Guyana Chronicle E-paper 01-18-2019

FRIDAY 18th January, 2019

Top Cop to disclose No.105521

OAI had no 02 approval for pass system PAGE

Former MP, Charrandass Persaud

Caribbean urged to brace P A G E for possible 11 Dengue outbreak

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‌ info on bribery allegations against Charrandass today

President re-issues book on the Rupununi Uprising 10 PAGE

Belle West squatters to be regularised 17 PAGE

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams-Yearwood meeting with squatters at Belle West, Canal No. 2, W.B.D.

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OAI had no approval for pass system

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 18, 2019

… GCAA says examining appropriate sanctions for breach

By Svetlana Marshall THE protocol pass system at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport was implemented by Ogle Airport Inc. without requisite approval from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), GCAA Director General, Lt. Col (Ret’d) Egbert Field has disclosed.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Lt. Col (Ret’d) Field explained that GCAA, through its Aviation Security Department, regulates security of Guyana’s Aviation Sector through the regulatory framework established in the Civil Aviation Act and the Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations (2004). This, he said, is done in accordance with international standards and practices set out in the Chicago Convention which is administered by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). It is a requirement under the regulations that airports in Guyana submit their manuals for approval

by GCAA. “The airports, they submit their manuals to us with the various systems or protocols for their security operations. These procedures are then reviewed by us and if in keeping with the security regulations, they are approved. If they are not in keeping with the security procedures of the authority or of ICAO, they are asked to be amended until they are brought in line,” the director general explained.

In the case of the Eugene F. Correia Airport, Ogle Airport Inc. submitted a manual

but failed to include in that document a protocol pass system. Only two pass systems were listed in the manual – a temporary pass system and a permanent pass system.

“Within their manual there was nothing about protocol pass system. So the civil aviation authority never approved the protocol pass system because it was not in their manual. This was a pass system which was implemented by Ogle Airport Inc.,” he explained.

The breach in regulation was detected late December, 2018 when reports surfaced that People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member, Peter Ramsaroop, and Canadian Diplomat Richard Beliveau were issued protocol passes to access the tarmac of the airport on the morning of December 22, 2018 without the requisite approval. At the time, they were ‘escorting’ expelled Alliance for Change (AFC) Member Charrandass Persaud, who was a passenger on LIAT flight #LI 392 which departed the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at 6:17hrs on December 22, 2018. Persaud left the country hours after voting with the opposition in the National Assembly to bring down his own government. GCAA had launched an investigation shortly after the matter was brought to its attention.

Stating that he is not concerned with personalities but rather systems of security, the GCAA director general said protocols must be followed.

It was explained that permanent passes are issued to

employees at the Eugene F. Correia Airport while temporary passes are issued to students and temporary workers.

“That temporary pass system when issued states one: it must be applied for before, and two: that individual must be escorted by either somebody with a permanent pass…and not to be left alone,” Lt. Col (Ret’d) Field further explained.

In the case of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the temporary pass system includes the issuance of protocol passes having been approved by the GCAA. The system clearly states the procedure which requires an approval letter from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The GCAA director general said upon the submission of the report on the investigation, the authority issued OAI with an order instructing it to suspend the protocol pass system on the basis that it was not approved.

Lt Col (Ret’d) Reid noted too that even the system established by OAI, though not approved by GCAA, had not been followed on December 22, 2018. He said according to that system, written approval was required from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Ogle Airport Inc., however, has denied that there was breach, stating that its staff acted accordingly. The aviation authority, nonetheless, is now looking to sanction the airport.

“The Civil Aviation Authority is in the process now of looking at that breach in their manual to see what sanctions can be brought

GCAA Director General, Lt. Col (Ret’d) Egbert Field against the airport for instituting a system which was not approved by us,” he said.

However, Lt Col (Ret’d) Field said GCAA will initiate discussions with the Foreign Affairs Ministry on the implementation of a system for use by diplomats on duty.

It was on this note he underscored the importance of having strict systems carried by assertive individuals.

“If they put a proper system in place, these individuals would not be left alone to make such critical decisions. A proper system in place would state that the individual must refer to a senior personnel either a manager or a senior supervisor who would be more experienced to deal with such matters rather than having a low level person making such critical decision.”

“In going forward [with] the protocol pass system, we will discuss with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if the protocol pass system is required, and it is required for diplomats etc. but we will work together with Foreign Affairs in putting together a system which should be operational for such a pass system.”

Top Cop to disclose

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 18, 2019

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… info on bribery allegations against Charrandass today

COMMISSIONER of Police Leslie James is today set to disclose finding thus far of their probe into allegations that Charrandass Persaud was bribed to vote with the opposition on a no-confidence motion late last year.

The People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) is on record as saying that the former AFC Member of Parliament was allegedly bribed by the opposition.

Persaud has since denied the allegations, although admitting to a dubious transaction where he was attempting to purchase some US$1M in gold. “The recent motion in Parliament must be seen in the context of the PPP and Jagdeo’s continued op-

Self-confessed death squad operative, Sean Hinds

Adviser to the Opposition Leader, Peter Ramsaroop escorting Charrandass Persaud out of Parliament Buildings

PPP member and former murder accused, Jason Abdulla eration as if Guyana is a criminalised state. The dismantling of the criminalised state by APNU+AFC government has demonstrated progress which has earned Guyana respect within the League of Nations,” PNC/R executive, Aubrey Norton had told a news conference late last year.

Norton said the motion clearly demonstrates Jagdeo’s modus operandi to continue his embrace by taking his criminal actions to a new level by bribing a

sitting member of Parliament with the intention of bringing down the elected government of Guyana.

“There is no doubt that this act in Parliament is an act of betrayal, first and foremost, to the hundreds of thousands of Guyanese from all social backgrounds, who, on May 11, 2015, took our country back by voting to end 23 years of rampant PPP corruption, arrogance, discrimination and bad governance. It should be noted that Charandass Persaud himself acknowledges the bribe by asking ‘what is wrong if I get paid?’ In his own words, he has admitted his embrace to the treacherous PPP culture of getting rich through corruption and lawlessness.

The Guyanese people have seen through this plot and there is no doubt that in any elections, the

PPP will be defeated by APNU+AFC,” Norton said.

IMPARTIAL PROBE Meanwhile, at a news conference on Thursday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo sought again to distance his party from allegations that they bribed Persaud to vote for them, although one of his top advisers, Peter Ramsaroop, went so far as to breach security protocol at the Ogle Airport to spirit away Persaud one day after the vote.

“The PPP or Jagdeo or any MP did not bribe Charrandas to vote that way.

We have conscience…I am clear about it; I would call for an impartial investigation,” he told reporters. He said “if you have that and there is that finding but not from the PPP, that is a dif-

ferent matter, but I do not want to speculate. I will deal with the results of an impartial investigation upon its merit. Impartial means somebody from outside the country with an international reputation.”

Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on Wednesday told a news conference at his party’s headquarters that he is not aware of any attempts or plan on the night of December 21 to harm Persaud after he voted in favour to topple the government.

The Security Minister said that given the nature of the vote, he knew that had anything happened to Persaud, it would have reflected very badly on the government and as such, the necessary steps had to and were taken to provide security for him.

In a side interview, Ramjat-

tan also denied having any knowledge of plans to harm Charrandass once he returns to Guyana, be it to answer charges or otherwise.

Persaud is reported to have said that he received information that efforts are afoot to have him killed either on the road or once he is sent to prison, to have him hang in his prison cell. Minister Ramjattan rubbished these claims and told the Guyana Chronicle that Persaud is using these excuses as a means of not coming back to Guyana. According to the minister, immediately after the voting and the continuation of the business in the House on the night in question, the Parliamentary Opposition approached him and expressed concerns for the safety and security of the MP. He further told the news conference that he went to Persaud and requested from

him what form of security he needed and he (Charrandass) indicated that he needed a car to take him to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and that was made available.

However, it later turned out that the car which was put in place by the Minister of Public Security through the Guyana Police Force was not used by Persaud.

He instead opted to have his security handled by adviser to Jagdeo, Peter Ramsaroop, along with others, including a one-time murder accused, Jason Abdulla and self-confessed death squad operative, Sean Hinds. They, along with others, escorted Persaud to at least two locations and then subsequently to the Ogle Airport where he joined a plane to Barbados, en route to Canada.

Ramjattan told the media that based on what took place that night as it relates to the security of Persaud, he deliberately requested police protection, agreed to the level and posture which were put in place and then created a diversion. Ramsaroop is on record saying that Persaud had reached out to him asking for protection once he voted with the opposition.

Ramsaroop said that he agreed and the necessary arrangements were put in place.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 18, 2019

Trump cancels Nancy Pelosi foreign trip citing shutdown (BBC) US President Donald Trump has postponed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s upcoming trip to Brussels and Afghanistan, asking her to stay to negotiate an end to the partial US government shutdown.

The president was able to halt the trip by denying the use of military aircraft to Mrs Pelosi and a delegation.

On Wednesday Mrs Pelosi had urged Mr Trump to postpone his State of the

Union address, amid political deadlock.

Mr Trump’s move came on the 27th day of the US’s longest-ever federal shutdown.

The Republican president wants $5.7bn (£4.4bn) of congressional funding to build a wall on the US-Mexico border, but Democrats have refused.

Mr Trump’s cancellation of the trip emerged less than an hour before the Demo-

Mr Trump has postponed Ms Pelosi’s trip a day after she called on him to postpone his address to Congress

cratic speaker of the House of Representatives was scheduled to leave on Thursday afternoon, US media say.

“I also feel that, during this period, it would be better if you were in Washington negotiating with me and joining the Strong Border Security movement to end the Shutdown,” Mr Trump

Friday, January 18, 2019 02:30 hrs - 14:30 hrs

wrote.

The president added that Mrs Pelosi could proceed with the trip - which he described as a “public relations event” - using a commercial airline.

Drew Hammill, Mrs Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, said her travel to Afghanistan had required a stop in Brussels to allow pilots to rest, as well as to meet top Nato commanders “to affirm the United States’ ironclad commitment” to the alliance.

Mr Hammill said the plans did not include a visit to Egypt, and noted that Mr Trump and Republicans have travelled during a shutdown.

Mrs Pelosi’s travel had not been announced before Mr Trump’s letter.

Some commentators expressed dismay that the president would reveal plans about a trip to a war zone by a congresswoman who is second in line to the presidency.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 18, 2019

Police must expand social networks, community outreaches – Region Three Chamber of Commerce

SOCIAL networking is providing police officers with new avenues and tools to help solve crimes while community outreaches are bearing fruit.

But during these outreaches a senior rank must be specifically assigned to register complaints and follow up from the public.

This is according to President of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce, Halim Khan.

“Facebook is helping to catch criminals. Sometimes, police are able to get tips from suspects’ friends after they brag about deviant behaviour on the social networking site, detectives also gather evidence from pictures or video posted on social networks,” Khan noted.

The businessman, in an exclusive interview with this publication, explained that not only can police use social media to solve crimes, but they can also use it to help find missing, endangered or distressed people.

“What people post on their sites can often provide helpful insight into their state of mind and their intentions,” Khan noted.

Because so many people now have such large online presences, he said investigators can gain new tips and insights into crimes committed in communities.

Further, he said that an important step toward solving a crime is establishing trust in the community. “A new way police are able to accomplish that goal is by creating an online presence of their own. Social media outlets take community-oriented policing to a new level by providing quick, cheap and easy ways to get important information out to followers and concerned citizens,” he underscored.

The Region Three Chamber President further said that social media also provides an avenue to help humanise police departments and show that law enforcement officers are also members of the community they serve.

“Social media can also be an effective way for agencies to highlight their

President of Region Three Chamber of Commerce, Halim Khan officer’s accomplishments, make announcements regarding enforcement campaigns and provide messages about safety,” he said.

“If people have problems and don’t trust the police, crime fighting will become harder. The social media platform can also be used to educate the public since majority of the population would interact with each other online and information can be shared,” the businessman said.

Further, he opined that as a trusted source of public information, the police force’s social feeds also give access to fact-based information in an online world of conjecture and speculation. Khan said the prevalence of social media has made it a valuable goto investigative tool for law enforcement, whether for small-time crimes, major issues or even murder.

Further, he noted that in order to further develop

communities, alternative sentencing for minor offences are needed, instead of incarcerating offenders, these persons can be of use to the state in the form of daily community service.

Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Force, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, when contacted, noted that many social networks are currently being utilised by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Superintendent Ramlakhan explained that several WhatsApp groups were created since he took over as PRO. “The creation of WhatsApp police-public interface groups has been working exceptionally well, creating an unprecedented information gateway for all contacts within all divisions of the force,” he said.

He added that this results in an enhanced interaction with the public and also provides police with better local intelligence inputs.

The PRO explained that the Force’s presence is also felt on Facebook and Instagram, where many stakeholders support, as the Force address issues of crime, traffic and other law enforcement matters. Adding that under his stewardship, the Force’s Facebook page went from 2,500 to over 29,000 followers within a few years.

“We respond to many queries on a daily basis from social media, our social crime prevention activities throughout the country are also being highlighted

Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan through the press and our Facebook page continuously by the PR department,” the superintendent said.

Underscoring that the Force’s PR department has increased communication between the police and public, the superintendent said next week, ranks of the department will also be benefiting from courses supervised by two reputable media consultants from the UK. Further, the superintendent noted that “community policing is a philosophy that the GPF uses in partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime.”

Judge puts criminal trial against Irfaan Ali on hold

CRIMINAL case against former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, who is accused of defrauding the State of some $174M for his role in the notorious Pradoville land-sale scandal, has been put on hold pending the outcome of a fixed date application filed at the High Court.

Ali had filed an application to stop the proceeding of the criminal matter, which is currently being heard by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, and Justice Franklin Holder granted the stay of proceedings on Thursday afternoon.

