Guyana chronicle e paper 11 12 2017

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2017

No. 105094

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No breach of Constitution (VAT Inclusive)

... AG wants court to dismiss PPP GECOM chair challenge

Page 9

2165 graduate from UG Help end ‘them and us’ mentality Page 3

– Dr Narine tells UG graduands

Invest in UG graduates – valedictorian urges Gov’t ■ Page 9

A section of the graduands in the auditorium of the Sophia Exhibition Complex (Delano Williams photo)

Spotlight on teenage pregnancy in hinterland Page 16

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

Stronger public-private partnerships needed – to push national development, says Ten-Pow

By Navendra Seoraj

A CALL is out for greater collaboration among the University of Guyana (UG), the government and the private sector in light of the growing number of graduates entering the marketplace.

The call came late Saturday from Guyana’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow during an inspirational address

The Jubilee Choir had the audience on the edge of their seats

Guyana Chronicle’s Senior Sports Reporter, Stephan Sookram receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies (Photos by Delano Williams)

to the largest ever batch or graduands the university has seen in recent years at the Sophia Exhibition Centre.

“This partnership is critical to ensuring that our premier institution is geared towards meeting the real needs of Guyana,” the career diplomat said, as he went on to stress the importance of keeping abreast with today’s ev-

er-changing world.

One of the changes that Guyana has experienced of late is the discovery of oil off its shores by American oil giant, ExxonMobil, a discovery that has resulted in the creation of a new industry and new opportunities for the country’s budding professionals.

As such, the ambassador was moved to charge last night’s graduands to prepare themselves to adapt to a fast-changing society, as their ability to do so, and quickly, will determine their success in life.

In light of the latest developments taking place here in terms of oil and gas, Mr Ten-Pow believes that UG is one of the places that will play a key role in ensuring that young people in particular keep up with the expected changes to come Guyana’s way.

“UG is one of the many drivers of change in Guyana, because it contributes to the development of our human capacity; the people who will implement and manage the changes,” Ambassador Ten-Pow said.

He is also of the view that the partnership to which he referred earlier will result in making sure

that the premier tertiary institution is geared towards meeting the “real needs” of Guyana.

Although the thinking might be right, Ten-Pow warned graduands that they should still be ever mindful of the many challenges facing our society such as climate change, inequality, and underdevelopment.

“The fact that you are choosing the path of higher education means that you have the tools to rise above those challenges,” he said, adding: “They are the growing pains of a young country, but I never had any doubt about our ability to develop our people.”

Graduands were further encouraged to commit themselves to a life of learning and self-enhancement through studies and practical experience.

The ambassador was optimistic that the graduands have made a smart choice to acquire the skills and training to compete in today’s “knowledge economy.”

Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Ivelaw Griffith echoed the ambassador’s sentiments as did Ten-Pow, but used his opportunity at the podium to highlight the large number of students who graduated.

Though there were two separate convocations, and on the same day for the first time in the institution’s history, the evening session at Sophia was still packed to capacity because, according to the VC, there were 603 students who were scheduled to graduate from the Faculty of Social Sciences; 402 from the Faculty of Education and Humanitarian Studies; and 381 from the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Those figures included students from not just Guyana, but also from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, Grenada and St. Kitts and Nevis, among other countries.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

Help end ‘them and us’ mentality – Dr Narine tells UG graduands GUYANA may have the best oil find in the Caribbean, but if it cannot overcome its race issues, it will continue to suffer.

This was the sentiment shared by Dr. Dhanpaul Narine while delivering the feature address during the University of Guyana(UG)’s 51st Convocation Ceremony at the National Cultural Cen-

Guyana, and our allegiance is to this country,” he said.

“India, Africa, China and Portugal are grandparents.”

Dr. Narine, who was born here but now lives abroad, spoke of knowing nothing but poverty while growing up in Vergenoegen on the East Bank Essequibo, but said he always believed in achieving greatness, especially in a Dr. Dhanpaul Narine addressing the graduands on Saturday at UG’s 51st Convocation Ceremony at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) (Delano Williams photo)

Recipient of the Chancellor’s Medal, Aarif Baksh with UG Chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris (Delano Williams Photo)

tre (NCC) on Saturday.

“After 50 years in this country, we can’t continue with the ‘them and us’ mindset; we win, you lose. We must create a dialogue where everybody in this country is a winner,” Dr. Narine charged the graduands.

“The Mother Country is

cohesive society.

“When you want to do something, or dream big, you will have lots of opposition, but you must never give up,” he advised the some 915 students who were being honoured that morning in the first of a two-session ceremony to be held for the day.

“We should learn to

treat the planet with respect, and not consume more than we need,” Dr. Narine said, adding:“If we’d respected the planet, there would be nothing like climate change; instead conservation should be the keyword in our lives.”

He recalled being encouraged while a child by his paternal grandfather, a priest, to live a life of giving to his community. Dr. Narine is the holder of a BSc (Hon.), MSc, MPhil and PhD degrees and has taught at the London School of Economics and City University, New York.

The Richmond Hill, Queens, resident has helped found Guyana Watch, a programme that every year sends medical supplies here to be distributed among the poor.

He also helped found the annual Phagwah Parade, held in New York, which attracts

Dr. Raquel Thomas-Caesar speaks at the graduation ceremony

thousands of Guyanese living in the Diaspora.

Noting that over the years, honesty and integrity have been the watchwords by which he’s lived, Dr. Narine told the graduands before him that in much the same way those two words have aided in his development, so too can they help theirs.

“Work hard, and good people will come in your life,” he urged.

As to how he perceives respect for differences, Dr. Narine said inculcating such an attitude is an important aspect of educational development. He also stressed that in order for Guyana to rise to its full potential, all women should be educated, since education is the means by which to bring about meaningful change in society.

Head of the internationally-acclaimed Iwokrama International Centre, Dr. Raquel Thomas-Caesar assured

the graduands that contrary to popular belief, a degree from the University of Guyana is just as recognised internationally as one from any of the other universities the world over.

She should know, as back in 1991, she was in the very same shoes they were that morning, waiting to receive her certification to prove that she was indeed a graduate of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, in the disciplines of Biology and Chemistry.

She urged that one way of giving back to the country that afforded them this rare opportunity at a tertiary education, is to engage in voluntary community work and where possible, to further their studies overseas and travel, as this will help open their eyes on how things are done internationally.

Noting that Guyanese are in dire need of inspiration, she said that everyone who successfully graduates from the University of Guyana should aspire to become a mentor to someone.

“We have to work on inspiring our children,” Dr. Thomas-Caesar said, adding that for too long Guyanese have allowed race and politics to divide us, at the expense of the country’s development.

“Let’s not passively await for others to stand up and do something!” she challenged.

“We have to actively embrace Guyana; step out and start thinking outside the box!”

UG Chancellor, Professor

Nigel Harris in brief remarks reminded his charges that with the discovery of oil and potential resources linked to the find, there is a possibility of financial resources coming to Guyana.

“With imaginative, creative, honest and daring leadership,” he said, “all our people can benefit. It is important that those who lead us mobilise these new resources, if they do materialise, to address some of the adversities that plague our country.”

Among the adversities of which he spoke are the grinding poverty that affects a sizeable number of the urban and rural population; inadequate access to first-rate education for many of our young people; the growing threat of rising sea and river levels; and most of all the ever widening racial and political divide.

The valedictorian and best graduating student this year was International Relations alum, Ms Elsie Ann Harry. Aarif Baksh, who obtained a BSc in Statistics received the Chancellor’s medal.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

Cattle farmer is latest ‘GTT Millionaire’

DAVID Sital, 48, a cattle farmer and butcher from the East Coast Demerara village of Lusignan, became the latest Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) “Million Dollar Smile” promotion winner.

“This is going to change my life in so many ways,” a tearful Sital told Guyana Chronicle, after his number was randomly selected at the second drawing of the event last evening at the Mon Repos market area.

The father of three, with tears flowing, said he is presently going through some tough times, especially with his business and Canter Truck, and as such, the money will certainly lift a heavy burden off his shoulders.

“I sell at the Mon Repos Market and right now, things aren’t the best and I

came out here tonight (last night) and one of them vendors told me to go top up and see if I could get lucky,” Sital said.

“God is good,” Sital said, adding “I have never used another phone company. From the first time I owned a cell phone, I am with GTT. I would spend plenty money on top-up, but I didn’t expect to win.”

Sital, who topped-up $1,000 right at the event, was the third person to have his number selected, after the two before did not answer.

GTT kicked off their promotion on Monday at the Stabroek Market square, where they will give every customer who spends $1000 or more via top-up, purchase of a handset, sign-up for ‘Blaze’, or simply pay a bill in full using Mobile Money (MMG), a chance to win

David Sital, the latest ‘GTT Millionaire’ with his cheque One Million Dollars ($1M).

A Diamond Public Road resident and ex-policeman, Maynard Carmichael, was the first winner of the promotion, which will now head to Linden

on November 17; Bartica (November 24), followed

by Essequibo and Berbice on December 1 and 15 respectively and back to Georgetown for a grand drawing on December 18.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

US expands Venezuelan blacklist

THE US has imposed sanctions on 10 Venezuelan officials it accuses of undermining democracy, corruption and censoring the press.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the US “would not stand by while the administration of President Nicolas Maduro destroyed democratic order”.

Mr Maduro’s chief of staff and two ministers are on the list.

It brings to 40 the total number of Venezuelans sanctioned by the US, in-

cluding Mr Maduro.

The ten have had their US assets frozen and are also banned from travelling to the country, while American businesses are forbidden to work with them.

The treasury department also issued bans against several members of Venezuela’s all-powerful Constituent Assembly, including a vice-president.

The department said the assembly had sworn in the winners of the October regional election but that the vote had been “marked

by numerous irregularities that strongly suggest fraud” and that had helped Mr Maduro’s ruling party win a majority of governorships.

The latest sanctions come two days after the Constituent Assembly took away the immunity of a congressman, Freddy Guevara, and barred him from leaving the country.

The pro-government Supreme Court said it believed Mr Guevara had instigated unrest during months of anti-govern-

ment protests earlier this year.

In August the US imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela, banning debt trading of bonds issued by the government and its state-owned oil company.

Pressure is growing for the US to impose an oil ban, the strongest penalty against oil-rich Venezuela, but analysts say the US administration is concerned it could hurt American refineries and worsen conditions for Venezuelan citizens.

More opportunities provided for private sector –– CARICOM, Cuba expand duty-free market access THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba on Thursday signed the second protocol to an agreement that will expand access to each other’s markets for goods.

CARICOM secretary-general, Irwin LaRocque, and Cuban ambassador to CARICOM, Julio Cesar Gonzalez Marchante, signed the second protocol to the trade and economic cooperation agreement between CARICOM and Cuba during the opening of the 45th meeting

of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in Georgetown, Guyana.

Under the second protocol, Cuba will expand duty free access to more than 320 items, including meat, fish, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, beer, rum, cement, soap and apparel. CARICOM will grant duty free access to some 50 items, including fish, pharmaceutical products, fertilisers and articles of iron and steel. The Community will also offer differen-

tiated treatment on 22 items.

The differentiated treatment includes phased reduction of duty by most developed countries in CARICOM. The CARICOM secretary-general said that signing the second protocol marked a further deepening of the trade and economic relations between CARICOM and Cuba and provided further opportunities for the region’s private sector.

CARICOM and Cuba signed the trade and economic cooperation agreement on July

5, 2000.

The agreement provides for, among other things, the promotion and expansion of trade in goods and services, by means of (i) free access to the markets of the parties; (ii) elimination of non-tariff barriers to trade; (iii) the establishment of a system of rules of origin; and (iv) harmonisation of technical and sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures.

The trade and economic cooperation agreement has provided tremendous opportunities for the development and expansion of business. (Caribbean News Now)

Canada has also slapped sanctions on Venezuelan individuals and the EU announced an arms embargo and an embargo on selling surveillance equipment that could be used against opposition members.

But the BBC’s South America correspondent, Katy Watson, says the sanctions are unlikely to deter President Maduro, who mocked earlier sanctions imposed on his government and administration. (BBC News)

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said Venezuela was “disregarding the will of its people”

CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and Cuban Ambassador to CARICOM, Julio Cesar Gonzalez Marchante, sign the Second Protocol to the CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (Caribbean News Now photo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

Despite our challenges, it’s still nation time WE are in the presence of yet another political firestorm which has consequences for our country’s immediate future.

Therefore, we are forced to once again contend with both our frailties as a nation and our desire to march on despite those frailties. It seems as if we can never find what it takes to muster that spirt that is needed to prevent political disagreements from becoming political liabilities. It is natural to have different approaches to national development—after all we are a diverse society—but it is not natural to succeed in constantly becoming trapped by those differences.

