Guyana Chronicle E-paper 07-24-2018

TUESDAY 24th July, 2018

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No.105345

BOE

AT

STABROEK

BLOCK ‘Exxon’ confirms

The oil rig, the Stena Carron at work offshore Guyana

Gov’t to make vaccination Splashmins mandatory PAGE

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– for persons wanting to enter Guyana

suspends lifeguard service

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

All maritime boundary talks with Guyana off – until border controversy with Venezuela resolved

MARITIME boundary talks between Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana and Barbados have been stalled as a result of the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

However, it is expected that upon the conclusion of that matter, which is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), talks will resume.

In fact, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge told reporters Monday that at the recently concluded CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Jamaica, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley indicated her willingness to engage in maritime talks with Guyana.

However, there have been no technical or political discussions between Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago or Guyana and Barbados on

the maritime boundaries for a number of years.

Guyana shares maritime space with several countries, among them Barbados, Brazil, Trinidad, Suriname and Venezuela.

Said Minister Greenidge, “The maritime space is a space shared by many countries, and if it is a shared space, then two of you can’t negotiate definitively in a manner that binds the others.

“As I said, we have had the experience of one state at least negotiating with another and purporting to yield or cede territories that would normally be considered Guyana’s to themselves.”

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea does not empower two states to negotiate the space belonging to three and bind three. All three or four have to be involved for them to be bound,

as such making it difficult for Guyana to negotiate with any one territory to the exclusion of the others.

In 1990, Venezuela and Trinidad had signed a delimitation of maritime space pact which infringes upon Guyana’s maritime boundary as well as Barbados’.

Barbados had moved to the UN to challenge the legitimacy of the 1990 Delimitation Agreement, which acknowledges Venezuela’s claims to most of Guyana’s maritime territory.

Meanwhile, Minister Greenidge told reporters that preparations are in train as regards Guyana’s readiness to submit its memorial to the ICJ by November 19, 2018.

WRITTEN PLEADINGS The ICJ said the written pleadings in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899 between

Guyana and Venezuela must first address the question of the jurisdiction of the Court and fix the time-limits for the filing of these pleadings.

In a release, the court said by an order dated June 19, 2018, it fixed November 19, 2018 and April 18, 2019 as the respective time-limits for the filing of a Memorial

by Guyana, and a Counter-Memorial by Venezuela.

Venezuela had indicated that it will not participate in the court’s proceedings.

Guyana’s legal team is led by Sir Shridath Ramphal, but there are a plethora of overseas lawyers from a variety of countries who are skilled in such matters.

Guyana has been receiving guidance from lawyers who have worked at the ICJ before, while there are law-

yers working at the Foreign Affairs Ministry who are part of the team. Minister Greenidge, when asked, declined to disclose the names of the attorneys, but noted that the lawyers come from three chambers, and that other attorneys will be brought on board to assist when necessary.

One of the main chambers is MATRIX based in the UK. One of the lawyers working with Guyana on the border case is a Professor of Law at the Oxford University.

Guyana had filed an application with the ICJ on March 29, 2018, requesting the Court to confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award regarding the boundary between Guyana and

Venezuela. As such, the ICJ invited representatives of both Guyana and Venezuela to meet at the ICJ in The Hague, seat of government of the Netherlands, to fix schedules for written pleadings.

In its Application, Guyana is requesting the Court “to confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the Award Regarding the Boundary between the Colony of British Guiana and the United States of Venezuela, of 3 October 1899 (hereinafter the ‘1899 Award’).”

Guyana is contending that the 1899 Award was “a full, perfect, and final settlement” of all questions relating to determining the boundary line between the colony of British Guiana and Venezuela.

PM meets Open Society – discuss how organisation officials can be of help to Guyana

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (centre) with Open Society’s Latin American Programme Officers, Ms Jean Ross (left) and and Mr Auro Fraser

PRIME Minister, Moses Nagamootoo on Monday met with a delegation from the Open Society Foundations, which was created by world-famous philanthropist George Soros.

Meeting the Prime Minister last Friday were Latin American Programme Officers, Jean Ross and Guyana-born Auro Fraser.

During the meeting, there were discussions on issues of open governance and democracy, and the role Open Society Foundations could play in Guyana to help Guyanese to benefit from the new oil-and gas resources.

Minister Nagamootoo explained the legal framework that the Coalition Government has been putting in place to ensure governance of

the petroleum sector, and welcomed the Soros-funded organisation’s offer to work with Guyana to ensure the equitable distribution of future wealth.

Business magnate, George Soros has given away US$32B from his own wealth to fund the Open Society Foundations in some 100 countries in the world.

One of his more notable contribution dates back to 1979 when he financed scholarships to Africans in South Africa under apartheid.

The two visiting officials stressed that the Open Society has been promoting freedom of expression, accountable governance, justice and equality in the world.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

4B BOE at Stabroek Block

– ‘Exxon’ confirms JUST as it anticipated, ExxonMobil said Monday that now that all the figures have come in, it looks like the Stabroek Block is likely to yield more than 4 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) after all.

The US oil giant has also advanced its evaluation to support a third phase of development and consideration of two additional phases.

As is only to be expected, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman is ecstatic. “Confidence and investor interest in Guyana will continue to grow as a result of this most recent and exciting announcement by ExxonMobil,” he said, adding: “The good news continues to flow for the people of Guyana and for future generations. Citizens can be assured that the management of the oil-and- gas industry is in prudent and capable hands, who will take the time and solicit the expertise needed in ensuring that all aspects of this industry is managed in the best interest of the people of Guyana.”

The increase from an estimated 3.2B BOE follows completion of testing at the Liza-5 appraisal well; a discovery at Ranger; incorporation of the eighth discovery,

Longtail, into the Turbot area evaluation; and completion of the Pacora discovery evaluation.

“Outstanding resource quality across these opportunities combined with industry-leading project execution capabilities will provide great value to resource owners, partners and our shareholders,” Exxon Senior Vice-President Neil Chapman was quoted as saying.

“Continued success in Guyana, and progress in other upstream growth projects in the U.S. Permian Basin, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea and Brazil are giving us additional confidence in achieving our long-term earnings growth plans that we outlined in March,” he added.

Guyana’s first development, Liza Phase 1, Chapman said, will use a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to produce 120,000 barrels of oil per day (BPD), starting by early 2020. The Liza Phase 2, on the other hand, which is targetted for sanctioning by the end of this year, will use an FPSO vessel designed to produce up to 220,000 BPD, and is expected to be producing by mid-2022.

Word is that the Liza-5 well successfully tested the northern portion of the Liza field and, along

with the giant Payara field, will support a third phase of development in Guyana.

The Payara development will target sanctioning in 2019, and use an FPSO vessel designed to produce approximately 180,000 BPD as early as 2023.

Meanwhile, the Longtail well has established the Turbot-Longtail area as a potential development hub for the recovery of more than 500 million BOE. Additional prospects to be drilled in this area could increase this estimate.

The collective discoveries on the Stabroek Block to date have established the potential for up to five FPSOs producing over 750,000 BPD by 2025.

There is potential, too, for additional production from significant undrilled targets, and plans for rapid exploration and appraisal drilling, including at the Ranger discovery.

SHARED INTEREST The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, is the operator, and has a 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.

ExxonMobil, the largest pub-

licly traded international energy company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. It holds an industry-leading inventory of resources; is one of the largest refiners and marketers of petroleum products; and its chemical company is one of the largest in the world.

The Guyana Government is reportedly excited about the announcement from ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Guyana and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum, of the increase in the estimate for the Stabroek Block from 3.2B a few days ago to over 4B BOE. ExxonMobil has made eight discoveries in Guyana’s waters to date, namely: Liza, Payara, Liza Deep, Snoek, Turbot, Ranger, Pacora and Longtail.

Production is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2020 with an estimated 120,000 BPD, with an estimated increase to 220,000 BPD by 2022.

As Minister Trotman observed, “We understand the anxieties and concerns of persons both in wanting to see the revenues to be derived allocated now, and the judicious management of the oil wealth.

“We are confident that this government will not take any action to either fritter away or mismanage these revenues; they belong to the people of Guyana, and it is the

nian government to treat Guyana and St Vincent and the Grenadines as the focal points of their cooperation in the region.

“In that cooperation, they have identified areas where they have an interest: Oil and gas, training, ICT. They are also offering to assist in training and development…governance and corruption,” he told reporters.

In June, several meetings were held with representatives of India, including the High Commissioner to Guyana, on issues ranging from cooperation over the monument in Palmyra to the proposed visit of the Prime Minister of India to Guyana and related visits to Delhi.

On June 15, there was a meeting with the new Russian Ambassador to Guyana, Alexander Kurmaz, over future cooperation, and the intention to enhance the Treaty on Basic Relations signed between Minister Greenidge and Minister Lavrov, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, during a state visit to Moscow, Russia.

Meanwhile, in May, Greenidge disclosed that he met with Pieter De Crem,

people who must benefit first and foremost.”

The Department of Energy, which is imminently being established, will continue the work for the efficient development of the resources on the firm foundation that has already been laid down.

“We have major infrastructural, economic and social transformation projects and programmes which are being developed in consultation with the people of Guyana. We have initiatives such as the paving of the Linden-Lethem trail and the bridging of the Essequibo River which must be pursued as matters of urgent national priorities,” Minister Trotman said.

The oil revenues will allow the government to fulfill the dreams of the Guyanese people and to ensure that the quality of life for every citizen improves over the coming years.

Guyana has recently attracted prominent international media attention which fell short of fair and balanced reportage, but the government is confident that after decades of under-development and despite the challenges that lie ahead, the indomitable spirit of the Guyanese people will rise to the occasion and prevail, as Guyana is poised at the entrance of a new dimension of national and human development, the likes of which the country has never before experienced.

“We exist to benefit the members of the Community” – Seventh Day Adventists

Romania wants in on oil-and-gas ROMANIA has expressed an interest in working with Guyana in the areas of oil and gas, corruption, water management, water management and the rule of law.

During bilateral talks recently with Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and Deputy Prime Minister of Romania, Ana Birchall in the Bahamas, the country indicated that it also has an interest in agriculture and tourism.

Moreover, the country has indicated that it is interested in receiving a Guyana trade mission, and Guyana’s participation in trade fairs in Romania. They have also offered assistance in fiscal administration through their National Agency of Fiscal Administration, as well as assistance in sustainable coastal management through their Institute of Marine Biology and Ecology, the Foreign Affairs Minister announced Monday.

Minister Greenidge said, too, that Romaina’s interest in cooperating with Guyana reflects a decision by the Roma-

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Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge

Secretary of State for Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of Belgium in Lome, Togo. During their meeting, a range of issues including mutual support for candidates to international institutions such as the UN agencies and bilateral cooperation were discussed. “We agreed to hold further discussions in Brussels in the course of the forthcoming ACP and ACP EU meetings in the Kingdom of Belgium,” he said.

Additionally, the Minister held routine discussions with the Executive of the National Disability Commission: Chair of the National Disability Commission, Evelyn Hamilton, Commissioner of the National Disability Commission, Shelly Wilson, and Advocacy and Communication Officer, Avonel Currica.

AS Kwakwani is still experiencing severe flooding, the Guyana Conference of Seventh Day Adventists brought relief to 150 affected families in the said community.

Seventh Day Adventist Pastor, Jumoul Sancho, told this newspaper that the Guyana Conference is made up of 220 congregations, scattered throughout the 10 administrative regions of Guyana. And as a church, they believe they exist to benefit the members of the Community. “Community development is something we do regularly. Each church within our conference does work in their community all year round. It is always within our best interest to be of assistance in whatever way we can to persons in need,” Pastor Sancho said.

Over the weekend, The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the Community Services Department of the Guyana Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, collaborated to compile and transport 150 food hampers for affected families in Kwakwani. Sancho stated that these hampers aren’t just for Seventh Day Adventist church members, but also for other members of the community.

“As you may be aware, the residents of Kwakwani have expressed that they’ve had water since June and in recent time it has risen to 7-8 feet. So over the past week we decided that we need to make an intervention and aid in bringing relief in the best way that we can, to our members as well as others Turn to page 11 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 24, 2018

N Korea ‘begins dismantling’ rocket launch site

North Korea has used the Sohae station to launch rockets

(BBC) North Korea appears to have begun dismantling part of a key rocket launch site in the country's north-west.

Satellite images of the Sohae station seen by USbased monitoring group 38 North suggest Pyongyang is complying with a promise

made to the US in June.

President Donald Trump said North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un had vowed to destroy an engine test site, but did not specify which one.

Pyongyang has maintained that Sohae is a satellite launch site.

But US officials suspect that it has been used to test ballistic missiles.

During a landmark meeting between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore last month, the two leaders signed a deal to work towards the "complete denuclearisation of the Kore-

Greece wildfires: At least 20 killed, dozens injured (BBC) Forest fires raging across Greece have killed at least 20 people, the government says, as the authorities there seek international assistance.

Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blazes and people have left their homes near the capital, Athens.

A search and rescue operation is underway for 10 tourists who fled one of the fires in a boat, officials say.

"We will do whatever is humanly possible to control it," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told reporters.

He cut short an official trip to Bosnia in order to help coordinate the response to the situation, which firefighters have described as "extremely difficult".

Early on Tuesday government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos confirmed that the death toll had risen to 20.

Most of the victims were trapped in the seaside resort of Mati, 40km (25 miles) north-east of Athens, and died either in their homes or their cars.

More than 104 are injured, 11 seriously, he added, with 16 children among the casualties.

Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the blazes

Miltiadis Vyronas, from the country's Ekav emergency service, said that 25 people had been taken to hospital and four were seriously injured.

Dramatic video posted on social media showed damaged buildings, orange smoke-filled skies, and people fleeing the fires by car.

Prime Minister Tsipras said that "all emergency forces have been mobilised" and declared a state of emergency in the Attica region around Athens.

The government has asked other European countries for helicopters and additional firefighters to help tackle the fires.

Earlier on Monday, residents of a coastal region near Athens were told to abandon their homes as the uncontrolled fires spread.

Hundreds of children were also evacuated from holiday camps.

The extreme weather comes as dozens of wildfires continue to rage in Sweden.

Countries including Italy, Germany, Poland and France have all sent help in the form of additional planes, vehicles and firefighters.

But with temperatures set to soar again, they are in a race against time to get the fires under control.

an Peninsula".

But the deal was criticised for a lack of details on when or how Pyongyang would renounce its nuclear weapons.

During a landmark meeting between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore last month, the two leaders signed a deal to work towards the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula".

But the deal was criticised for a lack of details on when or how Pyongyang would renounce its nuclear weapons.

North Korea has car-

ried out a total of six nuclear tests, the most recent

of which took place in September last year.

The satellite imagery appears to show the dismantling of facilities at North Korea's Sohae site

Migrant crisis: Italy to accept arrivals until deal reached (BBC) Italy is to allow migrant rescue ships to dock until the EU reaches a deal to distribute new arrivals.

Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi said Italy would continue to accept vessels for five weeks while the EU renegotiated its existing policy.

Italy's new right-wing government has taken a hard line on migration.

