TUESDAY 18th September, 2018
No.105401
Man dies 12 Chinese Foreign 03 after given Minister to wrong tablet visit Guyana for gas relief PAGE
PAGE
Ministry to nominate chair for 03 arbitration PAGE
Increased demand for ecstasy ‌CANU observes worrying trend among school girls 02 PAGE
THE multi-billion-dollar East Coast of Demerara road-widening and improvement project remains on schedule for the September 2019 deadline. Contractors are currently working on extending the four-lane section from Better Hope to Annandale. Technical Services Manager at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Nigel Erskine had told the Department of Public Information (DPI) last month that 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 (Adrian Narine photo)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Increased demand for ecstasy …CANU observes worrying trend among school girls THE use of ecstasy by adolescents has increased in recent years and this has been found in several schools in Regions Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) and Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica), according to Deputy Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Lesley Ramlall. At the opening ceremony of CANU’s Annual Training Exercise at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown on Monday, Ramlall said “we are conscious of the increasing demand for ecstasy among our youth population including children at schools. This drug now seems to be the common narcotic that is readily available at many night clubs and parties,” he said. Acknowledging that ecstasy, a “date rape drug” was found in five schools, the Deputy CANU Head said “a lot of people are using it for their sexual enhancement and now it’s trickling down to our youths in schools.” He also spoke about video recordings of school girls who used the date rape drug. “The disturbing thing is that
when you look at some of the videos, when we have gone back and look at the cellphones of our youths and these children, and you look at the videos that these children have in their phones, especially our girls, it’s really worrying for us in society,” he said. He said investigations were conducted at various schools with the consent of the Ministry of Education. Noting that students had admitted to the use of ecstasy and that led to a number of persons being arrested. Ramlall said the new trend is very worrying for Guyana, since there has been an increasing demand for ecstasy among the youth population. Noting that between 2015 – 2018, Guyana’s robust posture resulted in many seizures which indicates that cannabis and cocaine are the dominant drugs, Ramlall urged law enforcement to take serious note of synthetic drugs such a heroin, ecstasy and crystal methamphetamine which were also seized by CANU. “This drug now seems to be the common narcotic that is readily available at many night clubs and
parties. However, CANU’s successes could not have been possible without the unwavering support from members of the Joint Services,” he underscored. Equally important, he said, was the support from public-spirited citizens who were always eager to share information and intelligence on most of the operations. Noting that in 2018, the agency benefitted from a significant budget allocation, the Deputy CANU Head said with Cabinet’s approval for the expansion of the unit, this has aided in combatting the narcotics trade. “Our intelligence and operational capabilities as well as training capacity have increased significantly. It should be noted that while we focus on core training, both locally and overseas, to satisfy our mandate and stem the supply side of narcotics, we have also started to target the demand side,” he explained. He continued: “Our collaborative effort and approach with the Ministry of Education and from colleagues of the Narcotics Branch of the Police Force have seen us conducting in-
vestigations in schools where there were reports of the use of narcotics, especially ecstasy.” Further, he said a number of ranks completed their photography training, thus boosting the unit’s capability to present better evidence in court proceedings. In addition, he said Spanish training was also included for ranks while supporting their academic programmes at various institutions. Under the theme of “Stemming the flow of narcotics through capacity building and inter-agency collaborations”, the CANU Deputy Head said this will be applicable for the next four years; since this is needed to tackle the inbound and outbound movement of narcotics. He said that the levels of cooperation amongst regional and international partners have improved significantly over the last year and this has definitely afforded better operations that are transnational. “At the same time our intelligence and commitment from local partners must be commended, collaborative efforts with agencies such
Deputy Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Lesley Ramlall
as the SOCU, FIU, GPF, GRA, GDF and NANA and all other stakeholders are testimony that we are already stemming the tide of the narcotics trade,” he explained. Vice President and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, noted that parents have to play a more important role in the monitoring of their children. “I am pleading with people, be a little more caring to your children, see what they do and don’t,
and that will help prevent them from using ecstasy and all these things. When they go to a party or partying plenty, what are they doing at the party? Are they having ecstasy with friends or family members? And when police run in and raid the party, people cuss the police,” Minister Ramjattan said. He also added that the community and religious leaders must care more since the youths are the future.
Fall out continues between Essequibo brothers over CCJ decision THE fall out over a bitter land dispute between two brothers, which was recently settled by the Caribbean Court of Justice, continues when the siblings on Monday were hauled in the Charity Magistrate’s
Court for threatening language and behaviour. Both Deonarine Natram and Kowsal Narine pleaded not guilty to the two charges which stated that on September 14, 2018 both of them used threatening
behaviour and language towards each other. They made their appearance before Essequibo Magistrate, Esther Sam at the Charity Magistrate’s Court. Deonarine Natram's attorney, Lachmin Dindyal, told the court that the matter stemmed from the CCJ decision which had ruled in Narine’s favour. He, however, told the court that Natram currently has rice and vegetables crops on the land. Attorney Dindyal said that the matter has not concluded
and the parties are still to come to an agreement. He also said that concerning the land dispute attorney Anil Nandlall and Sataram’s are dealing with the matter. Dindyal also told the court that Narine is preventing his brother, Deonarine Natram, from reaping the crop by threatening the harvesters who are all sacred. On the other hand, representing Kowsal Narine was attorney, Miss Granville who told the court that she agreed with her colleague
Dindyal that matter has not, concluded since the CCJ decision. Magistrate Sam dismissed the matter. In May the CCJ had declared Kowsal Narine as the executor of the five acres of rice land situated at Golden Fleece on the Essequibo Coast. However, Deonarine Natram was in possession of the land since 2016 after winning the case in the Court of Appeal in Guyana. During his time on the land he had invested in rice and vegeta-
ble crops, all of which are in bearing stages. Natram, who spoke with the Guyana Chronicle, said that to date he cannot reap his rice crop which is 130 days old. He is however, contemplating further legal action against his brother for preventing him from reaping his crops. The land case is over 30 years old and both parties have transport for the said land. Natram acquired his in 2002 and Narine acquired his in 2014.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Ramjattan: Gov’t set to up CANU spending – so agency can function optimally By Rabindra Rooplall WITH the strengthening of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) this year, the agency is now set to see an increase in budgetary allocation so it may better tackle the drug trade. That’s according to Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, who made the disclosure on Monday at the opening of the Unit’s Annual Training Exercise at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue. “More money will be needed for training assets, materials, vehicles and also for information gathering,” Minister Ramjattan said as he called on all law enforcement agencies to join forces so that together they can fight the drug scouge. “I know that people think in compartments; some think it’s my turf and they don’t want to share information with another agency that is roughly doing the same things in another area. That is not going to work; we have to collaborate and share information to produce results,” Ramjattan said. He told the over 90 ranks present at the function that they must do their part in developing the overall plan to achieve CANU’s aims and objectives.
PUBLIC TRUST Advising law enforcement ranks that their biggest partner in the fight against drug trafficking is the public, Ramjattan said they need to work harder to ensure they gain their trust. Underscoring that Guyana is in a geopolitical space where the crime rate is exceedingly high, Minister Ramjattan said: “A lot of people don’t know that Brazil has 60,000 murders a year, along with thousands of murders in Venezuela, Bolivia, Mexico City, Colombia. “And a number of these countries are major producers of cocaine and marijuana; even in the Caribbean countries and even Guyana here.” He said that with the high profit margin to be derived from the sale of marijuana, many persons are now turning to State lands to plant cannabis. This is especially so in light of the fact that there is a big demand for local stock on the Caribbean market. “The boys are saying that there is a special flavour to Guyanese marijuana, and there’s a big demand in Barbados,” Minister Ramjattan revealed. Noting that even law enforcement, members of the judiciary and politicians around the world are not averse to being caught up in the drug trade,
Ramjattan said that thankfully, the situation in Guyana is not as bad as some other countries, because of the vigilance of CANU, the police narcotics unit and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). NO LETTING UP According to CANU Deputy Head, Lesley Ramlall, there’s no sign of the drug trade ever letting up anytime soon. He said that on the contrary, the flow of narcotics across the globe is likely to be much higher in 2018 when compared to previous years, and this is so because of the two major hurricanes that hit the Caribbean last year, thereby preventing large shipments of narcotics from reaching the global market. In June 2018, U.S. assessment revealed that coca cultivation in Colombia increased again in 2017 has renewed pressures from Washington on Bogotá to intensify coca crop eradication. As a result, Ramlall said such production of the cocoa plant in Colombia has the potential to increase cocaine production tremendously. “These factors combined with high demand for narcotics and high profit margin will certainly encourage suppliers to increase their production, for South America and the
Chinese Foreign Minister to visit Guyana THE State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi is expected to arrive here on Friday for bilateral talks with the Government of Guyana. During his two-day visit, the Chinese Foreign Minister is scheduled to meet with President David Granger, and Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, to exchange views on bilateral cooperation and to discuss areas of mutual interest. “Guyana and China have maintained a vibrant programme of mutually beneficial cooperation through frequent and diverse activities, including successful exchange visits at the highest level over the past four and a half decades,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Monday. Wang Yi was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs
in 2013. Since joining the Chinese Foreign Service after completing his studies at the Beijing Second Foreign Language Institute in 1982, he has held a number of posts, including as vice minister of foreign affairs and ambassador to Japan. The visit comes close to two months after Guyana and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within the Framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative. The pact paves the way for cooperation between the two countries in five critical areas, namely: policy coordination; facilities connectivity; trade and investment; financial integration; and people-to-people interaction. When Guyana signed on to the Silk Road Initiative, Minister Greenidge had indicated that major em-
The State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi
phasis would be placed on infrastructural development during the initial phases of the implementation of the agreement. It is likely that possible projects under the initiative would come up for discussion in the meetings which will be held later this week. Guyana and China established diplomatic relations in 1972.
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and CANU Deputy Head Lesley Ramlall exchange greetings at the capacity building workshop (Adrian Narine photo)
Caribbean, the prevalence of the narcotics trade continues to be a major concern to all of us,” the drug enforcement official said. He explained that the An-
dean countries are the world’s leading producers of cocaine and the Caribbean corridor has been used to transport these substances to North America. As such this certainly warrants
a high level of collaboration to be integrally involved in the fight against the narcotics trade. Adding that Guyana continues to be referred to as a transshipment country for narcotics, the Deputy CANU Head said the country’s geographic location makes it a favorable transnational port for the narcotics trade. “It is because of this reality that agencies such as CANU are so relevant in this fight, since its establishment in 1995 the agency continues to play a major role in the illicit drug trade,” he said. During the first eight months of 2018, CANU seized 304 grammes of heroin, 250 grammes of ecstasy, 100 crystal methamphetamine, 534 kilogrammes of cannabis and 161Kilos cocaine. The street value was estimated at $141M.
