Guyanatimes, june 18, 2018

New Toshaos elected in Region 2 P14

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

Issue No. 3597

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, June 18, 2018

PRICE

Alleged human trafficking

Jagdeo criticises Henry for racialising issue Page 3

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Diamond businessman blames unstable water supply for P13 constructing “reservoir” – NDC Chairman wants full investigation

TSU Officers complain of victimisation, corruption

P12

Sea defence breach causes massive flooding in Wakenaam – structure temporarily sealed

CCJ to rule on sovereignty of the people case early P7 July

Page 9

Ram baffled Works

by CJ’s to start ruling on year end GECOM Chair

Movietowne/UG solar farm Page 2

Page 11

– investor says Movietowne must be up and running first

Payments from 2014 Panama rice deal P13

GRDB, Agriculture Ministry to formally respond as millers, farmers still owed

2 news

monDAY, june 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Movietowne/UG solar farm

Works to start year end

– investor says Movietowne must be up and running first

M

onths after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the University of Guyana (UG) for Movietowne to build a solar farm, the company is confirming that the project is still on and will commence by this year end.

This is according to Movietowne proprietor Derek Chin, who in an interview with Guyana Times, confirmed that the United States-based contractor would be in Guyana to start installation for the farm later this year.

“There were some problems in terms of the actual area of land, whether it could have been made possible and that took a little while. Basically, in terms of prioritising, wanted to get our Movietowne project up and running first,” Chin related.

“There is a company that is doing the second phase, which is the solar part and I don’t think that the final part with the university land is up and available yet.

It’s still being negotiated, so it’s not a done deal. As soon as we are finished with our project when it opens some time this year, we would be putting in our solar which

The Movietowne complex

will be in the compound itself.”

With the solar farm expected to supply energy to the company as well as the campus, Chin maintained that they need the alternative power. The businessman related that they currently had two three-megawatt generators.

“Whatever arrangements we finalise with the University, we would contin-

ue. So it was just a matter of priority, it is not a dead deal by any stretch of the imagination. We obviously need to get some form of alternative power.”

“It’s not like we just scrapped it. We couldn’t wait on UG to say, ‘yes, you have 10 acres or five acres’ of their land. We already worked with this company Sunscreen and they are going to be coming in by the

end of the year and putting in the solar panels.”

In April of last year, the MoU was signed by Chin and UG’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith. It would not only allow for alternative energy, but also the construction of a new housing complex for students.

At the time, it was explained by Chin that they would install solar panels

that could provide enough energy to power the entire Turkeyen Campus and his Movietowne complex. At the time of the signing, however, factors like location, cost, and power capacity were too early to pronounce on.

However, technical teams from Trinidad were reported to be scheduled for visits to Guyana for a fact-based assessment of the farm. With regard to the complex for the

students, which would have 150 rooms, construction was supposed to start last year.

The Movietowne project itself has been facing setbacks. During a recent tour, Chin had spoken out about challenges facing the Turkeyen construction project. Chin had noted that these challenges were costing the company, but that interactions with the Government have dwindled.

“We have met with Government and I don’t seem to meet with them anymore… to say that Mr Chin ‘how is your investment going? What can we do to help?’

So that communication link with the Government is very important… the Private Sector is the driver. The Government cannot outrun the Private Sector, because it is the Private Sector. It has its own money, but the Private Sector needs to be given that encouragement,” Chin had said.

Additionally, the businessman had said Government should be more involved in discussion with the Private Sector and work hand in hand with them, since they are the ones who are the drivers of the economy.

news

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monDAY, june 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, June 18 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, June 19 – 09:00h-10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday. June 18 – 07:45h-09:15h and Tuesday, June 19 – 08:20h-09:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

Alleged human trafficking

Jagdeo criticises Henry for racialising issue

WEATHER TODAY Thunderstorms are expected to prevail throughout the day and evening interrupted by a few light rain showers. Temperatures will range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South-easterly to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 07:55h and 20:33h reaching maximum heights of 2.58 metres and 2.43 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 14:01h reaching a minimum height of 0.65 metre.

SATURDAY, June 16, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS E

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21 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 02 04 05 13

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LUCKY 3 5 3 9

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Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

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Evening Draw

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Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

R

ecent statements made by Education Minister Nicolette Henry in Parliament in relation to allegations of human trafficking have been criticised by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who claimed that the Minister was more interested in making the issue about race, instead of trying to find a solution.

He was referring to the recent meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, which was held in the Parliament Chambers on Wednesday, June 13. The meeting also saw Citizenship Minister Winston Felix and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge in attendance to discuss possible human trafficking.

While the main contention is that there has been a large influx of Haitian nationals entering Guyana, with very few of them leaving, Henry sought to question why focus was not placed likewise on citizens of Bangladesh.

“Why emphasis was being placed on the number of Haitians not departing Guyana, since if an analysis of the figures from a percentage perspective was conducted, then it would show a 30 per cent non-departure rate for persons from

Bangladesh. Why not the Bangladeshis?” she questioned.

However, the latest statistics provided to Parliament showed that the problem lay with those coming from the French Caribbean island nation and not necessarily Bangladesh.

Statistics provided to the House showed that from 2015 to April 30, 2018, a total of 6245 Haitians arrived in Guyana, but only 963 were recorded to have left. This means that there are 5282 Haitians still in Guyana. In the case of persons coming to Guyana from Bangladesh, the numbers were less alarming.

It was also reported that from 2015 to April 30, 2018, a total of 247 Bangladeshis arrived in Guyana and 147 were recorded to have left.

This means that there are 104 Bangladeshis still in Guyana. However, it was explained that a majority of the remaining 104 have valid work permits.

Jagdeo said: “Henry showed no comprehension skills whatsoever. This is about trafficking. She made it about race. We don’t have problem with people coming here, working here, so long as they follow the laws. It is about the reports that people are paying thousands …

and are trafficked through Guyana.”

The Minister’s comments were also criticised by independent statisticians and financial experts who claimed that it was extremely disturbing that she showed her lack of elementary and basic training in primary school statistics, which advises on the concept of absolute change versus relative change.

Absolute change refers to the difference between two indicators (2016 vs 2017, arrivals vs departures in a particular period and so on).

Relative change expresses the absolute change as a percentage of the value of the indicators in the earlier period (Absolute change between 2016 and 2017 as a percentage of the 2016 values).

These experts have said if one were to use Henry’s logic that 30 per cent of the Bangladeshis did not leave Guyana in 2017, then she must be professional enough to tell the full truth around this 30 per cent because it translates to 11 Bangladeshis. “If one compares those 11 Bangladeshis who made themselves into illegal aliens in Guyana in 2017 to the other nationalities the picture is very different from the image Henry is trying to paint,” one expert said.

It was further noted that some 7255 Cubans and 3224 Haitians overstayed their time in Guyana in 2017 compared to these 11 Bangladeshis. Of the 12,585 illegal aliens recorded as domiciled in Guyana in 2017, 83 per cent of them, or 10,479, are Cubans and Haitians. But Henry chose to sensationalise the status of 11 Bangladeshis instead of looking properly at the facts.

Minister Nicolette Henry

The Opposition has long claimed that Government may be engaged in some form of human trafficking.

The Opposition Leader has claimed if 10,000 false birth certificates were issued, which have the possibility of being used in the registration process especially during elections. He said Guyanese could not afford to become complacent, but must remain vigilant.

In early June, it was revealed that several Haitians, both adults and children, were sent back to Haiti after it was suspected by the Police that they were reportedly part of a human smuggling ring. The Police had disclosed that the probe had found that some of the Haitians were entering Guyana to travel to other destinations, and that they were doing this for organised reasons.

Officials in neighbouring Suriname have claimed that many Haitians have been travelling there by plane on their way to French Guiana, but they could not convince immigration authorities of their onward journey. Back in September 2016, at least 12 Haitian men were caught in Linden heading to neighbouring Brazil.

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Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

On fathers and country T

he citizens of Catholic-dominated countries in Europe and Latin America had long celebrated “Father’s Day” on March 19, which is St Joseph’s Day, named after the father of Jesus. Since Joseph was actually Jesus’s putative “father”, the day probably emphasised the role played by fathers during a very patriarchal-dominated age.

As usual, it was the Americans who decided to secularise it. It became “Father’s Day” in 1910, and was to be observed on the third Sunday of March, when there could be massive “Father’s Day sales” to give the economy another boost.

For us in Guyana, this commercialisation of “Father’s Day” reflects the march of westernisation into the value system of the rest of the world. In traditional cultures such as those from whence the vast majority of Guyanese originated, the roles of fathers did not need a day to remember and honour them. On Father’s Day, therefore, it would do us well to reflect on the violent wrenching of fathers from their role of being the provider and protector of their families during the humiliation of slavery, and to a lesser extent indentureship.

Nowadays, there is a large and vigorous hue and cry over the “missing fathers” in many homes, which creates severe pathologies in the children, especially boys; because of the lack of a model father figure. But scant attention is given to the fact that in West Africa and India, from whence most of these persons’ ancestors originated, this condition is absolutely the exception.

On Father’s Day, therefore, we suggest that there be a national reappraisal, formal and informal, of the recuperation of the traditional role of the father in our society; rather than the superficial handing over of gifts that were conceptualised by marketing agents in the North.

In traditional Indian culture, for instance, there is a maxim that is still known to most, and is supposed to be repeated every morning: “Mother is God; Father is God”, as a sacred fire is circled in front of parents. While it is a reminder that parents are supposed to be honoured every day, it is also a reminder to the parents – both father and mother – that they also have to perform their roles: to protect, socialise and provide for their families.

But the traditional role of “father” originated before the revolutionary onset of the nation-state in the 17th century.

After this, to a large extent, the nation-state was now supposed to play the role of the “father” writ large for the entire society. Like the father was supposed to do for the family, the state would protect the people from outsiders; create the conditions for the people to flourish; socialise them into their roles; and sanction them if they were to act against the good of all.

On Father’s Day, we therefore also ought to evaluate our state, and the Government that we placed in charge of it, from the standpoint of whether it is performing its designated role for the people of Guyana. These people, by and large, are performing their roles by accepting they will be taxed to provide funding for the activities of the state to provide the “good life”. Are the people being provided with the level of public security they were promised?

In the provision of health services, there is presently a public debate on the propriety of a Government minister being whisked away abroad for medical treatment when a young national cyclist was allowed to die because treatment was not available locally. Is this how the state, as parent, ought to act?

Then there is the unilateral action by the PNCled Government to shut down the state-owned GuySuCo, and throw 7700 sugar workers (inclusive from private cane farming) on the bread line. The Government justified their move by invoking the cold calculus of private enterprise, but this was what they inveigled against in 1976 to justify the nationalisation of the sugar industry. The PNC, under Burnham, then invoked the role of the state as father writ large.

Members of the Radha Krishna Foundation during a presentation at the Everest Cricket Club Ground in observance of fourth International Day of Yoga (Carl Croker photo)

Alexander: the mastermind behind the rigging machinery setup

Dear Editor, It is Vincent Alexander again, The PNC point man at GECOM; he is the one making and breaking laws at the institution. In fact, in all his deliberations at the Commission, he quotes himself as the law and the source of all knowledge in the workings of GECOM. It is all about what he wants, or what he wants to get done at the Commission.

That final outcome, according to the information made available to us -- the sources I would not here divulge -- is a one-seat, so-called razor slim majority in the name of “The Coalition.”

The huge problem with that corrupt transaction is that you must continue to work around the figures to bring about that result. This is Alexander’s headache and the PNC’s problem: how to, and in what ambience, massage the figures to produce a win.

As was the case in the 2015 elections, this was a pretty easy task, because all Alexander and his cohorts had to do was to continue working along that deceptive path, flip that one-seat minority win for the PPP/C in 2011, and simply flip that over in 2015 into a one-seat win for the PNC-led Coalition; and eureka!

So, let us carefully follow the sequence of events. I have already dealt with the Gocool Boodhoo sabotage by Alexander, so I will not dwell on that matter, but will gracefully move on from there.

The chairman of GECOM, having serious issues with his conscience, resigns, paving the way for a new chairman.

The constitution stipulates that the Opposition submit a list of six names from which a chairman should be chosen.

The Opposition submits 18 names, all of which were rejected by the President; and, in response, he handpicks a party loyal for that position.

The position of DCEO becomes available, and the acting DCEO, Mr Vishnu Persaud, was rejected for the post.

Acting on the advice of Alexander, Chairman Patterson makes a casting vote for a virtual newcomer to be installed in the position of DCEO. Roxanne Myers is chosen for the post of DCEO, least qualified with no experience.

Mr Alexander comes out in defence of this choice.

Every dissenting voice on the commission is silenced.

There is no redress.

Still not comfortable with that rigging machinery setup of his, Alexander moves to create a system where all scruti-

nisers or keen eyes must be removed. Alexander wants to work in an atmosphere where he can manoeuvre comfortably, so he is wary of the people he has around him. His preference goes for those who, in his estimation, are staunch party supporters. In that regard, Vishnu Persaud became his latest victim.

He must have gloated when Gocool Boodhoo was gotten rid of. Delivering Boodhoo’s head on a platter was a notable achievement for his party, and this emboldened the man on his iniquitous rampage.

But let me sound the alarm to Alexander and sundry: you might have gotten away with Boodhoo and even Ramotar, but that scheming, illegal plot of yours will not get past the suffering people, far less a Bharrat Jagdeo. We will not allow this foolishness to gain foothold. Please note that the people of Guyana will not allow this thievery to take place again.

So, to Miss Myers, I would say: You have been selected to take the blame when that sinister plan of Alexander’s is exposed. His plan is to set you up for a mighty hard fall, so be aware! Sure enough, he would be exposed when the facts and figures of the next election become clear to all. I say to you: stay clear of that “scapegoat

syndrome” Alexander has backed you into; do not take the fall like this man. Keep all your data intact. Take keen stock of all sources of your data.

When we, the people, would have triumphed, we are coming after Alexander.

The first item on our agenda would be a SOCU investigation into all the machinations of Alexander at GECOM. This is a vital decision, because it goes to the heart of our democratic right to choose who governs us, and not to be left at the behest of a corrupt individual. Alexander must be investigated and prosecuted to the maximum; he must not get away with it.

It is Alexander’s mistaken belief that he can secretly steal another win for his beloved party, but all of those plans have been made public, and the nonsense must stop now! We will not accept any hand-me-down votes; we demand every vote cast by the honest, conscientious, hardworking suffering people of Guyana; no more no less. We want every last vote given to us; not votes given to us by Alexander and his cabal, but every vote credited to us. We demand our votes, every last one!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Authorities must ensure that fishermen are free to work without fear

Dear Editor, A few days ago, I urged Government to handle the issue with Vishnu Persaud carefully, lest it becomes one totally about race more than about his alleged poor performance executing the voter education exercise for the past two general elections.

Today, I take time out to commend both the Police and the Public Security Ministry for breaking up a terrible gang of men who had spread terror to the Berbice fishing community through a reign of terror dating back to more than a decade.

Googling some of the previous piracy attacks, it is clear to me that this has been go-

ing on for far too long. While researching, I came across a Stabroek News story back in February of 2007 pertaining to fishermen complaining to then Security Minister Clement Rohee about how fearful they were of going to sea. Some have migrated; others have abandoned the industry completely.