The country is the main point of entry for Africans coming to Europe by sea, but wants the burden of migrant arrivals to be shared among EU states.

Speaking on Monday af-

ter talks with his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, Mr Milanesi said Italy's ports would remain open until a solution was reached to prevent "all rescued people from landing in one country".

In June, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte warned that the Schengen Zone of visa-free travel across much of Europe was in danger if the EU failed to reach a consensus on the issue of migration.

The same month, the Italian government refused to allow more than 600 migrants aboard the charity rescue ship Aquarius to disembark. The

ship was eventually diverted to a Spanish port.

Another charity ship, Lifeline, was only able to dock in Malta after eight EU states agreed to take in a number of those on board. Italy had again refused to allow the vessel to enter its ports.

However, the policy has come under scrutiny after a Spanish charity accused the Libyan coastguard of abandoning three migrants, including a woman and child who died, and blamed Italy for its alleged support for the Libyan action. Both countries denied the charity's accusations.

Italy had recently refused to allow migrant ships to enter its ports

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 24, 2018

Brazil far-right politician enters presidential race (BBC) A controversial far-right politician, Jair Bolsonaro, has formally declared that he is running in Brazil's presidential election in October.

The former army officer is currently in second place in the polls behind ex-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

But Lula is in jail for corruption and is unlikely to be able to run.

Mr Bolsonaro has outraged many in Brazil with racist and homophobic comments. But his backers see him as a saviour in a crime-ridden country.

Mr Bolsonaro is followed by millions of Brazilians on social media, and many

refer to him as the "Brazilian Trump".

RACISM INVESTIGATION In 2011, he told Playboy magazine that he would be "incapable of loving a gay son" and that he would rather see such a son of his "die in an accident".

In 2015, he was fined for saying in a newspaper interview that Congresswoman Maria do Rosario was "not worth raping; she is very ugly".

He is currently being investigated for alleged racism over derogatory remarks he made about Afro-Brazilians.

Mr Bolsonaro, 63, declared himself a candidate to about 3,000 cheering sup-

Former government minister charged with DUI (Trinidad Newsday) Former government minister Carlos John was arrested at the Maraval Police Station on Sunday night and charged with driving under the influence (DUI).

John went to the station around 7 pm on Sunday to report an accident, and police noticed a strong odour of alcohol on his breath.

John agreed to a breathalyser test, which registered 79 micrograms, which is above the legal limit. He was charged by WPC Jerry of the Western Division Traffic Unit.

When he appeared at the Port of Spain Magistrates Court yesterday, the

Carlos John

matter was adjourned to September 7.

porters at a rally in Rio de Janeiro.

The congressman said he would be represented by the Social Liberal Party (PSL) - seen as a lightweight in Brazilian politics.

This means he will have less than 10 seconds of air time for his TV campaign ads - a serious handicap in the presidential race.

"We don't have a big party. We don't have election funding. We don't have television time," Mr Bolsonaro said.

"But we have what the others don't have, which is you, the Brazilian people."

The candidate, who advocates loosening the country's gun control laws to deal with

Jair Bolsonaro declared his candidacy to his cheering supporters at a rally in Rio de Janeiro

crime, is backed by millions of evangelical Christians for his uncompromising anti-abortion stand.

Opinion polls suggest he is ahead if Lula is banned from running.

But some surveys sug-

gest that while many Brazilians see him as the man to take control of crime and corruption, he also has a high rejection rate which could make it tricky for him to win if the vote were to go into a run-off.

Research vital in medical marijuana decision (Nationnews) Minister of Health and Wellness, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic, has emphasised the importance of research as Government looks towards making medical marijuana more accessible to the public.

Speaking to medical doctors and researchers at the 18th annual Professor Errol E. R. Walrond Scientific Symposium last Friday, Lt. Col. Bostic lauded Professor Walrond’s ethics case presentation on medical marijuana as an excellent example of such research.

He noted that traditionally, Barbados has looked to regional and international institutions to be leaders in clinical research, but he posited that research “should begin at home”.

“Research which is initiated within our community is culturally relevant and sensitive to our particular needs, which differ from those of other countries.”

Acknowledging the value of the symposium in this regard, he added: “We must seek to innovate, develop and

implement what is ours instead of always importing foreign ideas and processes and then adapting them to suit our situations.”

The Health and Wellness Minister noted that some of the research work presented by participants in the symposium addressed the cost-effectiveness of some interventions.

He welcomed this, explaining that it was important for the Ministry to have a clear idea of costing with regard to health services in order to assess the socio-economic impact of the disease profile in Barbados.

Lt. Col. Bostic told his audience that every time he reiterated the cost of health care in Barbados, “there were those who emerge to imply that the Government will start charging for health care. This is far from the truth”.

He explained: “My goal is quite simple. That is to remind Barbadians that health care here, like anywhere else, is quite costly; secondly, that the State cannot provide all clinical interventions free of cost to

all end users; thirdly, that taxes paid cannot and have never been enough to provide everything; and fourthly, that we can work together to contain cost without compromising on quality of service.”

He told the researchers that their work was extremely important in helping Government achieve the goal of cost containment without compromising quality.

Arguing that too often the proposals emanating from researchers were relegated to academic journals, Minister Bostic challenged the group to move a step further. “Let your work help us to effectively shape policies and improve upon efficiencies in our public and private healthcare system,” he urged. (BGIS)

Barbados working to implement CSME-related decisions (Barbados Nation) Barbados has started its mobilisation campaign to implement decisions related to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), for which it has lead responsibility, as mandated by Heads of Government at the recently concluded 39th Regular Meeting in Jamaica.

An important phase of this process got under way today, when Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley met with key stakeholders at Government Headquarters to review

CSME-related decisions that were taken at the conference.

These included the Protocol on Contingent Rights, Simplified Administrative Procedures for Movement of Persons under the CSME, the Police Certificate of Character, Procedures on the Refusal of Entry of CARICOM Nationals, Security, Government Procurement, and the Entitlement of Haitian Nationals to an Automatic Stay of Six Months upon arrival in CARICOM Member States.

Prime Minister Mottley and of-

ficials also examined the Ensuing Work Programme for Barbados, and upcoming regional meetings on CSME-related matters, including the Prime Ministerial Sub-committee on the CSME, and the Meeting of the Council for Finance and Planning, which takes place in Barbados in September 2018.

The meeting was also attended

by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Dale Marshall; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr Jerome

Walcott; Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic; Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Sandra Husbands; Minister of Home Affairs, Edmund Hinkson; Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Santia Bradshaw; Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Public Affairs, Senator Lucille Moe, and senior officials from those ministries.

(BGIS)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 24, 2018

The ‘90-90-90’ compact

THE Public Health Ministry and the UNAIDS (Guyana) Office last week agreed on a three-year HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan to help improve the life expectancy of those affected by the virus here.

Under the terms of the HIVision2020 covenant, 90 per cent of Guyanese living with AIDS caused by the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) must be diagnosed by 2020 and a similar number must be receiving their anti-retroviral treatment. Guyana and UNAIDS also estimate that under the pact, 90 per cent of the people must be in treatment with a “fully suppressed viral load” by 2020. This vision will cost the country some US$5.58M ($1.14B) to meet the global target.

This is a laudable initiative and even Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings welcomed the costing exercise just ahead of the ongoing national budget process. Cummings said Guyana is committed to the UNAIDS 90-90-90 treatment targets, the elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission (eMTCT) of HIV and Syphilis which has also been included in the costing.

Since the first case of HIV/AIDS was recorded decades ago, millions of persons around the globe have died annually from the various symptoms associated with it. Accord-

ing to the latest statistics as recorded on the UNAIDS website, 19.5 million people were accessing anti-retroviral therapy in 2016.

•36.7 million [30.8 million–42.9 million] people globally were living with HIV in 2016.

1.8 million [1.6 million–2.1 million] people became newly infected with HIV in 2016; 1 million [830 000–1.2 million] people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2016. •76.1 million [65.2 million–88.0 million] people have become infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic.

•35.0 million [28.9 million–41.5 million] people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic. Despite public service messages, advertisements and seminars hosted to educate persons on the dangers attached to having unprotected sex, there are still a substantial number of persons dying every year from AIDS-related complications.

Millions of dollars are annually being spent to help sensitise the public on the disease which was first diagnosed here in Guyana in the year 1987, not only because of its ability to rob otherwise healthy persons of their lives which knocks decades off of a country’s national development, but also for its ability to “widen the gulf between rich and

poor nations and push already stigmatised groups closer to the margins of society.”

Since then, a combination of factors such as increased access to anti-retroviral treatments, programmes focussing on youth development, reproductive health and counselling have seen a constant decrease in the number of new cases each year.

Guyana also seems to be doing well in the fight against mother-to-child transmission of the disease as a result of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme, and soon may be able to boast of the public health achievement of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV as Cuba did.

For all the improvements over the years, however, doctors are now of the opinion that a new formulated strategy needs to be put in place with the spread of the virus, as many persons across the country are taking comfort in its success rate of reduction and this has encouraged complacency, as many have stopped seeing the urgent need for protection which has resulted in “a growing trend of new HIV cases.”

There is an urgent need to sustain and intensify efforts in the fight against infection,

so that its levels can be kept at a minimum, particularly amongst young people. Recent statistics have shown that over 60% of the new cases are isolated to young persons, showing the need for more education regarding the virus and its potential dangers amongst the young. Education on prevention aside, more also needs to be done in helping to eliminate or diminish the amount of stigma and discriminative attitudes held towards those with the disease. Stigma in Guyana and around the world is often so strong that those who are infected or suspect that they are, are often hindered from seeking treatment or learning of their status and being educated on preventative measures. This creates a barrier, which could potentially become life-threatening and significantly decrease the mental health of the person.

While there has been some progress over the years with the monitoring and reduction of stigma within the workplace, as guidelines have been put in place to help in that respect, the stigma within the wider society is still largely in place and for the most part will largely remain that way over the next few years.

Attack on Minister Broomes disgraceful

Dear Editor

1. CGID has criticized Minister Simona Broomes for her involvement in the incident at the New Thriving Restaurant parking lot with security guards, Robert Goodluck and Hash Ramroop from KGM Security Firm. Our criticism is well-documented and publicised in Guyana, the Caribbean and internationally. I stand by that criticism. Minister Broomes was wrong to exit her vehicle, knocking down the barricades or signs and engaging in a confrontation with the guards.

2. However, the orchestration of nasty, sexist, mean-spirited defamatory attacks on the minister as a woman is not only hyperbolic, but has exceeded the realm of acceptable criticism. It is an abominable development that must not be tolerated. Let me be clear, I am in

no way defending the minister or excusing her conduct. My contention is that the unwarranted personal attacks are disgraceful.

3. The video released to the public by the owners of the parking lot is inconclusive. It has no audio and only captures part of the incident.

Therefore, the public cannot make an informed judgment based on the video.

4. This incident has caused Minister Broomes to come under intense scrutiny and public criticism; maybe rightly so, given her ill-advised actions. But shouldn't all parties be scrutinized as is the norm in democratic societies? A cardinal principle of justice is that you must have clean hands in order to seek redress and remedies from the judicial process. One cannot steal a car and then take a man to court to recover it, if he in turn steals that same car from you.

5. Do the security guards have clean hands? CGID was advised by separate law enforcement sources that security guard, Robert Goodluck, may not be employed and licensed as an "armed" security guard under his true identity. CGID has seen documents that allege that Goodluck may have been convicted for possession of an illegal firearm in the United States and deported to Guyana, allegedly under the identity of “Robert Wren.” If true, how and when did he change his name to "Robert Goodluck?" Did he change his name lawfully? If so, when and where are the supporting legal documents? Could this be the reason for his alleged concealment of his true identity?

6. If this information is accurate, how was a person who was allegedly convicted of a firearms offence, who is also ostensibly a deportee, able to secure a police/security

clearance to obtain a security guard licence and firearm permit? These are two separate violations of the law and severe breaches of national security for which the Police Commissioner and Minister of National Security must account. I hereby call on them to do so urgently.

7. CGID was also advised by law enforcement sources that the second involved security guard, Hash Ramroop, in his statement to Police, allegedly confirmed that Goodluck cocked his gun and placed it in an assault posture during the confrontation with the minister.

If true, this potentially corroborates part of the minister's account of the incident, which was reported in the press. The Police Commissioner must also clarify this contention.

8. CGID believes in fundamental fairness and equal justice for all.

Fairness and the truth are essential principles of our justice system,

journalism and the shaping of public opinion. Kaieteur Newspaper reported on July 20, 2018, that Minister Broomes has not shown up for police scheduled confrontations with the security guards. This report is false. CGID has confirmed that the Minister, at the request of the police, attended two scheduled confrontations along with her driver and attorney, but on both occasions the security guards failed to show up. The attached photograph shows the minister, her driver, attorney and police investigators at the Brickdam Police Station awaiting the guards who never showed up.

9. In the Kaieteur News article, one of the guards alleged that he did not attend a scheduled confrontation because his lawyer told him that the minister was unavailable to attend. Obviously, Turn to page 7 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 24, 2018

Small Business Bureau pushes education, training for clients CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Small Business Bureau (SBB), Dr. Lowell Porter has said that an issue with businesses in Guyana is that many business owners have only primary education.

Speaking at the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI)’s business forum held at the Pegasus Hotel on Saturday, Porter noted that there are many issues confronting the bureau.

“We have over 10,000 clients,” Porter shared while adding that there are a lot more persons and groups that benefit from training. Porter however bemoaned, “Most of our owners of businesses

have primary education and that is also an issue.”

He shared statistics which showed that just over 400 persons have primary education; just over 300 have secondary education; more than 100 have tertiary while only about 50 have university education.

This is an issue, because without the necessary knowledge, persons may venture into a business and may be unable to manage it effectively, according to Porter.

For him, training is essential to the success of any venture because it provides the solid foundation needed to build the business upon.

To this end, he noted that the development of small busi-

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Small Business Bureau (SBB), Dr. Lowell Porter

nesses or entrepreneurial ventures goes hand-in-hand with education, and according to him, it is better to start learning from as early as possible.

“We have belief that if you start early in Entrepre-

neurship, you start giving [potential business owners] that appetite to explore [and] to find something they wanna do,” Porter said. To this end, he shared that the bureau has an in-school programme

where it works with children at the secondary level.

Dr. Porter shared a success story of one boy from Bartica who benefitted from the in-school training and was able to successfully establish a small business and though he is currently underage, he is working with the bureau until he is of the age to apply for a loan.

The SBB helps small business owners to gain knowledge through training programmes, but also fosters business to business networking, by matching businesses locally and internationally; facilitating expos and supporting the development of

7

clusters.

Adding to Porter’s remarks was Lecturer of Entrepreneurship at the University of Guyana, Diana Gobin. She shared that she invested in a business that eventually failed because she did not apply entrepreneurial theory to her business management and that was her error. She overlooked the importance of components of business like a feasibility study and market research. Gobin posited that through education, you are able to learn a host of critical tenets required to develop and manage a business.

