Guyana Times,Saturday January 18, 2020.

“We

Tanker to lift first million barrels of oil this weekend

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, January 18 – 11:00h –12:30h and Sunday, January 19 –12:10h – 13:40h. Saturday, January 18 – 12:00h –13:30h and Sunday, January 19 –13:00h – 14:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

“We will help you get back on your feet” – Ali tells WBD fired sugar workers

Winds:

High

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has promised to lend support to the hundreds of former sugar workers who remained on the breadline after the APNU/AFC administration closed the Wales Estate back in 2016.

This promise was made by the Party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, at a well-attended public meeting on Friday at Patentia, West Bank Demerara.

The Wales Estate was the first of four estates closed by the coalition government. Three years later, many of those thousands of sacked sugar workers across the country are still struggling to make ends meet while communities are also

The PPP/C President hopeful went on to point out that while the Party has promised to reopen the four closed estates – something which still stands – it may not be able to do so immediately since it will first have to examine all the destruction done by the coalition to those factories.

the communities and other workers would also be affected. Because when the estates were closed, there was no money to buy from the small farmers and so on,” Ali posited.

Building on this, Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the PPP, Bharrat Jagdeo, further told supporters that the PPP/C will ensure that those private cane farmers who were also affected by the Wales closure get help.

“All of the farmers who were supplying cane to

facing the ripple effects of the closures.

Dr Ali told hundreds of supporters gathered a stone’s-throw away from the Wales Estate that a PPP regime will work to create opportunities for the people in West Demerara (Region Three), especially those on the sugar belt, to make themselves and their communities economically viable once again.

As such, he pointed out that the Party will sit and work out plans to have dismissed sugar workers get jobs.

“What we’re committing to you here in Wales, and other workers who were affected [by the closures, is that we are going to help you to get back on your feet. We are going to support you to get back on your feet. We are going to support your families so that your chil-

dren can stay in school. We wanna support your families so that you can be stronger once again and husbands don’t have to go away for weeks to get an income for his family. We owe you that, the country owes you that and we must give you that,” Ali declared.

Moreover, he noted that an Irfaan Ali-led administration will also focus on strategic partnerships with the private sector but in a transparent manner unlike the secret deals being undertaken by the coalition.

“That is why we said when they closed the sugar industry, they should’ve done a social or economic impact assessments. If they had done that, they would see that not only the workers will suffer but all

Wales [Estate], we have to find alternatives and we will support them too, from Canal and other places, because they used to produce and they used employ people. We have to find ways to assisting them so that they can get back into production… We have a duty to ensure that all the people treated badly by this Government get redress,” Jagdeo asserted.

To this end, he urged supporters to ensure that they turn out to vote on March 2 to ensure PPP’s victory, which, he noted, should be by an enormous margin.

“There must be no doubt about the victory. It can’t be the 50,000 votes that we beat them by in the last Local Government Elections. It gotta be even bigger… And that’s why we need you to be campaigners not passive listeners,” the Opposition Leader stated.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Poverty and sugar

In Guyana, far too many of our people are considered poor and are still waiting to access the opportunities that would allow them to lift themselves out of poverty. In his early months in Government, President David Granger had said that Guyana has enough resources to banish poverty forever. However, after almost five years in power, the nation did not see many real programmes implemented to address poverty and to create “the good life for all” that was promised on the campaign trail during the May 2015 polls.

In fact, during one of his special addresses to the National Assembly, the President regurgitated this same promise of providing a “good life for all”. He had said his vision is to create a good life for all Guyanese based on “happy communities, happy households and happy people”. According to the President at the time, “the ‘good life’ entails providing every citizen with opportunities to be the best that they can be”. He had said, “the ‘good life’ is about securing sustained economic prosperity, ensuring citizens’ access to quality public services and promoting social cohesion… eliminating extreme poverty and removing social, ethnic and geographic inequalities”.

At the time, all of these promises sounded very well to the ordinary man, and many were optimistic that the coalition would have taken a path which would have resulted in many citizens being better off. However, one cannot ignore the present realities our country is faced with. Sugar workers are facing extremely tough times due to the downsizing of the sugar estates, the rice sector is in decline, miners are complaining about high taxes and are closing operations, small and medium-scale businesses are closing their doors and barring developments in the oil and gas sector, there is hardly anything being done to create job opportunities or generate wealth in the society.

Not long after the APNU/AFC coalition got into power in May 2015, they started a process to downsize the sugar industry to just three estates – Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion— placing over 7000 workers on the breadline. Insisting that the sugar industry was bleeding the treasury, the coalition government had noted that downsizing the sector will make it more economically viable. However, to date, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) continues to perform below par, failing to meet its output targets.

This newspaper has carried a series of reports in relation to the heavy toll the closure of the sugar estates is having on communities, especially those who were, directly and indirectly, dependent on sugar for a livelihood. It could be recalled that the coalition government had promised to find alternative job opportunities and give lands to these displaced workers to sustain themselves and their families; however, these promises are yet to be fulfilled.

Several stakeholders, including the Opposition, had criticised the administration for moving ahead with closing the sugar estates without any fact-based approach which would have included a socioeconomic impact study; which, in any case, was recommended by a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) set up by this very Government. We had suggested that the issue be brought for discussion and debate at the national level with the involvement of all stakeholders but this was ignored.

Certainly, the estates were a major source of sustenance and the impact of their closure is being felt deep and wide. Just a few days ago, we carried a report where a number of these still unemployed workers from the closed Wales, East Demerara (Enmore), Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates, are pleading with the public, government, and private sector for assistance.

Sugar workers and their families are witnessing their communities being destroyed, families being broken up and increased incidences of crime and other social problems.

The elections campaign is in full swing and we are certain that citizens will carefully examine the plans and policies of the various parties as they relate to tacking the issues confronting the sugar sector. In a more general sense, they will look to see which party has the best plan in terms of creating decent jobs, generating wealth and encouraging the growth and development of small and medium-scale businesses etc. This time around, the coalition is singing the same song again of their plan to provide “a good life for all”.

Venezuela cash hoard sinks below $1 billion with gold locked up

Venezuela’s international reserves, already at a 30-year low, have hit a grim new milestone as cash holdings fall below $1 billion amid crippling economic sanctions.

Venezuela’s central bank now has only about $800 million left in cash and an additional $200 million of other liquid assets, according to three people with knowledge of the bank’s balance sheet. While the country holds some 73 tons of gold in local vaults, selling it has become increasingly difficult amid the US efforts to cut off Nicolas Maduro’s regime from a global network of buyers, banks and middlemen.

The shrinking coffers mark a new low for Venezuela, where an economic crisis rooted in the collapse of its all-important oil industry has been exacerbated by wide-reaching US sanctions that have cut the nation off from international capital markets. A shortage of cash could threaten the Maduro regime’s ability to continue food subsidy programmes, import basic goods and maintain support from top military officials.

Press officials for Venezuela’s central bank didn’t respond to requests for comment.

A significant chunk of Venezuela’s gold, 32 tons worth about $1.6 billion, remains in London after the Bank of England declined multiple requests from Maduro to repatriate the gold. While the central bank is independent, the UK Government doesn’t recognise Maduro as the country’s legitimate leader and says his regime shouldn’t have access to overseas assets.

Total reserves fell by $832 million this month to $6.11 billion, the lowest since July 1989. The drop is largely due to cuts in cash holdings of Chinese Yuan, one of the people said.

The reserves also include about $400 million of special drawing rights that are hung up at the International Monetary Fund, which has also shut Venezuela out. The country had al-

ready whittled down its SDR holdings from almost $1 billion in March 2018.

Opposition Leader Juan Guaido has been recognised by more than 50 nations as Venezuela’s rightful president since early 2019, and the sanctions that have cut Maduro off from the global financial system are part of efforts to oust his administration.

Venezuela’s demand for payments in crypto pauses on some oil purchases

Some buyers of Venezuelan crude oil have halted purchases after the country started demanding payment of port fees in its failed crypto currency.

Exports of at least 1 million barrels of oil were put on hold after the government announced this week that certain maritime fees, currently paid in euros, must be paid in Petros starting Monday, according to people with knowledge of the situation. Buyers worry the payment may be in violation of sanctions after the US targeted the cryptocurrency, calling it a “scam”.

The oil-rich nation launched the Petro two years ago as a way to navigate wide-reaching US sanctions that have cut off Venezuela from international capital markets. Although banners with the Petro symbol adorn government buildings in down-

town Caracas, it’s largely ignored by Venezuelans who don’t know how or where to buy it. It’s backed by the country’s oil reserves, the world’s largest.

The move to require payments in Petros is an attempt to boost the crypto and help Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s reduce his country’s dependence on foreign currencies. It comes as crude exports are starting to recover from US sanctions on Venezuela and its oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA. Oil exports rebounded in December, surpassing the 1 million-barrel-a-day mark for the first time since February.

Crude buyers typically use shipping agencies based in Venezuela to pay port fees. Although buyers are not directly involved, at least one company last year included a clause prohibiting shipping agents from using money transfers to buy digital currencies in Venezuela after the Petro was sanctioned in March 2018, according to a document seen by Bloomberg.

Most companies taking Venezuelan crude no longer pay cash. Instead, they engage in swap transactions, where they take crude oil in exchange for gasoline or diesel. Others, like Eni SpA and Repsol SA, get oil in payment for old debts. (Bloomberg)

When APNU scuttled Amaila Project, it likely jeopardised renewal of the US$250M LCDS

Dear Editor,

In 2014, the Kingdom of Norway deposited US$80 million earned by Guyana under the LCDS, into the IDB to be invested into the Amaila Falls Hydro Project on the principle that the project would go forward with China Railway stepping into the shoes of Blackstone. Its

purpose was to be part of the Government of Guyana’s equity contribution as part of a US$850 million total investment.

In 2015, when APNU/ AFC came to power, the IDB was willing to proceed with Amaila, using China Railway as the new equity investor. One would re-

No ambiguity in Statutory Declaration Form

Dear Editor,

There is no ambiguity in the Statutory Declaration Form 3 (Representation of the People’s Act).

It states:

I, (FULL NAME BLOCK CAPITAL) of (ADDRESS) having been nominated in the list of candidates for the (NAME OF PARTY) party for election as a Member of the National Assembly at the General Elections to be held on 2nd day of March 2020.

Do Solemnly and Sincerely Declare:

(i) That I consent to the inclusion of my name in the said List of Candidates.

(ii) That I am aware of the provisions of Articles 53 and 155 of the Constitution with respect to the qualifications for election as a Member of the National Assembly.

(iii) That I may, consistently with such provisions be elected as a Member of the National Assembly at the election for which I have been nominated as aforesaid.

I make this declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and according to the Statutory Declaration Act.

This form is signed and declared in front of a Justice of the Peace/Commissioner of Oaths, it is governed by the Statutory Declarations Act Cap 5.09.

Two Presidential hopefuls, Lennox Schuman and Vishnu Bandu knowingly made false declarations; they have broken the laws of Guyana and must be charged by the police. There is no ambiguity here: Cap 5.09 (4) Making false declaration (4) Everyone who makes a declaration according to this act containing any statement false in fact, which he knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and be liable to imprisonment for one year. This requires no gloss to comprehend.

Editor, we have endured a traumatic year-long delay as our judicial system was fully utilised to provide a detailed clarification of the

provisions of Articles 53 and 155 of the Constitution with respect to the qualifications for election as a Member of the National Assembly. Why then would two persons feel comfortable making these false declarations? Have we moved that far away from a society that adheres to the rule of law, that impunity is the order of the day? I think not, and forthright action now may well stop further rot.

I believe it has become all too easy to dupe unsuspecting Guyanese in the Diaspora into financing political campaigns. Both Schuman and Bandu have raised funds in North America, not only should they face the full brunt of the Law in Guyana but they should be prosecuted under any law that prohibits taking money under pretence in those jurisdictions; it is fraud to pretend that you are eligible to be a presidential candidate when you are clearly ineligible. Guyana has become too easy a place for remigrants to return with claims of overseas success, at least Bandu shows some assets to bolster his claim, Schuman, like another famous remigrant who pontificated astride a moped while claiming to be a ‘Wall Street financial analyst’ until he got a Government job, comes with his two hands swinging and very open to offers.

There is a party that claims to be the natural home for hustlers, Badal’s light-bulb brigade of shortchange artists, they too have lost a prominent candidate to a false declaration, PM hopeful, Nigel Hinds, who at least had the decency to bow out, ostensibly for health reasons. If Schuman fails to find favour with the bright-bulbs, he may consider his true home is under Granger’s ‘big benab’ where his justice party of eight members outnumbers Scott’s unknown entity by six. It is a veritable haven for charlatans; but first, that little matter engaging the attention of the Guyana Police Force.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

call that Sithe Global, part of Blackstone, walked away from Guyana, after spending US$25 million in development costs after APNU voted down legislation in 2012.