The ex-minister has been slapped with 19 counts of fraud last November and the charges were laid indictable.

The charges read that between 2010 and 2015, Ali conspired with persons unknown to defraud the Government of Guyana when he acted recklessly in presenting the value of 19 plots of state land situated at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, and sold the said lands at a grossly undervalued price without first obtaining a valuation to determine their true value.

It was reported that the “Pradoville” recipients, the majority of whom held very high positions within private or state organisations, received and later built posh or luxury homes on the properties after paying as little as $114 per square foot.

Justice Holder found that with respect to these particulars of the offence, there are reasonable issues to be tried, and that is the issue of whether valuations have to be obtained before the purchase of land.

Speaking with the lawyers after they exited the Chambers of Justice Holder, attorney Leslyn Noble, who is the representative for the first named respondent, Munilall Persaud, said that she would have submitted that the charges are known to law since they were saved under section three of the criminal law offences act.

She submitted that Ali’s application is an abuse of process, and it is premature as the application in itself has no merit.

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of Ali, attorney Anil Nandlall said that selling a property without valuation in Guyana has never been a criminal offence. In fact, he stated that the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack has sworn an affidavit to say that she did not offer advice on the charges. This, he said, will be put in as evidence in their case since their main contention is that the charges aren’t lawful.

Nandlall said that the fixed date application that was filed, challenges the legality of the criminal charges being faced by Ali. The matter was adjourned to the 5th of February, where the arguments will be presented and court will determine whether or not the charges are lawful.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 18, 2019

Government’s commitment to a good life through business development

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NE of the first acts of the APNU+AFC government was the establishment of the Ministry of Business. The Ministry has a clearly stated mission: “The Ministry of Business aims to propel economic development through an equitable and conducive environment for all businesses and through active interventions.” The necessity of having a ministry of government in Guyana, dedicated to the fostering of a business-friendly environment with the goal of development is obvious. Regrettably, the previous PPP regime, for some reason, did not perceive such a need during all of its 23 years in political power. Fortunately, that monumental oversight has been corrected by the current administration.

Although the Ministry of Business is only three years old, it has already had a major, positive impact on the lives of Guyanese, particularly those who aspire to own or operate their own businesses, as well as citizens seeking satisfying and secure employment. Under the charismatic leadership of Minister Dominic Gaskin, the ministry has filled a major gap in the government of Guyana’s administrative structure, thereby promoting economic development along the full spectrum of commercial, trade, and industrial endeavours.

In his 2019 budget presentation to the National Assembly, Minister Gaskin emphasised that the single most important and ultimate goal of the ministry is to create the conditions for Guyanese to be self-sufficient. The minister said, “The work that we do at the Ministry of Business and our agencies is ultimately geared towards the creation of jobs by private enterprises large, medium and small. Whether it’s through tourism or industrial estates or the promotion of exports or investment facilitation or small business support, at the end of the day we want to see the private sector develop and grow because this is where the bulk of the jobs needed by the tens of thousands of young Guyanese who come out of school or some higher level of education or training each year are going to come from.”

Minister Gaskin elaborated that the ministry has detailed plans on how to achieve its goals; he explained that those plans may be categorized under one of four broad pillars: business

support and development; business facilitation; tourism; and consumer affairs. He further explained how the 2019 budgetary allocation of $2.65 billion will be efficiently used to improve the lives of Guyanese by giving them access to never-before-seen opportunities within the context of government’s holistic plan.

Business support, said the minister, includes the development and management of industrial estates such as those in Lethem in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (region 9) and in Berbice, on which over $1 billion has already been invested.

Minister Gaskin underscored that accountability and transparency are paramount. He said, “Due diligence processes will be carried out to ensure that companies have the financial resources to fund their proposed activities.” In other words, while funds for new and developing business will be available, business proposals will be diligently examined before public funds are used.

High standards will, of service, must play a major role in all business activities, and recognised international accreditation will be sought where available, the minister said.

It was reported, too, that up to the end of 2018, about 1000 businesses benefitted from training in areas such as soap manufacturing, sustainable mining, forestry and cosmetology. Additionally, about 400 former GUYSUCO workers were trained in various skills, while the ministry supported over 200 businesses with access to finance by providing guarantees for loans totalling USD $618,000 and disbursing grants, amounting to USD $237,000. This support is estimated to have directly created over 500 jobs.

Business facilitation, another of the four broad pillars, has already created hundreds of jobs and will continue to do so by actively facilitating investment in the various sectors across Guyana’s regions. Such facilitation includes matching and connecting local suppliers with international consumers, among other initiatives.

Tourism, the third pillar, has already benefited from the administration’s interventions, showing a 17 per cent increase over 2017 figures. It was noted that visitors have

to eat, sleep and travel around the town or the country and each of these activities costs money and employs Guyanese.

Tourists also shop and enjoy local entertainment. With an estimated 30,000 visitors arriving in 2018, an additional US$15 million is now circulating, assuming an average expenditure of around US$500 per visitor. And this does not include airfares or the taxes applied to airfares which will bring in around US$15 million.

Minister Gaskin emphasises that the previous administration gave scant regard to accountability and transparency while in government; on the other hand, we are ensuring that there are accountability and transparency in the spending of money.

The pillar of consumer affairs assures that government works towards the goal of consumers getting value for their money; its objective towards efficiency and cost reduction will be to the benefit of all Guyanese. Speaking at the opening of a new showroom and head office for the Marics Company in December of last year, Minister Gaskin said that ‘good life’ should be for all Guyanese and not a select few. He added, “We cannot have an economy where working people cannot afford basic human needs, transportation, proper nutrition, proper accommodation and other basic things that human beings need at a level that supports a decent quality of life,” Minister Gaskin emphasised. He said, too, that the direction we are heading as a nation should see all Guyanese who desire a car, being able to afford a good quality vehicle. “We have to be ambitious as a nation, and we must aspire for a minimum quality of life for all our people, and we will soon have the means to do this.”

As the Ministry of Business goes about its important work, citizens should bear in mind the vital nature of that ministry, the fact that its work will benefit all Guyanese – whether producer or consumer – and the fact that the previous PPP regime lacked the vision to establish such an entity. As such, we must ensure that the efforts and progress made by the government continue and our gains are not lost.

Eon Andrews is doing a good job Dear Editor

I

have been following the activities of a Trade Unionist and Vice President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Eon Andrews and what is clear to see is that, this Trade Unionist is the only Labour Leader who seems to be working in the true sense of a worker representative.

What makes his work more significant is that he has chosen to venture in the realm of the non-traditional worker arena, the very contentious minibus and market vendor sector and if one was to judge from the print and electronic media revelations, he is succeeding in his quest to organise this large mass of workers.

One just has to look at the University of Guyana minibus

drivers and conductors, the Tushen hire car drivers among others, not to forget that he is now attempting to initiate a Code of Conduct for public transportation providers in collaboration with the Ministry of Business and other stake holders. It is also refreshing to note that the new Mayor of Georgetown is prepared to engage Mr Andrews and by extension the Guyana Market Vendors Union, of which he is the President, something Town Clerk Royston King and the previous Council for some strange reason, was very reluctant to do.

One cannot fail to surmise that otherwise to Mr Andrews, only Norris Witter, a national awardee and a Commissioner on the Ethnic Relations Commission, Andrew Garnett – Vice Chairman of the Local Government Commission and to a lesser extent Coretta Mc Donald – General Secretary of the

Guyana Teachers Union and Sherwood Clarke– President of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union, seem to have any relevance.

Many of the other maximum leaders have suddenly become politicians and oil specialists. I say to Eon Andrews continue what you are doing, you are on the right path. The survival of the Trade Union Congress may well depend on you and other second tier leaders who have a vision for and is prepared to make that unselfish sacrifice for the workers of Guyana, especially the workers who need representation.

Regards Joel Alexander Stanleytown W.B.D.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 18, 2019

Let us stop this charade: Charrandass is a vintage traitor Dear Editor,

I

t is safe to assume that December 21st in the Parliament of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana would be not only a historical event but may well go down as a day of infamy.

Since then, we’ve had a plethora of suggestions from home as well as abroad. I note the credible and robust response by Rickford Burke in the media and one suggestion of a rotating Presidency from MrShahabudeen, writing from Ontario Canada and ofcourse my piece written January 10, 2019 directly to our political leaders proposing a Modus Vivendi including the idea of a National Front Government.

I hope that a collective wisdom would prevail and that our leaders give consideration to these ideas. However, I wish to deal with a related issue which seems to be subordinated in all of the excitement.I refer to the threat from Venezuela. Guyanese need to remember this month, exactly 50 years ago. Certain gentlemen we describe as (local whites) proclaimed that they were not prepared to be ruled by the sons of slaves and so with the support of elements in Venezuela, we had the Rupununi Uprising.

Fifty years later, it is the same story, elements in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela after squandering their own resources, do not want the children of slaves and indentured labourers to benefit from our new found oil and gas resource.

From major reports, this matter was obliquely raised in the discussions last Wednesday about Venezuela’s ‘sabre rattling.’This should have allowed all parties to agree immediately on measures to be put in place to protect and preserve the patrimony of our people.

As a youngster, I grew up in a yard that was completely fenced and we had dogs. Occasionally, someone would leave one of the gates open and allow a strange dog to enter the compound. Our dogs were always fighting amongst themselves but I observed that whenever a strange dog made its way into our yard the dogs would pounce on him.

On one occasion, the intruder was left helpless to die. As a people why can’t we learn this lesson from our canine companions. We have an enemy at our gates, which requires a collective strong response as Guyanese The next issue, I see in sections of the media and in conversations with some friends from the Caribbean is the description

of Charrandass as a patriot or hero. The gentleman is simply, in every sense of the word, a ‘traitor.’

I give one parallel, Lucius Junius Brutus was Caesar’s nephew and a colleague who never expressed concern about the regime publicly but secretly plotted with others the betrayal of the Roman Emperor and while many stabbed Caesar, Caesar was surprised and said, “et tu brute.”

December 21st was re-enactment of this kind of behaviour.

We find that in some circles within the region, people are hailing Charrandass as a hero. A magnificent absurdity.To describe the behavior of the gentleman in Parliament, to describe his behavior as that other than a traitor, would be quite out of order.

We had heroes who openly criticised the regime they witnessed and made suggestions and proposals for change (the likes of the German theologian, Martin Luther and Martin Luther King JR. the American civil rights leader, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and many others).

Today we have the many letter writers and columnist, with whom we may not always share their views, but who write and speak from what they believe to be the depth of truth. They do not stab anyone in the back unlike the events of December 21st.

Today in Guyana we have the likes of Dr. David Hinds, Christopher Ram, Freddie Kissoon, Lincoln Lewis and the several editorials.In summary, let us be very clear. We’ve read and heard arguments about the problems in the AFC and concerns about the sugar workers and other matters that are extraneous.

All attempting to justify Charrandass’ action.

In our democratic culture people must avail themselves opportunities to speak up and express their concerns within the family or organisations to which they belong.There is an interesting book written around the Theme “The Sin of Silence.”

The bottom line is he betrayed the group he belonged to and which he never publicly raised concerns.That simply makes him a ‘Traitor,’ the likes of the Rosenbergs and Vidkun Quisling during World War II and the celebrated Traitor, Judas Iscariot who kissed Jesus.

The man is simply based on the lexicon dictionary and history a Traitor.

End of story.

Regards Hamilton Green

Moscow has no intention to meddle in the internal affairs of this country Dear Editor

W

e have read a letter by James Botsman in the Sunday Chronicle of January 13, 2019 on the page 7 of the printed edition “Don’t take the Russian calls lightly.”

My friends in Georgetown and I have also received on those days of January 6 and 7, 2019 many of these strange one second calls from Canada, Congo, Gabon, Guyana, Nigeria, Russia, Switzerland and USA (all countries - in alphabetical order to prevent suspicion of any discrimination). But none of us thought about something “national” in these annoying calls.

Modern times are called “information era” with its very often uncomfortable rules, procedures, scams, insufficiencies, failures etc. But, surely Russia is not behind all of them, if any. Only fair international cooperation could bring such problems to an end.

Even more strange is the author’s groundless statement in this context that “in Guyana it is not difficult to find the link between a certain political party and Russia.”

To the best of my knowledge, officially there is a broad consensus in Guyana about the necessity to develop relations with all friendly nations, including mine.

Moscow has no intention to meddle in the internal affairs of this country and is ready, today as yesterday, to develop friendly relations with all sectors of the Guyanese political spectrum and not only with “a certain political party”.

Dear friends, there are no grounds to sow false fears and suspicions!

Regards Alexey Nikitin Press-Attaché Russian Embassy, Georgetown

Ramotar had a duty to disclose legal opinion on what makes a 'majority' Dear Editor,

I

believe that President Ramotar had a duty in 2014 to disclose to the Guyanese people that there was a legal opinion on what makes a 'majority' of ALL the members of the National Assembly for passing a motion of no confidence in the government.

That opinion that states that 34 votes were needed and not 33 was the property of the State and Mr. Ramotar could not discard it as "foolish. What was foolish was to prorogue parliament for 6 months, then dissolve it in

order to run from the motion.

But he ran from the frying pan right into the fire when the PPP was defeated at the 2015 elections. It went from a majority lame duck minority government into the opposition. Had he established that 34 votes were needed, he would have remained in government and, today Guyana would not be facing a political crisis.I find his position to be dumb and foolish.

Regards Carla Mendonca

MP Harry Gill says he was misquoted Dear Editor,

W

hen I received a phone call from a female Guyana Chronicle reporter, Wednesday evening, my defenses immediately went up. This is a newspaper that is hostile to the PPP/C and its leadership, and has repeatedly omitted to publish the many letters I have being sending to that editor. And to further compromise their lack of credibility and objectivity, they are willing to publish slanderous statements about me, made by the likes of Rickford Burke in the Wednesday’s letter column of the government’s mouthpiece.

