Sunday Times, August 25, 2019

10 Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4026 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, AUGUST 25 , 2019

PRICE

Delaying tactics

Govt appeal of CJ decision aimed at further delaying elections – former AG …says appeal has no merit

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

“GRDB, P8 Ministers are in lala land” – former Agri Minister …as rice industry drowns in trouble

Page 3

One hundred and twenty-five children from across Corriverton, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Saturday received backpacks filled with school supplies compliments of People’s Progressive Party councillors and the business community

‘Limited’ Local Content Policy released

…to only deal with upstream oil & gas sector Berbice River Bridge

Patterson lied about buyout offer – BBCI Page 7

CHPA warns of scammers using fake presidential account P14 Over 100 P10 families affected by freak storm in Region 10

ECD man P16 nursing head injuries from motorcycle accident

See story on page 17

Tullow to push for Guyanese to be employed with company Page 14

…after Ghana Exec touts job opportunities for countrymen in Guyana

Over 200 P10 minibus, taxi drivers promise to “up their game”

…trained to treat passengers better

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

Delaying tactics

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

Sunday, August 25 – 13:00h – 14:30h and Monday, August 26 – 01:00h – 02:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, August 25 – 12:05h – 13:35h and Monday, August 26 – 13:15h – 14:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Govt appeal of CJ decision aimed at further delaying elections – former AG …says appeal has no merit

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

WEATHER TODAY Mostly sunny with intervals of cloudy conditions are expected throughout the day. There will be a short period of thundery showers followed by clear skies later at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 11:53h reaching a maximum height of 2.19 metres.

Low Tide: 05:14h and 17:46h reaching minimum heights of 0.93 metre and 1.05 metres.

saturday, AUGUST 24, 2019

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

Former AG Anil Nandlall

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fter months spent in the court contesting the No-Confidence Motion, the Government is set on returning to the court, this time to appeal Chief Justice Roxane George’s recent ruling that persons who were previously registered cannot be removed from the National Register of Registrants.

When contacted, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall on Saturday said that now that the Government has appealed the ruling, he and his legal team will have to consider whether or not to file a cross-appeal.

Nandlall, who is leading the legal team for original applicant Christopher Ram, also called out the Government for its “aboutface”, from initially proclaiming a victory to now returning to the courts to challenge their ‘victorious’ ruling.

“The Attorney General, who first claimed a “massive victory” after the Chief Justice’s ruling, is now appealing the ruling. In essence, he wants the Court of Appeal to add “residency” as a qualification for registration when Article 159 of the Constitution, which enumerates the qualifications for registration, does not so provide,” Nandlall subsequently said in a statement.

“This appeal is therefore completely without merit but will provide another platform for the Government Commissioners at GECOM to dilate. Rest assured, next week, they will argue that GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission) should await the determination of this appeal.”

The former AG pointed to Section 11 (1) of the National Registration Act, which states that “No person shall be registered in more than one divisional register or more than once in any register established under Section 9.”

He noted that Section 21 of the same National Registration Act also provides that “Every person

who procures, or induces another person to procure, his registration in more than one divisional register or more than once in any register established under Section 9 shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of five thousand dollars and to imprisonment for six months”.

“The aforementioned provisions of the law not only prohibit duplicate registration but make it a criminal offence and every enumerator who registers a person already registered, commits a criminal offence,” Nandlall pointed out.

“The aforementioned two Sections of the National Registration Act along with the Chief Justice’s ruling aggregate to establish beyond doubt that the data generated by the House-toHouse exercise is grounded in illegality.”

Despite all this, Nandlall noted that the Government Commissioners on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) continue to push for this exercise to continue and, in fact, for an alternative database to be set up.

“In any event, this will take months to accomplish and the only use which can be made of it is to extract the new registrants… these new registrants can easily be captured in a cycle

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George

of Claims and Objections.

These arguments advanced by the Commissioners simply constitute another clumsy attempt to delay the elections.”

After several meetings with the six Commissioners and Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, GECOM seems to have made little progress in ascertaining a timeframe to hold elections. According to Nandlall, there seems to be an attempt to appease both sides of the political divide.

But he noted that this boils

Current AG Basil Williams

down to the Government’s agenda of delaying elections being facilitated by GECOM. “The reality is that the demands of one side is for constitutional compliance while the demands of the other side is to perpetuate constitutional non-compliance. In such a matrix, there is simply no place for compromise. Constitutional compliance is the only option. The Chairperson of GECOM knows this more than most others,” Nandlall said. TURN TO PAGE 10

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Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 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

Govt weakening institutions O

ne of the most glaring failures of the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition government has been its undermining and weakening the institutions of the State – including several that it launched since 2015.

In almost every field of human endeavour, it is recognised that we need “rules of the game” for us to function socially and this is where institutions come in. They are, as a matter of fact, the embodiment of such rules around particular values we seek to guide our lives. Most persons conflate the “organisation” with the “institution”, but the former focuses the persons playing roles to actually transmit the values embodied in the rules that constitute the former.

At the national level, the rules for governing our State are embodied in the Constitution, while statutes passed by the legislature would set out the rules guiding other lower institutions. As such, we have, for instance, the institutions of the Judiciary and the Police Force for enforcing the laws of our State – the values of peace and security; the Revenue Authority for collecting taxes – the value of sharing the costs of our State services; and the Health Services to deal with the medical needs of our citizens – the value of healthy lives.

Not surprisingly, most of our institutions are copied from the developed countries, since they are the exemplars of what we are attempting to achieve and we have seen the outcomes of their high-quality public sector institutions. However, most citizens of Guyana would agree that while life in Guyana is somewhat above the state of nature described by Hobbes as “nasty, brutish and short”, it remains so in many respects. However, if we are to examine the source of their angst somewhat closer, we would discover that the let-downs invariably stem from a failure of institutions.

Take, for instance, the complaints about the lack of security in Guyana, with the high rate of crime becoming higher with each passing day. As was noted earlier, the institutions responsible for the value of security are the Police and Judiciary. Now these institutions have been examined and re-examined on numerous occasions by foreign and domestic “experts”. There were subsequent tweaking of the “rules” that govern their behaviour to better deliver the value encompassed in their motto “To serve and protect”. The question is: why the failure?

The reason is that this PNC-led government, in every instance, focuses on the “institutional form” – the organisation of the institution, and not on “institutional function” – the ability of the institution to solve the problem of securing the articulated value. Take the case of what might be seen as the mundane challenge of improving the response of the Police to reports of crimes by the citizenry. Hundreds of vehicles have been procured – cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, all-terrain vehicles, etc— over the past decade, but to no avail.

But this is because the Government has been focusing on the form and not the function of the Police force. It is clear that the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that were crafted to guide the Police response are not being followed, but it is also clear that internally, there is no follow-up to check and correct why there was no followup in the first case.

But it is not only a sin of omission that is being committed; there are also sins of commission. Take, for instance, the institutions of State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) and Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) which were formed to carry out their eponymous anticorruption functions. Over the last four years, while the forms of these institutions were in place, in their function, they were subverted to go after the political Opposition – while completely ignoring identified instances of corrupt practices with incumbent government officials.

But the greatest subversion of our institutional structure that holds our country together has been at the top: the Executive’s subversion of our meta-institution of “constitutionalism”, which demands that all adhere to the rules of our Constitution.

People’s Progressive Party Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali and former junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill, attend a religious ceremony at the Hare Krishna Movement, Sri Krishna Janamastami at Crane Old Road, West Coast Demerara on Friday evening

As Amazon fires rage, Amazon fires: Fines Brazil tells diplomats for environmental to fix image crimes drop in Brazil

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A tract of Amazon jungle burns as it is being cleared by loggers and farmers in Novo Airao, Amazonas state, Brazil (REUTERS/Bruno Kelly)

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tung by a global outcry over deforestation and wildfires in the Amazon rainforest, Brazil has launched a diplomatic offensive to persuade the international community of its environmental credentials.

President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration has distributed a 12-page circular to its foreign embassies, outlining data and statistics that diplomats are meant to cite to defend the government’s position on the crisis.

The circular, reviewed by Reuters and reported here for the first time, attempts to address 59 areas where Brazil has come under fire, by citing various policies and data.

It comes as leaders from countries such as Britain, France and Germany have voiced their concerns about the widespread fires. The office of French President Emmanuel Macron even accused Bolsonaro of lying when he played down concerns over climate change at the G20 summit in June.

According to diplomats contacted by Reuters, the pressure on Brazil has ramped up in recent days, with images of the rainforest ablaze shown around the world. Members of the public have sent strong messages to Brazilian embassies, the diplomats said, prompting Brasilia to send the circular.

The document attempts to rebut criticism of Brazil’s environmental record, but ignores some of President Jair

Bolsonaro’s more controversial policies.

It states, for example, that deforestation peaked in the mid-1990s and was reduced by 72% between 2004 and 2018.

It neglects to mention that deforestation has been rising steadily again since 2012, due partially to the struggling Brazilian economy and budget cuts that resulted in less environmental enforcement.

This year, preliminary data suggests that deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon has surged 67% through July compared to the same period last year. The number of fires has surged 83% this year.

“It is important to keep in mind that in recent decades, Brazil has been able to twin agricultural production with conservation,” the document says.

“More than 60% of Brazil’s territory (of the Amazon) is covered by natural vegetation, with agricultural activities limited to about 30% of the territory.”

It does not say, however, that Bolsonaro has repeatedly said he believes Brazil has too much protected land and that it should be opened up to farming and mining.

“Brazil has been vigorous in controlling and restricting irregular activities involving land grabbers, loggers and miners so as to reduce deforestation and the invasion of indigenous lands,” the circular says. (Reuters)

he record number of fires in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has coincided with a sharp drop in fines for environmental violations, BBC analysis has found.

Official data from Brazil’s environment agency shows fines from January to 23 August dropped almost a third compared with the same period last year.

At the same time, the number of fires burning in Brazil has increased by 84%.

It is not known how many of these fires have been set deliberately, but critics have accused President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration of “green lighting” the destruction of the rainforest through a culture of impunity.

Mr Bolsonaro has sent in the military to help put out the fires after coming under pressure from the international community, saying he wanted to “help protect” the Amazon.

The largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon is a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming. It is known as the “lungs of the world” and is home to about three million species of plants and animals, and one million indigenous people.

What does the data show?

Analysis by BBC Brasil shows the number of fines handed out by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) for environmental violations has dropped significantly since Mr Bolsonaro took office on 1 January. * This year saw the lowest number of fines handed out by the agency in a decade (in the period between January and August) * Between 1 January and 23 August 2019, the total number of fines handed out was 6,895 * Ibama handed out 9,771 fines during the same period in 2018: a drop of 29.4%

* The total number of fines relating to “flora” - which includes deforestation and burning - dropped from 4,138 to 2,535 over the same period * And in the nine states that make up the Brazilian Amazon, the drop in fines relating to flora dropped from 2,817 to 1,627 Neither Ibama nor the ministry of the environment answered the BBC’s queries about the figures.

Mariangélica de Almeida, a professor of environmental law who has defended clients over unfair fines, suggested to BBC Brasil that the figures for previous years could have reflected a culture of over-fining, in order to meet goals.

However, others have pointed the finger directly at Mr Bolsonaro, who has scorned environmental activists and declared his support for clearing areas of the Amazon for agriculture and mining.

Elisabeth Uema, who retired from Ibama last year, said it was clear even before Mr Bolsonaro was elected that he did not like Ibama. During his campaign, he pledged to limit fines for damaging the rainforest and to weaken the influence of the environmental agency.

The message was further underlined in April when Mr Bolsonaro ordered an investigation into officials who burned tractors and trucks belonging to loggers who were allegedly involved in illegal activities in the Jamari National Forest. This was a long-held policy seen as a deterrent against illegal loggers.

The agency’s work, she said, had also been hampered by the fact that just eight of its 27 offices across the country now had a permanent head. Critics of the Bolsonaro administration insist the drop in fines does not mean fewer crimes against the environment are being committed.

(BBC)

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

What change? Govt’s attack, revenge on core Opposition supporters Dear Editor, After reflecting on the past several years, it is very disappointing to see how old wounds have kept progress from the people of Guyana especially when it comes to understanding and respecting each other’s ethnicity and race. Many will agree, but few will admit it publicly. The current Government came into office with an opportunity to provide this change and progress for the entire country.

Instead, political dominance and self-preservation led

to a clearly racist motivation for the gutting of the Government’s minor partner’s political base, while they also seized the opportunity to attack and take revenge on the core supporters of the Opposition.

Were it not the case, this political season would be much easier for the current Government. Their support base would have grown in non-traditional areas due to joint economic growth and progress towards national development. However, they stole progress from them-

selves and although they are now facing a substantial opportunity to obtain further growth via new resource development, it is clear that theirs is an inherent resentment towards those who are helping them.

Far be it for me to say that the remembrance of slavery should be neglected, but the use of its memory to hinder progress towards growing as an individual or as an institution, or as a nation does not help anyone involved. In recent days, many of those who are respect-

ed in the Government have been recalling memories of slavery and comparing current economic and social decisions via this backdrop. It would be beneficial to also remember that those who you have resentment towards have helped you regain power and are providing you with the technology to grow your economy. This is not out of an obligation which they have to fulfil for the past. It is the result of taking advantage of a winwin opportunity for all of those involved. The question that should be asked by those who allow bitterness to skew or bias their judgment is, “What would they

do if those helping them left them to their own wits?”.

Hate for a people who were not your enemies and that came here for work to take care of their families is wrong at its core. No one came to take from you what was yours. Those in charge made the decision of whom they wanted to work with.

Now you work with the descendants of masters of your forefathers to obtain future wealth, will you now curse them for helping you do what you yourselves can not? The same thought should be extended to more than half of this nation with whom you are aggressively attacking because of historical differ-

ences and bitter resentment.

The choice is there to be had, will we be a nation of one people or a nation where to each his own will always be the order of the day? Letting go of the past is not the same as forgetting it and most people let go when there is something better, not bitter, to be had.

Look before you and you will see that is exactly what is to be had in coming years. Let the nation progress as one, leave behind the bitter resentment that continues to hinder our beautiful nation’s progress.

Dear Editor, In my recent visits to various regions in Guyana, I saw the dire need for senior citizens to improve the various aspects of their lives, thereby helping them to fulfil the objectives which are tabulated in the manifesto of the Ministry of Social Protection.

I am, therefore, directing the following to the regional branches of this Ministry, as well as the responsible Minister and prominent members of our communities, to help the seniors in each area of our country to band themselves into district organisations which will best serve to fulfil these objectives.

Twenty years ago, in my home district of Phoenix Park, West Bank Demerara, I, with the help of a few

friends in my age group, founded an organisation which I named the 60-Plus Club. I toured the area and spoke to individuals as well as church groups about our plans. Soon after, the club was formed and graciously hosted by the owner of the disco at Lot 1, Phoenix Park, Mr Joseph Drakes. Some residents of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara took this cue and formed their own club.

We held meetings every Monday evening and got together socially on Fridays, when we held dances, barbecues and games At our formal Monday meetings, we discussed the various needs of members and solutions to their problems, both individual and as a group. We also had prominent members of the community and

professionals, such as nurses and NIS officials, coming in to speak to members on the many things that had a bearing on our lives. I strongly believe that apart from the tabulated benefits, we provided to our younger folk an example of what they can look forward to in their later lives, as well as how people of different races can live and work together in harmony.

I am now suggesting to those who can help to get these organisations formed and functioning to commence this assistance as soon as possible so that our seniors can continue to lead fruitful and healthy lives.

How will these victims gain access to Magistrates, Judges? Formation of senior citizens’ organisations

Dear Editor, The Sexual Offences Act provides for police officers to be charged if they fail to institute charges against a suspect three months after a complaint was made and if they delay in seeking advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions. What about victims who claim that instead of taking their complaints, Police ridicule and insult them? In any case, why has no police been charged as there are many cases of refusal to institute charges or delaying them?

As well, it was widely reported in the media that if Police do not take the complaints of victims of gender-based violence, such victims can report directly to a Magistrate. However, no one has revealed any mechanism through which this would be facilitated, given that an individual cannot simply walk up to a Magistrate. Magistrates and Judges have gatekeepers, who are usually police officers. They would inquire of victims the reason these victims want to speak to the Judiciary and they would never allow anyone access to a Judge or Magistrate if they are told that the person is a victim of abuse

who wants to let the Judge or Magistrate know that Police refused to take complaints and/or act on such complaints.

TCV is aware of many victims who have revealed the ridicule and insults they suffered at the hands of Police when they went to report abuse. In fact, we even know of situations where money changed hands (bribe-taking by Police) so that Police would do nothing. It has gotten so bad that many victims now refuse to go to the police, but instead come directly to TCV or other stakeholders for help. So the question remains, how will these victims gain access to Magistrates and Judges.

Vinetta Headley-James, the 44-year-old mother of eight, recently murdered by her husband of 26 years, had been suffering years of abuse. In the media, a neighbour was quoted as “counseling her”. The Caribbean Voice and other stakeholders have emphasised over and over that only those who are professionally qualified and clinically experienced can counsel. Anyone else who attempts to do so can cause greater harm. We recall the

Dear Editor, This week marks the 6th anniversary of the death of Mr Harold B Davis; I feel a strong need to publicly acknowledge the sterling contributions made by this great son of Guyana in the development of the human resources of this dear land of ours.

First as the education and training officer, then as the Director of Human Resources of Bookers Sugar Estates Ltd, and finally as Chairman of the Guyana Sugar Corporation, Mr Davis’ contribution to Human Resources Development has so far been unparalleled.

His initiation of the Bookers Cadetship pro-

gramme, which was responsible for the identification and development of a slew of Guyanese with the technical and managerial skills to run the sugar industry, is among his most nodal contribution and undoubtedly the most notable of his many achievements. I am happy to acknowledge my own good fortune in benefitting from the GuySuCo cadetship programme.

It is also interesting to note that he has also provided the country with a son, HB Davis (Jnr), who is the current Chairman of GuySuCo.

Tribute to the late Harold B Davis

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

case of a young lady, earlier this year, who ended up dying by suicide a couple of days after she started receiving counselling by one such quack. As well, we have also offered an expert to the Government to help set up protocols to license counsellors, so quacks and make-believe counsellors would face the full force of the law for their pretence.

That offer is still open.

Finally, anyone who has lived with an abuser must know that the abuser can easily be triggered to murder and should, therefore, as a matter of self-protection, desist from any such acts while still living with the abuser. One has to wonder, therefore, why did the victim dump the clothes of the abuser in the yard. Who would have ‘counselled’ her to do that?

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

Best regards, J Changlee

Yours sincerely, Roy Paul

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Foundation

By Pam Myers, BSEd

new level.

ads often feel left out when a new baby arrives. The changing, feeding, and general caregiving tasks are often left to Mom. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a dad to anxiously await the time when his child is older and they can play together. Yet these early years are critical for social, emotional, mental, and physical development. Study after study shows that dads play an important role in the development of their child. So how can dad feel more involved with their young child?

While dads like to play, children aren’t always interested in roughhousing or active play. Learn to play quietly with your child, too. Read to them. Stack blocks and talk about colours, shapes, and animal sounds. Watch movies together. Go on walks and look at bugs, sticks, and rocks. Simply spending quiet time with your child, without mom, can help you feel closer to your little one.

D

Feed them

Whether your child is a newborn or in elementary school, participating in the nurturing and care of your child creates a bond. For infants, dads can bottle feed their baby. Find a comfortable chair, put your feet up, hold your baby, and enjoy the feeding process. Your baby will learn to trust you for their most basic needs and you’ll experience an intimate bond.

Remember to talk with them as you cuddle.

