Guyana chronicle e paper 11 07 2017

Guyana ready for CFATF confab Page 2

Security boost No. 105089

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

…China donates US$2.6M in transportation, communications equipment

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Police ranks about to test these ATVs, which will be transferred to the hinterland to boost security patrols.

The ATVs were part of the US$2.6M donation by the Chinese Government (Delano Williams photo)

President for State visit to Brazil Find a new formula Page 9

…TIGI urges new method to select GECOM chair

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Couple gets Man held self-bail on gold in teacher smuggling charge beating probe Page 11

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

President for state visit to Brazil PRESIDENT David Granger is scheduled to make a state visit to Brazil following the MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) Summit next month, the Ministry of the Presidency said Monday evening.

In this regard, the Head of State met with Brazil’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Lineu Pupo de Paula at State House on Monday to discuss issues pertaining to the agenda for the two-day visit, which is slated for December 21-22, 2017.

According to the ministry the visit was discussed and agreed to by Presidents Granger and Mr. Michel Temer of Brazil when they met on the margins of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September. President Granger said he intends to have discussions on a

number of matters including deeper cooperation between the Guyana Defence Force and the Brazilian Military in terms of capacity-building and expertise transfer and follow-up dialogue on the work of the Guyana-Brazil Joint Technical Working Group, which was established to identify and implement key developmental projects.

Back in June this year Guyana and Brazil held discussions in Brasilia on a range of issues on their bilateral agenda, including the development of infrastructure linking the two states, the promotion of trade and investment, and technical cooperation in agriculture, water resources management and other areas, as well as collaboration on issues of interest to the communities in the region of their common border.

They also agreed to pursue cooperation in the oil and gas sector as well as to work towards an agreement on cooperation and facilitation of investment. Also at that meeting an updated Air Services Agreement was signed between the two countries to further enhance air connectivity and the operation of air services between the two countries. A complementary technical cooperation agreement was also inked to provide support for seed certification, pest risk analysis and modernisation of plant health services in Guyana.

The agreements were signed during an official visit to Brasilia in June by Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Carl Greenidge and Minister of Public Infrastructure, the Honourable David Patterson following an invitation from the For-

President David Granger and Brazilian Ambassador, Mr Lineu Pupo de Paula at State House

eign Minister of Brazil, Mr. Aloysio Nunes.

During deliberations with Minister Nunes talks centered on the development of infrastructure linking Guyana and Brazil, the promotion of trade and investment and technical cooperation in

agriculture, water resources management and other areas, as well as collaboration on issues of interest to the communities in the Region of the Guyana-Brazil border.

Moreover, in the area of infrastructure, the focus was placed on steps

Guyana ready for CFATF confab

By Svetlana Marshall BARBADOS Mutual Evaluation, and the issue of de-risking are among areas that will be discussed when the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) 46TH Plenary and Working Group meetings are held here next week at the Marriott Hotel.

Over 163 participants from 26-member countries are expected to arrive in Guyana for the conference slated for November 12 to 16. Participants will be drawn from CARICOM countries as well as Central and South American nations.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank and Organisation of American States (OAS) are among international bodies that will be present.

Ahead of the conference, the Attorney General Chambers and Legal Affairs Ministry hosted a seminar for the Guyana delegation at Herdmanston Lodge on Monday to discuss several critical areas, including the Amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act, and the standard to be met for Guyana to exit the 4th Round of Mutual Evaluation.

In addressing the delegation, the Attorney General, Basil Williams, said the conference is being held at a critical time when the effects of money laundering and

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams speaking to members of the media on the side line of the seminar at Herdmanston Lodge

terrorist financing are being felt worldwide.

Noting that while it is a honour for the country to host the Plenary and Working Group meetings, the local delegation must be knowledgeable of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) regimes in particular the 40 recommendations.

“Mutual Evaluation is the business of CFATF,” Minister Williams reminded the delegation, while noting that subsequent to this plenary, there will be two Mutual Evaluations at every plenary.

In Guyana, Barbados would undergo Mutual Evaluation.

“They have a report in and they are going to be assessed on that report and that will determine their status whether they would have satisfied and done enough to exit the fourth round,” the Attorney General explained to Guyana Chronicle on the sideline of the seminar.

For countries like Haiti, St. Vincent, and St. Maarten, a compliance report from the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) would determine whether they can exit the 3rd Round of Mutual Evaluation.

In addition, a wide range of financial and security matters would come up for discussion. “The problem in this region is that we were

de-risked and de-banked (many countries in the region), so we will have to deal with those issues. We have to deal with issues of beneficial ownership…and the requirement for customer due diligence, and in some other cases, enhanced due diligence,” Minister Williams explained.

According to FATF, de-risking refers to situations where financial institutions terminate or restrict business relationships with categories of customer. The severing of correspondent banking relationships has impacted the performance of the four key macroeconomic sectors: real, fiscal, monetary and external.

to be taken jointly to advance the paving of the Linden to Lethem road as a complement to work already initiated covering the Linden to Mabura Hill segment and the bridging of the Essequibo River at Kurupukari. Additional discussions led by Minister Patterson with representatives of the Brazilian Ministries of Energy and Mines, Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, and Planning identified even further cooperation possibilities in support of infrastructure development, including capacity-building, and the opening up of opportunities to companies from that State to bid for contracts in the sector. Next year will mark 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two South American neighbours.

…de-risking, evaluation of Barbados high on agenda

Turning his attention to Guyana, the Attorney General said that while significant progress has been made in addressing the deficiencies within the countries AML/ CFT regime, the 4TH Round is a critical one. When this APNU+AFC Administration took office in May 2015, Guyana had been blacklisted both by CFATF and FATF, however, with leadership from President David Granger and the Attorney General the country made significant progress in improving its AML/CFT regime and adequately addressing the key AML/CFT deficiencies identified. It was on that basis, that the CFATF Plenary of November 2016 agreed that Guyana be removed from the CFATF ICRG process.

“We must emphasise the role of the President, Brigadier David Granger, from the onset, he gave the FATF the high political commitment that Guyana would work with FATF and the CFATF to implement the recommendations, so that Guyana could contribute to ridding the world of money laundering and terrorist financing,” the Attorney General stated.

Minister Williams explained that while in the 3rd Round of Mutual Evaluation emphasis was placed on the legal and regulatory framework, during the 4th Round the country’s effectiveness in addressing the deficiencies will be tested.

“CFATF will be looking to see convictions, so that

you can’t come and say you have a thousand charges or a thousand matters went to court, but then you don’t have any convictions, you would be rated very poorly for the level of effectiveness,” he explained.

With Guyana already in the 4th Round, it will come up for evaluation in 2022.

“We have to start from now putting in place and remedying the areas of weaknesses and deficiencies,” he stated.

Already, the country has conducted a National Risk Assessment (NRA) from which the highest risks were identified.

“I could tell you that one of the highest risk areas would be, the Money Transfer Agencies, and the designated non-financial businesses and professions unfortunately, the legal profession – Lawyers, accountants are high risks,” he further explained. As such, he said the country would have to direct its resources towards remedying the highrisk areas.

The seminar held for the Guyana delegation included presentations by Principal Parliamentary Counsel, Joann Bond, Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Matthew Langevine, Special Adviser to the Attorney General, Tessa Oudkerk, among other local representatives from agencies such as the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

Security boost 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

…China donates US$2.6M in transportation, communications equipment

By Navendra Seoraj THE People’s Republic of China on Monday formally handed over US$2.6 million worth of vehicles and equipment to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), as part of what Beijing called its commitment to assist in developing the security sector here.

Among the vehicles donated to improve the Force’s accessibility and efficiency were 56 pickups; 44 motorcycles; 35 All-Terrain-Vehicles (ATVs) and five big buses.

Additionally, 550 items of protective gear; 40 desktop and 30 laptop computers; 10 printers and 10 photocopy machines were donated.

China has over the years been a key contributor to Guyana’s development and President David Granger pointed out that they have once again recognised the need to assist Guyana in an area that needs to be boosted. Speaking at the handing over ceremony at the Eve Leary Sports Club ground on Monday, the President said the equipment will alleviate the accessibility burden of the GPF to every region, every river and even grass and wet lands. The vehicles, in particular will be used by the technical and transportation branches of the Force, said the Guyanese leader.

“This will ensure that there is speedier movement in any weather or terrain, which will allow the law enforcement officers to reach crime scenes and continue their work of suppressing crime… constant evaluations will

Police Commissioner (ag), David Ramnarine (first right) along with President David Granger (second right), China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun (third right) and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo inspect the vehicles (Delano Williams photo)

however be done to ensure that the vehicles are clean, efficient and serviceable,” said President Granger.

Commissioner of Police (ag), David Ramnarine said they owe China their gratitude and commitment to care the vehicles and equipment because the process of acquiring those items started in 2014. It was reported that in 2014, the police submitted a list of items to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which was later submitted to China.

That year the Force received items, including radio sets, worth US$60,000.

Since then China has donated a number of items to various sectors locally and Ambassador of China to Guyana, Cui Jianchun highlighted his country’s commit-

ment to lending its support whenever the need arises.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who is performing duties of the Ministry of Public Security, said it was indeed a timely donation because it will help to boost the GPF’s capacity. He indicated that China’s donation is also in line with the five point security plan that was adumbrated by the President sometime back when he spoke about strengthening the capacity and capability of the police force to make Guyana a safe place.

The five points that were listed include the improvement of the police administration; reorganised and enhanced training of officers and ranks; effective deployment of ranks throughout the

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo testing the sturdiness of one of the helmets, while Minister of State, Joseph Harmon looks on (Delano Williams photo)

country; improved communication and acquisition of assets and equipment.

President Granger said although one aspect of the strategy has been realised the Government is still focusing on ways to improve the efficiency of the GPF in order to counter crime.

“It is for this reason we restarted, with the British Government, the security sector reform project which will in a year be transformed into a formal department which will implement the recommendations which are being crafted and drafted,” said the President.

REORGANISED DIVISIONS Meanwhile, one of the main areas of focus that was

identified by the President was the restructuring of the police divisions to adopt the same structure as the ten administrative regions.

By doing this, President Granger believes that every divisional commander will be able to relate to a regional chairman and every Capital town will be the headquarters of a police division.

“This will ensure that we won’t have one person commanding three hinterland areas, like is happening now,” the Head-of-State affirmed.

The division of responsibilities is expected to improve the GPF’s ability to cover airspace, maritime resources, sea space and rivers. Access to 75 per cent of the country is difficult said President Granger,

adding that the situation is compounded by inadequate infrastructure; not enough aerodromes; bridges; highways and stellings.

Although the new vehicles and equipment will help to address some of these issues, the President said it is still difficult for the GPF because there is limited communication and transportation which restrict the Force’s ability to effectively enforce the law everywhere in the country.

“It was evident recently in the Rupununi, where we discovered a foreign aircraft which penetrated our airspaces and landed on our territory…Along our coastland we have also discovered many submergible maritime vessels,” he said, pointing out that both are likely to have brought contraband onto Guyana’s territory without being detected by law enforcement.

He was of the view that Guyana cannot be secure if the borders and territory are violated by criminals who commit transnational crimes such as trafficking in illegal weapons, persons and narcotics; money laundering and so forth.

In order to address these issues, President Granger said there is need for an efficient and well-equipped Police Force which will confront those threats in order to promote human safety and public security.

He however believes that it can be accomplished with proper management; training and the provision of more and improved equipment.

Ready to roll out! Police ranks go on a test run with some of the new vehicles that were donated by the Government of China (Delano Williams photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Trump says Japan would shoot North Korean missiles ‘out of sky’ U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Japan would shoot North Korean missiles “out of the sky” if it bought the U.S. weaponry needed for doing so, suggesting Tokyo take a stance it has avoided until now.

North Korea is pursuing nuclear weapons and missile programs in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions and has made no secret of its plans to develop a missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. It has fired two missiles over Japan.

Trump, speaking after a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, repeated his mantra

the “era of strategic patience” with North Korea was over, and said the two countries were working to counter the “dangerous aggressions”.

Trump also pressed Japan to lower its trade deficit with the United States and buy more U.S. military hardware.

“He (Abe) will shoot them out of the sky when he completes the purchase of lots of additional military equipment from the United States,“ Trump said, referring to the North Korean missiles. ”The prime minister is going to be purchasing massive amounts of military equipment, as he should. And we make the

best military equipment by far.”

Abe, for his part, said Tokyo would shoot down missiles “if necessary”.

Trump was replying to a question that was posed to Abe - namely how he would respond to a quote from Trump from a recent interview in which he said Japan was a “samurai” nation and should have shot down the North Korean missiles.

Japan’s policy is that it would only shoot down a missile if it were falling on Japanese territory or if it were judged to pose an “existential threat” to Japan because it was aimed at a U.S. target. The U.S. president is on the second day of a 12-day Asian trip that is focusing on North Korea’s nuclear missile programs and trade.