The moment the Chronicle reporter introduced herself, I knew I had to be careful of what I say to her for I did not want to be misquoted. I was also aware of the subject she wanted to discuss as many believe that I possess duel-citizenship. I do not, and I made this very clear to her. When I was asked about the status of other PPP/C MPs, I referred her to our Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira. She told me she had tried but was unable to reach her. I then suggested that she attend the press conference being held by the Leader of the Opposition the following day, Thursday, January 17, to get the answers she’s looking for.

Editor, in this sensational piece, “Several PPP MPs have dual citizenship”, the reporter wrote, “The MP said he fully agrees with retired judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Duke Pollard that the National Assembly of Members of Parliament should be cleared of all MPs with dual citizenship. Gill said there should be no cherry picking of the laws, and as such, MPs with dual citizenship should do the honourable thing and step down.”

I categorically deny agreeing with retired CCJ judge Duke Pollard as reported, as it relates to his belief that “Parliament should be cleared of all MPs with dual citizenship.” And any reference I may have made about “doing the honourable thing” and stepping down, was totally sensationalised to give the wrong impression. I had just brought to her attention a duplicitous remark made by the AFC Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan during an AFC press conference, in which he was asked, “What are the implications of the other MPs with dual-citizenship?” To which he replied that the case brought against Charrandass in the High Court would only apply to him, and said, “You would probably have to bring another case against the rest.” I reminded her that Ministers Joseph Harmon and Carl Greenidge had both admitted to having dual-citizenship and suggested they should do the honourable thing and step down. This is very different to what is being reported.

I hereby demand an apology from Guyana Chronicle, whose reporter maliciously misquoted me. I am a proud citizen of Guyana who remigrated after spending over 23 years in the good ‘ole USA as a permanent resident. After my children’s dependency period had ended, I returned home in 2012 in hopes of making a meaningful contribution to the land of my birth. I have never returned since and have deliberately caused my “Green Card” to expire. I am the holder of one valid passport, issued to me by the Government of Guyana.

I will forever be grateful to the People’s Progressive Party for giving me the opportunity to serve my country and her people as a Member of Parliament.

Regards Harry Gill Editor’s Note: Guyana Chronicle stands by its report and has a recording, which it can produce where the question regarding Justice Pollard’s position was put to Mr Gill and he answered in the affirmative.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 18, 2019

The betrayal of a nation by one man I Dear Editor,

t is sad when a person uses his entire political life to cuss up, degrade, pull down, wash hands clean, fight for a better country to be out of the hands of the polluted opposition party that holds office for 23 years and just in a matter of minutes reverses all that he did and said in his political career to ensure all that he stood for fall into the hands of the same opposition.

It can be considered in Guyanese terms "feed dhamaga dag and one day he gon turn round and bite yu". Simple term saying, some people don't have thanks it can be what he has done for them in life. This is the case of the former MP Charrandass Persaud.

This is a man of double or should I say triple standards (saying no standards won't be appropriate because he does have some kind of standard), says one thing, means a different thing and then do another thing, un-focus as to what should be said and done. This is a man that since joining the AFC had or should I say trying to have a political career without anyone knowing he is a deceiver

or snitcher.

This man was given an MP positionbecause he was recommended by a former MP in Region 6 and mostly because of his vicious attacks on the then PPP Government. This man implores to all especiallyBerbicians not to allow the PPP back in power and that the PPP is the ones that destroy the sugar, rice industries and the nation at large. This is the said man that told the then President Bharrat Jagdeo that he will never get his vote no matter what. This is the same man that told the thousands of sugar workers and rice farmers that PPP is no good for Guyana.

This gentleman makes me and many others rethink and recall the sad story of one man that makes hundreds or thousands and the world believe in him. He will sit at the same place or table and eat meals together, he will walk the walk and talk the talk with and for them, he will ensure they are happy and he does everything within his powers to make all happy. No one knows what his plans were at that time. Then one day he decided to execute his plan and went ahead killing his followers. No not Judas. It's Jim Jones. This No Confidence story (YES YES YES) have a or some

similar resemblance, except for the killing, the voter betrayed an entire nation and ensure that he has done what he had in mind, as he said was his conscience and that's to turn rich anyway possible.

Betraying a nation can make one turn rich because life becomes simple with the day to day help by those that encourage to committed the act of betrayal.

How can a man who claims to be a well qualify and successful lawyer makes his conscience rule him for all the days he was cussing up the then government?. How can this said man said he doesn't tell lies and he is a lawyer defending those that committed acts against the law and twisting stories to win his cases knowingly his client\s are guilty of the act. That was the words of the man that he doesn't lie not even in court.

Berbicians, especially the Indo Guyanese that are strong PPP and whom the PPP claims they have transport over as long they are alive uses to cuss down this very Charrandass Persaud since he became a politician under the AFC. This man uses to tell the said people of Berbice that they can cuss him how much they wanted to because he will fight for the removal of the PPP from the government. This man also tells the nation that after the APNU+AFC government wins he doesn't care if he is not given a position with the government, he will never ever join the PPP, he will end his political life\career rather than join PPP. A lot is not being known of this very MP that now cries and preaches that he cares about the welfare and wellbeing of the people especially the sugar workers and their families of this country.

This very man is the man that sometime in March 2018 was calling for the sugar workers in Berbice to be jailed for not sending their children to school. This is the very man that told the nation at the last budget debate that sugar workers are better off now under this APNU+AFC government and receiving their severance pay is better than all the time they work in the estates and that most of them are being re-employed with the said estate. This former MP who now cries foul as if he cares for the people of Guyana and Berbice has failed Berbicians miserably over the almost three and half years he was in Parliament.This former MP did nothing during his tenure to better the lives of the people in Berbice. He never walked the streets of his own village and enquired from residents their problems or found out what might be affecting them. He never once tried to better or develop any community within Canje or Berbice. He talked a lot of the New Amsterdam Hospital and the development taking place there under this government during the 2019 Budget debates. Maybe that's the only place he visited, as he said that he was there during a night to check on a doctor friend of his. Well, we as Berbicians know why he went there to check.

This is the very man that goes from mandirs to mandirs in Guyana chanting and worshipping God and yet uses the same place of worship overseas to lie to the people for his betrayal act.

Isn't it shameful to use a place of worship knowingly that you lied to a nation and the world to continue in lying and betrayal tactics?.

Charrandass Persaud never cared or served the people of Region 5 or 6 as he claims. He is just using words to ensure that those who listen to him feel pity for him and comfort him for being a betrayer.In Parliament the said night the man told reporters that he had no friends in the PPP, but yet was seen escorted out by the PPP after his yes vote. This is the same man who asked the self-anointed bishop "where we going next bishop". You are not friends with any of the PPP but you are asking the same people for guidance, it is shameful of you to use those words. Mr Charrandass Persaud denied that he was in any act of purchasing gold, well sir, you may be correct because you have corrected that statement and the Guyanese are lying on you because you were enquiring about purchasing of "GOLD CASAREEP or CASAREEP GOLD".

But in the very breath sir, you accepted that you were trying to or buying GOLD preferring in your text messages as CASAREEP for a client of yours. Well, the question is, are your clients GOLD (CASAREEP) buyers or are you a Lawyer by profession who defends someone in the court of law? Other questions are, do have a license to BUY AND SELL GOLD sorry GOLD CASAREEP?.

If not then the Guyana Gold Board needs to investigate as to, how long now you are in the business of buying and selling gold and if you have been taking it out of the country illegally?

Sir, Mr Charrandass Persaud, bro, stop lying and tell the world the truth. Tell the world that you sold out a nation for personal gains and benefits. Tell the world that you didn't mean to do it, but could not have resisted the handsome offered that was allegedly given to you to vote yes yesyes. I call on all the coalition supporters and members to stay strong because one man can't speak for a nation and let's continue to be calm and focus towards in ensuring that the works continue in taking Guyana positively forward into a bright future under this APNU+AFC Government. LET'S STAND AND STAY STRONG AS WE SUPPORT THIS COALITION GOVERNMENT. Regards Abel Seetaram APNU+AFC Regional Councillor

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 18, 2019

WPA executive floats TT connection in Charrandass ‘yes’ vote

MORE persons have begun to question whether the historic “yes” vote of former government Member of Parliament (MP) Charrandass Persaud was influenced by foreign interference, primarily Guyana’s Caribbean neighbour Trinidad and Tobago (T&T).

On the very day of the vote, President of the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) and international law consultant, Rickford Burke, in a statement, claimed that he had received prior word of Persaud’s plans.

“Let me confirm that on November 16, 2018, we received intelligence that government MP Charrandass Persaud was allegedly negotiating with the PPP to vote for the no-confidence motion through a rich oil tycoon in Trinidad,” he shared on social media.

This, among other matters, is now being treated as a matter of “national security” as the Guyana Police Force (GPF) launched an investigation into the former MP, with the police commissioner expected to make an announcement soon.

On Wednesday, Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive member Tacuma Ogunseye, drew further suspicion when he noted instances in the past where he says the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) conspired with certain figures in the twin island for their gain.

In a letter to the newspaper, he stated that it is widely known that the PPP established strong economic relations with powerful interests in Trinidad which benefited that party while in office.

“The validity of the information of foreign interference in our domestic politics and the accusation that MP Charrandass Persaud was bribed to vote in favour of the opposition will stand or fall at the conclusion of the Guyana Police Force's current investigation into the matter. This is not the first occasion that the PPP and Trinidad business interests have collaborated to pollute the political atmosphere in Guyana,” Ogunseye stated. “It will be recalled that the 1997 election results

were tampered with by the involvement of the Depoo brothers, well known T&T IT experts, who, working in consort with the then GECOM IT Manager, was able to successfully manipulate the system to allow for a ‘resounding PPP victory’ at those elections.”

The WPA activist went on to state that other collaborations were made public such as the “discriminatory policy” regarding road construction contracts in the post-1992 elections.

“Trinidadian contractors, some with unproven track records, were overnight, imported into and dominated the sector to the dismay of local contractors.

Lucrative contracts were secretly negotiated in Freedom House, headquarters of the PPP/C. It was argued in that party’s circle that this was necessary because of the deficiency in local capacity. More importantly, the intention was to build up a core of contractors loyal to the PPP and in the process, develop a collaborative relationship with a set of persons who would willingly engage in assisting to rape the resources of the country and sharing the spoils with the political rulers,” Ogunseye assessed.

Trinidadian businessmen renewed their interest in Guyana, Ogunseye added, with the decline in Trinidad’s oil and gas industry and the expected rise of Guyana’s.

He said: “Having lost ground in their homeland, these business interests are prepared to do whatever they deem possible to ensure the PPP’s return to office, since it will be favourable to them. In that scenario, an APNU+AFC government is for them an unacceptable alternative.”

It is unknown whether the probe into the influences of Persaud’s “yes” vote will reveal such collusions but thus far, one other accusation against Charrandass has proven to be true.

On December 31, 2018 online news agency, News Source, broke the news that Persaud was making plans to purchase US$1M worth of gold, providing screenshots of his text message conversation as proof.

On the same day, Op-

position Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at his weekly press conference had railed against these “accusations of bribery” as “fake news” peddled by the government.

Directing his attention to the text screenshot, he said: “…I’ve seen that, how easily these things can be manufactured…the country should want to find out that [sic] these deep intelligence forces that have now gotten this information will share

it only with [the particular news agency]? Why would they share it only with [this news agency].”

The online news agency also noted that in the conversation, Persaud disguised his aim by referring to the gold as ‘casareep’ which led Jagdeo to humorously add: “This is the evidence of the gold purchase that they’re making. It is fake news once again. Fake news and I wouldn’t put it past

this government; it is so desperate to create a whole intelligence scenario around this issue for the purposes of staying in office.”

Less than two weeks later, Persaud admitted that just days before his vote to side with the opposition, he advanced discussions on the purchase of US$1M in gold.

As regards additional information on the police’s headway on Persaud’s probe, Public Security Minister

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Former MP, Charrandass Persaud Khemraj Ramjattan said on Wednesday: “He [the police commissioner] will make a statement soon on this matter, maybe before the week is out or next week.”

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President Granger re-issues book on the Rupununi Uprising

PRESIDENT David Granger has re-issued his book, ‘The Rupununi Rebellion’ to mark the 50th Anniversary of the quelling of the Rupununi Uprising which took place on January 2, 1969, less

than three years after Guyana achieved independence.

The President was serving as Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), which had operational responsibility for

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 18, 2019 restoring peace at that time. Rebels led by a few rich families, had seized control of the region with arms supplied by a neighbouring country, murdered several policemen and attempted to secede from Guyana and establish an independent republic.

The rebellion was the result of a conspiracy; not of indigenous peoples, but of a few related cattle-owning families who lived in huge haciendas.

The cover page of ‘The Rupununi Rebellion’ book written by President David Granger

They resisted the prospect of surrendering their ranches to the landless indigenous peoples in accordance with the Amerindian Lands Commission, which had been established by the government of the day and which was committed to the re-distribution of land.

The rebels – belonging largely to the Melville-Hart clan – fled to Brazil and Venezuela where they were granted asylum. (Ministry of the Presidency)

CJIA processed over 600,000 flights in 2018

THE Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) says it has recorded the highest passenger movement through the country’s main port of entry in 2018.

Between January 1 and December 31, 2018, some 630,143 passengers were processed as compared to 592,053 in 2017. According to airport officials, this represents a seven per cent increase from the corresponding period last year. Additionally, for the first-time, arriving passengers represented a larger percentage of the total number.

In fact, international passenger arrivals for 2018 were 325,800 or nine per cent higher than in 2017. Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, attributed the marked increases to “government’s sound economic policies and its unwavering advocacy for an enabling environment for investors, including the introduction of a new airline.”

