Guyana Chronicle 03-11-2019

MONDAY 11th March, 2019

No.105573

05 Barabina Hill gets 15 Jagdeo abandoned road after two decades at Babu Jaan PAGE

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Two dead in boat explosion

DDL records $3.2B profit

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Ethnic differences 04 must not be exploited PAGE

–– Harmon tells forum celebrating national unity

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland; Opposition Member of Parliament, Priya Manickchand; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and Ethnic Relations Commission Chairman, Reverend, Dr. John Smith with the cast of the “This is Us” play at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) on Saturday (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

Jagdeo backflips

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– had underscored GECOM’s independence in verifying Official List of Electors

IN total contradiction to his initial position on the process of verifying the Official List of Electors for General and Regional Elections, Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, is now attempting to dictate how the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) should arrive at a fresh list.

In 2006, Jagdeo, the then President of Guyana, had underlined GECOM’s independence. “The law says that GECOM shall define the form of verification of the list, or may decide on verification, and will decide on what form it will take. Not the PPP; not the PNC; not any party. GECOM. That’s a constitutional body; independent just like the courts,” Jagdeo had said back then.

However, today, he is attempting to narrow GECOM’s options for the compilation of a new Official List of Electors ahead of pending elections. A no-confidence motion, which is now being challenged in the appellate court, has triggered the need for early elections and the opposition leader, with the backing of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is demanding that the current Official List of Electors be used. According to him, he is also willing to have a limited period for Claims and Objections to verify the list.

But with the list due to expire on April 30, 2019, GECOM now has little or no choice but to conduct house-to-house registration to secure a fresh and credible Official List of Electors. According to the Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield, that process will

take approximately nine months.

WILL NOT ACCEPT At a press conference on Thursday last, Jagdeo said the PPP will not accept nationwide house-to-house registration for the compilation and verification of the list.

In a recent interview, one of the country’s leading legal minds said Jagdeo is selective in his interpretation of the constitution, noting that when the opposition leader was in a similar situation as President, he gave the same answers as are being given by President David Granger. “The leader of the opposition is being selectively principled as a constitutional interpreter; let him clean up his own grave yard before condemning other people,” the legal luminary said.

Last week during his high-level meetings with both the opposition leader and GECOM, President Granger said the government will not interfere with the constitutional role and duty of the commission. “Let me make one thing clear, GECOM is an autonomous body, GECOM is an independent agency and there is no part of the constitution which gives the President or the executive in general, authority to interfere, intervene or intrude in the work of the elections commission,” he said in an address to the nation.

INDEPENDENT BODY He said when GECOM is in a state of readiness, he will set a date for elections.

“It is not for me to overrule the com-

Two dead

By Alva Solomon

A Venezuelan passenger boat, heading to Charity on the Pomeroon River with 22 persons on board, caught fire and exploded off the Waini Coast on Sunday morning.

The boat, which departed the Bolivarian Republic around 04:30hrs on Sunday, caught fire as it headed for Charity on the Essequibo Coast.

Medical staff at the Mabaruma Regional Hospital reported on Sunday that 20 persons, including an elderly woman who was first rushed there for treatment, have been accounted for. Two persons died following the incident.

One body has since been recovered.

Hospital staff told this newspaper that 13 women were taken to the hospital for treatment while the men stayed behind. Two persons,

including an elderly blind man, Carlos Archer, is said to be one of the persons who is feared dead.

The man’s wife, 73-year -old Phylis Archer, was rushed to the Mabaruma Hospital earlier on Sunday for treatment. She sustained burns about her body and was later on Sunday evening air-dashed to the Eugene F Correia International Airport and then rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for further treatment.

Archer told Guyana Chronicle from Mabaruma that she and her husband, along with a friend called “Sabrina”, left the Venezuelan town of San Felix on Saturday for a pick-up point close to the border.

She said that the boat departed from Venezuela around 04:30 hrs on Sunday and three hours later, she heard an explosion.

mission. The commission is independent. It is not for anybody to give the commission instructions as to when elections are to be held. Once the commission says it is ready, I will announce a date; and I hope that date is as early as possible. So, the question of the ball being in the President’s court is not a credible position to take,” President Granger said in a separate message.

In the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, the attorney general and a battery of lawyers will argue that the GECOM is constitutionally required to hold elections and not government.

In his written submissions in the case, The Attorney General v The Speaker, The Opposition and Representative of the APNU, in which he is challenging the January 31 High Court decision, Williams told the Court of Appeal that Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire erred and was misconceived in law when she failed to have regard to other provisions of the constitution that impact the holding of elections.

The attorney general said in the past the Elections Commission was not an independent body insulated from government’s involvement, explaining that government, through the President or minister of home affairs, had conduct over the affairs of GECOM. Further, the Elections Commission was not in charge of registration.

“In Notice-Constitutional Appointments (Saturday 18th January 1986), the President was charged with the responsibility with effect from 1985-12-28 of the Registration and

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Elections office. This changed in 1990 where

by Notice-Constitutional Appointments dated 21st July 1990, the minister of home affairs was charged with responsibility for the Registration and Elections Office. Another example is found in Election Laws (Amendment) Act 1990, Act No 25 of 1990, Section 4, which transferred the functions specified in section 4(2) conferred on the minister by the Representation of the People’s Act and the National Registration Act to the elections commission,” he pointed out.

Today, Article 226(1) and (7) guarantee GECOM’s independence. According to Article 226(1), in the exercise of its functions, GECOM shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority.

– as Venezuelan passenger boat explodes in Pomeroon River

One of the injured passengers

“The sun was hot and all I noticed was a ball of fire,” she related.

The woman said the choppy waters prevented her from grabbing her husband whom she noted is blind. “We were going down and I tried to hold onto him,” she said.

Archer, who lived in Venezuela for some eight years, said after the boat caught fire, the engines exploded and she held onto the sinking vessel.

She said she saw others trying to swim to shore which was a far distance from where the incident occurred. The elderly woman said she had already given up when she heard shouting and was taken into a rescue boat. She said she suffered severe burns to her body including her hands, feet, torso and face.

She was reportedly rescued by personnel working for the Protected Areas Commission who were stationed at Shell Beach. The Guyana

Defence Force Coast Guard also raced to the scene.

Archer, who was headed to a relative at Petshop Street in Parika, East Bank Essequibo, said she made the trip on several occasions before and, according to her, she was returning permanently to Guyana with her husband.

On Sunday afternoon, the rescued women were taken to the Mabaruma Hospital for treatment. Hospital staff noted that the men may have stayed away from the medical institution for fear of immigration-related matters.

Almost weekly, the boats make the trip between Guyana and Venezuela and on most occasions, boat loads of Venezuelans and persons of Guyanese heritage make the trip here.

The trips have become a frequent occurrence ever since the economic woes in the neighbouring country took a toll on its population.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

Ethnic differences must not be exploited – Harmon tells ERC forum

MINISTER of State, Joseph Harmon, has said that the ethnic differences of Guyanese must not be exploited for narrow or political purposes.

The minister issued the charge Saturday evening at the launch of the Ethnic Relations Commission’s (ERC) “This is us” theatrical play held at the National Cultural Centre (NCC).

“While we cannot deny the instances of racial tension in our history, we can boast that we have not reached the levels of the ethnic conflicts that exist in many parts of the world. However, we live

Monday, March 11, 2019

in a polity where there is the tendency to exploit our ethnic diversity for narrow self-interests, with little consideration for the negative effects on our efforts to force national unity-- national unity that is so crucial to the sustainable development of our country and to the establishment of strong bonds of nationhood,” he said.

Minister Harmon called on all citizens to remain vigilant and shun any attempt to promote ethnic strife. He said that in May 2015 when the David Granger-led administration took office, it was recognised that Guyanese

longed for national unity. As such, the new government established the Department of Social Cohesion, the first of its kind in this hemisphere.

“President David Granger and his administration sought to ensure that the work to promote peace, harmony and national unity would be fully supported at the highest level of the state apparatus. As a consequence, this department was placed within the Ministry of the Presidency.

The work of the Department of Social Cohesion has from its inception and continuing to this moment, reflected the government’s resolute and unswerving commitment to ethnic harmony and national unity. Testimony of this commitment was further evident in February 2018, when the re-constituted Ethnic Relations Commission was sworn in by President

A scene from the Ethnic Relations Commission’s “This is Us” theatrical play Saturday evening at the National Cultural Centre (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Granger. These policy positions and concrete actions by the coalition government were clear manifestations, which demonstrated that the government was not paying lip service to the cause of good and genuine ethnic relations,” he said.

It is for these reasons, he said, that government values

05:00hrs. - 06:30hrs.

the existence of the ERC and recognises its importance.

UNWAVERING SUPPORT “These functions include a broad range of actions and interventions such as education, monitoring and reviewing of the ethnic landscape and above all, to ensure there is ethnic harmony and social cohesion in the country, a task that is supreme and one for which the government will continue to provide full and unwavering support,” he noted.

The minister of state continued: “We cannot afford to squander the bright future that imminently beckons; we cannot allow negative ethnic considerations and actions to stymie our progress or thwart our efforts to forge ahead in unity. This is our time, this is our opportunity to consolidate and accelerate the renewal of Guyana and it behooves every Guyanese in their homes, communities and regions as well as in the diaspora to remain vigilant and look out for any attempt to promote ethnic strife and exploit our ethnic differences for narrow purposes.”

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament (MP) Priya Manickchand, who represented

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, echoed Minister Harmon’s sentiments. She called on Guyanese to live in unity.

“Our children should be taught that they can celebrate their differences even while they are living in unity. I don’t wish for my children or grandchildren or our future generations to grow up in a society where they will still have to deal with this issue, even after we are gone,” she said.

Meanwhile, ERC Chairman, Reverend, Dr. John Smith, in his remarks said that the ERC celebrated its 17th anniversary on Friday, but was reconstituted by President Granger 13 months ago. The ERC, he said, has recognised that much work is to be done and as part of its work programme, it has decided to use theatre to promote its messages.

Theatre, he posited, provides the environment for serious messages and conversations to take place without offending anyone.

The event was also attended by Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland; Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder; and Minister within the Ministry of the Finance, Jaipaul Sharma. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

DDL records $3.2B profits DEMERARA Distillers Limited (DDL) enjoyed a good run in 2018, recording a 12 per cent increase in revenue and a 26 per cent increase in profits.

The rum distillery, in a media release on Sunday, announced that the growth experienced was strong in both local and international markets. In 2017, DDL recorded $19.569B in revenue and a $2.6B in group profit after tax which now represents a $2.378B and $679M increase respectively.

The group profit before tax for 2018 stood at $4.362B compared to $3.551B in the

previous year, representing an $810M or 23 per cent increase.

Earnings per share were $4.26 compared to $3.38 the previous year while shareholders funds increased by 16 per cent in 2018. The release added that capital expenditure totalling $2.187B, incurred during the year, was all financed by selfgenerated funds.

Additionally, bank borrowing in the form of loans and overdraft, was reduced by $1.437B from funds generated by the group in the year.

Meanwhile, the net debt

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Group Chairman, Komal Samaroo

to equity ratio at the end of the year improved from

0.13:1 in 2017 to 0.06:1 in 2018 while an interim dividend of $0.25 a share was paid in December 2018.

The directors have recommended a final dividend of $0.85 per share which, if approved by the Shareholders at the upcoming Annual General Meeting, would result in a total dividend for the year of $1.10 per share.

This is compared to the previous year when the dividend payment totalled $0.80 per share.

“It is with great pleasure that I announce to shareholders that the

2018 financial year was another very successful year with excellent performance from our group.