Transfer of cop is aimed at maintaining efficiency Dear Editor THE Guyana Police Force is responding to a newspaper article published in Kaieteur News on Sunday, July 22, 2018 under the caption “Traffic Control at Berbice Bridge… Inspector transferred after refusing to take Top Cop’s call on civilian’s phone”. Please permit me to respond to the allegation made.

That on the day in question, there were two members of the Force, one being a Subordinate Officer in the vehicle, and two civilians and having stopped at the police roadblock, the driver explained who they were.

In this process, the documents for the vehicle were requested and the Inspector and a Sergeant, had an issue with one of the documents, which resulted in grossly uncomplimentary remarks being made by the Inspector

and the Sergeant, much to the shock and dismay of the police ranks and civilians, after the driver explained that the Commissioner of Police (ag) sent them to Berbice on duty, and the driver made the call to the Commissioner of Police (ag).

On Friday March 23, 2018 about 10:00hrs, Inspector G. Playter, among two other ranks from ‘B’ Division, were summoned to a meeting, where one of the ranks who was in the minibus, related in the presence of Assistant Commissioner ‘Operations’ Mr. C. Hicken and Second-in-Command ‘Administration’, W/Assistant Commissioner M. Graham, DSM, what took place the previous day. These documents were subsequently produced to the Assistant Commissioner ‘Operations’, in the presence of the Traffic Chief, and all

Attack on Minister ...

Kaieteur News published its article based solely on the third hand information from the guard and without verifying its accuracy. This is fundamentally unfair, irresponsible and malicious.

10. I reaffirm CGID commitment to fairness and equal justice under law. I’m aware of the multiple actors from the political opposition

who are driving this story.

However, Kaieteur News and other media have an obligation to be fair, balanced and professional when seeking and reporting the news.

They must sift through the flit and propaganda to ascertain the facts and report those facts accurately. I reiterate that CGID is in no way defending the min-

were found to be in order; the Inspector clearly did not understand the matter of the vehicle pass on the day in question.

Inspector Playter and his ranks listened, acknowledged and admitted that he in particular showed total disregard for the Commissioner of Police’s Office by his utterances and subsequently apologised. As it relates to him being transferred, rotation is a management tool used to assist in the maintenance of efficiency within the Guyana Police Force, inter alia.

This Inspector’s behavior comes as no surprise, as prior to this incident, he was posted to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, to relieve a colleague Prosecutor who was proceeding on Annual Vacation Leave, but instead, he reported sick and obtained one month sick leave. It is also no surprise

From page 6 ► ister’s actions. However, we demand fairness in the investigative process as well as factual, balanced, professional reporting.

Regards Rickford Burke President Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)

for the publication, as his daughter is employed by the very newspaper. It is unfortunate that these administrative matters find themselves in the public

domain, exacerbated by some sections of the press who believe that it is something worthy of public consumption.

Regards Jairam Ramlakhan Superintendent Public Relations and Press Officer Guyana Police Force

No notice was given for this road work Dear Editor, SOMETHINGS happen in Guyana that are simply beyond comprehension.

Simple things or procedures, when not properly organised or implemented, often become major inconveniences or burdensome issues to those of us who live here.

On Saturday afternoon, July 21, around 6pm, I decided to visit one of Georgetown’s famous malls. One of the routes to get there is north along the University of Guyana (UG) access road, if one is approaching from the southern section of the city. So, I drove east along Dennis Street, Sophia, and turned north onto the UG road. As I approached the entrance to UG from its eastern side, I noticed, a short distance ahead, an improvised barricade of three painted oil drums along with traffic cones lined across the roadway from one end to the next. An excavator, which was at work, had dug a huge trenching across the roadway.

PVC drainage culverts were

being installed.

I was completely dumbfounded; a sudden impediment to my journey out of the blue.

A small crowd had gathered to observe the ongoing work. I pulled into the corner of the road just in front the UG entrance and parked my vehicle. I had a big question on my mind and was hoping that one of the workmen there could have answered it. While I made my way towards the workmen, several other equally uninformed motorists caught by the abrupt road closure, were forced to turn around the best way they could.

I asked one of the workmen if the person in charge of the works was there. His hurried response was in the negative, but I believe he wasn’t truthful. It is ridiculous that after 50 years of independence, a main roadway could be closed to vehicular traffic in Guyana and adequate notification not provided to road-users. No “approaching road closure” or detour signs were placed

a mile away for road users’ awareness. International standards set out what temporary traffic control entail: details of specific work activities, inconvenience time/ days, as well as detouring traffic options should be publicized.

That is elementary stuff!

That dug-up section of road connects traffic from the East Coast and surrounding areas to UG, Cummings Lodge, Sophia, South Georgetown, the East Bank, and vice versa. It is one of the main alternative routes, other than Sheriff Street, linking the East Coast to Georgetown. Yet, whoever was responsible for carrying out that construction did not see it fit to place signs at the Dennis Street/ UG access road or the Dennis Street/ Eastern Highway Junctions. The person/ persons obviously didn’t consider the mobility or security implications, although there are several which I will not detail here.

Regards Orette Cutting

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Countries willing to help with O&G training – Min. Greenidge says, but finding the skillset might prove difficult WITH Guyana slated to start oil production during the first quarter of 2020, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge has made it clear that there is great need for specialised training in the areas of oil and gas, and mining.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Takuba Lodge, Greenidge said many countries have expressed an interest in Guyana’s oil sector, but in some instances the assistance being provided is through education and or training.

“We are at a point where we clearly do not have sufficient skills,” the minister stated while noting that those external entities which wish to assist Guyana with the training of personnel would be seeking to find out if Guyanese have the requisite level of skills for intake.

He said, too, that oftentimes during bilateral meetings, countries are more and more offering to provide training, but meeting the criteria needed to gain entry into the universities or other institutions of higher learning continues to be a challenge.

“Countries are offering to train engineers and so on, and we are looking to see whether there are Guyanese with the requisite skills for the intake,” he told reporters.

Minister Greenidge explained that at

bilateral meetings, discussions are of a general nature, as countries more or less seek to deepen cooperation.

“It goes without saying, when you are a prospective oil producer,” he said, “you are going to have more interest there than other special commodities.

During discussions, [the foreign] country would say it has capacity through an institute in natural resources or oil and gas…and facilities that will help them facilitate training of engineers.”

He said, too, that the executing agencies like the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Ministry of Natural Resources would then take up the offers.

Greenidge made it clear that when institutions offer to provide skills training, it is for Guyana to question the output and the sort of skills that will be generated, and whether the said skills are of interest to the country.

“People need to be trained in almost everything in mining,” the Foreign Minister stated, while noting that there is also a need for economists and other specialists in the field of finance and management, given the country’s discovery of oil, an industry that is new to it.

Greenidge told reporters that it is

because of the lack of skills in the oiland-gas sector that Guyanese are likely to be overlooked for jobs. As such, he is urging that persons become qualified in the field so that they, too, can benefit directly from the industry. If not, specialised jobs will be filled by foreigners.

“Our citizens have to be qualified; that’s a challenge. People recognise where the opportunities are, and buying and selling is not a problem for us; most of us are accustomed to buying cheap and selling expensive, but we need to qualify our citizens,” Greenidge stated.

Additionally, the minister repeatedly noted the importance of Guyanese ensuring that they equip themselves to provide services that will be needed.

“We need to face the truth,” he said. “Buying and selling is not going to be an advantage to us. Our businesses are accustomed to buying cheap and selling expensive. You can’t compete with the internationals if that is your business; you have to add value to something,” he said.

That aside, the minister urged members of the Diaspora “to ensure you can equip yourselves to provide services that can be certified.”

Credit Bureau assisting financial institutions make informed lending decisions GUYANA’s first Credit Bureau, CreditInfo, says that several credit agencies have been taking advantage of its vast credit database resulting in lenders such as commercial banks approving loans in one day rather than weeks or months.

The system being referenced utilises the credit reports of all borrowers from various types of credit entities in the country to provide information to lending agencies on the creditworthiness of an individual or business.

It significantly cuts down on time associated with the need for a list of documents for borrowers to prove their history or credit habits to potential lenders.

At a press conference on Monday at the agency’s local head office, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Judy Semple-Joseph and Manager of Sales and Business Development, David Falconer, provided a detailed update in this regard.

Semple-Joseph said that while the concept of an agency providing information from institutions to commercial banks is a relatively new concept to Guyana, it [is] necessary as it presents benefits both to the corporate com-

SEBI calls for partnership with local business community THE School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI), at the University of Guyana (UG) is calling for partnerships with the local business community to promote learning opportunities and to hone the sector here.

Speaking to persons from the local business community at the recent Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI)’s business forum, lecturer of entrepreneurship at SEBI, Diana Gobin highlighted: “We would like internship opportunities for our students; you out there you have the businesses and we would like our students to be interns in your business.”

Moreover, Gobin called for partnerships between the businesses and the students where there can be a ‘two-way’ flow of training.

She explained that ideally it would be beneficial to have students benefit from onthe-job training, business persons of themselves can go to SEBI for training.

“What we also have to note, is that you don’t have to register for an entire programme, you can come and register for a single course,” she explained and highlighted that once persons meet the university’s requirements, this single course will only last about 13 weeks.

creditors.

Comprehensive data on all borrowers in Guyana is now being routinely and regularly updated to CreditInfo’s database for use in creating credit reports.

These actions meet the mandate of the Credit Reporting (Amendment) Act 2016

munity and general public.

Some of CreditInfo’s subscribers, which number 26, include commercial banks; non-

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Judy Semple-Joseph speaks of the successes of the database system thus far (Samuel Maughn photo)

CreditInfo’s Manager of Sales and Business Development David Falconer (Samuel Maughn photo)

bank financial entities; micro-financing institutions; utility services; insurance companies; student loan agencies; credit unions and trade

for regulated credit information providers to upload credit information to the licensed Credit Bureau.

Following the (Amendment) Act, the Bureau was strengthened and better able to maintain credit records in its database, therefore bringing Guyana in line with modern practices.

At the press conference, the CEO said that in this the beginning stage, commercial banks and credit unions, at the click of the mouse,

Lecturer of Entrepreneurship at SEBI, Diana Gobin

Gobin also noted that the school is willing to facilitate “guest lecturers” where persons in the business community, with their wealth of practical business operations can come and edify students of the school.

This would be particularly beneficial in helping students understand the local business climate, the lecturer posited.

Adding to this, would be the facilitation of company tours where students would again be exposed to businesses and their operations in the local context.

And finally, Gobin stressed, “Our students don’t come and learn theory,” and instead affirmed, “[We] actually have practically things to do.” To this end, she shared that the students come up with new and innovative products and solutions which can be produced for and sold by local businesses.

can have access to credit checks on any potential borrower viewing their credit payment history, habits and debts to other lenders.

Meanwhile, the borrower, in turn, is able to request their personal credit report utilizing it as a means to be more aware of their chances for approval prior to approaching a lender and to monitor and control their credit situation.

“This works to the benefit of both parties as it encourages and guarantees responsible lending and responsible borrowing,” Semple-Joseph said.

Creditinfo also has high on the agenda matters of safeguarding privacy, confidentially and accuracy of information.

“This information is subjected to a series of checks and balances before it even hits our database. Because what we’re doing here is that we’re purporting to make judgements on your creditworthiness. That’s a very important thing; it’s serious business. So we won’t allow or take the chance on inaccurate data produced in any incorrect credit report which will then negatively affect your ability to obtain credit,” Falconer assured.

The two heads also stressed the need for more small businesses and individuals to take advantage of CreditInfo’s vast database by regularly checking their credit score.

The agency currently experiences an average of 40 direct consumers per month which request their credit report information while some 4,000 credit reports are accessed by subscribers per month through the system.

“It is not a number that we’re happy with because we want to see more persons being aware of what Turn to page 10 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

UG Final Year course releases students’ inner benevolence FIVE final year Social Work and Environmental Studies students of the University of Guyana were assigned to complete a project for a final year course - Community Practice DSW 4104.

The five students made a tremendous intervention in the lives of young girls in the Lusignan village. This idea was sparked from a house to house visit in the area.

Social Work students Padminie De Souza and Annaely Wilson Matheson and Environmental Studies students; Athena Lyttle, Antonio Phillips and Sabita Stephenson, explained that they were “fishing for ideas” but knew what they had wanted. It was not just to complete a project to get a grade at the end, but to make an impact and change lives.

Their initial plan was to do a project for stay at home moms but after they conducted a house to house consultation, they realised what was prevalent in the village was young girls at home doing nothing. Some dropped out of school, others completed, but did not have the necessary grades to secure a job, others

because of teen pregnancy.

It was after that discovery, the students realised that was where the impact was needed.

They conducted a five week programme with the young girls at the LusignanGood Hope Learning Centre which consisted of literacy sessions, motivational sessions, self-esteem building, a session was conducted on knowing and understanding their body by Dr. Faqueeda Watson and one on how to make table décor with recycled materials.

“What we discovered was that the girls in this area are very shy and have little confidence in themselves and their ability. And I got so very excited, not because of their little confidence, but to know that I can help in that regard and share my knowledge and experience so that they can better their lives and decisions they make,” Athena Lyttle said.

Padminie De Souza shared that she grew a very close bond with the girls in the programme and it thrills her heart to see the change they brought to the girls’ lives and she hopes that the fire

The five UG students; From left, Sabita Stephenson, Padminie De Souza, Antonio Phillips, Athena Lyttle and Annaely Wilson Matheson

they lit will not be dampened at the end of the programme.

The students also liaised with a teacher from the Lusignan Primary School to assist sixteen pupils that are not so privileged with back to school supplies. The hampers were generously donated by R. NandKumar, Resha Persaud and Kitana’s Travel.

“This has definitely released the inner humanitarian in me. I’ve come to love the impact we made so much that I am willing and ready to continue doing good deeds like these in other communities,” Antonio Phillips said.

Sabita Stephenson said that her involvement in this programme has definitely

Gun and ammo accused walks free ON Friday Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, set free a man who was charged for possession of firearm and ammunition without being the holder of a license.

This was after his attorney, Dexter Todd successfully lobbied the court for a suspended sentence for his client. Kasie Moloney was charged with the offence along with escaping from lawful custody.

On Friday after hearing the arguments of Todd whose client changed his initial plea from not guilty to guilty, the magistrate handed down the suspended ruling to Moloney and recommended that he undergoes immediate counseling by a social worker.

Added to that, the young man was also required to pay a fee of $30,000 on each case jacket which was before the court in his name. Moloney ended up before the court after his employer, a businessman had asked him to keep his firearm. The police who were passing at the time noticed that the man was acting in suspicious manner and they stopped and searched him. Moloney indicated to the ranks that his employer asked him to keep the weapon for him but the ranks would not accept the excuse. Technically and lawfully, Moloney ought not to have

been in possession of the weapon as he was not a license firearm holder.

When he was taken to the Brickdam Police Station on that day, he reportedly paid a police constable five thousand dollar to allow him to go home and sleep before returning to the police station.

This was communicated to the court but it the rank denied. In fact it was on that basis of him going home and sleep that caused him to be charged with escaping from lawful custody. This was after the constable who allowed the man to leave came under pressure from his superiors.

