Guyana Chronicle E-paper 09-28-2018

FRIDAY 28th September, 2018

BAD DEAL No.105411

– GuySuCo says $30B bond was a bad deal – Min. Holder, CEO say in dark over transaction

Steer clear of ecstasy – Commissioner James tells students

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Commissioner of Police Leslie James interacts with the gathering at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Thursday (Delano Williams photo)

GECOM opens No threat to can of worms Panama rice PAGE

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– by publishing lists of nominators, says AFC – commission maintains publication of lists done in interest of transparency

market

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

Small businesses to get share of the pie – procurement programme nears completion

By Lisa Hamilton THE Ministry of Business is in the advance stages of preparation for the Small Business Procurement Programme which will see small businesses in Guyana receiving a fair chance of accessing Government procurement.

This is the most recent update from Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin who made the announcement on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the Micro and Small Enterprise Development (MSED) Project hosted at Herdmanston Lodge.

“This has been something that I have been pushing and trying to develop… a lot of work has already gone into it. I think that we are at an advance stage of developing the programme,” Gaskin said.

He said the programme,

which began three years ago, has several components and is now at its final lap with 2019 being looked at as the proposed completion date.

The minister took the time to explain the components currently being addressed which are capacity building and technical training; data gathering; and procurement accessibility.

“One has to do with capacity building which is training small businesses for accessing procurement and understanding the procurement system and what the requirements are and what they would have to do to submit tenders or quotations etcetera.”

“The other also is technical training that will actually make them a little more proficient in what they do, whatever goods or services they provide,” Gaskin said.

Meanwhile, the next component deals with the measurement of the level of public procurement going to small businesses which the government is carefully working to develop.

“That is quite complex and that is probably the biggest sticking point right now.

We have to have a system that will allow regular reporting so that every quarter we can say to the public this is the level of procurement in small businesses for that quarter.”

“So, that involves being able to identify small businesses whenever they procure whether it’s at the ministry level, whether it’s at the level of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board or whether it’s at the regional procurement level.

We have to be able to pull that data together occupying the system to get that data

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

collected in the first place,” Gaskin stated.

Following the acquisition of this information, the Business Ministry will need to develop measures which will provide small businesses with a better chance of tapping into government procurement.

“We have several methods identified such as a basic ‘set-aside’ where pro-

curements below a certain threshold are only available to small businesses. Or, there are other ways we can do it where special incentive in the evaluating scoring system is given to small businesses or even to larger businesses that will sub-contract a portion of their work to small businesses. Even in the quotation system where ministries or entities ask for… any restricted tendering, they have to make sure that a fixed percentage of small businesses are included in the restrictive tendering or the quotation request,” Gaskin explained.

These are the areas the government is currently addressing even as the implementation phase is also to be decided upon from now to avoid any possibilities of future conflict.

“We’re working on some standard operating procedures so that when we propose this programme, we

don’t have to go back to the drawing board to figure out how it’s going to be implemented,” he said.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, too, was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Small Business Bureau (SBB), Dr. Lowell Porter.

He advised that businesses seeking to be a part of the programme when implemented will have to be registered and must possess the necessary capacity.

The programme’s establishment is in keeping with the Small Business Act of 2004 under Section 11:1 which states that: “The Government shall use its best endeavours to ensure that at least 20 per cent of the procurement of goods and services required annually by the Government is obtained from small businesses and for this purpose, the Council shall prepare annually a Small Business Procurement Programme.”

Gov’t advances efforts for constitutional reform The Prime Minister’s Office, in partnership with the United Nations Children Fund Guyana on Thursday released their joint report on the “Review of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic in Relation to the Rights of the Children.”

Guyana has initiated a process of constitutional reform and the OPM has acknowledged the importance of ensuring children’s rights are well integrated, and in some cases made clearer.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo expressed optimism that it will become a base document

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and staff of his office as well as representatives from UNICEF

to be shared with the constitutional commissioners.

Meanwhile, the OPM handed over $5M to the University of Guyana as funding for Constitutional Reform Education. The Constitutional Reform Education Project is being worked on by the OPM, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Guyana (UG).

Prime Minister, Nagamootoo, in brief remarks said that constitutional reform is not for “sloganeering” nor should it be used as an “electioneering” platform. He pointed to the University of Guyana’s role as a reservoir of intellect and critical thinking to explain the Constitution to the wider public, and receive feedback on how

to reform our supreme law. The simple handover ceremony was attended by UN Coordinator, Mikiko

Tanaka, Vice-Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Barbara Reynolds, OPM Gover-

nance Coordinator, Tamara Khan and Finance Secretary, Christina Mohan.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith greets Prime Minister, Hon. Moses Nagamootoo. Also in photograph are: Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Planning and International Engagement, Dr. Barbara Reynolds and United Nations Resident Representative to Guyana, Mikiko Tanaka

Bad deal

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

…GuySuCo says $30B bond was a bad deal …Min. Holder, CEO say in dark over transaction

By Svetlana Marshall Agriculture Minister Noel Holder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation, Dr. Harold Davis Jnr have expressed deep concern over the handling of the $30B syndicated bond secured by the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited’s (NICIL) Special Purpose Unit (SPU) to revive the industry, with the latter describing the deal as a bad one and the minister saying he has been left completely in the dark about the transaction.

Reports surfaced in another publication earlier this week indicating that Republic Bank would have halted GuySuCo’s bond financing over claims that the money was not used for its intended purpose. GuySuCo had received two disbursements– one for $880M and another for just over $1.1B. Dr. Davis on Wednesday confirmed that the corporation did receive approximately $2B but made it clear that the money was not misused. He told Guyana Chronicle that the close to $2B handed over to GuySuCo was addressed to “employment costs,” noting that the corporation has a large workforce, and to cover basic operating expenses, and capital projects. “The money was not used for the repaying of a debt; the money was used for the payment of interest, which is part of our operating expenses.

When you incur credit from creditors, elements of inter-

Finance, and of the full sum secured, $17B was requested in the first tranche.

Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder

ests have to be paid. If you take a mortgage you pay interest; these are operating expenses, they are legitimate operating expenses,” he explained.

Dr. Davis said a percentage of the money was used to facilitate capital works as well. “So the rest of the money that was requested was addressed to essential capital that also passed through a tender process and approved by the ministry,” he said. He maintained that the sugar corporation has always been transparent about the use and intended use of the funds.

Last month, the SPU disclosed via a press statement that almost $2B was disbursed to GuySuCo for operational expenses of the Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt estates. In that statement, it was explained that through local financing, arranged by Republic Bank Limited, the SPU managed to successfully negotiate a Bond Facility for $30B, with significant input from the Ministry of

DEEPLY CONCERNED Meanwhile, the minister has expressed deep concern over the handling of the bond and the rate of disbursement to GuySuCo. At a news conference on Wednesday at the Ministry of Agriculture, Minister Holder said that the functions of the SPU were clear when the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government took a decision to scale-down the operations of GuySuCo. He said the SPU was established to manage the divestment of the Skeldon Factory and other assets owned by GuySuCo. Its functions also include facilitating the process of valuation, marketing, advertising and the drafting of legal framework. As stated in the ‘State Paper on the Future of the Sugar Industry’ presented to the National Assembly in May 2017, GuySuCo’s operations have been reduced to three estates: Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates from a total of seven estates. It was expected that with funds secured from the sale of its assets, investments would have been made to rehabilitate its fields and factories, allowing them to be more efficient, resulting in better yields. Instead, a bond was secured but the monies have not been forth coming.

“The SPU having been formed found itself unable, in a timely manner, to divest these estates to getting it

Cane harvester dies in accident

REAGAN GARRETT, 30, a cane harvester of Lot 1 A, Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB) died on Thursday after he lost control of his motorcycle and slammed into a concrete bridge on the Number Six Public Road.

According to reports, the accident occurred around 15:00 hrs. Police, in a release, said enquiries

disclosed that the motorcyclist was proceeding west along the southern side of the road and was in the process of negotiating a turn when he lost control and collided with a concrete bridge on the southern side of the road.

He was picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was

pronounced dead on arrival.

The release noted that Garrett was not wearing a safety helmet and had reportedly left the Cotton Tree Play ground, where he was imbibing, to purchase ice when the accident occurred.

The body is at the Fort Wellington Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Harold Davis Jnr

valued by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). So in order to let GuySuCo get ahead with its projects, it then went and sought finance pending the sale of these estates so that GuySuCo can get its money,” the Agriculture Minister explained.

He said, however, while SPU would have secured the $30B bond facility, to date, the Agriculture Ministry or the Management of GuySuCO has not seen the Trust Deed. A trust deed is an act of conveyance creating and setting out the conditions of a trust. “So they (SPU) apparently secured some $30B bond which GuySuCo’s Management has not seen, which the Minister of Agriculture has not seen, and frankly speaking, don’t

really want to see,” he told reporters.

The minister hinted that while a percentage of the bond was released to the SPU, the money has not been handed over in full to GuySuCo. “I can’t understand why you will get $30B, pay 4 per cent interest, sit on it, and don’t hand it over to who supposed to use it, but that is for the politicians to look at, and the politicians are looking at it,” the Agriculture Minister said.

IN THE DARK Dr. Davis told this newspaper that GuySuCo is in the dark when it comes to the bond facility, and its terms and conditions, and as such could not speak to any violation. “We don’t know what are the conditions of the trust bond,” he posited but emphasised that the money was used to cover employment expenses, and justifiably so.

“They were all transparent,” he further emphasised. The CEO is now of the view that SPU inked a bad deal and GuySuCo and the Ministry of Agriculture should have been consulted on the bond facility. “Whatever it was, I think it was a bad deal. In the first place, GuySuCo should have been consulted on what the bond was about and we should have been clear on that, and we still aren’t,” Dr. Davis said.

He noted that while $17B was made available to the SPU, to date, GuySuCo has only received close to $2B. GuySuCo has made a third request for finances but that is still pending. “We recently made an application release of funding for September’s operating expenses and some capital projects,” he said.

Dr. Davis told this newspaper that a request

by GuySuCo for finances to facilitate essential retooling is also pending. “The

monies were never released, so GuySuCo is still living in a very difficult place.”

Under the new Board of Directors headed by John Dow, GuySuCo is hoping to upgrade its facilities to improve its yields, produce value added products such as plantation white sugar, and thirdly, produce energy through co-generation.

Back in July the SPU had defended the conditions of the bond, saying that it was secured solely by the full faith of bondholders in the Guyana government and not against any assets of NICIL or GuySuCo. Further, the SPU said the commercial lending rate for Guyana is 13.00 per cent, while the NICIL bond was issued at 4.75 per cent, which is 8.25 per cent lower than the rate that most companies borrow at in Guyana. The current inflation rate in Guyana is 2%; therefore, any prudent investor would demand a return higher than the rate of annual inflation, the NICIL unit said.

The GY$30 billion would be used, the SPU said, to help finance “an ambitious strategic plan to turnaround the fortunes of the Guyana sugar industry.” According to the Unit, in part, the strategy involved the development of two co-generation facilities, upgrades to the existing sugar factories to produce white sugar, the restructuring of debt, and ongoing training and education for the workers and management of Guysuco. “To augment the plan, financing was sought to implement NICIL’s strategy to the tune of G$30 billion and awarded a mandate to the leading arranger of debt financing in the Caribbean-- Republic Bank Limited,” SPU said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

Min. Lawrence meets with Guyanese diaspora in Washington DC. A GATHERING of Guyanese in the diaspora, specifically in Washington DC., was apprised of the progress being made throughout Guyana’s health sector.

They also heard of plans in the pipeline to improve the current status of healthcare delivery in the country.

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence on Wednesday evening engaged these individuals on the developments being put forward in their home country.

The minister highlighted that there have been several policy decisions made by the government through the

Ministry of Public Health that would impact health services in Guyana.

It was noted that Guyana is on the cusp of transformation as external investors are recognising the local potential and are seeking to tap into Guyana’s economy.

