Guyana chronicle e paper 12 08 2017

PricewaterhouseCoopers to value GuySuCo Pag e 4 assets

No. 105120

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017

Price: $80

SOCU probing over $900B

… in suspected money laundering transactions

(VAT Inclusive)

Page 3

Military cannot be isolated Page 5

–– should be involved in detecting, eliminating illicit activities, says US commander

Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Patrick West and Head of the US Army’s Southern Command, Admiral Kurt Tidd at media briefing held at the Marriott Hotel

Car kills canecutter on Anna Catherina road Page 20

Case files missing at AG chambers …firm contracted to build customized Page 2

electronic case management software

Funds set aside for sugar workers severance pay

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

Case files missing at AG chambers … firm contracted to build customized electronic case management software

AMID the disappearance of case files the Ministry of Legal Affairs has contracted a local information technology development and consultancy company to design, build and deploy a customized electronic case management software, which will streamline court cases within the Attorney General’s Chambers.

This was announced last evening in the National Assembly by Attorney General, Basil Williams when he made his contributions to the budget debates. Williams had previously complained about the disorganised manner in which things were done at the chambers by his predecessor, Anil Nandlall.

Williams told the House that last year 191

pending court matters engaged the attention of the law officers of the State for the period prior to December, 2016. For the period of 1st January – 5th December, 2017, 352 new matters were filed for the period under review making a grand total of 543 matters, engaging the attention of the Attorney General’s Chambers. Of this number, thirty-eight per cent of the litigations was filed by the Attorney General’s Chambers, whilst the remaining sixty-two per cent (62%) was filed by the other litigating parties. Of this number, a total of 110 cases were concluded as follows: Forty-five were dismissed or discontinued; thirty-seven judgments granted in favour of the State with and without cost and twenty-eight judgments

granted in favour of other litigating parties.

Additionally, Williams told the House that a total of eighty-four new appeal cases were filed for the period 1st January – 30th October, 2017, thirty-three were filed by the Attorney General’s Chambers and fifty-one were filed against the Attorney General.

At the Caribbean Court of Justice, he said five matters are ongoing for the period 1st January to 30th October, 2017.

NOT A TRUE REFLECTION “It should be noted that this is not a true reflection of all the matters currently engaging the courts.

Prior to the accession to office of the Attorney

General, there was no database which listed current litigation and its status.

An attempt to do this was initiated in 2013 and the data has since been gathered and is presently being compiled,” Williams disclosed. He said these matters relate to actions filed against the State going as far back as the year 1998.

He said the former Solicitor General, Sita Ramlall had introduced a central filing room to better manage and protect the State’s files. “Notwithstanding the AGMLA discovered that many files were missing and could not be accounted for,” Williams said.

He said with the new case management software court cases will be streamlined as it will feature: provision to capture all events, documents, correspondences and

pertinent information for each case; develop a calendar of all scheduled events for all cases showing the assigned team as well; provision to easily search and retrieve all case information and documents; develop templates to prepare standard documents during the case lifecycle; provision to maintain contact information for involved parties and security to ensure case information can only be viewed by authorised individuals.

Minister Williams said the software will be installed on a server provided and managed by the E-Government Unit of the Ministry of Pubic Telecommunication. “It will be accessible from all computers within the MOLA via the E-Government Unit providing high

Attorney General, Basil Williams speed network connection between the two offices.

This approach avoids wasteful duplication of resources by making use of the State entity with the resources and expertise to manage the computing infrastructure.”

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SOCU probing over $900B

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

… in suspected money laundering transactions ATTORNEY General Basil Williams on Thursday night disclosed that the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) continues to receive referrals from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and is conducting investigations into money laundering offences involving over $900B. The AG was at the time making his contributions to this year’s budget debates in the National Assembly.

Only recently, Director of the FIU, Matthew Langevine told this newspaper that his unit continue to work together in monitoring new cases of money laundering with improved intelligence analysis. The FIU Director said that the unit has had a few new cases which have been passed on to SOCU. While he did not give statistics at the time, he told the Guyana Chronicle that the FIU remains committed to its original task of keeping money laundering at bay.

“We’ve been working closely and reporting as required to SOCU. There have been a number of cases that we have been working and adding new cases,” Langevine told the Guyana Chronicle.

ANTI-CORRUPTION FIGHT Meanwhile, Williams said the APNU/AFC Government remains robust in its fight against corruption which has had a debilitating effect on the economy of Guyana.

“SOCU in relation to financial crimes has conduct of the investigations of offences deriving from forensic audits of Govern-

ment Ministries Departments and Agencies under the last Administration, involving billions of dollars of tax payers’ money. It is in this connection that Special Prosecutors were appointed by the Government to prosecute persons charged with stealing state assets. Before embarking on any such prosecution, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) issues a fiat to empower them,” Turning his attention to Guyana’s standing in the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), Williams said, “Guyana, like the Phoenix, has risen from the ashes of its own despair; from the abyss of CFATF’s reproach, to rising to the head of this twenty –five member country organization of Caricom, Central and South American Countries.”

He made mention of his election as the new Chairman of the CFATF grouping, noting that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) styled reporting body (F.S.R.B) and a regional arm of the FATF, CFATF’s remit is to combat Money Laundering/ Terrorist Financing and Proliferation Financing (ML/TF/PF) to protect the global and financial economy from dirty money and assist its members to be in compliance with the FATF’s recommendations and immediate outcomes.

GUYANA CHAIRS CFATF “Mr. Speaker, we successfully hosted the CFATF’s 46th Plenary and Working Group Meetings and shaped the work

programme for Guyana’s year at the helm.

His Excellency President David Arthur Granger must be commended for his unwavering support of Guyana’s commitment to implementing the said recommendations and outcomes,” Williams said. He added that his government introduced an AML/CFT Coordinating Committee (AML/CFT,CC) comprising supervisory entities, including Bank of Guyana, Guyana Revenue Authority, Director of Public Prosecutions, Special Organized Crime Unit, Financial Intelligence Unit and the Attorney General Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs.

This committee is chaired by the AGMLA. However, he cautioned that”… We cannot sit on our laurels as we come up for mutual evaluation in 2022 in the Fourth Round of Mutual Evaluation which requires technical compliance and effectiveness in implementing the FATF recommendations and immediate outcomes.

Mr. Speaker, the government will pursue institutional strengthening of the staff of the AML/CFT regime in Guyana and will host an Assessors Training Seminar in January, 2018 and a Judges and Prosecutors Conference shortly thereafter.”

SARA OUTREACH Additionally, Williams told the House that in keeping with the principle enshrined in Article 13 of the Constitution of inclusionary democracy and participation of citizens, this year, the Attorney General’s Chambers held

Attorney General, Basil Williams has assumed the chairmanship of CFATF consultations and sensitization seminars with the public on the State Assets Recovery Act 2017, the Witness Protection Bill and the Protected Disclosures (Whistleblower) Bill to raise awareness on the Government’s anti-corruption policies and on the protection afforded witnesses and other persons who assist in the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators.

He reminded that the State Assets Recovery Act of 2017 was passed in Parliament on 12 April 2017 and assented to by President David Granger on Thursday 4 May 2017. The Act created the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) in consonance with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption 2003, headed by a Director who is a corporation sole to recover through

‘Image matters’ –– Greenidge says in bid to dispel ‘silly, self-serving’ notions about Guyana

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Mr Carl Greenidge has dismissed efforts by the Latin American Press to tarnish Guyana’s image by reporting that the country does not know how to handle foreign investments.

“During the course of the year, we have seen the

Latin American Press launching attacks on the people of Guyana and foreign investors who are doing business here,” he told the House on Wednesday.

At the time making his pitch in defence of Budget 2018, Minister Greenidge said that image matters when

dealing with transnational corporations, so the attacks are of deep concern to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Though he did not name a specific media entity, the minister ranted about their attempt to make the Guyana government look foolish and seem at sea where negotiating with

foreign investors is concerned.

“They have been trying to suggest that foreign investors are leading Guyana by its nose, and that we do know what we are doing,” he said, adding: “They are trying to suggest that here is a country that is backward and does not

civil proceedings State property unlawfully acquired by a public official or any other person; to provide for investigations leading to the granting by the High Court of Restraint and Civil Recovery Orders in respect of unlawfully acquired property; to engage in international cooperation in the recovery of stolen assets of State within the contemplation of the Act, and for related matters.

The Attorney General said President Granger attended the Addis Ababa Financing for Development Conference in July 2015, as well as the September 2015 United Nations Summit where Guyana signed on to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) discussed global efforts to incorporate “recovery of stolen public assets” (StPAR) as a central

feature of domestic resource mobilization, particularly for developing countries.

The Conference committed “to making the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) an effective instrument to deter, detect, prevent, and counter corruption and bribery, prosecute those involved in corrupt activities, and recover and return stolen assets to their country of origin.”

The AAAA promised to encourage the international community to develop good practices on asset return… indicating its support for the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative of the United Nations and the World Bank, and other international initiatives that support the recovery of stolen assets.

SARA is now fully operationalized and has embarked on its mission, the AG said.

know anything, particularly since Exxon Mobil came on stream.”

This last bit saw the parliamentary opposition sit up and pay keen attention, as it’s a favourite hobbyhorse of theirs.

He succeeded in wiping the smirk off their collective faces when he reminded the House that it was the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government which signed the agreement with popular petroleum extractors, ExxonMobil.

As for the claims in the foreign press that Guyana is clearly out of its league,Greenidge merely

dismissed them as “silly” and “self-serving”.

He, however, noted how disappointed he is that the cudgel was being picked up by the local media, especially where some media houses take it upon themselves to reprint those stories without attributing them.

Noting that such behaviour does not augur well for Guyana, particularly where its image is concerned, Minister Greenidge said:“Despite all of this,it is important to know that we have a number of entities that are interested in operating in Guyana.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

PricewaterhouseCoopers to value GuySuCo assets THE Special Purpose Unit (SPU) under the National Industrial & Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), on Thursday announced that PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has been selected as its International Financial Services Provider.

Selected tenders were invited from PriceWaterHouseCoopers, Ernst & Yo u n g , D e l l i o t e , and KPMG. However, KPMG did not submit a tender. The three firms, PriceWaterHouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, and Delliote, all made presentations to the

PriceWaterhouseCoopers representatives meeting with SPU – (L to R) Brian Hackett,Wilfred Baghaloo and Lisa Awai

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be conducting the valuation of all assets under the control of GuySuCo, in addition to providing other advisory and financial services.

After the valuation exercise PWC will develop an investment prospectus and will, through the SPU, distribute to all interested investors. PWC will be tasked with ensuring a level playing field for all interested parties and stakeholders.

NICIL/SPU evaluation team. After the presentations were concluded, the evaluation team selected PwC. All negotiations with PwC have been completed and a contract is expected to be signed by December 18, 2017, the SPU said in a release.

According to SPU, PwC which is ranked as the most prestigious accounting firm in the world for the last seven consecutive years, will

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

Military cannot be isolated –– should be involved in detecting, eliminating illicit activities, says US commander

By Ariana Gordon

THE military has a role to play in strengthening regional security and as such, focus must be holistically and collectively placed on detecting and eliminating illicit activities.

Commander, United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Admiral Kurt Tidd who was in Guyana to participate in the 16th annual Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC), in response to questions posed by Guyana Chronicle, Thursday said he believes that the evolution of networks is critical to strengthening regional security.

As a result, the security conglomerate comprising 120 top security officials from 20 nations over the past two days, deliberated upon ways to reduce and ultimately eradicate illicit activities and networks within this hemisphere.

“What we found in the networks as opposed to the individual commodities, is that networks would be involved in whatever was making money and there would be an overlapse where enablers for this illicit activity, whether money launderers, document forgers, skilled in illicit movement, smuggling in anything for the right price [and] that allowed us to pool our efforts in ways that made

come into play “We recognise in our hemisphere that the ultimate step of disruption is almost always going to be a law enforcement activity”.

“It might be a part of nation law enforcement activity, it may be our federal law enforcement activity working through our embassies, but ultimately to make them more effective, because they lack capacity, we can play a very useful role because of our expertise in detecting and eliminating networks and exchanging information via military to military basis.”

Moreover, Admiral Tidd said too that by creating broad friendly networks as much as possible, the military has the ability to see, under-

Chief-of-Staff Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Patrick West (left) and Commander, United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Admiral Kurt Tidd, during Thursday’s media roundtable discourse

Commander, United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) makes a point during the media roundtable discourse held at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown (Delano Williams photos) Asked to explain the concept of evolving networks within that framework, Admiral Tidd said, for years, focus on illicit activities has been done mainly by the police or law enforcement agencies and with little or no military involvement.

As such, the law enforcement agencies found themselves focusing on individual causes as opposed to a chain of activities. The time is now ripe for change in this regard, he posited.

“For a long time there has been a tendency for us to focus on individual illicit commodities, illicit activities whether smuggling of drugs, people, illegal mining, smuggling of gold, and that focused our attention and that tended to draw us into a narrow line of investigation,” he explained.

much more sense,” Admiral Tidd explained.

Seated in the presence of Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier Patrick West, the SouthCom related that more often than not, when there is focus on one specific area, only members of the Police Force or law enforcement organisations are involved.

VALID ROLE “Whereas, when you look the threat networks there is a very valid role for military to play in the detection of the networks, elimination of those networks,” the Admiral noted.

Additionally, he believes that when illicit networks are disrupted, that is when the law enforcement agencies

stand and detect criminal elements which in effect would allow for applying pressure more holistically.

“Ultimately, it is going to take that holistic application of pressure rather than if we squeeze in one place, it would just pop up again someplace else…

We have to be able to squeeze across the entire region, across these multiple intersecting illicit networks if we are going to be able to take the resources available to us and apply them effectively as our populations expect us to,” he asserted.

