limited opportunities for players a franchise seemingly has faith in, given they were willing to spend so much on them.

Digging deeper, Royal Challengers had struggled in the middle overs, not getting enough momentum against spinners. Before Hetmyer launched into Rashid Khan and company on Saturday night, their middle-overs run rate across the last two IPL seasons was 7.6, the lowest among all eight teams. Against spin in IPL 2019, their run rate was 6.6, and they had also lost 20 wickets in the middle overs - both the worst figures for the season.

But after he failed in his first four games, Hetmyer didn’t get a look in until the very last match, against Sunrisers Hyderabad. When he did get an opportunity, he showed the team management what they had missed. He was especially brutal against Rashid, taking him for 32 runs off 15 balls, four of which went over the boundary. Rashid was frazzled, and his lengths suffered. His googly, which batsmen have struggled to read, was landing too short and Hetmyer could hammer it away easily.

His leggies were also all awry, and Hetmyer found the arc between mid-on and square leg a productive area.

He had walked in at 18 for 2 and seen it be-

come 20 for 3 with both Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers gone. The perennial complaint of Royal Challengers over the past few seasons has been that the batting seems to start and end with these two. Hetmyer, still only 22, offered hope that things could change.

Where Royal Challengers need to ask themselves questions though, is what they offered him in return. True, he failed in his first four innings. But what of the nature of the failures?

On IPL debut he lost his head in going for a run that wasn’t there, but many of his teammates lost their heads too because they could only muster 70 all out. Two games later, he was part of another collapse, with Sunrisers smothering Royal Challengers in a 118-run victory. He batted at No. 5 in his first two knocks, was sent to open against Sunrisers, then came in at No. 4.

That is perhaps the nature of the beast, with T20 cricket demanding flexibility from teams and players alike. But the flipside of the asking flexibility of a player should be a long enough rope where warranted. And Hetmyer’s international record in the past seven months warranted it.

“The starting was a little bit tough for me I would say,” Hetmyer told the host broadcaster after his 75 off 47 on Saturday. “It’s just about getting used to the environment and getting used to IPL itself. Sometimes it gets in your head, but you just try to clear your mind as much as possible and just go out and execute.”

Dube didn’t even get that opportunity. He was also part of the two horror batting games Royal Challengers had, against Super Kings and Sunrisers in the first week of the tourna-

ment. He did his part against Mumbai Indians in between, facing only five balls at the death but smashing a six to score nine runs - but his team couldn’t get over the line. He bowled all of 10 balls in the season, and in his first three games it was a mere four balls. Brought back in Royal Challengers’ last week, he made 24 off 16 against Delhi Capitals, and bowled one over while giving up five runs. None of these are spectacular returns, but then, Dube hardly had spectacular opportunities.

In fact, bowling wise, without any consideration of minimum overs bowled, Dube had the best economy rate for the team. It was strange to see Royal Challengers lose faith in him so quickly, because the way they went after him aggressively in the auction suggested they saw great potential.

On the eve of the last league match against Sunrisers, coach Gary Kirsten had spoken of how he was “a fan” of continuity.

You want to try and build your core of players and build a culture where you can keep coming back to the same players,” Kirsten had said. “I think the most successful franchises in IPL have done that. We’re searching for that in RCB... we need to really start building a core of players that we believe in, and back them. I think the franchises that do a lot of chopping and changing every year run into problems.”

And yet, Royal Challengers used 21 players over the course of the season - the second highest among all teams. Crucially, they seemed to be unsure of what their best XI was - or not have enough patience to deal with the nature of T20 cricket, a format where a run of failures

Shimron Hetmyer and Gukeerat Singh shepherded RCB to victory in their final match

is common enough.

Hetmyer and Dube are two examples of Royal Challengers’ underused resources, but not the only ones. This year, Washington Sundar played only three games, the first of which was more than a month after the tournament began. Last season, Navdeep Saini had spent all his time on the bench without getting a game, even as Royal Challengers struggled with bowling options. He has turned into a find for them this year, but last year too he was coming off an excellent domestic season.

Hetmyer showed in their last league game, what might have been. As he walked off the park after being dismissed, there was a spontaneous standing ovation from the full house at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The fans had kept packing the stadium despite the defeats, and they were showing their warmth at getting something back in return. Hetmyer walked off with bat raised to all parts of the ground to acknowledge the applause.

And perhaps that raised bat and the sight of a stadium on its feet held a message for Royal Challengers for the next season. (ESPNCricinfo)

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monday, may 6, 2019

Premier League:

Chelsea qualify for Champions League C

helsea secured their place in the Champions League next season with victory over Watford at Stamford Bridge.

The win, combined with Arsenal’s draw against Brighton, means the Blues are guaranteed a top-four finish in the Premier League.

After a quiet first half, Chelsea scored twice within three minutes early in the second period through headers by Ruben Loftus-Cheek and David Luiz.

Gonzalo Higuain sealed the points with a neat finish from Pedro’s pass for his fifth goal for the club.

The win moves Chelsea up to third, one point ahead of Tottenham and four points clear of the fifth-placed Gunners.

