Guyana Chronicle 3-6-2019

WEDNESDAY 6th March, 2019

No.105568

Sacked workers Ramsaroop, gold 28 400 cases of 12 up ante 23 dealer questioned in child sex abuse against RUSAL PAGE

PAGE

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… urge Lincoln Lewis to stand firm

Charrandass probe

so far this year

Meeting to go ahead

… President, opposition leader set to meet on election 03 matters today PAGE

Pressure mounts on rape-accused chairman – residents call for Brentnol 09 Ashley’s resignation PAGE

Resident of Mabaruma have mounted two days of protest actions calling for the resignation of PPP executive and Chairman of Region One, Brentnol Ashley who has been accused of rape

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday March 6, 2019

Meeting to go ahead

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

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… President, opposition leader set to meet on election matters today

THE meeting between President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is on schedule for today at the Ministry of the Presidency, where the two will discuss matters relating to the holding of new General and Regional Elections.

In a letter dated February 25, 2019, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, made the correspondence on behalf of the President which stated: “His Excellency the President extends his best wishes and invites you to meet him at 11:00hrs on Wednesday 2019.03.06 at the Ministry of the Presidency, Vlissingen Road.

“The President wishes to consult with you on the following matters: (1) The National Assembly’s constitutional role in the present situation; and (2) the Guyana Elections Commission’s readiness and requirement for funding to enable it to conduct general and regional elections.”

The President also advised the opposition leader that he had also written the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson, urging him to initiate

arrangements for the conduct of elections and committed to supporting his request for financing the elections.

In a subsequent letter, the opposition leader made several proposals to the President for his consideration, which included that an election date be chosen in the period before the expiration of the present voters’ list on April 30, 2019. “I believe that my proposal to hold general and regional elections before April 30, 2019 is reasonable and feasible with a claims and objections period provided that GECOM acts in good faith and in conformity with its mandate and the Constitution,” Jagdeo said.

He also proposed for consideration that: no new contracts be awarded by the state, including Regional Democratic Councils and State-owned corporations, after March 21, 2019; no new agreements, loans, grants and leases or any other such agreements or contracts be awarded after March 21, 2019, that bind the government; that there be no abuse of state resources for partisan activities/purposes and that there is access to the stateowned media by all the con-

testing political parties.

“On the agreement of your government to these proposals, the Parliamentary Opposition will be prepared to lend its support for the two-thirds majority required to comply with Article 106 (7) for an extension beyond March 21, 2019. I, therefore, am proposing that the meeting focus exclusively on the date for these elections,” the opposition leader said, adding: “If my proposal finds favor with the President, I shall be prepared to meet him on March 6, 2019 at 11:00am or at any other time.”

His correspondence comes after Jagdeo, at his previous press briefing, publicly turned down an offer to meet with the President, accusing him of being involved in fraudulent activities as a result of two letters being sent by the President to the GECOM Chair.

The minister of state, in response, had deemed the opposition leader’s behavior as “malicious” and “bewildering” as the two letters were legitimately sent by the President and acknowledged each other.

Harmon had commented: “We have always said that the President is prepared to

President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at a previous meeting engage with the leader of the change that stance which he letters has been conveyed opposition on any matter of has taken today and attend to the President, who advises that he is prepared to national interest. We consid- the meeting.” er this to be one such matter On Tuesday evening, meet with you on Wednesand, therefore, that is why the opposition leader, in day, March 6th at 11:00 the President invited him. a media release, said that hours at the Ministry of the So, it is our hope that after he had received a response Presidency and to discuss mature consideration, the from Harmon which stat- the issues raised in your leader of the opposition will ed: “The content of these aforementioned letters.”

Opposition- nominated Commissioner Robeson Benn (Delano Williams photo)

quested persons to apply to fill the temporary positions of Assistant Registration Officer (ARO) and enumerator for house-to-house registration.

Benn said that it was confirmed that the directive for the placement of the ads was given by the Chairman.

“I objected,” Benn said. “I said this should not happen; that the Chairman’s power and activities in the public and even in there arises from the decision of the Commission.

Whether [by way] of vote or a consensus, his actions out there [must] arise from decisions [and] discussions by the Commission.”

However, Commissioner Vincent Alexander later reiterated, as on other occasions, that the decision to proceed with house-to-house registration was voted upon and approved by the Commission in February.

He added that, given the late start of the 2019 work programme, the Secretariat, receiving instruction from the Chairman, is See page 8

Opposition-nominated Commissioners walk out of GECOM meeting CONTRARY to the narrative being aired, Government-appointed Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioners have stated that preparations for elections have begun, but only to the level that is possible, without knowledge of an elections date and necessary finance.

The Commissioners also stated that the plans relating to the preparation for house-tohouse registration will continue although such did not find favour with the Opposition-nominated Commissioners who staged another walk-out of the statutory meeting yesterday (Tuesday, March 5, 2019).

Coming out of the meeting, Oppositionnominated Commissioner, Robeson Benn, said that the walk-out took place after he questioned the placement of advertisements (ads) by GECOM, for the hiring of staff for house-to-house registration which he referred to as “not a priority activity”.

The ads were first placed in the Sunday, March 3, 2019 edition of newspapers and re-

Commissioner Vincent Alexander (Delano Williams photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday March 6, 2019

North Korea rebuilds part of missile site it promised Trump to dismantle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea has restored part of a missile launch site it began to dismantle after pledging to do so in a first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump last year, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency and two U.S. think tanks reported on Tuesday.

Yonhap quoted lawmakers briefed by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) as saying that the work was taking place at the Tongchang-ri launch site and involved replacing a roof and a door at the facility.

Satellite images seen by 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea project, showed that structures on the launch pad had been rebuilt sometime between Feb. 16 and March 2, Jenny Town, managing editor at the project and an analyst at the Stimson Center think tank, told Reuters.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report, also citing satellite imagery, that concluded North Korea is “pursuing a rapid rebuilding” at the site. “Activity is evident at the vertical engine test stand and the launch pad’s rail-mounted rocket transfer

structure,” the CSIS report said. “Significantly, the environmental shelters on the umbilical tower, which are normally closed, have been opened to show the launch pad.”

The news comes days after a second summit on denuclearization between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un broke down over differences on how far North Korea was willing to limit its nuclear program and the degree of U.S. willingness to ease sanctions.

ADVERTISEMENT The summit took place in Hanoi on Feb. 27 and 28.

Trump told a news conference after an unprecedented first summit with Kim on June 12 in Singapore that the North Korean leader had promised that a major missile engine testing site would be destroyed very soon. Trump did not identify the site, but a U.S. official subsequently told Reuters it was the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, which is located at Tongchang-ri.

Asked to comment, the White House referred to the U.S. State Department, which did not immediately respond.

A U.S. government source

said the NIS was considered reliable on such issues, but added that the work described did not seem particularly alarming, and certainly not on a scale of resuming missile tests that have been suspended since 2017.

FUTURE DIALOGUE? Kim Jong Un also pledged at a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in September to close Sohae and allow international experts to observe the dismantling of the missile engine-testing site and a launch pad.

Signs that North Korea had begun acting on its pledge to Trump were detected in July, when a Washington think tank said satellite images indicated work had begun at Sohae to dismantle a building used to assemble space-launch vehicles and a nearby rocket engine test stand used to develop liquid-fuel engines for ballistic missiles and space-launch vehicles.

However, subsequent images indicated North Korea had halted work to dismantle the missile engine test site in the first part of August. The fact that the site had been dormant since August indicates the new activity is “deliberate and purposeful,” the CSIS report said.

The breakdown of the summit in Hanoi last week has raised questions about the future of U.S.-North Korea

The Sohae Satellite Launching Station features what researchers of Beyond Parallel, a CSIS project, describe as the vertical engine stand partially rebuilt with two construction cranes, several vehicles and supplies laying on the ground in a commercial satellite image taken over Tongchang-ri, North Korea on March 2, 2019 and released March 5, 2019. CSIS/Beyond Parallel/DigitalGlobe 2019 via REUTERS.

dialogue. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday he was hopeful he would send a delegation to North Korea in the coming weeks but that he had “no commitment yet.”

While North Korea’s official media said last week Kim and Trump had decided at the summit to continue talks, its Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui told reporters Kim “might lose his willingness to pursue a deal” and questioned

the need to continue.

U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told a news briefing that the United States remains “in regular contact” with North Korea, but he declined to say whether they had been in contact since the summit.

Palladino said U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun, who led pre-summit negotiation efforts, planned to meet his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on Wednesday.

Yonhap also quoted lawmakers briefed by intelligence officials as saying that the five-megawatt reactor at North Korea’s main nuclear site at Yongbyon, which produces

weapons-grade plutonium used to build bombs, had not been operational since late last year, concurring with a report from the U.N. atomic watchdog. Yonhap quoted the sources as saying there had been no sign of reprocessing of plutonium from the reactor and that tunnels at North Korea’s main nuclear test site in Punggye-ri had remained shut down and unattended since their widely publicized destruction in May, which Pyongyang said was proof of its commitment to ending nuclear testing. The fate of the Yongbyon nuclear complex and its possible dismantling was a central issue in the Hanoi summit.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday March 6, 2019

Jamaica opposition party confident of regaining seat in by-election

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Mar 4, CMC – The main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) says it remains confident of regaining the East Portland seat in the Parliament as it launched its campaign for the March 26 by-election here on Sunday night.

The seat became vacant following the murder of Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, whose body with several stab wounds had been found at his home on February 2.

Police have since charged 20-year-old Simeon Sutherland in connection with the murder, after initially tak-

ing him into custody and releasing him last month.

The PNP has named Damion Crawford, as its candidate for the by-election. He is being challenged by Ann-Marie Vaz, the wife of Douglas Vaz, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, whom the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has named as its candidate.

Crawford, who has a Rastafarian hairstyle, told supporters that the poll could also descend into a class war and that he does not intend to cut his hair in order to win. “East Portland people say they want

PNP candidate, Damion Crawford, (left) and party leader Dr. Peter Phillips

tourism. I have a (Bachelor’s) degree in tourism, I have a Master’s in tourism, I lecture

tourism, and yet still because of her class and her colour, some people say this lady

is more qualified than me,” Crawford said at the PNP rally in Port Antonio, on the island’s north-eastern coast .

The PNP vice-president told supporters “if this lady beat me, it will be a travesty!”

The JLP, which won the 2016 general election by a 32-31 margin over then incumbent PNP, has since won two of three by-elections held last year, giving it a more comfortable three seat margin in the Parliament. Prime Minister Andrew Holness, addressing JLP supporters at a rally in Port Antonio on Friday, said that Nomination Day will be March 8 coincid-

ing with International Women’s Day. “This will be a peaceful election. It will be an efficiently run election,” Holness said, adding said he was confident Vaz would be victorious. “I’m sure that Action Ann is committed.

I’m sure that Action Ann respects the people”. Vaz said the government would continue its commitment to providing jobs in the constituency and spoke of the programmes she has already implemented. “I’m here to solve the problems; I want the youths here to build East Portland”.

UWI to become world first climate smart study institute KINGSTON, Jamaica, Mar 5, CMC – The University of the West Indies (UWI) is to become the world’s first climate smart study university offering degrees and certificates at all levels, the Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles announced Tuesday.

Sir Hilary, addressing the UWI Mona Campus Council meeting, said that discus-

sions have already been held with representatives of the US-based City University of New York (CUNY) and the State University of New York (SUNY) regarding the initiative.

“We are having these meetings around climate change and we are all now virtually agreed that we are going to create the world’s first climate smart study uni-

versity, an institute dedicated to climate smart studies where that’s all you do, Bachelors, Masters, certificates. “It is all about climate change and the first university in the world will be the UWI Institute and our CUNY and our SUNY colleagues have all agreed that they are going to partner with us in doing it,” he added.

Sir Hilary said “the world

Maduro vows to defeat foes BBC- CARACAS------Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has vowed to defeat a “crazed minority” that wants to remove him from power.

In a challenge to opposition leader Juan Guaidó, he called for “anti-imperialist marches” on Saturday to coincide with anti-government protests.

Mr Maduro’s comments were the first since Mr Guaidó defied him and returned to the country on Monday. Separately, the US said it was considering imposing new sanctions to pressure Mr Maduro to give up power. The US envoy for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, said it was hard to see a role for Mr Maduro in future democratic elections.

“If he wanted to build a democratic Venezuela, he had the opportunity to do so, but he did not,” Mr Abrams said. As head of the opposition-led National Assembly, Mr Guaidó proclaimed himself Venezuela’s interim president in January

after the legislature declared Mr Maduro’s re-election last year illegitimate.

How did Mr Maduro address the Guaidó challenge?

He has accused the opposition of trying to organise a coup with US help.

Speaking at an event marking the sixth anniversary of the death of his predecessor and political mentor, Hugo Chávez, Mr Maduro said: “While a crazed minority continues with their hatred, with their bitterness, it’s their problem. We won’t pay attention to them, compatriots.”

In front of gathered military personnel, he added: “We’re going to stop them in their tracks, their work, the national union. “Let the crazy minority continue with their bitterness, we’ll defeat them. For Chávez we’ll do it, for the great history of the country we’ll do it.”

Why is there pressure for change?

Venezuela’s political crisis has been sparked by an economic meltdown in

which hyperinflation has hit salaries and savings, leading many to flee the country.

The country is also suffering chronic shortages of basic items including food and medicine. While international pressure on the president has steadily increased - more than 50 countries, including the US and most Latin American nations, have recognised Mr Guaidó as interim leader - Mr Maduro has dismissed all calls for him to step down.

Backed by China and Russia, Mr Maduro insists he is the only legitimate president. His call for marches on Saturday sets the stage for more confrontation with Mr Guaidó, the BBC’s Will Grant in Caracas reports.

Given the potential for clashes, the authorities will, no doubt, try to keep the two sides well apart, our correspondent adds.

On Monday, Mr Guaidó arrived back in the capital, Caracas, despite the threat of arrest after he defied a Supreme Court-imposed

is lining up, the best universities are lining up to partner with us to do new and innovative things”.

Earlier, he told the meeting that the International Association of Universities, which is an affiliate body and a higher education think tank for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), selected UWI from all the

universities worldwide to lead the world on climate smart action, Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG13).

“So we are not given that global responsibility thanks to the research done by the Mona campus, cave Hill, St. Augustine (campuses),” he said, adding “we became the university that has the tradition and excellence because we did it together.

“The campuses working together, we have the finest climate change smart team in the world and that is important,” he said, reminding the meeting that the Phrase 1.5 to stay alive” came from the Caribbean.

“These are the kinds of achievements and recognition that takes us out into the world, and we are now out in the world.”

travel ban on leaving the country. He visited several Latin American countries to lobby for international help.

In talks with public sector unions on Tuesday, he has vowed to stage strikes to help bring down the government.

“They thought the pressure had already maxed out...

They better know that the pressure has barely begun.”