“Most importantly, we’re working to counter the dangerous aggressions of the regime in North Korea,” Trump said, calling Pyongyang’s nuclear tests and recent launches of ballistic missiles over Japan “a threat to the civilized world and to international peace and stabil-

ity”. “Some people said that my rhetoric is very strong. But look what’s happened with very weak rhetoric over the last 25 years.

Look where we are right now,” he added.

North Korea’s recent actions have raised the stakes in the most critical international challenge of Trump’s presidency. The U.S. leader, who will visit South Korea on the trip, has rattled some allies with his vow to “totally destroy” North Korea if it threatens the United States and with his dismissal of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a “rocket man” on a suicide mission.

Abe, with whom Trump has bonded through multiple summits and phone calls, repeated at the same news conference that Japan backed Trump’s stance that “all options” are on the table, saying it was time to exert maximum pressure on North Korea and the two countries were “100 percent” together on the issue. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying, in response to Abe’s comments, said that the North Korean “situation” was “already extremely complex,

sensitive and weak”. “We hope that under the present circumstances, all sides’ words and actions can help reduce tensions and reestablish mutual trust and getting the North Korean nuclear issue back on the correct track of dialogue and negotiations,” she said.

TRADE DEFICITS Trump said he was committed to achieving “free, fair, and reciprocal” trade and wants to work with Japan on this issue.

“America is also committed to improving our economic relationship with Japan,” Trump said. “As president, I‘m committed to achieving fair, free, and reciprocal trading relationship. We seek equal and reliable access for American exports to Japan’s markets in order to eliminate our chronic trade imbalances and deficits with Japan.”

Earlier, speaking to Japanese and U.S. business executives, Trump praised Japan for buying U.S. military hardware.

But he added that “many millions of cars are sold by Japan into the United States, whereas virtually no cars go from the United States into Japan”.

Japan had a $69 billion trade surplus with the United States last year, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

The United States was Japan’s second biggest trade partner after China, while Japan was

the United States’ fourth largest goods export market in 2016.

EMPEROR, ABDUCTEES Japanese officials have countered U.S. trade complaints by noting Tokyo accounts for a much smaller slice of the U.S. deficit than in the past, while China’s imbalance is bigger.

In a second round of economic talks in Washington last month, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso, who doubles as deputy premier, failed to bridge differences on trade issues. The two sides are at odds over how to frame future trade talks, with Tokyo pushing back against U.S. calls to discuss a bilateral free trade agreement.

Trump also said earlier that an Indo-Pacific trade framework would produce more in trade that the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact pushed by his predecessor but which he announced Washington would abandon soon after he took office. The 11 remaining nations in the TPP, to which Japan’s Abe is firmly committed, are edging closer to sealing a comprehensive free trade pact without the United States. Trump met Emperor Akihito, exchanging a handshake and nodding, before his lunch and talks with Abe. (Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Integration critical to regional development — CDB official Vice President (Operations) with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB),Monica La Bennett, says regional integration through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is still the most efficient way for countries to overcome the challenges posed by size, scale and limited capacity in the global markets.

La Bennett was speaking at the opening of the recently held two-day closeout workshop for the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and CSME Standby Facilities for Capacity Building.

“Here in the Caribbean, factors such as small size, limited capacity, persistent vulnerability to natural disasters, high energy costs, infrastructure gaps, and institutional and regulatory weaknesses make it difficult for our borrowing member countries to build the type of competitive advantages that could lead to economic diversification and sustained growth.

Today in 2017 regional economic integration is still the most viable and logical

developmental response to a persistently complex, intense and unpredictable globalised environment,” she said.

In December 2012, CDB and the European Commission signed Contribution Agreements for the implementation of the EPA and CSME Standby Facilities, administered by CDB. The facilities are supported by the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), which came to an end earlier this year. The two-day workshop was intended to facilitate a review of achievements and discuss the way forward.

Ambassador Daniela Tramacere, Head of the European Union Delegation to Barbados noted that the EU is committed to the CSME and EPA, and that Caribbean countries must take final responsibility for the success of both.

“I must underscore that we see the EPA and CSME as two interrelated dimensions of the region’s integration thrust… As we continue to transform our relationship with the region from one of donor-recipient

to one of mature partners in development, it will become increasingly important that our investments at the regional level resonate at the national level. Indeed, national ownership is the single most important ingredient in regional integration,” said Tramacere.

Minister of Industry and International Business, Barbados, Donville Inniss, noted that while the achievements under the 10th EDF have been admirable, there is still work to be done.

“There remains an urgent need to strengthen inter-agency collaboration between public, private sector and the EU institutions on national policy work with respect to the economic partnership trade agreements. And given the new level of complexity in the global economy, which is becoming more rapid and fluid, Barbados remains cognisant of the importance of having a balanced, sustainable and robust trade policy agenda that will assist in managing and navigating future growth and development.”

The EPA, signed in

2008 by Europe and the 15-member CARICOM bloc, along with the Dominican Republic, is a trade agreement.

CSME is an arrangement designed to benefit the 15 CARICOM states in the areas of free movement of goods, services, people, capital and technology. The Standby Facilities provide funding to support implementation of both the CSME and EPA. “The projects assisted member states to build capacity and comply with the provisions under the revised treaty of Chagaramas. Some 28 projects were developed and these include assistance to stakeholders in the sectors ranging from creative arts to small and medium sized enterprises,” said Joseph Cox, Assistant Secretary-General, CARICOM Secretariat. The two-day workshop was held in Barbados from October 26 to 27. (CMC)

Int’l reinsurers suffer significant losses due to hurricanes

The trail of death and destruction left across the region following the passage of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, have had a devastating impact on the financial results of international reinsurers.

According to the Association of Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Companies (ATTIC), local insurers should anticipate being faced with significantly higher reinsurance cost which will in turn have an impact on local market rates. In a statement issued on Monday, ATTIC noted that most of the reinsurers are major providers of protection in the Caribbean and based on the significant financial losses attributed to the hurricanes as well as earthquakes in Mexico, leading international experts have indicated that there will be a global increase in premium rates and not just for loss-affected territories.

One company, Munich Re — the world’s largest reinsurer, recently reported overall losses of US$3.8 billion for the third quarter from the hurricanes and other natural catastrophes.

The three hurricanes made up the bulk of the losses for the quarter,

with losses expected to be US$3.2 billion. The global reinsurer posted a loss of US$1.65 billion for the period, July to September 2017, and further noted that recent catastrophe losses will jeopardise its profit target for 2017.

Swiss Re the world’s second largest reinsurer also reported losses of US$3.6 billion, and realised a net loss of US$468 million for the first nine months of 2017.

Another top-five reinsurer, Scor reported overall losses of US$310 million for the same period, with combined losses of US$696.0 million. “Leading international experts anticipate that with the level of declared losses against reinsurers’ capital, we can expect premium prices within the Caribbean to increase,” ATTIC noted. “Additionally, like other companies, the industry is also faced with the difficulties of accessing foreign exchange to settle reinsurance obligations, which if not adequately addressed may adversely impact some local players ability to provide coverage as well as local premium rates.” (CMC)

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Return civility to public sphere THESE past weeks have been turbulent, in large part stemming from the selection process and appointment of Chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

There exists no interest in this editorial to get into the nitty-gritty and back and forth, save to say expectation is held that the High Court will adjudicate on the matter expeditiously.

What has been most instructive in this period is how much civility has been disregarded in our public sphere. Guyanese were known for and took great pride being a civil people. Respect shown for others was not singularly due to familial relations, but also for the office persons held. There were ethics, nurtured and ingrained from infancy, such as “manners maketh man.” Ethics, according to the online dictionary, is synonymous with “moral code, morals, morality, values, rights and wrongs, principles, ideals, standards (of behavior), value system, virtues, dictates of conscience.”

It was to this universal culture that sets the tone for acceptable standards, norms and practices by which persons are judged, accepted or rejected. The blurring of lines or unconcern to retain these values did not start yesterday, but instead of making determined efforts to halt the erosion, there is a sense such is no longer considered important.

There was a time when adults, particularly those in public and influential offices, were ever so mindful how society sees and judges them, often feeling compelled by such observation and critique to be on their best behaviour or put their best foot forward. Equally of value was not to disgrace the family or do anything that would cause children, including theirs, to see them in a less than positive light.

When these values are no longer considered sacred or are being

discarded, condemnation of any untoward behaviour of the younger generation becomes hypocritical.

Children learn what they see and model themselves after their elders/seniors. Society bemoans the fall in education standard and expresses concern about school drop-outs, functional illiteracy, rising illiteracy and juvenile delinquency, attributing these dysfunctions to the Education System. Learning is holistic, i.e. formal and environmental. Even with the best of educators/teachers and full complement of teaching aids, best techniques and physical environment, children are not insulated from what happen outside of the classrooms.

When persons holding offices of esteem behave undignified, their decisions and actions impact children, including theirs, in deciphering right and wrong behaviours. In this school or university of life, this creates confusion in the minds. Some will emulate and others reject, setting in train clashes of influences, re-defining new ‘norms’ and ‘ethics,’ invariably contributing to lowering standards in society by making unacceptable behavior, acceptable. Of concern too is the seeming or determined behaviour of being unable to separate ‘not liking’ the leaders to respecting their offices and right to discharge their responsibilities. Correspondingly, leaders have a responsibility to conduct themselves in a respectful manner given that uncivil behaviour lower ethical standards, bringing shame and disrepute to the office they hold.

Public and influential office holders play a very significant role in society and it would help should they reflect on their importance and live up to society’s expectations of them. They are not only there to serve the public good, but also be role models for others. And where

civility is losing its pre-eminence in society, our children suffer given that they can only be what they learn, see and are exposed to.

Our education was once touted among, if not, the best in the Caribbean. It was an education not necessarily that of achieving higher formal learning such as attending university or college, but that of the pre-eminence placed on knowing and practicing the three “Rs”- i.e. reasoning, writing and arithmetic- regardless of the level of education attained. While reiterating no interest in getting into the intricacies of the GECOM issue, it cannot go unnoticed that the three “Rs” are no longer held in esteem or are being totally disregarded.

For instance, the world has been socialised to see the Rule of Law as intrinsic to democracy. Thus, it is more than passing strange that applying the letter of the law in the appointment of the Chairman there is loud rejection, accompanied by accusation that the act is undemocratic and a violation of the Constitution. It needs not be repeated here the uncivil manner in which such expressions are being accompanied. Current bombardment from leaders and influential voices and organisations can be likened to a drone, making it difficult for a climate to facilitate reasoning and civility to shine through. This is why it is so important to have the court expedite soonest what it has been asked of soonest. Hopefully, its decision could help restore some semblance of civility to the public sphere, but in the meantime it is not too much to ask of each and every one of us to make a commitment to do so.

Patterson’s appointment passes the constitutionality test Dear Editor, IN the events which have happened in this GECOM Chairman appointment matter, President David Granger became obligated, by both law and fact alike, to make an appointment independently of the machinery of a list, pursuant to, and in furtherance of, the PROVISO to article 161(2) of the Constitution. He appointed former judge, James Patterson, a Guyanese of 84 years. All the ingredients for its constitutionality are present in this appointment.

President Granger is entitled to say: on that glorious, sunny, Saturday in May 2015, that the Lord hath giveth, I took and subscribed an oath to fearlessly “… honour, uphold and preserve the Constitution …”; in James Patterson’s appointment, I did just that. En passant, I have noted that PPP Ex Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, with an unaccustomed degree of

political even-handedness and sobriety, quite rightly, has no criticism whatsoever about Justice Patterson’s age. The Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo must have known that one of his nominees on the third list, (former Magistrate and yeoman PPP supporter, Krishendatt Persaud), is an octogenarian too.

Besides, the constitution-makers must have contemplated such an aged chairman when they, presumptively, made “former judge” (presumably one post-compulsory-retirement age) suitable as “fit and proper” for appointment?

The Constitution has set no age limit. By sheer common sense and reality alike, a “former judge…” must be a very aged person. And their argument about political bias because of his service as a technocrat (ie. Special Advisor in the Attorney General’s Chambers) is vacuous and utter rubbish. As a former judge, there is (until the contrary is shown) no real

danger of him being biased as Chairman. Recent PPP precedents totally discredit their bias argument; and reveal a blinkered viewpoint. Charles Ramson, Snr, appointment as a Court of Appeal Judge, and Commissioner of Information, respectively, after service as political Attorney General is a classic case on point. But, with Orwellian illogicality, while those appointments were not bad for political bias, for them, Justice Patterson is not suitable! They must “have lost their reason.”

Turning now to the ingredients aspect. So, the focus is and must be, on the PROVISO to article 161(2). So, I quote its relevant words viz: “…if the Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list AS PROVIDED FOR the President SHALL appoint a person who holds or has held office as a judge …”

So, we have ingredient (1): the failure of the Leader of the Opposition to provide a list as provided for; Ingredient (2): The President must ap-

point; Ingredient (3): eligibility as former judge (who is not an “alien”). Only ingredient (1) attracts disagreement in this matter. So, is condition or ingredient (1) satisfied and present? The answer is – yes.

The Leader of the Opposition failed to submit a list as provided for i.e a list which (as the learned CJ (ag) ruling has affirmed) means a list that is “NOT UNACCEPTABLE TO THE PRESIDENT”.

