Issuu

TUESDAY 12th June, 2018

No.105303

IOM to do head-count ...of number of Venezuelans seeking refuge here

PAGE

Police seize 55 illegal firearms

â€Śrecord 7% decrease PAGE in serious crime 05

Min. Amna Ally hospitalised 03 PAGE

Man gets 18 years for raping boy 03 PAGE

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump at the start of their historic US-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore on June 12, 2018.Saul Loeb / AFP - Getty Images (See story on page 4)

Berbice champion cyclist passes on

PAGE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

PPP files challenge to GECOM chair ruling DAYS after Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire ruled that President David Granger acted constitutionally when he appointed Justice (ret’d) James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Secretary Zulficar Mustapha has filed an appeal calling for the decision to be quashed and that President Granger be instructed to select a Chairman from the 18 nominees put forward by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. In the Notice of Appeal filed by Attorney Anil Nand-

lall and a battery of lawyers on Monday, Mustapha contends that Justice George-Wiltshire erred and misdirected herself in law in construing Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana by failing to give effect to the intentions of the framers of the said article. The Chief Justice handed down her decision last Friday. “The learned hearing judge erred and misdirected herself in law by failing to impugn the appointment of Mr. Justice James Patterson as Chairman of GECOM, after Her Honour ruled that reasons are required to be provided by the President for the rejection

of the list submitted by the Leader of the Opposition pursuant to Article 161 (2) of the Constitution and after having ruled that the President provided no such reasons,” the Notice of Appeal stated. According to the applicant, the Chief Justice failed to apply or failed to properly apply the purposive canon of interpretation in construing Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. “The Learned Hearing Judge erred and misdirected herself in law when her Honour misconstrued and misinterpreted the role of the Leader of the Opposition in Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in so far as Her Honour’s interpretation or misinterpretation has reduced the role of the Leader of the Opposition to being merely perfunctory,” the appeal states.

Attorney General Basil Williams having a light moment with PPP executives, including former President Donald Ramotar, during a court session last week (Adrian Narine photo)

Justice George-Wiltshire in her ruling said, while consensus is desired, the Constitution does permit a unilateral decision to appoint a chairman of GECOM on the rejection of the list submitted by the Leader of the Opposition. As such, the request by Mustapha for a declaration that the appointment of Justice Patterson is null, void and of no effect was refused. The Chief Justice also rejected the applicant’s request for an order directing the president to choose a person from the 18 names submitted to him by the Leader of the Opposition. “Such refusal is a consequence of my decisions above and, because of my decision that the only list relevant to this application is the third list. In any event as stated, even if I had found in favour of the applicant, it would not have been permissible for this Court to usurp the function of the President by directing him to choose a nominee from the third or any list,” she declared. However, Mustapha argues that the Chief Justice misdirected herself in law by omitting to review, or properly review the exercise of the power and discretion which Article 161 (2) resides with the President, in rejecting three sets of names

submitted to him by Jagdeo pursuant to the said Article in order to determine whether the President exercised that power and discretion lawfully and reasonably and not irrationally, capriciously, whimsically and influenced by irrelevant and extraneous considerations and not guided by relevant considerations. He contends too that Justice George-Wiltshire erred when she ruled that the President has the power to reject a list of six names submitted by the Leader of the Opposition pursuant to Article 161 (2) of the Constitution. Moreover, he believes that the judge also erred and misdirected herself in law when she failed to pronounce on whether the President has the power to request more than one list of six names from the Opposition Leader, pursuant to Article 161 (2) of the constitution. Mustapha said too that the Chief Justice erred when she failed to take into account the first and second lists of names submitted by Jagdeo upon the request of the President. “The Learned Hearing Judge erred and misdirected herself in law by finding that the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is empowered to reject the list as unacceptable although

one or more persons on that list is or are acceptable to the President.” He said too that the decision by Justice George-Wiltshire is “wrong, misconceived and erroneous in law as it has destroyed a delicate but fundamental balance in the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission which the framers of the Constitution intended to repose in a Chairman appointed by a formula captured in Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.” Additionally, Mustapha through his attorney said that Justice George-Wiltshire’s decision is wrong, misconceived and erroneous in law “as it allows the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to reject a list of names submitted to him by the Leader of the Opposition, pursuant to Article 161 (2) of the Constitution and make a unilateral appointment of a person of his own choosing.” He posited that the Chief Justice erred and misdirected herself in law when she ruled that the President lawfully and properly invoked the proviso to Article 161 (2) of the Constitution, and when she failed to correctly interpret the circumstances when the proviso to the aforementioned article can be activated.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

IOM to do head-count – of number of Venezuelans seeking refuge here

By Navendra Seoraj AS Venezuela continues to see a decline in its economy, it’s people are on the move by the droves, looking for better living conditions, especially in neighbouring countries like Guyana. And this, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), is reason enough to start a process of accounting for all those who have already made the crossing. And difficult though it is to measure irregular migration, the IOM will soon begin conducting a three-rounds Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) to determine just how many Venezuelans there are in Guyana, Regional Coordination Officer for the Caribbean, Robert Natiello told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday. Natiello said there are any number of migrants coming to Guyana, many of them

returning Guyanese who migrated with their extended families to Venezuela years ago when the going there was heaps better than it was here. “We are trying to get a handle on the situation and find out how many are here, what their socioeconomic needs are, and some of the impacts their arrival is having on some of the local communities, especially those along the border areas,” Natiello said, adding that the reason it is so difficult to measure irregular migration is because of the porosity of the border. He explained that the IOM can very well go to the Ministry of Citizenship and enquire how many Venezuelans got registered here, but then again the border is inordinately long, and only has two official crossings. According to a Stabroek News report, the island of Ankoko sits on the Cuyuni River, at the “junction” with the Wenamu River. A median

line defines the boundary in the Wenamu, and that line therefore divides Ankoko as well, so the western portion of the island belongs to Venezuela and the eastern part to Guyana. Given the length of the border, Natiello said, it would be difficult for the IOM to get a real handle on the number persons who cross over irregularly. TRIED AND PROVEN The proposed DTM method, he said, has been effectively used in at least 60 countries, so it is expected to provide a workable figure. Said Natiello, “The situation of the outflows from Venezuela has affected a lot countries in the region, including Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Aruba, which have been affected by outflows in the Caribbean, while countries in South America are also seeing an influx of Venezuelans…”

IOM’s Regional Coordination Officer for the Caribbean, Robert Natiello (Samuel Maughn photo)

“For instance, in Brazil and Colombia, we are implementing the DTM; we have already implemented a few rounds,” he said, adding that they intend to start the process in here this month. Natiello said the DTM exercise is designed to help the Government of Guyana,

the United Nations system and other actors develop policies and programmes, and to determine how to allocate resources to assist Venezuelans, returning Guyanese and local receptor communities. The IOM, he said, has already hired a local consultant to coordinate the process, and they are in the process of hiring enumerators who would go into the fields and speak with key informants such as immigration officers, official health posts, teachers, community leaders, Regional Democratic Council (RDC) chairpersons and even Venezuelans themselves. Although it has been established that the figure would not be exact, he believes that it would paint a better picture of how many immigrants are in the country. The first round of the DTM is expected to be completed by the end of July. VERY TAXING An influx of a migrant population can be very taxing

on local infrastructure such as schools, health centres and so forth, hence knowing a figure would allow stakeholders to make critical, economical decisions. Said Natiello, “So far, the government has been exemplary and shown solidarity with Venezuelans; the government has shown a willingness to support them… “They said they do not want to just deport them, but instead regularise them, especially because Venezuela had received a lot of Guyanese migrants in the 1980s… “The government is developing a policy to provide them with temporary permits that are renewable.” The IOM recognises the rights of a State, especially the sovereignty to determine who enters, how they enter and how long they enter, so the organisation does not get involved in those decisions but provide technical assistance to help the Government to boost those systems.

Judge sentences man to 10 years for killing reputed wife DESMOND Augustus Gordon who pleaded guilty to killing his reputed wife, Bagwanttie Persaud at their home Mangroo Street, Rose Hall Town, back in May 16, 2016 was on Monday sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Justice Brassington Reynolds. Earlier, Probation and Social Services Officer Maisie Sheppard, in an extensive report, narrated the convict’s childhood challenges, being the fourth of 10 children and which forced him to drop out of school at age 14, due to financial constraints within the family. After working at several jobs ranging from labourer to cane harvester attached to Guyana Sugar Corpo-

ration (GuySuCo), along with a marriage and several common-law relationships, he settled with the now deceased woman for five years, prior to her demise. Sheppard revealed that a report from the prison, recorded Gordon as a model prisoner, who is disciplined and a respectful person with a clear personal file. In the Rose Hall community where he resided, residents stated that while the victim was addicted to cocaine and marijuana, the couple would together consume alcohol, after which they would become abusive to each other. Meanwhile, Legal Aid attorney Sasha Roberts, in her plea of mitigation, urged the court to take note that her client did not waste the court’s time, and that he has

Desmond Augustus Gordon

accepted full responsibility for his actions. “Temper justice with mercy. The accused was not a violent man, but in a moment of weakness … He is remorseful. A life has been

Man gets 18 years for raping boy FORTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD Mahadeo Ramnarine called “Dougla” of Betsy Ground, East Canje, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of raping a 13-year-old boy who had left his home to run an errand for his mother. As a result of the incident, the teenager remains traumatised and has had to seek mental health intervention at the National Psychiatric Hospital. On August 14, 2010, the shirtless lad rode off with his father’s bicycle to collect milk from another village. But on

his return, he saw the accused and another male seated under a tamarind tree. The other male ran towards him, pulling him off the bicycle, whilst ‘tearing’ off his underwear, even as the child called for help. The accused placed the underwear in his mouth, along with a white tablet, before tying his hands behind his back with a rope. He was then placed to lie on his abdomen, before the men took turns to penetrate his anus, before leaving him bound and walking away. Questioned by Justice

Brassington Reynolds as to why the penalty of life imprisonment should not be imposed, Ramnarine responded, “Me nah know nothing.” “Well for my part Ramnarine, I continue to be baffled by your unruffled attitude … You have committed a heinous crime. You have defiled a young man, and stripped him of his innocence… You have been able to go on with your life, but the young man remains traumatised by this experience ...You have shown no remorse and continue to deny

lost. The accused stands before this court, asking for mercy…” Addressing the convict, Justice Reynolds said that having listened to the probation officer’s report, and plea of mitigation, “I am satisfied that you may have been a victim of your own circumstances and socialisation. A life has been lost, you must suffer penalty. ‘It helps that you did not waste the court’s time. It helps you were a model prisoner. “The sentencing tariff of this court ranges from 18 to 25 years. I will start at the lower level. I have deducted five years for the guilty plea, another five years for time spent, and one year for your remorse and conduct. The sentence of this court is 10 years imprisonment,” said the offence. After committing the act, you left the lad, hoping to return at nightfall to dispose of his body. I have sentenced you to 18 years,” the judge said, even as Ramnarine bore a smug look on his face. Earlier, Probation and Social Service Officer Judith Vankennie reported that while Ramnarine was married under Hindu rites, he fathered several other children with common-law wives. He was once employed for several years by GuySuCo. However, prior to the offence, he worked as a labourer at a supermarket at Betsy Ground, East Canje. Prosecuting on behalf of the State was Ms. Tuanna Hardy.

Justice Reynolds. Earlier, State Prosecutor Ms Tuanna Hardy had informed Justice Reynolds and a mixed jury that the couple were in a common-law relationship and had consumed alcohol for an extended period on that fateful day. Consequently, an argument erupted resulting in the accused taking away a cutlass from the now deceased 50-year-old woman.

Screams were heard before Gordon was seen running after his wife whilst inflicting several incised wounds to her head and neck. Doctors at the Port Mourant Hospital pronounced her death shortly afterwards. A post mortem report prepared by Dr. Vivikanand Brijmohan recorded her death as a result of shock and haemorrhage due to multiple incised wounds.