FA Cup finalists Watford started brightly, going close through Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu, but were left to rue their slow start to the second half that saw Chelsea quickly take the game away from them.

The Hornets, who stay 10th, have now won just one of their past five Premier League games since their FA Cup semi-final victory over Wolves last month.

Arsenal’s top four hopes all but over

Arsenal’s focus is now on the Europa League, says boss Unai Emery, after his

lacklustre side’s hopes of a top-four Premier League finish were effectively ended by a draw with Brighton.

The Gunners are three points behind Tottenham in fourth with one game to play but would need an eight-goal swing, as well as results going their way, to overtake their rivals.

Barring that highly improbable scenarChelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga keeps out a Watford effort io, Arsenal will need to win the Europa but Aubameyang volleyed wide from seven stitute Tahith Chong had a shot saved and League to play in the Champions League next season and take a 3-1 advantage into yards out and Brighton keeper Mat Ryan Paul Pogba hit the bar before David de Gea denied Karlan Grant a winner at the oththeir semi-final second-leg in Valencia on made a series of fine saves. er end.

Pascal Gross could have won the game Thursday.

It means United have now gone five “We knew it was going to be difficult but for Brighton late on but skewed his effort our focus is now the Europa League,” Emery, out towards the sideline with the goal un- games without a win, their worst sequence who won the competition three times in a manned after Bernd Leno’s superb save since they went eight games without a victofrom March, while the visitors withstood an- ry under Louis van Gaal between November row with Sevilla, told BBC Sport.

“We have the opportunity in the Europa other flurry from Arsenal in the final stages. and December 2015.

The result means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s League to do something important and we side cannot catch either Chelsea or Manchester miss will try and do that.”

Tottenham and have only a slim chance of out on top-four Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put Manchester United will have to settle for finishing above Arsenal in fifth.

Arsenal in front at Emirates Stadium Alexis Sanchez is also a major doubt for Europa League football next season after with a ninth-minute penalty after Alireza Jahanbakhsh was judged to have fouled being held by a Huddersfield side who were the final game of the season against Cardiff at Old Trafford, having limped straight Nacho Monreal despite appearing to get the relegated in March.

The Terriers had managed just four down the tunnel after suffering an injury at ball.

Aside from occasional bursts, Emery’s points in their previous 23 games - but the start of the second half.

Huddersfield are 11 points adrift at the side were shaky and sloppy, with Granit watched by outgoing chairman Dean Hoyle, Xhaka committing an absurd foul on Solly they earned a draw as Isaac Mbenza’s first bottom of the table and finish their season at March to concede a penalty that Glenn goal for the club levelled Scott McTominay’s Southampton next Sunday. United remain sixth and entertain Cardiff. (BBC Sport) first-half effort.

Murray converted on 61 minutes.

In a frantic finish, young United subArsenal frantically searched for a winner

Pandya brothers knock out Knight Riders, Sunrisers qualify

S

killful bowling from the Pandya brothers and sensible batting from Mumbai Indians’ captain Rohit Sharma launched them to No.1 on the points table, setting up a mouth-watering clash against Chennai Super Kings in the first qualifier at Chepauk on Tuesday.

The result knocked out Kolkata Knight Riders and put Sunrisers Hyderabad in the playoffs. Despite their defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday, Sunrisers will now face Delhi Capitals in the Eliminator in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

Asked to bat first on a slower-than-usual Wankhede track, Knight Riders stuttered to 133 for 7 with Robin Uthappa’s go-slow encapsulating their struggles. Hardik Pandya was Rohit’s fifth-bowling option on Sunday, but he made the biggest impact by dismissing Chris Lynn and Shubman Gill in backto-back overs. At the other end, Krunal Pandya kept cramping batsmen for room and although he ended wicketless he was also central to Mumbai’s smothering of Knight Riders.

Rohit then led the chase with a measured half-century, sounding out a warning to Super Kings, whom they have beaten five times in seven matches Hardik Pandya celebrates with his team-mates at Chepauk. his first ball - a slower one that trapped Gill for 9. In his next over, he hung up an offcut#Lynnsanity hits Wankhede ter wide of off and asked Lynn to manufacWhen Sunil Narine was his opening ture the pace for himself. All he could do was partner, Chris Lynn often took a backseat to top-edge it into the hands of Quinton de and worked his way into the innings, which Kock behind the stumps. In the four overs wasn’t quite his strong suit. Since Shubman the Pandya brothers bowled in tandem, they Gill was bumped up to the top, Lynn has conceded just 12 runs with Hardik dismissbashed his way to three successive for- ing both the in-form KKR openers. Mitchell ty-plus scores, the latest being his 41 off 29 McClenaghan, much like Hardik, took pace balls on Sunday. With the ball coming onto off the ball and bowled a maiden over to the bat in the early exchanges, Lynn sim- Uthappa. ply did his thing: he cleared his front leg Uthappa kept helplessly swishing and and smote sixes. After rattling the seamers, missing outside off - and even left Krunal he imperiously launched legspinner Rahul outside off - in a passage of play that lacked Chahar twice into the stands beyond long- intensity according to Knight Riders’ coach off. Knight Riders were 49 for 0 after the end Jacques Kallis. Dinesh Karthik, who had of the Powerplay - and Lynn alone had con- promoted himself ahead of the side’s MVP tributed 38 to that score.