These are simple, limpid, unambiguous words that any secondary school grammarian understands. But, I should elucidate and expound further as regards ingredient (1). First of all, the undisputed fact that no appointment was made from the three lists submitted by the Leader of the Opposition is conclusive, unimpeachable and irrefutable evidence and fact, that all three “lists” were not acceptable to the President within the meaning of the phrase “not unacceptable to the President” in the provision in article 161(2)

that precedes the proviso; this phrase is sui generis – i.e having its historical origin in article 161 itself), and must be read conjointly with the words “acting in accordance with his own deliberate judgment” (article 111(1)). The analogous constitutional case of Adegbenro v. Akintola and Another (1963) 3 All ER 544, Privy Council – not referred to by the learned CJ (ag) – is a most useful authority on this aspect.

Editor, to fully understand and appreciate the correctness of the President’s no-list appointment, we must first attempt to understand the whole essential purpose and reason as to why the proviso to article 161(2) was put there by the legislative draftsman. The proviso quoted above, by law, operates to override, subordinate, defeat, or negate the provision that precedes it (here the provision under and by which the Leader of the Opposition submit a list) and so when the Leader of the Opposition

failed to submit an acceptable list (as explained above) his rights in article 161(2) ended, became subordinated, defeated and negated by the President’s right and power (which kicked in, to use a popular saying) to proceed to make an appointment independently of the list machinery (as happened in this matter). Secondly, this emphasis on a no-list appointment is the making and intendment of the Constitution makers themselves; it is intended, most sensibly, to avoid a dysfunctional interregnum at GECOM. And while the law can sometimes be an ass, it cannot be so asinine as to suppose that the question whether the Leader of the Opposition has failed “to submit a list as provided for” (the proviso) is one, to be answered by the Leader of the Opposition himself; he cannot be a judge in his own cause.

That is an incongruity. It must be, and can only be, “the President” who is constitutionally Turm to Page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

If effectively managed Strategic Management Unit will be successful

Dear Editor

I read with great pleasure the training of members of the Guyana Police Force Strategic Management Unit which was recently conducted by the British Government.

According to the media, this training is directly linked to the interim recommendations that Russell Combe, the Security Sector Reform Advisor to the President, has recently produced. It is part of a series of planned training activities which the British are looking to conduct over the next few months.

At the opening ceremony, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn and Acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine made presentations. The training of the members of the SMU is a fit and proper thing to do as those who were selected to do the task must be given the appropriate training to perform at the highest level.

The last Strategic Management Department which was disbanded by Commissioner Seelall Persaud failed for diverse reasons, including the fact that the police did not pay enough attention to the strategic management risks identified by Capita Symonds. I am not au fait with the finer points of the current Strategic Management Plan. However, it cannot be vastly different from the one submitted by Simon Reeves, Director of Capita Symonds to Khemraj Rai, Programme Coordinator, Citizen Security Programme during February 2011. In fact, media reports quoted the British High Commissioner as positing that there is nothing that Russell Combe has found which has not been seen in many of the other reports that have been done before.

Capita Symonds advised the setting up of a Strategic Risk Management Plan to identify mitigating measures and monitor each risk’s ongoing relevance as well as identifying emerging risks.

This was ignored. Some of the risks identified were: Alleged and perceived corruption within the GPF will adversely affect public trust and confidence in the police.

Staff in the GPF may be resistant to the change so that the activities outlined in the Plan may not be achieved or will have to be delayed; New and emerging crimes will divert resources to tackle other activities not set out in the Plan; A decrease in the economy of Guyana may increase the demands in the GPF and at the same time mean that increasing the number of officers up the establishment may not be achievable; an increase in the economy of Guyana may increase the demands of the GPF which cannot be managed with existing resources; The skills and abilities of staff of the GPF will be insufficient to implement, or will delay, delivery of the Strategic Plan; Insufficient human resources will be made available to the GPF to implement the Strategic Plan; There may be

Patterson’s appointment... vested with the authority to answer that critical question of evidence/fact.

Editor, I have read article 161 as a whole (not just sub-article 161(2)) as imposing a heavy burden on the Leader of the Opposition to name six credible nominees. This heavy burden requires him to be guided by the five unwritten tenets of: care, caution, consideration, commonsense and conscientiousness (these I call the 5-Cs); he chooses not to be guided by the 5-Cs at his own real risk (like the sword of Damocles) of having his list rejected by the President as unacceptable to him. Put in nomenclature: the Leader of the Opposition is not permitted and cannot foist any mixed list of Tom, Dick, Mary or Harilall as nominees on the President and make it the President’s legal duty to appoint one of them. It is of some considerable significance article 161 provides for the appointment of a TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN in similar way as to how a chairman is appointed (161(7) &(8)). This supports my point about no-list appointment being both a legal necessity and a virtue, as it avoids an interregnum (i.e a leaderless GECOM) which is a vice.

Turning now briefly to the

other controversy that the President has to state reasons for rejecting each of the six nominees.

No useful purpose can be served here by any forensic autopsy of that part of the learned CJ (ag) judgment. But, as devil’s advocate, I submit to us that reasons (none being stated in article 161) can only mean some CONSTITUTIONAL reason to be deduced or implied from the scheme of article 161; and being constitutional in that context any reason must be necessarily vague and general without specific or particularity (e.g. lacking integrity, impartiality or relevant intelligence, singly, or in combination as each individual case is. The condition of appointment i.e. being “fit and proper” is expressed in article 161(2) in general terms. (As to the generalization of reasons in a constitutional context see the Privy Council case of Williams v. Government of Saint Lucia, 14 WIR 177 where when the statute required the statement of reason i.e the “public purpose” for the acquisition, it was held that the government’s broad general statement/reason “development of tourism” was a sufficient statement of a “public purpose” to satisfy the requirement of the statute). Besides, on one very plausible view (as seems to be the correct inter-

pretation) article 161 (2) only contemplates one (1) list only.

So, reasons can only be of academic purport, otiose, as it can serve no useful purpose when no further list is to be submitted, or is submittable. And this one list interpretation is supported by the interregnum point (adumbrated above) when one considers that multiple lists (eg 2nd and 3rd, just imagine a 4th in this case) facilitates and conduces towards the very vice and mischief of an (inordinate) interregnum which, a no-list appointment (the proviso) and a temporary chairman, were obviously intended and contemplated to obviate or prevent. For these reasons, I consider the learned CJ(ag) “modern thinking” to wit the imported foreign common law / administrative law (i.e. judge – made law) which appears to have influenced the ruling as to reasons, to be inconsistent with the tenor and spirit of article 161 and accordingly void (article 8).

Consider too, Kindred issues of sufficiency or adequacy of reasons(the President’s, of LOs); detailed or generalised: In the SN editorial – Sunday October 22nd–with an un-accustomed degree of political objectivity and candour, it is stated that “it is not as if Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s lists were a perfect template in terms of

implications for the nature and type of criminality in Guyana as a result of an increase of the population and/ or an influx of non-Guyanese nationals; There will be an increase in legislation that brings about demands in the GPF; The MOHA does not have a Strategic Plan which gives overall directions to the GPF; There will be a lack of suitable equipment for officers of the GPF to meet new and emerging challenges (increase marine / air capacity, improved vehicles, etc); Managers of the GPF will not be equipped to deal with new and emerging challenges arising from Modernisation .

These risks were relevant in 2011. They are even more apposite today and in the future. They were not cast in Mazaruni Granite. Difficult as they appear, they are surmountable. They must not be dashed under the no-action red carpet if the current Strategic Management Plan is to be successful.

The challenges faced by the GPF are many. They

From Page 6 suitable candidates …” What an unwitting endorsement of the President’s rejection of the three lists.

I end with this: article 161 (2) and 111 (1) respectively has constructed around “the President” an impregnable wall of constitutionality regarding the appointment of a GECOM chairman. So, come hell or high water, the Opposition wants to breach that wall.

Marcel Gaskin sought (as a surrogate) to somehow cause that wall to be, judicially, breached by his application on obfuscatory and obscure pleadings for an interpretation of article 161(2). That contrivance was thwarted.

Earl Hamilton is of the view that the Leader of the Opposition’s first list “was meant as a provocation” (GC – 0910-2017) If so, the third list was provocation on stilts. He ignored the 5-C’s at his own risk. The President did what the proviso mandates – an appointment, so as to avoid the vice and mischief of an interregnum. Former Judge James Patterson’s appointment is a fait accompli.

Regards Maxwell E. Edwards

defy any one-shot solution.

However, strategic management and strategic thinking are effective tools used by law enforcement officers to reduce crime and the fear of crime. As the police play their strategic innings, they must be cognisant of some nagging and short of a good length deliveries identified as strategic risks alluded to above, which they will encounter in their activities to score some strategic runs.

The movers and shakers of the plan must ensure that information and understanding of the plan are communicated down to all levels including the recruits and the various stakeholders. The Plan must not be seen as a Top Secret document to be locked away in a safe for the information of a very few. All must have a clear understanding and appreciation of where the police are, where they want to go and the methodology in place for them to achieve the various projected mile-

stones. Organisational and personal changes will emerge. Therefore, much emphasis must not only be placed on the agents of change but the victims of change. The latter should be equipped with the necessary coping skills to deal with the changes.

Despite the many challenges, the Strategic Management Unit, if effectively managed, will be successful.

I am confident that with the input of Russell Combe, Paul Mathias who has an excellent understanding of the operations of the GPF and other police forces across the Caribbean, Andy Odell, Senior Superintendent Andries Junior and the other facilitators, the police will be able to deliver a higher quality of service to the government and the citizens of Guyana who they swore to serve and protect.

Regards Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police

The SPU mandate is gravely misplaced Dear Editor Head of the Sugar Special Purpose Unit (SPU), hiding through a press statement, advised that the body was seeking to engage a reputable firm to value the sugar industry’s assets.

That valuation, he went on to say, would form the basis of a prospectus that would allow investors to know what’s available and what it is valued at. But what is amiss about this whole convolution is that expressions of interest have already been invited.

In fact, the SPU head in the press statement said that the request for proposals has been extended by about three weeks. So then how is it that a valuation is yet to be done but interested parties are asked to show their desire to acquire assets? From a layman’s perspective, the cart has clearly been put before the horse. But the hiring of a reputable firm to value sugar’s assets is a faux pas. The GuySuCo top leadership, possibly with the acquiescence of those who really control and direct it, has irresponsibly allowed the running down (of) its assets. Thus, whenever the valuators are identified and would have completed their task, they will naturally come up with a value that is really not reflective of the realistic value of the asset. We cannot fail to miss that it is these

valuations which will determine the final prices and strengthens suspicions that the people’s assets will be sold cheaply.

And, too, the SPU head made a telling admission. We are told that the sugar company has foregone profits as it provides several services which benefit the country.

The SPU may want to say how is it that these services will be provided in the circumstances of changed ownership? It seems to me that the Treasury will have to pick up the tab, meaning further pressures will be placed on the backs of the working people.

The SPU mandate, in my view, is gravely misplaced. Rather than looking at the prospect of selling, quite possibly at dirt cheap prices, the sugar industry’s assets, the GuySuCo should convince the Government to have the Unit adopt another course; that is to package projects to diversify and sustain the sugar industry and to seek private capital to realise those initiatives. Sugar, I believe, like many other Guyanese, has a future but political spite, as many believe too, rather than economic prudence, has been the sad approach adopted towards the industry.

Regards Patricia Persaud

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

“The conscientious withdrawal of efficiency”– Sabotage in Guyana

By Dr. Ken Danns SABOTAGE has been an enduring plague in the body of the Guyanese nation, critically compromising its development. To sabotage is to disrupt, interrupt, obstruct, incapacitate, damage and in other ways cause pernicious harm to an institution, a business or other organisations, a community or even an entire country.

People who inflict sabotage on a system are either a part of that system itself or else a part of the environment on which the system depends for its very survival.

Sabotage can be inflicted on an entity by the subordinated and by the dominant; by the powerless and by the powerful. Whatever the source, sabotage has throughout the years become a weapon of choice to hinder Guyana’s progress and development.

Sabotage behaviou rs by individuals or groups are often legal actions which confirm to the letter of the law, though not necessarily the spirit of the law. Sabotage is what the sociologist Thorstein Veblen euphemistically referred to as “the conscientious withdrawal of efficiency”.

Guyana is experiencing the conscientious withdrawal of efficiency –sabotage! I have identified five different types of sabotage in order to provide an understanding of the scope and impact of this national plague. These are: industrial sabotage, the sabotage of estrangement, the sabotage of ritual, the sabotage of incompetence and indolence, and political sabotage.

First, there is Industrial Sabotage where workers in an industry would go on strike,” go slow” and “work-to rule” and so on. The end game is to constrain an employer to increase wages or other benefits; or, to end policies

and actions perceived by the workers and their representatives as being inimical to the workers’ interests.

The sugar industry in Guyana, for example, has been historically affected by the conscientious withdrawal of efficiency by its workers.

