Guyana Chronicle 4-14-2019

14th April, 2019

No.105607

600 jobs for Guyanese

–– Emerge BPO to establish new branch on Camp 03 Street PAGE

President responding well to radiology treatment

– returns Guyana 11 to next week PAGE

President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger during a visit to the Escuela Taller de la Habana, a skills training centre in Old Havana (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of the Presidency)

Teacher dies Daughter held in Corentyne Pomeroon coconut farmer for mom’s 14 accident 08 targets local market brutal death PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 14, 2019

600 jobs for Guyanese

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 14, 2019

By Lisa Hamilton CALL centres in Guyana, for years, have been providing favourable means of employment for youths locally and the industry is likely to expand as Guyana is soon to become an oil and gas producing nation.

Just recently, Emerge BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) Inc., a locally-founded company with a staff of some 600 employees, is capitalising on the impending boom by ensuring a professional and highly-competent workforce.

The company, which will soon build a new campus on Camp Street, Georgetown, has partnered with Nations University to train interested Guyanese for jobs in the field.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Emerge Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Heidi Solomon-Orlick, said that the company has recognised the need to recruit and build talent in Guyana to meet the standards and developments

expected over the next few years.

While the organisation has its own foundation training, career path and talent development programmes, Solomon-Orlick noted that there is a huge gap between the number of individuals who come in for interviews and the numbers that are eventually recruited.

“A lot of that fall out is due to just foundation skills.

We can teach them when they come in [to Emerge] but when we found out that ‘Nations’ was embarking on this fantastic BPO training programme, we jumped all over the opportunity for the partnership,” the CEO said.

According to ‘Nations’ Corporate Training Centre Coordinator, Simone Phillips, the course will provide training in the areas of time management, voice and intonation, emotional intelligence, typing skills, how to address an irate customer, and more.

Emerge sees the training as vital to building a highly-competent workforce.

“I know there’s a lot of

attention right now in the oil and gas industry and the impact that that’s going to have overall on the Guyana economy [but]... collectively, as BPO organisations, we are significant employers in the Region towards the youth market and the millennial market because the majority of the individuals that work with us are in that 17-23 age range,” the CEO said.

Women comprise some 77 per cent of the company’s staff, she said.

RAPID GROWTH According to Vice-President (Operations and Diversity), Dalgleish Joseph, the total employee count of all BPO companies in Guyana some 10 years ago was between 100-200. Today, this number has since grown close to 5,000, he said.

“That shows that over a 10 -year period there has been significant improvement in the infrastructure and development of this industry,” he said.

Joseph pointed out that

while the oil and gas industry requires specific degrees and skill sets, the BPO industry actively contributes to a reduction in the unemployment levels.

In addition, the oil gas industry has long indicated that it will only be directly hiring a few.

“All you’ve got to do is to see the buildings that these call centres are putting up to see there’s a growth market,” ‘Nations’ Director, Dr. Brian O’Toole said, adding: “They’re huge!”

His remarks are timely as, added to Emerge’s two branches, the company has committed to a new building on Camp Street, Georgetown, which will provide some 600 jobs for Guyanese.

“We believe that Guyana – with its proximity to the US; with high literacy rates; being English-speaking without some of the accent challenges you might find in India or some of the other prominent outsourcing markets – has so much potential that’s untapped and we’re going to grow it,” Solomon-Orlick stated.

–– Emerge BPO to establish new branch on Camp Street

Dr. O’Toole has agreed that the potential for growth in the sector is “colossal”, even as he noted that the Nations University is the only institution in Guyana offering courses specific to the BPO industry.

Being a private institution with international links, he said the university is able to quickly source facilitators from its numerous graduates and other specialists overseas.

Expounding further on the course, Phillips said: “Our goal, in terms of providing the course, will be to provide the essential, initial requirements for working in the call centre operations.”

The training, which will come in the form of a sixweek course and will result in a certificate endorsed by Emerge, Sambora Communications Inc. and Teleperformance, is scheduled to begin on April 23, 2019 at a cost of G$55,000 with registration included.

Persons can branch out into various areas such as agents, supervisors, trainers, quality assurance and more,

Point-of-sale machine for Kara Kara toll booth

By Vanessa Braithwaite TO better manage the operations of the Kara Kara toll booth in Linden, the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC) will be expending $3M from its 2019 subvention from central government to purchase a point of sale machine.

There have always been allegations and suspicions of funds being pilfered at the toll booth, which in 2016, led to the previous council firing two of the staff attached to the toll booth and installing

CCTV cameras at the location.

Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell, noted that purchasing the machine is a priority, since the toll booth rakes in a significant amount of funds for the municipality and it needs to be better monitored.

“We want to make sure we have systems in place to better manage those finances.

We are purchasing a point of sale machine so we can effectively monitor the finances that pass through,” she said, during an exclusive interview.

Immediate past Mayor, Carwyn Holland, had contended that more could be done if the funds are effectively monitored. A previous audit was conducted on the booth’s operations and there was evidence that the monies were being pilfered.

This newspaper was told by an employee under anonymity that the toll booth employees would charge lumber trucks and heavy-duty machinery their correct toll, but would give the drivers a fake receipt while documenting a toll received for a

smaller vehicle which would incur a lesser amount.

Former Interim Management Committee Chairman, Orin Gordon, had related that the previous council also had to deal with fraudulent behaviour before the toll booth was disbanded in 2013. Even though there was no concrete evidence against the employees there, the revenues garnered did not meet the expectations of the council and therefore it was forced to collaborate with community policing groups who had ranks stationed at

the toll booth.

The toll booth operations saw the imposition of tolls for the use of the roads by 18 categories of vehicles, particularly vehicles passing through the town with fuel, lumber or merchandise.

These include lumber trucks, machine haulers, container trucks, canters selling beverages, fish, fruits and vegetables, dry goods etc. The tolls range from $2000 to $7000.

Linden-registered businesses only pay 25 per cent of the toll for their vehicles.

Mayor Arrindell posit-

Emerge CEO Heidi Solomon-Orlick while they are also given the opportunity to “self-select out,” or work part-time.

Soon, Emerge and the Nations University hope to introduce other programmes that specifically target the different career paths in the BPO industry geared towards improving the competence of those already employed in the field.

Linden Mayor, Waneka Arrindell ed that every cent earned by the council should be brought in since it is still millions of dollars in debt and is hoping to receive assistance from central government to become debt free. For 2019, LMTC received $18M in subvention from central government.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 14, 2019

Sudan coup: Military leader vows to 'uproot regime' (BBC) The leader of Sudan's interim military council has vowed to "uproot the regime" two days after a military coup.

Speaking on TV, Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan announced the restructuring of state institutions, the end of a night curfew and the release of political prisoners.

Protests continue despite the ousting of long-time leader Omar al-Bashir.

Demonstrators have demanded an immediate move to civilian rule and vow to stay in

the streets.

Gen Burhan, who replaced the coup leader after he resigned on Friday, also dissolved all provincial governments and pledged respect for human rights.

The army would maintain "peace, order and security" across Sudan during an already announced transition period that would last at most two years until elections could be and civilian rule introduced, he added.

Using a more conciliatory tone, Gen Burhan also called

on the opposition to "help us restore normal life", promised to try those who killed demonstrators and vowed a war on corruption.

The speech followed the resignation of feared security chief Gen Salah Gosh hours after the coup leader himself, Defence Minister Awad Ibn Auf, stepped aside. No official reason has been given for either departure.

Later on Saturday the army named Lt Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo as the deputy head of the Transitional Military Council.

Known by the nickname "Hemeti", the general commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF), which grew out of the government-backed Janjaweed militia.

The Janjaweed are accused of carrying out atrocities in the western region of Darfur in the early 2000s.

What has the opposition said?

Opposition groups have met the military to discuss "transitional arrangements".

Protester spokesman Mohammad Youssef al-Mustafa told the BBC they insisted on the immediate creation of a civilian government, but said military figures would be allowed a role in it.

And according to the privately-owned Baj News website the leader of the opposition Sudanese Congress Party, Omar el-Digeir, said representatives had demanded

Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan adopted a more conciliatory tone on TV

a civilian government with "full executive powers" and a role for civilians during the transition.

He also said they were waiting for the army to release jailed demonstrators, as promised.

The Sudan Professionals Association (SPA), which has been spearheading the demonstrations, said the council's response "did not achieve any of the demands of the people" and urged protests to continue.

Among its demands are the restructuring of state security, the arrest of "corrupt leaders" and the dissolution of militias that operated under former President Bashir.

How did we get here?

When Mr Bashir was removed, he was replaced by a military council led by Mr Ibn Auf. But demonstrators camp-

ing out outside army headquarters in the capital Khartoum refused to disperse, rejecting Mr Ibn Auf as an ally of Mr Bashir.

Mr Ibn Auf was head of military intelligence during the Darfur conflict and the US imposed sanctions on him in 2007.

On Friday the new leader announced he was resigning and being replaced by Gen Burhan, who is seen as a less controversial figure.

Protestors have called for the abolition of "arbitrary decisions by leaders that do not represent the people" and the detention of "all symbols of the former regime who were involved in crimes against the people".

"Until these demands are fully met, we must continue with our sit-in at the General Command of the Armed Forces," the SPA said.

On Saturday, Sudanese TV reported the resignation of Gen Gosh, head of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) which has powerful forces within the capital.

The general has been a key ally of Mr Bashir since the early 1990s and is among 17 Sudanese officials indicted for genocide, human right abuses and war crimes in the Darfur region by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2009.

The NISS has extensive powers and influence, supervising the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Momentum with the protesters

By Catherine Byaruhanga, BBC reporter The momentum is clearly with the protesters. They have forced out two powerful generals in just a matter of days.

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NISS, which Gen Gosh headed, exemplified the ruthlessness of security forces under Mr Bashir's regime.

There is however anger that Gen Gosh is not being arrested for alleged human rights abuses. The SPA has called for the disbandment of NISS. And interestingly soon after Gen Gosh's resignation was announced, the SPA released the names of its negotiating team. In the past they said they would not publish any names for fear they would be targeted. The fact that they can do so now suggests there could be room for talks with the military council.

But in his first address Gen Burhan insisted the council would govern for two years.

This idea has been rejected by opposition groups who demand a civilian transitional government. They have asked for demonstrations to continue until this happens.

What will happen to Bashir?

He has also been indicted by the ICC on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

But the military council has said it will not extradite Mr Bashir, who denies the charges, although he may be put on trial in Sudan.

What next for Sudan's 'master manipulator'?

Mr Bashir's National Congress Party on Saturday called his overthrow unconstitutional, and demanded that the military council release the party's imprisoned members.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 14, 2019

Hugo Carvajal: Venezuelan ex-spy chief arrested in Spain (BBC) The former head of Venezuela's military intelligence has been arrested

by Spanish police over US drug charges.

The US Justice Department, which originally unsealed the charges in 2014, has requested Hugo Carvajal's extradition.

Mr Carvajal was a close ally of the country's late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, but in February denounced his successor President Nicolás Maduro.

He has backed Juan Guaido, an opposition figure, as interim leader.

Mr Guaido declared him-

self president in January, citing Venezuela's constitution, and has since won the backing of dozens of countries including the US - which is spearheading international pressure on President Maduro.

Despite widespread protests, Mr Maduro has so far largely retained the military's support and also has powerful international allies.

WHAT IS MR CARVAJAL ACCUSED OF? Known as El Pollo (The Chicken), Mr Carvajal was a leading figure in Venezuelan

LIAT: Pay cut not deep enough (NATIONNEWS) Cashstrapped Antigua-based regional airline LIAT says that despite pilots and its workers across all its destinations agreeing to a six per cent salary cut, the airline is still facing a severe financial problem and may require additional salary cuts from its employees.

According to an internal document seen by the Caribbean Media Corporation(CMC), following a shareholders’ meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines last Friday, the regional airline said that the six per cent cut did not go

far enough.

“The shareholders are of the view that this proposal did not go far enough and that the six per cent cut did not meet the immediate cost reduction objectives of the company at this time.”

The document said the shareholders are “considering additional measures to address the financial challenges of the airline and that it would continue to update staff on discussions and the proposed measures that will be agreed upon”.

Mr Carvajal (left) publicly denounced President Maduro (right) earlier this year

politics for decades.

He has been under US sanctions since 2008, over allegations he helped Colombia's Farc rebel group

Children in Central America will be allowed to join parents in US (BBC) Up to 2,700 children in Central America will be allowed to reunite with their parents living under protected status in the US, a court has ruled.

It follows a lawsuit that challenged the Trump administration's cancellation of a programme that gave the children the right to join their parents.

The Central American Minors programme, closed in 2017, benefited children from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

Many of the parents have fled natural disasters and conflicts.

Last month, President Donald Trump cut off aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in a bid to push their governments to stop migration into the US.