Ministry to nominate chair for arbitration
The MoE representatives (on the left) and GTU representatives (on the right) in the boardroom of the Department of Labour when arbitration deliberations began last week (Delano Williams photo)
THE Ministry of Social Protection, upon the request of the Ministry of Education (MoE), is expected to nominate the chairman for the arbitration panel in the dispute between the government and the Guyana Teachers’ Union. The ministry in a statement on Monday informed that the MoE had reached out to them to nominate a chairman, in keeping with the Collective Labour Agreement between the GTU and MoE. This follows after the GTU and MoE could not, by themselves, agree on a chairman when nominees were put forth at a meeting held last Friday at the Department of Labour. “The parties failed to agree on a common Chairman, thus in keeping with the provisions of the extant Collective Labour Agreement between themselves, the MoE sought the intervention of the MoSP to nominate the Chairman. The MoSP agreed to satisfy the request of the MoE and has since written to the president of the union indicating its acceptance of the MoE’s request. The
union was advised also that it would be informed of future development(s) on the matter in due course,” the press release announced. It was following the end of an almost two week strike of teachers nationwide, that the GTU and MoE agreed, on September 6, to move to the setting up of an arbitration panel that would be responsible for settling the ongoing pay dispute between the two. The arbitration panel is expected to be comprised of a chairman, as well as one nominee each from the GTU and MoE, respectively. The decision of the panel will be final and binding on both the GTU and MoE. The GTU and MoE have been at loggerheads for some time now over the settling of several financial and non-financial issues, which eventually came to a head when teachers nationwide embarked on strike which began from August 27. Subsequent to that the parties met on September 11 to begin the arbitration process agreeing on several terms of the Terms of Ref-
erence for the arbitration panel. They met again last Friday, September 14, and were expected to decide on the chairman but that meeting ended with both sides rejecting the other side’s list. The union proposed former Home Affairs Minister Jeffrey Thomas; former Foreign Affairs Minister Rashleigh Jackson and President of a Barbados-based management consulting firm and experienced arbitrator, Dr. Aubrey Armstrong. On the flip side, the Education Ministry proposed Permanent Secretary at the Public Telecommunications Ministry, Dereck Cummings and Human Resource Manager at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Glendon Harris. According to GTU President Mark Lyte, the union opposed Cummings and Harris because they are both current government employees. In a subsequent statement, the MoE said the GTU’s nominees were rejected, because they are persons who, at one stage in a previous administration, had been “involved in active politics.”
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Cuban president backs same-sex marriage CUBAN President Miguel Díaz-Canel has backed same-sex marriage. The Cuban leader, who took over from Raúl Castro on 19 April, said he was in favour of recognising “marriage between people without any restrictions”. In an interview with TV Telesur, he said doing so was “part of eliminating any type of discrimination in society”. It comes as Cuba is in the process of updating its Constitution, which had defined marriage as between “a man and a woman”. The proposed Constitu-
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel
tion will replace the 1976 national charter, once a popular consultation is concluded and the draft has been approved in a national referendum
scheduled for February 2019. President Díaz-Canel’s endorsement of same-sex marriage is in stark contrast to the persecution homosex-
uals suffered in the decades following the 1959 Cuban revolution. Official attitudes towards homosexuality on the Communist-run island have changed over the past decades, partly thanks to the efforts of Raúl Castro’s daughter, Mariela. Ms Castro, who heads the Cuban National Centre for Sex Education, has been a vocal defender of LGBT rights. “ We ’ v e b e e n g o i n g through a massive thought evolution and many taboos have been broken,” Mr DíazCanel told Telesur.
The president also commented on the status of US-Cuban relations, which he said were “in decline”. “We still maintain channels of dialogue. and our position is that we do not reject the possibility of dialogue at any time, but it must be between equals,” he said. US-Cuban relations had improved markedly under US President Barack Obama following secret talks between the two governments. But President Donald Trump has rolled back parts of what he called Mr Obama’s “completely one-sided deal
with Cuba”. Rules on US citizens travelling to Cuba, which had been relaxed under Mr Obama, have been tightened again under President Trump. Mr Díaz-Canel said the US economic blockade remained “the main obstacle to the development of the country”. He also denied that Cuba had anything to do with the “attacks” on US diplomats and businesspeople which have left some of them suffering from hearing loss. “We have not attacked anyone,” President DíazCanel said. (BBC)
My way or the highway, May warns THERESA May has told the BBC that MPs will have a choice between her proposed deal with the EU, or no deal at all. She was also critical of a plan by Brexiteers to resolve the Irish border issue, saying it would create a “hard border 20km inside Ireland”. Ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson said attempts to
resolve the issue so far were a “constitutional abomination”. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund has said the UK economy will shrink without a Brexit deal. In its annual assessment of the UK economy, the IMF said that all likely Brexit scenarios would “entail costs”, but a disorderly departure
could lead to “a significantly worse outcome”. Chancellor Philip Hammond said the government had to listen to the IMF’s “clear warnings”. The UK is set to leave the EU on 29 March 2019, and negotiations between the two sides are still taking place. Mrs May set out her pro-
posals for the key issue of cross-border trade after a Chequers summit in July, but it has been fiercely criticised by some Brexiteers who say plans for a “common rulebook” on goods would compromise the UK’s sovereignty. Speaking to Panorama, Mrs May said that if Parliament does not ratify the
Theresa May
Chequers plan, “I think that the alternative to that will be having no deal”. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Theresa May calculated that faced with a “binary choice” of the Chequers deal or no deal, Brexiteers would not have the “chutzpah to say ‘no way’,” and Remainers would decide that carrying on fighting the plan would be too risky. But the risks are that the PM cannot say for certain what the final deal will look like, and some Brexiteers were already determined not to vote for it, she added. (BBC)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Bishop Singh laid to rest
FORMER head of the Roman Catholic Church here, Guyanese-born Bishop Benedict Singh, was on Monday accorded a sendoff befitting a man of his stature. The service was held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Brickdam, where he served for 32 years
before demitting office and passing on the mantle to his successor, Bishop Francis Alleyne of Trinidad & Tobago. Bishop Singh, the first Guyanese to have ever held such a post, died here last The packed to capacity audience at the Brickdam Cathedral on Monday to bid farewell to Wednesday at 90, reported- Bishop Benedict Singh. In the foreground are some of the immediate members of Bishop ly after a brief illness. Singh’s family (Photo by Samuel Maughn)
T&T’s Rowley headed to Guyana –on two-day working visit GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley is expected to lead a five-member delegation here tomorrow for bilateral talks with President David Granger. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the two-day meeting, the two leaders will discuss a wide range of matters of interest to both states, including energy-sec-
tor cooperation, agriculture and security. That meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, will be followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy-sector cooperation between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. “The non-binding MoU will outline a number of sector-specific areas of possible cooperation between the two countries, and will be
publicised when it has been signed,” the statement said, adding that the working visit is part of ongoing efforts to foster greater dialogue aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states. President Granger has already indicated that he has no problem with making public the MOU that will be signed between the two countries, following a public request by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GGCI).
“It is not a secret document; it is just an agreement to cooperate,” President Granger told reporters, while noting the document has been vetted by the Department of Energy. The GGCI had issued a statement indicating that while it remains supportive of foreign investments here, it wants the government to delay signing the MOU with Port of Spain until it vets the content. “The GCCI believes that foreign investors have played, and continue to play,
an integral role in driving economic growth and national development. In an era of global business, the benefits of international cooperation in key areas of private sector development are undeniable. “Technology transfer, skills development, international markets for goods and services are a few areas where readily, the engagement of foreign investors and companies can bode well for private-sector development,” the GCCI said.
B’dos moving to privatise sugarcane industry BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados government says it is considering merging or partnering the State-owned Barbados Agricultural Management Company Limited (BAMC) with the Barbados Sugar Industry Limited (BSIL), as it seeks to fully privatise the sugarcane industry. Agriculture and Food Security Minister, Indar Weir said also that Barbadians will have an opportunity to own shares in the newly-formed entity, which should come on stream within another five years. Weir said the government could no longer subsidise the BAMC to the tune of BDS$12M (One Barbados dollar=US$0.50 cents) under the current International Monetary Fund (IMF) arrangement. Last week, Barbados and the IMF said they had reached an agreement that will result in the country being given access to almost US$300M to support a homegrown programme aimed at turning around the economy. Weir said as a result, the company would have to find a way to bridge that financial gap, and that he has already instructed that the BAMC
Board of Directors would have to look at how quickly the transition into the new entity could happen. The Agriculture Minister said government’s stake in the entity would be limited. “We are embarking on a system of retooling and empowering, retraining and enfranchising. And if we are going to do this successfully, then it means that we as a government must pave the way for all of this to take place,” he said. “There is no space for any government in this modern time and place where the private sector can perform those duties and do them better. I feel that greater efficiencies can come if we can get the sugar industry completely managed and operated through the private sector.” Weir said that Barbados now has a sugar industry that is capable of delivering what is needed “in terms of build-out of an industry” to contribute to Barbados’ economy going forward. He cited additional opportunities that would be created through the rebirth of the sugarcane industry, such as entrepreneurs becoming involved in the “direct packaging and consumption of sugar”, and rum distilleries
producing more rum using local inputs. He also praised the high-quality products being made at the St. Nicholas Abbey, as well as their business
model, which combines the manufacturing of agricultural products with tourism. Weir said that there was a high demand for the Barbados rum brand produced
by St. Nicholas Abbey, and for locally-produced rum on a whole, adding that it was being sold “for a premium” in markets such as the United Kingdom.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Religious freedom ON Thursday September 13 last, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints held a conference on religious freedom to which they invited representatives of various religions, and the Inter-Religious Organization represented by its Chairman, Pastor Ronald McGarrel. The Guest of Honour was First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger who gave the feature address. The First Lady emphasised that at conferences and discourses of this kind, the focus should be on the diversity of religious beliefs and religious freedom. Though the State has its role to play in upholding religious freedom, the main responsibility rests on the shoulders of ordinary folk. I n t h e F i r s t L a d y ’s
words, “I agree, and wholeheartedly believe that the State must play a role in the freedom and rights of individuals, including rights to freedom of religion or belief. But this does not preclude the duty of every citizen to promote and preserve those rights... “The politicians, the Judiciary, law enforcement officers, public servants, representatives of religious rights and organisations... In fact, every citizen has to play a role in the implementation and defence of these freedoms.” Pastor McGarrel pointed out that all religions strove for peace as their ultimate summum bonum, and that it is therefore a contradiction in terms for any one faith to claim that it has a monopoly on truth and salvation, since
such a position generates discord, which is the opposite of peace. Mrs Granger’s remarks reflect the ambience in modern post-Independence Guyana. In the colonial era, despite the religious diversity of Guyana, officialdom treated the country as a Christian one, and in particular the Protestant version of Christianity. The non-Christian religions had far less rights and freedoms than the Christian, and this resulted in strong resentments, and the delay of national unity and cohesion. For example, only Christian holy days were permitted to be celebrated as public holidays; oaths, even in the Courts, had to be taken on the Bible; prayers on public occasions were always Christian prayers; on
official forms where names had to be stated, these were always termed “Christian names” and so on. In addition, only schools run by Christian denominations were given government subventions, while those run by Hindu and Muslim religious organisations did not qualify. With the advent of Independence, Guyana had its own Constitution, which safeguarded religious freedoms. The discriminations against the non-Christian religions began to be dismantled as far as possible. Hindu and Muslim holy days were now nationally celebrated as well as Christian, and oaths and official prayers tended to be representative of the three national faiths. Sometimes, non-denominational prayers were used,
as in the Parliament where one of Rabindranauth Tagore’s psalms where God is invoked but without any religious tag. Guyana has today evolved into the most religiously-tolerant society and country in the world. Even in the Caribbean, Guyana is more ahead than others in religious acceptance. Things which in other countries lead to serious religious and political disputes and even violence are accepted as a norm here. For example, wearing an hijab by Muslim women and some Rastafari women is taken for granted, and no one notices it, while in Europe it is a bone of contention. And so is visiting places of worship of various religions. The normal Guyanese, irrespective of his religious affiliation, would very comfortably visit Hindu, Muslim or Christian places of worship, and may even participate in their rituals. And in marriages, religion
is not the barrier that it is in most countries. Guyana’s unique position in the world as the most religiously tolerant country is not only due to the Constitution protecting and advocating religious freedom, but far more so, as First Lady Sandra Granger pointed out, it ultimately depends upon how ordinary folk think and act. When strangers visit Guyana, they are completely astonished at the religious acceptance which pervades the country and its psyche, an acceptance which includes tolerance but also transcends it. Guyanese must protect their unique heritage and be on guard to discourage or disallow persons from from spreading religious discord. Over the years, several such attempts have been made, but fortunately, the Guyanese ethos of religious acceptance has disarmed and diffused such efforts.
