Guuyana chronicle e paper 03 06 2018

NAREI gears up for largescale potato cultivation 16 PAGE

No. 105205

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2018

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

Massy posts $2.4B in profits …chairman says company committed to Guyana’s development

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O3

No relief for 09 Guyana Stores

STEAM fair puts spotlight on green economy 14

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…CCJ dismisses appeal in $3.8B unpaid tax case

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Police to 12 take fight to bank robbers PAGE

Reenewka Persaud from Diamond Secondary makes the final preparations to her group’s hydro-electricity model (Photo by Adrian Narine)

500 Guyanese to get jobs 03 at manganese plant PAGE

Exxon helping 11 to stir interest of foreign investors PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Religious leaders enlisted to help protect children

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally and Deputy Representative of UNICEF, Mr. Paulo Marchi stand with some of the religious leaders

THE MINISTRY of Social Protection, through the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) recently held a meeting with religious organisations in Guyana, aimed at finding ways in which both bodies can collaborate to effectively protect the rights of children.

Based on statistics from

the CCPA there was an increase in reported cases of child abuse last year. This has been the trend for the past four years. In a release the ministry said the increase does not mean a spike in the instances of abuse, but represents the success of the agency’s multi-media campaign and continuous efforts to have more persons report

cases of abuse to the Department, the ministry said in a statement.

To this end, the Ministry of Social Protection is of the belief that religious organisations are in a unique position to make an impact on situations of abuse because of their close relationship with vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. Subject

Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CCPA), Ms. Ann Greene (seated fourth from left) and some of the religious leaders following their meeting

Minister Amna Ally, told the religious leaders at the meeting that their organisations are indispensable partners in the government’s focus on reaching the most vulnerable in society. She further stated: “it is the moral influence of religion that can have a major impact on perspective, foster dialogue and set priorities for members of its community; many people in Guyana identify religious leaders as the group they trust the most.”

“It is you who are the skilled and influential communicators that can reach the hearts and minds of people in ways that other institutions cannot, it is you who have more access to the family and personal spheres than most outside actors. You serve as an important conduit of communication for social change and transformation of child protection mechanisms in Guyana,” the minister said, adding that the profound influence religion can have on children’s development and socialisation, offers the potential to reinforce protective influences and promote resilience.

Meanwhile, Deputy Representative of UNICEF, Mr. Paulo Marchi, said his organ-

isation is extremely pleased to be a part of the initiative and looks forward to ways in which it can partner with the Government and Religious organisations to reduce the instances of violence against children. He indicated that violence against children plagues on many societies and deprives children of the possibility to develop in the best possible manner. Mr. Marchi, during his two years in Guyana, has come to appreciate the role of religion in Guyanese society and stressed on its importance in eliminating violence against children, the ministry’s release stated.

Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ms. Ann Greene, spoke on how the agency can collaborate with religious organisations.

Ms. Greene also took the opportunity to report on child abuse cases for 2017. The report recorded the highest cases of child abuse being reported in Region 10 with 22.1%; it is followed by Region Three with 20.6% and Region Four with 17.6%.

Pastor Ronald McGarrel, National Director of the Family Federation and Chairman of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO)

said that the IRO has been working on various initiatives as it relates to the family and child protection and would like to actively participate in collaborative efforts with the CCPA. Ms. Alima Nassir, Chairperson of the Rights of the Child Commission, said based on the statistics presented a collaborative effort is needed to tackle the issue, especially since the reported cases do not represent all of the instances of abuse, particularly in hinterland areas.

Ms. Nassir, who is also the Head of the Women’s Arm of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), said the CIOG is willing to partner with the Government to arrest the issue of child abuse.

The CCPA is responsible for making timely interventions in matters concerning children; this includes any action that is deemed necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of children or prevent, reduce and alleviate the effects of the abuse and neglect of children by offering effective services as their rights entitle them to. The Agency remains committed to its mandate.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Massy posts $2.4B after tax profits …chairman says company committed to Guyana’s development

By Svetlana Marshall MASSY (Guyana) Limited recorded a profit after tax of $2.4B in 2017, its Legal Advisor and Board Secretary, Yolander Persaud, disclosed when the company held its 49th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday.

In presenting the Directors’ Annual Report and the Audited Financial Statements for the year ending September 30, 2017 at Massy’s Ruimveldt office, Persaud pointed out that the group is engaged in trading, manufacturing and service industries in Guyana.

Profit before taxation stood at approximately $3.9B, Persaud reported, while adding that taxes amounted to more than $1.5B. As such, profit after tax for the year ending September 30, 2017 was $2.4B. It was noted too, that retained earnings at the beginning of 2017 totaled $12.5B and with the profit added it increased to $14.9B. However, with dividends being paid to the tune of $1.1B, in addition to finances for ‘transfer of revaluation

Chairman of Massy Guyana Board of Directors, Doodnauth Persaud (second left) and Board Secretary Yolander Persaud (third left) along with other Directors

adjustments’ and ‘actuarial adjustment’ the retained earnings at the end of 2017 totaled $13.737B. Additionally, the Directors in their report declared an interim dividend of $1.90 and a final dividend of $0.47 per share, making a total dividend of $2.37 per share for the financial year. The financial report, including the Audited Financial Statements which was compiled by Jack A. Alli Sons & Company, was put to a vote and received no objection.

The directors and share-

holders present also voted for the Board chaired by Doodnauth Persaud to be retained, including David Affonso and Roy Errol Cheong, who had retired from the board by rotation but had remained eligible for re-election. The Board Directors include: Shameer Hoosein, David Jardim and Lekhnaraine P. Shivraj. Jack A. Alli, Sons and Company was also reappointed to the company as its auditor.

In his address, the Board Chairman took note of the significant achievements made by Massy Guyana Lim-

ited even as he recounted its early beginnings on the corner of Robb and Camp Streets. He recalled that it was in September 1968 that Massy, one of the Caribbean basin’s largest conglomerates started business here when its subsidiary, the Associated Industries Limited, was incorporated.

The company had rented the lower flat of the property owned by the Kissoon family on Camp and Robb Streets, Georgetown. “Massy through its strategic plan, foresight and thirst for growth and

expansion moved from those modest facilities…to acquire a property here…in 1973,” he said.

By 1988, the Group’s four companies in Guyana were Associated Industries, Demerara Oxygen, Transportation Services and Demerara Property Investments. NM Services Limited was created during the re-structuring of the company in 2000.

Despite the challenges and difficulties that faced Guyana in the 1970s and 1980s, the Chairman said the company remained positive about the country. According to him, Massy is here in Guyana for the long run.

Today, Massy has approximately nine subsidiaries in Guyana: Massy Guyana Limited, Massy Industries (Guyana) Ltd, Massy Technologies (Guyana) Ltd, Massy Gas Products, Massy Services, Massy Stores, Massy Security, Massy Distribution (Guyana) Inc, Massy Distribution and Massy Trading. The company started with two and a half employees, the Chairman said while pointing that today it has close to 1,600 employees.

Describing the company,

as a trail blazer in the area of governance, Persaud said Massy as a result of its exceptional performance and services, has won several awards and recognition. Just recently Massy was applauded by the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Matthew Langevine, for being the first company in Guyana to host an Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) training seminar for its Directors and Senior Management, he said.

Recommitting the company to excellence, the chairman said Massy will also continue to support local institutions and organisations, including schools as customary. He announced that this year Massy Guyana will be placing major emphasis on suicide – a mental issue that continues to affect all societies. He noted that the company will be providing financial and other resources as it works with the authorities to prevent suicide.

With the country gearing up to pump oil in 2020, Persaud said the company is excited about the future of Guyana, as it was in 1968.

500 Guyanese to get jobs at manganese plant GUYANA Manganese Incorporated (GMI) has committed to employing a predominantly local workforce as it prepares to begin construction in July.

On Monday Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, visited the Matthews Ridge, Region One, mine site to conduct an assessment of the progress that has been made since GMI purchased the area from Reunion Manganese Inc (RMI) of Canada.

GMI, a Bosai Mineral Group company, is currently on track to develop the mines, plant and factories to begin extracting the mineral by early 2019. Steven Ma, Assistant General Manager of Bosai’s Overseas Department, briefed Minister Trotman and team.

Ma noted that construction is set to begin in July and some 550 locals from the region and across Guyana will be employed during this phase as well as the

production phase. Currently, GMI is employing 20 locals in the engineering design and survey phase.

GMI is investing US$100M in the first phase of development. During the construction phase, the mine ore processing plant, washing plant, warehouses and factory will be established.

The company is currently procuring equipment, Ma explained. Ma pointed out that the company is facing logistic challenges in terms of moving the ore from the plant to sale. While road and port facilities were identified, GMI is currently mapping and surveying these to design the best solution going forward.

Minister Trotman noted that the government is committed to doing work on the road but will do so in collaboration with the company, particularly as it relates to maintenance. He also committed to discussing the sharing of facilities with bauxite company Rusal, as GMI resolves the logistics

challenge.

The Minister stressed the importance of mining in Region One to GMI. “We’d like to see a resurgence in this region and so government is very keen on getting it started,” he said. Minister Trotman also charged the company to honour its corporate social responsibility and singled out the community hospital for attention in this regard. “We expect you to be a good corporate citizen and to give back,” Minister Trotman said.

Meanwhile, Region One Member of Parliament, Allen Richard, said the region in particular is looking forward to the resurgence of manganese mining. “This is a timely visit when not just Matthew’s Ridge or Matakai sub-region is looking forward for the establishment of the manganese company which brings relief and lots of employment,” he said.

Chinese Ambassador Jianchun said he is proud of the example Bosai has set in Linden and charged GMI

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman examines the manganese mineral with Steven Ma, Assistant General Manager of Bosai’s Overseas Department and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun (second from left)

to have a similar integrated approach in Region One. GMI purchased four prospecting licences that cover an area of 45,729 acres, exploration results, mineral agreement, certain

properties and infrastructure from RMI of Canada in November 2016. The total manganese resource in Matthew’s Ridge is some 26M tonnes. Ma said to produce the manganese

concentrate, the company will have to mine some 2M tonnes per year which will see the life of the operation lasting some 12-13 years, if there are no other resources to be added. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

FAO, CDB sign pact to kick off new partnership The Food and Agriculture Organisations of the United Nations’ Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean commenced on Monday in Jamaica with the signing of an agreement between the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and FAO. “We need closer ties between FAO and other development partners if we are to tackle the main challenges that threaten regional food

security – rising hunger and overweight, rural poverty and climate change”, said FAO’s Subregional Coordinator ad interim for the Caribbean, Lystra Fletcher-Paul.

The agreement will allow FAO to provide better technical assistance in projects in which CDB is the financier. It will also permit FAO to directly execute projects with funds from the CDB, and for both organisations to

provide joint assistance to countries of common membership. “Hunger and malnutrition are on the rise in Latin America and the Caribbean. During the Regional Conference we are developing multiples alliances, such as the one we have signed today, to reverse the trend,” said Fletcher-Paul.

“CDB welcomes this new agreement, which will broaden and strengthen col-

laboration between our Bank and FAO, which has been ongoing since 1986. Today, through the signing of this document, we are opening the door for our regional members to achieve even greater development gains in agriculture through our partnership,” said Daniel Best, Director of Projects at CDB, who signed the agreement on behalf of the bank. FAO Conference: a unique opportunity to strengthen food se-

curity FAO and CDB signed the agreement in Montego Bay, where the government of Jamaica is hosting FAO’s mayor governing body – the Regional Conference - with the participation of Ministers of Agriculture, Health, Education, Environment and Social Development from all its member countries.

This year’s Regional Conference is particularly important: hunger in the region has risen for the

first time in decades, obesity has become an epidemic and rural poverty is also on the rise, while countries struggle to adapt to climate change. “We need high-level, large-scale interventions to address these challenges. That requires innovation, to create new and improved strategies. That will be one of the main focus areas of our discussions during the next four days”, explained Fletcher-Paul.

Guyana, St. Lucia, TT students win regional energy competition

Students from Guyana, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago have won the top prizes of the 2017 CARICOM Energy Month Youth Essay Competition, while young people from Belize, Grenada, and Guyana emerged winners in the

Young Energy Artist Competition, the Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat has announced.

CARICOM Energy Month is observed every November and aims to raise awareness about the region’s

s pursuit of sustainable energy. Last year, the theme was “RE-Thinking Energy” and the essay and the art competition were two of the activities held to mark the occasion. Alyssa-Blancos, Guyanese Sasha Woodroffe, a student at the University of

the West Indies (UWI), won the Tertiary Award as well as the Golden Pen Award for the Best Overall Entry in the Youth Essay Competition.

Her prizes are a laptop and a golden engraved pen.

Kiziah Soverall, of Bishop’s High School in Toba-

go, won the first prize in the 10-12 category of the competition, while Ariel Albert of the St. Joseph’s Convent, in St. Lucia won in the Grade 7-9 category.

They each received laptops and multi-media projectors for their schools. The Secretariat said that secondary and tertiary students were invited to express their vision through written essays or letters justifying the need to advance the region’s sustainable energy transition, and their vision for how their country could support this transition.