T&T: Woman robbed of cellphone, $500 (TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) POLICE are searching for three men who robbed a 27-year-old woman of her cellphone and $500 after she boarded a PH taxi on her way to work.

According to police, the woman from La Florissante, D’Abadie, stopped a car around 6.15 am, on Friday, at the corner of Arima Old Road and La Florissante Road. The woman reported to police that she got into the back seat and saw a man of East Indian

descent, the driver, who had a dreadlocks hairstyle, and a front seat passenger whose face she did not see. When she entered the black wagon, the back-seat passenger took out a gun from his jacket and demanded she hand over her cellphone, a Samsung J7 worth $1,400.

The woman was ordered to put her head between her legs while the gunman took her bank card and made her divulge her pin number. The men then

and protected US-bound drug shipments.

Federal charges, which accuse him of co-ordinating a 5,600kg (12,345lb) ship-

drove a short distance and stopped at an ATM where the front seat passenger went in and withdrew $500, which was all the woman had in her account. The men then dropped her at Skinner Street, Eastern Main Road, Arouca. She reported the matter to the police. The victim told police she could not recall the registration number of the vehicle.

There has been a huge increase in asylum seekers fleeing violence in the three countries. The three nations are where most of the migrants on the US southern border come from.

ment of cocaine from Venezuela to Mexico in 2006, became public in 2014.

That year he was arrested on the charges on the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba, where he was serving as a consul, but he was freed after the extradition request was denied.

Mr Carvajal returned to Venezuela to a hero's welcome, but publicly broke with the country's leadership earlier this year.

In a video posted on social media in February, he

publicly threw his support behind Mr Guaido and urged other military figures to do the same.

An unnamed US administration official has told Reuters news agency that it is hoped Mr Carvajal could co-operate and offer valuable information on the Venezuelan leader.

It is reported that the former spy chief will appear before Spain's High Court on Saturday, where the extradition request will be reviewed.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 14, 2019

Empowering hinterland youth

GOVERNMENT’s Hinterland Employment and Youth Services (HEYS) programme is bearing fruit beyond the expectations of most Guyanese.

Even some administration officials have expressed pleasant surprise at the phenomenal success of the three-year-old, nationwide, on-going project. The HEYS initiative, which is a product of government’s commitment to providing equitable opportunities to all Guyanese, especially youth, is aimed at empowering hinterland-based indigenous youth to break the dependency syndrome. HEYS aims to give young people a chance in life, in some instances, a second chance to those who may have dropped out of school. Instead of dependency, the programme aspires to give them the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families through skills-training and substantive financial assistance to facilitate business investments and growth.

The HEYS project, which is being administered through the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, is being overseen by Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Ms. Valerie Garrido-Lowe.

The project has, so far, targeted some 4,000 young people in 215 indigenous villages and communities across Guyana. To date, through HEYS, the APNU+AFC government has invested some $2.5 billion in young people. Minister Garrido-Lowe noted that “Our Government does not believe in handouts. We believe in empowering people and giving them the economic support required so that they can create successful and meaningful lives for themselves.” That be-

ing the case, the programme includes giving small grants to participants to allow them to start their own businesses, and providing further financing to those whose business endeavours have been in operation for more than a year. The second grant is intended to motivate the young entrepreneurs to persist in their efforts and to assist them to expand their operations.

The HEYS project continues to exceed expectations through a programme of six months of classroom and field training, followed by six months dedicated to business development. At of the end of last year, 2,054 new, successful businesses had been established by HEYS graduates.

Those various businesses include vegetable and ground-provision farming, cattle and poultry rearing, cement-block making, cassava bread, casareep, honey production, the establishment of small shops; and the list goes on. In addition to the entrepreneurial aspect, HEYS has provided full educational scholarships, including accommodation, to hundreds of hinterland youth who wish to improve their education. While the educational part of the programme is sure to show a positive return in the future, it is the entrepreneurial facet that continues to impress observers.

Seventeen-year-old Ms. Natucha Harris from the Kabakaburi Mission, Pomeroon River, in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region, is one example of success. Harris, who grew up in a single parent home (father) said, “The HEYS program has brought stability to my life… upon the completion of the HEYS Program, I started to accumulate

Mischief Afoot

Dear Editor,

THE letter captioned “our plight as pioneer exploration workers” published in the Chronicle newspaper of Friday, April 12th, 2019, is just a continuation of paid writers tasked with spreading propaganda against the original founders and developers of the Aurora Mine.

Aranka Gold Inc has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Guyana Goldfields since 2009. On July 30th, 2018, Mr. Patrick Sheridan, one of the founders of and original investors in Guyana Goldfields, was

given the boot by persons hired to run and operate the mine. Since that date, Mr. Patrick Sheridan was no longer responsible for any business to do with Guyana Goldfields or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries.

The persons who replaced Mr. Sheridan closed down all the greenfields exploration projects and announced that they were now focusing on brownfields exploration (closer to the mine) Please see press release of August 2018. All exploration workers were severed and their outstanding payments paid in full.

Messrs.. Dexter Felix and Herman Welcome referenced by the newspaper letter writ-

cash for the construction of my own home, then I bought 30 chickens to practise the skills that I had learnt [n the programme].

Later, in March, I started the construction of my humble home; it is wooden and thatched with trulie palm. I now reside with my dad, and I am the sole bread-winner of my family. Since I moved into my own home, I started cultivating cash crops like cassava, pumpkin, eddoes, red beans, tomatoes, peppers, etc.”

Another success story is that of Dan Richards who has ventured into economically viable areas of local production in Wakapou Village, Pomeroon. Twentytwo-year old Dan said that it was always his desire and passion to establish his own business, and through the HEYS program, he was able to realise that dream. After receiving the first payment from HEYS, he spent the entire amount to purchase several cement moulds and a sling of cement. He said despite the high cost associated with the purchases, he was determined to make his dream of producing cement blocks a reality. He said that at his first attempt, he was able to produce one hundred cement blocks, and to date, he has successfully produced more than enough blocks to supply to the newly-constructed wing of the only secondary school – the Wakapao Secondary School — located in his village. This is the first time that a local contractor was able to purchase cement blocks from a skilled member of that village.

Remarkable, too, is the manner in which he markets his business. From humble beginnings, Dan, with the support of his

ers are part of the original pioneer exploration workers who have worked with Mr. Sheridan since 1996. These men have received their full severance payments and now work for Mr. Sheridan’s new exploration company G2-Goldfields. Both Mr. Welcome and Mr. Felix have stated that they have never worked in exploration, with neither of the two letter writers and have no recollection of meeting with them at any time.

However, should these two individuals wish to pursue their “claims” of non-payment, then my advice is for them to contact the Guyana Goldfields office, now housed in the Charles Ceres building at Liliendaal.

The “claimants” parting note about anyone being thrown out or in at Goldfields Annual General Meeting is pure nonsense, since both Mr. Scott Caldwell and Mr. Patrick Sheridan are very experienced in the

parents and younger siblings, was able to transform their humble home into a work of art. While some block-makers display their product in different areas of their work space, Dan chose to display his work on his newly-constructed home. The staff at the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs were impressed to witness his clever marketing move which gives customers the perfect picture of what their end product would resemble. Dan, who lives with his parents and four siblings, has successfully constructed their two- flat home with the bottom flat made from blocks that he produced (plain and designed), and the top half completed from dressed lumber. He has given the ministry’s staff the full assurance that on a subsequent visit, his home will be completed, painted and fully furnished. Dan says that he hopes that other participants who were given a second chance at improving their living standards grasp this opportunity with both hands.

Government is to be commended for its visionary conception and implementation of such an ambitious, wide-ranging, comprehensively executed, and successful project.

Moreover, participants who have stuck with the programme and made use of the skills that they acquired, are to be congratulated.

Obviously, the initiative owes its success in large part to the determination of the young people involved to improve their own standards of living.

As the project continues to expand, young, Indigenous Guyanese are encouraged to take full advantage of the opportunities being made available to them.

mining industry; so whatever the outcome of the May meeting it is just business! And I am sure that they will just move on to another resource.

In the outer world or in Guyana’s parlance in “foreign,” these proxy fights and betrayals are common place in business, but to us in Guyana it is considered to be more serious.

In the end, what we as Guyanese need to focus on is that the Aurora resource is part of the patrimony of the Guyanese people and at all times we the people and the government need to be very vigilant in ensuring that the persons tasked with managing and extracting our resource do so safely and get the most out of it for our benefit.

Regards E. Edwards

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 14, 2019

GPA selective in judgement Dear Editor, THE attorney general (AG) and minister of legal affairs refers to the headline in Stabroek News dated Thursday, 21st March, 2019: ‘Press Association calling on AG to apologise for attack on Stabroek News.’

The AG refutes the allegation of the Guyana Press Association (GPA) that he attacked the Stabroek News. The AG recognises the significant role that the press plays in a democratic society. Therefore, whether their reports are favourable to the government or not, they are integral to the democratic process that enables our citizens to be informed and become active participants in society. However, while recognising the role of the media, the AG strongly condemns the peddling of false information by the media that seeks to besmirch the characters of persons and communicate anything other than the truth to the Guyanese people.

This conduct is unethical and should be called out by all who stand for the truth. The AG notes the threat by the Guyana Press Association to boycott any press-related event held by him.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs has Qualified Privilege The AG did not attack the Stabroek News as asserted by the GPA, but rather was responding to attacks on his character and the work of the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs. The GPA’s letter failed to disclose that the AG’s response to Stabroek News was in response to the publication by the Stabroek News of a letter written by Clement Rohee, titled: “Judge exercised enormous amount of patience with Mr Williams” dated Monday, February 25, 2019 and other articles libelling the AG for instance, “Solicitor General Resigns” dated Thursday, February 21, 2019; “Jagdeo laments sloth in hearing of no-confidence appeals,” dated Monday, February 25, 2019; and “Hearing of AG’s confidence ruling stay applications set for Thursday,” dated Tuesday, February 26, 2019. The GPA was also silent on these articles and the untruth they contained.

By law, the AG has qualified privilege to respond to any reports or articles about him and about the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs. The defence of qualified privilege permits persons in positions of authority to repel statements that would be considered slanderous and libellous. He has the right to defend his personal reputation, as well as the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs should not be prevented from disseminating information Additionally, in accordance with Article 146(1) of the Constitution, the AG has the right to disseminate information to the Guyanese people. This Article states, “Except with his or her own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of expression, that is to say, freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference and freedom from interference with his or her correspondence.”

Since coming into office, the AG has taken a strong stand against corruption and for combatting-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and countering the financing of the weapons of mass destruction and other transnational crimes. Many laws have been passed in this regard and seminars were held countrywide. This is in line with the policy objectives of the government and the AG has been able, together with his team to remove Guyana from blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and the Delegation of the European Union (EU).

Accordingly, a boycott of the AG’s work will prevent this information which demonstrates the zero tolerance policy of the government against corruption, money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and countering the financing of weapons of mass destruction and other transnational crimes

from reaching the Guyanese people. Furthermore, a boycott of the AG’s work is a boycott of the government.

Press Association’s failure to Reprimand Stabroek News for unethical conduct The AG also takes note of the fact that the Guyana Press

Association did not reprimand the Stabroek News for its libellous headline and story, namely, “Solicitor General Resigns” dated Thursday, 21st February, 2019. One of the objectives of the GPA as detailed in their constitution is “(iii) To encourage and foster the observance of high professional standards by its members and to establish and prescribe such standards.”

Moreover, in paragraph 22 of the constitution of the Guyana Press Association, the ‘Declaration of Principles and the Conduct of Journalists’ is set out. The principles are, “Proclaimed as a standard of professional conduct for journalists engaged in the gathering, presenting, disseminating and commenting on news and information and in describing events.”

These principles speak of respect for the truth, the need to present the public with the truth and honest collection See page 8

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 14, 2019

Teacher dies in hit-and-run accident

THE teaching fraternity in Berbice was plunged into a state of shock at the death of Joel Wills, 27, a teacher attached to the Canje Secondary School, on Saturday evening.

According to information reaching Guyana Chronicle, Wills died in a hit-and-run accident around 20:00 hrs. He was at the time returning to his Rosignol, West Coast Berbice home from the Albion Community

Centre on his motorcycle when he collided with a motor lorry on the Number One Public Road, East Berbice, Corentyne Public-spirited citizens picked him up and rushed him to the New Amsterdam

Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.

The driver of the truck allegedly fled the scene. Wills suffered severe head injuries in the accident. Police have launched a search for the diver of the motor lorry.

Orphans given special treat on Good Deeds Day

By Vishani Ragobeer SOME 42 children from Joshua House Children Centre were treated to a day of fun as several businesses joined the Department of Youth in celebrating Global Good Deeds Day. Good Deeds Day is an international day of volunteering, observed on April 7. It was first observed in 2007 in Israel.

