Guyana chronicle e paper 01 06 2018

Repsol, CGX sign on to petroleum summit Page 3

Massive oil find No. 105146

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2018

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

…gov't reiterates commitment to offshore developments

Six issued radio licences

Page 20

…CN Sharma application approved after 20-year wait

Page 3

11Kg of cocaine seized in four-day operation Page 2

ECD man jailed for human trafficking Page 11

CN Sharma and Mrs Savitri Sharma proudly display their radio and Wireless Telegraphy Licences following a ceremony at the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority headquarters on Friday (Samuel Maughn photo)

Mustapha has no standing in GECOM matter

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…Queen’s Counsel says President acted lawfully to appoint Patterson

49 held in strip club raid Page 2

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11kg of cocaine seized in four-day operation

… as well as speed boats, vehicle, large sums of cash TEN persons, among them Colombians and Venezuelans were detained by the anti-narcotic agencies during a four- day operation earlier this week.

According to a release from the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA), the joint- law enforcement and counter-narcotics operation which was conducted between January 1- 4, led to the arrest of the 10 individuals. They include one female and nine males; four of whom are Colombians, a Venezuelan and five Guyanese.

The items seized include in excess of 11 kilogrammes of cocaine, three speed boats with engines, a Toyota Axio Motor Car, 15 mobile phones and a quantity of foreign and local currency.

The currency includes US$87,134, Bs.F$1,081,605, COL$201,000, REAL$7,362 and GUY$82,820.

During the operation, the anti-narcotic agencies raided a residence at 288, Barrow Avenue Republic Park, East Bank Demerara ; a residence in the Pomeroon River and a camp located a short distance north east of the Moruca River mouth, near the Atlantic ocean.

The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) participated in the operation.

The Guyana Chronicle first reported earlier this week on the operation in the Waini River.

The bust comes on the heels of disclosures that a sum of G$285, 205, 817 worth of cocaine as well as G$11.7B worth of marijuana was seized by the authorities in 2017.

Sources close to NANA revealed that for the same period, heroin valued at G$4, 806, 000 was also confiscated.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

49 held in ‘strip club’ raid

FORTY-ONE foreign nationals believed to be nightclub dancers, and eight employees of the Diamond Hotel and Night Club are currently in custody following a raid of the building by the Guyana Police Force on Friday morning.

Crime Chief, Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams on Friday confirmed that the operation carried out at the George Street, Werk-en-Rust location was led by the Major Crimes Unit with support from other agencies.

Acting on intelligence the Force received, investigators swooped down on the area just after 07:00hrs and took into custody 49 persons, including eight employees.

The other persons are believed to be club dancers who were brought in from Columbia, Venezuela, Brazil and other countries.

The Crime Chief said, too, that during the search, investigators discovered a quantity of narcotics. He said that while the drugs were not found on anyone’s person, that investigations into trafficking in persons will also

The police operation at the Diamond Hotel and Club on George Street, Werken-Rust on Friday morning (Mondale Smith photo) be conducted.

Illegally operated strip clubs have come in sharp focus over the last few years, with a number of raids being conducted by both the Police Force and the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Unit of the Ministry of Social Protection.

In November 2017, the Rio Night Club was raided by the Ministry’s TIP Unit, and two dancers from the Domin-

ican Republic were charged for overstaying.

Meanwhile, Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally said that the government remains committed to eradicating trafficking in person at every level. She said that while the Ministry was not directly involved in Friday morning’s operation, if investigations reveal that persons were trafficked, then her

Ministry will intervene.

“The Ministry wasn’t involved in the raid directly; we were informed of it, however,” Minister Ally said, adding: “And if, after the investigations by the Force, it is found that persons were trafficked, then the ministry will intervene. But as it is presently, it is a police matter.”

Stabroek Block estimated value jumps to 3.2B barrels with new find THE Stabroek Block is now being estimated to contain 3.2B oil recoverable barrels following the discovery of high bearing oil reservoir at the Ranger-1 field.

“Today we felt confident to increase our estimate for the Stabroek Block so that’s the five finds to date (Liza, Liza Deep, Payara, Turbo, and Snoek); it doesn’t include Ranger,” Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs Director, Kimberley Brasington told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The Stabroek Block which is located offshore Guyana is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres) and was previously estimated at 2.25 to 2.75 billion oil-equivalent barrels. ExxonMobil’s affiliate, Esso Exploration, today announced that it encountered 230ft of the high-quality oil-bearing reservoir at the Ranger-1 field after drilling in 9,000ft of water and 21,000ft into the earth.

The company began drilling Ranger-1, which is located 60 miles northwest of Liza, last November. Brasington noted that this find is “a carbonate reservoir as opposed to sandstone” which the other discoveries were. She explained the difference between these two distinctions: “A carbonate play… it’s more porous and so it’s similar to a reef that…hardens over time. That is the difference…the sandstone is tighter. It’s just a completely different geology than we have discovered in the Stabroek block to date.”

However, Brasington was cautious to quantify the new find. “It’s too ear-

ly to speculate on how big the actual Ranger field is right now. We will drill another appraisal well, a Ranger-2 well, in 2018 that will help us determine the full commerciality of Ranger and identify the size of it,” she explained.

Meanwhile, the discovery has increased confidence among Exxon and its partners, CNOOC Nexen and Hess Corporation, for exploring the Stabroek Block. Brasington noted the Stenna Carron drill rig is expected to move to a new field, Pacora, after wrapping up appraisal drilling at Ranger-2.

Brasington said that Exxon remains committed to transparency even as it continues exploration and development of the Stabroek Block. “The Petroleum Agreement is that binding document in which we all operate under to bring these resources to bear and so that contract holds us accountable to the people of Guyana to develop this resource in a responsible way, so the country can benefit from the revenue.”

The discovery is said to be more than 230ft of high-quality oil-bearing reservoir in the Ranger-1 field. The oil findings, to date, Liza, Payara, Snoek, Liza Deep and Turbot, are estimated to have total recoverable resources of more than 3.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman in a statement to the Department of Public Information (DPI) said “This is a most historic discovery for Guyana. It will allow for immense transformational development of our nation in the coming years. Despite much naysaying and attacks against

this process, I am confident that Guyana is on the right path”.

Minister Trotman pointed out that The Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) “has opted to pursue an all-out attack with a view to gaining control of everything. They have hired mercenaries, masquerading as experts, to try to impugn everything good that is happening.” He further assured that the government remains focused towards achieving first oil and beyond in the most efficient manner. The minister urged all stakeholders to join with the government in supporting the development and oversight of the petroleum industry.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo stated that Guyanese should be optimistic about this new find. He explained that from the information received “this new find is like an inverted triangle, upside down and deep and billions of barrels of oil would be harvested from this find.” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said, “Guyana is going to be a country that depends on its rich resources not exclusively, but we are blessed to have new discoveries in the Stabroek block.”

The Stabroek Block lying offshore Guyana is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres).

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is the operator holding 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block, while Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited hold 30 percent and 25 percent interests respectively.

Massive oil find

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

…gov't reiterates commitment to offshore developments

AMERICAN oil giant ExxonMobil on Friday announced its sixth oil discovery offshore Guyana, adding to its previous world-class discoveries since 2015.

According to a release from the company, its Ranger -1 well encountered an approximate 230-ft high-quality, oil-bearing reservoir some 60 miles northwest of its Liza Phase One project within the Stabroek Block.

Exxon said that the new discovery provides a new play concept for the 6.6 million acre Stabroek Block.

The government has since noted in a release that in partnership with Exxon’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) and its partners, CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited and Hess Guyana Exploration Limited, it is pleased and gratified by the new information.

“The news of an additional find of this magnitude, particularly at the start of the new year, can be seen as a further blessing, and

underscores the richness and diversity of Guyana’s natural resources,” the government said through the Department of Public Information (DPI).

According to Exxon, the Ranger-1 well discovery adds to previous world-class discoveries at Liza, Payara, Snoek, Liza Deep and Tur-

bot, which are estimated to total more than 3.2 billion recoverable oil-equivalent barrels.

The company said that its affiliate, Esso, began drilling the Ranger-1 well on November 5, 2017 and encountered approximately 230 feet (70 meters) of

high-quality, oil-bearing carbonate reservoir.

The well was safely drilled to a depth of 21,161 feet (6,450 meters) in 8,973 feet (2,735 meters) of water.

“This latest success operating in Guyana’s significant water depths illustrates our ultra-deepwater and carbon-

ate exploration capabilities,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company.

“This discovery proves a new play concept for the 6.6 million acre Stabroek Block, and adds further value to our growing Guyana portfolio,” Greenlee added. Following completion of the Ranger-1 well, the Stena Carron drillship will move to the Pacora prospect, 4 miles from the previous Payara discovery.

Exxon said that additional exploration drilling is planned for the Stabroek Block for 2018, including potential appraisal drilling at the Ranger discovery.

Meanwhile, the government has noted that the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is particularly pleased that its strategy of engagement with Esso Exploration/CNOOC/Hess and its partners is leading to bountiful discoveries.

Overall, the government expressed elation that Esso Exploration/CNOOC/Hess remain ahead of their exploration schedule for the entire Stabroek block. The

MNR expects that other international operators will draw confidence from Esso Exploration/CNOOC/Hess’s presence and the six oil discoveries and will diligently pursue their own exploratory work programmes.

Several companies have advanced their seismic data collection and are expected to drill in 2018, the DPI release stated.

The government called on all stakeholders to act responsibly and patriotically as Guyana continues its thrust into this new sector and as news and events continue to unfold about the extent of the oil reserves offshore and the manifold opportunities and benefits for the Guyanese people. Late in December, the government released the full petroleum agreement with ExxonMobil at a high-level forum held at the Ministry of the Presidency.

During presentation on the contract, it was disclosed that Guyana stands to gain some US$7B over a 20-year period from the LIZA Phase One well alone.

Repsol, CGX sign on to petroleum summit THIS year’s petroleum summit, Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit(GIPEX 2018) has received a further boost as Spanish company Repsol Exploracion Guyana S.A. and Canadian Company CGX Energy Inc have signed on to the event as Gold Sponsors.

According to a release from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), the move comes weeks following ExxonMobil’s support of the event as its Strategic Partner. The MNR said that the inaugural GIPEX 2018 will be held from February 7 to 9, 2018 at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel and will be hosted by the ministry with the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) playing an organising and leadership role for the event.

It noted that Valiant Business Media of the United Kingdom is working along with Go-Invest and the MNR

in organising the event. “The event aims to present investors with options to explore the huge hydrocarbon potential of Guyana and will provide a networking platform for existing petroleum companies, service providers, equipment companies and investors,” the ministry said.

It noted that GIPEX 2018 will also provide a space for researchers/scientists and academics to share their work, while the participants from industry can promote their products. In addition, the event will lay the foundation for establishing a dynamic relationship between the MNR and the private sector with full cooperation from other government departments, all working to make Guyana a favourable and pro-business destination.

Guyanese Professor, Suresh Narine, Chairman and Executive Director (Guyana), CGX Energy, noted that the company is delighted to be

a Gold Sponsor of the event.

He said the event will also provide an opportunity for local companies and institutions to be showcased and to interact with their international counterparts – an essential step towards Guyanese individuals, institutions and businesses participating in this emerging industry.

CGX Energy will donate booth space to the University of Guyana, the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs and several indigenous organisations, so that they can participate fully in the event. Narine said that as a long-standing exploration company in the Guyana Basin, CGX is firmly focused on expanding the basin’s economic promise by continuing its exploration of the Corentyne, Demerara and Berbice Blocks.

He said as an early investor in Deep Water Port infrastructure in Guyana, CGX is also focused on continuing to

play its ground-breaking role in the expanding petroleum opportunity for all Guyanese.

Ryan Ramjit, Country Exploration Manager Guyana and the Eastern Caribbean, Repsol Exploracion Guyana S.A., stated that the company remains committed to success in oil-and-gas exploration in Guyana and the company appreciates its role as a Gold Sponsor of the event.

Shariq AbdulHai, Managing Director at Valiant Business Media, said his company welcomes Repsol Exploracion Guyana S.A. and CGX Energy Inc. as Gold Sponsors in GIPEX 2018.

“Both Repsol and CGX Energy are important stakeholders in the petroleum sector of Guyana and should further help us provide useful information to the people of Guyana through the convention. We are looking to confirm a number of more international and local busi-

nesses who would set up booths in the exhibition area of the convention.

[Repsol’s and CGX’s] presence in the event should

also provide an opportunity for Guyanese businesses to meet and discuss the ways of getting involved with the sector,” said AbdulHai.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

North Korea agrees to talks --after US, South Korea postpone military drills

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea agreed on Friday to hold official talks with South Korea next week, the first in more than two years, hours after Washington and Seoul delayed a military exercise amid a standoff over the North’s nuclear and missile programs.

South Korea said the North had sent its consent for the talks to be held on Tuesday. The last time the two Koreas engaged in official talks was in December 2015.

The meeting will take place at the border truce village of Panmunjom, where officials from both sides are expected to discuss the Winter Olympics, to be held in the South next month, and inter-Korean relations, South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters.

North Korea asked for further negotiations about the meeting to be carried out via documented exchanges, Baik said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un opened the way for talks with South Korea in a

New Year’s Day speech in which he called for reduced tensions, and flagged the North’s possible participation in the Winter Olympics.

But Kim remained steadfast on the issue of nuclear weapons, saying the North would mass-produce nuclear missiles for operational deployment, and warned he would launch a nuclear strike if his country was threatened.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday called the proposed inter-Korean talks “a good thing”, and he and his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in announced that annual large-scale military drills would now take place after the Olympics.

The North sees the drills as preparations for invasion, and justification for its weapons programs that it conducts in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. South Korea and the United States are technically still at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

Trump, who hurled fresh insults at the North Korean

leader this week, took credit for any dialogue that takes place.

“Does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasn’t firm, strong and willing to commit our total ‘might’ against the North,” Trump tweeted.

In an interview with CNN on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that while it was Washington’s aim to resolve the North Korean crisis diplomatically, “those diplomatic efforts are backed by a strong military option if necessary.”

He said future talks involving the United States could allow North Korea to “chart a way for themselves to a more secure future, a more prosperous future,” and added: “They do know how to reach us if and when they are ready to engage with us as well.”

Tillerson said how such talks might begin had yet to be determined, but North Korea would have to signal it understood that they would

be aimed at “final, full denuclearization.”

North Korea regularly threatens to destroy the United States and its two key Asia allies, Japan and South Korea, and says its weapons are necessary to counter U.S. aggression.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang welcomed North and South Korea “taking positive steps to improve ties”, and said the postponement of the exercises was “without doubt a good thing”.

China’s Commerce Ministry said it would limit exports of crude oil, refined oil products, steel and other metals to North Korea, in line with tough new sanctions imposed by the United Nations.

Japanese Defence Minister, Itsunori Onodera sounded a note of caution about the proposed talks.

“I think what is important is to maintain a firm defense posture,” he told reporters.

“North Korea goes through phases of apparent dialogue and provocation, but either way, North Korea is continu-

Saturday, January 6, 2018 - 8:30

ing its nuclear and missile development. We have no intention of weakening our warning and surveillance.”

The ramped-up momentum for inter-Korean dialogue follows a year of missile and nuclear tests by North Korea as well as an exchange of bellicose comments between Trump and Kim, which raised alarm across the world.

Earlier this week, Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Washington had heard reports that Pyongyang might be preparing to fire another missile.

South Korea’s defense ministry has said it had yet to see any evidence of an immi-

nent missile launch.

Analysts with the website 38 North, which tracks North Korea, reported Pyongyang may be preparing to test a rocket engine at a facility in Sohae, North Pyongan province, where all of the North’s satellite launches have taken place since 2012.

Commercial satellite imagery from Dec. 25 showed a rail-mounted environment shelter had been moved away from a test stand, indicating that an engine test may be in the near future, the website said, rather than a new rocket launch suspected in recent media reports.

Ban’s nephew pleads guilty in the US

--to corruption charges

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A nephew of former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pleaded guilty on Friday to U.S. charges that he took part in a scheme to bribe an official at a sovereign wealth fund in order to sell a building complex in Vietnam.

Joo Hyun “Dennis” Bahn, 39, pleaded guilty to violating a U.S. foreign corruption law and to conspiracy before U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos in Manhattan.