Under the IDB terms in 2015, with over US$600 million in expected funding from the Chinese, including the China Development Bank (CDB) and the balance from the IDB and the Government of Guyana, the Amaila project would have started construction by end of 2015 and be commercially available in 2019, delivering 165 MW power into the grid at Sophia at a cost of no more than US ten (10) cents per kWh.

Unfortunately, APNU/ AFC did not find favour with the project, and in so doing, scuttled the Amaila Falls project. As of today, there has been no new generation built for the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS), resulting in the real risk that GPL’s current capacity will be insuffi-

cient to meet demand in the near-term future, if not already.

In June 2009, the LCDS was launched with the Government of Norway. Under this scheme, Guyana stood to earn US$250 million by 2015. The scheme would then be renewed. The deposit of US$80 million out of the LCDS earnings and the start of Amaila in 2015, would, therefore, have signalled the near completion of the first phase of the LCDS, with most of the US$250 million earned being committed to a multiple of LCDS approved projects including Amerindian Land Titling, small business grant initiatives, to name a few.

Unfortunately, APNU decided not to proceed with the Amaila project, despite Norway hiring consultants (Norconsult) who validated that the Amaila Falls project was the best option for power generation for Guyana. Still, APNU stubbornly said no. In 2019,

after four years of stagnation of the LCDS and failure to resolve matters on Amaila, the Norwegians finally agreed to transfer the US$80 million earmarked for Amaila to a World Bank account, to allow other investments, but only once the 2020 March elections were completed.

A careful review would reveal that had Amaila proceeded in 2015, with the majority of the US$250 million earned and committed to green projects at that time, the Kingdom of Norway would have been quite willing to renew the programme and provide another US$250 million or more, for similar type projects.

Given that this money is essentially grant money, on the condition of Guyana maintaining its forests and limiting the deforestation rate to historical levels, today in 2020, Guyana could have been so much richer with the earning of another US$250 million. The lesson learned to-

day. Guyana in 2020 could have been US$250 million richer had we proceeded with Amaila and renewed the LCDS with Norway. Guyana today could have added 165 MW of renewable power to the grid thereby allowing Guyana to save between US$100 million to $200 million (depending on the price of oil) in fuel costs. Instead, GPL has added no new generation capacity. With most of its existing Wartsila generation being fully depreciated, and no new baseload generation under consideration or construction, a dark future lurks as a result of APNU’s lack of vision. Or was it spitefulness against the legacy of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was the architect of the LCDS and recognised globally as a Hero of the Environment and his pioneering work with McKinsey on climate change?

Sincerely, A Grant

PNC-led coalition defeated itself based purely on economic reasons

Dear Editor,

Contrary to the PNCpeddled propaganda mill, that its coalition will lose the next election based on racial grounds; that is, Indians being a majority race and as such they have an unfair advantage in numbers, the real reason on the ground tells a vastly different story.

That story is that many failures - too numerous to mention - have been the hallmark of this Government, and this has dogged their path ever since. They have shot themselves in the foot with those numerous retrogressive policies and failed promises, which rendered them helpless and bare before an unforgiving populace out there.

Everyone knew for sure they were headed for imminent failure! The situation has become so desperate that, right now, the PNC is having difficulty attracting a sizable crowd at its own campaign rallies, even to the point where its traditional strongholds are showing apathy and treating it with scant regard. Persons in those areas would have become so fed up with the lies that they have decided to opt for a stay away from such meetings, and those who did come to their rallies were actually there to give token approval to their party.

A stark reminder was seen in their recent visit to Linden, where that community gave them a cold shoulder. Linden’s cold reaction was due to a series of failed programmes and policies by

the PNC Government. Those people suffered immensely under this Administration, many have lost their jobs and are now staring at an uncertain future.

The traditional bauxite sector, which took care of over 90 per cent of the job opportunities there, has shrunk during these last five years. I am talking about RUSAL having to lay off many of its workers due to the labour crisis created by this very same Government and its confusing economic policies.

Even those areas left by the PPP/C wherein Lindeners could have earned a sustainable livelihood, like the call centre and the communal logging grants, have all dried up due to the PNC’s backward plans and projections. So, in summary, the PNC-led coalition has nothing to show by way of progress in just one of its cited strongholds. Others trail in like manner.

You would have noticed I have not mentioned the sugar industry or the wider community, but centred my discourse on only one of the PNC’s known stomping ground, where damning results are evident. No wonder they are calling, begging their supporters out on election day to vote for them.

But it would be remiss of me if I did not again highlight the other communities. The wider areas of our country saw closure and taxation taking their heavy toll. These areas also suffered under the heavy, vindictive and dictatorial hand of the

PNC. Closure of four estates immediately threw over 7000 workers and those sectors dependent on it onto the breadline. This brought certain poverty in those areas. This is another stark reminder to all that this Government is repressive and needs removal by ballot immediately!

Lastly, while public servants saw higher wages and

salaries, the real take-home pay became less and less, as wider society saw an accumulation of over 200 new taxes and a steep rise in the cost of living. So, while the Government speaks of the “good life,” the majority of us are at a loss as to whom that good life beckons.

Respectfully,

Neil Adams

Page Foundation

ABy Vanessa LoBue, PhD

Idon’t think I fully grasped how empathetic my son, Edwin, was until I had my second child. When we brought newborn Charlie home from the hospital, Edwin went through an understandable transition; there were a lot of tantrums, “no’s”, and power struggles. What was most noteworthy though, was Edwin’s reaction when Charlie cried. As a newborn, Charlie cried a lot, and while the tantrums and “no’s” simmered down as Edwin got used to sharing his parents’ attention with his little brother, the crying that remained was the crying in response to Charlie’s cries—and as it turns out when anyone cries.

When Edwin sees another person, child, or a baby crying, his face immediately changes shape. First, he tries to smile – a fake smile – to cope with the surge of emotion he’s feeling. Then he cries too. Sometimes it’s just a small whimper, but sometimes it’s the kind of full-blown sobbing that you would expect if someone just destroyed a favourite toy.

After I noticed that this type of thing happened quite often, I also noticed that Edwin had similar reactions when characters expressed negative emotions on television. We were recently watching an episode of his favourite show “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”, and in this particular episode, Daniel’s fish died. At some point, I looked up from whatever I was doing

to check on Edwin, and as Daniel expressed his sadness, Edwin too was in tears, even though he did not fully understand exactly what was so sad about Daniel’s situation.

He’s particularly tuned in to my emotions as well. Even if I pretend to make a sad face, he immediately wants to know if the situation is under control and asks, “Are you just kidding mommy?”

The first requirement Empathy is an emotion that stems from understanding what another person might be feeling, and then feeling that same thing (or something similar). The first requirement – the ability to understand what another person might be thinking or feeling – is something that develops slowly; it starts in infancy and continues into the preschool years. First, babies gain the ability to understand that people have intentions that typically guide their actions. We see evidence that infants can act based on inferring another’s intention by about 14 to 18 months.

Waxler, 2011). However, a more sophisticated ability to reason about others’ thoughts, what psychologists call a “theory of mind” doesn’t fully develop until age 5 or 6. Children of this age can understand that another person might believe something that isn’t true, or that they might express one emotion and feel another.

recent study from the Pew Research Center found that 95 per cent of teens have access to smartphones and 45 per cent of them report using their smartphones almost constantly. Parents are understandably concerned about screen time and its impact on their teen’s cognitive, physical and psychological health as research shows that high levels of screen time are associated with obesity, depression and lower quality of life.

Research has shown, for example, that infants of this age will go out of their way to help an adult who shows signs of trouble achieving a goal (Warneken and Tomasello, 2006, 2007). Around the same age, infants will also attempt to comfort their mothers if they appear to be upset (RothHanania, Davidov, and Zahn-

The second requirement Unfortunately, empathy can have some downsides. For example, the second requirement— feeling the same thing that someone else is feeling – can cause some personal distress. In fact, children who are particularly prone to feeling negative emotions are more prone to experiencing empathy (Spinrad and Eisenberg, 2019). In other words, children who are already extra sensitive, like my own son, might experience intense negative emotions

of high empathetic concern for others. Another potential downside of empathy is that we don’t exactly dole it out evenly. In fact, most of us are more likely to feel empathetic toward people who are like us – members of our family, community, race, or ethnicity. On top of that, empathy for in-group members can even result in experiencing less empathy towards out-group members (eg Bruneau, Cikara, and Saxe, 2017), which might even open the door to racism and xenophobia (Bloom, 2017). Regardless of these potential downsides, empathy is a good thing in most cases. In fact, it is generally considered to be a prosocial emotion, as the experience of empathy is associated with prosocial behaviours, like helping or sharing. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

Adding to parents’ worry related to smartphone usage is a phenomenon emerging among teenagers known as sexting. Sexting is generally defined as the sending and receiving of sexually suggestive or explicit photographs via a digital device. Sexting among teenagers appears to be on the rise. A metaanalysis (a larger study that combines the findings from numerous smaller studies) found that 1 in 7 teens reported sending sexts and 1 in 4 teens reported receiving a sext and that the number of teens who reported engaging in sexting behaviour increased. Another more recent study of high school students found that 29 per cent of them were engaged in consensual sexting. Teens report sexting for various reasons. For many young people sending and receiving nude photographs is considered to be a digital courtship ritual and they are basically flirting with each other or showing commitment in a relationship, while others report that they do it as a joke or to shock one another.

A 2018 report in Pediatrics warns that the consequences of sexting could be severe. In the United States, 23 states consider sexting amongst teenagers to be the crime of possession of child pornography and it can result in prison sentences and registration on the sex offender registry. While these types of outcomes are not common, they are not unheard of. In the United Kingdom, where sexting between minors is considered a crime, the police have investigated over 6000 children under the age of 14. While many are arguing that charging sexting teens with sex crimes is not reasonable or appropriate, until the laws are changed this remains a very real danger.

Coerced

Some teens also report feeling coerced to send naked pictures. Research shows that sexting can be an online extension to offline sexual coercion in adolescent relationships and that those who experienced sexting coercion endorsed more symptoms of anxiety, depression, and generalised trauma. Further, those who experienced sexting coercion were also more likely to experience physical sexual coercion and intimate partner violence. Another very serious consequence of sexting is having a sext forwarded to others or posted online without consent. In one study, 12 per cent of teens reported forwarding a sext without consent while 8.4 per cent of teens reported having a sext they sent forwarded without consent. Having a sext forwarded to others without consent can result in harassment, cyberbullying, and even blackmail. Subsequently, these types of behaviours can lead to depression among those who have been victimised. Further, once a sext is sent, the sender has no control of what happens to the picture and even if it is sent via apps that claim to delete the pictures, there are still digital footprints and screenshots can be taken.

So, is sexting among teens just harmless fun? The answer, unfortunately, is no.

Given these very serious consequences of sexting, parents need to be proactive and discuss the dangers of sexting with their children and teens. Below are some suggestions for parents on how to handle teen sexting.

1) Before your child has access to a phone, discuss the dangers of sexting with your children/teens. The younger you start the conversation the more likely it will be that your child internalises your values.

2) Talk to your teen about feeling pressure to send naked pictures and empathise with them, but then remind them that no matter how hard it is to stand up to pressure, it is much harder to deal with the fallout of having a naked picture shared without consent.

3) Teach your children to immediately delete any nude or partially nude pictures they receive and report it to a parent.

4) Use hypothetical situations or media stories to role-play various sexting scenarios with your teen and how they would handle them. Use these types of exercises to teach problemsolving and critical thinking skills around these issues.

5) Establish ground rules for cell phone usage with your teens. Many parents require that teens let them check their phones regularly as part of a condition of use. If teens are violating the rules, then phone privileges should be suspended. (psychologytday.com)

PPP expresses confidence in international presence at GECOM

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said its confidence in the ongoing electoral process has heightened now with the presence of foreign consultants and advisors at the Guyana Elections

Commission (GECOM).

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Senior Technical Adviser at the Commonwealth, Dr Afari Gyan has arrived in Guyana to give assistance to GECOM. Additionally, consultants from the United States-based firm, International Republic Institute (IRI), that will be providing technical support to GECOM are also here.

The Elections Commission is also expecting the arrival of another advisor from India by the end of this month.

In addition to consultants and advisors, GECOM is currently processing applications for local observers including the foreign missions here in Guyana. The Foreign Affairs Ministry is dealing with applications for international observers and al-

ready, several organisations have received approval.

In fact, a team from the Commonwealth Secretariat is currently in the country to do some advance preparations for its observer mission, while the US-based Carter

“We will help you get...

He encouraged supporters to listen to the Party’s messages and understand its plans for Guyana’s development so that they too can promote it within their communities.

