Guyanatimes 9 december 2017

GPF implements video P11 recorded interrogation system Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3417

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, December 9, 2017

PRICE

US$20M oil bonus

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Entire Govt should resign – Jagdeo

Fake GPL worker jailed for fraud P8 Ganja in fowl pen lands man on P12 remand

…Trotman claims money "to pay for border controversy" ...Finance Minister maintains no bonus received Page 2 …TIGI slams Govt on deliberate deception

Woman dressed as Santa invades Parliament

Govt backpedals on 2017 deadline P12 for CJIA expansion …requests additional $5B in 2018 Budget for completion

Page 3

Despite several layers of security at Parliament, a woman dressed as Santa Claus managed to make her way into the Budget debates 2018, ringing a bell as Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo addressed the National Assembly.

In photo, clerk of security along with staff of Parliament attempt to remove the woman from the chambers

Cutlass-wielding bandit shot …after robbing Republic Bank’s security

Page 12

Africanised bees kill P14 Berbice man

P10 Guyana looking to stem local radicalisation – monitoring trends across Caribbean

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saturDAY, december 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

US$20M oil bonus

Entire Govt should resign – Jagdeo …Trotman admits to receiving money for Venezuela-Guyana border controversy

By Lakhram Bhagirat

I

n light of revelations that Government indeed received millions of US dollars in a signing bonus from US oil giant, ExxonMobil, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has called for the resignation of the entire Government after they deceived Guyanese.

On Friday, Guyana Times reported that the Administration was fully aware of receiving the signing bonus granted by the same company, while a request was also made to open an account at the Central Bank to facilitate a deposit.

A missive dated September 20, 2016, which was leaked to this newspaper, and addressed to the Governor of the Bank of Guyana has this subject: “Signing bonus granted by ExxonMobil – Request to

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo during his budget presentation

open bank account”. It shows that Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Hector Butts, had requested that a foreign currency account be opened at the bank in order to receive a deposit in the form of a ‘signing bonus’ to be given by ExxonMobil.

The letter stated, “This account should not be treated as part of the Bank’s reserves. Instead, the proceeds should be held in the currency of the deposit, that is United States dollars, and invested in secured interest-bearing securities.”

During his Budget 2018 presentation, Jagdeo noted the fact that a special account was set up breaches the financial laws of the country, while adding that the monies ought to have been deposited into the account of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) or the Consolidated Fund.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

“What we have here is a major scandal. The Government of Guyana took money, large sums of money, in form of a signing bonus and did not tell the people (and) write to put it into a special account, not paid into the Consolidated Fund or into the GGMC. What if a few years had passed? Then someone can easily, because it is not recorded, can easily drawdown monies from this fund. It is illegal! The entire Government should resign now,” Jagdeo noted.

Jagdeo contended that the funds should have been included in the budget, adding that it was understated by over $4 billion. This, he said, is grounds to call for the withdrawing of the entire 2018 estimates because it translates to being not only fraudulent but also illegal.

While pinpointing various newspaper articles, Jagdeo pointed out that both Natural Resource Minister Raphael Trotman and Finance Minister Winston Jordan, have consistently denied receiving such a bonus on several occasions.

However, the leaked correspondence came from the Finance Ministry and was copied to Trotman.

“If the Minister of Finance knew of this and he deliberately misled this nation in such categorical terms that it is the figment of our imagination, then there must be another motive for trying to hide this money. There must be another motive, Mr Speaker, and I think if he knew and he misled this nation then he should resign,” he said in relation to Jordan.

Jordan had previously stated that such claim of a bonus is ‘a figment of the imagination’ and that there is ‘no agreement for any bonus’, adding that the Government did not request such a bonus.

“Mr Speaker it’s not only the Minister of Finance who knew of this. This letter was copied to the honourable Minister Raphael Trotman, he too should resign. Because they knew of this signing bonus and they categorically, Mr Speaker, denied it and this was since September of 2016 so over a year this country was in the dark,” Jagdeo added.

The Opposition Leader said only a selected few stand to benefit from the oil proceeds under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Administration. He also accused Government Ministers of misleading the nation when they cited legal and sovereign implications for their refusal to release the contract with ExxonMobil.

He claimed the only thing that prevented the coalition Government’s refusal to release the contract was its lack of transparency and

secreted nature. However, the Government has since give in to the pressure and announced that it will release the contract by the end of the year.

Bonus to pay for border controversy

After months of denial, the Natural Resources Minister on Friday told the National Assembly that Government did receive a large sum of money from oil giant ExxonMobil following the signing of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).

Trotman informed that the money is being used to defend Guyana’s territorial integrity in the border controversy with Venezuela.

The Government has been consistently denying receiving the money but a document from the Finance Secretary, Hector Butts, was leaked to the media in which he requested that the Bank of Guyana’s Governor set up a special account to deposit the money.

However, Trotman noted that Government remains strong and unembarrassed while noting that the non-disclosure was to protect citizens.

During his budget presentation, Trotman said the money was received to safeguard from the reoccurrence of the July 2000 incident, where Surinamese military detained a CGX rig operating in Guyana’s territory.

“A certain company, Mr Speaker, handed over a certain sum which I challenge anyone to deny to aid the Government work in defending its rights in any court of law and to advance its diplomatic efforts. So, Mr Speaker, this Government took the advice that was given to the previous Government, we adopted that advice, and yes Mr Speaker, we did work with it to preserve the safety and wellbeing of the people of Guyana and to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country,” the Minister clarified.

“Yes there is a sum and yes Mr Speaker, it is reserved to safeguard this country and in matters of State, certain things have to be done and so they were done under then President Jagdeo and so they will be done under President Granger because the State, Mr Speaker, must be protected,” Trotman added.

He noted that they are not ashamed that the facts are now coming to light; rather he is very much relieved and reiterated that full disclosure of the contract would be made possible later this month.

Trotman also told the House that although Exxon was not obligated to renegotiate the contract once the coalition Government came into office, it was done under better terms. turn to page 7

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saturDAY, december 9, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, December 9 – 10:00h-11:30h and Sunday, December 10 – 11:00h-12:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, December 9 – 09:10h-10:40h and Sunday, December 10 – 10:25h-11:25h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy showers can be expected throughout the day and into the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 08:56h and 21:18h reaching maximum heights of 2.33 metres and 2.34 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:23h and 14:48h reaching minimum heights of 0.75 metre and 0.94 metre respectively.

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Woman dressed as Santa Claus invades Parliament

T

here was a moment of absolute chaos in Parliament on Friday, during Opposition Leader Bharrat Jadgeo’s 2018 Budget presentation, after a woman invaded the Parliament Chambers dressed as Santa Claus, disrupting the proceedings.

However, the chaos lasted for less than a minute, as the woman was bodily removed from the chambers.

The woman was immediately released through the back gate of the Public Buildings. However, this publication was informed that she is now in custody, as Police investigate the incident.

The Clerk of Security at Parliament has since indicated that he is unaware of how the woman got there.

The Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherdel Isaacs, is said to be probing the incident.

Coincidentally, Santa invaded the chambers through the Government’s entrance, a mere couple of minutes after most of the Government’s MPs and officers had left the chambers.

Isaacs said the person came into Parliament properly dressed, but changed clothes in the MPs’ washroom and then entered the Chambers. He said such a situation has never previously occurred, and he notes that it was a serious breach of security.

“It is a matter for the Police. We have the security forces here; they are responsible for security during sittings. They are investigating the incident,” he said.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of the Members of Parliament and everyone else in the chambers, since the woman could have been armed and unleashed havoc.

Since coming into power, the APNU/AFC Administration has increased the barriers around the Public Buildings with the explanation of increasing security. This increase in security measures has also caused chaos for commuters, since many bus parks are displaced during the sittings of the National Assembly.

Guyana Times as recently as Tuesday reported that Christmas shopping in downtown Georgetown has gotten even more hectic, as security

The woman dressed as Santa Claus entering Parliament

measures for the deliberation of Budget 2018 caused much inconvenience for citizens.

An atmosphere of chaos had clouded the city for the past week as these sessions commenced, resulting in the displacement of several bus parks that operate around the Stabroek Market area.

This is as several main roadways in the vicinity of the Parliament Buildings have been closed to civilian traffic to accommodate easy access and facilitate the safety of the Parliamentarians attending these sessions.

In addition, almost all of the bus parks that operate around the Stabroek Market Square and its environs were

moved further up Lombard Street, forcing passengers to walk a fair distance to get buses to take them to their respective destinations.

When Guyana Times visited downtown Georgetown, outraged bus operators and commuters contended that

these changes present major inconvenience to them.

However, despite all these security measures, the woman was still able to invade and disturb the proceedings on Friday, which many viewed as a dangerous breach of security.

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saturDAY, december 9, 2017

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, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Building smart

I

n view of the urgent needs of Caribbean islands affected

by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the CARICOM-UN Highlevel Pledging Conference held in November managed to mobilise a broad partnership to support reconstruction efforts, including through more than US$1.3 billion in pledges and over US$1 billion in loans and debt relief.

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat has reported that support was given from nearly 400 high-level representatives from governments, multilateral and civil society organizations, and the private sector gathered at UN headquarters with the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the CARICOM to help countries “build back better,” as the first climate-resilient countries in the world.

As stated by Caricom Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque, “The magnitude of reconstruction will require significant levels of financing, which we are unable to generate on our own.

Countries are highly indebted, with limited access to financing due to their middle-income status.” The Donor conference, organized by Caricom with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is therefore viewed as a very timely and necessary intervention to help countries get back on track with their developmental aims.

Recovery costs surpass US$5billion, according to the latest needs estimates. In some cases, the impact is 3.5 times countries’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP); for example, in the British Virgin Islands. The principal economic sectors of tourism and agriculture have been significantly affected, according to assessments made public during the conference.

According to Caricom, climate-vulnerable islands were decimated, like Barbuda, the smaller of the two-island state of Antigua and Barbuda; and Dominica, with deep social, economic and environmental impacts. Other severely affected islands were Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands. Haiti and St Kitts and Nevis also suffered damage. St Martin as well as Cuba and the Dominican Republic were impacted, in addition to Puerto Rico.

According to the latest post-Irma assessment, in Barbuda, damages surpassed US$130 million, with recovery needs of over US$220 million. Similarly, the tourism sector, which is crucial for Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, accounting for nearly 60 per cent of GDP, was severely affected, bearing 76 per cent of losses.

Also, in Dominica, Hurricane Maria decimated decades of development gains, impacting over 200 per cent of the island state’s GDP. Poverty levels risk rising above 60 per cent. Nearly 60 per cent of damages relate to housing and transportation infrastructure, with recovery costs estimated at around US$1.3 billion.

The pledges and other forms of support garnered as a result of the donor conference will certainly go a far way in helping the hurricane-ravaged countries recover from such massive damages. However, as the rebuilding process picks up pace, it is crucial that countries “build back better”, to ensure that they are resilient to climatic effects.

It is a fact that the world has become a more dangerous place for its inhabitants, who are becoming more vulnerable to disasters. Natural disasters result in years of development efforts often being wiped out in days, or even minutes; as we have seen in the Caribbean recently.

Here in Guyana, we are seeing a dramatic rise in the construction of buildings and other infrastructure, with most of it occurring in the coastal areas of the country. This is so despite the fact that our entire coastland is threatened whenever it rains excessively, or in cases of extreme high tide; the 2005 floods readily come to mind. One can only hope that the authorities are monitoring the situation to ensure that the appropriate building codes etc are being adhered to.

The lessons to be learnt from what occurred recently in the Caribbean are many. The underlying one is that we must always seek to build smart.

Experts have predicted that more frequent and extreme weather linked to climate change, like hurricanes and severe flooding, will occur more often. While we cannot prevent natural disasters from occurring, we can certainly prepare better, so that the impact is reduced. Surely, the decisions we make today will determine our long-term resilience to natural hazards, and be critical to people’s well-being in the short and long terms.

Students of the Cherished Lambs Day Care Centre were feted by GTT at their Brickdam office on Friday as part of their Christmas activities

Budget 2018: More story behind the numbers Dear Editor, Budget 2018, like other budgets presented by the APNU/AFC Government, lacks economic perspicacity and wit. The main findings are: * Low economic growth: Had our key sectors performed similar to 2014, the economy would have grown by 6.1%, rather than a mere 2.8%. * Erroneous forecast: a year ago, the Hon. Minister stated that a balance of payment surplus of US$20 million would be materialized by the end of 2017. Now, in Budget Speech 2018, that figure has mutated into a US$53.1 million deficit. * Loss of revenues: Export has shrunk by more than US$76.6 million, or Gy$15.4 billion, since 2015.

This loss gets even bigger at US$146 million, or Gy$30 billion, when compared to 2014. Even more worrisome, using the conservative estimates of the Hon. Minister for 2018, projected foreign exchange from the export of sugar and rice is expected to further decline by US$5.8 million and US$17.5 mil-

lion respectively. Had the APNU/AFC not tried to reinvent the wheel, public servants could today have enjoyed a 173% increase in salary with the amount of lost revenue. * Nothing for rice farmers: Rice is expected to contract by some US$18 million, or Gy$3.7 billion in 2018. The question now is: should rice farmers expect less for a bag of paddy in 2018, or is it that the rice deal with Cuba is only for a selected few? * More tax in 2018: The newly proposed countrywide valuation exercise of properties will rake in billions. The last valuation was done some 20 years ago.

Given the massive infrastructural development under the PPP, property value since then has skyrocketed. * Less money for the people: From 2014 to 2017, overall tax has increased by more than 5%. The increase has slashed private consumption from $522 billion in 2014 to $490 billion in 2017. What this tells us is that purchasing power of the people has plummeted

by more than 6.1%, or $32 billion. Evidence of this can be seen in the reduction in import of vehicles by $1.5 billion when compared to 2016. * Wastage of taxpayers’ money: On average, it cost the PPP/C Government $1.3 million in recurrent expenditure to execute $1 million in capital projects. Now, in 2017, this Government is spending $3.3 million, or 66% more, to execute the same $1 million in capital projects. * More job loss: Investment in agriculture, mining and quarrying, and manufacturing have all plummeted by more than $4.4 billion. Overall, private investment fell from $185 billion in 2015 to $163 billion in 2017. * Less money for private investment: Starting from 2015, total budget deficit increased from $9.3 billion to $34.5 billion in 2017, and is expected to increase even further by another $8.7 billion to $43 billion in 2018.

And in 2018, this figure is expected to increase to $34 billion. This means there is

less money for private investment. * Higher exchange rates: In 2012, some 22% of domestic credit was used to finance investments in Guyana.

Fast forward to 2017, under this new administration, that percentage skyrocketed to 78%. Clearly, FDI is in a tailspin. Shortage of foreign resource inflows will put downward pressure on our exchange rate. * High food price: Prices for food, medical and personal cares, and education, recreation and cultural services will increase by 4.5%, 3.4% and 3.6% respectively by end 2017.

When assessed, Budget 2018 is nothing but a chimera that fails to address fundamental issues of wealth generation and expansion.

This budget is again out of touch with reality, and certainly will continue to weaken the macroeconomic foundation, and undermine all social gains that the PPP/C Government took 23 years to build and amass.

