Sunday Times July 7, 2019

LOOK INSIDE !

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 3977 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, July 7, 2019

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DIPCON US$2M judgement

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt continues to flout authority of Judiciary

Bandits P12 rob, shoot security guard

…court cannot enforce order against Finance Minister – AG …claims Jordan protected from coercive judgements Page 3 House-to-House registration

Compressed timeframe can achieve objectives – senior GECOM official

Page 7

Police pursuing “solid leads” into deaths of money changer, daughter – P17 Commander

Tinted vehicles without permit to be impounded, fitness revoked

P16

Police officers from the various departments of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) marched briskly through the streets of Georgetown in the pouring rain as part of the list of activities slated in observance of the Force’s 180th anniversary on Saturday afternoon. The march commenced at the Tactical Services Unit Drill Square, Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, then proceeded through several major streets in downtown Georgetown before heading into D’Urban Park, Georgetown, where the events culminated with a concert

Perseverance residents complain of crumbling Govt built houses Page 13

Bandits shoot, rob Essequibo Coast man

Page 10

Prospect of losing elections has fully unhinged Govt – Jagdeo

Page 2

Food inspectors shut down P15 Bagotville Chinese restaurant

…find cooking station laden with flies, rodents

Sea defence P2 breach threatens Mahaica livestock, crop farmers

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SUnDAY, JUly 7, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Prospect of losing elections has fully unhinged Govt – Jagdeo

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Saturday said that the prospect of losing the upcoming General and Regional Elections has fully unhinged members of the coalition Government.

In a post on social media, Jagdeo pointed out that this “spectacle/comedy” is now a daily treat from the Government.

According to the Opposition Leader, the most recent instalment of the coalition’s “lunacy” was Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman telling residents of an East Coast Demerara community that “God” put the APNU/AFC in Government and that he will intervene to ensure that they remain there.

“Apart from the stupidity of claiming that God is on their side (the colonialists also claimed that God was on their side while they were practising genocide in Africa and elsewhere), it is an affront to all God-fearing people to imply

poverishment of Guyanese of every race and political persuasion while expanding the perks of Ministers and their families and cronies on a daily basis.

“And he implies that it is God who is telling them not to comply with the Constitution of Guyana,” Jagdeo stated.

Believing their own lies

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

that God sanctions the daily acts of corruption by this Government,” he stated.

Jagdeo added too that it would, therefore, mean that God supports APNU/AFC's taking away of 30,000 jobs from Guyanese; its $85 billion per year increase in taxation; its constant excuses for rampant crime; its sellout of national patrimony through inept negotiations; its introduction of policies which resulted in a deterioration of healthcare and increased cost of living; its im-

Jagdeo added that the second instalment came from the Chair of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Volda Lawrence, who said at a press conference on Friday that a new voters’ list will give them enough seats to “stave off a Charrandas attack”.

“They have started believing their own lies. Only people in an advanced stage of necrosis of the brain would think that a new voters’ list and not your policies and track record will cause you to win an election,” he noted.

The Opposition Leader went on to outline that the voters’ list that was val-

id until April 30, 2019, was used for the last four elections – two national and two Local Government – but the APNU/AFC never found it was “corrupt” until after the passage of the NoConfidence Motion which required fresh elections within three months as mandated by our Constitution. He contended that elections should have been held by March 21, but the coalition is clearly trying to further delay the polls, hence the demand for House-to-House Registration.

However, Jagdeo noted that it is not the voters’ list that the coalition is worried about but it is the wrath of the Guyanese people, whom they have betrayed with false promises.

The Opposition Leader further posited that this “tragi-comedy” will continue today when Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo continues with the illegal “Cabinet outreach", which is costing the taxpayers over $1.5 billion – travelling this time to

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman

Jonestown, Mahaica, to spin another pathetic story and make another promise that the Government has no intention of keeping.

Last month, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that the NoConfidence Motion tabled by the Opposition in December 2018, had been validly passed and, therefore, general elections must be held within a stipulated timeframe.

But despite publicly committing to upholding the re-

gional court’s ruling, the coalition continues to operate as normal, insisting that it is awaiting the consequential orders to be handed down on Friday on the way forward.

However, some Ministers and public officials have made statements that not only defies the CCJ rulings but even the CCJ’s jurisdiction here – despite Guyana recognising the court as its final appeal court since 2005.

The first such statements were made by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who said the coalition is not prepared to call elections unless House-to-House Registration is carried out regardless of the CCJ’s decisions.

Days later, Minister of State, Dawn HastingsWilliams voiced her blatant disregard for the Trinidadbased court as Guyana’s final court of appeal saying that the CCJ has no authority to issue any consequential orders since Guyana is an independent State with its own laws.

Sea defence breach threatens Mahaica livestock, crop farmers

A

A section of the eroded sea defence

breach in the sea defence at Mahaica, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), is threatening the livelihood of cattle, cash crop and rice farmers.

Rapid erosion of the sea dam at Columbia, Mahaica, has caused the problem. Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal has expressed concern, saying that Government seemed not to be paying attention to his appeals despite the sea defence being breached at more than one point.

Ramphal told Guyana Times that the situation was deteriorating on a daily basis. He said that three months ago, he visited the area and after making several observations, he contacted the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the River and Sea Defence Board. He said at the time there was just a little overtopping, but the situation has changed significantly now – affecting the livelihood of cattle, cash crop and rice farmers.

“I cultivate over forty acres of rice and there is no dam at the building canal.

Everything break away.

The canal and the sea is one,” one farmer noted as he pleaded with authorities to urgently address the issue.

Another farmer, who has sixty acres under rice cultivation in the Mahaica area, told this publication that

he has already lost thirty acres, which were destroyed by salt water.

The breach in the sea defence has resulted in several inches of floodwater making its way to the cultivation area.

“I ain't got a machine to build a canal at the front so I can’t save the rest. Right now, the water salt all over.”

Cash crop farmers have also expressed similar sentiments while one farmer explained that his racehorses are in danger as a result of the intrusion of salt water from the sea as a result of the breach at Columbia.

There are reports that farmers have also lost sheep, goats and cattle while birds have also been thrown away by some farmers after dying.

Meanwhile, two weeks ago, at a press conference, the Regional Chairman had called on the Regional Executive Officer (REO) to act in a more responsible manner and stop walking out of RDC meetings.

He said as Clerk of the RDC when the REO walks out, he prevents the policymakers from discussing the business of the region.

“Again, Region Five is being held hostage by the Clerk of Council, who is the Regional Executive Officer,” Ramphal said.

He explained that when the REO refuses to sit at the meetings, the entire region is set back.

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SUnDAY, JUly 7, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

DIPCON US$2M judgement

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

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High Tide: 07:58h and 20:32h reaching maximum heights of 2.62 metres and 2.50 metres.

Low Tide: 14:02h reaching a minimum height of 0.62 metre.

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Govt continues to flout authority of Judiciary …court cannot enforce order against Finance Minister – AG …claims Jordan protected from coercive judgements

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n the wake of the Court throwing out Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s application to stay a Court order that he either pay or go to jail, Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams believes that the minister cannot be touched because of his status as a minister.

In a brief interview with this publication, AG Williams – who defended Jordan in Court along with Roysdale Forde— remained adamant that the judicial arm of Government cannot force the minister to pay Dipcon Engineering Services the money it won in a Court judgement since 2015.

“We’re looking at it. We think the Court has overreached,” Williams told this publication. “There’s a clear rule that says that you can’t go against a minister with a coercive order, nor can you levy against the (Government)”.

“So we’ll see those things,” Williams added after being asked what will happen on Monday— the deadline given by the Court order handed down for the minister to pay Dipcon US$2 million or be jailed.

Last month, High Court Judge Justice SewnarineBeharry had ordered Minister Jordan to pay DIPCON the US$2.2 Million award or face jail time. The Trinidad-based construction company had taken the Finance Minister to Court for failing to honour the payment of millions of dollars, which was awarded to DIPCON by Justice Rishi Persaud in 2015.

After DIPCON took the Government to Court back in 2009 to recover monies owed for road works done, Justice Rishi Persaud had ordered Government to pay the company US$665,032.17 as payment for the works done, along with US$1,563,368.50 for costs it incurred for those works, together with interest on both amounts, at a rate of six per cent annum from February 10, 2009, to October 21, 2015 and thereafter at the rate of four per cent per annum until fully paid.

However, since none of the payments that were owed were made, DIPCON had successfully approached the High Courts for an administrative order to compel the minister to make the payment.

The Government has previously claimed that the previous Government had outsourced the case and that

expressing their view that his application had no merit.

Respecting Judiciary

Attorney General Basil Williams

when the coalition got into office, it was taken by surprise with the matter. But former Attorney General Anil Nandlall has repeatedly explained that when he left office, he briefed his successor on all outstanding matters.

According to Nandlall, the AG failed to file an appeal of the High Court’s judgement in time, but rather, filed an application several months late asking for an extension of time. This application was denied by the Court.

Appeal

Minister Jordan had then approached the Appellate Court in a bid to get the higher Court to set aside, reserve and/or vary the judgement handed down by Justice SewnarineBeharry in the High court.

Chief among the grounds in the Notice of Appeal was that the trial judge erred and misdirected herself when she proceeded to hear the application for contempt against Minister Jordan in his personal capacity for monies alleged to be owed by the State and Government of Guyana.

It was outlined that there was no action, proceeding, judgement or order made against the Finance Minister in his private capacity, hence the application was bad in law. It further stated, among other things, that the High Court judge erred when she failed to set aside the entire proceedings which were misconceived.

Additionally, the legal document had outlined that the trial judge erred when she refused to grant the stay of the order for contempt to permit the State and Government of Guyana to pure the process of Appeal, and that she further misdirected herself on the evidence as a whole.

On Friday, Justices Diana Insanally and Simone Morris-Ramlall threw out Jordan’s application, while

The issue of the APNU/ AFC’s respect for the Judiciary has been under the microscope of recent with political analysts and commentators calling out the Government for its behaviour.

In June, Minister of State Dawn HastingsWilliams publicly rejected the Caribbean Court of Justice’s appellate jurisdiction in relation to the validity of the NoConfidence Motion, passed in the National Assembly in December 2018.

The minister’s lack of respect for the Judiciary was displayed during a bizarre protest staged by several Government ministers and a few A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporters outside the Guyana Elections Commission(GECOM) headquarters where they were calling for House-to-House registration before elections are held, when HastingsWilliams voiced her blatant disregard for the CCJ as Guyana’s final Court of Appeal by saying that that Court has no authority to issue any consequential orders, since Guyana is an independent state with its own laws.

This led to one senior civil society commentator saying that the minister would have been inclined to make such statements given the posture of the party with its history of cavalier dismissal of the Judiciary in the recent past.

In one instance, the commentator noted that President David Granger himself brushed aside the Chief Justice’s ruling in relation to the interpretation of the Constitution of Guyana with respect to the appointment of a Chairman at GECOM saying that “her perception” was not his “perception”.

“The Chief Justice [CJ] gave an interpretation based on her perception of the law and I will continue to act in accordance with my perception of the Constitution; that is to say, I will not appoint somebody who I do not consider fit and proper,” the President had said on July 19, 2017 as he dismissed the judge’s interpretation of the Constitution as to the qualification of who was "fit and proper" to be appointed as the Chair of GECOM.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

The civil society commentator recalled the incident with Attorney General Basil Williams and Justice Franklin Holder to highlight the party’s disrespect towards the Judiciary.

In 2017, Trade Unionist Carvil Duncan had moved to the Court to block the work of a Presidential Tribunal that was set up to determine whether he should be removed from his post as Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) in light of criminal charges proffered against him, which have since been dismissed at the Magistrate’s Court.

Justice Holder had complained to acting Chancellor Yonette CummingsEdwards that during the March 23, 2017 hearing of the case, he abruptly walked out of the Courtroom as a result of statements made by the Attorney General.

He quoted the AG as saying, “I could say what I want to say and however I want to say it, I have always been like that…The last magistrate who (told me what to do) was later found dead”.

Justice Holder had said in his complaint that he felt disrespected by the Attorney General’s behaviour. He had called for an apology to be proffered him in open Court before he would proceed with the case. The judge eventually recused himself from the case.

According to the commentator, it is this display by the PNC senior officials that led to members of the party to have disregard for the Judiciary in general. In fact, the commentator noted that the President himself defied the CCJ when he called for House-to-House registration following the CCJ ruling before the Court issued its consequential orders.

“If the senior members are doing it, obviously the junior members will automatically take the same position and posture,” the commentator said.

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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

The forgotten 7000

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he story of Pawan Etwaroo of Cumberland Primary— who gained 520 marks at the NGSA to earn a place at Queen’s College, the nation’s premier Secondary School— is not just heart-warming one of a young boy overcoming adversities and succeeding against great odds, but also a heart-breaking reminder of the plight of the 7000+ sugar workers who were fired when the PNCled Government unilaterally and precipitately shut down four of the seven sugar estates in the country.

Pawan Etwaroo’s father had been employed at Rose Hall Estate but has remained unemployed since 2017 when that facility was shuttered. This has been the tragic fate of most of the other workers – 5000 from GuySuCo’s payroll and 2000 from private farmers – who supplied the corporation with sugar cane. The 51 year-old exsugar worker revealed that after 30 years of labour on the estate, he was still unable to build a house and finally only did so with his severance pay, which he and his fellow fired workers had to protest for before finally receiving, even though it was their legal right.

There have been complaints that the Government did not conduct a social impact study before making their draconian decision; but really, they did not need to. The PNC and AFC have been complaining for years about the extreme hardships inflicted on the 4000 workers at Linden who lost their jobs when the industry was downsized, ironically by the PNC-Government of Desmond Hoyte.

And this was in the face of a $2 billion scheme – LEAP – to fund entrepreneurial activities and job creation, on top of free unlimited electricity. The Government is fully aware of the social pathologies that explode “like a sore” in such situations.

In a blaze of publicity, the Government has rushed to present “scholarships” to young Etwaroo and his peer who also scored the same mark. But these youngsters had already qualified for entry into whichever schools they chose and the tablets presented were merely electioneering photo-ops. Each of those 7000 fired sugar workers were heads of households with children. The stories of the difficulty in sending their children to schools were well reported in all the three dailies. Yet, the PNCled Government has not launched a single programme to assist those children – who are by definition poor and marginalised. The elder Etwaroo explained that he was frantically – but unsuccessfully— seeking employment.

He was not looking for hand-outs, which he had to accept from “relatives”.

While the Government has been unrolling “job training” and sharing out lands, these projects have been noticeably missing from the sugar belt in general, and the closed ones in particular. The sordid fact of the matter is that under this Government, unemployment has grown in other sectors than in sugar – especially in construction, which grew exponentially during the PPP regime. While housing schemes had mushroomed under the PPP – spearheaded by its Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali— the Government has focused its efforts on doling out multi-acre plots for housing and speculation to its insiders.

The most bizarre aspect of the tragedy at a macro level has been the fate of the closed estates, which the Government had insisted would be sold and the monies used to rehabilitate and diversify the remaining estates to make them viable. The Government’s own CoI – which included its appointed Chairman Clive Thomas – however, had recommended the estates be subsidized for three years— at most $24 billion – and then brought to a point of sale. Instead, the SPU formed by the Government to consummate the sale has floated a $30 billion bond using the estates as collateral and sat on it while paying $1.5Billion annually in interest. In the meantime, the estates have reverted to “bush” and the factories have recently been described by the Finance Minister as “scrap iron”. Based on the Government’s modus operandi over the last four years, it is most likely that they are preparing to hand out the assets to party members, friends and cronies for the proverbial “song”.

While the 7000 sink into misery.

Hindus dance as they take part in the annual Rath Yatra, or chariot procession, in Ahmedabad, India (Reuters/Amit Dave)

Guyana is a democracy, not a theocracy

Dear Editor, “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” Deuteronomy 30:19 Life is about the choices we make. A citizen has a right or some may say a privilege to vote and elect their leaders in a democratic society. That process which is enshrined with constitutional protection that allows freedom of expression, association, conscience and assembly should be considered as a foundation on which one stands when he/she participates in the democratic process.

Guyana’s system of Government is a democracy, it is not a theocracy.

God does not elect and protect Governments, people do. Christians, in particular, must not be cajoled by enticing statements and subliminal messages using biblical undertones.

Justice, righteousness and equity should be guiding principles. Guyana’s National Assembly voted on December 21, 2018, that it had no confidence in the Granger-led coalition Government. Judas, Satan or Lucifer are not members of the National Assembly, it was 33 honourable men and women, elected representatives of the people who exercised their rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana that rendered such a defeat. It was not a battle between God and Satan, it was about policies, programmes, actions and measures that were inimical to the interests of the Guyanese people.

Those actions were rejected by the legitimately and constitutionally positioned representatives of the people.

The deposing of that cabal who squandered every opportunity that was given to them to govern Guyana can be described as an act of righteousness. It was done to protect families of sugar workers who were vindictively and politically ostracised.

The closure of these estates was done without any feasibility study or any socio-eco-

nomic impact assessment and even against the recommendations contained in the Commission of Inquiry (COI) that was mandated by this very coalition Government.

It was done to protect the country’s wealth from a kleptocratic Government; we must remember the collecting of the US$18 million signing bonus, not placing it in the Consolidated Fund and the constant denial of its existence by senior members of this now defeated Administration.

Thirdly, it was to further protect Guyanese from the perverse measures that saw the increase in over 200 taxes in licenses, fines and fees, taking away a further G$85 billion of disposable income annually from citizens.

It was about the disappointment of the people, the rice farmers who were promised $9000 per bag for their paddy, the public servants who were promised significant increases in wages and salaries, the men and women in uniform who were promised better remunerations but instead lost their annual one month tax-free bonus which was later described by this Government as a bribe the PPP/C Government gave.

It was about the $10,000 per child cash grant that parents lost, the removal of the subsidies on water and electricity from our seniors, and the imposition of 14 per cent VAT on the latter, all of which was done after giving themselves a 50 per cent increase on their salaries which they lied consistently about until it was found out. While a small cabal of cronies is enjoying the “good life”, 30,000 jobs have been lost since May 2015 and many families are experiencing grave hopelessness.

The speed and brazen manner in which corrupt deals were struck with “political investors” such as the Jubilee D’Urban Park, the Sussex Street Drug Bond, the sole sourcing of $605 million of pharmaceuticals for GPHC, the fuel smuggling racket, the fertilizer deal, HDMS Labs fiasco, the infamous trip to China, the undisclosed visit by the famous 5 to Houston Texas,

the feasibility study of the New Demerara Harbour Bridge imbroglio, the awards of scholarships to Ministers of Government and families and friends of senior Government officials, the poorly negotiated PSA with ExxonMobil and the list goes on. This stench of corruption was so obnoxious that even staunch supporters of the coalition Government sought relief. The way forward was to purge the society of this incompetent, useless, tonedeaf Administration.

A vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly should have led to elections in 90 days which would have seen a change of Government. The indecent and shameless clinging on to power by way of spurious and incredible arguments is certainly not Godly or an act of righteousness. It is desperation, an abuse of the legal process, an abuse on the Constitution, a transparent display of the undemocratic nature of these modern day Pharisees. If you talk about God, you must be Godly. It is

not by your talks that you are defined, it is by your actions.

The fruits of unrighteousness are already bearing after just four short years.

The journey through the courts, both locally and at the CCJ, and the arguments that were proffered exposed the depth of depravity that this APNU/AFC Government is prepared to take us. Elections 2019 that is before us will give every Guyanese an opportunity to intelligently compare, analyse and then choose the team that is best for the leadership, securing the interest and protecting the patrimony of Guyana. It is my considered view that the PPP/C, even with its admission of human limitations, is still the best tried and tested team that will take Guyana into a prosperous and progressive future.

We will right the wrongs, open new frontiers, restore hope and restore dignity.