Better traffic management required –with new road projects Dear Editor, IT IS with much dismay that I pen this correspondence. I have been involved in the environmental monitoring of construction projects for the past 15 years, and much hasn’t changed in the way projects are executed. At the conceptual stages of projects, a lot of effort and money is spent on conducting an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and preparing an environmental management plan (EMP). The EMP is essentially the blueprint which details mitigation measures to address all possible impacts of the project on the biophysical and social environment. During the construction stage of some projects, very little effort is placed on implementing the recommendations of the EMP. Also, at the bidding stage, it is common knowledge that the lowest responsive
bidder is usually awarded the project; to remain competitive, most contractors underbid for environmental, health and safety etcetera. This simply means that there aren’t sufficient funds to implement the EMP. Coupled with very little involvement from agencies responsible for monitoring, we have projects that generate significant social distress and environmental damage. The East Coast Expansion roadway is a very good example to illustrate this. Construction is spread out in large sections instead of smaller phased sections, which will reduce the traffic backup. The traffic bottleneck is exacerbated by the unpaved diversion, with numerous potholes and uneven sections. This creates havoc at peak hour. A paved diversion would allow for smoother traffic flow; diverting traffic onto the railway embankment cannot solve the current problem, since this road cannot
accommodate the volume of traffic. Dust levels are excessive in areas, including Better Hope, which has many schools; very little effort is made to abate this nuisance. We all know the danger of dust, especially for asthmatic patients. In terms of safety, there is an absence of advisory and warning signs throughout the corridor; the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) provides a list of the type of signs that are needed for construction projects. Again, the roadway is poorly lit at night; this is hazardous, and increases the risk of accidents. Large excavated sections and drop-offs are not cordoned; this is extremely dangerous. Traffic management is absent entirely on this project; many times trucks and excavators cross the roadway without any flag-men present to assist with traffic control. Road users are left to negotiate the
roadway at their own risk. There is a great need for better planning and execution of construction projects in Guyana. The commencement of construction on Sheriff and Mandela coincided with the reopening of school; this created major inconveniences. Work is being done on the Railway Embankment by the Conference Centre simultaneously with the main road; the traffic lines are extremely long in the afternoons. Some mornings at peak hours, the police would close off the main road to facilitate construction; this results in an hour-long wait from Better Hope to Georgetown. I implore the relevant agencies to address the plight of commuters and the people living in close proximity to construction project sites. We deserve better. Regards Environmentalist
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Plumber fined, jailed for gun possession
SENIOR Magistrate Faith McGusty on Monday handed down a two-year sentence on a 34-year-old plumber, after she found guilty of having an unlicensed firearm in his possession. David Austin of Albouystown, was on trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’
Court for having a .38 revolver in his possession in his community. The matter was prosecuted by police officer Seon Blackman. According to the prosecution’s facts, the firearm was found in black shoulder bag that Austin had in his possession
when he was searched by police officers on the day in question, after he was observed acting in a suspicious manner in the Albouystown area. In addition to the two-year jail, the magistrate also imposed a fine of $50, 000 on Austin.
Need for some security Dear Editor, THE Promenade Gardens down on Middle and Carmichael Streets is touted as an oasis nestled in busy Georgetown where family and friends should be able to enjoy some serenity amidst the profusion of bright flowers and luscious plants. This small slice of heaven is, however, home to criminals eager to prey on persons innocently attempting to score some semblance of peace. Just last Saturday, it was around 12:30hours, literally in broad daylight, when a few friends and I were taking a break between our busy work and school schedules. The Gardens seemed like a
good idea, you know, because we’re always told that we should spend less time on our cellphones and computers and enjoy the sunshine and the outdoors like in the good ole days? So here we were, casually walking out of the Gardens, almost directly in front of the guard hut, situated at the Waterloo Street entrance, when we were confronted by a man seeking to relieve us of our valuables. He tried relieving me of my cellphone first, and as we would say, he “roughed me up”. My male friend intervened to save me, but then became the source of this man’s aggression. Similarly, my friend was “roughed up” and his phone taken away before the
man made good his escape by jumping over the fence nearest to Middle Street. I suppose the rest is history. More than being infuriated that we were assaulted and robbed, the most frustrating part of this entire ordeal is that it took place just a few feet away from the guard hut, where there was no guard to intervene on our behalf. Now I’m no expert on guard duties, but I do believe preventing an assault and robbery should be somewhere in those duties. God knows, the way we tried to fight this criminal off, we could’ve easily been harmed in that process. What if he’d pulled a knife on us? What would have happened there?
Pradoville2: A well-hatched, executed plan Dear Editor ROBESON Benn’s statement that the genesis of Pradoville 2 was as a result of security concerns for the wellbeing of then Cabinet members that arose out of the criminal terror that broke out in 2002, particularly with the death of Minister Satyadeow Sawh, is as asinine as it is illogical and contemptuous. Please refer to Demerarawaves, September 12, 2018 titled, “Pradoville 2 established in response to violent crime wave’’ – Robeson Benn. In fact, it is the response of someone who has run out of excuses. First of all, it is a standard procedure that where there are high levels of criminal activity, in any given State, the security arrangements for any government and its Cabinet officers are doubled and intensified. And
this procedure becomes even more significant where there is an insurgency, as was the case in Guyana. Secondly, there probably may have been instances in other states, stricken by, for example, civil war, where the most important persons of State are housed in a particular area for their and families’ safety. Thirdly, if what Benn claims about the safety of his former PPP/C colleague ministers is true, why did preparations to move to Pradoville 2 not begin immediately after the outbreak of such violence in 2002, but instead commenced in 2010, when the sale of the house lots commenced, which would have been some four years after Minister Sawh’s death? Fourthly, Benn also mentioned “…when ministers were being attacked”. Editor, we are aware of the numerous incidents of violence
and attacks on persons that would have occurred during the period of the “Troubles”, but I cannot recall any other PPP/C government ministers or high-ranking officials of State who became targets during those frightening years. Maybe Benn should remind us who these “ministers” were. The mechanisms which hatched Pradoville2 were all well planned and executed for its intended purposes. One only has to observe the role of former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali in personally overseeing the dispatching of titles to understand the meticulousness that was the planning in this enterprise. Nice try, Robeson! But your explanation continues along the same lines of the well- known PPP/C orgy of deception. Regards Earl Hamilton
JAILED: David Austin
–around Promenade Gardens And there is some subliminal anger that there were other groups of persons in the Gardens at the time that could’ve easily heard my screams for help, but refused to respond. Yeah! I understand that personal safety comes first! But you hear a bunch of teenagers screaming for help! In my mind at least, that would
mean that they need some assistance. But no! There was none! When I made the report to the Brickdam Police Station, I was informed that these robberies have become almost a regular occurrence at the Promenade Gardens. The police are aware of the situation and are planning to look into it. Hopefully, sooner
than later. I thank the most High God that nothing major happened to my friends and I, and I do hope that the matter is looked into, lest more persons have to go through this trauma or, God forbid, are hurt worse. Better must come. Regards Frustrated Citizen
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
‘Lindo Creek 8’ to be immortalised Commissioner recommends...
– and their families counselled, compensated, financially and otherwise By Svetlana Marshall THE thought of her 17-year-old son being battered, shot and his body set ablaze at the hands of criminals haunts her to this day. Yonette Torres finds comfort in singing, but that does not stop the tears, the pain, and at times the rage she feels inside. Nigel Torres had gone in search of work at a mining camp at Lindo Creek on the Upper Berbice River, when he was murdered along with
man of the Lindo Creek CoI), Justice (Ret’d) Donald Trotman, in his report to President David Granger, has recommended that counselling be provided to the families of the deceased. “We have suggested counselling because it has been very traumatic, and continues to be traumatic,” Justice Trotman told the Guyana Chronicle in a recent interview. Counselling forms part of a menu of recommendations made with respect
Yonette Torres hangs on to a tattered old pants belonging to her son, as team members of Justice Donald Trotman’s fact finding mission try to console her (Flashback photo)
seven other miners in June 2008. Their bodies were placed haphazardly on top of each other, set alight and burnt beyond recognition. Clifton Wong was among the slain miners and though 10 years have passed, the wound remains fresh. Back in March, during one of the public hearings conducted by the Lindo Creek Commis-
leave that open.” He, however, went on to say that the Commission also recommended that special provisions be made for the offspring of the dead miners,in the form of financial grants, scholarships, housing and job opportunities, particularly those who are qualified. It has also been recommended that that the hill leading to the mining camp at Lindo Creek, be named or renamed “Arokium Hill”, and for monuments to be erected in each of the villages that the miners lived,in their memory.
Onica Butts sobs silently at the site where her reputed husband, Dax Arokium was murdered (Flashback photo)
Alicia Wong’s brother fetching her out of the CoI Secretariat’s Chamber after she fainted during the public hearings back in May (Flashback photo)
sion of Inquiry (CoI), Alicia Wong fainted as her uncle recalled packing the charred skeletal remains of the eight miners, her father included, one day after they had been discovered. Dax Arokium, Cecil Arokium, Bonny Harry, Horace Drakes, Lancelot Lee and Compton Speirs are the other miners that were killed. Undoubtedly, the massacre has had, and will continue to have a psychological effect on their families. And so as to help them, Chair-
to the family.On the basis that all of the miners were the breadwinners of their families, at the time of their demise, the Commission has also recommended that those they left behind be paid monetary compensation. And while he declined to disclose the amount recommended for each of the eight families, Justice Trotman said: “I think we would want to leave that to the discretion of the President and a team of appropriate advisers. We suggested an amount, but we still feel we would want to
The Commission has also called on the government to hold an annual commemorative ceremony on June 21, to celebrate the lives of the miners. According to the Commission, the evidence garnered suggest that the miners were more than likely killed by members of the Joint Services,who at the time,were conducting a manhunt for the notorious Rondell “Fine-Man” Rawlins gang, along the UNAMCO trail in the Upper Berbice River area.