Meanwhile, Naomi Allard of the St. Andrew’s Methodist School in Gre-

nada, won the first prize – an ipad – in the Artist Competition, while the first prize phone for parent or teacher went to Kenson Baptiste, also of Grenada. The second place winner is Alyssa Blanco of Compassion, in Belize, who won a Samsung Tablet. Siddharth Lakshan Ramessar of Ermsville Primary School in Guyana placed third and he won a Wacom Tablet. The competition was open to students 12 years old and under and they were asked to show their creativity by responding to the topic: “Energy, for the planet and for my community”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

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Italy election‌

Populist Five Star and League vie for power The leaders of two anti-establishment parties have each claimed they have the right to govern Italy, after voters in Europe's fourth-largest economy did not return a majority to any single party.

The Eurosceptic, populist Five Star Movement was the biggest single party with a third of the vote. But the anti-immigrant League also said it had been endorsed to run the country as part of a centre-right alliance. Forming a government could take weeks of negotiation and coalition-building.

Former Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi has resigned as leader of the governing centre-left Democratic Party, which performed poorly, taking less than 20% of the vote. He said the party

would not join a coalition with "anti-system forces" and would go into opposition.

An alliance between the far-right League and exPrime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party is set to win the most seats in the lower house of parliament, but the League has emerged as the senior partner. Both League leader Matteo Salvini, 44, and Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio, 31, on Monday spoke of their right to govern the country.

Despite stating the contrary during the run up to the vote, Five Star has now announced it is open for coalition talks with other parties. Mr Salvini also said at a press conference that he intended to speak to other parties to gain a parliamentary majority. The

From left- League chief Matteo Salvini and Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio both want to lead Italy

gains for populists represent a political earthquake that will send shockwaves to the EU in Brussels, BBC Europe editor Katya Adler says. It is "theoretically possible for the EU's nightmare result to

come true", our correspondent says - this would be a coalition between Five Star and the League.

Results showed that the League conquered broad swathes of Italy's north,

while Five Star saw its strongest show of support in the south. The centre-left coalition, dominated by the Democratic Party, was punished in traditional strongholds including Emilia-Romagna, the northern region home to the city of Bologna. Voter turnout was estimated at 73% on Monday morning, according to interior ministry figures.

Though no party will be able to rule alone based on latest results, the surge of support for populist parties has been compared with Brexit and the election of Donald Trump in the US. The right-wing coalition, which includes the League, Mr Berlusconi's Forza Italia (Go Italy!) party and the far-right Brothers of Italy, is tipped to get 248-268 seats below the 316 needed for a majority.

But Five Star, which before Monday insisted on going it alone without forming a coalition, is expected to emerge as the largest single party in Italy's lower house, with 216-236 seats. Founded in 2009 by comedian Beppe

Grillo, who denounced cronyism in Italian politics, Five Star is now led by Luigi Di Maio, 31. It has captured new voters in the poorer regions of southern Italy, feeding off anger over institutional corruption, economic hardship and immigration.

Italian voters appear to have abandoned Mr Renzi's Democratic Party because of dissatisfaction over these issues, and its centre-left coalition is projected to come a distant third, with an estimated 107-127 seats. Immigration and the economy have been two of the key issues for voters during the election.

More than 600,000 migrants have travelled from Libya to reach Italy since 2013, which has upset many Italians.

The state of the economy was also at the centre of the debates. In 2016, some 18 million people were at risk of poverty, and unemployment is currently at 11%. (BBC)

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un meets South Korean envoys

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has hosted a dinner for senior South Korean delegates - the first time officials from Seoul have met the young leader since he took office in 2011.

The South Korean president's office confirmed the meeting shortly after the delegates' arrival on Monday.

The 10-member team is in Pyongyang for talks partly aimed at restarting dialogue between the North and the US. Relations between the Koreas have warmed following last month's Olympics.

In an unprecedented move, the South Korean delegation includes two ministerial-level envoys - intelligence chief Suh Hoon and National Security adviser Chung Eui-yong. North Korean state radio earlier said the delegation was met at the airport by Ri Son-gwon, North Korea's reunification chief, who led talks in the weeks before the Winter Olympics. During the twoday visit, the South Korean group will focus on establishing conditions for talks aimed at getting rid of the North's nuclear weapons as well as dialogue between the US and Pyongyang.

Mr Chung had earlier told a press briefing he would deliver President Moon Jaein's "resolution to maintain the dialogue and improvement in relations between

the South and the North... [and] to denuclearize the Korean peninsula". "I plan to hold in-depth discussions on various ways to continue talks between not only the South and the North, but also the North and the United States," he added.

'US is not interested in talks' US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the US would be prepared to meet North Korea, but reiterated that Pyongyang would first have to "denuke". However, North Korea - which has said it wants to talk to the US - said it was "preposterous" for the US to insist on preconditions.

"The US attitude shown after we clarified our intention for dialogue compels us to only think that the US is not interested in resuming... dialogue," said the foreign

ministry in a statement reported by state media. It remains unclear who would represent the US in any such meeting.

The top US diplomat on North Korea Joseph Yun announced his decision to retire earlier last week, a departure which could hamper the Trump administration.

Joseph Yun leaves his post as a US special representative for North Korea policy without a successor. The relationship between the US and North Korea was particularly tense before the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, with both countries repeatedly threatening each other with

total destruction.

But the Games saw the two Koreas march together under a single flag - the outcome of the first inter-Korean talks in two years. The question now being asked is whether North Korea's participation in the Paralympics, starting this week, can lead to an even bigger breakthrough. The US has distanced itself from the North Korean overtures during the Games. US Vice-President Mike Pence has said there is "no daylight" between the US and its regional allies on the need to "continue to isolate North Korea economically and diplomatically

until they abandon their nuclear and ballistic missile programme.

North Korea has also issued a warning about the scheduled US-South Korea military drills, which it views as a provocation. The next set of exercises is due to begin in April. A report last week in the ruling party's Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the military ex-

ercises "cannot be tolerated under any circumstances".

"Their (intention) is to blow away the atmosphere of improved North-South relations... this should be regarded as outrageously insane behaviour by confrontation fanatics who are anxious to bring about disaster," the report read.

(BBC)

6

Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Crime statistics and perception IN RECENT weeks there has been a lot of debate on the crime situation locally. Some of the discussions largely ignore the official police statistics on crime the latest being a 19 per cent decrease in serious crimes at the end of January, 2018, relative to the same period last year.

During the reporting period there was a tie in respect of murders and the same for robbery under arms when firearms were used. A 13 per cent decrease in robberies where no instruments were used; a 50 per cent decrease in robbery under arms where instruments other than firearms were used; a 50 per cent decrease in robbery with aggravation; a 50 per cent decrease in larceny from the person; a 24 per cent decrease in rapes; a 52 per cent decrease in burglaries; a 9 per cent decrease in break and enter and larceny and a 45 per cent increase in robbery with violence.

These are not manufactured figures; they represent the statistics of the premier anti-crime agency, However, citizens are often jolted by one singular act of violence or the commission of a crime, depending on the scale of it, and this helps to form whatever impressions they have about the crime situation.

Undoubtedly, we have seen a rash of armed robberies--some of which have targeted customers of commercial banks. These incidents have somewhat blighted the tremendous work the lawmen have been doing in dismantling sea piracy and their recent efforts in smashing a carjacking network of criminals.

We are therefore pleased to hear that the Guyana Police Force will be taking a more decisive approach to addressing

the bank-related robberies as well as the bankers’ association statement condemning these acts and pledging to work with law enforcement in arresting the situation. Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan was also on point when he told reporters at a news conference on Monday that”…parents and friends know who the thieves are” and urge them to speak out.

Crime has its genesis in the society and its growth and pattern need to be addressed not only through applying crime-solving methods, but also putting in place preventive measures, which take on board a scientific approach in gathering and analysing data.

It is within this context that our approach to crime and crime-fighting can engender positive results and societal development. Crime speaks to a violation of the laws. Equally, crime cannot be fought by committing crimes and this is why it becomes important to recognise that the upholding of laws is hinged on crime-fighting and development. When a nation accepts crime as destructive, regardless of the socio-economic and political standing of the perpetrators, and is prepared to treat all equally before the law, it creates the desire to put systems in place to address crime in a holistic manner.

White collar crime, while having similar debilitating effects as blue collar crime on development, is being given less attention. This lends itself to a scenario where the privileged and connected may be allowed to get away with illegal activities in full view of the system, operators of which turn a blind eye or are similarly compromised. Equally, if systems

are not put in place to minimise and avoid blue collar crime, it lends itself to perception that this is the result of a failure by the system and communities to address the welfare of the less privileged and unconnected, i.e., the ordinary man and woman.

President David Granger has virtually been on a warpath against this type of crime and during his recent address at the Police Officers conference, he did not mince words in calling out those ranks who are perceived to be corrupt. Making crime-solving and avoidance/prevention part of a nation’s developmental strategy is possible when all are held to the same standards and play by the same rules. In this environment, it also helps too to recognise modern-day, crime-fighting techniques do not see killing as acceptable or first choice.

And where death has occurred, the Coroner’s Act, Chapter 144 sets out procedures how this ought to be dealt with. For years this law has been observed in the breach and only for a chosen few, inspite of it being universal. It is the equal responsibility of the alleged criminal, law enforcer, privileged and connected, and the ordinary man and woman to abide by the law and be held accountable under the law. Effective and efficient crime-fighting is hinged on these stated factors and the nation has to work to ensure these form part of the daily occurrence in the management of the State.

Use oil revenues to re-establish national airline

Dear Editor,

AS 2020 approaches and expectations of Guyana’s oil production commencement mounts, there is a lot of ‘chit and chatter’ over the usage of anticipated oil revenues by Guyana’s government. This is healthy expression, which with the exception of bent pessimists and dogmatists, shows that many Guyanese are objective and genuinely wish to see the best outcomes for their country.

One of the areas I believe that should be considered for funding is the re-establishment

of a national flag-carrying airline.

Those who use air transportation, particularly for travelling in and out of Guyana, can attest to the ransom-like situation Guyana finds itself in by the limited number of service providers.

As early as 1939, even before Guyana’s Independence, a national airline was founded

by Art Williams and Harry Wendt. The airline, called British Guiana Airways, was a private venture but received subsidies from the Colonial Government at that time. From 1963, Guyana Airways coined

its name, and continued operations until 2001. There were several factors surrounding the rise and closure of the Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC), which I will not venture to detail here. However, like the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) and most other failed corporations, poor management, distortion and financial irregularities were cited impediments that affected GAC’s viability.

Our two proximate CARICOM neighbours--Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago--have both retained their national carriers, albeit with

some adjustments since 1964 and 1961, respectively.

In 1964, Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij (SLM) – Suriname Airways, which started operations, became and still is Suriname’s flag carrier. In 1961, Trinidad and Tobago’s Government acquired 90% shares in the British West Indian Airlines (BWIA) or “Bee Wee”, making it that nation’s national airline. The airline was later incorporated in 2006 as Caribbean Airlines, with a fleet of over 15 aircraft.

Caribbean Airlines has for years maintained a monop-

olistic vice of international air transport on their Guyana leg, much to the disadvantage and quiet displeasure of many Guyanese.

Guyana has seen the entrance and exit of several international carriers, with some big names like DELTA Airlines (USA) and VARIG (Brazil). The reasons for vacillating trends among international carriers that attempted to serve Guyana vary.

No one should genuinely dispute the fact that there has been a lingering void of consistent, reliable, respectable and affordable air transporta-

tion since the cessation of the GAC. The need for a national airline will not just restore the nation’s pride in that sector, but create the type of competition that will relieve Guyanese travelers from the imposed exorbitant fares of some service providers to and from this destination.

In this regard, it is timely for Government to consider such an investment, either jointly with local stakeholders or as an independent state entity.

Regards Orette Cutting

Kudos to Sexual Offences Court

THE Caribbean Voice is thrilled at the work that the Sexual Offences Court has been doing and we laud the expected move to have this court also set up in Berbice and Demerara as many have been calling for. We are especially pleased that sen-

tences handed down hover around the maximum rather than the minimum and we hope that this would be the permanent standard. May we also suggest that this court urgently considers adding domestic violence to its portfolio?

Also, we urge the government to set up a similar special court for child abuse. As well, a mobile court is urgently needed for the hinterland, given the problems of distance and transportation. Such a court should combine the roles of the Sexual Offences and Child

Abuse courts.

Finally, we hope that these courts would consider counselling for victims as part of their mandate.

Regards The Caribbean Voice

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

7

A fair media for a better Guyana

Dear Editor,

REFERRING to your editorial “Responding to restructuring of the sugar industry”, of March 04, 2018, it can be described as accurate in a somewhat brief illustration of the private media, per se, decidedly hostile attitude to the coalition government, that commenced just after taking office.

The editorial was definitely conservative in content; much too charitable, as I suspect that the intention may have been not to ruffle feathers of sister outlets. But, there comes a time when a spade must be called a spade, with the truth being made clear. What we have been witnessing since 2015 is a well orchestrated right wing attack on the David Granger administration. This is a strategy that comprises some

Dear Editor,

representative elements of civil society, and the business and commercial sectors, among others.

And they are led by the PPP/C opposition, whose leaders are being allowed by the private media to sanitise themselves after an abysmal two decades in government, during which Guyana became a criminal state with every conceivable venality being committed against the people of this nation.