Sincerely, Cecil Williams

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saturDAY, december 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

MP dubs Govt’s 2018 fiscal plan ‘checkbox’ budget

…says divestment plan will cripple sugar workers

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he 2018 Budget debate was opened by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Priya Manickchand who wasted no time in reproaching Government for its lack of vision, describing the fiscal plan as a ‘check box’ budget and urged them to state their ideology and philosophy for Guyana.

Manickchand, a former Minister under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government, told the National Assembly that the paper was robotic in laying out a proper programme for the development of Guyana.

She is of the firm view that it does not address the needs of the people.

In addressing some of her concerns about the local economy, the Opposition MP said because of the politically unstable environment, people feel uncomfortable to invest in Guyana. But importantly also, Manickchand said there are several rea-

sons that continue to cause the local economy to perform poorly, which has to do with the Government’s incompetence to strategise.

She argued that the PPP laid a solid foundation to propel the economy to greater heights but accused the current Administration of “dumping years of democratic practices.” Manickchand therefore urged the Government to work with the Opposition to craft and present a stimulus plan. She noted that this is lacking in Budget 2018 and all the previous budgets that were presented by the current Government.

The former Minister noted also that the Government has adopted most of the programmes and projects that were started under the PPP Government which continue to show some progress. However, in a few cases where these programmes have been altered, they are not achieving the goals that

Priya Manickchand during her budget debate presentation

they were created to achieve and this, according to the MP, should be addressed.

Further, she debated that Government seems incapable of properly projecting Guyana’s annual income, noting that this has happened twice last year when they had to make adjustments. Manickchand pointed out that Government had to come back twice and admit to making mistakes on

the projections.

“I want to invite the Government and the Ministers in the Cabinet to consider why it is they might have not seen the expected income they wanted.

I am asking directly, Sir, of the Ministers for them to ponder if perhaps the fact that they declared the country to be bankrupted from the beginning has seen no investments coming here

Animal cruelty by the Police

Dear Editor, It seems like ignoring issues affecting Berbicians is becoming an accepted pattern by those in authority. We are being ignored about the withdrawal of the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo’s) redundancy letters; we have been ignored about economic transformative projects; we have been ignored in our complaints about noise nuisance; and we have even been ignored about our efforts to free the impounded calf at #51 Police Station. I do hope the harrowing tale of this calf will touch the hearts of those in authority!

When a close look is taken at this calf, the eyes speak of pain and agony and the face is heavily streaked with the continuous flow of rivulets of tears. It presents a heartbreaking sight as it hobbles on its broken leg, trying to balance itself as it slowly eats the grass provided. There are laws to deal with stray animals. No owners have surfaced, therefore the calf should have been dealt with as a stray and been auctioned off. Chapter 71:04 of the Laws of Guyana should be applied, since no one has come forward to claim the animal, and no one ever will.

Moreover, according to

pound at the Albion Police Station. Is this the definition of a ‘pound’, according to the laws of Guyana?

Is a pound not supposed to be a building with facilities to make the impounded animals comfortable?

I want those in authority to ponder upon this: By ignoring the show, you’re ignoring the audience who put you there!

One of the dead goats in the Albion Police Station compound

this Act, the officer in charge of the station, who is the legal pound-keeper, can be made criminally liable under Section 12 for neglecting to feed and water the calf. He can be fined and dismissed.

Furthermore, Section 16 stipulates that the animal should be Gazetted and sold after one week. It has been nearly four (4) months since this young calf is in the compound.

It must be borne in mind that no one other that the calf was injured in an accident, and only the car owner’s mirror was broken. Why should the calf be in the compound for such a long period, despite complaints made to the Guyana Society for the Prevention of cruelty to animals?

This animal cruelty is spreading like a plague. On

6th December, two goats tied by ropes died in the com-

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor, Region 6

and therefore no growth,” she added.

Touching on the PPP’s performance in Government, Manickchand said her party delivered development that benefited all groups of citizens and during their leadership poverty was reduced.

She therefore challenged the coalition Government to continue to ensure that poverty is further reduced but noted that the 2018 Budget did not contain any tangible measures to support this reduction.

Crippling sugar workers

Speaking specifically about the plight of sugar workers, most of which will no longer have a job in 2018, the Opposition MP said the coalition Government is ‘crippling’ these workers.

“We failing to give them anything they can do to earn for their families. So it’s like a car, you’re walking out of this Parliament lick you upside down and change your life automatically. The Government is doing that.”

Manickchand argued that the Government’s move is unconscionable especially since they have made no effort to train the affected workers to become employable in any other field. She said, “These are not skilled and educated people that you can get up from one desk job and move to another assuming that those existed

for 2000 people. These are people with special skills, you have to retrain them.”

Reference was also made to President David Granger’s visit to Kenya, as he addressed a United Nations forum and encouraged the gathering that people must be put first before profit. “We don’t need to go to Kenya to hear people before profit, let your actions speak right here in Guyana.

Put the people of the sugar estates first… Aren’t they people or because they aren’t your people?” she questioned. “I want to ask this Government if they feel comfortable knocking off these people because they do not believe these people aren’t theirs. That’s not an insinuation but a clear question.

Answer it!”

The former Human Services Minister has suggested that the Government utilise the money earned from the imposition of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on education to assist the families of those who will be laid off by the end of this year by the Guyana Sugar Corporation. Manickchand said this will help to cushion the effects these soon-tobe unemployed parents face ins ending their children to school, especially in light of the fact that Government had removed the school uniform subsidy.

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

…you don’t need to create a perfect holiday.

You’re already more than enough

By Laura Markham, PhD

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ost of us aspire to give our kids a fairytale holiday. After all, there’s nothing quite like seeing our child’s face shining with joy.

But there’s often a deeper fantasy driving us this time of year. On some level, we hope that a picture-perfect holiday will help make up for those times when we haven’t been ideal parents.

And maybe we even yearn for the perfect holiday to somehow repair those things that left us lonely or hurting from our own childhoods.

Like most unconscious needs, this one fuels a fierce frenzy of activity and drama that’s destined to fail.

We can heal the past, but not by frosting it over with a fantasy holiday for our kids.

Yes, the holidays can be a magical time, and there’s nothing wrong with aspiring to create that. Yes, it is healing to give love to our children. And yes, the more we love, the more we heal ourselves.

But it’s definitely not healing to stay up around the clock buying, decorating, cooking, stressing, gritting our teeth and forcing our family into something that may look good on Instagram, but feels awful because we’re wound way too tight.

Our fantasy of the perfect family holiday can drive us to do more, more, more. But more of what we didn’t need to begin with can’t fill those deep longings. There’s a

“We often don’t feel the wonder and beauty because we’re too busy trying to live up to the ideal in our head... The cost of perfection is that it stresses us out to the point where we no longer enjoy the moment we’re living in.” – Pastor Jon better way.

Acknowledge your own deep longings It’s ok, we all have them. Tell yourself that you deserve that big love and that you’re going to get it by giving it to yourself.

Not with superficial trimmings, but inside your own heart, with real self-acceptance and self-appreciation. Fill your cup with self-nurture of all kinds, and remember there’s no substitute for looking in the mirror and pouring love into your own hungry heart. No, that’s not silly or selfish. It’s the key to unconditional love.

If you can’t love and forgive y o u r s e l f, you can’t let love in from others.

And if you don’t love

yourself, how can you love your child unconditionally?

Ditch the guilt Don’t feel guilty about that present you can’t afford for your child this year. That’s not what your child needs to be happy. Presents can be wonderful, but they aren’t real love, they can’t buy you love, and they don’t actually help your child feel loved on a deep level.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to make up for not being a perfect parent. No one is.

Yo u ’ r e modelling how to be a

graciously imperfect human, and how to apologize and repair, which is what your child needs to grow into a gracious human herself. Just resolve to keep choosing love as often as possible when you’re interacting with your child.

That’s all anyone can do, and it really is enough.

Give your child something better than fantasy Instead of the focus on material things that can never be enough, slow down and focus on connection and meaning with your child. Kids spell LOVE with the letters TIME. Pouring your adoring presence into your child as you share a holiday tradition will do more to fill his cup than a mountain of presents. The tradition can be as complicated as making a gingerbread house or as simple as looking at the candles or the twinkling lights together. Just turn off your phone and be fully present.

Your child will remember this time with you for the rest of her life.

Do some healing It is possible to heal our own childhoods. We start by acknowledging our wounds and understanding that whatever happened was information about them, not about us. We

grieve the perfect childhood we didn’t get, and we love ourselves back to health. The key is to notice the feelings, acknowledge them – and resist acting on them. In other words, when you start to get uncomfortable, don’t pull out your phone or look for a snack.

Just notice the uncomfortable sensation in your body.

Breathe into it. Fill yourself with love. This is like peeling an onion – there may be tears.

But every time you accept your emotions, they begin to loosen and evaporate. You’re bringing light to those old shadows.

Watch them melt away. Over time, you’ll notice that your life has less drama and more love.

Let life be more than enough, just as it is Give yourself permission to let go of perfect. Perfect just gets in the way of love. Real parents get reality holidays, complete with cranky kids, messy kitchens, and moments that move you to tears.

Remember that joy comes from appreciating the wonder in the miraculous moments that are disguised as everyday life. The key is letting go of your need to be perfect and offering emotional generosity every chance you get.

You don’t need to create a perfect holiday. Because you’re already more than enough, just as you are. (psychologytoday.com)

Are you working together? …find compromises and work with your partner for the benefit of your child

By Rick Hanson, PhD

T

he Practice: Parent from the same page.

Why? [Note: This is adapted from Mother Nurture, a book written for mothers – focusing on typical parenting situations and gender differences that are experienced by many, though not all, mothers and fathers, and by parents in same-sex relationships.

Parenting is a complex subject, plus it intertwines with larger issues of gender roles and the long history of mistreatment of women; obviously society should do a better job of supporting families in general and mothers and fathers in particular, but meanwhile there are things they can do for themselves; alas, there is no room for these complexities in these brief JOTs; for my discussion of them, please see Mother Nurture.]

It’s hard to get on the same page since parents often have different values in child rearing and issues of who gets to be right or in charge muddy the water. Yet children get confused when their parents have different approaches and are more likely to play one parent against the other: “But Dad said I could!” And it is disheartening when a partner approaches one of the most important undertakings in life in a way that seems wrongheaded or cavalier.

Minor differences in parenting style are all right.

Besides helping children prepare for a variety of

teachers and (eventually) bosses, complementary approaches can build on each other, like Mom being more of a tender owie-kisser and Dad an exuberant horsieback-ride-giver, so kids get the best of both worlds. But major differences in parenting values or actions are a problem.

How? Take the first steps While it may seem unfair for one partner to make the first move, helping to evoke positive behaviour can reduce his/her reasons for being irked. And there will be a better result by taking steps together. Here’s a buffet of options, focused on the common situations of partners whose parenting styles differ.

Have confidence in the other parent’s fundamental parenting abilities Use encouragement Offer acknowledgement Create space for learning Try not intervening in situations and see what happens instead (unless something truly abusive is occurring) Understand the whole picture before jumping in Don’t micromanage Get a reality check on the actual seriousness of the differences by being clear about the facts Be respectful.

When offering suggestions, be respectful and specific Try to be a model of the reactions that are expected in return (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com) To be continued

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saturDAY, december 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Local content

Guyanese businesses must help themselves – Jordan …tells Private Sector to seek partners, stop waiting on Govt

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overnment is urging local businesses to help themselves by building capacity and actively seeking partnerships with international businesses on their own.

This is according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who, in his closing address on the budget 2018 debates on Friday, said firms want something out of partnerships, and as such, would not simply partner with local businesses.

“We don’t have the technology, finances, capacity.

So how are we going to compete with these (international companies)?” a vehement Finance Minister asked. “All this talk about legislation, legislation, legislation…We have to creep before we walk!”

“If Chinese firms are coming and winning bids, what can we do? These firms are bringing a level of technology that we don’t have. A typical example is the Marriott.

At what stage would the Marriott have been if it was built by a local company?” he asked.

The minister lambasted critics of the draft Local Content Legislation, saying that people are “suddenly

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

waking up”. Jordan also said that the early setting up of the Sovereign Wealth Fund did not mean anything to the Government, as oil production wasn’t expected until 2020.

Joint venture

At a press conference last month, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President, Deodat Indar, had expressed concern over the failure to meaningfully incorporate local content. He had noted that foreign firms

are registering as businesses in Guyana.

Indar had pointed out that foreign businesses do not even seek joint ventures with the companies they meet here. According to the GCCI head, these businesses instead go out and bid for contracts on their own.

“There are businesses that were registered here, and I will tell you this from fact: the law firms in this country, most of them saw an influx of new registration of businesses from foreign companies,” he posited.

The GCCI President observed that the ‘buddying system’ he was advocating was either a JV (joint venture) or an associate arrangement. But he noted that, at the end of the day, the partnership must include skills’ transfer. He gave a few examples, including providing training or even building education facilities.

At the time of the press conference, the GCCI head had recently returned from a fact-finding mission to Canada. He related that, while in Canada, he was able to observe the oil industry in action from a leg-

islative and operational perspective.

Local content

Government had formulated a Draft Local Content Policy which sets out its plan for ensuring that Guyanese develop socio and economic capacity from oil, a finite resource. In the plan, which was seen by this publication, Government has promised to work with stakeholders, including investors and skills development agencies, to design and deliver training programmes.

The document says this training will be for individ-

uals and firms appropriate to the sector’s needs. Among other things, the document promised employment and business opportunities, as well as to implement appropriate legislation.

GCCI, after a review of the document, was not impressed. It has been reported in the media that the GCCI is dissatisfied with the document’s lack of specificity and the policy plaintively stating that few direct and indirect jobs can be derived from the sector.

The GCCI has observed that jobs such as maintenance crewmen, pump men, cooks and riggers are not being done by Guyanese, but

rather by foreigners. The GCCI also noted that the University of Guyana should have been cited in the policy as the body to run courses and certifications for workers in the industry.

The Local Content Plan and what it will do for Guyana has been a burning question since it was announced that oil was found in the Stabroek Block.

Expectations were initially tempered by statements to the effect that few job opportunities would be created by commercial exploitation of this oil find, but the company has since said it would help with Local Content delivery.

Entire Govt should...

About a week ago, Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters at a post-Cabinet press briefing that Government would be funding the legal proceedings from the border controversy.

Relations between Guyana and Venezuela have worsened ever since oil giant ExxonMobil announced in 2015 that it had found oil in Guyana. Venezuela has staunchly been against oil exploration in Guyana’s

Stabroek Block, where ExxonMobil found multiple oil deposits.

In fact, Venezuela’s National Assembly had approved an agreement to reject the oil exploration activities in March 2017.

In 2015, the Government of Guyana requested then UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to take steps toward resolving the controversy. In 2016, because of a stalemate on the matter, the outgoing

from page 2

Ban Ki-moon agreed with his successor, Guterres, to continue to use the Good Offices Process until the end of 2017 as a means of arriving at a settlement.

Guyana is relying on the decision that the border controversy over the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal if not resolved by the end of 2017, that the matter be taken to the International Court of Justice, honouring Guyana’s request.

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Fake GPL worker jailed for fraud

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dward Dodridge, who pretended to be a Guyana Power and Light (GPL) employee to obtain money, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, much to his dismay, when he appeared before Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday.