Luckily for all of us, the leaders of the gangs which had for years been operating on the Corentyne coast with impunity overstepped their bounds in a very big way with the brutal killing of about 15 men off the Suriname coast in late April.

The massive Police and governmental response by

authorities in Guyana and Suriname appears to have now led to the demise of the gang, with its leaders before Guyanese courts. Several henchmen are also facing piracy charges. The response must have caught them by surprise.

And until I read it in local papers, I was completely unaware that Guyanese law allows Police to charge a pirate or alleged pirate for an act committed in or outside Guyana’s waters.

So, surely, the gang leaders were unaware of this exceptional clause, and will likely pay for it with extended jail sentences, if not the death penalty. Going forward, many

of us will closely monitor activities on the high seas, to see if the gang and its leaders have in fact been wiped out, or if new ones will emerge.

Whatever it may be, authorities must keep their foot on the pedal to ensure that fishermen are free to work without fear of being attacked, tied to weights, and dumped overboard.

They must do so, as hard as it is to believe that they were Guyanese who had done these heinous things to their fellow countrymen, some of whom lived in the same community as their victims.

Sincerely, Winston Mars

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Do not allow the historical significance of Plantation Highbury to diminish Dear Editor, On May 5, 1838, some 180 years ago, the first batch of 128 East Indian immigrants landed at Plantation Highbury, East Bank Berbice. It is important that, as Guyanese, we do not allow the historical significance of Plantation Highbury to diminish.

Over the last thirty years, on May 5th, Guyanese gathered at this prestigious site to reflect and show gratitude for the sacrifices of our ancestors.

Through the generosity of the Indian Government, Guyana has received a monument to commemorate this historical occasion. The controversial Palmyra site selected for such a monument still baffles the mind of the majority of Guyanese.

While Guyanese are extremely grateful for this monument, the reasons given for the selection of this site over the Highbury site have indeed displayed the ignorance and subsequent lack of emotion of those who were instrumental in deciding for the Guyanese population that Palmyra is the best place for such a monument.

The reasons given thus far are that Palmyra is at a junction where the Berbice bridge -- the way to the Corentyne -- and the town of New Amsterdam can be accessed.

More people will get to view it.

Security at Palmyra would be superior to that at Highbury. The area is more populated, Highbury is too isolated.

There is not enough space at Highbury to accommodate such a monument. There is enough land space at palmyra.

The roads to the site are not that good, and it’s too far away from the urban areas.

Again, the question is: Where is the historical justification for the selection of this Palmyra site?

Please permit me to give reasons why Highbury is the best place for such a monument.

1: Our forefathers landed at Highbury, not at Palmyra.

Highbury was declared a heritage site due to its immense historical significance. The imprints of the feet of our forefathers will forever be in the hearts of us, their descendants. Those with genuine appreciation for the sacrifices of our forefathers will always feel that emotional attachment to a place like Highbury. This site was always graced by the presence of distinguished individuals from 1988 to date. Presidents Desmond Hoyte, Samuel Hinds, Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar, and in the

last two years, his Excellency David Granger, Indian High Commissioners past and present, Ministers of Government, members of the diplomatic corps, and thousands of Guyanese as well as foreigners, the likes of Yesu Persaud, Ravi Dev, former Prime Minister of Trinidad Basdeo Panday, have all paid homage to this place of pilgrimage.

On the historical 100th anniversary of Indian arrival, the then Deputy Prime Minister of India together with the Prime Minister of Guyana joined the gathering under the sacred bel and peepar trees which are still present there today to commemorate this occasion.

1. Both domestic and regional tourism can be boosted by the enhancement of Highbury heritage site. With persons making that journey to Highbury, not only will it give them that experience, but also will boost the economic growth of the area.

Local shops, fruit juice vendors, subsistence farmers as well as boarding houses can all benefit from the sale of their products and services.

Along the way to the site, one can also see a Hindu architectural wonder in the Gay Park Sri Krishna Mandir, the Bermine site, where bauxite was once mined, nature’s

Deception, victimisation, incompetence and arrogance evident in the public health system Dear Editor, The Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, and the Director of Clinical Health, Dr Shako, recently visited Region Six to do an analysis of the health sector.

I assume they visited most of the hospitals and health centres in the region, because they reported that the sector has seen a lot of positives since the APNU+AFC Coalition Government took office in 2015.

The minister and public officials of the Granger Administration continue to disregard the truth: that the health sector is really in a critical state, and is suffering from incompetence, mismanagement, corruption, and is failing miserably to improve services to assist hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Guyanese who are depending on this important, life- saving service.

At the meeting with Minister Dr Cummings, we were told that the National Ophthalmology Hospital will commence cataract surgeries in the next three months. This was shocking, since the senior Minister of Public Health, the Director of Health Services, and the Department of Public Information had publicly informed the Guyanese people that the National Ophthalmology Hospital was presently doing laser cataract surgeries.

In summary, there are difficulties in comprehending who is actually speaking the truth and who is lying. As I was identifying the issues in the health sector in Region Six, the minister abruptly informed me that

she was busy, she had to visit two hospitals before leaving for Georgetown, and was unable to listen to the cries of the people.

This is the level of arrogance that was shown by the minister, and this Granger Administration is preaching about cohesion and inclusive government.

Before May 2015, most of the drugs and medical supplies for cataract surgeries were purchased from prequalified companies, but because of the vindictive attitude of this Government, the Ministry of Public Health is refusing to purchase from those companies, and as such, thousands of vulnerable Guyanese awaiting cataract surgery and availability of other drugs are getting blind and dying.

If there is an availability of the necessary drugs and medical supplies, cataract surgeries can be done at the New Amsterdam Hospital, and prevent a huge backlog and even stopping people from getting blind. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government should stop political victimisation of this supplier, and purchase the necessary drugs and medical supplies immediately.

Another promise made

by Minister Dr Cummings is that 24-hour pharmacy would be at the New Amsterdam Hospital; but there is only one pharmacist in Region Six, who is near retirement, and there are limited amounts of drugs for the entire Region Six. Before I conclude, let me extend my sincere condolences to the family of young Beyonce Ross, who is a victim of the gross incompetence in the healthcare sys-

tems of Guyana. President Granger, at Guyana’s 52nd Independence Anniversary, was showcasing youths, yet denied a teenager the right to access proper health care.

Many ministers went to have publicity with Beyonce Ross, but failed miserable to resolve the problem.

The cost for all those ministers and public officials who visited her might have covered the expenses for Beyonce Ross’s medical bills overseas.

Numerous Guyanese are identifying their medical issues, but are unable to fix them; and as such, this is causing them to die a slow death.

The reality is that this APNU+AFC Coalition Government only makes provision for its members to enjoy the good life, and behave like “carrion crows” and “vampires on the taxpayers of Guyana.

Regards Zamal Hussain Chairman Regional Health Committee Region Six

own variety of plant and animal life seem untouched, and the breath of clean, fresh air, wide savannah lands that stretch towards the horizons.

The poor condition of the roads to the area is not an excuse anymore, as the stretch from Everton to Highbury is already paved, and work is currently being done to have a fully paved road, along with street lights, connecting the town of New Amsterdam to Everton.

2. A monument at palmyra after time will lose the interest of the public, as it will be just a pass-by as it is with other monuments in the country that are sited based on the thought that “most people will see it here”. Once the appreciation is there for our rich history, then the question of long journey to Highbury will not even arise.

3. Wherever the monu-

ment is placed, it must be secured. So the cost of security will not differ based on location. As with every national heritage site, the Government provides assistance in preserving our heritage, and Highbury has receive much needed support from the Government in recent years, and I am confident that such will continue in the future.

4. As further development works are earmarked for the site, appropriate security measures will be put in place. The Berbice Indian Commemoration Committee is tasked with the responsibility for the Highbury Heritage Site, and will ensure that the assets are secured.

5. The Highbury site can accommodate over three thousand under the roof itself. Sanitary facilities, potable running water, as well as a cooking area are currently

at the disposal of the public.

This place is used for farmers’ meetings, seminars, medical outreaches, school tours among many other things.

The placement of the monument will further enhance the outlook of this site and serve as a stimulus for further development.

Mr Editor, it is clear that the justification given for the placement of this commemorative monument at Highbury far outweighs that of the palmyra site. Together with the likes of Dr. Yesu Persaud, Mr. Nourang Persaud and other Guyanese, particularly Berbicians, I am pleading with the relevant authorities to correct this unfortunate situation.

Yours faithfully, Ramesh Maraj Berbice Indian Cultural Committee – PRO

Vishnu Persaud victimised for being a professional

Dear Editor, It is not surprising that Vishnu Persaud is now collateral damage of the APNUmanaged GECOM, resulting in him being sidelined for a favoured, publicly-known APNU supporter as the new deputy CEO of GECOM. The Chairman of GECOM and its Government commissioners are making a mess of their responses to the appointment of the new DECO, leaving members of the public without any factual information. I wonder if this is by accident or design. However, it also points to the poor public relations emanating from the Commission, another position which was favoured by the new Chairman. The Commission’s public relations is weak, and more aspersions will be cast upon an organisation which is supposed to be impartial.

But, in retrospect, the way in which the Chairman was appointed by Government is indicative of its ‘we don’t care’ position, and only the Government’s choices are considered. So this trend in which Vishnu Persaud is a victim began since the current Government took office, and has resulted in numerous sackings of professionals.

Where are the Ethnic Relations Commission, the Human Rights Commission, the Indian Action Committee, etc; or even Freddie Kissoon -- someone who always claims to stand against injustice and say it as it is without fear or

favour. I therefore call on Mr. Kissoon’s pen and his knowledge of Guyana’s political history to let all Guyanese know where we are, and where we are heading as a nation politically.

Editor, as a Guyanese, I am saddened at where my country is heading. From all the articles I read online and the newspapers, I can positively conclude that Vishnu Persaud is a professional at what he does, even though aspersions are being cast on his reputation by none other than the Chairman of GECOM and Commissioner Vincent Alexander, who did not object to his earlier appointment.

It is clear now more than ever that this Government will continue to do as it pleases without a worry about transparency, and there will

be complete disregard of what is best for Guyana and the interest of all our peoples. We all need to stand up and muzzle this monster of racial discrimination within the APNU government, and by extension GECOM. I deliberately omitted AFC, which is now a mere toothless poodle witnessing the onslaught of professional public servants.

I urge all Guyanese to see beyond the politics and see ourselves as our brothers’ keepers, and focus on moving Guyana forward, rather than be subjected to racial and political profiling, which will keep Guyana labelled as a Third World country.

With regards, Christine Cadogan (Mrs)

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By Julie Nariman

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eport card distribution used to be a dramatic activity at our high school. Students would either cheer in happiness or get upset with their teachers. They rarely reflected on how they had earned their grades or on how they could improve.

Adding to this fairly typical challenge, we are a high school for newcomer English language learners (ELLs), so for many students our grading system is foreign.

We decided to do a project aimed at building metacognition to help students see the link between their actions and their grades and to foster a growth mindset toward learning.

Report card assemblies that inspire The team came up with the idea of report card assemblies to transform report card distribution into an inspiring event focused on self-reflection. Administrators, counsellors, and teachers attend and facilitate the assemblies, which we organise by grade level. This allows us to build a sense of class camaraderie: “Good morning, Class of 2021! Look around – these are the people you’ll graduate with in four years.”

In our presentation, we put careful thought into our messaging about grades.

One issue was that some students were satisfied with barely passing, yet completely demoralised by failing. We reframed grades as Honours (90–100 per cent), Passing (75– 89 per cent), and Borderline

Foundation

(65–74 per cent), and changed Failing (below 65 per cent) to Not Passing Yet. Before our first assembly, we primed our teachers by having them watch Carol Dweck’s TED talk “The Power of Yet” and coached them

the students work on a report card reflection activity using their own report cards. This involves sorting their grades into the four categories of Honours, Passing, Borderline, and Not Passing Yet, and then comparing their grades to the

parents can read them.

to use that language in their classrooms.

We now explicitly teach students what it means to self-reflect, and coach them to identify how their actions led to their current grades.

We model for them how they can talk to teachers about their grades calmly, rather than with frustration, in order to understand those grades better.

We also highlight students who have made improvements.

For example, we might say, “In the first marking period, Jennifer earned a 65 per cent in English. She started revising her work based on feedback, and her writing became more organised. She raised her grade to an 85 per cent!”

After the presentation,

previous marking period.

Next students reflect on what they did to earn their most improved grade: “What is one grade you improved? How did you improve it?” They also reflect on grades that declined: “What was a grade that went down? Why?” Students then set a goal to improve their lowest grade in one class and write out two actions they’ll take to meet that goal. To support our ELLs with the language of reflection, we provide sentence frames and a bank of exemplar responses.

Counsellors meet with any students who need support completing the reflections or creating more specific goals.

The report card reflections are then mailed home along with the actual report cards so that

card reflection would also be an ideal classroom activity, particularly for schools that have advisories.

On one occasion when we did this activity in class, we distributed a normed PowerPoint presentation so that the message of growth mindset was clear across classes. One benefit of doing the reflections in a smaller setting is that the teacher can monitor the quality of reflections more closely.

Classroom reflections instead of assemblies We have found that a wholegrade assembly works best for our school’s goal of creating a class identity. However, report

number of students earning grades above 80 per cent in English increased by 15 per cent, while the number of students earning grades above 80 per cent in Maths improved by 12 per cent. The percentage of ninth graders earning 10 or more credits in a year increased from 82 per cent the previous year to 97 per cent. And the number of students meeting collegereadiness requirements on Maths and English exams more than doubled.

Our report card reflections have evolved to include postsecondary planning, in which students compare their grades and GPAs with college benchmarks and learn how their transcripts relate to college acceptance.

Using Not Passing Yet instead of Failing has also made an impact. In teacherteam meetings, we’ve started to hear teachers say, “Joshua is not participating in group work – yet,” and, “Our ninth graders are not organising their time well – yet.” The yet then naturally leads to “How do we help our students get there?”

The greatest benefit of the assemblies is evident in our students’ mindsets.

Most students are no longer satisfied with merely passing and are taking pride in improvement. Best of all, more students see their grades as a reflection of their learning and effort, rather than as a random number given to them by a teacher. (edutopia.org)

Improved grades, improved mindsets Since we implemented the report card assemblies, grades and learning have improved.

The year we implemented report card reflections, the

Continued from Thursday

Blindness?

How are we to understand this? What is this blindness? Is it simply a question of needing time to develop the scientific viewpoint and technology? Or is there something else about human capacities to learn and conceptualise? Why could people not see and understand for so many years … years after van Leeuwenhoek saw the animalcules?

There is a term in psychiatry: hallucination, or seeing something that is not really there. There is another term as well: negative hallucination, not seeing something that really is there. Or to put it differently: consider looking at an X-ray and having no idea what you are looking at, just black and white and gray … until the radiologist begins pointing out the heart, lungs, ribs, vessels, kidney shadows, and so on. Then you “see”!

This is the story of how we continue to struggle to see and understand feelings. Despite some terrific discoveries over the years – Darwin, Freud, Winnicott, Kohut, Tomkins, Ekman – we are so often still blind to feelings.