Andre Russell, was then caught at short midwicket, thanks to Krunal’s athletic intervenMake way for the tion. In the same over, Lasith Malinga ventured around the wicket and bounced out Pandya brothers Then, just like that, Hardik struck with Russell for a golden duck.

off 6 balls).

KKR KO’d

Russell’s evening went from bad to worse when de Kock and Rohit hit 21 runs off his first over, including two fours and two sixes.

Prasidh Krishna then stopped a rampaging de Kock in his tracks, when he drew a top edge that was snaffled by Karthik running back and diving across to his right.

Rohit would be unstoppable, though. He didn’t take any undue risks - he didn’t need to - and just knocked the ball into the gaps.

He raised his second half-century of the season off 44 balls when he punched Harry Gurney to sweeper cover in the 15th over.

With the asking rate dropping to under six, Suryakumar Yadav also had the luxury of taking his own sweet time to find some form. But from 19 off 17 balls, he zoomed to 46 off 27 balls to seal Knight Riders’ fate.

Mumbai wrapped up the victory with nine wickets and 23 balls to spare. (cricinfo)

3

SCOREBOARD

In isolation Uthappa took Jasprit Bumrah for a brace of boundaries, but he could barely go at a run a ball.

Nitish Raina was more fluent and moved to 26 off 13 balls before holing out in the 18th over.

Bumrah was back to his usual self in the final over and he closed out the innings with the wickets of Uthappa (40 off 47 balls) and Rinku Singh (4

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings (20 overs maximum) S Gill lbw b HH Pandya 9 CA Lynn c †de Kock b HH Pandya 41 RV Uthappa c Sharma b Bumrah 40 KD Karthik (c) † c KH Pandya b Malinga 3 AD Russell c †de Kock b Malinga 0 N Rana c Pollard b Malinga 26 RK Singh c HH Pandya b Bumrah 4 SP Narine not out 0 Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 7) 10 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 6.65) 133-7 Did not bat: HF Gurney, M Prasidh Krishna, S Sandeep Warrier Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Shubman Gill, 6.1 ov), 2-56 (CA Lynn, 8.2 ov), 3-72 (KD Karthik, 12.4 ov), 4-73 (AD Russell, 12.5 ov), 5-120 (N Rana, 17.2 ov), 6-133 (RV Uthappa, 19.5 ov), 7-133 (RK Singh, 19.6 ov) BOWLING MJ McClenaghan (4-1-19-0)

KH Pandya (4-0-14-0) SL Malinga (4-0-35-3) JJ Bumrah (4-0-31-2) RD Chahar (1-0-12-0) HH Pandya (3-0-20-2)

Mumbai Indians Innings (target: 134 runs from 20 overs) Q de Kock † c †Karthik b Krishna 30 RG Sharma (c) not out 55 SA Yadav not out 46 Extras (nb 1, w 2) 3 TOTAL (16.1 Overs, RR: 8.28) 134-1 Yet to bat: Ishan Kishan, HH Pandya, KA Pollard, KH Pandya, RD Chahar, MJ McClenaghan, SL Malinga, JJ Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Q de Kock, 6.1 ov) BOWLING S Warrier (4-0-25-0) HF Gurney (3-0-20-0) AD Russell (2.1-0-34-0) SP Narine (4-0-33-0) M Krishna (3-0-22-1)

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monday, may 6, 2019

21

Tallawahs, Jamaica Government agree long-term deal

T

he Jamaica Tallawahs maximize our returns and the Government from sports.” of Jamaica have done “The Government away with their back and fully endorses the forth over support for the franchise,” the Sport franchise in place of a longMinister said, as she term agreement. announced that her Addressing a news Ministry had comconference called by the mitted J$2.7 million Tallawahs at the Jamaica (US$20,270.62) to faPegasus, Jamaica’s cilitate the hosting Minister of Culture, of the 2019 CPL T20 Gender, Entertainment Series in Jamaica. and Sport, Olivia ‘Babsy’ “In addition, the Grange Sport Minister said: Sports Development “We are speaking about an Foundation (SDF), arrangement between the which falls under my Government of Jamaica and Ministry, is providing the Jamaica Tallawahs that support up to a maxwill be at least for three Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, is presented with a imum of J$10 milyears, perhaps longer.”

Jamaica Tallawahs shirt by Jefferson Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica Tallawahs, at a lion (US$75,076.38) in “We saw that as the most news conference at the Jamaica Pegasus on Saturday cash and in kind.” suitable way forward to This will facilitate Miss Grange said the Government sees guard against Government the entry of all equiphaving to respond to requests at the last min- collaboration with the Tallawahs as one clear ment which will be exported at the end of ute. It affords us room to plan properly for way to increase investment in sporting ac- the series - cash sponsorship of J$4.6 million the assistance that Government will be pro- tivities that will contribute to the continued (US$30,030.55) and the guaranteed purchase building of Brand Jamaica, “as we seek to of 60 tickets for all five nights along with two viding the Tallawahs,” she said.