That aside, Admiral Tidd said the fact that CANSEC was held for the first time in Guyana and moreover, South America, reflects the increasing trans-national and

trans-regional nature of the region’s shared security challenges.

Those challenges include national disasters and threat networks, he told reporters at a media roundtable discourse held at the conclusion of the twoday conference.

COLLABORATION “Deepening our cooperation requires the collaboration of military and security leaders,” is critical, he stated while noting the need to continue building a professional, inclusive security force that is required to meet today’s complex security challenges.

Tidd explained that as the conference concluded, participants agreed on the need for a shared understanding of the security environment, including the interception of

threat networks and disasters and the potential destabilising effects of foreign territory fighters returning to this hemisphere.

“We agreed to improve our common understanding in the security environment and to strengthen our regional networks by increasing our regional sharing. Dialogue like this helps to strengthen trust and collaboration as we implement our shared commitments to regional security and stability,” Admiral Tidd told reporters.

When asked to speak specifically to the increasing threat of cyber-crime, he said the matter was discussed at the two-day caucus and it was recognised as a “new domain that actors are beginning to cooperate in”.

He said it is essential that stakeholders unite and exchange best practices in a bid to curb the criminal activity. “…Come together to exchange best practices, to understand how we can defend our network,” he stated.

The US Admiral noted that while a schedule has not yet been set, efforts are in train to have programmes established to target cyber-crimes.

“Every country has critical cyber infrastructure that we are all interested in protecting,” he stated.

Meanwhile, in brief remarks Brigadier West told reporters that given Guyana’s geography and history, the country sits at a “critical point of linkage for South America and the Caribbean”.

Guyana, he said, is in a unique place which he said can be a bridge for cooperation for both the Caribbean

and South America.

“To be able to mitigate the threats that are posed by organised criminal activities, Guyana has worked and has been working to stem the tide of illegal activities occurring across our borders over the years, and we had testimony of our successes over the last few months or so,” boasted Brigadier West.

He believes that with continued collaboration, there will be many more success stories.

“I hope in the near future you will actually see the fruits of those relationships as we work together with our renewed vigour of the established networks to counter the threats which are posed against our region,” the chiefof-staff stated.

Themed, “Unifying regional action to counter trans-regional and transnational threat networks,” CANSEC serves as a forum for dialogue among chiefs of defence and public security ministers to examine threats to Caribbean stability and evaluate ideas to improve collaboration in support of regional security.

The conference, held at the Marriott Hotel focused on transnational threat networks, regional security strategy, disaster response and emergency management.

CANSEC, sponsored by the SOUTHCOM, was last hosted by Puerto Rico.

Also present at the roundtable discourse was U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway and other senior US Embassy officials and military officials from Guyana and the U.S.

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

Right to health LAST week Friday made it 29 years since the United Nations started marking December 1st as World AIDS Day: to unite people around the world in the fight against HIV; show support for people living with HIV; and to commemorate people who have died with HIV/ AIDS. T h i s y e a r ’s t h e m e “Right to health” sought to highlight, according to the World Health Organization, the need for all 36.7 million people living with HIV and those who are vulnerable and affected by the epidemic, to reach the goal of universal health coverage. Under the slogan “Everybody counts”, WHO advocated for access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines, including medicines, diagnostics and other health commodities as well as health care services for all people in need, while also ensuring that they are protected against financial risks.

When HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) became public knowledge in the early 1980s, it was surrounded by myths, which included how it is

being contracted; how it is spread; its origin was ascribed to a race; vulnerability was based on sexual orientation and moral values; and its domain was confined to those of the lower socio-economic bracket.

These myths resulted in various behavioural attitudes. Ignorance made spread of the disease more likely, in that some felt immune to its contraction, given that they were not in the ‘category’ of its domain and thus had no need to engage in precautions.

Those who contracted HIV were invariably ashamed to seek help, kept silent, or continued to spread the disease based on the stereotype attached to the use of condoms. There were those who, based on lifestyle choices, exposed their partners to contracting the disease, but for fear of their lifestyles being exposed, continued to engage in unsafe practices with their mates. And persons who contracted HIV, fearing ostracism from loved ones and society, opted to keep their status private.

The above stated situations have been prevalent in our society. Though within

the last 29 years much work has been done to clear up misunderstandings regarding this disease, the myths and stigmatization persist, and persons are consequently still at risk of contracting this disease and being deprived of the care needed.

As the world community works to combat the virus, which includes the race for a medical cure, prevention is, at this stage, still the best option. Prevention not only requires education -- different applications, mediums and tools – but also helps to shatter myths and stigmatisation that still cause some persons to live with this disease in silence, spreading it and not getting the care they need. Where it is recognized that there is statistical extrapolation of the infected population based on reported cases, we cannot lose sight of the unreported.

Culturally, Guyana is somewhat a reclusive society. Issues such as sex and its practices, including choices, are not spoken about openly; stigma is attached to some practices, and criminality is attached to others. The influence this cultural phenomenon

has on the facility with which conversations about sexually transmitted diseases–in this instance HIV -- should be discussed can therefore not be ignored.

Societies that are more open about sexual interactions, including accepting and legitimizing lifestyle choices, have a greater advantage in addressing complexities surrounding HIV prevention. Moreover, some famous personalities in those societies have put a face to the disease by sharing their stories and leading the fight against it through various supportive measures.

The work done by the Ministry of Health/Public Health and other civil society institutions should however be noted, especially the work done by Artistes in Direct Support (AIDS), which has had a significant impact in the fight against this disease.

As a nation, we must continue to push the limits not only to ensure that every person is aware of the dangers attached to contracting this disease, but to ensure that everyone is taking measures to prevent contracting it, seeking the care needed, should they

contract the virus, and ending discrimination against those who have contracted it.

Even though HIV remains a challenge, significant strides have been made in combating it.

The healthcare industry has moved from not knowing what to do to developing medicines found to be effective in managing the virus. Persons living with HIV are today experiencing quality holistic lives once they adhere to the medication regimen and appropriate health and wellness choices; and medicine has advanced to the level where, if persons suspect they have been exposed to the virus, should they seek help within 72 hours of exposure, they can benefit from post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) drugs – antiretroviral medicines

(ART) which can prevent them from becoming infected. There is also the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for persons who don’t have HIV but are at very high risk of getting it; to prevent being infected, simply take a pill daily. These drugs are, however, not for everyone, and they should not be prescribed on a willy-nilly basis; candidates for administration of the drug have to meet specific guidelines. HIV prevention still largely remains reliant on education and safe sex. This includes having access to accurate information and having a mature outlook on sexual relations, as in having monogamous relations and using a condom, which remains the most important tool in preventing contraction and spread of the virus.

Fire CEO, board of GuySuCo Dear Editor,

IT IS becoming clearer with each passing day that the CEO and the entire Board of Directors of the Guyana Sugar Corporation should be made redundant. Their incompetence is matched by the low production target which is expected next year and the fact that they are incapable of making the right decisions.

The recent imbroglio with the redundancy letters crammed down the throats of the poor sugar workers at Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates is proof of the inability

of the top management structure to make the right decisions. What is disappointing, disgusting and intolerable and which constitutes a direct insult to our Government is that these people would have known about the commitment made to the sugar workers by the Honorable Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, that the closing of these estate and the redundancy would have been postponed until 2018. Why have they insisted on embarrassing the Government?

Guysuco’s top management should have communicated to the Minister of Agriculture who in turn should

have communicated to the Minister of State. GuySuCo, it seems, is operating like a state within a state. If this is the type of communication GuySuCo top management is displaying, then it is not a mystery anymore why the industry continues to decline at this rapid pace. It should be recalled that after the 2015 General Elections, GuySuCo’s top management complained about ‘political interference’ and it was accepted but it seems that management forgot that the Government has been plugging billions of dollars into GuySuCo with dwindling returns, therefore it is the

Government who should make the final decision with regards to the termination of the sugar workers services.

GuySuCo is a State entity and management should not behave as though the Government has no role to play.

The Government must make that final decision and not GuySuCo. GuySuCo’s top management has also failed to communicate to workers about the plans they have to assist them. They sit in air-conditioned offices and feel that it is their prerogative to dictate what must be done, and how it must be done, disregarding the sensitive nature of their

negative actions. Workers are human beings; is that how Guysuco enforces its human resources policies? No wonder there is such a poor labour turnout in the sugar industry. These management people have not shed the ‘massa days’ ideology.

GuySuCo should have at least make a press release on the matter and seek advice from Cabinet. Workers are very confused and need straight answers. Everyday my office is bombarded with 15 to 20 sugar workers begging information about what their fate is going to be and what will be done to assist them. I explained that this

will happen next year, but before then, the Government will outline a detailed plan of what assistance they will be given. All of that is now water on duck’s back. What will I tell them now?

I am appealing to my Government to rescind those termination letters and take a serious look at GuySuCo’s management structure if they want to remain in the sugar business.

Regards GOBIN HARBHAJAN Former Director – Skeldon Electricity Inc. (SEI) Regional Democratic Councillor

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

No political inference in Blanhum’s removal – Min. Ramjattan

PUBLIC Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan ruled out political interference in the removal of Senior Police Superintendent, Wendell Blanhum, as the country’s crime chief.

East Bank Demerara), and now operates under Assistant Commissioner of Police, Marlon Chapman, who is the commander.

Assistant Police Commissioner, Paul Williams,

Senior Police Superintendent,Wendell Blanhum

Blanhum, upon his return from leave recently, was temporarily reassigned as Deputy Commander of ‘A’ Division (Georgetown/

who was commander of “B” Division (Berbice) is acting as crime chief.

In the National Assembly on Thursday, the public

security minister, during the ongoing budget debates, told the House that the decision was made solely by the acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine.

Minister Ramjattan said even though the Senior Police Superintendent in his capacity as crime chief was doing a “fantastic job”, the decision lies with the Commissioner of Police.

The minister recalled that when he took office, the then Crime Chief, Leslie James, was replaced by Blanhum on the instructions of the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud.

“If Mr Ramnarine now would like to move Blanhum from there, what’s the big deal?” he told members on both sides of the House.

He made it clear that the Government will not interfere in the operations of the Force.

“We are not going to interfere with the leadership of that Police Force; we are not going to interfere like how interference used to be in previous times. We are going to do it very pro-

plot to assassinate President David Granger had called for Blanhum to be replaced, citing poor leadership and questioning his role in the successes in solving crimes under his watch.

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

fessionally,” he assured the House.

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged

The Paul Slowe-led CoI chided Blanhum for his failure to properly supervise the investigation as instructed

by the acting commissioner; not conducting due diligence on a report containing factual errors sent to the National Security Council (NSC); neglect of duty; and insubordination. “… Blanhum should be replaced as crime chief and reassigned in order to gain command experience,” the report recommended.

Blanhum was the first person in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to receive information in relation to the plot to assassinate the President.

President Granger had indicated that the Commission of Inquiry had exposed serious deficiencies and weaknesses in the Force, and these will be corrected. He had noted that the CoI was not meant to be a witch-hunt but work has to be done to ensure that the law enforcement agency is more professional and efficient in the execution of its duties and responsibilities.

Linden and its residents can do without the hypocrites Place ICT hubs at play grounds Dear Editor,

I refer to captioned article “Protestors heckle PPP budget meeting at Linden”, as reported in Kaieteur News dated December 02, 2017.

As a democrat, I support the right of any political party to travel to any region in this country to have its particular point of view heard. Therefore, it is not that I have personal objections to the PPP/C sending its representatives to Linden; but it is its barefacedness in doing so.

What can their spokespersons have reasonably said to that small gathering of supporters at the mining town’s Constabulary Hall, about BUDGET 2018; I wonder?

I understand that one of the issues this visiting group of hypocrites raised was about the 2018 financial estimates not having any relief for the unemployed youth in the mining town.

Do they believe that the people of that region are so stupid, sentimental, and daft, not to read through their devious strategy? What did they ever do for this town and its citizens?

As a once vibrant community where the best wages were at one time paid in this country, Linden is but a shadow of that former socio–economic glory. Notwithstanding the decline in Bauxite prices on the world market, it has been

an experience of steady decline to the point where Linden has been described as a depressed community, with joblessness being a gloomy indicator of this downturn.

Editor, there were so many appeals to the PPP/C government for assistance to this town to bring relief to its citizens.

It is a shameful indictment of former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, who worked for many years in the bauxite company.

As Prime Minister for the entire 23 years of his PPP/C government, the town of Linden had been made to suffer.

Let me illustrate how politically vindictive, and racist the former PPP/C government has been to Linden, particularly. The tax-free overtime and premium hours work-benefit was fought for by bauxite workers and their unions in 1988, during the Desmond Hoyte administration, and was extended to the sugar workers.

The Bharrat Jagdeo government took this away from bauxite workers and retained it for sugar workers.And this attribute has been a common denominator to all communities that are Afro-Guyanese--a deliberate neglect.

It is now a matter of record that the then Corbin-led PNC/R opposition party did not perform well at the 2006 national polls, as reflected by its parliamentary seat reduction. Moreover, the party suffered a shock reduction

of poll support in the mining town. Smart politics would have dictated any wise government an opportunity to begin socio-economic interventions with a view of not only administering dire-needed assistance, but also garnering political support.

Instead, at the 2011 poll, PPP/C Donald Ramotar – led ticket, campaigned heavily at Linden, believing that the region had been ready to fall into its electoral support basket.

At one of the rallies, Ramotar even promised to create 2000 jobs. How could they have such an expectation, given the neglect of the Town continued, with its residents suffering?

