Guyana chronicle 28 12 2017

New Year fireworks for Stabroek square Page 4

No. 105138

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2017

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

Focus on tobacco industry – as Minister Lawrence signs Tobacco Control Act commencement order Taking shape! Work on the East Coast Demerara four-lane highway continues to take shape as contractors commence asphalting this stretch of the road at Montrose (Adrian Narine photo)

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Relook at tax policy on zero-rating, exempt goods-PSC urges ‘Flying bottle’ takes out man’s eye Page 2

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Speeding kills two Region 7 overseer on Boxing Day killed in car crash Page 13

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Brazil maintains support for Guyana’s border position Page 3

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Relook at tax policy on zero-rating, exempt goods …PSC urges, lauds good relations with gov’t THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) has lauded relations between government and the umbrella business organization and while commending the administration for some commendable steps, urged that it re-examine the tax policy on goods from zero rating to exempt and standard-rated goods and services.

It also called for the removal of Value Added Tax on electricity and agricultural and mining machinery and inputs. Noting that in its ‘end-of-year statement’ the PSC had said “withholding disposable income from the economy does not bode well for growth, the PSC looks forward to discussions with the Minister of Finance, the

Hon. Winston Jordan, at quarterly meetings in 2018 where it is hoped that beneficial solutions to the issues can be found.” VAT on electricity was introduced in the 2017 budget and despite fierce lobbying, it was not removed in the 2018 estimates. According to the PSC, while it agrees that measures published in Budget 2018 will certainly have a positive impact on local businesses, the commission believes that, in this budget, there is more that could have been done to reverse the negative impact of the 2017 Budget.

The broad-based PSC statement also mentioned that among the achievements for the year was the Guyana Business Summit 2017, which

Chairman of the PSC, Edward Boyer

was held in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank in October. It focused on the ‘Challenges and Opportunities for Busi-

ness Growth and Expansion’.

This ground-breaking summit which was a success, saw the PSC bringing together key stakeholders, including the government and parliamentary opposition, in meaningful discussions on opportunities and such critical areas as Energy, Human Capital Development, Markets, Economic Development & Capacity, Taxation, Sourcing Capital and Governance. The PSC said it is hoped that from the findings and presentations of this summit, it would engage the Minister of Business and the Minister of Finance in 2018 in moving forward with the recommendations. The commission’s continuous discussions with governmental agencies are key to success.

SUGAR On the issue of sugar, the PSC said the year 2017 started with closure of the Wales Estate and ended with massive redundancies from the Skeldon, Rosehall and Enmore estates, leaving at least 5000 unemployed and with serious repercussions for 2018. “The commission stands by its proposal which was previously submitted, asking that government reverses [sic] these decisions and rethink a plausible solution that would alleviate the dire economic and social consequences of layoffs and hardships,” the statement added.

According to the PSC, as a business-related organisation, the commission’s engagements with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Business throughout 2017 were very positive and the PSC looks forward to continuous successful engagements in 2018. “The Private Sector Commission understands the importance of public-private dialogue and is elated that the Minister of Business, the Hon.

Dominic Gaskin, is making great headway to develop such a mechanism. Of significance, the commission takes this opportunity to congratulate Minister Gaskin and the Inter-American Development Bank for their monumental undertaking, “enhancing the national quality infrastructure for economic diversification and trade promotion” project.

The commission is delighted at these developments which will surely benefit the business community. We are ready to contribute to the National Export and Investment Promotion Strategy and the creation of Special Economic Zones in Guyana.”

With regard to the threat from our neighbouring country, Venezuela, the Private Sector Commission says it stands in support of our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, in ensuring that claims to our lands can be refuted. “The cooperation between the Private Sector Commission and Ministry of Foreign Affairs during 2017 was fruitful. The commission thanks the ministry for their constant communication on trade-related opportunities and visits and looks forward to continuing this cooperation with the ministry in 2018, to establish new markets internationally.”

Additionally, the PSC said during the year that it welcomed members from the diplomatic community including ambassadors and high commissioners from high-ranking countries such as the ABC countries, China and India. The commission said it is grateful for the trade, technical cooperation and assistance from foreign nations and, in 2018, looks forward to continued dialogue with these and other foreign nations in an effort to pursue greater cooperation and build more trade relationships.

The PSC also commends the Guyana Police Force for their valiant efforts throughout the year to maintain law and order in Guyana. “The PSC has been in constant dialogue with the police force on matters of safety and we were happy with their response.

We look forward to continue working with members of the police force to ensure that businesses and their clients may work in an environment where there is no fear of being robbed.''

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY The PSC said that while comprises members of the private sector business community across Guyana, the commission’s role is not limited to business, noting that it has worked assiduously throughout the year to provide help and assistance to members of the larger Guyanese community through donations and assistance, where the need exists. Besides, the PSC said discussions throughout the year with government ministers have been fruitful and the PSC is committed to promote national unity, to encourage investment and to create employment for the betterment of Guyanese.

As part of the commission’s social responsibility, members of the Private Sector Commission through a successful Public-Private Partnership with the Prime Minister, the Hon. Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of State, Hon. Joseph Harmon, donated in excess of twenty-five million dollars of foodstuff and construction materials to hurricane-devastated countries.

In addition, the commission went across the length and breadth of Guyana, from Skeldon to Linden, providing advice, hope and tangible donations to suffering areas.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Focus on tobacco industry – as Minister Lawrence signs Tobacco Control Act commencement order PUBLIC Health Minister Volda Lawrence has signed a Tobacco Control (Commencement) Order paving the way for the Tobacco Control Act to take effect, but enforcement during this initial stage would focus primarily on the tobacco industry.

The commencement order published in the Official Gazette of Guyana on December 15, 2017, stated that the Act was enforceable from December 11, 2017.

In response to questions posed by the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday, the Public Health Ministry in a statement clarified that the Act would be gradually enforced, noting that the initial phase will place emphasis on the tobacco industry.

“The ministry will meet with the tobacco industry in January 2018 to inform them of the implementation of the complete ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Once regulations for tobacco products packaging and labelling are passed, the tobacco industry will have nine months to comply with the regulations,” the Public Health Ministry explained.

Part VI of the Act addresses the issues of advertising, promotion and sponsorship. According to

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

Section 19, “All advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products and electronic delivery systems are prohibited.”

It was stated that the prohibition includes any tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship that promote or are likely to promote the tobacco industry, directly or indirectly.

PAHO/WHO National Consultant, Attorney-at-Law Kesaundra Alves, had explained that the comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is in keeping with Article 13 of the FCTC, noting that it was critical to block all loopholes the local tobacco industry may want to use to its advantage.

PROMOTION AND ADVERTISEMENTS “The tobacco epidemic

is one that is not spread by infection, but by promotion and advertisements. Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) glamorises tobacco use by associating the use of tobacco products with positive social and personal images,” Alves had posited. According to her, stamping out all forms of TAPS is the only way to eliminate the tobacco epidemic.

With the commencement order being issued for the Tobacco Control Act to take effect, news has surfaced that it meant that there would be a ban on public smoking, but the Public Health Ministry in the statement Wednesday evening said those reports are far from the truth.

“The Act provides for a ban on smoking in indoor public places, indoor work places and public transportation, and only in specified outdoor places, including the premises of schools and health facilities, and places for the commercial service of food and drinks.

“The Tobacco Control Act regulates where persons can smoke tobacco products in order to protect others from exposure to dangerous second-hand smoke, but it does not ban smoking,” the Public Health Ministry explained.

In August 2017, the Tobacco Control Act became law after the bill was passed by the National Assembly and was assented to by President David Granger.

“The Minister of Public

PAHO/WHO National Consultant, Attorney Kesaundra Alves

Health was empowered under the Act to provide the commencement date upon which the laws will become effective. In order to facilitate the phased implementation of the Act and the publication of regulations under the Act, including those for ‘no smoking’ signs and packaging and labelling of tobacco products, the minister has published the commencement date for the Tobacco Control Act as December 11, 2017,” the ministry further explained.

It was noted that the ministry will inform the public as implementation of the various aspects of the law take effect. Currently, the Public Health Ministry in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has commenced training ‘implementing agencies’ with regard to implementation of the Act. SENSITISATION The ministry’s staffers are also being trained to take the sensitisation to the business community including vendors and the public at large.

“Beginning next month, the nation will see the roll-out of an aggressive education and awareness campaign, and by late 2018, tobacco product packages will bear graphic health warnings which inform consumers about the dangers of tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke,” the Public Health Ministry assured.

The Tobacco Control Act provides for a maximum fine of $10,000 for a person who smokes in a place where smoking is prohibited. Where the person commits the offence a subsequent time, the maximum fine is $20,000.

No imprisonment is pre-

scribed for the offence. Enforcement of no-smoking laws in places where smoking is prohibited will not be implemented until the publication of ‘no-smoking’ signs, regulations and sensitisation with [the] business community so that they understand their role with regard to compliance, the Public Health Ministry further assured.

It emphasised however that tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke, along with harmful use of alcohol, lack of physical activity, and poor nutrition, are the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Guyana.

It was not long ago that the public health minister took note of the fact that some 57 per cent of Guyanese adults suffer from some of the main NCDs and of these, “approximately 70 percent” of people between the ages of 35 and 60 die annually from either heart disease or hypertension, diabetes, cancers or chronic lung disease.

Implementation of tobacco-control measures will significantly reduce the number of lives affected by death, disease and disability caused by the tobacco epidemic, the ministry stated.

The cow jumps over the car!

Brazil maintains support for Guyana’s border position THE government of Brazil is maintaining that the settlement of Guyana/ Venezuela Border is final and must be respected.

Following the recently concluded MERCOSUR Summit held in Brazil, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge told the Department of Public Information that Guyana’s South American neighbour has been updated on Venezuela’s contention that the 1899 Award is null and void, and remains resolute to its original position.

“The matter was raised with Brazil as per normal.

As neighbours, we always have exchanges on this.

The president gave them an

update as to where we are, and Brazil has not indicated any movement from its traditional position, which is that the boundaries of the sub-continent should remain where they are”, Minister Greenidge explained.

In addition, Minister Greenidge said Guyana is awaiting the final decision of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, who undertook to have the matter sent to the World Court, should there be a failure to have an amicable settlement between Guyana and Venezuela.

“The UN Secretary-General has been asked to choose from a menu of measures and he

is still with that. In the meantime, the personal representative has been doing the rounds between ourselves and Venezuela”, the Foreign Minister added. Following a more than 20-year mediation process and no resolution, Guyana has lobbied the U.N. for the border issue between itself and Venezuela to be taken to the International Court of Justice for settlement. The, then outgoing Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon had requested until the end of 2017 to have the matter settled; failing this the matter will be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

At 21:30 hrs Christmas Eve this cow ploughed into the car on the No.19 Public Road, Corentyne. Derek Basdeo owner of the vehicle in a Facebook post said: "Thank God I was not going too fast and if I was going too slow that cow would have come through the front windshield.'' The No.19 Public Road used to be a dark stretch, but it has been decorated with lights since the coalition took office. Clearly from this accident cows do not need lights, but responsible owners.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Several trade missions New Year fireworks for Stabroek Square for first quarter of 2018 IN the first quarter of 2018, Guyana’s business sector will be on display as a number of overseas trade missions will be in the country, Chief Executive Officer of Go-Invest, Owen Verwey has said.

Through these trade missions, the administration is seeking to enhance Guyana’s relationship with the various countries and showcase that the nation is open and ready for business. According to Verwey in late January, a visit from the Trinidad Chamber of Commerce is expected. “In January they will be a Trinidad Chamber of Commerce to Guyana, on the 29th.

They are looking beyond Oil and Gas opportunities.”

Verwey added that in the same month there will be two inward trade missions from Brazil that will concentrate on large-scale agriculture. This area, according to Verwey, is a prime focus of the GO-Invest. The GO-Invest CEO noted that after extensive discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission the projects emanating from these trade missions will be implemented.

In the month of February, a team from Barbados will be visiting with the aim of developing partnerships with businesses in Guyana.

Additionally, there will be an outward Trade Mission to Jamaica.

Verwey explained that

there is a big market for lumber in Jamaica. Currently, Jamaica receives its lumber from Brazil and Honduras. Verwey noted that “The information that we’ve received, is that not many Guyanese visit Jamaica to market their products, so that is exactly what we want to do on this Trade Mission.” Verwey said that on this venture the team will be receiving assistance from JAMPRO, an Agency of the Government of Jamaica’s Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce that promotes business opportunities in export and investment to the local and international private sector.

THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is preparing to “re-sanitize” the Stabroek Market Square in preparation for the traditional New Year’s morning fireworks.

Town Clerk Royston King made the announcement at the Council’s fortnightly statutory meeting at City Hall on Monday.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen reminded council-

lors that the initiative is in keeping with President David Granger ’s desire to have all fireworks conducted at Stabroek Market Square, instead of at the usual Camp Ayanganna.

According to the Mayor, works to have the area ready will begin on December 29 when soldiers will begin taking steps to ensure that adequate space is available at the said lo-

cation.

Chase-Green recalled that vendors have already agreed to cooperate with the initiative by pushing back their stalls to make space available.

The New Year is usually ushered in with a dazzling display of fireworks that illuminate the night sky over the Guyana Defence Force’s Camp Ayanganna.

GuySuCo graduates first batch of re-skilled employees FORTY employees of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) graduated from a five-day training course in Catering and Sewing last week.

