Guyana Chronicle E-paper 01-04-2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

FRIDAY

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4th JANUARY, 2019

No.105507

UN Security Council could intervene

…as Min Greenidge tells House of Venezuela’s attempt to land chopper on Exxon vessel PAGE

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President to meet Jagdeo 05 Wednesday PAGE

Charrandas racks up US$12,829 in losses at casino

Courts to decide –Speaker opens door for legal challenge to no-confidence vote …AG signals govt’s intention to file case today

SEE STORIES ON PAGE 03, 10 &15

Pilgrim replaces Charrandas PAGE

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New MP, Ms Barbara Pilgrim takes the oath administered by Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

UN Security Council could intervene

…as Min Greenidge tells House of Venezuela’s attempt to land chopper on Exxon vessel IN further condemning Venezuela’s use of threat and force to impede Guyana’s exercise of its sovereign rights, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge disclosed in the National Assembly that the Venezuelan Navy attempted to land a helicopter on a seismic ship operating in this country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“A reckless attempt was made by the Venezuelans to land a helicopter on the deck of one of them-- the Ramform Tethys,” the Foreign Affairs Minister told the House on

Thursday as he briefed members on the interception of a seismic vessel by the Venezuelan Navy. He explained that December 22, 2018, his ministry received a report from Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Limited (Exxon Mobil) that vessels contracted to perform exploratory seismic work within the Stabroek block on its behalf were intercepted. The incident occurred at 10:30hrs.

It was noted that the Venezuelan Navy attempted to land a helicopter on the vessel which was flagged by the Government of the Common-

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge briefing the house on the recent interception of a seismic vessel by the Venezuelan Navy. (Photo by Adrian Narine)

wealth of the Bahamas, and had a total of seventy crew members on board including the captain. “It was intercepted in the Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana at an approximate distance of 140 kilometres from the nearest point to the provisional equidistant line with Venezuela and some 250 kilometres from Punta Playa, the westernmost point on the land border of Guyana,” the Foreign Affairs Minister explained.

More than two weeks (on December 6, 2018) before the interception, Venezuela was notified by Guyana on the intended commencement of seismic work in Guyana’s EEZ. “Rather than speak to us, Venezuelan authorities waited, tried to seize the vessel and then sent us a Note Verbale dated 20th December. It apparently had taken until 22nd December to move electronically or physically from their MoFA, Miaflores Palace, in Caracas to our Embassy in Caracas. Of course, there is a Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown,” Greenidge told the House.

In its response, Guyana, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, defended its sovereignty and sovereign rights consistently, peacefully and fully in accordance with international law. A formal protest was sent to the Government of Venezuela conveying the complete rejection by the Guyanese Government of the hostile and unlawful act. It stated that Venezuela’s threat and use of force to impede Guyana’s exercise of sovereign rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone, is a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations and general international law.

Greenidge said concerns for the security of the crew of the vessel, and in keeping with its international obligations, Guyana also informed the several governments of the seventy crew members whose safety had been endangered.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, was also briefed on the incident. It has been requested that the matter be placed on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.

Greenidge said predictable notes of protest subsequently

received from Venezuela were reciprocated with immediate responses from Guyana.

“More alarmingly, on December 23, the Government of Venezuela issued a Communique asserting that the incident took place in the same area identified by Guyana but alleging that the position was ‘within the Orinoco River Delta maritime waters over which Venezuela has unquestionable sovereignty’. In other words, the coordinates put out

by Venezuela and Guyana were practically identical,” he pointed out while rejecting the claim that the incident occurred in the Orinoco Delta.

Greenidge turned the House’s attention to Venezuela’s most recent statements which made mention, not of ownership of the Essequibo coast, but refer to a ‘direct projection of the Orinoco Delta’ to a link between that Delta and the continental shelf well to the east off of the delta.

“This mysterious veering to the east just coincidentally encompasses all the hydrocarbon reserves on the sea bed of Guyana,” he further pointed out.

Greenidge told the House that Venezuela is now attempting to confuse the public and gain sympathy for an outrageous case. But he said it is known globally that Arbitral Award of 1899 granted to Venezuela the Orinoco River and its Delta. Guyana, he made it clear, has no interest in the Orinoco River.

Guyana, he said, has always been willing to discuss maritime delimitation with Venezuela, made it clear that such discussion cannot be conducted outside of the framework set by international law.

“In order to enjoy the protection of the international

community and to avoid the consequences of capricious behavior by bilateral partners, law-abiding states, particularly small ones, have from bitter experience, learnt to scrupulously follow international Conventions. Those governing maritime space are set by the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention which Venezuela has opted not to sign, but nevertheless reflects principles of general international law which are binding on all states, including Venezuela,” he stated.

He reminded that the matter of the border controversy between Venezuela and Guyana is now before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in keeping with a decision of the UN Secretary General. Venezuela has been contending that the 1899 Arbitral Award is “null and void,” however, thus far it has rejected the option of resolving the matter at the level of the ICJ. “We have reiterated our invitation to Venezuela to join Guyana in seeking a peaceful, just and final resolution of the controversy by participating in the proceedings before the International Court of Justice, presenting all of its claims and defences to the court, and accepting the final judgment of the court, in compliance with Article IV (2) of the Geneva Agreement and the binding decision of the Secretary-General,” Greenidge noted.

The statement presented in the House by the Foreign Affairs Minister was fully endorsed by the Parliamentary Opposition – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) headed by Bharrat Jagdeo.

Courts to decide

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

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–– Speaker opens door for legal challenge to no-confidence vote …AG signals govt’s intention to file case today

By Svetlana Marshall SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland said the court is the ideal place to determine the validity of the vote of no-confidence against the government as he declined an invitation to reverse the opposition-sponsored motion which was passed on December 21 by a one seat majority in the House.

“Full, final and complete settlement of these issues by a Court of competent jurisdiction will place beyond doubt any question which may exist and serve to give guidance to the Speaker and to the National Assembly for the future,” Dr. Scotland said as he addressed the National Assembly in the voluntary absence of the opposition.

Outside the Parliamentary Chamber, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, while reacting to the decision of the Speaker, told reporters that the A Partnership National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government was in process of filing an application at the level of the High Court to block the motion on the basis that 34 votes constitute an absolute majority in the 65-Member National Assembly and not 33. The court is also being asked to determine the validity of the vote by Charrandas Persaud, who breached the Constitution by having dual citizenship while as a sitting

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams speaking to reporters shortly after the Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland took a decision to uphold the vote of no-confidence against government

Member of Parliament. That application is expected to be filed by prominent, Senior Counsel Rex McKay this morning.

DIVERSE SOURCES Meanwhile, in making his pronouncement during the 112th Sitting of the National Assembly, the Speaker said since the motion was declared passed by him, he had received from diverse sources, information backed by case law and practice from other jurisdictions which had raised doubts as to whether the no-confidence motion

was effectively carried.

“The information which I have received raises two issues. The first of these issues included a claim supported by several cases that the requirement for the successful passing of a no-confidence motion is a majority of the elected members of the National Assembly.”

“That majority, it is contended, was to be formed by a mathematical half of the elected membership of the National Assembly which is 65 plus the vote of one other member. Such a formula would require a majority of 34 votes instead of 33 by which the no-confidence motion was declared carried,” he explained.

Dr. Scotland, in an effort to build the case, it was argued that Article 168 of the Constitution which states that “...all questions proposed for decision in the National Assembly shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting” is different from and does not include provisions relevant to a no-confidence motion. The provisions for a no-confidence motion are addressed in Article 106(6) of the Constitution.

He said the second issue placed on the fore was the conduct of then Member of Parliament Charrandas Persaud and the effect of that conduct on the vote in the no-confidence motion. “It is contended that he was not a qualified elected member of

the National Assembly and so entitled to vote in that he is a citizen of a foreign country and has taken active steps to so exercise that status. It is further contended that he being an elected member of the National Assembly through a list could not abandon that list and support another and still retain the status of an elected member,” the Speaker explained.

On both issues, the attorney general had written the Speaker and invited him to revisit his ruling of December 21, 2018 and ultimately revere it. Dr. Scotland, while making it known to the House that he as Speaker of the National Assembly is empowered to revisit any ruling of his and reverse same, said his only limitation in this regard is the requirement that the Speaker must at all times act in full obedience to the Constitution which is the Supreme Law of Guyana.

WIDE AUTHORITY “The Speaker's very wide authority to reverse his ruling is not however one which he holds himself able to exercise without strong and compelling grounds, simply choosing one position in place of an earlier one,” he noted.

While it may be his preference and practice to find resolution to issues facing the House independent of third party intervention, the Speaker admitted that in this case, the House must turn to the court for a final deter-

the Speaker on this occasion and without more, declines the invitation to act in reversal,” he told the House.

He emphasised that “Full, final and complete settlement of these issues” by the court will provide much needed clarity on what constitutes a majority in the House. The decision of the court will serve to give guidance to the Speaker and to the National Assembly for the future.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland

mination, noting that such a move will place the interpretation and import of the particular provisions of the Constitution beyond doubt. “I find it instructive that much of the information provided, relate to cases which saw the Courts of other jurisdictions giving guidance to both the Speaker and those National Assemblies concerning the constitutionality of conduct on particular issues.

“Where, as in these instances before us, there are different even competing views of certain provisions of the Constitution as well as certain inter-related provisions of the Constitution all of which fall to be examined,

THE WAY FORWARD That aside, the Speaker said he had hoped that the government and the opposition would have met before the Thursday’s sitting to determine the way forward, taking into consideration the provisions of Article 106(7) of the Constitution.

That Article states: “notwithstanding its defeat, the government shall remain in office and they shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.” That meeting, involving President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, is expected to take place next week.

Pilgrim replaces Charrandas PEOPLE’S National Congress/Reform (PNCR) member Barbara Pilgrim was sworn in on Thursday as the government’s new Member of Parliament (MP) replacing Charrandas Persaud who two weeks ago broke ranks to join the opposition in a no-confidence motion against the administration.

He has since been expelled from his party the Alliance For Change and recalled as an MP. Pilgrim will

represent Region Six (East Berbice/Upper Corentyne).

Pilgrim, who has been a member of the PNCR from the age of 19, took the Oath of Office before Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland other members of the House. She was formally welcomed by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Scotland at what marked the 112th Sitting of the National Assembly.

Shortly after, the AFC through a press release wel-

comed Pilgrim stating: “The Alliance For Change welcomes Ms. Barbara to the National Assembly following on the treacherous departure of the former member who defected. The party extends fraternal best wishes to Ms. Pilgrim during her sojourn in the National Assembly, and looks forward to working in partnership to deliver the good life to all Guyanese in the period ahead.”

The release also explained the grounds upon which an A

Partnership For National Unity (APNU) member was selected. It stated that in 2015, the APNU+AFC coalition had submitted a joint list of candidates to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the contesting of the General and Regional Elections.

In accordance with the Cummingsburg Accord, the APNU had submitted three names while the AFC submitted two for the region.

The AFC, having already

exhausted its two members on this list, therefore had to resort to the use of an APNU member.

Speaking with the media on the corridors of Parliament building, Pilgrim said that her main aim is to encourage unity in her region while ensuring that everyone has equal access to opportunities. “I’ve always been a member of the People’s National Congress and not a ‘backbench member’, a very active member.

In Region Six I try to bring

people together and that is what I plan to do so that we can move Guyana forward,” she said.

The main area she intends to advocate for is agriculture which will involve repairs to crucial roadways and the formulation requisite bodies to further develop farming, livestock rearing and more in the field.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

House clears bills to give effect to tax relief measures THE National Assembly on Thursday passed a number of financial bills to give effect to an array of tax measures included the 2019 budget.

The Bills which totaled nine in number will see Guyanese receiving increased benefits and improved services and were all passed with the full support of the government. Among these were the Property Tax

Amendment Bill and the Capital Gains Tax Amendment Bill which, Finance Minister Winston Jordan stated would ensure equity and consistency in the tax regime for individuals and companies across sectors.

Regarding the Property Tax Amendment Bill, there will be an increase in the threshold for filing a return for individuals from the current net property of $1.5M to

JORDAN: Minister of Finance Winston Jordan (Adrian Narine photo)

Friday, January 4, 2019

- 4:00hrs & 14:30

$40M while companies will move from $0.5M to $40M. There will also be a reduction in the current rate for both individuals and companies from 0.75 per cent to 0.5 per cent for the first $20M in taxable net property while the remainder will be taxed at 0.75 per cent.

Jordan reminded that the Property Tax Amendment Bill has nothing to with the Property Tax that may be assessed or levied by municipalities or Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

Meanwhile, for the first time, persons will be exempt from the payment of Capital Gains Tax in the case where the proceeds from the sale of a house is reinvested in another home of equal or greater value within 60 days of the end of the same year.

“It recognises that there is a housing deficit in Guyana and we need to encourage housing of all kinds and every effort and every relief that can be given within the constraints of our fiscal space and our fiscal deficit should be given,” Jordan said.

Added to this, there will be an increase to the Capital Gains Tax threshold arising from disposal of property from $1,000 to $500,000 as well as the removal of the 25-year limitation.

“This service will see us losing $200M but Mr. Speaker we don’t see it as losing we see it as giving back to the workers, to individuals, to professionals, to all those other persons who long to own a home and it will find its way back into the economy,” the minister said.

Also passed was the Tax (Amendment) No.2 Bill 2018 which recognises the country’s new towns namely Lethem, Mabaruma, Bartica and Mahdia to ensure they are beneficiaries of the services of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill 2018 was altered to provide for the minister to prescribe electronic forms for the efficient enforcement of the tax laws of the GRA. Passed too was the Customs (Amendment) Bill which caters to the exemption of import duty on a motor vehicle by eligible public officers, qualifying re-migrants, settlers and returning students.

To these groups of persons such provisions are only available within six months of re-assuming residence or in arriving in Guyana and shall not exceed $5M in customs duty, excise tax and value-added-tax. The amendment also allows for any money overpaid to the GRA to be refunded at any time within six months of the date of the overpayment or to be used to clear off any debts owed to the revenue authority. Other Bills amended included the Value Added Tax (Amendment) No.2 Bill 2018; the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill; the Income Tax (in Aid of Industry) Bill and the Corporation Tax (Amendment) Bill.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

President to meet Jagdeo Wednesday

President David Granger is expected to meet with Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo at the Ministry of the Presidency next week Wednesday to discuss certain mutually pertinent matters.

Jagdeo had approached Minister of State Joseph Harmon to arrange a meeting with the president after former Alliance for Change (AFC) member Charrandas Persaud, in an unexpected move, had voted in support of an opposition-led no confidence motion.

However, with the President still receiving med-

ical treatment at the time, Harmon by way of a letter responded to the request indicating that the President has advised that such a meeting could be facilitated in early January. The date of the meeting was confirmed yesterday with the newspaper’s viewing of the letter penned by the minister of state to the opposition leader on Thursday.

“I refer to my letter you dated 2018-12-22 and now confirm that His Excellency the President will meet with you on 2019-01-09 at 11:00hours at the Ministry of the Presidency,” the letter

President David Granger

began, adding: “It would be appreciated if you indicate the matters you wish to place on the agenda for the said meeting.”

Although efforts to contact the opposition were futile, Jagdeo had stated at the end of last month that he intends to use the opportunity to discuss where the country will go from the December 21 passing of the no-confidence motion against the government.

However, just yesterday the Speaker of the House, Dr. Barton Scotland had thrown the much contented matter of the motion’s passing over for

the courts to decide. He stated that the matter of “divergent interpretations” requires a “final determination”, one which should settle all related concerns once and for all.

With the new unfolding, it is unknown what topics for discussion will now take precedence with the opposition. However, since the request was made President Granger had indicated that he is “anxious” to engage with the opposition leader on any concerns he may have.

Concerned Guyana Goldfields Inc. shareholders want Board axed

…say company lost CDN$1B in value since 2016 A GROUP of Guyana Goldfields Inc. shareholders are seeking a special meeting of shareholders by March 12, 2019 for the purpose of replacing the board of directors of the company with a new board capable of fixing performance issues, leading a share price recovery, and executing a value maximising transaction.

The concerned shareholders including Northfield Capital Corporation, Robert Cudney, Donald Ross, Gretchen Ross and Patrick Sheridan, together owning not less than five per cent of the issued and outstanding shares of the company, are requesting that the current Board of seven be severed. They want them be replaced with six independent, highly-qualified and accountable directors “who bring significant mining, operational, public company, financial and legal experience,” according to a Newswire press release.