In addition, the vexed issue of residents being made to access the sole State-owned television channel, rather than being afforded other signals for their choice. Their many pleas and representations fell on deaf ears.

I almost forgot the vexed issue of the termination of the over 60 bauxite workers and their union’s repeated requests for an arbitration which were flatly refused.

Then came 2012; Lindeners rebelled, and some of their townsfolk were shot down like dogs in the street. Did the Ramotar government care?

I am heartened at the stance which those few Lindeners took against Juan Edghill and his visiting cabal. Particularly satisfying was, I think, one

of the placards which asked whether Jagdeo “think” that the people were stupid. “Jagdeo leave Linden alone. Let us shine. You failed us.” Another said, “Be mindful of the monster Jagdeo.” Residents then turned up the protest, chanting “No PPP, No PPP.” These actions signal general awareness among the town folk that the PPP/C had ignored their pleas when in government and are now attempting to play sympathizer with their deviously hypocritical selves. The entire mind set and approach of the then government towards the Town, mirrors that well-known PPP/C brand of vindictiveness and spite, because of the Town’s known historical political, support base. There is much to be done at Linden, because of the decades of criminal neglect which has been the lot of its residents. A positive has been the newly-installed Municipality that has been leading efforts at renewing the environment. There are other initiatives such as the laying of vital infrastructure--this and other measures will bring jobs to the community. Though the challenges are many, Linden and its residents can do without the hypocrites led by Juan Edghill.

Regards EARL HAMILTON

to encourage healthy lifestyles Dear Editor, THE Government through the Ministry of Public Telecommunications must be graciously applauded for providing free internet access across the country. The initiative undertaken by the Honorable Minister Cathy Hughes is quite impressive and will derive considerable benefits to the consuming public, including young people and students. While this is so, most of the hubs however are being placed either in government buildings or places that are not always accessible. Notwithstanding, however, I am suggesting that consideration should be given to injecting ICT at play grounds. This I believe will attract persons to becoming health conscious, since they will visit such facilities on a regular basis to access the internet and perhaps be encouraged to exercise. Maintaining healthy life styles must become a priority for the Administration and therefore I am appealing to the Ministry of Public Health, Youth and Sport as well as Public Telecommunications, to create an environment that will promote the drive towards the sustainability and longevity of the population. I believe therefore that this can be achieved by having ICT hubs at playing grounds.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

Greenidge goes on the defensive – over spending on ensuring territorial integrity

By Navendra Seoraj MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Mr Carl Greenidge had cause to let the House know on Thursday that defending Guyana’s territorial integrity is serious business, and should not be taken lightly.

“This has been a costly process, and we are looking at a process to resolve the question of the arbitral award,” he said.

“We need to find out whether the court had acted improperly, or in a manner not in keeping with the law when they crafted the first arbitral award,” the former finance minister in a previous administration told his parliamentary colleagues on Thursday, as the customary budgetary debates entered its third day.

His observation comes in the wake of a query from Opposition Chief Whip, Ms. Gail Teixeira as to why the government needed to budget a whopping $800M to spend on just accommodation and travel for 2018.

But as he painstakingly explained for the benefit of

everyone in the House, much to the amusement of the members of the parliamentary opposition, most of the foreign ministry’s budgetary allocation is usually spent on travel, since most of their meetings are held in the US and further afield.

“We cannot look at how expensive it was and say we cannot afford it, because we cannot say we can’t afford to defend our territory,” Minister Greenidge said, adding: “We have, at any one time, 10 to 14 officers working in the negotiating team.” Needless to say, his explanation did not wash with the opposition, as all it succeeded in doing was eliciting a loud and sustained round of good-humoured heckling.

Seasoned campaigner that he is, Minister Greenidge took it in his stride, and got on with the business at hand, saying that even members of the Parliamentary Opposition were a part of the consultations.

“We had all the support we have requested from the opposite benches, even as we tried to explain to the UN SG

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge talking territorial integrity during Thursday’s Budget debates that this is a costly exercise to keep active on the interfor Guyana,” he said. national front by building He went on to say that it strong ties with countries is in the interest of keeping that may have similar terricosts down that the govern- torial problems. ment is relying on a promise He also drew reference made by both former UN to Guyana’s establishment Secretary-General, Mr Ban recently of an embassy in Ki-moon and his succes- Geneva, Switzerland, which, sor, Mr António Guterres to since its opening in early make a final decision on the 2016, has begun to show matter at the end of this year. some promise.

But, in the interim, he “The Guyanese Ambassaid, they have been trying sador to Switzerland was

recently called up to be the spokesperson of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group,” Minister Greenidge said, adding: “This is a stage that puts you in a favourable position to build support, since it ensures that countries have respect for our competence.”

As he assured his parliamentary colleagues, the government is committed to ensuring that Guyana is represented effectively, as there’s a mission to build the image of the country.

One of the image-building projects of which he spoke is the proposed establishment of an embassy in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia.

He also mentioned in passing, amidst another round of sustained heckling, a proposed meeting shortly between a high-level delegation from Guyana and Norwegian diplomat, Mr Dag Halvor Nylander, who has been appointed by the UN Secretary-General to arbitrate on his behalf in the ongoing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

That meeting, he said, will take place in Antigua and Barbuda, and see a battery of international lawyers as well as local officials negotiating on Guyana’s behalf.

He said that while the expection that the meeting will be informal, it is all part and parcel of the new round of the Good Offices Process as initiated by Secretary-General Ban before he demitted office in December 2016.

The Good Offices Process, on which Guyana has relied since 2009 to settle the controversy with Venezuela,is expected to conclude in one year and, according to both Ban and Guterres, if no significant progress is made by the end of the year, the matter will be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The controversy itself is an allegation by Venezuela that the 1899 Arbitrary Award is null and void.

For over 50 years, the controversy has been ongoing between the two countries, since Venezuela continues its attempt to claim two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.

Funds set aside for sugar workers’ severance pay MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday told the National Assembly that a “huge chunk” of money has been allocated in the 2018 National Budget for retrenched sugar workers even as political stakeholder, the Alliance for Change (AFC) expresses deep concern for the welfare of the sugar workers.

During his budget debates presentation, Harmon said those workers who have been laid off by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) will receive severance.

“There is a huge chunk of money in there (budget) for severance,” he declared while members of the governing side of the House shouted “we are a caring government”.

The Minister of State criticized the parliamentary opposition for trying to tell the public and in particular sugar workers that the APNU+AFC coalition government is uncaring. That is far from the truth he said.

“Budget 2018 contains a provision to offset severance pay for GuySuCo workers.

The Opposition must communicate this to workers,” the Minister of State stated.

It is unclear how much money has been allocated specifically for this purpose but the identified sum is in the billions. Attempts to confirm the amount Thursday proved futile. There has been much disquiet about the Guyana Sugar Company (GUYSUCO) move to issue redundancy letters to sugar

workers.

On Tuesday, Harmon told reporters that Cabinet was not informed of GUYSUCO’s move, especially after indicating in November that the scheduled year-end closure of the Rose Hall and Enmore estates will be delayed until 2018, since no system has been put in place for the sugar workers.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder said the decision was in keeping with the White Paper presented the National Assembly earlier this year.

But the major coalition partner, the Alliance for Change (AFC) on Thursday insists that all mechanisms must be in place to deal with the retrenched workers.

“The Party insists that as per the requirements in

law, severance must be in place,” and recommends that in addition to severance, consideration must be given to “offer of land leases for alternative economic engagement, access to small concession loans for said alternative engagement and access to extension services and markets for agro-processing,” the AFC said in a statement.

Acknowledging the State Paper on GUYSUCO which was laid in the National Assembly sometime in May outlines varying actions relative to the industry which are necessary and unavoidable if the sugar industry is to be regularised and become sustainable; the Party believes that the matter needs to be dealt with properly.

“The Party is cognizant

that GuySuCo has been engaging with the workers and their unions for some time now regarding actions which are necessary and calls on GuySuCo to intensify this initiative to ensure that all workers are adequately briefed, counseled and are presented with all the necessary information regarding the future status of GuySuCo and the sugar sector,” a statement from the AFC said.

Additionally, the party noted the future of GUYSUCO is “of paramount importance” while accepting that government must continue to pursue those options for the sugar industry which is not a burden on the national treasury. “The AFC looks forward to an amicable resolution to this issue, but insists

that as the Yuletide season is upon us, workers must not be adversely affected and the offer of severance must be thoroughly detailed and presented to the workers now,” the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, Holder reminded the National Assembly during his budget debate presentation this week that since taking office, the APNU+AFC Government bailed GUYSUCO out with $32B. This year, there is a $6.3B allocation in 2018 budget for the Company.

Another $2.3B is estimated for 2019, he added while noting that capital investment of $12B will be required over the next three years 2018-2020 to ensure that the sugar production targets are met.

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Norway approves release of funds for major GRIF projects

By Ariana Gordon

GOVERNMENT on Thursday announced that the Kingdom of Norway through the Guyana-Norway partnership (The Norway Agreement) approved the release of funds for some of the government’s “major projects”.

Three Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) projects have been approved this year for the Green State Development Strategy and ICT access and E-Services for hinterland, poor and remote communities, valued at approximately US$18, 530, 752 and the sustainable land development and management project worth US$14, 792, 277 which was approved on Thursday.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, made the announcement during the fourth day of the budget 2018 debate at the National Assembly. In his presentation, he said “I can say to you, Mr Speaker, that our agreement with the Kingdom of Norway is alive and well.”

Notwithstanding the aforementioned, Harmon told the House that the major stumbling block relative to the Norway Agreement is the question of the $80M allocated for the hydro development. Norway has not given approval for the release of funds which were geared towards the Amaila Falls Hydro Project. He explained that government

this week dispatched a letter to Norway requesting a meeting to discuss elements of the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

“Even this morning, we had an acknowledgement that that’s going to happen,” he disclosed amidst heckling by the parliamentary opposition.

A letter was sent to the Minister of the Environment of the Kingdom of Norway, Vidar Helgesen, requesting consideration for a meeting of environment ministers of Guyana and Norway soonest.

The Minister of State made it clear to the House that critical to the coalition government’s pursuit of its green agenda and the development and implementation of the Green State Development Strategy, is its bilateral relations with Norway and the 2009 MoU. He said too that the three joint concept notes that outline the indicators on which the relationship of the agreement is judged and the on-going negotiations and discussions that are currently ongoing. “Mr Speaker, our MoU with Norway seeks to foster partnership between Guyana and Norway on issues of Climate change, biodiversity and sustainable, low carbon development. It envisages the establishment of a comprehensive political and policy dialogue on these issues and close cooperation regarding Guyana’s REDDPlus effort.

Additionally, Harmon said the establishment of a

framework for result-oriented Norwegian Financial support to Guyana’s REDD-Plus efforts is also envisioned. Harmon said when the Agreement was signed in 2009, it was agreed that there would be US$250M to Guyana, but by the time the APNU+AFC coalition government gained office in May 2015, the sum had reduced to US$215M because of penalties attached as a result of non-performance by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration and also because of exchange rates. The Minister of State said his government has done much with the money since taking office. In fact, prior to May 2015, five GRIF projects worth US$30.4M were implemented. Subsequent to May 2015, three GRIF projects were approved this year for the Green State Development Strategy and ICT access and E-Services for hinterland, poor and remote communities valued and the sustainable land development and management project.

There will be seven GRIF projects in implementation and two completed at a value of US$67.1M. “Mr Speaker, the approval of three GRIF Projects in a year (2017) would be the first under the framework,” declared Harmon. He explained that there are three additional projects that are in difference stages of development: the institutional strengthening phase two, Biodiversity Research Centre, and green tourism.

According to the Minister of State, prior to May 2015, there was a 16 per cent financial delivery given to GRIF projects as compared with earnings of US$190M under the partnership and 43 per cent financial delivery as compared with the US$70M of funds transferred to the GRIF trustee account for use on projects.

After assuming office in May 2015, there was a 35 per cent financial delivery given to new projects added for this year as compared with earnings of US$190M under the partnership; something he considers to be more than double in two years the accomplishment of the previous five years. Additionally, a 96 per cent financial delivery as compared with the US$70M of funds transferred to the GRIF Trustee account for use on projects.

Government expects to reach more than 60 per cent delivery by the end of 2018.

Norway has since extended the GRIF Trustee account that ended in December 2016 to December 2021 and there have been 285 grants and 120 loans approved under the Micro and Small Enterprise project as against 121 grants and 26 loans prior to the APNU+AFC government taking office. Moreover, 119 indigenous communities and villages have been funded under the Amerindian Development Fund. “What should be noted is that the 5th payment has already been

earned by Guyana, which Norway announced on May 6, 2015. However, when the new government came into office, we requested to produce the Green State Development Strategy and the Renewable Energy Transition Roadmap,” the Minister of State added.

Meanwhile, Harmon explained that in relation to the US$80M allocated for the hydro development here, the former PPP administration identified the Amaila Falls project but that developed a plethora of problems, causing it to halt.

After taking office, government engaged the Norwegians on the matter and agreed to have a consultant (Norconsult) examine the project. This was done and it was found that there were major technical issues which needed to be addressed.

“Even if we had proceeded to have it completed, it would have never been done,” he stated.

Harmon stressed that while his administration agrees there needs to be hydro development here, natural gas is the temporary way to go. He stressed that hydropower generation is part of Guyana’s renewable energy mix, which includes solar, wind, biomass and bagasse.

“Our commitment to deliver close to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025 remains in focus,” he stated.

Accordingly, government believes that there are equal-

Minister of State Joseph Harmon ly competitive hydropower alternatives to Amaila Falls, but this requires additional studies so that it can be confident in delivering value for money. Harmon posited that government believes the best way forward is to use natural gas temporarily. “Natural gas is cheap, clean gas, the emissions are 50 to 60 per cent less than fossil fuels… it is not a renewable resource but it is a national resource,” he stated while stressing that Guyana needs to advance.