Bahn admitted that in 2014 and 2015, he tried to arrange a bribe to secure the sale of Hanoi’s Landmark 72 building complex, owned by Korean construction company, Keangnam Enterprises Co Ltd. Bahn’s father, Ban Kisang, was an executive at the company.

Bahn said he believed he was paying a $500,000 bribe to an official at Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund through a middle-man, New York fashion designer and blogger Malcolm Harris. In reality, Bahn said, Harris had no connection with any Qatari official and kept the money.

Prosecutors have said that Bahn agreed to pay another $2M upon closing of the sale.

“I knew what I was doing was a bad act,” Bahn said on Friday.

Bahn is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years, though prosecutors have agreed that an appropriate sentence would be up to about seven years, according to Bahn’s written plea deal.

Bahn, a South Korean citizen who lives in New Jersey and has worked as a real estate broker in Manhattan, said on Friday that he understood he would face deportation after serving his sentence.

U.S. prosecutors have also charged Ban Ki-sang, who remains at large. Prosecutors have said he enlisted his son to arrange the Landmark 72 sale to help Keangnam deal with a liquidity crisis.

Ban Ki-moon was long expected to make a bid for the presidency of South Korea, but announced in February 2017 that he would not run, decrying “fake news” about him and his family.

Harris pleaded guilty to money laundering and wire fraud in June, and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison in October.

Another man, Andrew Simon, was charged in October with taking part in the attempted bribery scheme. According to a criminal complaint filed in the Manhattan federal court, Simon met with Bahn and another person in April 2014 to discuss the bribe payment.

A lawyer for Simon could not immediately be reached for comment.

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T&T to elect first-ever female president PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – A Court of appeal judge in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Madam Justice Paula Mae Weekes has been nominated as the Trinidad and Tobago’s choice to replace Antony Carmona as President of the twin island republic.

If elected, she becomes the first woman to become a head of state here since the island attained political independence from Britain in 1961.

“We are hoping for a unanimous process; we all hope it will be unopposed,” said Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Stuart Young, adding that Justice Weekes has “heeded the call for public service and has agreed when the government approached her to make herself available”, and that “she is most willing to put herself forward as a candidate and be nominated as a candidate for election to be the next President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.”

The Electoral College meets on January 19 to elect a successor to Carmona, whose five-year term ends in March.

Said Young, “We would like to thank the outgoing president, whose term of office ends on March 18, with a deep sense of gratitude, because anyone who takes a decision to give public service at any level to Trinidad and Tobago, as citizens we should be grateful.”

Young told a news con-

ference that the name of the jurist had been put forward during a meeting between Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley and Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar on Friday.

Justice Weekes was appointed to the Court of Appeal in the British Overseas Territory in September, 2016 for a term of three years.

She becomes the second prominent regional jurist to be elevated to the post of head of state, following the decision of the Barbados government to name Madame Justice Sandra Mason as the island’s eighth Governor-General last week.

Justice Weekes is a former Justice of Appeal of the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago, where she served for 11 years until her retirement in 2016. She was appointed a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago (Criminal Jurisdiction) in 1996, where she presided for nine years before being elevated to the Court of Appeal. Prior to her appointment to the Bench, Justice Weekes served with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for eleven years, and in private practice from 1993.

She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies and the Hugh Wooding Law School. She is a trained and experienced judicial educator, having become a Fellow of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute in 2000. She has designed

Justice Paula Mae Weekes

and delivered programmes extensively in Trinidad and Tobago, and also in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Jamaica over the years.

Young described the discussions between Rowley and Persad-Bissessar as “productive and very cooperative”, adding that the government was still open to leaving space on the nomination form for the Opposition legislators to affix their signatures, so as to make the election of Justice Weekes a bipartisan effort.

“During the course of discussions with the Opposition,” he said, “the Prime Minister asked the Leader of the Opposition about the continuation of the term of the incumbent President, and solicited views on that, and then asked the Leader of the Opposition whether the Opposition at this stage had any nominees that they wished to put forward for the government’s consideration.

“The Honourable Leader

of the Opposition said at this stage the Opposition has no nominees and, of course, that is always subjected to change before the deadline of 4.00 pm (local time) on Monday, January 8.”

But he told reporters when the government announced the nomination of the jurist, Persad-Bissessar asked for some time to go back and caucus with her Opposition members.

“I can say without fear of contradiction that her reaction to the government’s nominee was a very positive one, and a very buoyant one, and then she immediately said she would need to serve the tenants of democracy and go back to the members of her caucus and have a discussion with them,” Young said.

Prior to the meeting, Persad-Bissessar had told

reporters that the Opposition would be willing to work with the gvernment to ensure that the proposed candidate for the President is a person who is impartial, will prevent excesses and abuses by the Executive, and one who will ensure that we adhere to our Constitutional rights and remits.

“We look forward to having mature discussions with the Government on this most important matter that affects each and every citizen, particularly in light of the current situation in our country, where we are witnessing our institutions failing, and a Government on the verge of collapse, with the economy in decline and crime out of control,” she said in a statement “We must underscore the important constitutional

role and functions of the President in ensuring good governance and protecting our democracy. The President’s functions include the appointment of judges and Independent Senators, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, the appointment of members of the Integrity Commission et al and it is imperative that the person elected to this office is impartial and independent, and possesses the strength and courage to resist any attempts at manipulation by the Government.

“The Opposition is seeking to guard against any potential abuses by this Government, which has shown that it cannot be trusted. The record of this administration is not one that commands the trust and confidence of the population,” she added.

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Editorial Beautifying Georgetown

IN colonial times, tree-planting and maintenance was one of the primary concerns of the City Councils. The aesthetic and methodical cultivation of the trees earned Georgetown the envied and deserved appellation of "The Garden City of the West Indies."

In addition to its aesthetic value, the planting of trees had a very practical facet. Georgetown was and still is, a wooden city, and fires are not uncommon. The Fire Brigades of the past had very limited capability to out fires as compared with the modern Fire Service. The trees on every street served as fire breaks.

The trees in those times were planted in a methodical way.

Camp Street, for example, was planted with Red Flamboyants which are immortalised in Sharples' water colours. Or Main Street had its stately samaans. Upper Hadfield Street was planted with an avenue of Mora trees. Or the length of Brickdam had a variety of interesting trees, including the Cannon Balls. The common as well as botanical names were imprinted on metal plaques and nailed to the trunks. These plaques were an education to children and gave useful information to all, including visitors.

Under Mayor Sir Lionel Luckhoo, smaller flowering shrubs and crotons were pioneered and planted in some streets and a few of these still survive in Main Street. Sir Lionel was probably thinking of many famous cities where flowering plants are in the streets as in Stockholm, where there are roses in some streets. After independence, and with the democratisation of the City Counci, a new dispensation came about and they were absorbed with other priorities than trees.

The beginning of the new year 2018 is an appropriate time for the City Councillors and the City Engineer's Department to again give their serious attention to tree-planting and maintenance as an important part of city management. If a methodical approach is used, by the end of the new year, the city would begin to recapture its beauty and fame as "The Garden City of the West Indies."

As a first phase, we would suggest that the present trees be cleaned of vines, especially birdvines, and trimmed in a symmetrical way. This would be a marked improvement.

In this process, City Hall may be able to secure the help and co-operation of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) who have an equipped tree-trimming crew. After this phase, the city may

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

then engage a horticulturist or secure horticultural help from the Ministry of Agriculture. Many of the trees of Brickdam and other streets,for example, have become far too tall and may have to be removed or considerably shortened. Some replanting will have to be done or replacement of dead trees and the horticulturist may suggest newer trees be planted in the now extended parts of the city.

Some streets, for example, such as Lamaha Street, which runs almost the full width of the city, will have to be treated differently. Before trees could be planted along this street, the sides of the parallel canal must be paaled.

As a short-term solution until more funds become available, greenheart slabs (waste) from the sawmills could be used for the paaling. A line of golden showers in bloom running along the width of the city would be an amazing sight. In downtown Georgetown, parking considerations will have to be taken in tree-planting exercises, but even here, there could be room for beautification as is exemplified by Republic Bank on Water Street. Georgetown's success in tree-planting and maintenance could serve both as an example and an inspiration to the new municipalities.

I have done more for Region Six than the MPs Dear Editor,

A GREAT man once said that, ‘If someone is NOT attacking you, then it means you are NOT doing your job effectively.’

This is exactly what came to my mind when I read a missive which contained personal attacks on me in the press written by Mr Hari P. Beharry, a veteran politician who should have gained immense and diverse knowledge having taken trips with the UF, PNC, PPP, ROAR, and lately the AFC and currently the URP. If ever there was a ‘political rolling stone’ then Mr Beharry’s name should be mentioned foremost. However, not for a moment do I envy this ‘well-endowed’ politician. He was recently awarded ‘life membership’ with the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry -- awarded in an effort to appease his perpetual anger and aggressive behaviour to all and sundry.

Firstly, Mr Beharry seems to be an expert financial analyst who knows exactly the areas in which taxpayers’ dollars are being wasted.

In the past he had attacked both the prime minister and the public security minister and told them in no uncertain terms that they are ‘a waste of the taxpayers’ dollars’. Now it’s my turn, it seems. However, his attack on me stemmed from the fact that I had highlighted

the danger to life and limb of parked vehicles and other obstacles on the sides of the Corentyne Highway -- a practice to which he is a guilty contributor.

Moreover, Mr Beharry’s puerile and baseless argument is punctuated by the fact that he admitted that ‘our road reserves should be kept clear’, while at the same time he spoke about various species of animals roaming the roads. If he had read my letters carefully he would have gained some valuable insight that I wrote about these as well and the fact that when drivers took evasive action more often than not they collided with these ‘parked death traps.’ In recent times, two gruesome accidents took place in the Upper Corentyne area when the ill-fated drivers took evasive action from these animals and slammed into these’ ‘parked booby traps’. I am appalled that Mr Beharry would seek to justify one wrong against another wrong. You should set an example and remove your parked vehicles on the road shoulders which present a traffic hazard to road users. Even in this 21st Century, the age of highly advanced technology, two wrongs still could never make a right, sir!

Secondly, in terms of wasting ‘taxpayers’ dollars’, may I remind Mr Beharry that my office deals with a varied and diverse assortment of over 200 complaints on a monthly

basis which I direct to the relevant authorities for action to be taken. In addition, I am also a vital connection between the people and the government and I am the ears and eyes of various ministries and I am the mouth of the complainants. I have done more for Region Six than all four parliamentarians. Please note Mr Beharry that over 90% of the people do not know these MPs and nearly all never met them, much less ventilate any of their grievances to them. These MPs should have been targeted in your waste-of-taxpayers-dollars analysis.

Lastly, if Mr Beharry is as ardent a reader as he is an attacker of people, then he should be aware that in the very first press release which appeared in the Guyana Chronicle dated October 5th, 2016, I gave due credit for the idea of the #58/59 all-weather road project to Mr David Subnauth. The release also mentioned that Mr Subnauth brought up this idea in 2006 when he was the President of the Upper Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I guess in his haste to nail me to the proverbial cross, Mr Beharry intentionally overlooked this piece of information. This exposed his true biased nature and blindness to an objective evaluation of facts.

Thirdly, may I remind Mr Beharry that I was instrumental on intercepting the 150 bags

of fertilizers he mentioned and should have complimented me for that but instead he is questioning me on the outcome of the matter which is the jurisdiction of the law enforcers.

I suggest that he writes the Commissioner of Police on the matter. This shows the confused nature of this individual, prosecution for a crime is for the Police not Harbhajan.

Another point of confusion is: why would Mr Beharry resign as an AFC RDC Councillor because of ‘corruption in the PPP’? He was representing the AFC and should have fought against the alleged corruption of the PPP, being a ‘veteran politician’ and all that. However, I would like to suggest to Mr Beharry that he was forced to resign because of his’ non-contribution’ and abrasive character. Lastly, as a ‘veteran politician’ and a ‘free lifelong member’ of the UCCI Mr Beharry should now be setting an example by being objective in his contributions to society and his country as a whole. “It is pardonable for children to yell that they believe in fairies, but it is somewhat sinister when the piping note shifts from the puerile to the senile.”

Regards Gobin Harbhajan Regional Representative - Office of the Prime Minister

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

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Jagdeo playing Russian Roulette with the welfare of sugar workers Dear Editor BHARRAT Jagdeo is playing Russian Roulette with the welfare of sugar workers, which is dangerous.

The future of sugar workers is now, and they need a plan from the PPP/C to be placed before this nation which will show that the party really cares about them and not using their plight only as a means to retake government in 2020.

Note is taken of Jagdeo’s press conference where he sought to give the impression that his government took a compassionate approach in treating with bauxite workers when it moved to divest the industry, and a benefit he offered these workers was subsidised electricity.

Let me remind the society what happened during the divestment of the bauxite companies. The Jagdeo government refused to engage the bauxite unions, political opposition, and other legitimate stakeholders on the way forward. He visited Kwakwani, Linden and Everton and called on bauxite workers to shun their unions and form themselves into workers’ committees and he would engage them through those mediums. The result of his actions not only saw the breaking up of the workers’ pension plan worth in excess of $2.5 billion, but workers and their communities are still reeling from decisions that did not have the involvement of their representatives, were not properly thought out, and not without political bias aimed at destroying their unions and communities.

The claimed issue of the subsidised electricity in Linden and Kwakwani which Jagdeo touts as a best practice of his administration and should be emulated by this government in treating with sugar workers is deceptive. Electricity, water and community activities in Linden were always subsidised and considered deferred/unseen wages. These benefits were negotiated at the bargaining table by the trade union and the management dating back to Reynolds and Demba, and continued during nationalisation.

Those who didn’t work with the companies and received these such were considered as part of corporate responsibility to the communities. Tampering with these benefits without the inputs of stakeholders risks upheaval,

as experienced in 2012 when the Donald Ramotar government sought to increase Linden's electricity tariff. In the case of Kwakwani, workers and residents never paid for electricity and water because these were part of deferred wages. They began paying for these under the Jagdeo presidency.

In principle, there is no problem if the David Granger/Moses Nagamootoo government sees the need to extend the benefits bauxite workers fought for and achieved, to sugar workers as President Desmond Hoyte did when bauxite workers fought for and achieved taxfree overtime and premium hours worked. The nation is being reminded that the Jagdeo government took away the tax-free benefit from bauxite workers even as he kept it in sugar.

Let me reiterate my dissatisfaction with the manner in which the future of the sugar industry is being handled. At the same time the PPP/C leader cannot escape being held accountable for creating the situation of uncertainty and anxiety in the industry and among sugar workers. He established the precedent and whenever he speaks to the treatment these workers are receiving, people do not see credibility and sincerity, they seek trickery and political opportunism.

When sugar estates were closed during his tenure and the workers laid off, there was no stipend paid to them, there was no retraining/re-education opportunities offered, neither was their severance pay honoured consistent with the Collective Labour Agreement. In fact, these workers had to go to court before his government saw it fit to authorise GuySuCo to release this benefit.

Historically, the Government of Guyana sought to treat the productive sector (i.e. sugar and bauxite) equally. This made not only management sense, but also political sense given the dynamics of the industries and the perceived support of the workers. A Jagdeo government that applied henchman tactics to the bauxite workers and their communities and in the closure of sugar estates and towards sugar workers never thought the table would have turned. This is the same man who gave the instruction to GuySuCo to de-recognise the Guyana Agricultural

and General Workers Union (GAWU). Had he established a positive precedent he would have had the moral authority today to speak from and stand on.

That having been said, it does not prevent the PPP/C from putting forward a plan to address the dire conditions in the industry. Just as how DDL has indicated its interest in buying some aspect of Enmore Estate, which can guarantee some employment, the PPP/C can come up with similar plans. The willy nilly talks at press conferences will not suffice. Sugar workers are facing an uncertain future and they need solutions to their problems now, not being told that better days are going to come, intimating that this would only be possible should the PPP/C win government. Going by the past sugar workers cannot trust this. There is a White Paper that was approved in the National Assembly during the Cheddi Jagan presidency that stipulates when state entities are being privatized, the minimum of 10 percent of the shares be set aside for the workers. When bauxite workers wanted to buy BERMINE, Jadgeo moved to ensure that the purchase was not realised by putting pressure on the partner not to associate with the deal, causing the effort to fold.