Yours sincerely, Bishop Juan Edghill PPP/C MP

Gruesome, senseless death of father, daughter

Dear Editor, I was at the Mosque when I received a phone call that Mr Aaron Latchman and his daughter, Ms Arianna Latchman, were robbed and killed by bandits. I couldn’t hold my composure, I had to sit, I became speechless for a few minutes as anger and outrage overtook me. The breadwinner of another family has been taken away! My mind raced to many events and conversations I have had with the gentleman.

This is a dirt-poor lad who left the shores of Essequibo to seek a better life in Georgetown. He worked hard, he took risks to improve his life and the life of his family and his relations back home in Essequibo. The same day of his demise he did a transaction with my cambio. Mr Aaron is well known to everyone in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market and the surrounding environs. Everyone had high praises and respect

for him. They all classified him as a man with high integrity.

This gruesome, senseless death of Aaron and his young daughter will create tremendous hardship on his bereaved wife and daughter and the extended family. The surviving wife and daughter need counselling, security and social support from everyone.

I, like so many others, echo the call on the police department to work assiduously to bring the perpetrators to justice. I have lost a good friend and an ambitious young lady.

May their souls rest in peace as I extend my deepest sympathy to Mrs. Latchman and her daughter and the entire family. May the mercy of God Almighty be with you at this overwhelming, testing time.

Yours truly, Nazar Mohamed Mohamed’s Enterprise

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We should push our Energy Shameful, smack disrespect for the court Dept to drive a hard bargain on future contracts Dear Editor, As many Guyanese are aware, the Department of Energy announced this week that it plans to raise royalty rates for future contracts. This is an eminently sensible step given our streak of successful discoveries in the Stabroek Block and clear international interest in Guyana. Companies are queuing up for the show – they can pay for entry!

I also note an advertisement in Kaieteur News comparing Guyana’s 2 per cent royalty with 35 other countries, which begs the question, “when will Guyana start demanding what it deserves?”

Perhaps a bit of context would be helpful when considering the Kaieteur News advertisement. Royalty rates are determined by a number of other factors in any contract, such as a country’s share of profit oil, tax structures and project timelines.

Most importantly, royalty rates usually reflect how established a country is as a producer and the extent of proven reserves.

So why are all of these countries enjoying far higher royalty rates? Well, take a look at the table here, which examines the same countries:

Dear Editor, It is now public knowledge that on June 18, 2019, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) delivered decisions on two significant constitutional cases, which threatened a Government inflicted erosion of the democratic norms in Guyana as a Caricom and Commonwealth State. The consequences are dire for the fallen coalition Government and as a consideration, the CCJ has requested submissions of instructive recommendations from consensus seeking consultations between the President and the Leader of the Opposition. Following which, the court is expected to make absolute and final binding consequential instructions on July 12, 2019.

As Guyana’s final appellate court, the objectivity of the rulings clearly establishes the illegality of the Granger-led APNU/ AFC coalition Government since March 21, 2019, and reaffirms the Constitution’s pinnacled position in Guyana’s legislative framework. Further, it nullifies the derailed and clearly abused path headed by the APNU/AFC leaders and their silent coalition partners, who have utilised every flimsy excuse and underhand manoeuvre to dodge and avoid National and Regional Elections.

The reactions to the judgments by persons in the highest echelons of the Government are indeed shameful and portray smack disrespect for the court. It is despicable that the Cabinet continues to meet and function in conflict with the mandate expressed in Section 107 of the Constitution, approving billions of taxpayers’ money when the focus should be treating electoral matters with appropriate speed. In context, the President’s go-slow approach is remiss of the level of seriousness which must be afforded to the matters. This heightened disregard continues to be effectuated by President Granger’s continued use of advice from the clearly biased and illegally appointed Ret’d Justice James Patterson whom the CCJ ruled must be removed.

The most recent, stupid and insulting declaration to come from President Granger and some coalition members is that the President must be allowed to make nominations for the appointment of the Chairman of GECOM. This is tantamount to re-establishing a unilateral position if it is not agreed on by the Leader of the Opposition. If not treated or accepted in good faith by Mr Jagdeo. This latest position of Granger smacks at the integrity of the selection process and would be frustrating

and demonstrative of no respect for the Guyana Constitution and the eminent Judges at the CCJ. Simply put, there should be objectivity in the process and the Leader of the Opposition must refuse to be bullied. The highly respected Judges on June 24, 2019, advised that “the court decided that the most sensible approach to operationalising the consultation mechanism, was for the leader of the Opposition and the President to communicate with each other in good faith and perhaps even meet to discuss eligible candidates for the position of Chairman before a list is formally submitted. The aim of these discussions must be to agree with the names of six persons who fit the stated eligibility requirements and who are not unacceptable to the President.”

At the time of writing, it is known that the first meeting between President Granger and Jagdeo had taken place with others pending for the new week. One could decipher, however, that the time playing attitude of the coalition Government and uncertainty of President Granger, in particular, is sending a clear message that the highest court of the land will have to rule definitively to ensure the supremacy of the Guyana Constitution.

The CCJ will have to give clear directives on the way forward! This is because President Granger is playing delayed compliance on one hand, while the members of his cabal are behaving as if all things are smooth and normal. The Prime Minister and other senior Government Ministers have publicly called for war and have expressed a total disrespect for the CCJ rulings. It is imperative, therefore, that Guyanese mobilise and start a massive protest to convey the unacceptability of this wanton disobedience.

The PNC/APNU/AFC must not be allowed to bully Guyanese. The progressive leaders, labour unions, civil society, Private Sector businesses, churches, and students must now fix a date and march and resist this illegal unconstitutional regime. Guyanese, we need to get up and struggle and demand that we get free and fair elections now.

Where is Caricom? Now that the CCJ has ruled, it is necessary to know what is the position of Caricom in respect to this illegal and unconstitutional APNU/AFC Government.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

NACTA: Crime takes a toll on nation Guyana trails far behind every other nation on the list.

Recall that when the 2 per cent royalty was agreed, we had just discovered oil and have still not produced a drop. So, we see that being a proven producer is key. Guyana’s exploration success certainly merits a rise in royalty rates, but I think we must proceed with the goal of establishing a track record as a reliable producer.

Think what we may about whether the original 2 per cent royalty our Government negotiated was appropriate, we Guyanese made a commitment in the eyes of the international business community. That commitment has spurred companies like ExxonMobil, Total, Tullow and Hess to invest heavily in further exploration which has driven our value ever higher.

Our officials and the Department of Energy have the leverage now – let us push them to drive a hard bargain on our future contracts. But let us also be aware that reneging on our old contracts may serve to unravel our appeal to those same future investors. If that is the route we choose, then so be it. But we must consider context, not potentially misleading facts and figures.

Sincerely, Donald Singh

Dear Editor, According to the findings of the latest opinion poll conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA), crime is the main concern among virtually every person in the country. The fear of becoming a victim of crime is taking a toll on people with almost everyone saying do not feel safe in their home or in the street or at public places or even at place of employment. There is widespread disillusionment with the government’s handling of the crime wave even among supporters of the coalition government with many saying the government needs to step up its activism against violent criminals.

The poll, conducted over the last week, randomly interviewed respondents to reflect the demographics of the population, on current issues and favorability (likeability) ratings of several politicians including potential or approved Presidential nominees. The poll was conducted by this writer, Vishnu Bisram.

According to the findings of the poll, people are deeply troubled by crime, poor governance, corruption, rising cost of living, economy, political instability, and perceived racism, among other concerns. But their immediate priority is their personal safety from runaway crime. Many say the crime situation transcends politics and that politicians, political parties, and everyone, regardless of political affiliation, should work together to find a solution to the rising crime rate because crime affect sup-

porters of all parties.

Almost everyone expresses a fear for their personal safety with some describing Guyana as a failed state and expressing a wish for a visa to migrate permanently. Business people in particular are worried about the impact of crime on business and express a fear they could become the next victim of a violent robbery as happened to so many business persons. Everyone expresses sympathy and shares a concern for the latest East Coast robbery (cambio) shooting victims. They urge the government to find the killers and bring them to justice. They say much work is needed to transform the police into an effective force to combat spiraling crime. They also call on the government to take tougher actions to arrest or deter criminal lawlessness in the society.

Respondents were asked about the contracts with oil companies. A large majority is not supportive of the current contract arrangement with oil companies in exploiting the country’s large reservoir of oil. They feel that the contract with Exxon/Mobile and other oil companies should be re-negotiated for improved terms of conditions that give Guyana more revenues. Some even say Guyana will not benefit from oil and that the natural resource should remain where it is.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram (PhD)

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Foundation

By Tracy S Hutchinson, PhD

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By Pam Myers, BSEd

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ummer camp can be an excellent opportunity for children and teens to grow and develop. While at camp they learn to be more independent and build self-confidence. It’s a chance to improve social skills, learn about nature, enhance sports skills, and learn cooperation and responsibility while having fun engaging in active outdoor activities.

A child may be asking to go to an overnight camp, and you may wonder if they’re truly ready.

Perhaps you never attended camp when you were a child, so you don’t have a frame of reference. You may not know how to determine your child’s readiness. Here are some ideas to help you to make that decision.

Take your cue from your children. In many cases, they’re able to determine their readiness before a parent can. If they’re interested, they just might be prepared to take on this new adventure!

Has your child spent the night with a friend or relative before? Children who have been away from their parents before are more likely to be good candidates for an overnight camp experience. However, if this is your child’s first overnight camp, see if any of their friends are also attending so they’ll be less likely to experience problems.

How responsible is your child? Can they keep track of their belongings and wash their clothes if they’re going to be away for several weeks? Are they capable of using camp money to purchase things they need rather than candy or other junk food?

Each child is an individual. Even if you were eager to go to overnight camp at nine years old, that doesn’t necessarily mean your child will when they turn the same age. If they’re uncomfortable spending one night at a friend’s house without calling you, then they aren’t quite ready for overnight camp.

Is your child comfortable seeking help from other adults or authority figures if you’re not around? Children who are still attached to their parents often want help only from those with whom they are comfortable. A child with this tendency may need more time before going to overnight camp.

Picky eaters may also have difficulty with overnights.

The staff may prepare special meals for a child with allergies or religious beliefs, which limits what they can eat. However, they’re not likely to make a special meal for a child simply because they don’t like what’s served.

If you ask other parents how they could tell if their child was ready for overnight camp, you’ll likely get different answers. When it comes to staying overnight, you’re the best person to determine if your child is prepared. Read the following tips to help guide you, but then ultimately trust your child to know if they’re ready or not.

Even though it’s not yet summer break, before you know it, school will be out, and your children will be looking for things to do.

What to consider before you make a camp selection

What do you need to consider when searching for a summer camp?

Cost. If the camp costs more than you can afford, it may not be a good choice this year.

Location. Local camps may be the best choice if your child has never been away from home – they’re often less expensive, too.

Staff. This is probably one of the most important aspects to consider. Is the camp director trained? What is the ratio of staff members to campers? How does the organisation hire counsellors and what type of training is required?

How do the camp counsellors interact with the campers?

Activities. Be sure to get your child’s input. Since they’re the ones who’ll be attending the camp, you’ll want to choose one which offers activities your child will enjoy.

If you find one which offers activities your child enjoys, and it’s within your budget, write down the information to compare it with others.

Facility. If possible, go to the camp before you make your decision to check out the facilities. Are they well maintained? How many children will be in each dormitory or cabin?

If you aren’t able to visit the facility, you may want to scour their website if possible. Quite often a website will answer any questions you might have, contain photographs, menus, and schedules. Some will also offer a virtual tour and map to get a better idea of the surroundings.

The above tips on how to choose the right summer camp for your child are the minimum to consider. Take your time comparing camps, and you’re sure to find one that meets your child’s needs. Once you have made a selection, get the necessary paperwork so you can secure your child’s spot. (Excerpt from childdevelopmentinfo.com)

lients are often unaware of the effects of their childhood. In my practice, many report that they had a “good childhood” only to discover that they endured stressful or even toxic events as children. Often, what happened to them many years ago is why they are seeking counselling today.

These stressful events, referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) include divorce, parental separation, alcoholism in the home, and physical and emotional abuse, among others. In the first revealing landmark study two decades ago, researchers were dismayed at both the prevalence and the profound impact of stressful childhoods on physical and mental health in adulthood (Anda & Felitti, 1998).

Historically, the impacts of childhood trauma have been unrecognised in the psychiatric community.

Van der Kolk (2015) "Children’s called this a “hidden epidemic” and has exposure advocated for the new diagnosis of to Adverse Developmental Trauma Disorder Childhood in the most recent iteration of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Experiences of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). He asserted is the greatest that the myriad of diagnoses assigned unaddressed to both adults and children are in fact public health based on the impact of toxic or stressful childhoods.

In addition, research threat of our has shown that not only do these time” — traumatic childhood experiences have Robert Block, a profound effect, but they are also American extremely common.

For example, these experiences are found across Academy of socioeconomic status. The majority Pediatrics. of our criminal justice population has histories of childhood abuse and neglect.

However, this epidemic does not discriminate: Research supports that ACES are quite common among all races and socioeconomic classes, including in white and middle/upper-middleclass upbringings. Regardless of those affected, the evidence is clear: Increased ACES or stressful childhood events have pervasive and long-lasting consequences into adulthood that impact several areas of functioning.

Long-term effects Researchers have studied the impact of ACES and have found that these experiences can cause a lifetime of mental and physical health consequences. These include not being able to sleep soundly as an adult, difficulty concentrating, increased depression, anxiety, and eating disorders in adulthood. Higher ACES scores are linked to adult physical health issues such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and skeletal fractures. Behavioural consequences include increased adult suicidal ideation, sexual

promiscuity, relationship problems, and alcohol or substance abuse.

How could these events have such long-term consequences on both mental and physical health? A possible explanation is derived from the field of neuroscience, positing that stressful childhoods and early maltreatment have effects on brain development.

Impact on brain development The field of neuroscience helps explain brain dysregulation in childhood. The more stressful events in childhood, the higher correlation to potential structural changes within the brain.

For example, research supports that stressful childhoods are correlated with changes in the prefrontal cortices and the amygdala.

These changes can perpetuate reactive and irrational responses.

Further, the thalamus and anterior cingulate cortex – areas responsible for emotional control and regulation – may also be affected regions of the brain. Additionally, Poletti and colleagues (2016) found that stress can cause changes in the hippocampus and that trauma histories are associated with decreased hippocampal volume. Mental health disorders associated with decreased hippocampal volume include bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.

What are ACES risk factors?

Emotional abuse (verbal conflict, belittling, berating, fighting, name calling) Parental separation or divorce Alcoholism within the household Mental illness in the household (including a narcissistic parent) Intimate partner violence Mother treated violently Physical abuse/neglect Sexual abuse Chronic medical issues/procedures Psychotherapy, counselling, and traditional talk therapy may help both children and adults address their childhood trauma. Other therapies that may help "rewire the brain" include Neurofeedback and EMDR (Eye movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). It is vital to find a trauma-based therapist who can help tailor a treatment plan appropriate for the client and their unique circumstances and history. This may also include other therapies that help with emotional dysregulation, such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) or Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). (psychologytoday.com)

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SUnDAY, JUly 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

House-to-House registration

Compressed timeframe can achieve objectives – senior GECOM official

…says dialogue should determine way forward …Christmas Day deadline impractical

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tatements from officials that elections can only be conducted after Christmas Day should be taken with a grain of salt. This is according to a senior Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) official, who, however, noted the importance of dialogue between the Opposition – People’s Progressive Party – and the Government to find a solution.

According to the official, the call for House-to-House Registration needing to take at least five months, when elections is already months overdue, cannot be taken seriously.

The December 25 timeline was first put forward

by GECOM lawyer Stanley Marcus to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) during a post-judgement hearing a few weeks ago. What is needed, the senior official said, is for GECOM to compress its activities to ensure everyone

is satisfied with the process.

“I think it’s [important] to have a list you can trust. The question is whether this list is good enough or not. [We] can do an election, I would imagine, in a shorter time than what I hear people peddling about December 25,” the official said.

“I think the lawyer may have been saying that facetiously,” the official added. “I don’t think he said it with any conviction. So, perhaps the two parties can discuss how we can shorten the period of House-to-House Registration and then, subsequent to that, a two weeks’ Claims and Objections and we have the elections pretty early.”

While this is the practical course of action, the official expressed concern that political persons are pushing agendas that are counterproductive to dialogue and compromise. And these voices, the official said, are drown-

ing out the smaller voices of reason.

Elections

Last month, the CCJ ruled that the No-Confidence Motion of December 21, 2019, was validly passed against the Government. It also ruled that Alliance For Change (AFC) defector, Charrandas Persaud was entitled to vote against his party list and that even as a dual citizen, his vote was still valid.

On the matter of then GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson, the court ruled that not only was his appointment unconstitutional, but the President ought to have given the Opposition Leader an explanation as to why consecutive lists of nominees were being rejected. Patterson has since resigned, igniting dialogue between President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to select his replacement.

But regardless of what the CCJ ruled, the coalition Government has been blatant in its disregard for the court and has said that it is not prepared to call elections unless House-toHouse Registration is carried out.

Protests from PPP supporters for an election date to be set by the President Registration is caAccording to Section 6 who are disabled). The same tered for under Section 6 of the National Registration (A) of the Amendments, holds true for the next (and Act Cap 19:08, with the in- “the Elections Commission last) time House-to-House tent of having those 14 and shall use the Official List Registration would be done, over included on the National of Electors from the 2001 which was in 2008. and Regional The Opposition has conRegister of Registrants. But General on August 4, 2005, then Elections as the base to com- sistently argued that HousePresident Bharrat Jagdeo as- mence continuing registra- to-House is nothing more than a delaying ploy and sented to amendments of the tion.”

This meant that persons have noted that Claims and Act by including provisions not on the 2001 Official List Objections are the way to for Continuous Registration.

These amendments were of Electors were legally re- go, even protesting for the in keeping with an inter- quired to visit registration President to set an election national push away from offices in their respective date on Friday. The CCJ House-to-House Registration registration areas to apply meets on July 12 to hand and towards Continuous to be included on the list down consequential orders Registration as the more ef- (though it is understood that on exactly what must be done fective method of registering GECOM officers would usu- to ensure the Constitution is ally visit the homes of those followed. voters.

Ogle-Diamond bypass road

India’s Govt willing to fund additional cost – diplomat

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here is a possibility that the Indian Government would provide the additional funding that will be needed to construct the much anticipated East Coast-East Bank Demerara Bypass Road.

Back in 2016, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had signed a US$50 million loan with the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India for the construction of road, which will provide an alternative route connecting the East Coast of Demerara at Ogle to

the East Bank at Diamond.

The preliminary cost of the project was pegged at US$104 million. However when he presented the 2019 budget last year, the Finance Minister revealed that the projected cost is some US$120 million and as such, Guyana will either have to approach its bilateral partner for more funds or just await revenues from the impending oil and gas sector.

However, former Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Venekatachalam

Former Indian High Commissioner Venekatachalam Mahalingam

Mahalingam recently told Guyana Times that his Government could come up with the extra funds but there will have to be a formal proposal from the Guyana Government.

“There had been informal discussions between the Government of Guyana and the Indian High Commission a couple of times. I have also flagged this issue to my government and I don’t think there will a problem to get additional finances from the government of India because

we wouldn’t want to leave the road halfway,” he stated.

Mahalingam, who wrapped up a five-year tour in Guyana last month, explained that with the oil revenues that are expected to be streaming in after oil production commences early next year, getting additionally money is more likely.

“I’m also going to tell my successor (Dr. K. J. Srinivasa) that this might happen and we should look at it positively to finance the extra cost so that whole road is

financed by the Government of India,” the former High Commissioner noted.

Since the Indian Government is funding the project, it is required that the contracts be awarded to companies from that country and as such, a 10-month design consultancy project was awarded to India-based RITES Limited. The consultants have submitted a Detailed Project Report detailing the draft final design of the bypass road. turn to page 12

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SUnDAY, JUly 7, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Jailhouse rock... …for Winston Jordan Four years ago, just as the PNC-led coalition sidled into office and made Winston Jordan – up to then just a backroom numbers cruncher in the Budget Office – the High Court ordered a US$2.4M award against the Government to a Trinidadian engineering firm, DIPCON, for road construction they’d done. The Appellate Court and the CCJ both affirmed the judgement— the Parliament had allocated the monies but Jordan refused to sign off. Sounds familiar?? Yup!! That’s the PNC way!!