Learn their moods

guyanatimesgy.com

All children have moods and inborn temperaments. Each mood is preceded by a sign or two that they’re headed in a certain direction. For example, a toddler may begin rubbing their face with their hands when they’re beginning to get tired. By learning these cues, you can begin to anticipate behaviours. It’s empowering to be able to provide your child with what they need before they know they need it. It also helps you appreciate your child on a

Spend quiet time with them

Participate in their care

Children need their hair brushed. They need to be bathed and clothed. In fact, they pretty much require aroundthe-clock care and attention. One of the best ways to bond with your young child and to feel more involved is to participate in their care.

Volunteer to give them a bath or put them to bed.

Take part in their routines and become an active care provider. If you’re unsure of what to do, ask your partner.

However, don’t let them dictate exactly how it should be done. The great thing about children bonding with their dads is that sometimes dads do things differently. It’s good for your child to experience both parents taking care of them. Finally, as your child heads off to daycare or school, take an active role in the decision making and in their learning. Make sure you meet with their teachers. Go to school events and show your child that you’re interested in all aspects of their life. You’re important to your child’s development, so take initiative and get involved! (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

A

nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust and gas. Some nebulas are called “star nurseries” because they’re where stars are formed, or "born".

Our own Sun was born 4.6 billion years ago!

Supplies (for each child) lid

• Clear glass jar with a

• Plastic spoon • Water • Tempera paint (at least 2 colours: blues, purples, and pinks work well) • Glitter • Cotton balls (about 18 per child, depending on the size of the jar) In this activity, kids will create a model of a nebula. A nebula looks like a big cloud of dust and gas located in interstellar space. They are very far away — the closest one to Earth is called the Helix Nebula and it is 700 light years away. That means even if you could travel at the speed of light, it would take you 700 years to get there!

If nebulas are so far away, how do we know what

they look like? Astronomers use very powerful space telescopes, such as the Hubble telescope, to take pictures of nebulas.

Directions

Fill one-third of the glass jar with water. Add a few drops of tempera paint to the jar and stir.

Add three to six cotton balls (depending on the size of the jar) to the water mixture in the jar, pressing down with the spoon. Next, sprinkle in about a teaspoon of glitter.

Repeat steps 1-4 two more times, or until the jar is full. Screw on the lid and your nebula jar is ready to display.

The nebula jar is a colourful (and even calming) object for your room, plus you can proudly say to visitors, “look, I made a nebula” and then explain what that word means! (.startwithabook.org)

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SUnDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Berbice River Bridge

Patterson lied about buyout offer – BBCI P

ublic Infrastructure Minister David Patterson is again in hot water as the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) has refuted claims he made that Government has offered to buyout ownership of the bridge company.

During an interview on State-owned NCN last weekend, Minister Patterson had disclosed that his Government has offered to purchase the ownership of the bridge from the BBCI. However, the Bridge Company on Saturday said no such offer has been made at any time by Government.

“This is a completely irresponsible statement on the part of the Minister and a most unfortunate attempt to mislead the public,” the BBCI said.

This is not the first time the issue of buyout of the Berbice River Bridge has raised. Last year, outspoken political activist and former Presidential Advisor, Ramon Gaskin, had suggested a total buyout of the Bridge Company by Government so as to resolve the issue of rising tolls.

At the time, Guyana Times had reported that the BBCI— in which the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) has majority voting rights on the Board of

Berbice River Bridge

Directors— was forced to push for the increase in tolls in order to protect its investment.

To this end, Gaskin had suggested that an alternative can be for Government and the NIS to solely own the bridge company, thus buying the shares from all the other shareholders.

The BBCI said on Saturday that it welcomes a “fair and reasonable” offer from Government. In fact, the company has already written the Public Infrastructure Minister for an urgent meeting to discuss Government’s proposed offer.

But the Berbice Bridge

Company noted that efforts since last November to meet the Minister on the revision of the Concession Agreement have been futile.

In fact, the BBCI is accusing the Public Infrastructure Minister of making a number of false and disconcerting statements about the Berbice Bridge during the recent interview.

Minister Patterson had said the financial challenges that the Berbice Bridge Company is facing are no fault of his Government.

The BBCI, however, reminded that it is the coalition administration which has consistently refused to

respect its contractual obligation to address the annual adjustments to the bridge toll required by the Concession Agreement between the State and the Bridge Company.

It noted that it had repeatedly requested to meet with the Minister, in writing, to discuss a revision of the Concession Agreement.

In response, in a letter of November 19, 2018, the Minister informed the BBCI that his Ministry “in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance, will be appointing an International Financing Firm/Company to provide guidance and expert financial advice regarding the current status and proposal of the BBCI” and that his Ministry was available for a meeting.

However, some 10 months since promising to meet, there has been no word from Patterson.

In the meantime, the BBCI, in January and March of this year, again, wrote the Minister emphasising the urgency of the need to meet on the matter of the tolls and possible revision of the Concession Agreement. But the Bridge Company is yet to receive a response.

“The BBCI has heard absolutely nothing further from the Government with regard

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

to the promised engagement of the International Financing Company,” it added.

To this end, the BBCI posited that instead of meeting, Government blocked it from increasing the toll and took over operations of the bridge.

“The Concession Agreement between the Government and the Bridge Company is a product of a public/private partnership, but instead of recognising its role as a partner, the Government refuses to meet and has preferred to take control of the bridge…,” the missive stated.

Last October, the BBCI had disclosed that the com-

pany is facing bankruptcy and as such, proposed to increase its tolls— as much as 300 per cent in some cases— to keep the Berbice Bridge afloat.

However, this was strongly opposed by Government, which called the toll hikes burdensome and draconian, and eventually, on November 5, 2018 took over operations of the facility to stop the BBCI’s increase from taking effect on November 12 of that year.

The Berbice Bridge Company has since challenged this move by Government and the Court has ordered Minister Patterson to give reasons for the decision to take over operations of the bridge. The matter is scheduled to be heard on October 18, 2019.

“True to form, even while the matter is proceeding before the court, the Minister has declared the Government’s intention of appealing the Court’s ruling should it not go in the Government’s favour. The Minister’s statement can, of course, be considered to be an attempt to intimidate the Court,” the BCCI contended.

Nevertheless, the Bridge Company said it remains available to meet with the Minister in good faith and in the public interest.

8 news

SUnDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

“GRDB, Ministers are in la-la land” – former Agri Minister …as rice industry drowns in trouble

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ormer Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy has called out the Government and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) for not responding to the paddy bug infestation which has already resulted in millions of dollars in losses for farmers in three different regions.

Ramsammy argued that the Government and GRDB’s move to dismiss the challenges and problems rice farmers face while insisting rice is a Private Sector activity is “dangerous” and “repulsive” as rice farmers and millers invest more than $50 billion annually into the economy.

He added that as trouble escalates in the rice industry and as farmers fight to stay afloat and struggle to make ends meet, the GRDB, the Ministry of Agriculture and the caretaker Ministers of Agriculture are lost in “la la” land. “The President is comfortably ensconced in State House, the PM avoids farmers like a plague, the other Ministers, including the AFC-designated PM candidate, behave like all is dan-

dy with rice,” Ramsammy noted.

The former Minister said he knows for a fact that the paddy bug infestation has led to the loss of almost 20 per cent of the rice crop in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and even worse losses in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam). Over in Region Five (Mahaica Berbice), the problem is equally devastating to farmers, he added.

For Regions Two and Six alone, some 500,000 bags of paddy were lost, which means $1.4 billion in revenue for each region.

Meanwhile, in Region Five, farmers reportedly lost more than 600,000 bags of paddy due to the paddy bugs and red rice.

Ramsammy was keen to note that the paddy bug is not the only issue affecting farmers as he made mention specifically of floods and dry conditions, accompanied by clogged canals and dysfunctional pumps among others.

These issues, according to him, are not being addressed by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) nor the Agriculture

Here we go again…

A rice field infested by paddy bugs in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne)

Ministry.

He predicted that overall, Guyanese rice farmers will lose about $9 billion this year, having already lost more than $8 billion in 2018.

Ramsammy pointed out in his missive that most of these farmers are poor and the responsible agency, GRDB, is missing in action as well as the “people’s Government”.

In fact, he contended that life is becoming more difficult for rice farmers as land lease rates were increased. “In the MMA, lease rates have increased from $1000 per acre to $7000 per acre. This unconscionable increase is

even steeper in Black Bush Polder. At the same time, Drainage and Irrigation fees have increased across the country. Supplies such as pesticides have increased in cost and subsidies for equipment in the rice industry have been removed. When farmers protest the unconscionable rate increases, the Minister of Agriculture rebuked them for objecting to a “measly one beer per day” increase,” the former Minister stated.

Further, he explained, “In 2014, Guyana produced more than 637,000 tons of rice. In the first crop of 2015, production reached almost 400,000 tons, far ahead of the pace to meet the 2015 target of 700,000 tons. But Guyana failed to reach the 2015 target because of a significant drop in production for the second 2015 crop, reaching only 697,000 tons”.

Ramsammy said the country failed again in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to meet its 700,000 target, which is also likely for this year.

Yet, he said, the Government is failing on their promises to conduct its functions.

Aerial spraying of bugs

After being protested last week, GRDB announced that it will commence aerial spraying for paddy bugs in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six soon.

Despite experiencing heavy losses due to the paddy bugs’ infestation in the last two crops, no aerial spraying will be conducted in Region Two. Despite the advice of an international expert against this method, the farmers continued their protest.

President of Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) Leekha Rambrich told this publication that aerial spraying to combat the dreaded paddy bugs will not be carried out in Region Two because most of the cultivations are within close proximity to residential areas.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had advised the GRDB against conducting aerial spraying with toxic chemicals in that region.

The RPA President told this publication that some rice farmers are in the habit of purchasing chemicals from unrecognised importers and have been experiencing little or no results. He is advising that they purchase from the established dealers.

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…on elections foot-dragging

aretaker AG Basil Williams just filed an appeal against acting Chief Justice George’s ruling that no one can be struck off the voters’ list since there are no residency requirements for voting in Guyana. Williams purports to find such a “residency” requirement in the Registration Act Section 6 (2)(a) which states that “it shall be lawful for the Commission by order with effect from a specific date to authorise the registration of all persons in Guyana of the age of 14 years and over who at said date are resident in Guyana”.

Now, once again, Williams is either playing the fool or being true to his nature. After all, he referred to Art 159 of the Constitution – which is the highest law of the land and which no other law can contravene – on which Justice George had based her decision and which deals with “qualifications and disqualifications for electors”.

Firstly, the article states simply that no one can vote in an election unless he/she is registered to do so. It then goes on to state (Sec 2) who CANNOT be registered – those not Guyanese citizens or Commonwealth citizens resident here for one year; or (Sec 3) are “insane or of unsound mind”; or finally, (Sec 4) have been convicted of an election violation.

As such, the Chief Justice had ruled “residence requirements from citizens is no longer a qualification for the registration”. Williams, however, pointed to clause (c) of Art 159 (2) which says that a registrant must also satisfy “such other qualifications as may be prescribed by or under any other law”. He cited the Sec (2) (a) of Registration Act as explained above.

But Justice George did, in fact, rule that the H2H Registration exercise was constitutional!! Everyone being registered was legit. What Justice George rejected was disenfranchising those already on the voters’ list just because they weren’t found at a particular location!! This was, the Chief Justice noted, because “the right to vote and the right to be registered to vote are sacrosanct”.

By insisting on creating a new National Register of Registrants (NRR) in the present H2H exercise – from which the Preliminary List of Voters (PLV) would be extracted and then subjected to a Claims and Objections (C&O) to produce the Official List of Voters (OLV) – this would “deregister” all those Guyanese who are abroad or away from some reason and deny them their fundamental right to vote.

It would be introducing, through the back door, an unconstitutional “residency” requirement to vote through the tautological requirement of Sec 6 (2) (a) – which just says residents CAN be registered.

Not that they can be deregistered!!

…on GECOM’s complicity

Once again, your Eyewitness asks whether the AG thinks the law is an ass, does GECOM have to agree with him? We now have a former Justice of the Appellate Court at its head and we still can’t cut through the Gordian knot that arises from the appointment mechanism of the other Commissioners?? What’s going on here? We hear about platitudes on letting “both sides be heard”.

But if we already heard one side committed a rape, what else is to be heard? That the rapist had a really bad itch to commit the act?? C’mon people. The PNC Government is trying every which way to drag out the elections timetable…and of course, every dog must have their day. But must they have their MONTHS when the Chair knows that the NCM three-month is ticking?

And in fact, the cock has already crowed thrice on the second go around?? The GECOM Chair’s “to be or not to be” performance has already given the PNC the window of opportunity to file the case described above.

Enough of this dilly-dallying!!

…with petulant Patterson

Called out by the Opposition’s former Junior Finance Minister on a long list of murky projects, MPI Patterson retorted, “You show me yours and I will show you mine”!!

But his slip was already showing!!

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

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SUnDAY, august 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

10 news Over 100 families affected by freak storm in Region 10 C SUnDAY, august 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

ommunities across Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were sent into distress on Saturday after a freak storm caused damages to numerous houses in the early morning hours, affecting over 100 families.

The regional administration disclosed that a number of residents in Moblissa to Blueberry Hill, Linden and other surrounding areas were affected by the heavy rainfall and forceful winds which shredded through roofs and walls. In photos uploaded on social media, residents voiced their plights as water accumulated several inches from the heavy rainfall.

Chairman of the Region Democratic Council (RDC), Renis Morian said, “This was a big storm and it has left many residents with secure damaged homes, we are therefore seeking assistance as the RDC so that we can render needed assistance

Floodwaters inundate the streets after the storm

and help to several families”.

This was the largest storm seen in recent times

and the much destruction is estimated within the losses in the millions. Morian informed that a team is cur-

rently assessing the extent of damage done, but appealed the general public to lend whatever assistance to the

affected persons. They are in need of zinc sheets, food hampers and any amount of cleaning detergents.

“The damage done is severe and I figure that it will be in the vicinity of millions, we are seeking assistance to help some 100 families who would have been severely affected by the storm.

Therefore, as the Regional Chairman, I am humbly appealing to the general public to come forward and lend whatever assistance that they can give to assist those severely affected at this time,” he appealed.

He said that an emergency meeting by the Council is being organised so that a concentrated and properly-coordinated approach can be taken in addressing the matter. However, they are visiting each house to determine the magnitude of damages and the need for relief.

“At the moment, while a team is doing an assessment, I am meeting with residents house-to-house seeking their views and addressing their concerns,” the Regional Chairman said.

Over 200 minibus, taxi drivers promise to “up their game” …trained to treat passengers better

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or years, passengers have been complaining bitterly about the disrespectful attitude of minibus and taxi drivers as well as conductors and conductresses. This type of behaviour will hopefully now be addressed as the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has trained over 200 persons who provide public transportation services.

On Saturday the Department explained to

the media that a total of 230 such persons from Regions

Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four

(Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) benefitted from the training sessions which focused especially on hospitality, first aid, tyre and fire safety as well as the importance of life and vehicular insurance and defensive driving.

The one-day sessions were held between July and August at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Training Centre, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Presentations were made by the Hospitality Management Services, Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Guyana Red Cross Society, St Johns Ambulance Brigade, Handin-Hand, Guyana Trinidad Mutual and Assuria Insurance Companies, the Guyana Fire Service and the GPF. The workshops were introduced by the Business Ministry in collaboration with the United Minibus Union (UMU), GPF, GNBS and the Guyana National Road Safety Council. It is aimed at improving the services offered by those operating in the public transportation sector, in keeping with the Minibus Code of Conduct, which was launched by the

Drivers and conductors involved in one of the recent training sessions

Ministry back in February of this year.

The Consumer Department spoke with Dianne Banwari of Route 73, who said, “I am more than elated to have been exposed to the sessions since it has reinforced the need to provide the best possible service to the commuting public whom I serve…I particularly liked the part on hospitality, I going back out there and up my game because of this training”.

Meanwhile, Pastor Felix Walker from Route 42, who also attended the training, said he was glad to participate since it is a timely refresher for many of the things he already knew.

The Department said it intends to conduct similar exercises with service providers in Georgetown and the other regions next year.

Last October, President of the UMU, Eon Andrews stressed the importance of having a standard behavioural pattern set for those operators, as he described the system as currently “out of control”. In January of this year, the long-awaited document was finally approved.

Among the areas which will be addressed are the operators’ mode of dress, language and behaviour. This means that operators will not be allowed to wear inappropriate clothing, thereby exposing themselves, use indecent language or treat passengers in a hostile manner.

In fact, operators will now be mandated to wear a uniform, along with an identification badge, which should include the name of the organisation of association.

Govt appeal of CJ...

The appeal

Despite calling it a partial appeal, Attorney General Basil Williams is contesting most of the major points from the Chief Justice’s August 14 ruling. One of the major contestations in the Notice of Appeal (NOA) is the residency requirement for being registered.

The Chief Justice had ruled that persons, once registered, could not be removed by enumerators without just cause. In the AG’s appeal, however, the

Chief Justice is accused of being misconceived in law by not properly considering Section 6 of the National Registration Act. According to the AG, Section 6 of the Act makes residency a requirement for registration during the qualifying date period. The AG is also alleging that the Chief Justice, somehow, breached the separation of powers doctrine by ruling that GECOM could not remove registrants who were alive and well.

from page 3

In fact, there are 16 points in the NOA in which the AG claims the CJ misinterpreted the law or misdirected herself. The AG is asking for the Chief Justice’s judgment to be set aside and for costs to be paid to him.

The original appellant, anti-corruption advocate Christopher Ram, as well as Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, the Commissioner of National Registration and GECOM itself were named as the respondents.

NEWS

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SUnDAY, august 25, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Local flights increase to Suriname – Trans Guyana

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Security dilemmas and majoritarianism

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e are fighting (literally) to hold elections under our “majoritarian” democratic rule (actually by a “plurality”) to determine which party will govern.

But to what end? The operation of the majoritarian procedural principle of democracy in Guyana has precipitated “Ethnic Security Dilemmas” in some groups, even since independence was on the horizon. For Indian-Guyanese, which at one time could deliver a majority on their own to their preferred party, the PPP, as Dr Cheddi Jagan said, they would be in “office” but not in “power”.

In 2003, in the midst of a sustained attack by “African Freedom Fighters” opposing the PPP Government, the World Bank, in its report, “Development Policy Review” described the Indian Ethnic Security Dilemma in Guyana rather succinctly: “Despite the fact that the ruling party (PPP) enjoys majority control of the Legislative and Executive Ravi Dev branches, the political system has been characterised by deadlock. This is in part due to the fact that the Afro-Guyanese, who are the main supporters of the Opposition PNC, are dominant in the public sector generally, and in the Police and defence forces in particular. By virtue of its control of the capital city Georgetown, the Opposition also frequently paralyses the city to further its political agenda”.

The Indian numerical advantage, which they enjoyed up to a decade ago, could always have been checkmated by the PNC, whose African-Guyanese supporters occupied the strategic power centres. Before taking any policy decision, the Indian-supported PPP Executive had to take into consideration, whether the PNC will initiate violence, under cover of their control of State institutions. The PPP had to hark to the “principle of anticipated reactions”, while their Indian supporters suffered from an omnipresent fear of being exterminated by their political opponents.

The African-Guyanese suffered from their own Ethnic Security Dilemma up to 2011. Until then, they could never win the Executive and Legislative if they played by the rules of the majoritarian democratic game because of their minority status, and the Indians also voted along ethnic lines. This dilemma fostered a dysfunctional political system where they had a great incentive to go outside the rules of the game to secure power.

This is why Burnham’s rigging was excused between 1968 and 1985. Their frustration also led to some of them accepting violence as a political option as we saw in the 1998-2008 period of “African Freedom Fighters” based in Buxton. The African Security Dilemma, however, has disappeared with the IndianGuyanese population dropping below 39% today.