Recent allegations of factory workers dumping tonnes of cane juice, so as to restrict the sugar industry production, if true, is a classic case of industrial sabotage. There have been perennially more strikes and industrial actions annually by sugar workers than by workers in any other industry in Guyana.

Industrial Sabotage is also routinely carried out by corporate managers and owners seeking to restrict production in their industry in order to maintain high prices, to control the labour demand and to cut other production costs.

Some industries go as far as to dump excess output rather than reduce their prices.

Businesses often engage in the conscientious withdrawal of efficiency by collaborating with their competitors to cut production in order, to maintain high prices of their commodities or services to the consumers.

Secondly, there is the Sabotage of Estrangement.

Employees in an organization affected for many years by low wages, low morale, and lack of trust in its leadership often become alienated from their jobs and disaffected from management. This invariably results in growing paralysis in the organisation’s overall functioning, its efficiency and its output. Even with the change of leadership, the employees enmeshed in such systemic organisational malaise do not readily change from the engrained culture of estrangement.

I visited the University of Guyana in 2016 as part

of its Educational Resource Ambassadors team at the invitation of Vice Chancellor, Ivelaw Griffith who had only a few weeks earlier took up the reins of leadership of the institution. I was struck by the alarming levels at which the conscientious withdrawal of efficiency had reached. This sabotage of estrangement was very visible. Tall grass and other vegetation enveloped the campus like a nightmare, although the University employed a full time maintenance crew. Employees, students, cattle and dogs had competed for turf on its main Turkeyen Campus. Books in the much prized Caribbean Research Library were on the floor covered with plastic in vain efforts to keep out rain from leaking roofs. Some lecturers were reportedly not turning in final grades for students, months after final examinations were taken, thus effectively preventing paying students from registering for the next semester courses.

Some lecturers were also consistently not showing up to teach the students. Yet, they were retained year after year.

Many committed employees and students existed in environments of decaying infrastructure and diminishing morale, seemingly resigned to these as a new normal.

As someone who had lectured at the University of Guyana for over 25 years, I was deeply hurt at what had become of the institution. Everyone seem to say that it was poor salaries and the absence of resources to get things done. Sadly, the problem is much deeper than that. The “cow in the room” at UG is the sabotage of estrangement.

Vice Chancellor Griffith has been doing much to turn things around and restore integrity and functionality to the national university.

Yet, pockets of resistance to

changing the organisational culture on the Turkeyen Campus remain embedded. An organisational culture in the final analysis is “the way we do things around here”. The organisational culture at UG is still U-G-L-Y and it is the responsibility of everyone at the institution to make it pretty again. As the Bible said, let the scales fall from thine eyes.

The third type of the conscientious withdrawal of efficiency is the Sabotage of Ritual. Ritual sabotage occurs in bureaucratic organisations like the public service and public corporations. This occurs when the proliferation of rules, regulations and work processes obstruct rather than enable efficient services and outcomes. Even though employees might be willing to make things happen, having to adhere to the rituals of complicated rules, regulations and work processes make them appear incompetent in the eyes of customers and the organization a waste of time in the minds of the public.

Very often customers are told to go and get other documents elsewhere and come back.

The run around you experience trying to get routine transactions done at some public offices in Guyana is the Sabotage of Ritual.

Even some private enterprises have been infected by this Sabotage of Ritual. I went to purchase a commodity at a major hardware enterprise on the East Bank of Demerara, a few months ago. While waiting almost one hour to purchase one item that costed about US$10, I counted 10 employees and supervisors who handled the transaction.

My ordeal finally ended when an armed security guard at the door examined and delivered my purchase and stamped the receipt. The whole transaction was neither efficient nor customer oriented. The simplest

of transactions involve elaborate rituals to fulfil whether it is in a bank or even a liquor store.

The fourth type of conscientious withdrawal of efficiency is the Sabotage of Incompetence and Indolence.

Here, workers who are either lazy and or incompetent are hired and retained, mainly in public agencies. They sit around chatting and goofing off while customers are waiting, not knowing if and whether they will ever get served. Customers often have to protest, insist on seeing a supervisor or leave a “small piece” to complete a transaction.

The fifth and final conscientious withdrawal of efficiency I will address is Political Sabotage. Political sabotage is the use of political office or organisations to deliberately and maliciously subvert or derail public policies or programmes aimed at improving the well-being of the public and the nation. This is by far the most egregious form of sabotage since it is impelled by the leadership of national political parties with overarching power to affect the lives of many and thwart the development, governance or progress of the country. Political sabotage can be initiated either by an opposition political party or a governing party. In the never ending contests for control of governmental or state power political parties often resort to malicious actions to undermine the image or progress of opposing parties.

Guyana’s President David Granger’s rejected for a third time a list of six names submitted by the Opposition PPP Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo for an appointment to the post of Chairman of Guyana’s Election Commission.

Using the enormous powers of the Office of the President

and consistent with the Guyana Constitution, President Granger, who is also leader of the APNU/AFC coalition government, independently appointed a new Chair for the Guyana Elections Commission. This action, the Opposition Leader interpreted as a violation of Guyana’s Constitution and reportedly has taken the matter to court.

Further, the PPP leader has recently decided to engage in political sabotage by waging a campaign of non-cooperation against the APNU/ AFC Government and also to organise protests against President Granger whenever he travels around the country to meet the people.

Already, in local and regional government districts, PPP representatives have been declaredly engaging in political sabotage by delaying or obstructing development policies and programmes for some communities in order to portray the Government in a negative light. While the PPP was in power, it sabotaged local democratic governance by not holding local government elections for 20 years. It also visibly deprived the city of Georgetown, the Town of Linden, and the country’s educational system of adequate resources. It is puzzling why a leading national political party would maliciously engage in political sabotage. The problem with political sabotage is that it frustrates development initiatives and ultimately undermines the well-being of the Guyanese people. The time is apt for the Guyanese people to recognise what sabotage at all levels is doing to the nation. The time to end such counterproductive actions is now.

9

Find a new formula GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

TRANSPARENCY Institute Guyana Incorporated (TIGI) on Monday urged that a new formula be created to select the chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, even as it slammed Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo for submitting names knowing full well they would have been rejected by the President.

In a lengthy statement, TIGI said, “The Leader of the Opposition has not helped democracy either by selecting some persons who would have been clearly unacceptable to the President. By so doing, he would also have engendered a substantial amount of distrust about any of the persons he submitted.”

The local transparency body said too, that the President’s appointment of Justice (ret’d) James Patterson as GECOM’s chairman without giving a reason/s for his rejection of the Opposition Leader’s nominees, “is not a progressive step for Guyana both with respect to democratic principles and accountability.” Justice Patterson’s appointment has sparked much debate and TIGI believes that the move by the President has created a precedent that will be “convenient when it is and inconvenient when it is not.” “The activation of such vagaries in the process of filling the post that might be considered the custodian of our democracy is indeed a grave consequence,” TIGI noted, while stressing that there is much room for the matter to be resolved before the court, pointing to areas of the law which can be deemed grey areas.

The transparency watchdog called upon both the government and opposition along with civil society to etch out a different formula for the selection of the chairman of GECOM. “We are well aware that there have been calls throughout the years since it was first applied to replace it. We wish to remind that the formula was agreed for single use only,” the statement said,

…TIGI urges new method to select GECOM chair …slams Jagdeo for submitting ‘defective’ list

President of TIGI, Troy Thomas

while noting that GECOM’s chairman can be regarded as the proximate custodian of the country’s democracy, of which elections are one of the most important components.

“It is imperative that the appointment of the Chairman who presides over elections and elections processes observe and adhere to the highest standards of transparency and accountability. TIGI also believes that the selection and appointment of the Chair would be best done within a framework and in a manner that inspire confidence in the office of the Chair, and in the processes and results of elections.”

Pointing to the country’s political history, TIGI said the problems of the past, more specifically charges of rigged elections under the two main political parties, the PPP and the People’s National Congress (PNC), is not a desirable outcome.

“The centrality of the role of the Chair to the health of the elections processes in general is well recognised. Hence, missteps in and deliberate distortions of any part of the appointment process is something that should worry all Guyanese,” the statement said.

Moreover, TIGI believes that apart from the requirements of the Constitution, it is essential that both the

President and the Leader of the Opposition always put the interest of Guyana above political maneuvering in the appointment of the GECOM chair. “This appointment ought always to be done in a manner that contributes positively to the shoring up of democratic norms and to nation building,” the TIGI statement said. The body opined that “if the President can, in his own deliberate judgment, reject the list submitted by the Leader of the Opposition,q then unilaterally and lawfully appoint the Chair of GECOM, the law itself might be undemocratic and upholding democracy would therefore be left to the principles, values and beliefs of the individuals involved in the process.”

That aside, TIGI said it participated in the consultations with civil society hosted by the Opposition Leader, though it made no recommendations. “The Leader of the Opposition having selected from the names recommended to him was able to achieve at least the appearance of inclusiveness, though TIGI believes that some of the recommendations submitted were outrageous and meant only to exclude other more reasonable names from among those submitted by civil society, because they were unacceptable to the Leader of the Opposition.

This is politics at play, but some argue that the Leader of the Opposition was within his right to make those submissions,” TIGI stated.

The transparency body noted that President Granger facilitated the Opposition Leader’s submission of three lists, but opined that the question about whether or not both the President and the Leader of the Opposition acted unconstitutionally, in relation to requesting and submitting three lists of nominees is relevant. TIGI believes that the matter should be addressed by the court while making the point that President Granger honoured the principle of inclusion by

the entertainment of three submissions after rejecting the first one.

“In spite of all this, the final outcome was and is an undemocratic one, this stands regardless of whether or not one believes that the Leader of the Opposition forced the hands of the President by deliberately stacking the lists submitted with names that he knew would have been more acceptable to him than to the President. We say this from the perspective that democracy is a process that ensures inclusion without first inspecting the potential result., it added.”

Notwithstanding, TIGI believes that final authority

on the matter is the court adding that President Granger should have provided an explanation for his rejection of the lists, though not legally bound to do so. “The President’s refusal to explain the rejection of the individuals in the list is a rejection of accountability… The President’s attitude to accountability is disappointing, TIGI added, while noting that there should be no room for the unilateral appointment of a GECOM Chair.

“That the constitution caters for this is unfortunate and it is something that should be changed. In the meantime, when and where there is disagreement over what the Constitution says about the unilateral appointment of a GECOM Chair by the President, recourse to the court ought to be sought.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

GPL fixed damaged underwater electricity cable

By Telesha Ramnarine THE spate of blackouts and low voltage that were experienced recently by residents on the West Coast Demerara (WCD) were due to a damaged underwater electricity cable.

Although officials at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) said the issues surrounding the cable were fixed, WCD residents are still complaining of frequent blackouts which last for as long as a whopping eight hours. The cable in question takes power from the GPL’s substation at Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara; crosses the Demerara River to the station at West Bank Demerara, where it subsequently is able to power the West Coast communities.

GPL’s Divisional Direc-

tor- Operations, Mr. Bharat Harjohn, told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that the cable went down on August 7, this year but was fixed on September 20.

However, residents continue to complain of constant blackouts. “It’s like fairy lights. That’s as accurate as I can get,” one WCD resident told Guyana Chronicle on condition of anonymity.

The resident added: “Honestly, the situation is one that is rather depressing. We get power outages almost every Wednesday for hours; sometimes more than eight hours. No explanation from GPL. “Then when the power fluctuates (low voltage) you have to turn off the main power switch because your appliances are at risk of be-

Court of Appeal varies murder convict’s sentence A SITTING of the Guyana Court of Appeal on Monday varied the sentence of appellant Jaiente Lall, called Sunil, who had been found guilty of the murder of Davenand Sookdeo, called Damon, and had been sentenced to death by hanging by the learned trial judge.

The Court of Appeal in agreement with counsel for the appellant, Mark Conway, varied the sentence, and sentenced the appellant to 20 years imprisonment, minus time served awaiting his appeal.

Sitting at the Court of Appeal yesterday were the Chancellor, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire and Justice Rishi Persaud.

Lall was charged with the offence of murder and the particulars of the offence stated that on September 5, 2007, in the County of Essequibo, he murdered Sookdeo.

Jaiente Lall is the older brother of Davenand Sookdeo, and on the day in question, according to the evidence via the prosecution witnesses and the caution

statement of the accused, he and three others at about 08:00hrs started to drink three litres of bush rum and sent for another bottle.

In the afternoon, at about 16:00hrs, a fight ensued between the accused and his brother, and the accused stabbed his unarmed brother with a knife.

On July 8, 2011, the jury found the accused guilty of murder and the learned trial judge sentenced the appellant to death by hanging.

However, on Monday, attorney-at-law Conway, at the Court of Appeal, contended that the issue of intoxication and or drunkenness arose upon the evidence, and therefore the learned trial judge’s omission to give the jury a direction upon the law as it relates to intoxication had caused the jury to return a perverse verdict, as they may have returned a verdict of manslaughter had they been directed to consider if the accused may or might have been drunk.

Counsel for the State, Ms. Sonia Joseph argued, however, that the direction by the learned trial judge was not flawed in law.

ing damaged.”