The training course, conducted by the Ruimveldt Life Improvement Centre, will equip workers from the Enmore Sugar Estate with the necessary skills for alternative employment following their redundancy, come December 29, 2017. Enmore Sugar Estate Manager, Curbette Victorine pointed out that, “The training provided is a promise made by GuySuCo to empower its employ-

ees when the restructuring of the sugar company occurs.”

In addition to the Ruimveldt Life Improvement Centre, the Small Business Bureau is also supporting the venture.

Victorine noted that the idea is not to make workers redundant, but to give employees a life after sugar.

He added that the training provided is a great start to that process. “I believe and strongly so that this is a start.

I know that it is a great start because the talent that was exposed over the past five days does indicate that you have creativity, you have a sense of where you want to

aged her colleagues not to take the training received lightly, as it has the potential to make their livelihood a better one.

Atesha Cato, who participated in the Sewing course, said she will be making full use of the Small Business Bureau to see what options are accessible as she moves forward.

By 2020, GuySuCo aims to reduce sugar production to three factories employing 10, 000 workers, which would be 6,000 less than it currently has. The Corporation sees itself being able to produce 150,000

Enmore Estate manager, Curbette Victorine

tonnes of sugar annually in the next three years from the estates that would be kept in operation–Albion and Blairmont in Berbice and Uitvlugt, on the West Coast of Demerara. The operations at these factories would be able to meet the demands of markets locally, in the Caribbean and further afield. In addition to selling raw sugar, the GuySuCo is looking at value-added sugars and providing electricity to the national grid through co-generation. (DPI)

go, and that entrepreneurial spirit seems to reside in this group.”

The training programme is a pilot effort and will continue until every employee who is interested in acquiring a skill, is proficient in that specific area of interest, as more skills training will be added for the next batch.

Surumattie Phillips, who participated in the catering course, expressed gratitude towards GuySuCo for providing herself and colleagues with the opportunity to learn a new skill. Phillips encour-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Region 7 overseer killed in car crash A senior government employee at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Seven headquartered in Bartica met an untimely end on Wednesday night following an accident in the

mining town.

Dead is 54-year-old Mark Dutchin, the overseer at the Works Department at the RDC. Reports are that the man was struck down by a car near Third Avenue and Fifth Street shortly

after 21:00hrs.

He was rushed to the Bartica Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Reports are Dutchin sustained mainly head injuries while his feet were said

to have been broken. The man’s death was described as a huge loss for the town.

Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford told the Guyana Chronicle that he was at home having dinner when he

received the tragic news. He said he rushed to the scene and assisted in taking the injured man to the hospital. He noted too that Dutchin was expected to retire next June.

Bartica Mayor, Gifford Mar-

shall was also at the hospital as many converged at the medical institution as information on the accident was shared. Police have arrested the driver of the vehicle and are investigating the accident.

Poverty in Caribbean increased in 2016 …reached 30.7% of the population

Poverty and extreme poverty levels rose in Latin America as a regional average in 2015 and 2016, after more than a decade of declines in the majority of countries, while in 2017 they are expected to hold steady, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) said today.

In 2014, 28.5% of the region’s population was in situations of poverty (168 million people), a percentage that increased to 29.8% in 2015 (178 million) and to 30.7% in 2016 (186 million people). Extreme poverty, meanwhile, rose from 8.2% in 2014 (48 million people) to 10% in 2016 (61 million people).

Despite these figures, a medium-term perspective leads to a positive balance overall in terms of poverty reduction, since it shrank by 15.2 percentage points between 2002 and 2016,

according to the report Social Panorama of Latin America 2017, presented this Wednesday by Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, at a press conference in the organisation’s offices in Mexico City.

Income inequality also decreased between 2002 and 2016, although the pace of the decline has slowed in recent years. The Gini coefficient (where 0 represents no inequality and 1 maximum inequality) went from 0.538 in 2002 to 0.467 in 2016.

“Recent experience indicates that the rise in income among households with the fewest resources has been indispensable to reducing both poverty and income inequality. And this growth has clearly been fostered by countries’ distributive and redistributive policies, such as tax reforms, minimum wages, pensions and transfers linked to poverty reduc-

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tion strategies and to the expansion of social protection systems,” Bárcena said.

For that reason, “a call must be made to strengthen labor and social protection policies, even more so in periods of low economic growth, and to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development based on progressive structural change,” the senior United Nations official added.

She clarified that, due to the updated methodology used to estimate poverty by income in the region, the values included in the report update the figures presented in previous editions (from 2002 to the present) in order to have a comparable analysis of the phenomenon in the long term, as ECLAC has traditionally done.

Next year, Bárcena said, a detailed report on that methodology will be published along with the country figures, once technical consultations have concluded.

The Social Panorama of Latin America 2017 shows that poverty and extreme poverty rates are higher among children, adolescents, young people, women and the population residing in rural areas. In 2016, poverty affected 46.7% of children and adolescents between 0 and 14 years of age and extreme poverty, 17%. In the case of young people from 15 to 29, these figures were 31.1% and 9.5%, respectively.

The report published today

by ECLAC also analyzes the evolution and challenges of pension systems, which are fundamental for guaranteeing the rights to social security and social protection in the region in a context of accelerated demographic change.

It is estimated that by 2040, people 60 years and older will exceed

the number of people from 0 to 14, and that the population 80 years and older will increase by nearly 20 million. There is also a trend being observed toward the feminization of the older adult population.

According to the document, between 2000 and 2014 the contributory base of pension systems in Latin America expanded: the percentage of the economically active population that contributes to a pension system went from 36.9% to 47.8%. This is equivalent to the incorporation of nearly 60 million people to the contributory systems and is associated with the positive evolution of labor markets in that period (especially with the decline in unemployment and increased levels of employment, formalization and labor income), as well as with the implementation of strategies to expand coverage of social security systems in some countries.

Despite this, it is estimated that 142 million economically active people are still not covered.

The proportion of workers that remain unprotected is higher in rural areas, among people with less schooling, and in sectors with lower productivity. Between 2002 and 2015, the percentage of Latin America’s population 65 years and older that received

some kind of pension (both contributory and non-contributory) also increased, rising from 53.6% to 70.8%. Coverage grew considerably in the lower-income group (30 percentage points) and in rural areas (33 percentage points), which can be explained primarily by the expansion of non-contributory pensions, the coverage of which increased 20 percentage points between 2000 and 2015. Despite this progress, 29% of the population 65 and older did not receive any kind of pension in 2015.

In addition, major challenges persist in terms of the sufficiency of the benefits received. Although the average pension amount rose at an average annual rate of 2.1% between 2002 and 2015, in this last year 36% of pension beneficiaries received amounts that were equal to or below two poverty lines, the organization warns. In nearly all the countries, women of retirement age have lower levels of coverage in the pension systems, and the gaps in the amount of benefits they receive exceed 20 percentage points in 10 of the 17 countries analyzed, reaching as much as 40 percentage points.

“The design of pension systems is key to gender equality,” the regional organization sus-

tains, given that currently more than half of all employed Latin American women work in low productivity sectors, and only 1 in every 5 of them are affiliated or contribute.

According to the study, 11 Latin American countries carried out structural reforms to their pension systems between 1981 and 2008. The result was the creation of four models, which substituted or complemented the traditional system of distribution through individual capitalization.

Meanwhile, the 14 parametric reforms and 3 structural reforms implemented between 2008 and 2017 demonstrate a new trend, with a common denominator: they advance on the development of mechanisms of solidarity and the majority of them increase the participation of the State, both in the administration and financing of the systems. The greatest challenge, ECLAC indicates, is to strike a balance between adequate coverage, sufficient benefits and financial sustainability. The study concludes by affirming that the consolidation of universal, caring and sustainable pension systems is a possible and necessary objective in a social compact for development with equality.

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Jerusalem

ALMOST 70 years since the United Nations (UN) voted statehood for Israel, United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will recognise Jerusalem as the capital of that country. This recognition is not without controversy, despite the U.S. Congress voting for such years ago, but more particularly the historical role of U.S. governments in working to ensure a peaceful resolution to the internecine conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, who are fighting over the land. It is reasonable therefore to contend that the deferral of Congress’s decision by Trump’s predecessors was not without due consideration of the political climate in the Middle East and the desire to amicably reach a solution between the foes.

Though in reality President Trump’s announcement of recognition and the move to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem will take some time to materialise, that recognition and the process of realising establishment has sparked new unrest between the two sides, and not without casualties.

The UN last Thursday passed a Resolution condemning Trump’s decision and Guyana was among the 128 nations that registered condemnation, as 35 abstained and 21 did

not participate. In moments such as these, Guyana continues to distinguish herself and stand with those desirous of worldwide comity.

The UN was established in 1945 after World War II that saw the destruction of countries, dislocation of and brutalities to ethnicity, and the deaths of tens of millions. It was the intent of this institution to bring about and ensure freedom and world peace, guided by a body of rules known as declarations and charters by which participating countries would be bound. Instructively, the U.S. was not only a co-founder, but played a leading role under President Franklin Roosevelt to bring the institution to realisation.

Though he did not live to see its establishment, stirring speeches delivered by his widow Eleanor Roosevelt, the U.S.’s first Delegate/Ambassador to the UN, reminded us that “Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his own weight, this is a frightening prospect.”

Incidentally, as the world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ who was born in Jerusalem, this space considered sacred

by three of the world’s major religions -- Jews, Muslims and Christians -- continues to see turmoil. With candidness it can be admitted Israel’s several violations of the fundamental rights of the people of Palestine to peaceful settlement in this area. This is not to say that Palestine has not been culpable, but merely to make the point how tenuous and delicate the matter is. The peace treaty (Camp David Accord) reached on 17th September, 1978, facilitated by U.S. President Jimmy Carter, between Egypt and Israel that called for the introduction of Palestinian self-government in the West Bank and Gaza, should have been given a chance to work before the U.S. seeks to antagonise an already volatile situation. In 2016, none other than Senator Bernard “Bernie” Sanders, during the Democratic Party primary to identify a presidential candidate, said, “Israel has a right to exist in security, and at the same time the Palestinians have a state of their own.”

And whereas Israel remains an ally of the U.S. and a vital partner in the Middle East, it cannot be ignored that recognition and appreciation of these have allowed in some instances turning a Nelson’s eye to its excesses. It is often seen in politics the desire

to align and reluctance to condemn irrespective of whatever action is taken. Those who dare stray off the proverbial reservation are sure to face condemnation.

Giving recognition to one group over others that consider the same space unique to their religion and identity is a recipe for conflict, and hope resides it does not escalate into another war. Before the vote was taken on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Halley’s speech was not without a tinge of veiled threats to nations, including the UN, who would support the Resolution.

This is most unfortunate, more so at the UN, where alliances are built on mutual respect, including the right to self-determination.

Issues and decisions at the international level should still be driven by universally acceptable principles. Where in this period of man’s history there are questions, concerns and fears about the U.S.’s domestic and foreign policies as they relate to diversity and other time-honoured principles, it is more imperative that institutions such as the UN continue to function. It cannot be over-emphasised the importance for nations to have respect for each other, and working the international corridors (diplomacy) to find common ground with a view to protecting and respecting humanity.

Ramkarran more intolerant of criticism than Ramjattan Dear Editor

I HAVE long argued that many of the persons in this country who write extolling certain positive values do not embrace those values themselves. One of those persons I have identified more than 15 years ago is Ralph Ramkarran. I could only think of one person who has publicly exposed the authoritarian mentality of Ramkarran: that person is Malcolm Harripaul, who in a published letter described Ramkarran’s Stalinism in service of Janet Jagan.

I write this missive here after reading Ramkarran’s column in which he gave it

an ironic caption; “The politics of abuse.” This was in response to Khemraj Ramjattan’s trenchant comments on Ramkarran’s condemnation of the AFC’s performance.

Interestingly, there are no threats of libel from Ramjattan, a course of action of which Ramkarran is fond. He mentioned in that column that he would not allow Ramjattan from blocking him from speaking. But that is what Ramkarran tried to do with me five months ago.

People have to write about these types of hypocrisy because the young generation of Guyana needs to be exposed to those who say they are for free speech and tolerance, when they are not.

I will offer here evidence of Ramkarran’s politics of abuse and his political dishonesty.

We begin with Mr. Ramkarran’s legal correspondence of July to Kaieteur News, indicating the intention of suing. Mr. Ramkarran’s letter stated parts of my column relating to him were defamatory, malicious and calculated to hurt his good reputation and to lower his character in the estimation of the public and “has so done.”

Yet, in studying this letter which charges maliciousness on the part of my column, the editor in carefully reading Ramkarran’s legal letter and juxtaposing it against my column published that there were “attempts at dishon-

esty” in the very letter. How can you accuse someone of being hurt and will seek legal action against them, but you are dishonest in your claim? What or where are these “attempts at dishonesty.

Strangely, Ramkarran didn’t sue the editor. He couldn’t.

Here is the evidence. I quote from my column of July 18, 2017, “It makes you want to throw up when you read Anil Nandlall’s daily ruminations in the newspapers about the rule of law being violated, Bharrat Jagdeo talking nonsense about political victimisation of PPP supporters at his weekly press conferences and the arid sermons about violations in the letters section of the newspa-

pers by Donald Ramotar. All three of these former PPP Leviathans should be ostracised by civilised society. Sadly, we don’t have such a society in Guyana.”