The way the PPP/C treated with bauxite workers and their communities, the public service, state entities, and the African community which represents a significant portion of the society, there are mixed views today with what is happening in sugar. The tone was set for creating divisions and it requires much to weld the society together.

What the PPP/C should be doing if it is serious about the industry’s future, as Jagdeo met with stakeholders across the spectrum to discuss and arrive at nominees for the Chairman of GECOM, similar approach can be adopted in addressing sugar.

Thereafter, he can request a meeting with President Granger, whose government has executive responsibility, to constructively engage in arriving at a viable plan.

Citizens/workers have to start holding their leaders accountable to deliver in their interest-be it in politics, trade union or otherwise- and not be fooled.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

The poverty of the private sector

By Dr. Ken Danns

THE local private sector comprises homegrown foundational business enterprises defined by the liberty and imperative of their economic actions, and which makes invaluable contributions to gross domestic product, government revenue, employment, and the very lives and sustenance of the Guyanese people. It has been historically dominated and marginalised by the state sector, the foreign private sector and the government.

Yet, it has been very resilient and survived. Some local private sector enterprises have thrived in areas such as beverage manufacturing, forestry and sawmilling, banking and financial services and rice-farming and ecotourism.

As currently constituted, the local private sector in Guyana is transactional rather than transformational, and is limited in its capabilities to engender sustainable development of the country.

It is an open secret that the local private sector operatives in Guyana, with some exceptions, are by no means wealthy and are not enamoured of a dynamic entrepreneurial disposition. They are seemingly content to make a surplus on their investments and earn a living rather than to generate serious profits.

They stick with what works and eschew the creative risk-taking that may result in major entrepreneurial successes. These local private-sector operatives are mainly businessmen who buy and sell products from abroad or locally, engage in farming, mining and the provision of limited services.

They are mainly small businesses with fewer than 20 employees.

Many having as few as four or less

employees. Few are involved in manufacturing and other value-added production. They do not embrace technology. Rather, technology embraces them. Their business mode is that of a sole proprietorship or family businesses. They invariably eschew the creation of corporations where ownership resides with shareholders and shares can be traded in the market. They are largely insular and uncurious and are more contented with survival rather than growth. They generally present little rivalry to the foreign private sector, and have very few partnerships with these. They seek favours from the government when necessary, circumvent regulations where possible and otherwise avoid engagement with public officialdom.

Major local companies such as Banks DIH, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), and the commercial banks are notable exceptions to the traditional local private sector.

What distinguishes these companies and their successes is that they are neither sole proprietorships nor family businesses and are instead corporations. These companies have broken with the genre of ownership to which the traditional private sector has been clinging.

They have embraced inclusive ownership. Their corporate growth and successes are reflective of this changed organisational mode. There are of course very successful family businesses such as Toolsie Persaud and Sons, Gafoors and Sons and Mazarally and Sons which are seemingly restricted in their creative expansion and effectiveness by their culture-driven persistence with exclusive family ownership.

But how did the local private sector get to be this way? Why is it that they are seemingly characterised by a poverty of purpose and of

growth? The colonial government in British Guiana played a key role in inhibiting the development of the local private sector. Preference was given to the expatriate transnational companies such as Bookers McConnell and ALCAN, which were involved in sugar cane-farming and manufacturing, bauxite-mining, etc. The local private sector was largely confined to the commercial businesses, services and small and medium-sized farming. Portuguese and Chinese businesses were initially privileged in the commercial sector over those of the majority East Indian and African Guyanese populations.

The colonial economy relied almost exclusively on exports of primary commodities, and imports of everything else, which economists have argued have been the basis for sustained underdevelopment. The colonial government however, strongly encouraged and incentivised the local private sector to produce during World War Two because merchant ships could not have safely travelled to bring imported commodities on which the colony depended. This “Grow More Food” campaign was highly successful. British Guiana ably survived without accustomed imports. As soon as the war ended, the colonial government reversed this beneficial trend by ending the “Grow More Food” campaign and withdrawing its support and incentives, so that imported commodities would once again dominate. The lesson here is that the powers and policies of government can go a far way toward enabling or restricting the growth of the private sector.

An independent Guyana soon embraced cooperative socialism.

The state sector, through nationalisation, replaced the foreign private

sector as the dominant economic sector. Socialism often proves an anathema to the growth of a private sector. Deliberate socialist policies by the Forbes Burnham PNC Government from 1968 – 1985, resulted in the marginalisation of the local private sector. Guerilla entrepreneurs – traders and vendors – emerged as part of a thriving underground economic movement in marked resistance to the state-dominated economy. Private enterprise became an expression of freedom.

The Desmond Hoyte-led PNC Reform government abandoned the failed socialist development path. It ideologically restored the primacy of the private sector as the premier economic sector and engine of growth in Guyana. The local private sector, whose operatives were politically opposed to the government, was no longer discouraged. Nationalised industries were subjected to divestment. Once again, the foreign private sector was privileged over the local private sector by the Hoyte government which pursued an “industrialisation by invitation” policy. Hoyte had declared that Guyana was open for business and granted generous tax and other concessions to foreign mining, forestry and other companies. One major foreign mining company which had polluted rivers and caused severe environmental damage, allegedly never paid any taxes to the Guyana Government. The company allegedly ended its operations in Guyana just before the generous tax holiday it was granted was scheduled to end.

The socialist Cheddi Jagan-led PPP/ Civic government replaced the Hoyte’s PNC Reform in 1992. Once again, the local private sector was confronted with a paramount socialist party that sustained an ambivalent disposition towards it. Hoyte’s

policies towards the private sector and foreign investment were found to be politically expedient and were retained by the PPP/C in a country that had grown tired of failed socialist ideologies. Still, not enough was done to create a positive environment for business and empower the local private sector under the PPP/C government. Instead, it was widely reported that corruption and the payment of bribes to government officials and politicians became the mechanism for selected elements of the local private sector’s engagement with the government. Guyanese investors from the diaspora played leading roles in government/ private sector partnerships. The sale of government property, the awarding of government contracts and government/private sector partnerships were widely reported to be tainted with venality. The National Insurance Scheme (NIS) safety net monies were allegedly doled out gratuitously in a PPP government/ private sector deal to finance the Berbice River Bridge Project. It is highly questionable whether these social security monies will ever be recouped.

Wary of each other To blame the local private sector for not being ready to advance the country’s development is historical cecity. The local private sector is wary of the government and the government is in turn wary of the local private sector.

The local private sector lamented that overly generous concessions are being guaranteed foreign investors from now until forever more, while local businesses are being heavily taxed and subjected to sometimes crippling regulations and Turn to page 9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

Jailed for dangerous driving

A FORMER serving member of the Guyana Defence Force was Friday sentenced to 12 months jail by City Magistrate Judy Latchman for dangerous driving.

Lance Corporal Zamani Archibald, of Manchester, Berbice was initially charged with causing the death of Harry Persaud, called “Saw doctor”, on March 11, 2017 on the Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara while driving motor pickup DFB 1566 in a dangerous manner.

However, the charge was dropped to the lesser count of

manslaughter, and the magistrate found sufficient evidence to convict Archibald on the charge of dangerous driving.

Archibald was represented by Attorney at law, Leslie Sobers and the matter was prosecuted by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Vishnu Hunt.

According to reports, at around 10:30hrs on the day in question, Archibald was driving motor pick up DFB 1566 south along the Soesdyke Public Road when he struck down Persaud in

the vicinity of the Rubis Gas Station.

At the time, Persaud was reportedly towing his oneyear-old granddaughter on a bicycle when he swerved unexpectedly in front of the pickup and was hit.

He was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The toddler, on the other hand, was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital with a fractured shoulder and lacerations to her hand and head.

Zamani Archibald

Man, his son granted bail --for allegedly wounding daughter’s ‘child father’

Ishwar Chanderpaul and his son, Anishwar

PRINCIPAL Magistrate Judy Latchman on Friday placed a father and son on $100,000 bail each for wounding.

Ishwar Chanderpaul and his son, Anishwar, are jointly charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Dwayne Hetmyer on December 27, 2017 at Lot 5, Eden Street, Tucville. The unrepresented men denied the charge.

Hetmyer, who was pres-

ent in court, explained that he is the “child father” of Ishwar’s daughter, and had gone to the family home on the day in question to collect his girlfriend’s clothing since her father had thrown her out of the home earlier.

The victim said that while there the father and his son were abusive and attacked him with a cutlass.

After hearing him out the magistrate released the duo on bail and adjourned the matter until February 9, when it will be recalled before Magistrate Leron Daly.

The poverty of the ... processes to get things done. Consequently, they contend that not enough is being done to incentivise the growth and contribution of the local private sector.

Countries that have experienced rapid development have done so on the basis of constructive government and local private sector partnerships. Countries such as China, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan are flourishing because their local private sectors are invested in their respective country’s development and not just encouraged to play second fiddle to foreign investors. While foreign direct investment may contribute to economic growth of a country, it must be acknowledged that the goal of the foreign private sector is not to develop its host country. Rather, the singular purpose of the foreign private sector is to derive profit for itself and its external shareholders. The development of a local private sector is far more likely to contribute to the development of a country.

COALITION LOOKS TO PRIVATE SECTOR The APNU+AFC coali-

tion administration, which has been in control of the government for just over two years, has unequivocally targeted the private sector as the focal point for generating the country’s development.

Strong initiatives are being made by the government to actively promote and incentivise entrepreneurial activities in the various regions of the country, particularly among the nation’s youth and its women. The aim is to generate employment and in the process expand and diversify the local private sector above and beyond its traditional existence.

The Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, challenged the local private sector to readjust their thinking and way of doing business and to be willing to form partnerships with foreign companies rather than complain about them.

The Finance Minister actually declared during his budget presentation in the nation’s Parliament: “We have to creep before we walk! Creep by forming partnerships with people who know. Learn the business. Accept the technology transfer; gain some

financing before you can get out on your own.” The minister further called for a campaign to support local businesses and local products. Further, he affirmed that the government was promulgating “Local Content” legislation in order to ensure that local businesses and workers have a fair share and opportunity within the developing oil industry. Additionally, the APNU+AFC government is accessing US$86.1 million in concessional financing from the IDB to enable Guyana to pursue inclusive growth by focusing on institutions to deliver services, critical infrastructure, and improve the basic conditions that enhance the private sector’s role in the economy.

EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT For the first time a Government of Guyana is unequivocally supporting the expansion and development of the local private sector while simultaneously courting foreign private sector investment. Still, much more needs to be done to empower and incentivise the

growth and transformation of the traditional private sector which has literally survived centuries of discouragement and subordination. It is not enough to encourage the local private sector to partner with foreign businesses as subordinate partners, although this is a good way to enable some such enterprises to enter the 21st century. Indeed, some leading local businesses have long been doing so. Without giving away all of the treasury, the APNU+AFC government should equally establish partnerships with its own local private sector

9

Local Govt Commission to probe M&CC sex scandal THE results of a probe into a sex scandal involving an officer of the City Constabulary Department and a 15-year-old boy is now with the Local Government Commission (LGC).

The report, which was done by the Legal Affairs Committee, was adopted by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and forwarded to the LGC, based on legal advice they would have received, Town Clerk Royston King told reporters on Friday on the sidelines of a press conference at City Hall.

King said he forwarded the matter on December 5 to LGC Chairman, Mr. Mortimer Mingo, who has since responded that the Commission will “address this matter as soonest.”

Lance Corporal Clifton Pellew, who allegedly committed the act against the juvenile, and Quacy Baveghems,

who witnessed the act, were sacked by King but later reinstated and sent on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the LGC’s investigations.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the juvenile was approached by the officer in the wee hours of the morning and made to engage in the act.

The incident reportedly occurred between August 22 and 23 last.

Chief Constable Andrew Foo had told this newspaper that although he was aware that the lance corporal at reference had faced a similar charge in 2016, he believes everyone is innocent until they are proven guilty.

Pellew’s 2016 matter was reportedly dropped, because the victim did not pursue it.

The incident was witnessed by the other city constable, who has since provided a written statement.

From page 8 based on transparency, mutual respect and trust. It would be useful to invite prominent local companies such as Banks DIH and DDL and ask them what government could do to enable them to get to the next level, if this is not already being done. Make it less difficult for diaspora entrepreneurs to invest in Guyana and local start-up businesses to thrive. Grant tax holidays equally to the local private sector making major investments and capable of generating significant employment.

The motivation that our

local private sector needs to unleash its entrepreneurial potential is the knowledge that their government believes in them and has their backs in the event they stumble going forward. In all of this, the local private sector needs to: increase its rapprochement with and reduce its instinctual opposition to the government; become more corporate and inclusive in its business ownership; be willing to aggressively engage with similar or related enterprises -- both local and foreign.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

Guyanese cultural icon, Neil Chan passes away NEIL Chan, a Guyanese cultural icon who operated the once popular “Xanadu” night club in the city, died on Friday morning.

The 88-year-old died at the St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital. According to a release from the Guyana Cultural Association (GCA) of New York, Chan had many interests, including, sports, culture, music and business.

He was an ardent boxing and table tennis fan, but he excelled in the bodybuilding and weightlifting fields and later represented Guyana at the 1966 8th British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Jamaica. The body said as a businessman, he specialised in the import trade. In 1970, he was appointed the first General Manager of the External Trade Bureau

(ETB), which was responsible for the importation of most of Guyana’s food and other commodities.

He also played a major role in trade at a time when foreign currency was in short supply and materials for the development of the country were greatly needed Back in the days, “Chan and Solo” domiNeil Chan

nated the Festival Arts of Guyana for many years as the leading private sector costume band and was well known for the splendor and pageantry of his 1000 strong Mash paraders leading the parade.

Chan was also winner of “King of the Band” Competition on many occasions.

He was honoured by

the Government of Guyana with the Golden Arrow of Achievement for his long, dedicated and outstanding contribution to Guyana’s culture.

In 2005, he was also honored by the Guyana Cultural Association of New York with the GCA Award for his contribution to Guyana’s arts and culture.

Nothing but justice will suffice

–– says mother of boys allegedly molested by Muslim scholar THE mother of the four boys who were allegedly sexually molested by Muslim scholar, Neezam Ali, is seeking justice and is calling on the relevant authorities to hear her cries as she believes deliberate attempts are being made to sweep the case under the carpet.

Ali, also known as ‘Mufti’, an Imam of Lot Section ‘C 5’ South, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, was committed to stand trial in the High Court on nine counts of engaging in sexual intercourse with nine boys under the age of 12, back in 2012.

The charges alleged that between December 2011 and January 2012, Ali, being a teacher attached to the Turkeyen Masjid, engaged in sexual activity with the children.

He was placed on a total of $1.3M bail at the time.

The acts were allegedly committed while Ali was in a position of trust, being a religious teacher, and knew or could be reasonably expected to have known of the trust in relation to the boys. The boys had been attending Arabic and Koran classes at the time.

Following a preliminary hearing at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Alex Moore, Ali was committed to stand trial

Muslim scholar, Neezam Ali at the High Court. But his attorney, Nigel Hughes, had challenged the paper committal on several grounds.

The matter was subsequently sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice, and was later reopened before Magistrate Moore.

On Friday morning, when the matter was scheduled to be called at the Sparendaam Court, Magistrate Moore failed to make an appearance, causing another adjournment and further frustrating the families of the victims.

The prosecutor, Hattie Alexander, explained that

the file in the matter is complete, and ready to be heard.

The mother of four of the teens told the Guyana Chronicle that while she is tired of the back-and-forth regarding the matter, she will not give up.

According to the woman, she was offered an $8M bribe by members of the Muslim community to “hush-up” the matter, but she noted that she will not accept anything but justice for her children.

She said, too, that she will continue to seek an audience with the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General, Basil Williams and the higher authorities on the matter.

She said she visited the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) but was chased out of the building by an official.

She explained that the defendant, who is on bail, has taken to tormenting her at least twice daily by passing by her home in Sophia, slowing down and smiling knowingly at her.

The woman said that on one occasion, Ali, along with another man, stood in front of her home and took pictures of the house and children.

The matters were all reported to the Turkeyen Police Station, she said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

ECD man jailed for human trafficking AN East Coast of Demerara bar owner has been sentenced to three years in prison for trafficking a 14-year-old.