According to this resident, the blackouts are not limited to Wednesdays. “On any given day, you have to be prepared to be without electricity.”

But Harjohn is saying that blackouts lasting for more than eight hours usually mean that there has been a planned outage, and that this happens mostly on weekends. He said the ‘Power Watch Guide’ published on GPL’s website and in the newspapers is there to inform residents when these blackouts will occur.

Harjohn said he found it “strange” that residents on the WCD are still complaining of frequent blackouts and would be happy to know exactly which areas are being affected so that GPL can address the problem.

To this end, he is calling for residents to report these issues to GPL. “Any issues whatsoever…call us, and we will address them,” he said, while noting that some residents blow their issues out of proportion.

Meanwhile, just recently, Chief Executive Officer (ag) at GPL, Mr. Renford Homer, told the Guyana Chronicle that GPL foresees no significant issues around the approaching Christmas season which usually features an increased power demand, as the company has already started its ‘housekeeping’ in terms of network and generation maintenance.

“We do inject a lot of effort coming into Christmas, and well ahead of Christmas, so we do those housekeeping things that would put us in a better position. We have started, and our expectation is to be in a strong state of readiness as we come into the Christmas season.”

“I think outages during that time are significantly

GPL’s Divisional Director-Operations, Mr. Bharat Harjohn

reduced, so we don’t envisage significant issues of any nature around that season,” Homer continued.

He offered that the many blackouts over the past few months can be credited significantly to engines that were either out on plan maintenance, or those that

suffered machine failures.

“What happens in such cases is if we are unable to meet the demand with our generation, then we have to reduce the load on the system in order to maintain the system and keep it up and running,” he explained.

He said GPL’s generation challenge mainly contributed to the many blackouts recently. “We had at many times a peak demand in the Demerara/ Berbice and its connected system of approximately 115 megawatts. There were occasions where we just about, in our available capacity, met that demand and in some cases, we were unable to do so.

As we monitor the system and there was a clear recognition that we were challenged to meet that demand, then there were certain decisions we had to take and that would have meant relieving and reducing the load in certain areas.”

Region One to get mini wharf THE community of Mabaruma, in Region One (Barima/Waini) will benefit from a mini wharf, which will bring relief to residents and boat operators who are using the current facility which is expected to undergo rehabilitation shortly.

Regional Engineer for Region One, Rawle Boyer said the mini-wharf project was implemented by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and will be located at

the Mabaruma waterfront. A $6.8M contract was awarded in August for the construction of the wharf which was slated to be completed by mid-November. Thus far, the works are 40 percent complete. “The mini wharf’s foundation is done, so it’s just the actual wharf and the shed because it caters for decking at the wharf, and a small walkway with 10x70 feet length shed,” Boyer told the Department of Public

Information (DPI).

He noted that the current high tide is hindering the progress of the project since the rising water covers most of the structure.

However, he assured that that wharf will be completed as per schedule. According to the Boyer, the region is currently wrapping up 208 projects which include government buildings, such as schools and nurses living quarters, among others. In

2018, works will commence on a doctor’s living quarters. In the 2017 National Budget, the sum of $2.6B was approved for Region One, Barima Waini. The approved sum caters for works on Regional Administration, Education, Public Works/Infrastructure and Health Services in the Region, which covers 20,339 square kilometres and lists Mabaruma as its Administrative Centre.

Wismar man tried ‘turning over new leaf’ – but something apparently went awry A 28-year-old porknocker from Wismar, Linden, appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, on Monday charged with two counts of break-andenter and larceny.

It is alleged that David Crossman, between October 27 and October 29 at Linden, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Telisha Samuels and stole a quantity of electronic and household items totaling $450,000.

It is further alleged

that during the month of October, Crossman broke into the dwelling house of Devon Lake and carted off a television set, a pair of sneakers and a gas bottle, all valued $95,000.

The unrepresented man denied both charges, saying he was beaten by the police to confess to the crimes.

Crossman explained that he was convicted in 2009 for narcotics, and upon his release from prison, went to Trinidad, where he tried to turn over a new

David Crossman

leaf and make an honest living.

Police Prosecutor, Neville Jeffers objected to Crossman being released on bail on the ground that he’d been arrested and convicted for similar matters of late.

Jeffers further pointed out that some of the stolen items were found at the accused’s house.

The magistrate, however, released Crossman on $100,000 bail and transferred the matter to the Linden Magistrate’s Court for hearing tomorrow (Tuesday).

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Court dumps Nandlall’s lawsuit against AG HIGH Court Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Monday dismissed a $125M lawsuit filed by former Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, against current AG and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, for defamation of character earlier this year.

The High Court Judge dismissed the case on the grounds of non-compliance with the Civil Procedure Rules, failing to comply with the Case Management Conference timelines and wasting the court’s time.

The AG was represented Monday by attorney, Patrice Henry. Attempts to contact Nandlall on Monday proved futile.

Meanwhile, two months ago, the said judge had denied an application filed in April by Nandlall which sought to prevent Williams from stating that he (Nandlall) would be charged for stealing several law books, property of the state. Justice Sewnarine- Beharry found, among other things, that the injunction had no merit.

In her ruling she noted that Nandlall was charged for the very offence the AG

$30,000, in September.

Nandlall has repeatedly confirmed that while he was AG, law books were purchased for him by the State, using taxpayers’ money.

The missing books were bought from Lexis Nexis (U.K.), publishers of the

Attorney General, Basil Williams S.C.

said he would be charged with.

She noted too that the application for injunction over the “defamatory” statement was made some 11 days after it was allegedly made by the AG. According to her, that suggests that there was no urgency from Nandlall to have the matter addressed.

The Court also observed that Nandlall, in his application, failed to mention that he had approached the very court before on the same matter and was refused. He was represented by Attorney Manoj Narayan and was ordered to pay the standard

Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall

Commonwealth Law Reports, and are said to be worth over $2.5M. However, after the PPP was unseated in 2015, Nandlall took possession of the books which were bought for him as AG, by the state.

Since then Williams has committed to taking legal

action against Nandlall.

Williams has accused Nandlall of allegedly stealing the books, since they were not in possession of the AG’s chambers, despite the fact that they were bought for the then AG with state funds. He maintains that the law books were purchased with state funds and were intended to be used by the state and its officials.

He said any arrangement that does not conform to the established Public Service Rules or Regulations can be deemed a breach of the Fiscal Management Accountability Act (FMAA).

Added to the injunction, Nandlall claimed in excess of $25M for libel published on March 24, 2017, at a press conference, hosted at the National Communications Network Inc (NCN); damages of in excess of $25M for libel published in the Guyana Times newspaper on March 25, 2017; damages of in excess of $25M for slander published during an outreach programme in Berbice on March 26, 2017; and damages of in excess of $25M for libel published by Demerara Waves on March 27, 2017.

Man held for questioning – in probe into beating, dumping of teacher A PERSON of interest is being questioned by the police in relation to the brutal beating of 22-year-old teacher, Kescia Branche who was discovered unconscious at the corner of Princess Street and Louisa Row early Sunday morning.

Divisional Commander, Marlon Chapman confirmed that police are questioning a person of interest and told Guyana Chronicle that the person was picked up sometime on Monday. Branche was seen in the company of a male at the Blue Martini Bar, located at Lamaha and De Abreu Street, Newtown, Georgetown, Guyana.

On Sunday, the uncon-

Kescia Branche

scious body of the 22-yearold teacher of the Richard Ishmael Secondary School was found at the corner of

Princess Street and Louisa Row by a passerby who called an ambulance. It is unclear what transpired that resulted in the teacher becoming unconscious.

The mother of one, who is suffering from brain injuries and a broken foot , had left her Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home for a night of partying.

Her father, Alfred Branche, told the Guyana Chronicle Monday that the matter is being relentlessly pursued.

“The police assured me that they will be making arrests and they intend to solve this mystery in the shortest possible time,” said a distraught Branche. He told this newspaper that there

has been no positive change in his daughter’s condition, and he is praying that she responds favourably to the treatment she is receiving.

A meeting is scheduled with his daughter’s doctors tomorrow, when he will be provided with an update.

Meantime, the woman’s three-year-old son is currently in the care of his father who has since given a statement to police. Guyana Chronicle understands that several persons made statements to the Police on Monday. “I am very disturbed that someone would treat my daughter in an animalistic manner; and it is not just because it is my daughter,” said an emotionally distraught Branche.

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Couple put on self-bail

– for seizure of raw gold at airport A MARRIED couple implicated in the $14.6M raw gold seizure at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Monday appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, charged with having the items in their possession without having export licences.

Shazan Khan, 47, and

his wife Bibi Khan denied they had in their possession 1907.2 grams of raw gold, valued $14.6M, without having export licenses.

Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers made no objection to bail, and the Khan’s were released on self-bail.

The matter is adjourned until November 16.

$10M fraud charge dismissed A 42-year-old businessman had a $10M fraud charge against him dismissed by City Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, on Monday.

Rajesh Sahadeo of Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was on trial for obtaining $10M by a Republic Bank cheque from Lloyd Singh, by pretending he knew a woman named Shanean Boston who was in a position to sell a plot of land

at Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara.

Magistrate Daly dismissed the case on the grounds of insufficient evidence being led by Prosecutor Richard Harris.

The court heard that Singh claimed that Sahadeo brought Boston to him to sell the land but he discovered, after paying $10 million, that the land was not for sale and the land did not belong to her.

Motorcyclist charged for sexagenarian’s death FOUR months after 61-year-old Francis Persaud was struck down and killed on the Craig Public Road, East Bank Demerara, a 26-year-old motorcyclist was charged for causing his death.

Jason Dorsett of Kitty, a Route 40 minibus conductor, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the offence alleged that on July

30, at Craig Public Road, he rode motorcycle CH 532 in a dangerous manner which resulted in the death of the female sexagenarian.

Police Prosecutor, Neville Jeffers told the court that the defendant was no stranger to the court and has other pending traffic-related charges.

The magistrate released Dorsett on $500,000 bail and adjourned the matter until November 10.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Hundreds receive treatment for various ailments

--as overseas-based doctors take medical outreach to Fyrish THE Guyana Medical Mission on Sunday commenced its 12th annual medical outreach with activities at the Fyrish Health Centre.

That event saw hundreds of Fyrish residents and residents of other nearby communities being administered care in diabetes, hypertension and other

ailments.

The medical team consisted of four Guyanese, two Jamaicans, one Barbadian, two Nigerians, one Grenadian, and five Amer-

A doctor attends to a patient at the Medical Outreach hosted by the Guyana Medical Mission at Fyrish, in East Berbice

icans specialists in various fields, such as: Obstetrics/ Gynecology, Orthopedics, Hematology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Pediatrics as well as General Surgery.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Head of the Medical Mission, Dr. James Cort, who specialises in Internal Medicine, explained that the team is not funded by any organisation but does the visits out of their own pockets as their way of giving back to the community as well as the country.

The team has been providing quality medical care, free of cost, to Guyanese and residents of other Caribbean countries for numerous years, as part of the Caribbean Medical Mission.

But after realising that Guyana needed much more help than it was receiving at the time, Dr. Cort and Dr. Saunders, who died recently, decided to form the Guyana Medical Mission, which made its first official visit here in 2005.

Since then, Dr. Cort and his teammates have made it their duty to come every year, except 2006, taking care of their own airfares

and personal expenses, and shipping most of the medical equipment they would need for the duration of the outreaches ahead of their planned visits. Medication is usually provided for the various sites from funds raised by residents of the communities in the Diaspora.

The team collaborates and works in tandem with the Ministry of Public Heath, referring patients for follow-up visits or surgery.

At the Fyrish outreach, eight doctors started working from 07:00hrs until 18:00hrs, and treated several hundred patients, including some serious cases that had to be referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital for observation, follow-up treatment and surgery.

The rest of the 15-member team were at the New Amsterdam Hospital, where they have been since they arrived on Friday, treating patients and doing surgery.

The Mission expects to wrap up their visit this weekend, after holding outreaches in Manchester on Monday; at Belladrum in West Berbice today; and at East La Penitence on

Friday.

Dr. Cort explained that the communities in which the outreaches are held are communities which they have started with and continue to visit annually, since the only way to make a difference is by following up.

“We don’t limit our missions to a particular village,” he said, adding: “We only choose areas that are in need and accessible to others.

“I am from Fyrish; so this is a way of giving back to my community.

However, we have patients that came from New Amsterdam, Rose Hall and even from the East Bank of Demerara.

“As word gets around, people come in from all over, and we don’t refuse them.”

Dr. Cort said the outreaches have been very successful in the past, and more doctors are coming on board because of that.

He said that it’s the Mission’s goal to help identify the medical issues in patients early, so that it can be controlled and treated early before it gets worse.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Computer skills a necessity in today’s world – First Lady tells this year’s AEA graduates

By Shirley Thomas FIRST Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger has urged the Adult Education Association (AEA) to consider offering an introductory course in the use of computers and the Internet if they haven’t done so already.