But DIPCON brought a Contempt Motion against Jordan for disobeying the Courts’ order which was approved by the High Court, who ordered him to be jailed for 21 days. Acting in (PNC) character, Jordan appealed to the Appellate Court through the inimitably incompetent Basil Williams and they affirmed the jail sentence which is to begin tomorrow!! So are they going to Appeal to the CCJ? Your Eyewitness thinks not. After all, Williams argued that Minister Jordan was “the Government”, and as such couldn’t, be sued.

But if the CCJ rules in Jordan’s favour on this ground, then the entire GOVERNMENT would have to resign. After all, they’d already ruled that the President and Cabinet (of ministers) stand resigned, but the GOVERNMENT continues until the next elections. So if ministers are the Government, then the latter will also have to go!! So, it looks like Jordan will be outfitted with an orange jumpsuit and headed for Lot 12, Camp St!!

Moses Nagamootoo claimed when Jordan called for “War Break” at Bartica, he was doing a cover of Bob Marley’s “War” – which had recently been done by Simona “I is” Broomes!! So the Police hadn’t hauled in Jordan for “incendiary” and “inciting” language as they did Jagdeo.

Jordan should now know that karma’s a bitch!! But he’s from the generation that knew “the King” Elvis Presley very well so might as well brush up on “Jailhouse Rock”.

Your Eyewitness will nudge his memory: <<<“The warden threw a party in the county jail. The prison band was there and they began to wail. The band was jumpin’ and the joint began to swing. You should’ve heard those knocked out jailbirds sing… let’s rock everybody, let’s rock.

Everybody in the whole cell block... was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock. Number 47 said to Number 3, ‘You’re the cutest jailbird I ever did see,’”>>> Jordan looks like the kinda fella who’d be a cute Number 3 to some burly Number 47!!

But seriously folks, Jordan’s behaviour to the Courts is a reflexive reaction of what’s been inculcated into all members of the PNC ever since Burnham flew their flag over the Appellate Court – then our highest Court.

The Courts must be subservient to them. …for the Govt??

Basil Williams’ argument why Minister Jordan shouldn’t be jailed is very revealing since it explained why they don’t give a damn about the CCJ’s rulings up to now: “Governments” can’t be jailed. And that’s why, even though the CCJ ruled that in accordance with Art 106 (6) the Cabinet and President stand resigned, Granger and his merry band of ministers have been blithely meeting and making all sorts of decisions!!

And it’s why Guyana has to be very sceptical of returning any PNC-dominated grouping into power. In our Westminster-type parliamentary Government, the Executive President already dominates and controls the legislature through his hand-appointed ministers sitting there and also the rest of the MP’s selected through his grace from the list of candidates. They would rarely buck the President since they’re all hoping to remain in his good books. Charandass was an outlier.

The Judiciary is therefore the only barrier to full-fledged dictatorships. The PNC’s attitude towards the latter makes them a clear and present danger to democracy here.

Forewarned is forearmed!! …for Trotman Back in 2016, your Eyewitness thought Raphael Trotman was merely incompetent, being ignorant of the oil industry and yet going solo to negotiate with Exxon’s lawyers. But with the evidence that’s surfaced since, a CoI should investigate him!

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

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SUnDAY, JUly 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Aurora Gold Mine workers

Labour Department promises fast-tracked unionisation for NMWU – Union President …says it was not invited to upcoming meeting

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he National Mine Workers’ Union is the unofficial representative of workers from the Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) and after many calls for unionisation from employees, the Labour Department has promised a fast-tracked process to guarantee this.

President of the National Mine Workers’ Union, Sherwyn Downer told Guyana Times on Saturday that the union is pleased with this accomplishment, judging from the fact that the Guyana Goldfields Inc demonstrated resistance in the beginning.

Over 200 workers had downed their tools and initiated strike actions last Tuesday, after calls mounted for them to be officially represented by a union and other improved working conditions and wages.

Downer stated that after meeting with officials from the Labour Department, they were able to ensure that none of the workers lost their jobs and an expedited application

President of the National Mine Workers’ Union, Sherwyn Downer

procedure.

The Union representative clarified that while reports surfaced that they were invited to the upcoming meeting on Monday with the workers and Government officials to iron out pertinent issues, this is fallacious.

“The company announced that they have agreed to dialogue with the Ministry and

One-year delay

Mabaruma solar now being retrofitted

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The Mabaruma solar farm facilities

he Mabaruma solar farm in Region One (Barima-Waini), which was supposed to have been commissioned last year and provide 17 hours of electricity for residents, is now being retrofitted with batteries to store energy.

This is according to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson when asked about the project recently. Patterson informed this publication that once these works are completed, the solar farm, which reportedly costs over $250 million, should be operational.

When asked for a timeframe for the project’s completion, Patterson did not give a specified date. The minister would only say that retrofitting of the solar farm would be completed at any moment.

“The Mabaruma solar farm, they’re putting in some extra, additional batteries. So as soon as that’s in, we’re 100 per cent up and running. It should be completed anytime now, I should think,” he added.

Solar farms use photovoltaic panels to acquire energy through direct sunlight, which is then converted into clean, green electricity. In cases where weather patterns do not guarantee a steady supply of sun, batteries are installed to store electricity for back up distribution.

There had previously been some confusion about the Mabaruma project with Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley revealing that the farm will not generate the energy its being hyped up to generate. turn to page 14

the workers’ representative.

The officials are going in there on Monday. Now, we have not been invited. It is not fitting well with my members and the workers are now demanding that I come into the delegation on Monday. They have said that they are willing to [go] back on strike again because they are demanding my presence. Meeting out there is not enough,” Downer said.

Downer stated that the Department of Labour has announced intentions of conducting a poll to determine if the NMWU is capable of representing the employees. This has created unrest among them since it points to the existence of another Union body.

“This morning (Saturday), the Minister is quoted as saying that they have to conduct a poll. Now a poll means that you have more than one union contesting. In this case, there is no other union there.

So to say that you’re going in there to conduct a poll, it

is raising eyebrows and the workers themselves is asking now ‘where is this other union coming from’ because they’re indicating that it is more than one union,” he asserted.

According to him, a survey is needed to ensure that they can garner 40 per cent or more of the workers’ support and he is confident that this can be achieved.

“Using the words ‘poll’ and ‘survey’ is two different things. A survey will determine if we have more than 40 per cent at Aurora and we have more than that.”

One of the workers contacted this publication, stating that clarity is needed on these issues. He stated that by not inviting their representative and conducting a ‘poll’, it is seen as a means to “smuggle” another union to represent them.

During the strike, the workers had claimed that they were threatened with having their Wi-Fi cut off which is vital to ensure

Some of the workers protesting at Aurora Gold Mine

communication from their Cuyuni-Mazaruni location to the coast. They are demanding better wages, better quality food and laundry services, out of town allowance, missing NIS contributions among others.

On Friday the Canadian

company indicated that persons are returning to work on a phased approach and it is anticipated that full production will resume shortly.

Three days without production has resulted in an estimated 22,500 ounces of unprocessed ore.

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SUnDAY, JUly 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Roger Khan will be treated like Bandits shoot, rob Essequibo Coast man any other deportee – Crime Chief

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truck owner of Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), was on Friday robbed and shot just outside his house by a lone bandit, who managed to escape.

According to reports, Omadatt Singh had returned home at about 07:45h after transporting coconuts and was standing outside his house when he heard a loud explosion but later realised that it was a gunshot which injured his leg.

Shortly after, several gunshots were fired and the suspect then approached Singh at gunpoint, demanding a 120-pennyweight gold chain that he was wearing.

Singh explained that the man was dressed in a

Omadatt Singh

black shirt, grey short pants and a black leather hoodie.

Fearing for his life, he handed over the piece of jewellery that has an estimated worth of $1 million. The suspect then rushed out of the yard and fled the scene.

A report was filed and Police arrived shortly after, collecting three spent shells and a matching 9mm gun.

The victim received medical treatment and investigations are continuing.

haheed “Roger” Khan, who was convicted of smuggling drugs and sentenced in 2009 to serve 15 years in a United States prison, is expected to be deported to Guyana on Monday.

However, while there is much speculation on what investigations the Guyana Police Force may want to carry out, the Force is making preparations but is not ready to announce them.

This is according to Crime Chief (ag), Michael Kingston, who made that disclosure during an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday.

“Well, there is a plan but I don’t think we are prepared to disclose it at this point. Mr Khan will be treated like any other deportee that has been sent back to Guyana. That is, being escorted from the airport to the CID headquarters – that is the process,” Kingston told this publication.

Although tight-lipped about what could be expected once Khan arrives at these

Shaheed “Roger” Khan

shores, Kingston stated that while there will be no “special” treatment meted out to him, adding that the police have work to do.

“Whatever matters, allegations have been made against him, those will be investigated. He will [be] treated like every other deportee that is being deported from the States. All deportees coming in normally are escorted to CID headquarters,” the Crime Chief (ag) added.

However, Commissioner of Police, Leslie James when approached about the topic of Khan’s deportation to

Guyana on Saturday also told this publication that there is “nothing special about Roger Khan”.

“There is nothing special about this. He has served his time overseas already, hasn’t he? There is nothing special about Mr Khan.”

In March, Khan had filed a petition which he had prepared himself for early release from the US prison, pursuant to good-time credit acquired under the First Step Act (Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act) – which revises sentencing laws and expands re-entry and early release programmes.

He challenged the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) failure to properly calculate and award his good-conduct credit and as such, filed an emergency petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which is a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially turn to page 15

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Clothes vendor killed during suspected robbery The anatomy of power in Guyana (Part 2)

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ast week, we discussed the difference between “authority” – which an elected Government gets – and “power”, which depends on the latter’s control of the coercive arms of the state: the army, Police, bureaucracy etc., and certain groups within a society which can exercise “disruptive power”. We posited that in and out of office, the PNC controlled these institutions and it is why there were no effective protests following the firing of 7000 sugar workers, and with the refusal to accept the consequences of the NCM. The second part of the 1993 piece follows: “A second set of resources, which may confer power on individuals or groups, is “economic”; in fact some, noticeably Marxists, maintain that the holders of economic power ultimately control even the State. Be that as it may, there is another widespread perception that “Indians own everything” and thus also have economic power Ravi Dev to buttress the political they recently captured.

This myth is so pervasive that even some Indians believe it. Now firstly, it has been demonstrated that most Indian businesses are in petty retailing, small-scale rice farming, and the independent professions. They were forced into these sectors when the State sector was closed off to them during their historic movement out of the sugar plantations. It is a myth that Africans do not own businesses – it is just that the Indian is more dominant in the more visible small mom-andpop operations that demand huge inputs of time. Secondly, even if all these businesses were combined, their total worth would not equal the value of African-Guyanese controlled corporations. Control of assets is even more beneficial than ownership since one has all the benefits of, but none of the headaches from, the latter. Thirdly, the ownership being so diffuse, the Indian-Guyanese businesses cannot act in concert, as do the other economic entities that actually dominate the economy. Fourthly, and lastly, because of the size and intrusiveness of the State, even the Indian Guyanese businesses that are significant only exist at the sufferance of the real power holders and most of them are reduced to offering bribes to survive.

Nkrumah’s dictum was thus fulfilled in Guyana for African Guyanese: “Seek ye first the political Kingdom and all else will be added unto it.” Indian businessmen may have some influence in some instances, and over some people, but this is totally different from power. With influence, one depends totally on the other acquiescing on his own, without the “influential” party having the ultimate sanction of force, which a true power holder possesses.

However, there is another base of power that is not apparent to most commentators and observers; and this one is certainly not in the hands of either the PPP or IndianGuyanese. This is the hegemonic power of the group(s) that control the major socialization institutions of the country – the churches, the schools, the media, especially the newspapers etc. This group basically controls what the populace or the Government will or will not put on the agenda, by defining for all of us what we should consider to be the important issues we ought to discuss and debate, much less decide upon. This group even determines the Government’s agenda but does not ever have to face the inevitable resistances and rebellions that State coercive and private economic power, engender.

With their subtle control of these “cultural institutions”, they actually manipulate us to do what they want, against our own interests if necessary. When Indian Guyanese complain of racial discrimination in hiring 16 African Guyanese PS out of 17, they were dubbed “racists”. But with most being oblivious to this reality, this group has the best of both worlds. The rapist has convinced the raped that the latter actually enjoyed the rape and it was even for his/her own good.

The point is that as one may believe them to be. It thus behoves all of us to ferret out the power relations in our society so that we may truly discern who really controls us – who really has power. For those of us who do not have it but think we do, we would be saved from potentially disastrous initiatives. For those of us who do not have it but realise we do not, it points the way for the implementation of a program to ensure an equitable distribution in the power relations of Guyana for all groups.

After all this is the goal of all well-meaning Guyanese isn’t it?”

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he excitement of an overseas-based son visiting home was short-lived for the relatives of 36-year-old Leon Hescott, after he was fatally shot and killed during a suspected robbery at Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, on Friday evening.

Hescott called “Dudu” was shot at about 19:00h in an abandoned yard near his La Penitence, Georgetown house. The clothes vendor had recently returned from French Guiana and according to relatives, he was here to renovate his father’s house at Lot 155 Middle Road, La Penitence.

When Guyana Times visited the home of Wilfred Thomas, the dead man’s father, he explained that he had just returned home from a day’s work when a grandson informed him of the shooting. He further relat-

Dead: Leon Hescott

ed that upon arrival at the scene, which is not too far away from where he lives, he saw his son’s bloody body lying lifeless.

“When I come home, my grandson come and tell

me they shot up Dudu just now out there.

By time I left and go there I see my son lying down now bleeding from his head, because they shot him in his head…anyhow he had a friend there and he tek he money and keep it, he de come back fuh build this house so somebody had to [do] duh fuh get the money,” Thomas said.

The grieving father explained that it is hard to lose a child, adding that his son is married and has three children. The father also claimed that his son does not

have a criminal record, but Police records showed that Hescott was charged in 2007 for robbing a Belgium dealer of $90 million worth of diamonds. Reports from 2007 had stated that on March 2, 2007, Hescott along with another, while armed with a gun, had robbed Karim De Toledo of $90 million in diamonds and $350,000. It was alleged that the diamond dealer was about to enter a restaurant in Kitty, Georgetown, when the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, Hescott’s sister told Police that at about 15:00h, her brother left the house with a sum of foreign currency. She said she later received information that he was shot and robbed.

A suspect has since been taken into custody as Police continue their investigations.

12 news Bandits rob, shoot security guard A SUnDAY, JUly 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

60-year-old man of Independence Boulevard, Georgetown was on Saturday morning robbed and shot in front of his home, shortly after returning from a night shift.

According to reports, the incident occurred at about 05:45h at Lot 239 Independence Boulevard, La Penitance.

Keith Canzius, a security guard, was just about to open his gate after arriving home, when he was pounced upon by Keith Canzius’s house where two males, one of whom was the robbery occurred armed with a gun. A scuffle enHowever, when sued and he was shot once to the left side of Guyana Times his chest. visited the vicWhen this publication arrived at the scene, tim’s home, a Canzius said he saw the duo on a bicycle just spent shell was The spent warhead minutes before the incident but dismissed any still present at at the scene ideas that they were about to rob him. the scene.

However, as he attempted to enter the The suspects yard, the suspects charged at him, removing escaped with $6000 and a bracelet valued at money from his pocket and a bracelet. One of $90,000. The victim recalled that they wore men, he recalled demanded that he hand over hoodies to hide their faces. a phone but he tossed it over the fence. After According to Canzius, the crime rate has that, the bandits quickly made their escape been growing in his community and other famon the said bicycle and fired one shot which ily members have been robbed. Just recently, caught him near his chest. a nephew was the victim of a similar incident, “I spin around and the other one on the allegedly by the same persons. He stated that bike saying to ‘take he phone’ so I throw the their method of operation is during the mornphone in the yard. We had a scuffle and they ing and afternoon hours. ride away and the other one shoot me,” the in“They rob my nephew and two other boys jured man explained. from the area and is the same two. That’s the He rushed to the Georgetown Public time they does rob people – at 6 and 7 ‘o’ clock Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was in the morning and in the afternoon. I glad if treated and discharged. Meanwhile, a report the camera working and the police can pick was filed and Police visited the scene where them up,” Canzius told this publication.

CCTV footage was retrieved for processing.

Ogle-Diamond bypass road

India’s Govt willing to...

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson told the National Assembly in May that the project is turning out to be much of a bigger scale than previously envisioned.

“What was previously envisaged when the loan was taken was a single road linking house lot developments (but) what has been designed and is being reviewed at the moment is a dual carriageway, which is not just for linking house lots; it is actually an additional new entry way into the city. So it’s is new bypass road (design), so therefore it is vastly improved than what was initially perceived,” Patterson had told the Committee of Supply as he successful sought additional funds.

The Minister requested an additional $67.410 million to cover payments for consultancy services provided by the Indian firm as well as to carryout preparatory works on the route earmarked for the new bypass road. He explained that along the area identified for the new link road, there is a ‘swampy’ section and part of the monies sought will be injected into clearing that area.

“The surveyors would have walked the entire length from the East Coast all the way the pass Diamond and Grove (on the East Bank) and then encountered a swampy section of about 30 acres of swamp land. So as we have the time now, we want to drain that so that by the time we start construction – hopefully very shortly – it will be drained and ready to have the road (works started)... The scope of the works is obviously enormous… (and) the more we can do upfront will make the project far easier when we do come to full implementation,” Patterson explained.

When the final design is approved by government, the project will go to tend for a contractor, which will also be an Indian firm.

This Diamond-Ogle Bypass project will see some 26 kilometers of road constructed, linking two of the country’s main thoroughfare. This new road link will also be connected to key communities in Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara. These in-

from page 7

clude Diamond, Mocha, Eccles – all on the East Bank – and Aubrey Barker Road in Georgetown.

Technical Services Manager attached to the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Nigel Erskine, had previously explained to the Guyana Times that the road will be a four lane main alignment with a 40 metres reserve in the middle. According to Erskine, government is looking, sometime in the future, to use the reserve in the middle for a rapid rail that would run from the Timehri airport to Ogle in a short span of time.

This was confirmed by Finance Minister Winston Jordan bank in March. “[The bypass road] is being designed to cater for a rail system in the middle so we don’t have to break up the road if want to go down a railway [system in the future] and with the kind of resources we expect from oil and so on, a high speed railway will become a reality of getting from Georgetown or East Coast straight to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport,” Jordan had stated.

Furthermore, plans are also afoot for major developmental projects along the new road including housing schemes and commercial outlets. Meanwhile, the Coalition government has indicated its intention of extending the bypass road from Diamond all the way to the CJIA in Timehri. This extension will come under a second phase of the project. Erskine had revealed that sometime this year, the Public Infrastructure Ministry is hoping to move ahead with the design consultancy process.

In an effort to reduce traffic congestion for commuters on the East Bank of Demerara, which leads to the country’s main point of entry – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the previous People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) regime initiated the bypass road project to link the East Coast to East Bank and subsequently sought funding from the Indian Government before leaving office in 2015.

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SUnDAY, JUly 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Perseverance residents complain of crumbling Govt-built houses

Some of the houses at Perseverance, Providence, East Bank Demerara

S

everal persons who obtained a home through the Government’s housing initiative in Perseverance, Providence, East Bank Demerara, are complaining of faulty foundation works and leaking roofs among other things.

On Saturday, Guyana Times visited the area where some residents said they have been waiting sev-

possible.

Another resident, who also lives in the area, complained that his window frames are falling off and he is fearful for his safety.

He said his home was visited by a contractor about two weeks ago, who promised to fix the default but showed up informing him that he had “run out” of materials.

Richard Coddet, anoth-

effort to rectify the faults.