Guyana, like the rest of the Caribbean, is a very complex space. Its politics is fuelled by a complex convergence of social class, ethnicity, race, gender and political tribalism. Ours is a post-plantation society which still bears the raw scars of the plantation, but it’s a society that often allows itself to pretend that the plantation has receded into the distant past. Truth be told, most of our Guyanese and Caribbean history have been a story of bondage. And that must mean and teach something to its victims.

From the splits of our fledgling nationalist movement in the 1950s to the present, we have searched for that magic touch of national harmony. While there have been

moments of hope and optimism, these have often given way to disharmony. And our moments of disharmony have stood in the way of our national development, our independence imperative and our constant struggle for survival in a world that is perpetually hostile to newly independent societies.

Fifty years after our final blow to formal colonisation launched us on the road to unfettered nationhood, we are still fighting the same internal political battles that threatened to tear us apart before we achieved full statehood. No doubt, we congratulate ourselves on the fact that we have stayed together as a nation, but how many times have we not been to the edge of ruin? While the legacy of colonisation is still very much present in our institutions and political culture, we have got to own the consequences—the colonials are no longer physically here.

In the end, we remain trapped in bondage, even if without the chains of the plantation. The mystery of our underdevelopment in the face of our potential riches lies in this national malady. Every now and then, together and separately, our factions have embraced reason, but these have been fleeting—we have allowed ourselves to be too wedded to the politics of unreason which has over time become normative.

Let us continue the conversation

LAST Tuesday evening, I went to The University of Guyana Vice- Chancellor’s (VC) Conversation (on the Law and Society).

It was the first event hosted by the VC to which I lent my presence. There were other events that I wished to attend, but the invitation to those specified a dress code, which I would not give anyone the right to dictate to me about. There were as some may say the usual masturbation of thoughts and ideals (self-indulgence). However, there was also a healthy dose of realism. This I know, because the personality whose life and works were selected to build the theme of the discussion was someone whom many in the audience knew.

Hence, we heard phrases akin to,”He never crowed like a fowl-cock about his virtues , though revelled in the moments when recognition came his way. “ The time spent there certainly was worth it and I can say to the VC if he has any doubts, I left that environment more knowledgeable. I would not focus on the presentations and presenters of Tuesday evening in a big way, but on the concepts that were promoted. My intention is simply to continue the conversation. As a layman who depends on the services of members of the legal profession, from time to time I know the frustration of hav-

ing a matter dragged through the courts and was pleased to hear of the progress being made in the wider Caribbean as regards eradicating the backlog in the courts. It was fun to hear lawyers admit that many among them were in part responsible for the creation of these backlogs, while making suggestions to reduce them, including remedies to the other sources of the backlog phenomenon.

Justice Stephenson of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court alluded to the need for attorneys to establish Corporate Practices, showing how such coming together can be effective in reducing the said backlogs. In advancing /promoting the said idea, as a consumer of legal services, I see the move from a single practitioner to a law firm as healthy for the client ,not only with regard to the rate at which cases can be executed, but in bringing security of continuity. Should I hire a lawyer who operates as a sole practitioner? If for some reason that lawyer cannot be at court, my matter invariably would be put down or the opposing lawyer may take advantage of his absence and have the matter tried in his absence. On the other hand, if my lawyer was a member/associate/partner from a firm, there would most probably be a fully prepared representative standing in. In actuality today,

How can the descendants of the colonised so often find ways to undermine national solidarity? Is it that the spirt which generated the quest for joint freedom no longer resides in our national consciousness? We refuse to believe that Guyanese have given up on becoming the model nation of co-equals. So, there must be a way out of this vicious cycle of aggression and victimhood.

Many have correctly put the onus on our political leaderships to show the way towards something healthier and hopeful.

But maybe that’s where we have gone wrong. For all the visionary leaders that have passed our way, we still yearn for that zone of satisfaction where we can look the rest of the world in the eye and say we are worthy of emulation. Most of our leaderships have flattered to deceive. It is as if the lure of power proves to be so seductive that they have not been able to help themselves.

Or, is it that they have long surrendered to the emptiness of jargons, cuss-outs, false promises and the carnival of political spite?

But leaderships arise out of followerships and in turn cultivate those followers.

As our national poet Martin Carter cautions: “All are involved/All are consumed.” We feel that it is time to move beyond the leader-led model and reach for something much

should your lawyer leave the jurisdiction you need to pay another to continue your matter. The lead participant in the discourse (conversation) certainly impressed. However, the most impressionable note he sounded was not in his erudite presentation on the life and works of attorneys at law, Chancellor and Professor JOF Haynes, but on his own practice as a judge. This Guyanese working in Belize took time off to learn the Garifuna language. I must take my hat off to you every time we meet in the future, Justice Abel. That act of yours convinced me that you took time off to really understand the situation of those whom you Judge. Two years ago, I was at the Whim Magistrates Court, which was being presided over by Magistrate Charlene Artiga. That day at the court in Whim taught me so much about Guyanese and the languages we speak. Magistrate Artiga at times tried to speak (in Creolese) so that those under her judgement understood what was happening; at other times the police officers present did the translations.

I remembered the magistrate asking a person (I think he was the complainant) to decide if she (the magistrate) should try his case at Whim or if he wished that it be tried at the High Court.

The man clearly said High Court after she had repeated her question three times. It was not until she announced something to the effect that he should get a lawyer, and make preparations to defend the matter at the Berbice High Court in New Amsterdam, that realisation struck. The

more inclusive and responsible. We cannot survive as a nation, if we continue to allow leaders to dictate our collective notion of socio-political reality. We must again become accustomed to questioning our leaders—not just the government, but our leaders in and out of government. It is the essence of civic engagement which unfortunately has been in short supply recently.

We, therefore, renew our call for a widening dialogue away from the political competition. Governments come and go, but the nation must live on. In a matter of months, we will become an “oil- producing” nation which would fundamentally change our country’s sense of itself and the world’s sense of who we are. We already know that such a development requires a shift from what we have been in terms of our attitude to nationhood.

So, this is not the time to be torn apart by the politics of expediency—it’s still nation time! As Eusi Kwayana, one of our national icons declared two years ago, “Guyana will reconcile or recede.” All Guyanese, regardless of their stations in life, have an equal role to play in this endeavour. But we must stop poking one another in the eye.

Progress as a nation requires civility, respect and appreciation for our jointness above and beyond catch-phrases.

obviously disturbed man began a tirade about how much a lawyer would cost and how much time he’ll waste if he has to travel to a New Amsterdam court. Obviously, being a responsible and concerned official, Magistrate Artiga to her credit and that of some police officers present were able to accommodate the man’s true desire in having the matter resolved at Whim. In that same court, when some of the cases were called, the parties actually declared that they had reached resolution outside of court. In other words, via a mediatory process, which happened primarily because of the family or communal influences which are rather still powerful in that part of the country as against the urban settings of the city, or say most parts of Region Four, where I am from. A demonstration that mediation can have a role to play in removing some of the backlogs that occupy the judicial system, as was suggested by many on Tuesday.

In closing, I can imagine Justice Abel bantering in Garifuna as he gathered information on which to make a decision within the laws of Belize, while even considering some of the norms and practices which may not be enshrined in the official legal system of the land, but are grounded in the value system of the people that inhabit Belize.

Please continue the conversation and thanks Mr VC for the invite.

Yours sincerely, ELTON McRAE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

Three years of progress and the PPP is getting real mad Dear Editor, PLEASE allow me to share my views on the recent happenings at the last sitting of the National Assembly. I must clearly state that what took place was no surprise to me.

When I saw the PPP sitting waiting to listen to the President, I knew they had something planned that would be awkward and stupid.

As I was looking on from the start, it amazed me when I saw people on the outside protesting and mainly from one specific race and we all know who they are. It amazes me to see that people who do not want to work were a part of the protest. It was very disgusting to see the PPP use mostly elderly people whom I believe are pensioners to be part of the protest. Some from my village were even there; those are the very people that do nothing to develop their villages, but rather wants all to be done when they call for it.

When I heard the opposition leader and members saying that this government has no respect for the constitution, it shocked me. Because if he and the PPP can recall, it was Janet Jagan that disrespected the constitution and court order when she was about to be sworn in as President and threw the court order over her shoulders and

the PPP were laughing.

When the leader of the opposition and the PPP talk about no more rigged elections, I will ask them to rethink, because it seems the elections were a rigged one when Janet Jagan disrespected the court order and imposed upon herself the power event before the swearing-in by demanding that the swearing-in take place. So the opposition should come clean on that matter if their memories serve them to remember that.

In the Parliament, when His Excellency the President was giving his speech, the opposition sat and listened for a while, because they felt that the President won’t highlight certain things that are happening in Guyana.

But lo and behold, as soon as the President started to outline the development that has taken place under this government for the past three years, the PPP went wild. They started to should as if somebody was beating them. They were divided (Devided) according to Dr. Doom spelling) as to what to say or should say, it could have been clearly heard.

But while some were shouting and disgracing the National Assembly, some of their very own were sleeping, because they were not interested in being caught up in such a manner that brings disgrace to the highest office\

place that makes the law of this country.

The development taking place across Guyana shows that this government is on the right path. That the people come first and the good life begins to shine. Progress is happening in all sectors and across Guyana in all the regions.

The PPP doesn’t want that to happen. They were ashamed when the President was talking about all the works and where they happening. They had to make noise because for 23 years, they could not have done such development across the regions.

So, I must say that the PPP were no surprise, because that shows what they can do in trying to stop developmental works in Guyana.

But the people of this land are not stupid; the GECOM chairman is not the reason\s for them to get on in this manner. It is the power that they want because of the oil that will come in 2020 and they know that it seems very hard for them to get back there in office at the next elections.

This is the same PPP that has been cussing out the APNU+AFC Region Five councillors for standing up for their rights against the chairman at the RDC. The PPP is saying that the government councillors are disgracing the RDC and do

not want development to take place because of the noise we are making that disrupts RDC meetings.

Today, this very PPP is disrupting and making uncalled noises in the National Assembly. This is the same PPP that does not want to see development happening across Guyana. This is the same PPP that is calling for people to stop cooperating for a better Guyana.

And they have the gall to tell us at Region Five RDC what to do. Well, the PPP must know that the RDC meetings will not go on, because we on the government side are still awaiting the findings of misused NDIA excavators in Bath Settlement since April 2017. We are still waiting to have the findings of the Housing Rebate Subsidy in December 2016, where the letter was hidden so that the residents could not have benefited. We are still waiting for the apologies and all other findings from the regional chairman to come to the RDC in writing.

If he fails to comply, then we on the APNU+AFC side of the RDC will continue to ensure that we stand up for the people.

The residents of Region Five must also be guarded against the PPP that does not want to see development in their villages and communities. I must also let my brothers and sisters in Region Five know, that not because the

Pensioners deserve a liveable pension Dear Editor, RECENTLY, there have been discussions between the respective unions and the government on increased wages and salaries for public servants and for teachers. Although there is to be a pay-out, discussions are still on-going.

What about our pensioners who have given yeoman service to this country and are now paid a pension of $19,000 per month? I am motivated to write on the pension being paid to citizens 65 years and older, with the view that the governmental authorities will do a meaningful review of this pension for the 2018 Budget.

Under this administration, in September 2015, it was $17,000 and in 2017 it had increased by $2,000 to $19,000. It can be argued that over the two years there was a 12 per cent increase; however, is this significant to the pensioners? The government has been working to create an environment which is supportive of socio-eco-

nomic development with the objective of ensuring a ‘good life’ for all.

If we are striving for a ‘good life’ for all, certainly the pension being paid is insufficient and should be addressed as a major priority. This pension, like other pensions globally, should be at a minimum amount for the pensioner to live comfortably, and it is expected that this pension will be subsidised by the pensioner in the form of savings, contributions by relatives, etc in order to meet a liveable amount.

Pensions are not increased in an objective manner. Each year it is increased by an incremental percentage, and this is known in the financial literature as Incremental Budgeting. It is the view that Zero-Based Budgeting should be applied to determine a liveable pension. In so doing, it should be re-evaluated each time a new budget is formulated. The way forward is to do a Means Test, whereby on a monthly basis, an estimated amount

is required. For example, for food, transportation, utilities, accommodation. If this is done, it is obvious that $19,000 is inadequate.

When one looks at the upper levels of pensions being paid of over one million dollars per month, why pay the lowest level such a meagre amount? We must move away from this incremental approach and do a Means Test to determine a liveable pension, and I can assure you that it will be more than $19,000 a month.

It would be failing on my part if I do not mention the pensionable age of 65 years to enjoy a ‘good life.’

According to the latest World Health Organisation data, life expectancy in Guyana is 64 years for a male and 68 years for a female, a total life expectancy of 66 years and a ranking of 130.

It is obvious that the authorities should have an early review on the life expectancy and to lower this pensionable age based on the authentic global statistics.