‘Gold talks’ In a separate development, Mr Guaidó asked America’s Citibank to delay by 120 days Venezuela’s scheduled repurchase of gold that Mr Maduro’s government put up as collateral for a loan in 2015, Reuters reports. It says Mr Guaidó’s advisers have met Citibank officials to ask them to hold off claiming the gold that Mr Maduro’s government committed to give up if it failed to pay off the loan in March.

Citibank has not commented on the issue.

The reported request is seen as Mr Guaidó’s strategy to protect Venezuela’s foreign assets and prevent the Maduro government from selling off gold reserves to raise much needed hard currency. The

government appears to be feeling the sanctions imposed by the US. Reuters reported last week that

the government had taken eight tonnes of gold from Venezuela’s central bank to sell abroad to raise cash.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday March 6, 2019

Development through diversity WHEN one hears the term ‘diversity’, it immediately brings to mind several images. But if one were to ask, What do you make of diversity? The response can range from beauty to ugliness.

Truth is: Some of these answers are informed by perception and prejudice, both of which can influence intolerance of the other; putting up the proverbial wall of discrimination and hindering development. None of this helps in building a nation when it is recognised that positive human relations are forged and sustained through learning and benefiting from each other.

Out of recognition that ours is a nation whose frame has been constructed from different peoples; who, for reasons within or beyond their control have made this

land their home, our Constitution calls on us to celebrate our racial and cultural diversity as a process of eliminating discrimination in our pursuit of happiness.

Race, though a physical and not a biological construct, has played a pivotal role in this nation’s formation, development, and inter-relationship. Out of this physical construct, Guyana is seen as a Land of Six Peoples, each with its own unique culture. Culture, in this sense, speaks to the experiences that shape the value system, artefacts, actions, progress and challenges of each group.

The definition of diversity, as recorded on the University of Oregon’s Multicultural Advocates’ page probably best captures what Guyana is, and what Guyanese strive every day to

represent.

The institution advances that “The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognising our individual differences.

These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment.

It is about understanding each other, and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.”

And where UNESCO declared that “The cultural wealth of the world is its di-

versity in dialogue”, making it “clear that each individual must acknowledge not only otherness in all its forms, but also the plurality of his or her own identity within societies that are themselves plural” open, rank and honest conversations on diversity must be had, in keeping with universal principles that uphold human rights and development.

As this nation aspires to live up to its motto of , “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”, such aspiration has not been without achievements, challenges, optimism and pessimism.

An achievement Guyanese can be proud of is that inasmuch as racial conflict and hostility have shaped our experiences, outside of the early 1960s, there has been no open racial warfare among the ordinary man and

woman. What this nation has suffered within recent times -- and which ought to remain in the past -- is the conceptualisation, development, and execution of national policies and programmes to sustain an environment of racial distrust and hostility, to the benefit of a few.

This practice not only hinders development, but creates a situation where diversity is loathed and the other despised, posing potential for endless problems, with dire consequences of war and want.

Appreciation for development through diversity will respect that, though the path to wellness and fulfilment for everyone will be different, it does not have to mean that this difference translates to inferiority or superiority, with attendant treatment. What it means is

that the pursuit of happiness can be had traversing different paths, in an enabling environment that treats all as equals and ensures the pursuer of that path is guaranteed his/her dignity.

Compared to many nations approaching Guyana is still a relatively young nation. But relativity in age ought not to be taken as acceptance that the path of intolerance and disrespect for the other is deserving of pursuit. In this scenario, age ought to mean having experienced bigotry, the country being well positioned to learn from the mistakes of older societies, emulate best practices of other societies, and to have the energy and thirst to push new boundaries and aspire for higher heights that come with youthfulness. (Reprinted)

Really, Guyana Times!

-Is it the turnout that has you so nettled Dear Editor THE private media continues to be a part of the devious and yellow phalanx of Guyanese journalism so prevalent these days in its dishonest efforts to denigrate the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) by any and all means possible.

Its latest attempt can be found in the formatted Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) daily script, the Guyana Times. Editor, its description of itself as “The Beacon of truth” is as laughable as it is dangerously self-libelous and

subversive, dedicated as it is to its daily treachery of aiding its demented father of a political party, the PPP/C, in its attempt at creating an unfavourable societal plateau aimed at removing a duly elected government.

Make no mistake about this particular news rag. It has become a BEACON FOR CONTINUOUS LIES AND DISTORTIONS. Its latest detritus, peddled via an effortless lie of an article of February 24, 2019, captioned,“Dead silence as minister calls on residents to applaud Govt’s performance” is yet another deliberate instance of misinformation of an occasion

that is celebrated on a national scale: The country’s observance of its Republican Status.

Listening to the minister’s speech, as well as a Department of Public Information report of February 23, both of which are wholly unambiguous and quite clear in their highlights, there is no hint/indication of the honourable minister, during her address, having to solicit applause for the numerous achievements of the government on a national scale, and those that are directly linked to the socio-economic development of the Essequibo region, from the gathering that she had addressed. As

a government minister, she exercised the prerogative of reminding those present of government’s achievements, in addition to efforts of the parliamentary opposition to bring its term in office to an end. Maybe, the Guyana Times was very surprised at the participation and turnout of the hundreds of Essequibo residents for the second successive year, in the Mash celebrations. Call such a willing display, one of patriotism and approval of residents, of a government that has made their region an improved and better region since 2015.

One wonders what was so amiss about Minister Ferguson’s allusion to such a

national treachery, sponsored and led by an opposition, in its psychotic scramble for power. It can only be the truth that has been quite obvious for the entire nation to see, including the racist PPP/C cabal that comprises a section of the Region Two Regional Democratic Council.

Further, it is a disgrace and a grave dereliction of duty that the Regional Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt, even though a sworn political operative of the PPP/C which is his democratic right, decided to slavishly follow the mad dictates of his party boss, Bharrat Jagdeo, by absenting himself from the Republic ceremony, at which it was reported that all the

other personnel had been present. His actions, apart from being an outright and unmitigated display of the backwater PPP/C’s politics, is a flagrant abdication of his office and official duties, of which his first responsibility must be to the duties and functions that are derived from his portfolio, as they pertain to the welfare of those whom he was elected to serve. He is receiving a salary and other tax-free emoluments, funded by taxpayers. This is what the Guyana Times, the beacon of national mischief must remind itself, and Ramdatt, among others.

Regards Aditya Panday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday March 6, 2019

Those who break the law must face the consequences Dear Editor, NOW that commissioners and employees of the Local Government Commission (LGC) have finally been paid, after waiting for over two months for the release of their monies, one can only hope that they will get back energetically to the business of dealing with the most memorable and expensive financial fraud cases of all time in Guyana which occurred at the Georgetown City Council.

Financial fraud the world over is a major crime which often comes with heavy punishment and fines for those involved. Enron, Cendant, and WorldCom are examples of massive companies torn apart by financial fraud and scandal. Other cases include fraudsters trying to sell the Eiffel Tower and the Brooklyn Bridge. But in each of these cases

where serious white-collar crimes were committed came heavy punishment and fines instituted against the perpetrators. Those cases have at least one person, but more often than not, there were groups of fraudsters going to prison.

Look at Madoff who is currently serving a sentence of 150-years in federal prison for securities fraud; look at WorldCom whose CEO and CFO went to jail for lying about billions of dollars in yet another case of corporate accounting fraud, or the 15-year-old Barry Minkow who started a carpet cleaning company called ZZZZ Best, and who was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for 57 counts of fraud and racketeering.

Then there was ‘Count Victor Lustig’, who was no Count, but who used the fake title as one of his many lies to commit among his many famous crimes, convincing people

in the scrap-metal industry that he was a part of the French government, and twice sold the Eiffel Tower, which he said had to be torn down.

At the Georgetown Municipality, there was the notorious parking meter deal, the illegal sale of municipal properties and vehicles, the doling out of billions of dollars worth in illegal contracts without adherence to tender board procedures the procurement of goods on a massive scale without a bidding process, the unlawful hiring practices and upward adjustment of salary scales, the shake down of vendors and demands for bribes by their police department, and the illegal waiving of property rates and interest accrued. Moreso, several senior officers were cited by the Local Government Commission of Inquiry for gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation

Lent is a time of reconciliation Dear Editor

TODAY, we begin to observe the Season of Lent.

It is one of the important seasons for many Christian denominations. Lent means ‘spring’; it is a springtime where we are renewed and refreshed through the Lenten observances. We are washed clean so that we enter into paschal mysteries of Christ’s death and resurrection.

The Latin-based language use the word “Quaresma” for Lent, which simply means 40 days. After the baptism, Jesus was tempted and tried in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, whilst he was in prayer and fasting. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. On this day, the faithful are imposed with ashes on their foreheads as a reminder to be repentant and of the fragility of humankind. The four pillars of Lent, prayer, penance, almsgiving and fasting help not only the people in need but makes us empathise with the poor and needy. The Season of Lent ends when Holy Week begins on Maundy Thursday, leading up to the Easter Celebrations.

Christians tend to keep fast on certain days in Lent, or at least forgo something like meat, chocolate or sweets, and help those who cannot afford such food. This is to benefit one’s

spiritual and philanthropic growth. A crucial aspect of Lent is reconciliation and peace. Our world needs

to be reconciled between nations and peoples. Here’s an opportunity to embrace each other with paternal

love.

Regards Jerri Dias

of funds. Others were cited for complete incompetence, and dereliction of duty.

But guess what?, in spite of these appalling and abysmal findings, the only thing that has resulted so far from what was discovered, was one person had his services terminated who quite outrageously has sought a judicial review of the decision and is seeking to be reinstated. Unbelievable!

What has happened to the long arm of the law? Is our legal system no longer concerned with punishment of individuals who commit crimes? Dismissal alone could not be enough, those who violate the law must face incarceration, fines and other penalties. Moreso stolen assets must be traced and returned to the citizenry.

Regards Kwasi Sanderson

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Sexagenarian remanded for attempting to murder lover

DERRICK Solomon, a 60-year-old man of 10 Block F’ North Sophia was on Tuesday remanded to prison by city Magistrate Fabayo Azore for attempting to kill his lover.

Particulars of the charge read that March 2, 2019, at North Sophia, the defendant wounded Carol London with intent to commit murder.

According to the prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, the two have been sharing a common-law relationship

Accused assaulter Derrick Solomon for 14 years. On the day in

question, they reportedly had a misunderstanding at home; Solomon left the house, but then later returned and attacked the victim with a knife, dealing her several stab wounds, She was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and is in a serious condition.

The defendant was later arrested.

Bail was not granted, due to the seriousness of the offence. The matter has been adjourned to March, 26, 2019.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Opposition-nominated Commissioners walk ...

From page 3

continuing with its plans for the year which have already received funding.

Recounting the fallout of the meeting, Alexander said that the Opposition-nominated Commissioners, displeased with the discussions, made contributions and individually asked to be excused.

Benn had referred to the Commission as “impotent” when questioned whether walking out of the meeting

Commission Charles Corbin (Delano Williams photo) was the best solution to deal with the national issue.

However Alexander said: “The Commission is cognizant of the fact that the work programme does not contradict with preparations for elections and the commission is also cognizant that, in terms of the specifics of the election, those can only be embarked upon when the good gentleman [the President] gives us a date.”

Furthermore, Alexander noted that contrary to the narrative that no election preparations have begun, reports were made at the meeting on the state of preparation of the manuals for elections which are almost complete.

“There are other activities which are not dependent on the allocation from the Parliament which are ongoing which are intended to put GECOM in a state of readiness for the elections,” Alexander said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Charles Corbin explained further: “The Commission is doing everything that it can with the resources it has to proceed with its preparations.”

President David Granger, in a letter to the GECOM Chair, on February 25, 2019, had committed to providing funds for the holding of new General and Regional Elections, appropriated by the National Assembly.

On the same date, the President had invited Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to meet with him to discuss matters relating to the holding of elections and the role of the National Assembly in the situation.

In a subsequent letter on March 4, 2019 from Jagdeo to the President, the Leader of the Opposition proposed that elections be held before April 30, 2019 when the

current electors list becomes invalid.

However, the Commissioners told media operatives that that timeframe was impracticable.

“I do not think that all that GECOM has to do [such as] logistical work, training, recruitment of staff, will make it possible for elections in April,” Alexander said.

Meanwhile, Corbin reminded that the shortest preparation period of staff alone ever presented has been 126 days prior to Election Day while the Commission has indicated weeks ago, as it did in 2014, that the shortest possible time period in which elections can be held was 6 months.

Corbin said: “Immediately after the AFC tabled its no-confidence motion in 2014, it visited the Commission to get some information and the first question was ‘in light of the constitutional motion, if this was to go through, how much time do you need’. The Commission answered consistently [6 months].”

Alexander added the insistence to use the extant list is baffling as not only has the Commission long made the decision to renew the list through house-to-house registration every seven years, but Opposition Commissioners had argued strongly for the same prior to the no-confidence ruling.

“The need for work on the list has never been contentious until now when it is not convenient for some to not use the list,” he said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Benn was also asked whether the push for elections to be held by March 21, 2019 is feasible, considering the present date.

He refused to divert from the position, safe to say: “The Constitution says for any extension in relation to the date or time required, the Parliament has to be applied to and it’s as simple as that.”

Also questioned whether the Leader of the Opposition consulted with Opposition-nominated Commissioners prior to his April 30 request to the President, Benn denied same.

“No he doesn’t have to consult with [the Commissioners]. He has to consult with himself or his people,” he said.

The President and the Leader of the Opposition are expected to meet today at the Ministry of the Presidency at 11:00hrs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday March 6, 2019

Protest mounts against rape-accused chairman

9

-- Residents call for Brentnol Ashley’s resignation ew travelling with Ashley.

The victim was taken to the Indigenous Residence on Princes Street and the following day, he alleged that Ashley picked him up and took him to drink a case of beers. He said Ashley then took him to a hotel and violated him.

While Ashley was

Protesters on the picket line on Tuesday

RESIDENTS of Mabaruma on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest as they upped the ante for Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley to resign in light of rape allegations levelled against him.

The protest commenced around 08:00hrs at the Broomes Airfield at Mabaruma where Ashley was awaiting a flight to Georgetown.

Ashley has been accused raping a 22-yearold differently-abled man; the incident reportedly occurred in the days leading up to Republic anniversary celebrations last month.

The incident allegedly occurred at a city hotel where Ashley reportedly lured the young man after taking him out to drink a case of beers.

On Tuesday, the protesters had initially planned to stage the exercise outside of Ashley’s office at the Mabaruma compound.

However, their efforts shifted to the airstrip after they received word that the embattled public official was awaiting a flight there.

Town councillor, Cleveland December, who was on the picket line, told the Guyana Chronicle that the matter was deeper than politics as some have alleged.

“This is about protesting for our future generations, and having a leader that is allegedly engaging in that sort of activity is not good for the region nor the country,” he said.