In a statement on Friday, the Social Protection Ministry disclosed that Jagetram Hariram was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $100,000 after being found guilty of recruiting, transporting and harbouring a14-year-old for the purpose of labour exploitation. The act occurred between Feb-

ruary 1, 2016 and March 18, 2016. “This is a testament to the commitment of the Ministry of Social Protection, led by the Honourable Amna Ally, Minister of Social Protection, to purge Guyana from the notoriety associated with being a known source and destination country for which men, women and children are subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour,” the ministry stated.

It was noted that the Social Protection Ministry’s

Counter - Trafficking in Persons Department has been aggressively tackling human trafficking through training, sensitisation and awareness campaigns and providing victim-support services to survivors of human trafficking. The ministry said that the department work programme for 2018 has commenced with focus on bridging the remaining gaps.

According to the Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act 2004 forced

labour is defined as “labour or services obtained or maintained through force, threat of force or means of coercion or physical restraint.” The act defines a minor as any person below the age of 18.

After being ranked on the United States’ Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report as a tier two (2) country for three consecutive years 2013-2015, on June 27, 2017 Guyana was reclassified to tier one (1) status; being a tier one

(1) country means the Government has fully met the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards.

Guyana’s new ranking was announced when the State Department published its 2017 TIP report last June and was a result of its implementation of the recommendations listed in the 2016 report. These achievements included approving the 20172018 National Action Plan for combating TIP; increas-

ing the number of investigations, prosecutions, and convictions; and identifying and assisting more victims for the second year in a row. The government’s inter-ministerial taskforce had coordinated a number of successful police operations, which resulted in a number of investigations, prosecutions and convictions.

Since 2016, more stringent penalties were enacted for the traffickers. These ranged from three years to life imprisonment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

M&CC raises salaries

–– by 8% across the board AT the height of the City Council’s financial crisis and subsequent inability to pay salaries to workers in a timely fashion, an eight per cent increase, across the board, has been announced

by Town Clerk Royston King.

Speaking at a press conference at City Hall on Friday, King said the increase was approved as of January 1.

He explained that the municipality had already bargained with the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) for the increase, with anticipated revenues in mind, which, unfortunately, has not materialised. King has time and again referred to the parking meter project, among other means, which could have

brought in much-needed revenue, but which has since been stopped.

Assistant City Treasurer John Douglas, who also attended the press briefing, related that although salaries for December were paid to all workers, the City Council has not managed to honour its obligations to PAYE, NIS, GRA and GLGOU. The municipality has been deducting sums for each entity every month, but has not been remitting them to the relevant agencies.

Just recently, scores of City Hall workers protested on a number of occasions for salaries owed to them. They also protested the non-remittance of the deducted amounts.

Union President, Wendy De Cunha had told the

Town Clerk, Royston King (third right) addressing the press conference on Friday Guyana Chronicle that the non-remittance of the various sums have been going on for some months now, resulting in the workers being unable to receive any benefits and obtain loans from the union. “That is unlawful,” she stated.

Councillor Sherod Duncan, who laid flat on his back in front of City Hall’s gate

at one of the protests, had chanted: “They touring and we hungry. We fed up; bad management. The town clerk must go; put in someone fit and proper.”

Other placards bore the words: “Pay our Credit Unions; we need loans”, “No money, no work”, “We want money now” and “Respect your human resources assets;

they are important.”

Protesters had also chanted, “We fed up of the same thing over and over,”

and one worker even said, “Courts ringing down my phone all the time; they even calling my mother.”

Dookie posted to Strategic Planning Unit FORMER Head of the SWAT unit, Deputy Superintendent Motie Dookie has been posted temporarily to the Strategic Planning Unit of the Guyana Police Force as investigations continue after he was busted with 30 cases of Johnnie Walker Whisky on Saturday.

This was confirmed by acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine during a press conference on Friday in the Commissioner’s Conference Room, Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.

Ramnarine said when he contacted Dookie’s supervisor, it was related that the deputy superintended had acted on his own and as such will face the consequences.

The Commissioner (ag) said Dookie will be handed over to the Guyana Revenue Authority for questioning by the law-enforcement body as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, Ramnarine said he was bombarded with Deputy Superintencalls from persons in society dent Motie Dookie requesting that the force take it lightly on Dookie. ‘‘I received over a dozen calls from supposedly right-thinking people who were concerned about when the man would be released and ‘why yall don’t give the man a break’ and all kind of lawlessness they were telling me, believe it or leave it,” Ramnarine disclosed “That is the society we have. On the one hand, they want to see a professional police force – they want a police force that delivers a higher or a better quality of service – but at the same time, they are indifferent to gross wrongdoings.

That is the reality of the society we live in comrade.”

This is even as the other persons who were in the vehicle at the time with Dookie when the whisky was discovered, have been the subject of constant grilling by members of the GRA anti-smuggling and enforcement arm. Dookie on the other hand has been changing his story constantly as it relates to his involvement in the transporting of, or facilitating the movement of the smuggled alcohol.

The senior police officer is already on record as admitting to ranks on the night in question, that he was aware of the presence of a quantity of alcohol in the vehicle of which he was a passenger.

Dookie was supposed to be confined to the police station on the night in question, but was allowed to leave during the course of the night and return the following morning. Sources within the investigative arm of the police force are contending that Dookie’s absence from the station might have been to facilitate the clearing of his tracks in the alleged illegal operation, in which he is said to have been involved for some time now.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

GDF decorates promoted officers with new badges

CHIEF of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West and Inspector-General, Colonel Nazrul Hussain on Friday morning decorated newly- promoted officers with their new badges of rank at a simple but significant Badging Ceremony at the Officers Mess at Base camp Ayanganna.

Substantive Major Michael Shahoud heads the list of the newly-promoted officers, having risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col).

The other new Lieutenant Colonels are Selwyn Austin, Kester Craig and Sheldon Howell. Lt Col Austin was not available for Friday’s activity as he is currently on assignment overseas.

Substantive Captains Dominic Shepherd, Cranston France, Kevin Langevine, John Mohanlall, and Raymond Archer, and Reserve Officer, Captain Althea Stuart were promoted to the rank of Substantive Major.

Brigadier West congratulated the officers on the attainment of their new level of command, and urged that they adjust their thinking accordingly, as they support the Senior Command in ensuring a Force that is effectively

transformed for “Total National Defence”.

Lt Col Shahoud expressed appreciation for the confidence placed in him and his colleagues by the Chief of Staff and the Commander in Chief.

Substantive Major Michael Shahoud was admitted to the local Bar in 2014, after his successful petition was presented before Justice Brassington Reynolds by Attorney-at-Law Andrew Pollard, who noted the academic and professional achievements of the young lawyer.

In accepting the petition, Justice Reynolds stated that he was well aware of the character of the attorney, and could personally concur with statements contained in the Petition.

He commended the young attorney on his achievements, and urged him to maintain a high degree of professional discipline and to avoid the ‘short cuts’, which inevitably destroy the moral fabric.

Major Shahoud gained his formal education at the St Theresa’s Primary School in New Amsterdam, and the St Margaret’s Primary and North Georgetown Secondary Schools in Georgetown. Upon the

Thieving pair to slake unusual thirst in jail TWO Campbellville Housing Scheme men were on Friday sentenced to 12 months in jail for stealing a refrigerator filled with over $200,000 worth of beverages.

Alex Bernard, 20, and Seon Adams, 19, were sentenced by Magistrate Judy Latchman after confessing to simple larceny, as charged.

Particulars of the charge allege that on January 2, at Seawall Road, Georgetown the pair stole a refrigerator filled with a quantity of beverages valued $202,000.

According to a report, the two were caught red-handed by the police with the items in the refrigerator along the seawall road.

completion of his secondary education, Shahoud enlisted in the Guyana Defence Force, where he benefited from training on several courses, both locally and overseas.

He then proceeded to read for a pre-law programme at the University of Guyana in 2008, and later received a military scholarship to pursue the Bachelor of Law Degree, and the Legal Education Certificate at the Hugh Wooding Law School.

He was also awarded the Ann Blue Award for the most outstanding second-year student at the University of Guyana.

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West (right) and Inspector-General, Colonel Nazrul Hussain, pin the badge of rank on substantive Major Michael Shahoud, who heads the list of newly-promoted officers

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

RUSAL in deeper industrial –– as new complications arise relations trouble

By Lisa Hamilton TENSION has begun to escalate between heads of the Russian bauxite company, RUSAL, and its workers following a series of broken promises and new complications.

At the heart of the controversy is the company’s dawdling to reimburse staff monies they would have owed them since October 2016.

It follows the discovery back in 2016 that RUSAL workers were being asked to pay taxes on their premium and overtime pay, at which point the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GBGWU) stepped in.

Since then, the Ministry of Social Protection has had RUSAL sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the effect that the workers must be paid, and that the Guyana Revenue Authority

Locked in discussion are, from left, GBGWU Vice-President, Garfield Brutus; General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis; and President, Ephraim Velloza (Photo by Samuel Maughn) (GRA) has made arrangements to take charge of the tax returns for the workers for the year 2016.

RUSAL, however, although advised to pay the workers in full for 2017,

has opted to reimburse them monthly instead, and to make matters worse, has not delivered on a recent promise to pay workers their wages and overtime taxes for two months (November and De-

cember 2017) in December.

They were only paid one month’s (November) wages and overtime in December.

Gathering at the Critchlow Labour College, GBGWU General Secretary,

Lincoln Lewis; its President, Ephraim Velloza; and Vice-President, Garfield Brutus met recently to discuss the new issues that have arisen.

Brutus, who has been working with the company for almost six years, says that when it comes to clarification on matters which concern the workers, and which they are entitled to know, it is a struggle to receive information.

Producing a document which depicted a copy of his salary slip, Brutus showed where there appeared to be discrepancies on his most recent performance bonus, which is calculated at 20% of each worker’s pay.

Brutus says what his slip is showing is far less than 20%, and that when he attempted to have the matter clarified, he would either be sent from one person to the next or his queries be poorly explained.

“When you go to them [RUSAL Finance Officer) they can’t explain this thing properly to you,” Brutus said, adding that there is presently no breakdown from the GRA or RUSAL which states the amount each worker should expect to be refunded and therefore they are unsure whether they are being misled or not.

MORE COMPLICATIONS The most recent complication arose when a company mechanic, one Winslow McCurdy, was fired after he made a decision to shut down an equipment

that had begun to overheat during his shift.

Brutus and the other workers believe that the decision to terminate McCurdy’s services was meant to victimise him for speaking up during a recent meeting between management and staff, and send a strong message to his colleagues that such behaviour will not be tolerated.

“When they had the meeting with us, he was one of the persons that spoke up; and he spoke boldly,” Brutus explained.

Detailing what transpired at the meeting, Brutus said: “He said, ‘Y’all got the money; pay the people the money!’ And he talked hard!

And apparently, they were afraid of him! It was victimization!”

This string of events has led to workers contemplating going on strike, the last of which occurred back in 2009, when over 60 workers were dismissed.

“We had wanted to strike when this guy [McCurdy] got fired,” Brutus told the Guyana Chronicle.

“The guys they said they’re prepared, but I told them, ‘Man, this thing got a system; it got a process.

Let’s wait.’ And I got on to the General Secretary, and he told me to forward the letter [of dismissal] to him. That’s why we didn’t call a strike.”

Lewis has since written to the company, requesting that the matter be addressed speedily, as the workers are now concerned that with McCurdy being fired, he will not be paid the monies owed to him.

Lewis shares their belief, and said that without a hearing or an investigation, the workers are being stifled.

HARSH CONDITIONS Coupled with the issues faced with the management of RUSAL, Velloza told the Guyana Chronicle of the grim working conditions to which workers are subjected to.

Velloza says that the trucks they operate have inefficient lights, there is no transportation on site for medical emergencies, and workers are given a meager See page 15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

RUSAL in deeper industrial relations ...

From page 14 30-minute lunch break which goes against the Labour Agreement.

“This company feels that they’re untouchable; they have no regard for the government; they have no regard for their human resource and that’s the way how they operate,” Velloza said.

As such, the workers are calling on the government to be more proactive in their defense and protection. “I don’t think the government is doing enough,” Brutus said, adding: “This thing started with Bharrat Jagdeo; the Russians came to this country to invest in Bharrat Jagdeo’s time. We don’t know what was the contract that was signed with these people, but to me, there is something hiding that we don’t know about concerning the signing of this contract.”

Velloza is of the opinion that the government needs to act now or face the after effects of ignoring their most important asset: The people.

“We are the resources of this country,” Velloza warned. “Election is coming again, and if you’re treating us like this, how do you think we’re going to re-elect you.

And we [Region 10] are the largest contingent for your election.”

Lewis, on the other hand, said that the GBGWU is doing everything it can to support and advise the workers, but ultimately, the matter of ensuring that the workers are paid is the government’s responsibility.

“It’s the government who has to make a clear position on this issue; it is not the trade union,” he said. “The trade union can only ask the government to act.”

The company, the men say, engages in little to no interaction with the workers; and the supervisors, who are supposed to represent them, are instead intimidated by the Russians and worried about losing their jobs.

Brutus recommends that operations with the company be terminated, while Velloza says he has faith that they will win out at the end of the day.

“The persons that’s coming after me must not go through this ordeal; they must enjoy the labour that they are working for.

We are the forerunners,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

M&CC to appeal High Court ruling Monday –– in bid to rescind decision to quash parking meter by-laws

By Telesha Ramnarine AN appeal to overrule Justice Nareshwar Harnanan’s decision to quash the parking meter by-laws has been drafted and should be filed on Monday by city lawyer, Roger Yearwood.

Town Clerk Royston King, who made the disclosure at a press conference here on Friday at City Hall, said the final report is being compiled by Chairman of the new re-negotiating committee, Councillor Akeem Peter, and that it will be submitted to the City Council on Monday.

Last February, subsequent to a legal challenge of the by-laws by the New Building Society (NBS), Justice Brassington Reynolds ruled that “an order, or rule nisi certiorari be issued to the Minister of Communities to show cause why a writ of certiorari should not be issued to quash his approval and/or decision to approve the parking meter by-laws made under the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, made on or about the 23rd day of January, 2017, in that the said approval or decision to approve was of no legal effect and was made unlawfully and in breach of statute.”

Justice Harnanan subsequently took a decision that essentially rendered the said by-laws null and void, thus putting a pause on the controversial project for which re-negotiation was only recently completed.

In response to the decision at the time, King had said: “The Council is of the preliminary view that the ruling exceeded the scope of the challenge brought by the New Building Society, and as such it has not ruled out challenging same before an Appellate Court to test its soundness.”

He had said that in the interim, the Council will continue to examine all possible recourses, with a view to having a system implemented shortly to regulate parking in the city of Georgetown, thereby significantly reducing congestion and environmental pollution therein, while simultaneously helping the fight against crime.

“This would enable the Council to attain much-needed revenue to assist in its statutory mandate to sustainably transform Georgetown into a modern but aesthetically beautiful garden city,” King said, adding: “The Mayor and City Council wishes to assure all of its citizens that it remains resolutely committed, and unswervingly dedicated, to improving the quality of life in the nation’s capital, and lifting Georgetown to a plateau of environmental goodness and excellence.”

Following the High Court ruling, member of the Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM), Don Singh, told the Guyana Chronicle that the group was overjoyed and felt vindicated by the judge’s decision, and that that was the reason the group had been petitioning the M&CC to await the outcome of the court matter before continuing to advance the project.

The M&CC had, however, voted to begin a fresh process of negotiation with SCS. Last September, 13 of 25 city councillors voted in favour of setting up a new committee, consisting of two members of the public, to re-negotiate with SCS. The contract that M&CC had entered into with SCS came under heavy criticism from some city councillors, who called for a complete revocation of it, while some others had suggested waiting on the outcome of the court action before proceeding.

Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran had said that the project lacked transparency from the beginning, was not open to public scrutiny and should have been shelved immediately. “In May 2016, the Council was informed that the contract was signed for the implementation of parking meters. To my knowledge, at no time do I recall ever discussing, much less voting, on a proposal to implement this. I didn’t even see a contract until much later on.”

Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor, Sherod Duncan, along with People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillors, Bishram Kuppen and Khame Sharma, also called for the complete revocation of the contract.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

Missing teen’s parents asking help to find her

THE parents and other close relatives of 14-yearold Tanis Webster, who has been reported missing since Wednesday, are pleading with members of the public to help them find her.