After all, our pension-

ers also deserve a ‘good life’ and time is running out.

Yours sincerely, JOHN M. SEERAM

RDC is not meeting there is no process and development taking place. They are continuous developmental and D&I works still happening.

The PPP can’t stop this region from moving positively forward.

Let us cooperate towards a better Region Five and a better Guyana under this APNU+AFC government.

Let’s not discriminate as the PPP is doing in Region Five and Guyana at large.

Let me say this: only recently a young man who works with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure CORE groups in Region Five went to Bath Freedom House and was asked by the MP, whom he works with? The young man told the MP that he works with CORE and the coordinator is Abel. Lo and behold, I was told that the MP took the young man by his hands, pulled him and chased him out of Freedom House, calling him a spy.

Isn’t that shameful? The young man is working with the government for a better life that the PPP could not have provided, but yet for all that he was chased out for

working.

Well, I call on the PPP to do shame to all the people that work with the government and who are attending Freedom House, because maybe they are all spies, including those that spy on the government on a daily basis and take the news to the PPP. So, I must say to all residents of Region Five, that this is how the PPP operates. They are a set of dictators and discriminate against our people who want unity, peace, prosperity, development and a good life.

I must let the PPP know that noise and shout-outs along with protests will not stop Region Five from moving positively forward, nor this government from doing what is better for Guyana and its people. NO. Progress is happening after 23 years.

Let’s unite for a better Guyana under this APNU+AFC government.

Regards.

Abel Seetaram APNU+AFC Regional Councillor Region Five.

8

OUR STUDENTS, OUR HOPE THROUGHOUT Guyana, students are graduating from high schools. Many will proceed to colleges and universities; some will enter the world of work; while others will seek vocational training, enter family businesses or wait for an opportunity to make an honest living.

For young people, life remains a challenge in Guyana as few jobs are floating around outside of state employment. It has been so over many years when it was once estimated that 40% of our youths were jobless or under-employed.

But no credible statistics had existed. Statistics, it was cynically said, were a state secret.

NEW INTELLIGENTSIA Today, our young, high school graduates give us hope that Guyana could mould a new generation of intelligentsia, and better train them as our new braingain. They are the ones who would be adaptable to the upcoming petroleum-based economy. Though there would be unimaginable space for the service and hospitality sectors, this industry would eventually grow an appetite for local technologists and engineers.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

Schools are at the initial stage of gearing up for the oil boom. Even in rural areas, they have chalked up unprecedented passes in science-based subjects at the regional examinations.

They too have determined not to be left behind in the scientific and technological revolution.

EDUCATION EMERGENCY Upon assuming office, our coalition was confronted with declining passes in Mathematics; and Cabinet immediately directed that an inquiry be done. Almost a state of emergency was declared in the education sector, which resulted in the revamping of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme, from the secondary school level. Our native language, English, was falling behind.

At the primary school level, President Granger rolled out his 5 Bs incentive initiative, under what has since become the Triple A policy – Access, Attendance and Achievements. To realise all three As, boats, buses, bicycles, books and boots were distributed to schools in various locations, initially in interior and riverain areas mostly popu-

lated by our indigenous peoples. The programme was funded voluntarily by civic-minded donors and corporate citizens. The state supplemented the humanitarian gesture by re-energising the pilot project of providing breakfast or a hot meal at many schools.

Our coalition, in just over 900 days, has charted a course to encourage excellence in public education. It is by no means a simple task to dismantle and re-build from the mediocrity that we have inherited from the post-Jagan era. We are still a long way from placing education as the gateway to Guyana’s modern economy, when we could train our own corps of petroleum engineers, environmental scientists, agronomists, agro-processors, etc.

We met broken infrastructures, neglected students and under-paid and demoralised teachers. My wife and I, together, have served for some 50 years in the education sector and we share the plight of teachers.

We understand the needs

of students and, more importantly, we know that teaching is more than just a job; it is a labour of love and devotion.

COMPUTER DISTRIBUTION While salaries remained an issue on the table, President Granger tried to reach out to teachers by diverting the once blotched computer distribution scheme to include them. It is appreciated that in order to lift education standards, no teacher should be left behind.

Access to computers is indispensable for comprehensive education. So, during the graduation exercises at the Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary and the New Amsterdam Multilateral schools, the Government included a dozen laptop computers among the prizes presented to the top graduates.

Special prizes were donated by the President, my Office and the Minister of Public Telecommunications who is at the head of the information and commu-

nications drive, to provide internet connectivity to all schools in Guyana. The students were excited to greet Minister Catherine Hughes – young, smart and enthusiastic.

WAVE OF THE FUTURE I was therefore disappointed that the opposition chose not to ride on this wave of the future, by attending the ceremonies and applauding the successful students. At both schools the PPP instead dropped off just over two dozen protestors in an attempt to disrupt the graduation ceremonies.

The picketers were re-cycled from one school to the other. Oblivious to the tragedy of “deviding” our students, one of the picket-bearers carried Mr. Jagdeo’s own favourite dunce picket as if to punctuate the assault on the schools with an attack on spelling.

The chant, again, was about rigging. I found it funny that Mr. Jagdeo should try to take this folly to Berbice, my own home county. Berbicians know too well how he engineered rigging of party elections to oust me from the PPP leadership; how he rigged the process for the selection of a presidential candidate for the 2011 elections; how he resisted a secret ballot after I had walked, to frustrate any chance that the eminently qualified Ralph Ramkarran could be the candidate. Berbicians know only too well that it was Jagdeo’s folly that caused the PPP to lose its majority in parliament in 2011 and that, coupled with “pervasive corruption,” resulted in the PPP’s defeat in the 2015 elections. “Rigging” therefore rings hollow in Berbice, which is why he resorted to a mobile picket, and the

recycling of picketers.

LAST CARD Many have since commented on his last political gambit as regards the appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission. But my final take is that he has become sour by his failure to rig the selection process. As I see it, the deadlock on the commission, is like high-risk poker. With three cards each from the PPP and the PNC, Jagdeo wanted his last card to be an ace, his ace, to be selected as chairman.

He could also have learned another deadly game -- Russian Roulette, where five blanks and one live bullet are placed in the chamber of a gun. To win, the crazy player has to put the gun to his head, pull the trigger, and hope that he survived.

In the elections commission game, the opposition leader rigged the process.

He gave President Granger a gun with five live bullets and one blank. Five out of six times, had President Granger not found the gun unacceptable, he would be dead – politically speaking.

So, there can be no merit in the use by Jagdeo of the appointment of a chairman in the manner that the President did, as a ruse to stir strife and ethnic hostility; or to unleash a domestic version of the PPP’s obscene “feral blast” in Parliament or elsewhere.

In Berbice, we witnessed a sad, pathetic contrast. While our students were celebrating their academic achievements as a ticket to a better future, the PPP mounted a picket to mourn the inevitable loss of power, again.

Rightly so, students, teachers and parents ignored the recycled picketers.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

No breach of Constitution ... AG wants court to dismiss PPP GECOM chair challenge ATTORNEY General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams S.C. has called on the High Court to dismiss the application of PPP Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha, who has requested the court to quash the appointment of Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The AG in his Affidavit of Response to the PPP High Court action said, the application filed by Mustapha is “irrelevant, speculative, malicious, frivolous and vexatious”.

In his response dated November 10, 2017, the AG contends that President David Granger did not act unconstitutionally in his appointment of Justice Patterson and noted that he was not obligated to select a person from the three lists provided by Opposition Leader and former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Jagdeo had submitted to the President, three lists comprising six nominees each for the post following consultations with civil society.

President David Granger rejected all three of the lists on the grounds that the nominees were not deemed fit and proper.

The last, which comprised of former advisor to the president, Major General (ret’d) Joseph Singh, Attorneys Teni Housty, and Sanjeev Datadin, Annette Arjune- Martins, Pastor Onesi La Fleur and former magistrate Krishnadatt Persaud, was submitted sometime in August.

The President’s rejection of the third list sparked much controversy as the PPP contends that Justice Patterson is biased and was more or less hand-picked.

Government has since made it clear that Justice

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams S.C.

Patterson was selected purely on his credentials and is not affiliated with the coalition government.

The President had informed the Opposition Leader that the last list too was unacceptable, considering Article 161 (2) of the Constitution and the judgement of Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire in the matter of an application made by Marcel Gaskin.

“The President told the Leader of the Opposition that having rejected the third list as unacceptable he would act in the manner set out in his said letter to have resort to the proviso in Article 161 (2) which permits the President to act independently to appoint a person of the judicial category to be chairman of the GECOM, that is a person who is presumptively fit and proper.”

In fact, the High Court action filed by PPP Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha contends that the President’s exercise of his discretion and his decision to appoint Justice Patterson is unreasonable, arbitrary, capricious, procedurally improper, unconstitutional, and influenced by improper motives and was

Executive Secretary of the PPP, Zulfikar Mustapha

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

made in bad faith.

Notwithstanding the PPP’s belief, the AG in his defence said, the President acted within the Constitution to resort to the proviso in accordance with Article 161 (2) of the Constitution when selecting Justice Patterson.

He contended that Justice Patterson is a suitable person in the judicial category of persons that are presumptively fit and proper in accordance with Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.

According to the AG, Jagdeo had failed to submit any curricula vitae of the listed persons and was requested by the President to remedy the omission; the Opposition Leader complied.

from the list of names submitted to him by the Leader of the Opposition nor is there any basis under the Constitution for the President to state reasons for deeming each of the six names on the list or the entire list to be unacceptable because he had already furnished the Opposition Leader with the criteria to qualify for GECOM chair.

The AG deemed Mustapha’s application “absurd, misconceived and void of legal reasoning and merit” and called for it to be dismissed with substantial costs since the President cannot be directed to choose a person from the lists of 18 which is specifically rejected.

“I will contend that for the judicial arm to entertain and grant such an application would encroach on the very principles of separation of powers and the spirit and intendment of the Constitution and an affront to the rule of law. I will further contend that such a direction would be tantamount to a usurpation of powers of the executive arm of government by the judiciary who cannot govern.”

Additionally, the AG posited that the immunities of the President are enshrined in the Constitution in Article

ACTED CONSTITUTIONALLY “I will contend that His Excellency, the President acted constitutionally, of necessity, to uphold the rule of law, to prevent the creation of a legal vacuum with grave consequential chaos and in the interest of good governance,” said Williams in his affidavit of defence.

He said too that the President is not obliged by the Constitution or any law to select and appoint a person

Invest in UG graduates – valedictorian urges Gov’t

By Rabindra Rooplall

INVESTMENT in youth is an investment in the foundation for the future successes of Guyana and the 2017 UG Valedictorian, Elsie Ann Harry, has called on Government to create

more opportunities for the University of Guyana (UG) graduates.

The Best Graduating Student who was tutored in International Relations issued the challenge during the 51st Convocation at the National Cultural Centre (NCC), on

Saturday.

For the first time in the history of the university, certificates, diplomas and degrees were awarded at two separate ceremonies.

The first was held on Saturday morning at the NCC for the Faculties of Agricultures and Forestry, Earth and Environmental Sciences,

2017 Valedictorian Elsie Ann Harry

182 (1), and it directs that the President shall not be personally answerable to any court for the performance of the functions of his or her own office or for any act done in performance of those functions and no proceedings, whether criminal or civil, shall be instituted against him or her, in his or her personal capacity in respect thereof either during his or her term of office or thereafter.

“I am advised by my attorneys-at-law and do verily believe that under Article 111 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana, His Excellency the President in the exercise of his functions under the Constitution or any other law, shall act in accordance with his own deliberate judgement except in cases where, by this Constitution or by any other law, he or she is required to act in accordance with the advice or on recommendation of any person or authority.”

Further, Williams contended that the President is not required under the proviso of Article 161(2) of the Constitution, to consult, consider and account to the Leader of the Opposition in the exercise of his own independent and deliberate judgement.

UNFOUNDED The AG submitted that Mustapha’s application is unfounded and mischievous and for the most part is an outright falsehood.

As it relates to Justice Patterson’s credentials, and his curricula vitae stating that he was Chief Justice of Grenada as opposed to acting Chief Justice, the Affidavit of Defence said, “I am informed by the Honourable Justice Patterson and do verily believe that the fact that the word “acting” did not appear after the words “Chief Justice” was not an intention to deceive, and further that does not negative the fact that he held and execute the Natural Sciences and Technology.

“Learning theoretically impacts the world; Bacchus graduating from the Faculty of Technology, in absentia, designed my mother’s house and restaurant. He could have easily designed any of these buildings on campus or around Georgetown,” the valedictorian said in her speech titled `Personal Renaissance’.

While pointing at herself

President David Granger

functions of the office.”