Any schoolboy would know that the three Leviathans here are Nandlall, Jagdeo and Ramotar. A leviathan in political theory refers to a very powerful exerciser of governmental authority; in this case, the former attorney general, and two former presidents.

Mr. Ramkarran then cited the following lines in my column, “…Bharrat Jagdeo and Henry Jeffrey and Ralph Ramkarran were part of a state apparatus that did what it wanted to.” Then

after those words of mine, Mr.Ramkarran wrote the following, “…he recommends that all three of these former Leviathans should be ostracised by civil society.”

Those words came after several paragraphs on Nandlall, Jagdeo and Ramotar in my column and were applied to them, not Ramkarran. Since Ramkarran said “Leviathan” was applied to him, it damaged his character and he wanted a retraction and an apology. I did retract the words and apologised. I did that to protect the paper for which I write and to get on with my life rather than be bogged down with Ramkarran in Turn to page 7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

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A New Year For A New And Better Guyana Dear Editor

THE United Republican Party (URP) would like to thank you all for your kind support. We are aware that you appreciate what we do.

While we are still not as influential as the other larger parties, we are nonetheless alert in our underdog status. We thank you for your kind comments when you meet us on the streets.

We thank the editor and the administrators of this newspaper. We know that carrying our letters is not a

right but a privilege and we say thank you!

We are in the throes of a new year and we are very sorry that we have come to the end of another year, with a relatively new administration and yet we are basically at the same place. We are just as broke, frustrated and uncertain about the future. Guyanese should not be uncertain of their futures -- at least not financially. We have too many natural resources to be poor. However, we continue to suffer for a persistent lack of the kind of leaders who

would catapult us into being the nation that we should long have been.

So we at the URP wish you all the best. Try to do the best you can with what you have. They say that when you don’t have horse, you must ride cow.

But as you make your New Year’s resolutions, remember to promise yourself that you will not continue to allow the leaders you elect to live the good life – with their families and friends – while you, who put them there, continue

to live on the crumbs they make available to you.

As you celebrate your respective reasons for the holidays, remember to remind yourself that the only reason that the politicians are living the good life, is because the country has the resources to make it possible. Guyana has money, it is just that it remains within a certain clique and among a certain people. So promise yourself, that come time to make a change, you will make another change. Promise yourself at this year-end, that you

will continue to change your elected officials until you find a group of people who will show from their attitudes and lifestyles that they are prepared to put this country before themselves and their families.

Change is hard but it is necessary. And Guyana will become better, we just have to keep changing around our political leaders until we end up with some who will do right by us. So enjoy your festive season as best you can. Remember to be careful; the crime situation

is still out of control. When you stop, remain in your vehicle until you are sure the coast is clear. Don’t walk with too much cash at one time. If you are confronted by gangsters, remember that your life is worth much more than the possessions that you are likely to lose.

Don’t try to be a hero!!!

Until we speak again, remember that only you can change your circumstance. Blessings on you.

Regards Dr. Vishnu Bandhu Leader, URP

Any state housing programme must focus on those who need homes Dear Editor,

The story reported in the media a few days ago, in which the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC)Commissioner Trevor Benn, said that the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission re-claimed 1000 acres of lands that had been leased to four business persons behind the Mocha community, further explains why a reported 25,000 house lot applicants could not have been granted lots for home building.

Editor, whoever those business persons are, I am certain that they belong to the friends’ and cronies’ clique of the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government.

What was even more revealing about Commissioner Benn’s statement was the fact that the reclamation enabled a reported 200 house lots to be afforded to persons. He also said that there was a community resident, whose plot of land had also been a part of the acreage in possession of the business persons.

I am sure that this would have been returned to the rightful owner.

By any margin, this is indeed very wonderful, but even more satisfying that these worthy persons would now be able to fulfill their life’s dream for themselves and families. Of course, credit must be given for a social strategy that did gave many Guyanese a home of their own.

But for all the headline propaganda of housing the nation, how does the

former PPP/C government explain vast acreages being given to the very rich, while the less fortunate could not have had their years old applications processes. And this include a fraction of the Sophia squatters, on whose protest bandwagon, the opposition propagandists were attempting to join to protest the CH&PA action of removing squatters off reserves in the Sophia community. What hypocrites! What political weather cocks!

Editor, without recourse to statistics, I have always posited that there had been enough land in the Demerara constituency for there to have so many outstanding land applicants. But we have gradually been able to understand this contradiction. Any state housing programme must focus as a matter of priority on those who need a home.

For all the criticisms that have been levelled at the great Forbes Burnham, his housing programme proved to be visionary, because of the self-help strategy that offered thousands of working class Guyanese homes. The results are there as a monument to those who have attempted to downplay one of his accomplishments.

Never in a million years would Burnham, who had a greater love for country than those PPP/C hypocrites professed, would have allowed persons, irrespective of who they are, and how much money they possess, to profiteer on such an important national need as housing. Never!

I have no doubt, that there are many, many more cases of such persons being allotted leases for

Ramkarran more intolerant .... a court of law in my older age. But the paper saw the offence in Ramkarran’s letter and described it as “attempts at dishonesty.”

What are the lessons to be learnt here? Simple! This is the nature of Guyana where truths are casualties. Here is another example where the truths become casualties. In his correspondence threatening libel, Mr.Ramkarran said I had damaged his character through the use of the following words in my column: “Kirton was not allowed to continue because UG’s lawyer, Ralph Ramkarran, informed the Pro Chancellor that Justice Patterson’s order of certiorari didn’t [sic] not include the retention of Kirton.”

Mr. Ramkarran took objection to that and wrote that I had insinuated “that Ramkarran …was engaged in a course of action de-

signed to pervert the course of justice.” There are no such words in my column, only the simple truth that Ramkarran wrote the university advising them to ignore the two orders by the judge. This he did in two letters to the university, one dated September 7,2005; the other September 13, 2005.

To prove that he did not do such a thing, Mr. Ramkarran described in careful details with specific dates the course of events from the time we

filed the writs to stop the revocation of Dr. Mark Kirton’s appointment, to the conclusion of the case in the year 2005. Missing in his meticulous description is the date September 5. It was on that date the judge issued two orders halting the removal of Dr. Kirton. Mr. Ramkarran, for reasons readers can comprehend for themselves, chose not to mention that two orders were issued and that he had advised the university to

disregard them. In closing, let me boldly state that I never admired Ralph Ramkaran because I know that while in the PPP, he

acreages that have not been put to use for whatever purposes stated.

Just imagine that the Commission still being owed hundreds of millions for lease land payments.

I am of the view that since housing is one of life’s most critical essentials that the GL&SC must continue to apply the reclamation law, as it did with the Mocha case.

And where there have been outstanding lease payments, over a period of time – those lands also should be reclaimed, particularly where there is no activity on the acreages. I would hope that in the latter instance, that there are laws that can apply.

Regards Earl Hamilton

From page 6 was one of the enduring autocrats, but his sins never came out because, unlike other high-profile leaders, he kept out of the

limelight. I am not finished with him by a long way.

Regards Frederick Kissoon

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

ExxonMobil strategic partner of upcoming petroleum summit U.S.-based oil giant ExxonMobil has signed on as a strategic partner of the inaugural Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit & Exhibition (GIPEX 2018) billed for February 7-9, 2018 at the Georgetown Marriott.

The event, which UKbased Valiant Business Media in collaboration with the Government of Guyana is organising, aims to present investors with options to explore the huge hydrocarbon potential of the country. In a joint statement issued by the Natural Resources Ministry and the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST), it was explained that the summit will provide a net-

working platform for existing petroleum companies, service providers, equipment companies and investors.

“GIPEX will also provide a platform for researchers/ scientists and academics to share their research work, while the participants from industry can promote their products,” the release stated. ExxonMobil Guyana’s Senior Director, Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington, said the company is very excited to be the Strategic Partner in the GIPEX 2018 summit.

“Bringing information about the oil-and-gas industry and the Liza project to a larger audience is paramount in our mission here

in Guyana,” said Brasington.

“We hope the exhibition will provide knowledge and information-sharing opportunities, and aid in building relationships for the Guyanese community that will outlast the event. We welcome this initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Natural resources, Go-Invest and Valiant Business Media.”

Owen Verwey, Chief Executive Officer, Go-Invest, said, “GO-INVEST is pleased to welcome Exxon as the Strategic Partner in GIPEX 2018. This convention is an important initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana and Valiant Business Media, United Kingdom

to promote the Oil & Gas sector globally and attract investment & expertise in this important area of our economy.”

Verwey said too that Go-Invest looks forward to working with ExxonMobil and other key players to make the launch of GIPEX a success. He noted too that the event creates a platform for Guyanese at every level to participate and familiarise themselves with the developments of the petroleum sector. “We are also looking forward to welcoming international stakeholders looking to explore Guyana as an investment destination,” he posited Shariq AbdulHai, Man-

aging-Director, Valiant Business Media, United Kingdom, expressed his entity’s delight at having ExxonMobil on board as the Strategic Partner of GIPEX 2018. “As the world’s leading publicly owned energy company and the main player in Guyana, we look at Exxon’s partnership with GIPEX as being of great importance.

We look forward to working with Exxon to use GIPEX as a medium to share information with the people of Guyana about the oil-and-gas sector in general and the Liza project in particular,” he said.

AbdulHai said the Val-

iant Business Media is very optimistic and looks forward to meeting with their Guyanese counterparts, in addition to the international companies, at GIPEX, with a view to establishing business relationships and exploring opportunities in this important economic sector of the country.

ExxonMobil, along with its joint-venture partners Hess and CNOOC Nexen, is expected to commence oil production in the Liza field in 2020. In the meantime, they and other international oil companies (IOCs) are continuing to explore.

Agricola youth found guilty of murder A 12-MEMBER jury on Wednesday afternoon found Agricola man, Jermaine Savory guilty for the 2008 murder of Melissa Payne in the said village.

But his sentencing has been deferred to await a probation report.

The jury came to the decision following several hours of deliberations and then returning to the courtroom for further directions from trial judge James Bovell-Drakes. After the verdict was announced in the Georgetown High Court defence attorney Cherise Dowding asked that a probation report be prepared before the sentencing. As such, Justice Bovell-Drakes adjourned the sentencing for January 15, 2018 at 09:00hrs.

After the verdict, the accused said “I am innocent of the charge.”

According to the state’s case, it is alleged that on November 5, 2008 at Agricola, East Bank Demerara, Savory murdered Melissa Payne of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara on Agricola Public Road. According to reports, Payne was killed after she attempted to put up a fight with gunmen who attacked her and a male friend, at Agricola Public Road, at about 08:30hrs on November 5, 2008.

The gunmen escaped with some $110,000 in cash that was in the woman’s bag along with her jewellery. At the time of the robbery, she was in the company of a male friend, David Fraser, as they were heading to Georgetown to conduct business.

Deceased: Melissa Payne

It is reported that as they approached Agricola, the Canter truck in which they were travelling encountered mechanical problems. Fraser came out and tried to fix the truck, as Payne stood and watched him. A few moments later, a man came up to them with a gun and demanded their money. The armed man snatched Fraser’s gold chain and attempted to pull away Payne’s handbag.

She attempted to turn back and go to the truck, but was stopped in her tracks by the other bandit, who demanded the bag from Payne but the woman resisted and the armed man shot and killed her.

In November 2008, Savory of 97 Second Street, Agricola, was charged with the murder of Payne. Savory reportedly confessed to sleuths that he had participated in the robbery but was not the trigger man.

The state was represented by Mandel Moore and Narissa Leander, while the defence attorney was Maxwell McKay in association with Cherise Dowding.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Minister Harmon honours nine NGSA students at annual Boxing Day party MINISTER of State, Joseph Harmon and his eldest daughter Ms. Daniele Harmon-Klien on Tuesday afternoon, honoured nine students, who secured top marks at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) at their 11th Annual Boxing Day Party for the children of Phoenix Park, West Bank Demerara.

They, along with 146 other children from Phoenix Park, Vreed-en-Hoop, Best Village and other nearby communities along the West Bank Demerara attended the fete, which was held at the

Minister’s home.

Master Enoch Lewis, who obtained 520 marks, Miss Shanice David; 495 marks, Miss Stacianna Todd; 460 marks and Miss Shunae Stevens; 437 marks were all presented with bicycles. Master Lebron Niles, who obtained 498 marks and who will also be given a bicycle, was absent from the party, along with the four other honourees, who will be given book awards to celebrate their success.

“We’re going to honour those who did very well so that you can actually see that there is value, there is a benA section of the gathering at the party hosted by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

efit in studying hard and in working hard and in taking in your education,” Minister Harmon told the children.

All of the children

Minister Harmon looks on as one of the recipients of a bicycle gives her vote of thanks

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, assisting with the distribution of gifts

were delighted to receive Christmas presents and treats to celebrate the festive season. Minister Harmon said that his daughter

Daniele’s Christmas party for the children has become a family tradition that they all look forward to. Meanwhile, Ms. Harmon-Klien said that she was looking forward to a joyous time celebrating the season with the children. “It is good to see some of the faces that we’ve been seeing over the years,” she said. The children were overjoyed by the appearance of two Santa Clauses who shared hugs, treats and presents throughout the party. Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ms. Simona Broomes and Ms. Susan Clement, Minister Harmon’s mother, who is based in the United States, also joined in the festivities. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Lamaha Park standing strong for their community

By Shirley Thomas

ONE week after celebrating the handing over of a gift of community signs and street name signs by Social Work students of the University of Guyana, the community of Lamaha Park had occasion to celebrate again.