Revenue, both local and international, continued to show encouraging growth, while significant progress was made in key areas of diversification,” DDL Group Chairman, Komal Samaroo said.

Highlights of DDL Group’s 2018 performance show that the company focused on capital projects which support the core business and on projects which form a part of the ongoing programme of

diversification.

On March 16, 2018, a Barrel Warehouse facility was commissioned which will see an increase DDL’s rum-ageing capacity by another 30,000 barrels.

In October, preparatory work commenced for the construction of a new and modern $465M blending plant which will utilise the latest digital technology.

Its completion is expected by the end of June 2019 and once finished, will improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and replace the existing blending operations.

Focus given to ‘Earth Hour’ THE importance of safeguarding the planet’s water resources and the environment was highlighted on Wednesday as Earth Hour 2019 was launched at the University of Guyana (UG).

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organised by the World Wide Fund (WWF). It has become an annual event, observed in March, that encourages individuals, communities, and

businesses to reduce their carbon footprints, as part of the effort to conserve and protect planet earth.

The Earth Hour 2019 campaign is held under the theme “Water & You” and highlights three critical areas – Wetlands, Marine Conservation and Human Well-being.

“Guyana is home for a wide range of biodiversity and our forests, and globally, there has been a

staggering decrease in biodiversity; and Earth Hour this year highlights the importance of biodiversity and encourages us to connect to nature,” Communications Consultant for WWF Guyana, Dion Kush, told the Guyana Chronicle.

“If we don’t connect to nature, there’s no way that I feel like we should care and take care of our environment,” she explained.

And in giving consid-

eration to the environment, she said that it is the small changes that the average person can make that will make a large impact on protecting the environment.

These would include using reusable water bottles, using coffee mugs, reducing the use of single-use plastics, and turning off taps while not in use.

She even indicated that the draft of the Guyana Green State Development

Strategy (GSDS), being championed by President Granger himself, is one which aligns well with the message of Earth Hour activities.

“It deals with connecting the importance of nature to your health, well-being, education and so forth,” Kush noted. “Most of [our efforts] are captured in the GSDS.” UG’s Biology Club and Eco-Trust Society led the way and kicked off the

month of activities by facilitating the launch at their exhibition and symposium on Wednesday. Their expo was geared at generating awareness on the importance of water resources and the environment.

At the simple event, students created models to showcase Guyana’s biodiversity and illustrate how the environment is fundamental in the preservation of livelihoods.

Jagdeo abandoned at Babu Jaan

SEVERAL senior People’s Progressive Party (PPP) executives on Sunday stayed away from the annual pilgrimage to Babu Jaan, East Berbice-Corentyne, to pay homage to founder and late party leader, Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

The pilgrimage was led by party General-Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo. Those absent included former President Donald Ramotar and party executives, Dr. Frank Anthony, Anil Nandlall, Dr. Vindyha Persaud, Clement Rohee and Gail Teixeira.

Their absence from the Babu Jaan event has led to speculation of a rift in the PPP’s leadership over the selection of fraud accused Irfaan Ali as the party’s presidential candidate. Ali had pledged to fight “corruption” in the current government.

On Sunday, Ali joined Jagdeo, former Prime Minster Sam Hinds and PPP parliamentarian Sheila Veerasammy in addressing a diminished gathering of supporters, compared to

and urged that they “give a little more, do a little more and sacrifice for the democracy of the country” by voting the PPP back into power.

The event held annually by the party on the death anniversary of Dr. Jagan usually attracts thousands of supporters; however, this year, there was a much smaller crowd compared to previous years.

Dr. Cheddi Jagan, the founder of the PPP and for-

PPP General-Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the Babu Jaan gathering on Sunday

previous years.

In their presentations, the speakers heavily criticised the government instead of reflecting on the legacy of the late Dr Jagan.

Jagdeo in his address to the gathering called on supporters to shun the government if they decide to hold on to power after March 21.

“When the ministers or Granger or Nagamootoo

come here after the 21st of March, say to them, walk behind them and chase them out, they’re gonna be illegal,” he said.

The opposition leader reminded the gathering that the PPP will not vote to extend the life of the government beyond March 21 and will take legal action against spending undertaken by the government beyond that

date.

He also called on womenfolk, as well as more afro-Guyanese to not only support, but to join the party, so that the PPP can effectively be transformed into an “invincible force.”

Ali told the gathering that the PPP remains committed to re-opening the sugar estates closed under the current administration,

mer President of Guyana, is regarded as one of the fathers of the nation. He was born in Port Mourant. Dr Jagan died on March 6, 1997, some 22 years ago and 16 days shy of his 79th birthday.

He was widely respected because of his humble nature and fairness by which he governed. Neither of his two children was present at the rally on Sunday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

Commonwealth Day

COMMONWEALTH Day is celebrated worldwide every year on Monday, March 11. The Commonwealth consists of 53 countries with 2.4 billion people. After the United Nations, it is the most important grouping of nations. Unlike the United Nations, where an embroglio of national interests is usually played out, Commonwealth members try to find areas of cooperation. Though Commonwealth Day was originally celebrated for one day, of recent years there has been a shift to have a full week celebrated as Commonwealth Week, though still keeping a focus on the March 11 anniversary.

The new custom of having a week arose because all the programmes could not have been accommodated in one day.

The theme of this year’s Commonwealth Day is, “A Connected Commonwealth” which emphasises friendship, goodwill and coopera-

tion among Commonwealth members, celebrating their cultural diversity and mobilising their cooperation on matters which affect them and the world at large, such as protecting natural resources and the environment.

On Commonwealth Day, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth, always issues a statement which is broadcast worldwide. Her Majesty, though 90 years of age, has remained remarkably fit and alert. In her message which has always been morale-building and optimistic, she said that Commonwealth citizens can “look to the future with greater confidence and optimism as a result of the links we share . . . With enduring commitment through times of great change, successive generations have demonstrated that whilst the goodwill for which the Commonwealth is renowned may be intangible, the impact is very real.” A Guyanese or West Indian, because of our Common-

wealth membership, would consider an Australian, Ghanian or Canadian as having closer affinity to ourselves than non-Commonwealth persons.

The Commonwealth evolved from the old British Empire. Early in the 20th century, Canada, Australia, New Zeeland and South Africa were recognised by the Mother Country Britain as having their own identities, if not nationalities and governed themselves in contrast to the Indian Empire and the colonies. These four countries were known as the Old Commonwealth or sometimes, the White Commonwealth.

After World War II, Britain had taken the decision to dismantle her empire and grant Independence to India and all the colonies. In this new dispensation, India was the first country which got its independence from which a new state, Pakistan, was carved out.

The Indians desired to keep their links with Britain

and the other members of the empire and the Old Commonwealth and not to go the way of Ireland (Eire) or Burma, who had completely cut their links with Britain and the Old Commonwealth. In 1949, the formula for a new Commonwealth which could accommodate a republican India and other colonies yet to be independent was worked out and enshrined in the London Declaration, wherein the leaders agreed that the Commonwealth countries are “free and equal members of the Commonwealth of Nations, freely cooperating in the pursuit of peace, liberty and progress.”

Her Majesty the Queen was recognised as Queen of the Commonwealth, though countries which desired to retain the Queen as queen of their respective countries could do so. Several Caribbean countries chose to retain the Queen as Head of State for several years before becoming republics.

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth,

Baroness Patricia Scotland, though a British national, is of West Indian origin.

In her message, she spoke of “the dynamism and inclusiveness of Commonwealth countries adding to the rich and continuing narrative of [the] Commonwealth Connection” and highlighted the Commonwealth Blue Charter where Commonwealth countries have successfully worked to safeguard the oceans.

Guyana has gained much from its Commonwealth membership and association. For example, with the Commonwealth scholarships, many Guyanese have been able to attend various Commonwealth universities, gaining higher degrees and specialised training. Several Guyanese have served and still serve at the Commonwealth Secretariat. And Guyana’s great senior diplomat, Sir Shridath Ramphal, gave distinguished service for over 10 years as Commonwealth Secretary- General.

Sir Shridath, as a native of Guyana, brought much prestige and respect to his country in the Commonwealth and in the comity of nations. But the greatest benefit Guyana has received from its Commonwealth membership is the support of the Commonwealth against Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s territory.

For the last few years, Government, owing to its many distractions, had not been able to give its full attention to celebrating Commonwealth Day. We are of the opinion that Guyana could initiate the custom of exchanging Commonwealth Day greetings with other members.

Symposia and lectures could be organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the University of Guyana. There would also be appropriate broadcasts on television and radio.

The population may then be better informed about the Commonwealth and its value.

Ralph Ramkarran’s facts are tenuous Dear Editor,

I USED to read Mr. Ralph Ramkarran’s column, Conversation Tree, in Stabroek News without question, because in the vein of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, “For Ramkarran is an honourable man.”

In his recent column, “Dim political fortunes await Guyana” (March 10, 2019) the now leader of the political party A New and United Guyana (ANUG) states among, other things, “CARICOM may be forced to take a stand against an unlawful government, having failed to do so between the 1970s and 1980s against the PNC and then eagerly doing so against a then lawful Janet Jagan government in 1999.”

On a cursory reading of Ramkarran’s statement, it might appear innocuous. His Trumpian assault on CARICOM might even be forgiven, as we would the U.S. Presi-

dent’s diatribes on NATO. But the statement’s deficit of facts, especially that last bit, “lawful Janet Jagan government in 1999,” in this era’s fake news proliferation has dire implications for the masses from someone who recently launched his party’s bid for public office.

What Mr. Ramkarran omitted to state is that he was the lead counsel when the validity of the Janet Jagan presidency and administration was litigated in the Elections Petition / Ester Perreira Casa. A case he lost.

In January 2001, Chief Justice Claudette Singh voided the 1997 General and Regional Elections, hence the Janet Jagan government became illegal and thus unconstitutional. By this time, Mrs. Jagan had resigned for health reasons and Bharrat Jagdeo was President.

However, Chief Justice Singh began the delivery of her ruling by stating explicitly, “I have no jurisdiction to order the President

or the government to demit office.”

Mr. Ramkarran had made a proposal for the court to rule that: “(1) All acts and things done by the National Assembly, the court and all state agencies, bodies and institutions from December 15, 1997 are valid, lawful and binding.

(2) The National Assembly, the government, and all state agencies, bodies and institutions shall remain in existence and shall continue functioning until the president is sworn in and are valid, lawful and binding.

(3) And all acts and things done by the above until the president is sworn in are valid, lawful and binding.”

What is even more grave is that Mr. Ramkarran also fails to state that even with the greatest constitutional crisis in our nation’s history thus created by Justice Singh’s vitiating of the 1997 elections and thus the

Jagan Jagan government, in the chief justice’s definitive ruling she advised: “Because of the consequence of the invalidity on the executive, Parliament and all laws passed since 1997, in an act of necessity, to uphold the rule of law and to avoid a constitutional vacuum, the government is to remain in office and the National Assembly is still in session, but with some noted restrictions until elections were held.”

To their credit, amid their “dim political fortunes” at the time, the PPP/C still managed to pull off three electoral successes in the polls on 2001, 2006 and 2011; and I have absolutely no doubt that the APNU+AFC government will likewise be victorious again when elections are called.

Regards Sherod Avery Duncan Citizen

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

Ramcharran extradition significant in fight against corruption

Dear Editor,

Peter Ramcharran, former Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) accountant, who was deported

by Canada to Guyana on Wednesday, should be of particular notice to policy makers who are serious about bringing the PPP to account for its pillage and rape of Guyana’s resources. It should also send warning to those in the PPP harboring dreams about ever returning to power, that Western nations now have evidence and leads to financial crimes committed by the PPP and they might no longer be as safe as they once were.