“What we are saying is that this is a temporary step, a transitional arrangement; and we will at the same time investigate other elements of hydro-electricity.,” Harmon concluded with much objection by the parliamentary opposition.

Lamaha Park, Guyhoc residents can now rest easy –– thanks to round-the-clock police presence in their communities

LAMAHA Park and Guyhoc residents are reportedly relieved at finally being able to rest easy at nights, now that there are day and night patrols in their communities.

And it’s all thanks to the intervention of Head of the Forensic Laboratory, Superintendent of Police, Phillip Azore, who mid last month had cause to respond to emergency calls for help from Lamaha Park residents following a dar-

ing early-morning robbery in the community.

With his help, the police were able to apprehend one of the two perpetrators of that holdup within hours of its being committed, and to also impound the CG motorcycle they’d used.

He was also instrumental in the holding of a community meeting between Lamaha Park residents and the police, which saw in attendance Minister of Citizenship, Mr Winston Felix.

The Guyana Chronicle has learnt that following that meeting, a WhatsApp group between the police and residents was established, and that Superintendent Azore was instrumental in mobilising patrols in the area.

Ever sine, sources say, there has since been a significant reduction in crime in both Lamaha Park and Guyhoc, especially armed robberies and break-ins.

According to Superin-

tendent Azore, there are now three patrols within the boundaries of Lamaha Park and Guyhoc.

They have one mobile patrol and two motor cycle patrols policing the communities both in the day and at nights with added ranks on the look-out.

He disclosed that with the implementation of the patrols, the police have since arrested six persons, two of whom were positively identified by resi-

dents during an identification parade hosted by the police.

The two suspects were picked out as the alleged perpetrators of about 10 incidents of break and enter and larceny on several houses in the Lamaha Park/ Guyhoc communities and those matters are before the courts.

Azore said that two suspects were also apprehended recently, and that one has since been charged for

possession of an unlicensed gun and ammunition.

He credits these success to residents who have been instrumental in the arrests of the suspects as a result of real time communication and information sharing between villagers and police.

Azore stated that ‘A’ Division will benefit from 12 new vehicles, off of which will be utilised in all departments and for patrols.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

Cops get video recording device to capture confession statements

SPECIAL video recording equipment donated by the Justice Education Society (JES) was given to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to enhance their interviewing skills while increasing their impact in court cases.

Acting Crime Chief, Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Williams received the donations from JES Guyana Country Representative, Rolinda Kirton on Thursday at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve Leary.

The Crime Chief said the equipment was a wonderful Christmas gift for the GPF. He said over the past three years the engagement with the JES has been fruitful in all encounters. Adding that the equipment will bring a great deal of integrity in police investigations, Williams said on many occasions when confession statements are given to the police there are allegations of persons being induced or beaten.

The Assistant Police Commissioner said the JES recognised that the Police Force has excellent investigators and greater success can be realised when cases

are presented in court in the form of video recording evidence. “The JES realised that the deficiency could be corrected and addressed… training sessions were conducted and we have seen the response of the ranks and how capable they are,” Williams explained.

JES Guyana Country Representative, Rolinda Kirton said the JES brought in a specialist and commenced training of investigators in interviewing skills earlier this year. She said the trainers were retired Royal Canadian Mountain Police officers (RCMP) who are specialist in interviewing.

“What they recommended is that the GPF should move in the direction of video recorded interviews because then persons cannot claim that they were coerced or induced,” she said.

Explaining that the RCMP had recommended that the special sets of equipment be loaned indefinitely to the GPF, Kirton said this would allow investigators to have the opportunity during their training to utilise the equipment.

Expressing enthusiasm that the GPF was readi-

ly willing to upgrade their skills and move in the right direction, the JES representative said two training sessions were already conducted, one held in June and the other in September with investigators from CID headquarters and other divisions.

“We have trained in excess of 40 investigators across the country. The three pieces of special video recording equipment will assist greatly and this will continue to grow,” she said.

The JES Guyana Rep said that the equipment will be placed in special monitoring rooms and will be monitored by a team.

She noted that investigators would have also shared with their colleagues the skills that were beneficial to them.

Acting Crime Chief, Paul Williams, received the donations in suitcases and boxes from JES Representative, Rolinda Kirton, at CID Eve Leary. (Photo by Rabindra Rooplall)

Four hurt as new police vehicle crashes FOUR persons have been injured when one of the new pick-up vehicles gifted to the Guyana Police Force Berbice Division crashed Thursday afternoon on the Canefield, Public Road, East Canje.

The driver of the PWW5452 registered vehicle was attempting to overtake two others when he collided with motorcar PJJ5270 which was motoring along the Canefield, Public Road.

As a result of the collision, four persons sought medical attention at the New Amsterdam Hospital. They are: 25-year-old Melville Meredith, of Reliance, East Canje and Joanne Wright, 23 years of Islington along with Sharol Gorgapersaud, 32 years, and her son Jehu, both of Cumberland Village, East Canje.

According to an eyewitness of the accident, she was riding her bicycle along the northern carriageway going east when she felt a great gush of wind as the police vehicle speedily passed her.

The witness said the police vehicle proceeded to overtake a cargo truck which was behind motorcar PJJ 5270.

Simultaneously, the car driver, Seon Gorgapersaud, had indicated his intention to make a right turn onto a bridge when the police vehicle hit its front bumper.

Mechanics changing the wheel of Police Force vehicle PWW 5452 As a result of the collision, the motor vehicle spun out of its lane and was dragged a short distance before the front bumper was ripped off. The driver of the police vehicle, seemingly lost control as he swerved into the southern carriage and the road shoulder before coming to a halt over 20 feet away from the point of impact.

The windscreen was shattered while the left bumper and wheel were damaged on the Guyana Police Force vehicle. After the collision, the police ranks in the vehi-

cle were quickly taken away as they were seen holding various parts of their body.

The passengers in the other vehicle Sherol Gorgapersaud, and her son Jehu, complained of pains on their right side and back of the head, respectively.

Shortly after the incident, Commander Lindon Alves visited the scene and was seen speaking to the driver, Seon Gorgapersaud.

Meanwhile, during the commissioning of the vehicle on Wednesday at the divisional headquarters in New

Amsterdam, Commander Alves emphasised that persons will be held accountable for damaging the vehicles.

“The administration has developed a check list, a handover take-over form which must be filled out at the end of tour of duty. The persons who are taking over are to ensure there are no infractions such as broken lights or missing parts, if so, it must be reported immediately… persons will be made to pay.

We must understand it is not business as usual’, he reiterated.”

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Waiting time for land titles now two weeks … AG says registry clears up backlog

THE long wait for land titles is over as the Land Registry successfully cleared the backlog of transactions which existed prior to the year 2015, Attorney General, Basil Williams told the National Assembly on Thursday.

He said the public can now expect to have titles issued in a timeframe of two weeks maximum all things being equal. “A lot of emphasis has been placed on delivering excellent customer service and our efforts have received positive responses from the customers. As such there are no outstanding cases of customer dissatisfaction,” Williams told the House during his budget debate presentation.

Transactions completed during the reporting period for Georgetown and Essequibo include: Private / Commercial Transfers 1300; CH&PA Transfers 984 and mortgages 1,163. Over in Berbice Private/Commercial Transfers were 305; CH&PA Transfers 242; Lands & Surveys Commission Transfers 24; Sugar Welfare Fund Transfers 10; Re-issued Titles; 143; mortgages; 247 and Miscellaneous 452.

RESTORATION OF REGISTERS Meanwhile, the AG reported that in excess of 800 registers have been fully restored, noting that the previously “loose leaf” state no longer exists due to an exercise undertaken to have all volumes bound. That exercise is now completed and it is now quite easy to store and secure these records in a fire-proof environment.

The AG also reported that the digitisation of all records at the Land Registry began in the second quarter of 2017 and is proceeding apace. Having regard to the fact the digitisation project extends over millions of documents; the completion date is projected at the end of the year 2018. Attention should be drawn to the significant reduction in the transactions processed compared to the

The Land and Commercial Registries located on Avenue of the Republic previous reporting period.

This fact is indeed a testimony to the elimination of the “backlog”.

Regarding the Deeds Registry (Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice) raked in $683,888,000 in revenue as at October 2017.

When compared to 2016 the amount earned for this revenue period has increased by $184,286,065).

“Mr. Speaker the Deeds Registry has benefitted from Governmental initiatives, such as the establishment of an online presence to provide efficient and convenient means of communication and information sharing for business purposes and to lay the foundation for the future, where electronic filing, registering of documents and their processing are deemed valid, thus eliminating personal visits to the Registry.”

Williams said the website is 80% complete and should be completed in six weeks. When this new system is fully implemented, it is expected that Attorneys-at-Law, home owners, real estate agents and business persons in and out of the jurisdiction can access this online service in the comfort of their offices and homes. It will provide efficient and convenient means of communication and informa-

tion sharing for business purposes. It will, enable Attorneys-at-Law, home owners, real estate agents and business persons in and out of the jurisdiction to electronically file and process transactions and retrieve documents electronically. This website will be accessible to members of the public upon payment in advance to view the current status of conveyances filed.

For the Commercial Registry, Williams said this entity along with the Commerce Department of the Ministry of Business and the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a mechanism through which business registration services will be extended to businesses in Region Nine.

Williams said his ministry acts as a conduit by ensuring registration forms and fees are dispersed to either the Commercial Registry or the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said another identical MOU was entered into by the Commercial Registry, along with the Commerce Department of the Ministry of Business and the Mahdia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Region Eight) in October, 2017. Both memoranda

facilitate the smooth operation of the administration of businesses in both Regions Eight and Nine by facilitating the process of registration in a more efficient manner.

This in turn, assists the Commercial Registry with fulfilling its mandate of providing these key government services to all in Guyana in the most accessible manner possible. Both agreements shall remain in force for a period of three years.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY The minister also said that the Intellectual Property division of the Commercial Regis-

try is committed to the improvement and expansion of its services to better provide for the commercial population.

He reminded that in August this year, the Commercial Registry, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), hosted a seminar themed ‘National Workshop on the Management of IP assets for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in the Agro-Processing Industry’. The purpose of the workshop was to enlighten local proprietors on the IP tools they can use to protect their intangible assets so as to maximize profits. The commercial registry is pleased to report that the workshop was

a success and received overwhelming support and participation from Small and Medium scaled enterprises within Guyana. The commercial registry in collaboration with various Intellectual Property Organisations through training continues to strengthen the enforcement and regulation of IP rights.

Further, another Memorandum of Understanding was entered into between the Commercial Registry and Credit Info Guyana on the 8th September, 2017. The purpose of the MOU is to establish the framework and guiding principles for a proposed cooperative alliance between the aforementioned which will facilitate regular and efficient data flows between the Registry and the Credit Bureau. Under the terms of agreement, the registry will make available its existing database of records to Credit Info Guyana for purposes of inclusion in the Credit Bureau System database which serves the financial sector. Additionally, that upon the onetime payment of the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) the Registry of Commerce shall upon written request permit Credit Info Guyana to have access to its data as it relates to Businesses and Company records.

Further a payment of the sum of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) per annum is agreed to. The said MOU shall remain in force for a period of three years.

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Guyana fully compliant with drug conventions – AG assures INCB reps

SENIOR representatives from the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Dr Stefano Berterame and Dr Raul Martin-Del-Campo, met with Attorney General and Min-

formed the representatives of the INCB that Guyana’s legislative framework is in consonance with the drug control conventions namely, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, the

dertaken, with the help of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), an 8 million dollars (US) project which aims to bolster the criminal justice system. The project’s objective is to reduce the high concentration of prisoners in Guyana by reducing the use of pre-trial detention, employing the use of restorative

Attorney General, Basil Williams, with senior representatives from the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Dr Stefano Berterame and Dr Raul Martin-Del-Campo and other officials of the AG Chambers ister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams on Wednesday to discuss Guyana’s compliance with the international drug control conventions.

The meeting with the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs centred on the prosecution of drug offences, programmes for alternative sentencing and Guyana’s experience with combatting possession and trafficking of narcotics, the AG office said in a release.

According to the release, the Attorney General in-

Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971 and the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988.

He further stated that Guyana’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, Cap. 10:10 deals with possession, trafficking and cultivation of narcotics and related penalties. As it relates to alternative sentencing, the Attorney General stated that the Ministry of Legal Affairs has un-

justice and increasing the use of alternative sentencing.

The Attorney General further stated that the Government’s fight against the possession and trafficking of narcotics must be buttressed by securing our borders possibly by using drones.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Mr Charles Fung-a-Fatt, SC, Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Mrs Ananda Dhurjon, Legislative Drafting Consultant and Ms Joann Bond, Principal Parliamentary Counsel.

Four arrested

–– in Alberttown ‘ganja’ bust

RANKS of the Guyana Police Force’s Major Crimes Investigation Unit on Wednesday unearthed a whopping 125 pounds of compressed cannabis in an Alberttown house during a “sting operation”.

During the operation, which was conducted around 10:30hrs, four males who were in the Third and Albert Streets, Alberttown house at the time were taken into custody.

The compressed ‘ganja’ found Thursday in Alberttown

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Car kills cane cutter on Anna Catherina road

A 34-YEAR-OLD father of one was killed on Anna Catherina Public Road, West Coast Demerara after a Toyota motorcar, PVV 4420, crashed into him while he was riding his bicycle Wednesday.

The person who was allegedly driving the motorcar is in police custody assisting with investigations.

Dead is Winston Domingo, called “Buck”, a cane harvester of Anna Catherina.

