Guyana Chronicle 3-5-2019

TUESDAY 5th March, 2019

No.105567

‘Guyana focused on Alleged stalker charged House-to-house retooling, reforming with murdering ads will continue mining sector’ 12 PAGE

…Finance Minister tells Canada’s convention

Sophia woman

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SEE STORY ON PAGE 09

‘This is not a crisis’ …Min. Harmon says political stalemate an opportunity to put Guyana first

RUSAL refuses to meet union -calls for Lincoln Lewis' exclusion SEE STORY ON PAGE 13 from meeting

Union leaders, led by Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union, stand outside of the Department of Labour office on Brickdam following Monday’s meeting (Samuel Maughn photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

Technical issues delay opening of immigration offices in Linden, NA – Felix

The spanking new building that was constructed to house the Linden Immigration Service

Immigration services in Berbice will be conducted in this building, which was constructed for that purpose in New Amsterdam

By Wendella Davidson

rised with an electronic chip that will provide enhanced security for users.

The new E-Passport which will cost $10, 000, is expected to be of great benefit to frequent fliers, members of the judiciary, businessmen, parliamentarians and senior public servants, as it will be a 48-page document which will carry a 10-year life span.

In addition, Felix will be seeking to introduce the expeditious issuance of passports, which will be done at a cost of $20, 000; however, this speedy service for the travel documents will not benefit persons who have lost

MINISTER of Citizenship Winston Felix is in the process of addressing some technical issues that have delayed his plans to decentralise key citizenship services to the towns of New Amsterdam and Linden .

With construction 100 per cent completed at both locations, the issues at hand include the installation of transformers to provide reliable electricity to power the equipment. However, with the Guyana Power and Light and the Linden Power Company tackling the problems at the respective locations,

the minister remains confident that relief for those urgently needing to access immigration services is just a stone’s throw away for those who have been experiencing grave hardship, due to distance and travel costs.

His move to construct new offices and have them operational in the two towns, is a result of his observations that there are several passport and birth registration needs in those communities, that he wishes to address.

Currently, training is ongoing for personnel who have been identified to fill vacancies at the two offices, by members of the Guyana

Police Force.

Meanwhile, construction of an immigration office at Lethem is already in the pipeline, as monies have already been set aside in the 2019 National Budget for that purpose and the selection of tenders is well underway.

At these new passport offices, as is currently obtained in Georgetown, the aim is for citizens to receive improved production of the passports. The passport s are soon to be upgraded from machine-readable to E-Passports. The latter is a modern and enhanced travel document which will be accesso-

or damaged their passports.

This upgrade will allow Guyana to be in the range with other developed and developing countries across the Caribbean. “Our passport- issuing system will be overhauled, necessitating the replacement of all sorts of hardware systems,” Felix had earlier said.

Meanwhile, pensioners who previously have had to pay $6000 to obtain a passport, can now obtain the travel document at no cost.

In addition to the improved passport services, the ministry has also begun upgrading its registration services , which includes the

annulling of the late registration condition that applies to a child one year and older.

To this end, late registration will be upped from one year to 11 years, while the first birth certificates will be free of cost for children up to 18 years of age.

The operations of the General Registrar’s Office which handles such services, is monitored by the Ministry of Citizenship.

In 2018, GRO officers had travelled to Region One and other remote areas to ensure that children in those areas are registered, and too, that their parents obtain birth certificates.

Deaf persons get clearance to participate in driver’s examination MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has given the ‘green light’

for persons with hearing impairment to participate in a driver’s examination

as part of a pilot project.

The Ministry of Public Security made the an-

nouncement on Monday in a statement, and noted that the decision is in keeping with Amendment of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act Chapter 51:02 to include the issuance of Drivers’ Permits to Deaf Drivers on May 24 2018.

Under the pilot programme, six persons from the Deaf Community in Guyana will be allowed to participate in the theoretical and practical drivers’ examination as part of the pilot project, at a date to be announced later.

The commencement of the pilot programme was agreed to when the minister met with the National Commission on Disability and the Deaf Association of Guyana on February 28, 2019 at the Ministry of Public Security.

The pilot programme is one of the recommendations agreed to by Cabinet to facilitate the issuance of driver’s permit to persons who are hearing impaired.

Other recommendations include a rigorous national awareness campaign for the general populace including the beneficiaries; and implementation of issuances of driver’s licence to deaf drivers, only for private and not commercial vehicles, given the present infrastructural development and culture of driving on Guyana’s road ways.

“The Government of Guyana will continue to provide equality and insure non- discrimination for persons with disabilities as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” the ministry assured.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

‘This is not a crisis’

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…Min Harmon says political stalemate an opportunity to put Guyana first

By Svetlana Marshall THE Opposition and its allies are of the opinion that the current political situation would result in a constitutional crisis, but Minister of State Joseph Harmon said it presents an opportunity for political leaders to work together.

According to the narratives peddled by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, once General and Regional Elections are not held by March 21, 2019, as required by the Constitution following a successful vote of No-Confidence, the country will slip into a deep constitutional crisis.

According to the Constitution, elections must be held within three months, or at a later period approved by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly, upon the passage of a No-Confidence Motion. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), however, has indicated that at this stage it is not possible for elections to

be held by the constitutional deadline, noting too that it lacks the finances to run off free and fair elections.

In an interview with Guyana Chronicle on Monday, the Minister of State said “where some people see crisis, some see opportunity and I don’t see a crisis, I see an opportunity to work together to put Guyana first and ensure that this country is developed along a sustainable pathway.”

Minister Harmon said that in recent times, there have been cries of a constitutional crisis when the situation simply presents an opportunity. “There are people who continue to cry about crisis, crisis, crisis, I don’t see a crisis, as I said, I see an opportunity,” he emphasised.

President David Granger has extended an invitation to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to meet with him on Wednesday, March 6 to discuss the readiness and funding for GECOM to conduct new general and regional elections. It is also the Presi-

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

dent’s intention to discuss the National Assembly’s constitutional role in the current situation, but the Opposition Leader is still to respond.

At the time of the interview, the State Minister said based on his information, the Opposition, up until then had not responded to President Granger, but said there is still time. “There is still time for

him to receive mature advice and for him to give mature consideration and recognise that it is in the national interest,” Minister Harmon told this newspaper.

Jagdeo had stated that the only conditions under which he would consider an extension of the 90-day period is if the President would announce that prepa-

rations for general elections would start and would decide to move forward with accelerated timelines. On the issue of what some call a ‘constitutional crisis,’ former Leader of the People’s National Congress, and Attorney-at-law, Robert Corbin, has said there is no constitutional crisis.

“The constitutional crisis exists in the minds of those who would like to see a crisis exist. The courts have a responsibility to ensure that there is peace, order and good governance of Guyana, just like the Executive and the Legislature,” Corbin said.

He said the current situation is “good for Guyana” and is an evolution of the country’s political system.

“What is happening now is that for the first time, certain aspects and principles which are enshrined in our Constitution are being examined,” he said while noting that by putting forward legal challenges, the parties in the cases are seeking to establish certainty in the interpretation

of the Constitution of Guyana. This, he posited, is good for posterity.

“So I think that it is healthy for Guyana to have this kind of exercise and I think that it is a little disappointing that one would not allow the courts to do their job,” he said.

In moving pass March 21, Corbin said the court will have to decide. “The court will have to take into account that what happens on the 21st March, 2019, would only be a crisis if the courts take certain positions on the matter, but I am sure that is a factor which the court must take into account in terms of what happens to Guyana. So I am not worried at this point in time,” he said.

The government, through the Attorney-General Basil Williams, has challenged the validity of the No-Confidence Motion.

It was upheld in the High Court by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire, and is not gaining the attention of the Court of Appeal.

‘Don’t neglect other industries’ –– when oil comes on stream, says TT expert

By Carl Croker “ONCE Brian Lara left the team, the faults in the West Indies team showed up” says Dr Roger Hosein, who used the analogy to explain what happens when oil-rich states pay little attention to its other industries.

Dr. Hosein was at the time giving the feature address at the second Clive Yolande Thomas distinguished lecture held at the Herdmanston Lodge on Thursday.

The Senior Lecturer and Coordinator on Trade and Economic Development Unit at the St. Augustine Campus University of the West Indies, was at the time discussing the topic "Critical considerations for the economic success of Guyana in the context of its pending petroleum boom".

Dr. Hosein was quick to point out that booming factor of production can allow structural flaws to go unnoticed and cause things to look nice and glossy at the surface causing you to relax.

He explained that a boom in the economy would cause workers to leave other sectors and move towards the booming sector.

“The tradable and none tradable sectors of Guyana’s small economy consist of two parts”, he explained, “a booming and non-booming sector, both of which rely on labour as the only mobile factor of production with all the other factors of production being specific”.

He said when labour moves from the non-booming tradable sector to the booming tradable sectors, the country experiences a ‘redis-

tribution of employment’.

This labour movement, he said, will cause the non-booming tradable sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture to contract, while the booming tradable sectors will maintain some workers.

“Because of the boom in the energy sector, some workers would leave sectors such as construction, gold mining, and timber to join the oil sector because they will get better salaries there,” he said.

ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION He admitted that this trend has been experienced by oil-rich economies worldwide, but that Guyana is in an advantageous position to guard against this premature contracting of the non-booming tradable sectors since it

UWI Senior Lecturer, Dr. Roger Hosein

has models to follow and the time to put in place measures to address shortcomings.

“The non-booming tradable sectors losing their share of GDP prematurely become a real issue later when you turn to that sector for export

revenues, only to find that they have been decimated. It is like looking for the West Indies team to perform after Lara exited and there was no plan to prepare the rest of the team, they placed all their dependence on Lara to carry the team,” he said.

For example, he said in Trinidad and Tobago, in the space of 18 years, from the year 2000 to 2018, agricultural employment moved from 43,000 to 19,000 and manufacturer employment moved from 63,000 to 48, 000.

He said Guyana has a long road ahead and it is better to deal with the economics of plenty than to deal with the economics of a little.

He said the money gained from oil will generate much infrastructural development and expansion by government and the private sector such as seen with the Pegasus Suites construction. Such activities, he said, will help

to circulate money.

“This will lead to a resource movement in the economy that will lead to a rise in wages. And in order for non-oil sectors to keep workers from leaving, they would have to raise salaries,” he noted.

He, however, warned that spending of the resource boom money by the state and oil workers in Guyana will trigger an increase in the price of things.

This, he cautioned, will cause the country’s real exchange rate to appreciate, making it easier to import.

“The marginal propensity to import will rise as the domestic production capability will fall,” he warned.

Government’s strengthening and sustaining of the non-oil sectors was highlighted as a critical consideration for the economic success of Guyana in the context of its pending petroleum boom.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

Essequibo cyclist in ‘Mash Day’ accident succumbs TWENTY-one-year-old Abrie Stevens, who was

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Saturday 2, March, 2019

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involved in an accident at Reliance village on the

Essequibo Coast on ‘Mash Day’, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday night at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The man was riding a bicycle out of a street when he was struck down by a vehicle.

According to information provided, the driver of a hire car was proceeding at a fast rate when the cyclist allegedly rode into his path. Accord-

Abrie Stevens

ing to the man’s father, Davindra Bhagan, his son was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital. He was subsequently transferred to the GPHC. “My son suffered massive head injuries. I couldn’t believe he was lying in such a state, it’s sad, I am still trying to get a grip of what happened,” the man’s father related.