Min. Amna Ally hospitalised MINISTER of Social Protection, Hon. Amna Ally is in good spirits and resting comfortably at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), where she sought medical attention on Monday after complaining of feeling unwell. In a release the Department of Public Information said, as a precautionary measure, Minister Ally is being kept for observation and is scheduled to travel overseas on Wednesday to seek further medical checks. This is also as a precautionary measure. Late on Monday afternoon, His Excellency President David Granger

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally

visited with Minister Ally and lifted her spirits further, the DPI said. Minister Ally is the Government Chief Whip in the National Assembly.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 12, 2018

Trump, Kim bury the hatchet

– as historic summit begins

SINGAPORE (Reuters) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump shook hands and smiled cautiously as they met at their historic summit in Singapore on Tuesday, in which the two men will look for ways to end a nuclear standoff on the Korean peninsula. Should they succeed in making a diplomatic breakthrough, it could bring lasting change to the security landscape of Northeast Asia, like the visit of former U.S. President Richard Nixon to China in 1972 led to the transformation of China. “Nice to meet you Mister President,” Kim said as he sat alongside Trump, against a backdrop of North Korean and U.S. flags, beaming broadly as the U.S. president gave him a thumbs up. Trump said he was sure they would have “a terrific

relationship”. With cameras of the world’s press trained on them, Trump and Kim displayed an initial atmosphere of bonhomie. “I feel really great,” Trump said. “It’s gonna be a great discussion, and I think tremendous success. I think it’s gonna be really successful, and I think we will have a terrific relationship, I have no doubt.” Kim replied: “Well, it was not easy to get here. The past has placed many obstacles in our way, but we overcame all of them and we are here today.” Both men looked serious as they got out of their limousines for the summit at the Capella hotel on Singapore’s Sentosa, a resort island with luxury hotels, a casino, manmade beaches and a Universal Studios theme park. But they were soon smil-

ing and holding each other by the arm, before Trump guided Kim to the library where they held a meeting with only their interpreters. Trump had said on Saturday he would know within a minute of meeting Kim whether he would reach a deal. After some initial exchanges lasting around halfan-hour, Trump and Kim emerged, walking side-byside through the colonnaded hotel before re-entering the meeting room, where they were joined by their most senior officials. As the two leaders met, Singapore navy vessels and air force Apache helicopters patrolled, while fighter jets and an Gulfstream 550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft circled. Financial markets were largely steady in Asia, and did not show any noticeable reaction to the start of the summit. The dollar was at a three-week high, and the

MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares was largely unchanged from Monday. While Trump and Kim search each other’s eyes and words for signs of trust or deceit, the rest of the world will be watching, hoping that somehow these two unpredictable leaders can find a way to defuse one of the planet’s most dangerous flashpoints.

OPTIMISM, CAUTION In the hours before the summit began, Trump expressed optimism about prospects for the first-ever meeting of sitting U.S. and North Korean leaders, while U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo injected a note of caution whether Kim would prove to be sincere about his willingness to denuclearise. Officials of the two sides held last-minute talks to lay the groundwork for the summit of the old foes, an event almost unthinkable just months ago, when they

were exchanging insults and threats that raised fears of war. Staff-level meetings between the United States and North Korea were going “well and quickly,” Trump said in a message on Twitter on Tuesday. But he added: “In the end, that doesn’t matter. We will all know soon whether or not a real deal, unlike those of the past, can happen!” The combatants of the 1950-53 Korean War are technically still at war, as the conflict, in which millions of people died, was concluded only with a truce. ADVERTISING On Tuesday morning, Pompeo fed the mounting anticipation of diplomatic breakthrough, saying: “We’re ready for today.” He earlier said the event should set the framework for “the hard work that will follow,” insisting that North

Korea had to move toward complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation. North Korea, however, has shown little appetite for surrendering nuclear weapons it considers vital to the survival of Kim’s dynastic rule. Sanctions on North Korea would remain in place until that happened, Pompeo said on Monday. “If diplomacy does not move in the right direction ... those measures will increase.” He added: “North Korea has previously confirmed to us its willingness to denuclearise and we are eager to see if those words prove sincere.” The White House said later that discussions with North Korea had moved “more quickly than expected,” and Trump would leave Singapore on Tuesday night after the summit, rather than Wednesday, as scheduled earlier. Kim is due to leave on Tuesday afternoon, a source involved in the planning of his visit has said.

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 – 15:35 hrs

DATE: DATE: 26/11/2016 9/06/2018 26/11/2016 11/06/2018

23 10 11 2 12 14 12 18 19 13 22 26 02 N J 11

06 23

13 4

14 24

21 21

24 12

26/11/2016 11/06/2018

04 7

07 5

03 5

26/11/2016 11/06/2018

05 2

04 0

01 9

26/11/2016 11/06/2018 02 17

09 14

10 19

11 6 15 13 18 14 318

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 12, 2018

Police seize 55 illegal firearms

Pedestrian killed in Spring Garden accident

…record 7% decrease in serious crime

FIFTY-FIVE illegal firearms have been taken off the streets so far this year, compared to 64 for the corresponding period last year, according to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) statistics released on Monday. The Police Force also noted that they recorded a seven per cent decrease in serious crimes at the end of May, 2018 relative to the same period last year. Meanwhile, there was a 23

per cent decrease in murders; an eight percent increase in robberies where no instruments were used; a seven per cent increase in robbery under arms where firearm were used; a 28 per cent decrease in robbery under arms where instruments other than firearm were used; a 15per cent decrease in robbery with violence; a 33 per cent decrease in robbery with aggravation; a 34 per cent decrease in larceny from the person; a four per

cent increase in rape; a three per cent increase in burglary and a four per cent decrease in break and enter and larceny. Further, the Force stated that so far for the year they have recorded a total of 36 murders. According to the Force, as it pertains to traffic management, there was a 7.3 per cent decrease in fatal accidents recorded at the end of May, 2018. In all 44 road users were killed.

Deceased Hardat Sahadeo

A MAN in his 40s was struck dead around 18:00h Monday evening on the Spring Garden Public Road, on the Essequibo Coast. According to information reaching the Guyana Chronicle, the victim, a conductor named Hardat Lallman, aka “Mud” Sahadeo, was struck down by one Ramcharran Dass, better known as ‘VJ’. While details of the accident are sketchy, reports indicate that Dass was intoxicated and speeding, and that ‘Mud’, who lives at Parika,

on the East Bank Essequibo, was heading to his brother’s house to help him prepare for a a religious function this weekend when the accident occurred. An eyewitness said that after the intoxicated Dass hit ‘Mud’, he fled the scene, but the police managed to catch up with him. Said one Spring Garden resident, “It was sad the way he died; his head was smashed. Everyone heard the impact and ran out.” A police investigation is currently underway.

Single mother on two fraud charges A single mother appeared Monday in a city magistrate court on two fraud charges. It is alleged that between April 8 and17, 2018 at Water Street, Georgetown with intend to defraud Kehana Gibbons obtained the sum of $70,000 from Tenesha Jerick by falsely pretending that she was in the position to acquire

a house lot at Dazzle Housing scheme, East Coast Demerara knowing the transaction to be fraudulent. It is further alleged that between February 20, 2018 and March 15, 2018 at Water Street, Georgetown with intent to defraud Gibbons obtained $205,000 from Jerick by pretending that she was in a position to acquire a

house and land from Jeavon Thomas knowing the deal to be fraudulent. Gibbons who resides at Dazzle East Coast Demerara denied the charges that were read out in court. The Police Prosecutor had no objection to bail. According to the facts that were given in court the virtual complainant and the

accused were introduce by a friend who is a junior staff at Central Housing Authority. She told her that she was in a position to get her a house and land and the virtual com-

plainant gave the accused the money and upon checking the document she found out that it was not authentic. As a result the matter was reported to the police and the accused

was arrested. Bail was by set by Magistrate Judy Latchman in the sum of $ 200,000. The matter was adjourned for June 25, 2018.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 12, 2018

WI victory over Sri Lanka THE West Indies Cricket Team has gone through so much despair over the years that Sunday’s comprehensive victory over Sri Lanka at the Queen’s Park Oval, in a test match, hardly ignited any passion by Caribbean fans or any reaction of euphoria. And this is understood given the heartache the Caribbean boys have caused fans in recent times. In fact as if the team was destined for failure, Trinidadians had virtually boycotted the game, not because of the players poor run in recent years, but because of maladministration of the one sport that unites the Caribbean people. After winning the toss and elected to bat the West Indies team posted a score of 414 for 8 declared, on the back of a composed 125 by wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and several other meaningful contributions from the lower order including tailenders; Davendra Bishoo and Kemar Roach. By any standards, to declare twice in one match is a remarkable achievement. The Caribbean then quickly dismissed the Sri Lankans for a paltry 185 before returning to the wicket to post a total of 223 for 7 declared, setting the opposition an imposing target of over 400 to win the match. It certainly would have taken a remarkable batting performance by the Sri Lankans to overhaul such a target-they were bundled out for 226 handing the West Indies a decisive victory.

The win, according to a Cricinfo report, was special because West Indies' bowlers were outstanding on a pitch that was never particularly treacherous. In the fourth innings, Roston Chase finished up with the best figures of 4 for 15, though two of those wickets were those of tailenders. More impressive were Bishoo, who took 3 for 48, and Gabriel, who was intense in patches in both innings. His match haul was 4 for 100 - figures that do not do him justice. Another remarkable feature of the Caribbean’s side performance was the lower order resistance led by skipper Jason Holder, who was moved at the post-match presentation to declare that his lower order is "one of the most consistent in world cricket", although statistically this is untrue, with West Indies' lower order at seventh-best on average since 2016. There is no denying however, that the tailenders were exceptional in this match. On the first day of the match West Indies were 147 for 5 before Dowrich - who eventually finished on 125 not out - put on 90, 102 and 75-run partnerships with Holder, Devendra Bishoo and Kemar Roach respectively. What is also significant about this victory is that days before the game, West Indies had lost their longstanding sponsor-Digicel. There were also a lot of criticisms about the make-up of the team and even calls by Trinidadians for a boycott of the game. Despite these odds the players have

soldiered on, strong in faith, testing the extreme limits of the game. This was best on display during last week’s test match. This most inspiring victory, we hope, has reignited hope in the adoring Caribbean fans that their team has the ability to beat a major test cricketing side. Cricket occupies a special place in our history: it binds our people together, is a celebration of our cultures, and is our pride and passion. In a past era, it was the medium through which our brave Caribbean men showed their fans that on a cricket field they are as good as, and equal to, any among their oppressors. The triumph of the team in the first test has no doubt signalled that the greatness of the Caribbean team has not been lost. Although it may have been absent for a long time, it is beginning to emerge again. We need a Cricket Board which does not have bosses, but leaders to shepherd the West Indies on the path to ascend the heights of greatness again.