Williams argued that during Justice Patterson’s tenure, after and even now, he is called “Chief”, “Chief Justice” or “My Lord” as is a common practice in such offices. Several exhibits from the Grenada Newsletter and Barbados Advocate were submitted as exhibits to verify Justice Patterson’s role in Grenada.

It was also noted that the curriculum vitae of Justice Patterson was submitted to President David Granger before he (Patterson) was appointed to the Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy and to head the Commission of Inquiry into the Camp Street Jail break of July 2017 and long before he was appointed GECOM chair.

“I contend that the Honourable Justice Patterson is a fit and proper person to be appointed as chairman of GECOM within the ambit of the Constitution.

I further contend that the Honourable Justice Patterson is a learned jurist with over 53 years at the bar, and has served the Judiciary in excess of 12 years which further qualifies him to be appointed as chairman of GECOM within the parameters of Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana.” as a future President, Harry noted that amongst UG graduates are young entrepreneurs, web graphics and fashion designers, accountants, chefs, poets, singers, electrical engineers and talented youths.

And on this note, she stressed that UG has created a talent pool for the Government to build and choose from, rather than look beyond these shores for technical Turn to page 11 ►

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

Political decisions have consequences

POLITICAL decisions have consequences--often wide-ranging consequences.

It is for that reason that those who are tasked with making such decisions weigh the pros and the cons, must consult widely and must try as hard as possible not to be blinded by narrow partisan outcomes. Political decision-makers must avoid easy answers to complex challenges—they must have a sense of the nation’s motion, both in terms of its history and its sociology. Decisions must flow both from a larger, long- term vision and from a reading of the contemporary environment.

One of the great failures of our post-colonial politics has been our collective failure to understand the consequences of our complex history and shape a politics and society consistent with the possibilities which that history presents. This failure has saddled our society with an authoritarian political culture that over and over invariably throws up authoritarian governments.

And these governments have not existed in isolation—they have been nourished by a society which has consciously and unconsciously been more often than not too willing to abandon reason in favour of partisan expediency. In other words, it is not simply that our political leaders have been authoritarian, it is that they have been facilitated by a society and culture that abandon political reason and sanity when faced with perceived and real threats to partisan survival and interests.

The recent decision by the president to unilaterally appoint the chairman of GECOM has exposed this national affliction. Jagdeo and the PPP had very early made the backward decision to derail the spirit of the law which requires the opposition leader to provide the president with a reasonable list that affords him due scope to make his choice.

This is essential to the workability of the system. That is why I cannot support the view that it is solely the president’s action that has got us in the mess that we are now in. The action of the opposition leader must also count in any rational

analysis of the situation.

We are too guilty in Guyana of looking for easy answers to complex questions.

It is so easy to say, “Granger acted undemocratically” or “He broke the law.” Even if those assertions were true, they are suspect in our political environment because we apply them selectively, often against our partisan foes and never against our partisan own. Granger’s supporters are partially justified when they heap scorn on most of those organisations and individuals who are charging their leader with autocracy. In politics you must be consistent to be credible. And most of these people and organisations stood silent or aided the regime when the PPP ruled in the most autocratic manner.

And worse, they are not highlighting the responsibility of the opposition leader in the current impasse. It borders on legal and political dishonesty not to point out collective responsibility in a process that assumes collective burden.

Jagdeo is legally and politically culpable here and this needs to be said. Granger’s action, whatever you think about it, was not made in isolation and should not be explained in isolation from Jagdeo’s deliberate reading of his role and his actions which flowed from that reading.

The PPP is dangerously, even if predictably, partisan on this matter. I say dangerously, because the PPP is deliberately engaging in fear-mongering, which in our ethnic environment is a direct and indirect exploitation of Indian-Guyanese insecurities and fear. Unfortunately, authoritarianism, dictatorship and election-rigging have gone beyond the PNC; they have taken on ethnic meanings in the consciousness of many PPP supporters. The PNC’s sins have become Black sins.

What this means is that the collective Indian-Guyanese response is less to the alleged constitutional violation and more to the threat of disenfranchisement by AfricanGuyanese leaders. If readers doubt me, just read the posts on Facebook and other social media and the comments on news stories on the Stabroek

News and Demerara Waves websites. There is no doubt in my mind that Jagdeo and the PPP are preparing their supporters for large-scale political confrontation. And those Civil Society organisations and media outlets which are not contextualising their critiques of Granger’s action are wittingly and unwittingly aiding that scenario.

Now to Granger and the government. I have had three weeks to reflect on my original position on the President’s action. And in the face of closer study and the ruthless mass response to the President’s decision, I remain committed to my original position that while the President’s unilateral action is consistent with the letter of the law, it was a politically unwise, if not senseless decision.

The only political reward that the decision has reaped for him is that it has whipped his supporters into line—the unreason and tribal instincts I referenced above. This may be a good thing for the coalition which has not been enjoying the full confidence of its constituency. But it now has the burden of maintaining this new-found embrace—something it struggled to do in its first two years in office and, in my estimation, seems incapable of doing.

In any case, the negative outcomes of the decision far outstrip that single positive.

The decision has handed the PPP, at least for now, a formal-legal justification for its ongoing campaign to delegitimise the government and undermine its integrity and capacity to govern fairly and sensibly. This campaign by the PPP was gaining slow traction, but, since the president’s action, it has gained mainstream credibility. The PPP’s false alarms now appear to be the truth to its supporters and to a critical mass of coalition-skeptics. Given the PNC’s history of authoritarianism, even though the essence of the president’s action is lawful, its form—the way he discharged that lawful authority-- gives the impression of autocracy to his detractors and to skeptics.

My friend Barrington Brathwaite and long-time

PNC member James McAllister have asked me to explain what I would have done to solve the tension that Granger faced—the tension between the constitutional and the political. Well I would have set out to achieve the outcome of either a) forcing Jagdeo to give me a workable list or be exposed as the culprit or b) locating my unilateral action within a democratic framework.

That the president failed to do either is what makes its action politically unwise or senseless. You see, the test of democracy is not just conforming to the letter of the law—that is for your hardcore supporters and the legal purists; it is also about your actions appearing to be just, to be fair and not to be discriminatory towards any group, particularly your political foes. This is where I think the president calculated wrongly or didn’t calculate at all.

As Freddy Kissoon and Tacuma Ogunseye have argued-- and I hold the same position-- in the face of Jagdeo’s obstinacy, the president should have embarked on his own consultation. He should have consulted with his partners within the coalition and with the wider Civil Society, particularly those that are representative of his constituents.

I am sure that had he done this, he would have mobilised them to go out and bat on his behalf, but critically, he would have been alerted to the political pitfalls of unilateralism, even if it’s constitutional. In the end, he would have given his eventual action democratc credibility beyond the letter of the constitution.

In that regard, I think my party’s statement is only partly true. While the WPA is correct that there is no constitutional requirement that it must be consulted on a matter that has to be decided by the President and the opposition leader, it is wrong to believe that the President does not have a political and ethical responsibility to consult with his coalition partners. His failure to so in this instance, has fed the PPP’s narrative that he is autocratic.

This government has suffered from a patent lack of consultation, which is the antithesis

of democratic governance, particularly when there is a coalition government.

The president’s action has compromised the WPA and the AFC. Those parties had no option but to support the president’s action, even though they had nothing to do with it—they are part of the government. It would have looked bad for the government for them to disassociate from the government on this defining matter. But as a result of that unflinching and necessary solidarity, those parties are now weakened in the eyes of important sections of the population who see them as spineless and as willing tools of an autocratic PNC. And this is not just confined to PPP supporters-- my knowledge of Guyanese political sociology tells me that there is a critical section of African-Guyanese, Amerindians and Indian-Guyanese who will not vote for the PNC as PNC, but will do so for the PNC as part of a coalition. I hear from those people every day and speak to them on the streets of Guyana all the time.

Those in the leadership of the PNC who believe otherwise are living in a make-believe world. In the interest of maintaining the integrity and appeal of the coalition, the president and the PNC must always try to avoid compromising these junior partners because it is these parties, not the PNC, which affords the coalition a democratic image.

Whether the PNC likes it or not, the truth is that it has a bad democratic history and image, even among some of its constituencies. And part of the failure of the coalition is the PNC’s top leadership’s stubbornness on this issue— they do not grasp that the PNC by itself and the PNC as part of a coalition are two vastly different dynamics in the eyes of many Guyanese. That is why the PPP goes to great lengths to paint the AFC and WPA as appendages of the PNC, rather than as independent partners. The President’s unilateral decision and the inevitable solidarity of the AFC and WPA have combined to weaken the coalition’s democratic image.

Given what was develop-

ing, the coalition should have realised that the matter was turning into a battle of credibility. It, therefore, should have unleashed its own public education and narrative. I am not talking here about legal technicalities, but about a political narrative that correctly located Jagdeo as the underminer of the system, that explained the PPP’s hypocrisy on the matter, that explained the history of the Carter Formula and present the President as the one who wanted consensus and not unilateralism, even though the constitution allows the latter. This government, to its detriment, depends on PR rather that PN (Political Narratives). Where were the likes of Aubrey Norton, Tacuma Ogunseye and Gary Best before the decision was made?

So here we are on the morning after. Constitutional reform and social cohesion—two of the government’s biggest policy interventions would not happen, because the PPP would not play ball. Parliament would be transformed into a war zone. Ordinary African and Indian-Guyanese would cuss out in the worst racist ways.

The soul of the nation will be forever bruised. The PPP would not accept the results of any elections, unless it wins.

The AFC is most likely saying goodbye to Indian- Guyanese votes. The WPA’s capacity to speak to the reasonable side of Guyanese will be greatly diminished. Not that these outcomes would not have occurred in the absence of the President’s decision, but his decision has hastened them.

Even if the courts agree with those of us who believe that the President did not violate the constitution, such a decision would not turn back the political damage. The president’s action is not the root cause of these developments, but it was the perfect occasion for their flowering.

More of Dr. Hinds writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com. Send comments to dhinds6106@ aol.com

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

Invest in UG... skills that are right here.

She said her graduation from the university is only one phase of her renaissance and the beginning of another.

The 25-year-old said during the years of her studies, she learnt perseverance, compassion and strength while identifying friend and moments that lead one to their renaissance.

“Throughout my life I had thought of changes that I induced or enjoyed, and then I realised that the journey and

From page 9

not the destination was the renaissance,” she said.

ALL ARE REPLACEABLE Noting that quality service serves the country, the valedictorian said everyone should carry themselves with humility since in the job market all are replaceable.

“Our service to the world is mirrored in our ability to ensure continuity, we do this when we share our knowledge, share our skills, share

our vision, help others to reach their highest potential, when we have learnt to serve not ourselves but our communities, our countries, and humanity, then we have completed our renaissance,” she declared to a cheering crowd.

Underscoring that UG has been plagued with a general culture of indifference to the struggles faced by students and their willingness to rise above challenges to become successful, the valedictorian said the indifference is com-

pounded by poor customer service and a general sense of malaise.

“I have wasted many days because too many people did not know where to find what, and did not care enough to ask someone who did. This is the highest institution of the country and if this is not the standards of excellence then what is,” the international relations student said.

She continued: “New buildings will not transform UG, a change in attitude will.

UG in my opinion is a microcosm of Guyana; therefore, the same inefficiencies can be

experienced in the country at large. My advice to everyone is simple ‘STOP IT’.”

Regardless of any office holder, Harry said, politician, pastor or president, student or teacher, the renaissance must promote efficiency, courteousness, caring and be colourblind.

“Do not focus on ethnicity, focus on character,” she said to a roaring round of applause.

She challenged her fellow graduates to think of things that they can do to develop Guyana and stop sitting passively by waiting on some-

thing to happen.

“This is a rallying cry, this is my admonition to you, you are the bright faces that will eventually lead this country, hearts that will mend the holes in the fabric of society, hands that will mould future generations into future leaders and feet that will thread into the areas of divide and sow reconciliation into the hearts of the people,” the valedictorian said.

She thanked God for the grace she received while acknowledging the support of her parents, relatives and friends.

12

Not so fast ISSUES considered good or bad in our history must be used as platforms and barometers in determining how we treat with the present and future.

Claims of rigged elections, whether in the political party’s leadership or at the national level, to secure power must be frowned upon by every individual who believes in respecting fundamental rights and the rule of law.

From 1953, when Guyanese began to enjoy universal adult suffrage, to the present, there have been claims of rigged elections, and not without merit. The double standards in the society, however, which we must come to grips with and confront, is that such claims must not only be attributed to the People’s National Congress (PNC) while the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is painted as innocent.

The struggle for free and fair elections has never stopped in this country. The struggle for one man, one vote (Universal Adult Suffrage) goes back to 1926 when Caribbean labour leaders met in Georgetown to map out and execute a strat-

egy for the fight for internal self-government.

Where the process of electing representatives was and remains of concern is that of being able to freely exercise the franchise/vote, counting of the ballots, the votes cast duly accorded to the individual, group or party for which they were cast and accurate declaration of the results.

