Guyana Chronicle E-paper 08-13-2018

MONDAY 13th August, 2018

No.105344

Dead: Leroy Devon

Dead: Devindra Hardyal

Dead: Reshi Pasha

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Three killed in WBD smash-up

Young 03 Guyanese scholar dies in Peru PAGE

Gabrelle Cummings and first runner up, Dr. Colleen Bovell embrace as Cummings is announced Miss Emancipation Queen 2018 (Samuel Maughn photo)

Teacher crowned Emancipation Queen 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

New HIV cases worrying – gov't

By Navendra Seoraj SOME 247 new cases of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have been recorded at the end of May 2018.

According to government’s mid-year report, the recorded cases represent a worrying trend of increase which has been observed from 2013 to 2017.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), HIV targets the immune system and weakens people’s defence systems against infections and some types of cancer.

As the virus destroys and

impairs the function of immune cells, infected individuals gradually become immunodeficient. Immune function is typically measured by CD4 cell count.

Immunodeficiency results in increased susceptibility to a wide range of infections, cancers and other diseases that people with healthy immune systems can fight off.

The most advanced stage of HIV infection is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which can take from two to 15 years to develop, depending on the individual.

AIDS is defined by the development of certain cancers, infections, or other severe

Teen shot in face by bandits THE police in ‘C’ Division are hunting two men who rode up on a motorcycle and discharged a round at a teenager during an attempted robbery at his Good Hope, East Coast Demerara home.

Shot to the face on Sunday night was Anzad Ledoux, 19, who was at the time liming with his friends and family in front of the family’s home.

Anzad’s father, Shafeik Ledoux, told the Guyana Chronicle that his son observed the men on the motorcycle passing through the street and ordered relatives and friends to get into the yard so that he can lock the gate.

However, before he could have done that, the men had already circled the area and were at the gate.

The teen decided to put up a fight and during the melee, he was shot in the face just below the eye by one of the bandits as they escaped on their motorcycle.

The bullet was removed from the teen’s face during an emergency surgery. According to relatives, based on the medical advice given to them, the teen is at risk of getting deaf in one ear.

Azan Ledoux

Police say they are working on information they received and will review CCTV footage which captured part of the action, even though hours after the incident, they did not visit the scene of the robbery and no statement was taken from the victim’s family and eyewitnesses.

At the home of Anzad, there was still blood stains in the yard which his family did not clean up, since it is useful evidence for the police.

“I called Vigilance about four times and when that happened and no ranks came up to now,” the angry businessman who retails groceries, said.

clinical manifestations.

HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, said WHO. It has claimed more than 35 million lives so far. In 2017, 940 000 people died from HIV-related causes globally.

There were approximately 36.9 million people living with HIV at the end of 2017, with 1.8 million people becoming newly infected in 2017 globally.

Some 59 per cent of adults and 52 per cent of children living with HIV were receiving lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 2017. Global ART coverage for pregnant and breastfeed-

ing women living with HIV is high at 80 per cent, the WHO said.

Statistics from WHO also showed that globally, there were 36.9 million people living with HIV in 2017.

Some 21.7 million people were receiving antiretroviral treatment by end 2017 and 59 per cent of people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral treatment in 2017.

Locally, according to the mid-year report, government continues to invest in the National Care and Treatment Centre, which has piloted the point-of-care testing for non-HIV sexually transmitted infections, during extended

hours, to facilitate key populations.

Back in 2016, then Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton was extremely proud of Guyana’s remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS. “We must acknowledge that Guyana has demonstrated a steady decrease in the number of AIDS cases and the number of AIDS-related deaths,” Dr. Norton said.

And as far as preventing babies being born with HIV from mothers who are infected, another plus had been recorded. This was achieved through robust application of the Prevention of Moth-

er-to-Child-Transmission (PMTCT) programme by the Ministry of Public Health.

Government continues to invest heavily in the health care system. The 2018 Budget focused primarily on consolidating the efforts of the public health programme to modernise public health services, generally, and improve regional health service delivery, specifically.

To this end, $14.4 billion of a budgeted $33.3 billion for 2018 was expended in the first half of 2018 on enhancing the public health sector – an improvement over the similar period for 2017.

Cops arrested for murder POLICE Corporal Haywood and Constable Daniels (only names given) have been arrested by their colleagues following an investigation into allegations that they murdered a Brazilian miner and stole his gold.

The incident reportedly took place on Saturday, but the police released the information on Sunday morning.

According to the police in a statement, the arrests were made following a report that the lawmen murdered the Brazilian in the Puruni mining district.

“Initial enquiries revealed that the subordinate officer and constable of Kurupung Police Station abandoned the said station sometime on Friday morning, leaving on an ATV for patrol duties, armed with a.30 carbine rifle and subsequently joined a boat and proceeded to a landing along the Puruni River,” the police

statement said.

The statement added that upon arrival at the landing sometime around midday on Saturday, the subordinate officer claimed that he remained in the boat while the constable armed with the rifle, exited and proceeded to a shop and shortly after, loud explosions were heard which caused him, the subordinate officer to proceed to the location and make enquiries.

It was also stated that the subordinate officer related that the constable told him that a male discharged a round at him and he returned fire.

The body of a male Brazilian was seen lying on the ground a short distance away and was picked up, placed in a boat and transported to the main landing.

Another subordinate officer and a detective constable who were in the area at the time have since commenced investigations into the in-

cident.

They were at the time reportedly investigating reports of alleged threats. They arrived at the location, took away the weapon from the police constable who did the shooting and alerted the divisional commander about what had taken place.

The subordinate officer and the constable were removed from the location and arrangements were made to have another subordinate officer at the station.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan expressed dismay at the incident.

“These rogue elements must be gotten rid of, they must not believe that they can do these things and get away with it and I can assure you that there will be severe penalties for these kinds of actions,” Ramjattan told the Guyana Chronicle in a telephone interview.

The minister said based

on the report he received from the commissioner of police, the police appeared to have committed a homicide.

“Acting on the presumption of what was related to the police, they committed a homicide and due process would be had. We do not expect these kinds of actions from our policemen and they do these things sometimes thinking that [they] will be never be caught,” the minister said.

He has since commended members of the public for helping the police with their investigation and urged that rogue activities by police in remote locations be reported.

Ramjattan said every report against the police would be investigated and if they are found guilty, appropriate action will be taken.

The remains of the Brazilian have been transported to the city and is at the Memorial Gardens, located in Le Repentir Cemetery.

Teen hospitalised after ingesting acidic substance A TEENAGE resident of the Joshua House has been admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) after she mistakenly ingested an acidic substance to quench her thirst on Saturday.

She was identified as 18-year-old Danielle Haley.

Reports indicate that she usually assists the owner of a craft business at Merriman Mall, Bourda, Georgetown, where the incident occurred.

According to the stall-owner, she was at her businessplace with Haley, when the teenager asked her for some water, as she was

thirsty. The young woman subsequently picked up a light blue plastic bottle that was on the top of a counter and drank some of its contents, which happened to be the acidic substance.

Haley was immediately rushed to the GPHC where she received medical atten-

tion and was admitted to the female medical ward.

The matter was reported to the police by the businesswoman and investigators have since questioned several persons, as the teenager was unable to give her statement because of her condition.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Three killed in WBD smash-up AN outing of four close friends turned out deadly on Sunday morning when the car in which they were travelling slammed into the back of a parked canter at the La Grange, West Bank Demerara Public Road.

Dead are Leroy Devon, 33, a businessman of 22 Nismes; Reshi Pasha, 20, of Lot 3 La Grange and Devindra Hardyal, 25, of 30 Public Road, La Grange, all on the West Bank of Demerara.

Up to press time, the other passenger, David Bourne, 22, of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara, was still warded at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Information reaching the Guyana Chronicle suggests that the men were out partying and were about to be dropped home by the businessman around 04.20hrs when tragedy struck.

According to reports, as they were heading along the La Grange Public Road, Leroy attempted to negotiate a turn while it was raining and he lost control of the vehicle

The mangled car after the crash

The canter into which the car slammed

and slammed into the back of the parked canter.

Police in a statement said the lone survivor was initially treated at the West Demerara Regional Hospital before being transported to the GPHC at the break of dawn, where he is receiving advanced medical attention.

The four men had earlier

Dead: Leroy Devon

left a hangout spot at Stanlytown, West Bank Demerara.

The police said the lorry which was parked on the parapet was shifted several metres away from the impact of the hit.

This publication visited the home of Pasha, but family members assembled there were too distraught to speak.

Over at the home of Leroy, his father said he was a very helpful young man who helped in his family business. With his death, the father said his family will now have to return to the drawing board.

The man said that he last saw his son on Saturday, when they discussed paying salaries to workers and other issues.

The grandmother of Devindra indicated that she was sleeping when she received the call about her

Dead: Reshi Pasha

grandson’s demise.

She related that her niece as well as the sister of the dead man called her within the space of seconds to inform her of what they were told.

According to the weeping elderly woman, she cared for her grandson since he was small as his mother had walked out of their home, leaving him in the care of their father, who later committed suicide.

Devindra was described as a very loving and hard-

working young man, who looked out for his other sibling and his grandmother.

At the crash site when this newspaper visited, debris was still evident and the truck was on the shoulder of the road. The mangled car was removed from the scene.

With the driver of the car now dead, the police are likely to receive instruction or advice to conduct an inquest to determine the cause of the crash and who might have been really responsible.

Dead: Devindra Hardyal

Young Guyanese scholar dies in Peru FORMER Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) top student Yogeeta Persaud, 22, of Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast, Region Two, died tragically while on a medical outreach in Peru.

Persaud is the only child of leading Essequibo businessman Takoor

Persaud. The businessman told Guyana Chronicle that from the information he received from Peru, his daughter was shadowing a doctor on a medical outreach when she collapsed and died.

The former Anna Regina Multilateral School student in 2013 wrote 18 sub-

jects at CSEC and passed all with grade ones.

She was placed second in Guyana and was adjudged the most outstanding CSEC candidate by the Caribbean Examination Council (CSEC) that year. She had also topped Region Two when she sat the National Grade Six

Assessment (NGSA). In 2014, Persaud moved to the US to study and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry from Stony Brook University.

The news of her death quickly spread and her social media accounts were inundated with condolences.

Yogeeta Persaud

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Thousands rally to demand France to set penalties Romanian government resignation on non-recycled plastic

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UCHAREST (Reuters) Thousands of Romanians rallied for a third day running on Sunday against the Social Democrat government in anti-corruption protests, demanding Prime Minister Viorica Dancila step down.

The protests in Bucharest and in several other major cities were peaceful, in contrast to the first night of demonstrations on Friday when riot police fired tear gas and used water canon on a huge rally in central Bucharest, with hundreds of people needing medical attention.

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People attend a protest in Bucharest, Romania August 10, 2018, in this image taken from social media (Octav Dragan/via REUTERS)

About 15,000 people rallied in front of the government headquarters in the capital on Sunday, whistling, blowing vuvuzelas and shouting “Corruption kills!

Resignation !” They also chanted “Thieves, thieves,” waving Romanian, U.S., NATO and European Union flags.

Peaceful rallies have repeatedly been held since the Social Democrats took power in early 2017 and tried to decriminalise several graft offences.