The young man re-

gained consciousness at the GPHC but then succumbed to his injuries nine days after. His body is currently at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination. The deceased worked in the backdam in order to support his sisters, the family noted.

The driver of the hire car was granted station bail after being in custody for 72 hours. (Indrawattie Natram)

04:30hrs. - 06:00hrs.

14:30hrs. - 16:00hrs.

10, 16, 18 20, 21

8, 0, 5

9, 2, 0

01, 03, 04, 05, 14 1, March, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, March 05, 2019

Former CJ ruling against Ministers Felix, Scott

Appellate court to begin hearing gov’t appeal April 30 ON April 30 next, the Court of Appeal is set to commence hearing an appeal filed by the government against a ruling by former Chief Justice Ian Chang, which bars two sitting ministers from functioning in the National Assembly as technocrats.

The ruling, against Winston Felix, Minister of Citizenship and Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Keith Scott, was handed down on February 19, 2016. Justice Chang had ruled that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) + Alliance For Change (AFC), ministers cannot continue to sit in the National Assembly as non-elected members, since they were both elected as part of the coalition’s list of national candidates.

In an invited comment on Monday, Minister Felix said that he has confidence in the ability of the Attorney General Basil Williams’ ability to represent the issue and get a result, which he said is “highly lightly to be positive.”

Felix said that it has been and continues to be,

before and even after the ruling that was handed down by the former chief justice, to perform his duties to the best of his ability.

Chang had in his ruling, also noted that despite the appointment to executive positions of Felix and Scott, by President David Granger, following the 2015 General Elections, such top positions do not entitle the two gentlemen to hold seats or sit as technocratic ministers in the national assembly.

The ruling has its origin in an objection by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on the appointment of Felix and Scott. The party, through a challenge filed

by PPP member Desmond Morian, had contended that, “Articles 103 (3) and 105 of the constitution of Guyana and laws pronouncing on the eligibility of appointment of technocratic ministers, do not confer technocratic status on these persons already sworn in by President David Granger as ministers.”

Representing Morian in the matter is, former Attorney General and Minister

of Legal Affairs under the PPP administration, Anil Nandlall.

But the government counter challenged the ruling, claiming that the two ministers were properly appointed and that Chang, at the time when he ruled against the counter challenge, was `functus officio’, meaning he was about to demit office.

According to the AG, Chang’s decision cannot be supported in law and that he “fell into grave error of law and misdirected himself in law when he found that persons who are on the successful list of candidates are elected and therefore cannot qualify under Article 105 of the constitution of Guyana to be ‘non-elected’ members of parliament and who have not been chosen or selected from the list of candidates to be Members of Parliament are excluded from being selected by the President as persons who are qualified to be elected as members of the National Assembly.”

He likened Chang’s decision as bad in law, in that he “failed to take into con-

sideration the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03 and the National Assembly (Validity of Elections Act), Chapter 1:04”.

In addition, Williams said that Chang’s ruling is in breach of the rules of natural justice, as he failed to give him a hearing before delivering his decision, also that he , “Failed to take into account that Article 163 (4) (a) of the constitution of Guyana empowered Parliament to make provisions with respect to the circumstances and manner in which and the conditions upon which proceedings for the determination of any question under this article may be instituted in the High Court which Parliament did by enacting the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act, Cap. 1:04,” thus misdirecting himself in law.

Alleged stalker charged with murdering Sophia woman

Dead: Nadina Kalamadeen

RAYMOND Oselmo called ‘Godie man’ was on Monday charged with the murder of Nadina Kalamadeen whom he allegedly attacked last week.

The 49-year-old pork knocker of Lot 2736 North Ruimveldt had allegedly stalked the woman for weeks before killing her. Oselmo who was arrested last week appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan where he was not required to plea. He was remanded to prison and the case has been adjourned to March 18 for report.

The mother of five was reportedly stabbed multiple times about the body by her attacker. That incident, which occurred in North Sophia, was witnessed by her two young children. Guyana Chronicle was told that the man had been trying to get the woman’s attention for some time now but on each occasion, he received the ‘cold shoulder’.

On February 27, 2019 he showed up at Kalamadeen’s home, calling for her but she was sleeping, and a relative refused to wake her up. Oselmo subsequently returned to her home and managed to get the woman out of the house and they were seen walking on the road together. Kalamadeen was walking in front while the man was walking behind her. He was seen inflicting stab wounds to the woman’s back as she walked.

The woman is survived by her five children and other relatives and friends. The Guyana Chronicle was told that the suspect, after committing the act, attempted to flee the scene but was captured by a resident on a pedal cycle. He was handed over to the police and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for medical attention. Kalamadeen, who was rushed to the same hospital, was pronounced dead on arrival.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

Lucrative honey industry ready for development WHENEVER any serious writing or comment is made about the agricultural sector, the focus is always on those industries which produce commodities such as rice, sugar or lumber, which are foreign exchange earners. It’s only on the rare occasion that any attention is ever paid to those industries which are discussed abroad; and invariably, there would be no follow-up, since interest would have quickly waned.

A typical example of this is the coconut industry. Coconut oil is fast replacing olive oil as the healthiest edible oil on the market; and the coconut itself and its water have the status as a health food. Yet, there has been no promotion of the industry, despite its obvious profitable possibilities as a provider of employment and a foreign exchange earner.

The honey industry is one such agricultural industry where Guyana has a superior advantage over most countries. We have unlimited land for hives, in areas where the human population is very sparse, and where

there are forests or woodlands where the bees could gather their nectar. There is also a sizable number of persons who are skilled beekeepers.

And there is a large local, Caribbean and international market waiting to be tapped.

The international market is steadily expanding, because the valuable properties of honey as a health food and pharmaceutical are being rediscovered. The market for pure, high quality honey is insatiable.

Several countries, especially the developed ones, are the big producers of honey, but pure, high-quality unadulterated honey could only be obtained from special health food shops. Most of the honey sold in these countries or exported abroad, is adulterated with a number of substances, such as corn syrup, or are chemically processed, where some of the components of the pure honey is extracted and used for other purposes.

Locally-produced honey is generally preferred to the foreign imports, since it tends to be pure. But such local honey is not regularly obtainable. The reason for this

is because most local honey producers are amateurs and hobbyists and not companies with a continuum. The Rajkumar family in Berbice is the oldest honey-producing company in Guyana, and has been in business for the last two generations, and their product is the only locally-produced honey which could be regularly obtained in the supermarkets.

Honey has been a valued food from Neolithic times, and there are extant drawings of primitive Man gathering honey from caves. In fact, all ancient Civilisations valued honey, and it was used as the main sweetener. The ancient Indians, Chinese, Hebrews and later Greeks and Romans greatly valued it as a food, and for its pharmaceutical uses. It was believed to be the food of the Gods, and Ambrosia was believed to be honey-based. It was widely used in religious ceremonies,and in the Hebrew tradition, honey and milk was thought to be the most valuable of foods.

In Greco-Roman Civilisation, having an apiary was one of the most prestigious

things aristocratic farmers desired to have. The greatest Roman poet, Virgil, who had received the highest Imperial honours and lived in the luxury of the Imperial Court for many years, decided to retire and become a farmer and beekeeper. He celebrated his life in his new role in his “Georgics”.

The medicinal uses and qualities of honey were widely accepted in both the ancient and modern worlds, and the list of such uses would be a very long one. In Guyana and the Caribbean, for example, it is used with limes or other combinations to treat colds and ‘flu, and for cuts and burns. Last November, the Caribbean Beekeepers Congress met in Guyana, and they discussed the many difficulties facing the industry, and ways of improving production. In the words of Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, Mr Noel Holder, who addressed the Congress: “Bee Legislation and honey regulations are basic necessities for the industry to be expanded. This is especially important as we aspire to export to high-value markets

Soesdyke Huis’t Coverden NDC pledges to work for the people Dear Editor THE Soesdyke Huis’t Coverden Neighbourhood Democratic Council, which was elected at the November 12, 2018 Local Government Elections wishes to announce that it has assumed full responsibility for its catchment area.

The new Chairman Bhuependra Deokie, Vice-Chairman Kalowtee Persaud and the General Council all wish

to reassure residents that they intend to work feverishly towards fulfilling their promises and to implement a work programme that seeks to improve the lives of residents in all nine constituencies of the NDC. The Council has also re-committed itself to the highest standards of accountability and transparency in order to achieve the benefits of good governance.

Residents of this Local Authority can expect week-

ly public-day meetings at the NDC office, the posting of the Council’s quarterly financial statements, quarterly community outreaches covering every constituency, and the operation of a public gallery so Council meetings can be observed by residents. The general programme will cover the upkeep and maintenance of Council assets, community drains and bridges, and the implementation of better

solid-waste practices.

We wish to express our gratitude to all those who expressed confidence in us by offering us the opportunity to serve. We pledge to work with all partners and stakeholders to make Soesdyke Huis’t Coverden a place of pride!

Regards Soesdyke Huis’t Coverden Neighbourhood Democratic Council

such as the European Union.

However, these remain out of reach at the present time, due to their complex export regulations and procedures, and standards of natural produce.”

The Minister then went on to say that though the larger international markets are out of our reach, collaborative actions, greater coordination and regional integration are required to achieve concrete outputs in the long and medium-term.

Guyana, unlike the Caribbean islands, has the basics for becoming one of the world’s larger producers of pure, high-quality honey. In the savannahs and Interior regions, there is limitless very sparsely populated land, which could accommodate thousands of hives, in close proximity to which would be woodlands where the bees could gather their nectar from wild flowers. There is also a fairly large corpus of skilled honey producers, which could be rapidly expanded, once the great profitability of the industry becomes known. In this regard, the honey industry, the media,

the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education will have to mount campaigns to let people know how lucrative the industry could be.

The State will, however, have to play a crucial role in the creation of a large and successful industry. The State will have to offer land, financial incentives and assistance, and have all beekeepers exposed to the most modern techniques used in the industry for large-scale production. The Ministry of Agriculture could help with such a programme. Modern legislation would have to be put in place to ensure that the industry is assisted, and, above all, that only pure, high-quality honey is produced and exported from Guyana.

Once the country would have earned the reputation of only producing and exporting pure, high-quality honey, using modern techniques, finding the maarket will not be a problem.

The honey industry would then be a notable foreign exchange earner, and a provider of employment for thousands.

Pooran’s nonselection in ODI squad Dear Editor, HAVING been advised by CWI to make himself available for selection to the West Indies squad against England in the recent ODI series, Nicolas Pooran appeared in only one game.

The potential damage to a young player’s confidence, plus the additional pressure to perform when next he is selected is hardly the recipe for a successful international career. One notes

that both Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer were given repeated opportunities to make amends after numerous failures. So why not Pooran?

Pooran was given a lucrative deal to take part in the PSL T2O tournament now in progress in Pakistan. He must be wondering now if he made the right decision.

Regards Tony Boodhoo

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

This constitutional crisis is really a deep political crisis, laden with ethno-political implications Dear Editor MANY people are sweating over the impending “constitutional crisis” on March 19. My view is that there is already a constitutional crisis:The two political titans are interpreting the Constitution differently.

Since constitutions, by their very nature, are not as explicit as other documents, this disagreement is to be expected. That is where judicial review comes in;the judicial branch of government is expected to break the deadlock. But invariably, the courts come down on one side of the argument.