This struggle continues.

There is no need to address the issue of accusations pertaining to rigged elections by the PNC, as a party or government.

The smallest child can speak to this claim every day, given that it has become part of the nation’s daily diet for years. What the society is seldom told are similar claims made of the PPP. I am reliably advised that during the leadership of Cheddi Jagan, elections at PPP conferences were perpetually rigged.

According to my source, the father of a senior politician in the Alliance For Change (AFC) served as Returning Officer (RO) for several of these elections. Reportedly, Jagan gave him the list of persons he wanted to be members of the

General Council. Then, even before the votes were tallied and the results declared, the RO would stand before the conference and declare those persons whose names were prior identified the winners.

RIGGED ELECTIONS CLAIMS There was a letter in the newspapers last week by Malcolm Harripaul. According to him, Jagan rigged the 1962 party elections by padding the list with 100 WPO members in order to deprive Balwant Singh Rai from being elected the party’s chairman.

Society cannot deny the challenges brought against Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte on the claims of rigged elections, while Jagan did not face a similar fate. We became a nation even more divided, where one group was held accountable, while another was allowed to escape. The claim that Burnham was solely responsible for the PPP split in the 1950s has also contributed to this divide.

Unto recently, I was fol-

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

– free and fair elections still a work in progress lowing a social media discussion in which the claim has been made that Cheddi and Janet Jagan were imprisoned, and Burnham walked free because he sold out to the British to acquire political power.

Discussions of that period in our history can only help the society when honesty exists, which would allow the chips to fall where they may, and the people to have a better understanding of events and the time in which they occurred.

Whether you like, hate or don’t care for either the Jagans or Burnham, the Jagans were not charged and imprisoned for being communists. They felt the wrath of the colonial authorities for breaking the law at the time. We can argue whether the law was just and fair, and it was necessary to challenge it.

What we cannot argue against is that their imprisonment had to do with some sinister act on Burnham’s part. This social media discussion stemmed from accusations being made as to which of the two men was deprived the opportunity to govern, or rigged the process to govern.

Elections in the days when Guyana had partial self-government saw petitions based on allegations of rigging. This was a period that included the leadership of Jagan and Burnham as premier. Another dynamic to the claim of rigged elections and manipulation of power is that Burhman was a scoundrel, and Jagan the gentleman.

THE 1964 ELECTIONS Our history advises that the 1964 elections saw a coalition between the PNC and the United Force (UF). It was an arrangement that ended before the 1968 elections. A major characteristic of this relationship not talked about is that Burnham had to negotiate with Peter D’Aguiar of the UF to form a government; all we hear of is that he conned D’Aguiar then discarded him.

In 1992, the PPP contested elections, advising the nation that it had a Civic component.

That Civic component never had a leader, or any negotiating strength or position. The Cabinet was named by Jagan, who arbitrarily selected whom he wanted to bring into the fold from the amorphous Civic component. There was no rela-

tionship of equals, nor that of negotiating.

All the elections that were held under the PNC leadership in government, we have been told, were rigged, and that both Burnham and Hoyte are to be held accountable for these claims. Local and international accusations were accompanied by pressure to have free and fair elections, but the nation is still to achieve this.

The 1992 elections saw thousands of PNC supporters dissatisfied with the process and results. There were allegations and instances of evidence of the process being rigged, though Hoyte accepted the declared results. There were stories told of ballots being printed by groups outside of the election machinery.

These elections saw voters whose names were on lists outside of the polling stations, but when they got inside to cast their ballots their names were not there. Persons saw their names on lists posted on the Polling Station the day prior, only to turn up on election day and discover that their names were removed. The PPP and international community declared the elections free and fair, and dubbed “the return of democracy” despite the process.

REINS OF POWER In 1997, the PPP held the reins of government, and those elections were declared free and fair by the party and international observers. A petition challenging its integrity was brought before the High Court. That court vitiated the elections, citing malpractices, violations of the law and transgressing of citizens’ rights, which meant the elections were rigged.

Allegations of rigging also haunted the 2001 elections, though they were declared to be free and fair. Stories can be recounted of conflicting Statements of Poll (SOPs) and the participation of persons in the electoral administration handling records they were not authorised to have. Some of these SOPs took days to surface and arrive at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

In 2006, Gocool Boodhoo, Chief Election Officer, formally declared the PPP the winner with more votes than were cast in their favour. A geographic

seat in Region 10 won by the AFC was given to the PPP, which Sam Hinds unashamedly sat on for the life of that Parliament. The PPP and international observers again declared the elections free and fair.

Were it not for the vigilance and intervention in 2011 of Commissioner Vincent Alexander, who thwarted Boodhoo’s devious intent of declaring an extra seat for the PPP, GECOM would have given that party a majority in the National Assembly. Again, the PPP and international observers declared the elections free and fair.

In 2015, the PPP lost the Parliament and Executive. The international community declared the elections free and fair, while the party continues to say they were rigged in favour of the APNU+AFC. It has since brought a challenge to the court and a decision is still being awaited. With the appointment of the new GECOM chair, the PPP has expressed fear that the 2020 elections will be rigged, and said it is going on an international trek to make known its concerns.

NO GENUINE CLAIM This party can make no genuine claim about free and fair elections, be it within its ranks or stewardship in government. As the Burnham and Hoyte governments were accused of rigged elections when the elections apparatus was controlled by the State, the PPP governments, in like manner, must take responsibility for the claims of rigged elections during their stewardship.

Rigging is rigging; it is not about who rigged more than who. It is about tampering with the process, and depriving eligible citizens the right to vote. Where it is said to be bad or wrong under the PNC, it cannot be good or right under the PPP. It must matter not whether any individual, group or organisation, whether local or international, makes claim to free and fair elections. Only when the process is not compromised, citizens not denied the right to vote, and the declaration of results is with the will of the people that free and fair elections have been achieved.

The struggle for this continues, and will continue under successive governments.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

Stir the pot of development – Min. Scott encourages Carnegie graduands JUNIOR Social Protection Minister with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, on Thursday charged graduands of the Carnegie School of Home Economics (CSHE) to contribute meaningfully to society, pointing out that however small, it will be significant to the development of Guyana.

The minister made those remarks at the 84th graduation ceremony for the 2017 graduands of the Carnegie School of Home Economics (CSHE) and the Craft Production and Design Division of the Ministry of Education.

The event was held on Thursday, last, at the Princess Ramada Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Delivering the feature address, Minister Scott told the graduating students that having completed their courses of study, their contribution to the national economy can be significant enough to fuel economic development in Guyana.

He said the development of Guyana, therefore, is synonymous with the personal development of the graduands.

He commended the principal of the Carnegie School of Home Economics, Penelope Harris and her staff, for the high level of commitment and dedication they have shown to the institution to ensure that quality education is provided to its students.

Minister Scott reminded the graduands that they would have inherited the excellent reputation that their predecessors would have created for the institution. He implored of them to recognise what they have inherited and to recognise that they have done well within their respective field of study.

He further urged the graduands to be cognisant that wherever their paths may lead them, to ensure that they are connected to success.

In her presentation of the Annual Report of the CSHE, the principal said that the 79 graduands will proceed into a

Sarah Henry, valedictorian of the Craft Production and Design Division, Ministry of Education

life of commerce while some will further their studies. The graduands that were honoured and celebrated completed courses in Household Management – Commercial Food Preparation (23), Household Management – Garment Construction (nine), Interior Decoration (six), Cosmetology (16) and Catering and Hospitality (25).

Further, she said, students would have completed internships at a number of entities within the tourism and hospitality sector, the garment industry, the beauty care industry and at the CARICOM Secretariat.

She said that outside of training students of the institution, the CSHE would have offered training to government ministries, private sector organisations and non-government organisations, upon request. The CSHE was also represented at the recently held Carifesta XIII held in Barbados.

Harris also provided highlights of the past year for the institution. She said that the CSHE would have catered for several local and international events. She added that there has been continuous upgrading and automation of the institution’s record-keeping and accounting systems, the acquisition of industrial cookers and an industrial mixer and participation in many national and other events including open days and career fairs.

the principal said that it is anticipated that programmes offered will be accredited in the near future, beginning with the catering hospitality course.

Further, it is projected that services offered to the public will expand and staff welfare will be improved, among others.

In addition to the 79 graduands from the CSHE, there were 51 students of the Craft Production and Design Division who also successfully completed their training.

Chief Craft Production Officer of the Craft Production and Design Division of the

Abigail Semple, valedictorian of the Carnegie School of Home Economics

prosperity, happiness, and success in their future endeavours.

Delivering the charge to the graduates was Colin Langford, Manager of Lezon’s. He charged them to always seek opportunities for personal and professional growth and urged that they conduct themselves in a manner that people will hold their professions in the highest esteem, and too they show appreciation for the work of colleagues in similar professional disciplines.

Lastly, he charged the graduates not to forget their

Alma Mater and to ensure that they do whatever is possible to facilitate its improvement.

The valedictorians for this year’s graduating class were Abigail Semple from the Craft Production and Design Division and Sarah Henry from the CSHE. In their speeches to their colleagues and relatives, the young women reminded their friends of the good times and fond memories created while studying together and urged that they stay focused on the goals to be achieved.

Junior Social Protection Minister with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott

OPPORTUNITIES She added that there are opportunities in a number of areas for the advancement of the school’s programme.

These include greater links with industry, good prospects for accreditation, collaboration with regional institutions in CARICOM countries, the introduction of the Competency-Based Education and Training in all disciplines and the expansion of the hospitality programme to include tourism, hospitality management, resort management, fashion designing and bartending, among others.

Harris said the institution is in the process of transitioning to a new uniform that will give students a more professional appearance.

Among the projections,

Ministry of Education, Kim Gordon said that the graduands excelled in the areas of Visual Arts and Garment Construction along with Information Technology and other academic subject areas.

WEALTH She said “Skill is wealth” and as a result, the graduands will be empowered to sustain themselves while making a meaningful contribution to Guyana’s development.

Gordon said that the skills taught and learnt are important and will remain relevant in Guyana’s society. She added that with the abundance of the country’s natural resources, much can be achieved by employing innovative techniques.

She wished the graduands

Sunday, November 12, 2017 - 13:00 hrs Monday, November 13, 2017 - 14:00 hrs Tuesday, November 14, 2017 - 01:30 hrs - 14:30 hrs

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Bee-keeping to boost income-generation in West Berbice

FOOD For The Poor (Guyana) Inc. (FFTP) in collaboration with Food For The Poor Incorporated, Florida, USA, on Tuesday launched the

West Coast Berbice Bee Project at Number 29 Village, Trafalgar, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

Some 30 farmers from the villages of Profit, Tr-

afalgar, Hopetown and Seafield were equipped and trained for apiculture.

Each farmer received five hives, a bee-keeper’s suit, a bee-keeper’s veil, a

pair of gloves, a hive tool, a smoker, a hive brush and a five-gallon bucket – compliments of FFTP(Guyana) Inc. Food For The Poor’s Public Relations Manager, Wayne Hamilton, said the project has the capability to generate income by producing quality honey for sale and by selling the bee colonies.

Additionally, pollen, a natural source of vitamins and beeswax used in cosmetics and other items will be produced and sold to generate income.

FFTP (Guyana) Incorporated Chief Executive Officer, Kent Vincent, and

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

Food For The Poor Florida representative, Brinaire Jean, addresses participants at the launch of the Bee-keeping training programme at Number 59 Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) FFTP Incorporated, Florida, USA, Projects Officer, Brinaire Jean, made brief remarks at the ceremony.

Representatives of the Profit, Trafalgar, Hopetown and Sea Field

communities thanked Food for the Poor for their generosity and for initiating the project which will serve as a fillip for income-generation in West Berbice.

Bee-keeping kits presented to participants of the programme

FFTP’s CEO Kent Vincent makes his presentation of bee-keeping items to participants undergoing the training

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

Drug addict reformer passes on

By Shirley Thomas

THE mortal remains of Clarence Lexter Young, Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Phoenix Recovery Project for substance abusers, was on Friday interred at Le Repentir Cemetery, following a moving Thanksgiving Service for his life at Christ Church, Waterloo Street in Georgetown.

The Phoenix Recovery Project (PRP) is an in-patient drug rehabilitation programme for men and women, set up by Clarence Young at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara and which has been successful in turning around hundreds of lives on the brink of disaster.

Born May 18, 1959, Clarence Young, Trinidadian and initially himself a substance abuser, even-

The Marian Academy Choir renders solo ‘Ave Maria’ at the Thanksgiving Service for Clarence Young

The late Clarence Young tually took up residence in Guyana.

Through his visionary approach to substance addiction, which was beginning to rear its ugly head in Guyana, Young broke new ground. He first drafted and designed the Salvation Army’s Drug Rehabilitation programme in 1996 and four years later, The Phoenix Recovery programme, now operated at Mon Repos.