Even when they were a minority, the PNC did a great disservice to the nation by not pointing out to its AfricanGuyanese supporters that they still controlled most of the bases of power in Guyana: the disciplined forces, the bureaucracy, the Judiciary, and control of the capital of Georgetown. Today, when they can secure political power with those key state institutions augmented, the Indian Security Dilemma has been exacerbated.

Democracy presumes that the State will be managed for all the people of the country. Those who manage the affairs of the State have to ensure that they are servants of the people.

Hegel called them the “universal class”. If the staffing of the institutions of the State are in the control of any one group then this in itself presents dilemma for democracy. Today, the African Guyanese faction that can command a majority and also the state threatens at best, a “tyranny of the majority” for the other groups. They can only hope for the benevolence of that majority – which has been notably lacking since 2015.

The Indigenous peoples have remained the most powerless group in Guyana since their first encounter with Columbus in 1498, even though it is acknowledged that they are the original inhabitants of Guyana, and that the land was forcibly taken away from them. They were denied contact with the rest of the world, resulting in one of the starkest instances of underdevelopment and internal colonialism in the world.

However, the formation of a political party acknowledging Indigenous roots and directly courting their support might at long last give them some leverage on the National Assembly to bargain on their behalf. Their security dilemma because of their minority status might be addressed.

It should be clear that while elections are necessary for democracy in Guyana they are not sufficient for justice. There needs to be an arrangement worked out to guarantee a fair share of power to all groups in Guyana.

rans Guyana Airways has seen an increase in the number of flights heading to Suriname after the ferry service which usually plies this route has been temporarily suspended.

The company’s Director of Operations, Bale King, told a media conference on Friday that while an increase has been noticed, the demand for trips to the neighbouring country has not sky-rocketed to the point where it triggered additional flights.

He was keen to note that many persons have been using the “back track” system into the country, since the

services of the Canawaima Ferry encountered mechanical issues and was grounded.

On May 27, services of the ferry were official-

ly suspended, preventing it from plying the Moleson Creek, Guyana – Nickerie, Suriname route.

Last week, Public Infrastructure Minister,

David Patterson told Guyana Times that the jointly owned vessel was scheduled to undergo repairs by Surinamese, but although they promised to have it up and running in two months, the boat is still inoperable, leaving persons to use an alternative route, which some say are not safe.

He confirmed that services are yet to be resumed as no alternative is in place.

Patterson in a previous interview told this publication that the vessel was being powered by a tug for some time now which has encountered some issues. turn to page 17

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SUNDAY, August 25, 2019

guyanatimesGY.com

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14 NEWS Tullow to push for Guyanese to be employed with company SUnDAY, august 25, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

…after Ghana Exec touts job opportunities for countrymen in Guyana

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ullow recently found oil in Guyana, but it was the Managing Director at Tullow Ghana Ltd, Ghanaian Kweku Awotwi, who was quoted touting the job opportu-

nities that would open up for his fellow Ghanaians in Guyana.

The British oil company is, however, affirming that efforts will be made to hire as much Guyanese as possi-

ble for its local operations.

In an interview with this publication, Tullow’s Head of Communications, George Cazenove, when asked directly about Awotwi’s claims that half of those employed

Managing Director at Tullow Ghana Ltd, Kweku Awotwi

on the Stena Forth drillship that was responsible for the find are Ghanian, he could not confirm that number.

However, he referenced the company’s actions in other territories where it has operations.

“As a company, we employ a lot of local people in our key countries of Kenya and Ghana – it’s a critical part of our company-wide commitment to Shared Prosperity – and I am sure we will make as much effort in Guyana,” Cazenove told this publication.

In an interview with news outlet GhanaWeb that was published on August 16, Awotwi was quoted as saying that the discovery in the South American country meant that there are opportunities for people in the Tullow organisation.

“We already have some of our own Ghanaian Geoscientists that were in London last week, who will be part of that exercise [in Guyana], doing the engi-

neering,” Awotwi said in a video interview with the news outlet.

“So, on the one hand, it’s good for Tullow PLC. But it’s also good for the employees of Tullow and Ghanaians make a big part of Tullow.

So it’s more opportunities for Ghanaians. In fact, half of the people on the rig are Ghanaians,” he also said.

His announcement came at a time when Guyana’s Government is under criticism for its laidback approach to ensuring that a Local Content Policy, which ranges from oil companies hiring locals for its workforce to utilising and partnering with local suppliers, is formalised.

Government’s Local Content Policy has been a work in progress for some time, ever since a draft that was released came in for criticism for lacking specificity and concrete measures.

Then, Finance Minister Winston Jordan recently came in for criticism when he made comments downplaying the significance of the policy at a press conference held by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

Jordan had pointed out that activities in the oil and gas sector are moving full steam ahead without that critical piece of legislation.

Nevertheless, the Finance Minister explained that Director of the Department of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe has indicated that the local content legislation is

Tullow Head of Communications, George Cazenove

all about finished and will be available for public consumption fairly shortly.

Local Private Sector bodies and other stakeholder agencies had expressed dissatisfaction with the slothfulness in which the local content laws are being developed. Calls are constantly being made for the policy to be finalised before first oil in the first quarter of 2020, when United States oil giant, ExxonMobil is slated to commence production in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana Indeed, a second draft policy has been released.

Last week, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) facilitated a discussion on this policy.

There, past GCCI President Deodat Indar lamented the fact that foreign companies, particularly those from the Caribbean region, are coming to Guyana and “mopping up” all of the opportunities coming out from the budding oil and gas industry.

CHPA warns of scammers using fake presidential account

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he Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) has sent out a stern warning about a fake Facebook profile under the name of President David Granger, which has been extorting monies from persons in exchange for land.

According to the Authority, the sham was set up through a profile named “His Excellency President David Granger” and has been informing persons that the Ministry of the Presidency is distributing housing units to interested persons. Persons are being asked to make a down payment through the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company’s (GTT) Mobile Money system and the money disappears, the CH&PA said on Saturday.

“We are asking members of the public to be wary of scammers who may want to rob them of their hardearned monies. The operation of a fake Facebook profile in the name of His Excellency President David Granger, informing the public that the Ministry of the Presidency is allocating 20 housing units to interested persons was brought to our attention. Interested persons are being asked to make a down payment of $350,000 through GTT’s Money Mobile

System to an unknown account,” a statement said.

The CH&PA has denied its involvement in any such programme under the Ministry of the Presidency or other agencies. Further, legitimate programmes do not require payments through Money Mobile transfers, but rather through the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s Brickdam office or its regional offices.

Persons have been reporting these fraudulent matters and the Authority has encouraged for such to be done in any future matters. Just two months ago, First Lady Sandra Granger had cautioned about her name being used under the pretext of scholarships.

Addressing the issue, the First Lady said, “All scholarships offered by the Government are offered through the Department of

Public Service… If you are informed that you are to get a scholarship, check it out, call and find out…These crooks are taking advantage of the naivety and the sensitivities of the people they are approaching… It is really a scam of the worst order because people are taking advantage of other people’s vulnerabilities. These people are going from one extreme to the next to make easy money out of vulnerable people.”

In April, a fraudster, Muhammad Ali, was arrested and placed before the court for impersonating the First Lady and tricking citizens into transferring money to him. The fraud managed to obtain 12 pennyweights of gold, worth $139,000 and $30,000 in GTT and Digicel phone cards, while pretending that he was in the position to grant scholarships to a young woman.

news

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SUnDAY, august 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

After months of complaints

Review of Guyana’s mid-year economic performance 2019 The economy continues to experience a “fallacious growth” that is not reflective of real broad-based economic development, and that is underpinned by misallocation of public finances into non-productive sectors from productive sectors.

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he Ministry of Finance mid-year report for 2019 revealed that the domestic economy is estimated to have grown by 4 per cent in the first half of 2019. This outturn is 11 per cent lower than the growth rate achieved for the corresponding period in 2018.

In reviewing the mid-year economic performance, it was found that this level of GDP growth was largely attributed to increased investments in the oil and gas-related sector and increased declaration of gold production.

Towards that end, private sector net (foreign) inflows increased by 67 per cent or US$322.5 million to reach US$803.5 million for the period ended in June 2019, of which approximately 44 per cent represented oil and gas-related capital inflows. Gold exports increased by 11 per cent or US$42 million, while losses in export earnings from the other major export commodities such as rice, bauxite, timber and other exports, amounted to US$42 million when compared to the half-year period in 2018. As such, a marginal increase in total exports of 4 per cent or US$30.5 million was achieved. Conversely, total imports increased by 32 per cent or US$329.3 million at the end of June 2019, when compared to the previous half-year period in June 2018. This outturn resulted in a sharp increase of 91 per cent in the trade deficit position by a whopping US$329.3 million. This worsening trade deficit position explains the 94 per cent decline in the Bank of Guyana net foreign assets position from US$110.6 million in June 2018 half-year period to US$6.3 million for the June 2019 half-year period.

Moreover, the above can be deduced to be the main cause of the Bank of Guyana selling off a huge chunk of its gold reserve by some $2.5 billion – from a position of $3.1 billion in June 2018 to a position of $589 million in June 2019 half-year. This outcome was largely on account of the massive increases in imported goods – more so for the oil and gas sector, and to stabilise the minimum reserve requirement. Clearly, as a result of these, the Central Bank is struggling to meet its minimum reserve target which can certainly magnify the risks of a weakened macro-economic stability framework of the Guyanese economy. There has been a continuous depletion of the Central Bank’s international reserves and moreso the gold reserve which is on a steep downward trajectory over the last four years. This could result in a real shortage of foreign exchange in the short to medium term which can inevitably induce a currency crisis and an economic crisis.

In the fiscal sector, government revenue increased by 6.4 per cent or $7 billion for the half-year period ended June 2019, relative to the corresponding period in 2018, while government expenditure increased by 9 per cent or $10 billion for the periods under review. Allocations for capital expenditure were greater than those of current expenditure, which were 32 per cent and 4.3 percent increases, respectively. However, on one hand, allocations towards government sectors in non-productive activities increased by a massive $22 billion or 16 per cent when compared to the half-year period in 2018, and on the other hand, allocations in the Agriculture sector and other economic sectors combined, fell by $13.2 billion or 49 per cent. This suggests that monetary allocations are misdirected from productive sectors into non-productive sectors to fund expenditure on increased goods and services in the public sector and more bureaucratic administrative expenditure.

Against these backgrounds, the performance for the half-year period ended June 2019 was driven largely by the oil and gas-related activities and increase levels of gold declaration. The most troubling outcome is such that the non-oil economy – that is, the traditional productive sectors— continues to dwindle, leading to huge losses in foreign exchange and thus, places pressure on the Central Bank’s International Reserves. The medium-to-long term implications of these weakened macro-economic soundness indicators could be far-reaching if not addressed forthwith. The analysis also revealed a worrying trend of misallocation of public finances in the fiscal sector which in effect has stymied the development of the productive activities in the economy. The effect of which could have resulted in real broad-based developmental growth – rather than depending on merely two sectors that are highly volatile to external shocks from depressed world market prices – a real external risk that is often times, unpredictable. As such, it can be concluded strongly to posit that the economy continues to experience a “fallacious growth” that is not reflective of real broad-based economic development, and that is underpinned by misallocation of public finances into nonproductive sectors from productive sectors.

(For comments, questions and responses on articles featured in this column, readers can reach the author at jbinsights@outlook.com).

Works commence on hinterland roads A fter numerous complaints were lodged about the difficulties being faced to traverse hinterland roads, contractors were finally mobilised to begin rehabilitative works.

In a recent engagement, Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman made this announcement, having identified that the prolonged rainy season amplified challenges to manoeuvre along the dreadful thoroughfares.

“We have seen some hinterland roads or forest roads suffering some deterioration. I’m advised…that we have seen a prolonged wet season and more intense rainfall which has proven to be challenging for us,” he said.

The Natural Resources Minister had established a partnership with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and Public Infrastructure Ministry to share responsibility for the maintenance of hinterland roads. Presently, works have already commenced in a few areas.

“Some road works have commenced. Certainly, contractors have been mobilised. GGMC, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure are now sharing responsibility for hinterland roads.”

In June, the regional administration of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) had embarked on rehabilitative works on the LindenLethem trail after citing similar issues.

Mayor of Lethem, David

The state of hinterland roads

Adams had informed that the remedial activities had brought significant relief to the road users who have been suffering in the recent months.

Road users, particularly minibus operators plying the trail were complaining of the deteriorated condition of the trail which had become almost impassable. Mayor Adams had said that no major works could be done on the trail during the rainy weather. During this season, extra attention needed to be paid to the trail between Mahdia and Mabura, which was in dire need of repair works.

The minibus operators had lamented the deteriorating condition of the trail which they are forced to use to transport passengers and goods as a means of earning their daily bread.

They described the trail as a “death trap” and bashed the Public Infrastructure Ministry for paying zero interest in conducting longterm repairs to that trail which is the only access to those areas. Those minibus operators were forced to park their buses for a period of time.

Further, when they resumed work, they were unable to get into the mining town with their buses and

as such, were forced to take passengers up to a point on the trail and then transfer those passengers and goods and other items to AllTerrain Vehicles (ATVs) and pick-up trucks. These were able to get through the silt and into the mining town.

This arrangement persisted for several weeks but resulted in hardships on those passengers and business owners who had to offset the double cost to reach into the mining town.

Residents were also facing hardships as businesses were forced to inflate prices to offset the transportation cost and as such, they had to pay higher prices for goods.

Rotary Club distributes back-to-school supplies

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he Rotary Club of Georgetown on Saturday donated school supplies to 30 children of the Sophia Literacy Programme as part of their back-to-school drive. This

distribution exercise was definitely a timely one, given that the new academic year commences early September.

President of the Club, Peter Peroune stated that

this activity was coordinated through a partnership with the Rotaract Club.

“It is a pleasure on behalf of the members of the Rotary Club of Georgetown in collaboration with the

Children striking a pose with their new school supplies with members of Rotary Club Georgetown

Rotaract Club, which is our sister club. We’re happy that we’ve been able to provide these backpacks to the kids of the Sophia Literacy Programme,” Peroune expressed.

While thanking the sponsors and volunteers, he also emphasised the importance of education for the younger generation.

The Club and its counterparts are known for their many donations towards the health and education sectors through various fundraising activities.

“This programme has been ongoing for the past 20 years now and it forms one of the areas of focus for Rotary International, which is basic education and literacy. Education is very important and with these kids, they are the future of our country and the future leaders.”

This exercise will be extended to the National Library on Church Street later this week where backpacks will be provided to some additional children.

16 news

SUnDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

ECD man nursing head injuries from motorcycle accident

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resident of Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, is presently nursing head injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after he lost control of his motorcycle in the wee hours of Saturday morning and was thrown into a nearby ditch.

Anthoney Murphy was proceeding east along the northern carriageway of the Montrose Public Road, East Coast Demerara – which is closed and currently under construction – when he lost control of motorcycle CG 3472.

Speaking with Guyana Times, a police rank stated that the accident occurred at about 04:40h.

The rank explained that the area has the necessary traffic/construction signs erected along the road to alert drivers of the road works but Murphy failed to pay heed to warnings and proceeded. As a result, the cyclist received injuries to his head and was rushed to the city hospital by an ambulance. He was admitted a patient and is undergoing treatment.

On Wednesday evening, also on the Montrose Public Road, a Route 44 minibus, bearing registration number BVV 9628, toppled after reportedly driving onto the

Injured: Anthoney Murphy

bridge at about 20:00h.

A few passengers in the minibus received minor injuries.

Inquiries revealed that the minibus was proceeding along the southern side of the road at a fast rate of speed when it swerved onto the bridge, causing it to turn over on its right side before crashing into motorcar PLL 6444.

Persons have complained of the manner in which the East Coast Road Expansion is being conducted.

The damaged motorcycle on the road

One driver said he thinks the project was a“good” one.

However, the Government needs to ensure the necessary infrastructure such as lights and road markings are added to the road swiftly.

The US$50.2 million East Coast road expansion project has two components.

One features a four-lane expansion of the road from

Better Hope to Annandale and the other caters for an upgrade to the existing twolane road from Annandale to Belfield.

Guyana had received a US$45.3 million concessional loan from the China EXIM (Export-Import) Bank to finance the road project, and that agreement was signed in January last year.

Upon completion of the widening and improvement of the East Coast Demerara Highway, citizens travelling along the East Coast will benefit from reduced travel time and less traffic congestion. Apart from the road being expanded, the project includes improved drainage for the East Coast, which is usually susceptible to floods.

NMWU to engage AGM for field visit

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iven that the National Mine Workers Union (NMWU) recently won the right to represent workers of Aurora Gold Mine (AGM), efforts are underway to secure permission for a field visit and assessment.

Speaking with Guyana Times, President of the Union, Sherwayne Downer, revealed that they were denied permission prior being the official representative of the workers. While miners would have thrown their support for unionisation, there were no direct engagements.

However, the current position warrants a visit.

“We’re in the process of writing the company for permission to visit, because the Union would have to go on a familiarisation visit to the locations, which is Aurora, Buck Hall and Tapir. We have workers that supported the Union but we wouldn’t have been able to meet them because of not getting permission or being the recognised union.

I will be writing them as early as Monday,” the Union President asserted.

Last Wednesday, the Union won the survey conducted by the Labour Department after securing a 52 per cent support from the workers.

“As of August 20, the Trade Union Certification Board made a pronouncement. It was announced that the National Mine Workers Union has won 52 per cent in the survey conducted by the Department of Labour and so the Union is officially the legal bargaining agent for Aurora Gold Mine employees. It was a survey and not a poll, so no other union were present. The miners solely threw their support behind the NMWU. We are awaiting a Certificate of Recognition from the Department of Labour,” Downer was quoted as saying.

He said the NMWU will continue strides to advocate for the rights of miners.

This development, he noted, is a victory mainly for

the AGM workers.

“It is a victory for the workers of AGM. As President of the Union, I vow to go above and beyond to ensure that those employees, who would have trusted and placed confidence in us, will be on the receiving end of the highest level of effective representation”.

In July, over 200 workers had downed their tools and initiated strike actions for two days after calls mounted for them to be officially represented by a union and other improved working conditions and wages.

During the strike, the workers had claimed that they were threatened with having their internet connection disconnected, which is vital to ensure communication from their CuyuniMazaruni location to the coast. They were also demanding better wages, better quality food and laundry services, out of town allowance, missing NIS contributions among others.

news

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SUnDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

‘Limited’ Local Content Policy released …to only deal with upstream oil & gas sector …database of labour market, suppliers among proposals

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he second draft of the Local Content Policy (LCP) has been completed by the Energy Department after months of work on the document, but the Policy itself admits that it does not deal with mid and downstream oil and gas initiatives but rather, the direct, upstream parts of the sector.

Local Content Policies are supposed to cater to not only the limited amount of local workers who can be hired on drill ships, but rather the development of businesses and opportunities for persons on the outskirts of the oil and gas action.

According to page three of the document, however, “this current Policy framework is therefore limited in its scope to the upstream petroleum sector and currently is not intended to address directly or in their entirety the following policy areas”.

“Mid and downstream petroleum sector opportunities, other policy issues related to the upstream petroleum sector— such as

health, safety, security, environment, community impacts, tax and fiscal matters and other petroleum-related national issues, such as national development and planning”.

It defends this approach by pointing to the scale of the emerging opportunities in the upstream oil sector and the urgency of developing a policy. As such, the Department noted that the Policy was just a preview to the Government’s overall policy for the sector and would be updated as time goes by.

One of its most important proposals is for the Government, operators and contractors to work towards maintaining information on the local labour market, to ensure that the availability of qualified Guyanese can always be ascertained.

Another proposal is for them to also work towards creating a database of up to date information on local suppliers and sub-contractors. This way, foreign companies can find suppliers

with the capacity to support their oil sector operations.

“This may include Government or operator provided industrial baseline studies, or similar information generated by government-sponsored or operator-sponsored business development organisations and supplier forums,” the Policy states.