VIP boxes valued at J$1.1 million (8,258.40) for the hosting of special guests.

“I am pleased also to inform you that the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has agreed to a discount on transportation services during the period of the matches based on my representation on behalf of the Tallawahs. There are other negotiations taking place which will result in other tangible support. We will provide an update on these negotiations.”

“I must mention the Prime Minister’s assistance in Pepsi Cola Jamaica becoming a Tallawahs sponsor. You might say Prime Minister Holness, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness was a matchmaker in this union.”

“We are happy with the news that Cricket West Indies has been able to make it possible for all the best Caribbean cricketers to take part in the tournament. So, fans will be treated not just to the best of our Caribbean cricketers, but to many of the top international players for 34 matches of high intensity cricket.”

“Perhaps the news that makes us the happiest is that Chris Gayle will be returning to the Tallawahs and returning as Captain.”

Álvarez outpoints Jacobs to unify middleweight title belts

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aul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez won a close, often tense but uncontroversial decision over Daniel Jacobs in their hotly anticipated middleweight championship unification fight on Saturday night before a rollicking Cinco de Mayo weekend crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Ringside judges Dave Moretti and Steve Weisfeld turned in cards of 115-113, while Glenn Feldman scored it 116-112.

(The Guardian had it 115-113 to Canelo.) Álvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs), added Jacobs’ IBF belt to the WBA and WBC titles that he won from Gennady Golovkin in their second encounter last September. Four years after capturing the lineal title from Miguel Cotto to establish a foothold in the division, the redhead from Guadalajara has all but cleaned it out.

“It was just what we thought, we knew he was going to be a difficult fighter,” said Álvarez after winning for the second time since signing a five-year, $365m deal with the streaming service DAZN. “It was just what we thought because of the style of fight that he brings, but we just did our job.”

Jacobs (35-3, 29 KOs), who went off as a 6-1 underdog, had trouble finding the elusive Álvarez for long stretches of the fight before tweaking his tactics and coming on strong in the second half, landing 131 of 649 punches (20%), compared to 118 of 466 (40%) for Álvarez, whose patience, poise and exquisite technique were on full display for 12 rounds.

“I feel accomplished, l feel great. I have to go back to look at the tapes to see exactly what the judges thought,” an upbeat Jacobs said.

“They said to me [in the cor-

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Canelo Álvarez lands on Daniel Jacobs during Saturday’s middleweight title unification fight

ner] that I was up, so I was still pushing forward because I wanted to finish strong. He’s a tremendous champion, and I tip my hat to him. I gave my all out there.” Álvarez was the more active fighter from the opening bell, defiantly stalking the the 5ft 11½in Jacobs despite his three-and-a-half-inch advantages in height and reach. The Brooklyn native was able to use his rangy left jab to keep Álvarez at bay, but scoring with consistency was a different matter as his pursuer used deft upper-body movement to make his opponent miss again and again. By the third Jacobs was already looking gun-shy and confused while the

composed Álvarez appeared completely at ease, happy in his work as he strode through the bigger man’s punches.

“He was a fast guy, very slippery,” Jacobs said. “It definitely took me a couple rounds to get my wits about me, to figure out his rhythm, because he’s a pot-shotter.”

Canelo Álvarez celebrates after Saturday’s decision was announced. Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images The tide began to shift in the fifth when Jacobs began to enjoy pockets of success after switching to a southpaw stance. Álvarez continued to move forward and score, but it was a desperately needed second-act wrinkle in a fight that was in danger of slipping into one-sided monotony. Jacobs switched again to the left-handed stance in the seventh and began tagging Álvarez with power shots, trapping his opponent along the ropes and opening up with shots to the body as a hush fell on the near-sellout crowd of 20,203.

The two-way action heated up from there. Firefights broke out all over the ring in the eighth with Álvarez getting the better of the exchanges. The Mexican burst forward at the start of the ninth and caved in Jacobs’ ribcage with a thudding left, but Jacobs cracked back with massive shots, including a devastating left hook that stopped Canelo in his tracks, to win the round on all three judges’ cards.

Even as Jacobs came on, Álvarez was still making him miss excessively, keeping his composure under extreme duress.

Both fighters looked exhausted in the championship rounds, but Canelo was able to hold off Jacobs’ rally with pinpoint punching and superior defense to earn a decision that drew virtually zero protest let alone calls for a rematch. (The Guardian)

MotoGP champion Marquez goes top after win in Spain

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orld champion Marc Marquez swept back to the top of the MotoGP standings by a single point on Sunday after running away with his home Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.

The Honda rider led from the first corner to checkered flag, heading a Spanish one-two-three with Suzuki’s Alex Rins 1.654 seconds behind as runner-up and Maverick Vinales third for Yamaha.

Marquez, who crashed while leading in the previous round in Texas, started third on the grid and now has 70 points after his second win of the campaign.

Rins is on 69 thanks to his second successive podium, with Andrea Dovizioso dropping from the overall lead to third on 67 after finishing fourth on his works Ducati.

The Italian was right on the tail of Vinales in the closing stages but ran out of time to get past.