While I do agree that the media is an open window for discussion, it has the moral obligation to give proper shape, guidance, intellectual content and objectivity to such debates, without becoming band wagoners and opportunists. Above all, in such an ethnically polarized society, its role has to be careful mediators; “honest brokers” as you pointed out

in Sunday’s opinion, and being able to diffuse tension, rather than assisting such a dark agenda to continue its odious spread.

In any other jurisdiction, there would have been outright media condemnation of the disrespectful conduct given to the President during his address to our National Parliament. Instead, what was offered were veiled excuses that in effect supported the PPP/C mob. It was another abysmal example of some media houses aiding and abetting what has been the most blatant example of parliamentary disrespect thus far in this country’s modern political history.

There was even a declaration of economic war against the government and state, when a collective deliberately began the hoarding of foreign currency. The aim

no doubt, was to destabilize the economy, creating an artificial crisis. Instead, the media houses began blaming the government, rather than call out the saboteurs. But the government ended their anti-state action. With the exception of one of the print dailies that realized what had been taking place, the others began an open chorus of chiding the government for not managing the economy well. In fact, most of the private media supported the dishonest argument, completely ignoring the fact that the local economy had already been in decline since 2013. This was a fact made known by a former Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) chairperson in 2016.

As to the GuySuCo industrial tragedy, the Stabroek News numerous pieces, inclusive of opinions, apart

from being an enemy to truth, carried media dishonesty to new lows. It was shameful, and shocking for the lies of its own brand, and those from the opposition and sundry, that it fed its daily readership.

How could such dangerously misleading pages, designed to whip up ethnic fears, ever aid GuySuCo’s search for a solution? How such dishonest reporting benefit the nation?

The late publisher David De Caires must have turned in his grave!

Undoubtedly, there is resentment against this government by the political opposition, and other known forces, for its efforts in seeking to introduce a different type of governance that will be more transparent and accountable to the people of this country; and where all Guyanese are counted, irrespective of race.

We believe that given our not

distant past experience, when the former administration had been a law unto itself, and where the rule of law had been continuously desecrated – that any media that upholds good governance and morality in the conduct of the State’s affairs, should support such high principles.

In fact, the media has a welcomed role to play in any democratic society, particularly on the seminal subject of governance. However, it does not have the right to aid, abet, and foster discussions on government in terms of its leadership capability by ethnicity; encourage contents that are inherently dishonest, and which do not add to finding solutions. The nation has had enough of such a media that does not make for a better Guyana.

Regards Earl Hamilton

The so-called oil experts

TO begin with, we are not mendicants relying on oil money to buy bread and food for ourselves and families. Our public service is vibrant (corruption is gradually being a thing of the past).

Our agricultural base in rice and other crops is being revitalised, our infrastructure is gradually being modernized and all without a cent from oil money. The expect-

ed spin-off from production is what we are expecting to become a reality. They are as follows: 1. The cost of gasolene will come down, thereby reducing the cost of travelling for commuters and vehicle owners alike, whereby supplementing the reduced taxation on vehicle imports and encouraging more people to buy cars.

2. The cost of light bills will be significantly reduced.

3. Frozen foods, ice, street

lighting, drugs and vaccines for hospitals will be more affordable.

4. The cost of cooking gas will be within every one's reach as well as baked products from bakeries and fast food businesses.

5. More importantly, our Guyana Dollars will move upwards against the U.S Dollar, using our combined strength of gold, oil and gas, without a doubt, agricultural exports will boost our foreign reserves.

6. The production price of sugar will drop tremendously, thereby making us competitive once again in marketing our sugar on revitalising all the estates, whether state or privately owned.

7. Basically our salaries as it stand will be able to help us to do more like owning a

home, a car, extensions and modifications to homes, take holidays, etc. Not to mention the various spin offs to tradesmen and all supporting trades, and further I say not.

Let your imagination work. We are looking forward to oil production in 2020 and let no one try to de-

rail the process. One Christopher (Columbus) came upon God's Land and people said he discovered; one Christopher is busy trying to re-invent the wheel with no spokes for internal support.

Regards M. Bacchus

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Carl Parker Three remanded on car breaking charge acquitted of rape …$5M, ammunition, other stuff stolen Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Carl Parker was on Monday freed of a charge of sexual assault due to insufficient evidence.

Last year, Parker was charged with the allegations which read that during the month of June 2016 at Yupukari, Central Rupununi he sexually assaulted a 19-yearold woman of Region 9.

During trial before Magistrate Allan Wilson at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court Parker was released on $200,000 bail. He was represented by Attorney Jerome Khan.

The trial was bogged down by delays due to the victim failing to show up

Carl Parker

to be cross-examined. Five witnesses were called to take the stand. “We kept complaining that this woman was using delaying tactics. Not one bit of her evidence was corroborated with the main

detective” Attorney Khan told the Guyana Chronicle.

The attorney during Parker’s first court appearance had stressed that the accusations against his client are politically motivated, aimed at having him removed from office. “The allegation came as a shock and surprise…the Lethem area is in total shock that Parker is being accused of something like this,” the lawyer had told reporters.

According to the lawyer, the accusations had stemmed from Parker refusing to allow the complainant to grant contracts to her friends in the region.

“The damage is already done…they wanted to see him convicted,” the lawyer said.

‘Don’t steal, work hard for …Magistrate advises your money’ young criminal A 21-year-old man was on Monday sentenced to 50 months in prison for simple larceny.

It is alleged that on March 2 at Hinck Street in central Georgetown, Darren Baley, who was armed with an offensive weapon (a pair of scissors), robbed Mahindra Donaught of one LG cellphone worth $25, 000 and one wallet valued $ 2,000 which contained $240 cash The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge with an explanation. He told the court that he mistook the virtual complaint for someone’s nephew who had owed him money from the interior.

According to the facts presented in court by the prosecutor, Donaught was walking

along the roadway when he was approached by the defendant with the scissors. The accused placed the scissors to the man’s neck and then relieved the victim of his wallet and phone which were in his pants pocket. He then ran away.

At the same time police ranks were passing through the area and upon receiving information, they carried out a search and found the accused at the Stabroek Market.

The wallet and phone were in his possession.

Magistrate Judy Latchman, before passing sentence, told the accused that he should not steal from anyone because people “worked hard for their stuff” and he should work for his. She then sentenced him to 50 months in prison.

THREE men appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with simple larceny. They are Asif Khan, Alvin Soloman and Linston Grimmond.

It is alleged that on February 26 at Alexander Street, Georgetown, they robbed Inshan Ally Bacchus of $5M, 40 rounds of .9mm ammunition worth $25,000, one black computer bag worth $5,000, and one phone worth $350,000.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charge The prosecutor objected to bail based on the seriousness of the offence and based on the fact that the victim parked his car and went in a store. The defendants then reportedly broke into the vehicle and stole the items. A witness went into the store and told the owner of the vehicle and the matter was reported to

the police. Based on the information given to the police, an identification parade was carried out and the suspects were identified by the witness.

They men were remanded to prison by magistrate Judy Latchman and the matter was adjourned to March 19, Meanwhile, Alvin Solomon, a taxi driver, was slapped with a separate charge.

It is alleged that on February 27 at Brickdam, Georgetown, he was found with 40 rounds of .9mm ammunition without being the holder of a licence.

The attorney who represented the accused told the court that his client was not placed on an identification parade and when the vehicle was stopped by police and the search was carried out in his vehicle without his presence, he was put in

the police vehicle and his vehicle was taken to the station. When they arrived at the station, the police told him to stand next to his vehicle while they carried out another search when the rounds were discovered.

The attorney asked the magistrate for reasonable bail to be granted to his client.

The prosecutor objected to bail based on the serious nature of the offence and its prevalence. According to the facts that were given in court by the prosecutor, the vehicle was stopped and a search was conducted and the ammunitions were discovered along with over $600,000 in cash. Solomon was then taken to the station where he was charged.

Bail was refused and he was remanded to prison by Magistrate Judy Latchman until March19 for his next court appearance.

Remanded on chain-snatching charge A 29-year-old man appeared before a magistrate on Monday charged for simple larceny.

Carl Crandon, who resides at ‘C’ Field, Sophia,

on March 1, at Lombard Street, Georgetown, allegedly stole one gold chain worth $82, 000, property of Marlin Hinds He pleaded not guilty to the charge and the prosecutor objected to bail. According to the facts produced in court,

the defendant was walking along with others when Crandon snatched the chain and escaped on a bicycle.

Crandon was refused bail and remanded to prison by Magistrate Judy Latchman. The matter was adjourned until March 19.

Chief Justice upholds rape charge against Steve Munilall CHIEF Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire in February ruled that rape accused Steve Munilall’s fundamental rights have not been violated or infringed.

Through his attorney Gary Ramlochan, Munilall sought orders that Section 10 (3) of the Sexual Offences Act was not a valid and sustainable charge; that Section 10(3) of the Sexual Offences Act does not constitute a charge known to law; that the Sexual Offences Act is unconstitutional insofar as it prohibits the accused from cross-examining the virtual complainant; and that the omission of the name of the virtual complainant from the particulars of offence renders it defective, null, void and bad in law.

Munilall was charged on December 28,

2016 with the offence of rape of a child under 16, contrary to Section 10 (3) of the Sexual Offences Act, Cap 8:03. By way of Fixed Date Application dated August 17, 2017, the accused sought the aforementioned orders. However, the Chief Justice (ag) ruled that Section 10(3) of the Sexual Offences Act, Cap 8:03 was in fact the offence creating section and not section 10(1).

The court further ruled that the omission of the name of the virtual complainant did not vitiate or void the charge against Munilall, as the Act and the Sexual offences guidelines provided for the anonymity of the complainant. Additionally, Justice George-Wiltshire ruled that none of the applicant’s fundamental rights had been violated and or infringed.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

No relief for Guyana Stores …CCJ dismisses appeal in $3.8B unpaid tax case THE CARIBBEAN Court of Justice (CCJ) on Monday dismissed the appeal

by Guyana Stores Limited (GSL) to have among other things, the court rule that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the State violated its constitutional right to the protection of property.

GRA had demanded that Guyana Stores pay to it some $3, 811, 346, 397 for the years of assessment 1985 – 2010. However, Guyana Stores made a claim for constitutional relief in a tax dispute with the GRA because the Authority failed to assess the taxes payable by the company in accordance with the provisions of Sections 70 and 78 of the Income Tax Act. GSL had approached the local courts in 2012 to declare that the GRA’s request for unpaid taxes represented a violation of its constitutional right to protection of property. The matter was first heard in the High Court by Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang, who at the time granted Conservatory Orders without hearing the GRA or the Attorney General (AG) of Guyana.

Justice Chang had subsequently discharged those orders on application by the respondents, after considering their written submission and the court file. In so doing, the learned Chief Justice (ag) struck out the entire claim on the ground that a claim purely for declaratory relief with no consequential and executory orders cannot be maintained.

GSL then appealed the decision of Justice Chang and that court (CCJ)upheld the decision to strike out the action because there was no violation of the company’s constitutional rights and as such, GSL was not entitled to a declaration of any sorts.

Guyana Stores Limited owes the GRA some $3, 811, 346, 397 in unpaid taxes

The CCJ, presided by Justice Adrian Saunders, Justice David Hayton, Justice Winston Anderson, Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee and Justice Denys Barrow, ruled that it could not grant among other things, declarations that the attempt to collect tax by the GRA from GSL was a violation of the company’s constitutional right to protection of property.

In delivering the court’s judgment, Justice Barrow said “there is no basis for this court to intervene to protect the company (GSL) from the consequences of its decision, to not follow the statutory 18 provision for disputing a tax liability.”

He explained that given the outcome, Guyana Stores now finds itself in the position of having to deal with a legally undisputed demand.

“It must be left to the company and the Revenue Authority, as well as the State in its greater capacity, to resolve the dispute as to the liability to tax if, indeed, beyond the company’s challenge to the constitutionality of the two per cent minimum tax, there was really a dispute.”

He said GSL must have considered that it could lose the constitutional challenge to the validity of the tax and would in turn leave undisturbed the demand for the taxes. “Broad considerations of justice beyond the strict application of the law,. gave rise during the hearing to considering whether it would be competent and appropriate for this Court to send the challenge to the liability for tax to go through the review and appeal process, since this is the proper, statutory process for resolving a dispute and this process was not engaged,” Justice Barrow stated.

Additionally, the court found too that the GSL could have pursued the statutory procedure for disputing an assessment and do so concurrently with its constitutional challenge but this was not done. In 2000, GSL was a public company controlled by the Government of Guyana which then sold the majority of its shares to the present majority shareholders. Under the Privatisation Agreement executed by the parties, it is contended, pre-privatisation

taxes are to be paid by the Government and these have remained unpaid.

Shortly after privatisation, disagreement regarding taxes arose which is the subject of separate court proceedings. Over the years, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) of Guyana, a department of the GRA, wrote numerous letters to the GSL informing it of taxes due and payable. It sent updated tax liability statements inviting the company to agree or disagree with stated tax liability amounts and withdrawing or discharging assessments, restating the amount of taxes due and finally demanding payment and warning of an enforcement action.