Last week, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) facilitated a discussion on this policy. There, past GCCI President Deodat Indar lamented the fact that foreign companies, particularly those from the Caribbean region, are coming to Guyana and “mopping up” all of the opportunities coming out from the budding oil and gas industry.

Indar had noted that while this third draft is a “step up” from the previous two, there is still a number of issues with the document.

One of which, he explained, has to do with the ‘test of locality’ and the definition of local companies.

Local flights increase to...

A few days later, it was announced that the MB Sandaka was re-routed to provide services between Guyana and Suriname.

This vessel operated from May 31 to June 2, 2019, to facilitate the return of stranded passengers on both sides.

More recently, the Government signalled its intent to operate its own ferry service to ply this route.

With travel being cut via water transport between the two countries, the need for an alternative, such as a bridge linking the two

countries, has come up once again.

In fact, the subject Minister recently revealed that talks between the two countries in this regard are active.

Patterson explained that the technical aspect of the project is currently being discussed while details are yet to be sorted out with regards to the project’s “foreign affairs” aspect.

The bridge had been in the works for a number of years under the PPP/C Administration, with both countries looking to capitalise on the current brisk

from page 11

trade expected to increase many folds when the structure becomes operational.

The bridge, according to the Minister, will have a similar arrangement as the Guyana-Suriname Ferry in that it is jointly owned.

This, he explained, would, therefore, mean that the project will pass through several stages before it can be completed.

As a result, he was unable to say when a contract will be inked to allow these works to commence. There are reports that the bridge is likely to be erected at Moleson Creek or Orealla.

According to the former GCCI President, a local company cannot be one that is recently established, which is the case with many of what he referred to as ‘shop fronts’, that is, small companies being established with the ‘big guns’ behind them.

Indar noted that before the LCP was in the pipeline, the GCCI had drafted a policy on its own which outlined the four ‘test of locality’ components to determine a local company.

“A Guyanese company can’t be somebody just off the radar who go and register something at the High Court,” he noted.

Indar went on to say that

Head of Department of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe

the residency requirement of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Income Tax Act is 183 days in Guyana.

This, he noted, is archaic.

“It only deals with individuals not institutions so what you have are laws in Guyana that are draconian, and the oil and gas activity and level development is

100 years up. How you gonna work like that? Those things have to change and deal with what you have in the country,” he stressed.

To this end, the immediate GCCI past President posited that local content needs to be looked at in the context of now and not in the future.

18

SUnDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Trump names Jamaica among Hundreds of new fires in Brazil illicit drug-producing nations as outrage over Amazon grows

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he United States has named four Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries as major drug transit or illicit drug producing countries.

President Donald Trump in his “Presidential Determination on Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2020,” named The Bahamas, Belize, Haiti and Jamaica.

The other countries named by Trump are Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

In his statement, Trump noted that a country’s presence on the foregoing list is not necessarily a reflection of its government’s counter narcotics efforts or level of cooperation with the United

Cocaine seized in St Thomas, Jamaica recently

States.

“The reason countries are placed on the list is the combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs to transit or be produced, even if a government has engaged in robust and diligent narcotics control measures.”

Trump said his administration has devoted unprecedented resources to combating the scourge of illicit drugs in the United States.

He said this includes

strengthening the US borders and expanding programmes to prevent illicit drug use and aid the recovery and treatment of those who need it.

“We are making steady progress to turn the tide of our country’s drug epidemic, but more needs to be accomplished. This includes further efforts beyond our nation’s borders, by governments of countries where dangerous illegal drugs originate,” he said. (CMC)

Bangladesh ‘to be tougher’ on Rohingya refugees

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angladesh has said it will harden its stance towards Rohingya refugees currently in the country.

Hundreds of thousands of people, mainly Muslims, are living in refugee camps after fleeing violent persecution in neighbouring Myanmar.

Foreign Minister Abdul Momen told the BBC that Bangladesh was unable to keep bearing the economic burden but did not say exactly how the policy would change.

On Thursday, officials arranged for buses to start repatriating refugees.

However, the scheme

failed as it depended on people returning to Myanmar voluntarily. When it was time for the buses to leave, not a single person turned up.

Momen accused some non-Government groups of persuading refugees not to leave.

More than 740,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladeshi camps fled Myanmar’s Rakhine state in August 2017, after a military offensive against the Muslim minority there.

UN investigators have said the violence would justify the prosecution of top generals in Myanmar for “genocide”.

Myanmar continues to deny its troops carried out ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Momen’s comments came as two Rohingya men were shot dead by Police during a gunfight at a refugee camp in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district.

Officials told AFP news agency that the two refugees were accused of killing Omar Faruk, an official from the ruling Awami League party, on Thursday.

“Both men died as they were rushed to a hospital” from Jadimura refugee camp, local police inspector Rasel Ahmad said. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

undreds of new fires are raging in the Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil, official data showed Saturday, amid growing international pressure on President Jair Bolsonaro to control the worst blazes in years.

Multiple fires were seen across a vast area of the northwestern state of Rondonia on Friday when AFP journalists flew over the area.

Several people in the capital Porto Velho told AFP Saturday that what appeared to be light clouds hanging over the city was actually smoke from the blazes.

“I’m very worried because of the environment and health,” Delmara Conceicao Silva told AFP. “I have a daughter with respiratory problems and she suffers more because of the fires.”

The fires in the world’s largest rainforest have triggered a global outcry and are a major topic of concern at the G7 meeting in Biarritz in southern France.

Official figures show 78,383 forest fires have been recorded in Brazil this year, the highest number of any year since 2013. Experts say the clearing of land during the months-long dry season to make way for crops or grazing has aggravated the problem.

More than half of the fires are in the Amazon, where more than 20 million people live. Some 1,663 new fires were ignited between Thursday and Friday, according to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

The new data came a day after Bolsonaro authorised the deployment of the military to fight the fires and

Handout aerial picture released by Greenpeace showing smoke billowing from fires in the forest in the Amazon biome in the municipality of Itaituba, Para State, Brazil, on August 23, 2019 (Photo: AFP)

crack down on criminal activity in the region.

- ‘Help is welcome’ US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, both attending the G7 summit, have offered their countries’ assistance in fighting the fires.

“Any help is welcome in respect to the fires,” Brazil’s Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva told reporters on Saturday.

The blazes have stirred outrage globally, with thousands of people protesting in Brazil and Europe on Friday. More demonstrations are planned in Brazil on Sunday.

Earlier this week, Bolsonaro blamed the fires on non-governmental organizations, suggesting they deliberately started them after their funding was cut.

The growing crisis threatens to torpedo a blockbuster trade deal between the European Union and South American countries, including Brazil that took 20 years to negotiate.

EU Council president Donald Tusk told reporters at the G7 on Saturday that it was hard to imagine European countries ratifying a trade pact with the Mercosur bloc as long as Brazil fails to curb the fires ravaging the Amazon, which

is known as the “lungs of the planet” because of its crucial role in mitigating climate change.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has taken the lead in pressing his Brazilian counterpart over the fires, had earlier accused Bolsonaro of lying to him about Brazil’s stance on climate change.

Environmental specialists say the fires are coming amid increasing deforestation in the Amazon region, which in July took place at a rate four times that of the same month in 2018, according to data from INPE. Bolsonaro has previously attacked the institute, describing its data as lies and engineering the sacking of its head.

On Friday, he insisted that the fires should not be used as an excuse to punish Brazil.

Brazil’s powerful agriculture sector -- which strongly supports Bolsonaro -- has expressed concerns over the president’s rhetoric, fearing boycotts of their products in key markets.

In an editorial Saturday, the respected Folha de S Paulo newspaper warned that Bolsonaro’s “bravado” had worsened the crisis caused by accelerating deforestation. (AFP)

Hong Kong Police fire tear gas Squabbles erupt as G7 leaders arrive for summit in France at protesters in fresh clashes

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iot police have fired tear gas and baton-charged protesters in Hong Kong, as a tense standoff turned violent on the 12th week of protests.

Thousands of demonstrators, many in hard hats and gas masks, marched through the industrial Kwun Tong area on Saturday and were met by Police.

Some protesters launched stones from slingshots, prompting Police to charge.

The demonstrations were sparked by an extradition bill but have since morphed into broader anti-Government protests.

The protesters on Saturday faced off with Police for several hours outside a police station in Kwun Tong, having constructed barricades from bamboo poles and traffic barriers.

They demanded the removal of so-called smart

A demonstrator returns a tear gas canister to Police

lampposts that authorities say are there only to measure air quality, but protesters fear could be used to implement Chinese surveillance, including facial recognition technology.

The standoff came to an end after a hard core of protesters threw bricks and water bottles at Police and officers responded by charging and beating some of the demonstrators with batons.

Several protesters were detained as officers swept through their ranks.

The violence broke an uneasy peace that had lasted a little more than a week.

Hundreds of thousands of people had marched without violence last Sunday, as protesters sought to regain the moral high ground over Police.

“I understand being peaceful will not solve the problem,” a 19-year-old student protester called Ryan told the AFP news agency.

“The Government won’t respond to peaceful protest,” he said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

quabbles erupted among G7 nations on Saturday even before their leaders had gathered for an annual summit, exposing sharp differences on global trade tensions, Britain’s exit from the EU and how to respond to the fires raging in the Amazon rainforest.

Macron set an agenda for the group - France, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - that included the defence of democracy, gender equality, education and the environment. He invited Asian, African and Latin American leaders to join them for a global push on these issues.

However, in a bleak assessment of relations between once-close allies, European Council President Donald Tusk said it was getting “increasingly” hard to find common ground.

Trump arrived in France

World leaders gather in Biarritz, France for the annual summit of G7 nations

a day after lashing back at a new round of Chinese tariffs by announcing Washington would impose an additional 5 per cent duty on some $550 billion worth of Chinese imports, the latest tit-for-tat trade war escalation by the world’s two largest economies.

Macron listed foreign policy issues the two would address, including Libya, Syria and North Korea, adding that they shared the objective of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

However, the initial

smiles could not disguise their opposing approaches to many problems, including the knotty question of protectionism and tax.

Before his arrival, Trump repeated a threat to tax French wines in retaliation for a new French levy on digital services, which he says unfairly targets US companies.

French riot police briefly used water cannons and tear gas on Saturday to disperse anti-capitalism protesters in Bayonne, near Biarritz. (Excerpt from Reuters)

sunDAY, august 25, 2019

19

Joe Root keeps England hopes alive J SCOREBOARD

osh Hazlewood beat Joe Root’s bat by a lick of paint with a ball that buzzed outside off stump just inside the last hour of yet another dramatic day of this Ashes series. The hint of a smile at the corners of Root’s mouth spread into a nonchalant grin as he eyeballed the fast bowler, who was following up his leather-bound assault with a little verbal one.

The pair were locked in battle just as their respective sides were, playing out a scene that had seemed so very unlikely just hours earlier -- at the start of play on day three of the third Test at Headingly.

Root and Joe Denly, two England batsmen needing big scores as much as any, had dug in and turned the match on its head - a recurring theme in a series that has seen momentum swings and twists-and-turns throughout. They had a 126-run partnership, with Denly reaching his second Test 50 and Root unbeaten on 75 at the close.

The 67-all-out England coughed up in their first innings had heaped more pressure on England’s batting lineup, and these two hadn’t escaped; far from it. Questions swirled over the influence Root’s role as captain and his move one place up the order to No. 3 was having on his batting performance, and Denly was struggling to establish himself as a Test player in his sixth match.

But the pair came together after England had stumbled again to 15 for 2 in their second innings, chasing a lofty target of 359 that was set when Australia resumed on 171 for 6 and Marnus Labuschagne - not out on 53 - proceeded to reach 80 and top score for the tourists for the third time in as many innings, as he guided them to 246 all out.

In reply, England lost their openers cheaply: Rory Burns to a Hazlewood delivery he should have left, but which he prodded to David Warner at first slip; and Jason Roy to a gem from Pat Cummins, which zeroed in on off- stump. It looked like Australia, who lead the series 1-nil, would have retained the Ashes by the end of the day; but some dogged batting from Root and Denly frustrated Australia’s bowlers, as demonstrated in that exchange between Hazlewood and Root, which didn’t end there.

Hazlewood followed that up immediately with another ball that beat Root’s bat, moving away slightly off the seam, and then a length ball that had the batsman shouldering arms and copping another

earful. It was an intense and important spell from Hazlewood, who had taken 5 for 30 in England’s first innings.

Nathan Lyon kept Denly on his toes in the next over with a big appeal for a catch at short leg, which came off the pads; an appeal to the DRS for leg-

Joe Root raised his bat after reaching fifty

before, which was sliding down; and an attempted run out, all of which Denly survived.

Hazlewood struck on the third ball of his next over though, pummelling Denly with a short ball that hit the glove and looped to Tim Paine behind the stumps. Denly had faced 134 balls for his 50, and 21 more without adding to his score; but he had produced an innings sure to boost his confidence

Australia 2nd Innings MS Harris b Leach 19 DA Warner lbw b Broad 0 UT Khawaja c Roy b Woakes 23 M Labuschagne run out (Denly/†Bairstow) 80 TM Head b Stokes 25 MS Wade c †Bairstow b Stokes 33 TD Paine (c) † c Denly b Broad 0 JL Pattinson c Root b Archer 20 PJ Cummins c Burns b Stokes 6 NM Lyon b Archer 9 JR Hazlewood not out 4 Extras 27 (b 5, lb 13, nb 7, w 2) TOTAL 246 all out (75.2 Overs, RR: 3.26) Fall of wickets: 1-10 (David Warner, 1.2 ov), 2-36 (Marcus Harris, 11.1 ov), 3-52 (Usman Khawaja, 14.1 ov), 4-97 (Travis Head, 32.2 ov), 5-163 (Matthew Wade, 52.6 ov), 6-164 (Tim Paine, 53.3 ov), 7-215 (James Pattinson, 67.6 ov), 8-226 (Pat Cummins, 70.2 ov), 9-237 (Marnus Labuschagne, 73.3 ov), 10-246 (Nathan Lyon, 75.2 ov) BOWLING OMRW JC Archer 14 2 40 2

SCJ Broad CR Woakes MJ Leach BA Stokes

16 2 52 2 10 1 34 1 11 0 46 1 24.2 7 56 3

England 2nd Innings (target: 359 runs) RJ Burns c Warner b Hazlewood 7 JJ Roy b Cummins 8 JE Root (c) not out 75 JL Denly c †Paine b Hazlewood 50 BA Stokes not out 2 Extras 14 (b 4, lb 6, nb 1, w 3) TOTAL 156/3 (72 Overs, RR: 2.16) Yet to bat: JM Bairstow †, JC Buttler, CR Woakes, JC Archer, SCJ Broad, MJ Leach Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Rory Burns, 5.6 ov), 2-15 (Jason Roy, 6.3 ov), 3-141 (Joe Denly, 59.3 ov) BOWLING OMRW PJ Cummins 15 3 33 1 JR Hazlewood 18 6 35 2 NM Lyon 21 3 42 0 JL Pattinson 13 3 23 0 M Labuschagne 5 0 13 0

and secure his place for now, his delicious pull through midwicket off Hazlewood for four midway through the second session being one for the highlights’ reel.

Likewise, Root went a long way towards answering his critics, after scoring consecutive ducks in his previous two innings, with his 57 at Edgbaston being his only knock of note in this series before now. He is still far from Mark Butcher’s unbeaten 173, which allowed England to chase down 315 against Australia at Headingley in 2001, but the England captain will have his sights set on producing something special at his home ground.

Denly’s exit brought in Ben Stokes, who scored fifty in the first Test and was Man of the Match with an unbeaten 115 in the second. He is bolstering England’s hopes this time around.

Australian skipper Paine, in trying to keep his troops pumped up late on the third day, yelled from behind the stumps: “We’ll get two more tonight, boys! Two more in the morning!”

They didn’t get the former; they will need the latter and much, much more. (Excerpted from Cricinfo)

20 Kohli, Rahane half-centuries put India in firm control on day 3 guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, august 25, 2019

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nbeaten half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane helped India take firm control of the first Test against West Indies, being played at North Sound in Antigua & Barbuda.

By the end of the third day, India were 185 for 3, Kohli was on 51, Rahane on 53, and the overall lead had swelled to 260.

These two had come together just before tea, and

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane are comfortable at the crease

they continued till stumps, adding 104 for the fourth wicket. Earlier in the day, West Indies were bowled out for 222, trailing India’s first-innings total of 297 by 75 runs.

India had to negotiate a tricky seven-over period before lunch, but KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal ensured they went into the break without any damage.

When the teams returned, West Indies surprisingly resumed with Roston Chase and Miguel Cummins. While Cummins had to go off the field after bowling just two overs -- some discomfort in his thigh -- Chase didn’t disappoint his captain, trapping Mayank Agarwal lbw for 16 as the batsman tried to paddle-sweep a fuller delivery. It looked plumb in real-time, and perhaps that was the reason Rahul suggested not to review it.

However, replays showed the ball would have gone on to miss the leg stump.

Rahul looked tentative at the other end, even top-edging a pull off Jason Holder towards fine leg, but luckily for him, the ball fell short of the fielder.

Cheteshwar Pujara, though, used his feet against Chase right from the start, and didn’t let the spinner dictate the terms. Rahul, too, grew in confidence and played a near-perfect straight drive against Shannon Gabriel, before late-cutting Chase for another boundary.

The duo had added 43 for the second wicket before Chase struck once more. Having hit Chase for a four the previous ball, Rahul tried to sweep the next one fine, but missed it completely and was bowled for 38.

Twice in two innings, Rahul failed to convert a start into something substantial. In the first innings, he was caught down the leg side for 44 off the same bowler. In the next over, Kemar Roach castled Pujara with a delivery that seamed back after pitching on a length, and sneaked in through the bat-pad gap to hit the top of the off stump. India were on 81 for 3.

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane took the side to tea, and it started to look like the two were batting without any trouble. But Roach returned for another burst, and produced some more magical deliveries, albeit without adding more wickets to his tally. He almost had Rahane when the batsman was on 17. While trying to flick a ball, Rahane closed the face of the bat a bit ear-

ly, but John Campbell spilled the chance in covers.

In his next two overs, Roach beat the outside edge of both Kohli and Rahane, but didn’t have luck on his side. After Roach’s burst, Rahane smashed Gabriel for back-to-back fours, an on-the-up cover drive, followed by a ferocious cut.

With India’s lead already in excess of 200, West Indies brought spin from both end in the form of Kraigg Brathwaite and Roston Chase. But with both Kohli and Rahane now set, this made run-scoring even easier.

Roach returned for another spell before stumps and again almost had Rahane, this time trapping him in front of the stumps, but umpire Rod Tucker’s finger didn’t move. Replays showed the ball would have crashed into the middle stump. Rahane, who was on 48 at that time, brought up his second fifty of the match in the next over. Kohli soon followed him, reaching the landmark with a pulled four off Cummins with just his second boundary of the innings.

The last ball of the day, a fuller one down the leg side by Gabriel -- which Shai Hope could only partially stop, and conceded two byes -- told the story of the Test: India were aware to take advantage, as West Indies lowered their guard with the Test slipping away from their hands.

Resuming the day on 189 for 8, West Indies’ overnight batsmen Jason Holder and Miguel Cummins frustrated India with a 41-run stand for the ninth wicket, in which Cummins’s contribution was zero. Once Mohammed Shami dismissed Holder for 39, Cummins went for a big heave against Ravindra Jadeja, only to

Rahane gets back-to-back half-centuries

be bowled for a 45-ball duck. However, the main destroyer was Ishant Sharma, who finished with figures of 5 for 43.

On the second evening, West Indies were 174 for 5 at one stage, before Ishant took three wickets in seven balls to reduce them to 179 for 8. West Indies’ hopes of getting close to India’s first-innings total of 297 rested on Holder, who farmed the strike as much as possible.