Please get the facts Dear Editor, RECENTLY, on social media, former government minister Clement Rohee posited some misinformed views on suicide that need to be addressed. Mr. Rohee stated, “It is difficult to detect in advance someone who is prone to suicide. Somehow, prior to committing the act, they manage to elude by means known only to them, their closest relatives and friends who are incapable of spotting any unusual behaviour on their part, before they take their own life. Suicide ideation/suicidal mindset is really not difficult for anyone to be ‘incapable of spotting’ if that person knows what to look for. Actually, there are even clear and obvious warning signs that are easily discernible by anyone but are usually ignored or passed off as ‘jokes’. The media

is replete with cases of loved ones saying they never took seriously, the strange behaviour of suicide victims or language clearly stating that they would take their lives, especially if such statements were made before. Thus, there is the need for citizens to be sensitised to the seriousness of these warning signs, and the need for immediate action. Also, the implication that those who attempt suicide ‘elude’ those near and dear to them, is an awful attempt to indict people suffering from mental illnesses. The fact is that 90 per cent of the people who die by suicide have a mental illness at the time of their death, so they are not thinking clearly or logically. In effect, a normal person cannot apply his/her thinking process to label suicide victims or survivors. As one person who lived through depression posted on Facebook recently, “it is unques-

tionably THE most misunderstood illness and the one most judged and misjudged by “normal” people”. Mr. Rohee wrote, “It’s like assuming a Jekyll and Hyde or split personality just for that particular period prior to committing the act. Their transformation is somewhat ‘magical’ if not amazing!” Like any other illness, there is nothing ‘magical’ or amazing about the suicidal mindset or suicide ideation and it is certainly not indicative of any transformation. Thus to describe someone in such a state as assuming a Jekyll and Hyde or split personality is to victimise the victim. A suicidal mindset or suicide ideation is not reflective of a personality but a mental illness, especially depression or anxiety. As well, one who attempts or dies by suicide is not ‘committing an act’ and this is

why experts and activists have been calling for the term ‘commit suicide’ to be eliminated and be replaced by ‘died by suicide’ or ‘a suicide victim’. Mr. Rohee must be aware of the negative connotations of the word commit but may not be aware that the person attempting or dying by suicide is a victim, not a perpetrator on any sort. Added Mr. Rohee, “Thus the view that suicide is by its very nature a selfish act which brings in its wake pain and suffering to those left behind by the suicide [victim] who egregiously disrespected his or her own karma. Death by suicide considered ‘Atmahatya’ in Hindu circles becomes for the suicide [victim] the only pathway to self-emancipation from circumstances which he or she sees no other option. Hindus view suicide as bad karma. It is said that with suicide, the soul

goes neither to heaven nor to hell but is left to wander restlessly, if not hauntingly amongst the living on earth.” Since the person attempting or dying by suicide is a victim, the act cannot be selfish. As a suicide survivor stated in an article in Huffington Post, October 12, 2014, “Suicide is a decision made out of desperation, hopelessness, isolation and loneliness. The black hole that is clinical depression is all-consuming. Feeling like a burden to loved ones, feeling like there is no way out, feeling trapped and feeling isolated, are all common among people who suffer from depression.” Thus the act is not a ‘pathway to self-emancipation’ whatever that means. In fact, there is tremendous research relating to those who attempted suicide Turn to page 7 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 12, 2018

Robeson Benn must put up or shut up

Dear Editor,

IT IS noted the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) efforts, via the media, to elevate the conversation of race and employment within this institution with the statistical breakdown of those in its employed (June 10, 2018). This nation has to: 1) recognise the importance of race to human comity and development and; 2) start addressing race in a constructive and structured manner. We are having this conversation today because Commissioner Robeson Benn, PPP- representative on GECOM, has made the allegation that up to 90 per cent of those employed at GECOM are Africans. GECOM’s statistics advise that 46 per cent of Africans are in its employ and 51 per cent are at its head office. But the contention here, according to Benn, is that GECOM has a discriminatory policy to favour African and discriminate against other races. Given his position, in GECOM and politics, and the sensitivity of race where it is used as a wedge in our society it requires of Benn justifying the allegation, which is considered serious. There is a need for information to be brought to the fore advising society of- i.) What was the ratio of African versus East Indian and other races in the employ of GECOM during the period of the PPP/C administration; ii.) How many of the vacancies had occurred

since the PPP/C demitted office; iii.) The race of the applicants who applied to fill those vacancies and whether he or she met the requirement to: a) be interviewed and; b) how each participant feared at the interview; and iv.) The cultural dynamics as to the group (s) that gravitate(s) to the state sector and private sector, and in which agency. The absence of addressing these and other considerations would create doubt and suspicious as to Commissioner Benn’s motive. Historically the charges of discrimination against the East Indian community has always been a mantra of the PPP. This is evident from the early 1960s which caused the Forbes Burnham Government in 1965 to invite the International Commission of Jurist (ICJ), to then British Guiana to conduct an inquiry and make recommendations. In as much as the charges were laid by the PPP, the party refused to appear before the ICJ to lead evidence in this regard. Throughout the life of the PNC government the PPP made charges that the PNC, in its employment practice, was deliberately discriminating against the East Indian community and repeatedly demanded that this be corrected by instituting “ethnic balance” in the state sector. The call for “ethnic balance” in the state sector was not extended to a call for similar employment practice throughout the country, which meant and still means

that some groups will always be discriminated against. For 23 years the PPP was in office (1992-2015), and not one written policy on the issue of Equal Employment Opportunity can be found anywhere, prepared and promulgated by that administration. It is instructive that having failed through a structured approach to bring about such practice, since it was placed in the Opposition allegations of discriminating against East Indians have surfaced. Addressing such a charge needs to be based on evidence not gut-feeling or playing on racial fears. Further there must be the clear distinction between political/ government employment visa- vis state employment. Commissioner Benn has to be careful that his charge is not that of whipping up sentiments of mistrust and fear but one grounded in evidence that the Indian community is being targeted for economic discrimination. While the PPP makes charge of East Indians being discrimination against in employment, this country has on record such a programme was instituted by the PPP when it came to office in 1992. African career public servants, which is different from political government appointees, were systematically removed primarily because of their race and perceived political persuasion, both of which are violations of their constitutional right to freedom of association (Article 147) and protection from being

Please get ...

From page 6►

that makes it quite clear that victims never want to die. Also this view of suicide as Atmahaty in the Hindu texts is responsible for many suicides in Hindu families going unreported, in a nation where there are hundreds of thousands of reported suicides each year –30 per cent of the estimated one million, annual suicides globally. Paradoxically, atmahatya, which means ‘murdering the soul or self’, is contradicted in the Gita, which emphasises that the soul cannot be harmed in any way whatever. Ironically, suicide has historically been endorsed in India through ‘sati’, whereby women were forced to jump into the funeral pyre of their dead husbands or collectively burn themselves during an invasion as exemplified in the recent Bollywood historical dram, Padmavati.

With respect to Mr. Rohee’s reference to community involvement in helping to address suicide and abuse, may we point out, that next year TCV plans to launch a lay-counsellor training programme. Trained to detect and act on suicide warning signs, emphatic communication and measures to help abuse victims or deal with abusive situations, lay counsellors/gatekeepers, in every community, can take proactive preventative actions. While the trainer is offered at no cost to TCV, we need to cover that person’s living expenses for one year, as well as the costs directly associated with the training programme. Towards this end we have launched a gofundme account at https://www. gofundme.com/lay-counsellor-training-programme. The link can also be accessed by logging on to our website,

www.caribvoice.org, and clicking on the gofundme logo. We hope Mr. Rohee can find it possible to donate to this cause and to help promote it so we can be able to achieve the set goal. Finally, as loved ones of suicide victims, as suicide survivors, as suicide prevention activists, and as clinical psychologists and counsellors, various members of The Caribbean Voice know through experience, the realities of suicide and so we beg all and sundry who want to write on or speak about suicide to not do so without getting the facts, without speaking with suicide survivors and without understanding how mental health issues affect the thinking process. Regards Caribbean Voice

discriminated against on the grounds of race (Article 149). Society would recall Roger Luncheon in the witness box, under oath, telling the court words to the effect that no African was appointed Head of Mission in any of our overseas embassy or high commission because none was found to be qualified! While the PPP/C administration failed to address race and employment practices in a constructive manner, the APNU+AFC administration must be called upon to deliver. It is way past time that this society grows up and deals with race and its attendant issues constructively. The charge of racial discrimination against any

group is serious and must be treated as such. It points again to the importance of having a Ministry of Labour, which historically is tasked responsibility for workers’ wellbeing. Contrary to perception that such a ministry deals only with conflicts between trade union and employer, its scope is deep and wide drawing from across ministries and agencies, local and international, in ensuring the welfare of the people in the society by placing them as centre to development. Its work can address the critical issue of making sure a policy, programmes and legislation are put in place to constructively address the right of every group in

equal employment opportunity across the board. This ministry is also tasked with the responsibility of putting people in productive employment. In so doing, areas such as population growth, racial development, new economic opportunities, graduates coming from various institutions, age of current workforce, a Job Creation Plan, Poverty Alleviation Strategy, domestic welfare, the retirement community etc. would be factors for consideration and attention. We must get to work in addressing race and other diversity in meaningful ways. Regards Lincoln Lewis

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Nandlall rebuked for fake news on GRDB court case …but says he is sticking by his story THE ATTORNEY General’s Chambers on Monday rubbished claims by Attorney Anil Nandlall for stating that High Court Judge Navindra Singh ordered a stay on a fraud case brought by the State against former Deputy General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRBD), Madanlall Ramraj. But the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) executive is sticking to his story. In fact, Solicitor-General Kim Kyte-Thomas told the Guyana Chronicle that based on information provided by State Counsel Collene Liverpool, the judge never granted a permanent stay of the matter. She made it clear that the matter was not listed to be discussed at the High Court on Monday. The matter of Madanlall Ramraj vs The Attorney General of Guyana, High Court Action No. HC-DEM-CIVFDA-798 was last heard by Justice Navindra Singh on June 5, 2018. She has called on Nandlall to produce a court order showing that a permanent stay of the matter has been granted by Justice Singh. “Ask him for the court order. No permanent stay was granted. The judge made no utterance that we are not in compliance with his order. His order was that whatever the magistrate ordered that is what we must comply with.” Kyte-Thomas contended

that it was ordered that only parts of the forensic audit report into the GRDB done by Nigel Hinds and relevant to Ramraj’s case be produced to his attorneys. In this regard, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) which had brought the charges against Ramraj provided the redacted report which reportedly amounts to some 160 pages, with only areas pertinent to Ramraj’s case visible. The other areas to the report were blotted out. “A report relevant to the particular accused was ordered not the whole report. We have complied with the order,” the Solicitor-General explained and noted that providing the entire report would be exposing the affairs of other persons named in the report to Ramraj’s attorneys. “The entire report is not relevant to Ramraj. The magistrate ordered what is relevant to them…that is why it is in that manner and form, so that they can’t peep other people’s business,” she told the Guyana Chronicle. Kyte-Thomas noted that as an officer of the court, Nandlall ought to know that which was ordered by the Magistrate and why. “The judge said whatever the magistrate said is what we must comply with; that is exactly what we have done. They are using the court as a tool to see what else is coming out and we will have no part of that.”

“We have to protect the confidentiality of other citizens in this country and that is why we gave them the report as is a redacted report,” the Solicitor-General stressed, while noting that the former GRDB deputy general manager is required to go to court, until he is told by the court that there is no need to. She explained too, that Justice Singh had ordered that the said report be served on Ramraj’s lawyers which included Nandalall or the case would be stayed permanently. Additionally, the Solicitor-General noted that the High Court judge was clear when he said that if the magistrate ordered the submission of the edited report, that is what was served on Nandlall and team. Meanwhile, earlier Monday, it was reported by an online media entity that Justice Singh stayed the fraud case against Ramraj after SOCU produced the redacted report. In response, the Attorney General’s Chambers described the report and statements attributed to Nandlall as “false and ludicrous”. “The Attorney General Chambers vehemently refutes the misrepresentations made by Mr. Nandlall as reported by Demerara Waves today 11th June, 2018. Mr. Mohabir Anil Nandlall was present today 11th June, 2018 in the chambers of Justice Navindra

12 years for ‘Turning Point’ killing OMAR McDonald Williams called “Shawn” was on Friday afternoon sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, for the 2013 killing of DJ Sheldon Cheddie at a snackette at Turning Point, Tucville. In handing down his sentence Justice Sandil Kissoon told the court, that he started at a base of 25 years but made some deductions for time served, the guilty plea and other mitigating factors. Williams in his address to the court said, he was sorry for what happened and asked the family members of the deceased for forgiveness and stated that he wished he had done things differently, as he begged

the court for leniency. According to the indictment presented by State Prosecutor Lisa Cave, on September 9, 2013 Williams allegedly murdered Sheldon Cheddie. The accused on Friday, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when he appeared in the Georgetown High Court before Justice Sandil Kissoon. According to the facts, Cave said that on the night of September 9, 2013 the deceased and other friends were standing outside a snackette at Turning Point,Tucville, conversing and drinking when the accused and another man approached the deceased. She related that the accused pulled out what appeared to be a handgun and

pointed it at the deceased and discharged several shots. The injured Sheldon Cheddie was taken to GPHC where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A post mortem was performed and the cause of death was given as shock and haemorrhage due to multiple gunshot wounds. In his plea of mitigation, Defence Attorney, Mark Waldron said his client had been in jail since 2013 and was the father of seven children. He added that the accused had accepted responsibility and expressed remorse for his actions and although the incident was unfortunate, he asked the court to temper justice with mercy to arrive at a reasonable sentencing.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Solicitor-General Kim Kyte-Thomas

Singh with two other matters with the Attorney General namely; Karran Koomar and Nandranie Ramtahal v GBTI etal and the matter of Parasram Mahadeo v The Registrar of Deeds. On the conclusion of the first matter, Mr. Nandlall then sought to engage the judge on the matter of

Madanlall Ramraj v The Attorney General which was concluded on the 5th June, 2018. After raising it, the Honouarble Justice Navindra Singh correctly cautioned Mr. Nandlall that the said matter was concluded, had no return date, was not listed and if he, Nandlall had any issues with the purported

‘non-compliance’ he should properly approach the court for an order for directions,” the statement said. The Attorney General’s office made it clear that no order staying the fraud charges against the former GRDB Deputy General Manager was made. “The Attorney General Chambers in the strongest terms refutes the allegations contained in Demerara Waves article titles ‘High Court Judge stays fraud charges against former GRDB Deputy GM after SOCU produces obscured report.’ “ State Counsel Collene Liverpool was in court for the other matters to which Nandlall appeared when according to the Attorney General’s Chambers, Nandlall was reprimanded by the judge for approaching him on the matter in an improper manner. Nandlall stick to his story Nandlall however, in Turn to page 13 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 12, 2018

‘Bought’ land but could not build on it A 22-year-old real estate agent was on Monday placed before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for allegedly obtaining money by false pretence. Basdeo Persaud denied the charge when it was read to him and he was released on $100,000 bail after police prosecutor Arwin Moore made no objection. The court heard that on April 10, 2018 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, Persaud allegedly obtained from Anarada Persaud $100,000, by falsely pretending that he was in position to obtain a plot of land knowing same to be false.