She made the call last Friday while delivering the feature address at the association’s Graduation and Awards Ceremony, held at the Umana Yana on upper High Street, Kingston.

She said that seeing that over 70% of the jobs in the future will require some knowledge of computer science, it would serve the organisation well to offer a few courses in that discipline, in addition to the mainstream ones, so that aspiring AEA graduates are able to take up those offers when they become available.

She made the point, too, that persons who would have pursued courses in the area of Women’s Outreach Entrepreneurial Skills will need to know their way around the computer and the Internet if they are to keep track of their clients, orders or bills and receipts.

Held under the theme, “Celebrating 60 years of success: Providing second-chance opportunities to Guyanese”, the event, which also celebrated the organisation’s 60th anniversary, saw 132 men and women graduate with certificates of competence from seven disciplines, namely: Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC); Women’s Outreach Entrepreneurial Skills Courses; Child Care Management; Elementary Cake and Pastry Making; Advanced Cake and Pastry Making; Elementary Food Preparation and Service; and Quick Breads and Yeast Dough Making.

IMPORTANT FIRST STEP Said the First Lady to the graduates: “As you celebrate your achievements today, I hope

that you will recognise that this is but the first step towards your education and empowerment, and that you will need to add to, and upgrade your skills, so that you can survive and thrive in

She went on to say that by signing up and staying the course in their various fields of endeavour, the graduates have proven several things, namely: “Their thirst for knowl-

a group of men who shared a common interest in adult education. Those persons were: Mr. John Gale, a British Council Representative; Bishop Lester Guilly of the Roman Catholic Church; Mr. Vincent McAlmond of the British Guiana Trades Union

Council; Sir Frank McDavid, Colonial Treasurer; Mr. Adolph Thompson, Resident Tutor of the University College of the West Indies; and Mr. Newton Profitt, Educationist, who at a later date functioned in the capacity of Executive Director, and was

at one point the sole founder member residing here after the others had either migrated or died.

For its contribution to the development of the nation, the AEA was in 1998 awarded the Medal of Service (MS).

First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger, flanked by Deputy Chief Education Officer, Ms Ingrid Trotman (left) and AEA Executive Director, Ms Patricia David (Photo by Delano Williams)

whatever field of work you choose.”

As she would later observe, the AEA, from its inception, has striven to fulfill its mandate, which is: ● Providing adult education in all its forms; ● Liaising with, and coordinating the activities of all the bodies involved in Adult Education at all levels and in all forms; ● Assisting, if necessary, its member organisations; ● Facilitating the provision of adult education services in communities where these do not exist; ● Contributing to the eradication of adult illiteracy, and helping adults to develop their basic education; improve their technical or professional skills; and provide them with opportunities for the full development of their personalities.

Recalling that the President has always advocated that Guyana must become an education-oriented nation if its people are to succeed and be relevant in today’s dynamic and ever-changing world, Mrs Granger declared: “Education must be a lifelong process, since I am sure you are well aware of all the changes that have taken place within your own lifetime, particularly in Information and Communication Technology.”

edge; that they recognise the benefits of knowledge; that they have a vision for their future; and that they have the ability and discipline to achieve what they set out to do.”

In commending them all for the bold step they have taken, Mrs Granger said: “Be proud of your achievement. You grasped the second-chance opportunity offered by AEA, stayed the course, and are reaping your reward today. I wish you much success in whatever field you choose.”

LONG-SERVICE AWARDS Following the Graduation Ceremony, there was also an Awards Ceremony at which 13 active staff members who have served the AEA ten years and more were recognised.

Those persons were: Executive Director, Ms Patricia David; Ms Cheryl Carter; Ms Lucinda Tracey; Ms Roxanne Patterson; Ms Myrna Jupiter; Ms Lavern Adonis; Mr Wilfred J. Gomes; Mr Ignatius Phillips; Ms Darelina Hill; Ms Margaret Suffrein; Ms Vera Smith; Ms Noreen Persaud and Ms Eunice Williams.

Ms David, in presenting her report, traced the history of the organisation, which was formed in April 1957 by

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Mocha residents urged to denounce PPP

MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon on Sunday called on residents of Mocha, East Bank Demerara to denounce what he described as the “disgraceful behaviour” of that party in the National Assembly last week.

He also issued a public apology for the ruckus created by the opposition parliamentarians when they decided to protest President David Granger as he addressed the House on his Government’s plans and legislative programmes last Thursday. The 71st Sitting of the 11th Parliament was the scene of loud chants and placards unfolding before members of the Diplomatic Corps, Senior Government Functionaries and the world at large. The Opposition led by Bharrat Jagdeo, a former President, was protesting the President’s appointment of Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Their actions, however, were described as “disgraceful, awful and disgusting” by many who witnessed the protest in much disbelief.

On Sunday, while addressing scores of residents during an outreach at the Mocha Arcadia Primary School, Minister Harmon apologised for the unsavory behaviour displayed by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). “I apologise on behalf of the Government to you for that behaviour of the PPPC,” the State Minister told the residents, some of whom stood in solidarity with their placards calling out the Opposition Leader.

In the words of Minister Harmon, the Opposition took the country’s Parliamentary Democracy to the lowest level, emphasising that never before the country has witnessed such demonstration. “Never before have we seen that level of disrespect given to a Head of State, never!” Minister Harmon said while calling on citizens to denounce the actions of the PPP.

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Bromes, addressing residents of Mocha Arcadia during a Ministerial Outreach at the Mocha Arcadia Primary School (Samuel Maughn photo)

“This is not who we are as a people and I am saying that Jagdeo and his group will not define who we are as a people by that behaviour. We are civil people, we are hardworking people, we are respectful people and we will not allow Jagdeo and his small group of people to say to the rest of the world that this is the behaviour that is expected of Guyana,” the State Minister noted.

According to him, subsequent to 2015, pride was restored among Guyanese. “The PPP wants to damage that and that is what we have to defend.

We have to defend it!” Minister Harmon told the cheering crowd. He said never again, such an incident should occur in Guyana. “I want to say to you, that this level of disrespect shown in the National Assembly, we are not accepting it, and we will not accept it.

“And all I am saying to you now, at the level of the RDCs, the NDCs, just look out for that kind of behaviour and stop it, stop it in its track. Do not allow that type of behaviour to trickle down to anywhere else because lawlessness, disorderliness…

Residents of Mocha Arcadia during the Ministerial Outreach (Samuel Maugn photo)

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, embracing a resident of Mocha Arcadia at the close of the community meeting (Samuel Maughn photo) A resident of Mocha Arcadia condemning the actions of the PPP during the last sitting of the Parliament of Guyana (Samuel Maughn photo)

we have no place for that,” the State Minister told the Mocha Arcadia residents.

Minister within the Min-

istry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, told the residents to be calm as she assured them that the A Partnership for

National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNI+AFC) Government will continue to stand by the people of this country.

After years of “oppression” and “depression,” the Junior Natural Resources Minister said she is pleased to see that Mocha

Arcadia is now “going places.”

As the country progresses, she said citizens must also boost their intellectual capacities and technical capabilities, noting that residents must come to the realisation that “those dark days are gone.”

Digicel opens new outlet at City Mall DIGICEL customers now have a new outlet from which to shop, and it’s conveniently located at the City Mall on Regent Street.

Located on the ground floor of the building, the store, which was opened to business on Monday, boasts well-trained staff to facilitate whatever communication request customers may have.

Called the ‘Digicel Experience’ store, the new outlet features a new design concept in the brand’s retail stores and, as CEO Gregory

Dean proudly noted, “We are happy to have started the deployment of the new design in Guyana.

“We have introduced in this new concept of our experience stores ‘Smart Serve’, which is an intelligent digital queue and customer flow management system.

“This will significantly reduce wait times, provide a flexible shopping experience, and greatly increase the quality of service we are able to deliver.

The new Digicel outlet at City Mall

“In addition, it will also provide us with intelligence on customer requests, service times and staff performance so that we can monitor and improving processes.”

Cutting the symbolic ribbon to officially open the store was store proprietor, Richard Singh; Retail Manager, Richard Das; Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James; and Kenson Garraway, the outlet’s first lucky customer who won himself a Samsung Note 8.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Education Ministry launches Model Safe School programme

IN an effort to create safer and greener educational institutions, a Model Safe School Programme (MSSP) training and competition was launched on Monday at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD), Battery Road, Kingston, Georgetown.

The MSSP seeks to establish an ideal, yet adaptable, approach to risk management at the school level which includes the articulation of school safety policies, the recognition of standards for school safety and the implementation of interventions to address risk.

The training aspect of the programme will see District Education Officers (DEOs) for each region, along with other government officials benefitting from a four-day training session. The objective is to familiarise trainees with the context for the MSSP and the assessment tools; tutor them on the utilisation of the tools to assess risk in schools, and in the preparation of assessment reports.

Today, the team will be

at the Diamond Secondary School and tomorrow, November 8, at the Tucville Secondary. On Thursday, November 9, the team will be present at South Ruimveldt Secondary and the last session will be conducted at NCERD on November 10.

In addition to a sound approach to the MSSP theory and methodology, a hands-on learning experience is envisioned where trainees undertake all stages of the assessment and reporting process, including the development of recommendation reports and action plans. Consequently, the participation of schools, providing a real-life setting, is of vital importance for the achievement of the training’s learning objectives.

During the opening ceremony, Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson explained that with the rise of both natural and man-made hazards in the Caribbean, all measures must be put in place to ensure the safety of the nation’s children. Therefore, Hutson explained that “The model must focus on four stages of planning and the four stages I want to speak

on are that of mitigation, prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.”

Additionally, such a model must also be designed to complement and integrate with the complex system of emergency preparedness in the greater community; locally, regionally, and internationally.

Hutson further noted that that aim is to be more proactive, rather than reactive, so that in the case of a disaster schools must not be out for long periods. In this regard, the need for the disaster management module to be introduced at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) was emphasised by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Director General (ret’d), Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup. “…why do we want that, because when the teacher comes out of there, they have an idea, a background of disaster management, and they will continue it in the schools, it is very important especially when we see what is happening now,” Ramsarup explained. He also said that schools must conduct regular fire drills, and

Marcel Hutson, Chief Education Officer (CEO), Colonel (rtd.) Chabilall Ramsarup, Director General, CDC, Elizabeth Riley, Deputy Executive Director, CDEMA, Vibert Welch, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education at the launch of the Model Safe School Training programme and Competition the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD), Kingston, Georgetown (DPI photo)

students and teachers must be taught how to use hydrants.

Also giving brief remarks at the event was Elizabeth Riley of Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) who noted the timeliness of the programme .

Riley explained that ensuring school safety has emerged as a key public

policy issue for governments in the region, given the key role that the education sector plays in economic and social development, and bearing in mind that many schools in the region function as emergency shelters, as well as spaces for community activities.

She applauded the Government of Guyana (GoG)

for forging ahead with the programme, and for being able to attract additional financial contribution to the process. The pilot project is being facilitated by the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Austrian Development Cooperation,

Ex-cop is first ‘GTT Million Dollar Smile’ winner Former Policeman, Maynard Carmichael, is the first GTT ‘Million Dollar Smile’ promotion winner as the company kicks off its promotion Monday evening at the Stabroek Market square, which will give every customer who spends $1000 or more via top-up, purchase of a handset, sign-up for ‘Blaze’, or simply pay a bill in full using Mobile Money (MMG), to win $1M.

Carmichael, 56, of Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara, who topped-up $1000 at the event, was the lucky number selected by GTT and won the $1M. When Carmichael’s number was first drawn and was called by GTT’s Marketing Manager Samantha Gooden, the father of five could not have heard that he was a winner. It was not until the third attempt that Carmichael answered from the crowd, as

loud cheers erupted in celebration. “At first, I thought was a joke,” Carmichael said, telling reporters that he was sitting on his car, talking with friends in the vicinity of the drawing when his phone first rang.

“After they called the second time, I decided to answer and by then I was walking going to the crowd to look for someone…I’m happy,” the Diamond resident said with a wide smile. “I’m going to just

One Million Dollars richer! Maynard Carmichael (left) and GTT’s Marketing Manager Samantha Gooden (Delano Williams photo)

Comedian Kirk ‘Chow-Pow’ Jardine doing give-aways during Monday’s event at the Stabroek Market Square

put this (money) in the bank and see where it goes from there,” the retired member of the Guyana Police Force said, while also encouraging others to “join GTT, try your luck, because you never know when God says it is your time.”

“This is what GTT is all about,” they always energise

Gooden said, adding “we want to see people smile and also, make people millionaires for Christmas.” The promotion will next head to the Better Hope Community Centre Ground on Saturday November 11, Linden on November 17, Bartica (November 24), followed

by Essequibo and Berbice on

December 1 and 15 respectively and back to Georgetown for a grand drawing on December 18.

“GTT wants to give Guyanese people a bright Christmas, filled with smiles and we want to make some people millionaires for the holidays,” Gooden said to scores gathered at Stabroek Market.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 7, 2017

GUYOIL on a ‘winning spree’ this Christmas

GUYOIL on Monday launched its Christmas promotion, titled “Winning Spree” where customers who make a purchase of $5,000 or more can win more than $3M in cash and prizes.

