Guyanatime 1 may 2018

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

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Issue No. 3550

PRICE

Cyber Crimes Bill outrage

Jagdeo urges Guyanese to unite in defence of civil liberties Page 3

…says Govt sneaked sedition clause in behind PPP’s back

Man found guilty of sexually assaulting 9-year-old

Cop shoots self while attempting to hide illegal gun Page 7

Page 10

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

4 injured during Leopold St P9 robbery &10

…as nightclub shooting leaves 1 hospitalised Charges against Govt Ministers

P9

Nullification of charges a “travesty” – Jagdeo ...questions DPP’s double standards

Security guard claims selfdefence in fisherman’s P8 killing

Govt set to return firearms to Indigenous residents P5

Pensioner homeless after Crabwood Creek fire Page 5

Pedestrian dies after being struck by minibus Page 7

Crime Chief "prepared and ready" to accept Top Cop post Page 7

CANU drug bust Taxi driver P14

charged for trafficking 159 lbs ganja

P14 ‘Wrapped’ minibuses still on Police radar – acting Traffic Chief

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

Cyber Crimes Bill outrage

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

Tuesday, May 1 – 05:30h-07:00h and Wednesday, May 2 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, May 1 – 17:00h-18:30h and Wednesday, May 2 – 05:30h-07:00h.

Jagdeo urges Guyanese to unite in defence of civil liberties

…says Govt sneaked sedition clause in behind PPP’s back

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Lightly cloudy skies can be expected to prevail throughout the day and the evening, with light rain showers in the mid-morning, early-afternoon and late-evening hours. Temperatures will range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is denying suggestions that the parliamentary Opposition supported the insertion of the unpopular clause 18 in the Cyber Crimes Bill, noting that the Government inserted the provision behind their

ment we discovered this clause from that meeting, we said we are opposed to this bill. So, the PPP did not approve the bill. The PPP does not support this bill.”

“You can blame us, and you can blame some of our MPs for not attending the meeting with due diligence.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 05:06h and 17:29h reaching maximum heights of 2.77 metres and 2.66 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:04h and 23:15h reaching minimum heights of 0.43 metre and 0.59 metre respectively.

The clause in the Bill that has caused much offence

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

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Clause 18 of the Bill outlines that persons commit an offence of sedition when they “attempt to bring into hatred or excite disaffection towards the Government”.

According to Jagdeo, the purpose of the Bill was to protect Guyanese and their children from the dangers of cyberspace. Instead, he noted, the Bill has been converted by the Government to one that, besides the original purpose, protects its own interests.

“This is another tool available to a Government that is becoming increasingly undemocratic. This is why the entire Guyana must fight to ensure that this retrograde step to charge people for sedition, an archaic offence for what they say, which could cause disaffection.

“This provision has no place in a democratic Guyana. In a Guyana where free speech is an important part of our democracy, where freedom of expression is protected by our Constitution, this has no place in our history.”

Jagdeo admitted that the PPP dropped the ball in exercising due diligence as members of the Special Select Committee that reviewed the Bill. He made it clear that the PPP did not support the inclusion of clause 18 of the Bill and said that the Party’s presence at the Committee stage did not necessarily translate to support.

Jagdeo explained that on April 23, 2018, he asked several of his Members of Parliament (MPs) to compare the Bill with those in other jurisdictions. He had instructed another set of MPs to confer with Internet Service Providers to get their input on the Bill.

“Then I said we will meet later in the week to determine our position. The mo-

You can blame them for that and it will be justified, because we should have been there at the Committee level to fight this inclusion… because the inclusion took place when they were not there…this Government, surreptitiously, in their absence, inserted this undemocratic clause.”

The Bill

Laid in the National Assembly since 2016, the Cyber Crimes Bill had catered for, inter alia: illegal access to a computer system; illegal interception; illegal data interference; illegal acquisition of data; illegal system interference; unauthorised receiving or granting

of access to computer data; computer-related forgery; computer-related fraud; offences affecting critical infrastructure; identity-related offences; child pornography; child luring and violation of privacy among a slew of other offences.

A Special Select Committee had been working on the Bill for the past few years and their report on the Bill was presented recently. That Committee was composed of Attorney General Basil Williams,

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Education Minister Nicolette Henry and parliamentarians Michael Carrington and Audwin Rutherford.

The PPP/Civic was represented by Chief Whip Gail Teixeira and parliamentarians Clement Rohee, Anil Nandlall and Gillian Persaud-Burton.

Government’s explanation for the clause has been to say it falls under national security.

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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

An end to domestic violence

W

ithin the last four months alone, seven women have been killed by their partners in what can only be described as monstrous acts, while three more unfortunate victims were brutalised at the hands of their partners. Recent statistics point to a disturbing reality: incidents of domestic violence by an intimate partner in Guyana rose from 74.8 percent in 2011 to 89 percent in 2017, with females accounting for upward of 80 percent of the victims. The highest number of these crimes occurs in Region Three, Essequibo Coast and Islands; Region Four, Demerara/Mahaica; and Region Six, East Berbice/ Corentyne, which account for roughly three-quarters of the reported incidents of gender-based violence. The majority of the victims are between the ages of 16 and 45 years of age.

The United Nations (UN) statistics show that one in three women around the world experiences violence in her lifetime, often at the hands of someone she knows, loves and trusts. The term ‘violence against women’ means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life” (Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, UN General Assembly, 1993).

In the wake of the country’s most recent occurrences, a top Government official acknowledged that the issue of domestic violence is not something that can just be tackled from a law enforcement perspective; rather, it requires intensified inter-agency collaboration. It was highlighted that many of the issues which lead to domestic violence include socialisation, or the lack of it. Consequently, there was a call for closer collaboration with the religious leaders, educational institutions, and parents, to address the underlying issues. While we acknowledge that this is a step in the right direction, Government also needs to intensify its push to end the scourge by increasing funding for new and existing programmes.

In her statement for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2016, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka highlighted effective interventions, and reiterated that the pandemic of violence against women and girls can end, but it will need commitment and investment, nationally and internationally.

The Women and Gender Equality Commission has also acknowledged that one of the major challenges to efforts to prevent and end violence against women and girls worldwide is financing. As a result, they pointed to the glaring reality that resources for initiatives to prevent and end violence against women and girls are severely lacking.

According to UN Women, when world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, they recognised that ending violence against women and girls was a prerequisite for the achievement of the development agenda.

Goal 5, on gender equality, includes a specific target to end all forms of violence against women, including trafficking, other forms of sexual violence.

Despite this, the body pointed out that the resources dedicated to addressing the issue still do not match the scale of the challenge; it also emphasised that allocating adequate resources to prevent and address violence against women is not only a legal obligation and a moral imperative, but a sound investment too. While we know that women are not the only victims of domestic violence -- men, children, the disabled, and the elderly can also become victims -- we also know that the wealthy as well as the poor can become victims. In fact, domestic violence doesn’t distinguish between victims, nor does it distinguish between perpetrators.

It is clear that, as a society, we need to intensify our focus on changing cultural norms and existing attitudes which promote the acceptance of, and even encourage, violence against women. It is also glaring that the battle will require intensified inter-agency collaboration. While we must acknowledge the work done to address these issues (Sexual, Domestic Violence 2017-2021 action plan, the Ministry of Social Protection’s community based programme etc) an integral part of the fight to eradicate domestic violence is adequate funding.

An intense cricket match is played at the Golden Fleece Community Centre Ground with one of the many rice mills in the county of Essequibo in the background (Akeem Greene photo)

Skeldon Cogen Plant – Is it 20,000t/month or 100,000t/year?

Dear Editor, Reference is made to a news item on April 21st, 2018 in the state’s newspaper, titled “Skeldon Energy seeking local suppliers of biomass”, in relation to a multi-stakeholder meeting held to source 100,000t of biofuel per year for boilers at Skeldon Sugar Factory.

Editor, before I address the subject of fuel type in relation to boiler design, it is quite glaring that Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and Skeldon Energy Inc (SEI) are either confused or are deliberately sending mixed messages to this nation. We recall, in November 2016, GuySuCo’s Chairman likened Skeldon to a “ticking time bomb”. In June 2017, SEI’s Chairman labelled Skeldon Cogen Plant as a “ticking time bomb”, stating that US$2.5 million is required for emergency works and US$17 million is required for longterm corrective works.

Recently, in January 2018, the Prime Minister’s0 Region Six Representative spoke highly of Cogen’s potential while citing the need for US$17 million invest-

ment and biofuel requirement of 20,000t/month, which calculates to 240,000t/ year. Now, in April 2018, we learn from this official a new figure of 100,000t/year.

From these utterances, the PM’s Representative seems confused on what quantity of biofuel is required. Maybe he should clarify how his numbers are derived. Is it 20,000/month or 100,000/year? Also, I urge this official to tell us whether the US$17 million was spent, or whether the time bomb at Skeldon continues to tick.

On the subject of fuel type and boiler design, it is clear that the SEI is seeking suppliers of “paddy shell, rice straws, sawdust, coconut shells and lumber”.

Editor, I fully support a comprehensive biofuel programme for a green economy initiative. However, commonsense tells us that each fuel type has its own unique characteristic, and therefore the equipment used to combust that fuel must be designed for that fuel type.

Fuel characteristics include, but are not limited to: energy value, material

state, consistency, resultant residue, etc. The boilers at Skeldon Cogen Plant were designed to operate with heavy fuel oil and bagasse.

Due to the application of diffusion technology in the juice extraction side at Skeldon factory, the furnaces were equipped with “pinhole” type grates at their bases. This furnace type is highly efficient, as the design requires fuel to be suspended in air during burning. In simple terms, the fuel has to burn completely as it falls into furnace, leaving only residue (ash) to drop to the bottom, where the grate is located. The furnace becomes highly inefficient whenever fuel drops directly onto grate, simply because it blocks or restricts air-flow into the furnace, required for combustion and keeping bagasse particles in suspension. The need for finely prepared (shredded) fuel is therefore a necessity for effective and efficient operation of this design. It is part of the reason why the cane preparation system at Skeldon was equipped with two cane knives and a shredder. Bagasse fuel par-

ticle size is important.

Over the past years, efficient boiler operation at Skeldon has been plagued by poor quality bagasse, largely because of excessive soil in cane, poor cane preparation, and high moisture content.

With the idea of using paddy shell, rice straws, sawdust, coconut shells and lumber at Skeldon, could the SEI team tell us how they intend to prepare these fuel types to the required consistency for suspension burning furnace? Is there any plan to modify the furnace to accommodate this fuel? What about the handling equipment for the various types of fuel? Have we studied the transport cost in relation to fuel bulk densities versus the buying price? How frequently will fuel supplied be tested for its energy value?

Editor, this is an industrial scale undertaking to use varying types of biofuel in a high-pressure boiler, and must be treated as such.

It is not operation of a woodstove or a fire pot for a few hours.

Sincerely, Sookram Persaud

Cannot fool all of the people all of the time Dear Editor, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, is reported by sections of the media on April 26, 2018 to have told the workers of Rusal: “The good news, however, is that the US reduced the sanction on RUSAL after realising that it will also affect thousands of workers, such as the 500 working in Region 10”.

It seems that Minister

Trotman is seeking to outshine his colleague, Minister Ramjattan, who is known to regularly put his foot in his mouth.

To say that the US Government was not aware of the thousands of workers employed by Rusal prior to its imposition of sanctions is downright laughable.

Certainly, a well-endowed nation as the United States would be aware of the ram-

ifications of its sanctions prior to its imposition. It is because of the harshness of those consequences that sanctions were pursued by the Trump Administration in the first place.

Based on several reported instances, it is my view that the re-looking at the sanctions by the US Government has nothing to do with its empathy for Rusal’s workers, whether in

Guyana or elsewhere; but has more to do with implications for US businesses.