December said the residents of the town are annoyed, and expressed hope that systems are put in place to address the issue as soon as possible.

“By law, if a sitting officer or public official is facing such an allegation, the right thing for them to do is to step down until proven innocent,” December said.

Another protester said he is happy that the young man was not afraid to speak out; others said that the allegations being made against Ashley are not surprising.

“We are told that there are other such incidents, but for fear of victimisation, others may not want to speak out,” another protester said.

December said that as the head of the region, Ashley should not be sitting in that position when such allegations are swirling around in public.

FEARFUL Although the turnout was not huge, the residents have noted that many per-

sons are fearful of publicly protesting, since their business may be targeted.

Meanwhile, since the matter surfaced last weekend, many persons expressed surprise at the allegations; some members of the Roman Catholic Church at Mabaruma, where Ashley has been an ardent member, say he must step down from office and allow for a full investigation into the matter.

There are reports at Mabaruma that the victim and his mother have been coerced into silence by persons affiliated with the Opposition. Reports are that such actions include the young man’s phone being taken away from him by relatives.

The matter came to light last weekend and reports are that it was first raised after the man’s uncle and his wife received calls from him while he was stranded in a city hotel.

The young man reportedly receives assistance from the regional chairman, and that days before the Mashramani celebrations, he travelled to the city with the public official for treatment for a mental health issue. This annoyed the man’s uncle who was in two minds about his sick neph-

showering, the young man called his uncle to relate the horrifying experience, but the calls went unanswered until the uncle’s wife took them.

Reports are that after Ashley heard the man on the phone with his relatives, he bolted out of the hotel, leaving the young man

stranded with just $100.

The victim was not familiar with making his way around the city since it was his first trip to Georgetown.

The man later made contact with relatives who rescued him. The matter is engaging the attention of the Ministry of Social Protection.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Increased applications for offshore choppers … GCAA says Bristow to bring 6th helicopter, Trans Guyana acquires new Beechcraft

AS the country moves closer to first oil, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority

(GCAA) is seeing an increase in applications for the operation of offshore

helicopters.

This is according to GCAA’s Director General

Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field.

During a press conference on Tuesday at his High Street office, Field explained that the operators are applying to the Civil Aviation Authority for Foreign Air Operators’ Certificates, primarily for the operation of offshore helicopters.

“As we speak, there are two or three companies in discussion with us right now.

The names I would not mention but there have been an increase in activities,” the director general told reporters.

He disclosed that Bristow, which is providing U.S oil giant ExxonMobil with offshore helicopter services, will soon bring in a sixth helicopter. He said based on his information, within months, three additional helicopters will arrive in Guyana. “As the oil industry expands you will find more and more operators coming in to do work

for the offshore industry,” Field said.

Bristow Group is the leading provider of industrial aviation services, offering helicopter transportation, search and rescue (SAR) and aircraft support services to government and civil organisations worldwide.

The GCAA director general also disclosed too that Trans Guyana Airways acquired its third Beechcraft.

“I am sure that acquisition has something to do with the oil industry. As you know, they moved some Exxon workers out to Trinidad and Barbados, so this third Beech 99 will certainly augur well for the industry,” he told reporters.

Trans Guyana Airways acquired its second Beechcraft 1900D aircraft in 2016 when it took the decision to expand its operations to reach the regional market.

With Tullow Oil, Repsol and CGX expected to commence drilling operations soon, Field anticipates that GCAA will be flooded with applications. He charged his staff to do their best in serving not only the budding industry, but the entire aviation industry with distinction.

“I am calling on the staff of the Civil Aviation Authority to just strengthen their backs because there is a lot of work ahead of us,” he said.

Since 2015, ExxonMobil and its partners have made 12 discoveries in the Stabroek Block. The tenth discovery had increased the estimated recoverable resource for the Stabroek Block to more than 5B oil-equivalent barrels.

Liza Phase One is expected to start off at 120,000 barrels per day in 2020.

In 2022 and 2023, two other wells are expected to come on stream.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Trotman courts investors for mining industry at Canadian summit

NATURAL Resources Minister Raphael Trotman on Monday told potential Canadian and other investors that Guyana is open to investment.

He made the declaration when he attended the 4th Annual Mines Ministers Summit in Toronto, Canada, which was hosted by Canada’s Mines Minister, Amerjeet Sohio, and formed part of the Annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) World Premier Mineral Exploration & Mining Convention.

More than 50 ministers used the platform to discuss common mining issues, with special emphasis on “responsible mineral supply chains.”

During his visit, Minister Trotman reportedly held bilateral talks with several Ministers of government besides Canada’s, as well as investors and financiers from various countries. He also attended and made remarks at the Guyana Mining Day and Cocktail Reception, during which events he highlighted Guyana’s over 150 years of successful mining that has seen several companies benefitting from the extraction of commercially-viable mineral resources to be found in the country’s greenstone belts, specifically gold, diamonds, and bauxite.

Minister Trotman said that though the foregoing resources are the most desired of the lot the country has to offer, as there are several other mineral resources currently being explored, among them manganese, copper, nickel, zinc, lithium and scandium and other rare earth metals. With regards to gold, however, Minister Trotman apprised his au-

diences of current major exploration being done in the country, highlighting companies such as the Guyana Goldfields Inc. Aurora project, and Troy Resources Limited’s operations. He pointed to the current manganese resources of 32.4M tonnes as indicated by Guyana Manganese Inc. and other companies involved in bauxite mining such as the Bosai Group, RUSAL and First Bauxite Inc. On this note, the Minister stressed that foreign direct investment in Guyana’s mining sector is actively encouraged as it is critical to the country’s economic development.

He said that his ministry; the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has a well-established Public Affairs and Communications Unit (PAU) operating rules that offer all investors flexibility in establishing the infrastructure and operations necessary to enable their success in their investments.

Minister Trotman said the Ministry’s policies and regulations are always drafted in consultation with key stakeholders; therefore offers fair rewards for all stakeholders.

At the same time, Minister Trotman stressed that investors must respect the laws of Guyana and take time to understand and adapt to workers’ legitimate expectations and the labour culture. The Minister also highlighted the role of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), also present at PDAC, as the premier regulator of mining and the repository of all geological data in Guyana.

The minister was joined by Minister of Finance, Mr Winston

Jordan, who gave the feature address at the Guyana Day event, and who himself held high-level meetings with Canadian ministers of government and other officials.

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Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman speaking at the Guyana Day event in Canada. At extreme left is Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

400 cases of child sex abuse so far this year –new programme launched to train persons in forensic psychology

GUYANA has recorded 400 cases of sexual abuse against children in just three months, a figure which Resident UNICEF Representative, Sylvie Fouet says is alarming.

Fouet was at the time speaking at the launch of the Forensic Psychology and Sexual Offences Special

Training Series which was coordinated by the Supreme Court, University of Guyana and UNICEF. “The training will help court personnel to engage children who are abused, because it is not an easy task,” she said during the programme which was held at the Pegasus Hotel.

Fouet pointed out that that last year, the number of cases were over 1000. The UNICEF representative signaled the need for more to be done in order to address the scourge which has been plaguing society for years.

She believes that building capacity will help Guyana to find solutions, which

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards addressing the gathering at the launch on Tuesday (Adrian Narine photo) will result in the reduction of those numbers and even the prevention of such cases.

As part of its contribution, UNICEF had assisted in the launching of the sex-

ual offences court locally. In light of the recorded cases, UNICEF, in partnership with the court, will be expanding the services of the sexual offences court to Berbice and Essequibo.

The training will complement the initiative, because it would close the gap between service and treatment of not just children but women who have been abused.

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards echoed similar sentiments, noting that the training is important, since insensitive treatment of victims can result in secondary trauma.

“The complexities of such cases required specialised training on the part of all involved…Persons engaged in working in this field also need debriefing exercises, because they, too, can suffer from secondary trauma,” Justice Cummings-Edwards said.

In light of that, she stressed the need for an intensive approach to training persons. This, she believes, will help them to respond better to such cases.

The aim of the training will be to reduce or eliminate secondary trauma, and adopt a coordinated approach with all stakeholders.

“This is another step in the right direction, because the programme will be offering training in molecular biology, psychology…”

Justice Cummings-Edwards said.

According to Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Emmanuel Cummings, the programme will be delivered by some of the best in the business.

He said the training comprises eight modules, and will target prosecutors and investors.

The training will basically be continued education in judiciary and forensic science.

A section of the gathering at the launch of the Forensic Psychology and Sexual Offences Special Training Series at the Pegasus Hotel (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Rehabilitation of Cunha Canal to begin shortly

By Dillon Goring

THE US$3.2M Cunha Canal rehabilitation project has been launched and is expected to begin almost immediately.

The project is to be executed by the Ministry of Agriculture through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and will be administered by the World Bank.

The project is being funded through the Guyana REDD+Investment Fund, which is providing 91.7 per cent or US$3million of the estimated cost, with

the Government of Guyana contributing US$270,000 or 8.3 per cent.

The project entails construction of a bridge across the Land of Canaan Public Road, fixing the gate and upgrading the sluice at the outlet of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) and the construction of a new sluice into the outlet of the Cunha Canal into the Demerara River.

According to the Project Manager Mr. Dhaneshwar James, the construction of the Bridge is expected to be completed

by May 17th 2019.

This bridge is expected to relieve res-

idents of Badarima Creek, and those at the tributary south of the creek, who are usually affected by flooding in the area.

Meanwhile, monies have already been allocated to execute rehabilitation works on the bridge across the five-door sluice at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

The GRIF Project is being facilitated by the Project Management Unit, Ministry Of The Presidency.

The East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) covers an area of 571 kilometres (km) and stores approximately 250 million cubic metres of

water at the maximum safe-operating water level. It is dammed on three sides by a shallow-earth embankment 67 km long, parallel to the Demerara River, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mahaica River.

A series of canals controlled by sluices drain water from the EDWC, thereby reducing water levels and avoiding overtopping or stressing of the dams, which may increase the risk of structural failure.

The Cunha Canal Rehabilitation Project is one of eight projects funded by the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund to the value of US $190M.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Significant strides made in women empowerment –– Min. Ally general equality forum

By Lisa Hamilton MINISTER of Social Protection, Amna Ally, has reaffirmed the government’s

commitment to advancing the protection and promotion of women’s rights and gender equality in keeping with international decla-

rations.

She made the commitment on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of a twoday seminar on the Regional

Deputy Programme Manager of Gender and Development at the CARICOM Secretariat Ann-Marie Williams and Gender Equality Strategy and Beijing +25 Summit at the Herdmanston Lodge.

The seminar was jointly convened by the ministry, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Cuso International and the United Nations (UN) Women Multi-Country Office of the Caribbean.

The event is a consultative process on the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which contains a global strategy to advance equality, development and peace for all women.

It also lays out strategic actions to be taken by governments.

Regarding the Gender Equality Strategy, representatives will examine how Guyana can best implement the promises made at the signing of the declaration.

The year 2020 will mark the 25th year of the declaration and a number of countries have begun to review their individual progress in addressing the challenges that affect women and girls.

Minister Ally, in reviewing the past few years, said Guyana has made significant progress in improving the status of women since the adoption of the declaration.

Such progress is evident in the implementation of government policies and programmes aimed at reducing poverty and equalising access to goods and services to the poor and vulnerable.

Ally said from 2015 to present, there have been progressive interventions to strengthen programmes and

policies to support women and girls.

Through these efforts, the government developed a national Gender and Social Inclusion policy, to be implemented in the second quarter of 2019, which will mainstream gender issues into all sectors, to eliminate negative factors which hinder equality and other factors.

Another stride for Guyana that Ally pinpointed was the re-integration of teenage mothers into schools, even as the government continues to work with its partners to address sexual and reproductive health and rights.

MUCH HELP The Ministry of Social Protection continues to play its role in facilitating the economic empowerment of women through initiatives such as the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme.

Others involved include the Guyana Women’s Leader Institute, which hosted workshops in administrative regions in 2018 on gender and local government to help women improve their individual and institutional competence in their communities.

Guyana also continues to make progress on the status of women in public life with a steady rating of representation of women in Parliament. “[Guyana] is well ahead of many developed countries on the Women in National Parliament Index. According to the 2018 index, women hold 31.9 per cent of seats in the National Assembly in Guyana and I am proud of that,” Ally said.

She added that Guyana has also made progress towards achieving universal primary education; has met its target of eliminating gender disparity in primary and secondary education; and now strives towards parity at the tertiary level.

However, issues that the country still grapples with include unequal representation in the work place, gender-based violence, and cultural practices which compromise the education and health of girls and women.

“I must emphasise that these challenges are not

unique to Guyana. Women across the Region as well as women globally are negatively affected by detrimental cultural practices and persistent discrimination.

While a national response is important, I believe that we in the Region have much commonality, thus, a collective approach is something critical,” she stressed.

USEFUL ENGAGEMENT The event, Ally reminded, helps Guyana to identify its current challenges and gaps and determine

Deputy Representative of the UN Women Multi Country Office in the Caribbean Tonni Brodber future plans to accelerate implementation of the Regional Gender Equality Strategy at the national level.

“The Government of Guyana remains committed to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women in all spheres of life,” she said.

She added: “More than ever, urgent and sustained action is needed to transform the structures, institutions and norms – economic, political and social – that are holding back progress on gender equality…. Guyana will continue to work with our CARICOM sister countries and the UN to promote and protect the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom of women and girls through See page 15

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Significant strides made ...

From page 14

out their lives.”

Speaking to the media on the sidelines, Deputy Programme Manager of Gender and Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Ann-Marie Williams, agreed that the event will allow Guyana to improve on prevalent issues.

“There have been some gains but in terms of sexual reproductive health, rights and violence, most of the member states have not done well in the areas. And so, this is an opportunity to report, take stock and to do better in terms of post Beijing,” she said.

Meanwhile, deputy representative of the UN Women Multi Country Office in the Caribbean, Tonni Brodber, assessed Guyana’s progress in key areas.

“I think Guyana has made some significant progress, especially in terms of

Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally (ninth left) with stakeholders at the Herdmanston Lodge (Adrian Narine) legislation and policies; in terms of global standards, especially with regards to women’s political participation,” she said.

At the end of the sem-

inar, stakeholders will provide feedback on the regional plan and aid in the outlining of the next steps needed to complete the strategy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Rural court, zero-tolerance for sexual harassment –– among recommendations in WGEC report

MEN and women are not separate, said Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, who contended that the strength of one enhances the strength of the other.

Dr. Scotland shared the view after receiving a report on gender and equality from a research conducted by the Women and Gender Equality

Commission (WGEC) on Tuesday.

The report looked at laws and conventions Guyana has signed on to, and made recommendations geared at improving gender equality in Guyana.

The report was later named “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland receiving the report from WGEC Chairperson Indranie Chandarpal. Surrounding them are other members of the commission and Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs (second right) WGEC Chairperson, Indranie Chandarpal, said the research was initiated last year and consultations were held, allowing stakeholders an opportunity to make recommendations.