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Jagdeo appears before SOCU GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
– invokes presidential immunity clause once more IN a move reminiscent of his March 2017 appearance, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday invoked the immunity clause of the Constitution of Guyana and refused to answer questions posed by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on his actions during his time as President. The former President is among several members of
SOCU head, Sydney James climbs the stairs at the unit’s headquarters alongside Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday. Opposition MP, Anil Nandalall who appeared as Jagdeo’s attorney is at right (Adrian Narine photo)
Led by SOCU head, Sydney James, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo makes his way from the offices of the Guyana Police Force unit. He was accompanied by Sase Gunraj and his lawyer, Opposition MP Anil Nandalall
the Cabinet of the former administration who were called in by SOCU for questioning since last week. The questions centred on the acquisition by the former government officials of prime seaside lands at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, more commonly known as “Pradoville 2,” below market value during their tenure in government. Opposition Member of Parliament, Anil Nandalall who appeared in the capacity of Jagdeo’s lawyer, said the executive president of Guyana, under the constitution, is immune from answering any questions regarding actions done or decisions made while he was acting in that capacity. He said the questions related to when Jagdeo was president and was chairman of cabinet and as such he invoked that article which immunised him from questioning and from any legal
process. Jagdeo said the party plans to file a full defence on the matter at some point in time. Accompanied by a battery of lawyers, Jagdeo appeared at the Camp Street offices of SOCU in the midday sun in a move he said is geared at establishing a precedent. He said he could have refused the “interview” by the investigators but he said he did not because he wanted to set the precedent. Jagdeo told reporters prior to his interview with the investigators; the PPP has filed a matter with SOCU regarding a contract issued by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI). He said that he expects that when that investigation is undertaken by SOCU, that each member of the current cabinet will appear at the unit. Following the meeting, he said he was pleased after he asked whether SOCU
officials indicated in the affirmative regarding the case filed against the MPI. Jagdeo said the officials said he will be called by SOCU for an interview, as well as other members of the government, regarding the MPI contract. He said he also informed SOCU that there are five cases which the party plans to send to the unit. On the issue of Pradoville, Jagdeo told reporters earlier that he dealt with the matter many times before and according to him the matter will wind its way eventually to the court. Former Minister of Transport, Robeson Benn was quoted in another section of the media following his appearance at SOCU last week, that the Pradoville Two housing scheme was built for security reasons but Jagdeo noted that the opinion was that of Benn and according to him, it was not discussed at the cabinet when the party was in power. He said Benn confirmed that he “never said so at SOCU” and according to Jagdeo, had it been a security issue, he would not have moved to Pradoville. Asked why the scheme was established, he side-stepped the issue and noted that all the answers will be ventilated in the courts. Jagdeo said too, that he would not pay the difference in the price of land at the housing scheme. “No, the answer is no,” he said bluntly. Last week former President and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds along with several other former government of-
ficials appeared before SOCU for questioning in relation to the role they played in the sale of state lands at Pradoville 2. Hinds was accompanied by former Minister of Local Government, Kellawan
Lall; former Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai; former Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsarran and former Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday afternoon. The Guyana Chronicle reported recently that charges are expected to be instituted against
persons fingered in the Sparendaam Housing Project AKA Pradoville 2- land scam, according to a well-placed source. The Guyana Chronicle understands that investigations into the housing project are near completion, and that charges could be laid soon.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Law enforcement must do the “impossible for the ungrateful” – Ramjattan THE job of a police rank is a tough one where law enforcement must do the “impossible for the ungrateful,” according to Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. The Minister was at the time commenting on Attorney Ryan Crawford, whose expletive-peppered outburst towards a traffic cop was captured on video which went viral. However, the Attorney had since said he was frustrated with the conduct of the policeman and has nonetheless apologised for his language. The Public Security Minister said police ranks must maintain their professionalism and integrity under all
conditions. “You (policemen) do not abuse the human rights of others, let’s give the margin to you facing the abuse and in the course of time you will see yourselves being respected by that same public, history has shown this,” Ramjattan said. He advised police ranks not to do things that would cause the public to despise the Guyana Police Force. However, he said policemen were told not to generally stop vehicles unless there is a suspicion in their mind that something is amiss based on what they observe. “I believe that as a courteous citizen realising that the policeman is trying to do his work you should not
Attorney Ryan Crawford
explode, but if he stops you to take a bribe I can understand such behaviour,” the Minister said. The Public Security Minister advised drivers who are faced with unprofessional
behaviour to submit a written complaint to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Ramjattan explained that many complaints have been dealt with condignly. “This is how society goes, it’s not just one day you will wake up and policemen will be perfect human beings, but we know as members of the public that the police too have a difficult job and if you are stopped kindly comply then complain,” the Public Security Minister said. The Minister acknowledged that the policy of the Police Force is that there must be reasonable suspicion of something amiss before a vehicle is stopped. “We have done a lot of random searches in the nights that have caught people with illegal guns, because if we are to get the intelligence about everything sometime
it won’t work out,” he said. In a social media post, the lawyer explained that on Thursday last (September 13, 2018) he was signaled from a line of vehicles travelling on the Mahaicony Public Road by a policeman who was standing on the opposite carriage. “After waiting for a while and not given any explanation or reason for the stop, I became angry for the detention,” he stated. Crawford admitted that his frustration led him to using “many colourful expletives to get my point across to the officer for the illegal stops,” adding that “there were things said prior to the filming”. The lawyer said he is not attempting to justify his behaviour, but noted that his frustration about the conduct of police officers has been brewing for a while given that he has “seen and heard
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan
of the plight of citizens of this country at the hands of some in the police force.” Crawford nonetheless admitted that “my language was not proper as an officer for the courts nor as a member of the Bar of Guyana.” “I apologise for my language but I’m not sorry for questioning any arbitrary authority,” he added. Police said that the matter is still under investigation.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Shawn Nurse murder PI hears CID detective’s testimony The Preliminary Inquiry into the murder of Shawn Nurse called ‘Fabulous’ continued on Monday before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. Kerwin DaSantos called ‘Buffy’ and George Hope called ‘Gregory,’ both 24-year-old, are currently on remand for the indictment, which alleged that on February 4 at America Street, they murdered 47-year-old Nurse during a robbery. Detective Terry Cummings, who is stationed at
Brickdam Police Station and attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), went into the witness box where he told the court the role he played in the investigation. After giving his evidence in the matter he was cross-examined by attorney Keoma Griffith who represented defendant George Hope. The matter was adjourned to September 20, 2018. On Sunday, February 4, Nurse was shot in the head
Rape-accused conductor released on $300k bail CHIEF Magistrate, Ann McLennan on Monday released a 28-year-old minibus conductor on $300,000 for allegedly raping a 14-year-old school girl. Asahel Williams was jointly charged with 41-yearold Sherwayne Brandt for the offence. However Brandt failed to make an appearance in court causing an arrest warrant to be issued for him. The charge alleged that the men on October 7, 2015 at Plum Park, Sophia engaged in sexual activity with the 14-year-old girl. The matter was heard in camera. Williams was released on $300,000 bail and ordered to return to court on September 24. According to reports, the
Asahel Williams
teen was a lone passenger in the Route 40 minibus which was driven by Brandt and conducted by Williams. The men allegedly took the teen to a location at Plum Park and took turns having sex with the child. The teen confided in her parents and the matter was reported to the police.
Three more bailed in cocaine trafficking bust THREE men were on Monday released on $2M bail each by Magistrate Rushell Liverpool at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court for trafficking $24M in cocaine. The men, Khemraj Lall, 39, of Zeelugt EBE; Marlon Lawrence, 36 of Felicity, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Cleve Thornhill were on Monday released on bail pending a plea for their release. The other co-accused, Rajendra Persaud, 47 of Liliendaal, ECD; Doodnauth Chattgroon, 36 of Zeelugt, were last week released on $1M and $1.5M bail respectively in the High Court. The five men are jointly charged with trafficking 35 kilograms of cannabis and 13.8 kilograms of cocaine on June 6, 2018 at Parika. All the men pleaded not guilty. Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford told the court that CANU ranks on June 6, 2018 at Parika, East
Bank Essequibo, intercepted the five men with the cocaine and cannabis stashed in false bottoms of two 15-gallon gas bottles. According to reports, CANU was able to make the bust after receiving information regarding a shipment of drugs arriving at Parika from Charity in a speed boat. Acting on the information received, CANU officers then went to the Parika location where they intercepted motor vehicles PSS 8019 and PVV 7934. In one motor car were Lawrence and Persaud, while Thornhill and the other co-accused were in the other. The vehicles were searched and two blue 15-gallon gas bottles were found with the bottoms cut and covered with brown paste. A further examination of the containers revealed several packages with some containing cannabis and others containing the suspected cocaine. The matter is adjourned until October 8.
after he refused to comply with the suspects’ demand that he turn over whatever cash he had on his person. Reports are that after Nurse was shot to his face, the robbers escaped. The police were able to make the arrests after reviewing CCTV footage from surrounding buildings. Just last year, Nurse was robbed, but was later able to identify two of the persons who had allegedly committed the offence.
Magistrate bails from Princess Casino …hands file back to Chief Magistrate following robbery case accused stated distrust of court MAGISTRATE Judy Latchman recused herself on Monday from the Princess Casino robbery trial after one of the accused, Wayne Griffith, said “I do not trust this court.’’ To this the magistrate responded, “What sort of attitude is this? I have been taking notes since the beginning of this matter. I have three books filled with writing from this matter.” The magistrate then recused herself from presiding over the matter and she reassigned the case back the chief mag-
istrate. The matter was adjourned to September 20, 2018. Wayne Griffith, 29, of Bagotsville, West Bank Demerara; Junior Stewart, 30, of Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown and Andre Blackman, 35, of Middle Street, McDoom, East Bank Demerara, are accused of robbing Daniel Roberts and Alfea Gajadhar of $8,951,000 – property of the Princess Casino – on April 29, 2017 at Providence, East Bank Demerara.
According to reports, at about 03:20hrs on April 29, 2017 gunmen invaded the casino and engaged in a shoot-out that wounded a police officer and four others. The alleged gunman, Wayne Griffith, who was captured at the scene, reportedly provided police with information, which led to Blackman’s arrest. Additionally, Stewart was reportedly found with some of the stolen money at a house in Vreed–en– Hoop, West Coast Demerara.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Omar Shariff’s lawyer makes no-case submission on grounds of insufficient evidence ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Sanjeev Datadin on
Monday made a no-case submission in favour of
his clients; former Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry of the Presidency, Omar Shariff and
Savatri Hardeo
Omar Shariff
his reputed wife, Savatri Hardeo, who are jointly charged for failing to comply with a production order contrary to Section 26 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. The couple is on trial before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore, for failing to comply with the production order issued by Chief Justice, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, after a summons was served by the High Court to produce certain named documents to Assistant Police Commissioner, Sydney James within seven days. The attorney called for the charge to be dismissed against his clients on the grounds that the Magistrate Court does not have the power to hear the matter and Special Organ-
ised Crime Unit (SOCU) prosecutor, Patrice Henry failed to present sufficient evidence in the case. The matter is adjourned until October 23 for prosecutor Henry to reply to the no-case submission. Shariff is currently out on $1M bail while Hardeo is on self-bail. Omar Shariff was fired from the post of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency. The ministry said his services have been terminated with effect December 31, 2016. Shariff, the subject of a probe into alleged financial crimes by SOCU, has denied such allegations but conceded that he has unsettled tax matters with the Guyana Revenue Authority in relation to the sale of phone credit.