As former US President Abraham Lincoln famously said: “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”

Yours faithfully, Patricia Persaud

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News

Pensioner homeless after Crabwood Creek fire S everal persons are now homeless following a fire at Crabwood Creek, Corentyne on Monday. Reports are at about 14:00h smoke was seen emanating from the wooden structure.

This publication was told that the two-bedroom house was occupied by a 75-yearold pensioner who was called ‘Farlong’. The former laborour had been living alone for several years.

Reports are that he was

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GuySuCo unconscionable to its pensioners that the Corporation is imposing on its pensioners, no one should, in any way, discount the financial implications of now going to the banks, some distance away from where the pensioners would normally receive their payments.

For some pensioners, the cost of travelling to the bank really exceeds the sum they receive from GuySuCo. Then we cannot forget the threat of criminality as we exit the banks.

Just weeks ago, the nation would recall the recent shootout between the Police and persons on the seawall, who allegedly were intent on robbing someone who had just concluded business at a bank.

The Corporation should not look only at serving its self-interest, and completely ignore the constraints the pensioners have and would have. It would be wise, in our view, for the GuySuCo to climb down from their perch atop their

also formed and was successful in containing the blaze to the one building.

The firefighters, in the end, handled the situation and prevented injury and the spread of the fire.

An investigation has been launched into the fire, which is of unknown origin.

This is the second fire in Crabwood Creek within a week. On Tuesday last, fire destroyed a sawmill and left in excess of $25 million in damages.

Pirate attack off Suriname leaves 16 missing

The raging fire consuming the Crabwood Creek home

Dear Editor, GuySuCo’s Public Relations Officer, Ms Audreyanna Thomas, in responding to a picketing exercise by the pensioners of the Corporation at the LBI Community Centre, is quoted in sections of the media on April 28, 2018 to have said the company’s moves relate largely to “… an increased security measure for both the corporation and as well as for the pensioners”.

The GAWU finds Ms Thomas’s expressed rationale not only disingenuous, but saying a lot about the Corporation’s concerns for its employees past and present.

To date, dismayingly, the Corporation has not seen it fit to engage the pensioners and to get a better understanding of the real challenges they have in going in the direction the company is foisting on them. Apart from the mental and physical anguish

under the house in a hammock when smoke was seen emanating from the building. The pensioner did not get a chance to save anything.

Meanwhile, in a video posted on social media, members of the Skeldon Fire Service were seen dousing a house next door in a bid to stop the fire from spreading.

Villagers were seen assisting that family in their evacuation bid.

A bucket brigade was

ivory towers to meet with the pensioners, and to listen with a caring ear and an open mind about the several difficulties they would have.

The intransigent attitude adopted by GuySuCo to these retired workers in their twilight years, some of whom have contributed over four (4) decades of their lives to the sugar industry, is unconscionable, to say the least.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

ixteen fishermen are missing and feared dead after pirates raided their boats off the coast of Suriname and forced them to jump overboard, the Associated Press reported on Monday.

The fishermen were part of a group of 20 in four boats who were attacked off the Atlantic coast of Suriname, said Commander Jerry Slijngard of the Surinamese Coast Guard according to the news agency.

It was reported that four men managed to swim to shore and three of them remain hospitalised. They told Police and the Coast Guard that the assailants, suspected of coming from neighbouring Guyana because of their accents, beat them with machetes and forced them to jump into the sea. They said some of the victims had batteries tied to their legs to weigh them down.

According to the Associated Press, Coast Guard and Police ves-

sels, along with members of the Fisheries Collective Association, have searched for the missing men and the pirates since the attack late Friday.

“We are still searching

the area with family members of the fishermen, hoping for a miracle,” Fisheries Collective Association President Mark Lall is quoted as saying.

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Foundation

By Andrew Simmons

By Narcis Marshall

D

o we all begin life on an equal playing field, with a more-orless similar starting package that makes us all masters of our own destiny?

Not quite. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that much of who we are may come from how we started.

Recent research from the areas of human development and neurobiology highlights the importance of early environments, shedding light on the pathways through which early disadvantage can shape health and well-being later in life. These findings make it crucial that we understand the effect of early environments on shaping our wellbeing across the lifespan.

“We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal.”

Although we celebrate these words as central to American ideals, they have been often misinterpreted to assume that we all start off on equal ground, with equal resources, and equal access to a level playing field. But this is a myth.

In fact, the words introducing the US’s Declaration of Independence may prevent us from achieving a true understanding of problems inherent in the national system.

Early environments play an important role in determining how we develop mentally, physically, socially. A growing body of research has tied exposure to neglectful or risky early environments to a wide array of serious, negative outcomes for both mental and physical wellbeing. This work has uncovered links between growing up in a disadvantaged context and things like premature physiological aging, enhanced vulnerability to disease (both acute and chronic), and increased likelihood of early mortality. Yikes.

Recent research But how are risky developmental

contexts linked with poor health outcomes later in life? Recent neurodevelopmental research indicates that our early environments can influence our wellbeing later in life by shaping (1) our neurophysiology and (2) what skills we are able to acquire.

In addition to posing direct threats to our health (eg, by way of physical abuse or neglect), early exposure to adversity can harm our mental and physical well-being by contributing to neurophysiological dysregulation. In order to navigate the threatening and stressful circumstances created by risky early environments, children’s developing physiological and neural systems are put through the wringer as they are forced to repeatedly try and adapt to a high-stakes, high-stress context. This early stress on a person’s biological systems increases the likelihood of neural or physiological dysregulations that, in turn, can contribute to serious consequences down the road and continue to harm individuals long after they have escaped their risky childhood environment.

In addition to its detrimental effects on our neurophysiology, exposure to early life adversity can harm our ability to develop key skills necessary for happiness and health later in life. Children growing up in adverse environments often lack the opportunities, role models, and/or resources needed to learn and develop critical self-regulatory skills. By missing out on these key skills, children may find themselves unable to function successfully in social contexts or to navigate a wide array of stressful events that necessitate adequate coping skills. They may struggle to create and enlist social support, modulate their effect, effectively read social cues, or appropriately handle emotional interpersonal situations – skills which are difficult (if not impossible) to

recoup later in life. As we all know, good social functioning is critical not only to our ability to succeed in life (think job interviews or networking) but also to our broader health and wellbeing (for example, people with stronger social connections are generally healthier and live longer).

Compounding pathway of harm By contributing to neurophysiological dysregulations and harming individuals’ ability to develop critical social and selfregulatory skills, early adversity creates a compounding pathway of harm and risk that affects individuals across the lifespan.

But for some people, this equation may be even worse. Recent research has indicated that some genes may make individuals more reactive (or susceptible) to their environment, social context, and other external developmental inputs. For these individuals, negative early environments can be truly devastating. Perhaps now we can start to see how this whole “created equal” thing might not be nearly so selfevident or so truthful as we had originally hoped.

Before we go ahead and tear up the Declaration of Independence for being woefully un-“woke”, it is important to reflect on the spirit in which those words were written. It is unlikely that the authors truly believed that everyone is born into situations of identical fortune. We should perhaps rephrase their idea for ourselves as, “we hold these truths to be selfevident, that all people are created with inherent equal worth.” With this important reframing, we allow that unequal fortune gives us an unequal opportunity and ability, but emphasise that this does not determine our value as people or how deserving we are of empathy, compassion, and kindness. (psychologytoday.com)

Technology facilitates and normalises it With smartphones and Alexa at their fingertips, today’s students have easy access to quick answers and content they can reproduce for exams and papers. Studies show that technology has made cheating in school easier, more convenient, and harder to catch than ever before.

To Liz Ruff, an English teacher at Garfield High School in Los Angeles, students’ use of social media can erode their understanding of authenticity and intellectual property. Because students are used to reposting images, repurposing memes, and watching parody videos, they “see ownership as nebulous”, she said.

As a result, while they may want to avoid penalties for plagiarism, they may not see it as wrong or even know that they’re doing it.

This confirms what Donald McCabe, a Rutgers University Business School professor, reported in his 2012 book; he found that more than 60 per cent of surveyed students who had cheated considered digital plagiarism to be “trivial” – effectively, students believed it was not actually cheating at all.

Strategies for reducing cheating Even moral students need help acting morally, said Dr Jason M Stephens, who researches academic motivation and moral development in adolescents at the University of Auckland’s School of Learning, Development, and Professional Practice.

According to Stephens, teachers are uniquely positioned to infuse students with a sense of responsibility and help them overcome the rationalisations that enable them to think cheating is OK. Turn down the pressure cooker. Students are less likely to cheat on work in which they feel invested. A multiplechoice assessment tempts would-be cheaters, while a unique, multiphase writing project measuring competencies can make cheating much harder and less enticing. Repetitive homework assignments are also a culprit, according to research, so teachers should look at creating take-home assignments that encourage students to think critically and expand on class discussions.

Teachers could also give students one free pass on a homework assignment each quarter, for example, or let them drop their lowest score on an assignment.

Be thoughtful about your language. Research indicates that using the language of fixed mindsets, like praising children for being smart as opposed to praising them for effort and progress, is both demotivating and increases cheating. When delivering feedback, consider using phrases like “You made really great progress on this paper” or “This is excellent work, but there are still a few areas where you can grow.”

Create student honour councils. Give students the opportunity to enforce honour codes or write their own classroom/school bylaws through honour councils so they can develop a full understanding of how cheating affects themselves and others. At Fredericksburg Academy, high school students elect two Honour Council members per grade. These students teach the Honour Code to fifth graders, who, in turn, explain it to younger elementary school students to help establish a student-driven culture of integrity. Students also write a pledge of authenticity on every assignment. And if there is an honour code transgression, the council gathers to discuss possible consequences.

Use metacognition. Research shows that metacognition, a process sometimes described as “thinking about thinking,” can help students process their motivations, goals, and actions. With my ninth graders, I use a centuries-old resource to discuss moral quandaries: the play Macbeth. Before they meet the infamous Thane of Glamis, they role-play as medical school applicants, soccer players, and politicians, deciding if they’d cheat, injure, or lie to achieve goals. I push students to consider the steps they take to get the outcomes they desire. Why do we tend to act in the ways we do? What will we do to get what we want? And how will doing those things change who we are? Every tragedy is about us, I say, not just, as in Macbeth’s case, about a man who succumbs to “vaulting ambition.”

Bring honesty right into the curriculum. Teachers can weave a discussion of ethical behaviour into curriculum. Ruff and many other teachers have been inspired to teach media literacy to help students understand digital plagiarism and navigate the widespread availability of secondary sources online, using guidance from organisations like Common Sense Media.

There are complicated psychological dynamics at play when students cheat, according to experts and researchers. While enforcing rules and consequences is important, knowing what’s really motivating students to cheat can help you foster integrity in the classroom instead of just penalising the cheating. (Excerpt from edutopia.org)

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Crime Chief “prepared and ready” to accept Top Cop post

C

rime Chief, Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams has expressed confidence in taking up the most senior job within the Guyana Police Force, saying that he is prepared and ready if given the chance to serve as the next Police Commissioner.

Williams told a media conference on Monday that he believed he was qualified and capable. He was responding to questions posed to him by the media.

Williams was one of the eight persons who were recently interviewed for the position, following the retirement of Seelall Persaud.

Crime Chief Paul Williams

“I’m ready for any position. Thirty-one years of

service is long, and I came through the ranks from a constable to Assistant Commissioner of Police.

I’ve walked the ranks, I’ve walked around Divisions, departments, everything, so whatever it is, wherever I’m being placed or whatever challenge comes before me in this Guyana Police Force to serve this nation, I’m prepared for it,” he stated.

Pressed further on whether he wanted to be the next Police Chief, Williams said, “I think among the eight Assistant Commissioners that would be the desire of all of us.”

He nevertheless stat-

ed that “the Commissioner of Police is the President’s choice and whatever God says, that’s it. I’m not worried.”