Mr Editor, it should be noted that Ramcharran’s

(he fled to Canada in 2015 shortly after the PPP lost power) deportation only happened after he and his battery of Canadian lawyers had robustly exhausted every possible and available Appeal and Stay in Canada against his return to Guyana to face charges.

When the charges in the court were read yesterday, onlookers in the gallery gasped in shock and astonishment when the amounts of monies involved were read out in the charges. Details of the charges against Ramcharran included alleged involvement and being a co-conspirator in a fraud involving the GRDB managing the Venezuelan Petro Caribe Rice Deal worth close to a billion US dollars.

The amounts involved could

A proven, natural environment Dear Editor, LEADER of the political opposition Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent accusation of fraud against the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, David Arthur Granger, is another manifest example of a political leader whose known penchant for gutter behaviour is being reflected as part of his daily, natural life. It is an unrestrained flow.

That such a level of disrespect, in all of its crass, callous, and degrading forms can emanate from a citizen who once held the highest office in the land, suggests that his exposure to international diplomatic interaction has not availed him any social refinement. His behaviour, therefore, is a disservice and a blot to the club of former heads of government/state.

In attacking the President, Jagdeo continues to lower his entire persona to a plateau where he has proven is his natural environment. For how else must one describe a former head of the executive, and current holder of the constitutional office of leader of

the opposition uttering such a deranged accusation of fraud against the nation’s leader, who not only lives a life by example, but whose personal morality puts to shame that of Jagdeo and those of his ilk.

The fact that he has chosen to attack the Christian religion of the President to support his drummed-up and filthy lies, speaks to his desperation to grab power at any cost. Further, it is an attack on all Christians; and I say this because, for all the criticisms/attacks that are levelled against the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), I have never read/heard any attacks on its Hindu or Muslim supporters’ culture, which almost all of its party members and supporters embrace. This is, in Guyanese language – “eye pass”, of the worst type. But this has an aim – to help foment the societal unrest, that would give weight to the PPP/C’s engineered creation of its so-called constitutional crisis.

Regards Earl Hamilton

have built schools, hospitals, airstrips in the hinterland areas, bought busses and boats, set up schemes to support sugar workers amongst many other development projects. It represented significant amounts robbed from the people of Guyana by a slimy PPP cabal who wants to rule Guyana again and are desperate to do so by any means necessary.

Decision makers should also carefully note, that the investigations into Ramcharran and the subsequent successful deportation request for him was led by recently resigned SOCU lead investigator Ms Sherronie James. Ms James’ sudden resignation from SOCU has surprised many and serious questions are still being asked about the impact of her

departure on SOCU’s effectiveness and the outcomes of the many other serious fraud investigations she was leading. Anti-fraud campaigners should carefully note the coded statement she released shortly after her resignation where she cited the emergence of worrying sinister developments at SOCU under the watch of Sam Sittlington and cited concerns about her safety. The public now firmly understands where Sittlington’s interests resided. It’s no coincidence that those who stood to benefit the most from Ms James’s departure from SOCU attempted to vociferously besmirch her character when they knew fully well her academic qualifications were intact and there is evidence

of this – unlike a presidential candidate somewhere.

There is now good reason to regard with suspicion the motives of anyone besmirching the lady’s reputation and integrity.

However, notwithstanding, the works of the lady’s hand are impressive and nationally commendable given the detailed level of evidence required was considered by the Canadian judicial authorities to be sufficiently expert and of a compelling nature to warrant Ramcharran’s deportation to face charges in the local courts.

This is the first time that SOCU’s action has successfully led to a deportation from any ABC country.

Guyana is rarely successful at getting extraditions from

ABC countries. The former GPL’s executive who left the country and still has not paid back the $30 million is a case in point. Compiling the evidence to get successful extraditions take skill, tenacity and expert knowledge - skills that are not in abundance in the Guyana Police Force.

Everything ought to be done utmost to prevent shenanigans that could lead to Peter Ramcharran walking free.

Guyana cannot allow the cabal that has taken control of the PPP to escape this. The Western world is also watching.

Regards Tim Grant Solicitor London, UK

Reflecting on women’s journey Dear Editor ON March 08, 2019, the world celebrated International Women’s Day, and we were all invited to reflect and to celebrate the journey of women.

What has been gained along the way and what is still to be gained?

As a child, my mother would tell me how her decision to marry and have a family brought an end to her career as a teacher.

Seventy years ago, the concept of a career woman with a family was virtually unheard of in Guyana.

The place of a woman was unquestionably in the home, supporting her husband and nurturing their offspring. It was a position of influence and a position of vulnerability all at once: influence, because being a stay-home mother meant that you had every opportunity to instill into your offspring the values that you deemed important; vulnerability because you were financially dependent on the father of those children and that too often came with abuse, denigration,

and curtailment of basic freedoms. The majority of women bore up under conditions that diminished their self-worth, so that their children could have a better chance than they had, and often that better chance meant, among other things, financial independence from a man.

That generation of women did not believe in divorce for many reasons: 1. They felt it set a bad precedent for their children and future generations; 2. It exposed their children to possible abuse by step-fathers; and 3. It led to the further marginalisation of the woman, since laws requiring the division of property were non-existent. And so all things considered, women stayed in unhappy relationships and comforted themselves with maxims such as, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.”

Fast-forwarding to the 21st century, the social landscape has changed drastically. The generation of women nurtured by those stay-home moms are now grandmothers and great grandmothers. They

became the first generation of women that began to normalise the constructs of a career woman married and with a family, a career woman unmarried and with a child and a woman who consciously chose to be married to her career.

Now, it is no stigma to be unmarried, but to be unmarried and to be a successful career woman is considered an enviable position and better yet to be able to enjoy the benefits of both worlds is considered most desirable.

That is to enjoy the freedom of an unmarried woman while enjoying the sexual favours of a man, to choose the man with whom you would like to have a child, while not needing to depend on him to take care of that child. As this paradigm is stretched to its limits, we are beginning to see women projecting an image of completeness without a man anywhere in the picture. They are now pursuing careers and raising families with samesex partners, having acquired sperm from male donors to whom they have absolutely no emotional

attachment.

Reflecting on this journey, I celebrate the liberation of women from purely domestic roles. I truly believe that the world is a better place for having the creativity and sensitivity that women bring to the social and political issues of our day. Yet, it is with some poignancy that I reflect on the void created by her entry into these new arenas, a void inadequately filled by baby- sitters and day care centres. Perhaps, just perhaps, there might yet be another chapter to be written in the story of women’s fight for equality; and in that chapter maybe there will be mutual respect and a wholesome appreciation of what each sex brings to the table.

In that environment, a woman should no longer need to compete with a man, but instead she would complete and celebrate him in the world’s greatest portrayal of a successful woman!

Regards Phyllis J. Jordan Caretaker Councillor, Constituency 4

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Nagamootoo warns of power-hungry Opposition

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo, through his recent observation and interaction with the opposition, has concluded that they would do anything to drive the country into a political stalemate for the sake of regaining power.

This, he noted in his weekly column ‘My Turn,’ is being done by disregarding the rights of citizens and the “goal of national unity” envisioned by leaders such as former President of Guyana, Dr Cheddi Jagan.

Recounting his observations at the high-level meeting between the President and the opposition on Wednesday, Nagamootoo stated that Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo lobbied for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to conduct a shortened process of revising the existing voters’ list.

He said that Jagdeo also insisted that the President dictate to GECOM the form of elections preparation it should take.

“At the meeting Wednesday last, the opposition leader insisted that President Granger should disrespect and discard the elections

commission. He insisted that the President should unilaterally fix a date for elections, and GECOM would be required to toe the line,” Nagamootoo said.

“Jagdeo knows that the constitution entrusts GECOM, not the President, with the power of holding elections, and that a key component of credible elections is a clean list of electors. The present list is padded with phantom names. At the same time, it excludes the names of youths who have now attained the age of 18 and could vote in any upcoming elections. His inexplicable obsession with disenfranchising young people makes his demand for early elections suspicious.”

Indeed, the opposition leader had stated after the meeting that the ball is completely in the president’s court to call an election date, even as he argued that GECOM is not an independent body.

However, Jagdeo’s own words while serving as President back in 2006, were: “The law says that GECOM shall define the form of verification of the list, or may decide on verification and

will decide on what form it will take. Not the PPP, not the PNC, not any party – GECOM. That’s a constitutional body, independent, just like the courts.”

With the inconsistent remarks in mind, Nagamootoo reaffirmed the President’s decision that GECOM must return to the drawing board to determine the shortest possible time in which credible elections can be held, after which he will set a date.

The prime minister, in his article, also zeroed in on the opposition-nominated commissioners’ attempt to present to the government delegation during Friday’s meeting, a 50-day work plan intended to squeeze elections in by April 30, 2019, when the current list expires.

According to the plan, which Commissioner Bibi Shadick presented to the media, Nomination Day to elections day would run for 40 days; Nomination Day would be March 26, 2019, and elections day, April 29, 2019.

The document also stated that events preliminary to Nomination Day, which includes sending invitations to interested parties to submit

lists, would take up 10 days from March 12 to 25, excluding Sundays and holidays.

Simultaneously in the 50day period, they proposed the training, testing and selection of election day staff and the procurement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials expected to take up only 42 days.

Also, from March 11 to April 29, it was suggested that civic and voter education be conducted.

“These clearly are unattainable by an April 30 deadline. But the opposition would, if it has to, push the time-frame a month at a time to simulate a crisis,” the prime minister stated.

He later added: “For Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who first received the presidency as a gift, the longer it takes to hold elections is a zero-sum gamble in which he sees only himself as winner, and everyone else a loser. The opposition would, therefore, leave no room for compromise. It would turn on the heat to drive the country into a political stalemate, which it would gleefully caricature as a ‘dictatorship.’ It would invite foreign intervention

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

and court sanctions against Guyana.”

In comparison, the prime minister noted that the late President Cheddi Jagan, whose life is presently being celebrated by Guyanese, would never be complicit in the deception politics being demonstrated by Jagdeo, one of his successors.

Furthermore, Nagamootoo highlighted that the opposition is flaunting the 50-day timeline which utilises the current list, as a period which will result in credible elections.

At the meeting, he recounted that opposition-nominated commissioners insisted that GECOM has always held “credible” elections when it is public knowledge that the opposition challenged the results of the 2015 elections with a petition pending for hearing in court.

“They chose to forget that the opposition had initially boycotted sittings of the National Assembly

in protest against alleged ‘rigged’ elections,” Nagamootoo said.

While some question the necessity for the list to be renewed at this point, Commissioner Vincent Alexander has explained on several occasions that this is in keeping with GECOM’s previous decision to conduct houseto-house registration every seven years.

It is also in keeping with the funding which was provided for house-to-house registration in the 2019 budget, prior to the no-confidence vote. Nagamootoo believes that the actions of the opposition, led by Jagdeo, are their final attempts to “grab state power for access to anticipated oil wealth.”

Either way, GECOM is expected to meet again on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, when it will come to an agreement on a credible timeframe for new General and Regional Elections, as awaited by the President.

‘Uncontrollable’ guard shot dead A security guard who threatened relatives around midnight, on Saturday, March 9, 2019, was shot dead by a policeman who went to apprehend him.

The now dead man identified as Mark Johnson of Lot 13 Nurney Village, East Berbice, Corentyne, was, reportedly, under the influence of alcohol and was brandishing a cutlass while hurling bottles at his sister’s house, when police intervened.

Johnson’s sister is his neighbour and the incident occurred around 23:45 hrs.