The court was told that the young man who was shackled managed to jump over the counter and make good his escape and although ranks chased after him he was not apprehended. The lawyer argued against that and told the court that the story was not adding up as he questioned how it was possible for no single rank to catch up with his client even as he also questioned the releasing of the shackles from his feet. The court agreed that the story was not adding up and the matter was discharged. At the end of it all, the defendant and his family left the court room in all smiles.

changed her life. To see the circumstances of other people made her intrigued to bring about change and touch as much lives as she can, she said. Annaely Wilson Matheson said she is proud and touched at what they were capable to do in just a few weeks.

In addition to the sessions, the girls received packages with personal hygiene items and house supplies and food items donated by Food for the Poor.

They were generously supported to execute this project by several other businesses such as Massy, S&S Supermarket, Specialized Timber Service, just to name

a few, to provide young women in Lusignan with skills and packages to transform their lives.

This newspaper spoke with a number of the girls who have participated in the programme and they all were overwhelmed with what they would have achieved.

“Most of us, we all live on the same street and we don’t talk to each other. This programme made us build a lasting friendship that will definitely bring about change in our lives,” one of the participants said.

Another said, “A lot of the things we learn here we can take it with us for the rest of our lives. I personally, and I know some of the other girls too, we can start our own small business making some of the craft things we learnt to make and sell them back.”

“I didn’t even know I was this talented in making the things I made. Some of the designs I made up on my own and I feel very proud of myself to know that I have some talent,” another said.

“I feel like I can be an interior decorator now, I can start making money by mak-

ing things to decorate people’s home,” one girl said.

“I would like to see more things like these happening in our community. I know there is so much more to learn and so many more girls around here to learn it, but our resources are limited. I wish more persons like these students can remember us and come and share their knowledge with us,” another girl related.

The UG students all expressed how proud they are of what they have achieved and this experience, with the joy and happiness they brought to these young lives. They said they will most definitely commit to continue doing outreach programmes like these in other communities to continue touching lives and making a difference.

They also added that the theoretical knowledge gained in their classroom served as guidance in the execution of the project and they are looking forward to learning more and using their knowledge to continue doing community interventions and bring about change in people’s lives.

Police Force assists students of Santa Mission

Commander Rishi Das with children who benefitted from the distribution of the back to school items

IN keeping with the Guyana Police Force’s policy on building partnerships with communities, Commander of ‘D’ Division, Senior Superintendent Rishi Das and team along with members of the C-PETS (Creating Positive Environments Through Safer Communities) recently visited Santa Mission where 60 children were given school items.

The commander met with the Deputy Captain, village councils and residents in the community after which the team distributed exercise books, reading materials,

haversacks and other school items to 60 children from the Santa Mission Primary School.

Commander Das said the vision of the project is to share the burden of the policing through partnerships for the development of safer communities.

He said that the initiative will promote trust, empower citizens to develop a sense of personal security and to remove the social ills from their communities.

Das explained that the overall objective he added is to reduce crime and fear

of crime within the communities in the division and enhance community safety and security while reducing the incidents of domestic violence while empowering the youths.

He also noted that the project also aims to reduce drugs and alcohol abuse among citizens and promote sports, culture and entertainment and healthy lifestyle awareness.

The C-PETS is a programme that was launched in 2014 by then Commander, Assistant Commissioner (R’td) Ian Amsterdam.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

‘Local content must benefit country’ ...not just individuals – Charles Ceres

GROUND Structures Engineering Consultants Inc. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Charles Ceres painted a weak picture of the public debate on the draft Local Content Policy when the University of Guyana – School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) opened its Local Content Forum on Monday.

“The ongoing public debate on local content is focused on issues such as the need to facilitate individual service providers, for instance Aurora Gold Mines use of local aircraft operators and earth moving contractors and in the case of ExxonMobil rental of office space as opposed the construction of their own facility. How does ExxonMobil create and enhance local capabilities that can be transferred to other sectors by hiring of aircraft and earth moving contractors? Local Content, by definition, must not focus on development of individuals and individual businesses. It

must focus on the development of capabilities for the long-term development of the country,” he said.

Though acknowledging the move to create a Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), Ceres, in his address to stakeholders at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), said authorities in Guyana are yet to come to grips with what exactly is Local Content.

While Guyana’s draft Local Content Policy is being designed to maximise benefits for the Guyanese people and value retention from Guyana’s petroleum resource through Capacity Development, Local Content and Value Addition, Ceres said the discussions to date leave much to be desired.

“The ongoing debate related to local content, however, has so far had very little focus on actions that will lead to longer-term increase in training in appropriate skills to add to the local labour force which can create and enhance

local capabilities that can be transferred to other sectors,” he said.

He stressed that Local Content Policies, in keeping with the 2013 World Bank definition, must bar against the development of disparities between communities.

According to a World Bank document titled Local Content Policies in Oil and Gas Sector, Local Content Policies do not only address immediate increases in local content but longer-term increases that would build capacity among the masses.

“Local content ideally must consider all of Guyana and not communities only within the area of influence of the natural resource development as allowed for the World Bank definition. Failure to focus on the development of all of Guyana will lead to concentrated areas of affluence and will fuel disparities between communities,” the CEO argued.

He did not mince words

Charles Ceres

when he reflected on the past, stating that while local content has long existed in Guyana, the policies were merely short term, and as such were not based on a national development framework.

“Hospitals and schools were built and operated by the Demerara Bauxite Company in the then Mackenzie. Bookers Sugar Estates built hospitals in several communities in Guyana including Skeldon.

Homes built by the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund exist to this day in several parts of Guyana. These practices however created pockets of affluent areas in Guyana.

The fall in the price of bauxite and increased production costs for sugar have seen the decline of communities built on a flawed concept of local content,” Ceres said.

It was noted that while persons who were trained as part of those policies are

utilising their skillset and experience to provide critical services in other sectors of the country, local content is not intended to enhance individuals but build capacity.

Turning his attention to climate change, the CEO pointed out that while the rising sea level is a major issue for Guyana, this has failed to gain the attention of those engaging in discussions on local content.

“The public discourse on Local Content policies has incorporated no concerns related to climate adaptation.

Holland, Belgium and other low countries have adapted to living below sea level…We must define the skills needed to adapt to anticipated increases in sea levels and identify whether these skills can be acquired as part of the local content initiative,” he stated.

Energy generation, he posited, is another area for consideration when discussing Local Government Policies, adding that mechanisms should be identified to ensure avenues are created to develop the appropriate skills within the natural resources sector.

Additionally, he said, “the application of a sound environmental management policy for the natural resources sector will immediately transfer capacity to the environmental management regimes for value added production in agriculture and forestry. The Local Content Policy should consequently work with re-

source extraction companies to identify gaps in the environmental compliance framework in Guyana and train persons to fill these gaps.”

In moving forward, he said that the University of Guyana should play an even more active role in the local content policy debate.

At Ground Structures Engineering Consultants Inc, he said, emphasis is placed on building capacities in the field of engineering.

Combating the Dutch Disease, Local Content and Economic Growth and Skilled Development and Knowledge Transfer through Local Content Policy were among other areas up for discussion on Monday. FUGRO, a stakeholder, and engineers attached at Ground Structures were among those who shared success stories of how human capacities are being built and transferred to other sectors.

The two-day forum being held under the theme “Local Content: A Mechanism for Capacity Building towards Enhanced National Development,” was organised by SEBI in collaboration with Ground Structures, FUGRO, Aurora Gold Mines, GTT and WorleyParsons. UG’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith and Dean of the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, Professor Leyland Lucas were among the officials present.

Credit Bureau assisting financial...

From page 8

credit info has to offer but more importantly, the importance of them knowing what their credit profile looks like before approaching any lenders,” the CEO said, referring to individual checks.

She further explained that the process for acquiring one’s credit report is simple and almost instant as all that is required is the individual’s Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), Identification Card and the filling out of a request form.

By law, every person is entitled to one free credit report in every 12-month period but apart from that, it costs $5,000 for a credit report every quarter for one year or unlimited credit re-

ports monthly at $8,000 per annum.

Meanwhile, CreditInfo is also working on creating an application by January 2019 which will allow persons to access their credit score ranging from 250-900 on their mobile devices and from the comfort of their homes.

It was the Government, which in January 2016, effected the changes to the Credit Reporting (Amendment) Act and Falconer said that a big part of the agency’s progression in the market can be attributed to support received from Government.

“As an organization, we are more than satisfied by the level of support [from the Government]. We’ve

partnered with the Ministry of Business on more than one occasion through the Small Business Bureau (SBB)…the Minister of Business is present at all our outreaches. We never have to twist his arm, he’s always there, always willing,” Falconer said.

CreditInfo was given the licence to operate Guyana’s first Credit Bureau on July 15, 2013, and this year celebrates its 5th year of existence locally.

Its reports and services are tailored to positively transform the lending and credit provision environment in Guyana through comprehensible and informed risk assessment, decision-making and strategy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Gov’t to make vaccination mandatory – for persons wanting to enter Guyana

VENEZUELANS along with other nationalities entering Guyana must accept they have to be vaccinated or they’ll be forced to leave, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge told reporters Monday.

“Problems are arising with the Guyanese [Venezuelans] because some of them felt they didn’t need to be vaccinated,” the minister said.

“That is wrong! If you don’t want to be vaccinated you have to leave.”

He said that while Guyana will avoid criminalising persons who are travelling in their numbers to Guyana due to Venezuela’s economic turmoil, Guyana will not tolerate resistance to its rules and regulations.

The foreign minister explained that Guyana must take into consideration its health requirements, as many of those travelling here, not only from Venezuela, have been exposed to various illnesses, including malaria and measles.

“You are required to be vaccinated; that applies to everyone,” he said, adding that said some common guidelines have been established for treating with the migrants following a discourse with members of Cabinet recently.

“We don’t want to put in place arrangements that allow for undesirables; criminals, terrorists and others into the territory,” he stated, while calling on Guyanese Venezuelans to prove they

were born here.

“If you say you are Guyanese, then you have to prove it,” said the minister, who noted that those claiming to be Guyanese can be given the opportunity to establish their citizenship.

“If they aren’t Guyanese, then they would be treated as non-Guyanese,” Greenidge stated. The minister said that once it has been established that persons are Guyanese, then the will be protected by the Constitution and laws of Guyana.

“They have to establish they are Guyanese by birth, naturalization or descent,” he said. “If Guyanese, you are entitled to go anywhere in Guyana,” he added.

Additionally, Greenidge made it clear that Venezuelans, like persons of other nationalities, must enter the country at an official port, as it is there that a request can be made to remain here. He reminded that CARICOM as a whole has encouraged individual countries against deporting or jailing the Venezuelans and those vulnerable for immigration infractions.

He pointed to communities such as Whitewater in the Mabaruma Sub-District where over the past few weeks there has been an influx of Venezuelans arriving there. It has been reported that the Venezuelans are coming here as a means of fleeing their country’s economic turmoil. Many who have come have claimed that they are Guyanese.

Community members

‘We exist to benefit the members...

From page 3

in the community,” the Pastor said. He added that the Conference could have only afforded to give assistance to 150 families but they have had reports that over 400 are affected. He stated that the conference welcomes any outside contributions that may want to be made so that the affected persons that were not reached, can be brought relief.

Since the flooding start-

ed, cost of living in Kwakwani has increased. Residents are being exploited for mere food supplies and transportation. Many subsistence farms from which the residents used as their source of food, before the flooding, have been submerged. Therefore, the residents are more than grateful for the food items and any other form of contribution that can be made.

have been tasked with providing basic necessities such as food, clothing and accommodation to those who arrive through the country’s borders. It is estimated that some 100 Venezuelans are occupying Whitewater and nearby communities.

“A joint ministerial team, [comprising Ministries of]

Health, Citizenship is aware of these rules; they were discussed in Cabinet and should be implemented. There is nothing special about Whitewater,” said Greenidge, who explained that many who have sought refuge here are seeking to stay for longer periods and those requests are being handled.

Meanwhile, a recently

announced visit to Puerto Ordaz in Venezuela by representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Citizenship, where a large percent of Guyanese live has been rescheduled.

Greenidge told reporters that the July 12-16 visit to the location has been rescheduled, due to the unavailability of the Consul

General as well as the unavailability of flights.

“The timing was inconvenient bearing in mind other demands on the time of the honorary consul and the unavailability of flights to Puerto Ordaz,” said Greenidge.

As much as 20,000 persons are said to be living in Puerto Ordaz.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Patricia Sanasie execution-style murder

Stanton pleads innocent

By Gabriella Chapman “GOD knows I’m innocent.

I wasn’t born to be a killer,” Richard Stanton said in his defense of the alleged murder of Patricia Sanasie on Monday in the Demerara High Court before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a 12-member jury.

Having overruling the no-case submission made on behalf of Stanton by defence attorney Mark Waldron on Friday, July 20, 2018, the trial continued on Monday.

The accused lead his defense by giving an unsworn statement from the box in which he talked for more than an one hour in an effort to convince the jury that he was not the person who shot and killed Patricia Sanasie on the night

in question.

Stanton told the court that he worked at Dynasty Club which is owned by his sister who travels a lot. When his sister is away, he manages the said club. Sometime in January 2015, an officer came to his place of employment and took him to the police station for questioning in relation to the murder.

The accused stated that when asked about Patricia Sanasie, he had no idea who the individual was and couldn’t understand why he was being questioned.

He stated that on the night of the murder, he was at his place of work and the staff could attest to that fact. He told the court that his sister was out of the country at the time and he was in charge of managing the business until she

returned.

The accused added that after giving his statement to the police he was released and returned to his place of work.

However, three months later, three officers returned to the Dynasty Night Club requesting his presence at the Eve Leary for questioning. He stated that he was placed in the holding area and again, had no idea why he was there. He was then told by an officer that he was going to be part of an identification parade for the murder of Patricia Sanasie.

After the ID parade was done a few times, he was identified by the daughter of the deceased, Romona Sanasie as the shooter.

Stanton lamented: “I’m not a killer. I have no reason to kill that

lady. It’s not in me to do something like that, I have three sons.”

He went on to share that he grew up watching his mother endure physical abuse by different men in her life, just so that she could provide for her children. He added that, being exposed to such violence demonstrated what he should never do as a man.

“I grew up seeing my mother being abused by different men that came into her life, because she wasn’t that smart, just to provide for us. And I grew up with that hatred for men who abuse women. I did not kill that lady Your Honour.

I’m innocent Your Honour. That’s all I have to say,” Stanton pleaded.

Defence attorney, Mark Waldron made his closing address after which the matter was adjourned.

In presenting the State’s case, Prosecutor Tiffini Lyken told the court that at about 06:45hrs on January 12, 2015, tragedy struck Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara, outside the home of the victim, Patricia Sanasie.

As she exited her car to open her gate with her daughter inside the said vehicle, a car came up and she was shot five times by the accused, who walked to her then back to the car he came in which sped off.

The mortally injured woman was taken to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

She related that the police conducted an investigation and the accused was charged for the offence.

President Carter was awarded Order of Excellence

IN his popular column, My Turn, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo stated that Guyana had bestowed on former American President, Jimmy Carter, the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH).