According to the teen’s grandmother, Ms Hyacinth Watson, Tanis left her Paradise Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara home on Wednesday at around 14:00hrs to go to lessons, but has not been seen, nor heard of since.

The woman said that relatives have been searching high and low for her ever since, but have not been able to pick up a trace of where she might have gone, or what has become of her.

But she has this sneaky feeling that the teen couldn’t have gone far; that she is somewhere in the neighbourhood, and is appealing to her to just come on home; that

sion for her safe return.

She said her sister has never stayed out before, and she is hoping that she will

Missing Paradise teen, Tanis Webster all will be forgiven.

Her sister, Fieona, told the Guyana Chronicle that she believes that her sibling is in the company of friends who have misled her to stay away from home, and made an emotional plea on televi-

Probe still active in East Coast cemetery killing

ALTHOUGH no one has since been charged for the brutal murder of 18-year-old Raynelle Benfield, the police in ‘C’ Division say the investigation was still active and they had detained and questioned several persons of interest.

However, interviewing is ongoing in an effort to locate her killer (s) and the cops say it is just a matter of time before the case is solved.

The young Qualfon Call Centre receptionist was murdered on December 11, 2017, while on her way home.

Her mutilated body with her face disfigured was found in a Muslim cemetery along the Beterverwagting Access Road, East Coast Demerara by a passerby, who alerted the police.

A post- mortem performed on the body revealed Murdered teenager, that Benfield died as a result Raynelle Benfield of crushing injuries to the face caused by a blunt object.

More than seven persons were detained and grilled by the police.

The police reported that the body of Benfield was found about 07:00hrs with her face smashed. The victim was last seen alive about 18:00hrs on Saturday last by her colleagues.

Detectives are of the opinion that she was the victim of a heinous crime in which she knew her attacker (s) and was probably held at gunpoint or knifepoint and was forcibly taken into the cemetery where she was beaten to the point where her face was smashed in.

The body was found with her jeans pulled down almost to her knees and she was still wearing her blouse, while her hands were resting on her stomach near one of the many tombs in the burial ground.

The face of the young woman was unrecognisable.

Sleuths said a handbag which relatives said belonged to the teen was retrieved near the body, but her cellphone was not among the items.

The body was found when a passerby decided to check on a strong stench emanating from the cemetery.

soon come to her senses and return home and be reunited with her family.

She said the family has

since Tanis’s disappearance made a missing person report at the police station, asking that anyone know-

ing of her whereabouts to contact them on telephone numbers: 642-4762, 6473319 or 255-0991.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

80-year-old victim ready to fight back JORGE Bowenforbes who has been the victim of two violent break and enter incidents at his La Parfaite

Harmonie, West Bank Demerara home has returned to his residence and is in the process of installing

grillework to his doors, windows and also putting up a fence.

The man, who is in his

late 80s, told the Guyana Chronicle that he was fearful for his life having been beaten severely on two oc-

casions. Since the last incident he was staying at his doctor’s house in the city but saw the need to return to his own home.

His nightmare began on November 19, 2017 when a woman went into his house and took away valuables while he in his backyard tending to his kitchen garden and had left his front door open.

It was only when he went back inside the house to make a phone call that he realised something was amiss. He could not locate either of his two cell phones and his camera was also

Jorge Bowenforbes missing.

The octogenarian told the Guyana Chronicle that he suspects it is the act of a female friend who is familiar with his house, having visited him before upon his invitation. He subsequently learnt that the same individual is in the habit of entering the homes of people and making off with whatever valuables she can get her hands on.

The second incident took place on November 27, 2017. Bowenforbes said he was inside his house and happened to look outside when he saw a man whom he recognised as an individual who roams the village.

The senior citizen reported that he subsequently heard a rap on his front door and when he opened it he was confronted by the man who placed a knife to his neck.

The man who pushed him inside the house then hit him on the head and he fell.

Bowenforbes said the burglar bound his hands and

The injured Jorge Bowenforbes when he was robbed and beaten. feet and demanded money and when he was told there was none he began to search the house. Having found a wallet which had US$400 and G$600, the elderly man stated that the burglar got angry, told him that he was a liar and began hitting him about the body.

Bowenforbes said he begged the intruder to leave his wallet which contained important documents. Not satisfied with the money that he found, the man continued to search the house and carted away a laptop, two flash drives and a black shopping bags with groceries.

The victim said he again summoned the police but they failed to locate the suspect.

A third incident took place on December 13, last when Bowenforbes said he saw the same suspect outside his house breaking a window.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that he tried his best to fend off the suspect who was trying to enter his home by his feet. The octogenarian said he fired several chops at the man who had told him that he would shoot him. Neighbours who were alerted by the commotion came to his aid but the man had already fled the scene.

However, while the suspect was some distance off the police were again alerted but the man managed to evade them.

Bowenforbes is a national awardee and international artist who returned to his homeland, Guyana, late last year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

Unprecedented training opportunities for police in 2017 –Ramnarine

THE Guyana Police Force has benefitted from an unprecedented number of training opportunities for the past two years, Acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine has said.

He was at the time addressing reporters at a media conference held at his office on Friday. Ramnarine said the force is growing from strength to strength and developing.

He said over the last year there has been improved collaboration within the joint services and enhanced support and partnerships with key stakeholders, government ministries and private citizens. Ramnarine also lauded the efforts and contributions of the Canadian Justice Education Society (JES). He said 339 ranks from constables to assistant commissioners were trained overseas in the last three years of which 131 received training in 2017.

Further, he said 271 officers were trained

by JES of Canada of which 80 per cent are Criminal Investigations Department (CID) operatives. Additionally, Ramnarine said 175 officers and ranks benefitted from Nations University training and 55 immigration officers benefited from border security training sponsored by the United Kingdom. Additionally, he said 195 junior ranks received training in medical first responders programme conducted by the Director of National Emer-

gency Medical Service Dr. Zulfikar Bux and staff of Project Dawn, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. “For no year except 2017 did we witness such a large number of ranks being trained, whether local or overseas, it is unprecedented. The recruitment of 794 persons, more than any other year, in 2017; there were 639 for the regular service, 155 for the special constabulary and of the 639, the CID benefitted from 125,” the acting police chief said.

In addition, Ramnarine reported that some 46 police stations and buildings were rehabilitated within the last two years with 55 per cent done in 2017. “We have 12 more identified under the Citizens Security Programme Phase 2, which is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank and at seven of these stations rehabilitation has started.

This is important because we want to bring stations and buildings in line with staff and community needs; this is all intended to improve the socio-economic status of our ranks,” Ramnarine said.

PROMOTIONS Meanwhile, Ramnarine said a number of senior ranks are eagerly awaiting the reconstitution of the Police Service Commission (PSC) with many anticipating promotion ahead of their scheduled retirement.

He told reporters that last year 13 senior

Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine ranks retired while this year four more are expected to retire. He said those retired gazetted officers included assistant commissioners, senior superintendents, and assistant superintendents. “The senior administration of the force has not wavered, but we have been manifestly steadfast and resolute in ensuring that the requisite standards of professionalism is maintained with specific reference and regards to public trust, which impacts

significantly on confidence, support, respect and cooperation,” Ramnarine said.

With this in mind, Ramnarine said 31 ranks who committed infractions were in 2017 dismissed after investigations were concluded and legal advice sought. They were charged and placed before the court. This he said is against 26 in 2016.

Commending the Office of Professional Responsibility for a job well done, the Commissioner (ag) said while there was a five per cent increase in complaints in 2017 with 644 as against 609 in 2016, there has been a 78 per cent completion in dealing with complaints of last year.

“This increase in complaints based on our analysis is largely due to increased public confidence in our investigative processes, where persons feel confident and comfortable to report infractions,” he said.

Of the infractions, eight resulted in criminal charges and 187 were departmental charges and 49 ranks were warned. Nevertheless, the Commissioner (ag) said the GPF delivered a satisfactory performance for last year when compared with previous performances.

Noting that the role of the law-enforcement agency is increasingly demanding, he said the force was on many occasions constructively criticised but seldom praised, which is understandable in a developing society.

Inferno rips through East La Penitence house –– More than $1M in savings up in flames

A FAMILY of four was displaced on Friday afternoon when fire, unknown in origin, ripped through their newly-renovated two-storey concrete house at Lot 31A Morocut Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown.

A distraught and weeping Kenneth Herbert told the Guyana Chronicle that it was after lunch and he was sleeping by the door in the top flat of the house when one of his grandchildren woke him up.

It was then he saw a ‘big’ fire in the bedroom and there was nothing he could do but get out the building in the company of the two children.

No one was injured as the blaze quickly consumed the inside of the top flat as he watched from a neigh-

Fire victim: Kenneth Herbert bour’s house.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the scene several fire tenders and scores of firefighters were battling the flames which they managed to contain to that one building thus sav-

ing the nearby houses.

The 69-year-old security guard said he was taking a nap in preparation for his night shift later that evening (Friday) and could not say how the fire started. But it was in one of the bedrooms raging when he was aroused.

Herbert, who had to be consoled by neighbours said he lost everything and it was very difficult to watch his house go up in flames.

He estimated his losses to run into millions since they had renovated the house. He also lost the cash which amounted to more than $1M which he was saving for his overseas vacation shortly.

Herbert, his wife Joycelyn and two grandchildren were the only occupants

The house after the inferno on Friday afternoon of the house which was completely gutted from the inside. Only the frame was left standing.

According to reports, the children were in the habit of playing with matches and when asked if it could be the children

that started the fire, Herbert could not say for sure.

He however admitted that the children used to play with matches but he would hide them away and when he took a nap he would ensure they too slept.

Herbert told the Chron-

icle that the granddaughter had on a towel when she woke him up and he observed his grandson naked and he surmised that he too had taken a bath.

The Herberts had been living at the house for more than 20 years.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

Six issued radio licences …CN Sharma application approved after 20-year wait

GNBA Chairman Leslie Sobers presenting Chandra Narine Sharma (CNS) with his radio licence in the presence of his wife Savitri Sharma

By Svetlana Marshall THE Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) on Friday issued Radio Licences to six new radio broadcasters among them Chandra Narine Sharma (CNS) and the National Media and Broadcasting Company Ltd. – publishers of the Kaieteur News.

Two Brothers Corporation, Pinnacle Communications Inc, Brutal Groups Inc., and Blackman and Sons Inc. were also presented with their licences during a simple ceremony at the GNBA Headquarters, Lamaha Street, Georgetown.

Sharma’s approval to operate a radio station in Guyana comes 20 years after he had first applied to the authorities to operate on the radio spectrum.

GNBA Board Chairman,

Leslie Sobers, who presented the licences to the broadcasters, said the majority of applicants had applied many years ago and their applications were lingering in the system. “Their applications were lingering for a number of years, and we went through the files and recognised that it is only fit and proper that they be considered,” Sobers told a room filled with media operatives. Once they were fully compliant, he said, the board approved the applications.

The radio licences are in effect from January 5, 2018 for a period of one year.

However, the GNBA Board of Directors is considering extending the validity of the licences. “The board will be examining in this year, moving away from these annual licences. We are contemplating a longer period of

licences, two to three years as a start, because the law allows for the authority to grant as many as 10 years on a single licence,” the board chairman explained.

It was also noted that some of the applicants, in addition to applying to operate in the primary zone, requested to operate in the secondary and tertiary zones, but approval was granted only for the secondary zone.

The spectrum space in the primary zone stretches from Parika to the Abary River and from Moblissa to the southern end of Georgetown.

First-timers thankful In an interview with reporters, CN Sharma told reporters that he receives his licence approximately 20 years after his initial application. “We took 20 years to get a licence,” he murmured, while thanking President

David Granger. His wife, Savitri Sharma, however, expressed disappointment that the new radio licensees were made to pay for their licences without being given prior notice to allow for the establishment of their studios and transmitting facilities.

“I think that GNBA and the authorities should have thought about giving stakeholders a grace period. I don’t think it is fair that you have to pay for a licence for 2018 when you haven’t started up, you don’t have equipment, you have nothing.

There was no permission that was granted before to say to us, we should get our act together,” Savitri complained.

According to her, it would take them approximately three to six months, before their radio station goes on air. Mrs Sharma opined that they should have been given at least six months of notice prior to the issuing of the licence.

Head of Brutal Group Inc., Christian Duncan, told the Guyana Chronicle that the company had applied for the radio licence in 2008 under the Bharrat Jagdeo Administration. “We got correspondence from Dr. Roger Luncheon and that was as far as it went,” he recalled.

Duncan said the company re-applied in 2017 following the passage of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill and is thankful that its application has been approved. “You see we are coming from a Guyanese Music perspective and that is what we have been doing over the years, so we thought that on the merit

of that we would have been able to be recognised earlier, but that wasn’t so but now we are and we are pleased,” Duncan said.

Currently, Brutal Group Inc. is putting systems in place to have its radio station on air by the end of February. “We are waiting for our applications for the construction of mass towers to be approved,” Duncan posited. The radio station will be located at Brutal Groups Head office on Waterloo Street, Georgetown.

Editor-in-Chief of Kaieteur News, Adam Harris, who represented the National Media and Broadcasting Company, recalled that the company had applied for a licence since 2000. “This application was in since 2000, [and] now that we have a frequency we are now going to buy the transmitters, early next week, we are going to go down to Florida [and] acquire the transmitter,” Harris told reporters.

According to him, within a month the company’s radio station can be on air. Though it will focus on news, Harris said that the programming will be well rounded.

“Nowadays just about every radio station is music, news, talk, we want to be more rounded, so we are working on a series of things, you will get a bit from the religious community,[and the] entertainment community.

Because Kaieteur News is largely news, you are going to get an emphasis on news, perhaps news every hour, you are going to have studio discussions,” he explained.

On the sideline of the ceremony, Sobers told the Guyana Chronicle that once

other applicants become fully compliant, they too will be issued radio and television broadcasting licences.

He however noted that spectrum in the primary zone is limited. “Of the limited number of spectrum space we have, we can’t give it all out, something has to be withheld for the future,” Sobers said, but noted that there has been a recent indication that the authority may be able to facilitate more radio broadcasters.

Sobers also used the opportunity to tell broadcasters who have been lagging on their fees and other requirements to get their acts together. He said that there are broadcasters who are failing to bring themselves into full compliance. “We will not issue them with licences and when we don’t issue a licence we will call upon them to stop broadcasting,” he noted, while warning that legal action will be taken if needs be.

The GNBA Chairman was unable to say how many broadcasters are in default, but warned that action will be taken. “Some are trying to work out arrangements where the backlog is a lot and they really want a grace period or payment terms, but there are others who are quite blatant and refuse to make contact, but we will deal with them. This year will not pass,” he further warned.

He added: “We are not going to allow them to go on beyond the first quarter of this year.” In addition to the radio licences, the broadcasters were issued with Wireless Telegraphy Licences to operate within the radio spectrum.

GNBA Chairman Leslie Sobers flanked by representatives of four of the new radio broadcasting companies. From L-R: Pinnacle Communications Inc Representative; Savitri Sharma, CN Sharma, Leslie Sobers, Adam Harris and Christian Duncan (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

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Mustapha has no standing in GECOM matter …Queen’s Counsel says President acted lawfully to appoint Patterson

BARBADIAN Queen’s Counsel Ralph Thorne has said that People’s Progressive Party Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha who filed a court action challenging the appointment of Justice James Patterson as chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission has no standing in the matter and that President David Granger acted lawfully in his decision, when he presented oral arguments at the continuation of the case before Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire on Friday.

Present in court were Attorney General Basil Williams, S.C., another Barbadian Queen’s Counsel Hal Gallop, along with Solicitor-General Kim Kyte and Principal Legal Advisor Judy Stuart, while Mustapha was represented by Manoj Narayan, and Priya Manickchand.

Mustapha in October had moved to the High Court to declare that the appointment of Justice (ret’d) Patterson as GECOM’s chair is unconstitutional and null, void and of no legal effect. Additionally, he has asked the court to grant an order “rescinding, revoking, cancelling and setting aside the appointment” of Patterson and further asked the High Court to choose a person from the 18 nominees submitted to the President by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

Jagdeo submitted six names on three lists, all of which were rejected by President Granger who deemed the nominees unfit for the post. The PPP through its Executive Secretary also contends that Patterson does not have the required qualifications and integrity to be GECOM Chair. Additionally, he contends that President Granger violated the Constitution by “unilaterally” appointing Patterson and not a nominee from the lists provided by Jagdeo.