The others interviewed for the position include: David Ramnarine, Clifton Hicken, Leslie James, Lyndon Alves, Marlon Chapman, Nigel Hoppie, and Maxine Graham.

Ramnarine has been acting in the capacity of the Top Cop for quite some time now, and there has been speculation that he may cop

A

ceived, the minibus bearing registration number BNN 9334, driven by Christopher Pickering, was negotiating a turn when it hit Hussain who was attempting to cross the road.

Eyewitnesses told Guyana Times that the driver of the minibus was proceeding at a fast rate.

Hussain sustained injuries and was rushed to the

Diamond hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the Route 42 minibus claimed that the man suddenly ran onto the roadway and into the path of the minibus. Pickering was taken to the Madewini Police Outpost as traffic ranks continue their investigations.

Govt set to return firearms to Indigenous residents

T

he firearms which were handed over to Police during the “firearm amnesty” in 2015 will soon be returned to indigenous residents.

However, a planned trip to Region Seven to commence the distribution process was thwarted due to inclement weather conditions on Monday.

A team headed by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan that also included Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock and Minister of Public Affairs Dawn Hasting-Williams was on site to depart the Eugene.

F. Correia International Airport on Monday to facilitate the distribution.

The team was to meet with residents of 11 indigenous communities at Chinoweng, Phillipai and Kamarang.

In addition to the firearms, they were also taking along 121 permits to distribute to the residents.

Minister Allicock said persons have trekked from very long distances to meet up at the respective locations either to receive their firearms or their permits to purchase firearm. However, safety remains important.

Of the 140 firearms received from Region Seven indigenous villages during the amnesty of 2015, only

nine were serviceable, and were being returned to the respective owners.

The ministry will be working towards a new date for the distribution.

In 2015 following the launch of Government’s gun amnesty programme, sev-

eral Amerindian farmers had expressed outrage, saying that they were duped by the Public Security Ministry into believing that when they handed in their firearms, they would have been issued with licences.

sidered when deciding on a Police Commissioner.

In so doing, he noted, “You don’t just look at the male ranks in the Police Force; we have female officers as well.

And, therefore, if it is that a female officer is to be the person, then so be it.”

Nevertheless, as mandated by the Constitution, the President will have consultations with the Opposition Leader, on the names for the Top Cop position and the Deputy Commissioners of Police.

Cop shoots self while attempting to hide illegal gun

Pedestrian dies after being A struck by minibus

pedestrian has become the latest road fatality after he was reportedly struck down by a minibus while attempting to cross the Pearl Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Monday.

Dead is 45-yearold Ameer Hussain of Yarrowkabra, LindenSoesdyke Highway.

Based on reports re-

the title.

In November of 2017, when asked whether Williams is likely to take up the mantle, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who was then acting in the capacity of Public Security Minister, offered no direct reply.

Harmon, however, had hinted at the possibility of a female assuming the position of Top Cop when he outlined that while there was a line of succession in the Guyana Police Force, female officers were also to be con-

Police subordinate officer is now hospitalised after he reportedly shot himself while attempting to hide an unlicensed firearm in his pants waist on Monday.

The incident occurred at Whitewater, Region One (Barima-Waini). The offi-

cer, whose identity was not released, was admitted a patient at the Mabaruma Hospital.

Reports are the firearm – which had no serial number – along with five live rounds of ammunition and a spent shell, was retrieved by an Army Lieutenant at the lo-

cation.

The officer and a constable were part of a joint Police-Army patrol in the area. A team of senior detectives attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is expected to travel up to the area to commence investigations.

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tuesDAY, may 1, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Security guard claims selfdefence in fisherman’s killing – to know fate Wednesday

Murder accused: Marlon Callender

M

arlon Callender, who has been on trial for murder for the past several days, led his defence before a 12-member jury at the Demerara High Court on Monday, professing that he acted in self-defence when fisherman Envil Pollard was killed.

Callender made his claims from the prisoner’s dock via an unsworn statement to the court, which meant that he could not be questioned or cross-examined by the prosecution.

The State is contending that the accused man, who was a security guard attached to Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc, murdered Pollard on January 29, 2015 at the Pritipaul Wharf at Mc Doom, Greater Georgetown.

According to reports, the shooting occurred following a confrontation between the two men, during which Pollard allegedly had a knife in his hand. It was also alleged that the deceased man met his demise while fishing in the vicinity.

However, in Callender’s version of events, on the day in question, he received two radio messages from another security officer. Thereafter, he learnt that Pollard was under the wharf and the court heard that Pollard refused to move despite repeated warnings.

Callender then told the jury that he then fired a warning shot, but the fisherman still refused to remove and came onto the wharf, behaving in a disorderly manner.

“He started to curse me and I became afraid for my life and I asked him to move off the wharf; he made a few steps and I fired a shot which resulted in him being shot,” Callender claimed.

“All I was trying to do was protect my self – performing the duty that was given to me. I am sorry for the loss of the deceased’s life,” he added.

The accused man, who then took his seat, bowed his head and appeared to be wiping tears from his eyes, but he never allowed his face to be seen at that

Deceased fisherman: Envil Pollard

point. Despite his emotional display, State Prosecutor

Lisa Cave in her closing address disputed Callender’s account of the events that transpired that day, saying that the evidence presented shows that the fisherman never came onto the wharf.

The State Counsel further argued that Callender intentionally shot Pollard.

The defendant’s attorney, Lammy Singh also presented closing arguments.

The matter was adjourned to Wednesday when presiding Judge Sandhill Kissoon will sum up the matter and put it to the jury for deliberation.

Teen charged for attempted murder over toilet row

Calvin George being escorted by Police following his court appearance

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Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) man who stabbed another following a row over the use of a yard toilet was on Monday charged and later appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Calvin George, 19, is accused of wounding Orin Peters on April 11, 2018 at Kaneville, EBD, with intent to commit murder.

In court on Monday, Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield revealed that the case file was incomplete.

He had no objections to bail being granted, but disclosed that the Virtual Complainant (VC) and George argued over the use of a toilet. He informed the court that George then armed himself with a knife and attacked Peters, stabbing him to his abdomen.

Peters was picked up and rushed to the Diamond hospital. He was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was treated.

The defendant was placed on $200,000 bail on the condition that he lodge his passport. He was also ordered to not make contact with the VC or witnesses, or to cause anyone to do same.

Also as a condition of bail, George is required to report to the Grove Police Station every Friday until the completion of the trial.

The matter was adjourned to May 18, 2018.

Missing history…

O …on violence against women

n Sunday, there was a march against the endemic and escalating wave of violence against women, by the “Stop Violence Movement” (SVM). Now if there’s anything that’s past due in this benighted country, it’s that SOMETHING be done about this national shame. Now while the march wasn’t doing anything DIRECTLY against the violence, it’s important that folks could get themselves motivated to actually come out into the streets on a Sunday afternoon – against something that is so prevalent in our society that it’s been normalised.

Meaning, up to now, for most folks, violence against women is such a regular feature of their experience, it’s seen as “just the way things are”!! It’s like the air we breathe in – we don’t give it much thought, do we??

Even when it’s polluted!! It’s just there. But if our air supply’s actually cut off and we’re blue in the face and gasping for breath, you can be sure we’ll be looking to do something about it!!

So maybe…just maybe, the violence against our womenfolk has gotten so overwhelming folks might just demand some action. Maybe it’s just a fad of the times with all the publicity up north against rape and stuff in the post Weinstein/Cosby era? But what the heck? We’ll have to take the spurt of action and build upon it.

But if we’re to ever root out something so pervasive as violence against women…we have to at least look at the structural reasons that have made it so. And it IS structural since we just accepted “it was always like this” and we know it ain’t genetic. While there can’t be any single reason, we can do worse than start with the very symbolic Cuffy monument where the “SVM” chose to end their march. It began at Parliament Building where our laws are made.

Were the women marchers aware that when Burnham picked Cuffy as our National Hero, his favourite historian, PH Daly, supplied the rationale that was foisted on the nation? When it was pointed out that the revolutionaries had raped the white women after they took over the plantations, Daly explained – to Burnham’s approbation – that it was just a case of “do fuh do nah obeah”!!

According to our eminent historian Alvin O Thompson, Daly wrote of the act of rape: “the derogatory weapon of the triumphant underdog went into action. And thus sex in the Revolution was used penally. And thus the moral defilement of African women by white men for centuries was throbbed back into them, full measure, pressed down, running over and overflowing.”

Your Eyewitness hopes the “SVM” isn’t endorsing the PNC’s notion of “revolutionary rape”!

…on coalition politics

Talking about “domestic violence”, your Eyewitness is reminded about the status of the relationship between the PNC and AFC. We can now – without hyperbole – accept that APNU is PNC by another name, now that the WPA, the only coalition element that had some legitimacy, has been “mannered”!! One retired hurt (Roopnaraine), one thrown out on his ear (Hinds) and one in limbo (Thomas)…and more to come!!

We know the promise by the AFC leadership triumvirate to review the Cummingsburg Accord last Valentine’s Day – as mandated by its own terms – has passed: right after PNC Leader Granger said there was no need for any talks. Now there’s murmuring that the terms under which the AFC will be going into the next LGE joined at the hip with the PNC haven’t been revealed.

Are these folks nuts?? Have they forgotten the “legacy” of the PNC with its first coalition partner – the UF? When D’Aguiar threatened to quit, Burnham let him…and bribed the other MPs to stay with the PNC!!

Trotman’s already been bought!! Who’s next??

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

News

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tuesDAY, may 1, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Charges against Govt Ministers

Nullification of charges a “travesty” – Jagdeo …questions DPP’s double standards

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

D

escribing it as a travesty, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo came out swinging against the nullification of private criminal charges the People’s Progressive Party brought against five sitting Government Ministers.

Making a comparison to the charge of racial incitement he faced in 2015, Jagdeo described the Director of Public Prosecutions’ decision to nix the ones against the

Ministers as a travesty. He noted that back in 2015, there was no Police investigation into his matter yet the DPP did not intervene.

“She was written to and the lawyers pointed out the flaws in the charge. She never responded, never nullified them, and never argued they should have gone to the Police before. And so we had to go through the court system and finally I was vindicated. If you look at the charge itself, how flawed it was, that was a prime case for nullification.

“These charges that are being instituted against several Ministers are serious charges. They deal with large sums of money being squandered or corruptly being given with the direct knowledge and involvement of Ministers.”

Jagdeo questioned the squashing of the charges against the Ministers on the grounds of good governance.

According to the former President, good governance would actually equate to rooting out corruption and either

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack

proving or disproving such claims.

“I would have thought everyone in Guyana, including the DPP, in the cause of good governance would have wanted the people who were so charged to go to court and see if the courts would vindicate or convict them. She argued that the charges didn’t go to the Police and in the cause of good governance, she is withdrawing these charges. What good governance?”

Nightclub shooting leaves 1 hospitalised

A

cosmetologist of Waterloo Street, Georgetown, was injured at City Vibz Night Club, Sussex Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, in the wee hours of Monday.

Stacy Robinson, 39, was in the lower flat of the establishment when a loud explosion was heard.

Guyana Times understands that soon af-

ter, the woman reportedly felt a burning sensation and as she looked, she saw blood in the palm of her left hand. She immediately raised an alarm, and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was admitted.

Her condition is listed as stable. An investigation was launched into the shooting incident, but no arrests were made.

The charges

The DPP had dismissed misconduct charges filed last week against Finance Minister Winston Jordan, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, and Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall as the Attorney, and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Juan Edghill as an applicant.

The charges against the Ministers alleged a breach of the Procurement Act in relation to the expenditure of $906 million in public funds to a private company, Homestretch Development Inc, for construction of the controversial D’Urban Park Project, which has, for some time now, been a contentious issue.

Jordan and Patterson

were jointly charged with misconduct and abuse of public trust for having allegedly authorised the payment, while Dr Roopnaraine, who was a director of the company, was charged with alleged misconduct and the abuse of public trust for having received, in his capacity as director, the $906 million in public funds while serving as Minister.