Man dies after given wrong tablet for gas relief A MAN is in police custody after allegedly giving his friend who had complained of “wind pain” poisonous tablets that were in a “Garlic Extra 1000G” bottle on Sunday. Dead is Gary Sullivan, 46, a labourer of Kitty, Georgetown. Reports indicate that Sullivan left his home around 11:20hrs on Sunday and returned about 20:30hrs with a bottle supposedly containing garlic tablets. When asked by his wife what was in the bottle, Sullivan related that he was given the tablets by his friend in order to relieve gas that
had built up in his system. Before midnight, Sullivan consumed some of the tablets; two hours later he awoke from his sleep and began to complain to his wife of not feeling well. He then began to vomit. Realising her husband was in pain, the wife contacted the Georgetown Public Hospital ambulance service and Sulivan was rushed to the hospital where he was admitted and later succumbed to the poisonous tablets on Monday afternoon. The body is currently at the mortuary awaiting postmortem.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Improved healthcare coming GUYANA’S elderly will receive improved care and attention as the Elderly Health Programme that is presently part of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Unit, will soon become an independent unit with its own budget. This will take place when the 2019 fiscal estimates are presented later this year by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, to the National Assembly. In a release on its website, the Ministry of Public Health stated that Guyana’s ageing population has caused the government to want to ensure, that senior citizens are fully integrated into society to help mentor future generations. Coordinator of the government’s Elderly Health Programme is Dr. Melissa DeHaarte, who recently made known her unhappiness with the dismissive way in which the elderly population is generally treated. “I want Guyana to have a new approach in terms of seeing the elderly as useful citizens because of something we call ageism, which is a stigma against elderly persons that they are no longer useful and that they should be put aside,” she explained, adding: “We are hoping that our society accepts our elderly, see them as useful, integrate them to have inter-generational exchanges with the youths because they can still teach the youths and the youths can still learn in any field, even if it’s to bake a cake. We have our teachers and nurses who would love to go back, even voluntarily. We need them in our environment.” To help achieve this, Dr. DeHaarte will be working assiduously with the ministry’s team to ensure that the elderly eat well, have regular exercise and can afford proper nutrition. This will ensure that they are satisfied and healthy enough to live normal lives and pass on their wealth of knowledge. “What society does is lump your illness with your age, saying ‘it’s an old people thing’, you don’t need to be active or do anything. With proper nutrition, diet and exercise you can live a long, healthy and prosperous life. We don’t want
which sees people living longer and fewer succumbing to the ravages of diseases. Added to this, more women are entering the workforce as professionals and these severely limit their number of pregnancies. “As such we are having a tip in the scale of older persons compared to younger person in the population,” she stated. Dr. Dehaarte who con-
Coordinator of the government’s Elderly Health Programme Dr. Melissa DeHaarte
our elders to be grouped as dependable people. We want to see that they contribute to society and still live longer. We need to understand that we will all get old and avoid discrimination against older persons,” DeHaarte said. However, what the government also requires are trained nurses and healthcare workers who can ensure that the elderly are given prominence. As such, part of the Unit’s strategy has resulted in the initiation of conversations with the Nursing Council and the University of Guyana (UG) to have the curriculum revised. DeHaarte advised: “We have made progress so far and we are trying to lay out and wrap up the curriculum. We are awaiting a full spectrum of what is available in the curriculum…we find that both doctors and nurses don’t have much knowledge on how to deal with the elderly; their nutrition; medications or surgery. It’s just a broad blanket of knowledge, and therefore, they are treated [as] any adult regardless of their age.” She also added that, presently, Guyana does not have a package of guaranteed services for the elderly and, as a result, healthcare services for the nation’s geriatrics “fall under the broad spectrum of chronic diseases.” However, the proposed unit will be working in collaboration with other government ministries and agencies such as the Min-
istry of Social Protection (MOSP) and the National Council for the Elderly, of which DeHaarte is a member of the Board. All assistance will be needed as the national healthcare system is presently being stretched, in its attempt to cater for an expanding elderly population of which the productive population, fit to work and pay taxes, is slowly decreasing. The Elderly Health Programme coordinator attributes the expansion in the elderly population to advancements in medicine,
cluded that this will contribute to a “smaller number of working persons in the population” was keen to recommend that Guyanese begin to have discussions on these issues which will enable the population to grow, and to have healthy and active ageing persons. In the meanwhile, the unit will continue to finalise its strategic vision with assistance from the Pan-American Health Or-
ganisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) in collaboration with Cuban expert, Dr. Pedro Pons, a Geriatric Specialist attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Also, other works being conducted will see the Men’s Health becoming a separate unit, following the 2019 Budget, and will be headed by Dr. Dennis Bassier.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
AFC banking on youths for LGE By Lisa Hamilton THE Alliance For Change (AFC) will be putting forward a youthful slate of candidates vying for this year’s Local Government Elections (LGEs) in time for the September 21 Nomination Day deadline. The political party is in the process of fine-tuning its list of candidates and, although the names of these are not yet public, representatives of the party reported on Sunday that most have already been finalised. “We have been signing up a whole host of young people throughout this process. We intend to put a very young slate forward. It’s to the point where we have our older executive members stepping back and allowing some new persons to take up the constituency representative seat. “We’re very tactful in our approach to Local Government. It’s not just a wild process, it’s not just about getting votes but it’s about impacting the lives of people and we feel very passionate about it. We encourage young people to come out and be a part of
this process because it’s their future, and it’s very important that they are a part of the decision-making team,” AFC Deputy Campaign Director, Juretha Fernandes, told the newspaper yesterday. Her remarks were corroborated by AFC Region Four Campaign Coordinator, Michael Leonard, who stated: “We want to ensure that we have a good representation of not just AFC members but we want to make sure we have a lot of young people, we want to ensure we have a lot of women as well as candidates.” He further commented: “We don’t have many executives that are vying for council positions but we are working with independent groups, we are working with a lot of persons who are not registered members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) because, as we’ve said time and time again, we don’t direct our members on how to vote. The only thing that is important is that you care about your community and that you make decisions after consulting with your community.”
Alliance For Change (AFC) Deputy Campaign Director, Juretha Fernandes
Consultation with the citizens is an important aspect the AFC wants to better revive if elected, and one such case in which this will be involved is the parking meter issue. Leonard says that transparency and accountability are actions the party takes very seriously. “We are against the parking meter contract, especially in its current form. Any decision or any project that the council wishes to undertake, that will directly affect the lives of citizens and visitors to George-
AFC Region Four Campaign Coordinator, Michael Leonard
town should have widespread consultation to ensure that we understand some of the negative impacts, some of the upsides as opposed to just implementing things and telling citizens that this is what you’re going,” he said. Meanwhile, Fernandes stated that each Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and municipality is presenting youth programmes which will be advertised to the public. “As we go forward and we tackle Local Government throughout Guyana, every single municipality
and NDC that we are contesting has similar heading in which they are going to be formulating plans. Youth and Sport is one of the biggest parts of what we’ve been doing. We’ve been trying to highlight via our TV programme that we have every two weeks that we don’t want Local Government to be about cleaning drains, fixing streetlights, [alone] it is about empowering persons and youths today, they are a very large number of our population and we must centre our focus around them,” she stated. Leonard highlighted the need for better leisure spaces for young people to steer them away from idleness. “We believe that there should be open spaces. We have persons working in various communities where the AFC is active, like Diamond, where we are working to ensure that there are open spaces so that youths can have a place to play. People call it green spaces or open spaces, but [it involves] basically fixing up these derelict play grounds to ensure that children can go somewhere in the
afternoon and have something to do or something place to congregate as opposed to liming on the corner,” he related. Through the party he is also advocating for the live streaming of Council meetings and the voting records among council members to be posted online to avoid ambiguity. Besides future plans, Fernandes added that the party has been receiving much support although they have not yet launched into their campaign phase. With 62 symbols submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM); Nomination Day set for September 21 and LGEs scheduled to be held on November 12, she encouraged younger voters by stating: “For the younger generation…Local Government is not something just for stats. It is about making very informed decisions and electing persons that you think are best to represent your community for grassroots leadership. I think it’s very important at this point in time that young people stand up and get involved.”
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Multi-agency task force to tackle South Rupununi problems
President David Granger, on Saturday, ordered that a multi-agency task force be set up to address the many issues challenging the communities of the South Rupununi. The President was at the time visiting the community of Shulinab, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) for Heritage Day celebrations. The Head of State’s decision followed a number of complaints by Toshaos of the various communities about illegal mining, pollution, allegations of trafficking in persons (TIP) among other criminal activities, affecting their communities. He committed to having the many issues presented to him by the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) investigated and remedied. “[There is need for] setting up of a mechanism for the regular if not continuous, exchange of information and more important, the solution of these problems. It is no point, at this stage, resorting to the ministerial system – I am thinking along the line of
…President promises to address issues raised by residents a multi-agency task force which can deal with all of these problems as they occur. We must deal with the problem in a more holistic way,” President Granger said. Saturday’s meeting follows one held in Aishalton, Region Nine, in February where similar concerns were raised. The Head-ofState, after listening to the presentations, said that the situation warrants immediate attention and called on Minister of Public Af- President David Granger (second right) addresses Toshaos of the South Rupununi after fairs, Mrs. Dawn Hast- hearing their concerns on a number of issues. Also in photo are Ministers of Indigenous Peoings-Williams to organise ples’ Affairs Mr. Sydney Allicock and Mrs. Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Minister of Public Affairs stakeholder meetings in the Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams, Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton and Guyana’s near future. In the case of Consul General in Roraima and other Northern States of Brazil, Ms. Shirley Melville. waters of this village.” region. “So from every point ate to solve problems in the environmental issues, the In thanking the SRDC, of view there is cause for region. “Problems have to be President said that the Environmental Protection Agen- which monitors the South concern. It calls for all-round solved…we are committed to cy (EPA), Guyana Geolo- Rupununi, for a comprehen- vigilance, it’s not just the solving the problems and not gy and Mines Commission sive report, President Grang- environment, it is also secu- to sweep the problems under (GGMC), and the Protected er said he is very concerned rity and public health,” the the carpet,” he said, while Areas Commission (PAC) about the contamination of President said. The Head of calling on Minister Hastings must work together “to bring the headwaters as well as State then called on leaders to convene a roundtable with an end to this scourge and the increase in criminal ac- to commit to preserving the all stakeholders to address contamination of the head- tivities in that part of the environment and to co-oper- the matters.
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Meanwhile, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock described the challenges “as very serious” while stating that they must be addressed soonest. “It is bigger than just a Toshao,” he said, noting that there is need for a lot of technical and financial support to remedy the existing difficulties. Similarly, Minister of Public Affairs, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams said a proactive approach is needed to tackle the many issues raised and committed to working with stakeholders. Additionally, Mr. Nicholas Fredericks, Toshao of Shulinab, said despite the many challenges facing the South Rupununi, the SRDC is pooling its available resources to be “the eyes and ears on the ground.” He too called for deeper collaboration among stakeholders while noting that information sharing in a timely manner is critical to finding solutions to the problems. (Ministry of the Presidency)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
CANTO to host AGM and Mini Expo here LEADING trade association of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Caribbean, CANTO, will soon host its 35th Annual General Meeting and Mini Expo in Guyana to be attended by some 200 high-ranking members and stakeholders. The individuals will visit from some 30 countries, including from within the Caribbean, to attend the event’s hosting at the Marriott Hotel from January 27-30, 2019. One of CANTO’s founding members, is the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), which will collaborate along with the Ministry of Public Telecommunications and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for the success of the venture. On Monday, GTT hosted a press conference at the hotel to mark the official launching. It was revealed that a pivotal aspect of this event will be the Emerging Technologies - Mini Expo which will showcase emerging technologies from global suppliers. Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle on the sidelines, Secretary General of CAN-
TO, Teresa Wankin said that the expo presents an opportunity for local ICT experts to become internationally known. “Everyone who has a stake in ICT in the region, all of the vendors, the suppliers of telecoms services will be here...we expect about 20 to 25 cutting edge technology exhibitors,” she stated adding: “We don’t know the number [which will attend] from Guyana but what I’m hoping is that every single ICT company will be able to come and showcase whatever they do here in Guyana to the rest of the world and the Caribbean.” In her remarks, she commended GTT for taking the lead in Guyana as a “phenomenal partner” even as it works towards its own goals of digital transformation in the country. “For this region to benefit from digital transformation there must be a common platform driven by vision, leadership, innovation and partnerships among governments, businesses and civil society. This can only happen if we work together with all stakeholders to adopt, pros-
Secretary General of CANTO Teresa Wankin engages in light conversation with GTT Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Justin Nedd (right) and Public Telecommunications Ministry, Consultant Andre Griffith at the Marriott Hotel on Monday. (Samuel Maughn photo)
per and reap greater benefits,” she said. Remarks also came from GTT Chief Executive Officer, Justin Nedd who stated that GTT is honoured to host the AGM in 2019. He added that the partnership forged will aid in the development of the ICT sector even as the company plows ahead despite existing challenges.
“As we continue to do more, GTT welcomes CANTO to our shores…to help us, Guyana, into a new realm of shaping information and communication. With the impending [liberalisation] of Guyana’s telecommunications sector, we eagerly anticipate a level playing field for all involved,” he said. Speaking briefly on behalf of the Public Telecom-
munications Ministry, Consultant Andre Griffith stated that CANTO, along with its stakeholders, has the full support of the ministry. At the AGM, the conference segment of the event will see entrepreneurs, knowledge experts and business leaders discussing pressing matters guided by the theme ‘Transitioning to a Digital Region: Opportunities
and Challenges’ Meanwhile, capacity building training will be provided by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association Ltd. (GMSA) through a workshop themed ‘Unlocking Rural Mobile Coverage.’ It will also allow governments and industries to work closer together to bridge the present gaps. In displaying some of the technological advancements in Guyana, partner of GTT, Intellect Storm, was invited to promote its soon-to-belaunched cashless payment system for users and businesses. Designed off of MMG, the app will allow customers to utilise a safer way to make purchases and pay for services. Similarly, Vision75 Solutions informed the media about its highlights since establishments such as the Nexus Hub, HackSolve and its ongoing Paid Apprenticeships programme. CANTO was founded in 1985 and has grown to have over 130 members and its presence in more than 35 countries. Its last AGM was held in Trinidad and Tobago in January 2018.