This time the occasion was the lighting up of a Christmas tree, followed by a Children’s Christmas Party and distribution of gifts to about 200 children, compliments of Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase Green and Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, who partnered with the residents of the community to successfully

host the activities on Sunday December 17.

Mayor Green and Minister Felix, in addition to helping to provide the resources, personally attended the function, and Mayor Greene performed the role of Santa Claus, distributing toys to the children. Felix lives just a block outside of Lamaha Park and has an interest in the development of the community. It is the second consecutive year that a Christmas tree has been set up in Lamaha Park, outside the home of widow and community activist, Mrs. Jennifer Charles and her son, Aluka.

Charles own and operate a welding shop in the area

Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix with children of the area at the site of the Christmas Tree Light Up and Kids Party in Lamaha Park. Standing to his left is president of Lamaha Park CDC, Pastor Marcia Marcus

and using personal resources, in 2016 designed and constructed the first Christmas tree which was mounted at the junction, outside of their home on Church Street, Lamaha Park.

The Light Up/Christmas Party was a huge success and served once more to auger a feeling of togetherness and see residents taking responsibility for their community. The

children had lots of fun and excitement as they played games, including jumping on the trampoline. They were treated to lots of goodies, toys and were each given take-away bags while some had the honour of taking photographs with Mayor Chase-Green, Minister Felix and of course Santa.

Minister Felix, who is a former Commisioner of Police, made his maiden visit

‘A’ Division, Superintendent Phillip Azore and two other senior ranks who listened to the problems being faced by the residents. Residents were heartened that all promises made were honoured and that a good relationship was set up with the community. As a result, there has been a considerable reduction in criminal activities in the community and citizens now know what is required of them

Mayor Patricia Chase-Greene poses with children under the Christmas Tree

This little girl has a great photo moment with Santa at the Lamaha Park kids’ party

to Lamaha Park about two months ago, at the request of residents to discuss and strategize a response to the burgeoning crime rate in the community. That meeting was held at God’s Cathedral of Praise Church and was a huge success.

Attending the meeting with Felix were former Deputy Divisional Commander of

if they are to meaningfully play their part in crime reduction.

Just a few weeks later, through the intervention and direction of Superintendent Azore, one of the major crime rings operating in Lamaha Park was busted.

In the process, three persons were apprehended and taken into custody. A motor cycle and a weapon were recovered. In a police Identification Parade held just hours later, persons were positively identified as being involved in an armed robbery at a business place in the community.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

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Spark of the season not there -- Sheema Mangar’s mom relates spending Christmas without her

By Vishani Ragobeer THE Christmas season has always been touted as a time for family, friends and togetherness. It is a time for merry-making and magic and a time when the endless cleaning, cooking and shopping culminates.

For the family of the late Sheema Mangar, Christmas (and life, in general) has not been the same since September 10, 2010, when Mangar was robbed of her Blackberry cellphone, and hit down and dragged by a car after attempting to retrieve it.

It has been seven years since the young bank employee, who had a promising life ahead of her, was gruesomely killed.

It has been seven Christmases for the family without their daughter and sister. The hands of time have turned indeed, the memory of Sheema remains etched in the minds and hearts of her family.

Mother of the young woman, Radica Thakoor, invested her time in plying her trade in the Plaisance market, selling all the Christmas items needed for the grand feast, but she took a few minutes off to speak with

children [and] as long as they’re happy, you’re happy,” Thakoor said and explained that for her, as a mother, as long as her children are happy, she would be happy -- Christmas or not.

NORMAL TIME But since that day in 2010, the mother lamented that Christmas time is just

down, there’s something missing.”

That something, of course, is the presence of Sheema.

Thakoor recalled too that her daughter was a Sunday school teacher and each year, she would usually host Christmas parties at the church for the children.

Not only Sheema’s fami-

Sheema Mangar

the Guyana Chronicle about Christmas without Sheema.

“For me, this is something to explain,” a tearful Thakoor related. “It’s either it makes you stronger or it destroys you; one of the two.

You gotta get the strength, you gotta get the courage. I can’t let the person who murdered my daughter, murder me too,” she said.

Reflecting on what the Christmas season used to be like before, Thakoor related that the family would decorate their home for the season and on Christmas Day, they would have a traditional family get-together, even though they would have spent half of the day selling in the market.

“Christmas is about your

Parents of the late Sheema Mangar: Radica Thakoor and Lalbachan Mangar

a normal time of the year, despite the continuity of the ‘Christmas get-together’.

The home is no longer decorated, and according to Sheema’s mother, “Deep

ly miss her, but inevitably her Sunday school students who would have all aged now, must surely miss her as well.

While the parties have continued in the Christmas

spirit and the Sheema’s family continues to contribute to the party every year, Thakoor noted that she gradually stopped attending the church because it brings back painful memories of her daughter.

Thakoor’s husband, Lalbachan Mangar and their son Jason also continue to miss Sheema dearly. However, they both “keep silent” and “shut out their feelings” according to Thakoor.

Family members and friends would check up on the family every now and then, especially at Christmas, but they have learned to move on.

NOT EASY For the mother, it is not such an easy task.

“I ask how I lived without my daughter for seven years... I always think what she’d be like, but sometimes I don’t wanna go down that lane,” she said.

And remembering Sheema gets more painful nowadays, Thakoor related, noting that before, it was like a dream, rather a nightmare, but now reality has been settling in that her daughter is no longer by her side.

Seven Christmases later

since that tragic day, there has seemingly been no progress in identifying the perpetrators.

Much hope was reignited in the family in mid2016 when then Crime Chief Wendell Blanham re-opened Sheema’s case, among others. One year later that hope still lingers that the family will receive justice for their daughter.

“The sense of justice must prevail, we must know the reason, we must know the truth and for seven years, there has been no justice,” the mother said and bemoaned: “We wanna know what happened, what really took place.”

But while justice must prevail, the mother contended that ultimately, she and her family are the “losers” because they have already lost Sheema.

Nevertheless, to all families experiencing this kind of grief and injustice, Thakoor said: “Get the courage, get the strength. It hurts, I know, but you gotta get the courage and the strength at this time. You stand up strong, you stand up tall [and] you stand up for justice.”

Plaisance youth succumbs to stab wounds …suspect in hiding TWENTY-FIVE-YEAROLD father one Darnell Pompey on Christmas night lost his battle to a stab wound to the neck after nine days of being a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The Lot 76 Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara resident was stabbed to his neck with a knife by a young man whom he reportedly had a running feud. The incident according to relatives, took place on the railway embankment at Plaisance on December 16th 2017.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle Wednesday afternoon Marcelle Adams, the mother of the dead young man related that she was at work in the United States when she received a phone call from a relative who indicated that Pompey was

stabbed and was at the hospital in a serious condition.

She subsequently flew home to Guyana. Upon her arrival, she went straight to the Georgetown Public Hospital to see her son battling for his life.

Mrs. Adams explained to the Guyana Chronicle that it was her view that her son would have recovered, but that was not to be.

“He passed on Christmas Night at 9pm and that hurts.

They took away my baby, his daughter and family; we are hurting, we got a big Christmas present that we have not opened until now and we will never open it,” Marcelle Adams told this newspaper.

During the interview the shaken woman related that her family is being laughed at by the relatives of the suspect. According to the dead man’s mother, she is pleading

with the suspect to turn himself over to the police so that she and her family can have closure. She added that the brother of the suspect gave her his word that he will be turning his brother over to the police. That however is not sitting well with Mrs. Adams as she contends that the suspect is part of a gang and those members have been updating the young man who is in hiding, about the presence of the police in the area and that in essence provides him the opportunity to continue to evade the lawmen.

“The cops are doing their job, you should turn yourself in because I will not stop until you do. I need closure, I watched my son lying there for eight days fighting for his life and I need you to turn yourself in, you took my baby away from me and you rip my heart apart, I could never stop crying and I will never stop crying so turn yourself in,” Adams pleaded with the suspect.

Dead: Darnell Pompey

Also speaking with the Guyana Chronicle was Sherman Adams an older cousin of Pompey who was with him on the morning that altercation took place. In his account of what transpired on the day in question, he said that his cousin was approaching him when the suspect who spotted him also advanced towards him (the deceased). Sherman Adams said that he observed the suspect approaching his cousin with a knife and his cousin took evasive measures and

armed himself with a piece of wood following which the assailant picked up a bottle, broke it and continued to advance towards Pompey.

As the two men met, the suspect attempted to stab Pompey with the bottle and when Pompey tried to retaliate, he was stabbed with the knife by the very suspect who then fled the scene and has not been seen since. Sherman spoke about how his cousin was constantly targeted by the suspect and his friend, who at one point last year chopped him about the body, barred him from fishing in the community trench; stoned the family’s house and even threatened to kill him on several occasions.

LIVING IN FEAR Darnell Pompey was regarded by his family as someone who was subjected to bullying by a combination of gangs in the community because he refused to join

any of them or to associate with any of them. “They claimed that the dislike for their relative by the gangs had to do with his forward thinking personality and the manner in which he carried himself.” Relatives said jealousy seems to be what drove the wedge between the gangs and Darnell Pompey.

“They wanted to know why he never wanted to hang with them and that was the issue, they drove fear in him and he has been living in fear in this village from the people up the street in this community, he was even forced to be sleeping with his two Pitbull dogs by his bedside” one relative related. The police investigations into the death continue even as a post-mortem found that Darnell Pompey died as a result of a cut to his main artery and haemorrhage.

While the suspect remains at large, the family is praying for justice.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Public trust vital for effective prosecutions

-- magistrate tells police ranks The relationship between the police and communities must be reciprocal, Magistrate Crystal Lambert has said, pointing out that both parties need each other to function effectively.

She was at the time speaking at a recent breakfast hosted by ‘F’ Division (Bartica, Lethem and other interior locations) at the Bartica Recreational Centre, Region Seven. The magistrate said communities rely on police and prosecutors to protect them from crime and injustice, while the police in turn rely on communities for support and cooperation in their investigations.

Lambert who noted that her remarks are not in the capacity of a magistrate, but that of an observant civilian, said the police should operate on the principle of peace officers. And on that score, she encouraged the lawmen to build trust with communities, since it can be an essential step for successful prosecution.

She pointed out that at times public perception of

the police prevents many cases from being properly prosecuted. “It is very important that you mold that trust with your communities, because it goes a far way,” the magistrate said.

She added: “It is very important that police officers know their role and that is to keep the fabric of society together, to maintain law and order and to always have stability… where you matter is in the eyes of the public, they need you, and when they turn away from you, we have chaos and we have confusion.”

Commander Ravindradat Budhram said the division covers a large portion on the map of Guyana and although there are challenges in resources and manpower, it has been able to make notable strides.

There was an increase in ranks and the division also benefitted from ATVs, boats and pickups that were donated by the People’s Republic of China.

The commander also said that each station within the division now has more ranks

From right seated: Magistrate Crystal Lambert; Divisional Commander Ravindradat Budhram; ‘F’ Division Best Cop, Detective Sergeant Henry; and Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford with other ranks who were awarded for their performance (Rabindra Rooplall Photo)

to serve their respective districts and more ranks received enhanced training in their respective fields. This year, the division launched a literacy programme in Byderabo where over 800 books in Mathematics, English, Science and educational topics were given to youths.

In Bartica, Commander Budram said a summer programme was held and over

300 persons learnt craft-making, educational and developmental skills.

Professionalism within the division has improved, the commander said.

“I’ve seen a great increase in professionalism within the division, comparing to the reports I received last year. Recently, in Bartica, we placed police before the court because they moved

away from Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs),” the commander said.

He said under his command, prompt action will be taken against misdemeanour so that all have due respect for the law. “The system is working and there has been a lot of matters being cleared up in court, including backlog,” he said.

The breakfast was part

of activities to celebrate the Christmas season within the division. Among those in attendance were Region Seven Chairman Gordon Bradford, ranks and special invitees. At the event, Detective Sergeant Juan Henry was awarded the Best Cop prize for the division, while several other ranks were awarded for their performance in 2017.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Parika/Goshen road among major projects for Region Three in 2018 MINISTER of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, says the commencement of the Parika to Goshen road is one of the major plans on his ministry’s agenda for next year.

He explained that the preparation for works is in its final stage with the design almost completed and “hopefully it can go through a public/private partnership can start soon [sic].”

In January 2015, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, in conjunction with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), engaged the consulting team, J-Dos Internationalé Incorporated, to provide engineering designs and supervision of works for the Parika to Goshen road. The proposed Parika to Goshen road is approximately 56 km long and runs within the right-of-way of the Del Conte Road on the East Bank of the Essequibo River, passing through occupied

agricultural and forest lands.

Additionally, from the $1.8B allocated in the 2018 budget for miscellaneous roads across the country, $137M was provided for Region Three. “We have earmarked funds for repairs to roads in La Parfaite Harmonie, Belle West, Wakenaam and other areas. For main access roads, we have funds earmarked for the repairs and phrase for the Canal One and Two. In 2018, also we are proposing to continue studies for roads, the additional paved highway road from Free and Easy to do an alignment to Sandhill, then from Sand Hill to Monkey Jump”, Minister Patterson said.

The feasibility study for those works should commence shortly. Other projects slated for the region include the New Demerara River Bridge, sea and river defence works and completion of the Parika Stelling, for which funding is already secured

from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

“We have secured about US$15M from CDB for two main projects: to complete the Parika Stelling and to convert the Lethem airport into a regional aerodrome.