However, the DPP’s Chambers said in a statement issued late Thursday afternoon that the private criminal charges against Ministers Jordan, Patterson and Roopnaraine, for misconduct in public office contrary to the common law, were discontinued by the DPP under Article 187 (1)(c) of the Constitution.

This was the second set of charges filed by the Opposition that the DPP has thrown out, citing the same reasons. Last week, she also

discontinued charges against Government Ministers Volda Lawrence and Dr George Norton that were filed respectively over the sole-sourcing of more than $600 million in drugs and other pharmaceuticals for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and the rental of a house in Sussex Street, Albouystown, Georgetown to be utilised as a drug bond at a cost of $12 million monthly.

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tuesDAY, may 1, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Man found guilty of sexually 4 injured during Leopold Street robbery A assaulting 9-year-old t least four persons were injured during the commissioning of a robbery at a Superbet location in Leopold Street, Georgetown on Monday.

Reports are three men walked into the establishment, and held the proprietor and a security officer, along with a third person, at gunpoint.

The gunmen demanded that the security guard, who was there to escort the cash, hand over the cash he was carrying at the time. The trio put up resistance and it was at this time the armed men dealt them several blows to their bodies and relieved the

A

s cases of child sexual abuse remain prevalent, another offender, Morris Fernandes, was on Monday found guilty by a majority jury for the offence that was committed between October 1 and October 31, 2016 in the county of Demerara.

The girl was just nine years old at the time of the incident, which involved Fernandes rubbing her vagina. For this, he was indicted by the State for sexual activity with a child under age 16.

The offender was out on bail prior to Monday’s verdict, which was returned after more than two hours of deliberations. The jury was split 10-2 in favour of a guilty verdict, and the jury foreman announced the panel’s decision just before sunset.

Justice Jo-Ann Barlow presided over the trial. Her sentencing was, howev-

Guilty: Morris Fernandes being escorted by Police

er, delayed so as to facilitate a probation report on Fernandes that was requested by his attorney, Lammy Singh.

When Fernandes heard the guilty verdict, he did not show much emotion at first, but later on he appeared to be in disbelief and even attempted to walk out of the prisoner’s dock to engage in conversation with a female

relative. However, Police ranks swiftly prevented him and he was escorted into custody where he was later allowed to speak with family.

The State was represented by Prosecutors Abigail Gibbs and Narissa Leander.

Fernandes was remanded to prison. He will know his fate when the matter concludes on May 15, 2018 at the Sexual Offences Court.

guard of the money which amounted to $89,000.

When contacted, A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) Commander Leslie James told Guyana Times that after relieving the man of the cash, the perpetrators made good their escape.

During their escape, the men discharged several rounds hitting a nearby zinc fence causing the occupants of the house to run for cover.

However, James confirmed that no one was injured in the process and up to press time, the perpetrators were still at large.

Meanwhile, at the scene, the residents told a different

story. One woman, Jacqueline Lagnah, who was shot earlier in the year, told media operatives that the shooting stemmed from an alleged cocaine sale.

She told the media that it was an old grievance which turned sour. According to the woman, it was a matter of “who runs the block” and who must sell at that particular location.

Back in January, the 55-year-old resident was shot twice in the lower back when two men opened fire indiscriminately in the area.

The Police are continuing their investigation into the shooting.

Linden man slapped with attempted murder charge

…after burning reputed wife with hot water

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Linden man who reportedly burnt his reputed wife with hot water was on Monday charged and remanded to prison for the offence of attempted murder.

Leslie Woolford, 41, a cook of Silvertown, Wismar, Linden, appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s

Court, where he was arraigned for the offence committed against his reputed wife, Onika Kingston, 38.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge. Woolford, who was unrepresented in court, was also charged with the offence of damage to property. He will make his next court appearance on May 25, 2018.

It is alleged that Woolford poured hot rice water on his reputed wife during an argument at their Silvertown home last Thursday.

According to Police, Woolford, after committing the act, ran into the Wismar Police Station panting for breath after which he launched into a complaint against the victim. Kingston, a mother of five, remains a patient at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) nursing burn wounds about her body. She reportedly suffered first- and second-degree burns to approximately 28 per cent of her upper body, including her back, chest, and arms.

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12 News

tuesDAY, may 1, 2018 | guyana

New fiscal laws

Mo

PPP expresses worry of central bank power grab F – urges caution, consideration for commercial banks T he series of financial bills that were brought to the floor of the National Assembly by the Government has raised concerns in the parliamentary Opposition camp, as worry mounts that increased requirements can drive up the costs of doing business.

At a press conference on Monday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo expressed worry that these new laws were laying the groundwork for some banks to fold. Here he cited the bad debt portfolios of certain banks.

“When you look at the fineprint of those laws, it gives the central bank greater powers that could harm some of the interests of the commercial banks. Even the deposit insurance scheme the Government wants to put in place, it is now going to assess the banks on a biennial basis, a sum based on the reserve holding that they will have to pay into that fund.

The PPP is expressing worry over the power accruing to the central bank through legislation

“So, now the commercial banks will have a new cost, which could push up interest rates for some people like us, because they have to pay for an insurance scheme. So deposits that are remunerated, they’ll

have to push up interest rates. We have to be cautious,” Jagdeo urged.

At the last sitting of the National Assembly, Government had brought several bills, including a National Payments System Bill,

to the floor. The Bill contains provisions for persons to use “electronic money” through SIM cards and software accepted as a means of payment. There are also provisions for presenting cheques in electronic form.

And then there are the penalties, which range from a fine of $500,000 and two years’ imprisonment when convicted as an individual to a fine of $2 million as a body corporate. Part 12, Section 51 speaks to various offences and penalties designed to keep the payment system running smoothly.

The penalties apply to Sections Seven and Eight (attaining a licence before providing payment system or service). The Act states that banks, as direct participants in the system, do not have to acquire a licence. The same applies for money transfer service providers. However, Section Three (a) adds that they must comply with

all other requirements of the Act. The penalties also apply to Section 13, which prohibits transferring licences, as well as Section 23. Section 23 mandates compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) laws.

In Section 32, operators are also prohibited from outsourcing their services without the bank. In Section 33, they also have to seek approval in order to use agents.

And then there are those who refuse to comply with any order issued by the Bank of Guyana as an administrative measure.

According to Section 50 (4), “a person who fails to comply with an order issued, pay a fine imposed or otherwise comply with administrative measures taken by the Bank in accordance with this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction as specified in Section 51.”

o d e and di be prov form p this ty The by wom of Red sue in lence r over th Spe Monda approa that th still on tives th “T work t als, by tions, d nomen of edu lence. about lot of think t it’s som explain The should where should mestic

News

1, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

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More education needed to reduce domestic violence – activist

ab F

Act. ly to transection liance dering ing of

s are urcing nk. In o seek gents. ho reder isas an

4), “a ith an sed or nistraank in comble on fied in

or Guyana to reduce the incidence of domestic violence, which eventually results in fatalities and disrupted homes, education must be provided at every institution to inform people about the magnitude of this type of abuse.

These were the sentiments shared by women’s rights activist, Joy Marcus, of Red Thread, who addressed this issue in light of the high domestic violence rate, which Guyana has faced over the past few months.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Monday, Marcus noted that a different approach was essential, given the fact that the rate of domestic violence was still on the rise despite many initiatives that were established in the past.

“The thing is that despite a lot of work that has been done by individuals, by Government and by organisations, domestic violence is still a phenomenal project. There is need for a lot of educational work on domestic violence. We think that everybody knows about it, but that’s not really true. A lot of people experiencing this still think today that it’s a norm and that it’s something that has to happen,” she explained.

The activist noted that the issue should be dealt with in the household where young children, especially boys, should be educated on the topic of domestic violence. Thereafter, further

Victims of domestic violence

sensitisation should be done in schools to ensure that moral actions are created.

“In spite of all that has happened, there’s still a lot to be done. We need to look at it from the household. It must be felt from all [of] the institutions that are set up to deal with it – the police station, the court, Social Protection (Ministry), Child Care and Protection Agency, and all the other institutions,” Marcus said.

“As parents, we need to start teaching our children to be respectful of women so that when they grow up, they must understand that these are not acceptable behaviour. I think that once that happens, we should have some more work in the school as well about domestic violence,” she added.

Emphasis was also placed on the fact that many Guyanese were not com-

pletely aware of the Domestic Violence Act, which consists of laws and regulations that specifically focus on domestic violence victims.

“I think one of the main things is that a lot of people still don’t know about the Domestic Violence Act. Persons in domestic violence situations need to be aware that there is more than just a law and what the Police will do in terms of taking actions. They need to know that there is a place that they can go and we need to advocate the Act.” Marcus stated that if people were not aware of the Act, then they were more than likely to return to an abusive household or relationship, which can later prove to be fatal.

Along with increased education in learning institutions, she believes that formal dwellings should be set up

whereby victims can escape threatening situations and restart their lives.

Residents of the communities should also report instances where women are being subjected to violence by their spouses.

“We should have places where victims are able to live on their own and get back on their foot along with counselling and the support that is necessary. A lot of times when you’re in that situation, you can’t even think, especially when you have children. And most of the time, you would put aside yourself and think about the children. They think about where they’re going to go after they leave.

They should be able to know that they can go somewhere, so it’s important to have these institutions established.

“The thing is that we all have to

understand that domestic violence is all of our business and that we cannot wait for it to happen to us before we take action. I think that people in the community should know that if it is happening to a person, it is not just affecting that person but everyone residing there,” she added.

These actions should be made along with the efforts that have been made in the past to reduce domestic violence.

For 2018 so far, it was reported that seven Guyanese women were killed while three were brutalised at the hands of their partners. Most of these cases stemmed from domestic violence.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on addressing the issue had stated that dealing with domestic violence required inter-agency collaboration rather than just law enforcement.

14 News

tuesDAY, may 1, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

‘Wrapped’ minibuses still on Police radar – acting Traffic Chief

W

eeks after over 30 ‘wrapped’ minibuses were pulled in by officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as part of a campaign to tackle buses that breach the traffic laws, it has been revealed that the exercise was still ongoing as part of standard Police procedures.

Speaking with Guyana Times, acting Traffic Chief Ramesh Ashram noted that Police ranks would be on the lookout for these minibuses.

“The Police [are] working normal as usual, but when we catch people with these wraps and things, we take the necessary actions,”

Some of the buses that were pulled over by Police ranks during the campaign

Ashram stated.

As per standard procedures, owners of the vehicles will be given a certain period of time to have their

buses rectified. The colours of the buses will also be checked to verify whether they correspond with the information on the respective

registration forms. Ashram stated that these requirements would determine the span of time that the bus owners are given to make the necessary changes.

In an earlier interview, Ashram explained that the ‘wrap’ is a common trend that was somewhat similar to the process of tinting the vehicles and it was very difficult to remove. A machine applies the design in the form of a ‘wrap’.

A campaign was implemented in March under which buses were pulled over along their routes and upon inspection, the defaulting vehicles were taken to the Brickdam Police Station.

The acting Traffic Chief had estimated that over 30 minibuses were breaching the traffic regulations by possessing these ‘wraps’.

Meanwhile, the drivers

who were pulled over by the Police Officers have related that this affected their livelihood as they would lose money when their vehicles could not work. Citizens who use the buses as a means of transportation also expressed their concern, noting that when the minibuses were not functioning, it was difficult to get from one place to another.

However, the acting Traffic Chief noted that this could be avoided if the traf-

fic rules and regulations are followed. Checks will be made countrywide and drivers will face the necessary consequences if their vehicles are ‘wrapped’ instead of spray-painted.

Following the initial protest by minibus owners/drivers, A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara) Commander, Assistant Commissioner Leslie James had announced that the GPF was easing the clampdown on these buses.

