Guuyana chronicle e paper 03 17 2018

Conference 11 for Region Six –– to address impediments PAGE

to development

No. 105216

SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2018

Price: $80

DDL seals deal with GuySuCo (VAT Inclusive)

– to harvest canes at closed estates

– opens $340M warehouse facility

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President 10 meets laid-off security guards GWI: Attack on crew, vehicle ‘lawless’ 16 PAGE

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Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge shares the honour with DDL Chairman, Komal Samaroo of cutting the ceremonial ribbon to formally declare open the beverage company’s new warehouse facility at Diamond (Photo by Adrian Narine)

‘Wrong place, wrong time’ –– wife of slain suspected bandit says of husband’s demise

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Large-scale oil palm investment likely for Guyana 13 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

A matter of ‘wrong place, wrong time’ –– wife of slain suspected bandit says of husband’s demise

By Alva Solomon

THE wife of Kwame Assanah, one of the suspected bandits who was killed by the police on the Georgetown seawall on Thursday, believes the man may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This is even as relatives of the man point to holes in the police report of the incident, which left two other men dead during a shootout with the lawmen.

Assanah, Errol Adams and Grove shop-keeper Dextroy Cordis were killed by the police around midday on Thursday, after the men were alleged to have trailed a customer from a city bank.

The police, in their report, stated that around 10:30h on Thursday, based on information received from ‘operatives’ on duty in the vicinity of Scotia Bank on Robb

Street, ranks of an anti-crime patrol in an unmarked vehicle began trailing a motorcar with two suspicious-looking characters in it, which was in the vicinity at the time.

The suspects were reportedly seen following a customer who had exited Scotia Bank and driven off in a motorcar.

According to the police, the customer, upon arriving at the Georgetown Seawall road, parked his motorcar.

No sooner had he done so, the police say, than he was pounced upon by the suspects.

Cordis and Assanah, who were in the latter’s car, a Toyota Ist bearing registration PTT 9034, were killed, the police say, following a confrontation with lawmen.

Adams, who was on a motorcycle, which, the police claimed, arrived at the scene after the initial

The slain suspected bandit, Kwame Assanah shooting, died during a subsequent exchange of gunfire with lawmen in an unmarked police vehicle.

NO CRIMINAL HISTORY On Friday, Claire Assanah vehemently denied that her husband had any

previous criminal history, a claim which the police force, through Crime Chief Paul Williams, has corroborated in other sections of the media.

The woman said she last spoke to her husband at around 11:47h on Thursday when the two discussed plans for him to pick up their children later in the day. She told the Guyana Chronicle that she never knew her husband to be involved in any criminal activity.

She said that the Toyota motorcar he was using is registered in both their names, and that her husband would work taxi from time to time.

She believes that this may have led to his demise, as she and relatives believe that the man may have inadvertently been at the wrong place when the shooting occurred.

Assanah’s wife, who teaches at a city private

school, noted that her husband was shot once in the right arm and again in the right rib cage.

She said that the family is seeking answers, as they find that the police’s story does not add up. The family plans to approach a lawyer in that regard.

Assanah’s wife said her husband was once a pilot-in-training, but later made a family-related decision to switch careers. The family operates a chicken farm, and only recently, the man started out at a new job as a debt collector, ventures which the woman said provided for the family’s welfare.

She said that seeing that her husband had to seek a police clearance for his new job, the police would have been able to say if indeed he did have a criminal history in the process of obtaining the clearance.

As regards the pass-

ports which were found in the man’s car, the woman said her husband always carried around important documents with him as well as the passports of he and the entire family.

She could not say how the police managed to find an additional five passports in the couple’s car.

NOT AN AGGRESSIVE MAN “I know he would have pleaded for his life; he is not the type to confront,” the man’s wife noted, her voice breaking.

According to the police, following the shooting, a 9mm pistol, along with a magazine containing seven live rounds and four spent shells were found next to the Cordis’ body.

Police said Thursday’s operation was as a result See page 12

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DDL seals deal with GuySuCo

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

– to harvest canes at closed estates – opens $340M warehouse facility

By Alva Solomon THE Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) on Friday reached an agreement with the authorities to harvest standing canes at the closed sugar estates for the remainder of 2018.

At the same time, the beverage company is working with the government to find long-term solutions to the supply of canes for its operations.

This was noted by DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo Friday afternoon when the company unveiled a $340M warehouse facility at its Diamond, East Bank Demerara headquarters.

The facility, which carries the designated name warehouse “M”, is seen by the company as a significant investment. Two additional facilities are on the cards, the company said. To this end, DDL has acquired the lands east of its operations, where the former Diamond sugar estate stood, to be a part of its expansion plans.

Speaking to guests which included acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge; United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway; and InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) Country Rep-

resentative, Sophie Makonnen; Samaroo said while DDL sets about to be a more significant player in the international premium spirits market, there are challenges which the company needs to confront, including in the supply chain.

“The downsizing of the Guyana sugar industry represents an immediate and serious challenge,” Samaroo said. To this end, he said the company is working with the Special Projects Unit (SPU) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the government to find short-term responses and long-term sustainable solutions for its operations.

He said on Friday, DDL met with the authorities and the agreement was made for the company to harvest standing canes in the fields of the closed GuySuCo estates for use in production of rum.

DDL has been eying the Enmore Sugar Estate.

Samaroo said on Friday that by the time NICIL completes process of valuation of the closed estate, the two bodies can negotiate on a “sustainable solution in going forward”.

Samaroo also said that

the time has come where rum is seen as the primary product for the sugar industry.

He said DDL operates in a very competitive environment, but noted that while some producers in foreign markets enjoy concessions, DDL does not.

“And therefore we have to be internationally competitive in whatever we do,” he said.

The DDL chairman noted that the way forward has to be based on a competitive strategy so that the company can carve its space on the global market.

COST- EFFECTIVE He explained that it is important that the entity be cost-effective in all aspects of its operations.

To this end, Samaroo called for an “urgent” examination of the regulatory framework within which the beverage company operates.

He noted that the West Indian Rum and Spirit Producers Association has recently undertaken an exercise to document the regulatory framework of the industry in Guyana and the Caribbean with the aim of making a comparison to that of other industries such as whisky.

Barrels of rum stored at warehouse “M” (Photos by Adrian Narine) DDL is in the process roo described the invest- competitive,” Greenidge of preparing documenta- ment as “very strategic” said. tion to send to the govern- in the continued growth of He said DDL in the conment with recommenda- DDL , noting that while the text of rum has been a leadtions where it signals that capital cost of the facility er in many regards, noting the regulatory framework stands at $340M and when that the company has enof the industry here should in full operation the value abled Guyana to transition be brought in line with of the facility would be in “into modern times” in the international best practices excess of US$10M. movement from a colonial so that the company can He said revenues from branded enterprise of bulk compete with the rest of the investment will not rum to premium rum. the world. come as returns until anHe commended the Samaroo informed the other decade or two but company in that regard and gathering that creating a according to him, “we noted that this is the way global brand cannot be were the pioneers of aged to go if the company is to done overnight and noted rums on the international survive on the market. that it is one that is very market”, a feat which the DDL’s new warehouse expensive and requires a company is building on facility forms part of a long-term strategy. in terms of confidence in broader expansion plan However, he noted that its potential. to add storage capacity the company is “fully comMinister Greenidge for 100,000 barrels of mitted” to building its El told the gathering that rum rum with 30,000 barrels Dorado Rum brand around has remained an important allocated for the period the world. He said the com- product to the economy, es- 2018-2020 and as high pany is pleased with the pecially in terms of exports. as 35,000 for the periods progress it has made thus He said the efforts by 2021-2024 and 2025-2027. far and the firm is “very DDL to expand “is exoptimistic” about the future. tremely commendable”, Samaroo said DDL has noting that one cannot conmade significant efforts tinue to depend on a basic over the years to compete product.

THE Guyana Chronicle in in the liberalised world, This millennium is char- its March 16, 2018 edition and on this note, he made acterised by change, chang- regrettably published a mention of the company’s es of all types, Greenidge photograph of Errol M concern regarding protec- said, as he noted that pro- Adams as one of three men tionism, a statement which ducers have to consider killed in a shootout with may be related to recent several factors including police on Thursday.

Errol M Adams has moves by the United States the stability of markets in since been contacted by government to ban the im- the management of their this newspaper and we portation of catfish from business. once again offer sincere Guyana.

“The industries have apologies to Mr Adams and As regards the new to gear themselves to deal his family for this grave warehouse facility, Sama- with a market that is very error.

Apology

Invitees in attendance at Friday’s event

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

Emirates air hostess dies Zuma to face trial for corruption after fall from plane in Uganda

SOUTH Africa’s former President, Jacob Zuma is to face prosecution for 16 charges of corruption, Chief Prosecutor Shaun Abrahams has confirmed.

Mr Abrahams said he believes there were “reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution”.

The charges, which Mr Zuma denies, include counts of fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

Mr Zuma, 75, was forced to resign as president last month by his party, the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

He was facing his ninth no-confidence vote in parliament before he left office.

The charges relate to a 30B rand ($2.5B; £1.7B) government arms deal in the late 1990s, before he became president.

French arms supplier,

Thales will also face charges, a prosecutor said. Thales declined to comment, reports the AFP news agency.

Mr Zuma is alleged to have sought bribes from Thales to support an extravagant lifestyle.

His financial adviser at the time was found guilty of soliciting those bribes in 2005, and Mr Zuma was later sacked as deputy president.

He now faces one charge of racketeering, two charges of corruption, one charge of money laundering, and 12 of fraud.

Shaun Abrahams, head of the National Prosecuting Authority, said a trial court was the appropriate place for the matter to be decided.

He dismissed representations made by Mr Zuma, asking that the charges be dropped.

The former ANC chief had argued that the charges against him were characterised by misconduct, “irrational behaviour”

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and media leaks on the part of prosecutors, Mr Abrahams said.

Mr Zuma has always denied the allegations against him.

Mr Zuma weathered an array of corruption allegations during his nine years in power.

In 2016, a report by South Africa’s anti-corruption watchdog alleged that the billionaire Gupta family had exploited their ties with him to win State contracts.

Both the Guptas and Mr Zuma deny any wrongdoing.

The same year, South Africa’s highest court ruled that Mr Zuma had violated the constitution when he failed to repay government money spent on his private home.

An anti-corruption body found he had spent $23M (£15M) on refurbishments, including a swimming pool and an amphitheatre. He has since repaid some of the money. (BBC)

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A FLIGHT attendant who fell from the emergency door of a parked aeroplane at Uganda’s Entebbe airport has died, the BBC has learned.

The woman, whose nationality has not been revealed, was rushed to Kisubi hospital 16km (10 miles) away, but died soon after, a spokesperson said.

Reports say the Emirates Airline hostess was preparing the flight for boarding when the incident happened.

Uganda’s aviation authorities say they have launched an investigation.

It said in a statement that the flight attendant “appeared to have opened the emergency door” and unfortunately “fell off an aircraft that had safely landed and parked”.

K i s u b i h o s p i t a l ’s spokesperson, Edward Zabonna told the BBC that the crew member had injuries “all over her face and knees”.

He said that she had

been “unconscious but alive” when she arrived at the hospital on Wednesday evening, but died soon after.

News agency AFP quotes a statement from Emirates Airline as saying: “A member of our cabin crew unfortunately fell from an open door while preparing the aircraft for boarding.”

The Dubai-based airline promised its “full cooperation” with the investigation. (BBC)

Baker fined for making too much dough

A FRENCH baker has been fined €3,000 (£2,650) for opening his business seven days a week, breaking labour rules.

Cédric Vaivre, who runs the only bakery in Lusigny-sur-Barse in north-east France, was open every day during the summer of 2017 to serve tourists.

A local decree in place for over a decade bans bakeries from opening seven days a week.

Mr Vaivre is reportedly refusing to pay the fine, and his community, including the local mayor, is supporting him.

“There is nothing worse than closed shops when there are tourists,” said Christian Branle, Lusigny-sur-Barse’s mayor. He is hoping to meet with the official from the French department of Aube who imposed the fine.

A petition in support of the 41-year-old baker has attracted more than 2,000 signatures.

Mr Vaivre told local media he only wants his bakery, La Boulangerie du Lac, to be open seven days during the summer months to deal with the demands of tourists.

“I only did my job,” he said in December after labour inspectors were alerted to his case.

The town of 2,000 people experiences an influx of tourists visiting the lakes at a nearby protected regional park during the summer.

In 2017, over 120 local businesses were asked by the employers’ bakers union in Aube whether they wanted to maintain the decree Mr Vaivre broke. The majority reportedly said they wanted to maintain the rule that mandates them to have a day of rest. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

‘Not under my watch’ ... Rowley nixes talk about courting IMF PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley Wednesday said that Trinidad and Tobago would not be approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under his watch, as he blamed foreign companies in the oil industry for not meeting their financial obligations to the country.