In addition to the loss of value to the tune of CDN $1 billion since 2016, the shareholders are alleging ethics violations on the part of the company.

“The concerned shareholders are also seeking a mandate from shareholders for the new board to establish an ethics committee to guide and ensure the ethical conduct of the company's business, strike a special committee to undertake a strategic review of the company, and engage a leading Canadian bank as financial advisor to assist with such strategic review,” the release said. “Given the current Board's inability to stop the freefall of Guyana Goldfields' share price — and a series of continued irresponsible statements and decisions that

have instead accelerated the share price decline — the concerned shareholders request that the special meeting be held promptly, by no later than March 12, 2019,” the Newswire release said.

The shareholders alleged that the current Board has made a series of seemingly irresponsible and misleading statements and generally questionable decisions that have put Guyana Goldfields' share price into a freefall. “Their track record shows every decision they make further compounds the value destruction.

While shareholders have lost over CDN$1 billion in value, the Board has continued to reward itself handsomely and has made no changes to the operational management of the Aurora Mine," Mr. Sheridan, one of Guyana Goldfields largest shareholders and Founder, former Executive Chairman and former director of the company is quoted as saying. "Without an immediate change in direction and a new board elected with a mandate to aggressively pursue a strategy to maximise value for all shareholders, we have serious doubt Guyana Goldfields will remain a going concern.”

He said further that the path for shareholders to recoup the value of their investment is clear: “optimise operational performance, repair the relationship with the Government of Guyana, turn the share price around and execute a value-maximising transaction.”

PATTERN OF MISREPRESENTATION AND SELECTIVE DISCLOSURE The release said that the concerned shareholders believe that, for the past few months, the Board has been

misrepresenting or incompletely disclosing the reasons for the company's poor results, using such excuses as the rainy season, slow equipment mobilisation and, most recently, problems with the resource model.

“On February 20, 2018, the company provided full 2018 production guidance at 190,000 - 210,000 ounces with an all-in sustaining cost of USD$830 - USD$880 per ounce. On July 16, 2018 this was lowered to 175,000 185,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of USD$945 - USD$995 per ounce. These figures were re-confirmed by the company on October 9, 2018. However, on October 30, 2018, just 21 days later, full year guidance was lowered to 150,000 - 155,000 ounces with an increased all-in sustaining cost of USD$1,025 - USD$1,050 per ounce,” the release said.

“While some variance in the resource model is common and is to be expected, and certainly nothing new for the Aurora Mine, manage-

ment's statement threw into question the viability of the mine itself. In the concerned shareholders' view, this was an incorrect, misleading and irresponsible statement and it caused the market capitalisation of the company to fall by almost CDN$250 million, or about half, in one day,” the shareholders are quoted as saying. The concerned shareholders believe the reality is that these statements and excuses were made to cover up poor mining practices, “including in particular the shortfall in stripping the deposit which remains many months behind schedule.”

DETERIORATION IN KEY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA The release said that on November 9, 2018, the company announced that it commenced underground development with first portal blast. “However, on November 19, 2018 the company announced it had suspended

work on the portal at the request of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The concerned shareholders understand that the EPA had specifically requested on October 24, 2018 that no underground work be commenced without prior approval, which the company seemed to have deliberately ignored. Moreover, the concerned shareholders understand that the subsequent investigation by the EPA has outlined "about 50 per cent" non-compliance with environmental regulations. Such actions by management have likely significantly and, possibly irreparably, soured relations with the Government

of Guyana, after many years of mutual support and respect,” the release said.

Further, the release pointed out that on July 31, 2018, the company fired over 80 exploration workers, “an event carried widely in the national press, which not only diminished the company in the eyes of many Guyanese but also could potentially cause the Guyana Government to revisit and review its exploration licenses.”

The concerned shareholders believe that the new board should prioritise making immediate efforts to repair the relationships with the Government of Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

A valid no-confidence vote?

REGARDING the motion and its outcome, if comments in the mainstream and social media are to be interpreted, the majority of Guyanese appear to be most occupied with what number of votes constitute a majority-- 33 or 34? While this may be an interesting avenue, worthy of legal exploration, there is another question being discussed by many citizens. The question has arisen as to whether or not the outcome of the motion of no-confidence was influenced by financial considerations. Or more frankly, was Alliance for Change (AFC) Member of Parliament (MP) Charrandas Persaud paid to vote in favour of the Opposition’s

motion?

That is an important question because common sense would suggest that the answer to that question could have serious implications for Guyana’s immediate and long-term future, as that future will be heavily influenced by the validity of the outcome of the vote taken on December 21.

The question of the validity of the outcome, if MP Persaud was paid, has both legal and moral aspects, and that question may be examined through a legal and logical lens.

Section 334 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01 states, “Everyone who, being or expecting to be a public servant accepts,

or obtains, or agrees to accept, or attempts to obtain, from any person, for himself or for any other person, any gratification, whether pecuniary or otherwise, other than legal remuneration, as a motive or reward for doing or forbearing to do any official act, or for showing or forbearing to show, in the exercise of his official functions, favour or disfavor to any person, or for rendering or attempting to render any service or disservice to any person with the legislative or executive Government of Guyana or with any public servant as a public servant, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and liable to imprisonment for three years.”

The meaning of that sec-

tion of the law is clear; it is a crime for a public servant to be motivated to act in a particular way, in an official capacity, by any “gratification.”

The next question is, does this section of the law apply to MP Persaud? That is, is an MP a public servant?

The answer may be found in Section 333 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act. The section reads as follows: Section 333 (1): “public servant” denotes a person falling under any of the following descriptions, namely, (a) the President; (b) every member of the Cabinet; (c) every person holding an office of emolument in a civil capacity in the service of government;

It would appear evident prima facie that Section 333 (1) (c) clearly contemplates that an MP is a public servant as defined by law.

This line of reasoning culminates in the conclusion that if an MP is motivated to act or forgo to act in any manner, in an official capacity, by any “gratification whatever,” then a criminal offence has been committed.

On December 31, Commissioner of Police Leslie James confirmed that former MP Charrandas Persaud is under investigation in a matter of national security. There are also allegations, apparently supported by what appears to be documentary and corroborative evidence, that Mr. Persaud’s vote may have

been influenced by some “gratification.”

While one may not responsibly pronounce, one way or the other, on matters which have not been objectively decided, one is certainly free to speculate on the consequences of finding in favour of one side or the other; such is the nature of a democracy. One may, therefore, ask the question, without prejudice, if it is found that the outcome of the vote on the no-confidence motion was the result of a criminal offence, is the outcome valid? And if not, what is the legal remedy?

If you don’t know or forgot the past, you’re in trouble Dear Editor THE breaking of ties with the PPP Party by Akanni Blair would be deja vu for the few still alive, who have witnessed it first hand, and for the other group like yours truly who have read about it and listened to old-timers tell their memories.

I have harkened to the culture of the PPP as a cult, governed by rules of blind obedience and principles that are preached rather than practised, with anunwavering loyalty to arcane racist views. There are numerous times from the inception of the PPP as a party that both Afro and Indo Guyanese enlightened minds have moved away; with Burnham, Jai

Narine Singh and Latchmansingh in the fore; these are remembered. But let me chronicle three others who are not, due to the absence of, or laziness of our national political biographers: (1) Sunday Chronicle February 23,1964: Heavy guard sees Mann off to U.K. “to protect Mr. Lawrence Mann who received a multitude of death threats since his resignation from the government and the PPP.” ( 2) “Jagan was my idol but I soon realised PPP was callous” George Henry -Sunday Chronicle 1966. ( 3) Daily Chronicle April 3, 1964 “Sydney King calls Premier Jagan- Slimy, crawling, cowardly hypocrite”.

Research these three incidents and it would be realised that there are specific

mental adjustments from the ordinary that have to be made when accepting the PPP. In the context of Edghill, he has reached a stage in life he may have never anticipated; in exchange, he has surrendered the most sacred, his spiritual self, when he proposed that if Christ was alive, he would have joined the atheist PPP. If he has uttered what Akanni said, then he has surrendered his corporal being on the altar of the tainted cup.

A senior APNU person, some years ago, lamented the actions of a political character I shall describe as ‘Polourie Joe’s’ betrayal. I assured the official that it was the PNC’s fault; how do you assess a mind that allows a foreign conman to convince him he’s an ethnic prince and on

that premise he advances to commit [whatever] offensive cause he’s directed to do; intelligence and enlightenment are different currents, such a man is prone to betrayal wherever the opportunity of his delusions of grandeur guide him. Organisations have got to discern this, or go the PPP way, always entertain useful disposables.

One of the first institutions Madam Gail Teixeira wanted to close in 1993 was the Burrowes Art School. In 2018, Bharrat Jagdeo protested the establishing of the copyright law; both represent platforms that cultivate individuality and freedom of thought. Ideals that cannot be easily controlled by the cultic PPP are viewed for elimination and suppression. But our people

are not asleep. Two unknown letter writers were on the ball on Sunday, Dec. 23, Kaieteur News “Some may see this action as their get-out-ofjail-free card” by Apostle Adrian Wade. Orette Cutting focused on the Venezuelan incursion Kaieteur News Dec, 29, 2018, this is close to a scenario Orette would not know of in detail. We must not be naïve, however, not to observe so-called coincidences that three events occurred simultaneously: (1) Russian economic interests in Venezuela (2) The incursion of the Venezuelan warships in our territorial waters against Exxon and (3) the No- Confidence Motion conspiracy.

I do not doubt a sinister connection, based on previous consistent rumours of

a willingness to negotiate with Guyana’s territorial integrity with Venezuela by a former PPP President towards his own greed, coupled with a previous 2011 conspiracy that placed three innocent friends of mine in prison on charges of treason in an attempt to illegally replace a legal business operation and place it in the hands of another foreign concern, close to that president. No doubt, we live in dangerous times. In my Friday article in Chronicle 4, Jan I have expanded on that event as much as I am allowed to.

Regards Barrington Braithwaite

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

Oil changeth the souls of men

Dear Editor

WHAT a country! And what a people – that is, some people!

Certainly, it must have come as a shock to Guyanese in general; a very big one, on the scale of a tsunami, at a media report of former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) member, Ralph Ramkarran, a former Speaker of the National Assembly, and Senior Counsel, declaring that he had made a mistake, on his given prior interpretation of what constitutes an absolute majority in the local Parliament.

My first and immediate reaction, irrevocable, is that such an error was not likely or possible with regards the supposedly personal reputation of this well-known member of the local Bar. This is the type of legal practitioner who is known to have built an established profile via a solid record of judicial successes, spanning many decades, inclusive of especially civil matters.

His type goes to court well

prepared, underpinned by detailed research, because he would have his court record appearance to protect, if not further enhanced.

Therefore, for this attorney to make such a public admission is tantamount to him or any other attorney, making a court appearance for a client without being acquainted with details of the particular matter!

Editor, one is certain that for Ramkarran to have stated such an initially held conclusion meant that he had thoroughly examined this seminal constitutional cum legal issue, first publicly highlighted by eminent attorney, Nigel Hughes. So why the 360-degree turn?

Indeed, it is a volte-face, patently influenced by the key factors of race, oil; and the recent motion of no confidence brought against the government, which has for some sections of the society, presents the opportunity for imminent elections.

It is quite clear that Ramkarran’s view of Article 106(6) has to be in line with a similar tone evinced by

Guyana needs young religious minded people like Pastor Jerri Dear Editor PASTOR Jerri Dias has been known to people across different religions. His familiarity with people of every faith was personified while we witnessed his prayer address during an inter-faith conference where the president and other dignitaries from across Guyana were present.

Mention must be made [of] his effort to organise an inter-religious prayer gathering at the Catholic Church which probably is [the] first of its kind.

I knew him as a person of integrity and commitment even though I am not a practising religious person. He is no stranger to this newspaper. He has left an impression on people while he appeared on a number of radio and TV discussions because of his knowledge of Guyana. His concern for the

people could be illustrated through his simple lifestyle. Pastor Jerri Dias’ departure from the Catholic pastorhood does not make him any less of a pastor. He still remains our beloved friend and pastor. When I enquired about him from some of his pastor friends, they had no clear answer.

But wherever and whatever he does, we want to assure him of our love and support as he did to us. He will remain in the hearts [of] many as a person of modesty and integrity.

As I extend my sincere kudos to pastor Jerri Dias, we urge him to continue to contribute towards the welfare of our youth. Guyana needs young religious minded people like Pastor Jerri to sow the seeds of morality in the people.

Regards Kevin Ram

a particular clique. In fact, he has accused the government of being reckless in seeking “to destroy Guyana’s democracy...” in Stabroek News, of December 30, 2018.

Moreover, the formation of the A New and United Guyana (ANUG), of which he appears to be one of the founding members, gives a clearer picture of a citizen who intends to contest national elections, whenever it is called.

Ramkarran, especially as an attorney, must be reminded that any government, like any citizen, has the right to seek legal recourse for any decision with which they disagree. And this is inclusive of even the very pivotal issue, as challenging the interpretation of a particular section of the nation’s constitution, as in the extant case that involves interpreting the recent no-confidence motion.

Editor, it is quite obvious that the advent of oil has continued to change the souls of some of our most prominent Guyanese voices, as they scramble to board the

political opposition bandwagon.

Their socio-moral somersaults have been breathtaking, given the known principles which they had once represented and made publicly known.

Should one track their strategy since 2015, one discerns an orchestrated plan, inclusive of a well known section of the private media, to undermine the coalition government, with the well known racist stereotype leading the ugly, dishonest narrative that an African-led government cannot manage the affairs of Guyana.

This particular refrain is deliberate, since it is about which government will be at the helm when first oil begins to flow.

Make no mistake, this is about class aligning itself with anti-national, criminal political interests, seeking to position themselves to take control of the impending oil and gas industry. Similarly, significant, it is also about big money and elitist interest vis a vis those of the poorer section, particularly the African segment which representative interests in the emerging oil and gas

industry are threatened with both non-representation and non-participation, in our society.

It is amazing that a verbally emergent category whose voices were loudest in their condemnation of the trenchant PPP/C state corruption, are now loudest in their buccal assaults on the coalition, in an effort to create a perception of incompetence, is now all on board with the same infamous and discredited opposition collective which had wrecked much havoc on this country.

They are all now allies for an intended assault on another category of the national patrimony. Oh, how oil has changeth the souls of men! Morals have fast disappeared, hurriedly buried beneath the sands of criminal convenience and dangerous amnesia. Where are we proceeding as a nation?

Regards Earl Hamilton

Parliamentary process and the no-confidence motion Dear Editor THE no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition raises many issues generally surrounding the issue of majority vote, the law, rules and parliamentary process. Today, I am writing specifically on the issue of the law, rules and parliamentary process. In Political Science, there are rules which govern “crossing the floor.” And generally, it is expected that where a party represents a list and choose no longer to represent that list, he/she must indicate to the Speaker his/her desire to represent another list (Party). The Constitution of Guyana, Chapter 1:01 of the Laws of Guyana, the supreme law recognised this inherent rule of political science and by virtue of Article 156 (3) (a) legislate for “crossing the floor”.

In the present situation before us today, it is, therefore, an irregularity in political science and unconstitutional by virtue of Article 156 (3) (a) for Mr. Chandradass Persaud, while appearing on the list he represents and for the Party he appeared for, to vote against that list or party. This is a parliamentary matter to consider after the fact when his vote was cast in parliament.

Further, the rule of law relating to parliament is that it regulates its own proceedings and as a parliamentary

matter before the fact, that is before a motion is brought to parliament (National Assembly). The view supported by political science is that the entire National Assembly inclusive of its Speaker, the government and the opposition must first decide whether internal parliamentary procedures, rules and laws will be followed and adhered to when voting on a particular issue and/or making a decision.

In the case of the no-onfidence motion brought by the opposition, it was first the duty of the opposition to decide whether rules will be adhered to and followed by bringing the motion.

It was then the duty of the government to decide that said salient issue. After which the duty lies on the Speaker to decide the issue. A no-confidence motion which intends to rely on the provisions enacted in article 106 (6) must consider the provision of article 156 (3) (a). If the opposition first had considered the issue in its entirety, it would have realised that it legally does not and cannot have a requisite majority vote to call into operation the provisions of article 106 (6).