Because the executive is a co-equal branch of government, it has some scope to get around the verdict of the courts. In other words, despite the rhetoric about constitutional rule and the rule of law, ultimately, those cannot make much sense outside of the larger political and historical contexts.

My problem with the PPP and the commentators

who are holding the government to constitutional standards is that they are presenting their case as if the government’s non-adherence to the dictates of the Constitution is the sum-total of the problem we face. Any honest overview of our modern political history would show that we have been in a permanent state of “constitutional crisis” since 1953, simply because there has been a dissonance between our constitutional declarations and our political praxis.

Burnham solved the problem by installing paramountcy of the party over the courts and the constitution which ultimately led to a full-blown authoritarian order that survives to this day. Since the return to socalled free and fair elections we have witnessed at least three other big manifestations of “constitutional crises”—1990-92, 1997-2001 and 2011-2015. The current one is simply the latest manifestation. The common thread running through all these crises is that they are

all grounded in the ethno-political realities of our country and they all were temporally resolved by political agreements by the two parties under the overt or covert supervision of external forces.

Another constant of these crises is that they have all been accompanied by the real threat of ethnic violence with the 1997 crisis leading to actual ethnic violence that lasted for a decade.

Those of us who study race, ethnicity and politics know that few people and organizations characterize their actions in ethno-racial terms—they find other explanations for even the most overt racial actions. The PPP, for example, love to regale us with the argument that Indian Guyanese support and vote for them not because of race but because they are a working-class party. Or African Guyanese would tell us that they support the crudest form of governance by the PNC not because of race but because they fear the evil PPP. I am therefore arguing that what we are calling a

constitutional crisis is really a deep political crisis laden with ethno-political implications. It does not take a scholar to tell us that the majority of African Guyanese of all persuasions and affiliations feel that the constitution is stacked against them. So, every time they read the arguments by the PPP and the constitutionalists , they rally more around their standard bearers. And Indian Guyanese for the most part cannot be faulted for feeling that the constitution is on their side and that those who disobey it are unfit to govern.

Our ethnic divide has always been a potent factor in our existence. In the run-up to independence the defining question was: who governs a free Guyana? With the return

to free elections the defining question was: who governs a democratic Guyana? In the current dispensation the defining question is who governs an oil rich Guyana?

So come March 19, the ethno-political Cold War could become a Hot War if the leaderships of the two major parties do not find a solution that both ethnic groups could simultaneously see as a win.

We have to go to elections, but any election held outside of a political solution—short or long term—would only exacerbate the problem. Neither side would accept the results.

There is another attendant crisis—the crisis of ideas that could lead to a creative solution. Apart from Shared governance

which was introduced by Eusi Kwayana and the African Society for Racial Equality in 1961, we have not come up with anything new. What does that say about our country that when it comes to the defining problem we face, in six decades we have not generated any new ideas or actualize the one old one? One WPA Elder and I recently attempted to think about a few other Guyanese with whom we can talk about a solution that goes beyond the obvious. After two days of brainstorming we could only identify two others—a former WPA firebrand and a newer WPA-ish type.

Regards David Hinds

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

GWI, UNDP partner for improved water access in Nappi, Parishara and Hiowa ALMOST 1500 residents of Nappi, Parishara and Hiowa in Central Rupununi, Region 9 (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo) are set to benefit from improved water access as the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) partners with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Under the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership, the two parties are working towards increasing resilience of indigenous communities to vulnerabilities in the drought period, through improved water quality, access and storage.

In a release, the GWI said the pilot project will see GWI installing 12 additional water tanks for communal

-almost 1500 residents to benefit

wells in the three communities as well as three water purification tanks to ensure water quality that meets international drinking standards.

Further, GWI said it will be conducting well inspection/pump testing to measure potential yield capacity for seven wells. These wells

have already undergone pump tests and have already been assessed for details relating to well conditions and the amounts of rehabilitation works needed.

Increased extraction from communal wells will also be done by increasing solar power capacity, increasing the number of extraction of wells and conducting rehabilitation works to the storage structure. Rainwater harvesting infrastructure will be installed at the new nursery school in Hiowa.

The GWI will be procuring a resistivity meter which

will provide information to guide future exploration to determine suitable locations to drill for groundwater in the three villages.

The utility will provide technical expertise and other contribution to complete designs for electrical modifications, installation of solar arrays, transportation of goods and personnel to work in the communities, maintenance of the systems, monitoring of Water Quality, as well as the training and development of the Standard Operating Procedures.

As a result of this proj-

ect, there will be some 12,000 US gallons of increased storage capacity which meets international drinking water standards.

Some 11.6 kWh of renewable energy capacity will also be installed in target areas. Additionally, 15 persons will be trained in

climate change adaptation principles and techniques related to installation and maintenance of community-based water systems.

These persons include community members, GWI staff, personnel from the Office for Climate Change and regional personnel.

President Granger’s absence from news conferences is not the same as Irfaan Ali’s absence from campaigning Dear Editor, I REALLY do not have the time to keep schooling

Bharrat Jagdeo, but somebody has to do it.

I guess there are some limitations to studying at one

of Russia’s refugee universities. Anyway, the Champion of the Earth, when asked why Irfaan Ali has vanished

since his selection, retorted that President Granger only had three news conferences in nearly four years.

The PPP supporters jumped up in ecstasy, thinking that their man has scored a knockout. President Granger has had three news conferences. That is a situation I am not happy with.

I think there should have been more. But there are news conferences; and there are elections campaigning.

During the 2011 and 2015 elections, Mr. Granger was at the forefront of the campaign, speaking to all and sundry; including the mosquitoes. There was a reason for that. The candidate has to be visible to the electorate.

The reason being is that he can be interrogated; he can articulate his plans if elected among other things. But most importantly, he can portray the image of being presidential. That will earn him votes. He can go in the streets, shaking random hands, lifting random babies for the cameras and engaging with the electorate. He can also attend functions, with his wife and kids at his side, portraying the image of a stable family man. All this

is important for a candidate who is not well known.

A news conference can also be for campaigning, since it places the candidate in front of a potentially hostile media;but most news conferences are to share information.

But during election season, they can also serve for election campaigning.

During the last four years of the APNU-AFC government, President Granger was not campaigning, therefore to compare what President Granger did over the past year to what Irfaan Ali is not doing makes no sense. The context is totally different; one is for communicating the government’s policies while the other is election campaigning. One needs to be done about once per month; while the other needs to be done every day.

Irfaan Ali’s absence from news conferences during a campaign season is concerning his presence; but sidelining major national and international events is of concern. That he is never the main speaker at political rallies is of concern, because it’s election season. Jagdeo has hidden him away like a

secret boyfriend. All we see of him is a few handshakes and few smiles. I don’t think he is that appealing. Why have him only doing that?

How can that promote him as a Presidential candidate?

Point I am making is that President Granger’s absence from news conferences is not the same as Irfaan Ali’s absence from campaigning.

Secondly, President Granger is the incumbent president, and is well known around Guyana and the Caribbean.

News Conferences, for him, would be an opportunity for him to articulate his Government policies and champion his record. It is not for him to promote himself as the APNU-AFC President. President Granger is well known, while Irfaan is virtually unknown. Who needs the publicity?

That’s it, Bharrat Jagdeo! You have earned yourself a massive fail for your comparison! Try again! In concluding, I would say it is impossible for the red rubber stamp to make an impression in the absence of ink.

Regards Dr. Mark Devonish

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

‘Oil revenues must be used to boost public infrastructure projects’

–AMCHAM Guyana Guyana is on the verge of unprecedented economic growth and the masses are in line to reap the benefits with the production of oil, President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana (AMCHAM Guyana), Zulfikar Ally said when he addressed investors during a Business Forum in New York.

Ally said for years, Guyana’s foreign reserves have hinged on export of gold, diamonds, bauxite and other minerals, agriculture and, to a lesser extent, value-added goods but the tide is now turning. He said the discovery of oil in 2015 has placed Guyana on a new trajectory. To date, there have been 12 successful discoveries by U.S oil giant ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block.

“Our reserves after the 10th discovery were projected at 5Billion barrels, and the volumes from the 11th and 12th

discovery are still to be quantified. (To put this into perspective, ExxonMobil’s total proven reserves as of the end of 2018 were at 24.3Billion oil-equivalent barrels). This now opens the likely need for at least 5 floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels on the Stabroek Block, and an expected production for more than 750,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025,” he detailed.

Liza Phase 1 is expected to start off at 120,000 barrels per day in 2020, the year in which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects a transition to a positive balance of payment and increased economic growth. In 2022 and 2023, two other wells are expected to come on stream, he reported. This mega investment by ExxonMobil will be of significant benefit to the people of Guyana. “With this new income, public investment is expected to increase

The AMCHAM Guyana Business Forum in session

regardless of who is in government, which will manifest as large public and social infrastructure projects, health, education, transportation improvement projects, etc. This means that the opportunities for investment related to the oil sector are endless,” Ally said.

ExxonMobil is just one of the members of AMCHAM Guyana. The other members include: Hess Corporation, Sol

House-to-house ads will continue

DESPITE the disapproval of Opposition-nominated Commissioners, advertisements (ads) posted in the media regarding vacancies for personnel to conduct house-to-house registration will continue.

This was according to Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Warde.

She told the newspaper on Monday, March 4, 2019, that the decision to place the ads was based on the Commission’s decision, some two weeks ago, to continue its routine plan for 2019 which includes house-to-house registration.

The ads were placed in the Sunday, March 3, 2019 edition of newspapers and invited applicants to fill the temporary positions of Assistant Registration Officer (ARO) and enumerator for house-to-house registration.

The ARO will come under the supervision of the Registration Officer (RO) and will be responsible for determining the correct registration divisions and validity of registration applications.

Such a person will also, among other responsibilities, assist the RO in the management of temporary offices.

Meanwhile, the enumerator will be responsible for conducting preliminary checks for validity of doc-

GECOM, Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Warde

uments presented by applicants and, among other responsibilities, keep a database of photographs taken.

In a release on Sunday, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) nominated Commissioners came against the ads stating that house-to-house registration was not necessary at this time and that no decision had been taken to commence same.

However, Warde maintained that the GECOM Secretariat was operating based on the Commission’s February 19, 2019 decision, by the voting process, to continue on its 2019 work plan in which house-to-house registration was budgeted for.

“The ads will continue running. There was a vote at the level of the Commission, two weeks ago, where three

motions were put forward.

One of those motions was for the Secretariat to essentially revert to its 2019 work plan. The 2019 work plan, essentially, was a Claims and Objections exercise and house-to-house registration.

That vote has already been carried and it’s now for implementation. So, the ads appearing out there is essentially where implementation commences,” Warde said.

At the last statutory meeting, PPP-nominated Commissioners, Bibi Shadick, Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn, walked out of the meeting following a clash in opinion on how the Commission should continue following the President’s directive to the Commission to commence preparations for the conduct of General and Regional Elections.

Although GECOM’s Chair, retired Justice James Patterson had indicated to the President that elections preparations can be done simultaneously with the 2019 work programme, Opposition Commissioners have stated that they are uninterested in discussing the 2019 work programme.

The full Commission is expected to meet again today at 13:00hrs to continue its deliberations on the matters regarding a way forward.

Guyana, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT), Neal and Mass y, Queens ATLANTIC Inc., Corum Group, Fix-it Hardware, Nabi Construction and London House Chambers among others.