Young died on Octo-

ber 24, 2017, at age 58, following a brief period of illness. His death sent shock waves across Guyana which had become literally a second home for him.

Amidst a great outpouring of emotions and appreciation, calls resonated powerfully across Christ Church on Friday for the legacy set by Clarence Young, to not be interred with his bones, but that every effort be made by

the Board of Directors and other members of the team to ensure that his legacy lives on.

Among the hundreds assembled to join his bereaved family members in paying their last respects were: Bishop Francis Alleyne, Head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Guyana; Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army, Major Matignol St. Lot and his wife, Major Mireille Saint Lot, Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries; Administrator of the Salvation Army’s Drug Rehabilitation Programme, Major Ulrik Thibaud and other Officers of the Guyana Division and other distinguished persons. Celebrant was the Reverend Andrew Carto and Organist, Andrea Mentore.

Among persons offering tributes were: Ann Greene, Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency; Major Michael Atherly (Ret’d); Sylvia Cort of the Ministry of Health; Kurt Jordan; Dawn Holder; Lucinda Williams; with melodious tributes in song (Ave Maria) rendered by Marian Academy Choir and a sols by Delmae Clarke James.

The eulogy was delivered by Young’s children Jahleel and Jahrier.

GONE TOO SOON Greene, who through the years had worked closely with Young, im-

pressed by his vision, commitment and dedication to the cause, said, He’s gone too soon.”

Now that he is no more, she said, it is imperative for someone else to carry the torch, a task for which Sylvia Cort, a former co-worker, readily volunteered.

Major Michael Atherly (Ret’d), describing his personality and response to situations, recalled: “He was ever present and effervescent.”

Atherly recalled that Younge had lived a life of community service and dedication to saving lives, and that under his leadership, thousands had received help, both in Trinidad and Guyana.

For their distinguished service, both the Phoenix Recovery Project and the Salvation Army Drug Rehabilitation Programme have since received Medals of Service Awards.

Young was also attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital, supervising clinical treatment at the Prasad Hospital and was instrumental in setting up the Salvation Army’s Drug Rehabilitation Programme, which threw its doors open in 1996. He became its first counsellor.

Dawn Holder, a member of the Board of Directors, said the board stands committed to carry on Young’s legacy, but said that the facility cannot depend only on assistance

given by the private sector. She is calling on the Government of Guyana to play a role.

Meanwhile, on behalf of the Salvation Army International, Worldwide, The Jamaica Territorial Headquarters, the Guyana Divisional Headquarters et al, Administrator of the Men’s Social Services Centre, Major Ulrik Thibaud extended condolences to the bereaved widow, Samantha Young and children Jahleel and Jahrier; the Board of Directors, the clients in recovery and other family members.

He alluded to Young as a very faithful and committed person who fearlessly advocated on behalf of

the recovering addicts in Guyana.

“Guyana has lost a good man… One who has worked with his heart; has a passion for what he did and did it with dignity and determination,” Thibaud affirmed.

Young’s Phoenix Recovery Project initially catered only for male addicts. But in 2007, the U.S. State Department, through the Catholic Relief Services made a grant available to Phoenix for the first-ever treatment centre for women, and

by August 2007 they were able to admit their first batch of female substance abusers.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 12, 2017

Spotlight on teenage pregnancy in hinterland – as comprehensive adolescent-friendly health programme launched in Region Eight

By Lisa Hamilton THE health of some of our teenagers living in Georgetown is not the same as the health of those living in Region Eight.

That’s according to Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle, who made the observation on Thursday at the launching of the Ministry of Public Health’s Adolescent and Men-Friendly Health Programme in Mahdia, the seat of administration for Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

With the launch of the programme, the region, which is particularly prone to teenage pregnancy, now has access to Community Parenting Support Groups, Adolescent Antenatal Clinic Days, Adolescent Health and Wellness Days and a Men’s Health Clinic.

As Dr. Boyle reported during her presentation, Guyana’s teen pregnancy rate of 97 per every 1000 teenagers is the second highest in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a 40% occurrence being recorded in rural areas such as Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) compared to 10% in urban areas.

According to Dr Boyle, statistics have shown that poverty, along with the remoteness of some hinterland communities, has a lot to do with these early teenage pregnancies in the aforementioned regions.

There is even data to prove that one in every five Amerindian teen becomes pregnant early, as does one in every four poor teen compared to one in every 10 born to rich households.

“So, we have to look at how we can even up the health of a teenager that’s born in the hinterland region and a teenager born in Region Four,” Dr Boyle said, adding that this can only be done by improving the quality of health services in the hinterland regions with the implementation of targeted training with an accent on adolescence.

It is felt that now that Region Eight has an Adolescent-Friendly Health Programme in place, the Mahdia Health Facility will become a safe haven of sorts

Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle interacting with the audience (Photos by Lisa Hamilton)

it becomes easier for them to talk with their children about sex, a position the Ministry of Health greatly wants hinterland communities to arrive at.

“Everybody has sex, but they’re not talking about it; they’re not comfortable talking about it,” she said.

“So teaching them and having forums where they can sit and talk about sex would help move some of the stigma and shyness, and make it

for girls between the ages of 15-24, in that it will aid in their receiving not only helpful information, but the necessary resources they need to protect themselves.

NOT ONLY REGION 8 According to resident Government Medical Officer (GMO), Dr. Badyel Bakhsh, while teenage pregnancy is not limited to Region Eight, it is somewhat more prevalent there. And he attributes this trend to not just socio-cultural issues common to such communities, but the low level of awareness as well to the risks involved in what he terms “a vicious cycle”.

It is for this very reason, Dr Bakhsh said, that he is grateful to the collective effort of the media in getting the message across, and hopes that the broadcast media, in particular, will continue to air more health-related programmes.

Coming a close second to concerns about teenage pregnancy in the hinterland are the issues of incest and inter-generational sex, whereby young, poor girls engage in sexual activities and relations with older, wealthy men.

Dr. Boyle believes that while men have an important role to play in the denounc-

UNICEF Representative, Ms. Sylvie Fouet presenting her donations to the clinic

ing of inappropriate relationship practices, they are more often than not the perpetrators of such activities.

It’s as if men hold the monopoly on deciding at what age one should begin having sex, she said, while the usually passive females have no choice but to submit to becoming engaged in early sexual activity.

And while these harmful social and cultural norms continue to expose young girls to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs) and HIV Aids, Dr Boyle said, what these same men may not realise is that such activities can be detrimental to their own health as well.

“For men to be advocates and to work with us, so that we can help their families as a whole, they must start to

value health for themselves,” Dr Boyle stressed.

To get to the stage where the Mahdia Health Centre is now men as well as adolescent-friendly, a total of 12 nurses, doctors and community members had to undergo rigorous training, including a four-day stint with the Ministry of Health’s Sexual Reproduction Coordinator, Ms Cilandell Glen.

Glen is of the opinion that the newly introduced services will be a long-term success with the help of the community members.

START WITH PARENTS It is the firm belief of Dr. Boyle, however, that when parents become comfortable talking about sex amongst themselves as parents, and when encouraged to do so,

become normal to talk about sex.”

Take the issue lightly, she said, and it would continue to contribute to the number of adolescents who resort to relying on their peers for what often times is misinformation.

Significantly contrib-

uting to making the programme possible was the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which assisted in the area of capacity building of the community through education and donations.

UNICEF Resident Representative, Ms. Sylvie Fouet, in presenting a television and DVD Player to the programme for educational purposes, said: “Information is key for adolescent healthy lifestyle choices. First, they need to know; then they can make their own decisions.”

UNICEF also contributed Early Childhood Development toys, supplies and reading materials to the programme for the benefit of adolescent mothers.

These items, Ms Fouet said, would help to develop brain efficiency in children under and up to three; stimulate cognitive development in those under and up to six; and prepare adolescent mothers to take care of a child.

The Ministry of Public Health calls on the Ministry of Social Protection and other stakeholders to lend their support so that adolescent girls can be provided with the tools they need to protect themselves, receive an education and have the opportunity to be reintegrated into society.

The Mahdia Health Clinic

Some Mahdia residents at the launch on Thursday of the Adolescent and Men-Friendly Health Programme at the Mahdia Health Centre

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 12, 2017

Jeffrey pips Mayers for Pole position

By Stephan Sookram KRISTIAN Jeffrey let his Mitsubishi Evolution do the talking to take pole position in front of Barbadian Barry Mayers for today’s International Race of Champions.

The event which forms the basis for the final leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship(CMRC), saw the hometown hero overhaul the Barbadian threat.

However, there is no room for comfort, since the Bajan speedster is just a shade behind him after yesterday’s qualifying session.

Jeffrey posted a 33.205

seconds, ahead of Mayers’ 33.273 seconds, as the duo fought for supremacy in the CMRC final leg.

The six lap session had those present on their seats’ edge as the two renewed a duel last held in Barbados.

Though they qualified in different sessions, their times were closely monitored by fans and officials alike.

The closeness of the times mean that today’s battle will be even more interesting, especially since Mayers promised to take the lap record.

Meanwhile in Group 3, Danny Persaud will start

ahead of Vishok Persaud, Stefan Jeffrey and Trinidad and Tobago’s Ravi Singh.

In group two, Shairaz Roshandin will start ahead of Chet Singh and Mark Thompson of Barbados.

The superstock end of things will see team Mohamed’s Matt Truelove starting ahead of Bryce Prince and Matthew Vieira, with Jason Aguilar leading the super sport class.

In the first of the three races yesterday, Narine Dasrat won the street tuner; Anand Ramchand won the starlet cup and Daniel Deokie won the sport tuner class.

From back page

Daniels’ helmet-trick ...

the net with a beauty to put his school up 3 – 0.

Two minutes later (30th minute), Daniels latched onto a wonderful cross and volleyed home the games fourth and final goal, much to the delight of the schools’ supporters, who ran onto the pitch to celebrate, causing a brief interruption of the match.

But it was not meant to be for Marian Academy who came close to scoring late in the game, but West Ruimveldt keeper, Daniel Sutton, proved his worth with some excellent glove-work to deny the Carifesta Avenue-based school.

From page 27

Red Force ...

republic batted again.

In their first time at the crease, the Windwards had collapsed for 166. Daniel St Clair and Imran Khan proved to be the scourge of the Windwards batsmen in the second innings after the duo claimed four wickets apiece.

In pursuit, Kyle Hope and Amir Jangoo made quick work of chasing the meagre total, quickly delivering a comfortable victory for the twin island Republic.

Daniels finished the tournament with 16 goals to go home with the most goalscorer trophy, while Sutton was named the best goalkeeper.

West Ruimveldt’s Jonathan Andries went home with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and Marian Academy was awarded the trophy for the most disciplined school.

Meanwhile, Sophia Primary defeated Enterprise Primary 5 – 4 on penalties to finish third. The two sides failed to find the back of the net, and the game had to be decided on kicks from the Penalty mark.

SCOREBOARD

RED FORCE 1st Innings 402 Volcanoes 1st Innings 166 Volcanoes 2nd Innings (following on) (overnight four without loss) D Smith not out 119 *T Theophile c wkpr Jangoo b St. Clair 5 K Edwards c (sub) b Webster 19 T Gabriel c Ramdin b Khan 25 K Hodge b St. Clair 20 L Sebastien c wkpr Jangoo b St. Clair 1 K Mayers b St. Clair 0 +G Benjamin c Mohammed b Pierre 5 S Shillingford c Hope b Khan 52 R Jordan c Ramdin b Khan 0 S Lewis lbw b Khan 0 Extras (b2, lb4, w2, nb5) 13 TOTAL (all out, 83.2 overs) 259 Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-60, 3-113, 4-150, 5-154, 6-154, 7-163, 8-259, 9-259 Bowling: St. Clair 13-3-29-4 (w1); Primus 8-0-35-0 (nb4, w1); Charles 13-6-25-0; Webster 7-2-30-1 (nb1); Khan 22.2-5-67-4; Mohammed 3-0-13-0; Pierre 174-54-1 RED FORCE 2nd Innings (target: 24) K Hope not out 17 +A Jangoo not out 1 Extras (lb5, n b1) 6 TOTAL (without loss, 4.3 overs) 24 Bowling: Lewis 2-0-6-0; Jordan 2-0-10-0; Mayers 0.3-0-3-0 Points: Red Force 22, Volcanoes 5

English Racing Tips Ffos Las 09:00 hrs Arian 09:30 hrs Joe Farrell 10:00 hrs Juge Et Parti 10:30 hrs Johns Luck 11:05 hrs Prime Venture 11:40 hrs Bonobo 12:10 hrs Global Thrill Sandown 08:45 hrs Bastien 09:20 hrs Chalonnial 09:50 hrs Irish Prophecy 10:20 hrs Might Bite 10:55 hrs Monbeg Oscar 11:30 hrs Creevytennant 12:00 hrs The Butcher Said

Irish Racing Tips Navan 08:35 hrs Carrigready 09:10 hrs Stratum 09:40 hrs Jer’s Girl 10:10 hrs Alisier D’Irlande 10:45 hrs Footpad 11:20 hrs Lex Talionsis 11:50 hrs Invincible Cave South Africa racing Tips Greyville 08;20 hrs We’re Watching You 08:55 hrs La Gitano 09:35 hrs Perfect Jay 10:10 hrs Roy Had Enough 10:45 hrs Minks Hood 11:20 hrs Great Dictator

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 12, 2017

One-off day-night Test

Perry puts England to the sword with imperious unbeaten 213 ELLYSE Perry registered the highest Test score by an Australian to leave England battling to save the one-off day-night Test and keep their Women’s Ashes hopes alive.