Let us examine the abovementioned issue further; had there been another opposition party in parliament, the two opposition parties may join and oust the government. But in the case of one opposition party which sought to oust the government on a no- confidence motion,

there is no legal basis for such action which is doom to fail since they cannot legally attain a majority vote. Moreover, on the issue of majority vote, it can also be said that there cannot be a majority government and a majority opposition at the said time or the shifting of a member between political parties to offset a oneseat majority government.

It is indeed the intention of the framers of the Constitution that the rules relating to crossing of the floor, parliamentary process and other relevant political science theories, should be observed in the National Assembly.

This intention can be gleaned further by virtue of article 184 (3) which requires one-third of the non-governmental members of the National Assembly to inform the Speaker if the leader of the opposition no longer enjoys their confidence. It is, therefore, an ineluctable inference that the same must be done in the case of the President and its cabinet. This inference can be supported by article 156 (3) (c). In conclusion, there can be no no-confidence motion in Guyana given the current political situation and the constitution of the National Assembly Regards Amoura Giddings Attorney-at-Law, Business and Management Consultant

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

Charrandas was a habitual gambler …loses over US$12,829 at casino in two years

Charrandas Persaud

AS police continue to probe whether deposed Member of Parliament, Charrandas Persaud was allegedly bribed to vote in favour of a no-confidence motion brought against the government late last year, detectives have uncovered that he was a habitual gambler at the Princes Casino, racking up over USD$12,829 in losses for the past two years.

It is not clear what were the former MP’s gains during his betting, but records show

the former MP almost every day between January 2017--December 2018, frequented the Providence, East Bank Demerara casino. According to the records in the year 2017, Persaud lost US$ 5,796, while in 2018 his losses were US$7,033.

Public Security Minister and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan said a few days ago that police are closing in on the case of bribery of Persaud to support the no-confidence motion. “We are now learning

that there is absolutely a connection with bribery, of some

big sum of money… money which I understand he had

wanted to transfer overseas and all of that,” Ramjattan declared on a National Communications Network (NCN) show—Context-- on Sunday.

Speaking to host Enrico Woolford, Ramjattan said the

In legal text, plain meaning is not always clear

Dear Editor

THE intense debate on what the word “majority” means in Article 106(6) presents another golden opportunity for our courts, should the matter reach them, to enlighten us on how they approach the interpretation of the law. As I had stated in a previous letter under the title ‘Judges should communicate how they approached interpretation’ in SN, 19-11-2017, an explicit interpretation methodology fosters predictability and consistency, thereby enabling lawmakers to better craft legislation, knowing in advance how courts will interpret the law.

In a 2015 Chicago Law Review article, Professor Fallon explains that in legal text, a word can assume as many as five different meanings (‘The meaning of Legal “Meaning” and its Implications for Theories of Legal Interpretation’ by Richard H. Fallon Jr). These are: (i) Semantic or literal meaning, (ii) Contextual meaning, (iii) Intended meaning, (iv) Reasonable meaning, and (v) Previously interpreted meaning. As each approach to meaning produces a different outcome, our judges should indicate in their rulings which meaning of meaning is controlling and why.

What are possible outcomes when we apply Fallon’s classification to the word “majority” in Article 106(6)?

First, semantic or literal meaning. Some contributors (notably Chris Ram; E ditor of Stabroek News, and Rakesh Rampertab) posit that the plain meaning (i.e., semantic or literal meaning) of the word “majority” is an open and shut case. They emphasize the common dictionary meaning of the word and conclude that “majority” means greater than. But this argument ignores the fact that the word “majority” in some legal dictionaries can, in a voting context, carry three modifiers with significant differences: simple (greater than), absolute (half + one) and super (more than absolute). True,

the plain meaning is widely accepted as the starting point of legal interpretation. But here it does not help, as it does not help in telling us whether “nails” in the sentence “Do not use nails” means fingernails, toenails or carpenter nails.

With regards the contextual meaning of “majority”, two lines of argument have emerged, both based on other articles in the constitution itself. One line (offered by Ram) asserts, in a nutshell, that the framers of the constitution have demonstrated (in Article 180(1), for example) they could use the wording more or less than “one-half” as required.

The absence of such wording in Article 106(6), this argument goes, must mean the framers used “majority” to mean simple majority. The second contextual argument points to the special voting conditions demanded by the very article (“all elected members”, not just as in other articles “all members present and voting”) to conclude that “majority” means absolute majority. In this matter, contextual meaning is the most delicate and analytically challenging of the five.

Fallon’s third meaning (intended meaning) refers to what the parliament had in mind when it passed the particular constitutional amendment that is now Article 106(6). The most acceptable source of parliament’s intention would be the written record of the 1999 Constitution Reform Commission (CRC). Within this collection, the preferred references should be the Final Report of the Oversight Committee on Constitutional Reform and the CRC’s specific recommendations as adopted by the National Assembly. These, however, tell us nothing of what the legislators had in mind. Of note, there exist individual publications on the work of the CRC written by its Chairman, Ralph Ramkarran, and its secretary, Haslyn Parris. But as personal recollections and assessments, these should not be referenced as the official views of the legislature.

When it comes to what is a reasonable meaning (Fallon’s fourth) of “majority”, nearly every

government supporter believes that it is absolutely unreasonable for the word to bear a meaning that all it would take is the vote of one MP (a scheming one, more so) to cause the government to fall. In this view, “majority” cannot reasonably mean a simple majority. Reasonable meaning, unlike plain or literal meaning, introduces a large dose of common sense, and looks at the law’s consequence and purpose in interpreting legal text. Fallon’s example that the plain or literal meaning of a rule that states “No vehicles in the park” would exclude an ambulance from driving in to rescue a seriously injured person. But a person, reasonably interpreting the rule, would allow the ambulance in.

The danger here, of course, is that a judge’s use of reasonable meaning may intrude into the legislature’s domain of lawmaking and policymaking.

Nevertheless, there is a strong sense that “majority” in Article 106(6) reasonably should mean absolute majority.

Lastly, previously interpreted meaning relies on cases where earlier rulings can serve as guides to new and similar cases. Known in Latin as stare decisis, this doctrine seeks to ensure consistency and predictability in court rulings across time and space.

The coalition government’s case for “half + one” reportedly rests on cases in the UK and Vanuatu.

I get the sense that the schooling of many of our judges leans them towards favouring previously interpreted meaning.

Which approach to legal meaning is seen as primary or preferred is something hard to assess and predict in Guyana. Not much is written on the matter (see, as one US example, “Statutory Interpretation on the Bench: A Survey of Forty-Two Judges on the Federal Courts of Appeals.” by Abbe R. Gluck & Richard A. Posner. Harvard Law Review. March 2018).

Regards Sherwood Lowe

evidence is being gathered to show that Persaud was not only compromised but that there are members of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) who TURN TO PAGE

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Majority in Pakistan similar to 34 in Guyana Dear Editor There are ample cases in Commonwealth countries in support of the argument that a “majority of all elected members” of the National Assembly in Guyana for a vote of confidence is 34, not 33.

Article 91 (4) of the Constitution of Pakistan states that “The Prime Minister shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the total membership of the National Assembly.”

The National Assembly consists of 342 Members, half of which is 171 (therefore the majority is calculated as 172).

This is calculated on the parliamentary practice that where this is an even-number total, add one to the results to find the threshold for the majority. Article 175 (12) of the Constitution of Pakistan provides for appointment of judges by a majority of the total membership of the Parliamentary Committee which consists of 8 members. A majority is calculated as 5 member –that is 8 divided by 2 plus 1.

In Guyana, a majority of elected members will be calculated as: 65 divided by 2 = 32.5, which is rounded up to the next higher number 33. The majority is 33+1 = 34 Regards, Earl Hamilton

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Charrandas was a ... were fully aware of this when they brought the confidence motion against the government.

“We are having it [evidence] because he has spoken to people,” replied Ramjattan when asked if there was evidence to support the claim Persaud was bribed. “It is clearly a case where he is compromised and obviously those who moved the motion, or at least one person who moved the motion, knew about this. They knew that they had Charrandas in the bag. Now, that is not the kind of democratic process we want for this country.

You had to know you had somebody in the bag.”

The APNU/AFC government has a one-seat simple majority in Parliament, accounting for 33 of the 65 MPs. Despite having only 32 members, the Opposition PPP tabled a confidence motion against the government last month. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, at a press conference shortly before the motion was debated, noted his optimism that at least one government MP would vote for the motion.

Persaud defected from the government during the voting process and supported the passage of the motion. It has since been alleged that Persaud was bribed to vote against the government. These allegations were further fueled when photographs surfaced of Persaud being escorted out of Parliament by PPP supporter Peter Ramsaroop after his vote. Later, Persaud himself questioned why it would be wrong if he was paid. “… even if I was paid, was it wrong to support the no-confidence motion against the government?” he asked in a video he posted on his Facebook page.

“This thing was organised beautifully. All that will come out of the investigation going on because Guyanese don’t want that kind of politics in Guyana anymore,” Ramjattan noted.

“We are going to go very far and deep into it and those who would’ve done that, they will pay the penalty. We’ve already been doing investigations with the senior members of the government. Very valid investigations, you don’t have to say we are politically motivated, we are not. The president, the prime minister, the entire Cabinet want genuine political practice and what we saw there is absolutely ridiculous.”

Only recently at a function in Canada, Per-

saud hinted at supporting the PPP. “The next question has to do is that how we must do our democratic practices? Should we pay somebody off and then cover it up with a conscience. He always criticised how the PPP government is the one that bring the sugar industry down. He was doing that long before [he joined the government], that is why we were attracted and

appealed to [him to] come on board with us. He was genuinely constructive and saying that PPP is the bad one,” Ramjattan noted.

According to News Source, an online news outfit, Persaud, in early December, while the National Assembly was debating the 2019 National Budget, had made contact with a friend of his, who has strong ties in the gold mining

industry, to have the gold supplied. Screenshots with a number belonging to the embattled politician, who before his expulsion defected from government and voted in support of the opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion, have surfaced, and are being used as evidence in the case.

“I need some REAL casreep…not the diluted one…let

me know,” one of the messages stated according to News Room.

The messages between Persaud and his friend concerning the purchase of the gold took place between December 6 and 13, days before the no-confidence motion was debated and moved against the government.

‘Wear your new badges with pride’ – GDF quartermaster general tells promoted ranks GUYANA Defense Force (GDF) Quartermaster General (QMG), Colonel Godfrey Bess on Thursday urged the newly-promoted ranks in his branch to wear their new badges of rank with pride, noting that they have earned their promotions.

At the time, Colonel Bess was delivering congratulatory remarks to some 68 members of the Quartermaster General’s Branch who have been promoted with effect from January 1 of this year.

Addressing the conferral of their new ranks, Colonel Bess indicated that promotion meant that new and added responsibilities will

come their way.

“Added responsibilities will now come your way.

We are confident that you will rise to the occasion,” he said, adding: “We will continue to support and train you so that you can continue along a path of excellence and gain subsequent promotions. Wear your new badges of rank with pride.”

The quartermaster general also extended best wishes for the new year to the soldiers and their families.

The soldiers receiving the new badges of rank Thursday morning were those from Base Camp Ayanganna and the GDF Agri Corps who serve in the QMG Branch.

Quartermaster General Colonel Godfrey Bess pinning new badges on the newly-promoted ranks

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

Announcements by Dr. Barton Scotland, Speaker of the National Assembly

Honourable Members, this is our first meeting for this new year 2019. I welcome you all back. I hope that you have come back feeling refreshed and I trust that you are fully prepared to treat with all issues which will confront us during this year. I repeat my call to you all Honourable Members to make every effort to be respectful in expressing your differences with one another and to hold in high regard, the dignity and decorum of this House.

Honourable Members you will recall that at the 111th Sitting of the National Assembly on 21st December, 2018 a Motion of No-confidence was moved in the House on behalf of the Opposition. After a number of hours of debate, the Motion was put and carried by a majority of one vote.

The Motion was carried by a vote of 33 in favour and 32 against. One member of the Government side, at that time Honourable Charrandass Persaud withheld his support from the governing Coalition on the list of which he was a member and instead, voted with the Opposition.

After the Speaker had declared the Motion carried, he announced to the House that at the next sitting of the National Assembly which was scheduled for today 3rd January, 2019, the House will meet to consider the consequences of the vote. In saying that, it is to Article 106(7) of the Constitution that I had turned my attention after the Declaration of the vote. For ease of reference I set out here Honourable Members, that provision.

IT READS AS FOLLOWS: "notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and they shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election."

The provisions of the Constitution envisage discussions between the Government and the Opposition to find the most propitious manner in which effect can be given to the provisions of the Constitution. It is Honourable Members about such discussion that I, had hoped to speak to you today. No such discussion I am informed, has taken place as yet. On the 21st December, 2018, the Leaders of both sides of the House spoke of respect for one another and of the opportunity which the result of the vote offers both sides. It is my hope that talks will commence soon.

DIVERSE SOURCES Honourable Members during the last week, I have received from diverse sources, information, both solicited and unsolicited, supported

by Case law and Practice emanating from other jurisdictions which has raised doubts as to whether the No-confidence Motion was carried, and properly so, by the margin of vote.

The information which I have received raises two issues. The first of these issues included a claim supported

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland

by several cases that the requirement for the successful passing of a No-confidence Motion is a majority of the elected members of the National Assembly. That majority, it is contended, was to be formed by a mathematical half of the elected membership of the National Assembly which is 65 plus the vote of one other member. Such a formula would require a majority of 34 votes instead of 33 by which the No-confidence motion was declared carried. In furthering this argument they contend that Article 168 of the Constitution which provides that "... all questions proposed for decision in the National Assembly shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting" is different from and does not include provisions relevant to a No-confidence motion since that is separately provided for in Article 106(6) of the Constitution.

The second issue and one of equally major importance for the National Assembly and its procedures concern

the conduct of then Honourable Member Mr. Charrandass Persaud and the effect of that conduct on the vote in the No-confidence motion. It is contended that he was not a qualified elected member of the National Assembly and so entitled to vote in that he is a citizen of a foreign country and has taken active steps to so exercise that status. It is further contended that he being an elected member of the National Assembly through a list could not abandon that list and support another and still retain the status of an elected member.

URGENT ATTENTION These matters require urgent attention since the Motion of 21st December, 2018 was passed by a vote of 33 to 32 and the now former member of Parliament took part in the vote for the majority. - That certain and finite answers to these questions are necessary goes without saying and it should be a concern of all Members that such answers are obtained.

On both issues The Hon-

ourable Attorney General who wrote to me and those who otherwise contacted me all invited me to revisit my Ruling of the 21st December, 2018 and to reverse it. It is perhaps useful Honourable Members to let you know that the authority with which the Speaker is clothed enables him to revisit any Ruling which he has rendered and if in doing so he forms the opinion that the Ruling should not stand, he may reverse his Ruling. The only limitation on the action of the Speaker in this regard is the requirement that the Speaker must at all times act in full obedience to the Constitution which is the Supreme Law of Guyana.

It is the Constitutionality of action which must at all times guide and direct the Speaker.

The Speaker's very wide authority to reverse his Ruling is not however one which he holds himself able to exercise without strong and compelling grounds, simply choosing one position in place of an earlier one. It has been my preference and practice to endeavour to find resolution of any issue which may affect the procedures and practice of Parliament without third party intervention. I must tell you Honourable Members that the issues which we now face cause us to look outside of Parliament to find answers. The issues as put and as understood by the Speaker in the first instance involve a choice between the divergent interpretations of the provision of the Constitution that is applicable to a No-confidence Motion.

FINAL DETERMINATION In the second instance,

the issue is one which concerns the conduct of the former Member of Parliament Mr. Charrandass Persaud and the effect of that conduct on the outcome of the vote on the 21st of December, 2018. The issues over which many have expressed concern require final determination which will place the interpretation and import of the particular provisions of the Constitution beyond doubt.

I find it instructive that much of the information provided, relate to cases which saw the Courts of other jurisdictions giving guidance to both the Speaker and those National Assemblies concerning the constitutionality of conduct on particular issues. Where, as in these instances before us, there are different even competing views of certain provisions of the Constitution as well as certain inter-related provisions of the Constitution all of which fall to be examined, the Speaker on this occasion and without more, declines the invitation to act in Reversal.

Full, final and complete settlement of these issues by a Court of competent jurisdiction will place beyond doubt any question which may exist and serve to give guidance to the Speaker and to the National Assembly for the future. Honourable Members, in treating with this matter I have made every effort to present it to you as fully as I did, in the hope that it will assist in your understanding of the matter and enable our fellow citizens to understand the issues.