He noted that since the launch of AMCHAM in August 2018, its membership base has grown to 40 members, comprising companies and businesses that span all sectors of the economy, from banking to machinery. The AMCHAM Guyana President said while there is a significant increase in business activity in Guyana ahead of first oil, investment opportunities are not restricted to that sector as he warned against the Dutch Disease.

“Lessons learnt from oil-dependent economies have

served to guide nations in the direction they take at this very critical juncture of development, that is, the transition into an oil economy,” he posited.

The major stakeholders in Guyana as well as AMCHAM Guyana are cognizant that the country ought not to dependent heavily on the oil revenues.

“The business community is poised to play a crucial role in ensuring this mandate is achieved through initiatives which promote diversification.

With alternative profit streams, Guyana can avoid being another case study of the infamous resource curse and secure an economy which is adequately insulated from price volatility which follows global market effects,” he said.

Ally said too that there are opportunities for sound investments that are not limited to the oil and gas industry but serve as a key stabilising element in the macroeconomic environment.

“The investment climate is ripe for non-traditional industries and services since there are tax concessions available through the laws of Guyana and are mandated through the Guyana Office for Investment (GOINVEST). Your presence today tells us that you too are curious or have questions regarding investing in Guyana.

Whatever those questions are, AMCHAM Guyana is here to

9

provide any guidance you may need,” he told the investors.

In giving them insight into AMCHAM Guyana, Ally explained that it is aimed at promoting trade and commerce between Guyanese and American companies. Its specific mandate is to represent US business interests in the Guyanese market, and provide a support mechanism to overseas business primarily through advocacy and networking.

“We recognise that Guyanese companies face challenges in keeping up with the standard and pace of the global business environment due to a number of constraints including technology, financing, availability of skilled labour, high energy and other importation costs, to name a few, and as such AMCHAM supports initiatives that help to overcome these hurdles. These include initiatives aimed at building capacity, connecting venture capitalists with businesses seeking capital for growth, expansion or improvements, and at advocating for transformation or optimisation, as the case may be, of systems which reduce the bureaucracy associated with conducting business in Guyana,” he explained. The Business Forum was held at Inter-Continental Hotel at Times Square on Saturday.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

Redouble your efforts to protect the environment –Minister Harmon urges at World Wildlife Day celebrations

By Svetlana Marshall MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon called on Guyanese to redouble their efforts to protect the environment, when he delivered the keynote address during an educational forum held in observance of World Wildlife Day under the theme “Life below water: for people and planet.”

He said the theme is aligned with Goal 14 of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development

rectly.

Despite the importance of the oceans, they continue to be severely affected by pollution. “As much as 40 per cent of the oceans are heavily affected by pollution with an estimated 8M metric tonnes of plastic waste entering the world’s oceans annually,” Minister Harmon detailed.

Here in Guyana, the government is committed to having a systematic ban on single-use plastics, as it plays its role in address-

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

Director of the Department of the Environment Ndibi Schwiers

Participants of the educational forum on World Wildlife Day 2019

Goals (SDG) 2030, which sets the foundation for the advancement of the sustainable use and conservation of the oceans.

In underlying the importance of marine life, the minister of state pointed out that more than three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for livelihood, with marine fisheries employing over 200M people directly and indi-

ing this global problem. He noted that the Department of the Environment, since the announcement in 2018, has begun its awareness campaign ahead of the 2021 ban. “It is important that we get ourselves ready for that and minimise the use of single-use plastics,” he urged.

It was noted too that the 2019 World Wildlife Day theme is also aligned with objective three of Guyana’s

‘Green’ State Development Strategy (GSDS) Vision 2040. He said organisations such as the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Protected Areas Commission, the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society and the Iwokrama Centre for Rainforest Conservation, have been work-

ing tirelessly towards the conservation and sustainable management of the country’s wildlife.

However, he said the country’s efforts at conservation and sustainable management ought to be improved, and objective three of the GSDS will pave the way for that. That objective addresses the protection, restoration and sustainable use of coastal and marine resources. The provision of coastal ecosystem services and fisheries management, are two strategic areas that would be instituted.

Director of the Department of the Environment, Ndibi Schwiers, said it is an established fact that Guyana is a biologically rich country, home to more than 500 freshwater fish species with about 80 plus species endemic, including the world’s largest freshwater fish – the arapaima. “Although a comprehensive understanding of Guyana’s marine ecosystem is still in its incipient stage, we know that our marine environment has similar characteristics of those of Suriname and French Guiana – being highly productive –

contributing just about two per cent of our GDP – with a high diversity and abundance of marine species,” Schwiers said.

However, she said, Guyana, like many other countries, is battling with overfishing, pollution, the inappropriate use of agro-chemicals, and climate change which continue to affect marine life, but the GSDS will help to address many of the issues.

“The government intends to achieve the conservation and preservation of its natural capital through institutionalised and prudent management of its natural resources. We also recognise that Guyana’s marine environment will benefit from improved management of our water resources through the execution of sustainable practices, including the prioritisation of critical natural habitats, inclusive of wetlands that are home to a diverse range of biodiversity,” the director detailed.

Internationally, Guyana’s commitment to the sustainable use of its marine environment is being supported through active participation in the negotiation of an internationally legally binding agreement, under the United Nations Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Commissioner of the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management

Commission, Alona Sankar, noted that March 3 was declared World Wildlife Day by the United Nations General Assembly during its 68th Session on December 20, 2013. Since then it sets a platform for greater awareness of wildlife and the importance of conservation and management.

She said the commission, which was established on June 1, 2017, is responsible for the management, conservation and protection of Guyana’s wildlife as well as the regulation of internal and external trade of the country’s wildlife. “It is the CITES Management Authority of Guyana and therefore regulates international trade – import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea – of wildlife,” Sankar posited.

Like Minister Harmon, Sankar used the opportunity to call for the protection of the country’s marine resources through simple actions such as using less plastic; utilising more reusable items instead of disposal items; supporting conservation measures; using sustainably harvested products, and disposing of waste in a safe and responsible manner. The educational forum was attended by students from various secondary schools and other key stakeholders involved in the protection of the environment.

The Civil Defence Commission receives contribution from Mormons

By Dillon Goring

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, yesterday (March 4, 2019) made a contribution of food supplies, valued in excess of $1.2M, to the Civil Defence Commission, for Venezuelan migrants.

It was the first disbursement of humanitarian aid donated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Previously, the CDC received more than 800 hygiene hampers which were distributed in Mabaruma, Region One (Barima / Waini) to assist the afore-mentioned migrants.

According to the Administrative Manager (ag) of the Civil Defence Commission, Odetta Giddings, the body has received humanitarian assistance from other groups, including businesses such as De Sinco Trading. She added that the CDC was also receiving support from the

International Organisation of Migrants (IOM) to provide relief hampers.

Church Elders William T. Bohne and his wife Sandra F Bohne said they were very pleased to donate the supplies.

They explained that the church was responsible for six countries, including Guyana,

Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. The church had done projects such as providing prostheses for persons who had lost their limbs. It had also undertaken the completed refurbishment of the Salvation Army Drug Rehabilitation Programme’s dormitory and refurbishing the libraries of

schools in Beterverwagting, Vreed-en- Hoop and Goed Fortuin. Potable water was also provided.

The Civil Defence Commission has received, so far, a total of $2M from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

‘No Singapore or Norway, just a better Guyana’ -Min Gaskin says oil industry will be better enhanced through partnerships

GUYANA is on the verge of becoming one of the biggest oil producers but, Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin said that the country will be no Singapore or Norway, just a better Guyana.

While money from the industry will be invested “wisely,” the minister said the country will be developed to a Guyana which young Guyanese want to be a part of.

Gaskin laid out Guyana’s plan during a panel discussion on oil-and-gas development in Guyana, hosted

by Rice University’s Baker Institute, on Tuesday, February 26.

“I am encouraged by the

capacity-building I have been seeing… we are developing best practices and local companies have been partnering with experienced international companies to do the same in order to supply the local sector,” said Gaskin.

International interest in Guyana peaked after ExxonMobil revealed the country’s oil-and-gas prospects. First production from the offshore Liza field is expected in 2020, and full development could yield 500,000 barrels per day.

“We welcome the interest and investments because we have people who have needs and our people are our priority,” said the minister,

adding that a vast majority of Guyanese is hopeful than ever before.

Gaskin believes that prior to 2015, Guyana was one of the most ignored countries in the world, but now the attention has grown and businesses are interested in what is going on offshore Guyana.

In light of this, government has embarked on a digitisation programme because government sees oil as a means of transforming the economy and fast-tracking development.

Government also intends on rolling out major infrastructure development projects and delivering services in education and youth devel-

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin

opment effectively.

Guyana, however, cannot

proceed alone, he said, adding that the country sees oil activities as a way to create partnerships.

“By this I mean government will be the facilitator through a well-regulated industry…we recognise there is a lot we can lose if we do not manage the sector properly,” said Gaskin.

Guyana has arrived on the oil scene quite late with an obvious lack of experience but, the minister believes that the country is fortunate to be starting at a time when there is a wealth of information.

With assistance from other countries and agencies, Guyana would be able to measure the impact of oil on

economies at various stages of development.

“We have been able to analyse the negative consequences of rapid growth… countries have failed because they could not anticipate the magnitude of oil on economies,” said Minister Gaskin.

As Guyana continues to take examples, he said the country will note the importance of maintaining its traditional sectors such as agriculture, mining and tourism.

“We not only want to maintain these sectors but also partner with reputable international countries to develop our product,” said Minister Gaskin.

APA to continue push for land titling …urges legislative reform for protection of rights

By Lisa Hamilton THE Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has reminded the country’s policymakers of the need to respect the past, current and possible future contributions of Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples to national development.

This was the message of APA President and Toshao of Kako Village, Mario Hastings who addressed some 100 members at the Association’s Annual General Meeting and 10th General Assembly on Monday.

The three-day event was hosted at Camp Kayu-

Pointing out initiatives such as the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), Hastings outlined that Indigenous Peoples, who have been protectors of Guyana’s environment from the inception, must be included in these discussions. “We have heard a bit about Guyana becoming a ‘Green’ State, and we wish to state that, while commendable, we wish to take this opportunity to remind policymakers that it is the Indigenous Peoples, through our way of life, that has largely maintained our country in this natural state,” he said, adding: “We call on policymakers

APA members, part of the Wapichan Nation, present a song and dance

ka on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, and represents the body’s highest decisionmaking forum.

to recognise and respect the critical contribution of Indigenous Peoples in the national development of this great

country of ours. We must be included in discussions, and not be spoken for or spoken to. We are capable of speak-

in the gold-mining sector, with the aim of eliminating its use altogether by 2027.

With the help of the Min-

APA President and Toshao of Kako Village, Mario Hastings

Face-painting in action at the campsite

ing for ourselves, grounded in the wisdom, legacy and traditional knowledge of our elders who have trodden this path before us.”

Although there have been changes over the years, Hastings said that there is still work to be done in the areas of rights violation regarding Indigenous lands; the pollution of waterways by the extractive sector, and insecure land tenure.

He also warned about the dangers of a conflict of interest between the country’s mining sector, which damages the environment and its pursuit of a ‘green’ economy.

Presently, Guyana is working to phase out the use mercury

istry of Natural Resources, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Conservation International (CI) and the National Toshaos Council (NTC), miners are being introduced to alternative and safe mining equipment to facilitate the transition.