This year, Guyana commemorated the observance for the first time, according to Project Officer from the Department of Youth, Germaine Watson.

“It is an opportunity for persons to

recognise the good deeds that persons do on behalf of themselves and on behalf of humanity, and it is an opportunity to show love for humanity,” Watson shared.

The day started off with the children travelling to the Fun Park located at the Ramada Princess Hotel, on the East Bank of Demerara. There, the children were able to enjoy the litany of amusement park rides and attractions for a few hours.

They had a quick lunch break, compliments of popular fast food outlet, Church’s Chicken, to re-energise themselves. Following this, the children were taken to the recently-opened Movietowne – where

they ended the day by watching a specially screened kids-friendly movie.

“It’s just our aim of performing a good deed with the aim of bridging communities essentially,” Watson said.

The Joshua House, being just a corner away from the Youth Secretariat, was chosen because the body wanted to start the efforts right in its immediate community.

Watson, however, affirmed that the Department of Youth will be looking to extend this initiative to the wider community and make it an annual event.

Volunteer at the children’s centre and a chaperone for the day, Susan Rijkaard,

shared with the Guyana Chronicle that the initiative was an especially exciting one for the young children.

“I think that the activity is a good thing because it helps them come out the orphanage and be like the normal regular children because sometimes living in the orphanage is a different perspective than with living with their parents,” she said.

As part of the ‘good deeds’, children at the Bless the Children Home, which is another orphanage located at Industry, East Coast Demerara (ECD), were also treated to a special lunch at Royal Castle.

GPA selective in ...

From page 7

and publication of the news.

However, Stabroek News (SN) failed sorely in this regard by hastily and without verification publishing that the solicitor-general had resigned, which was contrary to the truth. The SN did not deem it fit to fact check and solicit a comment from the solicitor-general, the permanent secretary or the AG. Instead, when threatened with a lawsuit for libel, they offered what can only be deemed as a backhanded apology to the solicitor-general.

Despite their breach of the Declaration of Principles and Conduct of Journalists stated in the GPA constitution, the GPA did not in keeping with their objective of promoting high professional standards call out the Stabroek News for its report. The GPA was also silent on the following articles in the Stabroek News and the untruth they con-

tained, namely “Judge exercised enormous amount of patience with Mr Williams” by Clement Rohee, and other articles libelling the AG for instance, the articles “Hearing of AG’s confidence ruling stay applications set for Thursday” dated Tuesday, February 26, 2019, and “Jagdeo laments sloth in hearing of no-confidence appeals,” dated Monday, February 25, 2019.

Whether GPA has the remit to seek an apology on Stabroek News behalf?

The request by the GPA for an apology on behalf of Stabroek News raises the question whether this is within their remit. The GPA constitution does not offer any clarity on the matter. However, it is of concern that the GPA would request such an apology when Stabroek News itself never officially or personally in any correspondence request-

ed an apology, especially since the GPA may not be privy to detailed information or circumstances surrounding this issue. The words to which the GPA purportedly took umbrage were used in a context that could not amount to any vituperation. On the other hand, it appears that the GPA has no problem with an article appearing in the Kaiteur News on page 9 of the Monday, 6th March, 2019 edition, captioned: ‘Guyana is getting shafted.’ It is not my intention to interpret the connotation of this phrase, but it is not difficult to convince a person that the GPA is selective in its judgment or elective in these circumstances and clearly demonstrates a manifestation of bias.

History of relations with Stabroek News and Prime News In any event, the proposal of a boycott of

CORRECTION THE Guyana Chronicle wishes to correct the headline ‘No contract since we married’ which appeared in our Saturday, April 13, 2019 edition.

The headline centred on an interview with Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Yearwood.

Following the interview with one of our reporters, it was erroneously reported that Minister Yearwood said contracts

the AG in their publications is puerile. The Stabroek News and Prime News do not give any media coverage to the AG, save and except for unfavourable coverage. For instance, they have never referred to the attorney general in his capacity as chairman of CFATF. Only last week, in reporting on the United States State Department’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report in their paper, they failed to attribute any of Guyana’s successes to the attorney general.

The GPA must see its remit as being that of a higher and perpetual retainer engendering sound and professional conduct on behalf of its members.

Regards, Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs were awarded to her husband, Godfrey Yearwood, through his business firm, Yearwood Contractors and Consultancy Services, after they were married. The contracts were for the construction of housing units. It is important to note that Minister Yearwood, during that interview, disclosed that after they were married in 2017, she asked her husband not to bid on any more contracts under the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

His last contract for the construction of two-flat units is expected to end soon, as the houses are near completion.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 14, 2019

X-RATED RAGE & RIGHTEOUS RESPONSE

W

ITH the defeat in 2015 of Guyana’s most corrupt government, the regime’s surrogate media have unleashed a brutal, X-rated campaign of rage and hate against the APNU+AFC Coalition and its officials.

From the opposition camp have come the most outrageous claims and outright lies. The latest imputed that the President is allegedly missing in action and that no one knows who is in charge of the nation’s affairs in His Excellency’s absence.

As always, the Coalition Government would issue righteous responses, buttressed by the biblical exhortation, a gentle or soft word turns away wrath.

It is common knowledge that President Granger had departed Guyana on April 2 last for the Republic of Cuba, where he is undergoing radiology for his publicly-disclosed medical condition. In between treatment sessions, our Head of State has been visiting, inside Cuba, certain places of interest to Guyana.

MISPLACED RAGE In addition to that misplaced rage over the President’s whereabouts, assorted opposition figures have been randomly taking dirty swipes at ministers for alleged corrupt practices.

With portraits appearing like mugshots of suspects in the Rogues’ Gallery, it is clear that they are trying to use those claims as a paste-over to hide their own crimes.

They also try to take advantage of the political adage that people have short memories, and that when it was recently reported that “corruption persists in Guyana” that that would be enough to plaster the old sores of “pervasive corruption” under the post-Jagan PPP regimes.

Over the years that I have been a minister responsible for information in ideologically different governments, I have resisted my better impulses to engage the dirty press. I respect free speech, for which I have fought in my many years as a journalist, and as an attorney. But my friends would regularly pull me aside and tell me, that it is not freedom of the press to allow lies, slanders and expletives to be used against high officials.

So it is not easy to just shrug off the daily puffs of partisan political propaganda, especially in what people would describe to me as “that opposition rag” - Guyana Times.

In its latest obscene attack, it compared ministers who have admitted to having dual citizenship as “smart flies” who ended up in “cow’s backside”.

It described one minister as a “doormat”, and another as “a beneficiary of nepotism”.

CODE OF CONDUCT I do not hold any brief for any of our min-

isters but I know that all of them have fully supported the Code of Conduct that prescribes standards of integrity, accountability and transparency while they hold public office and that they have been complying with requirements under the Integrity Act to declare their incomes and assets.

That was never the case before the Coalition took office which made it convenient for the Opposition Leader to rubbish the Code as “crap” since there was

town. With all the issues that have surfaced since December last year, His Excellency advised that there should be a collaborative and consultative approach to constitutional reform.

He was quoted in the local press as saying that “ultimately, constitutional reform has to be a Guyanese-led process…It’s now over to the political parties to decide what needs to be done to move

no compliance with the Integrity law under successive PPP administrations.

In its Investment Climate Statements for 2018, the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs of the U.S. Department of

State confirmed that for many years, the Integrity Commission had been inoperative.

Corruption has been a way of life and was cultivated by the former regime. It has grown deep roots that supported the underground or parallel economy, remnants of which remained even many years after the people had dislodged the PPP regime from their backs.

No wonder on Friday night last the Opposition Leader was pompously telling a small audience in New York that his regime had tolerated and even encouraged cross-border smuggling of contraband goods ostensibly to support local communities.

It was a reckless and shameless admission to state-bureaucratic complicity in corrupt as well as criminal conduct of undermining state revenues, and subverting the law.

VEIL OF CORRUPTION Even as Guyana tries to lift the veil of corruption, it is shrouded by its dark shadows, so much so that the State Department Report identified inefficient government bureaucracy and corruption as the largest obstacles to doing business in Guyana.

The opposition press rage was also directed at diplomats who have expressed preference for constitutional reform. Short of unleashing another bout of the PPP’s infernal feral blast, it dismissed such advocacy as “a lot of hot air”.

Well, tell that to British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn, perhaps the most affable of all the British envoys who have been posted to George-

the process forward…Changing the constitution needs two-thirds of the 65 seats in Parliament.

So, it’s not like one party or another can direct the process…”

This seemed quite in order, but the “rag” knuckled him for blowing “hot air”. And that also would be free speech!

STAR WILL SHINE Finally, I was violently misrepresented in the Times on the presidential term limit issue.

After being appointed a member of the Constitutional Reform Commission, the late President Cheddi Jagan had told me that there should be only two terms for anyone holding this office.

Jokingly, he told me that he would prefer a single five-year term since ‘tiefing’ usually starts in the second term.

The PPP had duly agreed to a two-term limit and submitted to the Commission a resolution to this effect. However, in the obsession for continued office by one person who wanted a third term, the party allowed the subversion of the Dear Leader’s edict.

But it took the judiciary to clip the wings of that totalitarian ambition and it appears that history will repeat itself!

For now, the propaganda seems hideous, and the truth appears to be blotted out by a litany of lies. But as Maxim Gorky once wrote, “The brighter star will always shine, even when the moon is out”!

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 14, 2019

Understanding Energy

Monitoring and Metering in Oil Production

ACCORDING to reports, Guyana will likely be taking in billions of US dollars in oil revenues by the mid-2020s—an amount that could transform nearly every aspect of life here.

Therefore, it’s imperative to understand how oil production levels are accurately measured, monitored and audited.

Measuring and monitoring oil production and flow rates is a regular process for oil companies, and a standardized system of international best practices is in place to manage it. The process includes multiple monitoring points and third-party verification, as there are strong incentives from all parties involved to make sure that all oil is accurately accounted for.

Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreement with the Exxon-led consortium of oil companies requires that the operator maintain accurate accounting records for oil production and states that the Minister of Natural Resources has a right to evaluate data related to production as part of any audit, and the minister or his representative has the right to witness all crude lifting operations.

This is standard practice. In production operations across the globe, operators report

production volumes to the relevant government authorities, which receives its share of either the physical oil or the profits—depending on the government’s preference.

It’s a typical practice in the industry to have at least three different monitoring points where the oil is measured at a modern production facility like the Liza Destiny floating production, storage, and offloading vessels (FPSOs) that will produce oil in the Stabroek Block. The three standard points of measurement are 1) at the well-head where the oil first comes up to the production platform or vessel; 2) during processing or storage of crude oil, and 3) when the crude oil is offloaded onto a transport ship for sale.

These measurements are made routinely during the course of normal production and offloading operations, and the data is normally uploaded to central databases in real time for the operators to review.

Volumes do change during the production and processing cycle as hydrocarbon gases condense into liquid form or vice versa.

Crude oil and gas emerging from ancient subsea reservoirs is not naturally uniform and consistent and can contain many impurities until it is processed, so measuring the

volumes at multiple points in the cycle is important.

It is considered industry best practice for the petroleum production and offloading process to be overseen and administered by third-party verifiers—independent personnel who work for a number of independent and well-regarded international companies that specialize in various types of hydrocarbon measurement oversight and certification.

These companies are highly specialized and commonly service many different production sites owned by oil companies across the world. Such companies rely on a reputation for independence and trustworthiness so that governments and both parties to crude sales contracts will view them as unbiased.

This level of attention to detail is critical for companies. Since most major oil companies are publicly traded, they face constant scrutiny from regulators like the US Securities Exchange Commission. A major miscalculation or misstatement of final production figures would be a serious problem with consequences for the company’s stock price and potential legal implications.

However, minor discrepancies and imbalances are a fact of life in the industry

since the rate at which oil actually flows from a naturally-formed geologic reservoir is variable and not all of what is produced will be usable petroleum. It’s commonplace for government audits to find minor inconsistencies and there are provisions in the PSA for resolving them.

In most cases, if a measurement or metering error is found, the oil producer will either simply agree and pay the difference, or the two sides will negotiate a settlement. In the rare event that something like professional arbitration or mediation is needed, PSAs often have clauses citing which international dispute resolution body will have the final word.

In Guyana’s case, the contract stipulates that in the event of a protracted dispute, the case will move to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes—the well-regarded independent dispute settlement body of the World Bank that has been in operation for more than 50 years.

With oil expected to start flowing in Guyana in 2020, it is more important than ever for people to take the time to understand the systems that will help produce, measure, process, and sell this new resource.

Influx of Venezuelans atrocious, says Jagdeo

LEADER of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, said influx of indigenous migrants into Guyana from the Venezuela is “atrocious.”