He pleaded guilty to a charge detailing that between August 9 and 22, 2017 at Cane Grove, Mahaica, East Coast

Demerara, he fraudulently obtained $157,000 when he visited the home of the virtual complainant posing as an employee of the Guyana Power & Light Inc. According to Police Prosecutor Richard Harris, Dodridge visited the virtual complainant’s (VC) Cane Grove home on August 9, whipped out a fake badge with his photo, and informed the VC that he was there to remove her GPL

electricity connection as a result of money she owed the power company.

Dodridge, however, instructed the VC that if she should pay him, he could have the matter settled.

Thus the VC reportedly gave him $30,000.

However, on August 22, accompanied by her sisterin-law, the VC visited the GPL Main Street branch, where the defendant was contacted and given some

$157,000. When the defendant disappeared with the money, the matter was reported to the Brickdam Police Station, and Dodridge was later apprehended and charged with the offence.

After listening to the prosecution’s facts, Magistrate Daly sentenced Dodridge to 12 months in prison, and his entreaties for mercy were all to no avail.

After 5 years

CCJ orders Appeal Court to hear Blairmont Rice Investment case

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ive years after a notice of appeal was filed in the Appeal Court of Guyana, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has refused an application by the Blairmont Rice Investment Inc for special leave to appeal to the CCJ in its appeal against Kayman Sankar Company Ltd, Kayman Sankar Investment Ltd, and Beni Sankar.

The Court of Appeal of Guyana was on Thursday ordered to notify the CCJ of the hearing date no later than December 21, 2017. The CCJ has determined that with the time which has elapsed, the substantive appeal “needs to be heard as expeditiously as possible.”

According to the court’s determination, the dispute between the parties originated when “Blairmont entered into three agreements where the respondents sold them land, equipment and buildings in December 2006”.

CCJ observed that Blairmont made an initial payment towards the purchase, and entered into possession. The court further explained it was

agreed that the remaining amount would be paid in portions at half-yearly intervals.

“There was a term in the agreements that the respondents had the right to repossess the properties if Blairmont failed to make the required payments. When it failed to make those payments, the respondents purported to terminate the agreements, and filed a claim in the High Court of Guyana on 4 April 2011 in order to obtain a declaration that they had terminated the agreements and to recover possession of the properties,” a section of a release by CCJ noted on Thursday.

The CCJ also observed that in a motion filed in the Court of Appeal of Guyana on February 9, 2017, Blairmont, the applicant, alleged that it

sought an order for the matter to be returned to the High Court of Guyana for retrial, because in its view, “the trial judge had failed to provide written reasons for his decisions before retiring from office”.

According to the Caribbean Court, in its application, the company alleged that the Court of Appeal of Guyana “had refused its request, and instead ordered that the Record of Appeal be settled and that the appeal should proceed.

In refusing the application for special leave, the CCJ ordered that the hearing to determine Blairmont’s substantive appeal was deemed fit for urgent hearing by Guyana’s Court of Appeal.”

The CCJ further said it “rejected Blairmont’s appli-

cation for special leave because they did not seek an order for retrial in the motion filed on 9 February 2017, but actually sought to progress Blairmont’s substantive appeal by having the Court of Appeal hear the appeal in the light of the availability of the pleadings, exhibits, affidavits, the trial judge’s notes of evidence, and his detailed order, despite the absence of any written reasons for his decision.”

The applicant’s Notice of Appeal was filed on April 17, 2012 and the matter is yet to be concluded. The CCJ therefore awarded basic costs to the respondent. Since the appeal case was filed, Kayman Sankar passed away some three ago; Beni Sankar is his son.

Taxi driver’s murder

Niece breaks down on stand, recalls identifying body

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nastasia Persaud, the niece of murdered Pegasus Hotel taxi driver Rubranauth Jeeboo, testified before Justice Brassington Reynolds as the Lorenzo Forde murder trial continued at the High Court in Georgetown.

Persaud, who had to take a few moments to compose herself during her testimony, told the court that at the time of her uncle’s December 2013 killing, she resided with him and other relatives at their Lot 215 Delph Street, Campbellville, Georgetown home.

On Wednesday, the witness confirmed that her uncle had 2 Toyota model yellow cars – a Carina and an Allion. She told the court that he used the Carina to drive to work around the time of his demise, and the Allion was parked in the Pegasus compound. The witness told the court that Jeeboo used both cars to ply his trade as a taxi driver. She also noted that his working hours were irregular and dependent on

Accused: Lorenzo Forde

requests from the hotel and customers.

Jeeboo’s niece further indicated that she and other family members would call her uncle via telephone every three hours.

The jury heard that at about 08:15 hrs on December 27, 2013, while at home, she saw her uncle getting ready to leave the residence for work, wearing a light blue shirt jack, dark blue pants, a pair of black socks and black shoes. She also recalled that

on December 28 at 03:45h, she was at home with her mother and other relatives when she called her uncle, but his phone was off.

“I called the hotel and spoke to two of his colleagues, but got no positive response,” Persaud indicated. She told the court that after making further calls to his colleagues at the airport, she became anxious and worried.

The witness said that between the pre-dawn and the early daylight hours, she and her mother checked various hospitals to see if the taxi driver was involved in an accident.

“When I got home I saw three gentlemen, who introduced themselves as Police officers,” she noted.

The court heard that she later accompanied the Policemen to the Lyken Funeral Home, where she identified her uncle’s body.

In tears, Persaud also recalled seeing her uncle’s clothes torn, with blood on his shirt jack and one side shoe missing. The witness

broke down, and was offered some moments to compose herself before continuing her testimony, when she later noted that she identified her uncle’s Allion motorcar, which contained black dust on it and the taxi service logo was torn off.

Also testifying on Wednesday was Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh.

The Pegasus Hotel taxi driver was found in a heap of garbage at Caneview Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. The accused, Lorenzo Forde, was just 18 when he was charged with the taxi driver’s murder.

The Prosecution contends that between December 27 and 28, 2013, he murdered Jeeboo in the course or furtherance of a robbery.

Forde is represented by attorneys Hewley Griffith and Rachael Bakker, while State counsels Lisa Cave, Shawnette Austin and Tiffini Lyken are presenting the prosecution’s case.

I am not a…

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…a Chatree n the US, one phrase uttered over national TV at a crucial juncture came to signal the essence of what Richard Nixon was all about: “I am not a crook!” He, of course, had impeachment proceedings started against him for lying about his knowledge of the Watergate break-in, and he resigned before he could be thrown out from the office of the President of the USA. He was disgraced.

In Guyana, it appears like Education Minister Nicolette Henry will become (in)famous for claiming in the (postBroomes not-so-hallowed) chamber of the Parliament, “I am not a Chatree. So I may not know when there is Diwali or Phagwah, but I do know what it takes to improve the education sector.” As to whether she would resign! -like “tricky Dick” Nixon -- will depend on how her party - the PNC - views her studied ignorance of the culture of Indian Guyanese. This ignorance evidently compels her to become a serial insulter of Indian Guyanese in general, and Hindus in particular.

It’s clear that the fall-out from her first faux pas did not matter in the least to the PNC, even though they boast about acknowledging “multi-culturalism” by introducing two Hindu and two Muslim commemorative events to the list of National Public Holidays. Including the two Minister Henry could not tell apart! And so it was, a MINISTER OF CULTURE - at an event hosted by her Ministry to commemorate Phagwah, couldn’t tell the difference between Phagwah - the exuberant festival of water and colours, and Diwali- the serene festival of lights!!

The faux pas committed earlier this year should’ve raised alarm bells in the PNC - at the least - about alienating a significant voting block. Imagine the contempt on display to not even take the time to be briefed on a speech she had to make. What does it matter, and why should she bother, she implied scornfully, THEIR festivals are all the same, aren’t they?

The Minister of “Social Cohesion”, Norton, suggested weakly at the Phagwah boo-boo that Henry should apologise. She never did. Instead, the President PROMOTED her to the senior Cabinet position of Minister of Education!!

Yep - you heard that right! - promoted to EDUCATE our nation’s “multicultural” children to develop respect for each other!! The PNC’s view on this ethnocentric insult was reaffirmed by every one of the MPs - including those from the AFC - when they all cheered lustily and banged their desks at Henry’s jibe at Hindus. Including the Minister of Social Cohesion!

The PNC’s slogan will be “I am not a Chatree: and still return in 2020! It’s already in the bag! …my brothers’ keeper The AFC keeps speaking with their forked tongue, desperately struggling to keep their perks in the Government they elected on the backs of their supporters in Berbice. To whom they insisted the “good life” would also be theirs. From one fork of their tongue, they agreed with the notices of dismissal to the sugar workers of Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon. From the other, they express “serious concerns” about what lies ahead, and want options for them.

Are these jokers Nagamootoo and Ramjattan for real?

The estates are to be SOLD! Boat done gone a falls! They’ve been placed in the hands of a SPU. Where was the AFC when their AFC (?) Minister was presenting his “state paper”?? The workers are at the mercy of whoever will purchase those estates. The (AFC?) Minister of Agri clearly outlined the reason for their inhuman conduct towards the sugar workers: they want to separate them from GAWU. So whichever entity takes over, they “can do what they want with them”! Massa day return!! …foolish Finance Minister Jordan was criticised for being absent during the Budget debate. Why?? If YOU prepared a budget as bland as Jordan’s, would you want to be there when it’s torn apart?

What’s to be proud about?

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

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saturDAY, december 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

US$20M oil bonus

TIGI slams Govt for deliberate deception …as Finance Minister maintains no bonus received

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ransparency and anti-corruption advocates are up in arms over revelations that Government had moved to open a secret account with the Bank of Guyana (BoG) to facilitate receipt of a signing bonus from ExxonMobil after claiming ignorance of this very bonus.

According to the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. (TIGI), the coalition, while on the Opposition benches, had been vociferous about the transparent management of state finances. Now that it has formed the Government, it is failing to show that it can accountably manage oil resources.

The TIGI on Friday lashed out at the Government for the way it had handled this bonus issue, saying that ever since Christopher Ram’s revelation that the coalition Government had extracted a signature bonus of US$20 million from ExxonMobil for the renegotiated contract, there has been a combination of avoiding the question, silence on the matter, and outright contradiction of the assertion by various officials.

“Confirmation that a signing bonus was indeed negotiated and that the Bank of Guyana was asked to create an account to receive it is a shock to anti-corruption advocates and to Guyana as a whole”, TIGI has said.

On September 26 last,

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Christopher Ram had questioned Minister Raphael Trotman’s signing of a new agreement with ExxonMobil.

He followed this with the assertion that a signing bonus of US$20 million had been paid to the Government, and asserted that this was the real reason behind the renegotiated contract.

By then, the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, had been asked whether a signature bonus was paid, but he provided no direct answer. He, however, indicated that the new contract was not much different from the previous one.

TIGI noted that Finance Minister Winston Jordan had also been asked about the signing bonus, and he had responded that there was “no agreement for any bonus”; and further, he had indicated the assertion was a

“figment of the imagination.”

“There is now proof that there was a signature bonus, and furthermore, that the Government had acted on it more than a year ago, before the recorded comments were made. On top of this discovery that a signing bonus was secured, there are the matters of how it has been, and is being, handled, and whether this explains the secrecy and falsehood in which it was shrouded,” the TIGI said on Friday.

The APNU/AFC coalition Government, TIGI says, is therefore well aware of the law governing the Consolidated Fund, and about what moneys should be deposited there.

“The move to set up a separate account to receive the signature bonus therefore appears as a move to avoid accountability. Was the idea to use this new account to initiate a Sovereign Wealth Fund? If so, can we expect that the appropriate legislation will follow?”

TIGI has asked.

According to TIGI, not only has the Government failed to hanle with transparency matters related to oil, it appears to have deliberately engaged in deception in relation to the signature bonus.

“We don’t care” Meanwhile, Finance Minister Winston Jordan was nonchalant about the leaked correspondence.

During his contribution to

the 2018 budget debates on Friday, Jordan in fact said the Government “doesn’t care” that the matter is now in the open.

Dealing with Government’s consistent denial of any knowledge of the bonus, Jordan said ill-directed questions were put to him by the media, and he was not obliged to provide information he was not asked about. Jordan said he subsequently checked, and the Government has not received any bonus from ExxonMobil.

The leaked correspondence in question was dated September 20, 2016 and addressed to the Governor of the Bank of Guyana with this subject: “Signing bonus granted by ExxonMobil – Request to open bank account”.

It shows that Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Hector Butts, has requested that a foreign currency account be opened at the Bank in order to receive a deposit in the form of a ‘signing bonus’ to be given

by ExxonMobil.

The letter stated, “This account should not be treated as part of the Bank’s reserves. Instead, the proceeds should be held in the currency of the deposit; that is, United States dollars, and invested in secured interest-bearing securities.”

The missive also listed the signatories to the account: Hector Butts,

The letter requesting the opening of a bank account for the US$20 million bonus

Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry; Louise Bouyea, Deputy Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry; Jawahar Persaud, Accountant General (Acting) at the Finance Ministry; and Jennifer Chapman, Deputy Accountant General at the Finance Ministry. The letter was also copied to Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman.

At a press conference held

two weeks ago, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo demanded that Government come clean on this signing bonus, stating that he could ‘reasonably confirm’ that it was true, especially since members of Government have neither confirmed nor denied the allegation when confronted.

He also queried the whereabouts of the money.

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Guyana looking to stem local radicalisation – monitoring trends across Caribbean

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iven Guyana’s history of links to acts of terrorism, local security forces are looking to stem any further radicalisation coming out of this country, and as such, are joining forces with partners in the Western Hemisphere.

This is according to Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Patrick West, who told a media roundtable on Thursday that efforts are afoot for the continued monitoring of such activities on the local shores. He added that at the same time, focus is placed on trends of extremist links with Guyana’s close allies in the Caribbean region.

“Trust me, as I speak today, we are doing everything in our power to ensure that we stem the tide of radicalisation in Guyana, and that if there are any issues of fighters returning to the region through the process of IMPACS, we are monitor-

ing their movements across the Caribbean, and the information-sharing networks that we have across the Caribbean that we have rekindled in this conference are still going to be monitoring them,” Brigadier West said in response to questions posed by the Guyana Times.

The round-table was held at the end of the 16th Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC).

Guyana hosted the twoday forum, which looked at, among other things, threats posed by radical extremists and those returning to the region.

Without venturing into the specifics of the strategy adopted to tackle the scourge, the Chief-of-Staff asserted the military intelligence networking that has been strengthened over the past two days would go a long way in preventing any radicalising into extremist ideologues.

“We continue to monitor

from the security architecture the persons who may be exposed to any forms of radicalisation; and once those persons have been identified, in whatever area or community, the security architecture will continue to monitor them,” he stated.

In the past, Guyana has often found itself in the midst of various terrorism-related controversies. Back in 2007, a former Member of Parliament in Guyana, Abdul Kadir, was among the four Muslim terrorists who were intercepted during the plot to firebomb the John F. Kennedy Airport.

In December 2014, the Pakistan military killed leading Al Qaeda militant Shukrijumah, who was said to be of Guyanese parentage.