“I don’t need to tell you why you have to come out and vote... You can make a better case than me because you’ve faced the struggles,

you’ve seen the neglect...,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, PPP/C’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Mark Phillips, also rallied supporters to vote for the PPP to return Guyana to a state of development and give its people better lives.

“So, come March 2, we will vote this government out of office because we

have an uncaring government that is big on promises and low on delivery. After four and a half years in office, all we see is a display of incompetence and unpreparedness by this coalition government… Come out in your large numbers and let us vote this government out of office,” he stated.

Center has already begun its observatory tenure. Reports are that the European Union is also mobilising an observer mission.

Over the past weeks, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had expressed concerns over the lack of international presence here as he questioned several decisions being made by GECOM.

However, at his recent press conference on Thursday, the Opposition Leader expressed confidence in the Elections Commission now that the foreign consultants are here. In fact, he has already met with the Commonwealth advisor.

“We have great faith in the international community presence in GECOM. We’re working hard to ensure that we have a strong presence in the polling place to look out for any attempts to tamper with the elections,” he posited.

According to Jagdeo, they have already heard talks about violence on polling day. This, he noted, was brought to the attention of some players in the international community, who have requested additional details, like names.

The Opposition Leader had previously complained of the PPP having to constant-

ly block efforts at the level of the Elections Commission to tamper with the voters’ lists. However, he noted that the room for such attempts is narrow now, not with PPP’s vigilance but the presence of the international community.

“They recognised now that with the international presence in there, and with enhanced vigilance on the part of the [GECOM] Commissioners, the international community and us bringing these matters to the media’s attention and the Guyanese public on a weekly basis, that the room to tamper with the list is narrowing,” he posited.

One such attempt on the voters’ list that Jagdeo mentioned is an ongoing exercise by GECOM to update the information of existing registrants on the National Register of Registrants using data obtained from the scrapped House-to-House exercise.

Last week, the PPP had accused GECOM of tampering with the NRR database – an allegation which GECOM had denied. In fact, GECOM’s Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh had explained that they were merely using recent data captured during

the H2H exercise to update registrants’ information.

However, Jagdeo contended that the Commission is using data that was unverified. But despite this, he insisted at his Thursday press conference that GECOM should release all the changes being made to the NRR so that parties can verify them.

“If we can’t stop these changes… then all the political parties must get a list of the changes made so we can verify what those changes are when OLE (Official List of Electors) comes out, and we will check the OLE again,” he posited.

According to Jagdeo, the PPP has already raised concerns of this exercise with the international community.

“So we were very surprised, and I have since brought this to the attention of the consultants who came in – one arrived here from the Commonwealth and I had a meeting with him, and I pointed out that nobody within GECOM should really be making large-scale changes to the RVL (Revised Lists of Electors) now that the statutory processes are now over but that is precisely what is happening there,” the Opposition Leader noted.

Meanwhile, the GECOM Chairperson had told reporters last week that the electoral body is fully ready to deliver free and fair elections on March 2, 2020.

Justice Singh had stated on the sidelines of Nomination Day proceedings that there is only one way she knows and that is the path she will take to ensure that the voters’ list is clean and the General and Regional Elections are credible.

“I will not sell my integrity for all of the oil in Guyana”, she declared.

WCB miner busted with cocaine remanded

After being busted with a quantity of cocaine at a location in Region One (Barima-Waini), Alexander Braithwaite, a miner of Kingelly Village, West Coast Berbice, was on Friday charged for trafficking the illegal drug.

Braithwaite denied the charge, which stated that on January 14, at Skull Mountain Arakaka Compound, North West District (NWD), he had in his possession 164.5 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Defence Counsel Jerome Khan in a bail application requested that the court

release his client on bail. However, the police prosecutor objected due to the prevalence of the charge.

Police reports are that

Wedding house beating

ranks acting on information received, went to Skull Mountain Arakaka Compound, NWD, where they found the 63-year-

old man in an open verandah on a business premises. According to the prosecution’s case, a search was carried out on his person and a black bag wrapped in transparent plastic containing a quantity of cream substance suspected to be cocaine was found in his haversack.

Having listened to both the prosecution and defence submissions, acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus remanded Braithwaite to prison. The case will continue on February 3, 2020, at the Mathews Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

2 slapped with murder charge

Travolta Mangal, called “Troy”, a labourer of Lot 353 Jagan Street, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and 20-yearold Errol Thapordeen, called “Buffy”, “Bowie” and “Powie”,

of Lot 319 Enterprise, ECD were on Friday jointly charged for murder. It is alleged that on January 12 at Nonpareil, ECD, they murdered Rudendra Persaud. The

26-year-old victim, called “Bayo” of Enmore, ECD, died hours after he was beaten by a group of men at a wedding house.

This newspaper previ ously reported that Persaud

Overcome…

...with envy and bile

With much truth, it’s been said, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. And when it comes to rigging elections for the PNC to hold onto power, that’s a trick Hamilton Green’s been practising since the 1960s!! The fella – along with David Granger, another of Burnham’s protégés – has never been able to get over Desmond Hoyte going along with “free and fair” elections in 1992 under the watchful eyes of Jimmy Carter and his Carter Center. How dare he “allow” the PNC to lose power!! Green never forgave Carter for his role – especially when the latter stood down his thugs when they stormed the Elections HQ with Carter in it, in 1992. Carter then called the US President, and as they say, the rest was history!!

Remanded: Errol Thapordeen, called “Buffy”, “Bowie” and “Powie”

was lashed to the head by members of a gang, who allegedly invaded the wedding house.

Police stated that the now-dead man and his family were at his cousin’s wedding at Nonpareil, ECD when a group of young men invaded the property and attacked the invitees.

Reports are that upon realising what was happening, Persaud went to intervene but instead, he was dealt one blow to the head with a piece of wood.

Despite being injured, the young man managed to protect his family members but later collapsed. He was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was admitted but subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

The duo appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court and was remanded to prison until January 27, 2020.

Never mind that Hoyte had understood the Geist of the times were a’changin’ with the fall of the evil Soviet Empire. The US didn’t have any strategic reason to support a regime built on fraud and force. And let’s not even mention the PNC plunging the Guyanese economy down a black hole where it almost bumped into Haiti at the bottom of the barrel! Not so incidentally, they sent half the Guyanese population down the “backtrack” into NY! Green was and remains a political Neanderthal –brute force and ignorance are his forte!!

Hoyte, of course, had slapped him down – like he did all the Burnhamites, including Granger, after he took over in 1985 – and eventually expelled him and his thug faction from the PNC. Granger, not surprisingly, attempted to rehabilitate him as soon as he took office by bestowing an Order of Roraima on him and awarding him a pension where he could live like a king – or Moses Nagamootoo, which is the same thing, no?

Now, seeing power slipping inexorably out of the PNC’s grip, he’s once again gone after the Carter Center the moment it was announced they’ve been invited back – as they were for every election since 1992! Green, of course, never objected before!! Rather nastily, Green has painted Carter and his centre as card-carrying members of the Ku Klux Klan – forgetting that the man has been castigated in the US as the consummate bleeding-heart liberal.

And as for race relations and the third world, Green elides that Carter appointed MLK-associate, civil rights activist Andrew Young to the UN and they turned a blind eye to Burnham’s communist flirtations! Who does Green think he’s fooling when he says takes the “patriotism” scoundrel’s refuge to insist we don’t need “outsiders” to check our electoral process. Yeah—sure, after Granger shenanigans following the NCM!!

Gwan da side, Green!!

…with oily matters

If oil floats on water, imagine what it does on conflict!! If you, Dear Reader, thought that the coming of oil meant our troubles are over…think again. They’ve just been given a new, more powerful start!! Expect every day something or the other related to oil will become a sore point that will tear us apart. It didn’t have to be that way…but with that ridiculous contract that Trotman signed, “boat gone a watah, on that one”!!

So what’s the oleaginous combustible news today?? Guyanese won’t see first oil for another couple months – since the IOCs took first dibs on the first 3 million barrels – but we were invited to some fireworks at the bandstand last evening, sponsored by the GDF and the IOCs!! What’s to celebrate for Guyanese?? Then the IOCs have flared more than 1.2 cubic feet of gas since it started to lift oil. And we still can’t decide on a gas-fired power plant!!

Finally, we’re faced with that existential question as a new “oil-producing country”: To OPEC or not to OPEC!!

…with anger

At the GDF conference, Ramjattan sat with interlocked fingers while every other person kept their hands on their knees. We’re informed that “this gesture reveals frustration, hostility and that the person is harbouring negative thoughts”. Poor fella’s still not sure he’ll be PM!!

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

ERC received 61 discrimination complaints in 2019

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), which is responsible for ensuring that racial harmony prevails in Guyana, received 61 complaints about discrimination from members of the public last year.

During a press conference on Friday, the ERC revealed that it has dealt with 44 out of 61 complaints.

According to Chairman of ERC, Dr John Oswald Smith, 12 complaints are currently being reviewed and five remain active.

The majority of the complaints dealt with religious and racial discrimination as well as political issues, he added.

“Through its investigative arm, the Commission dealt with 61 complaints during the year 2019, of which 44 have been brought to a closure; 12 to be reviewed and five remain active. The complaints received were of racial/ethnic and religious discrimination. The Commission remains accessible to members of the general public through all means of communication,” Smith noted.

In an effort to encourage tolerance and mutual

respect, the Commission continues its sensitisation campaign through the media, both traditional and non-traditional. This follows numerous engagements with residents in areas across the ten Regions of Guyana. That has been augmented by the conversion of the play, “I Am Us”, into a movie which was launched on January 15 with public screenings scheduled from January 1724 at Caribbean Cinemas, Giftland Mall.

Mechanism for division

On another note, the ERC is encouraging members of civil society not to allow elections to be a mechanism for division.

“It firmly believes that incidents of harassment and incitement, including what is very noticeable on social media, are most unhelpful to building and sustaining a cohesive nation. All are encouraged to work in the best interest of Guyana and Guyanese, and to ensure that the elections

are not mechanisms for division,” Smith added.

He pointed out that the Commission will place focus on educational programmes in 2020.

“The ERC will continue in its endeavours, through available resources, to deliver its constitutional mandate. With inherent challenges, the realisation of that mandate necessitates the collective efforts of all stakeholders. It wishes to commend those who have demonstrated unwavering support and encourages others to join in its efforts,” the Chairman added. He pointed out that the ERC will continue to monitor public political rallies and other forums.

Under Article 212D of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, the ERC has 24 functions – one of which is a mandate to investigate complaints from citizens across the country where acts of alleged ethnic discrimination have been committed. Also, the Commission is mandated to enforce the Racial Hostility Act and the Representation of the Peoples (Amendment) Act.

Ganja trafficking charge lands Lindener in jail

Thirty-two-year-old

Lenox Jackman of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was on Friday remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a trafficking in narcotics charge.

The charge was read by acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus. It is alleged that on January 16, at Mabura, Upper Demerara District, he had in his possession 658 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Defence Attorney Stanley Moore told the court that his client should be released on bail since more than one person was present when the narcotic was found.

However, Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris in objecting to bail, related that Police ranks were escorting prisoners from the Mahdia Police Station when they observed the defendant sitting on a truck acting in a suspicious manner.

The prosecutor said that Jackman was approached by the officers, who requested to conduct a search on his person. It was then that the marijuana was found, the prosecutor added.

The prosecution’s submission was upheld and the Linden man was remanded to prison. The case will continue on January 27, 2020, at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

First oil exhibition opens at National Museum

Amodel of the first floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to operate in Guyanese waters is on display at the National Museum.

The exhibition was opened on Thursday evening by the Department of Energy in partnership with ExxonMobil (Guyana).

Among the exhibits are newspaper headlines published in Guyana after May 21, 2015, when ExxonMobil Guyana and its co-ventures, Hess and CNOOC, announced the Liza discovery and December 20, 2019, when first oil production from the Liza field took place.

During the launching of the expo, Director of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe urged the public, despite the intense political season, to celebrate Guyana’s successes.

“Everyone needs to be excited about this and to understand what is happening and to think about how to make the best use of the window of opportunity that is opening before our very eyes,” Bynoe stated.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil’s

Country Manager, Rod Henson, during his presentation said that the exhibition will give many Guyanese the opportunity to see a firsthand sample of oil Guyana is producing.

He further added that first oil represents the years

of hard work and the beginning of a new journey for Guyana, while noting that it has been a journey that should be recorded and shared with future generations.

“I hope that the Liza Destiny model is a part of this exhibit and the videos on the screen bring oil and gas operations a little bit closer to those that wouldn’t have the opportunity to go offshore and see it really first hand,” Henson added.