At the time, he was addressing U.S-based Guyanese during a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Town Hall Meeting at Fairfield Pavilion in Queens, New York on Friday.

Jagdeo, while addressing those present on the state of affairs in Guyana, said he visited the North West District and was appalled by the large number of Venezuelans crossing the border into Guyana.

“I’ve been to Mabaruma, I went to Matarkai area, Port Kaituma, and I took a boat and drove up to Mabaruma.

I saw what’s happening in those areas with people flowing back from Venezuela, the Warraus coming across and stuff like that, atrocious, atrocious,” the opposition leader told those present.

Some 5,800 Venezuelan migrants have fled to Guyana as a direct result of the growing socioeconomic and political crisis in their country. Overall, more than three million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2015, according to the United Nations.

In Guyana, the government through the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Citizenship, has been working closely with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and other international and local organisations to ensure the Venezuelan migrants, whose country is in ruin, have the best possible care with special emphasis placed on health and education.

The National Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Committee headed by Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, has been meeting regularly as it monitors the situation and provides necessary assistance.

Recently, the special committee was exploring the option of transforming the Papaya Centre, located in the Barima-Waini Region One, into a facility for migrants but acknowledged that “the greater the inflow of migrants, the more pressed we will be to find space”.

Additionally, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is seeking permission from the relevant authorities to renovate an abandoned hostel at Kumaka, Region One, to house mi-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo delivering remarks during the PPP Town Hall meeting in Queens, New York grants, particularly since this is a region where the inflow is greater.

A primary school is also being constructed at Eteringbang to accommodate about 60 migrant children.

RESOURCES STRETCHED It was noted that as a result of the influx of Venezuelans, the regional health and education systems have been spread very thinly to cater to the needs of migrants.

Based on recent reports, there has been an addition of 50 students at Paruima in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Region Seven. Taking into account

the vast pupil increase in the school system, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is working with the Ministry of Education to roll out a project that will see Guyanese teachers being trained to teach English as a second language to Spanish-speaking students.

In February, UNICEF and its Guyana office, have received $105M (US$500,000) to fund the provision of water and sanitation hardware, assist the Ministry of Education to build schools’ capacity, and hygiene promotion for Venezuelan migrants. These are geared at combatting issues such as child abuse and child labour among the

Venezuelan migrants.

During a recent interview with print journalists, U.S Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch, said her country is opened to having discussion on financial aid for the Venezuelan migrants.

Ambassador Lynch said the U.S has been providing assistance through UNICEF and IOM. The American ambassador said the Guyana Government has not approached the US for financial assistance but it is an area the Embassy is willing to explore, given the increasing number of Venezuelans here. She said in her interactions with officials here, the government has expressed

concern.

“What I have offered is that I am happy to have the embassy explore this issue and have additional conversations if they would like assistance,” Ambassador Lynch said, noting that assistance in the area of health may very well be a good starting point, given the current strain on the country’s health sector. It was noted that the majority of Venezuelans coming here have not had decent health care in recent years.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has made available US$1.6 million to the people of Trinidad and Tobago to assist Venezuelans fleeing their homeland.

The US$1.6M provided to the Trinidadian government will focus on strengthening community resilience and capacity to address the recent influx of Venezuelan refugees and migrants to the Twin Island Republic.

Funds will not be distributed directly to persons in need, but will be used to assist the people of Trinidad as they assist the people of Venezuela who have migrated in an attempt to escape the hardship facing their homeland.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 14, 2019

President responding well to radiology treatment

– returns to Guyana next week PRESIDENT David Granger has commenced his regime of radiology, scheduled to be completed in the next five days, Guyana’s Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba, Ambassador Halim Majeed, has disclosed.

In a statement on Saturday, Ambassador Majeed said the Cuban Medical Team has expressed their full satisfaction with the President’s response to treatment and the overall state of

training of Cuban youths who are not in the formal education system.

“He is hoping that the recently-formed Guyana Youth Corps could benefit from the experience of the Taller Escuela and future cooperation between the two institutions,” Ambassador Majeed noted.

President Granger also visited the Cuban National Zoological Park and the National Botanic Garden of the University of Havana over

President Granger and First Lady, Sandra Granger, at the Escuela Taller de la Habana his health. He will return to Guyana next week.

President Granger is being treated for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma – a type of cancer.

He arrived in Cuba on April 2, 2019 for further medical evaluation, and has been keeping an active schedule in Havana.

Ambassador Majeed said last Friday, the President visited the Escuela Taller de la Habana in Old Havana, and met the administrative staff and two groups of trainees in a classroom situation.

“The Taller Escuela was established in 1992 and is part of the Office of the Historian of the City of Havana. It trains young people in a variety of skills such as masonry, plumbing and carpentry, among others, and helps them to achieve upward mobility in the system,” Ambassador Majeed explained.

He said President Granger has expressed a strong interest in vocational and skills training and wanted to know and learn more about the Cuban approach to the

the past two weeks. During his tour of both the Zoological Park and the Botanic Garden, he explained some aspects of Guyana’s ‘Green’ State Strategy to the administrative staff and tasked the Guyana Embassy with developing MoUs between Guyana and those Cuban agencies.

“In reviewing Guyana-Cuba collaboration in the health sector, President Granger expressed a deep concern with the high incidence of cancer, heart disease and diabetes in Guyana and would like stronger ties between Guyana and the Cuban medical institutions that specialise in those ailments,” Ambassador Majeed stated.

Just before leaving Guyana for Cuba, President Granger spent his time engaging youths and building their potentials.

In late March, the President launched the Guyana Youth Corps at Kuru Kuru on the Linden-Soedsyke Highway, as part of his government’s effort to tackle unemployment.

The corps, through which

approximately 500 young adults are in training across the country, is designed to address social problems affecting youth such as unemployment, drugs and drug abuse, illiteracy and innumeracy, suicide, low self-esteem, teenage pregnancy and poor leadership skills. Its mission is to educate, train, empower and promote social cohesion among young people while contributing to the sustainable development of Guyana and its people.

President Granger said the launch of the youth corps is a signal to the country’s young people that their efforts at self-advancement will be supported fully by

President Granger and First Lady, Sandra Granger, at the Botanic Garden of Cuba the state.

President Granger also attended the Regional Youth Caucus held under the theme ‘Advancing Youth Participation in National Develop-

ment.’

In his address to the hundreds of young people that were present at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, he challenged them

to be stewards of their country, leaders in their communities and to make use of the tools provided to create a better Guyana for future generations.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 14, 2019

Much-needed help for Berbice River farmers THE facilitation of easier access to fertiliser and other agriculture inputs through the establishment of a supplies bond at Ebini waterfront were among assurances offered to farmers of the Berbice River communities of DeVeldt, Sand Hills, Kimbia, Ebini, Wiruni and Ciruni on a recent visit

by Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder.

Minister Holder, during the outreach to the riverine communities, was also accompanied by local representative of the International Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, Wilmot Garnett.

Other members of the minister’s team included Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, Nigel Cumberbatch; CEO

of the National Agriculture Research Institute, Dr. Oudho Homenauth; and Chief Technical Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, George Jervis.

At DeVeldt, a community of some 1000 residents, farmers there spoke of the many challenges they face with access to markets for their produce, which mainly consists of pumpkins, pineapples, some amount of plantains and

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder and team inspecting road improvement works during a recent visit to Ebini

bananas.

Speaking with the ministerial team at the DeVeldt Primary School, pumpkin farmer Max Lindie lamented that thousands of pounds of pumpkins are left to spoil due to the unavailability of markets for the vegetable.

He said a lack of markets for farmers produce in the Berbice River is just one of many problems residents face on a daily basis.

Lindie pointed out that since the river boat was removed from service to Berbice River communities, it has been hard going, with private boat operators charging as much as $6,000 per person to transport them to New Amsterdam.

The lack of drainage and irrigation infrastructure in the communities of the Berbice River was also raised by residents at the DeVeldt meeting along with the absence of a functioning telephone service.

Farmers said the Berbice River communities have been neglected in terms of the pace of development for more than two decades.

In responding to the concerns raised by the DeVeldt community, Minister Holder first addressed the issue of no markets for pumpkin, pointing out that all across Guyana, pumpkins usually attract very low prices and is in such large supply that it has to be generally uneconomical as a crop of choice.

He urged diversification to non-traditional crops such as ginger, turmeric and black pepper, which attract much better prices and are always in major demand.

The agriculture minister

urged the farmers to practice market-led agriculture, one in which the farmer first avails himself of information on what the market requires and tailoring his cultivation to suit those demands.

CLOSER LINKAGES Minister Holder disclosed that he has already put in place systems in which the new Guyana Marketing Corporation will be establishing closer linkages with farmers, providing them with market intelligence and offering contracts for the supply of specific produce on a weekly or monthly basis as the case may be.

Additionally, the minister committed the support of the various agencies of the Agriculture Ministry such as the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) for farmers of DeVeldt and other communities in the Berbice River.

In this regard, the minister told farmers that NAREI can provide support by way of seed stock and seedlings, as well as diagnostic assistance for whatever problems they may be facing on their farms.

GLDA, he said, can avail interested farmers of the black giant chickens, a dual purpose bird that can lay up to 200 eggs per year. They can also provide the technical support that will be critical to the success of any such venture.

“Government’s approach to treating with the marketing problems of farmers across Guyana is that it has to be a holistic one; one in which all issues are addressed in a

systematic way,” Holder said.

He explained that in coming to the various communities to purchase produce in fulfilment of contracts, farmers would have to sign on with the new GMC. Farmers, he said, could expect that the GMC would be bringing in much-needed supplies of fertiliser, limestone or whatever agricultural inputs and supplies are required and it will be sold to them at cost.

He noted, “Such an arrangement would save you the added cost of travelling to New Amsterdam or Georgetown for supplies and then having to pay additional monies to transport those supplies back to your communities.”

To further ease the acquisition costs of agricultural inputs, Minister Holder promised his ministry’s help in the establishment of a supply bond at Ebini, where fertilisers, agro chemicals and other key inputs could be stored and made available to the farmers of the riverine communities at cost.

The agriculture minister also addressed the issue of improving telecommunications infrastructure in the riverine communities, pointing to the e-governance programme which has seen the Ministry of Public Telecommunications establishing Internet hubs in communities across the country.

He assured the residents that he will be making representation to colleague minister, Cathy Hughes, with a view to having the community benefit under the programme.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 14, 2019

Relatives of slain policemen get computers

THE Fallen Heroes Foundation in collaboration with Zara Realty Group of companies presented 27 computers, stabilisers and printers recently to the families of those who died in the line of duty.

The Commissioner’s Conference Room was improved with warm hearts and happy faces as it was announced that those children of the slain would now benefit from yet another token of remembrance and appreciation from the Force.

President of the Foundation, Reverend Dr. Murtland Raphael Massiah in opening remarks, thanked the Zara Realty Group for the good gesture.

Commissioner of Police Leslie James emphasised the dedication of the members

of the foundation and commended the team comprising of religious and business leaders for their undying dedication.

Former Commissioner, Seelall Persaud, subsequently corroborated the sentiments of the top cop as he further described the work of both the foundation and the Zara Group as selfless.

February last, the foundation, which is the brainchild of Seelall Persaud, pledged to provide the families of fallen heroes with computers for the purpose of assisting their children with their school work.

That promise is now fulfiled through a historic collaboration between two “friends” of the Police.

Adding to the joy of the day, Zara also made dona-

Commissioner of Police Leslie James (third from left) and Senior Vice President of Zara Realty, Jay Sobhraj with former top cop Seelall Persaud (third from right) and other officials at the handing-over ceremony

tions of computers to the Officers’ Training Centre’s Registry and ‘G’ Division Headquarters.

Information Technolo-

gy Consultant of the Zara Group, Nardeo Singh, said Zara saw the need to embrace those offices so that the good work of the Force continues

and advances with the time.

Senior Vice President of Zara Realty, Jay Sobhraj, further expressed a common passion for service,

synonymous with that of his colleagues and the Guyana Police Force; a passion demonstrated through their dedication to bringing awareness to information and communication technology in Guyana.

In addition, the children of those nine families will be inducted in the Zara “Back to School” summer programme which caters for children ages six to 12, and 13 to 16 years old and will cover Introduction to Computers and Microsoft Office.

Special needs children enjoy kite-flying in the park

By Elvin Croker CHILDREN with special needs took the last day of school on Friday to join with hundreds of other kite- flying children in the National Park.

Students of the Gifted Hands Learning Centre were joined by their parents and teachers of the school, who guided them with getting their kites into the skies.

Relating her experience, one of the parents, Anisa Mangra, related that her

son, nine- year- old Randy Mangra who has autistic behaviour and has been at the school for five years now, is very comfortable and understands the teachers.

She shared the view that the kite-flying activity gave the children a little play time, which she said they seem to enjoy a lot.