One of the ways to do so is through the public health sector’s human resource, infrastructure and improvement of services. As a potentially oil-producing state, the priority of the Public Health Ministry is to modernise health care in Guyana; starting with the development of human resources within

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence greets a Guyanese doctor from the diaspora, Dr. Navendra Persaud at an engagement at the Guyana Embassy in Washington DC.

this sector then the facilities which will enhance and improve quality of services.

In this regard, Minister Lawrence highlighted that while nurses are being

trained, more needs to be done to retain and motivate them. As such, the Health Ministry has been engaged on many fronts, seeking opportunities for nurses to

upgrade and diversify their careers. “Many of our nurses, they are excellent at what they do but they don’t see the hope of moving anywhere.

It doesn’t matter what they study they will still be a nurse… that is why we are amending the Nurses Act. It will be able to open the gates of opportunity for them.”

The minister indicated that the government, in the near future, will establish a nursing college which will have a hospital attached.

“That way we will be able to attract students from Guyana and the Caribbean. That in itself will help us also at the economic level because they will need lodging and so on,” the minister explained.

Further, she went on to inform the diaspora of plans for infrastructural upgrades

within the health sector. She pointed out that in the past there has been a culture of “adding on” and expanding buildings which may not be infrastructurally sound.

Using the Georgetown Public Hospital as an example, she explained that “…what happened is they just kept adding on rooms … Every month money was wasted and we are hoping to correct this.” Minister Lawrence has been in Washington DC since September 23, participating in a regional health ministers meeting hosted by PAHO/ WHO. Her role there is to represent Guyana and the public health sector for inclusion in activities and initiatives which will benefit the people of Guyana.

(DPI)

Youths want better role models …say time for meaningful participation in leadership Friday, September 28, 2018 05:00hrs. - 06:30hrs.

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YOUTH participation in leadership is something that needs to be on the front burner of every discussion, said some of the young people who attended the inaugural Guyana National Youth Conference, which commenced on Thursday.

Young people believe that they have been shunned or undermined for too long and therefore need to meaningfully participate in leadership, especially at a national level.

“They always say we are not experienced, we do not know anything…we had too many talk shops, we need to look at what we are doing to make sure that young people have meaningful participation in leadership,” said one of the youth participants, Delano Sancho.

Amidst applause from his counterparts, Sancho said those in leadership positions need to set better examples for aspiring leaders.

Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Akeem Peter agreed that there are not enough good examples so young people need to create examples for future generations. “We always look towards someone to lead us… what we need to do is when we put forward an idea, we must hold leaders accountable…I don’t think leaders understand how serious we are,” said Peter, adding that young people need to understand their role in leadership.

He believes that there is more to leadership than just a title or position. In that regard, he urged young peo-

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ple to build their capacity in order efficiently function as a leader. Managing Director of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Joel Simpson also encouraged young people to explore their talents before taking up leadership positions in society. “We all cannot run for office but some of us might be good in other professions… explore your talents and skills, expand your frame,” he said during his response to questions at the youth conference.

The main focus of the two-day conference was to promote youth participation and inclusion in national issues, said Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael, in an invited comment during a youth reception,

Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Akeem Peter

which gave the participants a chance to network. “The issue we are addressing now is participation and inclusion…we have been on the ground and the complaint is that young people feel left out,” said Carmichael. She added that the Department of Youth conceptualised the youth conference with the idea of ensuring that young people share their thoughts and concerns.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

No threat to Panama rice market …GRDB explains reasons for rejection of shipment

ASSURANCE has been given by General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Nizam Hassan, that there is no threat to the lucrative market for Guyana’s rice. This assurance comes amidst claims of local rice being rejected by Trinidad then being shipped to Panama. This resulted in the Latin American country refusing 20 containers of rice from more than 100 because it contained the incorrect commodity.

“With regards to the effect, basically the buyer said ‘no, this is not what we want; it cannot come; so take it back and send us back our rice.’ We will have to replace the rice that was not received. The authorities understand it is a contract between the GRDB

and the Institute of Agricultural Marketing in Panama; they know that the GRDB itself is not a producer of rice,” Hassan explained In addition, Hassan said he has no knowledge of the rice being previously rejected

by Trinidad and repackaged for the Panamanian market.

“We have no information of rice being shipped to Trinidad and being returned to Guyana. When rice leaves here we would have all the documents and if returned, plant quarantine would have been involved. We have no information of this happening,” Hassan told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Further, the GRDB head said there is an ongoing investigation to determine whether or not there was a deliberate effort to deceive on the part

General Manager of the GRDB, Nizam Hassan

of millers or it was a genuine operational error. “We are still investigating to identify whether it was an operational issue or whether it was a deliberate effort. I cannot comment on that because the investigation is in progress.

If it was an operational issue, because from our reports thus

Steer clear of ecstasy

By Navendra Seoraj

COMMISSIONER of Police Leslie James has urged young people to stay clear of ecstasy, warning that possession and use of the drug have serious consequences.

The commissioner issued the warning at the inaugural Guyana National Youth Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Thursday. Among the participants at the conference were teachers who raised concerns about the use of ecstasy in schools.

They have called the drug the “rape pill”.

Ecstasy is defined as a derivative of amphetamine.

Its chemical name is methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and it has a similar structure to methamphetamine.

According to information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, ecstasy has a variety of street names in-

cluding XTC, Adam, M & M, E, and Essence.

Ecstasy is synthesised in clandestine laboratories; in fact, there are several designer drugs that are made by altering the structure of the amphetamine molecule.

“Because ecstasy is synthesised in laboratories, its purity can vary substantially from lab to lab, and other compounds are easily combined into the same tablet.

Contaminants often include caffeine, ephedrine, ketamine - a mild hallucinogen and methamphetamine,” said the institute. “Please be aware of the presence of ecstasy and other type of drugs… the information is, it is now prevalent in schools,” said James.

The commissioner said that in previous interactions with several schools, he discovered that children were being taken advantage of by their peers after using the drug.

“As a school child you can yield under peer pressure… the drug appears to be quite friendly with immediate effects but the post results is what we are concerned about,” he said, adding that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has launched several programmes to address the growing concerns. In an effort to eradicate the “scourge”, the GPF has started to meet with stakeholders in order to craft an effective plan to address the situation.

James confirmed that the GPF had also met with officials from Suriname to determine where exactly the drug is coming from, since it appears to be coming from the eastern border of Guyana.

“The situation is not bleak, we have programmes to deal with the issue… we will continue to engage schools and stakeholders as we go forward with addressing the matter,” he said.

far, the miller is using this packaging facility that bags and packages white rice and parboiled rice using the same line. However, we have only just received photos saying this is what we found. It does not necessarily mean that an entire container has parboiled rice; it may have been a few bags,” the GRDB head explained.

According to Hassan, systems have now been strengthened to prevent a recurrence of any similar situation. “Let me say that all systems have been heightened with regards to inspections, quality control checks with respect to shipments to this buyer; that’s the first thing.” Guyana exported some 540,000 tonnes of rice for 2017, which saw its highest numbers since 2015 when a total of 535,000 tonnes were

recorded. The GRDB is the agency responsible for certifying rice being shipped from Guyana to overseas markets.

(DPI) Meanwhile, back in July, GRDB disclosed that results from the first rice crop of 2018--January to June-- show an export volume increase of 87,000 tonnes as compared to the same period last year.

“When we look at the figures compared to the first half of 2017, we saw first that the total volume that has been exported is 290,000 tonnes which is 43 per cent more than the 203,000 tonnes that was exported during the first half of 2017,” Hassan had said. The increase at that point had earned the country GYD$23.2Billion (US$111Million) this year against the value of the export for

– Commissioner James tells students The use of ecstasy by adolescents has increased in recent years and this has been found in several schools in Regions Three and Four, according to Deputy Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Lesley Ramlall.

He said investigations were conducted at various

schools with the consent of the Ministry of Education and students have admitted to the use of ecstasy. A number of persons have since been arrested. Ramlall said the new trend is very worrying for Guyana, since there has been a growing demand for ecstasy among the youth population.

the first half of 2017 which was GYD$16.1Billion (US$77Million).

The general manager attributed the increase to the determination of rice producers and millers to meet production targets and more so Guyana’s access to new markets, particularly in Latin America. “We’ve seen some significant increases in some of the blocs. For example, exports to Latin America jumped by 215 per cent.

In the first half of 2017, we did 64,000 tonnes as against 202,000+ tonnes in the first half of 2018.” Standing out for exports was Mexico and Cuba, taking a total of 133,000 tonnes–45,000 and 88,000– respectively.

Both countries did not take during the January to June exports of 2017.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

Our children are depending on us GUYANA is currently observing Child Protection Week under the theme “Supporting Families to Prevent Child Abuse through Education and Community Involvement.”

The Ministry of Social Protection Childcare and Protection Agency (CCPA) has been hosting various activities throughout the country at a time when there has been an upsurge in reports of sexual abuse and also a number of cases being heard in our courts. Child Protection, as a matter of rights, laws, policies and programmes, is an everyday event, starting in the home and extending to the wider society. Our children need protection from violence, exploitation and abuse. This protection is the collective

responsibility of society; one that ought not to be ever let up on and should see continuous work through institutional strengthening and deepening.

A recent survey conducted by the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Guyana found that 18 per cent of our children between the ages of five and 17 are engaged in child labour. This figure in small society as ours is relatively high and stamping it out requires concerted efforts on the part of Government in tandem with society. The denial of the child’s right to a normal childhood, whether it may occur out of ignorance, power play, or socio-economic circumstances must not be condoned.

In addition to continued and intensified public education on what constitutes child labour, socio-economic depravities have to be addressed, and the full brunt of the law must be brought to bear, including making penalty prohibitive enough to serve as deterrence. Ours is a society born out of historical experience that to spare the rod is to spoil the child. Consequently, children have been whipped if they engaged in what the parent or responsible adult considers bad behaviour.

This in many instances is borne out of wanting the best for the child. This form of discipline is also incorporated in the school system, known as corporal punishment. Today, such is considered violent and abusive. As

national conversation on this issue flares up, ever so often, including from teachers, as to whether this form of discipline is appropriate or not, the fact is once it remains on the statute it is legal.

It may be opportune therefore for teachers, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Protection and other stakeholders to examine corporal punishment in our laws. Discipline is important to a child’s growth and development as it is to every individual.

However, it becomes necessary to revisit appropriate forms of discipline that will not constitute abuse. Our children are getting education from different sources and in unrestricted environment which can be unhealthy. With technological

advancement, Guyana has to develop its Code of Standards that will protect the type of information children are exposed to, and explores ways of aiding the family in ensuring so. In addition to the type of movies children watch, it may be helpful to seek to work with television stations in determining the type of shows shown at certain hours.

There is the issue of cyber-bullying which is b e c o m i n g e v e r p r e v alent. The internet is also a haven for paedophiles, unrestricted flow of pornography, recruiting for terrorist acts, and other forms of exploitation, violence and abuse. Ways have to be found to insulate our children from such toxic environment, even as

they are taught that their bodies are private, what constitutes safe space, how to deal with those who seek to violate them, and appropriate sex education.

In the field of education, children learn what come into contact with their senses. Adults have to be mindful of the things they say and do because children often take their cues.

Leaders in society must not only speak to the issue of such abuse but should also demonstrate zero tolerance for such abuse.

While children may not be of the intellectual growth as adults are, they are very discerning and perceptive.

Stamping it out requires collective approaches and actions. Our children are depending on us.

Urgent intervention needed to address morning traffic at DHB Dear Editor THERE is an urgent need for the management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation and the Guyana Police Force to intervene and develop solutions to address the chaotic situation that occurs daily at the western approach of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

This situation is gradually getting from bad to worse as the number of vehicles traversing the bridge daily now seems to have multiplied four folds, when compared to eight years ago.

Thousands of citizens, like myself, have moved from other parts of the country and now reside in schemes on the West Coast and West Bank of Demerara and have afforded

the convenience of personal vehicles to commute to work.

Eight years ago, the current system and timing of the double lane had worked very well. However, it is now time for the authorities to go back to the drawing board and find solutions to remedy the surge in traffic every morning.