Shukrijumah was wanted by the United States over a 2009 plot to attack the New York subway system, and was on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s)

GDF Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Patrick West and SOUTHCOM Chief Admiral Kurt Tidd during the brief round-table with media operatives

most wanted list.

Nevertheless, Brigadier West noted that local authorities are concerned with recent trends in other Caribbean states, given the close ties Guyana has with them. He referred to the situation in Trinidad and Tobago, where citizens are returning after Islamic State (ISIS) lost ground in the Middle East. It was reported earlier this year that the twin island republic is said to be largest recruitment source of ISIS per capita in the Western

Hemisphere.

The Chief-of Staff further mentioned recent reports out of Jamaica, where a Muslim cleric, Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal, was labelled a global terrorist by the United States Treasury because he was reportedly facilitating ISIS recruits from the region to travel to radicalised areas. The U.S. has since asked for his extradition.

Moreover, the Chief of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which sponsored the regional security conference, Admiral Kurt Tidd, posited that bringing together the security chiefs from all the countries has serve to reinforce how similar the challenges are that are faced by countries in the western hemisphere are. To this end, he emphasised the importance of networking with each other against the scourge of radicalisation.

“The means that are available to each country differs, and so as we exchange ideas, best practices – things that we can do to work together more effectively. (But) most import-

ant is our commitment to continue to share information effectively, because ultimately that is the competitive advantage we have over threat networks -- our ability to come together to work together as team mates,” he stated.

Admiral Tidd went on to outline that radicalisation has evolved over the years, with such acts occurring in surprising ways. This, he noted, is partly because of the readily available information on the internet.

GDF Chief-of-Staff Brigadier West had pointed out that Guyana’s geographical position on the South American Coast and its historical placement in the Caribbean has made the country vulnerable to not only radicalisation, but other illegal activities that are plaguing the region. But in the same vein, however, he noted that this connection to the two regions can serve as a bridge for cooperation in the context of linking networks to mitigate against the threats that are posed by organised criminal activities.

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Kescia Branche’s murder

No link between security guard, teacher’s deaths – Police

Dead security guard: Norbert Lamazon

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uestions remain unanswered regarding the death of the security guard who had reportedly witnessed the dumping of Kescia Branche’s body, but the acting Crime Chief, Paul Williams, told media operatives on Thursday that Police are not yet suspicious of foul play in the incident

which led to his demise.

This is as the Guyana Police Force is yet to zoom in on possible suspects in the hit-and-run incident which later resulted in the death of Norbert Lamazon.

Suspicions are on the rise that the security guard might have been targeted for his statement in relation to the Kescia Branche murder investigation.

Reports are that the security guard, who allegedly had seen a car dumping the battered body of the Richard Ishmael Secondary School teacher on Cemetery Road, was struck down by a truck on Princes Street last week, and days later succumbed to his injuries.

In responding to expressed suspicions, Acting Crime Chief Paul Williams indicated that investigations have not yet pointed towards the direction of a homicide. Williams explained, “Yes, I learn that Mr Lamazon is one of the

Dead teacher: Kescia Branche

witnesses, a person who have given a statement; but, so far, there isn’t anything that really and truly will lead us to the direction in saying that (his death) is anything other than a motor vehicle accident.”

Investigations continue into Lamazon’s death under the jurisdiction of the Traffic Department, but Williams

has highlighted that the Police have not yet discounted the possibility of a link between the hit-and-run and the brutal murder of the schoolteacher; but as it stands at the moment, such a connection has not been established.

“So far, (Lamazon’s death) is being treated as an accident. But if there is (anyone with) any evidence to come forward to say it is not a motor vehicle accident, and that it is foul play or something in the direction where we can see it as a serious crime, well, then we will go down that path,” he underlined.

The acting Crime Chief pointed out that the security guard was among the first persons to come forward with a statement in regard to Kescia Branche’s murder probes. However, he did not reveal the content of Lamazon’s statement, noting that it may later be treated as evidence.

Meanwhile, a post mortem examination conducted on the body of Norbert Lamazon on Wednesday revealed that his death was

due to brain haemorrhage topped with blunt trauma.

Those injuries are all consistent with a hit-and-run accident.

GTI student fined for sharing nude images of classmate

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G o v e r n m e n t Technical Institute (GTI) student was on Friday fined $80,000 for leaking nude images of a classmate.

Coreen Fifi admitted to the offence when she appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly, who read the charge which stated that that she leaked nude images of the young woman sometime last month.

According to Police Prosecutor Richard Harris, both Fifi and the Virtual Complainant (VC) are mem-

bers of a GTI WhatsApp group, which includes members of the school.

On the day in question, the defendant reportedly leaked a video of the VC in the nude to the said WhatsApp group.

The matter was reported to the Police and Fifi was arrested and charged.

When questioned by Magistrate Daly as to why she committed the act, the accused denied knowing that the video she shared was of such nature. She was nonetheless fined $80,000.

GPF implements video recorded interrogation system that many of times when there are confession statements, persons continue to make allegations against the Police in terms of where they were beaten, coerced, given promises and all these things, the acting Crime Chief said.

“So training sessions

JES country representative Rolanda Kirton handing over the video recording equipment to acting Crime Chief Paul Williams

A

s the Justice Education Society (JES) continues to aid in increasing the capacity of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Canadian organisation has now moved to assist with the implementation of a video recorded interrogation system by providing training and devices needed for such operations.

This mission to improve the efficiency of the crime-fighting approach throughout the country has resulted in training programmes being conducted by officials attached to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which saw about 40 ranks of the GPF cashing in on capacity building in the area of interviewing.

Following the successful completion of two such initiatives earlier this year, the JES on Thursday handed over three sets of recording equipment to be used in this newly established operations.

Speaking at the simple handing over ceremony was JES country representative, Rolanda Kirton. In presenting the equipment, Kirton highlighted what prompted the move towards this direction.

She noted that the idea

was birthed during the visit by two Canadian officials who are criminal investigative interviewers. During their stint in Guyana, they recommended that the GPF should work towards implementing the video recorded interviewing system so as to eliminate claims of coercion or inducement.

“In a sense, Guyana is playing catch up but everyone around the world would’ve started at some level and then developed going forward.”

Adding to that, the JES country representative indicated that there have been positive responses to the training with evidence of fruitful outcomes thus far, given that ranks have already been able to record successes with the use of the techniques learnt.

Meanwhile, welcoming the initiative was acting Crime Chief Paul Williams, who expressed gratitude to JES for sourcing the recording devices and more so, their continued commitment to the GPF. In doing so, he highlighted that this new-found approach adds credibility to the Force’s investigation capacity.

“Before, you can recall

were conducted and they have seen, in terms of the ranks, how capable they are and definitely how it can work,” he relayed.

The video recording apparatus handed over to the Force on Thursday are the property of RCMP, loaned to the JES for use in their

works with the Guyana Police Force. However, it is the hope of both parties that the equipment will remain in Guyana, also paving the way for other such devices to be acquired.

The devices are expected to be stationed in B Division (Berbice), C Division (East

Coast Demerara) and at the Headquarters of Criminal Investigation Department in Georgetown. However, in some other divisions, officers have put to use simple camcorders as the GPF seeks to adopt the video recorded investigation approach countrywide.

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saturDAY, december 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

backpedals on 2017 Cutlass wielding bandit shot Govt deadline for CJIA expansion …after robbing Republic Bank’s security

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Lodge, Princes Street, Georgetown man who attempted to rob a Republic Bank Limited (RBL) employee was early Friday morning shot in his leg.

Reports are the 27-yearold man jumped the bank’s Waterloo Street office fence at about 05:15h and attacked a 35-year-old female security guard by choking her.

At the time, the woman was only carrying her phone worth $35,000 which the thief snatched from her hand and escaped. However, an alarm was raised and other RBL security personnel ran to her assistance.

They pursued the man to Carmichael Street, where he drew a cutlass and attacked the guards in pursuit. As such, one of the guards shot

him in the leg. The stolen phone was retrieved and the bandit was handed over to the Police.

He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated for the wound and placed in Police custody.

The female security guard was also treated and sent away. The Police are investigating.

Ganja in fowl pen lands man on remand …after Police unearth 56kg weed

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ishawn Haywood of 3rd Street, Alberttown, Georgetown appeared on Friday before Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly charged for being in possession of more than 56 kilograms of cannabis.

Particulars of the charge are that on December 6, at Alberttown, the 27-year-old had in his possession 56.7

kilograms of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

He denied the charge, and his defence attorney told the court that the narcotics were found in an open yard where seven other persons were dwelling at the time.

Police Prosecutor Richard Harris, however, revealed that Haywood had

been under Police surveillance for some time, and on the day in question, he was seen by ranks unloading the said drugs with the help of another, storing same in a pen in the yard where he was apprehended, the court was told.

Haywood was remanded, and the case will be called again on December 22.

…requests additional $5B in 2018 Budget for completion

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fter reassurance was given that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project would be completed by the end of 2017, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has announced that the end date for this project has been pushed over to next year.

The Minister made the announcement during his presentation during the Budget 2018 debates.

In providing an update on the expansion project, Minister Patterson told the House that the final completion and commissioning of the enhanced facility will take place in 2018. He added that the overall expansion works is 77 per cent complete with “the departure terminal is 50 per cent, the new arrival terminal is 70 per cent, the North-East runway is 95 per cent and the South-West

runway is 60 per cent completed.”

Moreover, the Minister went on to outline that the arrivals terminal is set to be completed in the first quarter of 2018, while the rehabilitated of the existing departure building is slated for completion shortly after.

Patterson added that challenges arose in the expansion of the South-western runway, explaining there has been slippage during the efforts to wrap up the construction. As such, works to this section will have to return to the foundation level, which is expected to last for over a year.

He assured that the deadline for the completion of the North-eastern expanded runway will be this month.

Meanwhile, in order to see the CJIA expansion project through to next year, the Public Infrastructure Minister revealed that Government is requesting an addition $5 billion in Budget 2018.

This is in addition to the US$150 million which will initially allocated to this project.

Back in August of this year, the Infrastructure Ministry had organised a site tour for media operatives to be updated on their progress at the CJIA. At that event, Patterson confidently expressed the expansion works are in its “final lap.”

It was at that occasion that the Minister reassured the public that the December 2017 deadline will be maintained. He had said that as of

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

Augustm 80 per cent completion was achieved at the North East end of the runway, while the South West holds a 60 per cent completion.

Regarding the financing of the project, the Minister told the media that they are almost at the monetary limit catered for in the 2017 Budget. While the initial overhead cost of the project remains at US$150 million, they have already exhausted US$85 million at that time.

However, he had explained that the additional monies necessary for the completion will be coming from foreign loans and not through allocations in the local budget.

The restoration and expansion of the country’s main port of entry, CJIA, commenced in 2013 under the People’s Progress Party Government. When the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government took office in 2015, the project was modified when a number of areas were downgraded from the original plan.

MAXX Band to be launched on December 10

Members of the Maxx Band

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new band featuring a group of young and talented individuals will now have their chance at showcasing their talents at the opening of the FoodMAXX Supermarket at the Giftland Mall this Sunday.

This band, which will feature seasoned performers and musicians, such as Abel Stokes; Daniel DeSouza; Eleazar Thibaud; Nicholas Chung from Feed the Flames; Kelly Valenzuela; Trevaun Selman; Stanton Duff; Catasha Rodrigues; Scarlet Singh and the newest addition to the MAXX Band, comedian Chris Gopaul will be performing from 17:00h.

The band is said to be opening with a rock/retro segment and close off with

the R&B and pop genres.

Abel Stokes said the decision to join MAXX was an easy one since he sees it as a way to get people more publicly aware of his talent.

Although Stokes prefers to sing his own original music, he doesn’t mind performing covers until he is ready to release his songs.

Scarlet Singh, who is currently in medical school and is a featured singer at the Princess casino every weekend, loves the way she can express herself through this medium.

The MAXX Band is regularly booked to perform on the entertainment strip at the Giftland Mall and will also be performing jazz, blues, soca and reggae segments on different nights.

news

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saturDAY, december 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

MoU signed to address issues facing poor farmers in Guyana

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ood For The Poor -Guyana (FFTP) and the World University of Service of Canada Caribbean (WUSC Caribbean) have signed a memorandum of understanding to address and secure more lasting sustainable solutions for issues facing poor farmers in Guyana.

Signed on December 4,

the agreement looks at the specific areas of cooperation between WUSC Caribbean and FFTP as lie within their mandates and involve supporting the contribution and distribution of seeds, simple tools and equipment to farmers, agro-processing, and farming groups and learning institutions.

In addition, the agreement seeks to promote

the adaptation of climate smart agricultural practices through establishment of shade houses, while supporting small-scale farmers to pursue crop diversification and adopt new technologies to boost efficiency and productivity.

Finally, the agreement is geared at supporting agro-processing and farming groups by the establishment/

upgrading of agro-processing centres.

Deputy Project Director of WUSC Caribbean, Munish Persaud, and Chief Executive Officer of FFTP, Kent Vincent, inked the agreement.

Persaud has said the WUSC Caribbean is pleased to have signed the partnership, which provides a great opportunity for both entities

Mashramani will be ‘big’ in 2018 …as new route starts at Thomas Lands

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ocial Cohesion Minister with Responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr George Norton announced the new route for the much anticipated Mashramani Costume and Float Parade 2017.

Speaking at a press conference, the minister said, it has been decided that all participating bands will assemble on Thomas Lands west of Albert Street.

According to the minister the first judging point will be by the National Park as the the parade will proceed east along Thomas Lands, then south into Vlissingen Road and into Durban Park using the Vlissingen and Hadfield Streets’ entrance.

He pointed out that his Ministry has answered to call of patrons to see Vlissingen Road included in the route, but the parade will not return to Church Street.

“There is no way that we are ever going to get back to using Church Street, and we have to accept that. But we are confident that this new route that we’re going to adapt will meet everyone’s expectations,” Minister Norton told media operatives, adding that vending will be allowed along the parade route. “Prospective ven-

Social Cohension Minister, Dr George Norton along with Coordinator of the Mash Committee, Andrew Tyndall and Director of Culture, Tamika Boatswain

dors will be provided shortly with all the information necessary, through the news media, with regard to dates for registration, vending fee, and other pertinent information,” Dr Norton assured.

New components

The minister also announced that Andrew Tyndall is the official Coordinator of the Ministry’s Mash Committee.

Speaking to the media Tyndall said that the country’s 48th Republic Anniversary celebrations will boast a number of new components such as the Junior Soca Monarch. “We recognise that there are a number of young persons, who are talented, and I think because of the age where they are allowed to enter the

Senior Soca Monarch, sometimes they lose that enthusiasm. We want to provide an opportunity for our young talented singers to hit the stage and showcase their talent,” Tyndall said.

“We feel like if we provide that opportunity from a younger age, they would be really able to craft their talent and develop by the time they get to the Senior Soca Monarch Competition,” Tyndall is quoted by the Ministry of the Presidency as saying. Teens from 14 years old would be eligible to vie for the Junior Soca Monarch.

“The Adult Calypso Competition’s semi-finals will be held in Region Seven.

The semi-finals for the Soca Monarch Competition will be held in region Ten. The Chutney Competition finals

will be held in Region Three.