Mangra said her son is originally from Barbados and since she brought him here five years ago, he has come a very long way, being around the kids at the school.

“We have been doing this every Easter with them; we come here and fly the kite with them, give them a little play time, and they seem to enjoy it a lot. She said.

She also expressed satisfaction in seeing a lot of improvements since she brought her son to the school, and she is very grateful.

“As a mom having a special kid, when you see a lot of improvements, it’s really exciting and I am proud of that,” she said with a smile.

Principal of the school,

Students of Gifted Hands Learning Centre display their kites in the National Park

Marcia Smith, said she is thankful to the National Park for allowing them to use their facilities and to the parents who always come out to give their support to activ-

ities such as these, where the classroom is so much different.

She related that while the activity is tailored for the children, some of them

are aware of the activity, while some are not; she explained that they all however love being outdoor.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 14, 2019

Hindus celebrate Daughter held for Ramnavmi, end of Navraatri mother’s brutal death

THOUSANDS of Hindus throughout Pomeroon-Supenaam converged at various temples on Saturday to mark the conclusion of the holy period Navraatri, and to celebrate the birth of Shri Ram known as Ramnavmi.

Ramnavmi coincides with the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu and

is known as Maryada Purushottam, an embodiment of chivalry and virtue.

In Hinduism, Ramnavmi is one of the most important festivals and on the auspicious day, devotees chant the name of Rama and sing from the Ramayan, a holy scripture on the life of Sri Ram. Lord Rama was born the eldest son

of Kausalya and Dasharatha, king of Ayodhya. Rama is referred to in Hinduism as Maryada Purushottam, meaning the perfect man or lord of self-control or lord of virtue.

His wife, Sita, is considered by Hindus to be an avatar of Lakshmi and the embodiment of a great woman.

Members of the Golden Fleece Mandir during service on Saturday

A daughter of the West Coast Berbice pensioner, who was found with her throat slit Friday night last, is one of two persons in custody assisting police with their investigations into the murder.

Police Divisional Commander Paul Langevine said the other was a male who had a relationship with the daughter.

“The two assisting in the investigations are the daughter and her fiancé,” Joycelyn Jameer Langevine told Guyana Chronicle Friday evening.

Joycelyn Jameer, 69, was found lying on the floor of the kitchen at her home at Tempe Village, WCB with a gaping wound on her neck. The discovery was made around 20: 00 hrs on Friday.

Reports said the elderly woman lived with her daughter.

The daughter, who made the discovery, told police that she had left her mother at home alive and well and, on her return home, found her dead from the ghastly injury.

In an initial report on the murder, the Police reported that nothing was reported stolen nor was the home ransacked.

A son of the dead woman said she had been wearing four pieces of gold jewellery at the time of her death and none was removed from her body, again suggesting that robbery may not have been the motive for the fatal attack.

Police investigations into the murder of the elderly woman are ongoing.

Sunday 14, April,2019 09:00hrs–– 10:30hrs

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 14, 2019

Several telecoms companies eye Guyana

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–– but eagerly await liberalised telecoms environment –– want to invest in infrastructure and hinterland areas, says Min Hughes

By Vishani Ragobeer MINISTER of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes, has indicated that several companies are eagerly awaiting the liberalisation of Guyana’s telecommunications environment, and are prepared to invest in developing infrastructure and the hinterland areas.

“Especially over the last year, I’ve had several companies that come to me who want to know if they’re gonna be able to get a licence, for example, to build another subsea cable,” Minister Hughes told the Guyana Chronicle in a recent interview.

“We’ve had companies from Suriname, companies from the U.S. and even a company from Brazil that has expressed interest in bringing a cable from Brazil into Lethem and the Rupununi,” she disclosed.

This interest is of particular importance, since as the minister stressed, there is still a great demand for connectivity in many parts of the country, especially in hinterland and rural areas where there is now limited connectivity.

“We’ve had Cable and Wireless, which is very strong in the rest of the Caribbean, express an interest in coming into the Guyana market,” she reminded also.

Vice-President Dennis Waters of Cable and Wireless had paid a courtesy call on Minister Hughes in 2018, when he presented her with his country’s plans for potential investment in the local telecommunications sector.

In July 2016, the incumbent government passed the Telecommunication (Amendment) Bill to liberalise the Telecoms sector by ending the monopoly which the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) had enjoyed for over 25 years.

T h i s m o n o p o l y, a s explained by Minister Hughes, means that GTT has a legal contract that states that there no other players allowed in the market.

“And it meant that therefore if you wanted to internet service for example, the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) would have to go to GTT and buy bandwidth and resell it to you as a citizen or their business customers,” she said.

However, she indicated that for many years, the government has been trying to liberalise the sector.

NEED COMPETITION “Our philosophy as a government was that we needed to have competition in there [the telecommunications sector].

Competition, we feel, brings down the price and improves the quality,” Hughes shared.

She also noted: “Liberalisation means that if you wanted to open up a company, if you wanted to pay and put the infrastructure in place, then you could be able to operate very much the way GTT operates [and] would be able to apply for a licence and you would be given that.”

J u s t r e c e n t l y, G T T signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will see the continuation of discussions on all outstanding issues between the bodies, with the aim of reaching a binding agreement.

“I’m very happy that we came to that MoU because that was kind of a declaration that in many areas we’ve got some agreement,” she shared, but also underscored: “I’ll be the first to say that it [liberalisation] has taken much longer than we would’ve expected.”

PROCESS Once this process is finally completed, she indicated that it is then that the ministry would be able to say to potential investors that they can enter Guyana’s market.

The minister also shared her belief that with a liberalised environment, investors that come with the better business plan can put the infrastructure in place at the best price and can provide good service at a competitive price would be able to succeed.

She also related, “What we want to make sure is that if you want a licence to just provide cell service in Lethem or Mabaruma, or to provide internet service to any particular area, then the technology and our new licensing system would allow you to apply and be granted a licence.”

However, she also explained that due diligence is being given to the liberalisation process, so that no “injustice” is done to Guyanese, particularly since the landline technology is

on the decline and mobile technology is on the rise -- with the need for better connectivity and services.

“If we look to the future, a lot of the companies that are interested in coming into Guyana are going to operate the same way that Verizon in the U.S.

and other companies would operate,” Hughes said.

She added: “Those companies are bringing into a house what they call fibre to the home -- an internet connection that’s strong and reliable, and quite often what they are doing now is bringing cable TV in the

same connection.”

The telecommunications minister noted too, “I am quite hopeful and optimistic that the parties that are going to come into Guyana, that’s where they are thinking; they are looking to the technologies of the future.”

Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes

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Pomeroon coconut farmer targe SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 14, 2019

–– plans to convert 50-acre plot into agri-tourism site

By Alva Solomon

SHE fondly referred to her product as “nature in a bottle” and she foresees a good future for Guyana’s coconut in-

dustry, but one of her biggest aims is to convert 50 acres of land into an agriculture-tourism destination.

Such are the plans of farmer Vilma DeSilva.

She is investing in training and educating her children and grandchildren to manage her farm, an exercise which is already in high gear.

De Silva, a trail blazer Pomeroon farmer, Vilma DeSilva and a child sample Henvil Farms-branded coconut water in the coconut industry, is currently pushing her “Henvil Farms” brand of coconut water on the local market. The product , which she pointed out has no preservatives , is being sold in various units including the two litres, one litre, 500 milliliters and more recently, the 25 milliliters units, the latter of which is primarily bottled for schools.

Known for being one of the only large-scale coconut farmers in the country, DeSilva told this publication that for the past 38 years, she has been a farmer, a profession she embraced soon after marriage.

DeSilva started out selling coconut water some eight years ago, as she foresaw a window of opportunity for adding more value to her 40 acre coconut farm at Marlborough in the Pomeroon.

“The response was good and we harvest at a special time during the month. We always have coconut and we harvest when they grow for eight to nine months,” she said.

Initially, she marketed

her bottled coconut water in Trinidad and Tobago but because of challenges with foreign exchange, she decided to put a hold on export.

She made the decision to target the local market since according to her, “Guyanese are becoming more health conscious.”

As regards the market outlook, DeSilva noted that things on the local market are looking up.

“I can see a lot of positives that will work out,” she said.

As she spoke with the Guyana Chronicle, her staff was preparing 200 bottles of coconut water for football teams participating at an event in the Pomeroon.

But her business is not only about coconut water.

COCONUT OIL Five years ago, DeSilva was introduced to an overseas-based Guyanese, who later visited her farm and told her about the benefits of virgin coconut oil, especially its health benefits.

“So after that meeting, that is how I ventured into

Essequibo killed by A 52-year-old businesswoman of Lot 347 Red Village, Onderneeming, was allegedly brutally raped, robbed and murdered on Friday at her home.

Dead is Nazarene Haniff. The incident occurred at around 13:00hrs.

According to information received, her body was discovered by residents who informed a rural constable in the area. When detectives visited the scene, the businesswoman was found lying on her back with her feet to the north and head south.

Her face and eyes had several black and blue marks and blood was oozing from her mouth and

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An aerial view of DeSilva’s coconut plantation at Marlborough, Lower Pomeroon An aerial view of DeSilva’s farm where the processing of her products takes place producing coconut oil,” she said.

As is the case with her coconut water business, she receives orders for her products both locally and overseas; a Bahamian company recently ordered 10 pales of coconut oil and that is being prepared for shipping, DeSilva said.

She said her business has provided employment for 24 persons and another 15 persons are employed temporarily whenever she receives large orders. She said the family has even converted its own in-house plan into fruition.

Her grandson, she said, will take over the business as the Chief Executive Officer and a management training course is in the making to this effect.

AGRI-TOURISM Possibly her biggest dream is in the making – investment in agriculture tourism.

DeSilva noted that an additional 50 acres of land is already set aside for this purpose. DeSilva said that not only is coconut going to be on that farm, but also

citrus, mangoes and avocado trees.

“It has great potential, people already come to our farm for walks and their reaction alone can give you that feeling that it will work,” she said in positive tones, adding: “I am already seeing it, where persons come and we guide them along the routes on the farm and we have can have a system where they eat or fill their baskets. All the nice fruits that Guyana has will be there. What we are focusing on is that the customer must get value and quality stuff.”

DeSilva, who has been pushing the buy-local initiative and has been on the board of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation for some 13 years, believes that the future of the country lies in agriculture.

“Guyana is my passion,” she said with a grin.

Besides rice and sugar, coconut is the third largest export crop in Guyana and government said it is working to move the industry forward.

Coconut is often referred to as the new gold.

o woman y rapist nose. Two bite marks were seen, one on her face and the other on her left breast. She was wearing a multi-colored top and her underwear was pulled to her knees. Detectives searched the scene and an empty purple condom packet was found on the bed.

A ‘quarter’ rum bottle was also found at the scene and the home was ransacked. Haniff’s body was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where doctors pronounced her dead.

The body was transported to the Suddie Mortuary where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The deceased was said to be living alone and operated a small business.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 14, 2019

Fogging exercise planned for Eccles, Agricola, Bagotstown

THE Vector Control Service of the Ministry of Public Health will be conducting a fogging exercise on today from 17:00 hrs (5pm).

The areas that will receive special attention are Agricola, Eccles and Bagotstown and the exercise is aimed at exterminating mosquitoes in these areas.

According to a release issued by the ministry, residents in these areas made complaints to the Health Ministry to have their areas fogged. As a result, the ministry is asking members of the public to keep their yards clear and to ensure that breeding sites for larvae are removed. Residents in these areas are also advised to

allow the fogging mist to pass through their homes.It is also important that potable water sources be properly covered a before fogging begins.

Residents are asked to take the following precautions.

All drinking water must be covered and all food, whether cooked or uncooked, must be secured. Ensure that all pets

and poultry are secured during the fogging exercise, while at the same time the ministry is also advising that persons who are asthmatic are kept away from fogging droplets.

Homeowners can take the following steps to prevent mosquitoes breeding on their properties:Destroy or dispose of tin cans, old tyres, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that collect and hold water. Do not allow water to accumulate in the saucers of flowerpots, cemetery urns or in pet dishes for more than (2) two days.

Clean debris from rain gutters and remove any standing water under or around structures, or on flat roofs.

Check around faucets and air-conditioning units and repair leaks or eliminate puddles that remain for several days.

Change the water in birdbaths and wading pools at least once a week and stock ornamental pools with top feeding predacious minnows known as mosquito fish; these minnows are about 1�- 1-1/2� inches in length and can be purchased, or native fish can be seined from local streams and creeks.

Fill or drain puddles, ditches and swampy areas, and either remove, drain or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar.

These areas may be treated with Abate 1%sand granules.

Eliminate seepage from cisterns, cesspools and septic tanks.

Eliminate standing water around animal watering troughs. Flush livestock water troughs twice a week.