Earlier this year, ruling party legislators pushed changes to the criminal code through parliament, drawing concern from the European Commission and U.S. State Department. The changes are being challenged in the Constitutional Court.

Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea was sentenced to three and a half years in prison by the Supreme Court in June for incitement to abuse of office, a ruling which is not final as it is pending an appeal.

ARIS, France (AFP) — France plans to introduce a penalty system next year that would increase the costs of consumer goods with packaging made of non-recycled plastic, part of a pledge to use only recycled plastic nationwide by 2025, an environment ministry official said on Sunday.

Brune Poirson, Secretary of State for Ecological Transition, said the move was one of several to be implemented in coming years, including a deposit-refund scheme for plastic bottles.

“Declaring war on plastic is not enough. We need to transform the French economy,” she told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper.

Under the new plan, products with recycled plastic packaging could cost up to 10 per cent less, Poirson said.

“When there’s a choice between two bottles, one made of recycled plastic and the other without, the first will be less expensive,” she said.

“When non-recycled plastic will cost more, that will eliminate much of the excessive packaging,” Poirson said.

Flore Berlingen of the association Zero Waste France told AFP: “We’re hoping that companies play along so that clients aren’t the ones penalised” by the new measure.

Emmanuel Guichard of the Elipso federation of plastic packaging makers gave a cautious welcome to the French plan.

“For bottles, giving consumers a choice is possible. But we can’t forget other items – today there’s no recycled plastic available for yogurt pots,” he said.

Ubiquitous images on social media of marine fauna suffocated by plastics, as well as initiatives such as “plastic attacks” – which see shoppers dump all the packaging of their purchases outside supermarkets -have begun to spur political responses around the world.

‘ONLY PART OF THE SOLUTION’ The French plan is “part of the solution, albeit incomplete, since it is only about recycling and not reducing plastic,” remarked Fanny Vismara, an organiser of “plastic attacks” in France.

She noted that glass, unlike plastic, is “infinitely recyclable”.

Berlingen added: “Recycling is necessary but not sufficient. We absolutely must cut off the flow and have more stringent measures against over-packaging and disposable objects.”

France currently recycles around 25 per cent of its plastic, according to the magazine 60 Million Consumers.

Bank sped up Manafort loan approval as CEO sought Trump cabinet job-witness

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LEXANDRIA, Virginia (Reuters) - The head of a small Chicago bank was directly involved in approving $16 million in loans to former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort ,while seek-

ing Manafort’s help securing a post in the new administration, a witness testified on Friday in Manafort’s fraud trial.

Dennis Raico, a former Federal Savings Bank executive testifying under

immunity, said the bank’s chief executive, Steve Calk, expressed interest in such posts as Treasury secretary or Housing and Urban Development secretary.

Calk took a “personal interest” in Manafort’s loan applications and expedit-

ed them, Raico said. One loan was approved a day after a July 27, 2016 call, in which Calk let it be known to Manafort he wanted a role in the administration.

“I knew Steve was interested politics,” Raico said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Caribbean aims to become world’s first climate-smart zone

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AMAICA OBSERVER - THE Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator Programme, which has the objective of making the region the world’s first climate-smart zone, was launched at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus on August 9.

So far, some 26 countries and more than 40 privateand public-sector partners have joined the accelerator, which will transform the region’s economy by fast-tracking sound public and private investment opportunities that support climate solutions for resilience, social development and broad-based growth for the Caribbean.

The climate-smart zone will not only protect the region but create jobs and

a new economy in climate-smart infrastructure.

Core partners include the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank, CARICOM, and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Over the next five years, the accelerator will create the right environment for private and public funds to flow into investments in clean energy, building resilience and climate-smart cities and healthy oceans.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in his address at the launch, said he is excited by the project’s potential in combatting climate change and accelerating national and regional development.

He noted that the Caribbean is already making progress with the expanding

use of renewable energy.

He said that low-carbon technologies are creating good jobs and building profitable businesses across the region, adding that Jamaica is already on a path to 30 per cent of its electricity generation being from renewable energy.

Mr. Holness called on the partners to “make impactful innovation” a priority, noting that the success of the initiative will be measured by “how it improves people’s lives, makes them feel safer, provides better jobs, improves social services and increases economic growth to build a sustainable and successful future”.

Founder of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson, noted that the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator Programme is based on a

vision to make the region “greener, stronger and more resilient than ever before; built on innovation, powered by clean, sustainable energy and accelerated by public and private investment.

“The accelerator was formed to break down barriers [and] to… show the world what climate-smart development can do now and should look like, not just as a defence against hurricanes and other natural disasters but to help make the Caribbean an even better place to live and visit, while combatting poverty, creating great jobs and delivering broad-based economic growth,” he added.

President of the IDB, Luis Alberto Moreno, informed that over the next three years, the IDB will invest US$3 million into the accelerator programme, start-

ing this year with US$1.5 million, which will be used as start-up funds.

The IDB will also partner with the accelerator programme to implement the US$1 billion in funds that it pledged for climate-smart investments across the Caribbean region at the Paris One Planet summit on December 12, 2017.

This additional funding will build on an existing portfolio of over US$200 million for work across the Caribbean region, either directly or through the Caribbean Development Bank.

It will support innovative solutions focusing on low-carbon energy, low-carbon public transportation, sustainable infrastructure, coastal management, and energy-efficiency projects.

New York City Council approves co-naming street in honour of former Haitian leader

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EW YORK, CMC – NEW York City Council on Wednesday approved a proposal from Caribbean American Council Member Jumaane D. Williams for the co-naming of a street in Brooklyn in honour of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the first leader of independent Haiti.

Williams – the son of Grenadian immigrants, who represents the 45th Council District in Brooklyn, said a section of Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn will be co-named Jean-Jacques Dessalines Boulevard.

He said Jean-Jacques Dessalines Boulevard will span along Rogers Avenue, from Farragut Road to Eastern Parkway, within the Little Haiti Business and Cultural District.

Last month, the New York City Council ceremonially designated a section of Flatbush, Brooklyn as “Little Haiti” “in recognition of the profound impact and continued presence of Haitian culture in the area,” said Williams, who is also a

candidate for New York State Lieutenant Governor.

He said “Jean-Jacques Dessalines Boulevard will be set just a few blocks from Toussaint L’Overture Boulevard,” which is located on Nostrand Avenue between Glenwood Road and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines, one of the founding fathers of Haiti (Google website photo)

“The two Haitian leaders are celebrated in Haitian-American culture for their roles in establishing a free and independent Haiti,” Williams said.

On May 18, Haitian Flag Day, Williams joined New York State Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte, the daughter of Haitian immi-

grants, and other elected officials and advocates in unveiling a new sign for Toussaint L’Overture Boulevard. They also announced the proposed co-naming for Dessalines.

L’Overture and Dessalines are two celebrated leaders of the Haitian Revolution.

“Jean-Jacques Dessalines is one of the founding fathers of Haiti, having taken charge of the Haitian Revolution and leading them to victory in defeating the French Napoleon Army in 1804,” the legislation states. “The Haitian Revolution became the first slave revolt in modern history to result in an independent nation.”

Williams said Dessalines was declared “Emperor of Haiti” in 1804 and “advocated many progressive policies during his time leading Haiti.”

He said Dessalines today “remains a very popular symbol of Haitian nationalism.”

Brooklyn is home to the largest percentage of foreign-born Haitian residents in New York State, with more than 40 per cent of the for-

eign-born population residing in Flatbush, Williams said.

According to 2015 data by the Migration Policy Institute, Brooklyn had the second highest concentration of Haitians in the United States, with an estimated 156,000 Haitian Americans residing in New York City.

“Jean-Jacques Dessalines was a revolutionary who fought for his people and overthrew an oppressive regime who brutally enslaved and persecuted the Haitian people.” Williams said. “This revolutionary spirit, to fight for independence and against oppression, burns bright in Haitian Culture today.

“Haiti and its proud people are an intrinsic part of my district, and it is only right to honor that spirit with this co-naming,” he added.

“I thank Assembly Member Bichotte for her fierce advocacy on this issue, as well as Little Haiti BK [Brooklyn] and the Haitian community I am proud to represent.”

“Jean-Jacques Dessalines is one of the greatest heroes of the modern world,” said Bichotte, who represents

the 42ndAssembly District in Brooklyn.

“As one of the leaders of the first successful slave rebellion to result in the first Black republic and second country after the United States in the Western Hemisphere, Jean-Jacques Dessalines’ remarkable leadership impacted countries around the world in gaining their independence, and strengthened the United States by leading to the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled its size,” she added.

“We are grateful that the City Council has recognised Dessalines’ contributions not only to the Haitian community but to all of New York City and the United States,” Bichotte continued.

She said the City Council’s passage of the JeanJacques Dessalines Boulevard “will allow the community to proudly acknowledge and remember JeanJacques Dessalines’ contributions to Haitian and American history, as well as spark interest in learning about his influence as a leader.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Tackling homelessness

THE fact that homelessness is a major problem becomes clear from the moment one steps onto the streets of Georgetown.

While the capital city may be most affected by the issue, the matter is one of national concern. As such, it is one which must be addressed by government, not only because homeless persons may be an eyesore to tourists, or a nuisance to business operators, but because helping the less fortunate is a national responsibility. And because it is the right thing to do.

Contrary to popular belief, not all homeless persons are drug addicts.

According to the findings of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community organisations, faith-based

organisations (FBOs), and even individuals who assist those unfortunate persons, there are a variety of reasons that persons end up living on the streets.

Indeed, some are drug or alcohol addicts who have been put out of homes by family members who have had enough. Many, too, have lost their homes because their families have learned that they are homosexual, HIV-positive, or victims of some other stigmatised physical or mental condition. Persons have ended up living on the streets because they have lost their homes to fire, or they may have been evicted because they became ill and could not work, and were unable to pay their rents.

The reasons are numerous

and wide-ranging. Add to this the fact that the homeless population comprises persons ranging from infants to the elderly, and the magnitude of implementing a solution becomes evident.

Given that the reasons for homelessness are diverse, the medium and long-term solutions must necessarily be tailored to meet their individual needs.

This must begin by identifying those reasons, followed by action designed to meet those needs.

Obviously, such an undertaking will not be easy; it will require political will, commitment, determination, and cooperative consultation and coordination among multiple agencies.

Victims of drug and alcohol addiction must be di-

rected towards the medical establishments which are equipped to handle addiction. Help is also available in our public health and social welfare systems to those who may be physically or mentally ill, or who need assistance for a place to stay until they can find a job and get back on their feet. Government has established the Night Shelter as well as the Hugo Chavez Centre, both of these facilities cater for persons who are homeless. Also, the Palms Geriatric Home is also run by the government and has been providing a service.

As was said, the process of solving the problem of homelessness begins with mustering the political will to address the chal-

lenge. Once this is done, government may consider forming a task force which should include representatives from all relevant ministries, regional and local government organs, NGOs, FBOs, community groups, legal experts, human rights specialists, and others.

Such a task force can then make recommendations, with the objective of establishing centres to which homeless persons may go, first, to take care of their immediate needs for food, shelter, clothing, and perhaps, mental and physical evaluation, and counselling. From there, having identified their unique needs, the less fortunate may then be directed or conveyed to places which provide the care that they

need, with the objective of returning their lives to normalcy. Consideration must also be given to actively reaching out to homeless persons, in addition to having them go to established centres.