Police said he was proceeding on a bicycle in the same direction of the vehicle when he was killed in the collision.

Investigations revealed that motorcar, PVV 4420, allegedly driven by a 20-yearold of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, was pro-

ceeding west along the southern driveway of the road, reportedly at a very fast rate, when its left side front collided with the rear of the victim’s bicycle.

This resulted in the cyclist crashing onto the car’s windscreen before landing on the road surface. The bicycle broke into two parts and Domingo’s leg was severed

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The car which crashed into the cyclist killing him almost instantly.(Photos by Rabindra Rooplall) from his body and there were multiple other injuries.

He was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital in an unconscious state and was pronounced dead on arrival.

His body is currently at the Ezekiel’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination on Friday. Police said a breathalyzer test was administered to the driver but no alcohol was found in his breath.

Neighbours of the cane harvester described him as an easygoing and quiet person who was the sole bread winner for his family. His wife Dianne Domingo who was in shock at her husband’s passing said she expects police to conduct a thorough investigation in order to bring the perpetrator to justice.

“He left home saying he going and buy a drink, and what people told me that were on the road is that the car that crashed into him was

Dead: Winston Domingo speeding,” she said.

Meanwhile, according to multiple sources at the scene of the accident, the car was being driven by a woman and after the accident occurred a man took over the driver seat.

Mother pleads for safe return of missing daughter THE mother of a missing 12-year-old girl is pleading for her safe return after she has been missing for over a month. Geeta Capeldeo of Block ‘X’ Cornelia Ida (C.I.), West Coast Demerara, went missing on November 4th.

Her mother Rookmin Ramdeo said her missing daughter is the youngest of her three children and the matter has been reported at the Leonora Police Station.

Neighbours said that the mother of the child has been searching relentlessly but without any success.

Anyone with information on the matter can contact the mother on 647 7716 or the nearest police station.

Missing: Geeta Capeldeo

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

Cuban robbed, wife raped in Kitty

A CUBAN businessman was robbed and his wife raped in their Kitty, Georgetown home in the wee hours of Thursday morning.

Seven armed men with masks forced their way into the property through a bedroom window. Reports indicate that the 49-year-old businessman and 34-year-old wife were robbed of electronic devices and US$8,000 and GYD $60,000 and four cell phones.

According to a police source, the couple lived at the bottom flat of a two-storey wooden and concrete building in Kitty.

The two-bedroom apartment was accessed by the bandits through the husband’s bedroom while he was asleep.

Upon hearing a noise, the businessman was confronted at gunpoint as the other suspects entered and ransacked the apartment.

His wife who occupied the next room was also held at gunpoint by one of the bandits. She was then raped.

The seven bandits all armed with handguns left through the front door.

The businessman’s wife was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was treated and sent away.

Gunman opens fire in Herstelling A 39-YEAR-OLD employee of the Ministry of Business and his 36-year-old wife who is an assistant clerk at Parliament Office were the victims of a drive-by shooting in the wee hours of Thursday morning.

The couple of Block ‘V’ Herstelling Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara live in a two-storeyed concrete structure, which is monitored by CCTV cameras.

Reports are that the couple was asleep when they were awakened by the sound of gunshots. Peering through their window, they reportedly saw a silver motor car driving away.

Police responded promptly and the couple’s white Toyota Axio motor car PWW 496 rear glass was shattered. Police recovered five .32 spent shells at the scene.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

Sonia Noel An Ambassador for Guyana

By Lisa Hamilton PROMINENT fashion designer, Sonia Noel, added yet another accolade to her collection, as the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders honoured her for celebrating 20 years in the Fashion industry.

Sponsoring the award is Freeholder President of Essex County, Britnee Timberlake, one of the youngest black Presidents in the United States in her capacity.

Giving awards to positive community groups, organisations and individuals is one of the many responsibilities of the District 3 Freeholder The award was delivered in person by Legislative Aide for Essex County, Ira Lewis, who said that the recognition is the highest that one can achieve in the state of Newark, New Jersey.

“For her to be able to get this recognition from Freeholder President, Britnee Timberlake, is outstanding,” Lewis told the Buzz.

“She had to be doing something outstanding because they normally don’t just give an award, they make sure they watch you, they follow you on social media, they go into your history before they decide to do a resolution like this.”

Noel was indeed handpicked, for when she visited the garden state in May to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Independence, Timberlake observed that she was a leader and an ambassador and therefore resolved to acknowledge the designer for her work.

Coming from a small-town with Amer-

Fashion Designer, Sonia Noel accepts award from the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders (from left) Legislative Aide for Essex County , Ira Lewis and Fashion Designer, Author, Dr. Sonia Noel (Photo by Delano Williams)

indian roots, Sonia Noel is described by the body as a passionate, industrious, creative artist with a fresh new-world perspective on style.

The fashion guru has over the years founded several organisations and initiatives including Women’s Association for Sustainable Development, Guyana Model Search Designer Portfolio, the Sonia Noel

A Creole Rock Christmas GAVIN Mendonca’s ‘Creole Rock SnowBall’ continues to grow as we roll into Christmas. The homebred Guyanese musician has released his second studio project – a four -song EP titled ‘Hung Up On Your Cross’ out of Kross Kolor Records.

The EP, although released for the Christmas Season, is not a typical Christmas record. While the songs are not directly aimed at Christmas, they revolve around the main themes of Christmas in Guyana: love, family, togetherness and tradition. The title and artwork of the EP play on the ‘Cross’ which is very symbolic during the season. For Gavin, he told The Buzz, that it represents all of his dreams and ambitions, which he will carry with him forever, not as burdens, but with Love.

The track list is as follows: 1. Hung Up On Your Cross. This is the title track of the EP. It’s about one of the main feelings that Christmas represents -

Love. It’s about the ultimate Christmas Gift - falling in Love with the girl of his dreams.

2. Refuse To Go. This song, which Gavin says is his favourite, is influenced by the iconic Guyanese Folk Song ‘Small Days’.

Gavin’s birthday happens to be Christmas Eve so Christmastime has always been extra special for him. This song is about always remembering the child inside, the original ‘you’; to know that you are never alone because he/she never left, but just grew up a bit.

3. Cause Is Christmas. This song has become a Guyanese Christmas favourite over the last few years, having first been featured on ‘Kross Kolor Records: Christmas With Us Vol. 2’ back in 2015. It is a festive song about Christmas in Guyana 4. How To Build A Tree House. This song is a bonus feature, and a sneak peek into Gavin’s next full length studio album (Creole Rock: Punks and Pirates) scheduled for release in April 2018. Not so long ago,

Foundation for Creative Arts, the Women in Business Expo and Guyana Fashion Week.

“For them to actually notice my work and to acknowledge something that I am doing, something that contributes positively to society, I’m ecstatic, I’m really ecstatic,” Noel expressed in acceptance of the award.

“I think this award is not only just for me but for people out there who are really trying

to make a difference in the world,” she said.

The philanthropist said that, although she has not yet achieved a quarter of the plans she has in store, she will continue to use the platform of fashion to inspire lives.

This period also marks the launch of Noel’s book, ‘Living with Intention’, a piece which intends to impart to readers: determination, faith, focus, self-discipline and consistency to make any goal a reality.

“A lot of people, I wouldn’t get to meet in person but I can still inspire them through my stories, through my work,” Sonia commented, “That’s why I don’t ask kids anymore ‘what do you want to be’ [I ask] What do you want to do? Because in the doing you become.”

Lewis, also a fellow Guyanese, recommended Noel’s new book and remarked that as the fashion designer continues to position her brand for international success, she simultaneously represents Guyana.

“We commend Sonia for everything that she’s doing because I think that she’s putting Guyana on the map, through her clothing, her designs, her passion and now with ‘Living with Intentions’, her book,” Lewis said proudly.

“As a young woman from Guyana and [she is] doing all these kinds of different designs and I think it’s well deserved for her to be recognised by the best.”

Noel accepted the accolade on Tuesday, 5 December at her ‘Makin’ Style Boutique’ at the Court Yard Mall on Robb Street, Georgetown.

Gavin Mendonca releases EP, ‘Hung Up On Your Cross’ Gavin spent a number of days at Kaieteur Falls where he filmed a music video for this song, which will be released in January of the New Year.

A music video for the title track is currently in production and will be released just before Christmas. For the video, Gavin partnered with Ransford Simon, who was the best graduating student of the Certificate Programme at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art in 2017. Ransford who is very skilled, helped Gavin to create a Music Video using a technique that has never been used in a Guyanese Production - Flip Art. The EP is currently available as a Digital Album only, and can be purchased right now for USD$4.99 by visiting www. creolerock.com/store. Gavin encourages everyone to support the local Creative Industry, and the artists who pour their hearts and souls into their work - not for big money, but for love and the satisfaction of accomplishing Dreams.

Winners galore!

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

National Drama Festival winners awarded

By Shirley Thomas AMIDST soaring excitement and deafening euphoria at the National Cultural Centre on Monday, the Winners of the National Drama Festival 2017 Awards were announced and literally millions of dollars – both in cash prizes and trophies were presented to the deserving participants.

Prizes were presented in three categories: Junior, Open Short and Open Full Length.

JUNIOR WINNERS In the Best Production category, three prizes were awarded: First Place was won by ‘Hidden Secrets’; Second place by ‘Daddy I am a Boy’ and third place by ‘Letters from Father’.

Overall, in the junior Category,‘Hidden Secrets’ swooped up four of the eight prizes up for grabs. While emerging winner of first place position in the Best Production category, it was also the sole winner in ‘Best Director’ category, won by Thowanie Thom; ‘Best use of lights’ and ‘Best use of sound’ and ‘Best Supporting Actress’, won by Shantel Mc Lean.

‘Daddy I am a Boy’.

Apart from winning second place position for the ‘Best Production’ category, ‘Daddy I am a Boy’ secured three other awards, amassing a total of four, namely: ‘Best New Guyanese Play’; ‘Best Actor’ won by Daniel Bissoon and ‘Best Supporting Actor’ won

by Troni Semple.

Meanwhile, the Junior ‘Best Performing Cast’ was won by ‘Next Door Neighbour’, while ‘Best Actress’ went to ‘Letters from Father’ and was received by Jemima Holmes.

OPEN SHORT In the Open Short Category, the popular ‘Black Clothes’ demonstrated its mettle by making a convincing sweep of nine of the

12 awards in that category. The prizes won were: First Prize for Best Production; ‘Best Costume’; ‘Best Set’; ‘Best use of lights’; ‘Best use of sound’; ‘Best Director’ which went to Sonia Yarde; ‘Best Actress which went to Marissa Ann Bonie; ‘Best Supporting Actor’ received by Sean Dudnah; and ‘Best Supporting Actress’ received by Martina HO A LIM. And still in the ‘Open Short’, rivals ‘Spit’ had to their credit the second place position in the ‘Best Production’ category, while chalking up three other trophies namely for: ‘Best Actor’ won by Leon Cummings; ‘Best Performing Cast’; and ‘Best New Guyanese Play’.

OPEN FULL LENGTH Meanwhile, in the ‘Open Full Length’ Kojo Mc Pherson winner of ‘Best Director’ Award for the Play ‘Children of Baby’, among other winning entries.

(Photos by Delano Williams)

All in glee! Kojo Mc Pherson and the winning Caste of ‘Children of Baby’

Category, ‘Children of Baby’ had a field day, winning six of the 12 prizes up for grabs. That entry claimed the first prize for Best Production, then went on the

Some of the winners of the National Drama Festival Awards 2017

win five others, namely: Best Director, Kojo Mc Pherson; Best Set; Best use of lights: Best use of sound; Best New Guyanese Play; and Best Supporting Actress which went to Kimberly Fernandes.

The other two top prizes for ‘Best Production’ in the Open Full-Length Category went to Benjie Darling (Second place) and Third place to ‘Woman In Law’ Other prize winners were: Benjie Darling winning ‘Best Costume’; ‘Best Performing Cast’; ‘Best Actor’, which went to Clinton Duncan and BEST Actress, going to Simone Dowding.

And the Open Full Length ‘Best Supporting Actor’ award was won by ‘Woman In Law’ and received by Rovindra Persaud.

In the Junior Category the Best Production received $450,000; The First Runner-Up received $250,000, while the second-runner-up received $150,000; and to the very talented writer of the ‘Best New Guyanese Play’ in the Junior Category received an award of $200,000.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

Mike Jordan’s ‘Kamarang’ The Journey in Guyanese Literature persists with excellence YOU want to give a book gift this Christmas? Then place Mike Jordan’s “Kamarang” novel on your list. It is a piece of local literature for adults that will grip you and take you to shadier places in Georgetown and the Gold-Bush through time frames of our social life from the 1960s to the 1980s. The story is introduced by the famous arson of the Ritz Hotel on High and Harel Streets, Werk-en-Rust in 1960. The main character is Michael Jones, a young Bruce Lee fitness fan. This is a novel I will describe with a foreign definition that I have localised.

This novel is a ‘Tropical Gothic’ and it takes the reader into that other Guyana that our imagination is engrossed in while we seek acceptable explanations in religion to shield our primordial fears and apprehensions, we fear and openly resent, and embrace at the same time, seeking never to explore broader possibilities in the untamed forests and remoteness of nature, as most of the Guyanese characters in the book are preoccupied doing.

The plot is grounded in the assertion of lore into the habits, pretensions and perceived harmless hunting grounds of lust, that are scorned as anti-upstanding adventures into the subterranean abodes of society, where dim lights, prostitutes and strange characters gather to explore, to forget and to hunt.