“It would be a hell of a thing indeed if this nation of Trinidad and Tobago of 1.3 million people, the total population about the size of one mid-size American city with resources of that nature in this business that we end up with an IMF programme for US$200M while we leaking about a billion dollars out of our tax net; it would be a hell of a thing indeed,” Rowley

told a one-day national conference, titled “Spotlight on Energy Conference”.

He told delegates that he has given the country the assurance “that under my stewardship, Trinidad and Tobago will not go to the IMF…and certainly, certainly not for a pittance while we allowing our resources to go through our fingers because we were sleeping at the wheel.”

Rowley acknowledged the present difficulties within the industry, but insisted that the burden must be shared by all stakeholders.

“We are satisfied with the response we have been getting so far from those in this industry,” he said, “because, so far, the indications are there’s a willingness not to treat contracts as cast in

stone.”

Rowley said his administration anticipates that “our partners in this business will see our claim as a fair and just one, and we anticipate that there will be reopening of contracts so that at the end of the day, we can all sustainably benefit from the God- given riches of Trinidad and Tobago.”

In his presentation, Prime Minister Rowley said an agreement had been reached on the impasse between the Caribbean Nitrogen Company (CNC) and the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NCG) that had resulted in the closure of the ammonia plant in central Trinidad. The closure led to the loss of an estimated 400 jobs.

Police seize ‘cocaine plane’ --arrest several people

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – Police on Tuesday seized an aircraft with more than 400 kilograms of cocaine, and arrested seven people, including two “foreigners”, according to a statement released here.

The arrests come less than two weeks after a submarine with drugs was discovered on a remote property in District Saramacca, but while the aircraft was found in the same vicinity, authorities here are reluctant to say that there is a link between the two.

“It was not clear yet to which extent there was a relationship between the aircraft and the submarine,” the police said in a statement released on Wednesday, noting that the aircraft had been discovered near the East-West highway in District Saramacca, west of Paramaribo.

The plane, a four-seater

Cessna Centurion twin-prop, was apparently forced to land after taking off from an airstrip that has been constructed on a parcel of agricultural land.

The statement described the airstrip as two-kilometres long and “advanced”. The police have not yet released the names of those arrested, but said there were two “foreigners” and five Surinamese nationals.

Media reports have linked the ownership of the land to the same person who owns the property where the submarine was discovered.

The flat, semi-submersible vessel was found stuck in the mud of a shallow river in District Saramacca, a few kilometres off the coast with western neighbour, Guyana.

Its engine appeared broken.

It is not clear when exactly it entered Suriname.

Police have said that they

found the boat after receiving leads from international partners.

So far, police have arrested eight foreigners in connection with the submarine; seven Colombian nationals and one Cuban who resides in Suriname illegally.

Opposition legislator Edward Belfort has called on the authorities to investigate what happened to the drugs the boat allegedly came here to collect.

“These types of submarines are capable of transporting at least 10,000 kilograms of cocaine at a time. So that means there is 10,000 kilograms of cocaine somewhere in Suriname that they had to pick up or dropped off.

Where is it?” Belfort said, adding that he is worried that Suriname is becoming the narcotics barn of the region.

“We should fight that,” he added.

NGC, which supplies the company with fuel, had said that the gas sales agreement between the two entities had expired effective January 24 and that “regrettably, and despite NGC’s best efforts, no agreement was reached with CNC on this matter”.

The disagreement appears to be over the pricing of the supplies.

But CNC said that its plant closure was due to the action taken by the NGC to cut off gas supply to the plant.

“We had no choice but to shut down the plant to ensure the well-being of our people and protect our investment.

Unfortunately, this action by NGC will negatively affect the future of our 110 loyal workers,” said CNC Chief Executive Officer Jerome Dookie.

Rowley told the conference that an agreement had been reached, and the gas would flow again.

“Today, I can report that the disturbance between NCG

and CNC…which resulted in the stoppage of the flow of gas to the plant as the principles negotiated a new contract, that business exercise, has virtually come to an end.

“NCG and CNC have agreed to a new arrangement. The gas will flow again and the partners will profit going forward. But sometimes it might take a little more than ‘hello how are you’ to get recognise that you are present,” Rowley said.

Editorial

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

CARICOM and development THE philosophy that led to formation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is grounded in the collective determination of the Region’s peoples and their development.

Consequently, a number of attendant institutions were established with the aim of harnessing the cultural, economic, political and social resources of the Region for empowerment of its peoples.

The vision and goals of the Founding Fathers ( F o r b e s B u r n h a m , E rrol Barrow, Eric Williams and Michael Manley) were premised on indigenous programmes, utlising the resources of the Region towards satisfying the needs of the Region, and competing internationally. Ideas emerged, such as using the energy resources of Trinidad and bauxite of Jamaica and Guyana to produce aluminium, rather than exporting the raw material to the developed world to be processed. It was also determined that while Caribbean islands concentrate on tourism and Trinidad and Tobago on manufacturing; Guyana, with its vast landmass, would be tasked with

the responsibility of producing most of the food.

In that regional bodies recently engaged in discussions about the Region’s food bill, with an aim that includes channelling a focus on indigenous production and re-acculturation to taste, this focus serves as a reminder that the vision of the Founding Fathers remains relevant.

In addition to the Region shouldering a staggering and unsustainable food-import bill of more than US$2B, it serves as a reminder of the untapped potential within the Region.

The need to engage in a sustained indigenous programme has been tried before with measured success.

Guyana, for instance, had a self-sustainable development policy that saw the canning of local food and fruits made into preserves for local and foreign consumption.

It would be remembered that our dried carambola (five-finger) was exported to the European market, bringing much-needed foreign exchange.

This country still has room to create a 21st century manufacturing hub that would advance the nation

from a primary-product producer to being a value-added one. As a nation that produces sugar in abundance, with the price of sugar falling on the world market, opportunities exist for value-added production in confectionery and so forth. Staples such as rice, cassava, plantain, breadfruit and other ground provisions can see value added in the form of cereals, flour and toiletries, in addition to their also being seen as healthy alternatives to wheat. To some extent, there has been movement, such as in ethanol from sugar and the re-opening of a cassava mill; but this new era must see new challenges set and boundaries surpassed.

While CARICOM countries are signatories to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), nothing prevents the Region, individually or collectively, from creating a thriving cottage industry which would not only see opportunities for income generation, but would also generate pride in production.

It ought to raise eyebrows that the Region is yet to take its competitive place among other nations. This can be easily gleaned from a visit to the market, where

plantain chips and herbal teas, for instance -- which can be produced locally -are sold with labels showing they were imported from Central America, USA or Britain.

Products made in China are being sold in the Region at prices that force local manufacturers out of business -- affecting employment and incomes for locals. At the regional level, bringing the people together in co-opetition, a term that speaks to competitive cooperation at inter-organisational or intra-organisational levels, is deserving of attention.

Co-opetition allows for member states to collectively engage in research and development, even as they compete for markets.

Competition, grounded by strong universal guidelines, allows for the unleashing of potential, sharing of ideas and looking at who best can produce what, at what cost, and with what resources.

Building on the premises that guided regional forerunners is also useful. There was a time when Guyana bought soap from the Commonwealth of Dominica at a higher price relative to cost outside the Region. Such act

was guided by the principle underpinning sustainable development, inclusive of opportunities for the Region’s peoples.

Trinidad, as the oil-producing country, gave credit to member states such as Guyana with the aim of ensuring the industries of production in the various regions were operational.

Other benefits were employment across the Region and minimisation of large-scale migration with potential for creating shocks to social systems, thereby contributing to inner city slums, increasing poverty, etc. Possibilities are within reach. The presence of indigenous education, the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institution (NAREI), the Caribbean Agricultural

Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) are institutions providing the needed foundational pillars to unleash, harness and support the Region’s intellectual (human) capital.

As a new era of development approaches, wherein the world intends to make real the establishment of a Green Economy, it is apposite to note that the dreams and aspirations of CARICOM are still relevant to development today.

The Region stands on the foundation needed to guide actions that would not only see reduction in its food bill, but also ensure food security, putting its peoples to work, and ultimately development for the benefit of all. (Reprinted)

Local rice miller If we are to build a truly democratic society, all ideas must contend distances self from Guyana Times report Dear Editor,

Dear Editor NAND Persaud Company Ltd executives has since distanced itself from a report published in the Guyana Times in its Thursday, March 15 edition, Re: Rice Milling Company Blasts GRDB,” calling the article misleading and one aimed at not only creating mischief, but to discredit the work of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

In a letter sent to General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Mr Nizam Hassan, Nand Persaud stated, “ Excerpts from the advisory were juxtaposed and sliced with the article to not only give credence to that headline, but also attempted to give credibility to an earlier article published by that media house”.

The letter which blasts the media house for inaccuracy, has since parted ways with its agronomist, which the company deems, had “[a]different agenda from that of Nand Persaud and Company Ltd”.

The relationship shared by the rice board and the milling company over the years, was praised by Mr Nand Persaud and called the issue an isolated one. The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is calling on media houses to act responsibly by reporting the facts and when in doubt, confirm with the relevant authorities before seeking to publish inaccuracies which has damning consequences in the long run.

Regards Ministry of Agriculture

WHEN I read the initial reports of the discontinuation of David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis as columnists in the state-owned Guyana Chronicle newspaper, I resisted any public comment on the issue, although I was tempted to comment immediately.

I said to myself something couldn’t be right and, lo and behold, it took only a few hours for the chairperson of the board of directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Ltd (GNNL), publishers of the Chronicle, to confirm, through the press, that something wasn’t right.

Having met on Tuesday, it is now reported that the board has voted (5-4) to confirm the discontinuation of Hinds and Lewis as columnists. The Chronicle is the state’s newspaper, not the government’s newspaper. The government is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the newspaper

serves the best interest of the state; as it is, the government too should serve the best interest of the state.

However, there will always be issues which many amongst the population would feel a government is not pursuing the best interest of the state and it is the responsibility of the press, both state and private, to provide news reports and opinions which would inform and educate the populace on such issues. Hence, there must be room for critical analyses in the media and the last section of the media to suppress such analyses should be the state media.

The reason advanced for the discontinuation of the two columnists is that the newspaper is “rebranding”. What exactly that means is open to several interpretations. The bottom line is that two columnists who have been constructively analytical of the issues of the day, whose conclusions have not constantly been in keeping

with the views of the government, have been discontinued.

If we are to build a truly decent, democratic and prosperous society, then all ideas must contend. This recent decision to discontinue the columns of Hinds and Lewis, even if there is the assumption that these two may have political ambitions that would threaten the ruling coalition, is a blow to press freedom. As one who published a parochial newspaper in the US for several years, I know how it feels to be paying columnists whose views don’t sit well with the publisher. But as a journalist for more than 40 years, I am committed to the ethics of the profession which, regardless of all the analyses about the role of media in society, maintain that the views of the people must not be suppressed.

As a young journalist in Guyana in the 1970s, at both the privately owned Graphic and later the state-owned Chronicle, I often wrote ar-

ticles, both news reports and opinion pieces, which did not sit well with the government of the day. Just ask Godfrey Wray about the Evening Citizen newspaper. I also referred to Prime Minister Burnham as General Burnham when the instruction was to refer to him only as Prime Minister Burnham in military attire. I was summoned to his office and contrary to popular belief prior to our meeting, I was not fired.

Against this backdrop, I urge His Excellency President David Granger--himself at one time a publisher--to intervene and to advise the Chronicle board that it should revisit its decision.

His should be advice and not an instruction. For him to instruct the board would be political interference. He should simply ask the board to take another look at the matter.

Regards Wesley Kirton

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

Should peoples return to their motherlands?

Dear Editor, I AM always on the lookout for interesting ideas, observations and insights from my fellow travellers on the road of life and I could not help reflecting deeply on an intriguing statement, widely circulated on social media by music icon, Akon, that African-Americans should “go back to Africa.”

In an interview with Al Jazeera reporter Folly Bah Thibault, which is available on YouTube and elsewhere, Akon stated that African Americans were never meant to be in America and Black people need to give Africa a chance and go back to the continent that is their ancestral home.

Akon, who is American-born of Senegalese descent, explained: “I always felt like Africa was for Africans. So, when I see African-Americans in America dealing with all these issues, my first question is: ‘Why don’t they just go back home? Back to Africa. . . they’ll be treated fair. . . they’ll actually be praised for who they are, because of the fact that they’re American. They’ll get way better treatment.”

He also commented that Africans who migrate to the US tend to “alienate their origins and personalities,” and end up conforming to the value system they meet in America. He contended that the way Africans integrate into the American lifestyle is self-destructive. He pointed out. “There’s no way you can move forward when you’re not you.”

He also mentioned that African-Americans tend to shy away from their heritage of “the motherland”, commenting that they rarely even see Africa as a vacation destination. This, he contended, is because of the uninviting portrayal of Africa by the media, which focuses heavily on all the negatives of the continent without featuring

the positives.

Akon is thought of as a controversial figure with a criminal past. Yet he has a charity for underprivileged children in Africa called Konfidence Foundation and a project called Akon Lighting Africa to provide solar-electricity to 600 million underprivileged Africans. He might be good or bad; I do not know. I give him the benefit of the doubt. My point is his statement gives us food for thought.