In a letter dated January 12, 2010 from the Revenue Authority’s ‘Objections and Appeals Section’ the company was told, with reference to a letter it had sent objecting to liability and the requirements for making objections in accordance with Section 78(2) of the Income Tax Act, that the time for doing so and the objection must state precise grounds.

In another letter dated

May 13, 2010 the Revenue Authority noted that the company had not sent an objection and it identified to the company what the objection needed to contain and gave until May 27, 2010 for the objection.

Similarly, several letters were written by the GSL to the GRA objecting to the Statements of Assessment and making representations as to its liability. In a letter dated August 4, 2010 the company explained why it had previously submitted unaudited returns and made payments based on financial statements. It also confirmed an earlier statement it had made to the Revenue Authority that should there be any difference in the audited Annual Reports the company would make the correction and/or payment.

The GSL enclosed with that letter copies of Returns along with copies of Receipts of Payments it had made for stated years, these being material missing from the Revenue Authority’s files.

The company said it did not receive notices of assessment for any year of assessment between 2001 and 2010, although it received notices that assessments were discharged in respect of certain years.

The GSL said too that it did not receive any notice of assessment for years prior to 2000.

However, by a letter of demand dated April 3, 2012, the GRA made demands for the years of assessment 1985 – 2010. On May 24, 2012, by way of a letter from the GRA’s Commissioner General, a demand for $3,811,346,397 was made.

The GSL argued that being forced to pay the demanded $3B in taxes would amount to the compulsory acquisition of its property and in breach of Article 142(2)(a)(i) of the

Constitution.

By virtue of the Fiscal Enactments (Amendment) Acts No. 16 of 1994 and 3 of 1996, the company had become liable to pay a two per cent minimum corporation tax. It appears that the company had been paying this tax until it was advised, sometime after it had in February 2012 filed its audited Corporation Tax and Property Tax Returns for the years of assessment 2001 to 2011, that the tax was unlawful and being wrongly applied.

It was as a result of the aforementioned demand by the Revenue Authority, that the GSL brought proceedings in the High Court for constitutional and other relief.

Meanwhile, in arriving at its decision the CCJ examined the constitutionality of the demand for the taxes from the GSL and on the issue of liability to tax, where allegedly no assessment was served on the company and the GRA was incorrectly and unlawfully applying the provision for the payment of the 2 per cent turnover tax.

“This second issue may be identified as the lawfulness of the demand. It is no longer an issue for this court to decide whether a claim for a constitutional violation which does not seek an enforceable order such as a prohibitory or compensatory order is maintainable,” the CCJ stated.

The Attorney Gen eral was represented by Solicitor General, Kim Kyte- Thomas, Oneka Archer-Caulder and Judy Stuart-Adonis, while the GRA and the Commissioner General were represented by Ronald Burch-Smith, Mark Waldron and Keoma Griffith. Guyana Stores was represented by Stephen Fraser.

CH&PA ready to deal with 1990s houselot applicants THE Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is urging houselot applicants from 1996 and 2001 to come forward as it works to reduce the backlog of applications in the system.

On Monday, the housing authority issued a notice calling for 152 applicants, who applied between 1996 and 1999, to make contact with the Land Administration and Conveyance Department on Friday March 9, 2018.

Applicants are asked to walk with a valid identification card or passport; recent job letter, pay slip or affidavit of income for self-employed applicants; birth certificate of children; marriage certificate or absolute and TIN certificates.

CH&PA in recent times has been advocating for applicants with dated application to visit its Brickdam Office, as it attempts to sanitize its database, while ensuring that those applicants, once interested, are given

preference to own lands or housing units.

CH&PA Public Relations Officer, Iva Wharton on Monday said that the housing authority is sanitizing the system, explaining that while applications for the period 1991-2001 are in the system, some applicants were never interviewed. As such, the authority is calling on them to be interviewed, update their information and indicate whether they are still interested in houselots or the other housing solu-

tions currently available.

Wharton noted that the CH&PA has completed interviews with persons who had applied between 1991 and 1995. She said some of the applicants had already secured lands and housing units, and were no longer interested. The current focus, she said, is now on persons who would have applied between 1996 and 2001.

According to CH&PA, statistics show that there are approximately 6, 000

applicants in Region 4 alone for that period. CH&PA had said that prior to May 4, 2009, interviews were not done immediately. Applicants were expected to submit their application forms and be given a date to return for the interview.

However, that system has since been changed and interviews are done immediately, providing that applicants have all the required documents which include a valid identification card or passport,

tax identification certificate, birth certificate of children if applicable, marriage certificate/absolute/death certificate of spouse if applicable and a recent pay slip or job letter. Stating that it understands the importance for Guyanese to acquire land or housings units, the housing authority said it is working assiduously to develop lands as well as construct housing units to meet the demands of the population.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Court upholds revocation of Rasul gun licences ACTING Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, SC, late last month ruled that the Minister of Public Security had lawfully approved the revocation of the firearm licences of businessman Saddique Rasul - a gold dealer who is currently before the court on charges of bank fraud.

The court ruled that the minister had complied with Section 4 (2) of the Private Security Services Act and noted that Rasul was given an opportunity to be heard but failed to show cause why his licences should not be revoked.

Rasul had made a Fixed Date Application dated the July 27, 2017 for the court to grant an order nisi of Certiorari to Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, in his capacity as the controlling authority under the

Private Securities Services Act, to show cause why his decision to revoke the licence of SRS Security Services should not be quashed.

The applicant said Persaud’s decision was ultra vires and in effect null and void, as he did not obtain the expressed written approval of the Public Security Minister prior to the revocation of the said licence as is required by the Private Securities Act. He also asked the court to grant an order or rule nisi of mandamus to the police commissioner, in his capacity as the controlling authority under the Private Securities Act, to show cause why he should not be compelled and directed to reinstate SRS Security Services under the Private Securities Act given that SRS Securities Services satisfied all pre-conditions for

the grant of such a licence and has never breached the conditions attendance to the licence previously in force.

Rasul also requested costs.

Between 2010 and 2016 Rasul was granted permission to purchase and be licensed with 44 firearms of various types and calibre.

On March 31, 2017, the management of the Guyana Bank for Trade of Industry Limited (GBTI) reported that on March 22, 2017, the applicant deposited six Citizens Bank (Guyana) Limited cheques totalling $941,000,000 into his personal bank account at the GBTI, Bartica Branch.

The applicant knew that he did not have cash in his chequing account at Citizens Bank (Guyana) Incorporated to honour the cheques and fraudulently withdrew the entire sum of $941,000,000 from the

GBTI. On March 27, 2017, Rasul signed an Acknowledgement of Debt and Undertaking, admitting that he, while fully knowing that his account at Citizens Bank (Guyana) Incorporated had been closed, fraudulently and by false pretense sought to negotiate and obtain payments on the cheques. On March 31, 2017 he was arrested and charged on the April 1, 2017, with six counts of Obtaining Money

by False Pretense, contrary to Section 194 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Cap.8:01.

Rasul appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan where he pleaded not guilty and was placed on $500,000 bail on each charge.

The aforementioned charges were withdrawn and on April 21, 2017, the applicant was then charged with six charges of Obtaining Credit by False Pretense, contrary to Section 213 (2) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Cap.8:01. He again pleaded not guilty and was placed on $1,500,000 bail on each count after these charges were read to him at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court. The matter is still engaging the attention of the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

Meanwhile, as a result of the ongoing investigation in respect to the matter of

Businessman Saddique Rasul

Obtaining Credit by False Pretense, 35 firearm licences were lawfully revoked.

The State represented by J u d y S t u a r t - A d o n i s a rgued that given the gravity and nature of the offences to which Rasul had been charged are material, those considerations were taken into account when it was found that he is unfit to be entrusted with the firearms.

Stuart Adonis posited too that the revocation of the applicant’s licence was lawful and done in accordance with the powers vested in the Respondent under the Section 4(2) of the Private Security Services Act and Firearms Act, Cap. 16:05, Section 18 (8) (a) and in accordance with the rules of natural justice.

Rasul was asked to show cause in writing on or before the May 9, 2017 why his licence should not be

revoked. However, though he was given an opportunity to respond to show cause, he failed to provide any reason in light of the circumstances why his licences should not be revoked. After being given an opportunity to be heard he responded by letter dated May 9, 2017.

Stuart-Adonis argued too that after being charged for an offence involving moral turpitude, Rasul was therefore unfit to be the holder of the firearm licences and subsequently a recommendation was made for the revocation of the applicant’s licence. Additionally, the state argued that a written and expressed approval marked “approval granted” bearing the Minister’s signature and dated June 15, 2017 was granted by the Minister for the revocation of the licences to SRS Security Services in accordance with section 4(2) of the Private Security Services Act. Moreover, the State noted that it is an implied condition that for the granting and continuous eligibility as the holder of a firearm licence, the Applicant ought not to be involved in criminal activities or breach any of the pre-requisite conditions for the grant of such licences. Rasul was represented by Attorney Nigel Hughes and was ordered to pay the State costs to the tune of $100,000.

Couple freed on trafficking charge A COUPLE was recently freed of the charge of trafficking a 15-year-old girl for sex after the case was thrown out by Magistrate Esther Sam at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court due to insufficient evidence.

Businessman Mahadsa Thomas and Kenisha Hill were facing a charge which alleged that between February 1 and February 24, 2017 at Supenaam, Essequibo, they recruited, transported and harboured a 15-year-old girl for sexual exploitation.

The trial was held in camera and the duo was out on $500,000 bail each.

The couple’s attorney Dexter Todd, last Thursday after the prosecution closed its case, made a no case submission since he said the police failed to meet the necessary requirements to establish the facts to the case.

Businessman Mahadsa Thomas

The magistrate ruled in the attorney’s favour and freed the two people.

According to reports, the businessman and boat captain from Supenaam were arrested by detectives following the rescue operation which took place on February 24, 2017, following a ‘tip-off’.

Kenisha Hill

It was disclosed that persons notified the police ranks about the presence of the young lady who was reportedly being used for financial gains by the businessman and his friend.

The teenager was taken for a medical examination at the Suddie Hospital where it was discovered that she has been sexually active.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Exxon helping to stir interest of foreign investors … keeping Venezuela at bay AMERICAN oil company ExxonMobil has not only helped to stir the interest of foreign investors to start-up ventures here in Guyana by de-risking the nation’s basin, but it has put a halt to what could have been a fallout of Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s territory.

Since the announcement of major oil finds in offshore Guyana, numerous companies have opted to pursue the Guyanese market. This change in dynamic is sitting very well locally as a new multi-national operating front is now characterising Guyana’s upcoming oil industry and will frankly address the concerns that surround Guyana’s potential to develop its oil industry and protect its borders.

Economist and former presidential adviser, Ramon Gaskin, noted that Exxon’s presence in Guyana’s territory is one mechanism that is keeping Venezuela at bay.

Despite some objections regarding Guyana’s agreement with Exxon, Gaskin

said that the company has nonetheless provided “protection” and brought some amount of stability to the situation; especially at a time when Venezuela is facing gruelling economic and social crisis.

Gaskin explained that where several companies from various territories are operating, it serves in Guyana's benefit to reap from its oil resources, while protecting the territory. He mentioned, for example, that Exxon which is from the US, Tullow which is British and Total which is French are among some of the international companies servicing Guyana.

Venezuela’s bold claim to Guyana’s territory, which included areas believed to be oil-rich, continued to manifest itself and was even more evident when the Venezuelan navy briefly seized a U.S.-chartered oil survey ship and its crew carrying out a seabed survey for Texas-based Anadarko in 2013.

One government official who requested anonymity

Commentator: Ramon Gaskin

explained that Venezuela’s action towards Anadarko immediately dampened Guyana's plans as many players refused to enter the Guyanese basin, given the high risk.

The official said that the general consensus then was that a major oil company with the relevant resources and support would be needed to explore Guyana's resources, since companies

Gun smuggling in Region One being investigated RESIDENTS of the Barima- Waini Region have registered concerns with the government over the smuggling of guns across the border from neighbouring Venezuela.

This is according to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, during a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

According to the minister, “the nature of the concerns is very, very serious” The security minister indicated that based on what officials were told, there are some new security concerns in the area and that has been passed onto the relevant national security personnel for action to be taken.

Ramjattan also confirmed that the issues have been engaging him personally as the security minister. There are documents on his desk to that effect and those issues are being addressed. Pressed to comment more on the issue, he explained that based on what was communicated to officials from persons in the area, the issues have to do with guns coming across the border and the names of certain persons are being called.

Minister Ramjattan said that based on the reports coming out of the area, there

seems to be police involvement in the new development and this has been communicated to the administration of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for the necessary actions to be taken. “Who might be dealing with the gun and who also are violating from the police prospective and who are the rogue elements and all of that, so like everything else we do have the rogue elements dealing with these matters and all of that information is coming to us” Ramjattan explained.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that there is likely a possible ring operating in that part of the country, where operatives from several local agencies might be facilitating the illegal guns trade, among other activities. Recently, President David Granger has been making visits to several hinterland locations, primarily those with the border regions.

He has been meeting with residents and assuring them of the Government’s commitment to ensuring their safety and that the sovereignty of Guyana is maintained. Venezuela which is one of three countries sharing land borders with Guyana is presently in a state of crisis.

had refused to invest billions of dollars in an area that was being threatened by another country. The companies deliberately stayed away from exploring the basin and this placed Guyana in a position of "high risk", the official said.