Kuru Kuru residents protest Stabroek Wharf deplorable state of access road vendors to build own
stalls at new site
Residents of Kuru Kuru as they protested the condition of the “college road” which links the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway with the Kuru Kuru Training Centre.
RESIDENTS of Kuru Kuru on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway on Monday morning blocked the roadway leading to the schools in the area as they vented their dissatisfaction at the current state of it. According to the residents, over the years, the roadway, which links the highway with the primary and nursery schools as well as the Kuru Kuru Training Centre, has been in a deplorable state making it dangerous to negotiate especially at night time. The protest action started during the rush hour on Monday morning. Residents used old tires and pieces of wood to block the
roadway- a move which resulted in the police moving in to calm a few nerves. A mother, whose children attend school in the area, told the Guyana Chronicle that the school bus almost toppled on several occasions while the driver negotiated the roadway. She said that the situation should be addressed as soon as possible especially during the school term. “It’s very bad especially for the children them,” she said. Alliance for Change (AFC) parliamentarian, Michael Carrington told the Guyana Chronicle that he went into the area to collect some documents from the
training centre but was greeted with the roadway being blocked. He said that the village falls under the Yarrowkabra Neighbourhood Democratic Council and as such he has made representation for the road to be rehabilitated but he noted that the entire two mile stretch would cost millions of dollars to rehabilitate. Carrington posited that an immediate measure can be taken to alleviate the situation and he noted that officials from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure have been contacted on the issue. He said officials may visit the area soon to assess the situation.
The Mayor and some of the councillors at Monday’s M&CC Extraordinary Meeting (Delano Williams photo)
FOLLOWING an extraordinary meeting of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (MCC) on Monday, a decision was taken for vendors being removed from the Stabroek Market Wharf, to construct their own stalls at the Stabroek Square area earmarked for their relocation. A total of 18 councilors voted in favour of the move, which is being put in place since it was agreed that the Council did not have the nec-
essary funds to construct the stalls themselves and given that having the vendors remove from the wharf is a pressing issue. “When we met with stallholders last Thursday, they agreed that they would prefer to construct their own stalls and they would prefer to use wood as the material and they are ready to construct the stalls tomorrow even, once given the permission, under the guidance of the TURN TO PAGE 17
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Linden businessman arrested after disorderly patron shot in hand A PATRON who was behaving badly in the wee hours of Monday morning at Tropical Refreshment Bar, Five Corners Mackenzie Linden, was shot in his palm by the business’ proprietor. The businessman was detained and his firearm lodged with police. Reports indicate that the 33-year-old mason of Mackenzie Linden was imbibing at the bar when he started to behave in a disorderly manner and began throwing down chairs and other items in the bar. Shortly after, the businessman arrived on the scene and during a confrontation;
the irate businessman pulled out his licensed firearm and fired several shots in the mason’s direction. One of the bullets entered and exited the victim’s hand. The mason then made his way to the Linden Hospital Complex and the police were summoned. The man was admitted as a patient for observation since he was intoxicated. The victim then discharged himself from the hospital and returned to the business place and again, began to behave disorderly. He was then taken into police custody and is assisting with investigations.
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Stabroek Wharf... city engineer and with specific dimensions, they are ready and willing to construct their own stalls,” Town Clerk, Royston King, informed the council. Notwithstanding that the vendors will be doing their own construction, they will still be expected to adhere to building the stalls to the standard dimension of 8 feet x 10 feet and a maximum height of 13 feet. At this dimension a total of 82 stalls are expected to fit in the designated relocation site, according to the City Engineer, Colvern Venture. However this presents a new situation as approximately 89 stalls currently occupy the Stabroek Market Wharf, however it was noted that preference will be given to those stallholders who trade in perishable goods, of which there are 66 vendors. The area was initially expected to fit 88 stalls however consideration had to be given for an area to construct washroom facilities. Aside from constructing their own stalls, those vendors desirous of doing so will also be individually responsible to set up electricity at their respective stalls. The Council however will take on the responsibility of providing security lights, taking care of garbage collection and ensuring that the area is clean. Since the stalls will be constructed by the stall owners they will instead be renting from the Council the space to construct the stalls and will be expected to pay an average monthly rent of $6800. Given that the council spent approximately $23 million, thus far, in the preparation of the relocation site, it was noted by Councillor, Trichria Richards that the Council would operate at a lost with such a low rent. Nonetheless, Mayor Patricia Chase-Green maintained that she will not agree for the rent to increase given that the stall owners will be paying out of pocket to construct the stalls. According to Venture, it is estimated that one stall will cost some $400,000 to construct. “Rightly $6800 is a low figure but I don’t agree in raising either; not with what is happening, we have the vendors agree to build their own stalls and we give them a grace period, because it’s not easy to find $400,000 - $500,000 to build and then to pay [rent] so we’re still willing to do it,” Chase-Green remarked. The stall holders will be given a grace period of six weeks after completing construction before they will be expected to begin paying their rent. According to King, the stallholders indicated that they would need less than a month. “We said that perhaps they would need three to four weeks to complete the construction of their stalls, but they said to me that they can do it in a shorter time once they are given permission to build,” King said. The stallholders will each be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with City Hall stating that they understand that the situation is only a temporary one and they will be required to dismantle the stalls and return to the wharf once it has been repaired and is fit for business.
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GCB/CGI Jaguars One-Day League…
Savory hits century, spinners seal 90-run win for Essequibo By Rajiv Bisnauth KEMOL Savory struck a brilliant century to set up a crushing 90-run win for Essequibo in Round Three of the GCB/CGI Jaguars One-Day League against West Demerara yesterday, at the Lusignan ground. The left-hander chalked up 101 and batted for almost the entire innings to give Essequibo a competitive total of 217 all out in 48.5 overs, a total they defended easily after the West Demerara batting performance lacked fight. The West Demerara batsmen were never up to the task, and virtually surrendered. They were eventually bowled out for 127 in 38.5 overs. Left-arm spinners An-
thony Adams (3-22), Ricardo Adams (3-44) and Akini Adams (2-9), combined to dismantle the West Demerara innings. At the toss, Essequibo captain Anthony Adams chose to bat but they lost Ricardo Peters (3), to Navindra Persaud (1-28) in the sixth over, at 23-1. Fellow opener Kevon Boodie hit two fours and a six in his 23 before he was bowled by Ewart Samuels (2-11), as the pitch offered early assistance to the medium pacers. The batting side found themselves in more trouble with the dismissal of Ricardo Adams (6), LBW to off-spinner Richie Looknauth (3-39) and slumped to 69-3 inside the 20th over. At that point, Savory who
came in at the fall of Peters’ wickets, had by then settled in, and while his innings gathered slow momentum, his stay at the crease was what mattered. Savory and Chitram Persaud then held the innings together with a crucial fourth-wicket stand to take the innings forward. During that period both batsmen consolidated nicely through the right dose of caution and aggression, to bring the innings back on track on what looked like a flat batting pitch. The left-hander Savory brought up his 50 while the 100 run-mark came at the end of the 30th over. Persaud went soon after for 22, bowled by Travis Persaud (2-50), but Adams who joined forces with Savory
Wins for Georgetown and East Coast in GCB/CGI Jaguars One-day League GEORGETOWN and East Coast Demerara also registered wins yesterday in round three of the GCB/ CGI Jaguars 50 overs tournament. At the Enmore ground, East Coast Demerara were
bowled out for 152 in 46.1 overs. Amir Khan top scored with 39. He received support from Kamesh Yadram (33) and Ramnarine Chatura with 18. Bowling for East Bank, Ronaldo Alimohamed and Trevon France picked up three wickets for 16 and 43 runs, respectively. East Bank in reply failed to reach their target and were dismissed for 127 all out in 39.5 overs. Opening batsman, Trevon Griffith, top scored with 78 and was the only batsman to achieve double figures. Bowling for East Coast, Bhaskar Yadram and Chandrapaul Hemraj picked up three wickets for 20 and eight runs respectively, while Amir Khan and Gajana Sukhanand assisted with two wickets apiece. East Coast Demerara won by 25 runs. Over at the Everest ground, Upper Corentyne made 177 all out in 42.2 overs after the game was reduced to 44 overs. Alex Algoo and Clinton Pestano made 50 and 51, in that order. Joshua Ramsammy assisted with 35 and Eon Hooper 11. Bowling for Georgetown, young Ramaal Lewis picked up 4-26, while Andre Stoll and Ashmead Nedd supported with two wickets each. Georgetown easily achieved their total, losing only three wickets in 26.4 overs. Christopher Barnwell top scored with 83 while Leon Johnson made 70. Georgetown won by seven wickets. The action continues tomorrow, with Lower Corentyne facing Essequibo at the Albion ground, Georgetown going up against East bank at the GCC ground, while East Coast will take on West Demerara at Everest and West Berbice battle Upper Corentyne at the Port Mourant ground. Action in all matches starts at 09: 00hrs.
stitched together a partnership of 45 before Adams was run out for nine. Savory, who survived a dropped catch and a stumping chance both off Tevin Imlach, benefited from these lapses, to reach 100. Meanwhile, Beaton who arrived in the 43th over pinged three sixes in his 29 but they lost a cluster towards the end. When West Demerara took to the crease they lost Tagenarine Chanderpaul (11), bowled by Nealand Codhagan and Ronaldo Renee (18), bowled off an inside edge by Joshua Jones, at 41-2. Imlach played the lone hand with a composed 37 (2x6), as West Demerara lost eight wickets for 86 runs.
President Granger lauds BV/Triumph 8th of May Movement work THE BV/Triumph 8th of May Movement met with President David Granger on Wednesday last to discuss the Movement’s development plan. During the meeting, Chairperson of the Movement, Ms. Latecia Stuart, gave an update of the group’s strategic development plan which has four main pillars: the family, church, school and farm. Moreover, the President also lauded the Movement’s work in the area of sport and encouraged them to continue to place more emphasis on the discipline, noting that sport is a strong unifying force. This was mainly in reference to the recently concluded inaugural BV/Triumph 8th of May Movement Emancipation Cohesion Football League, which saw three teenagers, Ian Dookie, Omari Glasgow and Trevon Adams, receiving Academic/Vocational Awards valued at $180, 000 each for the period September, 2018 to August, 2019. According to Stuart, the plan was developed in keeping with the President’s vision for the sustainability and advancement of each community. In addition, the Head-of-State was briefed on the Movement’s plan to place specific emphasis on sport, smart agricultural practices, and agro-processing. Emphasis will also be placed on programmes that are aimed to improve literacy and numeracy, to ensure that the children and young adults are well equipped. President Granger remarked following the brief presentation, that he was particularly pleased with the efforts being made by the organisation to ensure that children and young adults are literate and numerate within the community. As such, he charged the administrators of the 8th of May Movement to engage primary school-aged children from every section of the community, to ensure that the programmes benefit all. The Academic/ Vocational awards which are being sponsored by the Restoration Opportunities through Christ (ROC), aims to assist the trio in specified areas relating to their academic and vocational advancement. The awards valued at $15, 000 monthly are for the identified year. Award recipients, Dookie and Glasgow have already begun to benefit from the sponsorship while Adams will soon benefit from his.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday September 18, 2018
Vaughan fears Cook exit could trigger exodus
…’Anderson knows the England dressing-room will never be the same’-says former England captain By Andrew Miller MICHAEL Vaughan fears that Alastair Cook’s Test retirement could trigger an exodus of England’s remaining senior players, in the wake of James Anderson’s emotional farewell to his “best mate” at The Oval last week. Anderson had seemed on the brink of tears in the immediate aftermath of England’s victory in the fifth Test against India, as he acknowledged the end of Cook’s 12-year England career - a stint that included 130 shared appearances in the same Test team. And while Vaughan believes that even this England team will one day be saying “Alastair Who?” as they find new men to replace Cook at the top of the order, he added that Anderson’s emotions reflected the fact that life for him personally in that dressing-room will never be the same again. “I thought Jimmy was more emotional than Alastair,” Vaughan told ESPNcricinfo at a Laureus event at The Oval. “[Cook] was as cool as ice. How he coped with the week, and just watched the ball and reacted, is how he coped throughout his career. Many cricketers get affected by the external messages, he just controlled what he can control. Anderson himself has set no definitive date for his retirement and, with another stellar haul of 42 wickets at 20.54 in 2018, he is still at the peak of his powers at the age of 36. However, he also admitted last week that the end could come at any time, much as happened in
2006-07 to Glenn McGrath, the man whose tally of 563 Test wickets he overtook last week. “I hope Jimmy goes on, because his body and his bowling,
cumbent, Keaton Jennings. “In terms of numbers over the past 12 years, you can’t replace Alastair Cook, but in terms of what he’s delivered over the past
That’s been the problem. Sort that area out at 1,2 and 3, and they’ll be a fantastic team. “Rory Burns, I’ve seen his numbers,” Vaughan added. “He
Alastair Cook, James Anderson and Jonny Bairstow walk on to the field (Getty Images)
from what I’ve seen, gets better and better,” Vaughan added. “But he knows it will have to come to an end soon, and I hope what Alastair did doesn’t trigger one or two into thinking they should do the same because Jimmy and Stuart Broad still have a lot to give.” Next week, England will name their Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour - their first for more than 12 years without Cook at the top of the order - and Vaughan expects Surrey’s Rory Burns to be given the first chance to fill the opening vacancy for the first Test in Galle, alongside the under-pressure in-
couple of years, you probably can get close because he’d be the first to admit he hasn’t been at his best,” said Vaughan. “Players are always replaced, you always talk about how impossible it will be, but there will be someone who plays in a year or two’s time and then, I dread to say it, it will be ‘Alastair Who’? “Cook will always be remembered by us in cricket for being great, but you move on, you have to. That’s what Joe Root has to do with a new opening partnership. He has to give faith to whoever he’s selected to go out there and face the new ball, and get better starts.