First, let me make it clear that I love all peoples created by the Creator, regardless of their colour, creed or class.

After much prayerful meditation, I believe that the Creator created different races with various cultural and social groups as the indigenous fruits of different continents and countries. I think such differences among people are a blessing that springs directly from the Divine Creative Force.

I further believe that the Creator created all humans in His own image as equals, and with wide variety in their manifestations of beauty, and also with differences in appearance and the ways they think and act, according to their roles as indigenous fruits in the garden of life.

That is the Creator’s plan, but it was corrupted by wicked people and replaced by racism, ethnic discrimination and other evils.

Man’s rejection of the Creator’s divine plan is behind domination, hatred, inhumanity and all forms of wickedness among humans. Mankind’s conquests, murders, conspiracies, enslavement and usurpation are responsible for the world’s mess today. Racism is an abomination in the sight of the Creator and it brings multiple curses to the nations where people accept it.

We have seen this ungodly exploitation of human racial and other differences for national, tribal or personal aggrandizement and wealth

throughout history. We have seen it in the ancient civilizations, the Roman Empire, the empires of the European colonial powers; and we still see it today from the biggest neo-colonial superpower states to the pettiest dictatorships.

I respect the viewpoint of Akon about African descendants returning to Africa.

This idea can be interpreted even more broadly in Guyana’s context to include all the races that came here from other continents. But I think his perspective should not be taken at face value. To me, it requires more careful thought with due consideration of the answers to the hard questions that logically arise.

For example, one can ask: If Guyanese of African, Indian or Chinese origins go

back to Africa, India or China, will they be accepted? Do all Indians respect all Indians in and out of India? Do all Africans respect all Africans in or out of Africa? Do all Chinese respect all Chinese inside and outside China?

What about mixed peoples?

To which continent do they return?

Logic tells me that shared racial characteristics do not add up to shared culture, nor does it automatically lead to mutual respect and bonds of friendship. During the ‘Back to Africa’ movement in the 1960s-70s, I remember hearing that many African descendants who went back there were disillusioned at being called “sons of slaves” by persons born in Africa.

I also recall hearing that many members of the Indian

diaspora who went back to India to trace their roots or work or study were made aware of their positions in the caste system, based on their names. I do not know about any Chinese going back to China, but I believe there would be similar settling-in issues arising from the re-migrants’ assimilation of alien cultures.

It is clear to me that centuries of greed and domination have created deep wounds in the psyche of displaced peoples and the effects of their displacement has also fostered negative mindsets among those who remained after they left.

Look at what the Europeans brought on Africa by greed and domination; and the wealthy “developed world” still wants the wealth and

blood of Africa. . . by divide and rule!

Akon’s charitable work displays a true positive in human nature; that is, man is inherently good.

His nature is to serve man and God. Akon has won my respect and teeming millions around the world.

We cannot just encircle a human because of an evil past. He has become a unique role model not only for Africans, but for all humanity. I believe Akon has introduced a topic that is worthy of a healthy debate with persons making points for or against mine.

Let opposing views contend for the nation’s information and guidance.

Regards Haji Roshan Khan Sr

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

Four newly appointed ‘silks’ admitted to inner bar … urged to be humble, uphold their noble profession

THE four newly appointed Senior Counsel, Kalam Azad Juman-Yassin, Josephine Whitehead, Fitz Peters and Andrew Pollard, were on Friday admitted to the inner bar by the full court of the Supreme Court of Judicature.

Their petitions were read by Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams

He was appointed Chief Magistrate in 1992, and served in that capacity for five years, following which he returned to private practice. He has been actively involved in sports over the years.

Whitehead, who holds British and Guyanese nationalities, has been in the field of law since 1979. She has practised here, as

lard, a former student of Queens College, specialises in contract law, and has significant experience in the field of mining and oil and gas.

In January 2017, after a 20year hiatus, President David Granger elevated nine legal luminaries to the status of senior counsel and has since pledged to ensure that these honours are

the leaders of our profession.”

Ramkarran SC. outlined the history of being admitted to the inner bar, and the concept of “taking silk”. He said the appointment of Senior Counsel remains an honour that is cherished, and is the only profession in the Commonwealth that is so honoured by the state. It is for this reason that the State’s role has been treated

SC., before a packed courtroom of well-wishers, lawyers, former judges, magistrates, family and friends. At the Special Sitting of the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature, Williams SC. recounted the life and work of each of the newly appointed Senior Counsel.

He told the Court that Yassin, who studied law in London, was called to the English Bar in 1970 and admitted to the local bar the following year. Williams SC. said the former Chief Magistrate practised at all levels of the local court before embarking on private practice.

well as in England, and has been active in the sporting arena and in environmental conservation.

Currently, she holds the positions of Director of the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic, and Vice-Chair of the non-governmental organisation (NGO), Help and Shelter.

A former clerk of the Deeds Registry in the late 1960s, Peters was admitted into practice in 1981. He has served extensively at the Attorney-General’s Chambers, and is a member of the Linden Legal Aid Centre.

Pollard was admitted to practice in 1987, and is attached to the law firm, Hughes, Fields and Stoby. Williams noted that Pol-

conferred annually. This year’s quartet represents the second batch of lawyers to ascend to the position of Senior Counsel.

Williams SC.’s petitions were accepted by Acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire. Following the acceptance of petitions, the four legal luminaries were called to change their robes, and to take their places at the inner bar.

with caution, he opined.

Ramkarran SC. noted, too, that the newly-admitted Senior Counsel bring unique experiences to the bar, as two of them were educated in England, while the others were educated in the Caribbean. He said the nature of their practice and experiences varies, and if maintained is great for the legal profession.

“The pool of Senior Counsel, therefore, would be enriched,” he stated as he welcomed the quartet.

Similarly, Robin Stoby SC., who spoke on behalf of the Guyana Bar Association, congratulated the quartet, and noted that their admittance to the inner bar is part

TIME HAS COME Meanwhile, Ralph Ramkarran SC. welcomed the quartet to the inner bar, saying: “The time has now arrived for them to take their place among

of a ceremony which celebrates the upper echelon of the legal profession.

He noted that the appointments and admission come at a time when the profession is “grappling with the new culture of civil proceedings,” which he posited forces lawyers to relook at “our practice of law and our relationship with our clients.”

Stoby SC. Noted, too, that leadership is required, as young lawyers seek guidance, knowledge and experience from the inner bar. Like Ramkarran SC., Stoby SC. outlined the history of receiving silk. He also estimated that there are 350 lawyers in Guyana, of which the current members of the inner bar including the newly appointed senior counsel constitute approximately 25 persons.

“Mathematics tells me that is a proportion of approximately 7.2 per cent,” he stated, while noting that Guyana appointed last year its first three women as Senior Counsel, namely, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, and Registrar of Lands, Rosalie Robertson.

Josephine Whitehead was Friday admitted to the inner bar.

“Congratulations to the women in our profession who have at last received recognition,” said Stoby SC. Meanwhile, the attorney said the appointment of silk here has been occurring since 1980, and noted that while the method of appointment has changed over the years, the basis on which it is done has not.

HIGH ESTEEM “A person held to be worthy of such honour should be one who upholds the dignity of the profession, well recognised by his or her fellows, has shown merit and distinction in the conduct of their profession, and independent in thought and practice,” he stated as examples.

The newly-appointed Senior Counsel, in response to their acceptance to the inner bar, thanked their families, friends and loved ones, as well as President David Granger and Attorney-General Williams. Juman-Yassin expressed disappointment at the halt in the appointment of Senior Counsel by the previous administration.

“I can’t fathom why appointments were not made in the past,” he remarked early in his response, while expressing gratitude.

He said he has been very fortunate to have worked with the late JOF Haynes, and cautioned young lawyers to be professional.

“Respect the bench always, be courteous to the bench, be punctual…and the bench should reciprocate,” said Juman-Yassin, SC., who also called for the tradition of bowing by both the bar and bench to be upheld. He, like his colleagues, thanked his family and friends for their love and support over the years.

Whitehead, in a simple but impactful response, told the Full Court that while she considered

herself fortunate for being born to middle-class parents, she does not take for granted the efforts and sacrifices made by her colleagues in their journey.

She thanked her partner, Henry Jeffrey, and their daughter.

“I’ve been very lucky,” she said, noting that she has worked for over 40 years with the Cameron and Shepherd Law firm. She called on members of the bar to focus more on advocating for human rights.

Whitehead SC. made specific reference to access to justice, gender equality, and child abuse among other human rights issues.

Lawyers, she noted, have an ethical responsibility to advocate for human rights.

Fitz Peters SC. outlined his career as an attorney, and spoke of his journey from being a teacher, former clerk of the Deeds Registry in the late 1960s, and then working in the Attorney-General’s chambers. He thanked all those who have lent him support over the years.

Meanwhile, Andrew Pollard, in his response, thanked God, his wife, whom he described as his “rock of support”, his children and parents. He said that lawyers, upon admittance to the bar, should continue to learn the law, for their journey has only just begun. He stressed that continuing legal education is critical to the profession.

That aside, Pollard SC. said there is a lack of humility among those in the profession, and that he hopes that lawyers strive to be more humble. He, like Juman-Yassin, urged professional behaviour from lawyers, and cautioned that they uphold the ethics of the legal profession.

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire said the quartet’s appointment to senior counsel and admission to the bar represents their hard work over a collective period of over 152 years.

She said receiving silk is an internationally recognised mark of quality, and called on junior counsel to appreciate the importance of such ceremonies, so they can aspire to such heights within the profession. The Chief Justice (ag) said it is important for lawyers to aspire to be diligent, astute. “Such lawyers understand the importance of research, sound and erudite submissions before the court; they are the exemplars of our noble profession.”

Justice George-Wiltshire SC. noted too that there is a symbiotic relationship between the bench and the bar and reminded that it is the responsibility of the bar is ably assist the bench in dispensing justice. She called on all Senior Counsel to mentor Junior Counsel.

Meanwhile, acting Chancellor, Justice Cummings-Edwards told the astute body of lawyers that they should never stop working hard.

“Give your best as you serve the people of Guyana; be mentors, role models and exemplars. I look forward to your rich contributions,” the Chancellor stated.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

Green State Strategy more than just another document ––Min Harmon

MINISTER of State, Mr Joseph Harmon, who holds responsibility for the Department of the Environment (DoE), yesterday, said that the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) is not just another document, but rather, it is the vision and the expression of the ambition of the people of Guyana for a prosperous future in a sustainable environment.

Minister Harmon was at the time addressing the ‘Aligning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Green State Development Strategy Workshop on Multidimensional Approaches for the 2030 Agenda’, which opened this morning at the Marriott Hotel. In the pursuit of a finalised, all-inclusive GSDS, the government had requested support from the United Nation’s Development System for the integration of the SDGs within the GSDS. The 2030 agenda references the SDGs, which is a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and

prosperity.

In his remarks, Minister Harmon said that the workshop is another important step in Guyana’s quest to establish a ‘green’ economy and a ‘green’ state, as well as the country’s resolve to be meaningfully involved as a significant contributor to the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, including the SDGs. The theme, he noted, is therefore appropriate as it addresses matters that are crucial to the development of Guyana and encapsulates the government’s vision.

“Guyana on the basis of our geographic location and resources has an obligation, which we acknowledge and a commitment that we have made to be meaningfully involved, if not, to take the lead role in this development.

The Green State Development Strategy to us is not just a document. It is the expression of the vision and the ambition of the people of Guyana for a prosperous future, which benefits all of its people. We aspire to become a green, inclusive, and prosperous Guyana that provides a good quality of life for all of our citizens, that provides sound education, social protection, ‘green’ and decent

jobs, economic opportunities, individual equality, justice and political empowerment.

Guyana aspires to transition into a decarbonised and resource-efficient economy that values and integrates the multi-ethnicity of our country and enhances the quality of life for all Guyanese.

Guyana’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda is unequivocal,” he said.

The government, he said, considers the alignment of the United Nation’s SDGs with the GSDS as a crucial policy area. However, the State Minister said that Guyana must also face head-on, the challenge of moving beyond just mapping the SDGs. “The principle of integrality calls for balancing the three dimensions of sustainable development; social cohesion, economic growth and environmental potential.

The challenge that we face is to move beyond mapping the SDGs and target its reflection in the GSDS. It is to move toward incorporating these new principles in the real plan and implement that strategy as our country’s development programme, as well as ensure that the mechanisms are established to monitor and evaluate that

Region Five RDC meeting aborted

–– after journalist refuses to apologise to REO

THE third statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Five was adjourned Thursday, when a Guyana Times reporter accused of being disrespectful to the Clerk of Council Ovid Morrison attempted to cover the meeting without offering an apology to Morrison.

Morrison had on January 27 last year complained that during the first statutory meeting of 2017, he had a discussion with Guyana Times reporter Andrew Carmichael about inaccuracies in his reports on the RDC’s work.

Carmichael, he said, had become annoyed and terminated the conversation by abruptly walking out of the meeting and slamming the door behind him.