He continued that another serious risk that faced Guyana was whether the country indeed had oil. "No one wanted to invest in Guyana where they were faced with a Venezuelan threat and at the same time not sure whether the country was blessed with the resource."

It was explained too that it was during routine drilling

by Exxon to maintain their exploration contract with

Guyana that they struck oil.

"It was somewhat unintentional on the part of Exxon since originally they had chosen to drill a different well and later found oil."

This discovery was the boost that Guyana had been waiting for. "This discovery

by Exxon opened the door for others who were interested but were too scared to invest. Exxon literally gave Guyana the push that it needed."

On the other hand, the official stated, Guyana was in a difficult position. He said that today some persons are bent on smearing the Exxon contract with Guyana as the "worst ever" but it must be remembered

that Guyana's hands were almost tied, given the original agreement with the company.

He said that the former People's Progressive Party government had already "signed and sealed" Guyana's fate with Exxon when it signed the initial contract with the company. He said the tax exemptions and other benefits to Exxon were already in the first contract and Exxon, "as they have mentioned before", was under no obligation to renegotiate.

He said luckily, the new administration was able to get Exxon to reconsider and offer a better sharing arrangement.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Cops to take fight to bank robbers -banks urged to install CCTV cameras

By Navendra Seoraj IN light of a spate of robberies which involved persons being trailed after withdrawing money from banks, the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan has suggested that the police conduct a “sting operation.”

A sting operation is defined as an investigation which involves an agency such as the police or the media, which lure a criminal to commit a crime in order to trap them red-handed.

“In order to get this done, we require information from members of the public who might have an idea about who is doing these crimes,” said the Minister during a press conference at his office on Monday. Those robberies have been a concern of his ministry and the police, he said, noting that the local banks have already been investigated, but investigations revealed that the phones of employees, especially tell-

ers, are usually taken during working hours.

According to the minister, tellers and other bank employees were their suspects but since they do not have their phones, the attention has to be shifted. “Bank officials are competent…we are coming around to believe that the people who go withdraw money tell villagers, families and even friends, so the information might seep through,” said Ramjattan, adding that they need to improve the level of trust between the police and residents so that information could be acquired easily.

INFORMANT PAYMENT SYSTEM As part of their efforts to gather information from people, the police have implemented a programme to pay cash in order to obtain information from an informant.

Minister Ramjattan pointed out that the informant arrangement was used to gather information on the series of carjacking. The police were

able to arrest persons who were allegedly part of the carjacking ring.

“We need as much information as we can get from communities in order to solve the bank-related robberies… parents and friends know who the thieves are, so we are pleading with you to speak out,” the Minister urged.

In the interim, as investigations continue, banks are being encouraged to install CCTV cameras in and around their premises. It was reported on January 1, 2018 that a 53-year-old businesswoman of New Hope, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was robbed of her valuables on Saturday in Cummings Street, Georgetown, by armed ‘CG’ bandits.

Reports indicate that after visiting a bank on the EBD where she withdrew a large sum of cash, the businesswoman drove to a salon on Cummings Street, Georgetown. Upon arrival there, the robbers stopped behind her car and one of the suspects dismounted the motorcycle

with a gun and approached her. There have been many reports of similar instances since the beginning of the year, but so far there has been no arrest.

Only last week the Guyana Association of Bankers (GAB) said it was deeply concerned about the escalating incidence of persons being targeted after conducting financial transactions at commercial banks. “We strongly condemn these incidents and wish to assure our customers and the public at large that as an industry we are working with the relevant authorities and internally with all member banks with a view to arresting this trend,” the association said in a statement.

According to the association, the safety of their customers and staff remains paramount “among our priorities, and we continue to co-operate with law enforcement in addressing any factors that compromise this position.”

It said that in the inter-

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

est of safety, “we take this opportunity to encourage customers and members of the public to, as far as possible, refrain from conducting large cash transactions, and instead utilise other secure methods of payment such as Manager’s

Cheque or direct payments.

At this time, local security escort services should also be considered for persons operating businesses which may require transportation of significant sums,” the association added.

Gold miner’s death – State closes case

THE STATE closed its case against Marlon Freeman on Monday, after which the accused led his defence in which he gave an unsworn statement from the prisoner’s box and called three witnesses.

Freeman is on trial before Justice James Bovell-Drakes and a 12-member jury in the Georgetown High Court, for the alleged murder of city gold miner/dredge owner, Timothy Adams at Turtle Creek Road, Five Star Backdam, North West District, on December 23, 2013.

In his statement the accused told the court that he was 27 years of age and lived at Christiansburg, Wismar, Linden. In October 2013, he told his mother that he was going to work in the interior because he could not get a job in his community.

His mother cautioned him and he then went along his way because he said he had smaller siblings depending on him. Freeman said that he went to work for a man named, Gavin Blacks, where he was a pit man at the mining camp Blacks operated.

He recalled that on December 23, 2013 he went to

work as usual from 06:00hrs and at about 16:00hrs he saw his boss man, Gavin Blacks, approaching on his All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV). He told him and other employees that he was at Powis Landing and heard that a man got killed there.

Freeman added that one of the workers asked Blacks if he knew the identity of the man killed and he replied in the negative.

He told them to work up to 17:30hrs then close off the operation.

The accused told the court that after Blacks left they worked for about 15 minutes then they stopped working for that day. He watched television in the kitchen area of the mining camp and then he went to his hammock and slept.

The next day, December 24, 2013, while on his way to work he met some workers.

They were chatting when he spotted his boss, Gavin Blacks, along with a man called “Ratty” and another man he could not name.

The accused stated that Blacks took out his firearm and discharged a shot over his head and he jumped.

On trial: Marlon Freeman

Blacks then told him that he, Freeman, went to Powis Landing and commit some crime.

Freeman denied and with that he was beaten and tied

up in a standing position to a post by the mining camp, even after he said he did not know what they were talking about.

The accused told the

court he was tied up like an ‘iguana’ for the day and when he asked for something to eat he was not given anything by Blacks, who accused him of killing a man and told him he did not deserve anything since he was a murderer.

Freeman said that it was after 17:00hrs on the same day that he saw three cops on an ATV approaching and they asked him who tied him up and he told them. He was then taken to Matthews Ridge Police Station, given something to eat and placed in the lock-ups.

He said the next day, December 25, 2013 he was taken by the police to Port Kaituma Police Station where he was questioned by several policemen, one of whom beat and tricked him into signing a paper with some writings on it. Freeman told the court he was told by the police that if he signed the statement he would be placed on $250,000 bail and he affixed his signature and was placed in the lock-ups.

It was sometime after, Freeman said, a police called out his name and told him that he would be charged for

murder and he began to cry.

The accused said that he was given a telephone to speak with his mother, to whom he related what had happened to him before an officer took the phone away from him.

The accused added that he was subsequently brought to Georgetown and charged for murder at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and had been in jail since.

He said, “I want this court to know that I am innocent of this crime. Gavin Blacks is the reason I am here today and my fingers never hurt or killed anyone because I work honest for my money and I never even know the man. Look how I get hold for something I don’t know about.”

The mother and two brothers of the accused also testified.

In presenting the State’s case, Prosecutor Lisa Cave told the court that between December 22 and 23, 2013 the accused murdered the miner.

The accused has since pleaded not guilty to the offence and he is being represented by attorney Folio Richards.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

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$10M lapidary for Monkey Mountain THE much-anticipated construction of a lapidary in the picturesque village of Monkey Mountain in the North Pakaraimas (Region Eight) is expected to commence soon.

This facility, once operable, will produce jewellery, ornaments and exotic furniture pieces from semi-precious stones which can be found in abundance on the plains of the Pakaraimas.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe recently attended a meeting in the village where villagers agreed on the location for the facility, a key step in the realisation of the project.

Fifteen youths and a few adults from the village have been actively involved in gathering semi-precious stones and Minister Garrido-Lowe assured villagers that there will be tremendous benefits awaiting them once the project is on stream. The minister also noted that it is Government’s intention to empower and enable the indigenous people despite their geographic location.

“I believe that no matter what fancy building we give you, fancy schools we give you, if we do not empower you economically, if we cannot give you the opportunity to earn to buy things for your children, yourself and your home, then we are not doing anything better for you; we are just keeping you the same

way you were all the time and it is not right”, the Minister said.

The Minister also took her resource person in Marcel Yhip, who has been in the field for more than 30 years, to impart her knowledge and provide guidance to persons involved in the project and ensure that these semi-precious minerals meet international market standards.

Minister Garrido-Lowe also encouraged villagers to support the establishment of a Coop Society there

young people to make jewellery from these beautiful stones, so like the Tomato farmers in Paramakatoi, you will be able to earn from the Coop”, the minister assured.

Perlina Gifth, the Chief Co-operatives Development Officer in the Ministry of Social Protection, said once established, the Coop will ensure “better representation for members and communities, where members can apply and acquire more resources…we believe that if people

The community of Monkey Mountain, North Pakaraimas (Region 8)

Some of the jewellery made by residents

which will further strengthen their earning power. “It will give you an opportunity to earn in an organised way…and Minister Dominic Gaskin who is not only the Minister of Business but he’s an excellent jeweller, is very excited with working with us on this project. Not only will we sell polished stones, but we will also learn to make jewellery. We will train about five or six

come together the profits will be shared and not only one man will become the rich and famous in the community, but all will become rich and famous. It will also ensure better opportunities for marketing products; that’s where we will help you too”.

Villagers are eagerly awaiting the completion of the facility, since many of them were aware of the presence of these semi-pre-

cious stones but at the same time were unaware of how invaluable they are. One resident said she had no knowledge these minerals were so exquisite and that villagers were practically traversing daily over a fortune and what could possibly be the village’s main economic driver.

Johnny Roth, another villager who is a gem specialist and also a resident, will also play a key role in seeing this project to fruition. Roth has worked in the mining industry for a number of years and will be an asset.

Minister Garrido-Lowe also highlighted the Tourism aspect of this initiative where tourists

can go on an excursion in search of these semi-precious minerals and be able to appreciate the process from the time it is collected to completion of the final product, whether it’s an earring, necklace, pendant, ring or any other fine jewellery produced.

Kato, Kurukubaru, Maikwak and Tuseneng are the four other villages to benefit, since these semi-precious stones can also be found there in abundance. Among them crystals, amethyst, volcanic, jasper and agate gemstones, and once retrieved and taken to the factory, several unique pieces including jewellery will be created which will add value to the product.

Meanwhile, the Ministry had requested of the village a quarter of an acre of land for the construction of the facility, but villagers decided to set aside an acre of land which will see the construction of a 40’x 20’ facility which will boast a workshop, exhibit area, washrooms and security area. Monkey Mountain or the traditional name when the village was established “Wandike” is home to more than 1,000 residents and is nestled beautifully in the North Pakaraima Mountain Range and lies 1,700 feet above sea level.

Its main economic activity is traditional farming, hunting and fishing.

Ramjattan in move to tighten gun licensing regulations

MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan said he has given “serious consideration” to amending the existing regulations on gun licensing, but has to seek the Attorney General (AG), Basil Williams’ advice before moving ahead.

Ramjattan had agreed to review the regulations after former Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud bypassed the Firearm Licensing Board when he attempted to grant himself a licence to open a firearm dealership as well as an upgrade of the calibre of weapons he is allowed to carry.

“Serious consideration

is being given to the regulations…it has been a situational problematique as was seen in recent times,” said the minister in his response to reporters during a press conference at his Brickdam office on Monday.

Minister Ramjattan believes that the regulations regarding gun licensing could be amended without going to the Parliament, but in order to be sure, he intends to ask the AG for his opinion.

“I was trying to find the recent edition of the regulations but did not, so I will have to check it…I believe we do not have to go to Parliament because it can be done in

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

Former Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud

regulation and not an amendment of the Policing Act,” he explained.

It was reported by the Guyana Chronicle that as it relates to the firearm dealership licence, Persaud told reporters that in the 1980s, a Com-

missioner of Police granted himself a dealership licence.

“So there is precedent…However, I was discouraged to go along that line of business, so I won’t pursue that.” When questioned why he applied for the licence in January

2018, just a month prior to his retirement, Persaud said: “Because the business will only start when I retire; that will be during May.” His actions had raised eyebrows within the administration, with persons deeming it unprofessional and unethical. In a letter dated January 29, 2018 and seen by this newspaper, Persaud, responding to an application by himself, wrote ”Dear Sir, I refer to your application in relation to the above subject and wish to inform you that approval is granted for your business Professional Outdoors Supplies to become a registered Firearms Dealer.”

A senior government official, commenting on the gun licences approval, had also criticised the move by Persaud, calling it unprofessional and unethical.

“How can you as a sitting commissioner apply to yourself and grant approval to yourself licences to operate a firearm dealership and upgrade your weapons…” “He should have waited until he retires; this is downright unethical…” the senior official commented.

The gun licence application form and process could be obtained online at the Guyana Police Force (GPF)’s website.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Region Four STEAM fair puts spotlight on green economy

Hand-en-Veldt Nursery intends to modernise the coconut oil production in Mahaica.