Indeed, solving the problem of homelessness would result in more beautiful, attractive and cleaner surroundings.

Tourists would have fewer complaints about “vagrants bothering them,” and residents would have one less thing to complain about. But, perhaps more importantly, we as a people, through our elected representatives and others, would have done the right thing by helping our fellow Guyanese in their time of need.

Professor Thomas’ proposal may not be the best course of action Dear Editor,

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KNOW Professor Clive Thomas to be a patriot who has over the years championed the cause of our people. By every measure he is a good Guyanese. I respect him for this and have the highest regard for him.

His recent statement proposing a sum of money to each family unit, may have been made with the best of intentions, but I believe may not be the best course of action. Those of us who have been on the hustings for generations, happen to know our people, most likely, a little better than Clive.

Of course, with the known proclivities of our male and female populations, the first high hurdle will be to determine or define what is a family unit.

Beyond this, we must not be made to feel that with oil money we can now expect handouts. What we need to do with any additional money available

to the state is to have an agreed ‘Master Plan,’ so that we can all benefit meaningfully in the short and long term, moreso the latter. Handing out sums to families is too simplistic. The plan or programme should in essence provide opportunities for all citizens and help, in a big way, to support those who are willing to help themselves.

Will we abandon our farms and import more vegetables and fruits with our money?

This has happened elsewhere.

Will we abandon our cycles for a motor vehicle just to go around the corner?

I related at the Emancipation Support Symposium in Port of Spain, Trinidad, of my encounter with a soul brother who told me that with oil coming, he will no longer have to perambulate, but will motor gate. My own view is that whatever monies are available to the state, same should be used in the following seven (7) areas: -

1) Make our education system solid and top class, geared to produce that new Guyana person we talked about even before independence.

A system that allows us to cope with a fast-advancing scientific and technological world, but moreover to fashion a curriculum similar to what was put in place for the first batches of President’s College in 1985.

In the earlier days at President’s College, the students engaged in several sport and cultural activities, including music, swimming, equestrian skills, producing their own food and mixing with ordinary people in the contiguous communities. At the same time, pursuing the highest academic standards, truly a school of excellence.

Every school in Guyana with appropriate modifications based on several factors should aim for levels of excellence. Attention to be paid to

our university, technical and teacher-training institutions.

This means a massive injection of resources into buildings, grounds, training, laboratories, etc. Finally, let us fulfil the dream and passion of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham to make education free from Kindergarten to university.

2) Increase post-haste, salaries of the security forces, educators, including teachers and medical personnel. This should be un-negotiable.

3) Provide a state-ofthe-art health service where complex surgical and medical procedures are available to all, either free or at an affordable cost.

4) Retool the NIS, so that we make good the objective of those of us who first conceived and implemented the National Insurance Scheme.

And so for example, remove the present absurdity

where health care benefits are available to contributors up to sixty (60) years of age, but not available beyond sixty, when you are more than likely to be in need of medical health support.

Both the Late Dr. Gladstone Mitchell and I invade against this oddity.

5) Have an ongoing, massive clean-up in urban and rural areas. This will provide jobs, training and help to develop a sense of pride in our surroundings and teach people to love and care for their neighbours.

6) Provide delightful holiday resorts at affordable rates, so that young and old can share in the natural beauty and charm of our country with magnificent things to see.

7) A retooled remigration scheme, geared to encourage young and experienced professionals to return home to contribute to development. This should include

second-generation Guyanese.

They say seven is the number of perfection, so I rest my case with the above seven (7) proposals.

But Dear Editor, there is much talk about oil. Will oil provide all of the above?

I pose the question ‘Can we do this in the short term?’

I believe with prayers, good management and the integrity of all of our administrators at every level -- and I mean at every level -- will have to sing from the same song sheet.

A utopia can be realised in our lifetime.

They say the longest journey begins with a single step and that first step should include meaningful dialogue and the creation of an ethic of study, honesty and hard work.

Can we do it? Yes we can!

Regards Hamilton Green

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Operators of illegal dental clinics warned

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HE Dental Council of Guyana has warned persons operating unregistered dental clinics without the permission of the council, pointing out that

the practice is illegal and can result in a fine and imprisonment.

In a public notice, Dental Council Chairman Dr. Meer Khan said the council has received several worrying

reports.

“The council wishes to advise Guyanese that when you visit a dental clinic, please insist that you are shown a current registration for the dentist,” said Khan.

He said the registration must be issued by the Dental Council of Guyana.

The council also urged persons to be observant, because the certificate should be in a place of prominence,

mounted on the wall of the clinic.

In addition, dental technicians, dentexes (dental nurses) and medexes are not authorised to open private dental clinics.

The council is yet to confirm if anyone was confronted or sanctioned for operating illegally, but reminds those operating illegally to cease operations until they comply with the law.

City workers’ unions sleeping Dear Editor,

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OMETHING has to be seriously wrong with the two labour unions, also called trade unions in Guyana, that are supposed to represent the collective interests of the workers of the Mayor and Councillors of the city of Georgetown. These two labour unions which ought to unite to negotiate with the council over wages, hours, benefits and other working conditions are instead very silent, passive

and seem to be almost complicit with the council as municipal workers-- both current and former—are being brutalised on a daily basis for years now.

Can you imagine the council is planning a big anniversary jollification, whilst refusing to hand over the workers’ contributions to the National Insurance Scheme, thus compromising the employees’ welfare and not a murmur from any of the unions. It is no wonder the NIS is encountering fiscal constraints as the council

has owed them for years and seems to be in no hurry to pay.

How could the council’s ‘Big Enchiladas’ be flying all over the world with little or nothing to show for it, whilst failing to remit the pay-asyou-earn (PAYE) deductions to the Guyana Revenue Authority as they are required by law to do. Again, no action by the unions. Apart from industrial action, they can pursue legal options on behalf of the workers. One can only hope that the union leaders would not be seen hobnobbing at the

extravagant anniversary dinners and cocktail receptions, whilst the workers are unable to file their tax returns.

Are the unions not concerned about the non-payment of the workers’ contributions to their credit unions, preventing them from accessing loans and other benefits, whilst the top brass of the council can be seen wining and dining at expensive restaurants and hotels, and spending lavishly?

But worst of all, is the deafening silence of the unions regarding the

non-payment of gratuities and pensions to municipal employees, who have retired after serving the council for decades with distinction, whilst the council’s revenue is frittered away on contractors who do not have to bid for jobs, on a bloated human resource structure and on expensive vehicles, bodyguards, chauffeurs and other excesses. Could someone explain the paradox between the terrible conditions the Georgetown municipality’s workers are faced with

and union’s declining representation to their members. Have the unions lost their teeth, been silenced or bought out? Haile Selassie once said that throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.

sometimes forced to provide additional training for staff.

As a result of this reality, quite a number of Guyanese find it hard to gain employment within their desired fields, while a large number resort to migrating to seek employment.

Recently, a stark reality was highlighted, which is that the public education curriculum has not been upgraded since 1976. That calculates to 42 years since Guyana has had curriculum reform. Why did Guyana sit idly by for four decades?

The global economy has undergone so many changes.

It is no wonder we have not been able to properly tap into the global market as other countries have, because we simply do not possess the

human resource capacity. It is necessary that the curriculum is dynamic, remains current and is structured in such a way that it feeds the job market and responds to labour market demands.

This is necessary, particularly since there is so much talk about sustainable development. Economic growth can only be sustained when the workforce is replenished in keeping with the demand, regardless of sector. Editor, Guyana needs an education system that is dynamic and able to adapt to changes in the economy and labour market demands. It is in this vein that I view the recent move towards curriculum reform as monumental and important for nation-building.

The world is going digital

and Guyana is slowly making strides in catching up with the rest of the world. A restructuring of the education system with a focus on ICT would greatly serve to propel Guyana’s move in this information age.

This global focus has been recognised by the Ministry of Education. The process has started to develop a framework that will facilitate curriculum reform in the public education system from nursery to secondary.

Editor, clearly, it has been recognised by the Education Ministry that young people now require much more than the traditional skills to be relevant in today’s world.

Additionally, based on what has been reported, the curriculum reform process will

result in a curriculum that caters to our cultural diversity and more so, promote social cohesion within our society which historically can become fragmented, on the basis of cultural, racial and socio-economic differences.

This move by the Ministry of Education under the leadership of its minister is of national importance and relevance and should not be taken lightly. The consultations which took place last month by learned minds in education will surely serve to guide this process in the right direction to obtain the best results for Guyana. Thankfully, the curriculum reform will not only address the content that is taught, but will also look at the manner in which education is delivered. This is

a holistic approach, which is quite commendable.

Lastly, with the curriculum reform programme pegged at US$6M, I do hope that money will be well spent. I say this, since Guyana will soon be an oiland-gas-producing country.

It would be wise to tailor subjects to accommodate some degree of oil and gas to inform our children about the sector and hopefully encourage some to pursue studies in that field.

Editor, curriculum reform is an important process, all of Guyana needs to support the Ministry of Education in this endeavour to ensure the best product.

Regards Shanta Singh

All Guyanese need to support curriculum reform Dear Editor,

P

LEASE permit me some space in your newspaper to address the issue of curriculum reform in Guyana’s education sector.

It has been recognised for quite some time now that there is a skills gap that exists in Guyana. This refers to the mismatch of education and training offered by the education sector and what is required in the job market.

Through one lens it is the case of a complete mismatch, while through another lens the current training being offered has not been refined to meet current international standards. Hence, some private sector entities are

Regards Elizabeth Williams

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Teacher crowned Emancipation Queen 2018 IT came as no surprise to those in attendance when East Ruimveldt Secondary teacher Gabrelle Cummings prevailed over six other young ladies and was crowned Miss Emancipation Queen 2018 late Saturday night at the National Cultural Centre.

GPHC medical doctor Colleen Bovell copped the first runner- up spot with Feliciann Elliot coming in at second and Shelisa Depradine at third.

“I am currently overwhelmed that’s the first thing, but surprised? Not really,” the English teacher said just after her win “I’m very proud of my achievement and I just want to say congratulations to all my sisters who participated, they were excellent. Oh my God, I’m out of words.”

In the end, it was Cummings’ answer to the final question about reparations that landed her the title. All the top four girls were asked the same question which

read: “Caribbean nations have recognised this period, the International Decade for People of African Descent, one of the focal points is reparations. What are your views on reparations?”

The judges were pleased with Cummings’ response.

She said: “When it comes to reparation, I know the first thing that people ask is, do we as black people deserve it, and I say that ‘yes’, we do deserve the reparation. What would we do with the reparation? I would suggest that they open schools and keep courses that would educate our young black people about who they were before slavery. We would use the reparation money as a form of building back our African youth, building back the culture, the culture that they broke, building back our nation,” Gabrelle expressed.

From the start, the well-spoken 21-year-old was a crowd favourite and as the night continued from

The top four: From left, second runner-up, Feliciann Elliot; Miss Emancipation Queen 2018 Gabrelle Cummings; first runner- up, Dr. Colleen Bovell and third runner-up, Shelisa Depradine (Samuel Maughn photo)

category to category, she persistently stood out above the competition.

SELF-ACCEPTANCE All smiles, Cummings said she dedicated her win to her students who struggle with self-acceptance.