“It was more difficult mentally than physically. After the mistake in Austin it is not easy to race here and lead the race from the beginning to the end,” said Marquez.

“But I am convinced about my performance and of the bike, I’m feeling really good.

“It was a bit hard to know why we crashed in Austin so today, this weekend, I felt really good,

really smooth, riding like I want.”

The distraught rookie headed back to the gaVinales said being on his home podium felt like a victory after a tough start to the season and struggling with starts.

“Finally I think we found out a method that is working really good,” he said.

“Actually I won some places at the Marc Marquez leads Franco Morbidelli start so I’m really happy. The team is working good, I need confi- rage and retired.

Australian Jack Miller crashed his Pramac dence.”

His Italian team mate Valentino Rossi took Ducati after colliding with Aprilia’s Spaniard sixth place after starting 13th. The 40-year-old Aleix Espargaro while trying to go through on the great tumbled from second to fourth in the cham- inside at turn 13. pionship on 61 points after four rounds of the seaAprilia’s Andrea Iannone, who crashed in son.

Saturday practice, was ruled unfit to start after French 20-year-old Fabio Quartararo, who a morning medical.

The next race is the French Grand Prix at Le had started as the youngest ever rider on pole position, had looked set for the podium but his Mans on May 19. (Reuters) Petronas Yamaha slowed on lap 14 after getting stuck in third gear.

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monday, MAY 6, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Sparta Boss lead the way on Corona opening night T

he fourth edition of the Top Brandz Distributorssponsored Corona Futsal Tournament got off to an exhilarating start on Saturday evening with several high scoring games being played at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue in Georgetown.

The fair sized crowd of patrons in attendance was treated to six 20-minute games of pure excitement, which ended with Sparta Boss sending a clear warning to contending teams that the $500,000 grand prize on offer belongs to Sparta.

The renowned street football team played against Black Pearl and handed them a sound 7-0 thrashing.

Jermaine Junor began the scoring with a stunner in the first minute of play, and this was followed by the young star Kelsey Benjamin netting in the fifth minute and Junor returning in the seventh minute for his second goal.

Dennis Edwards was the star in the second half, scoring a hat trick with goals in the 11th, 13th and 18th minutes; and Devon Charles contributed one for the Sparta Boss total of 7.

Leopold Street met with Flamingo in another exciting encounter that saw alternate scoring, with Leopold Street drawing first blood through Eon Alleyne in the second minute.

A minute after that goal was scored, Andrew Murray levelled the scores for flamingo, before Darren Benjamin and Lennox Cort netted for the respective sides in the 5th and 6th minutes, to bring the scores to 2-2.

Despite Okennie Fraser attaining the lead for Leopold Street in the 8th, Moses Griffith and Andrew Murray both netted goals in the 11th, to make Flamingo briefly hold the lead.

Okennie Fraser found the back of the net in the 12th and 15th minutes, and Alleyne again did likewise in the 16th, to bring Leopold’s tally to six. A last minute goal from Lennox Cort pushed Flamingo to 5, but not far enough for the win.

Earlier in the night, North East La Penitence resisted a bout of late urgency from Northern Rangers to secure a 6-4 win. Kelvin Moore (2nd, 4th, 13th) and Keifer Brandt (6th,

16th, 17th) both scored hat tricks for North East as they dominated the earlier stages of the game. However, Tevin Fowler, Nigel Denny and Stephan Reynolds fought back in the final five minutes of the encounter to reach four goals, but North East still prevailed.

The final game of the opening night paired Bent Street with GT Panthers in a lopsided affair. Pernel Schultz led the charge for the experienced Bent Street with goals in the 1st, 11th, 12th and 13th minutes.

Thereafter, Andre Aaron netted a brace and Sheldon profit found the back of the net once for Bent Street’s seven.

Vasco Cabral and Mark Anthony netted the consolation goals for GT Panthers.

In the other two encounters, Back Circle and Tucville, who were to face Camptown and Wolves respectively, were both awarded walk-over wins.

The Corona Futsal competition will continue with six more games being played on Tuesday, May 7, at the National Gymnasium.

Leopold Street and Flamingo engaged in their tit-for-tat encounter

Tuesday’s fixtures are as follows: Order and Discipline vs Future Stars Pele vs California Square Beacons vs Sophia GFC vs West Front Road Eastveldt vs Tiger Bay Broad Street vs Mocha

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

Umrao restricts Essequibo to 62 as Berbice sit pretty

– Benjamin, Deodat among runs on Day 2 by

Brandon Corlette

K

elvin Umrao spun his way to his fifth 5-wicket haul in the Hand-in-Hand 3-Day Inter-County Cricket match played between Berbice and Essequibo at the Lusignan Community Centre Ground; in process bundling out Essequibo for a mere 62 in 27.1 overs.

Berbice had earlier posted 200 all out, with Garfield Benjamin carefully constructing a fine half-century while Nigel Deodat narrowly missed out on his half-century, scoring 48. Berbice remained in control of the match with a healthy lead of 138.

Resuming the second day on 107-6 in 32.1 overs, Berbice reached 200 all in 76.1 overs, with rain playing a role in the match.