“We strongly believe at this time that there are opportunities that we will utilise to harness and advance our rights in policy and programme development, such as the Green State Development Strategy, REDD+, the extractive sector, including oil-and-gas and conservation

programmes,” Hastings said, projecting: “With access to financing, we can have our own Indigenous languages, and promote cultural-heritage protection.”

In the meanwhile, he noted that the APA will continue to push for the titling and demarcation of their lands in accordance with traditional rights; legislative reform for the adequate protection of these rights, and the right to participate in decision-making at the national level.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, Hastings said that the most important activity the APA is currently engaged in is the revision of the Amerindian Act. “We know that this has been one of the major issues, and it is because of the laws of the country that a lot of Indigenous people are facing a lot of problems, because of the deficiency,” he said.

The APA members will spend the next two days at Camp Kayuka, examining

solutions and recommendations to these and other issues which affect them. They will also touch on topics regarding the women, youths and opportunities for Indigenous Peoples in the oil-and-gas sector.

Presentations are to come from the likes of attorney-t-law Nigel Hughes; environmentalist Anette Arjoon; and members of the Forestry Commission, and other APA Executives.

On Monday, APA members also demonstrated their creativity in the form of music, dance, language and face painting. The APA was formally established in 1991 out of a group of concerned residents from various communities who met to address issues regarding health, education, rights violation and environmental protection. It is an advocacy organisation, and a legally- registered body under the Friendly Societies Act, and is made up of units across the country.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

Guyana focused on ‘retooling and reforming’ mining sector -Min. Jordan tells Canadian convention

WHILE the Government of Guyana is focussed on ensuring everything is in place for oil production, it has not forgotten to address other aspects of the productive sector, and this includes retooling and reforming the mining industry.

This is according to Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, who addressed stakeholders in Toronto, Canada on Sunday at that country’s largest mining convention.

According to the ministry, local miners, international mining companies, businesses, investors, prospectors and government officials on Sunday converged on the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada for the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention (PDAC).

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman also attended the event. The ministry said that mining companies

in Guyana were showcased at a special event called ‘Guyana Mining Day – Guyana in Focus’. In his feature address, Minister Jordan reportedly told the gathering of analysts, mining executives and geologists that there is an urgent need for governments to devise a strategy for mining that includes consideration for the environment and cultures that are affected by mining activities.

He further told the gathering that oil production is on target for the first quarter of 2020 in Guyana, but it could be advanced to the last quarter of this year.

Minister Jordan said that while the focus is on oil, much work is being done to make all of Guyana’s productive sectors remain competitive, and that therefore, the retooling and reforming of the mining sector is critical. He added that local stakeholders agree that that if our natural resources are managed well, they can

Minister of Naturl Resources a nd the E nvir onm ent, Raphael Trotman

Minister of Finance, Mr Winston Jordan

change the economic fortunes of the country.

He also underscored the government’s commitment to reform through the development of a National Mineral Sector Policy Framework, so as to address issues of enforcement, compliance, incentives and competitiveness among other critical issues.

During his address, the Finance Minister highlighted

the benefits of investing in Guyana’s mining sector.

Those benefits include the protection of investments by the Constitution and laws; a progressive royalty regime for small and medium producers, access to credit, a ready workforce and no restrictions on the repatriation of profits, dividends and other earned income.

Minister Trotman told

the gathering. “Guyana is currently one of the best investment destinations in the world,” and that his Ministry has “well-established operating rules that provide a safe operating environment for all investors, and flexibility to establish the infrastructure and operations necessary to enable success in their investments.”

According to a release from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Trotman told the audience that it is the Guyana government's and people's desire to explore and extract its resources in a sustainable way; sustainable both in terms of the rates of extraction, and with respect for the rich biodiversity within the shield.

Trotman told delegates that the country’s policies and regulations “are always drafted in consultation with key stakeholders, and therefore you will find that they offer fair rewards for all stakeholders; and that There are no significant laws or practices that discriminate against foreign investors.” In fact, he noted that foreign di-

rect investment in our mining sector is actively encouraged as it is critical to our economic development.

Guyana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Clarissa Riehl, Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, and former US Ambassador and Senior Vice-President of Guyana Goldfields, Perry Holloway also addressed the gathering.

The event, which runs from March 3 -6, is a platform that allows miners and prospectors to showcase their work. Presentations were made by Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Goldsource Mines Incorporated, Reunion Gold, Avalon Gold Exploration, Sandsprings/ETK, Matallica Commodities and Guyana Goldstrike Incorporated.

The Guyana Mining Day was conceptualised

by Guyana Goldfields, and is now hosted by the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana through Go-Invest.

GPF credit union turns 50

By Deneita Fredericks EMBODIED in the warmth of worship, ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday (March 4, 2019) gathered in their numbers at the Guyana Police Force’s Credit Union Building at Camp Road, Georgetown, to commemorate its 50th anniversary.

The credit union, which was registered in 1969 under the Co-op Act of Guyana 8801, serves as the voice of the ranks of the GPF and has over the years, enabled many ranks to own their own vehicles, houses and even start their own businesses.

Present at the event was the commissioner of Police Mr. Leslie James, DSS, DSM; the Chief Co-operative Development Officer (CCDO), Ms. Perlina Gifth; Deputy Commissioners Mr. Paul Williams DSM, Ms. Maxine Graham DSM, Assistant Commissioners

Members of the Guyana Police Force during the celebration

Clifton Hicken and Royston Andries-junor; Second Incharge Operations, Senior

Superintendent Mr. Errol Watts; Director of Music, Senior Superintendent Char-

maine Stuart; Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Ramlakhan and Manager of

the GPF Credit Union, Assistant Superintendent Reynold Venture and other senior and

junior ranks of the force.

The programme was initiated with a prayer by Superintendent Marcelene Washington. Her proclamation of high praises reverberated in the room.

Pastor Phillip Bowman then delivered a dynamic sermon as he touched several issues concerning the welfare of the country and its citizens. He noted that the Guyana Police Force is a blessing from God, using scriptures to corroborate his proclamation.

Pastor Bowman’s sermon was reminiscent of the days of old when our people worked together, a time when class, race and other denominational aspects of life were nonexistent.

Various songs of worship showered the room as everyone celebrated the union’s anniversary.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

RUSAL refuses to meet union –– calls for Lincoln Lewis' exclusion from meeting, river to be cleared

By Navendra Seoraj TENSIONS flared on Monday when the Russian-owned Bauxite Company, RUSAL, refused to meet the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU), saying it does not want to engage Lincoln Lewis.

Lewis is the general secretary of the union. The company and union have been at odds for more than a week after RUSAL declared that it has not been making profits in recent years and will be closing sections of its operations, while laying off 30 workers to add to the 61 it had fired.

“Well the Russians said they are not prepared to meet with the union unless Lincoln Lewis is absent and the river is unblocked so they can reinstate the workers,” said President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Coretta McDonald, in an invited comment on Monday.

and there are lots of matters pending so we need to sit at a table and iron out the issues after which we will move to the next step,” said McDonald. Although the company did not meet with the union

“I should think that the issue is closer to being resolved because they will be putting the proposals in black and white by the end of the day,” said Ogle. The government officials did not

laws they could “pack up and leave” because the workers are prepared to pack up and leave. Lewis agreed with McDonald, noting that the company should leave if they do not want to uphold

Junior Minister of Social Protection, Keith Scott engaging the media on Monday (Samuel Maughn photos)

General-Secretary of the GB&GWU, Lincoln Lewis and other union reps on Monday

the laws. The veteran trade unionist said he will not step away from the union to facilitate a meeting.

Representatives of RUSAL leaving the Ministry of Social Protection after meeting with government officials

She had just stepped out of a meeting with the union and the Department of Labour. The meeting was initially set to allay the uncertainty surrounding the dismissal of workers who had taken strike action on February 15 to protest a one per cent increase in salaries for 2019. The workers have since blocked the river where the company’s bauxite-laden barges have to pass to go to the transhipment station for loading on ocean-going vessels.

“There was no collective agreement since 2009

representatives, they had a discussion with Junior Minister of Social Protection, Keith Scott and Chief Labour Officer (CLO), Charles Ogle.

In an effort to quell the situation, the ministry met with the union to brief them on what was discussed during the meeting. Scott said the company has agreed to make some proposals which will be given to the union for further collective discussions. He believes that industrial relations are satisfactory and as such, the company will have to come to the table at some point.

reveal what the proposals were, but McDonald said they were told that the company is asking for the river to be unblocked because they are paying $1 million a day.

“But we are clear, we will continue to block the river until they decide to meet with the union and recognise the members,” she said.

“It has gone too far and it must be stopped…Russians must respect the laws of this land and if the higher authorities cannot do it then we will do it,” said McDonald.

She also said that if they do not want to respect the

ARBITRATION Lewis said the law provides for the ministry to call an arbitration tribunal to deal with the matter, a move which the union is prepared to support. “We heard that they want to set up a technical committee but we would prefer that the matter go to arbitration,” said Lewis.

According to U.S. media company Bloomberg, RUSAL has suspended its mining unit in Guyana over the current labour conflict which saw the dismissal of over 90 workers for engaging in strike action. The publication stated that RUSAL, in emailed comments, claimed that workers “declined to work and demanded a pay increase, even though their salaries had been adjusted for forecast inflation at the end of last year.”

This saw the company moving its equipment to a guarded warehouse as part of a decision taken on February 15, 2019, to suspend its mining unit due to a “massive violation of labour discipline.”

Minister Scott, however, said this issue was not raised by the company during the meeting on Monday. Efforts to get a comment from representatives of RUSAL proved

futile since the officials declined to comment on the matter. Minister Ally, at a recent meeting with RUSAL executives, had lobbied for reinstatement of the fired workers; she made it clear that government’s main interest is to protect the rights of its citizens. RUSAL owns 90 per cent of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) and has been oper-

ating in Guyana since 2004.

MINISTER of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, said that he has ordered the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to conduct a technical and legal assessment of all RUSAL operations and is hoping to have that report submitted to him at the earliest opportunity.

Policemen among four charged for bird smuggling FOUR men yesterday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for attempting to smuggle birds through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Particulars of the charge read that during the period November 1 to December 8, 2018, at the CJIA, the men who were known to each other arranged to export a number of birds to a foreign country. This was done without permission from the Guyana Wildlife Association or any of the relevant authorities.

Among the quartet were 23-year-old Alex Heywood and 34-yearold, Denzel Williams, who are members of the Guyana Police Force. The others are 31-year-old, Prem Rajaram and 40-year-old Gregory Ramkellwan.

The court heard that,

One of the accused, Gregory Ramkelllwan

on the day in question, the men were attempting to smuggle the birds through the airport and bribed the two police officers with the sum of $600,000.

The matter was reported and the suspects were apprehended. The prosecutor did not object to bail, which was granted in the sum of $100,000 each. The defendants will return to court during the coming week

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

Killing of jaguar under investigation …perpetrators to be brought to justice MINISTER of State, Joseph Harmon, has called for a thorough investigation into the killing of a jaguar, during a recent hunting expedition.

The lifeless body of a jaguar – Guyana’s national animal – was recently posted on popular social media network, Facebook, after it was slain by hunters. The act is in contravention of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2016, and has sparked ‘outrage and outcry’. Guyana Wildlife Conservation Management Commission has launched an investigation into the incident.