During the incident, police on patrol were passing through the community and relatives stopped them, requesting their assistance to “calm down” Johnson.

However, Johnson paid little attention to the advice of the lawmen and instead turned his attention to them, issuing threats and attempting to charge them with the

Dead: Mark Johnson

cutlass he was brandishing at his sister.

His sister Jacqueline Johnson said the police tried to get him to calm down but due to the alcohol in his system, he became more aggressive.

“He did behaving really bad, he pulled down the antenna and throwing bottles at my house and he said he gun

chop up everybody. The police did everything to try and get him to cool down but he rush to them with the cutlass and they fire two warning shots in the air but he still rush in with the cutlass” she related.

After realising the warning shots did nothing to halt the enraged man who was advancing towards them, one of the ranks discharged several rounds, hitting him in the right ankle and thigh.

The guard fell to the ground and was picked up and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital in the patrol vehicle, accompanied by relatives.

Johnson was subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

He was a security guard attached to the Nurney Nursery school and was described as a quiet person who only misbehaved when he consumed alcohol.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

Exhibition spotlights local creative talent – identifies need for support – UG announces master’s programme for Creative Arts

By Vishani Ragoobeer THE Cineffx Photography and Film Expo, which opened on Friday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, has spotlighted the support needed for the local creative sector as creatives came together to showcase their work and learn more.

The expo was crafted by local creative mind, Jason October, who said he got the idea about three years ago, but had faced numerous challenges along the way in bringing it to fruition.

“For any entrepreneur, it’s always a challenge when you’re now starting -- where to get financing [and] where to go,” he explained. “I was on the road for one year running about looking for sponsorship; no one bought into the idea.” And as such, he had to spend nearly three years ensuring that this conference could become a reality and be par excellence.

The expo has been organised from March 8 to 10. It features about 15 workshops on a host of topics, ranging from photography, cinematography, directing, storytelling done by local creatives such as Saajid Husani, Fidal Bassier, Michael Lam, Kojo McPherson and Denise Harris, alongside a few foreign creatives.

Chairman of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), Ramesh Persaud, in fact, gave credence to October’s statements by sharing that he was approached by the young man quite a few times and, unfortunately, had to turn him down most of the times.

Persaud said that October showed perseverance and came back each time, having improved his business plan, which eventually garnered IPED’s support.

Around the same time, October began approaching IPED for assistance, that is, about three years ago; then, the institute had announced that it would set aside $50M for the local creative industry, which would provide financing to any person or business wanting to venture into this field.

“To date, we’ve only managed to lend $10M of that, or support, because we’ve been having a lot of

requests, but not a lot of requests that are bankable,” Persaud highlighted.

The issue, he indicated, is that many persons like film or photography as a hobby, but do not possess lucrative business ideas in these fields; and as such, he called on persons within the industry to use the expo as an avenue where they can learn about combining their interests with potential business ventures.

In advancing the industry also, he indicated that more focus needs to be placed on protecting the production of Guyanese. “We need to get the right regulation and legislation to protect the intellectual property that is going to be generated within the industry,” he said. “I believe strong, robust legislation when it comes to copyright legislation and so forth [is] necessary.”

Cinematographer, Yaphet Jackman, noted that the creative industry could be one that would help to “open up doors, funding and borders,” but Guyanese must be wary.

“The rest of the Region... and world that have already fortified themselves through legislation, grants and programmes are going to want to come here and want to rob the country of its creative potential,” he related. As such, he too joined Persaud in the call for legislation that would safeguard persons in the industry.

COPYRIGHT LEGISLATION Visiting the expo after its opening on Friday was Minister of Telecommunications Cathy Hughes, who shared her belief that this expo was a good avenue for persons within the industry to collaborate and work towards fortifying the creative sector.

Speaking to members of the media, she indicated that she is cognisant of the concerns of many within the industry vis-a-vis copyright.

“I am happy to report that the new legislation is actually in the Attorney General’s Chamber, and so hopefully, as soon as we get back into the Parliament, I would say that that’s one of the pieces of legislation we want to be pushing,” she said. “I personally want to continue to do as much as we can to see that

it’s there.”

The current government, since coming into office, has committed to modernising Guyana’s copyright laws with the view to protecting local creation and innovation.

However, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo opined that Guyana is not prepared for the “revolution” that would come with the implementation of copyright laws and said, “We are a poor developing country; wait until such time in the future when people can afford to pay for the copyrighted stuff.”

At a forum organised by the University of Guyana, researcher in Law and Public Policy at Walden University, USA, Abiola Inniss, highlighted that Guyana cannot continue to use this excuse at the expense of leaving its “innovative class” without protection. Since then, the government has indicated that modernising copyright laws remains a priority.

Jackman also highlighted that creatives need to be paid and acknowledged for their works. “We live off of this…I just don’t go and shoot to hear ‘Thanks, it looks nice’ or ‘Burn me a copy’,” he stressed.

Weighing in also was UG’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Planning & International Engagement, Dr. Paloma Mohamed. Dr Mohammed shared that she was very happy to see the mixture of young folk and more experienced persons in the audience, which speaks volumes for the future of the industry.

“One of the things that is always saddening in Guyana is that when you see beautiful sparks like this happen, you wonder what next,” Dr. Mohamed related. “One of the things we should seriously consider is what is the supporting structure and what are the mechanisms in place to support this and other ventures to ensure that they grow from strength to strength.”

Dr. Mohamed highlighted that UG, too, has a role to play in augmenting efforts geared at providing support for persons in the industry, As such, she highlighted: “The very long-awaited Masters in Film, Visual Communication which has a strand in film and photography,

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cineffx Film and Photo expo, Jason October (centre) with models at the expo being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (Adrian Narine photo)

is actually going to start in September, 2019.”

According to her, the university has been working on this programme for a very long time, but there was the need to find very “robust and strong” people to be

able to “push the programme forward.” As such, the university has sourced personnel from Europe, the United States, Canada and local alumni to provide support.

She also acknowledged the work being done by

Minister Hughes, particularly with respect to the creation of a film commission which will serve as part of the regulatory framework for films coming into the country and how locals can get involved.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

Nine months out of my (12-year-old) life TODAY we are sharing a true story which we hope will encourage parents, who are ‘laid back,’ to be more vigilant and consistent when monitoring and guiding their children. It is not enough to just give good advice and leave it at that: parents need to CONNECT to their chil-

dren and stay CONNECTED: their welfare, their childhood, their holistic development and sense of well-being, must come first.

ANNA-MAY’S STORY as told to a social worker (names have been changed to protect identities) My parents spoke to me

about boys: they told me to take in my education and that boys are only after one thing. But their advice meant nothing to me when I met the father of my child.

I was only 12 years old, he was 14 at the time and I kept seeing him around our village. One day he walked me all the way home and

told me that he liked me. If I had told either of my parents about a boy liking me, I’m sure my mother would have beaten me and I would not be allowed to go out on my own: plus, she would have walked with me to catch the bus for school and check up on what time I reached home in the afternoons. So I kept it a secret.

My parents were not on good terms and they parted, which meant I was spending time between my granny’s home (my father’s mother) and my mother’s home. I was also spending time with my boyfriend whenever I could and we were having unprotected sex.

We did this for a good few months, undetected, then one month I missed my period. When it happened for the second month I began to get worried. I asked my boyfriend whether there’s a chance that he could have got me pregnant and he said yes, he made a mistake. I was scared, but I didn’t tell anyone. I was spending more time now at my grandmother’s house, because my mother was out of the country and I did my best to stay out of everyone’s way. But it was only a matter of time.

One day my auntie said I looked pregnant and asked me, ‘Are you pregnant?’

That was the beginning of the saddest time of my life.

She called my father and told him and when he came home he just kept saying to me and her ‘No, it’s not true, you’re lying, I don’t believe you.’ And he cried and cried. Seeing him cry made me cry too, it was very sad. A lot of things were said and I felt like my parents had lost hope and trust in me.

For the next few months I stayed in my corner, my stomach was getting bigger and slowly everyone was coming to terms with my pregnancy. Then one day I got scared because something was moving inside of me. I ran to my grandmother and told her but she explained that it was the baby. I asked her if the baby could suffocate inside of me, I didn’t understand how the baby kept ‘knocking’ me all the time. Granny told me to drink plenty of water, so the baby could move around.

But I was frightened and sometimes I wished I could run from my belly.

My baby girl was born by ‘caesarean section’ at 10.30 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. Both my parents were at the hospital and I remember hearing my father’s voice as I began to come around from the anaesthetic.

The nurse was telling him

to go upstairs to the ward and wait for me, but he refused, insisting on waiting to see that I was well and recovered before he went anywhere. Eventually on the ward, my parents were both happy to see me and the baby and when my father spoke to her, my baby girl smiled. I couldn’t believe that a new- born baby could have so much sense.

When I held my daughter for the first time my arms felt too small; I was so nervous I thought, ‘if I dropped this child, what would happen to me?’ Sometimes I breastfed my baby, but it’s hard because she pulls on my breast and they feel sore. Sometimes I can’t go to sleep, because I have to look after her: change her nappy and feed her in the night when she cried.

I would like to study to become a teacher because I like helping children. I would also like to travel to different countries and learn a couple of languages.

I am back at school now and while some of the children have no idea that I am a mother, some of the girls know I have a baby and they’ve asked questions like, ‘Does it hurt to have a baby?’ I tell them, don’t do it because it’s actually very hard.

My daughter’s father does not have much to do with us and I do not have much to do with his family either, but we are all related through my daughter. There are times when I feel sad and emotional about my situation and times when I look at my daughter and feel joy. If I could turn back the hands of time I would have done a lot more thinking and I would not have got involved in a sexual relationship at such a young age. But at the time I was so taken up with the boy, I didn’t think about what my parents had told me.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the Childcare and Protection Agency Hotline on 227 0797 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

$20M upgrade for Belladrum Secondary School THE Belladrum Secondary School in Region Five which benefitted from a $15.6M upgrade in physical infrastructural works last year will get an additional $20 million for completion this year.

The regional administration sought and received this sum from central government in its budgetary allocations for the school, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ovid Morrison disclosed.

He said the administration had felt it necessary to spend this sum in 2019 to fix the dilapidated building, due to neglect, over the past 20 years.

Superintendent of Works Delton Benjamin said the administration injected a total of $26M into refurbishing of the school in 2017.

He added that in 2017,

the region utilised savings to paint the school, tile the auditorium, did electrical and plumbing works, build a chainlink fence, a concrete tarmac and an access bridge aback the community playground, among other upgrades.

Restoration continued in 2018 with expenditure of a total of $15.6M on the school.

“In 2018, we tackled the main building, the wood works, the home economics and social studies rooms, teachers’ rest room, teachers’ staff room, the carpentry section in the admin block – same bat dung problems.

“The rain was flashing in, in another section for years; we built a shed; we changed 30 per cent of the zinc sheets; changed 30 doors and 40 windows; installed new gut-

The new-look Belladrum Secondary School

ters, electrical and plumbing and then with savings we extended the allied arts

department.

“We removed and replaced unserviceable shut-

ters with steel grilles. The new windows not only enabled ventilation, but also let

in light into the classrooms.

“We also constructed a walking strip at a cost of $2M, so that the children could access the school from the dam to the building because when it rained, the pathway was messy and difficult to negotiate,” Benjamin said. This year, the Region Five administration is plugging $20M into further restoration of the school.

“In 2019, we will complete the tiling, more electrical more plumbing, putting in incinerators upgrading / expanding the home economics department, because they identify a bigger area which could be a community thing,” he said.

These additional works, he said, will return the school to the state it was in when it was constructed in 1973.