Jaikarran replaces Hopkinson as Region Two REO DENIS Jaikarran who had served as Regional Executive Officer (REO) in Region Three is now performing similar duties in Region Two. He has replaced Rupert Hopkinson. Jaikarran assumed office on January 2 and made his first appearance before staff members of the regional administration at a Civil Defense Commission (CDC) presentation. The CDC handed over several safety gears to

the regional administration.

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said he looks forward to working with Jaikarran to improve the lives of residents of the region while ensure a high level of accountability and transparency.

The new REO is no stranger to Region Two as he had served the region in various capacities under the previous administration.

REO Denis Jaikarran receiving the gears from CDC in the presence of Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

Special meetings to deal with CoI recommendations

COMMISSIONERS of the Local Government Commission (LGC) have been convening a number of special meetings to deliberate and work towards the implementation of the recommendations of the City Hall CoI which concluded in November 2018.

Last year, the commission had indicated that it had accepted the recommendations of the report which was submitted on November 30, 2018, with recommendations including a call for criminal charges to be laid against substantive Town Clerk, Royston King.

“We’ve had several special meetings in consideration of the CoI and we are working assiduously to come up with a solution,” said Commissioner Marlon

Town Clerk, Royston King

Williams.

“The commission has asked the commissioners, for varying reasons, to refrain from speaking until we have a special meeting with

Nabbed fugitive charged with murder

Natton Anthony Stoute

AFTER being on the run from the police since 2014, a 21-year-old man was, on Thursday, charged when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for the murder of Cuyuni shopkeeper, Bibi Sheniza Bhola.

Bhola was stabbed to death during a robbery.

Natton Anthony Stoute, a vendor at the Port Mourant Market and a resident of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was not required to plead to the capital offence which alleged that between February 26, 2014 and February 27, 2014, at Rock Creek, Mazaruni River, he murdered Bhola.

He was remanded to prison until January 17, 2019 and will make his next court appearance at the Bartica Magistrate's Court.

Stoute was arrested by police in Berbice on Old Year’s Day after returning from Suriname where he had allegedly fled after killing Bhola.

Bhola, 35, of La Grange, West Bank Demerara was reportedly stabbed to death in her business place at Rock Creek, Cuyuni between February 26, 2014 and February 27, 2014. The gruesome discovery was made by a young man who visited the shop and found it locked.

Stoute at that time was employed by Bhola and was on the run from the police along with another who is still wanted by the police.

Police had informed that two employees who lived in the same place with Bhola could not have been located after the businesswoman’s death.

regards to the Commission of Inquiry.”

However, last word from the Local Government Commission was that contact was to be made with the Guyana

Police Force in relation to instituting criminal charges, while disciplinary actions were also contemplated.

King was expected to be summoned before the LGC to have a chance to defend himself if he so desired.

King has been on administrative leave since September 21, to facilitate CoI. The report also recommended that several other officers of the municipality be terminated for poor management of the city.

The final report was compiled by CoI Chairman and sole Commissioner, Justice (rt’d) Cecil Kennard with assistance from Legal Secretary Sherwyn Benjamin.

King was cited for gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty,

conspiracy and misappropriation of funds.

Acting Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe, Assistant Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick, Chief Constable Andrew Foo and City Engineer Colvern Venture were all cited for dereliction of duty and incompetence while Internal Auditor Omodele Umojo was named for incompetence and conspiracy.

Human Resources Manager Paulette Braithwaite was recommended to be terminated for incompetence while Assistant City Engineer Rashid Kellman was named for conspiracy. Justice Kennard has also recommended that City Treasurer Ron Mc Calmon proceed on early retirement since he has been unwell.

Other recommenda-

tions are that a yearly audit of the council’s finances and systems be conducted; that the council build suitable storage for all financial documents and employ a qualified accountant to hold the office of internal auditor; that former employees of the council be paid their severance packages, and their families be paid survivors’ benefits; that the contractors be paid their outstanding payments, and that the recommendations of the Keith Burrowes Report be implemented immediately; and that the recommendations of the consultant firm, Sandra V Jones and Associates be implemented immediately.

Reform results in first quarter –– says top cop as hundreds of Disciplined Services ranks promoted

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has promoted three senior superintendents of police to the rank of assistant commissioner and has approved hundreds of other promotions.

Senior Superintendents Edgar James Royston Andries-Junor and Paul Langevine were all promoted to assistant commissioners while Superintendents Phillip Azore, Adrin Simon, Michael Sutton and woman Superintendent Charmaine Jones-Stuart, among others, rose to the ranks of senior superintendents.

Twenty-one assistant superintendents and women assistant superintendents were promoted to superintendents.

Corporal Stephen Harris was the lone cadet officer for this year.

Other areas of promotion include chief inspector, inspector, sergeant, corporal and lance corporal.

Commissioner of Police Leslie James, in his New Year’s message, urged those promoted to “work collectively to advance the organisation” which he acknowledged is at an important juncture in its history.

He said it is anticipated that by the first quarter of

Assistant Commissioner Edgar James

2019, “a much-reformed force” will be seen.

Ranks were also reminded of the important role of the Guyana Police Force as encapsulated in its mission statement.

“The mission of the Guyana Police Force and its auxiliaries is to serve all citizens and communities of Guyana in a professional, pro-active and accountable manner. To achieve this, we will work in partnership with communities, public agencies and private bodies to enhance and support an environment where all people are preventing crime and building a safer and secured Guyana,” the mission statement read.

Commissioner James not-

Assistant Commissioner Royston Andries-Junor

Assistant Commissioner Paul Langevine

ed that consultations from counterparts in the United Kingdom have led the GPF to embark on three pillars.

These include training, infrastructural development and human resources management.

“Our mission statement is buttressed with the positivism displayed by the leadership of the force. It imbues the need for the rank and file of the force to emulate,” the top cop said.

Referencing the state of public security, Commissioner James reported that the force was able to maintain public security as there has been a decrease in serious crimes, including gun-related robberies and fatal accidents.

Meanwhile, for the new year, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Patrick West, also announced promotions.

Leading the list is Substantive Warrant Officer, Class Two, Marvin Pilgrim, who was promoted to the position of acting Warrant Officer, Class One. Christopher Harmon, Dyanor Wilson, Hesley Craig and Brian Ferdinant also followed in the same category.

Acting Warrant Officers, Class Two, Lawrence Assanah, Eon Winter and Cleveland O’Brien were promoted to Substantive Warrant Officer, Class Two.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

Guyanese students in China make donation to Shaheed’s Girls Orphanage

THE Guyana-China Students’ Association (GCSA), on Wednesday, donated $300,000 to the Shaheed’s Girls Orphanage, which was ravaged by a fire in October 2018.

According to information received from the association, the 26-member team pooled together their own resources and tapped into their social circles both in China and Guyana to acquire funds. In so doing, the association was able to acquire the amount—which is in fact twice their original target.

“After seeing the story of the orphanage being burnt

Children of the Shaheed’s Boys and Girls orphanages with the donation made on Wednesday by the Guyana-China Students’ Association (GCSA)

down, we could only imagine what those girls were feeling [and] this was the least we could do,” Managing Director Serena Rambaran told the Guyana Chronicle.

The donation to the local orphanage was part of their first Christmas Community Service Project. And through this donation, and others in the works, the association aims to influence other Guyanese associations and organisations at home and abroad to do the same.

The association was formed recently to cater for Guyanese who are studying in China, or have completed studies in the country. And Rambaran explained: “While we are away, we would like to remain connected to Guyana through different community projects.”

She also noted there are limited opportunities for Guyanese to be involved in civic engagement activities in

the foreign country and to access professional and personal development. Resultantly, the students have decided to create these opportunities for themselves.

“We all have a part of play in building Guyana.

Every act of service whether big or small is impactful; so we would like to remind everyone that they too can make a difference,” she said.

The Guyana-China Students’ Association is an organisation devoted to the development of Guyana’s greatest resource, the people. It operates under the motto: “Sowing in China, reaping in Guyana” and is currently focused on building a harmonious community of Guyanese in China working together with those who have returned to Guyana to bring about positive change in the country.

Man jailed for illegal possession of firearm

Quacy Glasgow

A 33-year-old West LaPenitence resident was on Thursday sentenced to two years imprisonment after confessing to the possession of an unlicensed firearm which he was attempting to sell.

Quacy Glasgow, a clothes vendor, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded guilty to the charge which read that on December 30, 2018 at Cemetery Road, he had a 9mmTaurus pistol in his possession without being the holder of a firearm licence.

Glasgow told the court that he found the gun in a black plastic bag while

swimming in a trench and was going to hand it over to the police. However, a man stopped him from turning the gun over to the police and instead made arraignment to purchase the firearm from him.

On the day in question he met the man at a bar named Green Palace along Cemetery Road and was nabbed by police. “I find it… I ain’t buy it” Glasgow told the court while begging the magistrate for leniency.

The chief magistrate after considering Glasgow’s early guilty plea sentenced him to two years imprisonment along with $50,000 fine.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

Guyana’s financial state steadily improving –– finance minister FINANCE Minister Winston Jordan said that although the Tax Reform Committee’s (TRC) recommendations are still being reviewed, Guyana’s state of financial management is steadily improving.

The government in recent years had commissioned two reports on tax reform; one from the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) and another from the local TRC. Jordan said over the last three years, the government has been assessing the recommendations to find a suitable “mix” for citizens.

He further stated that while the government thoroughly examines all recommendations, these must be considered in the wider context, as they can often clash with current political agenda.

“The people who have to implement the report are pol-

iticians. So if you tell me in the report that I should re-tax pensions as a means of taxing all incomes, that sounds good… indeed, that is one of the recommendations of the Tax Reform Committee… [but] do you think, as a politician, that I’m going to go out there and tax pensions?” the minister said.

“The government examines every one of those recommendations and what it feels is politically saleable, those are the ones that are going to be implemented.

The ones that are going to cause a lot of grief and are highly controversial will have to stay the course and will have to remain behind.”

The government has not introduced a single new tax since taking up office in 2015, contrary to the mantra being pushed by the Opposition of “200 new taxes” being introduced, Jordan said.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Given the opportunity in the National House of Assembly, the minister said he would challenge the Opposition to provide the proof for the claims being peddled.

REDUCED TAXES “We have reduced taxes in many areas, we have increased the threshold and so forth,” Jordan said. “There is no time in the history of this country that so many

measures in favour of the various stakeholders [have been put in place]. At no time has it ever been done by any government in their first three years of government.”

Although criticisms regarding a supposed delay in the implementation, the recommendations have come from the committee and elsewhere. Jordan reminded that when a report is commissioned, it is up to its owners

to determine how or when recommendations are implemented.

He stressed that it is worrisome that persons who compile reports continue to give their opinions on such matters to the public when such acts should be viewed as highly unprofessional.

“The report is not their own. Regardless of whether they did the report for free, it is still not their report. It is the report of the people who commissioned the report and it is up to the people who commissioned the report to make it public or not,” he said.

The finance minister also took the opportunity to address the accusations of the government dipping into the Contingency Fund.

“Come the end of this year [2018], it will be the second consecutive year in which not a single cent has been used from the Contingency Fund. I can tell you, without fear of contradiction,

this is unheard of in the last three decades or more,” he said.

This, Jordan explained, was only achieved through the administration’s determination for improved accountability and transparency in financial and fiscal matters, in accordance with the Constitution.

The Contingency Fund is a sum of reserved money set aside to cover possible unforeseen future expenses.

“The government was able to use the other mechanisms, the other legal mechanism which are the Supplementary Appropriations to deal with issues.

It’s all about timing and, during the year, predicting,” he said.

Holloway is VP of Guyana Goldfields FORMER US Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway has been appointed Senior Vice-President (Strategy and Corporate Affairs) of the Guyana Goldfields Inc. According to a press statement from the company, Holloway’s appointment took effect on January 1, 2019.

Holloway, whose tenure as ambassador ended late last year, is a career diplomat with more than 30 years of international experience in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on government relations, business advocacy, programme management, development and security.

Most recently, he was also the US Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Holloway also served in Colombia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, and Afghanistan.

He holds a master’s in International Business Sciences (MIBS) from the University of South Carolina and a master’s in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces

(ICAF).

"We are very pleased that Perry will be joining our team…. He brings to the table an intimate working knowledge of Guyana, the government and its people from his time as the U.S. ambassador. This experience will complement the excellent platform the company has already established in the areas of government relations, corporate social responsibility and programme management," said Scott Caldwell, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Goldfields.

"I'm very excited to be joining the Guyana Goldfields team at this time. In my role as U.S. Ambassador in Guyana, I saw firsthand how the work of Guyana Goldfields has contributed positively to the Guyanese economy and its people with gold currently being the primary driver of economic growth. I look forward to now being directly involved with this work and further strengthening the company's in-country relationships to the benefit of both the company and the people of Guy-

New Vice-President of Guyana Goldfields Inc. Perry Holloway

ana,” said Holloway.

As a member of the executive leadership team, Holloway will focus on all activities involving the Government of Guyana as well as

matters relating to in-country management and corporate social responsibility.

Guyana Goldfields Inc. is a Canadian-based, mid-tier gold producer, primarily

focused on the exploration, development and operation of gold deposits in Guyana, South America.

The company had commenced work at Aurora, Region Seven, to establish the first underground gold mine in Guyana.

The company announced that it had completed its first blast on a tunnel entrance at an area called Mad Kiss.

Guyana Goldfields Inc. said it expects that the decline tunnel will provide access to all principal underground mining areas. These include some higher-grade zones in Mad Kiss and East Walcott that could potentially provide supplemental mill feed during the development period.

According to a report, the ultimate plan was to advance the exploration decline approximately 2,500 metres and thus provides a platform for further underground exploration and definition drilling.

The 200 metres decline is expected to be completed early next year.

“The blast is a key milestone marking the commencement of underground

construction. The decline tunnel provides an ideal platform to potentially upgrade and expand the current underground resource and unlock the full potential of the Aurora deposit,” President and CEO Scott Caldwell said.

Caldwell had noted on a previous occasion that a higher quality of gold lies below the base of the Aurora Mines, but the company cannot expand the pit further because of the Cuyuni River; so the other option was to go underground.

Last year, Guyana Goldfields Inc. had also announced that gold produced at its Aurora Gold Mine for 2017 had totalled 160,500 ounces, finishing the year with its strongest quarter in the last quarter of the year since commencing operations in 2015.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

Region 10 RDC probing fuel theft in the Berbice River

THE Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is currently investigating the pilfering of fuel by boat captains, employed to operate its boats in the Upper-Berbice River.

The matter was discussed in detail at Thursday’s statutory meeting and allegations of officers being threatened when trying to investigate the theft also came to the fore by Regional Executive Officer (REO), Orrin Gordon.

In an effort to get value for budgetary allocations in 2019, the RDC was discussing strategies which should be enacted, to ensure that dishonesty is no longer continued in all departments and sections. Gordon then informed the councillors that 340 litres of fuel, is currently supplied to the captains

and investigations revealed that this amount is highly exorbitant.

Officers that tried to arrest the situation, allegedly had their lives threatened and according to Gordon, these captains are still in the employ of the RDC. “I am convinced and I am saying this without any fear of contradiction that indeed the 340 (fuel) was exorbitant,” Gordon said. This was corroborated by Regional Chairman Renis Morian who noted, “We are aware that we are getting hit with the fuel, and this is not now….. I am saying move them.”

Gordon then related that recently some regional health officers were left stranded in the river because the captain (s), made it appear as though the fuel supplied was not enough, when

RDC 10 councillors discussing the issue of pilfering of fuel at the RDC statutory meeting

he is sure, it is more than enough. Regional Health Officer Pansy Armstrong

however cleared the health captain’s name and said that he is not involved in the pilfering. Armstrong insisted that the situation should not reoccur since her officers are all females and should not be stranded at any time on the river when conducting their businesses. “My concern is my workers that are going into the river, are females and I am concerned about them being stranded in the river,” she stressed.

The officers visit the Berbi-

ce River periodically to pay staff residing in the remote villages as far as DeVeldt and Kimbia, as well as to transport medical supplies to the health post. Same is done by regional education officers who also face similar dilemma.