In his address, during a public forum held in observance of the World Wildlife Day, on Monday, March 4, 2019, at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Minister Harmon advised that the incident should be investigated thoroughly and without delay. “I am calling on the department to ensure that this investigation takes place with speed and that the perpetrators are brought to justice very quickly,” he said.

Minister Harmon pointed out that it was only in 2018

that World Wildlife Day was celebrated under the theme “Big Cats: Predators under threat.”

Director of the Department of the Environment, Ndibi Schwiers, while denouncing the killing of the jaguar, assured those present, including the minister of state, that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

“I denounce and castigate the recent killing of one of our precious jaguars. All six species of wildcats, including the jaguars, are protected by law in Guyana. Be assured that the Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission, the agency responsible for wildlife management and conservation, along with the relevant authorities, is investigating this matter, with the aim of ensuring successful prosecution of the offenders,” Schwiers said.

The Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2016 makes it illegal for persons to collect, hold in captivity, hunt, kill, or otherwise molest ‘protected’ species. World Wildlife Day was celebrated on March 3, 2019.

Robbery accused remanded for escaping custody AN 18-year-old was yesterday (March 4, 2019) remanded to prison by Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for three offences.

Shaquille Davis, a street mason residing in Guyhoc Park, pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that on March 1, 2019, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, he gave false information to the court about his name and his age.

The court heard that Davis told the officer in charge of the matter that he was 17 and his name was Shamar and not Shaquille. When an investigation was launched into the matter, his birth certificate was brought forward and revealed that the defendant had given false information to the police.

The second charge alleged that on February 2, 2019, at High Street, Georgetown, Davis robbed Sherlock Cummings of $3000 in cash, a silver chair worth $10,000

and one white BLU cellphone worth $16,000. He also used violence during the act.

The third charge read that on March 1, 2019, at the Brickdam Police Station, after being in lawful custody for robbery and presenting false information, he escaped from the said custody.

According to reports, the defendant went through the police’s management office and jumped through the window. He then ran through the police nest and scaled the fence, resulting in him sustaining injuries.

The defendant denied all the allegations, claiming that he went to the washroom, handcuffed to another man who escaped. As a result, the police threatened to lock him up.

The prosecutor objected to bail being granted because of the seriousness of the offence and due to the fact that the defendant is a flight risk.

Davis was remanded and will return to court on March 18, 2019.

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Talks ongoing in UG wage dispute

DISCUSSIONS are still ongoing with the tripartite body of the University of Guyana (UG) administration, its workers’ union and the UG council, as a resolution is being sought over the wage increase impasse.

On Monday, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of UG, Paulette Paul, told the Guyana Chronicle that “talks are ongoing” between the unions and the administration, following the resumption of negotiations brokered by the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Major General (retired), Joe Singh.

Paul did not divulge what decisions have or have not been made so far. She only said: “What will happen is that we will have a joint statement when the matter is concluded.”

The University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) and the University of

Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) began protesting at the Turkeyen Campus recently, with members calling for a financial audit to be done at the institution.

They claimed that funds are being misappropriated, instead of being used to develop the teaching space. The protest was also undertaken because the unions did not accept the three per cent salary increase for UA (academic) staff, and a four per cent increase for UB (support) staff, which was imposed last November and retroactive to January 1, 2018.

The university had stated that it cannot afford further increases and had asked the unions to act responsibly and in the best interest of the students.

The unions, alongside representatives of the UG administration, met with Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, who had

convened a conciliation meeting, on February 12, with the bodies in light of the impasse over negotiations of wages and salaries for 2018. The unions were, however, displeased with that conciliation meeting. Subsequent to that, Major Singh had managed to broker the resumption of the talks between the administration and unions. The unions met with the UG council and members of the administration, but this engagement did not yield positive results. All parties, however, committed to continuing talks.

On Monday, President of the UGSSA, Dr Jewel Thomas confirmed that “talks are ongoing” but also did not comment on the nature of discussions.

She shared however that the council will meet on Thursday of this week and subsequent to that, the bodies should be able to issue a joint statement.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Providence man pleads guilty to manslaughter –court awaits probation report TWENTY-EIGHT-YEAROLD Ravindra Paremdass appeared before Justice James Bovell-Drakes in the High Court on Monday, charged with the 2012 killing of Roopram Jagdeo, called ‘Lil Baby’ and ‘Rabbit.’

Originally charged with murder, Paremdass opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

The indictment read that between December 20, 2012,

and December 21, 2012, at Providence, East Bank Demerara, Paremdass killed Jagdeo.

Justice Bovell-Drakes adjourned the matter until March 25, 2019, for a probation report on the accused.

In 2015, Paremdass went on trial before High Court Judge Navindra Singh, who had imposed a 57-year jail term after a 12- member jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

However, in 2018, Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin successfully appealed the conviction and sentence on behalf of Paremdass. Datadin had argued that Justice Singh failed to adequately put his client’s case of self-defence to the jury for consideration.

Hearing the appeal was Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Rishi Persaud and Dawn

Gregory. The Court of Appeal had set aside the conviction and sentence and ordered a retrial for Paremdass. The state’s case is that the accused and Jagdeo were involved in an altercation that resulted in the latter’s death. The altercation between the men stemmed from a row over a bicycle.

According to reports, Paremdass killed Jagdeo by dealing him several blows to the head with a piece of wood. Paremdass had admitted during his first trial that the incident resulted

Ravindra Paremdass

from a fight, which Jagdeo started.

The murder accused had claimed that Jagdeo threatened to kill him with a piece of wood after he refused to lend his bicycle.

Additionally, Paremdass explained that during the confrontation, he sustained injuries to the head. Consequently, Paremdass said he went into Jagdeo’s yard and dealt him several lashes with another piece of wood, resulting in Jagdeo sustaining the fatal blow to the head.

Mechanic appeals four-year sentence for trafficking cocaine, ‘ganja’ ONE month after 48-yearold Rajendra Persaud was sentenced to four years imprisonment, on Monday, March 04, 2019, Madam Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the High Court released

him on $700,000 bail pending an appeal by his attorney.

The bail application was made by Persaud’s attorney, Siand Dhurjon, who argued that his client was wrong-

fully jailed by trial Magistrate Rushell Liverpool at the Leonora Magistrates Court.

Persaud, a mechanic, on January 1, 2019, was sentenced and fined $50M after being found guilty of trafficking 35

kilogrammes of cannabis and 13.8 kilogrammes of cocaine on June 6, 2018.

Persaud was jointly charged and was on trial with Khamraj Lall, 39, of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo; 36-year-old Marlon Lawrence of Felicity, East Coast Demerara (ECD); Cleve Thornhill, and 36-year-old Doodnauth Chattergoon, also of Zeelugt.

However, Persaud was found guilty of the charge, since it was found that he had knowledge and control of the illicit drugs, while his other co-accused were freed.

During Monday’s hearing before Justice Barlow, Dhurjon raised several concerns surrounding the magistrate’s ruling to convict his client.

According to reports, CANU ranks, on June 6, 2018, at Parika, East Bank Essequibo, intercepted the five men with the cocaine and cannabis stashed in false bottoms of two 15-gallon gas bottles. CANU was able to make the “bust” after receiving information pertaining to a shipment of drugs arriving at Parika, from Charity, in a speedboat.

Acting on the informa-

tion, CANU officers then went to the Parika location where they intercepted motor vehicles PSS 8019 and PVV 7934. In one motor car were Lawrence and Persaud, while Thornhill and the other co-accused were in the other.

The vehicles were searched and two blue 15-gallon gas bottles were found with the bottoms cut and covered with brown paste.

A further examination of the containers revealed several packages, some containing cannabis and others containing the suspected cocaine.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday March 5, 2019

Reg. 10 sweeper-cleaners calling for fair payment

By Vanessa Braithwaite

WHILE sweeper-cleaners across Guyana have been regularised and should be receiving a rate of $312.00 per hour, for eight hours a day, those attached to nursery schools in Region 10 are the exception.

These workers are paid for only six hours and want the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC), to respect the circular sent out by the Ministry of Education, in March 2018.

One affected nursery sweeper-cleaner vented her frustration to Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry, who recently visited Linden. She said it is unfair that there is a difference in payment for workers with the same duties and work load. In fact, she opined that nursery sweeper cleaners have a heavier task, since “smaller children dirty their environment faster.” “When the children vomit up in

school, is we have to clean it. It’s harder work,” she related.

The sweeper-cleaner argued that while they are working six hours as opposed to eight hours, they never disputed their hours being increased to eight.

She also reasoned that the difference in hours does not affect nursery and primary teachers’ salary and should not affect sweeper-cleaners’.

Minister Henry told the sweeper-cleaner that she had indeed sent out the circular, mandating the increase in payment to coincide with the increased hours. It was however, left at the behest on the Regional Executive Officer (REO) to execute the pay increase.

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Region 10 REO Orrin Gordon related that while the MoE made the demands, the RDC is expected to work within the guidelines of the Depart-

ment of Public Service. He explained that there is a difference in payment because of the six and eight hours work schedule, and that he has been trying arduously to put systems in place to ensure that all sweeper-cleaners can be paid the same salary. He added that he has engaged several authorities on the matter, “but the issue has not been put to rest. It is a conundrum that needs to be sorted out. I have to be guided by instructions,” he noted. Gordon said if he goes ahead and pay the workers the same rates, despite the difference in working hours, it will be a recipe for an audit query.

He is hoping that the matter is sorted out at the earliest opportunity.

Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Industrial Relations Officer for Region 10, Maurice Butters, who was instrumental in fighting for the regularisation of the sweeper-cleaners, said that he is not in

Maurice Butters

agreement with the decision taken by the RDC to change the circular, since it is a government one, and was very self-ex-

Orrin Gordon

planatory. “It did not say six hours for nursery and eight hours for primary. It said eight hours for sweeper-cleaners therefore they

are flouting the instructions and should have put systems in place, so that the people can work eight hours,” he opined. He suggested that the nursery sweeper-cleaners go to work for seven instead of eight, and be given a half hour lunch break to boost their hours to eight. He also suggested that they be placed on an eighthour shift system. Prior to regularisation, the sweeper-cleaners were paid $208.00 per four hours.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, March 05, 2019

England bids farewell to 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Banks

By Andrew Cawthorne STOKE-ON-TRENT, E n g l a n d (R e u t e r s ) Thousands of fans joined luminaries of English football for a final farewell on Monday to Gordon Banks, a steelworker’s son who became one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers and will forever be remembered for a miraculous save against Pele.

Team mates from England’s 1966 World Cup win and members of former clubs Stoke City and Leicester rode in a cortege from the Stoke stadium to a church funeral for Banks who died aged 81 last month of cancer.

“As a goalkeeper, he’s one of the few superstars of our position,” Leicester and Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who was a pallbearer at the funeral, told Reuters.

“Great keeper; great man. It’s an incredibly sad day.”

Banks was best known for the stunning one-handed save from a Pele bullet header that bounced awkwardly in front of him during England’s group-stage game against Brazil at the 1970 World Cup. “With the luck of the gods, the angle at which I’d managed to lift that ball was perfect, and it ballooned in the air and over the bar,” the genial and downtoearth Banks said in one of the many recountings begged by fans and me-

dia.

Footage shows Banks chuckling afterwards, as England’s Bobby Moore jokingly chides him for not catching the ball.

Trentham Gardens.