Focus given to ‘Earth Hour’ UG’s Biology Club and Eco-Trust Society led the way and kicked off the month of activities by facilitating the launch at their exhibition and symposium

Biology students of the University of Guyana at the school’s Earth Hour exhibition

THE importance of safeguarding the planet’s water resources and the environment was highlighted on Wednesday as Earth Hour 2019 was launched at the University of Guyana (UG).

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organised by the World Wide Fund (WWF). It has become an annual event, observed in March, that encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to reduce their carbon footprints, as part of the effort to conserve and protect planet earth.

The Earth Hour 2019 campaign is held under the theme “Water & You” and highlights three critical areas – Wetlands, Marine Conser-

vation and Human Well-being.

“Guyana is home for a wide range of biodiversity and our forests, and globally, there has been a staggering decrease in biodiversity; and Earth Hour this year highlights the importance of biodiversity and encourages us to connect to nature,” Communications Consultant for WWF Guyana, Dion Kush, told the Guyana Chronicle.

“If we don’t connect to nature, there’s no way that I feel like we should care and take care of our environment,” she explained.

And in giving consideration to the environment, she said that it is the small changes that the average per-

son can make that will make a large impact on protecting the environment.

These would include using reusable water bottles, using coffee mugs, reducing the use of single-use plastics, and turning off taps while not in use.

She even indicated that the draft of the Guyana Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), being championed

by President Granger himself, is one which aligns well with the message of Earth Hour activities.

“It deals with connecting the importance of nature to your health, well-being, education and so forth,” Kush noted. “Most of [our efforts] are captured in the GSDS.”

on Wednesday. Their expo was geared at generating awareness on the importance of water resources and the environment.

At the simple event,

students created models to showcase Guyana’s biodiversity and illustrate how the environment is fundamental in the preservation of livelihoods.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

Fish processing facility at Smith Creek takes shape – residents rejoice at benefits in the making

By Alva Solomon Residents of Smith Creek, Mabaruma Sub-district, Region One, are eagerly waiting the commissioning of the Fish and Crab Processing facility to begin benefitting from market opportunities.

According to a release from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe visited the facility last Thursday.

Augustine Lackan, a resident related that villagers never envisaged such an economic project could have been established in their village. The facility will be completed this month.

“We never think this could happen and we just one way all the time because you know plenty times when

Houses near Smith Creek, Mabaruma Sub-district, Region One

people catch crab to sell in Kumaka, the market is the problem, but now we gon bring our crab here and they gon buy it and the fish is the

same so this is very good. It will be a benefit for us and even our children with their schooling,” he said.

Several of the village’s

menfolk have already begun benefitting from the project which created job opportunities during the establishment phase.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe greets young residents of Smith Creek

Villagers were paid to source lumber used on the facility and to transport sand and stones and other hardware. They also earned a daily income for working along with the skilled builder.

According to resident, Michael Williams, persons were also employed to construct a special dam around the facility to cater for the high tides since the water level would rise significantly during spring tide. “The creek …will pull out the water from the trench which we will control by this koker so the water can’t lodge here and it will go so, and here always keep dry,” the resident said.

He said the project will positively impact residents’ spending power since they do not have “real work” and often rely on crab-catching and fishing for a living.

Jerry Bunbury, another villager who was a member of the land clearing team, said he and his family are already benefitting from the project. Reynold Santiago, another villager and the sole breadwinner for his home, noted that the project is beneficial for him and his family.

He said too that in the future, when the project materialises, he will be supplying crab for processing at the facility. Bernard Bowering, a father of eight, said the initiative will help him to better provide for his family in the long run.

The crab season is approaching and during this time, they are usually in abundance.

For decades selling fish and crab was the main eco-

nomic earner for the close to 250 residents of Smith Creek, and today, they can boast about a facility which will ensure they add value to their catch.

This facility will be supported by neighbouring villages of Morawhanna and Imbotero and during the initial stages of planning.

Minister Garrido-Lowe said these economic projects of establishing small industries in villages as a source of income generation are in keeping with the ministry’s objectives and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Minister Garrido-Lowe, through the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, has been able to successfully accomplish the undertaking.

“The APNU+AFC Government is of the view that every Guyanese deserves to live a good life. President Granger has a 10-Point plan for the hinterland and one of them is the ‘Hinterland Happy Household’ and with this project every family will be able to earn. They will then be able to build better homes, furnish their homes and generally support their families like never before.

The APNU+AFC Government is a Government for all our people, because we care,” she said.

Villagers said they are committed to seeing the project being fruitful and are looking forward to the support from all Guyanese once the product is available on the shelves of supermarkets across Guyana, similar to the Pakaraima Flavours and the Rupununi Essence.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, March 11, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

Ayurvedic Spa & Hair Salon opens Vivaanta Ayurvedic Spa & Hair Salon, which focuses on herbal therapies to retain and regain youthful beauty and health, formally opened its doors in Guyana on Saturday.

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President and Vice Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Deodat Indar praised the investment at Lot 3 Church and Waterloo Streets, Georgetown as worthwhile.

Some 15 Guyanese are employed at the spa and salon, and according to Indar, the locals will benefit from transfer of technical skills and services.

He noted that Guyana is on the cusp of massive transformation and the Vivaanta Ayurvedic Spa & Hair Salon will facilitate growth in the hospitality sector.

Owners of the business, Nitin and Karan Mehra are pioneers and leaders of herbal care. They have successfully mixed ancient heritage with the latest techniques and unique innovations, breaking barriers in the spa industry.

“My father, Mr. Nitin Mehra, was always in the export and import industry, doing business in many parts of the world. At the same time, I belong to a background of mechatronics engineering (a combination of mechanical, electrical and computer sciences). However my mother, Ms. Sunaina Mehra focused her studies in beauty and Ayurvedic treatments since she always had a burning desire to recapture the ancient heritage,” said Karan, who is also one of the directors of the company. The other director is Nitin Mehra.

Inside the Vivaanta Ayurvedic Spa & Hair Salon on Church and Waterloo Streets, Georgetown

Before coming to Guyana, the investors, who are originally from India, had established business in Trinidad and Tobago in 2011, which Karan said, is a flour-

ishing enterprise.

“We are known for our herbal therapies. Many of our therapies are aimed at retaining youthful beauty and health. And so we have

now commenced offering our services in the Guyanese market, where we plan to give of our best,” he said.

Karan said even though there are other hair salons in

Guyana, he believes that the services offered by Vivaanta Ayurvedic Spa & Hair Salon will be quite different as it will be provided in modern facilities, utilising Ayurveda techniques.

He defined Ayurveda as one of the world’s oldest holistic ‘whole-body’ healing systems. It was developed in India more than 3,000 years ago. Ayurveda is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. Its main goal is to promote good health, not fight disease.

However, treatments may be geared toward specific health problems.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingham was among the guests at the opening of the spa and hair salon on Saturday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday March 11, 2019

Barabina Hill gets road after two decades

Barabina resident Nisha Mendonca (right) stands alongside her colleague on the Mabaruma Town Council, Ian Baird

By Alva Solomon For more than two decades, residents of the community of Barabina Hill near the town of Mabaruma, North West District were cut-off from the road network in the town.

Today, they are enjoying the fruition of a project which now sees vehicles entering and leaving their community on a newly-constructed roadway.

The difficulty for the low-lying area where the roadway is built is due to a swamp; water from a nearby creek inundated the area for close to two decades, ultimately cutting-off vehicular access.

Millions of dollars were expended under the previous administration on contracts which never materialised, ultimately cutting-off the community from the rest of the area. But last December, the contractor posited that the road could have been built further south of the swamp.

Last week, this publication visited Barabina Hill and residents expressed appreciation to the APNU+AFC Government for the works completed so far.

Councillor Nisha Mendonca of the Mabaruma municipality told Guyana Chronicle that for some 22 years, she has been living at Barabina Hill.

According to her, access to and from the area via the swamp was always a torrid task. She said three years ago , prior to the 2015 elections , a wooden-walkway was built by the regional administration at the time, to provide residents with a form of access to the community .

But that was not enough since vehicular access to assist the sick as well as to ferry heavy loads was needed.

Mendonca, who represents Barabina Hill on the town council, said persons punished to get out of the area.

The situation changed

drastically last December when the authorities managed to push the new roadway. “Before we used to pay a lot of money to reach in and go out the community,” Mendeonca reiterated.

She said when loved ones of residents passed away it was always a tough task to fetch their bodies across the swamp. Taking the sick in hammocks was another heartbreaking job residents faced.

“I am happy that now we can move in and out via this road and it brought a big ease for us here,” Mendonca said.

HUGE PLUS Councillor Ian Baird, who also sits on the municipality and travels into the community regularly, said the project’s fruition is a huge plus for the town.

“Completion of the road gives everybody free access, we have people in here who go to the market with their produce to sell and in terms of the new road it brings easy access,” he said.

There are 484 residents living at Barabina Hill.

At the moment, the road is being tested to determine its strength when the dry weather conditions change.

A bridge is being constructed along the roadway and a temporary by-pass has been built to provide access to vehicles.

Street lamps are expected to be erected along the thoroughfare which was busy last Tuesday afternoon when this publication visited the area.

In April last year, Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters at a Cabinet press briefing that a sum of $59.9M was set aside for works to be undertaken on the roadway by International Imports and Supplies.

Under the previous administration, a move to replace a wooden bridge with a concrete structure at the nearby Kumaka Junction was said to be the cause of the woes at Barabina.

A vehicle heads towards the new roadway.

At right is what's left of the old one

At the time, water from the Barabina Creek flowed freely under the wooden bridge and into the nearby Aruka River via connecting trenches. However, under the PPP administration, the move to build the concrete bridge with no conduit for the water to flow saw the water being backed-up and gradually swamped the lower section of the roadway near Barabina.

As such, the water eventually damaged the foundation of the roadway.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 11, 2019

Fish vendor family robbed

By Clestine Juan A Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo fish vendor and his family were, on the evening of Saturday, March 9, 2019, attacked and robbed by three armed and unmasked bandits who relieved them of over $4M dollars’ worth in cash and jewellery.

The man, Mohan Persaud, 45, resides at Lot 13 Mc Watt Street, Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, with

his wife, Jennifer Persaud, 43, and their two children Geeta, 22, and Dukram, 10.

According to reports, on the day in question, at about 19:30 hours the family members were lying in hammocks at the bottom flat of their Vergenoegen home, when the three bandits, two men and a female, armed with guns, entered through the gate and held them at gun point.

One of the suspects asked Mohan if he was the person who sold drugs and the vic-

The alleged driver of the getaway car, Kellon Thom

tim replied that he was only a fish vendor.

Mohan was taken to the storeroom at the bottom flat of his home and it was ransacked by one of the suspects.

One of the suspects pointed a gun to the head of Mohan’s son and ‘cranked’ it, while his mother, Jennifer, pleaded for her son’s life and informed the bandits that she would hand over all the money to them The female suspect then

The getaway car

took Jennifer and her daughter, Geeta, to the upper flat of the home.

Jennifer handed over Guy$3M, Cdn$1,000, $1M Demerara Bank Cheque with serial number unknown, two cell phones valued $110,000, one Samsung tablet valued $20,000.00 along with a quantity of jewellery.

During the ordeal, the

to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

However, while in route along New Road, Vreed-enHoop, WCD, Mohan saw the white Toyota Raum registration # PRR 7951 and pointed it out to the police.

The vehicle was intercepted along with its driver, Kellon Thom, 32 of lot 115 Block ‘R’ Sophia, Greater

The firearm and ammunition found.

suspect dealt Jennifer several blows to her head with the gun.