He has now corrected this by stating that Carter was instead awarded the Order of Excellence (OE).

The reference to the award was made in the Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and former US Prescolumn published in the Sunday Chronicle on July ident Jimmy Carter during a meeting in the early 2000s.

Also in photo are PPP members: Clement Rohee and 22 last, in which Naga- Harripersaud Nokta and another official mootoo saluted President Carter whom he said is best electoral system, while his Center has obremembered by Guyanese for his critical role served several elections here, including those in the return of electoral democracy. in 2015, which were certified as free and fair.

“At 92, he is, once again, taking initiaIt is believed that he has met more tives to strengthen the fabric of Guyana’s Presidents in Guyana than in any other democracy by encouraging dialogue between country, having held talks with the late the government and the parliamentary op- Cheddi Jagan, Desmond Hoyte and Janposition,” the Prime Minister noted. Prime et Jagan and, more recently, consulted Minister Nagamootoo is amongst several former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Guyanese leaders who enjoy a close rela- Donald Ramotar and sitting President, tionship with Jimmy Carter, who brokered David Granger on matters mainly related successful talks during 1990 to reform the to elections and bipartisan dialogue.

Bandits attack couple on seawall TWO bandits, one armed with a knife robbed a 33-year-old sales clerk of her valuables while stabbing her friend in the arm in the vicinity of the seawall on the Rupert Craig Highway on Sunday night.

The attack occurred at 23:40hrs on the sales clerk of Industry, East Coast Demerara and her friend, who is a miner of Laing Avenue, Georgetown.

Reports indicate that the duo was sitting on the seawall when the two bandits stopped at their location while riding a black Jialing motorcycle.

The men reportedly demanded that she hand over her phone. However, when the woman initially resisted, one of the robbers hit her on the head with a hard object.

The woman’s male friend then reportedly jumped to her rescue, resulting in him being stabbed once to his left armpit.

The bandits then grabbed her phone from her hand and fled the scene. The robbery was quickly reported and the couple was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital they were treated as police continue their investigations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Free speech protected in Cybercrime Bill – PM GOVERNMENT has opted to make necessary adjustments to the contentious sedition clause of the country’s Cybercrime Bill, passed on Friday, to protect free speech, citizens and the State from criminal abuse of the Internet.

These adjustments resulted in amendments to two clauses which had allegedly infringed freedom of the press and freedom of expression. During his debate of the bill last Friday at the sitting of the National Assembly, Prime Minster Moses Nagamootoo had read out loud a letter from Reporters Without Borders on June 6, 2018 whereby the body stated its support for the principle of the bill.

“We do not dispute the principle of this law. The Internet should not escape government regulation altogether and we believe that it is perfectly legitimate to proscribe conduct such as computer fraud, identity theft and, even more serious, child pornography,” the letter stated.

In turn, Nagamootoo assured the body that objections to the sedition clause would be considered and during his address said: “The

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Government has listened to comments on this bill and the Government has responded to aspects of these comments and has decided that the sedition aspect of the bill should be removed.”

He also told the house that he would remove provisions from the county’s criminal law which deal with seditious libel in order to protect freedom of expression and press freedom. Nonetheless, the Friday evening debate was not short of criticism from the Opposition which poked holes in the bill stating

On charge for selling unregistered drugs A CITY businessman appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman charged for allegedly selling unregistered drugs to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

It was alleged that on August 12 and October 25, 2017 at 226 B Camp Street, Lloyd Singh supplied the unregistered drug, Rituximab (100mg) to the GPHC which was in violation of the Food and Drugs regulations -part 3; section 28 of 1970 and section 28 of 1977.

The 51-year -old man who resides at Seafort Street Campbeville, Georgetown denied the charges that were read out to him.

The Police Prosecutor had no objection to bail.

Bail was granted by the magistrate in the sum of $60,000 and the matter was adjourned to July 27, 2018.

that it was undemocratic.

Nagamootoo in turn pointed to the Stabroek News April 30, 2018 edition whereby the Opposition Leader, himself, admitted that the party had “dropped the ball” with their absence from meetings of the Select Committee dealing with the bill. Opposition Members of Parliament Clement Rohee, Anil Nandlall, Gillian Persaud and Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira were absent from the meeting from July 2017 which, in turn, led to an apparent lack of knowledge by the PPP members about the Bill.

“Here is a case where, a piece of proposed legislation as important as this one as we are told by all members of the house, had gone to a select committee and leader of the opposition said that the opposition members of the Select Committee ‘dropped the ball’,” he said, later adding: “Why is it we have this manifestation of disappointment with the government that the government did something in the broad light of day that surprised and stunned the opposition? It is because they did not come to do the work for which they are paid.”

The Prime Minister

caused the house to reminisce on 1966 with the arrival of Internet in Guyana where the then PPP Government had, too, thought it best to put mechanisms in place to avoid its misuse in forms such as child pornography.

“Today this bill before us…in conjunction with the amendments that have been tabled is intended to do just that, to be able to combat the abuse of Internet not the use of it,” he said.

Nagamootoo added that since in 1990 the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution on Computer Crime Law and in 1997 the most powerful countries, then, enacted an action plan to address the issues of computer-generated crime.

In 2001 he said the Council of Europe adopted and passed the convention on Cyber Crime and specified internet criminal behaviours and by 2002 the Commonwealth provided a model law to address the same issue.

“We have lagged behind in bringing a law to protect our citizens, our state from crimes generated by the use of a computer and therefore the attempt to mix this with all types of expressions is misleading,” Nagamootoo said.

Meanwhile, in her address to the house, Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes also berated the opposition for failing to sufficiently make representations to the Bill during the two years it was in Select Committee.

“The Select Committee was the mechanism by which you could come and bring all your concerns. It is unacceptable for you to come now and say that you will not participate,” she reproved the Opposition.

The Minister pointed out that the bill would help to protect over 300,000 Guyanese in use of or with ac-

Minister of Public Telecommunication Cathy Hughes

cess to the Internet. She also defended the high fines of up to $20M or multi-triple-year imprisonment for cybercrimes on the State under the Bill, commenting: “Some of us and many on the opposition side have mentioned that this seems to be an exceedingly harsh penalty but the punishment fits the crime as any attack on the state in any way that it

comes, in any shape or form, cannot be tolerated.”

The Cyber Crime Bill had stirred up much public debate since its emergence into the public scrutiny but with the amendments in light of several concerns raised, the Government has reiterated its commitment to protecting its citizens from the possible negatives of the internet.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 24, 2018

CARICOM youth forum opens today in Guyana

Flashback - CARICOM SG, Amb. Irwin LaRocque seated, (second, left) other senior CARICOM Secretariat officials, CARICOM Youth Ambassadors and participants of a social media interaction in 2012

The CARICOM Secretariat is collaborating with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), EU Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, (UNECLAC), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Commonwealth Secretariat and other partners to organise the Caribbean Forum on Population, Youth and Development.

The Forum will be held

24 -26 July at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana. The Forum will bring together senior government officials from the Caribbean in the areas of population, youth and development, representatives of Caribbean youth, international organisations, civil society and academia, Caricom Secretariat said in a release.

It is expected to contribute to creating syner-

gies between youth policies and broader development frameworks, including the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development, the SAMOA Pathway, the SDGs as well as sectoral plans at a national level. It will give young people an opportunity to engage directly with public policy-makers and put youth perspectives at the centre of the social policy dialogue. It is anticipated that

participants of the meeting will identify actions to ensure greater attention to youth issues and youth participation, in sectoral policies and international development frameworks.

Programme Manager, Culture and Community Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Hilary Brown, says the Forum “promises to be engaging, with a strong representa-

tion of youth leaders and advocates, the staging of an inter-generational dialogue and a number of sessions facilitated by young people”.

She said it would review the progress of youth development in the Region under three frameworks which include the CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan (2012-2022); the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Lisbon Declaration on Youth Policies and Programmes, and the five-year review and follow-up on the implementation of the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development.

Consensus on Population and Development addresses a wide range of population issues including ageing, sexual and reproductive rights and migration. This review will help Caribbean Member States in their preparation to participate in a Regional Conference on Population and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean in Peru 7-10 August, 2018.

The Forum will incorporate a Caribbean Youth Dialogue

featuring CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYAs) and other youth representatives and will advance the establishment of a Caribbean Youth Platform for the Sustainable Development Goals and other regional and international development frameworks for youth. At the end of the Forum, an outcome document will be produced consisting of recommendations to guide the monitoring and evaluation of youth policies and programmes in the Region.

The Forum begins with an opening ceremony on 24 July, 2018, at 9:00am.

Minister of Social Cohesion of Guyana, the Hon. Dr. George Norton, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Suriname Her Excellency Lalini Gopaul, and CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, Dr. Douglas Slater, are also among those expected to speak during the ceremony.

UG alumni reminded of alma’s rich history

– at ‘reignite’ Toronto meet to launch new chapter

By Frederick Halley DEPUTY Vice-Chancellor (Academics) Professor Michael Scott has reminded past students of the University of Guyana that theirs is a rich history that causes them to excel at whatever they set their minds to.

“All University of Guyana’s alumni are beneficiaries of a rich history which serves as a giant torch that illuminates collective efforts,” Professor Scott said.

“It is the responsibility of the alumni to shine and assist those coming after them and to support the alma mater,” he said last Wednesday evening as University of Guyana alumni and friends gathered to form the newest chapter of the UG PRIDE, as the alumni associations are being called, in the reception hall

of the Tropicana, Scarborough, Toronto, Canada.

Graduates from over fifty years ago shared fond memories with more recent graduates from the 2000s.

It is no accident of history that both the Guild of Graduates and the Alumni Association were born of collective support and love for the University of Guyana.

This love and support have constantly created and recreated tremendous ripples nationally and internationally.

Keynote speaker Harry Hergash (Class of 1969) expressed gratitude to the university for their focus on alumni, and especially for reigniting of the Alumni Association in Toronto and igniting others in Guyana and in the Diaspora.

As one of the University’s first graduates and a

Friends and alumni of The University of Guyana who attended Re-ignite Toronto

founding member of the former Toronto Guild of Graduates, Hergash said, “It is my hope that my speech will be of benefit to the new persons who will take the throne.”

He further stated, “Those

of us who started in 1963 were poor students and UG afforded us the opportunity of a tertiary education without having to go abroad which was customary at the time, which meant you had

to come from rich parenting to be able to afford tertiary education.”

Hergash also noted that the formation of the Toronto Guild of Graduates created a bond with their alma mater and fel-

low classmates, and expressed the hope that with time, all those who attended UG will feel the same sense of pride, and reach out to contribute to its continued development.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 24, 2018

SASOD, GRA meet Min. Henry on bullying in schools, reintegration of teen moms TEACHERS Code of Conduct, reintegration of adolescent mothers into schools’ policy and anti-bullying campaign were among critical issues discussed when the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) and the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) met with the Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry.

SASOD Managing Director, Joel Simpson; and Homophobia(s) Education Coordinator, Anil Persaud, GRPA Programme Officer Jairo Rodrigues and President and Vice-President of its youth arm – the Youth Advocacy Movement (YAM) – Chelsie France and Kobe Smith, were among the representatives that met with the Education Minister and her team.

During the meeting, a request was made for the Education Ministry to update the Code of Conduct for Teachers to expand the grounds for discrimination to include those in

the Guyana Constitution.

SASOD and GRPA have asked the Minister to amend the non-discrimination clause of the Code under Section B, Commitment to Colleagues, to expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed, age, disability, marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, language, birth, social class, pregnancy, religion, conscience, belief or culture, nor interfere with the free participation of colleagues in the affairs of their association(s).

The groups also proposed that the non-discrimination clause under Section D on Commitment to Students be similarly updated. It was recommended that place of origin, birth status, political opinion, age, disability, marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, language, birth, social class, pregnancy, religion, conscience, and

belief or culture be included with the four grounds currently stated: ability, race, colour and creed.

Simpson explained that the Ministry needed an updated and comprehensive policy that is in line with Guyana’s Constitution, the newly-crafted National Policy on the Reintegration of Adolescent Mothers into the Formal School System and a document that supports the goals and vision of the Ministry.

He recalled that the Minister, last year at the Spirit Day reception hosted by SASOD and the British High Commission, committed to working against bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students.

Anil Persaud explained that SASOD has recorded cases of students being bullied based on their perceived sexualities, particularly effeminate boys. The non-discrimination provisions would fulfill an obli-

Minister of Education Nicolette Henry with representatives from GRPA and SASOD following a closed door meeting last Monday.

gation to students to protect them against homophobic and transphobic bullying.

He added that although the stigmatising nature of anti-LGBT bullying precludes robust data collection on the problem, minority students also need the Ministry’s full protection at all levels.

In response, Minister Henry said she will seek advice from the Ministry’s Legal Officer, Kellyann Payne-Hercules, who was also present at the meeting.

In March 2017, SASOD and GRPA formed part of a civil society delegation at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights where they reported that the Government needs to work on reintegrating teenage mothers into the formal school system.

Kobe Smith, in offering his contributions, spoke of GRPA’s commitment to seeing the policy implemented. Minister Henry said that the policy, which will see young mothers being incorporated into schools, will take full effect from the start of the new school year in September.

Minister Henry said that this particular policy was dear to her since she was on Main Street (alluding to when she was Junior Education Min-

ister responsible for Culture, Youth and Sport); “A lot of young people are left behind in a system that doesn’t cater for seconds chances,” she said. “On a personal level I have committed to this and as I sit here, I want to see this policy fully enforced, particularly in the hinterland,” she added.

Chelsie France of GRPA’s YAM spoke about the ongoing work with marginalised youth in vulnerable communities across the country. Jairo Rodrigues of GRPA shared how the organisation’s projects can support some aspects of the reintegration policy, particularly prevention of pregnancies through education and sensitisation on the use of contraception and termination of pregnancies.

The Minister said that the approach to community education in these areas would have to be culturally relevant and appropriate or else it would not be accepted by the stakeholders. “What I would like to see is our communities understanding that things are changing. We need community education for social impact. This comes with strategic planning and only then will people access services and then can we

change the lives of people, particularly the disadvantaged and marginalised,” she elaborated. Minister Henry stressed that the evidence-based approach is important when doing community interventions and she really would like to see meaningful interventions and collaborations which are driven by sound data and deliver solid results.

Minister Henry was opened to partnership on a National Anti-Bullying Campaign proposed by GRPA and SASOD, organised in collaboration with other key stakeholders for Education Month in September. Through this campaign, secondary school students will be sensitised on the various forms of violence, and made aware of social support services and redress mechanisms if they are being bullied. The campaign will include a nation-wide essay competition for Grades 7 to 9 students on bullying and discrimination based on gender in schools. The campaign will run into Bullying Prevention Month in October and culminate on Spirit Day, which is commemorated on the third Thursday of the month, October 18 this year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Closing arguments in Further remand for trio Grove car death case charged in $22M heist COME July 27, both defence attorney Latchmi Rahmat and Police Prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves will give their closing arguments into the case of Narine Persaud, who was killed during a car accident last year.