CANU drug bust

Taxi driver charged for trafficking 159 lbs ganja

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Rosignol, East Coast Berbice (ECB) man, who is out on bail on

a possession of 8.1 kilogram (17.8 pounds) of marijuana charge, was on Monday charged and appeared before the court for possession of 72 kg (159 pounds) of cannabis on Sheriff Street, Georgetown.

Thirty-year-old Anthony Carmichael, of Lot 2 Bennette Dam, Rosignol, stood before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and denied the charge put to him.

The charge against him states that on April 16, 2018 at Royal Castle, Sheriff Street, Georgetown, he trafficked 72 kg of cannabis.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford reported to the court that the analysis certificate in the case was still outstanding.

She objected to bail on the grounds that Carmichael was currently on $200,000 bail for a similar offence and was expected to return to court for that matter on May 16, 2018.

The Chief Magistrate remanded Carmichael to prison. The case will continue on May 18, 2018.

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tuesDAY, may 1, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police still to find Shawnette Savory’s body

From left: Women’s rights activist and founder of “Let the Woman Talk”, Dianne Madray, Crime Chief Paul Williams and other senior Police Officers addressing the press on Monday

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lthough the Police have made a breakthrough in the Shawnette Savory case, whereby the lead suspect was recently charged for murder, the woman’s body is still to be recovered.

Crime Chief Paul Williams told a news conference on Monday that the Police still have some searching to do, as they have been told by Davendra

Ramdial, who was charged last Thursday, of several areas where the body could be found.

However, in addition to that, Williams said Ramdial also told Police of the general area on the East Bank of Demerara where he buried Savory. According to the Crime Chief, inclement weather conditions have served as an impediment to the Police.

Although the body is yet to be recovered, the Crime Chief said the case could be considered solved. He did admit that a lag in this case may have been caused by corrupt Police Officers.

His statement was supported by women’s rights activist, Dianne Madray, of “Let the Woman Talk”, who said that the case could have been solved a long while ago, if the Police had treated the matter professionally.

“Shawnette Savory’s case was prevented by persons who intentionally caused this case to lag for almost two years due to their corrupt behaviour and lackadaisical attitude,” she said.

Madray had approached the Crime Chief and had offered to work along with the Police to crack this case. The United Statesbased Guyanese activist has worked on a number of local domestic violence cases.

During a joint press conference, Madray used the opportunity to shower praise

16 months later

$500,000 grocery thief caught, charged

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man, who made off with half of a million dollars’ worth of groceries in 2016 found himself before City Magistrate Judy Latchman after he was finally caught by Police earlier this month.

Michael Boodhoo, 58, of Lot 95 Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara (EBD), denied that on December 23, 2016, at Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, he stole two boxes containing a quantity of food and beverages valued at $500,000, property of Lisa McDonald.

The Police Prosecutor

told the Court that on December 23, 2016, the now dredge owner, who was previously a taxi driver, was hired by the virtual complainant (VC). The woman purchased the goods, loaded the defendant’s taxi and proceeded to Avenue of the Republic.

Upon her arrival there, she began to unload the goods, and while doing so, the woman reportedly went to use the bathroom.

However, when she returned, the defendant, his car and her goods were nowhere to be found.

The matter was reported to the Police, but it was not until last week that the VC saw Boodhoo and pointed him out to the Police.

As such, he was arrested and charged with the offence.

His Attorney, George Thomas, made an application for his client to be granted his pre-trial liberty, noting that he is willing to lodge his passport if necessary and to report to the Police Station.

Boodhoo was released on $160,000 bail. The case will continue on May 14.

on the Crime Chief and his staff in the major crimes unit for what she described as “marvellous” work.

The activist said that domestic violence cases, particularly murders, must be tackled and such cases must be properly investigated by Police. She also raised concerns about the need for more training.

Madray has recommended that Police be trained to deal with cases of sensitive nature. She said this was particularly important, because families always look for closure. She offered to provide as much assistance as she could in this regard to the Police Force.

Meanwhile, the mother of the dead woman said she wanted the body to be found so that she could get closure. “I want them to find her body,” a tearful Dhanrajie Murray told the media on Monday. She also said Ramdial had begged for forgiveness and she was prepared to grant that forgiveness.

Ramdial, called “Duck Man”, 34, of Prospect, East Bank Demerara, was charged with the capital offence of murder on Thursday last and appeared in the

Dhanrajie Murray holding a picture of her daughter, Shawnette Savory, as she pleads with the Police to find her body

Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Savory, 37, disappeared on August 28, 2016 after leaving her apartment at Lot 222 Prospect to pay her electricity bill.

Shortly after her disappearance, the Police issued wanted bulletins for Patrick Bannister and his wife, Ritesha Rahaman. Savory and Rahaman were said to be best friends.

Just after the wanted bulletins were issued, investigators went to the cou-

ple’s home at Belle West and dug up the concrete floor of the one-bedroom shack after they were informed that Savory might have been buried there; however, nothing was found.

Savory was last seen alive by her relatives on August 28, 2016.

At the time of her disappearance, Savory worked at a factory making toilet tissue. It is alleged that she shared a relationship with the man who has now confessed to her murder.

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tuesDAY, may 1, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP salutes resoluteness, dedication, GAWU salutes the workers of Guyana on Labour Day innovativeness of workers

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to extend warmest greetings to all categories of workers and labour leaders throughout the nation, on this the occasion of International Workers’ Day or Labour Day, as it is commonly known here.

This significant day, which celebrates the important resource of human labour, allows for workers to rally in solidarity with each other and to further highlight their invaluable contributions to development to Guyana, as well as highlight their gains and challenges in their quest for advancement.

The contributions of workers, which have been the bedrock towards the many struggles for the betterment of lives of our countrymen and women, sometimes go unheralded. Had it not been for their selfless ef-

forts, it would have become difficult for our achievements over time.

The PPP therefore salutes their resoluteness, dedication, innovativeness and forthrightness; for the hard work and sacrifices they continue to perform and make every day for their families and all the people of our country.

Our Party is not oblivious to the numerous burdens they are now made to carry as a result of the inept management of the national economy and the harsh measures meted out to them. With the implementation of a plethora of new taxes, a contracting economy and rising cost of living, our nation’s workers are now made to experience tremendous difficulties to provide for their families.

This harrowing situation is even more heart-wrenching for the thousands of sugar work-

ers who lost their jobs following the callous closure of some estates. The economic hardships they are now saddled with have led to them being humiliated and an exacerbation of social ills with numerous negative impacts.

As workers march in solidarity on this Labour Day, their plight and that of their compatriots will no doubt be foremost through their voices. The PPP will continue to stand in solidarity with workers in every stratum of our society, and to robustly and fearlessly represent their cause.

The PPP, mindful of the difficulties our workers are now enduring, hopes that in some way, the observances of this May Day will be rewarding.

Once again, best wishes to our workers on this their day.

People’s Progressive Party

PNCR Labour Day Message 2018

T

he People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) joins all Guyanese workers in celebrating Labour Day 2018. This is usually the occasion when the workers of the world and the organisations which represent them take stock of their situations and conditions, and resolve to take strong and determined actions to ensure that their gains are preserved, and that the fight continues for a better future.

On this occasion, the PNCR recognises the critical role that trade unions have played in the political, economic and social

development of the country, and asserts that such a role can only continue if the Trade Union Movement as a whole remains united and protect the interests of the workers of this country.

The Party also admonishes the Trade Union Movement to recognise the current era demands that trade unions must make necessary adjustments to cope with the existing and emerging challenges, so that they can survive and remain relevant.

The PNCR salutes the workers of this nation, as we work together to create a more cohesive and prosperous Guyana, where

all can achieve the promised “good life.” The PNCR asserts that such a society can only come about if the Trade Union Movement as a whole is united and protect the interests of the workers of this country.

The PNC started as a working-class party, and will never give up fighting for the workers.

The PNCR, most of all, remains committed to achieving national unity and building bridges to all communities, organisations and groups which are interested in the well-being of our citizens and the progress of our country.

Solidarity forever!

A

s we celebrate Labour Day 2018, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is pleased to extend militant greetings to all our workers; indeed, to all Guyanese.

Labour Day is one of the few holidays observed internationally, and is always a reminder of those of the working-class who have made invaluable contributions to better workers’ lives. It is also the occasion for the working-class to acknowledge their common objectives and recognize the need for solidarity in their ever-sharpening struggles for a peaceful world and a better life.

Our Union is pleased to take part in this year’s activities, which are being held unitedly by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). The main rally in the city is one of the several activities which have resulted from the improved collaboration and co-operation between the two (2) workers’ bodies. We are optimistic that this positive development in the relations between FITUG and the GTUC will be strengthened in the period ahead.

Labour Day offers another appropriate occasion to express our concerns over some policies being pursued of recent, and their effects on the working people of the country. Here we refer to the uncalled-for cessation of the Education Grant to school children; the removal of subsidies from Old Age pensioners; the significant increases in licences and other fees; the increase in certain taxes, as well as the introduction of new taxes. These and other things should be reviewed with a view to restore those benefits and rescind those measures which will certainly further raise the cost-ofliving.

As we celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of workers, we cannot fail to take note of the state our workers find themselves in today. From the recently released Guyana Labour

Force Survey, we see a very discouraging picture. Apart from telling us that less than half of the working-age population is actually employed, it provided some very worrying statistics concerning youth and female unemployment, and the disparity in earnings between men and women. For us, it is very vexing that notwithstanding a national 40-hour work week, workers are working beyond the stipulated time, which serves to indicate that low rates-of-pay are being offered and the workers must work the extra hours in order to make ends meet.

The report also pointed out that about 50 per cent of those employed work in the informal sector.

The ILO has generally warned that such situations should not be encouraged, as workers tend to be exploited and such precarious forms of employment tend to lend to increased impoverishment. On this score, we were very surprised, and at the same time upset, to learn that 8.8 per cent of public sector employees appear to have an informal job. If this is indeed the reality, it is sad that our Government is encouraging such employment relations, and every step should be taken to formalize the situation.

The Trade Union Movement, indeed, the working-class and other working people, have a number of matters to reflect on, discuss, and seek to resolve.

With the unity being forged, we are optimistic that we can give, in a principled way, the necessary leadership to meet the challenges before us.

The GAWU is sure that, together in our unity, we can overcome obstacles in our way, and the Trade Unions can make a major contribution towards a new day and a better society for our people.

tuesDAY, may 1, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Netanyahu: Iran pursuing “secret nuclear programme”

I

sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Iran of secretly pursuing a nuclear programme amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

Unveiling a shelf full of files purporting to show that Iran is “brazenly lying” when it says it does not have a nuclear programme, Netanyahu gave a special presentation on Monday claiming to present “conclusive” evidence of the “secret programme”.

His presentation came against a backdrop of sustained efforts by the US Administration and its allies at home and in the Middle East to cancel, or at least renegotiate, the 2015 nuclear pact signed between Iran and the US, France, Russia, Germany, China, the UK and the European Union.

“You may well know that Iran’s leaders repeatedly denied ever pursuing nuclear weapons ... well tonight I’m here to tell

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his presentation

you one thing; Iran lied, big time,” Netanyahu said during his presentation.

He claimed that after signing the nuclear deal, Iran intensified its efforts to hide files pertaining to its nuclear programme.

“A few weeks ago, in a great intelligence achievement, Israel obtained half a tonne of the material inside these vaults,” Netanyahu said before proceeding to show “55,000 pages” and another “55,000 files on 183 CDs”.

Before Monday’s an-

nouncement, Netanyahu cancelled a speech in Parliament and convened an emergency meeting of his security Cabinet at Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu has been a leading critic of the agreement, saying it fails to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons capability.

He has also welcomed US President Donald Trump’s pledges to withdraw from the Iran deal if it is not changed. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

Trade tariffs: Deadline looms on US exemption for EU

E

uropean Union (EU) Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom is to hold last-ditch talks with her US counterpart aimed at exempting the 28-nation bloc from President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs.