All-rounder Perry had never previously reached three figures in any form of international cricket but a masterful innings of 213 not out propelled Australia to 448 for nine declared at the North Sydney Oval.

The tourists need to avoid defeat to keep the multi-format series alive and openers Lauren Winfield and Tammy Beaumont at least survived a testing spell under lights to usher their side to 40 without loss at the close - still 128 runs in arrears.

If England do succumb to defeat on the final day, it will

be in large part due to Perry, who took three for 59 before engineering Australia’s recovery from 168 for five over the course of the previous two days.

There were century stands, too, with Alyssa Healy, who contributed 45, and Tahlia McGrath, dropped on nought before going on to make 47, but England found Perry immovable in a 374ball stay that included 26 fours and one six.

Hers was the key wicket when she resumed on 70 and, despite England’s persistence, there were precious few chances of note, with Perry bringing up her maiden hundred for Australia by tickling Laura Marsh’s legside delivery fine for her 17th four.

With the Southern Stars

Ellyse Perry had never previously gone past three figures for her country (Getty)

closing in on England’s first-innings 280 all out, Marsh finally made the first breakthrough of the day as Healy clubbed to Anya

Shrubsole at mid-on.

Test debutant McGrath was shelled at extra cover in the next over by England captain Heather Knight, and

it proved a costly drop with the batters establishing a healthy lead for Australia.

Perry breezed past her 150 and looked utterly unflustered as England started to tire in the field although McGrath was denied a fifty on debut after miscuing a Georgia Elwiss full toss straight to Nat Sciver at mid-on. here was a cameo 24 from Jess Jonassen but when she and then Amanda Wellington departed in quick succession, there were fears Perry would be left stranded as she closed in on a double ton.

On 194, she celebrated reaching the landmark after lofting Marsh to deep midwicket only for replays to show the ball had landed a couple of feet inside the boundary rope.

She showed her resolve, however, by quickly refocusing and a lovely drive down the ground off Sophie Ecclestone in the next over saw her to a double hundred, this time to more muted celebrations.

Perry then hammered a four then a six off Ecclestone to overhaul Karen Rolton’s previous Australian Testbest 209 not out and go third on the all-time list, behind Pakistan’s Kiran Baluch and India’s Mithali Raj. Australia promptly declared with a 168-run first-innings lead in an effort to make inroads into England’s batting.

There were a couple of nervy moments for England but Winfield and Beaumont made it to the close.

England breeze Morocco beat Ivory Coast to secure to 192-run win World Cup spot, Tunisia join them ENGLAND took just 30 minutes on the fourth day to complete a 192-run victory over a Cricket Australia XI in their pink-ball Ashes warm-up match at the Adelaide Oval.

Craig Overton finished with figures of three for 15, and James Anderson three for 12, as the hosts were bowled out for 75 in their second innings.

Matt Short and Gurinder Sandhu had held England up through an extra halfhour the previous evening as CA recovered from 25 for seven, but Overton broke the eighth-wicket stand without addition to the overnight 45 in the first over of the new day.

Short made it easy for the Somerset seamer, in fact, aiming an ambitious pull at a ball which was only just short of a length and smashed into middle-stump.

Number 10 Daniel Fallins tried a variation of the same shot in Overton’s second over, to a more appropriate delivery, but he too missed and was hit on the helmet.

It was Anderson who took the ninth wicket, left-hander Sandhu lbw from round the wicket - and then, after Fallins had registered CA’s first run of the day in the seventh over with a single chipped into the leg-side off Overton, number 11 Jackson Coleman got off the mark by carving a four over square-cover five balls later.

The match was done, though, when Anderson had Fallins flailing an edge to slip in his next over.

MOROCCO have qualified for a first World Cup since 1998 after beating their closest Group C challengers Ivory Coast 2-0 away from home on Saturday, and Tunisia joined them in securing passage as they drew 0-0 with Libya.

The Atlas Lions went into the match in Abidjan just needing a draw to consolidate their place as pacesetters in the final group match, but they went one better in what was an assured display.

Nabil Dirar gave the visitors the lead 25 minutes in, cutting in from the right and seeing his left-footed cross go all the way

Nabil Dirar

in, raising serious questions over

goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo.

He was partially at fault again shortly after, failing to come and collect a corner delivery which was ultimately directed into the net by Morocco captain Medhi Benatia, who made the most of slack marking.

The hosts poured men forward for most of the rest of the match, but Morocco generally looked in control of things at the back and held on comfortably, giving Herve Renard – the coach who ended Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations drought in 2015 – a famous victory against his former team.

Tunisia also only needed a draw to pip DR Congo – who began the day three points adrift – to top spot in Group A and they duly accomplished that with a 0-0 stalemate at home to Libya.

It was unspectacular, but they got the job done and ultimately progressed with a one-point buffer after a late flurry helped DR Congo beat Guinea 3-1 in the group’s other match.

It will be Tunisia’s first World Cup involvement since 2006 in Germany, and they join Morocco, Egypt, Senegal and Nigeria as Africa’s five representatives in Russia.(Omnisport)

Senegal reaches World Cup; Nigeria, Algeria draw (AFP)-A third African nation earned its place in Russia next summer, leaving just two more spots in CAF World Cup qualifying up for grabs.

Senegal became that third nation on Friday after picking up a 2-0 win over South Africa

in Group D play.

First-half goals from Diafre Sakho and an own goal

by South Africa’s Thamsanqa Mkhize ensured the Lions of Teranga would represent Africa in 2018 — the country’s second-ever World Cup appearance (2002).

Senegal reached the quarterfinals back in 2002 in its only previous appearance in FIFA’s most-prestigious tournament after going unbeaten in the group stage and getting past Sweden in the Round of 16.

Meanwhile, Nigeria — who already qualified for Russia —

settled for a 1-1 draw against Algeria.

John Ugo gave the Nigerians the advantage just beyond the hour mark, while Yacine Brahim pulled the two nations level in the 88th minute after converting from the penalty spot.

25

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 12, 2017

Wazeer Dhanraj--veteran umpire still taking command of the game in the middle

By Elroy Stephney ‘BEING knowledgeable of the laws whilst looking at the game makes it more enjoyable’ was how the veteran 55- year-old Essequibian, Wazeer Dhanraj described his love and passion for umpiring.

It all began in 1994 when he was encouraged to join the Essequibo Umpiring and Scorers Association despite not having any experience in the field at the time. While he confessed to playing cricket primarily during his schooling career, he was unknown around the cricketing circle.

His unforgettable journey became even more exciting however, when in 1995 he topped the country at the Preliminary Umpiring exams, gaining 78 marks, while the following year he was successfully in his final written exams.

He eventually became a fully qualified Umpire after passing his oral and practical examinations soon after, and then officially commenced his career.

The thoughtful and affable ‘countryman’ is revered for memorising the cricketing laws, as he can unhesitatingly pronounce on any of the laws governing cricket, including the recently revised laws too. He acknowledged having regretted not being into Umpiring much earlier since he would have had a better chance of officiating at the national level, given that he would have been much younger.

However, he was proud of his achievements, including officiating in inter-county matches at the under-15 and under-19 levels, as well as on the local scene where he still commands respect on the field. He was also privileged

Inter-Jamaat 10/10 bowls off today THE Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) Inter-Jamaat 10/10 softball cricket competition bowls off today at the MYO ground, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

The tournament is being held in memory of the late Amanat Baksh of Queenstown Jama Masjid.

Ten teams, placed in two groups, will be participating in the tournament which will be played on a round-robin basis.

Group A comprises Grove, Queenstown, Farm, Enmore and Land of Canaan while Group B has Wakenaam, Adventure, MYO, Diamond/Grove and New Amsterdam Jamaats.

Meanwhile, five games have been fixed for today, with Adventure Jamaat taking on Diamond/ Grove from 09:00hrs. At 10:30hrs, New Amsterdam will take on the hosts, MYO, followed by Adventure and New Amsterdam at 12:00 noon.

The final two games will see Diamond/Grove taking on Enmore at 13:30hrs, before Queenstown and Land of Canaan bring the curtains down with their clash at 15:00hrs.

The teams are vying for a number of trophies and cash prizes with the finals set for Sunday December 3.

Only round-hand bowling will be allowed.

Veteran umpire Wazeer Dhanraj

to have had the opportunity to witness most of Guyana’s talented cricketers in action.

Given his organisational skills and personality, Dhanraj also functions in other capacities, including being Secretary of the Essequibo Cricket

Board and the Essequibo Coast/Scorers Association, as well as being a representative on the Guyana Cricket Board. He also previously served as Manager of the Essequibo Senior Inter-County squad; key responsibilities that would have served to enhance his stature in the game.

Expressing no regrets at being an Umpire, Dhanraj stated that he will do it all over again since he remains committed and motivated towards improving the general standard of cricket through his action in the middle.

In this regard, the multi-talented and soft-spoken former Administrator is now intimately involved in tutoring prospective Umpires whom he is encouraging to take the profession seriously, since it is rewarding according to him. The veteran Umpire also warned

of the existing indiscipline of players which he said is discouraging persons from becoming Umpires.

However, he was quite supportive of the revised laws that would have been implemented recently which gives Umpires more authority to act. In Essequibo, according to Dhanraj, Umpiring is the last option in the sport, since there are very few qualified Umpires.

He is therefore encouraging persons, especially those who would have already played the game, to show an interest by registering with the Association in order to obtain theoretical as well as practical knowledge of the game. The well admired Umpire can be seen on most Sundays standing in the middle and being in command, without much difficulty.

Though in the twighlight

of his career, he still displays a deep passion for his profession and posited determination, love for the sport and loyalty as primary incentives towards his longevity in the game. He also credited his colleagues, including Deonarine Sewnarine, Dasroy Balgobin, Deva Dass, Kayman Sankar Group of Companies and the Guyana Umpires’ Council as being the driving force behind his accomplishments.

While he still enjoys raising his index finger whilst making a legitimate decision, the firm and resilient Dhanraj insists that Umpires must at all times uphold the rule of law, be impartial and conduct the game in the most sportsmanlike fashion.

The astute and firm Wazeer Dhanraj is still upholding those sacred principles to date, after 23 years as a dedicated Umpire.

OSCL makes contribution to Red Cross convalescent home

THE Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL), like it did in 2016, has once again made a monetary contribution to the Guyana Red Cross Society Children Convalescent Home in Georgetown.

Last Tuesday, OSCL vice-president Terry Mathura and secretary Frederick Halley who were in Guyana for the seventh edition of the Guyana Softball Cup, organised by the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA), paid a courtesy call at the institution where they interacted with the staff and children at the institution.

Senior Caregiver of the convalescent home, Joan Stephens Deveaux, expressed heartfelt Here, vice-president Mathura hands over the cash to Joan Stephens Deveaux in the thanks to the OSCL for its contribution. presence of some children of the home. Secretary Frederick Halley is at extreme right.

Indian board rejects dope tests by national body New Delhi, India (AFP) — India's cricket board yesterday heightened a battle with the country's anti-doping agency over who has the right to test players for banned drugs.

Although two players have failed tests carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in three years, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to allow tests

by India's National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri wrote to NADA and the sports ministry reaffirming the refusal to cooperate, which the governing body says is a threat to India's compliance with WADA's code.

“It is relevant to mention here that BCCI is not a national sports federation. Accordingly,

NADA does not have jurisdiction to conduct dope testing of Indian cricketers in any domestic or international event organised or under the aegis of BCCI,” Johri wrote to NADA chief Navin Agarwal.

Because of this “there is no requirement for any BCCI official to co-ordinate with NADA for dope testing of Indian cricketers” in or out of competition.

“The BCCI already has a robust dope testing mechanism which is employed both during competitions and out of competitions,” Johri wrote to the sports ministry.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is a signatory to the WADA code and Johri said that as an ICC member the Indian body has implemented the ICC anti-doping code since 2011.