We will have steel band concerts in Regions Eight and Nine, so persons living in all parts of Guyana will have an opportunity to experience Mash,” Tyndall explained.

There will also be a grand Main Street Lime every Friday starting from January 26, leading up to Republic Day, February 23.

“There will be a party atmosphere kind of lime, where we will have various competitors from the song competitions performing…various designers displaying their costumes. We are really trying to build the hype and vibes heading into Mash.

There will also be a Family Fun Day for persons, who want to celebrate Mash activities with their little ones.

Apart from those activities, the Mashramani season, as is customary, would include a number of academic components, including a Republic Lecture Series.

Organisers are also anticipating a full turn out with approximately 50 floats.

Chief Executive Officer of FFTP, Kent Vincent, and Deputy Project Director of WUSC Caribbean, Munish Persaud (second from right), with other executives of FFTP and WUSC

to utilise their resources to get more lasting, sustainable solutions for the issues facing poor farmers in Guyana.

Meanwhile, CEO of the

FFTP, Vincent, indicated the pleasure of FFTP to be signing with another entity that promotes agricultural initiatives.

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saturDAY, december 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Africanised bees kill Berbice man R

avendranauth Narine, also known as “Earo,” of Lot ‘A’ 47 Number 12 Village, West Coast Berbice, died after a swarm of Africanised bees stung him while he was operating heavy-duty machinery in uprooting trees at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice.

The incident occurred late on Thursday afternoon, and the 51-year-old father of four died while receiving medical attention at the New Amsterdam Hospital on Friday at about 21:00hrs.

One of the dead man’s co-workers, a teenager named Azim Habid, has said

Dead: Ravendranauth “Earo” Narine

that at the time of the incident they were uprooting

trees to clear a way for the construction of a new road when the bees swarmed them. He indicated that after the bees launched their attack he fled the scene, leaving his co-worker behind.

He related that it was Narine who first had seen the bees and raised the alarm. Habid, who also received several bee stings, said he sprinted away, leaving Narine in the distance.

“When I look back I see bee covering he whole skin,” he said.

He recalled running for about 30 minutes to get help, but noted that persons were reluctant to offer assistance.

However, he was able to persuade someone to offer assistance after about an hour.

Habid related that when they arrived at the scene, Narine’s body was covered with bees, resulting in them utilising an excavator to remove him out of the area.

The man’s wife, Roopwattie Narine, told Guyana Times that she received a phone call on

Thursday, informing her of the incident. She said relatives rushed to the hospital and began to inquire about the condition of her husband.

Roopwattie said that when she got to the hospital, she saw her husband surrounded by doctors and nurses.

She added that it was almost impossible to recognize

her husband, since his face was swollen almost triple its original size.

Marine leaves to mourn his wife and four children.

He died on his son’s third birthday.

Many beekeepers have indicated that it is the African bees’ swarming season, and they are urging the public to ensure they exercise caution at this time.

‘E’ and ‘F’ Divisions receive new vehicles

North Pakaraima Exposition 2017 opens today

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he North Pakaraima Exposition 2017 opens today with Indigenous foods, art and craft on display. The two-day event, which opens in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), is expected to see hundreds of villagers, as well as residents from neighbouring villages converging in Monkey Mountain for the expo.

The 17 villages expected to participate are Paramakatoi; Kato; Kurukubaru; Chenapou; Kopinang; Itabac; Kanapang; Chuing Mouth; Karisparu; Kamana; Waipa; Kaibarupai; Campbelltown; Maicobie; Tuseneng; Taruka; and host, Monkey Mountain.

Apart from the exhibits, villages will be involved in friendly competitions in football and cricket, with Paramakatoi, Kato and Kurukubaru male teams and Chenapou, Kopinang and Itabac female teams clashing in football, cricket and volleyball.

The North Pakaraima

The vehicles which were given to 'E' Division (Linden-Kwakwani)

Pakaraima Toshao, Hampton King receives the cheque from Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe

Expo over the years has significantly impacted tourism among other sectors in the region.

According to the Toshao of the village, Hampton King, this year’s exhibition will be significant, since it will have a booth showcasing the semi-precious stones that are used to create exotic jewellery for sale globally.

Monkey Mountain, which is a remote village, is approximately a three-and-a half-hour journey from Paramakatoi village and the village leader is confident that this exposition will boost economic and other developments not only in Monkey Mountain but the entire region.

E

The fleet of vehicles gifted to G Division (Essequibo Coast-Islands)

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’ Division (LindenKwakwani) has commissioned its fleet of vehicles which were recently gifted to the Guyana Police Force by the People’s Republic of China.

The division received four new vehicles and a motorcycle to assist in its crime- fighting efforts. The simple handing-over ceremony was attended by numerous law enforcement and regional officials.

Speaking at the ceremony, held in the compound of the Mackenzie Police Station, Divisional Commander Fazil Karimbaksh said he was very elated to receive the vehicles on behalf of the division. He noted that acquiring them was not an easy task.

He said they will be issued to various Police stations within the division where urgent need exists. The Commander also posited that the vehicles would greatly assist in helping ranks to keep the crime rate down, moreso at this time of the festive season, when there is expected to be intensified Police patrols.

“I think most of the stations will be equipped with vehicles, so that we can respond in a timely manner to reports...” the commander said.

A s s i s t a n t Superintendent Alistair Roberts, in his remarks, also posited that the vehicles would greatly assist in crime fighting.

Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) Chairman, Renis Morian, urged the Police team to use the vehicles with care.

Meanwhile, Commander of G Division (Essequibo Coast/Essequibo Islands), Khalid Parsaram, has said that Police within the division are moving in a positive direction to safeguard and protect citizens during the festive season.

He made this disclosure at a simple handing over ceremony of vehicles on Friday.

Parsaram disclosed that the division received four new vehicles that would help to facilitate better patrolling in the region. He said the division’s major challenge in the past had been transportation shortage.

Accountability

The divisional commander has said that a maintenance plan is in place in the division to care for the vehicles, and a logistics officer is also now is in place.

In order for the vehicles to be put in use, ranks will have to sign for the keys and

fill out a handing over form after every shift. Weekly inspection will be done to ensure that the vehicles serve their purposes and are not used for personal errands.

The name of the station and emergency number will be printed on each vehicle.

The divisional commander has said that ranks who will be driving the vehicles would be retested and certified. If any damage occurs to any vehicle, officers would be charged accordingly.

“Police will be more visible within the communities, and the vehicles are there to provide better service. They will enhance the forces capability for the Christmas season, and provide a faster response to emergencies,” the divisional commander has said.

Two ATVs and motorcycles would also be dispatched to the division next week.

Present at the ceremony were Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, Mayor Ravindranauth Mohan and members from the Cops and Faith network, Community Policing Group, station management committees, and a representative from the chamber of commerce.

The vehicles were blessed by representatives of the cops and faith network.

15 GWI holiday promotion encourages timely payments T News

saturDAY, december 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) on Friday launched its holiday Slash and Cash promotion that seeks to strengthen the partnership between the company and its customer base.

The promotion, which will run from December 11-29, will see customers being given the chance to receive a one-month waiver on their water bill from GWI when they pay off the balance on their account of $15,000 or more.

The waiver will be credited to the customer’s account after the billing cycle for the following month. Five five customers from each Regional Office will be randomly selected weekly, via a drawing which will be televised.

The company is also giving back to disconnected customers who will be eligible to receive 50 percent off on their reconnection/ replacement fee when they pay 50 percent or more on their outstanding balances.

Managing Director of GWI, Richard Van West-Charles

Additionally, customers who pay less than $15,000 to clear their bill will get a chance to win a fabu-

lous prize from GWI. Five customers from each Regional Office will be randomly selected weekly.

Five lucky Pensioners who will be randomly selected from each of GWI’s Regional Offices will receive a hamper during the period of the promotion.

Speaking at the launch, Managing Director Dr Richard Van WestCharles said that though the promotion is part of the corporation’s responsibility to give back to the community, it also seeks to address consumers who are delinquent in making timely payments He explained that this will

Adopt, embrace safety – Lanour Minister tells GPL graduates

Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott (left seated); CEO (Ag), BIT, Richard Maughn (front right); and acting CEO, GPL, Renford Homer (second left standing) with graduating apprentices and other officials from GPL at the graduation ceremony

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fter four years of intense training, 11 graduated from the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL’s) Apprenticeship programme, equipped in the disciplines of basic engineering, electrical, mechanical technologies and the transmission and distribution of electrical power.

The graduates are all currently employed with GPL as technician trainees and will be monitored.

At the 21st graduation ceremony held today at Cara Lodge, Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott charged the graduates to adopt and embrace, safety as a core value.

Further, he ncouraged them to embrace punctuality, honesty, integrity, interdependence and networking and reminded them that one of their sacred responsibility to their employer is loyalty, the Department of Public Information said.

He told the gathering

that all apprenticeship programmes are relevant to individuals, industry and the nation’s development. He reassured that the government will continue to work to ensure that all apprenticeship programme is of quality standard and that all are properly certified and come under the watchful eye and superintendence of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) which obtains its mandate from the Industrial Training Act, Chapter 39:04.

“Take the knowledge imparted onto you and use it wisely and share some of it with others to help improve their understanding of what this company (GPL) does,” GPL’s, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Renford Homer encouraged the graduates.

Homer explained that it is the aim of the company to provide citizens with adequate electricity supply despite facing several challenges. To this end, Homer

acknowledged “we recognise that we must have a stream of well-trained individuals to take up the leadership of the company and improve the services of the company, hence you are here today.”

Meanwhile, providing a brief history of the programme, Training Manager, Dennis Swan explained that the four-year programme began in 1979, with four skilled areas. Today the programme boasts seven disciples- transmission and distribution, power stations operation, electrical installation, engineering science, network design, modern meter installation, and technical report writing.

According to Swan over the years the programme has produced a reliable supply of skilled workers for the company some of whom are now in key positions.

This graduation represents the second batch of apprentices who have graduated this year.

turn, “permit us (GWI) to do more because there are many other areas where many of our citizens do not have access to water and water of good quality.”

“The hinterland regions have many communities that are taking water from creeks, streams and rivers whose quality of water is not assured, which is an area that we are working very hard to ensure, that the inequities which exist between the coast and the hinterland regions are removed and in this vain, water is one of those,” the Managing Director is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

Dr Charles reiterated that without disciplined payment methods, development within the sector would stagnate, hence the need for customers to pay their bills in a timely manner to ensure that others will receive same quality of service.

In addressing the issue of limited access points for payment, Charles announced that customers will soon benefit from an app that will allow them to make payments and view their accounts online. The app created by the utility company is slated to be launched in two weeks.

“The app will allow the customers to check their balances and we (GWI) are now in talks with Mobile money Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) to see how we can connect with them to make it easier for you (public) to pay your bills. instead of going to our offices or bill express among others to pay,” the Managing Director explained

Britain, EU clinch Brexit 'breakthrough' with move to trade talks

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ritain and the European Union struck a divorce deal on Friday that paves the way for arduous talks on future trade ties, easing immediate pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May and boosting hopes of an orderly Brexit.

May rushed to Brussels before dawn to seal a European Commission agreement that “sufficient progress” had been made to begin talks about trade and a two-year Brexit transition period that will start when Britain leaves the EU on March 29, 2019.

Negotiators in London, Brussels and Dublin worked through the night before breaking an impasse over the status of the Irish border, the last major obstacle to the opening of trade talks which EU leaders are due to bless at a summit on December 15.

But though the Irish prime minister called a British pledge to avoid a destabilising “hard border” for Northern Ireland a “bullet-proof” commitment, one senior EU official conceded that wording to appease May’s Belfast allies was a “fudge” which had simply put off until later the need to “square the circle”.

While Northern Ireland would remain aligned with the rules of the EU’s single market and customs union under which member state Ireland operates, May’s government is officially committed to leaving both the single market and customs union.

Actual negotiations on a trade pact that may take several years to agree may not start for some months.

But EU officials said they should be ready to start rapid talks in January to give May the transition period she wants to reassure business that not much will change for a couple of years after Brexit.

Speaking before sunrise at the EU executive’s head-

quarters after a hurried flight on a Royal Air Force plane, May said opening up trade talks would bring certainty for citizens and businesses about Britain’s future after quitting the EU. “The most difficult challenge is still ahead,” European Council President Donald Tusk cautioned. “We all know that breaking up is hard. But breaking up and building a new relationship is much harder.”

May, looking weary after just a couple of hours sleep, spoke after Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced the breakthrough, first in English and then in German and French.

The move to agree trade talks 18 months after the United Kingdom’s shock vote to exit the EU allayed some fears of a disorderly Brexit that could disrupt trade between the world’s biggest trading bloc and its sixth-largest national economy.

Sterling was dented when last-minute objections from Belfast forced May to abort a deal on Monday while already in Brussels, but it climbed to a sixmonth high against the euro EURGBP=D3 on Friday. It later gave up earlier gains and turned lower on the day against the EU common currency as investors took profits after a sharp rally in recent days.

Brexit divorce?

Facing 27 other members of the bloc, May largely conceded to the EU on the structure, timetable and substance of the negotiations.

Moving to talks about trade and a Brexit transition was crucial for May’s own future after her premiership was thrown into doubt when she lost the ruling Conservative Party its majority in an unwisely called snap election in June.

“I very much welcome

the prospect of moving ahead,” said May, a 61-yearold Anglican vicar’s daughter who herself voted to stay in the EU in the June 2016 referendum but has repeatedly insisted Britain will make a success of Brexit.

A senior British banker said the deal signalled May would stay in power for now and that Britain was heading toward a much closer post-Brexit relationship with the EU than many had feared.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar agreed. “...What phase one was always about was narrowing the parameters, and we are now funnelling and directing things into a situation where I believe the United Kingdom including Northern Ireland will remain in alignment with the EU on lots of regulations,” he told Irish national broadcaster RTE on Friday evening.

Heralding pitfalls ahead, however, Scotland’s leader Nicola Sturgeon swiftly cited the promise of free trade on the Irish border as removing an argument used to dissuade Scots from breaking their union with England to rejoin the European Union.

Draft guidelines showed the transition period, which would start on March 30, 2019, could last around two years, as May has requested. During that time, Britain will remain part of the EU’s customs union and single market but no longer take part in EU institutions or have a vote. It will also still be subject to EU law.

Pro-Brexit Conservative lawmakers rallied around her after the deal. This looked like a signal that the party, which has been split over EU membership for generations, was not preparing to ditch her immediately despite the election fiasco in June that left her government dependent on the support of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). (Reuters)

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, december 9, 2017

Regional

998 gang-related murders Cuban President arrives in Antigua and Barbuda under 7 years in T&T for Caricom-Cuba summit T C

here have been 998 gang-related murders from 2010 to July of 2017, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young says.

He gave the figures as he delivered his contribution to the Anti-Gang Bill in Parliament on Wednesday, after Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, during her contribution, called on the Government to tell the nation of the 1000 citizens who were murdered in the last two years. She also wanted details on the 21 killings that occurred in the last six days and how many were gang-related.

In response to PersadBissessar’s query, Young said data provided by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service showed that there were 998 gang-related murders for the period 2010

to June of 2017. Giving a breakdown, he said in 2010 there were 75 murders and the following year the figures increased to 93, while in 2012 it jumped to 144.