Also in 2018, the Ministry through the government of Guyana, with a grant from the government of Japan, is procuring 1,610 LED lamps and several areas in region three have written their requests and they will get their fair share of those lights”, the Minister underlined.

Some of those communities include Belle West, La Parfaite Harmonie and new housing schemes in the region. “In 2016, I described Region Three as the new frontier; I think the future of the country lies in the development of Region Three due to the strategic location and the advantages it has”, Minister Patterson noted. (DPI)

21-year-old charged for killing businessman A 21-year-old Diamond, East Bank Demerara, resident was on Wednesday charged for the murder of French Guiana businessman, Purcell Moore, who was shot and killed recently during an armed robbery at Craig, EBD, Kevin Persaud appeared before City Magistrate Faith McGusty, charged with the indictable offence which alleged that on December 20 at Old Craig, EBD, he murdered 40-year-old Moore during the course of a robbery.

He was remanded to

prison until December 29, when he is scheduled to appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

According to reports, the father of two was robbed of his gold chain and other jewellery.

He sustained two gunshot wounds to the head during the attack which occurred one street away from his mother’s home at Craig. Reports are that the man returned from abroad several weeks ago and may have been watched by his attackers.

Kevin Persaud

Speeding kills two on Boxing Day AS many folks were celebrating Boxing Day (Tuesday), two families were overwhelmed with grief when they learnt that their loved ones perished in separate accidents.

Salim Deen, a motorist lost his life when his car collided with a lamp post at the intersection on the center of the Providence Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

Police reported that motorcar PGG 2276 driven

by Deen, 43, of 158 Martyrsville, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, was proceeding south along the eastern driveway of the western carriageway allegedly at a very fast rate when he lost control of the vehicle which collided with the lamp post and turned-turtle.

Due to the impact of the hit, the victim was flung out of his vehicle. He received severe head injuries and his brain was strewn on the roadway.

At the man’s home at Fourth Street, Martyrsville, his brother-in-law Cecil Parboo said he was at sea and it was when he returned home early Wednesday morning, he learnt of Deen’s demise.

He related that the father of three was reportedly on his way to Diamond, East

Bank Demerara when the accident occurred.

Parboo said Deen, a mechanic, was going to meet a friend and was said to be in a celebratory mood since it was his birthday.

His fiancée was not at home when Guyana Chronicle visited.

Meanwhile, Shaquile Browne, 20, of Lot 45 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown was killed on Tuesday night when the Honda 300 motorcycle with trade plate crashed head-on into a vehicle on Mandela Avenue.

Police reported that the rider of the unregistered motorcycle who was not wearing a safety helmet died shortly after the crash which occurred around 19:00hrs.

Enquiries disclosed that the deceased Shaquile Browne, a labourer, was proceeding north along the western carriageway allegedly at a fast rate of speed.

He reportedly overtook a number of vehicles and ended up on the opposite lane and collided with the front of motorcar PTT 4575 after which he fell onto the road surface and sustained injuries to the face and body.

Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the

scene. The body is at the Sandy’s Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem while the driver, a resident of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme sustained minor injuries.

He received medical attention, later passed a breathalyser test and is assisting police with the investigation.

At Browne's home on Wednesday, it was an atmosphere of mourning as relatives and friends gathered to console each other.

His father Kirk Browne, better known as “Cocoa Tea” of Auto Sales said his son had left home to purchase credit for his cell phone when he was killed.

He said the young man was hard working, always willing and will be dearly missed.

Browne is survived by 10 siblings, his parents, scores of relatives and friends.

For the holiday season, so far, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Traffic Department has recorded five fatal accidents.

Speeding, inattentiveness and drunk driving have been cited as the leading cause. Police are urging motorists to desist from these practices.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

CPCE to tighten monitoring of regional centres

THE Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) will be tightening the monitoring and evaluation of its regional centres next year to ensure synergy of quality, the institution’s Principal, Viola Rowe, has said.

The college has a number of Distance Education Centres through which it offers programmes to students that live in far-flung and hinterland communities. Rowe said the CPCE has an appraisal instrument that is used at the main campus in Turkeyen on the East Coast of Demerara.

It is the intention to have the use of that instrument widened and applied at all centres across Guyana.

“We currently have students evaluate the courses at the end of every semester.

The students are allowed to evaluate how the course was done, but now, in the vision of the closer monitoring and evaluation, it will target the staff and what they do. We want to have the staff members, not just the course, we want each staff to be evaluated,” the Ministry of Education quoted the CPCE head as saying in a press release.

Staff members will be evaluated by their peers at each centre and by the Head of the centres. The data and information recorded will aid the CPCE to ascertain what exactly is being done at each centre and how it is being done. With this information, the strengths and weaknesses of staff members and that of the centres would be known.

As it relates to the performance of lecturers, Ms. Rowe explained that if weaknesses in lecturers are

CPCE Principal, Viola Rowe

identified, assistance will be given to help those educators improve their standard of education delivery.

This assistance will take the form of developmental sessions. These measures are being implemented with the intention to ensure that all Guyanese interested in enrolling at CPCE, can be assured that they will have access to a good quality of education delivery, regardless of which of the Distance Education Centres they attend. This will serve to eliminate the disparity that exists relating to the quality of education that is accessible on the coast when compared to the hinterland and rural communities. The CPCE has centres in Anna Regina, New Amsterdam, Rose Hall, Vreed-en-Hoop, Linden, Mabaruma, Moruca, Port Kaituma, Charity, Moraikobai, Bartica, Kamarang, Mahdia, Lethem, Aishalton, Annai, Kwakwani, Georgetown and Turkeyen.

Man confesses to Christmas night killing POLICE apprehended a suspect who admitted to killing a 35-year-old man and injuring his girlfriend during a misunderstanding in Sophia on Christmas night.

Dead is Celwin Mark Allen, called `Marcus’, an employee of Noble House Seafoods Limited and a resident of ‘E’ Field, Sophia.

He sustained several stab wounds about his body and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). His girlfriend, Nalydiah Henry was admitted to the same

hospital.

Enquiries disclosed that the victims were attacked and stabbed multiple times by the suspect who was armed with a knife.

It was reported that Allen shortly before the incident, interfered with a friend of the suspect who rebuked him and not satisfied inflicted the fatal injuries and also wounded his girlfriend who went to his assistance. The victims were rushed to the hospital by a police patrol where Allen was pronounced dead on arrival.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

‘Flying bottle’ takes out man’s eye …mother seeks compensation AN early-morning Christmas visit to his brother’s home to wish him a merry Christmas turned out to be a nightmare for 24-year-old Dwayne Small who later woke up on a hospital bed minus one of his eyes.

The construction worker related to the Guyana Chronicle that he left his home to go check on one of his brothers, but when he got there the man was not home.

On his way back he decided to stop and have a conversation with a friend when a bottle, hurled by one of three fighting males, connected to his left eye and rendered him unconscious. He later found out from doctors that he would lose his left eye.

During his interview with the media on Wednesday at the Georgetown Public Hospital, Small recalled that on Christmas morning while having the conversation with his friend, he noticed that two young men were having an altercation and which stemmed from one “disrespecting” the uncle of the other.

The young man who made the alleged disrespect-

four teeth in the process.

He subsequently fell to the ground and had to be rushed to the hospital.

On Wednesday, Charlene Semple, Small’s mother, told the Guyana Chronicle that she needs justice in the form of compensation for her son’s

Dwayne Small has lost his left eye

ful comments was described as a trouble-maker in the community; after making the comments to the other man, the man reportedly dealt him several slaps across the face which forced him to race home and return with a knife.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that as the two were squaring off, the father of one of the men showed up, approached the man who had earlier slapped his son and he began cuffing that young man to the face. The other man described as a ‘trouble-maker’ then armed himself with a bottle and pelted same in the direction of the man whom his father was cuffing away on, but that bottle missed its target and struck Small to the face, damaging his eye and

Killed over two bottles of high wine A 37-year-old miner was on Wednesday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for the capital offence of murder.

Vivie Harris was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on December 20 at Waramuri Mission, Moruca River, he murdered Rondea Peters, called ‘Ninja.’

The unrepresented man was remanded to prison until January 3, when the matter will be recalled at the Acquero Magistrate’s Court According to police reports, on the day in question, the two men were consuming alcohol when

Vivie Harris

Peters left the table. When he returned, he was accused of stealing two bottles of high wine. A scuffle later ensued between him and one of his accusers. He was stabbed at least five times to the body.

injuries. She said that her son will not be able to work for a prolonged period as he will be forced to stay out of the sun. Ms. Semple further stated that while the relatives of the errant boy who had pelted the bottle admitted that her son was not part of the fight and that the connecting of the bottle to his eye was an accident, they are not directly

saying to her how they plan to compensate her, although they have been making mention about compensating the family.

The police have since got involved in the matter and already a statement has been taken from Small and his mother said this was done while he was in the hospital. This newspa-

per was also told that the police had picked up the father of the boy who had pelted the bottle and he was tasked with locating his son and taking him back to the police station where a statement will be taken. Relatives of the bottle- thrower and his father have since secured the services of an attorney.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

‘Find your way back to democracy’ …Mercosur urges Venezuela THE Mercosur trade bloc has affirmed that there is no alternative to the democratic order in South America, even as it stated that it wants suspended Venezuela to find its way back to democracy and, in doing so, return to Mercosur.

Mercosur last year suspended Venezuela for failing to meet economic, human rights and immigration accords governing the group. Mercosur’s other members are Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and regional diplomatic heavyweight Brazil.

In a statement following the group’s meeting in Brasilia last week, Michel Temer, President of Brazil and outgoing president of MERCOSUR said during the period of his presidency efforts continued to rescue the body’s original vocation for democracy, human rights, and the free market.

“In the early days of the Brazilian presidency, faced with the deterioration of the democratic system in Venezuela, the founding members of Mercosur sus-

pended that country from the bloc, in compliance with the Ushuaia Protocol. With this measure, we sent an unequivocal message that there is no alternative to the democratic order in South America. We want Venezuela to find its way back to democracy and, in doing so, return to Mercosur.”

According to MERCOSUR throughout 2017, it also sought to strengthen the body’s economic pillar, noting that in the first semester, under the Argentine presidency, “we signed an agreement that reinforces legal certainty for investments among the countries of the bloc – an instrument derived from a Brazilian initiative. Under Brazil’s presidency, we were able to conclude the Agreement on Government Procurement. In addition to creating new opportunities for companies from Mercosur countries, the agreement will stimulate competition and, consequently, reduce prices paid by governments in their bids.”

On the trade front, the body said it continued on the

UG offers aviation programme for the first time in two decades

STARTING January 2018, the University of Guyana (UG) will offer persons an opportunity to qualify for a Certificate in Aviation Management, the first such programme of its kind being offered in more than two decades.

According to an advertisement, the new one-year programme will be offered by the university’s Faculty of Technology. UG noted that the entry requirements for the programme require the applicant to hold either academic or non-academic qualifications.

Academic requirements include passes in five subjects at the GCE/CSEC examinations including English Language and Mathematics.

For non-academic ap-

plicants, persons must have three years’ experience as a pilot, licensed aircraft maintenance engineer or in air traffic control under the purview of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

In addition persons must present evidence of being involved in the sector for more than five years as well as knowledge and understanding of the Guyana Civil Aviation Regulations (GCAR).

Several aviation professionals have welcomed the new initiative being offered by the university. In the mid-1990s, UG offered a diploma programme in aviation.

However, reports are that response by applicants was poor.

road to eliminate barriers to trade. “We modernised the regulatory dimension of the bloc, so that technical regulations guarantee the quality and safety of our products, without constituting unnecessary barriers to trade.

We gave renewed impetus to issues such as increased participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in regional trade, liberalisation of services, protection of geographical indications, e-commerce.”

In Latin America, the

statement said Mercosur is seeking a closer relationship with the Pacific Alliance (Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru) and that very soon a new trade agreement will come into force between Brazil and Colombia, which especially favours our automotive, steel and textile sectors.

“This new phase of Mercosur is also marked by greater openness to the world. After about two decades of negotiations, for the first time we have

the realistic prospect of concluding an agreement with the European Union.

We are also negotiating with the European Free Trade Association (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), India, and Tunisia. In September, the Mercosur-Egypt agreement entered into force, which, in 10 years, will liberalise virtually all trade between the parties.

“And we are opening new fronts. We are ready to start negotiations with

Canada and South Korea in the first months of 2018.

The meeting of Foreign Ministers of MERCOSUR and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in September opened the door to negotiations with dynamic markets with high rates of growth…”

“This is the Mercosur we want and we are building: a Mercosur attuned to the values of our societies, a Mercosur serving the interests of our peoples, a Mercosur of results.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Flying Santa touches m

By Shirley Thomas IT’S Christmastime again, and in the spirit of caring and sharing, and indeed ‘giving back’ Captain Gerald Gouveia, Chief Executive Officer of Roraima Airways, on Friday hosted a Christmas Luncheon for senior citizens. Most of the

seniors were distinguished Army Veterans who are survivors of World War II. Joining them also, were seniors from the Millicent Greaves Senior Citizens Home.