Basdeo Persaud

According to the prosecutor, the virtual compliant went into the defendant’s real estate office to buy a plot of land and to make a down- payment of $100,000 and the balance she had to

pay was $350,000. However, when the woman began to build on the site she was told that the land had not been sold to anyone. The matter was adjourned until June 25.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 12, 2018

Glasgow bids farewell

–– as murdered mother, daughter laid to rest

By Jeune Bailey VanKeric

SCORES of persons gathered at the Glasgow New Housing Scheme to pay their last respect to the mother and daughter who were hammered to death by the man who should have protected them. Some persons travelled from as far as Crabwood Creek, on the easternmost end of the County of Berbice, to attend the double funeral. Former Regional Vice-Chairman Mr. Bhurpaul Jhagpaul said if only the accused, Jainarine Seeteraam had spoken to someone and gotten advice, he may not have committed such a dastardly act. Noting that Seeteram’s quiet disposition had everyone fooled, Jhagpaul reminded his audience of the old saying, “Easy snake does bite hot”. “With this in mind, I feel that women are no longer safe, and so they need to educate and empower themselves so they can walk out safely,” he said. Nazim S. Hussain, National Coordinating Director of the Caribbean Voice, which is known for its anti-violence advocacy, in a passionate address laid the blame for the heinous attack squarely at the feet of the community which failed to act . “This community has failed,” Hussain said. “Many heard of incidents, but did

nothing. This will continue, but who will be the next victim. “Let us use what has happened as an ultimate warning to walk away. Sometimes women are prepared for the ultimate; it’s not supposed to be like this. It takes a community to raise a child, and to boost continued spousal relationships,” he emphasized before offering his condolences to the bereaved. Early into the service, Pandit Gavin Mahadeo told relatives he was at a loss for words whenever he reflected on the tragedy, which has wiped out an entire family except an 11-year-old boy who sat all during the funeral service next to his grandmother and maternal aunts, whilst staring blindly around him. One of Jainarine Seeteram’s nieces, who spoke on behalf of her relatives, wept uncontrollaby while recalling how shocked they all were shocked at receiving such sad news, particularly since the family never knew of the challenges the deceaseds may have had. Following other tributes and eulogies, the bodies of Bidamatie, called Kameel, and her married daughter, Surydai Khan, were transported to New Amsterdam, where they were interred at the Stanleytown Cemetery. Jainarine Seeteram, who committed suicide, will be

More statements expected in murder case against ex-GDF captain THE matter against former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) captain Orwain Sandy, who is charged with the murder of his reputed wife has been adjourned until June 20, for further statements. When the matter was recalled before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday, police prosecutor Arvil Moore handed over several statements to the court but disclosed that three more were outstanding. Moore requested more time to prepare the documents to be handed over to the court. After defence attorney James Bond signalled his readiness for the commencement of the preliminary inquiry (PI), Magistrate Latchman adjourned

the matter until June 20 for the additional statements to be submitted. Sandy, who served as Special Assistant to the Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, is currently on remand for the murder of Reona Payne which he reportedly committed on March 31 at First Street, Alexander Village. According to reports, Sandy after committing the act, surrendered to police at the Ruimveldt Police Station on Saturday, March 31. A post-mortem report revealed that Payne died from 14 gunshot wounds to her body–13 to her chest and one to the head. The police have confirmed that Sandy used his service firearm during the shooting.

buried on Monday. Last Wednesday’s double murder and suicide rocked East Bank Berbice just before10:00hrs, as Jainarine Seeraram, called ‘Radio’ , went berserk, accusing his wife of infidelity and hammering her and their daughter to death before hanging himself under a dilapidated house, about five hundred meters away.

Shortly before the gruesome murder unfolded, the couple’s 11-year-old son, Mahesh Seetram, called Aroon, was watching television, whilst his sister was asleep in a chair on the upper flat of the two-storied house. His mother was lying in a hammock underneath the house, trying to take a little after attending to a few domestic chores.

The child, who is awaiting the results of the National Grade Six Examinations, recalled hearing his mother say, “Move from here!” And as he ran downstairs, he saw his father in the act, and barely managed to escape a deadly blow from the hammer as his father attempted to do him in too. Said the traumatised child: “I evaded him, and instead ran away. But as I ran, I saw my sister, Aniela, running down the stairs. And

my father took the hammer and lashed her behind her head. I then ran to my grandmother’s house telling her what happened.” Following the assault, his sister was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival, while their mother was discovered dead in the hammock under the couple’s house. Their father was found hanging at an unoccupied house some 500 meters away.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Look for new ways to implement CSME …CDB urges CARICOM leaders CARICOM member states must look at new ways of working to realise the full implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), Dr. Justin Ram- Director of Economics at the Caribbean Development Bank has said. Dr. Ram was at the time speaking at the opening of a two-day shareholder forum on CSME held at the Ramada

Princess Hotel, Guyana, last week Friday. “So we need to move away from the old way of working to the new way of working,” he said, while calling on the region’s leaders to identify priorities for moving CSME forward. “Gather the best people from across the region, from government, private sector, labour, civil society and perhaps lock them in a room for about two months

so that they can devise an implementation plan,” said Dr. Ram. He said the implementation plan with attached budget must be effectively communicated to the region’s people so as to receive feedback. Persons must be identified as responsible for the implementation and a delivery unit for the CSME. Additionally, it was recommended that annual reports be presented on the progress made.

by 1.8 per cent. The Caribbean region, he said, has been ranked on average in 2008 at 59 out of 178 while in 2017 it ranked at 123 on average out of 190 countries.

CHALLENGES The economic director of the CDB told the gathering of regional officials, which included Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves; former Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding and CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque, that discussions on the CSME and its implementation are very important. He pointed to a Dr. Justin Ram, Director of Economics at the CBD

blueprint for the Caribbean Economy which was recently published by the CDB and the many challenges facing the region. Dr. Ram made it clear that while the region is plagued with several challenges, there is a need to “flip those challenges and boost the resilience of our region by implementing fiscal growth to have rainy day funds.” “The CSME is critical for our region,” he stated, while noting that “given our challenges it is time for us to step back in order for us to jump better.” “We really need to step back and take a look at what we are going to do in the region, so that we can jump better into the future,” Dr. Ram opined. He said based on data compiled by the CDB, some countries have recorded average growth rate since the 2007 recession, while noting that the region’s economy grew by an average of two per cent. In 2017, he said Dominica recorded a negative 6.9 per cent given the effects of Hurricane Maria while Grenada recorded a positive 4.5 per cent growth. Dr. Ram said too that debts are at unsustainable levels again, not evenly distributed, while pointing to a low of six per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to a high of 150 per cent of GDP at the end of 2017. He reasoned that governments have been spending large amounts on wages and salaries and that foreign currency reserves are a threshold. There are however a few countries whose reserves are at an undesirable point. Turning his attention to productivity and competitiveness, the CDB Director said at a recent board of governors meeting in Grenada, it was disclosed that extra-regional travel increased significantly between 2006 and 2016 while intra-regional travel declined

UNEMPLOYMENT Meanwhile, as it relates to social and human development, Dr. Ram disclosed that unemployment rates in the Caribbean are extremely high—as high as 25 per cent in some member countries and as low as three or four per cent. He said too that youth unemployment is even higher. Moreover, the CDB official said that a look at the population trend, by 2100, it is expected that many countries in the region will have declining populations. He pointed to Jamaica, Trinidad, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada as examples. In the case of Jamaica, it is predicted that that country’s population will decline by some 50 per cent while Trinidad’s will decline by 28 per cent. St Vincent and the Grenadine’s population is expected to decline by 29 per cent while Grenada is expected to have less people than it had in the 1950s. Notwithstanding these predictions, Dr. Ram made it clear that population dynamics are changing rapidly globally. He questioned whether the Caribbean region is ready for the global changes while stating that many of the region’s countries have lost about 70 per cent of their labour in more than 12 years. “Europe will go from 10 per cent to six per cent and Asia will decline from 60 per cent to 43 percent,” he said while noting that North America, which now has 5 percent of the world’s population, is expected to decrease by four per cent by 2100. It has also been projected that Africa’s population will rise from 17 per cent to about 40 per cent. “We ultimately believe that building resilience must start at the household level; a resilient household means a resilient society and economy…I think that the integration movement is not only important for economic growth and social cohesion but is critical given the vulnerabilities we face in our region. Our people need the ability to move without restrictions and we need to trade freely,” said Dr. Ram who noted that the Region needs to be able to take advantage of the global population trends.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

George Talbot accredited Guyana’s Ambassador to Chile GEORGE Talbot has recently been accredited as Guyana’s Ambassador to Chile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said. Talbot is also Guyana’s ambassador to Brazil. The ministry said he presented his Letters of Credence before President Sebastián Piñera of the Republic of Chile and was accredited. Following the presentation, Ambassador Talbot met with President Piñera and discussed matters of bilateral and regional concern. Am-

bassador Talbot expressed Guyana’s gratitude for the excellent cooperation currently enjoyed with Chile and pledged his commitment to contribute to the further strengthening of relations between the two countries. During his visit the ambassador also met with Acting Foreign Minister of Chile, Ambassador Alfonso Silva. Guyana and Chile established diplomatic relations on July 22, 1971 and bilateral relations between the two countries have increased since the

President of Chile, President Piñera (right) accepts the Letters of Credence from Guyana’s Ambassador to that country, Mr. George Talbot

establishment of the Embassy of Chile in Georgetown in 2015, the ministry stated. Ambassador Talbot is concurrently accredited to the Federative Republic of Brazil. He has had a lengthy career in diplo-

macy. Prior to his current appointment, Ambassador Talbot served as the Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to the United Na-

tions. He also held several positions on the UN intergovernmental bodies such as Chairman of the Economic and Financial (Fifth) Committee of the UN General Assembly at its 67th Session; Vice-President

Nandlall rebuked for... a response described the statement issued by the AG Chambers as “bizarre”. He recounted that on June 5, 2018, the said matter involving his client was heard by Justice Singh who ordered that unless a copy of the Forensic Audit Report of the GRDB was produced to his client or himself by June 8, a number of charges instituted against Ramraj which are also pending before Magistrate Leron Daly would be permanently stayed. Nandlall said on Friday, June 8, 2018 at approximately 3:55pm, he was served with a document at his office bearing the title, ‘GRDB Forensic Audit Report by Nigel Hinds’. That document he said contains 160 pages “and beginning from the

content page to the very last page, approximately 98 per cent of the said document was blacked out by some instrument which rendered the document unreadable and indecipherable.” The former Attorney General contends that on Monday at approximately 09:00h, and out of deference to Justice Singh and for clarification purposes, “I showed the said document to the Judge and inquired respectfully, whether the said document was in compliance with His Honour’s order made on the 5th day of June, 2018.” “The Judge, in the presence of a State Counsel from the Attorney General’s Chambers, examined the said document and expressed the opinion that the same does not comply with