According to Marketing and Sales Manager, Mr Eric Whaul, any customer who spends $5,000 on gasoline, diesel or Castrol lubricants from any Guyoil Service Station is eligible to complete their coupons to enter this exciting promotion for the season.

The company is looking at having 20 winners every week, and to give away 20 Christmas hampers.

There’ll also be $2M in cash prizes, and $100,000 in free fuel in this promo-

tion, which starts today at GUYOIL stations all across the country.

Whaul told reporters that when GUYOIL decided to launch the promotion, they were mindful of the fact that more people can win which is better for them, as well as the dealers too and every Friday 20 winners will be selected via a drawing for

free fuel.

Whaul pointed out that in the GUYOIL promotion, everyone can be a winner, and that 25 persons will get vouchers for free fuel.

Starting today, the oil company will be highlighting their promotion through radio and television advertisements, and will have the “Guyoil bus” at the various service sta-

tions where customers can win extra prizes on the spot.

The GUYOIL Christmas Winning Spree will end on January 6, 2018, and was launched at its Kitty Service Station boardroom in which one of the hampers was on display along with samples of accompanying coupon boxes.

Guyoil Marketing and Sales Manager, Eric Whaul, during the launching of the Guyoil Christmas promotion, ‘Winning Spree’

Guyoil dealers who were present at the ceremony on Monday

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Ramcharran signals intention Speedboat create history with back-to-back championships to quit as OSCL president …Ontario Sports minster, Consul General laud league’s role

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada – Long-standing president and founder-member of the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL), Albert Ramcharran has announced that he wouldn’t be seeking re-election when the league holds its annual general meeting early in the new year.

Ramcharran, whose twoyear term ends shortly, made the announcement at the OSCL 22nd annual presentation, dinner and dance, held at the Estate Banquet Hall, Scarborough, here last Saturday night. He, however, pledged to ensure that all business of the league is fully taken care of prior to the annual general meeting.

Questioned as to the reason for his decision, Ramcharran simply said “enough is enough.”

According to his presidential message in the OSCL brochure, “as one of the founder-members of this league, I can proudly say that this organisation has met most of its objectives over the years, but like in any entity, there exists problems and those were compounded during the just-completed season by gross indiscipline by some bent on destroying what we have strive to establish over the years.

“Despite these few hiccups, we were once again able to complete a very successful and challenging season and based on the feedback and reaction from those at the season-ending matches, softball was indeed the winner.

Ramcharran reiterated that “there are a few members within the OSCL who are bent and making every effort to bring disrepute to

OSCL president Albert Ramcharran hands over a championship trophy to Dant’s Hemnarine Chattergoon.

the league, both on and off the field. I urge whoever heads this organisation to pay strict attention in this area, lest what was built in 22 years be destroyed.”

Among the major decisions taken at the annual general meeting were to separate the A and B conferences for the T10 and 15over tournaments with each conference having its own play-off and championship game, all no-balls be free hits and no-balls be called for deliveries above the shoulder in a standing position.

Super overs were also introduced in case of tied games and no games shall go beyond the scheduled time, except in the case of a tie-breaker.

Ramcharran also spoke about the strenuous efforts being made to overcome and to comply with the parks and permit rules in the practise of imbibing in full view of nearby residents at some grounds and players/supporters urinating at undesired places. “While the com-

plaints were less this year, the OSCL is calling on all to desist from these forms of behaviours, as we continue to receive warnings from the authorities.”

Ramcharran took the opportunity to congratulate the winning and runner-up teams and all the other participating teams across all formats in the league.

“Once again, my hard-working executives have been tested to the fullest this year, but have withstood with flying colours. To you I say a ‘big thank you’ for your outstanding and sterling efforts.

“To our several sponsors, including Harri Sukhu, Norman Sue Bakery and Home Trust, we say hearty thanks and look forward to your continued support.

Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture, Eleanor McMahon, in her message, sent warmest greetings to the OSCL. “As Minister, I recognize the valuable role that organi-

zations like the OSCL play in engaging us in sport and recreation, keeping us active and strengthening our communities.

“Congratulations to the OSCL on 22 years of success. I commend the league’s continuing efforts to promote the sport of softball cricket to participants across the province. Your achievements are truly something to be proud of.”

In her message Consul General (acting), Consulate General of Guyana, Candida Daniels, congratulated and commended the league for its efforts and successes in keeping the game of softball cricket alive for the enjoyment of members of the Guyanese and other cricket-loving Diaspora communities resident in Ontario.

“The league’s effort in promoting educational and cultural activities for the benefit of the community is also highly commendable,” Daniels pointed out.

Australia’s Starc takes hattrick in Sheffield Shield SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia paceman Mitchell Starc fired an ominous warning to England ahead of the Ashes series with a hat-trick for New South Wales on the second day of a Sheffield Shield match on Monday.

The quick, who will spearhead Australia’s attack when the series begins later this month, claimed the wickets of Jason Behrendorff, David Moody and Simon Mackin in successive deliveries to end Western Australia’s first innings.

Behrendorff and Mackin were bowled by trademark Starc yorkers in the fourday match at Hurstville Oval while Moody was adjudged lbw trying to defend another.

The left-armer finished

with figures of 4-65, while Josh Hazlewood, who is likely to open the bowling with Starc against England, did the damage at the top of the Western Australian order with 3-24.

“They are taking the Mickey out of me for cleaning up the tail again, but someone’s got to do it. So it was good fun,” Starc said after his hat-trick. ”I am pretty sure they all know where it is going and they all keep missing it so I will keep bowling it for now.

“I was pretty happy with my rhythm yesterday and today.”

Australia’s third frontline quick Pat Cummins took 2-31, while Test off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed a single wicket at

the cost of 39 runs.

Shaun Marsh (2), Mitchell Marsh (0) and Hilton Cartwright (0), who are all hoping to fill the vacant number six spot in the Australian batting line-up, did themselves no favours as Western Australia fell for 176 in reply to the hosts’ 270.

Australia captain Steve Smith showed he was in good form with the bat ahead of the Ashes by adding an unbeaten 74 to the 76 he scored in the NSW’s first innings as he led the team to 166 for two by stumps on day three.

The Ashes begin at the Gabba in Brisbane on Nov. 23 and Australia’s squad for the series is expected to be announced after this round of Sheffield Shield matches in completed.

By Frederick Halley

HISTORY was created at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown, on Sunday night when Speedboat became the first team to retain championship honours in the Open category when the seventh edition of the Guyana Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) Guyana Softball Cup concluded close to midnight before a raucous crowd.

In a sensational turn of events, after they seemed destined to end up in the runner-up spot, Speedboat showed great resilience to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the final overs.

Victory was achieved off the final delivery of the 20-over affair when man-of-the-match, Mark Harold claimed his fourth wicket of the over, all bowled as the lighted bails, used for the first time in the tournament, kept flashing consistently.

In the end, opponents and newcomers Booths All Stars were dismissed for 124, pursuing 129 for victory and what would have been their second consecutive win over the champions, having defeated them in their opening fixture at the Police Sports Club ground last Friday.

The victory meant Speedboat had earned the top prize of $800 000 and the Trophy Stall trophy while Booths All Stars pocketed $200 000 and the runner-up trophy. It was also their second triumph in consecutive weeks following their win the previous weekend in the Georgetown Softball League (GSL) tournament.

The game promised to be a cracker after Booths All Stars’ win in the opening encounter and it certainly lived up to its pre-game hype. Adopting what seemed an ultra cautious approach, although within striking distance of the required run rate, Booths All Stars were comfortably placed at 99 for three at the end of the 16th over, needing a further 28 runs from 20 deliveries.

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Booths All Stars were indebted to a fourth wicket partnership of 48 between skipper Eyaaz Mohamed (37) and Christopher Geenarine (22), but suddenly panic seemed to have stepped in with the dismissal of the latter. However, Speedboat, using their vast experience, kept a cooler head.

At 109 for four after 18 overs, Booths All Stars kept their chances alive but Mohamed’s dismissal in the penultimate over ignited Speedboat further as they went for the jugular.

Drama unfolded in the final over as Booths All Stars needed 10 runs with four wickets still intact. They managed a mere five as Harold, bowling with unerring accuracy, shattered the stumps of the last four batsmen to set an invasion of the playing area by the Speedboat supporters.

Harold, who had failed to pick up a wicket in his three previous overs, finished with the impressive figures of four for 22 while Greg Singh took two for 13.

Earlier, Speedboat had no hesitation in opting to bat first but their cavalier approach saw them losing wickets frequently as they were shot out for 128 in 17.1 overs with Vickash Dhaniram (27) being the only player to reach double figures. His knock included two fours and two sixes.

The main destroyers were C. Ramdhani (three for 31), Y. Sooklall (two for seven) and Roy Persaud (two for 34).

Apart from copping the man-of-the-match award, Mark Harold was also voted the Most Valuable Player in the Open category, taking away a gold bat pendant, courtesy of Steve’s Jewelry, a similar prize won by Ramo Malone in the Masters category.

As an incentive for their winning of the Open category, Speedboat’s participation in the Orlando Cup, set to be held in March 2018, has been assured, compliments of the GFSCA.

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25

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday November 7, 2017

FIFA bribery trial due to kick off in New York court

Juan Angel Napout-former president of CONMEBOL

By Brendan Pierson NEW YORK (Reuters) More than two years after U.S. prosecutors unveiled a sweeping corruption case that rocked FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, three former officials linked to the organization are due to face trial on graft charges on Monday in a New York court.

Selection of jurors is scheduled to begin before U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in Brooklyn. On trial Manuel Burga, former president of Peru’s soccer fed-

eration; José Maria Marin, the former president of Brazil’s soccer federation; and Juan Ángel Napout, formerly president of the South American soccer governing body CONMEBOL and of Paraguay’s soccer federation.

U.S. prosecutors have accused the three of taking bribes and kickbacks in connection with the sale of media and marketing rights to Copa America and Copa Libertadores tournaments, international competitions organized by CONMEBOL. The trial is part of a

sweeping criminal probe in which U.S. prosecutors have charged 42 people and entities. Prosecutors have described a widespread culture of corruption around the awarding of media and marketing rights to soccer games throughout the world.

Burga, Marin and Napout are the first of the people charged to go to trial.

Twenty-four people

in 2013. The charges against one of those people, U.S. soccer official Charles Blazer, were voided after his death in July.

“After waiting two years, Mr. Napout looks forward to his day in court,” Napout’s lawyer, Silvia Pinera-Vazquez, said on Friday.

Charles Stillman, a lawyer for Marin, and Bruce Udolf, a lawyer for Burga, Manuel Burga –former president of the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF)

Jose Maria Marin- former president of Brazil’s Soccer Federation

have pleaded guilty, most of them since the probe was announced in May 2015, though the first pleas came

declined to comment.

Among the defendants who have pleaded guilty in the case are Jeffrey Webb, a

former FIFA vice president and president of CONCACAF, the governing body for soccer in North America, Central America and the Caribbean; and José Hawilla, accused of paying bribes to secure contracts for his sports marketing company, Traffic Group.

In October, Costas Takkas, described by prosecutors as Webb’s attache, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and Hector Trujillo, a former secretary general of the Guatemalan soccer

federation, was sentenced to eight months.

Other defendants have not been extradited to the United States.

Sepp Blatter, who served as FIFA’s president from 1998 until he was suspended in late 2015, was not charged in the case.

Authorities in Switzerland, where FIFA is based, said in October that they were investigating potential bribery around media rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups.

Is the Premier League title race over already? Not so fast

By Simon Evans MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester City’s eight point advantage after 11 games is leading to talk of the Premier League title race being over in November, but as Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho noted - English football has a habit of throwing up surprises.

It is undeniable that City are currently playing with such a verve, fluency and effectiveness that it is hard to imagine them losing three games and allowing their rivals, whether it be United, Spurs or Chelsea, into the race.

But while the form of Pep Guardiola’s team and - second-placed United’s recent losses to Huddersfield and Chelsea - point towards a runaway title win, there is indeed lot of football left to be played.

“Eight points in the Premier League is not the same in Portugal, La Liga or the Bundesliga. Yes, it is eight points but there is still a lot of play (to come),” Mourinho said after the loss at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, which followed City’s comfortable 3-1 win over Arsenal.

While Mourinho was not explicit in his explanation, the fact is that suspensions and injuries to key players happen and, over the course of a long season, can radically impact a team’s form.

And while City certainly have plenty of quality, their strength in depth has not yet been truly tested.

Guardiola was already taking about his team being tired after their midweek trip to Naples in the Champions League. How will they be holding up physically after a fixture-congested festive season? How will they cope in February when they will

be in knockout action in the Champions League?

City made a strong start last season but then suffered successive defeats - to

KEY FIGURES United host City at Old Trafford on Dec. 10 - a game which Mourinho surely has his eye on already as a chance

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho REUTERS/Toby Melville

Chelsea and Leicester City - at the start of December before ending that month with a loss at Anfield on New Year’s Eve.

to reign in the leaders and he suggested that his team will be stronger with some key figures set to return.