However, on Friday, Thorne essentially outlined the state’s written submission stressing that the application made by Mustapha lacked merit and ought to be dismissed. He posited that Article 161 (2) of the constitution is not enforceable by the courts, while stressing that the High Court has no constitutional or legal power to conduct an inquiry into the matter. The Queen’s Counsel pointed to the ‘Exclusio’ rule, whereby the Latin Maxim ‘expressio unius est exclusion alterius’ is a rule of statutory interpretation known as the implied rule of exclusion that express mention of a thing is to impliedly exclude all others.

The Barbadian attorney noted that it is Article 163 which provides for the determination of questions as to

tioned article. “What is his business before this court?

He cannot speak…he has no business here,” the attorney added, while stating that the President and the opposition leader are two creatures of the Constitution.

The attorney also in his oral presentation referenced the recent decision of Justice George-Wiltshire in the Marcel Gaskin vs the Attorney General, where the court held that the submission of lists by the opposition leader does not mean that the President is obliged to accept the list

from the opposition leader and a duty to ensure that the appointee is qualified in keeping with Article 161.

While it is the responsibility of the opposition leader to submit a list of six persons for consideration by the President, and to meaningfully consult with non-governmental political parties in the National Assembly. Moreover, Thorne said the President is not bound to appoint a chairman from the list of persons submitted by Jagdeo and may also exercise his discretion to reject the entire list and act on

in the performance of his duty vested in him by Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.

Attorney General Basil Williams S.C.

Attorney Manoj Narayan

membership and elections.

That Article states that the High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine questions to matters expressly mentioned therein.

Article 163, he said, made no mention of the issue of the appointment of the GECOM chair as a matter that may be subject to the jurisdiction of the High Court.

Thorne submitted that based on the ‘Exclusio’ rule, the court does not have jurisdiction to hear the matter and said that the legal draftsmen did not intend for the appointment of a GECOM chair to be the subject of litigation. The attorney explained that Article 161 (2) creates an executive power in the President to appoint a chairman and he stressed that such function is “the nature of convention,” something not enforceable by a court of law. Quoting writings on Caribbean Constitutional Law, the attorney reminded that conventions are forms of constitutionally moral conduct, practice that has become customary and accepted.

The President’s decision to appoint Justice Patterson was not unilateral, said Thorne, who noted also that the appointment of a GECOM chair is the President’s exclusive right. That aside, the attorney said the matter of the selection of a GECOM chair is exclusive to the President and the leader of the opposition and as such, the leader of the opposition is the only “proper party to sue” though it is the state’s belief that there is no such right.

He noted that by virtue of Article 161, constitutional powers and responsibilities are to be exercised between the President and the opposition leader and so he contends that Mustapha has no standing in the matter. “Why is the leader of the opposition so silent? He ought to have been here,” declared Thorne, who vehemently maintained that Mustapha is not properly speaking as an applicant in keeping with the aforemen-

Supporting Thorne, Attorney Gallop, Q.C., spoke to the issue of the right to give reasons. Mustapha in his application said the President in rejecting the lists of nominees, failed to give reason for deeming the nominees unacceptable. According to Gallop, the President provided a number of reasons to the opposition leader. In fact, he said by virtue of his rejection of the lists, in keeping with constitutional requirements, that in and of itself was a reason.

“That is a reason, one cannot say a reason was not given…the President gave a number of reasons for his decision.” He told the court that the President cited further delays in the appointment of a GECOM Chair, inimical to the public interest, the powers of Article 182 (1) which speaks to the immunities of the President, Article 161 (2), and the ruling in the Marcel Gaskin case. “… those are reasons…based on the discretion conferred upon him…the applicant may not like them… [But] reasons were given,” said Gallop Q.C. He argued too that the President’s action was not capricious and he called on the court to reject outright the application by Mustapha.

Each citizens has a right Meanwhile, Mustapha’s attorney, Manoj Narayan said that the AG’s claim that the matter of a selection of GECOM chair is exclusive to the President and the opposition leader is misconceived.

“The article gives power to both the President and opposition leader to arrive at a suitable candidate… the matter concerns each and every citizen,” he said, stressing that the right to vote is a constitutional right, while noting that anyone who has that right can bring an action before the court.

“It does not have to be the leader of the opposition…

Mustapha acted in his personal capacity and the evidence is not hearsay evidence…he is not acting on behalf of the opposition leader,” Narayan

Barbadian Attorneys Hal Gallop, Q.C. and Ralph Thorne, Q.C. on Friday after Friday’s hearing at the High Court (Samuel Maughn)

or the person’s name therein.

Additionally, it was also held that if the President is of the view that the list is deficient, totally or in the names included, he can exercise his discretion to deem the entire list unacceptable.

In the Gaskin case, the applicant was suing as a citizen and elector and as such had a sufficient interest in understanding how the identified office is to be filled and to have the court interpret the law on the matter.

But in the application made

by Mustapha, the attorney argued that by stating he is a citizen and a registered elector, with emphasis on his post as Executive Secretary of the PPP and being a Member of Parliament, he has elevated his status beyond that of a mere citizen.

“The legal and factual points in this case and the Gaskin case are fundamentally different. Gaskin was an ordinary citizen, he asked for a declaratory judgment. The constitution does not have to recognise the executive secretary of the party,” submitted Thorne, who noted that Mustapha interposes himself into the equation.

He argued that Article 161 (2) creates specific powers and responsibilities exclusively in the President and opposition leaders and that is beyond the capacity of any third party to interpose himself to move to the court.

The President he said has the sole power to appoint the GECOM chair, has a duty to receive a list of six persons

his own judgment to appoint a person not named on the list submitted by the opposition leader.

In consideration of what is meant by the phrase “not unacceptable”, the Queen’s Counsel rebutted Mustapha’s contention that not unacceptable falls somewhere between acceptable and unacceptable and as such a person can be unacceptable, but still not unacceptable and be fit and proper.

“There is no mystery… the double negative is a literary device known as litotes which forms an understatement, always deliberate with the intention of emphasis,” said the attorney, who posited that as a draftsman’s device, it gives emphasis to the power in relation to acceptance.

He said too that the President has much freedom to exercise his mind on the question of acceptability.

Attorney Thorne made it clear that it is an established principle of English Public Law that the discretion of a public functionary cannot be fettered unless he acts illegally, irrationally or with procedural impropriety. He told the court that there is also the concurrent principle of law that a public functionary cannot fetter his discretion; to fetter one’s discretion is deemed an abuse of discretion.

In summing up, Thorne argued that President Granger in making the appointment as he did, in consideration of delay and the public’s interest, acted reasonably and legally

said, while positing that it is the duty of the High Court to ensure that the constitution is upheld at all times.

“The court does not need a provision in the constitution to say so,” he added. Turning his attention to Article 182 which speaks to the immunities of the President, the attorney said, the very article “does not mean the actions of the President are not reviewable.”

He added that Guyana has undergone a process of constitutional reform and has moved away from the position where the president has sole discretion to one where he has shared discretion.

“The interpretation advanced by the respondent speaks of the President’s discretion… they are asking this court to say this Article (Article 161) is nothing but a farce…it cannot be interpreted to create absurdity,” he said, while stressing that “the President is not vested with discretion under Article 161…he has the power of review but no discretion.”

It was then that Justice George questioned, “Who decides the list is reasonable?”

But in timely rebuttal, Queen’s Counsel Thorne said Narayan “undermined his entire case by saying the President has no discretion [in relation to the choice of chairman] but to review.”

He said that by the use of the word review, Narayan is suggesting that the President is obligated to merely relook at the list submitted. “That flies in the face of the constitution…what he is saying is that the leader of the opposition has the power to appoint.

That is not the Law!” he declared. At the conclusion of the hearing, Thorne told reporters that Narayan’s argument is heavily flawed.

“What he is telling the court and the public is that the names submitted by the leader of the opposition, is that the President only has the power to review those names, but that he doesn’t have a choice, he must take one of them. Now that is constitutionally and legally flawed, because it means the choice is given to the leader of the opposition. It cannot be right.”

He posited that the appointment of the head of state is not to be trifled with statements like that to say that the head of state is fettered in his powers to appoint. “That cannot be the state of the law!” he asserted. At the conclusion of the hearing, Justice George-Wiltshire indicated that notices will be dispatched to the parties indicating when she will deliver her ruling on the matter.

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ARIES It’s as if you hitched a ride on a comet and all you can do now is grin and hold on for dear life. You can see the future open up before you as one ingenious idea after another catches your attention and takes you in a new direction. Although your overall confidence is high, you may be unsure how to capture one thought and turn it into something tangible. The power of positive thinking carries you far, but blind optimism might cause you to miss your target and land in a distant galaxy. Dream big but start small.

TAURUS Naturally, you relish receiving support from your friends. However, too much praise makes you feel awkward and you don’t trust what you’re being told. You might even feel as if their flattery sets you up for failure because others expect such great things from you. Fortunately, your ability to discern the possible scenarios from unrealistic fantasies enables you to maintain your center while planning your next move. Just choose your new direction with care.

GEMINI You can talk up a storm today, impressing people with your brilliant ideas and lightning-fast mind. Your communication is effortless as you smoothly jump from one topic to another, keeping up with multiple conversations at once. However, there is a price to pay for your ability to skip around so quickly. While you’re having fun entertaining yourself and others, you may miss a chance to establish a deeper and more intimate connection with someone special. Sometimes meaningful silence is better than meaningless words.

CANCER You may try to say less and listen more today, for you believe that others have plenty to teach you. However, as soon as a subject of interest comes up in a conversation, you can’t help but add your two cents to the discussion. It’s even more challenging to remain quiet if no one else is representing the truth as you see it. But don’t let everyone else always set the agenda; if you have a topic that you want to talk about, take a risk and let people know what’s on your mind. You can always kick back and learn from everyone else once you get the ball rolling.

LEO You have every intention of staying off the public radar today. The timid Virgo Moon sits in your 2nd House of Self-Esteem, discouraging your ego from making grandiose gestures that attract the spotlight. Nevertheless, your spontaneity is irrepressible now and the attention goes to you like a moth to a flame once you open your mouth to share your wisdom. Your enthusiasm is contagious unless you don’t know when to stop. Less is more.

VIRGO You are like the little boy in the story of The Emperor’s New Clothes. You see the unspeakable truth of the current situation and you feel responsible to tell others what they are missing. However, you can’t tell in advance whether or not your story will be believed. Luckily, your key planet Mercury is buzzing away, urging you to go through with your risky disclosure. Just be smart and back off if your initial delivery creates too many waves in the present moment. Not everyone is ready for unfiltered reality.

LIBRA You’re quite picky as you prioritize your dreams today, consciously deciding which ones to follow and which ones to let fade. Paradoxically, it’s not as easy to control a conversation because it involves other people, and they might have different ideas about what’s off limits. The more you try to establish some constraints, the more unruly the discussion becomes. Take a leap of faith and allow external events to flow without micromanaging every point on the trajectory.

SCORPIO There is something you need to get off your chest today, and it might prove upsetting to someone else. However, it’s not your job to moderate the truth in order to protect others. Sometimes it’s easier to remain inside a bubble of fantasy than it is to acknowledge the facts. Don’t mince your words; simply report what you know and let the chips fall as they may. Chinua Achebe wrote, “One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.”

SAGITTARIUS You may appear even more outrageous today as you say whatever pops into your awareness. Your social filters aren’t functioning very well now that irrepressible Uranus is shocking talkative Mercury in your sign, triggering reactions faster than you can sort them out. Although your charm and wit enable you to be more entertaining than offensive, it serves no one if you step too far over the edge of acceptability. Consider the impact your words might have on others before going for the next laugh. When in doubt, err on the side of caution.

CAPRICORN You might surprise someone who expresses concern about your long-term plans.

Rather than defending your choices today, you may just tell them to mind their own business. You’re not looking to alienate anyone; you simply don’t want to waste your energy on decisions that are already made. Your enthusiastic anticipation of the future is not based on unrealistic dreaming. You’ve done your due diligence, created a practical plan and are now heading in the direction of your dreams.

AQUARIUS Your current thoughts are so innovative that even your best friends may think you’re crazy. Whether or not others can keep up with you, you are at ease when talking about a new project or your next adventure. You’re not seeking approval from anyone else; your intention is to simply inform people of your activities. Nevertheless, your plans are likely to be very ambitious now and there’s little that could deter you from accomplishing your goals. You are coming from a position of power and don’t need to share everything yet. Your entire story will be revealed in time.

PISCES Your visions may be too big to handle today, but you can still enjoy them from afar.

Although the practical Virgo Moon urges you to bring your fantasies closer, they may serve you better now from a distance. It’s too soon to consider all the practicalities involved in pursuing tangible results because that would prevent you from exploring all the possibilities. It’s best to give yourself another couple of days to let your imagination run wild and free. Ultimately, as Jim Rohn wrote, “The key to turning dreams into reality is action.”

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Serena Williams pulls Smith soars to equal Sobers landmark out of Australian Open MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Serena Williams reluctantly pulled out of this year’s Australian Open yesterday, the American saying that while she was close to regaining full fitness after giving birth to her first child in September, she was not fully ready to defend her title.

The 36-year-old was eight weeks pregnant last year when she triumphed for a seventh time at Melbourne Park to claim an Open-era record 23rd grand slam title and then took the rest of the year off before giving birth to a daughter.

She has played just once in public since, losing to French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in Abu Dhabi last week, but was still hopeful of making a remarkable return at the Australian Open until she admitted defeat a week ahead of the event.

“My coach and team always said: ‘only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way’. I can compete - but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so,

I will need a little more time,” Williams said in a statement.

Williams had told Vogue magazine last August about her “outrageous plan” to defend her title but the short turnaround after giving birth

was disappointed to withdraw but looked forward to returning in the future.

“After competing in Abu Dhabi I realised that although I am super close, I‘m not where I personally want to be,” Wil-

Serena Williams not fully ready to defend her Australian Open title

has proved too much for even the greatest player of her generation.

Williams, whose grand slam tally is just one shy of the all-time record held by Australian Margaret Court, said she

liams added.

“With that being said, and even though I am disappointed about it, I’ve decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year.”

Tournament director

Craig Tiley called Williams’ efforts to try and be ready for a title defence at the Australian Open ‘Herculean’ and said she transcended the sport.

“It was never going to be good enough for her to just compete, she wants to give herself the best chance to win,” Tiley said.

“I’ve been in constant contact with Serena and her team and know this is why she has pushed it and pushed it until the eleventh hour to make her final decision.”

Williams is the latest big name to withdraw from the year’s opening grand slam, which will be played from January 15-28, with Britain’s Andy Murray (hip) and Japan’s Kei Nishikori (wrist) having already said they would not compete.

There is also uncertainty over whether former champions Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal - the latter of whom arrived in Melbourne earlier yesterday - will be fit to take to the court.

Kohli earns record $2.7M salary for 2018 IPL campaign NEW Delhi, India (AFP) Batting star Virat Kohli will pick up the Indian Premier League’s largest-ever salary - $2.7 million - in this year’s tournament, with a host of big foreign names including Australian captain Steve Smith also cashing in.

season. The batting legend coached Mumbai Indians to the 2015 title during a twoyear stint.

Australian batsmen Smith and David Warner were also retained by their teams for $1.9 million each, making them the highest-paid foreign stars.

India’s batting star Virat Kohli

Kohli will stay with Royal Challengers Bangalore alongside South Africa’s AB de Villiers, who will earn $1.7 million in the cash-rich event started by the Indian cricket board in 2008.

The Indian captain’s salary for the eight-team, 20-over tournament spread over two months beats the $2.5 million earned by all-rounder Yuvraj Singh with Delhi in 2015.

Delhi Daredevils announced Ricky Ponting as head coach for the 2018

Smith will play for the Rajasthan Royals, returning from a two-year ban over match-fixing, and Warner with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Chennai Super Kings, also returning to IPL after a twoyear suspension, have former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni back on board.