The venue for the event was Duke Lodge, Kingston where the seniors were treated to a sumptuous luncheon,

after which came greetings from Captain Gouveia and other distinguished military icons, including Major General (Ret’d) Norman Mc Lean and Lt. Col (Ret’d) Fabian Liverpool. Also present was Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Mr. Edward Boyer – all of whom offered words of encouragement as

they delivered brief remarks and extended greetings to the veterans for a Merry Christmas and a bright and prosperous New Year.

There was also a segment during which some of the veterans serenaded the gathering with Christmas Carols or other ‘Golden Oldies’ that took the audience on a nostalgic

journey down memory lane.

Veterans who survived World War II included: Jerry Stewart, 97 – an Artillery soldier; Benjamin Durante who turned 99 on November 14 last; Albert Thorne and Louldof Wiggins.

Emcee for the occasion was Jerry Gouveia (Junior), the son of Captain Gerald

Gouveia. Jerry (Jnr) said his father served in the Guyana Defence Force for some 15 years, retiring as a Major in the Air Corps. For this reason, he said, his father has always had a very tight bond with the military here in Guyana. “In fact, the military has been a very defining force in my father’s life, and

Host Captain Gerald Gouveia, assists in servin Veterans Christmas Party held

Captain Gerald Gouveia standing at center (rear) ad

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

many more lives again has made him the man he is today,” he said with obvious gratitude.

For this reason, throughout the years Captain Gouveia has always had donations or initiatives as a way of ‘giving back’ to the veteran community in some way. “It’s Christmastime and we’re having this programme

for the veterans just to let them know that we are thinking about them,” the younger Gouveia added.

“Coming together and having lunch they get the opportunity to sing songs and share poems. It is always a fantastic experience,” Jerry said. Moreover, for him, having been a former military

ng lunch to the seniors at the Roraima Airways d at the Duke Lodge last Friday

ddressing Veterans at his Christmas Party on Friday

member in Canada, being able to talk with some of the veterans face to face was an exciting experience, he acknowledged.

Jerry Jnr who is also a pilot is currently running the Aviation Department in the Roraima Airways Company.

He has charge over flights to the hinterland and deep jun-

gle, international flights and all the medevac flights, but most of all he’s a Flying Santa, taking fun and excitement to the children of hinterland locations where they have so far distributed 1000 gifts to them.

Partnering with a charity called “Gifts of Hope”, Roraima Airways was able

to take school children on tours to Santa Mission, while hosting parties and distributing toys for others at: Arrow Point; Baramita, Region One; Chenapau, Region Eight; Skeldon, Region Five; Linden in Region 10, and the Children’s Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital last Friday.

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And interestingly, it turns out that the Santa Claus, who was distributing gifts to the children at the party, was none other than Jerry Gouveia (Jnr)… the very person who was piloting the aircraft to take them safely to and from their destinations.

“Fantastic!” he said.

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Seven Christmas Day babies for Linden Hospital Complex

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, alongside two of the mothers and their babies

MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings on Monday visited the Linden Hospital Complex where she met with the mothers of the seven babies who were born on Christmas Day. Minister Cummings gifted each mother with a hamper that will go a long way in the first days of their children’s lives. The Minister highlighted that in this season of goodwill, her ministry will do its part to spread cheer. “I am very happy to come all the way here to spread joy to the people of Linden and especially, to the mothers of the infants that were born on

Christmas Day”, she noted.

Minister Cummings also pointed out that she was more than satisfied with the tremendous strides the Linden Hospital has made, in just two years. Accompanying the Minister was Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of the Linden Hospital, Dr. Mohamed Riyasat and Region 10 Chairman, Renis Morian. However, Minister Cumming’s visit was not restricted to the Hospital as she also took to the streets and Linden Market area, where she greeted and spoke with the vendors plying their trade, as well as shoppers. (DPI)

Jeweller robbed at Independence Boulevard TWO armed bandits robbed a jeweller of Independence Boulevard, Georgetown in the wee hours of Wednesday morning of his $500,000 gold chain while he was attending a relative's wedding in his neighbourhood.

Reports indicate that Dandkumar Jeeboo, 34, was at a family’s house celebrating a wedding, not far from his home, when he was attacked at around 01:00hrs by two armed men.

One of the men reportedly pointed a handgun at him and relieved him of his gold chain. The two bandits then attempted to remove his gold band but were unsuccessful as Jeeboo reportedly resisted.

After their failed attempt, the bandits reportedly escaped in the northern direction of Independence Boulevard. No shot was fired and the matter was reported to the police as investigations continue.

Taxi driver busted with narcotics in gas cylinder A TAXI driver was arrested on Christmas Eve afternoon after anti-narcotics police cut opened a gas cylinder and found more than 66 kilogrammes of cocaine inside.

The Guyana Police Force said the drug bust was as a result of an intelligence-led operation between 14:00hrs and 16:00hrs Sunday at Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

Investigators from the Narcotics Branch said they initially came up empty-handed at the 33-year-old man’s home at Budhoo Housing Scheme, Parika, East Bank Essequibo. However, when they searched his car they found an unusually heavy gas cylinder in the trunk. In the suspect’s presence, the enforcement officials, commanded by a Gazetted Officer, cut opened the cylinder and found the illicit substance.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

By Akola Thompson and Ronelle King

Sexual Violence is not a “Private” issue “The personal is the political” AT the height of the Christmas season, there exists a vibrant conversation re-

garding the criminalisation of marital rape in The Bahamas. Presently, the law

only recognises and allows married couples that have been legally separated to

utilise the law in their pursuit of justice. This means that only some couples are

protected under the law, whereas others would suffer without any option of a legal recourse.

Minister of Social Services and Urban development, Lanisha Rolle (Bahamas), had on the 19th of December stated that while she is against all forms of abuse, marital rape is a “private issue.” Rolle’s comments mirror similar ones made by former Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence.

It is noteworthy that both of these ministers-- across countries-- whose mandates fall within the ranks of social protection, would do such a disservice to the positions held. With Rolle being the only female member of the Minnis (Cabinet) and Lawrence being one of the few female members in the coalition Cabinet, one would have thought that they would not actively uphold the barriers to the protection of women.

Civil society groups have been calling for an apology from Rolle and also for her resignation. In Guyana, we had done the same in the wake of Lawrence’s comments. Lawrence had never apologised and she would later be transferred and made the Minister of Public Health.

One can only hope that the Bahamian government is not also rewarding to its MPs who fail to serve and uphold their mandates.

If we continuously have those in positions of power stating that sexual violence is something that should be “private,” this deters victims from coming forward and enables a culture in which they are never safe. What this also tells victims is that they will not be believed, or that their experiences do not matter. As a result of this very valid concern, many stay silent. The silence of course helps to fuel the thriving culture of sexual violence. This was exactly what Rolle did and it is exactly what Lawrence did. They invalidated the experiences of countless women around the world by labelling marital rape as a “private issue,” and

child sexual molestation as a “private matter.”

The onus then falls not on the victims, but on the government, persons of influence and society to bring about the necessary changes needed.

As elected representatives of the people, the government’s first duty is towards the protection and safety of all its citizens. If the government fails to do this, they are effectively telling those they are charged to protect, that their experiences do not matter.

The government of The Bahamas finally has a chance to show women that they care about them. They have the chance to show that they understand their moral and ethical duty to all their citizens and not just the privileged. It is for this reason that they should make the criminalisation of marital rape a priority, rather than being another hindrance in its passing. With no marital rape law, the fundamental rights of Bahamian women and their bodily autonomy are being violated every day.

Guyana, in its few areas of progressiveness, had in 2010 passed the Sexual Offences Act that had addressed the criminalisation of marital rape. That was only seven years ago. It took much too long, but it is great that it was passed and women have more avenues to justice and protection.

However, in The Bahamas, this is not the first time the issue of marital rape has raged on. In 2009, a proposed amendment to the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act outlawing marital rape was made. The amendment would never be passed.

One of the reasons for this was the fierce backlash from the religious community. The Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) was at the forefront of the arguments against criminalising marital rape.

The council in a statement had said, “As it relates to sexual relations, by virtue of getting married, a man and a woman give upfront, imTurn to page 23 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Corriverton-based NGO launches after-school programme A C O R R I V E R TON-BASED NGO--Family Awareness Consciousness & Togetherness (FACT)-- recently received a US$64,800 (GYD$13,353,000) grant from the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Community, Family and Youth Resilience (CFYR) programme to facilitate after-school activities in the township.

The programme will provide 80 children, between the ages of 10 to 18 years, from five schools, with after-school activities which include lessons and homework support integrated with creative arts, lifeskills, and sports.

In a statement on Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy here explained that the Corriverton-based NGO secured the grant after responding to a call for proposals to be submitted by organisations operating in five target communities in Guyana, including Corriverton.

The successful grantees will deliver comprehensive interventions in Corriverton, East La Penitence, East Ruimveldt, Lodge, and Sophia.

The activities will encour-

age student participation in positive youth development activities that reduce vulnerability to risky behaviours that lead to violence.

It was also explained that although this first initiative is focused on the Corriverton community, the after-school programmes will eventually reach the remaining communities identified.

“The programme will increase youth’s self-efficacy, improve their computer knowledge and skills, and ultimately improve school attendance by engaging them in a stimulating and rewarding set of activities. Parents will be encouraged to get involved in the academic life of their children and share in the journey by participating in regular meetings for the duration of the programme,” the U.S. Embassy further explained.

CFYR is a USAID programme designed to reduce youth involvement in crime and violence. It features a comprehensive package of interventions that build the resilience of youth ages 10-29, strengthen family support, and encourage community cohesion. Each of the five communities participating in the CFYR programme is supported

Sexual Violence is not a...

From page 22

plicit and open-ended sexual consent to each other on the day of their marriage for the duration of their marriage.”

It is here that we see people’s misunderstanding of consent. Consent is not something that is made in perpetuity. This means that while one can give you consent to have sex with them on one day, it does not mean that you now have consent to have sex with them everyday from then on. One’s right to change their mind about sex – whether in a marriage, civil union or relationship -should always be respected.

Do not assume that consent is

always granted to you.

What this law shows us is how the lives and bodies of women are valued. The supposed sacredness of marriage is being used as an excuse to enact violence against women with no consequences. It also displays the ideas of possession and ownership men have regarding women’s bodies. The Bahamian government owes it to its women to ensure that this bill is passed. It is the 21st century, we cannot continue telling women that they have no power over their own bodies and lives.

by a group of volunteers who form Community En-

hancement Committees (CEC) that help residents

to identify and implement local solutions to reduce vi-

olence and support positive youth development.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

‘I can feel myself again’ …homeless shower praise on organisers for Christmas Day treat

By Ariana Gordon CHRISTMAS Day 2017 was a sweet moment for many persons considered to be homeless as Dominion Household Ministries teamed up with Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes and corporate Guyana to feed, clothe and bathe several of them on Merriman Mall.

As they arrived around 07:00hrs that morning, while the majority of the country were celebrating the holiday with their loved ones, the homeless were treated to a shower, fresh clothing, hair grooming and hot meals.

Many of them expressed much surprise at the gesture as they have no families or friends on whom to depend.

A 20-year-old orphan told the Guyana Chronicle after her make-over that she does not have parents and her family wants nothing to do with her. According to the ecstatic young woman, she has been

I smell, but I have nowhere to go,” said one man,who stressed that random acts of kindness can go a long way.

Meanwhile, Pastor Timothy King explained what prompted him and his family to be part of such an exercise on Christmas morning. He told reporters that it was his wife, Debra King, who decided to have a lunch for the less fortunate who find themselves

City Mayor Patricia Chase-Green greets Pastor Timothy King

daughter-- she put me out… and I feel sad because they don’t want me down deh,” said the distraught woman who was fixated on being with her family. Another woman disclosed that she does not have children, but has a large family and has to turn to strangers to feed and clothe her. “ I have no chirren…today is stranger is look me…that man name Christ Jesus—Jesus is by my

side--- today is stranger looking at me, not my own,” she said, as tears streamed down her face.

As for the male folk, they too were overwhelmed with emotions and thanked the Dominion Household Ministries and all stakeholders for treating them. “I am thankful for this…I haven’t had a bath in a long time…sometimes I does wait for the rain…I know how

Some of the less fortunate persons gathered on Christmas morning on Merriman Mall

surviving by the grace of God as she has no fixed place of abode.

“I can feel myself again. I don’t have any parents, family…nobody to turn to -- just a friend to turn to….I just making out to see how I could make life out, without a family. My family and me don’t agree, they don’t want me around,” the thankful woman said after she had received a new hairdo. She continued: “I feel good and alright-- this is something nice, I have to praise God for it…hope many more of this is done,” the young woman said.

Another beneficiary told the media that she too has nowhere to go and no one on whom to depend. Despite being treated on Christmas morning, she remained saddened by her state of affairs.

“I aint got nowhere to go… been on the street for a month or so. I use to live by the

it is amazing to see people transformed.”

His wife said the idea was birthed after travelling home recently and seeing a number of homeless persons lining the pavements along Regent Street. “The thought crossed my mind ‘I am going home to a hot pot of cook-up and they have nothing to eat’ and so I felt in my spirit I needed to do something for them,” said Mrs. King. But she thought about the amount of money it

Beauticians grooming the less fortunate and homeless on Christmas morning on Merriman Mall

an emotional Debra King.

She said oftentimes, homeless people are judged, but noted that is not right. “I am so grateful to God for giving me the strength…we are making a difference in this city- I believe that is what the church is supposed to be doing, impacting this nation for Christ,” she said, as she thanked those who immediately supported the initiative.