From page 9

his Order and therefore the criminal charges against Mr. Ramraj remain permanently stayed. The Judge further indicated that if any further directions are required of him in relation to this matter, he is prepared to give them, provided that the requisite application is made,” Nandlall contends. Six former Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) members were last year charged jointly charged by SOCU for failing to make a proper entry into a register of a company. Those charged are former GRDB Deputy General Manager Ramraj; former General Manager Jagnarine Singh; former GRDB board members Dharamkumar Seeraj, Badrie Persaud, PPP Parliamentarian Nigel Dharamlall and former

of the UNICEF Executive Board; and Vice-President of the High-Level Committee on Technical Cooperation among developing countries (now High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation). Deputy Permanent Secretary (Finance) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Prema Roopnarine. The charges read that the six accused between 2011 to 2015, at Lot 166-177 Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown, while being members of the GRDB board with intent to defraud, omitted and concurred, entries into a Republic Bank Agriculture Sector Development Unit life skill account on the general ledger of the corporation. The six denied that in 2011, they omitted to enter some $52M in the GRDB ledger; they also denied that they omitted to enter a sum of $77.3M into the said ledger. Other charges read that between the years 2014 and 2015, the sums of $130M, $9.7M and $145M were respectively omitted from the GRDB register.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 12, 2018

Kuru Kururu Primary gets new teaching block department along with the teachers at the school would endeavour to ensure that the building’ standard and quality are maintained. “This is very good initiative, and I would like to thank ‘Basic Needs’ for their support and assistance, and would like to assure them that the headteacher and teachers at this school would certainly maintain the very high standard that the contractors have built this building at. “Thank you to ‘Basic Needs’, and thanks to our REO Lucas, who played a

pivotal role in the realisation of this building,” Favourite-Harvey said. Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ms Pauline Lucas said that she is heartened to see the building being completed, declaring that after an extensive tour, she is certainly impressed with the evident quality that the teaching block has been constructed at. “I am overwhelmed, as I am very impressed with the quality and standards of the work, and would like to thank ‘Basic Needs’ for agreeing to build this build-

ing for us,” Ms Lucas said, adding: “I am confident that with the assurances given by our hardworking REDO that thus school would be well taken care of.” The building is approximately 7,440 sq. ft and consists of five classrooms on the ground floor, and another five on the upper floor. There are also 150 desk-and-bench sets for pupils, 10 sets of teachers’ tables and chairs, 10 cupboards, 10 fire extinguishers and 10 fire buckets.

REO Lucaas; Kuru Kururu HM Linda Pearl; a pupil of the school; BNTF Project Manager Dikedemma O. Utoh and REDO Favourite-Harvey during the ribbon-cutting ceremony

THE Kuru Kururu Primary School has unveiled its newly constructed $47.6M teaching block, built courtesy of the Basic Needs Trust Funds (BNTF). Headteacher Ms Linda Pearl received the keys to the new block from BNTF Project Manager, Mr Dikedemma Utoh on Friday. “The Kuru Kururu Primary School was operating significantly over capacity,” Utoh said. “Additionally, the physical condition of the buildings and facilities posed an environmental threat, and was not conducive for learning or

teaching.” Enrolment, he said, was at 976, but based on the teachers’ reports, average attendance for January 2017 was 348 males and 310 females, an average of 318 absentees. “This alarming rate of absenteeism,” he said, “was due to overcrowding of the school, thus, defeating the objectives of teaching and learning.” Utoh said the new teaching block will not only improve attendance, but also contribute to the realisation of better grades and results at the various examination

levels from students. “The direct beneficiaries are not only from the community of Kuru Kururu, but also the communities of Waikabra, Laluni, Madawini and Hillfoot,” he said. Construction of the facility commenced on August 24, 2017 and was completed on January 12, 2018. The design and supervision consultant was E&A Consultants Inc., and the contractor was Satar Mohamed and Son Construction and Hardware Supplies. Regional Education Officer (REDO) Region Four, Ms. Tiffany Favourite-Harvey has promised that her

Cops foil plot to smuggle ganja into prison – warning shot scares man throwing packages over prison wall

PRISON warders thwarted attempts by a man who hurled packages over the Lusignan Prison fence but stopped and escaped the scene after a warning shot. Police said that upon inspection it was discovered that wrapped packages of cigarettes, 1.7 kilogrammes of marijuana, four cell phones, several lighters and other items were found. The Guyana Police Force said in a press statement that at about 1:00hrs Monday morning, police and prison guards at the East Coast Demerara penitentiary responded to sounds and spotted the man who later escaped. They were manning the eastern towers of the Lusignan Prison, when they heard “crashing sounds” emanating from the bushes and shortly after observed a male wearing The items that were seized a hoodie emerging. A warning shot was fired and he fled packages were found. back into the thick vegetation. The area was The items were lodged with the immediately combed and only the wrapped police.

A side view of the new teaching block that was declared open on Friday at the Kuru Kururu Primary School

THE Guyana Consulate in Toronto on Saturday May 26 hosted its annual flag-raising ceremony at the Toronto City Hall in Canada. The Honour Guard comprised of members of the Guyana Ex-Soldiers Association of Canada.

Taking the salute are, from left: Lt. (ret’d.) Michael Narain; Col. (ret’d.) Carl Morgan; W.O 1 (ret’d.) Gordon Winter; Cpl (ret’d.) David Allen; Cpl (ret’d.) Pertab Singh; and LCpl (ret’d.) Courtney Larjeia. Raising the flag is Col (ret’d.) Cecil ‘Pluto’ Martindale (Photo Khalilah Megan Campbell)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Gov’t breaks new ground in education delivery – by treating one-on-one with children with special needs By Lisa Hamilton YOUTHS in Guyana with Special Education Needs (SEN) will now have equal opportunities for development as the government rolls out its first batch of teachers trained to provide them with individualised education. The eight teachers now equipped to cater for a wide range of needs, took part in a graduation ceremony at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) on Monday. Partnering to achieve this milestone are the Ministries of Education, Health and Foreign Affairs; the Government of Cuba; NCERD’s Special Education Needs Unit; and the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). The graduating teachers were trained by SEN educators from Cuba for a threemonth period, and will begin working at the Centre for Stimulation and Development at CPCE, set be commissioned in September. There at the Centre, special education needs students will be able to access speech therapy, psychology and pedagogy, from which Individualised Education Programmes (IEPs) will be developed for each child. In her feature address, Minister of Education Nico-

lette Henry said that some 16 per cent of the nation’s children have special education needs, and deserve the necessary support for equal opportunities at development. The Centre, she said, comes at an opportune time to not only serve the country’s present needs, but those of the rest of the Caribbean as well. She told of plans for the development of a national database of children with special education needs which would help the ministry to provide greater support ser-

vices to meet the existing demands. “There is focus for the creation of a national database for students with special education needs,” Minister Henry said. “Once a student would have been referred to the Centre subsequent to a minimum of three interventions, the student would have an official classification, and an officially drafted, individualised education plan,” she added. As more teachers are

trained, she said, they will be able to return to the mainstream education system, which can see SEN students learning within the general classroom setting as opposed to special, separate classes. Addressing the batch of pioneers, Minister Henry said: “Our eight teachers graduating here today are now equipped with the skills to create individuals who can achieve their full potential for Guyana. “I thank you in advance

for your service to your respective communities and beyond. With your work, your students are given the opportunity to reach higher against all the odds, and to shine as individuals without barriers and, obviously, to be an inspiration to all of us.” Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr Vibert Welch was keen to note that not all disabled persons have special education needs, and not all with special education needs are persons with disabilities. But, despite a child’s challenge, Welch says that each individual must be

granted the right to make a contribution to their country. Similar remarks came from the Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Mr Narciso Socorro, and Project Coordinator, Mr Jorge Ramirez who congratulated the graduates, and said that they will now assist special needs students to reach their true potential in society. During the ceremony, the eight graduates received certificates of completion, and were treated to a cultural presentation in song and dance from the Unit for the Blind and David Rose Special School.

Showing off their certificates of proficiency are the eight teachers now equipped to work with Special Education Needs (SEN) children. Savouring the moment with them are, seated from left: Chief Education Officer, Mr Marcel Hutson; Permanent Secretary in the Public Health Ministry, Ms Collette Adams; Minister of Education, Ms Nicolette Henry; Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Mr Narciso Socorro; and Permanent Secretary in the Education Ministry, Mr Vibert Welch (Delano Williams photo)

Police ranks graduate drill instructor’s course THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues to demonstrate its dedication to capacity building and empowerment for its ranks with the recent graduation of five of its ranks from the Guyana Defence Force’s Drill Instructor Course 2018-01. The roughly seven-week course, which commenced on April 18 and concluded on June 8, consisted of 15 participants, five of whom were ranks of the Guyana Police Force. Those ranks were: Corporal 21917 Akeem Hoosein; Lance Corporal 21585 Elijah Carruthers; Lance Corporal 22321 Jamal Branco; Lance Corporal 21825 Rudyard Thomas; and Constable 22052 Dixie Harry. Public Relations Office Jairam Ramlakhan said that the course focussed on a variety of different aspects of disciplines ranging from

Finance Officer and Acting Assistant Commissioner of Operations, Assistant Commissioner Nigel Hoppie (centre) and Deputy Superintendent Guy Nurse with graduating ranks of Drill Course 2018-01

physical education, rifle exercises and pace stick drills, teaching practices, sword drills, ceremonial parades, funeral parades and colour-party drills. He explained that the training the ranks received has certainly moulded them,

in the hope that they will go on to share it with their colleagues in their respective divisions. Ramlakhan said that the ranks were continuously assessed during the course, bringing much awareness to the need for, and importance

of, personal discipline. Lance Corporal Branco, who is stationed at The Felix Austin Police College at Adventure, Berbice was nominated Best Drill Student as he demonstrated a high and consistent level of personal and overall discipline

throughout the course. The primary objective of the course, Ramlakhan said, was for “Non- Commissioned Officers to conduct, teach and supervise drills at all levels, and advise Senior Commanders on Ceremonial Parades and aspects of

drills.” It is through such collaborative activities, he said, that ranks gain invaluable knowledge and experience, which will better equip them to more effectively serve their country.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 12, 2018

‘Inciting public terror’ accused remanded

… threatened on Facebook to bomb all stores in Guyana A 23-YEAR-OLD man was on Monday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for inciting public terror, after he made a post on Facebook threating to bomb all of the stores in Guyana. Shiam Wazim Nizam denied the allegation that between June 1 and 3, 2018 at Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), with intent to cause public terror, he wrote on his Facebook post “Essequibo belongs to Venezuela... I will bomb all the stores of your country one by one.” Nizam, a labourer of Parika Backdam, EBE, was unrepresented by an attorney. Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to Nazim being released on bail, citing the seriousness

Shiam Wazim Nizam

of the charges. The Chief Magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded Nazim to jail on the grounds of

public safety. The matter was transferred to the Leonora Magistrate’s Court and will be called next on June 26.

Police hold suspect in armed robbery of wash-bay operator

A WASH-BAY operator was on Sunday night shot while being relieved of his valuables by two bandits, one of whom was armed with a handgun and has since been caught. The victim has been identified as Leroy Robinson, 38, of Broad and Lombard Streets, Charlestown. Police say the unarmed bandit is the one who relieved the victim of his Blu

cellular phone and a small sum of cash, whilst the gunman stood guard. The gunman subsequently shot the victim once in his left knee and both men then made good their escape. The police were alerted and prompt action by a rank on motorcycle patrol resulted in the apprehension of the armed suspect a short distance from the crime scene, and the recovery of a .38

revolver and a spent shell on his person. Efforts are being made to have the other suspect quickly apprehended. Meanwhile, the victim is receiving medical attention at a government medical institution where he is said to be in a stable condition. Investigations are ongoing.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

24-hour lab services at New Amsterdam Hospital THE New Amsterdam Regional Hospital is now offering 24 hour operations in its medical lab-

oratory-a service which began in February. The round the clock service began in February

after the labs were relocated to a new building within the hospital compound. Services include micro-

biology, serology, biochemistry and haematology tests, the Department of Public Information (DPI)

Colin Bynoe, Chief Executive Officer New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, offers Minister Dr. Karen Cummings and her team a tour of the hospital’s new laboratory facility (DPI photo)

has reported. Dr. Samantha Kennedy, Technical Advisor to the Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, told the DPI recently, “I remember when I was working here a couple of years ago…from 2007 to 2009 the problem we had was that there was no place for the lab technician to sleep at nights, and so it was an extra cost on the hospital. Every time somebody comes in and needs the service after 4pm you would have to get a driver and a vehicle to go for that

person, and it takes time because people are living at various distances. So for that person to get the care they needed in terms of labs, it took a long time.” Chief Executive Officer (CEP) of the hospital Colin Bynoe added, “Our laboratory services have been improved because of the new structure that we have, and we are working on getting rid of the backlog of lab work…and on getting more equipment so that we can move at a faster pace.”