The commission, she said, was waiting on a significant opportunity to make the document public.

“We thought what other time than the week of International Women’s Day. And because of all the other things that are taking place, we thought that it would be useful, once our Speaker concurs,” Chandarpaul said.

Giving some insight into the report, she said that there are a lot of patriarchal and societal values, traditions and norms that still exist, and they interfere with progressive movement in terms of improving gender equality.

As such, the report made reference to some of these values affecting progress and made 28 recommendations to address them.

The report first has to be approved in the House before it is made public, and as such, the WGEC chairperson was not at liberty to share the full details of the report.

However, she disclosed that one of their

recommendations is to produce a harmonised code of law on women’s rights.

“There should be a book that contains all laws protecting women, but set out as a code. The code should be harmonised with international law obligations and with other national laws to ensure that there are no gaps in the protection afforded to women,” Chandarpal said.

Another recommendation, she said, is one that addresses sexual harassment.

“Sexual harassment must be dealt with. A sexual harassment policy should be instituted at all places of work and educational institutions as well. An immediate action would be to have all the employers publish the following statement; ‘Sexual harassment at work place is forbidden’. Employees who engage in sexual harassment are liable to disciplinary action, including dismissal,” she expressed.

Another important recommendation is the provision of access to justice for rural women by having mobile courts.

Dr. Scotland said he was pleased to receive the report which will be made public in due course.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Saipem ramping-up offshore operations

By Wendella Davidson

ITALIAN oil and gas contractor, Saipem, will be ramping-up operations offshore Guyana over the next three months as preparatory work gets underway ahead of the arrival of the Liza Destiny in Q3.

This includes a survey of the sea floor by the Neptune, to determine where pipes are to be laid followed by the arrival of the Saipem FDS2, the vessel that will install the more than 6,000 pieces of pipes at the Liza Field for the Phase One Development, according to a release from OilNOW. OilNow is an online-based information and resource centre, which serves to complement the work of all stakeholders in the oil and gas sector in Guyana.

Additionally, an ultra deepwater construction DP 3 vessel, Saipem Constellation, is scheduled to arrive in Guyana later this year to connect the Liza Destiny FPSO to the subsea equipment for oil production, which is set to begin by 2020, the release noted.

“This vessel will come in with about 300 manpower onboard… which means there must be back-to-back turnover which will require about 700 people coming into Guyana and going offshore, utilising a number of services in-country,” Saipem Guyana Country Manager, Thuranthiran Nadarajah told OilNOW. Nadarajah said while the ongoing work is in preparation for Liza Phase One, all the major activities are also being done to facilitate the second phase of the Liza development.

Saipem had, on August 21, 2018, announced that it had secured contracts for the second phase of the Liza development to the tune of US$700M .

The contracts assigned

by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), an affiliate of ExxonMobil, as the project operator, are in addition to those awarded to Saipem in 2017 for Liza Phase One. “The foundation work currently being undertaken actually has substantial amount of ability to do the second phase, where we will be able to do some fabrication in-country and that fabrication will lead to additional or bigger structure fabrication. So, we are planning in a very controlled and staged manner in order

to have a sustainable programme where Saipem’s footprint will be in Guyana for the long-term,” the release quoted the country manager as saying.

He noted that Saipem’s ability to deliver on time is one of the key factors enabling the company to secure major contracts, such as those for the Liza development.

SAFETY In so doing, with safety as a top priority, means utilising world-class facilities and highly skilled personnel, he added.

“Having said that, we need to see what are the infrastructure that is available in Guyana in order for us to be able to deliver the time and the work scope that is required. When we did the initial investigation, we could not find any structure or base which has got enough strength to be able to sustain heavy loads where we would be able to fabricate, for example, the jumpers or even any subsea structures which is heavy that needs to be offloaded onto a vessel where we need a strong jetty, which is not available,” Nadarajah pointed out.

It would be much more cost-effective for the company to utilise these services in-country rather than having to procure them from other locations, he added.

“That’s why we are working behind the scenes with local companies to try and build the foundation and build the infrastructure and transfer the knowledge….

For example, we need welders, we need technicians, material, equipment, we need blasting, painting, scaffolding; anything related to fabrication, we need it,” he stated.

Having these things available locally at the safety and standards required will be pivotal in seeing more services being utilised in Guyana.

“For Saipem, we don’t look at profit as the component; we look at safety as the component. We are a strong believer in doing something safe which will eventually give us the profit,” he said.

COLLABORATION Saipem has been collaborating with the University of Guyana and is working with the Government Technical Institute (GTI) to help build capacity, and has already been

able to train and employ Guyanese in this regard.

“We’ve had our welding and fabrication team in town visiting the Government Technical Institute to see their facility and to see how we can assist. We are working with some vendors to collaborate in order to bring the welders to be upgraded, to be trained to be able to be used by us for the next phase,” Nadarajah stated.

Saipem is one of the world leaders in drilling services, as well as in the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of pipelines and complex projects, onshore and offshore, in the oil and gas market.

Saipem’s Georgetown Guyana facility (OilNOW website photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

GuyOil urges drivers to maintain their vehicles

THE Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) has urged all vehicle owners to maintain their vehicles due to the number of recent vehicular fires in a short period of time.

“It’s important that you regularly service and maintain the vehicles you love in order to avoid incidents such as fires or other mechanical issues,” the

company said in a notice published in this newspaper. Recently, a number of vehicles have exploded and many persons have speculated that these fires were caused by the ‘new fuel’ being imported by the government through the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil). This ‘new fuel’ caused a significant reduction in the cost of motor

A GuyOil service station gasoline and Gasoil (LSD), owed to the lower fuel acquisition prices.

The fires began with three occurring in two consecutive days. That number eventually climbed to five over the past month.

Though there have been five recent vehicular fires, GuyOil reminded that in 2017 there were 66 fires involving vehicles, while that number was 45 in 2018.

“Vehicle fires are more common than most of us realise,” GuyOil said. According to GuyOil, there is rarely a single case for vehicular fires and instead cited that it is a combination of factors. Poor maintenance, electrical problems, overheating engines and uncertified modifications to the vehicles were listed as some of the more common causes of vehicular fires.

In fact, one mechanic, Martin John, explained to the Guyana Chronicle that it was very unlikely for the fuel to be the cause of these fires, due to the way vehicles are designed. Adding to this was one GuyOil mechanic, who wished to remain unnamed, from a Georgetown station. “It’s the same 95 Octane we sold before,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

“The only difference is that it smells more high – which is not a problem.”

In the ad published, GuyOil also urged owners to use “authorised” and “certified” mechanics.

CERTIFICATION In another advertisement published online, GuyOil assured that it

subscribes to the Global Fuel Standards as set out by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

“All imported fuel is tested at the port of loading by an independent certified laboratory,” GuyOil shared. “All our employees who are involved with the handling of fuel are trained and adept on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in handling fuel in accordance with International Safety Management (ISM) and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards.”

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Mahender Sharma, explained: “For each shipment of fuel imported by Guyoil, a certificate of quality is provided.” But even so, in light of the incidents, he disclosed that the GEA reviewed the certificates of quality from two different laboratories and was satisfied that the specifications were within the national standard for gasoline.

Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle, also shared that the vehicular fires call for persons to exercise greater diligence with their vehicles. While speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, he urged motorists to only have their vehicles repaired according to the manufacturer’s specifications and by persons who have knowledge of auto repairs.

He further stressed that all motorists equip their vehicles with a small fire extinguisher to safeguard against emergencies.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Aviation authority puts stringent measures in place to monitor operators –– aircraft to be tracked, defaulters to face stiff penalties (ADS-B) system, however, until then, it will be used for testing purposes.

ADS–B is a surveillance technology that allows for pe-

by Svetlana Marshall GUYANA Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has implemented a series of stringent measures to monitor aircraft and operators within the Aviation Industry that would allow for the reporting of malpractice and tracking of aircraft.

With effect from Tuesday March 5, 2019, GCAA has initiated a ‘See Something, Say Something, Step Up, Save A Life’ initiative, an Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) System and a Mentorship Programme in direct response to the recent accidents, one of which resulted in the death of Captain Randy Liverpool.

Director General of Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field, made the announcements on Tuesday, during a press conference at GCAA’s Headquarters at High Street, Georgetown – one day after he met with pilots and operators within the Aviation Industry, in light of the recent turn of events.

Field said the ‘See Something, Say Something, Step Up, Save a Life’ initiative forms part of the Aviation Authority’s Oversight Programme that would allow for the monitoring of operators, with the help of the citizenry, due to GCAA’s limited human resource capability.

“Under this programme the authority will establish a hotline for receiving anon-

Director General of Guyana’s Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field (Delano Williams’ photo) ymous calls, and receiving “I will use the powers reports of violation of our bestowed upon me in the airspace….The public will law including our recently be asked to report on any reapproved Civil Aviation untoward movement or any Act to apply sanctions. The activity which does not con- sanctions will include but firm to regular practice of not limited to revocation operation of aircraft either by of license or air operators’ operators or by pilots,” the certificates,” Field explained.

Director General explained.

He noted that the ‘See The hotline number is 608 Something, Say Something’ -4222. initiative has been impleAccording to him, all mented in other parts of the reports will be investigated world to assist with the monand once an operator or pilot itoring of the Aviation Inis found culpable of violating dustry. the safety of the country’s In addition to that, with airspace or the handling of effect from July, 2019, any aviation machinery con- GCAA will fully implement trary to the regulations, stiff the Automatic Dependent penalties will follow.

Surveillance –Broadcast

Guyana Civil Aviation Authority officials meeting with operators and pilots on the new measures on Monday. (Adrian Narine’s photo)

riodic broadcasting of an aircraft’s position via satellite navigation, enabling it to be tracked.

GCAA has installed the

ADS-B systems at the air traffic control towers at Kaieteur, Annai, Kamarang See page 20

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Guyana Youth Service soon to be launched

OVER the past few weeks, preparations have been intensified for the upcoming launch of the Guyana Youth Service (GYS), which will be hosted at the Kuru-Kuru Training Centre within the coming months.

On Friday last, Minister of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton and Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry, conducted a site visit of the facility.

This visit included inspections to ensure that all measures are in place to efficiently ex-

ecute the launch, which will include approximately 1000 youths from all across Guyana.

Additionally, Minister Norton on Monday last met with officers of the Youth Department to ensure that all logistics are in place for transporting and accommodating persons from outlying areas who will be attending.

Director of Youth, Ms. Melissa Carmichael, indicated that participants of the launch will be drawn from the list of persons currently awaiting entry into the many youth progammes being offered by the government via various ministries.

“Following the launch, these persons will be im-mediately accepted to the progammes that they would’ve applied to, and training under the Guyana Youth Service will commence in a more unified and structured manner,” Ms. Carmichael said.

The GYS was designed as a comprehensive approach to address the myriad of problems facing Guyana’s youths. This process entails the development of a system which integrates many discrete institutions and human and physical resources into a holistic plan for the development of youth. In addition, the

GYS will seek to ensure that all youths benefit from the same level of training and receive equally impactful certifications from various agencies. As such, the GYS will comprise a number of campuses and training centres that will operate from various geographical locations in collaboration with the relevant national and regional state institutions.

The Government of Guyana is confident that the GYS will educate, train, empower and promote social cohesion among young people, while contributing to the sustainable development of Guyana.

Aviation authority ...

From page 19 and Port Kaituma, complementing the primary air traffic control station at Timehri.

Field explained that the aircraft’s signals will be transmitted to the towers once they have transponders installed on them. “Our air traffic controllers will be able to track the aircraft for at least 75 to 80 per cent of Guyana from ground level to 60,000 ft, thus noting any aircraft deviating from its standard route or indulging in anything contrary to the regulation of our airspace,” he explained. At the moment, approximately 65 per cent of the aircrafts operating in Guyana have transponders installed. GCAA is in discussion with the operators of the remaining aircrafts to have all aircrafts equipped with ADS-B systems by July, 2019 when the system will be fully implemented.

The Director General said though the ADS-B system was being tested, nothing stops GCAA from using it. On Thursday, GCAA Director General will be meeting with his air traffic controllers to bring them up to speed on the ADS-B system. During that meeting, Field is expected to underscore the importance of proper tracking of aircraft.

The third initiative is the establishment of a Mentorship Programme which will be rolled out by the operators with support from GCAA. Field said the operators have been asked to submit a proposal for the mentorship programme for approval by March 31, 2019.

“Under this programme, seasoned and experienced pilots [with flying experience] beyond 10,000 hours will act as mentors for the junior pilots. At present in the industry, there are junior pilots, some of them very, very professional in their outlook and we aim to harness that professionalism, while there are a few who lack that professionalism [and need] guidance,” the Director General explained.

The Civil Aviation Authority has also taken further steps to increase ramp and aircraft inspections. Since 2015, GCAA has been increasing the number of ramp inspections conducted. Ramp inspection is an assessment of an aircraft on Guyana’s territory. In 2018, 205 ramp inspections were done when compared to nine (9) in 2015.

“The GCAA remains committed towards creating a safe, secure and modern civil aviation sector,” Field assured the reporters.

He said that investigations into the two recent accidents were ongoing. The first plane crash involving a Guyana Adventist Medical Aviation Services (GAMAS) Cessna 182 occurred on February 18, 2019, resulting in the pilot and a passenger suffering injuries. The second accident, which claimed the life of a pilot, involved a Cessna 206. The plane crashed at Eteringbang near the Venezuelan border on February 21, 2019.

The accidents are being investigated by Ms Paula McAdam, the designated Accident Investigator in Charge.

McAdam, according to Field, will report directly to the Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure with responsibility for the Aviation Sector, Annette Ferguson.

He said that such was being done to allow for the independence and integrity of the investigations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

RUSAL submits proposals to end impasse

DAYS into the ongoing industrial fallout over the sacking of workers, Russian-owned Bauxite Company, RUSAL has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Social Protection, laying out conditions for the normalisation of the operation of the entity.

Government was called in to quell the situation because the company and Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU) 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 previously fired.

Junior Minister of

Social Protection, Keith Scott, said the proposals were received but they have to be reviewed by his senior, Minister Amna Ally, before given to the union. “We will spend the day reviewing it before we decide on a way forward,” said Scott during a telephone interview on Tuesday.

On Monday RUSAL was scheduled to meet with the union but refused to do so, saying that GB&GWU’s General-Secretary, Lincoln Lewis, needs to be absent for the meeting to happen.

Although the company did not meet with the union representatives, they had a discussion with Junior Minister of Social Protection, Keith Scott, and Chief Labour Officer (CLO), Charles

Junior Minister of Social Protection, Keith Scott Ogle.

The government officials did not reveal what

the proposals were, but President of the Guyana Trade Union Congress,

Coretta McDonald, said they were told that the company is asking for the river to be unblocked because they are paying $1M a day. 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.