Other factors can be associated with increased business interest in oil and gas, agriculture, and tourists arriving in large numbers for the Easter Festivities, Bartica Regatta, Rupununi Rodeo, Christmas and investment forums, Minister Patterson said. According to CJIA, Six airlines currently operate at the airport plying several destinations. The most dominant destination is New York City with a 34 per cent market share in 2018.

“Destinations Canada and Aruba recorded 15 and 14 per cent respectively.

Miami followed closely with 12 per cent,” the release added.

Councillors urged to follow procedures GEORGETOWN Mayor Pandit Ubraj Narine has called on city councillors to carry out their work according to the systems in place at the City Council.

He made the call last Monday, at the new council’s first statutory meeting at City Hall for 2019.

The 27-year-old mayor said he was looking forward to working as a team for the “betterment” of the city. “As I told the media before, I’m not here to build walls, but to build bridges.”

Narine said it has already been brought to his attention that officers of the council have been approached by some councillors. “Let us try to go through the right procedure to get our work done. There’s the town clerk and myself,” he advised.

He also urged that whenever there are events in the various constituencies, the respective councillors should be made aware by the relevant officers so that they may be present.

Narine also asked that he too be informed of the planned works, along with Town Clerk Sharon Harry. He stressed that teamwork would make the work easier.

Harry, in her opening remarks, said the administration also looks forward to working as a unit. She informed that a one-day orientation session is planned for the benefit of the new councillors.

Narine was elected Georgetown Mayor following the November 12, 2018 Local Government Elections (LGEs) and commenced official work in the new year.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 18, 2019

Over 80,000 hectares of paddy sown so far for first crop ––GRBD says 60% is high yielding paddy

THE rice sector is off to a good start as some 80,792 hectares or 199,556 acres of paddy have already been sown.

General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Nizam Hassan, said 60 per cent of what was sown is high yielding paddy.

“Forty per cent is GRDB 10 and twenty per cent is GRDB 15…the other forty per cent is also good variety,” said Hassan during an exclusive interview on Thursday, January 17, 2019.

Over the years GRDB has been working to improve the variety of paddy which is provided to farm-

ers.

Hassan said he has personally started inspections of farms in order to ascertain and get a better understanding of how the crops are growing.

According to the general manager, farmers in most areas have been able to sow their paddy without any hindrance.

“The weather has been favourable for the crops,” said Hassan, adding that in some areas farmers are having some slight difficulties accessing water.

Hassan was, however, optimistic about the outcome of the crop, noting that the projected yield is

5.9 tonnes per hectare. The projection is an improvement from 2017 which was 5.6 tonnes per hectare and a projected 5.8 tonnes in 2018.

The total projected target for this year is almost one million tonnes of paddy, with 522,255 tonnes being the target for the first crop.

“When we look at the figures compared to the first half of 2017, we saw first that the total volume that has been exported is 290,000 tonnes which is 43 per cent more than the 203,000 tonnes that was exported during the first half of 2017,” Hassan had said.

The increase had earned the

Caribbean urged to brace for possible Dengue outbreak THE Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has advised countries in the region to implement enhanced measures to reduce mosquito breeding as it predicts a possible outbreak of Dengue Fever.

In a release, the regional health body said the last major regional outbreak of Dengue occurred in 2009. Since then, the Region has experienced two large outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases-- Chikungunya in 2014 and Zika in 2016-- which are unlikely to reoccur soon.

Disease modelling, however, predicts that another regional outbreak of Dengue may occur in the near future. In 2018, Latin America showed an increase in the number of Dengue cases. More recently, the outbreak of Dengue in Jamaica has elevated the level of concern in other Caribbean islands. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is, therefore, advising countries to implement enhanced measures to reduce mosquito breeding and prevent the spread of the disease.

Dengue is a flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults. Symptoms typically begin four to ten days after infection and include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash. This illness can evolve into severe dengue, characterized by potentially deadly complications, such as internal haemorrhaging, intense and continuous abdominal pain or tenderness and persistent vomiting. In some cases, Dengue may be severe and can cause death.

Dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases threaten health, tourism, social and economic development, and a collaborative effort is required to reduce the spread of disease. Dengue remains a global health problem and like Zika and Chikungunya, there is no specific treatment for the disease. The Aedes aegypti mosquito vector, which spreads Dengue, is present in all Caribbean territories.

The measures used for controlling the

spread of Dengue are the same as those for Zika and Chikungunya as these diseases are also transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. With the arrival of the rainy season within a few months, mosquito control and awareness activities need to be intensified.

Caribbean Ministries of Health are advised to: Increase health promotion messages to prevent mosquitos biting and breeding; Combine efforts with communities to eliminate mosquito breeding sites; Intensify vector surveillance and control and disseminate appropriate clinical care and treatment guidelines.

The most effective way to avoid becoming ill from viruses spread by mosquitoes is to prevent mosquito bites. Research carried out

by CARPHA and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) show that drums and tyres are the main mosquito breeding sources in our countries. “We all need to clean up our surroundings. The two most important things to manage mosquito populations in our Caribbean countries are to manage water storage drums and tanks, and properly dispose of used vehicle tyres to prevent mosquitos breeding,” states Dr C. James Hospedales, Executive Director of CARPHA. Actions that can be taken include covering drums and tanks, cleaning the guttering, removing stagnant water sources such as old tyres, bottles and buckets, and individuals protecting themselves and their family from bites.

Infants, young children, older adults and women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant should take extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR 3535, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.

Individuals would also do well to work together with family, friends and neighbours to destroy breeding sites in and around their homes and communities to achieve total community impact.

country GYD$23.2Billion (US$111Million) last year against the value of the export for the first half of 2017 which was GYD$16.

1Billion (US$77Million).

In a report last year, the general manager attributed the increase to the determination of rice producers and millers to meet production targets and more so Guy-

ana’s access to new markets, particularly in Latin America.

“We’ve seen some significant increases in some of the blocs, for example, exports to Latin America jumped by 215 per cent.

In the first half of 2017, we did 64,000 tonnes as against 202,000+ tonnes in the first half of 2018.”

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General Manager of GRDB, Nizam Hassan (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 18, 2019

LGC have their work to do and I have mine – Mayor on CoI report

GEORGETOWN Mayor, Ubraj Narine, said that he has been contacted by the Local Government Commission (LGC) and given a copy of the report emanating from the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into City Hall but is not looking to get involved at this point in time, as he is focusing more on familiarising himself on the different facets of council.

“My concern it is not about the CoI, my concern is to get to know the corners of the council. I would not say I wouldn’t get involved but when I know every corner of

the council that will tell me how to act and what decisions to make, if that comes to me. The LGC; they have their work to do and I have my work to do, so I think I’ll let that organ handle it at this point of time,” Narine explained.

“I think I have better things to do in terms of administration, visiting the departments and the different offices; that is something that will take time to do. I am new here, so the CoI, I will put that to rest at this point in time.”

Narine noted that, not-

withstanding what has come out of the report, he believed that, going forward, the council will work towards correcting them.

“There are little mishaps yes but I believe every mistake [that was] made we can correct in the future,” Narine stated.

Twenty-seven-year-old Narine started the Mayorship of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (MCC) from January 1, taking over from Patricia Chase-Green, who remains a councillor at the municipality but did not contest for Mayor following last year’s November 12 Local Government Elections (LGE).

Chase-Green had spent

two years in the post, and presided over a contentious period at the council, coming under fire for several issues at the council not the least of which were a controversial contract to install parking meters around the City, and the handling of a no-confidence motion against the municipality’s substantive Town Clerk, Royston King.

The LGC had ordered a CoI into the operation and management of City Hall last September, following the receipt of numerous complaints on issues relating to the management of the council. The LGC is the oversight body of all local government organs across the country.

The CoI report recommended disciplinary action against King and several department heads at City Hall, including acting Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe. The officers have since been summoned by the LGC to put forth their defence against the allegations.

After being granted a two-week extension to respond, the officers are scheduled to begin appearing before the LGC from January 25, 2019. King is expected to be the first person to appear.

The CoI report had also called for a forensic audit and for criminal charges to be laid against King.

Georgetown Mayor, Pandit Ubraj Narine

Couple freed of narcotics charge A MAN and his wife were on Thursday, January 17, 2019 freed of a drug trafficking charge after it was found that the substance which they were indicted for was not in the narcotics act.

Lonsdale Hope, 35, and his common-law wife Shelly-Ann Gilgeous, 28, were charged in April, 2018,

Lonsdale Hope and his reputed wife, Shelly-Ann Gilgeous and taken before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. They were released on $150,000 bail.

Particulars of the charge read that the couple, on April 23, 2018, at Regent Street, Bourda, had 66 grammes of ‘ecstasy’ in their possession for the purpose of trafficking.

On the day in question, ranks from the Police Narcotics Branch intercepted the motor car the couple was in and on the back seat, they reportedly found a woman’s handbag with the ‘suspected’ drug inside.

The matter was later transferred to Magistrate Annett Singh for trial. The couple’s attorney, Dexter Todd, had argued that the substance which was tested was not methamphetamine (ecstasy) and it was not listed in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) act.

Todd had argued that his position was based on the findings of the drug analyst and called for the matter against his clients to be discharged since it was bad in law.

On Thursday, Magistrate Singh, based on the findings of the drug analyst and the lawyer’s argument, discharged the matter against the couple.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 18, 2019

‘Improper’ to terminate contracts of garbage contractors – Min. Bulkan

By Telesha Ramnarine

MINISTER of Communities Ronald Bulkan has said that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) ought to have “valid and justifiable” reasons if it wants to bring an end to the existing contracts between the municipality and its two main garbage contractors.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on the sidelines of an orientation workshop for the new councillors at City Hall, Bulkan said he does not believe that the issue has been fully settled. “My own position is if there’s an existing contract, unless there are valid and justifiable reasons for the council to seek to bring that contract to an end; that would not be the proper thing to do. But to the best of my understanding, the negotiations are in process,” Bulkan stated.

Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore also told the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday that

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan on Thursday while he is not opposed to the use of the smaller contractors, the municipality ought to take into consideration that it is bound by a contract with Puran Brothers Disposal Services and Cevons Waste Management Inc. for a period of five years, expiring in 2020.

“I came here and met that contract. I do agree that there was a breakdown between the parties, but that breakdown didn’t come about because of lack of performance

of Cevons and Purans, but that came about because of lack of performance on our side,” Mentore expressed.

He said he can understand why the contractors opted to act the way they did. “It’s a natural process for somebody to suspend if they are not being paid. Anyone, if they are not being paid, could not just continue.”

Mentore is also arguing that the decision to continue with the smaller contractors until January 31, 2018 was not one that was made by the council. “It wasn’t one of those things that I agreed to because it wasn’t a decision of the council. If it was, there was going to be a voting process. And there wasn’t a process of that nature, so I don’t recognise it as a decision of the council.”

Representatives of the two main garbage contractors are disappointed with the stance taken by M&CC to extend the lives of the smaller contractors who were hired after the two main ones opted to pull their services in December. The City Council

Princes Street pump still down

… Hydraulic oil for pumps costing M&CC

THE Princes Street pump has not yet been fixed as the City Engineer’s Department continues to wait on the acquisition of hydraulic oil.

It has been out of operation for close to five months now.

The problem is, though, according to City Engineer Colvern Venture, the oil can cost the City Council as much as $3M. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle recently at City Hall, Venture noted that while the major aspects of the Princes Street pump has been fixed, additional items for it are still being awaited.

“We’re hoping to get it sorted out during the course of this week. The hydraulic oil is a very expensive product, costing the council about two to three million dollars to acquire. We would have fixed the major damages that occurred, but we are now in the process of procuring the oil.”

According to Venture, another pump, the one at Lamaha Street, has also developed some oil leakage issues.

“Whenever we have debris stuck in the pump foot, it damages the seal. And as long as the oil is leaked, we can’t use it back because it is contaminated with water.

So whenever we have impediments in the pump foot, we have to replace the oil. Plastic bags for one are very challenging to us

once they get into the pump foot,” Venture explained.

Deputy City Engineer Kenson Boston had told the media recently that issues are encountered at some of the pump locations because the canals that run alongside them cannot be efficiently cleaned. This is because persons are continuing to live on city reserves.

Boston said the municipality remains concerned about the amount of garbage that residents continue to dump into the various canals.

Councillor Bishram Kuppen had opined that because there will always be rainfall; the City Council ought to look at acquiring more pumps. “The planning here is not very good. They should have had backup pumps that you could hook up to a trailer so that if certain areas have problems, you move them there.”

Kuppen had further said that he was not satisfied with the explanation offered by the city engineer.

“A lot of times we are getting excuses here and I don’t buy in to that. We all know there are money problems in the council but the council has to have priorities, and prevention of flooding is priority.”

Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore at City Hall on Thursday is arguing, based on a legal opinion, that the contractors have both rendered their

contracts null and void by deciding to terminate their services. Based on the contracts in place, the contractors’ option would have been to take the City Council to court, as opposed to suspending their services, the M&CC has argued.

“Their position is very unhealthy for our business.

This is not good for business; not very encouraging for business at all,” Manager of Puran Brothers, Kaleshwar Puran, had told this publication.

Due to it being a five-year contract, Puran said the company would have invested in the job for that period of time and set up certain facilities.

“We have a lot of employees who could become affected;

not just the direct employees but the support staff as well.”

Puran said these are the circumstances even though the company was not at fault at any point in time.

Business Development Manager at Cevons, Morris Archer, told the Guyana Chronicle that the company simply did not have the resources to continue working without pay. “If you aren’t getting paid, at some point you’d have to stop working. We’re disappointed.