On trial is 67-year-old rice farmer, Cromwell McDonald who is charged for dangerous driving, after Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman found that a prima facie case was made out against him.

McDonald was initially charged for driving motor vehicle PHH 5516 in a dangerous manner, thus causing the death of Narine Persaud on October 28, 2017 at Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

However, is was later ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove the charge of causing death by dangerous driving, but that there was evidence for him to lead a defence in the case of dangerous driving. The matter is adjourned until June 20.

On Monday, McDonald’s daughter Natasha McDonald took to the witness stand as a key witness for her father.

According to reports, on the day in

Cromwell McDonald

question McDonald was driving along the Grove Public Road, when it is alleged that he swerved from a motor lorry that was in his pathway and collided with Persaud who was standing at the side of the road. The accused is out on $400,000 bail.

Two men deny ownership of ammo IT seemed a curious case of “It’s not me own” before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when two men appeared before her on Monday charged separately for the ownership of several rounds of .38 ammunition which they had in their possession.

Sherwin Christian, 28 and Harland Andy, 40 were separately charged for having 49 .38 rounds of ammunition in their

Harland Andy

Sherwin Christian

THREE known felons on Monday denied breaking into the popular Guyanese jewellery store; L. Seepersaud Maraj and Sons, located inside the Stabroek Market, and carting off $22M worth in jewellery when the charges were read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The men, Albert DeFreitas, 54 of Leopold Street, Georgetown, Treon Parks 31 of Eccles, East Bank Demerara and Clifford Rodney, 66 of One Mile, Linden were able to plea to the charge after Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers requested the Administration of Justice Act be applied.

The trio denied that that between July 2, 2018 and July 3, 2018 at Stabroek Market they broke and entered

the jewellery store and stole a quantity of gold and diamond jewellery worth $22M. More than a week ago the men were first placed before the court and were on remand. The matter has been transferred to Magistrate Fabayo Azore for July 27 and the three were further remanded.

According to reports, all three defendants are known to the police and have similar matters before the court.

Rodney had confessed to using a blow-torch to open the vault door of the jewellery establishment, while DeFreitas is reported to have told ranks that he assisted Rodney in carrying out the heist.

On July 3 upon arriving at work an employee of the establishment discovered that the establishment had been

possession on July 18 at 70 Km Police Outpost, Essequibo when they were not licensed firearm holders.

The men denied the charges and were represented by attorney-at-law Trenton Lake and Siand Dhurjon respectively.

Each lawyer contended that his client was wrongfully charged since both men were charges for having the same ammunition in their possession.

However, Lake noted that Christian was a taxi driver and operated the motor car in which the ammunition was found.

vandalised.

Reports indicate that the staff observed the front grill of the store open and upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the vault door was also open. The staff immediately contacted the proprietor who visited and noted that a large quantity of gold and diamond jewellery was missing.

A police source said the robbers gained entry to the store from the eastern grill by cutting the locks and disabling the alarm systems before blow-torching the vault door open.

It was noted that the bandits had taken several hours to complete their operation, since there were three major security doors before the vault.

However when the car was searched Andy was a passenger in the motor vehicle.

Both men denied ownership of the ammunition and under caution Christian told ranks that he was keeping the items for Andy.

However Andy denied the man’s claims.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield made no objection to bail but requested that it be set at a substantial amount.

The Chief Magistrate released the men on $150,000 bail each and adjourned the matter until August 9 at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 24, 2018

Food hampers for Venezuelan migrants THE Government’s Multi-agency Coordinating committee will soon deliver approximately sixty food hampers to Region One as part of intensified efforts to support Venezuelan immigrants.

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the hampers

will aid in addressing the needs of those persons. There are 53 immigrant families with 260 persons stationed at four campsites.

The Multi-agency Coordinating Committee includes members from the Guyana Police Force, the Ministries of Communities, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Social Protection, Public Health and

Citizenship and the Civil Defence Commission.

Since its formation, the group has already distributed household, sanitation and hygiene items to the immigrants. Health workers, police and immigration officers have also been deployed to the border communities to support the Ministry of Public Health

in inoculating these persons. Minister Felix said these services are necessary to safeguard Guyanese from potential threats. “We have become conscious of the fact that the Cuyuni River can become very contaminated because of activities outside of Guyana and we share the same river with the location from which the contaminations are coming from. That is

why health is of utmost importance to prevent the spread of diseases to persons who are in Guyana.”

In Region One, Barima-Waini several persons have been vaccinated. To date, 65 persons were vaccinated against yellow fever, 77 against measles, 31 against Polio, 35 against Tuberculosis, while the BCG vaccine has been administered to sev-

eral babies. Additionally, one woman in Mabaruma was hospitalised and three children for malnutrition.

Minister Felix told DPI that these cases are currently being treated. The aim of the committee is to coordinate a response to the migration of Venezuelans into Guyana primarily through Barima-Waini, Region One and Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Region Seven.

Cops say he forged document to get citizenship

A CONTRACTOR on Monday appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman charged for forgery.

The charge alleged that between July 17 and July 20, 2018 at Georgetown with intent to defraud, Nariswan Miaram conspired with a person or persons to forge a document - an adoption certificate in favor of himself purporting to show it was issued by the General Regis-

tration Office.

The 30- year-old man who resides at Corentyne, Berbice denied the charge.

Prosecutor Quinn Harris had no objection to bail but asked that conditions be applied.

According to the facts given in court by the police prosecutor, the defendant travelled to the United States of America in 2003 where he was adopted. On July 20, 2018 he used the said document to apply for citizenship

at the American Embassy.

The embassy realized that the document was forged and a report was made to the police.

Bail was granted by the magistrate in the sum of $100,000 on the condition that the defendant lodges his passport and that he report to the CID Headquarters every Friday.

The matter was adjourned to August 13, 2018.

From page 14►

UG alumni reminded ...

“Ask not what UG can do for you, but what you can do for UG,” said Anyin Choo, University of Guyana alum (Class of 1996) quoting John F. Kennedy. Choo is now Consul-General of the Guyana Consulate in Toronto, which was one of three organisations which collaborated to produce “Re-ignite”.

SIMPLY INSPIRATIONAL According to UG Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed, who heads the office of Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE) with the mandate for finding and fostering relations with alumni, “The outpouring of goodwill and the moment of passing the baton from the stalwarts to new blood in the PRIDE was nothing short of inspirational.”

And for Trovona Azzez, “It is really rare to recognise a moment of great change when you are living it, but this is the threshold of a new era.” Christina Chowgrir said the moment reminded her of Science.

Canadian oil exploration company CGX Energy Inc was the signal sponsor of the event.

Princess Alexander, President of Alexander Learmond Group, another sponsor, said she was delighted to support UG though she never went there herself, having migrated to Canada as a young girl. She said she returned to Guyana after 30 years and happened upon a meeting of the 50th Anniversary planning committee (2012) and “fell in love with the students and never let go.”

These sentiments clearly resounded around the room, as old Faculty like Malcolm Paris and young alumni like Alexander Ramessar and former Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland stepped up to speak about the critical role that the University of Guyana played in their exportability and present careers.

The university’s significance was demonstrated as many other alumni have reached the pinnacle of academic and professional success.

The UG Alumni George-

town PRIDE was represented

by Dr. Nigel Gravesande and Michael Brotherson.

The Toronto Guild of Graduates was born in 1993 upon cooperative efforts of 10 persons who heard that an endowment fund was being set up by Dr. Yesu Persaud to upgrade UG’s facilities.

In this process, 250 attendees were attracted, and a total of Cdn$50000 was raised. This effort was sustained over the last 20 years by support from friends and alumni.

The goal of the Alumni Association is to connect graduates and past faculty and staff of The University in Guyana in a reciprocally beneficial relationship of investing, nurturing, fundraising, mentorship and development.

Persons eagerly volunteered for the interim Alumni Association body when the call was made at the launch. Individuals were asked to encourage fellow Alumni to attend and join the other Alumni launches for this year which include; London, August 3; and Washington DC in October 2018.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday July 24, 2018

Splashmins suspends lifeguard service

By Leroy Smith

PROPRIETOR of the Splashmins Fun Park, Lennox John on Monday said that with immediate effect, the resort will be pulling its lifeguard service which it has been providing to patrons over the years.

According to John, the decision was taken following the recent death of a teenager at the resort. The young man drowned, according to a postmortem report.

John, when contacted by the Guyana Chronicle on the claims that his resort offered poor supervision for persons using the waterways inside the facility, explained that given the many claims that his staff were responsible for the death of the young man, management has taken a decision to stop providing life guards. He used the argument that the waterways which persons swim in when they visit his facility are the government’s waterways and as such he has no obligation to supervise the persons using it.

John said that he will not be given a basket to fetch water and indicated that signs would be erected alerting patrons that they will be “swimming at their own risk.” Two Sundays ago, a young man, Ronaldo Gomes who visited the resort with his family went missing and a search for him found that his body was floating beyond the caution rope at the facility. He was first discovered missing later that afternoon and it was late in the night that his body was discovered.

When Ronaldo Gomes’ body was recovered under the supervision of the police, it was found that his face was badly disfigured. This prompted residents to suggest that he might have been hit by a passing boat which was traversing the water at the time. John however indicated that when the records at the facility were checked, it proved that between the period that the young man was reported missing and or last seen to the time his body was recovered, no boat was using the water in the area.

Friends and relatives of Ronaldo Gomes picketing in front of Ashmins store on High Street

The question then began to surface if it could have been fishes that ate away at his face at such a fast rate.

When asked why he nor a member of his company visited Ronaldo Gomes’ family, John responded that a conscious decision was made not to visit the relatives or engage them as they had already concluded that it was the resort that was responsible for the death of the

teenager and added to that they had also suggested that some sort of rituals were being done each year to claim the lives of persons who visit the resort. The proprietor said that in those circumstances he refused and will continue to refuse meeting with the relatives of Ronaldo Gomes as he does not want to be seen as attempting to bribe, or silence a situation.

“Whatever will be, will be”

he added.

On Monday relatives of a man who drowned at the facility some 16 years ago were part of a group of friends of Gomes who protested the Ashmins Store on High Street and who later marched to the Hadfield Street Office of Splashmins where they called for the closing down of the facility on the Soesdyke Linden Highway and for an investigation to be launched.

Police sources have indicated that the postmortem for the dead teenager are consistent with drown-

19

ing. However a boat captain who has been working with the company for close to 16 years was arrested by the police and the engine of the boat he was using on the day in question was confiscated by the police as they seek to carry out some tests and investigations.

The Splashmins Fun Park has been in existence for close to twenty years now.

John said that outside of the death of the teenager two weeks ago, no death has occurred at the facility for the past eight years.

Another section of the picketers in front of Ashmins

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

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22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Trophy Stall on board 2nd Annual Guinness Cage

TROPHY Stall of Bourda Market joined the list of growing sponsors in support of the Three Peat Promotions 2nd Annual Guinness Cage Competition which is scheduled to kick off on August 8, at the Haslington Market Tarmac.

Named ‘East Coast Best versus the Rest’ five-day tournament, it is expected to attract twenty-four of the top exponents in the shorter format with a minimum of twelve teams coming from the East Coast, while the remaining twelve will be selected from the Georgetown, Linden and West Demerara environs.

Yesterday, during a simple ceremony that was conducted at the entity’s location in Bourda Market, Managing Director of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich, took the opportunity to personally hand over his sponsorship to Co-Principal of the Promotions, Rawle Welch.

Speaking at the occasion,

Sunich, who is no stranger to the sporting fraternity, in brief remarks commended the group for its continued commitment towards the development of sports, while also recognizing their contribution in helping to foster camaraderie and cohesion amongst the respective communities.

“I would like to recognise your contribution in assisting to bring together the various communities that will be participating in the tournament and at the same time helping to further develop the format in the sport,” Sunich said.

Welch, in his response, thanked Sunich for his unwavering support for the tournament which started in its inaugural year, while also noting his sterling contribution towards the development of sports and athletes which, according to him, is unrivalled.

Sports is being used as one of the vehicles to eliminate obstacles that has prevented unity among villages and communities and Three Peat Promotions through its efforts is helping to strengthen co-operation and friendship between participating teams and by extension the communities they hail from.

Among the other donors to have committed assistance are: Clarks footwear giants Chetsons, Queensway Security Services, E-Networks Inc., KSM Investments, Yhip’s Bakery, Brass Aluminum & Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF), Ray’s Auto Sales, Y.K. Investments, Woodpecker Products, National Sports Commission, Express Shipping, ‘C’ Division of the Guyana Police Force, Julius Variety Store, C & C Prestigious Styles and Attorney-at-Law Roysdale Forde.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Tour de France..

Froome says he and Thomas are in a ‘dream position’

CHRIS Froome says he and Tour de France leader Geraint Thomas are in a “dream position” and it would be “fantastic” if his team-mate won this year’s race.

F o u r- t i m e w i n n e r Froome, 33, is second overall, trailing fellow Team Sky rider Thomas by one minute 39 seconds after 15 stages.

There are six stages remaining, with the race ending in Paris on Sunday.

“As long as a Team Sky jersey crosses that line first in Paris, that’s winning,” Froome told BBC Sport.

“We’re in this dream position, first and second on the general classification - if nothing changed between here and Paris, fantastic, we’ve nailed the Tour de France.”

Froome said Thomas, 32, is currently the stronger of the two as the Welshman has ridden an “absolutely faultless race” to take the leader’s yellow jersey into the final week.

“Everyone is so keen to try and talk up this rivalry between myself and ‘G’, but it just doesn’t exist,” said Froome, who previously rode alongside Thomas at Barloworld. “We’ve been team-mates and mates for years, our careers have followed each other, so this is an absolute dream scenario.

“We’re not looking at each other as rivals, we’re looking at the other guys in third, fourth, fifth - they are the ones who could put us under pressure.”

World time trial cham-

Froome and Thomas - and their team-mates - faced the media in Carcassone on Monday

pion Tom Dumoulin is third overall, 11 seconds adrift of Froome, with Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic fourth, 2:38 down on Thomas. Romain Bardet is fifth, a further 43 seconds back.

Four of the six remaining stages are likely to determine the winner - three mountainous stages in the Pyrenees and an individual time trial on Saturday, when Dumoulin will be favourite. Thursday’s stage 18 is a flat course and the final day is a processional run to Paris.

“It’s about keeping those guys behind us, not riding against each other and letting somebody else win,” said Thomas.

“That would be the biggest hiccup in, well I don’t know about Tour history, but it would be pretty bad.”

Asked if he would attack in the Pyrenees, Froome said: “We can always talk hypothesis but that’s not how cycling works - you’ve just got to deal with the moment out on the road and the situation as best you can.”

In response to the same question, Thomas said it

would “depend where Dumoulin is” and only if the Dutchman remains third but slips to 10 minutes back would the two Team Sky riders “maybe go man versus man and actually race each other”.

“That’s never going to happen so it’s all about just winning this race,” he added.

I’m in dreamland - Thomas Thomas has held the yellow jersey since winning stage 11 at La Rosiere, before becoming the first Briton to win at the top of the famous Alpe d’Huez the following day.