Failure to address this situation will only leave a multitude of committed public servants, private sector workers, students and other road users coming from the west side late, tired and frustrated when they reach their destinations.

These road users would also have to spend more money on fuel and inhale their daily dose exhaust fumes as they wait bumper to bumper for ridiculously extensive periods to get to Georgetown.

While the authorities try to find some solutions until the new bridge is built, I have a few to share for immediate implementation, and they are as follows: 1. Open the double lane traffic from the western side from 06:45hrs instead of 07:00hrs on weekdays. The double lane could still close at 07:30hrs. This additional 15 minutes could significantly ease the congestion.

2. Instead of opening the bridge to marine traffic at 05:00hrs in the morning, open from 04:30hrs so that the flow of road traffic can recommence at 06:00hrs.

3. Equip police officers managing the traffic at the bridge with radio sets so they can easily communicate with each other while at the differ-

ent traffic points.

4. Police officers at the eastern side of the bridge need to give a little more consideration for traffic coming from the western side by not restricting the flow of traffic,

especially at the time of the double lane in the mornings.

As more and more citizens become residents on the west side of the Demerara River, the need for a new bridge is becoming more and more critical. While residents wait for this solution, which will drastically change the lives of thousands of “west siders” for

better, let’s continue to see it necessary to brainstorm and arrive at solutions which will make the lives of many more comfortable. Let us quickly find [a]solution for the daily traffic congestions at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Regards Lloyd David

Good to see the REO standing her ground Dear Editor IT was good to see the REO, Region 4, standing her ground and holding firm with a contractor who is requesting payment before corrective work is done (“Region stands ground as contractor pleads for payment” KN Sept 27, 2018).

Such principled stance must be commended and more action like this would be welcomed from other officials. Kudos to you Madam REO. Let the work be corrected to satisfaction before any payment is considered.

Regards Shamshun Mohamed

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

Harbour Bridge chaos Dear Editor,

PLEASE oblige me to vent on an issue that seems to have become a norm on the ‘west side’. But first, I must commend the PPP/C for opening huge amount of lands over the river and allowing for the importation of many motor vehicles without even upgrading the infrastructures that would accommodate the now high volume of commuters. Thank you for such consideration and vision during your 23 years in office.

Now on to the subject at hand, I cannot understand, even until now, why the Guyana police officers would harass a regular citizen (who may not know a

“big-one”) but allow the socalled “big ones” to do the wrong things and say they are doing their job. I’ll wait for that answer patiently.

The traffic flow over the Demerara Harbour Bridge during the rush hour period is beyond horrible, so we have to ‘tow’ the line as they would say. I guess no politician had the vision to build a new one since they were so much focussed on building their own backyards. Now, a principled person like me would follow the line until I get to cross, but even principled people get distraught and exasperated when the police would allow their friends, families and ‘big ones’ (with heavily tinted windows) to halt the traffic for

them to pass through.

A citizen should (and I say should again) only allow for an ambulance, Government official vehicles (usually with siren) and police vehicles (those that always seem to be in a hurry to get somewhere, only God knows, even in the height of the 5:00am back up traffic, but that’s understood) to get about their urgent business. But for a police officer to allow other private vehicles (and again I say heavily tinted) to pass on the side with the up-coming traffic and then stop the traffic so they can get ahead of you on the bridge is beyond wrong. If I did that it would be seen as erroneous and [I]would be charged because I don’t

know any ‘big one’. At the end of the day it is wrong; everyone knows that it’s against the traffic rules.

On-going and up-coming traffic cannot be in the same lane but I guess someone is trying to rewrite the rules.

Question: are you trying to tell me that where I am going is not important or is my tax paying dollar worthless to those who are put ahead of me? Let anyone with proper reasoning answer that.

This is the main reason why the Government of the day is never held accountable for anything in Guyana because the citizens get so accustomed to always “finding a negative way around things”. Instead of demanding what is right,

we sit and accept or just complain among ourselves while politicians do whatever they want to do. The next time a politician come and ask for your vote let them fulfil your need before you give it, like a new bridge or a new road or a school or a health centre.

Until they can provide that for you, no vote. Life is all about bringing something to the table so we can meet each other half way.

Again, why should we allow others to pass freely after waking up late while we stay in the line after being up early to make it on time? I personally don’t see the right in that.

Every man Jack has to join the line and feel the same excruciating pain

of the bumper to bumper traffic during the morning crossing. And where is the heart of people these days? On the floor? Human beings are becoming more and more selfish each day, but for Guyanese, we are a special kind of ruthless but gets quite timid when we go overseas. Mr. President, Sir, please use your years of army base training and speak to your police force on what it is to be orderly.

Let’s see a reformation of the ‘last-come, first go” system at the bridge so we can really have something to celebrate come 2019 Independence.

Regards Nkase Carter

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

ICT providing hope for disabled students – Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre receives new computer lab

By Rabindra Rooplall GUYANA is gradually closing the gap when it comes to providing learning opportunities for physically challenged students through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

This was reinforced on Thursday when the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre received a Computer Smart Lab courtesy of computer giant STARR Computers.

The Computer Smart Lab includes a computer system, six monitors, keyboards and mouse, APC backup battery and a smart lab kit.

At the simple ceremony at the centre’s Carmichael Street, Georgetown computer lab, Rehman Majeed, General Manager of STARR Computer said the lab was designed to be energy efficient with low maintenance.

“The lab will make a major contribution for the learning and development of skills. This is my first visit here and I am thoroughly impressed at the work of staff and management. The results are shown in its modern features, the organisation, persons in the private sector should visit and they may learn a lot,” Majeed said.

He commended the staff at the Information Technology Department for doing an exceptional job with the children and the maintenance

Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre teachers and students test their new computer lab while a STARR Computer representative (extreme right) looks on

of systems.

According to Majeed, every child, despite challenges, physical or otherwise, can become masters in their field of choice, once they are empowered and given the opportunity to do so.

Rehabilitation Officer, Hyacinth Massay said the centre is extremely grateful for the kind gesture since there was no request made for it.

Davie Beepat - one of the rehab teachers - said the new computer laboratory will help in the implementation of the curriculum since the children at the centre learn by audio and visual.

BETTER THAN CHALK AND TALK “When they see things

they learn and remember it better than chalk and talk.

The keyboard also helps in the children identifying numbers and letters. There will also be new software in use which will help them in speech therapy and motor skills, some of the more mature students from the vocational training centre would be trained to duplicate documents and prepare them for the world of work,” Beepat explained.

Statistics from the National Commission on Disability (NCD) reveals that 15 per cent of persons with disabilities have never attended school and the proportion dramatically increases to 42 per cent for those under the age of 16.

The commission noted

that access to education can be limited, or entirely prevented, for persons with disabilities.

The data gathered from the survey identifies transportation, financial constraints, attitudes (individuals, peers, parents and teachers), teaching and care provisions, curriculum and physical access as factors that create barriers to education.

Speech therapist, Joan McAllister said that there are many devices, technology and applications that can assist a child with speech.

“If a child isn’t verbal, they can communicate using these devices, in this case they can type onto the computer software whatever they want to say and communicate to someone and it will repeat it for them, it also helps in socialising,” the speech therapist said.

She explained that a group of children can take turns in communicating with each other using the computer.

“This will expand horizon in terms of speech and it will also help with occupational therapy because it will assist with their motor skills and using the keyboard to communicate,” McAllister said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 10 per cent of

Ithaca residents cry foul over names being put on PPP list A number of residents of Ithaca, West Bank Berbice said that they were horrified and angry that their names were placed on the list of a People’s Progressive Party Civic candidate for their constituency and their signatures forged.

The residents were, up to late last night, hurriedly drafting letters to send to the Returning Officer of the Constituency, stating their objections to their names being placed on the list of the PPP/C candidate and asking for their names to be removed.

One upset resident said: “this is most disgusting and annoying. I am not a supporter of the PPP/C, how could they do this?” The resident added that he and others may bring the matter to the attention of the police, giv-

en the implications of their signatures being forged by the person who had wickedly suggested that they were his supporters for the Local Government Elections.

Local Government Elections (LGE) are held in Guyana using a mixed electoral system of Proportional Representation and First-Past-the-Post. Fifty per cent or half of the number of councillors of each Local Authority Area will be elected through the Proportional Representation component and the other fifty percent through the First-Past-thePost or Constituency component. The upset residents had up to mid-night last night to ask for their names to be removed from that list supporting the PPP/C Constituency Councilor for starters.

The police are likely to be

approached with respect to the forged signatures.

Meanwhile, the PPP/C, in responding to similar allegations made by the Alliance For Change in which that party accused it of intimidating and bullying its supporters, said the facts are a matter of public record, including reports by the local media corps over the past two weeks, which speak to persons being ‘tricked’ and ‘pressured’ into signing AFC’s List of Nominators.

The PPP said presently, in Region Six, at the Whim/ Bloomfield Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), where Mavis Nagamootoo, the sister-in-law of AFC Executive and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, is the leader of the list, a total of 51 persons have submitted sworn affidavits to have their

names removed. “Despite the fact that the 51 persons are in possession of sworn affidavits, some of them are being subjected to a confrontation with Mavis Nagamootoo and by the Returning Officer, to have their names removed from the AFC List of Nominators. The persons are afraid of confrontation due to their worries that the Prime Minister’s office will be used by his sister-in-law to target them and take away benefits that they currently access, such as pension and public assistance,” the PPP alleges.

According to that party some of the 51 persons are also being subjected to questioning by the Returning Officer, an act that can be described as intimidation, given the line of questioning.

a population usually lives with some form of disability. Here in Guyana, the Public Health Ministry estimates that about seven per cent of the population lives with some form of disability.

Guyana’s current education facilities face challenges in providing a continuation of education facilities for persons with disabilities, particularly post-primary.

According to the National Commission on Disability, a survey involving 1,500 persons revealed that only 16 per cent of persons between the ages of 11 and 18 years received any form of secondary education (including vocational).

RENEWED EFFORTS NEEDED The results highlight the need for renewed efforts to expand provisions, both within mainstream and specialist education and training providers, in all regions in Guyana.

Marcia Thomas, head of Information and Communication Technology at NCERD, said contrary to perceptions, ICT has always played an integral role in meeting the needs of children with learning disabilities through the use of learning software geared at improving their performances.

“What we are now concentrating on, is making

sure that our teachers and students are ready for the world of work. Our teachers being able to teach ICT at various levels and our students being ready for what’s coming,” she said.

The Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre provides rehabilitation services for over 100 children and 30 adults annually, while its daycare service provides care for up to 35 children and nine residents. Another component of the facility, the Harold B. Davis School has 45 students enrolled.

The centre was originally established in January 1967, by the Ministry of Health to provide rehabilitative services for those children who had suffered residual paralysis following the 1960 and 1964 poliomyelitis epidemics.

The institution has since developed a comprehensive programme for rehabilitation for children with various types of physical and other developmental disabilities.

It currently offers services such as physiotherapy, special education, s p e e c h t h e r a p y , o c c upational therapy, counselling and educational services for parents of children in rehabilitation programmes and provisions for orthotic and prosthetic appliances for the physically-disabled in Guyana.

Vagrants being dumped Cummingsburg residents by porters –complain

A vagrant who was dumped by GPHC porters

RESIDENTS of the Cummingsburg area are now seeking assistance after officials of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) seem to be allowing abandoned patients to be dumped by porters in front of their pathways in order to create space at the said institution.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the area on Monday, one resident told this publication that for the longest while this situation has been occurring “and the Min-

ister of Health needs to look into this situation.”

“It has been a disturbance…some nights you can’t sleep properly because some of the vagrants would make noise, defecate on the streets, expose themselves and have garbage pile up all over and got the place smelling horrible,” said the resident.

Another concerned resident added that “every week is someone new. Sometimes you wake up in the morning Turn to page 10 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

Harmon meets Brazilian Army engineers ahead of well-drilling exercise works that are being done on the roads in South Rupununi in preparations for a massive well drilling exercise that will take place, utilising the Brazilian engineers and the Brazilian well drilling teams.