Guyana commenced production of oil in the Liza Field offshore the Stabroek Block on December 20, 2019, utilising the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel Liza Destiny, which has the capacity to produce 120,000 barrels of oil per day. Liza Destiny will be followed by FPSO Liza Unity in 2022 producing 220,000 barrels of oil per day, after which the FPSO Liza Prosperity will be added in 2023, also producing 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

Celebrating with

selfie

The public has a chance to own one of 10 first oil collectors’ vials of oil as well as many other prizes in a selfie competition driven by the Department of Energy from Friday, Jan 17 till Feb 11, 2020. Persons are required to snap a selfie or photo of themselves or group of friends and family in front of any part of the first oil exhibit, or during the fireworks display, post it

to their Facebook page and tag it to the Department of Culture and the Department of Energy. The photos with the highest number of likes or shares will win. Up to 500 prizes are up for grabs from photos taken and posted. Other prizes include caps, t-shirts, bottles, books, and folders. Winners will be notified, and prizes will be handed over at the Museum on February 14, 2020.

Revoked Baishanlin concessions up for reallocation

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) announced on Friday that Baishanlin forestry concessions, which were revoked, are now up for reallocation.

In a statement to the press, the GFC stated that it “wishes to inform the general public of its intention to advertise and received applications for the allocation of State Forest Authorisations (SFAs) and State Forests Exploratory Permits (SFEPs) over areas formerly held by Kwebanna Wood Products Inc, Woods Associated Industries Company Ltd, Baishanlin International Inc, Puruni Wood Products Inc and Haimorakabra Logging Company Inc”.

According to the GFC, the decision to advertise these areas is premised on the fact that the GFC had revoked the above for-

est concessions because of serious breaches of the Forests Act 2009. It added that in the case of Barama Company Ltd, the forest concession was surrendered. The GFC added that these developments affected the revenue performance of the GFC, especially over the last three years and as such, the Board of Directors at its last statutory meeting held on December 30, 2019, by way of resolution expressed its no objection to the areas being advertised for reallocation.

On February 20, 2018, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of GFC Jocelyn Dow, had revealed Baishanlin owes the Commission in excess of $80 million while noting that moves are afoot to have the monies recovered with the assistance of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

In September 2016, the

GFC had repossessed concessions held by Baishanlin International Forest Development Inc (BIFDI), since it failed to deliver on several commitments.

When the company started its operations locally in 2007, it had committed under its investment agreement to establish a US$100 million wood processing plant in order to engage in value-added exports – this was never built.

The GFC had said during a meeting with company representatives it was had indicated that Baishanlin suffered financial constraints, which affected the establishment of the wood processing facility, and the company was engaging a new partner that would contribute significantly to its investment in Guyana.

The GFC Board said it was assured of the financial strength of the new part-

ner, who had committed to pay off the debt owed by the company to the Commission. However, that was not done.

Tanker to lift first million barrels of oil this weekend

Crude oil tanker –

YANNIS P – will over the weekend lift the first million barrels of oil from the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.

The crude tanker which was built in 2010, will begin loading this weekend, ExxonMobil’s Public and Government Affairs Advisor, Janelle Persaud said on Friday.

She added that ExxonMobil will process the cargo in its own refining system as was previously announced.

On December 20, 2019, United States oil giant ExxonMobil announced the commenced production of Guyana’s oil in the Stabroek Block, where 15 discoveries of crude in commercial quantities have been made since 2015.

In September 2019, the Liza Destiny floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) arrived in Guyana’s waters. The vessel is a significant component of the Liza Phase One Development, which involves four undersea drill centres with 17 production wells. Besides its production capacity of 120,000 barrels of oil per day, it also has an overall storage volume of 1.6 million barrels.

During normal operations, there will be at least 80 persons living and working onboard the vessel.

With the 120,000 barrels expected daily from production in the Liza Phase One Development, it is estimat-

ed that Guyana will earn some US$300 million annually.

ExxonMobil had previously said there is potential for at least five FPSO vessels in the Stabroek Block, producing more than 750,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025. Liza Phase Two Development is expected to start up by mid2022. It had been reported that the project would use the Liza Unity FPSO to produce up to 220,000 barrels per day.

With Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holding 30 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil’s affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)

has 45 per cent interest and is also the operator of the 6.6 million acres block while CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China’s state-

owned CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

In 2015, the oil giant announced a significant oil discovery on the Stabroek

Block, located approximately 120 miles offshore Guyana. The well encountered more than 295 feet (90 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs.

On May 8, 2015, days prior to General and Regional Elections, the then Government – PPP/C

– had announced that ExxonMobil discovered hydrocarbons offshore Guyana while drilling the Liza1 exploration well at the Stabroek Block. However, now coalition Government, which was in Opposition at the time, had said that the PPP’s announcement was a mere elections gimmick.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Elections 2020

Political parties still to sign ERC’s code of conduct

Even as the elections campaigning season has begun, several political parties are yet to sign on to the Ethnic Relations Commission’s Code of Conduct, which is a pledge to ensure these parties’ messages are free of any form of discrimination.

A total of 11 parties was approved to contest the elections. The code of conduct is aimed at ensuring that politicians campaigning for the upcoming March 2 elections are held accountable for their actions.

The code of conduct was sent to all parties contesting the elections. This was disclosed by the Chairman

of the Ethnic Relations Commission, Dr John Smith, during a press conference on Friday.

“The ERC, during interactions with various political parties, proposed the signing of a code of conduct rele-

DHB decreases weight limit but crossing fees remain same – truckers, farmers

Farmers and truck owners of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are concerned about the weight limit that is now being implemented by the Demerara Harbour Bridge since January 2 of this year. According to one truck owner, the management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge is now limiting the weight to only 18 tons from 22.4 tons, which is putting tremendous pressure on the transportation services operating out of the region taking produce to and from Georgetown.

The truck owners are claiming that the cost for transporting the produce remains the same and if they have to adjust the cost to suit the load they will be running at a loss.

When contacted, Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said that the management of DHB, before making the decision to lower the tonnage of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, should have consulted with the business sector before the decision was implemented.

The Chairman said that

the poor farmers are now being forced to bear the added cost of transportation due to the lowering of the weight to cross the bridge. He added that if they put a markup on their produce then they will be unable to compete with farmers coming from other parts of the country who do not have to pay such crossing fees.

Ramdatt is, therefore, calling on the management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge to meet with those persons affected, especially the business community in Region Two. He said such a meeting would augur good discussions on a plan to help cushion the cost of transportation.

In an advertisement placed in the media on December 22, 2019, the management of DHB announced that effective January 2, 2020, the weight for all categories of vehicles crossing the bridge would be reduced. According to the advertisement, the weight of all categories will be reduced from 22.5 metric tons to 18 metric tons. Special crossing limit was also reduced from 25 metric tons to 22 metric tons.

vant to the elections period. A draft was shared with the parties for suggested inputs. The Commission remains optimistic for a public signing in the near future. The Commission also anticipates a similar code of conduct from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). It is hopeful that upon signing, the content of both would be honoured,” the Chairman told the media on Friday.

Meanwhile, ERC Commissioner Neaz Subhan explained that the Commission met with all political parties contesting the

elections to brief them about the code of conduct to ensure free, fair and credible elections in a harmonious way.

“What the ERC did, having met with all political parties, and this is prior to Nomination Day, we shared with them a draft of a proposed code of conduct, all the parties, but after Nomination Day and we have sent that letter to them subsequently officially asking them if they would accept it officially and give them an opportunity to put any inputs they may want.”

The Commissioner added that only one political party has responded to the code of conduct.

“Come Nomination Day, we realised there are others that we may not have been in contact with, so we reached out to them and extended that deadline [for feedback] so that deadline expires today (Friday) or Monday for them to send in their inputs and while we have received one response with some suggested inputs, we are hopeful that by or on before the expiration of the new deadline that we can have more

come in,” Subhan noted.

The ERC is currently empowered to recommend the banning of political parties from participating in elections if it is found guilty of breaching laws dealing with ethnicity. However, over the years, no action was ever taken against groups or individuals for breaching such laws.

The code of conduct will address the conduct of politicians in all public forums, including political rallies.

After several years of being defunct, a new ERC was established in 2018.

The body’s mandate is to provide equality of opportunity between persons of different ethnic groups and to promote harmony and good relations between such persons and provide the elimination of all forms of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity.

It is also required to discourage and prohibit persons, institutions, political parties and associates from indulging in, advocating or promoting discriminatory practices on the ground of ethnicity.

GTT employees benefit from chronic disease workshop

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) on Wednesday hosted a Chronic Disease Management workshop in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of healthy living among employees and increase preventative practices related to chronic disease.

The workshop, which was held at GTT’s Training Centre in Thomas Lands, Georgetown, was in partnership with the Chronic Disease Unit, the Food Policy Unit, and Mental Health Unit, along with the Guyana Diabetic Association.

Clinical Psychologist at the Mental Health Unit (MoPH), Balogun Osunbiyi, did a presentation on coping and relaxation mechanisms.

He deemed the session

as timely and necessary for young men in the workforce. He noted that based on feedback during the workshop, he realised that many of the attendees were unaware of the various types of mental illnesses that can affect the well-being of men, especially those over the age of 30.

Kavita Singh of the Chronic Disease Unit (MoPH) thanked GTT, on behalf of the Ministry, for taking the initiative to engage the public health sector in embarking on this auspicious journey towards a healthier life for not just their staff but also Guyana in general.

“This activity gives full recognition to the nature of the public-private partnership that the Ministry wishes to develop throughout the

years with GTT and other private entities,” said Singh. Coordinator of Power Systems at GTT, Ricardo Yearwood, who lauded the company’s initiative in hosting the session, said: “This is a great move by GTT, for us to ensure we take seriously our health and wellness, even on the busiest of days. We have benefitted greatly and were provided with self-management tools that will definitely improve our lives. It is my hope that more employees can benefit from this training.”

The one-day workshop focused on areas such as medical management, behavioural management, mental health/emotional management and the importance of physical activity/exercise to name a few.

Ramjattan a no-show at poorly-attended hometown meeting

Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) and Prime Ministerial candidate for the coalition APNU/AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, failed to attend at a meeting in his home village Number 47 Corentyne, Berbice.

Ramjattan was scheduled to speak at a meeting on Friday afternoon. At the meeting, about 15 persons and about five party representatives attended. Ramjattan and his party – AFC— has become very unpopular in the village he grew up.

At the November 2018 Local Government Elections, the AFC failed

hometown

to secure a seat on the Good Hope-Number 51 Neighbourhood Democratic

Council (NDC) with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) securing

five seats and the People's Progressive Party (PPP) nine. Both the AFC and

3 win motorcars in Ariel Christmas promotion

The three lucky winners in the Ariel 'Triple Treat' Christmas Promotion were on Friday presented the keys to their brand new Toyota Vitz during a simple ceremony at the ANSA McAL

Trading Limited (AMTL) Beterverwagting head office.

The grand winners of the cars are Tamera Walcott, Donette Hemroly and Dhanrajie Suknanan while Desmond Woon received his $100,000 cash prize.

In addition, Barbara Lewis, Stacey O'Donoghue, B Bimraj and Liseanne Jones were the winners of full P&G Hampers while Reiaz Azim, Navendra Persaud, Elisha Adams and Hansmattie Parmessar Mohamed re-

ceived their pot sets.

All of the winners expressed contentment with the prizes they won in the promotion.

Adams, who won a pot set, noted that he was "happy” with the win even though he aimed for the car, "I use Ariel with everything, even when washing wears, it's the best detergent and I will be playing again this year because I want that car," Adams stated.

Meanwhile, Walcott, who won a car, shared, "it's our second year playing and I won the car and don't have my license but I'm working on getting it at the moment but I'm just happy we won.

Both Business Unit Head of P&G, Padma Kunjbeharry and Ariel Brand Coordinator Atina Samad congratulated all of the winners and noted that Ariel, and by extension ANSA McAL, enjoys giving back to the community.

22 OSH certified to conduct safety, health inspections on FPSO

Twenty-two employees from several Government agencies and the disciplined services are now certified to conduct safety and health inspections on-board Floating Production and Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessels.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), participants in the five-day Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) training exercise facilitated by the Department of Labour were drawn from the National Advisory Council, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service, and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.

Facilitator and Trinidadbased Business Crisis consultant, Garth Vincent, noted the commitment of the participants during the session.

“You are assessors now and are no longer in the dark when it comes to dealing with FPSO vessels. Now that the oil and gas sector

has taken full approach to the soils of Guyana, safety and health will be one of the most important factors when it comes down to protecting Guyana’s human resource. Today, you are capable and ready to serve in the area within the oil and gas sector,” Vincent is quoted by DPI as saying. In brief closing re-

marks, Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle noted that the comprehensive training session has equipped the participants to properly execute their tasks. “You are now well-prepared, informed and confident to carry out your duties.”

The ILO-sponsored training programme examined the management sys-

APNU ran as individual parties in that election.