“He slammed the door and I felt that this was being deliberately disrespectful not only for myself as the REO of the region, but for the Council itself,” Morrison said.

He said he subsequently wrote a letter to the manager of Guyana Times complaining about Carmichael’s disrespectful behaviour and informed the manager that an apology would be necessary from Carmichael, to enable him to cover any other sitting of the RDC at which he presides as the clerk.

Morrison said there has been no response from Guyana Times and he was mildly surprised to see Carmichael at Thursday’s meeting, after all that had transpired.

Morrison said he pointed this situation out to RDC Chairman Vickchand Ramphal, who said that he would not support the reporter being banned from the meeting until he offered an apology.

Ramphal said he felt there should be a

thorough investigation into the incident, after which the council would determine if Carmichael should be banned, pending an apology.

Ramphal ruled in the meantime that the reporter be allowed to stay.

Morrison at this point requested the intervention of the police to get Carmichael to leave.

A policewoman was sent from the neighbouring Fort Wellington Police Station and she approached Carmichael and told him that he was not wanted at the meeting and he should leave.

Carmichael, however, refused to leave.

The policewoman retreated without taking further action.

Morrison left the meeting at this point and took up a position on the verandah.

He remained there for about two hours, during which time Carmichael remained in the boardroom and there was no further action by the police.

Ramphal subsequently declared the meeting adjourned and along with ViceChairman Rion Peters and other councillors of the PPP, left the venue.

Meanwhile, an APNU+AFC councillor accused the PPP/C chairman of the RDC of deliberately inviting Carmichael to the meeting, knowing fully well that it would not go down well with the REO and the APNU+AFC councillors.

“The whole thing was a deliberate stratagem by Ramphal to evade discussion on motions on the emblems for Region Five and the three-year vision for Region Five, which had been tabled for discussions at the meeting by APNU Councillor Dolston Hutson,” the councillor said.

process while at the same time utilising unique, clean Guyanese content,” Minister Harmon said.

Noting that the contribution of every stakeholder is vital for the successful implementation of the GSDS, Minister Harmon said that the challenge now is to guide the GSDS in a way that is in the spirit of the Agenda 2030, while taking into account the multiple development challenges Guyana faces and the need to institutionalise strong and effective cross-sectoral coordination. “There must also be a recognition that we will be breaking new ground and would be sometimes sailing in uncharted waters. The successful way, therefore, has to be uniquely Guyanese, taking into account our peculiar circumstances. We must own the process and own our Green State Development Strategy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the DoE, Ms Ndibi Schwiers, in an invited comment said that the goal of the workshop is to train participants on multidimensional approaches to mainstream the 2030 Agen-

da, including the use and application of three important tools; theory of change, systems-thinking and the identification of accelerators to prioritise policy interventions with a bigger impact.

Noting that the GSDS is currently under elaboration with an expected completion deadline of July 2018, Ms Schwiers said that the initial timeline has been extended to allow for large-scale consultations to ensure that the document is truly reflective of all stakeholders in the Guyanese society. This consultation process, she said, is unprecedented.

Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ms Shabnam Mallick, in brief comments, said that the organisation stands ready to lend its support to Guyana as it embarks on its ‘green’ journey. “This workshop is part of a longer process, where we stand ready, the UNDP and its sister agencies, to support the journey to the achievement of the SDGs,” she said.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon The two-day workshop is a collaborative effort between the Department of the Environment, the Ministry of the Presidency and the Ministry of Finance, along with the Technical support of the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (Ministry of the Presidency)

10

President meets laid-off security guards

President David Granger meeting with security guards who have not been paid since December 2017

PRESIDENT David Granger on Friday met with a group of disgruntled security guards at New Amsterdam, who were laid off by a private security firm based in Georgetown.

According to the workers, the firm has not paid salaries since December 2017.

They also complained that they were victimised by the company’s chief executive officer after a few workers had voiced their concerns in the media.

President Granger assured the group that he will look into the matter and try to find a way forward, noting that it is beyond unreasonable for workers to be left without salaries for such a long period.

On Wednesday, another group of security guards from West Coast Berbice, who are attached to the same security firm, staged a protest in front of the Regional Democratic Office at Fort Wellington over unpaid wages. (Ministry of the Presidency)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

Potaro River man gets 25 years for killing miner TWENTY-nine-year-old Levei Thomas of Maicobie Village, Potaro River was on Tuesday sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for manslaughter.

The decision was handed down by Justice Sandra Kurtzious at the Suddie High Court.

Thomas pleaded guilty to the offence. Thomas was charged together with Georgy France for the murder of Sheldon Rodigues at Falls Top, Arimu, Cuyuni River on November,2, 2015.

It was alleged that Thomas of Mahdia and Gregory France of Onderneeming, Essequibo Levei Thomas Coast, murdered Sheldon Rodrigues. During the initial stage of the investigation, police had reported that the two men confessed to the murder of 36-year-old Rodrigues, a gold miner.

Rodrigues and the men were involved in a drinking spree, when an argument ensued and he was stabbed to death.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

Conference for Region Six –– to address impediments to development

PRESIDENT David Granger will convene a region-wide conference with officials of Region Six to address problems at the local level, so that citizens can enjoy a higher quality of service from their respective government organs.

Those who will be engaged will be drawn from the 16 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), overseers and other regional officials of the East Berbice-Corentyne region.

“I am committed to local government, because I believe that the whole system of administration in this country rests on the NDCs; rests at the local level… this is the level at which true democracy prevails,” he said.

Speaking at a meeting with NDC representatives at the Fyrish Skills Training Centre, the President explained that a new budget cycle begins on July 1 and, therefore, these discussions will serve to identify priority areas for which provisions can be made in 2019 budget.

“We have to make sure that the NDCs are not treated like some sort of sideshow, or like they don’t matter -- they matter. They are part of the government system which, as I said, is threetiered; central, regional and local and if you are part of the system and your foundation collapses, your structure will fall… I see the NDC as a dynamo, not something passive, but an active organisation helping to develop these communities,” President Granger said.

QUALITY REPRESENTATION He spoke of the need to improve the quality of representation at the level of the NDCs, noting that there are many areas that are neglected and as such, residents in those areas are disin-

our subvention can be increased a little bit more,” he said.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Macedonia-Joppa NDC, Nabot Dean, spoke of the need for every NDC to be in possession of the plans or land layout maps for all of the villages within the various NDCs. This, he said, will assist the NDC to monitor the land-management system within the villages.

President David Granger clined to cooperate and to pay rates and taxes.

“I believe in regions, I believe in regionalism.

We have to continue to do mobilisation on a regional basis regardless of NDC, regardless of constituency, regardless of the political party, regardless of ethnicity. We have to mobilise this region, so that there is the fullest participation,” he said.

Some of the burning issues raised by NDC officials include, solid waste management, the need for an updated property valuation scale (valuation was last done in the early 80s), increased stipends for councillors, which is currently a meagre $3,000 per month, better road infrastructure and street lighting, training for councillors, issues with land, the need for better quality potable water services in certain areas, recreational and other opportunities for schoolchildren and youths and the need for greater cooperation among the NDCs, residents and the RDCs. Ravindra Dass, an overseer at the No. 52-74 NDC, called for an increase in central government’s subvention for his NDC, since it is one of the largest in the country.

“There is a fiscal arrangement that is in place, based on the geographic area. I am just asking if there can be an additional sum, so that when the calculation is being done

NEED VILLAGE PLANS “Too often, people are grabbing government reserves and creating a lot of problems in these areas. We need to get these village plans, so that we can identify the boundaries properly,” he said.

He also called for the roles and responsibilities for all the key players at the NDC to be properly defined and streamlined, noting that too often there is an overlapping of responsibilities and this creates unnecessary controversies.

President Granger committed his government to working with the local democratic organs to find workable solutions over the course of the next three months.

He took the opportunity to call on the NDC officials to recommit to discharging their mandate, which is to provide basic services to the citizens of Guyana in an efficient manner.

The President also reminded the local leaders that their performance will determine their re-election at this year’s local government elections.

“We need to develop a new approach to local government… I want to make sure that Region Six, East Berbice-Corentyne, is strong, is stable and secure. I cannot feel happy if we have these problems taking place at the grassroots level… I want to urge you, at the level of the region; at the level of

central government and at the level of local government to work together. I want us to have a strong Region Six, but to do that there must be participation and cooperation and I know this is a problem,

but we have to overcome this non-participation. We have to demonstrate to all sections of the community that we are working to build a stronger, safer more secure region,” President Granger said.

Minister of Education Nicolette Henry and Regional Executive Officer Region Six, Kim Williams-Stephens also attended the meeting.

(Ministry of the Presidency)

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

Venezuelan granted $500,000 Second Trotman-signed PSA released, features graduated profit-oil split bail on narco charge THE trio busted earlier in January with 42 kilograms of cannabis made their fourth appearance before Essequibo Magistrate Esther Sam at the Suddie Magistrate’s court on Friday.

The Venezuelan, Manuel Diaz, 36, of Sand Felix, Venezuela, was granted bail in the sum of $500,000 after his lawyer James Bond made representation.

Essequibo police prosecutor Haimwant Ramsewack told the court that the file on the matter is still at the police narcotics branch in

Georgetown, and to date, he had not receive any update on the matter.

After hearing this, Essequibo Magistrate Esther Sam said if the file is not completed by April 12, she would be forced to dismiss the case.

The trio is being represented by Bond.

Eknauth Persaud, called “Patel” of Lot 66 Onderneeming and Dhanraj Singh called “Roy Pang” of Golden Fleece Estate, Essequibo Coast, were earlier granted bail in the sum of $1 million in connection with the drug bust.

They were charged with

possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, but pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

It is alleged that on January 6 around 17:30hrs, the trio had in their possession 42 kilograms of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

They were caught during a joint operation by ranks of ‘G’ Division.

The ranks went to back street Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast, where a motor car PMM 9059 was seen proceeding in a northern direction.

The car had two occupants

with the driver Dhanraj Singh called “Roy Pang” who is also the owner of the vehicle.

Ranks stopped the car and conducted a search in the presence of the persons and found two white bags containing 70 parcels wrapped with clear tapes and brown card boards. Each parcel contained leaves, seeds and stem suspected to be cannabis.

The trio was told of the offence, but remained silent.

The suspected cannabis was weighed and amounted to 42 kilograms. The matter will be called again on April 12.

…has Stability Clause not unlike other PSAs released

THE Production Sharing Agreement for the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana – released yesterday – takes a different approach to profit-sharing from the other agreements hitherto released. This time, there is a graduated ratio of profit-sharing based on the level of production achieved.

The agreement was signed on January 14, 2016, by Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman representing the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the joint-venture partnership of Tullow Guyana B.V. and Eco (Atlantic) Guyana Inc. The agreement said that for the first 25,000 barrels per day of production, the profit-share shall be 50 percent for Guyana and 50 percent for the operator. If this production goes up by 25,000 barrels per day, the ratio will be 52.5/47.5 in favour of government. If the production goes up by a further 15,000 barrels per day, the split will be 55/45 in favour of government. If production goes up a further 15,000 barrels per day, the split will be 57.5/42.5 in favour of government. Should production reach 80,000 barrels per day, the ratio will be 60/40 in government’s favour.

With respect to income derived from oil production, transaction undertaken, activities performed or property held, the joint venture and its affiliate companies are free from tax, value-added tax, duty, fee, charge or other imposts.

Royalty as in all of the released contracts except ExxonMobil is in the order of 1 percent, payable by the government from its share of profits.

Consistent with the 2012 model PSA, the Tullow/Eco (Atlantic) agreement features a Stabilisation Clause which says inter alia that the government shall not amend, modify, rescind, terminate, declare invalid or unenforceable, require renegotiation of, compel replacement or substitution, or otherwise seek to avoid, alter, or limit this agreement without the prior consent of the contractor. It stated too that the government shall not increase the economic burdens of the contractor under the agreement by applying any increase of, or new petroleum-related fiscal obligation, including taxes, royalty, fees, charges, value-added tax and other imposts.

This PSA has no provision for a signing bonus.

A matter of ‘wrong place ...

From page 2

of improved efforts to crack down on crime.

“Following several incidents of robbery-under-arms committed on customers who would have gone to various commercial banks to conduct financial transactions within recent times, surveillance and collaboration with key stakeholders were improved,” the police said in a statement.

Earlier this month, and in light of a spate of robberies which involved persons being trailed after withdrawing huge sums of money from the bank, the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan suggested that the police conduct “a sting operation”.

“We need as much information as we can get from communities in order

to solve the bank-related robberies,” the minister said, adding: “Parents and friends know who the thieves are, so we are pleading with you to speak out.”

A few days earlier, the Guyana Association of Bankers (GAB) said it was deeply concerned about the escalating incidence of persons being targetted 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.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

Large-scale oil palm investment likely for Guyana -trees have capacity to produce 4 tonnes of crude oil per hectare annually

A GROUP of investors are eying Guyana’s arable lands to invest in oil palm cultivation, the Ministry of Agriculture has said.