Regional Education Officer Rabindra Singh called for a new boat to be purchased for the department and for the dishonesty to discontinue since the region is not getting

value for its money. It was related in the meeting that when the RDC boats are experiencing mechanical problems, the boat captain uses his boat and also has to be paid $40, 000 per trip, in addition to his monthly salary. REO Gordon urged all the necessary players to come on board to arrest the situation earliest so that RDC can get value for its money in 2018.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

Gov’t goes to court today

…PM says ruling will set precedent for no confidence motion

By Rabindra Rooplall THE Speaker of the National Assembly has opened the gate for a judicial review based on legal practices and precedent in dealing with the no-confidence motion and government will be taking up the offer today, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has said.

The prime minister along with Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and Minister of State Joseph Harmon, during the recess at the National Assembly on Thursday, collectively agreed that the matter will have to be examined by a court of competent jurisdiction. He deemed this decision as a “mature, wise and elevated” one by the Speaker. The Prime Minister further stated that “democracies cannot be unstable, democracies cannot be fragile,” hence the Courts ruling will set a precedent.

“In other words, one of our courts must decide whether the number of votes cast for the respective side in that episode meets the requirement of the constitution. He (Speaker) said that while he has the power to revisit and reverse a ruling, he would do so only if there are compelling reasons and if a court adjudicates that the majority seen on that occasion did not reach the threshold of the constitution,” the PM said. Further, Nagamootoo said the article of the constitution 106 (7) says that the government continues in office while carrying out the necessary functions until elections are held and a new President is sworn in.

CLARITY NEEDED Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said the speakers view and his uncertainty on what constitutes a vote of the majority in the National Assembly whether it is 33 or 34 needs clarity.

Noting that there are benefits in judicial interpretation, Ramjattan said such an interpretation will bring finality to the matter for all and sundry. “There has not

been a resignation of the President or government, neither will there ever be a resignation of the President or the government, article 106 (7) is pellucid that the government of the day shall remain in office for three months or such longer period as the National Assembly by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all elected members of the national assembly,” Ramjattan said.

He said that the government is entitled to exercise its functions since the country cannot be left without a government since a governance vacuum is never permitted.

“The government retains its full panoply of legal powers whether that is statuary, prerogative or common law and is with jurisdiction to exercise its legal authority. The house has recently passed the 2019 national budget and it is expected that expenditures approved there are to be strictly adhered to because indeed we have passed a budget,” the public security minister said.

Meanwhile, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said based on a request by the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo the President instructed that a meeting be held on January 9, 2019, at 11:00hrs at the Ministry of the Presidency. Further, Minister Harmon condemned the posturing of the opposition in creating a level of uncertainty in the country.

“We respect the constitution, we respect the ruling of the national assembly, we respect the ruling of the courts and we will use all of these available means that are at our disposal to ensure that we bring clarity to the situation. The speaker said this has never happened before in Guyana and so what we also need to do is set a precedent as to how matters of this nature will be dealt with in the future,” Harmon said.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo flanked by Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 4, 2019

Chief justice to rule on whether court GWI increases in fixed charge takes can review case against Nandlall AS the former Attorney General of Guyana, Anil Nandlall continues to battle in the High Court for the larceny charge against to be thrown out, Special Organised Crime Unit’s (SOCU’s) Attorney, Leslyn Noble, argued adamantly that the High Court does not have the jurisdiction to hear his application.

Nandlall is on trial before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the alleged theft of some $2M worth of LexisNexis law reports on Commonwealth matters, during May 8 – 29 2015, which is said to be the property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

In November, a prima facie case was made out against him, whereby Magistrate Azore ruled that SOCU’s prosecutor proved his case based upon the evidence, and Nandlall was subsequently called to lead his defense in the next hearing which is scheduled for later this month. This action drove Nandlall to the High Court

where he and his counsel, Attorney Devindra Kissoon, are seeking a declaration that the charge is an offence unknown to the law; an order or writ of certiorari quashing the charge; a declaration that the magistrate committed an error of law by overruling the applicant’s no-case submission in respect of the offence, and three orders or writs of certiorari quashing the decisions made.

On his application, the two respondents are Magistrate Azore and Superintendent Trevor Reid. This matter was called on Thursday afternoon before acting Chief Justice (CJ), Roxane George-Wiltshire SC, who after hearing the arguments, announced that the ruling on whether or not the court has the jurisdiction will be ready on January 21st.

Noble, who is specifically representing Superintendent Reid, since he is listed as the second respondent in Nandlall’s action, told the court it is their contention that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the application,

PPP MP, Anil Nandlall

on the grounds that it stems from a trial that is ongoing in the Magistrates’ Court. In addition, Noble said the trial is at an interlocutory stage.

“The trial at the Magistrate’s Court should be concluded before this court can actually entertain an application for judicial review,” Noble opined.

Their second contention is that the applicant did not produce any evidence or facts that prove any breach of his constitutional right as made out in his application. Leading his defence Noble said, is not a breach of Nandlall’s constitutional right.

Additionally she said,

“The applicant did not show that the magistrate erred in law or that there was a grave miscarriage of justice and his constitutional rights were infringed. The learned magistrate was fully satisfied that a prima facie case was established,” Noble argued.

Further, she noted that if the applicant is convicted, he has the right to appeal if he is dissatisfied with the decision of the learned magistrate at the close of the trial.

In his response to Noble’s oral submissions, Kissoon said that even if the magistrate was acting judicially, the decision is still very reviewable. Especially at this stage of the proceedings, he said where CJ’s decision could bring the matter to an end, and not have the applicant be convicted. Over the years since this matter was made public, Nandlall has repeatedly insisted that the law books were bought for him while he was AG, by the State, with the approval of the then President, Donald Ramotar.

effect on Nov. 1

THE Guyana Water Inc (GWI) said it intends to increase its fixed-charge rate from November 1, 2019.

The new fixed-charge rate of $500 was approved by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The current fixed-rate charge is $250 for the period from October 2018 to October 2019.

This disclosure was made by the Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Van West Charles, at the company’s end-of-year press conference Friday last (December 31, 2018).

He related that revenue garnered from the increase will go directly towards addressing existing needs in the country’s water sector and making potable water supply a reality in some unserved areas. Thus, water transmission lines along Vlissengen Road and Church Street will be replaced and damaged and/or outdated infrastructure, especially in Central Georgetown, will be repaired or replaced as needed.

However, Dr. Van West

Charles added that the new fixed-rate charge will apply to both metered and unmetered consumers with the exception of pensioners, who will pay a fixed-rate charge of $250 per month.

Residential metered customers will continue to pay $122 per metre cube (220 gallons) while those outside of the city will pay $86 per metre cube. Unmetered residential customers will pay $1,100 per month.

As for non-residential metered customers, they are paying $125 per metre cube and unmetered non-residential customers are paying monthly charges ranging from $2,200 to $21,000 depending on the scale of the business.

Metered pensioners have to pay a monthly charge of $74 per metre cube (220 gallons) and $86 for each metre cube thereafter. Meanwhile, unmetered pensioners have to pay $740 per month.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 4, 2019

House clears bills to give effect to tax relief measures

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan (Adrian Narine photo)

THE National Assembly on Thursday passed a number of financial bills to give effect to an array of tax measures included the 2019 budget.

The Bills which totaled nine in number will see Guyanese receiving increased benefits and improved services and were all passed with the full support of the government. Among these were the Property Tax Amendment Bill and the Capital Gains Tax Amendment Bill which, Finance Minister Winston Jordan stated would ensure equity and consistency in the tax regime for individuals and companies across sectors.

Regarding the Property Tax Amendment Bill, there will be an increase in the threshold for filing a return for

individuals from the current net property of $1.5M to $40M while companies will move from $0.5M to $40M. There will also be a reduction in the current rate for both individuals and companies from 0.75 per cent to 0.5 per cent for the first $20M in taxable net property while the remainder will be taxed at 0.75 per cent.

Jordan reminded that the Property Tax Amendment Bill has nothing to with the Property Tax that may be assessed or levied by municipalities or Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

Meanwhile, for the first time, persons will be exempt from the payment of Capital Gains Tax in the case where the proceeds from the sale of a house is reinvested in another home of equal or greater value within 60 days of the end of the same year. “It recognises that there is a housing deficit in Guyana and we need to encourage housing of all kinds and every effort and every relief that can be given within the constraints of our fiscal space and our fiscal deficit should be given,” Jordan said.

Added to this, there will be an increase to the Capital Gains Tax threshold arising from disposal of property from $1,000 to $500,000 as well as the removal of the 25-year limitation.

“This service will see us losing $200M but Mr. Speaker we don’t see it as losing we see it as giving back to the workers, to individuals, to professionals, to all those

other persons who long to own a home and it will find its way back into the economy,” the minister said.

Also passed was the Tax (Amendment) No.2 Bill 2018 which recognises the country’s new towns namely Lethem, Mabaruma, Bartica and Mahdia to ensure they are beneficiaries of the services of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill 2018 was altered to provide for the minister to prescribe electronic forms for the efficient enforcement of the tax laws of the GRA. Passed too was the Customs (Amendment) Bill which caters to the exemption of import duty on a motor vehicle by eligible public officers, qualifying re-migrants, settlers and returning students.

To these groups of persons such provisions are only available within six months of re-assuming residence or in arriving in Guyana and shall not exceed $5M in customs duty, excise tax and value-added-tax. The amendment also allows for any money overpaid to the GRA to be refunded at any time within six months of the date of the overpayment or to be used to clear off any debts owed to the revenue authority. Other Bills amended included the Value Added Tax (Amendment) No.2 Bill 2018; the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill; the Income Tax (in Aid of Industry) Bill and the Corporation Tax (Amendment) Bill.

Coalition supporters stand firm with gov’t Supporters of the incumbent coalition government have reaffirmed that they still have full confidence in the government even as it moves to the courts to block the no-confidence motion.

Scores of supporters came dressed in green and lined the barricades placed in front of the Parliament

Buildings on Thursday.

They waited with bated breaths for the Speaker to rule on the government’s contention that the no-confidence motion passed, when former government Member of Parliament Charrandas Persaud defected, was unconstitutional.

Later that afternoon,

the Speaker addressed the issue and declined to review the motion and instead advised that the matter goes to the High Court. The supporters, however, were not daunted by this and expressed their full confidence in the incumbent government.

“We are out here to support the government

Supporters outside of the Parliament Buildings in support of the government

pertaining to the no-confidence motion,” Edward Allen told this newspaper.

He was one of the many supporters cheering on government ministers as they entered the buildings.

According to him, the government has been working in the best interest of Guyanese and are deserving of citizens’ confidence.

“It goes without saying that they are in government, we support our leaders,” Allen stressed.

Similarly, the youngest Georgetown councillor of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) who hails from Constituency 14, Denroy Tudor said: “The reason myself and all of these comrades are out here is in support of the APNU+AFC government.”

He added: “As we have been saying before, we have full confidence in the work of our government and the projects that are already in execution

Georgetown Councillor Denroy Tudor

and are in plan. We will continue to support the government and the plans that they have for us as the citizens.”

Commenting on the government’s move to the courts to contest the legality of the motion, Tudor also supported whatever efforts the government will be engaged in.

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes said she was satisfied that the Speaker advised that the motion be referred to the courts.

As a party and as a constituent of the incumbent government, Hughes shared that the Alliance

For Change (AFC) felt that it should have a right to go to the courts to challenge the legality of the motion passed with Persaud’s vote in favour of the Opposition.

“Of course, understanding that [the Speaker] felt that he was not in a position to reverse anything, but certainly we are satisfied that the right place is [to go to] the courts. As the Speaker himself said, we need, as a nation, to settle this once and for all and we will support the Speaker’s ruling and we are looking forward towards finding a resolution,” Hughes said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 4, 2019

The choice of moral courage and the consequences

T

HERE are persons who are isolated within the private world of their hidden but true nature, and have cultivated an aggressive posture to impersonate what they think society should expect of them.

It is in the times of challenge that we witness with gaping expressions the revelation, of where they are in vulgar dis-

Persaud action Friday 21 December,, is possibly the most heinous act of concentrated ‘evil’ that this country has witnessed. Charrandas was most likely vulnerable by virtue of his private habits, thus he made the most malleable willing pawn, coupled with his innate racism he then became the ‘willing pawn’ in a legal institution he neither understood, respected, and took for granted as to

prejudice, this is Treason.

In 2011, three friends were lured by a said former Defence Force Lieutenant Quincy Critchlow,into conversations about the terrible state of Afro-Guyanese under the PPP and a way forward, they never contemplated nor advocated Treason, as the executioners of Afro-Guyanese were the militias under Roger Khan even though it was known that Roger Khan

all its features had fallen in place, would result in a manufactured act of Treason for the transferred state assets to a friendly recipient.

I am not permitted to outline the details of that incident, except to realise that there are some souls who enter this world void of any moral faculties.

My colleagues were imprisoned on trumpeted up Treason charges, lives were destroyed, careers

plead guilty, because as we learnt later this lawyer was promised an ambassadorial post by the state, if he would make a despicable plan live] as providence would have it, the lawyer died not long after in a crash. A senior legal mind saw me at Bourda Market and corrected the false data provided; he informed me that indeed entrapment is recognised in our Laws and that it can be contested in court.

in Venezuela (B)- The incursion of the Venezuelan war ships in our territorial waters against Exxon and (C)- the No-Confidence Motion conspiracy. I do not doubt a sinister connection, based on previous consistent rumours of a willingness to negotiate with Guyana’s territorial integrity with Venezuela by a former PPP president, this would constitute a greater act of Treason were the three

play, they step forward and with vigour shake off the pretence and argue the indecent with intent to force it into reality, to create the social quotas of who should be proprietors and who should remain the first to die security guard at the door. It is not the first time that such sequences have occurred, ‘see the history of our most violent revolutions, they were all driven by souls who were above nothing or below nothing’ The Charrandason

its tenets.

I must insist on thanking Counsel Nigel Hughes for a most timely legal lesson in a dastardly moment that shrouded this nation with despair.

By the publication of this article, the full story will be unravelled and the wide scope of the conspirators will begin to be unmasked, this is not an ordinary conspiracy, this in all is the most terrible of crimes any citizen anywhere can perform and is punishable with

was part of the autonomy of the PPP. Why this is important is that I was supposed to be included in those discussions, but somehow I was not interested in this ‘now come’ person, though I did try to obtain some employment as I was asked by Junior Wharton for this supposedly needed DF NCO, without meeting this person. Ironically from the very institution that was the target of a sinister conspiracy, that if

broken because of this twisted, sick mind. That act was foiled because the late Commissioner Henry Green, for all his failings, had the courage to refuse to plant weapons where they should not have been planted.

I wrote a letter on the 11th March 2012, giving an outline of that incident-[not the details], that included a false legal fact provided by Wharton’s lawyer [who we were unaware of, as to why he was imploring Junior to

Morals are tested mostly when we are venerable to the anxieties of impeding justice, debt, addictions to gambling, drugs and alcohol and the variables of callous political and economic ambitions. King David in the Bible, had all the latter mentioned, his moral degradation was his lust for another man’s wife. We must not be naive however, not to observe coincidences, that three events occurred simultaneously (A)- Russian economic interests

events to be linked.

We must recognise that moral courage is based on the ability to understand beyond the possibility of selfish gains, that the being who makes the offer for treachery will itself hold the Judas in contempt as having an ability to betray, as my father told me, “In dis life yuh got to believe in values, if yuh sell out , yuh sell yuhself out, and soon enough yuh’s disposable”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 4, 2019

AFC stands by leaked e-mail …rejects claims it was conspiring to bring down government

THE Alliance For Change (AFC) is standing by the contents of a leaked email regarding a suggested strategy regarding the 2019 budget, explaining that the urging of its leader, Raphael Trotman for the party to take control is not the same thing as a news report suggesting a “coup” or dissatisfaction with the coalition government.

In the email dated November 11, 2018, which was officially made public by the AFC on Thursday, the leader initiated a discussion on the 2019 Budget and its implications for the AFC come 2020. But while issues such as constitutional reforms, Amerindian land titling, social contract and beneficial sharing of the petroleum proceeds were brought to the fore, Trotman proposed that the party capitalised on the ‘weakened state’ of its coalition partner. “…without knowing the results of the LGE, I believe we know enough to say the AFC has undoubtedly received a “bounce” from this campaign, and the initiative is with us and must be acted on at once.

“I need not underscore that our coalition partner is in a weakened state and so whether deliberately or by default, the ball is in our court and has to be played,”

Trotman told his executives.