The defending champions achieved this score thanks to an 85-run seventh wicket partnership between Garfield Benjamin

and Nigel Deodat.

Due to the inclement weather, the match began at 12:15 hours and saw the rain intervening at 13:19 hours. Berbice were then on 167-6, scored in 65.2 overs. During that wicketless 64-minute session, Deodat remained unbeaten on 45 and Benjamin on 38. Play resumed at 13:30 hours, and it was an action packed mini-session that saw 33 runs scored and the remaining four wickets fall.

Benjamin, Tucber Park’s gifted batsman, looked solid in his stroke play, while Blairmont’s Deodat looked to play his shots but gifted his wicket away, missing out on a half-century when he scooped a delivery from Amit

National Youth and Junior Championships...

CWSS, Running Brave win big on Day 2

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thletes from the Running Brave athletics club and the Christianburg-Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) dominated the competition on Day Two of the National Youth and Junior Championships being staged by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

With several of the 2019 CARIFTA athletes on show, the competition was indeed riveting.

CARIFTA Gold Medallist Anisha Gibbons showed that she was worthy of her accolade when she threw the javelin for a distance of 37.18 metres to cop gold in the Girls’ 17-and-Under javelin event.

She was followed by Tennisha Bruce, whose throw was 18.62 metres for second place.

Jahaziah Copeland from the Upper Demerara Schools, another leading lady in the field events, recorded a throw of 10.76 metres to cop gold in the Girls’ 17-and-Under shot-put event.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s Javelin record holder Leslain Baird of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) made light work of the competition in the Men’s 20+ Invitational event by recording a throw of 69.02 metres for first place. Tremaine Beckles with a throw of 58.60 metres and Timothy Sealey with a throw of 53.36 metres completed the Javelin podium.

The Running Brave club made a clean sweep of the medals in the Girls U17 Long Jump event, with Keliza Smith bagging first place with a jump of 5.49 metres, Princess Browne coming in second with a jump of 5.43 metres, and Sasha Lyken’s leap of 5.04 metres awarding her third place.

On the track, Deshana Skeete who hails from CWSS expectedly outran her opponents in the Girls’ 17- and-Under 200 metre final with a time of 24.46s. She finished ahead of Running Brave athlete Brianna Charles, who recorded 24.97s, and Keliza Smith who recorded 25.12s.

Adriel Austin of Running Brave cruised home to first place in a time of 2.24.97s in the Under 17 Girls’ 800- metre event. Shaqua Tyrell’s time of 2.25.51 was close enough for second place, while Kissanna Glen took third in 2.25.73.

The experienced Aaliyah Moore of Police Progressive Youth Club had no trouble completing the Girls 18-19 800M race in first place with a time of 2.22.07. Moore finished with a significant lead over Tia Azore of CWSS and Tanya Smith of Super Upcoming Runners.

CWSS athlete Sheama Tyrell commanded the U17 300-metre event with a time of 11.13.70s, while Aaliyah Headley (12.09.67) and Jennifer Byass (12.23.00) rounded off the podium.

The male event saw Hopetown Flames athlete and CARIFTA Gold Medallist Matthew Gordon taking the first place with almost a minute ahead of the second place finisher. Gordon crossed the line on 9.38.42, while second-placed Cordell Charles finished in 10.25.52 and Trimel Bishop came third in 10.34.42.

Devon Giles of CWSS took the U19 5000 metre event in 9.38.42. He was followed by Kennard Hartog and Jeremy Wade in that order. The Men’s 20+ Invitational 800 metre event saw Devan Barrington crossing the line in first place, ahead of Anfernee Headecker and Danta Thom.

Garfield Benjamin flourished during his 50 at Lusignan

Persaud to Jerimiah Scott at short cover when he was on 48. He departed with the score on 172-7, after hitting four timely boundaries in his 88- minute innings.

Benjamin was then partnered by his Tucber Park team mate Leon Swamy, and the duo added 17 runs, in the process of which Benjamin reached his half-century; but he soon after found himself wanting when he hit one into the hands of the fielder at short cover and became Amit Persaud’s fifth wicket.

Benjamin’s innings comprised an even fifty that came off 145 balls in 121 minutes, during which he smoked one six and four boundaries in his well-composed knock.

The power-packed player Leon Swamy had a breezy innings of 12 runs, consisting of one six and one four; while Kelvin Umrao hit a lone six before Berbice were dismissed for 200 all out in 76.1 overs.

Junior Sinclair, w h o scored a 50 on day 1, and

Nigel Deodat on the pull during his 48

Garfield Benjamin were the main contributors, along with Nigel Deodat, who scored 48.

Bowling for Essequibo, the spin twins of Amit Persaud and Lance Roberts recorded respective figures of 6-93 in 31.1 overs, including 6 maidens, and 4-42 in 18 overs.

In a tricky session before tea, Essequibo openers survived some top-flight fast bowling from Leon Swamy and Kevlon Anderson to reach the interval at 20 without loss in five overs.