“I hope, feel, think and

wish that in the busy period at the end of November, December and January, we’re going to be at maximum strength with (Paul) Pogba, (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic and (Marcus) Rojo back (from injury),” he said.

Certainly United’s stumble in form after their excellent start of six wins from seven games, has coincided with the absence of French midfielder Pogba, whose partnership in central midfield with Nemanja Matic was developing so well.

Romelu Lukaku’s goal drought has had a bigger impact given the absence of an alternative central striker and the return of Ibrahimovic, who had scored 17 goals in 28 Premier League games before his knee ligament injury, would give Mourinho another option.

While the focus is on United’s challenge, it is worth noting that Tottenham are level on points with them and

after their crushing of European champions Real Madrid last week, a long winning run from Mauricio Pochettino’s team cannot be ruled out.

But while Guardiola is right to play down talk of an inevitable title win, he couldn’t help highlighting one key difference from last season - his team’s performances against top six clubs.

“Last season against title contenders, we were able to win just twice. Coming into November, we have already beaten Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal,” he said.

Six days after December’s clash with United, Guardiola’s side face Tottenham at the Etihad and then on Jan. 14 they are at Anfield, where their title bid unravelled last year.

If City can triumph in those games then perhaps talk of a one-horse race can be justified. But as Mourinho says, there is a lot of football left to be played.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday November 7, 2017

Youths entered into local golfing: FOR the first time in Guyana, secondary school students participated in the ‘Guyana Open High School Championship’ at the Lusignan Golf course

on Sunday last.

Teams consisting of six members each from three secondary schools: Queen’s College, the Bishops’ High School and the St. Rose’s

High School participated in the putting competition.

The Rose’s High school emerged victorious after two rounds of intensive putting, while the Bishops’ High The three teams from the three participating secondary schools at the Lusignan Golf course

A St. Rose’s High School student shapes up to putt

edged past Queen’s College in a ‘putt-off’ after being tied for second place.

The event sought to engage youths in the sport and was part of the overall Guyana Open Golf Championship played over the weekend.

This initiative was spear-

headed by local golfer, Aleem Hussain and Vice-President of the Lusignan Golf Club, Brian Hackett who strived to refresh the sport by involving youths.

Delivering brief remarks, Hussain explained how historic the youths’ participation was in this event as

they are the pioneers of the schools’ golf championships.

While only three secondary schools participated in the inaugural tournament, Hussain highlighted that many more schools will be recruited in the coming years.

GFA/Stag Premium league 2017 Provisional Sri Lanka drop Mendis, Santos end Camptown’s programme Silva for India Tests as Matthews returns winning streak with 2-1 win released - Northern Rangers and Pele also record victories for Guyana Cup rematch ORGANISERS of the Guyana Cup Rematch horse race meet have released a provisional eight-race programme.

The one-day race meet, which is organised by the Jumbo Jet establishment, is billed for December 3 at the Rising Sun Turf Club.

According to the provisional programme, the feature event is for horses classified C and Lower.

The race is over a distance of 1200m and at stake is $1M and a trophy.

The co-feature event will see horses in the F Class and Lower competing over 1200m.

Other races on the card includes the: H1 and Lower (1200m), threeyear-old Guyana-bred (1200m), two-year-old Guyana-bred (1200m) , K Class (1200m), L and Lower (1200m) and the L-Class Non Earners since Guyana Cup 2017.

For more information contact: Chandu Ramkissoon (624-9063/6089063/232-063), Alan Padmore (232-9115), Rajin (Lion) (608-4050) or Nikita Ross (662-4668).

COLOMBO (Reuters) Sri Lanka have dropped batsmen Kusal Mendis and Kaushal Silva from the squad for the threeTest series in India, starting next week, while fitagain all-rounder Angelo Mathews has returned from injury.

Seamer Nuwan Pradeep was also omitted from the side that beat Pakistan 2-0 in the United Arab Emirates with all-rounders Dhananjaya de Silva and Dasun Shanaka drafted into the 15-man squad for the series against the world’s top-ranked Test team.

Widely regarded as Sri Lanka’s future batting mainstay in the longest format, Mendis totalled just 58 in four innings against Pakistan. Silva also had an underwhelming series and managed 67 runs in the two Tests.

Former captain Mathews missed the series against Pakistan with a calf strain and will add some experience and solidity to the middle order against India, who blanked Sri Lanka 3-0 in the away series earlier this year.

Kolkata’s Eden Garden will hosts the opening match of the three-Test series which will be followed by three one-day internationals and as many Twenty20 matches between the neighbours.

Squad: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru

Kusal Mendis totalled just 58 in four innings against Pakistan.

Thirimanne, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Gamage, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Roshen Silva Sri Lanka in India 2017 November 16-20 1st Test, Kolkata (04:00 GMT) 24-28 2nd Test, Nagpur (04:00 GMT) December 2-6 3rd Test, Delhi (04:00 GMT) 10 1st ODI, Dharamsala (d/n) (08:00 GMT) 13 2nd ODI, Mohali (d/n) (08:00 GMT) 17 3rd ODI, Visakhapatnam (d/n) (08:00 GMT) 20 1st Twenty20 international, Cuttack (d/n) (13:30 GMT) 22 2nd Twenty20 international, Indore (d/n) (13:30 GMT) 24 3rd Twenty20 international, Mumbai (d/n) (13:30 GMT)

SANTOS Football Club ended Camptown’s winning streak on Sunday last by registering a 2-1 win against the Campbellville based team to move to second in the standings with nine points and a goal difference of plus five.

William Europe who had three goals to his name going into Sunday’s engagement, opened the scoring in the 67th minute with a perfectly timed-header from inside the opposition’s 12-yard box.

However, 10 minutes later, Jamal Codrington found the equaliser and with five minutes to regulation time, keith Caines sealed the issue for Santos.

Camptown remains on nine points after four rounds of competition and has a goal difference of plus two after winning three consecutive matches, scoring six goals and conceding two.

Santos on the other hand has won three of their four matches, They lost to lowly rated Flamingo by a 0-1 margin, but scored seven goals while conceding two.

In the feature game on Sunday night, Pele recorded their first points of the competition after four matches by edging home side, Georgetown Football Club 1-0, through a Keith DaSilva 40th minute goal.

The win for Pele earned

William Europe opened Santos scoring in the 67th minute.

them three points and they are currently ninth in the points standing.

In the second game on the night’s card, Northern Rangers secured three points after edging Flamingo 1-0 to take them to five points after recording their first win on Sunday to add to their drawn 1-1 game against Beacons

during the third round of competition.

Earlier in the competition, Northern Rangers lost by a 0-3 margin to GFC and 1-2 to Camptown.

Police is the current leaders of the league with 12 points from four victories.

The lawmen registered a 4-1 win against Camptown in a round one fixture, then followed up with a 3-0 win against Flamingo and a further 3-0 victory against Black Pearl.

In their last match, the men in dark blue and red uniform brushed aside Beacons by a 5-2 margin with their leading goal scorer being Rawle Haynes with five goals to his name after four matches.

The League will continue on Friday with a double-header.(Michael Da Silva)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday November 07, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPA NY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Match Drawn (2) Sikander Raza Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the result of the recent WI/ ZIM Test series?

(2) Who was declared Man of the Series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday November 7, 2017

Ramsammy spurs Blairmont Blazers to win over GCC …Karibee girls tame Trophy Stall Angels

The Karibee girls following their win over Trophy Stall Angels.

A FINE all-round performance by National Under-15 all-rounder Zynul Ramsammy spurred Blairmont Blazers to a comprehensive 88-run victory over the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) when the inaugural Well Teen/Trophy Stall/Tropical Springs/ Nauth’s Motor Spares inaugural Under-13 cricket tournament climaxed at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown on Sunday.

The slimly-built righthander, who entered the fray

with his team precariously placed with three wickets down without a run on the board, following a sensational first over from left-arm spinner Aryan Persaud, displayed great maturity beyond his youthful age.

By the time Ramsammy was dismissed for a wellplayed 60, he had initiated a brilliant recovery with opener, Timanani Caesar, whose contribution was a solid unbeaten half-century; the two sharing a fourth wicket partnership of 120 as Blairmont Blazers, who were asked to

bat first, rallied to 150 for five in their allotted 20 overs.

Ramsammy, whose 53ball knock included five fours and three sixes, returned to capture three for 15 from 2.2 overs as GCC were routed for a paltry 62 in 14,2 overs.

The left handed Caesar, who carried his bat throughout the innings, struck five fours and a six and faced 52 deliveries.

Ramsammy received excellent support from medium pacer, Vickendra Singh, who took three for 14 in his fourover spell, knocking back the middle stump of all three of

his victims, while Hemchand Ragbir ended with one for 25.

Earlier, Blairmont’s innings was in tatters as Persaud had a dream start, claiming wickets with his first two deliveries before striking again with his fourth, before Ramsammy and Caesar staged their rescue act.

Persaud, who returned in the 17th over following his two-over stint at the start, ended with four for 22, the only wicket taker as the other wicket went via the run out route.

Ramsammy was named man-of-the-match and the

By Stephan Sookram WITH the days counting down to the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) International Race of Champions, one

competitor is already licking his chops to get his hands on one of the local titles.

Motilall Deodass, better known as Kevin, is in prime position to win the 2017

Toyota Starlet cup to be hosted by the GMR&SC this weekend.

“Yes, I am the current leader of the Starlet Cup 2017 championship, but there is still a lot more to do to take

with an unbeaten 34 which included three sixes.

Sherika Campbell was the chief wicket-taker with three for eight while Nagma Bodhoo and player of the final, Shabika Gajnabi supported with two for 16 and two 17 respectively.

Karibee girls were led to their eventual total through Guyana and West Indies player, Shemaine Campbell, whose 23 was decorated with two sixes while Sherika Campbell made 16. Mantanan Cambridge took three for 16 and Anita Allen two for 11. (Frederick Halley)

Blairmont Blazers with their winnings after victory over GCC

Starlet Cup within Grasp for Deodass

Motilall Kevin Deodass (Mikey Spice photo)

Most Valuable Player of the eight-team tournament.

Meanwhile, in the women’s final played also as part of the seventh edition of the Guyana Softball Cup, Karibee girls made it a double for Berbice with a 12-run victory over Trophy Stall Angels in their 10-over softball matchup.

Chasing 83 after limiting the Berbicians to 82 for seven in their allotted overs, Trophy Stall huffed and puffed their way to 70 for nine after they were tottering at 15 for five.

Ruth George was the only player to show any resistance

it. There are two whole days of racing before anyone can be crowned champion.”

He added, “At the moment, I want to take every race as it comes to ensure that we make the best of them and get maximum points.”

“We know there are some strong competitors in the group like Rameez Mohamed and Allan Da Silva, but we also have to be cognizant of the new-comers in the group,” Deodass continued.

He noted that at the moment, the car is working well but there are definitely some areas that need to be tightened up on.

“I think a little more seat team can’t possibly hurt for me as a driver and I think in this week leading up to the race meet, I will be trying to get some more seat time.”

Shiv replaces Persaud for Leewards match

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

AFTER sharing the dressing room with senior members of the Guyana Jaguars team for the first two rounds in this edition of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League (PCL) four-day tournament, the promising Akshaya Persaud has been replaced for this week’s third round.

Information reaching Chronicle Sport indicates that Persaud has made way for Shivnarine Chanderpaul,

a veteran of 164 Tests.

The Jaguars will play the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua The three-time reigning champions rattled off their second straight win in the championship when they defeated Windward Islands Volcanoes by seven wickets inside three days last Saturday. That victory followed up their first round win over the Jamaica Scorpions.

The Guyana Jaguars squad for the third round reads: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rajendra Chandrika, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Leon Johnson (Captain), Keemo Paul, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford, Keon Joseph, Vishaul Singh and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Ramsammy spurs Blairmont Blazers to win over GCC

Page 27

Guyana Softball Cup 7

Speedboat create history with back-to-back championships

Page 24

Speedboat players celebrate their victory in the Open category.

MVP Mark Harold being presented his award by Miss India Guyana.

Guyana men, women remain unbeaten at CAC Hockey qualifier in Jamaica

G

UYANA’s men and women Hockey teams remain unbeaten in their quest to feature at next year’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, following their opening games of the qualifiers at the Jamaica hockey pitch at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus.

The men’s side opened their campaign with a 4 – 1 win over Puerto Rico, while the women are undefeated in their two matches played so far. On Sunday, the Guyanese women trashed Panama 6 – 0 and played to a scoreless draw against Puerto Rico yesterday.

Tomorrow, both teams will be in action to keep their unbeaten record intact, with the men coming up against an undefeated Guatemala side, and the women facing the home-side (Jamaica).

The 2018 CAC Games (Hockey) will take place in Barranquilla, Colombia from July 20 - August 3. (Rawle Toney)

Guyana’s Kareem McKenzie making a move against Puerto Rico’s Gilberto Monserrate during his side’s 4 – 1 win at the CAC hockey qualifiers in Jamaica.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER, 7, 2017