Exploring feeling: Are we blind to feelings?

This is the story of how we still do not see or understand or accurately label feelings. It is the story of how our society focuses on behaviour rather than on the feelings which cause the behaviour.

It is the story of how feelings motivate behaviour, and how we still have not genuinely grasped that. It is about our struggle to understand the working of feelings in our close relationships and in general human interactions. (psychologytoday.com)

news

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monDAY, june 18, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Constitutional challenge

CCJ to rule on Sovereignty of the People case early July

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he Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is set to make a ruling on the Guyana Government’s appeal of the constitutional challenge to presidential term limits, along with citizenship and residency restrictions.

The decision is expected to be handed down by Sir Dennis Byron, the current President of the CCJ. Sir Dennis is expected to demit office on July 3, while Justice Adrian Saunders will assume the presidency on July 4.

Sir Dennis was on the panel of Judges who heard arguments by legal teams representing the State of Guyana, and the applicant, Cedric Richardson. The other Judges included: Jacob Wit, David Hayton, Winston Anderson, Rajnauth Lee, and Denys Barrow.

The outcome of this matter could be a deciding factor as to whether Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo will be the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate in the 2020 General Elections. Jagdeo was previously elected President in 2001 and 2006.

Coming out of the legal arguments from both sides was whether Article 90 of Guyana’s Constitution by way of Act 17 of 2001 infringed on Articles 1 and 9 of the said Constitution.

Attorney General Basil Williams said Act 17 of 2000 was validly passed.

He said the Basic Structure Doctrine was not applicable to Guyana.

This court action, among other things, challenged the constitutionality of the National Assemblysanctioned two-term limit on the presidency.

Guyana’s Court of Appeal ruled in February 2017 that the constitutional amendments by Parliament to limit the number of times a person could serve as President were unconstitutional.

During that February decision, then acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl

that were barred by Act 17 of 2001. Amended Article 90 had specified that (A) only a citizen by birth or parentage can qualify to be the President; (B) a person must be residing in Guyana on the date of nomination for

Singh, was supported by Justice of Appeal BS Roy in upholding then acting Chief Justice Ian Chang’s decision that the amendments were unconstitutional.

The decision which the Appellate Justices upheld signalled that an amendment to the Constitution on presidential term limits, which was enacted when the National Assembly altered Article 90 via a two-thirds vote in 2000, needs a referendum to make a final decision.

This enactment was recommended by an across-theboard Constitutional Reform Committee of 2000/2001.

This Committee received both Government and Opposition input, and the reform received bipartisan support.

Many observers contend that if the CCJ ruled in favour of former acting Chief Justice Chang’s original ruling, it would allow for former Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo to run on the PPP/C’s ticket as presidential candidate for the 2020 elections.

Despite this scenario, the Party is seemingly undecided on who would be its presidential candidate for the next elections.

Jagdeo, who now serves as Opposition Leader, had in fact told the press that he was more interested in building his party’s base than being bothered by an ongoing court matter. Jagdeo declared: “When the right time comes, we will decide on a presidential candidate.”

His comments followed

speculation over his future, given that he formerly served as President from 1999 to 2011 and has re-entered the field of active politics.

Jagdeo has stressed that he was mostly concerned about ensuring that his party was victorious at the nation’s next polls. “I made it clear that the PPP is not decided on a presidential candidate for 2020.

“I’m General Secretary of the Party; I took over in January last year after the Congress, and my job as General Secretary is to work hard to transform the Party, to widen its base and prepare it to win the elections regardless of what position I serve in,” he noted.

Attorney General Williams had appealed the Appeal Court’s landmark ruling in February 2017 that declared that sovereignty resides in the people and not in the Parliament; and as such, certain fundamental clauses in the Constitution that serve to define its substantive nature can be altered only by a referendum of the people.

AG Williams and his colleague, Raphael Trotman, challenged the ruling in the CCJ. The decision to refer the matter to the CCJ was presided over by acting Chancellor Yonette CummingsEdwards, Appellate Judge Dawn Gregory and then High Court Judge Rishi Persaud.

If that appeal is unsuccessful, then the voters of Guyana would have a choice of four classes of persons

election; (C) a person must have been a resident for seven years immediately before that date, and (D) citizens of Guyana who have served for two terms as President were barred from re-election.

The last elections,

back in 2015, saw former President Donald Ramotar serving as the PPP/C’s presidential candidate, while his running mate was diplomat Elisabeth Harper, who served as the Party’s prime ministerial candidate.

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monDAY, june 18, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS

Lindener convicted for possession of narcotics, trafficking T

he trial of 35-yearold Quacy Giddings on a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking was last Tuesday completed by Linden Magistrate Clive Nurse.

Giddings has been accused of having had in his possession 49 grams of cannabis sativa for the purpose

of trafficking. The offence was allegedly committed on Friday, November 3, 2017 at the Mackenzie market in Linden.

Prosecution facts are that Police officers on foot patrol at the Mackenzie market on the day in question observed the accused acting in a suspicious manner, and conducted a search

of his person.

They unearthed a pinkand-white plastic bag containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis; nine small Ziplock bags also containing leaves, seeds and stems; and a quantity of empty small Ziploc bags.

At his trial, Giddings had opted to give a sworn

statement in which he declared his innocence.

After the trial, Magistrate Nurse informed him that a prima facie case has been made out against him, and sentence would be passed on June 19.

He will make his final court appearance on June 19.

Lindener fined for DUI 2nd time in less than 2 months – driver’s licence suspended for 12 months

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everal drivers in the mining town of Linden were recently charged and placed before the court for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), as Police in ‘E’ Division (Linden-Kwakwani) continue crackdown exercises targeting these offenders.

On Tuesday last, twenty-three-year-old Mahaica Grant pleaded guilty to this offence when he appeared before Linden Magistrate Clive Nurse for the second time in less than two months.

Already charged with exceeding the legal limit of alcohol on his breath while

driving, Grant has also been charged with dangerous driving.

The court heard that on June 9, 2018, Grant, while driving motor vehicle PSS 9449 along the One Mile Public Road in Linden, collided with another motor vehicle. He was then subjected to a breathalyser test which proved that he was above the prescribed limit of alcohol consumption.

The accused pleaded guilty to this charge and was fined $10,500 or an alternative of three weeks in prison for dangerous driving. Additionally, his licence has been suspended

for 12 months for exceeding the legal limit of alcohol while driving under the influence.

Back in April, Grant had appeared before Magistrate Nurse for the first time in connection with this offence, and was fined $7,500 with an alternative of one week in prison.

Drivers are being reminded that the legal limit of alcohol when driving is 35 micrograms. Drivers in default on the first occasion will face a fine of $7,500, second occasion occurrence would result in drivers’ licences being suspended for one year; and third occasion

occurrences would result in drivers’ licences being permanently suspended.

Mabura father of 7 denied bail for unlawful wounding

P

rince Headley of the Mabura township in Region 10 was last Tuesday arraigned before Linden Magistrate Clive Nurse on a charge of unlawfully and maliciously wounding George Summers on March 29, 2018 at Mabura.

Headley is being represented by Attorney Rene McDonald, who made application for bail for his client on ground that the 58-yearold farmer and father of 7 is hypertensive and diabetic and needs regular medical attention.

Several witnesses who were expected to testify in the matter on Tuesday did not show up, causing a frustrated Magistrate Nurse to express that the court is weary of the excuses of Police witnesses not attending court.

The court heard that the accused had previously been granted bail, which was later revoked after he had failed to attend court.

The magistrate thus denied the application for bail, advising the attorney that the decision can be appealed at the High Court.

The accused is scheduled to return to court on June 19.

Unfettered unilateralism…

W

…at UG hy isn’t your Eyewitness surprised that UG’s Vice Chancellor, Ivelaw Griffith, has proposed that the Council that oversees his administration of the tertiary institution be drastically reduced in numbers?

Well…just that every single action the bow-tied wonder has undertaken at UG since he was catapulted into his position was to promote his accumulation of power! For starters, even before he had time to settle down, the old YSM biggie was awarded a Cacique Crown of Honour!! But then, he’d just made the Army Officer’s training module a UG Diploma…and proposed the army retirement age be raised!!

The reorganisation of the senior staff? That just created a CABINET, of which Griffith’s the head!! The man created FOUR Deputy Vice Chancelleries to serve under him -- Academic Engagement, Planning and International Engagement; Philanthropy; Alumni and Civic Engagement; and an Office of Strategic Initiatives!! The salaries of this Cabinet match the salaries of President Granger’s FOUR Vice Presidents!! As to what they actually do to improve the abysmal conditions of UG, don’t ask…that’s for the peons!!

The Renaissance magazine at UG, is it part of his overall Renaissance programme?? This high-priced, glossy monthly has featured an article on Griffith in every single issue!! All it does is burnish his personal crest!! After spending his entire career in the US, where money’s no object, all he’s done is to cog wholesale the programmes of universities up there. The overall “Renaissance” is based on four “Imperatives”: Capital Investment - human capital, physical capital, and brand capital; Academic Enhancement - improving instructional credentials, curricula and pedagogy; Economic Viability - fortifying the major existing revenue streams, and Alumni Engagement. What this means concretely is that Griffith gets to fly frequently into the great yonder (the US) and live high off the hog with his “Cabinet”!!

Now for the miniaturisation of the Council. The PPP had broadened this, back in 1995, to offer representatives of all Guyanese groups and strata an input into our “higher education” content and delivery. He rejected the “Ivory Tower” model cultivated by the West, which simply created a new strata of entitlement! But that’s exactly what Griffith’s all about!! Lord knows he must’ve been chafing to have to account to representatives of trade unions and farmers, for instance. These were riff raff, for God’s sake!!

They weren’t ‘credentialised” by folks like him!! How dare they think they had anything worthwhile to tell him!!

He, after all, had his Cabinet – in which, like original literal cabinets of the Kings – only one voice resonated!!

But your Eyewitness knows absolutely that Griffith’s will would be done…after all, his sponsor, Granger, is cut from the same cloth as he.

The Burnhamites strike back! …on oil strategy It also wasn’t surprising Granger hasn’t renewed the contract of his Advisor on oil – Dr Jan Mangal. Even though born in Guyana, having only worked for the US oil giant Chevron, he suffered from the misapprehension he could “tell it like it is”!! This isn’t even done in the US!! Just look at the fate of ex-Exxon CEO Tillerson at the hands of Trump.

But then Tillerson did push the envelope a bit too far by calling Trump a “moron”!!

Mangal didn’t go that far with Trotman…but he did imply it when he persistently insisted that the latter shouldn’t have been negotiating with Exxon on his own!

In fact, even after his contract wasn’t renewed, Mangal advised that in future negotiations over selling of oil blocks, the Government should hire experts.

Now, even in the best of circumstances, governments are touchy. But when you’ve got a government that’s vowed to fulfil the legacy of its dictator founder-leader… and is now staffed with army Brass… …don’t even THINK about being candid!! …on SWAT Boss decision Dookie, the SWAT boss sent home by COP Ramnarine upon instruction of Felix -- who was filling in for Minister Ramjattan -- is petitioning the courts that “the decision is unconstitutional, capricious, whimsical, and irrational.”

It’s also demeaning to Ramjattan; but then, what’s new??!!

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

9 Sea defence breach causes massive flooding in Wakenaam News

monDAY, june 18, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

...structure temporarily sealed

A

breach to a section of the sea defence structure on the island of Wakenaam, located in the mouth of the Essequibo River, has led to inundation in the communities of Melville and Sans Souci between Saturday night and Sunday morning, causing much damage and much distress to islanders.

Reports are that negligence on the part of the contractor resulted in residents being faced with salt water levels as high as three feet, which invaded low-lying homes and damaged appliances, carpets and other household items.

Region Three Executive Officer Denis Jaikarran and a team from the Civil Defence Commission visited the area to assess the situation and oversee the distribution to residents of hampers which included disinfectant and other cleaning materi-

als.

W a k e n a a m Neighbourhood Democratic (NDC) Chairman Sheik Amad, who also formed part of the response team, told this publication on Sunday that he also was in contact with Members of Parliament (MPs), including Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) representative Irfaan Ali. Amad pointed out that the breach was sealed on Sunday morning, but stressed that over 12 homes have sustained damage from the flood waters. He added that the Sans Souci Masjid was also inundated, causing some damage.

Guyana Times understands that construction began on a rip-rap seawall at the back of Sans Souci mosque some two weeks ago.

Reports are that on Tuesday morning, seepage was seen and some flooding was re-

corded.

This newspaper was also told that contractor Deodat Singh was called in to address the matter, and he undertook some remedial work.

However, on Saturday evening, flooding began and continued into Sunday, leaving annoyed residents counting their losses.

The Wakenaam NDC Chairman told this newspaper that this latest flooding could have been avoided.

“When we investigate, it’s basically the contractor’s negligence for not (using) the (required) amount of material. The overtopping washed away the defence and caused a breach about 10 feet wide,” Amad noted.

Last March, residents of Uitvlugt on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) assessed their losses at some $100 million following a phenomenal spring tide that breached the sea defence structure

The communities of Melville and Sans Souci, Wakenaam, Essequibo River, were inundated by a sea defence breach as stakeholders laboured to seal the fault (Photos by Gaitri & Safraz Sheriffuden)

and invaded their community. Residents in Zeelugt’s Atlantic Ocean front on the East Bank Essequibo (EBE) and other villages of Meten-Meer-Zorg, Zeeburg, Stewartville, Leonora and Cornelia Ida were forced to move to higher ground, in some instances leaving their homes for safety.

At that time, humongous waves of the Atlantic Ocean hit the seawall with such crushing force as to cause a large part of this sea defence structure to break away; and one house reportedly came crashing down. MP Ali, who is the geographical representative for the People’s Progressive Party, had said the Opposition was working with a three-fold mandate which included supporting

the Government agencies, completing an assessment of the damages, and engaging the stakeholders of Government in relation to relief efforts.

Over 300 residents were affected earlier this year by

waves that demolished fences and destroyed bridges, furniture and other household appliances. Many persons had to take refuge in relief centres set up at various locations in the communities.

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monDAY, june 18, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt focused on eco-tourism – Gaskin ...says capacity being built within sector

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overnment has set modest goals for the tourism sector, with Business Minister Dominic Gaskin noting that while Government does not envisage Guyana being a mass tourism destination, capacity to enhance its eco-tourism appeal will certainly be built.

Gaskin made this observation during a Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) awards ceremony held at the Marriott Hotel on Saturday.

He noted that Guyana’s tourism offering particularly appeals to nature lovers, and has a heavy focus in the hinterland.

“We certainly do not want, or we do not envisage, Guyana as a mass tourism destination. We believe that our particular product is very attractive to a market segment that is not interested in mass tourism.

They’re interested in a more authentic experience: nature-based, people- based tourism,” he explained.

“That is what we have, and that is what I think we should be selling. I don’t think we’re interested in creating Disneyland in Guyana. I think we know where to find Mickey Mouse and (Donald) Duck if we have to. That’s not the model we will pursue. We also understand that we have a special product, and our special product needs special attention,” Gaskin explained.

Gaskin maintained that capacity to improve the tourism sector is being built within the sector. According to the minister who has responsibility for the tourism sector and the GTA, marketing the country as a tourism destination will be pursued

try forward.