“The reason I joined this pageant is because of my students. They always say, Miss I’m too dark, I want to get fair or things like that, so now I can go back to them and say Miss Cum-

Miss Emancipation Queen 2018 Gabrelle Cummings (Samuel Maughn photo)

mings has an afro and she’s dark-skinned and she’s a queen,” Cummings said.

Aside from the crown, Cummings was also the winner of the “Best Project Presentation” prize, though she did admit that, that segment was one of the most difficult areas of the

pageant for her.

“The most difficult part would have been the STEM project, because that robot gave us a hell of a time to programme, it was really difficult, but in the end we persevered and I actually won the STEM project segment and that was my

biggest surprise yet,” Cummings said.

Dr Bovell copped the other special prizes, walking away with the “Best Spoken Word Presentation” and winning the “People’s Choice” award, which was done via social media.

Following the initial introduction, the girls paraded in their African business wear, showing several ways to put an African spin on the modern outfits.

Still dressed in their business wear, the girls next did their project presentation, when they displayed a robot that they helped to build and programme, and were each quizzed on different aspects of the robot.

For the most part, all of the girls passed with flying colours.

The pageant then moved to the African evening gown segment, during which the girls changed over into some dazzling attire, but while they had fun with that segment, the following question-and-answer section was a challenge for some.

Each girl was asked structured questions based on African cultural lectures they attended during their training period. After that, it was the end of the road for delegates Patrina Cummings, Tandika Moore, and Sithendisi Cameron.

With the count down to the final four, it all hinged on the final question. Each delegate was asked the same question, and in the end it was Gabrelle who had the best answer.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

PM sets record straight on parliamentary sittings CONTRARY to media reports, parliamentary sittings under the present government have seen the highest number in the first three years of any parliament since 1992, said Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

He was at the time refuting recent claims by a particular media entity, which stated, “there have been very few sittings of the House for 2018,” also stating that the country possessed a “dormant Parliament.”

Presenting data from the year 1992 to current, the prime minister, in his weekly column My Turn, stated that “lies and half-truths” will bear no fruit for those trying to discredit the government.

The statistics provided show that there were 62 sittings during the 7th Parliament of former President Janet Jagan’s Presidency (1997-2001)

and 88 parliamentary sittings during the Presidency of Donald Ramotar (2011-2014).

Meanwhile, in the first three years of the 11th Parliament (2015-2018), 96 sittings have already concluded with sittings expected to surpass 110 by the end of 2018.

“For those of us who believe in transforming our freedom in both political and socio-economic forms, this is like a dream becoming true.

We are closer today to achieving a democratic system of governance with sustainable economic growth than ever before,” Nagamootoo stated.

Even as he highlighted that untruths regarding fewer parliamentary sittings have been aided and peddled by the opposition, he nonetheless chastised the media body for its lack of in-depth research on the matter.

“This pastime is not an ac-

ademic deficit, but is either just pure laziness to research the facts, or idle pursuit of a mistaken belief in the Goebbelsian lie that, if repeated often, could be believed as the truth…like a relay in a marathon race of falsehoods, the [media house] took up the bruised baton, and ran with it,” he said.

The prime minister also addressed portions of the article, which suggested that Parliament was crippled as result of his travels overseas for non –official duties.

These, he pointed out, were for medical reasons and that when he travelled to receive medical attention six months ago, it was the first time that he had done so in over 25 years while in public office.

“The absence of the Leader of Government Business in the House did not prevent the National Assembly from meet-

ing on August 8 last for very important national matters.

After that sitting, the House went into scheduled recess for two months.

“It had become necessary for me to leave the jurisdiction for a much-delayed medical check-up, since I had triple heart by-pass surgery six months ago. I concede that ‘private business’ didn’t quite explain why I travelled overseas. But I can assure you that it was not on a folly in order to sabotage the Parliament,” he stated.

Such “a crooked spin to the truth”, Nagamootoo continued, is what he has begun to expect from the opposition, which has used several other tactics to paint a “worrying picture of the future of Guyana.”

To this, he said: “It brings to mind a statement disputably attributed to Abraham Lincoln:

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

‘You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.

“But for Guyanese, we can remind those who peddle lies and half-truths of what the old people say: ‘Moon ah run till day ketch am!’”

We want to make a difference – says PM of Youth Parliament PRIME Minister for Youth Parliament 2018, Jordan Kellman, said this year’s sitting of the National Assembly is a great opportunity for the youths to make a difference.

Kellman, a student of the Bishop’s High School, is among 72 youths from secondary schools across the 10 administrative regions and the University of Guyana (UG) participating in the event, being held from August 10 to 18.

“As a youth, it is time that adults see us as more than proxies. We are to be recognised as in this critical time of our lives, we need to be heard. My message to youths, no matter where you come from, no matter your economic and social status, this is an opportunity for us to make a difference and show that teenagers are relevant,” the youth prime minister said.

Representing the Minister of Natural Resources, Devi Singh said she is seeking a new perspective at this year’s sitting. She will decide too, if after her experience, whether she would be pursuing a career in politics.

Singh, who has her eyes on becoming a commercial pilot and an aeronautical engineer, finds herself being

Youth Prime Minister Jordan Kellman

Youth Opposition Leader Aaliyah Sharif

pulled in this direction.

“I was advised that I should do it and so far, I’m loving it. Perhaps, I can find myself here being part of parliament and being part of politics. I think it’s good and I am getting a profound understanding of what happens here, she said. ” Youth Opposition Leader Aaliyah Sharif said in her role, she intends to empower all youths to effect change in society.

“We are given the opportunity to be a voice for them, so we need to work diligently to get the information out to there,” she told DPI. Sharif said the young people possess a “different mindset” from adults and in so doing, there is a wide scope for inclusion of new ideas.

She said her work will not end in the chambers of

the National Assembly, but will be extended to her local community.

Filling the role of the Minister of State is University of Guyana student, Trevon Chichester, who said “I believe that young people are very important to the progress of any country; and if more young persons are involved in the National discourse at all levels, our country will move forward; we will be more relevant in the Caribbean and Latin America and we will truly take our rightful place in this world.”

Yonnick David, Youth Minister of Social Protection, said he is thrilled at the opportunity of being part of this year’s youth Parliament as it provides an opportunity for better understanding of the parliament and its role.

Youth Minister of Natural Resources, Devi Singh

Youth Minister of State, Trevon Chichester

For him, his participation in youth parliament, on the official day to observe United Nations’ International Youth Day, is extremely significant.

“Today is International Youth Day and young people are sitting in our parliament going through our laws, working and understanding how this country operates. It’s a good thing!”

Youth Minister David said.

(DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Where do these little boys come from?

WHERE do these little boys come from? The little boys who grow into Men with such shallow egos, that they think it’s okay to beat up on a girl, Woman and/ or Mother of their children and ultimately murder her, usually because the victim had a problem with their behaviour. These Men were once children and during their upbringing, apparently they were never exposed to the importance of introspection? Everyone needs to do a little self-examination at some point: to take a quiet moment where they reflect on things they have said and done and put their actions and words into perspective; were they good or bad? Were they fair or unfair? Were they right or wrong? Parents can help children to think about their actions by get-

ting them to explain the decisions they make.

The objective of introspection is to find areas within one’s self where improvements can be made; and in so doing, a person may stumble upon the reasons behind their own negative ‘behaviour.’

If they search deep enough they may even discover why they ‘think’ the way they do.

The way people behave and think stems from what they were (or were not) taught as children and the many experiences, good and bad, they encountered (or failed to have) during their developmental years. This is why introspection is so important: it helps a person to self-analyse their words and actions.

They can actually ask themselves, ‘Where did that come from?’ and in retrospect, answer the question. They can also learn to control negative

behaviour by recognising the absurdity of their actions How many times have you heard someone say, ‘From I small coming up, is suh I know it.’People say this all the time, meaning that their childhood experiences have created what is acceptable for them and therefore what is their norm.

Even people who do not say this verbally, live it, subconsciously, by displaying a set of inherent beliefs and behaviours that are psychologically ingrained and usually suitable for their setting.

But how many more little boys are there, in Guyana right now, who are being exposed to dysfunctional environments where there is little chance of them ever learning a positive trait such as introspection? How many more little boys will grow into Men with warped or

shallow egos who believe they can ‘own’ a person to such an extent where they subjugate them using physical violence and ultimately, have the divine right to take their life? Never once possessing a presence of mind to examine their thoughts, their behaviour and mind-set? But instead acting impulsively, from an adversely emotional standpoint, with little regard for the trauma caused to family members or their own children who are also victims, left in the wake of their reckless behaviour.

When children are victims of childhood trauma, it affects their whole outlook on life. Studies show that trauma can even affect their developing brain. As a result, children can suffer from emotional or even psychological problems, which could result in personality

disorders such as low-selfesteem or lack of confidence, etc. On-going psycho-social support and/or counselling can help children to cope in these situations.

In order to curb the violence in our society, we must start with our children while they are young. Adults can help them deal with their emotions by explaining that it is okay to ‘feel’ upset, it is okay to ‘feel’ rejected, it is okay to ‘feel’ left out, etc; but it is how one deals with those ‘feelings’ that really matter. By talking things through, adults can help children analyse their actions, thoughts and behaviour and together strategies and coping skills can be worked out to help children manage their ‘feelings.’ This is the first step to them being in control of the way they think and the actions that follow.

On a final note, the social and cultural trends in Guyana need to be seriously reviewed and updated to reflect the knowledge that is now available to Guyanese people. In turn, we citizens need to be pro-active when caring for our women folk in general. We must use initiative, forethought and be shrewd in the decisions we make that could have longterm effects on our children: we must not hesitate to share and pass on information that could save lives and prevent childhood traumas. We must be cautious, attentive and alert in order to endure, be persistent and survive.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the Childcare and Protection Agency’s Hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@ gmail.com

Importation of stone for ECD road project aimed at preventing delays MINISTER of Public Infrastructure, David Patter-

son said given the nature of funding for the East Coast

road project it is essential that delays and cost over-

runs be prevented hence, the decision to allow the importation of stone by the Chinese contractor.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Minister Patterson said the decision was made as adequate local supplies were not available. “To finish on schedule, the project required at least 15,000 tonnes per month, at best the suppliers whose product made the specifications were only supplying about 6,000 tonnes monthly, additionally, the project needs about 250,000 tonnes overall,” Minister Patterson explained.

He assured that local stone producers were engaged prior to his permission being granted to the contractor for the stone import. “It must be noted that while there are seven (7) stone producers countrywide, only three (3) had the capability at that time to produce the specified

stone, of the three (3), the largest producer’s stone did not make the specifications (stone specifications do not only have to do with density but also size, moisture content, etc.). Interestingly, it was agreed by ALL, based on a recommendation by the stone producers, to allow the contractor to import 50,000 tons of stones over a three-month period, this would have allowed the local producers to up their production [if possible] and seek to have their stone meet the required specifications (if possible), it would also allow the contractor to continue working without delay,” Minister Patterson further explained.

Currently, contractors are on schedule to complete the expansion project. In an earlier interview, Technical Services Manager at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Nigel Erskine, informed the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the extension of the four-lane section from Better Hope to Annandale is now 60 percent complete.