The EU says it expects a “permanent and unconditional” exemption to replace the temporary measure that ends today.

If that fails, it will launch a series of countermeasures.

Canada, the biggest exporter of steel to the US, also faces tariffs, but talks have been postponed for a week.

17

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday his Government has been in regular contact with the White House on Canada’s temporary exemption to metal tariffs.

“We are optimistic they understand this would be a bad idea for both our economies,” Trudeau said.

Trump imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium in March.

When China was hit, it retaliated with its own duties on US imports such as pork, fruit and wine. Trump responded by calling for further US tariffs.

An estimated 320,000 workers across the EU are employed in the steel industry and the steel association Eurofer says President Trump’s threat of trade tariffs has already led to a steep surge in steel imports into the EU. Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel met Trump on Friday, but no breakthrough was reached.

“For the time being our priority is the ongoing high-level dialogue to secure a permanent exemption,” Malmstrom said, appealing for the EU and US to work together. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

St Vincent Pastor, wife and daughter to serve 4 years after scalding man in “spiritual warfare”

A

magistrate Monday sentenced a pastor, his wife, and daughter to four years in prison after they were found guilty of pouring hot liquid on a man following what they described as a “spiritual warfare” two years ago.

Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett imposed the sentence on Nigel Morgan, his wife Althia, and their 23-year-old daughter, Crystal, following the assault on Cuthbert “Mafia” Victory, which left him with burns to his back, shoulders, chest, and face.

Senior Prosecutor

Adolphus Delplesche had argued that the trio had planned the assault on Victory on April 9, 2016.

A video of the incident, which was widely circulated on social media, showed the older Morgans holding Victory while their daughter pours on him what was later revealed to be a hot liquid.

The video was not tendered in evidence, reportedly because Police did not secure a deposition from the person who did the recording.

In her defence, Crystal Morgan told the court that she was feeling ill and was about to make a cup of tea

when she heard noises that suggested that her parents were under attack.

In their defence, the older Morgans presented themselves as having been under attack by Victory, a 39-yearold construction worker, who had gone to visit a friend who was the Morgans’ neighbour.

But the State’s main witness, Clint Antoine, who was the Morgans’ neighbour at the time of the incident, told the court that the pastor and his wife, had been engaged in an exchange of words with Victory. (Excerpt from

CMC)

350 human trafficking victims rescued in Caribbean and Latin America

N

early 350 victims of human trafficking have been rescued

by Police in 13 Caribbean and Latin American countries.

The Interpol-coordinated Operation Libertad saved men, women and children trafficked abroad and forced into work.

Victims were found working in nightclubs, factories, markets, farms, and mines.

Some worked in spaces “no bigger than coffins”, said Cem Kolcu of Interpol’s human trafficking unit.

Officers arrested 22 people and seized cash, mobile phones, and computers.

The coordinated raids were the result of a two-anda-half year project funded by the Canadian Government, which also trained specialist officers for the team.

Police throughout the Caribbean were involved, including on the Dutch islands of Aruba and Curaçao and the UK’s Turks and Caicos islands, as well as in Brazil and Venezuela.

Operations were directed from Barbados and supported by Interpol command centres in Lyon, France and

The Interpol-coordinated Operation Libertad saved men, women and children trafficked abroad and forced into work

Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires.

Interpol’s Executive Director of Police Services, Tim Morris, told the BBC conditions in Guyana were “particularly horrific”.

There, investigators rescued young women who were forced to work as prostitutes near remote gold mines – locations from which they cannot escape and which are hard for investigators to find.

“Isolated locations make it difficult for officers to avoid detection,” said Diana O’Brien, Guyana’s

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, explaining that often, by the time they can act on intelligence, traffickers have moved their victims.

Meanwhile, bosses at a factory in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines stripped Asian trafficking victims of their passports and forced them into total dependence, taking all their money and means of transport from them.

“To all intents and purposes, you enslave the person,” Morris said. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Syria war: Missile strikes on military Central American migrants from Mexico ‘caravan’ sites “kill pro-Assad fighters”

M

issile strikes on military sites in northern Syria overnight reportedly killed a number of pro-Government fighters, including Iranians.

The Syrian military said facilities in Hama and Aleppo provinces were struck.

It did not say if there were any casualties. But a UK-based monitoring group said four Syrians and 22 foreigners, mostly Iranians, died.

It is not known who was behind the attacks. But Western nations and Israel have previously hit sites in Syria.

Earlier this month, the

Large explosions were reportedly seen coming from a military facility south of Hama

US, UK and France bombed three facilities they said were associated with the Syrian Government’s alleged chemical weapons programme.

Israel is meanwhile alleged to have hit an airbase reportedly serving as

an Iranian drone command centre and containing an advanced Iranian air defence system.

The office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will issue a statement on Monday evening on a “significant

development” regarding the nuclear deal between Western powers and Iran.

Netanyahu has been a staunch opponent of the deal, arguing that it should be “fixed” or scrapped. US President Donald Trump is due to decide on 12 May whether or not to reimpose nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, a move which would put the agreement in jeopardy.

A Syrian military source cited by the official Sana news agency did not identify any specific locations, saying only that the military sites were “exposed... to a new aggression” at 22:30 (19:30 GMT). (Excerpt from BBC News)

camp out on US border

A

bout 150 Central Americans from a “caravan” of migrants in Mexico were camped out early on Monday at the US border, some trapped inside a port of entry between the two countries, as officials barred them from stepping foot on US soil.

Denied passage on Sunday into a pedestrian crossing between Tijuana and San Diego at the San Ysidro port of entry, many of those who had fled El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras hoping for US asylum slept in a square at

the Mexican entrance.

Mexican officials late on Sunday allowed a first group into the walkway, about 50 women, children and transgender people, among the “most vulnerable” of the caravan, organisers said.

But they were stopped between the Mexican and US gates, where US Customs and Border agents would need to ask if they feared going back to their homelands, initiating a lengthy and fraught legal process that could end in deportation or asylum. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, May 1, 2018

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

You are best off observing, listening and formulating a plan that will help you maintain your current position, status and reputation.

Don’t make an announcement that will cause others to talk about you.

Learn from those with more experience and use the information you are given to help you advance.

Understanding the possibilities and putting your own spin on an idea will pay off.

Choose your associates GEMINI (May 21- wisely. How well you are reJune 20) spected will be directly linked to your choice of associates and your honesty and integrity.

Walk away from anyone who is trying to enforce (June 21- changes that you don’t want July 22) to make. You are best off looking inward and focusing on personal improvements.

CANCER

Peanuts

Emotional confusion and LEO inconsistency will leave you (July 23- in a quandary regarding what Aug. 22) to do next. Think twice before you make unwise decisions that could be costly or lead to indulgent behavior.

Calvin and Hobbes

Keep emotions out of any VIRGO deal you are trying to close.

(Aug. 23Being practical and assessSept. 22) ing situations using the right tools will serve you well.

Partnerships can be diffiLIBRA (Sept. 23- cult if someone you are dealOct. 23) ing with isn’t sensitive to the needs of others. Find a diplomatic way to solve the problem.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — QUALMISH (QUALMISH: KWAHM-ish: Suddenly feeling sickish or uneasy.)

Make personal changSAGITTARIUS es that will improve your (Nov. 23current living situation or Dec. 21) bring you closer to a loved one. Gather facts and be prepared to counter anyone trying to meddle in your affairs.

Average mark 16 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 22 or more words in QUALMISH? The list will be published tomorrow.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD — CHOLERA care carol cero char choler choral chorale chore chorea clear

coal cola cole coral core hale haler halo hare heal

hear hero hoar hoer hole hora ocher orache oracle oral

orca lace larch leach lore each earl echo race rale

reach real rhea roach role ache acre aloe arch

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Take a close look at a SCORPIO project or situation that ap(Oct. 24pears to need an adjustment.

Nov. 22) Knowing what you are up against and relying on experience, practicality and facts will bring good results.

solution AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

A unique opportunity will give you access to interesting options that could improve your home life.

Lighten up and show off your sense of humor to gain support.

Concentrate on practical physical improvements that will lift your spirits. Living within your means will give you a sense of accomplishment. Romance will improve your life.

Someone will withhold information, giving you a false sense of hope. Dig deep and find out exactly where you stand before you make promises or personal changes.

tuesDAY, may 1, 2018

“Road to Mecca” A

hailed as building block for basketball

t Saturday evening’s finals, the three-time champions, Bounty Colts, exhibited spectacular form, preventing the experienced Ravens team from playing to the best of their ability.

This fact is an indication of the ever improving skills embedded within the basketball fraternity.

Many of the players have admitted that the 5-year-old ‘Road to Mecca’ competition has provided a platform for them to continue showcasing these skills locally.

Bounty Colts’ Coach Willon Cameron admitted that the quality of the game is dependent upon the team’s game plan, and once that plan is executed, the game is easily won. “I know our game plan was centered around our pace.

We’re a very quick team, and while they’re a quality opponent, they’re very slow. So once we knew that

we could stick to our game plan, it (the win) will come to us, and the shots were a complimentary to that,” Cameron stated.

As if in agreement with Cameron, Raven’s team member Darcel Harris credited the team’s victory to sticking to their plan. “I won’t take anything away from them, tonight they were the better team, they stuck to their plan, and it is by no accident that they are the three-time champions,” he said.

Having such a positive impact on basketball locally, President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) N i g e l Hinds has crushed fears that the championship m a y cease

under different management.

“Let me assure you that once demitting of-

fice, we will have continuation and a good succession plan come 2019. Cause there’s no point in building a house and then abandoning it,” Hinds said.

He assured that even if he is no longer president of the association, the likes of himself and Michael Singh will seek to make sure that the competition is hosted privately.

Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) President Nigel Hinds

Foska Oats fuelling

F

oska Oats continues to fuel the two-time champions, Jamaica Tallawahs this summer at the highly anticipated sixth season of the Hero Caribbean Premier League set to begin August 8, 2018 with the finals being played on September 16, 2018.

Kris Persaud, owner of Jamaica Tallawahs, is excited about the renewed partnership; “We’re happy to reignite the partnership between the Tallawahs and Foska Oats who are coming on as platinum sponsor this season. The gents love having Foska each morning and the brand has been with the franchise from the inception of CPL, so we’re indeed happy that they see it fit to continue their financial support.”

He adds that over the

past six years the partnership with one of Jamaica’s most recognizable family brands has been mutually beneficial; “We believe that both brands are international brands and participation in this CPLT20 tournament will only serve as a platform for the continuity of both brands to grow.”

Meanwhile Advertising and Marketing Manager at Chas E. Ramson, manufacturers of Foska Oats, Kathryn Silvera says Foska Oats continues to be proud of the partnership with the Jamaica Tallawahs; “As founding sponsors of the Jamaica Tallawahs we’re so proud to be on board for the sixth straight year, this year as platinum sponsor.

With all the nutrients and fiber that Foska has to offer, we assist in fuelling the

GCB, Hand-in-Hand U-19 Inter-County…

Final heads to Providence on Friday

A

fter inclement weather had wiped out any possible play in the 50-over final between Berbice and the National Select Under-17 over the past weekend at the Lusignan Community Centre ground, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) moved the match to the National Stadium, Providence.

On Friday, both sides will do battle from 09:00h in what promises to be a keenly contested fixture. Berbice and a National U-17 team have battled and clawed their way through some stiff competition in order to reach the finals. Berbice will rely

Alex Algoo

on their in-form players, the likes of Alex Algoo, Junior Sinclair, Kelvin Umrao, Kevlon Anderson and Kevin Sinclair, among others.

National youth and Windies’ ex U-16 skipper, opener Sachin Singh, and his team of young players have been showing glimpses of something big coming in the near future. The U-17s’ will want much from Singh, Nigel Persaud, Mavendra Dindyal, Andre Seepersaud, Seon Glasgow and Marvin Prashad — all of whom have been making starts, and are capable of winning matches for their team.