I want to ensure that all of the preparations here are in place to receive the teams when they come and to ensure that once they get here, they can Minister of State, Joseph Harmon meeting with Brazilian army engineers and other stakeholders

MINISTER of State, Joseph Harmon on Thursday met with the advance team of the Brazilian Army Engineering Battalion and other stakeholders at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to ensure the preparation for the drilling exercise in South Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu/Upper Essequibo).

The team will begin drilling eight artesian wells in eight South Rupununi villages, from October 4.

According to Director General (ag) of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lt. Col. Kester Craig, an update was given to Minister Harmon regarding all arrangements in place for the main Brazilian contingent. “They are making their way to Aishalton to prepare the firm base for the main team which will arrive on Monday.” He said the minister was primarily concerned about the systems that are in place for the main team. These include finalising plans for medical evacuation and waste management and understanding the customs and culture of the communities. The meet-

ing was also to ensure that the road construction is on schedule.

Craig said the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) gave an update on the deployment of their contingent which will be in Aishalton by Sunday.

The minister requested that all head of delegations visit the various communities and reach out to the various village leaders.

On Wednesday, September 26, Minister Harmon led a team to the Region Nine community to conduct a reconnaissance of the roads and other facilities. Minister Harmon said the visit was necessary as it identified areas in which works would have to be done. The minister noted that the agreement for the drilling of the wells was signed at the highest levels with the two Heads of State - President David Granger and Brazil’s President Michel Temer - and therefore, it is incumbent on the government to ensure that all systems are in place and working effectively to ensure a smooth flow of personnel and equipment from Brazil to the identified areas.

“I am here to inspect the

commence work without any hindrance,” Minister Harmon stated.

During the drilling phase, there will be technology transfer and capacity building, which will benefit several agencies including the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Water Incorporated, the Hydro-met Office and village representatives.

The project follows President David Granger’s State Visit to Brazil in December 2017. A complementary agreement on technical cooperation between the two governments was inked for the implementation of the project technologies to reduce the effects of the drought in Region Nine.

(DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

Cuban fined, deported for illegal entry

A 33-year-old Cuban was on Thursday fined $50,000 and deported to her homeland for entering Guyana illegally.

Anna Remez, with the aid of an interpreter, pleaded guilty to the charge which read that on March 29, 2018 at Lethem, she departed Guyana by crossing a land frontier and did not present herself to an immigration officer.

It is further alleged that Remez on September 25, 2018 at Lethem entered Guyana illegally by a land frontier. She also pleaded guilty to the charge.

According to reports, Remez came to Guyana legally on March 27, 2018 via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

However, on March 29 she travelled to Brazil using the Lethem trail and did not present herself to an immigration officer.

The woman spent the next six months working in Brazil and came back to Guyana on September 25, 2018 and was arrested by police at the Mabaruma Police Checkpoint.

The Chief Magistrate fined Remez $50,000 on both charges and deported her back to Cuba.

Destitute jailed for forging NIS voucher CITY Magistrate, Annett Singh on Thursday sentenced a 45-year-old man to four months’ jail for forgery and attempting to defraud the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

David Ali, of no fixed place of abode, was found guilty of the offence which alleged that on May 7, 2018 at the NIS office on Brickdam, he handed to a cashier; a forged disablement voucher valued $90,675 knowing same to be false.

He was also found guilty of forging his disablement pension voucher issued for the sum of $9,695 purporting to show that the sum is $90,695.

Ally was not presented

David Ali

for the last two court hearings forcing the Magistrate to sentence him in absentia.

Vagrants being... and see them [and] when you ask them who brought you here, they say the porters from the hospital. At first, I didn’t believe them but the other night myself, along with my other family members, saw the porters as they were about to drop a man off whose foot was broken, but when they saw us they made an about turn.

“We ain’t even get to see their faces because it was covered with a procedure mask.

However, when we woke up the next morning we saw the same bruk foot man in front here, so I called someone I knew from the hospital and tell them. I see one of the porters came and took the man back to the hospital, then next

From page 8

couple morning he was out here again,” said the resident.

The resident also added “Just the other day a vagrant died and the police came to investigate and still nothing was done.’’

When the Guyana Chronicle contacted the Chief Executive Officer [CEO] of the GPHC, Brigadier George Lewis, he told this publication that “If a patient is abandoned in the hospital, the hospital then makes contact with the Ministry of Social Protection to have the patient placed in a home.”

The residents are calling for this situation to be rectified as soon as possible as it is interfering with their lives and their peace of mind.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

GECOM opens can of worms – by publishing lists of nominators, says AFC – commission maintains publication of lists done in interest of transparency

By Svetlana Marshall THE Alliance For Change (AFC) said the decision by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to publish the lists of nominators for the various political parties have exposed nominators to threats and bullyism already being carried out by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Since Nomination Day (September 21, 2018), a number of nominators and candidates of the AFC have reportedly withdrawn their names from the lists submitted to GECOM, and according to that party, the PPP and the Elections Commission are only to be blamed. But GECOM has made it clear that publishing the names of candidates and nominators form part of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

During an AFC press conference on Thursday, party Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan said the alliance, which is contesting the Local Government Elections for the first time as an independent party, has received credible reports of the bullying and intimidation of its local government candidates and their supporting signatories by PPP activists and operatives.

“Various persons who backed AFC candidates for the upcoming Local Government Elections have been coerced into visiting GECOM offices to request that their names be removed as signatories.”

“The PPP has also resorted to widespread verbal abuse, threats and victimisation of persons who openly supported the AFC in PPP strongholds in the 2015 National and Regional Elections and now for the November 12th Local Government Elections,” Ramjattan explained.

He confirmed that on Wednesday in the Village of Whim, East Berbice, Corentyne, a number of persons, who were coerced by the PPP, withdrew their names from the list submitted by the AFC to GECOM’s Returning Officer there for the Bloomfield/Whim Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

AFC Deputy Campaign Director, Juretha Fernandes

told reporters that with the lists published, the PPP has created a machinery aimed at “hunting down persons” that signed up as nominators for the AFC and threatening them.

“This is not a case of persons coming on and signing on with Alliance For Change and then changing their minds, this is a case in which persons are being intimidated by persons, they are receiving threats to themselves and families,” Fernandes explained.

She made it clear that the situation is not being taken lightly by the AFC. Weighing-in on the issue, AFC Campaign Manager and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson said that the entire system is being threatened by the recent developments. He contended that this is the first time GECOM has made public the lists of nominators for political parties, voluntary groups and individuals, opining that such was not the case for the 2016 Local Government Elections.

Patterson argued that making the lists of nominators public exposes them.

“These persons that would have endorsed your candidate, legitimately, are now left on their own to fend for themselves, their only option is to say, that we were tricked into it, so we really don’t want to blame the person,” the AFC campaign director said.

He added that the publication of the lists have placed nominators in awkward positions, particularly those in small constituencies, that are strongholds of one party or another.

“Previously, it was always a question of the right and privacy of the electoral process and the confidentiality, no one could know who you have voted or who you nominated, but by doing so it has opened a whole can of worms,” Patterson contended.

In addition to making the lists public, he said that Returning Officers in some Local Authority Areas (LAAs) have been asking candidates of the AFC to provide affidavits to clear themselves of trickery. That, he argued, is not the mandate of GECOM, and is not provided for in the

laws of Guyana.

“It is flawed, and it has opened the floodgates to a lot of victimisation in small communities, maybe in the town and urban towns you can survive because of the numbers,” he posited while pointing to a small town like Mahdia. AFC Member Michael Leonard echoed similar sentiments, adding too that based on reports the party has received, some Returning Officers have been making unreasonable demands.

On the issue of duplication of nominators or signatories, Patterson pointing again to Mahdia, said one of the constituencies there have approximately 132 registered voters – an area being contested by three political parties or more, all of whom would require 50 to 60 signatures nominating their candidates.

According to him, there lies the problem that ought to be addressed.

Despite the challenges faced in some Local Authority Areas in recent days, Ramjattan said that within a short space of time, almost at the eleventh hour, the AFC was able to submit a number of new nominators for its candidates contesting the Tuschen/ Uitvlugt NDC. Approximately 150 new signatures were produced by the AFC late Wednesday night to the Returning Officer there.

But GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward told the Guyana Chronicle that the publication of the lists of nominators and candidates for the upcoming Local Government Elections is in keeping with the SOPs. “It is not a new system; GECOM doesn’t work in a vacuum. GECOM is a transparent agency… everything that we do follow the standard procedure by law. The procedure is, you submit the original, and a copy of your list, and immediately when the RO receives that list, the RO needs to post that copy outside for scrutiny,” she explained.

Ward further explained that by making a list public, nominators can object especially if they did not sign to the list. “It is only fair that nominator be given a chance to bring an objection, this is a

transparent process.”

The GECOM PRO said

the Commission has not received a large number of

reports of objections being made by nominators.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

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LGE challenge…

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

Court disagrees with Nandlall

– requests Nandlall, Attorney General submit written submissions

By Svetlana Marshall ATTEMPTS by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) E x e c u t i v e a n d A t t o rney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall to counteract an application by the government to strike out the PPP’s application which seeks to block the holding of Local Govern-

ment Elections in several districts has failed.

The government’s application filed by the Attorney General Chambers would be heard at 9:00hrs on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 in the High Court before Justice Gino Persaud.

The government is seeking a declaration that the

court, pursuant to Part 9.01 (1) of the Civil Procedure Rules 2016, lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine the fixed date application filed on September 10, 2018

by Nandlall on behalf of GECOM Commissioner for the Opposition, Bibi Shadick.

The PPP sponsored application raises the allegations of

irregularities and illegalities questioning the validity of the Local Government Elections to be held on November 12, 2018 until after the Local Government Elections are held the election process having begun on July 18, 2018 and then by way of an election petition.

When the case was called

Attorney General Basil Williams

on Thursday at the High Court before Justice Persaud, Nandlall made two submissions, one, that the court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain the application by the government which seeks to question its jurisdiction to hear the substantive matter, and two, the application by the government lacks merit.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, who was accompanied by Solicitor General, Kim Kyte and a battery of lawyers, argued that Nandlall was attempting to make a very strange application.

Noting that government came prepared to make its submissions, the attorney general said that the court must first hear the submissions of the applicant – in this case – the government – after which the respondent is allowed to give his response.

Essentially, Nandlall told the court that he would not be submitting an affidavit in response.

It was subsequently agreed in the court, that the applicant must first put its case before the court. Justice Persaud asked the government to make written submissions on October 5, 2018 and for Nandlall to submit his response on October 8, 2018.

The matter will be called again on October 10.

Outside the court room, Nandlall clarified that while he will not be filing an Affidavit in Response, he will be submitting “written submissions of law.”

“I will be arguing by way of legal submissions that this application filed by the attorney general is a colossal waste of judicial time, has no merit, is frivolous, vexatious, and outrageous,” he said.

Nandlall is contending too that the solicitor general has already submitted to the jurisdiction of the court.

“The last time the matter was heard, the solicitor general appeared, took a date, and participated in a hearing, and not once did she indicate that the court does not have jurisdiction,” he said.

The attorney general told the Guyana Chronicle that government never accepted the jurisdiction of the court.

“Mr. Nandlall, obviously didn’t read the rule. The rule tells you that you could make the application before the defence is filed, so even though the solicitor general asked to file a defence is doesn’t preclude us from coming with an application,” Minister Williams explained.

In his application filed to strike out the Fixed Date Application filed by Nandlall on behalf of the PPP GECOM Commissioner, he argued that elections statutes created by the Parliament of Guyana and as set out in the Municipal and District Councils Act Cap 28:01, the Local Government Act Cap 28:02, the Local Authorities (Elections) Act Cap 28:03 and the Local Democratic Organs Act Cap 28:09 of the Laws of Guyana do not give the High Court any jurisdiction to settle or determine any matter pertaining to the validity of the LGE 2018 until after the elections are held.

“The procedure set out in Part IV and Section 146, section 147 and 148 of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act of Chapter 28:03 of the Laws of Guyana provides that the only proper procedure to dispute the validity of the election or the election of a councillor is by way of election petition to the High Court, which shall be presented within 28 days of the publication of the results of the election, under section 101 of the Local Authorities (Elections Act) Cap 28:03.”