However, he believed that not much could have been done. He said he paid $4.9 million for his home. “They made an effort but the thing about it is that some of the works it seems like if there is not much you could have done. It’s a concrete home so they would have probably had to do a lot a lot of breaking because some of

eral months for contractors to rectify the faulty works, some of which they were forced to fix themselves owing to the long delay.

One resident told this publication that persons would have complained to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) several months ago and despite commitment to rectify the issue, they are now fearful that the one year defect/liability period will expire before the issues are remedied.

Seeta Singh explained, “Some of the issues we have is with the ceiling. I don’t know if there is a leakage with the zinc in between but the ceiling is swollen and the ply board is falling off inside and out”.

According to Singh, her husband had visited the CH&PA’s office before, where the family was told to pen their concerns in a letter and attach photographs of the works to be redone.

However, the woman said she had requested the agency’s personnel to visit their home since the camera is unable to capture the ceiling defects.

In total, the woman said she paid $8 million for her home and would like the works to be done as early as

er resident in the area, told this publication that he had been living in his home for about three years now and is still experiencing troubles because of faulty foundation and roof works. “From the inception when we got this home, we encountered a lot a lot of problems but at the end of the day, overall, we are grateful because we are happy to have a home. We had leaks, we had cracks, we still have cracks and the house seems to be sinking because of the foundation,” he explained.

Coddet noted that some Government contractors had visited his home in an

the works were so bad,” the resident criticised.

He added that because he could not wait on depend on the Government to fix his roof, he took on the additional expense of having it rectified, given that his elderly relatives live with him.

Meanwhile, another resident who is renting one of the homes shared her concerns. Janel Blue told Guyana Times that she applied for land several years ago; however, she was allegedly told she had to “know someone” before she got “lucky”. Furthermore, the tenant said, “How come these house is low-income

house and when you go in they only got $8 million, $9 million for sale? We put in for low-income so I don’t know what they really doing,” Blue explained.

Last month, the newly appointed Minister within the Communities Ministry, Annette Ferguson, visited the Housing Scheme where she had a first-hand look at the flawed buildings.

She admitted that there were some issues with flooring, leaking roofs, and toi-

let facilities and committed to having them addressed if they were still in the liability period.

Government had paused the distribution of lands and had instead embarked on an initiative which forced Guyanese into buying prebuilt houses.

This newspaper understands that not many persons are comfortable with the idea of purchasing the houses, as they prefer to oversee the construction

process of their own homes for various reasons.

Under the previous administration, over 100,000 house lots were distributed and over 200 core houses were made available to underprivileged families, while a programme for professional groups provided 200 teachers, nurses and Policemen with fast-track access to loans for home construction.

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SUnDAY, JUly 7, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana needs 500 more nurses – Public Health Minister

W

ith the need for adequate and quality healthcare becoming more crucial, the need for more skilled human resources to deliver these much-needed services to individuals increases.

It was since revealed that the country’s Public Health Sector currently lacks some 550 trained nurses to better distribute medical care at health facilities throughout the country. This disclosure was made by Public Health

Minister Volda Lawrence who presented the feature address at the opening ceremony of the second Nurses’ Training Annex located at the Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.

Minister Lawrence underscored that the statistics were revealed to her by Chief Nursing Officer Linda Johnson; nevertheless, Lawrence noted that the second annex will fill the gaps.

“We envisage that this

Annex II will certainly boost our capacity to provide more training and enable the development of a competent workforce to fill the gaps and eliminate our deficiencies,” she explained.

This new facility falls directly under the Public Health Ministry’s Health Science Education Division, as it now complements the existing Georgetown School of Nursing situated at Kingston and contributes to the outputs from the New

Amsterdam and Charles Rosa School of Nursing.

Furthermore, it presently has 90 students enrolled: 88 females and two males, 30 of whom are on the Registered Nursing (RN) Programme and 60 on the Nursing Assistant Programme.

Only in 2018, Minister Lawrence announced plans to increase student intake as Guyana, at the time, needed approximately 1000 nurses— an issue which has reached the level of the

World Health Organisation (WHO).

“We have to do that in order to ensure we can fulfil our requirement. Right now, we need about 1000 nurses in the system. We’re also inviting persons to come into the Ministry. If you’re a retiree, you have a skill to offer and so on, and we can put you at a different level to work within the system,” she told media operatives at a Medex[KM1] programme launch in 2018.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

GRA commences CK series for motorcycles

T

he Licence Revenue Office of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Thursday commenced issuing registration of motorcycles in the ‘CK’ series, having completed the target of 9999 in the ‘CJ’ series.

In a notice published in Guyana Times on Saturday, GRA informed that the ‘CJ’ series had commenced on November 1, 2016.

In addition, the agency informed that the registration of a motorcycle will remain the same $1,000.

Moreover, “Motorists are reminded that registration of a motorcycle requires a completed application form, valid form of identification, original invoice or invoices and other accompanying documents. The cycle must also be presented to the GRA for inspection,” the agency said.

When it comes to cars, Guyana Times was told that Guyanese will soon be able to have customised number plates as GRA is moving to make the adjustment following the end of the ‘PZZ’ series.

According to a source at the GRA, the ‘PXX’ series was a very exhilarating group of letters for many, noting that authorities are yet to decide whether or not

the ‘Y’ series will be used on registration plates before ‘X’.

Whether or not it is used, the source added that officials at GRA have already started exploring customisable number plates.

It was explained that the owners of motor vehicles will be given letters to choose from, while the option of having a name, accompanied by a number on the registration plates will be accessible “at a small cost”.

“It will have specific numbers and letters that you can put … everything is not quite clear as yet because it’s still going through the process through management,” the source revealed.

The option of customisable registration plates is nonetheless certain, the source added.

In the case of the vehicle being transferred and the original owner has their name on the registration plates, the new owner will also have the option of changing the name on the plates, according to the source.

In the meantime, the officials are working on how privately-owned vehicles can be differentiated from vehicles up for hire.

Mabaruma solar now...

In an interview with the Region One Chairman last month, Ashley had explained to this publication that there were challenges with the project that included the storing of the solar energy, among other things.

“We know they have a serious problem with compatibility. We are aware because the generator sets we have were not constructed to deal with the eventuality of having such a project on board.

We’re grateful for the project but we’re concerned that hundreds of millions would have been spent and it will not provide the services it should to the people”.

“Whatever project is being done by Government, any entity within a particular region, the RDC should receive a copy of the contractual agreement and the bills of quantity of that particular project, so we can help in the monitoring of that particular project while it’s being done. But we don’t have any such documentation.

We’re at a loss when it comes to that,” he had also said.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Hinterland Electrification Programme Horace Williams had subsequently revealed in sections

from page 9

of the media that while the project will initially deliver 17 hours of electricity to residents, they are aiming eventually for 24-hour power supply.

During the Turkeyen and Tain talks earlier this year, Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Head Dr Mahender Sharma had revealed to the audience that the project is expected to come on stream by this year end.

“By the end of this year we would have installed more than 5 megawatts of new solar on the rooftops of Government buildings and some hinterland locations and one of our first solar farms in Mabaruma”.

However, Sharma had alluded to the technical challenges that can be faced when looking to harness solar energy.

“Five megawatts is a huge number in just a few years.

But what’s wrong with solar?

It’s not continuous. Your engineers will tell you it’s not dispatchable. Its only there for a few hours and to capture it requires quite a bit of technology. You have to find a way to store it and batteries are a big problem, they are still very expensive,” he had said.

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SUnDAY, JUly 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Food inspectors shut down Bagotville Chinese restaurant Contextualising 2018’s end of year economic performance – further insights

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eaders might recall that in March 2019, this column featured an article that was dedicated towards dissecting the 4.1% GDP growth of 2018. In that article, it was contended that the 4.1% growth for 2018 was attained largely because of the dramatic increases in Government expenditure in comparison to the corresponding period for 2017. It is important to note that while in theory – increases in Government expenditure are usually intended to stimulate growth in the economy. The key understanding that ought to be established in this regard is where these expenditure are allocated. If the expenditure is largely concentrated on unproductive activities such as national events, dietary, other operating expenses, local travel and subsistence, vehicle spare parts and service, and rental of buildings and things like that, then increases in Government spending like these will simply not translate to real developmental growth.

This article therefore builds on that previous analysis to further corroborate the arguments put forward therein.

Further, it was noted that a NASDAQ report carried an ambitious projection of Guyana’s future trajectory largely on account of oil and gas where that report posited that Guyana is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. While some persons, including the politicians on the Government side, seem to have gotten excited with such report and is using it to help politicise their campaign agenda, one ought to understand that the context of that report was merely to highlight the potential that Guyana has – with oil wealth in the equation. Take oil out of the equation – the ordinary Guyanese knows that Guyana has always had huge potential – yet, it has never been able to achieve its full potential after more than 50 years of gaining Independence from British rule. Therefore, it is not to politicise and take such report out of the depths of reality, the true potential of Guyana can only be achieved vis-avis, the political will and leadership, the economic policies we pursue and prudent economic governance – which are lacking.

…find cooking station laden with flies, rodents

U

nsanitary food preparation and handling have resulted in the closure of a Chinese restaurant at Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, after food inspectors conducted an examination of the facility.

Guyana Times understands that the restaurant was visited by inspectors last week, where alarming discoveries were unearthed.

Ingredients and cooked items were stored improperly and the preparation was deemed unfit for consumption. The cooking station was also laden with flies and rodents.

While only one establishment was ordered to close

their operations, other facilities were visited and almost similar conditions were found. Businesses on the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara were given impromptu visits and were asked to improve some operating conditions so as to continue selling cooked food items to the public. In one instance, expired beverages were being marketed to customers.

Just a few weeks ago, a prominent food establishment on Sheriff Street, Georgetown, was forced to close its operations until hygienic standards were met.

In April, Director of the Government Analyst Food

and Drug Department (GAFDD) Marlan Cole explained that restaurants have come under scrutiny for the quality of foods they prepare and sell to locals. As such, a survey was conducted in the capital city.

Although the survey was only conducted on restaurants in Georgetown, he assured that annual inspections would be conducted on all restaurants across the country by the GA-FDD’s health officers in all 10 administrative regions.

Moreover, those officers will also begin investigating if a complaint is made against a food establishment.

Police have “plan” for Roger Khan...

to secure the person’s release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.

The court documents prepared by Khan himself and seen by Guyana Times, state “Comes now, Shaheed Khan, petitioner pro se, and prays this court to expedite this emergency petition for a writ of habeas corpus… because the time required for a normal briefing schedule will result in the incarceration of petitioner beyond the length of sentence he is supposed to serve”.

According to the petition,

Khan wanted the US court to order the BOP to recalculate his good-conduct credit under the First Step Act, which would see him being released earlier than July.

Khan had explained in the emergency petition that the First Step Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump in December 2018 and seeks to ensure that all inmates within the Federal Bureau of Prisons receive the full 54 days of good-conduct credit, since the BOPs’ previous “erroneous interpretation” resulted in inmates only receiving 47 days

per year in actual practice.

However, after several court hearings, the petition was denied.

Khan was sentenced in 2009 to 15 years’ imprisonment after he pled guilty to arms trafficking, drug trafficking, conspiracy and witness tampering. He was nabbed in neighbouring Suriname back in June 2006 after fleeing Guyana.

In October 2015, former US Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway had told local reporters, when asked, that there is a possibility for the Guyana Government to

“The public health officers in the regions would do the inspections at the Chinese restaurants and I believe it’s annual inspections and for the city, it would be done by the City Public Health Department…if there is a complaint, an investigation can be launched,” Cole stated.

According to him, the survey focused on the environmental conditions of the restaurant inclusive of the air and water quality, the sanitation of the restaurants’ surfaces and utensils and more importantly, sanitation of the hands of the workers.

from page 10

access Khan’s testimony in the US courts. He had noted, however, that while there is a process to follow which has high requirements, his country would cooperate if the necessary procedures are followed.

“If the rules and regulations of the agreement are done with Guyana, or we have signed up under the UN or OAS to allow for such a thing, we would be sure to be disposed to cooperating within the framework of the rule of law,” the US Ambassador had stated.

Maintenance worker charged for robbing UG student Turning now to the argument that the GDP was achieved on account of massive increases in Government spending, the Bank of Guyana report for 2018 actually noted that this outturn was driven largely by increases in the construction sector, manufacturing, bauxite, livestock, forestry and other crops. In scrutinizing the 2018 national budget to ascertain where the increases in construction came from, the data in the table above shows that the total Government expenditure for 2018 was $255 billion, 4 per cent less than the projections in the 2018 budget.

In the 2018 budget, it was found that 46.3 per cent or $123.9 billion was allocated to infrastructure and construction driven initiatives such as the rehabilitation, maintenance and construction of roads, bridges, stellings, education infrastructure, health and security infrastructure as well as hinterland roads and other infrastructure. In comparing similar allocations in the 2017 national budget, it was found that only 31 per cent of the total budget was allocated to such like projects which was about $77.7 billion, thereby resulting in an increase in 2018 of $46.2 billion or by 60 per cent relative to the 2017 budget.

Further, the Bank of Guyana report noted that total consumption expenditure decreased by 4.3 per cent or by a whopping $27 billion – compared to the previous year.

Breaking this down into public and private consumption, private consumption decreased by $44.4 billion from $498.5 billion the previous year, while public consumption increased by $17.5 billion from $126.2 billion the previous year. If we are to examine where that loss of consumption expenditure went, the numbers show that it went in the form of taxes which is reflected in the increases in Government revenue.

Government revenue for 2018 increased by $22 billion from $195 billion in 2017. This therefore corroborates the arguments that consumption spending decreased on account of increased tax collections coupled with massive increases in Government expenditure in largely infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance – with no substantive new infrastructure development such as new road networks for example.

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

A

Remanded: Tavel Jones

fter allegedly being pointed out during an identification parade, 23-year-old Tavel Jones of East La Penitence, Georgetown, was taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the offence of armed robbery committed on a student of the University of Guyana.

The father of one appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus and denied the charge which stated that on June 19, 2019, at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, while in the company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed Stephon Dass of two Samsung cellular phones valued $145,000. Prosecutor Adduni Inniss objected to bail being granted on the grounds of the prevalence of the offence and the penalty it attracts, as well as the fact that he was identified by the victim during an ID parade.

Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus refused bail for the maintenance worker and adjourned the case for July 19, 2019.

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SUnDAY, JUly 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Tinted vehicles without permits to be impounded, fitness revoked

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ny vehicle with tinted windows that does not have the required permit will be impounded by the police and have its fitness revoked.

This is according to Deputy Police Commissioner and Traffic Chief, Linden Isles, who during a recent exclusive interview with <<<Guyana Times>>> stated that while the laws regarding tinted vehicles do not stipulate the percentage allowed, any police officer on duty who stops a motor vehicle must be able to identify its occupants.

The Traffic Chief added that “if you apply through the Minister and you give reasons there are parts in the law that the Minister can give exemptions. So at this point in time, we are working with that law. If the vehicle is having tint and you don’t have a tint permit, you can be deemed as an unfit vehicle where the police can ask you to take it to the station, we give you revocation notice, your fitness is

revoked so you cannot drive that vehicle.”

He explained that no police officer is authorised to instruct any driver to remove the tint from his/her vehicle if it is pulled over by the rank.

“The police officer does not have the authority to say to a driver ‘look remove the tint’, the tinted motor vehicle without per-

mission, it is an offence. If we stop you, if the policeman stops you on the road and you want to take off the tint that’s your decision but we won’t tell you to take off the tint,” the Traffic Chief stressed.

According to Isles, since his assumption to the post of Traffic Chief, there have been a number of successful prosecutions of persons who

have broken the law in relation to having unlawfully tinted vehicles.

“We have been enforcing persons who would want to have tint on their vehicle

without a tint permit, we know that this is an offence, and we have been enforcing the law. We have been having persons appear before the court. Some persons will decide well look we will take off the tint. But as I am saying to you this is not a police decision to make you take off the tint because that is not lawful.”

While for some, tints serve as protection against the sun, for others, it has been used to conduct illegal activities, including robberies. For the darker tints, the Ministry of Public Security has to grant permission.

In the application for a tint waiver, vehicle owners must submit a copy of the Certificate of Vehicle Registration and the Certificate of Fitness and a copy of the last tint permit received (if applicable).

The process from appli-

cation to final approval or rejection for a tint waiver is that upon receipt of the application, along with documents required, the applicant will be served with a letter that must be taken to the Licence Revenue Office (LRO) in order to verify the vehicle’s tint density.

Subsequent to the completion of this verification process, the LRO will submit its tint reading to the Minister of Public Security for approval/refusal. The Ministry notifies the applicant of the final decision, and if the application is approved, the applicant is granted a Tint Waiver Permit.

The permits are valid for one year and should be renewed at least one week before the expiry date. Only vehicles with a manufacturer’s tint will be eligible to be considered for a tint waiver.

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SUnDAY, JUly 7, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police pursuing “solid leads” into deaths of money changer, daughter – Commander

C Division Commander, Calvin Brutus

P

olice are yet to nab the bandits responsible for the deaths of money changer, Aaron

Latchman and his 18-yearold daughter, Arianna, at their Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) residence on Thursday but investigators are pursuing a few “solid leads”.

This is according to Commander of C Division, Calvin Brutus, who told Guyana Times on Saturday that although no arrests have been made, it is expected that there is a breakthrough soon.

“There is a team put together from the Major Crimes Unit merged with the East Coast investigators since the day of the shootings. In fact, it was

just after an hour after that these teams were assembled and are working together and some investigations are presently being done,” Brutus said.

Meanwhile, according to the Commander, a female, who was arrested moments after the robbery/murders for taking some cash that was dropped at the crime scene by the bandits has been released from Police custody.

On Thursday afternoon, Latchman was shot three times while his daughter received a single shot to her chest following the daring robbery at their

home. Reports are the man and his 18-year-old daughter had just arrived home at about 15:00h when they were confronted by the two armed men. Reports are that the teen was shot to her chest as they entered the house while her father was shot multiple times before the men escaped with a bag of cash.

This newspaper was told that the elder Latchman fought with the bandits and managed to disarm one of them before he was shot.

The bandits made good their escape in a white Toyota Carina 212 mo-

Dead: Aaron Latchman and his daughter Arianna

torcar, leaving a trail of money behind. The man and his daughter were picked up and rushed to

the Georgetown Public Hospital where they were both pronounced dead on arrival.

New CCTV cameras to aid in solving crimes

M

ore CCTV cameras are going to be installed across the country quite soon and while these are expected to greatly assist in traffic-related matters, they will also be used by law enforcement officials to investigate other crimes.

This is according to Deputy Police Commissioner and Traffic Chief, Linden Isles, who recently told this publication that to date, the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been

able to have many successful prosecutions as a result of reviewing footage from such cameras.

However, he noted that in many cases, it is the equipment of citizens that is utilised to help in this regard.

“I know that we have more cameras coming on stream which would help us a lot. Recently we have been using persons’ private cameras, where cameras are located if an accident or an incident occur, we would approach those persons to

Deputy Police Commissioner and Traffic Chief, Linden Isles

get footage to see how best

we can get a prosecution and we can see what really went on,” Isles told this publication.

Unfortunately, in some instances, the footage from the CCTV cameras owned by business folks do not prove to be of much help, the Traffic Chief explained.

“But most times you find some of those businesses have their camera focused in a certain direction. So sometimes you see there is a camera but it is not facing to the road so it would not help us as much as we would

like it to. But we have been using our cameras too, we have been prosecuting persons with the CCTV cameras and it is successful.”

Pedestrians being charged for causing accidents

The Traffic Chief also pointed out that in relation to accidents which may have occurred as a result of a pedestrian’s lack of judgement or because he/ she committed a traffic offence, prosecutions are not as prevalent as one would expect. However, he ex-

plained that there is a reason for this.

“We have not been charging pedestrians for causing obstruction for a period of time but the offence is there. There is an offence as crossing and if any pedestrian should walk in the path of a vehicle, that pedestrian can be charged.

But, we find that most times when an accident occurs and a pedestrian is involved, because of the injuries received by that pedestrian, most time we are unable to charge,” he added.