The highest gang-related murders recorded, Young said, occurred in 2013, with 197, while the People’s Partnership Government was in power. In 2014 the figures dropped to 142, while in 2015 there was one less mur-

der with 141. In 2016, Young said the murders declined to 127. The murder toll at the time of Young’s response was 466 for the year.

He said of the 41 constituencies in T&T, the most murders occurred in his constituency, saying his constituents have been asking for the support of this legislation so the Police can tackle criminality and gangs. (Excerpt

from Trinidad Guardian)

EU tax haven blacklist

Unfortunate and unfair says Barbados; St Lucia Opposition blames Govt

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n statements issued on Thursday, the Government of Barbados and the Opposition in Saint Lucia each responded to the European Union’s blacklisting of their respective countries as non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.

Barbados’ International Business Minister, Donville Inniss, described the blacklisting as “extremely unfortunate and unfair in light of and despite Barbados’ recent direct engagement with the EU Code of Conduct Group (COCG) over the past months”.

The EU list of non-co-

operative jurisdictions for tax purposes states that Barbados has a harmful preferential tax regime and did not clearly commit to amending or abolishing it as requested by December 31, 2018. Barbados’ commitment to amend or abolish other harmful tax regimes will be monitored.

However, the Barbados Government is apparently unaware of which regime Barbados has not clearly committed to amending and therefore asked the EU on Wednesday morning by way of email, followed by a telephone call on Thursday

morning seeking clarification.

“To date no response has been forthcoming,” Inniss said. “With respect to the way forward, Barbados will dispatch a detailed correspondence to the EU requesting an urgent review of their rather unfortunate listing. “Secondly, being mindful that our region will continue to be under scrutiny and attacks from other regional groupings and multinational organisations, Barbados will once again request a regional dialogue on the matter…” he added.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Caricom Chairman lauds shared Caribbean identity

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renada’s Prime Minister and Caricom Chairman, Dr Keith Mitchell says he was hoping for greater collaboration between Cuba and Caricom as leaders began a summit here Friday.

“This sixth summit provides us with an opportunity to and our commitment to cooperation in the promotion and protection of our common interests,” said Mitchell.

He used the opening ceremony to call on the United States to end the trade and economic embargo it has imposed on Cuba since 1962, following the overthrow of the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista.

“We in Caricom remain committed and constant in our advocacy to be ful-

Caricom Chairman, Dr Keith Mitchell

ly integrated into all aspects of hemispheric and international relations,” Dr Mitchell told the leaders, including Cuba’s President Raul Castro.

In his address, Dr Mitchell said that several developments have “tried and tested the fortitude and solidarity of our CaricomCuba relationships.”

He noted that 45 years after leaders of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica had taken the decision to enter into diplomatic relations with Cuba, “our relationship has matured into one of mutual and enduring bounds of trust.”

Also, in his address, Dr Mitchell said that the region cannot escape what he termed “the unavoidable truth of climate change”, making reference to the death and destruction caused by the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria through the Lesser Antilles earlier this year. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

uban President Raul Castro arrived on Thursday morning in Antigua and Barbuda on an official visit to attend the sixth Cuba-Caribbean Community (Caricom) Summit.

The Cuban leader was received at the VC Bird International Airport by the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne. Friday’s CaricomCuba summit will be cochaired by Castro and the chairman of Caricom, Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell of Grenada.

The meeting marks 45 years of diplomatic rela-

tions between Caricom and Cuba, and will examine issues of regional and global importance including climate change adaptation and disaster risk management.

A memorandum of understanding will be signed between the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and Cuba’s Agency for Civil Defence, which will provide opportunities for closer collaboration, especially following the devastating impact of the September 2017 hurricanes across the Region, and the increased focus on climate change resilience.

During his visit, Castro will also attend a session of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Assembly, which is being held in Antigua on Saturday for only its third such gathering since its inauguration in 2012.

The OECS Assembly comprises five representatives from the Parliament of each full member state and three from the legislature of each associated member. These representatives must include the Heads of Government and the Leader of the Opposition. (Caribbean News

Now)

St Lucia PM renews appeal for information on controversial oil exploration agreement

S

ome four years after then Leader of the Opposition in Saint Lucia, Stephenson King, wrote to the Governor General, Dame Pearlette Louisy, seeking clarification regarding an oil exploration licence purportedly granted to Colorado oilman Jack Grynberg by the Dr Kenny Anthony Administration in 2000, current Prime Minister Allen Chastanet told Parliament that the country is still “in the dark” on the matter.

“We have found no official record of the Grynberg transaction, neither in the files of Cabinet nor in Hansard,” he said, calling on anyone with information to come forward and put the matter to rest.

At the heart of the matter is the question whether Louisy had issued such licence, as she alone as

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet addressing Parliament

Governor General is legally authorised by the Minerals (Vesting) Act to do, or whether a licence was issued by someone else ultra vires the constitution of Saint Lucia.

Grynberg is currently in the process of suing the Government of Saint

Lucia for “breach of contract,” based on the licence he claims was issued to him and which affords him sole rights to explore for oil under the Saint Lucia seabed.

Grynberg has claimed damages in the sum of US$500 million. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Brazil’s President loses Minister as PSDB party quits coalition

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ntonio Imbassahy of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) has handled the Government’s relations with Congress, keeping an unwieldy coalition united in blocking the prosecution of Temer on corruption charges earlier this year.

However the PSDB, Temer’s largest ally, has split over whether to stick with the unpopular President in the run-up to a general election next October, when the party plans to field its own presidential candidate.

The PSDB will hold its na-

tional convention in Brasilia today, when it is expected to elect Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin as its new party leader, replacing Senator Aecio Neves, who is under investigation for graft.

That would make Alckmin the PSDB’s most likely candidate in next year’s presidential race.

Allies say Alckmin plans to continue his party’s disengagement from the Temer Government, where the PSDB still has two Ministers, including Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes, who is expected to stay on

the job based on personal conviction.

Still, Alckmin is expected to mobilise PSDB support for Temer’s signature legislation proposal, the overhaul of Brazil’s costly social security system. Investors consider the measure crucial to closing a huge budget deficit that cost Latin America’s largest economy its investment-grade credit rating.

Temer needs the PSDB’s 46 votes in the lower house of Congress to win passage of the pension reform bill, which is set for a vote the week of December 18. (Reuters)

saturDAY, december 9, 2017

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17

Around the World

2 dead in ‘Day of Rage’ over Jerusalem, 14 UN peacekeepers Palestinian President defiant killed, 53 hurt in

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t least two people were killed in clashes with Israeli troops on Friday when thousands of Palestinians demonstrated against US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the Palestinian president said Washington could no longer be a peace broker.

Across the Arab and Muslim worlds, thousands more protesters took to the streets on the Muslim holy day to express solidarity with the Palestinians and outrage at Trump’s reversal of decades of US policy.

Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian man near the Gaza border, the first confirmed death in two days of unrest. Scores of people were wounded on the “Day of Rage”. A second person later died of their wounds, a Gaza hospital official said.

The Israeli army said hundreds of Palestinians were rolling burning tyres and throwing rocks at soldiers across the border.

More than 80 Palestinians were wounded in the occupied West Bank and Gaza by Israeli live fire and rubber bullets, according to the Palestinian

Congo attack

I

More than 80 Palestinians were wounded in West Bank and Gaza by Israeli rubber bullets

Red Crescent ambulance service.

Dozens more suffered from tear gas inhalation. Thirty-one were wounded on Thursday.

As Friday prayers ended at the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, worshippers made their way toward the walled

Old City gates, chanting “Jerusalem is ours, Jerusalem is our capital” and “We don’t need empty words, we need stones and Kalashnikovs”. Scuffles broke out between protesters and Police. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Chinese boy, 13, decapitates mother and posts video

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13-year-old Chinese boy has been arrested for allegedly killing his mother and chopping off her head. The boy reportedly filmed the murder and sent the clip to friends via popular messaging app WeChat.

He was arrested several days

later after a friend showed the clip to his mother.

The incident took place in the town of Wenxing in Sichuan province. Local Police confirmed the case with the BBC but gave no further details, saying it was still being investigated.

The boy killed his mother after a quarrel on Sunday night, reported Radio Free Asia, citing local sources.

He then decapitated her and stored her head in a bucket, before disposing of it in a drain outside their home, according to the news outlet.

It also said the murder was not discovered until Wednesday, when one of the boy’s classmates showed the video clip to a parent who immediately reported it to the Police. The boy was said to have been arrested at school. (Excerpt from BBC News)

California wildfires: Nearly 200,000 flee as new blaze spreads

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n the deadliest single attack on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in recent memory, rebels in eastern Congo killed at least 14 peacekeepers and wounded 53 others in an assault on their base that was launched at nightfall and went on for hours.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed “outrage and utter heartbreak” and called the attack a war crime, urging Congolese authorities to swiftly investigate.

The peacekeepers killed were from Tanzania. At least five Congolese soldiers also were killed in the attack Thursday evening that has been blamed on one of the region’s deadliest rebel groups.

At least two peacekeepers remained missing, the UN said. More than 20 were evacuated for medical treat-

ment in the regional capital, Goma. It was not clear when military reinforcements arrived after the attack, the UN said.

The peacekeeping base is about 45 kilometers (27 miles) from the town of Beni, which has been repeatedly attacked by the Allied Democratic Forces rebel group, which is suspected in Thursday’s assault. The base is home to the U.N. mission’s rapid intervention force, which has a rare mandate to go on the offensive against armed groups in the vast, mineral-rich region.

The U.N. mission in Congo is the largest and most expensive in the world, and it has been a high-profile target of the Trump administration’s cost-cutting efforts. Nearly 300 peacekeepers have been killed since the mission arrived in 1999, according to UN data.

(Excerpt from MSN)

Kevin Spacey ‘groped Norwegian king’s son-in-law’

Wildfires devastate southern California

early 200,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes in California as firefighters battle several raging wildfires.

Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in San Diego on Thursday after a new blaze spread from 10 acres to 4,100 acres in just a few hours.

Three firefighters have been injured and about 500 buildings destroyed.

One death has been reported - a woman’s body was found in a burned-out area in Ventura County.

But an official told the Ventura Country Star newspaper that the death, in the town of Ojai, may have been the result of a car crash not related to the fire.

California wildfire flames seen from space On Friday, US President Donald Trump issued a state of emergency in California,

which will free up funding to “help alleviate the hardship and suffering that the emergency may inflict on the local population”.

About 5,700 firefighters have been battling the brushfires, officials have said, with firefighters drafted in from neighbouring states to help. The Thomas fire in Ventura County to the north of Los Angeles remains the largest of the blazes and has spread as far

as the Pacific coast.

It has consumed 180 square miles (466 sq km) since it broke out on Monday, and destroyed more than 430 buildings, fire officials said.

A BBC correspondent in Ojai says the blaze is burning in the hills all around and more than 100 fire engines have been seen driving through the town centre.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Polish MPs pass judicial bills amid accusations of threat to democracy

T

he Polish Parliament has approved Government proposals to hand the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) effective control of judicial appointments and the Supreme Court, in a move seen by critics as an erosion of judicial independence.

The Government describes the plans as a necessary means to speed up the pro-

cess of issuing judgments and to break what it describes as the grip of a “privileged caste” of lawyers and judges. But a coalition of civil society groups has warned that Poland will “definitively cease to be a democratic state of law” once the legislation is approved by the Senate and the President, and becomes law.

The Council of Europe body responsible for monitoring

the rule of law, known as the Venice Commission, described the legislation as a “grave threat” that “puts at serious risk the independence of all parts of the Polish Judiciary”.

A previous attempt to assume control of the justice system by the Government in July was derailed by largescale street protests and the surprise decision by the President, Andrzej Duda, to

veto the proposals after they had been approved by the Polish Parliament.

The presidential vetoes resulted in months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between Duda, a former PiS MEP, and Jaros?aw Kaczy?ski, the leader of PiS who nominated Duda for the presidency, raising hopes of a government climbdown. (Excerpt

from The Guardian)

Ari Behn was married to Princess Martha Louise from 2002-16

T

he King of Norway’s former son-in-law has accused Kevin Spacey of groping him after a Nobel Peace Prize concert. Ari Behn told radio station P4 that it happened after the actor had hosted the event in 2007.

“I am a generous person, but this was a bit more than I had in mind,” said Behn, who was married to King Harald’s daughter Martha Louise until last year.

Spacey has been accused of sexual abuse and harassment by a string of men and has been written out of House of Cards.

A spokesman for Spacey said last month that he was “taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment” in the wake of the allegations. Recalling the alleged incident, Behn said: “We had a great talk, he sat right beside me.

“After five minutes he

said, ‘hey, let’s go out and have a cigarette’. Then he puts his hand under the table and grabs me by the balls.”

Behn said he put Spacey off by telling him: “Er, maybe later.”

He added: “My hair was dark at the time, I was 10 years younger and right up his alley.” Last month, the Old Vic theatre in London said it had received 20 personal testimonies of alleged inappropriate behaviour by Spacey while he was artistic director there. He has faced other allegations too, with the claims leaving his career in ruins. He has been removed from the sixth season of House of Cards, which will instead focus on his on-screen wife, played

by Robin Wright. Spacey has also been replaced by Christopher Plummer in the new Ridley Scott film All the Money in the World. (BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, december 9, 2017

ARCHIE

Don’t stew over a situation at work or school that (March 21you cannot change. Make a April 19) point to get along with the people you deal with daily in order to avoid future mishaps.

ARIES

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Make plans to do something with youngsters or a loved one or to help a cause that concerns you. A selfless gesture will make you feel good and boost your reputation.

You’ll face an emotional GEMINI problem if you haven’t been (May 21up-front with someone you June 20) care about. You are best off coming clean and making amends before the situation gets blown out of proportion.

Stick close to home and family. Problems will arise (June 21- if you take on too much or July 22) let problems at work or with friends filter into your domestic life.

CANCER

Peanuts

You’ll face emotional difLEO ficulties with children or par(July 23- ents. Be prepared to make Aug. 22) your voice heard and your decision clear. You may not please everyone, but it’s important to do what’s right.

Self-deception will lead to VIRGO uncertainty. You are best off (Aug. 23facing facts and making adjustSept. 22) ments before someone takes advantage of you. Don’t put up with emotional manipulation or unreasonable demands.

Calvin and Hobbes

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — MARRIAGE (MARRIAGE: MARE-ij: The legal union of two persons.)

Average mark 19 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 26 or more words in MARRIAGE? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — STRATUM

smart smut star start stat strum

strut stum tart taut tram trust

tsar rust arms mart mast must

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

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Keep your facts straight and be honest about the way you feel. Communication will be necessary if you want to avoid a mishap. Ulterior motives are apparent.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Keep your plans simple and focus more on home, family and friends. What you do to help your loved ones will ward off tension that could result in a serious feud.

Expect an emotional inSAGITTARIUS cident to raise questions re(Nov. 23- garding your feelings and Dec. 21) your relationship with someone who has let you down.

Don’t allow self-deception to lead to vulnerability. Be open to change.

Added stress due to CAPRICORN someone else’s mistake or (Dec. 22- shortcoming is apparent.