He also said the plan is to complete the four-lane section by the end of the year and proceed with the upgrade of the two lanes from Annandale to Belfield subsequently.

“Ongoing works include extension of the bridges, construction of drains which is about 90 percent complete; the construction of 400 metres of revetments at Triumph, of which 250 metres have been completed as well as the extension of the culverts to accommodate the four-lane road,” Erskine explained.

When completed, the four-lane section will have a median in the centre, equipped with streetlights.

Sidewalks will be built along populated villages, seven bridges and 12 culverts will be widened, and 11 traffic signals will be installed at busy intersections along the roadway. The approximately eight-inch finished surface will comprise asphaltic concrete and have road-safety features including warning signs, road markings and pedestrian crossings.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

The beautiful Lake Mainstay where the regatta was held

Lake Mainstay Regatta 2018 a success THE annual Lake Mainstay Regatta event kicked off Sunday with a bang, as patrons from all walks of life flocked the resort in Region Two. Director of Lake Mainstay Resort, Wilfred Jagnarine, said the preparations leading up to

the 18th regatta were successful, despite earlier challenges of getting sufficient sponsors for the water sports competition.

Jagnarine explained the popular tourism event has attracted a number of foreigners this year. “I think it is a good

start, people look forward to this event, especially from Essequibo and all over Guyana.”

The director noted that the government has played an integral role in pushing the event.

He explained that prior to the event, roadworks were done to improve to flow of traffic to

the resort.

“We are happy to have the government’s support. For some years they have been collaborating with us for this event and we are grateful. And we look forward to continuing this collaboration.”

President of the Essequibo

Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Suean Seewnarayan, also deemed this year’s regatta a success.

“Over the years, I think the crowd has been growing and I think with years to come it will grow. Because this event has become something that

everyone looks forward to in August,” Seewnarayan said.

The event saw teams competing in over 18 watersport events. These included the 15, 40, 90 and 200 horsepower (HP) races, swimming and canoeing, to name a few.

(DPI)

This family had a good time at the regatta

This boat being readied for the race (DPI photo)

A scene from the Lake Mainstay Regatta (DPI photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Religious bodies, LGBT community must dialogue – PANCAP Director … in order for Guyana to achieve 2030 health targets

W

HILE it is understandable that the religious and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community in Guyana will have their disagreements, they must be willing to engage in respectful dialogue if the country is to achieve its 2030 health targets.

This is according to Director of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/ AIDS (PANCAP) Dereck Springer, who spoke to the Guyana Chronicle on the sidelines of the recently hosted National Faith Leaders Consultation.

Springer said that PANCAP is working to provide guidance on how such conversations can become a possibility in the wider Caribbean, as stigma and discrimination still remain a major barrier to the end of AIDS. Quelling fears that exist, he stated that these arrangements for discussion do not involve either party being asked to relinquish their beliefs.

“It’s important to recognise that we have to respect religious doctrine. So public health is not attempting to say to the religious community that you have to change your doctrine. What we are trying to help the religious community to recognise is that if we are to end AIDS, we need everyone on board.

We need the support of the faith community, because the faith community can address issues around prevention; the faith community can address issues around support,” he explained.

However, maintaining and instigating this dialogue have proven to be a challenge as the two groups do not see eye to eye on many issues.

when they hear a model Anti-discrimination legislation, that what it is speaking to is just sexual orientation.

But, what it is speaking to is discrimination in general, discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, sexual orientation….discrimination across the board and how do we help people to recognise that if people feel discrim-

themselves tested for HIV/ AIDS, or to make themselves available to receive treatment for the disease.

This initiative forms a part of the UNAIDS 90-9090 Target.

It indicates that if by 2020, 90 per cent of people living with HIV/AIDS are tested; 90 per cent of those tested are provided with access to treatment and 90 per cent of those treated have low levels of the virus in their blood, then it is possible to end aids by 2030.

discrimination.

In addition, a Regional Consultative Committee has been set up as a coordinating mechanism to promote and harmonise the implementation of national inter-religious programmes.

These, Springer explained, will help religious leaders to begin to understand the role they can play in ending the AIDS epidemic as stakeholders involved.

“Part of this discussion that we’re having here is once there is a national faith

ty to hear and to listen to each other, we continue to have the challenges,” he said.

Continuing on the topic, the PANCAP Director added: “We can disagree.

We can’t expect everybody to agree on these particular issues, but how do we find a way to have those discussions in a respectful manner? Because when it is not respectful, what happens then is that it becomes a barrier to communication and engagement…once we can achieve respectful di-

Director of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/ AIDS (PANCAP) Dereck Springer (Samuel Maughn photo)

During national consultations with religious leaders in the Caribbean over the years, PANCAP’s Anti-Discrimination Legislation has been seen as a means to do away with existing buggery laws that still remain in some states.

However, Springer clarified that the legislation speaks to discrimination in the broader sense, as the LGBT community represents only a part of the key populations PANCAP aims to protect from stigma and discrimination.

“Some people believe,

inated against or stigmatised, they’re not going to be willing to come forward to get this free treatment that we have available to them,” Springer stated.

He later added: “Where the challenge has come about is because of the litigation where we have seen the successful litigation in Belize and Trinidad, so there is this fear that all the countries are going to be moving towards that.”

PANCAP’s eventual aim, however, is to ensure that all groups within key populations are emboldened to get

Religious leaders from various faiths during the PANCAP Guyana National Faith Leaders Consultation hosted at the Marriott Hotel on Thursday (Samuel Maughn photo)

To help achieve this, in 2013 PANCAP introduced its Justice For All (JFA) Programme as a regional response to the United Nations (UN) High Level Political Declaration to reduce AIDS-related stigma and

leaders response to HIV, they can seek to reach out to the various groups, including the LGBT community, to come in and to be able to share their perspective, because I think sometimes when we don’t give each other an opportuni-

alogue, it means that the faith leaders would not then feel that it’s a challenge to engage with the key populations and the key populations would not feel that it’s a challenge for them to engage with faith leaders.”

Man drowns trying to save daughter, grandson Gunmen rob Albouystown family

A

MAN who managed to save his daughter and grandson from drowning on Saturday at Bushy Park Beach, East Bank Essequibo, lost his life in the process.

Dead is 48-year-old Farouk Bacchus, of Lot 65 Old Road, La Grange, West Bank Demerara.

Reports indicate that during a family outing at the beach, a large wave pulled the man’s daughter and

Dead: Farouk Bacchus

grandson into the ocean and he immediately responded by jumping into the sea and pushing them to safety.

One eyewitness said the two children were sitting on a rock when the heavy wave grabbed them and Bacchus who was nearby heard their screams and responded.

His body was later fished out of the water and was taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour as police launched an investigation into the drowning.

T

HREE armed men attacked and robbed a family at their James Street, Albouystown, Georgetown home on Saturday, escaping on foot with cash and other valuables.

Reports indicate that the victims were 18-year-old Zoveena Khan, 20-year-old Sudourka Goodhand and 59-year-old Neesha Seepaul.

They were in their yard when the suspects entered, held them at gunpoint and took them into the lower flat of the house, where they were relieved of cellphones, jewellery and cash.

The gunmen then took the women upstairs and robbed two other victims – a 67-year-old pensioner and 43-year-old Nandranie Persaud of cash and cellphones.

The robbery was reported to the police and investigations continue.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Yupukari helping to save giant otters

T

HE village of Yupukari in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) is leading the way in the preservation of the world’s endangered giant river otter, thanks to the help of the Save the Giants (Otters) team.

Founder of the Save the Giants (Otters) team, Christina Ward, met up with the Guyana Chronicle to tell of the works being conducted locally to protect one of Guyana’s many giants from becoming extinct.

Christian is an artist and lifelong animal conservationist with a background in animal management and wildlife rehabilitation.

In 2016, she took a break from her job at Zoo Atlanta, in the United States, to Guyana to conduct a giant otter population survey near the Karanambu Lodge on the Rupununi River.

When she left for home, Christina was inspired by the hope of raising money to continue the work of otter conservation in Guyana.

As such, she launched her own art business, Colours for Conservation, from which all proceeds from its sale of original artwork and merchandise will go towards supporting conservation-based organisations and projects.

“I decided that I wanted to change the course of my life and I quit the zoo and I started Save the Giants and have been working in Guyana for about three years now,” she said.

With her focus on the country’s giant river otters, Christina said that the animals remain well below the threshold of endangered animals today.

“Unfortunately, giant otters are the most endangered otter species on the planet. Our counts right now working with the International Union for Conservation of Nature show that there are around 2000-4000 in total left in the world. Pretty much, at this point, without human intervention to try to help the

population increase, there’s a pretty good chance we may lose these guys,” she said.

Guyana, however, is in a better position compared to its neighbours as a result of its connected waterways which prevent “genetic bottlenecking”, which occurs when giant otters live only in one particular area.

Christina and her team have increased their efforts at creating awareness about giant otters in Guyana.

In the hinterland communities such as Yupukari in Region Nine, the Save the Giants (Otters) team has begun to engage with young children and fishermen in the village.

“We’ve really been working with the kids in the village helping them re-establish their Wildlife Club. We just bought a boat so that the kids will always have access to go on the river instead of it just being us on the water by ourselves looking for otters, we want the kids to do so and anybody else from the village,” she explained.

However, when it comes to the fisher folk there is the challenge of helping them to understand the nature of the animals--often attracted to the fishing activity--which in turn leads to violence meted out by fishermen.

“It’s not so much of having them domesticated, it’s more of seeing them and not being afraid to approach and allowing them to not be afraid of you as well,” he said, adding: “One of the conflicts that we’re dealing with, and where the education aspect comes in, is fishermen who tend to leave fishes in boats and the otters come across and they tend to go into the boat for the fish and then you have this clash between fishermen and giant otters.”

He explained that these individuals are being taught that when fishing in a giant river and otter area they should refrain from using gill nets and never leave fish unattended.

In addition, the team also held Domestic Animal Welfare clinics this year in the region where community members were invited to bring their pets for deworming, mange baths, and vaccination as pets, too, can contribute to the well-being of

they defecate in the water, so ‘anything’ that is in the domestic pets is going to, ultimately, end up in the water,” Christina explained.

In the coming year, she and her team plan to construct a Wildlife Centre for the Yupukari village which will provide a central hub for science experiments; the development of lab skills and awareness about Guyana’s wildlife.

surveys.

“We would provide them with the equipment they would need and we would give them a stipend to conduct these surveys in their particular region,” Christian said.

Partnerships have also been forged with the University of Guyana (UG), for the possible initiation of an internship programme for biodiversity students to work along with the team.

Founder of the Save the Giants (Otters) team, Christina Ward, speaks on the need to protect the giant otter species of Guyana (Samuel Maughn)

“Guyana is unique because our landscapes, unlike Brazil and Venezuela and other at- range countries, is very much connected in terms of gene flows so there is really nothing like gold mining or human development [in these areas], so the threats here are not as major as they are in the other countries,” she said, adding: “It’s not to say that it couldn’t become a major issue for the giants right now… because if all the giant otters in Brazil or Venezuela die off and we only have the animals in Guyana, eventually, that will happen because we need dispersers from family groups to pass on their genes by travelling to different places.”