Guyana had made significant strides towards the promotion of Sustainable Tourism, and had been recognised for its efforts.

Guyana’s North Rupununi, Region 9, had justified the resources poured into its development by copping the 2012 Award for Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

along those guidelines.

“Without the necessary expertise; without capacity; without knowing where we’re going, we would remain drifting in the wind, with no direction. We have to pursue the model that will work best for Guyana,” he declared.

“And in Guyana’s hinterland area, that’s where our rich, real, attractive, ecotourism product lies. That’s what we want to sell. That’s where there are opportunities outside of mining.

Tourism should be non-destructive,” he declared.

In January, Guyana hired US Expert Brian Mullis as the new Director of Tourism. Indranauth Haralsingh had previously been performing the duties of director. It was explained that Mullis, a US citizen of California, was chosen from seven applicants.

In March of this year, former Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, in a blunt assessment of the coalition’s performance in the sector, had expressed disappointment about how tourism is being

managed.

According to Ali, the tourism sector holds much potential for Guyana, but there is need for a Tourism Policy to be guided by a strategic approach that is not limited to developing and marketing Guyana as a product, but caters to partnering with the private sector.

Ali had pointed to a number of specific signature activities that were having a positive impact on the industry but have not been continued.

“Take, for example, the Rockstone Fish Festival, the emphasis on birding, the Guyana Festival, Phagwah, Diwali, the Wedding Expo, the Safari….these (are) all products that took time to nurture, and we have supported these products. We need to continue to embrace these products,” he had explained.

Ali had opined that the sector has become dormant because the Ministry of Business, which has oversight of the tourism sector, lacks the energy and vision necessary to take the indus-

Tourism.

The award from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and Travelmole (CTO/ Travelmole) was awarded to Guyana’s Rupununi Learners Inc for improving the quality of life of the region’s inhabitants.

In 2011, this award was shared by the Surama Eco-

Lodge, also located in the North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). This tourist destination was recognised by the CTO for harnessing the economic power of the visitor industry in a responsible and sustainable way.

The 2011 award was shared with Harrison’s Cave in Barbados.

Overseas-based Guyanese donates to Salem Congregational Church

Margaret Koulen-Stewart on behalf of Phillip Daniels making the presentation to Oswald and Campton Savory

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hillip Daniels, an overseas-based Guyanese who has definitely not forgotten his roots, has made a significant donation to the Salem Congregational Church, located at the corner of Hadfield and Chapel Streets in Lodge, Georgetown.

The donation is intended to be used for maintenance of the building.

The donation was on

Saturday handed over to two Deacons of the Church, Oswald and Campton Savory, by Margaret Koulen-Stewart on behalf of Phillip Daniels.

The financial donation was welcomed by the leaders of the church, who thanked the donor and added that it would go a long way in addressing several remedial works that have to be done on the building.

Koulen-Stewart related that Daniels, who recently visited the country, felt a burning desire to give back to his community; and as such, made the timely donation.

She added that he has been making donations to other groups, but it is the first time he has made a donation to the church; and he would like to make this an annually initiative.

news

Ram baffled by CJ’s ruling on GECOM Chair O utspoken attorney and chartered accountant Christopher Ram has expressed his opposition to the recent ruling handed down by acting Chief Justice Roxane George in relation to the President’s unilateral appointment of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The Chief Justice ruled, on June 9, that the Constitution of Guyana allows for the President to unilaterally appoint someone to fill the position of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Justice George’s ruling came after the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had, on October 23, 2017, filed an injunction to have the court rescind the unilateral appointment of Retired Justice James Patterson as Chairman of GECOM. The motion was filed in the name of PPP party Executive Secretary and Member of Parliament Zulfikar Mustapha just days after President David Granger had made the announcement.

“I am not at all comfortable with the decision,” Ram told Guyana Times in a recent interview, wherein he explained that his statements are being made with some reservations, especially since he has not read the written decision.

Ram says he is a bit baffled by the decision. “I think it sets a rather unfortunate stage; and without going through all the merits in the law, I find it hard to understand the decision,” he added.

Apart from asking that the appointment of Patterson be rescinded, the PPP had argued that he is unqualified for the post, and had petitioned the court to order the

Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram

President to choose a person from the 18 names submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

But the Chief Justice, in her ruling, has stated that there is nothing before the court to support a finding that the President had acted unlawfully or irrationally in resorting to the proviso to Art 161(2); and there is nothing to rebut the presumption that Justice Patterson is qualified to be appointed to the post of Chairman of GECOM. According to the Chief Justice, the Opposition did not produce evidence to support the contention that Patterson was unqualified for the position. She added that even if she had agreed with the contention that the appointment was unlawful, it would not have been “permissible for this court to usurp the function of the President by directing him to choose a nominee from the third, or any, list.”

The Opposition has since expressed its disappointment in the decision of the Chief Justice. “This decision strikes at the heart of our constitutional and elec-

toral democracy. It has destroyed that delicate balance which a Chairman is intended to bring to the Guyana Elections Commission,” the PPP has stated.

The Party has also stated that it has noted, with deep regret, the great focus which the ruling placed on “inconsequential issues and the glossing over of the more fundamental questions.”

According to the Party, it would be remiss if there is not a recognition that this ruling may, or has, paved the way for more executive unilateral appointments in situations where the Constitution requires agreement between the President and the Leader of the Opposition.

Patterson was appointed to the position of Chairman of GECOM after President Granger had rejected three lists comprising 18 names submitted by Opposition Leader Bharat Jagdeo for the post of GECOM Chairman.

Appeal

In the PPP’s appeal, filed at the Court of Appeal on June 11 and seen by this publication, it was outlined, inter alia, that “The Learned Hearing Judge erred and misdirected Herself in law when Her Honour misconstrued and misinterpreted the role of the Leader of the Opposition in Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana insofar as Her Honour’s interpretation or misinterpretation has reduced the role of the Leader of the Opposition to being merely perfunctory.”

Moreover, the appeal states: the “Learned Hearing Judge erred and misdirected Herself in law in construing Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana by failing to give ef-

fect to the intentions of the framers of the said Article.”

Article 161 (2) states that, “Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4), the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds, or who has held, office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth, or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court, or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Minority Leader after consultation with the political parties represented in the National Assembly other than the party to which the President belongs.”

President David Granger had, on multiple occasions, declared that the lists provided by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo were “unacceptable” because not all of the candidates had met the requirement of being a judge or being eligible to be a judge.

It was explained on countless occasions that the Constitution was amended to include the Carter Formula, which is designed to expand the range of persons suitable to be appointed GECOM Chairman (to not limit that pool of persons to judges or those qualified to be judges).

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Board reshuffle

Union Vice President new GPHC Director

Newly-appointed Director of GPHC, Dawn Gardner

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he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has had its board reconfigured for the second time this year, this time replacing the representative of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).

According to an order gazetted on June 9, First Vice President of the GPSU, Dawn Gardner, has been appointed as a director on the board of directors. She is replacing the previous union representative, Kemton Alexander.

The remaining members of the board are Chairperson Kesaundra Alves, Dr. Holly Alexander, Collette Adams,

Sonya Roopnauth and Cleopatra Barkoye. They will serve until January 31, 2019.

GPHC has been facing several challenges over the past few months, including a medical malpractice lawsuit. This publication reported only days ago that two patients who were discharged from the hospital on Thursday have alleged that they were infected by doctors at the hospital, and have even accused the doctors of being ignorant.

Jummal Pinder, a 22-year-old East Bank Demerara businessman, was involved in an accident on April 15 last, after a blow-out caused him to lose control of the car in which he was travelling, and it swerved off the road and eventually flipped, causing him to sustain a broken hip and leg, along with several bruises to his face and body.

Pinder said he was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), and was hospitalised for about three weeks. Doctors at the GPHC inserted steel in his leg in a surgery. However, a few days later, the leg became swollen and started to ooze.

He was treated with antibiotics and sent away. turn to page 12

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monDAY, june 18, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TSU Officers complain of Global Compact on Refugees to be victimisation, corruption presented to UN General Assembly

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everal ranks attached to the Technical Services Unit (TSU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are alleging victimisation at the hands of senior officers.

Misconduct, bribery and unfair treatment feature greatly among the list of complaints detailed to Guyana Times by the ranks.

It was revealed that “honest Officers” who wish to carry out their daily duties are being unfairly punished for insignificant things, such as “a late haircut”.

One rank who spoke with this publication explained that a head of department questioned why his “facial hair was so long”, and after explaining that he would have breakouts on his face from shaving with a cheap-

er razor, he was slapped with a charge, and later given civvies, drills and other strenuous tasks as a form of punishment.

It is also alleged that only on set of ranks are being sent on duties in the interior locations, while the others are seconded in Georgetown.

“Only one set of them does go. They does pay the officers that have the responsibility of assigning those duties”, the frustrated rank stated.

Additionally, the rank who spoke with the Guyana Times revealed that several ranks of the Unit are not reporting for duty on a regular basis, but yet are paid their full monthly salaries.

“In the TSU section, we have Police men that only come to work pay week, col-

lect their money, and don’t come to work for the rest of the month. Those that are supposed to be reprimanding them are not doing so”, one rank stated.

Another rank complained of being further victimised by divisional officers who seemingly have been transferred into the unit to make “our lives miserable”.

“The President, during his campaign, had said that officers who are involved in corruption will not be transferred to other divisions, but that’s exactly what has been happening; and now, because they have stress on their heads, (they are) taking it out on the Police Constables that work under them,” one rank has contended.

The TSU ranks are calling on the Public Security Minister to launch an urgent investigation into these complaints.

“I’m a young Police officer who intend to do this (policing) for the rest of my life; and if this is the condition that people have to work under, I’m hoping that the President and the ministers and whoever have to make this their concern intervene and let this stop as early as possible, so that people that want to be honest Police could do so,” one rank has declared.

A

Global Compact on Refugees is expected to be presented to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on June 20, 2018 as the world give recognition to refugees and their contribution to the various countries where they reside.

The Global Compact offers a way forward and recognises the contributions that refugees make to society.

World Refugee Day focuses on the plight of refugees around the world, and on efforts to protect their human rights.

This year, the United Nations is calling on the public to show support for families forced to flee their homes.

The story of refugees is one of “resilience, perseverance, and courage,” says the UN Secretary-General in his Message. “Ours must be of solidarity, compassion and action.”

Today, more than 68 million people around the world are refugees, or are internally displaced as a result of conflict or persecution. That is equivalent to the population of the world’s 20th largest country. Last year, someone mostly in poorer countries was displaced every two seconds.

According to the UN Secretary General, “On World Refugee Day, we must all think about what more can be done to assist. I am deeply concerned to see more

and more situations where refugees are not receiving the protection they need, and to which they are entitled”.

Re-establishment of the integrity of the international refugee protection regime is accordingly being considered.

“In today’s world, no community or country providing safe refuge to people fleeing war or persecution should be alone and unsupported,” the Secretary General has advanced.

As long as there are wars and persecution, there will be refugees. As such, the UN is calling for solidarity, compassion to be show towards them, and action to be taken to give them recognition.

Union Vice President new...

He returned last Wednesday for a check-up, but was again sent away.

Last Saturday, while experiencing excruciating pain, a high temperature and vomiting, he revisited the GPHC and was admitted at patient.

While his condition is improving, he is upset at the way the doctors had handled his matter, since he believes he could have lost his leg because of their negligence.

Another patient, a 34-year-old who hails from North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was also involved in an accident on March 10 last, when he was struck off his motorcycle by a car that had made a sudden turn.

The father of one said he was taken to the hospital by the driver, and was treated and sent away.

He said that while he was at home, his foot was developing an infection, which caused him to visit the GPHC on Monday last.

He claims that the nurses sent him away, telling him they had a lot of work to do, and his clinic day was on

from page 11

Wednesday.

The man complained that his foot had already developed an abscess, which burst on Tuesday and started bleeding.

He said that before the doctors had inserted the screws into his foot, his bones were together in the X-ray test, but after they had operated on the foot again, the bone separated.

He said the doctors did the surgery, but his condition worsened.

With problems pertaining to medical ethics and quality of service, it will be up to the board to turn the hospital’s standards around.

news

13

monDAY, june 18, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Payments from 2014 Panama rice deal

GRDB, Agriculture Ministry to formally respond; as millers, farmers still owed

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

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lmost four years after Guyana had inked a deal with the Government of Panama for 5000 tonnes of rice to be shipped there on a monthly basis, many millers are still encountering extensive delays in receiving payments.

This, in turn, is adversely affecting farmers across the country, who have said that their ability to sustain their livelihood as rice producers is under threat.

For well over a year, many millers have been calling on the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to ensure that they are paid, given that the Agriculture Ministry’s sub-agency facilitates the payment process.

While the state body is not

GRDB Head Nizam Hassan

disclosing its official position on the matter, GRDB’s head, Nizam Hassan, has been quoted as saying that it is the Panamanian buyers who owe the millers.

Guyana Times could not get an update on these matters, since Hassan has not been entertaining calls from this paper. Millers allege that Hassan has been reportedly telling them that he has to check with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder about their payments.

Efforts to contact subject minister Noel Holder on Sunday afternoon were unsuccessful, with all calls being forwarded to a voicemail service.

However, Guyana Times was able to contact those

directly affected by the industry’s challenges. They related that the situation remains unchanged. Speaking on condition of anonymity, one miller told this newspaper that he recently received 5 percent of the monies that were owed to him, and he is hoping the GRDB can ensure that he is paid in full.

Other millers, in updated this publication, disclosed that they also are awaiting their funds. They note that non-payment is affecting their business operations.

Aside from the prevailing economic challenges, another underlying issue is the social impact non-payment is having, as many of the millers’ paddy suppliers are their neighbours, friends and relatives.

“When you meet up with these people -- some of them you family and all -- you hiding from them. Millers don’t want owe the farmers, we want to pay the people,” a popular Essequibo miller disclosed on Sunday.

Guyana Times understands that many of the industry’s members have abandoned the 2014 Panama-Guyana arrangement after the GRDB began demurring with payments.

Sources indicate that millers have secured private deals through the Mexican mar-

A combine harvester is used to reap paddy for rice production

ket; and according to reports, one ship recently sailed to that North American country with rice, and another is reportedly on its way.

However, it is from these very deals that many farmers felt they could be paid, thus questioning why millers are reluctant to hand over payments.

In fact, an Essequibo source explained that smaller vessels are currently transporting rice products to a ship destined for Mexico.

Meanwhile, millers have observed that they are constantly probing GRDB on their Panama payments. Guyana Times had in February reported that millers were owed since 2015. At the time of signing the five-year agree-

ment with Panama in 2014, the Agriculture Ministry had said that through the Private Sector agreement between the two Governments, Panamanians would be assured of having access to rice at an affordable price.

Guyana Rice Millers Association (GRMA) Head, Leekha Rambrich, observed earlier this year that GRDB is accessing the money from buyers, thus it has an obligation to pay millers.

“GRDB signed a contract with Panama to supply this rice, and not the millers.

And GRDB is responsible for paying the millers. So that question has to be referred right back to him (Hassan),” Rambrich made this statement in February 2018.