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guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Donald Trump says mass deportation raids will start ‘fairly soon’ US demands El Chapo forfeit $12.7B P in drug money

US President Donald Trump

resident Donald Trump said on Friday that mass deportation roundups would begin “fairly soon” as US migrant advocates vowed their communities would be “ready” when immigration officers come.

Trump, who has made a hardline immigration stance a key issue of his presidency and his 2020 re-election bid, postponed the operation last month after the planned date was

leaked to the press, but on Monday he said the roundups would take place after the July 4 holiday.

“They’ll be starting fairly soon, but I don’t call them raids, we’re removing people, all of these people who have come in over the years illegally,” he told reporters at the White House on Friday.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) last month said raids would target undocumented mi-

grants who had recently arrived in the United States so as to discourage a surge of Central American families at the southwest border.

Ice did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s statement.

Ice operations are expected to involve “collateral arrests” in which undocumented migrants not directly targeted by officers are picked up in raids. (The

Telegraph)

Former Mexican oil chief accused of corruption

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Emilio Lozoya

n arrest warrant has been issued for Emilio Lozoya, former chief executive of Mexican state oil company Pemex, prosecutors say.

He is accused of taking $10m (£8m) in bribes from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, which admits paying off politicians in Latin America. Lozoya’s wife, sister and mother are wanted in the same corruption case, the prosecutor’s office says.

His lawyer rejects the allegations and wants the arrest warrant to be revoked.

Lozoya was the chief executive of Pemex until 2016.

He was also one of the closest advisers to former President Enrique Pena Nieto, who is not implicated in the scandal. Founded in the 1940s, Odebrecht was for a while one of Brazil’s most competitive construction companies, winning contracts not just in Latin

America but also in the Middle East and Africa. It won numerous awards and was voted one of the best employers in Brazil.

But in 2015 the arrest of its CEO, Marcelo Odebrecht, shattered the firm’s image.

Initially he denied all accusations of corrupt links to politicians, but two years later a plea bargain deal saw him come forward with allegations that are still rocking Latin American politics. (BBC)

Regional countries seeking support for dealing with climate change impact

St Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet

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aribbean countries have welcomed an initiative by the SIDS

Resilience Foundation and Project Lodge designed to mobilise financing to build resilience, St Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has said.

Chastanet, who chaired the just ended Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit here, said that a presentation had been made to the regional leaders who also welcomed the involvement of the Duke of York in promoting this initiative which will be brought to the attention of the upcoming UN High-Level Meetings.

Chastanet said that the regional leaders were thankful to the United

Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres who endorsed the idea of being able to create SIDS Foundation for Resilience.

He said the Project Lodge has put a proposal together “to assist us in providing the governance structure and the mechanism to be able to get private sector funds to be able to assist us in our challenge with the SIDS. “I very much appreciate the support of my colleagues with the understanding that at a later date there would be making a presentation on details on how that work.

“But the expectation is that we are going to be making a wider presentation to the SIDS in September and if in fact they are able to obtain the final endorsement from both CARICOM and also the Pacific SIDS the intention would be to try and quickly move to meet with some of the ODA (overseas development assistance) countries and multilaterals in terms of getting funds into this thing,” Chastanet told reporters.

He said he wanted to make the point “that what we are seeking to do is to get additional funds. (CMC)

Mexican drug baron Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman as he was being extradited to the United States on January 19, 2017 to face charges

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rosecutors on Friday said they were seeking $12.7 billion from convicted Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, based on a conservative estimate of revenues from his cartel’s drug sales in the United States.

According to a motion filed by US Attorney Richard Donoghue, authorities are “entitled to forfeiture of all property that constitutes or is derived from the defendant’s narcotics-related crimes.”

Based on prices for drugs quoted by various witnesses, Guzman’s 25-year reign atop the Sinaloa cartel netted sales of some $11.8 bil-

lion in cocaine, $846 million in marijuana and $11 million in heroin, authorities said.

The money was laundered and used to pay the cartel’s workers and suppliers, as well as used to purchase communications equipment and “planes, submarines and other vehicles.”

“The government need not prove that the defendant can pay the forfeiture money judgment; it need only prove by a preponderance of evidence that the amount it seeks is forfeitable,” prosecutors said.

Guzman’s lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, told US media that the demand is “largely an academic exercise as the government has never located or identified even a penny of this $12.7 billion in proceeds supposedly generated

by Mr. Guzman.”

Guzman, 62, was found guilty in February following a three-month trial for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines and marijuana to the United States over the course of 25 years.

He was also convicted on money laundering and weapons possession charges by jurors who heard how he had beaten, shot and even buried alive those who got in his way. (AFP)

California hit by strongest earthquake in 20 years

Dominica bans single-use plastic bags

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will take effect from 2020.

He said that about a 100,000 re-usable shopping

Caricom is proposing attaching a fee to the airline and cruise ship tickets of tourists to help fund regional security institutions.

This was revealed by Dr Keith Rowley in a press conference at the VIP lounge at the Piarco International Airport on Friday.

The Prime Minister had just returned from the 40th regular meeting of the Caricom heads of government in St Lucia.

Rowley said that many nations had difficulty keeping up with required pay-

ments for regional security organisations like IMPACS (Implementing Agency for Crime and Security).

“The IMPACS staff has not been paid even though they are at work,” said the Prime Minister.

This country pays an estimated $10 million to IMPACS annually. The larger the size of the Caricom member state, the larger the expected contribution.

“But invariably these institutions have funding difficulties because some territories do not pay up or

rime Minster Roosevelt Skerrit says the ban on single-use plastic bags

bags will be imported to Dominica and will be provided to households on the island.

“The banning of single-use plastic bags will take effect in 2020 and in anticipation of that, we are bringing in about 100,000 reusable shopping bags that we are giving to households in Dominica so that the average person who may not have the ability to have a bag, we will give you a bag so that there will be no excuse why you want to use single use plastic bags in Dominica,” he said on the state-owned DBS radio.

Skerrit said that the government is removing taxes and duties on bio-degradable items in order “to make it more affordable to every Dominican to have access to biodegradable items”.

He told radio listeners that people depend on the sea and land for food and cautioned that, “if we do not conserve and protect them, as well as rivers and streams, there will be a problem”.

Skerrit said it is not about international obligation or press, but it’s about doing things that are fundamentally beneficial to Dominica. (CMC)

Caricom considers imposing tourist fee do not pay up at a particular time,” said Rowley, who admitted that many of the Caricom states were facing economic difficulties and as such the fee, first nominally placed at US$5 dollars was proposed.

Rowley said many member states did not agree with the fee which was eventually brought down to US$2.

“We took a decision that countries should be allowed to make that decision at the national level,” said Rowley, who said the matter would be discussed further.

The funding issues also affected Caricom countries contributing to the CSME fund. This country, he admitted, was liable for US$40m but had a payment plan in place.

The Prime Minister also announced that he would stand before the United Nations General Assembly for the first time in September. He said it was important that he address the assembly given the country’s stance on the Venezuelan situation. (T&T Guardian)

A landslide after the quake shut a road near Ridgecrest, which has since been reopened

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7.1 magnitude earthquake has rattled parts of Southern California, the biggest tremor to strike in 20 years. It struck at the shallow depth of 0.9km (0.6 miles) and its epicentre was near the city of Ridgecrest, about 240km north-east of Los Angeles.

A 6.4-magnitude quake hit the same area on Thursday at a depth of nearly 11km.

Seismologist Dr Lucy Jones said the quakes could continue. “This is an earthquake sequence,” she said at a press conference. “It will be ongoing.”

“Every earthquake makes another earthquake more likely,” she added, saying there was a 10% chance of a similar or even larger quake following in the next week.

However, Dr Jones said it was not likely the quake would trigger shocks on other fault lines.

The earthquake was felt as far away as Las Vegas in the neighbouring state of Nevada and over the border in Mexico.

California Governor Gavin Newsom offered his “heartfelt support” to all those affected, and has requested a Presidential Emergency Declaration and federal aid to help.

Fires have broken out and emergency services are responding to calls across the state after the quake.

Kern County Fire Department chief David Witt said about 1,800 people had no power after the quake, but added there were “nothing but minor injuries... such as cuts and bruises, by the grace of god”.

The San Bernardino County Fire Department said reports suggested “damage is more significant than Friday’s quake”, and said they were tackling blazes and gas leaks. (BBC)

sunDAY, july 7, 2019

19

David Warner

Faf Du Plessis’ ton sets up consolation win for South Africa – and hands Australia semi-final against England

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hey have one foot on the plane home, but South Africa have finally turned up at the World Cup. In the final league game of the tournament, the Proteas corrected many of the mistakes that had plagued their campaign to secure a consolatory 10-run victory over Australia at Old Trafford.

Their batsmen have struggled to convert starts, yet here there were with very nearly two tons scored, Faf du Plessis leading the way with a round 100, and Rassie van der Dussen backing him up with 95.

Kagiso Rabada, who had struggled for incision in the UK, bounced back with three vital wickets. And where they had wilted under pressure in previous games, South Africa steeled themselves to come out ahead in the crunch moments: holding the catches that mattered, weathering David Warner’s third hundred of the World Cup, and overcoming a career-best knock from Alex Carey to secure a winning end to the ODI careers of Imran Tahir and JP Duminy.

The result means that it’s the old firm, Australia v England, who will meet in the second semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday. New Zealand will play India in the first semi, here at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Twenty years on from the Greatest ODI Ever, this wasn’t quite the game it could have been, had South Africa’s campaign through this tournament charted a different course. But on a day when 640 runs were scored and the final result was not decided until the penultimate delivery of the match, this was still an excellent exhibition of cricket; and du Plessis, accepting the Player of the Match award, said South Africa’s first World Cup win over Australia since 1992 meant they would at least “go home with a smile, a small smile”.

Du Plessis also had a smile on his face when he brought up a cathartic hundred in the 43rd over. He got close in South Africa’s last match against Sri Lanka, finishing on 96 not out, while completing a nine-wicket win, but if there was any team against which you’d back du Plessis to score a hundred, it’s probably Australia. He now has eight tons against them across formats, and averages well over 50 against Australia in ODIs. “I do like playing against Australia. I’ve tried to figure out why I bat nicely when I play them, as compared to the other teams,” he said afterwards.

Whatever the reasons, Australia certainly seem to bring out in him a defiant streak and a keenness for a scrap. It was there in his hundred on Test debut in Adelaide almost seven years ago; in his four previous hundreds against them in ODIs; and it was there again as he hit Mitchell Starc out of the attack early in his knock, and charged Pat Cummins to smite him back over his head later on.

He was helped along the way by van der Dussen, who once again showed the composure that is becoming his calling card during a 151run third wicket stand. Van der Dussen seemed to have been ruffled when he was struck on the head by a Cummins bouncer before he

had reached double figures. He offered up three half-chances in the space of two overs thereafter, but once he settled back down, he gave further indications that he would be a vital part of South Africa’s immediate post-World Cup future, and came within a couple of feet of clearing Glenn Maxwell in the deep and bringing up what would have been a maiden international ton off the last ball of the innings.

He didn’t quite get there, but he and du Plessis had done enough for South Africa to build a challenging total from what was by far their best start of the tournament with the bat. With Hashim Amla sidelined by an injury, picked up during a warm-up game of football on Friday, Aiden Markram opened with Quinton de Kock, and together they cruised through the Powerplay at seven an over, before they were eventually parted by Nathan Lyon.

Australia needed a similarly rapid start from their openers to set up their chase, but du Plessis’ decision to open the bowling with Tahir brought immediate dividends. Finch chipped the first ball of Tahir’s second over to a diving Markram in the covers, and, for the last time in ODI cricket, Tahir set off on a solo celebratory run into the outfield.

Worse was to come for Australia, as Usman Khawaja tweaked a hamstring running between the wickets and had to leave the field, having faced Faf du Plessis just five deliveries. Khawaja came out to bat later in celebrating the innings, but Finch admitted that things “don’t bringing up his century look ideal” afterwards, and he could join Shaun Marsh on the injury list ahead of the semi-final.

And his wasn’t the only injury worry for Australia, with Marcus Stoinis also batting through some discomfort that seemed to be located in his lower back, and Starc showing some strain on his knee in the midst of a generally off-colour performance with the ball.

One area that certainly won’t be a worry, however, is Warner’s form. Once again, he took his time to settle at the top of the innings, but when he got going, he was virtually unstoppable. A quick single to mid-off took him to a 58-ball fifty in the 18th over, and he only built momentum even as two moments of brilliance from de Kock in the field - an unsighted, back-handed run-out and a leaping one-handed

SCOREBOARD

South Africa Innings (50 overs maximum) AK Markram st †Carey b Lyon 34 Q de Kock † c Starc b Lyon 52 F du Plessis (c) c Starc b Behrendorff 100 HE van der Dussen c Maxwell b Cummins 95 JP Duminy c Stoinis b Starc 14 D Pretorius b Starc 2 AL Phehlukwayo not out 4 Extras 24 (b 1, lb 10, w 13) TOTAL 325/6 (50 Overs, RR: 6.5) Did not bat: CH Morris, K Rabada, Imran Tahir, T Shamsi Fall of wickets: 1-79 (Aiden Markram, 11.3 ov), 2-114 (Quinton de Kock, 17.4 ov), 3-265 (Faf du Plessis, 42.6 ov), 4-295 (JeanPaul Duminy, 46.5 ov), 5-317 (Dwaine Pretorius, 48.5 ov), 6-325 (Rassie van der Dussen, 49.6 ov) BOWLING O M R W MA Starc 9 0 59 2 JP Behrendorff 8 0 55 1 NM Lyon 10 0 53 2 PJ Cummins 9 0 66 1 SPD Smith 1 0 5 0 MP Stoinis 3 0 19 0 GJ Maxwell 10 0 57 0 Australia Innings (target: 326 runs from 50 overs) DA Warner c Morris b Pretorius 122 AJ Finch (c) c Markram b Imran

Tahir 3 UT Khawaja b Rabada 18 SPD Smith lbw b Pretorius 7 MP Stoinis run out (Rabada/†de Koc k) 22 GJ Maxwell c †de Kock b Rabada 12 AT Carey † c Markram b Morris 85 PJ Cummins c Duminy b Phehlukwayo 9 MA Starc b Rabada 16 JP Behrendorff not out 11 NM Lyon c Markram b Phehlukwayo 3 Extras 7 (lb 4, w 3) TOTAL 315 all out (49.5 Overs, RR: 6.32) Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Aaron Finch, 2.1 ov), 1-20* (Usman Khawaja, retired not out), 2-33 (Steven Smith, 6.3 ov), 3-95 (Marcus Stoinis, 18.3 ov), 4-119 (Glenn Maxwell, 24.1 ov), 5-227 (David Warner, 39.1 ov), 6-272 (Pat Cummins, 44.4 ov), 7-275 (Alex Carey, 45.2 ov), 8-301 (Usman Khawaja, 48.1 ov), 9-306 (Mitchell Starc, 48.5 ov), 10-315 (Nathan Lyon, 49.5 ov) BOWLING O M R W Imran Tahir 9 0 59 1 K Rabada 10 0 56 3 D Pretorius 6 2 27 2 CH Morris 9 0 63 1 T Shamsi 9 0 62 0 AL Phehlukwayo 2.5 0 22 2 JP Duminy 4 0 22 0

catch - sent Stoinis and Maxwell packing.

Wickets in the middle put South Africa ahead, but Warner found an able partner in Carey, whose crisp hitting added 50 to a sixthwicket stand of 108. It took a sprawling blinder of a catch from Morris, tumbling to his left at mid-on, to get rid of Warner; but Carey wasn’t done yet, and he proceeded to record his highest ODI score before holing out on the cover boundary in pursuit of an unlikely victory.

Unlikely looked like impossible when Cummins and Carey both fell in the space of four deliveries as the match neared its end, but Khawaja hobbled back out to the middle, and with Starc, proceeded to take 17 from Morris’s ninth over to keep Australia in the hunt.

A Rabada double-strike and a nerveless final over from Andile Phehlukwayo put paid to those hopes. (ESPNcricinfo)

NBA free agency moves: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Kevin Durant

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n the most dramatic move of the NBA free agency, Kawhi Leonard left reigning NBA champions the Toronto Raptors just three weeks after winning the title.

On Saturday, during what is the NBA’s equivalent of football’s transfer window, Leonard joined the Los Angeles Clippers alongside Paul George, who was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

That immediately saw the Clippers being tipped for next season’s title. But they weren’t the only major moves this summer. Below is a breakdown of the biggest deals in the league.

Clippers sign Leonard & George Leonard has just proved he can turn a decent team into a title winner in Toronto, and the Clippers have long been a suitor for the reigning finals MVP’s services, but no-one saw this happening the way it did.

The Clippers started the week with enough room in the salary cap to sign two superstars, but when everyone else was snapped up in the space of a few hours last Sunday night, conventional wisdom was that Leonard would either link up with LeBron James and the newly-acquired Anthony

Davis at the Los Angeles Lakers, or stay in Toronto to defend the title.

Instead, it was reported that Leonard told the Clippers if they could prise All-Star forward Paul George away from the Thunder, he was in.

The Clippers had to give up an unprecedented amount to make it happen: five first-round draft picks over the next seven years, plus one of their last season’s top scorers, Danilo Gallinari, and their best young prospect in ShaiGilgeous Alexander.

Leonard then agreed to a four-year £113m deal.

The significance of Leonard having the option to join the Lakers and James, and instead choosing to go up against them - in the Staples Center, the arena the two teams share - is hard to overstate. For most of their existence, the Clippers have been a punchline in Los Angeles.

With Leonard and George, they’ll be one of the favourites for the NBA title, and have set up a city rivalry the likes of which the NBA has never seen before.

Nets sign Durant and Irving Kevin Durant leaves the Golden State Warriors with two championship rings and a torn

Achilles tendon for his trouble - an injury sustained in the NBA finals against Toronto last month, which will likely cost him the entirety of next season.

That didn’t stop the Brooklyn Nets from giving the 30-year-old a four-year deal worth £130m.

He was so beloved by Golden State that their owner announced that, despite spending just three seasons there, they will retire his number 35 jersey.

When he joined the Warriors in 2016, they were already a dominant title-winning team.

Now he joins a franchise still searching for an identity since moving from New Jersey to Brooklyn in 2012. A franchise, who - at least in terms of glamour if not success - are the ‘other’ team in New York behind the Knicks.

Kyrie Irving, an NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, has signed for four years and £112m. The 27-year-old point guard is coming off a tumultuous two-year spell with the Boston Celtics, wherein he was an elite scoring force, but failed to galvanise their young, talented squad.

Warriors sign Russell

Russell, who became an AllStar for the first time in 2019, began his NBA career with the Lakers in 2015, before moving to the Nets in 2017.

Signing Durant and Irving meant that Brooklyn had to sacrifice the chance to re-sign their young All-Star point guard D’Angelo Russell, who was snapped up by Golden State on a four-year deal worth £93m.

Russell, 23, who led a young Brooklyn team to the play-offs last season by averaging 21 points and seven assists per game, will be a welcome consolation for Golden State after they had lost Durant, and should pair well with their two-time MVP, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson who signed a new five-year £151m deal.

Simmons, needs.

Horford signs for the 76ers Prising veteran Al Horford away from the Eastern Conference rivals Celtics is a big win for the Philadelphia 76ers, and he has joined on an £87m contract over four years.

He’s 33, and does everything well without being spectacular or needing the ball in his hands; exactly what Philadelphia, with their exciting young corps of centre Joel Embiid and guard Ben

Walker signs for the Celtics Despite the loss of Irving and Horford, it’s not all bad news for Boston. Kemba Walker, who’s toiled for eight years in the relative anonymity of the Charlotte Hornets, finally gets the big contract his talent deserves, worth £112m over four years, as well as the big-market spotlight.

A direct replacement at point guard for Irving, he might not be as individually spectacular, but the

Heat sign Butler Butler’s (right) Philadelphia 76ers lost out to Leonard (left) and the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

The odd man out in Philadelphia was Jimmy Butler, who was traded to Miami on a four-year, £111m deal.