“He donated his tie to a charity event I was involved in and we raised 200 pounds ($265.56). Such a gentleman,” reminisced Phillip

Goalkeepers Jack Butland and Joe Hart also helped to carry Banks’s coffin into the church, where fellow 1966 World Cup winner and hat-trick hero

Pallbearers carry the coffin out of Stoke Minster church after a funeral service for England’s former goalkeeper Gordon Banks, in Stoke-on-Trent, central England, on Monday. (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

His achievements went far further than stopping Pele.

Banks won 73 national caps, played nearly 500 times for Leicester and Stoke, won two League Cups and was six times FIFA keeper of the year before a car crash blinded him in one eye.

He remained in Stoke, a former mining and pottery city, where he would watch games, attend charity events and take a weekly walk round

Steele, 76, next to a statue of Banks at the hilltop stadium decked in flags, scarves, footballs and flowers.

SIMPLER ERA

About 2,000 fans were at the Bet365 stadium to watch proceedings on a big screen.

Others lined the route of the funeral procession, which paused outside the old Victoria Ground where Banks plied his trade before reaching Stoke Minster.

Geoff Hurst gave one of the speeches.

“Gordon Banks contributed to the worst moment of my football career,” Hurst quipped, recalling a penalty of his that Banks stopped in Stoke’s 1972 League Cup semi-final against West Ham. “He was a superstar on the field — but off the field he was an ordinary guy, no airs and graces.”

In a largely working-class city obsessed with football,

Banks was viewed as a reminder of simpler days before the Premier League’s mega-millions.

Everyone had their favourite save.

tary service, he got a firstteam contract at Chesterfield — for seven pounds ($9.24) a week.

Anecdotes from Banks’s life tell of a

Gordon Banks won 73 national caps, played nearly 500 times for Leicester and Stoke, won two League Cups and was six times FIFA keeper of the year.

Banks used to pick out a 1963 FA Cup semi-final when Leicester scored with their only shot on goal while he single-handedly thwarted chance after chance for Liverpool.

Born in the northern city of Sheffield, he worked as a coal packer and apprentice bricklayer as a teenager before an inauspicious start at Chesterfield’s Reserves: he let in 122 goals in the 1954/55 season. After mili-

different era to that of today’s cosseted players. Before kickoff at the 1966 World Cup semi-final, he ran out of the gum he used to chew to generate spit for his hands — so the England trainer popped out of Wembley and down the road to buy some from a news kiosk, just in time to stave off Banks’s panic.

GMR&SC First National Race of Champions…

Seejattan starts 2019 with strong performance

By Stephan Sookram SHAN Seejattan sent a strong message to his fellow group two contenders when the flag dropped at the first National Race of Champions (NROC) hosted by the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC).

Seejattan opened the day with a race win when he beat out Rameez Mohamed and Roshan Ali, in that order, in the opening race.

Early mistakes from the East Coast man meant that Chet Singh and Rameez Mohamed were able to get by him, but after a tooth and nail fight, he was able to recover.

He was involved in a battle with Singh first before the latter had to make way due to mechanical issues. Then

came Rameez, who passed Seejattan but was not able to remain there until the chequered flag.

In the first Street Tuner race, it was Raymond Seebarran who finished ahead of Azad Hassan and Roshan Ali, respectively, while race two was almost a carbon copy, save Vickey Persaud, who completed the podium.

Race three was a repeat grid of race one.

In the Starlet cup, Rameez Mohamed won the first race ahead of Motilall Deodass and Roshan Ali. Sport Tuner, on the other hand, had Nasrudeen Mohamed winning from Dawolu Harper and Adrian Fernandes, in that order, for race one with Shan Seejattan beating out Adrian and Mohamed Ahmed in race two.

Race three had Seejattan winning from Roshan Ali and Ahmed, in that order.

In the group 3 and 4 combined race, Andrew King was easily able to triump the competition without any real threat at the end after an early battle with Kevin Jeffrey grounded to a halt on account of a mechanical failure affecting the latter.

In the end, King finished ahead of Rameez Mohamed and Roshan Ali. In an attempt to salvage a grid for another group 3 and 4 race, the organisers added the starlet cup class and it was Motilall Deodass who finished ahead of Rameez Mohamed and Roshan Ali, in that order. No group 4 or group 3 car completed the race.

In the Streetcross, there were three wins for Matthew Vieira.

The next competition on the calendar is the proposed Drag race meet billed for March 17.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, March 05, 2019

Drepaul excited about Guyana’s ‘talent pool’ of cricketers

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE local governing body for cricket here, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), has just concluded the Dave West Indian Imports Inter-county Under-15 cricket tournament, and, based on some personal performances, there is definitely a promising future for Guyana’s cricket.

According to chairman of the GCB’s junior selectors, Nazimul Drepaul, there’s no shortage of cricketing talent within Guyana’s junior ranks, adding that Guyana’s cricket looks

good for the future.

Drepaul made the comment yesterday in an exclusive interview following the conclusion of the tournament on Saturday when Demerara dethroned Berbice to lift this year’s title.

“Talent’s not our problem in Guyana. We’ve got plenty of talented young cricketers as you can see during the Under-15 tournament,” Drepaul said.

He added, “While there were a number of players we see that have raw talent, I feel that Rampertab Ramnauth, Matthew Pottaya, Jadon Campbell, Zachary Jodah, and Krisna Singh,

just to name a few of the Under-15s, are extremely talented cricketers”.

Ramnauth, the Berbice opening batsman, copped the award for the most runs in the tournament, having scored 215 runs with scores of 37, 147*, 10 and 21.

The impressive off-spinner, Pottaya, took 12 wickets in the tournament, the most by any bowler.

Meanwhile, a 20-man squad is expected to be released shortly for the upcoming Inter-county Under-17 tournament.

“What the GCB has done over the years is to include the national Under-15

squad into the Inter-county Under-17 tournament in order for continuous preparation. This has definitely helped us in terms of domination at the regional level,” Drepaul pointed out.

Following the Un der-17 tournament, a 14-member squad will be selected to represent Guyana at the regional tournament, which will be played in Antigua later this year.

Drepaul is optimistic of Guyana’s chances, saying while there’s plenty of talk about a ‘war on talent’, preparation is the key.

Coach Julian Moore presents Berbice opener Rampertab Ramnauth with the Best Batsman trophy.

Hurricanes hot on Jaguars heels as Regional 4-Day winds down

BCA not shutting Skerritt out, supporting Cameron - Riley

of Red Force 85.6, while Scorpions’ fifth defeat of the season left them bottom of

From left: Ricky Skerritt, Dave Cameron, and Conde Riley.

BARBADOS Cricket Association (BCA) president Conde Riley, in announcing support for incumbent Dave Cameron when the elections for president of the Cricket West Indies takes place on March 24 in Jamaica, has also dismissed conspiracy claims by challenger Ricky Skerritt.

Riley, in an interview with the Barbados Nation, said his organisation was fully backing the nomination of Cameron and his vice-president, Emmanuel Nanthan, in their bids for re-election.

Furthermore, he said, not allowing Skerritt and his running mate, Dr Kishore Shallow, to present a defence of the reasons they wanted support for their nomination, was not an undemocratic act.

According to Riley, Skerritt’s request to present ahead of the nomination process took place just before the BCA met to discuss the nom-

inations and it was decided that the organization would be supporting the incumbents.

“Once the board decided that they were supporting the incumbents, that was it. You can’t come out and go against something that has been agreed on a vote by the full BCA board,” said Riley.

Skerritt had, last week, blasted the system of governance presiding over the sport of cricket in the West Indies, saying his shut out proves the need for change.

“We wrote to directly to the Presidents and the Boards, asking only for the opportunity to present our plan for change,” he said.

“We did not ask for their support or for a nomination.”

“Three boards – Barbados, Guyana and Windward Islands – wrote back in a matter of days, all turning down our request, almost in

tandem.”Skerritt said: “In the case of Guyana, we noted that they had chosen to nominate Dave even before the nomination process was open.”

“The three presidents confirmed their unwavering support for the incumbents and very respectfully said no thanks to our request to present.”

Shallow was even more forthright in his opinions on the decision of the three boards.

“This type of blind, unrelenting support without even exploring leadership options or alternative ideas contradicts the democratic process and is probably not reflective of the majority base of members who they represent,” said Dr Shallow.

“Cricket leaders should seek more information from the base and should explore new strategies in order to push the game at the local and regional levels forward.” (Sportsmax)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Guyana Jaguars moved within touching distance of their fifth successive first class title but Leeward Islands Hurricanes remained hot on their heels, to make the pending climax of the Regional Four-Day Championship a thrilling one.

In the latest points standings following the ninth round which concluded Sunday, Jaguars moved to 136 points, a shade over 25 points clear of the Hurricanes on 110.8 points.

Both teams won at the weekend with Jaguars brushing aside Barbados Pride by seven wickets in Georgetown and Hurricanes hammering Jamaica Scorpions by 134 runs in Kingston, also with a day to spare.

However, while Jaguars host Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in their final match next weekend, Hurricanes hold the edge with a game in hand.

They welcome Windward Islands Volcanoes in the next round but then take on Pride in their outstanding match starting March 14.

Pride, meanwhile, suffered their fourth defeat of the season but remained third on 96 points as Volcanoes failed to capitalise when they suffered a heavy 190-run defeat to Red Force in Kingstown.

Volcanoes are still fourth on 86 but are now only a fraction of a point ahead

the standings on 82.4 points.

Scorpions host Pride in the next round.

Regional 4-Day leaders, Guyana Jaguars.

FIFA recommends use of VAR at 2019 Women’s World Cup

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA has recommended the use of video assistant referee (VAR) technology for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France this year.

The organising committee of world soccer’s governing body met on Monday and backed the use of VAR at the tournament after it was introduced at the men’s World Cup last year in Russia.

The FIFA council will make a final decision on whether the technology will be used at this year’s women’s event, which runs from June 7-July 7, when it meets in Miami later this month.

“I can’t see them not having (VAR), I think it would be a little bit insulting if we weren’t afforded the same opportunity (as the men),” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said in July.

The technology, which is operating in most of the leading European soccer leagues, has been used in the Champions League knockout stage for the first time this season.

The English Premier League plans to use VAR next season.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, March 05, 2019

Russell to miss T20s as Windies retain one-day squad GROS ISLET, St Lucia, (CMC) – West Indies have retained their 13-man oneday for the three-match Twenty20 International series against England starting here today but star all-rounder Andre Russell will take no part after failing to recover from a recent knee procedure.

A Cricket West Indies (CWI) release on Monday said the 30-year-old had to be withdrawn from the squad “due to an adverse reaction he had to a medical procedure done in Dubai before he flew to the Caribbean.”

Russell, who had been

playing in the ongoing Pakistan Super League, was called up to the one-day squad for the two final ODIs to replace injured seamer Kemar Roach.

However, Russell was overlooked for both ODIs, with no explanation given for his exclusion.

The most recent setback for the Jamaican also raises doubts over his fitness for the Indian Premier League bowling off later this month, where he campaigns for Kolkata Knight Riders.

He has been plagued by a troublesome knee injury in

the past and was forced to pull out of the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh last year after playing just one match.

Selectors, meanwhile, have opted to continue with the one-day squad which tied the preceding five-match series 2-2, in order to further advance preparations for the World Cup starting in May. With several members of the World Cup squad due to miss the final oneday tour – a Tri-Nations Series involving hosts Ireland and Bangladesh – chief selector Courtney Browne said the decision

had been made to use the T20 series to “finalise strategies” for the World Cup. “After discussion with the coach (Richard Pybus) surrounding preparation for the ICC CWC 2019, it was proposed that we retain the ODI squad to play the T20 matches against England,” said Browne.