However, Mohan managed to escape and he raised an alarm. He went to the northern side of the street where he saw a white Toyota Raum with a PRR licence plate. The driver of the vehicle paid no attention to him and did not render assistance.

The three armed suspects ran out to the street and discharged several rounds in the air. The same white vehicle picked up the three suspects and drove away.

Mohan, along with his family, went to the Leonora Police Station and reported the matter and were escorted

Georgetown.

Mohan said that he recognized the said car, from its general appearance, to be the car he saw in the street outside of his home.

The police conducted a search in Thom’s car and on his person and a black Taurus Pistol with serial # F1G10955 on frame, six live matching rounds and a magazine were found. Also, Guy$269,000 and Cdn$120 were found in Thom’s possession.

Thom was questioned and was told of the offence he committed, cautioned and arrested and is presently in custody pending charges and further investigation into the robbery.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 11, 2019

GNNL women celebrated at Night of Elegance

Women of the Guyana National Newspaper Limited (GNNL) Editorial Department at the Evening of Elegance at Roraima Duke Lodge celebrating International Women’s Day on Saturday. Among those seated are Director of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission, Dawn Holder-Cush (third left) and General Manager (ag) Donna Todd (fourth left) (Delano Williams photo)

By Lisa Hamilton Female reporters of the Guyana National Newspaper Limited (GNNL) were reminded of the important role the media play in the promotion of gender equality, at an elegant dinner in celebration of International Women’s Day. The event took place at Roraima Duke Lodge on the evening of Saturday, March 9, 2019, and saw the attendance of women of the GNNL’s editorial department as well as General Manager (ag) Donna Todd and Editor-in-Chief, Nigel Williams.

Director of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission, Dawn Holder-Cush, who addressed the gathering, encouraged the women to continue to use their platforms to inspire positive change.

“The media play an important role in society. Their report of current events provides frameworks for interpretation; mobilise citizens with regard to various issues; reproduce predominant culture and society and entertain. As such, the media have an important role to play in the promotion of gender equality within the working environment in terms of employment and promotion of females,” she said.

She added: “Female media professionals are more likely to reflect other women’s needs and perspectives than their male colleagues.”

Holder-Cush acknowledged that the world has come a long way from when women were not allowed to work to now where women hold some of the highest positions of power around the world.

Using herself as an example, the director said she

is a mother, grandmother, wife, professional woman, friend and more, and believes that women should not let anyone, but themselves, define who they are.

“I’ve found a good balance and I would encourage all of you to strive to find that balance. Don’t ever let work define who you are; you must define who you are,” she encouraged.

Holder-Cush also advised the women present to strive to hold each other up rather than pull each other down.

Todd, in her remarks to the gathering, welcomed the opportunity to celebrate the immense contribution of women in shaping the society they live in. She recognised that, while the rights of women have been improving over the years, there was still much room for improvement.

Todd noted that it was the responsibility of governments around the world to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and enable them to meet their roles in social and political environments. She also reminded that leaders around the world have begun to realise that men cannot make decisions on behalf of women and, in order to ensure sustainable development, women must be empowered.

“On this day, we bow before women who, despite adversities, have been able to improve their status in society,” she said.

“As we embrace the theme ‘Balance for Better’, I implore you ladies to continue to strive for greater academic achievement so that you can recognise and realise your full potential.

In doing so, you can play a major role in reducing the inequalities which now exist

because you have the power to better the balance to forge a more gender-balanced society.”

Remarks came too from Williams who commended the initiative and those who worked to make it a reality.

The night was also filled with entertainment in the form of song and poetry while several re-

porters reflected on their life in the media, providing invaluable advice to those up and coming.

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Tributes pour in for Bernard DeSantos

FORMER Attorney General, Bernard DeSantos, 80, passed away Friday evening after complaining of feeling unwell.

President David Granger extended condolences to the family and relatives of DeSantos following his passing. Reports are that DeSantos was taken to the Balwant Singh Hospital on Friday night and passed away while undergoing treatment.

DeSantos had an illustrious legal career.

In 1965, DeSantos completed law studies at the Inns Court School of Law of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple London, England. He returned to Guyana shortly after and joined the Luckhoo and Luckhoo law firm.

After working with the firm, he was appointed a magistrate in the Georgetown

Magisterial District in 1968 but returned to private practice shortly after and opened his own law firm.

In 1991, he was appointed Senior Counsel and when the Opposition Peoples’ Progressive Party won the elections in 1992, he was appointed Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs. He served in that post until 1997.

Numerous tributes poured in on Saturday for

the late lawyer.

Albert Baldeo of the Baldeo Foundation in Queens, New York, paid tribute to DeSantos.

“He was one of the most knowledgeable lawyers in the criminal law and was an adroit cross-examiner. He would confuse and wear the witnesses down and get them to contradict the evidence from sheer frustration and tiredness when the case was going against him,” he said.

He said that to see Bernard DeSantos at his best, exuding the guile, class and style, and morbid fear in the hearts of the witnesses, (and sometimes juries), made one stop, “and admire a legal entertainer, who could destroy any case”.

He said DeSantos was a showman, scholar and advocate, all rolled into one.

“He knew the criminal law, would explode into frequent objections, and would never back down from a fight,” he added.

“They don’t make them

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 11, 2019

Bernard DeSantos like Bernard anymore,” he added.

These sentiments were shared by the Guyana Bar Association.

In a statement, the Bar said DeSantos was an expert at cross-examination and could often be seen in the courtroom skilfully and patiently breaking down the evidence of witnesses opposing his clients.

“Mr. De Santos was also a gifted raconteur and was frequently at the centre of a group of lawyers on the

corridor of the Court as he regaled them with stories of cases and judges from days gone by. He was kind and patient with younger lawyers and he mentored many junior lawyers who were new to the intricacies of the profession. Mr. De Santos’s passing leaves a vacuum in the profession and he will be sorely missed.

The Bar Council extends its deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Bernard De Santos,” the statement concluded.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 11, 2019

Police still seeking clues to Georgia-based Guyanese murder

THE DeKalb County police in Atlanta, Georgia, are yet to get a breakthrough in the murder of Guyanese Darnley Colin Marshall.

They are, according to FOX 5 Atlanta news reports, seeking clues

pertaining to a motive and any possible suspects.

The body of the father of six was found burnt and dumped in a park on Thursday, February 28 last and the police have asked for the public’s help in solving the mur-

der.

Family members have reported that a 2015 red Suzuki Boulevarde motorcycle belonging to the man is missing; they are pleading with anyone who may have information to come forward, as

they seek justice.

The man’s sister, Olive Haly, is baffled as to who would want to do `something like that to her brother.

The FOX 5 report noted also that park workers at the South-east Ath-

letic Complex off Hillvale Road discovered the man’s burnt body on the morning of February 28.

A dumpster, which was next to Marshall’s charred remains, was also burnt.

The report further stated that workers

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Darnley Colin Marshall found that the gate had been secured with a chain, even though the park gate is never locked.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, March 11, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, March 11, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, March 11, 2019

De Kock steers South Africa to ODI series win (REUTERS) - QUINTON de Kock’s swashbuckling century inspired South Africa to beat Sri Lanka by 71 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis system at Kingsmead on Sunday to secure a winning 3-0 lead in their five-match one-day international series.

After South Africa had been put into bat, De Kock smashed 121 off 108 balls at the top of the innings — his 14th ODI hundred — as they went on to make 331-5 off their 50 overs.

Sri Lanka, set a revised target of 193 after a rain delay, fell a long way short, managing to score only 1215 off 24 overs in reply.

Sri Lanka had already been falling behind the required over rate at 75-2 off 16 overs when a rain storm took the players off for a two-hour break, after which the visitors were set a Herculean target of 118 runs off just eight overs to win.

Kusal Mendis was

Quinton de Kock celebrates after completing his century © Getty Images

caught and bowled by Imran Tahir for 41 just as Sri Lanka looked set to take on the challenge but despite the best efforts of Thisara Perera, who swung at every ball, the tourists were always fighting a losing cause.

De Kock had earlier announced his intent with a four off the first ball of the game and kept up the attack before eventually getting to three figures off 89 balls, having fallen just short in the last ODI in Pretoria last Wednesday when he scored 94.

Rassie van der Dussen added 50 and a cameo from Andile Phehlukwayo,

who hit 38 off 15 at the end of the innings, ensured South Africa went past 300 as they continued their World Cup preparations with some aplomb.

Sri Lanka lost key batsman Kusal Perera early on in the game when he looked to have hurt his hamstring in the field and was taken to hospital for scans.

Officials said he would not have been able to bat had he been needed but it is unsure how serious the injury is.

South Africa and Sri Lanka will play the fourth match of the series in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.

Hazard stoppage time goal rescues Chelsea point (BBC) - EDEN Hazard scored a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a point for Chelsea against Wolves at Stamford Bridge.

remain unbeaten in the Premier League since their 6-0 thrashing at Manchester City last month.

Maurizio Sarri’s fu-

place.

Raul Jimenez finished off a swift counter-attacking move to put Wanderers ahead with their only shot on target,

Raul Jimenez puts Wolves ahead with his 14th goal of the season early in the second half

Hazard curled into the bottom corner in the second minute of added-time to deny Wanderers a memorable victory and ensure Chelsea

ture at the club had been brought into question following that defeat, but this point keeps the Blues well in contention for a top-four

nine minutes into the second half.

That looked to be enough, particularly when substitute Willian saw his

curling effort well saved

by Rui Patricio late on, but Hazard struck to salvage a draw with his 16th goal of the season.

Despite only managing two attempts on goal all game, Wolves may feel aggrieved at only securing a point having defended diligently, restricting Chelsea to half-chances and efforts from distance.

Chelsea only had one shot on target during the first half, an effort from Gonzalo Higuain from a tight angle that was comfortably pushed behind by Patricio.

Maurizio Sarri’s side improved after going behind, with Pedro having a shot tipped over before Higuain failed to convert when the ball flashed across the box following a corner.

It was hard to see Chelsea scoring as the game entered added time but Hazard showed neat skill to turn away from Ruben Neves and finally beat Patricio from 18 yards.

Handscomb levels series against India (REUTERS) - PETER Handscomb struck his maiden ODI hundred and Ashton Turner smashed a blistering 84 not out to secure Australia’s series-levelling four-wicket victory against India in the high-scoring fourth one-day international in Mohali on Sunday.

Chasing a steep 359 to stay alive in the series, Australia were 12-2 in the fourth over before Handscomb (117) and Usman Khawaja raised 192 runs to put their chase back on track.

Turner then exploded down the order, clobbering six sixes and five fours in his charmed 43-ball blitz as Australia romped home with 13 balls to spare.

Earlier, Rohit Sharma (95) narrowly missed his century but Shikhar Dhawan roared back into form with a career-best 143 to help India post a commanding 358-9 after electing to bat first.

Dhawan went into the match having totalled 41 runs from his last five outings in limited-overs cricket, a run drought he ended with his 16th ODI hundred, raising 193 runs with fellow opener Rohit in the process.

Peter Handscomb celebrates his century © Getty Images

Rohit clubbed a couple of sixes and seven boundaries to inch close to his century before his front-foot pull off Jhye Richardson found Handscomb at midwicket.

Dhawan hit three sixes and 18 boundaries, stepping out even to the fast bowlers

in a dominant display of batting. Pat Cummins ended the boundary carnage by bowling him out.

Rishabh Pant, replacing the rested Mahendra Singh Dhoni in one of the four changes to the India squad, made 36 before falling to Cummins (5-70) who claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs. Australia, missing all-rounder Marcus Stoinis through a thumb injury, were jolted early in their chase.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar breached Aaron Finch’s defence to dismiss the Australia captain for a duck in the first over and Jasprit Bumrah yorked Shaun Marsh in the fourth.