The same way they’re paying the small contractors, they could have paid us. But they not paying us, yet they’re taking on new contractors,” Archer expressed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 18, 2019

Min. Bulkan in agreement with increased stipend for RDC councillors MINISTER of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, remains in support of an increase in the monthly stipend for councillors of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDC) and stated that he would continue to lobby for such.

The 205 councillors of the ten RDCs across the country are each currently being paid a stipend of $10,000 per month, amounting to $24.6 million a year for central government. Over the years, there has been a continued call for the stipend to be increased, as the councillors argue that the remuneration is insufficient, given that their workload spans an entire region.

“I am supportive of increased stipends for RDC councillors. It is not at the level that we would like it to be, we’ve made representation in this regard towards that effect, [but] that has not met with a level of success,” Bulkan explained.

“Unfortunately there’s no provision in the 2019 budget.

We’ve been unable to take it to that level but we’re mindful, and we’re at one with the validity for those calls. It is something that we’ve been unable to have done, but it is continually being addressed by the central government.”

Early last December councillors of the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice (Region 10) RDC renewed their longstanding call for an increase. The issue was voted on and unanimously supported at the RDC’s statutory meeting last month. Councillors called for the stipend to be increased to $35,000.

Region Six RDC, earlier this month, also added its voice to the appeal.

In Region 10, councillors noted that the $10,000 was particularly unfair to the

RDC councillors, given the fact that municipality councillors, at least in Linden, are paid $30,000 even though they are third-tier in government, while the RDCs are second tier.

However, the minister explained that it was a case of comparing apples and oranges, given that municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) operate under a certain level of autonomy and are able to direct their own finances.

“RDCs do not enjoy the level of financial autonomy and independence that the lower organs, namely municipalities and NDCs, enjoy. It means that any municipality or NDC can pay stipends to their councillors within their means, but RDCs don’t have that ability, their funding comes entirely from central government and that figure is fixed by the central government. However, we are aware of the need to increase the stipend to RDC councillors,” Bulkan noted.

“I wouldn’t want to commit to a specific figure but the principle of it being increased I’m supportive of. But it all comes back to the financial means and ability.”

A man was remanded to prison on Thursday, January 17, 2019, by City Magistrate Leron Daly, for allegedly robbing a man with the use of a cutlass.

Noel George pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on January 9, 2019, at Croal Street, Georgetown, while being armed with a cutlass, he robbed Zain Angel of $70,000 cash.

Prosecutor, Corporal Sanj Singh, opposed the granting of bail to the accused on the grounds that the he was recently before the court for similar charges and

Noel George also had pending matters.

Magistrate Daly, after considering the prosecution’s objection, remanded George to prison until January 21, 2019.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan

Man remanded for robbery

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 18, 2019

GCAA suspends operation of all Cessna Caravans for safety checks … after undercarriage of ASL craft fell out

THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has grounded all Cessna Caravans pending safety checks to the aircraft, Director General Captain Egbert Field has announced.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that the authority made the order after the undercarriage of one of the single-engine craft fell out at that the Eugene F. Correia International Airport on Tuesday. This newspaper was told that just after lunch Wednesday, an Air Services Limited Caravan was being loaded when the left side undercarriage “collapsed” onto the tarmac. The undercarriage is the landing gear of an aircraft and is used for taking off and landing.

Field said that an investigation has been launched to ascertain what caused the unusual occurrence. He said all caravans operating within the country will also have to be checked. “It is something that happens in aviation. If something happens to one aircraft and the reason is not immediately known, it is the practice to ground all aircraft of a similar kind.”

Field said that the probe of the landing gear has commenced and local operators utilising Caravan aircraft have already started examining their aircraft. Field hinted that while the situation would not be

considered grave, “in the national interest of safety, checks are being ensured.”

It has been noted that several aircraft conducting internal services in the country are Caravan aircraft. That single-engine type aircraft is owned by most aviation operators and used for mainly hinterland services. The aircraft is essentially a cargo plane with short takeoff and landing capabilities. The short haul aircraft is ideal for operation on short hinterland airstrips and very important for shuttling to the mining community since it can seat some nine to 14 passengers, with comfortable cargo room.

A similar suspension ordered by the GCAA saw all interior flight operations coming to a halt in 2017. The GCAA had demanded the standard operational manuals and other documents showing how operators conducted their operations after two pilots had died while conducting shuttle flights in interior locations.

The suspension had stemmed from three plane crashes within short timespans of each other.

The ban had caused significant flight difficulties for persons living and working in the interior. Goods and in particular; fuel for thriving interior mining operations, could not be delivered.

The ASL plane that suffered a collapsed undercarriage Wednesday (Dominic Mendes photo posted in Guyanese Pilots FB)

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Seven-acre marijuana cultivation destroyed

RANKS of the Guyana Police Force on Thursday, during a thirteen-hour narcotics eradication operation at Tabatalli, Berbice River, destroyed seven acres of marijuana cultivation.

Reports indicate that five fields with about 19,500 plants ranging in height from three inches to eight feet with an average weight of 9,750 kilograms, five camps, 300 kilograms of processed cannabis and an empty twelve gauge casing were found.

The fields, processed cannabis and camps were photographed and destroyed by fire.

No arrests were made.

One of the camps before it was destroyed

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 18, 2019

President of local Mothers Union succumbs 15 days after accident PRESIDENT of the Mothers Union of the Anglican Church in Guyana Mrs. Joan James better known as ‘Teacher Patsy’, who was involved in an accident between two motor vehicles on the West Berbice Highway on January 2nd last, succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Thursday afternoon.

Mrs. James of Hopetown Village West Coast Berbice was a passenger in the front seat of a mini bus owned by the Mothers Union, when the vehicle became involved in a collision with an approaching motorcar while proceeding west along the southern Deceased: carriage way of the highMrs Joan James way at Golden Grove Village WCB around 09:00hrs that day.

Mrs. James, the driver of the mini bus and a male relative, who was also passenger, received serious injuries and they were all rushed to the Hospital at Fort Wellington then subsequently the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Mrs. James succumbed fifteen days after her admission. The driver of the mini bus is still hospitalised for injuries to his neck. Mrs. Joan James was a highly respected member of the Anglican Church and was on her way to Georgetown to transact Church business, a friend and member of the Mothers Union in WCB said.

Members said that they were devastated by the news of her passing.

Child rapist appeal denied SHATTERING the hopes of Ray Thomas to be reinstated into society sooner than the court so deemed, Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Appellate Justice Rishi Persaud and additional judge from the High Court, James Bovell-Drakes denied Thomas’s challenge on Thursday morning.

The 49-year-old man of Laing Avenue, Georgetown was sentenced in 2015 to 18 years imprisonment for raping an eight-year-old girl. The convicted man had been unanimously found guilty by a 12-member jury.

Particulars of the offence state that Thomas sexually penetrated the eight year-old girl’s vagina with his fingers during the month of February, 2012, an offence that he subsequently denied committing.

Represented by Attorney George Thomas, the legal arguments presented contended that the sentence imposed was too extreme for the crime and that the trial judge erred in principle.

However, after in-chamber deliberations, the judges disagreed with the appellant’s contentions.

Justice Cummings-Edwards said that they did not find that trial judge Dawn Gregory erred in principle when sentencing Thomas.

In fact, citing case law, Justice Cummings-Edwards highlighted that sentences can serve as a deterrent to potential committers of such crimes. As such, the Judges said that they were unable to find that the sentence was excessive.

On that note, the appeal was dismissed and Thomas will have to serve his jail time.

After the judges denied his appeal, Thomas’s elderly mother broke down in the court room as she longed to have her son with her again.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 18, 2019

Belle West squatters to be regularised … follow-up meeting for application process scheduled for next Wednesday

MINISTER within the Ministry of Communities, with responsibility for Housing on Thursday, Valerie Adams-Yearwood met with the squatters at Plantation Belle West, Canal No. 2, West Bank Demerara, to discuss her ministry’s regularization plans.

In December 2018, the squatters had met with the minister at her office asking for consideration, in regularizing the area they were squatting.

Minister Adams-Yearwood said at that meeting she had given the assurance that she would consider their request, especially that they were honest in accepting that they were flouting the law, and illegally occupying land that they did not own but belonged

to the government.

“They came, and they were very honest with what they said, and they admitted that they should not have squatted in the first place and I appreciated that, so I promise them that I am going to come to see where they are and let’s look at how we can help,” said Minister Adams-Yearwood.

On Thursday, the minister told squatters that government would regularize the area, however, the necessary checks would have to be made first to ensure their now existing structures were not blocking intended roadways. A follow-up meeting for the application process to take place is scheduled for next Wednesday. The minister also warned against duplication of applicants

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams-Yearwood meeting with squatters at Belle West, Canal No. 2, W.B.D.

The homes of squatters at Belle West, Canal No. 2, W.B.D.

from the same household, as well as overnight squatters seeking to benefit from this initiative.

“I want to warn that if you are already in the system or from the same household do not apply again, and please look around and ensure nobody new don’t come and put up a structure overnight,” the minister warned.

While the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) continues to move apace to curb squatting, the agency has allocated approximately two hundred and eleven (211) regularized squatter lots for 2018. The CHPA also works along with persons who have been approved for allocations but are finding difficulty completing payments. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 18, 2019

First-timer ready to take on 2019 Carib Soca Monarch

Shaima Muna and her costume designer, Sameer Khan

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ompeting in the Carib Soca Monarch competition for the first time, semi-finalist 21-year-old Shaima Muna is excited to show Guyana what she is made of, with her groovy soca “Not Tired Yet.” Muna comes from a family filled with musical talent of singers. Her decision to compete for the Carib Soca Monarch title was one she did not consider. “For me, singing has been in my life for a very long time. My grandmother and my uncle used to sing Calypso… I grew up with my mom in karaoke… I really wanted to try something different. I was up for the challenge and, so I joined the Soca Monarch competition because I knew that it would be a great opportunity for me to showcase my talent,” she explained.

The newcomer to the Soca Competition said that while there are worthy competitors, she knows that her talent will help her to take home the title and crown of this year’s competition. This win is one she hopes to take home for her daughter and mother. “Everyone is there. They are representing me all the way and in everything that I do in life, they are always there to support. So, this will be great for everybody,” she said.

A resident of Tuschen Housing Scheme, Region Three, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Muna hopes that this will also be a win for the region. She is part of the artiste line up for the Soca Rehearsals set for the bandstand, Kingston Seawalls on February 1. Carib Soca Monarch finals will be held on February 16 at D’urban Park. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 18, 2019

Learning from the politics of Guyana’s past

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O the timid spirit the conclusion is, that the turbulent world of politics is best left to be defined by other men and somehow it will eventually serve their dreams while they slip into pathetic obscurity. This is the grim differentiation between the condition of those ‘who know and the knows not’, that restrains the ability to foresee and interpret the fictions, subliminal bigotry and distortions that emerge from the print and electronic media from political agendas aimed at dividing who must ‘live’ and who must ‘exist’.

This assault is supported by a compatible network that edits and suppresses letters and opinions that challenge their impositions, which are intended to marginalise you whether you are political or not, but merely because of who you are. Intelligence and propaganda are serious weapons. They have colonised the vulgar treachery of the old world and seek more sophisticated methods like the mass indoctrination of peoples through religion and propaganda that constitute more lies, make believe scenarios that construct heroes and devils where they do not exist, in the hope that you have forgotten your yesterday, which they will repackage for you to instil a new reconstructed memory, to tell you what you are and what you deserve from life.

leaves that will replace sugar in a short time. Knowing all this, we must realise that many of the arguments that occupy media space as contentions raised as protests are not actually what the real agenda is. Intelligence awareness is all about understanding enough of what is sacred to a man, by his conduct [by his works shall a man ‘collectively’ be known] and the contradictions that expose his/her innate values.

I want to draw a case study of how a man’s obvious nature can be used against him by conspiracy against his greatest fears. Joseph Stalin was by all means a predictable monstrous person. In 1937 a fellow monster Reinhard Heydrich, founder of the SD [a vicious spy organisation of the Nazis], concocted a plot and extended it to include the Russian military command in a plot to overthrow Stalin. It was passed to Stalin not by the Germans but by a Czech middleman close to the Kremlin. The expected outcome was a purge of the Russian officer corps. Stalin executed 40,000 of his own able officers and the act was described as ‘Stalin’s huge folly’. This Nazi masterpiece resulted in the low morale and the swift destruction of the Russian armies when the Germans launched operation Barbarossa, the invasion of Russia in 1941. History regardless of how disputed it is, serves as a great reference. But with all

a blatant disregard of the constitution and as an ugly creature of blame. My take is,that the Constitution is the Constitution; it is constructed to guide us, I suppose in this context to assure the loyalty [in concept] to ‘Nationhood’. I wish to include an incident that occurred in 2005, Ronald Waddell told me he wanted me to meet someone at a shop at Bare Root, up the coast. He outlined the nature of the information the person had, and I was interested. He drove, so we were to make the trip the following evening, on the way home I was intercepted by a car driven by a youngster [now deceased] I knew years before from St. Stephen’s Street, he was then a Roger Khan cartel hit-man. He spoke quietly “Duh trip to Bare Root call it off” and he drove off, to onlookers no conversation happened, this was not the first time I had benefitted like this. Ogunseye and I sat a few nights later with a small group of colleagues; I told them of the matter, without identifying my incidental guardian angel, and pondered on where the PPP was taking the country. We painted a grim picture when one of our colleagues said, “well, I’m Canadian and pointing to another present, he’s American, we’ll take refuge in those embassies, if it gets that bad.” Talk about a wake upper.

I think that if a person inherits dual citizenship

Bribery, especially of the vulnerable as the Charrandass conspiracy is unveiling, is one ancient method of destabilising that still is an option by desperate cliques, if checks and balances are not in place in expectation of this old vice. To understand require simple efforts, research, discussion and comparisons between periods of our history, against the type of global world we lived in and are now living in and, the ability to understand where we stand.