“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

McDonald in an invited comment on Monday.

“There was no collective agreement since 2009 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. Lewis, in an invited comment on Tuesday, said they have received a copy of the proposal and will continue to block the river until the union’s demands are met.

He had 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.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Spotlight: China’s Two Sessions draw global attention on foreign investment, BRI BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Experts worldwide are following closely China’s annual Two Sessions, a window to help them understand where the world’s second largest economy is heading and what it means to the world.

The Two Sessions refer to the annual gathering of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, and that of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which is China’s top political advisory body.

“Their annual meetings are important because they shed light on the future direction of the country’s economic and social policies,” said Khairy Tourk, an economics professor at the Stuart School of Business of the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

He said the new policies matter much to China’s growth as well as its economic ties with both Western and developing nations.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT One of the focuses is a draft law on foreign investment that has been submitted for a third reading at the legislative session.

The draft law addresses “many of Western concerns such as bolstering the protection of intellectual property and making it easier for foreign firms to do business in China,” Tourk said.

Sotiris Petropoulos, an assistant professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations at University of the Peloponnese in Greece, echoed Tourk’s opinion.

He said the draft law, once passed, is expected to decrease barriers to foreign investment and render foreign companies’ operations within the country easier and more balanced than before.

According to Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, China is looking to a bigger role of foreign

investment in its growth, which is a longtime engine driving the global economy.

“I think that the Chinese leadership is very wise, and that they realize that market-oriented competition will lead to greater growth. And one way to spur that growth is to allow foreign companies to play a stronger role in China,” Allen said.

“And so it makes sense, from an

2013.

“The Belt and Road Initiative is inclusive and offers the greatest opportunity for both investment and development in decades,” commented Keith Bennett, vice chairman of Britain’s 48 Group Club, an advocate for closer Britain-China business relations.

“Its emphasis on infrastructure and

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, shakes hands with political advisers from the sectors of culture, art and social sciences during the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, on March 5, 2019, in Beijing. (PHOTO / XINHUA) economic perspective, to welcome that foreign investment,” he said.

BELT AND ROAD Much attention was also paid to the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an international cooperation platform for common development that has brought tangible benefits to many other countries since

connectivity lays the best possible foundations for promoting all-round, comprehensive economic development and improvement of people’s livelihood in the future,” he said.

Recalling his visit to Pakistan a year ago to study the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a major BRI cooperation initiative, he said, “I could see how the many projects in Gwadar and elsewhere

were already benefiting the local people and how well Chinese and Pakistani people were working together and respecting each other.”

In the eyes of Tourk, “the Chinese style of growth is an inspiration to many developing nations.” “Through the BRI, many of these nations are fortunate to enjoy Chinese funding and know-how for the building of modern infrastructure and industrial economic zones,” he said.

Ayad Al-Manaa, a political analyst and political science professor at Kuwait University, said BRI cooperation projects will support Kuwait’s urban development and transformation into a financial and economic center, which are planned in Kuwait Vision 2035.

SHARED GROWTH China, said Tourk, “is a major contributor to global growth” and a country “that has made the development of poor countries one of its top priorities.”

“A growing Chinese economy is crucial to the prosperity in other regions of the world, especially in Asia and Africa,” he added.

“The Chinese development has fascinated the world. It has made the country the workshop of the world,” he said, noting that many developing nations “are grateful to China for its willingness to share its developmental expertise.”

That view was shared by Mohammed Saqib, an Indian economist and secretary-general of India China Economic and Cultural Council, a nonprofit organization that works to enhance economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

“China will continue to play a very, very important role for industrialization of other backward or developing countries,” he said.

“China is such a large, big economy and it has become an intrinsic part of so many countries’ life that if China grows, everybody grows,” he added.

Import Expo to recruit volunteers SHANGHAI, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Shanghai will begin recruiting volunteers for the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) next month.

Currently, around 1.28 million people have registered as volunteers

via an online application, according to the Shanghai municipal committee of the Communist Youth League.

During the first expo, more than 34,000 volunteers took part in voluntary services in Shanghai, latest

figures showed. Those born in the 1990s made up a majority of the volunteers. A total of 338 volunteers from Shanghai International Studies University provided interpretation, translation and concierge services during last year’s expo.

Last year, the first CIIE was held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10 and concluded with deals worth about 57.83 billion U.S. dollars.

The expo attracted 3,600 overseas companies. The second CIIE will be held in November 2019.

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Sacked workers up ante … urge Lincoln against RUSAL Lewis to stand firm GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

By Vanessa Braithwaite UNLESS the Russian Managers of RUSAL make up their minds to meet with the entire Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GBGWU), including General Secretary Lincoln Lewis, who was asked to recuse himself, the dismissed workers have vowed to continue their picketing action in Aroaima and will continue to block the Upper-Berbice River.

is meet with the entire union.

He said that all other demands are secondary to the union engagement. “The priority is acknowledging the union, everything else will fall into place; salaries, conditions, increase, everything will fall into place.”

He said that Lincoln Lewis would have played a pivotal role in fighting for the workers and must be part of the negotiations. “He is the leader, they are the foreigners, they cannot come Residents of Aroaima joined workers in the picketing exercise

Another scene from the picketing exercise on Tuesday On Tuesday, the workers participated in a picketing exercise which saw a turnout of about 250 persons, including workers and residents. The picketing started from Maple Town and ended at the Hururu Waterfront, where the river is barricaded with drums and ropes.

Even as RUSAL issued letters to some terminated workers, requesting that they return to work, the workers noted that they will not be returning under the same circumstances that caused them to strike in the first place.

GOING TO THE END One vocal worker on Tuesday said that the workers are prepared to go above and beyond with RUSAL until they decide to do one thing, and that

here and call the shots,” the worker said.

When asked if the workers fear RUSAL would

completely close operations, putting hundreds on the breadline, the worker said that, that would be a glorious day for Guyana. He said the Russians came here with a communist mentality and are acting like “we need them, but in turn, it is they that need us. If they leave here it will be a glorious day for us, we were surviving before they came and we will continue to survive after they leave.

The Russians need what we have, which is one of the richest bauxite in the world and for them to get what we have, they have to employ us to get it, they are badly in need of us, more than we are in need of them,” the worker affirmed.

NOT RECUSING President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Coretta McDonald on Monday, told the me-

dia that the Russians too can pack up and leave, if they are not prepared to respect the laws of Guyana.

She said 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 the laws.

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

It is approaching one month since the workers have not been paid and they believe they have come too far in this sacrifice, which is more than a bread and butter one, to turn back now and return to work under the current circumstances.

FAKE NEWS Alluding to recent reports on a Russian new site, that operations have

RUSAL workers on the picket line

been suspended, the workers related that the Russians are operating with less than a skeleton staff at the Kurubuka Mines and have not moved all assets to the warehouse.

ACCORDING to U.S. media company Bloomberg, Russian-owned bauxite company 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.”

The worker related that there are only three trucks in the warehouse presently and while the blocking of the river has slowed down operations significantly, work continues in the mines. “What is on that news link is what they (RUSAL Managers), feed them with, it is not the first time, they would tell their superiors in Russia that the trucks are not working and operation is stalled but work is going on,” he related.

Although the company did not meet with the union representatives, they had a discussion with Junior Minister of Social Protection, Keith Scott, and Chief Labour Officer (CLO), Charles Ogle, on Monday and 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.

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.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Embankment breach at Providence sealed

A HIGH tide has resulted in the earthen embankment at Providence, East Bank Demerara being breached, causing localised flooding.

The breach, however, did not affect residents in the area.

The Sea and River Defence Department immediately mobilised a contractor with an excavator to seal the breach.

The breach was successfully sealed on February 21, 2019 before the next spring tide and works are currently ongoing. The work entails the incorporation of timber revetment to fortify and stabilise

the vulnerable sections.

The Sea and River Defence Department are carrying out a condition assessment of the river defence along the East Bank of Demerara to prevent reoccurrence of such situation.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure along with the Sea and River Defence Department advised residents within the coastal areas to desist from cutting the natural mangrove and to refrain from squatting along the river defence and reserves.

Excavator sealing the breach at Providence

Man dies after chopped to back of head SURAJ Jailall, 29, of Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara, is now dead.

He had been clinging to live since Sunday in hospital after he was chopped to the back of his head by his sister’s boyfriend.

Reports are that the suspect and Jailall were involved in an argument while they were drinking at a corner in the community, a street away from where the now deceased man lived.

According to his relatives, during the argument, the men were cautioned by persons and they had stopped, but sometime later the suspect again began accosting the 29- year-old and he, the suspect, then left and went home. Shortly after, the man returned with a cutlass and chopped Jailall to the back of his head, causing him to stumble all the way home.

The man did not tell Suraj Jailal his mother who opened the house door for him, that he was chopped. It was until after a while that they became aware that the man was injured and he was quickly rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was treated and had his wounds sutured. When the Chronicle visited the home, family members were preparing for a wake; and the suspect’s sisters were over at the home of the deceased offering their condolences to the family, especially the dead man’s mother who has been slipping in and out consciousness.

Relatives told this publication that even after the chopping incident, the man who did the act was not arrested. It was only after the victim died and the police were told of this that they made an attempt to arrest the suspect. It was, however, after the relatives visited the police station at Wales and told the ranks that the victim of the chopping was dead, that they came to the village to arrest the suspect.

This newspaper was also informed that a post-mortem is to be performed on the man; and from there, charges would be considered at the legal of the legal bodies which advises the force in this regard.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 06, 2019

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GAM elects president …plans to create new mandate for association

NEWLY Elected President of the Guyana Association of Municipalities, Linden Mayor, Waneka Arindell, has promised to better organise the association and create a new mandate as to how the body functions.

Arindell was elected during the association’s Annual General Meeting at Herdmanston’s Lodge on Tuesday. “The association is still in its embryotic stage and there is a lot of work to do in terms of organising the head of the association and how we are functioning,” said the mayor in an invited comment.

President of the Guyana Association of Municipalities, Waneka Arindell (Adrian Narine photo)

She said their intent is to work with the Ministry of Communities to do the best this year by ensuring that all municipalities get support from GAM. “We need to pull the strength together and work towards ensuring Local Government keeps order in place…we want to make sure that every arm is able to receive resources and maximise them,” said Arindell.

The association has rep-

resentation from all 10 towns but, most of the attention will be placed on the new towns which are Mahdia, Lethem, Bartica and Mabaruma.

Some of the new members of the executive committee include Alfred Mentore, who will serve as Secretary; Kirk Fraser, who will be Vice-President; Winifred Heywood, who will serve as Treasurer and David Adams who will serve as Assistant Secretary Treasurer.

Arindell said the new members will continue to work towards helping and overseeing municipalities.

Chief Planning Officer of the Ministry of Communities, Roger Rogers, said the ministry will continue to support the association in every way possible.

The ministry in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will be rolling out a new project which will be geared at developing a strategic plan for GAM. Rogers said the ministry has received a grant from the CDB to conduct the project but more details will be provided at a later date. “We are at a stage where we got the go ahead from the CDB to engage the organisation…we want to start creating financial regulations for GAM and ensuring that there is legislative harmonisation, because there are legislative overlaps which create impediments for the system,” said the planning officer.

He believes that the investment in local government is important because it plays a critical role in ensuring that the country goes forward.

Outgoing Vice-President

Discounts on landing fees not unusual -CJIA says AA adds 15,000 seats into Guyana, employs over 100 Guyanese

THE Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) has contended that discounts on landing fees offered to airlines is not unusual and is done as a measure to help offset the initial start-up expense of new air services into a destination.

The airport’s statement was in response to an article headlined ‘Govt grants American Airlines 90 per cent concession on landing fees’ in the Kaieteur News edition of March 3, 2019.

“A cursory check of the industry will reveal that this is a very common and well accepted practice adopted by airports worldwide. As a matter of fact, many airports go as far as providing ‘Revenue Guarantees’ to airlines so they can fly to their destination,” said CJIA. The discount offered to new carriers are progressively reduced and are usually for the first year or two of operations.

The airport, in a press statement, said similar concessions were also offered to other new entrants into the GEO market, including Dynamic Airways and COPA Airlines.

Since its commencement of flight operations in November 2018, American Airlines has added an additional 15,000 seats to the Guyana market and provided direct and indirect employment opportunities for over 100 Guyanese. The additional airlift has also added competition on the route and offers passengers an advantage of selecting their choice of carrier.

“Over the past few years, the Government of Guyana has worked assiduously to attract new carriers and will continue to do so, and ensure that air travel is accessible and affordable for Guyanese, visitors and businesses alike,” said CJIA.

of GAM, Gifford Marshall, also stressed the importance of local government, noting that the system had suffered a major blow for more than two decades, so there is need for support to strengthen local organs. He believes that through the support of the ministry, the new committee will be able to build on the foundation which was laid by the previous administration of the organisation.

The Executive Committee of GAM flanked by other officials of the various municipalities (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday March 6, 2019

NICIL accuses GUYSUCO of putting …says corporation continues $30B bond at risk to breach conditions …joint technical committee to facilitate a resolution THE National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) on Tuesday accused the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) of breaching the conditions under which the 30-billion-dollar bond facility was established, however, a joint technical committee will be set up to iron out the issues.

In a lengthy statement on Tuesday, NICIL said it note with concern an article published in March 5th edition of the Stabroek News headlined “GuySuCo being stymied by NICIL under Heath-London’s control.”

According to NICIL “the article is a mixture of personal attacks on Mr Col-

vin Heath-London, Head of NICIL’s Special Purpose Unit (SPU), who is also acting Chief Executive Officer of NICIL, and a misrepresentation of the facts relating to the handling of disbursements of funds from NICIL to GuySuCo.” Firing back at the ‘GuySuCo Executives,’ NICIL accused the sugar corporation

of placing the entire 30-billion-dollar bond facility at risk when it used the funds for purposes for which they were not intended. “The misuse of funds prompted Republic Bank Limited (Republic), in its capacity as arranger for the NICIL Government of Guyana Guaranteed Bond, to write NICIL requesting an update

on behalf of all bondholders.

In the letter, Republic Bank stated that bondholders were learning, through the print media, of GuySuCo’s misuse of the funds,” NICIL said.

It said Republic Bank had wasted no time in pointing out GuySuCo’s actions were in direct conflict with the conditions of the Trust Deed. Finally, Republic Bank reinforced that, “it is NICIL’s sole obligation to the bondholders to ensure that the proceeds of the bond are compliant and consistent with the terms of the financial agreement.”

According to NICIL, GuySuCo’s actions also prompted the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) to register discontent over the decisions made by the corporation’s management. GBTI reportedly demanded that an explanation be given for the company’s actions. “The position taken by the bondholders, as enumerated in the Trust Deed, notwithstanding, the management of GuySuCo continues to resist NICIL’s demands for accountability and compliance,” NICIL stated.