Khawaja and Handscomb defied India for nearly 30 overs and did not panic even as the required run rate climbed above nine.

Kuldeep Yadav denied

Khawaja his second century of the series, dismissing the opener for 91.

Handscomb brought up his hundred off 92 balls to keep Australia on course, with the tourists needing 98 from the last 10 overs with six wickets in hand.

Yuzvendra Chahal eventually ended Handscomb’s 105-ball knock, which included three sixes and eight fours.

Glenn Maxwell (23) could not provide the late assault but Turner tore into the Indian attack with some breathtaking power-hitting.

He needed 33 balls to bring up his maiden ODI fifty though was lucky to be dropped twice in three balls in the 47th over sent down by Kumar having also survived a stumping chance earlier in his knock.

The teams now move to New Delhi for the decisive fifth and final match of the series on Wednesday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, March 11, 2019

England ‘whitewash’ Windies in T20 series

CMC – ENGLAND needed just two hours and 23-½ overs to dispose of West Indies by eight wickets in the third Twenty20 International at Warner Park, and complete a ruthless whitewash of the World champions here Sunday.

For the second straight match, West Indies capitulated meekly, this time for 71 off 13 overs – their third lowest T20 International total – after choosing to bat first. In Friday’s second match at the venue, they perished for 45, the second lowest total in the format.

Once again, the Windies batsmen showed a lack of discipline and only four players reached double figures with opener John Campbell, captain Jason Holder and Nicholas Pooran all scoring 11, and last man Obed McCoy getting 10.

The Windies were undermined by left-arm seamer David Willey who produced career-best figures of four wickets for seven runs to claim Man-of-the-Match honours, while speedster Mark Wood claimed three for nine and leg-spinner Adil Rashid two for 18.

A dejected Shimron Hetmyer walked off after being dismissed cheaply.

England, in reply, wasted little time in reaching their target off 63 balls, with opener Jonny Bairstow blasting 37 off 31 balls, striking four boundaries and a brace of sixes.

He put on 28 with Alex Hales (20) for the first wicket before adding a further 32 for the second wicket with Joe Root, who ended on four not out.

Dropped on 18 by Shimron

Hetmyer off seamer Holder in the seventh over, Bairstow cleared the ropes at deep square leg in the same over before putting left-arm spinner Fabian Allen out of the park in the following over.

With just 11 runs needed for victory, he was bowled in the ninth over off the first ball of Devendra Bishoo’s opening over, but captain Eoin Morgan (10 not out) ended the match in the leg-spinner’s next over with a straight hit for six and a sweep to the backward square boundary off consecutive deliveries.

The series defeat was a disappointing end to an otherwise outstanding performance by the hosts, who stunned England 2-1 in the Test series to regain the Wisden Trophy before coming from behind to level the five-match one-day series, 2-2, against the world number one side.

West Indies had a nightmare start to their innings when Shai Hope chipped the very first ball from Willey to Hales at cover, and Hetmyer holed out to Man-of-the-Series Chris Jordan at mid-off in the bowler’s next over for eight, with 10 runs on the board.

Campbell struck two fours – two pulls to the square boundary off seamer Jordan in the fourth over – but then skied Willey to Joe Denly at cover and when Darren Bravo (4) nicked one behind two balls later; the Windies were tottering on 24 for four in the fifth over.

Holder and Pooran posted the highest stand of the innings when they added 21 for the fifth wicket, a partnership which seemed to be

pulling the Windies around.

But Holder, attempting a second straight six off leg-spinner Denley, was caught

by Jordan in the deep in the ninth over and Pooran followed in the next, picking out the Barbados-born Jordan at deep mid-wicket, pulling at

speedster Mark Wood.

All hopes for a total in excess of 100 then rested on Carlos Brathwaite, but the task proved beyond him, the right-hander edging Wood to wicketkeeper Bairstow in the 12th over without scoring, off the fifth ball he faced.

SCOREBOARD WINDIES +S Hope c Hales b Willey 0 J Campbell c Denly b Willey 11 S Hetmyer c Jordan b Willey 8 D Bravo c wkp Bairstow b Willey 4 *J Holder c Jordan b Denly 11 N Pooran c Jordan b Wood 11 F Allen b Rashid 7 C Brathwaite c wkp Bairstow b Wood 0 D Bishoo not out 3 S Cottrell b Wood 4 O McCoy b Rashid 10 Extras: (b1, w1) 2 TOTAL: (13 overs, all out) 71 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Hope), 2-10 (Hetmyer), 3-24 (Campbell), 4-24 (Bravo), 5-45 (Holder), 6-48 (Pooran), 7-54 (Allen), 8-56 (Brathwaite), 9-60 (Cottrell), 10-71 (McCoy) Bowling: Willey 3-0-7-4, Curran 1-0-8-0, Jordan 2-0-14-0 (w1), Denly 2-0-14-1, Wood 3-0-9-3, Rashid 2-0-18-2.

ENGLAND A Hales c Campbell b Holder 20 +J Bairstow b Bishoo 37 J Root not out 4 *E. Morgan not out 10 Extras: (w1) 1 TOTAL: (2 wkts, 10.3 overs) 72 Did not bat: J Denly, S Billings, D Willey, T Curran, C Jordan, A Rashid, M Wood.

Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Hales), 2-60 (Bairstow) Bowling: Cottrell 1-0-16-0, Allen 4-1-25-0, Holder 3-0-19-1 (w1), Bishoo 1.3-1-11-1, Campbell 1-0-1-0.

Skerrit-Shallow outline plans for HPC, UWI RESTARTING the High-Performance Centre (HPC) in Barbados and reviving a strong partnership with UWI will be a key strategic message that Team Skerritt-Shallow delivers on Monday when they speak to administrators, stakeholders, media and fans at UWI Faculty of Sport, Cave Hill Campus.

Last Wednesday, Mr. Ricky Skerritt and Dr. Kishore Shallow held an interactive conference call with the Caribbean media, where details of the 10 point ‘Cricket First plan’ proposed by the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates were heavily discussed.

In explaining point eight in the manifes-

to, ‘Decentralization of High-Performance System’, Skerritt endorses Sir Wes Hall’s recent message that it was a strategic mistake of the incumbents to move the HPC from Barbados that left the Windies legend “discombobulated” and vowed to correct it.

“Here is a classic example of where CWI missed an opportunity to build sustainability into our cricket development. When I heard what Sir Wes Hall said, it brought tears to my eyes”, said Skerritt.

“So this breakdown in the CWI partnership with UWI is clearly an example of where CWI allowed the focus to shift away from cricket into corporate and personality issues which

Jamaican Mindley helps Pride overcome Scorpions

distracted us from the good the UWI based HPC was doing. The very presence of so many legends of cricket makes Barbados an obvious attraction for supporting and mentoring young cricketers.”

Skerritt said the recently acquired Coolidge facility in Antigua will be developed in tandem with the UWI HPC. “With cricket legends Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Andy Roberts and Sir Curtly Ambrose all residing there, Antigua will continue to be a focal point in our strategy to decentralize cricket development and help our best talent grow to the highest level.”

“We are not what we would call ‘either-or’ leaders, instead we look to see where

and how often we can make a difference. Our team intends to rebuild the CWI relationship with UWI in a focused way to help our cricket”, explained Skerritt.

He continued: “We want to build the high-performance system, so that we can have multiple opportunities at supporting young developing cricketers and preparing cricketers for battles abroad.

“UWI is also well positioned in Trinidad and Jamaica to help CWI move these HPC support programs all over the Caribbean, wherever we have the partnership, resources, and technical expertise - combined with the science and technology.”

Barbados Pride captain Shamarh Brooks.

CMC – BARBADOS Pride’s Jamaican import, Marquino Mindley, smashed rookie off-spinner Akim Fraser for six to ease the tension and hand the visitors a nerve-jangling two-wicket victory over Jamaica Scorpions on the final day of their 10th round match here Sunday.

Resuming the day on five without loss in pursuit of a modest 158 for victory, Pride appeared on course for an easy win when they reached 136 for four, behind captain Shamarh Brooks’ top score of 71.

But left-arm spinner Nikita Miller (3-43) and Akim Frazer (3-55) tore through the middle order as Pride lost four wickets for 11 runs to crash to 147 for eight, to set up a tense finish.

The 24-year-old Mindley, however, who made his firstclass debut for Jamaica five years ago at Sabina Park, then proved the hero for the visitors, displaying a cool head and allowing them to pick up their fifth win of the competition.

No such drama was envisioned even though Pride stumbled to 26 for two in the first session after losing both openers, Kraigg Brathwaite (17) and left-hander Shayne Moseley (3), both bowled by ex-Test seamer Jerome Taylor.

Brooks, who has endured a wretched campaign with the bat, came to his side’s rescue with his first half-century of the season, facing 146 balls in a shade over 2-¾ hours, and striking nine fours.

More importantly, he stitched together three small successive partnerships, putting on 33 for the third wicket with Jonathan Carter (6), adding a further 30 for the fourth wicket with Test batsman Roston Chase (18) before posting 47 for the fifth wicket with all-rounder Shamarh Springer (18).

Springer’s demise, lbw to Miller, triggered the slump and when Brooks followed, lbw in Miller’s next over, panic set in for Pride before the nerveless Mindley took them over the line.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, March 11, 2019

DeSouza spanks big century, but GNIC held to a draw

DESPITE a huge century from Shawn DeSouza, the Transport Sports Club were able to hold on for a draw in their encounter with GNIC in the 2019 GISE/ Star Party Rental/ Trophy Stall First Division two-day cricket competition, which was played at the Malteenoes ground over the weekend.

A Student of West Seconday School receives a match ticket as part of the ‘Roar to Gold Cup’ campaign.

‘Roar to Gold Cup’ begins school outreach initiative

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) in partnership with the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) has commenced its school outreach on the West Coast Demerara in an effort to create excitement about the March 23 match against Belize.

The outreach began yesterday at the West Demerara Secondary School at 13:00hrs where football skills and drills were showcased and students had a chance to participate and win tickets for one of Guyana’s most historic matches to be held at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

Prior to the excitement, the

team, led by President Wayne Forde and WDFA President Orin Ferrier, met with the Head Teacher Harrinarine and expressed gratitude for the partnership. He noted that the school recognizes the important role sports play in the child’s development and pointed out that a student of the school only recently acquired a US college athletic scholarship.

The initiative, headed by the WDFA, seeks to target both primary and second schools and will now move to the Leonora Secondary School on a date to be announced.

Meanwhile, patrons on

the East Bank Of Demerara can purchase tickets and fan jerseys and get a chance to win same tomorrow when the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) will lead a marketing outreach at the Linden Soesdyke Highway junction. The proceedings is scheduled to begin at13:00hrs.

Additionally, patrons can access match tickets and fan jerseys at the foyer of the Guyana Pegasus as a base has been established at that hotel. Other locations where tickets can be accessed from are: Andrew’s Supermarket, Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt; Guiness Bar, Durban Street; West Indian

Sports Complex, Robb Street, KFC Outlets at Mandela Avenue and Regent Street branches and Nice Restaurant located beneath Space Gym, another partner, on Croal Street.

A win for Guyana in this match will ensure us a chance at qualifying for the Concacaf Gold Cup, the premier football event to determine the champion team of the Concacaf 41-member nation. Match time for this final qualifier is set at 18:30hrs and gates will be opened two hours before.

Tickets cost $1,500 and replicas $5,000. Fans are encouraged to wear yellow in support of the Golden Jaguars.