On Friday, a team of investors from Agro Atlantic (Guyana) Inc., called on Agriculture Minister Noel Holder in his Regent Road and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive office to discuss the prospects for oil palm in Guyana.

The minister was accompanied by Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, Dr Oudho Homenauth.

Taking advantage of Guyana’s tropical climate, the investors have since provided a proposal which could see some 100,000 hectares of land brought under cultivation. The process, once given the green-light by the Ministry of Agriculture, will be completed in stages.

Mr Bruce Jupiter, Director of Agro Atlantic (Guy-

Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder (fourth, left) with the team and NAREI CEO, Dr Oudho Homenauth (second, right)

ana) Inc., stated that while the company is looking to expand its oil palm production, it has identified Guyana

as one of the most feasible investment opportunities for expansion.

“Region Six is the like-

ly area of interest for our project, which will include the establishment of an oil mill and refinery, as well

as downstream processing facilities. As this will be the first of its operation in Guyana, a lot of prelimi-

nary work, including a soil feasibility study, rainfall records, soil analysis and investigations, topographic structure, socio-economic impact, environmental impact assessment and others are also needed,” he said.

The investment opportunity was welcomed by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, who stated that such an investment is necessary, even as his ministry continues to push for value-added production. He added, that once the project materialises, it would be the first of its kind and something which could attract other investors to follow suit.

The company will be working along with NAREI, which will be providing guidance on soil analysis.

Also accompanying Mr Bruce Jupiter, were Mr Aloysius Wu Sui Look, Director; Mr Chiok Boon Pan, Director and Mr Steven Young, consultant.

14

Orrin Gordon new REO for Region 10 FORMER chairman of the Interim Management Committee of Linden, Orrin Gordon, has been appointed Regional Executive Officer of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), effective Monday 13th March 2018.

In a statement, the Ministry of Communities quoted Gordon as saying that he will be taking up the post with an open mind.

He noted that his first order of business is to work hard to have government-allocated funding spent with greater effectiveness on projects within the Region 10 communities. This, he posited, will benefit the region, thereby providing a good life for the citizens of the region.

Gordon had applied to the Ministry of Communities for the position in 2018.

Mr Gordon’s career

spans decades with stints at Linmine as project analyst during the period 1981, at the Surapana Agricultural Allied Services Ltd. (SAASL), as a senior project analyst, 1984 ; SAASL production manager,1986; managing-director, 1991-2006; private enterprise, small entrepreneur (livestock production); current senior project analyst, 1984, Guyana Association of Municipalities (GAM) (Trea-

surer- 2005-2016) Gordon was also a member of several associations and committees. GAM representative on NAC (CARILED).(2012-2016); Convenor of Agriculture Committee-RDC #10- (1992-1997; member of Board of Directors (LEN), 2015-2017; member, National Water Management Committee (2008 member, National Animal Research and Production Committee (1984-1988); Caribbean Agro-Economic Association ; member, Guyana Poultry Producers Association; treasurer (1999-2003), Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development (LCICD); (senior vice-president (2003).

Mr Gordon has also been involved in publications of the National Agricultural Journal, “Efficacy of corn and sorghum vs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

Orrin Gordon

rice in broiler chicken diet”-“Results of mineral supplementation in swine feeding” and other mini-pub-

lications: Mini-handbook for small poultry producers, mini-handbook for small business management.

Mentally challenged man killed in accident A 4 9 - y e a r- o l d u n e m ployed man of Number Five Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), said to be mentally challenged, died in a road accident Thursday morning.

Reports indicate that Dwain Schultz, also known as “Hopetown” of Lot 12, Number Five Village, WCB, may have either launched himself into the path of the moving vehi-

cle, or may have suffered a blackout and fell into its path while crossing the public highway around 06:00hrs.

He was rushed to the Fort Wellington Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Relatives said the unmarried man was a competent electrician, but became an alcoholic after he lost his job at Mabura, Region

10, some time ago.

“He had mental issues and these were very pronounced Thursday night, all night before he eventually met his demise yesterday morning,” a relative said.

Schultz’s remains are awaiting a post-mortem while the driver of the motor car is assisting the police with the investigation.

Man in court for ‘stout’ bottle assault

TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD Rawle Da Costa, an operator of Grant Kitty, Lower Pomeroon River, Region Two, was on Thursday granted bail on a charge of felonious wounding when he appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that on March 13, 2018 he wounded Leonard Daniels. The court heard that Da Costa used a `stout’ bottle with the intention to disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm to Daniels.

The incident stemmed from an argument over a female acquaintance of the accused.

Da Costa pleaded not guilty, was granted $30,000 bail and will make his next court appearance at the Charity Magistrate’s Court on March 27.

Charged with having drugs and hand grenade A C H A R L E S TO W N , Georgetown mason was yesterday taken before a Magistrate’s Court, charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. He is 36-year-old Devon Adams.

It was alleged that on March 14, Adams was found with 2.510kg of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Attorney Keoma Griffith asked the magistrate to grant reasonable bail, due to the fact that the drugs were found in Sophia where his client was doing some construction work on the fence and there were other occupants who lived at the place. He noted also that the investigation was incomplete.

Prosecutor Sanj Singh objected to bail. He stated

that the police had enough evidence to convict and they had a written statement which was signed by the defendant. The prosecutor also disclosed that the defendant was also found in possession of a hand grenade.

Bail was refused by Magistrate Leron Daly and Adams was remanded to prison. The matter was adjourned to April 25.

Ex-cop charged with uttering fake currency

A 53-year-old ex-policeman on Friday appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, charged with uttering fake currency and obtaining money by false pretence.

James McKenzie of Public Road, Kitty, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on March 6 at Sheriff Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Karim Khan $1,200 in US currency, knowing same to be counterfeit.

He was also charged with uttering the fake currency to Khan to obtain a radiator valued $30,000 by falsely pretending that the money was genuine.

The taxi driver pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Daly, with no objection raised by police prosecutor Sanj Singh, released McKenzie on a total of $120,000 bail and adjourned the matter until April 3.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

Mother-of-two to know fate April 9 …asks judge for mercy, leniency

ON Friday afternoon in a packed courtroom in the Georgetown High Court before Justice Navindra Singh, a composed Hofosawa Awena Rutherford, asked the court for mercy and leniency when she was asked what she had to say before sentencing.

The well-dressed woman however, asked the judge for a probation report to be prepared before sentencing and the request was granted.

As such, the sentencing was adjourned to April 9, 2018 at 13:00hrs before the same judge.

On Thursday afternoon, a 12-member jury found the 25-year-old woman guilty of two counts of manslaughter, after which she fainted repeatedly.

She was found guilty of the ‘rat poison’ killing of her two young children back in 2014.

She was on trial in the Georgetown High Court before Justice Navindra

Singh and a 12-member jury for the March 27, 2014 alleged ‘rat poisoning’ of her two children at her home at Branch Road, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

that she did not poison her children and she was tramautised by the memory of losing them.

She said, “I didn’t buy rat poison to kill my chil-

Hofosawa Awena Rutherford at the Georgetown High Court on Thursday morning

On Wednesday when the trial continued in the Georgetown High Court, in leading her defence, the accused opted to give an unsworn statement from the prisoner’s box.

Rutherford told the court

dren, it was cold tablets I gave them.”

Rutherford in a very teary address to the court on Wednesday, said she was not treated fairly by the police because they accused her of poisoning her

Rutherford being led away from the High Court by the police after she was found guilty of two counts of manslaughter, which caused her to seemingly faint several times

children.

One of those who took the stand on Wednesday included Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh, who gave the cause as pesticide poisoning by carbon tablets (rat poison), also called aluminium sulphate.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge of two counts of manslaughter and is being represented by defence counsel Adrian Thompson.

Meanwhile, the state’s case is led by prosecutor Tiffini Lyken in association with Shawnette Austin and

Abigail Gibbs.

In Lyken’s opening statement following the empanelling on Monday, she told the court that oneyear-old Jabari Cadogan and four-year-old Odasia Cadogan died from pesticide poisoning.

Speaker unveils Commonwealth Tree MEMBERS of the National Assembly on Thursday witnessed the presentation of a Commonwealth Tree planted in observance of Commonwealth Day 2013 in the compound of Public Buildings.

The tree was unveiled by Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland.

Five years ago, former Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman and Dr Vindhya Persaud, along with the Clerk of the National Assembly and the staff of Parliament, gathered to plant an almond tree sapling.

Trotman in brief remarks thanked the Speaker and his staff not only for ensuring that the tree blossomed, but by protecting it with an ornate fence. A plaque was also placed near the tree “What you see today symbolises the strength of this tree and the strength of the Commonwealth of 53 nations and is testimony to Guyana’s long-standing and long commitment, long into the future to the Commonwealth and its ongoing successes,” said Trotman.

The former Speaker, now Minister of Natural Resources, said he is humbled that a “little project” which was

started five years ago has developed. “Much work has been done to reinforce the symbolism it stood for five years ago,” he added.

Similarly, Dr Persaud said trees are very important and noted that once there is a stable root, then the possibilities are endless.

“When we plant a tree in the precincts of Parliament and when associated with the Commonwealth, I think it stands for all of us as parliamentarians to remind us that we must always preserve democracy, fight for the rights of people, stand up against injustice and be fair in our treatment and honourable in our dealings in Parliament and out of Parliament.”

The parliamentarian reminded the House that the Commonwealth remains a very important institution of which Guyana is a member and noted Guyana’s long history there.

“I am happy to see the tree has blossomed – it means with constant nurturing of everything that is positive for this country,[And] good for the people of Guyana--- I think we can see a strong tree in the future,” she said, while calling for collectivity.

“I do believe the people

of Guyana expect us to plant roots that will flower and produce all good things for them,” Dr Persaud added.

Meanwhile, Dr Scotland announced that additional work would be done in the area surrounding the tree.

Among the new additions to come, is the installation of two LED lights. That aside, it was suggested by parliamentarian Harry Gill that on Commonwealth Day, the flags of each nation be placed around the tree.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland; Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; Dr Vindhya Persaud and staff of Parliament Buildings stand in front of the Commonwealth Tree on Thursday (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

Attack on crew, burning of GWI vehicle labelled as ‘lawless’

GUYANA Water Incorporated (GWI) Managing-Director, Dr Richard Van-West Charles, says the recent attack on its disconnection team and the company’s transport vehicle is a “lawless” act which “cannot be accepted.”

The attack occurred on March 15 in Buxton-Friendship and resulted in the destruction of a vehicle transporting six GWI workers by means of arson by an irate resident, whose meter the workers aimed to disconnect.

At a press conference on Friday at the GWI headquarters, it was revealed that the workers, namely Christopher Semple, Lennox Douglas, Claremont Cato, Tevin Howard, Richard Kilkenny and Kevin Blair, were forced to flee the scene in fear for their lives.

A SCARY EXPERIENCE According to the managing-director, on the previous day, (March 14), a crew of GWI’s staff was on Company Road, Friendship, East Coast Demerara, carrying out disconnections when an altercation with a resident obstructed the work of the crew members.

The following day (March15), the workers returned, but were approached by the irate resident from the other side of Company Road.

The resident then sprayed the interior and exterior of the company’s transport vehicle with gasoline from a soda bottle.

Van-West Charles says the man, Dexroy Todd, who also wielded a cutlass, then lit his cigarette lighter and set the vehicle ablaze, prompting a swift escape from the crew members who were both surprised and shaken.

According to Kevin Blair: “It was something that none of us expected…everybody panicked and ran…we didn’t look back, we just ran.”

The crew workers then went to the Vigilance Police Station, where they reported the matter.

The managing-director says the vehicle had been severely damaged to the point that is has to be “written off.”

“This matter cannot be tolerated by anyone. This level of lawlessness will not and must not intimidate the work of GWI…all of our citizens must stand up against this type of lawlessness in our country.

“GWI in its quest has to

continue to disconnect, has to continue to get into the villages to be able to conduct repairs of leaks, etcetera.

But, it has to be in partnership with the community,” Van-West Charles said.

GWI UNDER ATTACK He added that the action of disconnections was not specific to the community of Buxton and the GWI was widely known to conduct disconnections and checks country-wide for the efficiency of the company.

“It is inevitable that one would see this activity across the country in all of the regions, nothing specific to the village of Buxton, nothing specific to any one geographic area, or one ethnic or religious grouping,” he clarified.

Just two months ago, the company engaged in a meeting with the Buxton-Friendship community, which is $34M in debt to the GWI, on matters affecting the community and possible improvements.

However, Van-West Charles did point out that the company had been experiencing a number of repeated attacks, primarily in the East Coast region.

“What is strange is that

basically these attacks are on the East Coast. Last year, we had about four of these, but the thing is the attacks are not simple attacks, the attacks are violent attacks.

“Last year one staff member, an engineer, actually withdrew from the service because of the attacks of working with GWI… decided that the risk was too high for him,” he told.

POLICE INVOLVEMENT Currently, the matter is being investigated by the police who are preparing themselves to take the necessary action in accordance with the law, the managing-director updated.