It will be the abrasive forward’s fourth team in nine seasons in the NBA -- a reflection of an uncompromising attitude that has rubbed team-mates up the wrong way in the past.

However, he will revel in being undisputedly the number one option for the Heat, after having to fit in among the 76ers’ multiscorer system.

Celtics w i l l h o p e he’ll provide stronger leadership for their talented but raw young squad.

What it means The 2010s have been the decade of the “Superteam”.

The Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Golden State Warriors have accounted for 13 of 18 finalists and 6 of 9 champions between 2011-19.

But with Durant leaving Golden State, Leonard blazing his own trail, and no other team able to join up more than two of the superstars on offer in free agency, the NBA is heading into its most unpredictable and exciting season in years.

Toronto’s miraculous run this season will have every NBA fan believing they could win it all if the ball bounces their way. (Excerpted from BBC.com)

20

Shimron Hetmyer

guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, july 7, 2019

2019 ICC World Cup: Not the ideal for Hetmyer, but a learning curve

By Brandon Corlette

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ll of Guyana had paid keen attention to the goings-on when Shimron Hetmyer came to the batting crease during the West Indies’ International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup campaign. Was it because he was the lone Guyanese in the squad, or did his entertaining batting have something to do with it?

Hetmyer entertained on most occasions, playing sublime shots that held an adoring public in awe, his floppy hat reminding some of the great Carl Llewellyn Hooper, another Guyanese cricketing great who had so held

spectators in awe during his time.

Unfortunately, for most of his innings, Hetmyer did not prosper. Hetmyer did not get a century in his first World Cup outing, but that should not define the ability of this gifted Guyanese talent, who is recognised globally.

In his recent Instagram post, Hetmyer said this was not the World Cup he had been looking forward to, but it’s always a pleasure representing the West Indies. “A lot was learnt, and will be taken back from such an experience,” Hetmyer disclosed.

The proud Berbician left-hander finished his World Cup campaign with 257 runs scored in eight innings at an average of 36.71, with a strike rate of 101.58, including two half-centuries. He finished behind Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope as the leading run-scorer for West Indies. He scored 54 against New Zealand and 50 against Bangladesh in back-to-back matches.

Hetmyer got starts surpassing 20 on six of eight occasions. In his innings of 21 against Australia, he was dismissed via the run-out route. He scored 39 against

England, and gifted his wicket away to Joe Root via a soft return catch. He then scored 50 from 26 balls against Bangladesh, and was dismissed in the 40th over via a catch taken at mid-wicket.

It has been shown that Hetmyer favours this spot, but, as a front-line batsman, that innings should have been more, since 10 overs remained in that innings. The next match saw Hetmyer scoring 54 from 45 balls against New Zealand. He was bowled by Lockie Ferguson as he attempted to smash one into oblivion, but the ball sneaked under his bat and castled his stumps.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) player then came up against India, and played shots of which he had no control. He, however, smashed one down point’s throat during a promising 18.

Against Sri Lanka, Hetmyer was involved in his second run out of the tournament, after scoring only 29 runs. In the final match of his 2019 World Cup, Hetmyer was motoring nicely during his 39 from 31 balls when he lost concentration and went for a full-blooded pull shot and was caught at the familiar

Hetmyer scored two fifties in the World Cup

mid-wicket region.

Those dismissals were n o t brilliant showpieces of cricket by Hetmyer’s opponents, but a rush of blood and adrenaline getting the better of him.

The lad is only 22 years old, and still has a lot more to learn. Considered “one for the future”, this prognosis is undoubted, but he certainly requires depth in his batting, especially at the highest level.

In his 34 One-Day International matches for the West Indies, Hetmyer has amassed 1156 runs at an average of 39.86, and has a strike rate of 108.23. He has four centuries and four half-centuries to his name, along with five Test half-centuries in his 13 Test matches.

Will county cricket in England aid Hetmyer in his growth overtime? Certainly, this guy is a gifted batsman who has the ability to take games away from opponents.

Leon Ricky Swamy: backing Sweden beat England to Women’s his all-round ability to break World Cup bronze with help from VAR R into Guyana’s U-19 team

By Brandon Corlette

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erbice Under-19 fast bowling all-rounder Leon Ricky Swamy is tipped to play for the Guyana Under-19 Team in the 2019 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional tournament.

Guyana Times Sport and the Tucber Park player recently had a chat, wherein he spoke about his chances at playing for the Guyana Under-19 Team.

“I am very confident of getting into the Guyana Under-19 final squad, because I know my capability, seeing that I’m an all-rounder and my level of dependency is very high”, Swamy explained.

Born on November 1, 2001, Swamy has already played twice for the Berbice Under-19 Team, and will be eligible for another year’s play in 2020.

This strongly built teenager told this reporter that his experience at the Regional level will be an important asset. Swamy has represented Guyana in the Under-15 and Under-17 tournaments, and playing in the 2019 CWI Regional U-19 tournament in St Vincent and the Grenadines will do his career world of good.

“With help of the Almighty, I know I will get there”, Swamy confidently replied to this reporter.

Peeking into the future, the all-rounder sees himself as a complete package who can bring the complete performance for his team.

This left-handed batsman is a right-arm fast bowler who has a best bowling figure of 6-17, achieved in nine overs.

Swamy also has a double century to his name. This reporter witnessed this lad in action from the non-strikers’ end during his breathtaking

214*, scored in a match which was played on the fairly large ground of the Rose Hall Canje Community Centre.

Swamy has the gift of being able to perform under pressure. In his final year at Under-17 level, he failed to make the Berbice U-17 Team, but pushed his way into the Berbice U-19 team and gained a place in the Guyana U-17 Team.

Reflecting on his most recent interc o u n t y tournament, wherein he described his outing as reasonably well, he said: “My inter-county performance was good, although I could have done better in all areas of my game. I think there is still room for improvement for the next inter-county, and moving forward,” Swamy disclosed.

Currently preparing in case he is called up, Swamy explained that he has been working on his overall game, and fitness is an important factor. “My preparation for this tournament is quite simple, although the weather is playing a role, I train indoors”, Swamy disclosed.

The aggressive batsman said he is currently working on occupying the crease and scoring more runs consistently.

In the Hand-in-Hand 2019 Inter-County tournament, Swamy showed his power hitting at the lower-order for Berbice, and he shared the

Leon Swamy hits one out of the park

new ball with his skipper, K e v l o n Anderson.

When called upon, Swamy p r o d u c e d some early breakthrough. A notable spell in that tournament was in the match against the Select U-17, wherein Swamy was on a hat trick, removing West Indies U-16 player Mavindra Dindyal.

It was a hostile display of fast-bowling at the Everest Cricket Club, until it was cut short by the rain. At such a young age, Swamy is filled with great promise; this gifted threedimensional player thanks the Almighty and all those who played a role in his journey this far.

“I must thank my parents, brother and sister, for their support; and Coach Julian Moore, for all his effort and time taken for improving my cricket”, Swamy concluded.

With the tournament commencing later this month, Swamy is currently working towards making the final 14-member squad of the Guyana U-19 Team.

otherham in November does not have too much in common with Nice in the searing 30C heat of a June evening, but there was a definite sense of deja vu on the Côte d’Azur on Saturday night.

Phil Neville readily admits that one of his toughest moments as England coach came in South Yorkshire late last year, when a soul-crushing 2-0 defeat inflicted by Peter Gerhardsson’s side “ruined” his Christmas.

Following a shocking start, this was an improved -- if at times flawed -- performance, but still proved insufficient to overcome the Lionesses’ fellow losing semi-finalists. Falling slightly short in the face of the United States in Lyon last week was one thing, but this served as a salutary reminder that England are not quite as good as sometimes advertised. Their style may have changed from four years ago in Canada – where they finished third – but deficiencies remain.

Neville knows it, but nonetheless enjoyed the joke when, shortly before kick-off, Baroness Sue Campbell, the Football Association’s head of women’s football, told him that bronze can look a lot like gold, viewed in the right light.

The problem was that, despite joking that he was going to buy a new light to shine on that prospective medal at his family home, Neville’s side needed to actually beat Sweden; and as England swiftly conceded twice, it became apparent that this would be easier said than done. They subsequently improved dramatically, but it was too little too late.

“It was probably our worst 20 minutes and our best 70 minutes of a tournament in one, but this playoff’s a nonsense game,” admitted England’s manager. “We feel disappointed, frustrated because we’ve not achieved our goals.

I’m not disrespecting the playoff, but we came here to win the tournament. We wanted gold, not bronze. There’s a million things I could have done better, but I can’t ask anything more of my players,” he said.

His team looked mentally shot, as, in the 10th minute, Fridolina Rolfo’s unopposed cross highlighted their defensive vulnerabilities.

Although Alex Greenwood eventually attempted to intervene, she merely succeeded in cushioning the ball superbly for Kosovare Asllani to sweep the crispest of shots into the bottom corner.

Shortly afterwards, Sofia Jakobsson cut in unimpeded; and, with Steph Houghton uncharacteristically standing off, Jakobsson, whose duel with Greenwood turned into a principal subplot – sent a sumptuous shot curving imperiously beyond Carly Telford.

Fran Kirby helped turn the tide a little. The Chelsea creator had an excellent playmaking evening, and should be exempted from any criticism. One early cameo proved emblematic of her display; it began with connecting with a fabulous defender disorientating pass from Jill Scott – one of the tournament’s real stars – before making the very most of it.

There was the fabulous touch to drag Kirby away from her marker, and then the beautifully weighted, subtly curling, left-foot shot which went in off a post.

Earlier Hedvig Lindahl had done very well to divert Lucy Bronze’s 25-yard cannonball; but this time Sweden’s goalkeeper had no riposte. Lindahl was beaten again after Neville’s leading scorer, Ellen White, chested Beth Mead’s cross down, turned Linda Sembrant and lashed home, but a VAR check ensued, and that “goal” was disallowed after it was decided that the ball had been tamed by the suddenly incandescent striker’s arm.

No wonder White looked so enraged. The ball appeared to bounce from chest to arm, making entirely inadvertent and non-consequential contact with her hand before a superb, technically assured finish. In those increasingly sepia-tinged days before VAR, it would have undoubtedly stood. Sometimes the law really is an ass. “I don’t know where the game’s going,” said Neville. “I really don’t.”

At least England were disrupting Sweden’s initially meticulous organisation, inducing an untypical element of untidiness to their play. Neville endeavoured to make it count by introducing Jodie Taylor in a rejig involving White shifting left in a new look 4-3-3 formation.

With Scott and Kirby particularly influential, the Lionesses began passing and moving according to the Nevillian gospel. The tone was further raised as Karen Carney drew the afternoon’s biggest cheer from the 21,316 strong crowd by jogging on to mark her final game before retirement by winning the 144th cap of a wonderful career.

Sweden, though, had dropped deep, their positioning and body language challenging England to get behind their defence. Although it took a terrific headed clearance off the line from Nilla Fischer to prevent extra time after Bronze swung a boot at the high velocity fallout from a corner, even a handful of typically clever Carney manoeuvres could not quite unhinge them.

As England’s players slumped to the turf, Sweden celebrated bronze as if it really was gold.

Ikea must surely stock a light which will perform the necessary alchemy in Gerhardsson’s home.

(The Guardian)

sunday, july 7, 2019

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Peterson urges individuals to enrol in GCF

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he game of chess is gradually being rooted in the Guyanese culture, and Carlos Peterson Griffith, a member of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), is urging individuals to enroll in the federation to get to know the game.

In an invited comment, Carlos Peterson-Griffith, member of the GCF and Powerlifting Champion of Guyana, said: “Joining the federation is beneficial. Playing chess not only helps you educate or focus on your studies, it also helps you visualise, plan, implement, and most of all set a path for the future. Before and after joining the Federation, one must be disciplined, efficient and proactive, so that others can help you develop and become a strong person and an athlete for tomorrow.

“Yes, they have good and bad roads, which is part of life; so thinking positive and setting positive vibes in your way of life will make you a better individual. I’ve been

playing chess since I was 8+yrs old.

Yes, everyone has their ups and downs, so I can have my fair share of them, which makes me stronger.

“Yes, through hard work, dedication, commitment, consistency, and mostly sacrifice, time and determination (are) what make a good athlete, whether playing chess or any sport,” Peterson-Griffith has said.

Upon joining the GCF, members are entitled to certain benefits, among which is voting in the GCF elections which are on the horizon.

Subject to the payment of appropriate fees and being compliant with such eligibility selection and other requirements as may apply in respect of a particular benefit, entitlement or right, the Federation shall endeavour to provide certain privileges for affiliated regional associations and persons nominated by them.

They will also be given the right to be represented, and to vote at Council meetings and National Conferences of the Federation, and to vote on special motions as defined

in the GCF Constitution, provided that regional associations and/or individual membership is more than 180 days in force prior to the vote.

And in order to cast a valid vote, one must, at the very least, be 18 years or older by the date of voting.

New members can also participate in activities conducted by or on behalf of the Federation, or in activities conducted by others for which nomination, endorsement or approval of the Federation is a requirement, including national championships, international competitions for individuals and teams, such other activities as the Federation may from time to time conduct, control, authorize or participate in.

The right to conduct national and international activities on behalf of the Federation, and the right to have the results of competitions incorporated in Federation and FIDE ratings systems are also guaranteed.

GFF-NAMILCO Under-17 League continues at Bartica

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Carlos Peterson Griffith is urging individuals to join the GCF

Kennard Memorial sets Emancipation horse meet for August 4

D

wanted

NOT

Lorenzo Cummings, Daniel Gardener and Arlington Williams of Potaro Strikers FC

P

21

otaro Strikers FC resisted the brazen efforts of Rivers View FC to overcome them, and prevailed in their encounter three goals to one on Friday when the GFF-NAMILCO Under-17 League continued at the Bartica Secondary School Ground.

Following a scoreless first half, a Lorenzo Cummings free kick in the 50th minute broke the deadlock to put the Potaro Strikers on the scorecard. But just four minutes later, Rivers View responded by way of a bullet off the left foot of Kellon Richardson.

An exciting encounter ensued as both teams fought to see who would emerge victorious, until Daniel Gardener and Arlington Williams sealed the victory for Potaro just minutes before the final whistle.

In spite of persistent rainy weather, play will continue over the course of the weekend with two more matches at the same venue. At 14:00 hrs, Rising Stars FC will take on Agatash United FC; while Lazio FC will duke it out with Potaro Strikers FC at 16:00 hrs.

Rising Stars FC currently lead the points table with 16, while Potaro Strikers hold second place with 12.

With a format similar to that of the Frank Watson Under-15 tournament, the NAMILCO Under-17 tournament will first be played at the Regional Member Kellon Richardson of River View FC Association (RMAs) level, before there is a grand playoff with the nine winners to crown a national champion.

The league is part of the Youth Development Programme of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) through its Regional Member Associations, and is being held in partnership with the National Milling Company (NAMILCO).

The clubs that are competing in this tournament are Beacons, Lazio, Rising Stars, Potaro Strikers, Mil Ballers, Wolves United, Rivers View, and Agatash United.

espite the prevailing spate of inclement weather bombarding Guyana’s Coast, the 2019 horse-racing season has already kicked off in emphatic fashion, with the Crawford Memorial Turf Club & Sports Facility (CMTC&SF), in collaboration with the 4-Horseman Promotions entity, planning on staging its Emancipation meet on August 1st, 2019 at the Port Mourant Turf Club; while the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) has planned to host its Emancipation Day Horse Race Meet on Sunday, August 4 at the Club’s facility at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.

This is besides other entities which plan to host horse racing meets, like the Jumbo Jet Racing Committee, which is looking to move its Breeders’ Cup meet to another suitable date, and the Georgetown Turf Club, which is planning to stage its horse meet on a suitable date as well.

(See Friday’s and Saturday’s editions of this publication for more details) The card for the Kennard Memorial Meet will feature seven races, as jockeys compete for over $3 million in cash and prizes and other incentives up for grabs.

The affair will have as its feature event a one-mile race for horses classified C and Lower, which will carry a first prize of $700,000; while the H and Lower (West Indian-bred non-winners and Guyana-bred Open) race will see the winner taking home $240,000 and a trophy in the seven-furlong race.

The 2-year-old Guyana-bred horses will race over a distance of five furlongs, and the first-place winner will bag $200,000 and a trophy.

The race classified J & K Lower, to be run over five furlongs, will carry a winning purse of $180,000; while the race for the L Class Open will see the winner claiming $160,000 and a trophy. This race will be over five furlongs as well.

There is also a race for L Class non-winners (2018-2019) which is also to be run over five furlongs and will see animals racing for a top purse of $140,000 and a trophy.

The final race category for the day will see the winner of the L and Non-Earners carting off a top prize of $120,000 racing over a distance of 5 furlongs.

The Champion Jockey and runner-up jockeys, trainer and stables will all receive accolades, compliments of Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall, and the meet’s organisers.

All these races will be conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority, and interested owners/ trainers and handlers can call the following persons for more information: Niketa Ross on 662-4668, Justice Kennard on 623-7609, or any member of the KMTC Executive.

22

SUnDAY, july 7, 2019

Michael Anthony storms past Briton John to win Malta Supreme race

guyanatimesgy.com

By Brandon Corlette

T

he 11-stage cycle race held at the National Park yesterday, Saturday July 6, 2019, saw Michael Anthony claiming the top spot in a time of one hour 20 minutes and 55 seconds. Anthony who hails from Linden, outsprinted Briton John at the finish to win the ninth edition of the Banks DIH Malta Supreme racing event.

Anthony and John had led the race during its latter part, breaking away from the pack

The outstanding cyclists after the presentation ceremony

Michael Anthony led the pack early on (Brandon Corlette photos)

with the likes of Jamaul John and Paul De Nobrega being absent from the fray; while the

Berbician Romello Crawford looked in good touch although he had had a bad start, until he

was ruled out of the race after being attacked by a swarm of bees, which stung him with a

vengeance.

Walter Grant-Stewart (fourth) set the tone early on, but was outshone by Team Evolution’s Christopher Griffith, who copped third position.

Kemuel Moses rode in fifth position, while Alexis Meades came in sixth position in the senior category.

Eight sprint prizes were on offer, three of which Anthony took. Deeraj Garbaran, who played catch-up and was brilliant in his performance, took two sprint prizes, while Stewart took one sprint prize.

This cycling event got off to a riveting start, with Steve Bhimsen who hails from Corentyne Berbice winning the 12-14 Boys 3-lap category in ma time of five minutes 15 seconds.

Sherwin Sampson came in second, while Mark Lewis came in third.

The moment of sprint: Michael Anthony outsprinted Briton John at the finish

The veteran over-50 class saw Kennard Lovell copping first position in that 5-lap affair in 25 minutes and 51 seconds, while Veteran champion Andrew Spencer rode in second position and Linden Blackman came in third position.

Lennox Jackman won the BMX Boys 6-9 years 2-lap category. All outstanding cyclists were awarded with silverware at the presentation ceremony that saw Banks DIH Ltd. Representatives in attendance.

Addressing the media after the cycle race, Anthony explained that this race was a short one, approximately 32 miles. “This race was approximately 32 miles, and I used this race as a form of training to test my speed”, Anthony explained.

The Linden lad detailed that his race had gone according

to plan. After an ordinary performance in the National Championships, Anthony said, this race had helped him to see how fast he can ride.

“The National Cycling Championship is a disappointment, but I can only move forward”, Anthony explained.

Cycling organizer and coach, Hassan Mohammed, declared the race a success and greatly thanked Banks DIH for their continuous support. Cycling action will continue next Saturday at the same National Park with the P&P Insurance 11-stage race meet.

Hassan also stated that the young cyclists will compete in a “Teach them Young competition” that will start on Monday. This event will be hosted for the 43rd year.

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Georgetown Championships playoff round…

LA Ballers’ undefeated streak highlights night of action

T

he Burnham Court at Middle and Carmichael Streets, Georgetown was the venue for the action packed Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Georgetown Championships playoff round, which kicked off on Friday last.