The PPP is alleging that Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan had failed to issue an order for the holding of Local Government Elections under the Local Democratic Organs Act Cap. 28.09, as well as against the chief elections officer for, inter alia demarcating and redemarcating constituencies’ boundaries without consultations with electors, stakeholders and political parties.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

Diabetic Foot Centre putting best foot forward – in battle to control the lifestyle disease

By Michelle Outridge AS one of the leading causes of deaths in Guyana, diabetes does not only affect the patient emotionally, psychologically, financially and socially, but puts a strain on the local healthcare system.

Speaking with Guyana Chronicle, Dr. Kumar Sukhraj, head of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Diabetic Foot Centre, said some patients on medications exhibit aggressive behaviour while others suffer from depression.

Yet other patients, he said, believe that the fight is not worth it and this has been a challenge doctors have been battling to change.

“I have seen people lost their rank in the family because of diabetes and its complications. If they don’t see properly, their children do not speak to them well or, if they lose a limb to diabetes they cannot walk. Those are some of the emotional challenges a patient may have with diabetes.”

According to Dr Sukhraj, physically, patients have diabetic complications if they cannot see properly, if they have renal failure, an ulcer on their feet or cannot do regular work due to amputation.

Head of the GPHC Diabetic Foot Centre, Dr Kumar Sukhraj

One such patient is Sumitra Gendalall. Gendalall, who was diagnosed with diabetes many years ago, cannot walk on her own due to foot complications.

The 54-year-old, who nowadays is very forgetful, was supported by one of her daughters during a recent visit to the Diabetic Foot Centre.

A toe on her left foot was amputated after an infection was left untreated for some time. Gendalall, who is wheelchair-assisted, also has kidney complications, but she enjoys the care of her family.

Another patient at the clinic, Premkumar Sukhdeo, who was once a rice farmer, can no longer work due to loss of part of a limb.

Sukhdeo said he had a wound

to the left foot and did not pay much attention to it until it began to pain him. When he visited the hospital, he was diagnosed with diabetes.

By then, it was too late to save his limb which had to be amputated from the ankle downwards and, within a year, his lifestyle changed completely as he shifted into survival mode.

Ramford Sampson, who also lost a limb to diabetes, related that he cannot work, since he walks with the support of crutches.

Diabetes, Dr Sukhraj said, aside from putting a strain on families, it also puts a strain on the health care system, since the treatment of patients is continuous and in large part, the treatment is Government-funded.

Some patients get free medications from the health care clinics but not all benefit, particularly those who are disabled and cannot walk.

“Some elderly patients usually ask for a longer date to return to clinic simply because they cannot afford to make regular trips, since some live far distances from GPHC. Those are some financial aspects on the patients and household because if they are breadwinners of the household who are diabetic and have emotional problems and cannot do physical things, then what happens to the household? They

become deprived.”

Government every year, he said, spends millions of dollars on the treatment of diabetes (counselling, providing medication, etc) as well as to educate patients about the disease.

To effectively control diabetes, Dr Sukhraj said patients will have to change their lifestyle and this will require them to exercise, change their diets and the way they eat.

This approach, he said, is important for patients to remain healthy, have a high self-esteem and to function effectively at work.

“Some of them who are wise enough would say to themselves ‘I want to challenge myself and not let diabetes get me down’ and if you have that mind-set, you are on your way to manage diabetes,” Dr Sukhraj said.

Diabetes, if not managed well, can cause damage to the vital organs of the body, leading to death.

This is a challenge the Diabetic Foot Centre has been working to prevent.

“We just don’t see a patient Diabetic patient Sumitra Gendalall and write medication; we treat health care system and that puts the patient as a whole, to ensure diabetes is controlled as well as a burden on it. Our approach treating wounds if any. If right is therefore a multi-disciplinary treatment isn’t applied, that approach towards diabetic foot patient will remain longer in the management,” Dr Sukhraj said.

199 loans, 545 grants issued

– under Micro and Small Enterprise Development (MSED) project

By Lisa Hamilton SOME 199 loans and 545 grants have been issued through Guyana’s Micro and Small Enterprise Development (MSED) project which began in 2013.

The Micro and Small Enterprise Development and Building Alternative Livelihood for Vulnerable Groups initiative also saw over 3736 persons being trained while grants and loans were issued at the cost of G$163M and US$3.2M respectively.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Business in collaboration with the Small Business Bureau (SBB) hosted a closing ceremony at the Herdmanston Lodge to mark the occasion.

Several small business owners were in attendance as well as project partners such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) and Republic Bank.

In the project, two areas were identified as major constraints to small business development which were access to finance and business development services which were each allotted with por-

tions of funds.

With this in mind, priority sectors were targeted which included fruits and vegetables; aquaculture; ecotourism; wood processing; bioethanol; and business processing outsourcing.

In his feature address, Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin said the MSED project addresses the fundamental needs of businesses such as financing and training and the intensification of the services of the SBB. “I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the beneficiaries of this programme and I can tell you that this programme definitely matters. It is easy to ignore those whose needs may seem trivial in the grand scheme of business but when you actually see what some persons have managed to achieve, since you would have given support, it drives home the importance of programmes such as this one,” he said.

The minister also alluded to the recently hosted Guyana Trade and Investment Exhibition (GuyTIE) which he said facilitated the exposure of eight small businesses which participated through the SBB.

SECOND TO NONE “Their display and their products and packaging were second to none. I watched them engaging visitors in a very professional manner and I knew right away that whatever support that they would have received over the years, they certainly utilised it effectively,” Gaskin said.

With the country set to become a major oil producer, Gaskin said that Guyana must begin to build local capacity if it is to maximise on the industry as economic growth cannot come without economic development.

“In areas where we have a fighting chance we must put up a good fight. And the good fight in this case is not about punching and kicking and screaming. It is about meeting the stringent requirements of large international operators and being able to compete against the established suppliers.

This means that small businesses today need to ensure that whatever they produce or whatever service they provide, needs to meet the appropriate international standards and that they’re businesses are efficiently

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin during the closing ceremony of the Micro and Small Enterprise Development (MSED) project on Thursday.

managed,” he said.

The minister added that this responsibility also lies in the hands of the SSB which is tasked with building capacity within the sector to become internationally competitive and export ready.

At the same time, he thanked the other project partners involved such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); the Small Business Council (SBC) and the SBB’s project team SBB Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Lowell Porter stated that the MSED

programme addressed access to finance.

WORK TO BE DONE However, he noted that when it comes to accessing loans, the SBB’s clients face a rejection rate of some 50 per cent which the bureau will work to improve in the future.

“It tells us that going forward the thing to do is to prepare our small businesses in a way that they can become more bankable.

They need to start keeping records; they need to start understanding what their business is all about because we want to move them up the ladder. We don’t want them to be in small businesses forever,” he said.

Meanwhile, referring to the GuyTIE event as well, he stated that through the initiative, clients of the SBB have been invited to display their products in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines at their expo in October.

Senior International Consultant, Guillermo Bolanos presented on the effectiveness of the programme and the improvements needed.

Speaking to the positives, he commended the government and other involved

parties for the works done to provide the best training possible to small businesses while simultaneously reaching out to businesses in all regions of the country.

Being that Guyana is a large country with a small population, he highlighted that it takes a larger budget to achieve the objectives and his observations show that the faith of people in the government, in this regard, has improved.

However, he pointed out that Guyana still ranks at 121 out of 140 in the World Economic Forum’s (WEFs) Global Competitiveness index and 126 out of 190 nations in doing business.

In addition, with some 70 per cent of Guyana’s graduates still leaving the country contributing to high levels of brain drain, Bolanos recommended that university students be involved in the programme to thwart the trend.

He also suggested that the programme enable banks to develop a small business loan programme and that Small or Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) be inserted into value chains.

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Circus for

Grand Opening tonight

DESPITE a few hiccups the Suarez Brothers Circus is expected to be up and running, with a packed to capacity audience

expected for the grand opening tonight at the D’Urban Park. “Almost everything is done, we are rushing,” shared Circus Man-

ager Ivan Suarez.

Suarez explained that the team hit a little bit of a snag with the unexpected amount of time that it took for their equipment to clear customs.

“We got [Customs] only yesterday evening so we need to rush, we were thinking that it wouldn’t take so much time. Coming to the country we need to pass through [Customs] service to take out the cargo (equipment) but instead of two days we were there a week,” Suarez explained.

To counter the lost time the Circus has been working around the clock to ensure that they do not disappoint their Guyanese fans, who have been nothing but excited since the circus announced its arrival.

Suarez related that despite the delay, things are coming together wonderfully.

“Not too much [left], we worked for the whole night and the installations are already set up,” Suarez

said, adding that only a few things remain to be done: “Just clean it up, make all the connections, sound checkups et cetera.”

According to Suarez, the demand has been crazy with tickets going fast and their phones are ringing off the hook with calls for how persons can get more.

“It’s going insane. By 11 in the morning I had 192 missed calls,” Suarez shared.

With the capacity to hold some 15,000 persons the Suarez brothers are expected to see the full house come tonight. Following tonight the circus would be opened every day for some three to five weeks, with one show per night at 19:30hrs from Monday – Friday, on Saturdays there will be two shows one at 17:00hrs and 19:30hrs, while Sunday and holidays will feature three sessions at 14:00hrs, 17:00hrs and 19.30hrs.

The seating arrangement will feature three levels which correspond with different ticket prices starting at $1,500 per child and $2,300 per adult for the bleachers, $2,000 per child and $3,500 per adult for the middle section, and $2,500 per child and $4,700 per adult for the VIP zone.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

Jewan Ka Nritya Dance Group to host first cultural show Set for tomorrow night at NCC

Local Indian Dance Group Jewan Ka Nritya will host its first cultural show at the National Cultural Centre from 20:00hrs tomorrow.

The show promises to be a spectacular display of Indian culture and dance.

The Jewan Ka Nritya (JKN) Dance Company has been under the leadership of former Miss India Guyana Roshini Persaud since 2003. “ I’ve been dancing since I was five years old. Dance for me began in cultural school performances. When I reflect on my ages of dance, it’s quite clear that dance has become who I am. I allow dance to consume me each time I perform. [It is] my sanctuary; just me and the music,” Roshini said. “I always advocate for culture, diversity and extra curriculum. Dance or any form of

the art or sport teaches discipline, time management and balance.”

She stated that she holds Jewan Ka Nritya very close to her heart. “I love and care for my students more than expression defines. I teach them to be grounded and most importantly to be true to themselves; to express and dance from within,” she said. “I challenge them at times and I remind them that they can be anything they want to be as long as they are passionate. When all else fails; dance can save you, dance can bring you back.

Smile, sing and dance, allow your inner energy to triumph.

Why hold back? There aren’t any walls, no confinement just free open space, so just dance.”

She stated that the sustainability of culture is

important generation after generation, as such, she extended gratitude to corporate entities that contributed to the show and ensuring that sustainability. Sponsors include Impressions, Sissons Paint -Ganesh Parts, Del Ice Company - Crystal Ice House, Victoria Najab’s GO, Lotus Mall Parika, Feel The Beat Tassa Group, Roshini’s Rocking Recipes and John Lewis Styles.

“We invite the general public to support JKN’s family of dancers so that they can commence their dream project of building a dance studio on the West Bank of Demerara, providing the youths with a medium of positive influence that teaches discipline and time management whilst embracing culture,” Roshini said.

Masicka arrives tonight to tell his story at the National Park on Saturday Jamaican dancehall star Javaun Fearon, aka Masicka

JAMAICAN dancehall star Masicka will arrive in Guyana tonight for his ‘They Don’t Know My Story’ concert at the National Park tomorrow, compliments of Lion Heart Entertainment, Guinness and Kings of Kings Records and Productions.

Born Javaun Fearon, the 26-year-old has been creating waves in the dancehall genre with his several chart-topping hits and tomorrow’s show will mark his first performance in Guyana; something he said he’s looking forward to, given that his music is very popular here, especially amongst Guyanese youths.