“We are going to be doing this again, not just on Christmas Day, but it will become part of our lifestyle to give back,” said Mrs. King.

Similarly, Broomes said she was pleased to see the look on the faces of the beneficiaries. She told reporters that every person is in need of love and support. It was during discussion with Pastor King and his wife, that the pooling of resources was done. “Today, I want to give all praise to God; I want to thank the persons we have reached out to…For me, what’s heart rendering [sic] is to see the before and the after – to see them walk off the street and get a shower, haircut, fresh clothing- it is unbelievable -- these are people, human beings created by God,” she said, noting that it was a good Christmas gift to the less for-

homeless. “So my wife was talking about doing lunch, and Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, was in a prayer meeting with us and she got inspired and talked about what she wanted to do and I brought what I wanted to do and it came together,” he said, noting that the exercise represented “an overwhelming expression of God’s love—people got a bath, they shaved, a haircut…

Pastor Timothy King and his wife Debra interact with a homeless man Christmas morning on Merriman Mall

A homeless man gets his hair braided on Christmas morning on Merriman Mall

would cost her to achieve her goal, but decided against waiting for the right amount of money.

“Immediately, I put on paper what I wanted to do… cook, come out on Christmas Day and share God’s love, because Jesus came for us and it is our responsibility to share his love with others. I believe Christmas Day is the right time, because there is where everyone is sharing Minister within the Ministry of Natural with their families Resources, Simona Broomes, with and the homeless her youngest son on Christmas Day have no one,” said on Merriman Mall

tunate. “…if as a minister of government, I cannot feel the plight of people then I not worthy,” said the minister. A prayer service was also held to provide some degree of comfort to persons there; many of whom committed to serving God. Several businesses and persons assisted in making Monday’s venture possible.

They include: Star Party Rental, owned by Lennox Cush, Chung’s Construction, Nola Greaves, Amanda Peters, Milady’s Hair Salon, Food For The Poor, Cevons Waste Management Services, members of the Dominion Household Ministries and Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green.

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Laser Tag arena opens in Guyana

LASER TAG, a game of tag played with laser guns in an arena of fog and flashing lights, is a worldwide phenomenon and sport which has finally arrived in Guyana.

Teams battle to score

the most points, using handguns which emit a laser to target their opponents.

The activity, which is a fully computerised game, is perfect for families, friends and children.

(BBC) - SOUTHAMPTON centre-back Virgil van Dijk will join Liverpool when the transfer window re-opens on January 1 in a world record £75M deal.

The Netherlands international had been expected to join the Reds last summer after he handed in a transfer request.

But a move fell through when Liverpool apologised for making an alleged illegal approach for the 26-yearold.

The fee is the most ever paid for a defender - Manchester City paid £52M to Monaco for Benjamin Mendy in July. van Dijk said in a statement he was “delighted and honoured” to sign for the Merseyside club and accept-

ed he had had a “difficult last few months” at St Mary’s.

He was left out of Southampton’s squad for their 5-2 Premier League defeat

by Tottenham on Tuesday, prompting speculation he was set to leave the club.

“Southampton have agreed a fee that will set a new world record for a defender,” the south coast club confirmed yesterday.

The player only signed a new six-year contract last year, having joined the Saints from Celtic for £13M in September 2015.

However, Liverpool’s interest in the summer prompted a transfer request from the player which saw him forced to train alone by manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

The laser tag arena is located at the GMR&SC ground on Thomas Lands and is operated by GT Motorsports which also operates the Go-Kart Track.

At a cost of just $2

000 per person, those with a thirst for a new breed of entertainment can finally experience the thrills of laser tag in Guyana.

Novices will learn all they need to know about

the game at the facility which will be opened from 14:00hrs to 22:00hrs during the holidays.

After the holiday season, the facility will be opened from 15:00hrs to 21:30hrs.

Southampton’s van Dijk to join Liverpool

Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk will join Liverpool.

Pollard pulls out of T20 squad (CMC) – SEASONED campaigner Kieron Pollard has pulled out of the West Indies Twenty20 squad for the three-match series beginning here tomorrow.

A Cricket West Indies release on Tuesday said only that Pollard was “unavailable due to personal reasons”.

The Trinidadian is one of the most sought-after all-rounders in the popular format, scoring 7 816 runs and taking 242 wickets from 399 T20s.

For West Indies, he has played 56 matches scoring 768 runs but has not passed 30 in four years and is without a half-century in five years.

Pollard will be replaced by exciting 20-year-old

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stroke-maker Shimron Hetmyer who is yet to make this T20 International debut and only last week made his oneday debut.

Pollard is one of two changes to the Windies squad with speedster Ronsford Beaton forced out with a side strain and replaced by leftarm pacer Sheldon Cottrell.

Beaton also made his one-day debut recently against New Zealand, playing two matches, but was reported to the ICC for a suspected illegal action.

The side led by all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite face New Zealand in the opening match at Saxton Oval here.

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Day and January 3.

SQUAD – Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Samuel Badree, Sheldon Cottrell, Rayad Emrit, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle,

Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton, Kesrick Williams.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to Saturday’s quiz: (1) 64 ODIs (2) WI 30; NZ 27 (7 NR) Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the result of the recent WI/NZ ODI series?

(2) Who was named Man of the Series in the recent

WI/NZ ODI engagement?

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Lingfield 08:45 hrs Captain Pugwash 09:15 hrs Ode To Autumn 09:45 hrs Island Brave 10:20 hrs Paradise Lake 10:55 hrs Corazon Espinado 11:30 hrs Hamish McGonagain Leicester 09:25 hrs Mon Eldorado 09:55 hrs Bekkensfirth 10:30 hrs Harefield 11:05 hrs Three Ways 11:40 hrs Wind Place And Sho

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Cook hands England a lifeline World Cup 2018

(REUTERS) – ALASTAIR Cook completed a stirring century in a stellar return to form as England savoured a rare day of domination in the fourth Ashes Test against Australia yesterday.

Cook raised his 32nd Test ton with a pull-shot to the fence in the final over before stumps, and strode off the ground unbeaten on 104, having pushed England to 192 for two on day two at a sweltering Melbourne Cricket Ground.

His successor as captain, Joe Root, was 49 not out, the pair having helped reduce Australia’s lead to 135 runs.

English cheer has been in short supply this series after Australia took back the urn with victory in Perth but yesterday’s fightback thrilled sunbaked Britons in the raucous crowd of 67 882.

Stuart Broad, another Englishman under scrutiny after playing a negligible part in the series, captured 4-51 as Australia’s day one resistance melted in the morning heat.

The hosts started the day in a position of strength at 244

for three but were bowled out for 327, losing their last seven wickets for 67 runs.

“Bowling Australia out for 320-odd, we’re absolutely delighted,” Broad told reporters. ”We’re in a fantastic position in this Test match.

“We want that scoreboard pressure going into getting those next 10 wickets.”

After labouring on a slow and flat pitch on day one, England’s bowlers were transformed in the morning, with debutant paceman Tom Curran proving the unlikely catalyst.

The 22-year-old Surrey seamer bowled Steve Smith for 76 with the second ball of his first spell, having the skipper drag a wider, short delivery onto his stumps.

It not only secured Curran his first Test wicket but ended Smith’s unbeaten reign at the MCG since his last dismissal in the Boxing Day Test against India in 2014.

It was also a huge relief for Curran, who had opener David Warner caught on 99 on day one but missed out on the wicket for over-stepping

Zimbabwe closed down inside two days (REUTERS) - ZIMBABWE were bowled out twice yesterday as South Africa swept to an easy victory by an innings and 120 runs, as the inaugural four-day Test finished inside two days at St George’s Park.

Zimbabwe were dismissed for 68 runs in their first innings and then 121 in their follow-on in reply to South Africa’s 3099 declared.

The one-off Test ended inside five sessions as the gulf in ability between the two neighbours was cruelly exposed.

Morne Morkel was the destroyer-in-chief in Zimbabwe’s first innings with figures of 5-21, as nightwatchman Kyle Jarvis top-scored with 23 off 50 balls. Debutant Ryan Burl, who added 16, was the only other Zimbabwean batsman to get to double figures.

Zimbabwe, who are bottom of the 10-team Test rankings, started the second day reeling on 30-4 after being put in to bat for the last hour of the first day of the first day-night Test played in South Africa and struggled with the pink ball in unfamiliar conditions.

They did show some resistance at the start of their second innings but once their first wicket fell on 51, when Chamu Chibhabha was caught behind, there followed a steady procession of batsmen to the crease as Keshav Maharaj took 5-59 and Andile Phehlukwayo returned figures of 3-13.

All Zimbabwe’s second

innings wickets fell in a single session between the tea and dinner break. Craig Ervine was their top second-innings scorer with 23 runs.

“I don’t think we were overwhelmed but it was a surprise to us to see the ball move around like that. We didn’t assess conditions that well,” said visiting captain Graeme Cremer.

“This shows us where we are and where we need to be.”

South Africa won the toss and batted first on Tuesday with Aiden Markram scoring 125 and AB de Villiers 53 on his return to the Test arena after a hiatus of almost two years.

“The bowlers were exceptional on a very spicy wicket but we still needed to do the basics well and we didn’t miss our mark very often,” said de Villiers.

The four-day Test is the first since the International Cricket Council tweaked regulations to give some of the weaker nations a more sporting chance, in the wake of Afghanistan and Ireland being granted Test status.

The one-off game against Zimbabwe was also supposed to provide the home team with preparation for their three-Test series against top-ranked side India, which begins next week.

But it was much more of a one-sided contest than originally expected and will have provided neither side with any meaningful experience.

his mark.

Smith was one of three Australian batsmen out chopping onto the stumps, with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (nine) and wicketkeeper Tim Paine (24) falling in the same fashion.

The home captain finished a disappointing day by conceding 11 runs in the final over with his part-time leg-spin, allowing Cook his century and England a rousing finish.

“If we can come tomorrow morning ... and hopefully challenge their defence a lot more than we did today, then hopefully we can get a couple of breakthroughs and see where we get to,” Australian spinner Nathan Lyon told reporters.

Shaun Marsh dug in to raise his third half-century of the series before being trapped leg-before by Broad for 61.

James Anderson bowled Paine and dismissed Lyon lbw for a duck to finish with 3-61.

Starting England’s response after lunch, Cook and Mark Stoneman fended off Australia’s opening pace salvo before Lyon intervened with

a brilliant caught and bowled.

The off-spinner coaxed a leading edge from Stoneman (15) and leaped high to pull down a one-handed catch, reviving memories of his acrobatic dismissal of Moeen Ali during the second Test at Adelaide Oval.

Vince (17) was given out lbw when paceman Josh Hazlewood sent a full, straight ball thudding into his pads.

He neglected to review the decision and would have regretted it later, with the ‘snicko’ technology showing he had nicked the ball with his bat.

Cook and Root then combined for a 112-run partnership to give England hope of grabbing a substantial first-innings lead.

Australia’s task was made more difficult with Pat Cummins hampered by a stomach ailment.

He battled through 11 overs but Lyon said the sickly seamer would see a doctor in the evening to restore fluids and hopefully be ready to play on day three.

Alastair Cook rocks back and plays a cut. (Getty Images)

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Whitewashed Windies suffer minimally in ODI Rankings (CMC) - WEST Indies have suffered minimal fallout from their one-day series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand.

In the latest rankings released yesterday, the Caribbean side were still ninth in the ICC rankings and had lost only one point to slip to 76 ratings points.

They are now eight points behind the eighth-ranked Sri Lanka and still some 16 points adrift of Bangladesh in seventh spot.

The recent series represented an opportunity for West Indies to close the gap on Sri Lanka but instead they failed to win a single match.

They lost the opener in Whangarei by five wickets before suffering heavy defeats in the doubleheader in Christchurch, going down by margins of 204 runs and 66 runs under Duckworth/ Lewis.

The series topped off a wretched run in ODIs this year for the two-time former World champions. They started the year bidding for direct qualification to the 2019 Wold Cup but lost 16 of their 23 outings while winning just three, to miss out on automatic place at the showpiece in England.

The Windies will now enter the 10-team ICC Cricket

World Cup Qualifier 2018 in Zimbabwe next March, in another bid to secure one of the two remaining places at the World Cup. Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland and hosts Zimbabwe will join West Indies in the tournament, with the finalists from the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 in February expected to complete the line-up.

T h e re h a s b e e n n o change in the ODI positions, however, with the Black Caps remaining fifth despite their dominance, and South Africa still top.

West Indies were thrashed 3-0 by New Zealand in the recent ODI series.

Lewis, Powell and Holder record ODI Ranking rise

All-rounder Rovman Powell

(CMC) - OPENER Evin Lewis, all-rounder Rovman Powell and captain Jason Holder have all managed to move up in the ICC one-day players rankings, despite West Indies’ dismal showing in the recent three-match series.

Left-hander Lewis jumped 11 places in the batting rankings to 65th while Powell also climbed 11 spots to be 127th.

Holder, meanwhile, leapt six places to be on the brink of the top 20 in the bowling rankings at 21st.

The trio’s movement comes on the heels of the Caribbean side’s 3-0 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand where they found themselves completely outplayed.

However, Lewis was one of two Windies batsmen in the series with half-centuries, scoring 76 in the opening match in Whangarei which the visitors lost by five wickets.

The Trinidadian finished the series with 86 runs from two matches – the most by a Windies player.