Game one of the playoffs saw Under Dogs defeat Future Leaders Junior 3-1, while Good Over Evil were able to overcome Future Leaders Seniors 2-1. Closing out the round, Breda Street managed to dominate LA Ballers 3-0, while John Street crushed Immaculate Ballers 3-0 and Rasville won via walkover.

In the second round’s play, Berlin defeated Breda Street 1-0, while LA Ballers carried their form into their second match to ease past Adidas Ballers 1-0. In the final matchup, Channel 9 Warriors’ match ended in a stalemate against Durban Backlands; but heading into a penalty shootout, Channel 9 came out victorious 2-0.

In the third round, Gaza Squad tied with LA Ballers 1-1, but a penalty shootout saw the in-form LA Ballers walk away victorious 2-1. Channel 9 Warriors also carried their form into the next round, slipping past Breda Street

2-0. Also recording a win was Berlin, who defeated Rasville 2-0.

In the final round, the undefeated LA Ballers overcame Under Dogs 1-0, and Berlin handed the Channel 9 Warriors their first loss, winning 1-0.

The official competition, pegged to start on July 12th and 13th, will be staged across three venues over the course of seven days. The National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue in Georgetown is scheduled to host this event for the very first time, while games are also slated to be held at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac and at the Burnham Court. The fixtures are as follows:

July 12th

Trap Squad vs LA Ballers Upsetters vs Albouystown-A North Ruimveldt vs John Street California Square vs Alexander Village North East La Penitence vs Stabroek Ballers Norton Street vs Back Circle Sparta Boss vs Judgment Yard Gold is Money vs Globe Yard

Part of the ongoing action in the playoff round

July 13th

Rising Stars vs Good Over Evil Ol Skool Ballers vs Sophia Albouystown-B vs Berlin Kingston vs Broad Street Bent Street vs Charlotte Street Future Stars vs Sophia United Leopold Street vs Pike Street Queen St Tiger Bay vs Smyth Street An elimination format

would be in operation during the first two nights, with the resulting victors advancing to the group round, which will be contested on the following three days of the match.

The top two finishers from each pool would advance to the quarterfinal round and subsequent semi-final round, which would be held on the penultimate day of the

tournament.

The eight teams that fail to advance from the groups will compete in the Guinness Plate Championships. The eventual winners will automatically seal their place in the National Championships in August.

To date, Beacons [Bartica Champions], Melanie ‘B’ [East Coast Demerara winners], Brothers United [West

Demerara/ East Demerara winners], Trafalgar [Berbice champions], and High Rollers [Linden champions] are the teams to have secured automatic berths to the national championships.

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, july 7, 2019

23

GPL power outage, rain put a damper on exciting AP Invitational

By Jemima Holmes

W

hat would have been a great end to yet another stellar Aliann Pompey International Invitational meet was plagued by one of Guyana’s most renowned pests, ‘blackout’.

It was the penultimate lap of the men’s 3000M invitational race, the competition was stiff and a clear winner could not be made out as yet. Just when the race began to heat up, the lights at the Leonora Track and Field Centre died, much to the dismay of the exuber-

ant crowd.

Those on the track, however, did not take this as the unceremonious end to a thrilling race, but instead persevered in the vast darkness that blanketed the track and field facility.

Under the twinkle of cellular phone lights and torches, Odwin Tudor made a late surge to cross the line before distance specialist Winston Missigher, who had to settle for second place. Cleveland Thomas was the third place finisher.

In other exciting races for the day, Ghanian sprinter Joseph Amoah did

Trinidad’s Kamairi Durant copped the women’s sprint double

Stumbling in the dark! Winston Missigher stumbled on the line as Odwin Tudor took a win in the blackout-affected 3000m race

just what he travelled to Guyana for, and took gold in the men’s 100m race (10.02s). Guyanese Emanuel Archibald (10.33s) and Winston George (10.40s) completed the podium.

George later had his time to shine in the 200m race, wherein he dominated the competition. The Guyanese crossed the line in 20.75s, ahead of Daniel Williams (21.10s) and Loneil Marks (21.20s).

Overseas-based Guyanese Arinze Chance

had his moment in the men’s 400m race, when a close finish resulted in a win for Chance (46.14s). Trinidad and Tobago’s Deon Lendore (46.17s) was just milliseconds behind Chance, while Brian Roman finished third (48.53s).

The male 800m race saw Devaun Barrington coming from behind to close a large gap and eventually take first place in 1.50.95. Anfernee Headecker (1.52.40) could not catch Barrington in the final 50m, and had to set-

tle for second place. Samuel Lynch crossed the line third in 1.55.13.

The podium finishers were the same for the female 100m and 200m races, where Trinidad’s Kamairi Durant copped gold in both races. On both occasions, Reyare Thomas and Jasmine Abrams finished second and third respectively.

Guyanese Olympian Aliyah Abrams dominated the women’s 400m, clocking a time of 52.16s. Candice McLeod (52.28s) and Kineke

Alexander (55.04s) finished in second and third respectively.

An all-Guyanese women’s 800m race saw Joanna Archer emerging victor in 2.13.01, while Aliyah Moore (2.15.31) and Kissana Glen (2.16.00) completed the podium.

Indian national Thingalay Siddhanth took gold in the men’s 110m hurdle with a time of 13.57s, while Jamaican Rushell Clayton won the women’s 400m hurdle in 55.25s.

Rohit, Rahul smash centuries – India top points table

I

ndia didn’t quite get to test their middle order one last time before the semi-final, but Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul put up India’s fourth century for the opening stand in the tournament, made centuries of their own, and helped India to 15 points at the end of the group stage, as they galloped to a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka.

The openers put on 189 of the 265 India were set, unleashing strokes that ranged from pristine to borderline outrageous. They were able to recreate a pace that resembled that of India’s regular opening pair, and it came about because of Rohit’s uncharacteristic early aggression.

Rohit’s century was accurately capsulated in the 17th over of India’s chase.

His strike rate had only briefly dipped below a run-a-ball when he was on 46, and he sorted that out by launching Dhananjaya de Silva over wide long-off, feet firmly rooted on the pitch. That didn’t seem enough; a ball later, he skipped down the track and brought out a clean swing from underneath the ball, sending it straight back over the bowler for the longest six of the day.

Preceding them were eight fours of all makes - languid pokes through the covers, whips through midwicket, even a one-handed loft over midon. Through the course of the stand, Rohit did pretty much anything he wanted. On 99, he pulled a Kasun Rajitha offstump delivery to the midwicket

boundary to bring behind as he limboed up the record for against a short ball most centuries that kept tailing - crossing Kumar back.

Sangakkara’s four India needed in a World Cup well another 21 to get at after he had vaulted that point, and Virat to the top of the runKohli was there to scoring charts. see them through Rahul was truer to the end. to his theme in the I n d i a ’s tournament, but opening managed to play out s t a n d his plans longer than o u td i d any previous innings. the other While still occasionally c e n t u r y circumspect outside partnership of the day, a the off-stump, he patient 124-run alliance began with a string for the fifth wicket of glorious drives between Angelo Mathews through the offand Lahiru Thirimanne side against the new that kept Sri Lanka in the ball. India’s scoring game after they had lost Rohit Sharma rate at the start four wickets inside 12 became the first was significantly overs. Sri Lanka’s most player to hit five helped as a result, experienced batsmen centuries in a with even Lasith had two jobs to do on Malinga enduring single World Cup the day - blunt India’s a difficult time attack, aggressive against the two right-handed fields and all, and try to give batsmen. their bowlers a total to bowl at.

Rahul’s own scoring rate They managed both, starting slowed down in the midst of by playing low-risk shots and Rohit’s fluency, but he, too, staying content at scoring just chose to break the shackles over four an over for the first against Dhananjaya. His kick- half of their partnership. Their start also involved getting to first three boundaries together fifty against Sri Lanka’s only came after Kuldeep Yadav’s spinner on the day, and then introduction - and against him hitting him straight.

- nearly 50 balls into the stand.

Rahul’s century was Mathews was happy brought up with more precision slashing the spinner through than power, though that was the off-side on a pitch that understandable: it was his first offered a hint of grip and ODI hundred since his debut bounce. ton against Zimbabwe in 2016.

It was largely a battingMalinga did manage to dismiss friendly surface, and got easier him though, Rahul gloving and easier as the sun burst

SCOREBOARD

KL Rahul celebrating his hundred

through in the middle of the day.

Thirimanne couldn’t reap the benefits much past his fifty, but Mathews grew more dangerous as Dhananjaya stuck around with him. Mathews reverseswept Kuldeep twice as he approached three-figures, and continued punishing any width, of which there was plenty as India’s bowlers endured tepid second spells.

Even the shot to bring up his third ODI century, all of which are against India, was a generous half-tracker that was carved over point. That innings and that partnership came after India seemed to have sealed Sri Lanka’s fate much earlier in the day.

Jasprit Bumrah had begun with two consecutive maidens, one of which contained the

Sri Lanka Innings (50 overs maximum) FDM Karunaratne (c) c †Dhoni b Bumrah 10 MDKJ Perera † c †Dhoni b Bumrah 18 WIA Fernando c †Dhoni b Pandya 20 BKG Mendis st †Dhoni b Jadeja 3 AD Mathews c Sharma b Bumrah 113 HDRL Thirimanne c Jadeja b Kuldeep Yadav 53 DM de Silva not out 29 NLTC Perera c Pandya b Kumar 2 I Udana not out 1 Extras 15 (b 4, lb 2, nb 1, w 8) TOTAL 264/7 (50 Overs, RR: 5.28) Did not bat: CAK Rajitha, SL Malinga Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Dimuth Karunaratne, 3.4 ov), 2-40 (Kusal Perera, 7.1 ov), 3-53 (Kusal Mendis, 10.4 ov), 4-55 (Avishka Fernando, 11.4 ov), 5-179 (Lahiru Thirimanne, 37.5 ov), 6-253 (Angelo Mathews, 48.2 ov), 7-260 (Thisara Perera, 49.2 ov) BOWLING O M R W B Kumar 10 0 73 1 JJ Bumrah 10 2 37 3

wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne, who edged behind on the angle. Bhuvneshwar Kumar didn’t quite hit his straps in overseas conditions though, and his day didn’t get any better when Kuldeep and Hardik Pandya had a moment of miscommunication as they got under a toe-ended loft from Kusal Perera; Hardik didn’t seem to hear the call at midon, and Kuldeep, the mid-off fielder who was closer to the line of the ball, only mustered a weak flap at the ball with Hardik in his peripheral vision.

But onto that vulnerability was Bumrah again, this time using the angle to induce a cut from Kusal, only to get his inside

HH Pandya RA Jadeja Kuldeep Yadav

10 0 10 0 10 0

50 40 58

1 1 1

India Innings (target: 265 runs from 50 overs) KL Rahul c †MDKJ Perera b Malinga

111 RG Sharma c Mathews b Rajitha 103 V Kohli (c) not out 34 RR Pant lbw b Udana 4 HH Pandya not out 7 Extras 6 (lb 1, w 5) TOTAL 265/3 (43.3 Overs, RR: 6.09) Yet to bat: MS Dhoni †, KD Karthik, RA Jadeja, B Kumar, JJ Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav Fall of wickets: 1-189 (Rohit Sharma, 30.1 ov), 2-244 (KL Rahul, 40.6 ov), 3-253 (Rishabh Pant, 41.6 ov) BOWLING O M R W SL Malinga 10 1 82 1 CAK Rajitha 8 0 47 1 I Udana 9.3 0 50 1 NLTC Perera 10 0 34 0 DM de Silva 6 0 51 0

edge, which MS Dhoni grabbed onto. Kusal chose to walk as India contemplated a review, and he would be followed shortly by Kusal Mendis, who ran down at Ravindra Jadeja’s fourth ball of the day to be beaten in flight and stumped.

Dhoni added a fourth dismissal - two fewer than Adam Gilchrist’s World Cup record of six - when Avishka Fernando gloved a slower bouncer to him, but Sri Lanka’s collapse stopped at 55 for 4. It did prove vital though - 264 on a good batting surface was not going to trouble India. And it was the perfect representation of a disappointing tournament for Sri Lanka. (ESPNcricinfo)

SUNDAY, JULY 7, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

GPL power outage, rain put a damper on exciting AP Invitational Pg 23

Pg 23

Rohit, Rahul smash centuries – India top points table

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

July 7, 2019

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JUly 7, 2019

Feature

“L

eading up to the exams was nothing different for me. I used to go to school and come back home, do my chores or use my phone and then take a bath at 6pm (18:00h) and then I would study until 9pm (21:00h), because I used to read my book every day. I did that because I didn’t want to rush into the exam and now the work paid off,” says 12-year-old Jaeden Conway.

The School of the Nations Berbice student gained 513 marks at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) exams, and was awarded a spot at The Bishops’ High School in Georgetown. However, because of the distance, he may be attending the Berbice High School.

The smart, talented and kind young man started School of the Nations in November of last year after

Jaeden Conway

Jaeden Conway's parents

a transfer from Lochaber Primary School.

“My parents decided that I needed a better challenge and they moved me to School of the Nations. There I was given more of a challenge and the experience was great. In preparation for exams, I had to first give up the phone and TV and continued focusing on the books. I used to go extra lessons, but in preparation for the exam I stopped going,” he explained.

He would take breaks -- playing with his phone a t

times or doing chores. On certain occasions he would engage in a game of football in order to relax. He said those times were much needed, because he did not want to just be chained to the books but wanted to be an all-rounder.

“I want to become a veterinary surgeon because I like animals. I love animals and we have a dog named Rambo,” Harden revealed.

He is excited to start secondary school and looks forward to learning more.

guyanatimesgy.com

JUly 7, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

By Lakhram Bhagirat

I

n order to achieve great things, we have to make immense sacrifices and sometimes those sacrifices would see us losing out on precious moments. In the end, we always ask the question “was it all worth it?” and sometimes the answer surprises us.

For 11-year-old Stefani Rafeek, the sacrifices made at an early age were totally worth it. For many children Stefani’s age, their regular day includes lots of leisure time and not so many hours of school and studying. However, Stefani knew she wanted to sacrifice that time in order to succeed.

The Success Elementary School student achieved the fifth highest mark at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and a place at Queen’s College. The road to QC was one paved with immense struggles and sacrifices for the aspiring business consultant. The hurdles were far too many

and at times she wanted to just throw in the towel, but defeat is something she cannot live with.

Armed with a dream to emulate her parents, Stefani’s regular day would begin about 04:00h. She would be required to arrive at school for 07:00h so when she woke up at 04:00h, it gave her a two-hour study period and then it was preparation for school.

The pressure was intense, but Stefani said that although she felt exhausted, she knew it was for the best and that the results would be worth it.

“My time at Success (Elementary School) was wonderful. I was not always on top of the class, but my teachers and the students there have always been nice. I would give the school a 9 out of 10, because they put a lot of pressure on me, but I knew it was for the best. They (the school’s administration) always wanted you in your 90s and it was quite exhausting. I feel great that I have completed that aspect of my life,” she said.

Throughout her primary school life, Stefani’s parents and brother stood by her side cheering her on and for her, that is what drove her to keep pushing. She knew that the sacrifices

of the best schools in the country. Our teacher Miss Africo (Selman) has started preparing our class (for secondary school). She would tell us what to expect and give us topics about what she did and tell us about her experience. I know it will be very hard especially for first formers.

It was overwhelming (preparing for NGSA). I felt like giving up sometimes, but I know it would have been worth it, that is why I pushed forward,” Stefani explained.

Stefani was in school when she found out that she had achieved the fifth highest score in the country, and was rendered speechless. The first call went to her parents, who were overjoyed because they had already known about her performance.

“My parents are proud of me and I am happy. I can’t wait to go to QC and make new friends. I know it would be hard to adjust, but I am ready.”

Stefani is grateful for her family who supported her and her teachers who pushed her to realise what laid within her.

She is now on the path to achieving great things and has expert advice for those who would have missed their dream schools by a few marks.

“Don’t give up, because it is always worth it in the end.”

Now that the hard part is over, Stefani is looking forward to a new collection of Stephen King books as her reward, but while that is arriving, she is rocking back and enjoying the sweet sounds of Billie Eilish.

they made to ensure that she was given every opportunity were unimaginable; therefore, her performing to the best of her ability would be the ultimate reward. So when she had to go to school seven days per week and spend endless hours studying, it did not really affect her because attending QC was a lifelong dream.

For her, QC is the dream school because it is considered to be the best in the country.

“I feel relieved (that I got QC). I look forward to going to QC, because I always wanted to go there because it is one

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Feature

T

he top spot in this year’s National Grade 6 Examinations for Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) is shared by Jasmine Simpson of One Mile Primary School and Ravi Raymond of Regma Primary— who both scored 523 marks each.

Also placing in the region’s top 10 are Taniya Spencer of the Watooka Day Primary school and Tashaunsia Alder of Royal Halls of Learning with 520 marks each, followed by Jarem Fraser of the One Mile Primary school with 519 marks. They all have gained places at Queen’s College.

Other top students include Erykah Roberts of the Watooka Day Primary with 518 marks, Janae Bristol of Regma Primary with 515 marks, Ashanti Balgobin of the Amelia’s Ward Primary with 514 marks, Shaquon Ross of the Christianburg Primary with 513 marks and Yanell Easton of the Royal Halls of Learning who also secured 513 marks. They all secured places at Bishops’ High School.

Speaking with Sunday Times Magazine one of the top students, Jasmine Simpson, said she wants to become a lawyer. She recalled being surprised and overjoyed upon hearing the news of her achievements.

While she expected to do well, topping the region is the icing on the cake.

“The preparations were filled with stressful and hardworking days, with almost sleepless nights”, she noted.

The aspiring lawyer accredited her success to the assistance she received from her parents and the teachers of One Mile Primary school. Simpson, whose hobbies are reading and singing, also expressed gratitude to the rest of her family for their encouragement and her friends for lending support throughout her journey.

The top student encouraged other stu-

Jasmine Simpson and Jarem Fraser

dents who would be sitting the examination next year to read a lot and make sacrifices in order to be successful. Following her educational journey at Queens College, Simpson said she wishes to pursue further studies at the University of Guyana.

11-year-old Jarem Fraser of One Mile Primary who placed 5th in the Region’s top

10 and 2nd for his school with 519 marks.

Fraser hails from Canvas City and he is an aspiring scientist. He had expected to place in the top 10.

“I’m happy that I was second place. It was very challenging. I read nights, mornings, in the evenings, before lessons on Sundays. I had to give up playing football,

which is my hobby”, he related.

Fraser’s advice to students writing the examination in the future is that though it might be challenging, if they are persistent, they will be successful in the end. He said he wishes to further his studies overseas.

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Feature

I needed; my Ajee (paternal grandmother), who gave me massages; and all other family members and friends who supported me, “ she Sir Rezwan said.

“I also owe great gratitude to all the teachers of CV Nunes Primary School, particularly Ms Ketwaru, Mr Rezwan Persaud, Ms Doodmattie Doodnauth, Ms Raywattie

P

Pradesh Dwarka

radesh Dwarka, a student of CV Nunes Primary School on the Essequibo Coast secured 522 marks at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations and was awarded a spot at Queen’s College in Georgetown. Pradesh, who copped the second spot in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), said he was very happy, excited and relieved when he heard the good news. He said he was confident of doing well since he was always consistent with his grades throughout his primary education. Pradesh said he felt rewarded for all his hard work and effort, staying up late at nights burning the midnight oil.

He gave praise and thanks to God for guidance when he felt like giving up and also all the teachers of CV Nunes, especially his teachers, Miss Binda Ketwaru and Sir Rezwan Persaud who played an important role in him achieving this feat. More importantly, he said he could not have done it without his mom who sat and studied with him late at nights. She would explain, in detail, whatever he needed more clarity on.

One of the challenges he faced was preparing for the exams with time being an important factor. It was stressful since they had to complete assignments, extra lessons and study, but he managed and balanced this out by having some recreational time with family. He plans to continue his education at the Anna Regina Multilateral School (ARMS) and pursue a career in software engineering. His advice to future candidates is to study hard and be prepared.