It was pointed out that on February 15, 2019, GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Harold Davis wrote NICIL and argued that the sugar corporation’s management and board will be responsible for “prioritisation for expenditure.”

According to NICIL, Dr Davis then proposed his own structure for accountability outside of the existing structure of the facility.

NICIL said Section C of the Trust Deed stipulates that “the net proceeds from the issue of the bonds shall be applied exclusively by the NICIL towards financing of the GuySuCo’s long-term project and capital expenditure to acquire two co-generation plants, to upgrade existing factories to produce plantation white sugar, to build storage and packing facilities, as well as to contribute for two years towards general ongoing operational costs.”

Consequently, neither NICIL nor GuySuCo reportedly has the liberty to determine the priorities for expenditure of the funds.

“The fact of the matter is that when GuySuCo managers first made public accusations, the matter reached the President and Cabinet and Ministers Holder and Sharma were mandated by Cabinet to hold a meeting with representatives

of GuySuCo and NICIL. That meeting was held on January 3, 2019. At that meeting there was a clear decision that GuySuCo would provide all the information that NICIL requested in order for the latter to give account to the bond holders and to process further requests for disbursements. To date, GuySuCo has not provided the information,” NICIL stated.

It was noted that NICIL’s Chairman wrote GuySuCo and outlined the specific requirements. In that letter, GuySuCo was reminded that it undertook to provide a detailed schedule pertaining to the transactional utilisation of the net disbursement; payment vouchers representative of the individual transactions stated in outlined Schedule; and supporting documents inclusive of quotations, bills, invoices, receipts and any other supporting documents relating to the utilisation of the net proceeds.

NICIL said while GuySuCo is yet to provide the requested information, it (NICIL) continues to honour all requests for funding. As of today’s date, there is no request from GuySuCo that has not been disbursed. “The real source of tension between NICIL and GuySuCo is not the personality of Mr Heath-London, rather, it is the deeply rooted philosophical difference between to two agencies with regard to the structural changes and strategic directions for the industry.

“The Bond was obtained for the specific purpose of recapitalising GuySucCo and bringing it back to profitability.

However, GuySuCo instead wants to use the funds for rehabilitation works, which is the same strategy they adopted when they were receiving subvention from the government,” NICIL said.

Regardless of their differences NICIL and GuySuCo have reportedly committed to work together in the best interest of the industry and the Guyana economy as a whole. “Towards this end, the two sides have agreed to address the discrepancy that exists between the recapitalisation strategy envisioned by the bond instrument, on one hand, and the rehabilitation strategy and related needs put forward by GuySuCo, on the other,” NICIL said.

A joint technical committee will facilitate a resolution of this matter.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Man on life support after beating

By Leroy Smith

MEMBERS of a family are keeping their fingers crossed and praying for the best, while another family is preparing to ascend the court stairs to answer the charge of attempted murder.

This follows the beating of 48-year-old Terry Persaud, a handyman of Meten-MeerZorg on the West Coast of Demerara. According to relatives, Persaud was beaten to his face by a man and his sister and was also struck to the head with a piece wood.

It is the blow to the head that reportedly caused him to now be hospitalised in a critical condition and on life support at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, Chandroutie Singh, the man’s sister, explained that she was home when she received a call from a younger relative last Wednesday that she should come up the road quickly, that Persaud was lying on the road and appeared to be dead. “When I reach he actually lay down bleeding from his ears and nose and I put him in a car and take him to the hospital. I took him to [Leonora] Cottage Hospital then West Demerara Hospital and then they transferred him to Georgetown Hospital,” the woman indicated.

According to Singh, after

hours at the hospital, she left and returned to West Demerara where she visited the Leonora Police Station. There she met the persons who had allegedly beaten her brother and who indicated that they were going to pay for the CT scan for the man.

Singh said that he informed them that she was not there to deal with that, but rather the police aspect of things. Upon her return to the hospital on Thursday, the woman said that relatives were informed that Terry Persaud suffered a broken jaw, a fractured neck and fractured skull; the latter two injuries are suspected to have been caused by the cuff to his face by the male suspect and the lash to his head by the suspect’s sister.

The distraught sister continued as she pointed out that her brother was hooked up to a number of machines, had wires all over him and was covered with a sheet. She said that from the moment he was picked up and rushed to the hospital to the time she spoke with this newspaper on Monday, her brother has been unresponsive and on the life support machine.

According to reports, on Monday the suspects’ relatives attempted to remove Terry from the Georgetown Public Hospital and have him sent to a private hospital, but doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital reportedly

Guilty with explanation JOHN Williams, a 31-year-old resident of Matthews Ridge, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, charged with assaulting the mother of his children to cause her actual bodily harm.

Williams was fined for the offence.

According to Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, Williams and the woman, Joan Glasgow, shared a common-law union and they have four. On the day in question, Glasgow and the defendant had a misunderstanding, as a result of which, he dealt her several lashes with a cutlass across her body. The woman was said to have been holding her nine-month-old baby in her hand at the said Fined: John Williams time.

Subsequent to this incident, Williams returned on March 2, 2019 at their residence and again attacked the woman. A report was made to the police and he was later apprehended.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge with an explanation as to why he had committed the act. He told the court that the woman usually goes out and “sport” with other men, leaving his nine-month-old baby in the care of his 10-year-old daughter. On this occasion, he said, he became really frustrated which led to him lashing out, because he loves her but she keeps using him.

The woman was hospitalised and suffered from swelling of the head and several bruises.

The defendant was fined $15,000, with an alternative of three months imprisonment.

denied that request. Relatives said that doctors told them that the man “was waiting on his time.”

Chandroutie Singh related that based on her knowledge, her brother, who works as a handyman has no issues with anyone in the village and she is still at a loss to understand why her brother was a target for the family that attacked him.

Meanwhile, a woman who is likely to be the main witness in this matter,

Waveney, told the Guyana Chronicle that she saw everything that happened as she was sitting on her verandah. According to the elderly woman, she saw a man whose name she gave as Robin, beating Persaud with what appeared to be a dog chain. The victim’s relatives reportedly accosted the aggressor and took Persaud away from the area to sit and catch himself.

However, when they were walking back to head

home, as they passed Robin’s home, Robin again came out of his yard and began cuffing Persaud to his face and then his sister joined in and came out with a piece of wood and lashed Persaud repeatedly to the head; Persaud, she said, then fell to the ground bleeding.

At that point, the mother of the two aggressors emerged from her yard with a bucket of water to throw on the unresponsive man, but Waveney objected, stating

that the man could be suffocated by the water.

When contacted on Monday, Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper confirmed the incident and stated that the two persons are being processed for court and that they are likely to be charged with attempted murder.

The senior police officer indicated that the piece of wood used to lash Persaud is lodged with the police as evidence.

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Ramsaroop, gold dealer questioned in Charrandass probe

ECONOMIC adviser to the leader of the pposition, Peter Ramsaroop, was on Tuesday questioned by senior police detectives at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, Eve Leary, for his alleged role in the spiriting away of Charrandass Persaud following his vote against the coalition government in the no-confidence motion last year.

His questioning comes

after popular gold dealer, Tameshwar Jagmohan, whose office is located in the general Eve Leary environs, was also questioned.

Police continue to probe a number of allegations against Persaud. The Guyana Chronicle was able to confirm that indeed Ramsaroop was invited to the CID for questioning.

Ramsaroop came under public scrutiny when he was seen sitting behind Per-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

saud during the December 21, 2018 debate. He subsequently escorted Persaud out of the Parliament Buildings and then breached protocol in gaining access to the restricted area of the Ogle Airport tarmac to escort Persaud to a plane.

Ramsaroop, in a Facebook post, subsequently confirmed this, but insisted that his access to the airport tarmac was done in accordance with the guiding Adviser to the Opposition Leader, Peter Ramsaroop escorting Charrandass Persaud out of the Parliament Buildings principles at the airport, which spoke to security clearance which he sought and received. A Canadian diplomat was also at the centre of the confusion.

The Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, has indicated to the media that the investigation was an issue of national security. He at first would not say what exactly accounted for the police treating the investigation in that manner, but subsequently clarified it to state that the detectives were investigating alleged bribery and the movement of large amounts of gold from the State of Guyana.

Jagmohan was questioned in relation to the gold movement aspect of the investigation. The Guyana Chronicle was told that Jagmohan was also required to provide the police with a statement, which he did in

January. He was reportedly asked by the police about his knowledge of the voting of Persaud and if he, at any point, had a discussion with the former MP in relation to the purchasing of gold in large quantities.

Text messages between Persaud and an individual shortly after his vote, found that he was making arrangements prior to his vote in the National Assembly, to purchase US$1M worth in gold. Persaud had first denied the gold purchasing claim but then returned to justify that he was enquiring about the gold price and amount on behalf of one of his clients, something he said that he saw nothing wrong or no crime being committed in enquiring.

He further said that that he was open to returning to Guyana if the police needed him.

Woman charged for receiving stolen phone NOZLI Adams, a 45-yearold woman of Mabaruma was Tuesday (March 5, 2019) arraigned before Chief Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for receiving a stolen phone.

The mother of six pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court heard that between February 24, 2019 and February 21, 2019 at Mabaruma, North West District, the defendant re- Nozli Adams Alleged received a Samsung Galaxy ceiver of stolen property J6 valued at $60,000 that she subsequently learnt was stolen from Andre Gamel.

One week ago, Renee DeFreitas was charged for stealing a quantity of phones amounting to over $1 million dollars from Andre Gamel, and this included the said Samsung phone.

He was said to have broke and entered the store of Gamel and stole the cellular phones. The phones were then later exchanged between Adams and the holder of the stolen phone.

Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield did not oppose bail, on condition that the defendant reports to the Mabaruma Police Station every Friday until the matter is concluded.

DeFreitas was granted bail and will appear at the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court on May, 20, 2019.

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GNBA executives visit studios of Linden TV

From left: NCN Branch Manager, Reycia Nedd; GNBA Chairman, Leslie Sobers; MP Jermaine Figueira; Legal Adviser to the Minister of State, Mrs. Geeta Chandan-Edmond; Municipal Councillor, Fern McKoy; Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell and GNBA Board Member, Ms. Aretha Campbell

LESS than two weeks after presenting the letter of approval for the licence to operate the Linden Television Station (LTV), executives of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), on Monday, visited the National Communications Network (NCN) Linden Branch, which is the facility earmarked to be used for the LTV. The visiting team included Chairman of GNBA, Mr. Leslie Sobers; Board Member, Ms. Aretha Campbell, and Legal Adviser to the Minister of State, Mrs. Geeta Chandan-Edmond. They met with the executives of the Trust Company of the LTV which included Mayor of Linden, Ms. Waneka Arrindell; Region 10 Member of Parliament, Mr. Jermaine Figueira, and municipal councillor, Ms. Fern McKoy. The visiting team was welcomed by NCN Linden Branch Manager, Reycia Nedd, who is the designated officer to manage LTV. This type of outreach is a customary exercise that is conducted to ascertain the readiness of new broadcasters to effectively utilise the broadcasting licence issued by the authority, GNBA said in a release.

Nedd gave a detailed tour of the facility and a synopsis of the plans for its development, in an effort to make it more business-friendly and well equipped for broadcasting. “The GNBA is pleased with the plans outlined for the development of the broadcasting entity and looks forward to harmonious relations as we move forward,” the release noted.

This visit came one day after Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, visited the facility. He also did inspections and related that the official handing over will be done after the completion of the legal establishment of the Trust Company.

Upon receiving the letter, MP Figueira said he received it with a spirit of satisfaction, knowing that it is something the residents of Linden fought for with sweat and blood. “This fight lead to a promise by the David Granger Administration and now it has been delivered.

We are happy and most pleased that our collective fight as a community was not in vain and another promise of His Excellency has been fulfilled,” he posited. He reiterated that the entity is owned by the people of this community and it will be used to the benefit of the people. “No longer will we be left of out the loop due to not having access to information. This is a ‘forward ever, backward never’ approach this government has made and will continue to do, not only for communities like Linden that were marginalised by the PPPC administration, but for all our Guyana.” The National Communications Network (NCN) has already identified the equipment to be used for the television station and the channel identified is 13.

Presently, Lindeners are benefiting from limited channels received by the National Communications Network (NCN) which provides a weekly news broadcast.

There are now three directors for the station which are Morian, Figueira and Mayor Arrindell. Initially, there were 14 directors on the board.

The application for a television station was made after residents complained about the limited and bias content that they were subjected to. The government signed an agreement to grant the licence on August 21st 2012, after a deadly protest which resulted in the death of three Lindeners. The expiration date for licence is December 31st 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Linden ‘Mash’ brawl results in shooting incident –– suspect followed victim to hospital to ‘finish him off’ A 28-year-old Lindener is nursing gunshot wounds after he was shot on Tuesday morning in the vicinity of the Linden Hospital Complex.

The shooting incident reportedly stemmed from a fight that occurred on Sunday during Linden’s Mashramani celebrations.

Marvin Somersoll of Lot 67 “Z” Wismar Housing Scheme, Linden, is nursing gunshot wounds to his feet, at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

According to police reports, it is alleged that the suspect and the victim’s brother Malcom Somersoll, called ‘Malloo’, had a physical altercation at Club Extreme, where the suspect gun-butted him.

On Monday, the suspect visited the home of the two, demanding to see Malcom. He was, however,

The victim Marvin Somersoll confronted by Marvin, who inquired about last Sunday’s incident.

At approximately 09:00hrs on Tuesday, Marvin was washing clothes in his yard when the suspect returned and pulled out two guns and started to shoot. He reportedly used a small black and silver handgun and shot the victim to his right foot just above his knee and another to his left foot just above his ankle. Marvin was rushed to the hospital by relatives. While being treated at the hospital, the suspect allegedly turned up with his gun and a cutlass to continue attacking Somersoll, but made good his escape before the police arrived.

Commander of ‘E’ Division, Linden Lord, said a relentless search has started for the suspect, who is known to have serious previous brushes with the law.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Small Business Bureau to open help desks in Region 1 RESIDENTS of Barima Waini (Region One), particularly those in sub-regions; Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, will soon be benefitting from the services provided by the Small Business Bureau (SBB).

After a four-day stay in the region, the team from SBB concluded that there is need to open a help desk in the two communities so that persons in the region can have easier access to their services.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Junior Research Officer at SBB, Autimae Castello, explained that the bureau deals with clients every day, and they have realised that a lot of persons do not have the ‘know-how’ to start up a business.

It was then, they decided to start an “In-school entrepreneurship programme”, because they believe that if they introduce entrepreneurship in the schools, it will be a way and means of giving them an early start, and provide them with the basic knowledge of being their own business owners.

The programme also provides students with grants to start their businesses, and officers monitor the businesses and ensure that they are successful.

Castello explained that their visit to Mabaruma was to continue with the programme. They visited North West Secondary School and donated $180,000 to be given to fourth and fifth form students, to invest in their own small businesses.