In the final session of play, a rampaging Berbice side took control of the game, picking up wickets at regular intervals. Only Orlando Jailall and Kevin Christian offered the Berbice team any resistance, Jailall scoring 18 from 20 balls and Christian 14 from 34 balls.

Essequibo were eventually bowled out for a mere 62 in 27.1 overs.

Berbice Bowler Kelvin Umrao, snaring 5-24 in 11.1 overs, picked up his second five-wicket haul in as many matches, and his fifth overall at inter-county. He was well supported in a collective bowling effort by skipper Kevlon Anderson with 3-12 and left-arm pacer Chris Harry with 2-6.

After the innings had ended, the heavens opened up and ended the day’s play. Berbice, who will resume batting at 10:00h, enjoy a commanding lead of 138 runs.

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, may 6, 2019

23

Hope 170, Campbell 179, Windies rewrite ODI world record

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3

SCOREBOARD

etween those two moments, separated by two days, Ireland bowled 62.1 overs, conceded 463 runs, and failed to take a single wicket.

The bulk of those 463 runs - 365 of them - came on Sunday, as John Campbell and Shai Hope put on the biggest opening partnership in ODI history. They came withi n

and honWest Indies Innings (50 PR Stirling b Roach 0 e s t overs maximum) A Balbirnie c Ambris f i n JD Campbell c Porterfield b Gabriel 29 b McCarthy 179 LJ Tucker lbw b Cottrell 0 gerspin SD Hope † c Tucker KJ O’Brien c Holder must be the b McCarthy 170 b Nurse 68 least threatenDM Bravo not out

9 GC Wilson † c Roach ing bowling arJO Holder (c) c O’Brien b Gabriel 30 senal of all the b Adair 1 GH Dockrell lbw b Nurse 2 Full Member Extras (b 1, lb 4, nb 2, w 15) MR Adair b Gabriel 10 teams at the

22 BJ McCarthy st †Hope moment, and TOTAL (50 Overs, RR: 7.62) b Nurse 9 Campbell and 381-3 TJ Murtagh not out 10 Hope took it Did not bat: JL Carter, SW JB Little b Nurse 0 apart in an Ambris, RL Chase, AR Nurse, Extras (lb 3, nb 1, w 11) 15 utterly conKAJ Roach, SS Cottrell, ST TOTAL (34.4 Overs, RR: 5.33) Shannon Gabriel trolled and clinGabriel 185 all out ical manner.

Fall of wickets: Fall of wickets: Watching this, it 1-365 (JD Campbell, 47.2 ov), 1-12 (PR Stirling, 1.1 ov), 2-21 seven runs of the was hard to be2-369 (SD Hope, 47.5 ov), (WTS Porterfield, 3.3 ov), 3-21 biggest ODI part- lieve that these 3-381 (JO Holder, 49.6 ov) (LJ Tucker, 4.4 ov), 4-152 (KJ nership for any wick- two teams had BOWLING O’Brien, 26.6 ov), 5-152 (GC et a record held by anoth- both been in the TJ Murtagh (10-0-71-0) Wilson, 27.1 ov), 6-155 (GH MR Adair (10-1-84-1) Dockrell, 28.4 ov), 7-159 (A er West Indies pair, Chris Gayle same ODI boat, JB Little (10-0-72-0) Balbirnie, 29.5 ov), 8-166 and Marlon Samuels. They came with- fighting to make BJ McCarthy (10-0-76-2) (MR Adair, 31.2 ov), 9-185 (BJ in 17 balls of becoming the first opening pair the World Cup John Campbell celebrated his maiden ODI century GH Dockrell (7-0-57-0) McCarthy, 34.2 ov), 10-185 (JB to bat through the entire first innings of an grade, the last KJ O’Brien (1-0-10-0) Little, 34.4 ov) tucked it away to fine leg for ODI. They did, however, become the second time they met.

PR Stirling (2-0-6-0) BOWLING four.

The next ball was a wide pair of openers - after Brendon McCullum and Plenty has happened since then, and much SS Cottrell (6-1-33-1) James Marshall - to both score 150 in an ODI of it has been encouraging for West Indies, to half-volley, and Hope unfurled Ireland Innings (target: KAJ Roach (7-0-28-2) innings. the extent that they will be counted among an extra-cover drive. Four 382 runs from 50 overs) ST Gabriel (8-0-44-3) It left Ireland an improbable 382 to chase, the most dangerous line-ups at the World Cup more. Eighteen came off that WTS Porterfield (c) c Cottrell b JO Holder (6-0-26-0) and they didn’t get remotely close. Kemar that they so nearly didn’t qualify for. Today’s over, and from there on the Roach 12 AR Nurse (7.4-0-51-4) Roach and Sheldon Cottrell reduced them to partnership didn’t even come from their first- runs flowed unchecked.

Hope drove the seamers 21 for 3, and there was no recovering from choice opening pair. Campbell, who clattered there, even if there were a couple of bright six sixes in a 137-ball 179, isn’t in the pre- eye-catchingly through the cov46th, and Murtagh for 17 in the 47th. partnerships involving Kevin O’Brien, who liminary World Cup squad, and Hope, who ers, often opening his bat face to beat short By this time both batsmen were past 160 made 68, first with Andy Balbirnie and then stroked a cultured 170 off 152, doesn’t usually extra diving to his left, and down the ground, and the world-record partnership for any and used the shuffle across the crease adroit- wicket beckoned. But trying to fetch a rising with Gary Wilson. Playing his 100th ODI, open the batting.