He saw the 2019 budget as an opportunity for the AFC to make some gains in several areas with the support of APNU’s member – the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and civil groups. “The proposal then is that we advance an agenda for “change” and I respectfully suggest a few matters below that can be introduced into the discussion about AFC’s support for the budget. I stop short of saying that unless we get these items we should not support the budget…,” another section of the email read.

But AFC, in a statement, said the email was internally generated correspondence to the AFC leadership as part of parliamentary preparation for the 2019 budget exercise as it backed Trotman. “…we in the AFC are in full support of the leader and his right to put forward progressive ideas for the consideration, approval and implementation of our members in general and our Parliamentary team in particular.

The party, therefore, does not resile from the content of the email as it detailed our focus and priority for the future of Guyana, particularly the imperatives for the 2019 budget cycle,” the minority party in government stated.

It maintained that the email correspondence set out

the AFC’s priorities in keys areas such as constitutional reform, beneficial sharing of the petroleum proceeds and other natural resources, social impact programme for sugar workers, a social contract for public sector workers,

urging of members to take control is not the same thing as the report suggesting a “coup” or dissatisfaction with the coalition government.

AFC said its internal communication was designed to encourage its partners to be

AFC Executive and Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson (Photo by Adrian Narine)

settling of the Amerindian Land titling issue, and the passage of other legislative reforms, among others in the first quarter of 2019.

It condemned mischievous attempts to weaponise the contents, noting that the

mindful of the urgency of the task ahead and to be prepared to lead Guyana’s development. “We stand solidly behind the contents of the email and the leader; and for the avoidance of confusion and mischief, the AFC is making

the fullness of our leader’s email available to the public so that everyone may see its full content and context,” the AFC stated.

Trotman also said the coalition needs to be more cohesive. “We are a coalition of disparate and diverse groups with a shared vision of national unity and a good life for all. Our greatest strength is in fact our diversity and we have not wielded it to its optimum. Nothing about the 2015 campaign, victory and formation of government was meant to be seen or function in orthodoxy. Attempting to govern in an orthodox manner has hindered us from making bold and transformative steps,” Trotman contended.

On the sideline of Parliament on Thursday, the AFC leader declined to speak on the matter but his colleague, David Patterson, Minister of Public Information, explained that the email was misconstrued.

In fielding questions from the Guyana Chronicle, Patterson noted that the email was sent by Trotman at a time when he was out of the country. He was also keen on noting that the email was in response to budget preparation and not the passage of the budget in the National Assembly. As is done in the preparation of any bud-

get, Patterson said, the AFC leader was placing several proposals on the table for consideration by its coalition partner in the drafting of the budget.

Asked what he thought Trotman meant when he said “government was in a weakened state,” the public infrastructure minister said he never considered the APNU to be weak, noting that the AFC leader should be approached for clarity. But for him, it was just a simple matter. Patterson said the person who leaked the information was very selective, pointing out that he or she did not provide the email or comments on the response and subsequent decisions that were taken based on Trotman’s proposal.

However, he made it clear that as a member of the coalition government, he is pleased with the $300.7B budget. “What I say is that we are very very pleased with 2019 budget which was as a result of collective liberation.

What we as a party finally agreed that we would like to see in a budget was very different from what you are seeing there. That’s just Mr. Trotman’s proposal.”

He is of the opinion that the contents of the leaked email will not affect in any way the relationship the AFC has with the APNU.

Paramakatoi farmer remanded Berbice brothers died for murder of villager from gunshot wounds – autopsy

Timothy Martin

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday remanded a 46-year-old Paramakatoi farmer to prison for the alleged murder of his fellow villager.

Timothy Martin appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the capital offence which read that on December 27,2018

at Kurukabaru Village, North Pakaraima he murdered Debert Ovid Joseph.

Martin was unrepresented and was remanded to prison until January 15, 2019. The matter was transferred to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for hearing.

According to a police report, on the day in question, Martin was given ‘Cari wine’ (bush wine) to

drink and after consuming the substance he began behaving in an aggressive manner while saying that he was being beaten by two men. It is alleged that Joseph rushed to Martin’s aid when the man pulled out a knife from his waist and stabbed the victim about his body. Martin ran away and Joseph later succumbed to his injuries.

THE brothers who were killed by armed bandits on New Year’s Eve died as a result of a gunshot injuries, a post-mortem conducted on the men by government pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh at the Fort Wellington Mortuary on Thursday found.

Harricharran Samaroo called “Davo”, 46, and Premcharran Samraroo, 45, was killed on Monday. Premcharran was shot at point black range and died instantly from multiple gunshot injuries while his older brother Harricharran who was also shot, succumbed to his injuries at the Port Mourant Hospital.

He died from gunshot injuries to his chest.

At approximately 20:15hrs, the men were

in the company of an overseas relative and their mother at her Lot 446 Bush Lot Village, Corentyne home when they went to the back of the house to investigate a loud sound.

There, they were ambushed and shot.

Harricharran Samaroo

During the shooting, their mother Irene Samaroo, 64, went upstairs to collect a torchlight and while on her way down, she was confronted by three armed men who demanded cash.

One of the bandits also held on to her cousin Munilal Kumar and broadsided him as they demanded cash.

The bandits carted off over $70,000 before making good their escape.

As the police continue their investigation, several persons were held but were subsequently released.

Police sources say in light of the increase in crime in the Corentyne district, several strategic measures will be put in place to apprehend perpetrators.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 4, 2019

Bandits terrorise mother, pregnant daughter --rob businessman in separate attack

TWO women and a twoyear-old were attacked by three masked and armed bandits who carted away with more than $500,000 in cash, jewellery and other items in the wee hours of Thursday morning.

At approximately 00:30hrs, three men armed with a crowbar and cutlass entered the business place of Comfort Inn Guest House Restaurant and Bar located at Lot 9, Johns, Corentyne, Berbice and pounced on the elderly security guard.

Reports indicate that the guard was hit in the face with the crow bar.

Bibi Salima Ally, who operates the business, said she was in the bedroom in the lower-flat of the house with her daughter and her grandson when she heard people running in the upper-flat.

The woman said she became alarmed since she had no guest at the time and alerted her daughter.

“After the running, I wake my daughter and I tell her you know what, thief man in the house. She asked

how I know, I say look they striking the torchlight cause there was no lights on and she hurry and pick up the phone and call Whim Station,” Ally related.

thing! Gold and money or we chop off y’all neck,” Ally recalled the bandits shouted at her.

daughter, Fanesha Hassan called “Lisa”, 28, said she pleaded for her life and for the men not to harm her as

in an unconsciousness state.

In December last year, the businesswoman said she was robbed in excess of $1M in cash and jewellery by armed men who invaded the bar.

The guest house where the robbery occurred Bibi Salima Ally

However, she said while talking, the bandits rushed into the room and took away the phone.

The woman explained she began trembling as the men shouted and began threatening to kill her, her daughter and grandson if she does not hand over the cash and valuables.

“Shut yuh mouth! Shut yuh mouth! Give we every-

She said the men proceeded to the shop after taking several items and continued to demand cash and valuables. The distraught woman related that she repeatedly begged the bandits not to hurt her family but as their demands for more cash was not met, one of the men attempted to hit her in the head with a crowbar but she blocked the blow with her hands.

The woman’s pregnant

she was due to give birth in a few weeks.

In tears, she stated that after the men left, she began experiencing pains in the body due to stress and had to be rushed to a nearby private hospital. There, doctors told her that she was in labour. Hassan gave birth later on Thursday.

After the robbers left, Ally said she went to check up on the watchman and found him lying in the yard

Security Guard Alexander Sears

The security guard, Alexander Sears, 78, of Bloomfield, said he went to the washroom and as he was making his way to the front of the building, he was confronted by the three armed men.

Sears said he tried to fight them off but was overpowered and one of the

bandits who struck him in the head with a crow bar.

“The blow made me fall down and I left there while they went upstairs,” he said.

About 45 minutes after the robbery at the Guest House, bandits broke and enter Gabbar Halal Chicken Outlet located at Clifton Settlement, one village way.

Proprietor Doodnauth Takapersaud said the perpetrators managed to escape with $18,000 cash and three plucked chickens.

The businessman said it was the third time in a short period he was robbed by bandits. Three weeks ago, bandits broke and entered the business and stole $183,000 in cash and about 20 plucked chickens, energy drinks and other beverages from the freezer.

On Christmas Eve, he once more became a victim of robbery when several persons entered his yard and stole three sheep.

When contacted, a police source related that no arrests have been made thus far but investigations are ongoing.

IT’S time for the weekend again, people! And Christmas is in the air, so there are a few Christmas- themed events to help you get into the season’s vibes. So don’t stay cooped up at home.

Today

The Vintage Wine Bar, Restaurant & Lounge presents “Latin Night” Get two Desperados Tequila Beers for $1,000 Tower Suites presents Poolside Happy Hour from 17:30hrs to 19:30hrs. Enjoy a number of combos for just $1,000. Have a beer and burger combo, enjoy a margarita or any of their beer specials, or cutters platters, for that unbeatable cost. You don’t want to miss it.

Tomorrow

The Caribbean’s biggest annual old school event continues! Golden Smile Family presents their annual Flash Back Old Skool Party at the National Park Tarmac. Sky Juice, Steelie Bashment, O.C Dread And Guyana’s All-star deejays will all be there.

Haven’t had your first kiss of the year as yet? Then pucker up! Pulse Entertainment presents “First Kiss” at Palm Court. Have some fun with our private kissing booth, try our kiss cocktails and party the night away with DJ Ryan, Shizzle and DJ Anisha. Everyone Free before 10pm! Admission $2000 The Vintage Wine Bar, Restaurant & Lounge presents Saturday Fete & Karaoke. Ladies get one free cocktail. Enjoy soca, chutney, reggaeton, dancehall and electronic mixes.

Sunday

Party Sundays continue at Club Privilege. Everybody free before 22:00hrs. Drink specials all night, free Bacardi shots on entry. Music by fusion DJs, Stereo Sonic DJs, Boom DJs and other DJs passing through.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 4, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 4, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 4, 2019

Quartet of table tennis players willing to return to China for more training FOLLOWING their return to Guyana having concluded training at the Hebei Zhengding Table Tennis Training Centre in China, the quartet of Natalie Cummings, Elishaba Johnson, Nigel Bryan and Joel Alleyne have all expressed their desire for more.

The players, who returned to Guyana on December 27, revealed that a lot was learnt and they are more confident in their abilities, consistency in their play, and feel they are better prepared to represent Guyana.

They believe that an extended stay would truly lend to becoming world class for the seriously committed player.

This is something they would be happy to do in the future as well as play in competitions in China to test their skills and elements learnt.

The team of four players arrived at the Peking Airport Beijing in China on November 25, 2018 and were picked up by representatives in China and transported to the Hebei Zhengding Table Tennis Training Centre China.

All four of the players agreed that the training provided was of exceptional quality and of a high standard with many of the world’s top players visiting and attending the centre while other players from Singapore, Sweden, Australia and other countries were there.

The training facility included different floors for males and females with a separation of players by their respective levels and abilities.

Training was done in 6-7 hours daily for six days a week with the Guyanese being provided with high quality Chinese sparring partners/players who were very consistent in their approach, helpful, encouraging and strong enough to provide great sparring and to push the Guyanese to their limits.

The players on their return met with Charge de Affaires Mr Chen Xillai and his Excellency, Ambassador Cui Jianchun where they had

a debriefing.

The training was facilitated through the support of the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China Embassy, Guyana. It was based on current technical and diplomatic engagements between the Guyana Table Tennis Association, the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It is the belief of the GTTA that these engagements will provide key benefits to raising the level of performances of their players and enhancing cooperation between the peoples of China and Guyana.

The GTTA expressed its gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the People’s Republic of China Embassy, Guyana, through His Excellency Ambassador Cui Jianchun and Charge de Affaires, Mr Chen Xillai, along with Mrs Wang Quiyi, for their input and support in the provision of critical high level table tennis training and other key initiatives and support programmes being offered to Guyana, aimed at supporting and improving the performance and development of Guyana’s table tennis.

GFF opens ...

RMA (in the case of a transfer out of the former association).

Unless and until all of these entities are informed and involved, and provided that none of them raises any legitimate concerns with the attempted transfer and refuses to concur or approve the transfer, the transfer is incomplete.

The new club has the recourse of seeking the intervention of the relevant RMA, or subsequently the GFF, if it is of the view that the transfer is being unjustly hindered by the former club or the relevant RMA. In the case of international transfers, the process begins at the new club, which requests and initiates the process via the International Transfer Matching System (ITMS) following discussions with the former clubs.

The process for the Domestic Transfer is as follows: The new club confirms

from back pg.

«

the player has an interest in the transfer and, if so, the new club makes contact with the former club to negotiate the transfer agreement If it’s agreed, the new club collects the transfer document from the relevant RMA Each entity involved fills and signs its allocated part of the form; namely, the player, the former club, and the new club.

The form is then submitted to the relevant RMA, which confirms the authenticity of the involvement of each party.

Everything being in order, the RMA approves the transfer and gives a copy to the new club.

6. If the player is being transferred across RMA, the new club takes its copy of the form to the new RMA so that the player can be registered within that RMA and cleared for participation as a player of that club.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday, January 04, 2019)

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

(2)

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: Tamin Iqbal-2619 runs in 78 ODIs (Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka) Brian Lara-1276 runs in 30 ODIs (Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad)

(1) (2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: Who has taken most ODI wickets at a single venue to date?

Who has taken most ODI wickets at a single Caribbean venue to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 4, 2019

Pujara torments Aussies with third century as India march on

By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Cheteshwar Pujara put Australia to the sword with an unbeaten 130 in India’s 303 for four on the opening day of the fourth Test yesterday, keeping the tourists firmly on track for a historic breakthrough with his third century of the series.

The hosts, desperately scrapping to avoid being the first Australia team to lose a series to India on home soil, had their successes and managed to dislodge Mayank Agarwal after a bright 77, Virat Kohli for 23 and Ajinkya Rahane for 18.

Pujara, however, would just not budge and eked out his innings at a rate of little more than a run every other ball to take his series tally to 458 and add another century to those that helped India to wins in Adelaide and Melbourne.

Those victories to Australia’s one win in Perth means

India need only to avoid defeat in the final Test at Sydney Cricket Ground to secure their maiden Test series triumph Down Under.

Again India’s rock, Pujara, put together partnerships of 116 with Agarwal, 54 with Kohli, 48 with Rahane and finished the day with an unbroken stand of 75 with Hanuma Vihari, who will resume on day two on 39 not out.

“It’s great to watch him from the other end, the way he grinds the bowlers,” Agarwal said.

“We’re very happy.

We would have liked to be probably three down but 300 for four on the first day after choosing to bat, I think we’re in a great position.”

Australia’s bowlers laboured manfully on a hot day but it was hard to avoid the conclusion that they were firmly behind the eight-ball from the moment Tim Paine lost the toss.

India have never lost

a Test match when Kohli has won the toss - winning 18 and drawing three - but more importantly the tourists had the opportunity to bat the Australians out of the game as they did in Melbourne.

Josh Hazlewood struck early on a wicket with a greenish tinge to remove KL Rahul for nine but that only brought Pujara to the crease to join Agarwal, the senior man initially happy to let the opener take the scoring load.

HOSTILE BOWLING Agarwal faced some hostile short bowling from the Australian pacemen, brushing off blows to his elbow and helmet as Mitchell Starc, in particular, gave him a thorough going over.

After adding a second half-century to his first on debut in Melbourne, the 27-year-old opened up with a couple of sixes off Nathan Lyon only to hole out to Starc at long-on going for a third.

Kohli announced his

WADA hires law firm to investigate bullying accusations (REUTERS) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Thursday it had hired a law firm to investigate accusations of bullying and harassment within the organisation after an initial probe was unable to prove any improper behaviour.

Beckie Scott, a Canadian Olympic gold medal cross country skier and WADA’s athletes committee chair, accused members of the executive committee of making inappropriate comments and gestures during a September meeting in the Seychelles when she opposed the reinstatement of Russia’s anti-doping agency.

WADA conducted an external independent review and discussed the report at meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan in November but determined the findings did not conclude the alleged bullying had taken place.

However, given the seriousness of the allegations, WADA decided a second investigation should be carried out and that the agency should seek legal advice.

In a statement WADA said the law firm Covington & Burling had “been given the mandate to conduct a full and thorough investigation of allegations of bullying and harassment, including interviews of the relevant parties”.