Tallawahs

Advertising and Marketing Manager at Chas E Ramson, Kathryn Silvera and Jamaica Tallawahs COO Jefferson Miller

team through all the high energy sixes and fours, and awesome fielding that have

19

helped bring home the trophy twice.”

She adds that Foska

Oats will continue to contribute to the development of the game; “Foska is also

committed to the development of sport, especially cricket as it gives the youth of Jamaica a better outlet to learn and develop not only their bodies but also their minds and helps guide them in the right direction” Tallawahs’ COO, Jeff Miller, is also hopeful that other local companies will also support the team; “The Jamaica Tallawahs welcome other local entities in Jamaica to support the Jamaica Tallawahs as well as the development of cricket in its new and exciting format.

With the quality of the team chosen for 2018 we’re looking forward to a positive tournament with our eyes firmly fixed on taking home the trophy for the third time.” (CPLT20)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, may 1, 2018

Indian Premier League 2018...

Big-hitting Watson, Dhoni put CSK on top S

hane Watson and MS Dhoni smashed brutal half-centuries as Chennai Super Kings went top of the Indian Premier League with a 13-run victory over struggling Delhi Daredevils.

Delhi thrashed Kolkata Knight Riders their first game since Shreyas Iyer replaced Gautam Gambhir, but they were unable to back it up in Pune on Monday and remain bottom.

Watson made a brilliant 78 from only 40 balls and captain Dhoni bludgeoned an unbeaten 51 off 22 deliveries to take the Super Kings up to an imposing 211-4.

The Daredevils never looked like chasing down their target despite the best efforts of Rishabh Pant (79 from 45) and Vijay Shankar (54no off 31) as they fell short on 198-5.

Watson sets the tone, Plunkett taken apart

Trent Boult thought he had dismissed Watson leg before from the first ball of the match when he struck him on the pad, but the third umpire detected an inside edge after Iyer signalled for a review.

Watson found the boundary with a wristy stroke from the next delivery and contin-

ued to motor, Liam Plunkett coming in for some punishing treatment in three wicket-less overs which cost 52 runs.

T h e England paceman's first over went for 20, Watson striking back-toback sixes and Faf du Plessis (33) scooped another maximum in an opening stand of 102 in only 10.5 overs.

Watson nonchalantly hit Plunkett for two more sixes in his next over before doing the same to Rahul Tewatia, reaching 50 in only 25 balls before Amit Mishra ended his swashbuckling knock.

Destructive Dhoni not finished yet

Dhoni has had his doubters but the former India captain proved he is still up there with the best finishers.

The wicketkeeper-batsman raised the roof with five sixes in a breathtaking visit to the crease, putting on 79 with Ambati Rayudu (41 off 24) in just six overs.

Dhoni was dropped by Colin Munro on 31 as he cut loose, taking a particular liking to New Zealand seamer Boult.

Pant and Shankar make a fist of it

Iyer was the star of the show in his first

game as skipper with a magnificent 93 against KKR, but he was run out for only 13 and Delhi were 74-4 when Glenn Maxwell fell cheaply.

Pant and Shankar made a game of it, combining for a partnership of 88 with some high-quality strokes, Dwayne Bravo conceding 43 from only three overs.

An enterprising innings from Pant included four sixes before the impressive Lungi Ngidi removed him in the 18th over.

Shankar took 21 off the penultimate over from Bravo and Ngidi for six to increase the tension in the final over, but the South African kept it tight after that to deny the Daredevils an unlikely win.

Shane Watson lofts over the covers © BCCI

SCOREBOARD

MS Dhoni shapes to play the pull © BCCI

(Sportsmax)

Chennai Super Kings Innings (20 overs maximum) S Watson c Plunkett b Mishra 78 F du Plessis c Boult b Shankar 33 S Raina b Maxwell 1 A Rayudu run out (†Pant/Bou lt) 41 M Dhoni (c) † not out 51 R Jadeja not out 0 Extras (b 1, lb 2, nb 1, w 3) 7 Total (4 wickets; 20 Overs) 211 Did not bat: D Bravo, K Sharma, H Singh, K Asif, L Ngidi Fall of wickets: 1-102 (du Plessis, 10.5 ov), 2-103 (Raina, 11.1 ov), 3-130 (Watson, 13.5 ov), 4-209 (Rayudu, 19.5 ov) Bowling: Boult4-0-48-0, A Khan 4-0-28-0, Tewatia 2-0-23-0, Plunkett 3-0-520, Mishra 4-0-30-1, Shankar 2-0-22-1, Maxwell 1-0-5-1

Delhi Daredevils Innings (target: 212 runs from 20 overs) P Shaw c Jadeja b Asif 9 C Munro c Sharma b Asif 26 S Iyer (c) run out (Watson/†Dhoni) 13 R Pant † c Jadeja b Ngidi 79 G Maxwell b Jadeja 6 V Shankar not out 54 R Tewatia not out 3 Extras (lb 2, w 6) 8 Total (5 wickets; 20 Overs) 198 Did not bat: L Plunkett, A Mishra, A Khan, T Boult Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Shaw, 1.4 ov), 2-46 (Munro, 4.6 ov), 3-64 (Iyer, 6.6 ov), 4-74 (Maxwell, 8.5 ov), 5-162 (Pant, 17.4 ov) Bowling: Ngidi 4-0-26-1 , Asif 3-0-43-2, Watson 2-0-270, Jadeja 4-0-31-1, H Singh 4-0-26-0, Bravo 3-0-43-

“Past, Present and Future” T

football fundraiser rescheduled for today

he highly anticipated ABSAA-NGE Past, Present and Future All-Stars Benefit football matches which were scheduled to take place over the past weekend have been shifted to today, May 1. The matches were postponed because inclement weather over the weekend resulted in the venue being waterlogged.

However, the action is slated to go down at the GFC ground this afternoon. Gates will be opened from 15:00hrs and a meet-and-greet of the players will take place. Food and drinks will also be on sale.

The first of the thrilling matches is expected to start at 16:00hrs. The Future XI Under-20 game will feature Team Jeremy Garrett coming up against Curtez Kellman’s side. At 18:00hrs the ‘Past’ match will go down with the likes of Deon Barnwell and Anthony ‘Lambada’ Stanton. The final game of the night is expected to bring the most action, with Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams’s team facing off with Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson’s team at 19:00hrs.

Organizer Junior Forrester has said the players are ready to

Gregory "Jackie Chan" Richardson

put on a great show for the football fans. “We are looking to fans to come out and support, and fill the football ground to witness over three (3) decades of Guyanese football on one night,” he said.

Admission is set at just $500 and all proceeds are being injected into the Under 19 football tour in July.

PRESENT TEAM: Anthony "Awo" Abrams (Player-Manager), Daniel Wilson, Colin Nelson, Solomon Austin, Vurlon Mills, Kester Jacobs, Trayon Bobb, Andrew Murray, Sheldon Holder, Leon Grumble, Alex Murray, Richie Richard (GK), Dennis Edwards, Kester Dundas, Delon Williams, Jahall Greaves, Elroy George, Simeon Hackett (GK), and Simeon "Shines" Moore.

PRESENT TEAM: Gregory "Jackie Chan" Richardson (Player– Manager), Abassi McPherson, Eon Alleyne, Quincy Adams, Delon Lanferman, Anthony Benfield, Eusi Phillips (Bony Man), Akel Clarke, Jeremy Garrett, Curtez Kellman, Kelsey Benjamin, Cecil Jackman, Delroy Fraser (Jack), Delwin Fraser (Jack Brother),

Curtez Kellman

Selwin Issacs, Keron Solomon, Travis Grant and Jermaine Junor.

FUTURE TEAM: Curtez Kellman (Player-Manager), Sese Norville, Cecil Jackman, Marvin Carter, Simeon Moore, Seon Barrett, Dequan Hercules, Andre Mayers, Omar Brewley, Kareem Knights, Seth Robeiro, Lennox Cort, Hype Williams, Jermaine Garrett, Keith Caines, Shane Luckie and Joel Humphrey FUTURE TEAM: Jeremy Garrett (Player-Manager), Kelsey Benjamin, Jobe Caesar, Chris Macy, Ryan Hackett, Stephan Reynolds, Elroy George, Nickson Robertson, Raushan Ritch, Jermaine Cumberbatch, Sunil Logan, Nicholas McArthur, Shane Haynes, Richard Rayside, Ryan Dowdin, Simeon Hackett- GK, Nehemiah Gomes, Kevin Layne, Josiah Charles.

PAST TEAM’s NOTABLE PLAYERS: Dion Barnwell, Chris Barnwell, Anthony Stanton, Orin Agard, Terrence “Old Head” Lewis, Mortimer Stewart, Gordon Brathwaite, Rawle ‘Overseas’ Jones and many others.

sports

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tuesDAY, may 1, 2018 | www. guyanatimesgy.com

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21

Quiet Storm brewing against defending champs

D

efending champions Dave & Celena All Stars will tackle Quiet Storm in the opening fixture of quarter-final action as play in the Linden segment of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition resumes tonight at the Mackenzie Market Tarmac.

The champs, who started off the defence of their title with a loss, rebounded nicely to reel off two wins in as many matches to book their spot in the last eight, and they’ve shown much improvement over the past two games and will obviously start as favourites to progress.

Quiet Storm, however, has looked clinical in its three previous encounters, and remains unbeaten, topping its group in the process. However, it could find the ‘big’ occasion too much to handle.

The match to follow between NK Ballers and Silver Bullets is too close to call, but a betting man might be tempted to place a wager on the former by virtue of their recent form, finishing unde-

It is really hard to say who will make it to the next round of the competition

feated in their group.

Comprising most of the players from the reigning champions, the Ballers have driven fear into every opponent to date, and should be favoured to advance.

Silver Bullets, who closed out the group stage with a second place finish, is an experienced side and should not be taken lightly.

In the third game, dark horse Assassa Ballers collide with High Rollers, and

this encounter also promises to be a sizzling affair.

In the final quarter-final matchup, veteran ballers Amelia’s Ward Russians go up against another ‘old hand’ in Swag Entertainment; and the rivalry between these two teams has always been keenly contested, so another close encounter is envisaged.

It’s a holiday night, and fans in the Linden community will no doubt be eager

to close the Town Week celebrations with their presence at the most popular venue to host the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ competition in the mining town.

Immediately following the end of quarter-final action is the semi-finals to determine which two teams will vie for the title on Sunday and the available spots in the national playoffs.

Quarterfinals fixtures:

(1)Dave and Celina’s vs Quiet Storm: 19:30h (2)NK Ballers vs Silver Bullets: 20:10h (3)Assassa Ballers vs High Rollers: 20:50h (4)Amelia’s Ward Russians vs Swag Entertainment: 21:30h Semifinals Winner (1) vs Winner (4) -- 22:30h Winner (2) vs Winner (3) -- 23:15h

17 qualify Canal 6 extend dominance for 2nd year

12th Sash Sawh Memorial dominoes competition

for Goodwill Games C

By Jemima Holmes

A

fter scores of swimmers had taken to the National Aquatic Center at Liliendaal to participate in the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) and the Dolphin Speed Swim Club’s team meet and time trials, 17 of Guyana’s most promising young swimmers have emerged successful.

The three-day event gave athletes from clubs across the country a chance to represent Guyana at the annual Goodwill Games slated for August 18.

Thus far, the qualifying swimmers are Aleka Persaud, Raekwon Noel, Ethan Gonsalves, Leon Seaton, Paul Mahaica, Patrice Mahaica, Donna Carter, Daniel M Scott, Antonio Rodrigues, Nathan Jackson, Andrew Jordan, Lian Winter, Daniel Claxton, Joseph Matthews, Sion Jeffers, Sekhel Tzedeq and

Maiya Ifill.