But Kohli - who recently married Indian Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma - remains the top draw for the extravaganza in April and May. Nicknamed King Kohli,

the 29-year-old batsman is already listed among the world’s highest-paid athletes after smashing numerous records in his career.

He recently became the first batsman to score six double Test centuries as a captain.

Each team was allowed to re-sign up to three of their 2017 squad before the players are subject to bids from other teams in the auctions set for January 27 and 28.

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Another star performer, Ben Stokes, will be looking to re-enter the IPL fray in the auctions after he was granted a “no objection” certificate by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The England all-rounder, who missed the ongoing Ashes after being suspended for a pub brawl, was signed for a record fee of $2.16M

by Rising Pune Supergiants last year.

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AS the shadows of the Sydney Cricket Ground’s (SCG) floodlights crept across the outfield of the iconic venue, Steve Smith’s shadow as one of Test cricket’s greatest run-scorers grew ever larger.

With a swivel around the corner off England leg-spinner Mason Crane, Smith picked up the single he required to reach 6 000 Test runs in the second fewest innings ever.

Steven Smith

Smith shares the mark with West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers, who also got to 6 000 in 111 Test innings, as the Australian acknowledged the standing ovation he received from the packed Sydney crowd.

Smith had seemed certain to hold second spot on his own after reaching 103 in the Boxing Day Test, but his declaration ended the match in a draw to leave him 26 runs short on a benign MCG pitch.

As with most records that Smith approaches, the only man ahead of him is Sir Donald Bradman, the statistical anomaly, the glitch in the matrix that nobody will ever conquer.

Bradman recorded his 6 000th run in just his 68th

innings, a staggeringly short amount given the conditions he played in and the equipment at his disposal in the first half of the 20th Century.

At 27 years and 217 days, Smith is also the youngest Australian to achieve the feat, beating the previous record of 29 years and 98 days held by Smith’s first Test captain, Ricky Ponting.

Only three players have arrived at 6 000 Test runs at a younger age than Smith and one of them is in this match.

India legend Sachin Tendulkar was 26 years and 313 days when he passed the mark, ahead of England’s Alastair Cook (27 years and 43 days) and former South Africa captain Graeme Smith (27 years, 323 days).

Smith’s meteoric rise to the world’s best batsman – and the second greatest behind Bradman according to the lifetime ICC Test batsman rankings – has left Test great Steve Waugh in complete awe of the unorthodox right-hander.

“He’s been incredible,” he said.

“He goes from strength to strength and whenever someone doubts him he comes out the next day and proves them wrong. He’s very adaptable and he learns quickly.

“He’s a really unique sort of batsman. He almost taunts the bowlers.

“I liken him to a matador in a bull ring. He’s got that red rag out there and waving the bowlers to come and bowl here and then all of a sudden he’ll make it disappear and get them to bowl somewhere else.

“He really does frustrate the bowlers and tricks them into bowling to him where he wants the ball to come.”

SCOREBOARD SCORPIONS 1st innings 106 JAGUARS 1st innings (o/n 75 for three) C. Hemraj c Green b Miller 47 A. Persaud lbw b Leveridge 0 L. Johnson c Palmer b Green 13 V. Singh c Allen b Leveridge 19 S. Chanderpaul lbw b Miller 50 A. Bramble c Miller b Green 10 R. Reifer lbw b Green 0 K. Paul c Blackwood b Miller 1 V. Permaul b Jacobs 7 G. Motie c Leveridge b Miller 13 K. Joseph not out 0 Extras (b10, lb11, w1, nb1) 23 Total: (all out, 59.5 overs) 183 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-57, 3-63, 4-102, 5-122, 6-122, 7-123, 8-139, 9-180.

Bowling: Green 14-3-39-3, Leveridge 12-1-42-2, Blackwood 2-0-8-0, Miller 14.5-3-30-4, Campbell 7-1-10-0, Jacobs 10-1-33-1.

SCORPIONS 2nd innings J. Campbell c Paul b Motie 62 A. Fudadin not out 61 J. Blackwood run-out 9 B. King b Motie 0 P. Palmer run-out 10 F. Allen b Permaul 4 A. Thomas not out 9 Extras: (b-1, lb-4, nb-7) 12 Total: (5 wkts, 50 overs) 167 Fall of wickets: 1-112, 2-127, 3-133, 4-149, 5-153.

Bowling: Paul 10-1-31-0, Joseph 3-0-27-0, Reifer 6-1-22-0, Johnson 2-0-16-0, Permaul 18-3-45-1, Motie 11-4-21-2.

Position: Scorpions lead by 90 runs.

37

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

Smith, Khawaja lead Aussie charge in Sydney

By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Australia captain Steve Smith continued to be England’s Ashes nemesis yesterday as he passed 6 000 Test runs in an unbeaten knock of 44 to help his team to 193 for two at close of play on the second day of the fifth Test.

The world’s top-ranked batsman and Usman Khawaja batted through the final session in a 107-run partnership after openers Cameron Bancroft and David Warner had departed earlier in Australia’s reply to England’s 346.

Khawaja notched a stylish 91 not out on the same ground where he made his Test debut in the corresponding fixture seven years ago but it was the wicket of Smith that England most desperately wanted.

They were to be disappointed with only a couple of half chances presenting themselves as Smith sent a couple of early edges fizzing through the slips.

The 28-year-old was soon looking comfortable and nonchalantly swatted a single to backward square to pass the 6 000 career runs mark in his 111th Test innings. Only the great Donald Bradman reached the milestone in

fewer knocks.

Having started the day with a brilliant diving catch in the slips to dismiss Dawid Malan, Smith walked off his home ground in the brilliant afternoon sunshine with 648 runs to his name in the series so far.

“We’re stoked that he’s on our team so we don’t have to bowl at him,” Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins said of his captain.

“You lose a couple of wickets and he comes out to bat. He’s just incredible; I think he’s been the real difference between the two sides.”

The tourists, 3-0 down in the series with the urn already relinquished, earlier posted a competitive tally in the face of some fearsome pace bowling on the back of a hard wagging tail and some poor Australian catching.

PACKED HOUSE Australia came out after lunch to begin their innings in front of another packed house only for Stuart Broad to clean bowl Bancroft for a duck in the second over.

Warner scored a measured 56 by his standards in a 85-run stand with Khawaja before he was caught behind when James Anderson got the ball to move away from him.

Broad’s 31 had earlier been integral to a bright morning for the tourists after the hammer blow of losing two wickets in the last couple of overs of day one.

Malan (62) lasted less than half an hour after they had resumed on 233 for five, Mitchell Starc eliciting an

outside edge which Smith caught brilliantly to make some amends for three spills in his otherwise impeccable series.

His fast bowlers then proceeded to produce a couple of howlers with Cummins dropping Tom Curran on 21 off Nathan Lyon and,

in the next over, Josh Hazlewood letting Moeen Ali off the hook with the all-rounder on 22.

England’s tail made the most of the reprieves with Curran hitting a confident 39 and Moeen 30 before both fell victim to the pace of Cummins (4-80).

Broad braved the short bowling almost until the scheduled lunch break before becoming spinner Lyon’s first victim of the match and the innings ended in a mix-up

that resulted in Mason Crane being run-out for four in his maiden Test innings.

The leg-spinner later made a reasonably solid start to his Test career with the ball, returning figures of 0-58.

“It’s awesome to be bowling to the best players in the world,” the 20-yearold said. “(Smith)’s a key player for them, if we can get him and two or three others, hopefully we can get a first-innings lead.”

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings (o/n 233-5) A. Cook lbw b Hazlewood 39 M. Stoneman c †Paine b Cummins 24 J. Vince c Paine b Cummins 25 J. Root (c) c MR Marsh b Starc 83 D. Malan c Smith b Starc 62 J. Bairstow c Paine b Hazlewood 5 M. Ali c Paine b Cummins 30 T. Curran c Bancroft b Cummins 39 S. Broad c Smith b Lyon 31 M. Crane run-out 4 J. Anderson not out 0 Extras: (lb-2, w-2) 4 Total: (all out, 112.3 overs) 346 Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-88, 3-95, 4-228, 5-233, 6-251, 7-294, 8-335, 9-346.

Bowling: M. Starc 21-6-80-2, J. Hazlewood 23-4-65-2, J. Cummins 24.3-5-80-4, N. Lyon 37-5-86-1, M. Marsh 7-0-33-0 .

Usman Khawaja raises his bat on reaching fifty and goes on to be unbeaten on 91 at the close.

AUSTRALIA 1st innings C. Bancroft b Broad 0 D. Warner c Bairstow b Anderson 56 U. Khawaja not out 91 S. Smith (c) not out 44 Extras: (b-1, nb-1) 2 Total: (67 overs) 193 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-86 Bowling: J. Anderson 14-4-25-1, S. Broad 10-2-28-1, M. Ali 17-3-51-0, T. Curran 8-2-26-0, M. Crane 17-0-58-0, J. Root 1-0-4-0.

Proteas reduce India to 27 for three after falling for 286 CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - South Africa seamer Dale Steyn grabbed his first Test wicket after an injury absence of 14 months, as the hosts fought back against a fired-up India on an enthralling first day of cut-and-thrust cricket in the opening Test at Newlands yesterday.

Steyn took his career tally to 418 wickets, three behind South African record-holder Shaun Pollock, as India were reduced to 28 for three at the close, having bowled out the hosts for 286 on a spicy wicket offering bounce and some sideways movement.

Cheteshwar Pujara (five) and Rohit Sharma (zero) will resume on the second day as the tourists, who trail by 258, seek an answer to the venom in the pitch and the home seam attack.

Steyn, who had missed the last 15 tests with a ca-

reer-threatening shoulder injury, caught and bowled dangerous opener Shikhar Dhawan for 16 with a quick bouncer that suggested he had lost none of his pace.

India also lost Murali Vijay

for one, caught by Dean Elgar at gully off Vernon Philander, while Morne Morkel claimed the wicket of visiting captain Virat Kohli, who played at a rising delivery outside off-stump and was caught by

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4-87) tears through the South African top order.

wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock for five.

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat, knowing the Newlands wicket is usually at its quickest on day two, but were soon in trouble at 12 for three as India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4-87) tore through the top order.

Kumar took a wicket in each of his opening three overs as he snagged opener Dean Elgar with the third ball of the day and then had Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla dismissed cheaply in the next two overs.

The home side threw a counterpunch with half-centuries from AB de Villiers (65) and captain Faf du Plessis (62) as they put on 114 for the fourth wicket. de Villiers reached his 50 off 55 deliveries before being bowled by debutant Jasprit Bumrah (1-73) after lunch, while du Plessis flashed at

a wide delivery, handing all-rounder Hardik Pandya (1-53) his first wicket of the three-match series.

S o u t h A f r i c a ’s t a i l wagged to a degree as they put on 144 for the last five wickets, with de Kock (43)

particularly fluent until he was Kumar’s fourth victim, caught behind by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha.

South Africa host India in three Tests this month with the next two to be played in Pretoria and Johannesburg.

SCOREBOARD SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings D. Elgar c Saha b Kumar 0 A. Markram lbw b Kumar 5 H. Amla c †Saha b Kumar 3 AB de Villiers b Bumrah 65 F. du Plessis (c) c †Saha b Pandya 62 Q. de Kock c Saha b Kumar 43 V. Philander b Mohammed Shami 23 K. Maharaj run-out (Ashwin) 35 K. Rabada c Saha b Ashwin 26 D. Steyn not out 16 M. Morkel lbw b Ashwin 2 Extras: (b-2, lb-3, nb-1) 6 Total: (all out, 73.1 overs) 286 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-7, 3-12, 4-126, 5-142, 6-202, 7-221, 8-258, 9-280.

Bowling: B. Kumar 19-4-87-4, M. Shami 16-6-47-1, J. Bumrah 19-173-1, H. Pandya 12-1-53-1, R. Ashwin 7.1-1-21-2.

INDIA 1st innings M. Vijay c Elgar b Philander 1 S. Dhawan c & b Steyn 16 C. Pujara not out 5 V. Kohli (c) c de Kock b Morkel 5 R. Sharma not out 0 Extras: (lb-1) 1 Total: (11 overs) 28-3 Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-18, 3-27 Bowling: V. Philander 4-1-13-1, D. Steyn 4-1-13-1, M. Morkel 2-2-0-1, K. Rabada 1-0-1-0.

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

Looking forward to a productive year AFTER finally completing his first year of his 4-year scholarship at the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus) Guyanese athlete Emanuel Archibald is looking forward to having another productive year when he starts out his 2018 season.

Like many Guyanese athletes, he’s also eyeing the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Australia in April, for which the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has been allotted five places.

Archibald specialises in the sprints, as well as the long jump. He also has a personal best of 10.36s in the 100m, and 20.95 seconds in the 200m, but it is his skills in the long jump that have gained him most of the attention. So far he has a personal best of 7.88m, which he achieved last year.

Guyana’s national record in the men’s long jump, according to reports, stands at 8.07m

and was achieved some 25 years ago. Archibald is just some seven inches off the record and is hoping to get even closer as his 2018 season progresses, and maybe even to surpass it one day and go down in the record books himself.

“I’m looking forward to becoming Guyana’s record-holder in long jump, and maybe even the sprints.

I’m looking forward to one day representing my country at every major championship and international games, if possible; maybe bringing home a medal from Olympics as well as putting my country out there on the international scene and showing the world the talent we have,” Archibald established.

Training in Jamaica under jump coach Kerry Lee Rickets, Archibald feels even more prepared to reach his goals. Having entered 2017 with a-then personal best (PB) of 7.2m, Archibald has already added over two feet to his previous PB, and is

looking forward to not letting up anytime soon.

“I’m healthy and looking forward for a productive track season, with new personal bests,” Archibald shared.

But despite his natural talent in athletics Archibald has actually not been into the sport that long, and he has University of Guyana Sports Coordinator, Lavern Fraser-Thomas to thank for leading him down the path.

But with natural talent like that, it comes as no surprise to learn that the former UG student is a product of Linden, which has well established itself as the hub of Guyana’s athletics talent.

Unlike many athletes with a trail of athletic achievements from a young age, Archibald boasts no such record, despite the skills. Despite growing up in Linden and being encouraged into athletics, it just never stuck for Archibald.

“Basically track was something I used to do when I was small, but I

grow to dislike it the older I got; so even throughout secondary school I never really did it. I preferred basketball, but when I joined the University of Guyana, Miss Lavern invited me out to the University sports day and I did well so she asked me to come to the trials to make the university team.”

Though the University did not have its own coach, they were able to utilise the skills of Police Progressive Youth Club’s coach, Mark Scott, who eventually roped Archibald into his club, where Archibald’s skills progressed.

“Miss Lavern and coach Scott encouraged me to keep doing it because they saw talent, so I fall back in love with the sport,” Archibald explained.

But Scott and Thomas-Fraser were not the only ones noticing the bright future for Archibald. Travelling and representing UG, Archibald was spotted by a UWI coach, who offered

Archibald a place at the college. Thanks to the benevolence of the Guyana government, Archibald, along with three other athletes, was given a fouryear scholarship to make his attendance possible.

Even as he focuses on his athletic pursuits it was not all easy for Archibald at the beginning at UWI, juggling classes and training “It was longer training hours, sometimes 2 times a day, and a lot of gym work I was not used to. Training started at 06:00hrs until 10:00hrs then my first class was 11:00hrs -13:00hrs and the next one was 15:00hrs -17:00hrs; so basically after a hard morning session I’d have to go to class tired,” “But I was able to cope pretty well; but sometimes I would miss class. But the advantage is how the school system set up. All notes are posted on the internet as well as I can go into another lecture timing and get the information (that was) taught earlier.”

Emanuel Archibald

Roach’s strikes give Pride the edge after defiant Windwards batting BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Half-centuries from Kavem Hodge and Roland Cato led defiant batting from Windward Islands Volcanoes, but West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach bowled with purpose to keep Barbados Pride in the hunt in the Regional 4-Day Championship yesterday here.

Hodge hit the top score of 63 and Cato made 56, but Roach grabbed 3-45 from 16 overs, including the prized scalp of Devon Smith, the season’s most prolific batsman, as Volcanoes reached 241 for six, replying to Barbados Pride’s first-innings total of 316, on the second day of their eighthround match at Kensington

Oval.

Kyle Mayers was not out on 30 and Shane Shillingford was not out on seven.