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arrival at the crease with a four punched through extra cover but fell straight after tea when a Hazlewood delivery down the leg side caught his glove and flew to Paine behind the stumps.

Left-armer Starc has come under some criticism for his bowling in this series but there was nothing wrong with the angled bouncer that accounted for Rahane, who also gloved behind to Paine.

Pujara, meanwhile, had no time for too many expansive strokes and it summed up his innings that his 18th Test century came up when he swatted the 199th ball he faced to fine-leg and it just about reached the boundary rope for his 13th four.

“He was classy, wasn’t he? His time, his patience, he was just very good,” said Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne, whose parttime spin bowling took a bit of a battering from Pujara.

“That’s what we’re going to have to do and put a big score on the board.”

Cheteshwar Pujara brought up his third century of the Test series.

(Getty Images)

SCOREBOARD

INDIA 1st innings Mayank Agarwal c Mitchell Starc b Nathan Lyon 77 Lokesh Rahul c Shaun Marsh b Josh Hazlewood 9 Cheteshwar Pujara not out

130 Virat Kohli c Tim Paine b Josh Hazlewood 23 Ajinkya Rahane c Tim Paine b Mitchell Starc 18 Hanuma Vihari not out

39 Extras: (lb-2, w-5)

7 Total: (four wkts, 90.0 overs)

303 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-126, 3-180 4-228.

Bowling: Mitchell Starc 18-0-75-1, Josh Hazlewood 20-7-51-2, Pat Cummins 19-3-62- 0 (w-1), Nathan Lyon 29-5-88-1, Marnus Labuschagne 4-0-25-0.

Markram, bowlers put Proteas in strong position on opening day

By Mark Gleeson CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - Opener Aiden Markram made a return to form as he scored 78 to help South Africa into a strong position on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands yesterday.

Markram’s contribution put South Africa on 123 for two wickets at close, 54 runs behind after bowling out Pakistan for 177 at tea.

South Africa, who won the first of the three-Test series by six wickets in Pretoria last week, will be confident of building a substantial first-innings lead after their four-man seam attack ripped through the Pakistan batting line-up.

The 24-year-old Markram, who struggled on tour in Sri Lanka in July and in the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, was bowled on the last ball of the day by Shan Masood.

Hashim Amla, who is 24 not out, will resume today with captain Faf du Plessis, who went out for a pair in the first Test.

“We have to start well again and build those partnerships,” said veteran bowler Dale Steyn after the close.

The solid home batting performance contrasted with Pakistan’s opening innings as they were flayed with a constant barrage of pace.

“South Africa were pretty unrelenting with all their quicks (pace bowlers),” Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said.

“We have no option but to come in tomorrow and first look to control the run rate, hopefully building pressure and get wickets.”

Duanne Olivier added to his 11 wickets in the first Test with four more as du Plessis’ decision to put Pakistan in to bat, and go with a seam-only attack on a

quick wicket, was vindicated.

Pakistan were teetering at 75-5 at lunch and lost five more wickets before tea despite 56 from captain Sarfraz Ahmed, who was dismissed to an injudicious uppercut shot just when a fightback looked on the cards.

Masood made 44 with Olivier’s figures of 4-48 bookended by Steyn, who took the first wicket of the day and the last two of the Pakistan innings for 3-48.

SCOREBOARD

PAKISTAN 1st innings Imam ul-Haq lbw Vernon Philander 8 Fakhar Zaman c Temba Bavuma b Dale Steyn 1 Shan Masood c Quinton de Kock b Kagiso Rabada 44 Azhar Ali c Hashim Amla b Duanne Olivier 2 Asad Shafiq c Dean Elgar b Kagiso Rabada 20 Babar Azam c Faf du Plessis b Duanne Olivier 2 Sarfraz Ahmed c Quinton de Kock b Duanne Olivier 56 Mohammad Amir not out

22 Yasir Shah c Faf du Plessis b Duanne Olivier 5 Mohammad Abbas c Quinton de Kock b Dale Steyn 0 Shaheen Afridi c Quinton de Kock b Dale Steyn 3 Extras: (b-8, lb-2, nb-1, w-3)

14 Total: (all out, 51.1 overs)

177 Fall of wickets:1-9, 2-13, 3-19, 4-51, 5-54, 6-114, 7-156, 8-162, 9-163.

Bowling: Dale Steyn 15.1-4-48-3 (w-1), Vernon Philander 11-3-36-1, Kagiso Rabada 10-2-35-2 (nb-1), Duanne Olivier 15-3-48-4 (w-2).

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings Aiden Markram b Shan Masood

78 Dean Elgar c Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Amir 20 Hashim Amla not out

24 Extras; (lb-1)

1 Total: (two wkts, 30.0 overs)

123 Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-123.

Bowling: Mohammad Amir 8-2-25-1, Mohammad Abbas 9-045-0, Shaheen Afridi 9- 1-34-0, Yasir ShaH 3-0-14-0, Shan Masood 1-0- 4 – 1.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 4, 2019

Neesham pushes World Cup claims in Kiwis win over Sri Lanka WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - James Neesham did his World Cup chances no harm after 18 months out of the New Zealand side, as he produced an all-around performance in their 45-run win over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international yesterday.

posing 371 for seven, which was anchored by Martin Guptill’s 138 and Kane Williamson’s 76.

Neesham, who is battling with three other players for an all-rounder’s spot for the May 30-July 14 World Cup in England and Wales, however, overshadowed Guptill’s 14th ODI

three at the start of the 49th over bowled by Thisara Perera and proceeded to smash five sixes.

He then finished New Zealand’s innings with a sixth six off Nuwan Pradeep, having scored 47 from 13 balls.

Neesham then dismissed both of Sri Lanka’s openers after Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka (43) had given their side a superb start with a 119-run stand in less than 18 overs.

He also snapped up the dangerous Dinesh Chandimal for his third wicket to reduce Sri Lanka to 211 for four in the 33rd over just as they were preparing themselves for an assault.

Perera, however, kept the visitors in the chase with his fourth one-day century, before he fell in the 46th over with his side needing 74 runs to win the game.

The second game of the three-match series is at the same venue tomorrow.

SCOREBOARD

NEW ZEALAND innings Martin Guptill c Lakshan Sandakan b Thisara Perera 138 Colin Munro c Lakshan Sandakan b Lasith Malinga 13 Kane Williamson b Nuwan Pradeep 76 Ross Taylor c Seekkuge Prasanna b Thisara Perera 54 Henry Nicholls run-out Thisara Perera 15 Tim Seifert c Kusal Perera b Lasith Malinga 1 Jimmy Neesham not out

47 Matt Henry c Thisara Perera b Nuwan Pradeep

6 Extras: (lb-2, nb-4, w-5)

11 Total: (seven wkts, 50.0 overs)

371 Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-186, 3-274, 4-294, 5-316, 6-317, 7-363.

Bowling: Lasith Malinga 10-0-78-2 (w-4, nb-2), Nuwan Pradeep 8-0-72-2 (nb-1), Thisara Perera 10-0-80-2 (w-1, nb-1), Seekkuge Prasanna 10-0-60-0, Lakshan Sandakan 10-0-64-0.

James Neesham

The visitors, led by Kusal Perera’s 102 and Niroshan Dickwella’s inventive and entertaining 76 were dismissed for 326 in 49 overs, chasing New Zealand’s im-

century with a six-hitting assault at Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui.

The 28-year-old, who had not played for New Zealand since June 2017, was on

SRI LANKA innings Niroshan Dickwella b Jimmy Neesham 76 Danushka Gunathilaka c Tim Seifert b Jimmy Neesham 43 Kusal Perera c Tim Seifert b Trent Boult 102 Kusal Mendis c Tim Seifert b Ish Sodhi 18 Dinesh Chandimal c Ross Taylor b Jimmy Neesham 10 Asela Gunaratne c Lockie Ferguson b Ish Sodhi

11 Thisara Perera c Colin Munro b Lockie Ferguson 4 Seekkuge Prasanna c Tim Seifert b Lockie Ferguson 16 Lasith Malinga b Matt Henry

11 Lakshan Sandakan b Trent Boult 6 Nuwan Pradeep not out

6 Extras: (b-2, lb-10, nb-1, w-11

23 Total: (all out, 49.0 overs) 326 Fall of wickets: 1-119, 2-126, 3-178, 4-211, 5-267, 6-273, 7-298, 8-303, 9-310.

Bowling: Trent Boult 10-0-65-2 (w-3), Matt Henry 10-0-87-1 (nb1), Lockie Ferguson 10-0-65-2 (w-1), Ish Sodhi 10-0-53-2 (w-4), Jimmy Neesham 8-0-38-3 (w-3).

Top racehorses confirmed for Sunday

THE commencement of the 2019 horse-racing season will see almost all of the country’s top racehorses, according to organisers of the Sky Plus Incorporated Promotion Group.

The one day meeting is billed for the Number 36 Village, Macedonia Estate, Corentyne race track.

The card will consist of seven races, and over $4 million in cash, trophies and other incentives will be up for grabs.

According to the original programme, the H and Lower race will be the feature event over four furlongs and has a winning purse of $240 000.

There will also be the event for three-year-old animals which will cover over 880 yards with $200 000 up for the taking.

In the classified J and Lower, horses will compete for the $180 000 top prize while in the K Class and Lower race, rivals jostle for the first prize of $140 000.

The event will also feature three L Class races, one for male horses which will be over four furlongs and two for female horses which will cover over three furlongs with $100 000 and a trophy up for grabs.

The other L Class event will see the non-earners from the other two L Class races compete for a winner’s purse of $100 000 and a trophy over three furlongs. The champion jockey, trainer and stable will be awarded individual prizes.

Persons who are interested are asked to make contact with Mohini on 600-4728 or Amanda on 618-5966.

Narine blasts Richmond Kawks to softball title

FORMER Essequibo senior inter-county batsman Latchmikhant Narine was in vintage mood on New Year’s Day when the Richmond Youths Sports Club hosted an 8’ overs a side soft-ball competition at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground.

In the first match, Richmond Hawks destroyed Richmond Hustlers by 35 runs. Batting first, the Hawks flew quickly to 102-4 from their 8 overs as Narine blasted 55 from just 22 deliveries with 6x6 and 2x4 in an entertaining innings. In reply, the Hustlers despite a threatening knock of 42 (3x6 and 3x4) from Gladwin George, they fell short of the target reaching 62-7 when the overs expired.

The Hustlers then returned in the round-robin competition to defeat Richmond Youths by 4 wickets in a low scoring game. Batting first, Richmond Youths started disastrously by losing a wicket to the first ball of the match.

They never recovered and reached a paltry 34-8 from their 8 overs. The Hustlers also struggled but were able to cross the line scoring 35-6 in the 7th over for a tense win.

The final was then contested with Richmond Hawks batting first after winning the toss. It was again a one man show as Latchmikhant Narine took centre stage. He plundered 45 including 5x6 and 2x4 to rally the Hawks to 96-4 from their 8 overs. In reply, the Hustlers again were out done by the Hawk’s ravenous bowlers who restricted them to 63-9 from their allotted 8 overs, losing by 33 runs.

During the presentation, the Winners’ Trophy which was donated by Shawn Persaud and $30,000.00 was presented to Richmond Hawks while Latchmikhant Narine collected the Man of the Match prize. Another similar competition is slated for Sunday at the same venue as the host seeks to revive soft-ball cricket in North Essequibo.

YWCC face powerhouse RHT Gizmos & Gadgets tomorrow THE historic Albion Community Centre Ground is expected to come alive on Sunday when it hosts the historic final of the Ivan Madray Memorial first division 100 balls cricket tournament. The ground, which is the home of five Test players, is expected to attract a sizeable crowd as two of the county’s best teams clash.

Underdogs Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) will be making their third effort to defeat archrivals Rose Hall Town (RHT) Gizmos & Gadgets for a first division title after being crushed in

the Pepsi 50 Overs and Busta Champion of Champions 40 Overs tournaments.

Shimron Hetmyer

YWCC will be strengthened by the inclusion of West Indies middle-order batting star Shimron Hetmyer who recently returned with the regional team from an Asian tour.

He is expected to receive support from his older brother Seon Hetmyer, Vishal Mohabir, National Under-19 player Alex Algoo, Linden Austin, the experienced Ishwar Singh and the hard-hitting Suresh Dhanai.

The YWCC’s bowling attack on paper is strong but will need to be on spot to contain the strong RHT Gizmos & Gadgets Cricket

Club’s batting line up.

Medium pacers Devindra Ramoutar, Seon Het-

Royston Crandon

myer and Suresh Dhanai will lead the attack and are expected to receive vital support from off-spinners Ishwar Singh and Linden Austin, left-arm spinner Trevlon Stanislaus and teenage leg-spinner Ricardo Ramdihal.

RHT Gizmos & Gadgets Cricket Club’s batting line-up will be strengthened by the return of former West Indies ODI all-rounder Royston Crandon, Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Eon Hooper, Vidal Crandon and Jonathan Rampersaud.

Off-spinners Eon Hooper, Royston Crandon, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, leftarm spinner Keith Simpson and wily leg-spinner Shawn Pereira complete a strong bowling line-up that did not concede over 200 runs in an innings in 2018. Pacer Sylus Tyndall and medium pacer Kevlon Anderson will offer support with the new ball in the absence of Clinton Pestano.

The winning team will receive $100 000 and the Ivan Madray Memorial Cup while the losing finalists will collect $50 000 and a trophy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 4, 2019

Formula One pays tribute to Schumacher at 50

By Alan Baldwin LONDON, England (Reuters) - Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher turned 50 yesterday with Formula One and his fans paying tribute to the sport’s most successful driver with a mixture of celebration and sorrow.

The German great has not been seen in public since he suffered severe brain injuries in a recreational skiing accident in the French Alps five years ago.

“Our champ turns 50 today. We’re all with you Michael #KeepFighting,” said Ferrari, celebrating a driver who won five titles in a row for the Italian team between 2000 and 2004.

“Michael, you’ve always been a fighter and you always will be,” said former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, the president of the sport’s governing body the International Automobile Federation (FIA), on Twitter.

Schumacher now lives a sheltered existence at the family’s mansion by the shores of Lake Geneva in the town of Gland, Switzerland, with his wife Corinna and children highly protective of his privacy.

“You can be sure that he is in the very best of hands and that we are doing everything humanly possible to help him,” the family said in a rare statement on Wednesday that also announced the launch of a Michael Schumacher app.

TREMENDOUS IMPACT

Yesterday’s focus was on celebrating a champion who holds the records for most titles and wins (91), even if Britain’s

five-time champion Lewis Hamilton is closing in.

The Formula One website declared ‘Schumacher Week’, with stories and interviews looking back on the career of a man who retired in 2012 after a three-year comeback with Mercedes.

“Michael has had a tremendous impact on Formula One,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff in a statement.

“Not only did he set an incredible record - a record that is yet to be beaten - but he also shaped and changed the sport forever,” added the Austrian of a driver whose Formula One debut with Jordan at Spa in 1991 was funded by Mercedes.

“As a driver, Michael took Formula One to a whole new level with his attention to detail and his technical knowledge.

“He did everything with great determination, from his engineering debriefs to his physical training, and was always searching for new ways to improve his on-track performance.”

Formula One’s managing director for motorsport Ross Brawn, a key player in Schumacher’s career at Benetton and Ferrari and also as Mercedes boss before Wolff, spoke from the heart.

“I think one of the things I’d say about Michael from throughout his career is that people who worked with him never had a bad word to say about him,” the Briton said in a Formula One podcast.

“Within the teams he worked in, he always created a great impression and a great loyalty.”

Schumacher spent 18 seasons, over a 21-year period, in Formula One and took at least one win in 15 successive campaigns (1992-2006). Hamilton has so far done that for 12 in a row.

Man City end Liverpool’s unbeaten run, cut lead to four points

By Simon Evans

(REUTERS) - Leroy Sane struck the winner as Manchester City beat Liverpool 2-1 in a gripping Premier League clash yesterday, inflicting the first loss of the season on Juergen Klopp’s side and cutting their lead at the top to four points.

The game at the Etihad Stadium lived up to its billing with both sides showing that for all their trademark attractive football, they can go hard in a physical battle when so much is on the line.

City’s recent run of three defeats in five games had raised questions over whether the champions had the durability to sustain a title challenge with a Liverpool side, who have had an air of invincibility about them.

Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero celebrates their second goal, scored by Leroy Sane (not pictured), as Liverpool’s Alisson and Virgil van Dijk look dejected.