Eleven-year-old Aleka Persaud had a fruitful weekend, qualifying for nine events, including Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly and Individual Medley.

Daniel Scott and Ethan Gonzalves followed closely by qualifying for eight and six events respectively.

Lian Winter will have a shot at her dream of breaking the 50-metre butterfly and backstroke records, after having qualified for both events over the weekend.

Despite qualifying for over ten events, the dominant Leon Seaton and Raekwon Noel will have to sit out of this year’s games, owing to their CARIFTA participation in April of this year.

At last year’s games, Guyana copped the third position -- a feat that had not been achieved in decades. This success is fuelling the determination for this year’s team.

anal 6 emerged winners of the 12th annual Satyadeow ‘Sash’ Sawh Memorial dominoes tournament, played last Sunday at Ernest Shop, Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara.

The tournament, organised and sponsored by Sash Secretariat, saw the eventual champions mark 71 games to win easily from Mixed-up with 64 and the hosts, who trailed on 61.

The victory also marked the second consecutive year for Canal 6, who defeated International 6 and Sash Secretariat at the same venue in 2017.

Canal 6 made their intentions clear from the onset, marking 14 games, with Sash Secretariat behind on 10, while Mixed-up started with a mere four games.

The eventual winners were never challenged thereafter, and romped to an easy win.

Skipper Shivdat Sukhai led from the front with 17 games, while Buddy Prittipaul and Basdeo Persaud supported with 17 and 12 respectively for Canal 6.

O. Ajoda led the way for Mixed-up with the maximum 18 games, while Ramanah made 12.

Doodnauth (14 games) and Vishnu Persaud (13)

were the outstanding players for Sash Secretariat, but saw two of their teammates, B. Dwarka and G. Dwarka, go down lovers’ lane.

The winning and first runner-up trophies plus

der tragic circumstances on April 22, 2006, and a minute’s silence was observed for his passing prior to the commencement of the tournament.

Among those responsi-

Yadram Persaud, elder brother of Daram Persaud of Ariel Enterprise, collects the winning trophy

prizes for the three top players in each team were sponsored by Sash Secretariat, while the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy was added, compliments of Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall. The three top players were Shivdat Sukhai of Canal 6, O. Ajoda of Mixedup, and Doodnauth of Sash Secretariat. Sawh, a former Minister of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock, died un-

ble for the staging of the tournament are United States-based Guyanese Mark Dookhan, who served as driver to the late minister; Sahadeo Mahabali, Vishnu Persaud and Indra Jagmohan. The organisers would also like to take the opportunity to express sincere thanks to the proprietor of Ernest Shop for allowing the venue to host the tournaments over the years.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, may 1, 2018

Trojan to host Arrival Day 60-Mile Cycle Race C

ome Saturday, the roadways of New Amsterdam, Berbice are expected to witness some exciting cycling action, as the Trojan Cycle Club, in partnership with the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA), stages a 60-mile cycle road race in observance of Indian Arrival Day. Action gets underway from 14:30h, and participation is open to all interested cyclists. Cash prizes and trophies will be up for the taking for the first six finishers in the open category, first three in veterans, first four in juniors, and top three in juvenile and female categories. Numerous prime prizes will also be up for grabs.

The Indian High Commissioner to Guyana or a representative from that High Commission is ex-

The exciting rivalry in cycling will resume on Saturday in the county of Berbice

pected to be on hand to witness the proceedings. The Chairman of Region 6, the Mayor of New Amsterdam and other dignitaries are

Gold for Grant-Stuart at Canada’s Para-Cycling road race

also expected.

President of BCCDA, Ryan Crawford, has said the activity is being held to commemorate the day, and is

part of the BCCDA’s effort at giving back to the community.

Andrew ‘Padlock’ Green with a time of 1 hour, 47

minutes and 30 seconds (01: 47; 30s) won this event in 2017. The race then was 50 miles, and commenced at Main & Chapel Streets in

New Amsterdam, proceeded to the then #37 Village turning point on the Corentyne Coast, and returned to the point of origin.

Stephano Husbands, Christopher Griffith, Lear Nunes, Brighton John and Sylvania Innis rounded off the top six positions.

There were eight prime prizes in the race. Green took four, Curtis Dey (three) and Husbands (one).

The juniors saw Brighton John in the winner’s position, followed by Dey and Jason Cameron in second and third respectively.

In the juvenile category, Kerwin Collins was the first to cross the line, ahead of Jonathan Ramsuchit and Jermain Heligar. Nunes, Everald Munday and Ian Jackson took the veterans’ top three positions.

Baksh returns as head of Blairmont cricket

S

Shabeer Baksh (seated third from left) along with Executive Committee and council following elections on Thursday

Para-Cycling gold medallist Walter Grant-Stuart and Coach Wayne Henry celebrate their success in Canada

D

ifferently-abled cyclist Walter Grant Stuart delivered a golden performance on Sunday to win the Union Cycliste International (UCI) C1 Para-Cycling event in Montreal, Canada.

It is understood that Grant-Stuart produced a blinder of a performance to finish ahead of riders from more than 15 countries.

He also won the time-trial but, unfortunately, after being the quickest to complete the 17.6 Km event on

Saturday, he was relegated to fourth place as the organisers stated that GrantStuart has a 100 % stability, and functions. His time for the time-trial was 26 minutes 29.86 seconds, while his time for the road race is still to be announced.

Grant-Stuart lost his right arm in an accident a number of years ago.

He rides the standard bicycle, and has mentioned he dreams of representing Guyana at the Paralympics.

habeer Baksh, a businessman whose résumé includes being a former President of Region Five’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce, former Chairman of Board of Governors of Rosignol Secondary School, and former Assistant Treasurer of the Berbice Cricket Board, was on Thursday (April 26) re-elected President of the Blairmont Centre Cricket Club (BCCC).

Baksh was unchallenged for the post when the club met in the Roy Fredericks Pavilion at the Estate Community Centre.

Additionally, Mohamed Razack, Assistant Field Manager of Blairmont Estate, GuySuCo, was elected Vice President. Razack has served over 15yrs in other non-profitable organizations. Vejai Farhad returned unopposed as Treasurer, and Omesh Prashad will serve as his assistant.

Retired Head Mistress Zolika Ishahack, with 35 years’ experience in education, served in various capacities with woman, children and church, was elected Secretary, and Ameer Rahim will serve as her assistant.

Other council members elected are Anil Sukra, Shizad “Greens Massive” Ali, Jerry Karim, Radesha Persaud, Tony Tageram, Mark Singh and Selena Sipchand.

Baksh expressed his enthusiasm at working with the new executives for a bright and better 2018-2019 period, and mentioned the cricket club work

will not be ignored, as he aims to make the BCCC “the best in Guyana”.

The president also welcomed the female administrations, and mentioned that since its resuscitation in 2010, it’s the first time the council has seen female members The executive and council will meet this Thursday at the same venue, to form various committees and plan the working year 2018-2019.

tuesDAY, may 1, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

23

V-Net Vipers are champions of NOC’s cricket fest

– Boodie cops MVP award

caught sight of Windies newest recruit, Keemo Paul, and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), Kevon Boodie, walking to the middle.

Paul soon fell to Beaton, and it became a dicey contest until Boodie began an assault. The right-hander was at his destructive best, smashing Beaton, who was the mainstay of the attack, to the boundary as he raced to 29 (1x4; 3x6s) from 14 balls; until the Windies pacer got his man.

Picking up the bashing was Kemol Savoury with a quick-fire 22 from 13 balls, which sealed the victory in Trevor Benn was back in cricket action, and certainly worked up some pace

Anthony Adams in his follow-through with Ronsford Beaton at the non-strikers’ end

V

- Net Communications and their Vipers cricket team brought the fireworks to thrill a pleasant audience in the community of Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast by earning the Champion Team title of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) Sports Club Cricket Extravaganza on Saturday.

Initially, it was meant to be a 10/10 slugfest, but overnight rain had placed a damper on the early morning proceedings, and matches were limited to eight and seven overs-a-side affairs.

The damp areas on the pitch were soon dry for play, as former national pacer Trevor Benn orchestrated the old trick of lighting fire on the pitch to dry the patches. After application of a fresh roll of grass, it was simply non-stop action to witness for the many who turned up to catch a glimpse of some Windies and national stars from their county on show.

The final match of the day saw Vipers come against South Essequibo, who had in their arsenal Windies pacer Ronsford Beaton and former national youth opener Royan Fredericks.

South inserted them-

Meanwhile, the Masters match was won by the home team over Reliance.

The event, main purpose of which was to raise funds for the NOC Sports Club, was deemed a success by point

man Anthony Adams.

The organisers extended thanks to Essequibo Cricket Board and Andy Ramnarine for their support, along with that of the South Essequibo Cricket Board.

Nieem Khan was also highlighted for donating 50lbs of chicken, and the many villagers who turned out and left asked that another event of this nature be held soonest.

Lady Jags end CFU Challenge Series winless

A section of the audience which was captivated by the cricket on Saturday at the Golden Fleece ground

selves, and reached 64-4 from 7 overs. They were led by the talented David Williams, who made an 18ball-35, inclusive of a solitary four and 4 sixes. One of those sixes cleared two houses and left the many onlookers in awe at the distance it was carried.

Benn, who seemed to still be in his prime, sent some middle stumps for a walk, to end with 2-13 from 2 overs.

It was then time for the chase, and V- Net’s boss Safraz Sheriffudeen, who through his Satellite Communication company of Delph Street, Campbellville has made significant donations to the proceedings, was certainly on edge. Calming those nerves was when he

5.5 overs with seven wickets still intact.

Earlier, Vipers had defeated Iman Bacchus XI by 32 runs, after posting 102 in 8 overs. Paul started the run-fest with a 9-ball-28 comprising four sixes and one four, while Boodie was again among the runs with a blazing 43 from 26 balls, which brought out all the dancing moves from team mascot Aiden Sheriffudeen.

Captain Parmesh Parsotam top-scored with 13 as his team was restricted to 69-9. Seamer Siddiq Mohamed dented the chase with 2-2 in just one over, while Benn once again worked up a pace and took 2-17.

T

he female national football team commonly called Lady Jags lost to host Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, to end their campaign in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Challenge Series without a victory.

It was a 1-3 defeat at the Ato Bolton Stadium by the host, who are coached by Jamaal Shabbazz, Guyana’s former national men’s coach.

The home side took the lead compliments of Shenika Paul in the 12th minute. The Guyanese equalised in the 64th minute through a penalty conversion, as Mariam El-Masri sealed the shot.

However, the Trinidadians retook the lead via Karyn Forbes in the 75th. The score line was then sealed, as Jonelle Coto netted in the 88th minute to end their group campaign with a perfect record. For the Lady

It was the hosts, Trinidad and Tobago, who led the charge for most of the evening

Jags, their other two results were stalemates against Grenada, which was a scoreless match; and then a 2-2 result against Suriname.

The ladies will now prepare for the CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s qualifier, set to kick off on May 5. For the first round of the regional qualifying tournament, the member associations will be sorted into three groups of five and two groups of four teams.

The final round of Caribbean qualifying will be disputed July 21-29 among the first-round group winners. The top three finishers of the final round will qualify for the October 4-17 championship, being held in the United States.

Additionally, three teams will qualify directly to the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019, plus the fourth-place finisher to an intercontinental playoff.

tuesDAY, may 1, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 23

V-Net Vipers champions of NOC’s cricket fest

– Boodie cops MVP award

Champions! CEO of V-Net Communications, Safraz Sheriffudeen, handing over the winning trophy to Anthony Adams and the other members of V-Net Vipers on Saturday at the Golden Fleece Ground

17 qualify for Goodwill Games Pg 21

Lian Winter

Over 100 young persons took to the pool over the weekend in a bid to qualify for the Goodwill Games in August (file photo)

Aleka Persaud

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