At those elections, in the 52-72 NDC, which is next to Ramjattan’s home village, AFC failed to gain a seat while APNU secured one and the PPP secured 17 seats.

Meanwhile, on Friday at Number 64 Village, which is in the NDC next to Ramjattan’s home village, former Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall addressed a large number of persons who attended that meeting.

tems and the integrity of oil vessels in relation to occupational health and safety. The participants submitted an assessment report after the session after which they were awarded certificates.

The FPSO Liza Destiny began producing oil last month and a second vessel, the Liza Unity, is currently under construction.

Teachers doused in jet fuel sue Delta Air Lines

Four Los Angeles-area schoolteachers who were doused with jet fuel dumped by a Delta Air Lines plane in the minutes before it made an emergency landing sued the airline on Friday, accusing the flight crew of negligence.

The plaintiffs say the pilot

of the Delta Flight 89, which took off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Tuesday bound for Shanghai, failed to follow proper procedures in dumping thousands of pounds of fuel over a densely populated area at relatively low altitude.

A Delta spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court and seeks unspecified damages.

Dozens of children and teachers at Park Avenue Elementary School in suburban Cudahy were showered

DEA investigator busted trying to arrange sex with teen – officials

An investigator at the Drug Enforcement Agency who was supposed to be protecting the public from illegal narcotics instead spent his time trying to arrange sex and soliciting naked pictures from a 14-year-old boy, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Frederick Scheinin, 29, of Sunnyside, Queens, allegedly chatted for months with a federal agent posing as a minor, and now faces charges in Manhattan federal court of attempting to entice a teenage boy into sexual activity and attempting to produce child pornography.

“As a diversion investigator at the DEA, Frederick Scheinin’s foremost responsibility was to protect the public from illegally diverted drugs," said Geoffery Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

“Instead of fulfilling this worthy mission, Scheinin allegedly spent months attempting to prey on a 14-year-old boy. This arrest exemplifies that no one is above the law. Our law enforcement partners will continue to bring all necessary

tools to bear to apprehend individuals who wish to do harm to young children, no matter who they are,” Berman added.

Scheinin is accused of swapping messages with who he thought was a 14-year-old boy. The sick sexts began in October, authorities said. Officers operating the fake online account even designed a mock child’s bedroom for video chats to trick Scheinin into believing he was talking with a 14-year-old boy.

At one point in the conversation, the boy allegedly asked Scheinin, “so you like don’t care that I’m younger?” Scheinin said “no, it’s cool. As long as you’re cool with it,” according to prose-

cutors.

He repeatedly asked the boy to send pictures of his genitalia and attempted to set up a rendezvous with the teen to have sex, according to prosecutors.

Cops arrested Scheinin Thursday at the sit of the proposed meeting and found him with condoms and lubrication.

Scheinin worked until Thursday as a DEA investigator tracking illegally diverted pharmaceutical drugs in the agency’s New York field office.

The former federal agent faces 15-30 years for the child porn charge and from 10 years to life for the enticement of a minor allegation. (NY Daily News)

with jet fuel released by the plane as it circled back toward LAX minutes after reporting an engine problem following takeoff.

The plane, carrying 167 passengers and crew, landed safely a short time later.

City officials in Cudahy, located 16 miles east of LAX, voiced outrage over incident, in which at least 44 children and adults were treated for minor injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday the flight crew released fuel without notifying air traffic control person-

nel of its intent to do so.

When asked by the control tower if there was a need to dump any fuel before landing - a measure sometimes taken to lighten a plane’s load in such emergencies - the pilot replied, “Negative,” according to a recording of radio transmissions made public after the incident.

“We’ve got it back under control,” the pilot is heard saying, after first reporting that the jet was experiencing a compressor stall - a disruption in air flowing through one of its jet engine compressors.

The FAA, which is investigating the incident, said a flight crew seeking to dump fuel before an emergency landing would typically be directed by air traffic controllers to a higher altitude where the fuel would essentially vaporize before reaching the ground. The lawsuit alleges the pilot’s failure to do so was an act of negligence that rained jet fuel over the plaintiffs, “coating” them in a toxic substance and leaving them distressed and physically ill. (Reuters)

New Chinese virus 'will have infected hundreds' – scientists

The number of people already infected by the mystery virus emerging in China is far greater than official figures suggest, scientists have told the BBC.

There have been 41 laboratory-confirmed cases of the new virus, but UK experts estimate the figure is closer to 1,700.

Two people are known to have died from the virus, which appeared in Wuhan city in December.

"I am substantially more concerned than I was a week ago," disease outbreak scientist, Prof Neil Ferguson, said.

The work was conducted by the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London, which advises bodies including the UK government and the World Health Organization.

Singapore and Hong Kong have been screening air passengers from

Wuhan and US authorities announced similar measures starting on Friday at three major airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. The crucial clue to the scale of the problem lies in the cases being detected in other countries.

While the outbreak is centred on Wuhan, there have been two cases in Thailand and one in Japan.

"That caused me to worry," said Prof Ferguson.

He added: "For Wuhan to have exported three cases to other countries would imply there would have to

be many more cases than have been reported."

It is impossible to get the precise number, but outbreak modelling, which is based on the virus, the local population and flight data, can give an idea.

Wuhan International Airport serves a population of 19 million people, but only 3,400 a day travel internationally.

The detailed calculations, which have been posted online ahead of publication in a scientific journal, came up with a figure of 1,700 cases. (BBC)

Morbidly obese terrorist ‘Jabba the Jihadi’ captured

The 560-pound ISIS leader Abu Abdul Bari, also known as “Jabba the Jihadi,” was captured in Iraq, according to Stars and Stripes.

A Iraqi SWAT team rounded-up the rotund rebel in Mosul, where he was wheeled off in the back of a pickup truck.

The surrender of Bari, who personally represents more than a quarter ton of terrorism, was met favorably on social media where the meme “He puts the fat it fatwa” quickly made the rounds. Some of the online celebrating was a bit on the dark side, including a tweet from British soldier Macer Gifford, who reportedly fought alongside Kurdish troops in Syria.

Oil exports from eastern, central Libyan ports to be shut – NOC source

Oil exports from eastern and central Libyan oil ports will be shut from Saturday resulting in the loss of 700,000 barrels a day, a source at

state oil firm NOC said on Friday.

The closure of the ports with the exception of the Zueitina port had been ordered by the Libyan

National Army (LNA) faction of Khalifa Haftar, which controls east and central Libya, the source said. (Reuters)

Floods, road closures in Australia as storms lash some bushfire-hit regions

hunderstorms lashed

Tparts of Australia’s east coast early on Saturday, causing road closures and lash flooding, but the country was still battling nearly 100 bushfires and some of the affected areas remained dry.

Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, states hit badly by the bushfires that have so far killed 29 people, destroyed more than 2,500 homes and scorched millions of acres of land, are now dealing with rain bucketing down.

Major highways were closed in Queensland early on Saturday, with the state getting some of the heaviest rain Australia has seen for months, while power was cut in parts of New South Wales after a stormy night.

“Heavy, intense rainfall has eased, but showers and thunderstorms still possible through the weekend,” the Bureau of Meteorology in Queensland said on Twitter on Saturday.

“Take care on the roadsif it’s flooded, forget it.”

Parts of Queensland’s south saw triple the monthly rainfall overnight. No major damage has been reported, although some residential areas were flooded and many of the state’s parks and tourist attractions were closed.

New South Wales fire

services welcomed the rain, which they said on Twitter would help to control the 75 fires burning in the state, of which 25 are yet to be contained. But, they also said that some firegrounds have not seen any rain yet.

More benign storms were forecast for Victoria, which has been hit this week already by severe storms and unhealthy smoke from the bushfires.

Fears the smoke would return on Saturday for the final round of the Australian Open qualifying matches eased after environmental

officials said air quality forecast in the Melbourne area would be “moderate” rather than “very poor”.

There were more than a dozen of fires burning in Victoria on Saturday, but an evacuation order for a fire in the mountain region was lifted.

New Zealand Defence Force said on Friday it was sending more reinforcements to Australia, including from Fiji, to join contingents and specialists sent also by other countries, such as Japan and the United States. (Reuters)

Brexit: ‘No alignment’ with EU on regulation - Chancellor tells business

The chancellor has warned manufacturers that “there will not be alignment” with the EU after Brexit and insists firms must “adjust” to new regulations.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Sajid Javid admitted not all businesses would benefit from Brexit.

Last year, the automotive, food and drink and pharmaceutical sectors warned the government that no longer aligning with key EU rules would be damaging.

Javid declined to specify which EU rules he wanted to drop.

“There will be an impact on business one way or the other, some will benefit, some won’t,” he told the paper.

He used Japan’s car industry as an example of a manufacturing sector which found success without following EU rules.

Asked how differing regulations between the UK and EU may impact industries such as automotive and pharmaceuticals, he said: “We’re also talking about companies that have known since 2016 that we are leaving the EU.

“Admittedly, they didn’t know the exact terms.”

The Government has not yet agreed a future trading relationship with the EU - it plans to do so in the

11-month transition period which begins after the UK leaves the bloc on 31 January.

During the transition period the UK will continue to follow EU rules and contribute to its budget.

The chancellor also said he wanted to double the UK’s annual economic growth to between 2.7 and 2.8%.

However, the outgoing governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, told the Financial Times last week he thought the UK’s trend growth rate was much lower, at between 1 and 1.5%.

Mr Javid said the extra growth would come from spending on skills and infrastructure in the Midlands and the north of Englandeven if they did not offer as much “bang for the buck” as projects in other parts of the country.

Historically low interest rates, which allow the government to borrow money relatively cheaply, were “almost a signal to me from the market - from investors - that here’s the cash, use it to do something productive”, Javid said. He pledged to rewrite Treasury investment rules, which have tended to favour government investment in places with high economic growth and high productivity.

Javid said the rules had helped to “entrench” inequality and insisted weaker parts of the country would have first call on the new money.

In November, the Bank of England said a weaker global economy and its new assumptions about Brexit would knock 1% off UK growth over the next three years compared with its previous August forecast. (BBC)

Morales' party names candidates for upcoming Bolivia elections

Barbados: Former Minister found culpable in money laundering case

Aformer foreign minister and a coca farmer will be the candidates for president and vice president for exiled Bolivian President Evo Morales’ political party in the May elections in the South American country, officials said on Friday.

Former Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca, an Aymara Indian, will be the presi-

dential candidate for the Movement to Socialism (MAS) party in the vote, which will serve as a re-run of a disputed October election.

Coca farmer Andronico Rodriguez will join the ticket as the vice-presidential candidate, MAS official and union leader Theodore Mamani confirmed to Reuters.

The ticket must formalize its participation in the election to the electoral tribunal by Feb. 3.

Choquehuanca, 58, is a veteran indigenous politician who was born in the Bolivian highlands. Rodriguez, 30, is currently vice president of a prominent coca farmer union in the city of Cochabamba.

Top MAS party officials are scheduled to meet this weekend in Buenos Aires, where Morales, who is barred from running for president again, is currently

living under asylum.

Morales, a socialist leader who was at the helm of Bolivia for nearly 14 years, stepped down on Nov. 10 after a disputed election victory sparked protests and led to allies, the police and the military pulling their support.

Bolivia’s electoral tribunal set May 3 as the date for fresh elections after an Organization of American States audit found serious irregularities in the way votes were counted in the disputed October election.

After initially going to Mexico, Morales arrived in Argentina in December, where he has remained vocal on politics, frequently taking aim through his Twitter account at the caretaker government of interim President Jeanine Anez.

Mamani said MAS chose Choquehuanca and Rodriguez on Thursday through consensus. (Reuters)

Guatemala breaks off diplomatic relations with Venezuela

Guatemala's new president announced on Thursday that his government was breaking off diplomatic relations with Venezuela.

Two days after his inauguration, President Alejandro Giammattei said he had ordered Guatemala's foreign secretary to recall the last person remaining in the country's embassy in Venezuela's capital and close the building.

Giammattei's announcement came after a meeting with the head of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro.

"It is an issue that concerns the entire continent," the new president said.

In October, the Government of Venezuelan President Maduro barred entry to Giammattei, then the President-elect Orlando Estrada/AFP]

His inauguration was attended by Maria Romero, a representative of Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition leader recognised as that country’s rightful leader by the United States and more than 50 other nations inauguration.

In January 2019, Guatemala already recognised Guaido as Venezuela's president.

In October, the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro did not allow Giammattei, then president-elect, to enter the country. He was sent back to Guatemala on another flight.

Jorge Arreaza, Maduro's foreign minister, accused Giammattei of "throwing himself at the feet of Donald Trump" and said the Guatemalan's presidency was destined to "become another joke in bad taste."