However, while they were in the region, they decided to scope out the areas, and they realised that the people there can benefit tremendously from their services, but the distance to travel to Georgetown is costly for many.

“A lot of persons call from all over, want to receive our services, but they are so far away and it is not possible to be back and forth. So the help desk is kind of like a support system for the people in Barima Waini,” Castello said.

She said that after engaging the Local Authorities (LA) in the region, they all agreed that a help desk will aid in boosting the economic aspect of the lives of the people, and by extension, the economic status of the region.

“The Regional Executive Officer (REO), Randolph Storm, has committed to getting the persons to work at the two locations, and we will provide them with the training for the job. The help desk in Mabaruma will be at the town council, and the REO said that he will work on the location for us in Port Kaituma,” Castello disclosed.

She also said that the LA’s asked if they (SBB) can introduce new business ideas to the residents, since the most common means of income is fishing, farming and selling clothes.

However, Castello said that SBB will first have to survey the region to see what is needed, before they can introduce ideas. This survey, she said, will be conducted during the course of this month, so that when the help desks are operational, persons can be given ideas as one of the services provided by the SBB. The opening of the help desks will be in the form of a ceremony, so that persons can be notified of the new addition to their villages.

The SBB is a government agency that was established under Guyana’s Small Business Act (2004), which assists small entrepreneurs with training, financial and business support options.

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Bairstow’s career-best 68 helps England to victory in first T20 JONNY Bairstow punished a below-par West Indies with an eye-catching 68 to set up England’s four-wicket win in the first Twenty20 international in St Lucia.

Bairstow’s career-best T20I score came from 40 balls, as England chased down 161 with seven balls left.

The opener fell in the 12th over but Joe Denly’s 30 and 18 from Sam Billings took the tourists to victory.

England’s bowlers had earlier impressed in restricting their hosts to 160-8 with Tom Curran taking 4-36.

Nicholas Pooran hit 58 but England’s Chris Jordan also stood out with the ball with an economical 2-16, including the crucial wicket of Chris Gayle and a stunning caught-and-bowled to remove Darren Bravo.

While England were clinical in the field, West Indies

Female champions Gladiators off to a winning start in RFA football league

DEFENDING Rupununi Football Association (RFA) female champions Gladiators got their title defence off to a banger by destroying Snatchers Football Club 4-0 in the opening match of the 2019 season at the Wadapna Centre ground last Saturday.

Meanwhile the feature match of the evening produced an exciting 2-2 draw between male defending champions Tabatinga FC and Snatchers FC. The league was officially kicked off by president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Mr Wayne Forde, with brief remarks from Mayor of Lethem John Macedo and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Lethem Police Station, Keithon King. Delivering the welcoming remarks was president of the RFA, Mr Ryan Farias.

In the feature match, Snatchers opened the scoring after 59 minutes with Alex Boston hitting the back of the net for his side while Vladimir Marques doubled the advantage in the 70th minute.

However, the defending champions showed their class, to equalise with back-to-back goals and share points.

Travis Franklin in the 79th minute and Stephen McDonald in the 81st minute were the goalscorers for Tabatinga.

The Snatchers female side held defending champions

Gladiators to a goalless first half but there was a complete turnaround in the final 45 minutes as the champs made light work of their challengers, hitting four goals past the Snatchers goalie.

Sandra Ramsarran grabbed a brace in the 45th and 70th minutes while Satisha Sam and Kimberly Kenyon grabbed one each in the 48th and 56th minutes respectively. The top eight clubs emerging from both the male and female segments of the leagues would advance to the quarter-finals.

The contesting clubs are: Males – Mahdia Goal Getters, Surama, Paiwomak Warriors, Basin FC, Sun Parakeets, Strikers, Jaguars, Flash, United Warriors, Kanuku Harpies, Kanuku Warriors, Gladiators, Snatchers, Tabatinga, Guyana Rush Saints, Shiriri, Titans United, Challengers, Wowetta Thunderbolt, Hiawa Under Takers, Terminators, Snipers, Rising Stars and Far East United.

All the above clubs, with the exception of Mahdia Goal Getters, would be fielding female teams.

The league will run for three months with the finals scheduled for June 1. The male and female champions will each pocket $500 000 along with trophy and medals.

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were poor with wayward bowling, dropped catches and careless fielding.

Victory gives England a 1-0 lead in the three-match series going into the second T20 in St Kitts on Friday.

WEST INDIES GIVE ENGLAND HELPING HAND West Indies have impressed during England’s tour of the Caribbean - winning the

Test series 2-1 and drawing the 50-over series 2-2, but this was their worst performance in the field so far.

They battled to a competitive score with the bat but allowed England to get off to a flying start in reply - Alex Hales hitting leg-side deliveries for six and four to begin the chase.

Sheldon Cottrell dismissed Hales with the fifth ball of the innings, but Oshane

Thomas then gifted Bairstow boundaries with three legstump half-volleys in the following over.

Bairstow continued to hit loose deliveries to the boundary - striking nine fours and two sixes - but was dropped twice during his knock.

Wicketkeeper Shai Hope put the opener down on 34 when he looked to be wrong-footed diving to his right then Cottrell spilled a

regulation catch running in from long-off with the Yorkshireman on 52.

The hosts also conceded 23 extras to England’s eight.

West Indies’ errors meant that when Bairstow was eventually caught at deep mid-wicket, attacking spinner Ashley Nurse, England were already well ahead of the required runrate on 103-4 in the 12th over. (BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 06, 2019

Ravens, Reliance Hustlers triumph in Central Essequibo T20 competition

WHILE rain affected the outcome of most matches, Ravens and Reliance Hustlers completed comfortable wins.

Playing last Sunday at the Reliance ground, hosts Reliance Hustlers gained an eight-wicket win over Cotton Field Strikers who batted first and were all out for 143 in their allotted 20 overs.

Penetrative seam bowling

by Narendra Mandolall (3-18 from 4 overs) and Pavindra Persaud 3-21 from his 4 overs

of off-spin) routed the Strikers.

In reply, an explosive half-century by opener Mark Austin ensured the Hustlers quickly overhauled the target.

Austin counted ten fours and three sixes in his commanding 78. An unbeaten 31 (3x4, 2x6) from Rovendra Parasram completed the win with Hustlers reaching 144-2 in 12 overs.

In the other match at the same venue, Ravens produced a clinical display to gain a 39-

Sunil Lall

Sugrim Ahiram

run victory against Reliance Sports Club. After winning the toss and batting, Ravens rattled up 198-7 from their 20 overs. It was the inform Sugrim Ahiram who again led the charge with another delightful innings.

He blasted 75 (5x6, 7x4) and Elroy Stephney scored 42 (5x4, 2x6) to ensure that Ravens posted a challenging total.

In reply, wickets fell early for Reliance but they did not easily

succumb to the challenge. An even half-century by Sunil Lall (4x4, 2x6) and a belligerent 35 from Samuel Fraser (4x6) later in the innings provided some resistance.

In the end, Reliance reached 159-7 when their overs expired to concede defeat by 39 runs.

The competition will continue this Sunday with the fourth round of matches at various venues along the Essequibo Coast. (Elroy Stephney)

Two centuries, six-wicket haul highlight latest action THE 2019 edition of the ECCC/SPR Enterprise 40 overs cricket tournament for teams on the East Coast Demerara continued last Sunday with six matches. The highlights of last round action saw Hardeo Jailall and M. Persaud hit unbeaten centuries while Jayadev Mana claimed a six-wicket haul.

THE SUMMARISED SCORES ARE AS FOLLOWS: At Ogle: Ogle SC Blasters defeated Lusignan SC (B) by 93 runs. Ogle SC Blasters 199-8 from 40 overs. Andrew Samaroo 69, Michael Deonarine 38. Navin Persaud took 3-37 for Lusignan B who were bowled out for 106 in 24 overs with Sahadeo Ramkellawan 47;. Davindra Ratahal 2-4 and S. Gossain 2-6 for Ogle SC Blasters.

Better Hope Sixers defeated Cane Grove New Generation SC by 125 runs, in a game that was affected by rain. Better Hope Sixers 225-6 in 23 overs with Rajindra Singh and Rajendra Dhanraj scoring 61 and 37 respectively. Y.Umroa took 3-60 for Cane Grove SC, who were dismissed 100 in 14 overs with Jayadev Manna taking 6-24.

LBI SC defeated Strathavon SC (B) SC by 134 runs at Strathavon ground. M. Persaud stroked an unbeaten 102 (6x4, 4x6) with I. Mohammed supporting with 37 in LBI SC’s total of 249 from 30 overs.

Strathavon SC (B) were restricted to 115 all out in 27 overs.

C. Seepaul and R. Dowlatram took 4 and 3 wickets respectively for LBI SC.

Hardeo Jailall (left) and Sachin Sahadeo At Enterprise: Enterprise Busta Sports Club (EBSC) won by six wickets against Golden Achievers SC. who were bowled out for 99 in 26 overs with Sherfane Rutherford scoring 24. Chaterpaul Singh and Vivian Albert took 4 and 3 wickets respectively for Enterprise Busta SC. EBSC then reached their target in 21 overs for the loss of four wickets. With Parmanand Dindyal scoring 25. Quacy Cummings took 2-4 runs for Golden Achievers SC. At Lusignan: Lusignan SC (A) defeated Fairfield SC by eight wickets. Fairfield 102 all out in 34 overs. R. Basdeo, K.Bishundial and V.Ramjeet took three wickets apiece for Lusignan (A) who responded with 102 for 2 wkts in 15 overs. Gavin Boodwah remained unbeaten on 51 for Lusignan SC (A).

At Fairfield: Lusignan East thrash Mahaica Cavaliers by runs.

Batting first, Lusignan East racked up 250-6 in 25 overs with Hardeo Jailall’s magnificent unbeaten 104. M. Cummings took 3-45 for Mahaica Cavaliers who were dismissed for 35 runs. Sachin Sahadeo took 5-22 runs for Lusignan East.

The game between ECCCC and Strathavon SC (A) was not played due to the absence of umpires whilst Paradise SC forfeited their match against Beehive SC. The competition continues this weekend and will be played simultaneously with the Neville Ramotar Memorial T20 competition.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 06, 2019

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Kohli hits 40th ODI ton

BCB/New Building Society Ltd 40 overs cricket

D’Edward Cricket Club crush Young Warriors, through to final … Shankar strikes twice in final over to beat Australia

(REUTERS) - Virat Kohli smashed 116 runs and Vijay Shankar took two wickets in the final over to secure a nail-biting eightrun win for India against Australia in the second one-day international yesterday.

Chasing India’s 251 to level the five-match series, Australia got off to a strong start before the hosts roared back into the contest with some disciplined bowling.

It all came down to the final over, with the tourists needing 11 runs to win with two wickets in hand.

But Shankar struck twice in the first three balls of the over and Australia were all out for 242.

Marcus Stoinis was the top scorer for Australia with 52 but his dismissal in the first ball of the final over snuffed out Australia’s hopes of a win in the see-saw contest.

India now take a 2-0 lead into Friday’s third ODI in Ranchi.

Earlier, Kohli’s 40th ODI century helped India, who had won the first match by six wickets, post 250 before being all out with 10 balls to spare at Nagpur’s Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.

Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja led Australia’s robust reply with an opening stand of 83 before the Indian spinners hauled the hosts back into the contest with a flurry of wickets.

In-form Glenn Maxwell perished cheaply, and Australia found themselves in a hole when Ravindra Jadeja ran out Peter Handscomb (48) with a direct throw.

Virat Kohli celebrates his century. (Getty Images)

Kuldeep Yadav (3-54) dismissed Finch for 37 and, in the next over, Kedar Jadhav sent back Khawaja for 38.

Stoinis tried his best down the order but it was not enough in the end.

Having elected to field, Australia had begun

strongly with Pat Cummins, armed with the new ball, sending down a maiden-wicket over in which he dismissed Rohit Sharma for a duck.

Australia employed spin from both ends after six overs, and soon Maxwell trapped Shikhar Dhawan lbw while Nathan Lyon dismissed Ambati Rayudu.

Kohli and Shankar combined in a breezy 81-run stand to arrest the slide and take India past the 150mark.

Kohli needed 55 balls to bring up his half-century but Shankar missed his fifty as Adam Zampa triggered a mini-collapse.

Shankar dived back but was run-out for 46 after Kohli’s straight drive brushed Zampa’s fingers before hitting the stumps.

Zampa dismissed Kedar Jadhav and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in successive deliveries, but Kohli batted with elegance to bring up his century in 107 balls.

The right-hander stroked 10 boundaries in his risk-free knock, sprinting tirelessly between the wickets to pick up runs, before eventually falling to Cummins (4-29).

Rice’s switch of allegiance to England approved by FIFA ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - Midfielder Declan Rice’s switch of allegiance from Ireland to England has been confirmed by FIFA, the global soccer body said on Tuesday.

The West Ham United player was capped three times by Ireland but all of his appearances were in friendlies, which allows him to change team and represent the country of his birth.

Midfielder Declan Rice

Rice announced the move last month, describing it as “an extremely difficult decision”.

FIFA said in a statement that “the change of association of Declan Rice from Republic of Ireland to England has been approved.”

England manager Gareth Southgate is set to announce his squad next week for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Montenegro later this month.

D’EDWARD Cricket Club of West Bank Berbice last Sunday, created history by becoming the first club from Region Five to reach the final of the New Building Society 40 overs cricket tournament.

They defeated favourite Young Warriors of Canje by nine wickets at the D’Edward cricket ground in the semifinal matchup. Rose Hall Town Bakewell had earlier in the year reached the final by defeating Ramnarine Memorial and No. 72 Cut and Load in their quarterfinal and semifinal respectively.

The home team won the toss and invited Young Warriors Cricket Club to take first strike. They lost Alex Algoo, Ricardo Ramdial, Vishal Mohabir and Trevon Stanislaus, at 31-4 but steady batting from Sanjay Khan 36 and skipper Suresh Dhanai spearheaded them to 160 all out in 39.4 overs.

Khan struck three huge sixes and a four while Dhanai also struck three sixes and two fours. Aaron Beharry supported with 22 and Carl Gilgeous scored 10. Bowling for D’Edward, medium pacer Keith Fraser took 2-24, Heerilall Bridgelall 4-5 while Devindra Lalsa, Hemraj Harilall, Narin Rampersaud, Ramesh Boodram took a wicket each for 19, 25, 42 and 45 runs respectively.

D’Edward Cricket Club, in response, raced to 164-1 in just 18.5 overs as Altaf Khan blazed his way to 75 with four fours and five sixes. His fellow opener Lakeraj Sookra was unbeaten on 74 with three fours and seven maximum as the pair shared in a 150 opening partnership in 17th overs.

Khan was dismissed by left-arm medium pacer Devendra Ramoutar who ended with one wicket for 26 runs from four overs. Heeralall Bridgelall was the other unbeaten batsman when victory was achieved.