Check for trapped water in plastic or canvas traps used to cover boats, pools, etc.

Arrange the traps to drain the

water.

Check around construction sites or do-it-yourself improvements to ensure that proper backfilling and grading prevent drainage problems.

Irrigate lawn and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days.

If ditches do not flow and contain stagnant water for one week or longer, they can produce large numbers of mosquitoes. Report such conditions to Mosquito Control or Public Health Office.

Do not attempt to clean these ditches, because they may be protected by wetland regulations.

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CARICOM continues to develop operational and legal framework to combat crime - LaRocque SECRETARY-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), H. E. Irwin LaRocque, on Friday emphasised the importance of the Council for Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) in the Region’s security strategy and architecture, when he addressed the opening of the 20th Meeting of CONSLE in St. Georges, Grenada.

Alluding to the current global, regional and national security environments, Ambassador LaRocque said” “The importance of CONSLE cannot be overstated; it underscores the foresight of our Heads of Government in amending the Revised Treaty to incorporate [CONSLE] as an Organ of the Community, and CARICOM IMPACS as the nerve centre of the regional crime and security agenda.”

The Secretary-General informed that the Community continues to develop its operational and legal framework to combat crime, and to enhance citizen security, and highlighted several developments, including the operation of the Region’s Integrated Ballistic Information Network (IBIN), currently in five countries, and plans for additional ones; signed legal instruments including a CARICOM Arrest Warrant Treaty, Return and Sharing of Recovered Assets and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty; and an Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS).

In this last regard, he

also informed that APIS, which has resulted in the flagging and apprehension of Persons of Interest, has expanded to all 15 member states of the Community, and received interest from Associate Members and other states in the wider Region.

Notwithstanding the advances made as a result of the Region’s strategy and architecture, Ambassador LaRocque said the high incidence of crime committed with small arms and light weapons, particularly homicides, continues to be a source of much concern for the Community.

“The statistics show that at least 70 per cent of these violent crimes recorded have been perpetrated with the use of illegal firearms,” he said. With reference to the emerging challenge of the “increasing flow of migrants and refugees” and its implications for human trafficking and the movement of illegal firearms and narcotics, Ambassador LaRocque said, “there is need for us to be more vigilant.”

According to the Secretary-General, boosting the capacity of individual Member States to deal with the challenge is one of the steps that has been taken.

“CARICOM IMPACS has, with assistance from the Tenth European Development Fund, trained more than one thousand border security officers in areas such as human trafficking targeting and risk assessment,” he said.

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Ramnauth superb century earns Guyana handsome win, T&T stun Barbados ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Title-holders Barbados suffered an early blow to their title defence when they crashed to a 68-run defeat to archrivals Trinidad and Tobago, in the opening round of the Regional Under-15 Super50 Cup here yesterday.

Asked to chase 216 at All Saints, Barbados were bundled out for 147 in the 43rd over, with Nickyle Jalim (226) and Joshua Davis (2-31) finishing with two wickets apiece.

Opener Micaiah Simmons top-scored with 42, posting 47 for the second wicket with Joshua Morris (25) but once the partnership was broken, the Barbados innings fell apart.

Justin Jagessar had earlier carved out 55 as T&T chalked up 215 for nine off their 50 overs, after they were sent in.

With T&T struggling on 78 for four in the 24th, Jagessar anchored a 63-run fifth-wicket stand with Kyle Ramdoo (22) to repair the innings.

Nathan Sealy finished with four for 33.

At Liberta, opener Ramp-

ertab Ramnauth struck the first century of the tournament with a polished 114 as Guyana produced a superb run chase to beat Jamaica by six wickets.

In pursuit of a challenging 244, Guyana reached their target in the 46th over with Ramnauth stroking 14 fours in an innings lasting 134 balls.

He put on 128 for the first wicket with Jadon Campbell who made 47 off 45 deliveries, and a further 76 for the second wicket with Mavindra Dindyal who stroked 42 from 60 balls.

Jamaica, sent in, had tallied 243 for eight off their 50 overs with Steven Wedderburn getting an unbeaten 74 off 93 balls with seven fours and a six.

With the innings in trouble at 138 for seven in the 34th over, Wedderburn inspired a crucial 84-run eighth-wicket stand with Reon Edwards (15) to get his side past the 200-run mark.

In the other game played at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Windward Islands chased down a paltry 83 to beat Leeward Islands by eight wickets.

It’s a dream come true - Golden Jaguars’ Sam Cox on Gold Cup draw PLAYING against the United States in the host nation’s first match at the CONCACAF Gold Cup is a dream come true, according to Golden Jaguars captain Sam Cox. Guyana’s senior men’s team will make their first appearance at the Gold Cup in June after beating Belize 2-1 at home in their final qualifier last month.

The team have been drawn in Group D against the United States, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago in a mouth-watering group that is likely to attract big television audiences, as one of the toughest set of fixtures in the opening stage of the tournament.

“I’ve been praying for and dreaming of a dream tie with the USA, I’ve been wanting it and that was exactly what we got,” 28-year-old Cox said in an interview. “We know the USA are the current holders of the Gold Cup and we know the strength that they hold within the CONCACAF region is phenomenal. To actually draw them in their opening match is not only great exposure for us as

a team, but it’s also a massive platform to put Guyana on the map.”

Guyana play the United States in Minneapolis on June 18, Panama in Cleveland on June 22, and Trinidad & Tobago in Kansas City on June 26.

“Along with the other two opponents in our group – it’s a dream come true.” Cox said. “Panama have been in the FIFA World Cup and are a very strong side, and Trinidad & Tobago have been a force in the Caribbean region for many years.“ Cox revealed that he had spoken to other members of the squad and that the reaction had been overwhelmingly positive. “We know we have got one of the toughest groups but after talking to the boys last night – we are all buzzing and excited”.

“We are going to thrive on this opportunity and we are going to give the very best of ourselves so that we make the nation proud,” he concluded.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 14, 2019

Balgobin annual memorial T20 competition to be played today THE annual Chunilall Balgobin T20 Memorial competition, involving Devonshire Castle, Walton Hall, Pomeroon Oil Mill and Sparwin will be contested today at the Walton Hall ground.

A large crowd is expected to witness an enthralling day of keen rivalry among some of Essequibo’s finest players who will be in action for their respective teams.

Leading Devonshire Castle’s bid for the title will be former national T20 all-rounder Ramesh Narine who has been in fine form this season. He will receive strong support from Avinash Persaud, Anthony Persaud and Dinesh Chattergoon.

Defending champions Walton Hall will rely heavily on the mercurial Vishwanuth Lall, who is a match-winner, along with Lochin Persaud, Navin Bahadur and Uvindra Balgobin as they attempt to retain the trophy for a third consecutive occasion.

Pomeroon Oil Mill, contesting the tournament for the first time, will seek to make an early impression on the shoulders of Eric Gomes, Haiman Beharry, Shawn

Marks and Navin Singh to stage an upset.

The other first-timers, Sparwin, will also fancy their chances, with the inclusion in their line-up of former national Under-15 batsman Wayne Osbourne who recently plundered an impressive century for Wakenaam in a club match.

He will be joined by Ajodhia Lall, Eshwar Persaud and Manoj Lall as Sparwin seek to claim the honours. The one-day tournament will be played in memory of the late Chunilall Balgobin who was a former vice-chairman of the North Essequibo Cricket Committee (NECC) and president of the Walton Hall Sports Club. Over $200 000 in cash incentives and trophies will be at stake, compliments of the Balgobin family.

Chairman of the NECC, Prince Holder, along with other executives, is expected to grace the occasion which will commence at 10:00hrs The officiating umpires will be former senior national umpire Dasroy Balgobin, brother of the deceased, along with Wazeer Dhanraj.

Trophy Stall among sponsors for Fairfield memorial cricket matches THE Andre Monelall and Alvin Haripersaud memorial cricket tournament, which got underway yesterday at the Fairfield ground, East Coast Demerara, climaxes today at the same venue. The final will be followed by a grand presentation ceremony.

A brainchild of Toronto-based Mahendra Monelall, who has recently been appointed captain of Carr Tec in the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) tournaments, the tournament has attracted sponsors from Toronto and Guyana, including Trophy Stall.

The winning team will receive the Nar-Con Con-

struction trophy, second place a trophy donated by Rudy Bhopaul and family of Toronto, best bowler and best batsman by Albert Ramcharran of Starlite Family Restaurant (Toronto), two Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophies by former Guyana Under-19 player Rovendra Mandolall (based in Toronto) and a memorial trophy sponsored by Mahendra and Mala Monelall.

Some 50 medals will also be up for grabs and these have been donated

by Padico and family.

Among the other sponsors are Paul & Sons, Nirad Lall and the Scarborough Dominoes Association.

Pele recovering well after kidney stone operation SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazilian soccer great Pele had a successful operation to remove a kidney stone yesterday, doctors in Sao Paulo said.

Pele had the surgery at the Israelite Albert Einstein hospital.

“The procedure was a

success and the patient is back in his room,” a brief statement from doctors said.

Considered by many as the game’s finest player and the only man to have won three World Cups, Pele had also been admitted to hospital in France

last week after suffering a fever following an event in the city with French World Cup-winner Kylian Mbappe.

He was soon released but his doctors in Brazil decided to admit him again when he returned home on Tuesday.

Brazilian soccer great Pele

The 78-year-old former Santos and New York Cosmos player has suffered from kidney and prostate problems and also had hip replacement surgery in recent years.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 14, 2019

Retired Bravo among senior players up for recall ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Cricket West Indies’ new selection panel says it has reached out to several previously marginalised senior players, including retired all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, and is hoping to have them available for future selection.

This comes as CWI looks to revamp is selection policy, with the aim of keeping the process free of outside interference and ultimately selecting the strongest squads possible for international assignments.

Speaking at a media conference here last week, newly-appointed interim chairman of selectors, Robert Haynes, said contact had already been made with the likes of Bravo and Pollard, with the players indicating their desire to represent the Caribbean side. “… The coach (Floyd Reifer) and I, we’ve been talking to a lot of players, and for sure we’ve been in contact with these players and we want them to understand that

once they’re available we’ll be thinking about them,” Haynes said.

“And they all agree they want to play for West Indies and that to me is very important, and it’s also important to the fans around the Caribbean that when you have your top players involved in international cricket and not representing the West Indies, these guys are hungry for victory.

“Honestly, I believe it’s a good move in terms of the policy because I must admit the fact that I would not have been here if I did not agree with the policy in terms of going forward, and it’s really something I’m looking forward to - working with Jimmy and the other stakeholders, and the coach and the captain.”

He added: “For me it’s a tremendous feeling and it’s something I’ve been looking forward to for a number of years – to get all of our players involved in West Indies cricket.”

Last year, Bravo retired from all forms of cricket

Kieron Pollard (left) and Dwayne Bravo could be in line for recalls under new selection policy.

following his participation for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the Regional Super50, saying it was important to “leave the international arena for the next generation of players”.

The 35-year-old played 40 Tests, 164 One-Day Internationals and 66 T20 Internationals, but had not turned out for the Windies since the ill-fated T20 series against Pakistan in United

Arab Emirates in 2016.

Kieron Pollard, meanwhile, last represented West Indies on the T20 tour of India last October. Like Bravo, his name has been associated with selection for next month’s 50-overs World Cup in England but he has not played an ODI in three years.

Another Trinidadian, off-spinner Sunil Narine, has also remained on the sidelines of recent, last seen

Tottenham climb to third with win, Cardiff near drop

By Peter Hall MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Lucas Moura’s first Premer League hattrick helped Tottenham Hotspur climb above Chelsea into third, after a 4-0 victory over bottom side Huddersfield Town at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium yesterday.

With Chelsea not in action until Sunday when they take on title-chasing Liverpool, Tottenham cruised past the already-relegated Yorkshire side to move on to 67 points, one ahead of Maurizio Sarri’s side.

Spurs also forged four points clear of their neighbours Arsenal, who travel to Watford tomorrow night.

At the other end of the table, Cardiff City edged closer to the drop with a 2-0 defeat at Burnley, while Brighton & Hove Albion’s

third successive league defeat, a humiliating 5-0 home loss to Bournemouth, heightened their relegation fears.

In the absence of the injured Harry Kane and the rested Son Heung-min, though, Spurs still made it three wins out of three at their inspiring new home, Victor Wanyama’s early goal being followed by Lucas’s treble, which featured two late strikes.

The victory was an important one for Tottenham, who face a daunting trip to league leaders Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, before the same fixture takes place in the Premier League next weekend.

“After the game when Harry got injured, everyone believed Sonny was going to step up and is going to be the man, but we have seen today Lucas got a hat-trick and it

was an unbelievable afternoon for him,” Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said.