Hodge and Cato are the future of the Volcanoes’ batting and they gave a glimpse of what might be possible with the right work and encouragement, sharing 68 for the fourth wicket to bring a bit of stability back to the visitors’ batting, after they were wobbling on 96 for three.

Hodge was at the crease for 157 minutes, faced 137 balls and hit six fours, and Cato batted for 154 minutes, received 116 balls and struck eight fours.

Hodge has benefited from being a student over the past few years on the Cave Hill

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday January 06, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) NZ 2 - WI 0 (1 NR) (2) Colin Munro Today’s Quiz: (1) Who scored most runs for the WI in the recent T20 series against NZ? (2) Who scored most runs for NZ? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

campus of the University of the West Indies, a few kilometres north of this venue.

He would be very familiar with many of his opponents, having played for the university’s championship-winning side in the top division of the domestic club competition.

Hodge played some handsome strokes on either side of the wicket and reached his 50 from 97 balls, when he drove leg-spinner Hayden Walsh, Jr to deep cover and scrambled for two.

But he once again frustrated his supporters, when he played an ill-advised cross-batted stroke and was caught at deep backward square leg off Roston Chase’s uncomplicated off-spin.

Cato, similarly diminutive, is very easy on the eyes, playing with a very languid style.

He, too, delighted with an array of crisp strokes, reaching his 50 from 91 balls, when he drove left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican through mid-on crisply for his seventh four.

He, however, was run-out

by Shamarh Brooks’ direct hit at the bowler’s end in the closing stages of the day, when he was left stranded in mid-

pitch, after he needlessly tried to steal a single and failed to get a positive response from striker Kyle Mayers.Earlier,

16, before Roach, his former schoolmate, found the edge of his defensive bat and wicketkeeper Tevyn Walcott pouched his second victim.

Volcanoes were 95 for three, but Cato came to the crease and with Hodge carried the visitors to 134 without further loss at tea.

SCOREBOARD

Kemar Roach

Smith, whose 873 runs is the highest aggregate for the season, and regular opening partner Tyron Theophile, the Volcanoes’ captain, appeared to be giving their side a solid start before Roach bowled the visitors’ veteran left-handed opener for 26, leaving him one short of the 900-run mark.

Volcanoes reached 47 for one at lunch, but suffered a further setback, when Theophile was caught behind off Kevin Stoute for 18.

Barbados-born, discarded West Indies batsman Kirk Edwards showed intent, reaching

BARBADOS PRIDE 1st innings (o/n 296 for nine) A. Alleyne c Cato b Lewis 7 S. Moseley c Cato b Johnson

2 S. Brooks c Cato b Johnson 10 J. Carter b Lewis 0 R. Chase c Hodge b Edwards 114 K. Stoute c Johnson b Shillingford 4 J Greaves c Hodge b Shillingford 60 T. Walcott c (sub.) Thomas b Edward 49 K. Roach not out 32 H. Walsh c wkp. DDH Smith b Edward 1 J. Warrican c wkp. DDH Smith b Mayers 11 Extras (b6, lb10, w6, nb4) 26 Total: (all out, 96.1 overs) 316 Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-15, 3-15, 4-25, 5-31, 6-161, 7-258, 8-279, 9-281.

Bowling: Johnson 11-5-21-2, Lewis 15-2-43-2 (nb-1, w-6), Mayers 23.15-62-1 (nb-3), Shillingford 22-1-92-2, Edward 20-3-71-3, Theophile 2-0-9-0, Hodge 3-2-2-0.

WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES 1st innings DS Smith b Roach 26 T. Theophile c wkp. Walcott b Stoute 18 K. Edwards c Walcott b Roach 16 K. Hodge c Moseley b Chase 63 R. Cato run-out 56 DDH Smith b Roach 8 K. Mayers not out 30 S. Shillingford not out 7 Extras: (b-4, lb-9, nb-4) 17 Total: (6 wkts, 81 overs) 241 Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-50, 3-95, 4-164, 5-199, 6-220.

Bowling: Roach 16-4-45-3 (nb-4), Greaves 16-7-40-0, Warrican 18-530-1, Stoute 11-0-42-0, Chase 14-3-49-1, Walsh 6-0-22-0.

Position: Volcanoes trail by 75 with four first-innings wickets intact.

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 6, 2018

Walters may run for BCB president

Walters the man for the job, says influential figures

By Rajiv Bisnauth VEMEN Walters is contemplating running for president of the Berbice Cricket Board, saying the inclusion of all cricket stakeholders will be the only way the administration of the game in Berbice can progress.

Walters, with over two decades of experience in cricket administration, made the disclosure yesterday on social media.

“I am strongly thinking about contesting, but of course there must not be any faction. Both factions which were part of the last elections must be involved, and be able to work together in the interest of Berbice, and by extension Guyana and West Indies cricket,” Walters, who is also the assistant secretary of the Albion Cricket Club, said on social media.

It is understood that Walters is expected to make his decision final after the date for the elections is fixed by High Court Judge Navindra Singh.

Justice Singh, had ordered new elections on December 18 after the election of office-bearers of the Berbice Cricket

Board at its annual general meeting and elections in October were declared “unlawful, null, void, and of no legal effect as the entire election process was fundamentally flawed, unfair and undemocratic”.

The judge had said that the new elections will be held this January on a date to be fixed by him.

Meanwhile, a number of influential figures in the local cricket fraternity, who have become increasingly frustrated with the current state of the sport in the Ancient County, have thrown their support behind Walters, urging him to run for the presidency.

A former cricket official in the County, who spoke on condition of anonymity, believes Walters, who is the holder of a Masters in Business Administration, and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Management, is the most suitable candidate, and reckons his wealth of expertise can be an asset at the BCB. “Walters is a good choice and is the better man because he has over 20 years of cricket experience at the administration level,” the cricket official said.

“Walters knows the ins and outs of cricket and knows how it needs to be run and how it should be run. He always plays that influential role in cricket, and when you look at Albion

since the 2014 elections and last month’s decision by the Judge has put the administration of the sport in further disarray.

To this end, an executive

Vemen Walters

Club over the years where he is a part you could tell the ability of the man. Albion over the years has produced a number of cricketers both at the national and regional levels.”

Berbice cricket has not enjoyed the best of times

member of a leading cricket club in Berbice, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said Walters, who is currently the Human Resources Manager at the Albion Estate, can definitely turn things around because he has the experience and cer-

tainly has the passion for the sport. Walters is still young,” the club executive said.

As it stands, former president Dhierandranauth Somwaru is the only man to declare his intentions to run for the board’s top post.

While the club executive appreciates the contributions that Somwaru has made to cricket, he believes that the task of taking Berbice cricket to the next level is beyond him.

Following the highly contentious elections last October where Somwaru was voted in as the BCB president, the majority of clubs and sub-association members had claimed that the elections were not held in keeping with the Cricket Administration Act, since according to them, some 22 voting delegates were debarred from or refused to take part in voting for various reasons.

This had subsequently led to the filing of legal proceedings by the Guymine Sports Club, the Fort Canje Hospital Club and the Mount Sinai Cricket Club; who all argued that the elections were null and void because it contravened Schedule III of the Guyana Cricket Admin-

istration Act. The applicants are of the opinion that the entire election process had been “fundamentally flawed, unfair and undemocratic,” and that the office-bearers could not have been properly elected.

Also part of his ruling, Justice Singh ordered that a list of all eligible representatives of the clubs and associations listed in Schedule III, Section 4 of the Act, be submitted to the court by yesterday.

It was also ordered that the representatives to be submitted to the court shall, after verification and approval by the court, be the delegates who will represent the clubs and associations in the new elections for office-bearers.

Additionally, the judge has ordered all clubs and associations intending to participate in the next elections, to pay their annual dues no later than January 16.

Justice Singh has noted that his orders should not be construed as hindering, or affecting the general administration of cricket in the County of Berbice, pending new elections.

Knight Riders retain Russell Leggie Imran Khan routs Hurricanes with five for 25 SCOREBOARD despite one-year layoff DESPITE being out of the game for a year Windies all-rounder Andre Russell has been retained by the Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the new Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

All-rounder Andre Russell was banned from the sport in January of last year.

The 29-year-old Russell, considered one of the games top all-rounders, was banned from the sport in January of last year after being found guilty of committing three consecutive doping whereabouts violations.

Despite his lack of activity the Knight Riders, however, opted to keep faith with Russell, who was selected alongside Windies teammate Sunil Narine, as the only two players retained by the franchise.

Surprisingly the Knight Riders opted not to retain Gautam Gambhir who led the team to two IPL titles.

The former captain has scored a total of 3 035 runs for KKR in the previous seasons. The franchise could, however, have some leeway in terms of keeping the player with its Right to Match (RTM) clause ahead of the IPL auction which will take place on January 27.

The new IPL player acquisition policy allows franchises to retain a maximum five players by virtue of a combination of pre-auction retention and RTM cards for the 2018 edition.

Russell, who was the 2015 player-of-the-tournament, was the team’s leading wicket-taker in the 2016 season. (Sportsmax)

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Leg-spinner Imran Khan’s 20th five-wicket haul in firstclass cricket undermined Leeward Islands Hurricanes and put Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in a good position in their eighth round Regional Four-Day match here yesterday.

Khan snatched five for 25 as Hurricanes, resuming the second day at Queen’s Park Oval on 36 for three, struggled to 163 all out in their first innings.

Left-arm spinner Khary Pierre supported well with two for 26.

Akeem Saunders topscored with 49 and wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton got 28, while Mervin Mathew hit an unbeaten 22 down the order.

Armed with a lead of 58, Red Force also struggled and were 143 for eight in their second innings at the close – an overall lead of 202 runs heading into day three.

Left-handed opener Amir Jangoo struck 38 while captain Denesh Ramdin got

28 but they were the only ones to show any resistance.

Sheno Berridge claimed three for 34 while off-spinner Chaim Holder (2-19) and seamer Jeremiah Louis (2-41) picked up a brace of wickets apiece.

Red Force had started strongly, however, with Jangoo putting on 52 for the first wicket with Jeremy Solozano who made 10.

Jangoo was positive, striking six fours and a six in a cameo 30-ball knock but once he perished, the innings went into decline.

Earlier, Saunders had rescued the visitors as he narrowly missed out on a well-deserved half-century.

He added a promising 45 for the fourth wicket with Devon Thomas (13) and another 29 for the fifth wicket with Hamilton.

Saunders faced 57 deliveries and struck eight fours before he was fifth out as part of a slide which saw the last six wickets fall for 53 runs.

Khan snatched four of these wickets – including that of Saunders – to lead the rout.

RED FORCE 1st innings 221 HURRICANES 1st innings (o/n 36 for three) M. Hodge c wkp. Katwaroo b Webster 11 K. Powell b St Clair 15 K. Carty b Imran Khan 0 D. Thomas c Pierre b Phillip 13 A. Saunders b Imran Khan 49 J. Hamilton b Pierre 28 J. Louis c & b Imran Khan 5 M. Mathew not out 22 C. Holder lbw b Imran Khan 2 J. Campbell c Solozano b Pierre 6 S. Berridge lbw b Imran Khan 0 Extras: (b-1, lb-2, w-1, nb-8) 12 Total: (all out, 51 overs) 163 Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-28, 3-36, 4-81, 5-110, 6-122, 7-138, 8-141, 9-152.

Bowling: Phillip 9-1-38-1, St Clair 9-3-27-1, Webster 8-2-44-1, Imran Khan 15-7-25-5, Pierre 10-2-26-2.

RED FORCE 2nd innings A. Jangoo c Matthew b Berridge 38 J. Solozano lbw b Holder 10 Y. Cariah c wkp. Hamilton b Holder 7 E. Nicholson c Saunders b Mathew 5 D. Ramdin c Mathew b Berridge 28 T. Webster c wkp. Hamilton b Louis 10 S. Katwaroo b Louis 14 Imran Khan lbw b Berridge 1 K. Pierre not out 8 D. St Clair not out 6 Extras: (lb-11, w-1, nb-3) 15 Total: (8 wkts, 49 overs) 143 Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-55, 3-66, 4-67, 5-86, 6-116, 7-119, 8-131.

Bowling: Mathew 9-2-23-1, Louis 14-4-41-2, Berridge 12-1-34-3, Holder 11-1-19-2, Campbell 3-0-15-0.

Position: Red Force lead by 202 runs.

Walters the man for See the job, says page 39 influential figures

Clatter of wickets puts Jaguars in control against Scorpions

Shivnarine Chanderpaul completes his 142nd half-century.

SVGFF Coombs denies knowledge of FIFA ban

St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation president Venold Coombs.

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) – President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) Venold Coombs has denied being banned from football administration for two years by the sport’s world governing body FIFA. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” he told CMC Sports this week.

Coombs further offered to answer any other questions in a face-toface interview and said he

would be available anytime the following day Thursday.

However, on Thursday, Coombs said via an agent, that he was unwell and would be unable to attend the interview.

The agent said Coombs had come down with a sore throat.

Coombs’ denial comes amidst widespread reports from sources familiar with football administration in SVG that FIFA had given him one month to appeal

the alleged two-year ban.

A well-placed source said Coombs had confirmed last year that FIFA had asked him to show cause why he should not be banned for two years, over a matter relating to his administration’s handling of World Cup tickets.

A source familiar with FIFA’s disciplinary proceedings pointed out that if Coombs was facing a ban, FIFA would make it public only after appeals had been heard and dealt with.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Half-centuries from left-handed openers John Campbell and Assad Fudadin led a Jamaica Scorpions fightback but a clatter of wickets late in the day left leaders Guyana Jaguars firmly in control of their eighth round contest in the Regional Four-Day Championship here yesterday.

Trailing by 77 runs on first innings, Scorpions ended the second day at Sabina Park on 167 for five – just 90 runs ahead.

They made an excellent start to their second innings as Campbell stroked 62 and Fudadin, 61 not out, in a fine first wicket stand of 112.

Campbell was his usual aggressive self, stroking nine boundaries in a 68-ball innings while Guyanese Fudadin proved the anchor for Scorpions against his old team, and has so far faced 155 balls and counted six fours.

However, once Campbell became the first of left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie’s two wickets, the innings fell apart with five wickets tumbling for 41 runs.

Motie has been the best bowler with two for 21.

Earlier, veteran former West Indies batsman Shiv Chanderpaul completed his 142nd first class half-century as Jaguars, resuming from their overnight 75 for three, were dismissed in their first innings for 183.

The left-hander Chanderpaul made exactly 50 off 129 balls with three fours but received little support. He extended his overnight fourth-wicket stand with Vishaul Singh (19) to 39 before the last seven wickets tumbled for 81 runs.

Left-arm spinner and captain Nikita Miller picked up four for 30 while seamer Derval Green ended with three for 39.

(SEE SCOREBOARD ON PAGE 39.)

Former National striker Winston ‘Pat’ Britton passes on THE local football fraternity has once again plunged into mourning, following the passing of former national forward Winston ‘Pat’ Britton, who died yesterday at the Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.

The former National player who is well known for being part of one of the most destructive teams ever assembled in Guyana, Sandbach Parker, is survived by his two children – Wayne and Abigail Britton – as well as grandchildren.

In fact, Britton’s grandchildren (Wynton and Jada Britton) from his eldest child Wayne are football players.

Britton, who was 75 years old at the time of his death, was known for his silkysmooth moves ‘upfront’, while having his way with the country’s top defenders at the time.

More popularly known as Pat, Britton graced the football pitch with the likes of Winston Callender, Ovid H e n r y, G e o r g e G re e n , Bruce Cadogan, Monty Hope, George Niles, Alvin Braithwaite, Gerald ‘Beef’ Francisco and Ken Gibbs just to name a few.

“I know a lot about him as a player because we always have this discussion about who was better,” said Britton’s eldest son Wayne, who was also a football player.

However, the attor-

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ney-at-law said while he was good on the field, “My Dad noted he wanted me to study. He wanted me to get more out of life than what he got from soccer. So as a schoolboy I played without my parents’ knowledge and made Pele and once I grad-

uated I played with Beacon (under Gordon ‘Ultimate’ Braithwaite).”

Wayne said his father was ‘big’ on his children having a good education, highlighting that his sister Abigail, is a doctor in the U.S. (Rawle Toney)

Winston ‘Pat’ Britton SATURDAY, JAUNARY 6, 2018