Sunday 6, January 2019, ’60 MINUTES’ carried an article about a multibillion project started by a man with a passion for nature, to produce among a new array of products, a new hyper-natural sweetener from fallen

this German success Hitler concluded,”The Bolsheviks are our superiors in one field only-espionage. “The current world is still motivated by the same values of exploiting the weak, perverted and self-serving politicians, their imbecilic sycophants and vulnerable political actors like Charrandass,` whose crumbling social environment should not have been ignored by his peers.

I do hope that the political people have appealed to the nation he has more loyalty to, to observe him, for in the world he has entered people like him are considered by his puppeteers as ‘disposable’.

On the question of dual citizenship, after the episode of Charrandass, this feature has come to the fore as

as a child, it must differ in classification from an adult that seeks dual citizenship out of opportunity, especially those who left here on government scholarships and never returned, then reappear as foreign citizens, they constitute a special category. Such a law must also include a declaration of ownership of assets abroad etc., because a person does not have to have dual citizenship to own property and assets of legal and questionable sources, the latter in many cases to our detriment in other countries. The question for Guyanese to pay attention to is: What level of external foreign interference is mingling and entertained secretly in our domestic affairs in 2019?

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 18, 2019

From boos to wins

Mark Luke-Edwards scores his first ‘Uncensored’ win FOUR years ago when Mark Luke-Edwards first decided to try his hand at the stand-up comedy competition “Uncensored” he was booed relentlessly.

Recently he had the last laugh, having walked away with his first win at the competition when he championed “Uncensored 10” on the first night of two competitions held recently at the National Cultural Centre, last weekend.

Although Luke-Edwards has for the past three years been consistently holding his own in the top four spots at the competition, the win this year came as a bit of a shock to the 39 year old.

“Yea I was surprised to some extent. I felt most of the comedians performed to a high quality this year, so it was close and I’m always modest and not too expectant,” Luke-Edwards commented.

Poking fun about judge Gordon Moseley, and bringing satire to the situation of the recent political no-confidence vote against the government, Luke-Edwards showed that he has come a long way with his wisecracks.

“My first time I think I was lacking in confidence, and maybe lacked a feel of what made people laugh. I was now learning the craft. I’m still learning up to now, still got a far way to go but now I have a little more confidence,” he told The Buzz.

“My strength and resolve to continue came from the fact that I knew this is what I wanted to do. It was a passion of mine, so I decided I was in it for the long haul, and I was not about to be fazed by the boos I received. I called “Jumbie” the next day and told him still put me in again the following year, and he did.”

It was his association with one of the show’s producer and fellow comedian, Lyndon “Jumbie” Jones, that first got Luke-Edwards into the competition, and despite his hard be-

ginnings giving up was never an option.

“I started stand-up comedy at Upscale [Restaurant] in 2014.

When “Jumbie Jones” suggested my name to the upscale organisers to perform. I performed and “Jumbie” was absent for my performance, but he saw the video of my performance and asked me to perform in `Uncensored’ that same year,” Luke-Edwards recalled.

For his win last Saturday, Luke-Edwards walked away with the $300,000 grand prize sponsored by Game Xpress, and an AC unit from Giftland, a Smart Phone from Leading Technology, and a trophy sponsored by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken.

Aside from the Saturday night event, Luke-Edwards returned on the following night, Sunday, to finish second in an inaugural “Uncensored Clash”.

Sunday night’s Clash was won by Jermaine Grimmond who on his way to securing the win disposed of Paul Burnette and Ignatius in the preceding rounds of the elimination competition.

Luke-Edwards got the better of Kirk “Chubby” Williams and newcomer Ron “Kunchi” Reynolds in the Clash.

Also advancing at the show this year was Kwasi “Ace” Edmonson who didn’t do well last year, but made it second place at the recently-held show. He was win he was gifted $50,000 cash, a 32” Smart TV from Payless Variety Store, a chandelier from Giftland, and Smart Phone from Uncensored.

This year, Lady Luck was not with Michael Ignatius who scored second place at last year’s competition but had to settle for third place, while Reynolds who came out blazing with his performance as famed social media character “Miss Pepper” was awarded the fourth spot for his efforts.

Comedian Mark Luke-Edwards winner of “Uncensored 10”

Carnival costume launch kicks off this weekend THE Guyana Carnival coordinators are taking an early start to advertise what is in store for Guyana Carnival 2019, with a grand costume launch to be held in Berbice on Friday the 26th and Linden on Saturday 27th January.

Simultaneously, launches will be held in the United Kingdom and New York.

opined that it should not be a Georgetown event, but a national one, hence the reason for the launches being held regionally, starting this weekend. “We learnt that the first carnival was held in Linden, by the Jaycee’s in the 1960‘s and for years, except for Guyana’s Jubilee celebration, the only activity held in May is usually flag

Georgetown. There are also payment plans available.

Bollers specifically noted, that after these regional launches there will not be any other event leading up to Mashramani, which will be held on February 23rd.

“We will be having a series of events leading up to Carnival, from March to May, so this is just the

Two of the Carnival costumes that will be showcased at the launch

Coordinator of the event, Kerwin Bollers, the brainchild behind the Independence Guyana Carnival, which was held for the first time last year, said that the aim of the costume launch is to showcase the costumes that will be worn for this year’s carnival under the theme “Lost World”. He also noted that the outfits will be named after the main towns of Guyana, such as Linden, Bartica, Anna Regina and Lethem. Both the Genesis and the Pulse bands will be showcasing their costumes.

Bollers said that Carnival is the celebration of Guyana’s Independence and

raising, hence Carnival was initiated as a tourism event to bring persons from across the diaspora, not only Guyanese, back home at that time,” he said.

When quizzed as to whether the launching of the costumes is to distract persons from Mashramani, which is mere weeks away, he responded in the negative, detailing that the aim is only to showcase the costumes so that persons can be aware of what is in store, and how they can purchase same, plus get registered for the bands.

This, he said, can be done online for persons residing overseas or at the office in

beginning of a few events.

We will also be having an event during the Linden Town Week period. There is a calendar of events that will be held after. Mash is a cultural thing and Carnival is a tourism-based event where we try to attract persons to come to Guyana,” he added.

Bollers is also expecting greater support, compared to last year, since many persons now have their misconceptions cleared up, and now fully understand what the Guyana Carnival is all about. The Guyana Independence Carnival will be held in Georgetown on the 26th May 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 18, 2019

Taking Guyanese culture viral…

Kunchi TV

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VER the past few years with the rise of social media has come a proliferation of chances to become famous by “going viral”, and lots of young people have been exploiting this avenue as a way of sharing their cultures, across the world.

Here in Guyana, some have found their niche as online sensations, including “Kunchi TV” being run by 32-year Ronald “Kunch” Reynolds, who’s been averaging 300,000 views on his weekly videos about life and laughing.

“I was always a fun person, I like comedy like making jokes and I start doing skits around friends and family keeping them lively,” Reynolds explained of his beginnings.

“In 2011 I decided to join a comedy company by the name of Mori J. Van. The director of that company saw my potential and started giving me lead roles, then that company break up and everybody went their own separate ways. But I just decided to keep doing my own thing and keep being funny,” he said.

It comes as no surprise to Reynolds that he decided to follow a career in comedy, as according to him, he’s always had a natural knack for being funny. But what pushed him to do viral videos was the response to his “Rio Dry Swim video”, which parodied a swimming competition in the lead up to the Rio Olympics in 2016.

The video was uploaded on his Facebook page where it garnered over 60 million views, and was shared by several celebrities, including Caribbean artiste Dexta Dapps and Shensea. In the video, Reynolds and a friend are seeing pretending to swim on land as they crawled about on a lawn

while other friends threw water on them.

However to his dismay the video, along with his entire page was removed from Facebook because Reynolds did not have the copyright to music used in the video.

Reynolds eventually reposted the video on YouTube, but it would not be as big on that social media site.

Nonetheless, now aware of just how big his videos could go, Reynolds got the spark he needed to ignite something big.

Guyana over 60-something million viewers within three months, that video went viral all over the world. And since then I decided to create my page Kunchi TV,” Reynolds said.

Since then Reynolds has developed on his videos, doing regular weekly videos and introducing regular characters like “Miss Pepper”, “Black Girl”, “Kunchi”, along with Miss Pepper’s brother “Swaggle” and grandmother; all of which are played by Reynolds him-

Kunchi TV main character, `Miss Pepper’

“I used to do comedy but I was like this on the low person. After I did my dry swimming video that was in 2016, that was like the biggest video coming out of

self.

Aside from acting in the videos himself, Reynolds often enlist the help of his wife, Rodlyn Reynolds, and friends Anthony Alleyne, Ta-

vis Johnson, and Ellis Forde.

“Miss Pepper is the educated one, [but] she’s very ‘warrish’ but she likes to educate others also, especially females,” Reynolds explains “Black girl is another ‘warrish’ person she’s always fighting for people man, and well Kunchi he’s the influence, he would always influence he friend. Anything he could influence you to do he would do that, always the one to boost you up. Swaggle is Miss Pepper ‘pagalee’ brother that like talk out she story; Miss Pepper like talk and he more like talk. The grandmother is more of a church lady, she’s a little old fashion and she always want to see things go right.”

Reynolds is happy to be on his own and finally be in control of his comedy, he was not satisfied with how he was being treated when he performed for promoters.

“After Mori J Van it just give me the idea that I should

continue doing comedy. But people wanted to underpay me, giving me next to nothing money. I getting sell out shows and when the shows done sell out they giving you $5,000 and $10,000,” Reynolds related.

“So I seh you know what, I love comedy so much is best I do it for the fun of it nah money thing”. And so after that dry swimming video go viral I just start making stuff and put it on Facebook, and people start liking it, and then I decided to create a female character that I could actually send a message and people would listen, because my platform is reality and I put the fun into it and people start to like it and that’s how I continue doing what I’m doing and I’m not stopping.”

And he has no reason to anytime. He’s already being approached by companies to buy his work, but he’s taking his time on signing those contracts anytime soon.

“The first contract was in 2014 from a company named Drunken Media in California and they wanted to license the [Rio Dry Swim] video that I did that went viral, and recently I got another contract but I have to go to Canada to sign that contract, and that’s to do comedy videos,” Reynolds said After having a lawyer look over the first contract, Reynolds said he realised that the company wanted exclusive rights to all of his work and he was just not having it.

“The contract in California, I give up that contract because the contract wasn’t legit but I’m signing another contract in Canada and I’m now pursuing my dreams,” he said.

He’s also making other moves locally. Recently, “Miss Pepper” made an appearance at the “Uncensored 10” comedy competitions.

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Jaguars fight ...

from back page

with leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo while all-rounder Christopher Barnwell came in for West Indies selectee Shimron Hetmyer.

The home team then lost the early wicket of Trevon Griffith, whose career now appears in jeopardy after yet another failure. The 27-yearold, with a modest 611 runs from 22 first-class games departed in the fifth over, caught at short extra-cover by Powell off paceman Jeremiah Louis for two.

Johnson joined Chanderpaul, and pulled Louis for a first-ball four before the duo adapted quickly to the bowler-friendly conditions, adding 65 runs for the second wicket.

Johnson in particular grew in confidence, hitting a series of well-timed boundaries, including a six off pacer Sheno Berridge, while the 22-yearold Chanderpaul was in his usual in-control factor, hitting two boundaries in his 77-ball innings before he was taken at first slip off Cornwall just before the interval.

By lunch the Jaguars were 77-2 with the left-handed Johnson on 39 and Barnwell on eight but it was only after the lunch break that Johnson’s nerves began to take hold.

The 31-year-old Johnson added just five more runs in 50 minutes after the interval before he was adjudged leg-before-wicket to Orlando Peters. At the other end, the right-handed Barnwell seemed quite at ease in the middle, hitting nine

»

measured fours to reach his fifty off 72 balls - his tenth - in company of Anthony Bramble.

Thereafter, Jaguars played some poor cricket, losing four wickets for ten runs before the tea interval.

Barnwell played a loose drive and was caught at mid-on off leg-spinner Jacobs. Bramble (12), was trapped leg-before-wicket, sweeping to Cornwall, while Sherfane Rutherford was run-out for six and Romario Shepherd (1) was caught on the long-on boundary off Cornwall, who continued his good showing with the ball as he snared his third wicket.

Paul hit a couple boundaries on either side of the break but Jacobs claimed the wickets of Pestano (2) and Permaul (0), in the space of three balls before Cornwall ended the innings, with Paul’s wickets, 18 minutes into the final session.

Powell, the Hurricanes captain, and fellow opener Hodge were dismissed by Pestano and Paul for four and 16 respectively while Carty made 12.

Akeem Saunders (15 not out) and Terrance Warde (seven not out) had their fair share of anxious moments but the pair saw the Hurricanes through without any further hiccups.

SCOREBOARD

GUYANA JAGUARS 1st innings T. Griffith c Powell b Louis 2 T. Chanderpaul c Powell b Cornwall 22 L. Johnson lbw b Peters 44 C. Barnwell c Powell b Jacobs 58 A. Bramble lbw b Cornwall 12 S. Rutherford run-out (Jacobs) 6 R. Shepherd c Louis b Cornwall 1 K. Paul lbw b Cornwall 32 C. Pestano lbw b Jacobs 2 V. Permaul c Cornwall b Jacobs 0 D. Bishoo not out 6 Extras: (lb-2, nb-9) 11 Total: (all out, 67.5 overs) 196 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-67, 3-113, 4-148, 5-148, 6-156, 7-158, 8-182, 9-182.

Bowling: Louis 11-3-33-1, Berridge 12-2-33-0, Conwall 21.5-670-4, Peters 12-4-43-1, Jacobs 11-4-15-3.

LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES K. Powell lbw b Pestano 4 M. Hodge c Bishoo b Paul 15 K. Carty c Griffith b Permaul 12 A. Saunders not out 15 T. Warde not out 7 Extras: (b-1, lb-2) 3 Total: (three wickets, 24 overs) 57 Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-26, 3-40.

Bowling: Paul 8-4-14-1, Pestano 4-1-14-1, Permaul 7-2-13-1, Bishoo 5-0-13-0.

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 18, 2019

Djokovic dominates Tsonga re-match to reach third round

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Eleven years after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win the 2008 Australian Open title, top seed Novak Djokovic bested the Frenchman again at Melbourne Park to reach the third round early today.

The world number one Serb claimed a clinical 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 win over wildcard Tsonga at Rod Laver Arena, a match that finished after midnight and failed to live up to the players’ intriguing rivalry, at the year’s first Grand Slam.

A 20-year-old Djokovic edged a fourth-set tiebreak to claim his maiden Grand Slam crown in 2008 against then 22-year-old Tsonga.

Two years later, the Frenchman turned the tables in a five-set classic in the 2010 quarter-finals, crushing Djokovic’s hopes of a second Melbourne trophy.

The players have had a different trajectory since the swashbuckling days of their early twenties but the gap has grown much wider in the past year.

While 31-year-old Djokovic is seeking a third successive Grand Slam title and a record seventh Australian Open crown, Tsonga’s ranking has slipped to 177th after his 2018 season was cut short by knee surgery in April.

teenager Denis Shapovalov.

Yet there was still enough of the old magic on show from the burly Tsonga, whose 33-year-old legs scrambled hard to set up the shot of the night, a stunning forehand winner down the line from around the net.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the match against France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

(REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)

The gap was on full show as Djokovic cruised to victory in just over two hours, setting up a mouth-watering inter-generational clash with Canadian

Djokovic said he was a “a bit more nervy” than usual playing against Tsonga, even if plenty of seats were vacant at centre court, with the late

hour caused by a scheduling logjam.

“Playing on the centre stage against Jo, whom I consider as one of the greatest rivals that I had throughout my life, my career,” said Djokovic.

“Because of his injuries, he dropped his ranking, but the ranking is definitely not showing the right picture of his quality.

“I’m glad to see him playing. I hope that he can get back where he deserves: at the top of the tennis game.”

Shapovalov is only 19 but very highly regarded. The Canadian said he would be studying up on fellow lefthander Rafael Nadal’s game in a bid to compete with the Serbian 14-time Grand Slam champion.

“Good,” shrugged Djokovic. “Everyone has access to YouTube. Doesn’t worry me at all ... Nadal and him, yes, I mean, the only thing they’re sharing I think is the left hand.

“I don’t think they share many similarities in their game. I think it’s quite different.”

Serena juggles business, motherhood before beating Bouchard

By Jonathan Barrett MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Serena Williams was responding to emails about her clothing line and reorganising her schedule to spend time with her one-year-old daughter shortly before beating Eugenie Bouchard 6-2, 6-2 in the Australian Open second round on Thursday.

Williams, dubbed the Australian Open favourite

by Bouchard shortly after the match, is vying for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title, and will

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play 18-year-old Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska in the third round.

The 37-year-old said that while life was much more demanding than her earlier years on the tour, it wasn’t anything “special”.

“I’m just doing what I feel like working parents do,” said Williams, who was pregnant when she was last at the Australian Open in 2017, which she won.

“They make it work.

I’m just like literally everyone else.”

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ing, the world’s highest paid female athlete started fast in her second round match, winning the first three games.

That wasn’t the only ominous sign for her Canadian opponent, a former Wimbledon finalist who has been trying to retrieve her stellar form of five years ago.

As Bouchard tried to claw her way back into the match, she watched on helplessly as a powerful Williams groundstroke hit the net tape twice, before dribbling over, giving her no time to respond.

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Serena Williams of the U.S. in action during the match against Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard.

(REUTERS/Aly Song)

Easily beaten in the first set, the Canadian Bouchard pressed early in the second to lead two games to one.

Williams responded in dominant fashion, and did not drop another game on her way to ending the match with a drive-volley winner.

“I always felt rushed, a bit on the back foot, she just has so much power, so it was tough,” Bouchard said.

Santner, de Grandhomme recalled for India ODIs

NEW Zealand have recalled Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Latham and Mitchell Santner back to their ODI squad for the first three games of the upcoming series against India.

While de Grandhomme comes in place of James Neesham, who suffered a grade-one hamstring strain during the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Nelson, Latham - who sat out of the Sri Lanka series - returns at the expense of Tim Seifert, who had managed only 33 runs in 2 innings.

The surprise recall in the 14-man squad announced on Tuesday, however, was of all-rounder Mitchell Santner, who last played an ODI in March 2018.

Mitchell Santner

Speaking about the squad, head coach Gary Stead said, “Our two main priorities have been to select and prepare a squad capable of winning what is shaping up as a massive series against India, and gathering as much information as possible ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales.

“Tom and Colin are experienced players in this format and will offer quality in their respective roles, and Mitch and Doug showed us what they are capable of during the T20 on Friday night.”

Along with Neesham, Todd Astle too is out due to an injury - knee - and they are expected to be a part of the squad for the last two ODIs of the series.

“We were impressed by Jimmy against Sri Lanka, and are keen to see more of Todd - who has a different skillset and performed well for us last year,” Stead explained. “It’s just important that, after their respective injuries, we can see them play again and be confident of bringing them back at this level.”

Squad: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wkp.), Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor. (Cricbuzz.com)

GCA cricket continues this weekend

THE Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Friends of Cricket Under-17 (100 overs) competition, along with the New Building Society second division 40-over tournament, will continue at various grounds this weekend.

For tomorrow’s fixture, GCC will host Everest while DCC host Bel Air RUBiS in the Under-17 tournament from 09:30hrs.

In the NBS tournament, GDF face Police at Everest while GYO host GNIC. On Sunday, MYO, Everest, DCC, and GCC will host GYO, Malteenoes, UG and Police respectively while Third Class play Sophia at GYO. All games in the second division start at 10:30hrs.

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 18, 2019

TO THE

Time for Guyana to exit Windies Cricket Dear Sport Editor, NINE years ago, I penned a letter expressing my frustration and feeling of hopelessness about West Indies cricket. Hunte was then the President and Hilaire was the CEO, both St Lucians, and I had absolutely no doubt in my mind that West Indies cricket was slipping further into the doldrums and would be a regional disgrace.

I had issued a call in (2010) for the entire West Indies board to resign en bloc and be replaced with past cricketers who have the know-how and the technical expertise to implement proper cricket structure to develop West Indies cricket.

Seven years after my call, a CARICOM committee recommended that the West Indies Board be disbanded and a new organisation be established to administrate West Indies cricket, which was promptly rejected and resisted by the Board. The Antiguan Prime Minister came out in their support and his country has benefited from numerous matches being played at their new stadium sometimes to 200 spectators.

Fast forward to the present. A few years ago, a certain Jamaican National was elected president of the West Indies Cricket Board and after a challenge from Joel Graner, where he was unsuccessful, Barbados was rewarded with all three (3) captains, a bajan chairman of selectors (Courtney Browne) eight Bajan players as almost permanent fixtures in the team, Garner in a management position, Roland Holder another Bajan in a senior administrative position, Reifer in a coaching position and the West Indies Cricket Board renamed Cricket West Indies.

Essentially, what these people have done is to covet the brand West Indies Cricket and destroy what ever brand equity it had and reduced West Indies cricket to the laughing stock of the cricketing world. They have over the years drawn battle lines with West Indian cricketers who are in demand across the world and minimize the chances for them to represent West Indies. They were the only Board that could not find common ground with their players over franchise cricket and are stuck in a neo colonial posture which portrays them as ‘Massa’ in the 21st Century when they cannot even handle routine administrative matters such as appointing a cricket coach.

In 2019, West Indies is the only cricketing nation that does not have a cricket academy, Afghanistan have two and Mumbai alone have more than 10, yet these administrators declared that by 2017 a better-quality product will take the field in maroon representing West Indies. I will not comment since we have all seen the product in Bangladesh and India in December 2018.

Never before has spite, insularity and “bad mindedness” been so evident in West Indies cricket as now and the apparent assumption that a Caribbean League (mediocre to say the least) would automatically result in West Indies cricket rising to the top, accentuates the level of folly that is unprecedented.

Reifer confessed a few days ago that West Indies cricket is oceans apart relative to quality, with international cricket. That he had to go to India and Bangladesh to be convinced of that explains the sorry state of West Indies cricket. It is a hopeless situation with no end in site unless CWI is disbanded which will not happen. It therefore condemns West Indians to continue to be the mocking stock of cricket to the world indefinitely.

Guyana is a South American country that is linked to the West Indies by language and a colonial past. I have never been a supporter of CARICOM and has always seen Guyana’s future in forging relations with its South American neighbors. We seem to be heading there, even though gradually but surely and it is time that we seriously reconsider remaining a part of West Indies cricket.

Guyana are the regional champions for four (4) consecutive years, we recently beat the Barbados team with eight (8) West Indies players including the West Indies captain, yet we are only good enough to have one player in the West Indies team facing England in the current test series.

The West Indies Board established a policy of selecting players based on performance in the regional tournament. It was that same policy that caused Devon Smith to be selected in 2018 for the eight time after seven previous failures forcing Hetmyer to sit out two test matches. Yet, Permaul and Bramble continue to be excluded despite excellent performances and give way to a bunch of below average cricketers from Barbados (again) and Jamaica.

How long more must Guyanese cricketers continue to endure this disrespect by ‘Bajan failures’ who have assumed themselves to be Lords of cricket. It is scandalous that a Guyanese member of the selection panel witnessed Keemo PAUL taking ten (10) wickets in a match which Guyana won and Bramble scoring a brilliant century under pressure which was his second consecutive one following the one in Barbados against the mighty Barbados West Indies test team, and still none of them was selected by the panel of which he is a member.

It is time that Guyana withdraws from West Indies and go it on its own. CWI, in its present form, cannot revive West Indies cricket. They have been rebuilding for almost thirty (30) years and West Indies cricket is worse that it was when they started to rebuild. They are hopeless and useless.

IMMEDIATELY GUYANA SHOULD DO THE FOLLOWING:

Develop the cricket grounds in Skeldon, Corentyne and Affiance Essequibo Coast to international standards. They have the space and drainage; all that is needed is a few developments in stands, practice pitches, security and accommodation.

Simultaneously, reorganise cricket administration in Guyana to realise a democratic process of electing cricket administrators at the regional boards and the umbrella Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

The Ministry of Education, through a Government Sports Policy, employ the vast array of qualified cricket coaches to conduct coaching in schools across Guyana. They along with Guyanese cricket legends will develop a policy paper which will be used to inform the over-arching strategy to move Guyana to Test status in five (5) years.

Their coaching will also be available at the club level to provide continuity from school to the national team.

The present crop of Guyanese national cricketers will be integrated into the system and will be the nucleus for a Guyana team to enter ICC international cricket competitions in T20 and ODIs in the short term.

In collaborating with the University of Guyana, establish a Cricket Academy which will be used to round our players and complete the preparation for international cricket.

The Government must adopt a sports policy in collaboration with corporate Guyana to provide sponsorship etc. It can positively impact the Tourism industry as well as other aspects of Guyana’s economy.

A properly executed approach will see Guyana beating a CWI team within two (2) years because CWI administrators will not give up their failed policies and will continue to build twenty (20) years from now and still be at the bottom. They are hopeless.

Guyanese are tired of this level of mediocrity that characterises West Indies cricket of which Guyana is part. There will be those who will want to hold on to the past, and I respect that, but the future is before us and we need to be bold and committed to determine our own destiny.

Guyana has the talent to be competitive, all we need is the structure and will to excel.

Can we do it?

Yes! we can.

All we need is the testicular fortitude.

Yours truly Eric Whaul

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 18, 2019

Farfan & Mendes renews RHTYSC sponsorship THE Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTYSC) last Tuesday received renewed sponsorship from Farfan & Mendes for the Under-15 team for the 23rd consecutive year.

Assistant Secretary/CEO of RHTYSC, Simon Naidu, stated that the Providence, East Bank, Demerara-based business entity first sponsored the Under-15 cricket team in January, 1997.

The company first supported the RHTYSC in 1996, by donating a grass-cutter and over the years has developed a highly successful relationship, with the team who have won numerous Berbice championships.

The club has also produced 45 Berbice players and 25 Guyana Under-15 players, among them Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Abdel Fudadin, Esaun Crandon, Delbert Hicks, Khemraj Mahadeo, Shemaine Campbelle, Dominique Rikhi, Murphy La Rose, Shabiki Gajnabi, Sheneeta Grimmond, Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Marian Samaroo and Jeremy Sandia.

Crandon, Fudadin, Campbelle and Giddings have gone on to represent the West Indies while Rampersaud, Gajnabi and Grimmond have all earned call-

Farfan & Mendes Supervisor Tameka Hiles hands over cheque to RHTYSC Assistant Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu.

ups to West Indies training camps.

Naidu, who has taken over the day-to-day operation of the RHTYSC at just 18 years, expressed gratitude to Farfan & Mendes for their continued confidence in the club.

He disclosed that Shazam Khan, Matthew Pottaya would serve as captain and vice-captain respectively for 2019 with veteran administrator Keith Hicks and Rabindranauth Kissoonlall

along with Tyrone Pottaya as managers.

The Asst Secretary/ CEO committed the Rose H a l l To w n F a r f a n & Mendes Under-15 team to upholding the club’s highest standard on and off the cricket field.

The team would be involved in over 60 personal development programmes during the year with the main objective of making a positive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and less

fortunate.