Gevasha Harpaul

Gevasha Harpaul, another student of CV Nunes Primary School on the Essequibo Coast, also secured 522 marks at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations and was awarded a spot at Queen’s College in Georgetown. Gevasha copped the third spot in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

“I am delighted to be placed third in my Region and gaining a place at my dream school at Queen’s College. The road to success was very challenging, as it required a lot of discipline and commitment. I had to let go of many things, but my parents ensured that I still had time to relax by watching TV, playing games and listening to music. They believed all work and no play would make me a dull girl. I owe my success firstly to God for his divine blessings; to my father, who studied with me; my mother, who prepared questions; my Nani (maternal grandmother), who cooked delicious meals when

Miss Binda

Deonarine and Ms Nadiera Drikpaul. My advice to future NGSA candidates is to focus on your studies, revise your work, pay attention in class, have some fun, and always pray to God.”

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Preserving our literary heritage

(Extract of an interview with Dr. Ian McDonald, Georgetown, Guyana, March 2019) by

Petamber Persaud

M

cDonald has published eight collections of poetry, one award-winning novel, one award-winning play, three non-fiction works, and has written over 1,500 articles. He has won the Guyana Prize for Literature on three occasions, all in the poetry category.

Here, he continues to talk about his latest poetry book, ‘New and Collected Poems’ which runs into 447 pages. His most recent publication is ‘An Abounding Joy: Essays on Sport’ is 558 pages long.)

IM …..in this latest phrase of my life, I have written a lot of poetry, in fact, when I look back, I probably wrote more poetry in that time span than in any other similar time span in the rest of my life. This book does go back all the way.

PP So let’s talk beginnings….

IM Poetry is in my genes.

Remember my great, great, great grandfather was a poet back in England and published poetry in the 19th c., my great uncle was a poet and published a book of poems out of Antigua, my grandmother, Hilda McDonald, my father’s mother, published two books of verse out of Antigua. So I always say in me there is a poetry gene that emerged in me as well. So I have always known about poetry, my parents had a very good library including lots of books on poetry…

PP Important influence – the library.

IM I remember reading poets like Tennyson, John Keats, and Shelly and Wordsworth when I was quite young.

Very formative, was my English Teacher at Queen’s Royal College in Trinidad. A man I can remember now - I wrote a poem about him called ‘John Hodge’ – he inculcated a love for poetry in me, not just text book poetry but poetry from all over the world, from poets we weren’t studying at school…he said that we must remember that there is a lot of wonderful poetry well beyond our syllabus.

He was very important in my life.

Then I have a distinct memory of someone putting in my hand a very small collection, almost a pamphlet of poems written by a young West Indian called Derek Walcott, and it was his first collection when he was about 18 or 19 and it was called very simply ‘Twenty-five Poems’ by Derek Walcott….I remember reading it and, Petamber, I am going back more 70 years, I remember reading it and saying this poetry is so good and it is affecting me so much, and it was by a West Indian, not an Englishman, or a Frenchman in translation, or anyone else, it was by a West Indian. A West Indian writing poetry like - this is marvelous. And I think, from then I realize why not, why not try writing poetry myself.

PP Your poetry has evolved, leaning towards free verse/ blank verse…

IM I’d go beyond that. Most of my new poems – it is a strange thing – they have emerged, they almost write themselves; the way they emerged and I write them down literally without punctuation. When I discuss them with my editor, then punctuation is inserted. The origin manuscript of ‘River Dancer’ didn’t have punctuation at all – the ‘River Dancer’ in this collection has some punctuation inserted when it was edited. But basically, these new poems I’m talking about have emerged with a minimum of grammatical punctuation; they have emerged as out of my mind, as it were, unto the page even without capitals etc…so in some ways, these most recent poems are different than what I use to write.

PP Your poetry has evolved IM Definitely PP Now not so much with form but with the experimentation with words - playing with words IM That is true. I think you use a good word - my poetry is evolving - but yet the themes remain the same – I

still find myself writing about the beauty of nature, I still find myself writing about personalities – characters, people; ‘Mercy Ward’ is a series of portraits of people, even now the new poems when you read them they are about portraits of people…

PP ‘People of Guyana’…

IM Now that you’ve mentioned that – a little booklet I brought out with my good friend, Peter Jailall, called ‘People of Guyana’ – my poems in there go back quite some years but some are quite new and they all about people.

So in some ways although my poetry has evolved the themes remain the same and I suppose that is true of all poetry after all the themes of life are the same for us…

PP Love, life, death, ageing IM Birth, joy, youth, grief – these themes will never change.

PP Now more than ever, you’re writing about ageing IM Yes, as you age, you write about ageing…

PP You’re going through that process, dealing with it IM A lot to do with ageing is not only what’s happening to you but also what is going on around you – people and friends around you who age and die and disappear, all of which are themes for poetry PP Poetry, poetry, poetry, what is this thing called poetry…

IM A lot of people find it difficult to see where poetry fits in their life. They can understand prose, accounts of life, sport, politics, war and peace, and everything else but when is come to poetry, they don’t see the relevance but that’s so untrue because nearly every situation in life and every emotion that you have, poetry illustrates it…

I cannot imagine living life without poetry …..

Responses to this author please telephone 226-0065 of email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: Coming soon: A new book by Ameena Gafoor: ‘The Evolution of Writing in English By and About East Indians of Guyana, 1838 – 2018’.

Listen o my dear leave exam fear Work hard and feel confident Give it your best and God will see the rest In any situation never leave your cheer No one does best always in exam Mistakes do occur in reality realm They give us training to always do better Never loose your heart and don’t shatter Learn from your mistakes and improvise You will thus become more and more wise People will admire and success will come near Listen o my dear leave exam fear Work hard and feel confident Give it your best and God will see the rest In any situation never leave your cheer Nothing is certain in ever changing life Only good exams will never suffice Problems don’t declare their sudden arrival Strength is needed for a peaceful survival Practical learning is equally essential It brings out your real potential Opportunities lie in so many spheres Listen o my dear leave exam fear Work hard and feel confident Give it your best and God will see the rest In any situation never leave your cheer

By Shishir

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Feature

By Lakhram Bhagirat

W

hen it comes to fashion, there is so much one can say but what sums it all up is the fact that fashion is dynamic while style is individual. We are in an era where fashion is limitless, there are no rules that govern what designers put out. We have the old being branded ‘new’ and new as out of the box.

However, the local fashion industry is one that lacks the originality of what Guyanese fashion is truly about.

On course to change that is 29-year-old Anthony Dinally.

Anthony is a classic millennial with a passion for everything beautiful and artistic. Always challenging traditions for a modern outcome is how he describes himself. The Georgetown native has always unconsciously been at the front of the fashion scene, since he would always offer advice to his mother and older sister.

Coming from a single-parent household meant that there were struggles in his life but it always allowed him to be humble. Despite his humbleness, Anthony has always had ginormous dreams, and his favourite quote is “What is life if you can’t dream?”

His initial introduction to the fashion industry was in 2009 when he entered the ColeFacts Fashion Competition organised by designers Michelle Cole and the late Trevor Rose. However, owing to work commitments, he was forced to withdraw, but in 2013, the opportunity arose in a different form.

“I met Damian Moore, an artist and fashion designer and former student of the CAFD UTT, through a friend. He

was offering an introductory course to fashion design at the Burrowes School of Arts. I signed up and by the end of the programme, he had convinced me to apply to UTT (University of Trinidad and Tobago) Caribbean Academy of Fashion Design. I took some time but I managed to compile a portfolio and submitted it in May of 2015 and I was accepted for the new school year, starting September of that year,” Anthony explained.

The journey was one that was literally blood, sweat and tears for Anthony. He pushed beyond his boundaries and did not give up.

“I will begin by saying the fashion industry ironically isn’t as pretty as you think it is. It is labour-intensive; blood, sweat and tears, literally! Each semester, each level, posed new challenges since fashion is both theoretical and practical with almost impossible deadlines. I am grateful to have been blessed with amazing classmates, for without each other, none of us would have lasted,” he revealed.

The hard work paid off and when Anthony graduated in June, he created history as he was awarded the Student of the Year Award. He is the first regional or international student to receive the award for fashion.

For him, it was a moment to pay homage to his fashion icon, Lee Alexander Mc Queen.

“I’m quite humbled to be honest. I guess the most rewarding thing throughout the final process, was seeing people’s reaction to my concept and vision and actually getting it, agreeing with it! Almost like they were being awakened,” he said on receiving top honours.

Now that the easy part is over, life gets real. It is time for Anthony to put all that he have learnt into practice and develop a brand that fully represents the Caribbean and South America at an international level -- the representative sustainable clothing brand of this region.

He certainly did that with his collection “BODYSCAPE”.

BODYSCAPE was inspired by landscaping under the theme “sustainability and technology: the future of fashion”. The collection was developed to exhibit the amalgamation of two contrasting elements (the natural environment and artificial intelligence) working together to prove that both elements are quintessential for the health of the environment and for innovative and new design possibilities.

Anthony has a bright future ahead as he seeks to create his mark and leave behind a legacy that will challenge his icon’s.

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Puzzles

ACROSS

1 Rodeo prop 6 First-magnitude star 11 Engine knocks 16 Work schedule 21 Happy occasion, briefly 22 Like a queen 23 Top monk 24 Column type 25 Good for something 26 January, in Jalisco 27 Deputy 28 Nutmeg or cinnamon 29 Traipse about 30 Dust collectors 32 Strode along 34 Gehrig and Piniella 36 Marshy ground 37 Brays (hyph.)

39 Rainout-proof 40 Delta deposit 41 Phoenician seaport 42 Buy 43 Not pickled 44 Forever young 46 Vogue 49 Riveted 50 Morse clicks 51 A B vitamin 55 Golf club 56 Some hermits 57 Makes a faux pas 58 Generally (3 wds.)

59 Swing voter (abbr.)

60 Show the way 61 Dismisses 62 Passing fancy 63 Caviar, actually 64 Going on tiptoe 66 Energetic (hyph.)

67 Real bargain 68 Relax, as rules 69 Bulb exporter 70 Kismet 71 Rush of wind 72 Musical finales 73 “-- -- for Alibi” 74 Old prospector (2 wds.)

76 Kind of pool 77 Sen. Hatch 80 Not let go 81 Do perfectly 82 Skin softener 86 Visible 87 Steel- -- boots 88 Kind of caterpillar 89 Ladies’ man

90 Contented murmur 91 Globule 92 Hit the beach 93 Dry off 94 Dorsal -95 Bitterly cold 97 Woolly animals 98 Dive, as a whale 99 Normandy port 100 Insignia 101 Kind of buggy 102 Stringed instruments 103 Easy mark 104 Poured out 106 Dollar fractions 107 Cosmonaut’s lab 108 Vex 111 Many August people 112 Leeway 113 Uncouth (hyph.)

117 U2 producer 118 Earl -- Biggers 119 Brusque 120 Early pulpit 121 Turmoil 122 Hoist 124 With regret 126 Traffic jam (hyph.)

128 Unvoiced 130 Mother- -- - -131 PC message 132 Marauding mob 133 Bounce 134 Dry runs 135 Hoarse 136 Aquarium scavenger 137 Smudged

DOWN

1 Chortle 2 Pilasters 3 Catty 4 Part of RSVP 5 Daunt 6 Lees 7 Billions of years 8 PBS “Science Guy” 9 Hoop sites 10 Burst into flower 11 Put down asphalt 12 Term paper abbr.

13 “SNL” network 14 Puck stoppers 15 Amble along 16 Whisper loudly 17 Oola’s guy 18 Consolidate

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD -- LIBRETTO (LIBRETTO: li-BRET-oh: The text of a dramatic musical work such as an opera.)

Average mark 42 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 60 or more words in LIBRETTO? TODAY’S WORD -- LIBRETTO

lire liter litter lobe loiter lore belt bettor bier bile bite biter bitt bitter blot

blotter boil boiler bole bolt bore bort bottle brio brittle broil relit rile riot rite

robe roil role rote tier tile tilt tire tiro titer title toil toile toiler toilet

tole tore tort torte tote toter tribe trio trite trot obit oiler orbit oriel otter

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.

19 Kitchen tool 20 Stage set 31 Barley bristle 33 Pricing word 35 Piece of cutlery 38 Cargo area 39 Harbor suspicions 40 Noncoms 41 1917 abdicator 43 Informal speech 44 Makes public 45 Thailand, once 46 Silky rustle 47 Kemo Sabe’s pal 48 Sing falsetto 49 Daily routine 50 007 film (2 wds.)

52 Like bacon 53 Massey of vintage Hollywood 54 More than wants 56 Piggy bank contents 57 Fervor 58 Pull a rabbit out of -- -60 Unvarnished 61 Sheepfold

62 Toward sunset 65 Delon of cinema 66 Fright reaction 67 Two-way 68 Atomic No. 5 70 Look after the hens 71 Coarse sand 72 Dark line on Mars 74 Like a bass 75 Skimpy pullover 76 Reconnoitered 77 Missouri river 78 Domain 79 Fixed-up building 80 Rapper -- Moe Dee 82 Suburban greenery 83 Diet (hyph.)

84 Wall climbers 85 Au pair 87 Squash 88 Mild 89 Overthrow attempts 91 Carpe --!

92 Wedding -93 Viennese dessert

96 Musical symbol 97 Wishes undone 98 Approval 99 Marathoner’s gorge 101 Life-size exhibit 102 Firesides 103 Took the helm 105 More succinct 106 Navy noncom 107 Sammy Sosa’s org.

108 Type of badge 109 Harebrained 110 Thwarts a villain 112 Bashfully 113 Drive forward 114 Fast-moving snake 115 Mandate 116 Eccentric 118 Morning sparklers 119 Lose a toehold 120 German import 123 Plopped down 125 “-- Rheingold” 127 Hurler’s stat 129 Mexican chili pepper See Solution on page 14

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Bollywood/Hollywood

F

itness is important for actor Katrina Kaif and she wants everybody to incorporate it in their life, but is against the idea of people trying to get a physique like others.

She says she doesn’t believe in an ‘ideal physique’ or ‘ideal way’ that a woman should look.

The Bharat actor has long working hours and various work commitments, but she doesn’t let them come in the way of her fitness. She spoke highly of her Bharat co-star and told Zoom, “Salman Khan is a fitness icon.

It’s so inspiring to see him passionately follow his physical targets. And he takes his fitness training very seriously. It’s just amazing how his passion for fitness is growing with every passing day.”

“It is very simple. There are 24 hours in a day. If you can’t take out even 40 minutes in a day then I think it is your choice or there is not a reason enough to do it. Maybe it’s not working for you but if fitness is important

B

ollywood actor Alia Bhatt, who has crooned a few songs in her movies, may soon release and feature in her own music video, reports suggest.

Pinkvilla and Mumbai

B

to you, you can take out 45 minutes in a day wherever you are,” Katrina told IANS in a telephonic interview.

“There are so many different types of training that one can do. The most important thing is to find the type of training that works for you. Don’t try to copy somebody else. I don’t believe that there is any ideal physique or any ideal way a woman should look.

Mirror claimed that Alia may sing a song and feature in the music video, which will be released on her recently announced YouTube channel. Announcing her channel, Alia had said in a video, “I have done the Instagram

Asked about her upcoming action film Sooryavanshi, she said: “I am not doing much of action in it. It’s kind of just a more... regular look in my film.”

She told Zoom, “I think Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar. They are so passionate about their fitness training and work really hard towards achieving their fitness training.” (Hindustan Times)

rad Pitt plans to work more behind the camera instead of in front of it.

The 55-year-old actor, who appears in Quentin Tarantino’s highly anticipated upcoming film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” opened up about the changes Hollywood has been going through in light of the #MeToo movement, the rise of streaming services, mega franchises and more, and said he might be past his prime in terms of starring in classic screenplays.

“I’m behind the camera on the producing side and I enjoy that a lot,” Pitt told GQ Australia. “But I keep doing less and less. I really believe that overall it’s a younger man’s game – not that there aren’t substantial parts for older characters – I just feel, the game itself, it’ll move on naturally. There will be a natural selection to it all.

“But I’m curious to see what the future of film is, what shape it takes.”

Although some Hollywood icons such as Steven Spielberg have rejected streaming services in the entertainment sphere, Pitt said he’s a fan because they give more opportunities to new talent.

“I like to think there’s room for both,” Pitt said. “But I could be a dinosaur and not even know it, man. And the comet could be on the way.” (Page Six)

world, the Twitter world and now I am trying to get on to the Youtube world. You will get to see a lot me just being.

Totally unadulterated.”

“What she posts on her Twitter and Instagram handles is the final result. Her

channel will showcase how she works with her team behind the scenes. Whether it’s a film promotional event or a friend’s wedding, how she gets ready for it... and what does it take to do so will be some of the professional aspects that she will share,” a source had told DNA about the upcoming YouTube channel.

Alia, along with her boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor, was spotted at the Mumbai airport as they returned from New York on Monday. They were in the US to visit his father and veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who is receiving treatment for cancer there.

Alia and Ranbir will be seen together for the first time in the first film of Ayan Mukerji’s fantasy trilogy, Brahmastra. The film also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy and Nagarjuna.

Alia was last seen in Kalank and will soon work on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Inshallah, in which she will be paired with Salman Khan for the first time. Set for an Eid 2020 release, Inshallah is a love story between Alia - a young aspiring actor and Salman - an older businessman. Later, she will also shoot for Karan Johar’s Takht, which also stars Ranveer Singh and Kareena Kapoor Khan. (Hindustan Times)

A

nna Wintour had a change of heart at this year’s Met Gala.

In the latest installment of Vogue’s “Go Ask Anna” video series, the 69-year-old editor-in-chief was asked for her thoughts on Cardi B‘s sense of style. “I was completely in awe of the stunning dress that Cardi B wore to the Met this year,” she responded.

“She looked unbelievable. It was designed by Thom Browne. She could barely move, but it made

no difference. People parted like the queen coming through because she looked so fantastic.”

Continued the editrix: “I had not seen her look as chic or as original beforehand. So I completely rethought my opinion of Cardi B’s style.

She rocks.”

Considering the 26-yearold rapper just got the biggest compliment this arbiter of fashion can bestow, can a Vogue cover be too far behind? (Page Six)

Crossword Solution

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Fun Times

Archie

You may not like the changes that are taking (March 21place, but if you focus on April 19) what you enjoy doing, you will be able to deal with what you don’t like.

ARIES

Don’t get into a scuffle with TAURUS someone who decides to make (April 20- a change of plans. Go about May 20) your business and spend time with people who share your interests. A romantic encounter looks promising.

Someone will twist your GEMINI words if you aren’t precise.

(MAY 28- Don’t let an emotional situJune 20) ation lead to regret. An encounter with someone from your past will be misleading.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Get together with friends or relatives. Pay close attention to what others are doing and offer to help bring about positive change. An intimate relationship will provide more stability and security.

Be honest with yourself and move on to being honest with everyone else. If you try to avoid issues, you’ll end up spinning your wheels and will get nowhere fast.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Plan a fun-filled day with someone who shares your interests. Taking a day trip or making a change that will lead to personal growth is favored. Say no to indulgent manipulators.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Consider the cost of anything you do before you begin. Trying to keep up with someone better off will lead to more significant debt. You can’t buy friendship or love.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Calvin and Hobbes AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Observe different lifestyles, get together with people you respect and admire, and consider making changes that will allow you to live life your way. Pursue your dreams.

An offer someone makes will not be sound. Don’t feel that you must get involved just because someone is trying to make you feel guilty if you don’t.

Alter your living conditions to suit your budget.

Taking a practical approach that will allow you to do the things you enjoy most will help to ease stress.

Don’t fret if someone doesn’t want to join you.

Make your own arrangements. Anger is a waste of time and will leave you feeling uncertain about your future.

Plan to spend time with a loved one. Share your thoughts and feelings, and make plans for the future.

Keep your life simple and let go of the past.