Fearon and his ‘Genahsyde’ crew have so far developed a cult-like movement in the Caribbean, with thousands turning out to his shows and lately. The Portmore, Jamaicaborn-and-raised entertainer, has become a regular feature in North America and Europe.

The ‘Top Form’ singer will share the stage with world-rated and sound clash champions Bass Odyssey, several local Deejays, along with Kellz from Tobago and Sky Kidd from Antigua who will also be performing also for the first time in Guyana.

The Marriott Hotel, Digicel, White Castle Fish Shop and Chelsea’s Restaurant are listed as some of the sponsors for the show which carries a gate entry price of $3,000 per ticket, while VIP tickets are being sold for $8,000. Early birds tickets will be sold for $2,000 and are available at White Castle Fish Shop, Clairan’s Boutique and Chelsea Suits.

Masicka is considered as the leader of the ‘new school’ in Dancehall music and since his entry to the industry as a teenager, the artiste has slowly been making a name for himself.

In recent years, songs like ‘Top Striker’ and ‘Knock It’, allowed Masicka to show his ability to tell vivid stories of the streets and his rise to the top. Coupled with his undeniably versatile melodic sensibility and punch-to-the-gut delivery, Masicka has made it clear that he is a musical force to be reckoned with, in Jamaica and beyond.

With a barrage of hit music, Masicka said Guyanese will be in for a treat, as he encouraged everyone to grab their tickets early and prepare for an unforgettable night at the National Park.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

The science of knowing history to create the future

THE SCI-FI series Star Trek was a leader in applying straight science with poetic licence added of course to its dramas that took screen and comics, their communicator at that time a fictional Sci-fi item heralded the cell phone, the MOTOROLA inventor Martin Cooper admitted this. I started in the late 80s to explore the science I needed for projects, some of which I have not yet published. But it was an article in the April 2011 edition of the science magazine DISCOVER, that opened a portal to a vast awareness and perception on the question of the importance of personal and collective history.

The article expounded on the usage of the episodic memory (which allows us to

reflect on what was, to enable the analyst of the present to empower us with the references to plan for the future). Injury to the hippocampus (a part of the vertebrate brain in advanced mammals believed to be responsible for forming new memories) has demonstrated in the case studies used in the article to eliminate any capacity for simple, rational planning of tomorrow and even the next few hours. In a follow-up article of ‘A Discover Magazine Special’ Fall-September 2012, the author Carl Zimmer captured the nexus between memory and future: “We rely upon our memories to envision the future.

Through the trick of mental time travel, we picture yesterday and imagine tomorrow.”

Through our neglect of managing the

foundations of what worked in our interest before, not that foundations are not adjusted and redressed but the prototypes always remain obvious, we have opened the doors to mimicry in too many areas causing fragmentation between generations, with individuals and the loss of the episodic memory. Our DJs think that to sound good they must mimic our Jamaican cousins. A few speak like Americans and they have hardly visited Timehri. The passion to imitate ricochet from the wall of emptiness where mental time travel should have absorbed the imitative crave. As a child, I saw ‘Johnny Braff’ perform. He wore a suit like every American performer that came to our shores back then, up to when I turned a teenager and saw King Floyd at Globe Cinema the early 70’s, but Johnny Braff’s lyrics and mood were Guyanese to the bone.

The Yoruba Singers took our expression to another level. Recently MP John Adams recommended through a parliamentary committee that schools should sell healthy products and not soft drinks etc. That is the tip of the anaconda’s tail. If you talk to school children, many young children have lost the memory of ‘Rounders’, Salt-pass, Mend the Water Works and other mental and physical reflex challenging children games, so they’re open to any foreign cultural norm imported regardless of how twisted and demeaning its content is in the absence of a local challenge.

Freddie Kissoon on August 31 stated that Guyana has one of the poorest journalistic communities in the world, they research nothing and practice no journalistic investigation, and of course, he’s right. But it goes further than that; the references of self were evidently absent in the schools longer than that. Its emergence started in the late 80’s with the bubble sessions, that replaced the initial intention of GBC’s ‘Folk Festival’ and teachers in many schools, at least in Georgetown became too lazy to organise a proper cultural programme for graduation and end of term and were duplicating the ‘Big Set’ sessions that feted the traders by the Beacon spot by the Plaisance car park and elsewhere else. After the 80s

into the Jagdeo/Roger Khan era, all hit rock bottom, there was a TV station that showed imported videos 24/7. That period systematically destroyed two generations, wiped out anything Guyanese, and we have not begun to do the repairs as yet. To give an example of how the eraser of the episodic memory works I’ll take you to a conference hosted by ACDA in 2010 or 201. I sat at a workgroup that demanded an audience of the question of whether the Bible was responsible for the enslavement of Africans and whether a movement should be made to repress it. Ras Dalgety, Harry Batiste and a few others were stern advocates since I once entertained that idea in my early teens and was guided by obvious evidence that I was blind to and was diligently made aware of.

I invoked and advocated the same in 2010.

Fact-1: I asked the workgroup to identify a European River mentioned in the Bible? There was none. Next, I asked for a European kingdom nation that resided in the Biblical geography? Someone eagerly pounced at me with Persia. I asked if the group had heard of Elam. Shoulders negatively shrugged. This was the African kingdom that was at war with Babylon when the nomadic Aryan tribes came and found sanctuary with the Elamites. They fused and became Persia- today’s Iran. It had the same effect that it had on me so many years before.

The Biblical and all ancient episodic memories of enslaved Africans were erased through the propaganda of Art posters and movies and the obvious was shrouded by a veil of disbelief, enough entertain the old Creole proverb ‘to throughout de baby wid de bathwater’.

Our concept of origins revolved around slavery that liberated us from darkest Africa and fulfilled a concocted biblical curse. Africans were not the first to experience this conquest of memory loss.

The fact today is that it’s not the remote landscape, but the more recent value system of applying life skills that were repressed into ‘Time travel loss’ and to embrace the future, we have got to connect the fragments.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

IT’S time to weekend again people!

And you can get the ball rolling from tonight, with a night at the Circus, which has its grand opening tonight. Throughout the rest of the weekend there’s so much to do from the Masicka concert to the Soca and Wine party on Sunday, so don’t stay cooped up at home.

TODAY It’s the night you’ve all been waiting for the World Famous Suarez Brothers Circus Grand Opening is on tonight at the D’Urban Park and continuing daily for a short season.

It’s Cocktails and Beer Happy Hour at 704 Sports Bar from 19:00hrs-20:00hrs, so head down and cash in on 50 per cent off your next drink!

The Vintage Wine Bar, Restaurant and Lounge presents “Latin Night” Get two Desperados Tequila Beers for $1,000.

TOMORROW Lion Heart Entertainment and Guinness presents “They Don’t Know My Story” featuring live from Jamaica Masicka at the National Park. Performing alongside Kellz and Skii Kid, World Clash Champion Bass Odyssey. Music

by Lion Heart Sound, DJ Magnum and Seen Up, DJ Breeze and SJ Ackeem District Ultra Lounge presents an Ultra Saturdays special edition “Fusion: One Energy Filled Night” a fusion of soca, reggae, latin and hip hop featuring the return of Gully Ras and Diamond. Buy four tequila shots get one free. Ladies free before 21:00hrs University of Guyana Student Society in collaboration with Music, Art Culture Foundation and The Pergola Smokehouse and Lounge presents “Talent off Campus, P.O.E.T.S: Push Off Early Tomorrow’s Sunday” at the Courtyard Mall. An evening filled with untapped artistry and talents ranging from upcoming performers to some of your seasoned favourites. With the initiative to fundraise for the Student Complex building, you will surely leave inspired by the Vibes, Art, & Food. What else could you ask for to end your week? Admission: $1,000 The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs presents it’s annual ”Heritage FundRaising Dinner” at the Mirage Banquet and Conference Hall. Cost $10,000 Guyana Carnival Committee presents an event like no other its “Soca and Wine” the first ever wine party at the Lusignan Golf Course. It’s going to be music, food, drinks and fashion! Wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres on entry. Admission: $2,000 In commemoration of the International Day of the Deaf Association of Guyana Inc presents “Deaf Got Talent 2018” at the Theatre Guild. Admission: $1,000 Sundays were meant for 70s & 80s! The Vintage Wine Bar, Restaurant & Lounge presents “Dinner and 70s and 80s music”

Nathaya Whaul joins the team of ‘Days like Dese’ Local actress Nathaya Whaul has joined the Guyanese sitcom Days like Dese from Episode 2 and will be playing Susan Rupaul ,the wife of David Rupaul. David is played by Mark Kazim. Other family members of the Rupauls are their three children played by Makayah Smith (Josh), Safira AbrahimWilliams(Elise) and Kailey Liverpool(Kalee), Ron Robinson (Grandpa Rue) Lavonne George (MammaG), Simone Dowding(Mabel the housekeeper), Rajan Tiwari and Simone Persaud (Ram & Sonita –neighbours), Kirk Jardine(Uncle Sonny-family), Mark Luke-Edwards(Detective Jack) Paul Budnah (Pablo, the exterminator), Olivia Rodrigues (cousin), Michael Ignatius (friend) and a cameo performance by Joel Ghansham ‘Days like dese ‘ Season 2 had its first airing last Friday on Atlantic Cable Fresh Channel 1. The show is presented by GEMS Theatre Productions, written by Randolph Critchlow and made possible with support from KFC, Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Ansa McAl, Sankars Auto Works, Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Co., Nand Persaud & Co. Rice Millers and Ministry of Social Protection.

Viewers can catch Season 2 on Fridays at 20:00hrs on ATLANTIC CABLE, Fresh Channel 1 ; Saturdays at 17:0hrs on CNS 6, 20:00hrs on NTN69 at 20:30hrs .on TVG28; Sundays at 19:00hrs on HBTV9 and 19:30hrs on HGPTV67 / Mondays at 18:30hrs on Cable26/Ch.77(Berbice) and at 19:00hrs on MTV 65.

Episode 1 began airing from September 7 and each episode will be aired on two weekends on eight channels until November 20. The season will have six episodes.

‘Days Like Dese’ is a 30 minute sitcom that delves deep into the daily lives of a diverse ‘socially responsi-

Mark Kazim, Ron Robinson, Safira Abrahim-Williams,Nathaya Whaul and Makayah Smith on set

ble’ middle class Guyanese family, the Rupauls. Viewers will feel connected with this family as they journey with

them, traversing terrains that may sometimes be considered controversial but always palatably

It is family oriented with a lot of educational information mixed with the comedy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 28, 2018

From back page ►

Essequibo crowned GCB/ ...

Meanwhile, during the final round of matches yesterday, the Essequibo franchise suffered a 115-run defeat at the hands of West Berbice at Bush Lot. Batting first, the visiting bowlers gave away too many runs from the outset to allow the hosts to pile up a huge first-innings total of 278-5.

Gudakesh Motie smashed an attacking unbeaten 55-ball 84, while Javid Karim crafted 74 off 107 balls.

Opener Kevin Sinclair (0) failed to fire and was trapped leg-before-wicket to Mark Williams, at 3-1.

However, Leon Andrews and Javid Karim then stitched together a substantial second-wicket partnership worth 88 to set up a strong finish to the innings. The hosts then suffered a double blow, losing Andrews (33) who was removed by left-arm spinner Akenie Adams and Marvan Persaud run-out without scoring, at 91-3, but Karim kept the momentum going with a fourth-wicket stand of 42 with Seon Glasgow who contributed 22.

After Glasgow became Adams’ second victim, Motie joined forces with Karim, and upped the ante towards the back end of the innings.

Karim hit seven fours and two sixes before he was removed by Williams.

However, Motie found an able ally in Andrew Dutchin who made an unbeaten 39. Motie struck five fours and six sixes during his knock.

In reply, the champions struggled from the word go, and were bowled out for 163 in 38.4 overs. Anthony Adams made a 53-ball 52 with a four and four sixes.

He received support from Kemol Savory (36), and Kevon Boodie (27), but overall it was a disappointing batting display. Spinners (4-40), Kevin Sinclair (2-29), Motie (2-28) were the successful bowlers.