"His government will surely become another bad joke. Our respect and affection for the people of Guatemala." (Al Jazeera)

IICA supplies equipment for Trinidad and Tobago

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) supports the work of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries in Trinidad and Tobago (MALF) on the development of an Agricultural Disaster Risk Management (ADRM) Plan, handing equipment to assess the level of risk of trees after natural disasters. This equipment was procured by IICA, under a special Caribbean Fund from the IICA Director General, Manual Otero. It included a Resistograph, which, according to Yohann Govia of the MALF-HSD, is the first owned by the MALF.

In demonstrating the use of the machine to HSD officers and the media, Govia was quick to confirm that they “do not cut down healthy trees and having the resistograph will help us to detect and monitor cavities in trees, assess if trees pose a risk and determine the health of trees that we want to preserve”.

In addition to the Resistograph, IICA also provided a harness and spikes for tree climbing, two chainsaws and 400 feet of two sizes of heavy-duty, expandable rope used for enhanced safety.

IICA Technical Specialist, Richard Rampersaud, indicated that “IICA was invited by the Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator

Clarence Rambharat, to be part of a Ministerial Committee tasked to develop an Agricultural Disaster Risk Management (ADRM) Plan”.

As a member of the Committee and the Data Management Working Group, IICA worked alongside MALF technicians to assess specific communities for flood vulnerability and develop farm flood vulnerability maps. IICA also data entry of outstanding flood claims over the 2015-2018 period, and supported the sensitisation and training of MALF senior staff and extension offices in first responder and incident command centre operations. (Excerpt from Barbados Nation News)

Donville Inniss, who 20 months ago was a senior Government minister in Barbados, on Friday had a conviction for money laundering marked against his record in a Brooklyn, New York court.

And in another month, the former politician who served for as the Member of Parliament for St James South will know his punishment for accepting just over $70,000 in bribes while being a Minister of the Crown, money that the jury agreed, he illegally filtered through a New York dental business into his own account.

Today, Inniss sat emotionless as District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto read the three guilty verdicts to him at 15:45h. in the Eastern District Federal Court in New York where he endured a three-day trial on the money laundering charges.

Following one hour and 52 minutes of deliberations by the 12-member jury, Inniss, the former Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, was found guilty of laundering $16,536.73 on April 17, 2015 and $20,000 on April 18, 2016, through a US company Crystal Dental Lab, along with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Once the verdict was read, a tense-looking Inniss looked to his right where his older brother, wife Gail and close friend Adriel Brathwaite had sat for the duration of the trial which began on Monday.

One woman who sat amongst them began to cry.

Inniss’ attorney Anthony Ricco then told the court he would provide written submissions to the court by January 30. Lead prose-

cutor Sylvia Shweder told Judge Matsumoto she would require two weeks to reply to those submissions and agreed to a February 13 date. Ricco then said if necessary, he would need another week to respond to the prosecutor. Inniss will remain on bail during this period and his conditions will apply. (Excerpt from Barbados Today)

Brazil removes Culture Secretary after video echoes Goebbels

BCulture Secretary Roberto Alvim was sacked on Friday after posting a video in which he appeared to copy a speech by Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels.

The video, released on Thursday announcing national prizes to revitalize the arts in Brazil, quick-

ly went viral, attracting outrage due to its at times word-for-word similarity to Goebbels’ speech.

In a statement, President Jair Bolsonaro said Alvim’s position had become untenable following his “unfortunate remarks.”

“I reiterate our rejection of totalitarian and genocidal ideologies,” Bolsonaro said, adding his government’s unconditional support for the Jewish community.

In the video, Alvim, a theatre director appointed last year by Bolsonaro, announced the prize as music played in the background from a Wagner opera, Hitler’s favourite music.

“Brazilian art of the next decade will be heroic and it will be national ... and imperative because

it will be rooted in the urgent aspirations of our people, or it will be nothing,” he said in the video.

Goebbels, Hitler’s notorious ideologue, told theatre directors during the Nazi regime that: “German art of the next decade will be heroic, will be wildly romantic, will be objective and free of sentimentality, will be national with great pathos and equally imperative and binding, or else it will be nothing.”

Alvim apologized on Facebook for what he said was an “unintentional error.”

“If I had known of the origin of the phrase I would never have used it,” Alvim said, explaining the speech had been written based on ideas provided by his aides.

(Reuters)

Colombia protests to intensify this year, union leader says

Protests against the social and economic policies of Colombian President Ivan Duque will restart with more intensity this year, a top union leader said.

Marchers in the Andean country held mass demonstrations in November and December last year to demand a varied laundry list of concessions from Duque’s right-wing government.

New protests will open on Tuesday with cacerolazos, Central Union of Workers (CUT) chief Diogenes Orjuela told Reuters late on Thursday, referring to a traditional Latin American form of dissent.

“I think (the protests) will be stronger. When we say stronger, they are demonstrations and strikes far from any violent intent,” Orjuela said. “The first strong action - like the one on Nov. 21, it will be similar - will take place in March.”

Protests last year were largely peaceful, but were marked by looting and attacks against public transport during their first few days, leading Cali and Bogota to institute curfews.

Five people died in connection with the demonstrations, which followed upheaval in other Latin American countries such as Ecuador, Chile and Bolivia.

The death of teenage protester Dilan Cruz, injured by a projectile fired by riot police, became a rallying cry for many marchers, who have demanded the force be dissolved. The squad is now banned from using the weapon that killed Cruz.

The National Strike Committee, comprising unions like the CUT and student groups, initially presented the government with 13 demands in talks - including stepped-up efforts to stop the murder of human rights activists and implement a peace deal with leftist rebels. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Chinese birth rate falls to lowest in seven decades

Iraq’s security forces kill at least two protesters in Baghdad

China’s birth rate has fallen to its lowest since the formation of the People’s Republic of China 70 years ago - despite the easing of the much-criticised one-child policy.

The birth rate was 10.48 per 1000 in 2019 - the lowest since 1949, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

The number of babies born in 2019 dropped by 580,000 to 14.65 million.

Despite the birth rate falling, a lower death rate meant China’s population hit 1.4 billion in 2019, inching up from 1.39 billion.

But the falling birth rate is raising fears of a “demographic timebomb” - that is, a smaller working-age population having to support a bigger, retired population.

In 1979, the Chinese Government introduced a nationwide “one-child policy” - with various exceptions

The end of the one-child policy has done little to reverse the falling birth rate

- to slow population growth.

Families that violated the rules faced fines, loss of employment and sometimes forced abortions.

But the policy has been blamed for a severe gender imbalance - with males still outnumbering females by more than 30 million in the 2019 figures.

In 2015, the Government ended its one-child policy, allowing couples to have two children.

But that reform has

failed to reverse the country’s falling birth rate - despite a two-year increase immediately afterwards.

Experts said this is because the relaxing of the policy did not come with other relevant changes that support family life - such as monetary support for child care and increased paternity leave.

Most people can’t afford more than one child, they said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Mozambique’s do Rosário stays on as Prime Minister in trimmed Cabinet

Mozambique’s

President Filipe

Nyusi kept Carlos Agostinho do Rosário as Prime Minister and Adriano Maleiane as Minister of Finance on Friday as he appointed a new, leaner Cabinet.

Nyusi - who was sworn in for a second term on Wednesday, months after his ruling Frelimo party dominated October elections - trimmed the Cabinet from 22 Ministers to 16.

Ernesto Tonela also stayed as Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, while Parliament Speaker Verónica Dlhovo was named Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

During his second fiveyear term, Nyusi will be responsible for overseeing a

Ukraine

ahead of Tuesday’s provincial and legislative elections, in

gas boom led by oil giants including Exxon Mobil Corp and Total.

Other challenges include battling an Islamist insurgency and delivering on a peace deal signed in August with rebels-turned-Opposition party Renamo. Renamo Secretary General Andre Magibire

told Reuters on Wednesday that the party did not recognise Nyusi as the legitimate leader as they believed the poll was rigged.

The Prime Minister and new Cabinet Ministers will be sworn in today, the President’s office said in a statement. (Excerpt from Reuters)

President Zelenskyy rejects PM’s resignation

Ukraine’s embattled Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk tendered his resignation following a scandal over what appeared to be leaked tapes of him lambasting the President’s “primitive” views on the economy.

But President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to accept Honcharuk’s offer to quit.

A man whose voice resembles that of Honcharuk is heard in three audio files posted on YouTube this week, which claim to be the recording of conversations between the Prime Minister and finance officials, including the Finance Minister. Honcharuk, a 35-year-

old lawyer who became Ukraine’s Prime Minister in August, is alleged to have said: “Zelenskyy has a very primitive understanding of the economy”, and is also heard describing himself a “layman” in economic matters.

Zelenskyy earlier said he would “consider” the resignation.

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s Lower House of Parliament - dominated by Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party - convened on Friday to discuss the resignation.

After the meeting, Zelenskyy refused the resignation bid.

“I decided to give you and

your Government a chance if you resolve some issues that are very important today and are of concern to our society,” the President told Honcharuk in a video released by his press service late Friday.

“Now is not the time to shake the country economically and politically.”

He instructed security officials to find the source of the leak.

“I demand that within two weeks, as soon as possible, we should get the information on who was recording,” he was quoted by his press service as saying.

Law enforcement agencies should “find who did it and work it all out,” he said.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

At least two protesters have been killed and dozens injured in central Baghdad when Iraq’s security forces launched tear gas canisters to disperse demonstrators trying to breach the capital’s Sinak bridge, according to activists and officials.

Riot police on Friday hurled sound bombs and fired tear gas after protesters attempted to breach cement barriers previously erected by security forces, three activists and a security official told The Associated Press news agency.

A medical source told Reuters news agency that one of those killed had a tear gas canister launched directly at his neck.

The bridge is close to the capital’s central Tahrir Square where thousands have been camped out for months, with recent clashes causing the authorities to restrict access to the crossing.

Mass protests have gripped Iraq since October 1 with protesters demanding sweeping reforms, new leadership and snap elections.

They see their political system as profoundly corrupt and keeping most Iraqis in poverty.

More than 450 people have been killed since the demonstrations erupted. Gunmen killed two local journalists covering protests last Friday in the southern city of Basra.

Despite numbers recently dwindling, protesters took

to the streets again last week, determined to keep up the momentum of their protests despite attention turning to the threat of a US-Iran conflict after Washington killed Tehran’s top general in an airstrike inside Iraq. In an effort to bring back focus to the goals of the protest movement, anti-Government protesters in the southern city of Nasiriyah gave the Government a week’s deadline to take serious steps to implement changes. The deadline runs out early next week. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Iran’s Khamenei stands by Guards after unrest over downed plane

Iran’s supreme leader threw his support behind the elite Revolutionary Guards in a rare sermon on Friday after their belated admission that they had accidentally downed an airliner triggered days of protests on the streets.

In his first Friday prayers sermon in eight years, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also told worshippers chanting “Death to America” that the elite Guards could take their fight beyond Iran’s borders after the US killing of a top Iranian commander. Washington said any threats would only isolate Iran further.

Khamenei’s address comes amid a deepening crisis for Iran as it grapples with unrest at home and rising

Iran’s Supreme Leader

he delivers Friday prayers sermon, in Tehran, Iran January 17, 2020

pressure from abroad.

The standoff erupted into tit-for-tat military strikes this month, when Washington killed top commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike on Jan 3 and Iran launched mis-

sile strikes at US targets in Iraq on Jan 8. In the tense aftermath, a Ukrainian airliner was shot down by mistake. But it took days for the Guards to admit this and protesters directed their rage at the elite force and the clerical system it was set up to defend.

Khamenei said Soleimani’s work of projecting Iran’s military influence abroad would continue and said the Quds Force he commanded “protects oppressed nations across the region.” But Russia lent Iran some support over the airliner disaster, saying it had been shot down when Tehran was spooked by reports of advanced US stealth fighters in the area. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Clinton prosecutor Ken Starr to defend Trump in impeachment

US President Donald Trump’s defence team in his Senate trial will include special prosecutors from President Bill Clinton’s impeachment.

He will be represented by Ken Starr and Robert Ray, who investigated Clinton, and Alan Dershowitz, whose past clients include OJ Simpson.

White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump’s personal lawyer Jay Sekulow will lead the team.

Opening statements in the Trump impeachment trial will begin next week.

Starr was the US Department of Justice independent counsel who investigated the Whitewater affair, a scandal-plagued

mid-1980s land venture in Arkansas involving Bill and Hillary Clinton.

The inquiry ultimately uncovered unrelated evidence that Clinton had been having an affair with a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.

The investigation culminated in the Democratic President’s impeachment by the US House of Representatives in 1998. Clinton was acquitted by the Senate.

In 2016, Starr was forced out of his position as President of Baylor University after an inquiry found the school had mishandled rape accusations against its football players.

He later also resigned

from his roles as chancellor and law professor at the university.