This possible threat is why

The new boat provided to facilitate practical learning for the Yupukari Wildlife Club. (Samuel Maughn)

As such, Kenneth Butler, the team’s field manager said that a lot of the work being conducted revolves around assisting the community to develop closeness with the animals.

wild animals.

“The health of the domestic animal population can really affect the health of the wild animal population. They bathe in the water, they urinate in the water,

Children from the village of Yupukari participate in activities during the Wildlife Club sessions. (Samuel Maughn)

The team also hopes to soon include the village of Mapari, and is working to raise funds so that representatives from villages along the Rupununi River, through workshops, can learn how to conduct their own otter

In the meantime, the Save the Giants (Otters) team advocates for additional support from persons of other regions of the country, looking to become involved in the protection of Guyana’s wildlife.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Barca lift Spanish Super Cup after late penalty save TANGIER, Morroco (Reuters) - Barcelona lifted the Spanish Super Cup for a record extending 13th time by coming from behind to beat Sevilla 2-1 on Sunday thanks to a stunning strike from France winger Ousmane Dembele and a penalty save in stoppage time from Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

King’s Cup runners-up Sevilla took a surprise lead in the traditional curtain raiser to the season against Barcelona when Pablo Sarabia fired home in the ninth minute after Luis Muriel had powered his way through the Barca defence.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi lifts the trophy as he celebrates winning the Spanish Super Cup with team mates REUTERS/Jon Nazca

The video assistant referee (VAR) was used for the first time in Spanish soccer to award the goal, which had initially been ruled offside.

Gerard Pique levelled for Barca shortly before halftime by pouncing on the rebound after Lionel Messi’s free kick had ricocheted off the post, while Sevilla’s Franco Vazquez glanced a header off the crossbar in the second half in Tangier,

Morocco.

The competition, which ditched its traditional twolegged format and was also played outside Spain for the first time, looked to be headed for extra-time until Dembele let fly from outside the area and his shot thumped in off the crossbar in the 78th minute.

“It was a really difficult game because we conceded very early and we had to fight back. A lot of players

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have only recently come back from breaks and that took its toll,” Barca coach Ernesto Valverde told reporters.

“We grew as the game went on. It was an exciting game and they also had their chances. It’s good to win because it gives you belief in what you are doing and it allows you to start the season on the front foot.”

Sevilla had a golden late chance to force extra-time when former Barca player Aleix Vidal was fouled by Ter Stegen in the 89th minute, but substitute Wissam Ben Yedder struck his penalty softly along the ground and the towering German goalkeeper comfortably caught the ball.

“My team deserve a lot of credit for showing that we have soul spirit and courage after Dembele’s great goal and not only did we win a penalty but we also swarmed all over their goal,” said Sevilla coach Pablo Machin.

It hurts a lot to lose a trophy like this but when your team competes until the end and shows spirit like they did tonight you can’t ask for much more.”

Barca’s new captain Messi lifted his first piece of silverware since inheriting the armband from former midfielder Andres Iniesta, and the Argentine also overtook the Spaniard as Barca’s most decorated player with 33 trophies to his name.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

FROM BACK PAGE

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018…

Barbados Tridents defend 185 with ease

By Rajiv Bisnauth RIDING on Shai Hope’s brutal assault, Barbados Tridents thump the Guyana Amazon Warriors by 30 runs last night in match 6 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at the Providence Stadium .

Chasing 185, the local franchise started on a poor note and eventually reached 155-8 when the overs expired; an innings which never really got going. However, it was Raymond Reifer’s superb bowling (5-20) through the middle and the death overs where he mixed up his pace superbly, which eventually strangled the hosts.

Earlier, Hope struck an entertaining half-century as Barbados Tridents piled up an imposing total.

After the early loss of the openers, Hope and Steve Smith (41 off 37 balls), resurrected the innings with the former taking on the aggressor role and towards the end, Nicholas Pooran put in the perfect finishing touches to post a daunting total, with a 27-ball unbeaten 45.

Hope stroked 88 off 45 balls, belting six fours and six sixes to keep the Tridents innings together. Tridents’ batting got off to a false start with both the openers, Martin Guptill and Dwayne Smith, sent back at the end of the second over.

Guptill, the New Zealander fell without scoring off Sohail Tanvir’s third ball of the innings, to a brilliant one handed catch

by Rayad Emrit at mid-off, while Smith was taken at extra cover off Chris Green.

It was left to Hope and the disgraced former Australia captain Smith to lift the side through a third-wicket stand of 105 runs.

The right-handed pair wasted no time in setting an upbeat tempo and ensured the Tridents kept the ascendency, with Hope smashing Tahir for two sixes in the 11th over, while Smith hit consecutive boundaries off Paul in the next over.

The assault continued in the 13th over with Hope displaying terrific power, hitting Tanvir for two sixes. However, Tahir returned for a second

Leg- Spinner Imran Tahir celebrating the wicket of Steve Smith. (Not in photo)

spell and trapped Smith in front, but not before the Australian reached the boundary on six occasions. The knock had all the characteristics of a signature Smith innings: the precision placement, the innovative stroke play and the ruthlessness that has seen

him become one of the most dangerous batsman around.

At the closing stage of the innings, Tridents lost Hope but Pooran who was there at the end, belted three sixes off Keemo Paul in the innings final over.

The chase was always a tall

SCOREBOARD BARBADOS TRIDENTS innings

M Guptill c Emrit b Sohail Tanvir 0 D Smith c Shoaib Malik b Green 6 S Hope c Hetmyer b Paul 88 S Smith lbw b Tahir 41 N Pooran not out 45 J Holder not out 3 Extras: (lb 1, w 1) 2 Total: (four wickets; 20 overs) 185 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-11, 3-116, 4-155 Bowling: S Tanvir 4-0-40-1, C Green 4-0-24-1, I Tahir 3-024-1, Emrit 4-0-47-0, Paul 4-0-49-1

GUYANA AMAZON WARRIORS innings

C Walton lbw b Holder 6 L Ronchi † c Nurse b Reifer 10 S Hetmyer c Guptill b Reifer 22 Shoaib Malik c &b Nurse 38 S Rutherford c †Pooran b Reifer 48 C Green c Holder b Reifer 12 J Mohammed c DR Smith b Reifer 0 Sohail Tanvir b Wahab Riaz 0 K Paul not out 2 R Emrit not out 1 Extras: (b 4, lb 3, w 9) 16 TOTAL: 155/8 (20 Overs, RR: 7.75) Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-40, 3-40, 4-124, 5-151, 6-151, 7-151, 8-154 Bowling: Mohammad Irfan 4-0-24-0, J Holder 4-0-41-1, R Reifer 4-0-20-5, A Nurse 4-0-34-1 Wahab Riaz 4-0-29-1

order for the Warriors, and the top order spluttered to 40-3 at the end of six overs.

Jason Holder was right on the money, removing the danger man Chadwick Walton,

while left-arm seamer Reifer took the wicket of Luke Ronchi. Much was expected from Shimron Hetmyer, but he too perished in the fifth over, for a 9-ball 22.

Malik (38) and Sherfane Rutherford (48) set about rebuilding the innings with the idea of a victory lingering on the horizon.

Malik was happy to play second fiddle while enjoying the proximity advantage to the Rutherford show, but Malik’s dismissal was followed by a flurry of wickets at the back end of the innings, despite Rutherford’s big hitting. The Warriors now move to the USA where they will play the Jamaica Tallawahs on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Warriors has four points from three games.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Jimmy Anderson century of Lord’s Test wickets a first for the fast men

By Andy Bull

THE ball that did for Murali Vijay was not the most spectacular that Jimmy Anderson has bowled in this match. It was stock, short of a length, straight, but slanting in towards middle stump.

He delivers dozens like it in every Test, hundreds in every season. But he will always remember it, because it earned him his 100th Test wicket at Lord’s. He is only the second man to take so many at one venue. The other was Muttiah Muralitharan, who took a hundred and some in Kandy, Galle, and Colombo.

Which means Anderson is the first fast bowler to do it – Dennis Lillee could not do it at the MCG, Richard Hadlee did not achieve it at Lancaster Park and Dale Steyn failed to do it at Newlands.

The milestone is a mark of Anderson’s longevity more than anything else, as well as Lord’s preeminence among English venues. He has played here twice a year every year since 2008, and nowadays its quirks and idiosyncrasies must be as well

known to him as those of his own house, the run-up as familiar as his front hallway, his bench in the dressing room as comfortable as his own sofa.

He has bowled so many overs here – more than 906, now – that he will likely spend the rest of his life walking with a lean where one leg’s been worn shorter than the other by all the time he has spent running along the slope.

Anderson finished with four for 23, which gave him nine for 43 in the match, from 25.2 overs with 10 maidens.

They are silly figures, but his often are here. Overall, those 100 wickets have come at an average of 24, but the second 50 of them cost only 20 each, and the last 25 came at just 12, figures which read like something you might find in an ancient copy of Wisden in a report of some distant century tour of South Africa when England played against hapless batsmen on matting wickets. They are the sort of numbers SF Barnes used to notch up at the beginning of the 20th century.

A lot of modern batsmen seem to find Anderson pretty much unplayable in

James Anderson was the wicket-taker, going to 100 scalps at Lord’s and sending KL Rahul on his way too for good measure ©Getty Images

cloudy, damp conditions.

The skills they need to bat against him seem to have been lost to the modern game.

KL Rahul played outside the line of an in-swinger, Kuldeep Yadav was bowled off an edge when he left a gap between his bat and pad, and Mohammed Shami just plain missed the ball. They

may as well be trying to read runes from wax tablets or work a spinning jenny. In the circumstances his four wickets here were as inevitable as the incoming tide, India’s resistance as stiff as a sandcastle.

Where Anderson leads, of course, Stuart Broad follows. He is the Clark to Anderson’s Lewis, the Roy

to his Siegfried, second among equals. By the end of the innings Broad had actually pulled himself up into second place behind his partner on that same list, as the fast bowler who has taken the second-most wickets at any one place.

His 83 put him equal with Heath Streak, who took his at the Harare Sports Club.

Broad also moved up into the list of the top-10 wicket-takers in Test cricket, too.

But then, you never measure Broad by the numbers so much as the moments.

And in the afternoon session here, Broad had one everyone there will remember. A spell in which he seized control of the game brought him four wickets for seven runs in only 37 balls.

It began when he had Ajinkya Rahane caught at slip, a loose shot that seemed to spur Broad into new life.

He bowled Che Pujara with a brilliant in-swinger, had Virat Kohli caught off his glove at short leg, fending away a snorting short ball, and then trapped Dinesh Karthik lbw.

It felt like the only reason he did not run through the rest of the Indian team was because

a shower came and broke his rhythm.

Still, when the players went off, the match went with them. India’s hopes rested with Pujara and Kohli. Broad did for both.

He needed the wickets. Anderson is all but undroppable now, but his partner does not have such a strong grip on his place in the team.

He took 30 wickets at 36 each in Test cricket last year, and has felt like a peripheral figure in this series. He was pretty ineffective in the first Test at Edgbaston, and then again in first innings here.

Until he changed ends and came charging in from the Pavilion. Then everything slipped into place and the ball started to swing in the air and spark and spit off the pitch.

Anderson and Broad have been running this double act for a decade now, since they first played together here against New Zealand in 2008.

Everyone else must be getting pretty damn sick of it. But England’s supporters will hope the show runs for a few more years yet, because on this pitch, in this weather, they are as good as it gets.