With two fours in Jasprit Bumrah’s second over of the day, Holder took West Indies past 200. In the pacer’s next over, Holder chipped him wide of mid-on for an-

Roach celebrates his second innings wicket

SCOREBOARD West Indies 1st Innings 222 all out KC Brathwaite c & b Sharma 14 JD Campbell b Mohammed Shami 23 SSJ Brooks c Rahane b Jadeja 11 DM Bravo lbw b Bumrah 18 RL Chase c Rahul b Sharma 48 SD Hope † c †Pant b Sharma 24 SO Hetmyer c & b Sharma 35 JO Holder (c) c †Pant b Mohammed Shami 39 KAJ Roach c Kohli b Sharma 0 ML Cummins b Jadeja 0 ST Gabriel not out 2 Extras 8 (b 4, lb 1, nb 2, w 1) TOTAL 222 all out (74.2 Overs, RR: 2.98) Fall of wickets: 1-36 (John Campbell, 7.6 ov), 2-48 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 17.5 ov), 3-50 (Shamarh Brooks, 20.3 ov), 4-88 (Darren Bravo, 29.1 ov), 5-130 (Roston Chase, 42.2 ov), 6-174 (Shai Hope, 53.6 ov), 7-179 (Shimron Hetmyer, 55.3 ov), 8-179 (Kemar Roach, 55.6 ov), 9-220 (Jason Holder, 73.1 ov), 10222 (Miguel Cummins, 74.2 ov) Bowling I Sharma (17-5-43-5) JJ Bumrah (18-4-55-1)

M Shami (17-3-48-2) RA Jadeja (20.2-4-64-2) GH Vihari (2-0-7-0) India 2nd Innings 185-3 overnight KL Rahul b Chase 38 MA Agarwal lbw b Chase 16 CA Pujara b Roach 25 V Kohli (c) not out 51 AM Rahane not out 53 Extras 2 (b 2) TOTAL 185/3 (72 Overs, RR: 2.56) Yet to bat: GH Vihari, RR Pant †, RA Jadeja, I Sharma, Mohammed Shami, JJ Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Mayank Agarwal, 13.2 ov), 2-73 (KL Rahul, 29.2 ov), 3-81 (Cheteshwar Pujara, 30.5 ov) Bowling KAJ Roach (12-4-18-1) ST Gabriel (10-3-30-0) RL Chase (25-5-69-2) JO Holder (10-3-17-0) ML Cummins (4-0-15-0) JD Campbell (4-0-10-0)

other boundary. At the other end, Cummins stuck to his brief of just hanging in there.

It wasn’t that India didn’t have a chance to bowl more than a couple of balls at a time at him; Ishant got two successive overs at Cummins, but while the seamer kept beating Cummins’s bat, he couldn’t fetch an edge. Kohli turned to Jadeja in search of the breakthrough. Jadeja also beat Cummins thrice in five balls in his first over of the day, but the batsman was just focused on protecting his stumps instead of poking at the ball.

Holder and Cummins saw out the first hour of the day, with India seemingly growing frustrated. When it finally looked like Cummins had edged one behind the stumps off Mohammed Shami, the decision was overturned on review, as replays showed the bat had hit the turf, and not the ball.

But Shami wasn’t to be denied for long. On the first ball of his next over, he got Holder to nick one behind, and this time there was no doubt about the edge. (Excerpted from Cricinfo)

Andy Ruiz Jr wants to ‘end’ Anthony Joshua’s career in Saudia Arabia rematch

U

nified world heavyweight boxing champion Andy Ruiz Jr says he wants to finish Anthony Joshua’s career after confirming he will contest a rematch in Saudi Arabia.

The United States-born Mexican, 29, shocked Britain’s Joshua in New York in June to win the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO world titles; but The two are set to meet again in a rematch to be held in the Middle East on December 7.

“I took it to AJ in the Big Apple, and I’m looking forward to ending his career in the desert,” said Ruiz.

The fight was announced by the 29-year-old Joshua’s camp

earlier in August, but Ruiz had not confirmed his participation.

On Saturday he posted on social media: “I’m excited to announce my rematch with Anthony Joshua.

In the first fight I made history and became the first ever Mexican/ American heavyweight champion of the world. I am grateful to Saudi Arabia for inviting me.”

Human rights campaigners have questioned the choice of venue, citing Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. Amnesty International has said the move provides “opportunity for the Saudi authorities to try to ‘sportswash’ their severely tarnished image”.

(Excerpted from BBC.COM)

Andy Ruiz Jr (right) beat Anthony Joshua in the seventh round at Madison Square Garden in June

sunday, august 25, 2019

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21

Matarkai Heritage Games…

Football, cricket qualifiers see furious action

T

he Matarkai Indigenous Heritage DRIVING football and cricket qualifiers continued over Shalom Enterprise Driving School the weekend with Sebai Address: 2nd Coral Street, Stabroek Invincible FC defeating Georgetown. Also obtain an Oronoque FC 4-0 in women’s International Driving Permit covering 131 countries. Tel: 227-3869, football action on Saturday, 622-8162/659-3381. Join us on to top the points table with 6 points from 2 games and win Facebook. the bragging rights to represent Matarkai at the reFOR SALE gional playoffs scheduled for MIX BREED PUPS, ROTWEILER WITH September 7th and 8th in RICHBACK CONTACT 253-3114 / the township of Mabaruma, 692-0126 NWD, Region One. TRANSPORTED HOUSELOTS SARAH Sebai’s Invincible Talons JOANNA EAST BANK DEMERARA # FC striker Feona Benjamin 673-9231 / 216-4063/ 685-5476 continued her brilliance with a double, which took spirituality this leading goal-scorer’s to& ASTROLOGY tal to six in the competition; while Candacy and Ravina OM SHAKTI ASTROLOGY. MEET PANDIT ONCE AND GET PERMANENT SOLUTIONS FOR ALL YOUR PROBLEMS, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. JOB, LOVE, HEALTH AND DOMESTIC PROBLEMS 100% GUARTANTEED. CALL OR WHATSAPP 692-9449. LOCATED – ECCLES EAST BANK DEMERARA.

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Leading goal-scorer Feona Benjamin (centre) is flanked

by Ravina Benjamin (L) and Candy Malina Benjamin(R)

Benjamin each chipped in with one goal for the 4-nil win.

Five Star FC also humbled Sebai FC 3-2 in a male

team game to secure 6 points from 2 wins and 1 loss in the 3 games they played.

Five Star FC’s Mark Broomes scored a double while Karl Thompson contributed a single with a brilliant bicycle kick to record the Five Star 3, while Dixon Benjamin and Sherwin Garraway scored for Sebai in a losing cause.

The game between Oronoque FC and PK United FC ended in “Forfeiture” on Sunday last, as Oronoque forfeited the game and consequently lost same 3-0 to PK United. This has been provided for in the rules of the competition.

PK United will now play Matthews Ridge Junior FC

in the Matarkai finals today at Fitzburg Recreational Ground, starting at 15:00 hours.

The International Import and Supplies cricket competition between Port Kaituma and Canal Bank was washed out, thus the teams will reach on August 25th at noon to play a selection game to decide who forms the Matarkai cricket squad that would face Mabaruma and Moruca in the Regional Competition to be played at Mabaruma on September 7/8.

All the action in these qualifiers is taking place at the Sebai and Oronoque recreational grounds at Port Kaituma in Region One.

Cornwall’s opportunity will come, says Coach Reifer

D

uring the ongoing Test match between West Indies and India in Antigua, Head Coach of the Caribbean side, Floyd Reifer, revealed that the team required four seamers for this match.

West Indies are sticking to their plan to mount a four-pronged pace attack as was done in their successful series win against England earlier this year. It means that the off-spinning all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall will sit out the starting XI. On the second morning of this Test, Reifer said the bowlers were disciplined on the opening day. He lauded the efforts of Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel, who had some good spells for the team.

“Cornwall is a very good cricketer, and his opportunity will come”, Reifer predicted.

The West Indies current bowling attack features Kemar Roach, Shannon

Gabriel, Jason Holder, Roston Chase and Miguel Cummins. The latter has been inconsistent, bowling 13 overs in the first innings and going wicketless as he leaked 49 runs at an economy rate nearing four runs per over. This Barbadian seamer has been in and out of the Test team, and is now a replace-

ment player for Guyanese Keemo Paul.

Batting in the first innings, Cummins spent some valuable time with his captain Holder creating a valuable partnership for his team.

However, his innings was a 45-ball duck.

The Antiguan Cornwall has been simply amazing with ball and bat

in Regional cricket, and many had thought he would have been selected, but his wait has been further extended.

In his 55 First Class matches, prospective Test player Rahkeem Cornwall has taken 260 wickets.

Playing most of his cricket at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, where the Test match is currently playing, Cornwall has a best bowling figure of 8-108, and has 17 five-wicket hauls to his credit.

Sitting on the sidelines, Cornwall addressed the media on the eve of the opening Test match, disclosing that his selection to the squad means a lot. Finishing the recent West Indies 4-Day tournament as the leading wicket-taker, Cornwall will have to wait and see if he gets selected for the second Test match in Kingston Jamaica, from August 30.

(Brandon Corlette)

GUYANA Marslowe hopes for improved playing conditions in Bartica…

TIMES …weather a constant factor

By Timothy Jaikarran

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T

he Bartica Senior League has concluded and the winning team, Rivers View, will represent Bartica at National Championships.

However, with the inclement weather pattern, football is constantly placed on hold until there is better.

In an interview with this publication, President of the Bartica Football Association (BFA), Alden Marslowe, when questioned on what can be done to improve the level of

play and the conditions, said, “Improved facilities… the Bartica Community Centre Ground has been under rehabilitation for two years now and we seem to be right where we started. Two contractors have tackled the surface so far, and it’s still not playable.

So we need serious intervention to correct our ground so that players can have a levelled playing field compared to other communities. The field is under the stewardship of the Bartica Town Council, who are the local Government organs of the town. So we defi-

nitely need better representation to central Government for a more serious approach to fixing our problem. We actually

have three grounds at Bartica, and none is quite suitable for sports. We currently use the Bartica Secondary School Ground for our matches, but that too is not a great surface.

But it’s all that we have for the longest while”.

Marslowe also went on to relate that if the football ground is placed in order, inclusive of not only a good surface, but also flood lights, it will give the players the opportunity to play night games and to hold games as a fundraiser for the Association. The BFA will also be able to host visiting teams, thus, creating

more exposure for the teams in Bartica. He also relayed that they are forced to sit out rainfall, noting that they would have to go across the country when the rains come. But nevertheless, he is optimistic that when the weather holds there will be the resumption of the youth league.

In closing, Marslowe said, “We look forward to starting the regular season on time this year, early October. In trends of preparation for the GFF Cup, our team is from Rivers View, where it is sandy, so the rain doesn’t stop their training entirely”.

one-paced midfield vulnerable to Norwich’s creativity.

Lampard’s head must have been swimming once the first half was over. After three minutes, he stood in his technical area, arms outstretched as Abraham cantered towards him after smashing a fine volley past Tim Krul. The 21-year-old striker was recently the target of racial abuse on social media, and many doubt whether he is polished enough to lead the line for Chelsea; but this was a display that suggested he could yet be the answer.

“Tammy has had a tough little period for reasons we all know, and strikers get judged purely on goals sometimes,” Chelsea’s manager has said.

“But if you talk about the character to play for this club, Tammy is right up there.”

For a brief period, it seemed that Chelsea were on the right track. They had even found a way to make a moment of ill-fortune work in their favour. Lampard was forced to shift Mount to the left when Pedro suffered a hamstring injury in the warm-up, and the youngster played a prominent role in the opening goal, opening up the pitch with a raking pass out to Christian Pulisic, who combined with César Azpilicueta to tee up Abraham.

Yet, the visitors were ahead for only three minutes. With Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho offering minimal resistance in midfield, Emiliano Buendía chopped a pass through to Teemu Pukki, and the striker crossed for Todd Cantwell to bundle in the equaliser.

Carrow Road roared, sens-

ing that Chelsea were there for the taking, but Daniel Farke’s side were behind again in the 17th minute. Released by Ross Barkley, Mount swerved inside, and scored for the second time in a week.

Back came Norwich, eager to protect an 11-game unbeaten run at home. Buoyed

by Chelsea’s profligacy in front of goal, Buendía slipped a pass behind Kurt Zouma, who failed to react in time as Pukki fired a low shot underneath Kepa Arrizabalaga for his fifth goal in three games.

The second half was quieter, more controlled, but both sides continued to chase a winning goal. Just when it seemed that Norwich had the edge, Chelsea countered when Kovacic fed Abraham and the striker’s shot from 20 yards eluded the unsighted Krul.

Alden Marslowe

Chelsea edge Norwich in 5-goal thriller ― as Tammy Abraham doubles up

F

rank Lampard stood in his technical area until the bitter end, oozing tension as he urged his players on, and applauding every tackle.

This is what the job has done to Chelsea’s new manager. He was a bag of nerves until the sweet sound of Martin Atkinson’s final whistle allowed him to march across the pitch and milk the applause of the adoring travelling fans, who were ecstatic after seeing their favourite son finally get off the mark. Victorious in a competitive fixture at the fourth time of asking, Lampard could feel the weight lifting off his shoulders.

He admitted he was relieved after Chelsea had belatedly tamed their boisterous promoted opponents; and he also took immense satisfaction

from another outstanding performance from Mason Mount and a clinical display in attack from Tammy Abraham, who scored his first goals for the club – both being sharp finishes.

All the same, this was only the first step on a long road for Lampard’s young side. They remain a team in transition, a group grasping for maturity, and better sides than Norwich will take note of the defensive failings that threatened to undermine Chelsea again.

They are yet to keep a clean sheet this season, and the chaos of the opening period summed up the erratic start to the Lampard era. While there were bursts of electrifying attacking play, Chelsea suffered from a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal at times, and the absence of N’Golo Kante left a

22 A

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, august 25, 2019

Windies Women set to take on Aussies in Antigua, Barbados

ntigua and Barbados will play hosts to the West Indies Women’s International Home Series against Australia, from September 5-18; and fans will have the chance to rally behind their new-found women’s heroes following their great performances in the Caribbean at last year’s ICC Women’s World T20.

This will be the West Indies Women’s first home series since their semi-final defeat to Australia in the Women’s World T20; and it is highly anticipated that they would be bringing that explosive batting and mesmerising fielding that was on display during the World Cup. Fans will also have the opportunity to meet the players after matches for photo and autograph opportunities. Tickets are priced at just US$4/EC$10.00 in Antigua, and US$5/BD$10 in Barbados, to make attendance affordable for fans, so they may come out and rally behind the West Indies Women.

Windies Women have been a formidable team

Tickets have been available online from Saturday, August 24 via the Buy

Tickets button on www. windiescricket.com Local box offices at the

stadiums will be open from September 3 in Antigua and from September 12 in Barbados. The Series will open with three Colonial Medical Insurance One Day International matches (ODIs) in Antigua as part of the ICC Women’s Championship.

The West Indies Women will be looking to get the better of the Aussies, who eliminated them in the semi-finals of the ICC World T20

last November. The first ODI will be played at the Coolidge Cricket Ground on Thursday 5 September, while the second and third matches in the Colonial Medical Insurance Series will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday 8 and Wednesday 11 September respectively.

Six vital ICC Women’s Championship points will be up for grabs during the series, and the West Indies Women are keen to earn the maximum on home turf.

The West Indies Women currently sit in seventh position with 11 points, three behind New Zealand.

Following the Colonial Medical Insurance ODI Series, the West Indies Women will be focusing on the T20 International (T20I) format, with three games in five days at the Kensington Oval from September 14 until September 18.

The 3-match T20 International series has special significance in that Captain Stafanie Taylor will play her 100th T20I in the third match at the Kensington Oval. With an average of 36.5 and 2844 runs, Stafanie is second on the all-time women’s list for the most T20I runs scored.

She is currently ranked second on the ICC T20I all-rounders ranking and third in the T20I batting rankings.

These games are vital in

terms of team development and preparation in the build-up to next year’s ICC T20 World Cup, to be held from February 18 to March 5, 2020 in Australia, where the Windies will be aiming to reclaim the title they lost to Australia in November 2018.

West Indies Women’s Captain Stafanie Taylor highlighted the importance of this series against the Aussies. “This series against Australia is important, not only because of the championship points available, but also because we have six matches against them. This is their first bi-lateral tour to the West Indies, and while they got the better of us in the semis of the T20 World Cup last year, we are focused on learning hands-on the intricacies of their game.”

Stafanie added, “And with the next T20 World Cup just over six months away, we are focusing on improving and going further than we did in the last tournament.”

GTT moves to ensure Guyanese representation at Caribbean chess tournaments GWI tournament brings

…wishes employee and chess champ Anthony Drayton well

G

uyanese National Chess Champion Anthony Drayton is scheduled to represent Guyana in two major chess tournaments this month, courtesy of his employer, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT).

Drayton will attend the Caribbean Chess Cup Games in Barbados on August 27 and the St Lucia Chess Festival (August 28

and 29, 2019).

“I’m leaving Guyana feeling positive because my chances of success are very high. I will be competing against the best players in the Caribbean, so I am aiming for the top titles,” Drayton commented before departure.

“It is also a good feeling to know that my place of work is supporting my journey; I could not have asked

for better support. GTT’s backing means a lot to me as I push further into fulfilling my dreams and making my name in the Caribbean as a chess champion”. Drayton is a Network Technician II and has been employed with GTT for the past six years.

His Direct Supervisor, Paul Niles, wished him success at the tournaments.

“It’s always great to see persons succeeding in their professional and personal lives – and striking that balance. As Anthony journeys to this tournament I wish him nothing but the best.

He has the support of the company and all who work here,” said Niles.

In June 2019, Drayton outplayed seven chess players at the Swiss System Tournament at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue, where he secured his title by the sixth round.

Drayton holds a 2007 rating (the highest in Guyana) and an International Federation (FIDE) Master Title. He has dominated the chess scene for the past two years and aims to improve his knowledge of chess to one day earn the title of ‘International Master’ with ratings of over 3200 by the end of this year.

Prior to the start of the series, the West Indies Women’s team will gather again at the West Indies High Performance Centre at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua for a two-week training camp, following their monthlong training camp in July.

(Excerpted from CWI)

staff talents to fore I

n an effort to give their staff members an opportunity to relax and display their talents outside of the office, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is in the process of hosting their second annual football tournament.

“As part of our mandate outside of providing quality service to every Guyanese, internally we try to promote a high level of comradery amongst staff, motivate them and so this is one of the many events that we keep from time to time”.

Those were the words of GWI Welfare Officer Treshawn McGreggor, as he explained the rationale behind the football tournament which was hosted for the first time in 2018 and is becoming an annual event.

The tournament, which brings staff/football players from areas such as Linden, New Amsterdam, East Bank, East Coast and West Coast Demerara, will feature eight teams vying trophies and other prizes.

Additionally, a special team, the MD’s XI, was set up to give players from Bartica and other far reaching areas, a chance to be a part of

A glimpse of the action between Pouderoyen and Linden on Saturday

the action.

With the competition beginning last weekend at the Transport Ground, the tournament continued yesterday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground and is expected to conclude around the September 21.

When questioned about who can participate, McGreggor explained that the rules were relaxed this year to include other persons who are associated with the company.

“All of the players on each team are one way or the oth-

er affiliated with GWI, we have reduced it somewhat to allow persons who are affiliated, not necessarily directly. So you find we have bus drivers, they are contracted workers, they are allowed this year,” McGreggor explained.

The organising body consists of McGreggor, Charles Greaves, Toleta Wray, Seon Hescott and others.

Defending champions East Coast are currently leading in the 2019 tournament, followed by the Georgetown Outfit.