Balbirnie had to retire hurt on 28, when a Both, though, were too good for Ireland’s ly to pick up leg-side singles and twos off all ball from outside off stump, Campbell sent nasty bouncer from Shannon Gabriel hit him modest attack. They were watchful early on, lines and lengths. Campbell was the likelier of a rare top-edge ballooning high in the sky. on the helmet; he returned later but only add- but once they had seen off the initial new-ball the pair to hit over the top, and he also showed It took an age coming down, but a tumbling ed one run to his score. nibble - Tim Murtagh and Mark Adair went a fondness for the lap-sweep off the seamers, William Porterfield eventually got under it at West Indies’ bowlers presented a much past the edge on a fair few occasions, with picking up three fours with this shot. mid-off. It was Ireland’s first ODI wicket in After scoring only 37 in the first ten overs, 374 balls. Like the old cliche about buses, the bigger wicket threat than Ireland’s had, Campbell in particular taking time to get his Gabriel’s raw pace offering the starkest point feet moving - they pretty much did as they West Indies scored 68, 80, and 74 in their next wicket came in the same over, Hope picknext three ten-over blocks. Then came the ing out the fielder at deep square leg. of difference; he pinged O’Brien’s helmet too, pleased. apart from bagging three wickets. There were Almost miraculously, only 16 came off the Only 42 came off the first 11 overs, at long-promised carnage: in the last 44 balls of also four for the offspinner Ashley Nurse, in- which point Ireland made their second bowl- their partnership, Hope and Campbell clat- last three overs, and West Indies fell short of cluding one off a dipping offbreak that spun ing change, bringing on McCarthy, their tered 106 runs. Both batsmen began clearing their highest ODI total - achieved just over through the gate to have Barry McCarthy fourth seamer. McCarthy’s first ball was their front leg and flat-batting the ball where two months ago - by eight runs. With the stumped. With the last six wickets adding just a stomach-high full-toss, which Campbell they pleased. Adair went for 21 in the 41st World Cup less than a month away, it’s not a 32, Ireland’s innings only lasted 34.4 overs. flat-batted over the long-off boundary. His over, George Dockrell for 16 in the 42nd, Josh bad time to make your two biggest ODI totals Ireland’s assortment of medium-fast seam third ball drifted onto Hope’s legs, and he Little for 16 in the 45th, Adair for 18 in the in the space of three matches. (cricinfo)

CONCACAF U-17 Championships…

3rd straight loss for Junior Jags Etienne brought up Haiti’s fifth goal in the 43rd, to give his team a commanding lead.

The Guyanese squad had their fair share off attempts, but could not elude the capable hands of the Haitian goalkeeper.

The Guyana Jaguars Under17 squad

T

he Guyana Under 17 National Team are yet to find the right formula for winning, after registering another loss, this time to Haiti, at the IMG Academy in Florida on Sunday morning.

After recording two losses upfront -- to El Salvador and Honduras -- the Guyanese outfit sought to change their approach, and as such, their encounter with Honduras was met with a different starting eleven. Ronaldo Blair, Kevin Reddy, Jermaine Padmore, Joshua Braithwaite, Wayne DaSilva, Nicholai Andrews, Tyrel Khan, Osafa Simpson, Shoran James and Orville Daniels were led by the new captain, Omari Glasgow, into the crucial match against group leaders Haiti.

However, the changes did not reap the desired results, and the local team was beaten by an even greater margin than before.

The dominant Haiti, who defeated both Honduras and El Salvador in Group ‘G’, got their scoring started early, and never really stopped hunting the goal, although they were the clear winners.

A foul inside the box on the part of a Guyanese player paved the way for Haiti’s first attempt at the goal, in the 12th minute.

Michel Pierre took the shot and sank it, bringing the score to 1-0.

An impressive header off the temple of Kervens Jolicoeur in the 21st, which found the Guyanese goalkeeper lagging on the outskirts of the box, was Haiti’s second goal; and Kurowskybob Fertil Pierre followed suit with another header in the 27th, for the third.

A hopeful shot from several yards outside the box found the back of the net for Michel Pierre’s second goal of the game; and More

In the 82nd, Thero Rhinvil successfully converted another penalty for Haiti’s 6-0 win.

Guyana was placed in Group G of the CONCACAF U17 Championships with El Salvador, Haiti and Honduras.

monday, MAY 6, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hope 170, Campbell 179, Windies rewrite ODI world record Hand-in-Hand 3-Day Inter-County tournament…

Page 23

National Youth and Junior Championships

Umrao restricts Essequibo CWSS, Running Brave to 62 as Berbice sit pretty win big on Day 2 Page 22

– Benjamin, Deodat among runs on Day 2 Page 22

Amit Persaud appealing during his 6-wicket haul

GDF’s Leslain Baird winding up his winning throw

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