This novel enters the labyrinth of folklore and explores the hunt, only this time,man is the prey and the dominant force of the hunt matches human intellect and sensibilities with a lure that has damned our better judgment since the mythical dawn of our species. Its trap is set and its prey cannot conceive of our human world, where we are masters of everything that also, we can be the plaything,

the victim of that ‘other’ we want to regulate as ‘don’t exist’ despite the faculty of premonitions; that we seek to dismiss as God’s design error.

Mike throws a lot of elements into his first novel. He captures glimpses of the aches of a working-class youth in a specific political period; the latter I try to avoid because of the devastating effect our totally politicised media culture and aggression has had on our psyche and is having on creating a level economic playing field for diverse developments outside of the popular economic political priorities.

Which has led me to the potential of ‘Kamarang’ in respect to the national mechanism that should be able to facilitate the worth of this gripping Guyanese novel and advise through knowledgeable expertise toward another economic level, for even if the author comes into a contract with a private investor, who theoretically would be inspired by a cordial exchange mechanism for any area of the Arts directed first at our CARICOM area.

This was the idea that launched CARIFESTA, to enhance talents into Industry, this was also the idea behind the present National TV station, to make local films and it did. But the bureaucrats that inherited that brilliant concept allowed it as the song lamented to fall beneath their intellect like “a stone upon the water” and so it never kicked off to fill the void that has existed forever, Nothing presently exists in Guyana, and again no work has been done by CARICOM toward a viable exchange of movie, books or T-Shirt design products to even encourage [to assure a return of investment funds] among talents in member states which should be done because of the small populations we have.

But that I am preaching this, in the review

‘Big Red’ makes big strides

By Michel Outridge MICHELLE King called “Big Red” continues to make strides both on the local and international stages performing alongside overseas artistes which has given her that extra pep for self-motivation in reaching her goals.

Recently, she was in Canada where she performed in the Guyanese Caribana Extravanza Show singing with Carl Brown and others. The show was deemed a success by critics and attendees.

Big Red also attended the funeral of Guyanese-born artist ‘High Water’ who passed away the day after King arrived in Canada.

He sang songs such as “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” and was a very gifted musician who will be remembered for his love of music.

King, a mother of two, also went to Barbados last month to perform for the Hurricane

Relief Concert which was titled “I am my brothers’ and sisters’ keepers”. The stage was also graced by the presence of Allison Hinds, Freddy McGreggor, David Rudder, Queen Ifrica and many others.

“For me, performing with these renowned artistes was truly an inspiration,” Big Red told The Buzz, adding that it was the first time meeting some of the artists and that it was a really good experience.

King was in high praise for the organiser Orlando Newtown and Guyanese-born gospel singer Roseman Forde for ensuring she was there.

For Mashramani 2018 “Big Red” will be launching a new upbeat soca song titled “Pressure” which she plans on entering in the Road March competition.

Her last song for Mashramani was “Not at all” and she is now working on the video for this song. Big Red also performed at D’urTurn to page 26 ► ban Park for the

of the latest work is significant to clarify the status of the Arts as Industry, and there are other adjoining concerns that have to be investigated that have occurred over the years proposing to be in our interest, that exist under serious question marks.

‘Kamarang’ is a must buy; not to be borrowed, but to be owned, with the way local self-publishing projects go when this published run ceases to exist. The author will most likely be gathering his creative and economic forces for his next project, that there are no National Deposit of Published local books in a collection for sale in any location except for Austin’s Book Services. Mike dabbles with the myriad buried inheritances of the Guyanese soul, yes we are a complete composite of many nations, and as the pages of ‘Kamarang’ unfold. We may have inherited not only physical gifts

but ancient feuds and lurking vendettas.

From the diverse tribal nations that came here from Africa through slavery, the same for the Amerindians and Europeans and the contentious caste cultures of the Indians all despite our pretentions have mingled, many secretly, but all profoundly, so all are rooted in ancient rites and rituals, psychological belief imaginations that we pray in a quiet sanctuary of our minds that such things, creatures and powers do not exist. But, suppose, as ‘Kamarang’ beckons, their presence exists and unfortunately you are having the experience to prove it?

So enjoy ‘Kamarang’ folks, recognise that the incentive of the dire unknown always comes from time immemorial within the heated tentacles of the passions of fiery lust, do read, and enjoy Mike Jordan’s ‘Kamarang’.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017 IT'S that time of the year again and the Christmas themed parties have already begun to roll out! And since Christmas is all about family you can expect a little something for the adults and a little something for the kids. In one case, there is even a little something for the pets!

The Theatre Guild is having a Christmas fair and fun day on Saturday, and you can expect some poetry to go along with it. Meanwhile, Banks DIH's Santa Enchanted Village starts on Saturday and runs until Sunday and will be the perfect opportunity for the kids to meet Santa and have some great family fun.

On Sunday there’s a Christmas themed pet show at the Bourda Ground, and if you think your pet has what it takes, then you could head down and enter them in any of the competitions they will have. Even if you don’t have a pet, it sure sounds like something fun to do.

To get things started from tonight Pulse Entertainment is adding some mistletoes to the party, and they dare you to pucker up!

Today Start the weekend off at Club Privilege. EVERYBODY FREE ALL NIGHT!!!!! It's Fire Fridays featuring live from Trinidad PStar Perry. The Heineken Girls will also be on site! Enjoy Heineken Bucket specials and platter specials.

Island Style Café and Juice Bar (Sleepin Poolside Bar) present Karaoke Fridays with Dj Don & MarQ! You request it so they’re doing their best to perform it, or you can take the mic and just do your own thing!

Pucker those lips for that special kiss under the mistletoe as Pulse Entertainment presents “Mistletoe and Margaritas” at District Ultra Lounge! Get into the spirit of Christmas with festive décor and special cocktails that will surely bring the joy!

Enjoy the jolly vibes by the most exciting DJs this season – DJ Shizzle, DJ Energy & DJ Ryan! Everyone free before 22:00hrs!

It’s “One Man Fridays” at 704 Sports Bar from 16:00hrs with Love Vibration One Man Band and DJ Tallest Tomorrow King Bubba and DJ Smooth return to Palm Court to set things "propah" as we get geared up for an event filled December. Live DJ entertainment by DJ Ryan, DJ Anisah and Selector Diamond! Presold Tickets are $2000 and end today. Tickets will be sold at $3000 from tomorrow!

The Theatre Guild presents “Jingle All the Way” Christmas Fair and Fun Day! Enjoy the Christmas Tree Light Up and Concert. Experience Poetry Slam Competition, a night of fashion, steel pan and jazz. Doors open from 10:00hrs! Admission: $500 (Adults), $200 (Children) Come out to Santa's Enchanted Christmas Village at Demerara Park on December 9 and 10 beginning 15:00hrs daily! There will be entertaining Games, Face Painting, Bouncy Castle, Story Telling and Trampolines. Every child receives a Tastee Snack upon entry. Tickets are sold at the venue. Tickets: $500 (An additional $500 to see Santa and to receive a gift is an additional $500) Hits and Jams and Second Round Entertainment presents “Black is Unique” all black party at Pouderyen Tarmac!

Sunday Pawsome Pets-Guyana presents “Santa Paws is Coming to Town” Pet Show at the GCC Bourda Ground! It’s going to be a fun-filled day for your pets, family and friends. Enter your pet in fun competitions or encourage others from the crowd! Enjoy educational talks from qualified guest speakers, while the canine unit will also give a display on obedience training! Pets from the GSPCA will also be on site and up for adoption!! Admission: FREE ($500 per category to enter the competition) Three Parks Initiative presents “Garden Rhythms" - An Afternoon of Music and Family Fun” at the Botannical Gardens. Bring your friends and family down to the Botanical Gardens for an afternoon of music and family fun!

‘Big Red’ makes...

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Hurricane Relief Concert in which many local artistes such as Natural Black, Vanilla and the sensational Patrice Roberts were also in attendance.

King is aiming high in terms of expanding her music career and she says wherever it takes her she is willing to go and credits her success in being a believer of the Almighty.

Presently, she is doing a collaboration with Natural Black at Vizion Sounds Recording Studio and that song will make the local airwaves shortly.

King is all set to sing alongside her son Jonathan King called “Lil Red” who has many songs such as “Pumping Higher”, “Smash up de place” “Hold me tight” and “Never stop”.

This talented singer who is known for belting out mostly up-tempo soca songs also performed at the Bacchanal Wednesday show titled “Music in my heart” with Machel Montano, Destra Garcia, Allison Hinds, Swappi, Freezy and others here in Guyana recently.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

World Cup 2018

Ronaldo wins fifth Ballon d’Or to equal Messi PARIS, France (Reuters) Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded the Ballon d‘Or for world player-ofthe-year yesterday for a joint-record fifth time, going level with eternal rival and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi as the player to have won the prize the most times.

The Real Madrid forward won the award, handed out by magazine France Football, for the second consecutive year having led his side to the La Liga title with 25 goals and a successive Champions League crown, netting 12 goals including two in the 4-1 win over Juventus in the final.

Ronaldo collected the trophy in a glitzy ceremony at the Eiffel Tower in the French capital, presented by former France player David Ginola.

“I feel very happy, it’s a fantastic moment in my career,” Ronaldo said upon collecting the award, standing with his mother Maria Dolores and his oldest son Cristiano Jr.

”I’ve waited a long time for this. This has been a stupendous year for me; we won the Champions League and La Liga and on a personal level I was top scorer in the Champions League.

“Trophies help me win prizes like this and I have to thank my team mates at Madrid and Portugal. They’ve been very important to me.”

Messi came second while Paris St Germain forward Neymar Jr, the most expensive player in the world, came third; veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon finished fourth and Real midfielder Luka Modric came fifth.

Chelsea and France midfielder N‘Golo Kante was the highest-ranked Premier League player, coming eighth, while Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane, ranked 10th, was the only English player to make it into the top 10.

Ronaldo, who this year also helped the national side qualify for the World Cup in Russia next year, won his

first Ballon d‘Or in 2008 while with Manchester United and collected it again in 2013, 2014 and 2016.

The 32-year-old was last month named the Best FIFA Men’s Player in the global soccer body’s own awards ceremony.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez joined Ronaldo on stage and paid tribute to the Portuguese, who he said was the best player of all-time alongside the late Real great Alfredo di Stefano.

“This fifth Ballon d‘Or is a great honour and a great achievement for the club and Real Madrid fans around the world. Cristiano is the best player in the world. He represents the values of Real Madrid. Cristiano is the best player in history along with Di Stefano; he is his heir,” Perez said.

The Ballon d‘Or was first awarded in 1956 and was partnered with FIFA from 2010 to 2015, until becoming its own entity once again.

Permaul’s 24th ...

through.

But, a double bowling change eventually provided the first wicket when Smith, who is the leading run-scorer this season, edged one from Rutherford to wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble to place the visitors at 26-1.

Taryck Gabriel contributed just four runs to the visitors’ score before he pulled a long hop from Permaul to mid-on while Miles Bascombe was bowled without scoring on the stroke of

lunch, at 55-3.

Theophile, who was dropped on seven when substitute fielder Romario Shepherd put down a difficult chance at cover, survived the session, and was unbeaten on 26 at lunch.

After the interval, Permaul maintained his stranglehold on the Volcanoes’ batting lineup, trapping Theophile leg-before-wicket.

Paul then had Donwell Hector (10) while Rutherford removed Roland Cato (1), caught at the wicket to set the final slide in motion.

Things went further downhill for the visitors when Permaul bowled Kyle Mayers for one.

Smith and Shane Shillingford (12) then added

Continued from back page

33 for the eight-wicket before Motie trapped Shillingford plumb in front.

Permaul then completed his five-wicket haul with the final wicket of Delorn Johnson.

The two Guyanese lefthanders then made a cautious start, but as the innings progressed Hemraj stroked six elegant boundaries before he was bowled by medium pacer Shermon Lewis for 29.

Lewis then removed Johnson, caught at the wicket for four, but Singh and young Chanderpaul kept the visitors at bay when play ended with five overs remaining.

P l a y re s u m e s t h i s morning at 09:30hrs.

SCOREBOARD

WINDWARD ISLANDS Volcanoes 1st innings D. Smith c wkp. Bramble b Rutherford 16 T. Theophile lbw b Permaul 33 T. Gabriel c Motie b Permaul 5 M. Bascombe b Permaul 0 R. Cato c wkp. Bramble b Rutherford 10 D. Hector lbw b Paul 1 K. Mayers b Permaul 1 D. Smith c wkp. Bramble b Motie 20 S. Shillingford lbw b Motie 12 D. Johnson c Johnson b Permaul 6 S. Lewis not out 0 Extras: (nb-8, lb-6) 14 Total: (all out, 54.3 overs) 117 Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-50, 3-55, 4-71, 5-72, 6-75, 7-75, 8-108,

9-117.

Bowling: Joseph 6-2-14-0, Paul 11-3-19-1, Permaul 21.3-5-40-5, Rutherford 10-2-27-2, Motie 6-1-11-2 GUYANA JAGUARS 1st innings T. Chanderpaul not out 27 C. Hemraj b Lewis 29 L. Johnson c wkp. Smith b Lewis 4 V. Singh not out 7 Extras: (nb-6, b-4, lb-1) 11 Total: (for two wickets, 30 overs) 78 Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-63.

Bowling: Lewis 8-3-32-2, Johnson 8-5-7-0, Mayers 12-4-33-0, Shillingford 2-1-1-0.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

Messi demands Argentina improvement ahead of World Cup

By Joseph Cassinelli MADRID, Spain (Reuters) - Argentina captain Lionel Messi believes they need to improve if they are to stand a chance of winning next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Argentina, who reached the final in 2014, struggled during qualification for Russia, going through three coaches before securing their place at the tournament thanks to a Messi hat-trick in a 3-1 win away to Ecuador in the final qualifier.