However, at that time, the

GRDB head was not taking calls from Guyana Times, despite the Agriculture Minister saying on numerous occasions that the various sub-agencies have “instructions” to respond to queries.

The Rice Producers Associations’ latest estimate is that GRDB owes millers in excess of $2 billion dating back to 2017.

Guyana exported some 540,000 tonnes of rice for 2017, which saw it highest numbers since 2015, when 535,000 tonnes were recorded. However, farmers have seen reduced earnings for their paddy with the loss of the PetroCaribe rice deal, which was cancelled by Venezuela in 2015.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

Diamond businessman blames unstable water supply for constructing “reservoir” ...NDC Chairman wants full investigation

Recapping and trapping the gas at the family’s Diamond, East Bank Demerara premises may take up to three weeks

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ven as a multi-agency clean-up approach is underway to address the recent gas eruption that followed an unauthorised drilling by a resident of the Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, the Diamond/ Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) is calling for a full investigation into the incident.

Concomitantly, the NDC has commended the neighbours of Businessman Soownauth ‘Water Man’ Gorakh and his wife Tulabhaduree Gorakh after they had suffered displacement from last Thursday’s eruption.

Agencies such as the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the Civil

Defence Commission (CDC), the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC), United States-based oil giant ExxonMobil, as well as Massy Gas Products are involved in the cleanup and assessment.

NDC Chairman Bharrat Narine has stressed that he would not want to comment on the matter publicly, as an investigation would have to be done before any formal statement is made. He, however, disclosed that several “kind-hearted neighbours” provided food, clothing and shelter to the businessman and his family.

According to a Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) release, Gorakh, who ex-

pressed “unreserved remorse and sadness over the incident,” has said that he and his wife sought to build the reservoir after they were experiencing “unstable water distribution” in Diamond.

“There are times when the water would go for three, four days, and we thought that it would be easier for us to build a reservoir so that we can have water more consistently,” the businessman was quoted as saying.

Gorakh rejected claims that he is a wealthy businessman and that he is refusing to meet the other affected residents. “I met with the residents, because it is the very neighbours who have been affected (who) took me in with my wife and

three children...I am affected myself, losing almost everything; and based on the advice from CDC and other persons on the ground, the house is completely damaged, owing to the fact that the slush and gas would have destroyed everything,” he related.

It has been contended that the drilling of the well at Fourth and Sixth Avenue, Diamond was illegal. The drilling resulted in an eruption of mud, water and methane gas, and damage to several homes in the area. The well was dug in the family’s backyard, but they had not

sought the appropriate permission.

The Civil Defence Commission has explained that permission must first be obtained from the Hydrometeorological Office to conduct such drillings.

“If you are drilling wells, you must receive permits from (the) Hydrometeorological Office, because you can have situations like this that threaten your life, your neighbours’ lives, and other people around you,” acting Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig has said.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure recently commenced the clean-up exercise at the Gorakhs’ residence, and this will give access to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) teams, who will be working to recap the well.

Lieutenant Latchman Persaud of the National Emergency Operations System, Civil Defence Commission (CDC), has said that recapping works can commence on Monday, and it could last for up to three weeks.

14 NEWS Dalliwala farmers plead for support monDAY, june 18, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– Region 10 Chairman says farmers abandoning farmlands

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he riverine community of Dalliwala, situated in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice), is a little farming community with just more than 20 farmers, who have depended on farming and selling their produce for a livelihood over the years.

It is accessible by boat, with farmers utilising these very boats to dock at various points along the Demerara River, and in Linden, to sell their produce.

Farmer Yogeshwar Rhambarrat, who hails from this community, has said more persons can become empowered through farming, but the community has, over the years, not received the much-needed help from the authorities in order to boost farming.

According to Rhambarrat, these farmers contribute significantly to the food market in nearby Linden, and had even supplied food to areas outside of Linden during the 2005 floods. He explained that more can be done if assistance is given.

"Let's say (that) if Linden is producing 30 percent of the food for itself, Dalliwala alone (is) producing about 15 (percent). You can come out in the mornings and see the little engine boats providing greens, even wholesale... Imagine (what can happen if) if we get assistance; we ain't only sending (produce) to Georgetown, we

The farmers have left the farms...," the Chairman told the Region 10 Councillors.

Flooding near the farmlands

can send to the Caribbean, we can send to the interior.

But we need some help; you gotta help the man who’s producing and who’s making (farming) a livelihood", he pointed out.

Region 10 Chairman, Renis Morian, during a recent statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), signalled interest in providing assistance and re-developing farming in the area, noting

that the community's farmers are abandoning their farmlands.

Morian said the Council is awaiting support from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority. “... they would have asked for a supplementary budget, so they could buy another machine that we could put at Dalliwala...we're pushing the farmlands at Dalliwala.

(They have) been abandoned for more than 15 years.

Rhambarrat has denied that the farmlands have been abandoned, but he says farming has been scaled down because of the lack of intervention, improper drainage, inability of farmers to access farmlands, and lack of a proper market facility, among other issues.

"Dalliwala is not abandoned...farming is being done at Dalliwala on a reasonable scale," Rhambarrat has said.

Rhambarrat, who spoke very passionately about issues affecting farmers, has stressed that whenever assistance comes, it is mainly directed to farmers at West Watooka, Linden. He pointed mainly to the lack of land and market facilities specifically for farmers as the main requirements for farming.

"All the Governments they have, previous and now, they're very tight-handed in releasing the lands; and land is the foundation of farming.

How are we going to farm (if) we don't have land? We don't have leases... A lease empowers the farmers to access finance, and if you don't have a lease, you can't access nothing", Rhambarrat said.

Stressing that a lease can be used to secure farming materials on hire purchase, Rhambarrat added that because there is no

Crops at Dalliwala

farmers’ market, some farmers are forced to ride and sell their produce.

"This is probably the only town in Guyana that doesn't have a farmers’ market," he opined.

Drainage

Rhambarrat said the previous administration had promised the community 2 canals in addition to roads; however, to date, this promise has not been fulfilled.

He opined that leaders appear to just be "talking" agriculture, but not "doing" enough for agriculture and small farmers in Dalliwala.

He also stressed that farmlands become inundated during heavy rainfall, cutting off the supply of oxygen to the plants.

"That is why we want the intervention of the Government, to get some greenhouses so we can sustain a little pakchoi and ochro and bora", he said.

The farmer pointed out that it is discouraging to see trucks with produce to sell heading into the Linden community from other places when the region’s needs can be supplied by its farmers.

New toshaos elected in Region 2 Kuru Kururu residents forced to fix access roads

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Bethany Toshao Philbert Gudge (white shirt) and his councillors

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Toshao Sherman Lyte (long-sleeved brown shirt) and his council in Kabakaburi

ollowing the conclusion of Village Council elections throughout Region Two (Supenaam-Pomeroon), two toshaos have retained their positions while seven new village leaders have been sworn in to represent the residents in their communities.

Ralph Hendricks has been elected the new Toshao of Capoey, replacing Melrose Henry; while Philbert Gudge has replaced Harold Marslowe as Toshao of Bethany.

In Wakapao, Howard

Cornelius has replaced Errol Williams as Toshao. The new Toshao of St. Monica/Karawab is Thomas Charles, who has replaced James Miguel; while Michael Samuels has been elected his deputy.

After the votes had been counted in Kabakaburi, it was determined that Sherman Lyte has been elected to replace former Toshao Cleveland Simon.

Aubrey Fredricks took the title of Toshao of St. Deny’s in Tapakuma, thus replacing former Toshao James

Schadde.

David Wilson retained by a landslide his position as Toshao of Akawini. Wilson has pledged to continue efforts to develop his community; while Mashabo Toshao Sylvin Raphael has also retained his position.

The Region Two Administration has said it expects the elected toshaos and their councils to provide efficient and effective management that will ensure the development of their respective communities.

he residents of Kuru Kururu, LindenSoesdyke Highway are now forced to fix their main access roads after Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan reportedly told them his hands were tied until the next budget.

The upgrade works to the village’s main roads began about one week ago by public-spirited citizens of the village’s Business Association.

Kuru Kururu Small Business Association Vice President William Ramlall told Guyana Times on Saturday, “This is our second intervention on the road. It started a week ago where we did some work and today we concluded the second part of it. We dealt with the most deplorable parts of the road.”

The members of the Kuru Kururu Small Business Association, he said, are burdened to see the roads become developed, especially since they have big plans for their Business Expo in August.

He added that the project has made a grave difference for not only drivers but also pedestrians in the area.

According to him, the organisation pulled off a barbecue

Volunteers working on the roads

to raise funds for the initiative and was able to solicit most of the materials from villagers and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation.

The work, he said, was all volunteer-based, except for the work done by the machine operators since they were paid from the monies raised.

The main roads in the village were previously lined with potholes deep enough to severely damage vehicles. Several drivers have

been using their initiative to make use of alternative passageways, meanwhile the bus drivers who are required to use this route have been complaining bitterly.

A member of the Community Development Council (CDC) said the Communities Ministry met with the team and they were made to understand that the village would likely have to wait until next year when provisions would be made for rehabilitative road works in the 2019 Budget.

15

monDAY, june 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

What are your thoughts on the increase in domestic violence cases, especially against women, and what penalties would you recommend for perpetrators?

Sheridan Frank “Penalties – that’s a complicated part, because there is always more to a domestic violence case. The law doesn’t see the actions that lead to the outburst, but it punishes those for the outburst. However, for me, there’s no excuse [for hitting], but being an adult I realise things happen in your life that build up in you and in time you may lash out, physically or verbally, not intentionally but it happens.”

Nevon Adonis “From an early age they should be implementing strategies in the school system.

Primary school students are supposed to already be aware of the effects of domestic violence and should know what to do if they experience or if [they] know someone close to them is going through it. As for the penalties, my personal views are to give them 5-12 years sentence depending on the severity of the case and two years taken out for mental and stability training and strategic counselling.”

Ashianna Dhanraj “This is an issue that is increasing because it is not taken as seriously as people should. Women put themselves in a place where men feel it is okay to do whatever they like. I say that all cases should be reported and all should be taken very importantly, because when we turn a blind eye, that is when things get out of hand.”

Jared Dickinson “Some interventions need to be in place to address this issue. All men should be punished equally, so that they would realise that it is not right you abuse women in the first place.”

Denisia Chapman “I think this got a lot to do with women, because they

Kenisha Lambert “I think women should report any form of domestic violence to the Police.

Then they should leave the relationship, even if they have kids.”

Keesha Gittens “I don’t necessarily think it’s an upsurge: the incidents are just getting more coverage and awareness so I can understand why it would look like an upsurge. Plus, more women and men are making reports instead of silently taking it. That being said, even when some victims make reports and the matters reach the courts the victims usually withdraw their cases, therefore, allowing the abuser to get away with their acts of violence. I think there should be, and I think they’re implementing it now, a system whereby when the domestic violence cases get reported, the State takes it over so that the abuser will be held accountable for their actions. As to the punishments, I would recommend community service, fines, and even jail time. Community service would provide the Government with a way to clean up the country with free labour and the fines would generate added revenues and jail time would keep them in line, since I’m sure the abuser wouldn’t want someone pounding away on them.”

Claude Nebblett “Over and over and over again I keep saying this, if the woman don’t want you no more then just roll out my brother.

There’s lots of fishes in the sea and no man should harm a young woman ‘cause he’s not what she wanted anymore. My fellow men, I expect y’all to be manly about it and just move on, it’s utter nonsense to lay your hand on a young woman or even have thoughts about taking her life ‘cause of some stupid s*&%. It irks my soul to see men like myself out there brutally murdering women. I may not know what the issue might have been, but, buddy, just roll out and start over. Jail time ain’t mek it for no woman if you ask me. I would understand the disrespectful s*&% and what’s not, ‘cause I’ve been there, but it takes a REAL MAN to realise that going to jail ain’t worth it. So men, be MEN and stop with y’all crap. Let them women be and you just do what you gotta do. It ain’t worth, my brothers. As for my thoughts for the perps, may the law deal with them accordingly, but someone needs to be made an example to the public. (In some countries, you can’t lay your hand on a woman ‘cause the consequences are severe).”

know the person they’re in a relationship with and they know if they want to stay or if they want to come out. But I feel that women should come out of abusive relationships and avoid being killed or being beat up or being in any other form of abuse. And in the case of murder I feel that the perpetrator should face the consequences, even if it’s life imprisonment or years’ sentence or death. At least that is my view on the penalties, and the women have the right to come out of the relationship and move on.”

Cleiron Medas “Is sickening to see; there have to be a reason for it and we have to come to the bother of those reasons in order to combat this issue.”

Baupaul Jagroo “We need to stop this thing and reach out to our people.

People resort to that type of violence because they feel that when they have a problem it is a big problem, but there is no problem that is too big to solve. Whenever we realize that there is a problem in the home, the parties need to speak with someone. And yes, some of us may ere, but there is correction for any error. So, we can correct ourselves and life would go on.”

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, june 18, 2018

Regional

Pro-business candidate wins ECLAC chief calls Colombian presidential election for 'new narrative'

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ight-wing candidate Ivan Duque won Colombia’s presidential election on Sunday, beating leftist Gustavo Petro in a victory that reassured investors, but raised the prospect of changes to a landmark peace accord with Marxist rebels.

With 98.2 per cent of polling stations counted, Duque won the ballot with 53.9 per cent of votes while Petro, who had pledged to shake up Colombia’s economic model, had 41.8 per cent.

Duque, 41, the business friendly protégé of hardline former President Alvaro Uribe, wants to change a peace deal he deems too lenient on Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels while keeping Colombia’s economic policies intact.

Former guerrilla Petro,

Presidential candidate Ivan Duque greets supporters as he departs a polling station after casting his vote during the second round of the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, June 17, 2018

whose positions prompted comparisons to Venezuela’s late socialist President Hugo Chavéz, pledged to take on political elites, redistribute land to the poor and gradually eliminate the need for oil and coal in Latin America’s

fourth-largest economy.

“We need a strong hand in the peace process now,” said Lucero Cevallos, 42, an auxiliary nurse, at a Duque celebration in Bogota.

From the sweltering Caribbean coast to the frigid

heights of the Andes, voting was largely uneventful at the 11,230 polling stations across the nation. Marking of ballots was monitored by international election observers to guard against any fraud.

Petro, 58, had called on supporters to take to the streets if he felt there was widespread manipulation of the tally.

“Petro won more votes than I had expected, and that’s scary because it says that a great part of the country wants socialism,” said another Duque supporter, 77-year-old retired politician Roque Diaz.

It was the first elections since a 2016 peace deal with the FARC, which ended their part in a five-decade conflict that has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions. (Excerpt from Reuters)

on international cooperation for C'bean development

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he Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena, has called for a “new narrative” on international cooperation for the Region's development.

In addressing a high-level meeting in Panama City, organised by the European Union (EU), Bárcena said there was need for “rethinking development and generating a new consensus, based on greater regional integration, international cooperation that effectively supports the countries

of Latin America and the Caribbean in their transition to development, and investments and industrial policies that favour the environmental push toward more sustainable growth for equality.”