“It is going to help and bring him confidence. We have ahead a very tough period, two games against Manchester City and then Brighton.”

CARDIFF EDGE CLOSER TO DROP Five points from safety, Cardiff travelled to fellow relegation candidates Burnley knowing they need to start picking up points with time running out this season, but they found themselves behind just after the half-hour mark.

Chris Wood’s closerange header did the damage, with the New Zealand international making sure of the win in stoppage time, inflicting a third successive defeat on Cardiff, who have

just five games left to avoid the drop.

Brighton are anything but safe in 17th after slipping to a third successive defeat of their own, with Bournemouth’s comprehensive victory moving them onto 41 points with safety in sight.

Brighton and Cardiff meet on Tuesday at the Amex Stadium, where victory for Brighton would leave Cardiff seven points from safety with just four games to play.

Elsewhere, 16th-placed Southampton also moved one step closer to survival with a 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Mary’s, while relegated Fulham secured just their fifth league win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Everton at Craven Cottage.

in West Indies colours two years ago.

CWI president Ricky Skerritt said many of these players were still committed to West Indies duty and a system is now needed to be developed which could see them return to international cricket.

“This has been a very volatile issue and our policy has been very clear,” said Skerritt, who assumed the presidency last month after toppling three-term incumbent Dave Cameron.

“There’s a myth that our elite players don’t want to play for the West Indies.

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve engaged several of them and prior to the election, I personally engaged several of them and the desire and hunger to play for their West Indian colours is as strong as ever.

“What we have to do is to make sure we put systems in place that can respect the players and help the players to respect their responsibility when they are actually in-

volved in West Indies cricket, and do it in a way that is clearly communicated and that there’s mutual respect and understanding.

“I have no doubt that in the hearts and in the minds of all of these players, the performance of the West Indies team being involved in a successful West Indies team setup is important to them.”

The Courtney Browneled selection panel was this week sacked and replaced by Haynes, Reifer and director of cricket Jimmy Adams.

Skerritt said, going forward, selection would be based purely on cricketing criteria and not insularity.

“Obviously we have to get some of the types of interference that prevailed in the past out of the way of cricket,” he noted.

“We said cricket first and cricket is best handled by people who understand cricket, who have played cricket, who love cricket and who focus on cricket and not on insular needs.”

Royals’ Buttler continues rampant form with quick-fire 89 to beat MI (REUTERS) - England batsman Jos Buttler showcased his big-hitting talent once again by cracking 89 off just 43 balls in Rajasthan Royals’ win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday.

Chasing 188 to win in Mumbai, Royals rode on the opener’s fierce knock, which included seven sixes and eight fours, to seal a four-wicket victory with three balls remaining.

Earlier, South Africa batsman Quinton de Kock scored 81 while India’s Rohit Sharma made 47 to help three-time champions Mumbai post 187-5 in 20 overs.

“I’m playing the best cricket I’ve played over a prolonged period of time. I

was disappointed to get out when I did ... we’ll take a lot of confidence from this win,” man-of-the-match Buttler, who has three half-centuries this season, said.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed his fine IPL campaign after also hammering a career-high 150 off 77 balls in the fourth ODI against the West Indies during England’s recent tour of the Caribbean.

World Cup hosts England are set to name the in-form Buttler among their provisional squad for the tournament next week.

They begin their campaign against South Africa at The Oval on May 30.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 14, 2019

Kohli, de Villiers finally take RCB to their first win of the IPL season SENSATIONAL fifties from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers overshadowed Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 99 as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) finally snapped a six-match losing streak this IPL season with an eight-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in Mohali yesterday.

Kohli (67) in company of AB de Villiers (59 not out) scripted a superb run-chase, sharing an 85-run stand to lay the foundation.

The India skipper blasted eight boundaries, while de Villiers clobbered two sixes and five hits across the rope in his 38-ball innings.

Invited to bat, dashing West Indies opener Chris Gayle (99) carried his bat through with an unbeaten 99, studded with five sixes and as many as 10 hits to the fence to single-handedly anchor Punjab to 173 for four.

Kohli and de Villiers then did the bulk of the scoring and once the skipper was dismissed in the 16th over, Marcus Stoinis (28 off 16) played a crucial cameo to take the team through with four balls to spare.

With this victory, RCB also avoided the ignominy of most successive losses for a team at the start of an IPL season.

FLYING START Chasing 174 to win, Parthiv Patel and Kohli

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Royal Challengers Bangalore opened their account in VIVO IPL 2019 after they defeated Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets.

gave RCB a flying start, amassing 43 off 23 balls but the left-handed opener was caught by Mayank Agarwal off R Ashwin in the 4th over. de Villiers and Kohli then took the bowlers to the cleaners, picking up boundaries at will, as RCB brought up the 100 in the 12th over.

Kohli completed his second fifty of this IPL season in 37 balls but runs dried up a bit in the middle with M. Ashwin (24/0) and Andrew Tye (4-40) bowling a tight over each.

Mohammad Shami then gave Punjab a glimmer of hope when he dismissed Kohli, who pulled one straight to M. Ashwin as RCB slipped to 128 for two.

But Marcus Stoinis and de Villiers ensured there were no hiccups, sharing 46 runs, as RCB romped home

10:05 hrs Burmese Waltz 10:40 hrs Succeedandsurpass 11:15 hrs Miss Snoosyboots 11:45 hrs Eyeoweyou 12:20 hrs Wild Shot Tramore 09:15 hrs Owenacurra Lass 09:50 hrs Ontheropes 10:20 hrs Alohamora 10:55 hrs Monatomic 11:30 hrs Oscar Lantern 12:00 hrs Littlestickarubarb 12:35 hrs Stops A Nation South Africa Racing Tips Scottsville 08:35 hrs Marchetto 09:10 hrs Twice As Smart 09:45 hrs Rockliffe 10:20 hrs High Altar 10:55 hrs G G’s Dynasty

comfortably in the end.

GAYLE MAGIC Earlier, Gayle stitched a 66-run opening stand off 38 balls with KL Rahul (18) and kept the scoreboard ticking even though he lost partners on the other end.

RCB could have dismissed Gayle in the first over itself when he was hit on the leg by Umesh Yadav but Virat Kohli didn’t go for a DRS and the West Indian escaped.

Gayle made RCB pay for the mistake as he hit a four and six off Umesh’s next over, before Rahul joined the party and smashed a couple of fours off the India pacer in his third over.

In the sixth over, Gayle exploded as he welcomed Mohammad Siraj with a four

at long off and followed it up with a six over long-on and another boundary across cover.

He then pulled another one over square leg before sending the ball across the fine leg as KXIP amassed 24 runs to end the powerplay at 60 for no loss.

Chahal was then introduced into the attack and Rahul lifted him over longon for a maximum but the spinner had him stumped in the next delivery to produce a crucial breakthrough.

Mayank Agarwal then joined Gayle, who completed his fifty in 28 balls.

Agarwal smashed Chahal over extra cover for a six but the spinner cleaned him up in the next delivery as Punjab slumped to 86 for two.

Sarfaraz Khan (15) and Gayle then took Punjab across the 100-mark before the former was caught behind off Siraj’s delivery.

Sam Curran (1) too couldn’t stay long and was removed by Moeen Ali as Punjab slipped to 114 for four in 14th over.

Mandeep Singh (18) and Gayle then provided the late charge, scoring 60 off 37 balls.

Gayle, who has six tons to his name, needed 10 runs in the last over to complete another century but he fell short by just one run despite hitting the last ball for another four.

Malteenoes fight back against Everest after Yadram’s seven-wicket haul Jacobs who added 25 (3x4, 1x6), Marcus Watkins who scored 24 (3x4), and Kellon Carmichael, who finished with an innings-high 43.

Carmichael took on Yadram in his sixth over after hitting him for two sixes.

In total, the all-rounder finished with five sixes, which helped Malteenoes reach 178 before they were bowled out in 40.2 overs.

Bhaskar Yadram finished with seven wickets for the Everest Cricket Club.

HOME team, Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) and Everest Cricket Club (ECC) were locked in a serious battle, despite a destructive spell of fast bowling from former West Indies U-19 all-rounder Bhaskar Yadram, in the GCA, GISE Star Party Rentals and Trophy Stall first division two-day cricket competition.

Malteenoes won the toss yesterday morning and opted to take first strike, but they never settled in the middle.

The openers, Joseph Cupidore and Clarence Baird, were sent back early, with Raylex Payne getting Joseph, and Yadram starting his dominance with the wicket of Baird. He then took six of the last eight wickets of the games.

The 19-year-old finished with 7-68 from 14 overs - his best figures in first-division cricket.

Malteenoes’ fightback was led by middle order batsmen, Nichosie Barker, who struck 22 (4x4, 1x6), skipper Steven

LEADING FROM THE FRONT Jacobs then spun his way to four wickets in Malteenoes’ fightback, which has left the match precariously placed.

National cricketer Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who opened the batting, has been able to weather the storm and is not out on 41 (5x4), but seven wickets have so far fallen.

Carmichael took opener Ronaldo Renee and the captain, Akshaya Persaud, who batted at number three, for eight and six runs respectively, while Jacobs claimed four of the five other wickets.

Amir Khan, who has been in form in second-division cricket, showed fight with an aggressive 31 (3x4, 3x6), but he also fell to Jacobs, who has had an excellent competition so far with the ball.

After Khan lost his wicket, Troy Gonsalves hit 17 runs, but Barker got his wicket, while Jacobs had Ritchie Looknauth caught for a duck to swing the pendulum.

Chanderpaul is still at the crease. When play continues this morning, Everest are trailing by 31 runs on first innings.

Mayor’s Cup football quarter-final Shattas look to get past Winners Connection, Rockers face Blueberry Hill challenge THE last set of quarter-final matches in Linden Town Week’s inaugural Mayor’s Cup football championship will be played at 19:00hrs today, when game one brings together third-seed Haynes & Lewis Winners Connection and Silver Shattas. The other tie features Blueberry Hill against Net Rockers.

Having defeated Shattas in the GTT League 2-1, Winners Connection are confident that they can win tonight’s matchup which gets underway from 19:00hrs.

With talented Javon

Smith and captain Marmalaque Davidson spear-heading this young combination, Winners Connection, with such other players like Allan Garrette in defence, Frederick Hunte on the wing and Errol David also holding his own at the back, could prove a handful for their opponents, again.

However, Shattas are seeking a win after that narrow defeat and, with Kellon Major in goal, they can seek a positive effort from Romel Matthews and Marley Major at the backline while Jehu Regis, Robin

Adams and Randy Pickering look to take the game to their rivals.

The second game at 21:00hrs should be interesting also, since Net Rockers are heavily favoured to get the better of Blueberry Hill.

The Rockers, ranked number two in Upper Demerara, will hope to win after a 7-0 blotting out of Blueberry Hill in their league clash and with players like Denzil Pryce, Dameion Wills, Leonard Wilson and Clarence Huggins in their lineup, should be able to turn back

the challenge of the Blueberry Hill side.

But Blueberry Hill boys are riding on the solid 2-0 win they gained against Hi Stars.

Renee Gibbons and Wayne Wilson will be upfront while Mark Liddell and Lloyd Williams will control the midfield.

Owen Wills is in defence and one may well see the return of Kelon Neblett in goal.

If the opening win by Blueberry Hill was enough to galvanise their followers then it could help their cause on the pitch tonight.

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 14, 2019

Burrowes responds to claim of dictatorship at the GCF Dear Mr Sports Editor: Permit me space and the same level of visibility to respond to a missive carried in the Guyana Chronicle of April 6, 2019 under the headline: Is there a dictatorship at the Guyana Cycling Federation? A question asked by one Michelangelo Jacobus.

Mr Editor, may I humbly suggest that the good principles of journalism dictate that before one starts writing, facts ought to be sought and stories must be had from reliable sources.

So with that being said, everything that your reporter wrote in the article mentioned above about me is all propaganda. It seems that your reporter is part and parcel of an orchestrated move to sully my good name and character and I would like to say unapologetically, the enemies will not ever prevail.

Now, let me update you on some real facts. I can produce letters, emails and receipts on everything I’m about to update you on. Our Federation was not in a healthy state when I became the President 2015. It was in a sorry state administratively and maybe at its lowest ebb in the sports association/federation landscape in Guyana.

My goal was to bring transparency to our federation which I do believe has been accomplished to a great extent. Many, and sadly from within the bosom of the sport have been on a witch hunt against me for their own reason(s).

These are the folk who have been claiming that they are concerned about our youth but are they really concerned? And can they in real terms, honestly aid in the development of our now generation?

What is even more disturbing is the fact that they have friends in the media who would help sully the image of the sport by trying to bring down persons who are making a genuine effort to build the sport. When this is done, who are the ones that would suffer?

On the topic of dictatorship, let’s look at the previous administration whose president was not elected but appointed. On the other hand, I was elected unanimously by the clubs because they saw a need for change.