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 12, 2017

CWI, PCB strike five-year tour agreement as T20 series postponed to next March KARACHI, Pakistan, (CMC) – West Indies’ three-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan has been rescheduled for next March, and will form part of a bilateral agreement which will see the two sides face each other annually for the next five years, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced.

The series, originally carded for late November, was aborted because of the severe smog in Lahore and the unavailability of the leading West Indies players but will now be played from March 29th to April 1, 2018.

“West Indies and Pakistan Cricket Board have

signed an agreement to play a series of T20 matches, each year for the next five years – in Pakistan and in the USA – subject to availability of dates and venues,” PCB chairman Najam Sethi told media here.

“West Indies has confirmed that its full team will tour Pakistan next year to play three T20Is to on March 29th, 31st, April 1st.”

He added: “There were talks that the series should be played in November, but the weather conditions were not good, so we didn’t take any risk.

“Now we will start everything from March next year. The first series will

John wins United Bikers’ 30-lap `Dash for Cash’ cycle race

PCB chairman Najam Sethi

be in Pakistan, and then we will go to America to play the [reciprocal] series. The

series in America will be a tri-nation affair which will include Pakistan, West Indies and a third country.

“We are in talks and will soon finalise the third team for the USA leg.”

The PCB are on a quest to have international cricket returned to the country after several years, following militants attack on the Sri Lankan team bus back in 2009 which left several of the security forces dead.

Since then, Pakistan have been forced to play home games in United Arab Emirates, as all major Test playing nations have refused to tour the country because of security concerns.

The PCB hosted the final of the Pakistan Super League in Lahore earlier this year and then successfully staged a three-match series against a World XI last September, a move that attracted praise from the International Cricket Council and went some way in allaying fears surrounding players security.

Sethi said the agreement with West Indies showed a confidence by international sides in touring Pakistan again.

“I wanted to reveal this [agreement] so that it would become clear that the visits to Pakistan by international teams are not one-time

Fruta Conquerors to face GDF in Stag `Big Four’ final today

Jamal John

JAMAL John was unstoppable as he won the United Bikers’ 30-lap `Dash for Cash’ cycle race in the National Park yesterday.

The Team Coco’s cyclist returned one hour .06 .35 seconds in winning the event.

Geron Williams of the Continental Cycle Club finished second and Walter Grant-Stuart third.

According to the race’s coordinator and Assistant Racing Secretary of the Guyana Cycling Federation, Joseph Britton, each of the 30 laps carried sprint prizes of which Jamal John won three, Briton John two and Geron Williams, Alonzo Ambrose, Andrew Hicks, Paul DeNobrega, and Walter Grant-Stuart won one prime each.

Briton John was the winner of the junior category and won one prime prize, while Curtis Dey won four.

Junior Niles won all four of the prime prizes for the veterans’ category.

The day’s activity, organised by the United Bikers Club, was riddled with controversies since what was promised by the orgasnisers was not delivered.

In the first instance, the sprint prizes that were to be paid for each lap was significantly reduced as the organisers could not garner the amount required to pay what they promised the cyclists.

Instead of the usual $500 fee for registration, the organisers charged $1000 per registrant and this money was used to offset the payments that had to be made to the respective winners of prizes.

affairs, and the five-year contract with West Indies explains our position,” he said.

“Many countries have contacted us for but we are reluctant to talk to any of them at the moment because our calendar is quite packed at the moment.”

While West Indies will tour Pakistan, Sethi said it was CWI’s decision not to have the return series in the Caribbean because of commercial reasons.

“It was their wish. They think holding a series in the US is financially more feasible. And if you look at it, a three-nation tournament will attract a lot of interest.”

‘Big Four’ Game 1 players greeting each other

THE STAG ‘Big Four’ tournament will wrap up today with a thrilling match-up between top elite teams, Fruta Conquerors FC vs GDF FC at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

This follows their respective victories on Friday last in the semi-finals, that is, a 5 – 1 win for Fruta Conquerors against Victoria Kings and a 2 – 0 victory for GDF against Buxton United FC at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

Eon Alleyne scored a hat-trick for Fruta Conquerors while Anthony Abrams complemented with a double to whip Victoria Kings. Alleyne net-

ted at the 6th, 78th and 84th minutes and Anthony Abrams scored in the 72nd and 82nd minutes while Victoria Kings’ lone scorer was #22, Kenneth Oparaemetuche, 90+2 minute.

In the second semi-final, GDF outplayed Buxton United via a kick from the penalty mark in the 11-minute by Delroy Fraser and an own goal by Buxton United in the 19th minute This sets the stage for the thirdplace game – Buxton United FC vs Victoria Kings – at 17:30hrs. The finals is set for 20:00hrs.

The winner will pocket one million, five hundred thousand dollars (G$1,500,000); the sec-

ond-placed club will earn seven hundred thousand dollars (G$700,000) while the third and fourth-placed clubs will grab five hundred thousand dollars (G$500,000) and three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) respectively.

The ‘Big Four’ is a knockout tournament among the four top clubs from Season II of the Stag Elite League. Gates will open at 15:30hrs and admission will be $500.00

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday November 11, 2017) 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) Jason Holder-110 (2) Hamilton Masakadza-147 Today’s Quiz: (1) Which WI bowler had the best bowling figures in an innings in the just-concluded WI/ZIM Test series?

(2) Which ZIM bowler had the best bowling figures in an innings?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

27

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 12, 2017

Guyana men, women qualify for 2018 CAC Hockey Championships - to play Jamaica in today’s qualifier final

Guyana’s Ashley De Groot (left) against Jamaica during their scoreless draw in the CAC Games qualifier tournament.

BY reaching today’s qualifier finals, both Guyana’s men and women hockey teams would’ve qualified for the 2018 (July 19 – August 3) Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Barranquilla, Colombia.

The Guyanese ‘stick wielders’ will face Jamaica in the men’s and women’s finals at the Jamaican hockey pitch, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus.

Today, from 16:00 hrs, the men from the ‘Mighty Kaiteur’ will look to overturn their 3 – 2 defeat which they suffered at the hands of the Jamaicans in their final round-robin game yesterday.

It was also Guyana’s first loss in the championship, having won three games and picking up one

draw for a total of nine points, to finish behind Jamaica (12 points) in the final tally upon the completion of the round-robin stage of the competition.

Over in the women’s side of the tournament, the ladies from the ‘Land of Wood and Water’, and Guyana have a little score to settle, especially after their round-robin encounter ended in an entertaining scoreless draw. The two teams will play at 15:45 hours.

Given the good showing by the women from both countries throughout the tournament, it will be hard to predict an eventual winner, but, for Guyana, their primary mission has already been accomplished--reaching the CAC Games.

Guyana’s Aroydy Bradford (left) battling his Jamaican counterpart during yesterday’s clash.

The two will meet again in today’s final of the CAC Games qualifier tournament.

Singh leads Jaguars fightback with unbeaten 97 BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Left-hander Vishaul Singh led a sterling Guyana Jaguars fightback with a high-quality knock but the visitors were forced to follow on, leaving Leeward Islands Hurricanes in control of the third round encounter heading into today’s final day at Warner Park.

Resuming the third day on Saturday tottering on 53 for six in their first innings, Jaguars battled their way to a respectable 206, with Vishaul narrowly missing out on three figures when he was left stranded on 97.

Sherfane Rutherford, batting at number nine,

chipped in with 32 but debutant off-spinner Terrance Ward claimed four for 48 and seamer Jeremiah Louis (2-52) and off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall (2-62) two wickets apiece, to keep the pressure on.

Following on by 206 runs, Jaguars ended the day on 53 for two with captain Leon Johnson carrying the fight with an unbeaten 27.

They lost Chandrapaul Hemraj without scoring at the end of the sixth over with the score on two, caught at third slip sparring at a wide ball from seamer Mervin Matthew.

And Tagenarine Chanderpaul spent 106 balls over

Left-hander Vishaul Singh … struck an unbeaten 97 in Guyana Jaguars first innings.

his 16 before falling lbw to part-time leg-spinner Nkrumah Bonner, as Jaguars slipped to 35 for two.

However, Johnson then came to his team’s rescue with a knock that has so far

lasted 103 balls and included four fours.

Jaguars require a further 153 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

Earlier, Vishaul, resuming the day on 17, faced

Red Force crush Windwards Volcanoes inside three days

THE Trinidad and Tobago Red Force defeated the Windward Island Volcanoes by 10-wickets inside of three days at the Queen’s Park Oval in the WPCL Regional 4-Day tournament in T&T on Saturday.

Starting the day at three without loss the Windward Islands always faced an uphill task to save the game as the Red Force’s first innings of 402 still loomed large on the horizon. Opening batsman Tyrone Theophile did not stick around long after returning from overnight duty as he was dismissed for 5 when caught by Amir

Player-of-the-match Imran Khan

Jangoo off the bowling of Daniel St Clair.

His opening partner Devon Smith, however, proved to be the rock of the second innings going on to score 119 unbeaten. His effort was, however, not enough to rescue the Leewards who were eventually dismissed for 259, just 23 runs ahead of T&T. Taryn Gabriel (25) and Kavem Hodge (20) help pad up a much better second innings effort, but a determined 52 from bowler Shane Shillingford helped at least ensure the twin-island Turn to page 23

182 deliveries and struck 12 boundaries, to hold the innings together and carry his side to lunch on 180 for nine.

The day started poorly when Keemo Paul padded up to the third ball of the morning and was adjudged lbw to Ward but Vishaul and Rutherford then put on an invaluable 60 for the eighth wicket to rally the innings.

Rutherford faced 60 balls and counted four fours and a six before driving Ward to cover where Jahmar Hamilton took a brilliant catch at 117 for eight.

Romario Shepherd holed out to long-off off Ward for 13 but Vishaul found a handy partner in Keon Joseph (15) to add 75 for the final wicket and further frustrate Hurricanes.

SCOREBOARD HURRICANES 1st Innings 412-9 decl.

Jaguars 2nd Innings (overnight 53 for six) T Chanderpaul c Cornwall b Louis 3 C Hemraj c Carty b Simon 23 *L Johnson b Louis 2 V Singh not out 97 V Permaul run out 0 S Chanderpaul c Hamilton b Cornwall 5 +A Bramble c Louis b Ward 0 K Paul lbw b Paul 4 S Rutherford c Hamilton b Ward 32 R Shepherd c Louis b Ward 13 K Joseph c Bonner b Cornwall 15 Extras (b2, lb1, nb4, pen.5) 12 TOTAL (all out, 63.4 overs) 206 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-8, 3-39, 4-39, 5-47, 6-53, 7-57, 8-117, 9-131, 10-206.

Bowling: Louis 15-2-52-2, Matthew 6-4-8-0, Cornwall 23.4-6-62-2, Simon 8-0-28-1, Ward 10-1-48-4, Bonner 1-1-0-0.

JAGUARS 2nd Innings (following on) T Chanderpaul lbw b Bonner 16 C Hemraj c Hughes b Matthew 0 *L Johnson not out 27 V Permaul not out 6 Extras (b4) 4 TOTAL (2 wkts, 41 overs) 53 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-35.

Bowling: Louis 8-7-1-0, Matthew 8-6-3-1, Cornwall 9-3-17-0, Simon 5-1-15-0, Ward 7-3-7-0, Bonner 3-16-1, Carty 1-1-0-0.

Position: Jaguars trail by 153 runs with eight second innings wickets remaining.

Guyana men, women qualify for 2018 CAC Hockey Championships

Page 27

Daniels’ helmet-trick inspires West Ruimveldt Primary to COURTS Pee Wee title Action in the third place playoff between Enterprise and Sophia Primary in the COURTS Pee Wee Football tournament.

By Rawl Toney

CHAMPS! West Ruimveldt Primary School after winning this year’s COURTS Pee Wee Football tournament, having defeated Marian Academy 4 – 0 in the final at Thirst Park on Saturday.

EVENTUAL ‘Golden Boot’ winner, Ian Daniels, was the lone marksman for West Ruimveldt Primary in their impressive 4 – 0 win over Marian Academy, helping his school to claim the Petra Organisation/ COURTS Pee Wee inter-school football championship yesterday at the Banks DIH Thirst Park ground.

A vociferous crowd was on hand to witness the showdown between two schools that were evenly matched before kick-off,

since both teams were exceptional in their lead-up to yesterday’s thrilling game.

Clearly, West Ruimveldt had the most fans and it showed when Daniels opened his account for the day in the 10th minute, and would double the score six minutes later, to lead his team to a 2 – 0 advantage at the end of the first half.

It was all West Ruimveldt in the first stanza, and the youths from ‘West’ carried over the momentum to the second half, eight minutes into which (28th minute) Daniels rocked Turn to page 23

International Race of Champions..

Jeffrey pips Mayers for Pole position Page 23

Kristian Jeffrey will start on Pole for the CMRC GP4

Roger Mayers Ford Focus (GT Ridez photo)

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER, 12, 2017