(REUTERS/Phil Noble)

But with key midfielders Fernandinho and David Silva back in the side and veteran skipper Vincent Kompany recalled at centre back, Pep Guardiola’s side showed they had steel to match their undoubted technique and remain very much in contention for a successful defence of their crown.

“The game was a real game for both sides, two incredible teams,” Guardiola said.

“We were outstanding from the first minute and happy with the victory to reduce the gap and everything’s open.”

Liverpool were unable to get their front three operating at their best, but could easily have taken a point at the end with

City keeper Ederson making a fine save to keep out Mohamed Salah’s effort and the Merseysiders piling on pressure in stoppage-time.“A very intense game and we were unlucky in our finishing moments,” Klopp said.

“They had periods of dominance of course but we came back and had chances; it’s always like this but you have to score in those moments.

“We lost to Manchester City but we have to show constantly we are at the top of our game. The boys tried everything but we got nothing for it tonight.”

There was a rarely a dull moment after Sadio Mane hit the post for Liverpool in the 18th minute.

From the resulting scramble, John Stones’ attempted clearance bounced off his keeper Ederson and the City defender did superbly to clear off the line with the ball millimetres from going in.

TIGHT ANGLE It was City who broke through five minutes before the break when Bernardo Silva found Sergio Aguero inside the box and the Argentine unleashed a fierce drive, from the tightest of angles, to fire past Alisson and make it 1-0.

Liverpool responded strongly after the break, though, and drew level when Andrew Robertson met a deep Trent Alexander-Arnold cross with a cushioned volley for Roberto Firmino to head in from close range.

City were not finished, however, and restored their lead in the 72nd minute when Raheem Sterling broke from midfield and fed Sane on the left, the German winger driving home off the inside of the far post.

Aguero went close to a third after Sterling led a swift counter-attack but Alisson was up to the task while at the other end Ederson produced a fine save to keep out Salah’s angled effort.

Alisson did well again to stop a close-range blast from Bernardo Silva in the final minute of normal time before Liverpool laid siege to City’s goal and Stones again had to clear off the line.

The tension got to both managers with Klopp appearing to gesticulate at City supporters while Guardiola lost his cool in a rage with the fourth official.

Kompany was still full of adrenaline as he looked back on an epic night at the Etihad.

“I’m absolutely buzzing with a tremendous performance.

We went toe-to-toe with a very physical very aggressive team and we matched them if not more,” he said.

“The result is the result, it’s still in Liverpool’s hands but the performance was beyond anything I’ve ever witnessed.”

Ferrari Formula One driver Michael Schumacher of Germany lifts the trophy on the podium after winning the Italian Grand Prix. (File photo)

The German’s career was also clouded by controversy, his achievements countered by the feeling that he benefited from the best car and a subservient team mate throughout his Ferrari years.

But his talent was indisputable, particularly in wet conditions, and his mind-management and ability to gel a team around him set him apart.

He was also a family man, fiercely guarding his privacy away from the track.

Son Mick, 19, is now set to debut in Formula Two, the rung below Formula One, this year after winning the European F3 title while 21-year-old daughter Gina-Marie is a rising equestrian talent.

“Happy Birthday to the best dad,” she said in an Instagram post accompanying old photographs of her smiling father in racing overalls.

Ramballi spins Region 2 to tense win over Wakenaam RAMBALLI and Mahadeo Foundation once against combined to host a specially-arranged 40 overs youth cricket match between Region 2 Under-15 and Wakenaam Under-17 players.

The game was contested on Wednesday at the Number 1 ground in Affiance with Region 2 gaining a tense two-wicket victory.

Watched by a fair-size and enthusiastic crowd, Wakenaam Under-17 batsmen showed promise with decent starts despite not getting big scores.

However, a solid innings of 30 (1x6, 2x4) from Irren Ramdat and a composed 21 (2x4) from Mahadeo enabled Wakenaam to reach 141 allout in 32 overs.

It was the leg-spin of Rajindra Ramballi whose impressive figures of 5-14 from 7 overs of considerable flight and turn that bamboozled his counterparts. He was supported by Ramesh Persaud’s 2-19 from 5 overs of off-spin.

It was an intriguing twist when Region 2 took to the crease as they suffered early wickets losing their first four batsmen with only 12 runs on the board on the heels of a penetrative and decisive spell from the opening fast bowlers.

Runs were difficult to generate for most of the innings as wickets continue to tumble for the hosts. The slothful scoring,

however, was appreciably assisted by extras as a significant number of wides and no-balls were delivered.

As the game became evenly poised, it took a level-headed unbeaten innings of 21 (2x4) from Shezadim Khan, batting at number 5, to steer his team to 1438 in 38 overs for a tense 2 wicket victory. Raj Singh also made an unbeaten 15 to be the only other batsman who reached double figures as extras top-scored with a healthy 45.

Fast bowler Devindra Toolsie with 4-19 from 8 overs and Rickey Persaud 3-14 from 8 overs bowled superbly but in a losing cause.

At the presentation, Region 2 received the winners’ trophy while Rajindra Ramballi was adjudged Man-ofthe-Match. Also present were senior Essequibo coach Forbes Daniels and Managing-Director of Imam Bacchus Group of Companies, Sam Bacchus, who provided the meals for both teams and officials.

The Wakenaam team was sponsored by Guyana and West Indies all-rounder Keemo Paul who was born on the island. Meanwhile the Ramballi/Mahadeo Foundation inter-school Under-17 competition will resume on Sunday with matches set for various venues on the Essequibo Coast. (Elroy Stephney)

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 4, 2019

LICB president slams Richard … says due process Pybus appointment not followed ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB) president Enoch Lewis has called for Richard Pybus’s appointment as interim West Indies men’s coach to be rescinded, after accusing Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dave Cameron, of “hand-picking” the Englishman and ignoring the best practices of “transparency, fairness and due process”.

In a strongly-worded letter to CWI dated December 16 last year, he labelled Cameron’s actions as “unfortunate, unacceptable and unethical” and expressed “profound disappointment, dissatisfaction, and dismay” over the “total disregard” shown for the procedure by which Pybus was selected.

According to the letter, a copy of which was obtained

by CMC Sports, director of cricket, Jimmy Adams, recommended to the CWI board of directors last September that the interim head coach be chosen from among a list comprising Nic Pothas, Roddy Estwick, Floyd Reifer, Gus Logie, Desmond Haynes, Toby Radford, Andre Coley, Esaun Crandon, Stuart Williams, Rayon Griffith and Robert Samuels.

LICB president Enoch Lewis Interim West Indies head coach Richard Pybus.

Adams ultimately recommended Pothas for the position, indicating that the South African had also been favoured by the outgoing head coach, Australian Stuart Law, as well as the players.

This recommendation was subsequently approved by the CWI board with Pothas scheduled to take up the post from January, 2019 until September.

However, with Law exiting the post earlier than originally planned, Pothas assumed the position for the

CWI director of cricket Jimmy Adams

Bangladesh tour last December, but without agreeing to a compensation package.

Pothas subsequently rejected the first offer made – nearly half of what Law had been paid – and requested compensation closer to Law’s remuneration.

According to the LICB letter, Cameron “made the determination that the matter was at a stalemate. Discussion with Mr Pothas was then terminated.”

Cameron then made contact with Pybus, negotiated and concluded a deal worth

more than what Pothas had been offered.

The negotiations conducted with Mr Pybus by president Cameron was without pre-authorisation and input from the Board,” Lewis contended in the letter.

“None of the DoC (Director of Cricket), the Cricket Committee or the Technical Cricket Committee were consulted on the initiative to engage or negotiate with Mr. Pybus.

“We the undersigned (director Denrick Liburd) re m i n d e d t h e m e e t i n g that CWI has consistently claimed to be a highly transparent organisation

in response to doubts and negative allegations raised recently by some Prime Ministers and other stakeholders in the region.

“We also reminded the meeting of the process previously recommended by the DoC, (who is regarded as our foremost technical cricket mind) and adopted by the Board, which is to appoint someone from the existing coaching staff in the interest of ensuring continuity and stability.”

The letter continued: “We further suggested that if it is now the intention to appoint someone from outside the existing coaching staff or not included in the original list provided by the DoC, that a new process which opens the position to all interested parties must be established in the interest of transparency.

“We submit that it is unfortunate, unacceptable and unethical for the CWI president to single-handedly recruit a person of his choosing, and to proceed with salary negotiations without the prior knowledge of the Board.”

Pybus spent six years as CWI’s director of cricket before leaving the post in 2016, to be replaced by Ja-

maican Adams the following year.

However, after missing out on several international coaching positions to West Indians, he returned to the West Indies setup last February as high performance director – a move that was criticised by several ex-players largely because the post had not been advertised by CWI. Lewis said Cameron’s recruitment of Pybus was “unusual” because “the person in question (Pybus) has not formally expressed an interest in the post; he has limited international head coaching experience; he has not coached an international cricket team for at least the past five years; he is not amongst the list of coaches identified by the DoC and previously approved by the Board for consideration.”

While the choice of Pybus was eventually approved by the Board, Lewis said “the handling of this matter provoked heated debate and proved a very divisive issue among the Directors.”

The latest controversy comes just weeks before the start of the England tour of the Caribbean, with the first Test set to bowl off at Kensington Oval on January 23.

Jaguars unfazed by star-studded Pride as two the teams clash from today BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Four-time reigning champions Guyana Jaguars will not be intimidated by star-studded archrivals Barbados Pride, when the two teams meet in the third round of the

Regional Four-Day Championship here today.

Jaguars lead the standings after winning both their opening matches but Pride have welcomed back their West Indies players, and start the contest at historic

Kensington Oval as favourites.

However, Jaguars captain Leon Johnson believes his side were more than capable of challenging Pride, despite the influx of their stars.

“We have planned for these

guys, we’ve played against them year in, year out and we know their strengths and weaknesses, and we’ll look to expose their weaknesses,” Johnson said Thursday.

BCB members demand return of Senior Inter-County tournament

THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last Sunday held its Annual General Meeting at its Cheddi Jagan Street, New Amsterdam head office.

Delegates from Albion Community Centre, Port Mourant Cricket Club, Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, Young Warriors Cricket Club, Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, Chesney Cricket Club, Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club, Kildonan Cricket Club, Mt Sinai Cricket Club, Mental Hospital Cricket Club and Guymine Sports Club were present.

Delegates, based on a recommendation from Vemen Walter of the Albion Community Centre, approved a motion for the return of the Senior Inter-County championship, the symbol of cricket supremacy in Guyana.

Delegates also approved motions from the floor for the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to pay Berbice its annual subvention. The subvention is not a prize to be used to demand loyalty but for cricket development. The BCB has not received subvention from the GCB since Keith Foster became president in 2008.

Delegates at the meeting also expressed total disappointment that Berbice players are being forced to travel to the city as many as four times per week for training sessions. Delegates demand that the GCB review this system which is very costly financially especially on those players who are earning $75 000 per month..

Delegates also disclosed that Berbice has two Level Three coaches, adequate practice facilities and a modern gym and urged the GCB to allow the players to train at home.

Concerns were expressed that players like Veerasammy Permaul, Anthony Bramble, Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Clinton Pestano, Keon Joseph and Romario Shepherd are unable to practice at their respective clubs and share their vast experiences with the younger players. It was disclosed that several players have not been able to attend club practice for over six months.

Delegates as a united body also demanded that the GCB disclose the criteria it used to select the Club-of-the-Year.

Delegates stated that success on the cricket field must be rewarded and the award must not be used to reward loyalty and not success.

Meanwhile, the meeting approved Minutes of the two special meetings held during the month of December, 2018. Delegates also discussed reports from the president, secretary, and treasurer for 2018 as well as plans for 2019, which include the hosting of a two-day first division tournament, seeking sponsorship for the construction of an indoor practice facility, more coaching programmes for junior cricketers, repairs to the BCB office and preparation for Inter-County tournaments.

Guyana Jaguars skipper Leon Johnson.

“I think if we stick to our plans and results don’t go in our favour, hats off to Barbados – they [would’ve] played well but it’s just about sticking to our plans.”

He added: “Cricket is played on the field – four days of cricket and there’s nothing to be scared of. They’re boasting six, seven West Indies players but we’ve come here and won before so named don’t bother us at all.

“If we didn’t have a chance,

we might as well not have turned up here.”

Jaguars will also welcome back three of their Windies players with all-rounders Raymon Reifer and Sherfane Rutherford, along with batsman Chandrapaul Hemraj all included in the touring party.

However, exciting lefthander Shimron Hetmyer has requested rest for the game while all-rounder Keemo Paul is injured.

Johnson said though pundits were already writing off his side, Jaguars were quietly confident.

“I think we just have to play good consistent cricket. I think we also have to assess the conditions seeing we haven’t played here in a while … and it’s probably a fresh track as well,” the outof-favour Windies opener said.

“So we have to assess conditions [on] day one, day two and then take it from there.”

Experienced opener Kraigg Brathwaite, one of the plethora of international players in the Pride squad, agreed with Johnson that names alone would not be enough for the home team to ensure success.

He pointed out that Jaguars were a dangerous unit and stressed that Pride also needed to execute properly.

“I think we’ll put out a very experienced team but at the end of the day, cricket doesn’t play on paper. So I think as a team

once we can stick to our plans we will do well in this game,” he said.

“For the last couple of years, Guyana have been doing very well and I think Leon Johnson have also been leading the guys superbly. So for us it will be a challenge. It won’t be easy but I really back the guys to do a good job, to just go out there and enjoy it.”

Brathwaite said the match was also important for the Test players involved to find their rhythm ahead of the opening Test of the three-match series against England, bowling off here on January 23.

“Obviously the England series is coming up and the first Test is here so it would be good to get a good start to the year, and carry that confidence into the first Test,” he explained.

“It is also an opportunity to get us closer on the points table [to Jaguars] so obviously we’ll be looking to do well in this game and that will be good for us.”

In the other third round matches, Jamaica Scorpions – under interim head coach Robert Haynes – meet Windward Islands Volcanoes at Sabina Park in Kingston while Trinidad & Tobago Red Force – under regular captain Denesh Ramdin – clash with Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago.

Quartet of table tennis players willing to return to China for more training Page

23

Charge de Affaires Mr Chen Xillai (centre) meets with players and members of the Executive Committee of GTTA.

GFF opens mid-season National U-19 male hockey team on duty in Trinidad and Tobago transfer window

GFF Director of Competitions Ian Alves

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on January 1 opened its one-month transfer window which is intended to accommodate player-transfers, both locally and internationally.

According to the GFF’s Director of Competitions, Ian Alves, the mid-season transfer window “is a crucial opportunity for clubs and players to make sometimes life-changing decisions about their football careers and therefore, we take this opportunity to encourage the relevant stakeholders to initiate and process transfers in a timely manner to avoid the usual last-minute requests.”

Alves urged both clubs and players to educate themselves about the transfer process, prior to engaging same, so as to facilitate the transfer in a quick and efficient manner.

A Domestic Transfer, in order to be considered procedurally correct, must involve the former club, the player, the former Regional Member Association (RMA), the new club, and the new TURN TO PG. 23

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THE Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) has sent a National male U-19 team to the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago where they will participate in two championships.

This is just the beginning of a process of development which will eventually lead to the 2020 Junior and Senior Pan Am Games.

The Guyanese will be under the guidance of long-standing coach Robert Fernandes, and are set to participate in the Ventures International Indoor Hockey Championship from January 3 to 6.

Following that tournament, the youngsters will take a three-day break, during which they will familiarise themselves with the artificial turf at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Campus before heading into action when the UWI Indoor championship commences from January 10 to 13.

The team, consisting of shortlisted players from a pool of 40-odd youngsters, could feature at both the

A National U-19 male hockey team is currently in Trinidad and Tobago where they will participate in two tournaments.

junior and senior Pan Am Championships in 2020 something the GHB has focused on since a number of the current senior national players are in the twilight of their careers.

National senior player,

Jamarj Assanah is also on the tour and will play with the youngsters in a mentor capacity.

The squad reads: Paul D’Andrade (GK), Omar Hopkinson, Warren Williams, Nandalall Persaud,

Kareem McKenzie, Meshach Sargeant, Samuel Woodroffe, Tevisarid Garnett, Shomere Garnett, Nickel Ashby, Shakeem Fausette, Jamarj Assanah and coach Robert Fernandes.

LICB president slams Richard Pybus appointment ► 27

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 2019