BV /Triumph 8th of May football League

Eastveldt, B/V, Tucville and Mahaica Dominators secure wins in first round matches

THE BV/Triumph 8 th of May Movement Emancipation Football League got underway on Friday last at the BV playground with four matches which saw Eastveldt, BV, tucville and Mahaica Dominators securing victories in their respective match-ups.

In the first match of the evening, Eastveldt, from the community of East Ruimveldt, made their intentions known by trashing St. John’s Basco Orphange 6-1 through a double each from Travel Blaze and Travis Hercules and one each from Rondel Watson and Tevin Campbell.

St. John’s Basco’s lone goal was scored by the team’s captain, Brian Williams.

The second match of the afternoon was a one-sided

affair as Seon Richardson (Tucville) mesmerised their opponents from Mahaicony and scored a hat-trick in the 32nd, 36th and 60 minutes to give his team a 3-0 victory.

Mahaica Dominators and Plaisance battled head to head in the next match and in the end, the former won by a 1-0 margin through a 33rd minute goal scored by Eion Abel.

In the final match of the night, home team BV disconnected the lines of GWI, when Junior Alleyne scored in the 5 th minute of the match, followed by young Ian Dooker in the 13th minute. GWI appeared unable to repair the disconnection, and went into half time to reassess damages at 2-0.

Ian Dooker

Nevertheless, GWI’s return to the field in the second half seemed somewhat tactless as they conceded a further two goals, in the 55 and 57 minutes, to Ian Dooker and Akim Cuns respectively. Beterverwagting (BV) won 4-0.

The tournament was scheduled to continue yesterday with Plaisance taking on St. John’s Basco Orphanage, home team BV facing Tucville, Mahaica Dominators opposing Eastvedlt and Mahaicony coming up against GWI.

Goal scorers at left: Travel Blaze and Travis Hercules

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

England bowlers demolish India to secure crushing 159-run win

By John Mehaffey

LONDON (Reuters) - England pace bowler Stuart Broad swept aside the India middle order batting in an inspired spell on Sunday to propel his team to a crushing innings and 159 runs victory on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord’s.

After Thursday’s opening day was washed out, England took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series against the world’s top-ranked side within three days.

Bounding in with vigour and determination after replacing James Anderson at the Pavilion End, Broad dismissed captain Virat Kohli (17) and wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik (0) off consecutive balls in the second innings.

He finished with four for 44 in an Indian second innings total of 130.

India, dismissed for 107 in their first innings, had needed 289 runs to make England bat again after the home side declared their

Cheteshwar Pujara had resisted best, but Stuart Broad broke through with one of his beauties ©(Getty Images).

first innings closed at 396 for seven with Chris Woakes unbeaten on 137. Anderson became the first man to take 100 Test wickets at Lord’s when he dismissed opener Murali Vijay without scoring for the second time when

India batted again.

He then trapped Lokesh Rahul lbw for 10. Broad took over from Anderson to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane, smartly caught at third slip

by Keaton Jennings for 13, and then bowled Chetesh-

war Pujara off his pads for 17.

Kohli, who did not field when India took the field at the start of play because of a stiff back, was in obvious discomfort. He was given out caught behind when the ball brushed his glove and Karthik was then lbw to the next ball.

B o t h a p p e a l s w e re turned down by on-field umpire Aleem Dar but upheld by the third umpire after England asked for a television review.

After the tea interval, Anderson and Woakes combined to sweep aside the tail, with Anderson adding four wickets to his first innings haul of five for 20. Tailender Ravichandran Ashwin again top-scored for India with an unbeaten 33.

“I thought we played very well,” England captain Joe Root said. “To come in and put pressure on the opposition in a tough batting period was good. But we haven’t played the complete game yet.”

Champions City are impressive winners at Arsenal

By Steve Tongue LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City, who romped to Premier League success by 19 points last season, began the defence of their title with an impressive win away to an Arsenal side playing under new Spanish manager Unai Emery on Sunday.

Attempting to become the first team since Manchester United in 2009 to retain the title, the champions were good value with goals by Raheem Stirling and Bernardo Silva. Sterling went past two weak challengers to put City ahead in the first quarter of an hour with his 50th league goal.

Soon after debutant Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City was substituted, Bernardo Silva added the second in the 65th minute.

Defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos and teenage French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi made their Arsenal debuts but like so many teams last season the London side found City hard to cope with.

Raheem Sterling scored his 50th Premier League goal to give City the lead. (BBC Sport0

Another new signing, Stephan Lichtsteiner from Juventus, had to replace full back Ainsley Maitland-Niles before the interval and in the second half Uruguayan Lucas Torreira, who is expected to become an important defensive midfielder, also came on.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who finished last season with four goals in three games, had few chances and Alexandre Lacazette wasted one within a few minutes of coming on in the second half.

City’s strength in depth was illustrated when Mahrez made way for Kevin de

Bruyne just before the hour mark.

Soon afterwards Sergio Aguero was guilty of shooting instead of playing in De Bruyne but in the next attack Benjamin Mendy, making his first league start since last September, set up Bernardo Silva to score.

City have now lost only one away game in the league — at Liverpool — of their last 21, and manager Pep Guardiola felt their performance was close to perfect.

“We made a good performance in general and day by day we will get better and better. Every season

is a major season and this game was complicated but we played at a high level.”

“I think we were better than them today,” Bernardo Silva told Sky Sports. “We wanted to be professional and we did it. We defended very well and were a very compact team.” Emery, meanwhile, will know he has much to do, even before a difficult derby with Chelsea next weekend.

“It’s a little frustrating to lose but we are a new team,” he said. “In the first half we needed less respect for City and then more aggressive pressing. Second half we got better.”

SCOREBOARD INDIA 1st innings 107, ...........................................................

England 1st innings o/n 357 for 6 Alastair Cook c Dinesh Karthik b Ishant Sharma 21 Keaton Jennings lbw Mohammed Shami 11 Joe Root lbw Mohammed Shami 19 Ollie Pope lbw Hardik Pandya 28 Jonny Bairstow c Dinesh Karthik b Hardik Pandya 93 Jos Buttler lbw Mohammed Shami 24 Chris Woakes Not Out 137 Sam Curran c Mohammed Shami b Hardik Pandya 40 Extras: 11b 10lb 1nb 0pen 1w 23 Total: (88.1 overs) 396 decl Fall of Wickets : 1-28 Jennings, 2-32 Cook, 3-77 Pope, 4-89 Root, 5-131 Buttler, 6-320 Bairstow, 7-396 Curran Did Not Bat : Rashid, Broad, Anderson Bowling: Ishant Sharma 22- 4-101-1, Mohammed Shami 23-4-96-3 (1nb), Kuldeep Yadav 9-1-44 -0, Hardik Pandya 17.1 -0 -66 -3 (1w), Ravichandran Ashwin 17-1 -68-0. ...................................................................

INDIA 2nd innings Murali Vijay c Jonny Bairstow b James Anderson 0 Lokesh Rahul lbw James Anderson 10 Cheteshwar Pujara b Stuart Broad 17 Ajinkya Rahane c Keaton Jennings b Stuart Broad 13 Virat Kohli c Ollie Pope b Stuart Broad 17 Hardik Pandya lbw Chris Woakes 26 Dinesh Karthik lbw Stuart Broad 0 Ravichandran Ashwin Not Out 33 Kuldeep Yadav b James Anderson 0 Mohammed Shami lbw James Anderson 0 Ishant Sharma c Ollie Pope b Chris Woakes 2 Extras: 6b 6lb 0nb 0pen 0w 12 Total: (47.0 overs) 130 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-0 Vijay, 2-13 Rahul, 3-35 Rahane, 4-50 Pujara, 5-61 Kohli, 6-61 Karthik, 7-116 Pandya, 8-121 Yadav, 9-125 Shami, 10-130 Sharma Bowling: James Anderson 12-5- 23-4, Stuart Broad 16-6–44-4, Chris Woakes 10 -2 -24 -2, Sam Curran 9 -1-27 – 0.

Dananjaya’s six wickets hand Sri Lanka 178-run victory COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka’s Akila Dananjaya spun a web around South Africa’s batsmen with a six-wicket haul to help the hosts to a commanding 178-run victory in the fifth and final one-day international on Sunday.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews struck a run-a-ball 97 to anchor his side to an imposing 299 for eight after the hosts won the toss and opted to bat.

South Africa, who had won the first three matches of the series, appeared clueless against off-spinner Dananjaya’s bag of tricks and were bundled out for

121 under 25 overs.

The 24-year-old took 6-29 to register his best bowling figures in one-dayers and helped Sri Lanka finish the series with a respectable 3-2 result.

South Africa’s stand-in skipper Quinton de Kock, leading the side for the injured Faf du Plessis, was the only batsman to provide some resistance for the touring side with a stroke-filled 54.

Mathews hit 11 fours and a six in his knock as Sri Lanka scored 93 off their final 10 overs to set South Africa a 300-run target.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Patriots inflict second defeat on reigning champions TKR PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Twenty20 World Cup star Carlos Brathwaite shone with both bat and ball as St Kitts and Nevis Patriots inflicted reigning champions Trinbago Knight Riders *(TKR) with their second defeat of the Caribbean Premier League here late Saturday night.

Asked to chase a challenging 204 or victory at Queen’s Park Oval, TKR were held to 161 for eight off their allotted 20 overs, to slip to a 42-run defeat.

Sent in, Patriots racked up 203 for seven off their 20 overs with Man-of-theMatch Devon Thomas top-scoring with 58 from 34 balls and Brathwaite

bludgeoning a stunning 41 from a mere 15 deliveries.

They were backed up by an unusually sedate Chris Gayle who made 35 from 30 balls and Australian Ben Cutting who chipped in with an unbeaten 25.

Fast bowler Ali Khan was outstanding with three for 23 from his four overs while off-spinner Sunil Narine finished with two for 24 from his full complement.

Left-hander Evin Lewis’s wretched form continued when he fell to the second ball of the match without scoring, pulling Ali Khan to Narine at mid-wicket, and when Tom Cooper was brilliantly caught one-handed at first slip by Dwayne Bravo three balls later, Patriots were

All-rounder Carlos Brathwaite … struck 41 and claimed two wickets.

three runs for two wickets.

Thomas arrived to add impetus to the innings, striking nine fours and a six as he added 66 for the third wicket

with Gayle and 39 for the fourth wicket with Anton Devcich (15).

When Thomas played on to Narine in the 14th over,

Stokes set to miss England’s third Test regardless of court case outcome

BEN Stokes is set to miss the third Specsavers Test at Trent Bridge regardless of the outcome of his trial for affray at Bristol Crown Court.

Stokes is also facing a cricket discipline case which has been put on hold pending the end of criminal proceedings. Stokes trial continues today and is not expected to conclude until Wednesday, 24 hours after England are likely to name their squad for the third Test.

Even if he is cleared there is a fear he may be too exhausted to play at Trent Bridge on Saturday but he

could also be suspended pending the end of his cricket disciplinary hearing.

As soon as his trial ends the cricket discipline process will begin within 48 hours. A verdict is expected within a week although any decision will have to be ratified by a full meeting of the ECB’s board.