Bárcena was one of the main speakers at the EU's Regional Seminar for Latin America and the Caribbean, convened by the Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development of the European Union (DG DEVCO). The seminar concluded on Friday. (Excerpt from CMC)

Nicaragua family killed in arson Barbados PM pleased with IMF discussions attack a day after ceasefire

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iolence has continued in Nicaragua a day after the Government and Opposition agreed to a ceasefire to end nearly two months of unrest.

In the worst incident, at least six members of the same family were killed in an arson attack on Saturday morning. The Opposition accused pro-Government militia of starting the fire and intimidating those who tried to help.

More than 170 people have now died since the protests against President Daniel Ortega began in April.

The Government denied

any involvement in the incident, which it blamed on common criminals. The family owned a mattress business and lived above the shop.

Local media reported that the property was set on fire by hooded men who threw Molotov cocktails at the house. Neighbours say armed militia threatened to shoot those who tried to put out the fire.

The head of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, said he condemned “this act of terror, which is a crime against humanity, which cannot remain unpun-

ished”.

Elsewhere in Managua, at least two other people were killed in separate incidents attributed to masked pro-Government groups backed up by armed Police.

Despite the tension caused by the arson attack, the Opposition agreed to go ahead with talks that are being mediated by Nicaragua’s Roman Catholic Church.

The negotiations had been resumed on Friday.

In a surprising announcement, the Government and the Opposition said they had agreed to a truce. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Cuba looks to strengthen ties

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uba is seeking to strengthen its relationship with Barbados. Addressing the media during a wreath laying at the Emancipation Monument, more popularly known as the Bussa Statue recently, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Rogelio Sierra Diaz said he believed the future between the two countries was very

promising.

Speaking with the assistance of a translator, Diaz said one of the reasons for his visit was to consolidate ties between Barbados and Cuba.

“We see a very optimistic future. Our two leaders will certainly work together in order to strengthen relations between the two countries. We are certain that

the next few years will be very important in order to achieve those goals. We can work together in many areas and we have been working on them for a certain period of time and the goal is to give continuity to that,” he said.

Diaz added that in the past, the two countries had strong ties of cooperation and the goal was to continue.

“Our goal is to continue cooperating and to provide assistance in sports, health and other areas, just to name a few. There are many areas where we can work together in terms of addressing the effects of climate change and disaster emergency. We will continue working with Barbados and other members of the Caribbean so that they can be compensated for damages caused by slavery. Of course, both our countries have much to contribute to the Caribbean and Latin America,” he added.

(Excerpt from Barbados Nation)

Prime Minister Mia Mottley speaking to reporters (Photo: AFP)

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rime Minister Mia Mottley said the new government would seek a one per cent interest payment on any loan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it seeks to turn around an ailing economy.

Mottley returned to Barbados from the United States where she held talks with the Washington-based financial institution.

“I want to make sure that even as we treat to the issue of debt restructuring that no future generation

of Barbadians or this current generation, will have to go back to this place again . . . of a government display of utter fiscal recklessness with the manner in which they handled the affairs of the country,” she told a news conference on Saturday.

Mottley is hoping to reach an agreement with the IMF as soon as possible; she indicated that she was hopeful it could be done before a nine-month period.

She said that the is-

land's arrears were closer to BDS$1.9 billion as her Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration, which came to power following the May 24 general election, had been discovering new debts.

She cited a lease payment of BDS$3.8 million due for the Sanitation Services Authority “for an unoccupied building” telling reporters however that her administration is equipped to get Barbados out of the current financial situation. (Excerpt from CMC)

Guatemala ends victim searches at volcano where 110 died

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uatemala on Sunday ended its victim search efforts in the zone that suffered most deaths and injuries from the Fuego volcano eruption, its disaster agency said.

At least 110 people died and 197 are still missing after violent eruptions that began two weeks ago, according to disaster agency CONRED. “The search efforts are permanently suspended in

the towns San Miguel Los Lotes and El Rodeo in the Escuintla municipality ... the zone is uninhabitable and high risk,” CONRED said in a statement on Sunday.

The Fuego volcano, whose name means “Fire” in Spanish, is emitting four or five minor explosions daily and shooting columns of ash up to 15,420 feet (4700 metres) above sea level, CONRED said.

Escuintla is operating 12 shelters for nearly 2800 people displaced from homes that were swallowed by ash and dirt, while more than 770 people are staying in shelters in nearby areas.

Some survivors lost nearly all members of their extended families after the volcano sent fast-moving currents of dust, lava and gas down its slopes in its greatest eruption in four decades. (Excerpt from Reuters)

monDAY, june 18, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

South Korea, US to announce Taliban rules out extension of Afghanistan Eid festival ceasefire suspension of major military drills this week – Yonhap

S

outh Korea and the United States are expected to announce the suspension of “largescale” military drills this week, with the provision that they would restart if North Korea failed to keep its promise to denuclearise, news agency Yonhap said on Sunday.

Citing an unnamed Government source, the South Korean news agency said the suspension was A militant hugs a member of the Afghan Police in Kunduz

A

widely welcomed threeday ceasefire between security forces and the Taliban in Afghanistan appears to be over.

The Taliban said its militants had been ordered to take up arms again on Sunday night – now the Eid festival had ended.

The Government says it will continue a unilateral ceasefire for another 10 days, although security forces can defend themselves if attacked.

There were unprecedented scenes of soldiers and Taliban insurgents hugging each other during the ceasefire.

But the ceasefire failed to end violence entirely.

At least 18 people were killed in a suicide attack in the city of Jalalabad, outside the office of the Governor of Nangarhar province while officials were meeting Taliban insurgents. Dozens were injured.

No group said it carried out the attack.

On Saturday, a suicide bombing in the same province, also on a gathering of Taliban and local officials, left 36 people dead. The Islamic State group said it carried out that attack.

The militants said there would be no extension to the ceasefire and fighters would be expected to leave

Government-controlled areas before sunset.

In a statement, the Taliban said it had called the ceasefire to enable ordinary Afghans to enjoy a peaceful Eid, "not in response to the ceasefire of the Kabul regime".

The group hailed the success of the ceasefire as a sign of its cohesion, and reasserted its determination to seek the "withdrawal of foreign invaders and establishment of an Islamic government".

President Ashraf Ghani's plea on Saturday for the Taliban to prolong its truce has been rejected. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Dozens killed in suicide attack in Nigeria

A

t least 31 people have been killed in a twin suicide bomb attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters on a town in northeast Nigeria, according to local sources.

Two blasts ripped through the Damboa Government area in Borno state on Saturday evening targeting people returning from celebrating the Eid alFitr holiday.

Following the suicide

bombings, the attackers fired rocket-propelled grenades into the crowds that had gathered at the scene of the blasts, driving the number of casualties higher.

"There were two suicide attacks and rocket-propelled grenade explosions in Damboa last night which killed 31 people and left several others injured," Babakura Kola, from the Civilian Joint Task Force, a militia assisting the mili-

tary with security, told AFP news agency on Sunday.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attack bore all the hallmarks of Boko Haram, a group waging an armed campaign in northeast Nigeria for nearly a decade.

The blasts on Saturday occurred in the Shuwari and Abachari districts of the local government area, which is about 90 kilometres from state capital Maiduguri.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Cambodia Prince Ranariddh injured and wife killed in car crash

Prince Norodom Ranariddh and his wife Ouk Phalla were due to meet political supporters

A

Cambodian Prince and former Prime Minister has been injured and his wife killed in a head-on car collision in the south-west of the country.

A taxi hit the vehicle Prince Norodom Ranariddh, 74, and Ouk Phalla, 39, were travelling in, officials say.

The couple were taken to a local hospital in the Preah Sihanouk province, but Phalla died a few hours later.

They were travelling to meet political supporters when the crash happened.

Prince Ranariddh, the half-brother of King

Norodom Sihamoni, leads a political party that is contesting next month's controversial general elections.

Last year, the country's main Opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was dissolved and its leader was charged with treason.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has ruled the country for 33 years and has long been accused of using the courts and security forces to intimidate opponents and crush dissent.

Prince Ranariddh served jointly with Hun Sen as Cambodia's Prime Minister from 1993 to 1997, when he was ousted in a coup led by the current Prime Minister.

The prince made a political comeback in 2015 after reconciling with Hun Sen.

(BBC News)

likely to affect only major joint exercises, not more routine military training.

US President Donald Trump surprised officials in Seoul and Washington when he pledged to end “war games” after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore last week.

Immediately after the announcement, US forces in Korea said they had received no guidance on stopping any

drills, and South Korean officials said they were trying to figure out which exercises Trump was referring to.

However, in a sign Seoul may be open to suspending drills, South Korean President Moon Jaein said on Thursday his Government would need to be flexible when it came to applying military pressure on North Korea if it was sincere about denuclearisation.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Greece, Macedonia sign pact to change ex-Yugoslav republic's name

G

reece and Macedonia set aside three decades of dispute on Sunday as they agreed on a new name for the former Yugoslav republic, paving the way for its possible admission to the European Union and NATO. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries signed an accord to rename the former Yugoslav republic the “Republic of North Macedonia”, despite angry protests on both sides of the border over a deal seen as a national sellout by some on both sides.

In the idyllic setting of Prespes, a lake region that borders Greece, Macedonia and Albania, leaders from the two countries embraced and shook hands in the presence of European and United Nations officials.

The agreement still requires the approval of both Parliaments and a referendum in Macedonia. That approval is far from assured, as it faces stiff opposition from the Greek public, and

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Dimitrov sign an accord to settle a long dispute over the former Yugoslav republic's name as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev look on in the village of Psarades, in Prespes, Greece, June 17, 2018

Macedonia’s President has vowed to block the deal.

“Very few believed we would be able to leave behind 26 years of unfruitful dispute,” said Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who survived a no-confidence vote mounted by the Opposition in Parliament on Saturday.

“We have a historic responsibility that this deal

is not held in abeyance,” Tsipras said as he and his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev received a standing ovation.

In the Macedonian capital Skopje, Police fired stun grenades and tear gas on Sunday night to disperse a protest rally by several hundred nationalists. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Boat caught in Europe's migration spat brings hundreds to Spain

R

escued migrants turned away by Italy and Malta arrived at the Spanish port of Valencia on Sunday, ending a gruelling Mediterranean odyssey that became symbolic of Europe’s failure to agree on immigration.

Spain swooped to help 629 mainly sub-Saharan Africans on board the ship Aquarius last week after

Italy’s new government, asserting its anti-immigrant credentials, refused to let it dock.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who took office two weeks ago, took the opportunity to show a more liberal stance.

But the plight of the Aquarius, run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Franco-German charity SOS Mediterranee, highlighted the

European Union’s struggle to manage an influx of people fleeing poverty and conflict.

Men, women, and children who spent nine days on the Aquarius, after their rescue off the Libyan coast, cheered as they approached Valencia, where they were met by officials in white protective suits and masks, before Police processed their information. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

India faces 'worst-ever' water crisis – report

I

ndia is facing its worst-ever water crisis, a new report by a government advisory body has warned.

About 600 million Indians are facing high to extreme stress over water, according to the Composite Water Resources Management report by the Government's policy think tank Niti Aayog this week.

The comprehensive study

on the state of India's water warned of conflict and other related threats, including food security risks, unless actions are taken to restore water bodies.

"Critical groundwater resources, which account for 40 per cent of our water supply, are being depleted at unsustainable rates," the report said.

Mridula Ramesh, author of an upcoming book

on climate change, told Al Jazeera that "groundwater can be used and abused at a very low cost".

"There are few or no restrictions on groundwater extraction, leading to wasteful water consumption. In agriculture, crop choice that is unsuitable for a given region is one example of this," Ramesh noted. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, june 18, 2018

ARCHIE

A business trip or networking function will lead to (March 21- an unexpected change. Use April 19) what happens to make positive changes to how or where you live. Celebrate with someone you love.

ARIES

A change of plans will TAURUS cause stress. Do what you can (April 20- and rely on someone you’ve May 20) helped in the past to assist you now. Make clear what you want done.

dilbert

Participate, take on a GEMINI (May 21- challenge and set your own June 20) standards, but don’t mess with the rules, regulations or authority figures. Don’t tempt fate or take a physical risk.

Broaden your horizons by

CANCER taking part in something that will (June 21- help you get ahead. Networking, July 22) taking up a new hobby or maxi-

Peanuts

mising your qualifications will encourage unexpected prospects offering greater security.

Don’t be surprised by LEO what others do. Expect some(July 23- one to interfere, and be ready Aug. 22) to counter any meddling that occurs. Don’t get angry when diplomacy is what’s needed to maintain control.

Calvin and Hobbes

Do your part and make VIRGO change happen. Iron out any (Aug. 23foreseeable problems and Sept. 22) move forward with confidence. It’s up to you to take the initiative and to enforce concrete plans.

Put more time and effort LIBRA (Sept. 23- into doing your share. Don’t Oct. 23) wait for someone to complain or to criticise you. Physical action will be the best way to show off your capabilities.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — LATENCY (LATENCY: LATE-’n-see: Dormancy.)

SUDOKU

Don’t expect help. Do SAGITTARIUS what needs to be done with(Nov. 23out making a fuss. Don’t lisDec. 21) ten to someone who tries to use emotional manipulation to sway your opinion.

Romance is highlighted.

Average mark 19 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 27 or more words in LATENCY? The list will be published tomorrow.

SATURDAY’S WORD — LIONIZED lend leno lied lien line lion lode loden loin lone idle

idol idolize iodine iodize ionize oiled olden oldie node noel noil

zein zone deli diel dine dole done doze dozen

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

You’ll face challengSCORPIO es if you take on too much.

(Oct. 24An abrupt physical change Nov. 22) is likely if you take a risk.

Don’t get into a dispute with a loved one.

Set your course and don’t CAPRICORN stop until you reach your des(Dec. 22- tination. A change will turn Jan. 19) out to be more beneficial than anticipated. Speak up and get things done.

SATURDAY’s solution AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Take part in events that get you moving or are conducive to fitness, nutrition and overall good health.

Moderation is in your best interest. Romance is encouraged.

Go over personal finances and figure out what you can afford before you commit to something that could go over budget. Negotiate on your own behalf.

monDAY, JUNE 18, 2018

19

Brilliant Mexico beat champions Germany

D

efending champions Germany made a disastrous start to their bid to win back-to-back World Cups with a shock defeat by Mexico.

Hirving Lozano’s first-half goal was the difference between the two sides in an enthralling encounter in Moscow, but the surprising result was not the only concern for Germany coach Joachim Low. His disjointed side looked extraordinarily vulnerable on the break even before Javier Hernandez punished them with the pass that set up Lozano to cut inside fire home.

Toni Kroos almost replied instantly with a free-kick but Guillermo Ochoa tipped it on to the bar and that was the closest Germany came to an equaliser.

Despite facing some sustained late pressure, Mexico held on to inflict a first World Cup defeat on Die Mannschaft since they lost to Spain in the 2010 semi-final.

T h i s was also the first time a German side had lost their opening game of this tournament since 1982, when West Germany were upset by Algeria.

It could turn out to be a damaging defeat too. Although Germany will still be expected to beat Sweden and South Korea and progress, the runner-up in Group F will face a last16 tie against the Group E winner, expected to be Brazil.

Low’s side had come into the tournament on the back of some unconvincing displays and results in their recent friendlies, but there had been no sign of panic in their camp.