Escapee caught, charged for attempted murder

Hemchand Kenswin

A little-over-a-year after being on the run from the law, a 23-year-old miner was finally arrested and was on Monday brought before a City Magistrate Court to answer a charge of attempted murder. Hemchand Kerswin appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to the alleged charge. It was stated that on April 14, 2017 at Durban Backlands, Georgetown,

with intent to commit murder he wounded Trevor Smith. Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court, that Kerswin was recently arrested by the police after fleeing to the interior following the crime. Mansfield further told the court that both parties had an exchange of words because Kerswin was sitting on Smith’s front step and refused to move. Smith became annoyed and reported the matter to the nearby police station. However upon his return he was confronted by Kerswin, who dealt him several lashes to his head with a piece of wood. As a result Smith was hospitalised for over five days. Mansfield objected to bail being granted to the accused on the grounds that he was a flight risk. The magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded Kerswin to prison until June 18.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Sol Guyana leads ‘seawall, beach clean-up’ – to mark World Oceans Day

Sol Guyana representatives amongst others during Saturday’s cleanup exercise in observation of World Oceans Day

SOL Guyana joined the international community in celebrating World Oceans Day on Saturday with an inaugural early morning ‘Seawall Beach Clean-up’. The beach clean-up, held in association with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commenced at 07:00h at the seawall bandstand. This activity is just one in a series such events being hosted by Sol, and intended to encourage greater ocean conservation and protection practices in Guyana. Sol, the leading provider of petroleum-based products in the Caribbean region, hopes that the celebrations

will become an annual event on the company’s corporate calendar. According to Company General Manager, Liz Wyatt, Sol has long considered environmental conservation as a major part of its mandate, particularly as it relates to Guyana. “We know that pollution is a great concern and we are hoping that our initiatives will help encourage the community to engage in healthier, more environmentally safe habits.” Over the past year, the energy company has participated in a number of initiatives in line with its environ-

Disorderly prisoner jailed for six months FRANCIS Gonsalves who went berserk recently at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court, was on Monday sentenced to six months imprisonment for his disorderly behaviour and use of indecent language. On May 3, while making an appearance on another matter, he had allegedly threatened to take his own life, thus sending fear into the magistrate and also staff attached to the Suddie Magistrate’s Court. Francis was found guilty when he appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Charity Magistrate’s Court. According to facts of the matter, on May 3 around 14:30 hours at Suddie Magistrate’s Court, the labourer was in court on a threatening language and assault charge committed on Susan Smith, when he attempted to end his life. It happened after the charge was read to him and he had pleaded not

Prisoner Francis Gonsalves

guilty and was remanded. Upon hearing that, Gonsalves began to hit his head on the prisoner’s dock until blood oozed. Then he attempted to jump through the court’s window and had to be restrained by ranks present at the court. He was subsequently taken to the Suddie Public Hospital for medical attention.

mental mandate. “This beach clean-up is the latest of our ocean conservation campaigns,” Wyatt

said, adding: “Over this past year, we also participated in a manatee pond clean-up at

the Botanical Gardens in Georgetown, and partnered with the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Soci-

ety to help provide them with the support needed to continue their important work.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12 , 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12 , 2018

‘Clive Lloyd Drive’ signboards unveiled in the City FROM BACK PAGE

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE Demerara Cricket Club--Home of Legends--as they are commonly known, has produced a number of cricketing legends over the years, and as a proud gesture and appreciation of their achievements, the club has erected two Clive Lloyd Drive signboards at Georgetown’s first major roundabout at the junction of Vlissengen Road and Carifesta Avenue and up the Rupert Craig Highway. At a small ceremony yesterday morning to unveil the signboards, Lloyd, who was described as a living legend, was also described as the club’s most prolific player of all time. Master of Ceremonies, Reginald Brotherson, who gave the welcome remarks and also an overview, said the project is a significant one, since the club has produced a number of legends over the years, with Lloyd being the most outstanding of them all.

Brotherson, who is also the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Public Service (DPS), noted that apart from recognising our legends, the project definitely add splendor and at the same time beauty to the city. Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green who called on the private sector to work closely with the Georgetown Mayor & City Councillors, pointed out that the initiative is a significant one, since Lloyd has not only brought glory to DCC, but Guyana and the entire West Indies during his playing days. Mayor Chase-Green also called for the signboards to be properly maintained, and at the same time, report any destruction of the signboards to the M&CC. President of the DCC, former Guyana and West Indies all-rounder, Roger Harper, reminded the audience of Lloyd’s achievements during and

after his playing days. The legendary former West Indies captain made his entry into international cricket on December 13, 1966 – when he played in the first Test against India at the famous Brabourne Stadium in Bombay. On that date, Lloyd stepped onto the international stage for the first time in a West Indies cap. He made scores of 82 and 78 not out as West Indies won the match by six wickets. Half a century later, he remains a true standardbearer for our great game. In 1975, he lifted the inaugural Cricket World Cup– a signal moment that takes pride of place in the hearts of all West Indian supporters. Lloyd made his debut at the age of 22 and retired in 1985 at the age of 40 – his last Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He played 110 matches; scored 7,515 runs (average 46.67) with a topscore of 242 not out among his 19 centuries.

He also played 87 One-Day Internationals, scoring 1 977 runs (average 39.54). His topscore of 102 came in the 1975 World Cup final against Australia at Lord’s which earned him the Man-of-the-Match award. He led the West Indies in 74 Test matches and won 36. He was at the helm when the West Indies won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1975 and 1979. Since his retirement in 1985, Lloyd has contributed at all levels as a coach, selector, mentor and adviser. The placement of the signboards is a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the Georgetown Mayor & City Councillor, the Demerara Cricket Club and Top Brandz, the official sponsor. Also making brief remarks were Patrick Thomson of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Carson Jack, Senior Sales Supervisor of Top Brandz.

Rose inspires Guyana to seriesclinching win against Barbados FROM BACK PAGE

By Rawle Barbados

Toney

GUYANA defeated Barbados 79-68 on Sunday evening in game three to win their three-game Goodwill Series 2-1. The Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium was buzzing as both sides received good support. While it was a collective team effort from the Guyanese, 18-year-old Stanton Rose, the captain, was impressive in his 15-points game, shooting 3/5 from behind the arc, nine assist, eight rebounds and three steals. Ray Victor had 13 points, Felice Hamilton ended the night with 11 points, and Travis Burnett (5), who

didn’t had a big scoring night, but was Guyana’s lock-down defender on the floor. Anthony Moe (9), Travis Belgrave (8), Shaine Webster (7), Orlan Glasgow (6) and Harold Adams (5) were the other notable performers. Coach Junior Hercules went back with the starting team that brought him success in game two, with Rose, Moe, Glasgow, Adams and Webster. Victor, who hails from the British Virgin Islands (BVI), boosted the team’s defence in the back court. Barbados had no answer for Guyana, with Rose playing unselfishly and finding the open man as Guyana led for the majority of the game,

including being up by as many as 19 points. Having ended the first quarter 24 - 20, Guyana ended the second 46 - 34. The ‘Bajans’ were outplayed in almost every department of the game. Behind Rose’ offensive outburst and Burnett’s stifling defence, Guyana had their best period in the third. Not only did they stop Barbados from scoring, but they outperformed the home team to close the penultimate period 62 - 45. Barbados had their best scoring stanza in the fourth, as Andre DeHart (13), Junior Moore (10) and Deroni Hurly (9) tried valiantly, but the game was way out of reach.

It was Guyana’s first time back on the Island since Lugard Mohan captained them to a bronze medal finish at the CBC tournament (formerly CARICOM Championship) 18 years ago (2000). While the women won the tournament in 1996 in Trinidad and Tobago, the men’s best placing was second in the 1994 tournament in Guyana. At the CBC tournament in Suriname, the Guyanese Men are in Group A with hosts and rivals Suriname, along with St Lucia, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, while Group B comprises Barbados, Bermuda, Antigua & Barbuda, Haiti and Montserrat.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

2 Days to go...

The favourites in focus WITH Russia 2018 just days away, it is being widely suggested that this could be the most open and unpredictable FIFA World Cup™ in decades. But while there is a lengthy list of potential winners, discussion of pretournament favourites has tended to focus on four star-studded sides. With that in mind, and the big kick-off looming, we a closer look at this quartet of leading

against Croatia and his goal against Austria in recent friendlies, both featured brilliant pieces of skill, reminded everyone of this superb player’s capacity for the extraordinary. COACH’S VIEW Tite- “Brazil are a favourite at the World Cup. By the football presented, the campaign completed, by level, performance plus results… we are one of the teams [who

of ambition but if we look at the other nations, there are two in Europe (Spain and Germany) who are ahead of us, and one in South America (Brazil).” GERMANY Retaining the World Cup is notoriously difficult, and no-one has managed it since Brazil in 1962. Germany, however, arrive at Russia 2018 with a group of players that

and UEFA EURO 2016, Spain have rediscovered their swagger and approach Russia 2018 in fine fettle. In mixing heroes of the team that won three successive major titles between 2008 and 2012 with a new generation of exciting players, Julen Lopetegui looks to have found the perfect blend. Outstanding showings in qualifying, and against big-name friendly opponents, have strengthened the belief that this is

World Cup favourites: (L-R) Neymar Jr (Brazil), Antoine Griezman (France), David Silva (Spain) and Mesut Ozil (Germany)

contenders.

BRAZIL A team transformed under the astute leadership of Tite, Brazil were the first nation - besides the hosts - to book their place at Russia 2018. The ghosts of 2014 and that 7-1 walloping by Germany have been exorcised by some outstanding performances, including a recent 1-0 win over the world champions in Berlin. Gabriel Jesus, the goalscorer in that match, Alisson and Coutinho have also risen to prominence since the last World Cup, and number among several outstanding players in a strong, well-balanced and united Seleção squad. Key player: Neymar There was a collective intake of breath when Brazil’s talisman suffered a seasonending foot injury for Paris Saint-Germain in February. At 26, Neymar already has 55 goals for his country and is now jointfourth place with Romario on the list of Brazil’s top goalscorers. His comeback

can win the Trophy], yes.” FRANCE Didier Deschamps arrives at Russia 2018 with a squad crammed full of individual talent. A mere look at their 23man list, which contains names such as Pogba, Griezmann, Mbappe and Dembele, guarantees a degree of expectation. Should Deschamps settle on a formula that brings out the best of this dazzling array of stars, he could become just the third man - after Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer - to win the Trophy as coach and player. Key player: Antoine Griezmann Outstanding for the French at UEFA EURO 2016, and the hero once again for Atletico Madrid in their recent UEFA Europa League final, Griezmann has proved himself to be a man for the big occasion. Dynamic and deadly, this speedy forward will again be expected to spearhead Les Bleus’ multi-talented attack. COACH’S VIEW Didier Deschamps - “We have a lot

is arguably even stronger than the one that brought them glory four years ago. Their victory at the FIFA Confederations Cup with a youthful squad heralded the arrival of youngsters such as Timo Werner, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich, all of whom are ready and able to contribute to the team’s impending title defence. Key player: Mesut Ozil Brilliant on his day, and a stalwart of Low’s Germany, Ozil has been criticised in recent years for his inconsistency for both club and country. He remains as talented and creative as ever, though, and if the holders are to retain their Trophy, they will need their assist king at his inventive best. COACH’S VIEW Joachim Lowe - “Germany will be hunted like never before, and nearsuperhuman forces will be needed if we want to end up becoming world champions again.” SPAIN After early exits at Brazil 2014

hungry and hugely talented Spain side is ready to go the distance. Key player: David Silva Though a veteran of well over 100 internationals and a member of Spain’s golden generation, Silva tended to play a supporting role during that aforementioned, silverware-laden four-year period. Now, aged 32, he is one of the team’s undisputed stars, with sparkling performances and five goals during qualifying having cemented the Manchester City hero’s place at the heart of Julen Lopetegui’s plans. COACH’S VIEW Julen Lopetegui - “You earn the title of favourite when you win. Spanish football has lived through an extraordinary period in 2008, 2010 and 2012, but after that the team has not found the same consistency or success. We have the biggest ambitions but we arrive at this World Cup feeling humble and wanting to prove ourselves.”(FIFA. com)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12 , 2018