At the presentation ceremony, Leon Johnson was announced as the batsman with the most runs; most dismissals award went to Kemol Savory while Ricardo Adams was rewarded for taking the most wickets.

From back page ►

Thirty teams confirmed ...

Meanwhile, president of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), former Guyana and West Indies player, Roger Harper, pointed out that the club has hosted the tournament for the last four years and is pleased yet again to be a part of the venture.

The event, which is organided by the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA), has grown to become the most popular and well-attended softball cricket competition in Guyana.

This year, the competition will be rolled out October 26-28, with the first two days being earmarked for preliminary matches, followed by the various categories (Open, Masters Over-45

and Over-50) finals on the last day.

The final day of action will start at 10:00hrs and conclude with the Open final under floodlights at the DCC, Queenstown.

The registration fee for the Open category remains at US$400 with the prize money set at US$4000 while the cost for registration for the Masters (O-45 and O-50) is set at US$700.

The prize money for the Masters category is yet to be determined, as the organisers are unsure of the number of teams that will be competing. However, Beharry reassured that it would be substantial.

In the 2017 competition, Ariel Speedboat XI defeated Boots All Stars in a closely-fought Open final, while Floodlights XI crushed Regal by nine wickets in the Masters final.

Beverage giant Ansa McAl is on board through their STAG Beer, Lucozade and Icool brands while Guyana Beverages Inc. is also a sponsor.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 28, 2018

Sunshine end Dant’s Conference A dominance … Carr Tec cart off B division playoffs

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada – Sunshine made hay on a somewhat cloudy and hazy morning to end Dant’s dominance when the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) 2018 season climaxed last Sunday at the Ashtonbee playing fields with the Conference A and B playoffs championships.

While Sunshine spoilt archrivals Dant’s chances of winning their fifth consecutive championship, Carr

Conference A champions Sunshine celebrate with their supporters.

Winners of Conference B, Carr Tec and their fans in celebratory mood

Tec also made light work of Wakenaam to cart off the B division playoffs title.

Both Dant and Carr Tec were already assured of the regular season (20 overs) titles in their respective divisions and were seeking to add the playoffs championships to their collections. However, while Dant lacked their usual firepower, Carr Tec fired on all cylinders before their roaring and adorable fans.

Chasing Sunshine’s mod-

est 125 all out, made in 20 overs on the number two pitch, Dant huffed and puffed their way to 88 all out in 17 overs with former Guyana youth player Harrinarine Chattergoon being the lone standout with 22 (one five and a four).

Five bowlers, skipper Anil Mahadeo, Mahendranauth ‘Bobby’ Parasnauth, Kelvin Shivrattan, Azam Haniff and Avinash Sookdeo claimed two wickets each for 14, 16, 19, 20, and 24 runs respectively.

Earlier, Sunshine’s innings was built around the consistent Hemnarine Chattergoon, another former Guyana and West Indies youth player, who hit a top score of 35 (3x4). Anil Etwaroo slammed two sixes and a four in 18 while Mahadeo weighed in with two sixes in his 14.

Aftab Shamsudeen and Bolanauth Sukhu took two for 24 and 26 respectively while there was one wicket each for Satrohan Balkarran and Riaz Kadir for 13 and 23 runs respectively.

The B division final saw

Carr Tec bat first and reach a challenging 131 all out in their allotted 20 overs with Rakesh Dyal hitting two sixes and two fours in 34 while Rovendra Mandolall chipped in with 18. Raja Pooran bagged four for 22 while Surendra Persaud (one for 12) and Fizul Haniff (one for 22) were also among the wickets.

Wakenaam, in reply, were bowled out for 103 in 19 overs, going down by 28 runs. Rabindra Persaud made 27 (one four, one six).

Dyal crowned a fine all-round performance, capturing four for 19 while Sadeek Khan took three for 27 and Terry Mathura one for 21.

Sunshine’s victory came hot on the heels of their triumph in the Norman Sue Bakery-sponsored 15-over tournament while Dant took top honours in the regular season and were also crowned the Caribbean Sensation 10/10 winners.

The respective Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards went to Hemnarine Chattergoon (Sunshine), Satrohan Balkarran (Dant), Rakesh Dyal (Carr Tec) and Raja Pooran (Wakenaam).

OSCL president Albert Ramcharran thanked the teams for their participation in the 2017 season and also reserved special praise for those who made the final.

The league’s annual presentation dinner and dance is set for Saturday, November 24 at the Eastown Banquet Hall, Scarborough.

Pakistan drop Amir for Australia Tests MOHAMMAD Amir has been dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the twoTest series against Australia next month.

The left-arm quick has missed just one Test since returning to international cricket in 2016, but is not included in the 17-man party.

Amir struggled during Pakistan’s poor Asia Cup campaign and has gone wicket-less in his past five ODIs. There is, though, a return for Wahab Riaz, who was omitted from the team that toured England due to fitness concerns while Bilal Asif joins regular frontline spinners Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan.

“The team has been selected keeping in mind the conditions of the UAE, where Mohammad Amir

has been dropped from the side and Wahab Riaz and Mir Hamza come into the side,” chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said.

“Three spinners Shadab Khan, Yasir Shah and Bilal Asif have been kept in the squad, keeping in view the UAE wickets.”

The first Test begins in Dubai on October 7, with the second contest to start nine days later in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan squad to face Australia: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan. (Yahoo Sport)

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GCA 2-Day and 40-over Semi-final set for this weekend THE semi-finals of the GISE/Star Party Rentals/ Trophy Stall 1st Division (2-Day) cricket competition will bowl off tomorrow, with Police Sports Club facing GNIC at Eve Leary from 09:30 hrs. The semi-final of the NBS 2nd Division (40-Over) cricket competition will also be staged tomorrow from 10:30hrs. The venue will be announced.

Meanwhile the GCA/ FRIENDS OF CRICKET Under-17 (100-overs) cricket competition will continue tomorrow, with all matches beginning at 09:30hrs. GCC will take on Bel Air RUBiS at GCC ground, Bourda.

On Sunday, Everest CC face Transport SC at the Muslim Youth Organisation ground and Demerara Cricket Club will clash with Malteenoes at the DCC ground in Queenstown.

Mixed results for Guyana at 43rd World Chess Olympiad

TEAM Guyana started off the 43rd World Chess Olympiad roughly with a 4-nil loss to the stronger Albanians.

CM (Candidate Master) Anthony Drayton, using the London System with the White pieces, lost to IM (Grandmaster) D. Mehmeti after some opening inaccuracies which resulted in his losing the initiative by move 13 and ultimately the game by move 43.

CM Taffin Khan on board two with the Black pieces opted for the OId Indian Defence and turn to his familiar Philidor setup.

However, the higher-rated Albanian Llambi Pasko used his spatial advantage to slowly press for a win. Pasko’s win was also aided by a blunder on move 36.

Loris Nathoo with the White pieces played the ‘Scotch Opening Sac A Knight’ to attract Black’s

FM (FIDE master) Franc Ashiku Queen into a pin.

FM Ashiku maintained his piece advantage and actively defended against the pin but then a possible missight had Nathoo place a Rook en prise which resulted in his losing another piece.

He acknowledged a possible defeat and resigned.

Glenford Corlette on board four with the Black pieces turned to his pet line of the Scandinavian Defence which gave him a solid start coming out of the opening stage but he was outplayed in the middle game by another higher-rated Albanian IM IIir Seitaj .

Round 2 saw Guyana come up against neighbouring comrades Suriname.

Guyana went down 1-3 in this showdown with the first win of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad coming from CM Taffin Khan against the higher-rated

FM Viresh Giasi.

FM Giasi turned to the Sicilian Defence against CM Khan’s e4 opening choice. However, he turned to the Rossolimo Variation which he enjoys playing.

By the middle game CM Taffin had a wellknown ‘good Knight vs bad Bishop’ positional advantage which he turned into a win through central control by the Knight on d5 and attacks on both Kingside and Queensíde.

CM Drayton was surprised by veteran FM Matoewi’s odd Ne2 after playing 1 c5 Sicilian. 2-Ne2 is a side-line away from the main jungles of the Sicilian and it leads to Closed Sicilian lines and ideas.

CM Drayton lost a pawn on move 25 and the game on move 49 after a Queen sac by the former Surinamese national champion to force mate in 4.

Loris Nathoo lost his

second game this time with the Black piece after mis-playing the move order for the Guicco Piano.

Nathoo played 4-d6 which is slightly inaccurate than 4-Nf6 which has become the mainline to this variation.

Famous games of Paul Morphy showed how White gains an decisive advantage with which FM Gajadin was familiar.

However, Guyana’s Black Knight fought to move 53 where he lost due to time pressure.

Glenford Corlette should have won his game after having a big 1.70 advantage of a Bishop for a Rook. However, he failed to convert this.

CM Hanoeman used his own counter chances of attacks along the dark squares and with the help of inaccurate play from Corlette, CM Hanoeman regained the initiative and took a full point from a

losing position.

In Round three, Team Guyana went up against the lower-ranked Macau team and won this round 2.5 to 1.5.

CM Drayton got his 1st win against lower-rated CM Leong with the aggressive Scotch Gambit lines.

CM Daryton used his initiative to press for a win and ultimately secured it by move 45.

Glenford Corlette secured his 1st win after his opponent IP Weng Tou played his favourite opening the Scandinavian Defence.

CM Taffin Khan accepted a draw by mutual agreement against K. Tong Mak after having the inferior position and Loris Nathoo lost to CM Joel Celis with the Black pieces.

Guyana are currently on 3.5 points from 12 games and stand at position 130.

From page 27 ►

Mexico vs Guyana hosting-rights ...

The GFF president said “O’Jeer’s behaviour was brought to the attention of

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday September 28, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALLBourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 2259230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Jack Noreiga-9/95 (QPO, 1971) (2) Kapil Dev-9/83 (Ahmedabad, 1983) Today’s Quiz: (1) Which WI wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals against India in Tests?

(2) Which Indian wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals against the WI in Tests?

the GFF, following which the Berbician was questioned about the matter by members of the executive and subsequently disciplined because of the nature of his interactions.

On O’Jeer’s matter, the GFF said: “A report was submitted to the GFF, which will be submitted to the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee will review and pronounce on the matter.”

ALLEGED SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY REFEREES The GFF-appointed Board of Inquiry has concluded the interviews in relation to the sexual harassment allegations of female referees by match officials and administrators.

Former Normalisation Committee member Dr. Karen Pilgrim was listed as Chairman of the Board, along with Dr Melissa Ifill of the University of Guyana; Karen Joseph, Human Resources Consultant; Karen De Souza, Red Thread and

Joy Nichola Marcus, also of Red Thread.

The GFF told the media in a release that “the Board of Inquiry is scheduled to present its report, including recommendations to the GFF’s Executive Committee by the end of September 2018. The Executive Committee will then review and pronounce on same.”

The objectives of the CoI, the GFF said, were to develop a policy against sexual harassment for referees in Guyana; to evolve a permanent mechanism for the prevention and redress of sexual harassment cases; to ensure the implementation of the policy in letter and spirit through proper reporting of the complaints and their follow-up procedures; to create a secure physical and social environment to deter any act of sexual harassment and to promote a social and psychological environment to raise awareness on sexual harassment in its various forms.

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26

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 28, 2018

Lusignan Golf Course likely to be upgraded from 9 to 18 holes … As bigger, better Guyana Open tournament launched

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE Lusignan Golf Course is likely to be upgraded from its nine-hole golf course to 18, it’s a sound many who play golf locally want to hear.

This announcement was made yesterday by Sports Minister Dr George Norton during the launching ceremony of Guyana’s prestigious Guyana Open golf tournament, which is billed for November 3-4.

The initiative is likely to become a reality sometime next year, through legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, who is unquestionably the greatest golfer of his time.

Nicklaus, nicknamed The Golden Bear, is an American retired professional golfer. Many observers regard him as the greatest golfer of all-time. During a span of more than 25 years, he won a record 18 major champi-

Minister George Norton is pictured with an official of the Lusignan Golf Course, players and sponsor. (Adrian Narine photos)

Eight-time Avinash Persaud and two-time champion Joann Deo.

onships while producing 19 second-place and nine thirdplace finishes.