Following those victories, Thomas - whose previous highest Tour finish is 15th - said “everything else is a bonus”. “I’m in dreamland at the moment - there is no real pressure, I’m just enjoying it and having won back-toback mountain stages is just insane,” he said.

“The longer I can stay up there with the main guys, great, but as long as one of us is on that top step in Paris, that’s the main thing.

“Obviously you have the odd thought that it would be nice to have this in Paris, but I soon forget about that because when you look at the racing we’ve got to do, there is a hell of a lot to come.”

Spitting is a French thing - Brailsford Team Sky riders have been booed and spat at during this year’s race, while Froome was pushed by a spectator on Alpe d’Huez.

The British outfit have detractors, both stemming from their recent dominance of the sport, and because of a recent anti-doping investigation into Froome, which was dropped in early July.

On Sunday, Team Sky’s Gianni Moscon was disqualified from the race for hitting another rider.

Speaking on Monday’s second rest day, Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford said spitting and booing seems to be “a French cultural thing”.

“The Tour de France is promoted as the world’s greatest annual sporting event and, if you want the best international riders to come to your country, maybe treat them with a little more respect,” he said.

Brailsford added he did not think the abuse directed at Team Sky would stop during the remainder of the race.

“We accept it and we have to make a decision about how to behave - we’re trying to remain dignified, we’re trying not to react and we’re trying not to get distracted by it,” he said.

(BBC Sport)

German FA rejects Arsenal midfielder’s racism claim GERMANY’s football association (DFB) has “emphatically rejected” allegations of racism from Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, but says it could have done more to protect him from abuse.

Ozil, 29, said he no longer wants to play for Germany, citing “racism and disrespect” within German football.

The midfielder says he received hate mail and threats, and was blamed for Germany’s disappointing World Cup. The DFB said it “regrets the departure of Mesut Ozil from the national team”.

It added in a statement: “We emphatically reject the

Mesut Ozil could not stop Germany losing to South Korea and going out of the 2018 World Cup at the group stage.

DFB being linked to racism.

The DFB has been very in-

volved in integration work in Germany for many years.”

Ozil was criticised by the DFB and in the German media after being photographed with controversial Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan at an event in London in May. He received more criticism after Germany were knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage.

The DFB conceded it had not handled the matter well, adding: “It is regrettable that Mesut Ozil felt that he had not been sufficiently protected as a target of racist slogans.”

It stressed its commitment to equality, saying:

“The DFB stands for diversity, from the representatives at the top to the boundless, dayto-day dedication of people at the base.”

Ozil, a third-generation Turkish-German, was born in Gelsenkirchen and was a key member of his country’s 2014 World Cup-winning side.

A month before Germany defended their title, Ozil met Erdogan, along with fellow Germany international Ilkay Gundogan, a Manchester City player who is also of Turkish descent. Ozil says he and Gundogan talked about football with the president.

(BBC Sport).

Allen still...

FROM BACK PAGE

Allen is now fighting under DiBella Entertainment, which is owned by Lou DiBella, who currently promotes world-rated fighters like Regis Prograis, Tevin Farmer, Sergiy Derevyanchenko, Ivan Baranchyk, Richard Commey, George Kambosos Jnr, as well as rising prospects Oleksandr Teslenko and US Olympian Charles Conwell.

Allen believes that fighting under DiBella Entertainment is a step in the right direction for his career, with the now 33-year-old telling Chronicle Sport “I think this is good for me, I believe that a lot will happen for my career.”

“I am like one fight away from something major on one of the big networks, so like I said, I’m just happy to be back in the ring and fighting again,” said Allen.

Everything seems to be falling in place now for the fighter who started his professional fighting career with a knockout win over Troy Lewis at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in 2004 as a 19-year-old, with the Brooklyn-based fighter adding “well, people could look out for a lot from me. I’m good, no injury, no health issues, nothing. So I’m just glad to be fighting again.”

Allen held the Guyana National Super Middleweight title, the New York State Super Middleweight, as well as the World Boxing Council Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) Super Middleweight title, but he stated that now, his eyes are set on joining the likes of Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis, Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite and ‘Vicious’ Vivian Harris as legend in the sport who would’ve won world titles.

Irish Racing Tips Ballinrobe 12:50 hrs Masons Daughter 13:20 hrs Zaofu 13:50 hrs The Moore Factor 14:20 hrs Cheap And Cheerful 14:50 hrs Touch Base 15:20 hrs Cottonvale 15:50 hrs Westport Lady English Racing Tips Newcastle 08:40 hrs Instant Attraction 09:10 hrs Louis Treize 09:40 hrs Highwayman 10:15 hrs Hamlul 10:45 hrs Formula One 11:20 hrs Pitch High 11:50 hrs Kroy 12:20 hrs Mubhij Musselburgh 09:20 hrs Silvington 09:50 hrs Kilbarchan 10:25 hrs Eternalist 10:55 hrs Different Journey 11:30 hrs Jacob Black 12:00 hrs Great Fighter 12:35 hrs Thornaby Princess

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24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Herath spins Sri Lanka to series sweep despite de Bruyn century

COLOMBO (Reuters) Theunis de Bruyn’s gutsy century went in vain as Sri Lanka completed a 2-0 series sweep after Rangana Herath spun the hosts to a comprehensive victory against South Africa in the second and final test on Monday.

The 199-run win, which came with more than a day to spare, was due to Sri Lanka’s tireless spin trio of Herath, Akila Dananjaya and Dilruwan Perera who together claimed all 20 South African wickets.

Such was their dominance that home captain Suranga Lakmal, lone paceman in their attack, did not bowl in the first innings and sent down only two overs in the second, preferring to watch his spinners run riot against the leaden-footed South Africans instead.

“There was not much spin as the ball got softer, but we bowled well throughout the series,”

Herath said afterwards.

Resuming on 139-5 with a comprehensive defeat looming over them, South Africa’s end came rather later than expected as the tourists suddenly discovered a stomach for fight which was conspicuously absent in the series.

The 199-run win, which came with more than a day to spare, was due to Sri Lanka’s tireless spin trio of Herath, Akila Dananjaya and Dilruwan Perera who together claimed all 20 South African wickets.

Such was their dominance that home captain Suranga Lakmal, lone paceman in their attack, did not bowl in the first innings and sent down only two overs in the second, preferring to watch his spinners run riot against the leaden-footed South Africans instead.

“There was not much spin as the ball got softer, but we bowled well throughout the series,”

Sri Lankan cricket team pose for photographs after they won the test series.. REUTERS/ Dinuka Liyanawatte

Herath said afterwards.

Resuming on 139-5 with a comprehensive defeat looming over them, South Africa’s end came rather later than expected as the tourists suddenly discovered a stomach for fight which was conspicuously absent in the series.

De Bruyn and Temba Bavuma proved during their 123-run stand that Sri Lanka’s rampaging spinners could be tackled

with decisive footwork and proper application.

“The guys played well in this last innings,” South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis said at the awards ceremony.

“Theunis’ batting was exceptional and he showed that it’s possible to get big runs in these conditions.

“But I have to say ‘well played’ to Sri Lanka, they were the best team over the last eight days of cricket we played and in all depart-

ments,” added du Plessis, whose team were beaten inside three days in the series opener in Galle.

De Bruyn registered the first fifty by a South African in the series and soon Bavuma followed suit.

Thanks to their dogged defiance, South Africa had their first century stand in the series and they also breached the elusive 200-run mark.

Both the batsmen generously employed the sweep

shot to negate the turning ball but just when it looked like Sri Lanka would endure a rare wicketless session, Herath struck in successive overs to expose the South African tail.

The 40-year-old leftarm spinner drew Bavuma on the front-foot to induce an edge to a sharply turning delivery to Niroshan Dickwella behind the stumps.

Bavuma hit four boundaries in his gutsy 63.

In his next over, Herath trapped Quinton de Kock leg before and struck the biggest blow when he uprooted De Bruyn’s off-stump after the batsman shoulder-armed to an arm ball.

De Bruyn’s stellar 101 - his maiden test century - included 12 boundaries.

Dimuth Karunaratne was the obvious choice for both the man-of-the-match and the man-of-the-series awards for his four 50-plus knocks in as many innings in the low-scoring series.

Kennard’s Emancipation Day horse race meet receives major boost KSM Investments Inc. and Ganesh Parts and General Store on board

Justice Cecil Kennard, the Honorary President of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club, collects the cheque from sales representative of Ganesh Parts and General Store, Kawal Dubay.

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE Kennard Memorial Turf Club yesterday received tangible support from two business entities for their upcoming Emancipation Day horse race meet, which is scheduled for Sunday at the club’s Bush Lot, Corentyne facility.

At separate functions, representatives of the two entities--KSM Investments Inc.

of Good Hope on the East Coast of Demerara and Ganesh Parts and General Store of Robb Street-- finalised the partnership with Justice Cecil Kennard, the Honorary President of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club.

Director/Secretary of KSM Investments Inc., Khainwattie Ranchu, moments before presenting the first prizes and winning trophies for the L-Non Winner

and L Open races, said that the company is pleased to be on board, adding that this is not the first time the company has supported the turf club.

She, however, confirmed her company’s future support towards the promotion of horse racing locally.

Meanwhile, sales representative of Ganesh Parts and General Store, Kawal Dubay, reflected that the business

Director/Secretary of KSM Investments Inc., Khainwattie Panchu, hands over a trophy and the sponsorship cheque to Cecil Kennard.

entity and club have had a long and fruitful relationship and this sponsorship further cements their alliance.

Ganesh Parts and General Store cash incentives will be presented to the owner of the champion horse in the J3 and Lower event, which will go for nine furlongs.

Further, Kennard underscored the significance of sponsorship to events such as

the upcoming one.

Kennard said he is pleased with the support he has received from the business entities over the years, since sponsorship is absolutely necessary for the successful promotion of any sporting event.

“Those of us who are involved in the administration of sport, whether it be cricket, horse racing or what’s not, we need sponsorship to

ensure our evens are successful,” Kennard explained.

He thanked both businesses for their support.

Kennard confirmed that over 60 horses have been entered for the grand one-day meet, and that the track at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice, is in fine condition, despite some rain over the past few days.

The main event is for the E1 & Lower class.

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Castro (156), Hussain (106) pulverise Superstars/Islanders …HACC romp to resounding 230-run victory

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada — Two brutal innings from debutant Teshawon Castro and Farook Hussain and another five-wicket haul from off-spinner Krishnadat Ramoo spurred Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) to a crushing 240run victory over Superstars/ Islanders when the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) Elite League50-over tournament continued last Saturday at the Ashtonbee number two ground.

On a day when it was raining boundaries, Castro blasted an amazing 18 sixes and five fours in his 156 while Hussain slammed 13 fours and five sixes in 106, his second ton in as many weekends, following the exact score for Apollo Cricket Club the previous

Saturday in the Etobicoke League.

The assault was started by the powerfully-built opener Hussain, the former Young Warriors Cricket Club player, who raced to his ton in only the 12th over of the innings, dominating a second-wicket partnership of 85 with Ramoo, whose contribution was a mere six.

Castro, who hails from Trinidad and Tobago and who competes regularly in the Etobicoke League, then took centre stage with skipper Surendra Seeraj as the two pulverized the Superstars/ Islanders attack to all parts of the Ashtonbee field.

The fifth-wicket partnership yielded 161 runs in just 15 overs as Seeraj joined the fun, hoisting five sixes and three fours in his 51. Former Guyana and Canadian nation-

Teshawon Castro

Farook Hussain

Tendulkar backs Kuldeep to shine in England Tests

By Sudipto Ganguly

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Batting great Sachin Tendulkar has backed Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in India’s fiveTest series against England, saying the tricky left-arm wristspinner could prove quite a handful against Joe Root and his men.

The 23-year-old spun a web around England’s batsmen in the limited overs matches, taking nine wickets in the first two one day internationals, including career-best figures of 6-25 in the opener of the three-match series.

He also dismantled England with his subtle changes of spin and flight during the recent Twenty20 series that India won 2-1, earning himself a spot in the squad for the first three tests of the series.

“I have always maintained that he’s ready for the longest version of the game and that will be the most challenging one,” Tendulkar told Reuters in an interview. “I think he’s ready.”

England’s batsmen appeared completely at sea against Kuldeep’s variation but they finally seemed to come to grips with him in the final ODI of the series which the hosts won 2-1. The spinner went for 0-55 in that match.

Left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav

But Tendulkar, the world’s leading run-scorer in both tests and one-day internationals, believes Kuldeep, who has played both his tests in the subcontinent, can bounce back.

“Looking at his repertoire he has the capability to go there and compete, without any doubt,” Tendulkar said.

The world’s top-ranked test side also have Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja as their frontline slow bowlers. Both are ranked in the world’s top five bowlers in the format.

The playing surfaces could determine the fate of the series if the pitches are conducive to spin, according to Tendulkar.

“It will depend on the kind of surfaces that we get to play on,” he said.

“The English summer is pretty warm this time. If there’s a bit of help for our

spinners then I am sure we will be in a position in the series to hurt them. That will be a critical factor.”

Tendulkar, who has been conferred with India’s highest civilian award ‘Bharat Ratna’ for his achievements in cricket, was pleased with the balance of India’s squad.

“We have bowlers who can bat and we have batters who can roll their arm over.

The keeper’s contribution also becomes important in batting and we have that,” said the 45-year-old, who accumulated more than 34,000 runs and 100 centuries in a 24-year career that came to an end in 2013.

“Ashwin and Jadeja can also bat. We also have a seam-bowling all-rounder in Hardik Pandya who can bat. That was one element missing, though Hardik’s just started his career. But whatever I see on paper, we have good balance.”

India have, however, been pegged back before the series by injuries to some of their regular players.

While regular wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha has failed to recover from injury, seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar aggravated a lower-back condition during the third one-day international against England and missed out.

Kohli’s team will also be without Jasprit Bumrah for the opening test at Edgbaston from Aug. 1 after the paceman injured his thumb in a T20 match against Ireland.

“One example that I was part of ... we had gone to play in Toronto against Pakistan and we were without (Javagal) Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and (Anil) Kumble, who were our three frontline bowlers,” Tendulkar said. “And we beat Pakistan 4-1.

“If the players are not available, that doesn’t mean the series is gone from us.

We have a very good combination. Of course, it’s always nice to have the full playing XI. It’s nice to have all players available.

“But injuries happen and not having the full squad is also part and parcel of any sport. It’s one of those challenges we have to face and it doesn’t mean we won’t be able to produce the results. We are in a position to produce the results.”

al player Dilon Heyliger, who was also playing his first game for the club, chipped in with 21 (two sixes and a four) as HACC were bowled out for a formidable 370 in 42.4 overs.

Fast bowler Akeem Williams, who escaped the assault to a certain extent, ended with the impressive figures of five for 43 from 7.2 overs while Jermylee Barnett took three for 38.

Superstars/Islanders were never up to the daunting task and surrendered meekly for 130 in 33 overs as Ramoo mesmerized the top and middle-order to capture five for 19 in his allotted 10 overs.