Powell was also among

the runs in the first game scoring an attacking 59, a knock which marked his maiden half-century in ODIs. Seamer Holder finished as the joint highest wicket-taker for the Windies with five wickets, alongside left-arm speedster Sheldon Cottrell who also picked up the same number of scalps.

Indian stroke-maker Virat Kohli leads an unchanged top 10 in the batting rankings while Pakistani paceman Hasan Ali continues to head the bowling rankings.

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

GCB/Jaguars 50-Overs League postponed THE play-offs of the 2017 GCB/Jaguars One Day 50-Overs League, which were scheduled to be played today at the Albion Community Centre ground, have been suspended until further notice.

This suspension is due to weather conditions that have made scheduling and playing

matches very challenging.

The preliminary rounds of 2017 GCB/Jaguars One Day 50-Overs League were conducted over two periods.

The first period consisted of four rounds of matches which were played from November 21 to 27.

The second round of matches was scheduled for

December 19 to 23.

The seven preliminary rounds saw the 2017 GCB/Jaguars 3-Day League Champions Essequibo emerge as the leaders on the points table, thereby securing an automatic place in the finals, while defending champions of the GCB/Jaguars One Day League, Lower Corentyne, placed second.

Upper Corentyne Cricket Association/Baijnauth Sawmills 20/20 Cup

All teams invited for today’s drawing THE Competitions Committee of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) has announced that the drawing for the Baijnauth Sawmills 20/20 competition will be done today at the #73 Cricket Club ground at 16:00hrs.

The captain, team manager and secretary of each of the participating clubs are asked to attend this drawing which will decide the preliminary round fixture of the competition.

Clubs are asked to bring along a list of 15 players who will represent their respective clubs in the competition.

A representative from the Guyana Umpires Council will be in attendance to explain the rules of the competition to all captains and managers.

The UCCA has advised

that it is compulsory for clubs that fall within the ambit of the Association’s control to attend this drawing, since those who do not attend will be at a definite disadvantage.

Secretary of the UCCA, Mr Vadanand Persaud is urging clubs to select their best 15 players, since the rules of the competition will not allow clubs to introduce players into the competition who are not on their list.

He is encouraging clubs to see the need to include upcoming, vibrant Under-19 players into their squads, since these players he said, are the future of cricket in the area.

Mr Hamant Jagdeo, president of the UCCA is optimistic that this competition will be one of a kind in the area, and said that players have much to gain

from their participation in these games.

He wishes to advise the clubs that their participation is essential for the association to achieve its full potential, and for all to benefit in the game of cricket.

He is appealing to members of the business community to support the association, and its programmes, and to lend support in any way they can.

He lamented the state of cricket in the area and reassured the clubs that he and his executives will work arduously to ensure the glory days of cricket are returned to the area.

An Under-17 competition will soon commence to select players for trials to the Berbice Under-17 inter-county team, Clubs will be notified shortly of the details of the competition.

As a consequence, Lower Corentyne are scheduled to play Georgetown who gained third position by virtue of having a better net run rate than West Demerara. Both Georgetown and West Demerara teams had ended the preliminary rounds with an equal number of wins and points.

GCA congratulates World Cup U-19 players

THE president, executives and members of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) have offered their congratulations and best wishes to the five Guyanese members selected to be a part of the West Indies Under-19 World Cup squad.

Bhaskar Yadram, Renaldo Ali Mohamed, Joshua Persaud, Ashmead Nedd and Raymond Perez are the Guyanese named.

The GCA, in a release, reminded these five cricketers to be humble, disciplined and to showcase their talent to the world effectively, during the tournament, which will be played in New Zealand.

In the release the GCA also congratulated the coaches from the respective clubs and the associations for their tireless work in guiding these young cricketers, especially Nedd, Perez and Ali Mohamed, who started in the GCA’s Pee Wee Cricket competition.

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

Squash Year in Review

We had a brilliant year – GSA president THE Guyana squash fraternity definitely took a blow this year with the relinquishing of the Junior Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Championships title.

However, that was just one blemish for an otherwise not-so-bad year for the racquet sports in Guyana.

Notwithstanding the loss, the president of the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) considered the year to have been another great one for the sport.

turned to prominence as the Senior CASA Champions, clinching both the men’s and women’s title - something we haven’t done since 2014.

However, we were once again pipped by Barbados for the overall title, after they came out with the better veterans’ team. consequent The title wins were attained due to a batch of very strong seniors that included, on the female side, FungA-Fat, Taylor Fernandes who played her last year in the junior tournament this

President of the Guyana Squash Association Robin Lowe

“We had a brilliant year.

We won senior Caribbean titles. We hosted the junior CASA as you know, and even though we didn’t win overall, the hosting of that was successful. We had some really good local tournaments, where we saw our players step up and they are just progressing all the time.

So I think we had a really good year,” says GSA president Robin Lowe.

There’s nothing misplaced in Lowe’s optimistic viewpoint, there was a lot of good for the sport of squash this year.

Encouragingly, senior Mary Fung-A-Fat officially announced that she was taking her pro career seriously. Promising junior player Shomari Wiltshire also performed on the international scene and indicated his seriousness for squash in the long run - something not expressed by many young squash players, despite their eminence on the regional circuit.

Then there was the comeback, where Guyana re-

year, former national champion Ashley Khalil, Larissa Wiltshire, who herself aged out of the junior category just last year, and Victoria Arjoon.

On the men’s side there were former Caribbean junior champions Jason Ray Khalil and Nyron Joseph and former senior Caribbean champion Richard Chin.

Less than a decade ago Guyana struggled to gather senior players. Then the team was largely made up of junior players but there has been a continued improvement for the sport in the senior area.

This shift to improved performances among the seniors is credited to many of the players who once ruled the junior scene sticking around to compete as seniors.

But seeing these strong players age out of the junior category has taken its toll on the junior division, gradually weakening Guyana’s once impenetrable junior team, at a time when other countries, particularly Barbados, continue to see strengthening on their junior circuit.

Just this year the junior team said goodbye to an-

other two stalwarts: Taylor Fernandes, and Ben Mekdeci, who have both aged out of the division, leaving gaps that will be hard to fill.

Guyana’s loss at Junior CASA came as no surprise to many who have been paying attention to the regional junior title. Barbados had been gaining on Guyana for some time now.

Just a few years ago Guyana ended with as many five out of eight titles in the individual age group categories at Junior CASA. This year we barely managed to grasp two of the ten titles that were up for grabs; Barbados won six, while they made it to seven finals. It was somewhere around the time after Barbados collected all those individual titles that team Guyana braced for their overall loss.

It was particularly sad that it had to come at a time when the tournament was being held on local soil.

However, this of course by no means signals that Guyana’s done being the junior Caribbean champions.

“It’s not going to be easy to get back up there but we’re by no means at the bottom of the barrel,” Lowe

pointed out, further noting that: “We’re still pretty much one of the top teams, so we just have to continue and try to increase our focus and our training. The young talent that’s coming up is very promising.”

Renowned national squash coach blamed Guyana’s slipping junior side on complacency, noting that perhaps we’ve just gotten too comfortable as winners.

Meanwhile, the junior CASA was not the only loss for squash this year; Guyana’s pride and joy of squash, Nicolette Fernandes, officially announced her retirement as a pro player, ending a 15-year career.

Not only that, there’s also no certainty if she will still look to represent Guyana at the senior level.

With retirement plans forthcoming from Ince, Lowe says squash will suffer the loss of two legends.

However, he assured that there will be persons there to fill the gap left by Ince, even if somewhat marginally.

He has not officially said that he is retiring, but we expect it to come soon,” Lowe said.

“Anytime you have legends like that leave the are-

Guyana ended in second place at this year’s Junior CASA.

na, there is some impact. I think he has done an outstanding job in coaching.

But it’s not like we’re not going to have people. A lot of persons are following squash and are interested in helping the youths move through.”

Now with the year concluded the focus is on picking up the pieces and moving on to the next. As it pertains to plans for next year, Lowe says nothing has been set in stone as yet, as the GSA executives will meet shortly to begin charting a course.

As it is right now, an increase in emphasis of Guyanese players performing at more international tournaments is definitely on the cards. Another unofficial plan is the hosting of the Senior CASA. “There are plans for four players to go to Commonwealth Games and there are some other international tournaments that we’re going to be thinking about,” Lowe said. “Once we complete this year we will have a better idea of what will be done next year. We have to meet and come up with our game plan.”

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 28, 2017

New date to be decided on Sunday

By Rajiv Bisnauth

MEMBERS of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday, to decide a new date for the postponed annual Boxing Day horserace meet.

This is according to Justice Cecil Kennard, president of the Turf Club.

Tuesday’s race meet was postponed after territorial rains battered the Corentyne area, leaving the organisers with no choice.

Cecil Kennard

According to Kennard, once a date is fixed, the original programme will remain the same.

According to the programme, its feature event is a nine-furlong race for horses classified `B2’ and Lower and carries a first prize of $1M, while the second- to fourth-place finishers will earn $500 000, $250 000 and $125 000 respectively.

There will also be two races each over five, six and seven furlongs with threeyear-old Guyana-bred horses

seeking to claim the $230 000 monetary first prize.

The second- to fourth-place finishers will receive $110 000, $55 000 and $27 000 in that order.

The other six-furlong race is open to horses classified `J3 and `K’ and Lower with a first prize of $180 000. The second-place horse will earn $90 000, while the third- and fourth-place finishers will receive $45 000 and $22 000 respectively.

Animals classified `L’ open will battle over five

furlongs for a first prize worth $150 000. The second- to fourth-place finishers will pocket $75 000, $38 000 and $19 000 respectively.

The other five-furlong race is for horses classified `L’ non-winners and the winning stable will receive $130 000, while the second-place finisher will receive $60 000.

The third- and fourth-place finishers will take home $30 000 and $15 000 respectively.

The two seven-furlong is open to horses classified `F’

and Lower and `H’ and Lower and the `FD’ and Lower animals will compete for the $350 000 first prize.

The second- to fourthplace finishers will take home $175 000, $88 000 and $44 000 in that order, while the race for `H’ and Lower horses will carry a first prize worth $280 000.

The second-place finisher will earn $140 000, while the third- and fourth-place finishers will earn $70 000 and $35 000 respectively.

‘Punches in bunches’ as Allicock outscores Gibson at Sons of Champions

Keevin Allicock (right) receives his medal and token from boxing promoter Seon Bristol of Briso’s promotions after winning his bantamweight contest against Clairmont Gibson on Tuesday ni8ght at the National Gymnasium.

By Michael DaSilva CLAIRMONT Gibson was out-punched by his more experienced opponent Keevin Allicock, when the two traded punches on Tuesday night at the National Gymnasium.

The occasion was the Guyana Boxing Association/ Briso’s `Sons of Champions’ Boxing Night Card’s feature bout on a 11-fight programme that was attended by a fairsized crowd.

From the first gong, Allicock and Gibson took to the centre of the ring exchanging combinations which Gibson

seemed to connect better, but Allicock weathered the storm and retaliated with combinations of his own.

However, the second round was much different as the Albouystown hero (Allicock) turned the tide and on two occasions caused the Trinidad and Tobago AIBA Three Star referee, Mr Beckles, to issue two standing eight-counts to Gibson.

During the round, Gibson threw several punches at Allicock but most of the punches went into thin air as Allicock used his speed and ring-craft to evade them.

The third and final round appeared to be the decisive round and both boxers stepped out from their respective corners in an aggressive manner, with Gibson looking to end the fight within the distance, but Allicock, the national and Caribbean bantamweight champion would not have any of that.

He brought his experience and ring-craft into play, slipping punches, cutting off the ring, as well as stepping in and out while connecting with two- and three-handed combinations in the process.

In the end, the Common-

wealth Youth Games’ silver medallist was declared winner by unanimous points-decision.

The Allicock versus Gibson bout was entertaining from start to end and most of the other fights on the night’s card were equally enjoyable.

There was another bantamweight fight on the card that saw Julius Kesney force the referee to stop his contest against Junior Hyman at two minutes 30 seconds of the second round after pounding Hyman with some telling onetwo combinations.

In the lightweight category, Desmond Amsterdam,

Guyana and the Caribbean champion peppered Aluko Bess with some telling combinations and after enduring two minutes 44 seconds of the second round, the referee rightly stopped the contest in Amsterdam’s favour.

The heavyweight bout between GBA’s national champion John Mars and runner-up Aubrey Headley was very entertaining but after three rounds of slugging, Headley was declared winner by unanimous points-decision.

In the Schoolboys category, Shaquancy Wright and Travis Inverary both regis-

tered unanimous points-decision victories over Deron Williams and Richard Howard respectively.

In the junior category, Emanuel Pompey secured a split decision win against Sherman Morrison and in the Youth category, Justin Winfield scored a Technical Knock Out win over Michel Worrell at two minutes 54 seconds on round two.

Isaiah Moore secured a unanimous win against Omar Pollard and Deshon Elcock won by a split decision over Christopher Moore.

We had a brilliant year See e Pag – GSA president 4 3

‘Punches in bunches’ as Allicock outscores Gibson at Sons of Champions See Page 35

Whitewashed Windies suffer minimally in ODI Rankings See Page 32

New date to be decided on Sunday Keevin Allicock (right) connects with a straight right to the head of Gibson during Tuesday night’s bantamweight contest at the National Gymnasium.

Laser Tag arena opens in Guyana See Page 30

Laser tag is the latest addition of games to hit Guyana.

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

See page 35

Pollard pulls out of T20 squad See Page 30

West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2017