must be able to play the moving ball because you can’t succeed in county cricket without it. “But Keaton Jennings has now had a number of opportunities to know exactly what Test match cricket is, and as much as it’s been doing a bit in a tough couple of summers, let’s not make excuses. He had five Tests against India and one against Pakistan, and he should have got a substantial score. “He’ll go to Sri Lanka knowing he’s got three games to keep his Test career.” “But you could see the true light of Jimmy Anderson,”
Vaughan added. “On the pitch you see him as a grumpy bugger, he doesn’t smile a great deal, he gets into the odd confrontation - which I like - but off the field he’s a normal human being which came across at The Oval. “His eyes were blubbing up and he was about to burst into tears. And that is what sport brings you to, when you’ve been with someone for so long and been through so much, in terms of great series wins and some negative times as well. When you see your pal leaving and know it’s the last time you’re going to spend a few hours in the dressing room with him.” Vaughan himself knows all too well the emotions that sport can generate, after his own tearful resignation as Test captain in the summer of 2008. Vaughan never played for England again after that announcement and recognises how quickly former team-mates can become strangers when their days in the dressing-room are over. “As much as they say they’ll go back in and invite Alastair in for a drink, it’s never the same when you’re not a part of the team,” he said. “You might go in and say hello, you might go in and make a speech, but it’s never the same place again and I think Jimmy knows that.” (ESPN Cricinfo).
Eliud Kipchoge sets new marathon world record in Berlin KENYA’s Eliud Kipchoge smashed the marathon world record by clocking a time of two hours one minute 39 seconds in Berlin. The 33-year-old took nearly one minute 20 seconds off the previous best, which was set by compatriot Dennis Kimetto when he ran 2:02:57 in Berlin in 2014. “I lack words to describe this day,” said Kipchoge. “I am really grateful, happy to smash the world record.” The women’s race was won by Gladys Cherono of Kenya in 2:18:11. Kipchoge won the London Marathon for a third time earlier this year and is the Olympic champion over the distance.
Eliud Kipchoge sets new marathon world record in Berlin.
“It was hard,” he said. “I ran my own race, I trusted my trainers, my programme and my coach. That’s what pushed me in the last kilometres.” In 2017, Kipchoge
missed out on becoming the first athlete to run under two hours for the marathon by 26 seconds. The Kenyan clocked 2:00:25 but because pace-
France’s Kevin Mayer celebrates setting a new Olympic decathlon record
makers who could swap in and out of the run were used, the time was not recognised as a world record. Two records in one day The men’s marathon record was not the only
athletics record to fall on Sunday as France’s Kevin Mayer set a new benchmark in the decathlon. His world record of 9,126 points at the Decastar event in Talence, France,
surpassed American Ashton Eaton’s 9,045 total set at the 2015 World Championships. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” said Mayer, 26, the world champion and an Olympic silver medallist in the discipline. Mayer led from the outset and recorded the following results over the two-day competition: 100m - 10.55secs Long jump - 7.80m Shot put - 16.00m High jump - 2.05m 400m - 48.42secs Discus - 50.54m Pole vault - 5.45m Javelin - 71.90m 1,500m - four minutes 36.11secs. (BBC Sport)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday September 18, 2018
Miami Heat legend Dwayne Wade to return for 16th NBA season (REUTERS)-Dwyane Wade kept his fans waiting to almost the cusp of NBA training camp, but in an emotional video, he told them what they wanted to hear. “I feel like it’s right to ask you guys to join me for one last dance, for one last season,” he said about his decision to return to the Miami Heat for a 16th NBA season. Wade, a 36-year-old free agent, had previously said it was either play for the Heat this season or retire, and he opted for the
former. “This is it. I’ve given this game everything that I have, and I’m happy about that. I’m going to give it for one last season, everything else I have left,” he said in the 10-minute video titled “One Last Dance ...” and posted on YouTube. The 12-time All-Star played his first 13 seasons with the Heat before signing with the Chicago Bulls for 2016-17. He started the 2017-18 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded back to Miami for the final 21
games of the season. Wade holds career averages of 22.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He averaged 12.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game coming off the bench for the Heat last season. He was a key part of three NBA championship teams in Miami, the first alongside Shaquille O’Neal in 2006 and then two with LeBron James and Chris Bosh, in 2012 and 2013. Wade was the NBA Finals MVP in 2006. Wade was selected to
Dwyane Wade, pictured alongside team-mates LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Norris Cole, last won an NBA Championship in 2013
the NBA All-Defensive team three times, and he won the league’s scoring championship in 2008-09 when he averaged 30.2 points.
Wade reportedly received a three-year, $25 million offer to play this summer for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in China.
Wade’s return leaves the Heat with 20 players, the maximum, on their training camp roster.
Finch eager for long-awaited Test debut
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Opening batsman Aaron Finch knew time was running out on ever wearing the baggy green cap handed out to Australia’s Test cricketers, but also thought next month’s series against Pakistan might be his best chance yet to earn one. Finch was one of five uncapped Test players named last week in Justin Langer’s raw side for the two tests in the United Arab Emirates, with the first match starting on Oct. 7. The 31-year-old made his international debut for Australia in a Twenty20 match in 2011 before playing his first one dayer in 2013, but had never been selected for a Test tour.
Former captain Steve Smith and vice- captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were suspended earlier this year for their roles in a ball-tampering scandal and Finch told reporters on Monday he realised that had potentially opened the door for him. “I thought it wasn’t ‘now or never’ but thought that if it didn’t happen now then it was less likely (to happen) down the track,” Finch told reporters in Brisbane on Monday. “It was a nice call to get.” An aggressive opening batsman in limited overs cricket, Finch said he was unsure what role he would be asked to play in the UAE, if selected.
In-form Victorian Aaron Finch happy to bat anywhere
With Warner and Bancroft the preferred openers before their bans, he could potentially join Matt Renshaw at the top of the order or occupy a spot further down.
Finch said either way he was still going to try and adopt the free flowing approach that had allowed him to accumulate more than 3300 runs with 11 centuries in
one-dayers and almost 1600 Twenty20 international runs at an average of 45.60. “Being aggressive has made me reasonably successful in the two shorter formats,” said Finch. “I suppose it depends on where they see me in the order if there is a spot in the (team). “(But) I think it’s about sticking to your natural game and to your strengths. And when you do that, you give yourself a high chance of success.” Finch added he had recognised the tour could be a similar opportunity that former Australian batsman Mike Hussey had in 2005. Like Finch, Hussey was a late bloomer who did not make his Test debut until he
was 30. He then went on to score 6235 runs in 79 matches at an average of 51.52. “Hopefully if I get an opportunity I can take it,” Finch said. “This is my first Test tour but I have been around for quite a while and I know the demands of international cricket. “It’s tough. It’s a game where if you let your guard down for a second, someone will take your spot. “You can’t leave anything to chance, you can’t leave one percent of preparation undone. “(But) you grow up in the backyard dreaming of playing test cricket and getting a baggy green and it’s closer than it has (ever) been before.”
Sorry Sri Lanka crash out of Asia Cup SRI Lanka became the first side to be eliminated from the Asia Cup after Monday’s 91run defeat to Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. Having crumbled to a 137run hammering at the hands of Bangladesh in their Group B opener on Saturday, Angelo Mathews’ men can no longer reach the Super Four phase of a tournament they won back in Afghanistan went into the last 10 overs 190 2014. for 3, with Rahmat Shah scoring his 15th Afghanistan, meanwhile, will fifty-plus score in ODIs. head into Thursday’s meeting
with the Tigers safe in the knowledge that both sides are assured of progressing regardless of the result. For the second match in succession, Sri Lanka’s batsmen failed to fire as they were bundled out for just 158 in response to Afghanistan’s 249 all out - a total underpinned by Rahmat Shah’s 72 from 90 balls. Coming in at number three, Rahmat put on 50 with opener Ihsanullah (45) and then added 80 with Hashmatullah Shahidi
(37) for the fourth wicket. Dropped on 56, Rahmat was eventually dismissed by Dushmantha Chameera before Thisara Perera accounted for the middle and lower order to finish with 5-55 - three of those victims picked up in the final over of the innings. Sri Lanka’s response got off to a torrid start, however, as Kusal Mendis was trapped lbw second ball by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, setting the tone for a chase that never looked likely to prove
successful. Upul Tharanga (36) did share in a second-wicket stand of 54 with Dhananjaya de Silva, but the opener’s contribution proved the highest score as wickets fell at regular intervals. Mujeeb, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib and Mohammad Nabi all picked up two scalps apiece while Sri Lanka also fell victim to a pair of run outs, encapsulating a miserable tournament that was over inside 72 hours.(Yahoo Sport).
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday September 18, 2018
Mercedes are over-delivering, says Lewis Hamilton LONDON (Reuters) - Mercedes are over-delivering in the Formula One title battle and going from strength to strength, according to championship leader Lewis Hamilton. The Briton won convincingly in Singapore on Sunday, his seventh victory of the season, to go 40 points clear of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel with six races remaining and a fifth title beckoning. Vettel had gone into the weekend as clear favourite but Hamilton seized pole position with a monumental qualifying lap that stunned even his team mates. He then controlled the floodlit race. “The car’s true pace is 100 and we are putting out 102,” the Mercedes website here quoted the Briton, who headed to Thailand after the race for some promotional work before a few days off,
Lewis Hamilton is 40 points clear of Sebasian Vettel after Sunday’s victory in Singapore.
as saying. “Our understanding of the car, how to utilise the tools that we have — we’re far more comfortable at our job right now,” he added. The jet-setting champion answered those who feared his lifestyle — with fashion shows and trips to America — would affect his bid for a fifth title by showing that it was all positive.