Messi’s side will kick off their World Cup campaign against Iceland on June 16, before facing Croatia and Nigeria in their other group stage fixtures.

Next year’s tournament may be the last chance for

the 30-year-old Messi to win a major trophy with Argentina and the Barcelona forward says they need to make changes in order to overcome more fancied countries.

Lionel Messi

“We had a difficult time (in qualifying), but we had our moments,” Messi told TyC Sports.

“But it’s true that we need

to improve if we want to be world champions. Right now we’re not far off, but there are better sides such as Brazil, Germany, France and Spain.”

As well as losing to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, Argentina were also defeated by Chile in successive Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016.

Messi, however, believes they should have celebrated at least two victories.

“I never went back over the finals (we lost). We deserved to win them, despite not playing that well we still had the best chances, both in the World Cup and Copa America,” he said.

“I’d have to watch them again to see what we didn’t get right in order not to win

them, but right here I believe they we should have won at least two of them.”

Messi and his team mates have had a tumultuous relationship with the Argentine media boycotting them 12-months ago, due to what the national team perceived as unfair treatment.

He said that media criticism has created a culture of fear within the squad.

“Criticism went above and beyond what is normal and became personal,” he said.

“The bitterness we feel is because we know what’s coming if things don’t go well for us. People want results and if they don’t get them, they want to see fresh blood. We don’t feel that way.”

Stokes and Hales named in England one-day squad for Australia LONDON, England (Reuters) - Ben Stokes has been included in England’s oneday squad for the five-match series in Australia despite being under suspension.

Ben Stokes

Stokes is currently unable to play for his country pending a decision on whether to charge him in connection with an altercation outside a Bristol nightclub in September.

But he has been named in the 16-man squad for the ODI series starting next month after selectors were given “clear guidance to name their strongest squad”.

He is joined by Alex Hales, who was also suspended after the Bristol incident but has since been told he can play for England after police confirmed he would not face criminal charges.

Both players could yet face disciplinary action by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

But with Stokes’ situation still not determined, he may not feature in the five-match one-day series, let alone the current Ashes series.

The England all-rounder is currently in New Zealand, where he is playing for Can-

terbury after being granted dispensation by the ECB. With no decision yet made

Alex Hales

on whether to prosecute him, his chances of featuring in the Ashes, which has three Tests remaining, are diminishing.

“Should the ECB Board receive formal confirmation that Ben Stokes has either been charged or that he will

face no charges, they would convene within 48 hours to make a decision on his availability for the team at that stage,” the ECB said.

Also in the one-day squad are Kent batsman Sam Billings and Yorkshire’s David Willey, who is selected ahead of Essex’s Ravi Bopara.

The first one-day international is in Melbourne on January 14.

England squad: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) (capt.), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Tom Curran (Surrey), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), David Willey (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

Afghanistan wicketkeeper Shahzad gets 12-month doping ban

(REUTERS) - Afghanistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad has been banned for 12 months after inadvertently ingesting a prohibited substance, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday.

The 29-year-old underwent an out-of-competition test in Dubai in January and his sample was found to contain clenbuterol, classified as a non-specified substance under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List.

Clenbuterol, used by sufferers of breathing disorders such as asthma, is banned in and out-of-competition.

Afghanistan wicketkeeper Shahzad gets 12-month doping ban.

Shahzad pleaded guilty to the violation and the ICC accepted he had “inadvertently ingested the substance as a contaminant of a weight loss product he was taking, Hydroxycut”, the governing body said in a statement on its website. (www.icc-cricket. com) The ban has been backdated to his sample collection on January 17, 2017 and he can return to cricket on January 17, 2018.

“Today’s announcement reminds all international cricketers that they remain personally responsible for ensuring that anything they

eat, drink or put into their bodies does not result in an anti-doping rule violation,” ICC General Manager – Cricket, Geoff Allardice said. ”It further serves as a reminder to all international cricketers of the dangers and risks associated with taking supplements.

“Before thinking about taking a supplement, cricketers should weigh up the risks and dangers of doing so and should fully research the supplement in question so they can make an informed decision.” Shahzad has played 58 one-day internationals and 58 T20s for Afghanistan.

Two days of workplace dominoes and tapeball competition

AS the Foreign Ministry Sports Team continues to promote social cohesiveness within the workplace an Inter-Ministries/Workplace knockout dominoes competition has been set for this afternoon, while there will be a knockout tapeball cricket competition.

The dominoes competition will be held at the Ministry of Business’ parking lot in Charlotte Street beginning 16:30hrs.

Teams have until 15:30hrs today to enter, with the Ministry of Business trophy and cash incentives for the winning and runner-up teams.

The tape ball competition will be held at the National Cultural Centre tarmac beginning at 09:00hrs. At stake will be trophies, medals and cash incentives.

Teams can enter by contacting the events coordinator ‘Father’ James Lewis on 672-6179, 628-1656, 666-5857.

Moeen to captain England XI in Ashes tour match

Moeen Ali will captain an England XI in a two-day warmup match against a Cricket Australia XI ahead of the third Ashes Test in Perth.

Moeen headlines the 12-man England squad for the Perth clash, starting on Saturday, with the all-rounder the only player from the 11 who suffered a 120-run loss to Australia at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday set to feature.

The England XI includes five players who did not take to the field in the day-night match in Adelaide – Jake Ball, Gary Balance, Ben Foakes, Mason Crane and Tom Curran.

Paceman Ball was involved in England’s 10-wicket rout against Australia in the Ashes Opener but he made way for Test debutant Craig Overton for the Adelaide contest, while Crane was also in the mix but missed out.

The remainder of the side is made up of six players from the England Lions – Ben Duckett, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood.

Ashes spots could be up for grabs at Richardson Park with England trailing Australia 2-0 heading into the Perth Test, starting on December 14.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday December 08, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Bruce Taylor-27 wickets (2) Glen Turner-672 runs Today’s Quiz: (1) How many ‘ducks’ were registered by the WI players in the first innings of the first Test of the current WI/NZ series?

(2) Who made their debuts in the first Test of the current WI/ NZ series?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

South Georgetown savour their second place

By Tamica Garnett

AS far back as the 1990s, the Upper Demerara/Kwakwani and North Georgetown districts have been in a back-and-forth exchange

And second place at Nationals may never have been so celebrated, as it was last Friday, when South Georgetown (District 13) were officially declared in second place behind Upper Demerara/Kwakwani

merriment.

It was the first time that the team had finished so high among the 15 Districts that took part in the Championships.

The second place was

South Georgetown (District 13) at the National Schools Championships opening ceremony. (Samuel Maughn photo)

of first- and second-place at the National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track & Field Championships (Nationals).

However, this year when the competition concluded, ,North slipped to third and for the first time in over a decade a new district climbed into second place.

at Nationals, edging out North Georgetown by just one point.

Last Friday night, as the yellow and black team took a few victory laps around the track, they were jubilantly joined by the frolicking grey and red-clad athletes of the South Georgetown, who had also broken out into similar

Former Essequibo captain Dinesh Joseph hospitalised

FORMER Essequibo senior inter-county captain Dinesh Joseph has been hospitalised having sustained injuries to his leg.

The elegant right-handed batsman, one of only five inter-county centurions, has been suffering from the injury for a prolonged period which led to one of his leg becoming infected.

He was initially hospitalised at the Suddie Public Hospital last Tuesday, but was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital after it was disclosed that he may need surgery.

Joseph is arguably Essequibo’s finest batsman of any generation.

Recently in an interview with Chronicle Sport, he had expressed the desire to become a mentor and share his experience with promising cricketers in the county as well as in schools.

Dinesh Joseph

During his career, he scored over thirty club centuries including a double at the inter-committee level against North Essequibo - a feat that remains unchallenged.

He also featured regularly at senior national trials and many felt that he should have been selected in the national team after consistently scoring heavily at the inter-county level as an opening batsman.

achieved as a result of constant improvements by the District over the past few years - a marked development for the team who had finished tenth five years ago.

Things only got better from there. After being fifth in 2015, the team climbed to third place last year, and

actually entered this year’s competition gunning for the win. Fortunately they had quite a strong team to back up their hopes.

It was thanks, of course, to a combination of strong

a bitter-sweet one for him.

“We’re happy but sad at the same time that we didn’t achieve the optimum goal.

It’s the first time that the District would have attained that position; so it’s great for the

last year, South dipped to fourth place this year.

“In the teachers’ championships we were very disappointed because that was the only area that we fell down in.

We had some stumbling blocks

The South Georgetown team celebrate their second place win last Friday night. (Delano Williams photo)

performances in all the events of the multi-sport. The District finished third in track and field, third in swimming, third in cycling and fourth in the teachers’ competition.

However, for District head Leon Bishop, as happy as he is now about the second place finish, the triumph was more of

team but we were looking for the Champions of Champions trophy,” Bishop said.

Bishop noted that for the most part the team performed as was expected, but it was in the teachers’ competition that they fell short.

After finishing second place in the teachers’ competition

- some teachers were required to be at University exams and college exams - so we couldn’t do anything about that,” Bishop explained.

Nonetheless, he is already looking forward to next year with high hopes of seeing the red and grey team hoisting the coveted trophy.

Simon heads Interim Management Committee for Reliance Sports Club AFTER years of dormancy, the Reliance Sports Club in Central Essequibo was recently resuscitated and an interim body elected.

This was greatly facilitated by former Essequibo Under-19 inter-county player and overseas-based Ravendra Mandolall who is also a member of the club.

On his last visit to Guyana, Mandolall suggested that a committee be installed to reintegrate present and former members as a means of reactivating the club and developing the Reliance Sports ground which had remained unplayable for a lengthy period of time.

Following a recent meeting, Travis Simon was elected Chairman, with the Committee comprising members from both the youth and Over-40 teams.

The Reliance Sports Club is renowned for producing some of the best players from Essequibo, including Alfred Maycock, Rovindra Mandolall, the late Shivnandan Mandolall

Travis Simon

and Balchand Shivambar, Narendra Mandolall, Lawrence Farnum, Clain Williams, Ryan Amsterdam and Rovendra Parasram.

Meanwhile, the Committee has already begun its work with the filling of dirt and the grading of the ground which has been completed.

The facility is now playable and a competition is currently ongoing among teams from Reliance, Cotton Field and Bush Lot. The Chairman has since expressed his appreciation with the support including from the Anna Regina Town Council.

The next major event scheduled for the ground will be the hosting of the Shivnandan Mandolall memorial competition which has become an annual feature in memory of the former national Youth Player who died at the age of 31.

The Club will also seek to register with the North Essequibo Cricket Committee to compete in next season’s competitions. (Elroy Stephney)

34

Brooks, Moseley give Barbados Pride strong start on opening day Pride skipper Shamarh Brooks hit 79 with nine fours and three sixes from 160 balls

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Half-centuries from their captain S h a m a r h B ro o k s a n d rookie left-handed opener Shayne Moseley gave Barbados Pride a strong start in their return match against Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the Regional 4-Day Championship yesterday.

Brooks made 79 and Moseley was unbeaten on 70, as the Pride reached 174 for two in their first innings at the close, after they were sent in to bat on the rain-hit first day

of their sixth-round match at Warner Park.

Brooks and Moseley shared 168 for the second wicket to help the visitors quickly erase the bad memories of the second-round contest at Kensington Oval in Barbados, where the Hurricanes blew them away in two days.

Unlike that previous match, when the pace bowlers led the demolition, Hurricanes captain Rahkeem Cornwall has been the sole wicket-taker so far, grabbing 2-58 from 25 overs, including

the prized scalp of Brooks, his West Indies ‘A’ Team ‘Test’ captain.

After the start was delayed until after the scheduled lunch interval, Pride lost left-handed opener Anthony Alleyne lbw to Cornwall for 21 in the 12th over.

Pride were 36 for one, but the languid Brooks came to the crease and gave a spark to the batting with Moseley, as they carried the Pride to tea at 77 for one.

After the break, they continued merrily to pass their respective landmarks and

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

Brooks had struck nine fours and three sixes from 160 balls when he fell to Cornwall in the closing stages of the day.

Moseley has so far struck nine fours from 225 balls and carried the Pride through to the close with fellow lefthander Jonathan Carter, not out on two.

Pride made just one change to their line-up, bringing Antigua & Barbuda-born leg-spin bowler Hayden Walsh Jr in to replace departing West Indies One-day off-spinner Ashley Nurse.

Hurricanes have brought in Nkrumah Bonner and Gavin Tonge to replace Shane Burton and Elvin Berridge.

Neither side has earned any points yet – Hurricanes are fourth in the standings on 49.6 and Pride are fifth on 48 points.

Ireland beat Afghanistan to set up decider

SCOREBOARD

BARBADOS PRIDE 1st innings A. Alleyne lbw b Cornwall 21 S. Moseley not out 70 S. Brooks c Thomas b Cornwall 79 J. Carter not out 2 Extras: (nb-2) 2 Total: (2 wkts, 70 overs) 174 Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-168.

Bowling: Tonge 12-2-34-0 (nb1), Louis 13-3-36-0 (nb-1), Cornwall 25-8-58-2, S. Berridge 9-3-18-0, Warde 8-3-19-0, Bonner 1-0-4-0, Thomas 2-1-5-0.

HURRICANES: M. Hodge, C. Hughes, A. Saunders, D. Thomas, N. Bonner, +J. Hamilton, *R. Cornwall, T. Warde, J. Louis, G. Tonge, S. Berridge

Paul Stirling

IRELAND squared their one-day series against Afghanistan and set up Sunday’s decider by earning a superb 51-run win in yesterday’s second game in Sharjah.