Things were very different at a noisy Luzhniki Stadium, with Germany showing little of the composure or class we associate with them at major finals.

Even before they went behind, they were often overrun in midfield, with Kroos and Sami Khedira unable to offer their defence any protection from Mexico’s rapid counter-attacks.

Germany’s right flank seemed susceptible on the break, with Joshua Kimmich’s forays forward leaving space for Lozano and Hernandez to gallop into unchallenged.

If ‘El Tri’ had made more of their chances, o r

Mexico players celebrate their victory over the champions Germany

found a better final ball, then they could have been two or three goals ahead by half-time.

At the other end, Germany were also unconvincing in the early stages, with their famed midfield machine struggling to find a way through Mexico’s

Mexico’s Raul Jimenez tackles German Jerome Boateng during the group F match between Germany and Mexico

determined defence.

Although they improved in the second half, and dominated possession, Germany’s finishing touch eluded them and Mexico continued to cause problems on the counter.

Germany’s sheer desperation to equalise was evident by the number of men they threw forward late on, including, at one stage, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

It left them even more exposed in midfield and at the back in the closing stages, and Mexico might have punished them further. In the end, though, one goal was enough.

Mexico defence holds off German fightback Mexico had only won one of their past 11 meetings with Germany and their most recent ended in a 4-1 defeat by what was virtually Low’s B team at last year’s Confederations Cup. But they fully deserved this victory, which brought huge celebrations from their thousands of fans who had travelled to Moscow, many in typically colourful costumes.

The intensity of Mexico’s play was matched by their supporters, who not only out-numbered their Germany counterparts, but also outsung them. That was not the only reason Germany looked rattled, but it certainly helped.

Lozano’s pace and willing to drive at Germany’s defence was the highlight of the first half, with only a last-ditch Jerome Boateng block denying him in the first minute and setting the pattern for the early stages.

The second half was more of a demonstration of Mexico’s defensive capabilities, especially near the end but they survived.

Mexico arrived in Russia with the hope of finally managing a ‘quinto partido’ or fifth match, after losing in the last 16 at the past six World Cups.

Juan Carlos Osorio’s side have a lot more work to do before they achieve that aim, but his famed attention to detail paid off here and they appear strong both technically and tactically.

They will be tough to beat. (BBC Sport)

Kolarov’s stunning free-kick gives Serbia victory over Costa Rica A

leksandar Kolarov scored a spectacular free-kick to give Serbia a deserved victory in their opening World Cup Group E match against Costa Rica.

Serbia captain Kolarov - the former Manchester City defender - scored from 25 yards when he curled the ball over the Costa Rica wall.

Kolarov’s effort had sufficient bend to find the top corner with Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas clutching at thin air as he desperately scrambled across goal.

Costa Rica only sporadically threatened the Serbia goal, with an early header over the crossbar from unmarked defender Giancarlo Gonzalez their best effort.

With games against Brazil and Switzerland to come, this was a key match for both nations to press their credentials to reach the knockout stages.

Mladen Krstajic’s Serbia side - the lowest ranked European nation at Russia 2018 - now appear the best placed of the two to progress after a dominant second-half display.

The margin of victory would have been greater had Navas not narrowed the angle to deny Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic after he had been sent clear by the impressive Sergej Milinkovic-Savic earlier in the game.

Serbia’s Nemanja Matic, meanwhile, was involved in an ugly confrontation with a member of the Costa Rica coaching staff in injury time

Aleksandar Kolarov of Serbia scores

as the Manchester United midfielder tried to retrieve the ball after it went out of play.

Before this encounter Serbia had managed one victory in their last six World Cup tournament matches, and lost both of their opening World Cup group games as an independent nation following the break up of Yugoslavia.

Optimism in the Balkan state heading into

this tournament was not particularly high.

Indeed the country’s football association cancelled an open-top bus parade in Belgrade as part of a send-off to the tournament because they predicted such a lukewarm reaction.

After a cautious start in this match there are some encouraging signs that Krstajic’s blend of a gnarled experienced defence combined with a youthful technically-gifted midfield could make an impression.

There are no clans or cliques in this squad for the first time in a long time,” Krstajic said.

“The basics of success are a good atmosphere in a team.”

The creative talents of Milinkovic-Savic were particularly eyecatching and there is the sense that he must follow this impressive showing against stronger opposition.

A sterner test of Serbia’s capabilities will come in their remaining Group E games with Brazil and Switzerland but after a lowkey build-up, this was an encouraging display. (BBC Sport) Kolarov celebrates after Serbia’s victory over Costa Rica

20

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monDAY, JUNE 18, 2018

Swiss hold favourites Brazil after Coutinho stunner P

re-tournament favourites Brazil failed to win their opening game of a World Cup for the first time since 1978 as Switzerland earned a valuable draw in Rostov-on-Don. The five-time champions, so often lauded for their flair, failed to sparkle after Philippe Coutinho’s superbly curled opener on 20 minutes.

Tite’s side - with Gabriel Jesus and Willian alongside Neymar in a front three - could offer only fleeting moments of fluid play and Steven Zuber’s header from a corner earned the Swiss a deserved point.

Brazil may point to a push by Zuber to free him from his marker but the fact Coutinho’s strike remained their only effort on target until 77 minutes points to their struggles in the final third.

The draw brings to an end Brazil’s run of nine wins in opening World Cup fixtures, and both sides now trail Group E leaders Serbia, who beat Costa Rica earlier on Sunday.

’Bending, curling, dipping, scoring’ – Coutinho puts Brazil ahead

Neymar’s header straight into the hands of Yann Sommer with minutes to go - summed up a Brazil performance lacking in cutting edge. Indeed, only in the dying stages did they look desperate to win, with substitute Roberto Firmino’s header forcing a

save and defender Miranda blasting wide.

Buoyed by a run of form showing just one loss in 21 matches and the return from injury of the talismanic Neymar, expectation is high that Brazil can banish

Brazilian positivity with a sublime effort from 20 yards which went in off the post, such was its accuracy.

It should have served as a catalyst, but with Neymar constantly

Switzerland’s haul of nine wins from 10 matches in qualifying and victory over Northern Ireland in the play-offs points to a welldrilled and highly capable side.

They paid close attention to Neymar and fouled him 10 times in all, the highest figure for a single player at a World Cup since 1998.

Former West Ham midfielder Behrami lasted 70 minutes and repeatedly broke up play, while 22-year-old deE match p u ro fender Manuel Akanji g ng their goal duri d n a won possession nine rl e z e Swit front of th in times and saw more of the ll a b t the

ipes a

irando sw

Brazil's M

painful memories of a 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany on home soil four years ago.

Only Marcelo started in Russia from their line-up on that humiliating night, and one defeat in 18 qualifying matches does indeed point to a team somewhat healed.

Coutinho - chosen as the creative force in a threeman midfield also comprising Paulinho and Casemiro - stepped up to increase

oger Federer beat Milos Raonic to win the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, his first event for two and a half months.

The Swiss had not played since the Miami Open in March, after choosing to miss the clay-court season, but the win in Germany gives him a 98th Tour title.

Federer, 36, beat Canadian Raonic 6-4 7-6 (7-3) in the final.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion had already secured his return to number one in the world rankings with victory over Nick Kyrgios in the semi-final.

The only break of serve came in the third game of the match with Federer clinching it with a backhand winner.

The second set was again tight as both players’ serve dominated on the grass court but Federer edged it on a tie-break.

“I played very well throughout the tournament, it is a great comeback for me. I am so happy to have won,” said

harassed by the excellent Valon Behrami, clear-cut chances were hard to come by.

Coutinho chested down but fired wide after Zuber had levelled and only a clever Fabian Schar flick in his own goalmouth denied a late winner. But the fact Switzerland had 45% of the ball underlines how they remained competitive throughout.

In a World Cup where sides have shown promise without being scintillat-

Federer.

“I was hoping to play a couple matches here but I have played four and won them all. The last few have been very good.

“I hope I keep it up at Halle and Wimbledon. It will give me a boost as well being back at world number one.”

Federer also sat out the clay-court season in 2017 but last year lost on his return in Stuttgart before going on to win the Gerry Weber Open in Halle and claim an eighth Wimbledon title.

He will again compete at Halle next week, aiming for a record 10th title, before Wimbledon which begins on 2 July.

Elsewhere, Richard Gasquet earned his first title of the year and the 15th of his career after beating fellow Frenchman Jeremy Chardy to win the Libema Open at s’Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands.

The 31-year-old, who had not won a grass court title since the first two tournament wins of his career in Nottingham in 2005 and 2006, beat Chardy 6-3 7-6 (7-5). (BBC Sport)

Roger Federer will return to world number one in the latest rankings on Monday

sixth-best side on ranking.

But those hoping to see the free-flowing football Brazil are revered for will hope they find a better rhythm against Costa Rica on Friday, and that Neymar and those around him apply from the outset the late intensity they showed here.

Job done for precise Swiss

Federer wins Mercedes Cup with victory over Raonic

R

ing, Tite and the passionate Brazilian public are unlikely to be too worried at this stage, and Switzerland are after all the world’s

ball than anyone on his side, impressing in just his eighth international.

This was a Swiss performance expertly mapped out but it was always going to be key to take the chances that came their way.

Zuber, making just his 14th appearance, delivered on that front, powering home from four yards after fending off the attentions of his marker. The ease with which he found the net perhaps raises questions about Brazilian defensive frailty going forward.

But Switzerland, and manager Vladimir Petkovic in particular, will care little.

Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri carried enough threat to pose problems for others in the tournament, and while this was a display more intent on thwarting Brazil rather than pushing forward, they will be thrilled to have a point on the board going into Friday’s game with Serbia. (BBC Sport)

Stirling stars with 81 but Ireland tie against Scotland

P

aul Stirling made the most of a let-off on the second ball of the Ireland chase to break his own Ireland record for his side’s highest score in T20 internationals in a dramatic tie with Scotland at Deventer. It’s just the 10th tied result ever in the format, including tournament-matches decided later by a super over, and first since England tied Pakistan at Sharjah in November 2015. Interestingly, it was also the first game in T20I cricke t t h a t was left as a tie, and not decided by a super over or bowl out.

Ireland needed seven off the final over with five wickets in hand and Kevin O’Brien well-set on 28, but Safyaan Sharif denied an Irish win against the odds by dismissing O’Brien off the first ball. Just four runs came off the next four balls to leave Ireland three to win off the final ball, but Stuart Thompson was able to scamper a two to long-on to level the scores.

Stirling had yet to score in Ireland’s pursuit of Scotland’s 185 when he was spilled over the rope at deep square leg for six off the bowling of Sharif but went on to make a 27-ball half-century, his eighth in T20Is. The second life was reminiscent of his bruising half-century against Scotland in last year’s

semi-final at the Desert T20 Challenge when Stirling was dropped in the first over of the match off Mark Watt.

Just like in Dubai, Stirling punished Scotland for the error, bashing 81 off 41 balls. In the process, Stirling eclipsed the previous best for Ireland made by himself in the final of the 2012 World T20

Qualifier when he cracked 79 off 38 balls in a championship winning performance over Afghanistan.

His innings ended 19 short of what would have been Ireland’s first T20I ton when he slashed left-arm spinner Hamza Tahir to short third man for Tahir’s maiden T20I wicket.

By that stage, Ireland needed 60 off the final 6.2 overs with six wickets in hand. O’Brien replaced Stirling and kept the required run rate in check with three sixes in his knock to steer Ireland into the final over before falling with victory in sight.

Scotland had raced to an impressive start behind captain Kyle Coetzer and George Munsey, who added 93 in eight overs. However,

Ireland’s bowling unit did a spectacular job reeling them in over the final 12 overs during which Scotland scored at less than eight per over.

Coetzer eventually fell at the end of the 14th over for a top-score of 54, but Scotland struggled to press on despite plenty of wickets in hand.

Thompson produced a superb containing spell of 0 for 16 in three overs while Stirling also kept Scotland’s middle order from breaking away with 0 for 22 in three as

Scotland failed to score a boundary in a six-over stretch from the 11th through the 16th.

Scotland had a brief surge in the 19th when Barry McCarthy conceded 21 in a nine-ball over that began with a no-ball. Both the overstep and the ensuing free hit went for four as Scotland pressed on toward their second highest T20I total. But they stuttered once more at the finish as medium pacer Peter Chase conceded just six singles in the 20th over to a wellset Calum MacLeod (46 not out off 39 balls) and Richie Berrington. Chase’s death spell proved vital in the final result.

Despite ICC playing conditions implemented in September 2017 calling for a super over to decide all ties in T20Is, no super over was played. (ESPNCricinfo)

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sports

Sri Lanka Captain charged

by ICC for ball-tampering S

ri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been charged with altering the condition of the ball in the second Test against West Indies, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Sunday.

Angry Sri Lankan players refused to take the field on the third day of the match in St Lucia on Saturday, delaying the resumption of play for almost two hours, after the ICC said umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould had changed the ball and awarded West Indies five penalty runs.

“Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been charged for breaching Level 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct,” the ICC tweeted.

management has informed us that Sri Lankan players have not engaged in any wrongdoing.

“SLC shall take all necessary steps to defend any player, in the event any unwarranted allegation is brought against a member of the team.”

Sri Lanka were 34 for one in their second innings at the end of the third day, trailing West Indies by 13 runs after the hosts were dismissed for 300.

West Indies won the first Test of the threematch series by 226 runs.

(Reuters)

Dinesh Chandimal

The victory of Fernando Alonso (second left with trophy), alongside his Toyota teammates, completes the second part of the Spaniard’s motorsport ‘triple crown’

first half of the race.

The advantage seemed to have swung to the number seven car when Buemi was penalised with a 60-second stop-andgo penalty for speeding in a caution zone shortly after night fell on Saturday.

That put Alonso’s number eight car more than two minutes - two thirds of a lap - behind and apparently facing an uphill struggle to get back into contention.

But in a series of stints in the dead of night, Alonso clawed back the deficit and put the number eight car right back on the tail of the number seven.

In the 16th hour of the race, Nakajima retook the lead and the number eight car was in control for the duration.

However, there were still scares that provided reminders of Toyota’s failure to deliver a victory in previous years - most famously when their car broke down while leading on the final lap two years ago.

Toyota escaped a penalty when the

number eight car’s wheels were seen to be moving before it had touched the ground, which is not permitted, during the pit stop when Alonso handed the car to Nakajima for the final two stints before the finish.

And Kobayashi missed a pit stop in the penultimate hour and had to complete much of a lap on electrical power alone because he did not have enough fuel.

But in the end, both cars made it to the finish, to complete the company’s dream result - a one-two, with Alonso’s car the victor.

Jenson Button, the 2009 F1 world champion, was competing in the nonhybrid LMP1 class for the Russian SMP team.

His car was out of contention early on after spending two hours in the pits with an engine problem. It rejoined the race but retired with engine failure during the final hour. (BBC Sport)

Raina replaces Ambati Rayudu in India’s ODI squad for England

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ernando Alonso won Le Mans 24 Hours at the first attempt as he and team-mates Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima finally ended Toyota’s long drought.

Toyota had never won the sportscar race despite years of trying but finally delivered in an event in which they were effectively without opposition.