He said too that wherever the company decides that there is a high risk of altercation, the police will be informed through GWI’s security consultants, requesting their presence.

“The police force has committed its support to working with us in this venture and we shall proceed to ensure that we respond to the mission of this organisation in providing a better service for all of our citizens,” he concluded.

Bandits brutalise Port Mourant family A 34-year-old woman was stripped and sexually harassed,while her family was terrorised and robbed by four armed men Thursday evening at their Lot 309 Area ‘R’, Ankerville, Port Mourant home.

“They came in,grabbed all the jewellery I was wearing; not satisfied, two of them take me in the bedroom, take the cutlass and cut my clothes while demanding more cash and jewellery,” the woman said in tears.

She went on to say as the men continued their demand for more cash, they threatened to rape her.

At around 19:00hrs, four men armed with cutlasses, knives and a gun attacked the family while they were in the living room watching television.

The men, who were masked, entered and demanded the family hand over valuables and cash.

According to information received, the men reportedly gained access to the home by cutting a hole in the fence.

Relating the ordeal, the young mother said as the bandits began demanding cash, her family cooperated in an effort to avoid being hurt.

However, they were bent on hurting them with one of the men blurting out, “I just come outta jail, ah need money.”

She added that, her moth-

on he and tek the cutlass and ‘broadside’ he... tie up his hand and feet and tie he mouth with a rag, them carry me in the room and knock me with a wood to my head

search and ransack the house.

They left with eight cell phones, an undisclosed sum of cash and a quantity of jewellery.

The family said they lost close to $2M in the ordeal.

The nine-year-old son of the young mother was left in a state of shock.

“They knock he off he chair and put the cutlass to he and threaten to chop he because they wanted more money,” she said.

Before escaping, the men tied each of them and asked her son for the keys to open the gate, but due to his confused state, he accidentally gave them the wrong keys. The men then jumped the fence and escaped.

A report was made The body of the child “broadsided” by bandits in to the police who have since launched an investhe robbery tigation into the matter.

No arrest has been made er-in-law, 63, was not spared, asking for jewellery and thus far. as she too was roughed up by money,” the young mother Residents of Ankerville the gun-toting men. said. and Miss Phoebe, Port MouThe mother-in-law told She also related that one rant, are calling on the Guythe Guyana Chronicle that of the men told her they will ana Police Force to intensify the men searched all the kill her, saying “she is old, their presence in the comrooms and ruthlessly beat she can die”. munity. her son.

The woman went on to Recently, they say, some “They were small built say that while they were be- suspicious-looking characand had on some big boots, ing brutalised, the other ban- ters have been seen in the them kick he up, stomped dits took the opportunity to communities.

Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Managing-Director, Dr Richard Van-West Charles, informs the media of the events which transpired leading up to the GWI company vehicle being set on fire (Photo

by Adrian Narine)

Car turns turtle trying to avoid collision

THE busy traffic on the Rupert Craig Highway came to a halt Friday afternoon after motor car PNN 3909 turned turtle.

Reports received indicate that the driver of the car and his girlfriend, a nurse attached to a city hospital were heading west along the Rupert Craig Highway in the vicinity of Church Road, Subyranville, when a black car suddenly stopped in his path.

He swerved to avoid a collision with other vehicles and lost control of his car which toppled several times before landing on its top a few feet away from the Kitty Seawall. The driver and his girlfriend were the only occupants of the car.

They were both taken to hospital with minor injuries.

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Ready to roll GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 17, 2018

–– Annual Pakaraima Safari to hit the road next Sunday

By Lisa Hamilton A NUMBER of foreign and local adventurers will brave the exciting 529-mile journey to the very heart of Guyana during the 16th Annual Pakaraima Mountain Safari, an unforgettable experience of nature, wildlife and culture.

The expedition, being branded as the biggest safari for the year, which runs from March 25 to April 1, will see participants from Suriname, Belize, Brazil, the United States, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana traversing through 14 indigenous villages in the interior region.

These individuals have the chance to sight wildlife such as jaguars, monkeys, black caimans, giant anteaters and river turtles; numerous rivers, falls, mountains and hills, as well as hundreds of species of birds.

The objective of the safari is to promote domestic tourism, thereby giving both Guyanese and non-nationals the chance to experience the culture, history, heritage and cuisines offered by the villages they plan visiting.

At the event’s launching at the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Minster within the aforementioned ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, congratulated

At the Safari launch on Friday. Seated from left at the media briefing are: Rainforest Tours Lisa Smith; Safari Coordinator Frank Singh; Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe; GTA’s Annarie Seecharan; and GuyOil’s Eric Whaul Safari Coordinator and Man- she added. that the villages which will deadline. aging-Director of Rainforest be visited are: Karasabai, And with safety being an PROJECT Tours, Frank Singh, for takTiperu, Rukumoto, Mora- important aspect of the safaCOMPONENT ing the initiative to organise baiko, Yurong Paru, Monkey ri, Guyana Tourism AuthorShe urged that next Mountain, Tuseneng, Para- ity (GTA) Senior Marketing such an outing.

She said that not only year, the safari team con- makatoi, Kato, Kurukubaru, Officer, Annarie Seecharan, will the exposition help to sider doing a project in one Kamana and Orinduik. is encouraging all particigenerate financial income for of the communities they Participants will assem- pants to be cautious while on the communities they pro- visit, as apart from having ble, as per usual, at the Guy- the roadways. pose visiting, but it will also the time of their lives, doing Oil Gas station on Regent She is also urging ashelp create awareness about so will help give them a Street at 01:00h for depar- piring safarians to be reGuyana’s rich indigenous deeper feeling of accom- ture at 03:00hrs the same spectful of the indigenous plishment. cultures. morning. villages and support their “If you can consider one “The Ministry of IndigeOn Day Three, the group businesses, and used the nous Peoples' Affairs is very day for a project within a will overnight in Tuseneng, opportunity to encourage happy to partner with the community; for example where they will join the min- more Guyanese to come on Pakaraima Safari and Frank building a bridge at a cross- istry in celebrating Village board to see the fullness of Singh; this will add more, not ing...

Day with the community, or their country.

“I’m sure everybody can opt to continue to Lethem only financially, but you will GuyOil has been selearn more about [the] indig- use a hammer; they can fetch for the Rupununi Rodeo lected to be the sponsor of enous way of life,” Minister wood, they can tie some- on March 31, instead of re- choice to provide the safari thing. I think if you add a turning to Georgetown right with petroleum products, Garrido-Lowe said.

“They will be preparing project to this whole safari away. which, according to Marfor the safari there with experience, you will come Thus far, 15 vehicles keting and Sales Manager, their craft, their food, their off feeling much better,” she have been registered for the Eric Whaul, coincides with beverages, their culture said. trip, which the coordinators Guyana’s ‘green’ initiative.

Singh, a veteran safa- hope will reach the 25-veshow. So I think you will have a wonderful time,” ri campaigner, announced hicle limit by the March 21 CLEAN AND ‘GREEN’

“The persons participating in the safari this year, consistent with the whole ‘green’ initiative, will be using the cleanest diesel available in the Guyana market,” he said.

“When you go into the Amerindian communities, you’ll not be doing any form of contamination of the air.

“It is clean fuel: There’s no black smoke, there is no smell. So, this year, you’re going with the best fuel available.”

Meanwhile, providing fuel for the body will be Banks DIH Limited, and according to Brand Manager of Water Beverages, Clive Pellew, the beverages available will be the Rainforest Water, Powerade, and Monster Energy.

Pellew said that his company is proud to be a part of the safari and to work along with the government, and wished the coordinators of the event all the best in their endeavours.

The Annual Pakaraima Mountain Safari began in March 2003 with just four Land Rovers and two tractors and trailers, which made the journey along with the attendance of members of government and officials.

‘Ageing transmission system in Georgetown must be replaced’ –– Dr Van-West Charles ALTHOUGH the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has congratulated the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) for its resuscitation of fire hydrants countrywide, the GFS pointed out that while at the recent Pike Street fire, water pressure from the fire hydrant was not strong enough for them to access the needed water.

In response to this at a media briefing held at the GWI yesterday, ManagingDirector, Dr Richard VanWest Charles, said that this is a result of an ageing network of transmission lines which is in need of replacement.

“I think we have enough pressure in the system, we can raise the pressure, [but] the problem we have, especially in central Georgetown, is the age of the network.

“On the said morning that they attempted to raise the pressure with respect to

Kitty, and they did raise the pressure, we had a significant blow out of a 16-inch transmission line just outside of the office of the leader of the opposition,” he told members of the media.

Dr Van-West Charles reported that just two days ago, another 16-inch transmission line gave way on the eastern side of Vlissengen Road, just opposite the Ministry of Agriculture and added that some lines are over 100 years old.

“I think it’s imperative that GWI and the Government of Guyana, we find a solution with respect to a replacement of this aged network in central Georgetown. It is very old and in terms of us increasing and maintaining the pressure, it is something that we have to look at,” he said, adding: “That’s why we’re responding as quickly as possible to many of the leaks notifications that we get…as

The media were briefed about future projects of the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) to improve its pressure supply at a press conference yesterday. Seated from left are: Managing-Director, Dr Richard Van-West Charles; Executive Director of Project Implementation and Partnership Building, Ramchand Jailal and Executive Director of Corporate Services, Nigel Niles (Photo by Adrian Narine) the leaks come in to us, we are monitoring the response time of our staff.”

Through funds allocated by the government, the water company has a contract to begin these replacements in phases beginning on Vlissengen Road from Shelter-belt to the Kitty Seawall.

Meanwhile, from Shelter-belt to Cemetery Road in central Ruimveldt, the GWI is attempting to have the works funded through an Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) European Union (EU) programme, which has been tendered and is currently being reviewed

by the IDB. According to Executive Director of Project Implementation and Partnership Building at GWI, Ramchand Jailal, the phase-by-phase approach will result in an estimated cost of US$40M to fix the priority areas in central Georgetown.

In addition, Van-West

Charles said there are a number of other issues that the government is addressing with regard to production, but it is the hope of GWI to change this shortcoming in its system as new schemes are developed.

“We have to ensure that as lands are allocated, that we are prepared to have the infrastructure in place together with the Central Housing & Planning Authority to service those populations,” he said.

The managing-director says the agency has begun talks with Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to include in their budgets, in the coming years, the coverage of rehabilitation and installing fire hydrants in their communities. “…in those new towns that we begin to map out the number of hydrants that are needed and that, collectively, we find the resources to address it because it’s a security issue,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 17, 2018

UCL quarter-finals drawn (REUTERS) - JUVENTUS were given a chance to avenge last year’s Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid when the two sides were drawn together for the quarter-finals of this year’s competition on Friday.

The last eight also produced an all English pairing

as Premier League leaders Manchester City were drawn against Liverpool, the only team to have beaten Pep Guardiola’s side in the league this season.

In the other ties, Barcelona will face AS Roma, bringing back unhappy memories for the Italian side who

lost 6-1 on their last visit to the Nou Camp in November 2015, and Sevilla, who beat Manchester United in the last round, will take on Bayern Munich.

The first leg will be played on April 3/4 with the return matches one week later.

Bangladesh win high-drama contest (Reuters) - BANGLADESH will meet India in Sunday’s final of the Twen-

ty20 tri-series after Mahmudullah blasted 43 not out off 18 balls to secure their

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday March 17, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

Scotland, Zimbabwe & Afghanistan

(2)

Stefanie Taylor-90 (First ODI, Lincoln) Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who scored most runs for the WI in the group stages of the ICC WC Qualifiers?

(2) Which WI woman took most wickets in the recent ODI series against NZ? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

thrilling two-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in an ill-tempered match on Friday.

High drama unfolded in the virtual semi-final at the R Premadasa Stadium with Bangladesh needing 12 runs off the last over bowled by Isuru Udana, and Mahmudullah smashed a six off the penultimate delivery to seal an emotional victory for his team.

Play had been briefly halted as Bangladesh players remonstrated about two shoulder-high balls in the final over and members of both teams had to be restrained.

Earlier, Sri Lanka slumped to 41-5 in the ninth over after being put into bat, before fighting half-centuries from Kusal Perera and captain Thisara Perera helped them to a respectable total of 159-7.

Playing his first match of the tournament following a finger injury, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan triggered a spectacular top-order collapse by dismissing Sri Lanka opener, Danushka Gunathilaka, in the third over.

Kusal Perera made 61, and Thisara Perera contributed 58, to arrest the slide and help Sri Lanka past the 150-mark.

Opener Tamim Iqbal led Bangladesh’s reply with a fluent 50, but they

Nurul Hasan and Thisara Perera were involved in a heated exchange, Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, 6th match, Colombo, March 16, 2018

lost wickets in quick succession until Mahmudullah took responsibility to get them over the line.

Kept off strike for the first two balls of the final over from Udana, Mahmudullah hit the third for four, took two off the next, and flicked the fifth over the square leg boundary for six to trigger wild celebration by his team mates.

ICC World Cup Qualifiers….