Jan. 19) Don’t hesitate to make your position clear. Think big, be innovative and stick to a set budget.

Be careful how you exAQUARIUS press your likes and dislikes.

(Jan. 20- Someone will be offended if Feb. 19) you are too critical or ask for too much. Be truthful, but keep your demands simple.

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Your emotions -- when having conversations with friends, in-laws or people who can boost you up or bring you down -- should be managed with care. Don’t blame or criticize others.

saturDAY, december 9, 2017

19

CWI/ Digicel Regional 4-Day Championships 2017-18…

– Moseley strokes maiden century

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John Campbell

indies “A” Team opener John Campbell and uncapped, fellow left-handed opener Shayne Moseley grabbed the headlines with contrasting, landmark hundreds in the Digicel 4-Day Championship on Friday.

Campbell went on the rampage to hit a career-best hundred to lead solid batting down the order that put Jamaica Scorpions in charge against Trinidad & Tobago Red Force before rain slowed their advance on the second day of their sixthround match while Moseley completed his maiden firstclass hundred to upstage purposeful bowling from Rahkeem Cornwall and prop

up Barbados Pride’s batting against Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Warner Park, to bring the tally of hundreds for the season to 16.

Scorpions vs Red Force at Sabina Park

John Campbell hit 156 – his third first-class hundred – to power the Scorpions batting before rain drove the players off the field early and they never returned.

The left-handed batsman, Campbell struck 11 fours and seven sixes from 183 balls in a 4 ¼ hours stay at the crease to inspire the remainder of the Scorpions batting of which skipper Paul Palmer was unbeat-

en on 68 and Brandon King made 63.

Left-arm fast-medium bowler Daniel St Clair was the most successful Red Force, taking 2-48 from 13 overs, but he and the rest of the visitors’ attack would have welcomed the rain interruption late in the day that saved them from further punishment.

Scorpions slipped to 36 for two early in the day before King and Campbell transformed the complexion of the game with some dynamic batting in a 157-run, third-wicket stand – at close to 5.5 runs an over –that put the Red Force attack on its heels.

King’s near two-hour stay at the crease yielded seven fours and three sixes from 107 balls before he his dismissal which brought Scorpions’ skipper Palmer to the crease to carry on the rampage with Campbell.

They shared 89 for the fourth wicket before Campbell’s masterpiece came to a close at the hands of veteran leg-spinner Imran Khan.

The rain however, soon arrived, to the delight of the Red Force, as Palmer and Fabian Allen were just about getting into the swing of thing.

Scores; Red Force 1st Innings 243, Scorpions 1st Innings 318-4

Hurricanes vs Pride at Warner Park

The lanky, languid Shayne Moseley gathered a resolute 117 and all-rounder Justin Greaves was unbeaten on 79, as the Pride were bowled out about 15 minutes after tea.

Cornwall, the Windies “A” Team off-spin all-rounder and Hurricanes captain, was the pick of his side’s bowlers, grabbing 5-113 from 51.3 overs and fast-medium bowler Jeremiah Louis supported with 3-80 from 23 overs on the typically unforgiving Warner Park surface.

Hurricanes suffered a setback, when former Kent pro Chesney Hughes fell for 17 before they reached 61 for one in reply when stumps were drawn with Windies “A” Team opener Montcin Hodge not out on 27 and Nkrumah Bonner not out on seven. Moseley, playing his first season of #D4Day matches, struck 17 fours from 303 balls in close to 6 ½ hours at the crease to be the rock upon which the Pride built their total.

After resuming from his overnight total 70, he added 53 for the third wicket with

fellow left-hander Jonathan Carter, as the Pride made a strong start to the day after they continued from 174 for two.

When Cornwall trapped Moseley lbw about 25 minutes before lunch, the

Greaves struck nine fours and one six from 141 balls in a shade over three hours.

He shared 80 with Antigua & Barbuda-born, former Hurricanes leg-spinner Hayden Walsh, Jr, whose 38 helped to knock the wind out

Shayne Moseley

Pride were 251 for five, but Greaves came to the crease and led a rearguard action with the bottom half of the batting to extend the Pride’s innings.

of the hosts, and then added 48 for the last wicket with Keon Harding to further frustrate the home team.

Scores; Pride 394, Hurricanes 61-1

Bishoo, Roach leap in latest rankings Schumacher's – Brathwaite, Hope also climbing W

est Indies o p e n er Kraigg Brathwaite went in to the second Test against New Zealand buoyed by being named stand-in captain but also because of news that he has moved up one place in the recently released ICC batt i n g r a n k ings.

T h e 25-yearo l d

Barbadian is now ranked 17th up from 18 at the last ranking released. In the West Indies last series against Zimbabwe, Brathwaite scored 121 runs at an average of 40.33. His highest score of the series was 86.

M e a n w h i l e , Braithwaite’s compatriot Shai Hope has moved up from 31 to 28 in the rankings. Hope was the leading run scorer for the Windies in Zimbabwe, amassing 174 runs at an average of 87 for the series during which his best score was 90.

Kemar Roach moved into the top 20 of the bowlers’ rankings climbing from 26 to 20 in the ICC bowler

rankings. During the recent series against Zimbabwe, Roach claimed 11 wickets at an average of 20.27.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo climbed seven places from 28 to 21. He was the leading wicket-taker during the Zimbabwe tour with 13 wickets at an average 26.15.

Surprisingly, Shannon Gabriel who took 11 wickets on the Zimbabwe tour at an average of 23.27 fell two places from 21 to 23.

Australia captain, Steve Smith is the number one ranked batsman while Englishman James Anderson holds the number one spot for bowlers. (Sportsmax)

record out of reach – Lewis

L

ewis Hamilton says he does not believe he will stay in Formula 1 long enough to beat Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles.

Hamilton won his fourth title this year to move within one of Juan Manuel Fangio, but said he was not motivated by the idea of surpassing Schumacher.

The Mercedes driver said: "I can't see it at the moment. Four more. It has taken me 10 years to achieve this four.

"I don't have that desire to match it. Matching Fangio could be quite cool."

Argentine Fangio won five world titles in the 1950s, and is second to Schumacher - champion in 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 - in the all-time championship standings.

In terms of successes for the number of races in which he competed, Fangio is the most successful driver ever in championships, wins and pole positions. (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, december 9, 2017

Narine pulls out of BBL

Peru striker Guerrero to miss World Cup due to one-year doping ban P

– Pollard, Nabi join Renegades

A

fghanistan's Mohammad Nabi and West Indies' Kieron Pollard have been signed by Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming BBL season, starting December 19. The allrounders will join Dwayne Bravo as the team's other overseas recruits.

Sunil Narine, Renegades' leading wicket-taker last season, has withdrawn from the tournament citing personal reasons.

Nabi, one of two Afghanistan players to be handed an IPL and later CPL contracts, will join the Renegades squad for their first match against Hobart Hurricanes on December 21.

He will be replaced later in the season

by Pollard, who is currently playing the BPL. Bravo will be available for the entire BBL season, which ends on February 4.

Renegades head coach Andrew McDonald said the timely signing of

Narine's replacements would boost the team, which failed to secure a semi-final berth because of an inferior run-rate last season.

"We wish Sunil all the best," he told melbournerenegades.com.au.

"At short notice we are pleased that we've been able to secure players of Mohammad and Kieron's quality who will be important contributors this season for us." (ESPN Cricinfo)

aolo Guerrero has been banned for a year after testing positive for a cocaine metabolite, meaning he will miss the World Cup in Russia.

Peru captain Paolo Guerrero will miss the World Cup after being given a oneyear ban by FIFA for failing a doping test.

The 33-year-old tested positive for cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine after a qualifier against Argentina on October 5 and was suspended for an initial 30-day period, which kept him out of his country's play-off victory over New Zealand.

FIFA has now announced he will serve a year-long ban backdated to the start of his provisional suspension, handed down on November 3, meaning he will not be available for the World Cup finals in Russia, which start next June.

Guerrero, who plays for Flamengo, scored five goals in qualifying to help his side secure fifth place.

The former Bayern Munich forward's legal team reportedly denied he had willingly taken any prohibited substance after his initial sanction was announced.

Nikita Miller eyes Gayle's 126 from 51 balls powers return to Test Riders to victory team as well C

L

eft-arm orthodox spinner, Nikita Miller, after earning a recall to the Windies ODI squad to face New Zealand, isn’t done there, he is eyeing Test caps as well.

“Everybody knows that Test cricket is my first love, so I'm open to anything,” he told the Jamaica

Observer.

“Once it's [playing for] West Indies I'm ready, but my preferred version is Test cricket,” stressed the 35-year-old.

Miller earned the recall to the Windies ODI side, set to do battle with New Zealand from December 20, after a remarkable twogame burst with the ball in the Windies Professional Cricket League 4-Day tournament.

The spinner is captain of the Jamaica Scorpions

Nikita Miller

but only returned to the team in the last two matches courtesy of an operation he did before the start of the regional season.

In those two matches, Miller snagged an incredible 23 wickets, putting him third on the list of highest wicket-takers, all of whom have played at least three more games.

Miller has the distinction of being the all-time leading wicket-taker in regional 4-day cricket after just 12 years at the first-class level.

Despite his statistics in the 4-day game, Miller has only played one Test for the Windies. He has played 46 ODIs and nine T20 Internationals, but as he says, the longer version of the sport is his ‘first love’.

His results from playing in four-day f i r s t class cricket suggest he would b e b e t ter suited to the Test arena but the bowler has not been thinking that he needs to perform well to earn a recall.

“I wasn't even thinking about West Indies opportunity. I was just playing and enjoying my cricket at the regional level and [thinking] whatever happens, happens. The opportunity is here now, and it's just for me to grab it with both hands and with both legs. It's a great feeling and hopefully I can get the job done,” he said.

Windies ODI squad – Jason Holder (captain), Jason Mohammed (vice-captain), Sunil Ambris, Ronsford Beaton, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Kyle Hope, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Nikita Miller, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Kesrick Williams (Sportsmax)

hris Gayle finally delivered a Gaylestorm performance in the Bangladesh Premier League that blew the Khulna Titans out of the competition.

Gayle smashed a 51-ball 126 that powered the Rangpur Riders to an eight-wicket win and a place in the second qualifier.

The whirlwind knock included 14 sixes, a new BPL record, bettering his own mark of 12 sixes set in 2013 when he played for the Dhaka Gladiators. He also hit six fours during his destructive knock as the Riders rushed to 171 for 2 off 15.2 overs.

Earlier, Nicolas Pooran smashed a 22ball 28 and Carlos Brathwaite 25 from 9 to propel the Titans to 167 for 6 off their 20 overs. The total represented a turnaround from a potentially disastrous 56 for 3.

Opener Nazmul Hossain Shanto opened the innings for the Titans with three fours in eight balls before getting out trying to slog Sohag Gazi in the fourth over.

Afif Hossain drove his first ball over cover for four, then smashed a six four balls later before was bowled by Lasith Malinga the following over.

Mahmudullah was next to go after he struck two sixes and two fours in his 6-ball 20, before holing out to long-on.

Pooran and Ariful Haque staged a bit of a rescue act putting on 40 at eight an over for the fifth wicket.

Ariful was dismissed in the 17th over for his team’s top score of 29 and set the stage for Brathwaite’s onslaught that included him taking 17 off Malinga in the 18th over.

However, the Sri Lankan struck back trapping Pooran leg before for 28 with a slower full toss and gave away just one boundary to restrict the Titans to 167 for 9.

He finished with 2 for 49 off his four overs.

When the Riders went out to bat, Gayle got going with two massive sixes but his side suffered early setbacks when Jofra Archer (2 for 30) removed Gazi and Brendon McCullum in the third over to leave Rangpur at 25 for 2.

Gayle then took matters into his own hands. He clobbered Archer for 20 runs in the fifth over and then abused Abu Jayed in the next over with a straight hit down the ground before Mohammad Irfan's leg breaks were deposited for two sixes in the seventh over - the first of which brought up a 50 off 23 balls. Gayle did not spare his West Indies

team-mate, Brathwaite, either, as Rangpur surged towards the target.

He went on to bring up a 45-ball hundred when he worked Mahmudullah to deep midwicket for a single in the 14th over. He finished the chase when he slammed Shanto for back-to-back sixes in the 16th over.

Almost unnoticed at the other end was Mohammed Mithun, who quietly scored 30 from 33 balls.(Sportsmax)

SATURDAY, december 9, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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Call 651-9663/600-7719.

Rose Hall, Iman Bacchus SC team up for special match

I

n a clash of counties, the Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadget Cricket team of Berbice will lock horns with the Iman Bacchus Sports Club of Essequibo on Sunday December 10 at the Albion Community Center, in a highly anticipated encounter.

The specially arranged match is a part of Rose Hall’s Say no To Suicide Programme and will feature some of the best players contesting in a 30 overs-perside match which is expected to get underway from 11:00h.

Both clubs have named strong teams for the match

with favorites Rose Hall being led by former Guyana Under-19 captain Shawn Perriera with the likes of Clinton Pestano, Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Eon Hooper, Royston Crandon, Keon Sinclair, and others.

The organisers are encouraging the public to support the match which is free of cost while Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC)Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster expressed confidence in the success of the match.

Rose Hall team: Shawn Perriera, Clinton Pestano,

Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Eon Hooper, Royston Crandon, Keon Sinclair, Slyus Tyndall, Keith Sinclair, Chanderpaul Govindan, Jonathan Rampersaud, and Mahendra Gopilall Iman Bacchus team: Yougeshwar Lall, Latchman Rohit, Wayne Osborn, Nathan Persaud, Parmesh Parotam, Rovendra Parasram, Ganesh Mangal, Lallbachan Narine, Parmesh Persaud, Khulraj Persaud, Rodwyn Gordon, Kevin Balbadar, Derwain Williams and Govindra Gobin.

sports

21

Royston Crandon

Indigenous All-Stars down for Super 16 Year-end battle T

– $2M at stake

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will today launch their year-end tournament – “GFF Super 16 Yearend Classic” at the federation’s Boardroom at 11:00h.

Today’s symbolic launch will feature representatives of key partner – Top Brandz Distributors – and representatives from the participating clubs. The next order of business is the opening night of the knockout football tournament on Friday December 15.

The fast-paced tournament is expected to come to an end with the grand final and third-place playoff on New Year’s Day (January 1, 2018). It will feature 10 elite clubs, five of the country’s top non-elite clubs and an Indigenous AllStars team.

Wayne Forde, GFF’s President, said the Federation is excited about this initiative and is part of the strategy to streamline football competition for the coming years.

“We have had a disjointed approach to competition among the membership that must be reconciled with our player development strategy. The format will change next year and will feature a country-wide playoff that all Associations will participate in. Every member will benefit financially from the tournament with games being played in many Associations. We will be moving the finals around the country each year as well. I think the fans will definitely appreciate the new format. There will also be a massive 1st January show of which details will be announced later.”

The tournament has resulted in the postponement of the GFF Elite League,

which is scheduled to restart in February 2018.

In a correspondence dated December 6 to Elite Clubs, the GFF informed of this change: “On observing that the Elite League Clubs have all completed two matches each at the present stage of the League, it seems wise to break at this point, which would allow all of the clubs to restart on an even platform next year, avoiding any club feeling shortchanged after the break.”