Here, some of the students are hard at work demonstrating the removal of the flesh from the coconut shell under the supervision of their teacher (Photos by Adrian Narine)

DEMONSTRATING their creativity through object-based learning, scores of students from the nursery, primary and secondary schools in Region Four (Demerara Mahaica) are participating in a two-day Biennial Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) fair.

The event which opened on Monday at the Diamond Secondary School will see 122 group entries within the three levels displaying their project creations under the theme: ‘Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics paving the way for a green and sustainable

society’.

The fair is being coordinated by the Department of Education in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) both of Region Four (Demerara Mahaica). For the very first time, the entities have included ‘Arts’ as a part of the activities recognising that they must cater for field and its contribution to society.

Around the school’s compound, a number of primary and secondary school students could be seen with innovative inventions or replicas of ways in which Guyana can generate energy, eliminate waste and make use of upcycled and

recycled items.

The projects are separated under several categories some of which are: Environmental Science; Industrial Technology; Craft and Visual Arts; Home Economics; Information Technology; Agriculture Science and Biology and Physics. The nursery schoolaged children were not left behind as they too pitched in to create craft items and other projects which promoted the use of local flora, plants and other items to support the country.

At the opening ceremony, Education Officer and STEAM Fair Coordinator, Loren Park said that the two-

Diamond Secondary School students, Neha Persaud and Romario Lim present the Electro-bin, which is used to eliminate the excess plastic bottles generated by the school and the country as a whole

At the opening ceremony hosted at the Diamond Secondary School were: (from left) Education Officer and STEAM Fair Coordinator, Loren Park; Regional Executive Officer, Tiffany Harvey; Regional Chairperson, Genevieve Allen; Senior Lecturer at the University of Guyana (UG), Elroy Charles and Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Four, Pauline Lucas

day event aims to reach a larger, long term goal and encouraged all the participants including teachers and students to take full advantage of the experience.

“This fair is not just about winning trophies, collecting vouchers… this fair is about our collective future, our shared destiny…your actions today can influence and affect what happens tomorrow. So, I urge you to visit every exhibit, ask lots of questions and take notes,” Park encouraged.

Speaking too was Regional Executive Officer (REO), Tiffany Harvey, who said education is a necessary requirement for the transformation and advancement of society.

“Almost every day we can hear our teachers lament how difficult it is to capture children’s attention for more than a few minutes at a time.

Youth today are known to respond to technology and interactive devices, so why not let our interactions with them be of such?” she questioned.

Delivering the feature address, Senior Lecturer in the Agriculture Faculty De-

partment at the University of Guyana (UG), Elroy Charles, said that as the country paves the way for a green and sustainable society its leaders must make the necessary improvements in a number of crucial areas.

“Guyana, as we are aware, has the majority of its inhabitants on the coastal region and a few of its inhabitants in its interior locations. As a result of that, it requires large economic investment in order to power every household within Guyana. “We need to develop renewable energy resources that can help to ensure that people living in far-flung areas, in the hinterland regions, can enjoy the benefits of energy,” Charles stated.

Charles also touched on the topics of limited economic ventures, spatial development and the need for resilient infrastructure and highlighted good governance in every sector as a necessity of the overall advancement of the country.

“Last week, as we have noted, in Region Three, a

heavy wave or storm destroyed our sea defences and created flooding in the Region Three area. It’s important and imperative that we look at resilient infrastructure in order to prevent the impending climatic changes that are occurring in the world today,” he said.

Following his remarks, Regional Chairman, Genevieve Allen declared the STEAM Fair open and encouraged teachers and guardians to ensure that they do not become hindrances to the inquisitive and creative nature of the children.

“Sometimes as teachers or even as parents, the child will have a kind of zeal for something great in the future and it us who will dampen that spirit,” Allen began, adding: “I want to have the assurance that you [the children] would have been given the technology and the information to carry this nation from where it is today, to one where we are experiencing and implementing technology to its optimum.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

GTT to host first major local technology summit – guest speakers from Microsoft, Google expected

THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) is set to host the first major technology summit locally as it seeks to push Guyana on the front burner of technological advancements.

“Guyana is at a stage where we are on to something big…it is time that we get businesses, education and technology all together to move Guyana forward,” said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTT, Justin Nedd, during the launch of Innov8, GTT’s technology summit, at the Marriott Hotel on Monday.

The summit which will be hosted at the Marriott from March 24-27, 2018, is the first and largest event of its kind in Guyana. In order to ensure that the summit gets the attention and support of the public, GTT has announced that there will be no admission charge, so persons could enter and be part of the summit for free.

Nedd said their intention is to ensure that Guyanese get to see the benefits of technology, especially in the area of business. Key features of the summit will be robotics, online gaming, a gaming tournament, cosplay, smart gadgets, smart homes and much more.

In addition, there will be international guest speakers from popular technology

Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) cut the Innov8 cake to commemorate International Women’s Day which will be observed on March 8 (Samuel Maughn photo)

companies-- Microsoft and Google. According to GTT, the summit will have two events; the first titled Innov8 Expo, which will be held on March 24 and 25 and the second, Innov8 Business Forum on March 27.

The goal of both events is to showcase the diversity of technology and its impact on all spheres of life in Guyana.

“It is an opportunity to display the innovations and gadgets created by some of the best and brightest players in Guyana’s technology arena,” said GTT’s Marketing Consultant, Samantha Gooden.

GTT will display technology possibilities available in the ways never seen before. The Innov8 Business Forum on March 27 will feature GTT’s newest enterprise solutions, host local and international

technology and business leaders while charting a path for the development of ICT in the business and finance arena.

“GTT’s ongoing investment in technology and leadership is instrumental in the development of the Guyanese ICT (Information, Communication and Technology) sector and has created a platform for innovators to power their innovations”, said CEO Justin Nedd.

GTT’s strategic partners will also have the opportunity to purchase exclusive booth spaces to showcase their products. Interested companies are encouraged to email innov8@gtt.co.gy for further details. Some of the businesses that are on board for the summit are Bravo Arts, Gizmos and Gadgets, and Metro.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

NAREI gears up for large-scale ‌seed storage equipment potato cultivation to be procured this year THE need for potatoes to be cultivated on a large scale in Guyana is evident as several partnership proposals have been received by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) from private investors.

This is in light of several successful trials undertaken by the institution over the past year. To this end

NAREI is in the process of procuring a state-of-the-art Potato Seed Storage equipment.

Chief Executive Officer of NAREI, Dr. Oudho Homenauth said that such an equipment is necessary, since it will help to adequately address the need for a large-scale storage facility.

"Already $5M has been allocated under our capital

works programme for the procurement of the equipment which will be procured shortly,� Homenauth said.

He said that adding potatoes to the list of commodities NAREI has successfully piloted is important, but having it done on a large-scale basis is even more necessary," Dr. Homenauth added.

NAREI said several successful trials were under-

taken in conjunction with farmers in Mahaicony, Little Biaboo (Region Five), Laluni and Kairuni on the Linden Soesdyke Highway, and Regions Seven and Eight-Kato, Parima, and Santa Fe. However, of the notable challenges which were documented by the institute were poor germination and the development of fungus as a result of improper storage of seed materials.

One of the spin-off effects of this country being able to produce potato on a large-scale basis will be a significant reduction in its food import bill which

continues to be a challenge for Guyana and in the wider CARICOM region. "From 2011 to 2016, the food import bill has risen from US$176 Million to US$261 Million, representing a 48 per cent increase over the six-year period. This is an alarming figure and is the premise on which NAREI's diversification efforts are targeted," Dr. Homnauth stated.

NAREI said thus far, significant efforts have already been made to diversify crops that can be produced locally such as spices, potatoes, and onions.

Meanwhile, in light of

Guyana's quest to expand its commercial agriculture, Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder has called on investors to take advantage of the opportunities. He said that with prospects of potatoes being grown on a large-scale basis, the opportunities will be ripe to engage, network and grow.

"It is necessary now as it highlights the interface for collaboration as we expand not only our production base but address key constraints which have been hindering our productivity in the past," Minister Holder said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

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Minister of Sport commissions Paradise Sports Club ground THE recently-rehabilitated Paradise Sports Club ground was commissioned by Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Youth, Culture, and Sport, Dr George Norton, paving the way for the revival of a number of sports in and around the area.

In 2017, the community received a grant for the rehabilitation of the playground, through a Social Cohesion initiative.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister Norton said the rehabilitation was a commitment made to residents years ago.

Dr Norton urged the residents to make full use of the facility since sport is one avenue which can foster social cohesion.

Meanwhile, Director of Sport Christopher Jones indicated that all measures will be put in place to have lights installed around the

ground.

Regional Community Enhancement Officer, Dolston Huston, said the ground will expand the sporting fraternity of the Mahaica-Berbice region beyond their dreams.

This venture is being facilitated by the Profit–Rising Sun National Democratic Council (NDC), on the West Coast of Berbice.

According to NDC Chairman, Emile

Wilson, the Paradise playground which has served as the venue for a number of sporting activities throughout the years was in need of urgent repairs.

“The project is a dream come true for many,” Wilson highlighted.

Further, Minister Norton made donations of balls to the basketball and football clubs in the area.

Historic CONCACAF Nations ... teams for qualifying to international tournaments going forward.

CONCACAF Nations League Qualifying will in-

volve 34 of the region’s 40 currently eligible men’s national teams, and will be played on FIFA match dates from September 2018 through March 2019.

Nations League Qualifying will set the table for the first edition of the CONCACAF Nations League, which will be launched in 2019 with all eligible CONCACAF Member Associations.

The newly-launched CONCACAF Ranking will be used for the first time to

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index the 34 participating teams for the live CONCACAF Nations League Qualifying draw to be held tomorrow, producing an evenly-weighted slate of fixtures.

Each team will play a total of four matches between September and March, resulting at the qualifiers’ conclusion in a combined table which will be used to seed all 34 contestants into tiers for the inaugural edition of the full CONCACAF Nations League.

By virtue of having qualified for the Hexagonal Round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Russia 2018, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, the United States and Trinidad & Tobago earned the right to be

seeded directly into the top tier of the inaugural Nations League, and therefore will not participate in the Nations League Qualifiers.

In view of the ongoing suspension imposed by FIFA, Guatemala will not be able to participate in CONCACAF Nations League Qualifying.

Meanwhile, the 2018 CONCACAF Nations League Qualifying Draw will be conducted using four pots containing all eligible participating member associations (PMAs), except for the six teams that participated in the Hexagonal Round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Russia 2018.

Based on the CONCACAF Ranking Index, all eligible teams will be divided into the four pots (A, B, C &

From back page ►

D), which will see Jamaica, Canada, Haiti, El Salvador, Martinique, Cuba, French Guiana and Guadeloupe being placed in Pot A. Pot B will include Nicaragua, St Kitts & Nevis, Curacao, Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Guyana and Belize, while in Pot C Bonaire,

Grenada, St Vincent & the Grenadines, St Lucia, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Dominica and Aruba.

Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Montserrat, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saint-Martin, Sint Maarten, Anguilla and British Virgin Islands are in Pot D.

Wiggins says he crossed no ‘ethical line’ at Team Sky LONDON, England (Reuters) - Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins has defended himself against accusations he and Team Sky used permitted medication for performance gain and said he was the victim of a malicious smear.

The five-time Olympic gold medallist told the BBC in an interview yesterday, following the publication of a British parliamentary committee report on doping in sport that he had not cheated.

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee report said the team had crossed an “ethical line” by using for performance-enhancement drugs that are allowed for medical purposes.

“Not at any time in my career did we cross the ethical line,” said Wiggins, who in 2012 became the first Briton to win the Tour de

France.

The 37-year-old, who retired from professional cycling in December 2016, said he was the subject of a ‘witch hunt’ and complained that his children were suffering at school as a result.

“The widespread effect on the family is horrific,” he said. “I don’t know how I’m going to pick the pieces up with the kids ... I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

Wiggins was granted a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) to take the corticosteroid Triamcinolone, which helps asthma sufferers, before the 2011 and 2012 Tours and 2013 Giro d’Italia.

The report said Wiggins may have been treated with Triamcinolone on up to nine occasions, in and out of competition, over a fouryear period.

“It would be hard to

know what possible medical need could have required such a seemingly excessive use of this drug,” it added.

Wiggins said he did not know where that allegation had come from.

“I really would like to know,” he added. “This is an anonymous source, an anonymous person that has said this.

“I refute that 100 percent. This is malicious; this is someone trying to smear me.

“I haven’t worked and had the passion I’ve had for this sport for 15-20 years ... to do that to the sport, it’s just absurd.”

Wiggins said the allegations were the worst thing to be accused off and the hardest to prove that you have not done, because “we’re not dealing in a legal system. I’d have had more rights if I’d murdered someone in this process.

“These allegations have never been put to me before until now, I’ve only found out today what I’m actually being accused of,” he added.

Wiggins said an infamous ‘jiffy bag’ controversy had also been a‘shambles’.

British Cycling and Team Sky Doctor Richard Freeman received a package on behalf of Bradley Wiggins at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine race in France, the contents of which have remained a source of speculation despite Sky saying it was a ‘flu treatment’.

The report was unable to say for sure what was in the package but found no “reliable evidence” to support Sky’s assertion that it was a legal decongestant, Fluimucil.