Zimbabwe stun Ireland for top spot

(ESPNCricinfo) - SIKANDAR Raza has become Zimbabwe’s MVP in recent years: he is their middle-order enforcer, provides insurance with the ball, and even pulls off electric catches in the field. On Friday, Raza enhanced his reputation as Zimbabwe’s MVP with a punchy 69 on a slower-than-usual Harare pitch where every other batsman struggled. His 13th ODI half-century - and 12th in the last three years - rallied Zimbabwe from 139 for 7 to 211 for 9. The spinners, led by Tendai Chisoro, then made

the score look bigger and ensured the hosts maintained their unbeaten run in the World Cup qualifier.

On a dry Harare surface, Ireland had only one specialist spinner in Andy McBrine, who returned 2 for 42. In contrast, Zimbabwe had two frontline spinners in Chisoro and captain Graeme Cremer in addition to Raza’s offbreaks and Sean Williams’ left-arm spin. Chisoro, who had taken the new ball, alone struck three times in the first 12 overs. He had captain William Porterfield miscuing a quick fizzer to short midwicket. The left-arm

spinner proceeded to remove Ed Joyce and Niall O’Brien before Cremer and Williams took care of the middle order and the tail.

Opener Paul Stirling stood alone for Ireland, making 41 off 70 balls, before falling to a muddled mix-up, which encapsulated their batting effort.

Ireland were ultimately rolled over for 104 in 34.2 overs.

Earlier, Raza had displayed great clarity: he manipulated the fields expertly in the middle overs before providing a finishing kick.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 17, 2018

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GUYANA FOOTBALL FEDERATION INC. (GFF)

Extra Time GFF EXTRATIME: Saturday, Mar 17,2018

CONCACAF D LICENSE TRAINING PROGRAMME WRAPS UP TOMORROW Practical Session Continues Today

The participants involved in the Concacaf D License programme, which began last Thursday, were engaged in practical exercises at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue yesterday. This is complementary to the theoretical aspect of the programme.

The programme, while acting to train and certify the 13 D Licenses prospects, will also serve to certify three prospective D License Instructors - Sampson Gilbert, Bryan Joseph and Ian Greenwood This is the first course that the new instructors will undertake in the Region following the Train-The-Trainers Course held in late 2017.

Among the CONCACAF officials in Guyana are Anton Corneal (Concacaf Instructor) and Andre Waugh (Manager of Development Caribbean).

UPDATE: GFF NATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE The materials to aid construction of the construction of the GFF National Training Centre have arrived in Guyana.

The ten containers included the turf and goals. According to President Forde, the turf will be laid in the next six weeks.

To date, the preparatory works have progressed well including the drainage pipes, which have been laid

GFF ELITE LEAGUE CONTINUE TOMORROW

Tune into GFF EXTRATIME TV this and every Sunday at 11:00hrs, NCNTV

PRODUCED BY THE GUYANA FOOTBALL FEDERATION INC. (GFF) AND DESIGNED BY THE GUYANA CHRONICLE

For further Information or should you have questions/comments , please contact: General Secretary Guyana Football Federation (GFF) 17 Dadanawa Street, Section “K” Campbelville, Georgetown TEL: +1 592 227 8758 ext. 102 FAX: +1 592 225 2096

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 17, 2018

Windies Women continue woeful performances (CMC) - WEST Indies Women extended their miserable winless run against New Zealand Women, when they crashed to a heavy 106-run defeat in the second Twenty20 International on Friday.

Chasing an imposing 186 for victory under lights at Bay Oval, the Caribbean side’s batting collapsed yet again, to leave them well short of their target at 79 for eight off their allotted 20 overs.

Kyshona Knight top-scored with 20 and was just one of three in double figures as the innings never got going, after losing a cluster of wickets up front.

Pacer Sophie Devine helped wreck Windies with three for 12, while off-spinner Leigh Kasperek ended with two for 13.

Earlier, the hosts piled up 185 for three off their 20 overs after being sent in, with Amy Satterthwaite hammering an unbeaten 71 and wicketkeeper Katey Martin stroking 65.

They were given a steady start

by Devine and captain Suzie Bates,

who put on 33 off 26 deliveries for the first wicket.

Devine, dropped at point by Hayley Matthews off speedster Shamilia Connell off the first ball of the match, struck 27 from 21 balls with three fours and a six, while Bates made 14.

Connell got the breakthrough when Bates dragged on a cross-batted heave in the fifth over and Devine followed in the seventh, holing out to Matthews at long-on off seamer Akeira Peters on 52 for two.

The Windies joy was shortlived, however, as Satterthwaite and Martin combined in a 124-run, third wicket stand to put New Zealand in command.

Sattherthwaite faced 42 balls and belted nine fours and a couple of sixes while Martin stroked 11 fours, also off 42 deliveries, to record her second straight half-century.

Faced with staging their highest-ever successful run chase, the Windies crumbled under the pressure and lost early wickets.

Kyshona Knight top-scored with 20 in a timid Windies batting effort

Narine action reported during PCL

West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine

(CMC) – THE career of West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine was once again thrown into doubt after he was reported for a suspected illegal bowling action during the Pakistan Super League.

The 29-year-old Trinidadian, who plays for Lahore Qalanders, was reported following Wednesday’s 17-run victory over Quetta Gladiators in which he took two for 20 in an excellent four-over spell.

Narine has been placed on a warning list but is still free to play in the

tournament. However, if he is reported again he will be slapped with a ban.

“Mr. Narine has now been placed on the warning list and may continue to be selected to play and bowl for his team in the PSL,” the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed.

“As the PSL follows the ICC Regulations on illegal bowling, if a player is reported while on the warning list, the player shall be suspended from bowling for the remainder of the PSL tournament.”

The PCB are now expected to forward the match officials report to Cricket West Indies.

Narine’s career has been plagued by question marks over his action and was banned 2-1/2 years ago after being reported following a One-Day International between West Indies and Sri Lanka in Pallekele.

He took no part in the West Indies Twenty20 World Cup campaign in India in 2016 as he underwent remedial work on his action, and was eventually cleared to resume bowling in April of that year.

Narine courted controversy last month when he, along with fellow Trinidadians Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Jamaican Andre Russell, opted out of selection for the ongoing ICC World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

‘Creditable’ performance from Paul – Holder CMC – HIGHLY-regarded all-rounder Keemo Paul has come in for high praise from West Indies captain Jason Holder, following his international debut against Afghanistan on Thursday.

The 20-year-old, a late replacement for the injured leftarm seamer Sheldon Cottrell, scored an unbeaten 16 batting at number 10, and then grabbed a brace of wickets with his lively pace, as West Indies slid to a three-wicket defeat at Harare Sports Club in their opening Super Sixes match of the ongoing ICC World Cup Qualifiers.

“I was really pleased with Keemo. He flew in two days ago, had a practice session [on Wednesday] and was straight into the game,” Holder said Thursday.

“We’ve obviously got some injury concerns in our camp and he was asked to do a job and I felt he performed creditably.”

A key member of the West Indies side which won the Youth World Cup two years ago, Paul’s stocks have risen

quickly of recent. He starred in the recent first-class season, grabbing 42 wickets and also scored his maiden hundred, as he helped propel Guyana Jaguars to their fourth straight title.

In the recent Regional Super 50, Paul snapped up 13 wickets at 21 runs apiece, earning a call-up to West Indies ‘A’ where he took eight wickets – including a five-wicket haul – in two on-dayers and notched a half-century.

Holder said Paul’s strong all-round assets showed he was one for the future.

“He’s one of those guys who have been doing really well on the domestic circuit back home,” Holder noted.

“He’s very skillful and shows he has some potential with the bat as well and he took a really good catch today for us.

“I expect really good things from him going forward in the future and I want to wish him all the best.”

West Indies face Zimbabwe in their next Super Six match, in what will be a mustwin encounter.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, March 13, 2018

29

89 days to go…

Projecting Mexico’s World Cup Roster Only eligible since January, Monterrey midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez is starting to build his case to be included on Mexico’s roster for the World Cup in Russia.

Will he represent El Tri this summer? He’s not even close to a lock like centre back Hector Moreno, whose move to Real Sociedad should have him feeling fresh, or Miguel Layun, who also got a lifeline with a winter move to Sevilla.

But Gonzalez could edge his way into the team, as could a handful of other players we saw on display in Wednesday’s 1-0 friendly win over Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa, Jesus Corona, Alfredo Talavera The three goalkeepers in Russia seem entirely dependent on how Talavera recovers from the knee injury that has knocked him out of the Apertura. The Toluca goalkeeper should be back on the field for the Red Devils soon, giving him a full four months to get back to normal.

It’s not a huge issue for Mexico if Talavera can’t rediscover his previous form.

Ochoa is the undoubted No. 1, starting back-to-back World Cup qualifiers in the September cycle. The Standard Liege shot-stopper held his own against a potent Belgium attack in November and continues to be dependable when called upon for El Tri. Jesus Corona put in a good performance in November as well, especially with his right-leg save in the second half to keep the clean sheet intact against Poland. Mexico’s top-two goalkeepers should be of little worry.

For the third spot? If Talavera isn’t up to snuff, Osorio looks to be all in on Chivas goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota. In previous friendly matches, he’s used one of his six substitutions on the goalkeeper, but Cota went the distance against Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Defenders: Hector Moreno, Nestor Araujo, Diego Reyes, Edson Alvarez, Miguel Layun, Carlos Salcedo, Jesus Gallardo, Hugo Ayala.

Suddenly there’s hope.

Moreno moved to Real Sociedad and Layun went to Sevilla in the winter window.

That puts the left half of Mexico’s best back four in position to win La Liga minutes after they were left to rot on the bench for Roma and Porto, respectively.

Still, this area continues to be the place of biggest concern for Mexico, and our projection includes no players who are primarily right backs. But if Osorio is concerned about that, he hasn’t shown it.

Layun, Salcedo, Alvarez and Reyes all can play the position — and have for the

Salcedo is playing as a right centre back with Frankfurt but once again moved out wide against Belgium before coming inside against Poland.

Alvarez had a standout Gold Cup that led to minutes in the recent batch of World Cup qualifiers. After Alvarez spent the summer

Luis “Chaka” Rodriguez’s strong showing at right back against Bosnia may earn him a recall and a look against tougher competition in March.

Midfielders: Andres Guardado, Hector Herrera, Jonathan dos Santos, Javier Aquino, Marco Fabian, Jonathan Gonzalez

training with the team in Russia, though not part of the Confederations Cup squad, it’s a safe bet that he’ll be

Gonzalez hasn’t seen much time with Mexico. He didn’t start in the friendly against Bosnia & Herzegov-

also say he’s getting the same chance as everyone else.

That should mean time in the March friendly matches.

Osorio keeps saying Gonzalez has a bright present and future. In the present, he looked comfortable enough in the more advanced role to draw attention and also has the ability to slot in more centrally. Maybe March changes things negatively for Gonzalez. For February’s projection, he’s in.

Guardado is in good form with Real Betis, even with the La Liga outfit struggling, and is shaping up to be the leader of the team this summer, on the field and in the locker room.

Of course, if Rafa Marquez’s situation is resolved, El Kaiser could fill the latter role.

It seems more and more likely that won’t happen in time. Despite Marquez’s

Mexico national team in the past few months.

Gallardo’s positive performances against Bosnia at left back and against Poland, first at left wing back then at left back, means Layun could be on the right if needed.

included, especially after his midfield minutes in the final World Cup qualifier against Honduras showcased his versatility. He likely would’ve played more in Europe were it not for the injury he suffered against Belgium.

ina. Despite all that, everything is pointing to Gonzalez making the team.

Osorio and sporting director Dennis te Kloese have been clear that they’ve made no assurances to Gonzalez about going to Russia. They

name slowly continuing to be cleared, Osorio said recently that it would come down to a sporting decision. Marquez is a legend, but do his Atlas showings (and recent injuries) really reflect a player who needs to be at the World Cup?

This is an experienced group, though.

Like in El Tri’s last trip to Russia, there’s not a player here who specializes in sitting back and destroying attacks.

Dos Santos and Herrera took that job on to some extent at the Confederations Cup, and they’ll have to do so again with few top-quality options available for Mexico as a defensive midfielder.

Reyes and Guardado paired together to good effect against Belgium, so that’s another option. Gonzalez does that with Monterrey, but with his small stature Osorio prefers him to be playing further up the field.

Fabian is a big question mark here as he continues to struggle with injuries. When Fabian has been healthy, Osorio and the coaching staff have wanted the Eintracht Frankfurt man in the group.

He’s due to return for Frankfurt as soon as Saturday.

Forwards: Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, Raul Jimenez, Carlos Vela, Hirving Lozano, Jesus “Tecatito” Corona, Giovani dos Santos.

Chicharito, Lozano and Tecatito are locks based on their form for club and country since Osorio arrived.

Jimenez and Vela are likely in that group as well, even as their playing time dipped toward the end of 2017. Jimenez looks to be stuck at Benfica, while Vela’s inclusion may depend on how quickly he adapts to MLS with Los Angeles FC. His multifunctional night Wednesday hints at a bright future.