“People have asked me if I need to change my approach. I think we’ve got a great approach as a team. We have outperformed often a car that’s slightly better. We just need to keep doing that,” said Hamilton. The 33-year-old said there was no chance of anyone at Mercedes getting ‘cocky or overly confident’ after stretching the gap to
Double header on tonight as Limacol Football continues A double header of football action is pegged for this evening as the Limacol Football tournament continues at the Ministry of Education Ground, on Carifesta Avenue
In the first game of the night, Riddim Squad will play Buxton Stars, followed by Santos who will go toe to toe with Beacon FC. In the last round of matches, there were wins for
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday September 18 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) TKR & Patriots (2) Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, Trinidad Today’s Quiz: (1) Who are the players that were involved in all the games that the Tallawahs played in Hero CPL 2018? (2) Who scored most runs for the Tallawahs in Hero CPL 2018?
GFC and Pouderoyen The first game during that round of play it appeared to be headed in favour of Grove Hi-Tech who scored the first goal of the evening through Denzil Crawford in the 13th. The East Bank side had carried their lead well into the second half before Sebastian Edwards drew the game level for the West Demerara Side. Five minutes later, Pouderoyen had the lead through Ashley Harding. Game two was a goal scoring fest with GFC dominating Buxton 4-1. There were goals each for Alberto Basanta (32nd), Ronaldo Rodriques (75th), Rondel Peters (78th) and Marcus Wilson (85th). Buxton had Shamar Scott 21st score the game’s opening goal.
Ferrari in both championships. “I don’t look at it and think that we lucked in. We honestly don’t waste any time wondering what they are doing or how they are feeling or if they are feeling pressure, if they are happy or unhappy,” he said. “There is nothing we can do about them. All we can do is be the best we can be that weekend and hopefully that is good enough. If it’s not then we will keep working.” Hamilton said he still felt a need to win every race and had assured team boss Toto Wolff that he would do all he could to achieve that. “I just said to Toto: ‘Don’t for a second ever believe or let creep into your mind that I don’t want to win this championship more than anything. That’s my priority.’,” he declared
South Africa Racing Tips Durbanville 08:30 hrs Consul Of war 09:05 hrs Silver Maple 09:45 hrs Canukeepitsecret 10:25 hrs Moon Rock 11:00 hrs Siberian Husky 11:35 hrs Hello Manny American Racing Tips Finger Lakes Race 1 Chica Zoom Race 2 Lion Sleeps Race 3 Playthatfunnymusic Race 4 Timely Tradition Race 5 One Nice Pal Race 6 Analyze Your Luck Race 7 What R U Doing Now Race 8 So Noted English Racing Tips Lingfield 08:30 hrs Capla Gilda 09:00 hrs Annecy 09:30 hrs Romola 10:00 hrs Wilbury Twist 10:30 hrs Margub 11:00 hrs Unveiling 11:30 hrs Groveman 12:00 hrs Hint Of Grey Yarmouth 09:20 hrs Excelled 09:50 hrs Bombyx 10:20 hrs Long Call 10:50 hrs Lalania 11:20 hrs Dosc 11:50 hrs Queen Of Desire Kempton 12:30 hrs Great Midge 13:00 hrs Ballet Red 13:30 hrs Delicious 14:00 hrs Ledham 14:30 hrs Petrastar 15:00 hrs Jumeirah Street 15:30 hrs Saint Mac Irish Racing Tips Galway 11:15 hrs Excelcius 11:45 hrs Implement 12:15 hrs Baby Pink 12:45 hrs Insignia Of Rank 13:15 hrs Syrena 13:45 hrs Aibell 14:15 hrs Screaming Rose
Jamaica College to create history with new US$2m stadium JAMAICA College will be the first high school in Jamaica to have its own stadium when work on the facility is completed by February 2019, a year after ground was broken for the project earlier this year. Construction is said to be “far-advanced” on the facility that will boast an eight-lane 400m synthetic track, an international standard football field the size of the one at Kingston’s National Stadium, as well as an initial seating capacity of about 2000, with plans to upgrade to as many as 5000. The stadium will also boast state-of-theart lighting that can facilitate High-Definition (HD) television broadcasts during night-time events. According to Ian Forbes, a member of the project committee, the laying of the track is expected to be completed within the next month, weather permitting, and the grassing of the infield should be completed “in short order.” When completed, the stadium will also have shot out and discus rings and will also be able to accommodate the javelin and long and triple jump pits. Forbes declined to reveal the actual cost of the project that SportsMax.TV estimates will be in excess of J$300 million or US$2.1m. In 2015, GC Foster College constructed a synthetic track at a cost of $J171m. That cost was inflated by the significant amount of work done to prepare the clay base of that track. By comparison, significant work was done cutting, filling and levelling the land that the JC stadium is being built on the western side of the 229-year-old high school on Old Hope Road in Kingston. The seating and state-of-the-art lighting also factored into SportsMax.TV’s estimates. The Ashenheim family are the primary contributors to the project, having donated the synthetic track that will see JC join Calabar High School and Kingston College, who were the first and second high schools, respectively, to install synthetic tracks on their school grounds within the past three years. Three generations of the Ashenheims attended Jamaica College, who have won the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships 21 times. They are also the five-time defending Manning Cup (football) champions, a title they have won 29 times overall. There will an area for parking that will be able to facilitate a few hundred cars at the rear of the campus. Forbes said the facility will also earn revenue for the school but that will be introduced in a “controlled fashion.” (SportsMax).
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday September 18, 2018
Pluses for Windies women despite one-sided loss to South Africa - Coach WHILE Windies women’s coach, Gus Logie, is disappointed with the result of his charges’ first game against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Sunday, there are positives he takes from the game that he feels will colour the nature of the encounters between the teams for the rest of the series. The Windies were routed for 161 in response to the Proteas’ 201-9 in the first One Day International of a three-game series on Sunday. In that game, South Africa’s top-order got starts, but were pegged back the Windies bowling, who continuously created pressure and took wickets to leave themselves with a very gettable 202. However, the Windies top order did not follow through with the good work of the bowlers and fielders, falling to 54-4, before even-
tually being bowled out in the 46th over, with Shemaine Campbelle being the last wicket to fall for a top score of 46. Earlier, South Africa’s Dane van Niekerk, 46 not out, Laura Wolvaardt, 45, and a half century from Sune Luus, 58, gave the South Africans something to bowl at against the figures of Shamilia Connell, 1-27, Stafanie Taylor, 3-37, and Deandra Dottin, 2-36. “We expected a much more positive result. But when saying that, we take heart in the way we approached the fielding and the bowling,” said Logie of the performance. Logie also lauded the performance of his skipper, Stafanie Taylor, although she did not offer much with the bat. “I thought the ladies equipped themselves really
Windies women skipper Stafanie Taylor sets the field for Deandra Dottin in the first ICC Women’s Championship One-day International of the Sandals International Home Series against South Africa Women on Sunday, at Kensington Oval.
well. There was some really good decision making out there in the middle, the captaincy was wise and certainly the players responded to have restricted South Africa to
202,” he said. Even though the Windies response to a fairly low total was not the best and the side capitulated for 41 runs less, Logie also saw positives
there that should make a difference when the teams meet tomorrow. “We certainly take heart from young Campbelle and the kind of innings she
played, a responsible innings and the support from the lower order was very nice to see,” said Logie. “Mohammed really stepping up to the plate as the vice-captain of the team, putting her head down and really showing what was possible. I think the top-order will take some heart from that and some confidence going into the next game,” added the coach. The impact of the lower order taking the Windies from 85-7 to more than 160, before it finally folded, Logie believes is something that will make the top order far more competitive in game two on Wednesday. That difference may change the nature of the series. “I am looking forward to a much more all-round performance in game two,” said Logie.(Sportsmax).
Hero Cpl ‘All Star’ Red-hot Foo leads Lower Corentyne Franchise to victory Team Of Touranment All round display earns him Man-of-the Match award By Colin Bynoe Jr
THE Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have announced the “CPL All Stars” team of the tournament for 2018. The team was selected by commentataors Tom Moody, Mark Butcher, Daren Ganga, Ian Bishop, Danny Morrison and Michael Slater. The team features three Windies players aged 25 and under in Rovman Powell (330 runs), Shimron Hetmyer (440 runs) and Oshane Thomas (18 wickets), all of whom have had an outstanding tournament in 2018. Experienced Caribbean cricketers Andre Russell (163 runs and 14 wickets), Kieron Pollard (330 runs and four wickets) and Darren Bravo (353 runs) are also in the side. The overseas players that have made it into the team are Colin Munro (567 runs) and Glenn Phillips (457 runs) of New Zealand,
Imran Tahir (16 wickets) of South Africa, Fawad Ahmed (22 wickets) of Australia and Ali Khan (16 wickets) of the USA. Tom Moody, Hero CPL’s Director, International Cricket, said: “We have seen some outstanding performances in this year’s Hero CPL, but what has stood out is the emergence of young local talent. The performances of both Hetmyer and Thomas have been a highlight of the tournament, they are both set for a bright future with the Windies.” The full team of the tournament is as follows: Colin Munro, Glenn Phillips, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Ali Khan,. Imran Tahir, Oshane Thomas, Fawad Ahmed.
PLAY in the 50-over GCB franchise league started off with a bang at the Albion Community Centre ground yesterday, where Lower Corentyne Franchise got the better of West Berbice in a tense match that saw West Berbice needing six runs from the last over. Due to excess moisture on the pitch, the game started three hours later than the scheduled 09:00hrs start; thus the game was reduced to a 36-over affair. Batting first, Lower Corentyne mustered up a challenging 166 for the loss of 7 wickets off their allotted 36-overs. Brothers Jason and Junior Sinclair shepherded their team with a respectable 54 runs opening stand before Junior Sinclair (32) lost his wicket to Gudakesh Mottie in the 13th over. Kevon Jawahir then
Jonathan Foo receives Man-of-the-Match trophy from Zahir Moakan, the match referee
claimed the wicket of Jason Sinclair for 30 as Lower Corentyne lost their second wicket with the score at 77. It took some responsible batting from captain, Jonathan Foo, who clobbered 59 which included (3x6, 4x4) and Sasenarine Sukhu (20) to take Lower Corentyne Franchise to a challenging total of 166. Bowling for West Berbice Franchise, Gudakesh Motie picked up 2 for 23 off 8 overs, with support from Keon Joseph with 2 for
51 from 7 overs. When West Berbice took to the crease they had a dream start cruising to 69 by the 12th over. Kevin Sinclair was the first to be dismissed after scoring 30. Andrew Dutchin batting at number 5 played with grit and determination to take his team within reach of the Lower Corentyne total but his wicket resulted in a collapse from the other West Berbice batsmen. He was run out for 35 and with the score mov-
ing to 142 for 4 in the 31st over, West Berbice found themselves in the driving seat needing 24 from 30 deliveries. The game took another turn with Kelvin Umrao taking two quick wickets; that of Gudakesh Motie and Keith Fraser which changed the game in his team’s favour. With six runs to get from the last over, off spinner Foo had different plans as he held his nerve to spin his way to a match-winning, hat-trick performance, as he bowled Keon Joseph with the final ball as West Berbice found themselves short by 4 runs. Foo finished a brilliant all round display with 59 runs and a hattrick in the final over. He was adjudged Man-of-the-Match and presented with a trophy by match referee,Zahir Moakan
GCB/CGI Jaguars One-Day League‌
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Savory hits century, spinners seal 90-run win for Essequibo
Kemol Savory collects the Man-of-the-Match trophy from match referee Grantley Culbard, for his well-played 101.
Ricardo Adams celebrating with teammates after taking a wicket
President Granger lauds BV/Triumph 8th of May Movement work 23 PAGE
Wins for Georgetown and East Coast in GCB/CGI Jaguars One-day League 23 PAGE
President David Granger is flanked by the 8th of May Movement delegation, from left, Oscar Glasgow, Dikemma Utoh, Latecia Stuart (Chairperson), Deborah Shortt-Parker, Reinsford Benfield and Elton Mc Rae.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018