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, august 25, 2019

World No 3 T20 bowler Shadab Khan: GAW weapon of destruction

By Brandon Corlette

A

20-year old Pakistan International player who made his debut in all three formats of the game in 2017, Shadab Khan will turn out for the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) for the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which bowls off on September 4, 2019.

In the One Day 50-over format, Khan played his first ever white-ball match for Pakistan at the Guyana National Stadium Providence. Coincidentally, in this 2019 CPL, Khan will represent the GAW and the National Stadium Providence will be his home ground. He is expected to make his first appearance on September 5, 2019 when the GAW face off the St Lucia Zouks.

The dangerous leg-spinner who has the ability to rattle teams, Khan, was picked up in the first round of the 2019 CPL draft by the GAW. During his blooming two-year career, he has shown his all-round capability with both bat and ball. Known for his accurate leg-break bowling, he is equipped with the googly and arm-balls that usually keep the batsmen thinking.

The Pakistani who played for Trinbago Knight Riders in the 2018 CPL is no stranger to the Caribbean having made his International debut in the series Pakistan played in the Caribbean. In the longest format of the game, Shadab Khan has played five test matches and has 12 wickets. He proved

his capability with the bat scoring three half-centuries in those five matches.

In recent times, Khan has been a more potent white-ball cricketer, in his 36 One-Day Internationals for Pakistan it has been filled with great promise. He has been a regular member in the Pakistan teams since his debut.

Since then, is best bowling figures stand as 4-28 bowling at a brilliant economy rate of 4.93 in his ODI career.

Khan who is often called upon to score runs quickly with the bat for Pakistan Flashback: Khan playing against has three half-centuries West Indies at Providence to his name in ODIs. In the T20 format, Khan has 44 T20 International wickets in only 32 matches. He is cur-

23

rently ranked at number three in the World on the ICC T20 International bowling rankings.

The leg-spinner who bowls with great variety, has a stunning strike rate of 16.2, he has the knack of picking up wickets every 16 balls bowled in his spell. The current era where the bats are big and the modern era is dominated by bowlers, Khan bowls at an economy rate of 6.84 in T20 Internationals.

At just 20, the Guyana Amazon Warriors player, Khan has made great strides, playing T20 Leagues around the globe, including the CPL, the Australian Big Bash and the Pakistan Super League. His overall T20 career stands at a supreme level, taking 103 wickets in 86 matches at a bowling average of 20.75.

Topping off Shadab Khan’s brilliance, he has a T20 International career strike-rate of 143.75. In a time that is dominated by wrist spinners, Khan is up there with the best ranking high with the likes of Rashid Khan, Imran Tahir, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Cahal.

The newly- GAW recruit is certainly a player to keep an eye out for when CPL 2019 get underway. His most recent T20 tournament was in Canada where he finished the second edition of the Global T20 tournament as the third highest wicket taker. Khan finished with nine wickets behind his GAW team mate, Chris Green (11) and New Zealander Ish Sodhi (12).

New Head Coach to conduct capacity-building sessions Beacon Café invests in future of table tennis in Guyana

A

s the newly-appointed Golden Jaguars’ Head Coach, Márcio Máximo, hits the ground running preparing the Guyana-based Golden Jaguars for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League (CNL), the Elite Coaches are scheduled to benefit from his interaction with the team.

This initiative is geared towards building capacity of the local coaches; where they will have an opportunity to observe the sessions and ask questions as necessary.

The schedule for the coaches’ attendance is as follows: - Monday, August 26 and Thursday, August 29, 2019, at 16:00h: Den Amstel FC, Guyana Police Force FC and Victoria Kings FC - Tuesday, August 27 and Friday, August 30, 2019, at 16:00h: Buxton United FC, Fruta Conquerors FC and Ann’s Grove United FC - Wednesday, August 28, 2019, at 16:00h and Saturday, August 31, 2019, at 8:00h: Santos FC and Milerock FC Western Tigers FC and Guyana Defence Force FC respectively will be included as soon as coaches are appointed.

A 31-man Guyana-based provisional squad is in training at the GFF’s National Training Centre, Providence for the CNL; Guyana’s first match is scheduled for September 6 against Aruba in Curacao.

Guyana will play three home and three away matches as follows: September 6: Aruba v Guyana in Curacao October 9 – Guyana v Jamaica in Guyana October 11: Antigua & Barbuda v Guyana in Antigua October 14 – Guyana v Antigua in Guyana November 15 – Guyana v Aruba in Guyana November 18: Jamaica v Guyana in Jamaica

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he Guyanese contingent that have departed to participate in 2019 Caribbean Mini and Pre Cadet Table Tennis Championships have had their fair share of experience in the tournament this year. As such, one of the major sponsors, Kumar Ramdeo, Proprietor of Beacon Café, has seen it fit to invest in the future of Guyana.

In an interview with <<<Guyana Times Sport>>> Ramdeo said, “For me, I really want to see these talents develop, that is why Beacon Café is putting its efforts behind these players. Because there is tremendous talent behind these youngsters and I know that sports is one of the ways in which we can develop their talent. There are many opportunities that presents itself in sports, and it would be a waste of talent to know that these guys cannot participate and hone their gift”.

Ramdeo also noted that the other factor that draws him to the sport is the efforts put in by the coach, Dwain Dick of the Titans Table Tennis Club that makes Ramdeo feel compelled to support the future minds of Guyana. He also noted that he will continue to show his support to sports in general and this is an area that will allow athletes to grow and realise their true potential. He also relayed that table tennis in Guyana has a far way to go and has great potential and Beacon will be there to support.

Before the team had departed, Ramdeo had presented some members of the club with their very own T-shirts. It should be noted that Ramdeo is also a sponsor of one of the players Colin Wong.

The members originating out of the Titans Table Tennis Club were Jonathan Van Lange, Krystian Sahadeo, Dhanesh Persaud and Colin Wong who represented the boys under 13 and Jasmine Billingy and Samarra Sukhai in the girls under 11.

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

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

World No 3 T20 bowler Shadab Khan: GAW weapon of destruction

GTT moves to ensure Guyanese representation at Caribbean chess tournaments Pg 22

Pg 23

…wishes employee and chess champ Anthony Drayton well

Kohli, Rahane half-centuries put India in firm control on day 3

Pg 20

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August 25, 2019

TIMES BOLLYWOOD:

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“Kareena Kapoor is my friend but more than that, she is my father’s wife” – Sara Ali Khan

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Feature

cation, ensuring that she had very little worries while in classes, and also for taking care of her daughter while she studied.

“I am going to start nursing. I already have my application for the Nursing School but my aunt is advising that I go to UG [University of Guyana] instead because they offer a degree in nursing which is much more better. I am yet to decide on my next move but I know that it is going to be in the nursing field.”

When asked about what advice she has for a teenage mother or a teenage student who is pregnant, Toneisha said, “Getting pregnant is not the end of the road. Once you are willing to be successful and if you have the push then things will be easier, no matter what anybody else will tell you. You have to know what you want to do with your life because it is your life and only you have to live with the decisions that you make.”

By Lakhram Bhagirat

L

ife is always going to throw us curveballs but what we do with those curveballs is going to determine our path. Knowing that she was destined for greater heights, Toneisha Marie London knew that she had to strategically deal with all the curveballs that life was throwing her way.

Mere months before she was to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations in 2017, the former Hope Secondary School student discovered that she was pregnant. Like every teenager who would have gotten pregnant, Toneisha was scared and went through waves of emotions.

Her pregnancy and the stigma associated with being a pregnant teenager caused her to drop out of the Hope Secondary School.

However, this did not deter her from writing CSEC and she went ahead and wrote four subjects.

However, she could not have dedicated the much needed time towards studying and this, coupled with the fact that she was out of a classroom, caused Toneisha to perform poorly.

“The people was not very nice. They were saying all kinds of things to me because I had gotten pregnant when I was in school. It made me feel really bad and would affect me. My daughter was born about two months before I had to write the exams and I was tired most of the time. I was also so stressed out because I was a first-time mother so I did not get to put my all in my exams.

“When I got my results I know that I didn’t do good. I was not satisfied because I know that I would have done better. I had it in me to do better and I wanted to do better,” Toneisha said.

This did not deter her and after giving birth to her daughter, Toneisha knew that she had to achieve her goals.

“I am a very determined person and I always set my goals. I have the dedication and work very hard. After I had my daughter, my aunt encouraged me to go back to school and make sure that I had an education. I knew that I had one aim and that was to do good and make a better life for myself and my child.”

Toneisha said without the support of her aunt, Angela London, she would not have known where she would have been. Her aunt is primarily responsible for giving her the second chance she so desperately needed in order for her to be able to provide a better life.

In discussing her future, Toneisha’s aunt gave her the opportunity to pursue her CSEC qualifications at the Institute of Business Education on the East Coast of Demerara and from there, she began catapulting.

One of her happiest days was the day she was enrolled

to attend classes at IBE. She then chose to sit 10 subjects and knew that it would have been a hard task.

“My aunt was by my side but it was still not that easy. When I went back to IBE at first it was very tough. It was very challenging because I had to be back in school after I would have been away and then now I had a child. I felt very different but I had great friends with me and they worked with me and helped me through it all.”

Toneisha sat the 2019 CSEC examinations and was quite surprised when she saw her results. She attained 6 Grade Ones, 2 Grade Twos and 2 Grade Threes. She noted that this would not have happened had her aunt not believed in her. She expressed her gratitude to Auntie Angela for paying for her edu-

AUGUST 25, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

“Throughout my school life I felt as if I was a normal child” – Davindra Bridgmohan

By Lakhram Bhagirat

“T

hroughout my school life, I was always treated as a normal child. There were always children there to help me and my teachers were very supportive. I never felt different from anybody else,” said Davindra Bridgmohan.

Davindra is proving that being diagnosed with cerebral palsy is not the end of the road, rather it gives you a unique perspective on life. He is using his illness as a way of motivating others to show them that they too can live a normal life despite their circumstances.

Life for 17-year-old Davindra Bridgmohan has always been different and he would not have it any other way. The difference between Davindra and a regular 17-year-old is that he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was about 6 months old. However, his family never allowed Davindra to feel like he is less than capable.

According to the Mayo Clinic, cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affects movement and muscle tone or posture. It's caused by damage that occurs to the immature brain as it develops, most often before birth.

In general, cerebral palsy causes impaired movement associated with abnormal reflexes, floppiness or rigidity of the limbs and trunk, abnormal posture, involuntary movements, unsteady walking, or some combination of these.

Davindra was born at a private hospital following a caesarian section. Being the first child of his parents, Indira and Yogananand Bridgmohan, meant that there was a level of excitement surrounding his birth. However, his mother noticed that he was vomiting persistently.

She consulted with his doctors and they told her that he was suffering from a throat infection and there was nothing to worry about. He was discharged from the hospital and went home. At no time did the doctors tell the new parents that their child had cerebral palsy.

“When he was about 6 months old my mother came back from overseas and she recognised that he wasn’t doing stuff that a six-month-old baby supposed to be doing so she started to get frustrated and she sent me back to the hospital. There I saw the doctor who delivered him and he recommended me to another doctor.

T h a t doctor said that he has fluid in his head and we need to go to Trinidad for treatment,” his mother said.

Davindra’s father was a sugarcane farmer at that time so finances were not forthcoming. The family instead chose to get another doctor’s opinion and that was when he was diagnosed. The family had never heard of cerebral palsy so they began their journey towards understanding and caring for Davindra.

The doctor recommended physical therapy to aid his mobility.

Indira began taking her son to the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre twice per week for therapy. She did so for over two years and then got pregnant with her daughter. Being pregnant limited her which led to her requesting that he be transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital for his sessions.

Then he began schooling and the physical therapist would come home to continue his treatment.

Despite his condition, Davindra’s parents continued to push him towards achieving his goals and this resulted in him performing exceptionally at the 2019 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams.

The West Demerara Secondary School student earned himself 4 Grade One passes and 6 Grade Twos, placing him among the school’s top performers. Davindra said he could not have achieved this feat without the assistance of

his parents and all the teachers around him. Due to his diagnosis, Davindra relies heavily on a walker to support his movement from one place to another.

Throughout his schooling, his peers and teachers would have gone above and beyond to ensure that he enjoyed the same things as those around him. For that, he said he is grateful.

“The teachers were nice and when I was in primary school, Miss Roxanne in Grade 2 was very nice and she used to encourage me. Then in Grade 5 was Miss Onkia and she was the best and when there were tours and so on she would carry me and hoist me and make me feel like a normal child. Throughout my school life, I always felt like a normal life. I never felt like I wanted to give up, I always had the confidence to move forward,” he remembers.

Davindra’s mother, Indira, said she is beyond happy that her son has been able to accomplish so much. She commends the work of all the teachers who would have aided Davindra’s success and explained that it was not an easy road.

“When he was in primary school, there was a problem. The Grade One class teacher didn’t want him and they started to tell me different things and it used to hurt me. I would cry. One day the nursery school Head Mistress heard that teacher, she called me and told me that differently-abled children must be accepted in all Government schools.

“When I heard that I had hope.

Another day I was leaving the compound and the Head Master approached me and told me that my son needed to go to a Special Needs School in Georgetown and at that time I was living three houses away from the Mc Gillvary Primary School and I told him I am not going to take him there and from that day they never told me anything else.”

Davindra never attended extra lessons during his CSEC preparation and whatever studying he did, was with the help of his parents and those around him. Armed with that knowledge, Indira said that when she saw her son results, she was speechless.

What makes her even happier is the fact that she graduated from West Demerara Secondary in 1996 and now she will be witnessing her son walking across the stage decked out in the same purple gown.

She noted that her son is just like any other child and encouraged parents of children with similar conditions to not give up.

An aspiring engineer, Davindra hopes to attend the University of Guyana to pursue his studies but for now, his family is financially constrained since his father’s earnings as a farmer cannot support this venture. He intends to enrol at the Georgetown Technical Institute as a precursor to his engineering degree but ultimately hopes that help comes along the way and his dreams can be realised.

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

AUGUST 25, 2019

Feature

“Took me a few tries before I could feel like myself” – Aaliyah Hundar

By Lakhram Bhagirat

A

aliyah Hundar felt as though life’s only purpose was to knock her down, constantly. For most of her life growing up, she tried to fit in, but instead, she stuck out like a sore thumb. She wanted so badly to feel like herself in a place where she spent most of her days but like most things, that took much longer than she expected.

Aaliyah was and remains a quiet, soft-spoken and timid young lady but her recent success at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations showed that she is more than a force to be reckoned with.

Aaliyah breathed a sigh of relief when she discovered that she achieved 16 passes at the CSEC level with 7 Grade Ones, 4 Grade Twos and 5 Grade Threes.

What came as a surprise to her was the fact that she is

named Valedictorian of the Camille’s Academy in Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara.

Aaliyah is currently on attachment in the Newsroom of Guyana Times as part of Times Media Group’s Work-Study Programme.

Throughout her school life, the 17-year-old had encountered more than her fair share of struggles. At school, she felt that she never belonged and, in fact, wished she was at home playing with her little sister. There have been lots of times when she would be punished by her teachers.

“I hated school

and I was easily intimidated by my teachers. There wasn’t a time where I could’ve had a conversation with a teacher without feeling super nervous and tear up. I had a hard time fitting in. However, I did enjoy being at home. I used to play with my little sister every day, we grew up pretty close. We did everything together. We used to go fishing, ride bicycles, catch butterflies, climb fruit trees and make tree houses. I always loved to read. I probably read most of the books that were in my home and school back then.”

After she wrote the National Grade Six Assessment (NSGA), Aaliyah was very disappointed when she got her results. Instead of gaining a place at Diamond Secondary School, she was awarded a spot at Central High School in Georgetown.

Nevertheless, she went to classes there with very little excitement. She described the experience there as a challenging one owing to her timidity. Additionally, she felt as though she was not progressing the way she should have been so when she hit Fourth Form, there was a discussion with her parents.

The discussion was centred around the fact that she felt very unaccomplished and as though she is not prepared to sit CSEC. A decision was made to have her transferred to a private institution so that she could realise her true potential.

Her parents then got her enrolled at Camille’s Institute for Business and Science Studies, which is now called Camille’s Academy. This move meant that Aaliyah would have to repeat Fourth Form, a decision she had no issues with.

“At Camille’s Academy, I was capable of choosing how many subjects I wanted to do and I felt very much myself there. The teachers are so warm and they are really easy to talk to and they are very understanding. The teachers here are so dedicated to their work that most of them studied Human Psychology so that they could help students cope with issues and have knowledge of what’s happening and to give advice and make a better difference in those who were in need of help.

“It’s a safe environment and it really has a positive impact when it comes to learning. I would say that I’m no longer easily intimidated by persons and I am now a better version of myself. I don’t know if I would have been able to be the person I am today if it weren’t for the staff of Camille’s Academy,” she said.

After feeling like she found her place, Aaliyah started to progress academically and then came the decision of how many subjects she was going to attempt at CSEC. At the time of the decision, she was still undecided as it relates to her career choice so she took a gamble and attempted a multitude of subjects.

The gamble was inspired by one of her teachers, Miss Dianna Persaud, whom she had grown close to.

Persaud instilled in Aaliyah that she is capable of achieving great success if only she believed that she could have it.

“Preparation for CXC was really challenging as usual. It meant longer hours at school and extra lessons. Some nights, it was impossible to sleep. A lot of anxiety and stress kept building up because I wanted to pass my exams and I wanted to make my parents proud, especially my par-

ents, because they invested a lot in me. The teachers helped me to cope with my anxiety. It got so horrible that I wouldn’t sleep for days.”

The aspiring cardiothoracic surgeon is in the process of deciding her next move.

She knows what she wants to do but is still undecided as to where she wants to do it. Currently, she is deciding whether to get her medical education at the University of Guyana’s School of Medicine or the Texila American University.

It is a decision she intends to make with the input from her family.

“My family is really important to me, especially my parents and siblings.

They played a major role in my upbringing and they’ve been assisting me and motivating me to succeed at what I was doing ever since I can recall. My family is very supportive and my father even got me a stethoscope to help me achieve

guyanatimesgy.com

AUGUST 25, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

“I learned that I am stronger than my circumstances” – Shazeda Sulaiman

By Lakhram Bhagirat

W

e quite often take a lot of things for granted but imagine if someone told you, one day, that you can never again be exposed to direct sunlight. Your world would suddenly become dark and the warmth of the sun’s rays that kissed your skin would most definitely be missed.

At just 14, Shazeda Sulaiman was told that the direct sunlight affects her and has since been diagnosed with lupus. Just over three years later, Shazeda is showing that her condition does not mean a limitation, rather she is using it to gain a different perspective on life.

She believes that her current diagnosis is a prelude to better days ahead.

The Mayo Clinic describes lupus as a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.

Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other ailments. The most distinctive sign of lupus — a facial rash that resembles the wings of a butterfly unfolding across both cheeks — occurs in many but not all cases of lupus. Some people are born with a tendency towards developing lupus, which may be triggered by infections, certain drugs or even sunlight. While there’s no cure for lupus, treatments can help control symptoms.

The now 17-year-old has set her goals and outlined her path towards achieving them and not even lupus can keep her down. The President’s College student sat the 2019 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams and attained 10 Grade Ones and 2 Grade Twos - a feat she felt that she could not have accomplished.

Life is far from comfortable for her since she is in pain for 90 per cent of the time but would never complain. She is more reserved and fights her battles silently.

Because of lupus, Shazeda would have missed a lot of school days because of numerous doctor appointments and even hospitalisation.

“I missed a lot of days because I have a lot of doctor’s appointment and I was once hospitalised and missed a few weeks at school. I did not get to write that end of term examination but I was still promoted to the next class because the teachers there were very understanding,” she remembers.

Though most of the teachers at the President’s College know about her illness, Shazeda related that few of her peers do. She is still shy about it and is learning more about her condition as the days go by.