Since taking on the mantle of President of the GCF, I have been faced with opposition, this is no secret. This is so because many of those on the offensive against me have their own hidden agendas. But they have come to realise that I could not be easily manipulated like a puppet. As a result of my firm stance, I am being labelled a dictator.

Anyone that knows our constitution or pays attention to same would know that our election is every four years and not three years. Our previous president was sitting there for five years! With that said, in January 2019, I sent out a letter to the clubs addressing the matter of elections which I asked the clubs to send me the names and members of their respective executives. I am yet to receive that information.

The lack of response by the clubs prompted me to send a letter to Union Cyclist International (UCI) for guidance regarding the matter. The UCI’s response was, “If the clubs do not comply with the request, we cannot move forward with an election until that request is met.” I forwarded the letter to the clubs. Now suddenly; the detractors are acting as if they have amnesia.

Mr Editor, I would like to assure you I do not want to overstay my welcome as the President of the GCF. It is hard work, time-consuming and financially draining. I do, however, want to make sure that when I would have taken my leave as president and a new leader is elected, he or she would pick up the baton where I left off and the hard work to put Guyana on the world map not go in vain.

Since the conclusion of our election in 2015, the GCF has had a non-functioning fundraising committee with many executives not functioning as well. I am on record stating this in the past and despite these challenges, the few around have been doing their utmost to keep the sport viable for the most important resource - our cyclists.

Names of persons would have been mentioned in the article as being part of a stakeholders group writing to me and making certain enquiries. My question is: What have this individual and others done to better cycling in this country? What have you done to better the lives of our youths? How about purchasing a tyre or a tube?

I am well aware of clubs that are charging the youths for uniforms and annual fees; how does that benefit these youths or provide opportunities for the less fortunate? If you are a stakeholder there are so many things that you can be doing to help our youths, but instead, many choose to sit back and complain and fight the only ones that are truly making a difference and progressing this sport we claim to love.

Mr Editor, I would like to remind all of some of the things I’ve done since I’ve been the president of the GCF that no other presi-

dent has done.

Since becoming the president of the GCF I’ve attended every congress, seminar, conference and workshop offered to me. I have personally financed our cyclists to attend every International event, World Championships, Track and Road Pan-American Championships as well as Senior and Junior Caribbean Championships.

I have donated bikes, cycling shoes, helmets, clothing, wheels and other cycling equipment to kids in need. Countries that I’ve travelled to represent our federation include Cuba, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, Bermuda, Panama, Colombia, Virginia, England, Switzerland, Norway, Austria and Argentina.

These trips were not vacations, they were business trips funded by myself; I did so unselfishly to benefit the land of my birth with a view of putting the nation on the map.

2015 - June: After becoming GCF president I used my own money to finance the GCF National Championships. In September, I attended the UCI Congress in Virginia at the World Championships.

October: The GCF secretary and I took a team to Barbados for the Senior Caribbean Cycling Championships. I travelled to Guyana four (4) times in 2015.

2016 - To unseat me from my position, An illegal group was formed that called themselves the Interim Management Committee (IMC). We are well aware of the names of these individuals. So, I quickly got the Union Cyclist International (UCI) involved and the group disappeared.

After UCI sent them a letter stating I’m the only person that they recognise as President of the GCF. These individuals could have been banned but I am not a person like that so they were allowed to continue for all to see who they really are, and yes, we are seeing them in full operation. I travelled to Guyana two (2) times in 2016.

2017 - January: I attended (COPACI) Congress in Cuba. April: GCF attended the Pan-American Championships in Dominican Republic. June: I financed our National Championships in Guyana.August: GCF took a team to the Pan-American Track Championships in Trinidad & Tobago. October: GCF took a team to the Junior Caribbean Championships in Barbados.

September: GCF took a junior, Briton John to the World Championships in Norway

for the first time in the history of the GCF and also attended the UCI Congress in Norway where we had voting rights. I travelled to Guyana six (6) times in 2017.

2018 - May: GCF took a team to the Pan-American Championships in Argentina where the GCF also attended COPACI Congress. May: I sponsored/financed our annual Three-Stage Cycling race in Guyana. June: I financed our National Championships.

July: The GCF took Briton John to the Junior Caribbean Championships in Bermuda.

September: I took Briton John to Columbia to receive a Schengen visa for Austria and he later attended the Junior World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria. The GCF also attended UCI Congress as a voting delegate.

October: The GCF attended the Caribbean Championships in Dominican Republic.

December: I attended a seminar in Panama and travelled to Guyana four (4) times in 2018.

2019 - Thanks to His Worship the Mayor of Bartica, Mr Gifford Marshall, the Regional Democratic Council of Region #7 and our Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, the GCF some weeks ago hosted an historical Cycling event in Bartica.

This was the first event of its kind to take place in Bartica in over forty (40) years. It was a great success! Also, when I became president, there were no national uniforms. I remember everyone had to borrow uniforms back from each other that they had for many years.

I took it upon myself to purchase US$6000 worth of uniforms to cover the years 20152019, except for 2016.

I would lastly like to inform the nation that in the next few months, history would again be created as the Guyana Cycling Federation is on track to host the biggest event ever in its history, the Junior Caribbean Championships.

I leave you with the question that is at hand: Is there a dictatorship at the Guyana Cycling Federation?

Anthony cops 15th annual Universal ...

Today, action continues as the cyclists will take to the roadways of West Demerara in the 8th annual Malta Supreme road race. The 46-mile race will begin at Schoonord,

West Bank Demerara, head to Bushy Park, Parika and back to finish at the point of origin.

Last year’s winner, Hamzah Eastman is absent, which means a new champion

will be decided. Eastman’s winning time stands at one hour 40 minutes 25 seconds.

In the Juniors category, Briton John is the defending champion while Junior Niles

will be looking to retain his title in the Veterans category.

Jamal Cappell was the winner of last year’s Mountain Bike race while Shanika Teixeira was the Ladies

champion.

There will be eight sprint prizes up for grabs and prizes will be given to the top six in the Seniors category and top three in the other categories

Respectfully, Horace Burrowes President

FROM BACKPAGE

with a prize for the Oldest cyclist.

Banks DIH Outdoor events manager Mortimer Stewart will assist in the prize-giving ceremony.

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, April 14, 2019

GBA steps up preparation for Caribbean tourney with U-16 card next Sunday

WITH Latin America powerhouses, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic, set to participate in the fourth edition of the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors tournament, scheduled for August, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will commence preparation for the event with an Under-16 competition next Sunday at the National Gymnasium.

Sunday’s competition is the first of several and preparation will include camps, run by AIBA Three Star coach Sebert Blake and Cuban Francisco Roldan.

Richard Howard Jr.

The Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors tournament is scheduled for August 16-

Alesha Jackman

18 in Guyana and for the first time would see the two Spanish-speaking islands take

Shaquincy Wright

part. GBA president Steve Ninvalle explained that Team Guyana will have to step up

Gise/Star Party Rentals/Trophy Stall 2-day cricket

Spinners bowl GCC close to first-innings honours ON a day where spinners on both sides dominated, hosts Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) closed the opening day of their Gise/ Star Party Rentals/Trophy Stall first division two-day cricket game against powerhouse Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) as the happier of the two sides.

Chasing a first-innings total of 228, DCC were 1758 when bails were lifted, 53 runs away from the first-innings target with two wickets at their disposal.

When play commenced in bright sunshine, the home team won the toss and decided to bat first. Their openers, national player Robin Bacchus, who dominated an opening stand with some classy stroke-play, and Jeetendra Sookdeo, an elegant left-handed batsman, added 82 runs for the first wicket to lay a firm foundation.

However, part-time spinner Trevon Griffith, who claimed 8-53 off 17.2 overs, broke the backbone of the innings. He first removed the former national youth player Sookdeo, for 28, with four boundaries before he had the left-handed Bacchus taken at the wicket for 57, inclusive

preparation if the locals are to retain the Caribbean title.

“The decision is to start early. We were able to withstand the English-speaking Caribbean before, but Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic are a different kettle of fish. Early, sustained and strategic preparation is expected to greatly help us in the quest,” Ninvalle said.

Over 30 boxers from around the country, including Shaquincy Wright of the Essequibo Gym and Richard Howard Jr. of Forgotten Youth Foundation, will be at the National Gymnasium for

Sunday’s competition.

In addition, Alesha Jackman, nominated by GBA for the 2018 Junior Sportswoman-of-the-Year award is scheduled to take the ring.

Blake has been tasked with organising camps for the young pugilists.

The gyms expected to participate on Sunday are: Essequibo, Forgotten Youth Foundation, Harpy Eagles, Pocket Rocket, Ricola, Rose Hall Jammers and Young Achievers.

Fight-time is 18:00hrs.

New MILO football champs to be crowned today

Lodge Secondary will challenge Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) for the MILO 2019 title.

Robin Bacchus

of ten boundaries.

Thereafter, Winston Forrester struck nine fours and a six in a composed 58 while Ronaldo Alimohamed (29), Bernard Bailey (22), and Leon Johnson (12) were the other batsmen to reach double figures, as Griffith and West Indies Under-19 left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd (2-28) were the chief destroyers.

In reply, the DCC spinners struck at crucial intervals with Griffith returning to score an attacking 58 (7x4, 3x6).

The Queenstown-based

Winston Forrester

side lost Raymond Perez without scoring to Alimohamed and Tevin Imlach (8), bowled by off-spinner Forrester before Griffith and Joshua Persaud (28), put up a fight.

Soon after reaching his fifty, Griffith along with Sachin Singh went, in quick succession, to Forrester.

Griffith was trapped leg-before-wicket while Singh was taken on the long-on boundary.

The former West Indies youth player Persaud was joined by Jahron Byron but the partnership did not blos-

Trevon Griffith

som, as left-arm spinner Devon Lord trapped Persaud leg-before, at 105-5.

At that point Steven Sankar and Byron joined forces and added 59 runs for the sixth wicket, with Sankar playing the attacking role, hitting three fours and two sixes in his 37.

But the visiting side lost both batsmen to left-arm spinner Stephon Wilson along with Ashmead Nedd towards the close.

Play resumes at 09:30hrs today.

CHRISTIANBURG/Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) and Lodge Secondary will battle today for the prestigious MILO schools football title. The duo emerged via different methods in the semifinal stages.

In the first game, eventual winners Christianburg/Wismar were made to work for their win against Annandale Secondary.

In spite of Andre Mayers’ 7th-minute goal which initially proved to be the deciding factor, Annandale had several good chances.

The tenacity of the Linden-based goalkeeper kept CWSS in the money, as they move closer to the grandest stage of the tournament.

In the other game, Lodge’s railroading effort put President’s College to the sword. The Georgetown-based side seemed to score at will, netting seven times during the course of the game. A brace on either side of the half from Dorwin George (37th and 76th) led the line with single strikes from Rasheed Roberts (27th), Thurston Gordon (44th), Nicolas Trotman (70th), Leroy Sealey (84th) and Marcus Bamfield (90th).

Today’s final will begin at 17:00hrs at the same venue.

The tournament is also sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health through its ‘Stop Gender-Based Violence’ campaign.

Anthony cops

15th annual Universal Auto 11-race cycling meet

Michael Anthony (left) crosses the finish line ahead of Andre ‘Padlock’ Green to capture the feature event of the 15th annual Universal Auto and General Supplies 11-race cycling meet.

(Delano Williams photo)

MICHAEL Anthony stopped Andre ‘Padlock’ Green from grabbing a second consecutive victory, as he out-sprinted the latter to claim the feature 35-lap Schoolboys and Invitational race when the 15th annual Universal Auto and General Supplies pedalled off yesterday.

Organised by National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed at the inner circuit of the National Park, the main event featured over 20 cyclists in brilliant sunshine. However, it was always a battle between the lanky Anthony and Green. They duo took turns in leading the breakaway group which kept the peloton at bay for the majority of the race.

Coming down the backstretch, the duo exploded into sprint mode. However Anthony had just enough left in the tank to outgun Green and cross the finish line in a winning time of one hour 17 minutes.

Meanwhile, Paul DeNobrega came in third while Junior Niles, Christopher ‘Chicken Legs’ Griffith and Marcus Keiler filled in the other top six positions in that order.

Kwame ‘Keyman’ Ridley copped his maiden win in the Veterans category ahead of Junior Niles (second) and Segun Hubbard who settled for third.

TURN TO PAGE 30 ►

It’s a dream come true Ramnauth - Golden Jaguars’ Sam superb century Cox on Gold Cup draw

Regional Under-15 Super Cup

earns Guyana handsome win, T&T stun Barbados

PAGE

26

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26

Rampertab Ramnauth stroked 14 fours in his 114.

Golden Jaguars captain Sam Cox

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SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2019