Marketing Manager of the Company, Onai Vasconcellos, stated that Farfan & Mendes Co. Ltd was proud of its relationship with the RHTYSC and was satisfied that its investment was worthwhile.

The club, he stated, has represented the company’s brand with distinction. He wished the team even more success in 2019 and urged club members to continue setting the bar even higher.

Bairstow, Burns warm up with half-centuries for opening Test CAVE HILL, Barbados, (CMC) – Jonny Bairstow and Rory Burns found form ahead of next week’s first Test, hitting half-centuries on the opening day of the second two-day match against CWI President’s XI here Thursday.

Jonny Bairstow narrowly missed on a century with 98.

The charismatic Bairstow narrowly missed out on a hundred with 98 while opener Burns carved out 68 as the tourists, opting for first knock, were dismissed at the close for 379 in their first innings.

Adil Rashid, batting at number 10, chipped in with 48 while Sam Curran got 47 and Chris Woakes, 43.

Left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer (3-39) and part-time off-spinner John Campbell (3-58) picked up three wick-

ets apiece on a day of toil for the hosts at the 3W’s Oval here on the outskirts of the city.

Keaton Jennings failed for the second time this week when he perished lbw to Reifer for seven in the morning’s seventh over but Bairstow and Burns took command for England in a 118-run, second wicket stand.

Bairstow’s knock was a breezy one, coming from just 112 balls and including 10 fours while Burns struck nine fours in 89 balls at the crease.

They took England to lunch at 137 for one but Burns departed in the fourth over following the resumption, stumped off off-spinner Bryan Charles.

Jos Buttler (3) helped add 33 for the third wicket with Bairstow before falling to a catch at the wicket off Reifer at 181 and Bairstow was removed by Reifer with 16 runs added, as England lost four wickets for 47 runs to slip to 228 for six, in the second over after tea.

But Curran and then Woakes and Rashid then propped up the lower order.

Curran faced 64 deliveries and counted five fours, adding 30 for the seventh wicket with Ben Foakes (22) before combining with Woakes to put on a further 45 for the eighth wicket.

Wo a k e s a n d R a s h i d inflicted more pain on the President’s XI, playing with abandon in adding 73 for the ninth wicket.

CPL economic impact surpasses US$100 million

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – For the first time in its six-year history, the total economic impact of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has exceeded US$100 million, a 34 per cent increase over the previous 2017 season.

A report commissioned by

CPL and compiled by researchers, SMG Insight, showed figures for the 2018 season of US$127 355 010, representing all seven countries in which matches were played.

Organisers hailed the impact of the Twenty20 league and said further growth was

anticipated in coming years.

“We set out to continue to have a positive impact on the Caribbean as one of our goals for the 2018 tournament and to see a 34 per cent

increase from last year is fantastic news for both Hero CPL and the region,” said chief executive officer Damien O’Donohoe.

“The tournament has shown

amazing growth over the last six years and is now a mainstay of the cricket calendar and a great way to showcase what the Caribbean has to offer. We plan for that to continue.”

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday, January 18, 2019)

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

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: Pat Cummins-6/27 (Melbourne) Jasprit Bumrah-6/33 (Melbourne)

TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) How many dismissals AUST wicketkeeper Tim Paine

effected in the recent AUST/IND Test series?

(2) How many dismissals SL wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant effected?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

The CPL once again had a major impact on the Caribbean region.

Matches last year were played in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts, St Lucia and Florida in the United States.

And according to the report, the tournament was responsible for the employment for 1 942 persons across the seven host nations, and also provided a boost for the accommodation sector with 37 037 rooms filled.

Visitors also spent more over the previous season, with spending reaching US$24 735 209.

The report estimated the value of media exposure across the seven host venues at US$46 869 599, more than double that of 2017.

“This increase was in part due to the new broadcast deals with Star Sports in India and Sky Sports in the UK,” a CPL statement said The seventh season of the CPL bowls off in August.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 18, 2019

GCA launches 1st Division, 2nd Division and U-19 ‘Next Gen’ tournaments

GCA president Roger Harper (left) receives the sponsorship cheque from GISE’s Verlene Van Lange while other GCA officials look on. (Delano Williams photos)

THE Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) in a historic move launched three major tournaments yesterday at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in the presence of their major sponsors.

The 1st Division 2-day tournament which is sponsored by Guyana Industrial & Supplies International (GISE), Trophy Stall and Star Party Rentals, the 2nd Division 2-day tournament (sponsored by Noble House Seafoods) and U-19 100-over ‘Next Gen’, also sponsored by Noble House Seafoods, were all launched.

Neil Barry, former na-

tional cricketer and coach in his remarks noted that it was a ‘very important day, a first in many years”.

He pointed out that the launches highlight the continued partnership between the GCA and sponsors.

“They have ensured that the platform is there to continue to develop youngsters.”

Meanwhile, Ms Verlene Van Lange of GISE noted that her company was very happy to be a part of the annual tournament.

She also expressed hope that the partnership with GCA will continue far into the future and pointed out that cricket to

the West Indians is important and “we (GISE) truly want to invest in the youths of Guyana.

We hope that the tournament leads the youths to a brighter future”.

Also present was Dowaka Singh of Noble House Seafoods who echoed Van Lange in saying that it was a very important ceremony. He agreed that cricket has always been dear to the company. “Noble House for the past six years has been associated with sports.

The U-19 tournament is key to development of cricket in Guyana. This is a platform for the young cricketers”.

GCA president Roger

Noble House Seafoods manager Dowaka Singh hands over the sponsorship cheque to GCA president Roger Harper.

Harper in his comments highlighted that the occasion was one of importance because “we have the opportunity to do what we were elected to do. The chance for youth development would not be possible without our corporate sponsors. We must thank Noble House, who is an eight-time sponsor of the 2nd division tournament and all the other sponsors as well”.

The GISE/Star Party/Trophy Stall 1st Division 2-day tournament will feature 10 clubs who will play in two zones. Zone A will feature defending champions DCC, UG,

Smith’s superb 124 takes sting out of Scorpions ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC )– Veteran opener Devon Smith continued his domination at first class level, stroking his 36th hundred as Windward Islands Volcanoes kept under-pressure Jamaica Scorpions in the field all day on the opening day of their fifth round match here yesterday.

The 37-year-old hit a superb 124 which steered the hosts to 263 for six in their first innings, after they were inserted at the Grenada National Stadium.

Kavem Hodge extended his good form with 56 while wicketkeeper Denis Smith ended the day unbeaten on 36.

Left-arm spinner Dennis Bulli led the attack in the absence of veteran Nikita Miller, claiming five for 94.

In fact, it was Bulli who put Scorpions in command in

the morning session, taking all three wickets as the hosts stumbled to 61 for three.

He trapped Taryck Gabriel lbw for 10 at the start of the second hour before bowling both Tyrone Theophile (6) and captain Kirk Edwards (6).

However, Devon Smith and Hodge came together to prop up the innings in a fourth-wicket stand worth 144.

While the left-handed Smith struck 16 fours off 209 deliveries, Hodge faced 96 balls and counted five boundaries.

When Bulli broke the stand by having Smith stumped, Volcanoes lost three wickets for two runs before Denis Smith and Sherman Lewis, unbeaten on 16, combined in an unbroken 56-run, seventh-wicket stand to frustrate Scorpions.

GCC, GYO and GDF while Zone B will see Police, GNIC, Malteenoes SC, Everest and MYO do battle. Games will begin on February 2 with play set for 09:00hrs.

The Noble House Seafoods 2nd Division 2-day tournament will feature 14 clubs playing in two Zones; Zone A will consist of defending champions GCC, Malteenoes, GNIC, GYO, GDF, Ace Warriors and MYO. In Zone B, Everest, UG, DCC, Transport, Diplomats, Third class and MYO will clash.

The competition is expected to last three months and the

BBL match abandoned after power failure, overshadowing Shane Watson’s superb ton THURSDAY’S Big Bash League match between Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder was abandoned after a power failure at The Gabba.

Devin Smith faced 71 deliveries and struck four fours.

SCOREBOARD

VOLCANOES 1st innings DS Smith stp. Thomas b Bulli 124 T. Gabriel lbw b Bulli 10 T. Theophile b Bulli 6 K. Edwards b Bulli 6 K. Hodge lbw b Walton 56 A. Athanaze c Williams b Bulli 1 DDH Smith not out 36 S. Lewis not out 16 Extras: (b-5, lb-2, nb-1) 8 Total: (6 wkts, 90 overs) 263 Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-43, 3-61, 4-205, 5-206, 6-207.

Bowling: Taylor 14-5-35-0, Green 12-8-27-0, Levy 9-2-33-0, Bulli 22-3-94-5, Williams 29-6-63-0, Walton 4-1-4-1.

GCA has mandated that teams must have 25% of the bowling shouldered by fast bowlers.

Meanwhile, the Noble House U-19 competition (100 overs) will be played in white clothing featuring 10 clubs and one school (Queen’s College).

The side batting first will face 55 overs while the chasing side will face 45, if the side batting first is bowled out before 55 overs, the remaining overs from that innings will be transferred to the second innings. This is in a bid to encourage the youngsters to bat longer.

That tournament begins on January 27.

Shane Watson crunches one through extra cover. (Getty Images)

Two floodlights and a number of overhead lights in one half of the ground stopped working, with Heat 10-2 in reply to Thunder’s 186-4.

It later emerged problems

had affected the entire east Brisbane area.

The Gabba is due to host a day-night Test between Australia and Sri Lanka starting on January 24.

Brisbane and Sydney were awarded one point apiece following the abandonment shortly after 21:00hrs local time.

Thunder coach Shane Bond said his side offered to continue the match with only spinners bowling, but umpires Shawn Craig and Donovan Koch and match referee Daryl Harper said conditions were not suitable.

Thunder skipper Shane Watson, 37, the former Australia all-rounder, made 100 from 62 balls after choosing to bat first.

Thunder are third in the table, three points behind leaders Hobart Hurricanes, with Heat sixth.

The top four teams qualify for the semi-finals on February 14 and 15. (BBC Sport)

PM Mitchell gives vote of no-confidence in Dave Cameron’s leadership of CWI BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – The former chairman of CARICOM’s sub-committee on cricket, Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, has given a vote of no-confidence in the leadership of Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dave Cameron.

Speaking on Starcom Network’s Mason and Guest cricket show here, the veteran Grenada leader said while he had no personal issues with Cameron, the CWI top administrator’s management style left a lot to be desired.

Cameron is going for a fourth successive term as CWI president at elections set for March.

“I don’t have any problem with Dave Cameron as a person.

We had a very good relationship but as far as his management style of West Indies cricket (is concerned), I don’t have a lot of respect for it, so I don’t think my position on that has changed,” said Mitchell who has clashed with Cameron in the past over his handling of issues in West Indies cricket.

“I think he sometimes takes it personally but it’s not to do with Dave the person by itself – it’s his leadership of West Indies cricket that I have problems with and I would not be able to change my position on that particular issue.

Under Mitchell’s chairmanship, CARICOM authorised the controversial Governance Review Report which, among other recommendations, called for the “immediate dissolution of the West Indies Cricket Board and the appointment of an Interim Board.”

Mitchell then led efforts to have the report implemented but was met by fierce resistance from Cameron-led CWI, which branded the chief recommendation as “impractical”

and an “unnecessary and intrusive demand”.

Under Cameron, tension between senior players and the board has worsened, while the international men’s team has continued to languish near the bottom of the Test and one-day standings.

Ahead of the 2015 CWI election, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister and current sub-committee chairman, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, branded Cameron’s leadership as “extremely poor” and urged territorial boards to “tell him to take a break and come back at a later date, perhaps with more mature, renewed skills of leadership”.

While Cameron and vice-president Emmanuel Nanthan were subsequently re-elected unopposed for a third term in 2017, they are expected to face opposition at the upcoming polls.

And Mitchell believes neither Cameron nor Nanthan was suitable candidates to address the issues that currently face Caribbean cricket.

“I have no problem with Dave the person but I have problems with Dave the president of (Cricket West Indies) and I think I like to separate the two,” he reiterated.

“It’s similar to Nanthan, I don’t have a problem with Nanthan the individual but I certainly would not be able to vote for Nanthan to represent West Indies cricket because I certainly don’t think their views are consistent with what I think West Indies cricket needs at this particular time.”

Cameron, 47, was elected for the first time in 2013 when he took over from former St Lucian diplomat Julian Hunte.

Dave Cameron is going for a fourth successive term as CWI president at elections set for March.

Jaguars fight back with late wickets

Leon Johnson made a fighting 44.

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE Guyana Jaguars fought back with three late wickets to restrict the Leeward Islands Hurricanes to 57-3 and leave the fifth round Cricket West Indies Regional Four-day encounter delicately poised, after the tourists spinners dominated an intriguing first day.

With 13 wickets falling on the day, the Hurricanes finished

Off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall and his Leeward Islands Hurricanes teammates celebrate the fall of Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s wicket. (Adrian Narine photos) 139 runs behind the Jaguars’ modest first-innings total.

Pacers Keemo Paul and Clinton Pestano, along with leftarm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, pegged the tourists back on a pitch that occasionally played a few tricks, claiming the scalps of Kieran Powell, Montcin Hodge and Keacy Carty.

Earlier, a combination of poor strokes and excellent spin bowling sparked a Jaguars collapse, with the home side sliding from 148-4 to 196 all out.

Off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall took 4-70 and fellow slow bowler Damion Jacobs 3-15 as the four-time defending champions lost their last six wickets for 48 runs.

Watched by another disappointing turnout of spectators, Jaguars, after winning the toss and deciding to bat, made two changes. They replaced left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie TURN TO PG. 27

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GCA launches 1st Division, 2nd Division and U-19 ‘Next Gen’ tournaments

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2019