Neymar, Jesus and Coutinho score in Brazil victory GABRIEL Jesus, Neymar and Philippe Coutinho scored as Brazil swept aside Austria 3-0 in their final World Cup warm-up game in Vienna. Manchester City striker Jesus calmly curled past Heinz Lindner to open the scoring on 35 minutes. Neymar, making his first

start since February, doubled the lead midway through the second half, slotting in after a nice piece of skill. Barcelona midfielder Coutinho added the third goal shortly afterwards. He latched onto a through ball from former Liverpool team-mate Roberto Firmino

before sliding home. It could have been worse for Austria, Coutinho rattling the bar with a delicate effort after 76 minutes, and Firmino denied by a fine save in the closing moments. Austria, who failed to qualify for Russia and have not competed at a World Cup since 1998, failed to pose much of a threat, though West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic did go close in

the first half. Brazil have not lost since June 2017, a run of 10 games, and have kept 16 clean sheets in 21 games since Tite took over in June 2016. The five-time world champions, drawn in Group E, begin their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on Sunday, 17 June before facing Costa Rica and Serbia.(BBC Sport)

Gabriel Jesus is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring Brazil’s first goal.

For a brief moment, goalscorers Russia hopes to stir World Cup forget poverty and war crowds with musical spoons By Maria Vasilyeva

Mohammed, 13, celebrates scoring his goal in front of his house in the old streets of Casablanca, Morocco, April 28, 2018. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal

(REUTERS) - The eyes of the world will turn to Russia this week for the World Cup but it is far away you must look to find the sport’s beating heart — on war-ravaged streets and in povertystricken slums where the simple act of scoring a goal transcends the grind of everyday life. For every goal celebrated by the 32-teams at the four-yearly gathering of soccer’s superstars, thousands more will be scored on makeshift pitches in Yemen, Somalia and Gaza and beyond. They will not be recorded for posterity and replayed thousands of times over. But they will not be forgotten and the scorer, for a few minutes at least, can dream of being a hero. “My favourite player is (Argentina’s Lionel) Messi. When I score a goal I feel happy and successful, I’m pleased that my team mates are also happy with me,” 14-year-old

Mohammed Ali Kargbo said after scoring a goal in Freetown, Sierra Leone. In the four years since FIFA’s extravaganza was played out across Brazil, soccer’s governing body has been dogged by corruption scandals provoking accusations from fans that the ‘beautiful game’ has been poisoned by greed. The month-long tournament in Russia is officially costing an eyewatering 683 billion rubles ($11 billion). Many of the players are millionaires many times over. Dreams cost nothing, though. Try telling 12-yearold Aoud Moustafa, who plays with his friends in Syria’s Zaizon refugee camp in Deraa that soccer has lost its soul. “When I score I feel very happy and I also feel that I am stronger and faster than my friends,” he said after a game on a dusty patch of earth. The World Cup will be played in 12 ultra-modern

stadiums across Russia, most newly-built with sums of money that would be truly life-changing for millions of vulnerable people across Africa and the Middle East. Yet access to a ball and a goal, be it a couple of chunks of masonry, two twisted sticks in the desert or a the remains of a bombed-out building can provide a ‘theater of dreams’ — a refuge from the horrors of armed conflict or the daily struggle of a life lived in the most challenging circumstances. For one young boy playing in the playground of a bomb-damaged school in Benghazi, Libya, the simple act of scoring a goal represents a homecoming of sorts — the chance of a return to some semblance of normality “I feel joyful because I am playing in my own area, which I have been unable to do for more than three years because of the war,” he said.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Move over vuvuzela players. The musical instrument to master for this year’s soccer World Cup is the Russian spoon. Eight years after South Africans blared away on their plastic vuvuzela horns when they hosted the contest, Russians are hoping fans at the tournament it hosts starting on Thursday will celebrate by clacking their “lozhkas” - spoons that beat out an insistent, but quieter rhythm. Folk musicians using the traditional instruments two wooden spoons held back to back and struck by a third - have already become a feature at official receptions. Less skilled supporters will be able to buy an adapted plastic pair, joined at the end for easier clicking. Designer Rustam Nugmanov got government backing to produce a line of coloured and branded “Spoons of Victory” that have been recognised as the tournament’s official instrument. “When we were choosing an instrument which is typically Russian and which reflects Russian cultural values, we had a choice of three: a treshchotka (clapper), a shaker and a lozhka,” he said. They wanted instruments that could knock out a rhythm, without totally dominating the proceedings like the vuvuzelas did before them. They also wanted to avoid the shattering rattling produced by Brazil’s “caxirola” percussion instruments at the championships four years ago.

A worker decorates spoons branded “Spoons of Victory”, official instrument chosen by Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, at a workshop of designer Rustam Nugmanov in the city of Lyubertsy, outside Moscow, Russia. (REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva)

“That (the caxirola) sounds like a beehive and is a very loud instrument and also

American Racing Tips Finger Lakes Race 1 Carl’s Birthday Race 2 Back Sitter Race 3 Majestic Bloom Race 4 My Mission Race 5 Bet U Can’t Find Me Race 6 I’m A Good Looker Race 7 Financial Freedom Race 8 Masta Ace South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:50 hrs Curbstone Shuffle 09:25 hrs Maple Syrup 10:05 hrs Rouge Allure 10:40 hrs Elusive Strike English Racing Tips Salisbury 09:00 hrs Urban Icon 09:30 hrs Wufud 10:00 hrs Jurz 10:30 hrs Madame Jojo 11:30 hrs Cacoponous 12:00 hrs Desert Cross 13:30 hrs Coverham

does not allow you to clap a rhythm, said Nugmanov. “We have chosen spoons.”

Irish Racing Tips Roscommon 13:00 hrs Tenth Amendment 13:30 hrs Lakeside Pearl 14:00 hrs Eamon High 14:30 hrs Cluan Dara 15:00 hrs Cadmium 15:30 hrs Kaiser Black 16:00 hrs State Of Cognac Thirsk 09:15 hrs Ahlan Bil Emarati 09:45 hrs Ravenswood 10:15 hrs Straightothepoint 10:45 hrs Rebel State 11:15 hrs Mutafani 11:45 hrs Erastus 12:15 hrs Mutabaahy 12:45 hrs vBlue Havana

Lingfield 12:50 hrs Varsovian 13:20 hrs Crime An Queen 13:50 hrs Caribbean Spring 14:20 hrs Howman 14:50 hrs Delirium 15:20 hrs Falcon Cliffs 15:50 hrs Really Super

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Bramble to lead Windies ‘B’ in Global T20 Canada League CRICKET West Indies (CWI) has confirmed that Guyanese, Anthony Bramble and Sherfane Rutherford will join a 14-man squad for the inaugural Global T20 Canada League, which will run from June 28 to July 15. Bramble, a wicket-keeper batsman, was named captain of the Windies B squad. The international tournament is set to attract other elite T20 players from around the world, but Director of Cricket,

Jimmy Adams, thinks “this is a great opportunity for players and feeds into the organisation’s wider highperformance programme, which looks to develop all-round skills sets of the players and officials.” Chairman of Selectors, Courtney Browne said, “With our Test and A Teams currently on tour, the Global T20 presents an opportunity for the panel to see some of our developing players in the region. The exposure and added development will assist us with

Sherfane Rutherford

identifying players with the potential to develop

Anthony Bramble named captain of Windies B team

into

international

T20

cricketers.” The WINDIES B squad is: Anthony Bramble (Captain), Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Roland Cato, Justin Greaves, Derval Green, Kavem Hodge, Brandon King, Jeremiah Louis, Obed Mcoy, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford and Shamar Springer. The team management unit includes: Stuart Williams – Coach; Roderick Estwick – Coach; Denis

Byam – Physiotherapist; Cyril Cox – Strength and Conditioning Trainer; and Trent Sargeant – Analyst. The Global T20 Canada League will see 22 matches played in a round-robin format followed by playoffs and the championship match to be held on July 15. All contests will take place at Maple Leaf Cricket Club in Toronto. The contingent is set to leave the region on June 14.

Crawford dominates Horn to Nadal insists passing Federer’s 20 Slams not on agenda win WBO welterweight title

Jeff Horn (left) and Terence Crawford in action on Saturday night .

TERENCE Crawford outclassed Jeff Horn to win the WBO welterweight title in dominant fashion in Las Vegas Saturday night. Crawford – who moved up in weight for the fight – was in control from the outset at MGM Grand

Garden Arena. The American (33-0) always looked in control before Horn went down in the ninth round, the fight stopped soon after to hand Crawford a technical knockout win. Horn, defending his

title and best known for his controversial win over Manny Pacquiao last year, never looked in Crawford’s class. Both fighters made a busy start, but it was Crawford landing the majority of the shots. A fine start was capped by a dominant third round by Crawford, who was in complete control. Horn (18-1-1) had few answers to Crawford, who landed a pair of big left hands in the fifth, as the Australian wrestled his opponent to try to slow him down. Crawford almost ended the fight in the eighth, a huge left making Horn wobbly just before the bell. It seemed only a matter of time before Crawford secured his win and it arrived in the ninth, Horn going down before the fight was stopped moments later.(SportsMax)

ICC provisionally suspend Zimbabwe official Ikope (REUTERS) - Zimbabwe Cricket director Enock Ikope has been provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and charged with three counts of breaching the organisation’s anticorruption code, the governing body said on Monday. Ikope, chairman of the Harare Metropolitan Cricket Association (HMCA) since 2015, is the second official from

HMCA’s board to be penalised by the ICC after Rajan Nayer was banned from all cricket activities for 20 years in March. Nayer, who was the treasurer and marketing director of HMCA, accepted charges relating to offering Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer $30,000 to fix an international match last year and was banned. Ikope has been charged under ICC’s Article 2.4.6 and Article 2.4.7, which includes

offences such as refusing to co-operate, delaying and obstruction of an investigation into possible corruption by the AntiCorruption Unit (ACU). It is unclear if Ikope’s charges stem from the same incident as Nayer’s. “Mr Ikope has 14 days from June 11, 2018 to respond to the charges. The ICC will not make any further comment in respect of these charges at this stage,” the ICC said in a statement.

Paris (AFP) - Rafael Nadal insists that he has no desire to become locked into an arms race with Roger Federer to surpass his great rival’s 20 Grand Slam titles. Nadal clinched an 11th French Open with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory against Dominic Thiem on Sunday to take his majors total to 17. That’s three behind Federer who is more than four years older. However, the 32-yearold Nadal said such targets do not concern him, believing his caution is wellplaced after an injury-hit career which has seen him sit out nine Grand Slam tournaments. “I have never been crazy about this kind of stuff,” said Nadal. “You can’t always be frustrated if somebody has more money than you, a bigger house than you, if somebody has more Grand Slams than you. “You can’t live with this feeling. “Of course I would love to have 20 like Roger in the future or even more but it’s not something that is on my mind.” Even this year, injury has continued to hound Nadal with a hip problem forcing him to quit his Australian Open quarter-final against Marin Cilic. He missed the North America hardcourt season and only returned in time for the European claycourt season. On Sunday, he even halted play in the third set due to cramping in his finger that affected his blood circulation. “It was scary,” he admitted.