The knockout tournament has a whopping $2 million for the team that wants it the most

While the tournament’s top prize is set at two millions dollars, the second prize is one million dol-

lars, third-place prize is five hundred thousand dollars and the fourth-placed team will take away two

hundred and fifty thousand dollars together with football equipment including balls and cones.

Stag ‘Skills for Gold’ 7-a-side Tournament

Battle for liquid

cash & gold rings begins S

ixteen teams will begin the journey tonight in their attempt to claim $200,000 and 10 gold rings, when the Stag Beer ‘Skills for Gold’ 7-A-Side football tournament kicks off at the #5 Ground with a triple-header.

In the opening game tonight, from 18:00h , Golden Grove will take on Mahaicony FC, while Rosignol U20 will come up against Lichfield Net Rockers. In the evening’s final game, Monedderlust A will tackle Orealla Falcons.

“Football is a big deal in West Coast Berbice and we believe that this tournament will be big and is the first of many to come,” said promoter Borris Ross at a press conference hosted at ANSA McAL’s Beterverwagting (BV) Head Office on Friday.

Ross told the gather-

ANSA McAL’s Trade Marketing Assistant for the West Coast Berbice area, Lynton Luke (right) presenting promoter Borris Ross with the trophies. Also in photo, STAG Beer Brand Representative Lyndon Henry

ing that along with some friends, the concept of the tournament was actually birthed in a Barber shop,

with the aim being to bring back football to the West Coast Berbice area.

According to Ross, mak-

ing the prize for the tournament attractive is one way of bringing out the best of the teams and players. The ten gold rings, the organisers stated are valued at $25,000 each.

The team finishing second will pocked $100,000 and also receive ten silver rings. Teams finishing third and four are set to go home with $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.

Lyndon Henry, Stag Beer brand representative, said that Ansa McAl, was, as usual, happy to be on board, adding “this is what we do as a company and this sponsorship reflects ANSA McAL’s eagerness to help develop sports in Guyana.”

The Number 5 Ground will be venue used for the tournament, which wraps up on December 30.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, december 9, 2017

Smalta/MOPH Pee Wee Girls Football tournament

Defending champs eyeing semi-final spot

D

e f e n d i n g champions of the Smalta/ Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) 11-years and under Girls football tournament, St Angela’s Primary will be looking to maintain their winning ways as they seek to progress another step closer to another championship.

The tournament continues today with quarterfinal matches at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Avenue.

The action gets underway from 11:00h with the first quarterfinal between St. Angela’s and Tucville

Primary. En route to the quarter-finals, the champions needled North Georgetown in their first match, while achieving a walkover against School of the Nations last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Tucville suffered a heavy 8-0 defeat last weekend and will be looking to rebound today.

The second quarterfinal match will peg the inform St. Pius that walloped Tucville 8-0 last weekend against the F.E. Pollard unit who will be coming into the game with some confidence after they sank South Ruimveldt 2-0 on the last match day.

Quarterfinal three kicks off at 12:45h and will see

Today promises a packed day of action in the Girls Peewee tournament

Ibrahimovic, Jones fit for Manchester derby

J

ose Mourinho has had some encouraging injury news ahead of Manchester United's clash with Manchester City.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Phil Jones will be fit for the Manchester derby on Sunday, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed.

Midfielder Marouane Fellaini will face a late fitness test but could also be involved, while Nemanja Matic is also available despite struggling with a knock.

However, Eric Bailly and captain Michael Carrick re-

main sidelined and will miss the game with Pep Guardiola's side, along with the suspended Paul Pogba.

"Zlatan is available, Jones is available, Fellaini I have to wait until tomorrow [Saturday]," Mourinho told a news conference.

"Carrick is not available, Bailly is not available. Matic is injured but he plays."

Jones has been out of action since aggravating a thigh injury on England duty, which prompted Mourinho to criticise national team boss Gareth Southgate for his decision to field the player in a friendly.

West Ruimveldt clashing with Redeemer Primary while the final quarterfinal will see South Ruimveldt matching skills with North Georgetown Primary.

Saturday promises to be action packed and following the quarterfinal games, the ladies will be at it again in Semi-final action that will have first whistle blown at 14:00h.

In addition, on Saturday there will be two exhibition matches between Boys’ under-11 teams that just completed the Courts Tournament. Those games will be West Ruimveldt vs.

Plaisance Orphanage and Enterprise Primary vs.

Sophia.

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Georgetown

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic, who only returned from a cruciate ligament injury last month, missed the 3-1 Premier League win at Arsenal and the 2-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Matic played through a muscle problem against the Gunners and was rested in

midweek, while Fellaini has not played since picking up a knee injury playing for Belgium in the last international break.

Bailly has not featured for United since November 5 and Carrick has only played once this season, having been struggling with a heart problem.

Future Stars walk the plank, Sparta march to semis

GFF/FIFA Grassroots training attracts 30 in Berbice

A

Guyana Football Federation/ FIFA-facilitated Grassroots training programme was held in Corriverton, Berbice from December 4-7 and targeted a total of approximately 30 teachers, club coaches and coaches from the GFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centres (ATCs) in the Berbice Football Association (BFA).

The training was conducted by FIFA Technical Consultant Lenny Lake and covered the basics of Grassroots training.

On the final day (Thursday, December 7) a Grassroots Festival was held with students from the Skeldon and Corriverton Primary schools.

Following the festival, a review was done and equipment presented to representatives from the participating schools and clubs

Future Stars were dumped out of the quarter-finals while Sparta Boss made it through to the semi-finals

T

he Future Stars and their supporters were left heartbroken following their late quarter-final loss to Bent Street. In a game that seemed destined for extra time, Bent Street repelled the Stars countless attacks and John Waldron stuck home a dagger two minutes from full time to give his side a win with a Guinness goal which meant the game ended at 2-0.

In the other three quarter-finals it was all needles as Sparta Boss were fortunate to have an own goal awarded to them in their match against Queen Street Tiger Bay. Earlier, Randolph Wagner’s strike in the 17th minute was enough to propel Gold is Money to the semi-finals as their clash against Rising Stars ended 1-0.

Leopold Street also won

via the same scoreline with Omallo Williams’ 12th minute goal was enough for his side to triumph over California Square.

In the “Plate Section”, GTI Ballers, North East La Penitence, Kingston and Upsetters all claimed walkover victories as their respective opponents failed to show up.

The tournament continues tonight with the semi-final matches slated for the Albouystown Tarmac which should see lots of fireworks.

Gold is Money will take on Bent Street at 22:00h while Sparta Boss faces off with Leopold Street at 22:45h.

Those games will be preceded by the “Plate” semi-finals the first of which kicks off at 21:00h with GTI Ballers set to play North East La Penitence while Kingston will clash with Upsetters at 21:30h.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, december 9, 2017

23

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championships 2017-18…

Chanderpaul, bowlers keep Jaguars ahead

– Devon Smith holding firm on 49 not out

S

Shivnarine Chanderpaul walks into the shot off Shane Shillingford to go to 50

h i v n a r i n e Chanderpaul notched up a crucial half-century on Friday while their bowlers snapped up six wickets as defending champs Guyana Jaguars ended day two of their sixth round match against the Windward Islands Volcanoes at Providence in a commanding position.

After bowling out the Windwards for a first innings 117 early on day one, Guyana resumed day two on 78 for 2 and were eventually bowled out for 194 from 71.4 overs in their first innings, taking a crucial 77-run lead on a grafting wicket. Elder statesman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul again kept his team in the game with a solid knock of 59 with seven fours and two sixes.

His son, opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul was the next best scorer with 36 as ex-West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford bagged 4-36 while seamer Sherman Lewis supported with descent figures of 3-62 bowling for visitors.

Batting a second time,

the Volcanoes were 126-7 from 43.3 overs with opener Devon Smith looking solid on 49 not out. All-rounder Sherfane Rutherford lead the way with two wickets while Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Keon Joseph and Keemo Paul all have one each.

The Windwards started their second innings cautiously with their most established batsmen Devon Smith and skipper Tyrone Theophile taking the score to 24-0 at the tea interval. The pair would add just three more runs to their opening stand before fast-bowler Keon Joseph broke the bat edge of the Windwards captain who was caught behind

by Anthony Bramble.

It didn’t take long for Rutherford to get into the action as he produced a ripper to uproot the stumps of Taryck Gabriel while Miles Bascombe hit two boundaries to realize his team’s 50 but never suggested permanence and was sent back by the energetic Keemo Paul.

Meanwhile Smith, the tournament’s leading run-scorer remained quite

unorthodox as he sought to temper his aggression with wickets falling around him.

The left-hander found the

swinging delivery which crashed into his stumps.

Smith was then left unbeaten, one shy of fifty when stumps were drawn with the artificial lights on.

Earlier when action began, Tagenarien Chanderpaul and Vishaul Singh resumed their innings with the Jaguars on 78 for 2 still trailing by 39 runs.

After a testing first over from left-arm seamer, Delorn Johnson Singh played over an in swinger in the day’s fourth over.

Johnson who was now bowling with his tail up got new batsman Shiv Chanderpaul to edge down the leg side but wicketkeeper Dennis Smith floored the diving chance with the legendary Shiv on one.

After a brief father and son partnership of 10

the early wickets when Kyle Mayers got in the act by removing Anthony Bramble with a ball that swung back in after the Berbician hit a solitary boundary.

Jaguars continued to gift their wickets away when Keemo Paul offered a simple return catch to Shillingford who was beginning to settle in a nice rhythm bowling from the Payers Pavilion End. However, Shiv and rookie all-rounder Rutherford then combined to address the collapse with a 56-run seventh wicket partnership that saw the Jaguars going to lunch at 144-6 with a slim lead of 27 runs.

Upon resumption of the afternoon session, the veteran left-hander continued to roll back the years with classical stroke-play which starred amidst a relatively dismal batting exhibition by

SCOREBOARD

Volcanoes opener, Devon Smith cuts well in his steady innings of 49 not out

ropes on four occasions by stumps also saw the demise of Roland Cato who was very uncomfortable to Motie.

Downell Hector played a mini cameo, smacking three fours and big six in his innings of 20 but was given out after being struck plumb on the pads by Permaul, followed by Kyle Mayers (11) who was bowled by Paul after choosing to leave a

runs, disaster struck again.

The younger Chanderpaul played an exquisite cover-drive off Sherman Lewis but followed a wide delivery down the leg side and was acrobatically be taken by keeper Smith who made amends.

The visitors then continued to make the most of the seaming conditions and

Volcanoes 1st Innings 117 all out Jaguars 1st Innings (Overnight 78-2) T Chanderpaul c Smith b Lewis 36 C Hemraj b Lewis 29 L Johnson* c Smith b Lewis 04 V Singh b Johnson 07 S Chanderpaul c Theophile b Mayers 59 A Bramble b lbw Mayers 05 K Paul c & b Shillingford 00 S Rutherford b Shillingford 13 V Permaul b Shillingford 22 G Motie c Smith b Shillingford 00 K Joseph not out 01 Extras: (b-4, lb-6, w-0, nb-8) 18 Total:(All out; 71.4 Overs) 194 FOW: 1-48, 2-63, 3-80, 4-90, 5-97, 6-98, 7-154, 8-180, 9-180, 10-194 Bowling: D Johnson 15-7-191, S Lewis 16-6-62-3, K Mayers 19.4-5-56-2, S Shillingford

Kennard Memorial CC give Hard Knockz harsh baptism S

econd division action in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Second Division 40 overs competition continued, with wins for #48 Challengers, Kennard’s Memorial and Cut & Load.

In the Upper Corentyne Area, # 48 Challengers got the upper hand of # 73 Young Warriors when they beat them by 91 runs in the feature match. Batting first, # 48 Challengers scored 227 with batsmen M. Lalu 44, R.

Ramnarine 41, D, Etwaroo 22 and M. Bhola 21, doing the bulk of the scoring.

Bowling for # 73 Young Warriors was led by Lakeram Latchman 3-29, Azad Mohammed 4-29 and Odraj Singh 3-34. # 73 Young Warriors only managed 136 runs with Lakeram Latchman top scoring with 24, after B. Baldeo snared 4-19 in 5.3 overs with support from J. Baijnauth who claimed 4-20.

Over at the crowded # 72

the champs.

After Shillingford outfoxed Rutherford, Shiv then found a useful partner in Permaul to put on 26 before Shillingford had a double strike.

The Dominican first bowled the right-hander Permaul and next delivery had the left-handed Motie caught at slip. Shiv then tried to extend the innings by hogging the strike from number 11, Joseph and in the process brought up his 140th First Class 50 before he holed out to gully off Mayers who was desperately trying things with the ball.

When the action resumes today at 09:30h, the Volcanoes will look to add to their 50-run lead while the Jaguars will be looking to mop up the lower order as early as possible to push for an early victory.

Cut & Load Ground, hosts Cut & Load emerged victorious over # 70 CC in a closely contested match. Batting first, # 70 CC scored 116 runs thanks to knocks from; R. Yacoob 45, N. Yacoob 27 and A. Persaud 12. M Singh was the pick of the bowlers for Cut & Load with 5-23. # 72 Cut & Load then cruised to a 4 wicket win when they reached their target of 117 in 18 overs after V. Persaud led the way with an even 50 while R Persaud con-

tributed with 21.

At the Bush Lot Ground, Kennard's Memorial Cricket Club defeated the newly formed Hard Knockz Team by 6 wickets in their first game of the competition. The rising Hard Knocks team batted first but just managed 81 runs 19.1 overs with T. Mendonza and L. Mendonza being the only 2 batsmen to reach double figures with 15 and 12 runs respectively. M. Rabindranauth with 3-15 and two wickets

each form Bassoo and G. Mangroio were the stars with the ball.

Replying to the target of 81, Kennards Memorial CC reached their target in 10 overs compliments of R, Bassoo 28, K. Permaloo 17 and S. Seelall 12.

The Competition enters the sixth week this weekend.

18-7-36-4, T Theophile 2-1-8-0, R Cato 1-0-3-0 Volcanoes 2nd innings D Smith not out 49 T Theophile c wkp Bramble b Joseph 16 T Gabriel b Rutherford 09 M Bascombe lbw b Rutherford 09 R Cato lbw b Motie 04 D Hector b lbw Permaul 20 K Mayers b Paul 20 Extras (b-6, lb-2, w-0, nb-1) 9 Total: (7 wickets, 43.3 overs) 126 Still to bat: Delorn Johnson, Shane Shillingford, Sherman Lewis, Dennis Smith FOW: 1-27, 2-45, 3-56, 4-71, 5-102, 6-127 Bowling: Joseph 11-3-26-1, Paul 10.3-2-22-1 Rutherford, Permaul 11-0-33-1, Motie 5-0-19-1 Position: Volcanoes are ahead by 50 runs with 4 wickets in hand

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

SATURDAY, december 9, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championships 2017-18…

Chanderpaul, bowlers keep Jaguars – Devon Smith holding ahead firm on 49 not out Pg 23

GFF/FIFA Grassroots training attracts 30 in Berbice

Pg 22

Some of the participating children along with the coaches who were a part of the GFF/FIFA Grassroots Training programme in Berbice over the past week

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