“Nicklaus has promised to expend the Lusignan Golf Course to an 18-hole golf course here in Guyana, and this can happen by next year,” Dr Norton said.

Meanwhile, in an announcement during yesterday’s launching at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in

Georgetown, it is expected that a full field of 100 players from twelve different countries will compete for top honours at the two-day event The Medal Play tournament will be played over 36 holes with action in three flights - the A flight (0-9 handicap), B flight (10-18 handicap) and C flight (19-28 handicap).

The minister during his

remarks expressed satisfaction with the works of the Club. “I would like to commend the Lusignan Golf Club for sustaining this tournament for so many years which certainly could have been done only with hard work and determination and now with so many countries gracing our shores for this tournament, this is another great opportunity to capitalise on sports tourism,” stated Norton.

President of the LGC, Aleem Hussain, stated that golf has risen to a new level in Guyana, and based on that November’s tournament will

be a competitive one, taking into consideration the number of top golfers who have indicated an interest.

The Course vice-president Paton George told the gathering that registration will be a first come, first served basis.

The first 100 players will be accepted, with entrance fee pitted at $25 000 for local members, $30 000 for foreign members and $40 000 for non-members.

Also making brief remarks was Marketing Representative of the tournament’s main sponsor, Correia Group/ Trans Guyana Airways Com-

Williams, Gordon repeat as Heritage Games Archery champions ARCHERY Guyana Inc., for the fourth consecutive year, partnered with the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs to host the 2018’s Heritage Games archery competition.

The competition followed the usual traditional archery format, with the archers coming from the various regions (both male and female) using their own equipment, together with those provided by Archery Guyana.

Eliminations were held on Saturday, September 22, with over 50 registered participants in six divisions – Under-12 female, Under-12 male, youth female 13-17, youth male 1317, adult female 18+ and adult male 18+.

Targets were set at 25 metres for the adult males while adult females and youth divisions shot at 15 metres. The Under-12 males and females shot at 10 metres.

Five ends of three arrows were shot for qualifications.

The hotly-contested trophies saw the finalists vie for top spots

Female adult winner Brenette Gordon of Region 4 (left) and male adult winner Ivor Williams of Region 1

on Sunday, September 23 which began at 14:00hrs with targets set at three different distances to be shot at (10m, 15m, 25m & moving target 10m – 5 ends of 3 arrows per target).

Last year’s adult male winner Ivor Williams retained his title, beating Daniel Leacock and Ronnie Lewis, while Brenette Gordon came out on top for the adult females ahead of

Michelle Shuman and Joanna Samuels.

At the conclusion of the competition, the participants and general public were given a special treat with an Olympic Archery demonstration by the members of Archery Guyana to showcase the types of equipment, shooting form and range discipline. As usual, excited members of the public also came to try the sport

of Archery for themselves.

The scores for the winners are as follows: Adults (male) 18+: Ivor Williams, Region 1 (67 pts); Daniel Leacock, Region 10 (48 pts); Ronnie Lewis, Region 6 (30 pts).

Adults (female) 18+, Brenette Gordon, Region 4 (17 pts); Michelle Shuman, Region 4 (14 pts); Joanna Samuels, Region 3 (13 pts).

Youth (male) 13-17, Michael Hing, Region 4 (44 pts); Elroy Jacobs, Region 4 (41 pts); Joshua Sandwell, Region 4 (33 pts) Youth (female) 13-17, Alliyah LaCruz, Region 4 (10 pts); Serena Clenkian, Region 4 (8 pts); Rochelle Dundas, Region 4 (4 pts) Under-12 (male), Ranilo Kanhai, Region 2 (28 pts); Nelon Lucas, Region 1 (13 pts); Stephon Pearson, Region 2 (4 pts).

Under 12 (female), Athena Stanley, Region 1 (42 pts); Isabelle Ramjohn, Region 9 (27 pts)

pany, Jason Harper, who expressed the company’s delight to be a part of the two-day tournament.

Meanwhile, eight-time champion Avinash Persaud voiced his confidence of defending his title, despite the numerous challenges, while two-time female champion (2014, 2016), Joann Deo, anticipates a large field of female golfers. She indicated that preparation leading up to the tournament is of utmost importance. Christine Sukhram added the Female title to her collection in 2017.

VAR to be used in Champions League from 2019-2020 season

VIDEO assistant referees (VAR) will be used in the Champions League from the 2019-2020 season, UEFA has announced.

VAR will also be used in the 2019 Super Cup and at Euro 2020, as well as in the Europa League from 2020-2021 and the 2021 Nations League finals.

The system - used at the 2018 World Cup in Russia - allows referees to review footage of key decisions.

President Aleksander Ceferin said UEFA was "confident" it would have time "to put in place a robust system".

He added it would also provide sufficient time to train match officials to ensure an "efficient and successful implementation of VAR" in "the world's flagship club competition".

VAR was under intense scrutiny at the World Cup, where its use was allowed to clear up incidents around the awarding of goals, penalties, red cards and in cases of mistaken identity.

Australia's A-League was the first topflight league to use the system in 2017, with Major League Soccer in America soon following.

England's Carabao Cup is using VAR in all fixtures held at Premier League grounds this season. (BBC Sport)

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 28, 2018

Mexico vs Guyana hosting-rights ‘scandal’ investigation ongoing … GFF announces commencement of critical investigations

By Rawle Toney OFFICIALS of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) recently announced that they have commenced investigations into three ‘critical’ areas, including one that they had inherited from previous administration - the Mexico vs Guyana return leg scandal.

The Golden Jaguars had lost 3-1 to Mexico at the Azteca and local fans were anxious about their mouth-watering return game at the Guyana National Stadium during their historic run at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier, but the GFF sold the hosting rights for the game, which was then hosted at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas on October 12, 2012.

It has been one of the biggest kept secrets in Guyana’s football since, and at a GFF Ordinary Con-

Keith O’Jeer

gress in 2017, the affiliated members passed a motion which was unanimously supported, for the Ex-

ecutive Committee to thoroughly investigate how much money was made from the ‘shift’ and whether or not an agreement was made to pay the players a percentage of what was received from the deal.

Franklin Wilson, the acting president of the GFF at the time, stated that while he welcomes and respects the right of the members of the federation to have information surrounding the Guyana vs Mexico match played in Houston, Texas, USA, he is adamant that all relevant information pertaining to that match is in the possession of the GFF. Meanwhile, the Wayne Fordeled GFF Executive Committee announced recently that “an ongoing investigation is being conducted by a consultant who is scheduled to provide a fact-finding dossier including any future action which will be required.”

FLASHBACK! Javier Aquino (#11) fights off Guyana’s Walter Moore in the first half at BBVA Compass Stadium on October 12, 2012 in Houston, Texas.

“To date, several persons have been interviewed and financial documents submitted including GFF’s audit reports, reflecting transactions processed during the period under investigation,” the GFF said.

According to the GFF, this is a very thorough process and the Executive Committee is facilitating the process in a very methodical manner to ensure accuracy and finality.

SUSPENSION FOR ‘INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT’

The GFF also announced that an independent investigator has conducted and completed a preliminary inquiry into the allegation of ‘inappropriate conduct’ by one of their Executive Committee Member, Keith O’Jeer.

Forde told one section of the media that the Executive Committee took a decision to suspend O’Jeer after receiving a report that he had behaved inappropriately.

Turn to page 25 ►

Tough battles led to U-21 gold for Britton and Edghill

By Michelangelo Jacobus SECURING U-21 gold at the 60th edition of the Caribbean Table Tennis Championships in Jamaica was the ultimate goal for Shemar Britton and Chelsea Edghill which they both realised on Wednesday. However, the road to success was a tough one, Britton said.

At the quarter-final stage, he beat Puerto Rico’s Derek Torres in a full distance contest (9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7), prior to overcoming Dominican Republic’s Abit Tejada in the semi-final.

According to Britton, he was down 5-0 in the fifth and decisive set against Torres and it took incredible self-belief to come back and win.

While he also came out top in another five-setter (8-11, 11-8, 11-

Shemar Britton

3, 11-9) against Tejada to reserve his place in the final, it took another five games for Britton to win that match as he got past Tyrese Knight of Barbados (8-11, 11-9, 13-11, 9-11, 11-8).

Chelsea Edghill

Speaking exclusively to Chronicle Sport, Britton noted; “It was a tough journey; the feeling right now is just pure joy, relief and gratefulness. It had been a lot of hard training days and heartbreaks

on the way to this result.”

After Britton’s success, less than an hour later Edghill managed a similar feat. In the group phase of proceedings, she was pushed to the limit in five full games by Trinidad

and Tobago’s Brittany Joseph (119, 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5). However, the two emerged from the group stage as first and second players.

The two met again in the final. In the title-deciding contest it was a different story as Edghill dispatched Joseph in three straight games (11-9, 11-6, 12-10) to clinch gold.

Earlier, Edghill had ended the hopes of Dominican Republic player. At the quarter-final stage she had beaten Dahyana Rojas by the very narrowest of margins (117, 11-6, 9-11, 1-11, 11-9), before comfortably defeating Yasiris Ortiz (11-7, 13-11, 12-10) in the semis to reserve her place in the final.

Play concludes in Kingston tomorrow with the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events continuing today.

West Indies arrive in India for Test series VADODARA, India (CMC) – The West Indies team has arrived safely in India for their two-Test series which is scheduled to start on October 4.

The Jason Holder-led contingent arrived here yesterday to a warm reception at the hotel after walking out of the bus amid

drum rolls and witnessing traditional Indian music and dance.

The two teams will also play five One Day Internationals and three T20 matches.

The Windies will commence the series with a two-day warm-up fixture against a Board President

XI at the Gujarat State Fertilizer Corporation Ground in Vadodara tomorrow.

Before their arrival in India, the West Indies had been forced to deal with several issues, including the resignation of former head coach Stuart Law and the departure of leading

fast bowler Kemar Roach.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced Monday the 49-year-old Law would leave his post at the end of the year, following nearly two years at the helm, Law, who took up the post last year February, will now join English county Middlesex in the New Year

as their new head coach on a four-year deal.

Meanwhile, Roach was forced to return home following the death of his grandmother.

A Cricket West Indies (CWI) statement said Roach would not be replaced but would rejoin the squad in India

following the funeral.

He is the Windies’ most successful seamer, having played 48 Tests and taken 163 wickets. He is one of five pacers in the touring party along with Gabriel, captain Jason Holder and the uncapped pair of Sherman Lewis and Keemo Paul.

Essequibo crowned GCB/GCI 50-overs champions

… a journey to defy all odds

By Rajiv Bisnauth

A jubilant Essequibo team celebrate with their championship trophy in the presence of GCB secretary Anand Sanasie.

TALK of a fairytale rise in local cricket! Talk of Essequibo! They have defied all odds through sheer passion, zeal, and determination to be crowned this year’s GCB/CGI one-day champions.

Essequibo have shown the rest of the seven franchises that they are definitely a force to be reckoned with, despite their administrative struggles, which have plagued the County board of recent times.

They have surely outplayed their opponents, winning four of their five games, and despite missing the father-figure of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, they have survived on an extremely thin quota of proper cricketing aid back home, to produce role models.

Turn to page 23 ►

Thirty teams confirmed as Guyana Softball Cup launched … Tournament set for October 26-28 OVER 30 teams have been confirmed for the eighth annual Guyana Softball Cup. This was revealed by chief coordinator of the event, Anil Beharry, during the official launch of the tournament yesterday at the auditorium of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC).

“As you know this is the biggest tournament in the world where softball is concerned and the history of softball in Guyana is well known. We’ve already confirmed 10 teams from overseas and there is the likelihood of four more teams and as the tournament picks up pace that might well increase,” Beharry noted.

Organisers, team representatives and sponsors at the launch of the eighth annual Guyana Softball Club at DCC. (Adrian Narine photo)

Turn to page 23 ►

West Indies arrive in India for Test series Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2018