D’Edward had earlier in the week defeated Bush Lot United by 31 runs in the quarterfinals.

The final between D’Edward and Rose Hall Town Bakewell will be played on Sunday, March 17 at the Albion Community Centre Ground from 11:00hrs.

Wolves lose 57 million pounds in returning to top flight LONDON (Reuters) - Wolverhampton Wanderers lost one million pounds per week pursuing promotion to the Premier League last season, the Midlands club revealed on Tuesday.

Overall the club, owned by China’s Fosun International, made a pre-tax loss of 57.1 million pounds for the year that ended in May 2018, double its loss of the previous season.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side topped the Championship with 99 points — nine clear of their nearest rivals — and have thrived on their return to the top flight after a six-season absence.

Signings during that period included Player of the Season Ruben Neves from Porto and goalkeeper John Ruddy as well as loan deals for Diogo Jota and Willy Boly, who have since both joined on a full-time basis.

Fosun International bought Wolves in 2016 from previous owner Steve Morgan for a reported 45 million pounds and have prioritised establishing them as a Premier League club.

Wolves have been one of the league’s big spenders since promotion, splashing out 109 million pounds on players.

“The directors have a continued commitment to continually improve the club from both a footballing and wider operational and strategic perspective,” the club’s financial statement read.

Turnover was up to 26.4 million pounds in 2018 compared with 23.8 million in 2017 while average league attendances increased to 28,298 from 21,572 in the previous season.

Wolves are currently seventh in the table and in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

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Mae’s, Zeeburg win Forbes Burnham windball titles MAE’S Schools (Secondary Division) won the male title while Region Three winners, Zeeburg Secondary, were crowned female champions after a nail-biting clash against Charlestown Secondary in the Demerara finals of the Forbes Burnham Foundation, National Sports Commission (NSC), Al Sport and Tour Promotions 28th Annual Easter Term schools windball cricket championship.

The event, which was recently played at the National Gymnasium, was an extremely exciting affair.

In the Demerara semi-finals, Annandale Secondary, led by a half-century from Chandrapaul Ramraj (53)

Zeeburg Secondary defeated Charlestown Secondary by three runs in the female final.

Test trio boost Pride for Scorpions assignment BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Struggling Barbados Pride have received a major boost for their 10th round clash in the Regional Four-Day Championship against Jamaica Scorpions in Kingston this weekend, with the inclusion of Test trio, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase and Shane Dowrich.

All-rounder Roston Chase All three players featured in the recent Test series against England which West Indies won 2-1 last month to regain the Wisden Trophy for the first time in a decade.

Fast bowler Chemar Holder is the fourth change to the side which sit third in the points standings with already five defeats this season.

Batsmen Rashidi Boucher, Aaron Jones and Nicholas Kirton and off-spinner Chaim Holder, have all been dropped.

The presence of the Test trio will enhance a batting

lineup which has struggled throughout the season. In their last match against the Jaguars in Guyana, Pride managed totals of 76 and 238 to lose by seven wickets inside three days.

Their first-innings 76 was their third lowest score in the history of the modern first class championship.

Strikingly, their only hundred this season has come from veteran left-hander Jonathan Carter who made a magnificent unbeaten 149, as Pride chased down 324 on the final day at Kensington Oval to beat Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by four wickets in round seven last month.

Captain Shamarh Brooks has been one of the weak links this season, averaging 17 from 10 innings without a single half-century.

Pride have a game in hand following the 10th round, with a rescheduled fourthround clash with Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.

SQUAD – Shamarh Brooks (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Keon Harding, Chemar Holder, Marquino Mindley, Shayne Moseley, Shamar Springer, Tevyn Walcott, Jomel Warrican.

and 25 from John Roopnarine, got past Zeeburg Secondary.

Annandale scored 1132 before they restricted Zeeburg Secondary for 104-2. Wazim scored 48, while Inshad Manrou added 35 for the West Coast Demerara school.

In the other semi-final clash, Mae’s batted first and scored 110 with Vikash Seeram hitting 53, but 44 runs from the Government Technical Institute (GTI) cricketer Ernest McLean also propelled that side to 110, which resulted in a super over to decide the clash.

Everest Cricket Club senior cricketer Ushardeva Balgobin did the damage for Mae’s. Balgobin struck 26 runs in six balls, while his team restricted GTI to 8-2 in their over.

A pumped-up Mae’s team then scored 112-1 in the final against Annandale Secondary.

Seeram struck 10 sixes in his 61 to lead the attack.

Annandale replied with 1043 with C. Ramraj and Jagdeesh Dowlatram hitting 29 each.

For his exploits in the super over Balgobin was named MVP. In the female division of the Alistair Munroe-organised event, Zeeburg Secondary did not disappoint their vocal supporters.

Led by 80 runs (10x6) from V. Pitamber, Zeeburg scored 125-0 in their five overs. Pitamber, who was later named Player-of-theFinal, got support from A. Bukhan (40).

Charlestown then fell just short at 122-2 from their

MVP Ushardeva Balgobin collects his spoils from Director of Sport Christopher Jones in the presence of the victorious Mae’s team.

Shell-shocked Madrid knocked out of Champions League by brilliant Ajax

MADRID, Spain (Reuters) Champions League holders Real Madrid sensationally exited the competition yesterday after being thrashed 4-1 at home by an outstand-

ing Ajax Amsterdam who overturned a first-leg deficit to reach the quarter-finals 5-3 on aggregate.

Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziyech fired Ajax

into a shock seventh-minute lead after a lay off from the outstanding Dusan Tadic, who also provided the pass for David Neres to double the Dutch side’s advantage in

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Thursday February 21, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) (1) (2)

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: Eoin Morgan-256 runs Jos Butler-14 sixes

(1) a (2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: What were the best bowling figures by a WI bowler in single game in the recent WI/ENG ODI series?

What were the best bowling figures by an ENG bowler in the series?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

allotted overs, with Kezia Phillips hitting 37. Region Four winners Bladen Hall finished third, while East Ruimveldt placed fourth.

Overall Afruica Gentle, who was explosive with the bat for Mae’s Schools (Secondary Division) females, was voted MVP, while D. Wilson finished as the best bowler. The Most Disciplined team award went to Annandale Secondary, while for most vocal cheers and best-dressed team, Valmiki Vidyalaya High School got the nod.

Seventy-five teams competed in this year’s programme, which included a team from Region One.

Ajax’s Lasse Schone scores their fourth goal. (REUTERS/Susana Vera TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

the 18th.

Madrid, who were missing inspirational captain Sergio Ramos through suspension and who hit the woodwork twice in the first half, came out stronger after the interval but were dealt a fatal blow when Serbia international Tadic crowned his sensational display by hammering into the top corner in the 62nd minute.

Substitute Marco Asensio gave Madrid a glimmer of hope by striking back but it was quickly extinguished by a breathtaking free kick from Lasse Schone, condemning Real to a fourth consecutive home defeat in all competitions.

Things got worse for the hosts, who had won the last three Champions League titles in a row, when Nacho was sent off in stoppage time for two bookings.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 06, 2019

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Windies batting coach pleased with team’s upward trajectory GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – Batting coach Toby Radford says he is pleased with the manner in which West Indies’ batting has developed during the England series, and says this is a positive for the side especially with the ICC World Cup looming on the horizon.

Pointing to the intent and the aggression, Radford said the batting group had made major strides not only in the just concluded five-match oneday series but in the preceding three-Test rubber which the hosts won 2-1 to regain the Wisden Trophy.

“I think we’ve been very positive and the mindset of the players to not let England settle and to take them off their line and length, to be very positive and put bad balls away (has been a great approach),” Radford said.

“To show intent all the way through the innings and we’ve done that and lots of people have contributed. I think we set the tone in the Test series and we can go back as far as Jason’s (Holder) 200 in Barbados which put pressure on England’s bowlers and we’ve done it all the way through the series.

It would be nice in these T20s if we can do more of

that.”

West Indies’ batting was exhilarating in the one-day series which they came from behind to tie 2-2, after the third match in Grenada was abandoned due to rain.

They posted their joint third-highest total in ODIs in the opener in Bridgetown in a losing effort and then

Chris Gayle smashed 424 runs with two hundreds and two half-centuries, to average 106 in the Test series.

topped that performance in the fourth match in Grenada, when they were bowled out for an all-time best 389 chasing a record 419 for victory.

Veteran Chris Gayle, returning to the squad for the series following a seven-month break, smashed 424 runs with two hundreds and two half-centuries, to average 106.

In the final ODI here last weekend, he blitzed a 19-ball fifty – the fastest ever by a West Indian in ODIs – as the hosts overhauled England’s paltry 113 to tie the series.

With the same ODI squad retained for the three-match Twenty20 series bowling off here Tuesday at 16:00hrs, Radford said he was expecting the Windies form to continue.

“Hopefully we can take some of the same positive play that we’ve shown over the last five or six weeks into this (series). The guys are full of confidence and we’ll be looking to dominate in a format that we’ve been very strong in over the last few years,” he noted.

“I think people can expect fireworks. They’ve already seen it in the last few games. Chris has probably been in the best form of his career. He’s played magnificently and so many of the other lads.

FYF Gym punch their way to GBA Schoolboys/Junior Pepsi tournament

Action at the Andrew ‘Six-head’ Lewis Gym (File photo) LAST Saturday when the final bell sounded in the Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) Schoolboys/Juniors ‘Pepsi’ boxing tournament at the Andrew ‘Six-head’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown, Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) Boxing Gym had punched their way to the title.

Meanwhile, relative newcomers Vergenoegen Boxing Gym (VBG) of East Bank Essequibo placed second, with Young Achievers (YA) rounding out the top three.

The tournament began with a banger in the 80-84lb

category with FYF’s Corwin Evans gaining a points-decision victory over club mate Samuel Allen after three enthralling rounds.

The rampant FYF marched on accumulating maximum points with Seon Graham beating Malachi Sealey of YA in the same division.

Meanwhile, Subjit Singh (FYF) battled for a well-deserved points-victory over Miguel Hunte (FYF) in the 70-74lb segment, with Antwone Beckles (FYF) also defeating Maldini DeSilva (YA) via the same route the 105-109lb division.

However, in the next bout, a 110-115lb encounter, Derron Williams of VBG stopped Dwayne Baptiste of FYF in the first round.

Malachi Jones (FYF) won on points against Dwayne Castello of FYF in their 110115lb contest, while Alex Butcher of YA defeated Ryan Benjamin (FYF) via TKO in the first round.

The tournament has been touted as part of Guyana’s preparations for the upcoming National Schoolboys and Juniors Championship which is scheduled for July.

“We have some exciting young players like (Shimron) Hetmyer and (Nicholas) Pooran so I think we can expect a lot of really good shots and exciting cricket.”

Radford reiterated the position of selectors, pointing out that the current series was also being contested with World Cup preparation in mind.

“I think the intention

here with the squad is to keep the squad together. We’ve got a World Cup coming up so we’ve got a core of players that the board is looking at with that in mind.”

SCUA president urges members to serve after training

SCUA executives and disciplinary committee members: From left are Bisham Singh, Ashook Brijcoomar, Albert Ramcharran, Nazam Ally, Mathew Francis, Frederick Halley and Vish Jadunauth. Azad Khan is absent.

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada – Only three positions were up for grabs when the Scarborough Cricket Umpires Association (SCUA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Number 42 Police Division here on Saturday. Incumbents Bisham Singh, Nazam Ally and Mathew Francis were returned unopposed as vice-president, assistant secretary and treasurer respectively.

Based on the constitution of the SCUA, the other posts-those of president and secretary-- were not contested this time around, meaning that Albert Ramcharran and Azad Khan remained the president and secretary respectively.

The disciplinary committee comprises Bisham Singh, Ashook Brijcoomar, Vish Jadunauth, Frederick Halley and Nazam Ally.

The SCUA also took the opportunity to hand out certificates and extend congratulations to those members who were successful at various levels of the Canadian Cricket Umpires Association (CCUA) examinations over the past year.

The successful umpires were Kanta Maharaj (Level Three), Waheed Ali (Level Two), Ganesh “Dharmo” Gangadin (Level Two) and Gerard De Fry (Level One).

In his charge to members, president Ramcharran disclosed that, based on reports, umpires who are officiating under the aegis of the SCUA have been doing a fantastic job despite a few challenges, chief among them some members

“defecting” after undergoing intensive training by the entity.

He urged them to do as much as possible to serve the SCUA, which has been expending money towards their training.

Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) president, Shiv Persaud, who was a special guest at the meeting, also commended the umpires for the fine job they have been doing over the past few years, pointing out that they have been few complaints.

Persaud called on the umpires to continue to conduct themselves in a highly professional manner, to always take control of the games they are officiating, understand the rules and be firm in their decision-making.

Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) vice-president, Terry Mathura, also praised the umpires for their untiring and thankless services while urging them to pay stricter attention to the match cards which have been a sore point over the years.

The SCUA is currently gearing for the commencement of the 2019 season, which is scheduled to get underway on Saturday, May 11, with matches in the SCA while the OSCL season starts later in the same month.

Towards this end, there are ongoing weekend seminars being conducted by secretary Khan who is urging members and those aspiring to be umpires to attend.

Kanta Maharaj (right) receives his Level Three certificate from SCUA president Albert Ramcharran.

Nicholas Pooran smashed a spirited half-century to help lift West Indies to 160 for 8 (Getty Images)

Bairstow’s career-best 68 helps England to victory in first T20

Jonny Bairstow was quickly into his stride and top-scored for England with 68.

(Getty Images)

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Female champions Gladiators off to 39 a winning start in RFA football league

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Defending female champions Gladiators FC

Golden Jaguars to play Suriname on March 16 IN preparation for their Saturday, March 23rd encounter against Belize in the CONCACAF Nations League qualifier, Guyana’s ‘Golden Jaguars’ will square off against one of their oldest rivals in the sport – Suriname - on March 16.

While the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has not released much information regarding the game, other than it will be played in the neighbouring South American country, Assistant coach Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard, said the encounter should be a good test for the Guyana-based squad.

According to Pollard, “The fitness level has progressed very well and is getting to the point required.

I think the fitness coach has been doing a great job. I was very impressed with most of the guys’ fitness level in the weekend fixture.”

Meanwhile, in a game played against Elite League champions Fruta Conquerors last Saturday, Golden Jaguars fell 0-1, after Domini Garnett found the back of the net in the 70th minute.

Pollard opined that the match “had a lot of positives” but he was disappointed with some individual performances.

The game was played at the GFF National Training Centre, where the technical team focussed on specific technical and tactical areas.

“I think we had a solid first 45 minutes. We were good with the possession percentage but need to get the team to concentrate for longer periods. This is an area where attention needs to be focused,” the former Golden Jaguars captain pointed out.

Pollard also reasoned: “I understand we’re asking the team to show something different and I also understand that the learning process will take a while but it’s a process we must engage. However, the team’s attitude is great and that’s an important element.”

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2019