Trump was impeached by the US House of Representatives last month on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Democrats have accused him of withholding military aid to Ukraine to pressure the country into investigating his political rival, former US Vice-President Joe Biden.

Trump denies the claims, and calls the impeachment proceedings a partisan “hoax”.

As his Republican party holds a majority in the upper chamber, he is expected to be acquitted. (Excerpt form BBC News)

SUDOKU

(March 21April 19)

Concentrate on what you can accomplish and stop worrying about something you have no control over. A secret surprise will turn out amazingly well and will please a loved one.

GEMINI (May 21June 20) (April 20May 20)

(June 21July 22) LEO (July 23Aug. 22) VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23) TAURUS

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

(Feb. 20March 20)

When in doubt, ask questions. You may not get all the facts or understand what someone wants from you if you don’t pay attention. Charm will get you only so far.

A change at home or to your current lifestyle looks promising. Proper diet and exercise will help you improve your stamina and overall health. Learn to say “no” to unreasonable demands.

Fix up your surroundings to suit your needs. A creative project will turn out better than anticipated. Home additions should add to your comfort and convenience. Make romance and family fun priorities.

Don’t express your feelings until you feel calm and sure about what it is you want to change in your life. A positive approach will bring the best results.

Listen to what others have to say, but don’t reveal your opinion. Hold off making a move until you are sure the results are going to be beneficial. Romance is encouraged.

Evaluate your position and research the possibilities that are open to you. Use your intelligence to ferret out information and people who can contribute to your success.

Keep your thoughts to yourself until you know where you stand. Someone will use emotional tactics to manipulate you. A romantic evening will change the way you feel.

Use your intelligence and experience to navigate the choices you have to make. Don’t feel that you must take on a physical challenge to impress someone.

A change someone makes will confuse you. Don’t be tempted to follow others’ dubious actions. You are best off sticking to the methods that have worked for you in the past.

Use your intelligence and experience to keep heading in a practical and meaningful direction. Keep your emotions out of your conversations and avoid controversial topics and people who don’t share your beliefs.

Travel and educational pursuits will give you the boost you need to decide what you want to do next. A romantic encounter will highlight your day.

NBA round-up: Ingram’s 49 leads Pelicans to wild OT win over Jazz

Brandon Ingram scored a career-high 49 points and won a shootout with Donovan Mitchell as the host New Orleans Pelicans ended the Utah Jazz’s 10-game winning streak with a 138-132 overtime victory Thursday night.

Ingram made five free throws as the Pelicans outscored the Jazz, who lost for the second time in 17 games, 16-10 in overtime despite falling behind by five points midway through the period.

Former Jazz center Derrick Favors added 21 points and 11 rebounds as New Orleans won for the 10th time in 14 games. E’Twaun Moore scored 16 points, including a go-ahead layup in overtime, Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 12 and Frank Jackson had 10.

Mitchell tied his career-high with 46 points, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 26, Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 14 rebounds

before fouling out in overtime, Jordan Clarkson scored 15 and Joe Ingles had 12.

Milwaukee Bucks 128 - Boston Celtics 123

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 32 points and Khris Middleton added 23 as Milwaukee started fast and had just enough in the end, opening a double-digit lead five minutes into the game and earning a victory over visiting Boston.

Donte DiVincenzo scored a career-high 19 points and Brook Lopez added 16 as the Bucks extended their winning streak to five games while winning for the 10th time in their last 11 contests.

Kemba Walker scored 40 points with 11 rebounds and Marcus Smart added 24 as the Celtics fell for the second time in two nights and lost for the fifth time in their last seven games. The Celtics lost to Detroit on Wednesday night.

Denver Nuggets 134 - Golden State Warriors 131 (OT

Mason Plumlee slammed down a pair of dunks and Will Barton nailed a back-breaking 3-pointer in an eight-point run in overtime as short-handed Denver outlasted host Golden State for a comefrom-behind victory in San Francisco.

Playing the second night of a back-to-back without injured starters Paul Millsap, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets completed a twoday sweep despite trailing by as many as 19 points in the first half, by 12 with 8:44 to play in regulation and on two separate occasions in the five-minute extra session.

Gordon finished with 20 points on

Barton finished with a season-best 31 points and Malik Beasley had a season-best 27 for the Nuggets. Alec Burks led Golden State with 25 off the bench.

Los Angeles Clippers 122 - Orlando Magic 95 Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 32 points, and host Los Angeles rolled past Orlando.

Leonard, who scored at least 30 points for the fourth consecutive game, connected on 12 of 20 shots from the floor and 4 of 7 3-pointers. Montrezl Harrell had 21 points for the Clippers, who won for the fourth time in five games.

Nikola Vucevic had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Magic, while Aaron

8-of11 shooting. Evan Fournier, who sat out the Lakers’ win with a right quad contusion, scored 15 points.

Phoenix Suns 121 - New York Knicks 98 Devin Booker scored 29 points, and Phoenix seized control in the third quarter and pulled away for a rout of host New York.

Ricky Rubio returned from a one-game absence (personal reasons) and collected 25 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds as Phoenix won for the sixth time in 10 games. Deandre Ayton also turned in a dynamic game, finishing with a season-high 26 points and career-high 21 rebounds.

Julius Randle scored 26 points to lead the Knicks. Marcus Morris Sr. returned from a neck injury that kept him out for five games, and he added 17 points, but the Knicks lost for the seventh time in eight games. New York also lost rookie RJ Barrett to a sprained right ankle in the third quarter. (Reuters)

WTA roundup: Barty, Yastremska to meet in Adelaide final

Australia. Barty will meet Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine in the final on Saturday. Yastremska dispatached No. 6 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-4, 7-6 (4) to earn her spot in the final.

Despite a home crowd firmly behind her, Barty fell behind quickly, with Collins taking a 3-0 lead in the first set. Barty had a chance to get back in the match, up 40-0 in the seventh game, but Collins ran off five straight points to take the game and ultimately the set.

Adjustments after the first set, however, allowed Barty to get back into the match, which ended after one hour, 55 minutes.

Collins, who beat seeded Swiss Belinda Bencic and American Sofia Kenin on the way to the semis, dropped to 0-4 in semifinal matches. It will be the first Premier-level final for the 19-year-old Yastremska. No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan used 10 aces and five service breaks to top Heather Watson of Great Britain 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to qualify for the final in Hobart, Australia. This will be the second WTA final in two weeks for Rybakina, who lost to Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in Shenzhen, China, last week. Saturday’s final will be the first meeting between Rybakina and No. 4 seed Shuai Zhang of China, who beat No. 5 seed Veronika Kudermetova of Russia 6-3, 6-4. (Reuters)

Rahul and Yadav the game changers as India go level

For the second series in a row, India stayed alive having fallen 1-0 behind and lost the toss in the second, thanks again to batting full of intent that gave their bowlers a total they could defend. In doing so, they might even have found a solution to their biggest problem in ODI crick-

okay for the final game on Sunday.

Intent was apparent from the other end too with Rohit Sharma not shying from hitting in the air early on in the innings. India raced to 55 for 0 in 10 overs, and kept the run rate around six despite Sharma’s fall to Zampa. This was despite

Manish Pandey’s soft dismissal left Rahul with only Ravindra Jadeja as a recognised batting hand and six overs to go. Many a time India have gone wrong from there, but Rahul unfurled some attractive shots against the best bowlers Australia had to offer. The highlight was an in-

wickets each. Jadeja kept India in the contest with tight overs and wickets of Aaron Finch and Marnus Labuschagne, and Yadav ended the chase with the

It ended with an ugly hoick against a full Zampa delivery, putting India under pressure. Australia looked to push on, going to their wicket-takers, but Kohli

doubt that Jadeja had bowled a beauty to turn the ball past Finch’s edge. The wicket didn’t bring India relief. Debutant Labuschagne began smoothly, matching the man he tries to emulate shot for shot. Boundaries and singles kept flowing easily, putting Yadav under the pump. The run rate soon

match in 15 outings. The significance

There was no wicket taken but he troubled Finch on

Again, Jadeja dragged Australia back in partnership with Navdeep Saini by stacking up dots. Smith didn’t throw it away despite the slowdown but Labuschagne ended up chipping Jadeja to longoff. At 178 for 3 in the 31st over, Australia were still in the contest. Especially with Smith turning up another gear, looking to take toll of the spinners before one extra fielder went out for the last 10 overs, Smith and Carey brought it down to 122 required in 13 overs, with Bumrah’s four

India Innings (50 overs maximum)

RG Sharma lbw b Zampa 42

S Dhawan c Starc b Richardson 96

V Kohli (c) c Starc b Zampa 78

SS Iyer b Zampa 7

KL Rahul † run out (†Carey) 80

MK Pandey c Agar b Richardson 2

RA Jadeja not out 20

M Shami not out 1

Extras (b 5, lb 4, w 5) 14

TOTAL (50 Overs, RR: 6.8) 340-6

Did not bat: Kuldeep Yadav, NA Saini, JJ Bumrah

Fall of wickets: 1-81 (Rohit Sharma, 13.3 ov), 2-184 (Shikhar Dhawan, 28.4 ov), 3-198 (Shreyas Iyer, 32.4 ov), 4-276 (Virat Kohli, 43.1 ov), 5-280 (Manish Pandey, 44.1 ov), 6-338 (KL Rahul, 49.4 ov) BOWLING

PJ Cummins (10-1-53-0)

MA Starc (10-0-78-0)

KW Richardson (10-0-73-2)

A Zampa (10-0-50-3)

AC Agar (8-0-63-0)

M Labuschagne (2-0-14-0)

remaining overs increasingly becoming the key. Facing the heat, Yadav started his ninth over having conceded 57 already. He showed heart by slowing his pace down, creating indecision in Smith with a wrong’un outside leg. He stayed slow, drawing a soft chip from Carey for a catch to extra cover. Three balls later, he bowled another wrong’un to Smith, who got undone by the utter slowness of it and ended up playing on.

Game, set and match right there with Yadav taking more than one wicket in an over for the 13th time, six more than anybody has done in ODIs since his debut. The fast bowlers then finished it off in style, but there was some cause for concern for India: Sharma hurt his shoulder when making a diving save at the boundary and is unsure for the decider in Bangalore.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Australia Innings (target: 341 runs from 50 overs)

DA Warner c Pandey b Shami 15

AJ Finch (c) st †Rahul b Jadeja 33

SPD Smith b Kuldeep Yadav 98

M Labuschagne c Shami b Jadeja 46

AT Carey † c Kohli b Yadav 18

AJ Turner b Mohammed Shami 13

AC Agar lbw b Saini 25

PJ Cummins b Shami 0

MA Starc c †Rahul b Saini 6 KW Richardson not out 24 A Zampa c †Rahul b Bumrah 6 Extras (lb 10, w 10) 20 TOTAL (49.1 Overs, RR: 6.18) 304 all out Fall of wickets: 1-20 (David Warner, 3.2 ov), 2-82 (Aaron Finch, 15.1 ov), 3-178 (Marnus Labuschagne, 30.5 ov), 4-220 (Alex

West Indies Under-19 players ready for all challenges ꟷ Graeme West

retoria, South Africa - West Indies U19 Head Coach, Graeme West is backing the young team to show the qualities they have developed in the last year, when they bowl off their ICC U19 Cricket World Cup campaign against three-time tournament winners Australia in Zone B at the De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberley on Saturday 18 January at 10 am local time (4 am Eastern Caribbean Time/3 am Jamaica time).

The team is gaining in confidence after wins in the two warm-up games against Canada and Scotland. All 15 players are fit and available for selection as the team begins their preparations for the opening group game against Australia.

West gave a detailed account of the team’s work as they prepare to start the ICC U19 World Cup which West Indies famously won in 2016.

“The two warm-up games were certainly competitive and provided all squad members with opportunities to demonstrate their skills and show that they had made the necessary adjustments to the conditions and wickets to be effective,” said West to CWI

Media.

“The Scotland performance was an improvement on the Canada game when Nyeem Young and Antonio Morris batted superbly to turn the game around.

West continued: “The bowling unit was slightly below par against Canada given how well they have performed since the Tri Series in December], but on Wednesday against Scotland we were far more controlled and disciplined.

“The most pleasing aspect of the Scotland game was the contribution from the top four batters who needed some time out in the middle, Kevlon Anderson’s hundred was well paced as he mixed good strike rotation with some power hitting. Captain Kimani Melius and Leonardo Julien has set the tempo for the innings with run a ball half centuries on a wicket that was well suited to their stroke play and positive intent.”

We are well aware of the quality Australia and England possess and both games will provide great opportunities for our players to demonstrate the learning that has taken place over the last year, we know we will have to produce a per-

fect performance to beat both sides.