Attending school was a chore but despite her pain, Shazeda pushed ahead in order to ensure that she achieved every goal she had set. She was not thinking short-term, rather she thinks way into the future. The aspiring entrepreneur is hoping that one day she enters into the manufacturing sector since that is where her heart lies.

Tracking back to the gruelling preparations for CSEC, Shazeda said that many times she felt like giving up but knew that she had it in her and that was what drove her.

“I am a very determined and strong person and when I really want to get something done, I really put my mind to it and I always accomplish my goals. To prepare for CSEC I would go to school and then lessons afterwards. I would come home and study every night too and also went to lessons on the weekends.

It was very hard because I have lupus and to be able to cope with all the physical and emotional pain and at the same time to be dedicated to my academics was very tough. I have arthritis, I would get rashes and a lot of abscess and swelling in my joints.”

The hard work paid off when she saw her results. She took some time to appreciate all that she had accomplished thus far before sharing her achievements. She remembers being dumbfounded when she got wind of her results.

“It was hard for me because I was sick and all but I did really well and I am proud of myself and I did not expect these results. I was extremely proud because

knowing what I had been through and I done this well.”

There were days when all hope was lost for Shazeda and all she did was sit down and question the universe. She sought answers as to why she was diagnosed with this illness that inhibits her.

She was very tired of the pain, constant doctor visits, and overall missing out on lots of activities a ‘normal’ 17-year-old would be engaged in.

“I had lost hope, to be honest, but my parents had to find hope and they kept pushing me and telling me that everything is going to be okay. I learned that I am stronger than my circumstances and if you put your mind to something, then you can get it done. I lost hope because it was hard to go to school and come back home and study whilst you have all these symptoms to deal with plus focus on school. I question why me often, but I am comforted that maybe I am being prepared for something bigger in life.”

Painkillers were her best friend during studying and even now, they remain her best friend as she aims to take over the world one stride at a time.

Since her diagnosis at the age of 14, Shazeda has had monthly doctor’s appointments and is constantly on medication to manage her symptoms. The medication has side effects that mostly affects her vision. With the medication she is on, there is a strong possibility that she may develop glaucoma and cataracts in her eyes.

Lupus robbed Shazeda of many opportunities while she was in school. She would miss class trips because she had an appointment to examine the progression of her disease, she could not be a part of daily assemblies at her school, and she could not go in the sun to part

take in all the activities her friends were a part of.

Without the support of her parents, Shazeda would not have been able to accomplish all that she did. Her mother, Shenny Hardowar, was all beaming when she spoke with the Sunday Times Magazine. She said that her heart swells with pride every time she looks at her child.

For her, the victory is even sweeter because she understands the struggle her daughter went through.

“In Second Form, she got really ill and from that, we took her to different doctors and she got diagnosed with different illness but she continued to get sick again. Her present doctor started to treat her and start to eliminate the sickness until she diagnosed her with lupus and ever since then she is on the treatment.

The thing is that I am so amazed and so proud of her.

She showed me how strong she can be. She is always dizzy, she always has headaches, taking medications and all of that and still, she doesn’t want to sleep. Many nights I does come down and take away her paper so she can sleep.”

Prior to Shazeda’s diagnosis, the family had never heard of lupus and now they are hoping that there is more awareness.

When asked about her advice to parents of children going through the same thing as her, Hardowar said “parents with children that have any immunity disease I want them to know that their children are stronger than they think because, for example, my daughter showed me her strength. Parents should support them and be there and let them know, encourage them because the sky is the limit.”

6 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

AUGUST 25, 2019

Feature

By Lakhram Bhagirat

W

ords have the uncanny ability to make or break us and quite often, people seem to think less before they utter words. Words are so powerful that once they leave the lips, they can never be taken back.

Words, meant to put him down, were the very thing that ignited a burning desire in the being of 18-year-old Lincoln Antonio Emanuel and today he is doing the very same things that naysayers have said he could not have done.

To understand the accomplishments of Lincoln, one would have to rewind the hands of the proverbial clock and take a trip back to his younger days. They would have to take the journey with him and watch in disbelief as those who were supposed to be his source of strength, put him down in the most dreadful of ways.

Lincoln grew up in the village of Annandale on the East Coast of Demerara with his supportive family. He has always been respectfully rebellious and this impacted his life in more than one way. While a student at the Lusignan Primary School, Lincoln was the student that would always be there to lend a helping hand but he was also the one who would joke the most in class.

He had a knack for making his classmates laugh and he honed in on that. Whether it was through his amazing danc-

ing skills, his melodious voice or his ability to deliver massive punchlines at the right time, Lincoln was doing it as long as it made people happy. He continued much to the annoyance and amazement of his teachers and those around him.

When he sat the Common Entrance Examinations, Lincoln got a rude awakening after he barely managed to scrape some marks. He knew he had the ability to push and achieve much greater things but all he was hearing was how he would never able to accomplish those things.

“When I wrote Common Entrance and I saw that I got Annandale Primary [Top] I was very sad. I knew that I could have done better. I had some friends who got lower marks than me but they got better schools like LBI [La Bonne Intention Secondary] and I was just very devastated.

I felt bad and the fact that I was being called a failure made me feel worse,” he remembers.

“My parents knew that I could do so much better and

they keep pushing me. After Common Entrance they decided to send me to IBE [Institute of Business Education] and when I got there, I knew that I needed to put in the work to show people what I can do. I wanted to be able to do better in life.”

When he joined classes at IBE, Lincoln was placed in the remedial class because of his low Common Entrance score.

Being in the remedial class, headed by Miss Rafeena Omar, meant that more focus was placed on reading, writing and math. These were the areas in which Lincoln needed help and he was more than glad to accept that help.

The teachers at IBE ensured that Lincoln and those other students who were defeated by the Common Entrance system never felt like they did not belong.

Their morals were boosted with celebrations for their every little achievement.

However, in Lincoln’s life, there were still people who kept telling him he can never succeed. Forming part of that

long list was a teacher from his primary school and numerous relatives and friends. They felt it was a waste of money for his parents to be sending him to a private learning institution.

“When I was in Form One, I was walking home and I saw one of my primary school teacher. She watched me and she said ‘what is your mother sending [you to] private school for? She sending you to waste her money?’ That afternoon I felt really bad but I did not allow her words to bring me down. I took her words and turn it into a form of encouragement.

“She said that I was wasting my parents’ money but I said to myself that now I am going to show you that I am not wasting my parents’ money. Then they have some friends and family who said I would never make it and it makes no sense that I [go] to a private school and so.”

After those heartbreaking words, meant to break his spirit, were uttered to Lincoln by someone who should have known better to encourage rather than discourage, he knew that his mission was to prove them wrong.

His teacher, Miss Omar, would take him under her wings because she saw his drive and determination to better himself and she worked on that. After he left her class then came along Sir Jamain Hatton, who served as a further motivator for Lincoln.

Nevertheless, Lincoln was still doing the things he enjoyed doing and was the full-time comedian. In addition, he was the school’s best dancer, he was part of the choir, and was readily available for any other duties as required.

Teachers admired not only his talents but his drive to push his limits. They nurtured that and when they saw him straying they were the first to bring him back in line.

Along the way, Lincoln lost friends because he was no longer solely interested in playing around, rather he was hitting the books harder than usual. He began surrounding himself with those who were doing the same as he was and also encouraged others to join in and the sacrifices paid off when he was the only male student in his Fourth Form class to be a part of the top 10. That was the reassurance he needed to know that he was treading the right path.

“I didn’t have anyone to help me but I studied when I was at home. For CXC, when I was home I would study and then wake up early in the morning and study more. At school, we had our teachers working with us and things got hard, I had to keep the faith. I would keep pushing myself and keep telling myself that I will make it because I have to. I had a pur-

pose and a goal.”

Lincoln sat 10 subjects at the 2019 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination and attained Grade Two passes in 7 of those subjects and Grade Three passes in three subjects.

“I am extremely proud of myself because the hard work has paid off. My father is not home as yet because he works at sea but my mother is extremely happy because of my improvement. From nothing to something, I have something that no one else thought that I could have done,” the aspiring doctor said.

For now, his next step is attending the University of Guyana, where he will be pursuing his medical studies.

“In life, people will try to make you feel down but when people try to make you feel down instead of making their words your pillow, take their words and make it your inspiration. Do not allow people to speak into your life, take the words and make it into your goals and do more than what they say you can do,” he advised.

guyanatimesgy.com

AUGUST 25, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

…a proud mother tells her son’s story

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

he relationship between parents and children is one that is considered to be sacred. Parents spend their entire lives making sure that their children are well taken care of, happy and healthy.

When their child’s health is being threatened, parent spin into panic mode because quite frankly no one can love you as much as your parents do. So when Lamar Schultz’s health was being threatened then Tali Rohlehr spun into panic mode.

She began searching for the answers.

Lamar was diagnosed with a combination of Bone Spurs and Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) when he was just over 13 years old. Never hearing of this condition caused Rohlehr to panic since her child has been healthy all along.

From birth, Lamar has always been healthy despite being somewhat obese. He was active and enjoyed being in sports. However, when he was about 13 he began experiencing some pains in his knees and this caused some concern for his mother. She took him to the doctor in search of answers.

There she was told that her eldest child was suffering from a combination of Bone Spurs and Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis which meant that his hip was not in the correct place.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons SCFE is a hip condition that occurs in teens and pre-teens who are still growing. For reasons that are not well understood, the ball at the head of the femur (thighbone) slips off the neck of the bone in a backwards direction.

This causes pain, stiffness, and instability in the affected hip. The condition usually develops gradually over time and is more common in boys than girls.

Treatment for SCFE involves surgery to stop the head of the femur from slipping any further.

To achieve the best outcome, it is important to be diagnosed as quickly as possible.

Without early detection and proper treatment, SCFE can lead to potentially serious complications, including painful arthritis in the hip joint.

While the Mayo Clinic describes bone spurs are bony projections that develop along bone edges. Bone spurs (osteophytes) often form where bones meet each other — in your joints. They can also form on the bones of your spine.

The main cause of bone spurs is the joint damage associated with osteoarthritis. Most bone spurs cause no symptoms and can go undetected for years. Bone spurs can make it painful to move your hip, although you might feel the pain in your knee. Depending on their placement, bone spurs can reduce the range of motion in your hip joint.

“In both conditions, Lamar’s hip was in a deformed position so he hadn’t the right angle in the hip region. He was very restricted. He stopped riding a bicycle. Going up stairs was a problem for him, putting on clothes on his

lower extremities also. He could not have leaned forward much which was why climbing stairs and so on was an issue,” Rohlehr relates.

Due to his condition and limited mobility, Lamar began gaining more weight which led to his condition worsening. At that time, he was in the Third Form at the Berbice Educational Institute. The episodes of pain got so overbearing that Lamar had to skip school for many days. At one time, he was absent for over six months.

However, he was determined to pursue his education and when he would have his days of relief it would involve him going to classes. Not being able to see her son in constant pain, Rohlehr quit her job at the National Insurance Scheme and began running around to have answers.

“When I was trying to get answers to his condition I was told that the only thing that could be done for him was a total hip replacement but because of his age, they advised against it. They said total hip was not a lifetime solution so doing it while he was still growing would mean that they would have to subject him to more than one total hip replacements in his lifetime. So the more they can postpone the first one would be in his best interest.”

Not satisfied with the fact that her son would have to be in constant pain until he is around 20 years old, Rohlehr began going from doctor to doctor in search of answers. Then she met with the Health and Education Relief Organization (H.E.R.O) medical team from the United States of America.

She first met with the HERO team sometime in 2017 and they returned in March 2018 to further discuss the case. They decided that they are going to perform a procedure called osteotomy-where they would cut his femur to allow for the realignment of his hip.

Rohlehr was ecstatic that her son would be given some form of relief. The team performed the surgery on the left side hip which saw him being bedridden for a number of months.

“The said that is a surgery that would help him until in his 50-60s. It depends on how he heals and then he would have to do the hip replacements.”

Owing to his surgery, Lamar could not have completed his second and third term of Fourth Form but never slipped in his education. His mother began homeschooling him in preparation for his examination.

He was insistent on sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination but his mother was somewhat sceptical.

However, in January of 2019, a visit to the clinic revealed that Lamar’s spine was twisting.

“They discovered that his spine was twisting because of the way he was walking.

They said that it was better to perform the surgery on the other side. I felt that the leg was not strong enough but they explained that pushing back the surgery meant the spine would get even more out of control.”

The HERO team performed the surgery on the other side hip in March of 2019. After the surgery,

Lamar was bedridden for a number so alternative arrangements had to be made for him to sit the CSEC exams. His grandmother, who is a retired secondary school teacher, informed the family of the exceptions that the Caribbean Examinations Council offers.

Rohlehr then began investigating and made contact with the Head Teacher of Lamar’s school who facilitated the process. CXC informed the family that they would facilitate Lamar sitting his examinations at the Hospital which he did.

So while other students were sitting in classrooms writing their examinations, Lamar was at the New Amsterdam Hospital writing his examinations.

He sat seven subjects and scored three Grade 1 pass, two Grade 2 and a Grade 4. Grade one passes in Principles of Accounts, Human and Social Biology, and English A; Grade 2 in Mathematics, Social Studies, and Integrated Science; and a Grade 4 in English Literature.

“I had to pinch myself (when I saw his results) because as much as I was confident in his ability I was not prepared for him to be as successful. I knew he had to deal with his mom as a teacher and for me teaching him was like going back to school. I was a little doubtful as to how effective my teaching would have been in terms of explaining the concepts and if he would have been confident enough.”

Never had Rohlehr thought of giving up hope and she continues to push for her son to have the best life possible. For now, Lamar still has trouble moving around and is slowly recovering but the thought of him being pain-free is enough to make Rohlehr push ahead.

8 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

AUGUST 25, 2019

Preserving our Literary Heritage

(Extract of an interview with Alicia Budhram, Georgetown, Guyana, August 2019.

B

udhram is an environmentalist, vegan, poet and psychology student. Her first collection of poems, ‘Spontaneous Deluge’ was launched on Sunday, August 18, 2019, with elaborate décor and celebration matching the scope of the writing and appreciated by a large audience, an impressive number for a book launch.)

PP Poetry is a hard sell but despite this, in my line of interest/business, I am seeing a deluge of poetry and published books of poetry. Despite the hard sell, despite what we may hear about the death and the dearth of books, you have chosen to express yourself in this format. Very often, our first type of expression is in poetic form. Let’s hear why you have chosen to express yourself in poetic form instead of other genres of writing.

AB I don’t know if I have chosen poetry so I’d like to speak a bit on that…

to dissolve the pain we experience during the journey of life – the healing process of pain, it [the writing] is a accumulation of things.

Let me share this: at the end of the month, I would receive an invoice with the following quote at the bottom [that goes like this]: when you do the work you love, you never have to work another day.

Every month I receive this quote and think on it for I use to work very hard with my mind, my body, all my faculties, and I was tired. Before two years ago, I use to work seventeen hours a day, seven days a week, I basically I had no life so when I started to do this course, I started thinking about my life, deeply, I thought I was happy doing what I do, I asked myself what is happiness, and as time when by, I ponder on this quote and then it awoke something inside me.

PP A deluge moment.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

PP Or poetry has chosen you…

AB Yes, it seems like poetry has chosen me because of how it happened: as I was heading to university [of Guyana] one day, I felt the urge to write, so as soon as I got to the parking lot, I pulled out a book and started writing. I didn’t know what I was actually writing, whether it was a book or not. I never looked at poetry except a few [poets] like Rumi, Allan Poe and a few English writers, not a whole lot and not in depth.

When I started writing, the first poem was about the lotus, and then about the rose; I am especially attached to those two flowers because of the way they are they speak a lot about our lives.

The third poem I wrote was ‘Identity Crisis’ because I was thinking of the way the human psyche is and how we have lost our identity – it didn’t come out in prose, it came out in poetic form. This was amazing for me and that’s why I named the book, ‘Spontaneous Deluge’, because I didn’t plan it, and I didn’t know where I was heading with this ‘stop and write’ routine. I know I love public speaking but I never expected in all my dreams that I would write poetry.

PP And all of this happened in the parking lot?

AB Most of it.

This is what happens – it comes to me especially while driving and I would have to stop and write there and then because it comes forth like in a deluge and if I say that I would write when I get where I’m going, I don’t remember it as it came to me; as it comes to me, I need to record it immediately; it has to be an immediate process or lose the trail of thought.

PP But you do revisit what you write?

AB I do because I need to tweak a few things but in the initial work, I try to write a complete poem, take a few days away, then revisit the piece.

PP You confessed just now that you haven’t read much poetry so I trying to get into your head as to whither cometh this burst. I see you are a psychology student and you like to get into people’s head, let’s get into your head and talk about this collection, ‘Spontaneous Deluge’.

AB I think one of the aspects that brought forth this work was meditation but not mere meditation and contemplation – I have been doing a study called ‘self mastery’ for the past two and a half years, it is the study of the self, how

Take us through this book; I see you opened with the butterfly – the end and beginning – and closed by going home.

AB I really love the story of the butterfly - I’ve studies it. I’ve also looked at Deepak Chopra’s phenomenal study of the life cycle of the butterfly…so these are some of the things that brought forth this poetic expression.

PP And you have dabbled in numerous themes – love of and destruction of nature, domestic violence, self-exploration, love and lust, identity, personal space, among others.

Talk about person space.

AB Rarely do we realize that we are individuals; we say it that I am an individual, I am an unique being but rarely do we own it, by owe it, I mean knowing who we are…while respecting every other being.

We must feel it not just know it; knowledge is about knowing, feeling is about becoming. From this space, this self or this energy, I feel everything…that why I love nature and feel deeply about the destruction of nature, and the earth is everything. We are the earth – we are made of the five elements and we cannot survive without the elements.

Yet we pillage the earth, we are literally killing the earth because of greed.

So I feel deeply about the subjects on which I have written.

PP It is stated here on the blurb that your ‘passion is see others understand who they are, find their place in the universe, realize their capacity and potential, and to tap into newfound transformational energy’. That’s a tall order, tell us how you intend to accomplish all of this….(to be continued)

A millionbillionwillion miles from home Waiting for the bell to go. (To go where?)

Why are they all so big, other children?

So noisy?

So much at home?

They must have been born in uniform, Lived all their lives in playgrounds, Spent the years inventing games that don’t let me in.

Games that are rough, that swallow you up.

And the railings.

All around, the railings.

Are they to keep out wolves and monsters?

Things that carry off and eat children?

Things you don’t take sweets from?

Perhaps they’re to stop us from getting out Running away from the lessins.

Lessin.

What does a lessin look like?

Sounds small and slimy.

They keep them in the classrooms.

Whole rooms made out of glass. Imagine.

I wish I could remember my name Mummy said it would come in useful.

Like wellies.

When there’s puddles.

Yellowwellies.

I wish she was here.

I think my name is sewn on somewhere Perhaps the teacher will read it for me.

Tea-cher, the one who makes the tea.

By Roger McGough

guyanatimesgy.com

august 25, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

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10 Sunday Times Magazine

AUGUST 25, 2019

Feature

guyanatimesgy.com

10 Amazing Amazon Facts!

1. The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest.

Covering over 5.5 million square kilometres, it’s so big that the UK and Ireland would fit into it 17 times!

2. The Amazon is found in South America, spanning across Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

3. Running through the north of the rainforest is the Amazon River — a network of many hundreds of waterways that stretches 6,840km. Although there is some debate, most scientists agree that the Amazon is the world’s second longest river after the River Nile.

4. In 2007, a man named Martin Strel swam the entire length of the Amazon River! To complete his splashing jungle journey, Martin powered through the water for up to ten hours a day for 66 days!

5. Around 400-500 indigenous Amerindian tribes call the Amazon rainforest home. It’s believed that about fifty of these tribes have never had contact with the outside world!