Rafael Nadal holds La Coupe des Mousquetaires for the 11th time (AFP Photo/Eric FEFERBERG

Nadal plans to return to Paris in 2019 and try and clinch a 12th title at Roland Garros. But he remains philosophical about the rest of his career which has so far yielded 17 majors, 79 titles in total as well as more than $100 million in prize money. “You can’t fight against age and you can’t fight against the watch. The watch keeps going always. So that’s it. “If you tell me seven, eight years ago that I will be here at 32 years old having this trophy with me again, I will tell you that is something almost impossible, but here we are. “So I am not much worried about the future. Tennis is a very important part of my life, without a doubt, but is not everything.” Next on the campaign trail for Nadal is Wimbledon where he was a two-time champion in 2008 and 2010. However, his recent record at the All England Club has been dispiriting. Last year, he lost 15-13 in the fifth set of his last-16 tie against Gilles Muller. Since his last title in London eight years ago, he has also suffered a first round

exit as well as two defeats in the second round. “I would love to be playing in as many places as possible, but you understand I need to check how I feel in the next couple of days,” said Nadal as he pondered his preparation for Wimbledon which gets underway in three weeks’ time. He is currently entered to play the Queen’s Club tournament next week. “It is a drastic change from clay to grass. And I did it in the past when I was much younger, quicker, because I played back to back. “But it’s time to check how I feel in the next couple of days.” Victory on Sunday meant that Nadal became just the fourth man of the modern era to win three or more Grand Slam titles after turning 30, joining Federer, Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall. Australia’s Rosewall was in the crowd on Sunday to see the final, 50 years after he won the title in Paris. “I’m just glad I’m not playing today,” said Rosewall in a nod to the raw power of Nadal.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12 , 2018

Lopside wins for MHS AND LTI; New Silvercity also triumph By Joe Chapman

THERE were two blowout wins by Mackenzie High School (MHS) and the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) and a nailbiting victory by New Silvercity Secondary as the Linden Amateur Basketball Association’s Linden/ Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Linden Regional Schools Under-19 Championship began at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court last Friday afternoon. The tournament’s opening triple-header card saw Mackenzie High crushing Christianburg Wismar Secondary ‘Multi’ 104-21 after taking control at the midway stage 44-8. The combination

of Yannick Tappin and Kareem Roberts with 29 points apiece, along with 27 points from Leon Benjamin and nine from Kevon Cadogan were too much for their opponents whose best shoot was Matthew Peters with 17 points. The second game was also a lop-sided encounter as the Linden Technical Institute overwhelmed their opponents, Harmony Secondary, by a 106-17 score-line as Jamal Gilkes raked up a tournament high 42 points in the process. Daniel Lee finished with 18, Devon Duncan 17, Deshjawn Mitchell 16 and Stephon Duncan 15 for the winners. Kevin Sommersaul hit in six points with Ezikiel Hinds and Delroy Belle five each to be the best players

Bobb to go on trial at Portuguese Third Division club

Trayon Bobb is set for a try-out at a Portuguese Third Division Club

THE Alex Bunbury Sports and Academics Academy (ABSAA) recently announced that highly-regarded Guyanese footballer, Trayon Bobb, is due for a try-out at a Third Division Portuguese Football Club.

The release stated; “It is with great pride that we at ABSAA can announce that Trayon Denzel Bobb has received and accepted his invitation to try out and play in Portugal for the Sociedade Uniõa 1° de Dezemáro team, for the season 2018-19, startíng on June 20.” The opportunity came through Guyanese football icon, Alex Bunbury, who recently purchased Portuguese Third Division Club, ‘Primeiro Dezembro.’ Additionally, ABSAA is set to host a fund-raiser game, with 100% of the proceeds going towards travel and miscellaneous expenses for Bobb. The date and venue will be announced in the near future.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday June 12, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & Cummings Electrical Company Ltd. 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 82 wickets (12 Tests) (2) 8 wickets (3 Tests) Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the results of the first Test of the current WI/SL Test series? (2) Who was voted Man of the Match in the recent first Test between the WI & SL?

for Harmony, as the Linden Technical Institute were up 52-3 at half time.. However, the third game was exciting with New Silvercity Secondary scoring a fine 40-37 win over Wisburg Secondary. The scores at the break read 20-17 for the New Silvercity side. Kobe Tappin was the top-scorer with 23 points and David Johnson got 11 for the New Silvercity Secondary with Jonathan Copeland nudging in 16 points for the Wisburg Secondary as teammates Odwyn Baird and Keyon Davidson had eight and seven points respectively. The tournament continued yesterday afternoon with another triple-header at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

LABA /YBG Regional championship

Part of the action in the game between New Silvercity Secondary (in gold) and Wisburg Secondary (in red and black)

Three more matches are to be played tomorrow

afternoon in a roundrobin format to determine

the semifinalists of this championship.

Second leg of Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching Programme completed

Participants at the conclusion of the second leg of the Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching Programme

THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday last completed the second leg of the County wide Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching Programme at the Albion Sports Complex. A total of 64 youths participated in the two-day

event, which was conducted by coaches, Winston Smith, Balram Samaroo and Andre Percival. Christopher Deroop was named best participant by the coaches. Top performers also received a financial reward for

topping a special written examination. The programme now moves on to West Berbice. It is expected that over 200 youths would benefit from the four sessions. The BCB, at the end of the four sessions, would

select the best 70 players to participate in a one- week cricket academy from July 23-28 at the Albion Sports Complex. The BCB would like to express gratitude to Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh for his continued support of Berbice cricket.

Eastville victorious in U-15 final of Guyana Hemp Industries tournament ON Saturday last ‘Eastville’ claimed victory over ‘East Ballers’ in the U-15 final of the Guyana Hemp Industriesorganised Five-a-side small goal competition. The young footballers of the East Ruimveldt competition got muchneeded competition at the East Ruimveldt Community Centre Ground with

Eastville taking on East Ballers in the U-15 final and LA Warriors facing Texas Warriors in the U-17 category, while Westside Ballers took on Golden Star. In the U-15 final, goals from the boots of Anton Vasconcellas and Brian Burnette ensured that Eastville got past East Ballers 2-1. The only goal for the losers came from

Casion Warren. Meanwhile, LA Warriors defeated the Texas Warriors 2-0 in their U-17 final off the back of a brace from Shemar King. In the U-13 final, Westside Ballers just needed a solitary goal from Syrus Johnson to beat Golden Star. At the presentation ceremony, Chairman of the Guyana Single Women

Hemp Association, Timbi Hendricks urged the youths to always remain disciplined, respectful and committed to the sport and their education. The competition, which was launched on June 2 by CEO of the Guyana Hemp Industries, was managed by coaches, Lloyd Smith and Danella Barrow.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Minister Norton extends condolences to the family of Beyoncé Ross MINISTER of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton extends his sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Champion Cyclist, Beyoncé Ross. The 15-year-old athlete died at around 2:00hrs this morning at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where she was hospitalized in a critical condition. The teen became ill in February last and was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March. Ross’ family was initially told that the tumor was noncancerous. The fourth form student underwent her first surgical intervention in April, and her family was in the process of raising funds to facilitate an

overseas surgery to remove the tumor altogether. However, things took a turn for the worst last Thursday, when the Lower Corentyne Secondary School student was hospitalized and listed as being brain dead. Dr. Norton, who also holds responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, said that Ross’ passing is a tremendous blow to the cycling fraternity, as the young lady had enormous potential. “She was capable of being a star Olympian. I don’t believe that there was any doubt that she was heading to the top, her progress would’ve been a beautiful thing to see,” a saddened Dr. Norton related.

Shortly before Ms. Ross became hospitalised, Minister Norton, along with Education Minister, Nicolette Henry, led a team which visited the ailing cyclist, expressing best wishes and donating hampers containing dietary and hygienic supplies. Minister Norton added, “I can’t imagine what her family must be going through, but we wish them strength to deal with the hurt, and we want to encourage that they remember their star cyclist for the jovial person she was, and celebrate what she has accomplished during the 15-years of her life.” Beyoncé Ross astonished patrons of last year’s National Schools

Baird promoted following record-breaking exploits at South American Championships

GDF’s COS Brigadier Patrick West (left) and Inspector General, Colonel Nazrul Hussain (right) decorate National Javelin record-holder and South American silver medalist, Leslain Baird with his new rank (GDF photo)

FOLLOWING his record-breaking gold medal exploits just last week at the South American Championships in Cochabamba, Bolivia, GDF’s Petty Officer and Javelin champion, Leslain Baird now has another reason to celebrate after he was promoted to the rank of Acting Senior Petty Officer. Baird was decorated with his new rank by Chief of Staff (COS) Brigadier Patrick West and Inspector General, Colonel Nazrul Hussain. Brigadier West had challenged the soldier to a 77.5 metres throw but instead, Baird pleasantly surprised the Chief of Staff by surpassing the challenge

and further, bringing home the silver following a sterling performance in which he set a new national record of 78.65 metres . In a post on their social media page, the GDF quoted COS West who said he was elated to hear of Baird’s achievement and expressed his confidence that he will continue to do well in the future. “Based on the distance you covered, it exceeds the minimum qualifying requirements for Olympics and this is a good sign. The only thing we want after this is a gold medal at the Olympics. Congratulations for a job well done. We are overwhelmed that you gave us more than we asked for,”

COS West remarked. Baird is still coming to grips with his achievement but said that he enjoyed every moment of his participation. “I am grateful for all those who stood by me and believed in me throughout everything. My coach, Robert Chisholm, training partner Akeem Stuart, my family and last, but by no means least , the Chief of Staff and other members of the Guyana Defence Force. I gave it my all. This medal has now opened my eyes to bigger competition and I can assure you that more is coming from Leslain Baird. I want to hit the 80 metres mark by the end of 2018 and by God’s grace I will.”

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton and Education Minister, Nicolette Henry visited Beyoncé Ross last Monday.

Championships when she copped three gold medals

for her cycling. She will forever be remembered

for her immense talent and sportsmanship.

Coach Law backs in-form Powell to strike it big soon PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – West Indies head coach, Stuart Law, expects stylish lefthander Kieran Powell to convert one of his many starts into a hundred very soon. The 28-year-old has endured a frustrating run since his return to the Test scene last year following a three-year self-imposed break, getting a number of decent starts but managing just three half-centuries. Powell looked set to break the jinx in the opening Test against Sri Lanka but fell agonising short of three figures on 88 in the second innings. “It’s just a shame he got out the way he did. He was playing so well – using his feet to the spinners and driving down the ground straight against the quicks,” Law said. “He’s going to hurt someone soon, let’s hope it’s in the next Test match that he gets a big hundred. That would be great for him and great for the team of course.” Powell has three Test match hundreds – two coming in his 12th Test against Bangladesh six years ago in Dhaka – along with five half-centuries but averages only 29 in Tests.

Stylish left-hander Kieran Powell.

However, he averages 32 in his last 11 Tests inside the last year with a highest score of 90 against minnows Zimbabwe last October. He had a mixed series against New Zealand last December, registering a dreaded ‘pair’ in the final Test but Law said the player seemed to have brushed off that disappointment. “To be honest, this Test match is probably the best I’ve seen him play,” the Australian pointed out. “In the lead-up to it in Barbados at the camp, he was striking the ball [well] and was probably our best player coming into this Test match and he showed that out there.” Much was made of the Queen’s Park Oval pitch which yielded 414 for eight declared for

West Indies in their first innings but then saw Sri Lanka dismissed cheaply in reply, as the hosts went on to nail an emphatic 226-run victory on the final day. Law believes the strip was a decent one for Test cricket where both batsmen and bowlers had a chance to excel. “The wicket has been good. The first two innings it was difficult to bat on and our boys applied themselves really well,” he explained. “And to bowl Sri Lanka out for [185] was a testament to that. It was difficult, we had to fight it out but it got better and better.” The second Test bowls off Thursday at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 12 , 2018

CONCACAF chief hails ...

‘Clive Lloyd Drive’ signboards unveiled 22 in the City PAGE

President of the DCC, Roger Harper (left); Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green (right); along with Reginald Brotherson and representatives of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Top Brandz, unveiled one of the signboards. (Adrian Narine photo)

Rose inspires Guyana to series -clinching win against Barbados

PAGE

22 The victorious Guyana team and supporters after winning their three-game series against Barbados. Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Guyana’s Harold Adams goes hard to the basket. TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018