“I didn’t even know there was a package until I was asked about it. It has become such a mess - it is ludicrous,” said Wiggins.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Aussies claim final wicket for 1-0 lead over South Africa DURBAN, South Africa (Reuters) - Australia needed just 22 balls and 20 minutes of play on the fifth day at Kingsmead to secure a 118-run triumph over South Africa in the opener of their four-match series yesterday.

The visitors required a single wicket to secure success after South Africa resumed on 293 for nine, chasing an improbable victory target of 417.

Five runs were added by the home side before Quinton de Kock was hit on the back pad and trapped leg-before-wicket by Josh Hazlewood (3-61) as he tried to launch the ball over the boundary.

Mitchell Starc earlier had a chance to complete a hattrick with the first ball of the day after being denied by bad

light on Sunday but bowled down the leg side to de Kock, who was eventually out for 83 after adding two to his overnight tally.

Morne Morkel was not out on three as Starc (4-75) finished with nine wickets in the match.

“It was a nice way to start, said victorious skipper Steve Smith afterwards. “The first Test in a series is always important and the way we played was a real plus.”

Australia’s win has been overshadowed by a heated off-field exchange between players at the tea interval on the fourth day, which the International Cricket Council (ICC) is investigating, as well as a charge for spinner Nathan Lyon.

CCTV footage from the players’ tunnel showed Australia vice-captain David

Man-of-the-match Mitchell Starc celebrates another SA wicket on day four. He finished with match figures of 9 for 119. AFP photo)

Warner and home wicketkeeper de Kock involved in a fiery exchange as players climbed the stairwell to their dressing rooms during the break.

The video shows Warner being restrained by Australia batsman Usman Khawaja and spin bowler Lyon as he directs a verbal barrage at

Lyon fined by ICC for run-out send-off

DURBAN, South Africa (Reuters) - Australia spinner Nathan Lyon was fined 15 percent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching the code of conduct in a highly-charged first Test against South Africa, world cricket’s ruling body said yesterday.

Lyon was charged with a level one breach and had a demerit point added to his previously clean disciplinary record. Four points would result in missing a Test.

The spinner whipped off the bails to runout AB de Villiers on Sunday as South Africa’s top order crumbled at the start of their bid to chase a mammoth 417-run victory target. de Villiers made a despairing dive but was well short and Lyon leapt over him in celebration, dropping the ball on his opponent before joining his team mates in a jig of joy.

Lyon admitted the offence and accepted the sanction, the ICC said in a statement.

Cricket Australia (CA) said Lyon had been in touch with de Villiers to say there was no malice intended and apologised.

There was also reconciliation after Australia took 20 minutes yesterday to wrap up victory by dismissing the home side for 298.

Following a fracas outside the dressing-rooms on Sunday between Australia vice-captain David Warner and South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock the two shook hands after de Kock was the last man out.

Warner was restrained by team mates as he directed a verbal barrage at de Kock when the players returned to the dressing-rooms at tea on Sunday. Media reports said de Kock made disparaging comments about Warner’s wife Candice who is a professional endurance athlete.

“Getting personal on the field is not on.

We were certainly very chirpy out in the field as well. As far as I’m aware, we didn’t get personal towards Quinton,” Australia captain Steve Smith told a news conference.

“What he said got a little bit personal

AB de Villiers made a despairing dive but was well short and Nathan Lyon leapt over him in celebration, dropping the ball on his opponent before joining his team mates in a jig of joy. (AFP/ Getty Images( photo)

towards Davey and, as we saw, it certainly provoked an emotional response.”

South Africa team manager, Mohammed Moosajee, retorted by saying de Kock had suffered personal verbal abuse while batting.

Both teams were reminded by match referee Jeff Crowe of the spirit in which the game should be played.

“All I’ve heard is there was a lot of personal stuff on the field already. Who started it, I don’t know. If it was happening on the field it probably should have been nipped in the bud on the field already,” South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said.

“The fact that it spilled over off the field, that shouldn’t have happened.”

de Kock, who left the field as South Africa’s not-out batsman at the same time as the Australians.

“It’s rather unfortunate that the incident took place and certainly not in the spirit of the game,” South Africa’s team manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a statement.

“The match referee had spoken to us after the day’s play. We will await any further communication from the ICC around this incident.”

In a separate incident, Lyon dropped a ball on prone batsman AB de Villiers after he was run-out prior to lunch on Sunday as South Africa’s top order collapsed in their run chase.

Lyon faced an ICC sanction after being charged by match referee Jeff Crowe, officials said yesterday.

It sets up an intriguing rematch in the second Test, which starts on Friday at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.

“There is no doubt South Africa will come hard at us in Port Elizabeth but hopefully our boys will be up for the fight,” Smith added.

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA 1st innings

351

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 162 AUSTRALIA 2nd innings

227

SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings (o/n 293 for 9 Aiden Markram c Tim Paine b Mitchell Marsh

143

Dean Elgar c Tim Paine b Mitchell Starc

9

Hashim Amla lbw Josh Hazlewood

8

AB de Villiers run-out David Warner

0

Faf du Plessis b Pat Cummins 4 Theunis de Bruyn c Tim Paine b Josh Hazlewood

36

Quinton de Kock lbw Josh Hazlewood

3

Vernon Philander c Tim Paine b Mitchell Starc

6

Keshav Maharaj b Mitchell Starc

0

Kagiso Rabada b Mitchell Starc

0

Morne Morkel not out

3

Extras: (b-2, lb-3, nb-1) Total: (all out, 92.4 overs)

6 298

Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-39, 3-39, 4-49, 5-136, 6-283, 7-290, 8-290 j, 9-290.

Bowliing: Starc 18-2-75-4 (nb-1), Hazlewood 15.4-2-61-3, Lyon 327-86-0, Cummins 15-3-47-1, M. Marsh 7-2-21-1, Smith 5-3-3-0.

IAAF chief executive Gers resigns over commercial strategy (REUTERS) - IAAF chief executive officer Olivier Gers has resigned 18 months into his role citing differences with the global governing body of athletics’ commercial strategy, he said in a statement yesterday.

The Frenchman’s departure came as a surprise, particularly after he was appointed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 2016 amid much anticipation after a six-month search involving more than 200 candidates.

“While I’m sorry to be leaving, the pre-existing commercial framework makes it difficult for me to apply my talents and fully leverage the assets of the IAAF in the way I would like,” said Gers.

“Given my stance, I have resigned so the IAAF can pursue a different commercial strategy for the sport.”

The IAAF said Gers would continue in his role for the next three months after which a new CEO would be recruited.

The news is another blow to IAAF president Sebastian Coe in what has been a difficult period for the Briton and his organisation.

Coe was criticised this week by a British parliamentary report for providing “misleading” answers to questions in a 2015 hearing about what he knew about doping in Russian athletics before he took office.

Coe, who was elected IAAF chief in 2015, had previously denied misleading the committee.

“I would like to thank Olivier for the work he has done particularly around putting a strong team in place at the IAAF, developing a strategic plan and securing broadcast and digital rights to expand audiences for

Olivier Gers has more than 20 years of commercial, marketing and media experience.

Athletics globally,” Coe said.

“Coming off the best world championships we have ever had, having established a set of reforms that solidly underpins the governance of the sport and having established a solid foundation for growth, we will move forward with the innovation that will bring in new fans and new partners.”

Despite the success of last year’s world championships in London, Coe has a challenging task to restore the reputation of his sport given the fallout from the findings of the 2016 McLaren report into widespread doping by Russia athletes.

The Russian athletics federation remains suspended by the IAAF. Losing a CEO tasked with broadening the global commercial appeal of athletics will be seen as another setback, particularly in an era without the attraction of Jamaican sprinting great Usain Bolt who retired last August.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

21

Powerlifting exhibition set for Saturday in observance of International Women’s Day … Registration for Intermediate/Masters Championships underway

By Michelangelo Jacobus THE Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) will embark on its second event for 2018 on Saturday, March 10, at 10:00hrs with the hosting of a lifting exhibition to celebrate Guyanese women in powerlifting, just two days after International Women’s Day (March 8).

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, GAPLF’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Runita White revealed; “Seeing Thursday is International Women’s Day, on Saturday we’ll have a lifting exhibition to celebrate Guyanese women in powerlifting.

Some of the lifters who we’ll have are: Nadina Taharally,

have as it relates to women who powerlift.”

She maintained that while “there are more women in the sport at present, we also have women who are curious about the sport and how to start their journey in

powerlifting”.

The venue set for the exhibition is at fast food restaurant ‘Pollo Tropical’ on Camp and Robb Streets opposite Republic Bank.

The fast food franchise is on board the event as a major

Nadina Taharally will be lifting on Saturday.

Lisa Oudit, Jacky Toney, Tineisha Toney and Ede Tyrell.”

White also indicated that the federation will take the opportunity to raise awareness of the sport; “What we’re basically trying to do

is provide a forum for those who want to learn about the sport amd improve their technique. We are going to answer any questions that they have. Most importantly, we’re trying to break down the stereotypes that people

Triple Crown first leg cancelled, says Mohamed Jr … Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club postPhagwah horse race meet set for March 18

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE start of the Triple Crown series was postponed for the second time on Sunday, and according to chief coordinator Nasrudeen Mohamed Jr, the first leg will not be run off.

It was scheduled for the Rising Sun Turf Club but organisers were forced to postpone the first leg due to persistent rainfall which left the track in a muddy state and unfit for racing.

The initial February 18 date was also rain-affected.

Mohamed confirmed to Chronicle Sport yesterday that the organising committee had decided against a new date for the first leg, and as such will now go ahead with the other two scheduled races.

The second leg of the Triple Crown horse race meet will he held on April 1 at the Port Mourant Turf Club, while the third and final leg will take place at Rising Sun Turf Club on April 29.

According to Mohamed Jr, there will be no changes to the original programme, while the cash prizes and other added attractions remain the same.

For the Corentyne (Port Mourant) leg, the stakes will be higher and are as follows: C and Lower $1.2M; F and Lower/E Class non-earners/last start $500 000; Three-year-old Guyana bred $400 000; H1 and Lower $350

000; J`K and Lower $240 000; K Class non-earners/last start $200 000; and L and Lower $150 000.

At the Rising Sun facility, there will be the following first-place cash prizes in the respective classes: C Class and Lower $1M; F Class and Lower/E’ Class non-earners/last start $400 000; three-year-old Guyana-bred $350 000; H1 and Lower $300 000; J/K and Lower $240,000; K Class non-earner/ last start $230 000; L and Lower $200 000. Note: Cash prizes will be awarded from first- to fifth-place.

Meanwhile, horse-racing action will resume on March 18 when the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club hosts its annual Post-Phagwah meet at Bush Lot Farm.

Six races are carded for the day with the main event being for horses classified E and Lower for a first prize of $700 000.

Other events for the day will see animals classified K and Lower competing for the first place prize of $160 000 over a distance of six furlongs; H and Lower running over seven furlongs for a winning purse of $300 000; L and Lower for a $150 000 first prize over a distance of five furlongs; I and J and Lower for a $200 000 top prize over a distance of six furlongs and the L Class non-winners going for five furlongs for the winning prize of $120 000 and a trophy.

Registration closes on Sunday, March 11.

Lisa Oudit, a multiple record-holder in her weight class will also be on show on Saturday.

Annual Forbes Burnham Memorial table tennis tourney on this weekend THE annual Forbes Burnham Memorial table tennis (TT) tournament is scheduled to be held this weekend, March 10-11, at the National Gymnasium, with competition in four categories.

The event will feature competition in the Handicap Singles, C Class Open, 21 Years and-Under, Open B Class Open, and B Class Open. Awards will be presented to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in all events.

Players interested in participating in the championships are asked to contact national coach and GTTA general secretary Mr Linden Johnson on telephone number 621-7630 email lindenj20032003@yahoo. com or GTTA Hon. treasurer Mrs Deirdre Edghill on 6504520 email deirdrebaynes@hotmail.com.

Provisional Schedule for the competition is as follows: Saturday (March 10) 09:30hrs Handicap Singles, ‘C’ Class Open Singles, Opening Ceremony, 21 Years-and-Under Open Singles Sunday (March 11) Continuation of matches, ‘B’ Class Open Singles, All Finals.

sponsor.

INTERMEDIATE/ MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP Registration for the upcoming Intermediate/Masters Championships has already begun as of February 23 and the process remains the same as always, However, the GAPLF will now require the applicants to provide a copy of their National ID card or passport.

The Intermediate/Masters competition is set for May 27, the day after Guyana’s 52nd Independence Anniversary, at a venue to be announced.

Leverock’s blazing half-century lifts Bermuda to ODI win

Kamau Leverock’s rapid 41-ball 68 contained three sixes and eight fours.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (CMC) – Kamau Leverock hammered a half-century as Bermuda followed up their nail-biting Twenty20 victory over the Cayman Islands the previous day, by romping to a four-wicket victory over the Caribbean side in a oneday international at the Belgrano Athletic Club ground here on Sunday.

Bermuda edged the Cayman Islands by four wickets with one ball to spare to win the ICC World T20 Americas Sub Regional Qualifier tri-series at the same venue on Saturday.

Although Sunday’s victory was by the same wicket margin, Bermuda raced home with more than 15 overs to spare, despite a five-wicket haul by 35-year-old Jamaica-born off-spinner Alessandro Morris,

in a match reduced from 50 overs-a-side to 40 because of a delayed start.