After Tuesday’s 138-

Campbell, Green combine to bowl out Red Force for 243 on Day One KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – John Campbell and Derval Green proved Jamaica Scorpions had little reason for concern at the loss of inspirational captain and champion leftarm spinner Nikita Miller in their return match against Trinidad & Tobago Red Force in the Regional 4-Day Championship yesterday.

Campbell grabbed 4-40 from 17.5 overs with his flighty, part-time off-spin and fast-medium bowler Green snared 4-45 from 19 overs, as the Red Force were bowled out for 243 in their first innings, about half-hour prior to the close on the opening day of their sixthround match at Sabina Park.

The Scorpions entered the match concerned about losing Miller, whose 23 wickets and stubborn lower-order batting in the last two matches had sparked their revival.

He flies out of the Caribbean this week destined for New Zealand, where he will be a part of the West Indies One-day International squad for a three-match series

against the hosts.

But Campbell and Green eased worries about the bowling, as Jeremy Solozano hit the top score of 62 for the Red Force, Ewart Nicholson supported with 50, Amir Jangoo made 39 and Tion Webser added 29 before they folded.

Campbell returned to finish not out on 14 and fellow left-handed opener Trevon Griffith was not out on two, as the Scorpions reached 16 without loss when stumps were drawn in fading light.

Red Force started solidly with Jangoo and Solozano sharing 71 for the first wicket, but the visitors stumbled to 110 for two at lunch.

Jangoo was lbw to leg-spinner Damion Jacobs and fellow left-hander Yannic Cariah was caught close to the wicket off Campbell for 14 in the final half-hour before lunch.

After the interval, the Scorpions bowlers made scoring a little more difficult and the resulting pressure saw the Red Force reach 188 for five at tea.

Ewart Nicholson came to the crease and roughed up the Scorpions’ bowling in-between periods of circumspect batting, ushering Solozano to his 50 from 103 balls before he brought up his own landmark from just 64 balls.

later, off the same bowler, who also had Solozano caught in the slips three overs later.

Nicholson struck four fours and two sixes from 65 balls and Solozano cracked seven fours from 148 balls.

After tea, there was token resistance from the rest of the Red Force batting, as Green and Campbell worked their way through the tail and tightened the Scorpions’ grip.

Red Force made two changes, bringing Solozano and Nicholson in to replace departing West Indies One-

day pair of Kyle Hope and Jason Mohammed.

Scorpions have brought wicketkeeper/batsman Aldaine Thomas and former West Indies Under-19 World Cup-winning fast-medium bowler Odean Smith in to replace struggling former United States captain Steven Taylor and Miller.

Red Force – entering the match second on 61.8 points – earned just one batting point, but Scorpions – starting third on 55 points – added three bowling points and one pace bowling point.

SCOREBOARD

Part time off-spinner John Campbell grabs 4-40 from 17.5 overs.

He added 73 for the third wicket with Solozano before he was caught behind off Green from the next delivery he faced, triggering a mini-collapse that saw Red Force captain Denesh Ramdin caught behind four overs

RED FORCE 1st innings A. Jangoo lbw b Jacobs 39 J. Solozano c King b Green 62 Y. Cariah c Palmer b Campbell 14 E. Nicholson c wkp. Thomas b Green 50 D. Ramdin c wkp. Thomas b Green 6 T. Webster c Jacobs b Campbell 29 R. Primus b Green 8 I. Khan c wkp. Thomas b Smith 5 K. Pierre b Campbell 12 D. St Clair c Leveridge b Campbell 8 B. Charles not out 2 Extras: (lb-2, w-3, nb-3) 8 Total: (All out, 82.5 overs) 243 Fall of wickets: 1-71, 2-94, 3-167, 4-175, 5-176, 6-190, 7-216, 8-224,

9-232.

Bowling: Green 19-5-45-4 (nb-1, w-1), Leveridge 8-0-29-0 (w-1), Smith 8.1-2-22-1 (nb-1, w-1), Campbell 17.5-8-40-4, Jacobs 27-4-90-1 (nb-1), Allen 2-0-12-0, King 0.5-0-3-0.

SCORPIONS 1st innings J. Campbell not out 14 T. Griffith not out 2 Total: (without loss, 5 overs) 16 Bowling: Primus 1-1-0-0, St Clair 1-0-9-0, Charles 2-0-6-0, Khan 1-0-1-0.

Position: Scorpions trail by 227 with all first innings wickets standing.

run hammering, the Irish responded well as Paul Stirling’s 82 and George Dockrell’s vital late unbeaten 62 helped them reach 271-9.

Barry McCarthy took five Afghan wickets in an impressive Irish bowling display.

Peter Chase dismissed Afghan dangerman Mohammad Nabi as opener Javed Ahmadi top-scored with 48.

S e a m e r M c C a r t h y ’s figures were a career best 5-46 with Dockrell and Tim Murtagh also taking wickets before Chase’s run-out of Mujeeb Zadran completed Ireland’s win.

Ireland looked well placed to record a solid total as Stirling put on 115 for the opening wicket with skipper William Porterfield (47).

Stirling’s 96-ball 82 included eight fours and a six but Dockrell’s 62 not out was just as important as he steadied the Irish innings after they had slipped to 188-6.

None of the Afghanistan batsmen capitalised on good starts with Rahmat Shah (32), Mohammad Nabi (29) and Nasir Jamal (25) also losing wickets after getting well set.

McCarthy, whose previous best of 4-59 also came against Afghanistan at Belfast last year, sparked a collapse which saw Afghanistan lose their last six wickets for a mere 38 runs.

Both teams are using the series as preparation for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in March 2018.

(BBC Sport)

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 8, 2017

Pacesetters remain unbeaten behind Gillis’ shooting … Half Mile Bulls bounce back

BEHIND the shooting of Stephan Gillis, Pacesetters chalked their second win in this year’s Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) National Club Championships, with an entertaining 7468 victory over Plaisance Guardians, when the tournament continued on Wednesday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with a double-header.

Half Mile Bulls rebounded from their 94-55 opening night’s loss to Bounty Colts, and emerged 81-53 winners over Rose Hall Jammers, thanks to a ‘double-double’ (31 points, 10 rebounds) performance

by Michael Turner.

Coming into the game, Rose Hall Jammers had the perfect start in the tournament when they came out 64-60 winners over Ravens and were hoping to carry over their sensational play in the showdown with the Linden side (Bulls).

However, the Bulls came to Georgetown ready to play and were led by Turner’s ‘two-way’ game and the shooting of Terron Welch.

Welch, who ended the game with 20 points, scorched the Jammers in the first half, leading the Bulls to a 23-14 first peri-

od score, and 46-22 at the end of the first half.

Combining for 51 on the night, Turner and

Michael King, who was the Berbice team’s best performer on the night, fought hard for

Meanwhile, the night’s second game was entertaining from the first toss of the ball, despite Pace-

riod) to enter the second half still trailing 26-36.

Power forward Trenton Woolford (15) and

had a 24-point quarter, as compared to the winning side’s 22, it was not enough to see them pick up

Nathan Saul goes up against two Plaisance Guardians defenders, during his 18-point game performance on Wednesday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Pacesetters’ Stephan Gillis scores one of his four three-pointers on the night against Guardians.

Welch rallied the Bulls to a great third quarter, where they out-scored the Jammers 23-14, to head into the final stanza leading 69-36.

his 12 points and the Bulls in the fourth quarter had already taken their feet off the pedal as they cruised to a well-deserved win.

setters being in control throughout the night.

With Gillis and emerging star Nathan Saul causing trouble in the back court for the Junior Hercules-coached Guardians, Pacesetters raced to a 20-8 lead in the first quarter but the Plaisance team rebounded well in the second (pe-

point guard Colwin Nurse (13), along with the lanky Akeem Crandon (13) tried valiantly to keep the Guardians in the game upon the resumption of the second half, but Gillis and Saul had already found a groove.

Pacesetters led 54-40 at the start of the final quarter and though the Guardians

their first win, having lost 59-82 to Victory Valley Royals on night one.

The tournament will continue tonight, with a Linden invasion, when Bounty Colts take on Amelia’s Ward Jets from 19:00hrs and Victory Valley Royals oppose Retrieve Raiders in the second game.

Brathwaite set to lead Windies in second Test against the Black Caps HAMILTON, New Zealand (CMC) – Assistant coach Roddy Estwick believes Kraigg Brathwaite will acquit himself well, when he takes over as West Indies captain for the second Test against the Black Caps starting here tomorrow.

The 25-year-old, the side’s vice-captain for over a year, was forced into the breach after regular skipper Jason Holder was suspended by the International Cricket Council for the upcoming match, following an over-rate offence in the just-concluded Wellington Test.

Estwick, who has overseen Brathwaite’s development from a young age, said his fellow Barbadian possessed all the qualities necessary for leadership.

“Leadership is not any-

thing new to Kraigg. Obviously I’ve known him from a little boy at Combermere (secondary school) and he’s captained right through school at Combermere,” Estwick said.

“He was Barbados Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 (captain) and West Indies Under-19 captain to the World Cup; so it’s nothing new to him. It’s something I would say he’s

The 25-year-old Kraigg Brathwaite has been West Indies vice-captain for over a year.

been groomed for.

“It’s unfortunate the way he’s got the captaincy for this match but we’ve got to put that behind us.

We’ve got to support him, we’ve got to help him, we’ve got to rally around him and we’ve got to go out and play good positive cricket.”

Brathwaite was one of the few bright spots from the opening Test at the Basin Reserve last weekend which the Windies lost by an innings and 67 runs inside four days.

The right-hander scored 24 and 91 in a match that featured a massive West Indies batting collapse, emerging as one of just two batsmen who managed half-centuries.

Estwick pointed out that the high value Brathwaite

placed on his wicket and the high standards he demanded from those around him would be an asset for the side.

“He will lead by example. He’s someone who will put a price on his wicket.

He’s a person who will give 100 per cent at all times and he will expect his players to do that as well,” Estwick explained.

“He will expect his players not to give an inch, not to let their heads drop and continue to work hard and stay disciplined, and those are the things he’s going to bring to the table.”

West Indies have not won a Test series on New Zealand soil on 22 years and the defeat in Wellington ensured that trend would remain unchanged.

Estwick said he backed the Windies to hit back

from the heavy loss, noting the key was to remain focused throughout the Test.

“It (first Test result) was very disappointing. We didn’t play well in that Test match at all. We didn’t bowl as well as we would’ve liked. We certainly didn’t bat as well as expected,” said Estwick.

“Obviously if you’re going to be bowled out on the first day of a Test match just before tea for 134, it’s always going to be an uphill struggle.

“What we’ve got to do now is put that behind us and over the next couple of days really work hard and bounce back. We’ve done it before and if we can remain focused and disciplined, and keep our belief as strong as possible, we can bounce back in his coming Test match.”

See Page 35

Brathwaite set to lead Windies in second Test against the Black Caps WI/PCL 4-day tournament

Permaul’s 24th five-wicket haul wrecks Volcanoes for 117

By Rajiv Bisnauth L E F T- a r m s p i n n e r Veerasammy Permaul’s 24th five-wicket haul has given the Guyana Jaguars full control at the end of day one of their sixth round Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day game against the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence yesterday.

Permaul, playing in his 99th first-class match, initiated a rapid Volcanoes’ batting collapse, as the tourists capitulated to 117 inside the second session.

The 28-year-old bowled 21.3 overs from the media centre end to finish with figures of 5-40, as the Volcanoes endured another disappointing first innings total.

Tyron Theophile (33), Dennis Smith (20) and Devon Smith (16), were the only scores of note.

Fellow left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie snapped up 2-11 while Sherfane Rutherford (2-27) and Keemo Paul (1-19) were the successful bowlers, as the tourists lost their last seven wickets for just 62 runs.

O p e n e r Ta g e n a r i n e Chanderpaul buttressed the Jaguars’ effort with an unbeaten 27, as the hosts closed on 78-2. Test batsman Vishaul Singh is the other not-out batsman on seven.

Earlier, Jaguars skipper Leon Johnson won the toss and elected to bowl. However, openers Smith and Theophile successfully survived a testing 12-over morning spell from the Jaguars’ pace attack.

The new-ball combination of Keon Joseph and Paul beat the bat on several occasions in conditions encouraging swing and seam bowling, but they failed to make the break-

Turn to page 31

Kyle Mayers is bowled by left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (not in picture) after going for a huge shot. (Adrian Narine photo)

GLTA to host MINI-SLAM tomorrow Ronaldo THE Guyana Lawn Te n n i s A s s o c i a t i o n (GLTA) will host its 2017 MINI-SLAM Red Ball mini-tennis competition at the National Gymnasium from 09:00hrs to 13:00hrs tomorrow.

The tournament is for all beginners who are 10 years and under.

The competition, which usually attracts new players from clubs and primary schools, is used as a hunting ground for spotting talented children who are then targeted for joining perfor-

mance club programmes to start technical training.

The competition format is round-robin with trophies lined up for Best School, Best Boy & Runner-up and Best Girl & Runner-up. Children represent the schools that they attend.

Last year’s Best Boy was Ricky Romascindo of St. Gabriel’s Primary with Runner-up Maxim Leacock of St. Paul’s Primary. Best Girl was Ngina Garnett of Success Elementary with R u n n e r- u p M a l i y a h Rambarran from New

Guyana School.

Newcomers Buxton Youth Developers was awarded the Best School, which is the prize for the school which best adopts mini-tennis as Physical Education, in addition to fully participating in the annual competition.

Coordinator of the Schools Tennis Initiative programme, Ms Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan, who has been in contact with primary schools and clubs, expects to see the usual high level of participation.

wins fifth Ballon d’Or to equal Messi

See Page 31

Cristiano Ronaldo collects his fifth Ballon d’Or yesterday.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017