Giovani dos Santos didn’t look great against Bosnia & Herzegovina, and we thought it was fair to discuss his place on the roster after the contest. Osorio, however, saw it differently and seemed delighted with how Gio kept his fitness up during the offseason. Watch this space, but for now it looks like Gio is in.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 17, 2018

BVA names squads for one-day tourney against Demerara THE Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) has selected its male and female squads to represent them in a one-day tournament today at the GUYSUCO Apprentice Training Centre Hostel,

Corentyne, Berbice.

The male squad comprises D. Lutchman, L. David, A. Moore, J. Jagmohan, T. Farley, S. Seechrand, D. AlAhmad and A. Bowling.

Fazeena Alpine, Alisha Mohabir, Arliyah Mohabir, Philana Sampson, Candesa Mentore, Allison Haynes, Keisha Rodrigues, Amanda Mohan and Krystal Paddy will make up the female squad.

The players named are asked to report to the hostel by 09:00hrs today.

BVI’s president, Levi Nedd along with Errol Chase are the coaches for the two squads.

‘7 Generation Games’ foundation lands in Guyana AS part of their drive to create academically smarter athletes, the ‘7 Generation Games foundation on Friday officially embarked on making Guyana apart of the initiative.

The simple ceremony was held at Palm Court, Main Street, where ‘7 Generations Games’ coordinator for Guyana, Navin Singh; CEO Maria Burns-Ortiz;Jason Fraser,

the foundation’s Trinidadian representative; and Secretary of the Queen’s College Board of Governors, Robert Forrester, gave an insight about the project.

Burns-Ortiz, sister of former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter turned World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Ronda Rousey, who arrived from Los Angeles, said the foundation

was geared towards perfecting the mathematical and grammatical aspects of children.

She said the educational app which can be downloaded on any device, has been used to help students who suffer with a lack of properly solving and understanding mathematical problems.

Burns added that the foundation has been making games more

children-friendly in order to help the users improve their skills.

Fraser said that the move to bring the idea to Guyana was due to the foundation’s goal to introduce the games which will help the local students. He said that the results will be overwhelming as hundreds of persons have made tremendous strides by use of the games.

West Berbice cricket clubs accuse Black of unfairness Claims of nepotism for almost two decades

By Rajiv Bisnauth

A MAJORITY of cricket clubs under the auspices of the West Berbice Cricket Association (WBCA) has criticised the imbalance of power within the WBCA, calling it an injustice to not only certain club administrators, but players as well.

The criticism comes in the wake of David Black being returned unopposed as President of the WBCA for the 10th consecutive year.

The association had its annual general meeting and elections on March 8 last, at the Fort Wellington Secondary School.

A member from one of the cricket clubs, who spoke on condition of anonymity, informed Chronicle Sport that Black believes he owns cricket in West Berbice.

“It’s straight forward...this man (Black) feels he owns cricket in West Berbice. He has been the President for the association for more than 15 years now, and he has done nothing...absolutely nothing to improve the cricket.

All he cares about is power and not only power, the entire executive under his watch is either family or close friends,” the club member stated.

Another club member, who also

supported him...those are the clubs who turned up at the elections and voted for him.

“As per the elections, most clubs received the notice two days prior to March 8; it was never in the public eyes that the association will have elections, so I think that is an issue... notices must be out at least two weeks prior to the elections date”.

David Black

spoke on condition of anonymity, said Blacks’ incompetence and attitude towards certain clubs could have been the reasons he was re-elected for another term.

Asked if he was surprised by Blacks’ re-election, the fuming club member pointed out that “Blacks has his support...he has clubs who hardly play the game, so those are the clubs that

DEFENSE However, Black was quick to defend the widespread criticism. He said he has always acted in the best interest of West Berbice cricket.

Black, a former national Under-19 team manager, also pointed out that the elections process was transparent and was held within the constitutional framework of the association.

The other executives of the association are: Danraj Hamish (Vice-President), Carol Nurse (Secretary), Stembiso Williams (Assistant Secretary), Derrick McCalmon (Treasurer) and Carlston Nurse (Assistant Treasurer).

The committee members are Glenford Fordyce, Travis Moore, Godfrey Carmichael and Jaipaul Heeralall.

The local coordinator said that the idea was a brilliant one and he intends to push the initiative, as it will be beneficial to such a sport/ academically-oriented nation.

While the foundation plans to work along with the government of Guyana to further make the games accessible, it is expected that the first phase of the project will get underway soon.

American Racing Tips

09:55 hrs Fareeq

Gulfstream Park

10:30 hrs Ouro

Race 1 Starship Wildcat

11:05 hrs Inyanga

Race 2 Miss Casuarina Race 3 Howdy Boy

English Racing Tips

Race 4 Amace

Kempton

Race 5 Racings My Game

09:30 hrs Sao

Race 6 Rethinkme

10:05 hrs Copain De Classe

Race 7 Night Rhythm

10:40 hrs Just A Sting

Race 8 First Commander

11:15 hrs Brandon Hill

Race 9 Elite Heir

11:50 hrs Champagne Champ

Race10 The Green Mo’ster

12:35 hrs Allee Bleue

Race11 Ivy Bell

13:00 hrs Soldier Of Love

Irish Racing Tips

Fontwell

Wexford

09:40 hrs Big Robin

09:55 hrs Achiever

10:15 hrs Clondaw Westie

10:30 hrs Plouios

10:50 hrs Naranja

11:05 hrs A Place Apart

11:25 hrs Three Faces West

11:40 hrs Admiral Brian

12:00 hrs Matrow’s Lady

12:15 hrs Sumos Novios

12:35 hrs Magoo

12:50 hrs Crosshue Boy 13:25 hrs Small Farm

Uttoxeter 09:50 hrs Mozo

South Africa Racing Tips Turffontein 08:10 hrs White Winter 08:45 hrs Detonation 09:20 hrs Orchid Island

10:25 hrs Big River 11:00 hrs Overtown Express 11:35 hrs Western Climate 12:45 hrs Present Flight 13:20 hrs Whiskey In The Jar

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 17, 2018

31

Cricket Canada to stage Global T20 tournament in July … Pollard, Bravo set to participate

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada – West Indians Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo as well as New Zealander Brendon McCullum are three of the players listed to participate in the first-ever Cricket Canada’s maiden Global T20 tournament to be played here in July.

The three-week tournament, which precedes the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), scheduled to commence on August 8, has been given the green light by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and will be played at three venues across Toronto.

The three venues earmarked are Toronto Cricket Skating

and Curling Club, Sunnybrook Park and Maple Leaf Cricket Club.

According to a media release, the league has been conceptualised, designed, developed and managed by Mercuri Talent Management Pvt Ltd, an Indian company, with Cricket Canada, the official governing body for the sport in the country. The two have entered into a 25-year Master Licensing Agreement which covers not just the Global T20 Canada, but also investment in developing the grassroots for the sport in the country.

With this announcement Cricket Canada becomes the first Associate member of the ICC to set in motion a

Cricket Canada president Ranjit Saini

Twenty20 franchise league in the lucrative North Amer-

Choke sponsors Starlet Cup 2018 THE Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club has secured sponsorship from Choke Gas station for the 2018 edition of the Starlet Cup. According to a release from the club, Choke, located on the East Coast of Demerara, has opted to sponsor the circuit races for the Starlet Cup for the entire year.

Choke’s representative Christopher Singh, contended that he is impressed by what he has seen out of the sport for the last couple of years,

hence his decision to come on board.

Meanwhile the club stated, “We are elated to enter into a partnership with Choke Gas Station for the 2018 edition of the Starlet Cup.” “We see it as a major plus for the sport, showing us that there are sponsors out there who are willing to invest in the sport thus allowing it to thrive.”

“We want to thank Choke for joining us a partner for the 2018 season and look forward to them being a key

partner moving forward.”

The club announced its First National Race of Champions 2018 two weeks ago, confirming competition in six groups.

Apart from the Starlet Cup, there will be action in the Street and Sport Tuner classes, Groups 2, 3 and 4, as well as bikes.

The event’s title sponsors are STAG beer, Mohamed’s Enterprise and Tropical Shipping.

Guyana’s top horses ready to do battle tomorrow at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne

GUYANA and the Caribbean’s top race horses are ready to do battle tomorrow when the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club runs off its Phagwah six-race meet at the club’s facility, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.

The main event will see horses classified `E’ and

Lower competing for a first prize of $700, 000.

In other events for the day, animals classified `K’ and Lower will compete for the first-place prize of $160,000 over a distance of six furlongs, while `H’ and Lower will go over seven furlongs for a winning purse of $300,000.

‘L’ and Lower class horses have a race for $150 000 first prize over a distance of five furlongs; ‘I’ , ‘J’ and Lower for a $200,000 top prize over a distance of six furlongs; and the ‘L’ Class non-winners going five furlongs for the top prize of $120, 000 and a trophy.

ica market.

According to Cricket Canada, president Ranjit Saini, “Twenty20 Major League Cricket has the potential to change Canadian cricket forever. It is a great challenge and Cricket Canada is ready to deliver a resounding success.

The report further stated that founder and Group CEO of Mercuri Group, Sriram Bakthisaran declared, “We are absolutely delighted to partner with Cricket Canada to contribute directly to the success of cricket in Canada. “Cricket is coming back home and we are only too delighted to play a part in it. We have a

long-term vision and that also includes aiding in the development of a world class Canadian national side. So it is not just about the league, but about the all-round development of the sport.”

Each 15-man squad will consist of four Canadian local players with players expected from West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand.

Saini also pointed out that it has not been decided if the league will have an auction system with a salary cap or a draft, but that one of the six teams will be made entirely of West Indian overseas players.

“The West Indies is a

sponsor of the league,” Saini said. “The ICC approval is based on Full Member participation so one team will be a West Indian team.”

Saini said that the Global T20 Canada may generate revenues in the “six-figure” range for Cricket Canada in the first season and more in the subsequent years. “Cricket Canada is very excited by the opportunity and we’re looking forward to it.”

The tournament has also had the blessings of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who participated in a promotional cricket event at a school in Delhi, India during a recent visit there.

Future Stars, Alpha Warriors among winners in Corona Futsal

Future Stars (Grey bibs) were winners as the Round of sixteen phase of the Corona Futsal commenced at the National Gymnasium

FUTURE Stars and Alpha Warriors were among the winners as the Corona Fustal tournament continued with the round of sixteen matches on Thursday evening in the National Gymnasium.

Playing in game two of the night, the Future Stars unit brushed aside Sophia 6-4. Braces for William Europe (11th and 13th) and Cortez Kellman (13th and 17th) led Future Stars with Shane Morris and Aaron Anthony scoring in the 3rd and 10th respectively. Sophia had Shemroy Arthur scoring a brace (5th and 14th) as well as Sheik Kamal 1st and Desmond Cotton 7th.

In the earlier game Alpha Warriors beat Mocha 6-3 thanks to a hat trick from Opara Benjamin in the 7th,8th and 12th, Delroy Fraser’s brace in the 3rd and 18th and Delwin Frasers single strike in the 20th . Mocha had Amos Ramsey (13th and 19th) and Steffon Ramsey (5th) on target.

Bent Street beat Old School Ballers 6-2 in game three with Pernell Shultz netting in the 3rd, 9th and 16th while Daniel Willson, Andrew Murray and Kelsey Benjamin scored in the 8th, 17th and 19th respectively. Fabian Crawford and Rashaun Ritch were the two goal scorers for Old School.

California Square were the last team to enter the winners circle with a 4-3 win over Back Circle. The winners had David George (10th), Mishack Barratt (4th), Ned Arazer (6th) and Wesley Garraway (19th) on target while Back Circle’s three goals came from Adrian Aaron (8th), Donovan Francis (9th) and Jermaine Beckles (15th) Matches continue tonight with Xtreme Campbellville playing Tiger Bay, Alexander Village Playing West Front Road, Leopold Street taking on Show Stoppers and Sparta Boss playing Albouystown.

‘7 Generation Games’ foundation lands in Guyana 30 PAGE

Tensions high as Milo quarter-finals begin today THE quarter-finals for the 2018 edition of the Milo Schools Football tournament will commence today at the Ministry of Education ground with a double header.

The first of the two matches which begins at 14:00hrs pits Buxton Youth Development against Masters Academy, while the second game of the day will see Chase playing Sir Leon.

The action continues tomorrow, Sunday, with Lodge Secondary playing Pure Masters and Morgan Learning Centre going up against Annandale.

The tournament is sponsored by Milo, as well as the Ministry of Public, under the prevention of Gender based violence banner.

Flashblack! Tense quarter-final action is expected today in the Milo Schools Football tournament

Choke sponsors Starlet Cup 2018

‘Creditable’ performance from Paul – Holder Page 28

Page 31

GMR&SC office executive Desiree Lee, left collects the Choke sponsorship for the Starlet Cup.

Keemo Paul (left) is congratulated by Ashley Nurse after taking a wicket during his maiden ODI on Thursday.

Guyana’s top horses ready to do battle tomorrow at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne

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SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2018