Alonso’s victory completes the second part of motorsport’s ‘triple crown’ for the two-time Formula 1 world champion.

Twice a Monaco Grand Prix winner, he now wants to win the Indianapolis 500.

Only Englishman Graham Hill has won all three classic races in the entire history of motorsport.

Alonso joined Toyota’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) programme this season with the aim of winning Le Mans, and is dovetailing it with his programme with McLaren in Formula 1.

Toyota are the only team competing with a hybrid car in the top LMP1 class, and the privateer-run non-hybrids are not fast enough to challenge them.

The presence of a sporting icon at Le Mans guaranteed the race, Toyota and the WEC far greater international attention than had it been six lesser-known drivers competing in what was effectively a private Toyota battle.

Nakajima - who, like Buemi, is a former F1 driver - put Alonso’s number eight car on pole position and the lead see-sawed between it and the number seven machine shared

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The breach relates to changing the condition of the ball. The same charge was levelled against Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft who was caught on camera rubbing a piece of sandpaper on the ball against South Africa in March.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said the team had denied any wrongdoing.

“SLC advised the team to take the field to ensure the continuity of the match and wish to commend the decision taken by the team to continue with the game ‘under protest’ to ensure the upholding of the spirit of the game,” the cricket board

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Suresh Raina

ndia’s selection committee has named Suresh Raina as Ambati Rayudu’s replacement in the ODI squad for the tour of England. Rayudu was dropped from the 16-man squad on Friday after failing to clear a mandatory fitness test in Bengaluru.

Raina hasn’t played an ODI since October 2015, when he was dropped after a poor run of form following the series against South Africa, but has featured in India’s T20I contests this year - against South Africa and in the Nidahas Trophy against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Raina was already named in the T20I squad for India’s games against Ireland and England. Since January 2018, Raina has scored 170 runs in eight T20I innings.

In the yo-yo fitness test that Rayudu failed, players are required to attain the 16:1 mark, the minimum level set for Indian players by the team’s strength and conditioning coach Shankar Basu. It is understood that Rayudu fell short of the minimum cut-off by a reasonable distance.

India’s three-match ODI series against England starts on July 12 in Nottingham and ends in Leeds on July 17.

India’s ODI squad: Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Siddarth Kaul, Umesh Yadav (ESPNCricinfo)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, JUNE 18, 2018

2018 CWI Women’s T20 Championship

W

Akaze Thompson

indies’ star all-rounder Hayley Matthews smacked a brutal fifty as Barbados took their winning streak to four following their 27-run win over Guyana in the CWI Regional T20 Women’s Championship played at Sabina Park Ground in Jamaica.

The opener hit seven fours and four sixes in her36-ball blitz, which produced Barbados’s topscore of 61. Support came from her opening partner Danielle Small, who scored 21 off 18; with Kycia Knight, the wicket-keeper, adding a useful 23 to help their side post 134-6 in 20 overs.

Guyana again had another good outing with the ball, as their star for the night, Akaze Thompson, grabbing 2-22, and a wicket each came from Plaffiana Millington, Shenita Grimmond and Subrena Munroe.

Looking for the second win, the Guyanese ladies produced a mixed batting effort in the chase, but fell short despite Thompson returning to blast 47 and Shabika Gajnabi

chipping in with 31. Guyana was restricted to 107-3 when 20 overs expired.

Skipper Shemaine Campbell was the next bet scorer with 16, as spells from the Bajan duo of Shanika Bruce (2-17) and Shamilia Connell (1-17) were enough to contain the Guyanese.

In other matches played in the 4th round, Windward Islands defeated the Leeward Islands by 62 runs, while Trinidad and Tobago got the better of hosts Jamaica to win by 43 runs.

Meanwhile, the final round of the T20s will bowl off on Monday, with Guyana opening the day with a match versus the Leewards. The red hot Barbados will tackle hosts Jamaica in the afternoon match, while Trinidad and Tobago lock horns with Windward Islands in the night.

Following the end of the T20s, the women will shift formats as they prepare for the Super50 leg of the championships, which bowl off on Thursday June 21. (Clifton Ross)

Hayley Mathews

Malteenoes Cricket Academy GCB mourns the passing of “Rocky” Mann bowls off from July 23 N T he Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) has commenced registration for its upcoming Cricket Academy, which bowls off on July 23.

Registration forms for the two-week Academy became available from this week at the club’s pavilion on Thomas Road in Thomas Lands. The Academy runs from 09:00h to 15:00h each week-day, and the fee for registration is $4,000. Lunch and snacks will be provided for the students, and the first 70 participants will be accepted.

T h e Malteenoes C r i c k e t Academy was, in July 1993, launched in recognition of the Club’s motto, “Our Youth, Our Future”. The MSC’s principal intention is to add to the national grid young, proud, confident individuals.

The Academy caters for males and females between the ages of 6 and 18 years old. It would include classroom and field work, which Narsingh Deonarine and Ramnaresh Sarwan benefited from the Malteenoes Cricket Academy

would provide the tools for the participants to become cricketers, umpires, scorers, journalists and broadcasters, all of which can be well paid careers.

Qualified coaches will conduct technical and physical sessions, while facilitators will talk on education, social skills, health and hygiene, etiquette, child protection, laws and history of cricket, umpiring and scoring.

The Academy has produced Test players Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ryan Ramdass, Narsingh Deonarine and West Indies female Test player Indomattie Goordial.

ot only the fraternity, but the entire cricket industry has lost a true cricket stalwart in Ronald Paul Mann, popularly known as “Rocky” Mann; who took ill quite a few years ago, and quietly passed away at his home in Mc Doom, Greater Georgetown yesterday.

“Rocky” served very proficiently as the Marketing Manager of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) during the halcyon days of the 1990s under the Presidency of Chetram Singh.

Those days cricket was still headquartered at the GCC ground, Bourda, and there was never any thought of a World Cup being held here in Guyana.

Rocky was very instrumental in the acquisition of sponsorships from all the major commercial banks, bev-

erage companies and the general corporate community for the construction of Hospitality Boxes, which still house the GCB’s Office and the Media Stand, which still stand tall at the northern and southern sides of the Bourda square.

Rocky also served as the Marketing Manager of the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association during the late 90s, when a successful raffle was held with a car being given away as the first prize.

Rocky had earlier served the cricket community as a radio commentator doing ball by ball commentary of many of our regional cricket matches.

Mann always had his heart well placed in assisting our cricketers, and was a great cricket administrator.

The entire cricket community will, like this publication, join the GCB in extending its sincerest condolences to his wife, Zel Mann; his children Jason & Alyeah, and the rest of his family and relatives at this time of bereavement.

‘Safe space’ for Russia LGBT football fans shut

A

n organisation providing a “safe space” for LGBT and ethnic-minority football fans in Russia says it was evicted from its premises in St Petersburg on the eve of the World Cup. Diversity House was supposed to open for the duration of the tournament.

It aimed to provide a tolerant environment for gay and nonwhite football fans to watch matches.

But at the last minute the building’s owners locked the organisers out and terminated their contract.

“They asked us to leave the place very rudely, switched off the electricity and they explained

nothing to us,” a local organiser told the BBC. The international Football Against Racism in Europe (Fare) network, which was behind the initiative, said it could have been a politically motivated move.

It was a “political attack of the kind that shows how debates about human rights are curtailed by powerful conservative political forces in Russia”, said Fare director Piara Powar in a statement on Saturday.

He pointed to a long history of rights groups being closed or pressured on legalistic pretexts in Russia, and particularly in St Petersburg.

New premises in the city

centre have since been found and opened on Saturday, organisers said.

Homosexuality was decriminalised in Russia in 1993, but anti-gay prejudice is rife.

Five years ago, the Russian Duma passed a law that made “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” among minors an offence.

Football’s ruling body Fifa, which works with Fare, said it had contacted St Petersburg authorities to try to find a solution and said it “regretted” what had happened.

Another Diversity House in Moscow is open and has been running events. (BBC Sport)

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, JUNE 18, 2018

23

Mendis, Dickwella help SL turn tide despite Gabriel 6-fer

Shannon Gabriel successfully appealed the lbw shout against Kasun Rajtha

D

espite the numerous interruptions the second Test has witnessed due to rains and other factors, the match has come to a point where all three results are within bounds on the final day. The script for this was set by the fourth wicket century stand between Kusal Mendis and

Dinesh Chandimal, followed by the 99-run partnership

by Niroshan Dickwella and Roshen Silva, which powered Sri Lanka to 334 for 8 in their second innings, before umpire decided to call off play on the fourth day due to poor light.

It was quite an effort by the visitors, given the situ-

ation they had found themselves in 45 minutes into the day’s play. Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach had rocked the top order with three early wickets.

The destruction began in the first over itself when Gabriel trapped nightwatchman Kasun Rajitha without any runs getting add-

ed to the overnight score.

Dhananjaya de Silva offered Gabriel possibly his least rewarding wicket when he edged an attempted drive on the up to the slip fielder. Mahela Udawatte added to Sri Lanka’s miseries by mistiming a hit over the infield to Devendra Bishoo at mid off. 14 runs into the day, Sri Lanka found themselves reeling at 48 for 4, with only a one-run lead to boot for when Chandimal was joined

by Mendis in the middle.

The duo, together, rescued the Sri Lankan innings in contrasting manners.

While Chandimal struggled and scratched his way to a painful 39, Mendis looked far more convincing in his shot making. Both of them were awarded lives as they got out off no balls. First it was Mendis, who was caught down the leg side off Jason Holder and then a snooter by Gabriel had Chandimal lobbing a fend to the slip fielder. But on both occasions, the bowlers were found to have overstepped.

The issue of overstepping isn’t new to the current lineup of Windies pacers, but they had shown a marked improvement in that aspect in the ongoing series.

However, on Sunday, they overstepped 10 times - twice costing them wickets.

Taking advantage of that, Chandimal and Mendis stitched a 117-run partnership for the fifth wicket and revived Sri Lanka’s innings in the process, Mendis also brought up his sixth Test fifty. His innings, which began cautiously, went a gear higher after being offered a life.

He was especially severe to

the spinners - Roston Chase and Devendra Bishoo.

Despite their resurrection act, Windies could have got back into the game with both of them falling on either sides of the Tea break.

The visitors were reduced to 199 for 6, and with a lead of only 152 runs at that point, could have folded up giving away a target less than 200.

But Dickwella and Silva avoided that situation as well for them.

Dickwella didn’t get much strike in the first half of the partnership but was the accelerator of the two.

Silva, who has had an ordinary outing in Windies, scratched his way along.

Silva, who was dropped by Shai Hope on 27, chugged along to 48 before being caught behind courtesy a fine one-handed take by Shane Dowrich. The batsman wasted a review but by then, the 99-run stand had

helped Sri Lanka to a position of comfort.

Dickwella, on the other hand, provided yet another brutal display of batting enroute his 70-ball 62.

He registered the highest score by a Sri Lankan ‘keeper in West Indies before falling softly to Gabriel, offering an easy lobbed chance to the short cover fielder. Akila Dananjaya and Suranga Lakmal hung around in the dying minutes of the day and helped the visitors to a 287-run lead at Stumps.

It’s a total good enough for Sri Lanka to defend, but remains to be seen if they are confident to go for the kill with an early declaration on the final day.

Gabriel ended the day with six victims in the innings, and 11 in the match - his career best, but it happened to be a day where Sri Lankan batsmen dominated. (Cricbuzz)

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka 1st Innings – 253 all out WI 1st innings – 300 all out Sri Lanka 2nd Innings MDKJ Perera c †Dowrich b Gabriel 20 ML Udawatte c Bishoo b Roach 19 CAK Rajitha lbw b Gabriel 0 DM de Silva c Smith b Gabriel 3 BKG Mendis b Gabriel 87 LD Chandimal (c) c †Dowrich b Roach 39 ARS Silva c †Dowrich b Gabriel 48 N Dickwella † c Powell b Gabriel 62 A Dananjaya not out 16 RAS Lakmal not out 7

Extras 33 (b 12, lb 8, nb 10, w 3) Total 334-8 (89 Overs, RR: 3.75) Yet to bat: CBRLS Kumara Fall of wickets: 1-32 (MDKJ Perera, 7.4 ov), 2-34 (CAK Rajitha, 9.4 ov), 3-44 (DM de Silva, 13.6 ov), 4-48 (ML Udawatte, 16.2 ov), 5-165 (LD Chandimal, 47.4 ov), 6-199 (BKG Mendis, 57.2 ov), 7-298 (ARS Silva, 81.1 ov), 8-307 (N Dickwella, 83.1 ov) BOWLING: KAJ Roach (20-375-2), ST Gabriel (19-5-576), JO Holder (15-5-38-0), ML Cummins (13-1-44-0), D Bishoo (11-0-58-0), RL Chase (10-1-380), KC Brathwaite (1-0-4-0) Sri Lanka lead by 287 runs

Shaq’s advice to LeBron: Don’t chase rings F

ormer Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal speaks during a NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Staples Center.

Namely, don’t go team-hopping in search of more championships.

“My problem toward the end of my career was I was trying to shut everybody up and I was greedy (to win more titles),” O’Neal said to ESPN on Friday.

“After I got to three, everybody was saying I couldn’t get another. So I got four. After I got the fourth, they were saying I couldn’t get another one. So I was trying to make quick stops to get it. Phoenix, Cleveland, Boston.”

O’Neal’s final title came in 2006 with the Miami Heat. He won three in a row

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) goes hard to the ring against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James

with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000-2002.

James, who can opt-out and become a free agent this summer, reached the NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007 only to be swept by the San Antonio Spurs.

He famously left Cleveland for the Heat in 2011 and proceeded to reach the Finals in four straight seasons, winning two of them.

Since returning to Cleveland, he’s reached the Finals the last four seasons and won one championship.

He’s faced the Golden State Warriors each of those four years.

Shaq says that LeBron’s legacy is set whether he adds any more titles or not.

“Somebody told me a long time ago — they said your book is already set. You can add index pages toward

the end, but your book is already set. So LeBron’s book is already set,” O’Neal said in the interview. “He done already passed up legends; he done already made his mark — he has three rings.

His mentality now is probably: I want to get four before Steph (Curry) does. That’s probably his mentality now.

But if I was him, I wouldn’t be trying to get four, five and six because it ain’t going to matter. It’s just something else to talk about, something else to add to the pages. He’s a legend, talked about as who is the best between he and Michael Jordan, so he’s set.”

James has until just before midnight on June 29 to make a decision on whether to opt out. Cleveland can offer him $205 million over five years, while other teams can offer him $152 million over four years. (Reuters)

monDAY, JUNE 18, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com The condition of the ball remained a very touchy issue in this Test, with umpires Ian Gould and Aleem Dar examining it on a few occasions Kusal Mendis

Pg 23

Mendis, Dickwella help SL turn tide despite Gabriel 6-fer Pg 23

Brilliant Mexico beat champions Germany

Pg 19

Mexico’s Hirving Lozano celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal during the Group F match between Germany and Mexico at the 2018 soccer World Cup

Swiss hold favourites Brazil after Coutinho stunner

Pg 20

Brazil’s Neymar, left, is challenged for the ball by Switzerland’s Valon Behrami during the Group E match

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