The length of any potential ban will be decided by the board and may take into account the fact Stokes has already missed an Ashes series. However, the ECB were careful at the time to avoid using the word suspended, instead explaining that he

had not been selected for the Australia tour.

Stokes will be desperate to get back on the cricket field again and rejoin his friends in the England dressing room and they would love to have him back as soon as possible but there needs to be clarity over the make up of the squad for the third Test making it likely the selectors will leave him out of the squad.

England’s performance at Lord’s and going 2-0 up in the series has also reduced the need to rush Stokes back into the team. Chris Woakes proved a more than able stand

in scoring his maiden Test hundred and taking wickets in the first innings. Sam Curran is maturing quickly into a Test allrounder, particularly in home conditions when the ball swings, and England also have fast bowling cover in the squad in Essex’s Jamie Porter.

England are likely to name the same 13 in the squad at Lord’s with Moeen Ali and Porter the back up players.

“Ben is a huge part of this squad and he was missed not being here this week but what it did do was create an opportunity for Chris to perform,” said captain Joe Root.

Regional Under-19 cricket Championship second day scores KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, (CMC) – Summarised scores on the second day of the third round of matches

in the Regional Under-19 cricket Championship here Sunday: Scores:

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday August 13, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & Cummings Electrical Company Ltd. 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Sohail Tanvir (17 wickets) (2) Antigua Hawksbill & Jamaica Tallawahs (2013) Today’s Quiz: (1) Which team failed to win a single game in last season’s CPL? (2) Who were the on-field umpires officiating in the opening game of Hero CPL 2018?

Answer in tomorrow's issue

At Arnos Vale Stadium: Jamaica trail by 115 runs with seven second innings wickets intact.

JAMAICA 190 for nine decl. (Ricardo McIntosh 56, Raewin Senior 23; Rivaldo Ramlogan 3-35, Justyn Gangoo 2-23) and 95 for three (Kirk McKenzie 54 not out) TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 400 for two decl. (Cephas Cooper 173 not out, Navin Bidaisee 93, Leonardo Julien 56, Christian Thurton 36 not out) At Park Hill: Barbados require a further 101 runs for victory with all 10 second innings wickets intact.

GUYANA 203 (Kevelon Anderson 71, Joshua Persaud 39, Kevin Sinclair 33; Camarie Boyce 3-27, Nyeem Young 2-47) and 142 (Kev-

elon Anderson 44, Sachin Singh 37, Javid Karim 31; Nyeem Young 4-6, Camarie Boyce 3-43) BARBADOS 214 (Nico Reifer 69, Matthew Forde 35 not out, Kadeem Alleyne 35, Jaden Edmund 28, Mekhail Marshall 21; Kelvin Umroa 5-83) and 31 without loss.

At Sion Hill: Leewards won by four wickets.

WINDWARD ISLANDS 115 all out (Johnel Eugene 34, Jeron Noel 22; Uri Smith 3-11, Zawandi White 2-25, Elroy Francis 2-31) and 98 (Kimani Melius 30; Elroy Francis 5-23) LEEWARD ISLANDS 156 (Demari Benta 54, Elroy Francis 52, Lincoln Durand 5-35, Simeon Gerson 3-37) and 60 for four (Mikyle Louis 31; Micah Joseph 2-24)

Brathwaite took responsibility for the innings, blasting a four and five sixes in posting 60 for the seventh wicket with Cutting.

In reply, TKR slumped to 34 for three in the fourth over before Kevon Cooper, with an unbeaten 42, Darren Bravo with 41 and Colin Munro, 35, adding respectability to the innings.

Brathwaite proved miserly with his medium pace, finishing with two for 19 as Jeremiah Louis (2-42) and Cutting (2-43) also ended with two wickets apiece.

Narine (4) recklessly skied left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell to point off the third ball of the innings and Chris Lynn was undone by a Sandeep Lamichhane

googly and bowled for six at 32 for two in the fourth over.

Cutting then got the prized wicket of Brendon McCullum, taken at point off a leading edge and the in-form Munro followed in the seventh over after striking six fours and a six in a 17-ball cameo, whipping Brathwaite to square leg.

Darren Bravo tried to rally the innings but lacked momentum, needing 38 balls for his knock which included a four and two sixes.

The real burst came from Cooper at number eight, the right-hander slamming two fours and four sixes off just 22 balls but by then the game had slipped away from TKR.

Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo in hospital with pneumonia

The striker scored both goals as Germany were beaten 2-0 in the 2002 World Cup final in Yokohama

BRAZIL World Cup winner Ronaldo is in intensive care in Ibiza suffering from pneumonia.

The 41-year-old former striker tweeted that he was taken ill on Friday but hopes to be discharged on Monday.

Ronaldo scored 62 times for Brazil, including both goals when they beat Germany in the 2002 World Cup final.

The former Real Madrid forward, who also played for Barcelona, Inter Milan and AC Milan, thanked his fans for their love and well wishes.

A spokesperson for Can Misses Hospital, where Ronaldo is being treated, said she

was unable to give any information for privacy reasons.

Ronaldo was on holiday in Ibiza, where he owns a home.

The striker’s career ended seven years ago when he hung up his boots after two years with Corinthians in Brazil.

Ronaldo won two La Liga titles with Real and the UEFA Cup with Inter. He was part of the Brazil squad who won the 1994 World Cup - although he did not play - and helped them reach the 1998 final.

He picked up the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world in 1997 and 2002. (BBC Sport)

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 13, 2018

Corporate sponsorship for sports brings out more positives than negatives - Minister Ramjattan –As GSCL 2018 tournament launched

By Michael DaSilva GUYANA’s Minister of Public Security and acting Prime Minister, Khamraj Ramjattan, at yesterday’s launch of the 2nd edition of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) --organised Prime Minister T/20 tournament, noted the positives that comes out from corporate Guyana sponsorship of sporting activities.

Delivering the feature address yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club, Minister Ramjattan said corporate Guyana needs to support sport, as their contribution will reduce the negatives that is plaguing the society, especially amongst the youths.

He said once the youths are involved in something

positive, it will take their minds off the negative things in life and this will see society as a whole going places.

“When we have sponsors, young people’s involvement in sports will take their minds off negative things and they will become law abiding citizens” Ramjattan stated, adding that he is very supportive of the fact that the 2018 GSCL tournament will take off the negatives from the youths’ minds.

The GSCL’s inaugural Prime Minister T/20 tournament was staged last November and saw Regal Masters winning the over-45 age group category, while Speed Boat XI won the open category.

Last year there were two

North American teams involved but that number has grown this year as the GSCL has received confirmation from eight North American teams which include teams from Canada and New York.

According to GSCL’s Communications Manager, John Ramsingh, to date, 15 teams are registered for the tournament and registration is still in progress. Interested teams/clubs can make contact with the GSCL before the tournament gets underway on October 19.

The tournament will be played at 10 venues with the final slated for the Everest ground on October 21. The winner of the Open category will receive $700,000 and a trophy while the winner of the Masters category will

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan (centre) with sponsors and representatives of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League at the launch at Everest Cricket Club on Sunday

earn $600,000 and a trophy.

The runners- up in both categories will be rewarded with $100, 000 and trophies and there will be prizes for individual performances, including a Hero motorcycle for the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, compliments of Hero Motor Cycle.

To date, 23 teams have registered to participate in the tournament and they include 15 over-45 teams and eight open teams. The over-45 teams that have so far registered are Regal Masters, Wellman, HS, R.R, Fisherman, Parika, Success, Tropical Spring, Florida/Guyana Hope (USA), Impact (Can-

ada), NYSCL (USA), Rebel (USA), New York Hustlers and Better Hope (USA).

In the open category, Regal All Stars, Speedboat, Farm X1, Success X1, Boots All Stars, Corriverton Spartan, Die Hard All Stars and Bartica Rangers Masters have been registered.

GFF appoints Brazilian as Coaching Education Director Bike troubles side line Vieira for Round 2 Canadian Superbike Championship Round Five

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on Sunday announced the appointment of Mr. Wilson Toledo to the position of Coaching Education Director, effective August 12, for a period of one year.

This appointment is as a result of GFF’s President Wayne Forde’s visit to Brazil in July 2018 and GFF’s subsequent partnership with professional clubs based in the neighbouring country.

Toledo, who will begin his assignment by joining the Golden Jaguars’ “Train and Play” in Brazil, has a varied scope of responsibilities including the following: supervising, guiding and directing the coaching sessions of the Elite Clubs in order to improve the quality of coaching at the Elite League level, developing a coaching internship programme with the Football Federation of Brazil and other professional football clubs and institutions, and

Brazilian Wilson Toledo is appointed GFF’s Coaching Education Director.

developing the player exchange programme with Brazilian professional and semi-professional football clubs.

Among his priority areas of focus are: developing coaches’ understanding of methodology and delivery of football-specific fitness, educating elite coaches on training loads

and periodisation to ensure players are able to deliver peak performance at all stages of the league, and educating coaches on implementing and delivering position-specific strength and conditioning practices within Elite League Club macro, meso, and micro cycles.

In an invited comment, Wilson said his years of experience will benefit Guyana’s football development: “The President has clearly described the vision of the GFF Executive Committee and their ambition to qualify for the FIFA 2026 World cup.

“I believe they have a comprehensive strategy for the development of Football in Guyana and I am eager to take up this challenge. I bring many years of International professional football development and academy programme that will certainly benefit the game in Guyana.”

By Stephan Sookram in Canada

BIKE troubles continued yesterday in Canada for Elliot Vieira, who ended his Canadian Superbike (CSBK) Championship without riding a competitive lap.

Saturday’s problems worsened into Sunday as mechanics continued trying to get the problem sorted, swapping out throttl­­e-bodies, spark plugs and other parts.

And after missing first practice and another session, Vieira opted to mount his old Kawasaki ZX6-R that gave him the 2015 Caribbean Championship.

And after a few laps of that, things were looking more bright but on return to the pit for the feedback session, Vieira described the bike as feeling unstable down the back straight, later being discovered as a damaged bushing in the front shock.

Mechanics refocused their attention on the Yamaha but to no avail, with the time ultimately elapsing.

He told Chronicle

Clive Ng-A-Kien gives Elliot Vieira’s Yamaha R6 a final wipe before a few practice laps yesterday morning

Sport, “Yeah, it’s obviously disappointing to not have a ride on the last day of the CSBK Championships; the guys worked hard throughout the year.”

“I wanted to ride so badly that I pulled out the old Kawi (Kawasaki) but that had issues too. The bike was just unstable down the straight and also underpowered for this track; so maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t ride it.”

What we are going to do is take the bike home and then we are going to have it stripped and sorted. There are a few track days here before

the winter steps in and we want to get it prepped for that.”

I can’t say enough thanks to my sponsors for the year; my manager Clive Ng-aKien and mechanic William Shimping who tore the bike down no less than about 30 times trying to find the problem.”

His campaign was sponsored by Adventura Gold, Roadsport Auto Group, WASP Performance, K&J Auto Body, DynoJet, Bickle Racing, Snow City, Brooklyn Cycle Racing, Gp Bikes and Gimoto.

Sohail Tanvir had his woodwork disturbed.

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018‌

Barbados Tridents defend 185 with ease See Page 19

Raymond Reifer and teammates celebrate after he claimed his five-wicket haul. (Adrian Narine photos).

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MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2018