Shawn DeSouza struck 17 fours and five sixes in his 168.

DeSouza propelled GNIC to first innings point after he

scored 168 yesterday. The hard-hitter spanked 17 fours and five sixes to push GNIC to 336-8 declared in 80 overs after they had bowled out TSC for 158 on Saturday.

Transport were led by 42 runs from Akeem Redman and 22 from Nathan Persaud. Teenager Dwain Dick had orchestrated GNIC’s bowling attack after taking 5-45. Renole Bourne supported with 2-53.

Along with DeSouza, Jermaine Grosvenor added a half-century. His 52 included three fours and a six.

Transport were tasked with bettering their first innings score to avoid an innings defeat. Led by Sunil Singh, the TSC batsmen held their own and finished the day on 218-5 in 57 overs.

Singh slammed seven fours and four sixes in a score of 86, while Persaud added 39 (6x4s), Adrian Hinds 26 and Redman 21 unbeaten runs (1x4, 2x6s).

Bowling for GNIC, Marc Nicholson took 2-19.

DCC register nine-wicket win over GDF in first-division cricket THE Demerara Cricket Club easily dispatched the Guyana Defence Force by nine wickets in the opening session of the second day in the 2019 GISE/Star Party Rental/Trophy Stall First Division two-day cricket competition yesterday at

the Queenstown ground.

The defending champions had dominated the opening day on Saturday and had done enough to all but win the clash before play ended.

On Sunday morning, they were tasked with taking a single wicket, which was

done in 1.2 overs, and scoring 29 runs after the visiting team failed to add to their overnight total.

Twenty-nine wickets fell on Saturday, 19 of which belonged to the GDF batsmen. DCC won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Medium-pacer Carlton Jacques (left) and left-arm spinners Totaram Bishun and Ashmead Nedd undermined GDF’s batting.

West Indies U-19 left-arm spinner, Ashmead Nedd, led the attack with 5-47 from 12 overs, while fellow left-arm spinner Totaram Bishun supported with 3-22 runs from 5.3 overs.

The lone resistance was Randy Lindore, who played some spanking shots. The 40-year-old finished with 11 fours and two sixes in a top score of 69, but his team succumbed for 110 in 26.4 overs.

DCC then raced to 235 before they were bowled out in 39 overs. Joshua Persaud (71—8x4s, 5x6s) and Raymond Perez (32—7x4s) put together a 110-run opening partnership, while teenager Sachin Singh then played a few shots of his own for a quickfire 43 (3x4s, 3x6s).

West Indies U-19 cricketer, Tevin Imlach, added 29, batting at four.

The army did the damage with off spin as Lindore and skipper Leon Andrews wrecked the middle and lower order with four-wicket hauls each, while fellow off-spinner, Damian Waldron, finished with a pair.

The visiting batsmen again failed to deliver. Kurt

Lovell showed some spunk with 53 (4x4s, 5x6s), while Waldron added 33 (2x4s, 3x6s) and Lindore 20.

Medium pacer Carlton Jacques led DCC’s second innings attack with 4-44, while Bishun, who picked up the last wicket yesterday, finished

with 4-23 for a match haul of 7-45 from 12.5 overs.

GDF had something to celebrate when Andrews bowled Perez for six, but 19 unbeaten runs from the inform Persaud (2x4s) helped the side to victory in four overs.

Randy Lindore turned back the clock after scoring a half-century in the first innings to go with four wickets.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, March 11, 2019

National U-17 team begins preparation for CONCACAF Championship GUYANA has begun preparations to participate in the 2019 Concacaf Under-17 Championship scheduled for the IMG Academy campus in Bradenton, Florida in May 2019.

A provisional squad is in training and will continue to have weekly sessions at the GFF National Training Centre under the guidance of the GFF’s Technical Department.

Additional players will be added following scouting in the GFf-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U-17 Tournament, scheduled to commence shortly.

The squad, known as the “NAMILCO Flour Power National U-17” team, has been placed in Group G with El Salvador, Honduras and Haiti and its seeding is a direct result of Guyana’s upward movement in the Concacaf Men’s U-17 rankings to 18th position.

In an invited comment, GFF’s Youth Development Officer, Bryan Joseph, said the upward movement in the ranking is testimony to the investment made in the youth

programme: “We are pleased with the upward movement in the rankings since it is testimony to all the hard work the Federation has put in place over the past two years with

the junior national teams.

We’ve managed to play quite a bit of junior games against our Caribbean counterparts and have produced good results at both U-15 and U-17

levels. We are elated that the structure has produced all these positives as we continue to strengthen and reinforce it with all our ongoing and new programs.”

Some of the National U-17 players go through their paces.

2019 CCAA National Badminton Championships…

Ramdhani helps team to gold, win individual bronze

GUYANESE national badminton champion, Narayan Ramdhani, is now ranked third best in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) after a stellar performance at the association’s National Badminton Championships.

The event was contested from Wednesday to Saturday last at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The Kings University student, who represented the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference last week, was instrumental in helping them to win the team’s championships.

To win the gold, it was Ramdhani who defeated Ramnish Kumar of Humber College 2-1.

In the individual championships, he defeated former silver medallist, Yuge Zeng, of George Brown College. Zeng, who was named best male student athlete for his school last year, was flawless during the group playoffs. The experienced player, however, had no answer for Ramdhani and went down 21-15, 21-13 in the third-place game.

Ramdhani, who made history for the Kings University Eagles badminton team after winning a gold medal in the men’s singles at the 2018-2019 ACAC Provincial championship last month, had gone down to his rival, Nicolas Pitman, in the semi-final of the CCAA Nationals.

He had defeated the Concordia player in February (16-21, 21-17 and 21-17), and looked set to do that again, but a tight battle in the second set gave Pittman momentum, which resulted in a 2-1 (17-21, 23-21 and 21-12) win.

The 20-year-old Guyanese, who is also ranked as the top player in the ACAC and as Kings University’s best badminton player, had only seven and a half months training in Edmonton, Canada before he began his dominance.

Commenting on the expected increased competition as a result of the movement, Joseph said it’s a welcome challenge: “We are happy to face these challenges. This comes with the territory. We’ve discussed how we want to proceed against those teams and we are not daunted by their status. We will learn a lot about what is required to attain success at this level, so we see it purely as a “win, win” situation for Guyana’s football. The technical planners are all convinced that we can and will make it to the knockout stage of the tournament then upset the status quo in the latter stages.

Guyana’s match schedule is as follows: May 1 – El Salvador vs Guyana; May 3 – Guyana vs Honduras and May 5 – Guyana vs Haiti.

According to Conacacf, the final championship will begin with a group stage, in which the top-ranked 16 participating teams, based on the Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Ranking as of May 2017, will be divided into four groups.

After round-robin play, the top three finishers in each of the groups will join the winners of Groups A, B, C and D from the qualifiers in the round of 16. The knockout stage of the competition – round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final – will be played in its entirety in a single match elimination format, with the semifinalists automatically qualifying for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru.

The participating Member Associations for the 2019 Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship are: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Martin, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, United States and US Virgin Islands.

Berbice Zone Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’…

Defending champs Trafalgar to face Lichfield in semis DESPITE a small hiccup in their second game on Saturday night, reigning champions of the Berbice Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’, Trafalgar, still looks like the team to beat in this year’s tournament.

The champs will be firm favourites to retain their title when the curtain come down on Saturday (March 16), at the New Amsterdam Ferry Stelling.

Playing in the opening game on Saturday before a large turnout of fans, Trafalgar, bouyed by a Guinness goal from striker Delwyn Fraser and one from Kevin Layne, easily disposed of Hopetown by a 3-0 margin.

In their second encounter, they were held to a 1-1 draw by New Amsterdam Kings, before prevailing 2-0 in the penalty shootout.

Fraser was once again the player on target, while Jamal Butts responded for the Kings.

The champs will now face Lichfield in the first semi-final, while the Kings take on East Bank Gunners in the other.

The winning team will receive $300,000 and the cham-

pionship trophy, while second, third and fourth place finishers will take home $150,000, $100,000 and $75,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, fans will have chances to win giveaways at the final.

COMPLETE RESULTS: ♦ Guinness Goal-2 Goals First Stage: ♦ Trafalgar-3 vs Hopetown- 0 ♦ Lichfield-1 vs NA Kings B- 0 ♦ East Bank Gunners-1 vs NA Kings- 0 ♦ Outsiders-0 vs Twenties- 2 Second Stage: ♦ Trafalgar-1 vs NA Kings B-1 ♦ Trafalgar won 2-0 on penalty kicks ♦ Hopetown-1 vs Lichfield-1 ♦ Hopetown won 1-0 on penalty kicks ♦ East Bank Gunners-2 vs Outsiders-1 ♦ Twenties-0 vs NA Kings- 3.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday, March 11, 2019)

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) (1) (2)

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: 124 players Sydney, Australia, 1979-80

(1)

(2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: Where and when did the WI & ENG first contest a T20 International against each other?

How many players have now captained the WI in T20 Internationals?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

Part of the action on night two of this year’s Berbice Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, March 11, 2019

27

Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cycle Road Race second leg…

Dey first as Berbice riders dominate PSL riders Curtis ‘Chappy’ Dey and Romello Crawford share a moment after receiving their trophy. (Colin Bynoe Photo)

By Colin Bynoe jr Curtis ‘Chappy’ Dey of Trojan Cycle Club (PSL) registered his first victory of the 2019 cycling season when he edged Romello Crawford in the 22nd Cheddi Jagan Memorial 3-stage road race.

Crawford, who was race favourite and leader of the Guyana Cycling federation senior point classification, was stunned by young Chappy as they crossed the finish line in Berbice yesterday.

Christopher ‘Chicken Legs’ Griffith was third, ahead of Micheal Anthony, Andrew Hicks and Balram Narine.

With pleasing weather, the riders commenced their 53mile tussle at Freedom House, New Amsterdam, proceeding to number 55 village where they made a U-turn to return to finish in Port Mourant Village.

Commenting on his victory, Dey said, “I’m happy for the win, the weather was good for us today, I had to keep up and focus until the sprint and I won the race”.

Dey topped an exciting field in his guest for victory, taking the top podium spot in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 35 seconds.

In attendance to witness the race and give remarks were officials from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Meanwhile Individual winners received a trophy and cash incentives.

It was pleasing to many Corentyne enthusiasts who followed the course of the race to see their hometown cyclists’ place 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th.

FULL RESULTS PLACINGS: ● 1st Curtis ‘Chappy’ Dey ● 2nd Romello Crawford ● 3rd Christopher “Chicken legs” Griffith ● 4th Micheal Anthony ● 5th Andrew Hicks ● 6th Balram Narine JUNIORS ● 1st Ralph Seenarine ● 2nd Kevin Ross ● 3rd David Hicks Special recognition was bestowed to Steve Bimsain for his efforts in completing the race VETERAN ● 1st Alexis Mendes ● 2nd Junior Niles ● 3rd Paul Chow Wee Nam FEMALE ●1st Shenika Texiera

England

‘whitewash’

Windies in T20 series

Sheldon Cottrell was bowled

by Mark Wood © AFP

See Page

24

2019 CCAA National Badminton Championships…

Ramdhani helps team to gold, win individual bronze

Page

26

Curtis ‘Chappy’ Dey (with head down) powers to the finish ahead of Romello Crawford and Christopher Griffith. (Colin Bynoe Photo)

Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cycle Road Race second leg…

Dey first as Berbice riders dominate 27 See Page

Narayan Ramdhani is now ranked third in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

National U-17 team begins preparation for CONCACAF Championship → 26

See Page

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MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019