6. The Amazon has an incredibly rich ecosystem – there are around 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird species, 3,000 types

of fish, 430 mammals and a whopping 2.5 million different insects. Wow! 7. The Amazon is home to a whole host of fascinating – and deadly! – creatures, including electric eels, flesh eating piranhas, poison dart frogs, jaguars and some seriously venomous snakes.

8. One fascinating fish found in the Amazon is the Pirarucu (also known as the arapaima or paiche). A menacing meateater, the pirarucu guzzles up other fish and can grow to nearly 3m long! And what makes it super deadly? It has teeth on the roof of its mouth and on its tongue!

9. This area of immense natural beauty is sometimes referred to as ‘the lungs of the Earth’. This is because the rich vegetation takes carbon dioxide out of the air, and releases oxygen back in. In fact, more than 20% of the world’s oxygen is produced by the Amazon.

10. Due to the thickness of the canopy (the top branches and leaves of the trees), the Amazon floor is in permanent darkness. In fact, it’s so thick that when it rains, it takes around ten minutes for the water to reach the ground!

guyanatimesgy.com

AUGUST 25, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

Home Décor Ingredients 3 lbs Turkey neck, cut into 2 inch pieces 4 cloves garlic ½ tsp ginger 2 tsp thyme leaves 1 onion, finely diced 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp salt 2 tbsp ketchup 1 tsp Worcestershire 3 tbsp oil ¼ cup sugar 1 tbsp tomato paste 1 hot pepper 6 Jamaican pimento berries 1 bay leaf 2 carrots, sliced Water Butter beans Scallion Instructions

Season turkey neck with crush garlic, ginger, thyme, onion, black pepper, salt, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce and marinate for at least 4 hours.

In a large heavy bottom pot, preferable cast iron, add oil and sugar over medium heat. Allow sugar to melt and turn dark brown then add seasoned turkey neck.

Stir to coat and allow turkey to cook and brown for about 10 minutes. Add tomato paste

Eliminate Tupperware smell by packing them with newspaper

No one’s really sure why, but crumpling up newspaper and stacking it into smelly Tupperware overnight has been known to finally get rid of the odor. Just make sure to thoroughly wash your containers after the fact, as newspapers aren’t exactly clean.

and stir to combine and to cook for another 5 minutes.

Add water to cover, hot pepper, Jamaican pimento, bay leaf, sliced carrots and butter beans. Bring to a boil and lower the heat a simmer, cover pot and cook until turkey neck is tender, about an hour to an hour and a half.

When the meat is tender, turn of the fire and add chopped scallions. Enjoy with white rice or rice and peas. (Jehan Can Cook)

Ingredients 2 cups long grain rice 1 medium onion, diced 1 tbsp butter 2 tsp canola oil 1 tsp grated ginger 2 tsp crushed garlic 8 sprigs thyme ½ tsp dried basil 1 wiri wiri pepper 2 tsp salt ¾ cup coconut cream 3 cups water 15 oz can of black eyed peas, drained and rinsed Finely chopped scallion

Instructions In a large pot over medium fire, heat oil and butter until hot. Add onion and cook until it begins to sweat, about 2-3 minutes.

Next add garlic, ginger, pepper, thyme, and basil then cook for about 30 second while stirring frequently. Add coconut cream and

INGREDIENTS 1 envelope unflavored gelatin (about 1 tablespoon) 4 cups whole milk ¼ cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract INSTRUCTIONS

water and bring to a boil.

Next add rice, black eyed peas and salt and stir. Bring to a boil once again, lower heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and cook for 20-25 minutes.

Remove from heat and garnish with chopped scallion. (Jehan Can Cook)

Prevent bubbling over with a wooden spoon If any of your pots are boiling over, quickly place a wooden spoon across the rim— that’ll settle the frothy bubbles and prevent more over-boiling.

Heat a dish towel in the microwave to get rid of fish smell If you put some dish soap on your dish rag, heat the rag itself for a few minutes, leave the rag in the microwave for about half an hour, return to the rag, and wipe the walls of the microwave down, you will be free of that fishy microwave smell.

Polish your copper with ketchup Dab some ketchup (yes, ketchup) on a cloth and rub it all over your copper.

Rinse it in warm water and voilà: good as new.

Coffee syrup 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup water 3/4 cup good quality coffee 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Prepare the Panna Cotta: In a large mixing bowl (preferably one with a spout), combine the gelatin with 1-2 tablespoons of water, enough to dissolve the powder. Let stand for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the milk, sugar and vanilla in medium-sized saucepan set over medium-high heat. Whisk to help the sugar dissolve. Once the mixture is simmering, remove from the heat and pour over the gelatin. Whisk until the gelatin and milk are combined, gently scraping the bottom of the bowl to make none of the gelatin is left behind.

Divide the mixture evenly between 6 serving

cups (wine glasses or small mason jars are a great option). Place in the refrigerator until firm, at least 3 hours.

Prepare the Coffee Syrup: Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan and turn the heat to medium high. Once the mixture is simmering, stir several times to help the sugar dissolve. You can either remove it from the heat as soon as the sugar dissolves, or let the syrup reduce for several minutes to a thicker consistency.

Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Allow to cool for at least 5 minutes, then stir in the coffee or espresso. Chill alongside the panna cotta. To serve, top each panna cotta with 1/4 cup or more of the coffee syrup.

Use salt to soak up eggs In the off chance you drop a raw egg, throw some salt on the remnants.

It’ll soak up the egg whites.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

AUGUST 25, 2019

Puzzles

ACROSS

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Egg protector Do a ranch job Return the favor Jaunty Steel rod “The -- Sanction” Find a loophole Helen, in Spain -- rings Diminish Pep up More upscale Get hitched Purse holder Gretzky of hockey Nurse a drink Well-worn Forest ruminant Ploys Very small Frequents Veld grazer Single-handed Grey and McCrea Reprimanding Deceitful Billion, in combos Coup d’-Giving a hand to Wishing undone Victoria’s consort That woman Catty Hartford competitor Russell -- of “Gladiator” Ebbets Field great Ancient Tokyo Spice rack item Dance from Cuba Go softly Heavyweight sport Slugger’s stats Thinks positive Lug-nut protectors Bandleader Xavier -Not yet expired Aaron Copland work Gin inventor Pint- -Karate cousin Flip a coin Epic by Virgil UPS competitor Outback maker

97 Koan discipline

98 Ipso - 99 Fish basket

100 Yanked up a sock 101 Hue

103 Rural elec. provider

104 -- uno

106 Wind catchers

107 Rush forward

108 Cellphone button

110 Pulls a fast one

111 Battery units

112 Tow truck 113 Mustang

115 Edge past 116 Goldbrick

117 Sheet material

120 Redhead’s tint

122 Wanders freely

124 Glass ingredient

128 Ms. Hagen of films

129 Double helix

131 Ice in a bar

133 Running mates

135 Si, to Maurice

136 Hot under the collar

138 Short prayer said

before a meal

140 Olfactory stimulus

142 Cold weather wear

144 Sharp, as hearing

145 Atlas or Prometheus

146 Viennese dessert 147 Downright 148 Fraught

149 “Ivanhoe” author

150 Unable to eat any more

151 All geared up DOWN

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Three may be one Ms. Zellweger Put up with Cosmic force Sea eagles Stance Coarse, as humor Yawning Table-tennis divider Selected a card Counting on Make evident Road crew member Lime cooler Hankerings

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD -- BARBECUE (BARBECUE: BAR-bih-kyoo: To roast or broil on a rack or revolving spit.)

Average mark 14 words Time limit 25 minutes Can you find 18 or more words in BARBECUE? TODAY’S WORD -- BARBECUE

babe barb bare bear beau beer brace abbe acre

race ecru carb care crab cube curb cure urea

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" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

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Friend never met?

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Yale athlete Spy mission Paid homage Feet containers Guitar sound In between “-- -- You Knockin’” Started over Voicing an opinion Hiawatha’s people Wear and tear White-sale buy Filmmaker -Wertmuller Pointed arch Instances Shiva devotee Common phrase Mandolin kin Dollops Iota preceder Early moralist Bird abodes Pay by mail -- to the teeth Big family

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Comet’s partner Disney site Egged on Omega competitor Henry VIII’s house Two quartets Eye color Surfer slang Merger Kind of jockey Hayseeds Blows gently -- ho!

Atahualpa subject Clairvoyants Feints Missouri range Swamp grass Contemptuous From Bordeaux Teen occupation Escort of a sort Slangy summons Ant home Clears a trail Storrs coll.

106 Brownie maker 107 Crunchy

109 Two-bagger (abbr.)

111 -- Price of film 112 Pivoted

114 Word after debt or guilt

115 Winter vehicle on treads

116 Slim and trim 117 Fresco

118 City near Syracuse

119 Pedro’s toast

121 Muse of poetry

123 Plain to see

125 Ventricle neighbor 126 Microwaved

127 Pepys’ book

130 PR persons

132 Former JFK arrivals

134 Railroad siding

137 When Paris sizzles

139 Singer -- Ocasek

141 Kiwi’s extinct cousin

143 Had for dinner See Solution on page 14

guyanatimesgy.com

AUGUST 25, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

postpones shutdown of Hangouts

for G Suite users G oogle will let G Suite customers continue to use Hangouts until next year, delaying a shutdown of the service that was supposed to begin in October. Hangouts will now stay around for business customers until at least next June.

The shutdown will move customers of Google’s business-focused G Suite subscription over to a pair of new chat services: Hangouts Chat, a Slack competitor; and Hangouts Meet, a video conferencing service. While the services generally include the same functionality (and more), people are pretty used to Hangouts, and Google says it’s heard from companies’ IT teams that they’d “like more time to migrate [their] organizations from classic Hangouts to Hangouts Chat.”

Google says it now plans to start transitioning all G Suite users over to the new services by the end of next year.

To make the transition easier,

Google says it’s going to work on adding more features to classic Hangouts.

Right now, classic Hangouts users can only directly message a Hangouts Chat user. In the future, Google suggests that classic users may be able to view or participate in group chats, too.

For now, none of this impacts consumer accounts — these changes are

only for business users. “No changes will be made to the consumer version of classic Hangouts,” Google writes in a support document. “We are continuing to support consumers.”

Given Google’s history of constantly shifting its messaging strategy, it’s entirely possible that’ll change at a later point. (The Verge)

Intel introduces eight new 10th Gen Comet Lake processors

I

ntel has introduced a slate of new processors to add to its 10th Gen lineup. The announcement focuses on Intel’s Comet Lake CPUs, resulting in even more Y- and U-series CPUs to decipher.

All eight of these new 10th Gen processors use Intel’s 14nm process, not Ice Lake’s 10nm process. That doesn’t make these bad, per se. Notably, the new Intel Core i7-10710U is its first hexacore U-series processor, and it fea-

tures 12 threads and a higher max clock speed than some of Intel’s Ice Lake processors.

The new 14nm chips will lack the benefits that the 10nm chips have, though. On the whole, these likely won’t be as efficient nor will they tout the same kind of excellent battery life as machines that feature Ice Lake chips. None of them feature Intel’s Gen11 impressive integrated graphics, which it claims can handle some rela-

tively smooth gaming at 1080p resolution. Comet Lake is instead using a previous version of its integrated graphics, as denoted by the lack of a “G” followed by a number in their model names.

Basically, unless you buy a laptop that has dedicated graphics from AMD or Nvidia, these 10th Gen CPUs won’t be capable of a whole lot by themselves, depending on the games you like to play. (The Verge)

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

AUGUST 25, 2019

Bollywood/Hollywood

“Kareena Kapoor is my friend but more than that, she is my father’s wife” – Sara Ali Khan

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ctor Sara Ali Khan, who was the cover girl for the magazine Femina recently, also shot a fun video for the magazine in which she can be seen taking up challenges and displaying her knowledge of Hindi.

Talking about her father Saif Ali Khan’s second wife and actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, she told the magazine in an interview, “I do think that Kareena is my friend, but more than that, she is my father’s wife. I respect her, and realise that she makes my father

happy. We belong to the same profession, and have a similar world, thus, our conversations include that as well.”

After making her Bollywood debut with Sushant Singh Rajput in Abhishek Kapoor’s Kedarnath, Sara was seen opposite Ranveer Singh in Rohit Shetty’s Simmba. Currently, Sara is shooting for David Dhawan’s Coolie No 1 reboot that stars Varun Dhawan and Rajat Rawail. (Hindustan Times)

Pakistan requests UNICEF remove Priyanka Chopra as Goodwill Ambassador

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akistan human rights minister Shireen Mazari has written to the UNICEF demanding the removal of Priyanka Chopra as Goodwill Ambassador over the Kashmir issue, and also cited the Indian actress’ “jingoism and support” for the Indian government’s action in Kashmir.

In a letter to UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, Mazari says Priyanka’s “Support for war, including a nuclear war, undermines the credibility of the UN position to which she has been elevated.

Unless she is removed immediately, the very idea of a Goodwill Ambassador for Peace becomes a mockery globally.”

Mazari cited the “crisis” in Jammu and Kashmir due to the Narendra Modi government’s revocation of its special status and alleged “ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Muslims” there. She alleged that the Modi government is denying four million Indian Muslims their citizenship in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, and creating “detention centres akin to Nazi concentration camps”.

She alleged the Indian security forces have “intensified” the use of pellet guns “against women and children” in Kashmir.

Speaking in the same vein as Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has accused PM Modi of being “a Hindu supremacist and racist”, Mazari said “the entire pol-

icy of the BJP government is similar to the Nazi doctrine of ethnic cleansing, racism, facism, and genocide. Ms Chopra has publicly endorsed this Indian government position and also supported the nuclear threat issued to Pakistan by the Indian Defence Minister.”

She was referring to Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh’s statement that India’s commitment to a ‘No First Use’ in nuclear policy is subject to future circumstances.

Mazari said: “All this goes completely against the principles of peace and goodwill that Ms Chopra is supposed to uphold as an UN Goodwill Ambassador for Peace.”

Mazari’s appeal is part of the Imran Khan government’s attempt to get the global community to censure India over its move to revoke special status for Kashmir. (Hindustan Times)

N

ever too late for a proper wedding celebration. Justin and Hailey Bieber are saying “I do” again in South Carolina in September, according to TMZ. The save-thedate that was obtained by the outlet on Thursday has the design of a comic book with the couple depicted as cartoons.

“We are honored to have you on our special day,” it read.

Per a fan social media

Taylor Swift’s famous friends support her at ‘GMA’ concert

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aylor Swift‘s squad might not look exactly the same today as it did in 2014, but she’s still got plenty of celebrity pals in her corner.

On Thursday morning, the 29-year-old pop phenom took over “Good Morning America” to play a free concert in Central Park, which was attended not only by thousands of fans — some of whom had camped out all night and been rewarded with free pizza by Swift’s team — but also Tiffany Haddish, Todrick Hall and “Bachelorette” Hannah Brown.

The “Gorgeous” hitmaker has been friendly with Haddish, 39, for a couple of years. The pair met on the set of “Saturday Night Live” in 2017, when the “Girls Trip” star served as host and Swift as the musical guest.

After that, the singer invited Haddish over for a home-cooked meal, and even invited her to deliver the “Look What You Made Me Do” line about the “old Taylor” being dead during her Reputation tour.

Swift and 34-year-old Hall, meanwhile, have been close friends since 2015, when the “Love Story” mu-

Akshay Kumar is fourth highest paid actor on Forbes’ list

B

ollywood actor Akshay Kumar has secured the fourth slot on Forbes’ list of highest paid actors in 2019 with an earnings of $68 million (approx Rs 486 crore) in the year June 2018-June 2019. Hollywod actor Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, topped the list of world’s 10 highest-paid actors, collecting $89.4 million (Rs 639 crore) during that period, a Forbes report said.

While Akshay Kumar is the only Bollywood actor to feature on the list, the other non-Hollywood actor on the list is Jackie Chan with a total earning of $58 million.

Last seen in Mission Mangal that is ruling the box office with a collection of Rs 114.39 crore in six days, Akshay has several films in the pipeline. He recently completed the work on Good News where he will reunite with Kareena Kapoor Khan. The film also stars Diljit Dosanjh and Kiara Advani.

He is currently working on Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi

opposite Katrina Kaif and also has Bacchan Pandey, Laxmmi Bomb and Housefull 4 in his kitty. While he reprises his role in the fourth film of the hit franchise, Housefull, Laxmmi Bomb is likely to feature him as a cross-dressing ghost.

The Forbes report also talked about the biggest deals in Hollywood: Dwayne will receive his highest salary ever for the forthcoming Jumanji: The Next Level — $23.5 million.

The actor also commands up to 15% of the pool from highgrossing franchise movies, including Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and he is being paid $700,000 per episode for HBO’s Ballers and seven figures in royalties for his line of clothing, shoes and headphones with Under Armour, the report added.

Forbes added that Robert Downey Jr. is getting $20 million upfront and nearly 8% of the pool for his role as Iron Man. Downey, however, does not feature on the new list.

(Hindustan Times)

account, the singer, 25, and the model, 22, have been spending time in the southern state recently.

The couple, who got qui-

etly married last fall but have yet to have a wedding reception, was said to have a bash in February, however, they have postponed the party until next month.

Since their under-the-radar “I do’s,” the couple has largely kept to themselves minus a few times paparazzi spotted them out and about.

Earlier this summer, they were snapped wearing their wedding rings. (Page Six)

sician admired a mashup the singer/dancer had created of her past hits. He’s now a fixture in her posse, and starred in Swift’s music videos for both “Look What You Made Me Do” and “You Need to Calm Down,” the latter of which he co-executive produced and helped cast.

As for Brown? The 24-year-old “Bachelorette” star revealed herself as a

diehard Swiftie earlier this summer, when she attended iHeartRadio’s Wango Tango in LA and shared copious shots and videos of Swift’s headlining set on her Instagram (and then met the superstar herself).

Coincidentally, Brown’s ex Tyler Cameron now happens to be dating Gigi Hadid, another close pal of Swift’s. (Page Six)

Crossword Solution

guyanatimesgy.com

AUGUST 25, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

august 25, 2019

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Don’t let your emotions take control and ruin a good thing. A civil conversation that prioritizes equality will encourage you to move an important relationship to the next level.

Embrace change and peoTAURUS ple who are heading down the (April 20- same path as you. Traveling, May 20) socializing and sharing your experience and knowledge with others will be enlightening. Romance is encouraged.

Take it easy, stay calm GEMINI and stick to your plans, re(MAY 28- gardless of what others deJune 20) cide to do. Be true to yourself and honest with others to avoid conflict and undue stress.

A change will spark your imagination and help you (June 21- take advantage of new and July 22) exciting opportunities. Enjoy an adventure with family or friends. Love is highlighted.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

Compromise will bring the best results. Strive for equality and make your position clear to people who want too much. Set the standard and align yourself with like-minded people.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Rethink your current status, position and certain relationships. Let your instincts guide you down a path that will ease your mind and help you set sail on a new adventure.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Plan a reunion, family gathering or a day trip to participate in something important to you. What you offer others will bring you closer together and boost your reputation.

Learn by listening, obSCORPIO (Oct. 24- serving and determining Nov. 22) the motives behind someone’s actions. Be smart, use your intuition and don’t be afraid to do things differently.

Romance is in the stars.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Calvin and Hobbes

Be careful whom you trust, what you consume and where you go. Nothing will be as it appears, and situations will run amok quickly if tempers flare. Keep the peace.

You can cut your overhead, improve your surroundings and make a proposition to a loved one. Plan your financial future with someone special.

Romance is highlighted and a commitment can be made.

Don’t be fooled by an onAQUARIUS line job advertisement that (Jan. 20- offers too much for too litFeb. 19) tle. If you surround yourself with people you find mentally stimulating, good ideas will develop.

If you get involved in PISCES (Feb. 20- something you believe in, Mar. 20) you’ll meet people who share your concerns. Partnerships are favored, and forming a closer relationship with a loved one is encouraged.