Leverock, 23, produced a solid all-round display, claiming one wicket and running out the Cayman Islands’ Barbados-born captain Ramon Sealy for four.

Omar Willis, in at number three, was the top scorer for the Cayman Islands with three fours and a six in his 59-ball 42, but two wickets apiece for Kwasi James, Chare Smith and Jacobi Robinson helped dismiss their opponents for 149 in the 38th over.

In reply, Leverock and captain Terryn Fray , put Bermuda in firm control with a 100-run stand inside 14 overs.

Leverock was first to go when he became Morris’ first victim on his way to impressive figures of five for 20 from seven overs.

But Leverock had already done the damage, striking three sixes and eight fours in his 41-ball 68. Fray went nine runs later for 33 before Macai Simmons helped Bermuda over the line with an unbeaten 22 from 25 balls.

Hosts Argentina, who lost all four matches in the T20 tournament - a first step on the way to the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020 – were scheduled to engage the Cayman Islands yesterday and Bermuda today in the two remaining ODIs.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Red-hot Crawford to defend his Diamond Mineral Water title on Saturday AT the highly-anticipated 13th edition of the Diamond Mineral Water (DMW), PSL Trojan’s Romello Crawford will have his hands full as he seeks to defend his title which was won at last year’s edition at the inner circuit of the National Park.

Come Saturday (March 10), the 19-year-old Berbician, who is in red-hot form, will be looking to continue his winning streak. However, the likes of Team Evolution’s Paul DeNobrega, Team Coco’s Jamual John and Crawford’s very own teammate Curtis ‘Chappy’ Dey will also be gunning for a return to the top of the podium after they all narrowly missed out at various meets over the past two months.

At last year’s DMW

meet, Crawford won the Schoolboys Invitational feature 35-lap in a blistering time of one hour 16 minutes 24 seconds ahead of Geron Williams and Stephano Hus-

bands.

Dey won the Juveniles 10-lap race in 2017, but this year will see a new winner.

Defending the Mountain Bikes title will be Colwyn

Paul DeNobrega will be among Crawford’s toughest rivals, come Saturday.

Romello Crawford will be gunning for a second consecutive DMW National Park cycling title on Saturday

Archer while Junior Niles will be eager to retain his Veterans Under-50 title.

Kennard Lovell will also be back in action looking to

defend his Veterans Over-50 trophy.

The starting-time for the DMW-sponsored cycling meet is 09:00hrs at the

inner circuit of the National Park and it will be organised by National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed.

(Michelangelo Jacobus)

Guardiola accepts FA charge for wearing yellow ribbon Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola

(REUTERS) - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has accepted an FA charge for wearing a yellow ribbon during matches in support of jailed pro-independence politicians in his native Catalonia.

The former Barcelona boss has continually sported the ribbon in City’s Premier League matches as well as games in domestic and European cup competitions, prompting the FA to charge him for violating their

kit and advertising regulations.

A hearing has been requested, with a date to be set in due course, the FA said.

The 47-year-old Spaniard wore the ribbon during his side’s 3-0 League Cup final victory over Arsenal at Wembley Stadium. Many City fans also wore yellow ribbons which were being handed out on the Wembley Way approach to England’s national stadium before kickoff.

However, Guardiola did not wear the

ribbon during Sunday’s 1-0 league win over Chelsea.

Earlier yesterday, FA chief executive Martin Glenn spoke out strongly in defence of his organisation’s decision to charge Guardiola.

Glenn later apologised over comments he made regarding political and religious symbols in which he included the Star of David and the Nazi swastika among those that should be kept out of the game.

Victoria Kings whip NA United to move top of Elite League table

… Buxton United needle Milerock THE Victoria Kings Football Club made light work of New Amsterdam United 3-0, while Buxton United needled Milerock United (1-0), when action in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League continued on Sunday evening.

Playing at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Camp Ayanganna ground, Victoria Kings’ Aubrey Gibson scored in the first minute against New Amsterdam United to extend his goal-scoring tally to six (the most in the league)

while Alden Lawrence netted a double, scoring in the 36th and 66th minute.

The win pushed Victoria Kings to 12 points and on top of the 10-team table from five games, ahead of the GDF, Den Amstel, Western Tigers and Fruta Conquerors.

Keavon Durant’s goal in the 43rd minute also helped Buxton United to their second win in five outings, moving them to six points and sixth on the table.

For Milerock, it was the Linden side’s third defeat

(in four games) and the first since their 1-0 win over Cougars FC last week.

Meanwhile, the Elite League will continue on Friday, March 9 at the GFC ground with another double-header.

From 17:30hrs, Cougars will be hunting for their first win this season against a stubborn Western Tigers, while Den Amstel and Fruta Conquerors collide in the second game from 19:30hrs.

(Rawle Toney)

Latest points standing in the GFF Elite League

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 6, 2018

23

Windies begin quest today for spot at 2019 World Cup HARARE, Zimbabwe (CMC) – West Indies begin their quest for a spot at next year’s World Cup when they face minnows United Arab Emirates in their opening match of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers here today, hoping to turn the page on their ordinary form.The Caribbean side struggled on the slow pitches here in their two warmup matches, sensationally losing to Afghanistan before rebounding to narrowly beat UAE and escape embarrassment.

Labelled as favourites but aware now more than ever that the qualifying campaign could be fraught with peril, Windies captain Jason Holder yesterday underscored the importance of a strong start to the competition.

“Ideally we need to start well – it’s been a common trend in these tournaments where you really need to start well,” the all-rounder asserted.

“There’s obviously been a bit of weather around in terms of rain and we don’t want to find ourselves scrambling in the end.

“So I’ve really emphasised the importance of starting well. We’ve got UAE and Papua New Guinea up front and I think it’s important we beat both those teams heading into the last two encounters with Ireland and Netherlands.”

West Indies’ fickle batting remains their ever-present plight. Against Afghanistan, they failed to chase down a modest revised target of 140 and were dismissed for 110 – after being well-placed on 80 for two at one stage.

The shocker came against UAE when they were rolled over for 115 and needed a strong bowling effort in order to pull off victory in the end.

They boast in their ranks the veteran pair of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels who among them have played a combined 467 One-Day Internationals, and also have the likes of match-winners like the youthful pair of Evin Lewis and Shai Hope.

Holder said he was hoping for a better strip at the Old Hararians Ground as the Windies looked to mount an improved batting effort.

“It should be a really

good contest. We played against them before a few days ago so we had a good look at the opposition and what they bring,” he ex-

He added: “Whether we bat or bowl first, it’s about assessing the conditions and making a determination of how to go about formulating

West Indies superstar Chris Gayle will be hoping to stamp his authority. (Photo courtesy ICC)

plained.

“Hopefully tomorrow the conditions are a lot better than they were in the warmup game. From all reports, the last game played here … seemed to be a really good wicket with the ball coming on and you can get pretty good scores on it, so hopefully our batsmen can capitalise on the conditions tomorrow, basically stamp their authority and get us to a really good total.”

an innings. We’ve probably set our par score of 250 in this tournament. Based on the first few games that have been played here, that seems to be a par score as well so anything in excess of that should be plus for us and we should be able to comfortably defend.

“I back our bowling attack against most teams and we’ve done well up front with the new ball by taking early wickets. The beau-

Foster slates CWI selectors for ignoring Permaul, Bramble

By Rajiv Bisnauth NEWLY-elected president of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Hilbert Foster, has lashed out at Cricket West Indies (CWI) selectors for ignoring left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and wicketkeeper batsman Anthony Bramble for the current home series against the England Lions.

The two were outstanding in both versions in the last regional tournaments and their exclusion from the West Indies-A team set-up did not go down well with the BCB. “Selection to the West Indies team should be done solely on the basis of performance, fitness and personal discipline and both players (Permaul and Bramble) have ticked each one of the boxes,” Foster stated during the his feature address at a special ceremony where the BCB honoured four outstanding Berbice cricketers last Saturday.

Permaul collected exactly 50 wickets at 18.90 apiece in the 2017-18 Digicel 4-Day Championship. It is the second time that the left-arm spinner has finished with the most wickets in a season.

Bramble effected 45 dismissals, comprising 42 catches and three stumpings, and was the leading wicketkeeper. He also gathered 613 runs at an average of 47.15 with a career-best 196 not out.

Veerasammy Permaul collects his award from BCB treasurer Dr Cecil Beharry.

“The BCB is disappointed at the omissions. We feel they both deserved a chance,” Foster said.

Meanwhile, during the ceremony, Permaul, Bramble, opening batsman Shimron Hetmyer and fast bowler Romario Shepherd were honoured by the BCB. Hetmyer was honoured for becoming the county’s 17th Test cricketer.

Shepherd of the Tucber Park Cricket Club was honoured for becoming the latest Berbician to gain selection on the West Indies-A team, while Permaul and Bramble, both of the Albion Cricket Club, were honoured for their outstanding performances for Guyana Jaguars.

Foster, in brief remarks, said the

BCB’s Hilbert Foster

BCB is proud of the achievements of the four cricketers, adding that there are outstanding ambassadors of Berbice.

Foster urged the players to continue to display good discipline and commitment.

Each of the four players received a special trophy and a medal from the BCB. Further, Gladston Hetmyer expressed gratitude to the board for the initiative. The elder Hetmyer is upbeat about the future of Berbice cricket, which he says looks bright with the numerous talents.

Both Bramble and Permaul expressed gratitude to the BCB. Hetmyer is currently with the West Indies senior team in Zimbabwe while Shepherd is in Antigua with the A-team.

ty about the last game we played was the spinners came in the middle and continued where the opening bowlers had left off.

“Hopefully we can continue to build and improve and as we go deeper in the tournament, we can play better and better.”

UAE qualified for the tournament by winning last month’s ICC World Cricket League Division 2 title in Namibia while West Indies were forced into the qualifiers after failing to finish in the top eight in the ICC one-day rankings by the September 30 cut-off date last year.

Two-time former World Cup champions, the Windies are heavy favourites to comfortably reach the finals and secure one of the two remaining spots at next year’s World Cup in England.

Holder, however, once again reiterated his side was taking nothing for granted.

“It’s just about coming tomorrow and executing. We’ve got to be cognizant of the fact that these teams are going to come really hard at us. They’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain,” he stressed.

“So we’ve got to understand that and we’ve got to be disciplined. I think we can probably adopt the same mentality in terms of not putting ourselves under unnecessary pressure. We’ve just got to go out there and play the cricket necessary to win.”

The match bowls off at (15:30hrs Eastern Caribbean time).

Squads:

West Indies – Jason Holder (captain), Jason Mohammed (vice-captain), Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Sheldon Cotterell, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Nikita Miller, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Kesrick Williams.

UAE – Rohan Mustafa (captain), Adnan Mufti, Ahmed Raza, Amir Hayat, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Mohammad Boota, Mohammad Naveed, Muhammad Usman, Qadeer Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Zahoor Khan.

Windies T20 tour dates to Pakistan revised to April - Sethi KARACHI, Pakistan (CMC) – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revised the dates for the West Indies series, with all three Twenty20s now carded for April.

Initially, the tour was expected to run from March 29 to April 1 in Lahore but PCB chairman Najam Sethi announced yesterday that the Caribbean side would now play matches on April 1, 2 and 4 at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Despite the agreement to play all games in Lahore, Sethi said he was still hopeful of having a match staged in Karachi.

“The West Indian Cricket Board (Cricket West Indies) have signed a contract to play three matches in Lahore, but I will try to convince the board to play at least one match in Karachi,” Sethi told media here at the National Stadium.

Though the PCB has given regular updates on the proposed tour, CWI is yet to

make an announcement.

A similar three-match series had been originally scheduled for last September but was scrapped because of heavy smog and the unavailability of key West Indies players because of the Bangladesh Premier League.

The PCB said last month the reciprocal tour against West Indies would be staged in the United States, with a T20 International being played for the first time in Houston, Texas and the remaining games at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

Starved of international cricket since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 left several members of the security forces dead, Pakistan has been lobbying major sides to resume tours of the country.

The PCB hopes the series against the Windies – the reigning T20 World champions – will open the door to similar tours by other sides.

Windies begin quest today for spot at 2019 World Cup 23 PAGE

Minister of Sport commissions Paradise Sports Club ground

Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Youth, Culture and Sport, Dr George Norton, is assisted by residents and regional officials as he cuts the ribbon to commission the recently-rehabilitated Paradise Sports Club ground.

Historic CONCACAF Nations League Qualifying draw set for Miami

… Guyana in Pot ‘B’ with Nicaragua, St Kitts, Curacao, Suriname, Antigua, Dominican Republic, Bermuda and Belize THE Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) yesterday announced the details of CONCACAF Nations League Qualifying, a preliminary competition for the new CONCACAF Nations League, the Confederation-wide league for national teams set to be launched tomorrow in Miami.

The Confederation also revealed the newly-developed CONCACAF Ranking Index, a modern indexing system for the region’s national teams which will guide the seeding of CONCACAF Turn to page 19 ►

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19

Dr George Norton donates a football to a club member in the Paradise area.

Wiggins says he crossed no ‘ethical line’ at Team Sky

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Five-time Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins

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TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2018