West urged the West Indies fans to support the young team as they seek to emulate the title winning

class of 2016. “They know the importance of the tournament and the stage they are about to perform on and we would love to have everyone supporting and fol-

they can to make their friends, families and all the Windies Cricket fans proud.” (CWI)

Rabada banned for final England Test

South Africa pace bowler Kagiso Rabada has been banned for the final Test against England following his celebration of Joe Root's dismissal on the first day of the third Test.

The seamer screamed next to the England skipper after bowling him for 27 in Port Elizabeth.

The International Cricket Council has given him one demerit point, which means he now has four in a two-year period. That triggers a oneTest ban.

The fourth Test of the series, which is level at 1-1, begins on 24 January in Johannesburg.

The ICC found Rabada guilty of "using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his or her dismissal during an international match".

Michael Vaughan posted on twitter: “”Rabada getting a 1 game ban for celebrating taking the Wicket of the opponents best player is absolutely bonkers ... Over rates & slow play nothing gets done ... Celebrate a wicked and you are banned ... The World is bloody nuts ... #SAvENG.”

Nasser Hussain also posted on twitter: “Context... 33 degree

heat... high humidity... flat pitch... not given new ball… gets England captain... best ball of the day... shows a bit too much emotion. Result Wanderers test will be poorer for no Rabada... ps I know he has previous!”

Former England pace bowler Graham Onions described the punishment as "harsh" on The Cricket Social.

Ex-England batsman Jonathan Trott added: "I thought the celebration was a bit aggressive, but nothing that crossed the line."

Two of his Rabada's previous demerit points came in the bad-tempered

2018 Test series against Australia, which culminated in the Australia ball-tampering scandal.

The third resulted from his celebration on dismissing India's Shikhar Dhawan earlier the same year.

This is the second time that Rabada has been banned for an accumulation of demerit points. The first was on South Africa's tour of England in 2017, when he missed the second Test at Trent Bridge. (BBC Sport)

Inter Milan sign Young on initial six-month deal

Inter Milan have signed defender Ashley Young from Manchester United for £1.28m on an initial six-month deal, with an option to extend for a further season.

The 34-year-old had previously told United of his desire to join Inter and had not been involved in the club's past three games.

The deal brings an end to Young's eight-and-ahalf-year stay at United.

He played 261 times for United and was club cap tain this sea but only start league games in 2019-20.

Young, who has played 39 times for England, joined United from Aston Villa 2011 and has part of squads that won the Premier League in 201213, the FA Cup in 2015-

16, and both the League Cup and Europa League in 2016-17.

Inter, who signed Romelu Lukaku from United last August and also have Alexis Sanchez on loan from the Red Devils, are second in Serie A, two points adrift of Juventus.

Under former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, they

UWI-Unicom Twenty20 tournament…

Malteenoes All Stars will “go all the way”

ꟷ Coach Darien Bess is confident

By TimoThy Jaikarran

Malteenoes

The

All Stars, the only Guyanese team in the 2020 UWI-Unicom Twenty20 tournament, in continuing their enviable run of form, have booked their spot in the semifinal matches, and will play the impressive Queen’s Park Cricket Club of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.

And Malteenoes Coach Darien Bess, optimistic that his side will make it to the finals and uplift the trophy, told Guyana Times Sport in an interview: “I feel good about the team’s performance! So far, we've played good, all-round cricket; we've played as a team. The guys stuck to their roles well, and executed our plans well, and that worked for us.

“If there is one (aspect) I can be critical of, it would be our catching; but some of the guys have never played under lights before. (There are) no excuses, though.

“We've set targets and

we've chased targets, so I feel confident going into tonight's semis. Our team is filled with out-of-favour players looking to make a comeback; players who have been overlooked for some

time now, and a few young players looking to make a name for themselves. Winning this tournament would remind selectors back home of the skill and ability (of our players). Hopefully,

2019 LABA/YBG U19 Basketball

Royals and Raiders to clash for top honours

The outcome of the 2019 Linden Amateur Basketball Association’s Youth Basketball Guyana Inter Club Championship tournament will be known tonight, when Victory Valley Royals, with their unblemished record, take on Retrieve Raiders in the final at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court. Kings were eliminated 78-43 in the first semifinal, the Royals’ top players being: Immanuel La Rose, who led their charge with 33 points; Shemar Henry, who had 13; and Kobe Tappin, who made 12. In the other semifinal, Retrieve Raiders got the better of Amelia’s Ward Jets, winning 57-50 after the scores were in their were level at 27 when the first half ended, and when the third quarter came to a close, both teams were on 46; but the Raiders eased away to win 57-50 before the final whistle.

Kareem Roberts had

a top score of 19 points, and teammates Stephan Duncan and Joshua Grannum each netted 12. For the Jets, Leon Benjamin had 19 points while Gavius George supported with 14 and Jennis Benjamin had 13.

The third-place game between Kings and Jets will commence at 18:30hrs, while the championship match begins at 20:30hrs.

someone from (some) CPL team is watching.” Bess explained that this is his first senior assignment overseas, and thus winning would be a big boost for him. He noted that he is

that the performance of his team would demonstrate to everyone back home that, although he is young and new to coaching, he is competent enough to work with

adults, and not just with

He declared it his fervent desire that the competition would show all interested parties that he is a capable coach and has youth on his side, which means that his performance would inevitably improve as he

The first prize in this tournament is TT$40,000 and a trophy; the second prize is TT$15,000 and a trophy. The two losing semi-finalists would each receive TT$4000, while the “man of the series” would receive TT$2,500. Prizes would also be given for the biggest six, best bowling figures, and for each “man of the match”.

Trophy Stall opens sporting goods outlet

Some of the goods offered

Proprietor of The Trophy Stall, businessman Ramesh Sunich, who has the distinction of being one of the most generous supporters of sports and sporting events in Guyana, has opened a sporting goods store at Lot 241 South Road, Bourda, Georgetown.

This store aims to meet the needs of a variety of sporting disciplines, among which are cricket, tennis, football, karate, table tennis, softball, squash and volleyball.

With the launching of his new store, Sunich has taken an even bigger step in cementing his place as one of the leading sports personalities in Guyana.

Ramesh Sunich’s love for sports began in his very early childhood, and was heavily influenced by his father Neville Sunich, who had been involved in horse racing.

His flagship operation is The Trophy Stall, among the leading trophy and engraving entities in Guyana. Headquartered in the Bourda Market, there are outlets at the City Mall; at Lot 241 South Road, Bourda; and at Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice.

In a society where sponsorship for sporting activities is hard to obtain, Sunich has demonstrated the desire to make a difference by willingly donating trophies and medals, among other things, to just about

The newly-opened sporting goods store

anyone who turns up with a request for assistance.

This generous individual has been in business for the past 20 years.

Persons desiring further information on the latest business venture of Ramesh Sunich are invited to contact the store on 227-5033, 225-9230, 225-1498, 623-0368, or Email Trophystall@hotmail.com.

CWI Colonial Medical Insurance Regional 4-Day Championships…

Pride tighten noose on Jaguars

The Barbados Pride completed day two of the WICB Regional 4-day Championship battle against defending champions Guyana Jaguars with the better prospects of winning the game, being played at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

With a score of 239-3 replying to the Jaguars’ first innings total of 209, Pride are now ahead by 30 runs heading into the penultimate day. Overnight in the middle are Jonathan Carter and Kyle Mayers, on 61 and 36 respectively.

Guyana started day two on 209-3, but Chemar Holder immediately removed Nial Smith for 17 and Keon Joseph without scoring, leaving Tagenarine Chanderpaul with unfortunately no chance of improving his score of 66, his unbeaten innings having been crafted from 280 deliveries, in which he had struck eight boundaries.

For his efforts, Holder was added to the list of Bajan wicket-takers. Kemar Roach led the attack with 4-28; while Holder, Carter, and Jomel Warrican each claimed two wickets.

In day two’s morning ses-

Ireland’s Tour to the West Indies…

Hosts looking to keep T20 series alive

sion, the Guyanese bowlers were made to toil by Kraigg Brathwaite and Sheyne Moseley. Brathwaite was the chief scorer for the patient opening pair, but he was the first to depart, being caught by Chandrapaul Hemraj off the bowling of Nial Smith for 40 runs.

Shamarh Brooks entered with the score at 691, and made 10 before being dismissed with the score on 96.

Carter, the next in, made sure he upped the scoring while Moseley at the other end fatigued the bowlers. Having scored 46, Moseley retired hurt with cramps in his arms after facing 158 deliveries.

Shane Dowrich, who replaced him, played some attractive strokes for his 25, before becoming Veersammy Permaul's first victim.

Mayers entered, and had enough skill to anchor the other end while scoring consistently. When the umpires called stumps, Carter had faced 159 balls for his 61, while Mayers had taken 59 delivers to accumulate 36 runs, which included 5 boundaries and a maximum.

T Chanderpaul not out 66

C Hemraj c Dowrich b Roach 4

L Johnson c Dowrich b Roach 0

V Singh c Stoute b Roach 6

C Barnwell c Moseley

b Roach 32

R Reifer lbw

b Carter 20

A Bramble c Holder b Carter 8

K Sinclair

c Stoute

b Warrican 43

V Permaul

c Moseley

b Warrican 0 Nial Smith

c Harding b Holder 17

K Joseph c Moseley b Holder 0

Extras - 13 Total - 209 for 10

Bowling

K Roach (19-7-28-4)

K Harding (12-1-40-0) C Holder (16.1-4-39-2)

Day three commences at 10:00 hrs today.

K Stoute (13-1-43-0) J Carter (11-3-31-2) J Warrican (13-4-17-2) K Brathwaite (5-1-8-0)

Barbados Pride 1st Innings K Brathwaite c Hemraj b Smith 40 S Moseley retired hurt 46 S Brooks c Johnson b Reifer 10 Jonathan Carter not out 61

S Dowrich c Smith b Permaul 25 Kyle Mayers not out 36 Extras - 21 Total - 239 for 3 Yet to bat: J Warrican, C Holder, K Stoute, K Roach, K Harding Bowling

K Joseph (14-1-51-0) N Smith (14-4-40-1)

K Sinclair (24-5-56-0) V Permaul (14-3-38-1) C Barnwell (7-3-19-0)

West Indies were made to pay for allowing Ireland to rack up a huge total for their first-wicket partnership, and were behind the eight-ball from that point on, as they fell to a

Ireland claimed a historic victory over world champions West Indies to get the T20 series off to a perfect start, as their performance with the bat proved enough to claim what turned out to be a narrow victory.

Paul Stirling struck a magnificent 95 off just 47 balls, as he shared with Kevin O’Brien an opening partnership of 154 which was Ireland’s highest ever partnership for any wicket in their T20 history. Thus they produced a big total to chase.

after he put in a very poor showing with the ball.

The Windies gave the chase a good go, but fell short, hosts short by four runs. That superb victory should see the tourists name an unchanged

Ireland claimed just their second ever T20 victory over the West Indies and third in any format of the game, as they produced a record-breaking display to beat the world champions.

WI Squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Lendl Simmons, Hayden Walsh and Kesrick Williams.

Match time today is 18:00 hrs.

MYO/Trophy Stall Inter-Jamaat Softball Cricket Competition… Play to resume on January 25

With the advent of the new year, fans can now look forward to the resumption of the MYO/Trophy Stall Inter-Jamaat Softball Cricket Competition, which is scheduled to recommence on January 25, 2020.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport MYO Senior Vice President, Sports Committee Chairman Imran Ally, disclosed: “We have so much planned for the year 2020. This is a big year for us. The main aim of this competition is to create brotherhood and unity, as we were able to provide clean recreational fun.

“The competition will continue to grow, as other masjids have seen our progress and I believe that they will be inclined to come on board and interact with others; which will showcase our motto, which is ‘Unity and Brotherhood through Sports’.

“In terms of our team, MYO’s performance has been great, especially with the youngsters in the team, which is a great prospect for us. At the end of the day, it’s not all about winning, but having great fun, and great cricket is the key.”

Ten teams have registered to participate in this inter-jamaat competition, two more than had participated in the last tournament. These teams are: LBI ‘A’ Masjid, LBI ‘B’ Masjid, New Mosque, New Amsterdam Masjid, MYO, Cornelia Ida Masjid, Leonora Masjid, Tuschen Train Station Masjid, Hague Masjid, and Diamond New Scheme Masjid.

New masjids are set to field teams, Ally said, with as many as four coming from West Demerara and one from Berbice. Fixtures will be released at a later date, he explained. The points’ standings for 2020 see New Amsterdam on top with 12 points, while MYO and Cornelia Ida are tied on eight points. Tuschen and Hague both have six points; LBI ‘B’ has 4 points; LBI ‘A’ and Diamond are each on two points, while New Mosque is yet to get off the mark. This Inter-Jamaat Softball competition is sponsored by Trophy Stall, owned by businessman Ramesh Sunich.