“After deliberations with captain, coach and the panel, we all are of the opinion that it would aid in the team’s World Cup preparations.”

He added: “We have a triangular series in Ireland in early May, which

coincides with the Indian Premier League. A high number of the World Cup hopefuls will be involved in the IPL and will miss the tour to Ireland.

“We therefore, felt, that we could not miss this opportunity for the coaching staff to continue work towards finalizing their strategies.”

Jason Holder, the Test and one-day skipper, will lead the squad which also includes regular T20 captain Carlos Brathwaite.

The last two T20Is of the series will be played at Warner Park in St Kitts

Test and one-day skipper Jason Holder will lead the squad

on Friday and Sunday.

SQUAD – Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Oshane Thomas.

Hussain, Shivraj and Solomon winners in New Trend Auto Golf tourney CCWS route Ann’s Grove 9-1 Milo schools Football tournament 2019

The Linden scorers

LINDEN’s Christianburg-Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) continued its dominance in the Milo Schools Football tournament with a 9-1 drubbing of Anns Grove on Sunday.

Playing in the second game of the day, the Linden-based side was led by Wayne Wilson with a hattrick, thanks to successful

strikes in the 21st, 37th and 39th minutes.

Braces from Andre Meyer (28th and 48th), Tyrese Lewis (30th and 45th), and Randy Pickering (32nd and 46th) were the other strikes that blasted into the net.

Surprisingly enough, the first goal came from Anns Grove through Sidwell Al-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday, March 5, 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) ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: (1) 424 runs (2) 39 sixes (1) (2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: Which Englishman registered most runs in the just-concluded WI/ENG ODI series?

Which Englishman cracked most sixes in the recent WI/ENG ODI series?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

bert in the 10th minute, but that was the only time they had a sniff of goal against a hungry CWSS lineup.

In the day’s opening game, Vergenoegen was able to overcome the war against Tucville via a 2-1 margin.

Chris Smith set Vergenoegen on the right path in the 21st minute when he scored the opening goal.

The match continued in a back and forth rhythm until Dwayne Jones of Tucville equalized in the 36th minute.

The game would continue onward with more intensity before Smith’s 57th-minute strike sealed the deal.

In the last game of the day, it was easy pickings as Keon Kattou shot St Cuthbert’s Mission past Cummings Lodge via a 1-0 margin.

(From left) Mr Guillermo Escarraga, Maurice Solomon, Parmanand Persaud, Lekhnarine Shivraj, Club President Aleem Hussain, Ms Christina Howlett, Maxim Mangra Mr Mauro Remiro (partly hidden), Kevin Dinanauth, Gavin Todd, and David Harry.

ALEEM Hussain, Lekhnarine Shivraj and Maurice Solomon emerged top of their respective flights in the New Trend Auto golf tournament last Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club.

Played under the Medal Play system with Flights 0 -13, 14 – 21, and 22 – 28, the three winners were able to outperform all the competitors in their flights.

In the 22 – 28 Flight, veteran Solomon was at his indomitable peak, producing a magnificent net 68, off a 24 handicap. Results in that Flight were: Maurice Solomon (68/24) – 1st;

rookie Maxim Mangra (71/28) - 2nd; tied with Mangra for second place but losing on the ‘back 9’ count was rookie Videsh Persaud (71/28).

Results in the 14 – 21 Flight were: 1 st-- Shivraj (65/17); 2 nd--Gavin Todd (72/17); 3 rd --Bholawram Deo (72/18); following closely were Hilbert Shields (73/16); Joaan Deo (74/14); Haresh Tewari (75/19); Guillermo Escarraga (75/21); and Mahendra Bhagwandin (76/14).

Results in the 0 – 13 F l i g h t w e re : H u s s a i n (71/10) – 1st; Parmanand Persaud (74/12) – 2nd;

also tied with Persaud for 2nd place but losing on the ‘back 9’ count were Kevin Dinanauth (74/6) and Mike Mangal (74/9); following closely was veteran Patrick Prashad (75/9).

In the special awards category, Nearest the Pin was won by David Harry, while both the Best Gross (80) and the Longest Drive were won

by Kevin Dinanauth.

CEO and Owner of New Trend Auto, Rudy Ramalingum, said he was pleased to be a part of sport, adding that the business entity will continue to be a part of the development of golf locally.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, March 05, 2019

‘Too Sharp’ Allen comes to the aid of ‘Pocket Rocket’ Gym GUYANA’s recently WBA Super Middleweight ‘Gold’ Champion, Lennox ‘Too Sharp’ Allen, yesterday, through the National Sports Commission (NSC), handed over a quantity of boxing gear to the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym, which was destroyed by fire.

Housed at the Linden Johnson Community Centre, which is based in the Victory Valley community in the Mining Town, it was flattened by fire last week. The Gym plays an integral role in the development of the sport in Linden.

Upon learning of the tragedy, Allen reached out to Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, and arrangements were made to have the equipment handed over.

Allen believes that at all cost, fighters should not be deterred from learning and participating in the sport they love, and, he insist that he will use his newfound fame and fortune in boxing to help set young fighters, especially those in communities labelled as ‘underprivileged’, to realise their dreams in the sport.

Orlando Rogers, who collected the boxing gear from

Jones at the NSC’s Homestretch Avenue Headquarters, was full of gratitude and praise to the WBA title holder, adding “it’s good that he (Allen) was this generous and we are grateful for the support.”

“These stuff will go a very long way in helping to restore the gym,” said Rogers. The boxing coach further added that “the young boxers will be more eager to return to training and practicing when they learn that these equipment were sent to them from the ‘champ’; so thanks to Lennox (Allen) for his donation.”

According to Jones, the NSC is happy to play the role of a conduit for the supplies from Allen to reach to the Pocket Rocket Gym, while pointing out that the Commission will also be handing over some other equipment to the gym.

Meanwhile, both Rogers and Jones related that efforts are being made with the help of the Regional Democratic Counsel (RDC) in Region 10, to find a new home for the Gym. According to the World Boxing Association (WBA),

Pepsi Hikers, Saints run out hockey winners over the weekend

Action in the GHB First Division League.

IN the four games played over the weekend in the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) First Division leagues, Pepsi Hikers and Saints men were the most recent victors.

In the Men’s Farfan and Mendes First Division League on Saturday, Old Fort came up against Pepsi Hikers who blitzed past them in a goal-scoring fest, running out 11-0 victors in a lopsided match.

Meanwhile, Bounty GCC and Saints played to a 0-0 stalemate on Sunday when the league continued. Pepsi Hikers grabbed their second win of the weekend by beating the developmental Super-

nova team by two goals without conceding any.

In an intriguing matchup, Saints managed to edge out Old Fort, winning 4-2 to clinch maximum points.

In the Women’s First Division league sponsored

by Woodpecker Products, last evening GBTI GCC took on Bingo Spartans and up to press time, that game was yet to be finished. Tonight, Bounty GCC men will face GCC Vintage at GCC. In the points standings, Saints sit atop the men’s table with four points after the second round while GBTI’s GCC are top of the distaff side of things with six points.

Allen is one of their three title holders at the Super Middleweight (168lbs) division, along with Callum Smith (Super Champion) and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (regular champion).

Allen won the title following his unanimous decision win over American Derrick Webster on February 15 in the USA.

Orlando Rogers (Left), coach of the Pocket Rocket Gym in Linden, receiving a quantity of boxing gear from Director of Sports, Christopher Jones.

Jonathan Van Lange captured the GTTA’s Boys’ U-15 and U-18 titles by beating Kaysan Ninvalle in both finals.

The respective category champions and other overall winners.

Thuraia Thomas was impressive at the GTTA National Junior and Cadet Championships, capturing the Girls’ U-15 and 18 titles.

Van Lange, Thomas dominant at GTTA Junior and Cadet Championships

By Michelangelo Jacobus JONATHAN Van Lange and Thuraia Thomas blazed their way to the U-15 and U-18 male and female titles, respectively, at the Guyana Table Tennis Association’s (GTTA) Junior and Cadet Championships which was held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) over the past weekend.

Another notable feature of the championships was the utter dominance of the Titans Table Tennis Club (TTTC) players who secured at least two out of the three top spots in every category.

Van Lange’s rigid preparation and training routine saw him dismantling Kaysan Ninvalle in two finals to grab the boys Under 15 and 18 titles. Meanwhile, on the distaff side, Thomas oozed class to secure top honours in both the girls U-15 and U-18 categories respectively.

Van Lange, who is just 12-years-old, showed great composure and improved fitness at critical junctures in the battles against Ninvalle.

In the U-18 final, Ninvalle struck the first blow, winning the first set 11-8 before Van Lange equalised in the second with an 11-7 win.

In the third set, Van Lange surged ahead with a 2-1 lead, taking the third set 11-5. He then sealed the deal with an enthralling 11-6 fourth set victory to take the title at 4-1.

Earlier in the U-18 semi-finals, Van Lange dispatched club mate Kristian Sahadeo 11-9, 12-10, 11-9 with Ninvalle sealing his final berth by beating Niran Bissu 11-2, 9-11, 11-4 and 11-6.

Meanwhile, in the U-15 final which preceded the U-18 final, Van Lange negated last year’s champion, Ninvalle’s best efforts to take the title in sets of 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 8-11 and 11-8.

Van Lange stormed to the final by defeating another club mate in Isaiah Layne with an 11-8, 11-5, 8-11 and 11-4 win.

Ninvalle managed to get past Sahadeo 11-7, 5-11, 8-11, 11-5, and 11-5 in their semi-final encounter.

On the distaff side of things, Thomas played with passion and a hunger for success as she dethroned last year’s U-18 champion, Nevaeh Clarkson, in the same category final, in three straight sets of identical 11-8 scores.

En route to the final, Thomas saw off youngster Jasmine Billingy 3-0, while Clarkson beat Aneka Phillips 3-2.

Earlier in the day, Thomas secured the U-15 title by

defeating her club and training mate, Crystal Melville, who was making her first National appearance.

It was a thrilling encounter as Thomas had her work cut out; she nevertheless won in sets of 11-9, 8-11, 11-5, 7-11 and 11-5 to claim top honours. Thomas had secured her final berth by beating Billingy 11-5, 11-5, 5-11 and 11-7, while Melville got to the final with an 11-5, 11-3 and 11-8 win over Christine Ramdial.

Meanwhile, Dwain Dick, who is Thomas and Van Lange’s coach at the Titans TTC, told Chronicle Sport “It feels great to see the results of hard work, which includes most Sundays, come to fruition in the form of national titles. Both of these players have been performing consistently throughout 2018”.

He revealed; “Even more impressive was Van Lange who showed his consistency by winning the U-21 and finishing second in the B class at the just concluded Forbes Burnham Memorial”.

“There is still a long way to go in terms of their development, but we now turn our efforts toward preparation for Caribbean championships for U-15 and U-18 categories, of which they are both on the team. Hopefully, we can win some teams and singles medals.”

GMR&SC First National Race of Champions…

Seejattan starts 2019 with strong performance → 24

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Street tuner action at the GMR&SC first National Race of Champions.

Streetcross bikes on the grid

Russell to miss T20s as Windies retain one-day squad → Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019