Part-time off-spinner Hussain crowned a fine all-round performance with two for eight in three overs while there was one wicket each for Heyliger and Zaheer Allard.

The victory saw HACC

returning to winning ways following a disappointing performance in their previous game versus Scarborough Cricket Club (SCC) when they were bundled out for 100 in pursuit of 127 for what seemed an inevitable win.

Meanwhile, HACC president Narchand “Archie” Mohan congratulated the team for showing great resilience following the previous defeat and according to him, he can’t recall witnessing “such tremendous hitting” since being around the club.

HACC will now face last year’s winners, Highland Creek, in their next preliminary round match on Sunday at the same venue.

The game marks a repeat of last year’s final and is expected to be a hotly-contested affair.

Fifth Annual Grenville Felix Memorial Road Race set for Sunday

The fifth Annual Grenville Felix Road Race is set for Sunday, July 29.

THE fifth annual Grenville Felix Memorial Cycle race is set for Sunday (July 29) in Berbice. The event, which is organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC), will be held in collaboration with the Felix family.

The event, which is coordinated by cycling coach Randolph Roberts, is being held in honour of the late engineer who passed away five years ago at the age of 96.

Felix, who was one of Guyana’s first and oldest engineers at the time of his demise, worked with Bookers and Guyana Sugar Corporation and in various parts of the world.

This is the seventh cycling event to be held in his honour. The first two was held in honour of his birthday. It was changed to

a memorial event after he died. The event is expected to pedal off from his former residence at Canefield, East Canje, Berbice and proceed to the No51 Police Station before turning back to finish at its place of origin.

All the top cyclists in the country are expected to be on show, since lucrative prizes will be up for grabs.

Prizes will be awarded to the first 10 finishers while the first three juveniles, the first three veterans and the first three females will also be rewarded.

There will also be 10 sprint prizes up for grabs.

There will also be races for BMX riders.

The Grenville Felix Memorial Trophy is a lien trophy and will be given to the first person who gets his name on it three times.

26 26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket continues to grow in Guyana SCOTIABANK Kiddy Cricket made a spectacular return to the field of play with a stunning display of talent and skills by the enthusiastic children of Guyana on Sunday.

More than 100 boys and girls from across the country participated in the lunchtime Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket interval display accompanied by ‘Chirpy’ – the larger-than-life, fun-loving mascot, at the Guyana National Stadium as West Indies and Bangladesh competed in the first One-Day International game.

Anand Sanasie, secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board and a director of Cricket West Indies, commented during the interval display.

“The Kiddy Cricket program is probably the longest sporting partnership between two entities in the region, with the Cricket West Indies partnering with Scotiabank for the last 18 years. The program engages approximately 135,000 children across the region in 17 countries.

“In Guyana, we engage 210 primary schools, so we are in contact with 27,000 children who are actively engaged in the game of cricket. Through the programme, these children have access to 24 qualified foundation and level one coaches who teach them the fundamentals of batting, bowling, fielding and wicket-keeping,” Sanasie said.

Scotiabank and Cricket West Indies distribute cricket gears and equipment annually so that the skills of cricket can be taught across participating schools in Guyana.

Sanasie mentioned that the program has recently introduced an academic cricket manual for the classroom setting, that will be disturbed to schools across Guyana in partnership with the Ministry of Education, that will introduce the Mathematics, English, Social Studies, Science, HFLE and other core primary subjects in a relatable and fun cricket context.

Scotiabank Manager, Public and Corporate Af-

More than 100 boys and girls from across the country participated in the lunchtime Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket interval on Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium.

fairs, Caribbean South and East, Cindy Mohammed stated, “Scotiabank is committed to helping our young people become better off and we’re proud

that the Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Programme enables us to achieve this”.

As Guyana, St. Lucia and Antigua host the first stand-alone ICC Women’s

World Twenty20 in November, Cricket West Indies and Scotiabank will be putting special arrangements in place to give the female cricketers in the Kiddy

Cricket programme the opportunity to watch the matches and participate in activities surrounding this grand world event across the three host venues.

Mbappe snubs Messi while placing himself alongside Ronaldo on Ballon d’Or shortlist KYLIAN Mbappe has put himself in contention for the Ballon d’Or alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Raphael Varane, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward finding no room for Lionel Messi on his shortlist.

The 19-year-old is considered to be a future winner of the most prestigious individual award in football, with it possible that 2018 could be the year in which he gets his hands on the prize.

A World Cup triumph with France has enhanced

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday July 24, 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) Shiv Chanderpaul (378); Daren Bravo (375); Ramnaresh Sarwan (350); Kieron Pollard (294) (2) Mushfiqur Rahim-11 times Today’s Quiz: (1) How many ODIs Dinesh Ramdin has contested against Bangladesh to date?

(2) Who was declared Man of the Match in the first ever WI/BANG ODI game?

Answer in tomorrow's issue

his claims to the title of best player on the planet, with the youngster starring for Les Bleus as they swept to glory in Russia – with his four-goal haul including a fine finish in the 4-2 final victory over Croatia.

If Mbappe is to claim the Ballon d’Or, then he will have to break a decade-long monopoly of the crown by Ronaldo and Messi.

The €100 million (£88m/$117m) Juventus signing is likely to be back in the hunt this year, along with an eternal rival at Barcelona, but there are other leading candidates on the books of Real Madrid and PSG. Mbappe told France Football when asked to pick out the likely winners: “For the favorites, I will say Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Raphael Varane... and me.”

The teenager added that he had full faith in those

Lionel Messi

Kylian Mbappe

around him for club and country, never doubting that France were destined to secure a second World Cup title this summer. Mbappe added on the efforts of Didier Deschamps’ side: “You have to

be honest. I first had the idea we would win some time ago.

“From the beginning I was convinced that we had everything to go to the end. I even said it before the start of the tournament

Cristiano Ronaldo

and some people took it for arrogance when it was just confidence.

“I had come for the cup and I’m leaving with it. I had programmed myself to win.”

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Malteenoes Cricket Academy launched - Minister Norton urges participants to take full advantage

By Rajiv Bisnauth CLOSE to 100 aspiring cricketers will spend the next two weeks garnering the fundamentals of cricket, both on and off the field, after the Malteenoes Cricket Academy was officially launched yesterday at the Thomas Lands facility.

The aim of the Academy is not only for nurturing and fostering the development of aspiring cricketers, but is also aimed at realizing the numerous opportunities the sport can offer professionally.

Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sport, Dr. George Norton, who was the ceremony’s guest speaker, pointed out that programmes of such nature is not only aimed at developing the skills in each cricket-discipline using the expertise readily available, but will also

Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sport, Dr. George Norton, delivering his feature address. Also sharing the head table were second vice president of the Malteenoes Sports Club, Neil Barry and committee member, Debra Mc Nichol.

lend in no small way to the holistic development of each participant.

“We all know that this Academy over the years has contributed to the grooming of some of the country’s best cricketers who have done Guyana proud, so I want to encourage you to grasp all

that is taught,” Dr Norton said.

Minister Norton recognized the Academy’s coaching staff and personnel as an excellent team, and expressed confidence that the cricketers – male and female - who will attend the Academy will find themselves in good hands.

Fernandes and Khalil settle for Squash Doubles Bronze, …. Guyanese Hockey men lose to Mexico

“I am particularly impressed by the depth of the programme and the fact that the sessions are not only about teaching cricket techniques. I am happy to know that you will be addressing issues like child safety and protection, hygiene and social skills.

I am also quite impressed by the fact that this Academy will not only be grooming future cricketing stars, but umpires, scorers, journalists and even broadcasters as well,” the Minister revealed.

Minister Norton made it clear that any programme which assist to empower youths, and at the same time foster social cohesion, will always get the Ministry’s, and by extension, the government’s full support.

Meanwhile, head coach of the Academy, Orin Bailey, told the participants that punctuality and discipline will be two key areas which the club will closely monitor.

This year’s Academy is scheduled to conclude on August 3. It will include classroom and field work which will provide training to become cricketers, umpires, scorers, journalists

and broadcasters.

The Academy produced Test players such as Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ryan Ramdass and Narsingh Deonarine, along with former USA captain Steve Massiah, who played two ODIs for the USA while Azeemul Haniff and Ricardo Mohamed played First-Class cricket.

Karran Ganesh, Sauid Drepaul, Ravi Sarwan, Bachan Balram, Colin Murray, Karran Ganesh and Vishal Arjune all played National Youth Cricket.

After a break, the Academy was reintroduced in 2016 on a much smaller scale but was again interrupted last year due to the unavailability of coaches who were occupied with CPL duties.

The Malteenoes Cricket Academy was launched in July 1993 in recognition of the Club’s Motto: ‘Our Youth, Our Future’.

Holder says Windies need to improve for second ODI tomorrow

SKIPPER Jason Holder has downplayed the role of the pitch in Sunday’s 48-run defeat to Bangladesh in the opening OneDay International of the three-match series, contending West Indies simply were not at their best.

West Indies failed to chase down 279 on a slow track at the Guyana NationGuyana’s Ladies’ doubles team of Ashley Khalil and Taylor al Stadium, with rookie leftFernandes (in red) along with their Barbados opponents in the hander Shimron Hetmyer the only batsman to score a quarter-final stage on Saturday.

GUYANA’s Taylor Fernandes Mexico’s Francisco Aguilar half-century with 52.

However, Holder said and Ashley Khalil settled for swept home the first of his bronze medals after they lost three goals in the 24th minute. while the target had not to the Colombian pair, Laura Just seven minutes later, been beyond the Windand Maria Tovar Perez in the Aguilar doubled Mexico’s lead, ies line-up, the batting side had simply not been semi-final of their Women’s yet again from a penalty shot.

Doubles Squash semi-final From thereon, it would al- good enough, and stressed yesterday. ways be an uphill task for the the side’s overall perforPlaying at the 23rd Central Guyanese men and Aguilar mance needed to improve American and Caribbean (CAC) completed his hat-trick in the in order to bounce back in Games in Barranquilla, Colom- 52nd minute from free play to Wednesday’s second ODI bia, Khalil and Fernandes lost seal Mexico’s second victory in at the same venue.

“I think the pitch was to the Colombians 2-0 with two games. sets of 8-11 and 3-11.However, The Guyanese men now good. It was probably despite the loss, they clinched find themselves in a must-win similar to the last time we bronze, Guyana’s first medal of position in their third and final played Pakistan here,” the the Games thus far. group stage match against Gua- 26-year-old all-rounder said.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s Men’s temala, set for tomorrow.

“I think the pitch was Hockey team came up against Mexico are top of Pool ‘B’ good.

It was probably Mexico in their second Pool ‘B’ with six points, while Guyana similar to the last time we match and suffered their first are third with three points. loss of the tournament.

The Guyanese girls will played Pakistan here,” the Two penalty shots conced- head into action today with 26-year-old all-rounder ed within 10 minutes were their third and final group said.

“It took a little spin their downfall as they lost 3-0. stage match against Mexico The first goal they conceded today at 13:00hrs Guyana up front because there had a little moisture in was from the penalty spot as time.

the pitch but nothing you couldn’t really get around in terms of rotating and scoring. It’s probably a pitch that you need to spend a little more time on in terms of getting yourself in and I think once you’re set, it becomes a lot easier.”

He added: “I think we need to improve in all three departments, just THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Shakib-al-Hasan looks back sharpen up. Our general- as Chris Gayle puts down a catch at slip during his 97 in ly fielding wasn’t good Sunday’s opening ODI. (Photo courtesy CWI Media) enough in my opinion – we missed a few chances.

Hasan whose 97 came Despite the defeat, how“In terms of our bowl- from 121 balls. ever, Holder said the Winding, we could execute a In reply, the Windies ies were confident of turnlot better at the end. Ob- were 141 for four in the ing their fortunes around. viously bowling at two set 36th over at one stage but “I don’t think it’s the batsmen at the very end suffered a slump where end of the world. We know isn’t easy but I thought they lost five wickets for 31 the areas we need to tighten we could have been a lot runs in 33 deliveries, leav- up on. As I said, missing better … in terms of our ing tail-enders Devendra chances in any cricket will death bowling.

Bishoo and Alzarri Joseph, hurt you – we missed one or “And batting-wise, both with 29 not out, to bat two up front and I said, we we’ve just got to find ways out the majority of the last just did not execute well at to build more partnerships 10 overs. the end,” he explained. and build bigger partner“I felt we weren’t up to “Having said that, I ships and go as deep as scratch today. In the field still think we had a few possible into the innings.” we were a little sloppy, we positives in the game. HetWest Indies were bat- missed a few chances,” myer played really well tered by opener Tamim Holder explained. with the bat, the two at Iqbal’s unbeaten 130 from “I felt we bowled pretty the end (Bishoo and Jo160 deliveries as Bangla- well up until the 45th over seph) played a really good desh reached 279 for four or so and we lost our way part and also bowled well. off their 50 overs. in the last couple of overs. I think generally most Critically, he shared And then obviously when bowlers went well and a record 207-run sec- we batted, there were not it’s just a matter of us ond wicket stand with enough partnerships up taking it up a notch come all-rounder Shakib-al- front.”

Wednesday.” (CMC)

Trophy Stall on board 2nd Annual Guinness Cage PAGE

22 Managing Director of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich, presents the cheque and first place trophy to Three Peat Promotions’ Rawle Welch yesterday

Allen still ‘Too Sharp’

“I’m one fight away from something big”

By Rawle Toney

ON Saturday July 21, Guyana’s Lennox ‘Too Sharp’ Allen picked up his 21st win in the ring after a third round TKO victory over American Willis Locket in their light heavyweight contest to remain unbeaten in his professional boxing career.

With the victory, Allen lived up to his alias ‘Too Sharp’, with Willis becoming the 14th victim of Allen’s deadly right hand, while the ‘GT’ fighter’s only blemish was his draw against American Darnell Boone in 2010.

“I was away for a while, so this fight (against Willis) was more of a comeback and I’m happy for the win,” Allen told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview.

Prior to his impressive win over Willis, Allen’s last fight was on October 17, 2015, against Istvan Zeller, when he won the 10-round, Super Middleweight contest via the Technical Knockout route in the fifth round.

CONTINUE ON PAGE 23

Lennox ‘Too Sharpe’ Allen following his third round TKO victory over American Willis Locket on July 21.

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Ethiopia, Eritrea set to play first soccer match in two decades NAIROBI (Reuters) - Ethiopia are set to play Eritrea in a friendly soccer match, the state-affiliated Fana news agency reported on Monday, weeks after a dramatic end to a 20-year old war between the two east African states.

The match would be played in late August in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, the agency said on its twitter feed.

The match is part of attempts by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to sweep away a generation of hostility between the nations since signing a peace deal last month.

Triggered by a border dispute in 1998, the conflict killed more than 80,000 people. At least 350,000 people living along the border on both sides were uprooted and forced to flee.

Leaders have visited each other, and last week Eritrea reopened its country’s embassy in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia’s national carrier Ethiopia Airlines last week made its first flight to Asmara in two decades and was greeted by dancers waving flags and flowers as families separated by the war and the ensuing hostilities made an emotional reunion.

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2018